Hong Kong: New DC term will be constructive: CE

Chief Executive John Lee said today that the seventh District Council Election paves the way for a constructive District Council term instead of a destructive one.



Over 1.19 million registered electors cast their votes in the election on December 10.



Ahead of the Executive Council meeting this morning, Mr Lee told reporters that the election had been a successful one.



I think each election has its own characteristics. Some voters have not come out to vote for different reasons, but obviously those who try to sabotage the election, they still exist. And of course, they will be trying to do anything they can to make the election not successful.



But the turnout of about 1.2 million voters has indicated that they supported the election. They supported the principles, and they supported the idea that the new District Council will be producing good candidates, good District Council members, for the overall good of each district.



He added that the most important thing of all is for society to focus on what the election will produce.



The outcome will be District Council members who will be monitored for their performance to ensure that they do well. Rather than previously, when some District Council members pursued their own political interests, sabotaged the system and reacted against the governance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government or the central government.



Mr Lee stressed that the seventh-term District Council members are from different backgrounds, sectors and professions, and that they will be committed to the overall good of residents.

This story has been published on: 2023-12-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Xi's Vietnam visit set to elevate ties

09:13, December 12, 2023 By Xu Wei and Yang Han ( China Daily

Friendship and cooperation high on agenda of trip

President Xi Jinping's state visit to Vietnam has fueled high expectations that Beijing and Hanoi will further elevate their relationship, boost cooperation in various sectors and strengthen their long-lasting traditional friendship.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is set to travel to Hanoi for a two-day visit starting on Tuesday, his first in six years to the Southeast Asian nation.

Xi will be hosted during the visit by Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong.

Both nations attach great importance to Xi's visit, and both Beijing and Hanoi believe that the elevation of the relationship to a new level represents a natural and opportune development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday.

Nguyen Minh Vu, the permanent deputy foreign minister of Vietnam, said the visit will contribute to deepening bilateral cooperation and long-term relations between the two countries.

The trip, which coincides with the 15th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Vietnam, is expected to be a new milestone in bilateral relations, Vu told Viet Nam News, the English-language newspaper of the official Vietnam News Agency.

Vu said he expects to see substantial cooperation outcomes from the visit and that there will be a spillover effect to all levels, sectors and people of all walks of life.

The visit, along with last year's official visit to China by Nguyen Phu Trong, is expected to continue to create strong motivation and momentum for the two countries' sectors, localities and people to continue to maintain and develop their existing relationship, thereby building a solid and good social foundation for the development of bilateral relations, the Vietnamese diplomat said.

Pham Sao Mai, the ambassador of Vietnam to China, said in an interview that the two nations will further consolidate political mutual trust, actively bolster areas of collaboration and bring bilateral relations to a more substantive and effective stage of development.

The envoy said China has largely resumed commercial flights to and from Vietnam, with approximately 200 round-trip flights per week. The number of Chinese tourist trips to Vietnam reached 1.5 million in the first 11 months of this year.

China has been Vietnam's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, while Vietnam is China's largest trading partner within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

According to data from Vietnamese authorities, direct investment from China to Vietnam reached $2.69 billion in the first eight months of 2023, making China the second-largest contributor of foreign investment in Vietnam.

Song Qingrun, a professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University's School of Asian Studies, said the substantial outcomes from the pragmatic cooperation between Beijing and Hanoi have laid a solid foundation for elevating the relationship to a new height.

"A new stage of bilateral ties will help both sides to follow distinctive paths to modernization, enrich the developmental trajectories for other developing nations to achieve modernization and better serve the well-being of the people in both countries," he said.

Xi's visit to Vietnam is important for the Southeast Asian nation's economy, said Nguyen Trung Dung, chairman of Xunhasaba, Vietnam's book export and import agency.

"China and Vietnam have formed long-term cooperation in the economy and we hope that after President Xi comes to Vietnam, the cooperation can be deeper," Dung told China Daily.

Noting that an increasing number of people in Vietnam are interested in Chinese books, Dung said the agency has set up a department for China-related business to import Chinese books and magazines.

In particular, Dung said for the visit, the company is helping, together with its Chinese partners, to organize an exhibition showcasing a series of books by Xi, including Up and Out of Poverty and The Governance of China.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Chicago-area Palestinians and allies march south on Harlem Avenue and wave flags on the bridge over 95th Street in Bridgeview. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Hundreds of Palestinian Americans gathered Monday in Bridgeview to call for a cease-fire and condemn U.S. military aid to Israel as fighting between Israel and Hamas wears on in Gaza.

They had taken the day off work and school and closed their businesses to heed a call for a worldwide strike meant to boost pressure for a cease-fire and bring attention to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

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Protesters shut down the intersection of 95th Street and Harlem Avenue for about 20 minutes though parts of Harlem were closed for much longer.

The war, now in its third month, has claimed the lives of about 17,500 Palestinians and driven nearly 85% of the territorys 2.3 million people from their homes. About 1,300 Israelis have died in the fighting, most in the initial Oct. 7 attack by Hamas in which the group also took more than 200 people hostage. More than 100 captives were released during a weeklong cease-fire late last month in exchanges for women and minors held in Israeli prisons.

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[ Chicago-area Palestinian Americans overwhelmed by grief as family members face death and destruction in Gaza ]

In Bridgeview, often known as Little Palestine, hundreds gathered with Palestinian flags and scarves known as kaffiyehs in a strip mall that was almost entirely closed. Printed and handwritten signs declared that the businesses  ranging from The Nut House USA to Nile Restaurant to Holy Buckets Halal Chicken  were closed for the strike.

Across 87th Street, Al Bawadi Mediterranean Grills digital sign read Closed in Solidarity with Gaza. We are joining the global strike.

Strike organizers said more than 200 businesses around the Chicago area were closed to show their support for a cease-fire.

At Arab American Family Services in Worth, a recorded message said the office is closed according to the request for a global strike to request a cease-fire in Palestine and directed callers to contact their legislators.

Bridgeview trustee and local business owner Kalid Baste said he closed his accounting firm and car wash for the day. His motel was still housing guests but not accepting new check-ins for the day, he said.

He said the action would be a wake-up call for even our own people that If you werent doing anything, this is the time to do something.

Even the press is just in survival mode, Baste said of journalists on the ground in Gaza.

Nadia Ismail, a teacher at Bridgeviews Aqsa School, told protesters it was difficult for her students to continue with their learning when they are faced with everything that is going on in Gaza.

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Aqsa was one of seven schools to close its doors for the day, according to a list from strike organizers.

[ For Chicagos Palestinian and Jewish students, Israel-Hamas war is constant and personal ]

Ismail said her hope was that Asqa students and others who were out of school for the day would learn firsthand about civic participation.

We are hoping to empower them not to be helpless in the face of everything that theyre witnessing at this time, she said. And the best way to learn against this helplessness is to empower them with tools on how to be engaged citizens.

Murad Ayyash, of Homer Glen, took the day off from work as the director of operations for a logistics firm to participate in the strike.

Shutting it down is the least we can do when our politicians do not answer, he said.

Ayyash said hes attended protests from Washington to Chicago to show support for Palestinian civilians and journalists in the thick of the fighting. But he still feels like hes not doing enough, he said.

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ckubzansky@chicagotribune.com
Vienna is presently opposed to starting talks on Ukraine's accession to the European Union, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said during a parliamentary session of the National Councils EU Affairs Committee on Dec. 11.

Read also: EU should use all its capabilities to support Ukraine, says Borrell

Ukraine and Moldova should be offered the prospect of EU membership as a sign of solidarity, but not the accelerated procedure. Austria will not agree to accession negotiations under the current conditions, Nehammer said.

The EU countries agreed to grant Bosnia and Herzegovina the EU candidate country status on Dec.13, 2022.

Read also:

The European Commission officially recommended that formal accession talks begin with Ukraine and Moldova on Nov. 8.

The EUs 27 heads of government are due to discuss the proposal at the EU Brussels summit on Dec. 1415, although Hungarys Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, has repeatedly said he opposes opening negotiations with Kyiv.

The start of negotiations may be postponed until March 2024 due to Hungary's position, Euractiv reported on Dec. 11.

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
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (WFLA)  The Pasco County Sheriffs Office said the missing and endangered 9-year-old boy in New Port Richey has been found.

Authorities said he was last seen on Monday around 5:10 p.m. in the day in the Pinefield Avenue area. However, around 7 p.m., the boy was found and is safe.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Note: This report contains details of a case involving alleged sexual violence and may contain triggers for those who have experienced sexual abuse. Resources are available to victims through the National Sexual Assault Hotline, 1-800-656-4673.

A man accused of exposing himself and engaging in a sex act in public has been charged in Platte County, and authorities are asking other possible victims to report any similar incidents related to the alleged crime.

James D. Jones II faces charges of aggravated first-degree sexual abuse. According to court documents, on Sept. 13, a man alleged to be Jones was shopping in the childrens section of a local retail store. As an employee of the store used a computer, Jones stood behind her. The woman allegedly felt him touch her lower back.

When the woman asked what Jones was doing, he denied touching her, Platte County records say. She then felt her lower back was wet and yelled at Jones to leave, and he did, court documents say.

The womans jeans were recovered for testing and the Kansas City Police Crime laboratory identified semen on the jeans, court documents show.

We have reason to believe this defendant may have exposed himself and completed a sex act in public on other occasions, Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said in a statement.

We believe he may have done so in the presence of middle-aged women or possibly others, he said. We urge anyone who believes they may have witnessed such an act or have been victimized by this defendant to contact police.

A probable cause statement from Kansas City Police Department investigators said Jones was identified in relation to another case that occurred in August, when Jones was alleged to have engaged in a sex act at another Kansas City, Missouri, retail store.

The probable cause statement said the detective obtained a search warrant for Jones cell phone. The statement said his phone contained photos showing five instances where Jones was allegedly standing behind victims while holding his penis and four photos showing where he may have ejaculated on victims lower back or midsection.

The victim in the Platte County case identified herself in the photos, the probable cause statement said.

Zahnd said anyone who believes they may have witnessed or been victimized in a similar incident can call the KCPD sex crimes unit at 816-234-5520.

Jones is in custody with a $100,000 cash bond. If convicted of first-degree aggravated sexual abuse, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
A gambler smokes while playing a slot machine at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City N.J. on Nov. 29, 2023. On Tuesday, Dec. 12, casino workers pushing for a smoking ban at the city's nine casinos publicized a letter from Shawn Fain, international president of the United Auto Workers union, calling on New Jersey lawmakers to ban smoking in the casinos. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP)  Shawn Fain, the international president of the United Auto Workers union who recently won large raises for his workers, is taking aim at a new target: New Jersey lawmakers who are delaying votes on a bill to ban smoking in Atlantic Citys casinos.

The head of the powerful union, which represents workers at three casinos here, is urging legislators to move the bill forward in a scheduled hearing Thursday, warning that the union will monitor and track their votes.

Many casino workers have been pushing for three years to close a loophole in the state's public smoking law that specifically exempts casinos from a ban. Despite overwhelming bipartisan support from lawmakers, and a promise from the state's Democratic governor to sign the measure, it has been bottled up in state government committees without a vote to move it forward.

The same state Senate committee that failed to vote on the bill last month is due to try again on Thursday. Fain's letter to the state Senate and Assembly was timed to the upcoming hearing.

The casino industry opposes a ban, saying it will cost jobs and revenue. It has suggested creating enclosed smoking rooms, but has refused to divulge details of that plan.

Thousands of UAW members work as table game dealers at the Caesars, Ballys, and Tropicana casinos in Atlantic City, and are exposed on a daily basis to the toxic harms of secondhand smoking, Fain wrote in a letter sent last week to lawmakers. Patrons blow cigarette/tobacco smoke directly into their faces for eight hours, and due to the nature of their work, table dealers are unable to take their eyes away from the table, so they bear through the thick smoke that surrounds their workplace.

Fain rejected smoking rooms as a solution, calling the suggestion preposterous," and said it will oppose any amendment allowing anything less than a total ban on smoking in the casinos.

Currently, smoking is allowed on 25% of the casino floor. But those spaces are not contiguous, and are scattered widely throughout the premises.

At a Nov. 30 hearing in the state Senate, several lawmakers said they are willing to consider smoking rooms as a compromise.

The Casino Association of New Jersey did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Nor did state Sen. Joseph Vitale, chairman of the committee that will conduct this week's hearing.

Chris Moyer, a spokesperson for the Atlantic City casino workers who want a smoking ban, said similar movements are under way in Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Kansas, Michigan and Nevada, and noted Connecticuts casinos are already smoke-free. Shreveport, Louisiana ended a smoking ban in its casinos in June.

Workers should leave work in the same condition they arrived, Fain wrote. Union. Non-union. Factory, office, casino, or any workplace in between, worker safety must be the #1 goal of every employer and worker throughout the state.

___

Follow Wayne Parry on X, formerly Twitter, at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC
Juan Romero stands outside his semitractor, parked in the 1500 block of South Western Avenue in Chicago, before participating in a truck convoy to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 2, 2023. The caravan takes place ahead of the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, which is Dec. 12. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Its easy to fall back into a life surrounded by gangs, drugs and violence in the streets of Chicago after being released from prison, Juan Romero wrote in an essay from the four walls of his cell as he tried to understand how he landed there and how he could find his way out.

Its the only way of life we know, said Romero, 36, now a free man.

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He was in his early teens when first arrested. It was also then when he held a gun. At 19, he pulled the trigger and at 21, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison for attempted murder.

For a long time, Romero didnt think there was a way out, especially after being convicted. Growing up in Pilsen in the 90s meant that most of his friends, even his family, were intertwined in it. His older brother had been killed on 18th Street.

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Solace and clarity came through prayer, he said.

Last week, a little over four years after serving his sentence, he adorned the hood of the semi-truck he drives for work with an image of La Guadalupana  the Virgin Mary  to partake in the annual procession of truckers from Chicagos South Side to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines.

The convoy celebrates their faith and gratitude for answered prayers throughout the year.

Since he was released from prison in October 2019, Romero commemorates the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe every December with hundreds of other truckers in a pilgrimage the weekend preceding the holiday, on Dec 12. They join thousands of devotees who visit the shrine walking, running, biking and horse riding, making the Midwest celebration the second largest one after Mexico City and the Des Plaines shrine the most visited monument of its kind in the U.S.

[ Why 200,000 people travel each December on foot, by horse and even semitruck to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines ]

This year, the Archdiocese of Chicago expects 400,000 people to visit the shrine, which houses the first replica of the sacred tilma  cloak  with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Before it was brought to the Chicago area, the Des Plaines icon was touched to the original image and blessed at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

Though Romero detached from religion at a very early age, he said it was thanks to prayers that he found a second chance at life.

Sometimes he still finds his new life difficult to believe, but when he feels the breeze of the open road as he drives through different states, it settles in him. Its beautiful, Romero said. Im grateful that people look at a different side of me now and not my background.

When released from prison, he said he couldnt find a job even after getting a commercial drivers licence. He lost all faith. But then he met Jose Ramirez and Maria Vargas, the couple who hired him as a truck driver at Mainland Corp., their family-owned flatbed transportation company.

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Trucker Juan Romero and his family in the cab of his semitruck in the 1500 block of South Western Avenue in Chicago before joining a truck convoy to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, Dec. 2, 2023. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Im glad I stayed focused. Im glad I didnt give up, Romero said. His partner, two children, his mother and two of his siblings joined him in the procession this year. The six huddled inside the truck and smiled, excited to be there.

His mother, Maria Romero, who raised the family Catholic, said that she had prayed for that moment many times.

Is this the life that I want?

Romero grew up in Pilsen. Though it now faces strong tints of gentrification and gang activity is stagnant, back then, the bad influence around you was automatic, he recalled.

Despite it all, he managed to graduate from Benito Juarez High School. And even though he had hardworking Mexican immigrant parents, he gravitated toward trouble, following in the footsteps of his older siblings.

That is something he is still trying to make sense of: My parents gave me everything I needed, they supported me but I still took a different route, he said.

It was when his older brother, Eddie Romero, was killed at age 22 that he took a step back.

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Is this the life that I want? Romero asked himself knowing that going forward all he could do was deal with the consequences. That lifestyle only leads to two places: death or incarceration, he said.

In April 2009, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison. After 11 years behind bars at the Illinois River Correctional Center in downstate Canton, he was released in October 2019.

While incarcerated, his mother would visit him once or twice a year, but it was disheartening to see her that way, he said. So he spent his time reading, drawing and taking college courses.

He completed three vocational programs, including restaurant management, culinary arts and contribution. Romero also got an associate degree from Lake Land College. Following his release, he enrolled in driving school, after learning of the opportunities it could bring.

But despite the resume hed built, he said his criminal record wouldnt let him get ahead.

Until the day he heard that Ramirez and Vargas needed a driver. He called them.

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I told them my story, I didnt want to hide anything, Romero said.

They didnt judge me, they understood.

Semitrucks arrive at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 2, 2023, in Des Plaines. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Juan Munos, 7, in his father's semitruck in Chicago before a truck convoy to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, Dec. 2, 2023. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

At Mainland, at least 60% of drivers are formerly incarcerated men, said Vargas, co-founder of the company. The number of drivers ranges from eight to 12 throughout the year. Hiring them is something Vargas holds close to her heart and one of the reasons why her faith in Our Lady of Guadalupe is so strong. It allows them a new start.

Vargas was only 4 years old when her father was sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug-related charges and after being released, he was immediately deported to Mexico, negating a chance to return to his family.

Her fathers absence hurt her in more ways than you can imagine, Vargas said.

I wish my father had had the opportunity to start over. Maybe today, things would have been different if the government, if society gave former prisoners a second chance at life, Vargas said.

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That is the reason why she and her husband hire people like Romero. He underwent six months of training and the couple hired Romero in November 2020.

That same year, Vargas invited Romero to participate in the pilgrimage she has organized every December since 2015 to commemorate the Feast of Lady of Guadalupe. They hire a mariachi to kick off the celebration and along with her aunts, she makes about 1,500 tamales to give to drivers who participate.

Maria Vargas cooks beans as the wives and other family members of Mexican truck drivers gather at her home to make tamales on Dec. 1, 2023. The tamales are made to feed the devotees who participate in the annual trucking pilgrimage from Pilsen to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

The wives and other family members of truck drivers gather at the Chicago home of Maria Vargas to make tamales to feed the devotees who participate in the trucking pilgrimage from Pilsen to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

This year, more than 120 truck drivers took part in the convoy. Most make the journey to the shrine to fulfill a promise  a manda  or give thanks to the Virgin Mary for her blessings. For others, it is a prayer for a specific need or concern.

Vargas said that her journey this year is not only one of gratitude but also a plea. The workload has been unfortunately low this year and the diesel prices are extremely high. But the company has managed to stay afloat, Vargas said.

Prayers work. Im convinced that Our Lady of Guadalupe considers all of our sacrifices.

A jalapeno, cheese and bean tamale is made at the Chicago home of Mari Vargas for devotees who participate in the annual trucking pilgrimage from Pilsen to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in DesPlaines. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Romero said he was never very religious. He stopped praying around the time he began to get in trouble.

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But he leaned on faith after he lost his older brother. He wasnt convinced it worked until he was released from prison and life, once again, put him to the test.

Theres always hope. Dont lose faith, Romero said.

He is mostly grateful that he still has a family and they are together once again.

All after more than 4,000 days of prayer.

larodriguez@chicagotribune.com
Members of the Biden administration met to discuss how to implement President Bidens artificial intelligence (AI) executive order Tuesday for the inaugural meeting of the White House AI Council, according to an official.

During the meeting, the officials received a classified intelligence briefing from the presidents national security team to discuss the international dimensions and capability of AI, according to the White House official.

The group, which included members of the Cabinet, such as Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, also discussed ways to bring talent and expertise into the government, how to safety test for new models, and ways to prevent risks associated with AI  such as fraud, discrimination and privacy risks, according to the official.

The group also discussed the new U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute, announced by the Department of Commerces National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) last month.

Other attendees included Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough, deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed, acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Arati Prabhakar.

The White House AI Council will meet regularly, according to the White House official. It was created as part of Bidens sweeping executive order on AI.

The order also included new standards for safety and for reporting information to the federal government about the testing, and subsequent results, of models that pose risks to national security, economic security or public health.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Biden on Tuesday announced an additional $200 million military aid package to Ukraine to help the war-weary nation in its ongoing fight against Russia.

The announcement came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was visiting the White House and meeting with congressional leaders to plead for more U.S. aid.

"I just signed another $200 million drawdown for the Department of Defense for Ukraine, and thatll be coming," Biden told reporters during an on-camera meeting in the Oval Office with Zelenskyy.

The roughly $200 million in weapons and equipment will be taken from Pentagon stockpiles and include additional ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), high-speed anti-radiation missiles, anti-armor systems, artillery rounds, missiles, demolition munitions, 4 million rounds of small-arms ammunition, generators and other equipment and spare parts, one official said.

Including that latest package, the U.S. now has about $4.4 billion remaining in weapons it can provide from department stockpiles.

JOHNSON DIGS HEELS IN ON BORDER SECURITY AFTER MEETING WITH ZELENSKYY ABOUT UKRAINE AID

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Zelenskyy's visit to Washington comes at a grim time for Ukraine. Biden's request for an additional $110 billion U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs is at serious risk of collapse in Congress as Republicans are insisting on linking it to strict U.S.-Mexico border security changes that Democrats decry.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, meets with House Speaker Mike Johnson in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to discuss additional aid from Congress.

Zelenskyy met privately with U.S. lawmakers earlier Tuesday, including Democrat Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and new Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Schumer called it a "very powerful" meeting but gave no update on stalled negotiations. Johnson insisted after the meeting: "We do want to do the right thing here."

The White House said the time was right for Zelenskyy's trip to Washington as Biden pushes lawmakers to approve the aid package before the year-end holidays.

A top spokesperson said the U.S. can't let Ukraine aid lapse, especially as the Israel-Hamas war takes attention, and that the president is willing to make compromises with Republicans.





Original article source: Biden announces $200M in additional military aid to Ukraine during Zelenskyy visit to White House
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden hosted a Hanukkah reception at the White House on Monday night, vowing to continue to stand with Israel in its war with Hamas while saying that a surge of antisemitism around the globe is sickening.

Nearly 800 guests filled the East Room to almost overflowing. The crowd included Holocaust survivors, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and around two dozen members of Congress. Also present were Jewish community leaders and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who was among those who lit a menorah partially made from the original timbers of the White House.

The husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, Emhoff is the first Jewish person to be the spouse of one of the countrys nationally elected leaders. Last week he presided over the lighting ceremony of a massive menorah in front of the White House.

A menorah is lit nightly during the eight-day Jewish festival, which this year is being celebrated from Dec. 7 until Friday. Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of Central Synagogue in New York City led Mondays ceremony, telling the president: Youve been a steadfast supporter of Israels right to defend itself. A trusted and true friend to the Jewish people.

Buchdahl talked about the darkness of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which triggered war with Israel. But she said that since, Its only gotten darker, with many around the world justifying terrorism, normalizing antisemitism, with the pain of so many lives lost  Israeli and Palestinian  in this just but tragic war.

She also drew sustained applause when she called Biden a beacon of strength.

The president told the crowd, You dont have to be a Jew to be a Zionist. He said that while he doesnt always agree with Israels leaders and governmental policies, Were there no Israel, there would not be a Jew in the world who is safe.

We continue to provide military assistance until they get rid of Hamas but we have to be careful, Biden said of U.S. support for the war. He added: The whole world, public opinion can shift overnight. We cant let that happen.

The Biden administration in May announced what it called the first-ever national strategy to counter antisemitism. Still, antisemitism has only intensified in some quarters as criticism rises over the mounting Palestinian death toll. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned of an impending humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Biden said of hostages being held by Hamas, which U.S. authorities have been working for months to help free, Were not going to stop until we get every one of them home. The crowd also cheered when he talked of his administrations efforts to increase humanitarian aid flowing to civilians in Gaza caught in the fighting.

Others, though, have decried Bidens stance on the war. Earlier Monday, protesters gathered outside the White House as nearly 20 women describing themselves as Jewish elders chained themselves to the fence around the grounds. Wearing black T-shirts reading Not In Our Name, they chanted: Biden, Biden, pick a side! Cease-fire not genocide! while reading the names of those killed in Gaza.

Authorities took the women away after using a bolt cutter to cut the chains that had encircled the protesters waists. Organizers said they deliberately picked the day of the White Houses Hanukkah celebration to protest.

We, as elder Jews, we know what genocide looks like. We know what genocide feels like. Its in our bodies, in our bones, said Esther Farmer of Jewish Voice for Peace, which organized the demonstration. Its horrifying, its devastating. Sometimes, its hard to get up in the morning to see this, and its being done in the name of Jews. So we are here  as elderly Jews  to say, not in our name.

The U.S. Park Police said they issued 18 citations to the protesters and released them from custody.

Biden at the reception said he recognized American Jews hurt and fear for your safety because the surge of antisemitism in the United States and around the world is sickening.

We see it in our communities and in schools and colleges and social media, the president said, adding that such instances surface painful scars.

On Saturday, Liz Magill, the president of the University of Pennsylvania, resigned following pressure from donors and criticism over testimony at a congressional hearing where she was unable to say under repeated questioning that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the schools conduct policy. Universities across the U.S. have been accused of failing to protect Jewish students amid the fallout from the war in Gaza.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates declined to comment Monday on Magills decision to resign. Presidents Claudine Gay of Harvard and Sally Kornbluth of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who appeared alongside Magill, have also faced criticism. Gay has apologized for her remarks.

Bates noted that Magill issued a statement withdrawing her remarks.

That was the right thing to do, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
The Scoop

With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy due in Washington on Tuesday, the White House has plunged directly into the Senates wobbling bipartisan negotiations over a deal to potentially trade stiff new border enforcement reforms for aid to Kyiv.

White House chief of staff Jeff Zients is now part of the discussions with Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.; James Lankford, R-Okla.; and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., according to a Senate aide. Its the most direct involvement from the West Wing since the group began bargaining about a month ago. Another person familiar with the talks said Zients has been in conversations with the negotiating trio, along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Several top lawmakers had previously suggested that the White House would need to get involved to break the ongoing logjam in negotiations. Republicans have said they will not approve another round of aid to Ukraine without significant new limits on the U.S. asylum program, and other major changes to border policy. On Monday, Lankford told reporters that he didnt think there was enough time to cinch an agreement before the Senate adjourns for Christmas.

I hope hes wrong, Murphy told reporters. I hope tomorrows [Zelensky] visit will convince Republicans to put a bow on this agreement.

On Monday, both Democrats and Republicans acknowledged that discussions have been making halting progress, at best. But they offered conflicting accounts of how negotiations unfolded over the weekend, which left it unclear how much Republicans and Democrats were actively talking.

Lankford said the White House and Senate Democrats had cut him out of talks for the last several days while trying to reach an agreement among themselves about what sort of deal on border policy they could accept. I didnt get looped in. It was just a frustrating weekend, he told reporters.

But Democrats insisted that Lankford hadnt been left out. They negotiated through the weekend, a Democratic aide briefed on the discussions told Semafor.

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While the two parties are still struggling to reach a pact , Latino lawmakers have begun to raise their own alarms after President Biden suggested he was willing to make significant concessions on the border to secure Ukraine aid.

We are deeply concerned that the President would consider advancing Trump-era immigration policies that Democrats fought so hard against  and that he himself campaigned against  in exchange for aid to our allies that Republicans already support, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif. and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Diaz Barragan said in a joint statement.

Along with stricter asylum provisions, Republicans have demanded an overhaul of the parole system the White House has used to manage the enormous flow of migrants arriving to the US-Mexico border. Conservatives have accused the White House of abusing the parole system to allow hundreds of thousands of individuals into the country.

NBC News reported on Sunday about growing frustration within CHC ranks at their inability to get an urgent meeting with the White House to voice their concerns. A White House aide told Semafor theyre in frequent contact with members of the CHC.

In their letter, Barragan and Padilla laid down several red lines as nonstarters. Notably, the lawmakers are signaling they may not back a bill that expanded the Department of Homeland Securitys expedited removal authority beyond the US-Mexico border, a move that would make it easier to deport undocumented immigrants who have long lived in the US. Under former President Trump, DHS used expedited removal authority to swiftly deport immigrants who resided in the US for less than two years.

Terrorizing communities across the U.S. by expanding expedited removal and ignoring our international obligations to provide asylum to those fleeing persecution, violence, and authoritarianism are nonstarters, the letter states. Republican demands to cut off legal pathways and deport long-term residents will not reduce unauthorized migration.
The Biden administration has opened an ethnic discrimination investigation at Rutgers University, making it one of the latest schools under federal scrutiny since the Israel-Hamas war began in October.

The U.S. Department of Education opened the investigation Monday, adding the public university in New Jersey to its list of schools under federal scrutiny. Like many other universities, Rutgers has faced criticism in recent weeks for its response to antisemitism following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

Other schools on the DOE list include Harvard, Stanford and New York City's education department. The move also follows the resignation of University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill after criticism of her response to questions from House lawmakers about antisemitism on campus. The presidents of Harvard and MIT also faced backlash for their responses during a lengthy grilling by the House Education Committee.

The DOE's list said the location of the Rutgers investigation is Newark, where the university has a campus. But it did not specify the nature of the investigation, and the agency declined to comment.

"We have received notice that an investigation has been opened of the universitys response to alleged incidents in October and November of 2023. The notice provides no further details, but we will certainly fully cooperate," Rutgers spokesperson Dory Devlin said in a statement.

"Rutgers stands against antisemitism and against hate in all its pernicious forms," Devlin added. "The university strives to be a safe and supportive environment for all our students, faculty, and staff. We reject absolutely intolerance based on religion, national origin, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or political views."

Last week, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) sent a letter to university president Jonathan Holloway expressing "strong concerns" about a school-sponsored event on "race, liberation and Palestine" featuring two speakers Gottheimer called "notorious antisemites." Gottheimer also cited in his letter the school's Students for Justice in Palestine chapter labeling the October attacks as "justified retaliation" and a Rutgers student being charged after allegedly posting threats on social media to kill an Israeli student.

"The first amendment does not give students the right to bully, intimidate, and instill fear onto other students," Gottheimer wrote. "If the Universitys goal is to promote mutual understanding and bring students together, it will fail so long as antisemites and anti-Israel advocates are given a sanctioned platform on your campus to promote hatred."

Two university graduates also reportedly pulled their donations to the school for its response to antisemitism on campus.

The Biden administration has sought to respond to an "alarming" nationwide increase of antisemitism, anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination on college campuses and in K-12 schools. Last month it announced several schools the DOE is investigating for alleged "shared ancestry violations" of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Schools that receive federal funds must comply with Title VI, a federal law that bars discrimination based on shared ancestry, ethnic characteristics or national origin.

"Hate has no place in our schools, period. When students are targeted because they are  or are perceived to be  Jewish, Muslim, Arab, Sikh, or any other ethnicity or shared ancestry, schools must act to ensure safe and inclusive educational environments where everyone is free to learn, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement.
US president Joe Biden is likely to skip Indias Republic Day celebrations, at which he was expected to be the chief guest, according to reports.

This comes after the US Justice Department accused an Indian official of hatching a plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader on American soil.

In September, US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said Indian prime minister Narendra Modi had invited Mr Biden to be the chief guest for Indias Republic Day celebrations on 26 January.

India extended the invitation to Mr Biden as part of its preparations to host the Quad Leaders Summit in January next year.

An Indian government source told The Independent: The Quad summit in India is proposed to be held later in 2024. We are looking for revised dates as the dates currently under consideration do not work with all the Quad partners. The Quad is a diplomatic network of US, India, Japan and Australia.

A National Security Council spokesperson who spoke to The Independent on condition of anonymity said neither he nor the administration had any travel announcements to preview at this time.

Speaking about India and Americas relationship just a few days ago, Mr Garcetti had said: To make this romantic, it is like our Facebook status for a long time was its complicated. Now we are dating.

In time we will realise that maybe we have moved in together and we might not like each others habits, like why do you leave the towel on the floor ... we are figuring out how and where this goes ... there is a strong desire in our hearts, it is personal.

In November, the US said that it had thwarted a plot to kill Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

The US raised concerns with New Delhi that the Indian government may have had knowledge of the plot.

Canada pressed India last month to cooperate in an investigation of the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia after the US revealed it had foiled the assassination attempt against Pannun.

The US Justice Department said it was charging a 52-year-old man who had worked with an Indian government employee on a plot to assassinate the New York City resident, who had advocated for a Sikh sovereign state in northern India.

The US charges come about two months after Canada said there were credible allegations linking Indian agents to the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb in June. India rejected that allegation.

The foiled plot to assassinate the prominent Sikh separatist leader was intended to precede a string of other politically motivated murders in the United States and Canada, according to US prosecutors.

In electronic communications and audio and video calls secretly recorded or obtained by US law enforcement, organisers of the plot talked last spring about plans to kill someone in California and at least three other people in Canada, in addition to the victim in New York, according to an indictment unsealed in November.

The goal was to kill at least four people in the two countries by 29 June, and then more after that, prosecutors contend.

We have so many targets, a man named Nikhil Gupta said in a recorded audio call, according to the indictment. We have so many targets. But the good news is this, the good news is this: now no need to wait.

The US attorney in Manhattan announced charges against Mr Gupta, and said in court papers that the plot to kill Pannun was directed by an official in the Indian government. That government official was not charged in the indictment or identified by name, but the court filing described him as a senior field officer with responsibilities in security management and intelligence.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the Indian government had set up a high-level inquiry after US authorities raised concerns about the plot to kill Pannun.

Additional reporting by agencies
Former Chicago Inspector General Joseph Ferguson, at police headquarters on Oct. 3, 2017, was named president of the Civic Federation. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

The Civic Federation, the business-backed watchdog group best known for its analyses of local budgets, has named former Chicago Inspector General Joseph Ferguson as its new president.

Ferguson said under his leadership, the organization will still be dedicated to fiscal and budget issues. But rather than the often adversarial position he took as IG, he hopes to work with elected leaders on similar auditing functions to make government work better  its a recalibration of what Ive been doing for a very long time.

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His first day is Jan. 16.

For 12 years and across three mayoral administrations, Ferguson was the citys lead watchdog, heading the office that investigates waste, fraud and corruption in Chicago government.

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Investigations during his tenure ranged from sexual harassment to infrastructure spending. Ferguson also oversaw the office expanding its oversight to include a public safety section, which took on high-profile audits of the citys response to George Floyd protests, the Chicago Police Departments gang database, and compliance with the consent decree, often clashing with mayors or their department heads along the way.

He was previously a prosecutor in the U.S. attorneys office focused on public corruption, fraud and racketeering cases.

The Civic Federations vice president and research director, Sarah Wetmore, has been the acting head of the organization since the sudden death of its longtime president, Laurence Msall, in February. Wetmore will return to her former role once Ferguson starts.

Msall was credited with making the organization the indispensable voice for fiscal responsibility throughout the state of Illinois, the Civic Federation said after his passing.

The groups board sought strong, strategic leadership inspired by a genuine passion for fiscal accountability and government efficiency, according to the release announcing Fergusons appointment. The search process was led by a 15-member search committee that reached out to 140 leaders and selected from a pool of more than 40 highly qualified candidates.

Replacing a legendary figure like Laurence was a difficult task for all of us, board Chair Donovan Pepper said in the release. Joe brings remarkable depth and breadth of experience to our team and has a tremendous passion for ensuring our local and state governments work effectively, efficiently and inclusively for all citizens.

Ferguson announced his exit from the Office of the Inspector General in July 2021, as his relationship with Mayor Lori Lightfoot frayed. Lightfoot said his successor as inspector general needed to understand the importance of staying in their lane.

For his part, Ferguson criticized City Hall after stepping down as inspector general for not doing enough on police reforms and said Lightfoots administration lacks competencies.

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I think some of the public perception of me has to do with the fact that in the role you have as inspector general, that poking is directly at power, Ferguson said.

Now, its about collaboration, he said. The watchwords and the statutory terms for inspectors general are to promote economy, efficiency, effectiveness and integrity in government operations. Effectiveness and efficiency with mindfulness, always of the economy, are at the core of the stated mission of the Civic Fed, Ferguson said.

This merely isnt a generational inflection point for the Civic Federation, which in 130 years has gracefully moved through all sorts of turbulent times, but its also one for the city, he said. The real challenges are upon the city. That has a direct relationship to the state and our viability as a world class city in the 21st century.  Im pumped and looking forward to this new form of engagement around a set of issues we all know we need to get to.

After leaving the city, Ferguson was a fellow at the University of Chicagos Institute of Politics and launched an organization, (re)Chicago, dedicated to aligning the citys governance structure with 21st century challenges, needs and values  including creating a new city charter that would empower members of the City Council.

He has been a lecturer at Loyola University Chicago since 2011 and since 2022 at UChicagos Harris School of Public Policy.

aquig@chicagotribune.com
President Joe Biden on Wednesday will meet with families of all eight American hostages abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel, a senior administration official told CNN.

The meeting will take place at the White House with some joining virtually. A number of families of hostages are in Washington, DC, this week to make a personal case for the Biden administration and Israeli government to work harder and more creatively for their loved ones release.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and deputy national security adviser Jon Finer also will join the meeting, the official said. Wednesday marks Bidens first in-person meeting with the families of American hostages  he previously met with them over Zoom in October.

There are still seven American men and one woman missing since the war began, according to the White House. Four Americans  a 4-year-old girl and three women  have been released so far.

Since then, there has been regular outreach from the White House and the office of Bidens hostage envoy, Roger Carstens, according to the families. They contrasted that to what theyve described as minimal support received from the Israeli government.

But after watching a separate deal reached by Russian President Vladimir Putin for several Israeli-Russian hostages, the families have wondered whether the Biden administration could be making a stronger push.

President Putin kind of opened our eyes that there is the ability to do a separate deal on a specific nationality, Ruby Chen, whose 19-year-old reservist son Itay has been missing since October 7, previously told CNN. So that precedent is something that I think is logical to suggest or to consider.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told CNN the president will promise the families the administration is not going to lose sight of their loved ones, when he meets them at the White House.

Were not going to stop trying to get them home, Kirby told CNNs Poppy Harlow on CNN This Morning Wednesday. Hour by hour, literally, we are trying to get more information about them and to get them, get to get a deal in place where we can get them back home.

Several family members had asked to attend a Hanukkah reception held at the White House on Monday, but did not receive an invite. But Biden referenced the hostages while speaking at the reception, vowing his administration was not going to stop til we get every one of them home.

This story has been updated with additional reporting

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WASHINGTON  Biden administration officials met Monday with top Jewish leaders at the White House to discuss the rise in antisemitism, a meeting participant said.

Amy Spitalnick, the CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, confirmed that she joined a meeting that included the White House coordinator for the Middle East, Brett McGurk, Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall and Deborah Lipstadt, the special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff also spoke at the meeting, Spitalnick said.

The administration has been incredibly responsive and engaged, Spitalnick said in a statement. At a time of increasingly normalized antisemitism and hate  that threatens our communities and our democracy  it matters that we have a President and an administration who understand the urgency of this threat and are advancing a historic strategy to address it.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the meeting, which was first reported by CNN.

President Joe Biden on Monday touted his administration's efforts to implement a national strategy to combat antisemitism that was first announced in May.

"Prosecuting hate, prosecuting hate crimes, addressing antisemitism in schools, increasing security around Jewish centers of life and more," Biden said of the effort at a Hanukkah reception at the White House.

"Were calling upon all Americans and make clear there is no place for hate in America against Jews, Muslims or anybody else."

Antisemitic incidents in the U.S. climbed 388% in the weeks after the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, compared to the same period last year, according to the Anti-Defamation League, a group focused on fighting antisemitism and extremism.

The attacks killed about 1,200 people in Israel. In the aftermath, more than 18,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to local health officials.

The meeting Monday followed an uproar over congressional testimony last week from the presidents of top-tier universities about whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate their schools' codes of conduct. University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned Saturday following the backlash, which included criticism from the White House.

Its unbelievable that this needs to be said: Calls for genocide are monstrous and antithetical to everything we represent as a country, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement after the testimony.

Biden has increased outreach efforts in recent months to both Jewish and Muslim communities, which have faced growing threats amid the Israel-Hamas war.

NBC News reported in October that Biden quietly hosted a meeting with a handful of Muslim leaders as he sought to address ongoing criticism from the Arab American community over his handling of Palestinian civilian deaths and increased domestic threats to Muslim Americans since the war began.

Tara Prindiville reported from Washington and Zoe Richards from New York.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
President Joe Biden on Monday touted his unshakeable support for the safety of the Jewish people and the security of Israel and its right to exist, but he also offered a stark warning about the volatility of public opinion.

Well continue to provide military assistance to Israel until they get rid of Hamas, but we have to be careful  they have to be careful, Biden told those gathered for a Hanukkah reception at the White House Monday night. The whole worlds public opinion can shift overnight, we cant let that happen.

The comments from Biden come as an emergency aid package that would provide funding for Israel and Ukraine remains mired in Congress and lawmakers face pressure to act amid a new wave of antisemitism in the US as the Israel-Hamas war enters a third month.

The reception, hosted by the president, celebrated the fifth night of Hanukkah and, according to the White House, featured some 800 guests, including Holocaust survivors, lawmakers and various Jewish leaders.

I also recognize youre hurting from the silence, and the fear, and for your safety, because of a surge in antisemitism in the United States of America and around the world  its sickening, Biden told the audience.

He added, You know, we see it, across our communities, and schools, and colleges, and social media  they surface painful scars, from millennia of hate to genocide of the Jewish people.

Reported hate crimes and bias incidents against Jews, Muslims and Arabs have continued to surge since October 7, according to new data from the Anti-Defamation League and the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

The ADL said it recorded 2,031 antisemitic incidents in the two months following Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, including reports of physical assault, vandalism and anti-Israel rallies that included classically antisemitic, anti-Zionist and/or terror-supportive rhetoric. That is up from 465 such incidents during the same two-month period in 2022.

CAIR, the nations largest Muslim advocacy group, said it has seen a similar spike in bias incidents during the first month of the war with 2,171 requests for help and reports made to its national headquarters and chapters across the country since October 7.

At the event, Biden called upon all Americans to make clear there is no place for hate in America  against Jews, Muslims or anybody else.

Biden was joined on stage by second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who has made combatting antisemitism a focus as the first Jewish spouse of a president or vice president. Last week, Emhoff condemned rising antisemitism at the National Menorah lighting ceremony.

The president in his remarks pointed to his support for Israel, while acknowledging differences between himself and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He recounted how as a young lawmaker he told the Israeli leader, I love you, but I dont agree with a damn thing you have to say. Its about the same today, he said Monday.

Biden highlighted the work his administration has done to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region, saying he personally spent countless hours working with Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian counterparts on both fronts.

Theres a whole range of things going on now that are really very, very difficult, Biden said. Weve gotten more than 100 hostages out and were not going to stop till we get every one of them home.

Seven American men and one woman remain unaccounted for since the Israel-Hamas war began, according to the White House. Four Americans  a 4-year-old girl and three women  have been released so far.

The United States, Biden also said, will continue to lead the world in humanitarian assistance to innocent Palestinian civilians, to emphasize to our friends, our Israeli friends, we need to protect civilian life.

CNNs MJ Lee contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
US President Joe Biden said it will be a Christmas gift to Vladimir Putin if Congress fails to pass a spending bill for more weapons before the end of the year.

Speaking to Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Tuesday, Mr Biden assured his Ukrainian counterpart we are going to stand at your side.

Mr Biden later warned during a joint press conference with Mr Zelensky that Mr Putin is banking on the US failing to deliver for Ukraine. We must prove him wrong, he said.

The Ukrainian president had been in Washington DC as part of a last-ditch attempt to convince Congress to approve a $61 billion (48 billion) funding package.

During his trip he met with senators from both parties ahead of his trip White House, where he sought assurances from Mr Biden that more aid would be sent from the US in the coming months.

Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky during a news conference at the White House - Yuri Gripas

Republicans have so far blocked the bill, demanding concessions from Mr Biden on border control as the price of their support.

Mr Biden said Russian loyalists in Moscow had celebrated last week when Republicans voted to block more aid for Ukraine.

The host of a Kremlin run show literally said and I quote, well done Republicans, thats good for us, Mr Biden said, before warning that if youre being celebrated by Russian propagandists, it might be time to rethink what youre doing.

History will judge harshly those who turn their back on freedoms cause.

Pressed on whether had heard what he had wanted from US politicians during his visit, Mr Zelensky said he had received more than positive signals. He added: But we know that we have to separate words and particular results.

Mr Zelensky added that it is very important that by the end of this year we can send a very strong signal of our unity to the aggressor.

Earlier on Tuesday, US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said it would be practically impossible for Congress to pass a supplemental funding package including aid for Ukraine before Christmas.

Mr McConnell said a deal will not happen until Mr Biden reaches an agreement with Republicans.

Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator, said he had used the meeting to tell Mr Zelensky he should be thankful to Mr Johnson that a bill on Ukraine spending could even make it to the floor of the House of Representatives, despite the lengthy delay.

Speaker Mike Johnson has insisted any more funding for Ukraine must be tied to stringent border measures to appease Republicans who are concerned about illegal migration from Mexico.

I said you need to thank Mike Johnson for being willing to pass a package if border security is in it, because half his conference probably doesnt agree with that, Mr Graham said, adding that Mr Zelensky had nodded in response.

The White House has said it is willing to negotiate and is optimistic a bill can pass by the end of the year, but has failed to reach an agreement with the GOP in either the Senate or the House.

Ukraine forces firing on Russia troops as the front line appears to be static

Officials have also warned that without a spending agreement by the end of this month, Ukraine will see a noticeable drop in US support on the ground.

Although Mr Biden is keen to support Ukraine as it prepares for a Russian winter offensive, his administration is also pushing Mr Zelensky to abandon plans for a new territorial push and hold and build gains it has made in the last year.

Military officials hope that by next year, Ukraine will have built up its own weapons manufacturing industry and reduced its reliance on American and European stockpiles, ready for a new offensive when the weather improves.

The New York Times reported that Mr Zelenskys administration would prefer to continue fighting the war in the south, despite an underwhelming autumn offensive that achieved its goals of recapturing the cities of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, but failed to move the front lines much further into Russian territory.

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Carol Stuckey drops her mail-in ballot into a secured drop box at the Chicago Board of Elections Loop Super Site on Feb. 15, 2023. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

As the Republican National Committee embarks on a strategy to encourage mail-in-voting  a method strongly opposed in the past by former President Donald Trump  it also is backing an appeal in a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn an Illinois law that allows mail-in ballots cast on or before Election Day to be counted up to 14 days afterward.

The RNC, which is promoting a bank the vote program to get Republicans to pledge to vote by mail, joined with the National Republican Congressional Committee in filing a court brief in the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the effort to nullify ballots received by Illinois election authorities after Election Day.

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U.S. District Judge John Kness in July dismissed the lawsuit, which was brought by five-term U.S. Rep. Mike Bost of Murphysboro and two prospective 2024 GOP presidential electors. Kness ruled the three plaintiffs lacked standing to sue the State Board of Elections over the law, which allows mail-in ballots to be counted in the 14 days after Election Day as long as they were postmarked or certified on or before that day.

But Kness went even further, ruling that Illinois 2015 law complied with the U.S. Constitution as well as federal election law and does not conflict with the federal mandate that Election Day be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

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By counting only mail-in ballots postmarked on or before Election Day, the statute does not extend the day for casting votes in a federal election, the judge ruled.

Bost, who is facing a March 19 Republican primary challenge from last years unsuccessful GOP candidate for governor, former state Sen. Darren Bailey of Xenia, appealed the ruling in August and briefs from both sides in the case were filed Friday. Bosts candidacy is backed by the NRCC.

The case could have far-reaching consequences. During the 2020 pandemic year general election, when mail-in voting increased, as many as 266,417 votes were counted in the two-week period after Election Day, according to court documents.

Democrats have long been successful in organizing and executing a mail-in voting strategy in Illinois and other states. Trump, who has a huge lead in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has decried mail-in voting and encouraged in-person voting on Election Day.

There is no way you can go through a mail-in vote without massive cheating, Trump said in an August 2020 interview with Axios.

But the RNC, joined by many backers of the former president, is now promoting mail-in voting nationally to better compete against Democrats. As the RNC filed its court brief to end the counting of late-arriving, mail-in ballots Friday, the Illinois GOP promoted a Feb. 9 Bank Your Vote gala fundraiser in Rosemont to encourage mail-in voting that featured U.S. Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana.

Briefs in support of upholding the Illinois law were filed by the Democratic Party of Illinois, the civil rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice and 18 states that have similar laws for counting ballots post-Election Day.

The state Democratic Party said the consequences of a successful appeal would be widespread and severe.

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Illinoisans ability to successfully use mail ballots to exercise their fundamental right to vote would largely depend on the ability of the Postal Service to timely deliver them  a troubling proposition in a time when significant delivery delays are common, the Democratic brief said.

State Rep. Elizabeth Lisa Hernandez of Cicero, the state Democratic chair, questioned the incongruous message of Republicans pushing for mail-in voting at they same time theyre seeking to curtail its results.

It is fundamentally un-American and antidemocratic for Republicans to continue their attempts to silence Illinoisans when the will of votes is not on their side, Hernandez said in a statement.

Justice Watch, which joined unsuccessful efforts by Trump to stop vote counting in his 2020 loss to President Joe Biden, acknowledged in its appeal that Bost and the Republican activists do not allege voter fraud, nor do they allege that ballots were mailed after Election Day, contrary to Illinois law.

Instead, they allege ballots received after Election Day are illegal and are as invalid as if they were received one year after Election Day.

In his ruling, Kness, who was appointed to the federal bench by Trump in 2019, rejected Bosts complaint that the law forced him to spend significant resources on his campaign for an additional two weeks after Election Day.

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It is mere conjecture that, if congressman Bost does not spend the time and resources to confer with his staff and watch the results roll in, his risk of losing the election will increase, the judge wrote. Under the letter of Illinois law, all votes must be cast by Election Day, so congressman Bosts electoral fate is sealed at midnight on Election Day, regardless of the resources he expends after the fact.

Bosts challenge to the law was somewhat ironic since he touts his past service in the Marines and the law was designed in part to meet federal voting requirements for military members serving overseas. The U.S. Department of Justice had issued a statement of interest in support of the state of Illinois, in part citing protections for military members to have their votes counted.

In both his lawsuit and appeal, Bost contended the counting of late, illegal ballots dilutes the value of lawfully cast votes and infringes upon his right as a federal candidate to stand for office.

Bost has alleged that late votes could reduce his margin of victory and that this will lead to the public perception that my constituents have concerns about my job performance and would influence numerous third parties, such as future voters, Congressional leadership, donors and potential political opponents.

While facing a challenge from Bailey this year, Bost faced only token primary opposition in 2018 and no primary opposition in 2014 when he was first elected to Congress as well as in 2016, 2020 and 2022. Since entering Congress, he has easily won reelection with large margins in his Republican-rich downstate district.

rap30@aol.com
President Biden on Tuesday warned that Israel is starting to lose support around the world for its war with Hamas, which began after the deadly Oct. 7 attacks the U.S.-designated terrorist organization launched against Israel.

Biden reiterated his support for Israel amid the war but told a group of donors at a fundraiser in Washington, D.C., that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has to change, and with this government, this government in Israel is making it very difficult for him to move.

Bibis got a tough decision to make, Biden said, referring to Netanyahu.

This is the most conservative government in Israels history, he said, adding the government doesnt want a two-state solution.

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Biden on Monday called his commitment to Israel unshakeable, but he added, They have to be careful. The whole worlds public opinion can shift overnight. We cant let that happen.

While the White House has supported Israels military campaign against Hamas, it has increasingly stressed concerns over causalities in Gaza and the need for humanitarian aid. It has also made clear its support for a two-state solution, a concept Biden has long advocated for.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu on Tuesday said that while he appreciates the support from Biden for destroying Hamas, there are disagreements between them about potential next steps for the region after the war.

Yes, there is disagreement about the day after Hamas and I hope that we will reach agreement here as well. I would like to clarify my position: I will not allow Israel to repeat the mistake of Oslo, he said, referring to the Oslo Accords that were signed at the White House in 1993 for Palestinians and Israelis to recognize the others right to exist.

Biden, during the Tuesday fundraiser, reiterated his support for Israel and his stance against antisemitism in the U.S. and elsewhere.

The safety of the Jewish people [is] literally at stake, Biden said.

Prior to the conflict, Biden had called Netanyahus government the most conservative in Israels history and urged the prime minister to pull back on the nations controversial judicial overhaul.

Updated at 2:10 pm.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The News

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the U.S. wants to see Ukraine win the war against Russia as he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with future aid to Kyiv in doubt.

We want to see Ukraine win the war, Biden said at a news conference, adding that winning means Ukraine is a sovereign, independent nation that can afford to defend itself today and deter further aggression.

Biden also warned that allowing U.S. funding to Ukraine to lapse would be a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine, Biden said. We must prove him wrong.

Zelenskyy, who spent Tuesday meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to push for more assistance, said Ukraine has a clear plan for its war effort and dismissed the idea of Kyiv making territorial concessions to Russia as insane.

The Ukrainian leader pushed back against the notion that the war has reached a stalemate, saying Kyivs forces have made significant progress by freeing 50% of territory occupied by Russia since the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

In their meeting earlier Tuesday afternoon, Biden announced he would send another $200 million package of military equipment to Ukraine, further dwindling the available aid.

The View From Congress

Zelenskyy spent about an hour meeting with U.S. senators earlier Tuesday before crossing the Capitol to meet separately with House Speaker Mike Johnson.

In brief remarks following their meeting, Johnson made clear his position hadnt changed on conditioning U.S. aid to Ukraine on border security measures and also said he hasnt gotten sufficient answers from the Biden administration about the strategy forward in the war.

These are our conditions because these are the conditions of the American people, and we are resolute on that, Johnson said.

A bipartisan group of senators has been negotiating on a potential border security package for weeks now with buy-in from the White House amid Republicans insisting future Ukraine aid be paired with measures to control illegal migration, but the two sides have yet to reach a consensus.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., one of the negotiators, said he hoped the Senate could reach an agreement before Christmas if the group delayed the planned holiday recess.

There are some really serious new policies on the table, policies that are outside of the Democratic comfort zone, Murphy told reporters after meeting Zelenskyy. Weve stretched, now Republicans need to stretch as well.

But thats not looking likely, as two leading Republicans predicted that the Senate would not reach a deal before years end.

Senators said Zelenskyy addressed questions about Ukraines war plans and corruption and underscored the importance of aid to Kyiv, warning that tactics would turn more brutal without military support from the U.S. He also asked for more air defense support.

For them this is a question of life and death, said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D.

Zelenskyy didnt offer a specific timeline of when he would like to see assistance approved, though the White House has warned it will run out by the end of the year.

He talked about the dire consequences of the United States not providing aid but he said that he is not planning for the United States to pull out, Murphy said.

In remarks on the Senate floor, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer characterized the meeting with Zelenskyy as very powerful and said he conveyed that if no more aid is approved, Putin will win. Schumer also said he implored Johnson to keep the House in session in order to pass the national security supplemental, which is expected to also include funding for Israel and Taiwan.

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Russia has lost 315,000 troops since the start of its war on Ukraine , according to a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment reported by the New York Times, a huge number when compared to the 360,000 troops with which the Russian army began the invasion.

Forty-eight percent of U.S. voters polled in a Financial Times-Michigan Ross survey said they believe the U.S. is spending too much on security and financial assistance for Kyiv as it fights the Russian invasion.
Meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Joe Biden at the White House, September 23

The obstruction of American aid to Ukraine in the U.S. Senate is expected to dominate the conversation when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Arriving in the U.S. on Dec. 11 after attending the inauguration of Argentina's new President, Javier Milei, Zelenskyy is on his third visit to Washington in the past year. His previous visits occurred in Dec. 2022 and Sept. 2023, when he toured North America with his wife Olena.

The White House announced Biden's invitation to underscore the United States unwavering to support Ukraine. The leaders will address Ukraine's urgent needs, particularly amid escalating missile and drone strikes by Russia, said Bidens press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre.

The key topics of discussion during Zelenskyy's visit include:

Continuing defense cooperation between Ukraine and the U.S. encompassing joint weapons and missile defense systems projects Coordinating U.S. and Ukrainian efforts for the upcoming year Ensuring unity of Ukrainian support among the U.S., Europe, and global community Strengthening the international order based on rules and respect for each nation's sovereignty

Zelenskyy may also address American senators during his visit, as Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell have invited him to speak on the morning of Dec. 12. The Ukrainian president is also scheduled to meet with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Read also: White House tells Congress U.S. is out of money and nearly out of time to avoid kneecap to Ukraine

Zelenskyy's visit aligns with a critical juncture in Congress's discussions on emergency aid to Ukraine. The proposed White House package, exceeding $100 billion and covering assistance to Ukraine and Israel, faced a setback on Dec. 6 when a procedural vote in the Senate failed due to Republican demands for strict changes to U.S. immigration and border policies.

Biden decried this stance as "political blackmail," while reports suggest the administration's willingness to make concessions on immigration policy to secure approval for military aid to Ukraine and Israel.

Zelenskyy was supposed to speak at a closed briefing for U.S. senators on Dec. 5, where Pentagon and White House representatives hoped to explain the urgent need to approve aid to Ukraine. He canceled at the last minute due to an "urgent issue." It later emerged that the briefing had turned into a dispute over the U.S. border, so Kyiv decided it would be "inappropriate" for Zelenskyy to participate in the quarrels.

According to a Financial Times poll, the aid package's fate hangs in the balance as nearly half of American voters (48%) feel the U.S. is overspending on aid to Ukraine. 27% believe Washington is spending the "right amount," and 11% say the U.S. is not spending enough.

If Congress fails to pass the aid package before the Christmas recess, the White House may face the dilemma of choosing between aiding Ukraine and maintaining U.S. readiness, given the critical shortage of funds to support Ukraine, as White House officials said in recent weeks.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden's administration said on Tuesday it strongly supports swift passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, as Congress rushed to complete the $886 billion defense policy bill before the end of the year.

"The NDAA provides the critical authorities we need to build the military required to deter future conflicts while supporting the service members and their spouses and families who carry out that mission every day," the administration said in a statement.

The National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, is one of the few major pieces of legislation Congress passes every year.

The Senate and House are both expected to approve the fiscal 2024 bill later this week, sending it to the White House for Biden to sign into law. The Senate backed a procedural measure ending debate on the measure by 85 to 15 on Tuesday, far beyond the 60 needed to advance the measure to a final vote.

Separate from the appropriations bills setting government spending levels, the NDAA governs everything from pay raises for the troops - this year's will be 5.2% - to purchases of ships and aircraft to policies such as support for Ukraine.

This year's bill also includes a four-month extension of a key domestic surveillance authority, giving lawmakers more time to either reform or keep the disputed program, known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

The fiscal 2024 NDAA authorizes a record $886 billion in military spending, up 3% from last year.

The Republican-majority House passed its version of the bill earlier this year, followed by the Senate, which is controlled by Biden's fellow Democrats. Negotiators from both parties and both chambers unveiled their compromise version last week.

The final version of the NDAA left out many provisions addressing divisive social issues, such as access to abortion and treatment of transgender service members, that had been included in the version passed by the House, threatening to derail the bill.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Deepa Babington)
By Jason Lange and James Oliphant

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A looming election rematch next year between U.S. President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump would be closely fought, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found, with both candidates saddled with profound vulnerabilities that could cost them the White House.

Biden, an 81-year-old Democrat, continues to be plagued by voters' doubts about the strength of the economy, as well as concerns about the security of the U.S.-Mexico border and worries about crime.

Republican former President Trump, 77, faces his own worries, including four criminal trials on a bevy of charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his handling of classified documents. A conviction prior to the Nov. 5, 2024, election could cost him significant support, the poll found.

The poll showed Trump with a marginal 2-point lead in a head-to-head matchup, 38% to 36%, with 26% of respondents saying they weren't sure or might vote for someone else.

The poll, conducted online Dec. 5-11, surveyed 4,411 U.S. adults nationwide and had a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of about 2 percentage points.

Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination by a wide margin, the poll showed.

The state-by-state Electoral College system used to pick presidents, and deep-seated partisan divides, mean that voters in just a handful of states will play a decisive role in the election's outcome.

In the seven states where the election was closest in 2020 -- Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina and Michigan -- Biden had a 4-point lead among Americans who said they were sure to vote.

Overall, the poll showed deep apathy among many voters at a potential Biden-Trump rematch. About six in 10 respondents said they were not satisfied with America's two-party system and want a third choice.

RFK JR FACTOR

They may have one, in the form of anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has launched an independent bid. The poll showed that Kennedy, part of the storied political family, could draw more support from Biden than Trump.

Trump's lead widened to a 5-point advantage nationally when respondents were given an option to vote for Kennedy.

Some 16% of respondents picked Kennedy when given the option, while Trump had 36% support, compared to 31% for Biden. Trump also led Biden by five points in the seven swing states when Kennedy was as option.

Kennedy, whose uncle John F. Kennedy served as president and whose father, Robert, was a senator and attorney general, faces a challenge to amass enough signatures to get on the ballot on all 50 states. Last week, a super PAC fundraising committee backing Kennedy's bid said it would spend up to $15 million to get Kennedy on the ballot in 10 states as a starting measure.

Third-party candidates have affected the outcome of U.S. elections even without winning. In 1992, a strong showing by Ross Perot helped put Democrats Bill Clinton in the White House and in 2000, some Democrats blamed Ralph Nader's bid for contributing to Al Gore's loss to Republican George W Bush.

Biden would be the oldest president ever elected to a second term if he won in 2024, and other polls have shown that some voters are concerned about his advanced age.

But his candidacy likely will be buttressed by the public's continued support of abortion rights, as well as his advocacy for gun control, climate-change measures and higher taxes on the ultra-rich, the new Reuters/Ipsos poll showed.

The survey also highlighted the significant risks to Trump's campaign as he faces a series of criminal trials next year. Some 31% of Republican respondents said they would not vote for Trump if he was convicted of a felony crime by a jury. He has denied any criminal wrongdoing.

Some 45% of respondents said Trump was the better candidate for handling the economy, compared to 33% who picked Biden.

Biden, however, had a similar advantage on the issue of abortion, with 44% of respondents saying he was the better candidate for abortion access, compared to 29% who picked Trump.

Some of Trump's strength also appeared tied to concerns by some voters about crime and immigration. Asked which candidate was better on the issues, 42% picked Trump on crime compared to 32% who selected Biden.

Fifty-four percent of respondents agreed with a statement that "immigration is making life harder for native-born Americans," with a similar share saying Trump was the better candidate for the issue.

(Reporting by Jason Lange and James Oliphant; Editing by Scott Malone, Rosalba O'Brien and Mark Porter)
Israels aggressive bombing campaign in Gaza is causing international support to ebb away due to the high number of civilian casualties, President Joe Biden said on Tuesday as Canada, Australia and New Zealand called for urgent efforts towards a ceasefire.

Theyre starting to lose that support, Mr Biden said during a campaign fundraiser in Washington, hours before he was to meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Mr Biden said Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu must shake up the composition of his Likud-led cabinet, which experts have described as the most right-wing and extreme in Israeli history.

Bibis got a tough decision to make, Mr Biden said. This is the most conservative government in Israels history.

Mr Biden noted that the current makeup of the Israeli government doesnt want a two-state solution.

Mr Netanyahu has to change this government. This government in Israel is making it very difficult, Mr Biden said.

We have an opportunity to begin to unite the region, he said. They still want to do it. But we have to make sure that Bibi understands that hes got to make some moves to strengthen ... you cannot say no Palestinian state ... thats going to be the hard part.

Mr Bidens comments go further in criticising the Israeli government than he has during public events so far.

They came as the prime ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand issued a joint statement calling for urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza.

We are alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza. The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians, they said.

A ceasefire cannot be one-sided and Hamas must release all hostages and stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields, they added.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan is set to travel to Israel for talks with its war cabinet.

Mr Netanyahu has said that Washington backs Israel in its stated goal of wiping out Hamas and rescuing the remaining hostages. However, the US and Israeli leaders appear to disagree on what should come after the end of the current hostilities. The US, which has until now rejected calls for a ceasefire at the UN and greenlit selling thousands of tank shells to the Israelis, now appears to softening in its support.

While the US has been arguing for the Palestinian Authority to have a leadership role in Gaza after the end of the conflict, Mr Netanyahu rejected the idea in a video posted to social media. There is disagreement about the day after Hamas and I hope that we will reach agreement here as well, Mr Netanyahu said, according to The New York Times.

After the great sacrifice of our civilians and our soldiers, I will not allow the entry into Gaza of those who educate for terrorism, support terrorism and finance terrorism, he added.

In October, Mr Biden responded to a question from The Independent by saying Hamas should release the hostages it kidnapped before any ceasefire in the bombardment of Gaza is implemented. We should get... we should have a ceasefire, not a ceasefire... we should have these hostages released and then we can talk, he said.

Israels army announced it had retrieved the bodies of two hostages from Gaza in an operation that killed two Israeli soldiers.

Soldiers retrieved the bodies of Eden Zakaria, 27, who was kidnapped from the music festival near Kibbutz Reim, and Ziv Dado, 36, a soldier serving near the Gaza border. Dado was killed on October 7 and his body was taken to Gaza. Zakaria was wounded on 7 October, and it was unclear if she was taken alive or dead to Gaza, according to reports on Israels Channel 12.

During the operation to rescue the bodies, two soldiers, Gal Meir Eizenkot and Eyal Meir Berkowitz, were killed. Gal Eisenkot is the son of Gadi Eizenkot, who served as military chief of staff from 2015 to 2019 and sits on the war cabinet.
Joe Biden said on Tuesday that he has warned Benjamin Netanyahu that Israels indiscriminate bombing of Gaza was beginning to alienate Europe and the rest of the international community.

Speaking at a 2024 re-election campaign fundraiser in Washington, the US president ramped up pressure on Israel over any post-hostilities deal. He said the Israelis cant say no to a Palestinian state, and urged Netanyahu not to repeat the mistakes made by the US after 9/11.

Invoking specifically the prolonged US war in Afghanistan, he said: Theres no reason we did so many of the things we did.

While Israel could rely for its security on the US, Biden warned that the alliance of international support that had been created in the wake of the 7 October attack by Hamas was now in peril.

Israel has the European Union, it has Europe, it has most of the world supporting them, but theyre starting to lose that support by indiscriminate bombing that takes place.

He also had some harsh words for the Netanyahu government, which he called the most conservative in the countrys history. Biden went as far as to say that Netanyahu had to change this government, singling out Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right national security minister, who opposes a future two-state solution.

You cannot say no to a Palestinian state, thats going to be the hard part, Biden said.

His comments reflect growing divisions over what happens after the war: US calls for Gaza to be turned over to a reformed Palestinian Authority have received a cool reception in Israel.

After a phone call with Biden on Tuesday, Netanyahu said that there was disagreement between the allies over the day after Hamas.

The Israeli leader said he hoped we will reach agreement here but he vowed not to repeat the mistake of Oslo, referring to the 1993 peace accords signed in the United States.

Bidens remarks came as pressure mounted from other western governments seeking a break in the relentless Israeli attacks which continued overnight. The governments of Australia, Canada and New Zealand released a joint statement on Tuesday calling for a pause in hostilities to be resumed to allow for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all Palestinian civilians and the release of all remaining hostages.

Later on Tuesday the 193-member UN general assembly was set to meet in New York to vote on a non-binding resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. A similar resolution brought to the UN security council by Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary general, on Friday failed after the US wielded its veto.

Bidens warning for Netanyahu suggested that a crack could be opening up in his previously solid support for Israel over its punishing response to the 7 October attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 people, mainly civilians. Two months of military operations inside Gaza have left more than 18,000 Palestinians killed, according to the health ministry, and an estimated 50,000 with injuries.

The fraught question of how long Israels bombardment of Gaza is likely to last will be on the agenda when Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, travels to Jerusalem later this week. Sullivan said on Tuesday that he will discuss the timetable of the military campaign with the Israeli war cabinet.

The subject of how they are seeing the timetable of this war will certainly be on the agenda for my meetings, he said.

Bidens sharp words for Netanyahu came as the US president himself faces increasing criticism over his stance on the Israeli assault, both from the court of public opinion and from inside his own Democratic party. A recent CBS News poll found that only 20% of Americans think his approach is more likely to lead to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, while 38% of Democrats  substantially up from 28% last month  felt that Biden has shown too much support for Israel.

Biden was scheduled to hold his first personal meeting on Wednesday with the families of Americans taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October. NBC News reported that the families had been invited to the White House, though some might appear virtually.

Four Americans were released during the previous humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, while seven remain unaccounted for.

While splits are starting to emerge in the US-Israeli alliance, particularly over what the endgame in the Gaza war will be, Bidens longstanding support for Israel as a Jewish nation remains firm. On Monday night he told a Hanukah party at the White House that were there no Israel, there would not be a Jew in the world who is safe.

He added: You dont have to be a Jew to be a Zionist. I am a Zionist.
Police officers and detectives investigate the police-involved shooting death of Darius Cole-Garrit on Aug. 19, 2014, at 133rd Street and South Forrestville Avenue. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Mayor Brandon Johnsons administration is making another push for a $2 million Chicago police shooting settlement, four months after the deal narrowly failed in the City Council in a high-profile rebuke of the city Law Departments handling of such misconduct cases.

On Monday, the Finance Committee advanced the award for the family of Darius Cole-Garrit, a 21-year-old man fatally shot by police in 2014 after officials said he pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at officers.

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Aldermen who voted no were Chris Taliaferro, 29th, Bill Conway, 34th, Matthew OShea, 19th, Debra Silverstein, 50th, Marty Quinn, 13th, Nicholas Sposato, 38th, Derrick Curtis, 18th, and Brian Hopkins, 2nd.

The full City Council will take up the item on Wednesday, the second time it will consider the settlement this year.

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In July, the same amount was rejected in a 26-22 vote, the bodys most notable pushback to a Chicago Police Department settlement award under the Johnson administration. At the time, aldermen in opposition voiced long-running frustrations with how the council handles police settlements, which cost the city more than $100 million last year.

The settlement was scheduled to come up for another vote in September, but Finance Chair Ald. Pat Dowell pulled it from the committee at the last minute, saying the delay was to allow the Law Department to do some more work.

On Monday, Dowell, 3rd, had more to say, reminding colleagues of particulars of the shooting that she said gave us an indication about how difficult this case would be to win.

I believe that its in the citys best interest to settle this. This is not like the black-and-white kind of case, Dowell said. A lot of outstanding concerns. And so I would ask that we maintain our fiduciary duty as counsel and pass this settlement agreement.

The 2016 lawsuit in question surrounds the fatal police shooting of Cole-Garrit, who was biking down 133rd Street on the Far South Side when he was pulled over by Chicago police officers in an unmarked vehicle who were investigating a weapons tip. Cole-Garrit ditched his bike and ran, the citys corporation counsel John Hendricks said Monday, leading two of the cops to chase him on foot.

One cop fired 11 shots, while another fired nine, killing Cole-Garrit, Hendricks said, but there are up until that point multiple disagreements, or multiple facts, in dispute about what took place.

(There are) very different versions of the story, radically so that the plaintiffs claim there was actually no gun. The police officers claimed that in fact a gun was pointed at one of them, Hendricks said. In short, this is a difficult case factually.

Hendricks said even among the cops testifying, there were conflicting stories about Cole-Garrit pointing a gun at them, on top of only one eyewitness who observed the shooting and supports the deceaseds version of the facts. And, should the settlement fail and the case go to trial, the award could double or triple, he added.

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The citys Independent Police Review Authority found the shooting justified, and a semi-automatic handgun was recovered 20 feet from Cole-Garrit. But fingerprint testing was inadequate because there were too many smudges, Hendricks said.

One of the big disputes here: there were obviously officers who allege they saw the gun and saw it aimed at least one officer, but there are other witnesses who claimed there was no gun, and that the presumption is that maybe it was planted, Hendricks said.

But Hopkins, who voted against the settlement before, said the Law Department ought to be more bullish on its very strong case to make.

This is a difficult case and a difficult decision, as many of these cases are, Hopkins said. But the fact that they want this settlement and seem to be averse to a trial, is that a possible indication that plaintiffs counsel does not have as much confidence as they would like us to think?

The Finance Committee also approved an $8.75 million settlement Monday to the family of Michael Craig, a 61-year-old man who was killed by a cop in 2021 after he called 911 to report his wife threatening him at knife point.

Police body camera footage shows two people struggling before a gunshot is heard, Law Department counsel Caroline Fronczak said. Craig was then on the ground for two seconds before a second shot went off, she said. An autopsy showed he died of two gunshot wounds and also suffered nonfatal defensive stab wounds.

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The Department of Law believes the potential exposure in this case is reasonably high, given the 911 calls identifying that the female was the one that was threatening the husband with the knife, Fronczak said.

And the committee approved a $515,000 settlement to Chicago firefighter James Mundo, stemming from a workplace harassment suit in which he alleged his supervisor made inappropriate comments about his sexual orientation.

Meanwhile, the councils ethics committee approved changes Monday to ease lobbyist registration requirements for nonprofits following years of negotiations.

As part of a suite of reforms to ethics rules in the early months of Mayor Lori Lightfoots tenure, the council required nonprofit lobbyists register with the city and report their activities each quarter. Supporters argued it was an important transparency measure that let the public know who was working to sway council members, the mayor and department heads.

But after an uproar from nonprofit leaders about the cost of compliance for smaller organizations and a chilling effect the rules might have on participation in city programs and projects, implementation of that portion of the ordinance was repeatedly delayed.

Among the changes: Individuals only need to register if the nonprofit they lobby for has both an operating budget and net assets or fund balances of five million dollars or more. Lobbying fees would be capped at $20,000, and those who participate in grassroots lobbying events  like sending mass emails to members of council  would also be exempt.

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Steve Berlin, the executive director of the Board of Ethics, said the changes still put Chicago well within the fold of its peer cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Philadelphia. So far, 122 people have registered as nonprofit lobbyists. If passed, the ordinance would take effect in July 2024.

ayin@chicagotribune.com

aquig@chicagotribune.com
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  With less than a week to go until lawmakers leave Washington, there is still no border security deal.

Democrats and republicans are scrambling to come up with a border security solution both sides can agree on because without a border deal, the fate of billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine and Israel remains in limbo.

Senators are racing to reach a deal securing military aid for Ukraine and Israel while also overhauling U.S. immigration policy.

I think this is one of the most dangerous moments that Ive ever faced in American politics, said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT).

Senate republicans are demanding tougher border security policies in exchange for their support for President Joe Bidens $106 billion supplemental funding request that includes aid for Ukraine and Israel.

The lead republican negotiator, Oklahoma Senator James Lankford, said that republicans want sweeping policy changes to limit the surge of migrants crossing into the U.S.

We want to be able to get this back in control, so we dont have the chaos on our southern border, he said.

But democrats say republicans demands are unreasonable.

We are not going to put Donald Trumps immigration policies into statute. Were not going to do that. That would be bad for the country, Murphy added.

The White House says President Biden will engage in talks to end the stalemate on Capitol Hill this week.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Patrick Gabaldons art has become a staple in the Borderland region. With vibrant depictions of desert life and lively portraits, he was able to turn his dream into reality and open up his first gallery.

A brick house on 1311 Kansas St. is where Gabaldon started creating some of his first pieces of art about a decade ago.

After finishing law school in San Antonio, he moved back into the house that is now a home for his artwork.

He currently works as an attorney for the Public Defenders Office and finds peace in creating art.

After a day of working on a case, and then to kind of shut that side of my brain off and turn a different side on and start painting and try and relieve some of the stress, Gabaldon said.

He is a self-taught artist who draws inspiration from the El Paso desert and the life it grows.

He also enjoys drawing portraits of El Pasos prominent figures or anyone who commissions him.

I love El Paso, I love the region, and what I love most is the people. So doing portraits of my friends and family or people I respect around on the border, it was a pretty easy, pretty short step to do that, he explained.

Over the years he has seen the art community grow in the Sun City.

My favorite things about El Paso and the art community is that everyone is so wildly different in their skills and what they create, and so it makes for this really incredible collection of creative vision here, he added.

He extends his gratitude to the community that continuously supports him and allows him to keep sharing his art, now creating a space for everyone to visit and enjoy the paintings of vibrant cacti, unique stickers and even socks.

Im able to do this is because the community and people and other artists supported me when I didnt necessarily believe in myself, others believed in me. So, were just super thankful to have support, he said.

The gallery on 1311 Kansas St. will be open on Saturday Dec. 16 and 23 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Viewings by appointment will be available in January.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Artificial Intelligence

Boston Dynamics hired DLA Piper to lobby on issues related to the robotics industry, artificial intelligence and where the two disciplines overlap. The company used OpenAIs ChatGPT API to train its robot dog Spot to speak, sometimes in a British accent and sporting a top hat, and Boston Dynamics principal software engineer Matt Klingensmith said in a recent blog post that the company is excited to continue exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics. Tony Samp, a former senior policy adviser to Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus founder and co-chair Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), will work on the account.

Food

The Raben Group registered to lobby for Feeding America on The Emergency Food Assistance Program. The largest U.S. charity by revenue according to Forbes, Feeding America is lobbying to ensure the program can continue to provide vital nutrition supports to low-income Americans, according to the new release. Sarah Bolton, a Capitol Hill veteran whose resume included stints as education policy director of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and a senior policy and budget adviser on the Senate Budget Committee, will work on the account.

Technology

Dropbox hired Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to lobby on issues related to privacy, content moderation and intermediary liability. Reginald Babin, who spent nearly 10 years on Capitol Hill and was most recently chief counsel to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) before joining Akin in 2022, will work on the account.

Labor

The International Franchise Association hired Ice Miller to lobby Congress and federal agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board and the Federal Trade Commission, and provide legal advice on labor, employment and franchising issues. Meagan Bolton, former counsel to the House Small Business Committee, will work on the account.

Nonprofit

The Young Womens Christian Association, the YWCA, hired Actum I to lobby on issues related to child care and federal appropriations. Leticia Mederos, a former longtime aide to House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), will work on the account.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A 12-year-old Missouri boy is accused of shooting his mothers boyfriend as the couple fought at their St. Louis home, according to police.

The couple, a 30-year-old woman and 31-year-old man, were having a verbal altercation at about 12:40 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said in a news release.

As they argued inside a bedroom, the womans son grabbed a shotgun, walked into the room and shot her boyfriend in the head, police said.

Investigators say the boy ran from the scene that night but later went to a police station with his mother to turn himself in.

The womans boyfriend was taken to a hospital where he was in stable condition, police said.

An investigation is underway.

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Grandmother intentionally shoots 6-month-old grandchild in head, Ohio cops say

Child playing online game dies by suicide in Texas, and Michigan boy charged, cops say

Woman stabbed then dumped in pasture is found alive, Texas cops say. Man arrested
A first-year Clarendon Hills Fire Department program is providing local youth the opportunity to explore the fire service, while also potentially serving as a tool to recruit future members.

Because it is a paid-on-call and part-time department, Clarendon Hills relies on local community members to be a part of its fire department, said Deputy Fire Chief Roger Krupp. That is what led to creation earlier this year of the Fire Explorer Program.

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The goal of the program is to provide local youth with a unique learning experience with classroom and practical experiences in what it is like to be a firefighter and emergency services provider, Krupp said. He said to accomplish that goal, the program is used to introduce participants to firefighter and emergency medical services operations, community service and civic involvement through positive mentoring, training, education, and career development.

Deputy Fire Chief Roger Krupp(left) and lead instructor Brad Smith talk to cadets Carter Unell (from left), Jack Costello and Damien Delacruz-Madrano Dec. 9 during training. (Clarendon Hills Fire Department/HANDOUT)

The program will provide firsthand experience in what it mentally and physically takes to be a professional firefighter, Krupp said. Our program gives participants beneficial knowledge, experience, and discipline that can apply to any career field.

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Krupp said while looking for ways to recruit new department members, some existing personnel of the Clarendon Hills Fire Department were aware of other departments that have been running cadet programs. Once a decision was made to proceed with a cadet program of its own, Krupp was assigned to take the lead in setting it up.

I began researching other programs in the area and had conversations with Naperville and Western Springs to learn about their programs, he said. Following a review of the programs we decided to partner with the Boy Scouts of America and form an Explorer Post.

Krupp said the planning and implementation process took about eight months, and participants began attending training sessions in June.

We first had to work on training the members of the department that would be involved in working with our cadets, he said. There was special instructor training required by the Boy Scouts of America that we all had to complete.

Krupp chose firefighter/paramedic Brad Smith as the lead cadet instructor. He is a part-time member of the Clarendon Hills Fire Department and also works as a high school teacher.

He has developed the educational and skills training program for the cadet program, Krupp said.

Since June, the cadets have attended weekly training sessions and have participated in monthly Emergency Medical Services training. Cadets may sit in with firefighters during their classroom training and during practical training, and firefighter/paramedics have worked with them separately on such practical skills as ladder raises, hose and nozzle use, putting on and taking off personal protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus.

As the year progresses, we will be providing them with more practical skills, hands-on training, with all the various tools and equipment used in the fire service, Krupp said. He said an example of that took place Saturday when cadets were able to train at a house that is being razed to make way for a new home.

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They were able to practice maneuvering a charged hose line through a structure while in their full gear and (self-contained breathing apparatus), breaching walls as an alternate means of exiting a room or structure, raising ladders to a roof, and ventilation techniques, Krupp said.

Jack Costello, 17, of Clarendon Hills, is a cadet in the program who had been emailing the Clarendon Hills department, asking that it start an Explorer Program.

I signed up and joined because I have always had an interest in this profession, and it gives me hands-on experiences with some awesome people, Costello said. Being in this gives me confidence, leadership and a great time.

Clarendon Hills resident Teddy OHara, 16, learned of the program from Costello, who is a friend.

I ran into him, and he was in the uniform, and so I emailed the Chief, asking for a spot in the program, OHara said. I signed up to learn different ways to serve my community, both now and in the future.

Damian Delacruz-Medrano, 15, of Westmont, was excited to learn about the Clarendon Hills Explorer Program.

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I love the job, and it has been something Ive been wanting to do since I was a little boy, he said.

Krupp said that because Clarendon Hills partnered with the Boy Scouts of America as an Explorer Post, the Explorer Program accepts participants from ages 14 to 20. However, the age someone can apply to be a paid-on-call in Clarendon Hills is 18, so someone in the Explorer Program could be converted into a department member at that age.

We would like our participants to pursue a career in the fire or emergency medical services profession, Krupp said. If they stay local, we hope they apply to be a member of our department. Ultimately, we want to provide them with a unique career and life experience to make them successful in any career path they choose.

Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
With storm clouds gathering menacingly in Westminster  both literally and figuratively  the Prime Minister called potential rebels into Downing Street for a make-or-break breakfast meeting.

If Rishi Sunak could persuade Right-wing Tory backbenchers to support his Rwanda Bill, or at least not to vote against it, his struggling government would be able to limp on into an election at the time of his choosing later next year.

If he couldnt, it could mean the end of his time in office, and an election that could usher in years of Labour rule.

At around 7.30am, 15 members of the New Conservatives group, which included Danny Kruger, Miriam Cates, Jonathan Gullis, Marco Longhi and Nick Fletcher, trooped up Downing Street for the crucial meeting.

Inside No 10, they were given bacon sandwiches while the Prime Minister urged them to back the Bill.

Also in the room were deputy chiefs of staff Will Tanner and Rupert Yorke; and Craig Williams, Mr Sunaks parliamentary private secretary.

Mr Kruger told the Prime Minister he had only three options: to pull the Bill now, to commit to making amendments, or refuse to make any changes. If he chose the latter course, he told him, people would vote against.

Rishi Sunak hosts his weekly Cabinet meeting on what was a momentous day for the Prime Minister - Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

The Prime Ministers reply was to tell him that while he would not pull the Bill, he would consider suggestions to tighten it up.

It was exactly the type of language designed to persuade some of the rebels to pull back from the brink.

But then Mr Sunak made the task harder. He angered some of the rebels by complaining that he had inherited the small boats issue and high levels of immigration, and blaming his predecessors for doing too little about it.

One source said Mr Sunak half raised the idea of amendments but only within the framework of the Bill. However, they added that he then set out how the Bill was actually very good and didnt see the need for them. It was a frosty reception, they said.

Didnt go that well

As one Tory source said, the meeting didnt go that well. Rishi was pointing the finger at Boris [Johnson], Liz [Truss], Suella [Braverman] and Rob [Jenrick], the source said.

Other MPs spoke up at the meeting to say they felt they had not been properly consulted either before the Bill was published, or afterwards.

When Nick Fletcher told Mr Sunak his government needed to be more Tory, the Prime Minister replied that he was a Tory and highlighted the tax cuts in the Autumn Statement.

Andrew Mitchell and David Cameron leave Downing Street after Cabinet meeting - Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph

As the MPs filed out from their meeting, No 10 was optimistic.

It was a very useful meeting to hear MPs thoughts and discuss their concerns, a source said. The Bill has been drafted with close attention to detail, with colleagues input helping to shape the legislation.

The tests set for the Bill have been met and we will continue to listen to and engage with colleagues across the party as it passes through Parliament. This Bill will work and will do what we need it to do.

But one source close to the Tory rebels said: Rishi was pretty dismissive. He didnt seem to want to open up a serious alternative path [for the Bill]. It was a little bit stroppy teenager mode.

Anger at Sunak

There were suggestions that anger at Mr Sunak was wider than just the Rwanda issue, with those on the Right feeling increasingly ignored since the sacking of Suella Braverman as home secretary, their flag bearer in the Cabinet.

This, and the appointment of the moderate Lord Cameron as Foreign Secretary, made some feel the Government was moving further to the centre.

Soon after the No 10 meeting, key figures from all five Right-wing groups threatening to vote down the Bill met Chief Whip Simon Hart in his office.

But a source played down hopes that it had led to much of a change of heart, saying: They didnt feel there was much progress made or that more ground was given by the Government.

Nevertheless, at lunchtime, Mr Sunak looked chipper as he was seen in public for the first time, sitting on the front bench next to James Cleverly.

Robert Jenrick, former immigration minister, says he wants to see Rwanda Bill work

The Home Secretary was opening for the Government in the debate on the second reading of the Rwanda Bill.

A source close to Mr Cleverly insisted ministers were listening and would continue to listen to rebel MPs demands for changes to the Bill  but it was a pretty tight landing strip if there were to be any more changes.

The source said the Governments argument was: No one is going to prove their concerns about whether something can work by ensuring it cannot work.

Edge of the envelope

Mr Cleverly himself told MPs: The actions that we are taking, whilst novel, whilst very much pushing at the edge of the envelope, are within the framework of international law.

During the debate, rebel backbenchers were critical, but none came out to say they would go further than abstaining on the Bill by actually voting against.

Mr Kruger told the Commons: I regret we have got an unsatisfactory Bill. I cant undertake to support it tonight.

Robert Jenrick, the former immigration minister who shocked Westminster by resigning last week, said he wanted the Rwanda Bill to work and suggested he would back it as long as sufficiently strong amendments were laid.

Mark Francois reveals that Tory rebels decided to abstain from the vote

He warned that small boat arrivals to the UK would rise for many years to come if the Government failed to successfully roll out its Rwanda migrant flights policy.

But, on the other side of the argument, Bob Neill, the former minister, warned: The day a Conservative Party thinks the ends justify the means, that any single policy objective overrides the checks and balances of our constitution, it has ceased to be a Conservative Party.

Mr Sunak may have appeared optimistic in public, but Tory whips were not taking anything for granted.

Overnight, members of the international development select committee were told to pull a trip to the Caribbean in order to make the vote.

Dragged back

Sir Graham Stuart, the environment minister, was dragged back from the Middle East where the Cop climate summit is still going on, leaving no ministerial presence for the final hours of talks.

So close was the vote that even Peter Bone  currently suspended from the Conservative Party for exposing himself to an aide  came to Parliament to have his say.

As did former attorney general Sir Geoffrey Cox, who spends much of his time out of Parliament doing legal work.

In a dramatic speech, he said it was vital to retain the right of individuals to access a court in the Bill  something the rebels want to see removed, adding: On the preservation of the right to go to court in an extreme case, I say that is part of the British constitution that our fathers and our party has supported, and fought for for generations, and itd be wrong for us to compromise on it.

A row broke out about whether Tory whips warned rebels they could be kicked out of the parliamentary party if they did not vote for the Rwanda Bill.

After a long day of negotiation, Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill passes at the second reading stage

Sir Bill Cash, the veteran Conservative MP who headed up the Tory Rights so-called star chamber, confronted Mr Hart, the chief whip, with the allegations. Mr Hart disputed the claims. The chief made very clear to Cash that no one had been threatened, a Tory source said.

Mr Sunak spent much of the afternoon in his parliamentary office personally trying to convince Tory rebels not to vote against.

He also met members of the One Nation caucus of moderate Tory MPs to calm their fears that any further concessions to the Right would go too far.

It breaks all the rules

A former Cabinet minister from the grouping said: It cannot go any further. Any further and it breaks all the rules. There will be push back from the other direction, from my side, if he is seen to lean too heavily to the Right.

At 5.15pm, the five families  the five groups threatening to rebel (the European Research Group, the New Conservatives, the Northern Research Group, the Common Sense Group, and the Conservative Growth Group)  met for the final time to decide how to vote.

Ninety minutes later they emerged, and at an impromptu press conference revealed that, after all the drama of the day, they had decided merely to abstain.

Leading rebel Sir Mark Francois told the waiting media: We have decided collectively that we cannot support the Bill tonight because of its many omissions.

The Prime Minister has been telling colleagues today he is prepared to entertain tightening the Bill.

With that aim, at the committee stage, we will aim to table amendments which would  we hope, if accepted  materially improve the Bill and remove some of its weaknesses.

Sir John Hayes, chairman of the Common Sense Group of Tory MPs, said the decision to withhold support and abstain was a chance for the Government to listen.

He said: We believe that that engagement provides the opportunity to make this Bill into what it says on the tin, which is to provide the opportunity to effect the Rwanda policy and so fulfil the Prime Ministers pledge to stop boats.

We will consider what the Government does next. What they do next will determine what we do next. That means that we wait until the third reading.

It was tough talk from the rebels, raising the prospect that Mr Sunak had merely pushed defeat back into the new year if he refuses to bow to the Right-wings demands.

Once the result of the vote was announced at 7.30pm on Tuesday night as a clear victory for the Government, the Prime Minister embraced the Chief Whip.

He could be forgiven for breathing a sigh of relief.

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FILE - Washington Nationals pitcher Joe Ross delivers against the New York Mets during the third inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, in New York. Ross has signed a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers as the former Nationals right-handed pitcher continues his come back from Tommy John surgery. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

MILWAUKEE (AP)  Joe Ross and the Milwaukee Brewers finalized their $1.75 million, one-year contract on Tuesday as the former Washington Nationals right-hander returns from Tommy John surgery.

Ross, 30, hasnt pitched in a major league game since August 2021. He went 0-0 with a 5.14 ERA in eight appearances with San Francisco Giants minor league teams from Aug. 22 to Sept. 24 this year.

He had his second Tommy John surgery on June 10, 2022, with Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Ross also had Tommy John surgery on July 19, 2017, with Texas Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister.

Ross is 26-28 with a 4.26 ERA in 76 starts and 22 relief appearances, striking out 403 and walking 141 in 443 1/3 innings.

He pitched for the Nationals from 2015-19, opted out of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and then returned to the Nationals in 2021. He went 5-9 with a 4.17 ERA in 2021 in 19 starts and one relief outing.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Luna, a German shepherd who was surrendered to the Evanston Animal Shelter more than a year ago, has been returned to her owner after the two spent years apart.

Juan Perez, a 23-year-old Waukegan resident, left Luna with family when he enlisted in the U.S. Army over three years ago. He ended up being stationed at Fort Stewart in Georgia, hundreds of miles away from his family and four-legged friend.

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Luna was surrendered to the shelter on Aug. 26, 2022 after Perez sister, who was taking care of Luna, was told by her landlord to remove the dog immediately. The Evanston Animal Shelter became Lunas new home, a place where she would stay for 467 days, or almost a year and four months.

Luna spent 467 days in the Evanston Animal Shelter until she was returned to her owner Juan Perez. - Original Credit: Handout (Evanston Animal Shelter/HANDOUT)

Tanya Ohanian, the canine director at the Evanston Animal Shelter, said Luna refused to leave her kennel for several days after she was surrendered.

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She just wanted absolutely nothing to do with us, Ohanian said.

It took a week of one-on-one care for Luna to get acclimated to the new surroundings, but she remained skittish around new people, making it very difficult to get her adopted.

It came as a surprise to Ohanian when a co-worker told her about a call to the shelter asking about Luna. It was Perez, who had returned from his service and was looking for his canine companion.

Ive never called anybody back so fast in my life, Ohanian said.

Their reunion had some at the shelter worried, wondering if Luna would recognize her owner, but Ohanian said the moment Luna smelled him she nearly pulled her to the ground trying to race to him.

To see the immediate yes this is my person, we were all in tears, Ohanian said.

Juan Perez pictured with Luna, his dog he was separated from for years while serving in the military. - Original Credit: Handout (Evanston Animal Shelter/HANDOUT)

The moment also hit home for Perez, who said Luna wanted to play right from the get-go and even was excited to see his mother, jumping all over her.

Luna didnt get to come home immediately, as it took six months for Perez to get settled and find housing. Despite this, Perez and his family came nearly every weekend for those six months to see her.

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It was kind of sad, because every time I was taking her back into the shelter, she always wanted to go in the car to go home, but I had to tell her I couldnt, Perez said.

Luna was finally able to go home with her dad on Dec. 3 after 467 days in the shelter. Having her home helps Perez feel safe, as Luna was trained to be a guard dog, a job she does well.

Shes been adjusting really good, Perez said. No problems, no nothing. Just normal ... shes my everything.

The storybook ending is the best case scenario for Luna, said Ohanian.

Luna has taught all of us at the shelter a lot about dog handling, unconditional love, and life, read a post on the Evanston Animal Shelters Facebook page. She is so special and we couldnt be happier for this very special girl!

Luna spent 467 days in the Evanston Animal Shelter until she was returned to her owner Juan Perez. - Original Credit: Handout (Evanston Animal Shelter/HANDOUT)

Perez said he is looking forward to taking care of Luna until she gets old as the pair grows older together.

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With Luna back home, the shelters longest residents are Ralphie and Gordo, two young pit-bull terriers who were brought in as strays.

A new shelter building is currently under construction with plans to move in during spring 2024.

The shelter is an open admission, no-kill shelter that takes in dogs and cats of all sizes and backgrounds.

We really pride ourselves on taking those animals in and giving it 100% with every single animal we get, Ohanian said. Luna is really the perfect example of that ... when Juan (Perez) came back into her life ... we would have done anything to make that work.
LA MESA, Calif.  A man suspected of breaking into a vacant apartment Monday in La Mesa and barricading himself in it was arrested, authorities said.

Authorities received a call around 8:45 a.m. about a burglary in the 8500 block of Chloe Ave., Lt. Katy Lynch with the La Mesa Police Department (LMPD) said in a news release.

When officers arrived on scene, they attempted to talk to the suspect, but he refused to leave the apartment. The suspect, who had an outstanding felony arrest warrant for a theft-related charge, claimed to have a hostage inside, per LMPD.

Suspect identified in 4S Ranch shootout that injured SDPD sergeant

Police evacuated residents while negotiating with the suspect for over five hours until he finally surrendered and was taken into custody.

Dnico Hooks, 37, of La Mesa, was booked at county jail on suspicion of an outstanding warrant and an additional burglary charge, Lynch said.

Authorities determined there were no hostages or victims inside the apartment. No injuries were reported as well.

A road closure impacted the 8500 block of Buckland Ave. for several hours.

Residents were also cleared to return their homes.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
As America celebrates National Gingerbread House Day today, there's a plethora of standard gingerbread homes to choose from, but why not elevate the experience by upgrading to a gingerbread mansion, cozy cottage, historic building, or even a famous fictional setting?

Welcome to Molli Dowd's world and her eight-year-old Basking Ridge-based business, Edible Estates.

Gingerbread is so nostalgic and is a creative material I love to work with, said Dowd, a Morris County resident who builds custom gingerbread houses for private customers and corporations. She also offers unique gingerbread house kits that enable recipients to enjoy all of the fun of this treasured holiday pastime without any of the hassle.

Molli Dowd, owner of Edible Estates, features some of her gingerbread creations and gingerbread house kits at her home in Morristown, NJ Monday, December 11, 2023.

An Arizona native who moved to New Jersey (her husbands home state) more than 20 years ago, the launch of Edible Estates in 2015 embodies all of Dowds lifelong skills and passions.

As a kid, I loved building gingerbread houses and would construct them in different styles every year, said Dowd, a trained architect and landscape designer whose baking skills landed her on The Food Network's Gingerbread Showdown in December 2021. (Though my partner and I didnt win, we created a huge  and slightly unwieldy -- replica of New York Citys Chrysler Building and brought the drama! she joked.)

Custom gingerbread houses she has created for clients  which start at $1,800 - include everything from Hamptons-style beach homes to replicas of the circa-1900 Benjamin Duke House in New York City, the Montclair Film building in Montclair, N.J., the MassMutual Building in Massachusetts, and even a replica of Netflixs "Bridgerton" mansion, a structure whose exterior curves required Dowd to engage in some out-of-the-box engineering.

But we love challenges, like working windows into intricate designs and capturing how different roof lines intercept, she said. The things that are difficult are what motivate me and make me tick. Attention to those details, she added, makes for an even greater presentation in a smaller format.

Molli Dowd, owner of Edible Estates, features a gingerbread house she created of the house from Netflix's Bridgerton at her home in Morristown, NJ Monday, December 11, 2023.

How can you make a Dowd gingerbread house?

When an order comes in, we take a photo of the house or building and then scale it, make a pattern, bake it, and decorate it, Dowd said of the process she and her team members (up to 10 of them) undertake. Houses are built in stages  from designing to baking, drying, and decorating  and usually take anywhere from 30 to 45 person-hours to complete.

As for the big reveals? Customers are blown away when they see the finished product, she said. Its such a wow moment.

But Dowd is all about spreading the joy, and in her mission to deliver happiness one gingerbread house at a time, she also makes a series of upscale DIY kits available so that everyone can enjoy the time-honored pleasure of building a gingerbread house  a holiday tradition whose origins are believed to date back to early 1800s Germany.

We currently offer three different kits, including a 7-to-8-inch-tall traditional cottage, which normally sells for $150 but is being offered for the special price of $125 this holiday season and comes complete with a box of candy, sprinkle set, and frosting bag, as well as a 9-inch-tall classic Tudor-inspired home for $275, which includes edible paints, pre-made wreaths and greenery, and other details made out of sugar for decorating, Dowd said. For those who like to "go big or go home," we also offer a 12-inch tall luxe colonial gingerbread house kit for $500 that features a lot more detail, pre-made decorations, and plenty of space around the perimeter for recipients to do landscaping.'" Dowd's kits also feature interior fairy lights to make the final construct come alive.

Gingerbread houses are very labor-intensive, so this takes out all of the hard work of baking and offers the essence of this beautiful tradition in the ease of a box; you can then go from there and make it your own, she said. Its like a huge, happy gift that brings joy and creative excitement to people of all ages. And even canines can get in on the fun, as she plans to drop a special gingerbread house made of pet-friendly biscuits for under $50 this month (check www.edibleestates.com for more information on this limited-edition treat).

'I love delivering happiness'

Looking ahead, Dowd plans to continue bringing the joy year-round as she launches her new brick-and-mortar space in Basking Ridge in mid-2024.

Our retail space is all about creating edible experiences where people can come in and decorate gingerbread year-round  from gingerbread houses to Jersey Shore-themed surfboard or sandal cookies or any theme you can think of, she said. We provide all of the edible ingredients and guests bring their creativity and just have fun with friends and family.

Ultimately, I love delivering happiness, Dowd said of her favorite part of the job. These houses make very special and unique gifts and it feels good to create something that brings people joy.

The icing on the cake  or roof?

We came up with a great gingerbread recipe, so the houses taste great, Dowd said. But if youre hesitant to eat the artwork, we also include gingerbread cookies with every project so that people can still enjoy gingerbread this season.

And if gingerbread isnt your thing, dont fret. We also have pumpkin spice and sugar cookies and kits during the year, she said.

For more information, visit Edible Estates at www.edibleestates.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Edible Estates in NJ built 'Bridgerton' mansion out of gingerbread
The Ukrainian government has approved President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointing new heads of regional administrations in Ukraines Donetsk and Rivne oblasts, the Cabinets press service reported via Telegram on Dec. 12.

Vadym Filashkin was appointed as the new Head of Donetsk Oblast Administration, having previously served as deputy regional governor and police chief. His predecessor, Pavlo Kyrylenko, is now the head of Ukraines Anti-Monopoly Committee, where he replaced Olha Pishchanska on Sept. 6.

Read also:

Oleksandr Koval was appointed as the new Head of Rivne Oblast Military Administration. He served as the Rivne district state administrations head since March 2021. His predecessor, Vitaliy Koval, was appointed Head of the State Property Fund on Nov. 21, replacing Rustem Umerov, Ukraines current Defense Minister.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Candace Frazee and Steve Lubanski earned the Guinness World Records title for the largest collection of rabbit-related items. Photo courtesy of Guinness World Records

Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The owners of a California museum dedicated to all things rabbit-related earned a Guinness World Records title for their 40,550-piece collection.

Candace Frazee and Steve Lubanski of Altadena said their collection began in 1993, when Lubanski, who was affectionately known as Lubanski's "honey bunny," gifted her a white plush bunny for their first Valentine's Day as a couple.

Frazee responded with a gift of a porcelain rabbit for their first Easter together.

The gifts kicked off a tradition for the couple of buying bunny memorabilia for one another, and soon they were shopping for rabbit items together.

"When we first started collecting, we joked that we lived in a bunny museum," Frazee told Guinness World Records.

The couple opened their then-home in Pasadena to the public in 1998, but the collection outgrew their house by 2017, leading them to open The Bunny Museum in its own building in Altadena.

The museum's 40,550-piece collection was certified by GWR as the world's largest collection of rabbit-related items this year.

The couple said they are continuing to grow their collection.

"Most people collect teddy bears, cats, dogs and cows. They don't have a holiday," Frazee said. "The bunny does, so you are guaranteed new items every Easter."
An elementary school principal in El Dorado County has been convicted of two felony charges for sending sexually explicit messages to a person he thought was a 12-year-old girl on a social media app, prosecutors said.

Boyd Holler, 37, on Monday pleaded guilty to distributing pornography to a minor and contacting a minor for purposes of committing a sexual offense, the El Dorado County District Attorneys Office announced Tuesday in a Facebook post.

When he was arrested in October, Holler was working as the principal at Pioneer Elementary School in Somerset. The school is part of the Pioneer Union School District, which is composed of two elementary schools and a middle school.

Patrick Paturel, the districts superintendent, said the school district has been notified of Hollers conviction. He said school district officials have sent text messages and emails to parents to notify them of Hollers guilty plea.

I continue to be thankful for the families of the Pioneer Union School District community for their trust in our work, our employees and our commitment to students, Paturel wrote Tuesday morning in a Facebook post. We are grateful for the agencies involved in the investigation, arrest, and prosecution in this case.

As part of his plea agreement with prosecutors, Holler agreed to resign from his job at Pioneer Elementary School and is no longer an employee of the school district, Paturel told The Sacramento Bee in an email.

In the month before his arrest, Holler communicated with who he believed was a 12-year-old girl on the Kik social media app, according to the District Attorneys Office.

Holler sought out the girl, identified by the District Attorneys Office as J. Doe, and she quickly told him her age, that she was in seventh grade and that she lived in Philadelphia. Prosecutors said she also sent Holler photos of herself and was clearly and unequivocally a prepubescent minor.

Holler then made it clear that she was exactly his type and wanted to meet her to engage in sexual intercourse, according to the District Attorneys Office.

In the following weeks, Holler sent her pornographic videos and sexually explicit photos, including one of himself, and he repeatedly asked her for pornographic photos of herself, prosecutors said. He communicated with her online while at his office at Pioneer Elementary School, at the Pleasant Valley Holiday Market and at his Pollock Pines home.

Holler is scheduled to return Jan. 22 for his sentencing in El Dorado Superior Court. Prosecutors said will be sentenced three years and eight months in prison, which is the maximum sentence for his charges under California law.
California lawmakers next week will begin studying retail theft and potential solutions  part of Democrats effort to tackle the issue before the Legislature convenes in January.

The first hearing of the Assemblys new select committee on retail theft will debut Tuesday in Sacramento, the panels chair announced. The 11-seat committee  eight Democrats and two Republicans  was selected by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, for the upcoming legislative session that starts Jan. 3.

Chaired by Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur, D-Hollywood, the select committee will hear from representatives of large retailers, small businesses, criminal justice reform advocates, law enforcement personnel and representatives of workers and the public, throughout 2024, according to a news release from Chavez Zburs office.

Retail crime is not just an inconvenience and bad for business  it also can be a terrifying and traumatic experience for store employees and customers, Chavez Zbur said in a statement.

The hearing will take in the Capitol Annex Swing Space from 1 to 5 p.m.

The Assembly members also on the committee are:

 Juan Alanis, R-Modesto

 David Alvarez, D-San Diego

 Mia Bonta, D-Oakland

 Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield

 Matt Haney, D-San Francisco

 Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento

 Liz Ortega, D-Alameda

 Blanca Pacheco, D-Downey

 Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Irvine

 Pilar Schiavo, D-Santa Clarita

An uproar over retail theft across the state has grown in recent months as videos of smash-and-grab robberies have gone viral on social media. Law enforcement, including Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper, have repeatedly pointed to Proposition 47 as a reason behind an increase in property crime.

Approved by a majority of voters in 2014, Proposition 47 made shoplifting a misdemeanor crime and defined it as commercial theft of items worth $950 or less.

Criminologists studying the ballot initiative have said theres no correlation between the initiative and such crimes, according to The Sacramento Bees previous reporting. The Public Policy Institute of California reported the state saw an uptick in commercial burglary and robbery rates when comparing 2019 and 2022 data. However, PPIC noted 2022 shoplifting rates were actually lower than those seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.

People must feel safe enough to work and shop in their own communities, Chavez Zbur said. When they dont, businesses close, workers lose valuable job opportunities, and customers turn to online retailers.

The Bee Capitol Bureaus Lindsey Holden contributed to this story.
Wildfires in parts of the U.S. West may be transforming a benign form of chromium into its cancer-causing counterpart  potentially endangering first responders and surrounding communities, a new study has found.

The research, published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, identified high levels of the hazardous metal hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6, at specific types of burn sites along Californias North Coast.

Also known as the Erin Brockovich chemical, chromium-6 emerged in the public eye in the 1990s after Brockovich  then a legal aid  found that it was contaminating drinking water and sickening residents of Hinkley, Calif.

This toxic compound, which raises cancer risk when inhaled or ingested, was not present at the sites of interest for the study before they burned.

Rather, soils and plants at these locations were rich in naturally-occurring trivalent chromium  chromium-3  an essential nutrient that helps the human body break down glucose.

While chromium-6 can also exist naturally in the environment, this toxic form of the metal more often contaminates communities via runoff and wastewater from industrial processes.

Wildfire smoke plumes are known to transport dangerous pollutants such as aerosols, gases and fine particulate matter, but the researchers wondered whether the same could be said for heavy metals, and what the risk might be to firefighters and those who reside downwind.

In the complex mixture of gasses and particles that wildfires spew out as smoke and leave behind as dust, heavy metals such as chromium have largely been overlooked, senior author Scott Fendorf, a professor at Stanford Universitys Doerr School of Sustainability, said in a statement.

Laboratory experiments conducted by Australian researchers in 2019 had already shown that chromium-6 could form rapidly from chromium-3 in surface soils set ablaze.

This transformation occurs through a process known as oxidation  or in this scenario, a reaction between chromium and atmospheric oxygen in which electrons are lost.

Because that process is slow at low temperatures, it effectively doesnt happen, Fendorf, who is also a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, told The Hill.

But when you start heating the samples up through in this case wildfires, that causes that reaction to occur, he said. And so, youve transformed from the benign to the really toxic form.

With that in mind, Fendorf and his colleagues decided to test the theory that wildfires could leave soils contaminated with chromium-6 in their stead.

The scientists focused their attention on Californias North Coast, where they identified four recently burned ecological preserves that contain chromium-rich rocks, such as serpentinite.

While the southern Sierra Nevada tends to have more granite and less chromium content, the northern Sierra has more serpentinite  Californias state rock, Fendorf noted.

When you bring the wildfire through, that then leads to much higher levels of chromium-6 being produced, he said.

The four research sites  Pepperwood Preserve, White Rock Preserve, Modini Preserve and Sylvia McLaughlin Natural Reserve  were all partly or completely burned during the Kincade or Hennessey fires, which respectively occurred in Nov. 2019 and Sept. 2020, per the study.

Lead author Alandra Lopez, a postdoctoral scholar in Earth system science at Stanfords Doerr School, collected soil from these sites and then separated out the smallest particles that are most sensitive to wind transport.

She then measured the levels of chromium-6 in this ultra-fine dust from both burned and unburned areas, while also gathering data on local fire severity, prevailing soil conditions, underlying geology and ecosystem traits.

In chromium-rich sites where vegetation fueled long-lasting fires at high heat, the scientists found that toxic chromium concentrations were 6.5 times higher than those in unburned areas.

Our study suggests far more attention should be paid to wildfire-modified chromium, and we presume additional metals as well, Lopez said in a statement.

Doing so, she added, is necessary to more thoroughly characterize the overall threats wildfires pose to human health.

As far as these potential threats are concerned, the authors said they believe that fire-induced toxic chromium exposure has the most acute impacts on first responders and people who live near the blazes.

In comparison to exposure to chromium-6 via contaminated drinking water, as discovered in Hinkley by Brockovich, Fendorf stressed that inhalation is far worse.

Toxicologists are really clear on that, he said. If you had the choice, you want to drink it before you breathe it. And not that they suggest either one.

The extent of the threat also varies based on which plants are fueling the fire, according to Fendorf.

Grasslands, for example, dont produce sufficiently high temperatures to create a lot of chromium-6, but shrubs and tree canopies do provide ample heat, he explained.

Even after the fires end, strong winds could expose nearby populations to fine particles of chromium-laced soil, the researchers noted.

The brunt of the risk associated with inhaling airborne chromium-6 likely declines following the first big rainfall, which can wash the metal underground, according to Fendorf.

But in an arid environment like that of the U.S. West, which is facing increasing and prolonged droughts due to climate change, exposure risks could persist for those rebuilding and revegetating burned areas, he warned.

While chromium has been Fendorfs biggest toxin of interest due to the radical transformation that takes place, he said he is also concerned about other metals, such as manganese, certain forms of iron, nickel and cadmium.

Stressing the need for further research into wildfire-related exposure to heavy metals, Fendorf noted that the time being, wearing an N95 at such a burn site could be beneficial.

Fendorf said that he and his team are now creating predictive maps, so that firefighters have more awareness as to where they might encounter fine particulate matter and where they might also face chromium-6 exposure risk.

He and his colleagues have been preparing for the past two years to deploy active monitoring devices that are capable of monitoring contaminants amid a blaze, but such conflagrations have been minimal during this period.

Ed Burton, who led the 2019 research on the transformation of chromium-3 to chromium-6, credited the new study for showing that wildfires cause a dramatic shift in chemistry of chromium in fire-impacted soil.

Significantly, the authors show that newly-formed hexavalent chromium can persist in surface soil and ash for many months after wildfires, Burton, a professor of environmental geochemistry and mineralogy at Australias Southern Cross University, told The Hill in an email.

In addition to describing the potential health risks to those exposed to soil particles or ash, he stressed his particular concern as to the impacts of these findings on the U.S. West.

The region could be at particular risk because large areas of land are naturally rich in soil chromium and because wildfires appear to be increasing in severity and frequency due to climate change, said Burton, who was not involved with the Stanford study.

Dimitrios Alexakis, a professor of geology and geochemistry at Greeces University of West Attica, likewise described a broad global threat of dust-born metal and wildfire smoke to humans, stemming from the mix of these blazes and chromium-rich soils.

This study demonstrates an underrecognized health threat to humans associated with the geology and fire severity, he told The Hill in an email.

Alexakis, who was also not involved in this research, has studied both the dispersion of toxins from burned vegetation and the impacts of fire-fueled land contamination on human health.

The Stanford study, he observed, could help offer fresh perspectives on the reasons behind the heightened health risks associated with exposure to wildfire smoke compared to pollution from other sources.

Understanding how environmental factors contribute to the creation of chromium-6 through fire could also help scientists devise predictive tools to mitigate exposure risk and guide policymaking, according to Alexakis.

As further research on the subject unfolds, the Stanford team stressed that the results will be applicable not just to Californias North Coast, but to fire-prone areas with metal-rich landscapes around the world.

With wildland fires expected to increase in frequency and severity in many geographic regions due to a combination of climate change and past fire management, post-fire dust emissions are likely to rise, the authors stated.

Both the Pacific Rim and Mediterranean areas have geologies that are higher in chromium, as do other parts of Europe, Australia, South Africa and Brazil, according to the study.

Every continent has areas that are quite high at risk, so its not a small point, Fendorf said. Its really a broadly distributed problem.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FILE PHOTO: Meeting of the UN Security Council on the conflict between Israel and Hamas

GENEVA (Reuters) - The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday voiced concern about a reported raid at Kamal Adwan hospital in Gaza after several days of siege and said the facility should be protected.

"I'm extremely worried about reports of a raid at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza after several days of siege," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director general, wrote on X.

"WHO urgently calls for the protection of all persons inside the hospital. WHO further calls for an immediate ceasefire and for sustained humanitarian access to health facilities across the Gaza Strip," he wrote.

Tedros said the hospital, located in northern Gaza, an area largely deprived of humanitarian aid since the conflict broke out in October, was only minimally functional even prior to the siege due to shortages of water, fuel and supplies.

Citing the local Ministry of Health, Tedros said there were 65 patients including several needing intensive care and 45 medical staff at the hospital.

WHO said earlier on Tuesday that only 11 of Gaza's 36 hospitals were partially functional, one in the north and 10 in the south of the enclave.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Franklin Paul and Leslie Adler)
SAN DIEGO  A review of a state program that rents space around Californias freeways launched after a pallet fire shut down a major Los Angeles freeway last month identified several sites in San Diego County with potential risks that could threaten major arteries.

The preliminary assessment  the results of which were detailed in a Nov. 22 memo from State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) Secretary Toks Omishakin to Gov. Gavin Newsom  names 38 areas that are leased through the states Airspace and Telecommunications Licensing Program that were concerning to officials for possible safety risks and warrant further inspection.

The nearly half of the sites identified in report are located in Los Angeles County. Meanwhile, five are located in San Diego County  all located near Interstate 5 and Interstate 8.

Record holiday travel in SoCal expected to cap the year: When roads, airports will be the busiest

The vulnerable spaces were identified based on the results of recent inspections and characteristics of the site, including nature of known uses and proximity to critical infrastructure, according to the memo.

The report was part of a comprehensive review and assessment of 601 airspaces, which are parcels of land near bridges or viaducts leased out by the state for non-transportation purposes, ordered by Newsom in response to the fire last month that crippled Interstate 10.

While the fire is believed to have been set by an individual, state investigators repeatedly flagged safety problems at the airspace under the freeway that was leased out to construction company, Apex Development, Inc., months prior to the incident.

The Nov. 22 memo was described as a first step towards rectifying additional vulnerabilities that may be present to critical thoroughfares in California.

In San Diego, the sites named in the memo with possible risks were on parcels of land that are either directly beneath or partially under I-5 or I-8. Three of the identified sites in San Diego were around the interchange between the two arteries.

The sites include: mini-warehouses at 3865 Rosecrans St., 4835 Pacific Hwy. and 4800 Pacific Hwy.; an EZ 8 Motel at 4747 Pacific Highway; and a storage facility at 1770 Thor St.

SANDAG appoints interim CEO, tackles toll road mischarges

In the memo, however, Omishakin said that only a limited number of the sites named present a specific fire or safety risk, as opposed to a potential risk. The site rented by Apex where the fire started was described as an outlier.

According to Caltrans, the five sites in San Diego, which were inspected by the agency on Nov. 21, were identified primarily because of this potential associated with their use and proximity to important highway structures.

The transit agency added that the State Fire Marshal is in the process of inspecting the locations, and reports on findings are expected sometime next week.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
Evanstons City Council passed a ban on selling flavored tobacco products, including menthol, with a 6-3 vote last month despite concerns the ordinance would create unintentional consequences impacting the Black community.

The ordinance will go into effect on April 1, 2024, according to a memo prepared by Health and Human Services Director Ike Ogbo. The ban goes beyond just the sale of flavored tobacco products, it also extends to displaying and advertising the products. Possession of flavored tobacco products, including menthol, is still allowed without the intent to sell.

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Repercussions for not complying with the ban include a fine of at least $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second offense within 24 months and revoking the violating establishments retail tobacco vendor license after the third violation within 24 months, the ordinance states.

Evanstons ordinance is an effort to enhance community health and make it difficult for people  particularly the youth and those in Black communities  to get their hands on addictive materials, Councilmember Devon Reid told Pioneer Press when he first proposed the ordinance in May.

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Smoking behavior is disproportionately concentrated in Black neighborhoods, Ogbo wrote in a memo. (The census track with) the highest proportion of Black residents at 53.9% also (has) the highest proportion of residents who report being smokers at 20.2%. The implementation of the ban in Evanston has the potential to significantly reduce disease and death from tobacco product use.

Agreeing with Ogbos statement, the American Lung Association wrote to the City Council supporting the ban due to health concerns, saying 1.4 million Illinoisans live with serious lung-related illnesses caused by tobacco use.

Councilmembers Krissie Harris, Thomas Suffredin and Reid voted against the ban for a variety of reasons including impact on retailers and a desire by Reid to ban all tobacco sales instead of just flavored tobacco in part to limit enforcement confusion.

If were going to take this (larger) step, we might as well take the full measure, Reid said.

Reids initial referral was only for e-cigarettes and menthol but all forms of flavored tobacco consumption, such as flavored cigars, were added in the final proposal.

The big thing is  were looking at a double hit to these businesses (with potentially increasing the motor fuel tax as well), Suffredin said. We have to understand what were doing to these Evanston retailers.

City Council meeting attendees were split in their position on the ban. While some attendees supported the ban for its community health benefits, others opposed it fearing increased police interactions, loose cigarette street sales and the economic impact on retailers.

Banning flavored tobacco products does not work, users will obtain them by any means necessary, Clyde McLemore, founder of the Black Lives Matter Lake County Chapter, said. This will create an illegal market where cigarettes will be sold on the street  this will bring unnecessary contact with your law enforcement.

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McLemore said it will also incentivize customers to visit other municipalities, such as Skokie, where these flavored tobacco products can be obtained more easily. However, McLemores main concern is the potential increase in law enforcement interaction. He referenced other cities with a flavored tobacco product ban, such as New York City where street sales resulted in a fatality.

I hate to be out here because someone was killed by law enforcement for buying single cigarettes, McLemore said. Have we forgot about Eric Garner who was killed by strangulation from a New York police officer? He was stopped for selling single cigarettes.

Garner died in July 2014 after selling loose cigarettes in New York resulting in him being strangled by a police officer. His story is resurfacing as legislators across the country debate bans on flavored tobacco products, including menthol.

The United States Food and Drug Administration proposed a federal ban in 2022 and while a decision was expected to come earlier this month, President Joe Biden delayed the decision, according to The New York Times. National-level activists are raising the same racial equity concerns McLemore expressed to the Evanston City Council at its Nov. 27 meeting.

Garners mother, Gwen Carr, wrote to United States Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer on Nov. 9 expressing her concerns about the federal ban, which focuses on menthol. The FDAs proposal aims to combat health-related concerns in the Black community via menthol cigarettes due to 85% of non-Hispanic Black smokers preferring menthol versus 30% in non-Hispanic white smokers, according to federal data. Carr wrote to Schumer saying while the federal proposal in Washington has good intentions, it doesnt consider the possible consequences.

We have seen the dangerous interactions that can occur when the sale of loose cigarettes is criminalized, as was tragically the case with my son, Eric, Carr wrote. I am afraid that well-intentioned policies, without thorough and inclusive study, may ultimately serve to make systemic inequities worse.

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Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
Cambridge University is considering reducing undergraduates workload after students complained about the toll on their mental health.

The university has commissioned a teaching review after the student union demanded a reading week in the middle of term, with campaigners citing mental health problems associated with week five blues.

Cambridge undergraduates study during three intensive eight-week terms during the academic year.

The University Council, which includes the vice-chancellor, has agreed to work with colleges to seek to address the issue of excessive workloads on students and staff as a priority.

It has commissioned a review of teaching that will consider options to reduce student workload, such as a syllabus review, grace weeks and a reading week pilot.

The Council said it had serious reservations about the risks of implementing the reading week and of creating inequalities between student groups, as the proposal indicated that it might be necessary to exempt some courses from the reading week.

The university said the review would consider student workload and its impact on mental health and wellbeing.

It will also consider resources for the universitys supervision system, which involves small groups of students meeting up with an academic to deepen their thinking and explore topics further.

The teaching review will be led by Prof Bhaskar Vira, pro-vice-chancellor for education at Cambridge.

Students are more demanding

Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said: Our big student academic experience survey does show that student mental health has been getting worse.

It also shows that students are more demanding about universities responding to that epidemic of mental health problems as well.



He said that students at Oxford and Cambridge do work appreciably harder than [students at] other universities.

However, he noted that they do normally have higher academic entry qualifications.

Tara Choudhary, a former campaigner for the Cambridge Student Unions reading week proposal, told Varsity, the student newspaper, that the announcement of a teaching review was smoke and mirrors.

She said: Do they seriously believe something as non-committal and vague as a review is fooling anyone that theyre at last going to start addressing the mental health crisis affecting this community with the seriousness and urgency it requires?

Fergus Kirman, undergraduate president of the Student Union (SU), said the review of teaching must be focused on tangible and substantial improvements for students when it comes to workload and wellbeing.

He said: Students cannot, and must not, wait another three years for meaningful action. Provided everyone involved recognises this, we believe the review of teaching will be a positive, productive avenue.

The Student Union has said it will continue to campaign for a reading week.

Caredig ap Tomos, the SUs undergraduate participation Officer, told Varsity: We recognise that many in the university have challenged the viability of the most recent proposals, but  until they hear a more compelling alternative  this is the change that students want.

A University spokesman said: Cambridges supervision system remains a distinctive, and valued, element of educational provision and is not under threat.

The teaching review is concerned primarily with two areas: student workload (and its impact on mental health and wellbeing), and the future resourcing of supervisions.

The review is ongoing so it would be wrong to draw any conclusions at such an early stage.

Its consulting with student representatives, as well as those from faculties and colleges, and its anticipated that an initial set of recommendations will be shared with key stakeholders by the end of June 2024.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Kenneth Law faces charges relating to 14 deaths in Canada but police believe there may be many more victims

A Canadian man accused of supplying a poisonous chemical to people who died by suicide is facing multiple murder charges.

Police in Canada have charged Kenneth Law, a 57-year-old former chef, with 14 counts of second-degree murder.

Mr Law was previously charged with aiding suicide in relation to deaths of people who had allegedly purchased the lethal chemical from him online.

British detectives have also linked Mr Law to 90 deaths in the UK.

In an emailed statement to the BBC, Mr Law's lawyer, Matthew Gourlay, said his client intended to plead not guilty to the charges.

The murder charges announced by police on Tuesday mark an escalation in the prosecution of Mr Law in Canada, who has been the subject of a "very active and very complex" investigation involving 11 police agencies in the country's largest province, Ontario.

Speaking on behalf of the multijurisdictional investigation, Simon James, an inspector with York Regional Police, said the new murder charges were related to a total of 14 victims in Ontario.

Mr James said that "evidence has come in that supports the charge of second-degree murder", but declined to add further details as the investigation was ongoing.

Along with the murder charges, Mr Law faces 14 counts of aiding and counselling suicide in connection to the same Ontario deaths, for a total of 28 charges. He faces imprisonment for life if he is found guilty of second-degree murder under Canadian law.

Mr Law, who remains in police custody, is also the subject of probes by police agencies in other parts of Canada and countries, including the UK.

Mr James said police in Ontario are cooperating with those international investigations.

Canadian detectives said Mr Law had run a number of websites offering equipment and substances to help people end their lives. Police believe he may have sent more than 1,200 parcels containing lethal substances to around 40 countries.

He was first arrested and charged in May with counselling or aiding suicide. In August, police brought additional counts against him, all linked to deaths that occurred in Ontario.

The ages of the people who died ranged from 16 to 36. Mr James said more than one victim was under the age of 18.

Many of Mr Law's alleged victims were also based in the UK. There, the National Crime Agency (NCA) in London said Mr Law was known to have sent packages to 272 people.

The NCA, which is now investigating if any criminal offences were committed in the UK, said 90 of those recipients later died, though they could not confirm that a toxic substance was the direct cause of each death.

One individual died after police had carried out welfare checks on all the addresses which received a parcel, the agency added.

A spokesman for the NCA said: "This investigation will explore viable leads that help us identify evidence of crimes committed in the UK or against its citizens."

The news of the charges were welcomed by David Parfett, whose 22-year-old son Tom bought the chemical from Mr Law and ended his life in October 2021.

"It sends a signal to other people who encourage vulnerable people to self harm and provide suicide kits that they're not beyond the law," Mr Parfett told the BBC.

And he said there are wider lessons for the authorities on what more needs to be done to protect people online.

"Actions like encouraging others to kill themselves that would be prosecuted in real life are tolerated online. That has to stop," he said.

While this is a significant moment for many of the victims' families, some said they still have outstanding concerns.

They worry there are other sellers out there who have taken Mr Law's place and are still selling the poisonous chemical he allegedly supplied. Many also feel the UK government has not done enough to stop this type of crime.

Mr James of York Regional Police said one major challenge is that some of the websites used by Mr Law are based in countries outside of Canada, where Canadian law does not apply.

Families of victims said they also want action taken against those who set up and run a pro-suicide forum which encourages and instruct the vulnerable how to die. The BBC reported on the forum in October and even confronted one of its founders, who claimed he is no longer involved.

Many of the dead found out about Mr Law and other sellers through the forum, which the BBC is not going to name.

They followed detailed instructions posted there on how to end their lives.

If you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line or by phone at 988 in the US and Canada
The Carroll County Board of Education is set to gather for its monthly public meeting Wednesday at 5 p.m., at 125 N. Court St., Westminster.

Among the items that the board will review, discuss or vote on is a report on the school systems implementation of the Blueprint for Marylands Future legislation.

The Blueprint is a multibillion-dollar public school reform effort entering the second year of its decade-long rollout. It is designed to make Marylands schools among the highest performing in the country by redesigning the public education funding formula, providing more time for teachers to plan lessons and develop skills outside the classroom, and offering universal prekindergarten for 3-year-olds, among other initiatives.

Carroll County has been working to develop a strategic plan with four pillars that categorize the ways in which the system seeks to improve: pathways for student success, family and community partnerships, developing and supporting the school system workforce, and establishing positive learning environments.

The school system is also participating in a grant program with the state Blueprint Accountability and Implementation Board that will provide Carroll County with a strategic facilitator to assist with Blueprint implementation. The report, released earlier this week, states that the school systems facilitator will be Frank Grossman.

The report also states that the school system believes it will not need to make dramatic shifts in staffing for the coming school year, as the accountability board has been leaning toward more flexibility in implementation and has stated there will not be penalties in fiscal 2025 for fiscal noncompliance, as previously stated.

School board meetings are open to the public and livestreamed on the Carroll County Public Schools YouTube channel and viewable on the right side of the Board of Educations website at carrollk12.org/board-of-education/meeting-information, under CETV Livestream. Meetings are also broadcast live throughout the month on Carroll Educational Television, Ch. 21.

Anyone who wishes to participate during the public participation portion of the meeting must fill out an online sign-up form at https://www.carrollk12.org/board-of-education/meeting-information or call the communications office at 410-751-3020 by 9 p.m., on the Tuesday before a meeting.
The Catholic Dioceses of Columbus and Steubenville announced Monday that they are in 'preliminary discussions' about a potential merger of the two dioceses. Pictured is Holy Rosary & St. John Catholic Church on Columbus' Near East Side, one of 15 churches the Columbus Diocese announced earlier this year that it was planning to shutter.

The Catholic Dioceses of Columbus and Steubenville are considering a merger, over one year after a previous merger attempt was halted due to push back from many within the dioceses.

Bishop Paul J. Bradley, the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Steubenville, and Bishop Earl K. Fernandes of the Diocese of Columbus, issued a joint statement Monday announcing that they were in "preliminary discussions regarding the potential merger of the dioceses."

"While no decision has been made, due diligence is needed so an educated and responsible decision can be discerned in a timely manner. Ultimately, the decision is up to the Holy Father," the bishops said.

The announcement of the potential merger comes amid a combination of declining church attendance, a nationwide shortage of priests, and the scheduled closure of more than a dozen Catholic churches across central Ohio that are part of the Columbus diocese.

Bishop Earl Fernandes of the Catholic Diocese of Columbus exits the sanctuary Oct. 6, 2023, following a Mass for Life at St. Joseph Cathedral in Columbus.

Earlier this year, The Dispatch reported that Bishop Fernandes, who leads the 23-county Columbus diocese, was closing 15 churches as part of the diocese's "Real Presence Real Future" plan. Some of them included:

Other churches scheduled for closure were Corpus Christi Church and St. Ladislas Church on the South Side; Holy Rosary/ St. John Church on the Near East Side; Parroquia Santa Cruz on the North Side; St. Philip the Apostle on the East Side; Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on the Southeast Side; and St. Matthias Church and St. Anthony Church on the Northeast Side. St.

A nationwide shortage of Catholic priests also played a factor in the closings. According to data from Georgetown University researchers, there was a 42% drop in Catholic priests from 1965 to 2022. The Catholic church is also grappling with a 20% decline in church membership since 2000, according to a Gallup poll.

In 2017, the Steubenville diocese faced a financial scandal after David A. Franklin, the former comptroller of the diocese, was sentenced to a year in prison for tax crimes and embezzlement. He was sentenced to prison in December 2020, and was ordered to pay more than $1.3 million in restitution.

Catholic dioceses across the state also came under fire earlier this year when SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) and two other nonprofits called on Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to launch an investigation into the state's six Catholic dioceses over accusations of rampant sexual abuse. Several Ohio Catholic priests have been convicted in recent years for sexual misconduct and assault, including:

Another possible factor in the potential merger discussions is Steubenville Bishop Bradley's age. He turned 78 years old in October, three years past the age at which Pope Paul VI's apostolic letter stated bishops are expected to submit their resignation to the pope.

Bishop Paul J. Bradley, Apostolistic Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Steubenville

According to The Pillar, he is among 13 U.S. diocesan bishops who would be at least 75 years old by the end of this year, the largest number since 1967.

Meanwhile, Columbus Bishop Fernandes, who was the youngest diocesan bishop in the U.S. when appointed on April 2, 2022, turned 51 in September.

@ShahidMeighan

smeighan@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Catholic Dioceses of Columbus, Steubenville discuss potential merger
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Hundreds of receipts show taxpayer funds were spent to send Clark County School District staff on trips across the country to help with recruiting teachers.

Through a records request, 8 News Now found one expensive trip over the Fourth of July holiday in Miami with nothing to show for it.

According to records, 17 teacher recruiters and principals went to Miami from July 2 to July 9 for what the district described as in-person visits to the University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University.

Nova has campuses in Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

Rather than stay at a hotel near the universities, each staffer had their own room at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront on Miami Beach, staying for five nights for a total of $11,530, according to records.

8 News Now showed Clark County Education Association Executive Director John Vellardita the receipts.

Well, a trip on the Fourth of July holiday to Miami, staying at hotels on the beach, for this many employees of administration, should be flagged for did we really recruit any teachers? Thats the bottom line, Vellardita said.

CCSD told 8 News Now the Miami trip didnt result in any new hires.

Unlike other recruitment trips where staffers submitted brochures or registration forms to justify the trip, none were included for Miami.

Documents show COVID-19 relief funds were used to cover some of the hotels, flights, and meals for the 17 staffers.

The total price tag was nearly $29,000.

Vellardita blames the school board of trustees.

Trustees need to be doing their job. They need to be making sure that the budget is being used in a way that it was approved and they should dig deeper, Vellardita said.

CCSD employees also submitted receipts for rideshare reimbursements to restaurants, not just universities.

Brian Redmond, who served as CCSDs director of recruitment at the time, signed off on the trip and attended.

He has since been promoted, according to his LinkedIn page, to director of the management leadership academy.

If nobody was hired from the state of Florida during that venture then one really has to ask, you know, what was this money spent for, and was it actually spent for the right reasons? Vellardita said.

8 News Now reached out to CCSD for comment on the Miami trip, below is the districts full response:

During a Miami recruitment event, Clark County School District staff arrived in advance of the CCSD recruitment event to set up at the location and promote the event to the local community.

The District follows a common format for CCSD trips, occasionally utilizing larger groups of staff to help recruit and hire candidates. In addition to setting up and staffing the recruiting event, District staff conducted in-person visits to the University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University.

CCSD had multiple applicants register and attend the hiring event. No qualified applicants have been hired as of today.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Semafor Signals

NEWS

A 72-hour ceasefire was agreed in the conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed rebel groups. The U.S.-negotiated ceasefire will bring a temporary halt to the violent clashes in the east of DRC that started up again in October, when an earlier truce collapsed. Almost 7 million people have been displaced as a result of violence in the eastern parts of DRC, according to the UN.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Tensions grow between the DRC and Rwanda

Sources: Africanews

Tensions rose after Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi compared Paul Kagame, Rwandas autocratic leader, to Adolf Hitler. Tshisekedi, who is campaigning for reelection next week, vowed that Kagame would end up like the German dictator. Kinshasa accuses Kigali of backing the M23 rebel group in a bid to destabilize the eastern part of the DRC. The risk of a direct conflict between the DRC and Rwanda has escalated, a United Nations envoy warned on Monday.

Ceasefire comes with hope of renewed negotiations

Sources: Uhuru Kenyatta on X, Institute for Security Studies in South Africa

But the brief pause in fighting has raised the possibility that the ceasefire will be extended indefinitely to allow negotiations between the DRC and the rebel groups to resume, the office of Uhuru Kenyatta, the lead negotiator of the Nairobi peace process in eastern DRC, wrote on X. While negotiations have continued in fits and starts since the process began a year ago, some experts have questioned whether the negotiations will lead to anything. So far, talks have led to a flurry of resolutions with not enough follow through, an analyst at a South African think tank said.

DRC kicks out peacekeeping forces

Sources: Jenna Russo of the International Peace Institute in The Conversation

Peacekeeping forces from the UN and the East African Community are due to start withdrawing from the DRC this month. The East African forces have been asked to leave because of Tshisekedis frustration with their unwillingness to launch offensive operations against M23, according to Jenna Russo, an expert on peacekeeping operations in the DRC. UN forces are also withdrawing from the DRC after more than two decades in the country, following widespread dissatisfaction with the organization for failing to protect them from armed groups.
CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN)  A Cedar Park hotel was evacuated Tuesday morning while crews investigated a possible gas leak.

The SpringHill Suites hotel, which is near Discovery Boulevard and FM 1431, has been evacuated, Cedar Park police said on social media.

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Police said they were assisting the Cedar Park Fire Department at the scene.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
The Evanston Reparations Committee has announced the selection event for reparations for the descendants of those who experienced racially discriminatory housing practices in Evanston over the decades.

The selection process to determine the funding disbursement order will be held in the Evanston Township High School auditorium on Jan. 11 starting at 5:30 p.m. Letters will be sent to those who are eligible for the event informing them they will be given a selection number after the event that gives their place in line for funding.

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Were very excited about this, Reparations Committee Chair Robin Rue Simmons said during the Dec. 7 meeting. Please spread the word because there is a large descendant community thats been waiting.

The committee expects to be able to disburse payment to at least 80 direct descendants in 2024, according to the letter, and those selected will be contacted in March to decide how they would like to spend the money. A majority of those in the ancestor group have been awarded funds from the citys cannabis dispensary tax revenues, with 26 of 140 ancestors, those who were 18 and older at the time and directly experienced racist housing policies in Evanston from 1919 to 1969, awaiting disbursements or continuing to weigh their options.

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According to the drafted letter, there are 454 verified direct descendants of the 492 applicants. In order for the last 38 applicants to become verified, further information is required.That could include ID cards, documentation on the ancestor or documentation showing the relation to the ancestor.

To be considered for the selection event, all documents must be submitted by Dec. 29. For those unable to attend the Jan. 11 event, the disbursement order will be placed online the next day on the citys reparations webpage, cityofevanston.org/government/city-council/reparations.

Please note that all verified Direct Descendants will be funded, read the drafted letter. However, there are more recipients than available funding at this time. Reparations funds will be disbursed as revenue is received to the Reparations Fund.

Most ancestors have chosen the direct cash benefit option, resulting in over $1.6 million being allocated. The next most popular selection, home improvement, reached less than half that amount  just shy of $719,000.

Eight ancestors have died since reparations were approved by the city and the committee is looking to work with their families to ensure funding is allocated. Harris strongly encouraged those in the program to complete beneficiary information forms to speed the process up in the event a recipient dies.

Because we have lost some ancestors, now we want to award their beneficiaries their award but because they didnt have a beneficiary form, its going to be a little bit challenging, Harris said.

A new cannabis dispensary, set to open in early 2024, can help boost that funding, as the citys Municipal Retail Cannabis Tax is allocated to the reparations fund. The total amount is unknown as state mandates dont allow that information to be released until a sufficient number of dispensaries open in the city to protect the existing businesses privacy.

The Okay Dispensary is planned for the corner of Howard Street and Chicago Avenue with the West Town Bakery opening next door. Each business will have a separate entrance as well.

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This is how we will generate and get through our descendants, Harris said. Were excited to really dispense ... and get our funding out to our residents. Thats so important.

Further funding for reparations comes from the citys Real Estate Transfer Tax with $1 million per year being allocated for the next 10 years starting in 2024.

Economic Development Manager Paul Zalmezak said the new dispensary is a big win for the city especially considering there was a time another dispensary was planned across the street over the city border in Chicago.

The building is called Evanston Gateway so what a great way to celebrate entering Evanston from the south, Zalmezak said. Well benefit from it and hopefully the entire region benefits from it.
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert debated Monday night whether former President Trump was an aberration in the Republican Party.

While on her book tour promoting her book Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning, Cheney and Colbert disagreed about the former presidents role in the GOP and how the party came to the point of electing him in 2016 and has the potential of doing so again in 2024.

Colbert asked Cheney if she had done any self-examination of the partys leadership as to why he is not an aberration, but rather an avatar. Cheney disagreed and said she does think Trump is an aberration in the party.

Look, I think what Donald Trump has done is, first of all, he tapped into a sense among a lot of people in this country that their voice isnt heard, she said. But he then lied to them, and he preyed on their patriotism and told them, You know what, Ill speak for you.

Colbert fired back, saying Trump told voters he would speak for them very specifically, through things like racism. The comedian said the former presidents undermining of the media was a very fascist thing.

Cheney, who has warned of a Trump dictatorship if he were reelected, agreed. She said theres no question that hes using a fascist playbook.

Colbert said Trumps undermining of the media was a project of the right for the last 20 years and that the GOP has held the mantra that the government is a problem for so many.

Cheney, who has been a vocal critic of Trump and was vice chairwoman of the Jan. 6 committee, attempted to separate the former president and the Republican Party.

Its really important, in my view, that we not sort of slide into saying everything the Republicans have ever done, you know, is somehow the same as what Donald Trump is doing, she said, later adding that Trump is existential and unique in American history.

Colbert disagreed and said there are breadcrumbs within the GOP that led to Trumps presidency. Cheney said she and Colbert are just not going to agree on that.

The former congresswoman made a public exit from Congress last year after attacking her own party for supporting Trump. She lost her August 2022 primary after being one of the most vocal Republican critics of Trumps involvement in the insurrection.

She said lawmakers of the Republican Party and Americans have a duty to stand against where we are today.

We have to understand  this is a very real threat, and therell be a lot of time for us to debate how we got to this place, she said. But right now, we have to stand together as Americans to stop it. Thats the most important thing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Officials from AbbVie, North Chicago School District 187 and the community cut a ribbon to open the new middle school just over a year ago as part of a $350 million five-year nationwide AbbVie commitment started in 2018. (Steve Sadin/Lake County News-Sun)

Students who finished their eighth-grade year at Neal Math and Science Academy middle school are already showing the impact of going to the state-of-the-art building  built with a $40 million gift from AbbVie  now as North Chicago Community High School freshmen.

The new building gave students a place more conducive to collaborate, North Chicago School District 187 Superintendent John Price said. They will continue to benefit from that in high school.

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Meanwhile, Communities in Schools of Chicago was able to more than double the number of Chicago public schools where it places trained mental health professionals to help students in underserved and under-resourced buildings, thanks to a $6 million grant from AbbVie.

Classrooms surround a living room at the Neal Math and Science Academy where students and teachers can work and collaborate. There are Lake Michigan views on the three top floors, one for each grade. (Steve Sadin/Lake County News-Sun)

Jane Mentzinger, the CEO of Communities of Schools in Chicago, said, We work directly with the young people, especially those who have suffered trauma outside school.

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In addition, AbbVies $100 million grant to Ronald McDonald House Charities added 670 guest sleeping rooms at 31 Ronald McDonald houses across the United States. Kristin Hylek, marketing and communications director, said in an email the gift was transformative.

The partnership between RMHC and AbbVie enabled the fastest expansion of the U.S. Ronald McDonald House program in its nearly 50-year history, Hylek said.

AbbVies donations to the North Chicago schools, Communities in Schools and the Ronald McDonald houses, were part the North Chicago-based companys $350 million, five-year commitment started in 2018 to bolster healthcare and education across the country.

Claudia Carravetta, the president of the AbbVie Foundation and the companys vice president of corporate responsibility and global philanthropy, said those commitments went to the three entities and six other not-for-profit organizations.

We leveraged these grants to advance healthcare and reduce barriers to educational equity, as ways to support and build community resiliency, Carravetta said.

The company is well-versed in philanthropy since its inception in 2013, when it became a separate corporation from Abbott, she said. AbbVie was already aware of the nine recipients efforts to do transformative work in their communities.

Before AbbVie built the middle school in North Chicago, Price said each year the company sends hundreds of volunteers during its global Week of Possibilities in the summer to do projects ranging from building playgrounds to gut renovating classrooms.

Price said when the project was announced in 2019, the district and AbbVie worked together to create a five-story school where each of the three grades had an exclusive floor on the top three stories, with classrooms surrounding a living room.

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The teacher can see everything theyre doing. We want to build community between kids, and between teachers and kids, Price said at the ribbon-cutting last year. Science labs at Neal are now what students will have in high school.

The Neal Math and Science Academy built with a $40 million grant from AbbVie is a five-story, state-of-the-art school. (Steve Sadin/Lake County News-Sun)

Just as Price said AbbVies philanthropy was game-changing in North Chicago, Mentzinger said her organization helps both Chicagos most-underserved schools with resources, and directly provides assistance to 31 schools in the citys under-resourced areas.

Of the additional rooms at Ronald McDonald houses to help families whose children are being treated for cancer and other serious illnesses, Carravetta said there were eight at the facility near the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago.

Carravetta said a grant through AbbVies commitments to the University of Chicago Education Lab supported research helping urban youth, in high schools and beyond.

At St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, she said AbbVies $50 million grant was used to build a 45,000-square-foot family commons where families could be together and experience some normalcy while children were being treated for cancer.

Theres a library, a makers space, an art room, Carravetta said. Now they dont have to spend their time in the lobby or cafeteria while their child is being treated.

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Other recipients of AbbVies investments in the $350 million program are Boston-based Family Reach, City Year, Inc, also located in Boston; Habitat for Humanity International and Direct Relief located in Santa Barbara, California.

With this philanthropy program nearing completion after five years, Carravetta said AbbVie is starting to look at future possibilities where it can help organizations seeking to aid peoples lives.

We remain committed to improving the lives of patients and the health of our communities around the world, and we look forward to the impact we will make in the decades to come, she said.
BEIJING (Reuters) - China is happy to see parties to the Myanmar conflict hold peace talks and is willing to provide further support, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Representatives from Myanmar's ruling military have held talks, facilitated by China, state media reported Myanmars ruling military spokesperson as saying on Monday.

It was unclear when or where the meeting took place and the spokesman did not elaborate on what was discussed.

"We believe that the easing of the situation in northern Myanmar is in the interests of all parties and conducive to peace and stability in the China-Myanmar border area," said foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.

"China is happy to see the parties to the conflict in northern Myanmar hold peace talks and achieve positive results, and we are ready to continue to provide support and facilitation to this end."

Myanmar's military is battling armed opponents on several fronts, in the fiercest challenge to its grip on the Southeast Asian country since it seized power from an elected government in a 2021 coup.

A rebel alliance has overrun parts of northern Myanmar, including areas bordering China. The fiercest fighting has been near Myanmar's border with China in northern Shan state.

China has continuously urged the conflict to end, while urging Chinese nationals to vacate areas of danger. It had also sent a government official there recently to urge Myanmar to take measures to strengthen the security and safety for Chinese institutions, personnel and of China-Myanmar co-operation projects.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Tom Hogue and Michael Perry)
Editors Note: Sign up for CNNs Meanwhile in China newsletter, which explores what you need to know about the countrys rise and how it impacts the world.

Last weekends clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea send troubling signals that their standoff is worsening to a point where lives could be lost, potentially dragging the worlds two most-powerful militaries into open conflict, analysts warn.

The escalatory cycle is worrying, said Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a project at the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation at Stanford University that monitors maritime activities in the South China Sea.

Analysts described Sundays clash, in which Chinese Coast Guard water cannons disabled a Philippine boat, as the most serious of four publicized showdowns this year between the two countries in the waters near Second Thomas Shoal, a feature China claims as its territory but where Philippine marines man an outpost on a grounded ship.

The Philippine boats were attempting to bring supplies to the badly deteriorating ship, the Sierra Madre, when the Chinese Coast Guard tried to stop them, both countries acknowledge.

A Chinese Coast Guard ship deployed a water cannon against the Philippine supply vessels causing severe damage to (ones) engines, disabling the vessel and seriously endangering the lives of its crew, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said in a statement.

In this handout photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, a Chinese Coast Guard ship uses water cannons on Philippine navy-operated supply boat M/L Kalayaan as it approaches Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin Shoal, in the disputed South China Sea on Sunday December 10, 2023. - Philippine Coast Guard /AP

While no injuries were reported Sunday, the clash, which also included a collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels, shows that serious injuries or deaths are certainly possible, Powell said.

And because the Philippines, like nearby Japan and South Korea, has a mutual defense treaty with the United States, deaths of Filipinos could trigger US forces to respond.

US officials have repeatedly cited the treaty in public remarks on the South China Sea and the US State Department this week reiterated Washingtons stance following Sundays clash.

The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of these dangerous and unlawful actions, the statement said.

Chinas Foreign Ministry, however, told Washington it has no standing in the dispute, saying no third party has the right to intervene.

Beijing claims indisputable sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, including many features hundreds of miles from mainland China. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan also hold competing claims.

In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines and concluded that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights to the bulk of the South China Sea. But Beijing has ignored the ruling.

Flashpoint outpost

Second Thomas Shoal, known as Ayungin Shoal to the Philippines and Renai Reef to China, sits in the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

Manila grounded the Sierra Madre, a World War II-era former US Navy transport ship, on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 and has manned it with Filipino marines to enforce its claims to the area. But the rusting vessel is falling apart and is badly in need of regular repairs.

The situation on the shoal largely fell out of headlines while China set up military installations on other contested territories in the South China Sea over much of the past decade.

And the administration of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte tried to forge new economic ties with Beijing.

But President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who took office in 2022, has taken a harder line on Chinese territorial claims and strengthened military cooperation with Washington.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. told CNN in September that Manila and the rest of the world needed to stand up to what he called Chinese bullying.

But Beijing has been steadfast in its claim that Manila is illegally occupying the shoal.

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning accused the Philippines of seriously violating Chinas sovereignty and endangering the safety of Chinese vessels and personnel.

But analysts counter that Beijing comes across as the aggressor.

China acts, looks like and is being exposed as a bully, said Carl Schuster, a former director of operations at the US Pacific Commands Joint Intelligence Center.

And Beijing is looking to press its claim, the analysts say.

In this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, a Chinese Coast Guard ship, right, uses its water cannons on a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel as it approaches Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on Saturday December 9, 2023. - Philippine Coast Guard/AP

Recent actions seem to point to the Chinese trying to probe for weaknesses to exploit and test the limit of how far Washington would go for its ally, Collin Koh, research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore, told CNN.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Koh said it may not even take explosive weapons to trigger the US-Philippine mutual defense treaty.

When your water cannon attack actually caused physical damage, injury and potentially death, it begs the question about whether it matters whether you use firearms or just the kinetic force of water to qualify as an armed attack, Koh wrote.

Any death might not have to be intentional, he said.

Even if the Chinese try their best to avoid vertical escalation, what if theres an inadvertent loss of lives, or severe injuries? Will that qualify as armed attack? Koh asked.

US involvement

Koh, Schuster and others said Washington may have let the situation go too far already, emboldening Beijing to keep up the pressure on Manila to back off on its South China Sea claims.

Eric Sayers, a nonresident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, wrote on X that Washington needs to escalate things with Beijing.

They are estimating we wont because we largely havent for the last 13 years since this type of behavior started, he wrote.

Schuster said Washington needs more than State Department statements to dissuade China.

Unless (the US) moves forces into position, Beijing will see no reason to avoid escalation, he said.

Those forces could be direct US resupply of the grounded ship, the Sierra Madre, or at least joint escorts on the Philippine resupply missions, Koh said.

A general view of a press conference about the recent incidents of Chinese aggression and harassment in Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea, in Manila on December 11, 2023. - Earvin Perias/AFP/Getty Images

And the resupply missions are vital, said Sayers.

If Manila cant get enough supplies to its ship on Second Thomas Shoal, Beijing could be even more assertive, he said.

I think the concerning question is what state is the Sierra Madre in? Does it need to continue to be maintained or is there a risk it could fall off the reef? If so, that is an event that could lead to further escalation and a change in the status quo, Sayers told CNN.

And he warned that Washington cant lose sight of the importance of support for Manila even while the rest of the world is burning, referring to ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza that appear to be dominating the foreign policy space in the US government.

The US needs to demonstrate that Asia is a priority along with Europe and the Middle East, Sayers said.

Can Washington walk and chew gum like my Euro-centric American friends insist? is a question that needs a strong answer, he wrote.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
By Francesco Guarascio, Khanh Vu and Phuong Nguyen

HANOI (Reuters) -Communist-ruled China and Vietnam, at odds over claims in the South China Sea, agreed on Tuesday to boost ties and build a community with a "shared future", three months after Hanoi upgraded its formal relations with the United States.

On Chinese President Xi Jinping's first visit to Hanoi in six years, the two countries announced 37 deals, including on diplomatic ties, railways and telecommunications.

As China and the United States vie for influence in the strategic nation, the agreements mark an achievement of Vietnam's "Bamboo diplomacy", although analysts and diplomats said the improvement in relations could be more symbolic than real.

Vietnam agreed to "support the initiative of building a community of shared future for human kind", according to a joint statement shown to reporters on Tuesday, after sources said China had been pushing for it. The joint statement is expected to be formally signed on Wednesday.

The countries' diplomats had debated the "shared future" phrase for months, following Hanoi's initial reluctance to use it, say officials and diplomats.

The Chinese term literally means "common destiny", but its translation in English and Vietnamese is "common future", which may be seen as less demanding.

"One declaration, many translations," said a diplomat based in the Vietnamese capital, commenting on the interpretation of the term.

In diplomatic ties, the upgrade is symbolic, Le Hong Hiep, a specialist in Vietnamese strategic and political issues at Singapore's IseasYusof Ishak Institute, said.

"Vietnam's mistrust of China runs deep, and from the Vietnamese people's viewpoint, there is little to no 'shared destiny' between the two countries, as long as China continues to claim most of the South China Sea," he said.

Despite close economic ties, the neighbours have been at odds over boundaries in the South China Sea and have a millennia-long history of conflict.

In a sign of possible de-escalation, however, they signed two cooperation agreements for joint patrols in the Tonkin Gulf in the South China Sea and to establish a hotline to handle fisheries incidents, according to one of the agreements.

RAILWAYS, DIGITAL SILK ROAD

Apart from taking ties to a level Beijing may consider above those with the United States, the upgraded status came with the announcement of 36 cooperation deals, according to a list of documents seen by Reuters, and the joint statement on diplomatic ties.

That was short of 45 initially proposed, according to one Vietnamese official, and missed agreements on critical minerals and rare earths on which Xi had urged more cooperation in an opinion piece published on Tuesday in a Vietnamese state newspaper.

Deals included two memoranda of understanding on cross-border rail development, including one mentioning developing aid.

Top officials in both countries had urged a boost to a rail link between the southern Chinese city of Kunming and the northern Vietnamese port of Haiphong, which crosses regions in Vietnam rich in rare earths.

China's ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo said earlier this week Beijing was ready to offer grants to develop rail connections, though the volume and terms of possible loans are unclear.

Boosting transport links would allow Vietnam to export more to China, especially farm products, while Beijing wants to further integrate the country's north with its southern supply chain networks, where Chinese firms are moving some operations.

Stronger rail networks would speed the import of components from China for assembly in Vietnam, effectively expanding China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

So far the Hanoi metro is Vietnam's only project to have received BRI loans and it has not been labelled as part of the initiative, as the country's leaders often grapple with widespread anti-Chinese sentiment.

The two countries agreed to jointly promote the "two corridors, one belt" initiative, which is the Vietnamese term for infrastructure projects supported by China.

Xi's visit is also expected to boost plans on what is known as the Digital Silk Road, and the two countries signed several deals to cooperate on telecommunications and the digital economy.

The content of the agreements is not known but officials had said the increased telecoms cooperation could include digital infrastructure such as 5G networks and undersea optical fibre cables.

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio; Additional reporting by Khanh Vu and Phuong Nguyen in Hanoi; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Clarence Fernandez and Barbara Lewis)
Yoon Suk Yeol has described chips as his 'top priority' during his visit to the Netherlands (Koen van Weel)

Dutch tech giant ASML and Samsung Tuesday signed a deal worth around 700 million euros to build a semiconductor research plant in South Korea, as President Yoon Suk Yeol wrapped up day one of a technology-focused visit.

Yoon was the first foreign leader to visit ASML's highly secure "cleanroom", on a trip to the Netherlands aimed at forging a "chip alliance" between the two global semiconductor powerhouses.

He toured the city-sized facilities of ASML, which makes cutting-edge machines to manufacture the semiconductor chips that power everything from your smartphone to your car.

ASML and Samsung later agreed to "jointly in the future" invest in the facility that would "develop cutting-edge semiconductor processing technology using next-generation EUV (extreme ultraviolet) equipment".

Semiconductors are the "linchpin" of ties between Korea and the Netherlands, Yoon told AFP in an exclusive written interview before becoming the first Korean leader to visit since ties were established in 1961.

But they have also emerged as a battleground between China and the West.

Washington and the Netherlands are among the powers that have imposed restrictions on exporting advanced chip-making equipment to China, fearing Beijing could use it to make cutting-edge weapons.

Beijing has described this as "technological terrorism".

Yoon said his host ASML's innovation in the sector had "been a major driver of an industrial revolution pushing the boundaries in areas like AI (artificial intelligence) and 5G communication".

As competition with China hots up, the semiconductor industry is "strategically more important than ever before, which makes this visit to the Netherlands especially meaningful", added Yoon in his AFP interview.

Yoon was joined on his visit to ASML by the heads of major chip makers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.

The two Korean firms are affected by the export curbs to China since they have based a large portion of their production, especially of advanced DRAM and flash memory chips, in China.

ASML too enjoys healthy sales to China, especially of DUV (deep ultraviolet) systems that print the tiny elements that make up a microchip.

Yoon told AFP his visit to ASML would mark a "crucial turning point" for ties between the two countries, with discussion on chip co-operation his "top priority" during the visit.

- 'Chip alliance' -

His office has said the two nations want to forge a "chip alliance" that would involve governments, businesses and research universities.

The two countries are expected to sign several agreements after a meeting between Yoon and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Wednesday.

The Netherlands and Korea already enjoy strong trade ties.

Korea is the third-largest trade partner for the Dutch in Asia, while the Netherlands is the second-top partner for Korea in the European Union, according to the Dutch government.

During a summit between Yoon and Rutte in November 2022, the two countries signed a "strategic partnership" including a pledge to boost semiconductor ties.

The visit kicked off with a welcome ceremony from Dutch King Willem-Alexander, before the trip to ASML in Veldhoven, southern Netherlands.

In the ceremony on Amsterdam's historic Dam central square, Yoon and Willem-Alexander inspected a military guard of honour and chatted to children waving Korean and Dutch flags.

Yoon will head to The Hague for the meeting with Rutte Wednesday, following which the two men will hold a news conference.

bur-ric/imm
FILE - A Wyndham Garden hotel is shown in New York on Oct. 17, 2023. Wyndham says its board is unanimously rejecting Choice Hotels' unsolicited buyout offer worth nearly $8 billion. Choice Hotels is launching a hostile takeover offer for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc. after attempts to reach a deal with the hotel chain were rebuffed. Choice Hotels said Tuesday Dec. 12, 2023 that its exchange offer remains the same as its last bid. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)

Choice Hotels is launching a hostile takeover offer for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts after repeated attempts to reach a deal with the rival hotel chain were rebuffed.

Choice Hotels said Tuesday that its exchange offer to shareholders of Wyndham, which runs Days Inn, La Quinta, Ramada and a host of other brands, is the same as its last bid to company management, which was $49.50 in cash and 0.324 shares of Choice common stock per Wyndham share. The exchange offer gives Wyndham shareholders the chance to choose to receive all cash, all shares or a combination of the two.

The offer puts the value of the deal for Wyndham, the larger of the two chains, at about $8 billion.

While we would have preferred to come to a negotiated agreement, the Wyndham Boards refusal to explore a transaction has left us with no choice but to take our proposal directly to Wyndhams shareholders, Choice CEO Patrick Pacious said in a prepared statement. "Wyndham chose to publicly reject our last proposal without any engagement even after we addressed their concerns, including adding significant regulatory protections for their shareholders.

Pacious said that Choice continues to seek a mutually agreeable transaction and said that can still happen with the potential for additional value to be unlocked if Wyndham were to return to the negotiating table and provide due diligence.

Pacious said that the company will be meeting with Wyndham's shareholders in the days and weeks ahead and that it is starting the regulatory approval process this week.

Choice has been trying to work out a deal for Wyndham for some time, but has been held at arm's length. In October Wyndham rejected an unsolicited $8 billion buyout offer from Choice. At the time, Wyndham, called the proposal opportunistic and said that it undervalued the company's growth potential. The offer was rejected unanimously by its board.

Wyndham Chairman Stephen Holmes also said in October that Choice's bid was "subject to significant business, regulatory and execution risk, and that Choice had been unable to address Wyndham's concerns.

Choice has said that it went public with the bid after six months of negotiations broke down. The company made a private proposal to Wyndham in mid-November that included $49.50 in cash and 0.324 shares of Choice stock for each share of Wyndham stock. It also offered Wyndham two seats on the combined companys board. Wyndham rejected the proposed offer last month.

Choice said Tuesday it's still willing to offer two seats on the combined company's board, along with a reverse termination fee consistent with terms in its November proposal.

Wyndham, which is based in Parsippany, New Jersey, said in a release Tuesday that its board will evaluate Choice's offer to determine a course of action that it feels best serves the company and its shareholders.

Wyndham is urging its stockholders not to take any action until the board announces its recommendation.

The exchange offer is set to expire on March 8, 2024 unless extended or terminated. Choice said that it's committed to completing the transaction within a year.

Choice said it currently holds about 1.5 million shares of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc. shares valued at more than $110 million. It is planning to nominate a slate of directors to Wyndham's board at Wyndham's 2024 annual shareholders meeting.

Wyndham posted a profit of $355 million last year with revenue of $1.5 billion.

Hotels have experienced a surge in businesses over the last several years. An uptick in travel has lead to snarled airports and pilot shortages. That has cooled a bit this year as people become more cost conscious about their trips due to inflation and after spending more freely for more than a year.

Choice Hotels International Inc., which is based in Rockville, Maryland, runs about 7,500 hotels in 46 countries. Its seeking to absorb a much larger chain in Wyndham, which operates more than 9,000 hotels that also include Howard Johnson, Super 8 and Travelodge.
BRI brings positive forces to global human rights development: Ecuadorian experts

Xinhua) 09:20, December 12, 2023

MEXICO CITY, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) helps partner countries achieve common prosperity and advances human rights development, Ecuadorian experts have said.

While driving economic growth and improving infrastructure construction in participating countries, primarily in developing countries, the BRI has also improved the living standards of their people, said Decio Machado, an international political analyst and a Spanish citizen who has been living in Ecuador for years.

Its philosophy of putting people first, promoting cooperative development brings positive forces to the development of human rights, fairness, and social justice, solidifying the foundation of human rights development, he added.

On Thursday, the China Foundation for Human Rights Development and Xinhua's think tank, New China Research, issued a report titled "For a Better World -- Looking at the Past Decade of Jointly Pursuing the Belt and Road Initiative from a Human Rights Perspective."

"I fully agree with the report's description that the cooperative construction of the Belt and Road conforms to the strong desire of people of partner countries to live a better life," said Rafael Quintero, former deputy foreign minister of Ecuador.

The initiative promotes economic, employment, education, and healthcare development in participating countries, Quintero said, enhancing the well-being of people in Ecuador and other participating Latin American countries, thereby reducing negative impacts on human rights caused by immigration, unemployment, and violence among others.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A student at the Valparaiso Ivy Tech campus School of Information Technology led his team to the National Cybersecurity Award earlier this fall. Lifelong Valparaiso resident and Ivy Tech student Dustin Price was team captain in the 24-hour competition on Sept. 29.

In preliminary competitions the nation was divided into two regions  the Western Bootcamp and the Eastern Bootcamp  with competitions over the summer. The top three teams from each boot camp, out of more than 40 each, were invited to the national competition which consisted of two parts.

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First, the teams were tasked with preparing a presentation one week in advance to a group of industry experts and government officials regarding a discovered cybersecurity vulnerability at a hypothetical company. The team had to explain within 20 minutes the vulnerability, the risks it imposed, and how to fix it. The exercise was based on a real vulnerability that had been faced by a real company.

Part two was the 24-hour competition in which competitors had to solve a variety of cybersecurity challenges such as determining if encryption was symmetric, asymmetric, or hashing. Every task was modeled on a capture the flag format and earned the team points when successfully completed. These four students worked really, really hard, said Ivy Techs Valparaiso campus program chair for Cybersecurity and Information Assurance Rami Maximus Salahieh. They had to stay up all night.

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The six teams were put together randomly and Price was the leader of his group which consisted of a working professional from Washington State, a college freshman from Maryland, and a high school student from Indiana. It was very difficult to have people with different trains of thought, he said, keeping everybody from getting frustrated or fighting with each other.

Prices success brings a spotlight to the cybersecurity career opportunities here in Northwest Indiana and the work being led by Salahieh. The two men traveled to Washington, D.C. to receive the national award Oct. 3 at the ACT/IAC Government Cybersecurity Conference.

Nobody knows that we have this National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyberdefense, said Salahieh, referring to the award bestowed upon Ivy Tech by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency. Thats a very big deal.

In 2019 Ivy Techs Valparaiso campus was also awarded the Award for Excellence in Cybersecurity by the state of Indianas Careers & Technical Education Department. Salahieh explained there are 19 sectors of the United States economy identified as mission critical in cybersecurity, including government, food and agriculture, energy, defense, manufacturing, communications, and information technology.

He has a student who has not yet graduated with his associate degree who just accepted a local cybersecurity job in the hospitality industry starting at $70,000 a year. Once the student graduates hes been promised a $20,000 raise.

I have another student whos making double six-figures and hes hardly 20 years old, Salahieh said. For Price, a Navy veteran released from seven years of service on medical disability in 2015, the industry is a chance for a reboot.

I really wasnt making ends meet. I wasnt supporting my family, Price said. The former submarine navigator credits his wife, an electrical engineer, for sitting him down and telling him he needed to go to school.

The challenging, problem-solving nature of cybersecurity has been a welcome relief from Prices initial skepticism. That was my fear with a desk job, that I would be doing the same thing every day and that I would go insane.

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It also took a little convincing from Salahieh that he was up to the task. Price, who is in his second year of an associate degree program, was encouraged by Salahieh at the end of his first year to participate in a competition called CyberQuest. I came back with, Im not good enough. I dont know enough. It will be a waste of my time, Price said.

It seems after his success at the West Coast Boot Camp this past summer that offered sessions on resume-building and an ethics panel that included the Department of Justice, the Secret Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and leading the team to a subsequent national victory, hes convinced. Price hopes to pursue his bachelors in cybersecurity and has applied for a scholarship from the Department of Defense.

For the next generation of cybersecurity professionals Ivy Tech offers Cyber Patriot boot camps for middle and high school students every summer sponsored by the Air Force Association and GEN Cyber sponsored by the NSA.

Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
SAN DIEGO  After four decades, a murder victim from 1981 has been identified, the San Diego Police Department reports.

On Tuesday, SDPD announced the woman, has been identified as Elaine Armstrong of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

2 children dead, mother and friend seriously hurt in police pursuit crash; suspect identified

San Diego Police partnered with a forensic biotechnology company to identify the victim. The process involved groundbreaking DNA technology that was able to beat out traditional methods. After several weeks of testing, the victim now has a name.

No one, no victim should go nameless because a horrible act was committed against them, said Kristen Mittleman, the chief development officer for Othram.

A decades-old murder case with an unknown victim now has a name, Elaine Armstrong. Police confirm Armstrong is from Michigan and was murdered when she was 51 years old. SDPD worked with Othram, a forensic biotechnology company to develop a DNA profile from the evidence. Othram used a forensic-grade genome sequence, they developed, which is a major upgrade from traditional DNA testing.

Once we built the sequence, we uploaded to genealogical databases consented for law enforcement use and that allows you to get really distant relationships. So you are able to get a sixth cousin and fifth cousin, a third cousin, Mittleman said.

Once Othram identified Armstongs family tree, they notified SDPD. SDPD then contacted the family for confirmation of DNA testing.

That was done and finally she was identified, Mittleman said.

Police said on October 16, 1981, the remains of an unknown female were discovered behind the then Vics Office Supply at 1753 Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach.

Police said the woman had been repeatedly stabbed in the neck, beaten, and set on fire.

Police said local businesses knew her as the Bag Lady, but she went unidentified for 42 years.

Mittleman said, Her family now knows where she is, they can bury her and go back and visit her. They know what happened to their loved one.

We like the fact that we can help the families have a little bit of some of the answers they need, said Justin Woo, co-founder of Project Justice.

Non-profit Project Justice provided the funding for Othram to do the testing to identify Armstrong.

Woo said Armstrong is their 18th successful identification.

We really believe in strengthening community helping each other out. This technology is so new but its incredibly effective so that is really inspiring to us, said Lydia Ansel, co-founder of Project Justice.

Project Justice is an innovative non-profit initiative that allows communities to engage with and enhance local law enforcement efforts to solve cold cases by supporting the re-evaluation of DNA for evidence.

Click here to learn more about Project Justice. Introducing  Project Justice

However, SDPD said the suspect is still a mystery. Police have a photo of a shoe print from the crime scene, suggesting the suspect wore a certain pair of sneakers.

Now is the time when you can put up her picture, tell her name and tell her story, anyone that might have seen her the last few days of here life can call in with a tip and help identify who might have murdered her, Mittleman said.

Click here to visit Othrams site of DNA Solves, for other cases they have helped identify. After 42 years, Pacific Beach Jane Doe is Identified (dnasolves.com)

Police are asking for the publics help if anyone remembers Armstrong, even if the information seems insignificant if could help detectives focus their investigation.

SDPD said hopefully the information will lead them to identify and arrest the person or persons responsible.

Armstrongs identity was confirmed in December by the San Diego County Medical Examiners Office.

Her family has been notified, and the remaining physical evidence from the crime scene will be re-examined in an attempt to identify the suspect in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

Alani Letang contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
In a rare move, Colorado's county clerks expressed a shared concern over a ballot initiative that, if passed in 2024, would dramatically change the state's elections.

The proposed ballot initiative, concerning the conduct of elections, is currently making its way through the initiative process. The proposal was offered by Kent Thiry, the former CEO of Denver-based dialysis giant DaVita. It would make multiple changes to Colorado ballots including the addition of ranked-choice voting for certain candidates, change the way that candidates can win a spot on the ballot, and require a specific deadline for county clerks to finish counting votes.

Carly Koppes, Weld County clerk and recorder, stated that although county clerks typically make it a practice to stay neutral on issues and candidates that may be on the ballots they ultimately provide voters, this particular initiative could damage Colorado's existing election system, often lauded for its accessibility and security.

"Colorado has worked hard to put together an election system that serves as a national model for how to hold safe and secure elections while also making sure that every voter who wants to vote can do so," Koppes said.

"We cant stand by while someone recklessly attempts to upend that system.

Concerns expressed in a news release from the Colorado County Clerks Association include the initiatives requirement of completed vote counts by 11:59 p.m. on Election Day. Currently, Colorado allows all voters to cure issues with their ballot up to eight days following each election. The state also allows the same window for receiving and counting ballots from military members serving overseas.

In recent years, it's been a practice for some Colorado counties to stop counting votes on Election Night and resume the count the next day in order to allow election workers to rest or avoid poor road conditions during times of inclement weather.

Another concern expressed by the clerks is a provision that would require ranked-choice voting, but only for elected officials serving at the state government level. The provision states that the four candidates who receive the greatest number of votes in the primary election would advance to the general election. Then, at the general election, the ballots would be redesigned so that voters could rank candidates in order of preference.

Chaffee County Clerk Lori Mitchell expressed concern that the increased complexity of voting would cause numerous potential voters to opt out of voting altogether or lead to an increase of voter errors that could disqualify ballots.

We are heading into our third tough year of election deniers," Mitchell said.

"At a time when we must again shore up trust in our system, why would we want to implement a complicated change to nearly every aspect of how we run elections today and change our Constitution? Particularly, when the change is not in response to an actual problem, Mitchell said.

Thiry's Spokesman Curtis Hubbard disputed the clerks' concerns by stating that the 11:59 p.m. election night deadline will only be required when practical, but that it would allow clerks to process ballots sooner.

"The deadlines would also require the general assembly to provide more resources to the county clerks, so the idea is that it would be to their benefit," Hubbard said.

Thiry added that, even in a state that does elections well, political insiders still have too much power over which candidates appear on the ballot and which candidates control power in the state.

"Elections should belong to the people, not a few insiders, Thiry said.

Should the initiative make the 2024 ballot, it would go into effect Jan. 1, 2026.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado county clerks voice opposition to election overhaul proposal
NICTD contractors moved a beam into place Monday afternoon at a railroad bridge located at Broadmoor and Manor avenues in Munster. On Sunday, a trolley hit part of the bridge, which is being renovated as part of NICTD's West Lake Corridor extension. (Christin Nance Lazerus/Post-Tribune)

A holiday lights tour of Munster ended abruptly Sunday night when a trolley bus hit a low bridge thats part of the South Shore Lines West Lake Corridor.

No one on the bus was injured  thankfully, Munster Police Chief Stephen Scheckel said.

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He said the bus was carrying people on a tour of Munsters holiday lights, in a fundraising event by the Munster Educational Foundation, when the top of the bus hit a beam on the bridge.

Workers from a NICTD contractor move a metal beam into place on a railroad span at Broadmoor and Manor avenues in Munster on Monday afternoon. (Christin Nance Lazerus/Post-Tribune)

Michael Noland, the South Shore Lines president, said the beam hit by the bus is called a sacrificial beam, installed by the construction companies working on the West Lake Corridor. The beams purpose is to protect the bridge structure.

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Workers were clearing up the site Monday.

The West Lake Corridor will run from the Munster/Dyer border to Hammond, connecting there to the existing South Shore Line from Chicago to South Bend.

Trains are expected to begin running on the West Lake Corridor in 2025.

The bridge structure itself dates to the now-defunct Monon Railroad that formerly ran throughout Indiana. The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, the public agency that owns the South Shore Line, acquired part of the Monon right of way in Munster and Hammond about two decades ago.

A sign near the bridge notes its 11-foot clearance.

Noland said Munster officials did not ask for the bridge clearance to be raised because its in a residential area.

We usually have a moving truck or two a year hit that bridge, Scheckel said. Its rather common for vehicles to get stuck there.

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, the public agency that owns the South Shore Line, bought the Monon corridor in Hammond and Munster more than 20 years ago.

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Tim Zorn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 5: Julianna Margulies attends Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust Generation to Generation Gala Dinner at Museum of Jewish Heritage on Dec. 5, 2023, in New York City.



NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 5: Julianna Margulies attends Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust Generation to Generation Gala Dinner at Museum of Jewish Heritage on Dec. 5, 2023, in New York City.

By now, everyone has heard actor Julianna Margulies rant about Black people being brainwashed to hate Jews, during her interview on The Back Room With Andy Ostroy podcast. Although Margulies has since apologized for offending Black and LGBTQIA+ people, the Columbia University student group at the center of her remarks has clarified their position.

In a statement posted last week on Instagram, LionLez shared an image that read Anti-Zionism = Antisemitism. Captioning the post, the LGBTQIA POC club wrote: LionLez denounces the accusations from [the Student Governing Body] that we have issued antisemitic statements. We are an organization for and by non-binary people and women from all racial minorities who identify as LGBTQ.

Read more

Margulies went on to say that, as someone who played a lesbian on TV, she was offended by some of the comments she heard about from LGBTQIA people of color. According to her, Hamas views people in those groups even lower than the Jews. She explained, A. youre Black, and B. youre gay. And youre turning your back against the people who support you?

According to the Columbia Spectator, members of the board privately shared that the former presidents email about zionists and subsequent social media post to the clubs instagram were inappropriate and were not run past the board. Additionally, per LionLez, that student is no longer running the group.

So far, Margulies has not commented on the statement from LionLez.

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Click here to read the full article.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Columbus Brewings taproom on the West Side is temporarily closing while the company reimagines its menu and service model.

The companys original bar space attached to its brewery at 2555 Harrison Road closed Sunday and plans to reopen in the spring, Columbus Brewing announced on social media. The post said the taproom is temporarily closing as the company strives to create the ideal beer tasting experience.

Mission-driven salad restaurant Sweetgreen to open in Columbus

This temporary closure helps us to bring you amazing new food choices, new beers and an expansion of our beverage menu, the company said. Stay tuned as we design our new plans and for reopening dates.

The companys original bar space is attached to its brewery at 2555 Harrison Road. (Courtesy Photo/Columbus Brewing Company)

Columbus Brewings taproom opened in 2019 before the location added a dining menu in 2021. The companys beer hall at 200 Kelton Avenue next to the Historic Trolley Districts East Market opened earlier this year and remains operational. The hall is home to multiple bar and dining spaces, 24 beers on tap and house-made menu items.

Inside Grand Tavern, heir to Marshalls in Grandview Heights

The beer hall is open 3 to 10 p.m. Monday, 3 to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Learn more here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
The Columbus City Council on Monday agreed to vastly expand tax breaks for affordable housing in the city, such as the Topiary Park Crossing apartment complex Downtown.

The Columbus City Council on Monday vastly expanded tax abatements for new housing, part of an effort to double the number of homes built in the city.

In a unanimous vote, the council agreed to create a "Community Reinvestment Area" for the entire city, which grants a 100% tax break for new residential developments for 15 years. The tax break largely applies to apartment complexes that designate at least some units for affordable housing based on income.

Council members and city officials said the policy is necessary to help address the city's housing shortage by encouraging construction of more houses and apartments.

"Were hitting that moment in central Ohio where we need to pull out all the stops to get housing built," said Erin Prosser, the city's assistant director of housing strategies.

Prosser said the city is expecting 5,545 new residences to be built this year, down from 6,177 last year.

She acknowledged that the main reasons for the decline aren't property taxes, but instead are rising material, labor and borrowing costs. Still, she said the city must use "all the tools that are available."

Owners must apply for the tax breaks.

Prosser said the tax abatement expansion, along with other city changes such as a new zoning code, can help achieve Mayor Andrew Ginther's goal of doubling the number of new homes built in the city.

Lark Mallory, president and CEO of the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County, welcomed the expansion of the tax abatement boundaries to help offset the rising costs of building homes.

"What used to pencil out no longer pencils out," she said. "We're seeing a lot of projects shelved right now. ... This could potentially be the difference between a project working and not working."

Mallory said expanding the boundaries will allow low-income housing projects to be built throughout the city instead of concentrating them in the city's existing Community Reinvestment Areas, which are mostly in older, less-affluent parts of town.

City officials noted that several other Ohio cities grant citywide property tax breaks on new residences, including Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Findlay.

Central Ohio already leads the state in granting tax breaks. In tax year 2022, $5.82 billion in property was abated in Franklin County, more than in Hamilton and Cuyahoga counties combined, The Dispatch previously reported.

The new tax abatements would apply everywhere in the city except where other tax-incentive programs already operate, such as the Easton, Polaris, Downtown and Rickenbacker International Airport areas.

The tax breaks would apply only to projects that include affordable homes, except in Franklinton and Linden, where owner-occupied new homes, regardless of affordability, would qualify for the tax break.

Single-family homes elsewhere would be eligible for tax breaks if they are occupied by residents making no more than 120% of the area median income, which is about $55,550 for a one-person household or $71,450 for a three-person household.

To qualify for the abatements, most apartment projects would have to reserve 20% of units for those making no more than 80% of the area median income. Apartments are considered "affordable" if they consume no more than 30% of a resident's income.

City Council member Shayla Favor conceded that tax breaks are "not always popular" policies, but said it is necessary to try to remedy the city's housing shortage.

The city has not calculated how much potential tax revenue could be lost to the city or schools with the expansion of the abatement policy. But Prosser and Council President Shannon Hardin said the policy would not take tax dollars away because it only applies to projects not yet built.

"This costs nothing," said Hardin. "Expanding the map cuts nothing from current rates paid. All new projects ... still pay baseline property taxes; the abatement is only on increase in value."

Hardin acknowledged that the new policy does not help longtime homeowners struggling to pay property taxes to keep their properties, but said it is only one piece of the city's efforts to make housing more affordable for all.

In addition to rezoning changes, the city is spending $200 million in bonds approved for affordable housing and has invested $21 million in other initiatives aimed at affordable housing.

jweiker@dispatch.com

@JimWeiker

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Council seeks to double new home builds with new tax breaks
Defence Minister Rustem Umierov and Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, have visited firing positions of soldiers on one of the fronts in Ukraine's east.

Source: press service of the Ministry of Defence; Ground Forces Command

Details: It is noted that Umierov and Zaluzhnyi congratulated the soldiers on the Day of the Ground Forces. Umierov also presented state awards to the military.

PHOTO: DEFENCE MINISTRY OF UKRAINE

Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group, briefed Umierov and Zaluzhnyi on the situation on one of the eastern fronts. The parties also discussed the key needs of Ukrainian soldiers, which are necessary for their effective work.

Umierov noted that in addition to frontline support and key needs of the army, the issues of training recruits and strengthening fortifications along the entire line of contact were discussed during the trip.

The Ministry of Defence and the General Staff are developing a joint action plan and assessing potential threats.

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The Norwegian-flagged M/V Strinda was hit by at least one missile fired from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.

A commercial vessel is in flames in the Red Sea after being attacked by at least one missile fired from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, two U.S. officials tell The War Zone.

The M/T Strinda was attacked by a missile coming out of a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen, two U.S. military officials told The War Zone. The vessel is battling a fire, the officials said. It was struck 60 miles north of the narrow Bab el-Mandab Strait, one of those officials told us. The Strinda is a Norwegian-owned chemical tanker, according to its owner, Mowinckel Chemical Tankers A S.

The Arliegh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Mason responded to an emergency call and is now in sight of the Strinda, three officials told us. All three spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss operational details.

https://twitter.com/UK_MTO/status/1734352752128516446

This marks the second time in two weeks that the Mason has been involved in a situation involving missiles fired from Yemen. Nov. 27, two ballistic missiles fired from Yemen came down in the Red Sea in the vicinity of the destroyer USS Mason (DDG-87). At the time, the warship was concluding its response to a distress call from the M/V Central Park, a commercial vessel that had itself come under attack from a group of armed raiders that had attempted to board it.

https://twitter.com/fab_hinz/status/1729033366673162564?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1729058177508159928%7Ctwgr%5E1eb65d8f34970d121666a347592b24712607c686%7Ctwcon%5Es3_\u0026ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fthree-cargo-sips-hit-by-houthi-missiles-u-s-destroyer-downs-drones

The attack on the Strinda comes days after France said one of its frigates in the Red Sea downed two Houthi drones flying toward it.

https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1733665600612749708

And this is just the latest case of Houthi missiles hitting commercial vessels. As we previously reported , on Dec. 3, three missiles fired from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen struck three commercial ships in the Red Sea Sunday, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney responded to distress calls from two of those vessels and downed three drones approaching it.

https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1731424734829773090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1731424734829773090%7Ctwgr%5E1eb65d8f34970d121666a347592b24712607c686%7Ctwcon%5Es1_\u0026ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fthree-cargo-sips-hit-by-houthi-missiles-u-s-destroyer-downs-drones

On Saturday, in conjunction with the Army-Navy game, the Navy released a video supporting the sea service featuring vivid video of the Carney responding to Houthi attacks.

https://twitter.com/USNavy/status/1733634409813713254?s=20

The Houthis have repeatedly attacked shipping in the Red Sea and launched missiles and drones at Israel. There have been several instances where U.S. Navy vessels have also had to shoot down Houthi drones and missiles . On Nov. 19, the Houthis staged a helicopter-borne raid on the Galaxy Leader, a Bahamian-flagged vehicle carrier transiting the Red Sea. The Houthis still hold the ship and its 25 crew members. A U.S. military official told The War Zone it is believed to be the first Houthi helicopter-borne raid on a ship. You can read more about these incidents and others involving the Houthis in our story here .

Speaking to reporters Monday hours before the latest attack, Air Force Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon's top spokesman, had no details to provide on a new international maritime effort to protect shipping there through the creation of a new task force.

We continue to take this very seriously and we continue to consult with allies and partners around the world about a maritime task force, in order to address this, Ryder said.

This is a developing story.

Update: 8:33 PM Eastern -

We received additional information about what struck the ship as well as the location of the attack. The Strinda was hit by a land-based cruise missile about 60 nautical miles north of the Bab el-Mandab. No one was injured in the attack and no U.S. vessels were near it when the attack occurred, a U.S. official tells us.

We also updated this story to change the designation of the ship to M/T.

Update: 8:41 AM Eastern 12/12 -

Houthi spokesman Yahya Sare'e claimed credit for the attack on the Strinda, stating without proof that it was headed to Israel.

"The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a qualitative military operation against the Norwegian ship [Strinda], which was loaded with oil and headed to the Israeli entity. It was targeted with a suitable naval missile."

https://twitter.com/Yahya_Saree/status/1734483833385259375 https://twitter.com/Yahya_Saree/status/1734483936149987364

The vessel's owner, J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, said the tanker was loaded with palm oil and en route from Malaysia to the Suez Canal and then on to Italy when it was attacked, Norwegian national broadcaster NRK reported .

Update: 12:30 PM Dec. 12 -

France says its French Navy (Marine Nationale) FREMM Frigate Languedoc, patrolling off the coast of Yemen, was also involved in the Strinda incident, shooting down a drone threatening the vessel.

https://twitter.com/EtatMajorFR/status/1734555052600140260

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
A Pentagon working group established to provide recommendations for rooting out extremism in the ranks is set to be defunded under the sweeping defense policy bill Congress is expected to pass this week.

The compromise National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which was released last week after months of negotiations between House and Senate Democrats and Republicans, would bar any funding from going to the Defense Department's Countering Extremist Activity Working Group.

The working group released its recommendations in December 2021, and the Pentagon said at the time that the release marked the end of the group's work, making it unclear what practical effect defunding the group will have. But lawmakers including the provision in their compromise bill signals they are ready to turn the page on what became a political lightning rod.

Read Next: Air Force Punishes 15 Service Members in Wake of Teixeira Leak at Massachusetts Guard Base

Congress' move to make sure the working group stays dead also comes as the Pentagon continues to struggle with extremists in the ranks. An inspector general report released earlier this month found that dozens of troops were suspected of advocating overthrowing the government over the past year.

A Pentagon spokesperson did not immediately respond to Military.com's request for comment on the NDAA provision or the exact status of the working group now.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin established the working group early in his tenure after it became apparent that some service members and veterans participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

The working group released its recommendations at the end of 2021, and as a result, the Pentagon quickly updated its definition of extremism and tweaked classes for those transitioning out of the military to emphasize "the need to honor the oath of office and to support and defend the Constitution."

But the Pentagon's work to implement the rest of the group's recommendations appeared to stall as Republicans increasingly attacked what they derided as "wokeness" in the military.

Republicans charged that the Biden administration was using counter-domestic extremism efforts as an excuse to target conservatives and that they were a distraction from the military's purpose of preparing for war. Austin has been admonished by Republican lawmakers for the efforts at nearly every congressional hearing at which he's testified.

A report explaining this year's NDAA compromise agreement notes that efforts to implement the working group's recommendations will continue under the supervision of the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness and the under secretary of defense for intelligence and security. Austin gave those two officials responsibility for overseeing implementation of the recommendations in a memo he released alongside the working group's December 2021 report.

This year's NDAA is not the first time lawmakers have used the annual defense bill to target the working group. Last year, the Senate Armed Services Committee included non-binding language in its initial NDAA draft that called any ongoing activity related to the counter-extremist working group "an inappropriate use of taxpayer funds" that "should be discontinued by the Department of Defense immediately."

The provision that made it into this year's compromise bill was somewhat watered down from the version that passed the House in July. In addition to defunding the working group, the original House-passed text would have required the Pentagon to submit all of the working group's documents to the House Armed Services Committee and a special committee House Republicans created to investigate government activities they disagree with called the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.

Defunding the counter-extremism working group is one of several provisions Republicans fought to keep in the final NDAA that take aim at efforts to make the military more diverse and inclusive.

The Senate and House are expected to approve the NDAA by the end of the week, sending it to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature.

Related: What the Pentagon Has, Hasn't and Could Do to Stop Veterans and Troops from Joining Extremist Groups
Congress is struggling to lock down a deal on government funding with just days until lawmakers are set to leave town for the rest of the year, as both chambers appear to have given up on passing their own spending bills.

Lawmakers had been hopeful leadership would strike a deal last week on an overall top-line level for government funding in fiscal 2024 as part of the annual appropriations process. But as negotiations continue, lawmakers say leadership is cutting it close. Congress is staring down a shutdown deadline next month, with little legislative time on the calendar.

At a press conference Tuesday, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said lawmakers are all hands on deck on the appropriations bills, noting the shutdown deadlines on the horizon.

But what we also agreed to was whats written in the law, and thats the [Fiscal Responsibility Act] numbers on top lines, Johnson also said, referring to legislation Congress passed earlier this year to raise the debt limit.

The measure, negotiated between the Biden administration and House GOP leadership back in spring, suspended the debt ceiling into 2025, staving off the threat of what experts warned could be a cataclysmic default, while also setting budget caps for fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2025.

As part of the law, lawmakers agreed to a base discretionary spending cap of $1.59 trillion, or about $886 billion for defense spending and almost $704 billion for nondefense spending, for fiscal 2024. However, there is uncertainty on Capitol Hill around where other components of that agreement not reflected in the bill stand, including changes that the White House detailed earlier this year to offset further funding on the nondefense side.

While appropriators say its unclear what are all the factors contributing to the holdup, some see the handshake agreement as a key hurdle.

In his comments Tuesday, Johnson took aim at Senate Democrats over their appropriations work thus far, accusing the upper chamber of projecting and writing well above the spending cap agreed to in the debt ceiling law.

Thats not what the law says, and so I came in as the new Speaker and I said, again, as the rule of law team, were going to follow the law, he said. So, thats where negotiation stands.

Meanwhile, Democrats have accused House Republicans of reneging on the full deal struck earlier this year, while also coming out fiercely against the prospect of a full-year stopgap bill to prevent a lapse in government funding in the weeks ahead.

Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said the backup plan, which has attracted support from some conservatives, could be harmful to the countrys national security, as well as hurt programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

The Speakers proposal would lock in outdated spending plans and devastating across-the-board cuts while locking all of us out of any kind of thoughtful decision-making process for our nations future, all of which should be unacceptable to everyone here, she said last week.

Last month, Congress agreed to temporarily freeze spending for certain agencies through mid-January and others until early February to allow time for both chambers to finish their funding work.

Among the agencies under the Jan. 19 deadline are the departments of Agriculture; Veterans Affairs; Transportation (DOT); and Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Asked Monday whether he was confident Congress would meet the deadline, Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), who chairs the House subcommittee that oversees funding for offices such as the Department of Interior, said he preferred a different word, given the current pace of work.

Confident? Thats another word Im not really sure I want to use, he told The Hill, though he added he was hopeful lawmakers would be able to meet the January deadline.

Both chambers failed to pass all 12 funding bills after falling behind on annual funding work earlier in the year.

While Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the Senates spending cardinal who oversees dollars for HUD and DOT, said theres a fair amount of enthusiasm in the upper chamber for the Senate to move to pass its remaining nine funding bills, he acknowledged the time crunch Congress faces.

As bicameral talks for a top-line agreement continue, the appropriator said he thinks Congress has until closer to the end of the calendar year to strike a top-line funding deal in time for them to conference and pass funding legislation to meet the January deadline.

Appropriators staff can do pretty quick work, but we dont want to jam them up and cause them either heartache or precipitate a clerical error, he told The Hill.

Theres not that much writing to do, right. Youre negotiating over numbers for existing programs. So its not like youre writing a new authorizing statute, he said. Youre just trying to figure out what number to plug into the existing law.

Congress has been bogged down in negotiations for further aid for Ukraine and Israel, as well as changes to border policy, while also working to pass a major annual defense authorization measure in the coming days.

But the clock is ticking, and leadership has been keeping its cards close as to how far both sides are to reach a deal.

Pressed Monday on whether there will be a top-line agreement this week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told The Hill: I hope so, but were having some trouble with the House.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Congressional interns are calling their bosses out, accusing the rank and file of Capitol Hill of downplaying constituent calls for a cease-fire in Gaza, claiming that hundreds of thousands of messages from U.S. citizens and staff have gone unnoticed and unheard.

In an open letter signed by 140 interns and fellows working for Democratic and Republican offices, the collective noted that congressional phone lines and inboxes have been more than overwhelmed with messages calling for an immediate cease-fire. In just 71 of 535 congressional offices, constituents placed more than 693,170 calls, letters, and voice messages demanding a cease-fire, according to the group.

We believe Israel, like any nation, has the right to defend itself and its people. However, there is no justification for the wanton killing of innocent civilians. There is no justification for intentionally bombing hospitals, shelters, water supplies, religious sites, or schools. This is no longer an act of defense. It is genocide, the letter read.

While we refrain from telling our bosses how to do their jobs, as congressional interns and fellows, we owe it to the American people to expose the patent malpractice of Congress. We can no longer stand by while the voices of constituents are suppressed and ignored by their elected officials, they added, avoiding naming themselves for fear of career retaliation.

The interns also noted that some members of Congress have not been adequately briefed about the volume or contents of the messages and that despite congressional inaction, they would do everything in our power to ensure a permanent ceasefire is achieved.

To diminish the intelligence of people who support a ceasefire, to blatantly spread misinformation within the office about the conflict, and to actively make other staff feel uncomfortable is appalling, read one testimonial included in the letter. There is a clear disconnect between what the American public wants and what their representatives are doing.

This isnt the first report that members of Congress are ignoring constituent calls for a ceasefire. Last month, a HuffPost report found that several Democratic lawmakers explicitly told their staff to let the ringing go to voicemail. At the time, one staffer said the calls dont stop ringing at any point in the day.

Sixty-one percent of all likely voters support a cease-fire and calls for the deescalation of violence in Gaza, according to a December 5 Data for Progress poll. That same poll found that the majority of respondents (63 percent), including Republicans, felt that Israel should only receive more aid under the condition that it meets a U.S. standard for human rights.

Meanwhile, only 11 percent of Congress feels the same, with just 61 lawmakers having issued statements calling for a cease-fire.

At least 18,412 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began, and 1.7 million people (or 81 percent of the total population) have been displaced, according to data from the Gaza Health Ministry and the United Nations.
By Valerie Volcovici, Kate Abnett and Jake Spring

DUBAI (Reuters) -The COP28 climate talks went into overtime on Tuesday as countries engaged in shuttle diplomacy to bridge deep international divisions over how to deal with fossil fuels in the summit's final text.

Where the conference lands on the issue will send a powerful message to global investors and markets about the ambition of governments around the world to end the use of oil, or preserve a future place for it.

Many nations had criticised a deal draft released on Monday for failing to call for a "phase-out" of fossil fuels, which scientists say are by far the biggest source of the greenhouse gas emissions driving global warming.

More than 100 countries ranging from the United States and the EU to tiny island nations had pushed for the language, but came up against strong resistance from members of the OPEC oil producer group and its allies.

The United Arab Emirates' COP28 Director General Majid Al Suwaidi said the aim of the Monday text was to draw negotiators from the nearly 200 countries at the Dubai summit to reveal their demands and move the discussion forward.

"By releasing our first draft of the text, we got parties to come to us quickly with those red lines," he told reporters.

Al Suwaidi said the COP28 presidency was aiming for a "historic" result that included mentioning fossil fuels - but that it was up to countries to agree.

Deals at U.N. climate summits must be passed by consensus, at which point individual countries are responsible for delivering the deal through national policies and investments.

Germany's Climate Envoy, Jennifer Morgan, said the talks had now entered a "critical, critical phase".

"There is a lot of shuttle diplomacy going on," she said on X, formerly known as Twitter, referring to fast-paced meetings between countries to hunt for compromise.

U.S. Special Climate Envoy John Kerry popped out of one meeting with representatives from several other delegations late on Tuesday and said he believed the fossil fuel language in the COP28 deal text was getting stronger.

"I think theres progress and moving in the right direction. And you know, were going to keep working through the night," he told reporters.

A new draft text for a final deal was expected in the early hours of Wednesday, with a potential plenary meeting to finalise a deal later in the day.

The draft released on Monday had suggested eight options countries "could" take to cut emissions.

One was "reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner so as to achieve net zero by, before, or around 2050".

That would be the first time in history that a U.N. climate summit has mentioned reducing use of all fossil fuels. But it would fall short of the "phase-out" of coal, oil and natural gas scientists say must happen soon to avoid climate change escalating.

The COP presidency had hoped to wrap the two-week summit up by Tuesday morning, but clashes over the deal text forced negotiations into overtime. COP summits rarely finish on schedule.

A COP28 spokesperson said UAE's COP President Sultan Al Jaber would be taking meetings until 2300 GMT as he searched for a compromise deal.

'WORRIED'

Sources familiar with the discussions said Al Jaber had faced pressure from Saudi Arabia, de facto leader of the OPEC oil producers' group to which UAE belongs, to drop any mention of fossil fuels.

Saudi Arabia's government did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.

In a Dec. 6 letter seen by Reuters, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais urged members to reject any COP28 deal that targeted fossil fuels.

Negotiators and observers in the COP28 talks told Reuters that while Saudi Arabia has been the strongest opponent of anti-fossil fuel language in the text, other OPEC and OPEC+ members, including Iran, Iraq and Russia, have also resisted a fossil fuel phase-out deal.

"I'm worried ... because it's very obvious that we need more ambition," Denmark's Global Climate Minister Dan Jorgensen told Reuters. "I haven't given up yet of course, we still think this is possible."

The Monday draft was criticised as too weak by many participants such as Australia, Canada, Chile, Norway, the European Union and the United States - among the 100-strong group demanding a firm commitment to wean the world off coal, oil and gas.

Despite the rapid growth of renewable energy in recent years, oil, gas, and coal still produce about 80% of the world's energy.

Some African nations said any deal must require wealthy countries, who have long produced and used fossil fuels, to quit first.

"The transition should be premised on differentiated pathways to net zero and fossil fuel phase-down," said Collins Nzovu, Minister of Green Economy for Zambia, which chairs the African Group of countries in U.N. climate talks.

"We should also recognise the full right of Africa to exploit its natural resources sustainably," he added.

It was unclear if China, the world's top greenhouse gas emitter, supported Monday's draft. Its veteran climate change envoy, Xie Zhenhua, said progress was being made in the talks, but it was "hard to say" whether agreement could be reached by the end of Tuesday.

Representatives of small island nations said they would not approve a deal that was a "death warrant" for vulnerable countries hit hardest by rising sea levels.

(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici, Kate Abnett, Jake Spring, Gloria Dickie, Elizabeth Piper, David Stanway; Editing by Katy Daigle, Barbara Lewis and Nick Macfie)
You are here: Arts

An exhibition of the works of Chinese and Spanish painters will open on Tuesday in Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), according to NCPA's official website.

The exhibition, "Pintura Figurativa Contemporanea, China Y Espanola," or "Contemporary Figurative Paintings, China and Spain," is held to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Spain.

At the exhibition, visitors can feast their eyes upon the portrait, landscape and still life paintings of 103 artists from the two countries.

The exhibition will run until Jan. 12, 2024.
The global climate summit has stretched into overtime as negotiators have yet to reach an agreement on its outcome.

Fossil fuels  the main driver of climate change  have been a particularly thorny issue at the summit, as some push for an agreement calling for a phase out or eventual end to fossil fuel use, while others say thats going too far.

Past agreements have called for a phase down of coal when its emissions are not prevented through carbon-capture technology.

The latest draft, released Monday, called for reducing consumption and production of fossil fuels, while a previous draft floated a phase out.

Climate envoy John Kerry, who is negotiating on behalf of the U.S., tweeted that language around fossil fuels needs to be substantially strengthened. He also said that a section dealing with climate finance contains inaccuracies that must be fixed.

A bloc of countries that includes India and China, however, opposes language calling for a phaseout or phase-down of specific energy sources, according to Politico, which listened into closed-door talks through an unsanctioned feed.

Meanwhile, a lead climate finance negotiator for the European Union, Eamon Ryan, has reportedly said the EU could walk away from the talks if the text is not strengthened.

Any agreement would need to be adopted by consensus.

In a Monday tweet, former Vice President Al Gore described the conference as being on the verge of complete failure.

The world desperately needs to phase out fossil fuels as quickly as possible, but this obsequious draft reads as if OPEC dictated it word for word, he added, referring to a group of oil-exporting nations.

The conference was originally slated to have closed on Tuesday, but its now unclear how long it could run. Global climate summits often run over, with last years COP27 conference also stretching into overtime.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Will County Judge David Carlson expressed his frustration with prosecutors sharing records nearly 10 months after charges were filed against a New Lenox gun shop owner and his business partner.

Jeffery Regnier, the owner of Kee Firearms and Training in New Lenox, and Greta Keranen, with Kee Construction, face charges for various applications filed for Economic Injury Disaster Loan, Paycheck Protection Program and unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Defense attorney Jack Friedlander told the judge his team received 300 pages of discovery last week and the grand jury transcript an hour before a court proceeding Dec. 5. Friedlander asked for a continuance to review the material.

We just need some time to do that, Friedlander said.

Carlson asked Will County Assistant States Attorney Michael Casson why there was a delay in delivering the materials, specifically the grand jury transcripts because they were prepared May 22.

This evidence in this case, the electronic evidence, there are seven to eight terabytes, Casson said.

Casson called the delay for grand jury transcripts an oversight.

Pointing to the two Secret Service agents in the courtroom, Carlson said he was ready to scold them for the delay in the case. In a previous hearing, Carlson said he understood the agents were not cooperating, but it turns out that wasnt true.

I feel a little bamboozled because it was presented that the Secret Service werent giving documents but, it turns out, you had them, Carlson said.

Carlson continued the case until Jan. 8.

Once again, weve accomplished nothing, Carlson said.

Regnier, who ran unsuccessfully last year in the Republican primary for the 1st Congressional District, faces 14 charges that include one charge each for loan fraud and money laundering and multiple charges of theft, state benefits fraud, wire fraud and filing a fraudulent Illinois sales and use tax return.

Keranen faces multiple charges of loan fraud and charges of wire fraud, and they both face additional charges for theft by deception, according to the criminal complaint filed Feb. 24.

The two posted $75,000 bond in April, according to Will County Circuit Court Clerk records.

akukulka@chicagotribune.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Students, faculty and staff will now return to The Covenant School campus more than a year after six people were killed by an active shooter.

Students have been attending classes inside the Brentwood Hills Church of Christ since three weeks after the shooting. The Covenant School initially planned to return to its Green Hills campus in January 2024.

Students will now return in April 2024. The school cited a number of factors that led to the decision but did not specify any in a statement to News 2.

The Covenant School continues to focus on caring for students, families, teacher and staff in what continues to be a difficult time. In considering a variety of factors, the school is planning to return to the Burton Hills campus in April instead of January. Molly Sudderth, Spokesperson for Ingram Group, which represents The Covenant School

Metro Nashville police unable to identify who leaked Covenant writings, exhausted all available investigative avenues

On March 27, 2023, three children and three adults were shot and killed by 28-year-old Audrey Hale at the Covenant School in Green Hills. The victims were identified Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all 9 years old; as well as Cynthia Peak, 61; Dr. Katherine Koonce, 60; and Mike Hill, 61.

There is an ongoing legal battle on whether the writings should be released to the public, with both sides of the aisle posing strong arguments. On Monday, Oct. 16, the Court of Appeals heard why both Covenant families and Metro Government believe they have the right to weigh in on whether the so-called manifesto is released.

There is no timeline on when the court will decide whether or not parents and Metro government will get to weigh in on the release of these documents. A separate judge will decide if, and what parts of the documents will be released.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
It is a small mercy that television cameras inside the Covid Inquiry are trained on the key players, and do not capture images of those sitting in the public gallery. As a result, the protesters who have been sitting in the room, rudely interrupting proceedings, have largely been denied what they really want: more attention and publicity.

Of course we must recognise the suffering of all of those who lost loved ones during the pandemic  especially where deaths occurred as a direct and demonstrable result of poor decision making by the government. Nobody is denying that many people died before their time because of blunders in hospitals and care homes; delays in protecting those most vulnerable; and shortages of PPE. Many of the bereaved have very good reason to be aggrieved, and their continuing anger is understandable.

But victim status does not come with a free pass for bad behaviour  nor does it give the Covid bereaved the right to make the inquiry all about them. They say they want justice, but what they really seem to seek is retribution, and a permanent position on the moral high ground from where they are free to make whatever accusations they like.

Already, colossal resources have been devoted to putting these groups at the heart of the painfully protracted attempt to learn lessons from the pandemic. Indeed, the importance of their experiences is recognised within the terms of reference. From the phalanx of publicly funded lawyers attached to victims groups to tapestries and translators and trauma supporters, every effort has been made to underpin their participation and cater to their needs. The inquirys multi-million pound nationwide listening exercise  Every Story Matters  is an attempt to ensure nobody can complain that they have not been heard.

But while every story certainly matters to the individuals concerned, the truth is that only a modest representative sample of these stories matter to the inquiry.

This week, the Covid bereaved described the Prime Ministers evidence to the inquiry as pathetic. Some people hung images of their dead relatives around their necks and when Rishi Sunak left the inquiry room many stood and held up photographs of loved ones who died from the virus.

But it was last week, as Boris Johnson provided evidence, that protesters were thrown out by the judge  which was all the more misjudged given Boris did his level best to appeal to those who blame him personally for everything that happened  an endeavour that was always doomed. Time and again, during what was arguably the most important evidence to the inquiry to date, the former prime minister took personal responsibility for mistakes.

Head bowed, in hour after hour of sober reflection, he went out of his way to acknowledge that the buck stopped with him. His apology at the outset was more than a formality, the sudden crack in his voice as he referred to the tragic, tragic year of 2020 perhaps as much of a surprise to him as it was to anyone who has followed his political career closely for years, and never once seen him publicly falter in this way. He may not have bothered to brush his hair for the occasion, but in the face of endless petty questions designed to humiliate and expose him, he was arguably more deferential towards the inquirys grandstanding lead barrister than the KC deserved.

On more than one occasion, Hugo Keith got his own facts wrong, including on quite an important matter, namely where the UK ended up ranking in international Covid mortality league tables. Johnson could have become ill tempered or argued the toss, but he let it go. There was no bumptiousness or buffoonery, nor any glib attempt to enliven proceedings with his usual linguistic flourishes.

None of this was enough for certain angry activists who attended the hearing or hung around outside waiting for an opportunity to vent their spleen. With depressing predictability, they immediately accused the prime minister of faking his contrition. One widow displayed a placard openly accusing him of killing her husband.

I doubt anything he could have said would have made an iota of difference to their set narrative, which is that the former prime minister and his health secretary Matt Hancock were criminally negligent. While the inquiry bends over backwards to listen to them, they are not listening to the inquiry.

Seeking to excuse the self indulgent theatrics that saw four individuals ejected from the court room after ignoring multiple warnings, one campaigner whined that watching the proceedings had been too triggering. Yet nobody is forced to attend.

In disrupting a ruinously expensive exercise they themselves demanded, these groups are grossly overplaying their hand. Their designation as core participants in the inquiry is a privilege that has not been afforded a far bigger group of victims of the Covid disaster than themselves  namely all those whose lives were ruined by lockdowns. The many millions of individuals who have never recovered from the loneliness; missed cancer diagnoses; domestic abuse; lost educational opportunities and businesses that went bust as a result of the Governments response to the pandemic have been totally marginalised throughout this charade, leaving a giant hole at its heart. As times goes by, and the record NHS backlog created when routine healthcare was all but abandoned to cater to Covid, this unheard group of victims  barely acknowledged by the inquiry  grows.

Those making the most noise would do well to remember the point of the exercise, which is neither to showcase the pain of the living, nor honour the dead. It is about ensuring that when this happens again, the country does much better.

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A Tarrant County jury on Monday found a man guilty of capital murder for killing his ex-girlfriend and their unborn child in a shooting in Arlington.

Keith Haynes, 33, received an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole.

On April 14, 2017, Haynes fatally shot 25-year-old Kenishia Walker in her bed at her Arlington home, prosecutors said. Walker was a single mother and was pregnant with Haynes child.

Walkers 8-year-old son found her body.

Tarrant County Assistant District Attorneys Allenna Bangs and Sarah Sherman prosecuted the case.

This was Easter weekend, Bangs told the jury, according to a news release from the district attorneys office. It is about spring and new life. Kenishia had a new baby coming. And the Friday before Easter, just like the first Easter, Kenishia was betrayed. She had no idea when Mr. Haynes called, asking her to leave the door unlocked for him, that she was being set up.

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He was such a coward, killing her and his unborn baby, Bangs said. Kenishia is important. The unborn babys life was important. And they both mattered.

Haynes was arrested at his Plano apartment a few days after the killing.

Walker had told a friend that she was afraid Haynes would kill her. She sent screenshots of text conversations between her and Haynes to a friend, and wrote, If I ever come up dead please show the police this and other screenshots.

This case is not a mystery, Sherman told jurors. All the evidence has pointed to one person.
TikTok's e-commerce service is going to restart in Indonesia on Dec. 12 with strategic cooperation with Indonesia's GoTo Group, GoTo said on Monday.

According to a statement by GoTo, its e-commerce unit and TikTok Shop business will be combined under the existing entity, PT Tokopedia, with TikTok taking a controlling stake of the enlarged entity.

For this merging cooperation, TikTok has also committed over 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in the next few years to provide financial support for the future development of the e-commerce business, said the statement, adding that the two companies would work together to promote Indonesia's digital economy and support local small- and medium-sized enterprises.

GoTo Group, or PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk, is Indonesia's largest internet technology company. The GoTo ecosystem consists of on-demand services, e-commerce, financial technology and logistics through the platforms of Gojek, Tokopedia, GoTo Financial and GoTo Logistics.

TikTok halted its e-commerce feature, TikTok Shop, on Oct. 4 due to new regulation implemented by the Indonesian Trade Ministry, which banned direct sales on social media platforms.
UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz has a big payday waiting for him in East Lansing, Michigan.

Guskiewicz, who was hired Friday as the next president of Michigan State University, will make an annual base salary of almost $1 million in his new role, according to his contract with the university.

What other perks will Guskiewicz receive?

Welcome to Deans List, a weekly roundup of higher education news in the Triangle and across North Carolina from The News & Observer and myself, Korie Dean. We plan to publish this roundup in an email newsletter format soon, but we wanted to first give you a taste, on our website, of the insights on higher education trends and research you can expect each week.

This weeks edition includes more information about Guskiewiczs contract with Michigan State, the recently announced search committee to find a new chancellor at Winston-Salem State University and new transfer agreements between Wake Tech Community College and William Peace University.

Lets get started.

Guskiewicz to make $975,000 as Michigan State president

As president of Michigan State, Guskiewicz will make an annual base salary of $975,000.

Thats a noticeable increase from his salary at UNC, where he made a base salary of $620,000 when he entered the chancellor role. UNC System records show his salary is currently up to $657,743.

According to his Michigan State contract, which is valid for five years, Guskiewicz will also receive:

$150,000 per year in deferred compensation

A university vehicle and driver for use in connection with official university duties, plus a leased vehicle for business and personal use.

Memberships to the University Club and the Country Club of Lansing.

Complimentary tickets to all university athletic events for Guskiewicz, his spouse and guests, plus a suite at football and basketball games.

Housing provided by the university, with a one-time transition payment of $75,000 in his first months paycheck.

Guskiewicz will step down from the chancellorship at UNC on Jan. 12 and will begin his new role at Michigan State on March 4. An interim chancellor for UNC has not been announced, but UNC System spokesperson Andy Wallace said Friday that system President Peter Hans expects to name that person in the next week or so.

North Carolina chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz watches the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship on Sunday, November 19, 2023 at Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Winston-Salem State chancellor search committee announced

Chapel Hill isnt the only UNC System university searching for a new chancellor.

One search is underway at NC A&T State University in Greensboro to replace Chancellor Harold Martin, who announced in September that he would retire at the end of the academic year.

And another search, at Winston-Salem State University, is getting underway after the search committee was announced last week. Former Chancellor Elwood Robinson retired this summer, and WSSU provost Anthony Graham has been serving in the role since July 1.

The WSSU search committee is made up of 13 members:

Kathleen Kelly, chair of the WSSU Board of Trustees and search advisory committee chair

Bill Miller, vice chair of the WSSU Board of Trustees

Matthew Cullinan, member of the WSSU Board of Trustees

Pam Oliver, member of the WSSU Board of Trustees

Mark Holton, member of the UNC Board of Governors (Holton will serve in place of Board of Governors Chair Randy Ramsey)

Phil Byers, member of the UNC Board of Governors

Andrew Kelly, UNC System Office executive vice president (Kelly will serve in place of UNC System President Peter Hans)

Harold Martin, chancellor of NC A&T State University

Lisa Maness, WSSU Faculty Senate chair and professor

Sharon Hill, WSSU Staff Senate chair

Tyrone McNair Jr., WSSU Student Government Association president and WSSU Board of Trustees member

Crystal Thompkins, vice chair of the WSSU Foundation Board

Mark Owens, president and CEO of Greater Winston-Salem, Inc.

The members of this group are committed to Winston-Salem States success, and I know they will invest their time and talent to identify a strong pool of candidates, Hans said in a news release announcing the committee. Im grateful to Chair Kelly for her willingness to lead this committee, and Im confident Winston-Salem State has a bright future ahead.

The committee is expected to begin meeting in January.

Wake Tech, WPU offer new transfer options

Transferring from Wake Tech Community College to Raleighs William Peace University is about to get easier.

Leaders from both schools signed 15 new and revised agreements last week, creating a Peace Pathway that will create smoother transitions to WPU for Wake Tech students who earn degrees in business administration, criminal justice, simulation and game development and more.

Dr. Scott Ralls, Wake Tech President, and Dr. Brian Ralph, William Peace President, sign new and revised articulation agreements between the schools.

Some Wake Tech students who transfer with an associates degree are expected to be able to finish their bachelors degree at WPU in less than two years, an announcement said last week.

We know that pursuing a bachelors degree means more time and money for those who are ready to get started on their career, WPU President Brian Ralph said. Thats why were making WPU the areas most transfer-friendly university.

The new agreements will allow associate in applied science (AAS), which were traditionally designed for students who were seeking immediate employment, to transfer to WPU, and updates other agreements between the schools.

William Peace University has long been a strong transfer partner with Wake Tech, and were excited to strengthen that partnership with the Peace Pathway, Wake Tech President Scott Ralls said. At Wake Tech, all degrees  even our technical degrees  are transferrable so our graduates can always climb the ladder and advance in their career with greater knowledge and skills. You help our students, who become your students, become our communitys breadwinners and contributors back to this community.

You can see the full list of transferable degrees between Wake Tech and WPU at waketech.edu/post/wt-news-story/16646.

NC A&T student designs Urban Outfitters line

After completing a 10-week internship with retailer Urban Outfitters a year ago, NC A&T student Mya Harris is seeing her own fashion designs come to life.

Harris, who was one of five students from historically Black colleges or universities to intern for Urban Outfitters in 2022, designed six pieces  a flannel shirt, a bomber jacket, jeans, a trucker hat and a scarf  inspired by A&Ts history and culture. The pieces hit store shelves this fall and are also available online.

Harris dug through university archives, including yearbooks, to gather inspiration for her looks.

For the flannel shirt, I went deep into looking for something that not a lot of people had seen, Harris said in an A&T news release. I designed the shirt from images taken at a game that I found in the 1982 yearbook. Aggie Pride is the obvious message and people had it on their signs. I wanted to show that this is nothing new. This is something that weve been doing since 1891.

Proceeds from the Urban Outfitters collection support donations to participating HBCUs. Designs from NC Central University in Durham are also featured.

Wake County superintendent to address Fayetteville State grads

More than 500 Fayetteville State University students will turn their tassels Friday, and the featured speaker at the universitys commencement ceremony will be a familiar face to those in the Triangle.

Wake County Public School System Superintendent Robert Taylor, who holds his masters and doctoral degrees from FSU, will deliver the commencement address.

FSU previously honored Taylor as the grand marshal of its homecoming parade in October.

New Wake County Superintendent Robert Taylor speaks with second grade students Felix Moss, left, and Cesar Vera Quinones, right, during a tour of Rolesville Elementary School on his first day on the job on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, in Rolesville, N.C.

Higher ed news Im reading

The man police say killed three people at the University of Nevada Las Vegas last week had a hit list that included faculty members at East Carolina University, where he taught for over a decade, my News & Observer colleague Martha Quillin reports.

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Thats all for this weeks roundup of North Carolina higher education news. I hope youll stay tuned for more in the weeks to come.

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Does a blue light keep you up at night? No, its not an alien invasion. The city of St. Paul has been gradually replacing LED street lights suffering from an unusual manufacturers defect  theyre turning blue.

The Autobahn series LED bulbs, which are failing prematurely at different times and rates, were installed in cobra-style overhanging street lights across the city between 2017 and 2019 and cast a bluish-purple light as they begin to fail.

We tend to notice a few more with the colder weather, said Lisa Hiebert, a spokesperson for St. Paul Public Works.

The problems have been reported far and wide, including Charlotte, North Carolina, Topeka, Kansas, Vancouver, Canada and Dublin, Ireland.

Hiebert said the city does not closely track how many lights have been replaced to date  the total is easily in the dozens  but the citys street lighting system spans more than 37,000 light fixtures on 32,000 light poles. Of course, not all of them received new LED bulbs between 2017 and 2019.

Residents can report their blue lights to have the bulb replaced with a non-defective light from the manufacturer by calling the citys street lights division at 651-266-9777. More information is online at stpaul.gov/streetlights under the heading Why are the Street Lights Purple?

On social media, residents have debated the romanticism and general aesthetic of the dying street lights, which some have said cast a comforting glow as they reflect on the snow beneath them. Others say they make visibility difficult.

If bluish-purple night lighting isnt your thing, dont expect the color to revert to orange. Since at least 2021, the city has been replacing its High-Pressure-Sodium (HPS) bulbs with LED bulbs, which use less energy and contribute less to carbon emissions.

The LED lights are said to produce a higher quality light and last longer. They also contain no mercury, reducing hazardous waste disposal.

LEDs tend to shine whiter than the HPS lights, which cast a yellow to orange hue. Also worth keeping in mind: Alley lights are not maintained by the city. Theyre installed and maintained by Xcel Energy at the request of adjacent property owners.

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Several hundred Delta Air Lines passengers were left stranded in a remote Canadian town for nearly 24 hours after their plane was diverted due to a mechanical issue.

On Sunday 10 December, Delta flight 135 was carrying 270 passengers from Amsterdam to Detroit when it made an emergency landing at Goose Bay Airport in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The airport is located in the remote town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, with a population of around 8,000 people. Goose Bay Airport is operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force.

According to CBS News, passengers were told there was an issue de-icing one of the engines and the pilot decided to divert the plane. However, the plane was unable to take off again due to freezing conditions in Goose Bay and the flight crew reaching its maximum time limit.

Delta sent for a rescue plane, but the plane never arrived due to bad weather conditions and the flight crew also timing out. The airline called for a second plane to be sent to Goose Bay but it took more than 24 hours to arrive, forcing passengers to sleep in military barracks overnight.

In a statement to The Independent, Delta noted that officials arranged for passengers to be given food, water and accommodations for Sunday into Monday. The airline said passengers reached their final destination at Detroit Metro Airport on Monday morning, and would compensate customers for their delayed travel.

Delta flight 135 operating from Amsterdam to Detroit on 10 December experienced a mechanical issue and diverted to Goose Bay, Newfoundland Sunday afternoon out of an abundance of caution, the company said. Crew duty times were impacted due to weather and runway conditions at the Goose Bay airport causing the airport to suspend operations. Delta sent additional aircraft to Goose Bay to bring customers to their final destination Monday. We apologise to customers for this inconvenience.

A viral TikTok video posted by user @holly_dubbs showed flight passengers sitting on the aircraft for hoursIn the clip, a doctor on the plane is seen assisting a fellow passenger with a medical emergency. Been stuck on a delta flight for almost 20 hours. Just siting in a plane for 10 hours in canada. No one can give us answers, she captioned the video.

A follow-up video showed the passengers waiting to board a flight from Canada to Detroit after being delayed for more than 24 hours. Update on our flight, we are still in Canada unfortunately, Holly said. We are going on a new flight, just trying to get everyone through TSA [Transportation Security Administration] now. Lets hope and pray we actually make it home this time.

Meanwhile, one person told Fox 2 Detroit that passengers didnt know if they were going to make it to their final destination on time. They put us in some military barracks, said Tony Santoro. It honestly felt like a hotel. It wasnt too bad. We had soap, water, everything.

With the holidays fast approaching and winter weather conditions in full swing, its likely that Delta wont be the only airline experiencing delays this month. AAA released its December 2023 travel forecast on Monday, predicting that 115.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home between 23 December and New Years Day.

Air travel in the US is predicted to reach record numbers surpassing 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic cancelled many holiday plans for the next two years. Airlines are expected to see 39 million people boarding US flights between 20 December and 2 January.
Dementia is the biggest health crisis of our time, a charity has warned as it calls for the NHS to approve life-changing drugs.

Last year 74,261 people died from dementia and Alzheimers disease compared with 69,178 in 2021 - accounting for more than one in 10 deaths in the UK last year - according to an analysis.

Alzheimers Research UK has called for any drugs deemed safe and effective to treat the disease to be made available on the NHS as soon as possible.

There have been major breakthroughs in Alzheimers research this year.

In May, watchdogs began assessing the safety of lecanemab, the first drug shown to slow cognitive decline.

In the same month, trials of donanemab suggested it could be even more powerful, slowing the condition by a third.

Too costly

Charities are concerned that the drugs may be deemed too costly for the NHS because the methodology used by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) does not take into account the burden put on family members who often have to give up work to become full-time carers to loved ones with dementia.

According to the NHS, about 944,000 people are living with dementia in the UK.

Hilary Evans, chief executive of Alzheimers Research UK, said: Dementia is the biggest health crisis of our time, casting a dark shadow over the near million people affected by the condition in the UK.

Not only does it bring fear, heartbreak, and harm to the ones we love, but its also having a huge impact on our economy.

New treatments for Alzheimers disease are within sight, and diagnostic blood tests could reach the NHS in the next five years. Its time to make sure these innovations reach people who can benefit.

Any new dementia drugs that are deemed safe and effective need to be available as soon as possible within the NHS, and how people are diagnosed needs to be overhauled. Otherwise, well be staring at the same heart-rending statistics for years to come.

Last month, Alzheimers Research UK urged Nice to change the way it works and to take account of the 10 billion cost of dementia to the economy.

But, after examining its processes, a report from Nices Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Innovation Laboratory concluded that it should retain its current method.

Burden on families

The charity said it was unfair to take such a narrow view, which disregarded the burden dementia places on families, demonstrated by the effect on the economy.

The HTA report also says the costs of identifying those likely to respond to treatment, which involves PET scans and lumbar punctures, and administering drugs by infusion, should be included in price assessments.

Although Nice commissioned the report by its HTA lab, the report includes a disclaimer that the considerations in it cannot be taken as indicative or suggestive of any future position and will not be regarded as relevant to any future decision that may be taken by Nice.

However, the report quotes Nices board last year justifying why it believes the effect of diseases on economic productivity should be excluded.

Nice said its key role was to support access to effective medicines and value for NHS resources, saying the impact on carers quality of life could be considered.

The body has said appraisals for new treatments are in their early stages, with recommendations depending on several factors, including the price set by drug manufacturers.

According to the Office for National Statistics, dementia and Alzheimers disease led to 65,967 deaths in England and Wales last year, with figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency showing they accounted for 2,017 deaths.

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Kentucky Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman, left and Ky. Governor Andy Beshear wave to the crowd on the steps of the Kentucky State Capitol following their public swearing-in ceremony in Frankfort, Ky., Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, whose reelection in the GOP stronghold of Kentucky boosted his standing among next-generation political leaders, railed against the politics of division as he launched his second term on Tuesday.

In his inaugural speech outside a sun-splashed Kentucky Capitol, Beshear invoked his Christian faith as a guiding principle for governing, declaring that every person deserves true dignity and opportunity.

I ran for office because I believe that my kids deserve a better world, and I believe every child of the commonwealth deserves that better world, the 46-year-old governor said at his public swearing-in ceremony. And I'm telling you, this is our chance. This is Kentucky's chance to be the difference, to be both an economic and a moral leader of this country.

Beshear was officially sworn in for another term shortly after midnight  a Bluegrass State ritual every four years to ensure continuity at the head of state government. It preceded a full day of inaugural events, including a worship service, a parade and the public swearing-in ceremony.

The governor scored a convincing reelection victory in November over Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, extending Beshear's winning streak in a state that otherwise has swung decidedly toward the GOP. His victory, in one of the nation's most closely watched campaigns of 2023, could offer a roadmap for broader efforts by Democrats to make inroads in Republican territory. It also sets him up to be on the national radar in the coming years when the country looks for a new generation of leaders.

Beshear pledged to lead with the same empathy and compassion that he said guided the state through so much hardship in his first term. The state was hit by deadly tornadoes and flooding as well as the deadly pandemic.

His upbeat message for the future contrasted with his denunciation of the politics of division that he said have sown anger and hate.

One of the most difficult challenges we have before us is that politics  and sometimes even our governance  has become poisonous and toxic, the governor said. What's supposed to be an exchange of ideas has devolved into grievances and attacks."

In a message meant to resonate beyond Kentucky, Beshear denounced political strategies and commercials he said were meant to divide Americans. The result, he said, has been to justify anger and hate while dehumanizing some in the U.S. The Democratic governor did not identify anyone be believes to have engaged in such tactics.

Looking ahead to his next term, Beshear pledged to do his part to help meet the everyday needs of the people of his state. That includes continuing the state's economic successes and pushing for greater investments in public education, he said. He pledged to continue delivering road and bridge projects and to bring high-speed internet to every Kentucky home.

The governor also looked to bridge the partisan divide in Kentucky's government. Republicans hold overwhelming majorities in both legislative chambers, and Beshear wrangled with GOP lawmakers over a series of policy issues during his first term  including school choice, taxes, abortion and transgender rights.

We are at a moment in time where the true potential is there to achieve our collective dream  the dream of a better Kentucky, the governor said. And we can and we should realize that dream if we don't stand in our own way.

Beshear's reelection continued a family dynasty that has defied the state's tilt toward the GOP. His father, Steve Beshear, is a former two-term governor.

In winning reelection, Andy Beshear emphasized his stewardship over the state's economy, railed against what he said was his opponent's extreme position on abortion and cultivated a reputation as an empathetic leader through natural disasters and the pandemic.

While Beshear and Democratic Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman won as a ticket, Republicans swept all other statewide constitutional offices on the November ballot.

Coleman also was sworn in for a second term Tuesday. As usual, the solemn occasion elicited giggles when Beshear and Coleman reached the part of their oaths in which they swore theyve never fought a duel with deadly weapons or been involved in one in any way.

The public inauguration included a musical performance by country star Tyler Childers, a native of eastern Kentucky, who sang a song about faith and family called Universal Sound. Beshear says he got to know Childers at an Appalachian Regional Commission conference. Meanwhile, health care workers and educators served as grand marshals for the inaugural parade.

By the end of Andy Beshears second term, a Beshear will have presided in the Kentucky governors office for 16 of the last 20 years. Republican Matt Bevin succeeded term-limited Steve Beshear as governor in 2015, only to lose a close election to Andy Beshear four years later. Term limits will prevent the younger Beshear from seeking reelection when the next governor's race occurs in 2027.
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Malaysian Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook speaks during a launching ceremony of the East Coast Rail Link project in Kuantan, Malaysia on Dec. 11, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), a mega rail project in Malaysia being built by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has seen its first tracks being laid on Monday.

Malaysian King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah is among the guests to witness the historic moment in a ceremony in Kuantan.

In his speech during the ceremony, Malaysian Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook hailed the project for its benefits to the local economy, the uplifting of the communities on the country's east coast and the upskilling and technology transfer that the ECRL has made possible.

He also said advanced track-laying equipment from China helps a lot in improving the railway's construction efficiency. "The track-laying machine is expected to lay approximately 1.5km tracks per day."

CCCC chairman Wang Tongzhou said the track-laying marks the transition of the project from underground construction to aboveground construction.

CCCC will continue to invest in quality resources to accelerate the construction of the ECRL project and further strengthen all-round cooperation with Malaysia, aligning with the development plans of the Malaysian government.

"Our goal is to make the ECRL project a landmark of enduring and friendly cooperation between our two nations," he noted.

A major infrastructure project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the ECRL runs from Malaysia's largest transport hub Port Klang and travels across the peninsula to Kelantan state in northeastern Malaysia.

This photo shows the launching site of the East Coast Rail Link project in Kuantan, Malaysia on Dec. 11, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
House Democrats are scrambling to overcome the deep divisions on Israel policy that have splintered the caucus and strained relations between even chummy veteran lawmakers.

Republicans arent making it easy.

In the last week alone, GOP leaders have staged hearings on antisemitism, pushed pro-Israel votes to the floor and hosted media events on Capitol Hill with the families of victims taken hostage during the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, all of which have only highlighted the Democratic discord when it comes to U.S. support for Israel.

The accumulation of factors has exploded internal tensions between Democratic lawmakers and created an enormous challenge for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and his leadership team to locate ways to turn down the heat.

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who has more than three decades of experience on Capitol Hill, said hes never seen the internal animus this bad  a dynamic he attributes to both the atrocities committed by Hamas on Oct. 7 and the ferocity of Israels military response.

We havent really seen the level of devastation thats occurring right now. Weve always had disputes; weve always had killings. But Ive never seen it, in my tenure here, this bad, Thompson said.

At this rate, I think a solution would be difficult, just given people going to each corner, he added. And that manifests itself in each one of the votes that come up in the House.

U.S. policy toward the Middle East has long divided Democrats, but those disputes have become only more pronounced in recent years with the arrival of an outspoken group of liberal lawmakers  many of them women, most of them minorities  who have been fiercely critical of the Israeli government, particularly when it comes to the treatment of Palestinians.

With that diversity has come new experiences, new perspectives  and new clashes when the topic of Israel comes up in Congress.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), a member of the liberal squad who ousted a prominent pro-Israel Democrat, Eliot Engel, in a 2020 primary, acknowledged that even some of his constituents arent quite comfortable with that shift.

Im going through it in my district. You know, they had Eliot Engel for 30 years, and right next door they had Nita Lowey for 30 years, Bowman said, referring to another Jewish Democrat who previously represented New York. And so now theyve got Jamaal Bowman. So its like, Were not used to this. Were used to whatever Congress is putting forward  whatever Dems put forward on Israel: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. And now you have this guy saying, Wait a minute. And you say, Why? And its because it needs to be more inclusive; it needs to be more holistic.

The tensions underlying the sensitive debate have only grown hotter since the October Hamas attack, which left more than 1,200 people dead and triggered retaliatory strikes by Israel in Gaza that have killed many thousands more.

As the hostilities continue, pro-Israel lawmakers are gunning for more funding to bolster Israels military operations, citing its right to protect itself from Hamas terrorists.

Pro-Palestinian voices are calling for an immediate cease-fire, citing the thousands of civilian casualties  many of them children  that have resulted from Israeli strikes.

Many Democrats, particularly those in urban districts with diverse populations, say theyre getting an earful from constituents representing both camps.

Tensions are high, emotions are really raw, and were trying to find space to have necessary conversations, said Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), who represents a highly diverse Queens district. Everyone wants to get to a place where there is peace.

Hoping to promote such a peace, a trio of Jewish Democrats  Reps. Jerry Nadler (N.Y.), Jamie Raskin (Md.) and Dan Goldman (N.Y.)  urged their colleagues to vote present last week on a GOP resolution denouncing antisemitism around the globe. Among other critiques, the Democrats noted that not all anti-Zionists are antisemites, as the resolution declared. But their plea was also a tacit effort to defuse Democratic hostilities on an issue that divides the party  effectively promoting unity in votes of neutrality  while denying Republicans an opportunity to paint all Democrats as anti-Israel.

It is beneath the dignity of Congress and it is an affront to Jews everywhere to treat rising antisemitism as an opportunity to create partisan division with conceptual confusion, the three Democrats said jointly before the vote.

Their gambit was only partially successful. While 92 Democrats voted present on the resolution, another 95 joined Republicans in supporting it, and 13 broke with party leaders to oppose it.

GOP leaders  intentionally or not  have exacerbated those divisions across the aisle by taking every opportunity to put the Israel-Hamas war in the spotlight.

Aside from the antisemitism resolution, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) last week also conducted a press conference featuring Jewish students who have faced new hostilities on college campuses. The House Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas), hosted a bipartisan media briefing with families of some of the Hamas hostages. And the House Education Committee staged an antisemitism hearing with university presidents, which sparked a national backlash when the witnesses declined to say explicitly that they would expel students who called for the genocide of Jews.

This is the easiest question to answer yes, said a stunned Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who led the questioning.

The Israel-Hamas war has been a rallying cry for Republicans, who have been virtually united in their defense of Israel in recent weeks.

House Republicans have already passed legislation providing $14.3 billion in military aid for Israel. That bill also included sharp cuts in IRS funding, making it dead on arrival in the Democratic-led Senate. But it has provided GOP leaders with another talking point as Congress races to adopt a broader package of emergency aid for Ukraine and Israel, which is being held up by entrenched disagreements over unrelated funding for U.S. border security.

The GOPs unified front has veiled the partys controversies when it comes to antisemitism  which include former President Trumps association with white nationalists  while allowing Republicans to shift attention to the Democratic divisions, some of which have been highly public.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, stirred a firestorm of controversy last week when she condemned the horrific sexual violence committed by Hamas against Israeli women, but in the same breath called for those crimes to be balanced against the civilian deaths resulting from Israeli airstrikes.

Morally, I think we cannot say that one war crime deserves another, she said in an interview with CNN.

The remarks sparked a backlash from more moderate Democrats, who have already criticized liberals for demanding that Israel aid be conditioned on tougher civilian protections.

Conditioning aid to Israel would help Hamas in their goal of completely annihilating Israel and the Jewish people, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) wrote recently on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Pro-Palestine liberals have responded with impassioned frustrations, arguing that blind support for Israel  no strings attached  leaves no room for criticism of an Israeli government thats shifted to the right in recent years, especially when it comes to the expansion of settlements deemed to be illegal under international law. Some have accused Congress of abetting genocide.

How can we say, You need to bomb fewer civilians, and then sell them the literal bombs that are being used to bomb civilians? Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), one of the three Muslims in Congress, asked last week.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Congresss only Palestinian American, is leading the liberal charge in calling for an immediate cease-fire, warning that some progressive voters are ready to abandon President Biden and the Democrats at the polls next year if they dont get on board.

President Biden: I say this over and over again because I hope you hear me. You must listen to the voices of the majority of Americans  and the majority of Democrats, who worked their butt off to get you elected, Tlaib said. You have to represent all of us, Mr. President, not just some.

Jeffries, for his part, has sought to ease the tensions with closed-door conversations, though hes also acknowledged the challenge in finding agreement on such a radioactive issue.

We  will continue to have ongoing discussions about making sure that, in an environment where there are outside forces with deeply held positions and a lot of turmoil and angst playing itself out in different parts of the country, that as members of Congress, we have a responsibility to lean into civility, he said last week.

As those discussions evolve, some Democrats are already worried that a resolution remains a long way away.

Leadership has respected individual members positions, said Thompson. Its not a: Youre wrong, Im right, kind of discussion. Its just that there are differences of opinion.

And unfortunately it looks like those differences will continue.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Disgraced former congressman George Santos is currently in talks with federal prosecutors to reach a plea deal over his slew of criminal charges, it has been revealed.

In a letter to US District Judge Joanna Seybert, filed on Monday, prosecutors said that the two sides are negotiating a possible plea agreement in a bid to avoid taking the case to trial.

The parties are presently engaged in plea negotiations with the goal of resolving this matter without the need for a trial, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace wrote.

The parties wish to continue those negotiations over the next thirty days.

The development comes as the serial liar and doomed lawmaker is scheduled to appear in court in Long Island for a status conference in the case on Tuesday.

Mr Santos  who has turned to Cameo for an income after losing his House seat  is currently expected to go on trial in September.

Prosecutors are asking the trial to brought forward to May or June.

A 30-day delay in the status conference would however allow time for the plea deal to be reached, effectively tabling any trial.

News of a plea deal comes after Mr Santos hinted at the possibility over the weekend.

In an interview with CBS New York, the former lawmaker said that a plea deal is not off the table, obviously, at this point, but we just dont know that yet.

When asked if he was afraid of going to jail, he added that it was something he was seeking to avoid.

I think everyone should be afraid of going to jail. Its not a pretty place, and I definitely want to work very hard to avoid that as much as possible, he said.

George Santos is surrounded by journalists as he leaves the US Capitol after his fellow members of Congress voted to expel him from the House of Representatives on 1 December (Getty Images)

In May, Mr Santos was indicted on 13 federal charges in New York including wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making materially false statements to the US House of Representatives.

Five months later in October, he was hit with a 23-count superseding indictment.

Among the allegations, Mr Santos is accused of defrauding prospective political supporters by laundering funds to line his own pockets, conspiring to falsify donations and lying to the House about his assets, as well as illegally receiving unemployment benefits.

Mr Santos has so far pleaded not guilty to all 23 charges.

However, two of his former staffers have pleaded guilty in the case.

The criminal case tops off a slew of scandals encircling the disgraced former lawmaker who was dramaticall ousted from Congress earlier this month.

Since clawing his way to the Captiol, he was exposed for lying about a whole host of things on his resume, claiming that his mother died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks and being accused of stealing funds raised for a disabled veterans dying service dog.

After being hit with criminal charges, calls for his expulsion from office grew.

The nail in the coffin then came in the form of a scathing House Ethics Committee report which found that he had spent campaign donations on OnlyFans and Botox, following a months-long investigation.

In the report, the committee said it had uncovered substantial evidence that the GOP lawmaker broke federal laws and that he knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission; used campaign funds for personal purposes; engaged in fraudulent conduct in connection with RedStone Strategies LLC; and engaged in knowing and willful violations of the Ethics in Government Act as it relates to his Financial Disclosure (FD) Statements filed with the House.

In light of the ongoing criminal investigation into Representative Santos, and the ISCs findings of additional uncharged and unlawful conduct by Representative Santos, the ISC recommended that the Committee immediately refer these allegations to the Department of Justice, the panel wrote.

The committee found evidence that the debt-ridden Mr Santos used the money donors had paid to his campaign to fund his luxury spending habits including Botox treatments, OnlyFans payments and shopping trips to Sephora.

Mr Santos allegedly transferred the campaign funds into his own account, then spent $4,127.80 at Hermes and several smaller purchases at OnlyFans.

Over $2,000 of campaign money was spent at casino resorts on the Atlantic City strip while more than $1,500 was spent on Botox, the report finds.

Mr Santos also splashed donor cash on a honeymoon to Las Vegas and a $3,000 stay at an Airbnb in the Hamptons.

Representative Santos was frequently in debt, had an abysmal credit score, and relied on an ever-growing wallet of high-interest credit cards to fund his luxury spending habits. He occasionally deposited large amounts of cash that he has never accounted for, moved money between his various bank accounts in a highly suspicious manner, and made over $240,000 cash withdrawals for unknown purposes, the report read.

Following the reports release, House lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on 1 December to expel him from Congress  a historic move that made him only the sixth lawmaker in American history to ever be expelled.

More than 100 Republicans joined with Democrats to push him out.

Since then, Mr Santos has turned to offering Cameo videos for cash.
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A China-Vietnam freight train pulls out of Xi'an international port in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 23, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

Vietnam's farm produce exports to China have recorded speedy growth so far this year, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported Monday.

The shipments of those products are predicted to keep increasing in the coming time, according to the report.

The agency cited statistics from the Vietnam Vegetable and Fruit Association showing that Vietnam's durian export to China shot up by 161.8 percent at certain points of time.

Vietnamese authorities are boosting negotiations with China to export frozen durian and fresh coconut via the official channel to this neighboring market, Dang Phuc Nguyen, the association's secretary general said.

Vietnam's sales of rice to China have also risen sharply, by 55.2 percent year on year during the 11 months. The same upward trend has also been recorded in the shipment of cashew nuts, coffee, and animal feed to this market, by 11.4 - 42.3 percent.

According to VNA, Vietnam has witnessed record growth in the export of many farm produce to China thanks to protocols signed between the two countries.
Ncuti Gatwa has shared some insight into the differences between filming Doctor Who and Sex Education, claiming that showrunner Russell T Davies once had to tell him off.

The actor was announced as the newest lead of the long-running sci-fi series in 2022 and finally made his debut in the role last week to much acclaim.

However, Gatwa, 31, has said that the transition to a family-oriented programme after years of working on Netflixs Sex Education, which takes an unfiltered view of sex, lust and romance at a high school, has not always been smooth.

Ncuti Gatwa (James Pardon/Bad Wolf/BBC Studios)

The only time Ive ever gotten in trouble for anything was when I swore [while wearing] a Doctor Who costume, he said in the Radio Times Christmas issue.

I got called into Russells office. Woo! And he let me know that thats not acceptable. He said, Do what you want when youre out of costume, but when youre in costume, do not let us catch you swearing.

Gatwa was receptive to the critique and went on to explain that he considered the talking-to a lesson in how he needed to adapt his expectations for a different show.

I was like, fair enough, he continued. And I guess that was a lesson. For the last four years, Ive been co-leading an X-rated show, and so Im on a constant journey of learning what it is to be a PG role model and the lead of a family show.

The most recent Doctor Who episodes celebrated the 60th anniversary of the much-loved programme, and saw the Doctor regenerate from David Tennant to Gatwa.

However, this introduction of a new Doctor surprised fans by breaking with a long-held tradition.

Gatwa made his debut alongside David Tennant (BBC/Doctor Who)

Warning: spoilers for the most recent Doctor Who episode follow.

Typically, the Doctor will regenerate into their next form, essentially killing the previous actor off. However, Tennant underwent a bi-regeneration, which means that, rather than the one Doctor transforming into a new character and allowing a new actor to take up the role, the Tennant incarnation of the Doctor will split into two different entities.

The Tennant Doctor will remain alive, free to go on adventures with his longtime companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), and the ongoing series will follow the new Doctor Gatwa on his adventures.

Gatwa will continue as the main Doctor from the next episode onwards, scheduled to air on Christmas Day.
Semafor Signals

Insights from the Financial Times, Reuters, and Radio France International.

NEWS

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak managed to avert a crisis in his government, after majority lawmakers voted in favor of a controversial migration policy that would send asylum seekers who arrive illegally in the United Kingdom to Rwanda.

The bill passed with a majority of 44 with no Tories voting against it. It needed more than 30 more votes in favor to pass.

The British people should decide who gets to come to this country  not criminal gangs or foreign courts, Sunak posted on X. We will now work to make it law so that we can get flights going to Rwanda and stop the boats.

Last month, the U.K. Supreme Court ruled Sunaks scheme as unsafe and a breach of British and international law, but the prime minister sought to revive it by filing an emergency legislation that declared Rwanda a safe country for asylum seekers.

Lawmakers have been split on the bill  with moderates mostly supporting the scheme, but cautioning against potential human right violations. Far-right MPs believe that the legislation is not tough enough and want to bar migrants from having any legal means to appeal deportation.

Conservatives have repeatedly failed to reduce immigration, and though the number of asylum seekers arriving by boat to the U.K. this year has decreased by a third compared to last year, the issue still remains a sticking point for Brexit campaigners.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Government summons MPs home to vote

Sources: The Financial Times, The Guardian

There was a narrow landing strip for the legislation, said home secretary James Cleverly, who supported the deportation bill and recently traveled to Kigali to sign a new migration and economic treaty with Rwanda. But in a sign that the government had weak support, Conservative, Labour, and Scottish National parties withdrew permission for their MPs to be absent from the House of Commons on Tuesday  so as to ensure that they will vote, the Financial Times reports. Though climate talks were reaching a crisis point at COP28, the UKs climate change minister Graham Stuart was reportedly recalled early to vote on the bill. The Labour party, which currently leads in opinion polls by 20 points, said that it would scrap the bill if it wins in general elections next year. Spending 290 million of taxpayers money on the plan is a failed exercise in Conservative party management, Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer said.

Sunak saved from embarrassment

Sources: Reuters

Sunak was close to risking humiliation had the bill not passed, as no government has lost a vote this early on in the parliamentary process since 1986. Now, however, the prime minister will face pressure on both sides of the political spectrum  with far-right Conservatives calling for tougher amendments, and opposition from the House of Lords, which plays a key role in examining bills and questioning government action. With Sunak staking so much on the policy, any failure in delivering the Rwanda plan would have severely weakened his authority. Prior to Tuesdays vote, Reuters reported that the battle on immigration echoes parliamentary showdowns over Brexit which led to the exit of then Prime Minister Theresa May.

France faced a similar dilemma

Sources: France24, Radio France International (RFI)

Tougher measures against illegal migrants faced strong resistance in France, where members of the opposition voted down a similarly controversial legislation on Tuesday which was framed as essential to expelling foreign criminals from France. The bill was proposed by President Emmanuel Macrons centrist government as a way to expel more undocumented people, while also improving migrants integration. One of the provisions would remove a ban to expel migrants who arrive in France before the age of 13. French advocacy groups have criticized the bill for disregarding undocumented workers who form the backbone of key industries in France. Macron on Tuesday rejected his interior ministers offer to resign after the bill he spearheaded failed, and instead ordered him to find new ways to push the legislation through.
A puppy shot with an arrow never stopped wanting to be loved  and now, he will need a new home.

Photos show the sweet, homeless pup was brought to a North Carolina veterinarian with an arrow piercing his bone. A Rutherford County animal rescue organization believes part of the arrow broke off, leaving its razor-like head embedded in his body.

Although this 8 month old Shepherd mix puppy was facing a life threatening surgery, his tail never stopped wagging, Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue wrote Dec. 11 in a Facebook post. He never stopped wanting to be loved and snuggled by the doctors and staff at (Rutherford Veterinary Hospital).

Meanwhile, the animal rescue started making arrangements to take in the injured dog. The pup survived the surgery and is being monitored for potential complications.

He isnt completely out of the woods yet, but we are hopeful for a full recovery, the rescue told McClatchy News in an email.

Now, the animal organization is accepting applications from people interested in owning the dog after he gets better. More details about the adoption process can be found at heartofthefoothills.org/adopt.

We are naming him Abraham and calling him Abe, the rescue wrote. He needed a strong name.

Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue is in Rutherfordton, roughly 75 miles west of Charlotte.

Playful puppy abandoned at NC shelter needs new home as holidays near. Meet Mistletoe

Dog barks for help after tumbling up to 30 feet down NC mineshaft. See daring rescue
A dog survived a crash that killed his owner  then came an emotional reunion in Florida, photos show.

Taz, who was also injured in a second crash, recently reconnected with the animal control officers who visited him during his recovery, according to Walton County Animal Services.

He even had his picture taken in the Christmas photo booth, shelter officials wrote Dec. 6 on Facebook. Were happy to report Taz is healthy, happy, and oh so loved.

Photos shared online show officers petting Taz as he wore a Santa hat. Also attending the reunion was Tazs surviving owner, whose husband died in the Florida Panhandle crash.

Social media users couldnt get enough of the reunion, including many who said the update to Tazs story brought them to tears. Several were glad to know that the dog was OK after his heartbreaking ordeal.

Megan Langley, the surviving owner, told WMBB her dog walked away lucky, with no broken bones. She said Taz has helped her during this tough time.

I just cant even put in words how grateful I am, because at the end of the day, you know, I lost my husband and I, I would give anything to bring him back, Langley told the TV station.

In November, Taz was in the car when Langleys husband died in a crash on State Road 285. Deputies believe the pup was thrown from the vehicle and ran into the woods. The dog presumably came back to the crash site and was hit by a car, according to animal services and the veterinarian Operation Spay Bay.

Taz was found seriously hurt with gashes and road rash. He was carried to safety and taken to an emergency veterinarian, Trish Quinn, an animal control officer, told McClatchy News in a phone interview.

Now, weeks after the rescue, Quinn said Taz is in better shape, wagging his tail and wanting to see everybody.

Walton County Animal Services is based in Defuniak Springs, roughly 80 miles northeast of Pensacola.

Dog has first day of forever with family after nearly 300 days in Florida shelter

Great Dane was adopted from Florida rescue. Now, majestic pup needs another new home
Donald Trump may have found a suitable way to raise funds  selling off pieces of the suit he wore in August when he had his mug shot taken at an Atlanta jail.

The former president announced Tuesday on his Truth Social website that he was releasing a third set of digital trading cards of himself, priced at $99 each. Anyone who buys 47 cards will also get a scrap of his suit and an invitation to a Mar-a-Lago dinner, he said.

It might be a smart decision for Trump, who managed to raise $7.1 million off mug shot merchandise in just a few days after his Aug. 24 booking photo was released, according to Politico.

Although the cards exist only in the digital realm, as NFTs (non-fungible tokens), any person who purchases at least 47 cards will also get a physical trading card that the ad says will include a piece of the suit he wore to the Fulton County Jail after his arrest on charges alleging a widespread conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.

The ad copy at CollectTrumpCards.com claims the Mugshot Edition of the cards represents a moment in history since its the first ever mugshot of a United States President.

The ad copy also notes that Trump has a furrowed brow with a determined gaze which says hell never surrender and adds his card is not just a keepsake; its a piece of history and a testament to resilience. It stands as a symbol of President Trumps unwavering commitment and his enduring dedication to the American Dream.

In a video posted with the Truth Social promo, Trump said, It was a great suit, believe me! A really good suit! Its all cut up, and youre going to get a piece of it.

The mug shot suit series isnt the only way Trump is trying to milk his supporters for loot. Hes also selling mug shot wrapping paper and Christmas stockings.

Naturally, folks on X, formerly known as Twitter, had thoughts about Trumps latest fundraising tool.

Im holding out for a piece of his sentencing suit.  SnarkTank (@TheSnarkTank99) December 12, 2023

Like religious relics. Total cult.



Trump sells off pieces of the suit he wore in his Georgia mugshot photo https://t.co/MYi5C51THf  Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) December 12, 2023

If youre donating your hard earned money to Trump, in the hopes of winning a piece of his suit, that he wore during his mugshot, then youre 100% in a bonafide cult, and the rest of us thoroughly enjoy making fun of you.  Liberal Lisa in Oklahoma (@lisa_liberal) December 12, 2023

Theres something to be written about how this mugshot suit as relic sale is part of a broader trend of Trump using the prosecution in Fulton County (and elsewhere) to talk about himself as a Christ-like martyr caught up in the legal system for the benefit of his followers. https://t.co/uDM24Swtf8  Anthony Michael Kreis (@AnthonyMKreis) December 12, 2023

This is not a fu(king parody, but he is a fu(king joke  he ends it with have a good life!



You too can be the proud owner of a piece of Trumps suit he wore in his mugshot  that probably smells like diapers. pic.twitter.com/1NYaGoT9mO  Outspoken (@Out5p0ken) December 12, 2023

Related...
In a three-part series, WREG Investigators are digging deeper into the problem of crime downtown, looking at the mounting concern, the widespread impact and possible solutions.

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  It was a Friday night in October. A man said he was driving back home from downtown Memphis when a car next to him opened fire  yet another violent incident happening in the citys core.

We were sitting there, and they laid on their horn, the man told us. I couldnt tell what was needed or anything like that, so I just continued when the light turned green.

He asked us to hide his identity because of what happened next.

He hit another red light at Third and Monroe, where the car that honked at him pulled beside him.

I just saw a male and female, and I thought maybe they were on a date downtown and having a good time as well. Nothing about the incident thought they were going to shoot me, he said.

They told him to roll down the window. He said it looked like a friendly gesture.

I roll the window down, and at that point, they ask me to get out of the car, he said.

He hit the gas and said the couple also ran the red light. They started following me at a high rate of speed down Third Street.

Right after he got on the interstate, he said he heard another loud noise.

Two gun shots. One hit the back of his car. The second pierced the front, grazed his left leg and went through his right calf.

(I) grabbed my leg, plugged the hole to minimize the blood coming out and continued to chase them down, he said.

He said they went into North Memphis while he called 911. He said he gave up when the pair turned off their lights and turned onto an unfamiliar street. They have yet to be found.

Downtown Memphis has been plagued with shootings, robberies, car thefts and more. Nine people have been killed downtown so far this year.

One of them was Anita Wilkinss daughter. In August, near South Main, she was reportedly caught in crossfire.

Weeks later, security cameras captured a pair who police say shot a man waiting for a ride near Union and Second.

No parent should have to go through this, Wilkins told us.

Last month. a robbery on Tennessee Street ended with a St. Jude doctor shot and killed in front of his wife and toddler.

Alexs dream was for them to stay and have careers here and raise their daughter here, a family friend said.

In 2022, Memphis police said their downtown wards responded to more than 2,165 Part One crimes, which include murders, aggravated assaults, rapes, robberies, carjackings, burglaries, motor vehicle and other felony thefts.

Looking at just aggravated assaults, 139 were reported last year. Add another 75 the first part of this year. Even more have made headlines since then, including one inside FedExForum and another on Beale that left eight injured.

WREG Investigators uncovered dozens of incident reports on or near Beale.

One report stated a group with an AK style rifle approached a woman changing her shoes, pushed her to the ground and robbed her.

Another incident, a man claimed he was punched in the head during a robbery. Weeks before that, a tourist told police he was hit in the face, stomped on, put in a dumpster and robbed of his wallet and prayer rock his daughter gave him.

Most of the reports we found involved a gun. Officers often stopped the firearm from getting onto Beale.

Whats even more unsettling, a report stating a man hid his gun in an alley, so he could go into a bar. Two men saw him retrieve it, then held him at gunpoint and robbed him of the gun.

We see more guns on our street now than we have ever seen in the history of MPD, Chief CJ Davis said.

On top of that, police said property crime is another problem. Between last year and the first part of this year, the downtown wards responded to 914 car break-ins and 986 motor vehicle thefts.

A family from Colorado told us someone stole their car form a downtown hotels valet line. All of their belongings gone.

When I think back on what has caused the crime, there is zero fear, said the man shot at in October.

He said criminals arent afraid of the consequences, policing is more reactive than proactive and the justice system has become a revolving door.

The laws dont make sense. The criminals have too much freedom, he said.

He tells us he left his gun at home that night since he went to Beale street and didnt want it stolen from his car. He questions that decision.

Get the latest from the WREG Investigators in your inbox

Coming up Tuesday on News Channel 3:

At 6, business owners are demanding change before it starts to really impact tourism and the economy. Find out whats one thing they believe will change the course of downtown.

Then, on News Channel 3 at 10, a crime plan has been presented to top officials. We show you the plan and find out what the next mayor wants to do about it.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Dozens of migrants could be seen gathered outside of Sacred Heart Church in South El Paso on Monday, Dec. 11. Most of these migrants have been getting released by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over the weekend after having been processed.

This comes just a week after groups of migrants amassed, up to approximately 130 people at Gate 36 near Midway Drive along to the Border Highway, according to a statement from Border Patrol.

Migrants outside of Sacred Heart spoke to KTSM. Most of them said they turned themselves in at Gate 36 several days ago.

Groups of migrants steadily gathering at the U.S.-Mexico border

Many of the migrants said they have been getting shelter at the church, especially women and children. However, many of them are opting to stay outside.

Theres a lot of people outside because they dont like to be closed indoors. But they do go in and eat breakfast, then come out. They eat dinner, and then come out again, said Colombian migrant Albenis Flores Carpio.

I dont know why they complain about the shelters. I dont understand because they offer us help. Theyre outside because they want to, not because they have to, she added.

The Rescue Mission of El Paso said they did see a big increase in the number of migrants seeking shelter over the weekend.

Migrants who were recently released were uncertain of what their next steps would be.

Were waiting to see whats next, to see if someone can help us, whether its someone from here or a family member who can help us with money to be able to buy our ticket to our destination, said a Venezuelan migrant.

Meanwhile, migrant encounters by CBP have remained steady. The Citys migrant dashboard recorded 881 daily migrant encounters as of Monday, Dec. 11. That compares to an average of 2,700 daily migrant encounters Border Patrol said they saw in November 2022.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Dozens of students were arrested at Brown University on Monday after they staged a sit-in demanding the school divest its endowment from Israeli military occupation amid the war in Gaza.

Forty-one students were arrested after the Brown Divest Coalition organized a sit-in at University Hall that began Monday morning. The students were charged with willful trespass within school buildings by Browns Department of Public Safety, according to the school.

The disruption to secure buildings is not acceptable, and the University is prepared to escalate the level of criminal charges for future incidents of students occupying secure buildings, the school said in a statement.

University President Christina H. Paxson went to the sit-in to engage with protesters in their demands. She later penned a letter, reported by The Boston Globe, telling students their demands would not be met and how to suggest a new divestment proposal in a way that would be considered.

Brown Universitys endowment is almost entirely invested through external specialist investment managers, all with the highest level of ethics and all whom we believe share the values of the Brown community. This includes the rejection of violence, Brown spokesman Brian Clark told The Globe.

Students were told if they did not leave by 6 p.m. they would be arrested, with the school citing concerns about the fire code and university policy for protesting.

Given that this is the second prominent incident in recent weeks of students trespassing in a secure, non-residential building after operating hours, the University fully expects to recommend more significant criminal misdemeanor charges for any future incidents after the Dec. 11 sit-in. Students continue to have the ability to hold protests and demonstrations, provided they abide by the Universitys codes of conduct, the university said.

The previous sit-in in November had similar demands such as divestment and a call for the university to support a cease-fire.

The Hill has reached out to the Brown Divest Coalition for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Kate Cox, the woman at the center of a dramatic court battle, has fled Texas amid a case her allies say underscores the impracticality of having courts make determinations about a womans rights to get an abortion.

We are talking about urgent medical care. Kate is already 20 weeks pregnant, Molly Duane, senior staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, said Friday in a statement before Cox left Texas.

This is why people should not need to beg for health care in a court of law, added Duane, whose organization filed a lawsuit on Coxs behalf to allow her to get an abortion in the state despite the near-total ban it implemented after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

On Saturday, the Texas state Supreme Court ruled that Cox could not have an abortion  a procedure that her doctors said was necessary to save her uterus and potentially her life.

That ruling was temporary  a judgment that left the status quo in place while the court rules on a broader legal challenge to state abortion laws.

But Duane said Friday that in this case we fear that justice delayed will be justice denied, and on Monday, Coxs attorneys said that she had left Texas to obtain an abortion.

The case, the first of its kind since the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion in its June 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision, outlines the potential disjunction between the timeline of the Texas state abortion ban  which includes harsh penalties for providers who perform an abortion past six weeks  and the progression of pregnancy itself.

Prospective parents can only get genetic testing  which reveals whether their fetus will suffer from potentially fatal disease  at around 11 weeks, long after the state bans elective abortion.

Anatomy scans  which reveal serious birth defects  are generally not performed until 20 weeks, at which point abortions become rare, expensive and hard to acquire.

At 20 weeks, Cox is well past the six-week limit on abortions prescribed by the Texas state Legislature in 2022  and the state attorney generals office argued Friday that she doesnt meet the criteria for the kind of medically necessary abortion that the state has left as an exception in its ban.

Cox, a 31-year-old Dallas mother of two, is pregnant with a fetus suffering from a fatal condition that leads to miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of the infant soon after birth. Doctors told her that carrying the pregnancy to term could put her health and her ability to have more children in the future in jeopardy.

Sarah Stewart, a partner at Dallas-based law firm Reed Smith who wrote an amicus brief in support of a concurrent legal challenge to the state abortion ban, contends that despite the state attorney general offices argument, Cox is exactly the plaintiff conservative firebrand and state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has said should bring this case and [whose] case would qualify for relief in his response to the ongoing case over the ban.

In that case, Stewart noted, Paxtons office argued that women who are not currently pregnant  unlike Cox  do not have standing to sue over the law and implied that several of the plaintiffs should have been able to obtain legal abortions, though Paxton has not specified which.

Several of the women involved in the lawsuit, Zurawski v. Texas, have cases similar to Coxs, Stewart said.

The two cases connect in another way: Cox got the diagnosis that her fetus suffered a fatal abnormality on the same day that the Texas Supreme Court held hearings on Zurawski.

Her case shows a really problematic model for care on behalf of Texas women with complicated pregnancies, Stewart added.

Those women have to wait until, in [the] midst of [a] rapidly evolving, very dangerous, potentially dangerous health care crisis  find a lawyer, file suit, expect that the attorney general is going to drag it out, and fight it  all while experiencing a medical emergency, she said. She emphasized that the cases involved in both lawsuits are all overwhelmingly those of women who badly wanted their pregnancies.

In his filing to the state Supreme Court, Paxton characterized Coxs abortion as elective, a term without medical meaning that implies she is using it as a form of birth control. Cox has stressed, however, that her desire for more children is a driving force behind her efforts to obtain an abortion.

In her initial filing, she said that it is not a matter of if I will have to say goodbye to my baby, but when.

She added that she desperately want[s] the chance to try for another baby and want[s] to access the medical care now that gives me the best chance at another baby.

The state Supreme Courts decision knocked down the ruling by an Austin judge that Cox was a candidate for a medically necessary abortion under the law.

Responding to that decision by Judge Maya Guerra Gamble, which gave Houston obstetrician Damla Karsan clearance to perform an abortion on Cox, Paxton gave Coxs medical team a not-so-veiled threat in a letter to three Texas hospitals.

Paxton focused in the letter on the temporary restraining order (TRO) that Gamble had given Cox  shielding providers such as Karsan from potential life in prison, the loss of her medical license and penalties of up to $100,000.

While the restraining order for a limited time protected doctors and hospitals in Coxs specific case from the state, Paxton wrote, it did not protect them from private citizens, who under a 2022 bounty law can sue anyone who helps a Texas woman get an abortion.

And, Paxton noted, the restraining order was a temporary measure  unlike the potential repercussions.

We remind you that the TRO will expire long before the statute of limitations for violating Texas abortion laws expires, he wrote.

Those laws are undergoing a major legal challenge by 22 women  two of them doctors  who charge that ambiguities in the state law make it impossible for Texans to avail themselves of abortions even when medically necessary.

In theory, the state has enshrined the right to abortions in such cases in the same statute that created the abortion ban. Under its Exception for Medical Emergency, state law protects doctors who provide medically necessary abortions.

But in the ongoing Zurawski lawsuit, 20 women denied abortion care sued the state, arguing that this protection on paper hadnt translated to legal abortions in the real world. Several of the women charged that their doctors had been too scared to perform abortions because they feared the women were not yet sick enough to give the doctors unambiguous protection against state law enforcement.

Thats a concern that the state attorneys office has brushed off. In August, the office filed for  and won  a stay on an Austin judges ruling that found Texas doctors should be protected for using good faith judgment in deciding an abortion was medically necessary.

In oral arguments before the state Supreme Court in late November, state attorney Beth Klusmann argued that the womens fight was with their doctors, not the state.

A woman facing death if she doesnt get an abortion should clearly qualify for a medical emergency exemption, Klusman argued. And so, if she has to come to court to make that happen, that is not the states fault.

She argued that if the doctors were not performing medically necessary abortions, then patients could sue them  and if they didnt want to, Thats their choice.

Duane of the Center for Reproductive Rights argued before the court that the women didnt want to sue their doctors, who they saw as being in an impossible position.

As all of our patient-plaintiffs have testified, their doctors didnt know what to do. Their hands are tied. The law acknowledges that physicians should not be waiting until death is imminent  and yet they are, Duane said.

Paxtons filing on Friday  which successfully got the state Supreme Court to halt Coxs progress toward an abortion  appeared to emphasize the risks abortion advocates argue doctors face in making this decision.

The state attorney general admonished Coxs doctor, Karsan, for failing to get a second opinion about whether Ms. Cox qualifies for the medical exception to Texas abortion laws.

Karsan is one of the two doctors that has joined the Zurawski lawsuit  arguing that because she is in private practice, she can speak out in a way that doctors at public hospitals cannot.

Since the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision, according to the Zurawski filing, Karson has treated a wide array of patients pregnant with fetuses that would not survive, and who needed abortions for complications like kidney stones, bipolar disorder, and hemorrhage.

Before the state ban, Dr. Karsan would have offered abortion care to these patients, attorneys from the Center for Reproductive Freedom wrote.

Now, Dr. Karsan instead has had to give them information about where to seek abortion care out of state.

Another obstetrician suing the state in Zurawski, Judy Levison, largely retired from obstetrics after the Texas abortion ban passed, arguing that she could no longer give her patients adequate care.

In the Zurawski filing, Levison argued that widespread fear and confusion regarding the scope of Texass abortion bans has chilled doctors ability to give good care.

That includes their ability to counsel patients about the kind of genetic testing that would let them know if their fetus is suffering from a serious disease  like chromosomal abnormalities of the sort Kate Cox discovered  that would make abortion medically recommended, according to Levison.

In an unusual move, Paxton sent his letter warning Coxs medical team of potential legal action to the hospitals where Karsan, her doctor and prospective abortion doctor, was credentialed to practice, rather than to Karsan herself.

If an abortion was performed on Cox, Paxtons attorneys wrote, the hospital that provided it may be liable for negligently credentialing the physician and failing to exercise appropriate professional judgment, among other potential regulatory and civil violations.

This marks a stark reversal in how the state has viewed the responsibility of Texas hospitals over the doctors who practice there.

Since the Republican-led tort reform campaigns of the 1990s, Texas law has afforded hospitals wide protections from the legal liabilities stemming from actions their doctors take.

In one famous case, Texas neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch killed two patients and maimed 31 others between 2011 and 2013  while the Dallas hospitals that had given him credentials quietly passed him around.

Like hospitals throughout the state, the facilities Duntsch operated at were protected by strict state laws that required anyone suing them to demonstrate that they had been malicious  not simply negligent  in allowing him to practice.

But Paxton couldnt target Karsan, Stewart noted, because the Austin court had already protected her under the temporary restraining order.

The question in Zurawski is: What is the standard doctors need to meet? Good faith medical judgment or something else? Stewart said.

The existing medical exemption law, she said, put doctors into a very difficult position  because any abortion carried out according to an objective list of permissible conditions, rather than a simple protection of the doctors best judgment, could always be challenged by another doctor who could offer a second opinion on behalf of the state that the abortion had been unnecessary in that case.

Doctors have to be prepared to personally sacrifice their own lives, she said. Thats an untenable position to put your doctor in.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
You are here: China

Renowned pharmacologist and social activist Sang Guowei was cremated in Beijing on Monday.

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng and others bid farewell to Sang at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery on Monday morning, paying their respects to him and offering condolences to his family.

Sang was a vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress and chairman of the 14th Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party (CPWDP).

He died of illness in Beijing on Dec. 7 at the age of 82.

Sang was extolled as an outstanding leader of the CPWDP and a close friend of the Communist Party of China. He was also a senior academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng, Hu Jintao and others had either visited Sang when he was in hospital or expressed deep condolences and offered sincere sympathies to his family through various means after his passing.
More than more than 900 people objected to the plans for Park Road Allotments in Isleworth

Land used for allotments in west London has been spared from redevelopment after a "David versus Goliath battle".

The Duke of Northumberland had appealed against Hounslow Council's decision to refuse plans to bulldoze Park Road Allotments in Isleworth to make room for flats.

The appeal was rejected by the Planning Inspectorate.

Northumberland Estates said the appeal decision was "disappointing" and it would take time to consider its options.

Salman Shaheen, a Labour councillor for Isleworth, welcomed the Planning Inspectorate's decision

The row began over the estate's plans to build 90 flats on the site, which is part of the duke's Grade I-listed Syon Park estate.

The proposals had received more than 900 objections from locals.

Hounslow Council rejected the plans in October 2021.

Labour councillor Salman Shaheen said the dismissal of the appeal was the "culmination of a David versus Goliath fight to save Park Road allotment from the Duke of Northumberland bulldozers".

"I'm very grateful to the planning inspector for siding with Hounslow Council in its correct decision to preserve local open space and these allotments of the community, " he said.

Grace Gray said Park Road Allotments was "absolute heritage"

The council's decision to reject the proposals, as upheld by the appointed inspector John Longmuir, was due to potential harm to local open space, heritage sites and allotments.

Park Road Allotments campaigner, Grace Gray, said it was "absolutely amazing" that the council's decision had been upheld.

"It's wonderful for Isleworth," she said.

"Heritage doesn't just sit in brick and mortar. This [Park Road Allotments] is absolute heritage."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
A Ukrainian T-64 tank goes on combat duty in the Bakhmut district on Dec. 8. Ukrainian forces continue to fight to retake Bakhmut, which was captured by Russian forces in May, following a yearlong war battle. Over the summer, Ukraine regained territory north and south of Bakhmut but Russia has held the city itself. (Libkos / Getty Images)

On Tuesday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to meet with President Biden, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and U.S. senators as Congress continues to stall on approving Bidens request for $61.4 billion in new assistance for Ukraine.

Zelensky is an eloquent advocate for his victimized nation, and perhaps his presence in Washington will nudge lawmakers to act. But it shouldnt require a plea from Zelensky for Congress to approve Bidens proposal for supplemental funding, which also includes aid for Israel and Taiwan and expenditures for border security.

Read more: Calmes: Republicans blocking aid to Ukraine is next-level cynicism

As Biden noted last week, U.S. assistance has enabled Ukraine to deny Russia a victory on the battlefield, a monumental accomplishment given the imbalance of power between the two countries. But a Ukrainian counteroffensive has had disappointing results and Russia is not relenting in its attacks. On Monday, according to Ukrainian officials, Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv with eight long-range ballistic missiles.

For Ukraine to continue to defend itself effectively  a precondition for any negotiated peace agreement  a new infusion of assistance is vital. Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, warned Congress in a letter to Johnson that without congressional action, by the end of the year we will run out of resources to procure more weapons and equipment for Ukraine and to provide equipment from U.S. military stocks.

Read more: Opinion: Kyiv's dark moment and America's fateful choice

Yet Republicans are holding aid for Ukraine hostage to their demand for concessions from the Biden administration on immigration policy. Last week they blocked a proposal to move the supplemental funding bill forward in the Senate. House and Senate Republicans remain united and have been clear from the beginning that national security begins at our own borders, Johnson said.

A cruder version of this argument came from Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) who complained on social media that the Washington Swamp continues to be more concerned with stopping the Russian invasion of Ukraine than stopping the invasion of America at the Southern Border.

Biden has said he is open to substantive changes in immigration policy, in addition to funding for border security and an increase in the number of immigration judges. One possible change would be to adjust the legal standard for deciding whether migrants seeking asylum have a credible fear of persecution in their home country.

But Republicans are pressing for even more drastic changes, including restrictions on humanitarian parole, a process that allows migrants to bypass the regular immigration system for urgent humanitarian reasons or to achieve significant public benefit."

Read more: Russia targets Kyiv with ballistic missiles, which Ukraine says were intercepted

Unfortunately, congressional Republicans seem averse to reasonable compromise. In a letter to Young, Johnson reiterated that new aid to Ukraine was dependent on a transformative change to our nations border security laws." That is a goal Republicans are free to pursue without entangling it with aid to Ukraine. In fact, the Republican-controlled House has already passed a separate draconian immigration bill. (Johnson also renewed his call for the administration to provide answers about its Ukraine strategy.)

Ideally, Zelensky will succeed, where Biden so far has failed, in convincing Congress that the needs of his nation  and the paramount importance of deterring Russia from further aggression  requires continued and steadfast U.S. support.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Were not New York. Were not L.A. Were sure not Chicago. We fix our problems.

Quick quiz: Who recently said that? Ron DeSantis? Greg Abbott? Nikki Haley?

The answer is John Whitmire, a Democrat who over the weekend resoundingly won election as mayor of Houston, the nations fourth largest city and on track to overtake Chicago as third largest if present demographic trends continue.

Houstonians turned to 74-year-old Whitmire, a Texas state senator for the past 40 years, after a campaign that focused heavily on crime and public safety.

Were sure not Chicago. Oof. And from a fellow Democrat too.

Brandon Johnson, who has struggled even by the reckoning of his most ardent supporters in his first half year as Chicago mayor, ought to take heed. Whitmires insult didnt come out of nowhere.

Politically, Chicago comes across to much of the rest of the country as a city thats off course, focusing not on the issues at the top of residents priority list (public safety, jobs, public transit, for example) but on progressive to-do lists. Not only are Johnson and his City Council allies choosing to spend their time and political capital on issues the majority of Chicagoans view as less than pressing, theyre doing a poor job even when it comes to their own priorities.

Case in point: The City Council is about to revisit an ordinance it passed just a few weeks ago to establish the nations most generous minimum paid-time off requirements for workers. Business interests, including many in South and West side neighborhoods, argued vociferously against the law to no avail. Now, the council is set to delay the statutes effective date to give those businesses more time to adjust to its complexities and internal contradictions, as well as to make a significant change to the kinds of workers impacted in response to convention-industry concerns.

Trade Show Executive explained the impact of the original legislation on the citys critical convention industry: If someone attends a trade show or conference in Chicago and is in town for more than two hours, they will begin to accrue one hour of sick time and one hour of time off for each 35 hours they work. Even if the employee does not work a full 35 hours during one particular trip, the employer would have to begin record-keeping to track when the employee would begin to accrue paid time off during subsequent trips. They would also have to comply with providing a notice to an employee about their rights under the ordinance after spending only two hours in Chicago.

Got that? And if the impacted company didnt do all of this, they could get sued by the employee.

Orlando and Las Vegas must be salivating at all the potential new business.

Business representatives applauded the retreat from that chaos, but also categorized the changes as minimal, overall.

The ordinance still is fatally flawed and likely to lead to needless litigation between businesses and workers. We wouldnt be surprised to see yet more amendments in the future.

Its highly unusual for the City Council to fix an ordinance just weeks after passing it. Blame the embarrassment on the rush to enact something Johnson promised during his campaign and a lack of subsequent willingness to listen to voices that laid out the practical concerns.

Another case in point: The council recently barred the public from the council chambers during meetings, relegating those not invited by the mayor or an alderman to a third-floor viewing station. The antidemocratic move, made in reaction to some recent audience unruliness, drew condemnation from virtually all quarters, including this page.

So did the mayor realize his mistake and simply return to the way council business has been conducted for decades? No, the council instead altered the policy to allow the public to sit on the same floor as the aldermen but only if they register ahead of time. Good grief. Bad policy isnt made good by removing only its worst aspects.

Even Johnsons allies are aghast at the performance so far. As 20th Ward Ald. Jeanette Taylor, a Democratic Socialist ally of Johnson, said recently of her fellow progressives on a podcast, We should not be on the Fifth Floor.  Were pretending like now we got the power, let us show you how its supposed to be done. And we look real stupid right now.

In a Tribune story, Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th, another socialist, said, There was no understanding of what it looks like to actually co-govern. And there still isnt.

The introspection and willingness to criticize friends and allies is laudable. We dont see that too often, from either the right or the left. The Johnson administration likely doesnt welcome the feedback, but once they get over their hurt feelings, they should look upon the friendly fire as doing them a favor.

The good news for the Johnson administration is that, while their first six months could hardly have gone worse, they have more than three years left to course-correct. The mayor is extraordinarily inexperienced for having achieved such a high office. Theres nothing wrong with acknowledging that and moving to surround himself with more experienced hands who know how municipal government works and can offer practical, hardheaded advice. His communications operation badly needs improvement as well.

Theres also nothing wrong with acknowledging that the job of mayor is less about pushing through some preconceived agenda and more about ably tackling the problems at hand. The migrant crisis is a good example. Johnsons handling of it has been so poor that Gov. J.B. Pritzker felt compelled to overrule one of the mayors most significant decisions on that question  the proposed winter base camp on a toxic-riddled brownfield  and had the state take over other functions that ordinarily the city would handle.

More focus on that crisis rather than jamming through controversial items on Johnsons campaign-promise list might have helped him avoid such self-inflicted mistakes. As it is, he looks politically weak, simply because of the ineptitude. Perception is reality in politics.

Johnson would benefit from a change in attitude toward those he views as opponents. Few begrudge the mayor attempting to achieve his policy goals. But if he doesnt learn to listen to those who know their business far better than he does about how his initiatives would affect them, this comedy of errors will continue.

Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Gov. Bill Lees new plans to expand Tennessees existing school voucher program would amount to doubling down on a policy that has failed kids and parents horribly in other states.

I should know. Ive been studying these voucher systems both as an outside expert and on behalf of state agencies elsewhere for the last 18 years.

When I started as a young researcher, I was cautiously optimistic that these schemes could help provide new educational opportunities.

But the data are in and have been for years now: the larger and more recent the voucher system, the worse the results.

Here's who actually benefits from school voucher programs

First, lets be clear about who does benefit when states expand their voucher systems, as Gov. Lee is proposing. Just this year, reports from all over the country have shown that after bills backed by billionaires like former U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos have passed other state legislatures, roughly 70% of new voucher users had been already in private school beforehand.

Gov. Bill Lee proposes a new statewide school choice program, Education Freedom Scholarship Act, at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023.

Whatever the rhetoric about education freedom says, the reality is that voucher eligibility does not mean voucher access. Parents can only spend their voucher at schools that will accept their children. Private schools find many ways to turn voucher-holding kids and their families away. Thats because when it comes to vouchers, its not actually about what parents choose. Vouchers are the schools choice, not school choice.

What about the 25% or so of kids who do transfer to private schools? For them, vouchers can have nothing short of catastrophic academic consequences. In the four states since 2013 to allow full independent review of their voucher programs  Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio and Washington, D.C.  scholars have found some of the largest negative results ever seen in education research.

How large? As much as and up to double what COVID-19 did to test scores.

The reason is that when new students do get admitted, its often to sub-prime private schoolseither existing, financially distressed schools or pop-up providers looking to cash in on the new revenue from taxpayers. High quality, elite private providers like the kind you see in some cities and leafy suburbs do exist, but for the most part want nothing to do with voucher plans. They dont need the money.

More: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's statewide school voucher pitch: Here's what to know

Tennessee has been successful on education, but more vouchers would do the state any favors

You dont have to take my word for that  organizations like Betsy DeVoss voucher advocacy group are quietly mustering existing Catholic and other religious school parents to back vouchers as a way of saving those private schools. And with new taxpayer subsidies in hand, many private schools simply raise tuition to top revenue off even further.

Even those bailouts dont always work. Many struggling private schools close anyway. In Wisconsin, 40% of private schools have closed since taking voucher payments. And thats a problem because its just one more way that vouchers fail the basic promise of new opportunity their advocates offer.

Writing from afar, Im especially concerned about the voucher scheme in Tennessee because  for all the real shortcomings that can exist in some public schools  the state has an enviable record of public education successes. Researchers like me often look to Tennessee for innovative new ideas.

Josh Cowen

But on vouchers, Tennesseans should look to other states and see the warning: from broken budgets to record-low academic failures, the damage is already being done.

Joshua M. Cowen, Ph.D., is professor of education policy at the College of Education at Michigan State University.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: School vouchers would harm Tennessee students; here's what data says
(Bloomberg) -- Newlyweds in Egypt have found a fresh way to cap their nuptials  by turning up at polling stations in tuxedos and gowns to eagerly cast a vote in the countrys presidential elections.

Most Read from Bloomberg

As the ballot enters its third and final day with incumbent Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi poised to win another term, the tightly controlled local media is full of outlandish and colorful examples of Egyptians participating in what one state-run newspaper dubbed a feast of democracy.

With dissent sharply proscribed, El-Sisis three challengers little known and the votes outcome in no doubt, authorities have focused on encouraging  and then showcasing  mass participation at the polls. Thatll be taken as a ringing endorsement for El-Sisis third term, which would run until 2030 and likely see him forced to enact painful new measures to tackle an economic crisis.

Read More: Egyptians Vote in Election El-Sisis Set to Win Despite Crisis

The front pages of Egyptian newspapers are trumpeting high turnout, and election officials said 45% of the electorate, or roughly 30 million, had already voted by Monday evening. Other publications lauded the police for assisting the disabled and elderly at polling stations or sported headlines citing youth saying there were casting a ballot for their future.

But its the newlyweds dipping their fingers in phosphorescent ink at the polling booths thats attracted most attention. Al-Watan newspaper said theyd turned a joy into two joys  that of marriage and voting. There was no official number of how many had taken the dual step, but a review of local and pan-Arab news websites showed around 10 couples.

In Luxor, southern Egypt, groom Abdel-Rahim Fawzi said he and his bride decided to turn their wedding day into one in which they also performed their national duty, al-Watan reported. By participating, were working to build a cohesive homeland for the sake of the future of the children that God will bless us with, he was cited as saying.

Read More: Egypt Needs Cash and Gaza War Gives World New Reasons to Help

Election authorities are set to announce an initial vote tally Wednesday and the final result on Dec. 18.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
By Aidan Lewis and Amina Ismail

CAIRO (Reuters) -Egyptians cast their ballots on Tuesday on the third and final day of a presidential election expected to give President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi a sweeping victory and a new six-year term in the absence of real competition.

Many Egyptians have shown little interest in the election, saying they believe that voting will make little difference, although authorities and commentators on tightly controlled local media continued urging them to cast ballots out of national duty until polls closed at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT).

"I will not vote because I am sick of this country," said 27-year-old taxi driver Hossam, who said his quality of life had deteriorated under Sisi's decade-long rule.

"When they hold a real election I will go out and vote," he said.

Results are expected on Dec. 18.

The election, which began on Sunday, is Sisi's third since taking power after the 2013 overthrow of Egypt's first popularly elected president Mohamed Mursi. An Islamist, Mursi won the presidency a year after the toppling of long-ruling autocrat Hosni Mubarak in a popular uprising.

International monitors have criticised Egypt's human rights record under Sisi's rule, accusing the government of repressing political freedoms during a crackdown in which rights groups say tens of thousands, many from Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood, have been jailed.

In the new capital under construction in the desert east of Cairo, patriotic music blasted from a loudspeaker outside a polling station on an avenue lined with newly built banks and neo-pharaonic ministries.

Construction and office workers milled around outside, some waving Egyptian flags, dancing and holding up a banner with a large photo of Sisi. A few dozen people lined up to vote as plainclothes security officers looked on.

Sausan Ades, a 34-year-old state health employee, said she had come to vote "because it's our country".

"We love Egypt. It's important to take part," she said.

She said the new capital, which some question for its $58 billion price tag at a time when Egypt's debt is surging, was necessary for development.

CHALLENGER HALTS RUN

The election featured three other low-profile candidates. The most prominent potential challenger halted his run in October, saying officials and thugs had targeted his supporters - accusations dismissed by the National Election Authority.

Critics say the election is a sham and that former general Sisi's popularity has been eroded amid a slow-burning economic crisis and the decade-long crackdown on dissent.

The government's media body has said the vote was a step towards political pluralism and authorities have denied violations of electoral rules.

Authorities have sought to address criticism of its record with steps including by opening a national dialogue and releasing some prominent prisoners.

Sisi says stability and security are paramount, a message that resonated with some voters that spoke to Reuters at a time when Egypt is faced with two wars on its borders, in the Gaza Strip and Sudan.

On Monday, the National Election Authority said turnout on the first two days of voting had reached about 45%, surpassing that of the last presidential election in 2018, though some expressed surprise at the figure given widespread apathy.

Reuters reporters who have been covering the elections in Cairo, Giza, Suez and the Sinai Peninsula over the last three days have witnessed crowds in front of polling stations, some being bussed in, but a relative trickle of citizens casting their votes.

"Each time Egyptians are asked to vote they are poorer than the last time, and Sisi is less popular, yet turnout is on the rise? No one, not even Sisi's few remaining supporters, believes this is a real election," said Timothy E. Kaldas, a policy fellow at Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy.

(Reporting by Aidan Lewis, Amina Ismail and Farah Saafan; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Alex Richardson)
You are here: China

This photo taken on Oct. 19, 2023 shows newly harvested corns at Dongsheng Village of Zhaodong City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Grain production in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, known as the country's "grain barn," reached about 77.88 billion kilograms in 2023, accounting for 11.2 percent of the country's total, official data showed on Monday.

Heilongjiang's annual grain output has ranked first in the country for 14 consecutive years, with an output growth of 252 million kilograms from last year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Its crop planting area totaled 14.74 million hectares, accounting for 12.4 percent of the country's total.

Flooding affected some crops in summer, but the proportion of affected crop acreage was rather small, thus limiting the damages. The harvest resulted from crops experiencing above-average growth compared to previous years, according to the provincial department of agriculture and rural affairs.

Farmers will earn more this year, thanks to the harvest and rise in rice prices, noted Liu Chun, chairman of the Northeast Paddy Field Modern Agricultural Machinery Cooperative, based in the city of Fujin.
A winter carnival featuring horse racings, fashion shows, and road trips kicked off in East Wuzhumuqin Banner, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Sunday, and will last through Wednesday.



A winter carnival featuring a slew of activities is held in East Wuzhumuqin Banner, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Dec. 10, 2023. [Photo by China.org.cn]



As one of the outstanding natural grassland areas in China, East Wuzhumuqin Banner is the home of Mongolian horses and embodies the Mongolian horse spirit. The place is also attractive for its traditional nomadic culture, and rich intangible cultural heritage such as the Mongolian long tune and Mongolian ethnic clothing.

As part of the region's efforts to promote local culture and attract more tourists, the three-day winter event will allow visitors to participate in a variety of activities and experience Mongolian culture. Please find the schedule of events as follows:

Dec. 12: Launch Ceremony of Mongolian Horse Racing in Sumu Township Division

Dec. 12: 15-Kilometer Endurance Race and Team Relay Race

Dec. 12: Mongolian Fashion Show

Dec. 10-13 : Driving Tour along 311 National Highway

Dec. 11 -12: Photography Event Highlighting Sceneries of East Wuzhumuqin Banner

Dec. 12: Horse Contest in Mandubaolige Township

Dec. 12: Mongolian Wrestling Contest in Mandubaolige Township
Iranian women's rights defenders Afsoon Najafi, right, Mersedeh Shahinkar, second right, Saleh Nikbakht, academic, lawyer representing Jina Mahsa Amini's family, left, and President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola pose during the 2023 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought Award, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. The European Union on Tuesday lauded the memory of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who died in police custody in Iran last year, during a ceremony when she and a Iranian human rights group were officially awarded the EU's top human rights prize. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Parliament on Tuesday remembered a young woman who died in police custody in Iran last year, during a ceremony at which she and a Iranian human rights group were officially awarded the EU's top human rights prize.

Parliament President Roberta Metsola deplored that even part of Mahsa Amini's family was not allowed to attend the event for the awarding of the Sakharov Prize at the EU legislature's plenary.

They are under a travel ban imposed by the Iranian regime. Their treatment is another example of what the people of Iran face every day, Metsola said.

Amini, 22, died in September 2022, three days after she was arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating Irans mandatory headscarf law. While authorities said she suffered a heart attack, Aminis supporters said she was beaten by police and died as a result of her injuries.

The EU said her death triggered a women-led movement in Iran, and representatives of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran were in Strasbourg, France, to attend the solemn ceremony.

The 27-nation EU has imposed sanctions on Iranian officials and organizations  including ministers, military officers and Irans morality police  for human rights abuses over the protests.

This years Sakharov Prize serves as a tribute to all the brave and defiant women, men and young people in Iran who, despite coming under increasing pressure, are continue the push for change, Metsola said.

Amini's death triggered protests that spread across the country and rapidly escalated into calls for the overthrow of Irans four-decade-old Islamic theocracy.

Authorities responded with a violent crackdown in which more than 500 people were killed and over 22,000 others were detained, according to rights groups. The demonstrations largely died down early this year, but there are still widespread signs of discontent. For several months, women could be seen openly flaunting the headscarf rule in Tehran and other cities, prompting a renewed crackdown over the summer.

The EU award, named for Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honor individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. Sakharov, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died in 1989.
The European Commission (EC) is gearing up to channel 15 billion in frozen Russian assets to provide crucial financial support to Ukraine, though the plan requires unanimous backing from all European Union member states, the Financial Times reported.

Brussels plans to pitch a proposal to clamp down on the revenues from frozen Russian assets in the EU on Dec. 12. The endgame allocates a substantial sum of up to 15 billion to bolster Ukraine's financial resilience.

This EC initiative faced a temporary setback during the summer, encountering reservations from various EU member states and the European Central Bank. Concerns about potential legal and financial intricacies prompted a brief pause in pursuing the plan.

Read also: EU to present plan to channel frozen Russian assets toward Ukraines recovery

As attempts by the U.S. and EU to reach a consensus on additional financial aid for Ukraine remain unresolved, renewed vigor has been injected into crafting strategies for leveraging the funds derived from frozen Russian assets.

EC Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis underscored the significance of exploring the potential use of these assets and their returns to shore up Ukraine. He highlighted that the "Group of Seven" nations collectively agreed to freeze the assets until Russia compensates Ukraine for its losses. Now, the focus is determining the most effective deployment of the funds collected during this period.

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
This story was first published by Grist.

About three times a day, Rich Benoit gets a call to his auto shop, The Electrified Garage, from the owner of an older Tesla Model S whose car battery has begun to fail. The battery, which used to provide several hundred miles of range, might suddenly only last 50 miles on a single charge. These cars are often out of warranty, and the cost of replacing the battery can exceed $15,000.

For most products, repair is a more affordable option than replacement. And in theory, lots of these Tesla batteries can be fixed, said Benoit, who runs one of the few Tesla-focused independent repair shops in the United States. But due to the time and training involved, the safety considerations and the complexity of the repair, Benoit said that the bill to fix one car battery at his shop might run upward of $10,000  more than most consumers are willing to pay. Instead, he said, many choose to sell or donate their old vehicle for scrap and buy a brand new Tesla.

Its getting to the point where [the car] is almost like a consumable, like a TV, Benoit said.

Repairing batteries promotes a circular economy



Benoits experience heralds a problem that early adopters of EVs, as well as electric micromobility devices like e-bikes and e-scooters, are beginning to face: These vehicles contain big, expensive batteries that will inevitably degrade or stop working over time. Repairing these batteries can have sustainability benefits, saving energy and resources that would otherwise be used to manufacture a new one. Thats particularly important for EVs, which contain very large batteries that must be used for years in order to offset the carbon emissions associated with making them. But many EV and e-mobility batteries are difficult to repair by design, and some manufacturers actively discourage the practice, citing safety concerns. The small number of independent mechanics who repair EV or e-bike batteries struggle to do so affordably due to design challenges, safety requirements and a lack of access to spare parts.

There are a lot of batteries in the recycle bin that could be repaired, said Timote Rouffignac, who runs a small e-bike battery repair business called Daurema in Brussels, Belgium. But because they are not made to be repaired, its quite hard to propose a good price.

A lithium-ion battery in a smartphone contains a single cell consisting of a graphite anode, a metallic cathode and a liquid electrolyte that allows lithium ions to move from one side to the other to generate an electrical potential. An e-bike battery often contains dozens of cells. EV batteries, meanwhile, can contain hundreds to thousands of individual cells, which are often packaged into modules, and, from there, are bundled into a battery pack. In addition to cells and modules, electric car and e-bike batteries typically include a battery management system that monitors the batterys state of health and controls the rate of charging and discharging.

All lithium-ion batteries degrade with use and eventually need to be replaced. But when a battery contains many individual cells and other components, its lifespan can sometimes be extended through repair, a process that involves identifying and replacing the bad cells or modules and fixing other faulty parts, like a glitchy battery management system. In some cases, a single module is all that needs to be replaced. Swapping that module out, instead of replacing the entire battery, reduces demand for battery metals like lithium, as well as the carbon emissions tied to manufacturing replacement batteries (or new vehicles). That makes battery repair highly desirable for a circular economy  a system in which resources are conserved and reused  said Gavin Harper, a research fellow who studies battery sustainability at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

And while not necessarily cheap, repairing batteries can save money. Tyler Helps of Cox Automotive, which repairs in-warranty EV batteries on behalf of automakers and their dealers across the United States, said that in general, a refurbished EV battery is about half the cost of a new one. Since it began offering EV battery repair services in 2014, Cox Automotive estimates that it has saved over a gigawatt-hours worth of batteries  enough to power about 17,000 new EVs  from being prematurely discarded.

Theres a myriad of different reasons repair is vastly [more] beneficial than replacement, Helps told Grist.

Safety concerns persist



But battery repair is dangerous and shouldnt be attempted at home or by novices, experts say. If battery cells are damaged during a repair attempt, it can cause a short circuit that leads to a fire or explosion. If the person attempting the repair isnt wearing the proper high-voltage gloves, they could be electrocuted. Youd be playing with fire if you didnt know what you were doing, said John Mathna, who runs the e-bike repair shop Chattanooga Electric Bike Co., noting that some e-bike batteries contain enough current to kill someone.

At a bare minimum, battery repair requires high-voltage training, electrical experience, personal protective equipment and a baseline understanding of the architectures and how the battery works, Helps said. Those wishing to fix EV batteries also need equipment to lift the car off the ground and physically remove the battery, which can weigh thousands of pounds.

There are very few people that could or even should attempt something like this, Benoit said.

But even those who have the proper training often struggle to repair EV or e-bike batteries because of how they are designed. Many e-bike batteries are housed in heavy-duty plastic cases that can be difficult, if not impossible, to open up without damaging internal components. Inside an e-bike battery, or inside individual modules of an EV battery, cells are often glued or welded together, making them difficult or impossible to replace individually. Whats more, as a 2021 report by the European Environmental Bureau highlighted, some e-mobility batteries contain software that causes the battery to shut down if it detects evidence of unauthorized tinkering.

Manufacturers argue that their batteries are designed to promote safety, durability and high performance, which can come at the expense of repairability, and many offer free or discounted replacement batteries within the warranty period (typically around two years for major e-bike brands and eight to 10 years or 100,000 miles for EVs). Repair advocates, on the other hand, contend that modular designs with reversible fasteners, such as clips or adhesives that can be unstuck, dont necessarily compromise safety and that the benefits of designing for repair far exceed the costs.

Mixed policy support for battery repairability



European policymakers are beginning to listen to advocates. In August, the European Union adopted a new regulation aimed at fostering battery sustainability. Among other things, it includes a provision requiring that the batteries used in e-bikes and other light means of transport vehicles, like e-scooters, be repairable down to the individual cell level by independent professionals. The European e-bike industry, which strongly opposed this provision due to concerns over safety, battery certification and legal liability issues, is now grappling with how to comply.

We are still examining how the requirements of the new EU battery regulation can be made possible while complying with the applicable safety regulations and our high quality standards, e-bike battery manufacturer Bosch told Grist. One challenge for manufacturers, Bosch noted, is the contrary development in the USA, which is on its way to stronger regulations and higher standards for e-bike batteries and systems.

Indeed, the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission recently announced that it is considering regulations for e-bikes and their batteries. This comes after a recent rash of e-bike battery fires that have also spurred a policy response on a local level. The New York City Council recently amended its fire code to prohibit the assembly or reconditioning of a lithium-ion battery using secondhand cells from another battery, which repairers sometimes do.

The city also recently enacted a law requiring that e-mobility manufacturers ensure their products batteries are certified to the UL 2271 design standard, which is intended to promote safety. Ibrahim Jilani, the global director of consumer technology at UL Solutions  a multinational company that develops safety certification standards for a wide range of industrial and consumer products and materials  said that repaired batteries can meet this standard. But the company doing the repair would be required to keep the design exactly how it was prior to needing repair, Jilani said, including using the same make and model of cells and electronic components. Battery repair shops would also need to submit to UL field inspections four times a year. Overall, obtaining this certification would cost repair businesses a little over $5,000 a year, Jilani said.

Compared with e-bikes, lawmakers have been relatively quiet on EV battery repair. In the U.S., there are no specific laws or regulations that address the issue. The EUs new battery regulation doesnt touch on EV battery repair either, other than to suggest lawmakers update a separate vehicle regulation to ensure that those batteries can be removed, replaced, and disassembled.

Thats an idea that GDV, the German Insurance Association, strongly supports, a spokesperson told Grist. In October, the group published the results of a study that found EVs are a third more expensive to repair than similar gas-powered vehicles, a finding it attributed in part to the high costs of fixing or replacing batteries.

There are a lot of automakers who do not allow battery repair, even in case of minor damages to the battery case, a GDV spokesperson told Grist. Automakers sometimes choose to replace the battery if the car was involved in an accident that caused the airbags to activate. Both practices "will lead to an increase of repair costs, and ultimately, higher insurance premiums, the spokesperson said.

New rules around EV battery repairability would come at a critical time. Helps, of Cox Automotive, said that two trends in EV battery design are occurring in parallel: Batteries are either becoming very serviceable  or not serviceable at all.

Some, like the batteries inside Volkswagens ID.4, feature Lego-like modules that are easy to remove and replace. Others, like Teslas new 4680 structural battery pack, dont include modules at all. Instead, all of the cells are bonded together and bonded to the pack itself, a design Helps described as impossible to service. If a bad cell group is found, the entire battery must be replaced.

Its still a fully recyclable battery, Helps said. Youre just not able to repair it.

Tesla didnt respond to Grists request for comment.


Here is every 2024 Color of the Year we know so far

The new year is creeping closer but our favorite home decor and paint brands started revealing their 2024 choices for Color of the Year months ago  and that's great news for anyone gearing up to paint at home.

Last year, Pantone chose a vivid purplish-red color called "Viva Magenta." The brand called the bold hue as "an unconventional shade for an unconventional time."

So far, the colors exemplifying 2024 are looking a little more natural and a lot more earthy.

Let's take a look at the 2024 Colors of the Year selections we know about so far. We'll keep updating the list as more choices are unveiled.

Pantone: Peach Fuzz

Pantone COY 2024 (Pantone)

Pantones 2024 color pick hopes to encourage warmth and understanding in the new year.

The company, best known for its color matching system, announced it selected an amiable and cozy tone called Peach Fuzz  officially Pantone 13-1023 Peach Fuzz  as its color of the year.

According to the companys announcement, the subtly sensual color is meant to evoke feelings of kindness and tenderness.

At a time of turmoil in many aspects of our lives, our need for nurturing, empathy and compassion grows ever stronger as does our imaginings of a more peaceful future, the company explained of its peach hue pick.

In a statement, Leatrice Eiseman  Pantone Color Institutes executive director  described the sense the color is meant to evoke.

In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance, Eisemans statement reads. A shade that resonates with compassion offers a tactile embrace, and effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless.

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams: Persimmon

New colors (TODAY Illustration / HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams)

Renewed Comfort" is the name of HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's 2024 Color Collection of the Year, and it's filled with gentle neutral colors that are "restful and restorative."

The brand's 2024 Color of the Year, selected from that collection, is "Persimmon," an earthy terracotta shade that 's both calming and cheerful.

"Persimmon balances the energy of tangerine with grounded neutral undertones, making it perfect for spaces like living rooms and kitchens as it promotes positive relationships and conversation. The beautiful shade helps rejuvenate a space while bringing unique design visions to life, Ashley Banbury, Sherwin-Williams' color marketing manager, said in a press release.

Dutch Boy: Ironside

New colors (TODAY Illustration / Dutch Boy Paints)

"Ironside" is Dutch Boy Paint's color choice for 2024. The brand describes the nature-inspired olive green color as a great one for anyone who seeks to make their home a "sanctuary for well-being."

"Ironside is rooted in comfort and creates a space that is elegant and charming. As dark shades become more appreciated in the home, this deep olive is versatile in wide-open spaces or enclosed comfy places, reflecting well-being from all angles," Dutch Boy said in a press release.

Ironside is one of Dutch Boy's tested "One-Coat Colors," which the brand says can deliver "optimal coverage" with just one coat of paint.

Behr: Cracked Pepper

New colors (TODAY Illustration / Behr)

Behr Paint Company's choice for 2024 is "Cracked Pepper," a soft black color that's sophisticated and versatile.

Behr explained in a press release that it chose Cracked Pepper after conducting research that showed more than half of Americans believe darker colors give a room a "designer aesthetic," and help create a "bold" and "fresh" new look.

We recognize the growing desire for using darker colors throughout spaces, Jodi Allen, the company's global chief marketing officer, said in a press release. Adding a soft black like Cracked Pepper evokes a sense of confidence and individuality that we want all of our customers to feel after completing a project.

Valspar: Renew Blue

TODAY Illustration / Valspar

"Renew Blue" is the chosen tint for Valspar's 2024 Color of the Year. The paint brand went with the hue they describe as "a balanced blue with a touch of grayed sea-green" to transform any room into a restful space, according to a press release.

Valspar's director of color marketing Sue Kim explained in the release that blue's versatility was a reason they settled on "Renew Blue," and that the neutral-like color can be used as a foundation to build off of while keeping "wellness and comfort" at the forefront.

Inspired by fleeting elements like fog, mist, clouds, and glacier lakes, Renew Blue elevates the everyday mood, encourages self-expression, and evokes a feeling of balance and calm, with a twist of unique spontaneity, Kim said in the release.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
A Mount Laurel, New Jersey, man, captured on video in 2021 harassing and intimidating his Black neighbors, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after taking a plea deal with the Burlington County Prosecutors Office.

Edward Cagney Mathews pleaded with Superior Court judge Gerard H. Breland on Friday, Dec. 8, for a more lenient sentence, but his plea was unsuccessful. The judge issued a sentence specifying that Mathews must serve at least four years in prison before being eligible for parole.

With tears, he accepted responsibility for his actions before the court and offered an apology to those that he hurt with his insensitive and disrespectful rants and actions, all stemming from deeply ingrained racist beliefs.

Edward C. Mathews pleaded guilty to four counts of bias intimidation and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute following a racist rant caught on video. (Photo: CBS Philadelphia screenshot / YouTube)

He went on to express how his conduct caused shame and pain to his family and also led to the dissolution of his marriage. He said his wife filed for divorce and sold their townhome, and since being in jail for the last two-and-a-half years, he has lost all his belongings.

Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future. I want to commit to rebuild the community, Mathews said at the sentencing hearing, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The sentencing comes after the 47-year-old pleaded guilty to four counts of bias intimidation and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute on Tuesday. Oct. 17. The footage, which went viral on social media, showed him verbally harassing his Black neighbors with racial slurs and spitting on him from his doorsteps, challenging them to come see him and calling some of them monkeys.

In addition to the verbal altercation, Mathews also put feces on his Black neighbors property, sent emails to the Black residents of the Essex Place condominium association, and shot BB gun pellets at their vehicles.

The man has been terrorizing his Black neighbors in the South Jersey community since 2020, according to the prosecution, but noted no one in the tenants association was ever able to gather evidence to charge him with a crime.

Assistant County Prosecutor Jamie Hutchinson presented victim impact statements from four individuals, either current or former residents of the Mount Laurel condominium association. Notably, these statements included perspectives from LeRon Brown, the former president of the homeowners association, who is Black, and his wife Denise, who is white.

The actions of what he did will forever stay a nightmare of the fear and anxiety he bestowed upon me. Im constantly looking over my shoulder and trusting no one, Denise Brown wrote in a statement.

She and her husband wound up moving from the community because of their interactions with Mathews, uprooting the home they built over the last 20 years in the development. This family was not alone. Another Black board member of the association moved out because of the racial harassment.

Burlington County prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw released a statement following the sentencing.

Our office is committed to combating bias crimes and sending a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated in our community. Nobody should have to endure what these victims experienced, Bradshaw wrote.

His latest sentencing adds to the 11 felony convictions he has received since 1995.

The judge noted that since Mathews has spent 886 days in prison since he was arrested, he will credit him with the time already spent in custody. This will make him eligible for parole in approximately 16 months.

Apart from the imposed sentence, the court mandated Mathews to pay $4,408 in restitution and undergo racial sensitivity training while in prison. This training is intended to support his expressed goal of rebuilding community.
A former St. Paul parks and recreation worker pleaded guilty to first-degree assault for shooting and critically wounding a 16-year-old boy last year at the Oxford Community Center/Jimmy Lee Recreation Center.

Exavir Dwayne Binford Jr. entered the plea in court Monday after reaching a deal with prosecutors, who agreed to dismiss an attempted murder charge against the 27-year-old for shooting JuVaughn Turner in the head during a fight outside the rec center in the citys Summit-University neighborhood.

Binford previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, with his attorney telling a judge that he had acted in self-defense.

Prosecutors filed a motion Monday in court stating their intent to seek an aggravated sentence of nearly 10 years in prison. The presumptive prison sentence calls for just over 7 years. Binford remains jailed in lieu of $500,000 bail ahead of sentencing, which was set for Feb. 9.

Charges say the Jan. 18 shooting followed an argument between a group of Central High School girls. Binford, who was working as a community recreation specialist, then fought with Turner, another 16-year-old boy and a girl, before firing his 9mm pistol once.

Turner, who was a student at Central Senior High School, underwent emergency neurosurgery with a life-threatening injury.

Binford told police after his arrest that he felt threatened by Turner and the other boy, identified in the criminal complaint as RC. Binford said he had a problem with Turner ever since he transferred to the rec center in August after four years at Arlington Rec Center.

Binford had a permit to carry a firearm, and said he carried his gun at the rec center, but people didnt know. He said he carried because he worked the graveyard shift at the rec center when it closed at 9 p.m., the complaint read.

Binford said no one was allowed in the rec center because of the fight between the girls. He said he clocked out for the day, then had words with a girl who let her brother into the building. Turner intervened.

According to Binford, he walked away to catch his bus and told JT and RC, that if they wanted to do something to him he would be at the bus stop.

RC got into his way, Binford said, so he gave the teen a baby shove to create space. Both teens ran up and jumped him, sending him to the ground, where he threw some punches with his jacket pulled over his head, Binford told police.

I aint gonna lie  I pulled my pistol, Binford said, according to the complaint. I just felt like if you wouldnt put your hands on me this wouldnt happen.

Police noted Binfords lip was busted and he had injuries above an eyebrow.

Investigators asked Binford why he shot when they were all just standing there, (and) Binford had no explanation and said it was just in the moment and he was sorry, according to the complaint. He also told police he could have done something differently.

Under state law, private businesses or property owners can generally ban guns on their premises, including when someone has a permit to carry a gun, but government entities cant prohibit permit holders from carrying weapons in public spaces, including libraries and recreation centers. St. Paul is allowed to ban city employees from carrying guns at work, but only when theyre on the clock and on work premises, not parking lots.

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Venezuela's new map that includes the Essequibo territory as its own is displayed at the Foreign Ministry in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. Leaders of Guyana and Venezuela are preparing to meet this week to address an escalating dispute over the Essequibo region that is rich in oil and minerals. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP)  Oil giant ExxonMobil says it will keep ramping up production in offshore Guyana despite the escalation of a territorial dispute with neighboring Venezuela, which claims that oil-rich region as its own.

In a brief statement posted Monday on Facebook, ExxonMobil Guyana said it was reaffirming its long-term commitment to Guyana as tensions grow between the two South American countries that share a border.

We are not going anywhere  our focus remains on developing the resources efficiently and responsibly, per our agreement with the Guyanese government, the company wrote.

Earlier this month, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro proposed that companies operating in the vast Essequibo region in Guyana, that is rich with minerals and located near massive oil deposits, should withdraw their operations within three months.

His government also is seeking to ban companies operating in Guyana from doing so in his country.

Venezuelan lawmakers are currently debating a bill that contains the proposed ban.

Maduro has argued he has the authority to issue such orders following a Dec. 3 referendum aimed at annexing the Essequibo area.

ExxonMobil is producing about 600,000 barrels of oil a day after successfully drilling more than 40 wells off Guyanas Essequibo region. The Exxon-Mobil consortium also submitted a bid and received approval to develop three more areas in the region believed to contain additional oil deposits.

Many of Guyanas largest gold, diamond, manganese and other mines also are located in Essequibo. Most are Canadian-owned, but no companies have reacted yet to Maduros statement. Several Chinese companies also have timber operations in the area.

ExxonMobil issued the statement a day after Guyanas president, Irfaan Ali, told reporters Sunday that investors have nothing to fear.

We want to encourage our investors to invest as much as they want, he said.

Ali and Maduro will meet Thursday in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to discuss the territorial dispute, with regional leaders urging talks to avoid further conflict.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
New Mexico's senior senator, Martin Heinrich, touted last week the U.S. Air Force's decision to make Holloman Air Force Base the permanent base for 26 fighter planes and a training program for pilots as a win for New Mexico.

Heinrich, in 2020, along with former senator Tom Udall and then U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small were notified of the Air Force's decision use the base to house a training squadron of F-16 fighter jets. The decision followed the 2017 placement of two additional F-16 training squadron on an interim basis until 2020.

More: Alamogordo Commissioners pass curfew ordinance, table truancy for revision

Sen. Martin Heinrich at Holloman Air Force Base in 2019. Heinrich discussed, during the visit, a proposal to create a permanent establishment of the F-16 fighter squadron at the base in Otero County, New Mexico.

"Holloman Air Force Base is a national leader in training Americas fighter pilots, and this final decision to base a permanent F-16 training mission affirms it," Heinrich said.

Heinrich has made Holloman an area of focus for government spending, pledging funds to improve infrastructure and upgrade areas of the base.

"I will continue making sure Holloman has the assets, crew, instructors, and infrastructure it needs to make this permanent F-16 training mission successful," he said.

Holloman now hosts three F-16 squadrons. Heinrich said, in a news release, Holloman training squad is critical to combating a shortage of fighter pilots and to the economic development of the community that houses the base.

Rep. Gabe Vasquez, who represents New Mexico's Second Congressional District which includes Holloman Air Force Base, and Sen. Ben Ray Lujan agree that Holloman has a crucial role in Alamogordo.

"Permanently housing the F-16 Formal Training Unit at our very own Holloman Air Force Base is great news for New Mexicos 2nd Congressional District. This decision solidifies Hollomans crucial role in shaping our nations air defense," Vasquez said.

New Mexico Rep. Gabe Vasquez at Holloman Air Force Base in Otero County, New Mexico. Vasquez's visit followed the announcement of a permanent presence of the F-16 training unit at the base.

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"Holloman is already excelling in the F-16 mission. Im proud to welcome this announcement that New Mexico will be the permanent training base for 26 F-16 fighter jets at Holloman Air Force Base," Lujan said. "This decision will help standardize training that benefits our national security and boosts economic development in Southern New Mexico."

Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter at @Juan36Corr.

This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Holloman Air Force Base now houses 26 F-16 planes, training program
Claim:

An image shared to social media in December 2023 genuinely depicts the sun.

Rating:

Rating: True

Context:

The image is indeed genuine and showed a coronal hole that was photographed on the sun on Dec. 2, 2023. And nothing abnormal is depicted, as one social media post implied.

An image post shared to X on Dec. 3, 2023, that had garnered more than 2 million views as of this publication claims to depict the sun in pretty astonishing form.

(Screengrab/X)

The image above was captured by NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) on Dec. 2, 2023, through the projects Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), which captures an image of the sun every .75 seconds.

Because the image is genuine, we have rated the claim as True.

However, the picture does not depict something abnormal, or NOT ok, as the above post suggested. Rather, the image showed a coronal hole, a large area of the suns corona  the outermost part of the suns atmosphere  that is less dense and cooler than its surrounding area, resulting in a dark-colored gap in imaging data.

Coronal holes are normal and can develop at any time and location on the sun, according to NASA. Solar winds near coronal holes can escape more readily into space, which results in relatively high-speed wind streams. Coronal holes do have the potential for escalated geomagnetic activity and possible solar storms, so forecasters analyze and track their activity closely.

(NASA)

Snopes traced the image above using credit information that was visible along the bottom of the picture. It read, SDO/AIA- 193 2023-12-02 02:49:16.

SDO is an institution self-described as being designed to help us understand the Suns influence on Earth and Near-Earth space by studying the solar atmosphere on small scales of space and time. SDO was launched on Feb. 11, 2010.

To find the original publication of the solar image, we searched the SDO data archives using the parameters shown and found a movie version of the image made up of 500 frames, including the one featured above. Those still images have been archived here.

AIA is one of three experiments launched as part of SDO to perform several measurements that characterize how and why the sun varies. Together, the three instruments observe the sun simultaneously, collecting measurements to better characterize the processes of the sun to:

In the first decade of its use, SDO captured over 20 million gigabytes of data. Below is a time-lapse compilation of 10 years' worth of data published by NASA Goddard in 2022 for the 10th anniversary of the SDO deployment:

Sources:

Coronal Holes | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center. https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/coronal-holes. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Https://Twitter.Com/DrBrianKeating/Status/1731372205093925042. X (Formerly Twitter), https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating/status/1731372205093925042. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

SDO | Solar Dynamics Observatory. https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/aiahmi/. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/mission/instruments.php. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

https://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?day=03&month=12&view=1&year=2023. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
As the Biden administration prepares to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington this week, and as legislative negotiations over additional Ukraine aid stall, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has supposedly traded his carrot for a stick in his attempts to persuade House Republicans to get on board the funding trainat least according to Tucker Carlson.

In a tweet that garnered more than 100,000 likes and 45,000 retweets, Carlson claimed that Austin had threatened members of Congress during a classified briefing, telling them that the Biden administration would put American boots on the ground to fight Russia if they didnt approve additional Ukraine funding.

The Biden administration is openly threatening Americans over Ukraine. In a classified briefing in the House yesterday, defense secretary Lloyd Austin informed members that if they dont appropriate more money for Zelensky, well send your uncles, cousins and sons to fight pic.twitter.com/BPKMEBW8TK  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) December 7, 2023

This is about the war in Ukraine, what theyre trying to drag us into, Donald Trump Jr. said in a video posted on Facebook about Carlsons reporting. Tucker Carlson confirms that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin threatened to send your uncles, cousins, and sons to fight Russia unless more money is sent to Zelensky.

A source familiar with the briefing told The Dispatch Fact Check that Carlsons depiction was inaccurate and that Austin made no such threat. Instead, Austin warned that failing to back Ukraine could lead to direct U.S. involvement elsewhere in Europe in the future. Last week, The Messenger reported that during the briefing, Austin warned Congress about the likelihood of further Russian aggression should it be victorious in Ukraine, including instigating territorial disputes in neighboring NATO member states. If Putin takes over Ukraine, hell get Moldova, Georgia, then maybe the Baltics, House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul told The Messenger. And then the idea that well have to put troops on the ground, in Austins word, was very likely.

The Biden administration has continued to pressure congressional Republicans to provide additional funding to Ukraine. Nevertheless, a number of Republican representativesincluding House Speaker Mike Johnsontold The Messenger that the briefing had been unconvincing and would do little to change the minds of hesitant Republican members.

A source familiar with the briefing told The Dispatch Fact Check on the condition of anonymity that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was the sole member to stay behind after the session ended, after which she berated the briefing team. Austin purportedly responded by explaining how, if the U.S. does not continue its support for Ukraine, Russia may go after a NATO ally in the future, drawing the U.S. directly into the conflict and potentially leading to American soldiers on the ground.

Austins argument is not uniquepreventing further escalation in the region is a driving element of many calls for continued U.S. support. If the U.S. were to stop its funding and support, it would drastically reduce the combat effectiveness of Ukraine and probably lead to a collapse of the frontlines in the favor of Russia, Luke Coffey, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute told The Dispatch Fact Check. Before we know it, hundreds of thousands of Russian troops that are now hundreds of miles away from NATOs borders, with the Ukrainian army standing between, will now be at NATOs front door with nothing in their way. This would require more U.S. troops and funding to keep NATO safe. It is a far better deal to the American taxpayer to arm Ukraine now instead of potentially deploying more US troops to Europe in the future.

Greenes office and the Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment.

If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com.

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Harvard faculty members and alumni voiced their support for the university's president, Claudine Gay, in the wake of her controversial House testimony last week about antisemitism on college campuses.

Harvard faculty members submitted a letter to the Harvard Corporation, which oversees the institution's academic and financial resources, opposing calls to remove Gay. The petition, which has over 700 signatures, urges the university "in the strongest possible terms to defend the independence of the university and to resist political pressures that are at odds with Harvard's commitment to academic freedom."

Alison Frank Johnson, a history professor who coauthored the letter, told CBS News the signatories recognize the "fundamental importance" of the school not being subject to "political interference."

Gay testified before a House committee on Dec. 5 alongside University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth. The three university leaders were called to explain and defend their approaches to heated protests on college campuses related to the Israel-Hamas war.

All three were accused of not being strong enough in opposing antisemitism and were rebuked by Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican of New York, for failing to clearly state whether calling for genocide against Jews would violate university policies.

Harvard University President Claudine Gay, at left, testifies before the House Education and Workforce Committee on Dec. 5, 2023. / Credit: Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images

The executive committee of the Harvard Alumni Association released a letter Monday expressing "unanimous and unequivocal" support for Gay.

"President Gay is the right leader to guide the University during this challenging time. She is thoughtful. She is kind," the letter reads, adding, "We recognize that there was disappointment in her testimony this past week. President Gay has pointed this out and apologized for any pain her testimony caused  a powerful demonstration of her integrity, determination, and courage."

Gay, who last December became the first Black president in Harvard's 386-year history, also garnered the support of Black Harvard faculty members. A separate letter signed by more than 80 Black faculty members objects to "aspersions that have been cast on her character."

"The suggestion that she would not stand boldly against manifestations of antisemitism and any suggestion that her selection as president was the result of a process that elevated an unqualified person based on considerations of race and gender are specious and politically motivated," the letter reads.

Over 770 Black Harvard alumni and allies added to the outpouring of support for Gay, writing in a letter posted on social media Monday that her commitment to free speech is critical "at a time when the banning of books is occurring across our nation and lawmakers are enshrining laws that curtail the teaching of American history."

Gay's congressional testimony did receive criticism from some Harvard students and faculty, with one university professor writing on social media that Gay's "hesitant, formulaic, and bizarrely evasive answers were deeply troubling to me and many of my colleagues, students, and friends."

Following the contentious panel, the House committee announced it would be conducting an investigation into Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania, among other institutions.

Magill resigned as president of the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday following the backlash related to her testimony. She will remain at the university as a tenured professor of law.

Nikole Killion contributed reporting.

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St. Anne's Hospital and Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River and St. Lukes Hospital in New Bedford are part of an effort to accept patients that may be diverted from Rhode Island hospitals related to the traffic issues with the Washington Bridge in Rhode Island.

Southcoast Health owns Charlton and St. Luke's and released a statement Wednesday sharing its commitment to providing emergency care to all patients within the South Coast region, including those who are brought to Charlton Memorial Hospital and St. Lukes by ambulance due to the closure of the westbound side of the Washington Bridge on I-195 in Providence. Since the initial closure announcement on Monday afternoon that caused a few days of nightmare traffic, two travel lanes for cars heading west to Providence have been opened on the eastbound side of I-195. A lane on the westbound side of the bridge is also open for emergency vehicles only.

We are working closely with Massachusetts and Rhode Island state officials as well as hospitals across the region to ensure patients have access to the care they need, the statement reads. We anticipate most emergency cases diverted away from Providence will go to Charlton Memorial, with trauma cases directed to the Level II Adult Trauma Center at St. Lukes Hospital.

Public Communications and Media Relations Manager Kaitlyn Johnson said throughout the construction, they anticipate seeing an increase in emergency patients brought to Southcoast Health hospitals by their local EMS partners.

We began to see a slight increase in patient volume yesterday although we have not confirmed if it is directly related to this incident, she said Wednesday. We will continue to monitor the situation, adjusting our staffing schedules accordingly to ensure we are prepared to care for all patients.

She said no procedures have been postponed and explained that a Level II trauma center is equipped to see any type of trauma patient, but is not required to conduct research or have surgical residency programs.

The Washington Bridge is located about 17 miles from Charlton Memorial in Fall River and 29 miles from St. Lukes Hospital in New Bedford.

St. Annes Hospital is also ready to respond to the need for additional assistance, according to Anne Ferreira, coordinator, Strategic Communications for the hospital.

We are always ready to accept patients who need us and provide them with safe patient care, she said. If a surge occurs, our hospitals emergency response plan ensures coordination between our hospital leaders, emergency department leadership, and Region 5 EMS that ensures appropriate coordination of patients across hospitals in our region.

Region 5 Emergency Medical Services encompasses the Southeast Region of Massachusetts including the SouthCoast and Cape Cod.

Ferreira said St. Anne's has not seen a significant increase in the number of emergency patients seeking treatment, but will adjust its operations as needed.

This is ordinarily a slightly busier time of year due to seasonal illnesses, but we have not seen a significant uptick in the number of emergency patients seeking care this week, she said Wednesday. We continue to monitor our volume so we can adjust as needed.

She said St. Annes serves a good number of East Bay, Rhode Island patients from Bristol, Warren and Barrington so its the nearest and quickest-to-reach community hospital for those communities.

Will emergency vehicles be allowed?

According to a Providence Journal story, officials announced Tuesday that they will keep a lane open for emergency vehicles. DOT Director Peter Alviti said RIDOT found "a portion of the old bridge structure we can use safely" that can act as a lane for emergency vehicles to pass through.

There will be checkpoints manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week to let those vehicles by.

Exterior shot of Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River.

Why was the Washington Bridge heading west closed?

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation announced that all the westbound lanes will be closed and traffic diverted to alternate routes after failing components from part of the original bridge built in 1968 were discovered.

There is now two-lane traffic on the eastbound side, after which permanent repairs will begin on the westbound side.

The repairs could take three months, or more.

What to know: You asked, we answered: Reader questions about the Washington Bridge

Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @kgallreporter. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Fall River, New Bedford hospitals ready to accept patients
A lawsuit was settled for $400,000 after a man was wrongly accused of driving under the influence in Colorado, federal officials said.

In January 2020, Harris Elias was driving home in Fort Collins after attending a dinner party at his girlfriends house, according to the lawsuit.

The father of three missed his turn and saw a car speeding up to him, the suit said.

Then Elias put on his left turning signal and made the lane change, officials said.

Loveland police officer William Gates pulled Elias over after suggesting he didnt signal his lane change, officials said.

Gates, who has won trophies from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for having the highest DUI arrest numbers also suggested he stopped Elias for driving 18 miles hour in a 45-mph zone, the document stated.

After Gates asked Elias about his night and how much hed had to drink, Elias decided to remain silent and not be interrogated, the document stated.

Gates then arrested Elias after saying he smelled the overwhelming odor of alcohol coming from his car, the lawsuit said.

After Elias refused further questioning and refused to be breathalyzed at the scene, he was arrested and taken to the Loveland Police station, officials said.

While at the station, Elias breath and blood tests came back negative for alcohol and drugs, the document said.

McClatchy News reached out to Gates attorneys for comment on Dec. 12 and was awaiting a response.

No amount of money will ever return me to the peaceful state of naivete to our broken system that I enjoyed before I was stopped by former Officer Gates that night and put through the nightmare of this wrongful arrest. Nothing will shake from my heart the horror and shock I felt after blowing zeroes and not being set free. All I can hope is that with this lawsuit, with Gates gone from the department, and with this settlement, I have saved at least one other person from having to experience what I did, Elias said in a news release.

In 2022, Elias sued Gates, Sgt. Antolina Hill and Chief Bob Ticer for purposefully performing DUI arrests regardless of the drivers innocence to get more bragging rights, more funding, more equipment and more trophies, the release said.

This is, as far as we can tell, the largest non-confidential monetary payment ever made in Colorado to settle a civil rights lawsuit where the primary allegation is a wrongful DUI arrest with no physical injuries or time spent in jail, Elias attorney Sarah Schielke said in the news release. While, like with most civil rights settlements, the City admits no wrongdoing, we feel the size of this particular settlement  and the fact that both the arresting officer William Gates and former Chief Ticer are no longer at LPD  are realities which speak volumes regarding accountability we were able to accomplish here.

Loveland is about 50 miles north of Denver.

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A Jacksonville family has filed a lawsuit against the Florida Department of Corrections after their attorney accused prison guards of the death of Timothy Thomas.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Thomas was an inmate who died in the Lake Butler Medical and Reception facility on Easter Sunday, 2018. Now, his family is expected to have his body exhumed for further investigation.

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However, providing those claims could be difficult. Action News Jaxs law and safety expert Dale Carson said the evidence that was once there is now gone after Thomas was buried.

The effort now is to determine the manner of death, Carson said.

Thomas died in prison and according to his familys attorney Robert Slama, it was due to the actions of corrections officers.

In a lawsuit filed in April 2022, Slama said Thomas was brutally beaten by guards during his transfer there to receive a medical procedure. While at breakfast, he was pulled out of line for the religious headwear he was wearing.

According to Slama, corrections officers beat Thomas and gassed him before he was eventually placed in a cell with another inmate. He died hours later.

Slama also said the medical examiner changed Thomas cause of death from homicide to an undetermined death, and state attorney Brian Kramer declined to pursue any charges against the Florida Department of Corrections guards.

Carson told Action News Jax that the cause of death could be determined within days.

If the manner of death indicates that he was injured, particularly by a department of correction personnel during the time he was in their care of custody.

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The family of Thomas is expected to hold a press conference on Tuesday.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Far-right Polish lawmaker Grzegorz Braun from Konfederacja party interacts with the media after using a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles at the parliament in Warsaw

Far-right Polish lawmaker Grzegorz Braun from Konfederacja party interacts with the media after using a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles at the parliament in Warsaw

By Anna Koper

WARSAW (Reuters) -A far-right Polish lawmaker used a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles in the country's parliament on Tuesday during an event with members of the Jewish community, provoking outrage and leading the speaker to exclude him from the sitting.

The disruption came ahead of a key vote on whether to approve newly appointed pro-EU prime minister Donald Tusk.

Footage posted on the website of private broadcaster TVN24 showed Grzegorz Braun of the Confederation party take the extinguisher before walking across the lobby of the parliament to where the candles were, creating a white cloud and forcing security guards to rush people out of the area.

Members of the Jewish community, including children, had gone to parliament at speaker Szymon Holownia's invitation for its annual Hanukkah celebrations.

The footage showed people in the vicinity covered in powder from the extinguisher.

Afterwards Braun took to the podium in the chamber where he described Hanukkah as "satanic" and said he was restoring "normality".

Asked just after the incident if he was ashamed, Braun replied: "Those who take part in acts of satanic worship should be ashamed."

Magdalena Gudzinska-Adamczyk was present at the scene and footage showed her challenging Braun as he extinguished the candles.

"I feel very short of breath and have trouble speaking," she told TVN24, her face covered in white powder. "I have stopped feeling safe in this country."

Holownia excluded Braun from the sitting of parliament and said he would inform prosecutors about his actions.

He later said that Braun would lose half of his salary for three months and all parliamentary expenses for six months.

"There will be no tolerance for racism, xenophobia, antisemitism ... as long as I am the speaker of parliament," Holownia told reporters.

Braun, who has previously caused a ruckus by approaching and shouting at lawmakers as they address parliament, left the chamber, shaking hands with other far-right lawmakers.

His Confederation party had been tipped to hold the balance of power after the Oct. 15 election after a campaign in which it focused mainly on economic issues and criticising the extent of Poland's aid to Ukraine. However, in the end it only won 18 seats, up from 11 in 2019.

The party said in a post on social media platform X that it condemned Braun's behaviour.

Poland's Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich told Reuters by telephone that Braun's actions were not representative of the country and that he was "embarrassed" by them.

"Someone extinguished the Hanukkah candles and a few minutes later we relit them," he said. "For thousands of years our enemies have been trying to extinguish us, from the time of the Maccabees right through to Hamas. But our enemies should learn, they cannot extinguish us."

Cardinal Grzegorz Rys of Poland's Catholic church said in a statement posted on social media platform X that he was ashamed of Braun's actions.

"(I) apologise to the entire Jewish community in Poland," he wrote.

(Reporting by Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz; Editing by Alison Williams and Mark Potter)
Feature: Turkish woman tells of fond memories of China and Chinese people

Xinhua) 09:22, December 12, 2023

ISTANBUL, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- "Friendly, cozy, warm, culturally rich, historically rich, that's what comes to mind when I think of China and Chinese people," said a Turkish woman in her 50s, as she enthusiastically showed off souvenirs she had bought in China to her colleagues in Istanbul.

Elif Pervane, director of corporate relations at the Turkish-Chinese Cultural Association, spoke wistfully of the colorful chopsticks, handbags, tea sets, Chinese storybooks, and jewelry and the memories behind them.

Pervane traveled to Beijing in July to attend classes at Beijing Language and Culture University for over a month to improve her Chinese. She had as much contact with the Chinese people as possible during her stay, made friends, and traveled a lot.

"What impressed me most was the kindness of the Chinese people, that warmth, touch, gratuitous benevolent feeling they have," said Pervane, showing two tea packets she received as gift from her newly established Chinese friend. "They act generously, without any thought of personal gain or expectation."

Before traveling to China, Pervane had many prejudices, many of which were based on false reports from some Western media. But after experiencing the culture, the daily life, and the people, she saw that all were baseless.

"I thought I would find a huge air pollution problem," Pervane pointed out. "I didn't notice any pollution. I always had my mask in my pocket to be on the safe side; I didn't use it even once, neither in the subway nor in the open air."

She also had read some articles that the Chinese are hostile to foreigners. "This is also a completely false perception," Pervane said, noting that she established perfect friendships with many Chinese people, and they are always in contact with each other through social media platforms.

"This intimacy touched me in today's world, where people are increasingly alienated from each other and become more and more lonely."

According to her, another false perception was about the food culture. "They told me that I would be hungry in China and that I should definitely take some canned food with me. That is not true. Chinese cuisine is very close to our cuisine. I ate all the Chinese delicacies comfortably," she said.

For Pervane, it is now a duty to expose such misconceptions and tell the truth to the people at home. "I have told my children not to take everything they read and hear as accurate. They should experience everything by themselves when they visit China."

During her stay there, Pervane visited other cities by high-speed train whenever she had time from her studies. She said the rail transport network was more than excellent in terms of quality and speed.

She also praised the cities for building beautiful ecological structures existing in harmony with nature.

"There was such a beautiful city structure that dates back thousands of years," Pervane spoke of Beijing in particular. "There are parks and lakes all over the city, creating spots to breathe."

After returning to Istanbul at the end of August, Pervane has already started looking for opportunities to visit China again and to tell more about the Turkish culture to her friends there, and experience more in China.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
FBI director Christopher Wray is in India this week for a trip aimed at strengthening security cooperation and deepening a partnership. But it comes in the wake of a major law enforcement issue between the two nations  one far more sinister and with the potential to cause cracks within that alliance.

Just two weeks ago, the United States accused an Indian government official of being involved in a conspiracy to kill an American citizen on its home soil.

The citizen in question is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist, who was allegedly the target of a murder-for-hire plot in New York City.

Pannun is a wanted man in India  considered by the government there as a terrorist and national security threat. But to some Sikhs overseas, Pannun is an outspoken activist and a man rallying for a cause that has come to unite large swaths of the communitys international diaspora.

Late last month, US federal prosecutors charged an Indian national on suspicion of trying to kill him, according to an explosive indictment, which alleged the hitman was acting upon orders from an unnamed Indian government official.

The stunning revelation came little more than a month after Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly alleged that India may have been involved in the murder of another Sikh separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, on its soil, prompting a furious response from New Delhi and provoking a diplomatic fallout between the two countries. India has vehemently denied involvement in Nijjars murder.

The US plot was foiled and the details in the indictment have yet to be heard in court.

But the episode has cast a dark shadow on New Delhis credibility, wrote Suhasini Haider, the diplomatic affairs editor at The Hindu newspaper, in one of her recent editorials.

And it has many asking: How badly had this hit New Delhis ties with Washington?

Taking matters seriously

Indias government has denied any involvement in the alleged plot to kill Pannun. But in contrast to the vocal condemnation it made after Canadas accusation, it has set up a high-level committee to investigate the accusations in the US indictment.

As regards the case against an individual that has been filed in a US court, allegedly linking him to an Indian official, this is a matter of concern, Indias foreign ministry said after the indictment was revealed.

The cause Pannun has been campaigning for is the creation of a separate Sikh homeland  one that would be known as Khalistan and include the state of Punjab in India.

Khalistan has long been outlawed in the worlds largest democracy, where painful memories of a deadly insurgency by some Sikh separatists continue to haunt many Indian citizens. But it garners a level of sympathy among some in the Sikh diaspora overseas, where protected by free speech laws, people like Pannun are able to openly advocate for secession from India.

The topic is highly charged. Four decades ago Indias former prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards after she sent army troops charging inside the religions holiest shrine to flush out separatists that had been harboring inside. That operation, known as Blue Star, destroyed much of the building and left hundreds dead.

The first photos of the damaged Akal Takhat after the army action named Operation Blue Star on the sikh Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, June 9, 1984. - Sondeep Shankar/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Riots broke out in the days after Gandhis murder, killing some 3,000 people  predominantly Sikhs  according to official figures, in one of the worst outbreaks of communal violence since Indias partition.

In the years since, those pursuing the Khalistan cause have formed a minority in Punjab given the governments banning of the movement  and linked extremism doesnt pose a significant threat to the country, analysts say.

But seeking reconciliation for what they view as human rights abuses committed against their community, several overseas Sikh organizations continue to advocate for Punjab secession and say the Khalistan movement is being falsely equated with terrorism by the Indian government.

Despite this, the governments response to campaigners overseas remains robust, particularly under current Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India went through a very difficult phase with the Khalistan movement in 1980s. It defined their national security, said Harsh Pant, vice-president of the Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhi think tank. Therefore, the Indian state tends to take a very serious view of these things.

No dent in relations

Pannun, the Sikh separatist wanted by the Indian government, was a close associate of Nijjar, who was also wanted by India for terrorism related offenses.

A fiery orator Pannun has repeatedly made comments that are perceived as secessionist and threatening toward India and its government.

He is wanted on more than a dozen terrorism charges in India and accused of trying to radlicalize his community in support of the creation of Khalistan  an independent Sikh homeland that would include parts of India. India has outlawed the US-based secessionist group, Sikhs for Justice, headed by Pannun, which holds referendums among diaspora groups in support of Khalistan.

In a widely circulated video last month, he warned Sikhs not to fly Air India on November 19, citing danger to their lives. Headlines reverberated across India in the days that followed claiming Pannun was threatening to blow up the aircraft.

Pannun told CNN he was not surprised by the indictment outlining the foiled plot to kill him.

The government of India has officially declared a reward on (my) head for running the global Khalistan Referendum campaign, he said, referring to votes the Sikh diaspora around the world have held on gathering support for a separate homeland.

Asked by CNN if we was a threat to India, as New Delhi claims, he replied: While my advocacy surely challenges Indias territorial integrity this challenge is through ballots and not bullets, hence the challenge I pose is not considered terrorism under UN and international laws.

On his remarks about Air India, he said comments in the Indian media were often misrepresented.

My video message is to boycott Air India not bomb, he said. This is a disinformation tactic of Indias Modi government to equate a non-violent call of boycott with terrorism.

Analysts say Pannuns inflammatory rhetoric  and the media hype that surrounds him in India  could provoke backlash from citizens and prompt a government response.

When you have someone making these statements regularly and Indian media broadcasting them, it takes the conversation beyond the confines of diplomacy, Pant said. Many Indians might ask why the US government is tolerating such behavior. The public perception of the danger may be much higher than the danger itself.

Pro-indepence Khalistan flags are seen at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple, site of the June 2023 killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada September 20, 2023. - Chris Helgren/Reuters

To some, the Indian governments alleged pursuit of an American citizen on its home soil might appear risky and put a dent in relations between two countries that have recently rapidly strengthened economic, technological and defense ties.

However, analysts say the chances of a major fallout are low as both are committed to countering the rise of a neighboring superpower that they view as a joint concern  China.

The common wisdom is that the US and India need each other for vital strategic purposes: above all, to mount an effective front in competition with China, said Daniel S. Markey, senior adviser, South Asia, for the United States Institute of Peace.

Therefore, they will manage this issue without being sidetracked from that mission. And, to date, the two sides have avoided acrimonious public statements, pledging to take the matter seriously.

And there is recent past precedent for this kind of pragmatic realpolitik.

The murder in Saudi Arabias Istanbul consulate of Jamal Khashoggi, a US resident and Washington Post columnist critical of the Saudi government, caused global outrage and US condemnation at the time. But ultimately the vital relationship between Washington and Riyadh has been stabilized.

In a statement on Monday announcing Wrays visit, Indias Central Bureau of Investigation  the equivalent to the FBI  said their meeting signified a step towards deepening cooperation and shared commitment to combat crime in all its manifestations in the spirit of international police cooperation.

The statement did not mention the US indictment.

Reputational cost

The measured US-India response, to some, might suggest Indias top-most officials werent privy to the alleged plot.

I find it very difficult to accept the logic that it goes all the way to the top, said Pant. Primarily, because I think the costs are too high And if you assume that this is a rogue element, then I think the question is who lost control?

The US indictment alleged that Nikhil Gupta, 52, worked with an unnamed Indian official to set up a meeting with an undercover officer he believed to be a hitman to target Pannun. The Indian official agreed to pay $100,000 to the undercover officer for the arranged murder, according to prosecutors.

But the hitman contacted by Gupta was in fact an undercover officer from the Drug Enforcement Agency, according to the DEA. Gupta was arrested in June of this year in the Czech Republic where he is pursuant to a bilateral extradition treaty.

In India at least, the incident has done little to damage the governments reputation.

Some hard-liners may actually take pride in this episode as a demonstration of Indian muscle and believe it is a necessary deterrent against other overseas critics of the Indian state, said Markey from USIP.

Pant said while there might be fringe support for the alleged attempt on Pannuns life, the government understands the complexities of the case.

Thats why youve seen that very swiftly, there has been a response to America and a committee has been constituted (to investigate), he added. Because I think the implications are quite serious.

However, if the alleged ties to the Indian government are proven, Markey said, the countrys professional intelligence officers will pay a reputational cost.

Indias diplomats, especially in Washington and Ottawa, will be left to clean up that mess, he said.

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Finland will temporarily reopen 2 border crossings with Russia

Finland will temporarily reopen two border crossings with Russia, the Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat reported on Dec. 12.

The Vaalimaa and Niirala border crossings will be reopened temporarily, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said. Otherwise, the eastern border will remain closed.

Read also: Estonia announces possibility of closing borders with Russia after increase in passenger traffic from Finland

The border crossings will remain open until Jan. 14, according to Interior Minister Mari Rantanen.

The government discussed restrictions on cross-border traffic during a general session on Dec. 12.

Read also:

Initially, it was considered that three border crossings  the Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, and Imatra  would resume operations on Dec. 14.

Finland announced the closure of four border crossings along the border with Russia on Nov. 6.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Mustve been something we said.

Are we the problem, Kev and Dev? Or is the problem soulless, power-hungry politicians like yourselves?

Special elections for a vacant House seat are somewhat rare in California. Only 23 have been held since 1980  keep in mind there were between 43 to 53 races every two years during that span  including nine that occurred after the person in office died.

So arent we the lucky ones?

Following Kevin McCarthys announcement that he will retire from Congress at years end, it means voters in his district wont have anyone representing them when the House reconvenes in January. And likely wont for six months.

Opinion

No one to legislate or cast votes on their behalf. No office where people can go for help with passports and Social Security, assistance in locating a federal loan or grant or arrange a Capitol visit. Nothing.

But for McCarthy constituents living in Clovis, parts of Fresno (mainly neighborhoods around Fresno State and east of the airport), southern Visalia, northern Tulare and all the unincorporated areas in between those squiggly boundary lines, this is becoming old hat.

Thats because we  yes, Im part of the fortunate group  also went six months without representation on Capitol Hill in early 2022 when Devin Nunes decided hed rather openly work for Donald Trump. Once he could no longer effectively do so in semi-secret.

Two straight congressmen who elected to bail out rather than serve the final year of their respective terms.

Two straight quitters.

In some ways, McCarthy and Nunes are analogous situations. In some ways, they arent. Regardless, the net effect upon hundreds of San Joaquin Valley residents is the same. For extended periods of time we are left without a voice. Some of us twice in two years.

It shows McCarthy and Nunes dont care much about the voters in their districts. Not as much as they care about the accumulation of power and influence that comes with being a congressional leader.

What other conclusion can possibly be drawn?

Just as soon as their power and influence dissipated, so too did their commitment to office.

Reasons for leaving

McCarthy, of course, lost his tenuous-but-prized speakership. While Nunes got redistricted and was no longer on speed dial to the White House.

After so many years successfully climbing the Republican totem pole in Washington, D.C., even 12 months as a low man was too much to bear.

Tells us all we need to know about their motivation, while also providing fuel to the general cynicism that pervades national politics and politicians.

When Nunes bailed to head up Trumps media venture, Connie Conway served out the final six months of his term following a special election in early June.

This time, because theres no redistricting to account for, the process shouldnt be as confusing for voters. Simply because the individual who wins the special election will also be, in all likelihood, the same person elected to a full term in November.

COMPARING TWO DISTRICTS

Its up to California Gov. Gavin Newsom to establish that timeline. Which he will assuredly do once McCarthy officially resigns. McCarthy cant wait too long since no special election is required  and the choice becomes Newsoms  if it happens in 2024.

McCarthys announcement set off a flurry of speculation over potential successors. The only given is that it will be a Republican  registered GOP voters outnumber Democrats by nearly 20% in CD 20  and more than likely one from Kern County.

Kern-heavy district

Why Kern County? Because it accounts for 51.1% of the districts voters, according to the California Secretary of States latest figures. Fresno County voters comprise 27.7% of the electorate, followed by Tulare Countys 14.5% and Kings Countys 6.7%.

Those numbers explain why Assemblyman Vince Fong became the frontrunner once state Senator Shannon Grove, the GOP leader in the upper house, announced Sunday she wouldnt seek election to Congress. (Fong initially said he wasnt running, either, then changed his mind over the weekend.) The data also give ample pause to Fresno-area Republicans, even the ambitious ones such as Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig.

Fresno-area Republicans, in fact, got a pretty raw deal in the last round of redistricting. In the regions two red congressional districts theyre outnumbered by their Kern County counterparts in CD 20 and by Stanislaus County in CD 5, currently Congressman Tom McClintocks turf.

Meanwhile, the only Fresno-centric congressional district (CD 21, where Democrats hold a 16.6% registration edge) is so blue that Republicans dont have much chance there, either.

In fact, based on that districts boundaries and voter data, its arguable Congressman Jim Costa would face equally as stiff competition from a liberal Democrat as any local Republican in a re-election campaign. The sole exception would be Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, if he gets a taste for national politics.

Speaking of big names, its possible Nunes returns. He certainly has the name recognition and campaign war chest to win any local race. However, that seems unlikely. Even if Trump returns to the Oval Office, Nunes is probably of more use to his master in his current capacity than as a House back-bencher.

Of course, thats mostly speculation. The only thing certain is the last two Republican congressmen for Fresno, Clovis and a wide swath of the Valley would rather quit than serve. Arent we the lucky ones?
Laurence Olivier is renowned as the archetypal Shakespearean actor of his day - Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

Laurence Oliviers first review has been revealed, and the verdict was decidedly mixed, concluding the actor was too robust.

The giant of the British stage would come to be regarded as among the foremost actors of his generation, but his interpretation of Shakespeare when just 16 years old was not entirely well regarded.

The first review penned in 1923 by his teacher Robert Mortimer, later the Bishop of Exeter, came after he saw the young actor perform as Puck in A Midsummers Night Dream.

The review, unearthed in the archives of St Edwards School in Oxford, where Olivier was educated, states: To my mind he was a little too robust and jovial for such a quick-footed, light-fingered person.

However, according to The Times, the teacher added: But at any rate he gave a consistent rendering, and showed by his gestures and movements that he has a knowledge of acting and a good mastery of technique.

Second review more positive

St Edwards School has also unearthed the second-earliest review of Oliviers stage work, penned by one Reverend GC Richards, which revealed that the young performer was capable of rapid improvement.

This review is much more positive, noting: A word must be said about Oliviers rendering of Puck. It was so distinctly original, that it set the audience thinking.

Probably more than one went away saying, That was not at all my idea of Puck.

But was it not Shakespeares idea? That is a very tenable view. Anyhow we look forward to seeing Olivier play Touchstone, or Falstaff, or Mercutio with pleasure and anticipation.

Olivier would go on to join the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama before working with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, then going onto the West End where he would become renowned as the archetypal Shakespearean actor of his day.

He also starred in more than 50 films, including a famed version of Henry V made with the support of Winston Churchill in 1944, and a 1948 version of Hamlet. He was made a life peer in 1970.

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Compiled by California Outdoors Hall of Fame member Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, who guides in the greater Fresno area and holds the striper record at Millerton Lake.





Photo gallery

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Best bets

Delta striper and sturgeon action outstanding, Alan Fong reported. Don Pedro trout fishing excellent, Monte Smith said. McClure catfish and crappie are top bites, Dave Hurley reported. New Melones trout on the hunt, John Liechty said. Millerton bass improved, and Pine Flat trout hitting, Michael Crayne reported.

Valley

Westside waterways

Striper 2 Catfish 2

The Striperz Gone Wilds 4th Annual SGW Toy Drive Tournament on Saturday was a huge success with 146 anglers donating a total of 377 unwrapped toys for needy youth within Merced County. The event had a target length of 26  inches, and Earnest Chism and Richard Moua brought in fish at 26 14 inches with Chism ending up in first with the tiebreaker being weight. A total of 21 fish were caught, mostly on anchovies although some were caught on glide baits and swim baits at San Luis Reservoir. The winning fish was caught at the packed bridge on Volta Road with anchovies in front of the headquarters. Bill Sterling of Striperz Gone Wild added, The bite was tough, and the temp at 7 a.m. was 37 degrees. Overall, a great day, and fun was had by all.

Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill said, The aqueduct has picked up to some degree for stripers on anchovies. In the south aqueduct in Kern County, Copes Tackle and Rod in Bakersfield reported many anglers have thrown in the towel for the winter, but there are still quality striped bass to be caught. Live bait has been the best option, and anglers who know how to legally net shad, silverside minnows, or sculpin are finding excellent results. Cut baits, live worms, and jumbo live minnows have also been good bait choices. Jerk baits, tube baits, or small swimbaits are finding a decent striper bite on the back side of the check gates. Chicken liver, dip bait, or garlic nightcrawlers are best for catfish while bass fishermen are scoring a few fish with either Senkos or other finesse baits in any place with slower moving water.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis (559) 292-3474; Copes Tackle and Rod, Bakersfield, (661) 679-6351; Bobs Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657.

Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake

Bass 2 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2

Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported, With the recent trout plant, Eastman has been kicking out a few quality largemouth bass on swimbaits such as Huddlestons, Megabass Mag Drafts, or glide baits, but the majority of bass are small. The larger fish are stacked up in deep water around 30 feet. Plastics on the drop-shot or shakey head along with jigs are working for numbers of bass. Crappie anglers have been focusing to the left of the launch ramp on kayaks. Hensley remains slow for bass while catfish remains the best bet with chicken livers, cut baits, or stink baits. Eastman held at feet to 550.07 feet in elevation and 61% with Hensley rising less than a foot to 467.92 feet in elevation and 14%.

Call: Eastman Lake (559) 689-3255; Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis (559) 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle (559) 515-6273. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam (559) 673-5151.

Lake Don Pedro

Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 2

Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing said, The fishing at Don Pedro this week was outstanding as we started catching fish right away. The lake has turned over. We ran lead core rods along with side planer, and downriggers. Everything got hit, but the best set up was the lead core running my custom spoons. We fished a lot of water, but everywhere we went we caught fish, having many doubles throughout the day. At times, we had nonstop action close to shoreline and in the backs of coves. The water temperature was about 56 degrees on the surface. Theres fish hanging around the ramp at Fleming Meadows in good numbers, and some of them are even big fish too. My client had a blast catching and releasing 25 rainbows, keeping his five-fish limit. The biggest fish of the day was the last fish that we let go was at least 3.5 pounds. Bass action continues to be slow overall, but there are signs of an improved finesse bite as the fish are holding around the shad schools at depths from 35 to 45 feet. The recent trout plants should bring out the swimbait and glide bait bite. The lake held at 796.25 feet in elevation and 80%. Updates on the launch ramp are available at https://www.donpedrolake.com/. Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Kyle Wise, Head Hunter Guide Service (209) 531-3966; Ryan Cook, Ryan Cooks Fishing (559) 691-7008.

Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area

Bass 2 Trout 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3

The lake dropped less than a half-foot to 2,564.78 feet in elevation and 35% as the releases have remained steady at 686 cfs at First Point. Copes Tackle and Rod reported bass action has been fair as there are fish found shallow near rocky points and as deep in 55 to 75 feet. The shallow water fish are going for crankbaits, underspins, or plastics while the deep fish are taken on wither spoons or ice jigs. The fish that are down deep are going for spoons and ice jigs. Crappie are still showing, but most of them have been found around structure in 20 to 30 feet of water. Some larger slabs are being caught in 40-plus feet of water with minnows or minijigs. The catfish bite remains decent with chicken liver, dip baits, or cut baits. Trout can be caught with garlic scented baits, spinners, Berkley Mice Tails, or nightcrawlers while trollers are scoring with shad-patterned spoons such as Needlefish, Tasmanian Devils, or Flicker Shad on lead core line near the dam. In the 20-Mile stretch of the upper Kern River, the easy access points are producing planted rainbows with salmon eggs, trout worms, Hook up Baits, or spinners. Wild trout continue to make a showing for fly anglers in the Upper Section with nymphs. Last week, the Upper Kern was stocked in the following sections: Section 4, Powerhouse #3 to Riverside Park in Kernville; Section 5, Fairview Dam to Lazy River Lodge; and Section 6, Fairview Dam to Johnsondale Bridge. The Lower Kern, the largemouth and smallmouth bass bite is fair with the cooler water temperatures. Plastics fished in the slower current and eddies are fooling a few smallmouths. The Kern River at Kernville held at 464 cfs.

Call: Copes Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; Bobs Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657; North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812; Golden Trout Pack Station (559) 542-2816.

Lake Kaweah

Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2

The lake dropped 13 feet to 599.53 feet in elevation and 9%. Copes Tackle and Rod in Bakersfield reported plastics on the drop-shot, shaky heads, or Ned rig along with jigs in 15 to 30 feet of water are producing from two to five fish working submerged rock piles, underwater humps, or ledges. Catfish anglers are scoring with cut mackerel, sardines, or dip baits for a few fish, and crappie action is best with small live minnows in 15 to 40 feet of water around submerged brush or wood. The flows in the Kaweah River are steady at 123 cfs.

Lake Success

Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2

The lake rose 21/2 feet this week to 599.53 feet in elevation and 14%. Copes Tackle and Rod in Bakersfield reported fair bass action as the fish are holding deep. Spider jigs, finesse baits, or spoons along with 4-inch Roboworms in Oxblood or Aarons Magic on the drop-shot, Ned rig, or Texas-rig are working best Anglers also used their electronics to locate small schools of bass as deep as 50 feet. Dropping blade baits, tail spinners, or Krocodiles are also working. Catfish picked up cut baits or chicken liver in deeper water, and crappie were reported near the marina by kayak anglers using small swimbaits or minijigs.

Call: Copes Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; Sequoia Fishing Co. (559) 539-5626, sequoiafishingcompany.com.

McClure Reservoir

Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 3 Catfish 3

There are several tournaments during the month of January, and the hope is the bass bite will improve as they are still suspending around around main lake points or creek channels at depths from 20 to 60 feet, and shad-patterned spoons are working best along with small shad-patterned swimbaits on an underspin or drop-shot. Finding the grebes working the bait balls is a key to finding the bass. 2500 pounds of rainbow trout was planted at Barretts Cove South this week, and the planters should spur on the swimbait bite for bass fishermen along with the shoreline action for trout anglers. Crappie continue to school up in the in the submerged trees in coves with minijigs. Catfishing remains solid at night along sloping banks with chicken livers, nightcrawlers, or cut baits. The lake dropped slightly to 806.64 feet in elevation and 64 percent.

Call: Ryan Cook, Ryan Cooks Guide Service (559) 691-7008.

McSwain Reservoir

Trout 2

Some 2,500 pounds of planted rainbow trout were released into the lake this week, and the action from the normal locations of the Brush Pile, the Handicapped Docks, or the peninsula near the marina has picked up with Power Bait, nightcrawlers, or spoons as expected. Holdover rainbows can be found in the river arm near the Second Fence Line with Wedding Rings or spinners.

Anglers Edge Market (209) 226-4416; McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534.

Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River

Bass 3 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 2 Crappie 2

Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, The bass bite has been solid with fish to 4 pounds reported. The spotted bass are hitting plastics on a Ned-rig, Neko-rig, or drop-shot on a finesse presentation along with deep-diving jerkbaits or crankbaits. The lake rose 7.5 feet to 493.87 feet in elevation and 38 percent. Sycamore Island is currently closed for a winter break. The park will reopen Jan. 12. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant rose from 202 to 383 cfs.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun (559) 292-3474; Fresno Bait and Tackle (559) 515-6273.

New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch

Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 1

John Liechty of Xperience Bass Fishing Guide Service took first place during Saturdays American Bass Tournament, and he said, My partner, Rob Betsch and I weighed in 11.49 pounds with a big fish at 2.70, but this was a few pounds shy of what I thought would be the winning weight. I was anticipating a few fish in the 3- to 4-pound range, but the big fish have been very shy. There have been some larger fish landed recently as my client picked up a 4.5-pound bass along with some largemouth bass to 5 pounds. We started off with swimbaits, but the spots are difficult to hook on a swimbait as I think they try and stun the bait before turning it around to come in headfirst. Most of the bass are found at depths from 35 to 45 feet as it has been cold in the mornings. There are some fish coming into as the shallows during the afternoon hours as the day warms up. The best action has been with a finesse presentation of plastics on the drop-shot or wacky-rig with a heavy nail weight. Trout trolling continues to be outstanding with shad-patterned spoons around the shad schools, and there are rainbows moving into the shorelines as the lake turns over.

Call: John Liechty, Xperience Fishing Guide Service (209) 743-9932; Ryan Cook, Ryan Cooks Guide Service (559) 691-7008; Kyle Wise, Headhunter Guide Service (209) 531-3966; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734.

Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River

Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 0 King salmon 0 Catfish 2 Crappie 2

Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, The bass bite continues to be slow as most interest has been for trout for trollers pulling shad-patterned Needlefish or Kastmasters at depths from 20 to 40 feet in the main creek and river channels from the Power Lines to Windy Gap. In the early mornings, the rainbows are closer to the surface around 20 feet. There have been few reports of crappie. The flows on the lower Kings at Trimmer are excellent at 408 cfs, and trout action remains solid with spinners, Atomic Tubes, Power Bait, or nightcrawlers below the dam. The lake rose just over one fee to 869.06 feet in elevation and 5 percent.

Call: Valley Rod & Gun (559) 292-3474; 559, Fresno Bait and Tackle (559)515-6273. Sequoia Fishing Co. (559) 539-5626.

San Luis Reservoir and ONeill Forebay

Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2

Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill said, The big lake continues to produce schoolie stripers with minnows on a Carolina-rig or blood worms. Boaters are trolling broken-back Rebels, P-Lines Predator Minnows, or Lucky Crafts, but the topwater bite has been slow. We are still selling Berkley Choppos or Evergreens Shower Blows, but the topwater bite hasnt been crazy.

Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that the troll bite has been going from slow to fair at times. Im finding that the bite windows are not that long and that the fish are not that active so far. I guided William Jacobs and Cody Roberts of Fresno on Saturday- and we released 10 fish to 22 in 4 hours trolling Rapalas and Lucky Craft lures in minnow colors at 40-60 in Portuguese Cove. I had to use all my best stuff to get the fish, and everyone we talked to was only getting a few small fish at best. The forecast rain for next week may be just what we need to break this slow bite cycle.

The action in the ONeill Forebay has been strong for stripers from 24- to 26-inches using 7-inch glide baits, or paddletail swimbaits. Both largemouth and striped bass are found in and around the grass. Michael Crayne of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis confirmed the solid forebay action with white flukes, 4-to 5-inch swimbaits, or walking baits. He said, Bank anglers are limited to jerkbaits, but boaters are able to use an array of different lures. The main lake dropped to 57%.

To check the wind conditions on the lake - use windfinder.com/forecast/san_luis_reservoir.

To check the wind conditions on the lake - use windfinder.com/forecast/san_luis_reservoir.

Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711, Roger George, rogergeorgeguideservice.com (559) 905-2954.

High Sierra

Bass Lake

Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0

Bass Lake has been quiet, but the recent trout plant should bring out some larger spotted and largemouth bass to be vulnerable to trout-patterned swimbaits. A few planted rainbows are taken off of the banks at the Sheriffs Tower, but the best trout action is by trollers pulling spoons, spinners, or Wedding Rings from the surface to 20 feet. A webcam of the launch ramp is available at https://basslakeca.com/. Call: Mike Beighey, Bass Lake Fishing (559) 676-8133.

Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool

The gate to Kaiser Pass Road closed on November 15. The Kaiser Pass lakes are starting to release water with fewer anglers heading over the pass to fish the small impoundments. Edison held at 30 with Florence at 25%. Mammoth Pool is at 57%.

Road conditions (559) 297-0706.

Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake (559) 259-4000.

Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake

Trout 2 Kokanee 2

Dick Nichols of Dicks Fishing Charters and Tackle said, With few reports coming in on Shaver Lake fishing, I joined Dave McGlothlin of Clovis for a weekday fishing trip. Fishing at 25-foot deep, we found a good bite of yearling trout and kokanee from the island to Stevenson Bay.

The best and most consistent action was in front of the Fishermans Club to the south fork of Stevenson Creek. With consistent action at 25 feet deep, we caught and released nearly 3 limits of mostly kokanee from 11 to 14 inches and yearling rainbows to 16 inches. The mid-morning was best with calm water and beautiful weather. The hot color was purple or blue/silver. Fishing with Dicks Mountain Candy, Mountain Tubes, Mountain Koke Busters, or Mountain Hoochies behind Dicks Mountain Dodgers in Doc Barb, Captain J and Sunrise picked up all the fish. An added attraction as we approached the Sierra Marina dock was shore fishermen were catching large trout that had been planted that morning by DF&W. The plant was approximately 500 brooder trout of good size. You can expect the brooders to move out to the dam area quickly. On Sunday, brothers, Rick and Rob Scheidt of Clovis, played with the freshly planted brooders before heading back to Stevenson Bay to pick up eight kokanee using Dicks Mountain Koke Busters in purple behind Dicks Mountain Dodgers at 25 feet. The Shaver Marina is closed, but the Sierra Marina launch ramp is open. A webcam of the Shaver launch ramp is at sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html and for Huntington at http://www.shaverlakewebcams.info/huntington.html. Huntington remains very slow for both rainbow trout and kokanee. Shaver has dropped to 74 with Huntington dropping to 52%.

Call: Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service (559)288-8100, Jerad Romero, Jrods Guide Service (559) 392-6994, Tom Oliveira, Tom Oliveira Fishing (559) 802-8072.

Wishon/Courtright

Trout 0

The gate to McKinley Grove Road closed on Dec. 1, limiting access to the high elevation lakes. The road is anticipated to be reopened in April 2024. Call: Wishon RV Park (559) 865-5361.

Ocean

Half Moon Bay

Rockfish 3 Striper 2 Halibut 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3 crabs 3

Out of Half Moon Bay, Captain Michael Cabanas of the New Captain Pete continues to run crab-only trips, and they are limiting out on every trip. Cabanas said, Crabbing continues to be as easy as it can get. We had another day of quick 10 Dungeness limits for 18 anglers and crew. The New Captain Pete is under new ownership as Captain Melynda Dodds of California Guide Service has obtained the vessel, but Cabanas will continue to run the boat during crab season on crab-only trips. Rockfishing is limited due to the necessary to travel at least 20 miles to find structure deeper than 50 fathoms. Snares continue to work from the Pacifica Pier and the beaches along the San Mateo and San Francisco County coastline, but the pier is extremely crowded, particularly on the weekends.

Call: Captain Michael Cabanas, New Captain Pete (510) 677-7054; Captain Chris Chang, Ankeny Street (650) 279-8819; Captain Bill Smith, Riptide (650) 728-8433; Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, Queen of Hearts (510) 581-2628.

Monterey/Santa Cruz

Rockfish 3 Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3 crabs 3

For Dungeness crab, currently only hoops or snares are allowed in Zone 4 from Point Arena on the Sonoma/Mendocino County line to Point Lopez south of Monterey.

From the beaches, the surf perch are getting larger from 10 to 16 inches with motor oil/ red flake grubs from Honey Badger, Sierra Slammers, or Lucky 13. Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait in Morgan Hill said, The Mekeni Baitz Carlos Perch Candy which is motor oil/copper flake has been particularly effective lately.

Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting Guide Service said, The 20th Annual Sand Crab Classic Perch Derby will open for online entries during the first week of January. March 9 is the Derby date. Anglers can surf cast anywhere they choose but must be present prior to 1 p.m. for weigh-in at the Santa Cruz Portuguese Hall, where the festivities take place. Started in 2003 by Captain Mike Baxter and myself of The Lets Go Fishing Radio Show, the wintertime derby was conceived as something to do when theres nothing to do, according to Baxter. All proceed from the Sand Crab Classic are donated to the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project, a 501C3 volunteer organization that continues hatchery and advocacy operations supporting native runs of steelhead and salmon on the Central Coast. The Derby features a great number of raffle and silent auction items, BBQ lunch plus trophies and prizes for winning entries in both Barred Surf Perch and Sea Perch categories. Ultimately, the Sand Crab Classic is an enjoyable day of fishing with family and friends, and extremely popular. The online registration has been filling up within 24 hours so interested anglers need to pay attention to https://sandcrabclassic.com/.

Rockfish trips have been dependent upon interest as whale watching has been extremely popular with the number of humpback whales in Monterey Bay. Limits of rockfish and a healthy lingcod count remains the rule out of Chriss Fishing and Whale Watching in Monterey fishing deep water either in the canyon or south at Point Sur.

Call: Chris Landing (831) 375-5951; Allen Bushnell, Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting (831) 251-9732.

Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay

Halibut 2 Striper 3 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2 Crab 3

Great weather over the weekend has led to tremendous rockfish and Dungeness crab action. The California Dawn II out of Berkeley Marina returned with 27 limits of Dungeness and rockfish on Monday after the CD1 and CDII combined for 101 limits of crab and rockfish on Saturday and Sunday. The Happy Hooker out of Berkeley has also been posting limits of both while the Salty Lady out of Sausalito opted for a crab-only during the week when the weather was uncooperative for the long run to water deeper than 50 fathoms. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public review of a proposed 20-fathom Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) boundary line. The proposed line will allow commercial and recreational groundfish fishing in shallow waters, providing access to most nearshore rockfish while also minimizing catch and release of quillback rockfish, which may not be retained in California as of 2023.The Draft Groundfish Management Boundaries web page provides access to a zoomable map with the proposed 20-fathom RCA boundary line, and instructions on how to provide comments. The comment period is open until 11:59 p.m. Saturday Dec. 23, 2023. This will allow kayakers access to the shallow water grounds which have been closed since Sept. 1.

The temporary crab trap restriction from the Sonoma/Mendocino County line to Lopez Point, Monterey County, (Fishing Zones 3 and 4) is continuing until lifted by the CDFW Director due to the presence of humpback whales in the area and the potential for entanglement from recreational crab trap gear. Recreational crabbers may still take Dungeness crab by other methods including by hand, hoop nets, and crab snares statewide during the temporary crab trap restriction. Accompanying the trap restrictions, a Fleet Advisory for the recreational crab fisheries has been issued statewide. Avoid setting gear in areas where whales are present, and follow the best practices for crabbing described in the Best Practices Guide.

Recreational crabbers using crab traps in Fishing Zones 1, 2, 5, and 6 must have a Recreational Crab Trap Validation. Validations are required even when under the age of 16, and when fishing from shore, pier, or other manmade structures. Validations are also required for passengers on party boats using crab traps to harvest crab. The northern California commercial Dungeness crab season remains delayed statewide due to high numbers of humpback whales and a recent confirmed entanglement of a leatherback sea turtle. CDFW anticipates the next risk assessment will take place on or around Dec. 21. That risk assessment is expected to inform a potential commercial fishery opener and further modifications of the recreational trap restriction. At the present time, party and private boaters have unfettered access to the crab grounds.

There is less than a month before the rockfish season closes on Dec. 31, and crab-only trips will slow to a crawl when the Dungeness start clutching by February. If you want to have some fresh crab now, you must go out on a private or party boat until the opening of the commercial season. Striped bass continue to hold out in the bay, and limits of striped bass have been commonplace. The annual central bay sturgeon closure will start on Jan. 1 through March 15. During this time period, white sturgeon may not be taken in the following described area between Jan. 1 and March 15.

That portion of San Francisco Bay included within the following boundaries: A direct line between Pt. Chauncy (National Marine Fisheries Laboratory) and Pt. Richmond, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and a direct line between Pt. Lobos and Pt. Bonita.

Call: Captain Ron Koyasako, Nautilus Excursions (916) 704-4169; Captain Jerad Davis, Salty Lady (415) 760-9362; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hookd Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388.

San Luis Obispo

Rockfish 3 Surf perch 3

The boat-based nearshore rockfish season above Point Conception ended on September 1, forcing boats out of Morro Bay to either fish nearshore below Point Conception or deep water of 50 fathoms or more. Rockfishing continues to be the only game in town for the boats out of Morro Bay and Point San Luis at Avila Beach. Limits to near-limits of rockfish are the rule, and the best action occurs on the longer trips further from the harbors. Patriot Sport Fishing at Port San Luis will offer Dungeness crab/rockfish combination trips on occasion. Webcams of many of the coastal locations are available at https://805webcams.com/. The rockfish season in this section of coast is open seaward of 50 fathoms through Dec. 31 in both the Central Management Area above Point Conception and in the Southern Management Area below Point Conception.

Call: Virgs Landing (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing (805) 595-4100; Morro Bay Landing.

Others

Delta/Stockton

Bass 2 Striper 3 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 2

The striped bass and sturgeon bite remain outstanding in the California Delta, and the numbers of both species have been impressive for experienced anglers. The best action for both striped bass and sturgeon remains from Rio Vista downstream toward the Carquinez Bridge. Sturgeon action has been lights out with as many as 20 fish brought to the boat on cured salmon roe. With the current slot-limit from 42 to 48 inches, fewer fish are being kept, but there are several undersized and oversized sturgeon. The regulations for the remainder of 2023 limit anglers to one sturgeon tag, and if you have already tagged out a legal sturgeon in 2023, you are only able to catch-and-release. Captain Steve Mitchell of Hookd Up Sport Fishing out of Pittsburg continues to find tremendous action near the Pittsburg PGE Plant, but there are fish spread out from Pittsburg to Benicia in several locations. Sturgeon should be migrating toward San Pablo Bay as the herring spawns are expected to start by early January, but this has been occurring less and less over the past few years.

Alan Fong of Alan Fong Outdoors continues to find outstanding action for striped bass around Collinsville with 1 3/4-ounce Blade Runner Duh! Spoons or on 5-inch pearl white swimbaits on the new Blade Runner -ounce Striper Special jighead. Fong has been averaging around 50 fish per day with the better grade of striper on swimbaits in the shallows. Spooning is producing stripers from 10 inches to 8 pounds. He added, The crappie bite is turning on in the north Delta around Snodgrass Slough or Liberty Island, but they should also be in the Mokelumne River at either Hog or Sycamore Slough.

Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo Sport Fishing continues to drift live mudsuckers or bluegill for limits of quality stripers. He said, The best action has been further downstream from Broad Slough toward the Benicia/Martinez Bridge, and there are so many fish in the system right now. However, it is a matter of finding the right tide when the fish are willing to bite. Soo Hoo also went sturgeon fishing out of Pittsburg on Sunday, and they caught and released 11 diamondbacks including his son Darrens personal best at over 7 feet. He said, It took Darren 45 minutes to get it to the boat for release, and after almost getting spooled, we released anchor and chased it down.

Bass fishing has been good for numbers but finding largemouth bass of any size has been a challenge. The water temperature is dropping from 50 to 55 degrees, and the bass are starting to get lethargic. Jerkbaits, plastics on the drop-shot or chatterbaits are working at depths from 4 to 8 feet for numbers of small fish. The south Delta remains stained, but the water clarity is improving with the lack of rain; however, there are a lot of floating hyacinth in the south Delta.

Call: Randy Pringle (209) 543-6260; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hookd Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Vince Borges, Vince Borges Outdoors (209) 918-0828.

Events:





Dec. 16

Manteca Moose Lodge  fundraiser dinner and silent auction for the San Joaquin BassMasters  dinner $15 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Jan. 18-21  International Sportsmans Exposition  Cal Expo/Sacramento  information: www:sportsexpos.com.

Tournament results

Dec. 9

New Melones  American Bass Association

1st  John Liechty/Robert Betsch  11.49 (Big Fish  2.70); 2nd  Dean Korbeliek/Hayden Lee  11.00; 3rd  Alex Niapas  10.87.

California Aqueduct/Volta Road  Striperz Gone Wild Holiday Tournament Adult Division (Target Length 26  inches, tiebreaker weight)

1st - Earnest Chism 26  inches; 2nd  Richard Moua- 26  inches; 3rd Victor Bullock. 25 3/4 inches.

California Aqueduct/Volta Road  Striperz Gone Wild Holiday Tournament Youth Division (Target Length 26  inches, tiebreaker weight)

1st  Nasiah - 23 inches; 2nd  Jay Jay Lewis  20.20 inches.

Upcoming tournaments

Dec. 16

Delta/Holland Riverside Marina  Crappie Closet Christmas Shootout Crappie tournament

Pine Flat  Sierra Bass Club

Dec. 17

McClure  Fresno Bass Club

Eastman  Sierra Bass Club

Dec. 30

Pine Flat  Fresno Hmong New Year Tournament, information: Kong Moua (559) 470-3332.

Jan. 1

Pine Flat  Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments

Nacimiento  American Bass Association/805 Bass Addicts

Jan. 6

New Melones  Sonora Bass Anglers

McClure  17/90 Bass Club

Millerton  Kerman Bass Club

Jan. 7

Delta/Ladds Marina  American Bass Association

Millerton  Bass 101

Jan. 13

McClure  Christian Bass League

Nacimiento  Golden Empire Bass Club

Jan. 14

Don Pedro  Riverbank Bass Anglers

Jan. 20

New Melones  Contra Costa Bass Club

McClure  Sierra Bass Club/Tri-Valley Bass Masters

Jan. 21

Millerton  Fresno Bass Club

Pine Flat  Kings River Bass Club

Jan. 27

McClure  Best Bass Tournaments

Millerton  Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments

Nacimiento  Best Bass Tournaments

Jan. 28

Millerton  California Bass Federation

For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
Five men, aged between 69 and 90, have been arrested and charged in connection with historical abuse at Edinburgh Academy.

The men are alleged to have abused young people at the school over a 24-year period between 1968 and 1992.

A sixth man, aged 74, has also been reported to the procurator fiscal.

Nearly 50 witnesses gave evidence about abuse at the school to the Scottish Child Abuse inquiry, including television presenter Nicky Campbell.

As many as 20 staff were accused of abusing pupils at the fee-paying school.

Police Scotland subsequently opened a probe into the allegations.

Nicky Campbell gave evidence to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry

An investigation by the BBC's Panorama programme later found alleged records of abuse in the 1970s were not retained.

A spokesperson for the school said it was "appalled" by historical incidents of abuse.

"It wouldn't be appropriate for us to comment on any individual cases while there are active legal proceedings," said the spokesperson.

"However, we can say that we deeply regret what happened at the Academy in the past.

"This was examined in detail at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, which we have fully supported, and we applaud the bravery of those who came forward to tell their stories.

"We will continue to respect the ongoing legal process and would encourage anyone who has been the victim of abuse to contact Police Scotland."

'Complex and challenging'

Det Insp Colin Moffat thanked everyone who had come forward to help the police inquiries.

"While the investigation of child abuse, particularly non-recent offences, can be complex and challenging, anyone who reports this type of crime can be assured that we will listen and we will investigate all reports," he said.

Nicky Campbell alleged he was abused at the academy by a maths teacher, Iain Wares, who also taught at Fettes College.

The 84-year-old now lives in South Africa, but has appealed against his extradition to the UK, where he faces more than 80 abuse charges.

He is due to stand trial for indecent assault in Cape Town in February 2024.
A judge formally dismissed a charge against former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) related to the Flint water crisis, formally closing the case against him.

Judge William Crawford dismissed a charge Monday of willful neglect of duty against Snyder after a 2014 water supply switch led to lead contamination in the city of Flints water supply.

The dismissal is not a surprise, since the Michigan Supreme Court in October declined to revive the case against Snyder. At that time, prosecutors declared the Flint water prosecutions closed.

The states high court had previously taken issue with the indictment process for Snyder and other officials, finding that a one-man grand jury was wrongly used.

The dismissal does not affect civil proceedings; Flint residents were awarded a more than $600 million in a settlement finalized earlier this year.

Flints drinking water was contaminated after the source of its water supply was shifted to the Flint River in 2014. The water wasnt adequately treated, and this caused lead from pipes to leach into the citys drinking water.

This exposed about 99,000 residents to lead, which can damage the brain and nervous system and is particularly harmful to children.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
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The China-constructed Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line project in Hanoi, Vietnam, November 6, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) as well as the two countries have found a promising path of jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind, Chinese President Xi Jinping said.

Xi made the remarks in a signed article published by the Nhan Dan Newspaper of Vietnam on Tuesday prior to his visit to the country, titled "Building a China-Vietnam Community with a Shared Future That Carries Strategic Significance And Writing Together a New Chapter in Our Modernization Drive."

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, Xi noted. "No matter how the global environment has changed, our two parties and countries have worked together to uphold peace and tranquility, pursue development and cooperation, and promote prosperity and progress. We have found a promising path of jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind," he said.

The two countries have conducted exchanges with mutual trust. Leaders of the two parties and countries have visited each other frequently like relatives, Xi said.

The two countries have enhanced their common interests with mutually beneficial cooperation. China has long been Vietnam's largest trading partner, and Vietnam is China's biggest trading partner in ASEAN and the fourth largest globally, he said.

The two countries have brought their two peoples closer together through friendly exchanges. Travels between the two countries quickly rebounded this year. From January to October, Chinese tourists made more than 1.3 million visits to Vietnam, he said.

The two countries have always treated each other with sincerity. As two vocal advocates of multilateralism, both China and Vietnam value the importance of dialogue, consultation, and peaceful cooperation, and firmly uphold the basic norms of international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, the Chinese president noted.

"We support each other on issues involving our respective core interests and major concerns, and maintain close coordination in regional and international cooperation mechanisms," he said.

"Vietnam is an important player in the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative (GDI). It supports the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), and supports China's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership," Xi said.
A series of proposals aimed at deregulation of public schools, a priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, could be on a fast track for approval by the Senate after receiving backing from a key committee Tuesday.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee unanimously approved three wide-ranging bills (SB 7000, SB 7002 and SB 7004) that deal with what Passidomo described as cutting red tape on issues such as testing and accountability, financial requirements, and personnel decisions.

But former Gov. Jeb Bush, long an influential figure on state education issues, has raised concerns about the bills. In a recent opinion piece, he criticized one of the proposals (SB 7004) as watering down a third-grade literacy policy by removing a requirement that students score adequately on an English-language arts exam to advance to fourth grade.

The proposal would change the policy to allow a parent to override a decision to retain a student in third grade if the parent determines retention is not in the best interest of the student and approves a good cause exemption to advance the student.

Nathan Hoffman, senior legislative director for the Bush-founded Foundation for Floridas Future, spoke against that part of the bill Tuesday, saying it reinstates the option for social promotion.

As it exists today, Florida students are given multiple opportunities to demonstrate grade-level proficiency in addition to six existing good-cause exemptions, Hoffman said.

But bill sponsor Corey Simon, a Tallahassee Republican who chairs the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee, defended the bill against arguments about potential impacts on academic standards, saying that nothing can be further from the truth.

They (teachers) have passed those students through kindergarten, first and second grade because they knew that they had third-grade retention as an opportunity for those students to then hit the pause button, and then bring those students back, Simon said.

Simon argued that under a state progress monitoring testing system, approved last year by the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis, teachers are able to find those students much earlier on in the process and give them needed support.

The Fiscal Policy Committees approval of the bills Tuesday could help position them to go to the full Senate early in the 2024 legislative session, which will start Jan. 9. Similar bills have not been filed in the House.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Tuesdays committee meeting included senators making some significant changes to SB 7004, such as abandoning a proposal to revamp a requirement that elementary schools have 20 minutes of consecutive recess time a day.

That part of the measure was scrapped after it received strong opposition, including from parents and an Orange County School Board member.

Another change involved ditching a proposed elimination of a requirement that 10th-grade students pass a standardized English-language arts exam to receive high-school diplomas. Under a revision made to the bill Tuesday, a students performance on the test would constitute 30% of the students final course grade.

Another one of the bills (SB 7000), in part, would provide flexibility on issues such as setting salaries for teachers. For example, the measure would repeal a requirement that salary adjustments for school employees rated highly effective be at least 25% greater than the highest adjustment given to employees of the same classification.

The bill also would eliminate a requirement that school boards may not use advanced degrees in setting a salary schedule for instructional personnel or administrators unless the advanced degree is held in the individuals area of certification and is only a salary supplement.

A Senate staff analysis said that, under the bill, school boards could use advanced degrees in making salary adjustments without the limit regarding (an) individuals area of certification.

Samuel Fisher, chairman of the Lee County School Board, praised parts of the bill related to setting salaries.

With todays tough reality of retaining teachers, we support the increased flexibility in setting salaries for instructional personnel, Fisher told the Senate panel.

The other bill (SB 7002) would do things such as ease requirements about how districts can spend certain federal funds. It also would change a requirement that school boards publish notices of adopting tentative budgets in newspapers, allowing boards to publish such notices on school-district websites.

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The Florida Senate backed away Tuesday from plans to end the states recess requirement after objections from recess moms but moved ahead with proposals to scrap key, and controversial, parts of the Republican education agenda.

The Senates fiscal policy committee agreed by an 18-0 vote to end policies ushered in by former Gov. Jeb Bush more than 20 years ago. Those include requirements that high school students pass two exams to graduate and that third graders pass a reading test to move on to fourth grade.

Under the bill approved by the GOP-dominated committee, students would no longer have to pass an Algebra 1 and a language arts exam to earn high school diplomas. But the 10th-grade language arts exam would count as 30% of a students final grade in 10th-grade English classes, just as the algebra exam already counts as 30% of the final grade in Algebra 1 classes.

The bill also would allow third graders who failed the state reading test to be promoted to fourth grade, if that is what their parents thought was best.

Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, the sponsor of the bill (SB 7004), said the goal was to encourage schools to provide reading help to struggling youngsters well before third grade, give parents more say in their childs education and make sure schools were not hurting teenagers futures by requiring the passing of high-stakes tests.

He rejected the idea that it was a move to lower standards.

Nothing could be further from the truth, he said.

The proposals, however, have prompted objections from Bush, his influential education foundation and some other conservative groups, and it is not clear yet whether they will have the support of House leaders or Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The bill reinstates the option for social promotion, or the moving of students to the next grade because they are a year older, not because they met academic standards, said Nathan Hoffman, senior legislative director for the Foundation for Floridas Future, Bushs group.

It also significantly waters down the value of the diploma, he said.

Floridas current laws, adopted as part of Bushs A+ Plan for Education, have improved academics in Florida, as measured by test scores and graduation rates, Hoffman said. This is why we cant take our foot off the gas, he added.

The conservative group Moms for Liberty also raised objections.

It seems like we are removing accountability, said member Jamie Merchant, adding that removing standards means schools will continue to promote struggling students.

But Republicans in the Senate have pushed and supported the measures, and two committees have now approved them.

Senate President Senate President Kathleen Passidomo introduced the proposals in a memo she sent to senators last month that was titled Learn Local  Cutting Red Tape, Supporting Neighborhood Public Schools.

The idea, she said, was that after the Legislature expanded school choice (HB 1) earlier this year, making many more children eligible for private school scholarships, it should look in its 2024 session to remove regulations on public schools, which serve the bulk of the states students.

In the memo, she called the ideas bold, controversial and, she conceded, ones that might not make it across the finish line.

Many of the Senates suggestions have broad support from school superintendents, administrators, teachers and parents. Representatives from the Broward, Orange and Seminole county school districts all showed their support Tuesday, for example.

Simon noted that Floridas new standardized test, FAST, is a progress-monitoring exam given several times a year starting in pre-Kindergarten.

Were able to find those students much earlier on in the process, he said, making the current third-grade rule unnecessary.

The states high-stakes high school exams can limit options for students who might want to enter the military after high school or enroll in technical programs but cannot without a diploma, Simon added. Were holding back a whole generation of kids, he said.

But deleting the states requirement that elementary schools offer 20 minutes of recess a day made many parents unhappy, and they let Simon know it.

In response, last week Simon proposed an amendment to his bill that would leave the recess mandate unchanged. The fiscal policy committee approved that at its Tuesday meeting.

In 2017, state lawmakers passed a law requiring elementary schools to provide 20 consecutive minutes of unstructured, free-play recess a day.

Simon said he proposed altering that requirement to give school districts the flexibility to set their own recess rules.

But that prompted lots of objections from those whod pushed for the state recess law because so many schools had done away with recess, even for their youngest students. Recess advocates, who called themselves recess moms, said young children need a chance to run around, and that recess benefits both their academics and mental health.

It gives them that break they need and allows them to focus better, said Angie Gallo, an Orange County School Board member who pushed for the recess mandate and urged the Senate not to undo what their colleagues adopted six years ago.

Were thrilled that Sen. Simon took the language out of the bill, Gallo said. Were pleased he listened to the recess moms.
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An injured man is transferred to a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Dec. 8, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Israel will open the Keren Shalom crossing in southern Israel from Tuesday for security checks on aid shipments to the Gaza Strip, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement late on Monday.

By now, all trucks carrying humanitarian aid must be inspected at Israel's Nitzana crossing before entering Gaza, causing delays in the entry of water, food, medical supplies and shelter equipment into the besieged Palestinian enclave.

The Nitzana crossing is more than 40 km away from the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, the only point of aid entry into Gaza.

The opening of Keren Shalom, closer to Rafah, would improve the volume of security screening of aid and "double the amount of humanitarian aid entering Gaza," according to the statement.

No supplies will be delivered to Gaza directly from Israel, the IDF added.

After security inspection at the two crossings, aid trucks will be forwarded to international organizations in Gaza via the Rafah crossing between the enclave and Egypt.

Before the opening of Keren Shalom, Israel allowed the entry of up to 250 aid trucks into Gaza every day, Elad Goren, head of the IDF's Civil Department of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, told reporters on Thursday.
Multiple tornadoes tore through Middle Tennessee over the weekend, flattening homes and businesses, as well as killing at least six people including one Florida woman.

The National Weather Service confirmed storm findings Sunday evening, with the Clarksville tornado rating as an EF-3, with winds of 150 mph, and the Madison/Hendersonville/Gallatin tornado with a preliminary rating of EF-2, and winds of 125 mph.

USA TODAY reports detailed extensive damage from the tornadoes and severe weather that impacted at least 15 Middle Tennessee counties. State officials, including Nashville mayor Freddie O'Connell, reported significant damage to their structures. More than 160,000 Middle Tennessee residents were without power on Monday.

The severe weather outbreak on Saturday might be the deadliest December on record for Middle Tennessee's tornado disasters, according to the Nashville Weather Service.

Who are all the victims of the Tennessee tornadoes?

Six people died in Clarksville and Madison, according to reports by the USA TODAY Network's The Tennessean. There were 83 injured patients rushed to area hospitals on Saturday.

Here are the six people who died in the tornadoes:

Joseph Dalton, 37, of Madison

Floridema Gabriel Perez, 31, of Madison

Anthony Elmer Mendez, 2, of Madison

Arlon Coty, 10, of Clarksville

Stephen Kwaah Hayes, 34, of Clarksville

Donna Allen. 59, of Fort Lauderdale

'My world': Son publicly shares memory of mother

According to her son, Tennessee resident Eric Davis, Allen was visiting family in town when the tornado hit. Both Allen and himself were in the house when the storm came through, but his four children were not.

He shared to Tennessee news blog Clarksville Now about how much his mother meant to him.

She was my world, Davis told reporters. She was a woman that was so resilient, a great mother to her kids, someone who went through so much in life. She was a joy  to know her was to love her.  She was the life of the party and one of the things I appreciated the most about her was her innate spirit.

Allen was beloved by family and friends. Tributes to Allen popped up on Facebook over the last few days, one loved-one writing "you're going to be the best guardian angel in the world (for Allen's kids and grandkids), so take your rest my love, your job here on Earth is done."

Love those who love you, Davis added to the outlet. Continue to be present, because life is so valuable, and it can be gone in a blink of an eye. Obviously, I know there are so many families that were devastated by this catastrophe, but losing my mom and everything with four kids, you have to rebuild.

How can I help support Allen's family following the Tennessee tornadoes?

Davis's employer, Crossroads Campus, set up a GoFundMe to help cover his mother's funeral expenses and the cost of replacing some of the possessions his family lost in the storm.

"The home of Eric Davis, our beloved colleague and the Director of Young Adult Programs at Crossroads Campus, was destroyed in the tornado that hit Clarksville yesterday, December 10th. Eric was at home with his mother at the time. Eric was injured but survived. Sadly, his mother did not survive," the description reads.

The GoFundMe currently had raised over $20,000 by Tuesday morning.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Tennessee tornado victim includes Florida woman killed in visit to son
TAMPA (WFLA)  A Marion County woman has pled guilty to stealing more than $600,000 from an alternative school in Florida, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg said Danielle Jane Liles, 41, of Summerfield is facing a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the eight counts. Liles will also have to forfeit the $616,793.43 she stole from the Silver River Mentoring and Instruction (SRMI) alternative school.

Court records show Liles handled payroll at SRMI between January 11, 2016, and April 10, 2023. During that time, Liles had unauthorized paychecks issued to her by logging false information into the schools systems and received the paychecks via wire transfers to her bank account, according to the Justice Department.

Liles reportedly told the schools executive staff in April that she had been paying herself extra money and had become addicted to stealing from payroll.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
During pregnancy, a woman is truly never in the clear in terms of her safety and her babys safety. Complications can arise at any time, and depend on a variety of factors. For low-risk pregnancies, the 20-week mark can be a big milestone marked by a routine anatomy scan.

The ultrasound that occurs between 18 and 20 weeks of pregnancy gives expecting parents a very detailed glimpse into their growing fetus. It also gives a doctor an opportunity to look for 11 rare conditions which could be life-threatening to mom, the baby, or both  like the genetic disorder trisomy 18. While the technician cant say anything during the scan, as their job is to take detailed sonograms for a doctor to review, the time period between the scan and results can be an anxious one.

For many women, theyll receive a call that the scan looked great. Coupled with previous genetic testing, theyll breathe a sigh of relief and try to enjoy the last half of their pregnancy. But not everyone, like a Texas woman named Kate Cox, is so lucky. Instead, theyll receive nightmarish news, perhaps confirming their baby has a fatal fetal anomaly, and the best course of action is to terminate the pregnancy. A heartbreaking and unfathomable turn of events that comes with a lot of grief and devastation after being pregnant for nearly five months.

For Cox, this hellscape scenario started a few weeks earlier than 20 weeks thanks to a screening test that first showed that she was at an increased risk for trisomy 18. This put her on track to have more tests, more ultrasounds, only to end up 20 weeks pregnant and now in the middle of a public battle for access to an abortion.

Only 50 percent of fetuses with trisomy 18 who are carried to term will be born alive. From there, the average survival rate for live births varies between 2 days and 2 weeks. As Cox wrote in an editorial published in The Dallas Morning News, it isnt a matter of if I will have to say goodbye to her, but when.

Up to 95 percent of infants born alive with trisomy 18 die during their first year of life. Despite her attempts to be optimistic, even thinking maybe her unborn daughter will have a really nice life in a wheelchair, more ultrasounds have only brought more bad news. There are issues with her spine, heart, brain and limb development, among other conditions, she said.

While Cox wanted to terminate the pregnancy, a decision doctors told her she could make, they also told her their hands were tied under Texas abortion ban. Under Texas law, if a doctor is convicted of performing an illegal abortion they can face a $100,000 fine and up to 99 years in prison. Technically, Texas makes an exception for abortions when a pregnancy or the life of a woman is seriously threatened, but as Ive previously reported for Salon, experts have long doubted such exceptions would work as intended  as were seeing play out in Texas at the moment. And it will play out, again and again, as we also witnessed this week when AP News reported today that a Kentucky pregnant woman has filed a lawsuit demanding the right to an abortion. Her embryo "no longer has cardiac activity," AP reported, quoting her attorneys Tuesday.

In response, Cox and her husband sought a court order to block Texas abortion bans from applying in her case to grant her access to an abortion in Texas. Last Thursday, their request was granted. But then Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sought an emergency stay from the state Supreme Court, pausing the lower courts approval. As a result, on Monday, it was announced that Cox would be traveling out of state to get an abortion. Later, the Texas Supreme Court ruled against the lower court's order, denying the request. Being forced to go to such lengths is the definition of cruelty.

Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes.

The word "cruel" originates from the Latin word crudelis, which is defined as "hardhearted, bloodthirsty, unmerciful and inhuman." And its exactly what can be used to describe denying a pregnant mother of two an abortion for a fetus with a genetic disorder who will have low chances of surviving. I do not want to continue the pain and suffering that has plagued this pregnancy or continue to put my body or my mental health through the risks of continuing this pregnancy, Cox said. I do not want my baby to arrive in this world only to watch her suffer.

As Cox has said herself, she was so excited to learn she was pregnant with her third child. She wants to grow her family. But due to circumstances out of her control, she has become the one in 2,500 pregnancies to face the diagnosis. An abortion, Cox said, was something she never imagined shed want or need. She never saw herself being in the situation she is in right now: 20 weeks pregnant with a baby that very likely wont survive, and a pregnancy that could jeopardize her own health and future pregnancies. Carrying a pregnancy with trisomy 18 to term is associated with increased risks of gestational diabetes, preterm delivery and cesarean section.

There will be a choir of anti-choice advocates trying to justify Cox carrying the fetus to term, to pray for a miracle. They will trivialize how much it can cost, emotionally and financially, to travel out of state to get her wishes fulfilled. As Allison Chang, who also had a fetus with a trisomy 18 diagnosis, wrote for STAT News, What is being accomplished by forcing women to carry these babies to term other than ensuring that these children are as aware of and sensitive to their pain as possible?

As any parent knows, leaving your children to travel out of town is never easy, especially on a whim. Chances are high that Cox is going to have to go through this procedure alone. Of course, Cox will also be seen as one of the lucky ones who has the resources to even travel of out state to terminate her pregnancy, which not all women have.

What these narratives refuse to acknowledge again and again is the pain of the mother carrying the fetus. The pain of forcing her to seek permission for an abortion while she grieves the loss of hope for another child. The pain she faces as she has to weigh risking her own health for an unborn fetus, and the chances of being there for her children who are alive right now. The pain of forcing her into a situation that could keep her from having another child in the future. And finally, the pain of being dragged into the spotlight over a private medical procedure that ideally should only be between her and her doctor.

Anti-choice advocates say theyre defending life. But really, theyre failing to prioritize and value womens lives, many of whom are already mothers with children. Instead, theyre adding to womens pain in a culture thats obsessed with minimizing and ignoring it.

Im trying to do what is best for my baby daughter and myself and my family, but we are suffering because of the laws in Texas, Cox said. I need to end my pregnancy now so that I have the best chance for my health, for parenting my children, and for a future pregnancy.
Ford launched its flagship F-150 Lightning electric pickup last year. Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images

Ford is cutting production of its F-150 Lightning EV pickup in half next year, according to CNBC.

The company is facing cooling EV demand and new competition from Elon Musk's Cybertruck.

It's production cut is the latest sign auto giants are pumping the brakes on EVs.

Ford is cutting production of its flagship F-150 Lightning pickup, in the latest sign that the company is tapping the brakes on its EV push.

The company is planning to produce 1,600 electric Ford F-150s a week in 2024, down from an original target of 3,200, according to a CNBC report. It comes as Ford faces stuttering demand for EVs and growing competition in the form of Elon Musk's Cybertruck .

According to a memo obtained by Automotive News , the cuts were the result of "changing market demand." A Ford spokesperson told Business Insider that the company will "continue to match production with customer demand."

Though the EV market is expected to reach another record year of growth, demand appears to be cooling. High prices and reliability concerns have left some customers reluctant to pay a premium for battery-powered vehicles.

The F-150 Lightning, which starts at around $50,000 , is Ford's flagship EV  and the main rival of Elon Musk's Cybertruck, which is now finally beginning to roll off Tesla's production lines .

Musk has frequently compared the futuristic pickup with the F-150, sharing a video of the Cybertruck pulling one uphill in 2019 . Ford CEO Jim Farley, meanwhile, dismissed the threat of the Cybertruck in June, describing it as a vehicle for "Silicon Valley people."

"I make trucks for real people who do real work, and that's a different kind of truck," Farley said.

The electric F-150 was hugely popular when it launched in 2022, with Ford having to redesign its Michigan factory to cope with demand.

However, slowing demand for electric vehicles in recent months has hit the company's EV ambitions hard, with unsold F-150s and its Mustang Mach-Es piling up in dealer lots .

Ford said it sold nearly 4,400 F-150 Lightnings in November , a new monthly record. It has sold around 20,000 electric F-150s in total this year so far. But the pickup still makes up a tiny fraction of the 680,000 F-series vehicles it has sold overall this year.

The auto giant has postponed $12 billion in investment in EV manufacturing amid cooling demand for electric vehicles. It has also paused construction of a battery plant in Kentucky and is scaling back another facility in Michigan .

Read the original article on Business Insider
This story was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has unanimously approved Gen. Mark Welsh III as the 27th president of Texas A&M University, a little more than four months after he was named interim president of the flagship university following the former presidents resignation over a hiring scandal.

The board met for nearly two hours in executive session Tuesday morning before giving Chancellor John Sharp permission to negotiate a contract with Welsh, who will have a starting annual salary of $1.1 million, according to the system.

Former Air Force boss Mark Welsh named sole finalist to lead Texas A&M

Board Chair Bill Mahomes said regents feel strongly that Welsh will make a Texas-sized impact as president.

His remarkable career embodies Aggie core values, he said in a press release. Now his mission is to raise Texas A&Ms national stature in research, education and student experience.

After the board vote, Welsh thanked the regents for their confidence in his ability to lead the university of more than 77,000 students.

I just promise I will do everything in my power not to let you down, he said. More importantly, not to let down this remarkable university that Ive loved for a long time. Its a big deal for me.

The board named Welsh the sole finalist for the job on Nov. 17 after Sharp recommended the system make him permanent president.

In his first few weeks as Interim President, General Welsh has moved quickly and decisively to reach out to all the stakeholders who hold Texas A&M University dear and near to their hearts, Sharp said in a press release. We are lucky to have such an experienced leader in our midst who supports our Aggie core values.

Welsh, who previously was dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, has served as university president in an interim role since July. Former President M. Katherine Banks resigned that month after The Texas Tribune reported that the school had watered down its job offer to journalism professor Kathleen McElroy, a Black journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin, after some board members raised concerns about her perceived liberal leanings. McElroy ultimately turned down the job, saying she felt judged because of her race and gender, and settled with the system for $1 million after the hiring fiasco.

An internal investigation found Banks was heavily involved in discussions about making changes to McElroys offer, contradicting her earlier claims that she was unaware of them.

Around that time, the Tribune also reported that the school placed a pharmacology professor on paid leave hours after she was accused by a politically connected student of criticizing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during a lecture, sparking concerns of political interference in university operations and threats to facultys academic freedom.

Sharp said in July that Welsh would serve as interim president until the system could conduct a national search for Banks replacement.

Over the past four months, Welsh has been on a nonstop tour to rebuild trust in university leadership, which had eroded over the past few years under Banks.

He immediately assembled a group of administrators to review one of the major sticking points of the Banks administration: The Path Forward, a set of 41 changes Banks initiated across the university that reorganized administrative offices, merged certain colleges, centralized services and added new academic programs.

Faculty and staff largely criticized the changes as poorly conceived and hastily executed, causing confusion among students and employees, and negatively affecting morale.

Welsh gathered the feedback from more than 100 listening sessions on campus and spent one morning in October taking questions from hundreds of employees and students, explaining why he was keeping some of Banks plans and changing others.

While some faculty wanted regents to commit to a national search and guarantee more room for faculty feedback in the hiring process, many professors and students agreed with the decision to appoint Welsh as permanent president.

Were in a very unique place right now in terms of the university, Faculty Senate President Tracy Hammond told the Tribune last month. There are a lot of things the university needs to be doing to make it more sustainable, provide us [with] more structure. And were in a very unique time. So, I understand the need for having a permanent president sooner rather than later.

Welsh, who graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1976, had a more than four-decade career in the Air Force before retiring from military service in 2016.

Welsh served as a command pilot, then in various roles like training commander and adviser to the director of the Central Intelligence Agency on military issues. He served as commander of NATOs Air Command and was the 34th Commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe before heading to Washington, D.C., where President Barack Obama appointed him Chief of Staff of the Air Force and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2012. He moved to College Station to serve as the dean of the Bush School the same year he retired.
A former Austin school tutor has been arrested and charged with indecency with a child, after police say the 28-year-old man inappropriately touched a 14-year-old student at Akins High School.

Isaiah Xavier Smith has been charged with indecency with a child, a second-degree felony. District police say Smith is the man seen carrying a firearm on public sidewalks near several Austin schools over the past two weeks, leaving parents rattled.

Austin school district police arrested Smith on Friday in connection with the Oct. 25 incident at Akins in South Austin, according to an arrest affidavit.

The district said Smith worked as a third-party college readiness tutor at the school in September and October.

Police said Smith grabbed a student's genitals over their clothes in the school's computer lab, according to the affidavit. Police said Smith released other students from a tutoring session in the lab but asked one teenager to stay behind. Police used security video to verify that the student and Smith were alone together, according to the affidavit.

Isaiah Xavier Smith

In a prior incident, police said Smith had offered to buy the child shoes and underwear and give them money, according to the affidavit.

After the Oct. 25 report, administrators immediately ended Smith's access to the school, the district said in a statement to Akins parents.

"Your child's safety is our greatest concern," Angel Wilson, assistant superintendent of secondary schools, said in a statement. "We are doing everything we can do to understand how this incident occurred to prevent situations like this in the future."

The district also confirmed Monday that Smith was the person seen walking outside various campuses, including public and private schools, while displaying a long gun.

More: 'He had a pistol and a gun': Man seen with firearms near schools frightens Austin parents

A man walking near Webb Middle School, St. Francis School and other nearby campuses in North Austin alarmed parents, who called police.

People in Texas are legally allowed to carry guns in public, such as on public sidewalks near schools but outside a 1,000-foot buffer, but the district said school police officers kept an eye on Smith while he was near Austin schools.

Smith also serves on Austin's Economic Prosperity Commission, which advises the City Council on matters related to construction and job creation.

As of Monday evening, Smith was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail, according to Travis County Jail records.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Former Austin ISD tutor arrested, charged with indecency with child
A former Arizona State University information technology manager is facing 14 felony counts after an investigation alleged he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of university money on personal items from 2017 until 2021.

ASU officials previously reported Carlos Urrea to the Office of the Arizona Auditor General for possible financial misconduct. The offices investigation, released on Monday, reports Urrea racked up more than $124,000 on his university credit card through 810 personal transactions. Purchase items included furniture, smart watches, video games, and a rowing machine.

University officials first noticed in December 2021 that some of Urreas receipts had been altered or were missing information. When pressed for more information, the report said Urrea refused. He was then placed on administrative leave in January 2022 and terminated in March 2022. The university requested he repay $95,000 for the personal purchases made on the card, but the money was never received.

To back up his purchases, Urrea submitted more than 300 fraudulent receipts, the investigation says. One receipt shows he claimed a $1,200 Costco sectional was a purchase for spare/on hand/replacement equipment for the university. The report said Urrea admitted to investigators he would also alter the images of receipts to show other items. The report has been submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. The felony charges are for theft, fraud, forgery and misuse of public money.

Urrea told investigators he made the purchases to support his family, later saying it was a very dumb decision according to the offices report.

The auditor general says that while ASU officials reported the former employee once there was suspicion, Urrea's actions went unnoticed for so long because he was still allowed to sidestep university policies in favor of making purchases faster. The investigation says he avoided the standard procurement process, made purchases without approval and submitted vague or months-late receipts.

"Officials allowed Mr. Urrea to bypass them either because those procedures reportedly took too long for Mr. Urrea to do his job of providing immediate IT-related equipment to senior leadership or because enforcement of policies would have negatively affected Mr. Urreas support of senior leadership," the report reads.

Officials said they are now directing employees to follow the procurement process or have purchases made by the business team instead of individuals. In addition, employees will receive more training on company card processes.

"We are cooperating fully with authorities and have already taken corrective steps in our policies and procedures," ASU Spokesperson Veronica Sanchez said.

Helen Rummel covers higher education for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at hrummel@azcentral.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former ASU employee indicted on felony counts for fraud, theft
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A former school bus driver pleaded guilty to verbally threatening a student on a school bus, the Erie County District Attorney announced.

Michael Askew, 68, of Cheektowaga pleaded guilty to one count of endangering the welfare of a child and was sentenced to serve one year of conditional discharge on Tuesday.

Former bus driver arraigned for threatening student

In April 2023, Askew, while working as a school bus driver, made a verbal threat towards a student while on a bus on Roehrer Avenue. He was subsequently fired from his position following the incident.

Following the incident, Buffalo police obtained a temporary Extreme Risk Protection Order as part of their investigation. Investigators later found an illegal rifle with a pistol grip and detachable magazine inside of Askews Woodridge Avenue residence. Three legally owned handguns were also found and seized.

Askew was indicted on two felony gun charges following the seizure of the weapons. Both counts were dropped as part of a plea agreement.

A final order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim and two other students that were present at the time of the incident.

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Emily Miller is a digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2022. See more of her work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
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Donald Tusk was elected as Poland's prime minister in a parliamentary vote on Monday evening, following the outgoing government's failure to secure a vote of confidence.

Tusk won 248 votes in favor of his candidacy for the position in the Sejm, the lower house of Poland's parliament. He was supported by the country's three biggest opposition groupings: the Civic Coalition, the Third Way and the New Left. A total of 201 Members of Parliament voted against him, but there were no abstentions.

The Sejm voted for Tusk just hours after previous prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki failed to win a vote of confidence.

Poland held its parliamentary elections on Oct. 15, when the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party won most of the votes, but fell short of a majority in the Sejm.

Morawiecki, prime minister candidate from the socially conservative PiS party, was tasked on Nov. 27 by President Andrzej Duda with forming a government.

However, his government was rejected by 266 votes to 190 on Monday afternoon, which put an end to eight years of rule by the PiS party.

Tusk is set to present his cabinet to the parliament before walking through a vote of confidence in the Sejm on Tuesday. The swearing-in ceremony for the new prime minister is likely to take place on Wednesday.
Jeffrey Lyde, former Clay County sheriff, was ordered to turn himself in by noon Tuesday to the Hardeman County Jail to serve the remainder of his time, an official said.

Lyde, 56, turned himself in to the jail in Quanah about 11 a.m. Tuesday, a Hardeman County sheriff's official said.

The 97th Judicial District Court of Clay County issued an order for Lyde, who was released because of medical issues last week, to return to jail in Quanah to finish his sentence. Senior Justice Lee Gabriel signed the order Monday.

Jeffrey Lyde, former Clay County sheriff, was booked into the Hardeman County Jail in Quanah on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, to serve a 30-day sentence.

He has served about 10 days of a 30-day sentence for two misdemeanors related to his tenure as sheriff. He is undergoing his punishment in Quanah to avoid disgruntled former employees and witnesses in his trial who work in counties closer to Henrietta.

The Hardeman County Jail released him from custody Thursday after he suffered possibly life-threatening medical issues and needed to be moved from Hardeman County Memorial Hospital to United Regional Health Care System for further treatment.

Hardeman County Sheriff Pat Laughery has said that the Sheriff's Office did not have the manpower to send a deputy to Wichita County, so Lyde was released. Laughery has said Hardeman County residents are his priority.

Lyde began serving a 30-day sentence Nov. 27 for misdemeanor official oppression and document tampering convictions in Clay County. The class A misdemeanors are punishable by up to a year in jail and as much as a $4,000 fine.

Former Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde

He illegally held a man in jail and tampered with documents related to the charge against him in incidents July 12, 2021. Lyde's sentence was part of a punishment deal reached Oct. 10 that also required him to surrender his law enforcement license, ensuring he could not be a peace officer in Texas.

A Montague jury found Lyde guilty of the misdemeanors Sept. 15. Under Texas law, his conviction resulted in his ouster from elected office.

Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her X handle is @Trishapedia.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Former Clay County Sheriff Lyde ordered back to jail, turns himself in
A former Connecticut police officer accused of committing dozens of burglaries across at least three states is facing additional charges stemming from a break-in at a restaurant in East Hampton, police said.

Patrick Hemingway, who once worked for the Glastonbury Police Department, was arrested on Dec. 6 for allegedly breaking into Loco Perro Restaurant on East High Street. Authorities were called to the eatery early the morning of March 8, after a burglar busted into the building and triggered a security alarm, according to an arrest warrant obtained by Fox 61 on Monday.

Security cameras inside captured an unidentified person lifting an estimated $200 in cash from the register before fleeing the scene. Less than 10 minutes later, the same suspect was spotted on separate surveillance video, recorded outside the Lakeside Bar & Grill. Police said he attempted to pick the lock, though he was unsuccessful.

Authorities were eventually able to link the break-in to Hemingway, who had undergone training at the Glastonbury Police Department earlier the same day, according to the warrant. Investigators said he logged into a police database at least 80 times to see if he was being investigated by other police departments.

Hemingway has been charged with burglary in the third degree, criminal mischief in the first degree and larceny in the sixth degree in connection with the break-in in East Hampton. He is also accused of carrying out more than 30 burglaries in Rhode Island and Massachusetts as well as Connecticut  specifically in Wethersfield, Shelton, Old Saybrook and Glastonbury  between February and June 2023.

Police across several agencies are investigating to determine whether Hemingway was involved in any other burglaries. He remains in custody on $1 million bond, according to online court records.

Hemingway also served as a New Britain police officer from August 2009 to January 2019, when he was transferred to Glastonbury. He remained there until he resigned on Sept. 1, 2023.
A former Cranston man pleaded guilty Monday to an offense related to his threatening to bomb the Yale New Haven Hospital, according to the U.S. attorney and FBI in Connecticut.

Alexander Bradley, 44, faces up to 15 years of prison at sentencing, which is scheduled for March 7 in U.S. District Court in New Haven, Conn.

On May 9, 2021, Bradley anonymously called the Yale New Haven Hospital and said that he had placed a pressure cooker containing a bomb outside of the building, officials said, citing court documents and statements made in court.

The call was a hoax; Bradley had not put a bomb outside the hospital, the officials said.

More: Cranston man arrested for allegedly threatening to bomb Yale New Haven Hospital

Nevertheless, the threat disrupted hospital operations and required a "significant response" from the New Haven Police Department, the Yale Police Department and Yale New Haven Protective Service, officials said.

About a half hour before calling the hospital, Bradley had called the Yale University Health Clinic, spoke to a nurse and asked if he had reached the Yale New Haven Hospital, officials said. When told that he hadn't, Bradley complained that he had been denied care at the Yale New Haven Hospital and said that he was going to bomb the hospital.

Bradley refused to give his name in the call to the clinic, but the FBI later linked the phone number used to make the threats to Bradley, officials said.

Investigators also learned that three weeks after he made the threat, Bradley contacted a CVS pharmacy in Cranston and said that he was going to "shoot up" and "blow up" a hospital, officials said.

Bradley was arrested on April 28, 2022, but on May 27, 2022, after he'd been released on bond and was living in a residential treatment facility, Bradley removed his location monitoring bracelet and took off, officials said. He was caught on July 14, 2023, and has been held since.

Bradley pleaded guilty to conveying false information about explosives, and false information and hoaxes.

The guilty plea was announced by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Former RI man pleads guilty in Yale New Haven Hospital bomb threat
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A former officer with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was sentenced to 32 years in prison on Monday on multiple counts of first-degree child sexual abuse.

Between Nov. 2019 to Sept. 2021, Charles Johnson, 30, of Washington, D.C. sexually abused a child who was 9 and 10 years old at the time of the assaults. Johnson subjected the child to sexual acts.

At the time, Johnson was a D.C. police officer. MPD said that he was placed on administrative leave when he was arrested in July of 2022. His position in the department was terminated in November of 2023.

Lawmakers consider bringing Capitals, Wizards to Northern Virginia

Johnson was convicted in July 2023 after a five-day trial in the Superior Court in D.C. He was charged with first-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances, second-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances, attempted first-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances and assault.

The Honorable Michael OKeefe sentenced Johnson to 32 years across multiple counts, to be followed by a period of supervised release. Upon his release, Johnson will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

After Johnsons sentence, MPD Chief Pamela Smith released a statement that said, in part, MPD condemns Charles Johnsons actions, and we will not tolerate actions that compromise public trust. Our thoughts are with the survivor and their family and understand that this is difficult for all impacted.

DC Council pitches more crime-fighting proposals

Earlier today, former Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Officer Charles Johnson was sentenced to 32 years in prison on multiple counts of first-degree sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances. MPD condemns Charles Johnsons actions, and we will not tolerate actions that compromise public trust. Our thoughts are with the survivor and their family and understand that this is difficult for all impacted. MPD remains committed to transparency and accountability and appreciates the justice system for ensuring due process rights while prioritizing the safety and well-being of our community. Johnson was placed on administrative leave at the time of his arrest in July 2022. He was terminated from the department in November 2023. Full statement from Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A former global executive at Facebook has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $4 million from the company, officials say.

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According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the investigation began in Jan. 2017.

Court documents revealed that Barbara Furlow-Smiles, 38, of Atlanta, served as Lead Strategist, Global Head of Employee Resource Groups and Diversity Engagement at Facebook, Inc., now known as Meta Platforms, Inc.

From about Jan. 2017 to Sept. 2021, she led Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at Facebook and was responsible for developing and executing DEI initiatives, operations, and engagement programs.

Officials say she had access to company credit cards and reportedly had authority to submit purchase requisitions and approve invoices for authorized vendors of Facebook.

TRENDING STORIES:

The attorneys office said Furlow-Smiles would use Facebook to pay several individuals for goods and services never provided to the company. Those individuals then paid kickbacks to Furlow-Smiles, often in cash.

She worked in two ways.

First, Furlow-Smiles linked PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App accounts to her Facebook credit cards and used those accounts to pay friends, relatives, and other associates for goods and services reportedly provided to Facebook. However, these individuals did not provide goods or services to the company. Prosecutors say most of them did not know that the payments came from Facebook.

To hide the charges on her Facebook credit cards, she reportedly submitted fraudulent expense reports, falsely claiming that her associates or their businesses performed work on programs and events for Facebook, such as providing swag or marketing services, which they had not done.

Authorities said after these associates received payments from Facebook, they returned most of the money to Furlow-Smiles. They paid these kickbacks in cash and through transfers to accounts held in her husbands and others names. Associates paid cash kickbacks in person and by Federal Express or mail, sometimes wrapping the cash in other items, such as t-shirts. Furlow-Smiles also directed associates to pay one another, or others to whom she owed money.

Second, Furlow-Smiles caused Facebook to recruit several vendors that were owned and operated by friends and associates who also paid her kickbacks. After Facebook approved contracts for these vendors, she approved purchase requisitions for these purported vendors to work for Facebook. Furlow-Smiles then approved fraudulent and inflated invoices to pay the vendors. After Facebook paid the invoices, Furlow-Smiles directed the vendors to return a portion of the money to her.

Officials said Furlow-Smiles recruited several individuals to receive money and pay kickbacks as part of the plan. These individuals included friends, relatives, former interns from a prior job, nannies and babysitters, a hair stylist, and her university tutor. She also caused Facebook to make payments for her benefit to others who did not pay kickbacks.

Furlow-Smiles reportedly used Facebook to pay almost $10,000 to an artist for specialty portraits and over $18,000 to a preschool for tuition.

In total, Furlow-Smiles stole more than $4 million from Facebook based on false charges and fraudulent invoices for which goods and services were never provided to the company. She used the money to live between California and Georgia.

Furlow-Smiles, also known as Barbara Furlow, is scheduled for sentencing on March 19, 2024.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Outgoing Utah Republican Party chairman Derek Brown poses for a photo at the partys headquarters in Salt Lake City on April 28, 2021. Brown has announced a campaign to run for Utah attorney general. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Derek Brown  a former state lawmaker, Republican Party chair and Senate staffer  officially launched a campaign for Utah attorney general Tuesday morning.

Brown, who is an attorney at a Salt Lake City-based lobbying firm, is the first to enter the race for the now-open seat following Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes announcement that he will not seek reelection amid an internal audit authorized by Utah lawmakers to scrutinize his relationship with embattled anti-trafficking activist Tim Ballard.

Related

In the first stages of his campaign, Brown has framed himself as a principled departure from his predecessors.

I believe Utah needs a constitutional conservative  someone who will always put Utahns first, promote law and order in our communities, and continue to push back against the federal government when it oversteps its bounds, Brown said in a press release issued Tuesday morning.

Last month, Brown announced the creation of an exploratory committee for a 2024 bid chaired by former Gov. Gary Herbert, who will now chair Browns official campaign for attorney general.

After working at several high-profile law firms and as chief legal counsel to former Sens. Bob Bennett and Orrin Hatch, Brown was elected to represent Sandy in the Utah House, where he served until being appointed as Sen. Mike Lees deputy chief of staff in 2013. Brown later chaired the Utah GOP from 2019 to 2021.

Brown received his undergraduate degree in English from Brigham Young University and received a law degree from the Pepperdine School of Law before clerking for the United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.

Related

A well-known player in Utah political circles, Brown aims to preserve the states character as culture war battles take place across the nation.

Our country is in a difficult place, Brown said. Some believe that we are more divided than ever. But Utah is different. Utah is a place where people come together and communities prosper. But there is no guarantee that things will stay that way. That is why Im running to be Utahs next attorney general.
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Palestinians take shelter by a school building affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Nov. 1, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian exchanged views on the situation in the Gaza Strip during a phone conversation on Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China's position on the conflict can be summarized as realizing a cease-fire and ending the conflict as soon as possible, ensuring humanitarian relief, and returning to the two-state solution.

Wang said China stands ready to implement the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during their two meetings this year and push the bilateral ties toward stable and far-reaching development.

China supports Iran and Saudi Arabia to further improve relations, promote the unity and cooperation of countries in the region and truly hold regional peace and security in their own hands, Wang said.
One of two former Fulton County elections workers told a jury Tuesday she still lives in fear three years after Rudy Giuliani falsely accused them of voter fraud.

Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss are seeking tens of millions of dollars from Giuliani in their defamation suit.

Freeman and Moss were election workers counting ballots in a corner room at State Farm Arena during the 2020 election.

A judge already ruled that Giuliani defamed them when he accused them of massive voter fraud.

Moss told a jury on Tuesday what their lives have been like since then.

Following the 2020 election, Giuliani testified before Georgia lawmakers saying the mother and daughter committed massive voter fraud.

Ruby Freeman, Shaye Freeman Moss, and one other gentleman were quite obviously, surreptitiously passing around USB ports as if theyre vials of heroin or cocaine, Giuliani said.

Now a federal jury will decide how much in damages Giuliani must pay.

Moss took the stand to talk about what their lives have been like since those false accusations.

Most days I pray that God does not wake me up and I just disappear, Moss said.

RELATED STORIES:

Moss told jurors that she was a bubbly, outgoing person before the conspiracy theories began, but since then shes been stuck in a lonely cycle of crying and nightmares.

Im most scared of my son finding me and or my mom hanging in front of our house on a tree having to get news at school that his mom was killed, the 39-year-old said. At one point in January 2021, she said, someone came to her grandmothers door threatening to make a citizen arrest.

I was afraid for my life. I literally felt like someone going to come and attempt to hang me and theres nothing that anyone will be able to do about it, Moss said.

Atlanta attorney and former magistrate judge Quinton Washington said the jury isnt deciding if Giuliani defamed them, the judge already did that.

All the jury is deciding is how much in damages will he have to pay.

Theres a decision thats going to be made about not whether they were harmed, but how much they were harmed, Washington said.

The judge actually warned Giulianis lawyer after the former New York mayor talked to a reporter after court Monday, again repeating the lies that Freeman and Moss were somehow involved with voter fraud.

Of course, I dont regret it. I told the truth, Giuliani said. They were engaged in changing votes. Theres no proof of that, one reporter told Giuliani.

Oh, youre damned right there is. Stay tuned, Giuliani said.

The judge in this case said those statements amount to him making defamatory statements against them yet again and warned that if Giuliani testifies to that, he could face more sanctions.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

RELATED NEWS:
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.  It was the first of several meetings planned to discuss the future of the Los Angeles  San Diego  San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor (LOSSAN) railway corridor. The train runs from Los Angeles to San Diego, moving commuters along with major freight cargo.

This costal corridor is doomed, we have waves hitting trains on one side and bluffs sliding on the other, said one woman during public comment.

SANDAG appoints interim CEO, tackles toll road mischarges

We need a single organization, not to do more studies, but to implement studies, said another man during public comment.

There have been several track closures in Del Mar and San Clemente after bluff failures have plagued the reliability of the train system.

We still need to do the business of the city: Chula Vista mayor reacts to council holdup

We are not seriously talking about closing the corridor. So what is on the table is how do we make the corridor function better. How do we carry more people, more reliably, with more frequent trains, said California State Senator Katherine Blakespear.

Billions of dollars are expected to flow into the LOSSAN train system, with questions remaining on how the tracks will get off the beach and what inland route will be chosen.

It was the first of several meetings planned to discuss the future of the Los Angeles  San Diego  San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor (LOSSAN) railway corridor. (KSWB)

Current critics of the train say ridership has plummeted and that the state should invest the money elsewhere.

Topgolf San Diego? Port commissioners weigh venue proposal

Its the chicken and the egg where the corridor has to be reliable, the railroad tracks have to work. You cant have debris on the railroad tracks or to have people sitting in the train for an hour and a half as there is some technical problem happening. People have to know theyre going to get to where they need to go on time, said Senator Blakespear.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
Joe Biden said Benjamin Netanyahu could 'not say no' to a Palestinian state - MANDEL NGAN/AFP

Joe Biden has warned Israel that it is losing its allies support over the thousands of civilians killed in the bombing of Gaza.

Speaking at a campaign fundraising event, the US president urged Benjamin Netanyahu to change his hard-line government and back the two-state solution aimed at resolving the conflict.

Theyre starting to lose that support, Mr Biden said, referring to the international outcry at the bombing campaign, which has now killed more than 18,000 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

It was the latest sign of a growing rift between Washington and the Israeli government, and came after Mr Netanyahu admitted the two allies had differing visions for the future of Gaza.

A difficult government

Mr Biden singled out Itamar Ben-Gvir, Mr Netanyahus hard-Right national security minister, saying Israel was being run by the most conservative government in its history.

He [Netanyahu] has to change this government, Mr Biden said. This government in Israel is making it very difficult.

He added that Israel ultimately cant say no to a Palestinian state, which hardliners such as Mr Ben-Gvir staunchly oppose.

Following a conversation with Mr Biden on Tuesday, Mr Netanyahu said there was disagreement between the allies over what should happen to Gaza the day after Hamas.

Mr Netanyahu said he would not allow the territory to become a Hamas-stan nor a Fatah-stan and would not let post-war Gaza be run by those who teach, support or fund terrorism.

A Palestinian family grieve for the death of an infant kiled in an Israeli missile strike - MOHAMMED SALEM/REUTERS

His comments were in direct opposition with the US idea of bringing in the Palestinian Authority (PA) to run Gaza after the war. Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the PA, is chairman of the Fatah party.

Oslo was the original sin

The Israeli leader said he hoped we will reach agreement here but he vowed not to repeat the mistake of Oslo, referring to the 1993 peace accords signed in the United States.

A senior Palestinian official on Tuesday lashed out at Mr Netanyahu, accusing Israel of derailing the peace accords that could have prevented the bloodshed.

Hussein al-Sheikh, the secretary general of the executive committee for the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, said on X, formally known as Twitter: Oslo dies under the chain tracks of his tanks that are sweeping throughout cities, villages and camps - from Jenin to Rafah.

He referred to Tuesdays violence in Jenin in the West Bank, where five people were killed, including four people who reportedly attacked IDF troops there.

Mr Netanyahu drew fire after he reportedly referred to the Oslo accords as the original sin during a closed-doors meeting with the foreign affairs and defence committee of the Knesset on Monday.

The embattled Israeli prime minister said an identical number of people were killed in the aftermath of the accords as on Oct 7, when Hamas launched its devastating attack on Israel.

The Israeli leader appeared to be referring to the period between 1995, when a second Oslo accord was signed, and this years attack, taking in the Second Palestinian Intifada from 2000-2005.

More than 1,000 Israelis were killed during the five-year uprising.

Political opponents and critics from within his own party were quick to seize on Mr Netanyahus remarks, arguing they were an attempt to deflect blame for the historic security breach that took place on his watch.

Yair Lapid, an opposition leader, called on Mr Netanyahu to resign.

The state of Israel is at war. We all are going from one funeral to the next, from shiva to shiva, he said on Tuesday.

A wicked political campaign

It is impossible to understand the level of disconnect and cynicism of the prime minister who is conducting a wicked political campaign in wartime with the sole purpose of absolving himself of responsibility, accusing others and sowing hatred. The nation deserves alternative leadership.

Fellow members of his ruling Likud party also condemned the remarks as insensitive.

Meanwhile, Israels aerial bombardment of Gaza continued on Tuesday with air strikes reported along the length of the territory.

Rami Abdul Kareem, a 43-year-old taxi driver from Deir al-Balah said: I wont call this life: this is torture, as he added civilians were increasingly concentrated in a tiny corner in the south bordering Egypt.

I have nothing left to sell and no one to lend me money. Im worried that if my house is gone, my children and I will end up in the street with no money. Id rather we all die before that.

The IDF on Tuesday reportedly entered the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya which accommodates 3,000 internationally displaced people, 64 patients including 12 children in an ICU, and six newborns in incubators.

Ashraf al-Qudra, a spokesman for the Gaza Health Ministry, said the IDF forces were at the hospital interrogating staff.

Separately, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that a convoy with its members driving through Gaza came under fire on Saturday.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, its director-general, said, WHO staff and their partners from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society were on a high-risk mission to deliver medical supplies to a hospital in Gazas north when their convoy was attacked.

He also lamented degrading and humiliating manner with which the WHO staff were treated at IDF checkpoints in the areas.

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Palestinian police officers walk at the commercial crossing of Kerem Shalom, as Israel ends a ban on exports from Gaza, in Rafah

ISMAILIA, Egypt (Reuters) - A convoy of 80 aid trucks for Gaza was sent from Egypt to the Kerem Shalom crossing for checks on Tuesday after a new inspection system was opened in an effort to accelerate deliveries of relief, a Red Crescent official said.

Since aid deliveries began on Oct. 20, supplies entering Gaza from Egypt have had to loop south from Rafah to be inspected at the Al-Awja-Nitzana crossing on Egypt's border with Israel, a process that has caused bottlenecks and delays.

The use of Kerem Shalom, which is on the border between Israel, Gaza and Egypt about 3 km (1.86 miles) from Rafah, should allow for the processing of more trucks, including some that would come from Jordan for the first time since the start of the war in Gaza, aid officials say.

As the humanitarian situation grows more desperate in Gaza, the United Nations has been pushing for Israel to allow trucks to enter the enclave directly from Kerem Shalom, saying this would make a bigger difference.

Israel, which fears supplies could benefit Hamas, has so far refused such a move, diplomats say.

The trucks sent to Kerem Shalom on Tuesday included medicines, medical supplies, food, drinking water, and baby formula, said Khaled Zayed, head of the North Sinai branch of the Red Crescent.

A further 100 trucks were sent to the Al-Awja-Nitzana crossing, Zayed said.

Since a truce collapsed on Dec. 1 the number of aid trucks entering Gaza daily has dropped to about 100. Prior to the war, about 500 trucks entered the territory daily, about 60% of them passing through Kerem Shalom, according to the U.N.

Distribution of aid within Gaza has been hampered by a lack of trucks and fuel, telecoms blackouts, and Israel's military operation.

(Reporting by Yusri Mohamed; Writing by Aidan Lewis and Alistair Bell)
Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., is in plea negotiations with federal prosecutors over the criminal charges filed against him this year, according to a new court filing.

"The parties are presently engaged in plea negotiations with the goal of resolving this matter without the need for a trial," prosecutors wrote Monday in a document submitted to the district judge overseeing the case. "The parties wish to continue those negotiations over the next thirty days."

Santos lawyer Joe Murray would not confirm whether Santos would be taking a plea deal. A spokesperson for the Eastern District of New York declined to comment.

In an interview Sunday, Santos told a CBS New York reporter that a plea "is not off the table, obviously, at this point," adding, "But we just dont know that yet."

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

Prosecutors said in the filing that the government "respectfully renews" its request for a trial in May or June. The judge overseeing the case had previously set a trial date for next Sept. 9.

In October, Santos was hit with a 23-count superseding indictment in the Eastern District of New York on a litany of charges, including conspiracy to commit offenses against the U.S., wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and making materially false statements to the Federal Election Commission. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

"This Office will relentlessly pursue criminal charges against anyone who uses the electoral process as an opportunity to defraud the public and our government institutions," Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement in October about the superseding indictment.

Santos previously faced a 13-count federal indictment, in May, on charges including wire fraud, money laundering and theft of public funds. He was released on $500,000 bond and pleaded not guilty to those charges, as well.

Following a scathing ethics report, the House voted this month to expel Santos, making him the first House member to be expelled in more than 20 years.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber announced on Monday the approval of a proposal to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan.

The South Caucasus nation won the bid after winning backing from other Eastern European countries on Saturday.

COP28, or the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is due to conclude on Tuesday, has gathered more than 110,000 registered participants in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, in a bid to work out a global solution to the pressing climate crisis facing all countries.
FILE - Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., faces reporters at the Capitol, Nov. 30, 2023, in Washington. Santos, who was ejected from Congress, is in negotiations to resolve his federal criminal fraud case, prosecutors said in a court filing, Monday, Dec. 11. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Former U.S. Rep. George Santos is in negotiations to resolve his federal criminal fraud case, prosecutors said in a court filing Monday.

The parties are presently engaged in plea negotiations with the goal of resolving this matter without the need for a trial, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace's office wrote in the filing.

Santos is scheduled to appear in court on Long Island for a hearing in the case Tuesday. He acknowledged in an interview that aired Sunday that he hadn't ruled out pleading guilty.

The trial is not until September and a plea is not off the table. So there's obviously conversations taking place, especially after what happened in Congress, and we'll see," he said in the interview with CBS 2, referring to his expulsion from Congress earlier this month.

Asked if he is afraid of going to jail, Santos responded: I think everybody should be afraid of going to jail, it's not a pretty place and uh, I definitely want to work very hard to avoid that as best as possible.

Prosecutors said in Monday's filing they are also seeking an earlier trial date in case the negotiations fail to produce a deal. The request is opposed by Santos lawyer, who didnt respond to an email seeking comment Monday.

Santos faces a host of charges that he defrauded donors to his campaign, lied to Congress about his wealth, received unemployment benefits while employed and used campaign contributions to pay for personal expenses like designer clothing. He pleaded not guilty in October to additional charges that he made tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges on credit cards belonging to some of his campaign donors.

Santos hasnt wasted any time looking to cash in on his infamy since becoming just the sixth lawmaker in history to be cast out by colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives, a move that left Republicans with a razor-thin majority in the chamber.

The 35-year-old Queens native launched an account on the website Cameo, where the public can pay him for a personalized video message. In the televised interview, Santos said he made more money in a week on the platform than his annual salary as a congressman.

Santos was touted as a rising star after he flipped the suburban district that covers the affluent North Shore of Long Island and a slice of the New York City borough of Queens last year.

But his life story unraveled before he was even sworn into office: Reports revealed he had lied about having Jewish ancestry, a career at top Wall Street firms and a college degree, among other things.

A special election will be held Feb. 13 to elect his House successor. That race will likely pit former U.S. Rep. Thomas Suozzi, a Democrat who previously held the seat before running unsuccessfully for governor, against one of a number of Republicans.

___

Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo.
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A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson has expressed the country's regret and disappointment at the U.S. veto of a recent resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

On Dec. 8, the United Nations Security Council voted on the ceasefire resolution drafted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but it was not adopted due to a veto from the United States.

When asked to comment, spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily press briefing that close to 20,000 civilians have been killed and over a million displaced in the past two months since the start of the current outbreak of violence in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

"A ceasefire and an end to the hostilities is currently the top priority and reflects the broad international aspiration," she said.

Close to 100 countries, including China, co-sponsored the draft resolution tabled by the UAE, representing Arab countries, Mao said, noting that China regrets and is disappointed at the U.S. veto, which was the only veto against the resolution.

The spokesperson noted that allowing the conflict to continue means heavier civilian casualties and a greater humanitarian catastrophe, and will sow more seeds of hatred.

"On issues of war and peace, life and death, major countries with influence need to play a constructive role in helping end the fight, make utmost efforts to avoid civilian casualties, and stand on the side of peace and the side of life," Mao said.
A Glasgow man has won one of the most prestigious awards in climbing just years after a near-death experience on an expedition.

Tim Miller, 27, started climbing local Munros before taking on treacherous, uncharted peaks around the world.

He was awarded the Piolet d'Or, dubbed mountaineering's Oscars, for summitting the previously unclimbed Jugal Spire in Nepal.

Tim's climb was the first ascent of the treacherous near-vertical route.

The 21,532ft (6563m) peak was summited without supplemental oxygen, fixed ropes or Sherpa support - known as "Alpine style".

The achievement comes just years after Tim was caught in a fatal avalanche which claimed the life of his friend and fellow climber Christian Huber in 2018.

Dig up to the surface

While camping at an altitude of 19,300ft (5883m) on the snowy terrains of Pakistan's Ultar Sar mountain, the group was buried under six feet of snow.

"It was quite a small avalanche but because we were lying on the bottom of our tent, it buried us," he said. "I was at the other side of the tent so I was cut off from them."

Tim managed to chew through the fabric of the tent and dig his way to the surface, however his friends did not emerge.

He helped save the life of their other climbing partner, Bruce Normand, but Tim discovered Christian was already dead.

Bruce and Tim dug out their kit and spent two days in their broken tent waiting for the weather to ease before being airlifted to safety by a Pakistani military helicopter.

"It all went by in such a blur," said Tim. "I didn't take it in immediately because I was so focused on finding what I needed to survive - warmth, food, liquid, and shelter.

"When I came down, it all hit me and I saw how much the whole thing had terrified my mum, dad, and girlfriend. But it made me realise how much I need to climb.

"When I think about it now, it's like someone else's story that you read in a book."

'In a flow'

Tim told BBC Scotland how he learned a lot from the experience and makes sure to plan extensively before embarking on a climb.

"It can be scary at times but I feel far more stressed when I'm off the mountain and my phone starts pinging," he said.

"You're in flow when you're in the mountains, and I find it quite hard to deal with getting off it and living a 'normal' life."

Tim first met legendary climber Paul Ramsden, who he partnered with on his award-winning ascent, while hitchhiking home to Glasgow after climbing Ben Nevis.

The pair stayed in touch and meticulously planned the journey up Jugal Spire for years before making the eight-day expedition in the spring of 2022.

He added: "There's only a handful of unclaimed peaks out there, and there's so much hard work scouring books and Google Earth before you get there, but it's still unknown until you're on the mountain."

It would rain, hail, or snow for at least part of each day of the expedition, and an avalanche ripped the tent apart towards the end of the trip.

The two were forced to wrap themselves in the fabric and they spent one night sleeping in a two-foot tall cave.

Tim suffered frostbite during their climb up the steep granite face covered in ice, but said the journey was "really amazing".

"You're hanging off this mountain where humans aren't meant to be and clipped into a few bit of gear on a rock," he said. "It's like being on Mars."

He started climbing with his parents at a young age which sparked his passion, before going on to his first job at the Glasgow Climbing Centre in Ibrox.

Now a fully qualified mountain guide, Tim leads expeditions up mountains with trips to Greenland, Iceland and Nepal planned for next year.

"I'm incredibly proud to receive a Piolet d'Or, but I never got into climbing for awards," he said. "The award is being able to explore the unexplored, and the adventure itself.

"On an expedition you don't have to think about anything else for six weeks; you read, you chat and you climb.

"You have to switch yourself off to be alert. All your actions have consequences so there's no choice but to focus entirely. It's like nothing else."
The Black man seen giving chair shots to white people in those viral Alabama Riverfront brawl videos isnt going to prison after all.



Reggie Bernard Ray pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after being charged in connection to the infamous fight in Montgomery that should go down in Black Twitter history. According to police chief Darryl Albert, the beef started when a cruise ship carrying over 200 people was attempting to dock but a private boat packed with white folks was parked in its space. When dockworker Damien Pickett asked them to move, the white folks responded with racist hostility, and things boiled into an altercation.

Read more

The report also names the four other white people who were charged in connection to the viral incident. Mary Todd, Zachary Shipman and Allen Todd pleaded guilty to harassment, and Richard Roberts pleaded guilty to third-degree assault. Mary, Allen, and Shipman each received suspended sentences varying from 15 to 60 days.

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Grumbling over Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) plans for a floor showdown on competing House Intelligence and Judiciary Committee bills has punted the debate over how to reform the nations warrantless surveillance powers.

The House Rules Committee pulled consideration of the two bills after a GOP conference meeting that was staged as a debate over reforming Section 702 of the Foreign Surveillance Intelligence Act (FISA), which allows the government to spy on foreigners overseas.

But the differences between the two pieces of legislation took a backseat to Johnsons plan for resolving a months-long standoff over how to reconcile differences between the two bills, thwarting his plan for a Queen of the Hill battle that would bring both to the floor for a vote.

While the unusual process would allow consideration of both bills, it would not allow for amendments, alarming members who want to hash out differences between the two approaches.

I dont think thats the way to do business. What were going to do is were gonna take two bills that we have strong disagreements on and say, Sorry, take it or leave it. A or B? Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said.

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), another Rules member, also dismissed the process, saying Its not a beauty pageant.

Its not the best way, you dont flip a coin, he added.

A FISA 702 extension has been included in the defense policy bill, which if approved would buy the House until mid-April to find a solution.

But the failure to follow through with Johnsons preferred approach is yet another example of the deep divisions in the GOP  ones that are not easily managed.

Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), a Judiciary member, said he believes Johnson needs to back one of the two proposals, adding that the Queen of the Hill idea epitomizes Congresss stupidity.

Certainly he should, he said of the need to pick, advocating for the Judiciary bill he helped work on and contending they are the committee of jurisdiction.

Mike Johnson is a great guy. Hes under all the pressure that Washington brings to bear. And hell figure out a path given sufficient time.

Johnson elected to go with the uncommon procedure after the two panels split over how to reform FISA 702, which sweeps up information of Americans who communicate with foreign targets.

Its a database of information the intelligence community argues they need real-time access to in order to thwart terrorism, but one that has also been abused by the FBI.

The House Judiciary bill would require a warrant to access information on Americans captured under 702  something critics see as blinding law enforcement to critical information.

The House Intelligence bill would limit the number of FBI personnel who can conduct searches and includes other reform measures, but critics see its broad language as expanding the authority of 702. That includes allowing its use to screen anyone coming to the U.S.  something critics fear would improperly use a terrorism authority within immigration.

Despite other significant overlap between the bills, those two positions are not easily resolved.

I feel like we could do a better job of getting those two bills together and coming up with one bill  Very few people on either side of the aisle deal a lot with FISA and understand the intricacies, and so to ask for a Queen of the Hill vote is, I think it really misses the point, said Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), one of the few Judiciary members opposed to his panels approach.

Because youve got two sets of experts and they disagree. And now its just gonna be a popularity contest. Its not really going to be on the merits of the bills.

With several Rules Committee members also serving on Judiciary, many said that was their preferred package to move forward.

Judiciary has primary jurisdiction. We should put that bill on the floor  I would put Judiciary on the floor with all the amendments the Intel Committee wants with up or down votes, said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who serves on Judiciary and Rules.

Or alternatively, the Speaker should sit down with the two chairmen and a parliamentarian and say, Okay, you have jurisdiction here. You have jurisdiction here. And you guys write each of your respective jurisdictions provisions.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Senate Republicans on the eve of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskys arrival in Washington are casting increasing doubt they will reach a deal unlocking aid to his country by the end of the year.

Help for Ukraine is linked to talks on a border deal, and senators on Monday said they were no closer to reaching an agreement on the issue, which would push work on the $111 billion package requested by President Biden into 2024. The package was to cover money for Ukraine, Israel, the border and other priorities.

On Monday, the lead GOP negotiator conceded that time was almost up on the talks.

Asked if the border talks are set to spill into the new year, Sen. James Lankford (Okla.) responded, At this point, yeah.

The clocks been running out over the weekend, he added.

The Senate is scheduled to leave town by the end of the week, and the House departs a day earlier, giving negotiators only days to strike a deal  something both sides see as a massive, if not impossible, hill to climb even after weekend talks.

Democrats say they made slow progress over the weekend, with the White House becoming more involved.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who is leading negotiations for Democrats, told reporters that discussions will continue throughout the week and that senators will continue to try to get to a result.

But Lankford complained that the talks over the weekend were largely between Democrats and the White House, saying that he was not looped in and that discussions among all parties needed to happen in the coming days.

Were at a bit of a standstill, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said Monday.

The standstill would be a significant loss for Zelensky, who is arriving to Washington in a last-ditch effort to win over support.

Zelensky will address senators Tuesday morning and is set for separate sit-downs with Biden and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who has signaled support for another round of aid, though it is conditional on border talks.

Senate Democrats were hopeful Zelensky could help convince Republicans that time is of the extreme essence.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) argued Zelenskys visit, his third to Washington, will be his most important visit of all.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Schumers deputy, told reporters that some lawmakers are suffering from limited attention spans after the U.S. urged Zelensky and Ukraine to fight head-on in the months immediately after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

They are ready to turn the channel  away from Ukraine. I think thats unfair and unrealistic, Durbin said.

Republicans said they wanted to hear from Zelensky but dismissed the possibility that he could change their minds.

Obviously, we want to be able to hear  whats going on, Lankford said, pointing to what Ukraines partners across the globe are doing to help in the war. Thats important to hear. We want to hear progress in whats occurring. Those things are incredibly important.

But if youre talking about anything [Zelensky] could say to say, Hey, pay attention to us but not your own country  no, Lankford said. Weve got to be able to deal with all these things together.

Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) was even more blunt, saying he was offended by the visit.

Zelensky is parachuting into this domestic political debate about prioritizing our own border. Hes not here to tell us anything we havent heard before, hes here to badger and browbeat Speaker Johnson and Senate Republicans into forgoing our negotiations on border security in order to write him another blank check, Vance said on Steve Bannons War Room.

Despite the pessimism from Republicans, Democrats maintained that a path still exists toward striking a deal eventually. Murphy said that he believes a bill could be crafted that could win north of 70 votes in the upper chamber  a stark reversal in rhetoric from last week, when he and Senate Democrats walked away from the negotiating table.

The Connecticut Democrat, though, has a problem on his left flank. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, issued the following joint statement calling on Biden to reject Trump-era immigration policies that are being discussed in the border negotiations.

We are deeply concerned that the President would consider advancing Trump-era immigration policies that Democrats fought so hard against  and that he himself campaigned against  in exchange for aid to our allies that Republicans already support, the pair said in a statement, adding that caving to the demands would set a dangerous precedent.

Without a deal, the Senate is expected to adjourn at the end of the week after the chamber passes the annual defense policy bill  though Schumer has also indicated that he wants to advance the promotions of roughly a dozen 4-star generals still being held by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).

However, top Democrats indicated they are willing to see where discussions go. Durbin told reporters that the situation at the border is not sustainable, pointing to the number of crossings last week that hit record highs  figures that Lankford repeatedly brought up to reporters during the course of negotiations.

However, they are ready to pin the blame on the GOP if talks go south.

We are not there yet, but as a sign of good faith, Democrats are going to keep trying, Schumer said. If Republicans keep insisting on Donald Trumps border policies, then they will be at fault when a deal for aid to Ukraine, Israel and humanitarian aid to Gaza fall apart.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Top Republicans evaded questions about a Texas Supreme Court ruling barring a woman with a life-threatening pregnancy from getting an abortion, the latest high-profile case arising as a result of severely restrictive abortion laws around the country.

Im a federal official so I really dont have a comment, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who once served as a judge on the Texas Supreme Court, said when asked about the ruling on Tuesday.

Asked if he believed the ruling was fair to the woman, 31-year-old Kate Cox, Cornyn said: Its state law, its really not my role.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who is up for reelection next year, also declined to answer questions about the matter, instructing reporters to call his office instead. A request for comment to Cruzs office was not returned.

Cox filed her lawsuit last week while 20 weeks pregnant after her doctor informed her that her fetus was unlikely to make it to term or survive long outside the womb. The pregnancy would risk her life and ability to carry future children, doctors warned her.

A lower court judge initially ruled in Coxs favor, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton urged the states Supreme Court to intervene. However, just hours before the ruling on Monday, Coxs attorneys announced she had traveled out of state to obtain the time-sensitive procedure.

The lawsuit follows the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade last year, which allowed Texas and other GOP-controlled states to crack down on access to abortion. Texas law now prohibits abortions beyond six weeks of pregnancy.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a rare GOP supporter of abortion rights, called the Texas Supreme Court ruling against Cox a terrible decision on Tuesday.

Its just inconceivable to me, Collins added.

Collins was heavily criticized by pro-choice groups after she voted to confirm two Supreme Court justices nominated by former President Donald Trump: Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, who went on to overturn Roe after nearly 50 years of binding precedent.

Other Republicans ducked questions about the Texas ruling and reiterated simply that they personally support abortion exceptions for life of the mother, even though that didnt appear to be the case in Coxs Texas suit.

I have not looked into that, but I do believe in the life of the mother. Ive made that exception previously, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said.

Texas Rep. Roger Williams (R) said its a unique case. I dont really know, candidly, what I think of it right now. I go back to being pro-life with the only exception being the death of the mother, Williams told HuffPost.

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), a staunch abortion opponent who leads the National Republican Senatorial Committee, emphasized that Republicans running for office need to make it clear they do not support a federal ban on all abortions and that we must have exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother.

The passage of restrictive abortion laws, including a proposal to ban abortions after 15 weeks nationwide, sparked an electoral backlash for the GOP in the 2022 midterm elections as well as in several state referendums. Its an issue that will again be front and center in the 2024 election, with more state referendums seeking to protect abortion access on the horizon.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) warned on Tuesday that Republicans will want to emulate Texas approach to abortion nationally if they gain control of the Senate next year.

This is the next step in the Republican agenda on abortion, Warren told HuffPost. If the Republicans can get control nationally, they can push those laws all across the country. The woman in Texas was able to go to another state to get an abortion. If the Republicans have their way, only people who can afford to leave the country will have an option to get the medical care they need.

Earlier this year, a woman who had sued Texas for denying her an abortion while facing pregnancy complications appeared at a Senate hearing and singled out Cornyn and Cruz over their states abortion law.

I would like for them to know that what happened to me its a direct result of the policies that they support, Amanda Zurawski said at the April hearing. I nearly died on their watch as a result of what happened to me, I may have been robbed of the opportunity to have children in the future.

Arthur Delaney contributed reporting.

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Republicans hostile to the way elite universities shape the nations cultural and political debates are smelling blood in the water after a disastrous hearing in which the presidents of three schools refused to say students who called for the genocide of Jews would be disciplined.

One of the presidents, Liz Magill of the University of Pennsylvania, has already resigned, and Republicans are seeking to stoke pressure on the other two who testified last week, Claudine Gay of Harvard University and Sally Kornbluth of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

One down. Two to go, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), whose questioning of the three presidents went viral after they gave evasive answers to her queries, said of Magills resignation.

The House Education Committee has now announced a full investigation of antisemitism at universities, signaling GOP lawmakers have no intention of letting the issue quiet down anytime soon.

GOP lawmakers who have long decried the handling of Americas top schools see last weeks hearing as a crucial moment of truth, and they want a price to be paid for it.

Republicans have been trying this for a long time, said Ryan Enos, professor of government and faculty associate in the Institute for Quantitative Social Science at Harvard, one of the schools under fire, when asked if Republicans could use the momentum against higher education to advance certain policy proposals.

One of the most popular GOP education targets in recent years has been schools diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which specifically came under fire at the Education panel hearing, with some conservatives blaming them in part for rising antisemitism. Other GOP lawmakers threatened to go after the schools prodigious federal grants for science and research if they failed to mend their ways.

Enos said that Republicans have been finding reasons to chip away at higher education over time.

Chairwoman for the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) announced last week her panel would be investigating the three schools after their presidents said at the hearing that it would depend on the context if a call for the genocide of Jewish people would be considered harassment on campus.

Although those three are private institutions, Foxx said in an interview that she would be willing to cut public funds from colleges that are not doing enough to combat antisemitism.

We cannot tolerate taxpayer dollars going to institutions that allow for antisemitism and for calling for genocide of the Jews, she said.

In announcing the formal probe, Foxx had warned that other universities should expect investigations as well, as their litany of similar failures has not gone unnoticed.

This investigation will include substantial document requests, and the Committee will not hesitate to utilize compulsory measures including subpoenas if a full response is not immediately forthcoming, she said in a statement.

More than 70 lawmakers signed a bipartisan letter calling for the three presidents to be removed.

I mean, a number of Democrats at that hearing were quite critical of the university presidents and their institutions responses to rampant antisemitism on campus, said Jay Greene, senior research fellow in the Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation. This is not a Republicans pounce kind of moment.

But Republicans have for a long time argued higher education receives too much money and wastes it on bureaucracy.

Universities have been overly or have heavily pursued a diversity, equity and inclusion agenda that is based in critical theory, and DEI bureaucracy has metastasized in its size and also in its influence on campus so that it has made certain kinds of speech impermissible, Greene said, adding the shifts have been enforcing an ideological orthodoxy on campus.

He argued that it took so long for others to recognize the growing problem in higher education because the nature of politics is that until problems become very severe, people tend not to be motivated for action, but the problem has become severe enough and obvious enough.

But others say Stefaniks line of questioning and the nature of the hearing itself were not a genuine attempt at dealing with antisemitism and put the presidents in a no-win situation.

I think very obviously, [Harvard President Claudine Gay] satisfied nobody with those comments. But the thing to keep in mind is, of course, that hearing was designed in a way that wasnt going to satisfy anybody, Enos said.

I think its very clear this is part of an agenda that is just trying to politicize higher education, he added.

More than 600 Harvard faculty members signed a petition in support of Gay amid calls for her to resign.

The hearing was deeply politicized and was clearly part of a strategy to discredit institutions of higher education, the 14 faculty members who started the petition said in a statement.

Stefanik condemned Harvards faculty for the petition.

What a truly sad and deplorable state of affairs for the faculty and administration of our most esteemed institutions of higher learning when instead of focusing on protecting the safety and security of Jewish students under historic antisemitic attacks with a crystal clear condemnation of calls for genocide of Jews, they are instead obsessively focused on their dislike and entitled disdain for those with opposing political beliefs, Stefanik said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

On Monday, the executive committee of Harvards Alumni Association announced its full support for Gay, pointing to her apology for the House testimony later last week.

Free speech advocates have also defended the presidents comments, saying legally that type of call would depend on the context. But they are sympathetic to those who are voicing frustrations.

Of course, one can understand the frustration of critics who rightly observe how quickly college administrators  including those at Harvard, Penn, and MIT  will reach for speech codes when certain disfavored views are expressed, yet don the cloak of free speech when they are more sympathetic to the speech at issue, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said in a statement.

While the hearing has caused anger toward the three high-profile schools, some are doubtful that any hyperpartisan changes to the university system will become reality.

Jon Fansmith, senior vice president of government relations and national engagement at the American Council on Education, said he is hopeful that lawmakers can bifurcate their feelings about how an institution or some institutions are doing in one area such as the fight on antisemitism versus what are the best policy options out there for other issues.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A jobs only worth doing if its done well. This age-old truth has never been more applicable than it is to the Prime Ministers Rwanda Bill.

Rishi Sunak has pledged to stop the boats. Decent-minded people across the UK long for him to succeed. This miserable trade in human beings is an abomination. The case against it is about humanitarianism, national security, the cost to the public and fairness in equal measure, and the British people are rightly upset and angry that we are unable to exercise meaningful border control.

Time and again, we have seen our human rights settlement confound our best efforts to do this. The Prime Minister has responded by introducing what he claims is the toughest piece of migration legislation ever put forward by a UK government. This is undoubtedly the case  and yet this is not a situation where best endeavours will suffice.

Heaven knows I wish they would. I welcome the fact that aspects of Tony Blairs Human Rights Act would be disapplied by this legislation. I would love to believe that our sovereign Parliament asserting that Rwanda is a safe country (as it undoubtedly is  just ask Arsenal FC, whose shirts invite us all to visit every week) would provide definitive assurance for the courts.

Politically, were this legislation to succeed, it would allow us better to expose the Labour Partys position on this issue, which is to peddle fundamental untruths that asking the French nicely for a returns agreement would solve a problem whose scale so clearly transcends such platitudes.

Yet wishing will not make it so. The European Research Groups Star Chamber has set out a clear critique as to why the legislation before Parliament is partial and incomplete. Its full analysis can be found on the Lawyers for Britain website, and I recommend this, but in summary:

The Bill contains no restrictions on challenging removal to Rwanda on grounds other than that it is not a safe country. A raft of personal claims have already been brought on any number of other grounds, and migrants creative advisers will undoubtedly carry on generating these unless and until this is constrained.

The Bill expressly preserves the possibility of legal challenges to removal based on arguments that a persons individual circumstances may lead to the risk of ill treatment. Such claims have had a high rate of success.

The Bill fails to exclude both sections four and 10 of the Human Rights Act, leaving it vulnerable to international law arguments.

There are only limited restrictions on interim injunctions in our courts, and there is no exclusion of interim measures by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. The Bill generously states that a minister may decide not to comply with the latter, but this is no more than a restatement of our existing legal position (and perversely the reference to ministerial decisions in the legislation could risk judicial review).

The Bill fails to disapply Strasbourg case law, in particular restricting the ability of the Government to detain illegal migrants except where their removal is imminent. Paradoxically, the longer an appeal can be sustained, the greater the risk this right is engaged.

We know that the Governments own legal assessment is that the Bill has only a 50 per cent chance of success at best. As Robert Jenrick, who resigned as immigration minister in protest last week, has argued powerfully, our pledge was not to get a few half-empty token flights in the air next year; the Governments Bill might just, with a following wind, achieve this.

The exam question is whether the Government will stop the boats  and it is clear this legislation is unlikely do this. We need to make it a matter of routine that if you come to the UK illegally, you will not get to stay here, but you will instead end up in the asylum system of a safe third country. Then, and only then, will we change the incentives behind the people smuggling trade.

It is in the Governments power to strengthen the Bill to deliver this, and I believe it should be withdrawn to allow such changes to be made. President Kagames reported unwillingness to amend legislation which already accepts incompatibility with the Human Rights Act could, I suspect, be overcome.

My One Nation colleagues, so many of whom I count as friends, need to recognise urgently that there will be no nation for the Conservatives to govern unless we deliver on our promises to the people.

Sir Simon Clarke is the Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland

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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) heaped criticism on Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Tuesday, saying he has no confidence in him to get a palatable border deal and urging President Biden to get directly involved in talks in order to win a deal.

Following the Senates meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Graham leveled harsh words against Murphy, pressing that as long as he is the lead Democratic negotiator involved in border discussions, there will be no deal thats sellable to the GOP. He also believes the key to unlock a deal is boosting Bidens involvement.

The key is to get the commander in chief involved in the negotiations. Sen. Murphy  I have no confidence hes ever going to get a deal we can live with, because hes worried about selling it to the left, Graham said. The commander in chief  if theres a deal to be made  is going to have to get involved in the negotiations. Its his job above all others.

The South Carolina Republican, who has been part of border discussions in recent weeks, also complained that Murphy has been very unhelpful and that his attitude about whats going on is off base.

Were not holding the border hostage. Were trying to protect the American people, Graham said.

Murphy declined to comment directly on Grahams remarks, saying only that, Youll have to ask Sen. Graham about that.

Murphy and Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) have kept up discussions toward a possible deal, but one does not appear imminent. Lankford told reporters Monday that he did not foresee an agreement being reached before the end of the week, and that because the House is scheduled to adjourn then for the Christmas break, the talks will be kicked into January.

Discussions in recent days have centered between Lankford, Murphy, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and, most recently, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients.

We continue to make progress. Weve made serious proposals that put us outside of our Democratic comfort zone. We need Republicans to stretch, and if they do, we can get there, the Connecticut Democrat said. Theres been significant back-and-forth.

Grahams comments also came after he explained that he asked the final question to Zelensky during his meeting with senators Tuesday morning. As part of that question, Graham told the Ukrainian president that he feared he was being used by Democrats.

I like him and I admire him, Graham told reporters. I said, Youve done everything anybody can ask of you. This is not your problem here. You didnt make this problem. It will affect you and affect the whole world, but policy choices matter.

They made policy choices for three years to lead to a nightmare on the border. They need to change their policy choices, he continued.

Graham added that his stance was only bolstered by recent comments made by FBI Director Christopher Wray that he sees blinking red lights everywhere I turn that could portend a possible major terror attack in the U.S.

I told President Zelensky my No. 1 obligation is to secure my country as well as help yours, and I feel like my countrys border policies are an immediate threat to the safety of the American people, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Greene says MAGA would revolt if Trump let Haley join his team

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) fiercely rejected the idea that former President Trump, the 2024 GOP presidential frontrunner, would pick rival Nikki Haley to serve as his running mate in the general election.

MAGA would revolt if Nikki Haley were to even be given an internship in Trumps next administration, Greene wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, referring to supporters of Trumps Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.

She represents the neocon establishment America last wing of the Republican Party that we are absolutely done with, she continued. Also, she lied and said she would not run against Trump.

Greene, who has frequently been seen as the face of Trumps MAGA base, was responding to growing whispers of a possible Trump-Haley ticket, as the former South Carolina governors support continues to grow among many Republican primary voters who have soured on the former president.

Haley, who now rivals Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as Trumps closest contender in many national polls, has been a less frequent target of the former presidents ire  which has more often been directed at DeSantis.

Greenes resounding rejection also comes after some high-profile figures have floated the hypothetical ticket in public appearances.

Lara Trump, the former presidents daughter-in-law, said Monday night that the former president is not ruling Haley out as a potential running mate. Trump is still leading in most polls by at least 30 points.

Crazier things have happened, Lara Trump told Newsmaxs Eric Bolling about a potential Trump-Haley ticket. I dont know, I would never say never with Donald J. Trump.

About two weeks ago, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said choosing a running mate is about addition, not subtraction, so youre not going to pick somebody that already equates to you.

Now if I was picking for purely political decisions, what it looks like today is the anti-Trump vote is going to Nikki Haley, McCarthy said, adding that Haley looks like the person most able to consolidate the vote.

Well, right now I think it would be Nikki Haley, in my view, he added, when asked who the right person would be for Trump to pick up more votes. But the question is: Who you select, will they serve? So thats another question you have to have. And its about addition.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Even though [Lear] found enormous successhe founded our organization, People For the American Way, to create a home for people really of all stripes, says Svante Myrick.

While celebrated television writer and producer Norman Lear is best known for his hit TV shows and films, many might not know about his decades-long political activism that extended beyond Hollywood.

In 1980, Lear founded People For the American Way, a progressive advocacy group he created to combat the rise of a Christian right-wing that was dominating American politics.

Norman Lear speaks at an event in NYC to celebrate People For the American Way Foundation (PFAW) founder and national treasure, legendary TV producer Norman Lear, in honor of his 95th birthday on Oct. 5, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for People For The American Way)

After serving in World War II and flying more than 50 bomb missions over Nazi Germany, including some in which he was escorted by the all-Black Tuskegee Airmen, Lear returned to the United States.

He quickly became disappointed and disheartened when he found conservative voices saying that the Jewish people[and] progressives were not true Americans [and] were not patriots, recalled Svante Myrick, a friend of Lear and president of the organization he founded more than 40 years ago.

Myrick noted that when Lear created People For the American Way, which is based in Washington, D.C., then-presidential candidate Ronald Reagan was rising to dominance, and the United Kingdoms Margaret Thatcher had only recently become the countrys first female prime minister.

This Christian right-wing nationalism was beginning to dominate our politics, Myrick told theGrio.



Even though [Lear] found enormous success through All in the Family and The Jeffersons and Sanford and Son he founded our organization, People For the American Way, to create a home for people really of all stripes, he explained.

Lears mission was to create a political engine to fight against the idea that ones political beliefs defined whether or not one was a patriot.

He wanted to make a home for the freedom of speech, to protect the rights of those who are different, to protect the rights of those who are minorities, said Myrick.

Forty-three years later, PFAW has been on the frontlines of the countrys biggest political battles, including most recently, the fight for voting rights and reproductive justice after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending nearly 50 years of federally protected abortion access.

After decades of progress, were actually seeing a dangerous resurgence, Myrick said of Christian far-right political figures and ideologies that are shaping policies across the country.

President Ronald Reagan makes a stump speech in front of a large American flag. (Photo by  Wally McNamee/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

Though he doesnt believe Donald Trump holds personal religious views, he said the former president and current Republican presidential candidate certainly benefits from the support of the right-wing Christian white nationalists.



The rise of U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., the new speaker of the House of Representatives, is particularly of concern, said Myrick.

Johnson, who described himself as a new Moses called by God to lead the nation through a Red Sea moment, has been called out by Democratic critics who point out that the new conservative speaker wants to criminalize abortion, cut funding to social programs such as Social Security and Medicare, and roll back rights for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

This is a dangerous time, and if were not on alert, they will roll back the rights of all people for whom they disagree, warned Myrick.

They will bring us not only back to pre-1960, but backto the Middle Ages, in which landowners and the wealthy control all decisions in the country, he continued, and the rest of us will not only be kept in the dark but kept in serfdom, poverty, and women especially are kept and used as possessions and not as full humans.

The political stakes, particularly ahead of the 2024 election, is why People For the American Way is convinced that Lears intention with the organization in 1980 is more relevant and necessary today. The group created a fund in his name, the Norman Lear Legacy Fund, which will be used to address three critical issue areas he cared most about: freedom, justice, and democracy.

He thought if we could live in a country with free expression, then we can make this nation a better place for all of us, said Myrick, adding, Norman [also] understood the role of the judiciary in our lives, from legalizing or making illegal de facto segregation to, of course, upholding abortion rights or then taking those rights away.

People For the American Way is going to continue to fight for a fair judiciary and a better Supreme Court in particular, he added. And most importantly, said Myrick, Lear wanted to make sure people had access to the right to vote.



So were going to do those things, he vowed.

Reflecting on his personal relationship with Lear, Myrick recalled when the Hollywood giant asked him to become the new president of People For the American Way. At the time, Myrick was mayor of Ithaca, New York.

He [was] 67 years older than me, and he asked a young-ish Black mayor to come and lead his organization, he said.

Myrick continued: We had very little in common except a shared belief that America should belong to all of us. And that sort of selflessness, that sort of dedication to other people, and a belief in the power of teamwork is why so many of us love Norman Lear.

The 36-year-old civil rights leader also shared that in addition to Lears political activism in Washington, his Hollywood career also served as its own activism that broke down racial barriers. In fact, Myrick said, he would not be alive today if it were not for Lears depictions of Black American life being beamed into tens of millions of American homes.



The humanizing effect of those stories did more to advance, I believe, the cause of race relations than [his shows] will ever get credit for, said Myrick. He knew that our politics lives downstream of our culture.



He added, If we can change the cultural conversation, you can change the political outcomes.



Myrick recalled when his white mother brought his father, a Black man, to her community in upstate New York, where there were zero Black people living there.

The very fact that there was a broader familiarity, I think, knocked down all those anti-miscegenation laws that still existed when Norman was doing this work, he argued, and helped pave the way for much more love and acceptance in this world.

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Doctors group Do No Harm, which asserts that its mission is to safeguard health care from ideological threats, claims it has at least one member ready and able to apply for Vituitys Bridge to Brilliance program if the company stops discriminating against non-Black applicants.

A group that opposes diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in medicine has launched a lawsuit against what they view as a discriminatory program for Black doctors.

Bloomberg Law reported that the doctors group Do No Harm is taking legal action against Vituity over its Bridge to Brilliance program, a physician incentive initiative that includes a $100,000 signing bonus as part of its attempts to attract talent.

Black patients want the best doctors and the best medical care  not doctors that are racially concordant, said Do No Harm Board Chair Dr. Stanley Goldfarb. Vituitys Bridge to Brilliance program, which offers physicians hiring opportunities and sign-on bonuses on the basis of race, is abhorrent and rightfully illegal.

Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, founder of doctors group Do No Harm, has launched a lawsuit against Vituity over what they view as a discriminatory program for Black physicians. (Photo Credit: Screenshot/YouTube.com/Fox News via Do No Harm)

Vituity is a physician-owned and maintained patient medical network that provides various medical services nationwide, reportedly seeing 8 million patients annually across 450 practice sites.

The company touts that they designed the Bridge to Brilliance program to fill gaps in access and opportunity in health care for historically marginalized communities.

Vituity said in a statement to Fox News Digital that it firmly believes in the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion, which the Bridge to Brilliance program emphasizes.

We will vigorously defend the program, the organization added, and continue our mission to enhance health care services for all communities.

According to its website, the companys DEI/Health Equity team leads the program, which provides aspiring and current health care professionals with the resources and support needed to thrive on their journey in medicine.

However, Do No Harm claims the initiative constitutes racial discrimination in violation of federal law since it appears to be solely available to Black physicians.

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According to the lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, the $100,000 signing incentive for the program is much higher than Vituitys regular signing bonuses.

The lawsuit claims Vituity infringes on Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act, which protects the equal right of all persons to make and enforce contracts without respect to race, and forbids intentional race discrimination in the making and enforcing of public and private contracts.

According to the suit, Vituity also violates Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which states that no individual shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any health program or activity, any part of which receives Federal financial assistance, including credits, subsidies, or insurance contracts, on the basis of any ground prohibited under Title VI.

Do No Harm has nearly 6,100 members, including doctors, nurses, and physicians from around the United States and 14 other countries.

The group, which asserts that its mission is to safeguard health care from ideological threats, claims in its lawsuit that it has at least one member, referred to as Doctor A, ready and able to apply for the incentive program if Vituity stops discriminating against non-Black applicants.

It also references a recent Supreme Court judgment, Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. Harvard, in its complaint, which outlawed affirmative action in college admissions.

Do No Harm requests a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction prohibiting the program from closing the application period, selecting and offering applicants positions, or enforcing racially discriminatory criteria until the parties resolve the lawsuit. It also seeks a permanent injunction prohibiting Vituity from implementing its racially discriminatory program eligibility requirements.

Medical staffing agencies like Vituity are given the important responsibility of offering medical positions to the most qualified medical professionals, said Goldfarb, who contends that companies hire medical professionals on merit alone, Bloomberg reported. Like all aspects of health care, patient safety and patient concerns should be primary, not the skin color or the racial makeup of their physician.

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The post Group that opposes DEI efforts in medicine sues program that helps Black doctors as discriminatory appeared first on TheGrio.
As state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters ramps up his attacks on the Tulsa Public Schools, and implicit threats against other urban and suburban districts, there are some lessons of history that must be considered. I worry that Walters will mandate a combination of the most destructive policies of the last 20 years, threatening the survival of school systems that have suffered through both reward-and-punish school reform mandates and COVID.

After the Nov. 28 state Board of Education meeting, Walters was reported as saying that all options would remain on the table should Tulsa Public Schools not hit all of the benchmarks listed in the order. "Ive said Im willing to do everything to get that district back on track and that failure is not an option, Walters said. "That is still 100% the mentality."

The board had just approved new minimum improvements for TPS to achieve before July which included:

A minimum of 50% of students scoring at least in the basic range on the 2024 state test in English/language arts for public school students or increase the number of students who score basic or above by at least 5%.

This impossible timetable should be a reminder of one of No Child Left Behinds greatest lessons  the imposition of impossible goals, especially when they are incredibly rushed, is a recipe for failure. As the New York Times explained, No Child Left Behind mandated that all students must reach 'proficient' on state tests by 2014, a goal never reached by any nation or state. Any school that cannot reach that utopian goal will eventually be declared failing, with dire consequences, including firing the staff and closing the school. And that failure was blamed on teachers. Moreover, The Atlantic reported how that hurried schedule actually increased the number of schools that failed to meet No Child Left Behind goals from 29% in 2006 to 48% in 2011.

Walters also pushes for merit-based pay raises. Peter Greene, with 39 years of teaching experience, is an education writer who explains why judging teacher merit based on test scores is only slightly more reliable than having a horned toad toss dice under a full moon. It sends the message, You will be judged on how well you teach to the test." Even then, Merit pay based on test scores does not incentivize better teaching.

Tulsans should be especially aware of the damage done by imposing an output-driven, test-driven teacher training and evaluation system. In the 1990s when we in the MAPS for Kids planning process visited Tulsa for guidance, Tulsa Public Schools was clearly a better system than Oklahoma City Public Schools. But, in 2010, Tulsa received a $1.5 million Gates Foundation teacher performance pay grant, implementing value-added evaluations, using test scores, and unreliable and invalid algorithms.

The Gates dollars almost certainly drove down the quality of instruction, as it did elsewhere across the country. (I must admit to helping Oklahoma City Public Schools apply for the grant; we were so lucky to not receive it.) Tulsa then found itself in a situation where 30% of teachers, including 388 emergency certified teachers, had less than two years of experience in Tulsa Public Schools. Worse, according to a massive Stanford study of student growth from 2009 to 2015, Tulsa students lost more ground from third to eighth grade than those in all but six of the nations school systems. Tulsa Public Schools' students gained only 3.8 years of learning over those five years; that was .6 of a year worse than Oklahoma City Public Schools.

Also, Walters demands that Tulsa remove at least 12 of the districts 18 school sites from the states comprehensive support and improvement list. And hes explicitly pushing for school closures. As the Voice reports, Such a move would not be unprecedented. Oklahoma City Public Schools closed 15 schools and reconfigured 17 others in 2019. So, I urge a study of the lessons of that transformative approach.

Research from the National Education Policy Center indicates that closing low-performing schools is a failing reform strategy.

"School closure as a strategy for remedying student achievement in low-performing schools is at best a high-risk/low-gain strategy that fails to hold promise with respect to either increasing student achievement or promoting the noncognitive well-being of students. The strategy invites political conflict and incurs hidden costs for both districts and local communities, especially low-income communities and communities of color," according to the research.

Oklahoma City Public Schools correctly recognized that the district faced a demographic challenge that would require some school closures in 2019. But, its Pathways to Greatness quickly implemented dramatic changes, including an unanticipated number of closures and reconfigurations at a time when the district was tackling other challenges, including mental health and trauma-informed instruction, chronic absenteeism, implementing STEM, dealing with the violence which was in the news, responding to angry parents, and implementing its Vision of Equity.

My worry was that such a hurried, daunting project would drive many students out of the district, meaning that it would cost more than it saved, and the resulting confusion could undermine teaching and learning.

Since Pathways to Greatness began seven months before the COVID epidemic hit, it is impossible to say how much of the following results were due to the program or COVID, but we know that the districts peak enrollment for that school year, not counting charters that were not affected by Pathways to Greatness, occurred on Sept. 24, 2019, with 36,006 students enrolled. In March, when COVID began in OKC, enrollment was down to 35,143, and remained flat after COVID hit.

According to news reports, Oklahoma City only enrolled 31,026 in the fall of 2020 and was third in the nation in enrollment loss. It rebounded only to 32,086 in the fall of 2021, while the neighboring Mid-Del and Edmond districts were in the top 15 for growth after COVID. This further supports the hypothesis that Oklahoma City Public Schools disturbing loss of students was due to the shutting down and reorganizing of schools, as well as COVID.

The reasons for the school districts decline likely include the decrease in student populations since 2014 when corporate reforms started with No Child Left Behind and the Race to the Top were fully implemented, and demographics. Moreover, the damage done across the nation by setting impossible goals, mandating rushed timelines, merit pay, and reward and punish policies must be remembered.

And all of these failed mandates were followed by the harm inflicted on families and schools by COVID. So, blaming districts for complying with 20 years of destructive, top-down demands should be avoided. Also, we must remember how vulnerable urban schools are today, and persuade patrons, educators, legislators and voters to push back against the Walters agenda.

John Thompson

John Thompson is a former Oklahoma City Public Schools teacher.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why we must push back against Ryan Walters' agenda
A group of New York hospitals and health care centers were targeted in a cyberattack that for two months allowed hackers to access patients' private information, officials said this week. The attack targeted three separate facilities in the Hudson Valley  HealthAlliance Hospital, Margaretville Hospital and Mountainside Residential Care Center  which all operate under the same parent company and within the hospital conglomerate Westchester Medical Center Health Network.

HealthAlliance, Inc., the corporate parent of the three facilities, said Monday that it "began mailing notification letters to patients whose information may have been involved in a data security incident." The security issue was acknowledged publicly in October by the broader Westchester health network, but few details were released about the nature or the extent of the breach as an investigation got underway. Now, officials say the probe involving the New York State Department of Health, local authorities in the Hudson Valley, the FBI and a third-party cybersecurity firm determined that hackers were able to access the parent company's information technology network from Aug. 18 to Oct. 13.

"While in our IT network, the unauthorized party accessed and acquired files that contain patient information," HealthAlliance said in a statement. "The information involved varied by patient, but may have included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, diagnoses, lab results, medications, and other treatment information, health insurance information, provider names, dates of treatment, and/or financial information."

HealthAlliance Hospital was one of three health care facilities within the Westchester Medical Center Health Network that was targeted in a cyberattack between August and October. / Credit: Business Wire via Associated Press

The company said it will offer free credit monitoring services and identity theft protection services to patients whose Social Security numbers were potentially stolen. It has also put in place "additional safeguards and technical security measures." A dedicated call center has been set up for patients to contact HealthAlliance with questions.

CBS News contacted Westchester Medical Center Health Network for more information but did not receive an immediate response.

The health network first warned that some of its facilities were facing a "potential cybersecurity threat and an IT system outage" on Oct. 16, it said in a statement at the time.

Patient care had not yet been impacted, the statement said. But, by Oct. 19, a planned shutdown of the connected IT systems used by all three affected facilities forced emergency medical services crews to divert ambulances from HealthAlliance Hospital and decide whether to discharge admitted patients or transfer them to other hospitals within the Westchester network. Those changes were in effect for several days as the temporary shutdown went ahead, followed by a staged reboot that lasted into the weekend.

Both HealthAlliance Hospital and Margaretville Hospital continued to accept walk-in patients, and officials said at the time they would be "treated, assessed and either released, or stabilized and transferred to other WMCHealth facilities." HealthAlliance said the facilities were "fully operational" by the evening of Oct. 21, although emergency stroke patients still needed to be treated elsewhere.

The cyberattack that targeted HealthAlliance was one of a growing number of cyber threats impacting hospitals and health care centers across the United States, potentially opening up patients' private data to bad actors and interrupting or threatening their quality of medical care. At least 299 hospitals have experienced ransomware attacks in 2023, according to the Institute for Security and Technology.

One attack last month targeted a large health care conglomerate, the Tennessee-based Ardent Health Services. The attack affected 30 hospitals and more than 200 health care sites across six states. The company said it became aware of the breach on Thanksgiving day.

Because of the breach, a patient scheduled to undergo a heart procedure at an affected health care site in Oklahoma and another scheduled for an annual cancer check at an affected site in Kansas both told CBS News their appointments were suddenly postponed or canceled entirely.

In New Jersey last month, two hospitals were forced to divert patients headed to their emergency rooms to other facilities, CBS New York reported. Hospital officials said at the time that patient care was not affected, but Jack Danahy, a cybersecurity expert, told CBS New York that cyberattacks like that one "can have a material effect on the provision of care," adding, "We know with the case of earlier attacks, it can take weeks or months for those systems to come back online."

Nicole Sganga contributed reporting.

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The hair samples of three U.S. presidents are set to launch into deep space later this month.

The Houston Chronicle reported that hair samples from presidents John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower and George Washington will be aboard a flight headed for deep space before the end of the year on United Launch Alliances Vulcan rocket. The mission will be organized by Celestis, a company that specializes in sending cremated remains and DNA samples to outer space.

It is absolutely feasible, from a scientific point, that future researchers can find this flight capsule and study whats in it, Colby Youngblood, president of Celestis, told the Chronicle. We feel its an honorable tribute to those three presidents to put them on this first historic mission.

Celestis said in a press release earlier this year that including DNA samples of the late presidents could help people way in the future learn more about U.S. history.

Off-world DNA storage allows the human genome to be preserved for thousands of years in space without degradation, the company stated. This means it is possible it could be discovered later, like a cosmic time capsule. This could allow future generations to learn more about the U.S. forefathers millennia into the future.

Celestis has sent DNA and cremated remains into space before. It advertises itself as helping families commemorate the lives of their departed loved ones through memorial spaceflights starting at nearly $3,000.

The DNA samples of the three late presidents will be on Celestiss Enterprise Flight, which is named in honor of the television series Star Trek. It will also be carrying the ashes of the series creator Gene Roddenberry, his wife Majel Barrett Roddenberry and a DNA sample of their son.

Were very pleased to be fulfilling, with this mission, a promise I made to Majel Barrett Roddenberry in 1997 that one day we would fly her and husband Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry together on a deep space memorial spaceflight, Celestis co-founder and CEO Charles M. Chafer said in a statement last year.

According to the website, the mission will launch more than 150 flight capsules containing cremated remains (ashes), DNA samples, and messages of greetings from clients worldwide on an endless journey in interplanetary space.

The flight was expected to take off in the early morning of Dec. 24, but the CEO of United Launch Alliance said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that it may launch at a later date.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4)  Hamilton, the award-winning Broadway musical surrounding the life of Alexander Hamilton, is officially returning to Salt Lake City next summer season.

Audiences hoping to attend performances of Hamilton can do so when they arrive at the Eccles Theater beginning on Jul. 31, 2024, and running through Sep. 1, 2024.

Foreigner and Styx announce tour stop in West Valley City

First premiered in New York City back in 2015, Hamilton is a rip-roaring, hip-hop musical inspired by Ron Chernows biography about the founding father, which was then created and adapted for the stage by composer/lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda.

According to its synopsis, the musical blends hip-hop, jazz, and R&B, following Alexander Hamiltons epic saga as he fights for honor, love, and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation.

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Taking Broadway and beyond by storm with tours around the globe, Hamilton has scored an extensive list of recognitions and awards since its premiere. It made history in 2016, winning a GRAMMY Award for Best Musical Theater Album, a Pulitzer Prize in Drama, and 11 various Tony Awards.

The last time Hamilton was hosted at the Eccles Theater was in 2021. Needless to say, tickets were very hard to come by to witness the on-stage magic. When the show first came to Salt Lake City in 2018, local media outlets reported that tickets sold out within hours  bringing even more excitement to the already-acclaimed production.

Presale tickets for the 2024 edition of Hamilton are currently offered to select members via the Broadway Across America eClub until Dec. 12, 2023.

General sales will begin on Dec. 13, 2023, at 10 a.m. MST via ArtTix and Broadway at the Eccles.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Nikki Haley, pictured during last week's GOP primary debate, is picking up a key endorsement in New Hampshire.

Nikki Haley, pictured during last week's GOP primary debate, is picking up a key endorsement in New Hampshire.

New Hampshires Republican Gov. Chris Sununu is expected to endorse Nikki Haley for the GOP presidential nomination, giving Haley a key supporter in her bid for the White House.

Sununu, one of the countrys most popular governors who himself passed on a run for president, will endorse Haley at a town hall event in Manchester on Tuesday, local news station WMUR first reported.

Sununus critical endorsement comes a month after Haleys rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, locked up an endorsement from another early-nominating state governor, Iowas Kim Reynolds.

Haley has been vocal about wanting support from Sununu. It would be big, Haley said last month. The idea that if we could get his endorsement, it would mean a lot. But, you know, well wait and see. Hes taking his time on this one, and were going to hold out.

Haley is nowhere close to catching up to Donald Trump in New Hampshire; polling averages have her trailing him by double digits, 45% to 19%. But shes beating DeSantis by several points there (DeSantis is actually in fourth place behind ex-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie), and a strong finish in New Hampshire will give the former South Carolina governor momentum heading into the next contest on the primary calendar, which happens to be in her home state.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, one of the nation's most popular governors, is expected to endorse Nikki Haley on Tuesday.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, one of the nation's most popular governors, is expected to endorse Nikki Haley on Tuesday.

New Hampshires governor, a moderate Republican known for his ability to win votes from swing voters and independents in a blue state, has been shepherding various presidential candidates across his home turf ahead of the Jan. 23 New Hampshire primary  though its unclear that even Sununus clout will prevent Trumps slow march toward the nomination. Sununu, a Trump critic, has said that Trump cant beat President Joe Biden in 2024 and the party needs to move on from him.

But thats looking increasingly unlikely to happen. The latest Iowa Poll released this week showed Trump with a commanding  and growing  lead in the first caucus state, which votes Jan. 15. Trump bumped up his support to 51% of caucus-goers who say hes their first choice, while Haley and DeSantis are still vying for second place at 16% and 19%, respectively.

Haley is kicking off a three-day New Hampshire swing today, while Trump is expected to visit Durham, New Hampshire, for a campaign event on Saturday.

Related...
Iran to soon oust U.S. aircraft carriers from region: navy commander

Xinhua) 09:24, December 12, 2023

TEHRAN, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- A top Iranian military commander said on Monday Iran will soon expel U.S. aircraft carriers from the region as "they have come to incite sedition," according to the official news agency IRNA.

At a national conference in the capital Tehran, Commander of the Iranian Navy Shahram Irani slammed transregional states' military presence, including the recent deployment of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier in the region.

"Everybody said the (U.S.) aircraft carrier has come to the region to change the equations. But they have come to incite sedition and meet their needs. We will soon expel them from the region. We will no longer be pressured and can exercise influence," said Irani.

The U.S. military has deployed two aircraft carriers, namely the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, to the Middle East with the goal to, as claimed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, "ensure the (Hamas-Israel) conflict does not expand throughout the region."

Iranian officials have repeatedly said regional countries can ensure the region's security without foreigners' interference.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Palestinian girls eat noodles as they walk home from school through a row of storefronts closed for a general strike calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, in the Old City of Jerusalem on Dec. 11, 2023. | Maya Alleruzzo, Associated Press

The health care situation is worsening in Gaza as more than 17,700 Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 7. Israel has intensified ground fighting and has increased more airstrikes.

Leaders from multiple countries and human rights groups have called for an immediate cease-fire, but Israel says it is prepared to fight for months or longer to defeat Gazas Hamas rulers, The Associated Press reported.

Whats happening in Gaza?

About 90% of the 2.3 million people that call Gaza home have now been displaced within the warring region  United Nations agencies say there is no safe place to flee, per AP.

With the intensified fighting, delivering humanitarian aid has become especially difficult  particularly in Khan Younis, the largest city in the south of Gaza.

Gazas health system is on its knees and collapsing, World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, per NBC News.

Health care situation is growing dire in Gaza

According to a United Nations humanitarian agency, Gaza is teetering on the edge of losing civil order and appears close to collapse due to the continued fighting and unavailability for aid deliveries.

Too many people havent eaten now for two, three days in the Gaza Strip, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees Chief Philippe Lazzarini told CNN. The more (that) we will see breakdown of civil order, the more (UNRWA) will be at risk not to be able to operate anymore.

This week, Israel released the names of 20 hostages still held by Hamas that Israel believes are dead. Around 140 hostages are still being held by Hamas, according to NBC News.
For the third time in five years, Ozarks Technical Community College is adding parking.

The OTC Board of Trustees will be asked Wednesday to approve the latest project  on the northwest corner of Pythian Street and Hampton Avenue  to add 201 spaces.

Specifically, the board will be asked to approve a $2.2 million project, which includes awarding a construction contract to Springfield-based DeWitt & Associates in the amount of $1.85 million.

It was the lowest of the five bids submitted. The others ranged from $2 million to $2.9 million.

Currently, the Springfield campus has approximately 2,500 parking spots. They typically turn over about four times a day for a daily capacity of 10,000 vehicles.

The Ozarks Technical Community College's Board of Trustees will meet Wednesday to discuss, among other things, a new parking lot at Pythian Street and Hampton Avenue.

OTC spokesman Mark Miller said the lot will tie into existing parking located at the former Mount Carmel United Methodist Church property, which the college was expected to close on Tuesday. That purchase was approved in September.

He said the college has been adding parking in recent years to make up for surface lots needed for the construction of the Robert W. Plaster Center for Advanced Manufacturing, which opened in August 2022.

The new lot on the north side of the campus was planned to accommodate parking needs for the new Workforce and Student Success building the college hopes to break ground on in 2024.

OTC has been buying homes on the north edge of the campus, which are now vacant and will be torn down to make way for the parking lot.

Work on the parking lot will start in early 2024 and be available for use by the start of the 2024-25 school year.

An artist rendering of the new OTC Center for Workforce and Student Success on the Springfield campus of Ozarks Technical Community College.

Miller said the parking lot is part of OTC's master plan and the spaces will be available as overflow use for residents using the historic Silver Springs Park.

The proposed project will tie into a pedestrian corridor with a defined crosswalk and flashing beacon pedestrian signal at the intersection of Pythian and Hampton.

He said the creation of a quad with pedestrian paths to access OTC buildings will give the space more of a "campus feel," but enhanced safety and increased parking access were the main factors. There will be LED lighting, landscaping, security surveillance cameras and more.

More: MSU board approves $50M for projects to renovate Kemper Hall, Blunt Hall, Cheek Hall

The parking lot will have a brick retaining wall with black metal fencing. A flashing beacon signal will also be installed to show students, staff and visitors where to cross.

"If the lot is just wide open, people can just cross wherever," Miller said. "The fencing is aesthetic, it looks nice and there is some security there, but it also to guide people to the safe crossing areas."

The college has added lighting along Hampton Avenue, north and south of Central Street, which is largely closed to through traffic along the north edge of the campus.

"The lighting will continue all the way to Silver Springs Park," he said.

The project will be paid for with funds from the 2021 bond issue. The OTC Board of Trustees meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Information Commons building.

Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: OTC to add 201 parking spots on north side of Springfield campus
There is a clear and present danger to American democracy: Donald Trumps populist authoritarianism. This is no secret, and yet many in higher education would prefer not to talk about it. Instead, we find ourselves wondering if elite school presidents should resign.

It is not a matter of supporting a political party or issue. We in higher ed must stand up for the values that make free inquiry and teaching possible. We must defeat a movement that has already promised to seize control of how we study, conduct research, and teach. This is no time to seek refuge in doctrines of neutrality. Such doctrines led to the kind of flaccid, lawyerly responses we heard from Ivy League presidents testifying in front of Congress last week. That depends, is not an answer you want from someone whose job it is to protect students confronted with calls for their annihilation.

Recently there has been a spate of articles about whether leaders in higher ed should speak out about atrocities or war crimes that, however distant, are having an impact on campuses. Some college presidents may be relieved to be told that they should stick to their core responsibilities (raising money) and avoid controversy. The abysmal performance of the presidents at a Congressional hearing will certainly encourage other leaders to keep their heads down.

While commentators rail against high educations efforts at inclusion and the cultivation of so-called woke ideologies, students are increasingly choosing to focus their studies in fields more quantitative than value-laden. Disengagement, not protest, is the norm. Even some humanists urge their colleagues to stick to disinterested scholarship and preserve the contemplative mood. According to the author of an ill-timed recent NYT op-ed, this will somehow make those in the Humanities especially irresistible.

We must resist this kind of intellectual isolationism  from presidents and from their institutions generally.

We must refuse the privileges of internal exile in the face of tyranny and reject the ironic stance of professors who imagine that tenure is enough protection  at least for them.

Why worry so much about another Trump presidency, some say, when we already survived one? Democrats, they argue, arent so great either. Evasiveness comes easy.

But Trump has put his cards on the table, making his positions known even more clearly than he did in 2016. Back then I wrote: You dont need a fascistic theory of government to use the inflammatory tactics of fascism. It is clear enough: given his rhetoric and behavior, Donald Trumps election would undermine the foundations of the republic and cause fundamental harm to the country. Thats exactly what Trump did, and the election denialism of 2020 and the failed coup of January 6 2021 are precursors of whats in store for us if he prevails in the coming year.

It is foolhardy and immoral to imagine that we in the academy will be fine if we just keep to our scholarship. Whom do we think Trump has in mind when he attacks (however nonsensically) the communists, Marxists, fascists and radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country? Vermin was a favorite trope of Hitlers, and the vermin Trump has in mind no doubt includes us in higher ed.

Colleges and universities have long claimed that promoting civic participation and liberal learning through engagement in the public sphere is central to their mission. Professors and administrators often find themselves in disagreement, but there has been wide support for the idea that schools should help students develop civic preparedness, the ability to work across differences for the public good.

Four years ago, Wesleyan University joined with other colleges and universities in Engage 2020, a project highlighting ways in which students develop the skills of citizenship. E2020 was centered on three principles:

Developing civic preparedness is a core element of the mission of American higher education. Participating in American political life helps students learn from a diversity of ideas and people while developing skills for lifelong, active citizenship. Empowering students and teachers to engage with the complex issues facing the country are crucial facets of higher educations contributions to the common good.

More than three hundred schools from across the country were part of the E2020 network, from small colleges to large research universities. Although many of our plans for public activities were derailed by the COVID pandemic, we were able to motivate students to take up the challenge of democracy during an important election year.

The urgency of this work has only grown, and now were calling for schools to double down on student democratic participation in 2024. We hear talk almost every day about the threats to our democracy  not just that ones preferred candidate might lose but that the electoral system and the civic culture in which it is embedded is at profound risk. In order to do our part to shore up democracy and combat the rampant cynicism about elections, we must seize this moment to galvanize learning through political participation. By defending democracy, we will deepen learning; by deepening learning we will defend democracy. Both will make our educational institutions more effective, and this will create a virtuous circle of civic preparedness for the country as a whole.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Many schools already belong to organizations like Campus Compact and All-In Campus Democracy Challenge that encourage voting; many already are focused on promoting free speech and civil dialogue on their campuses, like the Institute for Citizens and Scholars and Interfaith America. Such work strengthens civic culture, but schools now need to do even more. Those affiliated with E2020 are well positioned to collect best practices that can inspire students in the coming months to work on campaigns, or to organize in the public sphere around specific issues. Call it Democracy 2024. As Danielle Allen has noted, Any stable democracy must have a supermajority of citizens who are willing to invest time, talent and treasure in the healthy operation of the system itself, and that supermajority will necessarily span ideological divisions. The supermajority has to work together on democracy renovation to ensure that we have a stable system for contesting matters of substantive policy. Colleges and universities have a responsibility to help build that supermajority and to help make it as inclusive as possible. D2024 can be a start.

The inflammatory Donald Trump has promised to destroy the healthy operation of the system itself. We have been duly warned that he means it by people from across the political spectrum. Republican Liz Cheney has cautioned that we are sleepwalking into dictatorship, and Robert Kagan, usually called a neo-conservative, has sounded a similar alarm in The Washington Post. In an entire Atlantic issue devoted to warnings about a second Trump presidency, liberal David Frum writes that for democracy to continue  the democratic system itself must be the supreme commitment of all major participants. Now, he notes, we are careening toward breakdown. And Princeton political theorist Jan-Werner Muller reminds us in The Guardian that if Trump wins, he will take it that the people have decided in favor of revenge and destruction.

We in higher education should not be focused on poor presidential answers to a MAGA warriors questions. This amounts to fiddling (however irresistibly) when flames threaten to engulf the republic. We must affirm the core principles of civic education and take specific actions to defend democracy while it is still possible to do so. When the Kalven Report counseled schools to stay neutral in 1967 (rather than support civil rights or criticize the Vietnam War), even its cautious authors made an exception for moments when the society, or segments of it, threaten the very mission of the university and its values of free inquiry. This is such a moment. Whatever party or candidates one supports, colleges and universities must defend democracy to defend their very mission, to defend their values of free inquiry and teaching. At this time that means calling out the dangers of tyranny while inspiring democratic practices among young people (through efforts like D2024) so that we can defend our country from the incendiary forces now gathering around Donald Trump.
A family called for help on a Facebook group after realizing their loved one had been missing for three days from a Hawaii trail, multiple news outlets reported.

Ian Snyder, 34, was eventually found, thanks to help from community members on the social media platform, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.





Rescuers began searching for Snyder on Dec. 7 after learning he had been missing since Dec. 4 from the Pali Notches Trail in Nuuanu on the island of Oahu, the Honolulu Fire Department said in a news release.

But it was a post from Snyder himself that prompted rescue efforts, according to KITV.

The father of three, who blogs his travels for TravelUpdate, posted a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, that helped rescuers find him.

Current situation, the post read and included a short video of his ominous surroundings.

We were just so thankful for that post. That was our starting point because I had no idea he was in Hawaii. He doesnt always tell me his trips, his sister, Sara Borgeson, told KITV.

Members of the Oahu Hiking Community Facebook page helped identify the area, and rescuers used Snyders last geolocation to begin searching for him, fire officials said and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

Snyder was found 1,000 feet below the Pali Notches Trail by a helicopter, fire officials said. He was given basic life support before being airlifted to a hospital.

There were truly angels surrounding him those 3 days. We are so thankful for the local community there on Oahu, and for the countless people who have been praying for him. Thank you!! Borgeson wrote, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.





The Pali Notches Trail is an out-and-back 0.7-mile long trail with an elevation gain of 462 feet, according to AllTrails.

The hike includes steep ridges, strong winds and requires some climbing, according Oahu Hike.

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Authorities in Medellin, Colombia have identified the body of a man who was found stabbed multiple times as that of Twin cities comedian Tou Ger Xiong, who grew up in St. Paul and was widely known as an advocate for the Hmong community.

News of his death was carried online Tuesday by the Medellin-based newspaper El Colombiano, which reported that Tou Ger Xiongs body was recovered from the Corcovada ravine in the citys Robledo La Pola neighborhood. He suffered multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma, according to the newspaper.

A written statement on Tuesday from Eh Xiong, Tou Ger Xiongs brother, described him as a cherished member of our family, and the pain of his loss is indescribable. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies who are diligently working to investigate this heinous crime.

Tou Ger Xiong, a recipient of the prestigious Bush Fellowship in 2019, was a founder of the Hmong Minnesota Day at the Minnesota State Fair, which draws Hmong visitors by the dozens to a stage led by Hmong cultural and musical acts.

A consummate storyteller, performer, motivational speaker and emcee, he hosted an online broadcast, The Tou Ger Xiong Show, and often reflected on his own experience as a refugee growing up in the St. Paul Public Housing Authoritys low-income Dunedin Hi-Rise.

El Colombiano reported that Tou Ger Xiong, while on vacation in Medellin, had attempted to meet up with a woman he had met through social media, but was taken captive instead by men who contacted his friends and family by telephone to demand cash. On Monday, authorities confirmed that the kidnappers decided to kill him, possibly in retaliation for trying to escape.

Tou Ger Xiongs body was later found in a wooded area of the Robledo neighborhood with more than a dozen stab wounds and multiple bruises, apparently caused by a 60-foot fall into the tributary.

The newspaper reported that when authorities went to Tou Ger Xiongs apartment, they found a woman removing items from it. Authorities attempted to question her but she ran away.

Citing the citys central office, the newspaper said Tou Ger Xiongs murder is the 27th violent death of non-migrant foreigners this year in the Aburra Valley region, including homicides, suicides, accidents and narcotic overdoses. In the prior month, three other foreign tourists had been murdered, including two Americans.

As of early November, kidnappings in the greater area, known as Antioquia, are up 88% year-over-year.

Eh Xiong, in the familys written statement, said that in lieu of flowers or other gifts, the family hoped to launch a foundation in Tou Ger Xiongs memory.

Mary Thao, a longtime friend, mourned for him online on Tuesday, calling him a great leader and brother. He cannot be replaced.

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After 20 years, the founder of Frogtowns HmongTown Marketplace on Como Avenue is looking forward to a major expansion. The bustling indoor and outdoor marketplace is home to 125 Southeast Asian vendors, and Toua Xiong believes hes found the right location to situate dozens more: the former Sears department store at the Maplewood Mall.

His vision calls for a ground-level grocery store spanning some 50,000 to 60,000 square feet, as well as smaller vendors on the second floor in what had been Sears aisles. Hes even promising a bowling alley and childrens area, and has raised the possibility of someday adding a senior center, herbal spa, farmers market and night market.

Its time for us to grow, said Xiong, addressing viewers in an eight-minute video testimonial shared last month on the 3 Hmong TV news YouTube channel. Its time for us to be competitive.  I have been looking for properties that would be big enough.

Its unclear from Ramsey County property records when Xiong acquired the 14-acre Sears site, but Hmong Town 2 LLC, registered to his Como Avenue offices, is listed as the taxpayer of record. Reached as he was closing up shop on Monday evening, Xiong said he closed on the Maplewood shop on Nov. 3.

Seritage Growth Properties, the real estate investment company that spun off from Sears, put the vacant property on the market a year ago, alongside shuttered Sears locations in St. Paul and Burnsville. Brookwood Capital Advisors owns the mall itself.

Xiong, in his explanatory video, can be seen touring what appears to be prospective vendors or investors through the former Sears building.

He said hes hoping to officially open by early 2025. St. Paul and Maplewood are home to the largest concentration of Hmong residents in the country, as well as a growing community of ethnic Karen from Myanmar (formerly Burma), among other Asian groups. More than half the states 95,000 Hmong residents live in Ramsey County.

Xiong is soliciting new vendors with a written form on the HmongTown Marketplace website: HmongTown 2 is on its way! Thank you all for your continuous support over the past few decades. We are excited to announce that we will be opening a new location in Maplewood. If you are interested in possibly being a vendor, please click the button below to fill out our interest form.

Spanning 170,000 square feet, the two-story Sears building was constructed in 1973.

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Cemeteries all across Ukraine are filled with the countrys flags, marking the graves of fallen Ukrainian soldiers who took up arms to resist the Russian invasion and paid the ultimate price. Ukraine doesn't disclose its military casualties but estimates suggest that tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since February 2022. Join us in honoring their courage and dedication.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
House GOP leadership has pulled a pair of surveillance law bills from the floor, according to GOP sources, as Speaker Mike Johnson was facing backlash from his conference over the two-bill approach.

The GOP has been divided over how to extend section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and so Johnson was planning to put both bills on the floor Tuesday to see which one would garner the most support, but his right flank pushed backed on the idea.

The National Defense Authorization Act, a defense policy bill that lawmakers are pushing to pass this week through both chambers, temporarily extends authority for the surveillance program through April 19 so it is not expected to lapse.

The House GOP has been fiercely divided over how to overhaul the government surveillance program and some members have been openly frustrated with Johnson over how he has handled the contentious issue, which was the subject of several closed-door meetings on Monday night.

House Republicans had been aiming to pass a long-term extension of the program before they leave this week, but there were competing proposals in the conference about how to do that. Instead of taking a position, Johnson had initially opted to put both GOP proposals on the floor this week and see which one garnered the most votes, essentially pitting the bills against each other. The approach, however, had rankled some Republicans.

Emerging from a House GOP leadership meeting on Monday, GOP Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota told CNN that on this topic, I would say tensions are running pretty high.

Its time for us to get our big boy and big girl pants on and try to take tough votes, Johnson added.

The speaker said in a Dear Colleague last week that the bills, one brought by the House Judiciary Committee and the other by the House Intelligence Committee, would be brought to the floor under a special rule that provides members a fair opportunity to vote in favor of their preferred measure.

House Republicans had been growing increasingly frustrated with Johnsons handling of this issue. Johnson and GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida were seen having what appeared to be an extended heated conversation on the House floor last week over the issue.

GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has also expressed major frustration over leaderships handling of the defense policy bill, citing a variety of issues.

CNNs Clare Foran contributed to this report.

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Republican members of the House select subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic are demanding answers from a top aide to former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) regarding the states COVID-19 nursing home policies.

Committee Chair Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) said Melissa DeRosas claims that she was not involved in New Yorks COVID-19 nursing home directive are undermined by passages in her own book.

These seemingly false assertations contradict statements made by Ms. DeRosa in her new tell-all book and differ significantly from publicly reported information about Ms. DeRosas role in the Cuomo administration during the pandemic, the lawmakers said.

But DeRosas attorney Greg Morvillo disputed the entire premise of the committees inquiry.

The Committees position is factually wrong. There is nothing in Ms. DeRosas memoir that says this  in fact, the Committee members claim to have read Ms. DeRosas book, but anyone who has actually read the book would know that this comment is clearly and factually inaccurate.

The committee earlier this month requested DeRosa sit for a transcribed interview and provide documents regarding Cuomos must admit order, which said nursing homes could not turn away patients who tested positive for COVID-19, as long as they were medically stable.

The facilities were also prohibited from requiring hospitalized residents to be tested for the virus before their admission or readmission in nursing homes.

The move was made early in the pandemic and was meant to help relieve overburdened hospitals, which were sending patients elsewhere to free up capacity.

According to the lawmakers, less than seven hours after the subcommittee initially requested DeRosas testimony, her attorney claimed that she did not have any responsive documents.

But the lawmakers noted that in her new book, DeRosa said she took copious notes on the job because she recognized the gravity of what we were living through during the pandemic. She started writing her book within a week of her resignation from the administration.

Morvillo said DeRosa doesnt have any of the information the committee wants, especially two years after she stopped working for the state.

Ms. DeRosa does not have possession of any official COVID documents from her time with the state, as they were properly left in the possession of the state. Any personal notes taken, which did not include anything related to nursing homes, were overwritten and incorporated into her book, Whats Left Unsaid, which can be purchased on Amazon or wherever books are sold, Morvillo said in a statement to The Hill.

The House panel is investigating COVID-19 nursing home policy decisions made by Cuomo, as well as the Democratic leaders of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

COVID-19 decimated nursing homes, killing more than 15,000 people in New York alone. Cuomos policies have come under state and federal investigation, and former members of his administration are facing waves of civil lawsuits on behalf of those who died.

Attorney General Letitia Jamess (D) office issued a report in 2021 that found the state health department undercounted COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes by as much as 50 percent.

Wenstrup and Malliotakis requested a transcribed interview with DeRosa under oath on Jan. 19, and asked for an attestation that she did not retain a journal or any notes from her time in the Cuomo administration.

This story was updated at 7:01 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The House of Representatives could vote this week on a bill to greatly expand federal digital surveillance powerspotentially broadening both the scope of electronic communications to be scooped up and giving law enforcement more opportunities to access that data.

Edward Snowden, who exposed parts of this same federal surveillance apparatus in 2013, called the new proposal "the biggest encroachment on your privacy rights since the Patriot Act" in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Civil libertarian groups have roundly criticized the bill and are encouraging lawmakers to vote against it.

That bill, the FISA Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2023, is one of two measures aiming to make changes to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that could be brought to the House floor on Tuesday. Section 702, created after 9/11, allows federal intelligence agencies to vacuum up communications between Americans and foreigners. Under some circumstances, law enforcement is allowed to query the Section 702 database, which includes an unknown amount of "incidental" data pulled from Americans' online communications with foreigners.

Section 702 is set to expire at the end of the year, and recent revelations about how the FBI has misused the spying program have raised hopes that Congress might rein in the program.

Despite its name, however, the FISA Reform and Reauthorization Act appears to expand, not reform, the program.

One portion of the bill "vastly expands the universe of U.S. businesses that can be conscripted to aid the government in conducting surveillance," Elizabeth Goitein, director of the national security program at the Brennan Center, a liberal think tank, posted on X.

Currently, the federal government can compel only businesses that have direct access to digital communicationstelecom providers, internet service providers, and the liketo turn over that data to the Section 702 database. Under the terms of the House proposal, however, any business or entity that has access to telecom or internet equipment could be forced to participate in the federal government's digital spying regime.

"Hotels, libraries, coffee shops, and other places that offer wifi to their customers could be forced to serve as surrogate spies," writes Goitein.

That change would "effectively overrule" a recent decision from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), the secret court that reviews America's spying programs, write Steve Lane and Marc Zwillinger, two lawyers with experience arguing before the FISC.

"The new definition," Lane and Zwillinger argued in a post on a legal blog connected to Zwillinger's law firm, "could give the government warrantless access to any communication system in America through which any one-side-foreign communication could be found."

The FISA Reform and Reauthorization Act would also expand how the government uses its Section 702 database.

Specifically, the bill would add a new provision to authorize Section 702 investigations as part of the process of "vetting of all non-United States persons who are being processed for travel to the United States."

"This new authority proposes to give immigration services the ability to audit entire communication histories before deciding whether an immigrant can enter the country," writes India McKinney, director of federal affairs for the Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF), which opposes the bill. "This is a particularly problematic situation that could cost someone entrance to the United States based on, for instance, their own or a friend's political opinionsas happened to a Palestinian Harvard student when his social media account was reviewed when coming to the U.S. to start his semester."

Again, that provision of the bill seems to directly overrule the FISC, which has repeatedly struck down attempts by federal officials to expand Section 702 surveillance to include greater scrutiny of immigrants, McKinney notes.

Lawmakers who might be skeptical of such a broad expansion of federal spying powers will have the chance to back a different bill on the House floor.

While the House Intelligence Committee was drafting this bill last week, the House Judiciary Committee advanced its own FISA reauthorization measure: The Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act. As the name suggests, the Judiciary Committee proposal aims to curtail the abuse of Section 702 by requiring law enforcement to obtain a warrant before snooping through Americans' communications contained in the program's database. The bill would also prohibit law enforcement agencies from purchasing information that they'd normally need a warrant to access, EFF notes, closing a major loophole in the current FISA law.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has promised to allow supporters of both bills to make their cases on the House floor. That's an encouraging sign about how he intends to run the chamber and creates an important moment. There's hardly ever been an open, democratic debate in Congress about the post-9/11 surveillance stateindeed, some members of Congress and most of the general public likely wouldn't even know about this stuff if not for Snowden's leaks.

It's long past time for that to happenand for lawmakers who think we need even more digital surveillance to put their names on the record for voters to judge.

The post House Proposal Would Expand Federal Warrantless Spying Authority appeared first on Reason.com.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has been the subject of considerable media attention following his elevation to the post on Oct. 25, 2023. Since his appointment, news reports have highlighted the fact that he was one of the House leaders against certifying the 2020 election of Joe Biden to the presidency, and that he is known to be stridently anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ+.

Comparing himself to Moses, in a speech at a gala on Dec. 5, 2023, Johnson suggested that God cleared the way for him to be speaker of the House.

In the words of Public Religion Research Institute President Robert Jones, Johnson is a near-textbook example of white Christian nationalism  the belief that God intended America to be a new promised land for European Christians.

As historian John Fea has noted, Johnson is a culture warrior with deep connections to the Christian Right.

While it might not seem obvious, one of those connections includes his legal work on behalf of Ark Encounter, the massive tourist site in Kentucky run by Answers in Genesis, or AiG, and its CEO, Ken Ham. Ark Encounter and its companion site, the Creation Museum, propagate Young Earth Creationism, or YEC, which is the notion that the Earth is but 6,000 years old and that the geological formations seen today were formed by a global flood that took place around 4,000 years ago.

The state of Kentucky offers tax incentives for large tourist sites. In 2014, two years before Ark Encounter opened, the state determined that the tourist site was ineligible for these tax rebates. A primary reason for rejection was that all Ark Encounter employees are required to affirm a lengthy faith statement, which, according to Tourism Secretary Bob Stewart, violates the separation of church and state provisions of the Constitution.

As an attorney for Freedom Guard, a conservative religious legal advocacy law group, Johnson sued on behalf of Ark Encounter, arguing that in denying the tax rebates, the state was discriminating on the basis of religion. Johnson and the Ark prevailed, and Ark Encounter received the states tax incentives.

As a scholar of American evangelicalism, I argue that Johnsons association with Ark Encounter makes much sense, given the very strong connection between Young Earth Creationism and Christian Right politics. And this connection is old.

Answers in Genesis and the Christian Right

In his 2021 book, Red Dynamite, historian Carl Weinberg established that for the past century, Young Earth creationists have made the case that evolutionary science makes people behave in an immoral, beastly or animalistic way, especially when it comes to sex and violence.

More than this, Weinberg argues that, for Young Earth creationists, evolution has been understood as the backbone of a communist philosophy, a socialist, Marxist philosophy that promotes a spirit of rebellion in America today.

Ken Ham, founder of the nonprofit ministry Answers in Genesis, poses with animatronic dinosaurs during a tour of the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky., on May 24, 2007. AP Photo/Ed Reinke

As rhetorical scholar Susan L. Trollinger and I document in our 2016 book, Righting America at the Creation Museum, AiG continues this Christian Right tradition through its extensive online presence, its museum and now Ark Encounter.

According to Ham and AiG, public schools are churches of secular humanism and  most of the teachers are  imposing an anti-God worldview on generations of students. Sexual immorality, LGBTQ+ activism and the rejection of patriarchy are, according to AiG, signs of the resultant cultural corruption. Ham claims that a once-Christian America  with Bible-believing founders who had no intention of separating church and state  has, since the 1960s, been dragged downward. In his 2012 book, The Lie, Ham asserts that this will eventually result in the outlawing of Christianity.

In the past few years, AiG has doubled down on its culture war commitments. For example, in March 2021 the AiG Statement of Faith  signed by all employees and volunteers  was expanded from 29 provisions to 46 provisions. This includes article 29, which requires signers to affirm that social justice  as defined in modern terminology is anti-biblical and destructive to human flourishing. Then there is article 32, which says that gender and biological sex are equivalent and cannot be separated.

Rejecting the dangers of global warming and the notion that governments should intervene to reverse this trend, AiGs Ham has asserted that zealous climate activism is a false religion with false prophets. According to him, climate activists are misled because they begin with human reason and not the Bible, and because they hold to evolution and an ancient Earth.

In a similar vein, an AiG spokesperson blasted mainstream scientists and others who focused on the dangers of COVID-19, arguing that they were simply generating hysteria about a virus that doesnt kill very many people at all. AiGs CEO lamented on his social media post that the COVID-19 situation has been weaponized in many places to use against Christians.

Mike Johnson and AiG beliefs

Johnson has effusively praised Ark Encounter as a strategic and really creative  way to bring people to this recognition of the truth that what we read in the Bible are actual historical events.

Johnson also shares with AiGs Ham that government should not intervene when it comes to global warming, particularly given that, like Ham, he does not believe that the climate is changing because we drive SUVs.

He also shares with the folks at AiG the conviction that belief in evolution results in immoral behavior. For example, Johnson has blamed school shootings on the fact that we have taught a whole generation  of Americans that there is no right and wrong. Its all about survival of the fittest, and you evolve from primordial slime, and so why is that life of any sacred value?

In this, Johnson is echoing AiG authors and speakers. For example, in response to the 2007 shooting in a high school in Jokela, Finland, which left nine dead, including the shooter, Bodie Hodge, an AiG researcher and author, asserted: So long as evolutionism is forced onto children (no God, people are animals, no right and wrong, etc.) and so long as they believe it and reject accountability to their Creator, then we can expect more of these types of gross and inappropriate actions.

In short, Johnsons political commitments fit neatly into the politics of AiG and the Young Earth Creationism ecosystem. This matters politically, particularly given that a significant subset of American evangelicals adheres to Young Earth Creationism.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.

It was written by: William Trollinger, University of Dayton.

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(Bloomberg) -- A fuel tanker was struck by a missile as it navigated the Red Sea, the latest in a string of incidents that have turned the waters off the coast of Yemen into the worlds riskiest shipping route.

Most Read from Bloomberg

At least 10 merchant ships have now been attacked or approached around Yemen since Israels war with Hamas broke out in October. Iran-backed Houthi militants are supporting Hamas, which is designated a terror group by the US and European Union, in the conflict.

The 470-foot Strinda was hired by Eni SpA and heading to Italy  a reminder of the wider risks posed to global shipping by the Hamas-Israel war. The Houthis said they targeted the vessel because it was destined for Israel, and port information shows it was due to go there early next year.

The stretch of water where the incidents have taken place is part of maritime corridor handling about 12% of global trade. An anti-ship cruise missile struck the Strinda on Monday as it passed through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait separating East Africa from the Arabian peninsula, US Central Command said in a statement on X.

J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, the ships Norwegian owner, said the Strinda was bound for Italy carrying a cargo of feedstock to make biofuels. That was confirmed by Eni.

Read More: Why Yemens Houthis Have Joined Fight Against Israel: QuickTake

The Strinda, an oil and chemicals tanker sailing under the flag of Norway, reported damage and fire on board, but no casualties. The destroyer USS Mason responded to the vessels distress call, according to Centcom.

The Norwegian government condemned the attack.

The attacks pose a mortal danger to crew and cause great economic and material losses to innocent parties, said Eivind Vad Petersson, a state secretary for the country. The possible consequences of a regional conflict escalation are dramatic. Norway is in close dialog with relevant partners both in and outside the region.

Read more: US Warns of Evolving Threats to Ships Sailing in Red Sea

The Houthis have said they would attack ships that have links to  or are sailing toward  Israel, describing them as legitimate targets. Other Iran-backed militant groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria have been launching missiles toward Israel or at US bases to pressure the Israeli government to halt its attack on the Gaza Strip, which is governed by Hamas.

The Strinda had been tentatively nominated to collect a cargo from Ashdod in Israel, J. Ludwig Mowinckels said in a statement on its website. That was three weeks ago and subject to there not being an escalation in the area, it said.

Theres damage but we dont know how bad it is yet, said Geir Belsnes, chief executive officer of the firm, confirming the ships crew were uninjured and that the vessel was able to carry on its voyage.

Wider Risks

Eni said in a statement the tanker was bringing a 15,000-ton cargo of waste vegetable oil to the country from southeast Asia. That would give the ship plenty of time to then get to Ashdod in Israel by early next year, which is when the ports website shows it as being due to load.

Large amounts of energy, commodities and manufactured goods are transported through the Red Sea on ships that use Egypts Suez Canal as a shortcut between Asia and Europe. Avoiding it adds thousands of miles as the vessels must instead sail around Africa.

The US has been in talks with its Gulf allies about potential military action against the Yemeni group in response to their increasingly brazen attacks on ships, Bloomberg reported last week, citing several people with knowledge of the discussions.

Read More: US in Talks With Gulf Allies on Military Action Against Houthis

Deputy US National Security Adviser Jon Finer has said that the Biden administration has not ruled out the possibility of taking military action against the Houthis but the focus for now is on assembling a maritime coalition to secure the Red Sea.

A direct hit by a missile on an oil tanker raises the likelihood of a more robust military retaliation by allied armed forces, said Bob McNally, president of consultant Rapidan Energy Group.

--With assistance from Omar Tamo, Alisa Odenheimer, Alex Longley, Julian Lee, Antonio Vanuzzo and Stephen Treloar.

(Updates with consultants comment in final paragraph.)

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Hundreds of people attended a rally Monday at City Hall in Tampa to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

We have over 20,000 eulogies to write, we have over 20,000 lives to grieve, but we also have over 2 million lives that we need to save, community organizer Leali Shalabi said.

Demonstrators spoke in front of City Hall before everyone took to the streets to rally.

The genocide, people are dying every day, we have family in Palestine, said Ahmad Abuawad, who took part in the rally. I have family, personally, in Gaza that are struggling every single day.

Community organizers said more than 100 restaurants closed in Tampa in support of a ceasefire.

In the aftermath of the United Nations failing to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, we answered the call of our people on the ground in Gaza, calling for the strike as our last shred of hope for an immediate ceasefire, Shalabi said.

Rally outside of Tampa City Hall calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Rally outside of Tampa City Hall calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Rally outside of Tampa City Hall calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Jewish safety and Palestinian rights are not opposing causes, one speaker said. We are fighting for human rights and equality. To end the brutal killing of innocent civilians and the destruction of land.

Those who spoke with News Channel 8 said they marched for their loved ones in the Middle East.

They tell us, in extreme detail, what they suffer, how they see people buried underneath the rubble, and their hands are bloody just from trying to dig them out, Abuawad said.

We see ourselves in these people, you know, if our parents never came to America, that could have easily been us, Shalabi said. That is why we fight and that is why we are here today.

Organizers said there will be multiple events taking place during the next several weeks.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
EL CAJON, Calif.  Over 1,000 people were left without power for hours in El Cajon Tuesday after a vehicle crashed into a power pole.

The crash was reported just after midnight in the 1700 block of N 2nd Street in El Cajons Bostonia neighborhood, according to logs from the California Highway Patrol. The crash cut power to homes in the area almost simultaneously.

When first responders arrived on scene, crews found a power pole split in half, with the top hanging by wires. According to CHP, San Diego Fire-Rescue confirmed that the poles downing caused the power outage in surrounding neighborhoods.

Crews complete work to bury power lines under major North Park road

As of 1:30 p.m., about 1,164 San Diego Gas & Electric customers in Bostonia, Granite Hills and East El Cajon are currently without power, according to the utility companys outage map. SDG&E officials estimate that power will be restored around 5 p.m.

No additional details were immediately available about what caused the crash or whether there were any injuries.

Road closures are in place along 2nd Street between Adobe Lane and Pepper Drive for an unknown duration of time as crews work to fix the pole and restore power to homes in the neighborhood, CHP said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Bassam Masoud

CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) -The United Nations on Tuesday demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as U.S. President Joe Biden warned Israel it was losing international support because of its "indiscriminate" bombing of civilians in its war against Hamas militants.

After dire warnings by U.N. officials about a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the 193-member U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire with 153 countries voting in favour and 23 abstaining. The U.S. and Israel, which argue a ceasefire only benefits Hamas, voted against the measure along with eight other countries.

The resolution is not binding but carries political weight, reflecting a global view on the war. The United States vetoed a similar call in the 15-member Security Council last week.

The Palestinian Authority welcomed the resolution and urged countries to pressure Israel to adopt the ceasefire. A Hamas official in exile, Izzat El-Reshiq, in a statement on Telegram echoed that reaction, saying Israel should "stop its aggression, genocide, and ethnic cleansing against our people."

Before the resolution passed, Biden said Israel now has support from "most of the world" including the U.S. and European Union. "But they're starting to lose that support by indiscriminate bombing that takes place," he told a campaign donor event in Washington.

Israel's assault on Gaza to root out Hamas has killed at least 18,205 Palestinians and wounded nearly 50,000 since Oct. 7, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Israel launched its onslaught after a cross-border raid by Hamas fighters who killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostage in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Israel on Tuesday declared 19 of 134 people still in captivity in Gaza dead in absentia after the bodies of two hostages were recovered.

In Khan Younis, southern Gaza's main city, residents said on Tuesday Israeli tank shelling was now focused on the city centre. One said tanks were operating in the street where the house of Yahya Al-Sinwar, Hamas' leader in Gaza, is located.

After nightfall, Israeli air strikes on Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip killed 11 Palestinians, including two children, health officials said.

An older Palestinian, Tawfik Abu Breika, earlier said his residential block in Khan Younis was hit without warning by an Israeli air strike that brought down several buildings and caused casualties.

"The worlds conscience is dead, no humanity or any kind of morals," Breika told Reuters as neighbours sifted through rubble. "This is the third month that we are facing death and destruction."

Further south in Rafah, which borders Egypt, health officials said an Israeli air strike on houses overnight killed 22 people, including children. Civil emergency workers were searching for more victims under the rubble.

Residents said the shelling of Rafah, where the Israeli army this month ordered people to head for their safety, was some of the heaviest in days.

"At night we cant sleep because of the bombing, and in the morning, we tour the streets looking for food for the children. There is no food," said Abu Khalil, 40, a father of six.

The U.N. World Food Programme says half of Gaza's population is starving. "Theres no electricity, no fuel, no water, no medicine," resident Mohammed Obaid said as he inspected debris in Rafah.

The Gaza health ministry said that diseases and illnesses including diarrhea, food poisoning, meningitis, respiratory infections, chickenpox and scabies were spreading.

LOSING SUPPORT

In addition to warning that Israel was starting to lose international support, Biden said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needed to change his hard-line government and that ultimately Israel "can't say no" to an independent Palestinian state - something that Israeli hardliners oppose.

In a further sign of world concern over the conduct of the conflict, now in its third month, Australia, Canada and New Zealand said they supported international efforts toward a sustainable ceasefire and expressed alarm at the plight of civilians in Gaza.

"The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians," leaders of the three countries said in a joint statement.

The three countries said they supported Palestinians' right to self-determination, but that there could be no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza.

ROCKET FIRE

Israel's military said that over the past day it hit several posts that were used to fire rockets at its territory, raided a Hamas compound where it found some 250 rockets among other weapons and struck a weapons production factory.

The ground assault that started in the north has expanded to the southern half of the Gaza Strip since a week-long truce collapsed at the start of December. More than 100 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began in late October.

The Wall Street Journal and ABC reported that the Israeli military has begun pumping seawater into Hamas' tunnel complex, where the militant group is believed to be hiding fighters and munitions and basing hit-and-run attacks on Israeli troops in street fighting.

Biden said he had heard unconfirmed reports there were no hostages in the tunnels. Some hostages freed during a ceasefire reported they had been held in tunnels. The Israeli military said it was looking into the reports.

Gaza health ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qidra said Israeli forces had raided Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza on Tuesday and detained its director, Dr. Ahmed Al-Kahlout, along with all medical staff.

They were being interrogated within the emergency department, he said. Israel's military did not reply to a request for comment on the incident.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Bassam Masoud in Gaza, Michelle Nichols at the United Nations, Humeyra Pamuk and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington, Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem, Henriette Chacar in Jerusalem, Tom Perry in Beirut, Clauda Tanios in Dubai, Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman and Aiden Lewis and Ahmed Mohamed Hassan in Cairo; Writing by Angus MacSwan and Cynthia Osterman; Editing by Alison Williams, Deepa Babington and Lisa Shumaker)
WASHINGTON  Attorneys for President Joe Bidens son argued in federal court Monday that charges against Hunter Biden over a gun purchase in 2018 violate the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The filing bases its argument on the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Courts expansion of 2nd Amendment protections last year, creating an odd synergy between Hunter Biden and the gun-loving Republicans in Congress looking to impeach his father, whom they have claimed was involved in his sons foreign business dealings.

Hunter Biden was indicted in September for illegally owning a gun in 2018 after he lied on a federal form that asks gun buyers whether theyre on drugs. He admitted in a 2021 memoir that he was habitually using crack cocaine at the time.

On Monday, Bidens legal team told a federal judge that a ruling last year in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen made federal laws about gun ownership and drug use obsolete.

Quite simply, asking about Mr. Bidens status as a user of a controlled status is constitutionally irrelevant to whether he can be denied his Second Amendment right to gun ownership, his attorney Abbe Lowell said in a motion to dismiss the gun charges.

Mondays motion is one of several filings challenging Bidens prosecution by David Weiss, the U.S. attorney who has been investigating Hunter Biden for five years. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland named Weiss as a special counsel in the case in September after the collapse of a plea deal addressing the gun purchase violation as well as tax charges.

In the other briefs, Lowell argued that the plea deal should remain in effect and that it was unconstitutional for Garland to name Weiss as a special counsel partly because Congress hasnt appropriated funds for his office. (Garland has also appointed a special counsel to pursue charges against former President Donald Trump.)

These charges are unprecedented, unconstitutional and violate the agreement the U.S. Attorney made with Mr. Biden and DOJs own regulations, Lowell said in a statement. This is not how an independent investigation is supposed to work, and these charges should be dismissed.

Lowells legal arguments also reflect a broader public relations strategy that has Hunter Biden lashing out at his critics. He said in a podcast interview published last week, for instance, that Republicans are trying to kill him in order to destroy his fathers presidency. The constant negative attention from Republicans and the media, Hunter Biden said, made it that much harder to avoid relapsing into drug addiction.

What theyre trying to do is theyre trying to kill me, knowing that it will be a pain greater than my father could be able to handle, and so therefore destroying a presidency in that way, Biden said.

As for the gun charges, Lowell cited last years Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen, in which the court declared that gun restrictions are unconstitutional unless they can trace their origins to some time between the signing of the Bill of Rights and the end of the Civil War.

Lower courts have cited the Bruen ruling to throw out a wide array of gun control laws, ranging from age restrictions on handgun purchases to the federal law barring felons from possessing firearms. The Bruen standard made it so hard to ensure that gun restrictions would pass constitutional muster that some reform-minded legislators avoided trying to pass gun laws this year.

Laws restricting drug users from possessing firearms are uniquely ripe for a court challenge. The wave of state-level marijuana legalization has created a situation in which many otherwise law-abiding gun owners become felons under federal law if they consume marijuana that is legal in their state.

As Hunter Bidens legal team noted Monday, a federal appeals court ruled in August that the ban on drug users was unconstitutional.

Its unclear how the Supreme Court will land on the question. In its first hearing on a gun case since Bruen, the justices seemed universally skeptical of a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit overturning a federal law barring people from possessing guns while under a protective order for domestic abuse.

The courts ruling in that case, USA v. Zackey Rahimi, could offer more guidance for how lower courts should interpret Second Amendment arguments like the one raised in Hunter Bidens case in the future.

Related...
Iconic NC Rap Group Little Brother Is Profiled In May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story | Photo: Antoine Lyers

The newly released documentary, May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story, is shining a light on hip-hop royalty.

May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story chronicles the rise, breakup and reunion of Little Brother, the critically acclaimed and influential hip-hop group from Durham, N.C.

The documentary details the vast impact of the group, composed of rappers Phonte, Big Pooh, and (formerly) producer 9th Wonder.

As the official description reads:

The heart of the documentary lies in the unraveling and reconciliation between members Phonte and Big Pooh. Their relationship begins in the wake of their challenging upbringings in the South, strains while coming of age together in the music industry, and resolves with an enduring friendship, as the two men reunite and record their 2019 album May the Lord Watch. Told through never before seen archival footage, contemporary verite scenes, and interviews from the groups members, peers, and family, the films story unfolds in intimate detail under the framework of a UBN Made-for-TV Documentary, riffing on the fictional UBN Network created through comedy sketches on Little Brother albums.

Fans have anticipated the documentarys release since the trailer dropped in 2022. Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh have hosted intimate film screenings for fans in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York City to promote the film.

The film was directed by filmmaker Holland Randolph Gallagher and written by Yoh Phillips.

When you meet someone at the Uber line at LAX rarely does it coalesce into a years-long, soul-searching and feature-length-documentary-creating endeavor, but so it happened with Phonte and I in 2018, said Gallagher in a statement. Four years, two scrapped cuts, and a pandemic later, were rounding the corner on completing the project that will tell the Little Brother story once and for all. I dont take that responsibility lightly and I hope our film reflects that.

Watch the film, which was released late last month, below:

Phonte and Big Pooh emphasized the importance of releasing the documentary on YouTube.

Little Brother entered this business independently and based on the current landscape, we see no need to change course, said Phonte.

He continued calling the film a love letter to our fans.

A celebration of the people who made us and a testament to our core values of authenticity, ownership, and craftsmanship.

Big Pooh said the platform is symbolic of how many fell in love with their music.

One of the things Ive been hearing people talk about is how our music was either shared with them, or they shared our music with someone else, sometimes even forming lifelong bonds. YouTube is the perfect intersection where all demographics meet, he said.

Having the ability to release our documentary via YouTube felt like the perfect way to share our story with Little Brother fans while leaving open the possibility of introducing ourselves to an entirely new group of potential fans.

Shot in the tradition of films like Beats Rhymes & Life, Zappa, or 20 Feet From Stardom, director Holland vacay Gallagher and writer Yoh Phillips (of Rap documentary studio Rap Portraits) included a notable list of the genres most influential people into the documentary  from Questlove and DJ Drama to cultural critics, industry execs, and more.

According to director Holland Randolph Gallagher, the film resulted from a once-in-a-lifetime run-in with Phonte in the Uber line at LAX.

Four years, two scrapped cuts, and a pandemic later, were rounding the corner on completing the project that will tell the Little Brother story once and for all. I dont take that responsibility lightly and I hope our film reflects that, said Gallagher.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Little Brother (@littlebrother_nc)

Little Brother is a critically acclaimed hip-hop group from Durham, North Carolina. The group entered the height of its fame in the pre-streaming era of online message boards. Their 2003 debut album, The Listening, helped pioneer grown man or every man rap, relating to the working-class and everyday person.

The project was ranked among Rolling Stones 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums Of All Time.

Now recognized as one of Billboards Greatest Rap Groups Of All Time, the group has had an illustrious career working with some of the biggest names in music, including Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne and more.

In March of 2023, the duo commemorated the 20th anniversary of their debut album, The Listening. Their four-city tour sold out venues from California to New York.

The celebration ended with their nostalgic performance in their hometown at the Made In Durham: A Little Brother Block Party.

Fans can view and donate to May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story on Little Brothers official YouTube page.

You can view the trailer below!
Some 52 new citizens take their oath of allegiance during a naturalization ceremony at the Paul Findley Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Springfield Monday, Dec. 11, 2023.

As a small child, Zahraa Khalid Abdulateef left her native Iraq under gunfire for Jordan and then the United States.

Because her family had helped the U.S. military after the invasion of the country in 2003, they were allowed to live in Saddam Hussein's compound after his capture by Special Operations Forces.

Abdulateef's memories are all from the U.S.  the stories of those times are only her father, Khalid's, telling  and on Monday a dream became a reality when she took the oath of allegiance at a naturalization ceremony at the Paul Findley Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Springfield.

More: Injunction levied against the city of Springfield for "discriminatory" housing ordinance

"I grew up here my whole life and never went back home," said Abdulateef, 21, of Peoria, as her father looked on. "Now I can officially say I'm an American."

Fifty-two candidates from 21 countries over five continents took part in the ceremony presided over by Judge Colleen R. Lawless of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless makes remarks to potential candidates prior to a naturalization ceremony in Springfield, Ill.#SJRBreaking pic.twitter.com/5iqjGzNX0l  Steven Spearie (@StevenSpearie) December 11, 2023

Shig Yasunaga, the clerk of the court, administered the oath by which the newest citizens renounced allegiance and fidelity to any state or sovereignty and pledged to support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the U.S.

After the ceremony, citizens could register with Social Security and to vote with the Illinois Board of Elections.

Abdulateef said four members of her family, including herself, have now become citizens. She studied at Illinois Central College and is trying to get her real estate license.

Zahraa Khalid Abdulateef fills out paperwork after taking her oath of allegiance at a naturalization ceremony at the Paul Findley Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. Abdulateef and her family left Iraq for Jordan in 2004.

Because of helping out American soldiers, including her grandmother who would cook for them and do their laundry, Abdulateef's family became targets and were eventually squired away to Jordan for a two-year stay before coming to the U.S.

"We had a new opportunity, a new life," she said. "I'm just thankful that I'm here now."

Joanne Reutter of East Peoria, an adult literacy tutor who has had a 10-year relationship with the family, said she had no doubts that family members would have been killed if they had not been allowed to move into the compound.

"Today is a very special for me because these guys have put their lives on the line for the American soldiers," Reutter said.

Also taking the oath Monday was Alvaro Bello Castillo of Venezuela.

Bello has spent the last six and a half years in the U.S. and works as a Department of Justice representative for the Immigration Project, a non-profit agency in Normal. Over the last couple of years, hundreds of thousands of Bello's countrymen have fled the humanitarian and economic crises in Venezuela via the southern border of the U.S., some risking their lives.

Bello came to central Illinois under different circumstances, on a tourist visa before applying for political asylum and eventually getting his green card.

He said he understood the plight of Venezuelans, thousands of whom are now sheltered in Chicago, where he was on a recent work trip.

Alvaro Daniel Bello, right, of Bloomington has his photo taken with Judge Colleen Lawless of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois after his oath of allegiance at a naturalization ceremony at the Paul Findley Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. Bello works with immigrants from his native Venezuela.

"I know what that feels like," Bello said. "I completely understand what it means to eat once a day, to not be able to get health benefits.

"I'm glad the administration is helping the people coming to the U.S. because we are good people. I'm an example myself. Since I came here, I've been working, helping others to become better. I believe in the American dream. As long as we do things good, the U.S. government will treat us well."

Ward 9 Ald. and Mayor pro tem Jim Donelan told the newest citizens that they join a legacy of individuals who have come from all corners of the globe to contribute to the American dream.

"Your journey to citizenship is a testament to your resilience, determination, and the pursuit of a better life," Donelan said. "It is a journey marked by challenges, sacrifices and, undoubtedly, moments of joy and triumph.

"Today, we honor not only the steps you've taken to reach this point but also the diversity you bring to our community."

It's in Springfield, Lawless said, where the new citizens can find a microcosm of that American dream.

Springfield Police releases body cam footage of Juvenile Detention Center shooting

"It is a place where diverse cultures have thrived, where the pursuit of happiness and the promise of a brighter future have become attainable for so many," she said.

Springfield is where Juan Ramon Rivera Mayorquin landed three years ago from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to join his daughter, Alejandra, and her family, who attended the ceremony.

Rivera now works for the Illinois Secretary of State.

"It's a very, very special day for me," Rivera said before being naturalized. "I love your country."

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: New U.S. citizens sworn in at naturalization ceremony in Springfield
(Bloomberg) -- The International Monetary Funds executive board approved the disbursal of $900 million in aid to Ukraine, and urged other countries and lenders to follow through on their pledges to a $122 billion international package announced earlier this year.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Read more: Zelenskiy in Washington to Rally US in Key Week for Alliance

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva announced the move Monday alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is visiting Washington.

The Ukrainian president is in Washington to lobby US lawmakers to approve about $60 billion in US funds proposed by President Joe Biden, and earlier in the day warned that their gridlock over military aid only benefits Russian President Vladimir Putin.

I would reiterate the criticality of the donors disbursing resources as promised, and in a timely and predictable manner, Gavin Gray, the IMFs Ukraine mission chief, said at a briefing Monday, without naming any countries. Their support enables the authorities to maintain core functions to the state, including social spending to protect the most vulnerable segments of society. Without these resources, it will be hard to preserve the hard-won gains of macroeconomic and financial stability.

Ukraine relies on international financial and military help with Russias invasion of the country approaching its two-year anniversary. Increasing uncertainty over further funding from the US and the European Union has emerged as Ukraines counteroffensive has failed to deliver a decisive breakthrough after Russian forces built up strong defensive positions.

Read more: New Aid to Ukraine Drops to Lowest Level Since War Began

The IMF disbursement announced Monday comes at the completion of the so-called second review of the four-year, $15.6 billion Extended Fund Facility program approved in March, and follows a staff-level agreement last month.

Gray praised Ukraines progress on anti-corruption reforms and the enactment of legislation to restore asset declarations. The IMF on Monday also said that Ukraine in the first half of next year should pursue an ambitious external commercial debt restructuring to help restore debt sustainability.

--With assistance from Kateryna Chursina.

(Updates with comments from IMF official in fourth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Immigration advocates are livid over the White Houses role in Senate negotiations pairing Ukraine funding and border policy.

They blame the Biden administration for linking the two disparate issues in the first place, and grassroots groups are raising alarm that political gamesmanship will lead to years of pain for immigrants nationwide.

The administrations original supplemental funding request, which covered foreign security aid, border and disaster funding, wasnt well received among immigration advocates because it enhanced some controversial areas of enforcement.

Those border proposals have snowballed into a GOP wishlist that advocates say would essentially codify former President Trumps border proposals.

We are deeply concerned that the President would consider advancing Trump-era immigration policies that Democrats fought so hard against  and that he himself campaigned against  in exchange for aid to our allies that Republicans already support, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-Calif.) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) wrote in a joint statement.

Caving to demands for these permanent policy changes as a price to be paid for an unrelated one-time spending package would set a dangerous precedent.

Immigrant advocates say the administration isnt caving, but rather is intentionally seeking aggressive expansion of its border enforcement powers.

It was the White House  officials at the White House  who proactively engaged and reached out to Republicans on the Hill to suggest that it would be perhaps not a bad idea to have their arm twisted on restricting asylum and making it harder. And that was the opening act that led us to this point, said an advocate close to the negotiations, who asked for anonymity to speak candidly.

Its a total miscalculation of historic proportions, the advocate said. To somehow think that you can one-up Trump by legislating his agenda before he can like thats a win is nonsensical.

The White House has painted the talks as ordinary negotiations on a policy priority for the president.

The president has been clear that the border is broken and that Congress must act  in fact, his first piece of legislation sent to Congress in 2021 was for updating and reforming our immigration policies. The president has said he is open to compromise as Senate negotiators continue to work toward a bipartisan package, a White House spokesperson told The Hill.

White House officials say the administrations direct contact with Senate negotiators has been limited to technical assistance, rather than on specific proposals. But as the deadline for Ukraine funding nears, the White House is taking a more active role.

Last week, you heard the president make the case to Congress and the country on the urgent need to support Ukraine in its fight against Putin. He has repeatedly conveyed that message to congressional leaders personally, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told reporters Monday aboard Air Force One.

He said the White House Legislative Affairs Office, Office of Management and Budget and National Security Council are in close touch with lawmakers from both parties  and well continue to do that.

But immigration advocates in Congress and beyond are not buying it, and they broadly see the White House as playing to lose, in hopes of getting expanded powers to crack down at the border.

The presidents understanding of this issue is that deterrence works and that appeasing Republicans works. Neither of these is true, said another advocate who asked for anonymity.

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a leading voice on the issue whose influence has been dulled by a federal indictment on corruption allegations, said President Biden is badly mistaken to think Democrats will vote for a package with deterrence baked into it.

It is alarming that the President is open to dramatically limiting access to asylum and significantly expanding expedited removal, even to the interior of our country, Menendez said.

These are half-baked, failed policy ideas put forward by Republicans that would do nothing to address the root causes of irregular migration to our southern border and would only inject further cruelty and chaos into an already broken system.

The question of deterrence is at the center of the friction between administration officials and outside advocates.

Republicans are all-in on the idea that enforcing immigration law in a punitive manner and turning away a majority of people who present at the border will stop others in Latin America and beyond from making the trek to the United States.

Thats the rationale for demanding severe restrictions on who can claim asylum, curtailing the administrations ability to provide parole to individuals or classes of immigrants, and expanding expedited removal to the interior of the country.

For the most part, Democrats disagree.

Right now, as negotiations on a supplemental funding bill continue, it is critical to recognize that proposals to eliminate or severely reduce access to asylum and parole will not accomplish these goals, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said in a statement Monday.

Instead, as recent history shows, drastic bans at the border have not served to reduce the number of people seeking refuge from violence in their countries.

The growing opposition that has banded immigration advocates together with progressives and the Tri-Caucus  the CHC, the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus  is spilling over into other Democratic groups.

MoveOn, a progressive voter mobilization outfit, weighed in on the issue Monday, noting that Trump is running on many of the restrictions on the negotiation table.

President Biden and Democrats in Congress have to create a clear contrast between Trumps horrific legacy and the Democrats vision for meaningful immigration reform, including establishing a legal pathway to citizenship and welcoming asylum seekers, MoveOn Executive Director Rahna Epting said.

The political fallout from massive immigration concessions could be a worst-case scenario for Biden ahead of 2024, at once dulling his credibility and discouraging immigration-conscious base voters, while conceding major points on a top issue to Trump, the leading GOP candidate.

Even immigration experts who consider deterrence part of the immigration enforcement toolkit are concerned that Republican demands on asylum could break the entire system.

Muzaffar Chishti, a Migration Policy Institute senior fellow, said success at the border should be judged on giving protection to those who deserve it through an efficient asylum process and preventing those who dont deserve it from gaming the system.

To me, those are the two principles, if anything helps advance those principles, that is good policy, he said.

Chishti said asylum processing should happen at the border before migrants are allowed to move on to the interior of the country, expeditiously turning away people without legitimate asylum claims.

Many immigration advocates say stricter asylum controls would not deter migrants, but instead push them to either attempt to enter the country surreptitiously or simply create a humanitarian nightmare bottleneck at the border.

Not only will these policies fail to improve conditions at the border, but some will have the impact of increasing, not decreasing, unauthorized encounters, creating more chaos at the border in 2024, Todd Schulte, executive director of immigration advocacy group FWD.us, wrote in a memo Friday.

And the proposal to expand expedited removal to the interior, which would allow immigration officials to detain and deport any foreign national that cant quickly prove theyve been in the country longer than two years, is unlikely to have an effect on the border.

That works well for people who have sneaked in. But this is not the group of people who sneaked in. We have a totally different flow, said Chishti, adding that expedited removal to me does nothing to address that flow of people.

Beyond the specific policies under consideration, many Democrats, immigration advocates and experts are questioning whether Republicans are looking to use immigration to sink aid to Ukraine.

If I were a cynic, Id say that Republicans have decided to tie support for Ukraine to immigration reform because they want Ukraine aid to fail. But Im not a cynic, Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.), the lead Democrat in negotiations, said Sunday on Meet the Press.

And advocates say that point should be enough for Democrats to pull away from negotiations.

If the starting point are these demands and on top of that, youre gonna do it and accomplish them by hijacking Ukraine funding, then what does that say about your intentions, that youre trying to sneak in a bunch of poison into what gets voted on? said the advocate with knowledge of the talks.

Because if the policies could stand by themselves, then you wouldnt have the need to hijack Ukraine funding.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
An Impressionist painting found in an Oxfam charity shop has fetched 25,000 at auction.

The unwanted painting of a nude figure had been donated with several other unknown and unvalued artworks to the charity shop in Stamford, East Midlands.

Greg Bateman, the managing director and senior valuer at Batemans Auctioneers, viewed the work which had been handed over for free to Oxfam in a shopping bag, and realised that it resembled the work of 20th century British Impressionist, Henry Scott Tuke.

The artwork was sold for 25,000 through the auction house after receiving 88 bids.

Mr Bateman said: We help out a few charity shops and a volunteer from the shop said we have a few paintings for you.

The first painting that came out [of the bag] was this one and I was so amazed I actually swore at her, which was rather unprofessional  its Tuke!

Greg Bateman (left) said he recognised it as a Tuke - BATEMANS AUCTIONEERS/SWNS

He added: The difficulty was that it wasnt signed and [had] no real official provenance.

We werent able to speak to the person who donated it, we dont even know a name, so we dont know how they came by it.

Mr Batemans experience suggested that the painting was a work by Tuke, who worked primarily in the Impressionist style and became famous for his maritime scenes and male nudes.

The painting may depict Tukes boat handler, Charlie Mitchell, and could have been unfinished and given away as a gift.

The lack of direct and official provenance information for the newly uncovered artwork meant that the starting price was set at just 520, but the price climbed to 25,000 in the space of six minutes once bidding commenced.

The proceeds from the sale are expected to go mainly to Oxfam. Mr Bateman said: I was exceptionally pleased with the result and very pleased for what weve been able to do for the charity.

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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.

If you enjoy this newsletter, consider joining our membership or supporting us with a one-time donation. Start supporting independent journalism today.

Top investigative stories

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Millions of dollars in humanitarian aid donations could have been embezzled from the state fund

Five charity foundations could have misspent a quarter of the donations, around Hr 164 million ($4.4 million), in the fund set by Ukraines Ministry of Social Policy to help those affected by the war soon after the start of the Russian full-scale invasion in 2022, according to the Ukrainian investigative journalism agency Slidstvo.Info.

None of these five charities that received money from the ministry are widely known. Two are allegedly registered to a married couple, and thus are connected. Besides, many of the contractors of all of the five charities were the same, Slidstvo.Info reported.

Journalists obtained materials from the criminal probe led by the National Anti-Corruption Agency into the alleged embezzlement of donations in the governmental fund. The reporters then found and approached the charitable organizations subject to investigation and the communities they were supposed to help and learned that the sums the charities received from the government significantly exceeded the help they delivered to those in need.

In one case, a charity, through a chain of sham firms, bought medical kits at four times the market price from a company, named Elite Advice Trading House, which was already investigated as part of a different probe into the embezzlement of state funds. Elite Advice Trading House has received money from all five charities in question, according to Slidstvo.Info.

The allocated money was supposed to pay for humanitarian aid for the communities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv oblasts, heavily affected by Russias war. Instead, according to Slidstvo.Info, most of the Hr 164 million ($4.4 million) in question could have ended up in the pockets of fraudsters.

Former officials of Ukraines Ministry of Social Policy who managed the fund at the beginning of the all-out war told the reporters that no misuse of funds took place.

The donations to the ministrys fund totalling Hr 625 million ($17.2 million) came in the first months of the all-out war from both Ukrainian and foreign givers.

Watch the full story in Ukrainian with English subtitles here.

Ukrainian state entities, businesses used CCTV cameras with Russian software for decades

Thousands of CCTV cameras with Russian software TRASSIR have been operating in Ukraine for two decades and could have been passing over the information to Moscow, where the providers servers are based, according to the investigation by Schemes, an investigative project of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Together with cyber experts, the journalists conducted an experiment and learned that before ending up on the users phone or laptop, it first goes directly to the Russian companys servers in Moscow.

On Feb. 27, 2022, a few days into the Russian full-scale invasion, Ukraine banned access to millions of Russian IP addresses, including the addresses of those companies that own the camera servers. These limitations, however, are reportedly easy to bypass using a VPN with a Russian location.

Most of the state institutions and businesses, known to Schemes as users of CCTV cameras with Russian software, claimed to no longer be customers of the service, with a few exceptions.

In 2017, the Poltava City Council bought the Russian TRASSIR software and installed 300 CCTV cameras across the city. The cameras are still operational despite the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine.

Responding to the journalists request for comment, the city council claimed that the information from the cameras was secure and couldnt be passed to the servers in Russia. At the same time, the council said they are looking for funds to replace the CCTV cameras with the ones that dont run on Russian software.

Watch the full story in Ukrainian here.

Journalists identify 13 members of local councils who fled Ukraine in violation of travel ban

At least 13 members of local councils across Ukraine left the country following the Russian full-scale invasion misusing the exemption in the rule that bans men of conscription age from going abroad under martial law, according to a Lviv-based investigative outlet NGL.Media.

The law, enforced immediately after the Russian full-scale invasion, bans men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country. One of the very few exceptions is the Shliakh (Path) system. It allows drivers transporting humanitarian aid to leave Ukraine for a limited period of time.

NGL.MediaAt least 13 local council members exploited Shliakh to leave Ukraine and avoid conscription to the military, found. Seven of the runaways reportedly resigned as lawmakers, while the rest kept their mandates despite bailing on their constituencies.

Among those hiding abroad in lawmaker status is, for example, Vitaliy Abramov, a 31-year-old member of the Kharkiv Oblast council.

Abramov used a volunteer permit and left Ukraine on Jan. 31, 2023, by car. On the very same day, the car returned back without him. Abramov is a local lawmaker with a now-banned pro-Russian party, Opposition Platform For Life.

NGL.MediaIn its previous investigations, found that NGOs helped thousands of men dodge the draft and exposed a Lviv city councilman and the son of a Ukrainian parliamentarian who illegally left the country.

Read the full story in Ukrainian here.

Impact

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Prosecutor General's Office starts internal investigation after media report shows gifts arriving at its headquarters

The Prosecutor Generals Office claimed on Dec. 5 to have initiated an internal check following the publication of a video report showing gifts being dropped off at its Kyiv headquarters on Dec. 1, marked in Ukraine as the Prosecutors' Day, a professional holiday.

On that day, the Ukrainska Pravda media outlet watched the Kyiv headquarters of the Prosecutor Generals Office and filmed dozens of people arriving with gifts, packages, and flowers over the course of the day.

The video sparked concerns about the independence of the office in light of Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts.

One of those filmed visiting the Prosecutor General's Office on Dec. 1 is Hryhorii Mamka, a lawmaker for the now-banned pro-Russian party, Opposition Platform For Life.

When asked about the reason for his visit, Mamka said he had come for an event related to the holiday as a representative of the parliament's law enforcement committee.

Recognition

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Kyiv Independents documentary wins national investigative journalism contest

The Kyiv Independents investigative documentary "Uprooted" on Russias abduction of Ukrainian children won the 2023 National Investigative Journalism Competition, one of the most important journalism awards in Ukraine.

This is the first award of the Kyiv Independents War Crimes Investigations Unit, which has produced three documentaries since its launch in March this year.

The "Uprooted" investigative film, authored by a journalist Olesia Bida, follows the stories of Ukrainian children forcefully deported to Russia from the occupied Mariupol and names those collaborators and Russians responsible for their abduction.

The unlawful transfer or deportation of civilians to Russia violates the Fourth Geneva Convention and constitutes a war crime under international law.

The National Investigative Journalism Competition was established in 2014 by the Media Development Foundation and YanukovychLeaks, a Ukrainian initiative that has studied and published documents left by ex-president Viktor Yanukovych who fled to Russia after the EuroMaidan Revolution in 2014.

Last year, the Kyiv Independents investigation into leadership misconduct in the International Legion made it to the finals of the 2022 National Investigative Journalism Competition.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The News

For the last year, Donald Trumps primary opponents have been hoping Iowa would be the former presidents glass jaw. Just over a month out from the Jan. 15 caucus, however, its looking like reinforced steel. That complicates the path forward for his remaining opponents, who had been hoping that voters would grow more skeptical of his candidacy as the first voting neared.

On Monday, the NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll found that 51% of likely Republican caucusgoers in Iowa listed Trump as their first choice  up from 43% in October. Ron DeSantis, meanwhile, sat in a distant second with 19% versus his 16% two months ago, and Nikki Haley remained in third with 16% of voters choosing her as their first choice. Vivek Ramaswamy garnered 5% support  just ahead of Chris Christie, who had 4%.

The poll, which NBC News noted was the largest [lead] recorded so close to a competitive Republican caucus in history, marked the latest challenge for the non-Trump candidates as they work to convince voters, political leaders, and donors that theyre still credible contenders. Haley, for example, has only a single endorsement from a member of Congress  Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C.  and polls showing her down 35 in Iowa dont exactly make sticking ones neck out look more attractive.

If theres one thing the campaigns have experience with in this race, though, its arguing that polls showing Trump up by huge margins dont matter. On Monday, DeSantis himself addressed the latest survey, telling voters at an event in the state that polls are never accurate with a caucus because its all about turning out the folks. He later made a similar point on a popular podcast show that history has shown polling to be, at times, inaccurate.

The DeSantis campaign believes their ground game, which has almost exclusively focused on Iowa so far, will take them further than most public polling has shown. They have backup from Never Back Down, the pro-DeSantis super PAC whose leadership has been in flux in recent weeks.

Republicans know that public polling doesnt mean a thing, as weve seen most recently from the expected nationwide red wave that didnt take effect in 2022, DeSantis communications director Andrew Romeo told Semafor. Instead, what will decide Iowa is the historic ground game that Ron DeSantis has built, which is exactly why he has the support of 42 state legislators, over 120 county chairs, over 100 faith leaders, 1,000 precinct captains, Gov. Kim Reynolds, and evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats.

DeSantis, for his part, has done little to temper expectations: Just last week, he boldly declared hed win the state. If that doesnt come to fruition, his campaigns viability could come into question.

Haleys campaign, meanwhile, is focusing on the fact that shes rising (at least in most polls). Unlike DeSantis, theyve shown some signs of life in New Hampshire, which often breaks with Iowa voters. Theyre counting on a weak performance from DeSantis in Iowa to end any rationale for his campaign, giving her a boost and a chance to consolidate support heading into the first-in-the-nation primary. They also expect to benefit from new ground resources via AFP Action, which endorsed Haleys candidacy last month.

There is a growing consensus that Nikki Haley is the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump and Joe Biden, a Haley spokesperson said. Nikki trounces Biden in the general election by a whopping 17-points while Trump barely squeaks by and Ron DeSantis doesnt beat Biden. With Nikki on the ballot, not only will conservatives take the White House, we will grow the House majority, take back the Senate, and save our country.

Ramaswamys team highlighted a recent Morning Consult poll, which had him in third with 13% support. Communications director Tricia McLaughlin told Semafor that theyre seeing a much different group of voters come out for their events  only about 50%, she said, are registered Republicans; others are independents, disaffected Democrats, or politically unaffiliated.

Further, were finding that only 20% of attendees at his events are typical Republican caucusgoers, she said. It doesnt make sense that Viveks events are getting bigger, while the Des Moines Register poll is showing 5%. Its just not consistent with what were seeing on the ground.

Chris Christie is perhaps the only candidate who is genuinely indifferent to the polling data: Unlike the other candidates, hes spent very little time in Iowa, instead staking his campaign on New Hampshire.

Shelbys view

To the extent theres an upside for the other candidates, its that it raises expectations for Trump. If the former president ends up underperforming come January, it could give his opponents the appearance of momentum heading into New Hampshire and South Carolina, which they likely hope could encourage a bandwagon effect with voters. Granted, with Trump up so big nationally, its worth asking what sort of an underperformance would prompt genuine concern, rather than mild annoyance.

Room for Disagreement

Semafors editor-in-chief Ben Smith argues not to underestimate Haley: Her record as a political knife fighter in South Carolina is unmatched and she could surprise observers if she ever gets a clean shot at Trump.

Notable

Some of Wall Streets top Republican donors are quietly deciding that Trump is likely to win the nomination  and are growing more concerned about what another Trump presidency would mean for the country, Politico reported.

CNN is supposed to host the last Republican presidential debate in Iowa before its caucus, but will it end up happening? Axios recently noted that Nikki Haley has yet to commit to the debate (Ramaswamy and Christie may not qualify.) In fact, Ron DeSantis is the sole candidate whos agreed to debate next month.
It's become a holiday tradition, especially in the red states. Every year, in response to overtly Christian displays put up in government buildings, the Satanic Temple petitions to set up a display honoring Lucifer in state capitols. They usually succeed. See, the Supreme Court long ago created a loophole in the First Amendment to allow religious displays, by arguing that as long as every group gets to have one, it doesn't violate the "no establishment of religion" clause. By putting up altars to Satan next to the annual nativity scenes, the Satanic Temple makes their point about the silliness of this loophole.

More important, however, is the trolling part. Every year, Christian conservatives discover the Satanic display and have a loud, public temper tantrum about it. In this, Satanists prove their point: Conservatives claim to respect religious plurality, but it's a lie. The overt religious iconography on government property was always about promoting the Christian nationalist view that theirs is the only "real" American religion.

It's hardened into a ritual because both sides get something out of it. The fundamentalists get a chance to freak out and use this as evidence for their lurid conspiracy theories claiming demonic forces are out to get them. The Satanists and their fans get a chance to remind everyone that Republicans are hypocrites who never really believed all that "free speech" talk. This year, the annual rite is playing out in Iowa, where the Satanists have antagonized the Christians with a goat's head wreath in the Des Moines capitol building.

Iowa lawmaker calls for Gov. Kim Reynolds to remove satanic Capitol display https://t.co/fFdeOn3x55  Des Moines Register (@DMRegister) December 11, 2023

The story has more national resonance than usual, however. It's happening in the shadow cast by a much darker, more dangerous bad faith debate over free speech: The fight over alleged anti-semitism on campus.

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In their twin quest to divide-and-conquer the left and deflect from Donald Trump's responsibility for unleashing a torrent of bigotry across the U.S., House Republicans decided to host one of their many disingenuous spectacles disguised as "hearings" last week. Three presidents of elite universities  Harvard, M.I.T, and the University of Pennsylvania  were summoned to discuss anti-semitism on campus in the wake of Israel's war on Gaza. In a clip that went viral, these three were unable to state plainly under questioning from Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., that students would be expelled if they called for genocide of Jews.

The trick worked as intended, causing the anti-MAGA coalition to tear at each other with arguments over whether these presidents were in the right on free speech grounds, whether the threat of anti-semitism from campus is overblown, and why the voices of teenaged college students are treated as emblematic of the entire left. As Michelle Goldberg of the New York Times wrote, "you can see the trap Stefanik laid."

NEW:



University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned after facing intense blowback to her testimony at a congressional hearing on campus anti-Semitism. pic.twitter.com/R6BxPpNDn9  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) December 9, 2023

But while people get into often-incomprehensible arguments over the finer points of defining "genocide" and "free speech," what is getting lost is the most important issue: Republicans are a bunch of lying hypocrites. It's this message the Satanic Temple is trying to remind us all of with their holiday display. The MAGA right has been wailing for years about the alleged threats to free speech from hazily defined social pressures like "wokeness" and "cancel culture," but when it comes to opinions they don't like, they don't hesitate to call for the blunt force of censorship.

As many people pointed out, Republicans have defended genocidal and violent rhetoric for years now under the guise of "free speech." Trump's unsubtle calls for violence against his perceived enemies have led to an attempted murder of the husband of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D.-Calif., threats against government employees and even private citizens, and, of course, the insurrection of January 6, 2021. Dehumanizing rhetoric against Black Lives Matter protesters and "great replacement" theory have led to mass murder, shootings, and conservatives crashing cars into protests. But when liberals call for social media companies to curb the ugly rhetoric using their legal powers to self-regulate, a chorus of right wing whining about "cancel culture" erupts. We do not need to litigate how real the threat of campus anti-semitism is, in order to see how Republians use tensions over hate speech and the First Amendment to advance their "free speech for me, but not for thee" agenda

The Satanic altar at Iowa's state capitol showcases the same GOP bad faith, but at least with some levity. As atheists and other religious minorities have long argued, the reason Republicans want nativity scenes and other such religious symbols up on government grounds is obvious: To signal that the U.S. is a Christian nation, not a secular one. But Republicans can't admit that out loud, so instead they play word games with concepts like "free speech" and "freedom of religion."

The reaction to the Satanic altar in Iowa shows the emptiness of GOP rhetoric about "free speech." State Rep. Brad Sherman is on the warpath, insisting it's "a tortured and twisted interpretation of law that affords Satan, who is universally understood to be the enemy of God, religious expression equal to God in an institution of government that depends upon God for continued blessings."

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To be fair, other Republican leaders in the state understand the law and that if they want to keep using government property for Christian proselytizing, they have to tolerate the presence of other religious expression, including that which is Satanic. But their MAGA-drunk constituents clearly do not agree. When state Rep. Jon Dunwell released a statement explaining that the state must "either allow all displays or none," and advising the "primary response required is prayer" instead of censorship, he was raked over the coals by his fellow Republicans in mentions.

"To give quarter to the enemies of God is pathetic and contemptible," complained one woman. "God placed you in a position of authority for such a time as this," griped a man. Others quoted Bible verses at him that appear to call for literal murder of unbelievers or insisted that a true Christian believes the Bible trumps the constitution. Same thing happened across social media. Wherever the story about the Satanic altar appeared, the comments are completely dominated by Republican voters wailing about how the government needs to censor this, that the purpose of government is to uphold Christianity, and that the Founding Fathers supposedly agreed with them.

Some are explicitly using this to call for Christian nationalism:

This satanic statue was erected in the Iowa state capitol this past week.



Its increasingly clear well either have Christian Nationalism or Satanic nationalism.



Which way western man? pic.twitter.com/JszOcsRHUS  Smash Baals (@smashbaals) December 9, 2023

This kind of thing is why it's so gross to see Republicans cynically exploit fears of anti-semitism to promote their culture war narratives about "campus leftism" and "political correctness." The Satanic Temple's trolling exposes the bare truth, which is the GOP is rapidly becoming a Christian nationalist party full of people who want to find a way to use government power to marginalize and silence non-Christians, or who are even those who are just critical of conservative Christianity. Right now, feigned concern for Jewish people gives cover to this "free speech for me, censorship for thee" mentality. But, one would be a fool to see all this outrage over the Satanic Temple's little joke and not conclude that these folks aren't going to be satisfied with only kicking out Satanists. This is about limiting who gets rights to free speech and religious liberty to conservative Christians.
Facing a price tag that could amount to $1.35 billion, Iowa water utilities are weighing how they would replace an estimated 96,440 lead service lines across the state under a proposed federal rule change thats designed to avoid contamination crises like the one that imperiled the 100,000 residents of Flint, Michigan, in 2014.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposes requiring water utilities to replace 9.2 million lead service lines across the country over the next decade. The Biden administration says the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $15 billion for lead service line replacement, with another $11.7 billion in federal financing available through the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund program.

But that's only a fraction of the up to $80 billion the work could cost, according to an EPA report assessing the nations water infrastructure needs.

Workers from Torgerson Excavating work Dec. 6 to replace lead water service lines in Des Moines' River Bend neighborhood.

Everybody should be able to agree that we don't want lead in our drinking water. Its really, really important that everyone is protected, says David Cwiertny, director of the University of Iowas Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination.

We all want to see it succeed. But I think we probably all have the same concern about costs, Cwiertny says.

Lead poisoning puts adults at risk for cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, decreased kidney function and other health problems. But its especially dangerous for children, who can suffer neurological damage, decreased IQ, learning disabilities and behavioral problems, among other issues.

Thousands of Flint residents suffered physical and mental health problems after the bankrupt city in a misdirected cost-saving move switched water sources in 2014, then failed to appropriately treat the more caustic water, resulting in unsafe levels of lead and other contaminants leaching from pipes and into drinking water.

While regular testing for lead shows Des Moines water is safe, water works CEO Ted Corrigan supports removing lead lines, saying they're a liability as long as theyre there.

But he and other Iowa utility officials say that along with figuring out how to pay for the work, implementing the proposed rule would bring other challenges. They include locating lead service lines that have been underground for decades; crossing privately owned land to replace lines in consumers homes; and getting residents to voluntarily participate.

A lead service line pulled from a home in Des Moines' River Bend neighborhood. Des Moines Water Works is conducting a pilot program offering to replace 100 lead service lines for River Bend homeowners for free.

With 20,000 lead service lines, Des Moines Water Works estimates it would cost $280 million to replace the pipes in its central Iowa service area. To get a better handle on the costs, it is seeking 100 homeowners in Des Moines' River Bend neighborhood who will allow it to replace their lead lines for free under a $1 million pilot project.

Even with extensive outreach to 150 property owners, the utility has reached agreements with only 30.

We need to figure out how to create interest, says Corrigan, adding that city leaders may need to consider compelling residents to replace lead lines, if a federal mandate is adopted. But the biggest challenge is funding.

'$15 billion isn't nearly enough' to pay for replacements nationally

The Biden administration says lead exposure disproportionately harms impoverished neighborhoods and communities of color. There is no safe level of exposure to lead, particularly for children, and eliminating lead exposure from the air, water and homes is a crucial component of the Biden-Harris Administrations historic commitment to advancing environmental justice, it says in a briefing statement.

UI's Cwiertny is concerned the proposed rule could raise costs for low-income residents. You dont want to have unintended consequences, he says, with utilities forced to increase their rates to complete the work.

And it could be harder for smaller communities to bear the cost.

We have a lot of water systems with under 10,000 residents that are really going to have to work hard to make the money work, Cwiertny says.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directs that 49% of the $15 billion for lead line replacements be provided as grants or forgivable loans, and Iowa is expected to follow the federal government's policy. That means 51% of the loans will have to somehow be repaid.

"We don't have any idea where that 51% is going to come," says Corrigan, the Des Moines Water Works CEO.

"We could raise rates. We could look for other grants or other opportunities. We could ask customers who own the lead service lines to pay that 51%," he says, adding that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has asked utilities to not bill residents for lead line replacement costs.

"There's a big question about the funding," he says, adding, "$15 billion isnt nearly enough."

Some cities get lucky; others face an enormous task

Corrigan says replacing lead service lines will cost up to $14,000 for each line. The EPA report, assessing costs in 2021, places the expense as low as $5,328 per line and as high as $9,015. The modified federal rule also could require galvanized water lines to be replaced, as well, if they are connected to lead lines.

At $14,000 apiece, replacing Iowa's 96,436 lead service lines would cost $1.35 billion.

In northeast Iowa, Dubuque, the state's oldest city, estimates it has about 5,700 lead service lines, says Water Department Manager Christopher Lester. The city plans to soon begin a $6 million pilot project to replace up to 575 of them, Lester says. The state is providing half the funding.

Younger cities like West Des Moines anticipate few, if any, lead service line replacements, based on its utility's experience replacing large water distribution mains.

"The people who have been here for years haven't come across any lead service lines," says Christina Murphy, West Des Moines Water Works' general manager. "We feel pretty fortunate."

U.S. cities are required to provide a lead service line inventory by October 2024, under a rule change during former President Donald Trump's administration. Should the replacement policy go forward, Corrigan and Lester both say they're concerned about the number of lead lines the cities would have to remediate over a decade.

"That volume of replacement will take a significant effort," Corrigan says.

That's on top of cities' efforts to maintain and upgrade their existing system, Lester says. The EPA infrastructure assessment survey shows Iowa utilities anticipate needing $10.1 billion to upgrade water distribution, treatment and source water development, among other costs.

"Balancing those projects with replacing thousands of service lines is going to be a challenge," Lester says.

Trying to balance water quality, quantity, safety priorities

Corrigan says the pilot program in River Bend, a neighborhood with many century-old homes, is meant to help Des Moines Water Works answer questions about what's needed to make the lead line improvements: How accurate are records of lead line locations? What's needed to make improvements inside a home? How difficult will it be to get participation?

"We're doing it to learn," he says, adding that he's been surprised at the difficulty in getting property owners to participate in the free program. The utility has notified residents with emails, calls and postings on their doors. Staff members also have gone through the area knocking on doors  sometimes with translators  and reached out to neighborhood groups.

If the rule changes are adopted, the utility may need to ask the city to consider mandating participation. Other cities have discovered that once an ordinance is passed, residents have been cooperative, without the need for implementing penalties, Corrigan says.

"No matter how hard you try, you never get everyone to comply with a voluntary program," he says.

Workers from Torgerson Excavating work Dec. 6 to replace lead water service lines in Des Moines' River Bend neighborhood.

The costs to remove lead service lines come as utilities struggle to find funding to address a host of other issues, including water availability and quality. The EPA also is looking at asking utilities to meet stricter standards for the detection of PFAS  per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances used to make products like nonstick pans, carpets and firefighting foam. They're often referred to as forever chemicals" because they don't break down and can accumulate over time in human and animal tissues, and they've been tied to cancer, liver damage and other health problems.

"PFAS is a huge discussion among utilities, about how to address it," Murphy says. "All these things cost money, and you're trying to prioritize where you think the best impact on water quality will be."

Removing lead exposure remains a priority, says UI's Cwiertny. Lead poisoning carries a lifetime of impairments.

"They're not reversible," he says. "You can put a price tag on that exposure."

One study says childhood lead exposure costs the U.S. economy $84 billion annually, due to factors like added educational and medical expenses and lost earnings.

"That has to be our message and guiding light  we'll have a more thriving, more equitable society if we can do this," Cwiertny says.

Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com or 515-284-8457.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How will Iowa come up with $1.35 billion to remove lead water lines?
GENEVA (Reuters) -Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Tuesday that Israel and the United States will never be able to wipe out Hamas and that Israel could only secure the release of hostages held in Gaza with a political solution to the conflict.

In a speech at the United Nations in Geneva in which he described the Islamist group as a freedom movement, Amirabdollahian said: "Israel and the United States will never be able to eliminate Hamas."

He added that Israel, which has vowed to wipe out Tehran-backed Hamas, could only achieve the return of hostages taken by Hamas during a deadly rampage on Oct. 7 by a political solution.

Amirabdollahian was speaking at a meeting alongside counterparts from other Middle Eastern countries.

"All the ministers agree that the strikes by the criminal Israeli regime and the genocide it is committing has to stop immediately," Amirabdollahian said following the meeting.

"The Rafah border crossing has to be open, humanitarian aid has to reach every part of Gaza and the forced displacement of the people of Gaza must stop," he added, referring to the crossing into Egypt used to bring humanitarian aid into the enclave.

Israel mounted its assault on Gaza in response to a cross-border raid by Hamas fighters in which they killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostage in southern Israel on Oct. 7. More than 100 hostages were freed during a short-lived truce last month.

Israel's assault on Gaza to root out Hamas has killed at least 18,205 Palestinians and wounded nearly 50,000 since Oct. 7, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appealed last month to Muslim states with political ties with Israel to at least cut them for "a limited time". He had previously called for an Islamic oil and food embargo on Israel.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Cecile Mantovani in Geneva, and Elwely Elwelly in Dubai; Editing by Rachel More and Nick Macfie)
The Irish government has approved a more than fivefold reduction in the weekly allowance for Ukrainian refugees, Irish broadcaster RTE reported on Dec. 12.

Read also: Nearly 900,000 Ukrainians to receive UN aid this winter

The new amount is EUR 38,80 (~$41,85). The government has also decided to limit the period of state housing provision to 90 days for refugees.

Despite the reduction in aid to Ukrainian refugees, the Irish government clarified that they can still receive a more substantial amount if they leave the refugee centers.

Read also:

However, parents of children residing in state institutions will continue to receive the full monthly child benefit of EUR 140 (~$151).

These changes are scheduled to be implemented in early 2024.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Israels military has reportedly begun pumping seawater into the Gaza tunnels said to be occupied by Hamas fighters, as it pushes further into the terrorist groups stronghold.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have built five pumps to flood the network of tunnels, where Hamas fighters have been hiding and holding hostages.

On Tuesday, US officials said the operation had started, and the Biden administration had been told it could take weeks, according to a report.

Asked about the report, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, the IDF chief of staff, told a press conference such a tactic would be a good idea.

Appearing to confirm the operation, he added: We are seeing a lot of underground infrastructure in Gaza, we knew there would be a lot. Part of the goal is to destroy this infrastructure.

We have various ways [to deal with the tunnels]. I wont talk about specifics, but they include explosives to destroy, and other means to prevent Hamas operatives from using the tunnels to harm our soldiers.

Soldiers work to connect water pumps to begin operation in Gaza tunnels

Troops are using seawater to flood the tunnels

News of the tactic, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, came as the IDF released video appearing to show troops confronting and shooting dead Hamas militants in Gaza city.

Israels defence minister has claimed his soldiers were pressing deep underground and that some Hamas units were on the verge of being dismantled.

In an apparent attempt to support this claim, the IDF released head-cam footage recorded by a soldier in Gaza Citys Shejaiya neighbourhood.

It claimed to show the reservist shooting and killing a Hamas gunman before a grenade was thrown by a second terrorist. Despite being injured, the Israeli soldier rushes towards the militant and shoots him dead also.

IDF troops are operating deep underground, locating Hamas infrastructures, destroying them, and bringing [Hamas in] Gaza City closer to breaking, said Yoav Gallant, the defence minister.

The Telegraph was unable to independently confirm the authenticity of the footage released by the IDF.

Israel in tough spot

It came as Israel declared 19 of 135 people still in Gaza captivity dead in absentia, after announcing its forces had recovered the bodies of two hostages.

The list of 19 included a Tanzanian national, the government press office said.

Tanzania has said that two of its citizens, both farming students, had been among some 240 people taken hostage by Hamas in the militant groups Oct 7 cross-border rampage. One of the Tanzanians was confirmed dead last month.

Speaking on Monday evening at a White House reception to mark Hanukkah, Mr Biden said Israel was in a tough spot. He also hinted at the conversations he had been having with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister.

Well continue to provide military assistance to Israel until they get rid of Hamas, but we have to be careful  they have to be careful, Mr Biden said. The whole worlds public opinion can shift overnight, we cant let that happen.

Half of Gaza population starving

As the UN General Assembly seemed poised to consider another ceasefire resolution, the Palestinian foreign minister accused Israel of starving Gaza.

The UN World Food Programme has said half of Gazas population of 2.3 million is starving because of the expansion of Israels military assault on the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Israel denies this.

As we speak, at least one million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, half of them children, are starving, not because of a natural disaster or because of lack of generous assistance waiting at the border, Riyad al-Maliki, the Palestinian foreign minister, said at a UN event.

Earlier this week, Mr Gallant, the defence minister, pushed back at claims that Israel needed to put an end to its military operation in Gaza and said it would likely take time to conclude.

Speaking to Associated Press, Mr Gallant declined to commit to any deadlines, and signalled the ground fighting could go on for weeks, if not months.

We are going to defend ourselves. I am fighting for Israels future, he said. He said the next phase would be lower-intensity fighting against pockets of resistance and would require Israeli troops to maintain their freedom of operation.

He added: Thats a sign the next phase has begun.

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Despite ongoing U.S. support for Israel's war against Hamas, there is increasing tension between the leaders of the two nations over how it is being conducted and the post-conflict future.

President Joe Biden said Tuesday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to change his hardline government and warned support for the countrys military campaign is waning amid heavy bombardment of Gaza. Netanyahu meanwhile, thanked the U.S. for its support but said that he does not back Biden's call for the Palestinian Authority to run Gaza after the war.

Speaking to Democratic donors in Washington, Biden said Netanyahu had a tough decision to make CNN reported .

This is the most conservative government in Israels history, Biden said, adding that the Israeli government doesnt want a two-state solution.

Biden said Israel was beginning to lose support around the world, and argued Netanyahu has to strengthen and change the Israeli government to find an eventual long-term solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The remarks  delivered at an off-camera fundraiser, a venue in which the president has been more freewheeling than his usual White House appearances  amounted to some of Bidens most candid to date about the war.

https://twitter.com/evanhill/status/1734641152454725652

Netanyahu said he would block the Biden administrations postwar plan to have the Palestinian Authority take over Gaza, The Wall Street Journal reported . That marks the sharpest sign of Israeli pushback against the U.S. blueprint for administering the enclave after the war.

After the great sacrifice of our civilians and our soldiers, I will not allow the entry into Gaza of those who educate for terrorism, support terrorism and finance terrorism, Netanyahu said, referring to the Palestinian Authority, which currently oversees parts of the West Bank, in a statement Tuesday.

I will not allow Israel to repeat the mistake of Oslo, he added, referring to the 1993 agreement that established the Palestinian Authority and which Netanyahu has long criticized.

Gaza will neither be Hamastan nor Fatahstan, he added, referring to Hamas, whose attack on southern Israel launched the war, and to Fatah, the Palestinian faction that controls the Palestinian Authority.

https://twitter.com/TheNewsTrending/status/1734596501031051325

Biden on Monday alluded to differences he has with Netanyahu.

Biden, speaking at a White House Hannukah reception , recalled his decades-long relationship with Netanyahu and noted he made an inscription on an old photograph of the two men.

"I wrote on the top of it, 'Bibi I love you but I don't agree with a damn thing you had to say.'"

"It's about the same today," Biden said, to scattered applause from the largely Jewish audience, adding that Israel is in a "tough spot" and that "I've had my differences with some Israeli leadership."

He did not elaborate on what differences between the two men remained, though in recent weeks they have included issues spanning the current war against Hamas and treatment of Palestinians.

Biden also told those gathered that he was a Zionist.

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1734473483508142350?s=12

In a further blow to Biden's vision for a two-state solution, Netanyahu also intimated that Israel is preparing for the possibility of war with the Palestinian Authority forces. That's according "This Morning," an Israeli radio show on the KAN Reshet B channel .

The radio show reported that "in a closed discussion with the prime minister that took place during the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Netanyahu was asked by Knesset members about the possibility of a 'turning of the tables' scenario." That's a situation in which PA forces turn their weapons against the IDF in the West Bank as part of a cooperation between Hamas and the PA.

According to that show, Netanyahu replied: The turning of the tables scenario is known to us and it is under consideration. We are discussing it. And we want to reach a situation where, should such an event occur, then within a few minutes there would be helicopters in the air responding to such an event.

https://twitter.com/DavidMWitty1/status/1734590029031264395

In the wake of Netanyahu's comments, Hamas on Tuesday called for the Palestinian Authority (PA) to cut off ties with Israel and join its fight.

We call on the Palestinian Authority and its security services to transcend the effects of the Oslo Accords, stop all forms of security coordination with the occupation, and move to the square of comprehensive resistance and mobilize all energies to confront the occupation and its herds of settlers until the land and holy sites are liberated, and realize the aspirations of our people by wresting our full national rights from an occupation that only understands the language of force, Hamas said Tuesday on Telegram.

https://twitter.com/AoR3138/status/1734581546026201591

Amid the political tensions, the fighting continues.

Strikes overnight and into Tuesday in southern Gaza  in an area where civilians have been told to seek shelter  killed at least 23 people, including seven children and six women, The Associated Press reported , citing hospital records and an Associated Press reporter who saw the bodies arrive at a hospital.

https://twitter.com/WTOL11Toledo/status/1734604049515778062

A video emerged on social media highlighting the destruction caused by Israeli attacks in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza's largest city. It shows widespread damage to buildings and debris-littered streets.

https://twitter.com/gaza_report/status/1734229434721354006?s=20

There was also new video of IDF troops in action, patrolling streets in Gaza, bulldozers clearing a path and firing at Hamas fighters.

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1734508024952148166?s=20

Israeli forces stormed the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza ordering all men, including medics, into the courtyard, said Ashraf al-Qidra , spokesman for the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

The U.N. humanitarian office said the hospital has 65 patients, including 12 children in intensive care and six newborns in incubators, according to The Associated Press . Some 3,000 displaced people are sheltering there, it said, all awaiting evacuation because of severe shortages of food, water and electricity.

https://twitter.com/AJEnglish/status/1734567627882631561

The Israeli Navy said it has prevented several Hamas uncrewed undersea vessel (UUV) attacks.

The Israeli Navy did not provide details about how many, where or over what period of time, but it said that working with operational headquarters, intelligence division, and other operational and technological units, along with combat forces on the ground, it successfully thwarted several unmanned underwater vessels, intended to attack Israel's strategic maritime assets and coastlines.

The IDF included a photo of one of the UUVs it said it captured.

https://twitter.com/inbarspace/status/1734601806360039459

The Israeli Navy also said its fleet of four new Sa'ar 6-class corvettes is fully operational and that for the first time, a Sa'ar 6 sailed to the Red Sea.

Described as Israels most capable warship, you can read more about what the Saar 6 brings to the table in our report here .

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The Palestinians are hoping that a vote Tuesday in the U.N. General Assembly on a nonbinding resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire will demonstrate widespread global support for ending the war.

After the United States vetoed a Security Council resolution on Friday demanding a humanitarian cease-fire, Arab and Islamic nations called for an emergency session of the 193-member General Assembly on Tuesday afternoon to vote on a resolution making the same demand, according to The Associated Press .

Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding. But as U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Monday, the assemblys messages are also very important and reflect world opinion.

Israel says Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 240 people hostage. Gaza's health ministry says 18,205 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 50,000 wounded. The War Zone cannot independently verify casualty figures presented by either side.

Most of the 2.3 million people in Gaza have been driven from their homes and the United Nations has given dire warnings about the humanitarian situation in the coastal enclave, saying that hundreds of thousands of people are starving, Reuters reported .

https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1734448008740127099

Reports have emerged about secret negotiations over a hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas.

Qatar and Israel are holding secret talks in one of the European capitals regarding a potential hostage exchange, as reported on Monday on the Saudi Arabian website Elaph .

A senior diplomatic source revealed that the deal is expected to include children, women, and men, including three senior IDF officers who were captured by Hamas.

The Saudi report states that Israel has committed to release around 300 Palestinian prisoners in exchange, in addition to ten veteran prisoners serving long sentences, including Marwan Barghouti, the leader of the Fatah movement.

In a Twitter thread, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said that Qatari officials reached out to Israel over the weekend in an effort to resume negotiations that broke down Dec. 1. That ended a seven-day ceasefire.

https://twitter.com/barakravid/status/1734298936397988150?s=12

Israel, under U.S. pressure, reversed its decision and is allowing Palestinian Americans who live in the occupied West Bank to enter its territory for the first time since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, Axios reported .

Shortly after the Oct. 7 attack, the Israeli government imposed a closure of the West Bank for security reasons and barred entry for Palestinians who live there, including more than 100,000 Palestinian workers who previously entered Israel every day. However, two U.S. and Israeli officials said the Biden administration told the Israeli government that if the issue wasn't resolved this week it could lead to a suspension of Israel's membership in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which allows a country's citizens to travel to the U.S. for 90 days without first obtaining a visa.

https://twitter.com/barakravid/status/1734362550647562449?s=12

Video has emerged showing the IDF blowing up a United Nation Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) school in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.

The military says it was used as a Hamas outpost, with a tunnel network underneath. As the building exploded, cheers can be heard cheering in the background. Al Jazeera reported that it was the latest incident of Israel targeting UN schools and buildings sheltering thousands of Palestinians.

https://twitter.com/astraiaintel/status/1734564898791641512?s=12

The IDF Operations Directorate's Influencing Department operates a Telegram channel called 72 Virgins  Uncensored, which targets Israeli audiences and shows the bodies of Hamas terrorists with the promise of "shattering the terrorists' fantasy," Haaretz reported .

The department is responsible for psychological warfare operations against the enemy and foreign audiences, according to the publication.

The channel, which boasts of "exclusive content from the Gaza Strip" and has published over 700 posts, images and videos of terrorists being killed and of destruction in the Strip, encourages its 5,300 followers to share the content so that "everyone can see that we're screwing them."

The Israel Defense Forces denies that it operates the channel, but a senior military official confirmed to Haaretz that the army is responsible for operating it.

"There is no reason for the IDF to conduct influence campaigns on Israeli citizens of Israel," said the official, who requested anonymity. "The messages there are problematic. It doesn't look like an awareness campaign of an army like the IDF, but more like talking points for [far-right rapper] The Shadow, and the fact that soldiers operate such a problematic page is egregious," he said.

https://twitter.com/jeremyscahill/status/1734507744135127108?s=12

The number of Israeli troops killed during the ground invasion rose to over 100 after fierce battles in southern Gaza.

During one battle, "an explosive device was detonated at the forces and terrorists were identified in the area. The troops responded with live fire, directed aircraft and tanks, initiated contact, killed the terrorists, and struck the terror infrastructure in the area," the IDF reported. However, five Israeli troops were killed in that incident. Another four soldiers were wounded, including one in serious condition. Along with another soldier killed in southern Gaza, that brings the toll of slain troops in the ground offensive against Hamas to 104, according to IDF figures.

https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1734197354008301942

Discrepancies arose as the numbers of wounded Israeli soldiers reported by the Israeli army were found to be significantly lower than figures reported by Israeli hospitals, Haaretz reported .

In its first information about the number of wounded, the Israeli army said on Sunday that 1,593 soldiers have been wounded so far in the Israel-Gaza war. This figure includes soldiers injured in Hamas' deadly surprise attack on October 7. However, when compared with information released by Israeli hospitals, the number of wounded soldiers is significantly higher than the figure provided by the military.

The Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon alone reports treating 1,949 soldiers during the war  a figure that is higher than the IDF's total number of injured soldiers. The total number of wounded soldiers reportedly admitted to all Israeli hospitals exceeds 4,500.

The dramatic divergence between the army and the hospitals' numbers may be partially attributed to several factors, Haaretz reported. Some soldiers might have been registered as wounded in two hospitals after they were transferred from one hospital to another.

In some cases, it is possible that a soldier was hospitalized due to medical circumstances unrelated to the war. However, most hospitals have a specific section dedicated to patients wounded in the war and maintain a separate registration system.

https://twitter.com/BeirutCalling/status/1734580339580760498

Though Israel is deep into a push south, fighting is still taking place in the northern portion of the enclave.

In this video below, an IDF soldier is seen killing two Hamas fighters during a close-quarters battle in the Shejaia neighborhood even after he was wounded by a grenade.

https://twitter.com/jerusalem_post/status/1734635074568540275

In the Jabalya neighborhood, the IDF said its soldiers on Monday located explosive devices, AK-47 rifles, and an RPG which were hidden inside UNRWA-labeled bags inside a civilian residence. A truck containing long-distance rockets was also found near a school in the area.

In the process of cleaning an area in Jabalya "from the danger of tunnel shafts and explosive devices, IDF troops located a lathe used for weapons production, as well as a Hamas launch site containing approximately 50 projectiles, some of which were loaded and ready to fire," the IDF said.

https://twitter.com/idf/status/1734332981647376882?s=12

The fighting in that neighborhood remains fierce as you can see in this video below.

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1733765382945505769?s=20

Israeli Military Police on Tuesday opened an investigation on suspicion of illegal shooting in the West Bank of a 25-year-old Palestinian man who was recorded in a video being shot by IDF troops after already being wounded, Haaretz reported Tuesda y.

"Once the investigation is concluded, the findings will be submitted to the IDF legal adviser for examination."

https://twitter.com/haaretzcom/status/1734607794161209401

Hamas said the IDF killed a wounded Rami Al-Aboushi during an incident in the Al-Faraa refugee camp, in the West Bank city of Tubas.

Al-Aboushi was shot without posing any threat, Hamas claimed on Telegram.

It is a cold-blooded, sadistic execution that comes as part of a systematic policy followed by the terrorist government in Tel Aviv, and it takes place in audio and video, in front of the world, without any deterrent from the international community or international judicial institutions.

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1734229074048864359?s=12

The IDF said that more than 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists were apprehended over the past month and transferred for further questioning by the ISA and Unit 504.

Since the end of the operational pause, the IDF and ISA apprehended approximately 140 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists in the Gaza Strip," according to the IDF. "The operatives were detained in recent days by IDF soldiers. Some voluntarily turned themselves in and were transferred by field interrogators from Unit 504 in the Intelligence Directorate and the ISA for further questioning.

Some of the Palestinian operatives were apprehended while hiding inside civilian buildings, schools, and shelters, the IDF claimed. The investigations yielded intelligence that assisted in locating additional terrorist operatives, as well as the security of IDF troops. The War Zone could not independently verify these claims.

Many of those surrendering to the IDF were involved in the October 7 massacre , Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on Monday evening during a televised address.

"Hamas is on the verge of dissolution, the IDF is taking over its last strongholds," Gallant said.

He added that Israel has no intention to maintain a permanent presence in the Gaza Strip .

https://twitter.com/jerusalem_post/status/1734321592971268187?s=12

Of the hundreds of Palestinian detainees photographed handcuffed in the Gaza Strip in recent days, about 10 to 15 percent are Hamas operatives or are identified with the organization. That's according to senior security officials who spoke to Haaretz Sunday . The IDF reported that the Palestinians who are not Hamas operatives that were arrested have been released.

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The intensity of urban warfare inside Gaza was captured in a video released by the IDF which show them engaging Hamas with M203 grenade launchers and a Matador man portable anti-armor and anti-bunker weapon, among other arms.

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1733497235814408430?s=20

Israel said it is increasing the speed at which humanitarian aid bound for Gaza is being screened by conducting the inspections at the Nitzana and Kerem Shalom crossings. Still, the IDF emphasized "that no supplies will be entering Gaza from Israel, but rather all aid will enter through the Rafah Crossing."

https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1734296756219740231

Hamas continued to launch rocket attacks on Israel on Monday, including once again in and around Tel Aviv.

https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman/status/1734231857489940756 https://twitter.com/RickSmol/status/1734281397274305004

Israel used U.S.-supplied white phosphorus munitions in an October attack in southern Lebanon that injured at least nine civilians according to a Washington Post analysis of shell fragments found in a small village. A journalist working for The Post found remnants of three 155-millimeter artillery rounds fired into Dheira, near the border of Israel. The shells incinerated at least four homes, residents said. The rounds, which eject felt wedges saturated with white phosphorous that burns at high temperatures, produce billowing smoke to obscure troop movements as it falls haphazardly over a wide area.

As we reported in a previous allegation of the Israeli use of white phosphorous:

White phosphorus is not a chemical weapon, as sometimes described, since it is primarily an incendiary weapon, although its also regularly used for making smokescreens and for target marking. Burning at around 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit, white phosphorus can obviously inflict terrible injuries and its use in densely populated violates international law.

Of the nine injured in Israels attack on Dheira, at least three were hospitalized, one for days, the Post reported. Amnesty International says the incident should be investigated as a war crime.

Following publication of the Post story, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday the administration is concerned about the use of white phosphorous munitions and that they would be asking questions to try to learn a bit more.

"I can tell you we have not provided white phosphorous rounds to Israel since October 7th," Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon's top spokesman, told reporters Monday morning. "I can't verify whether or not the rounds identified in this story were provided by the United States. Again, when it comes to our relationship with Israel, we'll continue to communicate to them the importance of mitigating civilian harm."

https://twitter.com/tylerrdawson/status/1734242015037346072

The fighting, meanwhile, continues along the Lebanese border, with the IDF saying it struck targets in Lebanon on Tuesday after taking fire.

Following the sirens that sounded Tuesday in Bar'am, a number of anti-tank missile and mortar shell launches were identified toward the area and the IDF artillery said it struck the sources of the fire in Lebanon. In addition, a number of launches were identified toward IDF posts along the northern border and an IDF fighter and tanks struck a Hezbollah launch post with weapons and terrorist infrastructure.

That followed attacks Sunday night by Hezbollah, which "launched several rockets toward the State of Israel," according to the IDF. "One of the rockets was launched from 20 meters away from a United Nations compound in southern Lebanon. In recent days, additional launches have been made from the area toward the State of Israel."

This is an ongoing practice that endangers the lives of UN soldiers and continues to systematically violate UNSC Resolution 1701.

Lebanese authorities say two houses were bombed Monday but there were no injuries.

https://twitter.com/LBCI_NEWS/status/1734306745424478308

IDF Northern Command chief Maj.-Gen. Uri Gordin is spearheading a new approach to targeting terrorist compounds that serve as launch points for Hezbollah attacks on Israel, the Jerusalem Post reported . Through "meticulous intelligence gathering, the IDF identifies these areas and systematically launches accurate attacks on the infrastructure that the Shi'ite terrorist organization has built over the years," according to the publication.

Notably, two specific locations, Kunin and Aita al-Shayib, situated about a kilometer north of the Lebanese border near Shtula, were targeted based on intelligence from the Intelligence Division and Northern Command.

Senior Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah, in a statement to Reuters on Sunday, said Israeli air strikes were a "new escalation" to which the group was responding with new types of attacks, be it "in the nature of the weapons (used) or the targeted sites."

https://twitter.com/Pucemargine/status/1734284495665185263

Israel warned on Monday that skirmishes along the Lebanese border could not continue unchallenged.

Benny Gantz, a member of Israels War Cabinet and a former military chief of staff, told the U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken that the attacks by the Hezbollah militia from Lebanon required a response.

Heightened aggression and increased attacks by Iranian-backed Hezbollah on Israel demand of Israel to remove such a threat from the civilian population of northern Israel, Gantz said in a phone call, according to a statement from his office.

That echoed remarks made a day earlier by the current chief of staff of Israels military, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, who said on a visit to soldiers on the border with Lebanon that continued violence by the militia risked pushing his forces to make very clear change in the confrontation and return both safety and a sense of security.

The general did not indicate how Israel would achieve that objective.

https://twitter.com/gantzbe/status/1734241066126094572

The IDF also said there were three rocket launches from Syria toward Israeli territory were identified. Two fell in open areas inside Syrian territory, and one launch fell in an open area in Israel. In response, the IDF fired toward the sources of the launches.

A loose-knit group of Iranian-backed militias called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed two more attacks on U.S. forces in Syria, one on the Al-Omar oil field and one on the Koniko oil facility.

Pentagon spokesman Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder had no information about the attacks on Tuesday but a U.S. official on Monday acknowledged two attacks that day.

On the morning of Dec. 11, a one-way attack drone was launched against US and Coalition forces at Al-Asad Airbase, Iraq, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss operational details. There were no casualties or damage to infrastructure reported.

There was also a multi-rocket attack was launched against US and Coalition forces at Patrol Base Shaddadi, Syria, the official added. No casualties and no damage to infrastructure.

The Islamic resistance in Iraq took credit for the Al-Asad attack and said they carried out another one on that base that the U.S. military official did not mention.

There have now been at least 92 attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since Oct. 17, according to the official.

https://twitter.com/azelin/status/1734318071622369756

The Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah (KH) group has promised more attacks against U.S. troops until they leave Iraq. U.S Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a Friday call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani , singled out KH and another group, Haraket Hezbollah al-Nujaba, for the recent targeting of US personnel and said the US reserved its right to respond.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told al-Sudani that Washington expects Iraqi officials to take more action to prevent such attacks, and believes they have the capability to do so, a U.S. official told The Associated Press . In addition, during a recent trip to the region, CIA Director William Burns warned al-Sudani of harsh consequences if Iraq doesnt act to stop the attacks, an Iraqi official said.

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The attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq and Syria, along with Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, are proof that the war has expanded beyond Gaza, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told the Doha Forum on Monday.

At any moment there is a possibility of a big explosion in the region, one not controllable by any party, he said as he spoke through an English language translator in a virtual interview conducted by CNNs Becky Anderson .

At least every week, we receive a message from the US telling us that US bases in Syria and Iraq are targeted by some groups, Amirabdollahian said. These groups are defending the Arab and Muslim people of Gaza; that is why they are targeting US bases in Syria and Iraq.

https://twitter.com/Jerusalem_Post/status/1734303882426118413

This is a developing story. We will update it when there is more news to report about the Israel-Hamas war.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
Relatives of Palestinians died in Israeli attacks mourn as they take the bodies from Al-Aqsa Martyr's Hospital's morgue for funeral ceremony in Deir al-Balah, Gaza - Anadolu/Anadolu

Israel and the US are at odds over how Gaza will be governed after the war, Benjamin Netanyahu has admitted.

The Israeli prime minister thanked its ally for its support in its fight against Hamas and recovering hostages, but said their visions differed when it came to the future of Gaza.

Mr Netanyahu, who has repeatedly ruled out a return of the Palestinian Authority under President Mahmoud Abbas, said that Gaza will be neither Hamas-stan nor Fatah-stan. Fatah is a reference to Mr Abbas faction.

The US has repeatedly called for a return of the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority and the resumption of peace talks aimed at establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Mr Netanyahu recently suggested that Israel Defense Forces would maintain open-ended security control of Gaza after the war ends.

04:00 PM GMT

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We will be back tomorrow with all the latest updates.

03:57 PM GMT

Zara pulls ad campaign after complaints over body-bag imagery amid Gaza conflict

Zara has apologised and removed an ad campaign featuring mannequins in plastic bags resembling corpses after critics said the imagery was insensitive amid the war in Gaza.

The fashion brand said it regretted a misunderstanding about the pictures, after some customers saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created.

The hashtag #BoycottZara trended on X, formerly known as Twitter, as the brand received a spate of complaints on social media.

Read more here

03:48 PM GMT

Pictured: A smoke plume erupts during Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip

A smoke plume erupts during Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip - MAHMUD HAMS/AFP

03:36 PM GMT

'Friendly fire' killed one-fifth of Israel's war casualties

Friendly fire and other accidents killed one fifth of the Israeli soldiers who have died in Gaza during the war against Hamas, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

It said 20 of the 105 troops killed since the war started had died in preventable circumstances, the IDF said.

Thirteen were killed in airstrikes, tank fire and gunfire, in cases of mistaken identity. Two other soldiers were killed by accidental misfires.

Another died after being struck by stray gunfire. Two others were killed in incidents involving armoured vehicles running over troops, and two more died after being hit by shrapnel from explosives set off by Israeli forces.

The IDF said it was assessing ongoing fighting, including the cases of friendly fire, and quickly implementing lessons learned.

03:33 PM GMT

Six Palestinians killed in West Bank's Jenin

Six Palestinians were killed in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, including five in a drone strike during an Israeli raid, the Palestinian health ministry and the Palestinian official news agency WAFA said.

They said the dead included a 13-year-old who died after Israeli forces prevented an ambulance from transferring him to the hospital to receive medical treatment.

Israels military confirmed the drone strike, and said the strike had killed an unspecified number of Palestinians who were spotted hurling explosive devices and firing at its forces.

Israeli troops were operating to expose explosive devices planted under roads to attack the security forces, the military said in a statement.

03:33 PM GMT

World Bank announces $20 million in Gaza aid financing

The World Bank has announced $20 million in new financing to provide emergency relief for people in Gaza, including $10 million for food vouchers and parcels.

The aid, which will reach an estimated 377,000 people, is part of a larger $35 million Gaza relief package, the Bank said in a statement.

An initial $15 million in emergency relief was already delivered, the statement said.

02:28 PM GMT

White House will speak with Israel about timetable for Gaza war

The US will discuss with Israeli officials their timetable for the war in Gaza in upcoming talks, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has said.

Mr Sullivan said at a Wall Street Journal forum that he will discuss with the Israelis their post-war plan for Gaza amid growing international pressure for Israel to limit civilian Palestinian deaths in Gaza.

His comments come as Israeli tanks and warplanes carried out new strikes on southern Gaza.

01:56 PM GMT

Pictured: Funeral of an Israeli reserve soldier

Relatives mourn during the funeral ceremony of Israeli IDF reservist soldier - ABIR SULTAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock

Israeli soldiers carry the casket during the funeral of Israeli reserve soldier Master sergeant Tzvika Lavi - RONEN ZVULUN/REUTERS

01:17 PM GMT

WHO convoy hit by bullets while driving through Gaza, says agency chief

A medical convoy driving members of the World Health Organiation through Gaza was hit by bullets on Saturday, the head of the UN agency has said.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said WHO staff and health partners from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) had embarked on a high-risk mission to deliver medical supplies to Al-Ahli Hospital, in the north of the Strip, when the shooting occurred.

The WHO also reported that health workers from the PRCS were treated in a degrading and humiliating manner during repeated military checkpoints and detentions as the convoy, which included ambulances, travelled in and out of northern Gaza.

Read more here

01:00 PM GMT

Visa bans for extremist settlers 'moving forward,' says Foreign Office minister

The Governments plans for visas bans are moving forward, a Foreign Office minster has confirmed.

Speaking in the Commons, Labour MP for Bradford East Imran Hussain said: Over the last year we have seen a dangerous rise in the number of attacks by violent, illegal Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their property.

Even the United States announced that they would be imposing a travel ban on violent, extremist settlers last week but all the UK Government has been able to announce is that planning is going on.

On visa bans, Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said: While I cant give a commentary across the House, I can tell him that our plans in that respect are moving forward.

12:28 PM GMT

Pictured: Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip

IDF forces in the Gaza Strip

12:09 PM GMT

Cameron 'unaccountable' during Israel-Hamas war, claims Labour

Lord Cameron is unaccountable as the Israel-Gaza conflict escalates, the shadow foreign secretary has said.

David Lammy told the Commons: Another day where the Foreign Secretary is unaccountable in the middle of a war that could get still even worse.

West Bank violence is rising, Hezbollah have attacked Israeli positions, and Israeli air strikes have hit towns in south Lebanon.

A widening in this conflict is in no-ones interests, and all parties must show restraint. While (Lord David Cameron) is absent from this place, what steps is the Foreign Secretary taking to prepare for further escalation and deter all parties from full-blown regional war?

Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said: I fully understand that (Mr Lammy) wishes to have close contact with Lord Cameron as the Foreign Secretary. But he will be aware that he is in almost continuous contact with the Foreign Secretary by text and WhatsApp.

Indeed, if he was in any closer contact it would probably be a civil partnership.

11:34 AM GMT

Gaza 'hell on earth,' says UN aid agency chief

Civilians in Gaza are enduring hell on earth, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has said.

Back in #Gaza, endless deepening tragedy. People are everywhere, live in the street, need everything. They plead for safety & for an end to this hell on earth.



Our colleagues are asked to do the impossible in what is an impossible situation. pic.twitter.com/iiBFfk2rBG  Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) December 12, 2023

11:04 AM GMT

Israeli forces 'encircling West Bank hospitals' after Jenin drone strike

Israeli forces have reportedly surrounded hospitals in the occupied West Bank after four Palestinians were killed by a drone strike in Jenin, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.

One other person was injured in the attack on Al-Sibat neighborhood in the city of Jenin, WAFA reported.

There was no immediate comment on the reports from Israel.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the four Palestinian were killed in a drone strike on the Old City.



Around 270 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire and settler attacks in the West Bank, Palestinian officials say, as violence has escalated in the territory since the outbreak of the war on October 7 between Israel and Hamas.

11:01 AM GMT

Pictured: Israeli soldiers are seen during an army operation, in the Jenin refugee camp, West Bank

Israeli soldiers are seen during an army operation, in the Jenin refugee camp, West Bank - Majdi Mohammed/AP

10:29 AM GMT

Israel 'storming hospital' in north Gaza, claims Hamas-run health ministry

Israeli troops are raiding a hospital in northern Gaza, a spokesman for the Hamas-run health ministry has claimed.

Israeli occupation forces are storming Kamal Adwan hospital after besieging and bombing it for days, ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a statement.

The spokesman alleged that Israeli forces were rounding up males, including medical staff, in the hospital courtyard.

Israels military did not immediately reply to a request from Reuters for comment on the report.

The United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA said two mothers were killed when the maternity department of Kamal Adwan hospital was reportedly hit on Monday.

The hospital remains surrounded by Israeli troops and tanks, and fighting with armed groups has been reported in its vicinity for three consecutive days, OCHA said.

10:14 AM GMT

Ireland and Spain urge EU to call for ceasefire

Ireland and Spain have called for a lasting humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza ahead of a European Union summit later this week.

These are dark hours for millions of people in Palestine and Israel, Leo Varadkar, Irelands prime minister, wrote in a letter cosigned by three other European leaders.

Across Europe anti-Semitic incidents have resurged and this cannot be tolerated. It is time for the European Union to act. Our credibility is at stake, they added.

According to the Irish Times, the letter was cosigned by Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez, Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo, and Maltese prime minister Robert Abela.

10:01 AM GMT

Jenin in pictures:

An Israeli soldier looks on from a military vehicle during a raid in Jenin - RANEEN SAWAFTA/REUTERS

A person points at a hole in the ground at the site where Palestinians were killed by an Israeli reconnaissance missile in Jenin - RANEEN SAWAFTA/REUTERS

An Israeli military vehicle with an Israeli flag on top in Jenin - RANEEN SAWAFTA/REUTERS

09:38 AM GMT

Israel sent suitcases of cash into Gaza for years despite concerns about funding Hamas

Israeli officials shuttled suitcases filled with Qatari-provided cash to Gaza for years, despite concerns the money was being used to fund Hamass military wing, it has emerged.

The plan, signed off by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus government, was said to be an attempt to buy quiet in the enclave but critics say it ended up supporting the groups murderous assault on Israel two months ago.

Tens of millions of dollars intended for day-to-day administration of the territory were handed out each month by a Qatari diplomat who would meet Israeli security officials at the Jordan border before being driven into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom border crossing, The New York Times reported.

Read more here from Nataliya Vasilyeva, The Telegraphs Middle East Correspondent, in Jerusalem.

09:15 AM GMT

Snipers 'surrounding hospital,' says Doctors without Borders

Earlier today, an MSF surgeon was injured inside Al-Awda hospital in north #Gaza by a shot fired from outside the facility. Our colleagues report snipers surrounding the hospital, firing on those inside. Al-Awda has been under total siege by Israeli forces since 5 December.  MSF International (@MSF) December 12, 2023

08:47 AM GMT

Israel must place 'premium' on civilian life, warns US

Israel must place a premium on civilian life, the US has warned.

Nathaniel Tek, a spokesman for the US State Department, told the BBC: We believe it is critical that Israel places a premium on the protection of human life, and for the ability of aid organisations to access civilians.

Mr Tek added that certainly there was more that can be done and more precise and clear directions can be given to civilians to ensure they can reach safety.

08:31 AM GMT

Netanyahu fighting on two fronts  in Gaza and for his own survival

Benjamin Netanyahu has a residence on a leafy street of Jerusalem, near a sushi restaurant, wine bar and bomb shelter.

But as the war against Hamas rages on into a third month, Israels prime minister is rarely at home: instead, he splits his time between the Knesset and the Hakirya, or Campus, an area in Tel Aviv where the military is headquartered.

Bibi  a childhood nickname he has not shaken off  has won six elections. As the countrys longest-serving prime minister, he has held the post for a total of 16 years, with ambitions to continue for longer.

In all his time as Israels leader, Mr Netanyahu, 74, has never wielded more power.

Read more from Sophia Yan, The Telegraphs Senior Foreign Correspondent, here.

08:30 AM GMT

Pictured: An Israeli artillery unit fires towards Gaza

An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) artillery unit, using a self-propelled artillery howitzer, fires towards Gaza - Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images Europe

08:27 AM GMT

WHO voices concern about health worker detentions in Gaza

The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has voiced concerns about the prolonged checks of health convoys in the Gaza Strip and the detention of health workers there.

In a post on the X social media platform, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a WHO-led mission to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza on Saturday was stopped twice at a checkpoint on the way to north Gaza and on the way back, and that some staff of the Palestine Red Crescent Society were detained on both occasions.

We received greater detail on Saturdays high-risk @WHO-led mission in #Gaza to Al-Ahli Hospital. We are deeply concerned about prolonged checks and detention of health workers that put lives of already fragile patients at risk.



The mission was stopped twice at the Wadi Gaza https://t.co/DG4uxYSNBw  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 12, 2023

We are deeply concerned about prolonged checks and detention of health workers that put lives of already fragile patients at risk, he said.

08:25 AM GMT

Yemen's Houthis claim responsibility for strike on Norwegian tanker

Yemens Iran-aligned Houthis said they carried out a military operation against the Norwegian commercial tanker STRINDA.

The group targeted the tanker with a rocket after the crew refused to respond to all warnings, Houthi military spokesperson Yehia Sareea said in a televised statement.

He added that the group had managed to obstruct the passage of several ships in recent days, acting in support of the Palestinians.

He vowed that the Houthis would continue blocking all ships heading to Israeli ports until Israel allows the entry of food and medical aid into the Gaza Strip - more than 1,000 miles from the Houthi seat of power in Sanaa

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U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli war cabinet, as he visits Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 18, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden told Israels leaders on Tuesday that they were losing international support for their war in the Gaza Strip, exposing a widening rift with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who rejected out of hand the American vision for a postwar resolution to the conflict.

Biden delivered the blunt assessment of Americas closest ally in the Middle East during a fundraiser in Washington, where he described Netanyahu as the leader of the most conservative government in Israels history, which doesnt want anything remotely approaching a two-state solution to the countrys long-running dispute with Palestinians.

The president said that Israel had support from Europe and much of the world as well as the United States, but he added that theyre starting to lose that support by the indiscriminate bombing that takes place.

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The presidents remarks came hours after Netanyahu pledged to defy weeks of American pressure to put the Palestinian Authority in charge of Gaza once the fighting ends. Netanyahu ruled out any role there for the group, which now governs Palestinian society in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Until Tuesday, the United States had largely backed Israel both in action and in rhetoric  supporting the assault on Gaza, fending off calls for a cease-fire at the United Nations and authorizing the sale of thousands of tank shells to the Israelis.

There is disagreement about the day after Hamas, Netanyahu said in a video statement posted on social media. He said he hoped the two governments could reach an agreement about what happens after the war ends, but he vowed not to allow threats to Israels population to continue.

After the great sacrifice of our civilians and our soldiers, I will not allow the entry into Gaza of those who educate for terrorism, support terrorism and finance terrorism, Netanyahu said. Gaza will be neither Hamastan nor Fatahstan.

Fatah is the political faction, a rival to Hamas, that controls the Palestinian Authority, which was ousted from Gaza in 2007 but still administers parts of the West Bank.

In his remarks at the fundraiser, Biden pledged to continue that support for Israels effort to protect itself, saying that were not going to do a damn thing other than protect Israel in the process. Not a single thing.

Without Israel as a free-standing state, not a Jew in the world is safe, he added.

But he also described his response to Netanyahus private assertion that the United States had carpet-bombed Germany and dropped the atomic bomb on Japan.

I said, Yeah, thats why all these institutions were set up after World War II, to see to it that it didnt happen again, Biden told the donors at the event.

Hours earlier, Netanyahu appeared to take note of the months of American support in his address.

I greatly appreciate the American support for destroying Hamas and returning our hostages, Netanyahu said. Following an intensive dialogue with President Biden and his team, we received full backing for the ground incursion and blocking the international pressure to stop the war.

But the tone from both men suggested that the well-wishing could soon end.

Bidens remarks were his most critical to date of Netanyahus handling of the war, which continues to claim the lives of thousands of civilians in Gaza. The two men had declared unshakable unity during Bidens visit to Israel days after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Oct. 7 and killed 1,200 people.

Nearly two months of aerial bombardment by Israel and a continuing ground war have leveled much of Gaza City in the northern part of the tiny enclave, which is home to nearly 2 million Palestinians. More than 15,000 people, including several thousand children, have been killed in Gaza during the fighting, according to the territorys health authorities.

The United Nations says that more than 85% of the population has been displaced, with some aid organizations reporting rampant disease and widespread hunger.

Netanyahu says his government is determined to destroy Hamas ability to threaten Israels population, and he has repeatedly warned Palestinians to move south. Some locations in the south of Gaza have also been bombed, drawing criticism from humanitarian organizations.

Fighting between Israeli forces and armed groups raged near a small hospital in northern Gaza on Monday and over the weekend. The hospital, Kamal Adwan, has 65 patients, including 12 children in intensive care, and is surrounded by Israeli troops and tanks, according to a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The report said that the hospitals maternity department had been hit Monday and that, as a result, two mothers were reportedly killed, and several people were injured. It was not possible to verify the toll. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Top aides to Biden have said the president believes that his full-throated support of Israel has given him more leverage to press Netanyahu for restraint as Israel conducts its ground war in Gaza. He has repeatedly described his decadeslong history with Israel; Monday evening, he declared at a White House Hanukkah reception: I am a Zionist.

Last month, Biden and his top foreign policy aides helped broker a temporary pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid and the release of more than 100 of the roughly 240 hostages that Hamas seized on Oct. 7.

White House officials said Biden would meet at the White House on Wednesday with the families of Americans taken hostage by Hamas, his first face-to-face meeting with the relatives since the crisis began.

A White House official confirmed the meeting, but did not offer details about how many of the family members would attend the meeting in person. The president previously spoke with the families on a video call about a week after the attacks.

Biden administration officials have indicated there are about eight remaining hostages with American citizenship after several were released, including during a weeklong pause in fighting last month.

Bidens public message has evolved since the Oct. 7 attacks. He publicly urged Israel to do more to protect civilians in Gaza in its war against Hamas, and White House officials have said he has been blunt with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials during private conversations.

But the president has largely left it to other American officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris, to call out Israel for its actions on the battlefield. And his comments Tuesday were the presidents first direct acknowledgment of the condemnation by world leaders and humanitarian organizations of Israels wartime behavior.

Using the prime ministers nickname, Biden said that Bibis got a tough decision to make.

The rising tension between the two men underscored the sensitive moment for the two allies as Biden seeks to persuade lawmakers in Washington to support more than $15 billion in additional aid for Israels military campaign. That funding is currently caught up in a political dispute with Republicans over assistance for Ukraine and immigration policy changes at the U.S. border.

Biden has repeatedly asserted Israels right to defend itself against terrorism by Hamas, and his administration on Friday vetoed a legally binding United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in the war. On Tuesday, the U.N. General Assembly voted in favor of a nonbinding resolution making the same demand. The United States and Israel were among the 10 countries that opposed it; 153 countries approved.

But on Monday, administration officials said they were looking into reports that Israels military had deployed white phosphorus supplied by the United States along the border with Lebanon, in violation of international law.

That allegation, made in reports by Amnesty International and The Washington Post, represented another potential disagreement between the two countries about Israels conduct. Israels military on Monday said it complies with international law and denied using the weapon illegally.

John Kirby, a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, said the United States would be asking questions about the incident. White phosphorus is an incendiary, toxic substance used to create light and smoke screens during combat. Its use is not illegal, but deploying it deliberately against civilians or in a civilian setting violates the laws of war.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
Semafor Signals

NEWS

Israel has warned that it will respond to ramped up attacks from militant group Hezbollah on its border with Lebanon.

Israeli defense officials have repeatedly said in recent days that they would not tolerate a threat from the Iran-backed militia, and so far, both sides have avoided escalating the conflict beyond lobbying artillery fire over the border.

Fears are growing, however, that missteps could lead to Israel opening up a second front in its more than two-month-long war against Hamas.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Testing relationships with allies

Sources: Politico

Israel has taken a no compromises approach to the war, ignoring allies who have cautioned it against escalations. The U.S. has warned other actors in the region  namely Iran and Hezbollah  not to enter the war. But an even greater test of Israeli-American relations may be in the offing as well, Jamie Dettmer writes for Politico, if Israel pushes back against Hezbollah. A senior Israeli official told Politico that the country had repeatedly defied the U.S. advice not to enter Gaza and Hamas tunnels, and not to attack hospitals, but we did what we needed to do. Dettmer notes that noncompliance is in the tradition of Israeli-U.S. relations.

Escalation could be around the corner

Sources: The Times of Israel, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post

A conflict on Israels northern border could be a mistake away, one Israeli defense official told the Wall Street Journal. Thousands of IDF soldiers have amassed at the border, and Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire amid the ongoing Gaza war. Israels actions have allegedly gone further than shelling: The Washington Post found that the IDF used U.S.-supplied white phosphorous in an October attack on southern Lebanon. Last week, Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant said that the IDF would use all the means at its disposal if diplomatic action to stop Hezbollah failed.

Hezbollahs arsenal of powerful weapons

Sources: The Financial Times, CNN, The Wall Street Journal

Hezbollah is one of the worlds most heavily-armed non-state organizations. Among its newest munitions are short-range rockets capable of carrying 1,000 pounds of explosives, and those that can reach anywhere in Israel. To date, Hezbollah has held off on using its most powerful weaponry, suggesting that for the time being, they dont want an all-out war, CNNs Ivan Watson told the networks Tug of War podcast. But the rhetoric is concerning.
Palestinians look for survivors of the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  Israel and the United States on Tuesday showed their sharpest public disagreement yet over the conduct and future of the war against Hamas as the two allies became increasingly isolated by global calls for a cease-fire.

The dispute emerged while Israeli forces carried out strikes across Gaza, crushing Palestinians in homes.

President Joe Biden said he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel was losing international support because of its indiscriminate bombing and that Netanyahu should change his government, which is dominated by hard-right parties.

Just hours later, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution calling for a humanitarian cease-fire by a vote of 153 in favor, 10 against and 23 abstentions. The non-binding vote is largely symbolic, but it serves as an important barometer of world opinion. None of the major powers joined Israel and the United States in their opposition to the cease-fire.

Biden's comments came as the White House national security adviser heads to Israel this week to discuss with Netanyahu a timetable for the war  and what happens if Hamas is defeated. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Israel next week for a visit the Pentagon said aims to show U.S. support for Israel but also to press the need to avoid more civilian casualties in Gaza.

The war ignited by Hamas Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel has already brought unprecedented death and destruction to the impoverished coastal enclave, with much of northern Gaza obliterated, more than 18,000 Palestinians killed and over 80% of the population of 2.3 million pushed from their homes.

The U.S. has urged Israel to do more to reduce civilian casualties since it launched its invasion of southern Gaza at the beginning of the month. But the toll has continued to mount at seemingly the same dizzying rate.

The health care system and humanitarian aid operations have collapsed in large parts of Gaza, amid Israel's blockade of the territory and intense airstrikes and fighting, and aid workers have warned of starvation and the spread of disease among displaced people in overcrowded shelters and tent camps.

DEVASTATION IN THE NORTH

Gaza City and much of the surrounding north have already suffered widespread destruction from more than two months of bombardment. Amid the rubble, Israeli ground troops are still locked in heavy combat with Palestinian fighters, more than six weeks after soldiers invaded the north.

Fierce clashes raged Tuesday in Gaza Citys Zaytoun and Shijaiya neighborhoods, as well as in Jabaliya, a densely built urban refugee camp, residents said.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians remain in the north, huddled in homes or in U.N. schools-turned-shelters. As airstrikes and drones smash houses, first responders are unable to reach anyone buried in the wreckage, residents said.

It was massive, Mustafa Abu Taha, an agricultural worker, said of the sound of gunfire and explosions in Shijaiya, where he lives.

Amal Radwan, a woman sheltering in a school in Jabaliya, said the situation was catastrophic, as Israeli troops tried to advance deep into the district and unleashed heavy fire against fighters.

Whenever the resistance hit them, they hit us very hard. It has become crazy. They strike everywhere with no regard to women or children, she said.

Outside Gaza City, Israeli troops using a controlled detonation blew up a school run by UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, in the northern town of Beit Hanoun. Footage posted online showed soldiers cheering as they watched the building collapse in a giant blast and pall of smoke.

UNRWA chief Phillippe Lazzarini confirmed the demolition in a post on X Tuesday, calling it outrageous. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. On Saturday, it said militants opened fire from inside an UNRWA school in the town.

Israel also has begun flooding some Hamas tunnels, a U.S. official confirmed Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the action. Israelis said they are testing the targeted flooding of tunnels on a limited basis and are exploring the idea as one of a range of options to degrade the tunnel network, according to another U.S. official familiar with the matter.

President Joe Biden said during a news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that there were assertions that no hostages were in Gaza tunnels being flooded with seawater by the Israelis, but I dont know that for a fact.

INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING

Bidens comments were a startlingly direct criticism of Israel even as his administration continues to give unwavering diplomatic and military support for the military campaign in Gaza in the face of mounting international outrage.

Tuesday's General Assembly vote was held after the U.S. vetoed calls for a cease-fire at the U.N. Security Council last week and rushed tank munitions to Israel to allow it to maintain the offensive. The U.N. secretary-general and Arab states have rallied much of the international community behind calls for an immediate cease-fire.

Israel launched the campaign after Hamas and other militants streamed into the south on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 240 others hostage. About half of those remain in captivity. At least 105 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive, the army says.

Israel and the U.S. say any cease-fire that leaves Hamas in power would mean victory for the militant group, which has governed Gaza since 2007 and has pledged to destroy Israel. Israel blames civilian casualties on Hamas, saying it positions fighters, tunnels and rocket launchers in dense urban areas, using civilians as human shields.

But the two allies have also had differences over the timetable of the war and over how Gaza should be ruled in the future.

In a briefing with the AP on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signaled that the current phase of heavy ground fighting and airstrikes could stretch on for weeks and further military activity could continue for months.

Netanyahu has said the military will have to keep open-ended security control of Gaza after the war ends.

The Biden administration has said Israel should not return to a military occupation and the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority should govern Gaza as talks resume on creating a Palestinian state next to Israel.

Netanyahu appeared to firmly rule that out Tuesday, acknowledging there is disagreement about the day after Hamas.

I will not allow Israel to repeat the mistake of Oslo, he said, referring to the peace process in the 1990s that created the Palestinian Authority and was intended to reach a two-state solution. The authority governs pockets of the occupied West Bank and governed Gaza until the Hamas takeover in 2007.

STRIKES AND RAIDS ACROSS GAZA

Strikes overnight and into Tuesday in southern Gaza  where almost all of Gazas population of 2.3 million is now crowded  killed dozens, according to hospital records.

Islam Harbs three children were among those killed when Israeli airstrikes flattened four residential buildings in the town of Rafah on the Egyptian border. At least 23 people were killed, including seven children and six women, according to an Associated Press reporter who saw the bodies arrive at a hospital.

My twin girls, Maria and Joud, were martyred, and my little son, Ammar, also martyred, Harb said.

In central Gaza, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah received the bodies of 33 people killed in strikes overnight, including 16 women and four children, according to hospital records. Many were killed in strikes that hit residential buildings in the built-up Maghazi refugee camp.

In the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, Israeli forces stormed the Kamal Adwan Hospital, ordering all men, including medics, into the courtyard, said Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the Gaza Health Ministry. The hospital had 65 patients in intensive care and six newborns in incubators, the U.N. said, and some 3,000 displaced people were sheltering there with little food or water.

The Israeli military says it is rounding up men in northern Gaza as it searches for Hamas fighters. Photos and videos circulating online show groups of detainees stripped to their underwear, bound and blindfolded, and some who have been released say they were beaten and denied food and water.

Asked about the hospital, the military said it continues to act against Hamas strongholds in the north of Gaza, including Beit Lahiya and takes all feasible precautions to mitigate harm to noncombatants.

___

Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Jack Jeffery in Cairo and Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem contributed.

___

Full AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the countrys campaign in Hamas-run Gaza will take time, as pressure mounts on the country to halt its offensive amid large civilian death tolls and extensive damage in the territory, The Associated Press reported.

In a briefing with the AP, Gallant reportedly would not commit to an exact deadline to cease fighting but indicated Israels current campaign  including ground and airborne fighting  could last for months.

We are going to defend ourselves. I am fighting for Israels future, Gallant told the AP, adding the next phase will include lower-intensity fighting targeted at pockets of resistance, and that Israeli troops must have their freedom to operate to do so.

Gallants comments to AP come as calls grow for an immediate cease-fire from several surrounding Arab nations along with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said last week he expects public order to completely break down in Gaza.

The war between Israel and Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, has raged on for more than two months since the militant groups Oct. 7 assault into southern Israel, which left hundreds of people dead.

Israel has hammered Gaza by air and land in response, leaving widespread destruction and more than 18,000 people dead, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. More than 80 percent of Gazas population of 2.3 million people have been forced out of their homes amid the destruction, taking shelter in U.N. schools-turned shelters or hospitals, where supplies runs low to treat those wounded.

Gutteres warned last week the conditions in Gaza will lead to the spread of epidemic diseases and that the limited supplies Israel has allowed to enter the territory is insufficient to curb the humanitarian crisis.

U.S. officials have upped calls on Israel to protect civilian lives in Gaza, while reiterating the U.S. supports Israels right to defend itself.

In an interview on CNNs State of the Union, on Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he believes Israel intends to minimize civilian death but that that does not always manifest itself. Blinken also added Israel has every right to go after Hamas in response to the Oct. 7 attack.

The U.S. last week used its veto power within the United Nations Security Council to block a proposed resolution that urged for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire. The resolution wouldve required Israel to stop its war against Hamas.

Robert Wood, alternate representative for Special Political Affairs, said the U.S. opposed the resolution due to the text being divorced from reality.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A two-week deal was signed between the Hostages and Missing Families Forum and London Lites to run the campaign on billboards in 10 sites across the capital

The Israeli embassy has accused a UK advertising company of playing into the hands of terrorists after it cancelled a hostage awareness campaign.

Launched by the embassy alongside the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the campaign featured images of people who had been kidnapped by Hamas and were still being held hostage in Gaza.

A two-week deal was signed between the forum and advertising firm London Lites to run the campaign on billboards in 10 sites across the capital, including one on Brick Lane in east London, White City in north-west London and Bermondsey in south London.

But the company terminated the contract after only six days, claiming it had received an unusual volume of complaints from members of the public.

It said it made the decision following discussions with the Metropolitan Police about community safety.

London Lites, in an email to the campaign organisers, said: In response to an unusual volume of complaints from the public, we have made the exceptional decision to withdraw your advertisement with immediate effect.

The company says it made the decision to terminate the contract following discussions with the Met Police about 'community safety'

While we are strong advocates of freedom of speech and endeavour to minimise censorship, we acknowledge the remarkable level of reaction these posters have elicited.

Our primary objective is not to provoke or distress our audience, and thus, we deemed the removal of the posters appropriate. We trust you appreciate that this decision was highly challenging, and we value your understanding and support. We sincerely apologise for this disruption.

Embassy mulls legal action

The unprecedented move has sparked a furious response from the Israeli embassy, which said it was considering legal action.

In a statement, the embassy said: We regret that the London Lites company caved to the threats of an extreme minority in the UK, which forcefully tries to limit freedom of expression. The embassy is considering further steps against the company.

The embassy will continue to raise awareness for the 137 Israeli hostages that remain as hostages by Hamas in Gaza.

There should be nothing controversial about raising awareness for innocent civilians being held hostage by a terror organisation. This is a humanitarian cause.

This breach of contract plays into the hands of terrorists by actively ignoring the war crimes of Hamas and also by succumbing to intimidation and threats in London.

A spokesman for London Lites said: Following discussions with the Metropolitan Police about community safety concerns regarding billboard site advertising this campaign, we have regrettably taken the decision to cease advertising on community cohesion grounds.

London Lites previously carried advertising for the Campaign Against Antisemitism and supports freedom of speech.

However, we received an unprecedented number of concerns from the public in response to the advertising campaign last week, and the safety of all members of the local communities where we advertise is paramount.

Roughly 1,200 people were killed and hundreds taken hostage after Hamas launched its attack on Israel on Oct 7.

More than 100 hostages were released during a week-long truce at the beginning of December. However, 137 people remain in captivity and fighting has since resumed.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which was set up by families of abductees in the aftermath of the attack, has said its campaign is not political, pointing out that many of the hostages are children, women and the elderly.

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The ongoing horrors unfolding in Israel and Gaza have deep-rooted origins that stem from a complex and contested question: Who has rights to the same territory?

I am a scholar of international affairs, as well as territory and nationalism. Territory has been a central cause of conflict throughout history.

Today, Israelis and Palestinians both claim the same swath of land as their own. Each group has its own historical narratives, its own names for the territory  Israel or Palestine, depending on whom you ask  and many people from each group believe strongly that sharing the land is impossible.

Palestinians and Israelis also look to this same land as a way to define their identities and protect their futures.

A fence on Israels border with Gaza is seen on Nov. 24, 2023, during a temporary humanitarian truce between Hamas and Israel. Chen Junqing/Xinhua via Getty Images

The benefits of controlling territory

Virtually every country serves as a designated homeland to many of its citizens  a place that is tied to peoples ancestries, cultural histories and legends.

The idea of a homeland is kept alive as each generation tries to teach children about the significance of the land they inhabit or come from.

Controlling territory and claiming it as a homeland is vital for people for a number of reasons. First, it helps ensure a stable supply of essential items like food, water and shelter. It can help provide security against external threats, like hostile neighbors. It also fosters a sense of identity and belonging within a community.

When people control their own territory, it helps them form and maintain a government and preserve their culture, shaping their values and ways of life.

Controlling territory can also affect peoples social status, help create new economic opportunities and improve their psychological well-being.

In many cultures, peoples identities are literally attached to territory in their names. In Europe, many aristocrats are named for the lands they controlled, as in von Bismarck, in Germany, or York, a region in England.

This differs from middle- or working-class people, who are traditionally named for their professions  like Hunter, Smith and Taylor.

At its most basic level, territorial control is about survival and reproduction, and it has influenced human behavior in other ways. Disputes over who controls or has the legal right to a territory has consistently fueled wars.

Fighting over territory isnt rare

Seen from the perspective of territorial conflict, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is far from unique. Consider the ongoing war over which government should control parts of Ukraine, for example.

One of the most contentious territorial disputes in history involved Alsace-Lorraine, a region that was once part of the German empire in the late 1870s. Both France and Germany had cultural and historical ties to the region, leading to frequent conflicts and changes in sovereignty until World War II, after which it legally became part of France.

After World War II ended in 1945, Germany and Frances joint commitment to rebuilding Europe bound their destinies economically and politically. Leaders in Europe, joined by a vision for unity, peace and the imperative to prevent another world war, played a crucial role in transforming Europe. Historical foes became close allies, marking the start of a unified European identity.

Had you asked people in the 1920s and 1930s whether Franco-German coexistence and peace would have been possible, they would have likely said no.

The divide over Northern Ireland

Northern Irelands dueling Protestants and Roman Catholics would have given an even more emphatic no if asked during much of the 20th century whether they could live together peacefully. This conflict, known as the Troubles, began with Great Britains partition of Ireland from itself in 1921. Northern Ireland, however, remained part of Great Britain.

Fighting over what should happen with Northern Ireland fully erupted in the late 1960s and continued until the 1990s.

At its core, the conflict involved competing national identities and allegiances between the predominantly Protestant unionists, who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, and the mainly Catholic nationalists, who wanted a united Ireland. Protests and marches, car bombings, riots, sectarian attacks and revenge killings marked this explosive period, resulting in the deaths of more than 3,500 people.

Yet in 1998, the Troubles came to an end when both sides signed the Good Friday Agreement, keeping Northern Ireland part of the United Kingdom but giving residents there the chance to have either British or Irish citizenship, or both. No one prior to 1998 would have imagined this agreement would create the opportunity for reconciliation and peace.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, right, U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, center, and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern smile on April 10, 1998, after they signed the Good Friday Agreement, ending the conflict over Northern Ireland. Dan Chung/AFP via Getty Images

Similarities across the conflicts

Just as happened in Europe after World War II and in Northern Ireland in the 1990s, Israelis and Palestinians would also need to find a renewed commitment to dialogue, diplomacy and international cooperation in order to make lasting peace.

But the region has a history of conflict dating back centuries, with both sides experiencing immense suffering and loss. This history creates a deeply rooted mistrust that hampers efforts to find a common understanding that each group of people has long ties to the land.

Contestation over the city of Jerusalem is not simply a city-planning problem, as it encompasses major holy sites from the three Abrahamic traditions. It is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest place for Muslims worldwide, and the Western Wall, part of the holiest site for Jews globally.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, or Church of the Resurrection, is also in Jerusalem. Its the holiest site for Christians who believe this is where Jesus was crucified, entombed and later resurrected. This helps explain why Jews, Muslims and Christians all feel as if they have a vital stake in who controls Jerusalem.

Unraveling pain and loss

There was a time, including in the 1990s, when Israeli and Palestinian political leaders discussed a two-state solution, with a shared capital in Jerusalem, as a way out of the conflict and into a common future. No longer.

The current violence in Gaza and Israel  and escalating conflict over the West Bank  only deepens the entrenched homeland narratives on both sides, with each side fearing the survival of their homeland is at stake in any potential compromise.

It will take years  or even generations  to unravel the pain and loss that each side is experiencing in the current war.

Unless Palestinians and Israelis can find a way to detach the disputed land from their identities, there are no straightforward solutions. This is what happened in Alsace-Lorraine and Northern Ireland  but its not clear that such a transformation in thinking will take place anytime soon in the Middle East.

Ultimately, the tragedy of deep attachment to a homeland territory lies in the fact that while it can create a sense of belonging for one group, it too often comes at the expense of another.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.

It was written by: Monica Duffy Toft, Tufts University.

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Jennifer Aniston says her late "Friends" co-star Matthew Perry was on a successful "pursuit" to be a happier and healthier version of himself when he tragically died.

During a Q&A with her "Morning Show" co-star Reese Witherspoon published by Variety, Aniston said she and Perry, who died on Oct. 28 at age 54, communicated on the morning of his death.

"He was happy. He was healthy. He had quit smoking. He was getting in shape. He was happy  thats all I know," said Aniston. "I was literally texting with him that morning, funny Matty. He was not in pain. He wasnt struggling. He was happy."

Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston. (Vinnie Zuffante / Getty Images)

The Emmy winner said Perry, who had long struggled with addiction, had "worked so hard" to get to a better place in his life.

"I want people to know he was really healthy, and getting healthy. He was on a pursuit. He worked so hard. He really was dealt a tough one. I miss him dearly. We all do. Boy, he made us laugh really hard," she said.

As for the countless tributes from Perry's friends and colleagues in Hollywood  including tributes from all five of his former "Friends" co-stars  Aniston called them "beautiful."

"I hope he can know that he was loved in a way he never thought he was," she added.

She also credited Perry for setting a comedic tone on "Friends" that she and the other actors followed.

"I also have to say I think Matthew Perrys dialect, his way of speaking, created a whole different world. We went with his lead, in a way. It just added something to our joy," she explained.

Perry was found unresponsive in a jacuzzi at his home on Oct. 28. He was pronounced dead later the same day. A preliminary investigation found no obvious signs of trauma and no signs of foul play. Perry's official cause of death is pending a coroners investigation.

On Nov. 15, Aniston honored Perry on Instagram when she shared a behind-the-scenes photo of the pair laughing on the "Friends" set. She also included a screenshot of a text message between the two and a video of one of the sitcom's scenes.

"Oh boy this one has cut deep... Having to say goodbye to our Matty has been an insane wave of emotions that Ive never experienced before," Aniston wrote in her caption.

She went on to say that she and the other "Friends" actors loved Perry "deeply."

"He was such a part of our DNA. We were always the 6 of us. This was a chosen family that forever changed the course of who we were and what our path was going to be," she explained.

Aniston mentioned how much Perry "loved to make people laugh."

"As he said himself, if he didnt hear the laugh he thought he was going to die. His life literally depended on it. And boy did he succeed in doing just that. He made all of us laugh. And laugh hard," she wrote.

She added, "Matty, I love you so much and I know you are now completely at peace and out of any pain. I talk to you every day sometimes I can almost hear you saying 'could you BE any crazier?'"

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Aniston with Perry in 1995 at an NBC event in New York - RON DAVIS/GETTY IMAGES

Jennifer Aniston has revealed she texted a happy and healthy Matthew Perry on the morning of the Friends stars death.

Perry, who shot to worldwide fame for his role in the cult American television series, was found dead at his Los Angeles home in late October.

I was literally texting with him that morning, funny Matty, Aniston told Variety magazine.

He was not in pain. He wasnt struggling. He was happy.

Jennifer Aniston (left with Reese Witherspoon) gives her first interview since the death of Matthew Perry to Variety magazine - Dan Doperalski for Variety

It was Anistons first interview since her American-Canadian co-stars death at the age of 54. Perrys cause of death has not been officially determined.

He was happy. He was healthy. He had quit smoking. He was getting in shape. He was happy  thats all I know, she added.

I want people to know he was really healthy, and getting healthy. He was on a pursuit. He worked so hard. He really was dealt a tough one.

I miss him dearly. We all do. Boy, he made us laugh really hard.

Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon front VARIETYS Emmy Edition and speak with Hollywoods most iconic entertainment magazine about The Morning Show, Aniston texting with Matthew Perry on the day of his passing, intimacy coordinators, if the show is camp, and more.

Perry played Chandler in all 234 episodes of the sitcom, which ran for 10 series from 1994 to 2004.

The sitcom catapulted him, Aniston and their four co-stars to household fame and by its final series the group were paid more than 800,000 ($1 million) per episode.

But Perry struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for much of his adult life.

In a 2021 memoir he said he had attended 6,000 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, been to rehab 15 times and had 14 stomach surgeries.

He added that his alcoholism meant drinking 14 triple vodka shots was not enough to get him drunk.

Not only do I have the disease, but I also have it bad, he wrote.

I have it as bad as you can have it, in fact. Its back-to-the-wall time all the time. Its going to kill me.

Aniston said the outpouring of tributes to Perry in the wake of his death was so beautiful.

I hope he can know that he was loved in a way he never thought he was, she said.

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FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly throws to an Arizona Diamondbacks batter in Game 2 of a baseball NL Division Series, Oct. 9, 2023, in Los Angeles. Kelly appears to be switching uniform numbers after finalizing his $8 million, one-year contract with the Dodgers, Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, opening No. 17 for Shohei Ohtani. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP)  Reliever Joe Kelly is switching uniform numbers after finalizing his $8 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, opening No. 17 for Shohei Ohtani.

Kelly will wear No. 99 with the Dodgers. Ohtani's 10-year contract with Los Angeles  worth a record $700 million  was announced by the team on Monday night. The two-way star wore No. 17 with the Los Angeles Angels.

Kelly wore 58 when he started his major league career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012. He was No. 56 with the Boston Red Sox from 2014-18 and No. 17 with the Dodgers from 2019-21 and again last season. He also was No. 17 with the Chicago White Sox in 2022 and '23.

Kelly's $9.5 million option was declined by the Dodgers last month, triggering a $1 million buyout.

A 35-year-old right-hander, Kelly was 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in 11 relief appearances after he was obtained from the White Sox along with Lance Lynn. Kelly went 2-5 with a 4.23 ERA overall in 42 games. Kelly had signed a $17 million, two-year contract with Chicago.

A 12-year big league veteran, Kelly is 53-57 with a 3.95 ERA in 81 starts and 369 relief appearances with St. Louis (2012-14), Boston (2014-18), the Dodgers (2019-21, 23) and the White Sox (2022-23).

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) emphasized that the U.S. southern border should come first in negotiations with Democrats over aid for Ukraine, as senators show increasing doubt that the two sides can reach a compromise by the end of the year.

I think the American people agree with us that national security begins at our own borders, Johnson told radio host Hugh Hewitt on Tuesday. We have to maintain our own sovereignty, that we can project peace through strength and help our friends. And so I dont think thats an outrageous request.

Republicans have held up a supplemental budget request that includes billions in Ukraine aid until Democrats agree to a border security package that includes broader changes to immigration law. But negotiations have made slow progress, dimming hopes of a deal during the holiday season.

Democrats say defeating Russia in Ukraine is vital to U.S. national security interests.

Here we are on the eve, virtually, of Christmas and the end of the year, and the White House, as we talk this morning, has not moved in our direction on that issue, Johnson said. And Ive told them very clearly where we stand.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington this week to meet with top lawmakers and ply the case for Ukraine aid. He will meet Tuesday with Johnson, senators and President Biden.

The White House said Biden is open to negotiation on the issue, but Johnson said the administration is not taking it seriously. The Speaker said while he supports Ukraine against Russia, he requires significant oversight on funding.

We stand with Ukraine against Putins aggression. Everyone understands that he must be stopped. This is a very serious issue, he said. But the White House is seeking billions in funding on that issue.

They havent given us any clear strategy, no appropriate oversight, he continued. Theyve not explained to us what the endgame is.

Johnson said the House would happily and quickly pass a foreign aid deal if the border negotiations are solved.

We understand the dire situation that were in. But the White House has to take care of our nation, and theyre not doing it, he said. And thats why our constituents are demanding answers, and thats why we have to hold the line on this. Weve got to force their hand to stem the flow at our southern border.

Johnson also warned that he will send the House home for the holidays soon if Democrats cant agree on a border security deal.

I dont know what else to do. Im not going to have everybody sit here through Christmas twiddling their thumbs, he said.

You know, were willing to work, he continued. The House members will work. Weve shown that over and over and over, but were not getting any cooperation from the White House and the Senate Democrats at all.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FILE - Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Hialeah, Fla., Nov. 8, 2023. Even before the 2024 presidential primary, the attention of many political journalists has shifted to Jan. 20, 2025. There's been a flurry of recent stories about the implications of a second presidency for Trump, and his team's planning for Inauguration Day and beyond, with polls showing his continued dominance over Republican rivals and the likelihood of a close general election. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  Even before anyone has cast a vote in a 2024 presidential primary, the attention of many political journalists has shifted to Jan. 20, 2025.

There has been a flurry of recent stories about the implications of a potential second presidency for Donald Trump, and his team's planning for Inauguration Day and beyond. Polls show his continued dominance over Republican rivals and the likelihood of a close general election.

The New York Times reporting team of Charlie Savage, Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman has been mining that topic since the summer, and last week wrote in depth about the former president's authoritarian impulses, and the possibility of fewer checks on his power. On Sunday, they examined whether Trump would leave NATO.

A special issue of The Atlantic magazine released last week collected essays by 24 writers on how a Trump presidency would affect things like foreign policy, immigration, journalism and climate change. Editor Jeffrey Goldberg wrote that people should read every one, though perhaps not in one sitting, for reasons of mental hygiene.

Among several other pieces:

TOO MUCH? EVEN TRUMP'S PEOPLE PRESCRIBE CAUTION

The volume of stories had reached the point where the Trump campaign at the end of last week sent a memo calling on allies and former aides to cool it, saying messages about a potential second term from anyone but the former president and his team were an unwelcomed distraction.

The stakes are high, said David Halbfinger, politics editor at the Times. We saw on Jan. 6 of 2021, when we cover politics, we don't just cover elections. We cover democracy now. Everybody has to take their jobs seriously, and it's good to see that everybody is.

For decades, journalists have been criticized for concentrating too much on the horse race aspect of politics: who's winning, who's losing and the machinations of campaigns. With the Republican and Democratic nomination processes uncompetitive so far, there's less taste for it.

Much of the recent reporting is an emphatic example of what New York University journalism professor Jay Rosen calls stakes journalism, or examining the potential consequences of an election.

As Trump talks about retribution and his challengers fail to dent his popularity, the story line about threats to democracy becomes more and more plausible, Rosen said. Horse race coverage feels more and more trivial. At least it does to me.

At the same time, reporters have discovered the extent to which Trump allies have been specifically planning for a return to power, Halbfinger said. Journalists have learned  or should learn  to take seriously what the former president says while campaigning.

The skeptics who might have consoled themselves about the first term of Trump, saying that he's too incompetent to get things done, they can't console themselves by saying Trump and his people don't know what they're doing this time, he said. They've learned a lot and they're preparing.

Goldberg said in an interview that he began thinking of The Atlantic's special issue when reporting this summer for a piece on General Mark Milley's actions in the waning days of the Trump administration. He said he saw the value of putting in one place all of the potential impacts of Trump 2.0  in what The Atlantic labels a warning.

While he has no specific metrics about reader response, Goldberg said I didn't think it would be so galvanizing.

MORE SUCH COVERAGE? OR IS IT BIASED?

Rosen and Margaret Sullivan, who hosts the podcast American Crisis: Can Journalism Save Democracy?, have repeatedly urged for more of this coverage. Journalists should report with far more vigor  and repetition  than they do about Biden being 80 years old, Sullivan wrote last month in a column for The Guardian.

Both Sullivan and Rosen said they were encouraged by the recent reporting. Not surprisingly, that's not the case among Trump supporters.

Jordan Boyd said in the Federalist last week that corporate media was trying to gaslight Americans and are leading a coordinated effort to paint a potential 2024 Trump victory as the beginning of a cruel and unyielding dictatorship.

There's a whole new level of panic in the media about polls that have shown Trump matching up well against President Joe Biden, said Tim Graham, director of media analysis at the conservative watchdog group Media Research Center.

There's a frustration with, Why cant we destroy this guy?' Graham said. I think everyone figured that 91 indictments would do the trick and it did the opposite.

The question remains whether the new reporting will be noticed by people who rely mostly on conservative media.

I'm just not sure it's sinking in to the public in general, said Sullivan, incoming executive director of a journalism ethics center at Columbia University. There's a lot of people who understand there's a threat to democracy that comes with a second Trump presidency and there are a lot of people who continue to think that it's a normal presidential contest. I don't think that's the case.

Goldberg said he hopes people hand a copy of The Atlantic to their on-the-fence uncle over the holidays.

We have to do whatever we think is right and we have to try as hard as we can to advance the ideas that we think are true and good, he said. If people listen, great. And if people don't listen, we still have to do it. That's our role. We also want to be able to tell our grandchildren that we tried hard.

___

David Bauder covers media for The Associated Press. Follow him at http://twitter.com/dbauder and follow AP political coverage at https://apnews.com/politics
Nine years to the day after German rail operator Deutsche Bahn scrapped the Paris-Berlin sleeper train, a revived overnight service rolled into Gare de lEst in the French capital.

On board was the French transport minister, Clement Beaune, who told The Independent: It was long, but its nice because you can sleep, you can work a bit, you can talk with friends and have a drink. So its a really nice experience.

The first train was about half an hour late, due to a fire alarm along the journey  reportedly triggered by a faulty microwave.

But a large crowd was waiting on platform 8 to greet Europes flagship intercity sleeper train  operated by OBB (Austrian railways) as part of its expanding Nightjet network.

Proponents of rail are jubilant at the symbolic reunion  part of a growing number of new and restored sleeper trains.

Mark Smith, the international rail guru known as The Man in Seat 61, said: The Paris-Berlin Nightjet restores a key link between east and west.

After Deutsche Bahn axed the overnight link in December 2014, RZD (Russian Railways) took over the route for a time. Services ended abruptly in March 2020 due to the Covid crisis.

Around 10 flights per day link Berlin and Paris, typically taking one hour and 45 minutes, and costing as little as 40 (34) on easyJet.

The overnight train offers seats starting at 35, couchettes from 55 and private compartments from 165.

Environmentalists say a level playing field is needed, with aviation properly taxed for its impact on the environment.

Mark Smith believes the benefits of sleeper travel are underestimated: A 12-hour overnight journey while you sleep is far more time-effective than a seven-hour high-speed daytime journey  or even, perhaps, five daytime hours of airports and flight.

The French transport minister said the restored link is essential to accelerating a switch from air to rail.

Mr Beaune said: To persuade people, you have to get this level playing field in terms of tax and we are working on it.

But you also have to offer opportunities and more lines  thats why we reopen these night lines in France, in Europe.

We have to demonstrate this is attractive, this is affordable, this is available. So this is our work, our job as government.

The last international night train between the UK and Continental Europe was the London-Paris sleeper, which was carried on a cross-Channel ferry. It ended in 1980.

British travellers will be able to use the new Paris-Berlin service with a 10-minute walk between Gare du Nord, where Eurostar arrives from London, and Gare de lEst, from where the overnight trip to the German capital departs.

Plans for sleeper trains from British cities to France and beyond were included in the original planning for the Channel Tunnel, but were dropped because of the rise of budget airlines.
A pair of California laws barring 18-to 20-year-olds from buying certain kinds of long guns and centerfire rifles will remain in effect as the legal challenge against them proceeds, a federal judge ruled.

U.S. District Court Judge M. James Lorenz issued the order barring a preliminary injunction against Senate Bill 1100 (2018) and Senate Bill 61 (2019).

Plaintiffs have not established likelihood of success on the merits of their claims or likelihood of irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, the judge wrote in the ruling.

The judge added that the state has presented persuasive expert evidence on the threat of gun violence perpetrated by people between 18 and 20 years of age.

Since 2020, 18-to-20-year-olds have been involved in several mass shootings. Those shootings have led to the deaths of dozens of children and adults, including the May 2022 shootings at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas (21 killed), a supermarket in Buffalo, New York (10 killed), and the April 2021 shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, Indiana (8 killed), the judge wrote.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta hailed the judges ruling in a statement Tuesday, calling it an important step forward in the fight against gun violence.

We will continue to lead efforts to defend Californias commonsense gun-safety laws. As we move forward on the merits in this case, Californians should know that licensed firearms dealers are still prohibited from selling, supplying, delivering or giving possession or control of certain long guns and semiautomatic centerfire rifles to 18- to 20-year-olds, Bonta said.

The Bee has reached out to the Firearms Policy Coalition, one of the plaintiffs in the case, for comment.
A pregnant woman has left Texas to access an abortion after the state Supreme Court blocked her from receiving one. Also in the news: The U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday will vote on a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and Ukraine's president is in Washington to support the cause for aid.

 I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Here's why holiday shoppers should be wary of card draining.

Here is the news to know Tuesday.

Why can't Kate Cox get an abortion in Texas?

After doctors confirmed Kate Cox's fetus has a deadly genetic condition, they recommended an abortion to preserve her reproductive health  a procedure largely prohibited under several Texas laws.

Cox and her husband, along with her doctor, asked a Texas court to temporarily block the state's abortion bans and allow her to terminate the pregnancy.

Last week, a lower court granted Cox an injunction. District Court Judge Maya Guerra Gamble found Cox needed an abortion "to preserve her life, health, and fertility." The order marked the first such intervention in the state since before Roe v. Wade was decided 50 years ago.

But hours later, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a petition in the state Supreme Court to reverse the injunction. Paxton argued the state would suffer an "irreparable loss" should Cox terminate her pregnancy.

After her attorneys announced Cox had left the state to obtain the procedure, the state Supreme Court issued its decision that ruled against Cox. Some difficulties in pregnancy, however, even serious ones, do not pose the heightened risks to the mother the exception encompasses," the court wrote.

Related: Indigenous women are facing tougher abortion restrictions post-Roe. They want Congress to step in.

UN General Assembly to address cease-fire resolution

Palestinians are hoping that a vote in the U.N. General Assembly on a nonbinding resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire will demonstrate widespread global support for ending the Israel-Hamas war. After the United States vetoed a resolution in the Security Council on Friday demanding a humanitarian cease-fire, Arab and Islamic nations called for an emergency session of the 193-member General Assembly on Tuesday afternoon to vote on a resolution making the same demand. But the differences are no member country has veto power in the General Assembly, and its approved resolutions are not binding. Read more

Palestinians look at a blood stain at the site of the Israeli army operation, in the Jenin refugee camp in West Bank, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023.

More news to know now

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits to the White House as Congress fights over Ukraine aid

President Joe Biden has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House on Tuesday to help jumpstart negotiations with Congress on providing additional aid to the war-ravaged country. Lawmakers are scheduled to leave town at the end of the week until early January, and they have not been able to come to an agreement on funding for Ukraine. They also haven't reached a deal on the president's other national security priorities, leading the White House to warn that it would run out of money to help Ukraine's military combat Russia's invasion by the end of the year. Read more

A local resident sorts out debris at the site of a private house ruined in the Russian missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Dec. 11, 2023.

Final round of student debt relief talks begin as Biden doubles down

The final round of talks by a committee of stakeholders from higher education, loan servicers and borrowers begins Tuesday. Members will discuss the use of a process called negotiated rulemaking, or neg reg, to draft a new plan for loan forgiveness after President Joe Biden's original plan for large-scale student loan forgiveness was undone by the Supreme Court in June. Frustrations arose almost immediately in yesterday's session. Committee members expressed disappointment in the department's latest forgiveness proposal, released last week, which many said doesn't go far enough in its current form to address the issues they've spent months debating. Read more

Keep scrolling

Will Harvard President Claudine Gay step down?

Its not clear if Harvard University President Claudine Gay will heed calls for her resignation following her testimony on Capitol Hill last week about campus responses to rising cases of antisemitism. All eyes are on Gay after University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned over the weekend. Gay, Magill and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth testified last week before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Gay apologized last week and said she failed in her testimony to properly denounce threats of violence against Jewish students. Read more

Harvard President Claudine Gay, left, speaks as University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill listens, during a hearing of the House Committee on Education on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023 in Washington.

Photo of the day: Zac Efron gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

"High School Musical" alumnus, Zac Efron, 36, was joined by his family and friends such as "The Iron Claw" costar Jeremy Allen White and "That Awkward Moment" buddy Miles Teller on Monday when he received a star on Hollywood Boulevard. Read more

Zac Efron poses with his star during his Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony on Dec. 11, 2023 in Hollywood, California.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this  subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas abortion, cease-fire, COP28, Ukraine, student loan forgiveness, Claudine Gay, Zac Efron, Golden Globes, Taylor Swift: Daily Briefing
A man posing as a contractor was arrested after he moved into a home he was supposed to remodel and changed the locks, according to the Kent Police Department.

On Dec. 8, officers were called to a home in the 26700 block of 138th Place Southeast when a homeowner said they hired a contractor for an extensive remodeling project.

The homeowner said the contractor changed the door locks and was refusing the homeowners entry to their home.

When officers arrived, they attempted to speak to the contractor and his girlfriend, but they were rebuffed.

Once officers had the homeowners permission, officers entered the home and arrested the couple.

According to police, the couple had moved into the home and were squatting inside the house without permission.

Police say the contractor lied about his name, but a fingerprint scanner identified him as a 45-year-old Idaho man, wanted on a $500,000 warrant for rape of a minor.

The man was arrested and booked into the King County Jail. He was charged with criminal trespass and is awaiting extradition to Idaho.

His girlfriend, a 35-year-old woman from Yelm, was arrested, booked into the City of Kent Jail, and charged with criminal trespass.

Inside the home, officers found a shotgun with no serial number and a work trailer with a stolen plate in the driveway.

To verify a contractor, tradesperson, or business, go here.
FILE - Escort volunteers line up outside the EMW Women's Surgical Center, on Monday, July 17, 2017, in Louisville, Ky. A pregnant woman in Kentucky who filed a lawsuit demanding the right to an abortion has learned her embryo no longer has cardiac activity, her attorneys said Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. Her attorneys didn't immediately comment on what effect the development would have on the lawsuit filed last week in a state court in Louisville. (AP Photo/Dylan Lovan, File)

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  A pregnant woman in Kentucky who filed a lawsuit demanding the right to an abortion has learned her embryo no longer has cardiac activity, her attorneys said Tuesday.

The plaintiffs attorneys signaled their intent to continue the challenge to Kentuckys near-total abortion ban, but did not immediately comment on what effect the development would have on the lawsuit.

The complaint was filed last week in a state court in Louisville. The plaintiff, identified only as Jane Doe, was seeking class-action status to include other Kentuckians who are or will become pregnant and want to have an abortion. The suit filed last week said she was about eight weeks pregnant.

The flurry of individual women petitioning a court for permission for an abortion is the latest development since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year. The Kentucky case is similar to a legal battle taking place in Texas, where Kate Cox, a pregnant woman with a likely fatal condition, launched an unprecedented challenge against one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the U.S.

But unlike the Texas case, little is known about the Kentucky plaintiff. Her attorneys have insisted they would fiercely protect their clients privacy, stressing that Jane Doe believes everyone should have the right to make decisions privately and make decisions for their own families, Amber Duke, executive director for the ACLU of Kentucky, said last week. Her legal team also declined to disclose whether Jane Doe still needed an abortion.

Instead, Jane Does attorneys urged other women who are pregnant and seeking an abortion in the Bluegrass State to reach out if they are interested in joining the case. The lawsuit says Kentuckys near-total abortion ban violates the plaintiffs rights to privacy and self-determination under the state constitution.

Jane Doe sought an abortion in Kentucky, and when she could not get one, she bravely came forward to challenge the states abortion ban, ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project deputy director Brigitte Amiri said in a statement. Although she decided to have an abortion, the government denied her the freedom to control her body. Countless Kentuckians face the same harm every day as the result of the abortion ban.

According to court documents, Jane Doe had a medical appointment Dec. 8  after the lawsuit was filed  where no cardiac activity was discovered after an ultrasound was performed.

In the Texas case, Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two, had been seeking court permission to end her pregnancy in a state where abortion is only allowed in narrow exceptions when the life of the mother is in danger  not for fetal anomalies. Before the Texas Supreme Court on Monday rejected Cox's request, her attorneys said she had left the state to get an abortion elsewhere because she could not wait any longer due to concerns that remaining pregnant would jeopardize her health and her ability to have more children.

While Cox is believed to be the first to make such a request, her legal team and other experts anticipate other challenges among the dozen of other GOP-controlled states where abortion is largely prohibited at all stages of pregnancy. Meanwhile, a handful of separate legal challenges are taking place across the country highlighting the stories from women who were denied abortions while facing harrowing pregnancy complications.

Earlier this year, Kentuckys Supreme Court refused to halt the states near-total abortion ban and another outlawing abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy. The justices focused on narrow legal issues but did not resolve larger constitutional questions about whether access to abortion should be legal in the state.

The legal challenge revolves around Kentuckys near-total trigger law ban and a separate six-week ban  both passed by Republican legislative majorities. The trigger law was passed in 2019 and took effect when Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. It bans abortions except when they are carried out to save the life of the patient or to prevent disabling injury. It does not include exceptions for cases of rape or incest.

Kentucky voters last year rejected a ballot measure that would have denied any constitutional protections for abortion, but abortion rights supporters have made no inroads in the Republican-controlled Legislature in chipping away at the states anti-abortion laws.

As a result of the ruling, patient-led challenges are our only path forward to strike down the bans under the right to privacy and right to self-determination, Amiri said.

"We will do everything we can to restore abortion access in Kentucky, she said.

___

Kruesi reported from Nashville, Tennessee.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy has endorsed Assemblyman Vince Fong to succeed him in Californias 20th Congressional District. The question is whether Fong can legally run for the seat.

Fong, R-Bakersfield, had originally decided against making the race and filed to run again in his Assembly district before the Friday deadline. But come Monday he changed his mind, and yesterday was sworn in as a candidate for Congress in Kern County.

The issue is that with the filing deadline now passed, Fongs name must stay on the ballot as a candidate for Assembly, according to both the California secretary of states office and Kern County.

A candidate also cannot run for two offices on the same ballot.

The Bee asked the California secretary of state and Kern Countys officials multiple times Monday and Tuesday about Fongs situation and is awaiting a response.

Fong is the best-known candidate running in the solidly-Republican race so far.

There is no one that I trust more to continue the fight for common-sense and conservative values in Washington DC. I am proud to endorse my friend Vince Fong for Congress, McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, said in his endorsement. Fongs campaign released the statement Tuesday.

Fong, 44, currently represents Californias 32nd Assembly district, and was first elected in 2016. Prior to that, he served as the district director to McCarthy for almost a decade.

McCarthy, who turns 59 in January, announced last week that he would retire from Congress at the years end. Eight GOP hardliners joined all Democrats to remove him as speaker, a role McCarthy coveted for years and held for nine months.

Candidates have until 5 p.m. tomorrow, Dec. 13, to put in their paperwork.

Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux has pulled papers to collect the necessary signatures to file.

David Giglio, a self-proclaimed America First Republican and business owner, said he would run, as did Oregon Republican Matthew Piatt, a consultant.

A number of Democrats announced, including Marisa Wood, a Bakersfield teacher who challenged McCarthy in 2022; John Burrows, a Fresno public affairs entrepreneur, and Andy Morales of Bakersfield, a recent college graduate working in private security. Ben Dewell, who ran as a Democrat in the 2022 primary, is campaigning as an Independent.

Depending on when McCarthy retires, California Gov. Gavin Newsom may call for a special election to fill the remainder of his term.
It is not known how the vehicles - which included the luxury Mercedes, Lexus SUVs and Ford vans - reached North Korea

Kim Jong-un, the leader of poverty-stricken North Korea has splashed out on a slew of flashy cars in breach of UN sanctions, according to reports.

Kim has been spotted riding in four new foreign vehicles, including a $200,000 armoured Mercedes-Maybach S560 sedan, luxury Mercedes and Lexus SUVs and Ford vans in the last month, according to Seoul-based NK News.

In the past, he has also been seen in a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

It is not known how the vehicles reached North Korea, which for more than a decade has been restricted by severe United Nations sanctions to curb the escalation of the rogue regimes nuclear weapons and missiles programme.

Kim has been spotted riding in four new foreign vehicles, including his new Maybach sedan (pictured)

However, the regime has a long-standing tradition of smuggling in luxury items including high-end watches, designer bags and clothes and expensive alcohol enjoyed by the Kim dynasty and Pyongyang elites.

Last week, the Japanese police foiled an attempt to smuggle a $70,000 Lexus into North Korea via Bangladesh, reported the Asahi Shimbun.

The police raided a car dealer who had allegedly claimed Singapore was the vehicles final destination, violating the Japanese Customs Act.

Kim is known to have a penchant for expensive, flashy items such as yachts and jet skis as well as high-end cars, and enjoys flaunting his wealth to his own people despite swathes of the North Korean population going hungry.

Kim Jong-un riding to a meeting with the South Korean president, in a black Mercedes limousine assisted by his 12 jogging bodyguards - AP

In 2018, he made a grand spectacle of riding to a historic meeting with the South Korean president in a black Mercedes limousine flanked by a dozen jogging bodyguards.

Last weekend, state television channel KCTV aired footage of Kim arriving in his new S650 sedan at the National Meeting of Mothers, where he was giving a speech on the importance of having children and raising them to love the regime, said NK News.

He was accompanied by a convoy of Lexus and Toyota SUVs, some of which had been fitted with new police lights and other emblems signalling a security function.

Kim Jong-un with his Lexus SUV in December 2020

Luxury cars and other goods appear regularly in the country despite maritime surveillance operations by the US and its allies to prevent sanctions breaches. A new route serviced by Russian cargo ships to North Koreas Rason on the northeast coast is suspected of facilitating the latest shipments.

In 2019, a report by the Washington-based Centre for Advanced Defence Studies said Pyongyangs ability to smuggle vehicles through China, South Korea and Japan demonstrated how it was also able to supply its nuclear weapons programme.

Last week the centre said it had identified 17 vessels registered to Pacific nations that it believed were linked to illicit North Korean oil supply chains.

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(Bloomberg) -- Kim Jong Uns rare admission that North Korea faces a population crisis indicates hes just as worried about a demographic crunch that could undermine the economy as he is about the US forces that he says want to end his regime.

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With little fuel, machinery or advanced technology, Kim needs a booming population to support the labor-intensive farm and industrial sectors, and fill the ranks of one of the worlds most militarized states. He told thousands of women last week at the first official gathering of mothers in over a decade that its their duty to produce more children to stop the declining birth rate.

When all mothers clearly understand that it is patriotism to give birth to many children and do so positively, our cause of building a powerful socialist country can be hastened faster, the official Korean Central News Agency reported him as saying.

Up until those comments, the only mentions of declining birthrates in major state media during his rule were about the demographic challenges in South Korea, which Pyongyangs propaganda apparatus gleefully said were a reflection of deplorable problems in its capitalist neighbor.

South Korea is trying to address having the worlds lowest fertility rate  of just over 0.81 children over the lifetimes of women  through programs such as cash handouts to head off a crisis that threatens long-term economic prospects.

Kim has released no plans yet on what he might do.

When he wants to affect change, his government can plaster the country with posters, conduct massive education programs, saturate state media and chastise cadres at all levels for their failure to meet the governments goals. Kim is set to hold a major policy-setting meeting at the end of this year, and if more mentions are made of a population decline, it could indicate it will be a focus in 2024.

The loss of productive labor power will have substantial implications for the functioning of the North Korea economy, said Peter Ward, a senior researcher at Kookmin University in Seoul, who has studied North Koreas demographics.

Figures North Korea reported to the United Nations Population Fund show a fertility rate for women at 1.8 and a total population in 2023 of 26.2 million. This would indicate a population decline might start in about 2034, according to a research paper from the Hyundai Research Institute. If the actual numbers are lower, it could mean the day of reckoning is approaching more quickly.

The fertility rate was about 2.5 births per women in the early 1970s, according to a study of North Koreas population published several decades ago by researchers Nicholas Eberstadt and Judith Banister for the University of California.

But Ward said studies of the current numbers indicate the figures from North Korea are implausible, with the fertility rate at perhaps 1.4 or 1.6 children per woman.

They have ample incentive to exaggerate the size of their population because it helps with seeking aid from the outside world and it makes them look militarily stronger, he said.

Ward said North Korea appears to have had two collapses in fertility, with the first being a major famine in the 1990s and the second coming after 2005, when reforms opened more doors for women to be a part of the active economy. This increased their independence, giving them more control over decisions with respect to family planning than in prior generations.

North Koreas official data does little to reflect the damage caused by the famine that some estimates said killed more than 10% of the population over a number of years.

The period that North Korea refers to as the Arduous March triggered vast changes, with more women becoming the main economic agents for their families in markets set up at the time, according to a research paper for the Institute for Security & Development Policy by Kim Sung Kyung, an associate professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

By 2016, more than 1 million entrepreneurs were in these markets, accounting for approximately 15% of the female population, the paper said. Married women avoided having children due to the economic burden, it said.

The Arduous March may have also affected the mindset of those who lived through it and are now of child-bearing age, said Kang Mi-jin, a North Korean defector who runs a company in South Korea that watches the economy of her former home.

They may not want to have many children compared with their parents generation because they dont want their children to experience the hardships with no food and no clothes that they went through, she said.

Kim has refused to dismantle his nuclear program in return for easing sanctions that would allow his local industries to tap into global supplies for machinery and crucial materials. This likely means a labor-intensive economy will be the norm for a while as the US and its allies bolster their shows of force to deter Kim from ever using atomic weapons.

Kim has embellished his image as a father by having his preteen daughter accompany him at events including missile launches. This could be to show his people the nuclear weapons will be there to protect the next generation.

Kim and his daughter, thought to be about 10, donned sunglasses last month to visit airmen and see fighter jets, which underscored the message of military and family.

When he appeared at the venue of photo session, all the service personnel raised cheers of excitement, looking up to the great brilliant commander, the tender-hearted father who always keeps the airmen nearest his mind and shows all sorts of love and privileges for them, KCNA reported.

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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  King tides will return to the San Francisco waterfront area this week, according to the Port of San Francisco. Some of the best places to explore to experience the tides include Piers 3-5, Pier 14, and the Embarcadero Seawall, according to the port.

The tides are expected to be at their highest between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. daily through Friday.

Space Force missile launch visible across Bay Area: video

While not a scientific term, king tides refer to very high tides caused when there is alignment of the gravitational pull between sun, moon and Earth, according to the California Coastal Commision. When king tides occur during floods or storms, water levels can rise higher and have the potential to cause damage to coastline or coastal property.

According to the California Coastal Commission, king tides:

Occur naturally and regularly

Are predictable and expected

Are not an everyday occurrence

King tides are not related to climate change, the CCC said, but they allow us to experience what higher sea level will be like.

Coastal Flood Advisory for Wednesday

A Coastal Flood Advisory has been posted for areas adjacent to the San Francisco Bay for Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. The advisory is in effect from 8 a.m. through 1 p.m.

Tidal levels are running up to .50  .75 feet above predictions, resulting in minor coastal flooding, the NWS said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Kirsty Young and her husband plan to build a three-bedroom timber-clad bolthole on the island - ASHLEY COOMBES/SHUTTERSTOCK FOR EDINBURGH TV FESTIVAL

Controversial plans by Kirsty Young to build a holiday lodge on a deserted island on Loch Lomond are set to be approved.

The former presenter of the BBCs Desert Island Discs, 55, and her husband Nick Jones, 58, bought 103-acre Inchconnachan Island in Scotland in 2020 and submitted plans to demolish a bungalow and build a three-bedroom timber-clad bolthole in the islands north-west corner.

The couples vision, which includes a new boathouse and jetty, had sparked outrage, with objections lodged from residents and environmental groups. These included concerns over the felling of trees and the impact on wallabies that have lived on the island for almost 80 years.

However, an official dossier submitted to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park planning and access committee has recommended that permission be granted subject to conditions.

The report, due to be discussed by officials next Monday, notes that the new property will be a short-stay holiday accommodation lodge to be used by the applicants or guests/visitors with a boathouse that will be occupied by a warden.

The island is designated as a special area of conservation for western acidic oak woodland and otters and a Special Protection Area (SPA) for Capercaillie and Greenland white-fronted geese.

Negative impact

The report notes that the proposals put forward by Young and her husband, the founder of private members club chain Soho House, will have no adverse effect on the integrity of these designations. It also highlights that NatureScot and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency have not opposed their plans.

Luss and Arden community council has remained neutral but warned that the proposed jetty would negatively impact on the landscape and should be significantly reduced in size.

The body also said that the boathouse would have a negative landscape effect and the footprint and extent of projection should be reduced.

The report notes that of eight representations made by members of the public, seven objected to the proposals.

The concerns included visual impact of the development and the potentially harmful effect of carbon emissions during construction on wildlife and their habitat. Another objection was that the island should have been purchased for the nation, rather than sold privately to become a selective tourist attraction.

Friends of Loch Lomond, an independent conservation charity, supported the couples plans on the basis of the high quality of investigations, assessments and reports submitted with the planning application that demonstrate an understanding of the functioning of the islands wildlife and people and its role in the national parks ecosystem.

It added that the proposals would make a positive contribution to conservation and visitor management on Inchconnachan.

The report concludes that if mitigation measures are secured with appropriately worded planning conditions, the proposal will not have an adverse effect on the integrity of the Loch Lomond SPA.

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At least one Centre County establishment was found out of compliance following food safety inspections conducted throughout November.

The months lone failed inspection centers on a Chinese food buffet with several observed health code infractions, including dirty equipment and improper cleaning techniques.

Information regarding county establishments and their violations appears below in an alphabetical list with a summary of the problems inspectors noted in their respective reports. More details are available upon request by visiting the Pennsylvania Department of Agricultures online database.

Nearly 50 other establishments passed their inspections with few or no violations. They also appear alphabetically below.

Business owners who wish to clarify or comment on inspection results can contact Centre Daily Times reporter Matt DiSanto by emailing mdisanto@centredaily.com.

About food safety inspections

Following commonwealth law, Pennsylvanias eating and drinking establishments are inspected at least once per year. Some schools, including the State College Area School District, receive biannual inspections.

Pennsylvanias Department of Agriculture may conduct additional inspections if complaints are received or if initial inspections are not up to code.

Most observed violations are minor in scope and are corrected during inspections, but some establishments may temporarily close if too many violations are found. Closures may occur as a result of other issues, including risks for foodborne illnesses or violations that take time to address, such as broken plumbing or pest infestations.

Most inspections in Centre County are conducted at the state level through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. More than 100 municipalities directly conduct their health inspections through certified officials who fall under their jurisdiction. State College, for example, is responsible for performing inspections in the borough and in Ferguson, Patton and College townships, a borough official said.

Once inspections are complete and reports are published, you can browse them online by visiting pafoodsafety.state.pa.us/web/inspection/publicinspectionsearch.aspx. You can look up establishments by name or filter results to specific cities, counties or ZIP codes.

Out-of-compliance inspections

China Wok, 1027 N. Front St. in Philipsburg  A Nov. 6 routine inspection found four violations at this establishment. According to the report, sanitarian David Zimmerman observed employees storing in-use knives between table edges, which are not easily cleanable or sanitized. Additionally, the restaurants prep tables and refrigeration units were observed with an excess buildup of grease and food residue.

Zimmermans report says he observed China Woks mechanical dishwasher using a chlorine concentration of zero parts per million, falling below the 50-to-100 ppm range required by code.

Additionally, Zimmermans report claims the person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection.

China Wok returned to compliance after Zimmerman conducted a follow-up inspection Nov. 13. The report did not include any code violations.

How to complain about conditions

If you see a problem at a retail food or lodging establishment, you can file a complaint to catch officials attention.

To notify the commonwealth about questionable conditions anywhere food is served or sold to the public, call 1-866-366-3723 or fill out the Pennsylvania Department of Agricultures food safety complaint form, available online at pda.pa.gov/FoodSafetyComplaint/. The form asks for consumer information, facility details and a full description of each complaint.

You can also contact the commonwealths Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services directly by calling 717-787-4315 or emailing RA-FoodSafety@pa.gov.

Locally, you can report concerns to State College officials by calling 814-234-7100 or emailing healthdept@statecollegepa.us.

These businesses passed inspections in November

Ahhmazing Graze , 920 Nittany Ridge Road in Howard

Aldi , 1752 N. Atherton St. in State College

Allen Street Pizza , 128 S. Allen St. in State College

American Diner , 1841 Philipsburg-Bigler Highway in Philipsburg

Auntie Annes Pretzels (BJC) , 127 Bryce Jordan Center in University Park

Bald Eagle Area Junior-Senior High School , 751 S. Eagle Valley Road in Wingate

Bald Eagle Diner , 11053 N. Eagle Valley Road in Howard

Beijing & Osaka , 452 E. College Ave. in State College

Belle City Bites MFF4 (ZTH-1755) , 167 S. Potter St. in Bellefonte

Bocks Tearoom , 145 N. Front St. in Philipsburg

Central Counties Youth Center , 148 Paradise Road in Bellefonte

Centre Learning Charter School , 2643 W. College Ave. in State College

Chew Chew Bun , 115 W. Beaver Ave. in State College

CJ East Asian Market , 215A Blue Course Drive in State College

College Buffet , 1631 N. Atherton St. in State College

Corl Street Elementary , 235 Corl St. in State College

Crazy Boil LLC , 1617 N. Atherton St. in State College

Dairy Barn , 5561 Jacksonville Road in Howard

Dollar General No. 24238 , 586 E. College Ave. in Bellefonte

Dollar General No. 23088 , 364 W. Aaron Square in Aaronsburg

Easterly Parkway Elementary School , 234 Easterly Parkway in State College

El Jefes Taqueria , 352 E. Calder Way in State College

Ferguson Township Elementary School , 215 W. Pine Grove Road in State College

Hissho Sushi @ Giant No. 574 , 2699 Benner Pike in Bellefonte

Hiway Pizza , 1688 N. Atherton St. in State College

Hogs Galore , 330 Enterprise Drive, Lot 7 in Philipsburg

Ingrams Market No. 6 , 830 N. Eagle Valley Road, P.O. Box 380 in Milesburg

JL Farm and Cidery LLC , 3392 Shingletown Road in State College

Kamari Thai & Sushi House , 901 Pike St. in Lemont

Miles Township Fire Co. , 102 Broad St. in Rebersburg

Mount Nittany United Methodist Church , 1500 E. Branch Road in State College

Nittany Christian School , 1221 W. Whitehall Road in State College

Penns Valley Livestock Auction , 2925 Penns Valley Pike in Centre Hall

Pizza Hut , 952 N. Front St. in Philipsburg

Robin Hood Brewing Co. , 1796 Zion Road in Bellefonte

State College International Market , 328 S. Allen St. in State College

State College Meals on Wheels , 205 S. Garnet St. in State College

Suzie Wongs Egg Rolls & More , 215 W. Aaron Drive in State College

Teadori , 454 E. College Ave. in State College

The Hidden Hostess Mobile Catering , 2280 Commercial Blvd. in State College

The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center , 215 Innovation Blvd. in State College

The Waffle Shop , 364 E. College Ave. in State College

Uni-Mart No. 94101 , 100 Mill St. in Milesburg

Wendys , 521 University Drive in State College

Wingate Elementary School , Box 4, Route 220 in Wingate

Young Scholars of Central PA, 1530 Westerly Parkway in State College

Note: Occasionally, a listed address  especially for mobile vendors and food trucks  is not where food is actually served to the public. Contact those establishments directly for specific service locations.
Israel to open 2nd crossing to check Gaza-bound aid: army

Xinhua) 09:28, December 12, 2023

JERUSALEM, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israel will open the Keren Shalom crossing in southern Israel from Tuesday for security checks on aid shipments to the Gaza Strip, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement late on Monday.

By now, all trucks carrying humanitarian aid must be inspected at Israel's Nitzana crossing before entering Gaza, causing delays in the entry of water, food, medical supplies and shelter equipment into the besieged Palestinian enclave.

The Nitzana crossing is more than 40 km away from the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, the only point of aid entry into Gaza.

The opening of Keren Shalom, closer to Rafah, would improve the volume of security screening of aid and "double the amount of humanitarian aid entering Gaza," according to the statement.

No supplies will be delivered to Gaza directly from Israel, the IDF added.

After security inspection at the two crossings, aid trucks will be forwarded to international organizations in Gaza via the Rafah crossing between the enclave and Egypt.

Before the opening of Keren Shalom, Israel allowed the entry of up to 250 aid trucks into Gaza every day, Elad Goren, head of the IDF's Civil Department of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, told reporters on Thursday.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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When Arizonas Democratic governor, Katie Hobbs, starts to look and sound like a GOP border hawk, you know something is afoot.

When independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who years ago used to march for migrant rights, centers her campaign on securing the border, you know our world has changed.

When the Democratic incumbent president finds himself trailing the latest polls to a twice-impeached, four-time indicted former president, its time to start asking whats up?

Abortion alone won't save Democrats

The answer may be found in the Real Clear Politics polling average.

Joe Biden is melting on the issue of immigration, as Americans disapprove of his handling of the border by nearly 30 points.

And its not just Republicans.

Some 75% of New York Democrats told a recent Siena College Poll that the recent influx of migrants into New York State is a serious issue. For the Democratic Party, that is perilously close to the 85% of Republicans in New York state who said the same.

It means the abortion debate, in which the left holds the strongest cards, is not going to save the Democratic Party.

Abortion has split the Republican Party between its purists, who want to abolish abortion, and its pragmatists, who want to regulate its legal practice.

The issue has confounded the party as it has lost bellwether elections to Democrats in Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Kansas.

Immigration is Biden's kryptonite

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs attends a news conference at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales on March 21, 2023.

But just when it seemed abortion had become Republicans kryptonite, another issue of equal urgency has emerged as its counterweight by confounding Democrats:

Immigration.

Its not just that todays border is as permeable as it has ever been. Its that all across the Western world, from London to Paris to Berlin to Ottawa to Washington, governments are reeling under the pressure of mass migration from the global South.

In America we are waking up to the possibility that the large numbers we see crossing the U.S.-Mexico border are not just out of control, but possibly uncontrollable.

The Biden White House has tried to stem the flow, even mimicking some of Donald Trumps old policies, but to no avail.

In September, a record number of parents traveling with children  103,000, reports the Washington Post  illegally crossed our southern border. Border Patrol is recording some of its highest arrests levels at 9,000 per day.

Mexican cartels have gained a foothold

If we cant control the flow of migrants across the border, can anyone?

Yes. Apparently, the Mexican cartels can.

That nations drug lords have created a rogue travel agency around the U.S.-Mexico border, The New York Times reports.

Migrant smuggling on the U.S. southern border has evolved over the past 10 years from a scattered network of freelance coyotes into a multi-billion-dollar international business controlled by organized crime, including some of Mexicos most violent drug cartels.

Texas is considering its own SB 1070? Big mistake

The cartels are also expanding the nature of Americas border problem.

With their greater focus on the border, the cartels have gained a foothold in the United States, creating illegal marijuana grows in northern California and southern Oregon. There in the remote forests they exploit and mistreat workers, generally undocumented migrants, who work off the fees the cartels charge them to be smuggled into the United States.

Cartel kidnappings and extortion that are common to Mexican border cities, are now occurring in greater frequency in the United States, reports The Times.

Hobbs and Sinema forsee the problem

As the border grows more unmanageable for U.S. officials, Washingtons center of gravity on immigration has shifted to the right, shouts an Associated Press headline.

A reflection of this was Arizona Gov. Hobbs, who late last week walked the border in an earth-tone green jacket and said, We need the federal government to step up, do its job, and bring security and order to our border.

Kyrsten Sinema, who was early to recognize the emerging immigration problem and to look for bipartisan solutions, was also stepping up her border rhetoric last week.

Arizona is in crisis, she tweeted. Im calling on my colleagues to drop the partisan rhetoric and focus on real results that will actually address the security and humanitarian disaster at our southern border.

As the Arizona Supreme Court takes up the question of Arizona abortion law that could lead to reinstatement of a near total ban on abortion from Arizonas territorial days, Republicans are awakening to the liability abortion could become in the 2024 elections.

Democrats should not get too gleeful. They have their own albatross to manage.

Immigration looms on their horizon.

Phil Boas is an editorial columnist for The Arizona Republic. Email him at phil.boas@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Border is an issue for Democrats like abortion is for Republicans
Like many kids in the late 70s, Kwame Ryan recalled the electrifying thrill of seeing Star Wars for the first time.

It was at a drive-in theater on his home island of Trinidad. Ryan, all of 6 years old, went with his parents and sister.

Sure, he marveled at the costumes and special effects. But what really stuck with him  what left him gobsmacked and disoriented for a couple of days afterwards  was the music. I was just completely absorbed by the sound of the orchestra, he said. It was almost like I couldnt come back from that musical land far, far away.

Now hes going to be the next music director of the Charlotte Symphony, and the first Black conductor for an orchestra formed in 1932.

Charlotte Symphony makes history, names a Black conductor as its new music director

Here are a few other things to know about the personable musician from the Caribbean.

Kwame Ryan knew from a very early age that he wanted to be a conductor. On Tuesday, he was named the next music director of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.

Another formative moment

During a family trip from Trinidad to attend a New York Philharmonic concert, the Ryans saw Indian conductor Zubin Mehta lead a Toscannini tribute with Leontyne Price and Itzhak Perlman.

I remember watching what (Mehta) was able to do with this incredible orchestra, Ryan said. And seeing him up there made me believe that I could fulfill my dream of conducting. He actually caused me never to doubt it.

Ryan was 9 at the time.

When asked to describe his conducting style, Kwame Ryan called it expressive, extroverted and detailed.

Why he wont wear a tux and tails

Unlike many maestros, Ryan long ago abandoned wearing a tuxedo and tails while conducting. It was a comfort thing, he said.

Ryan often works in contemporary music, where theres less pressure on the conductor to don traditional dress. So he got into the habit of wearing what felt comfortable. For Ryan, that means a Nehru shirt with open sleeves and nothing tucked in to the trousers.

While he didnt intend this impact, he sees the outfit as removing a potential barrier between the conductor and the audience. Its easier to connect with people, he said, when you are not wearing an outfit that exudes elitism, separation or some elements of a historic upper class.

What else he wont wear while conducting

Glasses. Ryan wont wear them at the podium, just contacts.

I wear contacts because I sweat far too much when Im conducting with glasses. I would literally need windshield wipers on my glasses.

Kwame Ryan wont be wearing a tuxedo when he leads the CSO. He prefers more comfortable clothes.

Kwame Ryan can see the Black Forest from his window

Ryan and his husband live in southwest Germany in Freiburg im Breisgau, a city founded over 900 years ago during the early Middle Ages. It sits on the western fringe of the Black Forest, a popular tourist region thats also believed to be where the cuckoo clock was invented. Looking out his window, Ryan can see the edge of the forest, where hell frequently go for walks or mountain biking.

Kwame Ryans COVID project

In early 2020, Ryan was working at the University of Trinidad and Tobagos Academy for the Performing Arts when he needed to return to Germany for a doctors appointment. He was only supposed to stay in town for a week. Thats when the COVID lockdowns hit.

Fortunately, Ryan had lots of AV equipment to use for teaching his students remotely. But he also wanted to do something more. Thats where he hit on the idea of channeling his ideas into a podcast  8 Minute Idea.

The first season is available on various podcast platforms, with topics ranging from Language as Culture: Why Vibe Attracts Tribe to The Gastronomy of Good Thoughts.

And he has a list of new topics ready to go for the next season.

Ryan dropped out of a CSO job once

By November 2020, the Charlotte symphony was recording concerts for digital distribution with a reduced number of musicians during COVID.

Ryan, who was still working for the Trinidad university at the time, was booked to be a guest conductor that month but backed out of the job.

He wanted to make sure he was giving his full attention to the school, which needed significant help, recalled David Fisk, president and CEO of the Charlotte Symphony. The fact that he was putting the education of these kids ahead of trying to restart his own career said something to me about his priorities and about the authenticity of his commitment to music education, Fisk said.

Since its 1932 founding, the Charlotte Symphony has hired 11 white men as its music director (pictured above). Thats about to change as Kwame Ryan, bottom right, will be the next maestro.

Practicing yoga and Ayurveda

Ryans career involves a lot of traveling and a hectic lifestyle. So to clear his mind, he took up yoga.

And as often happens to me, when I get really interested in something I dive really deep, he said. Ryan became so good at it, his yoga teacher recommended that he become a yoga teacher too to acquire even more knowledge.

That also led him to study and become a consultant in Ayurveda, an alternative form of medicine that traces its roots to India over 3,000 years ago. It focuses on natural therapies that help restore balance between the mind, body, spirit and environment.

Kwame Ryan will be the 12th music director of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, and the first person of color to lead the group founded in 1932.

Full circle with the New York Phil

Ryan will return to the New York Philharmonic in May, this time to conduct there for the first time.

On May 4, Ryan will lead the Young Peoples Concert: Celebration in honor of a century of such concerts. Six days later, hell conduct the world premier of Mary Kouyoumdjians Sound On at the philharmonic.

Thinking back about how Mehta inspired him at the New York Philharmonic, Ryan said, If I can provide that inspiration and that belief for any young artist... Id be very, very happy about that, not only for myself and that person, but also for the CSO.

Kwame Ryan, the first Black man to lead the Charlotte Symphony, readily accepts the idea that he could be a role model for others.

More arts coverage

Want to see more stories like this? Sign up here for our free Inside Charlotte Arts newsletter: charlotteobserver.com/newsletters. You can join our Facebook group, Inside Charlotte Arts, by going here: facebook.com/groups/insidecharlottearts. And all of our Fall Arts Guide 2023 stories are here: charlotteobserver.com/topics/charlotte-fall-arts-guide
How much did Kyivstar's problems affect PrivatBank

About 30% of cashless payment terminals operated by PrivatBank, Ukraines largest bank, rely on Kyivstar's mobile network and are therefore currently out of commission, PrivatBank told NV Business on Dec. 12.

PrivatBank press secretary Oleh Serha stated that approximately 30% of payment POS (point-of-sale) terminals are serviced via Kyivstar's mobile network, with 10% being self-service terminals for account top-ups and payments, and 5% being ATMs.

Read also: Ukraines HUR disrupts Russian Tax Service, erases entire database, full recovery impossible

These devices are temporarily unable to process payments until Kyivstars network is back online.

Read also: Vodafone Ukraine struggles with app, payment failures after Kyivstar outage

Serha assured that the devices will automatically resume operations after the technical issues at Kyivstar are resolved, requiring no additional work or maintenance from PrivatBank.

Ukraine's largest mobile operator Kyivstar experienced a major outage on the morning of Dec. 12, brining the network down across the entire country. More than 12 hours later, company engineers are still unable to bring it back online.

Read also: NBU operates normally despite Kyivstar network failure

The company's specialists are working on resolving the issue, the company said.

Ukraines Digital Transformation Ministry and Kyivstar later said that the outage was caused by a major cyberattack, presumable launched by Russian hackers at Kremlins behest.

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
On the morning of December 12, Kyivstar experienced a large-scale outage

Kyivstar, Ukraine's largest mobile operator, faced a major outage on the morning of Dec. 12, the company announced on Facebook.

Mobile connection and internet are not available, including in Kyiv, users reported on Facebook. The operator's official website is also down.

Technical failure resulted in the unavailability of communication services and internet access for part of its subscriber base, Kyivstar announced at 8:10 a.m. on Dec. 12.

The company's specialists are working on resolving the issue, the company added.

Kyivstar is Ukraines largest electronic communications operator, serving over 24 million mobile subscribers and more than 1 million home internet subscribers as of Sept. 2023. The company provides services using a widerange of mobile and fixed technologies, including 4G, Big Data, Cloud solutions, cybersecurity services, digital TV, and more.

Zelenskyys Office mentioned a high probability of imposing sanctions on Kyivstar with subsequent confiscation of the company at the end of November. The court seized shares controlled by Russian sanction-targeted oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven, and Andrey Kosogov, Kyivstar said in October.

The sole shareholder of Kyivstar is VEON, registered in the Netherlands.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.  Executives with L3Harris Technologies said the company will hit a development milestone for its Viper Shield electronic warfare package this month, with production on track for 2025.

L3Harris is constructing Viper Shield, a collection of digital protections and countermeasures, for fitting aboard Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70/72 jets sold to foreign militaries. More than a dozen countries planned to fly the variants when the company was first tapped for the work.

The soon-to-come milestone, known as drop 3, signifies initial radar warning receiver capability, meaning the system can detect emissions of adversarial radar.

Winning in the next fight isnt just about what you can do platform by platform. Its being able to harness all of that data thats out there, and being able to do that in real time, or near-real time, Jen Lewis, president for advanced combat systems at L3Harris, told C4ISRNET on the sidelines of the Association of Old Crows conference in Maryland. The company this year said Viper Shield passed a separate review involving Lockheed and the Air Force.

I think were really ahead of the field here, in terms of thinking about how you get after the electromagnetic spectrum operations and data problem, Lewis added.

DISA launches cloud-based electronic warfare planning tool

Aircraft must navigate environments teeming with radars, missiles and other threats. Penetrating  or slipping past  those defenses is critical. Both Russia and China have constructed anti-access and area-denial infrastructure to keep at bay forces and weapons that could otherwise overwhelm.

The U.S. Department of Defense is prioritizing sophisticated EW tools as it moves away from smaller counterinsurgency fighting in the Greater Middle East and prepares for larger-scale, higher-tech battles envisioned for the future.

Democratization of technology has enabled adversaries to develop things rather quickly. We have been comfortable, as a nation, with having superiority in that domain. But, again, with your playbook on display, folks get smarter about how to counter it, Paul DeLia, a director of strategy development at L3Harris, said. Im very happy to see a reinvigoration of electronic warfare. Its a necessary bullet, if you would, in the gun in order to be successful in the next conflict.

L3Harris is the ninth largest contractor in the world when ranked by defense-related revenue, according to Defense News Top 100 analysis. The company earned nearly $14 billion in 2022.
LA VERGNE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A La Vergne police officer was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Smyrna.

The La Vergne Police Department identified the officer as Officer Brandon Joyner. He was 46 years old and a six-year veteran of the police force.

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The police department issued the following statement on Joyners death.

It is with great sadness that the La Vergne Police Department confirms that Officer Brandon Joyner has passed away in a single vehicle crash in Smyrna. We are asking for prayers for the family of Officer Joyner as well as our police department and city as we begin to mourn. We also ask for privacy for Officer Joyners personal family and LPD family as we process and deal with this loss. Officer Joyner was 46 years old and is a six-year veteran of the La Vergne Police Department.

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 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Sir Keir Starmer said that Rishi Sunak must immediately call a general election if he loses Tuesday's vote on his Rwanda legislation - LEON NEAL/GETTY IMAGES EUROPE

Small boat migrants could be diverted abroad to have their asylum applications decided under a Labour government, Sir Keir Starmer has announced.

The Labour leader said he would look at offshore processing, used by countries such as Australia, in a significant hardening of his stance on border controls.

However, during a speech to mark the fourth anniversary of the 2019 election, he insisted straight deportation schemes such as the Rwanda policy will not work.

In his punchiest rhetoric yet, Sir Keir accused the Tories of having descended into an indulgent vortex of infighting over their approach to migration.

Rwanda plan is built on sand

Sir Keir said the Governments plan to deport migrants to Africa was built on sand and accused rebel Tory MPs of having half an eye on a future leadership contest.

But asked whether he would consider sending asylum seekers abroad, the Labour leader said he was open to the idea of offshore processing.

The Rwanda schemeis a straight deportation scheme in relation to people who have already arrived, he told reporters at Silverstone race track.

Other countries around the world do have schemes where they divert people away for processing elsewhere. Thats a different kind of scheme and Ill look at any scheme that might work.

Im actually pretty clear in my own mind that unless  and until  were more serious about smashing the gangs, trying to deal at the other end of the problem, when people are already here, is looking at it through the wrong end of the telescope.

The Government has lost control of the numbers  thousands and thousands of people coming and theyre saying we might just very expensively send 100 people to Rwanda.

Practical plan that will actually work

Sir Keir said that Labour MPs would oppose the Rwanda legislation in a Commons vote on Tuesday evening because it goes against our values.

He insisted that his plan to crack down on smuggling gangs and strike a returns agreement with the EU would deliver faster and cheaper results.

We will oppose the scheme this evening for a number of reasons  it doesnt work, it will cost a fortune and it is against our values, he said.

That does not mean we dont recognise the challenge that there is of crossing on small boats across the Channel. We have to stop that. But stopping that means not gimmicks, but rolling our sleeves up with a practical plan that will actually work.

But he said that he expected the legislation to pass, despite the screaming and shouting of rebel Tory MPs, because Mr Sunak has an 80 seat majority.

If the Prime Minister loses the vote then of course he should call a general election, he added. The sooner we see the back of them the better.

Richard Holden, the Conservative Party chairman, said: Once again Sir Keir Starmer showed he is only interested in short-term political positioning, not taking long-term decisions in the national interest.

Sir Keir confirmed he will block our plan to stop the boats, because he has never truly believed in being tough on illegal immigration and deterring people from making dangerous Channel crossings. And he recommitted Labour to spend 28 billion more every year at the same time as keeping debt falling. That can only mean one thing  higher taxes on working people to pay for this huge unfunded spending commitment.

Whilst Labour stick to their same old short-term approach of more migration, more borrowing and more taxes, we are taking the long-term decisions to secure Britains future.

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MOSCOW, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin ratified an agreement on creating joint military training centers with Belarus, according to a document published Tuesday on the country's official legal information portal.

The agreement entails the creation and operation of joint combat training centers, which will focus on training Russian and Belarusian military personnel. It also determines ways in which both sides will interact to establish and support these centers, according to a statement published by the Kremlin.

The military training centers are intended for the training of personnel from both sides, where they will be able to conduct combat training and increase the level of cohesion and combat proficiency.

The original document was signed in Minsk on March 28, 2023. Russia's State Duma or lower house of parliament ratified the agreement on Dec. 5, and the law was adopted by the Federation Council, or the upper house of parliament on Dec. 7.

Belarus finished the document's ratification in July 2023, according to the BelTA news agency. 
A leading abortion rights group is endorsing Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) as the incumbent senator fights for reelection against one of three Republicans looking to unseat him.

Reproductive Freedom For All announced its endorsement Tuesday, saying Brown is needed in the Senate to prevent Republicans from trying to pass a national abortion ban.

Senator Sherrod Brown has been an essential partner and champion of reproductive freedom who we need in the Senate, Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju said in a statement shared first with The Hill.

All of the Republican extremists running in this race support a federal abortion ban that would overrule the will of Ohioans, and any one of them could cast the deciding vote to block crucial legislation protection the right to abortion. We cant let that happen, Timmaraju said.

The group, formerly called NARAL Pro-Choice America, cited Browns co-sponsorship of the Womens Health Protection and the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance acts, bills both aimed at advancing abortion access and repealing the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal funds for abortion in most cases.

The group endorsed Brown in 2018 as well.

Democrats have made abortion rights a central part of their message since the Supreme Court ended federal abortion protections last year.

Ohio voters backed Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, but Brown is fully leaning into putting abortion front-and-center of his campaign.

There are three Republicans vying for Browns seat, and Brown has knocked all of them over their support for abortion restrictions.

While my opponents want to ban abortion nationwide, I stand with the majority of Ohioans who made it clear that a womans healthcare decision should be between her and her doctor, Brown said in a statement. Im proud to have Reproductive Freedom for All on my team and look forward to working with them to protect reproductive rights across the nation.

Last month, voters in Ohio overwhelmingly passed a ballot initiative that enshrines abortion protections into the state constitution. It took effect Dec. 1.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WELLINGTON, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- With New Zealand in danger of losing its cloak of darkness, awareness of the environmental impact needs to be brought to light, warned a new research published on Tuesday.

Artificial light at night, which is considered the fastest-growing pollutant worldwide, has grown rapidly in New Zealand and had negative impacts on the country's plants and animals, according to a study published in the New Zealand Journal of Ecology.

Ellen Cieraad, an author of the study said lit surface area increased by 37 percent in the last decade, and brightness increased by 87 percent, faster than the global average.

"Plants and animals around us rely on the predictable rhythms of dark and light under which they evolved," Cieraad said.

Too much light at night can disrupt the daily routines and behavior patterns of animals such as bats, insects and seabirds, and affect the growth and seasonal cycles of trees, she said.

Bridgette Farnworth, a co-author of the study, further explained that small changes to wavelength, timing, or lighting intensity could play a key role in mitigating the impacts on dusk-dwelling animals.

"This is not about banishing light. It's an opportunity for us, as a nation, to think about how we can convert ourselves to be 'shadow architects' and build eco-friendly places that include darkness as part of the habitat," Farnworth said. 
The oil-rich host country of a key worldwide climate summit may have slid backroom talks of oil and gas deals with other nations into its schedule, according to the Guardian.

The news agency reported on the United Arab Emirates and its role in the COP 28 climate summit based on leaked documents. The Conference of the Parties takes place Nov. 30 to Dec. 12 in the desert nation, which is among the world leaders in oil production.

Its intended to be a time to rally worldwide support for reducing planet-heating air pollution, the defining issue of our time, according to the COP website. The leak has raised concerns among climate watchdogs.

This is exactly the kind of conflict of interest we feared, Greenpeace International climate expert Kaisa Kosonen told the Guardian.

Whats happening?

The UAEs climate envoy, Sultan Al Jaber, is also the head of the national oil company Adnoc, and the dual role is being scrutinized, per the Guardian. The leaked documents include details for briefings with numerous other nations, including China, Canada, and Colombia, about expanding oil and gas production. The Guardian credited the BBC for first reporting on the briefings.

Whats more, Al Jaber said in November that there is no science that suggests a dirty energy phase-out will achieve the United Nations goals. This is a shock to climate experts who maintain that dirty energy needs to be eliminated, per a Guardian report.

Unnamed COP spokespersons downplayed the reports, calling the leaked documents inaccurate and not used  in meetings. A spokesperson commenting on Al Jabers statement said that scenarios clearly state that fossil fuels will have to play a role in the future energy system, albeit a smaller one, all per Guardian reports.

For Adnocs part, the company has air pollution reduction goals through 2030, and wants to be net zero by 2045.

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry was reported by the news agency to be supportive yet seemingly cautious of the UAEs COP-leading role.

Some might call it an experiment to have an oil-and-gas-producing entity host [COP]. Thats the big question, he said in the report.

Why is it important?

The leaked documents and comments are concerning, as the gathering is crucial to forwarding agendas that lead to cleaner economies, industries, and a cooler planet.

If the talks include dirty energy-friendly discussions in the background, it could be a setback to goals geared to preserve a livable climate. To achieve that, we need to triple renewable energy globally by 2030, per the summits website.

The hosting of climate conferences carries a profound responsibility [with] the global community expecting them to embody the very essence of integrity. The issue becomes particularly problematic if their interests conflict fundamentally with addressing the climate crisis, Climate Action Network executive director Tasneem Essop told the Guardian.

Whats being done to help?

While the leaks are concerning, climate experts are not ruling out the positive impact UAE can play for the COP.

I think that the UAE can potentially still be a transformative host  If we have due process in place to ensure [Al Jaber] is doing what he should be doing, then this can still turn into the outcome that we need, Tom Rivett-Carnac, a former political adviser who has been involved in UN climate talks, told the Guardian.

Its also important to hold Adnoc and other companies accountable to meet their lofty climate goals. Buying clean products, and even thrift shopping, are ways to lobby for more planet-friendly interests with your buying power.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
An army soldier examines damages on the site of a bombing at a police station on the outskirts of Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, on Dec. 12, 2023. Credit - AP Photo

At least 23 troops were killed and 32 others injured in a gun and suicide bomb attack in a police station in Dera Ismail Khan, northwest Pakistan, on Tuesday. A new Pakistani Islamist militant group called Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) claimed responsibility.

In a press release, the Pakistani military said that the attack in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was carried out by six militants using an explosive-laden vehicle.

The military and local police also told the Associated Press that a shootout lasted for hours before the six militants were gunned down. Separately, a military statement said that troops killed 27 insurgents in multiple operations in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.

Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist present in the area, as security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthens our resolve, the Pakistani military said.

The death toll from the gun and suicide bomb attack is expected to climb as some of the officers remain in critical condition, the Associated Press reported.

TJP is a relatively new militant groupestablished in February 2023that has been involved in multiple attacks against Pakistani security and military personnel this year. That includes one in July that killed 12 Pakistani soldiers in the southwestern Balochistan province.

The group has claimed affiliation with the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban, or TTP.

Pakistan has undergone a period of instability this year as its government faces a severe economic crisis and political unrest. The former Prime Minister of the country, Imran Khan, was forced out of office after a vote of no-confidence in April 2022. The current caretaker Prime Minister of the country is Anwar ul Haq Kakar.

The Pakistani Taliban have stepped up attacks on security forces in the country since 2022. Pakistani authorities say TTP has become emboldened since the Taliban takeover of neighboring Afghanistan in 2021.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A Lebanon County man is facing rape charges after police say he sexually assaulted a girl at a church playground.

South Annville Township Police said in the charging documents that Jonathan Service, 42, is accused of sexually assaulting the girl at the Mount Wilson Church of the Brethren playground, located at 1261 Mount Wilson Road, in April.

The girl told investigators about the alleged rape, and also about a previous incident the year before when Service inappropriately touched her in a swimming pool, the criminal complaint states.

When Service was interviewed in November, investigators say that he denied sexually assaulting the girl and claimed she initiated inappropriate contact with him.

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The victim underwent a sexual assault exam, and when police got the report back in September, it showed that there was a match for Services DNA, police noted in the complaint.

Service faces charges that include felony counts of rape, aggravated indecent assault without consent, statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact, corruption of minors, and involuntary deviant sexual intercourse. He also faces misdemeanor counts of indecent assault of a person less than 16.

Service is currently locked up in Lebanon County Prison with bail set at $200,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 14.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Sitting alone in the gallery for the second reading of the Rwanda Bill was none other than Dr David Starkey. With long white hair and a Byronic air, he looked down upon the MPs - the historian visibly disappointed with the era hes forced to live in.

Labour said it was a bad bill; the Tory rebels warned it wouldnt work. James Cleverly, almost with a sigh, said: Come on, itll do - and took countless interventions from MPs keen to remind us that they are a lawyer.

Robert Buckland KC, a wet, said he would support the Government but that it was testing comity to breaking point. The Labour benches nodded sagely. The Tory benches googled comity on their phones, and were confused to read she was one of Enid Blytons Famous Five. Theyll be even more surprised when Buckland bills them for that two-minute intervention, having rounded it up to an hour.

Is this job pushing Cleverly to breaking point? It would be understandable given that his opposite number is Yvette Cooper. Coop is always sent into the chamber with nothing to say, so ran out her 30 minutes with cliches, bad gags and alliterations  describing the PMs morning breakfast with Tory discontents as less a smoked salmon offensive, and more buttering them up with butties and bacon! This stuff is so painful to listen to Im sure they play it on a loop in North Korean prisons.

Speaking for Britain, Cleverly mouthed: And what is your plan? Then said it again, and again, sometimes ironically, sometimes angrily, occasionally with sign language  putting his hand to his ear, then rolling his fingers through space to signal tumbleweed. It was very funny. But it was also disconcerting, as if the poor man might still be saying it at 3am in bed.

Time for amendment

Behind him, the much feared rebellion was wilting into abstentions. The rebels didnt really want to bring another PM to his knees, and besides there would be time for amendment later.

Robert Jenrick made his point with the authority of a future PM: This Bill could be so much better. Nevertheless, Danny Kruger observed that the legislation had been pumped with so many reassuringly Right-wing words that it read like Bill Cash Bingo (a horrid Left-wing journalist muttered eyes down for a full nuthouse).

The Rwanda debate has exposed faultiness in the Conservative Party so great that one wonders if theyll fall apart completely after the next election. Bob Neill said that he is a conservative because I am a constitutionalist  that what the rebels wanted defied legal tradition, hence they arent really conservative at all.

Id love to pick Dr Starkeys brains over that proposition. Though what I really want to know is what Anne Boleyn did in the sack that was so good it sparked a Reformation.

They flew a minister in from the Cop summit to vote, then put him back on the plane to return  no doubt to give a speech to the Rwandan dictator on the importance of cutting down on carbon.

The Bill passed easily; the PM survives. And MPs asked: What is your plan? What is your plan?! Why, drinks at the bar, of course.

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On Wednesday the 6th of December, the Montgomery Police Department Chief Darryl Albert gave a news conference discussing the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and their joint effort to slow the speeding down on Interstate 85. While I applaud this direction, I would like to ask the chief why this isnt also being done on all the city's main routes.

One cant drive down any of those main streets without being passed by folks doing many miles over the posted speed limit. Weaving from lane to lane, using no signals and passing even in the marked turn lanes seems to be the preferred driving practices in the city. And listening to the radio, the wrecks every day on all those same roads is rather scary.

Living on one of those main streets, I can say that it is posted at 35 and 45 to 55 is the norm, not the exception. With lights every four to six blocks, speeding gets no one farther than the person doing the limit. The speed goes even faster than that after 9 oclock at night as the roar of the cars sounds more like a dragstrip than a city street. And the roar is magnified by the loud exhaust systems that these speeders like as they accelerate, changing gears and shaking the windows.

So chief, how about some traffic speed law enforcement in the city?

Duane Mara, Montgomery

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Letter: Fight speeders on all of Montgomery's streets, not just I-85
MANILA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday said it has approved up to 2.1 billion U.S. dollars in loan for the construction of a 32.15 km bridge connecting Bataan and Cavite provinces across Manila Bay to decongest Metro Manila, enabling greater mobility of labor and goods, and enhance economic productivity in the country's largest region of Luzon.

The ADB said the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB) project, one of the Philippine government's flagship infrastructure projects, will complete the transport loop around Manila Bay and better link Metro Manila to central Luzon and nearby Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon provinces.

The project will help boost economic activity in these areas, which together account for 60 percent of the Southeast Asian country's gross domestic product, according to the bank.

The project will be financed under a multi-tranche financing facility, with the first tranche amounting to 650 million dollars.

According to the ADB, the project will cut travel time between the provinces of Bataan and Cavite to 1.5 hours from 5 hours and to about 2 hours from 4 hours between Bataan and Metro Manila.

The ADB said the traffic decongestion in Metro Manila and the reduced travel time will help lower annual greenhouse gas emissions in the country by an estimated 79,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

The project will construct one of the world's longest marine bridges, including two cable-stayed bridges, 24 km of marine viaducts, and a total 8 km approach road in the two provinces.

"This project will transform the economic landscape of central Luzon, unlock the full potential of Bataan and Cavite for trade, manufacturing, and industrial output, and boost their tourism," said ADB Vice-President for East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Scott Morris. 
Nigel Farage has accused the boss of ITV of wanting to make life quite unpleasant for him on Im a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!

The former Ukip and Brexit Party leader warned Kevin Lygo, ITVs director of television, not to go to war with him, pointing out that the last person to do that, Dame Alison Rose, lost her job as chief executive of NatWest.

Speaking to GB News after leaving the jungle in Australia, Mr Farage, who came third in the reality contest, claimed ITV deliberately censored him, reduced his air time and chose to show him naked.

He said: It seems whilst I was in the jungle, one or two people at the top of ITV were doing their best to make life quite unpleasant for me.

What I will say to Kevin Lygo, the boss of ITV, its up to you mate. If you want to go to war with me, you really can. The last person to do that was Dame Alison Rose, from NatWest bank and look what happened to her.

Come home in a dinghy

Mr Lygo is alleged to have made offensive jokes about Mr Farage at an event in November 2023, when he made reference to a sign language interpreter on stage and said: I dont know any sign language, I just know the sign for Nigel Farage.

He also said: Dont worry, he knows he has to come home from Australia in a dinghy.

Mr Farage, 59, said: I would suggest, Mr Lygo, that I am prepared to ignore your rude, one-handed gestures, the rude pathetic attempts from your staff to stitch me up.

Im prepared to forget all of it if we can call a truce. But if you really, really want to go to war with me, I dont think it will do ITVs share price an awful lot of good.

Earlier this year The Daily Telegraph revealed that Dame Alison had leaked information about Mr Farages Coutts bank account to the BBC after it debanked him, which led to her resignation and a fall of around 840 million in the value of NatWest shares.

Mr Farage is now on his way back to the UK and is expected to arrive in London on Wednesday morning.

He has claimed that after ITV chose to show him showering naked on TV, other male celebrities did the same in order to check themselves for leeches, but that ITV did not show anyone else naked and so he was the only one to attract controversy.

ITV has been contacted for comment.

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A Macon woman died Monday evening after a three-vehicle crash on Mercer University Drive that left four others hurt, according to the Bibb County Sheriffs Office.

The first report of the crash came at about 6 p.m. after a woman driving a Hyundai sedan west on Mercer University Drive near Summer Hill Drive with two passengers in the car swerved over the center median, a sheriffs office news release read.

The car collided with a truck and another sedan traveling in the opposite direction. The driver of the Hyundai, identified as Yeshaya Chantea Dubose, 25, died from her injuries, the news release said. Bibb deputy coroner Richard Robinson declared her dead at a local hospital.

The other two drivers in the crash had minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital. The two Hyundai passengers also went to the hospital, with one passenger still in critical condition Tuesday morning.

Coroner Leon Jones was not at the scene but told the Telegraph that he received several bleak reports about the crash.

I had about five separate people call me telling me how bad of a crash it was, Jones said. It was a bad scene.

Further details about the crash were unclear in the news release. The sheriffs office said more details would become available later.
(Bloomberg) -- French President Emmanuel Macrons government will ask a cross-party group of lawmakers to revise his immigration bill after he suffered a major blow in parliament.

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The committee will be made up of seven senators and seven National Assembly members, chosen in proportion to party representation. If they reach a compromise, this will be put to a vote in both houses.

Lawmakers from the far-left to the far-right voted to stop Macrons draft law from reaching the floor for debate on Monday, highlighting his inability to build coalitions to push through his reform agenda after losing his majority in elections last year.

Dont throw the baby out with the bathwater, theres a path for this text, government spokesman Olivier Veran told reporters following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Our ambition is to fight illegal immigration, create a framework for economic immigration, and better integrate those who are meant to stay here.

Asked about calls from the far-right National Rally party to dissolve parliament given the failure to form a coalition around the bill, Veran rejected the idea. He called on parties to compromise, adding: Everyone must take a step toward each other.

Proposed by a Green lawmaker, Mondays so-called motion to dismiss passed by 270 votes to 265. Five members of the presidents Renaissance party chose not to block it.

Key to securing enough votes to shoot it down were the conservative Republicains, yet 40 of their 62 lawmakers supported it. Their leader, Eric Ciotti, slammed Macrons bill after the vote.

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Richard Harris

Dec. 12, 2023



OPINION, Dec. 12, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is submitted by Richard Harris, Executive Director of the Truth & Liberty Coalition:

A new bigoted slur from Democrats has hit the scene. With the pejorative label of "Christian Nationalist," leftists hope to delegitimize and disenfranchise Christians who advocate for public morality, free speech, family values, and the right to life. By linking Christianity and "nationalism" in one phrase, they are cleverly conjuring a blended image of Nazi-esque tyranny and government-imposed religion. The slur is usually accompanied by false accusations that Christians want to create a "theocracy" and "force" their religion on others.



A particularly shocking and shameful instance of this bigotry occurred a few days ago when Democratic commentator James Carville said on the Bill Maher show that "Christian Nationalists" are more dangerous than Al-Qaeda. Think of it, Bible-believing, patriotic Christians are more of a threat to this nation than the Islamic jihadis who slaughtered more than 3,000 innocent Americans on 9/11.



The real threat to our republic is not biblical Christianity, but the tyrannical thinking of the left that has spread through the nation like a cancer. A thought system that will say that over 100 million Americans should be disqualified from participation in public life and treated as a national security threat, simply because they believe the teachings of the Bible, is the real threat to freedom! In America, every person, atheist and Christian alike, has the right to peacefully participate in our free republican processes according to his personal convictions.



People like James Carville have forgotten that our nation's commitment to freedom came from the teachings of the Bible. Our national birth certificate, the Declaration of Independence, refers to God five separate times, stating that God is our creator, that He gave us unalienable rights, and that He has woven his unalterable moral law into nature.



Many Presidents have acknowledged the biblical origins of our national commitment to freedom. Andrew Jackson said, "The Bible is the rock on which our republic rests." Ronald Reagan stated,

"Of the many influences that have shaped the United States of America into a distinctive Nation and people, none may be said to be more fundamental and enduring than the Bible ...The Bible and its teachings helped form the basis of the Founding Fathers' abiding belief in the inalienable right of the individual  rights which they found implicit in the Bible's teaching of the inherent worth and dignity of the individual."

Cornell University professor, Clinton Rossiter, in his book "Seedtime of the Republic," identified six individuals as the most influential thought leaders of America's Founding Era. Four of those men were ministers of the Gospel, like Rev. John Wise, whose sermons articulated the core ideas of the Declaration, including God-given unalienable rights, the consent of the governed and the equality of man.



The "Christian Nationalist" smear from modern Leftists is the latest manifestation of the same radical secularism that gave rise to the communist revolutions in Russia and China that resulted in the death, torture and imprisonment of countless millions.



Carville's thinking contradicts both the teachings of Christ and our history as a nation. Jesus said we are to be the "salt of the earth" and "the light of the world." He commanded his followers to "Go and teach all nations" and to "let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to God." (Matthew 28:19 and 5:14-16)



Our founders recognized that religion and morality are essential to the success of the Republic. In his Farewell Address, President Washington counseled the nation,

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness. ... The mere politician equally with the pious man ought to respect and to cherish them."

Participation in the public square is not only a Christian's unalienable right, but also his sacred duty. John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, an author of the Federalist Papers and a signer of the Declaration, stated,

"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

"Christian Nationalism," then, is Marxist demagoguery designed to instill un-American bigotry against a massive segment of our nation who are exercising their unalienable rights. Americans today should utterly reject this latest tactic of the radical left and hold fast to the principles on which the nation was built.
(Bloomberg) -- French lawmakers rejected Emmanuel Macrons plan to overhaul immigration in a blow to the presidents reform agenda that underscores his inability to build coalitions to pass key legislation.

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Members of the lower house from the far-left to the far-right voted to back a so-called motion to dismiss on Monday, a parliamentary tool designed to stop a draft law from reaching the floor for debate.

Proposed by a Green lawmaker, it passed by 270 votes to 265. Five members of the presidents Renaissance party chose not to block it.

Macron is trying to give new impetus to his economic reform agenda with a bill that both seeks to facilitate the expulsion of migrants present in France illegally and create a path to legal status for undocumented workers in sectors that struggle to recruit.

Yet he has failed to build a coalition to support the text after losing his majority in the National Assembly in elections last year, in a sign that he will struggle to push through legislation in the last 3 1/2 years of his final mandate.

The government tried to please everyone and by doing that, in the end, they pleased no one, said Antonio Barroso, deputy director of research at political advisory firm Teneo. This is quintessential Macron, but this time, it just doesnt work.

The president had given Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who is seen as a potential successor in 2027, the task of building a majority to back the immigration bill.

Speaking on TF1 television, Darmanin acknowledged a failure. He said Macron had refused his offer of resignation and asked for proposals to be made on Tuesday on how to proceed with the bill.

The governments options include revisiting the version proposed by the Senate or summoning a committee of lawmakers to strike an agreement.

Key to securing enough votes were the conservative Republicains, but 40 of their 62 lawmakers supported the motion to dismiss. Their leader, Eric Ciotti, slammed Macrons proposal after the vote.

We want a bill that actually responds to the challenges of migration, he told reporters. We want a very clear commitment for a constitutional reform. The migration challenge cant bear half-measures.

Tougher Proposals

He called on the president to adopt proposals made by the Senate, which is controlled by the Republicains, to toughen the bill before bringing it back again for debate. These include limiting access to healthcare and emergency housing for migrants.

The most contentious point for parties on the right was a provision to give renewable one-year permits to some undocumented workers. France relies on migrants to help keep its hotels and restaurants running, as well as its construction, care and transport sectors.

One in 10 jobs in France is filled by an immigrant, according to a 2021 government study, including more than one-in-five cooks, close to two-fifths of domestic staff and 27% of low-skilled construction workers. At 15%, the unemployment rate among migrants is just over double that of the population with no immigrant background.

On the left, Socialist lawmaker Boris Vallaud denounced what he called a law to police foreigners. Mathilde Panot, who leads far-left group France Unbowed at the National Assembly, said Darmanin must go.

Marine Le Pen, who leads the far-right National Rally at the lower house, said she would push for an alternative bill to make it easier to expel what she calls foreign delinquents from France.

This government thinks of politics as a rodeo: remaining on the horse even when you dont know where youre going, she said after the vote. But this is an extremely powerful disavowal.

Macrons party had forgotten that it had no majority, she added. Tonight, it realized that its in the minority.

(Updates with interior minister comment in eighth paragraph.)

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A total of 58% of Ukrainians believe that their country should continue fighting against Russia even if there is a significant reduction in Western military aid, according to a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), published on Dec. 12.

The survey, conducted from Nov. 29 to Dec. 9, found that 87% of Ukrainians believe that with proper help from the West, the country can defeat Russia.

An absolute majority in all Ukrainian oblasts believes that with proper Western support, Ukraine can defeat Russia, with 79% in the east and 85% in the south holding this position.

However, every third respondent (32%) believes that it is better to agree to a ceasefire under the condition of serious security guarantees from the West, even if the liberation of the occupied territories takes an indefinite period of time to achieve. The remaining 10% were undecided.

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There are regional differences egarding what to do if Western aid is reduced. In western and central Ukraine, more respondents (64% and 65%) support continuing hostilities, while a quarter expressed support for a ceasefire.

Opinions were divided roughly in half in the south and east, with only a slight plurality in favor of continuing hostilities. In the south  46%, and in the east, 47%  believe that even with limited Western assistance, hostilities should continue. Meanwhile, 40% and 42% are ready to end hostilities respectively.

Read also: Almost half of Americans view US aid to Ukraine as either supportive or insufficient  poll

The $106 billion bill for funding assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan failed to pass a procedural vote in the U.S. Senate on Dec. 6 due to Republican demands for a stricter immigration policy.

Ahead of the vote, President Biden urged Congress to promptly approve the aid package for Ukraine to prevent the need for U.S. troops to engage directly in combat against the Russians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the United States on Dec. 11 to meet President Biden and Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell have invited Zelenskyy to speak before the Senate on Dec. 12.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
FILE - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attends the East Asia Summit at the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 7, 2023. Marking his first anniversary of coming to power, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar admitted he was still struggling to win over ethnic Malay votes and acknowledged frustration over the slow pace of reforms. But he defended his unity government, saying it is now politically stable and able to fully focus on bolstering the economy and improving the people's welfare. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Pool Photo via AP, File)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)  Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim appointed a technocrat as second finance minister on Tuesday in a Cabinet shuffle aimed at strengthening his administration and winning public trust a year after taking power.

The shuffle was widely expected and expanded the number of portfolios with the appointment of five new ministers. Anwar said the changes were needed to meet current demands and cope with global trends, including the growing impact of artificial intelligence.

Anwar, who appointed himself as finance minister after taking office last year, revived the post of second finance minister and named the head of the country's largest pension fund, Amir Hamzah Azizan, to the portfolio in a move that could ease criticism of the prime minister.

While he still heads the Finance Ministry, Anwar said having a professional team will ensure we are on right track and can focus on the economy."

Several key ministers swapped portfolios. Mohamad Hasan, deputy president of the United Malay National Organization or UMNO party, moved from defense to foreign minister. Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof shifted from commodities to a newly created energy transition and public utilities portfolio.

Dzulkefly Ahmad made a comeback as health minister, while Gobind Singh Deo, another experienced lawmaker, is the new digital minister, a new portfolio created to improve government outreach on social media. The human resources minister was replaced after a graft case involving his aides.

Anwar said the return of Dzulkefly, a popular former health minister, would help resolve deep-seated issues regarding health care. His experience is needed. I believe he can offer greater focus in the ministry, the prime minister said.

Anwar said a 20% pay cut for ministers would be maintained, and he would continue not taking a salary as prime minister. He said the current lineup should remain for the next four years if they perform well.

The Prime Minister's Office said there are now 31 ministers, up from 28 previously, and the total Cabinet size has expanded from 55 to 60.

Anwar, 76, was a long-time opposition leader who clinched victory in last year's general election. Before Anwar, Malaysia had four prime ministers since 2018.

His unity government includes former rival UMNO and several other smaller parties. While it holds a majority in Parliament, it faces a strong Islamic opposition and trust issues with ethnic Malay voters who view his government as too liberal and fear their interests may be sidelined.

Analysts say Anwar faces growing public distrust over an economic slowdown, a weak currency and worsening race relations.
A teenager from Columbia was killed Monday in Lexington County in a late night shooting, the Cayce Police Department said.

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher identified the deceased as 19-year-old Travis Antwan Fuller, Jr.

At about 11 p.m., police responded to a call about a shooting at the Abbott Arms Apartments, police said Tuesday in a news release. Thats on Wilkinson Street, in the area between U.S. 321 and Frink Street.

Fuller was shot in the upper body and was taken to an area hospital where he died, Fisher said.

No other injuries were reported.

There was no word on a shooter, or shooters, or a motive for the gunfire.

No arrests have been reported in the shootings, which continues to be investigated by police who said officers are interviewing witnesses and processing the crime scene.

An autopsy has been scheduled for December 13, 2023, at MUSC in Charleston, according to the coroners office.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call police at 803-794-0456, CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC, or submit an online tip.
WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH)  Video captured Sunday night showed Westerville police officers beating and tasing a suspect in a theft involving Pokemon cards.

The incident began at 10:28 p.m. when an employee at the Meijer at 100 Polaris Parkway reported a theft in progress, according to a redacted Westerville Division of Police report. The suspect, 35-year-old Ernest Fields, was accused of bagging up $679.59 worth of Pokemon cards, trying to remove security tags on the products and ignoring a managers attempt to stop him from leaving the store.

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After exiting the Meijer, the manager told Westerville police that Fields got in the front passenger seat of a red Chevrolet Impala in the parking lot, according to the report. An officer whose name was redacted from the report then notified other responding police that he had found the suspect.

Ernest Fields mugshot, which shows injuries to his face after his arrest. (Courtesy Photo/Delaware County Sheriffs Office)

Officers identified by last names Williams and Mueller both wrote in their reports that as they arrived at the Meijer, Fields had gotten out of the car and was running from the unnamed officer. They also noted that cameras at the store recorded that Fields began fighting with the officer, pushing him and attempting to take him down.

Mueller noted that as he arrived at the scene, the officer had gotten on top of Fields and the suspect was actively resisting being placed in handcuffs. However, the video of the incident  captured by an off-duty employee of Nexstar Media Group, Inc., the parent company of NBC4  begins in these moments and showed that officer repeatedly punched Fields in the head while Fields tried to cover himself with his hands.

WARNING: The following video contains footage that some may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

Fields was heard repeatedly shouting that he was sorry in the video. Other officers then arrived and assisted in pinning him. Muellers report said he ordered the suspect several times  to place his hands behind his back, turn onto his stomach, and to stop resisting, but noted Fields continued actively resisting our attempts to secure his hands by pulling his arms under his body and trying to roll over.

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The video showed that as the group asked him to roll over on his stomach, one officer got up and retrieved a taser from the ground. The officer was heard tasing Fields in the video, and the suspect could be heard yelling in pain.

Neither the unnamed officer punching Fields repeatedly in the head, nor another officer tasing the suspect  both captured on video  are mentioned in the unredacted portion of the Westerville police report. Instead, Mueller noted that he was eventually able to gain control of the suspects right arm and hold it behind his back while Officer Sheumaker gained control of the suspects left arm and placed it behind his back. Williams added that Fields sustained injuries during his arrest and was transported to St. Anns Hospital for treatment.

The officers said they retrieved the Pokemon cards, as well as suspected drugs, from the Impala. Williams and Mueller documented that they suffered scrapes or cuts on their hands, while the unnamed officer received a cut on his finger and swelling on his wrist during the arrest. Fields mugshot from the arrest showed he suffered a black eye, as well as other bruising and cuts to his face and head.

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Acting President of the Fraternal Order of Police Brian Steel said the video shows a snippet of the incident and all of the facts still need to come out.

Westerville is one of the most professionally well-led departments in the Fraternal Order of Police, he said. We know that they will give this a thorough review. If there was wrongdoing and some kind of policy violation, the officer will be held accountable. Initially watching it, my training experience, it looks like a good arrest all day long.

The organizing director of Ohio Families Unite for Political Action and Change (OFUPAC) said it is disturbing how the video and the police report seem to differ.

Its really important that departments use of force policy be very public and that they hold themselves to that standard in a very public manner, OFUPAC Organizing Director Cori Elaine Schleiffer said. Our organization continually works on issues of transparency and accountability.

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Fields was charged with felony assault after his arrest, according to Delaware County Common Pleas Court records. He was not facing any theft charges as of Monday afternoon. A separate case in Franklin County Common Pleas Court showed Fields had pleaded guilty to a May 2021 arson, but did not show up for his sentencing date. The last activity in the case record showed the court had issued a warrant for his arrest in November.

I think one of the things that stands out to me in the narrative that the police are sharing is that there might have been substance use involved in this case, and everybody who works around behavioral health knows that care is always the number one and best response, Schleiffer said. Someone whos going through withdrawal, someone whos going through addiction, violence is never the answer for anyone.

Steel said officers must be ready to use necessary force because they are never sure what situation they are going into.

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If you take an officer to the ground again, you are now taking them down for what reason? he said. Youre not fleeing. Youre actively assaulting, and thats how people end up getting shocked.

NBC4 reached out to Westerville police for comment, who said their chief was unavailable Monday and had yet to review the report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
A man linked to the Montgomery, Alabama, brawl that took social media by storm over the summer pleaded guilty on Monday but wont do jail time if conditions are met.

Reggie Ray, accused of being the man swinging the white folding chair in one widely circulated video that has been the center of memes online, has pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. The 42-year-old was given a 90-day suspended sentence, according to AL.com, and must complete 50 hours of community service. He will also have to pay $357 in fees.

Reggie Ray hits man with folding chair until police officer grabs it. (Twitter video screen grab/@62cinmar)

It comes after Allen Todd and Zachary Shipman pleaded guilty to harassment last week. They were initially charged with third-degree assault for their role in the physical dispute at Riverfront Park on Aug. 5. During their court appearance, they were handed a 60-day suspended sentence in addition to 12 months of probation.

The duo were ordered to go to an anger management course and complete 100 hours of community service, WSFA reported. They were also mandated to pay a $100 fine.

Footage of the brawl shows a melee that broke out over a dock space involving the Harriott II Riverboat at the popular attraction site. The co-captain, Dameion Pickett, was beaten to the ground by white boaters who refused to move their wrongfully docked boat. His 16-year-old colleague and other Black men can be seen coming to his defense.

Local officials like Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed denounced the attack and reassured the public that justice will be served. Multiple people were punished, including Richard Roberts, who pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor assault charges in October and was given a four-month suspended sentence. He apologized to Pickett in court.

Additionally, Mary Todd pleaded guilty to harassment and, similar to others, was ordered to complete anger management.

Last month, social media was in shambles when it was revealed Pickett was charged with third-degree assault. However, according to WSFA, it was dismissed. He previously told ABC that the whole debacle was shocking.

I didnt expect this to happen at work today, Pickett added. I was just expecting another peaceful, nice cruise.
A man accused of firing a shotgun into the air outside of an Albany, New York, synagogue before Hanukkah observance last week has been charged with a second firearms offense, federal prosecutors announced.

Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 28, is now facing a charge of conspiracy to make a false statement during the purchase of a firearm in addition to the initial charge of possessing a firearm as a prohibited person, the US Attorneys Office for the Northern District of New York said Monday.

Investigators believe Alkhader fired twice outside Temple Israel in Albany on December 7. He was arrested later that day and told police during an interview that events in the Middle East have impacted him and that he regularly uses marijuana, according to a criminal complaint.

Prosecutors used that statement, in part, to support the initial charge, arguing that Alkhader possessed a firearm while unlawfully using a controlled substance.

In a statement announcing the new charge Monday, prosecutors said Alkhader obtained the shotgun used outside the synagogue by giving money to a friend, who lied on a federal form while purchasing the gun weeks before the incident.

The friend allegedly checked a Yes box in response to a question asking him whether he was buying the gun for himself and warning him that it was federal crime to buy a firearm, from a licensed firearms dealer, for another person, prosecutors said.

Alkhader didnt try to purchase the shotgun himself because he believed he was potentially ineligible to purchase a firearm due to a prior order of protection or restraining order, according to the attorneys office.

Earlier, authorities said in a complaint that the shotgun was manufactured outside the state and has therefore traveled in interstate commerce.

CNN has sought comment from attorney Timothy Austin, who represented Alkhader at his first court appearance.

The incident outside the synagogue happened in the midst of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East, which has led many Jews, Muslims, Palestinians and others in the US to say they are growing more fearful of hate-motivated attacks.

As the war stretches on, tensions have also been mounting in the US, highlighted by cases like the death of a Jewish protester during a rally in Southern California and the shooting of three Palestinian college students in Vermont.

CNNs Polo Sandoval and Kristina Sgueglia contributed to this alert.

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King County will pay $225,000 to settle a civil rights lawsuit brought by a Black man who was arrested on drug charges after a veteran detective made false statements to obtain a search warrant, including misidentifying him in a photo.

Detective Kathleen Decker, a now-retired 33-year veteran of the King County Sheriffs Office, was looking for a murder weapon when she asked a Washington state judge for a warrant to search the car and apartment of Seattle resident Gizachew Wondie in 2018. At the time, federal agents were separately looking into Wondies possible involvement in selling drugs.

Wondie was not a suspect in the homicide, but Deckers search warrant application said a gun he owned was the same weapon that had been used to kill a 22-year-old woman a few months earlier.

In reality, the gun was only a potential match and further testing was required to prove it. Further, Decker, who is white, falsely claimed that a different Black man pictured in an Instagram photo holding a gun was Wondie, and that Wondie had a propensity for violence, when he had never been accused of a violent crime.

Decker also omitted information from her search warrant application that suggested Wondie no longer possessed the gun she was looking for. During a federal court hearing about the warrants validity, she acknowledged some of her statements were incorrect or exaggerated, but she said she did not deliberately mislead the judge who issued the warrant.

The false and incomplete statements later forced federal prosecutors to drop drug charges against Wondie. A federal judge called her statements reckless conduct, if not intentional acts.

Detectives need to be truthful, complete, and transparent in their testimony to judges reviewing search warrant applications, Wondies attorney, Dan Fiorito, said in an emailed statement Tuesday. Incorrectly portraying Mr. Wondie as a violent gang member based on an inept cross-racial identification, and exaggerating ballistics evidence to tie him to a crime he was not involved in, was reckless and a complete violation of his rights.

The King County Sheriffs Office did not immediately return an email seeking comment. The county did not admit liability as part of the settlement.

Two days after the judge issued the warrant, Decker had a SWAT team confront Wondie as he parked his car near Seattle Central College, where he was studying computer science. The SWAT team arrested Wondie and found drugs on him.

Investigators then questioned Wondie and learned he had another apartment, where using another search warrant they found 11,000 Xanax pills, 171 grams of cocaine, a pill press and other evidence of drug dealing.

Wondies defense attorneys successfully argued that without the false statements used for the first warrant, authorities would not have had probable cause to arrest Wondie or learn of the second apartment. U.S. District Judge Richard Jones threw out the evidence in the federal case, and prosecutors dropped those charges.

Decker was the sheriffs office detective of the year in 2018. The department called her an outright legend in a Facebook post marking her 2020 retirement.
A New Hampshire man was arrested last weekend after he allegedly threatened to kill Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and his political supporters.

Justice Department officials claim Tyler Anderson, 30, received a text message from the Ramaswamy campaign last week. He allegedly replied to it with violent threats, writing: Great, another opportunity for me to blow his brains out! and Im going to kill everyone who attends and then f*** their corpses.

Authorities arrested Anderson on Saturday after federal agents tracked the texts to his phone and his home address, The New York Times reported. A court filing says they recovered multiple firearms and copies of the text messages from a deleted folder on Andersons phone.

Court documents say Anderson admitted to sending the threats in an interview with an FBI agent after his arrest, adding he sent similar texts to other campaigns, according to the Times.

If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Im grateful to the people on the front lines who work hard every day to make sure people like me and other Americans are kept safe, Ramaswamy told reporters after the arrest.

We are grateful to law enforcement for their swiftness and professionalism in handling this matter and pray for the safety of all Americans. @VivekGRamaswamy in Nashua, New Hampshire. pic.twitter.com/gBqOzDl5YE  Stefan Mychajliw (@StefanMychajliw) December 11, 2023

We are grateful to law enforcement for their swiftness and professionalism in handling this matter, Tricia McLaughlin, a Ramaswamy spokesperson, told multiplemedia outlets. We constantly hear about Jan. 6 and violence and extremism on the right from the media, but the same media goes silent when the target is a Republican.

McLaughlin went on to blame deranged voices and left-wing cranks for attacking Republicans.

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(CNN)  In a snapshot of the current state of award shows, the Golden Globe nominations are still pretty stupid, and with the nominations for Barbie and Taylor Swift, the Oscars could still learn a thing or two from them.

The Globes have undergone a makeover in terms of ownership, who comprises its voting body and even its TV home, shifting to CBS after scandal about the makeup of its membership and alleged ethical lapses caused the 80-year-old awards to lose support from Hollywood and their broadcast deal with NBC.

Yet whoevers pulling the strings, the Globes have seemingly recognized a bit of logic the Academy Awards would be well advised to heed: Dont ignore your most popular movies.

Whether a byproduct of merit or planning (and there was clearly some of the latter), the Globes showered the most nominations on two of the years biggest box-office hits, Barbie and Oppenheimer, with nine and eight bids, respectively. The awards also introduced a category specifically for popular movies, throwing Swifts The Eras Tour, which broke box-office records for a concert film, and the fourth John Wick movie into that mix.

Granted, with its eclectic mix of categories and the advantage of splitting its top film and acting prizes into two brackets, drama and musical/comedy, Globes voters were still able to incorporate small and quirky movies into their choices.

In keeping with tradition, the group also maintained its longstanding preference toward nominating identifiable stars, which might explain why Jennifer Lawrence crept in for the comedy No Hard Feelings, and the somewhat inexplicable decision to categorize Netflixs May December as a comedy while nominating Natalie Portman for that film.

Still, the Globes have seemingly embraced, consciously or not, the reality that if award-show producers and broadcasters want people to watch these events amid declining ratings across the board, more viewers need some kind of rooting interest  a connection to a few of the nominees that involves having actually seen them.

The Academy Awards, notably, did flirt with its own popular film category a few years ago before scrubbing the idea, which was portrayed as an act of pandering that would essentially dilute the Oscars value and prestige. The hope was that some popular movies would find a way into the awards more organically.

The track record of that has been at best mixed, and certainly some of the entities seen as influencing Oscar voters  beginning with critics groups  havent become any less esoteric about the films they tend to prefer, which these days generally wind up being consumed at home via streaming services, not in theaters.

The push and pull of that can be seen in this years Globes nominations as well, with Netflix leading the pack of distributors in terms of film nominations and multiple nods to other streamers, like Amazon and Apple TV+, reflecting a hunger for prestige and industry validation by those services that goes beyond just dollars-and-cents considerations.

The bottom line is the many people who flocked to Barbenheimer this summer wont be disappointed if they tune into the Golden Globes looking to see those movies represented.

That doesnt erase the Globes past problems, or resolve the litany of factors that have depressed viewing of award shows, including the ready availability of clips that spare people from sitting through these hours-long presentations.

As a practical matter, though, award shows dismiss the end users of what they offer at their commercial peril. And from that narrow perspective, the real trick is as much about who you invite to the party as it is who ultimately takes home the party favors.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "With Barbie and Taylor Swift, the Golden Globes send a message to the Oscars"
A man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a Catholic priest who was assaulted at his church in Nebraska on Sunday, reported the Associated Press. The suspect was also charged with burglary and two weapons charges, according to an affidavit obtained by the AP.

Father Stephen Gutgsell, a priest at St. John the Baptist Church in Fort Calhoun, was attacked at the church's rectory. He called 911 and authorities arrived at around 5:00 a.m.

Father Stephen Gutgsell / Credit: Archdiocese of Omaha

Police found Gutgsell bleeding from stab wounds on his face and body, lying in the rectory kitchen with the suspect, Kierre L. Williams, on top of him. He was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he later died from his wounds. He was 65, according to local media.

The murder weapon was found nearby in a separate bedroom.

According to the affidavit, Deputy Brady Tucker said that when he arrived at the residence, he found that the door had been forced open. After he identified himself with the Sheriff's Office, he heard someone call from the kitchen: "Help me," and identified that "an intruder" was in the home.

Williams was arrested and transported to a county correctional facility.

It is still not clear whether the suspect had any relationship to Gutgsell, but the affidavit said the "killing was premeditated and done deliberately during a burglary."

Williams is not from Fort Calhoun; he lived 75 miles away in Sioux City, Nebraska.

According to Tucker, he learned shortly after taking Williams into custody that he was a convicted felon with multiple warrants against him in other states.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Jamestown man is facing multiple felony charges after a victim was airlifted to a hospitals trauma center Monday night with apparent stab wounds, Jamestown police said.

Police responded to a call in an apartment on the citys north side at around 7:50 p.m. and found a male victim on the floor with stab wounds to the chest. The victim was treated on scene before being transported and flown to another hospital.

Police located and arrested 27-year-old suspect Askiaa Faison shortly after the alleged stabbing.

Woman gets time served, probation for stabbing ex-boyfriend at Cheektowaga Burger King

Faison is charged with felony assault in the first-degree and felony criminal possession of a weapon. Faison was also hit with a misdemeanor after officers found a small amount of fentanyl in his possession.

Faison was charged five years ago with first-degree assault in connection with a stabbing in Jamestowns Baker Park, police confirmed.

Faison was arraigned Tuesday and is behind bars at the Chautauqua County Jail.

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Justin McMullen is a Western New York native who joined the News 4 team in 2023. You can read more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
Phoenix police were investigating a stabbing in east Phoenix that left one man dead.

Around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, police responded to Oak and 32nd Streets, south of Thomas Road. When they arrived, they found an adult man, later identified as 44-year-old Amador Vasquez, with at least one stab wound.

Vasquez was taken to a hospital where he later died, police said.

Detectives took over the investigation. There were no arrests as of Monday afternoon.

Anyone with information was asked to call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO and provide an anonymous tip. Police said rewards would be paid for information that led to an arrest in the case.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Amador Vasquez fatally stabbed in Phoenix
NORTH LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM)  One person has died after police say a head-on collision occurred in Lebanon County during the morning hours of Monday, Dec. 11.

According to North Londonderry Township Police, officers responded to an accident on Gravel Hill Road at Bindnagles Road at 8:27 a.m.

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Police said that a man from Palmyra was driving north on Gravel Hill Road when a southbound vehicle crossed into the lane and struck the mans vehicle head-on. The man died due to the crash, according to officers.

The Lebanon County Accident Reconstriction Team assists the North Londonderry Township Police Department with the investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call police at 717-838-5276.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 12)  Miss Universe 2010 4th runner-up Venus Raj has entered a major chapter in her life as she married her non-showbiz partner on Tuesday.

"Today is the day that the Lord has made," she wrote on Instagram.

The former beauty queen did not name her partner whom she described as a "man of God."

Raj, a devout Christian, said in her previous social media post that "the right time has finally come."

"For eight years, God allowed me to be single. Since I have fully surrendered my life to Jesus, I have never entered into a romantic relationship. I asked Him to protect my heart and to keep it until the right man comes," she said on Instagram last Dec. 10.

"In the process, I have devoted my single years in serving the Lord, serving communities, and serving my family," she added. "God is indeed the giver of good gifts, He knows His timeline for my life, and the right time has finally come."

Moreover, Raj encouraged single people to keep on praying.

"If you are still single and praying to the Lord for marriage, please know that God hears your prayers and He knows the desires of your heart," she said. "The answer might be wait, yes, or no, but one thing is for sure, He knows what's best for you. Trust His process."
A man and woman were found shot to death at a Texas home after a friend arrived to give the man a ride to work, officials said.

When the friend showed up outside the home  roughly 50 miles north of Houston  he noticed the front door was open, the release from the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office said.

Deputies responded to the scene in Montgomery County at 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 11, after the friend called 911 from a neighbors house, the sheriffs office said.

The victims, 24-year-old Arazeli Ruiz and Fernando Fernandez, 31, suffered gunshot wounds, investigators said.

But Ruiz and Ferndandez were not alone in the home, investigators said, adding that children were also inside but unharmed, KTRK reported. The kids have been turned over to family members, authorities said.

The children were 2 and 5 years old, officials told KPRC.

An investigation is underway, the sheriffs office said.

Child playing online game dies by suicide in Texas, and Michigan boy charged, cops say

Grandmother intentionally shoots 6-month-old grandchild in head, Ohio cops say

Woman attacks Uber driver then is kicked out and hit by another vehicle, Texas cops say

Woman stabbed then dumped in pasture is found alive, Texas cops say. Man arrested
The Texas A&M University System approved Tuesday Gen. Mark A. Welsh III to become permanent president of the system's flagship university. Credit: Meredith Seaver for The Texas Tribune

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has unanimously approved Gen. Mark Welsh III as the 27th president of Texas A&M University, a little more than four months after he was named interim president of the flagship university following the former presidents resignation over a hiring scandal.

The board met for nearly two hours in executive session Tuesday morning before giving Chancellor John Sharp permission to negotiate a contract with Welsh, who will have a starting annual salary of $1.1 million, according to the system.

Board Chair Bill Mahomes said regents feel strongly that Welsh will make a Texas-sized impact as president.

His remarkable career embodies Aggie core values, he said in a press release. Now his mission is to raise Texas A&M's national stature in research, education and student experience.

After the board vote, Welsh thanked the regents for their confidence in his ability to lead the university of more than 77,000 students.

"I just promise I will do everything in my power not to let you down," he said. "More importantly, not to let down this remarkable university that I've loved for a long time. It's a big deal for me."

The board named Welsh the sole finalist for the job on Nov. 17 after Sharp recommended the system make him permanent president.

In his first few weeks as Interim President, General Welsh has moved quickly and decisively to reach out to all the stakeholders who hold Texas A&M University dear and near to their hearts, Sharp said in a press release. We are lucky to have such an experienced leader in our midst who supports our Aggie core values.

Welsh, who previously was dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, has served as university president in an interim role since July. Former President M. Katherine Banks resigned that month after The Texas Tribune reported that the school had watered down its job offer to journalism professor Kathleen McElroy, a Black journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin, after some board members raised concerns about her perceived liberal leanings. McElroy ultimately turned down the job, saying she felt judged because of her race and gender, and settled with the system for $1 million after the hiring fiasco.

An internal investigation found Banks was heavily involved in discussions about making changes to McElroys offer, contradicting her earlier claims that she was unaware of them.

Around that time, the Tribune also reported that the school placed a pharmacology professor on paid leave hours after she was accused by a politically connected student of criticizing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during a lecture, sparking concerns of political interference in university operations and threats to facultys academic freedom.

Sharp said in July that Welsh would serve as interim president until the system could conduct a national search for Banks replacement.

Over the past four months, Welsh has been on a nonstop tour to rebuild trust in university leadership, which had eroded over the past few years under Banks.

[Texas A&M Board of Regents names Mark Welsh III sole finalist for president]

He immediately assembled a group of administrators to review one of the major sticking points of the Banks administration: The Path Forward, a set of 41 changes Banks initiated across the university that reorganized administrative offices, merged certain colleges, centralized services and added new academic programs.

Faculty and staff largely criticized the changes as poorly conceived and hastily executed, causing confusion among students and employees, and negatively affecting morale.

Welsh gathered the feedback from more than 100 listening sessions on campus and spent one morning in October taking questions from hundreds of employees and students, explaining why he was keeping some of Banks plans and changing others.

While some faculty wanted regents to commit to a national search and guarantee more room for faculty feedback in the hiring process, many professors and students agreed with the decision to appoint Welsh as permanent president.

We're in a very unique place right now in terms of the university, Faculty Senate President Tracy Hammond told the Tribune last month. There are a lot of things the university needs to be doing to make it more sustainable, provide us [with] more structure. And we're in a very unique time. So, I understand the need for having a permanent president sooner rather than later.

Welsh, who graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1976, had a more than four-decade career in the Air Force before retiring from military service in 2016.

Welsh served as a command pilot, then in various roles like training commander and adviser to the director of the Central Intelligence Agency on military issues. He served as commander of NATOs Air Command and was the 34th Commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe before heading to Washington, D.C., where President Barack Obama appointed him Chief of Staff of the Air Force and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2012. He moved to College Station to serve as the dean of the Bush School the same year he retired.

The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.

Disclosure: Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University System and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
The two people killed in a plane crash Sunday in northwest Oklahoma City have been identified as a married couple whom colleagues say were "exceptional" and "passionate."

Oklahoma City Fire Department officials said they found an adult male trying to rescue the plane's other passenger from the wreckage, which was engulfed in flames Sunday morning. Employers of Megan Ellis identified her and her husband, Barrett Ellis, as the victims of the crash that occurred at Wiley Post Airport near Wilshire Boulevard and Council Road.

Megan was pronounced dead at the scene, while Barrett later died at the hospital, according to the fire department report. They were both 43 years old.

On its Facebook page, the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center confirmed that Megan and her husband died in the crash. Megan was previously the director of communications for the center, according to LinkedIn.

"Our hearts are with her daughter and others who loved her and are grieving her today," the post said. "During her time at OPSRC, she was a force for good, which was her mission in both her professional and personal life ... Megans light could not be ignored. She gave of her time and energy to make Oklahoma a better place. She contributed so much good in such a short life."

Flight tracking data reveals plane ownership

Aircraft flight tracking data showed a 1968 Beechcraft Musketeer taking off and immediately turning back to land at 10:18 a.m., just before the Oklahoma City Fire Department responded to the crash. The only plane matching that description that took off from Wiley Post Airport on Sunday was registered to Barrett Ellis, according to FAA data.

The plane's tail number also matched photos of a plane Ellis posted on Facebook in October, which he called his family's "new ticket to adventure." Ellis received his pilot's license Oct. 7, according to the post.

"Yesterday I became a pilot, and I'm so proud of myself that I've returned to Facebook to tell you all about it," Ellis said. "This was not an easy thing to do: hours in the cockpit, hours in the books, two examinations, and 13 months of making life work around trips out to the airport. I'm incredibly grateful to my excellent instructor, Scott Dorsey at Route 66 Flight School, and my supportive wife, Megan Brown Ellis."

Flight history showed Ellis' plane also took off from Wiley Post on Saturday, completing a 24-minute flight.

Megan Ellis was 'a force of nature,' colleague says

Megan also served as the executive director for the Sooner Nation Collective, which helps student-athletes get paid for their name, image and likeness while boosting charities.

Pattye Moore, the organization's chairperson, said Megan had dedicated her life to serving others. Megan had two undergraduate degrees from the University of Oklahoma, a master's degree from Boston University and a master's from Harvard.

Moore said Megan was "a force of nature" and "passionate" about her work.

"She was outgoing, she was kind," Moore said. "She was equally at home sitting down with the student-athletes as she was with prospective contributors. And you didn't even have to have met with her but a couple of times to sorely miss her ... The OU family and, actually, Oklahoma, will sorely miss both of them."

A message from Guy Patton, president of the University of Oklahoma Foundation: pic.twitter.com/v9QOAHNgv1  OU Foundation (@OU_foundation_) December 11, 2023

Barrett Ellis was 'a bright spot for everybody'

Barrett received his bachelor's from OU and his law degree from Harvard. Most recently, he was an attorney for the OU Foundation.

Jana Moring, assistant vice president of communications and donor relations for the foundation, said the news of Barrett and Megan's deaths has been "devastating" for his colleagues. "It's been hard to absorb," she said.

"(Barrett) was exceptionally smart, but that never overshadowed his humanness and his kindness and his curiosity about the foundation," Moring said. "He was extremely collegial, and just a bright spot for everybody."

Contributing: Staff writers Nolan Clay and Josh Dulaney

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma City couple killed in Wiley Post plane crash identified
Martha Stewart recently posted on Instagram about making her own dog food  and its started a dogfight, so to speak, in the comments section.

On Dec. 10, the lifestyle icon, dinner party expert and Dunkin fan shared yet another look into her home life to her nearly 2 million followers. In the post, Stewart highlights how she makes food for her two French bulldogs, Creme Brulee and Bete Noire, and two Chow Chows, Emperor Han and Empress Qin.

Today was dog food day!! Although it takes a lot longer than a day to make our type of healthy farm to bowl food that my lovely dogs have gotten used to, Stewart wrote in her Instagram post. Start with the buck deer thats been living here since he found his way in a year ago, (slowly cook the cubed meat until tender) then harvest the old roosters who have been such good friends and make such tasty poached chicken.

Stewart then describes the process of the days food prep: She started by visiting Mt. Kisco Seafood in Westchester, New York for fresh salmon carcasses, which she and her team poached. Then, they cut up and steamed a freshly grown potiron pumpkin until soft. We ate a big bowl of that ourselves, she wrote.

After roasting nine large sweet potatoes, the queen of Thanksgiving boiled carrots in salmon broth along with broccoli, frozen peas and five pounds of quinoa. She finished it all off by combining all the ingredients and coarsely grinding it all up in a food processor.

I did a mental calculation and determined that we would fill 44 quarts, Stewart wrote, adding that she was only off by half a quart. She said they then transferred everything to the freezer and cleaned up.

dogs are very very happy we are very tired !!!!!!!!!! she wrote. Worth it !!

In the past, Stewart has shared how she feeds her dogs on both her Instagram and website, mentioning that adding cooked fish and quinoa to the batch ensures her pups are getting enough protein.

But this time, her post garnered a very divided response, to put it mildly, particularly surrounding the deer and roosters that ended up in the food.

you killed the deer that found its way to your home? and your friends the chickens???? sounds like a real fairty tale over there, commented one Instagram user.

Am I reading this correctly? You killed the buck deer that has been calling your place home for the last year and put him in the dog food? wrote another.

Note to self, dont find my way into @marthastewart48 backyard, joked another.

Im not vegetarian but Im not eating the roosters I call my friends nor the deer living on my property for a year, commented another Instagram user.

What a bizarre way to describe these ingredients lol, another person wrote. Just curious why you went this route, personifying them as friends?

But there were those who came to Stewarts defense, saying that her language shows she is kind to her animals, who lived much better lives than the chickens in the grocery store did.

The irony that people dont understand this is true sustainability. Go Martha! commented one person.

Its called farm to table, not everyone survives on vegetables. Its called farming, wrote another. We have a lot bigger problems going on this world than people farming and raising their own livestock for food and living sustainably. Secondly, dogs need meat and this is absolutely perfect for them.

No matter which side of the debate you fall on, we can all agree that Stewarts dogs are living the good life.

Marthas dogs eat better than most people, one person noted.

In my next life, Im coming back as a Martha Stewart house pet, commented another. Set. For. Life. .

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
CONCORD  State Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Edward Augustus Jr. is touting Gov. Maura Healey's Affordable Housing Act as a way to help low- to middle-income earners find a place to live in MetroWest and elsewhere, as well as provide other solutions to Massachusetts' housing crisis.

In a visit with several Gannett multimedia journalists at the company's Concord office, Augustus said the $4.1 billion bill is designed to increase housing production and for the state to invest in livable communities.

One element of the plan could be a policy initiative that allows cities and towns to make inclusionary zoning rule changes with a simple majority. Augustus said inclusionary zoning can increase opportunities for production and preservation statewide.

Edward Augustus Jr., Massachusetts secretary of housing and livable communities, talks with Gannett reporters from throughout the state at the company's newsroom in Concord, Dec. 7, 2023.

'No rezoning': Framingham residents band together to oppose mixed-use proposal

Inclusionary zoning refers to ordinances that require a certain percentage of housing units in a new housing development (such as an apartment complex) to be designated for affordable housing. In Framingham, for instance, the City Council voted earlier this year to raise the minimum percentage of affordable housing units on future multi-unit housing proposals from 10% to 13%.

"Ten percent, 15%, 20% (of units) would be affordable, then all of the state's programs, with the exception of HDIP (Housing Development Incentive Program), are designed to create affordable housing," Augustus said.

Augustus said the new zoning changes, along with the Affordable Homes Act overall, target moderate- and low-income individuals and focus on "buying affordability, creating new units and affordability, preserving public housing and our other supportive units for the most vulnerable part of our population."

Augustus talks state shelters and migrants

Augustus, who served as Worcester's city manager from 2014-22, also discussed the state's rising homeless population, saying that seeing people stuck in shelters is due to a lack of available permanent housing.

"Shelter is supposed to be brief and temporary," he said. "You want to keep people safe, keep people housed and out of the elements, but you want to ultimately get them into permanent housing that's appropriate for them so they can get on with their lives."

Augustus also discussed the new arrivals of migrants, something MetroWest is no stranger to. Haitian migrants began arriving in Framingham, Marlborough and Northborough in late July, and since then, municipal and state officials have scrambled to provide resources.

"Let me just be clear about that: They're doing what anybody in Massachusetts would do, if they were faced with the same circumstances," Augustus said. "They're coming here, looking for an opportunity and they want to work. That's why the governor's been so aggressive with the federal administration about expediting work authorizations."

The state is hoping to provide expanded shelter capacity, while aggressively working on more permanent housing solutions, he said.

New $4.1 billion to create more affordable housing

The new bill sets aside $1.6 billion for public housing, including $150 million for projects to decarbonize the public housing stock, $100 million for public housing and $15 million for accessibility.

Other funding includes $800 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, including $50 million for MassDreams to create first-time homebuyer opportunities for households in disproportionately impacted communities; $175 million for the HousingWorks Infrastructure Program, funding municipal projects to encourage denser housing development; and $55 million for community-based housing, an initiative to support appropriate housing for people with disabilities who are not clients of the Department of Mental Health and Department of Developmental Services.

Ed Augustus, Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities, talks with reporters from throughout the state, at the Gannett newsroom in Concord, Dec. 7, 2023.

'Without prejudice': Developer withdraws plan to build mixed-use project in Marlborough

The bill also supports accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as of right statewide, similar to what the Framingham City Council passed in October. ADUs are referred to as in-law apartments, due to their common use as homes for older family members who may have difficulty alone but also desire independent space.

The permitting of ADUs has been a long road in Framingham, but it now joins surrounding communities like Sudbury, Wayland and Southborough in allowing for ADU construction.

Along with the funding and policy initiatives, Healey's bill also includes tax credits and three executive orders to create a Housing Advisory Council, unlock housing production commission and to identify surplus public land for housing.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: MA Housing Secretary Augustus touts Healey's Affordable Housing Act
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 12)  The House of Representatives takes another crack at charter change, as the Senate remains on the fence about it.

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Tuesday said the lower chamber can focus on charter change next year, now that it has passed most of the administrations priority bills.

On the eve of the last session day of 2023, he said its time to amend the 1987 Constitution to keep up with changing times.

I believe 2024 will allow us again to revisit the whole issue of the Constitution, Romualdez said. Wed like to focus very much on the economic provisions. But even to get there, we have to look at the procedural aspects of the amendment of the Constitution.

There might be some initiatives here during the break that would prepare us for the ensuing year and perhaps what would be our legacy in the 19th Congress, which is to review and revisit the 1987 Constitution, he added.

Last March, the lower chamber approved Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, which called for the convening of the Senate and the House into a constitutional convention to discuss charter change.

However, the resolution has been in limbo in the Senate.

Now, lawmakers are eyeing a peoples initiative as another route for charter change. A peoples initiative is one of three ways to amend the Constitution, aside from constitutional convention and constituent assembly.

Under Republic Act 6735, or the Initiative and Referendum Act, at least 12% of all registered voters must sign the petition to amend the Constitution. At least 3% of all registered voters in each legislative district must be represented in the petition.

Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. said he is confident that the charter change initiative will be underway before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his State of the Nation Address in July 2024.

Gonzales has a pending bill proposing changes to the term limits of elected officials, including the president and vice president.

"Papaano ka magtatrabaho kung Bagong Pilipinas kung luma yong ating Konstitusyon?" the lawmaker said.

"Kaya thats our objective: our objective is Bagong Konstitusyon ng Bagong Pilipinas, he added, referring to the new brand of governance adopted by the Marcos administration.

[Translation: How will you work for the New Philippines if the Constitution is old? That's why our objective is: New Constitution of the New Philippines.]

The group Bayan Muna, meanwhile, believes charter change will not solve the countrys problems.

Ang ating kahirapan ay hindi nagmula sa Konstitusyon, kaya ang pag-amyenda dito ay hindi solusyon," said Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares.

"Kung hindi maresolba ang korapsyon, kawalan ng lupa at suporta sa magsasaka, at kontraktwalisasyon, hindi tayo uunlad kahit sampung beses pa sila mag Cha-cha taun-taon, his statement further read.

[Translation: Our problems did not spring from the Constitution, so amending it wouldnt be the solution. If corruption cant be stopped, we will not progress even if there are 10 charter changes yearly.]
As Hollywood siren Marilyn Monroe once cooed in her legendary film song, diamonds are still a girls best friend in Massachusetts.

The gem is the most popular gemstone in the Bay State this Christmas, followed by pearls and moissanite, according to a new study by diamond engagement ring and fine jewelry experts Mark Broumand.

The study examined Google search data for over 45 gemstones and nearly 500 keywords to pinpoint the most-searched gemstones across Massachusetts during the past nine months.

Diamonds, with an average of 370,061 monthly searches across the United States, were the top choice in 38 states, including Texas, New York and Florida.

Recognized for centuries as a symbol of luxury, diamonds have traditionally decorated the engagement rings of iconic stars, most recently including Barbara Palvin and Millie Bobby Brown, researchers said in a statement.

The popularity of diamonds also continues to soar online, with #diamond hitting 24 million TikTok views weekly across the United States.

Pearls were next on Massachusettss list of most popular gemstones. The purely organic gem was once deemed so exquisite that Ancient Japanese folklore even referred to it as the tears of mythical creatures, researchers said.

Pearls have garnered significant popularity among the American public with 211,062 monthly searches on Google, researchers said.

With a history entwined with influential figures from Coco Chanel to Cleopatra, they claim the second spot in popularity for states such as California, Mississippi and Hawaii, researchers said, adding that there has been a remarkable 212.5% rise in Pinterest popularity for pearls since January.

Coming in third as most popular among Bay Staters is moissanite, which has seen a 131% surge in online search popularity over the past five years. Often confused for a diamond because of its appearance, moissanite offers a more cost-effective alternative due to its lab-grown origin - making it a more eco-conscious decision, researchers said.

Moissanite stands out as the third most sought-after gemstone, boasting 277,880 monthly U.S. searches, with significant interest in moissanite rings, necklaces, and earrings, researchers said, adding that in other states, particularly Ohio, Utah and Nebraska, monthly searches can reach as high as 10,000 each.

This study underscores the ever-evolving gemstone market by highlighting the significance of diamonds, along with the growing fascination with alternatives like moissanite, a spokesperson from Mark Broumand said in a statement. As Christmas shoppers increasingly seek sustainable and budget-friendly options, moissanite stands out as a brilliant choice that not only dazzles, but also leaves you confidence in your purchase.

Emerald, which is a gemstone almost 20 times rarer than diamonds, came in fourth place in Massachusetts, with a total of 175,145 monthly U.S. searches.

With a history dating back nearly three billion years, they have graced the styles of icons, including Jackie Kennedy and Halle Berry, researchers said. Emeralds often reach as high as 6,701 searches in states such as Illinois, Nevada and Georgia and have also experienced a 45% increase in online searches within the past five years.

Rounding out Massachusettss top five gemstones is moonstone, with 154,950 monthly searches.

Moonstone, with its moonlike sheen, healing properties and spiritual characteristics has been incredibly marketable to the US public since the late 19th century, particularly during the Art Nouveau era, researchers said.

Over the past five years, moonstone has garnered a 54% surge in online searches, and is particularly popular in Alaska, Maine and Vermont.

Data from the study was sourced from Google Keyword Planner, where a total of 46 gemstones were analyzed, from agates to zircon, researchers said. Trends were analyzed for all 50 states to collect total search volumes for each gemstone between January 2023 and September 2023. A total of 490 keywords were used to include every gemstone.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Will the Memphis area get snow this year? Not likely, NWS says

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The Mid-Souths chance of snow on or near Christmas this year is pretty low.

How low? As the National Weather Service in Memphis put it Tuesday, if you want to see a White Christmas this year, you might want to head to Canada.

The NWS published its temperature and precipitation outlooks through Dec. 25.

Those graphics show temperatures in our area forecast at about 50-60% above normal. The chance of precipitation is about 33-40% below normal.

Not that we were expecting much. Memphis averages only around 3 inches of snow a year, with an average winter temperature in the 40s.

This week, the WREG forecast calls for high temperatures around 60 with mostly sunny skies.

Check the latest forecasts from WREG Weather

But conditions can change rapidly, and snow can sometimes fall around this time of year. Just one year ago, on December 21, the area had a dusting of snow cover as it suffered temperatures in the 20s with windchills below zero.

So theres something to be thankful for.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Jonathan Hankins was found dead in 2022 and buried in an unmarked grave in Mississippi  but no one told his family for over a year, a lawyer says.

Now, his family is demanding answers.

Hankins mother Gretchen said she last saw her son May 20, 2022, at her home near Jackson, according to her and the Rankins County Sheriffs Office.

Only a few days later, police found his body in a Motel 6 on May 23, a spokesperson for the city of Jackson told McClatchy News.

But Hankins family never learned of his death until December 2023, attorney Ben Crump said in a Dec. 10 news release.

The Hinds County Sheriffs Office said it was not involved in the investigation. McClatchy News could not immediately reach the Jackson Police Department or the Hinds County Coroners Office on Dec. 12.

Hankins leaves behind a teen daughter.

Seeking answers

At the time Hankins body was found, foul play was not suspected, and the Hinds County Coroners Office conducted an autopsy.

To this day, the Jackson Police Department has had no further communication with the Hinds County Coroners office concerning this case, the spokesperson said. We were never notified of the victims cause of death or identity.

The 39-year-old was buried in Hinds County in August 2022 in a paupers grave, which is used to bury people whose identities are unknown or who do not have a family.

In Hankins case, his identity was known, according to Crump.

Jonathan David Hankins family has been desperately seeking answers about their loved ones disappearance for more than a year, Crump said. We will work to unearth the truth about what happened to Jonathan and to seek justice for his family.

Hankins family learned of his death when an NBC News reporter came knocking Dec. 4, 2023, the outlet reported.

Thats ridiculous, Gretchen Hankins told NBC. Going that dang long and not calling people, thats just inhumane. Its wrong. Its just wrong.

Raises disturbing questions

Crump is also representing the family of Dexter Wade and Marrio Moore, who were both found buried in paupers graves in Hinds County without their familys knowledge, Crump said.

The discovery of the three bodies has outraged the community.

Moore was found wrapped in a tarp on the street Feb. 2, with officials determining he died of blunt force trauma to the head, Crump said.

Moores family didnt learn of his death for eight months.

His sister, Marquita Moore, told CNN the countys efforts to notify her family werent good enough.

If my brother would have committed a crime, (they) would have been beating the door to come in and look for him, Marquita told CNN. How long did your investigation go before you buried him and put him in the ground? How long did your investigation last?

The case of Dexter Wade has also drawn attention after reports that he was hit by a police cruiser and buried in the same Hinds County paupers field as Hankins and Moore.

At his funeral, civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton said Wade wouldnt be forgotten.

His life mattered to his mama, to his daughters, and were going to make it matter all over this country, Sharpton said.

Crump said the discovery of Hankins body in the same field raises disturbing questions.

In response to the third burial, a friend of Hankins started a petition calling for the removal of Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart.

This is not just a professional failing; its a violation of our trust and respect for our loved ones, Thomas Goolsby wrote.

Hinds County is part of the Jackson metropolitan area.

Human remains found on neighbors property of teenager missing for 5 months, cops say

Ancient graves of possible married couple  one full of treasure  found in castle ruins

Group lures food delivery man in kidnapping, then kills him and buries body, feds say

Officer ignored dying inmate he promised to help, feds say. Hes sentenced to prison
Many health insurers in New York are illegally directing mental health patients to "ghost" providers that are unable to treat them, forcing untold ill New Yorkers to forgo treatment or pursue more costly out-of-network care, state officials said.

State investigators uncovered the coverage gaps by surveying 400 mental health providers listed on health plans networks. They found 86% of the providers were ghosts, meaning they were unreachable, not-in-network, or not accepting new patients, according to a new report from state Attorney General Letitia James.

A pedestrian walks past a sign for health insurer Aetna Inc., at the company headquarters in Hartford, Conn.

Inaccurate network directories contributed to the statewide mental health crisis, James said in a statement, and disproportionately impacted marginalized communities, leading to adverse health outcomes and higher costs for patients.

"By not maintaining accurate directories as required by law," James said, health plans are making it harder for New Yorkers "to get mental health care and forcing them to delay or forego the care they need." The report urged regulators to improve enforcement and pursue fines against health plans violating state and federal laws.

Why NY uncovered "ghost" mental health providers

James' office investigated this issue after media reports, including in USA TODAY Network, spotlighted New York's mental health care crisis. Patients have shared harrowing tales of waiting hours or days in emergency rooms, or spending months on waiting lists for access to residential mental health programs.

James held mental health hearings in Buffalo and Rochester to gather more information about the situation, leading to the probe of mental health directories, according to her office.

Which NY health plans have "ghost" providers

The Attorney General's Office review of 13 health plans spanned providers in Rochester, Buffalo, New York City and Albany. They included:

Aetna, CDPHP, Cigna, Emblem, Empire BlueCross BlueShield, Excellus, Fidelis, Healthfirst, Independent Health, MetroPlus, Molina, MVP and UnitedHealthcare.

Investigation: Families in mental health crisis feel abandoned by NY's care system. Can it be fixed?

Callers attempted to schedule an appointment for an adult or child with a mental health provider who was listed as accepting new patients, James said.

Of the 396 providers called across all plans, only 56 providers, or 14% of those contacted, offered appointments. A total of 86% of the listed, in-network mental health providers staff called were "ghosts," as they were unreachable, not in-network, or not accepting new patients. Rochester results for Excellus showed a "ghost" listing rate of 85%, the report noted.

Why "ghost" providers harm patients

Ghost networks of providers leave some patients unable to access treatment using their health insurance benefits, James noted. As a result, they are forced to choose between paying out-of-pocket, which is not possible for many, or forgoing treatment altogether.

Ghost networks are particularly harmful to New Yorks most vulnerable residents, including low-income patients, people of color, others with disabilities, and women, who are least able to aord the cost of out-of-network care, James added.

Data: How long are ER wait times for mental health patients in NY? Check your local hospital

What health plans say about "ghost" providers

Eric Linzer, president and CEO of New York Health Plan Association, a trade group for many health insurers statewide asserted national workforce shortages impacting access to health care contributed to behavioral health service gaps in New York.

SAD: How bad is seasonal affective disorder in NY? What to know about symptoms and treatment

He also suggested in a statement that the "ghost" providers uncovered by state officials included providers who failed to keep up-to-date directory information.

"Health plans work hard to ensure that provider directories are up-to-date and accurate as possible," Linzer said, "which requires a shared commitment from providers to update their information when there are changes in their network status."

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: How 'ghost' networks keep NY mental health patients from reaching care
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 12)  The Philippines may look into its legal options against China to demand possible compensation after its vessels suffered damage due to the China Coast Guard's (CCG) aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a national security official said Tuesday.

To recall, there have been a few incidents wherein China's larger, more capable ships attacked the Philippines smaller vessels.

In the most recent incident, the CCG fired water cannons against Philippine vessels on Sunday in an attempt to impede their delivery of supplies to Filipino troops at BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal. One commissioned boat, M/L Kalayaan, had to be towed back to port after it suffered serious engine damage from the attack.

National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya told CNN Philippines The Source the damage suffered by Philippine vessels is a violation of the collision regulation.

Asked how the Philippines can seek damages, Malaya said the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) may study and gather evidence to support a possible case.

Theres always the legal recourse and we have the Department of Justice, the Office of the Solicitor General, he said.

Malaya said the countrys next steps regarding Beijings actions will also depend on the DOJ and the OSG.

There are many such cases we can file... For that to prosper in an international tribunal, whatever the choice may be, you would need evidence, he said.

On Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) filed a new diplomatic protest and summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian over China's "back-to-back aggressive and harassing actions" in the WPS over the weekend.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the DFA said Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro verbally delivered the protest, reiterating that the Philippines exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Ayungin Shoal.

"She (Usec. Lazaro) stressed that China has no right to interfere with the Philippines' legitimate activities in the Philippines' own EEZ, including in the waters around Ayungin Shoal. The actions of the Chinese vessels within the Philippine EEZ (exclusive economic zone) are illegal and violate the freedom of navigation," the department wrote.

The Philippines demanded that China immediately leave its waters and stop any acts that violate its rights in its EEZ.

Manila also again called on Beijing to comply with its obligations under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral award, as well as to adhere to commitments under the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

"The same messages were likewise conveyed by the DFA and the Philippine Embassy in Beijing to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs the previous day," the DFA said.

The department said that as of Dec. 5, the Philippines has filed 130 diplomatic protests against China since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in 2022.
Free-ranging cats hunt or scavenge more than 2,000 species, some of them imperiled, according to a new study. (Getty Images)

Everyone can agree on one thing: Its not the cats fault theyre bad for wildlife. Cats are carnivores. Their talent for preying on rodents is a big reason their ancestors and ours started hanging around together in the first place. But then, people carried cats around the world, into ecosystems that werent equipped for such predators.

Wherever they are, they stalk. They pounce. They kill. They eat.

Now researchers have documented the breadth of cats global buffet. A study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications found that free-ranging domestic cats (including feral ones) eat more than 2,000 species, raising renewed concerns about the ecological fallout.

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Almost half of the species were birds, followed by reptiles and mammals. An unexpected number of insects were found, including monarch butterflies, pink-spotted hawk moths and emperor dragonflies.

Other surprises on the menu included camels, cows and green sea turtles. (As skilled as cats are at hunting, the camels and cows were probably scavenged. The sea turtles were probably hatchlings.)

Cats eat a lot more than we thought, said Christopher Lepczyk, an ecologist at Auburn University and one of the studys authors. Thats meaningful.

Nearly 350 of the species, including monarch butterflies and green sea turtles, were imperiled or at risk of being imperiled.

Domestic cats (Felis catus) are beloved companions for many people, but they are also invasive predators that have been linked to numerous birds, mammals and reptiles going extinct, Andrew Mitchinson, an editor at the journal Nature, wrote in a related article.

The fallout from cats is especially acute on far-flung islands, where species have often evolved without any mammalian predators. But even in the United States, research by the federal government and the Smithsonian Institution estimated that cats kill a median of 2.4 billion (yes, billion with a b) birds per year. Thats especially concerning given the alarming declines in North American bird populations, which have gone down 29% since 1970.

The thorniest controversy comes over what to do with the vast number of feral cats that are driving much of the killing. Some will never be suitable for adoption.

Animal welfare organizations advocate a practice known as trap-neuter-return, in which feral cats are released after neutering to live out their lives. But research has shown that those efforts tend to have limited or no success in reducing populations unless they are performed at continuously high intensities. Well-intentioned people often feed feral cats, driving up numbers.

Then, there are cat owners who refuse to deny their pets the pleasure of roaming outdoors.

Lepczyk said he intentionally avoided recommending policy interventions in Tuesdays paper, though in previous articles, he has advocated science-driven management of free-roaming cats that would designate them as an invasive species, giving wildlife officials more authority to control them. He has also argued for strengthening laws around pet ownership and banning outdoor feeding.

Manuel Nogales, a biologist with the Spanish National Research Council who has studied feral cats for more than 30 years and was not involved with the new paper, praised the work.

These numbers are totally new for the scientific community, he said. This paper is quite useful.

The researchers gathered their data through an exhaustive search of published and unpublished academic papers that reported evidence of cat predation on one or more species. Sometimes the species was identified from the contents of a dissected stomach. Sometimes the information came from fecal analysis. Sometimes pet owners reported their cats kills. Increasingly in recent research, trail cameras caught cats in the act of hunting and scavenging.

Many of the remains could not be identified, especially when it came to soft-bodied insects, which made up 6% of detected species.

Conservation groups try to educate the public about the danger of free-ranging cats while also finding common ground with cat lovers. The Cornell Lab of Ornithologys list of frequently asked questions about outdoor cats begins with the question Is the Cornell Lab of Ornithology anti-cat?

Not at all, comes the response, next to a slideshow of indoor cats that belong to members of the lab.

Its not a divide between people who love birds versus people who love cats, said Miyoko Chu, the labs senior director of science communications. There are so many people who love both.

Lepczyk counts himself among them. Ive had cats for 40-plus years, he said. When he was a child, his family had outdoor cats. He recalled learning about their harm in graduate school and telling his mother. After that, their cats stayed inside. Today, his family includes Mochi, a longhair Siamese, and Ahi, an orange tabby.

Indoor cats may even have an ecological benefit. Widely used rodenticides can harm or kill wildlife like hawks, owls and foxes that eat poisoned mice and rats. As long as cats stay indoors, they are a wildlife-friendly way to help keep your house free of pests.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
The Fort Worth leader of a drug trafficking organization has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty in July to conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas.

Alonzo Smith, 29, was charged in May and sentenced Dec. 7.

Authorities said Smith and others, most of whom were heavily armed gang members, ran an operation with multiple drug houses in the Fort Worth area. The homes were used for the sole purpose of storing and distributing large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.

While serving a search warrant at one of the houses, police found 800 grams of meth, 188 grams of cocaine, 496 grams of black tar heroin and 300 grams of fentanyl.

Violent gangs that flood our neighborhoods with illicit drugs are a true threat to public safety, Homeland Security Investigations Dallas Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes Jr. said in the news release. The lengthy sentence imposed on this defendant highlights our commitment to disrupting and dismantling these transnational criminal organizations seeking to exploit our communities for financial gain.

The investigation leading to charges against Smith was conducted by Fort Worth police and Homeland Security Investigations.

Today's top stories:

 Other driver killed in crash with Fort Worth CEO & kids identified as Marine

 AT&T Stadium worker charged with accepting bribe to let ticketless fans in Cowboys game

 Fort Worth ISD principals board voted to fire are retiring, resigning

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A metro Atlanta teachers wife is one of three people killed in a crash in South Carolina over the weekend. He and his daughter remain hospitalized.

WYFF reports that the crash happened just after 5:15 a.m. Sunday on Interstate 85 in Greenville. The South Carolina Highway Patrol said a vehicle was headed north in the southbound lanes and hit another car, leading to a four-car crash.

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The Greenville County Coroners Office identified the victims as driver Storm Mikayla Shepard, 27, of Duncan; Jimmie McKenley Wallace, 69, of Alabama; and Sharae Deneen Green, 45, of Georgia.

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According to family members, Greens husband, Donald Green and one of their two daughters remain hospitalized. The couples other daughter has been released.

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According to the familys GoFundMe, the couple was returning from picking up one of their daughters from her first semester of college.

Donald Green is a math teacher at North Atlanta High School. His injuries include a broken foot and pelvis. Family members did not identify the couples daughters or reveal the extent of the hospitalized daughters injuries.

The family had two dogs with them in the car at the time of the crash. One of those dogs, Asta, has since been caught. The other dog, Moon, has been spotted but hasnt been caught yet. Asta is being cared for by Anakins Trails Animal Trapping while the remaining family members recover.

The community is raising money to help with medical and funeral expenses.




Michigan landlord punished after hiding bodies of renters he claimed he killed in self-defense

A Michigan landlord was sentenced to life in prison on Friday after a jury did not buy his claim that he killed his two tenants  who were shot and strangled to death, respectively  in self-defense.

Chad Allen Reed, 56, was found guilty in October of second-degree murder in 34-year-old Joseph Soule's death and first-degree murder in connection with the death of Soule's girlfriend, 31-year-old Jaclyn Lepird.

Battle Creek Circuit Court Judge Sarah S. Lincoln ordered Reed to serve life without parole on the first-degree murder charge and  consecutively  125 years on the second-degree murder charge, per court records reviewed by Fox News Digital.

"We were very pleased with the decision," Lepird's sister Trinity McAllister told FOX 17 in a statement after the sentencing.

LANDLORD WHO KILLED RENTERS, HID BODIES AT TORCHED HOUSE CONVICTED AFTER JURY DIDN'T BUY HIS DEFENSE

Chad Allen Reed, 56, was sentenced to life behind bars for the killings of renters Jaclyn Lepird, 31, and Joseph Soule, 34.

"I mean, you can't beat two life sentences. We'll never have to see him again. We'll never have to hear about him," she continued.

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The judge took the treatment of Reed's victims, the disrespect of their bodies, the impact on their families, Reed's lack of remorse and his criminal history into account when making her decision, per FOX 17.

Previously, court records show that Reed was convicted of felony assault with a dangerous weapon in 2005 and pleaded no contest to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in 2003 after originally being charged with sexual conduct with an individual under 13, WWMT reported.

Reed, who lived downstairs from his tenants in the two-story house in Battle Creek, claims Soule pulled a knife on him during a heated Oct. 7, 2020 argument.

Reed said he pulled out a gun and shot Soule in self-defense, Calhoun County Detective Sergeant Joel Case told WWMT.

DETROIT POLICE TAKE SECOND 'PERSON OF INTEREST' INTO CUSTODY IN MURDER OF PROMINENT JEWISH LEADER

The front facade of Chad Reed's 203 Post Ave. property in Battle Creek, Michigan, where prosecutors say Jaclyn Lepird and Joseph Soule lived and were killed, caught fire about a week after the couple was reported missing.

"He said they were on the porch and Joey had...he didn't say what brought any of this up," Reed's aunt Lynn Marie Pemberton told police, per the outlet. "He just said they were on the porch, Joey had a knife pointed at him and he pulled a gun and shot him."

When Lepird tried to run away, Reed gave chase and "pounded" her face, Pemberton said. He first tried to slit her throat and then found something to strangle her with.

"He said Jackie came through the door and all he could think of was leave no witnesses," Pemberton told the police. "She ran off the porch, and she ran toward the backyard, and he grabbed the knife off of Joey, and he went and followed her to the backyard, and he shot her again...then he said she wasn't gone so he hit her in the head with something."

Reed's public defender, Susan Mladenoff, argued in court that her client only acted in self-defense, telling jurors Lepird had a "bad temper," and her boyfriend struggled with substance abuse.

MICHIGAN SCHOOL SHOOTER ETHAN CRUMBLEY SENTENCED TO LIFE AFTER ADDRESSING COURT: 'I AM A REALLY BAD PERSON'

Jaclyn Lepird was allegedly chased into her backyard, beaten and strangled to death by Chad Reed after, the convicted murderer claims, her boyfriend pulled a knife on him. Cocaine and alcohol were found in her system by coroners, per court testimony.

Both tenants had cocaine and alcohol in their bloodstreams when they died, per medical examiners' testimony, and were positive for COVID-19. However, an expert clarified that neither the drugs nor the virus were responsible for their deaths.

The couple fought daily and there were "rumors of flirting and cheating," Mladenoff said, and "no one was immune from their rage," per Law & Crime. Police said there had been ongoing issues reported in the couple's apartment, including fights over finances and noise issues, per FOX 17.

However, prosecutors emphasized how Reed chased Lepird down because he wanted to eliminate witnesses.

"He not only shot her, he chased her down," Calhoun County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Tamara L. Towns told jurors, FOX 17 reported. "He hit her with a metal object. He tried to slit her throat. He then strangled her until a life went out of her."

The couple was reported missing after McAllister and other family members had not heard from either tenant for five days.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ESTABLISHES NEW INSTITUTE TO COMBAT ANTISEMITISM AND PROMOTE RELIGIOUS INCLUSION

Chad Reed claims Joseph Soule, pictured, pulled a knife out in an argument. In response, the landlord said, he shot the tenant.

Investigators believe the landlord left their bodies at the property for several days. Then, the victims' family members began visiting the home. In dashcam footage recorded outside the couple's 203 Post Ave. home and referenced by Law & Crime, one of their relatives can be heard pointing the house out to police.

Prosecutors said Reed then took the couple's bodies, wrapped them in clear plastic and moved them into his truck. He then covered them in debris, a tarp, and a series of large boards and parked the vehicle in a vacant garage roughly a block away.

When the couple were still considered missing before their bodies were recovered, a Battle Creek police sergeant testified, 911 dispatchers received a call that Reed "may have been cleaning out [the] apartment with Clorox or bleach," Law & Crime reported.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE TRUE CRIME FROM FOX NEWS

Someone had tried to burn the Battle Creek house down five times, and did so successfully three days after the alleged murders took place. It is unclear how the fires started, and Reed has not been charged in connection with them.

Drops of blood were later found in the remains of the couple's kitchen, and a relative looking for them spotted pieces of ripped-up flooring in the trash, per the outlet.

Lepird's sister Trinity Middleton said the fire only added to her bereaved family's anguish.

"The only thing any of us had left of Jackie was her stuff," Middleton lamented in an interview with WWMT. "I would have given anything to just have one T-shirt that smells like her and that's gone now, our pieces are gone."

Reed's public defender was not immediately available for comment at press time.





Original article source: Michigan landlord punished after hiding bodies of renters he claimed he killed in self-defense
An 11-year-old boy died after New York City authorities said he was found unresponsive in an emergency migrant shelter on Tuesday. A New York Police Department spokesperson told the West Side Rag that police are investigating the death as a possible suicide, and do not suspect foul play. Police said that the medical examiner was working on Wednesday to determine the childs exact cause of death. Local council member Gale Brewer, who visited the shelter on Tuesday after the death, told the West Side Rag, It is devastating to lose a child, not only for the family, but for the community at the hotel. The shelter is one of two such facilities, each able to house 800 single women and families, that opened this year in the wake of the citys ongoing migrant crisis. The Post reported the shelters opening in June alongside a tally of 74,000 recent migrant arrivals.

If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing or texting 988.

Read it at New York Daily News

Read more at The Daily Beast.
If you had not already noticed, the Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce relationship has seeped into places you may not have ever expected.

Politicians have talked about it, the romance has inspired the creation of a pizza in Des Moines, Iowa, and holiday decorations that popped up across the nation.

On Sunday, the celebrity love story was part of the military flyover before the Chiefs-Bills game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Sort of.

T-38 Talon jets from Randolph Air Force Base in Texas flew overhead, as this video from the Chiefs shows.

Thank you to Randolph Air Force Base for the T-38 flyover last night #AFFlyover pic.twitter.com/GZqalUGqkO  Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 11, 2023

Hows that linked to Swift and Kelce, besides his reaction to seeing the quartet of planes? A number of people online took note of the call sign for the flyover.

It was Swifty1.

Yep, either the United States Air Force has taken note of the power couple ... or the air traffic controllers came up with the sign.

The T38s for the #Chiefs flyover are using callsigns SWIFTYx lmao pic.twitter.com/3Q0bfSrTXG  matt (@halosix) December 10, 2023
A 62-year-old missing camper spent two cold nights in the wilderness with her dog after becoming lost in Arizona, deputies said.

Joann Ward, of Bagdad, went missing from her campsite at about 3 p.m. Dec. 5, the Yavapai County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post.

Ward had been camping with her husband and friends when she took her small terrier-like dog out for a walk, deputies said.

Her dog spotted a rabbit and chased after it, Ward told deputies during an interview posted to YouTube Dec. 12.

She followed her dog and then spotted what appeared to be a shortcut to her campsite.

All of a sudden there was this big ravine and I said, Uh oh, this is not the wash that is behind our motorhome. So (I) got lost from there and just could not find a road anywhere, Ward said.

When she didnt return to the campsite, her husband and friends reached out to rescuers at about 9:30 p.m. that day, deputies said. Search teams began looking for her by helicopter and by foot.

As rescue teams searched for her, Ward said she stayed close to her dog under a tree for warmth. She said she saw a helicopter a few times looking for her, so she waved her hands, but it didnt see her.

It was pretty cold both nights. I did a lot of stretching while we were under the tree ... Curled up with my dog, and we kept each other warm, she told deputies.

Missing camper finds road

By the second night, she said her teeth chattered so hard they almost sounded like helicopter blades.

The next morning, Ward said she started walking in the direction of where she heard vehicles and had seen helicopters flying.

Thats when she came across a road where rescuers found her.

I wasnt scared, and I had my dog, she said.

Bagdad, Arizona, is about 120 miles northwest of Phoenix.

Screams for help send rescuers rushing into woods to see whats wrong, Arizona cops say

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A doorman greets guests in front of the Christmas decorated Ritz four star hotel, located at Place Vendome in Paris, Wednesday Dec. 6, 2005. A guest lost a ring there valued at more than $800,000. | Remy de la Mauviniere, ASSOCIATED PRESS

A ring worth $800,000 was recovered in a vacuum cleaner bag after a guest at Paris luxury Ritz hotel had lost it.

The guest, described as a Malaysian businesswoman and tourist, left the ring on the nightstand in her room and didnt notice that it was missing until she returned from a morning shopping trip, according to Le Parisien.

The business woman reportedly filed a police report Friday, with the worth of the ring being estimated at 750,000 euros  or roughly $807,000.

Business Insider reported that after the guest had notified the hotel of the missing ring, the staff made a meticulous search, which led them to discover the ring in a vacuum bag on Sunday morning.

Thanks to the careful search work of security agents, the ring was found this morning, the hotel told Le Parisien, according to People. Our client is happy with this news. We would like to thank the Ritz Paris employees who were involved in this research and who work every day with integrity and professionalism.

Fox News reported that the hotel guest left for London on Saturday with plans to return to Paris to retrieve her ring.

The police in Paris had been reportedly holding on to the ring until the guest could get it back, with the hotel offering the businesswoman three free nights to compensate her for the ordeal.

We thank the police and the hotel teams who carried out the necessary investigations in record time, the hotel guests lawyers, Robin Binsard and Rebecca Childs, said, according to The Independent.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 12)  The National Security Council (NSC) said on Tuesday it took months before it was able to finalize with other agencies involved the new strategy that the country will implement in protecting its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Its the entire government bureaucracy whos involved It took some time and given that we have regular ROREs (rotation and resupply), theres always something that crops up so we make adjustments to the national strategy. Now that things have become very clear we are now preparing to make this presentation, NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya told CNN Philippines The Source.

During a briefing on Monday, Malaya said the government made a new national game plan on the WPS to reflect some adjustments. He said National Security adviser Eduardo Ano led the crafting of the new strategy.

Malaya said they are awaiting word on their request for a meeting with the chief executive.

The implementation of the new strategy is timely given Chinas increasing aggression in the WPS, he noted.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) on Sunday fired water cannons against Philippine ships on their way to deliver supplies to Filipino troops on Ayungin Shoal. Philippine authorities said 46 Chinese vessels tried to block the mission, the biggest number Beijing has deployed so far.

Prior to this, the CCG also blasted water cannons at two Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ships on their way to bring fuel subsidies and food packs to Filipino fishermen at Scarborough Shoal.
HAMMOND, La. (WGNO)  A Mississippi man pled guilty to driving to Hammond in an attempt to engage in sexual acts with who he believed to be a woman and her 14-year-old daughter.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, 38-year-old Eric Scott Alford, of Clinton, Mississippi, pled guilty to interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

Court documents state that on July 26, Alford spoke with an undercover law enforcement agent on a messaging app who was pretending to be a woman with a 14-year-old daughter.

Teenage escapee wanted on aggravated assault charges in New Orleans

Alford was accused of expressing his desire to engage in sexual acts with both the woman and her daughter, individually and together. Additionally, he was accused of messaging individually with who he believed was the womans daughter. He had described the sexual acts he wanted to perform on and with the child.

Then, on Aug. 2, Alford messaged that he was driving to Hammond to engage in sex acts with the woman and her daughter.

According to the U.S. attorneys office, Alford could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison followed by a potential lifetime of supervised release.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 28, 2024.

Stay updated with the latest news, weather, and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play store and subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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Most of Mississippis Republican statewide officials and its two U.S. senators have endorsed Donald Trumps bid for the presidency, according to an article published by Politico on Monday.

Seven out of the states eight statewide officials endorsed the former president. The only statewide official who is not endorsing Trumps campaign is Republican Secretary of State Michael Watson. Watsons office told Mississippi Today that the secretary of state is planning to stay neutral because he will help administer the states election.

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican who faces reelection next year, told Mississippi Today in a statement that he supports a return to the strong and effective economic, national security, and border security policies our nation enjoyed under President Trump.

U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, a Republican from Brookhaven, announced her endorsement of Trump in an April social media post, saying, Trump has been attentive to the needs of Mississippi.

U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., celebrates defeating Democrat Mike Espy in two separate races with her family standing in the background at her reelection victory party in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. In addition to defeating Espy, Hyde-Smith also defeated Libertarian Jimmy Edwards.

Therefore, I am endorsing Donald J. Trump for another term in the White House and will be working to assist him in winning the Republican nomination for President in 2024, Hyde-Smith said.

The endorsement signals the former presidents tight grip on the Magnolia State. The Iowa caucuses, the first Republican primary test of the year, is Jan. 15. Mississippis GOP primary will be held on March 12.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished under a Creative Commons license.
A semi hauling a giant cylinder had difficulty negotiating a turn, forcing a highway in Kansas Citys Northland to temporarily close Tuesday afternoon, a spokesman for the Missouri Highway Patrol said.

The semi with the oversized load tried to exit southbound Interstate 435 onto eastbound Missouri 210 shortly after noon when it became hung up while trying to go under the interstate, said Sgt. Andy Bell.

There wasnt any collision and the load  a long cylinder for a tank  hasnt been compromised, Bell said. The semi and trailer is unable to negotiate through the intersection on its own.

So, theyre waiting on a tow company to come out to pick up the back end and rotate it so they can kind of straighten out that turn right there, Bell said.

It was unknown how long it would take to adjust the semi so it could make it through the intersection, Bell said.

Hopefully within the hour or so things will be up and running again, he said.

The mishap was affecting traffic exiting from southbound I-435 to Missouri 210, as well as the eastbound lanes of Missouri 210.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) says he has launched an investigation into Media Matters for America, the progressive watchdog, following its report about harmful antisemitic content on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

In a letter to the media watchdog, Bailey wrote his office has reason to believe Media Matters used fraud to solicit donations from Missourians in order to trick advertisers into pulling out of X, the last platform dedicated to free speech in America.

Radicals are attempting to kill Twitter because they cannot control it, and we are not going to let Missourians get ripped off in the process, Bailey said. Im fighting to ensure progressive tyrants masquerading as news outlets cannot manipulate the marketplace in order to wipe out free speech.

Media Matters last month published a report laying out how X, under Elon Musks leadership, is placing advertising next to antisemitic content. The report, in addition to controversial posts Musk has made on the platform in recent weeks, has sparked a wave of blue-chip companies to pull advertising from the platform.

Musk days later sued Media Matters, alleging in court documents the company maliciously misled the public about how the platform operates. Musks lawsuit was cheered by many Republican politicians and conservative pundits once it was filed.

Media Matters declined to comment on Baileys letter Tuesday and in a recent statement called Musks lawsuit frivolous and meant to bully Xs critics into silence.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  A federal jury has convicted a Mobile County man of drug trafficking and possessing an illegally modified machine gun to participate in drug crimes, according to the United States Attorneys Office.

Murder and manhunt in Monroe County, suspect considered armed and dangerous

Last week, a jury found Hassan D. Jones, 25, guilty of drug conspiracy, possessing bulk marijuana with intent to distribute, possessing an illegally modified machine gun related to drug-trafficking crimes, illegal possession of firearms as an eight-time convicted felon, and illegal possession of an unregistered machine gun, according to a news release from the USAOs Southern District of Alabama.

Jones and other people distributed bulk marijuana in the Mobile area and beyond from March 2021 to February 2023, according to evidence the prosecution presented during the three-day trial.

In May 2021, Louisiana sheriffs deputies arrested Jones and two co-conspirators during a traffic stop as they reportedly returned to Mobile from a drug pickup in Houston, Texas. Lawmen said they found a loaded Glock pistol with an extended magazine, marijuana, promethazine syrup, and over $5,000 in cash in the car.

UPDATE: City of Mobile responds to Jawan Dallas familys $36M federal lawsuit

In February 2023, the Mobile Police Departments narcotics detectives executed a search warrant at Joness Eight Mile apartment and reportedly seized 4 pounds of bulk marijuana, two loaded Glock pistols with extended magazines, and two of Joness cell phones.

One pistol had an illegal device that converts a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic machine gun. A DNA expert testified that Joness DNA was found on the seized Glock pistols, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Investigators said Joness phones and social media accounts had videos, photos, and messages related to his drug dealing and illegal possession of firearms, including modified machine guns, according to the USAO.

Jones  who is scheduled for sentencing in March 2024  faces a mandatory 30-year prison term for possessing a machine gun to further his drug-trafficking crimes. This sentence is consecutive to any other he receives.

Mobile shooting suspect turns himself in: MPD

He also could be sentenced up to 15 years for being a felon in possession of firearms, up to 10 years for illegally possessing an unregistered machine gun, and up to five years for each drug conviction.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama announced the verdict.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mobile Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the St. Tammany Parish Louisiana Sheriffs Office collaborated on the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and Jessica Terrill are prosecuting the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces.

OCDETF works to identify, disrupt, and dismantle high-level criminal organizations. To learn more, visit https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

ALSO ON WKRG.com: City of Mobile responds to Jawan Dallas familys $36M federal lawsuit

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
General Atomics has released a new video of testing of its Mojave drone aboard the U.K. Royal Navys aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales back in November. The montage of clips, seen below, offers previously unseen views of the drone in flight and making short takeoffs and landings from the ship, which does not have aircraft-launching catapults or arresting wires  at least for now .

In cooperation with the Royal Navy, General Atomics tested Mojave on board Prince of Wales on November 15 as the ship sailed off the coast of Virginia. You can read more about this, which marked the first time Mojave operated from an aircraft carrier as well as with the Royal Navy, in The War Zone's initial reporting here .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVR_EioIM8c\u0026t=1s

Mojave is derived from the MQ-1C Gray Eagle , a remotely piloted vehicle that traces its roots to the Q-1 Predator. It's also the cousin of the larger, turboprop-powered MQ-9 Reaper . General Atomics was first revealed in late 2021 and is STOL and rough field capable; making it ideal for various distributed and expeditionary operations, including those from aircraft carriers as well as from remote and austere locales ashore. You can read more about it and its capabilities here and here .

In the footage, we see Mojave being raised from the Prince of Wales hangar to its flight deck via an elevator. From there, it is maneuvered into position towards the rear of the vessels flight deck prior to takeoff.

Mojave being lifted via HMS Prince of Wales' elevator. General Atomics YouTube screencap

General Atomics YouTube screencap

Propelling down the flight deck, the drone smoothly lifts into the air at around the 600 foot mark  for context, the Prince of Wales flight deck runs some 901-foot-long. In its lightest configuration with a more limited payload package focused on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, the drone is able to get airborne in as little as 300 to 400 feet. Additional weight added from extra fuel, sensors, or missiles increases said distance.

General Atomics YouTube screencap

General Atomics YouTube screencap

While the entirety of Mojaves takeoff isnt depicted in the footage, the drone does not use the ships ski jump ramp. In total, General Atomics suggests Mojave is capable of flying for 25 hours or more; however, this would require more fuel, adding weight to the drone.

General Atomics YouTube screencap

As weve noted previously , Mojave could have an endurance of between 10 and 12 hours when launched off a carrier-sized landing area with no weapons, "allowing it to perform everything from persistent armed overwatch for force protection missions in 'brown water' environments to airborne communications relay and surveillance functions in 'blue water' environments."

After circling the carrier, it then begins a slow approach for landing. From the video, it appears as if it lands full-stop at around the 400 foot mark on the flight deck; with plenty of deck length left.

General Atomics YouTube screencap

General Atomics YouTube screencap

General Atomics YouTube screencap

Being a part of Mojaves first carrier takeoff and landing was clearly thrilling for all involved; if a little nerve-wracking.

"Its sort of like when you take your 4x4 sport utility vehicle out onto a backcountry trail for the first time," a General Atomics engineer is quoted as saying in a press release that the company put out yesterday along with the new video. "You know it was built for that. You know its got a mode for that, its got the right tires, high clearance, everything. You just need to go out and prove it."

General Atomics YouTube screencap

In the lead-up to experimental operations with the Royal Navy, General Atomics engineers sought ways to mimic controlling Mojave at sea  given that pilots, up to this point, have always remotely maneuvered the drone from stable ground control stations. As such, they built a ground control station on the back of a truck bed which drove at speeds equivalent to the Prince of Wales while underway at sea to practice operating Mojave from. In total, over 100 takeoffs and landings were practiced using the truck-based control center.

"One thing we learned real quick was that our guys needed seat belts!," one of General Atomics engineers said of the pre-carrier based testing. "We got them set up with harnesses, they continued training and it didnt take very long to get the hang of it. These are the kinds of things you always learn when youre taking something from the concept stage to the operational stage."

The Royal Navy hasnt indicated whether it intends to procure Mojave specifically for use on its aircraft carriers or not. General Atomics does offer other carrier-deployable drone options. The company has devised a wing-kit which turns its popular MQ-9B Reapers into big deck ship-deployable drones, for example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2FvQ-T5ZXE\u0026embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2F\u0026source_ve_path=MjM4NTE\u0026feature=emb_title

However, the Royal Navy is looking towards the possibility of being able to operate a wide variety of platforms  including various fixed-wing uncrewed aircraft  from the Queen Elizabeth class vessels via fitting assisted launch systems and recovery gear to them.

Broadly, there has been a growing interest in operating fixed-wing drones with substantial payload and endurance from amphibious assault ships, helicopter carriers, short-takeoff and vertical landing carriers with large decks, as well as traditional aircraft carriers. This would greatly expand the capabilities of these ships, especially in terms of airborne persistent surveillance, networking and force protection roles.

Whether or not it commits to Mojave specifically, the new footage of it taking off from and landing on the Prince of Wales is a harbinger of the Royal Navys uncrewed future operations.

"Integrating the Navy Develop and General Atomics personnel into the Prince of Wales team was key to enabling such a large remotely piloted air system to operate from the deck during this trial, Royal Navy Cmdr. Martin Russell, head of air operations aboard the HMS Prince of Wales, said, "with the capability feeling like a glimpse into the future of these ships."

Contact the authors: joe@thedrive.com, oliver@thewarzone.com
Chishui city in SW China's Guizhou paves way to prosperity through bamboo industry

People's Daily Online) 09:30, December 12, 2023

Chishui city, situated in the northern part of southwest China's Guizhou Province, boasts of an area of 2.78 million mu (185,333 hectares), with a significant portion dedicated to bamboo forests, covering 1.33 million mu. The city has a population of nearly 230,000, around 180,000 of whom are engaged in the bamboo industry.

In recent years, Chishui city has made great efforts to develop the bamboo industry, creating a green ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and paving a unique path to prosperity for the local people.

Photo shows bamboo forests in Chishui city, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo/Yu Dejiang)

Song Yunjun, a villager from Datong township in Chishui city, has been growing bamboo for 12 years. He never expected that one day his bamboo would be turned into fruit trays, computer packaging, and other products, and be exported to the world.

"In the past, many farmers relied on selling timber as their main source of livelihood, and had to cultivate crops on steep slopes. However, this practice led to a depletion in trees and soil degradation, causing severe stone desertification," explained Song.

Photo shows bamboo-weaving handicraft. (Photo courtesy of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China Chishui municipal committee)

In 2001, Chishui city opted to convert steep slopes with an inclination of over 25 degrees into bamboo forests. This approach was aimed at combatting soil erosion and helping farmers increase their earnings.

In the same year, Song planted 4 mu of bamboo on a hillside. However, shortly after planting the bamboo, he began to doubt his decision, thinking that growing crops would be more profitable.

Village officials explained the policy of returning farmland to forests and the associated subsidies to local farmers, encouraging them to consider the long-term benefits of planting bamboo.

Song persisted for three years and are now reaping the benefits. "Bamboo has become a valuable asset. I can earn an average of at least 1,000 yuan ($140) per mu. Everyone now sees bamboo as a lucrative opportunity," he said.

Chishui city has seen a significant growth in its bamboo forest area, reaching 1.33 million mu. The forest coverage rate has increased from 63.4 percent in 2000 to 82.51 percent today, making the bamboo industry a key pillar of the city's development.

Taison Group, located in Chishui city, processes approximately 1.4 million tonnes of bamboo annually, producing 360,000 tonnes of bamboo pulp each year and generating annual output worth over 2 billion yuan.

Photo shows bamboo-weaving handicraft. (Photo courtesy of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China Chishui municipal committee)

Since 2018, nearly 300 bamboo processing enterprises, including 16 large-scale ones, have been established in the city.

These efforts have laid the foundation for the development of various bamboo products, such as bamboo building materials, furniture, decorations, crafts, papermaking, and bamboo shoot processing.

In 2022, the bamboo industry's comprehensive output was worth 7.46 billion yuan, contributing over 60 percent to the regional GDP.

Chishui city is focusing on the production of pulp for molding and specialty paper. This focus is intended to expand the city's industrial chain and increase its added value.

In 2016, Bai Yan, head of packaging research and development (R&D) at Chinese computer giant Lenovo Group, was tasked with developing new bamboo fiber materials.

"At that time, the industry typically utilized low-cost foamed polyethylene for packaging and cushioning materials. In contrast, the cost of the new bamboo fiber material was three times that of plastic. However, considering the importance of sustainable development, 'replacing plastic with bamboo' was a crucial consideration," explained Bai.

Through extensive R&D efforts, Lenovo Group launched its bamboo fiber packaging in 2018. This innovative packaging solution offers many advantages, including its lightweight nature and exceptional protective capabilities.

Bai said the company has shipped over 16 million products in bamboo fiber packaging to more than 180 countries and regions worldwide.

Over the past five years, the company has been actively involved in the "replacing plastic with bamboo" initiative, resulting in a reduction of 3,737 tonnes of plastic packaging, Bai explained.

Yang Changqin, a provincial-level inheritor of Chishui's bamboo weaving craft, works on a bamboo-weaving painting. (Photo/Zhang Lang)

Yang Changqin is a provincial-level inheritor of Chishui's bamboo weaving craft. Her workshop creates bamboo handicraft such as bamboo earrings, woven bags, and cups, blending traditional bamboo weaving techniques with modern fashion elements.

"We receive numerous orders for customized bamboo products each year. In fact, the revenue generated by household bamboo weaving items like tea sets and wine sets has surpassed 20 million yuan this year, up 66 percent year-on-year," Yang said.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 12)  Authorities on Tuesday confirmed the arrest weeks ago of one of the alleged gunmen in the Nov. 15 fatal shooting of a couple inside a bus in Nueva Ecija.

The Central Luzon police office reported that authorities caught the suspect  identified as Allan delos Santos  on Nov. 20 and that he made an extrajudicial confession following his apprehension, with the assistance of his legal counsel.

He gave crucial information about his involvement in the double murder of a 60-year-old businesswoman and her 55-year-old partner, police said.

The victims were on board a Victory Liner bus bound for Manila when they were fatally shot. The crime was caught on security camera. One of the killers wore a face mask, while the other shooter's face can be clearly seen.

Police said Delos Santos is a known gun-for-hire operating in Nueva Ecija and Isabela. He also has warrants of arrest for statutory rape and sexual assault.

Authorities said a criminal complaint for two counts of murder was filed against Delos Santos and four others on Monday before the Prosecutor's Office in Nueva Ecija. The other suspects remain at large.

Continuous police operation is being carried out to arrest the other individuals and bring them to the bars of justice, the regional police said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 12) Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue an immigration lookout order against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, following a resolution she filed seeking to probe the alleged sexual abuse and human trafficking on members of the church leaders Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).

"I urge the Department of Justice to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order, which they can do motu proprio to prevent Quiboloy from leaving the country, he must not escape accountability. Our children's lives are at stake," Hontiveros said in a press conference on Tuesday.

The DOJ said in a separate statement Tuesday that they have yet to receive the formal request from Hontiveros. The senators office said they will issue a formal request soon.

The DOJ also said they will be releasing a copy of the official pending cases of Quiboloy.

Hontiveros earlier said Quiboloy and his co-accused have pending charges of rape, child abuse, and trafficking filed last December 2019 in the US.

The senator expressed optimism that the resolution and the lookout bulletin requests will be granted by the authorized agencies. She added that Quiboloys alleged crimes have reached global concerns, following the US Federal Bureau of Investigation's issuance of 'wanted' posters of Quiboloy.

She said after her privilege speech on Monday, everyone in the Senate listened and some expressed dismay in the alleged crimes of Quiboloy and the illegal activities happening secretly in the KOJC.

In response, Quiboloy's Legal Counsel, Attorney Ferdinand Topacio, challenged Hontiveros on Tuesday to bring her allegations to court instead of the Senate.

"Ngayon, siya po ay aking hinahamon, kung makatunayan ang sinasabi nila, bakit hindi mo dalhin sa hukuman, patas ang laban, may due process. Bakit gusto sa Senado ang paglilitis? Sa pagkat sa Senado, lamang na lamang ka, agrabyado kami," Topacio said.

[Translation: Now, I am challenging [Hontiveros] to bring their allegations to court, where our fight will be fair and there will be due process. Why do you like to bring it to the Senate proceedings? Because in the Senate, you're in a more advantageous position than us.]

Topacio said he does not confirm nor deny the claims, however, he stressed that it is the court which should decide. He also noted that Quiboloy already had a case in America, which has not yet been decided.

Topacio claimed that Hontiveros is not a credible person when it comes to presenting testifiers or testimonies, adding that Hontiveros' resolution is part of her "harassment" of Quiboloy, KOJC, and Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

Meanwhile, despite talks about Quiboloy's "strong connections" to some powerful politicians, Hontiveros said this would not hinder them from seeking justice for the victim-survivors.

Hontiveros said her office is still preparing the affidavits and documents needed for the victim-survivors to speak during a hearing.

READ:

Hontiveros seeks probe on alleged human trafficking, sexual abuse in Quiboloy's church

Quiboloy on FBI's most wanted list

Victims-Survivors testimonies

The victims who will be testifying this year or in the first quarter of next year comprise alleged cases of KOJC victims from a few years ago until recent years, the lawmaker said.

She did not give the exact number of victim-survivors who will testify, but in the video presented during the presscon, victims using aliases Jackson and Arlene narrated their experiences.

Jackson, who was forced to solicit money in the streets, said they were beaten when they did not reach the quota of money to be collected.

He said that back in 2014, thousands of males, including himself, and females were beaten with a paddle, and that the girls almost crawled out after their ordeal.

"Nakadapa ka talaga. Alam mo 'yung parang paddle na pinapakita dun sa mga hazing. Maliit lang dun nang kaunti tapos makapal lang dun nang kaunti. Ganon ang pinapalo sa amin," he added.

[Translation: We were prostrate on the floor. You know the paddle they used for hazing. It's smaller than that but a little bit thicker. That's what they used to beat us.]

Meanwhile, Hontiveros said that Quiboloy's church recruits encourages whole families to join, which she said is a dangerous scheme, "Magiging bahagi kayo ng isang komunidad na mag-aalaga sa isa't-isa, kalaunan pala iba 'yung motibo."

[Translation: You'll be a part of a community where you will protect each other then eventually the motive will be revealed to be the opposite.]

Hontiveros said Arlene and her sister were victims of human trafficking. She said they were instructed to pretend to be blind, deaf, or posed as students to beg for money and sell steamed cakes also known as 'Puto and Kutsinta'.

"Marami sa kanila balot pa rin sa takot na iha-haraass sila, na gugulpihin sila, na papatayin sila," Hontiveros said.

[Translation: Many of them are still haunted by the thought that they will be harassed, abused, and killed.]

"These are very real fears that they are living with, but I hope through the filed resolution and eventual investigation, they will be empowered to tell their truth and seek justice," she said.

The Senator reminded the KOJC goers to respect the stories of the victims, saying that the survivors' dignity and rights are at stake.

CNN Philippines correspondents Eimor Santos and Anjo Alimario contributed to this story.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  As Santa Claus gets ready for his big trip around the world on Christmas Eve, North Carolina families are starting to buy their milk and cookies to leave out for him.

If Santa drinks a glass of milk at each house in North Carolina, exactly how much milk would he be drinking?

To figure that out, we first need to know how much milk he drinks as he makes his way across the country.

In a study, Dairy Farmers of America found that if Santa drinks an 8-ounce glass of milk at all of the 111.35 million Christmas-celebrating households in the U.S., it would come out to about 6.9 million gallons of milk. Thats enough milk to fill more than 10 Olympic pools!

According to the 2020 census, there are about 4.032 million households in North Carolina, with 77 percent  or 3,104,640  Christian households.

If all of them leave out an 8-ounce glass of milk for Santa, that adds up to 194,040 gallons of milk that Santa would drink in North Carolina alone.

How might Santa fit all this milk in his belly, you ask? A hankering for milk and cookies as he works up an appetite during his trip, and a little bit of Christmas magic.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.
In some ways, Pervez Agwan is exactly the kind of progressive the left wants to see in Congress. Unlike his opponent, the oil lobbyfunded and AIPAC-endorsed Democrat Lizzie Fletcher, who currently represents Houstons 7th district, Agwan refuses PAC money, received endorsements from the local DSA and Sunrise chapters, advocates for Medicare for All and a Green New Houston, and made his staunch support for Palestine a centerpiece of his campaign. But working with Agwan is a different story.



Former staffers allege that the Agwan campaign oversawand ignoreda hostile work environment, where multiple women faced frequent sexual harassment from senior staff, leading 11 people, including almost all women on staff at the time, to resign en masse at the end of October. Moreover, on December 1, one former intern filed a lawsuit claiming Agwan himself made unwanted sexual advances toward her. In response, Agwan told local media the lawsuit was a dishonest hit-job by the Israel lobby. (Conversely, before Houston DSA convened to reconsider and ultimately nullify its endorsement, the Agwan campaign rescinded its endorsement request, citing the chapters messaging on Palestine.)



We all believed in him, said Jasmine Khademakbari, 24, referring to Agwan. Between the time she joined his staff in August and the day she sent her resignation letter two months later, she and several others said they faced unwanted touching and verbal abuse from the campaigns organizing director, Angelo Perlera. We all believed in progress. I was so happy to be working on this cause. Now they feel disillusioned and betrayed. Since resigning, the staffers have continued to receive communications about Agwan and Perlera that they feel are threatening, including anonymous text messages.



Hourssometimes minutesafter each staffer emailed their resignation, an attorney representing Agwan sent them a cease and desist letter concerning their defamatory accusations, pointing to the nondisclosure agreement they had signed as part of their employment contracts, and claiming that the campaign was running a third-party investigation to determine what had happened. In early November, the staffers received a message from an unknown, New Yorkbased number. What you kids are doing to Pervez and his reputation is pretty fucked up and you should be ashamed, it read in part. You should stop. He treated all of you really well and now I hope he sues you all into the ground if you dont stop. (A website using similar language that doxxes the intern who filed the lawsuit against Agwan appeared online briefly in early December.)



The former staffers all expressed some hesitancy about coming forward, in part because of the legal threats but also because they believe a progressive should represent the deep-blue district on Houstons west side. They worried how their story would be received and are not eager to see the incumbent reelected. Yet if Agwan wins, Khademakbari and a number of former staffers told me they fear for his future employees in Washington. That is going to be the congressional representative of District 7? said Jesus Nieto, a former Agwan campaign field organizer who worked under Perlera. I do not want to see that.





For Khademakbari, her time on the campaign began to sour after a surprise visit from the police. In late August, as she was settling into her new role, several police officers entered the building and arrested Agwans organizing director, Over Santiago Garcia Lopez, 25, on allegations that he had an improper relationship with a student and had recorded sex acts with a child during his previous job as a high school teacher.



Staffers were stunned. Khademakbari feared for the interns, many of whom were teenagers. (Every staffer who has come forward alleging widespread sexual harassment in Agwans office is 24 or under. Many are still in college or only recently graduated.) The lawsuit filed by a former Agwan intern notes that interns were in large majority young women while supervisors were by majority male.



Tanner Russell, 19, worked her way up from an intern position to become staff on Agwans campaign. Garcia Lopez repeatedly grabbed her waist and made inappropriate comments about her body, she said. He also interacted with her photos on Instagram and messaged her late at night to invite her out for drinks.



The New Republic reviewed a screenshot of the lockscreen on Russells phone from July 1 that shows multiple notifications for direct messages on Instagram from Garcia Lopez. The most recent message appears to have been sent at 11:17 p.m., around six hours after Russell finished work, and says, What are you up to?



Uncomfortable, she sent the screenshot to a female co-worker. Uh ohhh, the co-worker replied via text, Whats the plan here? asking how Russell might de-escalate the situation. Lmao there is no plan, Russell replied, hes our boss.



On July 22, Russell said she approached the Agwan campaigns chief of staff, Alex Inkiow, who apologized for Garcia Lopezs behavior but said she had to immediately delete the messages he had sent her. He sat there over my shoulder and watched me delete the messages, Russell said.



Inkiow confirmed to The New Republic that Russell told him about Garcia Lopez and that it immediately struck me as offputting that she was getting those kinds of direct messages, but he denied pressuring her to delete them. Weeks passed without further action by the campaign, Russell said, so she went directly to Agwan. Were doing the best we can, Agwan said, according to Russell. Nothing was done until Garcia Lopez was arrested, at which point he was fired.



Russell said many within the Agwan campaign learned why Garcia Lopez had been arrested from local TV news. When Russell received a text from a friend with a link to the local news article explaining why hed been arrested, she threw up. I was just so upset, she said. Former staffers said Agwan never addressed the matter with the whole team.





Following Garcia Lopezs arrest, the Agwan campaign hired Angelo Perlera to lead Agwans organizing effort



We were all still really recovering from that arrest, Khademakbari said, but Perlera offered staff little respite, overseeing a high-intensity campaign from the moment he began his position.



Perlera frequently berated employees for not staying later at work. He also began making unwanted advances on some of the women on staff. Almost immediately, states a December 1 lawsuit filed by a former intern, she and other employees were subjected to his unwanted touching and inappropriate comments. It started small: Multiple women told The New Republic that they seemed like isolated incidents, not worth reporting, that is, until they realized others were experiencing the same behavior.



Text messages shared with The New Republic show Perlera making comments about several staffers appearance. When one former staffer left her desk to go to the bathroom, he sent candid photos of her at her desk that he had taken earlier in the day without her knowledge: Come back plsssss, read the text message accompanying the photo. He also inundated Khademakbari with heart emojis throughout the workday, sometimes without any response from her.



From there, they said, Perlera grew bolder: coming up behind them and rubbing their shoulders while they sat at their desks and pressing his body against theirs when they got up to move around the office. It was very much like wanting to take any opportunity that he could to, I feel like, put his hands on me, Khademakbari said.



Maha Chishtey, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, went to Agwan directly to notify him of the harassment in early October, the lawsuit states. On October 4, Chishtey received a text from Agwan: Took care of it, he said. Keep me posted if anything happens. It wont and shouldnt. By mid-October, senior staff were aware of Perleras behavior toward women employees and had spoken with Inkiow and Agwan about disciplinary actions. Before she resigned, Chishtey and Khademakbari held a private meeting with Agwan about Perleras behavior. He was cursing a lot, Khademakbari said, asking why this was happening to him again.



However, according to the lawsuit, on October 17, after a long workday, Agwan called Chishtey to return to the office. When she arrived, she realized she and Agwan were the only two there. Agwan began showering her with compliments, the lawsuit says, engaging her in a long conversation. After plying Ms. Chishtey with compliments, Agwan put his hands on her and moved closer to kiss her. Chishtey immediately rejected his advances and tried to leave, but he blocked her exit, attempting to convince her to succumb to his sexual advances. When it was clear she wouldnt, he let her leave.



Chishtey was the first to resign, on October 26, and said in her resignation letter to Agwan, which was obtained by The New Republic, that I personally came to you to complain about Angelos inappropriate comments and unwanted touching. Being aware of this, you still subjected me to your unwanted efforts to engage in sexual activity and did not allow me to leave your office when I rebuffed your advances. Because there is no one in the workplace to protect me from the ongoing sexual harassment and a hostile work environment, I have no choice but to resign. (Inkiow later sent a similar version of Chishteys resignation letter that omitted any direct allegations against Agwan to Khademakbari. Inkiow confirmed sending the resignation letter and said he was unaware of the existence of another version with allegations against Agwan.)

Khademakbari was not fully aware of what Chishtey experienced until they met the Friday after Thanksgivingweeks after theyd both resigned. One former staffer remembers Agwan saying her departure was due to a family matter and that this is why we try not to hire college students.



In the private meeting with Chishtey and Khademakbari, Agwan asked them what they wanted him to do. Khademakbari remembers he proposed two choices: We can either take the nuclear option, which Khademakbari interpreted to mean firing Perlera, or we can do the option that makes him a better man, which Khademakbari interpreted to mean confronting Perlera and giving him the opportunity to change.



I think it was unfair of [Agwan] to put that question on us, Khademakbari said, citing pressure she felt not to choose the nuclear option. At that time, it seemed like we couldnt really say that. That same day, Agwan gathered the campaigns male staffers and told them that anyone who sexually harassed another employee would be fired.



Perlera and Agwan both declined to comment and referred The New Republic to a press liaison, who said in a statement that the allegations were unequivocally false and we will fight tooth and nail against anyone attempting to derail our grassroots, people-powered campaign. The statement also says an independent party is currently investigating the allegations. Khademakbari and Nieto both told The New Republic a lawyer reached out saying he was investigating the claims made against Agwan and Perlera but that none of the former staffers have spoken with him.



Agwans campaign manager Inkiow confirmed Perlera still holds his position on the campaign. Meeting minutes reviewed by The New Republic show Perlera still actively works with the campaigns field organizing arm, laboring to feed volunteers accrued through recent pro-Palestine protests into its phone-banking program.



Chishtey declined an interview for this story but released a statement through her attorney: Growing up as a Muslim-American, South Asian, and a child of Pakistani immigrants in Sugar Land, [Texas] representation was something I treasured greatly, she wrote. I was so inspired to see someone who I thought shared the same identities as me fighting for a progressive cause. Its truly saddening to see that this is the narrative he is choosing to paint.





Matters came to a head in late October. Khademakbari and several other staff members made a plan to speak with Agwan on October 30 to address Perleras behavior.



Khademakbari thought the meeting got off to a promising start; Agwan would say, Im with you and I hear you, and cite the fact that he has a wife and kids to imply that he understood. His tone, however, shifted as the conversation drew on. Multiple former staffers said they felt like Agwan was hoping they would vacate their positions so he wouldnt have to address the situation. Khademakbari also remembers Agwan saying, OK, so do you guys know anybody who can run a $30,000 to $40,000 field program?



Inkiow, who had sent words of encouragement before the meeting, said Khademakbari and the other staffers were asking for an ultimatum on Perleras employment but that due process was needed. Im in the business of winning, he added, and on the ground, I do think that the campaign were running reflects the needs of this district.



Staffers said Agwan left and returned to the room several times to take care of various tasks and show visitors around the office, leaving the women to sit and wait. Having been left to stew for nearly two hours, one staffer packed up and quit on the spot. Others formally resigned the next day. At least 11 people left. The cease and desist letters soon followed. Many are now represented by Chishteys attorney.



When you work on a campaign, you take the job on a moral basis, Khademakbari said, because you love the cause and because you believe in your candidate. She recalled the last event she attended for Agwans campaign, a fundraiser where she said he spoke about running an ethical campaign. She left early and sent her resignation that night. I realized I just didnt believe him anymore.



Today, shes unsure what her next step will be. Ive been super disappointed with the politicians that weve had, even some progressive politicians that I admired a lot when I was growing up, she said. But I havent lost trust in people, and I havent lost trust in what we can do together. Thats where our power really lies.


Students were shown the painting Diana and Actaeon by the Italian artist Giuseppe Cesari - HERITAGE IMAGES/HULTON FINE ART COLLECTION

Muslim pupils who expressed outrage after their teacher presented a Renaissance painting of nude women in class will be disciplined, Frances education minister has said.

A French teacher at the multicultural Jacques-Cartier college showed students the painting Diana and Actaeon by the Italian artist Giuseppe Cesari, which portrays a Greek mythology story in which the hunter Actaeon sees the goddess Diana and her nymphs bathing.

The work, which depicts a naked Diana and four female companions, is held at the Louvre museum in Paris.

Sophie Venetitay, secretary general of the Snes-FSU secondary school teachers union, said: During a French class, a colleague showed a 17th-century painting that showed naked women.

Some students averted their gaze, felt offended, said they were shocked, said Ms Venetitay, adding that some also alleged the teacher made racist comments during a class discussion.

A pupils parent sent an email to the school director saying that his son was prevented from speaking during that discussion and that he would file a complaint.

We know well that methods like that can lead to a tragedy, Ms Venetitay told BFMTV news. We saw it in the murder of Samuel Paty. Our colleagues feel threatened and in danger.

Teachers at the Issou school said that pupils admitted lying about events in their art class but that the damage had been done.

Were dealing with vindictive parents who prefer to believe their children than us, they said.

Staff at the Jacques-Cartier school in Issou refused to work on Monday and held a protest saying they feared for their safety - X/Twitter/CartierPro38632

Gabriel Attal, the education minister, visited the school in person on Monday and later said that a disciplinary procedure would be launched against the students who are responsible for this situation and who have also admitted the facts.

A team would also be deployed to the school to ensure it adhered to the values of the republic, he said.

Staff at the Jacques-Cartier middle school in Issou, west of Paris, refused to work on Monday, saying they feared for their safety given the recent murders of two teachers by jihadi terrorists.

Dominique Bernard was stabbed to death by a Muslim man in his schools playground in the northern town of Arras in October.

In 2020 a civics teacher, Samuel Paty was stabbed and beheaded by a terrorist in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, 12 miles from Issou, after he showed his pupils a caricature of Mohammed in a class on free speech.

In an email sent to parents on Friday, teachers said they were exercising their right to stay away from classrooms over the particularly difficult situation and an increase in cases of violence as their daily reality.

Deteriorating discipline at the school

The schools head teacher recently asked the education ministry for more staff and resources to deal with deteriorating discipline at the school, saying that fights and death threats and threats of rape had become common among pupils.

We feel we are clearly in danger. We are supported by our direct superiors but not from higher up. This is a real call for help, said one teacher.

Last week a Paris court convicted six teenagers over their role in events that led to the beheading of Mr Paty, who was their teacher at the middle school in Conflans when he was killed by Abdoullakh Anzorov, an 18-year-old of Chechen origin.

In another sign of school-religion tensions, the state this week said it would withdraw funding for the countrys biggest state-subsidised Muslim high school. In its teaching of Muslim ethics, the Averroes school, in Lille, was found to be violating French republican values.

On Tuesday, Jordan Bardella, leader of the hard-Right National Rally party, warned that freedom of expression is under threat in France from an all-conquering political Islam that is imposing on our society its laws, its way of life and its prohibitions.

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(Bloomberg) -- Myanmars ruling junta said China is helping broker discussions with an alliance of rebel groups that has ramped up attacks along the border in recent months.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Junta officials talked with senior officials from the rebel groups with the help of China in order to be able to solve this politically, Myanmar government spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun said on state broadcaster MRTV on Monday.

Following the improvement from these talks, we will have another discussion by the end of this month, he added, without saying when and where the talks were held.

China Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said her nation was pleased that various parties in northern Myanmar had peace talks and produced positive outcomes.

We would like to continue providing support and facilitation to that end, she added at the regular press briefing in Beijing.

The alliance of rebel groups launched an offensive on Oct. 27 and has claimed it seized small towns, including a trade hub on the border with China. Beijing has repeatedly called for a halt to the fighting. The conflict highlights the challenges that Myanmars junta faces controlling the country nearly three years after a coup.

See: China Urges Myanmar Cease-fire as Rebels Take Key Border Outpost

The rebels Three Brotherhood Alliance has said one of its objectives is to shut down cyber scams operating in the region. State-run China Daily reported Beijing recently issued arrest warrants for 10 leaders of telecom fraud operations in the Kokang self-administered zone in Shan State.

Also: How Myanmars Military Has Hung On Despite Sanctions: QuickTake

On Dec. 6. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Myanmar Deputy Prime Minister Than Swe in Beijing, calling for stepping up law enforcement to deal with online gambling and fraud. Chinas Ministry of Public Security last month announced that Myanmar transferred more than 31,000 suspects involved in scams to China since September.

(Updates with comment from Chinas Foreign Ministry.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Researchers are working to identify the origins of a mysterious shipwreck found recently at the bottom of the Baltic Sea off Lithuania, officials said, marking an unexpected discovery in waters where fewer than 20 shipwrecks have been officially registered.

Ignitis Renewables  a branch of the Lithuanian state-run energy company Ignitis Group that focuses on green energy  encountered the shipwreck by happenstance while surveying the seafloor in that area for a wind farm project, the company announced. The sunken ship measures about 230 feet long and 20 feet high, and yet has remained unexplored and seemingly out of sight.

It was discovered 125 feet beneath the surface of the ocean in a portion of the Baltic Sea that had never been studied in detail prior to Ignitis Renewables' research, the company said. The large unstudied area covers around 75 miles, and Lithuanian officials told the energy company they were not aware of the wreck before.

An enormous sunken ship was discovered recently in the Baltic Sea off Lithuania. / Credit: Ignitis Group

Paulius Kalmantas, a spokesperson for Ignitis Renewables, said in a statement that Lithuanian authorities confirmed the company's find had not previously been marked in any national databases. The company said additional historical and underwater archaeological research would help authorities learn more about the shipwreck, something Kalmantas said "will be valuable for the country's scientific community and historians." The data collected in that process will also be used to help Ignitis Renewables as it develops the first offshore wind farm in Lithuania, which hopes to eventually fulfill about one quarter of Lithuania's electricity demand with green energy.

"While carrying out research on the Baltic Sea floor for the offshore wind power park project, we have found a previously unknown sunken ship!" Ignitis Group wrote in a translated social media post last week. "We are handing this unusual finding over to experts, who will help reveal more information about this object. In addition, all the detailed information about the seabed will not only be used in our project, but also share it with the Lithuanian science community."

Whether Lithuania will formally register the shipwreck in its national database of historically-significant places depends on the ongoing research, said Augustina Kuriliene, an official with the heritage department at the country's ministry of culture.

The ministry added that the discovery was rare in the Baltic Sea and only 19 shipwrecks in Lithuanian waters are officially registered.

"Once the ship's dating becomes clear, a decision will be made on its registration in the Register of Cultural Values," Kuriliene said in the statement.

Regardless, Lithuania will follow UNESCO guidelines for protecting and preserving underwater culture heritage, she added. Archaeologist and heritage expert Elena Pranckenaite told the company the shipwreck can also be studied to understand more about the history of shipping in the Baltic Sea.

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An investigation is underway after a man flew from Europe to the west coast of the US without a ticket, passport, visa or any record that he was on the flight  with the passenger claiming hes not sure how he did it.

Sergey Vladimirovich Ochigava, a Russian-Israeli dual national, departed Copenhagen on a Scandinavian Airlines flight and landed at Los Angeles International Airport on 4 November without any identification or a boarding pass, according to court documents.

In a further twist, officers at a customs and border check in California discovered he wasnt listed on the passenger manifest for the flight from Denmark  or any other flights into the States.

The report into the incident states that most of the flight crew noticed Mr Ochigava because he wandered around the plane and kept changing his seat.

He also asked for two meals during each meal service, and at one point attempted to eat the chocolate that belonged to members of the cabin crew.

Crew members did not see his boarding pass and noted that the seat he first took during boarding was supposed to be an unoccupied seat.

Some members of the crew conducted head counts for their specific sections, but only to make sure that the aircraft was balanced for take-off and landing. They did not tally the numbers up, the report stated.

How the passenger was able to make it from Denmark to the US is being investigated by the FBI, with an agent confirming that the suspect  who has been charged with stowing away on an aircraft  is being held in custody, reports Fox News.

The agent who filed the complaint, Caroline Walling, wrote that Mr Ochigava claimed he had not been sleeping for three days and did not understand what was going on.

He stated he might have had a plane ticket to come to the United States but he was not sure, and did not remember how he got on the plane in Copenhagen.

He also was unable to recall how he got through security at the Danish airport, she added.

During his interview, Mr Oschigava allowed officers to go through the photos on his device. The most recent photograph in the camera roll was of television screens displaying flight information for flights flying all over the world (including flights to Amsterdam, Munich, Lisbon, Malaga, London, etc.), the report states.

A Copenhagen Airport spokesperson confirmed to the The Independent that a man was on the flight despite not having a ticket or passport.

We can see from our surveillance that he has entered without a valid ticket. Copenhagen Airport has provided photo and video material to the authorities who are investigating the case. We take the matter very seriously, and it will be included in the work we continuously do to adjust and tighten our guidelines to improve security.

The airline also confirmed what happened but a spokesperson for Scandinavian Airlines said that the matter was being handled by relevant authorities both in US and Denmark and they could not comment further.
The estimated wait time for a meal by drive-thru at In-N-Out Burgers new Meridian location was, by noon Tuesday, up to 8 hours.

Fans of the Irvine, California-based chain camped out overnight in their cars while dozens stood patiently outside in the 30-something degree weather Monday night to try to beat the crowds at the fast-food restaurants long-awaited opening at The Village at Meridian.

Construction on a store near Boise Towne Square mall is set to begin early next year, a company spokesperson said. A Nampa location is also in the works.

By the time the restaurant at 3520 E. Fairview Ave. opened at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, earlier than the regular store hours, hundreds of people were already waiting to roll through the drive-thru for burgers, fries and shakes in a procession of cars that snaked through The Villages big parking lot. The line began in a dirt lot near Urban Outfitters, where a sign warned potential customers it could be a wait of 7-8 hours.

A line to get in the lobby curved out the door and along the sidewalk, stretching down Fairview Avenue, though it appeared to move more quickly.

The line to get into the new In-N-Out, or navigate the drive-thru, turned into a long wait for fans of the fast-food hamburger chain. In-N-Out held an opening Tuesday at The Village at Meridian.

Marvin and Jackie Mejia, both 34, of Meridian, arrived at 8:44 a.m. in a white SUV with their two nephews. Over two and a half hours later, they were just a dozen or so cars away from the front of the line. Both self-employed, the Mejias said they moved to Idaho a year ago from the Los Angeles area.

Weve been waiting for this day since April, Jackie Mejia said. They ordered a double-double (a cheeseburger with two patties and two slices of cheese), a 4x4 (a cheeseburger with four patties and four slices of cheese), five regular cheeseburgers and a grilled cheese.

Asked when they planned to come back, Marvin joked, probably tomorrow. He said the traffic and long lines wouldnt deter them; after all, theyre from one of the most populous cities in the country.

All-star team helps Idaho workers adjust

The Meridian restaurant is In-N-Outs first in Idaho, and its 400th nationwide. Itll employ about 80 workers with a starting wage of $17.50 an hour. For the opening, the company brought in about 130 employees from its all-star team, scattered at locations around the U.S., to train the locally hired Meridian crew of nearly 100 employees, said Denny Warnick, chief operating officer at In-N-Out, who shivered in the early morning cold near the front of the store. Warnick flew in from California for the opening.

So far everythings going really smoothly, he told the Idaho Statesman. We wanted to be prepared in the case that were blessed with long lines. We have a lot of associates just dedicated to helping traffic flow through the parking lot.

In-N-Out fan Keith Smith, Boise, adorned his pickup with his kids Halloween costumes. He had just turned the corner and could see the menu order sign at the California-based chains Idaho debut Tuesday in Meridian.

The store is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. and until 1:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

Tammy Taub, of Eagle, stood in line at a merchandise trailer in the parking lot during the opening, hoping to purchase a pair of In-N-Out sweatpants, while her brother, who arrived at around 8:30 a.m., still worked his way through the drive-thru line in his car, hours after arriving.

I like In-N-Out, but hes very excited about it, Taub said. Its definitely a thing. Its like a phenomenon.

Miranda Presson, 38, and Chase Presson, 39, who live together in Meridian, also arrived early. But instead of taking their chances in the drive-thru  where youre stuck, she said  they decided to park and wait in line outside, which rendered service much more quickly. Their order included a pink lemonade and, from what In-N-Out calls the Not So Secret Menu, a Flying Dutchman, a burger with two slices of cheese melted between two patties. They also ordered a burger protein style, meaning the patty is wrapped in hand-leafed lettuce instead of a bun.

She set a timer on her phone after ordering, to see how long itd take to get their food. As she spoke with a Statesman reporter on the restaurants patio, the timer ticked past 45 minutes. In-N-Out employees came out every few minutes to check on them and others, who waited underneath outdoor heaters hung from an awning.

The Pressons, who moved from Southern California three years ago, said theyd been anticipating the chain opening a restaurant in Idaho for years.

A line grows longer as the noon hour approaches Tuesday at the In-N-Out opening in Meridian.

So had Jessica and Ulysses Valentine, both 32, of Nampa, who arrived spontaneously Tuesday morning with their three young daughters, one 5 months old and in a stroller. Jessica Valentine said they initially planned to let the craziness die down first but since they didnt have any other plans for the day, they thought, why not? Their oldest daughter, Charlotte, said she wanted a milkshake and to play at a Boise park after.

We both grew up in California, so this was a staple in our lives before moving here, Jessica Valentine told the Statesman.

Her husband said he wanted to order a double-double animal style, meaning the two patties are mustard-cooked and served with a helping of pickles, chopped grilled onions and extra In-N-Out sauce, which is a blend of mayonnaise, ketchup and sweet pickle relish.

Anticipating large crowds at its first location in Idaho, In-N-Out provided a large workforce to take orders Tuesday in Meridian.

The first customer on opening day typically receives a free-burger coin, said Diego Lopez, who works at an In-N-Out location in Yucaipa, California. Lopez, 20, drove from Salt Lake City to attend the opening with his friend Riley Lovato, also 20, of Boise. Lovato moved from California in February, and is looking forward to the chains Boise location.

On Tuesday, Lopez arrived at 5 a.m., hoping to be the first customer. But there were already about 50 cars in line, he said, as well as people tenting out near the stores front door.

I think, why I like In-N-Out so much, is because they really value the associates, the guests and the community, Lopez told the Statesman. Its not just about the burgers.

Waiting out the frenzy  or skipping it altogether

Dennis and Doris Du Bois, both 81, of Eagle, also attended the Meridian opening  not to order food, but just to check it out. They, too, previously lived in California, in the Los Angeles area, and knew the lines would be hours-long on the first day. They plan to return in a week or two when the frenzy is over.

Its kind of a big event, Dennis Du Bois said.

Doris Du Bois said she liked that In-N-Out prints Bible verses on its packaging. On milkshake cups, youll find Proverbs 3:5, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Soda cups display John 3:16 and burger wrappers Revelation 3:20. She said the burger chain is also a good bang for your buck.

They have really good quality food and its inexpensive compared to a lot of places, Doris Du Bois said.

California-based fast food giant In-N-Out opens in Meridian with people waiting in line for hours at The Village, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. Some fans camped overnight in the parking lot, while others arrived at the break of dawn for the chance to order a Double-Double animal style.

While the restaurants opening was a momentous occasion for many, others didnt find it worth the hype, with several people pledging online to spend their money at other, local burger joints.

Everyones pumped over the new burger joint, but Im over here just waiting for them to finish Weinerschnitzel, Lindsay Bennett wrote in Boise Food Finds, a private Facebook group. Wienerschnitzel, also based in Irvine, California, is slated to open its first Idaho store early next year at 3110 W. Quintale Drive in Meridian.

Who cares, Whitney Laursen, of Boise, commented. Its a hamburger.

But fans and haters of In-N-Out alike could agree on one thing: The extra traffic the restaurants opening will bring to the corner of Fairview Avenue and Eagle Road, already one of the busiest intersections in the state, wont be pleasant to navigate.

Was it possible to choose a worse place? Ill wait months for the crowds to die down before I go, Anamaria Zavala wrote.

The chains planned Boise restaurant at 140 N. Milwaukee St. will bring increased traffic to the area surrounding the Boise Towne Square mall, too. And another location is slated along a busy strip in Nampa. According to a building application filed with the city earlier this year, that store would be at 16225 N. Marketplace Blvd., where TGI Fridays used to operate in the Treasure Valley Marketplace, the Statesman previously reported.

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A dreidel floats in front of a window in space. a felt menorah with a middle felt flame and a far right flame indicate the first night of Hanukkah. a section of earth is seen below with blue sky and scattered clouds. the gold side of a decagonal solar panel is seen out the window. .

The first night of Hanukkah was celebrated by Jews across the world on Thursday evening (Dec. 7)  and by one who is not currently on this world.

NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli is a member of the International Space Station's (ISS) current Expedition 70 mission aboard the orbital lab. To celebrate the Jewish festival of lights, Moghbeli brought a felt menorah made by her and her family.

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, after the Maccabean Revolt to vanquish the Greeks during the 160s BCE. The apocryphal tale from that victory says there was enough oil left to light the Temple's ceremonial lamp for only one day. But the oil miraculously lasted for eight days, hence the holiday's eight-night duration.

Related: NASA astronaut will celebrate Hanukkah in space with felt menorah

a dreidel floats in front of a window in space. a felt menorah with a middle felt flame and a far right flame indicate the first night of Hanukkah. a section of earth is seen below with blue sky and scattered clouds. the gold side of a decagonal solar panel is seen out the window.

A Menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabra, with one seat raised above and used to light the others. During Hanukkah, it is traditional for Jews to light an additional candle for each of the holiday's eight nights. However, open flames are prohibited aboard the ISS, and most crewed spacecraft. So, rather than lighting candles each night, Moghbeli will be adding an additional piece of "fire" to her felt display.

Along with her NASA-compliant hanukkiah, Moghbeli also has a dreidel with her aboard the ISS. The four-sided top is used to play a Hanukkah game in which participants chance their spins with chocolate coins called "gelt," letting the dreidel's fall decide who gets the pot. The top's four sides feature letters, which, in Hebrew, make an acronym for the phrase that translates to "a great miracle happened there."

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Sharing a video to social media, Moghbeli wished viewers "happy Hanukkah, from the International Space Station," and then spun a dreidel in view of the felt menorah and one of the station's windows looking downward at Earth.

As with all things in microgravity, the spin of the dreidel would continue until acted upon by a greater force. And, toward the end of her video, Moghbeli's dreidel does, in fact, bump against the camera lens and bounce off the space station's window, but that doesn't completely stop its spin.

What's more, without a clearly defined directional orientation, a true game of dreidel may not even be possible in microgravity, as the top could never definitively land on any of its four sides. For now, that can be a problem for the rabbis to debate, and we can just enjoy the marvel of a (theoretically) endlessly spinning dreidel in space.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 12)  Malacanang has ordered the grant of service recognition incentive to government employees this year.

Published in the Official Gazette, the order states that the incentive would be given at a uniform rate of up to 20,000 and must be distributed not earlier than Dec. 15.

Civilian employees, military and police officers, fire and jail personnel, and those working in the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority are entitled to the incentive.

To qualify, employees must be of service as of Nov. 30 and must render at least four months of service.

The order also states that employees in Congress, the Judiciary, the Office of the Ombudsman and Constitutional offices may likewise be granted the same one-time incentive by their respective heads of offices.

Meanwhile, the incentive of those who work in local government units (LGUs) is subject to the LGUs financial capability and budget limitation under the Local Government Code.

In another administrative order, Contract of Service and Job Order workers are granted a one-time gratuity pay of not more than 5,000, which will be given also not earlier than Dec. 15.
Its not every day that a unique piece of aerospace test history comes up for sale, but members of the public now have the chance to bid for just such an item: the one-off de Havilland Canada Buffalo aircraft that was radically modified by NASA to trial new concepts for future, quiet short takeoff and landing (STOL) transports. Granted, the Quiet Short-Haul Research Aircraft (QSRA) is unlikely to ever fly again, but for those with deeper pockets, its a chance to preserve a remarkable piece of experimental aviation history and one that also has a string of unlikely military aerospace connections.

The QSRA listing on the General Services Administration (GSA) website. GSA Auctions

Currently being offered by the U.S. governments General Services Administration (GSA), the QSRA has been languishing at NASAs Ames Research Center at Moffett Federal Airfield in California for some time. Clearly stated under the item description are the words: UNKNOWN IF AIRCRAFT CAN FLY, HAS NOT BEEN MAINTAINED.

Seen in better days, the QSRA takes off in front of the NASA Ames National Full-Scale Aerodynamic Facility (a 40-by-80-by-120-foot wind tunnel and Outdoor Aerodynamic Research Facility) during the dedication of the facility in 1987. NASA

The aircraft has not been maintained to FAA standards, the item description continues. The true condition of the aircraft is unknown. Bidders are strongly cautioned to inspect the aircraft prior to bidding.

The GSA says the aircraft is repairable, however, [the] extent of repairs is unknown. As well as the aircraft itself, the future owner will also get some residual fuel (of an unknown type), hydraulic fluids and other fluids required for operation, but none of the original black box flight-data recorders.

As of today, the current bid is $10,000.

Few aircraft could match the low-speed flight characteristics of the QSRA. The NASA AV-8B Harrier II is one of those that could. NASA

The QSRA was originally completed for the U.S. Army as a 1974-built C-8A, serial number 63-13687. It was later transferred to the U.S. Air Force and then the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) before NASA picked it up at no cost for its QSRA program, as NASA 715. It now wears the U.S. civil registration N211.

A stunning photo of the varied Ames test aircraft on the ramp in 1986. Visible are the DC-8, C-130, QSRA, Sikorsky Rotor Systems Research Aircraft (RSRA), C-141, U-2, SH-3G, King Air, YO-3A, T-38, CH-47, Learjet, AH-1G, AV-8B, OH-58A, XV-15, and UH-1H. Ron Allen

The buyer wont be getting anything like a stock C-8, however, which is what makes the QSRA so interesting. In its original form, the C-8 was a U.S. military version of de Havilland Canadas DHC-5 Buffalo twin-turboprop utility transport developed from the earlier piston-powered DHC-4 Caribou . The Buffalo offered extraordinary STOL performance even without modification.

Before looking at the QSRA in detail, its worth noting that NASAs interest in STOL flight research dated back at least to the late 1950s, spurred especially by the promise offered by turbine engines in these kinds of designs. For both civil and military applications, it seemed that a short-field operational capability could find many different and useful applications.

QSRA test team participants gathered for the 400th flight of the aircraft in December 1985. NASA

In the mid-1970s, on behalf of NASAs Ames Research Center , Boeing took the C-8 and added an all-new swept wing in place of the original straight wing. Mounted above the new wing were four Lycoming YE-102 high-bypass-ratio turbofan engines, which had been salvaged from the Northrop A-9 program  the unsuccessful rival to the A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft. Each engine produced 7,500 pounds of thrust but at a relatively low noise level.

The revised wing and powerplant provided upper surface blowing, with bleed air from the engines being streamed through small nozzles on top of the wing ahead of the flaps and ailerons. Meanwhile, the over the wing engine installation meant that engine exhaust flowed over the upper surface of the wing and curved flaps, generating yet more lift  known as the Coanda effect . All this additional lift optimized the aircraft for very short takeoff and landing runs coupled with low approach speeds and steep approach path angles.

A March 1987 NASA Ames airshow includes three different STOL and VSTOL test aircraft: the QSRA, XV-15 tilt-rotor, and AV-8B Harrier II in flight formation. Roger Brimmer



The first flight of the QSRA took place on July 6, 1978, and the proof-of-concept phase came in ahead of schedule and under budget. Even early on, the highly modified Buffalo demonstrated stable flight at lift levels that were three times higher than those generated on comparable conventional aircraft.

According to Flight Magazine , the QSRA routinely operated with a 65-knot approach speed and demonstrated low-speed flight down to only 50 knots, despite a maximum takeoff weight of 60,000 pounds  considerably heavier than heavier than a fully-loaded 50-seat CRJ200 regional airliner.

A static test rig for the QSRA that appeared on the cover of the Aviation Week & Space Technology on March 21, 1977.

At the same time, the QSRA achieved this while operating at very low noise levels. A reading of 90 EPNdB (equivalent perceived noise) was taken at a sideline of 500 feet, judged the lowest achieved for any jet STOL transport  and notably less than any other jet transport, for that matter.

The most dramatic demonstration of the QSRAs capabilities saw it operate from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk , without needing a launch catapult or arresting gear.

The QSRA during takeoff and landing trials onboard the USS Kitty Hawk in 1980. NASA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_eDutgh4IU

Another view of the QSRA onboard the USS Kitty Hawk. NASA

In another series of tests, the QSRA was put through its paces with its engines at reduced thrust settings, demonstrating the ability to achieve short takeoffs even with more modest thrust-to-weight ratios, thanks to the benefits of upper surface blowing. These were also successful, proving that the wing design gave significant increases in payload and/or reductions in takeoff run.

Such was the potential demonstrated by the QSRA that a technology transfer program was begun, to show off the advantages of the design to potential users, both in the U.S. military and civilian sectors. This flight demonstration effort also involved Japan, which produced its own four-engine experimental transport with upper surface blowing. Known as the Asuka , this was a modified Kawasaki C-1 tactical transport, first flown in 1985.

Based on the Kawasaki C-1, this is the one-off Quiet STOL research aircraft, or Asuka, developed by the National Aerospace Laboratory in Japan. It is now displayed at the Kakamigahara Aerospace Museum outside Gifu Air Base. Richard Vandervord/Wikimedia Commons

Harnessing the benefits offered by a new generation of avionics, the QSRA was then fitted with a digital fly-by-wire control system as well as head-up and head-down displays. These avionics were then integrated with the powered-lift controls to optimize the flightpath and airspeed during precision instrument approaches and landings.

Guidance and control research carried out on the QSRA made a major contribution to modern flight computers, with direct results of the program feeding into, for example, computers on the AV-8B Harrier II , the KC-10 Extender refueling system, the MD-80 mid-size airliner, and NASAs own Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA).

A model of the NASA Gulfstream Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) in a 12-foot Pressure Wind Tunnel. NASA

Data gathered by the QSRA also helped the Air Force develop specifications for the C-17 Globemaster III transport. Pilots on the C-17 joint test team from the Air Force and McDonnell Douglas flew the QSRA to evaluate flightpath control augmentation and the head-up display. The first C-17 left the production line with a fighter-like HUD as standard equipment. Other military applications of the QSRAs research into displays were used by Lockheed in the development of avionics for the MC-130E Combat Talon I special operations transport.

Toward the end of its test career, the QSRA was used for jump-strut trials. Here, the hydraulic system in the nose landing gear was used to initiate the nose-up rotation of the aircraft during the takeoff roll, for a further reduction in takeoff distance.

Cockpit of the QSRA including the HUD. NASA

As well as all this valuable research, the QSRA also helped bring the concept of the capability of powered lift through upper surface blowing to a wider audience. It performed at both the 1983 Paris Air Show and the 1986 Expo in Vancouver/Abbotsford Air Show. By November 1993, the QSRAs NASA career was over.

The U.S. Air Forces Advanced Medium STOL Transport (AMST) competition, which had planned to field a replacement for the C-130 as its standard STOL tactical transport, led to the Boeing YC-14 and McDonnell Douglas YC-15 prototypes, both of which featured upper surface blowing and employed the Coanda effect. The YC-14 was notable for its arrangement of engines over the wing, as in the QSRA and in the Soviet-designed Antonov An-72 Coaler . A victim of changing priorities, AMST was canceled in 1979, although the basic design of the YC-15 was enlarged and improved to form the C-17.

The Boeing YC-14 entrant to the Advanced Medium STOL Transport (AMST) competition. Public Domain

Today, upper surface blowing is not very widely used. The one-time vision of quiet STOL regional jets operating from so-called STOLports was never properly achieved. Where inner-city airports are still used, turboprops are typically considered to offer a suitable combination of low decibels and requisite speed  albeit much slower than potential pure-jet alternatives.

One of the few STOL-capable regional jets to have found market was the Avro RJ series. This CityJet Avro RJ85 is seen taking off from London City Airport in August 2015. Aleem Yousaf/Wikimedia Commons

While the aforementioned C-17 relies on blown flaps for its short-field performance, upper surface blowing is found today on specific applications in which STOL is a prerequisite, such as the An-72 series. The Japanese ShinMaywa US-2 amphibian is a turboprop, but it depends also on upper surface blowing, generated by a specific third engine, to ensure its short takeoff and its exceptional low-speed performance once in the air.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4iRXMOMm9M

A little over a week left in the bidding for the QSRA. Heres hoping that this historic flight test article will find a good home and not be left to deteriorate further.

One last detail that prospective bidders might need to bear in mind. According to the GSA Auctions, youll also need to arrange for the packing and shipping of the aircraft, should you successfully get it.

Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com
Today, The 74 is partnering with Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the A Nation At Risk report. Hoovers A Nation At Risk +40 research initiative spotlights insights and analysis from experts, educators and policymakers as to what evidence shows about the broader impact of 40 years of education reform and how Americas school system has (and hasnt) changed since the groundbreaking 1983 report. In the coming months, well syndicate highlights from the initiative (see the full publication here); read below for the full announcement unveiling the project.

In 1983, the release of the groundbreaking A Nation at Risk report ignited a nationwide movement for educational reform. Marking the 40th anniversary of this pivotal moment, A Nation at Risk +40 sets out to delve deeper into the reforms that have shaped the modern education landscape. This research initiative aims to draw valuable insights, examine the evidence of reform impact, and offer lessons for todays education policymakers.

The series, now available for download here, features an array of distinguished authors, each dedicated to exploring critical aspects of school reform. By examining key questions, they seek to shed light on the path taken by education systems nationwide:

What kinds of reforms have been attempted and why?



What is the evidence of their impact?



What are the lessons for todays education policymakers?

Education is the cornerstone of a thriving society, and for the past four decades, we have witnessed a tireless pursuit of reform to ensure our education system is stronger and more resilient. A Nation at Risk +40 illuminates where we have come since the groundbreaking report of 1983, offering invaluable insights and evidence-based practices for navigating todays challenges, said Hoover Institution Director Condoleezza Rice. This research initiative serves as a guiding light, empowering policymakers, educators, and stakeholders to safeguard the future of American education.

The authors of A Nation at Risk +40 have undertaken extensive research, bringing expertise from diverse fields, including education, policy, and academia. Their collective efforts culminate in a rich tapestry of insights, aiming to inform and guide the decisions of policymakers, educators, and stakeholders in the education sector.

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Against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with schools across the United States facing unprecedented challenges, A Nation at Risk +40 offers more than a retrospective analysis. The series also provides relevant and research-driven guidance for navigating the current landscape and crafting strategies for a stronger, more resilient education system.

As the nation grapples with the educational effects of the pandemic, A Nation at Risk +40 bears witness to four decades of reform striving to improve education outcomes. By documenting this journey and distilling its wisdom, the series illuminates a path forward rooted in evidence-based practices and a commitment to safeguarding the future of American education.
(WHTM)  Theyre the bestselling potted plants in both the United States and Canada. Theyve become a part of our Christmas traditions, even though they were cultivated by the Aztecs in Mexico long before Europeans and Christianity showed up. Their beautiful flowers arent flowers at all. And even though theyre from Mexico, we know them by the name of an American diplomat.

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We are talking about the Poinsettia. Or Euphorbia pulcherrima, if you want to use the scientific name. Or flor de nochebuena (Christmas Eve Flower), if you want to use the name in Mexico and Guatemala today. Or

(Drum roll, please)

Cuetlaxochitl, the original Aztec name. (Its pronounced kwet-la-sho-she.) The Aztecs used the sap of Cuetlaxochitl to treat fevers, and the bright red flowers to make dye.

Oh yes, about the flowers. They are actually brightly colored leaves called bracts.. The true flowers of the Cuetlaxochitl are small yellow structures hidden deep in the leaf bunches.

With the coming of Christianity in the 1500s, the Cuetlaxochitl became associated with Christmas; the star-shaped leaf patterns symbolized the Star of Bethlehem, and the red leaves represented the Crucifixion.

Guide to caring for traditional holiday plants

Then theres the legend of the Christmas Eve flower, set in 16th-century Mexico. A girl named either Pepita or Maria (depending on the telling) was sad because she was too poor to provide a gift for the Nativity celebration. An angel (or her cousin, in an alternate version) tells her it doesnt matter what the gift is, as long as its given with love. So the girl gathers some weeds along the road, and when she puts them on the altar, they bloom into beautiful red flowers.

OK, so where does the name Poinsettia come from? And what exactly does it have to do with Christmas?

Absolutely nothing.

Joel Roberts Poinsett (Library of Congress)

In 1825 Joel Roberts Poinsett, politician and avid botanist, was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary (a de-facto ambassador) by President John Quincy Adams. While he was there, he collected plants, including the flor de nochebuena. When he returned home, he shared the plants with friends around Christmas, because thats when the leaves would turn bright red. Before long nurseries were selling the plant, and around 1836 the plants were being called Poinsettias.

History of popular holiday plants

The credit for really popularizing the Poinsettia goes to the Ecke family of California. Albert Ecke started selling them from roadside stands; his son Paul Ecke Sr. found a way to grow poinsettias in pots. Paul Ecke Jr. took the lead in promoting and popularizing the plant nationwide  and beyond.

Today poinsettias are everywhere during the Christmas season, in an amazing variety of colors; red, white, orange, pink, purple, red, salmon, and yellow.

While on this topic, lets bust a myth; Poinsettias are not toxic. In 1919 a child supposedly died after eating a leaf. But the story was never verified, and is apparently one of those Myths That Have a Life of Their Own. It should be noted, though, that people with latex allergies might react to the sap, which might also cause irritation and nausea in pets.)

The House of Representatives in 2002 created Poinsettia Day to honor both Joel Roberts Poinsett, who died on December 12, 1851, and Paul Ecke, the father of the poinsettia industry.

To download a Poinsettia info sheet, click here.

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Join us for an exclusive Native Bidaske as host Levi Rickert interviews Joseph Yracheta, M.S. (Purepecha  Mexican Indigenous)., shedding light on the $9 million NIH grant awarded to Stanford University and Native BioData Consortium.



Yracheta is a distinguished figure of Purepecha descent with a Masters in Pharmacogenomics from the University of Washington.



He is currently a DrPH candidate in Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University and serves as the Executive Director and laboratory manager of the Native BioData Consortium

Stanford University and Native BioData Consortium have received a $9 million NIH grant to establish an Indigenous Data Repository, RADx Tribal Data Repository (RADx TDR). Led by Native scientists, the project focuses on utilizing anonymized Indigenous data for crucial health research, specifically addressing the impact of COVID-19 on tribal communities.

Managed by NativeBio, RADx TDR aligns with the NIH's RADx-UP initiative for COVID-19 testing in underserved populations. Recognized as a landmark decision, it is applauded by Yracheta and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Chairman Ryman LeBeau for empowering Tribal Nations in administering health programs.

Learn more about this transformative project and tune in on Friday, December 15, at Noon, E.T. on Native News Online's Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube channel.

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
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny attends a court hearing in his case via video link, October 7, 2022

Imprisoned Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny has been removed from the penal colony where he was held, and his current whereabouts are unknown, the BBC reported on Dec.11.

The White House stated that they are deeply concerned about these reports.

Read also: Prigozhin suggests granting Navalny Internet access to pursue further investigations

The Melekhovo penal colony confirmed that he is no longer registered there, Navalny's spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, wrote on social media.

Navalny's associates expected that he would be transferred to a stricter detention center following the extension of his prison term.

Read also: Ukrainian filmmakers disappointed by Oscar win by Russian documentary Navalny

His disappearance could be linked to recent announcements about presidential elections in Russia. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin announced his intention to run for re-election in March next year.

Navalny was absent from several recent court hearings, where he previously appeared via video link. The colony's administration attributed his absence to technical malfunctions at the facility.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny gestures inside a glass cage before a hearing at the Babushkinsky District Court in Moscow in February 2021. His supporters said he has been missing for days. File Photo by Yuri Kochetkov/EPA-EFE

Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The mystery surrounding the whereabouts of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny reached a new level Tuesday when a scheduled hearing at which he was supposed to appear was postponed, even leaving the judge with no answers about his location.



Navalny, one of the fiercest critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government, had not been in contact with his legal team in days and had been seriously ill.

Spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said Russian officials have refused to tell them where Navalny is located, other than he is no longer at the penal colony where he had been held while serving a 19-year sentence for extremism.

Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that the judge presiding over Navalny's hearing asked the prison colony representative where the 47-year-old opposition leader was and was redirected to the Federal Penitentiary service.

"For seven days now we have not known where Alexei Navalny is. Lawyers are looking for him, making inquiries and writing complaints. But there is no information," Zhdanov said in a separate post on X asking those with information to contact them.

"Alexei is known all over the world. It's impossible that no one knows where he is."

Navalny's disappearance came shortly after Putin announced he would run for another six-year term as president of Russia. Navalny and his team had urged residents to vote for opposition candidates in protest.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters during a press briefing in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday that the Biden administration has "no idea" where Navalny might be and is "deeply concerned."

"We have communicated to the Russian Government that they are responsible for what happens to Mr. Navalny, while he is in their custody, and they will be held accountable by the international community," Miller warned.

On Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby also said that the White House was "deeply concerned" about Navalny's disappearance -- a comment that drew a sharp rebuke from longtime Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday who accused Washington of interference.

"We are talking here about one prisoner who, according to the law, was found guilty and is serving his sentence, and in this case, we consider any intervention by anyone, including the United States of America, unacceptable and impossible," Peskov told journalists.

Josep Borrell, the European Union's top diplomat, has also expressed concern about the fate of Navalny, warning Russia in a statement that its political leadership "is responsible for his safety & health in prison for which they will be held to account."

Agnes Callamard, secretary general of Amnesty International, said her thoughts are with the wife, children and friends of the jailed opposition leader.

"Oh, the fear and the anguish," she said on X. "The Russian authorities must disclose Alexei Navalny's whereabouts immediately."
FILE - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is seen on a TV screen as he appears in a video link provided by the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service from the colony in Melekhovo, Vladimir region, during a hearing at the Russian Supreme Court in Moscow, Russia, on June 22, 2023. The Kremlin on Tuesday Dec. 12, 2023 bristled at the U.S. voicing concern about Navalny who has vanished from his prison colony, denouncing it as inadmissible interference in the country's domestic affairs. Worries about Navalny, who has been serving a 19-year term on charges of extremism in a penal colony in western Russia spread Monday after prison officials said he was no longer on the inmate roster, possibly indicating his transfer to another penitentiary. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

MOSCOW (AP)  The loss of contact with Alexei Navalny at the prison colony where the opposition leader was being held likely signals a Kremlin effort to tighten his isolation while President Vladimir Putin runs for reelection over the next three months, Navalny's spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Worries about Navalny spread Monday after officials at the facility east of Moscow said he was no longer on the inmate roster. Navalnys spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said his associates and lawyers have been unable to contact him for a week. Prison officials said he has been moved from the colony where he has been serving a 19-year term on charges of extremism, but they didnt say where he went.

Prison transfers in Russia are notoriously secretive, with authorities providing no information about the whereabouts of inmates for weeks until they reach another facility and are given permission to contact relatives or lawyers.

We now have to look for him in every colony of special regime in Russia, Yarmysh told The Associated Press. And there are about 30 of them all over Russia. So we have no idea in which one we will find him.

She noted that they can transfer a prisoner for weeks or even for months, and no one will know where he is.

Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service did not immediately respond to an AP request for comment about Navalny's possible transfer and whereabouts. Earlier this year, another prominent opposition figure, Andrei Pivovarov, also went missing during a prison transfer. His transfer, from a detention center in Russia's southern region of Krasnodar to a penal colony in the northwestern region of Karelia, took about a month.

Once at a new facility, prison officials there are legally obliged to notify relatives or lawyers within 10 days, but Yarmysh said they can hardly be expected to follow the rules in Navalny's case.

She said the authorities will likely try to keep Navalny's location secret for as long as they can after Putin on Friday declared his intention to seek another six-year term in the March 17 election, moving to extend his rule of over two decades.

They will try to hide him as long as possible, Yarmysh said. I guess this was made deliberately to isolate Alexei during this period of time so he wouldnt be able to influence all these things in any way, because everyone understands  and Putin, of course, understands  that Alexei is his main rival, even despite the fact that he is not on the ballot.

Asked Tuesday where Navalny is, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov snapped that we have neither a desire nor an opportunity to track down inmates.

Commenting on U.S. expressions of concern about Navalny, Peskov said in a conference call with reporters that he has been convicted and is serving his sentence, adding that we consider any interference, including by the United States, inadmissible.

Navalny, 47, has been behind bars since January 2021, when he was arrested upon his return from Germany where he had recuperated from nerve agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin. Navalny, who campaigned against official corruption and organized major anti-government protests, has rejected all charges against him as a politically motivated vendetta.

Navalny has been serving his sentence at the Penal Colony No. 6, in the town of Melekhovo in the Vladimir region, about 230 kilometers (140 miles) east of Moscow. He was due to be transferred to a penal colony with an even higher level of security.

The loss of contact with Navalny was particularly worrying, given that he recently fell ill, Yarmysh said. She said prison officials had given him an IV drip when he felt dizzy and he had to lie on the floor of his cell.

It looks like it might have been a faint from hunger because he isnt being fed properly and he doesnt have any ventilation in his cell and he doesnt have any like proper exercise time, Yarmysh said.

While Putins reelection is all but certain, given his overwhelming control over the countrys political scene and a widening crackdown on dissent, Navalnys supporters and other critics hope to use the campaign to erode public support for the Kremlin leader and his military action in Ukraine.

Authorities could try to send Navalny to a remote colony to further limit his influence, Yarmysh said. Since the start of his imprisonment, he has continued his scathing attacks on the Kremlin in comments his associates posted to social media.

I guess they decided that it would be smarter for them to send him as far away because hes still too loud and too present in the public field, Yarmysh said.
The Navy warship Mason came to the aid of a commercial ship that was struck by a cruise missile in the Red Seas Bab-el-Mandeb strait Monday, according to U.S. Central Command.

At around 4 p.m. EST on December 11, the Motor Tanker STRINDA was attacked by what is assessed to have been an Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) launched from a Houthi controlled area of Yemen while passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb, CENTCOM said in a brief statement. The STRINDA reported damage causing a fire on-board, but no casualties at this time. There were no US ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but the USS MASON responded to the M/T STRINDAs mayday call and is currently rendering assistance.

CENTCOM Statement on missile attack in the Bab-el-Mandeb

At around 4 p.m. EST on December 11, the Motor Tanker STRINDA was attacked by what is assessed to have been an Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) launched from a Houthi controlled area of Yemen while passing through the pic.twitter.com/OJDoubAU2D  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 12, 2023

Its the latest attack on a private vessel transiting the vital economic sea lane, and another instance of Mason responding.

Mason and fellow destroyer Carney have also shot down attack drones and responded to attacks on other civilian ships in recent weeks.

In each of the drone intercepts, the Pentagon has said the aircraft were downed in self defense by the Navy ships but they could not ascertain whether the destroyers were the targets of the drones.

The assault on the Norwegian-flagged oil and chemical tanker Strinda Monday expands a campaign by the Iranian-backed rebels targeting ships close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into apparently now striking those that have no clear ties to Israel. That potentially imperils cargo and energy shipments coming through the Suez Canal and further widens the international impact of the Israel-Hamas war now raging in the Gaza Strip.

The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, though rebel military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said an important announcement would be coming from them soon.

The Houthis have carried out a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and also launched drones and missiles targeting Israel. In recent days, they have threatened to attack any vessel they believe is either going to or coming from Israel, though there was no immediate apparent link between the Strinda and Israel.

Analysts suggest the Houthis hope to shore up waning popular support after years of civil war in Yemen between it and Saudi-backed forces.

France and the U.S. have stopped short of saying their ships were targeted in rebel attacks, but have said Houthi drones have headed toward their ships and have been shot down in self-defense. Washington so far has declined to directly respond to the attacks, as has Israel, whose military continues to describe the ships as not having links to their country.

Global shipping has increasingly been targeted as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to become a wider regional conflict  even as a truce briefly halted fighting and Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The collapse of the truce and the resumption of a punishing Israeli ground offensive and airstrikes on Gaza have raised the risk of more sea attacks.

In November, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Separately, a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.

A separate, tentative cease-fire between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition fighting on behalf of Yemens exiled government has held for months despite that countrys long war. Thats raised concerns that any wider conflict in the sea  or a potential reprisal strike from Western forces  could reignite those tensions in the Arab worlds poorest nation.

In 2016, the U.S. launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at U.S. Navy ships at the time.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 12)  The United Kingdom (UK) joined other countries in condemning China following its "escalatory tactics" against the Philippines last weekend.

In a statement, the UK criticized Chinese vessels' actions as "unsafe," as local authorities reported that the latter's water cannon attacks damaged a Philippine ship in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

"The UK opposes any action which raises tensions, including harassment, unsafe conduct and intimidation tactics which increase the risk of miscalculation and threaten regional peace and stability," it said.

RELATED: Foreign envoys condemn China for back-to-back water cannon incidents in WPS

The United States has reiterated that any armed attack against Filipino troops, including the country's land and air assets, would trigger their defense pact.

Amid China's aggressive tactics in the WPS, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said Beijing has no peaceful agenda in Philippine territory.

Teodoro also said the Philippines will "not yield," as all their actions are based on the law.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also said the recent developments further cemented the national government's determination to fight for its maritime rights.
(CNN)  Polands populist Law and Justice Party has lost a confidence vote to end its authoritarian eight-year stint in power, paving the way for Donald Tusk to take charge of the country this week.

The party, known by the acronym PiS, fell well short of a parliamentary majority in Octobers general election but for two months had tried in vain to find a coalition that could keep it in power.

Mondays vote along partisan lines concluded that process, and completed an era of PiS rule that had alarmed international bodies and intensely divided Polish society.

Centrist politician Tusk, who earned a clear path to power in October, will now at last have a chance to formalize his coalition. He is expected to become prime minister in a matter of hours, and then put his coalition to a confidence vote later this week that he is all but certain to win.

PiS had orchestrated an illiberal transformation of Poland since coming to power in 2015, seizing greater control of the countrys judiciary, public media, cultural institutions and companies, and cracking down on the rights of migrants, women and LGBTQ+ people.

But it failed to win an unprecedented third term in Octobers election, in a vote that was dominated by the cost of living, the war in Ukraine, and Polands place in Europe.

PiS did win more seats than any other single party, and the countrys PiS-aligned President, Andrzej Duda, gave the party every chance to form a government, despite all other groups insisting they would not agree to govern alongside them.

Tusk, who previously served two terms as Polands prime minister from 2007  and then became the EU Council President for five years  will now look to wind back the consequences of PiS transformation of the Polish state.

But he will need to contend with a president and a courts system that favors the former ruling party, and must also appease a diverse coalition ranging from left-wing to center-right lawmakers.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Polands Law and Justice party loses power after eight years of authoritarian rule"
A North Carolina man will spend 20 years in prison after he drugged and sexually assaulted a woman in his Asheville apartment for 10 days in February 2020, according to local prosecutors.

A Buncombe County jury on Nov. 13 found William Todd Murell, 58, guilty of first-degree rape and felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury, but acquitted him of a kidnapping charge. He still faces rape and kidnapping charges in a separate March 2020 case.

"I thank prosecutors Katie Kurdys and Stormy Ellis for their passionate advocacy for justice in this complicated and lengthy jury trial," District Attorney Todd Williams said in a statement last month. "Their trauma-informed support of the victim who courageously took the stand despite her physical limitations provided the jury with the compelling evidence to put Murell in prison for over two decades."

The victim testified that Murell gave her alcohol and Trazodone, dragged by her arms and legs, kicked her in the head and raped her over a 10-day period between Feb. 1, 2020 and Feb. 11, 2020. Staff at Pardee Hospital presented evidence of her injuries, including a sexual assault kit, in court last month.

OHIO MOTHER BURNED ALIVE BY EX-BOYFRIEND TESTIFIED AT HER OWN MURDER TRIAL, DOC REVEALS: PURE EVIL'

A Buncombe County jury on Nov. 13 found William Todd Murell, 58, guilty of first-degree rape and felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury, but acquitted him of a kidnapping charge. He still faces rape and kidnapping charges in a separate March 2020 case.

Photographs presented in court showed evidence of the victim's traumatic brain injury, bruises on her arms and legs, and cigarette burns on her back and chest, among other wounds. A toxicology report showed the victim had barbiturates and benzodiazepines in her system when she was hospitalized.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Murell spoke at his sentencing and said he was "shocked" at the jury's verdict but accepted his fate. He did not apologize or express remorse, according to the district attorney's office.

The victim, a mother of three and former police officer from Florida, met Murell at a substance abuse group because she was struggling with alcoholism, according to local news outlet WLOS.

UNCONNECTED EXHAUST PIPES FOUND ON CAR WHERE 3 NC MARINES DIED OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

They drove to meetings together because they lived close by. On one such occasion, the victim drove with Murell back to his house to watch a movie. The next thing she remembers was being abused. The victim testified that Murell hid her phone, fed her drugs and alcohol and beat her in a "punishment corner" inside his house, WLOS reported.

After receiving 911 calls from multiple people, including Murell himself, over the 10-day abuse period, Asheville police conducted several welfare checks at Murell's residence, but because the victim did not request help or say she wanted to leave, the welfare checks did not result in any rescues.

The victim testified that she was afraid Murell would further his abuse and endangerment if she told authorities she needed help. When the victim's former wife showed up at Murell's apartment on Nov. 5 to find out what was going on, the victim said she told her to leave.

"I told her to get out because he'd kill her," the victim told the jury, according to WLOS. "I knew something bad was going to transpire if she stayed. I just wanted to get her out."

The victim's wife then called 911, and police conducted a welfare check but could not force the victim from Murell's residence.

MISSING WYOMING WOMAN'S ESTRANGED BOYFRIEND IS SUSPECT IN HOMICIDE CASE: COURT DOCS

On Feb. 6, police conducted another welfare check after Murell took the victim to a restaurant, and concerned diners called 911.

On Feb. 8, police conducted a third welfare check after Murrell himself called 911 to report that the woman was unconscious. When the Ashville Fire Department arrived, the victim did not ask for help or say she wanted to leave, WLOS reported.

The victim testified that William Murell gave her alcohol and Trazodone, dragged by her arms and legs, kicked her in the head and raped her over a 10-day period between Feb. 1, 2020 and Feb. 11, 2020. Staff at Pardee Hospital presented evidence of her injuries, including a sexual assault kit, in court last month.

"I've asked myself that a million times. I was so scared. I was so embarrassed," the victim reportedly said when asked why she did not say anything to responding officers.

The defense team pointed to this 911 call as part of their argument that Murell was not guilty of kidnapping the woman.

"This is more about divorce and regret," defense attorney Al Messer said in closing arguments, WLOS reported. "This is the story of [the victim] and Todd. This is the story of [the victim's spouse] seeing her wife be with another man. That's why she called 911."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE TRUE CRIME FROM FOX NEWS

Prosecutors noted, however, that Murell did not take the victim to receive treatment despite calling 911 for help.

The victim eventually found her phone and contacted friends to help her escape the house on Feb. 11. Friends and family helped her leave Murell's residence, and she received treatment at Pardee Hospital, where staff discovered that she had a lethal blood alcohol level of 0.335%, a severe brain injury and traces of barbiturates and benzodiazepines in her system. She also had cuts, burns and bruises throughout her body.

Murell's attorneys filed an appeal on Nov. 21.

The 58-year-old man faces kidnapping and rape charges in a separate case from March 4, 2020, when he allegedly kidnapped another woman and sexually assaulted her in his home. She was able to escape on foot two days later after Murell fell asleep, took a bus to a local service station and called 911, as WLOS reported.





Original article source: North Carolina woman held captive in man's house for 10 days escaped with help of family, friends: prosecutors
The Texas House of Representatives approved a Senate bill on Nov. 14 that would allow local law enforcement to arrest undocumented immigrants, making it a state crime to illegally cross the Texas-Mexico border.

While Senate Bill 4 has been sent to Gov. Greg Abbotts desk to be signed into law, Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn says the sheriffs office does not have concerns about enforcing the bill as it may be more heavily enforced in other areas of Texas.

We dont really see there will be a need for enforcement in Tarrant County. SB 4 mainly applies to counties on the border. The arresting officer has to see the illegal crossing happen in order to make an arrest, Waybourn told the Star-Telegram.

But activist groups, such as the League of United Latin American Citizens, say the bill is unconstitutional and believe it will lead to widespread racial profiling.

If you look Hispanic, I can see police officers, especially in rural counties and smaller cities asking, Show me your papers to U.S. citizens, said Domingo Garcia, LULAC national president.

According to Garcia, the organization has retained counsel and plans to file a lawsuit when the bill takes effect, which is scheduled for early March 2024, after Gov. Greg Abbott signs it into law.

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Were going to be looking for individual plaintiffs to file lawsuits challenging the law based on racial profiling, Garcia said.

He says the bill is also being used strictly as a weaponization of politics to scapegoat and create fear mongering for the 2024 elections. As a result, LULAC is asking the Department of Justice to sue Texas for violating federal powers over immigration laws regarding the 2012 Supreme Court case, Arizona v. U.S. In the case, the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional for states to implement their own immigration laws that conflict with federal law.

Out of approximately 2 million people in Tarrant County, 16 percent of the population are foreign born. Out of Tarrant Countys foreign-born population, 56 percent are not U.S. citizens, according to 2022 data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Texas is the state with the second-highest population of undocumented immigrants in the country, estimated at 1.6 million, according to a 2023 report by the Pew Research Center.

The Tarrant County Sheriffs Office is not concerned about the bill leading to racial profiling or how the new law would affect relationships between the community and officers, according to Waybourn.

We have no concerns of racial profiling because this bill will be focused on illegal border crossings and we know of people from all over the world coming into this country illegally by way of the southern border, Waybourn said. As far as affecting an officers relationship to the community, I would hope members of the community would like to see individuals involved in criminal activity taken off the streets of their neighborhoods.

SB 4 prohibits police from making arrests in certain areas including public or private schools, churches, other places of worship, health care facilities, and facilities that provide forensic medical examinations to survivors of sexual assault.

Fort Worth police, Dallas police and the Dallas County Sheriffs Office all declined interviews with the Star-Telegram, but Arlington police say they believe their federal partners continue to be best equipped and trained to handle, immigration cases as the police department is focused on reducing crime, disrupting gun violence, and promoting traffic safety.

The bill states there must be probable cause in order for officers to make an arrest. The arrested person will go before a judge and has the option to return to Mexico, dismissing the charge of a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to six months in jail.

A person will be eligible for dismissal of the charge if they have not been previously convicted of entering Texas illegally under SB 4. If they have been previously convicted, they could then be charged with a second-degree felony, with a punishment ranging anywhere from two to 20 years in prison.

Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney Phil Sorrells said his office plans to prosecute cases of arrested migrants when the bill is signed into law.

These cases would receive the same attention and priority as any other case this office would receive, Sorrells said.
Elizabeth Donowho said she had been assured the other driver would face the justice system

A nurse left unable to walk after a crash said she felt "very let down" after a US citizen "associated with the secret service" left the UK following the collision.

Issac Calderon, 22, was due to appear before magistrates on 1 December, accused of causing Elizabeth Donowho serious injury by dangerous driving.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in court.

Recalling the collision on the A4103 near Shucknall in July, the 56-year-old mental health nurse said: "It happened very quickly, there was no opportunity for me to move out of the way."

Ms Donowho, of Malvern, Worcestershire, said she was left unable to walk for six weeks after breaking both of her ankles and suffering a fractured sternum and a broken bone in her hand.

She has said she feels let down.

"They assured me the other driver would face the justice system, and they had taken all the appropriate steps, and obviously that hasn't worked," she added.

Police have told her that Mr Calderon was working on matters "that might come under the Official Secrets Act", and an "extradition process" had commenced after he left the country to return to Houston, Texas, on a commercial flight on 25 November.

The West Mercia force also told her it had received "assurances" from military police that he would not leave the country, but did not confirm the identity of his employer.

He has been described by the US Embassy as a "private citizen". Police said he had been in the UK on a work visa.

During the court hearing, the accused's occupation was given as an American soldier, according to the Hereford Times newspaper.

Elizabeth Donowho broke both of her ankles in the crash, as well as suffering a fractured sternum and a broken bone in her hand

The case follows that of Anne Sacoolas, who was able to leave the UK when diplomatic immunity was asserted on her behalf by the US government after killing teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn in August 2019 while driving on the wrong side of the road.

Harry Dunn's mother, Charlotte Charles, said she was supporting Elizabeth Donowho.

"I feel the UK authorities have let Harry down all over again, because they didn't learn from him, clearly," she said.

In matters relating to Mr Calderon, it is understood there are no issues surrounding diplomatic immunity. It is also understood police were not advised of his intentions to depart.

He was interviewed by police on 15 August - 15 days after the crash as he had required immediate hospital treatment.

A US Embassy spokeswoman said: "The US Embassy does not comment on law enforcement matters involving private US citizens.

"The US and UK co-ordinate closely on law enforcement matters."

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[Source]

Jensen Huang, the billionaire CEO of chipmaking giant Nvidia, opted for an authentic culinary experience during his recent business trip to Vietnam, indulging in the diverse street food offerings of Hanoi.

Culinary adventure: Images emerged on social media this week showing Huang, who has a reported net worth of $41.5 billion, embracing the vibrant street food culture of Hanoi while dressed casually in a T-shirt and black jeans.

On Dec. 11, Huang, who is Taiwanese American, reportedly interacted with locals while enjoying a variety of local dishes, including snails, rolls, beef noodle soup (pho bo) and the renowned egg coffee at Cafe Giang.

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Man of the people: Hoang Anh Tuan, a diplomat and part of the delegation that accompanied Huang during the trip, expressed his admiration for the entrepreneur.

"Skipping luxury dinner parties at high-end hotels and restaurants, Huang chose street food dishes with flavors and experiences that are hard to be found anywhere else," he was quoted saying.

Huang was also later spotted engaging with the local gaming community at LAN parties and contributing prize money to esports events.

Trending on NextShark: Manila crowned world's top city destination for 2023

Business engagements: Huang had earlier visited with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Dec. 10 before meeting local tech company leaders and authorities at the National Innovation Center in Hoa Lac to discuss cooperation deals on semiconductors the following day.

Nvidia, which has remarkably captured nearly 30% of the chip design industrys global market share, previously invested $250 million in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese government later revealed in a statement that Nvidia plans to further increase its presence in the country by setting up a base of operations aimed at boosting the nations semiconductor industry.

Trending on NextShark: She survived the Vietnam War. Now she's won 'Squid Game'

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Democrats scored a victory on Tuesday when New York's highest court ordered that the state's congressional districts be redrawn, giving the party a chance to shift lines in its favor for the 2024 elections.

In a 4-3 ruling, a Court of Appeals majority sided with Democrats in ordering an appointed state panel to make another effort to draw a new map for the state's 26 House districts. The panel had failed to make a second attempt in 2022 after it deadlocked along party lines, effectively punting the task to the state legislature and then the courts.

The decision ordered the Independent Redistricting Commission to submit a new map by Feb. 28, saying it was plainly given that duty by the 2014 amendment to the state constitution that created the panel, known as the IRC.

"The Constitution demands that process, not districts drawn by courts," Chief Judge Rowan Wilson wrote for the majority. "Nevertheless, the IRC failed to discharge its constitutional duty. That dereliction is undisputed."

In May 2022, special master Jonathan Cervas released this final House redistricting map after a court ordered him to redraw the Legislature's approved lines, which the court said were gerrymandered in favor of Democrats.

What are the next steps in NY redistricting?

The ruling forces the state's 10-member commission to reconvene and try again to draft a congressional map. The ultimate decision on new lines, though, lies with the Democratic-led legislature, which can craft its own map if either the commission again fails to agree or if it produces a map but lawmakers reject their proposals.

The case had loomed in the political world as a key front in next year's battle for control of the narrowly divided House. New York is critical to that fight because it has seven swing seats up for grabs, six of which are held by Republican freshman in districts President Joe Biden won in 2020.

Republicans, who flipped four previously Democratic-held seats in New York in the 2022 elections, had fought to preserve the congressional lines drawn by a special master and imposed by a judge that year. They argued those lines were fair.

In a tartly worded dissenting opinion on Tuesday, judges said the majority ruling would pave the way for "partisan gamesmanship and future litigation."

"Politics triumphs over free and fair elections," Judge Anthony Cannataro wrote for the dissenters.

The decision comes less than three months before candidates normally start collecting petition signatures, leaving little time for another redistricting drama to play out. That drama would likely have three stages: after the state panel does its work, the action would move to the state legislature and then to the courts for another challenge, which Republicans already have predicted.

Looming decision: Will NY congressional lines move again? Top court takes up case that looms over 2024 races

Were NY's 2022 redistricting lines meant to last for 10 years?

The case turned on whether the lines imposed by a court last year were meant to remain in place until the next round of redistricting in 2032.

Democrats who brought the case argued that the lines were intended for the 2022 election only and that the constitution required the redistricting panel to make a second attempt at drafting a map.

Republicans rejected that view and accused Democrats of grasping for an excuse to bend lines in their favor, a practice known as gerrymandering.

Among the closely watched races in New York that could be affected by new lines is the fight for the 17th District in the Hudson Valley.

Rep. Mike Lawler of Rockland County narrowly beat Democratic Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney to win that seat in one of the nation's closest House races last year. Now he faces a likely contest in 2024 against former Rep. Mondaire Jones, who represented the district for a term and is making a comeback bid after getting derailed by last year's redistricting.

Congressman Mike Lawler speaks at the 22nd annual American Jewish Committee Westchester/Fairfield Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast at Iona University in New Rochelle Nov. 16, 2023.

"The voters weighed in on this a decade ago, and they said they did not want gerrymandering," Lawler said at a press conference held on Monday to oppose further line changes. "They wanted fair, honest maps and for the people to choose who their representatives are  not the politicians, not the political parties."

Jones applauded Tuesday's ruling in in a string of posts on the social media site X, saying it ended "one of the darkest chapters in New York State history." He said a "court-appointed, out-of-state special master single-handedly redrew our congressional maps" in ways that split communities of interest and had far-reaching consequences.

Former Congressman Mondaire Jones delivers the keynote address during the annual MLK Day celebration at Ramapo High School Jan. 16, 2023. The event, sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center in Spring Valley, also included a variety of singing and dance troupes.

"The whole nation has been paying the price," he said. "Todays decision is a victory for every New Yorker who wants to be fairly represented at the federal level."

The 17th District, which consists of all of Rockland and Putnam counties, the northern half of Westchester and a few towns in Dutchess, already tilts toward Democrats: Biden beat Trump among its voters by 10 percentage points in his 2020 victory.

Other GOP-held swing seats that Democrats want to pick off to regain a House majority are those held by freshmen Reps. Marc Molinaro and Brandon Williams. Molinaro's 19th District crosses a wide swath of New York that Biden won by more than four points. Williams' 22nd District in the Syracuse area went for Biden by more than seven points.

Democrats cheer, Republicans denounce

Reactions to Tuesday's ruling broke squarely along party lines.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, both Democrats who had joined the court case in support of redrawing House lines, applauded the decision in a joint statement. They said it rightly returns redistricting duties to the state commission and will "ensure all New Yorkers are fairly and equitably represented."

On the other side, Rep. Elise Stefanik, the New Yorker who leads the House GOP conference, joined with state Republican Chairman Ed Cox in condemning a "plainly wrong" decision that "opens the door for Democrats to rig our Congressional district lines."

"In their relentless pursuit of power at all costs, corrupt Democrats in Albany and Washington have politicized the Court of Appeals," they said in a statement. "Its once esteemed reputation is in tatters."

Conflict for commission chairman?

Ken Jenkins, chairman of the redistricting commission and leader of its five Democratic appointees, also commended the court ruling, saying members "look forward to getting back to work with our colleagues as soon as possible to ensure that New Yorks voters receive the benefit of the historic redistricting reforms they voted for in 2014.

Jenkins faces a potential conflict in his commission role because he is the top aide to Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who opened a campaign for New York's 16th Congressional District last week. That puts him in a position to help tinker with lines that may affect his boss' bid to challenge Rep. Jamaal Bowman in a Democratic primary.

Jenkins, whose title is deputy county executive, told the USA Today Network for a story published Tuesday that he intended to stay on the commission and stressed his limited role as "1 of 10 voting Commissioners" on a panel that recommends a map to the Legislature.

New York's progressive Working Families Party, which is backing Bowman in the primary, called for Jenkins to refrain from from participating in the map drawing after Tuesday's court ruling, saying it posed a "clear conflict of interest" for him.

"Commissioner Jenkins must recuse himself to ensure a fair process," the party wrote on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.

Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA Today Network. Reach him at cmckenna@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NYS Redistricting: Top court tosses House lines, orders new ones drawn
The enemy used armored vehicles to initiate massive offensive actions on the Avdiivka and Maryinka fronts two days ago, Tavria group commander, Brig. Gen. Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, reported on Telegram, on Dec. 12.

The enemy is actively using aviation and guided air bombs, with 19 air strikes in two days, he announced.

Read also: Russia leaves Avdiivka in ruins, targets private residences ahead of new siege strategy  photos

The [Russian] assault continues, said Tarnavskyi. Our warriors are holding the defense firmly.

Yesterday, 42 enemy attacks were repelled east of Novobakhmutivka, south of Severne and Tonenke, and in the areas of Avdiivka, Pervomaisk, and Nevelsk, Tarnavskyi said.

The day before, 49 attacks were repelled, and 11 Russian tanks and 15 other armored vehicles were destroyed on the Avdiivka front. Near Avdiivka, the occupiers are attempting to advance both in the north and south.

The enemy is also active in the areas of Maryinka, Krasnohorivka, and Novomykhailivka, where 14 attacks were repelled by Ukrainian defense forces last day.

Read also:

The defense forces repelled three enemy attacks on the Zaporizhzhya front south of Novodarivka and west of Novopokrovka, the day before yesterday, said Tarnavskyi.

Ukrainian warriors continue to actively inflict losses on the occupying forces in manpower and equipment on the Melitopol front.

The enemy lost 430 soldiers in the last day.

Seven military vehicles were destroyed, including three tanks, two armored combat vehicles, and one specialized vehicle.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
(CNN)  The United States announced visa restrictions on nearly 300 Guatemalan citizens on Monday due to what it described as anti-democratic actions of officials and other malign actors, accused of attempting to annul the election won by President-elect Bernardo Arevalo.

The visa restrictions include over 100 members of the Guatemalan congress, as well as private sector representatives and their family members for undermining democracy and the rule of law, the US Department of State wrote in a statement Monday.

Since Arevalos landslide victory in the summer, members of Congress and Guatemalas Public Ministry, headed by Attorney General Consuelo Porras, have been accused of attempting to disqualify the results. Raids were ordered on the electoral authority offices, arrest warrants were requested, and last week, the ministry said it had made another request for Arevalos presidential immunity to be stripped. The ministry accuses Arevalo, who won on an anti-corruption platform, of money laundering and the alleged use of false documents to establish his party, the Semilla Movement.

Arevalo, who is due to take office in January, responded to the ministrys allegations last week saying the attempts to malign his party with various crimes, as well as questioning the elections, were all part of an attempted coup detat.

It came weeks after Guatemalas Congress approved a resolution, requested by the countrys Public Ministry, to remove the immunity of four of the five Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) judges, the body responsible for certifying Guatemalas election results.

The maneuvers have triggered widespread international condemnation and mass protests in Central Americas most populous nation.

The US State Department on Monday cited the attempt to annul Arevalos immunity as well as the Public Ministrys announcement of arrest warrants for electoral workers and party representatives, as evidence of its clear intent to delegitimize Guatemalas free and fair elections and prevent the peaceful transition of power.

Arevalos father was Guatemalas first democratically elected president in 1945 and is fondly remembered for creating the countrys social security system. Arevalo was born in Uruguay, during his parents exile from the country. He has promised to bring back the journalists, judges and prosecutors who fled the country in the wake of the government shutting down a United Nations-backed anti-corruption commission, known as CICIG.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "US restricts visas for over 100 Guatemala lawmakers for undermining democracy"
A motorist was killed Monday in a West Sacramento major vehicle collision that also resulted in three people suffering injuries, including a pedestrian, police said.

Its unclear why a gray Audi and a white Toyota collided on West Capitol Avenue and Westacre Road, said Officer Hector Torres, a spokesman for the West Sacramento Police Department.

An occupant of the Audi died, Torres said, and a man and woman inside the Toyota were taken to a hospital and were in critical condition, Torres said Tuesday. A pedestrian, a man, also suffered minor injuries and was released, Torres said.

Officers who were called by multiple witnesses at about 9:20 p.m. Monday are still continuing their investigation, which includes reviewing footage, Torres said.
One person was killed Monday in a crash on a Midlands road that left two others hospitalized, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Bryson Burgess, a 23-year-old Lexington resident, is the driver who died, Fairfield County Coroner Chris Hill said Tuesday.

The two-vehicle collision happened at about 9:30 a.m. Monday in Fairfield County, said Master Trooper Gary Miller of the Highway Patrol.

A 1996 Dodge pickup truck was driving north on S.C. 213 and at an intersection it hit a 2010 Ford transit van that was heading west on Jenkinsville Road, according to Miller. The Ford went through a stop sign at the intersection and was hit on the drivers side by the Dodge, Hill said.

Both Burgess, who was driving the Ford, and a passenger in the van were taken to a hospital in Richland County, Hill said. Burgess died at the hospital, according to Hill.

Miller said the Ford passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Further information on the passengers condition was not available.

The Dodge driver, who was the only person in the pickup, was also taken to an area hospital, according to Miller. There was no word on the Dodge drivers condition.

No other injuries were reported.

There was no word if any of the people involved in the crash were wearing seat belts.

Hill said both his office and the Highway Patrol are continuing to investigate the crash.

Through Sunday, 908 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2023, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,091 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least 14 people have died in Fairfield County crashes in 2023, according to DPS data. There were nine deaths reported in the county in 2022, DPS reported.
Its hard not to feel optimistic on a sparkling winter day filled with marching bands, flags and lots of cheers for the happy, young family of four in a horse-drawn carriage charged with leading our state for the next four years.

For many lined along the parade route Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshears second inauguration was a day where anything seemed possible, even in the midst of bitter divides on the homefront as war looms abroad.

It gives me hope for the future  we are the first to show the nation that a red state can elect a blue governor, said Gene Varbella, a retired educator who has come to every Democratic governors inauguration since John Y. Browns in 1979.

Hes the one candidate that can do it.

Although second terms are where political officials can be far more bold and far-reaching than in their politically sensitive first terms, Beshears inaugural address stuck to a well-worn script of his first-term accomplishments  Brent Spence Bridge, Mountain Parkway, Blue Oval SK etc.  and another pledge to rise above partisan politics.

One of the most difficult challenges before us is that politics  and sometimes even our governance  has become poisonous and toxic, he said in his speech shared with the Herald-Leader before it was delivered.

What is supposed to be an exchange of ideas has devolved into grievances and attacks. Some appear to think its just a game, that no target is off limits, no lie is too hurtful.

Together, we will not meet hate with hate, or anger with anger, or even frustration with frustration. Instead, we will continue with the same love, empathy, and compassion that has guided us through so much.

Those are inspiring words, the kind that send political junkies into dreams of Beshear entering national politics. But it did not give us a sense of new plans for Kentucky beyond what hes already mentioned. Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman made more news when she called for a final push to implement universal preschool.

At the same time, Beshear faces enormous hurdles starting on Jan. 2 when Republicans will put forward an ambitious set of plans on further lowering the income tax, more culture war issues and a constitutional amendment that could signal the demise of public schools.

Beshears kumbaya statements made headway with voters, but GOP legislators have, so far, seemed skeptical of the governors olive branches (and who can blame them, after the recent press tour by Beshears campaign manager who did not so much scorch the earth Republicans trod on as blow it up with dynamite).

But lets take the optimism of the day, imbued with the soulful sounds of Tyler Childers and the Kentucky State University choir, and hope that two sides could actually work together on so many tough issues Kentucky faces right now: Failing nursing homes and child care centers, teacher shortages, child poverty and the continued opioid crisis.

And maybe, just maybe, we could show the world how red and blue leaders work together.

Judy Solomon, a retired state worker waiting to watch her grandchildren in the parade, said she wishes Beshear well in these endeavors.

It will take a miracle to overcome political division, she said. But if anyone can do it, he can.
Matt Jukes, the Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner, says calls to anti-terrorism hotlines have doubled since the start of the conflict - James Manning/PA

Hate speech related to the conflict in Israel will lead to the radicalisation of terrorists in the UK, a counter-terror chief has warned.

Matt Jukes, assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, said there was a real risk that the war could energise individuals to carry out an attack on British soil.

Mr Jukes said that London was facing the biggest convergence of threats we have seen for a very long time with counter-terror arrests currently at unprecedented levels.

He told the Commons Home Affairs Committee that calls to anti-terrorism hotlines had doubled since the start of the conflict and there had been a 12 fold increase in referrals regarding online extremism.

The Mets head of national counter-terror policing warned that an attack in the UK, similar to the one seen in Paris last month, was becoming more likely as the amount of hate speech online increased.

People galvanised by hate material

He added: We have got the immediate effect of people being energised or galvanised by the amount of hateful material that is being circulated.

There is a real risk as we saw in Paris recently of an individual being energised by these events.

The FBI director last week talked about red lights blinking everywhere. I think thats part of what were beginning to see  that increase in calls from the public, that increase in online traffic, and increasingly young people involved.

Also appearing before the committee on Tuesday was assistant commissioner Matt Twist, who spoke about the impact policing mass pro-Palestinian protests in the capital was having on the force.

He said that in the nine weeks since the massacre by Hamas terrorists on Oct 7, 28,000 officer shifts had been spent dealing with protests.

He said that public order officers had 5,500 rest days cancelled in that period, and there were currently 800 open hate crime investigations related to posts online and the marches themselves.

He estimated the total cost to the force so far was around 17 million.

Hate crime offences at protests

Mr Twist said that while the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, the main organiser of the protests in London, had been good at informing police of their plans, he hoped they would do more at future events to call out unacceptable and illegal behaviours.

He added: I do think theres a real dissonance because on the one hand, Im very clear in saying that the overwhelming vast majority of people on these marches are there to do so lawfully and peacefully.

That has been plainly the case. However, on every occasion so far, we have found offences of hate crime, supporting proscribed organisations and people looking to intimidate.

These are very small numbers, but they exist nonetheless.

On Saturday, at a march in London, activists were seen holding placards making comparisons between the Gaza conflict and the Holocaust.

At one point during the march, a breakaway group of about 30 protesters was cut off by police on horseback as it targeted Canada House, the High Commission of Canada, just west of Trafalgar Square.

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The Prime Minister is facing a backbench revolt from the Right of his party over concerns the Rwanda Bill doesn't go far enough - LEON NEAL/GETTY IMAGES EUROPE

Only one per cent of voters believe that Rishi Sunaks Rwanda Bill will stop the boats, a poll by YouGov has revealed on the day MPs debate the plans for the first time.

Just two per cent of Tory voters also felt that the emergency legislation designed to pave the way for deportation flights to Rwanda would completely stop the crossings.

The lack of public confidence in the legislation comes amid concerns that the Bill, which declares Rwanda safe for asylum seekers, could fail to pass Parliament and, if successful, see migrants bog down attempts to deport them with multiple legal claims.

The survey of 2001 voters, which coincides with the second reading of the Bill, showed that overall fewer than one in five (18 per cent) believed it would completely or significantly reduce the number of crossings.

By contrast, nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) believed the measures would not reduce them much or at all. Eighteen per cent said they did not know. Leave voters showed a similar split, with 27 per cent saying they would reduce or stop the boats against 62 who thought they would not.

Conservative voters who backed the party in the 2019 election were more optimistic about the prospects for the success of the legislation, with 29 per cent believing they would reduce or stop the boats. Sixty per cent believed it would not.

By contrast just 11 per cent of Labour voters believed the Rwanda Bill would reduce or stop the boats compared with 74 per cent who said it would not.

The legislation declares Rwanda a safe country for asylum seekers underpinned by a new Treaty whereby the African state has given legally binding assurances to safeguard deported migrants after the Supreme Court ruled it unsafe.

It also aims to limit the scope for legal actions that could prevent deportations.

Bill wont work in its current form

The poll comes just a day after a star chamber of Conservative lawyers said that the emergency legislation will fail to get deportation flights regularly in the air without lengthy legal challenges.

The panel, led by Sir Bill Cash, a senior Tory MP, said the Bill provided a partial and incomplete solution to the problem of legal challenges being used by illegal migrants to delay or defeat their deportation to Rwanda.

The poll was commissioned by the New Conservative grouping of MPs, one of five bodies on the Right of the party with concerns about the legislation.

They are demanding that the Bill needs to be toughened up to curtail, if not block, individual claims by migrants and to provide a legal guarantee that ministers ignore any attempt by Strasbourg judges to ground the deportation flights to Rwanda.

One of the rebels said: Colleagues might be able to delude themselves but the public are not fooled. This is never going to work in its current form and the country knows it.

The Prime Minister has warned that pushing the Bill further would breach international law, which would collapse the scheme as Rwanda has made clear that it will not tolerate such a situation.

The Government published its own legal advice on Monday which said the cumulative effect of its measures would preclude almost all grounds for individual challenge that could be used to suspend or frustrate removal.

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The future of education has never looked more creative and promising.

Since making its public debut last year, ChatGPT has profoundly impacted my perspective on generative AI in education. As a writer and former high school English teacher, I experienced an existential crisis watching the chatbot effortlessly generate lesson plans and rubrics  tasks that would have taken me hours to accomplish.

Generative AI allows educators to move beyond traditional learning systems and provide a more responsive, personalized learning experience in which students demonstrate mastery, not just passing grades.

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The future of AI in education is not just about adopting new technologies; its about reshaping our approach to teaching and learning in a way that is as dynamic and diverse as the students we serve, XQ Institute Senior Advisor Laurence Holt said. He also formerly worked in the education, business and technology sectors. Through AI, we can also transcend the limitations of the Carnegie Unit  a century-old system in which a high school diploma is based on how much time students spend in specific subject classes.

Changing that rigid system is our mission at XQ. We work with schools and communities to transform high school learning so its more relevant and engaging while also preparing students to succeed in college, career and real life. We recently co-convened a two-day summit with the Emerson Collective, in partnership with MeshEd and Betaworks, to bring educators and innovators together in a collaborative space  envisioning ways to use AI technology for transforming high school redesign. Those ideas and insights are available to explore on this beta wiki page.

After a years worth of conversations and observations with educators, our AI convening and EdTech Week 2023, there is much to share with educators to help them make the most of the rapidly evolving ecosystem of artificial intelligence. Here are seven AI in education trends to be aware of next year.

1. Professional Development

Throughout 2023, demand for AI professional development for educators remained high. In 2024, we should see an avalanche of districts and schools providing their educators with AI professional development materials to integrate these tools into their teaching practices.

At PSI High, an XQ school in Sanford, Florida, MITs STEP Labs Sarah Wharton visited to present interesting ways to think about AI in the context of the school.

We looked at ChatGPT as a possible tutor, personal assistant, creative tool and research assistant, said PSI High School Coordinator Angela Daniel. In our PD session, we considered how these cool applications could be used in classrooms as learning tools that accelerate learning and teach the tool simultaneously.

Daniel explained that teaching students how to use AI is a first step that will change things for students going forward.But to really get at the heart of that question, we need to understand how generative AI can change our processes and resources right now, she added. For the team at PSI, that means learning how to use generative AI effectively with ongoing support as the application continues to evolve.

Workshops, online courses and collaborative learning communities are also increasingly popular for providing educators with hands-on experience in AI.

Want to stay on top of trends to help you rethink high school? Check out the XQ Xtra, a newsletter for educators that comes out twice a month. Sign up here.

2. Formal AI Policy

Integrating AI in classrooms is no longer a matter of if but how, making it imperative for educators and policymakers to navigate this terrain with informed and responsible strategies. However, the landscape of AI policy development  especially regarding education  has been dynamic, if not lagging.

The Council of Europe has continued providing critical insights for equitable policy and practice, an area where U.S. schools have been seeking guidance. New York City Public Schools, after initially banning ChatGPT, is now collaborating with academics, experts and school districts in the AI Policy Lab, focusing on issues such as privacy and cybersecurity. Recently, the Biden administration issued an executive order to guide the U.S. in leveraging artificial intelligence. This directive emphasized AI safety, privacy, equity and responsible use, signaling a shift in how AI is integrated into sectors like education. However, it is likely that AI policy in education will develop on a location-by-location basis first.

3. Open-Source Tool Development

Concerns about AIs ethical implications and biases are sure to shape policy goals. One way to alleviate those pressures is the expansion and increased use of open-sourced tools  programs where the code is accessible and can be modified. The potential for AI to perpetuate biases is significant, however, expect the conversation to focus less on the output of AI tools and more on the kind of data its trained on.

Ensuring AI tools are equitable and inclusive goes beyond technical challenges  it requires continuous dialogue among educators, technologists and policymakers. This conversation is essential for addressing data privacy, surveillance and ethical use of student data. With a democratized, open-source marketplace, we could see the market promote open-sourced tools as they grow in popularity.

4. Frameworks for Teaching AI

Before the start of the 2023-24 academic year, educators and schools were waiting for a framework to guide their integration of AI tools. As policy moves forward in 2024 and more institutions develop professional development materials to train and support educators, expect AI curricula frameworks to finally emerge. Frameworks like TeachAI are being developed to guide the integration of AI in education. These frameworks focus on aligning AI applications with educational goals and promoting equitable access to technology, ensuring that AI complements and enhances student learning experiences.

5. AI Literacy, Competencies and Standards

With AI becoming more prevalent in various sectors, including education, theres a growing need to integrate AI literacy goals and specific learning outcomes into school curricula. This involves teaching students how to use AI tools and understand the basics of AI technology, its applications and its implications.

At the Purdue Polytechnic High School network, an XQ partner with three campuses in Indiana, CEO Keeanna Warren explained how equipping staff and students with the knowledge and skills to harness AIs potential promotes effective and responsible use of AI to enhance learning experiences.

We firmly believe that our students innate curiosity drives their desire to learn, and we trust their integrity, she said. If AI can be used for cheating, it reflects a flaw in the assessment, not in our students character.

The challenge lies in integrating AI literacy into an already packed curriculum. However, the opportunity to foster critical thinking, problem-solving and ethical reasoning skills through AI education is entirely possible.

6. AI-Powered Adaptive Learning Systems

One of the more exciting pathways with AI is that student learning experiences will become more uniquely adaptive and personalized with a quicker turnaround. But creating effective programs requires training these systems on some level of student data - a delicate balance.

As policy formalizes how student data gets implemented into these programs, AI-driven adaptive learning systems will emerge to shift instructional practice. Expect these programs to appear prominently in assessments and curriculum packages before evolving into real-time feedback systems that can inform teachers even during a lesson.

7. Custom GPTs Built By Educators

While all these advancements are promising and exciting, the marketplace for AI-driven ed tech tools will become incredibly crowded quickly. Recently, OpenAIs maker space for building and using custom GPTs, which both use and are built by ChatGPT, is guaranteed to be a massive disruptor.

Ty Boyland, school-based enterprise coordinator and music production teacher at Crosstown High, designed a custom GPT. (Crosstown High is another XQ school in Memphis, Tennessee.) Boylands students use Dall-E, an AI system for generating images, with GPT-4 to create designs and prints for student-driven projects.

But how do you create a project combining culinary and music production? Boyland wondered. His customized GPT pairs XQs competencies with Tennessee State Standards to build a new project.

It will be interesting to see what educators create in this space to resolve pain points teachers and schools are intimately familiar with and what gets made to help schools achieve their vision and mission.

The Bottom Line for Educators

From policy shifts emphasizing equity and privacy to the emergence of AI-driven curricula, the transformation is palpable. Weve seen how AI can revolutionize and disrupt classroom practices, empower educators through professional development, and create inclusive, personalized student learning experiences. But the burgeoning AI ed tech market demands discernment. Educators must navigate this space wisely, choosing tools that genuinely enhance learning and align with ethical standards.

As we enter 2024, educators and stakeholders face a challenge: keeping pace with AI and engaging with it thoughtfully to catalyze educational excellence instead of just putting a new face on old practices. Its the primary reason we at XQ convened so many educators and innovators into one space to rethink high school by harnessing the potential of our AI-powered future. We look forward to sharing more with you in the coming year.

Do you want to learn more about how to rethink high school? The XQ Xtra is a newsletter for educators that comes out twice a month. Sign up here.

Disclosure: The XQ Institute is a financial supporter of The 74.
As the 28th United Nations climate summit (COP28) draws to a close in Dubai, after another year of devastating heat waves , droughts, wildfires , storms and record high global temperatures, the entire process is threatening to break down. Not only has COP28 failed to meet this moment demanding dramatic and immediate climate action  it has made a caricature of it.

The fact that the U.N. chose a petro-state, the United Arab Emirates, to host COP28 was an ominous sign to begin with. And the UAEs appointment of a fossil fuel executive, Sultan Al Jaber, to preside as COP28 president made matters worse.

Yes, we should engage oil and gas producers in the global effort to avert climate catastrophe, and perhaps the offer to host the summit was intended as a carrot to encourage them to join rather than obstruct progress. But if the olive branch was offered in good faith, it was cynically turned into a fig leaf to conceal the naked, shameful ambition of Big Oil to increase its planetary rampage.

Read more: Editorial: An oil executives going to host the U.N. climate summit. It shows who's really in charge

Right out of the gate there were disturbing signs. Reports indicated that Al Jaber was using his position to promote the UAEs state oil firm. He also stated in an interview that there is "no science showing that a phase out of fossil fuels is required to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), the global target to reduce ever-worsening climate effects. (He says he was misinterpreted , but the recording is quite clear on this point.)

And now the UAEs petro-state ally Saudi Arabia is not only joining with Russia and China to oppose a phase out of fossil fuels; it wont even agree to much weaker phase down language. The international oil cartel OPEC is asking its members to block any deal to curb fossil fuel use. Meanwhile, those seeking to prolong the use of oil and gas are inserting weasel words like unabated before fossil fuels as shorthand for the dubious notion that the carbon dioxide in emissions will somehow be abated by the pipe dream of massively capturing it in the short time frame necessary.

Finally, almost as if to invite derision, the U.N. has made another petro - state , Azerbaijan, the host for next years summit .

As much as we have argued against despair and defeatism , climate activists who have grown skeptical and cynical about the COP framework have every right to be disillusioned with the process. The accusation that it has been co-opted by the fossil fuel industry and become rife with conflicts, corruption and corporate greenwashing is difficult to argue against at this point. The U.N. has largely lost the confidence of youth climate advocates who feel betrayed by what they see as a deck stacked heavily on the side of polluters.

Read more: Opinion: How climate research is polluted by fossil fuel money  and how to fix it

Yet we still cant afford to abandon the entire COP process. Polluters and petro-states would like nothing more because, deeply flawed as COP is, it's the only existing framework for global climate negotiations.

Two years ago, climate advocates assailed COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, as a failure midway through the proceedings  but progress ultimately was made , including commitments from countries that could limit warming below 2 degrees Celsius, closer to the 1.5-degree necessity. The next year, the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, at least delivered a loss and damage agreement by wealthy industrial countries to provide funds and assistance to the developing world to deal with the devastating consequence of climate change caused primarily by legacy polluters such as the U.S. and European Union.

On its first day, this years COP took the next step by establishing the loss and damage fund and securing its first contributions. Eliminating COP would abandon that momentum and effectively be a unilateral disarmament in the battle to preserve a livable climate.

So, what do we do?

Read more: At climate summit, pageantry is over and negotiations get intense. 'It's go time' to save a planet in peril

Mend it, dont end it . We call for a substantial overhaul of the COP rules and processes. Its almost embarrassing to have to explicitly state, for example, that petro-states  those whose economies heavily depend on the extraction and export of oil and gas  should not be allowed to host the meeting. Given the enormous conflict of interest, oil industry executives should not be allowed to heavily influence, much less preside over, the summit.

The weak COP sauce of name and shame  publicly exposing and condemning those standing in the way of climate action  is failing, because the bad actors appear to have no shame. There must be financial penalties, such as tariffs or even embargoes, for countries like Saudi Arabia that seek to thwart the global effort to phase out fossil fuels by locking in oil dependency in emerging economies in Africa and Asia. And the COP rules should be changed to allow for a super majority of, say, 75% of nations to approve a decision, rather than the current consensus rules that allow even one holdout to veto any agreement.

These reforms need to happen immediately. The window of opportunity to keep warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius is closing . It will shut tight in a matter of years without rapid and meaningful progress. We must seize this moment to fix the broken COP process and stop the world from barreling down the road to ruin. Its time to change the rules so we can change the world for the better.

Michael E. Mann is presidential distinguished professor and director of the Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media at the University of Pennsylvania. He is author of the new book  Our Fragile Moment: How Lessons From Earth's Past Can Help Us Survive the Climate Crisis . Susan Joy Hassol is the director of Climate Communication . She publishes Quick Facts on the links between climate change and extreme weather and was named Friend of the Planet 2023 for pioneering climate communication over three decades.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Orthodox Cultural Center in Gaza City was hit by an Israeli airstrike in October. The main library in the city was hit the following month. (Ali Jadallah / Anadolu/Getty Images)

Among the many tragedies in the Gaza Strip over the eight weeks since Israel began bombardment, and overshadowed by the death of more than 15,000 people, is the destruction of the main public library in Gaza City on Nov. 27. Some have accused Israel of deliberately targeting the library. But whether it did or not, the destruction of libraries in times of war and violent conflict is tragically common. It is more important than ever for librarians and the public to stand up against such attacks on knowledge and cultural heritage.

When libraries are attacked, more than the horrific destruction of books is involved. Libraries are cultural repositories. They hold collective memory, preserve cultural heritage, showcase societal development and afford individuals the opportunity for learning and growth.

Read more: Opinion: Gaza's devastation and Palestine's future will require a new Marshall plan

Libraries have been deliberately targeted during conflicts for decades. In Sarajevo in 1992, Bosnian Serb forces deliberately attacked and destroyed the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina . The Baghdad National Library was looted in 2003 as U.S. forces stood by . Nazis systematically targeted libraries and cultural heritage sites across Europe. Many of those libraries are still trying to replace or find the lost materials.

But we can also learn from efforts to save libraries, archives and cultural heritage in times of war. Sometimes war is foreseen. Librarians, archivists and heritage workers can proactively develop disaster management plans, using tactics developed by their predecessors.

Read more: Opinion: Here's what the mass violence in Gaza looks like to a scholar of genocide

The British Library and St. Pauls Cathedral, for example, undertook measures to safeguard their most precious materials on the eve of World War II. Here, strategic collaborations proved crucial. Librarians at the British Library meticulously documented each book to track any items that might be damaged during the war ahead. Then, the British archives, museum and library evacuated collections from London. While many items left behind were damaged and burned from bombing, duplicate copies of damaged materials were available elsewhere, thanks to institutional cooperation. The National Library of Wales and other storage facilities, meanwhile, kept irreplaceable resources safe during the war.

Such efforts were international in scope. In 1939, Archibald MacLeish, librarian of Congress in the United States, worked with others to educate librarians and the public that an imminent threat from fascism loomed over countless books and manuscripts, and he lobbied the State Department, underscoring the urgent need to safeguard Europe's cultural treasures.

Read more: Op-Ed: The race to save Ukrainian culture, in the real world and online

These are but a few examples. Other institutions created in the face of attacks on libraries and cultural heritage continue today. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was created in 1945 in response to the destruction of cultural heritage during World War II. Initially focused on museums and archaeological sites, UNESCO's mandate expanded over time and despite limited funds hindering direct action, the organization collaborates with affiliated international groups, fostering joint efforts to protect cultural heritage, especially in conflict zones.

Similarly, the International Committee for the Blue Shield, established in 1996, acts as a guardian for cultural heritage, with part of its aim to help safeguard libraries from attacks during conflicts.

Read more: Op-Ed: Ukraine can find inspiration from its resilient Jewish community

No initiative or organization is perfect, and there are ample criticisms of UNESCO and the committee. And while none of these events offers a ready-made solution to the destruction of Gaza Citys public library, we must look deeply at efforts and success stories from the past to consider how to stop further destruction of libraries in Gaza and elsewhere.

Today the implications of destroying libraries and cultural heritage go further than ever before. The destruction of libraries not only creates a distressing loss of invaluable knowledge, it creates a void in the data that inform models for artificial intelligence. As librarians, we must work to ensure that AI algorithms are being trained on data garnered from around the world, not stripped of human knowledge from any part of civilization  particularly the Middle East, which has suffered horrific attacks on libraries over the past 50 years.

Numerous strategies exist for preserving human knowledge, especially in times of war. Libraries and archives must adopt proactive measures to protect collections before a conflict arises. This includes creating catalog records for each item, relocating the most important and irreplaceable collections to secure places when possible, and establishing duplicate copies in print or through digitization, which stands out as a crucial preservation method.

We can emphasize prevention rather than recovery  both by working with our governments to prevent war and in our professional capacities to protect knowledge. While challenges on the ground, technological limitations and a lack of resources can sometimes make this unfeasible, we must always continue trying.

The preservation of human life must be prioritized. And yet, that should not and cannot be in contradiction with stopping attacks on libraries  or digitization of the knowledge they contain.

As librarians and as citizens we must unite to safeguard human knowledge and to ensure a future in which crucial chapters of human history and memory are not wiped out.

Laila Hussein Moustafa is an associate professor and librarian at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Information Sciences.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
An express vote machine at the Weber County Elections Cffice in Ogden is pictured on Oct. 26, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Winston Churchill said, Politics is not a game. It is an earnest business.

True, but I cant quite figure out what sort of business Utah lawmakers were up to nearly two years ago when they moved the deadline up for filing a declaration of candidacy for elected office.

Beginning next month, that declaration period will be from Jan. 2 to Jan. 8. This is thanks to SB170, which passed the Legislature in 2022 with little opposition (the vote was 27-0 in the Senate and 59-11 in the House, not counting absences).

What this means is that, for the first time in memory, the candidate filing deadline will come before the Legislature convenes, which this year will be Jan. 16.

In other words, every lawmaker who is up for reelection will know during the session whether he or she faces a primary challenger, or even opposition from someone in another party (which isnt always a sure thing in Utah).

But what does this mean, really? For an answer, I asked Gov. Spencer Cox.

I dont know if its better or worse, he said when I posed the question toward the end of his budget presentation to the Deseret News earlier this month. He acknowledged that he and his staff have thought about it and debated it.

Cox, who already knows he will face opposition from Democratic lawmaker Rep. Brian King next fall, said its kind of nice to know what the political field looks like.

Related

But will a sure knowledge of the political landscape change how people vote during the 45-day session? To that, the best I could get was a shrug. The truth is, politics always has been lurking at the Legislature, no matter when the filing deadline was.

In the past, some lawmakers may have voted a certain way because they were afraid of attracting a primary challenger. The earlier deadline removes that threat.

It may be helpful for people to know they dont have someone running against them, the governor said. The implication there is that those people might be freer to vote their conscience.

On the other hand, someone who knows he or she has an opponent might be influenced in a different direction, and, of course, some lawmakers always have been aware, during the legislative session, of their opponents.

Last week, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson moved the filing deadline for unaffiliated presidential candidates from Jan. 8 to March 5, largely because of a lawsuit by candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. But state elections director Ryan Cowley told me that doesnt affect the earlier deadlines for other candidates.

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The early filing deadline was part of a much larger bill designed to provide more clarity to the political landscape heading into caucus meetings. Those who wish to bypass the state convention process and instead get on the ballot by gathering signatures on petitions will have just as much time to do so as always.

The bills sponsors, Sen. Wayne Harper, R-Taylorsville, and Rep. Cory Maloy, R-Lehi, sold it as a boon for transparency and a boost for greater involvement in the political process.

Despite the overwhelming support, one lawmaker, Rep. Norm Thurston, R-Provo, disagreed. In a committee hearing in 2022, he said the change seemed to provide protection for incumbents. He predicted the early deadlines would lead to fewer candidates.

Wayne Woodfield, vice chair of the United Utah Party, told the hearing his party usually begins receiving inquiries from potential candidates in January. These tend to be political novices who want to get involved, but who probably wont pay attention to early deadlines. Now, he said, he will have no choice but to tell them its too late; they have to wait two more years for a chance to run.

Only 12 other states require candidate declarations by February or earlier, according to Ballotpedia.org, although the data is incomplete. Several of those require it late in the previous year.

So, which is it? Will the change help Utah lawmakers cement themselves in office, or will it encourage more people to jump in early? Will it allow lawmakers to vote their conscience, free from worry of consequences, or will it make every vote taken by someone with a declared opponent suspect?

It will change the dynamic, I just cant say what its going to look like, Cox said.

Of course it will, because, as Churchill understood, nothing about the earnest business of politics is nonpolitical.
BERKELEY/KYIV  Earlier this month, U.S. President Joe Bidens administration warned Congress that the U.S. is out of money  and nearly out of time to send aid and weapons to Ukraine. This, together with the recent warning by Ukraines top general, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, that sooner or later we are going to find that we simply dont have enough people to fight, has been interpreted by some commentators as a sign of Ukraines imminent defeat and the urgent need to negotiate with Russia.

But this interpretation echoes the calls to abandon the U.K. during World War II and, more recently, the futile non-escalation approach embraced by the West since Russias invasion of Georgia in 2008.

The data tell a different story. Table 1 outlines what Ukraine has been able to achieve with the resources at its disposal. Although these figures are based on open sources like Oryx and are probably imprecise, each data point is supported by photographic and video evidence. Even with this incomplete dataset, Figure 1 clearly shows that the Ukrainian army has been significantly more effective in neutralizing Russian equipment than Russia has been in destroying Ukrainian weapons and supplies. Moreover, Ukraine has managed to retake roughly half of the territory that was under Russian control in the summer of 2022.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin has access to a nearly limitless supply of cannon fodder. And although Russias logistical infrastructure is vulnerable (even in Siberia), its weapons factories, located far from the front lines, remain largely intact. Delays in Western weapons supplies to Ukraine have enabled Russia to build robust defense systems in the occupied Ukrainian territories, impeding Ukraines 2023 counteroffensive.

Moreover, Russia is ramping up weapons production. Its military budget for 2024 is projected to be at least $120 billion, compared to $76-77 billion in 2022-2023 and $48 billion in 2021. And these estimates do not include additional defense spending funneled through the police and security services, as well as private military companies like the Wagner Group. Russia is also rapidly adjusting to modern warfare: According to some estimates, it has the capacity to deploy 20,000-25,000 first-person view (FPV) drones to the frontline per month.

So, is it time to reduce aid to Ukraine and initiate negotiations with Russia? The fact that Putin has violated numerous treaties would cast substantial doubt on the credibility of any deal. But to determine whether lasting peace is feasible, it is crucial to consider Russias strategic objectives.

First, Russia has not pursued negotiations with Ukraine; it is demanding total capitulation. Such a peace deal would result in Ukraines annihilation and the implementation of Russias original plans for mass terror and famine, reminiscent of the Soviet Unions atrocities of the 1920s and the mass starvation of millions of Ukrainians during the Holodomor in the early 1930s. The horrifying massacres in Bucha and numerous other Ukrainian towns and villages, along with the tens of thousands of Ukrainian children that have reportedly been abducted by Russia, illustrate the unimaginable cruelty of the Russian liberators.

Second, the Ukraine war is only the first phase of a broader conflict between Western democracies and a new axis of evil comprising Russia and its allies. As Christian Molling and Torben Schutz recently put it, the question facing NATO and Germany is not if the conflict will escalate into an all-out war, but when. Their analysis suggests that following the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, Russia would require six-10 years to build the military capabilities necessary to mount a conventional attack against NATO.

But Russias hybrid assault on NATO countries is already well underway. Over the past few years, Russia has attempted to undermine liberal democracies by spreading disinformation and supporting far-left and far-right populist parties throughout the West. It is also enabling terrorism: Following Hamass Oct. 7 massacre of more than 1,200 Israelis, the groups leaders received a warm welcome at the Kremlin. Russias strategy relies on democracies becoming increasingly polarized, growing weary of the war in Ukraine, and electing populist or pro-Russian governments that would further weaken their institutions.

Liberal democracies must confront this harsh reality. Putin has made no secret of his imperial ambitions, and peace negotiations will not halt his aggression. Just as Adolf Hitlers quest for power did not end with the Munich Agreement, Putins war against the West will not end with the massacres in Bucha and Israel. If Western leaders want to prevent similar atrocities within their own borders, they must support Ukraine until Russia is defeated.

As Zaluzhnyi has noted, Ukraine requires more resources and advanced weapons to counter Russias war of attrition. Given that the Wests economic power easily surpasses Russias, that is not a daunting task. While Russia has spent tens of billions of dollars building its war machine, these sums are dwarfed by the combined defense budgets of the U.S. and Europe (Figure 2).

After receiving relatively modest aid from the West, Ukraines military capabilities still lag behind those of Russia, but the disparities are not as stark as they were before 2022 (Figure 3). Moreover, Western countries could leverage Russias dependence on technologies, goods, and revenues from the rest of the world. To disrupt the Russian war machine, these channels must be cut off.

While Russia and its allies may appear intimidating, they are economically, militarily, and technologically weaker than the worlds liberal democracies. But Western countries must not squander their significant advantage. Political infighting in the West empowers Russia and its allies and enables them to provoke more conflicts, further straining Western democracies military, financial, and emotional resources.

Russian revanchism can and must be defeated in Ukraine. Zaluzhnyis point was that to achieve that outcome, the era of piecemeal support must end.

Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

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Editors Note: Samantha Power serves as the 19th Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development. She is the first USAID Administrator to serve as a member of the National Security Council, where she has brought development to the forefront of Americas responses to a range of economic, humanitarian and geopolitical issues. The opinions expressed in this commentary are her own. View more opinion on CNN.

Vladimir Putin has tried to destroy Ukraine in two ways  militarily and economically.

Much has rightly been made of how  with US and European military supportUkraines soldiers have defied the odds and not only fended off attacks by a country more than three times its size, but have already taken back over half of the territory Russia seized.

Samantha Power - USAID

Far less attention has been paid to the remarkable story of Ukraines economic survival, which now hangs in the balance as Congress debates whether to sustain critical economic support. Without this support, Putin can win the war without Russian forces firing another shot.

When Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he  and most of the world  thought he would succeed within a week or two. When Ukraines military quickly proved him wrong, he tried another assault, this time on Ukraines economy.

He attempted to sabotage Ukrainian industry by attacking the electrical grid and bombing a key steel production facility. He tried to destroy the agricultural sector  the largest export sector of Ukraines economy  by blowing up grain silos and putting landmines in fields to prevent the farming of arable land. And he shut off critical Black Sea trade routes and bombarded Ukraines ports to try to keep them from exporting their goods to the world.

But the fact is, in the fight to destroy Ukraines economy, Putin is losing ground.

During the first year of the war, Russias attacks caused Ukraines economy to contract by nearly a third. Today, thanks to the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the united front of support from partners around the world, businesses are bouncing back, foreign investment is returning and alternative export routes are growing. The economy has not only stopped the freefall from the first year of the war, but the World Bank and IMF both project that  even as the Kremlins attacks continue  Ukraines economy will grow this year. Given the relentlessness of Putins missile and drone assaults, this is a staggering achievement.

In response to the deep contraction of Ukraines economy that resulted from Putins invasion, the United States and our partners have been injecting critical budget support to help the Ukrainian government continue providing basic services for citizens like health care, education and first response. But even with Russian missiles raining down on Ukrainian cities, the government and people are reducing their dependence on that aid by spurring economic growth and striving towards self sufficiency.

Thanks to congressional funding disbursed by USAID, which is Americas international development arm, weve supported Ukrainian companies like TANA, a manufacturer in eastern Ukraine that produces materials for various mechanical, electrical, and chemical products. After Putins attacks ground TANAs business to a halt, USAID helped it relocate to a safer area and acquire equipment so it could resume operations.



Today, TANA has found a new niche developing window seals that are badly needed to repair damaged windows from Russias constant shelling. USAID has supported over 20,000 small and medium sized enterprises like TANA to withstand Russias brutal bombardments  businesses that employ millions of people and pay taxes that go directly to supporting the countrys self defense.

After investors pulled hundreds of millions of dollars from Ukraine in the first months of the war, we also started working with the Ukrainian government to match foreign financiers with Ukrainian companies looking to attract funds. In the first half of 2023, $2.5 billion in foreign direct investment entered the country. And this is poised to grow substantially, as newly launched wartime insurance markets help investors manage risks.

At the same time, were helping to create new export routes so that Putins attacks in the Black Sea cant seal off Ukraines economy from the world. These efforts are particularly critical for the agricultural sector that ships food to hungry communities in Africa and beyond, helping to keep prices stable amid the global food crisis.

USAID has worked with private sector partners and other donors to build up alternative transport routes  via road, via rail, via river ports. We are providing equipment like grain elevators that speeds up the process of getting grain onto transport. We are helping Ukraine create and scale an app called E-Queue that reduces border wait times for trucks entering the EU from as long as two days to just two hours.

This month, thanks to the buildup of these alternate routes and Ukraines success in establishing a humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea, total food exports nearly reached the average levels they were at before Putins full-scale invasion began. And we are helping upgrade border crossing points to export more grain in years to come. Improvements to the first nine border crossing points will increase grain export capacity by an estimated 2.5 million metric tons, meaning our one-time investment of $115 million should boost exports by at least $425 million a year. As new export routes like these expand, the World Bank predicts that Ukraines total exports will grow by 15% next year, and 30% the year after that.

And to keep corruption from sapping resources that should be going to the Ukrainian people, were conducting an unprecedented level of oversight on our budgetary support  working with the World Bank to provide funds on a reimbursement basis, only after expenses have been verified; enlisting Deloitte as a third party monitor; and working with KPMG to conduct a comprehensive audit of US assistance dollars, while also building Ukraines capacity to conduct its own audits through a partnership with the US Government Accountability Office.

We have also invested heavily in strengthening independent anti-corruption institutions, media, and civil society to help root out corruption more broadlyvital not only to secure the integrity of our assistance, but also to give foreign companies more confidence that their investments will be secure. The Ukrainian government told USAID that it has saved nearly $9 billion, thanks to work weve done together since 2016 to build a more open, transparent, and competitive procurement system. And recently, with our support, Ukraine launched a new platform for whistleblowers to anonymously report corruption while staying protected against retaliation.

Without the additional resources President Joe Biden has requested from Congress, American economic support to the Ukrainian government will come to an end, and potentially so will the progress we are seeing.

And because we have leveraged our support, with State Department data showing that every dollar in economic and development assistance from the US has drawn in $2 more from other donors, a halt to our funding would likely cause billions of dollars of support from multilateral organizations and allies to dry up as well. A Ukrainian economic collapse would be every bit as devastating as the fall of Kyiv would have been in the early days of the war.

The US cannot surrender in the battle for Ukraines economy. Putins victory would be a danger to us all, and it makes no sense to give up on a strategy that is working. If we can continue our work, Ukraine will continue on its path toward self-sufficiency  and emerge from the conflict with a growing economy, one that is thoroughly integrated with its European neighbors and that offers Ukrainians the prosperous, democratic and independent future they deserve.

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Whale watchers off the Palos Verdes Peninsula were treated to a rare sight on Monday when they spotted a pod of orcas.

Harbor Breeze Cruises posted photos on Facebook and said this was their first sighting of orcas in two years.

This pod of a dozen or so orcas, which the Orange County Register reported typically spend time off Mexico traveled up to Southern California, also included a pair of calves when spotted on a trip that departed at noon, according to Harbor Breeze.

A pod of about a dozen orcas was spotted off the Southern California coast on Dec. 11, 2023. (Harbor Breeze Cruises)

A pod of about a dozen orcas was spotted off the Southern California coast on Dec. 11, 2023. (Harbor Breeze Cruises)

A pod of about a dozen orcas was spotted off the Southern California coast on Dec. 11, 2023. (Harbor Breeze Cruises)

A pod of about a dozen orcas was spotted off the Southern California coast on Dec. 11, 2023. (Harbor Breeze Cruises)

A pod of about a dozen orcas was spotted off the Southern California coast on Dec. 11, 2023. (Harbor Breeze Cruises)

A pod of about a dozen orcas was spotted off the Southern California coast on Dec. 11, 2023. (Harbor Breeze Cruises)

A pod of about a dozen orcas was spotted off the Southern California coast on Dec. 11, 2023. (Harbor Breeze Cruises)

The marine mammals were spotted again on the 3 p.m. trip. Harbor Breeze said this time, the pod successfully hunted some common dolphins next to the boat.

These are mammal-eating orcas and they were actively hunting dolphins yesterday. They ended up killing two dolphins, said Jessica Rodriguez of Newport Coastal Adventures, another whale-watching charter that spotted the orcas.

This pod of Eastern Tropical Pacific orcas has only been spotted a few times, most recently in 2019 when they feasted on dolphins off the San Clemente coast.

Malibu is the typical northernmost point of their range, Rodriguez said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Orlando city commissioners signed off on a sweeping renovation of the Christian Service Center, which is poised to transform a facility with limited amenities into the regions first comprehensive day services center for the homeless.

The unanimous vote moves forward a package of funding totaling just over $6 million, with money from the citys Accelerate Orlando account going toward construction costs and the Community Redevelopment Agency committing about $1.1 million for the renovations, plus $900,000 over three years to help fund operations.

This is a historic day, Mayor Buddy Dyer said following the vote. Since the first day I became mayor weve been talking about this specific issue.  This is the first but we need a number of not as large, but smaller ones throughout the region.

The Christian Service Center, a nonprofit with a campus located next to Exploria Stadium, serves as a front door for unsheltered people to receive services ranging from meals, showers and laundry, to access to medical and mental health care, case management, and connections to employment and housing.

With the renovation, officials say the center could serve 350 people daily and upward of about 3,000 annually.

The Orlando region has seen a 75% rise in unsheltered homelessness since 2019, as rents have skyrocketed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. During the regions 2023 Point-in-Time count  generally considered an undercount due to challenges of finding secluded encampments  587 unsheltered people were found in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. Officials estimate between 200 and 225 people sleep on the streets of Orlando nightly.

Specifically, the renovation would include the transformation of two of the centers four buildings. The 6,000-square-foot Fresh Start Building will have showers and restrooms, as well as a place for people to store belongings overnight. Showers and restrooms are currently offered at the center in trailers.

The second building sits vacant and would be turned into a medical center with a focus on mental health, a much needed addition to the campus, said Eric Gray, its executive director.

Further work would improve the aesthetics of the campus, bring older buildings up to current code, as well as improve security and lighting.

These renovations, expected to happen over about 18 months, do not include an increase in overnight shelter beds. Neighbors and business owners in Parramore, who formed a Think Tank of local stakeholders throughout the planning process, would like to see more beds in other parts of the region.

Pastor Derrick Williams, who helped lead the think tank, said its members were concerned what happens when the comprehensive day center closes at night.

Lisa Portelli, a senior advisor on homelessness to Dyer, said it was among things the city was working to address.

While officials try to sort out the details, users of the center provided testimony to its usefulness.

Brian Hudson was formerly homeless, and said he found the Christian Service Center when he was living on the streets and physically, mentally, spiritually and financially broken.

He said two years later hes debt free with money in his bank account.

Its terrifying to think if I would not have come across the Christian Service Center, where Id be, he told commissioners. It really does make a difference to have a place to go and find the services we need.

rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  Officials with the Mayors Office of Housing Policy and Community Development announced Monday, Dec. 11, that they will host their final utility assistance event for the year.

Office officials host community-based events to provide financial assistance to eligible renters at risk of electric and water disconnections.

Residents who may have applied for rental assistance through the city but did not receive utility assistance can attend.

Teenage escapee wanted on aggravated assault charges in New Orleans

Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans officials will also be in attendance to assist customers along with city employees to review all documents for past due residents.

The outreach event is set to take place at the Joe Brown Park Recreational Center on 5601 Read Blvd. on Wednesday, Dec. 13, and Thursday, Dec. 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until they reach capacity.

Officials say the assistance will be fast-tracked for eligible residents who have past-due balances and no history of prior assistance. Residents must provide the city with all necessary account numbers to make payments directly to the provider.

Residents are asked to complete the online application on the utility assistance website prior to the events, and to bring with them:

A form of identification

Proof of address or current lease

Proof of current total household income

Documentation evidencing the past due utility bills

So far, the City of New Orleans has provided more than $4 million in emergency utility assistance and 4,500 households have received assistance since the pandemic.

Stay updated with the latest news, weather, and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play store and subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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The crash that killed a Fort Worth CEO and his two children in November also took the life of 25-year-old Marine 1st Lt. Connor McKim, according to an accident report from the Texas Departments of Public Safety and Transportation.

According to the report, the crash on U.S. 281 near Round Mountain and Johnson City in Blanco County happened after McKims Toyota Tacoma veered from the northbound lanes of traffic into the southbound lanes. His pickup truck collided head-on with an SUV occupied by the Muckleroy family. The familys vehicle was then hit by a third car, which rolled and landed upright.

According to the preliminary investigation, its unknown why McKims truck crossed into oncoming traffic. A DPS official told the Star-Telegram that there was no indication that alcohol was involved.

The Nov. 22 crash killed Zach Muckleroy and his two children, 12-year-old Judson and 9-year-old Lindsay. Zach Muckleroys wife, Lauren Muckleroy, survived and has since been released from the hospital.

McKim, who was from Spicewood, was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps who loved learning new things, according to his obituary. He was a talented cook, a volunteer with the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and a musician who learned to play trombone in his high schools marching band.

According to the obituary, McKim was born in Rowlett and graduated from Lake Travis High School in Austin and the United States Merchant Marine Academy. He attended flight school at NAS Pensacola and was recently transferred to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.

McKim is being remembered by his friends and family for his relentless work ethic, contagious smile and sense of humor.

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McKims memorial service was held Dec. 9 in Austin.

A celebration of the lives of Zach, Judson and Lindsay Muckleroy will be held this Friday at 5 p.m. at University Christian Church at 2720 S. University Drive in Fort Worth. The family plans a private service at the grave in Greenwood Memorial Park, according to the funeral home handling the arrangements.

Zach Muckleroy, 44, was the CEO of Muckleroy & Falls, a Fort Worth construction company.
Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla announced Tuesday he will challenge Rep. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.) in the Democratic primary, setting up a showdown in a very blue North Jersey district.

The election will test Menendezs balancing act and whether he can avoid being dragged down by his father, Sen. Bob Menendez, who faces federal charges alleging he was an agent of the Egyptian government while leading the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and accepted bribes in the form of gold bars and envelopes of cash. The senator has denied the allegations but he faces his own political challenge, with Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J) and New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy seeking his seat next year, though he has not said whether he will run for reelection.

In a largely positive campaign launch video, Bhalla focused on discrimination but also support he faced because of his Sikh faith, his subsequent work as a civil rights attorney and his climate change record as mayor.

The campaign video also flashed an image of Rob Menendezs father.

Hoboken is a small, densely populated city right across the Hudson River from Manhattan. The city was walloped during Hurricane Sandy and climate change has been one of Bhallas major issues. The city is taking oil companies to court and the mayor has worked to reduce flood risk, running in one race, in part, on the esoteric but important issue of stormwater management.

As our Congressman, I will fight to make healthcare a right for everyone, take on climate change, protect a womans right to choose, battle back against hatred, and build an economy that works for all, he said in a statement.

Shortly after the elder Menendez was indicted this fall, Bhalla said he was seriously considering a run against his son, a first-term member of Congress.

At first, it appeared the whole Menendez familys support in North Jersey could crumble, but there is some indications Rob Menendez has been able to hold on to key supporters in the Democratic Party.

While Hudson County Democrats abandoned the elder Menendez, the son last week sewed up most of the county's Democratic support. Hudson County Executive-elect Craig Guy, its Democratic chair Anthony Vainieri and all but two of its mayors  Bhalla and Jersey City's Steven Fulop  last week backed Menendez for reelection to his House seat.

In a statement, Rep. Menendez questioned Bhalla's move.

"While we have advocated tirelessly for Hoboken, it seems the only reason Ravi has entered the race after endorsing me in 2022 and publicly applauding our work this year is because a week after losing control of the city council, he sees no political future for himself in Hoboken," he said.

Matt Friedman contributed to this report.
OLIVE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Ottawa County is moving forward with a project that will expand broadband access.

The Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted to finalize public-private partnerships with Tilson Technology and 123NET, according to a release from the countys Department of Strategic Impact. The vote allows 123NET to accept a Realizing Opportunities with Broadband Infrastructure Networks grant of nearly $14 million from the state.

Ottawa County takes step toward increasing essential broadband access

The project will increase internet access for almost 10,000 businesses and residents, according to the release. On top of the ROBIN grant, the project will use $7.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds from the county and $3.5 million in 123NETs private capital, according to DSI.

In 2021, the county found that 10.5% of its households had no access at all to high-speed internet, and thousands could only access less than acceptable speeds to adequately function in todays digital age, DSI said.

Broadband infrastructure is important for supporting agriculture, business, and education across Ottawa County, Board Chair Joe Moss said Tuesday in a release. This open access expansion increases competition countywide and connects rural areas.

123NET will expand the fiber network to serve more residents, as well as develop Ottawa County facilities for a data center, retail operations, warehousing and offices. Tilson Technology will construct fixed wireless internet towers, the county said.

Construction is expected to begin next year, according to the release.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
OTTAWA COUNTY  A project to bring broadband access to under and unserved homes in Ottawa County is officially moving forward after a vote by the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Commissioners approved a master agreement and letter of intent with 123Net to utilize state and county dollars to build an open-access, carrier-neutral broadband internet infrastructure. The project is expected to result in nearly 400 miles of new fiber in the county and provide further internet access to nearly 10,000 residents and businesses.

More: Ottawa County awarded state grant funds for broadband project

More: Allegan County, 123NET receive $65 million grant for high-speed internet

Ottawa County was awarded around $14 million through a state grant for Realizing Opportunities with Broadband Infrastructure Networks. In addition, the county is using $7.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds and 123Net is contributing $3.5 million, bringing the project total to $25 million.

"Honestly, I'm incredibly proud of the years of work, collaboration, and support that's been required to move this critical infrastructure project forward, said Paul Sachs, director of Ottawa Countys Department of Strategic Impact.

This infrastructure will give our residents, business owners, farmers, students and others the access needed to continue to lead Michigans growth and development in the modern digital age.

A project to bring broadband access to under and unserved homes in Ottawa County is officially moving forward after a vote by the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

The agreement commissioners voted on wasn't included in the packet for Tuesdays meeting. Prior to discussions, the board took a recess of more than two hours to allow commissioners time to review the document.

Following the recess and discussion, the agreement was approved unanimously.

Board Chair Joe Moss thanked Sachs, legal counsel Jack Jordan, administrator John Gibbs and 123Net for their work in creating the agreement.

Moss called the agreement a significant opportunity for the county and said it will continue to be a collaborative process.

The process up until this point, right now, and moving forward has been very collaborative with a lot of input, he said. It's a large, complex opportunity. Theres a lot of exciting details.

Heat maps based on survey data show where residents lack internet access (in white), have a connection but not at minimum broadband standards for speed (in aqua) and have access at or above broadband speeds. At left, the map shows areas that meet FCC standards of 25 mbps in blue. At right, the map shows areas that meet industry standards of 100 mbps in blue.

123Net officials said the network will be open to customers as its constructed, meaning most potential customers will have access before the project deadline at the end of 2026. Justin Lampman said the companys rates start at $59 per month with no installation fees for homes within 300 feet of the road.

Moss asked 123Net if the company is willing to work with local units to expand the network beyond the scope of the initial project. Lampman said, although it wouldnt be in the scope of the ROBIN grant, the company would be open to further discussion.

"We are eager to accept the ROBIN grant award and begin building the network to make Ottawa County one of the best connected in the state," said 123NET Founder and CEO Dan Irvin. "Bringing world class, open access fiber internet to Ottawa County residents will offer benefits to the community for years to come."

ROBIN is a high-speed internet competitive grant program with $238 million from the U.S. Treasury as part of the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, according to the state's website. The program supports internet service providers and public-private partnerships for the expansion of broadband infrastructure to unserved areas.

The county initially agreed to a letter of intent with 123Net in March, enabling an application to the ROBIN grant program. There was discussion of limiting the countys potential contribution to $3.5 million, but the signed LOI said the county was willing to commit up to $7.5 million.

Last week, during a Dec. 5 meeting, Sachs said engineering work and feedback will occur through the winter and spring, with construction likely to begin in the summer or fall of 2024.

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The board also approved an agreement with Tilson Technology for fixed wireless internet towers. The towers are intended to improve internet connection for those who won't receive service from the new fiber network.

In June, 123NET also won an initial award of $65 million to construct an open-access, carrier-neutral fiber network for Allegan County.

 Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ottawa County Board approves agreement to expand broadband access
The Red Devils are the British Army's elite parachute display team

An elite British Army parachutist fell to his death when he was entangled in a colleague's canopy while performing a mid-air manoeuvre, a coroner has said.

Dean Walton, a Sergeant Major with The Red Devils display team, died at an aerodrome in Spain in October 2022.

Fellow jumper Nimsdai Purja told the inquest in Winchester the stunt was unplanned and could have killed them both.

Hampshire coroner Jason Pegg recorded a conclusion of death by misadventure.

Nimsdai Purja, a celebrated mountaineer, nearly also died, the inquest heard

Sgt Walton was off duty when he jumped with Mr Purja from 15,000 feet (4,500m) at La Juliana aerodrome near Seville on 14 October.

The married officer, who had a one-year-old daughter, put his feet on Mr Purja's parachute at 3,000 feet (900m), the hearing was told.

Sgt Walton's head camera footage, shown at the inquest, recorded him swearing as he became entangled.

Mr Purja, a celebrated mountaineer who has climbed the world's 14 highest peaks, said Sgt Walton "probably wanted to show off".

He told the hearing: "The brutal reality is he should never come and stand on top of my canopy. I could have also been dead."

Mr Purja was asked about a Facebook post in which he said the pair had been training together, "conducting canopy handling and canopy stacking drills".

However, he told the inquest no manoeuvres had been planned, adding: "If [Mr Walton] had discussed that, I wouldn't have allowed him."

He told the coroner: "We were losing altitude very rapidly. We were going into a G-force spin.

"I waited for a while for him to take action, then I operated the reserve [parachute]."

Mr Purja, who served with the Gurkhas and the Special Boat Service, landed safely and was found "on his knees crying" by Spanish officials, the inquest was told.

The coroner said Sgt Walton had served with "recognised distinction" in Afghanistan, helping to save the life of a US serviceman.

He said the officer had to "brake hard" to land on Mr Purja's slower-moving parachute, causing both canopies to collapse.

Mr Pegg said: "It is more likely than not that it was not planned for Dean to land on top of Mr Purja's canopy.

"[Sgt Walton's] canopy collapsed during an attempt to perform a stacking manoeuvre, causing Dean to become entangled in parachute lines from which he could not free himself."

The coroner said Mr Purja cut away and deployed his reserve parachute at about the last possible moment to guarantee a safe landing.

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This Pastor Saved A Historic Barbershop That Has Been A Landmark In Miamis Black History | Catherine McQueen via Getty Images

One pastor revived his childhood neighborhood by reopening a barbershop thats been a landmark in Miamis Black history.

In the early 1960s, Ralph Pressley Sr. opened Esquire Barber Shop & Clothing store in Liberty City, according to The Miami Times. It was monumental because it was the first Black-owned business on NW 54th Street and 14th Avenue. The store remained open for nearly 60 years until it closed following Pressleys passing in 2020. Its closure devastated the community as it was a representation of hope and a safe space for local Black Americans.

On Dec. 2, people gathered at the community hallmark for the grand opening of its symbolic reopening thanks to the new owner, Reverend Billy Strange Jr., the head pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church. Attendees participated in a celebration where people sang and danced, got free haircuts and enjoyed food.

The preacher was one of the community members deeply impacted by the store shutting down due to fond memories of his father  one of Pressleys dearest friends and customers  taking him to Esquire for his haircuts. So, he took it upon himself to salvage the location. It was also a way to honor his parents.

I grew up right around the corner from [Esquire] and came in for haircuts, the 66-year-old explained. I saw this as an opportunity to help the community.

Strange acquired the building with the help of Pressleys son, Ralph, who originally made a deal with investors who wanted to renovate it into a nail salon. After he expressed his interest in saving Esquire at the top of 2023, the Liberty City native voided the contract.

When Pressley Jr. spoke to me, and I shared with him my interest, he said, Im going to nullify that contract, and were gonna get you in here,' he said.

Some of the citys government leaders were also in attendance to show their allyship to Strange for his new venture at the relaunch of Esquire. One was Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who sent William Poro (Assistant Director of the countys Office of Innovation and Economic Development) in her place to ensure Liberty City knew her office was backing the reopening.

Small businesses are the fabric our of community, Poro said. We dont want to see them displaced, so if theres a way of strengthening them through different resources, thats what wed like to do.

Resident Martha Whisby-Wells, is excited to see a familiar business get a facelift and make a comeback as someone who frequented the barbershop with her father and brothers.

It means a lot that this historic barbershop will be reopening and continuing its legacy, Whisby-Wells shared at the grand opening. The next generation of young men and women will be coming here to keep this Black business open.

Other locals like Robert Beneby are excited that the next generation of children will be able to create unforgettable memories like himself and others who grew up in the area and enjoyed their time at Esquire.

We were able to come here with our fathers and our mothers and it was just love in here, Beneby told The Miami Times. Everybody would talk and just have fun.

Although the main customer base may be Black Americans, Strange wants the general public to know that everyone is welcome to Esquire. The barbershop is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 5 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with haircuts starting at $15.

Furthermore, mentoring services will eventually be offered to help those in need in other ways. Offering this type of assistance to his community is near to his heart after defeating a nearly two-decade struggle with drug addiction.

God opened this door for me, he said, so here I am.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  The House State Government Committee announced on Tuesday it has approved legislation that would prohibit state government agencies from downloading and using TikTok. The legislation has been sponsored by Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York).

Under the legislation, agencies, departments, commissions, and all government agencies would need to remove the application from state networks and implement measures to make sure the app would not be installed.

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The cybersecurity risk that TikTok poses to Pennsylvanians and their private information is not a Republican or Democratic issue  it is a Pennsylvania issue. Our state government must take action against nefarious foreign actors that imperil the safety and security of our data and networks, Phillips-Hill said. I am grateful that the House State Government Committee has brought this bipartisan legislation up for a vote.

TikTok is consumed by two-thirds of American teens. But theres long been bipartisan concern in Washington that China could use its legal and regulatory power to seize American user data or try to push misinformation or narratives favoring China.

The legislation will now head to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
(WHTM)  Pennsylvania lawmakers have advanced a bill that would help cover the costs of electric school buses.

The House Education Committee voted 14-11 with all Democrats voting in favor and Republicans voting against the creation of the Electric School Bus Grant Program.

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The grant program would allow the Department of Education to provide grants to schools, nonprofits, or a private entity to obtain and maintain electric school buses.

Grants would also cover the conversion of internal combustion engine school buses into electric-powered buses, upgrade charging infrastructure, and upgrade customer meters.

The department would also administer the program, provide technical assistance, and establish an application process to apply for the grant that includes criteria and procedures.

The Electric School Bus Grant Program Fund would be established within the State Treasury, which would administer funds for the program through funds appropriated by the General Assembly.

The bill faces additional potential votes in the House and Senate before it would become law.

According to the Electric School Bus Initiative, there are more than 1,800 electric school buses in 46 states and U.S. territories, which equals approximately 0.4% of all school buses in the country.

The ESBI says Pennsylvania has 136 total committed electric school buses, though many are not yet in operation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Three Pennsylvania lawmakers have announced a resolution that would recognize the year 2023 as the Taylor Swift Era in Pennsylvania.

According to a memo, Representative Danielle Friel Otten (D-Chester), as well as Rep. Jennifer OMara (D-Delaware), and Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz (D-Berks) announced the legislation back on Dec. 8.

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It was created in celebration of Swift, a West Reading natives, recent selection as Time Magazines Person of the Year and acknowledgment of her positive impact on Pennsylvanias economy, voter registration numbers consumer protections, and prop labor practices. the resolution stated.

The memo stated that Swift has left a positive economic impact on the cities her tour visited, including raising hotel revenue in Philadelphia to the highest point since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how those who purchased Eras Tour tickets through Ticketmaster, which prompted legislative action in her home state of Pennsylvania.

You can read the entire memo by clicking here. You can also see the full resolution by clicking here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
DE PERE  The De Pere School Board decided not to censure board President Adam Clayton on Monday night, after fellow member Brittony Cartwright accused him of disrespect and bullying.

Cartwright said Clayton has used disrespectful body language, like rolling his eyes and shaking his head, when she talks.

"All members of the board deserve to be treated with respect, even when we do not agree," she said at Monday's meeting.

Cartwright wanted to censure Clayton for comments he made during a closed session at the Nov. 13 board meeting but said the behavior had been ongoing since she joined the board in 2022.

Since the board was behind closed doors at the Nov. 13 meeting, members did not say what the nature of Clayton and Cartwright's disagreement was. The agenda says the board was discussing the annual superintendent performance review.

Clayton admitted that he is a passionate board member, but that his behavior was not bullying.

"I find this entire discussion to be (an) extremely exaggeration of simple disagreements," he said Monday. "And I'm disappointed that such a nuclear approach has been taken and takes time away from the focus of important business of this board."

Cartwright said whether Clayton's behavior was intended or not isn't the point.

"My feelings and how Ive been made to feel are valid and deserve to be acknowledged. Whether the intention was there to make me feel this way time and time again is not the point," she said. "Here I am. The result of ongoing issues over the better part of two years has brought me to this point, and that counts for something."

Board members Jeff Mirkes, Jeff Dickert and newcomer Matthew Petersen said they did not think Clayton's conduct rose to the level of censure, which is a formal reprimand of a board member's conduct.

"What I witnessed in that meeting was two individuals, both passionate, both becoming mildly frustrated with each other in a visual sense (with) body language, a little bit of vocal tone," Petersen said. "I did not consider anything outside of normal work team disagreements."

Vice President Chad Jeskewitz agreed that Clayton's conduct didn't necessitate censure but said Cartwright's feelings should be validated.

"I think that we have to work on treating each other with respect both verbally, nonverbally, and it's OK to have emotions and show frustrations. But I think it's just a learning lesson for us all," Jeskewitz said.

Board member Melissa Niffenegger said Cartwright tried to address Clayton's behavior multiple ways, including talking with Superintendent Christopher Thompson. Niffenegger was the only board member in support of the censure. Clayton and Cartwright did not have a vote.

Dickert suggested the board enlist the Wisconsin Association of School Boards to help with board training on decorum and bullying for the betterment of the entire board; Thompson agreed to look into it.

Danielle DuClos is a Report for America corps member who covers K-12 education for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at dduclos@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @danielle_duclos. You can directly support her work with a tax-deductible donation at GreenBayPressGazette.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Green Bay Press Gazette Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Drive, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: De Pere School Board decides not to censure board president
With final exams next week, my hunch as a statistician is that more prayers will be offered up on campus next week than during any other week this semester. Finals may be an opportunity for prayer, but theyre also an opportunity to reflect on what students have learned and what they have become during the length of a semester. In my new role as BYUs president, I too am reflecting this season on what BYU must become.

BYU is a school of destiny and promise.

Those of us who work here feel both the buoyancy and the burden of what has been hoped, dreamed, and even prophesied about our future.

Since becoming BYUs 14th president, Ive repeatedly read and pondered President Spencer W. Kimballs 1975 address, The Second Century of Brigham Young University. As only he could, President Kimball expounded on the destiny of this unique university to become an educational Everest.

BYU must provide education for eternity, pursue academic excellence and cultivate spiritual values, he explained. President Kimball challenged BYU to become a great academic university that remained unequivocally loyal to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I love BYU.

I love what it has meant to hundreds of thousands of students who have enter(ed) to learn and go(ne) forth to serve, including myself. I love my BYU colleagues who strive to provide our students an education bathed in the light of the restored gospel.

Related

BYU President Shane Reese talks with media after being announced as the universitys new president at the Marriott Center in Provo on March 21, 2023. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

And yet, for all that the university has accomplished and all that it has meant to so many, I cant help but feel BYU can and will become even more and even better. Guided by an inspired mission and directed by an inspired board of trustees, BYU still has much to accomplish as it becomes what it must become: the Christ-centered, prophetically-directed university of destiny and promise.

In my recent inaugural response, Becoming BYU, I delineated seven ways BYU will build upon the strong foundation laid by previous presidents and other honored forebears. BYU will only become an educational Everest if we as administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the school have the tenacity to put forth the effort required to reach our potential.

That will require this sevenfold focus.

Strengthen the student experience

Becoming BYU will require enriching the student experience and strengthening our already student-centric approach. Each students eternal progression must remain our foremost concern. To this end we strive for every student to have an inspiring learning experience. Bolstered by gospel methodology, we frame these experiences by our conviction that each student is a child of God who can be bound to Christ as a child of the covenant.

Retain a focus on undergraduate teaching

Becoming BYU will also involve increased focus on our primary teaching mission. This focus has been reinforced by recent revisions to our faculty promotion policies. As these refined incentives sharpen our focus on student learning, we will qualify for the inspiration needed to better fulfill our scholarship and mentoring missions. Our primary focus on high-quality teaching gains strength as all faculty work together to enhance our students experiences.

Develop BYUs double heritage

President Kimball said: The uniqueness of Brigham Young University lies in its special role  education for eternity.  This means concern  for not only the whole man but for the eternal man.  This faculty has a double heritage  the preserving of the knowledge of men and the revealed truths sent from heaven.

The faculty and staff who foster this double heritage must be bilingual: They must speak with authority about their disciplines, and they must speak with power about their Christian discipleship in the language of faith.

Have the courage to be different

Becoming BYU will require at times the courage to stand alone. Like our colleagues at other religious institutions, BYU exerts strength only to the extent that we embrace and articulate our religious identity.

BYU will be successful as an academic institution of higher education not in spite of our religious mission, but precisely because of our spiritual mission. The spiritual and the secular are not opposing spheres locked in inevitable conflict. Instead, we see them as complements to each other  even as paired aspirations!

Build a covenant community

Even more crucially, becoming BYU will require us to sharpen our students focus on their covenantal relationship with God. By emphasizing their covenantal identity, we will naturally help our students fix their gaze on the holy temple and commit to lives of service and sacrifice for others. For BYU to become the temple of learning foretold by prophets, we must rivet our focus on the house of the Lord. As we build our university foundations on the rock of our Redeemer, and as we point our students toward the house of the Lord, we will qualify for heavens help.

Invest in mission-inspired scholarship

Becoming BYU will also require investing resources on mission-inspired research initiatives. In the light of our Christ-centered mission, we should also support research that blesses our Heavenly Fathers children directly. This will include investments in areas in which we have natural strengths, furthering recent efforts regarding the family, religions role in human flourishing, helping those in poverty and constitutional government  each of which is rooted in church doctrine and is strategically aligned with the churchs global mission to bless Gods children.

Focus on mission-aligned hiring

My immediate predecessor, President Kevin J Worthen frequently observed that The most important decisions that will be made in my tenure as president at BYU are the people we hire. This starts with our faculty. Faculty hiring decisions are paramount because these are the people to whom our students look for examples and mentors who successfully integrate the life of the mind and the life of faith. As president, I interview prospective faculty to understand their desire to be different. To be successful and happy at BYU, they understand that ideas like belief enhances inquiry, study amplifies faith and revelation leads to deeper understanding are core to the success of our mission. These are faculty who dare to be different.

As the president of BYU, Ive pledged my whole soul to helping the university. Becoming BYU will require that we have the humility to ask what we need to change and the meekness to ask, What lack I yet?

This is a critical time in the history of Brigham Young University. Unfortunately, we work against a societal backdrop in which discussion and dialogue are being replaced by contention and monologue. President Kimball implored us to employ gospel methodology, which will not only distinguish BYU from other universities but also shape how we learn and improve as a community.

Now is the time for BYU to become.

President C. Shane Reese is the 14th president of Brigham Young University.
UN envoy warns of escalation of tensions between DRC, Rwanda

Xinhua) 10:03, December 12, 2023

Bintou Keita (R, Front), the UN secretary-general's special representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaks at a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on Dec. 11, 2023. The top UN envoy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Bintou Keita, on Monday warned of the possible escalation of tensions between the DRC and Rwanda. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The top UN envoy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Bintou Keita, on Monday warned of the possible escalation of tensions between the DRC and Rwanda.

The situation in the DRC's North Kivu province further deteriorated in December. Tensions between the DRC and Rwanda have further escalated, heightening the risk of a direct military confrontation that could also draw in Burundi, Keita, the UN secretary-general's special representative for the DRC, told the Security Council.

Tensions between the DRC and Rwanda are very high and the risk of a military escalation between them remains significant despite regional and international efforts to ease tensions, she said.

The two countries accuse each other of support for armed groups in eastern DRC and cross-border incidents have increased, according to the UN secretary-general's latest report submitted to the Security Council on the situation in the DRC.

The security, humanitarian and human rights situation has deteriorated in the south of the North Kivu province in eastern DRC, particularly following the resumption of hostilities between the DRC military and the M23 rebel movement in October, and the M23 offensive in Masisi territory in the province following the start of the withdrawal of East African Community Force troops.

At the request of the DRC government, the mandate of the East African Community Force has not been extended beyond Dec. 8 and the force has begun its withdrawal. At the same time, the Southern African Development Community is preparing for the deployment in the coming weeks of a new force in the DRC.

"These regional efforts are laudable. However, they will not be able to achieve their objectives without the continuous and sustained investment of the Congolese government in regional, national and local political processes for conflict resolution in the east of the country," said Keita. "This investment must go hand in hand with the reform of the Congolese security sector and the implementation of its disarmament and community reintegration program."

Insecurity has compounded the ongoing humanitarian crisis. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, over 6.3 million people are internally displaced across the DRC, the vast majority of them, 5.5 million, in the three eastern provinces alone. According to preliminary figures, over 500,000 people have fled their homes, following renewed hostilities between the M23 and the DRC military since early October, she said.

In parallel, outbreaks of cholera and measles have continued to exacerbate the precarious humanitarian situation, with cholera transmission rates being four times higher than the previous year. The incidences of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation have reached alarming levels, with more than 90,000 cases documented since the beginning of the year, 39,000 of these cases were recorded in North Kivu alone. This is totally unacceptable, she said.

As of November, the UN humanitarian response plan for the DRC for 2023 remained drastically underfunded, with less than 40 percent of the required 2.25 billion U.S. dollars raised so far, said Keita, urging donors to provide the resources required to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those in need.

With the planned drawdown and withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, the relations between the United Nations and the DRC are at an important crossroads. At the same time, the country is at a critical moment, nine days before presidential, national, provincial and local elections, she said.

The east of the country, in particular, the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, is still facing an extremely testing security and humanitarian crisis and persistent regional tensions, said Keita. "All of these factors must be taken into consideration to redefine the partnership that binds us."

Following weeks of intensive consultations between the DRC government and the UN peacekeeping mission known as MONUSCO, DRC Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula and Keita signed a Joint Disengagement Plan on Nov. 21, under which the mission's drawdown will be initiated before the end of 2023.

The UN Security Council holds a meeting on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the UN headquarters in New York, on Dec. 11, 2023. The top UN envoy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Bintou Keita, on Monday warned of the possible escalation of tensions between the DRC and Rwanda. (Loey Felipe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
How your pint-sized gift can have a giant impact

CLOVIS, Calif (KSEE/KGPE)  The Central California Blood Center teamed up with the Fresno County Sheriffs Office to host the 15 Annual Holiday Heroes Blood Drive.

The sheriffs office says they are participating in an effort to encourage the community to donate before the end of the year to help provide families with, one more birthday, one more Thanksgiving, and one more Christmas to celebrate with their loved ones.

The Blood Center states organizing a blood drive during the holidays is crucial because it provides a vital lifeline for those in need, ensuring hospitals have a sufficient supply to save lives.

The blood drive will take place beginning Monday and ending on Friday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Clovis Rodeo Hall. All donors will receive a free holiday-themed t-shirt while supplies last.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
[CONTENT WARNING] THE FOLLOWING WORD MAY BE TRIGGERING TO ANYBODY LIVING WITH ELAFIPHOBIA, THE FEAR OF ANTLERED GRAZING ANIMALS

[CONTENT WARNING] THE FOLLOWING WORD IS A CATCH-ALL TERM WHICH DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE INDIVIDUALITY, PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION

Dear all,

We hope this finds you well. Though if you are not well, or well is not how you wish to be found, know that we at the Telegraph respect how wellness can be both a subjective term and exist on a spectrum. That said, we apologise for opening in this manner. We will take learnings from the experience.

Equally, we hope you received our various correspondences preparing you for this email invading the safe space of your inbox. We appreciate it can be tricky to be found by an email if you did not give prior consent to being found. We regret how this looks.

To begin with, we would like to forewarn you that in a few sentences time, mention will be made of a recent third-party email which discussed the action or fact of an individual no longer being alive.

(We wish to apologise for using the word party in the above paragraph. We appreciate that not everybody enjoys parties, and certainly not three of them. We will endeavour to use a more inclusive term, such as gathering, in future.)

It has been brought to our attention that His Majestys Treasury sent a missive (mercifully, not a misterive) to staff last week announcing the passing of former chancellor Alistair Darling by first cautioning that the blog pertains to the subject of death, which some recipients may find difficult to read.

The Treasurys content warning was a good start. However, the Telegraph would have gone further and made it clear the email is also potentially triggering to anybody unable to use alleys, stairs, or has been called darling by, for example, a sexist or a taxi driver.

The Civil Service, being both civil and of service, is always at the forefront of innovation in how we can be more respectful to our fellow humans and huwomen and huothers. To that end, lately it has also begun inviting staff to add a voice recording of them saying their name to their email signatures, to help others get the pronunciation right.

When they are mispronounced, an advisory note continued, it can make people feel unseen. So if you feel comfortable doing so, making a recording remedies this. The clip should be found just after ones pronouns and before ones job title, assuming you are happy to identify with a job title.

This was all sent by somebody called Sam. For years, people had been assuming their name was pronounced Ethel, or just called them mate to avoid embarrassment. Thanks to a short clip confirming it rhymes with ham, no longer does this happen. This is progress. But remember, as Barack Obama said, there is no straight line to progress.

(Historical context note: Barack Obama is a divisive figure whose acts, especially those relating to drone attacks affecting innocent civilians and the wearing of vests under smart shirts, are rightly considered problematic to modern historians. We are also happy to acknowledge that occasionally there is, in fact, a straight line to progress, such as the A15 between Riseholme roundabout just north of Lincoln and Horncastle Lane roundabout near Welton Cliff, built as it is atop a former Roman road.)

((Historical note to the historical note: Really sorry for mentioning the Romans. We will be providing free counselling in meeting room 2.4 for anybody affected by this error. Carthaginian colleagues are encouraged to attend.))

The Telegraph is pleased to be joining the Treasury in updating its email guidelines, beginning with this notice. It is our intention that with this new approach, emails are both clearer and more inclusive to you, the readers. Or to use a term we will be trialling from 2024, content consumers. It is not right that we keep using such a presumptive word as reader when so many of you do, in fact, have the paper read to you by your valets.

Wishing you a merry  nope, sorry, nearly slipped up again there. Wishing you a pleasant end-of-year time off when you could or could not be celebrating anything. As usual at this time in December, we will be offering one-to-one support for any staff who have lived experience related to conceiving a Wonderful Counsellor, Prince of Peace, Bright Morning Star or King of Kings immaculately, or anybody who has given birth in a shed next to a bowl of myrrh.

Thanks,

[CONTENT WARNING] THE FOLLOWING WORD IS GENDER NORMATIVE

Guy

[CONTENT WARNING] VICTIMS OF A SPECIFIC AUSTRALIAN OUTLAW, GANG-LEADER AND POLICE-MURDERER ACTIVE IN THE MID TO LATE 1880S MAY WISH TO SKIP THIS LAST PART. AS MIGHT ANYONE AFFECTED BY A TV HOST CALLED LORRAINE

Kelly

Click to see how I pronounce my name. He/Him, Hi/Ho

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(Bloomberg) -- Coal-dependent Poland could plug its economy almost solely to zero-emission energy sources in less than two decades, the latest report by Instrat think tank showed as the new cabinet is betting on quicker energy transition.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Warsaw-based Instrat is working closely on energy issues with the next government, whose incoming Prime Minister Donald Tusk will deliver an opening speech on Tuesday morning. Unlike the outgoing cabinet, the next administration sees energy transformation as a key plank of its agenda and has pledged to accelerate investment in renewables.

Energy transformation will not succeed without social support and I really hope that in his speech Donald Tusk will confirm the ambitious transformation goals, which were announced in the election campaign, Michal Smolen, Instrats analyst and co-author of the report, told Bloomberg. We need a strong climate leadership.

Tusks Civic Platform, the biggest party in the next ruling coalition, sees renewable energy sources accounting for 68% of energy production with a ban on coal in heating of households beyond 2030. These assumptions were built on Instrats March report. In its latest analysis, the think tank sets even more ambitious goals.

It now predicts that renewable sources will account for 81%-92% of energy production in 2040, depending on whether the European Unions largest eastern economy builds its first nuclear power station by that time. The share of coal and gas is seen slashed to 5%-8%, while currently the country generates around 70% of energy from coal, making it Europes most carbon-intensive nation.

The path to clean power will be bumpy and costly though, with several risks seen on the way. Instrat said they include potential delays in building the nuclear power plant and deploying offshore wind projects as well as headwinds related to costly grid expansion.

The recent spat in parliament in Warsaw over easing the onshore wind rules also highlights unexpected pitfalls facing the new government.

Costly Transformation

Poland will need to invest more than 1 trillion zloty ($248 billion) from 2026 to 2040 to meet the most ambitious scenario envisaged in the report. The delayed transition scenario would require about 60% of that amount, but would mean cutting carbon dioxide emissions by half, instead of 68%.

Tusk announced on Friday that he will form a new industry ministry in the coal-rich Silesia region located in southern Poland, to deal with the most burning issues of coal mines and Silesia as a whole.

Instrat believes that its scenarios will become a signpost for the new government, which will have to rewrite the nations energy policy to adjust it to European Unions climate agenda.

We want this to be an important voice in the discussion, Smolen said.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk set out a pro-European Union vision and pledged strong support for Ukraine on Tuesday, a day after his appointment ended eight years of nationalist rule that soured relations with the EU.

Below are the main policy plans from his speech:

EU RELATIONS

* "Poland will regain its position as a leader in the European Union, Poland will build its strength, the position it deserves," Tusk said.

* He promised to "bring back billions of euros" from Brussels, referring to EU funds frozen under the previous government due to a row over the rule of law.

* He said he would oppose any changes to EU treaties that would disadvantage Poland.

UKRAINE WAR

* "We will ... loudly and decisively demand the full mobilisation of the free world, the Western world, to help Ukraine in this war," he said.

* Tusk promised his government would make defence a priority and honour previously signed arms contracts.

* He vowed to quickly resolve issues behind a protest by Polish truckers who have blocked some border crossings in a dispute over Ukrainian trucking firms' access to the EU.

* In the context of a migration crisis on Poland's border with Belarus which Warsaw accuses Minsk of orchestrating, he said he would keep Poland's eastern border safe while being humane at the same time.

PUBLIC FINANCES

* Tusk promised to keep generous social benefits introduced under the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government, such as a universal child benefit which is due to be raised to 800 zlotys ($198) per month per child from Jan 1, 2024.

* He said teachers' pay would rise by 30% from the beginning of next year and public sector employees would get a 20% rise.

* His government will introduce a new 1,500 zloty-per-month benefit for childcare for mothers who return to work after maternity leave.

* He said despite large social spending, his government would conduct a responsible fiscal policy and a Fiscal Council would be created to issue opinions on public spending plans.

* He also promised entrepreneurs the possibility of getting "vacations" from paying social security contributions.

RULE OF LAW

* Tusk said prosecutors will be independent from the government.

* He and Justice Minister Adam Bodnar, a former Human Rights Ombudsman, will look for ways to rebuild the rule of law and judicial institutions and bring to justice those responsible for eroding the Constitution.

* The new government plans an audit of state-owned companies which have become a "symbol of nepotism" under PiS, according to Tusk.

(Reporting by Anna Koper, Pawel Florkiewicz and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Donald Tusk was nominated to be new prime minister (Wojtek Radwanski)

Polish pro-EU government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk won a confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday, marking an end to eight years of rule by right-wing populists.

Tusk pledged to restore Poland's position in the European Union after rule-of-law infringements strained Warsaw ties with Brussels, and said help for war-torn Ukraine would also be a priority in an address to lawmakers.

"The attack on Ukraine is an attack on us all," he said, promising to double down on efforts to provide Kyiv with more aid "from day one".

"I can no longer listen to some European politicians, from other Western countries, who speak of being fatigued by the Ukraine situation," Tusk told the parliament.

A former premier and European Council president, Tusk is expected to be sworn in by the Polish president during a ceremony on Wednesday, allowing him to travel to the bloc's summit meeting later this week.

The vote of confidence in the Polish parliament was delayed on Tuesday amid chaos triggered by a far-right lawmaker who used a fire extinguisher to smother a Hanukkah menorah in the parliament lobby.

Tusk denounced what he called an "unacceptable" act and a "disgrace" by the lawmaker Grzegorz Braun, who has been temporarily barred from proceedings and could face criminal charges.

Earlier on Tuesday Tusk also promised to resolve the dispute involving Polish truckers who have been blocking border crossings at Ukrainian border to campaign for reinstating EU permits for their competitors, which were suspended following Russia's invasion.

Following the speech, Mykhaylo Podolyak, a senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said Tusk's read on the situation was "impeccable".

Zelensky tweeted his "congratulations" Monday after Tusk was tapped as premier.

- 'Stronger Europe' -

Speaking to the lower house of parliament, which is now controlled by Tusk's multi-party pro-EU alliance, Tusk also reiterated Poland's support for the European Union and NATO alliance.

"We are all the stronger, all the more sovereign when not only Poland is stronger but also the European Union," Tusk told lawmakers.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had congratulated him on Monday, saying on social media that "Your experience and strong commitment to our European values will be precious in forging a stronger Europe".

Tusk, who served as prime minister from 2007 to 2014 and chaired the European Council from 2014 to 2019, has promised to unblock billions of euros in EU funds that have been frozen because of long-standing tensions between Brussels and the previous government.

Tusk also presented his roster of ministers, with Poland's former top diplomat Radoslaw Sikorski making a comeback to lead the foreign ministry again.

The new government also includes former Polish ombudsman Adam Bodnar, a vocal critic of the previous administration's judiciary overhaul, whom Tusk chose as his justice minister.

The right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party won the most seats in October's general election but failed to find viable coalition partners and secure backing for their minority government on Monday.

- 'Right all of the wrongs' -

While Tusk's Civic Coalition came second in the ballot, it forged an alliance with two smaller pro-EU opposition political groups, the Third Way and Left, with enough votes to oust PiS from power.

Describing the right-wing administration as years of "darkness", Tusk had said Monday that his government would work to "right all of the wrongs".

PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski fired back by accusing Tusk of being a "German agent".

Lech Walesa, the Nobel Prize winner who led Poland's Solidarity trade union movement -- and a well-known PiS critic -- said Poland was "back on the path of development".

But the new government will face daily battles with PiS lawmakers who "will continue to fight", political analyst Jaroslaw Kuisz told AFP, adding that "there won't be any miracles".

Controversial judicial reforms and appointments, which the EU say undermined democratic values, were at the heart of tensions between PiS ministers and Brussels.

PiS still has a firm ally in Polish President Andrzej Duda, whose term ends in 2025, and he could use blocking tactics between now and then to veto legislation.

amj/mmp/js
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Norfolk police are investigating a stabbing at Maury High School that sent a 17-year-old boy to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

On Tuesday just after 2 p.m. police were called to the 1500 block DeBree Avenue for a reported stabbing.

#NPD is investigating a stabbing incident in the 1500 block of DeBree Ave. A 17-year-old male has been transported to the hospital w/ NLT injuries. A person of interest is in custody. Police are not looking for any other suspects. Call came in at 2:04 p.m. pic.twitter.com/bQy8u2HQPu  Norfolk Police Dept (@NorfolkPD) December 12, 2023

Police say a person of interest is in custody, and they are not looking for any other suspects.

We are working to learn more about this situation.

Keep up to date with the latest news on WAVY.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN)  The Round Rock Police Department is searching for a missing 39-year-old woman who was last seen early Sunday morning.

Police said Amy Castellanos left her home around 3 a.m. Sunday to go to a local clinic for abdominal pain. She has not returned home since then. The van she was driving, a gray 2019 Toyota, was found nearby in the neighborhood.

Police said they are concerned about her safety due to her unexplained disappearance.

Castellanos is described by police as:

Hispanic Female

Age: 39 years old

54

Around 150 lbs.

Brown hair

Blue eyes

Last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, brown tank top, and gray sweatpants.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Turck at 512-218-7048 or email pturck@roundrocktexas.gov.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
A man at the center of an hours-long police standoff in Texas apparently slept through the entire ordeal, officials told news outlets.

Even with police surrounding the truck he was in, honking and yelling into a loudspeaker to wake him, the man continued snoozing for hours, KSAT reported. Police even detonated a concussion grenade and he still didnt stir.

The standoff began at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, in San Antonio after a 7-Eleven gas station worker noticed the man passed out inside a truck with a gun near him, police told KENS.

Police said there were also bullet holes in one of the trucks windows, the station reported.

SWAT responded to the scene, traffic was blocked off and police wielding bulletproof shields evacuated people from the store, WOAI reported.

Eventually, SWAT officers forced their way into the truck, at which point the man woke up, KSAT reported, adding that he was not injured.

Officials say the truck is likely stolen, WOAI reported, and police found what appeared to be drugs inside of it.

McClatchy News has reached out to police for more information.

Men steal $100,000 of Dr Pepper in scheme with gas station owner, Oklahoma cops say

Boy grabs shotgun as couple fights, then shoots mothers boyfriend, Missouri cops say

Child playing online game dies by suicide in Texas, and Michigan boy charged, cops say

Grandmother intentionally shoots 6-month-old grandchild in head, Ohio cops say
[Source]

The Baltimore County Police Department is alerting Asian American business owners to a growing trend of burglaries targeting their community on a national scale.

About the organized crime: Organized criminal groups are reportedly surveilling businesses to learn owners daily routines before breaking into their homes to steal cash and valuables while their victims are working. In Baltimore County, law enforcement has observed over five incidents within a few months. According to the FBI, the targeted victims typically operate businesses that primarily deal in cash transactions.

This is actually a national trend where we are seeing that Asian business owners are being targeted, Baltimore County police Det. Trae Corbin told WBAL-TV 11. They're having individuals pick up their routine, going to their residence, and then once at their residence, they're breaking in with the assumption of getting large amounts of currency and/or any valuable items.

According to police, the thieves unlawfully enter the vehicles of business proprietors during their working hours to find their residential addresses. Then, they either follow the victims to their homes or wait during the victims work hours before they break into their residences.

Trending on NextShark: Filipino American nurse wins $41 million retaliation lawsuit against Kaiser

Preventive measures: The Baltimore County Police have advised preventive measures such as installing surveillance cameras, motion sensor lighting and alarm systems at their homes and businesses. They also recommend keeping cars locked, securing registration, being aware of unfamiliar vehicles in the neighborhood and securing valuables in the house.

"One of the main things is always be aware of your surroundings and kind of change up your routine, Corbin said. Don't always take the same way home from work. People can pick up on that, and criminals prey on those types of opportunities.

The police urge business owners to report any suspicious activity.

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Grzegorz Braun, a notoriously antisemitic lawmaker from Polands far-right Confederation party, sprayed a Hanukkah menorah with a fire extinguisher in parliament on Tuesday before taking a podium to denounce it as satanic. Braun, 56, has previously claimed that there exists a plot to turn Poland into a Jewish state. Cell phone and television footage of the incident showed Braun grabbing an extinguisher, walking across the lobby, and spraying the candles in a very brutal way, a witness told the Associated Press. Climbing behind the chambers podium, Braun insisted he was just restoring a state of normalcy and balance here, putting an end to acts of Satanic, Talmudist triumphalism, because that is the message of these holidays, according to Politico. He was swiftly expelled from the chamber by Speaker Szymon Hoownia, who told reporters after, This should have never happened.

#NEW Hannukah candles put out by a fire extinguisher in parliament by a Polish far-right politician Grzegorz Micha Braun.



The speaker denounced the incident, said there would be no tolerance for antisemitic and xenophobic behavior in Polish parliament. pic.twitter.com/QAu8FUryU7  Oliya Scootercaster  (@ScooterCasterNY) December 12, 2023

Read it at Associated Press

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Reporters at Erie News Now could count on a sure thing when they returned to the TV station's newsroom following a long day tracking down stories in Erie and other communities in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Emily Matson, a veteran news anchor at the station, would greet them with a smile  and, more often than not, a remark that made them laugh.

"She was very, very upbeat," recalled Paul Wagner, a reporter at Erie News Now for 41 years until he retired in 2020. "She was a very positive person. She was always encouraging the new people. She always had a joke for everyone."

Matson, who had worked at Erie News Now for 19 years, most recently as an anchor of the weekday newscasts at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., died Monday. She was 42.

Emily Matson, 42, an anchor and reporter for Erie News Now for 19 years, died on Monday.

"It is with a very heavy heart that we have learned of the passing of our beloved Erie News Now news anchor Emily Matson," Scott MacDowell, the news director for Erie News Now, part of Lilly Broadcasting, said in a statement.

"Emily was a shining light in our newsroom, delivering news with a passion and love she had for the Erie community and northwest Pennsylvania. We loved Emily dearly and our hearts go out to the Matson family and her husband Ryan at this time."

Matson was killed when she was hit by a train in Fairview Township, where she lived, according to the Erie County Coroner's Office, which ruled the cause of death as suicide. The incident was reported at 12:45 a.m. Monday in the area of Eaton and Tow roads, according to Erie County 911.

The Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, 4216 Sterrettania Road in Millcreek Township, is handling arrangements. Calling hours are at the funeral home from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. Dusckas-Martin said a funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 2801 W. Sixth St., in Erie.

Emily Matson first made her mark as a reporter in Erie

Matson, an Erie native, joined WICU-TV, Erie's NBC affiliate, in 2004 after graduating with a bachelor's degree in communications and media technology from La Roche University in Pittsburgh.

Matson swiftly made a name for herself at Erie News Now, the local news operation for WICU-TV and WSEE-TV, Erie's CBS affiliate. As she described her early career in her online biography for Erie News Now, Matson started out "working the wee hours of the night" producing the station's morning show.

Matson moved on to a job as a general assignment reporter. She focused on the crime beat. In the studio, she was known for mentoring young colleagues and speaking her mind, all with a sunny disposition.

"Emily was fearless and filterless," said Lisa Adams, a reporter and anchor at Erie News Now for 46 years. "I think those were the two things that made her a great member of our news team."

"We are just devastated," Adams said.

Adams described Matson as "stunningly gorgeous" but a person who was also "100% herself." As an anchor, Matson "did not suffer fools gladly," Adams said, and was persistent with reporters in making certain the reports she read on the air were clear and made sense to viewers.

"She expected a lot of herself and expected a lot of other people in the newsroom," Adams said.

Matson worked to make others around her better, said Jamison Hixenbaugh, a reporter at Erie News Now for 14 years. He said Matson's tutelage of the newer reporters was particularly critical in a small media market like Erie, where reporters often leave for larger markets after two years or so.

Matson's suggestions to the reporters, new and veteran, were always laced with humor, Hixenbaugh said.

"Side-splitting," he said. "She was great. She was one of the funniest people I knew."

Matson's career made her a familiar face in the Caribbean

In her years on the crime beat, Matson was known for having numerous sources among law enforcement and a good rapport with officers, including Dan Spizarny, the Erie police chief who was a lieutenant in the Erie police's Criminal Investigation Division when Matson started on the crime beat. Matson would go on to marry an Erie police officer, Ryan Onderko.

Matson "was a regular" at the police station when she was a reporter, Spizarny recalled.

"She was always upbeat," Spizarny said. "She never had a bad day. No matter how bad the news was that day, she always left making you feel good. You would never see her in a bad mood."

In addition to anchoring the Erie newscasts, Matson produced and anchored Erie News Now's newscasts in Guam and in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, including covering hurricane damage, Adams said. She described Matson as an extremely hard worker who approached her numerous tasks with enthusiasm and professionalism.

"Whatever she was asked to do, she became excellent at it," Adams said. "No matter what she was asked to do, she stepped up to do it with style and elegance."

'I must be dreaming,' Matson said of her job in Erie

Matson thrived on putting the stories of others on air and online. She said she enjoyed her job because she felt she was "really making a difference in the Erie community, meeting new people and telling stories that affect everybody every day," she wrote in her professional biography.

"One of the things I love about my job is that no single day is EVER the same. I love breaking news situations. In fact, I twice received an 'Outstanding Spot News' award from the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters."

She also wrote: "I must be dreaming! An anchor gig in my hometown! I am so happy to be in Erie, telling the stories which impact my neighbors every day."

Matson was also a presence in the community. She appeared at the many community events that Erie News Now sponsored and worked with young people interested in journalism.

One of the journalism programs that benefited from her volunteer work was at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, now part of PennWest. She and others in Erie news media acted as role models for Edinboro students in 2014 under an initiative of Tony Peyronel, then the chairman of the journalism and public relations department at Edinboro.

Matson's passion for her job and her insight connected her with the students immediately, recalled Peyronel, now the business and marketing specialist for Impact Corry, in the city of Corry. He said Matson's ebullient personality helped her bond with students as much as it suited her role as a TV news anchor.

"She almost had a glow about her when she was on the air," Peyronel said.

A reporter and anchor who connected with Erie

Matson also connected with the subjects she covered. Adams described her as "tough as nails but a really sensitive person" and Erie News Now retiree Paul Wagner said Matson "was very connected to everyday people."

Wagner recalled that people flocked to Matson when she and other Erie News Now personalities walked in parades. Matson, he said, always had time for members of the community  just as she always had time for her friends in the newsroom.

"She was a positive influence on everyone," Wagner said. "You would come in from a rough day, and she would tell a joke and make everyone feel better."

If you are having thoughts of suicide or need help with depression or other mental health issues, the following resources are available:

 Call 988 for the suicide and crisis hotline.

 UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor: 814-459-9300.

 Department of Psychiatry at Saint Vincent Hospital: 814-452-5568.

 The Achievement Center of LECOM Health: 814-459-2755.

 Stairways Behavioral Health: 814-453-5806.

 NAMI of Erie County: 814-456-1773.

Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNpalattella.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie PA TV anchor Emily Matson, 42, remembered as 'positive influence'
Kyivstar identifies cause of massive network outage  it was a cyberattack

Ukraine's largest mobile operator Kyivstar was targeted in a powerful cyberattack, causing a technical failure that temporarily disrupted communication services and internet access for millions of Ukrainians, the company announced in a press release on Dec. 12.

To document the circumstances and consequences of the illegal actions interfering with Kyivstar's network operations, the operator has involved representatives of law enforcement and special state services, who are currently working in the company's office. As of now, it is known that the personal data of subscribers has not been compromised, Kyivstar stated.

Read also: Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joins Kyivstar board

The operator's specialists are still working to resolve the consequences of the cyberattack and to restore communication and services as soon as possible.

Read also: Kyivstar network failure should be fixed today, says minister

Kyivstar will definitely provide compensation to subscribers who were unable to use the operator's services or had no connection, the company stated. Kyivstar also apologized to subscribers for the temporary inconvenience and thanked them for their understanding.

Internal Affairs Minister Ihor Klymenko provided advice on how to act during a large-scale outage for Kyivstar mobile operator subscribers if they need to contact someone.

If you need to contact relatives or call emergency services, please find the nearest police station or fire and rescue unit, wrote Klymenko on Telegram. Ask for help from National Guard personnel, police officers, and border guards on duty in towns and on highways.

Emergency numbers 101, 102, 112 are operating normally, Klymenko said.

Ukraine's largest operator Kyivstar experienced a major outage on the morning of Dec. 12., with communication problems observed across Ukraine.

The company announced a technical failure, resulting in the unavailability of communication services and internet access for part of its subscriber base.

The Digital Transformation Ministry explained why the Kyivstar outage caused problems with national roaming. The restoration of communication services for Kyivstar subscribers will begin within a few hours, said Vice Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov at around 11 am.

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
Abortion-rights supporters chant their objections at the Kentucky Capitol, 13 April 2022, in Frankfort, Kentucky. A pregnant woman in Kentucky filed a lawsuit Friday, 8 December 2023, challenging the state's sweeping abortion ban, saying the right to terminate a pregnancy is crucial for people to "control their lives (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Days after an unnamed pregnant woman sued Kentucky officials over the states strict abortion bans, she learned her embryo no longer has a heartbeat.

The woman, under the pseudonym Jane Doe, is eight weeks pregnant, as of the filing date on 8 December, the lawsuit states. She has decided that the best course of action for herself and her family is to terminate the pregnancy, according to the filing.

But on 12 December, the lead plaintiff in the class action suit discovered that her embryo no longer had a heartbeat.

One of her lawyers, ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project deputy director Brigitte Amiri, issued a statement in light of the news.

Jane Doe sought an abortion in Kentucky, and when she could not get one, she bravely came forward to challenge the states abortion ban, Ms Amiri said. Although she decided to have an abortion, the government denied her the freedom to control her body. Countless Kentuckians face the same harm every day as the result of the abortion ban.

The attorney encouraged others in the state who are seeking an abortion to reach out to join the case.

The Independent reached out to the ACLU for more information on Jane Does health and the state of the suit.

Last week, the lead plaintiff and a branch of Planned Parenthood sued Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and three other state officials. The lawsuit is challenging two state abortion laws: the total ban and the six-week ban.

Jane Doe alleges that both bans violate multiple rights laid out in Kentuckys constitution. This includes a right to privacy, which protects against the intrusive police power of the state, putting personal and private decision-making related to sexual and reproductive matters beyond the reach of the state, the filing states.

She is asking the court to declare both bans unconstitutional and unenforceable.

To exemplify the broad sweeping nature of the case, the filing stated that in 2021, when the procedure was last legal in the state, 4,400 people obtained abortions in Kentucky.

I am a proud Kentuckian and I love the life and family I have built here. But I am angry that now that I am pregnant and do not want to be, the government is interfering in my private matters and blocking me from having an abortion, Jane Doe wrote in a statement issued by the ACLU, one of the groups representing her. This is my decisionnot the governments or any other persons.

Rebecca Gibron, CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, also issued a statement. Jane Does decision to fight back in court while pregnant and in need of an abortion is beyond brave, Ms Gibron said. In challenging the states abortion bans, she has provided hope for reproductive freedom that Kentuckians so desperately need. But this lawsuit should not have been necessary in the first place. Every Kentuckian should have access to abortion in their own state, because this is essential reproductive health care.

Abortion bans have been a sticking point in Kentucky and beyond ever since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade last year. In February, Kentuckys Supreme Court refused to halt the two bans.

Abortion bans are being tested in other parts of the county too.

Just last week, in Texas, a judge allowed a 20-weeks-pregnant woman  whose baby is unlikely to survive until birth or if the baby does, no longer than minutes, hours or days  to get an emergency abortion, challenging the states bans. She has been to the emergency four times in the past month, her lawyer told the court.

However, after the temporary restraining order was approved, the Texas attorney general intervened, and the states supreme court temporarily blocked the court-approved abortion.
Harvard President Claudine Gay, left, speaks as University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill listens during a hearing of the House Committee on Education on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP)  Over five hours at a congressional hearing, lawmakers pressed the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and MIT on the topic of antisemitism. In some instances, they were unable to say whether calls for the genocide of Jews would violate their schools' conduct policies.

The backlash started almost immediately. Penn's leader stepped down within days. Harvard's president was on the hot seat for nearly a week before a university governing board announced Tuesday she would stay on the job.

Republicans and Democrats alike criticized responses the presidents gave at the Dec. 5 hearing of a U.S. House committee on antisemitism on college campuses. In particular, the uproar centered on a line of questioning from Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who repeatedly asked how each university's code of conduct would handle calls for the genocide of Jews.

Early in the questioning, Stefanik asked the presidents about chants for intifada, an Arabic word for uprising or resistance. Stefanik equated calls for an intifada as a call for a global Jewish genocide.

Here is a look at the testimony given by Claudine Gay, of Harvard, Liz Magill of Penn, and Sally Kornbluth of MIT.

LIZ MAGILL OF PENN

During the hearing, Stefanik asked Magill, Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Penns rules or code of conduct? Yes or no?"

Magill repeatedly declined to give a yes or no answer. She emphasized the university's policies considered whether speech turns into conduct, in which case it would be considered harassment. Stefanik continued to demand a definitive answer.

Magill responded that if speech were directed and severe, pervasive, it is harassment," and that whether a student would be punished is a context-dependent decision.

That answer became a flashpoint of the criticism of Magill.

The day after the hearing, Magill said in a video statement released by the university that a call for the genocide of Jewish people would be considered harassment or intimidation.

Still, Penn alumni and donors increased pressure on the board for Magill to resign, a campaign that dated to earlier in the fall, when the university allowed a Palestinian literary festival to take place on campus despite allegations that some speakers had shown antisemitism in other comments.

Over the weekend, amid growing pressure from donors who said they would pull money from the university, Magill and board chairman Scott Bok resigned.

CLAUDINE GAY OF HARVARD

Gay was also asked by Stefanik whether similar speech would violate Harvard's policies. She gave a similar response to Magill, emphasizing that context and whether the speech turned into conduct would factor into any disciplinary decisions.

Antisemitic rhetoric, when it crosses into conduct, that amounts to bullying, harassment, intimidation. That is actionable conduct, and we do take action, Gay said.

So the answer is yes. That calling for the genocide of Jews violates Harvard's Code of Conduct. Correct? Stefanik asked.

Gay reiterated that it depended on the context.

It does not does not depend on the context, Stefanik responded. The answer is yes, and this is why you should resign.

A day after the hearing, Gay condemned calls for violence against Jewish students in a statement posted by the university to X, formerly Twitter.

At Harvard, Gay faced similar backlash to Magill, with prominent donors and alumni calling for her resignation. But hundreds of faculty members rallied to support her, asking the board to keep her in leadership, saying Harvard's governance should not be influenced by political pressure. On Tuesday, the board announced that it would stand behind Gay and retain her as the university's president.

SALLY KORNBLUTH OF MIT

Kornbluth was also questioned by Stefanik about policies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She responded by saying speech targeted at individuals, not public statements, would be considered a violation of bullying and harassment policies.

Stefanik then asked, Yes or no: Calling for the genocide of Jews does not constitute bullying and harassment?"

Kornbluth responded that she had not heard calling for the genocide of Jews on our campus.

Stefanik then asked Kornbluth whether she had heard demonstrators calling for an intifada.

Palestinians have launched two intifadas against Israel  one in the late 1980s and one in the early 2000s. Both were to protest Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and both involved violence. But since Hamas massacre in Israel in October, some Jews have interpreted calls for globalizing the intifada as a call for broader attacks against Jews.

Ive heard chants which can be antisemitic, depending on the context when calling for the elimination of the Jewish people, Kornbluth said. Speech would be investigated as harassment if it were pervasive and severe, she said.

Stefanik then moved on to questioning Gay and Magill.

In a written note to the MIT community two days after the hearing, the chair of the MIT Corporation signaled the executive committee's support for Kornbluth, who is Jewish. She has done excellent work in leading our community, including in addressing antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate, all of which we reject utterly at MIT," the statement said.

_____

The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The Duke of Sussexs memoir was the best-selling book on Amazon this year, but not the most read.

Spare, which included explosive allegations about the Royal family and details about their private lives, was published at the beginning of the year.

It has now taken the top spot on Amazon Books best-selling titles of 2023, beating Britney Spears memoir, The Woman in Me, and books by Colleen Hoover, the popular young adult fiction author of This Ends With Us.

It follows a publicity blitz that resulted in the book selling a record 1.4 million copies across the UK, US and Canada on its first day of publication in early January.

However, the Dukes memoir was only ranked number six on Amazons separate most read list, which is measured by the average number of daily Kindle readers and Audible listeners.

In this category, Spare was beaten by five Harry Potter novels, with Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix in the top spot.

The two UK-based lists, published by Amazon on Tuesday, come after the 416-page memoir was labelled the most traded-in biography of the year by We Buy Books.

According to the books specialist, which turns unwanted books into cash, Spare was accepted 459 times. A spokesman said: We limit how many we accept in a timeframe so chances are if wed accepted every copy, thered have been a lot more!

Spare, which detailed the Duke of Sussexs military career, his fractured relationship with his family, and his grief over the death of his mother, was published on January 10.

The book came out in digital, paperback, and hardcover formats and has been translated into 15 languages. There is also a 15-hour audiobook edition, which Harry narrates himself.

Britney Spears, Cookbooks and Matthew Perry

On Amazons best-selling list, it beat cookbooks for air fryers and slow cookers as well as the novel Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, which has now been turned into a major television show on Apple TV starring Oscar-winner Brie Larson.

Bored of Lunch: The Healthy Slow Cooker Book and Bored of Lunch: The Healthy Air Fryer Book, both by Nathan Anthony, took second and third place on the list, respectively.

Britney Spears memoir The Woman In Me, which details her years-long conservatorship, ranks at ninth place, while Matthew Perrys book Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing is at 20.

The Friends star, who died in October, used his memoir to outline his lengthy substance abuse issues and the work he had done to help others in a similar situation.

Meanwhile, the list of Amazons top 20 most read books in the UK is dominated by seven Harry Potter novels in total as well as two of Rowlings books under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

The Amazon most sold list ranks books according to the number of copies sold and pre-ordered in print and ebook, while the most read list ranks titles by the average number of daily Kindle readers and Audible listeners.

The e-commerce giant has also named its own best books of the year shortlist, curated by its editorial team, which is topped by Yellowface by Rebecca F Kuang. The novel is about a struggling author who passes off her Chinese-American friends work as her own after her death.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
George, Charlotte and Louis had a busy evening recently volunteering with their mom this holiday season, as seen in a new video shared by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

In the video, which is on the couple's official YouTube page, the former Kate Middleton is seen pulling up to The Baby Bank in Maidenhead, England, with a car full of children to volunteer and trunk full of goods to donate.

The video is part of a holiday initiative the princess is launching to raise awareness of how to access or donate products to baby banks, where other families can get clothing, toiletries and additional necessary supplies.

The princess is seen in the video explaining to her children that they are the volunteers for the evening, and then the family is off to fill gift bags and sort through clothing and other items.

"This is a big guy!" 5-year-old Louis exclaims while holding a toy gorilla.

At one point, 8-year-old Charlotte giggles with her mother while holding a baby onesie covered with the red dragon featured on the Welsh flag.

"This is Welsh!" she says, showing it off.

"George wants to come back, so that's good," the princess says about her 10-year-old son towards the end of the video.

The video is a rare look at the younger royal family members who are often only seen at events and in official photographs. The family did, however, release the family's holiday card over the weekend, which showed all five family members wearing jeans and white button-up shirts.

Our family Christmas card for 2023 



 Josh Shinner pic.twitter.com/X9du9EkpaI  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 9, 2023

"Our family Christmas card for 2023," read the caption that accompanied the card release on their social media platforms.

It has been a rather chaotic year for the royal family at large. Prince Harry released his book "Spare" in early 2023, in which he detailed his complicated relationship with his brother and father while walking readers through his decision to step down as a senior member of the royal family with his wife, the former Meghan Markle. The rest of the royal family has stayed largely quiet about the book and comments from Harry.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Date and centers are proliferating along Lambda Drive near Omicron Drive; an area that is seeing the proliferation of tech centers on the far west side. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer

CPS Energy is preparing for a tenfold increase in energy demand from the power-sucking data centers that are increasingly picking San Antonio to set up their armies of cloud-based servers.

The dozen or so centers operating in far western Bexar County already consume about 324 megawatts of power  enough to power about 65,000 homes. By the end of 2028, an influx of new centers could add another 2,700 megawatts of demand. And by 2033, it jumps to more than 3,300 megawatts, according to a presentation the utilitys trustees received Monday.

That means the amount of electricity consumed by the centers could be enough to power more than 650,000 homes in the next decade. And as the boom rolls on, the city-owned utility is trying to direct new companies to different parts of its service area to spread the load.

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While its easy to think of the cloud as an abstract collection of digital files, its all based on a physical data center storing information on a server  and consuming massive amounts of electricity.

Typically, requests were in the 20- to 40-megawatt range, Benjamin Jordan, the utilitys business director, said of the previous routine for companies seeking to locate data centers in San Antonio. Now, theyre in the hundreds of megawatts.

CPS already has requests from seven large-use customers that have finalized projects. Another five are in the process of securing land; five more have told CPS theyre searching for sites.

This is more than a challenge, said trustee Willis Mackey, who expressed concerns about CPS meeting the booming demand.

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Microsoft Corp.s Texas Research Park data center is seen in this June 2020 photo. The Redmond, Wash.,-based company plans to add another 153,000 square feet of space in the center this year. William Luther, Staff / Staff

Data center boom

In recent years, big-name companies including Microsoft Corp., Valero Energy, Frost Bank, Christus Health, Lowes and Amazon have become neighbors in the far western corner of Bexar County, where theyre all operating data centers. The business is booming as companies move away from storing data on-site, opting instead for far-flung hubs designed just for that purpose.



The current San Antonio centers range in size from dozens to hundreds of acres housing servers, routers and other technology used to store data and provide access. Beyond powering the hardware, theres all the electricity it takes to keep the tech cool, especially in the summer.

Despite their massive size, the sites require relatively few employees to operate.

The United States has more than 5,300 data centers as of this year, according to a count kept by Statista.com. The size of the U.S. market is expected to go from $18 billion now to more than $28 billion by 2028, according to trend forecasts from Mordor Intelligence.

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San Antonio is attractive to the boom for a few reasons, including CPS Energys comparatively low rates. The areas geography is also attractive, according to Jordan. Thats in large part because the city-owned utilitys territory is far enough from the coast that centers located here dont have to worry about being washed away by a hurricane.

The CyrusOne San Antonio Data Center is located along Lambda Drive near Omicron Drive, where data and tech centers are proliferating on the far west side. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer

Challenges ahead

Beyond that, CPS President and CEO Rudy Garza told trustees, Texas regulations allow quicker construction of the transmission lines needed to carry power to the centers than is possible in many other states. Still, the roughly three years it takes here is longer than the 15- to 18-month turnaround data companies are seeking.

Every major metropolitan area that has data needs is going through this transformation where were having to think about these really large customers differently, Garza said.

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Thats why CPS is working to point companies away from western Bexar County to other parts of its service area. On a map it showed trustees, CPS marked areas in the west as red zones where existing centers are clustered. Now, its pushing companies to consider areas in the east and southeast parts of the county to better spread out the heavy power loads.

Just like transportation, the transmission lines run like our highway system for electrons at high voltage, high speed, Jonathan Tijerina, CPS vice president of risk and development, said after the meeting. The more we have going to one central location, the more likely youre going to have congestion.

That congestion could cause a crash on the metaphorical highway, which could lead to grid issues or other challenges in keeping power performance stable.

Trustee Francine Sanders Romero encouraged CPS to consult with the city about whether those challenges also could be addressed through zoning laws.

Keeping up

Trustees also shared concerns about CPS ability to keep up with demand from the data center influx at the same time population growth is pushing residential and other industrial demand, and to handle the effects of increasingly inclement weather.

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Thats huge, Mayor Ron Nirenberg, a CPS trustee, said of the data centers booming growth. And that has enormous implications not just for San Antonio but for Texas  data centers may not be the sexiest economic development activity, but theyre serving a huge need worldwide.

He pointed out that the city no longer offers tax breaks for data center projects and said the influx is also a challenge for the state grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which has struggled to keep up with increasing demand amid a continuing transition to cleaner energy sources.

Garza said existing data centers in the region have been responsive to conservation and demand-response programs that move large power users off the grid to prevent emergency when supplies are tightest.

CPS also is considering how it might have to alter its generation plans as it accounts for the demand growth as the number of centers soars.

Were planning a lot further ahead than we ever have, Jordan told the board.

But planning for data centers is easier than for some other growth because once theyre ramped up, their usage is predictable and stable.

Renewable energy

Garza said that a lot of the companies have their own sustainability goals and desire to use renewable sources of power. Chair Janie Martinez Gonzalez said that could threaten the utility, with companies opting to create their own energy sources in the region rather than using CPS.



These are major multinational companies, Garza said, that were having to create specific rate structures for. I think theyll actually have the net effect of increasing our investment in renewables, not bringing it down.



CPS' exact ability to enact some of those rate changes is still far out, based on when the utility completes overhauling the software it uses to bill and to run its day-to-day operations.

Garza said CPS is adding about 150 megawatts of new power generation every year. The CEO brought the discussion back to last weeks rate-hike approval. CPS pushed for the 4.25% rate increase from its customers because of the need to keep up with new generation and infrastructure upgrades. While residents make up 90% of its customers, commercial customers' rates also go up under the new city-approved hike.
StandardAero CEO Russ Ford congratulates employees during ceremonies Monday morning to recognize graduates of the companys training program. The event took place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port on Port San Antonio. Robin Jerstad StandardAero employees applaud during ceremonies Monday morning to recognize graduates of the companys training program. The event took place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port on Port San Antonio. Robin Jerstad StandardAero CEO Russ Ford speaks during ceremonies Monday morning to recognize graduates of the companys training program. The event took place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port on Port San Antonio. Robin Jerstad San Antonio City Council Member Adriana Rocha-Garcia speaks during ceremonies Monday morning to recognize graduates of the StandardAero training program. The event took place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port on Port San Antonio. Robin Jerstad StandardAero employees pose for pictures during ceremonies Monday morning to recognize graduates of the companys training program. The event took place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port on Port San Antonio. Robin Jerstad StandardAero CEO Russ Ford smiles while taking a group picture during ceremonies Monday morning to recognize graduates of the companys training program. The event took place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port on Port San Antonio. Robin Jerstad Jim Perschbach, CEO of Port San Antonio, speaks during ceremonies Monday morning to recognize graduates of StandardAeros training program. The event took place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port on Port San Antonio. Robin Jerstad StandardAero CEO Russ Ford speaks during ceremonies Monday morning to recognize graduates of the companys training program. The event took place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port on Port San Antonio. Robin Jerstad StandardAero CEO Russ Ford speaks during ceremonies Monday morning to recognize graduates of the companys training program. The event took place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port on Port San Antonio. Robin Jerstad StandardAeros lloyd Barker speaks during ceremonies Monday morning to recognize graduates of the companys training program. The event took place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port on Port San Antonio. Robin Jerstad

Aaliyah Gonzalez became one of San Antonios newest jet mechanics Monday.

The 20-year-old who became interested in the field as a youngster working on cars with her father will now work with him at StandardAero as the turbine engine maintenance and repair company continues expanding its San Antonio workforce through its in-house aircraft mechanic training program.

She was among 25 newly trained mechanics celebrated during a graduation ceremony Monday at Port San Antonio.

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MORE NEWS: San Antonio space firm scores NASA money and a SpaceX Starship ticket to moon

Adan Gonzalez said it was awesome to see his youngest of five children join the company where hes a machinist and welder.

I knew that ever since she was little that she was going to end up doing something with her hands, he said. I just didnt know what.

The graduates, ranging in age from 18 to 60, completed a 12-week paid course of classroom and hands-on training and will soon join the companys production line maintaining, repairing and rebuilding five types of commercial and military aircraft engines.

StandardAero is expanding the program as it expands its workforce amid a nationwide decline in the number of people entering the field.

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With 810,000 square feet of facilities on Port San Antonio, StandardAero employs 750 and is expected to add 400 more over the next five years to support a $60 billion, 30-year service agreement to maintain, repair and overhaul the next generation of commercial jet engines. Known as Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion engines, or LEAP, such engines propel several types of Airbus and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

No. 1 on our list

The LEAP agreement is the largest program in the companys 112-year history, said Russ Ford, StandardAeros chief executive who traveled to San Antonio for the graduation.

He emphasized the fact that from the companys 55 sites across 12 countries, StandardAero selected this one for the program.

Thats evidence of what we think about San Antonio, he said.

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The local operation has steadily grown from $275 million annual revenue to $1 billion today  with more growth ahead.

In San Antonio  the community and the port and the mayor  have been more outgoing and supportive of us as a company than any other place we operate, and thats why when we have big moves to expand, this place is always number one on our list, Ford said.

Gesturing toward a facility being retrofitted to support LEAP engines, he said, Most of that $60 billion, one way or another, is going to run through that plant right over there, so thats jobs for at least 30 years.

Dan Gonzales, the longest-tenured employee at the site, said company officials hope to receive and induct the first LEAP engine for repair in the first quarter.

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This is a case whereby its tough to find qualified labor, but were building our own, said Lloyd Barker, the San Antonio site lead. Theyre bringing knowledge and skill and (will be) ready to go to the production line and continue learning.

2024 hiring

To fight the downturn in numbers of people entering skilled trades, StandardAero is leaning heavily into its in-house learning and development program, said Greg Chapman, who leads the effort. He said the company also is in talks with the city of San Antonio and is working toward bringing Ready to Work folks into the program.

While some of Gonzalezs classmates also came to the training with experience in other mechanical fields, others had none. Chapman said thats fine. The company is looking for people with mechanical aptitude and the right attitude. Experience isnt a requirement.

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It was a plus for helping Gonzalez into the business, though  as was her fathers two decades of service at StandardAero.

He motivated me, she said. He would come home and tell me stories about what he was working on and what he was doing.

She added that the companys family-oriented culture made her want to join even more.

Adan Gonzalez recalled how theyd worked on cars together and that made her more interested in his work.

Anything that Id do, shed kind of tag along and watch or whatever, he said. As she got her first vehicle, then I made her do it herself, and I just stood there.

Gonzalez said her favorite module during training was working on compressor rotors and blades. Shes set to begin working on the high-pressure turbines in RB211s, the engines that propel Boeing 757s. Her advice to people considering the training: Just go for it.

I was pregnant with her when (Adan) started working here, Aaliyahs mother, Roxanne Gonzalez, said after the graduation ceremony. Its amazing to see that shes in the same field as him and how much promise she has for her future.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP/Boston 25 News)  Harvard President Claudine Gay will remain leader of the prestigious Ivy League school following her comments last week at a congressional hearing on antisemitism, the universitys highest governing body announced Tuesday.

Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing, the Harvard Corporation said in a statement following its meeting Monday.

Only months into her leadership, Gay came under intense scrutiny following the hearing in which she and two of her peers struggled to answer questions about campus antisemitism. Their academic responses provoked backlash from Republican opponents, along with alumni and donors who say the university leaders are failing to stand up for Jewish students on their campuses.

At issue was a line of questioning that asked whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate the universities code of conduct. At the hearing, Gay said it depended on the context, adding that when speech crosses into conduct, that violates our policies.

Some lawmakers and donors to the the university had called for Gay to step down, following the resignation of Liz Magill as president of the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday.

The Harvard Crimson student newspaper first reported Tuesday that Gay, who became Harvards first Black president in July, would remain in office with the support of the Harvard Corporation following the conclusion of the boards meeting. It cited an unnamed source familiar with the decision.

A petition signed by more than 600 faculty members had asked the schools governing body to keep Gay in charge.

So many people have suffered tremendous damage and pain because of Hamass brutal terrorist attack, and the universitys initial statement should have been an immediate, direct, and unequivocal condemnation, the corporations statement said. Calls for genocide are despicable and contrary to fundamental human values. President Gay has apologized for how she handled her congressional testimony and has committed to redoubling the universitys fight against antisemitism.

In an interview with The Crimson last week, Gay said she got caught up in a heated exchange at the House committee hearing and failed to properly denounce threats of violence against Jewish students.

What I should have had the presence of mind to do in that moment was return to my guiding truth, which is that calls for violence against our Jewish community  threats to our Jewish students  have no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged, Gay said.

Testimony from Gay and Magill drew intense national backlash, as did similar responses from the president of MIT, who also testified before the Republican-led House Education and Workforce Committee.

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, a committee member who repeatedly asked the university presidents whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate the schools rules, voiced her displeasure on X, the social media platform, about the decision supporting Gay.

There have been absolutely no updates to (Harvards) code of conduct to condemn the calls for genocide of Jews and protect Jewish students on campus, she said. The only update to Harvards code of conduct is to allow plagiarists as president.

The corporation addressed allegations of plagiarism against Gay, saying that Harvard became aware of them in late October regarding three articles she had written. It initiated an independent review at Gays request.

The corporation reviewed the results on Saturday, which revealed a few instances of inadequate citation and found no violation of Harvards standards for research misconduct, it said. Gay is proactively requesting four corrections in two articles to insert citations and quotation marks that were omitted from the original publications, the statement said.

Read the Harvard Corporations full statement below:

As members of the Harvard Corporation, we today reaffirm our support for President Gays continued leadership of Harvard University. Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing.

So many people have suffered tremendous damage and pain because of Hamass brutal terrorist attack, and the Universitys initial statement should have been an immediate, direct, and unequivocal condemnation. Calls for genocide are despicable and contrary to fundamental human values. President Gay has apologized for how she handled her congressional testimony and has committed to redoubling the Universitys fight against antisemitism.

With regard to President Gays academic writings, the University became aware in late October of allegations regarding three articles. At President Gays request, the Fellows promptly initiated an independent review by distinguished political scientists and conducted a review of her published work. On December 9, the Fellows reviewed the results, which revealed a few instances of inadequate citation. While the analysis found no violation of Harvards standards for research misconduct, President Gay is proactively requesting four corrections in two articles to insert citations and quotation marks that were omitted from the original publications.

In this tumultuous and difficult time, we unanimously stand in support of President Gay. At Harvard, we champion open discourse and academic freedom, and we are united in our strong belief that calls for violence against our students and disruptions of the classroom experience will not be tolerated. Harvards mission is advancing knowledge, research, and discovery that will help address deep societal issues and promote constructive discourse, and we are confident that President Gay will lead Harvard forward toward accomplishing this vital work.

Harvard Hillels Rabbi Getzel Davis echoed similar sentiments, saying in part:

The most important thing for Jewish students at Harvard and Harvard Hillel is that the culture changes, and we have an administration that supports them; that names, calls out, and stops antisemitism whenever and wherever it occurs; and that ensures this campus is a safe learning environment for Jewish students and for all students. We look forward to continuing to work with President Gay and other senior Harvard administrators on educational programs and enforcing policies to protect Jewish students. And at Harvard Hillel, we will continue to focus on keeping students safe, supporting their emotional health, and fostering spiritual growth.

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The U.S. Treasury announced new sanctions over the weekend against two Taliban regime officials in Afghanistan, accusing the men of roles in the systemic "repression of women and girls." The Treasury specifically noted the Taliban's ban on girls attending school beyond the sixth grade as "severe and pervasive discrimination."

But while the impact on Afghan women and girls of the Taliban's draconian crackdown on education has been well documented, a report from the New York-based organization Human Rights Watch warns that the Islamic fundamentalists' approach to schooling is "causing irreversible damage to the Afghan education system for boys as well as girls."

Afghan girls describe how they escaped the Taliban

The policies, HRW warns, could create a "lost generation" of children, and "will haunt Afghanistan's future."

"Harming the whole school system"

HRW's Dec. 5 report includes first-hand accounts from educators and students who describe schools that, since the Taliban's Aug. 2021 return to power following the withdrawal of U.S.-led international forces, have adopted a far more religious-based curriculum, enforced by alleged abuse.

The report includes accounts of a rise in corporal punishment, regressive changes in the curriculum and the removal of professional female teachers from boys' schools.

Children walk to school in the Spin Boldak district of Afghanistan's Kandahar province, Nov. 28, 2023. / Credit: SANAULLAH SEIAM/AFP/Getty

"The Taliban are causing irreversible damage to the Afghan education system for boys as well as girls," said Sahar Fetrat, the HRW researcher who authored the report. "By harming the whole school system in the country, they risk creating a lost generation deprived of a quality education."

HRW said students had reported "suffocating" new rules in schools under the Taliban that appear to reflect an education system rapidly returning to the conditions in the country before the conservative Islamic group was toppled by the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.

"Currently, as a student, wearing anything colorful is treated like a sin. Wearing shorts, t-shirts, ties, and suits are all treated like crimes. Having a smartphone at school can have serious consequences. Listening to music or having music on one's phone can lead to severe physical punishment," one student was quoted as telling HRW in the report. "Every day, there are several cases where boys get punished during morning assembly or in classrooms for some of these reasons."

Another student was quoted by the rights group as saying female teachers with "specializations in the subjects they taught" had been removed.

"They were professionals. We are suffering from their absence now, and our four male teachers also fled the country after August 2021. Currently, we are taught by male teachers who previously taught grades four and five," the student said, according to the report.



The Taliban-run Ministry of Education, in a statement posted on social media, rejected the HRW report and called on international institutions to visit and closely observe the situation in Afghanistan's schools.



The statement said 245,000 teachers, including 95,000 women, were working for the Ministry of Education and that it did not fire any female teachers from their jobs.



"Even if female teachers were transferred from boy's schools, they were not unemployed but recruited in girls' schools," the ministry said.

6th grade girls finish school, maybe forever

The school year in Afghanistan ends in December, and girls finishing the sixth grade will no longer be permitted to enter classrooms in the Taliban's Afghanistan. Young women have also been barred by the Taliban from attending universities, and women excluded from many professions, including beauty salons.



Afghan education activist Shafiqa Khpalwak, speaking over the weekend on the "Afghanistan International" television network, which is based outside the country, said one teacher had told her that as she sobbed along with her students on their last day, some girls told her they wanted to fail  so they could repeat the sixth grade and keep coming to school.

"The Taliban's impact on the education system is harming children today and will haunt Afghanistan's future," Fetrat said. "An immediate and effective international response is desperately needed to address Afghanistan's education crisis."

U.S. sanctions 2 senior Taliban officials

On Saturday, the United States Treasury imposed sanctions against 20 people worldwide, including two senior Taliban officials, over human rights abuses, marking International Human Rights Day.



The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed financial sanctions on Fariduddin Mahmood and Khalid Hanafi "for serious human rights abuse related to the repression of women and girls, including through the restriction of access to secondary education for women and girls in Afghanistan solely on the basis of gender. This gender-based restriction reflects severe and pervasive discrimination against women and girls and interferes with their enjoyment of equal protection."

A March 25, 2023 file photo shows Afghan school girls attending their first day of the new school year in Kabul, Afghanistan. / Credit: Ebrahim Noroozi/AP

Hanafi is the Taliban's acting Minister of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, a powerful department within the Taliban administration that implements the group's harsh interpretation of Islamic law through "morality" policing on the streets and in government offices. The treasury said the ministry's enforcers "have engaged in serious human rights abuse, including killings, abductions, whippings, and beatings" and "assaulted people protesting the restrictions on women's activity, including access to education."

Mahmood is the acting general director of the Afghanistan Academy of Sciences. Both Hanafi and Mahmood are believed to be close to the Taliban's supreme leader, and both are against girls' education.



Chief Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the U.S. sanctions in a social media post, saying "pressure and restriction is not the solution to any problem."



In his statement, written in English, Mujahid said previous efforts by the U.S. to change the Taliban's policies through sanctions had failed. He claimed hypocrisy on the part of the U.S. which he derided as "among the biggest violators of human rights due to its support for Israel."

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Some members of the Republican Party are meeting with associates of Hungary's conservative minister, Viktor Orban, in Washington D.C. this week to discuss terminating U.S. aid to Ukraine. Starting on Monday, the Guardian reported, a two-day event hosted by right-wing organization Heritage Foundation will commence, melding GOP-ers with members of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs and staff from the Hungarian embassy.

Far-right Republicans have tried to stymie aid to Ukraine over the last several months, in stark contrast to the staunch bipartisan support seen when Russia launched its attack on Ukraine in February of 2022. These legislators have sought to use the Russo-Ukraine war as a means of enacting other political goals  chiefly, they've demanded more stringent immigration policy and protections along the U.S.-Mexico border. On Wednesday, the GOP blocked an emergency spending bill meant to funnel financial aid to Ukraine, even though President Joe Biden said he would be willing to offer "significant compromises" related to the border. Make no mistake: Todays votes going to be long remembered, and history is going to judge harshly those who turned their backs on freedoms cause, Biden said from the White House on Wednesday, not long before the vote took place.

Orban, an authoritarian leader and close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has emphasized a number of far-right values during his tenure. In particular, he has taken aim at the teaching of gender ideology, tried to bribe Hungarian women to have more children, and adopted an extreme stance against immigration. Orban has also condemned the financial backing of Ukraine. "Orban is confident that the Ukraine aid will not pass in Congress. That is why he is trying to block assistance from the EU as well," a source close to the Hungarian embassy said. On December 3, Orban argued that Ukraine's European Union membership should be stripped from the European Council's agenda. The Hungarian leader took to X to double down on his assertion, writing, It is clear that the proposal of the European Commission on Ukraines EU accession is unfounded and poorly prepared.

It is clear that the proposal of the @EU_Commission on Ukraines EU accession is unfounded and poorly prepared. There is no place for it on the agenda of the December #EUCO ! pic.twitter.com/4uRFP4nEhx  Orban Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) December 3, 2023

The Heritage Foundation has likewise been critical of aid to Ukraine. The Guardian noted how last year, the executive director of its lobbying operation, Jessica Anderson, released a statement under the headline: Ukraine Aid Package Puts America Last. And over the summer Heritages vice-president, Victoria Coates wrote on social media, Its time to end the blank, undated checks for Ukraine. Heritages president, Kevin Roberts, lauded Orban after a meeting in November of 2022, writing on X/Twitter: One thing is clear from visiting Hungary and from being involved in current policy and cultural debates in America: the world needs a movement that fights for Truth, for tradition, for families, and for the average person.

It was an honor, @PM_ViktorOrban, to meet with you. One thing is clear from visiting Hungary and from being involved in current policy and cultural debates in America: the world needs a movement that fights for Truth, for tradition, for families, and for the average person. https://t.co/7tjTL79Wpy  Kevin Roberts (@KevinRobertsTX) November 29, 2022

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

The conservative think tank has spearheaded Project 2025, a plan to be prepared with a spate of red, MAGA replacements for the "Deep State" traitors Trump plans to oust once he assumes the presidency. Peter Dans, the director of the 2025 Presidential Transition Project said, "We need to flood the zone with conservatives. This is a clarion call to come to Washington. People need to lay down their tools, and step aside from their professional life and say, This is my lifetime moment to serve.

The Guardian cited senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in D.C., Dalibor Rohac, regarding the recent political alignment between Hungary and some members of the American right. Rohac said, "The Hungarian embassy in DC has been very active lately, trying to repair ties with the Republicans and strengthen them where its appropriate."

It is also not surprising that Heritage is the venue of these talks because they are different from other think tanks in DC; they are more partisan, and their funding model heavily overlaps with the Trump base.
DUNMORE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Anxious Dunmore residents voicing their concerns about flooding at a meeting in Lackawanna County Monday.

The Pennsylvania American Water customers are angry because they say a water main issue has taken a toll on the area several times.

Theyre also worried about long-time drainage issues on Monroe and Quincy Avenue.

So far, Pennsylvania American Water has not sent a representative to the meeting, and residents tell us thats making them even more angry.

PSP investigates multiple vehicle thefts in Loyalsock Twp.

Were very fortunate, were very thankful for all our friends and family and everyone here tonight for listening to our frustration, our disappointment and you know well continue to do the best we can for our family, said Dunmore Flood victim Corey Valvano.

We have seen rates increase already over the last couple of years. This is a, I believe, too far too great on peoples pocketbook, House Representative Kyle J. Mullins.

We got to hear from our state and federal legislators about what they can possibly do but it wasnt all that useful in that the people that are responsible couldnt make the time to show up today, said Dunmore Mayor Max Conway.

According to a written statement provided by the council president, the reason the water company couldnt attend the meeting was due to ongoing litigation and they arent allowed to talk about the issues that were presented at the town hall.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
One of Durhams most unique restaurant spaces is set to reopen as a neighborhood bar with a killer burger.

Lakewood Social, a new restaurant from chef Joel Schroeter, opens this month in the former County Fare food truck rodeo site, which was most recently Honeysuckle at Lakewood.

The new Lakewood Social opens Sunday, Dec. 17 at 11 a.m.

Schroeters resume includes Triangle fine dining spots like Mandolin in Raleigh, but most recently created the popular Old North Meats & Provisions in the Durham Food Hall.

Old North Meats was known for an exquisite smashburger, housemade charcuterie and pastrami and one of the Triangles best breakfast sandwiches. The brand closed in 2022 after two years in the Durham Food Hall.

Honeysuckle at Lakewood closed last month and Schroeter looks to open Lakewood Social within 18 days of taking over.

In Lakewood Social, Schroeter said he hopes to recreate the kind of neighborhood restaurant he grew up working in as a teenager in small town Wisconsin

My uncle owned the first restaurant I worked in; I was 14 washing dishes, Schoeter said. Everybody knew everybody. Those things arent lost today. Its more complicated in a larger city, but the principles are there  do the basic things well, make crunchy things crunchy, keep the bathrooms clean, serve cold things cold and hot things hot. Greet people at the door and do your best to listen.

Born as County Fare in 2018 and rebranded as Honeysuckle in 2020, the space that Lakewood Social moves into is situated on the edge of the Lakewood Shopping Center, near Cocoa Cinnamon and Lula & Sadies. The building is best known for its wrap-around porch and a large yard where families can spread out.

Could this be the best smashburger in Durham?

Lakewood Social will revive the smashburger from Old North Meats, as well as the crispy chicken sandwich, served on a griddled Union Special bun.

Schroeter said to also expect a doner kebab, likely made with chicken, fries and other shareaable plates.

Lakewood Social will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

In this neighborhood we want to make it easy, Schroeter said. Theres basically unlimited parking, its fenced in and family friendly. Eventually well have an ice cream stand and sundaes.

The largest departure for Lakewood Social over Schroeters experience in the Durham Food Hall, will be operating a full bar. The new restaurant will feature 24 taps, 18 of which will be dedicated to beer. The others will serve cider, wine and draft cocktails.

Lakewood Social also aims to be something of a wine destination, featuring a small wine bar, plus wines by the glass and bottle with a corkage fee. The bar looks to serve simple, well-made classic cocktails as well.

What Im most excited about on the beverage side is creating high quality and efficient cocktails, Schroeter said. I want this to be a place that offers value, thats super approachable and we make it so you dont have to wait 20 minutes for a drink.
Grenville Richings tried to take his own life after ending his wife's but he survived - Solent News

A former police officer killed his seriously ill wife after becoming frustrated by NHS delays in her treatment, a court heard.

Grenville Richings, 83, was found guilty of strangling his wife but was spared jail, as the judge described the killing as an act of mercy.

Mr Richings spouse, Elizabeth, had been left crushed with pain following a serious fall and delayed health service appointments, the court had been told.

As the couple were approaching their diamond wedding anniversary, Mr Richings killed the retired nurse before kissing her and lying her on the sofa with her arms crossed over her chest.

The churchgoer then drank bleach as he attempted suicide and wrote in his journal  which he would use to write about his wifes declining health  Peace, may God forgive me.

After pleading guilty to manslaughter, a crown court judge on Tuesday gave Mr Richings a suspended prison sentence, as he concluded the mental torment he suffered must have been intolerable.

Police at the couple's home in Wick, Dorset - BNPS

Salisbury Crown Court heard that Mrs Richings was found dead by paramedics on June 3 at the 500,000 riverside home she shared with her husband in Bournemouth, Dorset.

The court was told how Mr and Mrs Richings  who was originally from Ayr, south west Scotland  had met in their early twenties and had been happily married for 59 years.

Prosecuting, Anna Vigars KC, told the court: Their marriage had been not only long but according to their daughter  stable and content.

Over the past few years, the court heard that both husband and wife  who shared three children and four grandchildren  suffered a decline in their health.

Mrs Vigars said: Since he had been in his sixties, Mr Richings suffered from heart problems and he had significant care and support from his wife.

The husband and wife had been caring for one another but things worsened in May of this year when Mrs Richings suffered a bad fall, something that had become increasingly frequent in recent years. She suffered a fractured vertebra in her back.

Mrs Vigars said the pensioner must have felt like the rug was pulled out from under him and neighbours noticed how much they were struggling.

Mr Richings personal notebook included a number of extracts in regard to his wifes condition from the fall onwards.

Time wasted consulting NHS

He was growing frustrated and helpless, and wrote: So much time wasted consulting NHS people instead of action.

Mrs Vigars added: His stress levels because of the time that medical referrals were taking was 10 out of 10.

On June 3, Mr Richings, who was reluctant to leave his wife, went food shopping with his daughter, Katherine Draycott, but reportedly wanted to return home as soon as they could.

The pensioner wrote in his journal later that day that his wife, who was known as Betty by friends and family, was shivering and shaking.

In the evening, Mrs Draycott rang the house and spoke to her father on the phone when, as the prosecuting barrister, said: His speech sounded slurred and he said to her that he had strangled his wife and called an ambulance.

Mrs Vigars said police attended their Bournemouth home, adding: They found Mrs Richings body lying on the sofa. She was covered in blankets with her arms covering her chest.

Mitigating, Patrick Gibbs KC, said Mrs Richings was suffering continuous pain, hopelessness and despair and the retired police officer was putting on a brave face until the end.

He told the court: [Mr Richings] had a genuine belief that this was an act of mercy. There is no dangerousness here.

He believed that he would soon see her again, free of pain.

Discussing motivations, Mr Gibbs, added: The answer must be that he had loved her for so long that his mind couldnt bear any longer to see crushed by the pain and despair that she was in.

He added: The event of the third of June is only a part of their story. Their story is long and happy.

Sentencing the pensioner, Judge Timothy Mousley KC said: On the 11th of May [Betty] fell over in the house.

It caused her great pain and there was a delay in her receiving the treatment and care that she needed.

She had in fact suffered a fractured vertebrae.

Judge Mousley added that Mr Richings was not himself at the time, and was suffering an abnormality of mental function due to his worsening mental health.

The judge added: I conclude that the mental torment must have been intolerable. A psychiatrist described you as deeply desperate.

You told a psychiatrist that after you strangled Betty, you kissed her.

She was found lying across the sofa peacefully, with her arms crossed across her chest, he added.

I am satisfied you believed killing was an act of mercy.

Mr Richings had pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Winchester Crown Court, Hampshire, in November.

He was handed an 18 month sentence, suspended for two years.

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Russia has lost 315,000 troops in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, representing nearly 90% of the military personnel it had in February 2022, Reuters reported on Dec. 12, citing a declassified U.S. intelligence report.

Russia is expected to launch a new mobilization drive in 2024, most likely after the presidential elections in March. The country declared a partial mobilization of 300,000 personnel in the autumn of 2022.

"The scale of losses has forced Russia to take extraordinary measures," such as allowing the recruitment of convicts and older civilians, the intelligence reportedly said.

The losses in personnel and armored vehicles "have set back Russia's military modernization by 18 years," a source familiar with the intelligence report told Reuters.

According to the report, Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine with 360,000 personnel. By now, 87% have been killed or injured.

The Russian military is increasingly looking to recruit foreigners and migrant workers to fill the ranks, with reports emerging in distant countries like Cuba and Nepal of men being trafficked to fight for Russia in Ukraine.

UK Defense Ministry: Russia seeking to suppress domestic anti-mobilization sentiment Russian authorities have sought to discredit the rare public display of dissent as well as offering increased cash payments for the families of mobilized soldiers if they agree to not protest. The Kyiv IndependentNate Ostiller

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Dec. 1 to increase the size of Russia's army by 170,000 people, bringing it to a new total of 1,320,000 military personnel.

The U.S. intelligence report corresponds with similar estimates of the scale of the Russian army's losses in Ukraine.

The U.K. Defense Ministry said on Dec. 4 that it estimates 320,000 Russian troops have been killed or injured since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Neither Moscow nor Kyiv releases public information about troop losses, but the Russian military's culture of dishonest reporting means that Russian officials themselves likely have a "low level of understanding" about casualty figures, the ministry said.

Russian independent media outlet Mediazona, together with the BBC's Russian Service, confirmed on Dec. 1 the names of 38,261 Russian soldiers who have been killed since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

The journalists said that the actual figures are likely considerably higher since the information they have verified so far comes from public sources, including obituaries, posts by relatives, news in regional media, and reports by local authorities.

The Dec. 12 Ukrainian military update said that Russia has lost over 340,000 troops in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion.

The New York Times reported in August that Russia's military casualties were nearing 300,000, citing U.S. officials. The figure included an estimated 120,000 deaths on the Russian side, which Moscow "routinely" undercounts, the report said.

Putin plays it safe by delaying new mobilization ahead of election in Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Dec. 8 that he would participate in the upcoming presidential elections in March, seeking his 5th term in office. Putin, 71, has been in power since 1999 and its all but certain that he will secure a six-year term. Russias upcoming presidential The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
NEWPORT  The secretary of the Navy announced Monday that a future guided-missile destroyer will be named after J. William Middendorf II, of Little Compton, who served as secretary of the Navy under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro celebrated the keel plate unveiling ceremony at the Naval War College with Middendorf, 99, who also served as U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands, in attendance, according to a news release.

J. William Middendorf II in 2004.

Its hard to believe that 50 years ago Ambassador Middendorf was championing the Aegis Weapons System as the Secretary of the Navy, said Del Toro. The weapons system remains "the workforce of our force. Middendorf also championed the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine.

In the past two and a half years as the secretary of the Navy, I have been lucky enough to announce the names for a myriad of new ships, as well as attend numerous commissionings, keel-layings, and christenings, Del Toro said. The ships were building across the country are a key piece of our departments ability to deter our adversaries, support our allies and partners, and, if necessary, fight and win our nations wars.

Secretary of the Navy Carlos del Toro.

New ship will be the 'most capable surface combatant ever built'

When completed, the USS J. William Middendorf will become part of that storied line of ships, Del Toro said. She will be the most capable surface combatant ever built. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025.

Del Toro said the United States faces a geopolitical landscape more akin to the Cold War era of the 1970s when the nation faced off against the Soviet Union and Middendorf served as Navy secretary.

Today The Peoples Republic of China is our pacing challenge, and we must restore our Nations maritime power to meet it, the secretary said. The future USS J. William Middendorf is key to that goal. We look forward to welcoming her into our fleet and are excited for its future crew to represent our nation on a global scale, just as her namesake did throughout his life.

Middendorf served in the Navy between 1944 and 1946, before earning a bachelor's degree from Harvard College and then a masters in business, in 1954, from New York University. He became an investment banker and worked for the Republican National Committee. Shortly after taking office in 1969, President Nixon appointed Middendorf ambassador to the Netherlands. He served in this position until 1973, later becoming the 62nd secretary of the Navy.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: US Navy to name ship after J. William Middendorf II of Rhode Island
WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland has violated the right to respect for a private life by failing to offer legal recognition for same-sex couples, the European Court of Human Rights said on Tuesday, putting pressure on Donald Tusk's new government to quickly change the law.

Ten Poles argued that the vast majority of Council of Europe member states offered same-sex couples a right to marry or to enter into registered civil unions, and asserted that they were disadvantaged, for example in the fields of taxation, social rights and family law.

"The Court considered that the Polish State had failed to comply with its duty to ensure that the applicants had a specific legal framework providing for the recognition and protection of their same-sex unions," it said in a statement.

"That failure had resulted in the applicants inability to regulate fundamental aspects of their lives and amounted to a breach of their right to respect for their private and family life."

The case dates back to the rule of the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, which was effectively ended after eight years on Monday when parliament backed a new pro-European government under Tusk to take power after October's election.

PiS says that extending marriage and adoption to gay couples threatens traditional family structures and is harmful for children. It also says that teaching about LGBTQ issues in schools results in children being sexualised.

Tusk had said during the election campaign that his party would introduce a provision for same-sex partnerships and he considered it a priority.

As a sign of his government's dedication to fighting discrimination, Tusk's cabinet will be the first to include a minister for equality, Katarzyna Kotula, a politician from the New Left party forming part of his pro-European coalition.

"It's a good day. The time of discrimination is coming to an end. We know that we are all different, but we are equal. We will ensure equality for all - which is guaranteed by ... the Constitution," she wrote on social media platform X.

Tusk will face a vote of confidence in parliament later on Tuesday and his government could be sworn in on Wednesday morning.

ECHR rulings are binding on members of the Council of Europe, an organisation separate from the European Union, but some remain outstanding for years.

The Love Does Not Exclude Association which supported the applicants in court said the ruling would result in "serious pressure" on the government to introduce same-sex partnerships.

"Since the new government wants to rebuild Poland's reputation ... and prove that the rule of law crisis has ended, it will not be able to ignore the voices of international bodies such as the tribunal," it said in a statement.

(Reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Alison Williams)
San Antonios VP Racing Fuels Inc. registered trademarks for the Mad Scientist and logo. Its ex-CEO, Steve Burns, alleges in a recently filed lawsuit that the Mad Scientist is his alter-ego and wants a court to permanently enjoin the company from using the moniker and logo. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office The Madditive family of VP Racing Fuels additives and fuels is shown in 2016 with labeling that includes the Mad Scientist image that is now the subject of a trademark infringement lawsuit. Courtesy VP Racing Fuels San Antonio-based VP Racing Fuels promotes its products by showcasing its monster jam truck at its store location in McQueeney in January 2016. The logo overlooks the fuel station canopy. TOM REEL/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

In the early 1970s, Lee High School graduate Steve Burns would tinker with volatile chemicals in his parents garage seeking to develop a formula for fuel that could make drag racers faster.

Burns filled a used oil drum with his concoction, loaded it into his pickup truck and drove to a local drag strip to try to persuade racers to try it. His efforts earned him the nickname Mad Scientist.

He turned his passion into a business, creating VP Racing Fuels Inc. in 1975, which he ran for more than 35 years before selling a majority stake in the San Antonio company to former Valero Energy Corp. executive Alan Cerwick.

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VP Racing Fuels founder Steve Burns, right, and current CEO Alan Cerwick tour the companys Elmendorf production facility in 2017. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

Now, though, Burns is suing the company he founded, alleging that it has appropriated his Mad Scientist alter-ego. Besides the name, VP uses a Mad Scientist logo featuring a figure in a lab coat, with flaming red hair and upraised elbows and holding lab beakers in both hands. The caricature is based on his image, the suit says.

Steve Burns is an icon in the fuel and motor racing business, said attorney Ricardo Cedillo, who represents the VP founder, in an emailed statement. His persona, name, image and likeness are protected by law and not for the taking by VP Racing Fuels.

Burns has sued VP for trademark infringement, false or fraudulent registration of a trademark, invasion of privacy for misappropriation of his name and image, and other claims. He is seeking more than $1 million in damages, and he wants a court to determine that he is the senior user of the Mad Scientist trademark and therefore the owner. In addition, he wants VP barred from using the name and logo.

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VP Racing Fuels Inc. founder Steve Burns, to support his argument in a lawsuit against the San Antonio company that he has consistently been identified as the Mad Scientist, included photos of a racing helmet that he received from seven employees in 2005. The helmet depicts a mad scientist appearing directly below Burns name. Court document

Richard Rick Espey, a lawyer representing VP, countered that Cerwick acquired all of VPs assets  including the intellectual property rights to the Mad Scientist name and logo  in two transactions in 2014 and 2016.

It is telling that Mr. Burns chose to wait nearly 10 years to assert a claim that VP was illegally using the Mad Scientist logo, Espey said in an emailed statement. In reality, Mr. Burns knew that he had sold them all the companys intellectual property rights, including the Mad Scientist logo, and that VP has continued its rightful use of the Mad Scientist ever since.

VP will aggressively defend this case and seek all legal remedies for this frivolous claim, Espey said.

The suit was filed last month in state District Court in San Antonio.

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VP Racing Fuels founder Steve Burns, right, and CEO Alan Cerwick tour the companys Elmendorf production facility in 2017. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

Sham deal

VP sells fuels, lubricants, coolants and the like at various retailers, including Walmart, AutoZone and Home Depot. It also sells products for outdoor power equipment, marine craft and power sports, and it has a network of gas stations that operate in San Antonio and across the country.

Im trying to build this into a billion-dollar company, Cerwick said in a 2016 interview with the Express-News.

He joined VP as president in 2011 and received an option to buy the company within three years, Burns lawsuit says.

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After his inauguration, Cerwick surreptitiously entered into an erroneous agreement by and on behalf of VP to allegedly purchase the Mad Scientist name and logo from a third party, despite knowing that they directly referred to and were owned by Burns, the complaint says. In this sham deal, Cerwick had VP pay $10,000.00 to acquire Mad Scientist.

Burns says in his lawsuit that the image of the Mad Scientist was gifted to him in 2005 by seven VP employees in recognition of the companys 30th anniversary. Artist Troy Lee, who operated a custom helmet paint shop, created the Mad Scientist image on a helmet for Burns, the complaint adds.

Burns says he owned the name and image and never relinquished it.

VP Racing Fuels founder Steve Burns, left, and current CEO Alan Cerwick are shown in 2017 behind samples in the companys Elmendorf production facility lab. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News

Trademarks

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A search of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Offices website shows that VP holds at least nine trademarks for Mad Scientist  the name and logo. The company applied for the trademarks in 2012, and the office issued registration certificates in 2014 and 2015. The trademarks are for use with fuels, gasoline stations, chemical additives and clothing.

VPs website offers for sale an array of consumer products bearing the Mad Scientist logo, including umbrellas, bottle openers and bobbleheads.

VP filed filed the trademark applications absent Burns knowledge or permission, his lawsuit says. VP falsely represented that it owned the trademarks, the complaint adds.

Cerwick exercised his option to buy VP in 2014. At the time of the deal, the suit says, Cerwicks activities related to the Mad Scientist remained concealed from Burns.

Along with the sale, the lawsuit alleges, VP and Burns entered into a sponsorship agreement that allowed it to use his name, image, racing vehicles and race shop in promotional materials in exchange for compensation.

Burns says that agreement expired at the end of 2016, along with VPs rights to use his name and image  including the use of Mad Scientist.
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Dozens of human rights groups and NGOs and urged Romanian policymakers to uphold the rights of same-sex couples in line with a European Court of Human Rights ruling in May.

The ECHR ruled Romania had failed to enforce the rights of same-sex couples by refusing to recognise their relationships, in a ruling which will eventually force policymakers to expand protections for the LGBT community.

In late November, leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said doing so was not among his top priorities as Romanian society was not ready to recognise same-sex families.

The head of the ruling coalition centre-right Liberal Party and senate speaker Nicolae Ciuca said his party supported "traditional families".

"All families deserve recognition and legal protection," said a petition signed by thirty-five rights groups.

"The Romanian state, through the government and parliament, must offer solutions for concrete life situations for all of its citizens."

The petition, initiated by ACCEPT, urged policymakers to change legislation to enable same sex-marriages, to recognise such marriages conducted abroad and to approve civil unions.

Romania decriminalised homosexuality in 2001, decades later than other parts of the European Union, but still bars marriage and civil partnerships for same-sex couples.

Seven legislative proposals to change civil unions to include same-sex couples have either been rejected or have not yet made it through parliamentary approval committees.

Romania holds local, European, general and presidential elections in 2024.

A survey commissioned by LGBT rights group ACCEPT in 2021 showed 71% of Romanians said legal recognition of civil marriage for same-sex couples would not have any impact on their lives.

The ECHR ruled on Tuesday that Poland had violated the right to respect for a private life by failing to offer legal recognition for same-sex couples.

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Alison Williams)
Tacos at Garcia's Mexican Food on Fredericksburg Road in San Antonio include smoked brisket with guacamole, left, and grilled pork chop. Mike Sutter/Staff

The New York Times has declared 23 of the Best American Dishes of 2023, and right there in the mix is a San Antonio surprise: the brisket taco at Garcias Mexican Food on Fredericksburg Road.

Ill second that emotion for one of the best things on the menu at this 60-year-old family-owned cafe that grabbed the No. 1 spot on our first-ever list of the Top 25 Mexican Restaurants in San Antonio.

Top 25 Mexican Restaurants: The best of the best in a city that knows best

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Garcias Mexican Food on Fredericksburg Road is one of the Top 25 Mexican Restaurants in San Antonio. Mike Sutter/Staff

Times food writer Priya Krishna praised the brisket taco experience at Garcias with a sentiment that San Antonio taco fans understand completely: A juicy, crisp-edged slab of brisket, a blanket-soft tortilla, some pico de gallo  when the basics are executed this well, theres no need for any other adornments.

Id put Garcias black-gold brisket against brisket from the best barbecue shops in town. They put it in tacos, on a barbecue sandwich, on nachos, on a plate of its own with guacamole salad. Its a jack of all trades and a master of all of them. And its all available from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at 842 Fredericksburg Road.
San Antonio college students Limya Harvey, left, and Cydney Mumford distribute free kits containing either emergency contraceptives, condoms and lube, or menstrual products, at the University of Texas-San Antonio campus and at community events. Kathleen Royster

Limya Harvey and Cydney Mumford set up a folding table a few times a month on the University of Texas-San Antonio campus to give away kits containing emergency contraceptives, condoms and lube, or menstrual products like tampons and pads. They typically bring 50 of each type of kit, and after just an hour or two everything is gone.

The 19-year-old sophomores  Harvey is enrolled at UTSA and Mumford at Northeast Lakeview College  founded the organization Black Book Sex Ed last spring. Their mission is to educate students and others in need about sexual health and connect them with free services and products packaged into kits they distribute on campus, in the community and through their website.

Both of us grew up rather lower-income, Mumford said, so theres a soft spot as it relates to people who say, Oh, I just dont have it right now. Thats part of the reason we started doing this.

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Harvey and Mumford arent alone. A growing number of students on college campuses nationwide are stepping in to provide other students with free or low-cost emergency contraceptives, birth control and menstrual products.

They also are pushing back against threats to their reproductive freedom since the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision last year, which eliminated federal abortion protections.

Although emergency contraceptives are legal in every state, some policymakers worry that in states that ban or severely restrict abortion, access to emergency contraceptives and other types of birth control may erode because of people failing to distinguish between drugs that prevent pregnancy and medications used for abortions.

Our requests for help have quadrupled since Dobbs, said Kelly Cleland, the executive director of the American Society for Emergency Contraception, which provides tool kits and technical assistance to help students develop what are becoming known as peer-to-peer distribution networks. Those student networks provide emergency contraceptives and bring vending machines to their campuses that carry the medications and other personal health care products. The organization has worked with students at more than 200 campuses.

Many types of emergency contraceptive pills are available over the counter and without age restrictions. Students who distribute them are generally not putting themselves at legal risk, especially if they ensure the products are in their original packaging and havent expired and refrain from providing medical advice, Cleland said. Its like giving a friend a Tylenol, one advocate explained.

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Its really growing and a really interesting new route for people to get what they need in trusted ways, especially in Texas and other states where there are repercussions from the Dobss decision, said Mara Gandal-Powers, director of birth control access at the National Womens Law Center.

Like those of many student groups, Harvey and Mumfords kits contain products  emergency contraceptive pills, tampons, lube, etc.  donated by nonprofits and companies. Black Book Sex Ed accepts financial donations as well and uses the money to buy items at big-box stores.

The University of Texas-San Antonio didnt respond to requests for comment.

Across the country, at Bowie State University in Maryland, a graduate student took a different approach to improving student access to contraceptives.

What started as a class project last year for Jakeya Johnsons masters degree program in public administration and policy eventually became state law.

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Starting next year, the measure will require many Maryland public colleges to provide round-the-clock access to emergency contraception and develop a comprehensive plan to ensure students have access to all FDA-approved forms of birth control, plus abortion services.

As part of her project, Johnson, 28, started researching the availability of reproductive health care at Bowie State, and she quickly learned that options were somewhat limited. When she called the health center, she was told that emergency contraception was available only to students who went through counseling first and that, while the college prescribed birth control, there was no pharmacy on campus where students could fill their prescriptions. She proposed that the school install a vending machine stocked with emergency contraceptives, condoms, pregnancy tests and other sexual health products. But college officials told her they didnt have money for the machines. Her research showed that students at other colleges in Maryland faced similar roadblocks.

So Johnson approached state Delegate Ariana Kelly, now a state senator, about introducing a bill that would require schools to provide access to emergency contraceptives and other contraceptive services.

The bill, which was signed in May, requires the schools to provide the services by August 2024.

There was definitely some pushback from conservative legislators during the process, Johnson said. Although the final bill didnt include requirements for transportation services or school reporting that Johnson wanted, she was heartened by the amount of support the bill received from parents and students.

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In the spring, Johnson received a public service fellowship from the University System of Maryland that has enabled her to work with her student health center to develop a blueprint for Bowie State that other schools can follow, she said.

Its something that in 2023 we shouldnt have to be fighting for, she said. We should already have it.

The legislation was confirmation and affirmation of the direction we were headed anyway, said Michele Richardson, director of the Henry Wise Wellness Center at Bowie State. She noted that the school is in the process of bringing to campus wellness vending machines, which will be installed by August.

But increasing access is more challenging elsewhere.

At Loyola University Chicago, a Jesuit college, members of the organization Students for Reproductive Justice arent permitted to host events on campus or reserve space in meeting rooms. The Loyola for Life group, which opposes abortion, faces no such restrictions.

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While Loyola welcomes an open exchange of ideas, only registered student organizations that are congruent with our values as a Jesuit, Catholic institution can submit activity requests or reserve space on campus, said Matthew McDermott, a spokesperson for the university.

Oral contraceptives are provided only to students who need them for reasons unrelated to preventing pregnancy, and resident advisers are not permitted to distribute condoms or other forms of birth control.

Thats where Students for Reproductive Justice comes in, said Andi Beaudouin, 21, who for the past two years has overseen the groups distribution of free emergency contraception. We were like, If the university isnt going to do it, then we will. Everyone deserves this, and we dont need to feel embarrassed or hesitant about getting the resources that we need.

Beaudouin and other volunteers take orders for emergency contraception by email. They package pills with two pregnancy tests and some pads and liners in case of bleeding and hand off the kits to students either on campus or nearby. In the past two years, theyve filled orders for more than 100 kits.

When the Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs, the number of requests skyrocketed, Beaudouin said. The group posted on Instagram pleading with students not to stockpile pills because its supplies were very limited.

People understood, but I felt really bad about it, they said. (Beaudouin uses the pronoun they.)

Beaudouin doesnt think university officials know that the reproductive health group distributes emergency contraceptives on campus. And Loyola for Life has picketed their off-campus condom distribution events, but it has gotten better since the reproductive health group asked them to stop, Beaudouin said.

Loyola for Life didnt respond to a request for comment.

The national anti-abortion group Students for Life of America wouldnt object to students distributing free pregnancy tests and menstrual products, said Kate Maloney, manager of the groups Campaign for Abortion Free Cities. But they would object to distribution of emergency contraception, which they claim is an abortion-causing drug.
Erik Cantu, 18, was arrested Saturday in Universal City for evading arrest in a vehicle and failing to provide information to officers. Cantu spent months in the hospital last year after he was shot several times by then-SAPD officer James Brennand. Bexar County Sheriff's Office

Erik Cantu, the teen who was shot by a San Antonio police officer in a McDonalds parking lot, was arrested Saturday after allegedly ignoring a Universal City officers order to pull his vehicle over, fleeing at high speeds and crashing into another car.

It was Cantus third arrest this year.

Cantu, 18, is charged with evading arrest with a vehicle and failing to stop and give information to officers, according to Bexar County court records.

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He was released from Bexar County jail on Sunday after posting bonds totaling $17,500.

Just after 2 p.m. Saturday in Universal City, a suburban city in northeast Bexar County, a patrol officer clocked a white 2012 BMW Series 5 driving at 50 mph in a 35 mph zone, according to a police incident report. Driving westbound on Kitty Hawk Road, the suspect didnt stop after the officer turned on his emergency lights and siren.

The BMW then merged onto a Loop 1604 access road, accelerated to speeds topping 80 mph, drove on the shoulder of the road at times and changed lanes without signaling, the incident report said.

In the 7700 block of Loop 1604, it struck the rear of a white 2016 Lexus SUV and drove another 443 feet before coming to a stop in the parking lot of a big-box home furnishing store.

According to the report, the officer approached the BMW, un-holstered his department-issued Glock 45 and pointed into the cars now-open drivers side door.

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Cantu began advising me he did not stop because did not think I was a 'real cop,' the officer said in the report. Cantu then stated he was shot by a San Antonio police while eating in a McDonalds parking lot and he (has) 'PTSD' from it.

In November, Cantu was arrested on a felony warrant for evading arrest with a vehicle after a Sept. 8 incident in which Cantu, driving a BMW, allegedly sped away after a bicycle patrol officer tried to pull him over for violating a city ordinance.

The officer told Cantu to stop, but the teen accelerated and veered around the officer, driving into a bus lane to pass other vehicles, according to an affidavit supporting his arrest.

Cantu also was arrested in June on a misdemeanor charge of theft of items worth between $100 and $750. Cantu and a teenage girl were accused of stealing a car charger, an air freshener and other items from a Walmart Supercenter on the North Side.

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Last year, Cantu was shot multiple times by then-San Antonio Police Department officer James Brennand.

On Oct. 2, 2022, Cantu was parked in a McDonalds parking lot in the 11700 block of Blanco Road on the North Side, eating a hamburger, when he was approached by Brennand, who was there for an unrelated disturbance.

Speaking into his radio set, Brennand said he recognized Cantus 2008 BMW sedan as the vehicle that had eluded him during a traffic stop the night before. He suspected the vehicle was stolen, though it wasnt.

The officer opened Cantus door and demanded he step out, but Cantu put his vehicle in reverse and drove away. Brennand shot at Cantus vehicle at least 10 times, hitting his liver, diaphragm, bicep, chest and stomach. One bullet lodged near his heart.

First-responders rushed Cantu to University Hospital, where he spent several weeks on a ventilator.

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He was released from the hospital in late November to continue his recovery at home, with a brief return in December to treat complications from his injuries.

Brennand, then 27, was fired within days and was later charged with aggravated assault by a public servant, a first-degree felony. He had been on the force seven months and was still on probationary status.
The U.S. will level new sanctions on 250 entities and people in Russia related to the countrys invasion and ongoing war in Ukraine, the State Department announced Tuesday, as Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky was visiting lawmakers.

The State Department said it will impose sanctions on over 100 entities and individuals that include those engaged in sanctions evasion, further Russias ability to wage its war against Ukraine, and bolstering Russias future energy production and export capacity.

The Treasury Department will sanction an additional 150 individuals and entities, which include third-country actors who materially support Russias war against Ukraine, along with those who target Russian military procurement networks and those who assist Russia in getting machine tools, equipment and key inputs.

The Kremlin has steadily turned Russia into a wartime economy, but Putins war machine cannot survive on domestic production alone, said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Our sanctions today continue to tighten the vise on willing third-country suppliers and networks providing Russia the inputs it desperately needs to ramp up and sustain its military-industrial base.

The sanctions make Russia the most sanctioned country in the world, The Associated Press reported, and a follow a series of other sanctions aimed at curbing Russias economy. The sanctions prevent such entities and individuals from accessing U.S. property and bank accounts or working with American businesses.

The latest round of sanctions targets a weapons procurement network led by Chinese national Hu Xiaoxun, his private Chinese-based defense company Jarvis HK Co. and a group of associates who help sell Chinese-made weapons to Russia. A group of Turkey, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Maldives-based firms are also targeted in the sanctions, The AP added.

The move comes against the backdrop of Zelenskys visit to Capitol Hill in a plea for further aid from the U.S. as the package remains stalled in a divided Congress. He met with the Senate first, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Zelensky made clear, and we all made clear that if we lost, Putin wins, and this will very, very dangerous for the United States.

Zelensky met with House leadership and will meet with President Biden later on Tuesday at the White House.

The war is approaching nearly two years since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and some lawmakers are expressing hesitancy towards continued aid to the war-torn country.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(KRON)  A Santa Rosa man prohibited from owning guns was arrested for allegedly possessing seven guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition on Saturday.

Sonoma County Sheriffs Office deputies received multiple reports of someone shooting guns in the 5000 block of Gates Road in Santa Rosa around 7 a.m. on Dec. 7.

Scott Fisher charged with murdering San Francisco tech worker

Upon arrival, deputies located the man shooting guns. According to deputies, the man refused to cooperate and kept his distance.

The sheriffs office said deputies found shotgun and handgun casings on the porch of the mans home and shotgun cartridges in the road nearby. According to deputies, the officers left the scene because they were unaware if a crime had been committed.

Deputies and detectives began investigating the shooter.

The man was identified as 64-year-old Santa Rosa resident Clint Mitchell.

According to deputies, the Department of Justice had recently listed Mitchell as a person prohibited from owning or possessing guns. However, Mitchell had 15 guns registered to him. With a search and arrest warrant from Violent Crimes Detectives, Mitchell was arrested in the 1000 block of Main Street in St. Helena. on Dec. 9.

Mitchell had two loaded handgun magazines on him and a loaded shotgun with one round in the chamber of his car, deputies said.

Mans truck shot twice in East Bay road rage incident

VCD and the SWAT team served a search warrant on Mitchells property. However, his home was barricaded and contained makeshift booby traps. According to deputies, the SWAT team and VCD found guns, ammunition, a ballistic vest, spent casings, and bullet holes in the walls. Detectives found seven guns and approximately thousands of rounds of ammunition, deputies said.

Mitchell was booked into jail on three felonies: a prohibited person carrying a loaded gun in public, a prohibited person with ammunition, and owning or possessing a gun within five years of prohibition.

Mitchell is in custody on $130,000 bail due to a bail enhancement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG)  The Satanic Temple plans to host its After School Satan Club at Chimneyrock Elementary School in Cordova.

The club will start the program on January 10 in the schools library and run through the spring semester, according to an announcement posted on Facebook Tuesday morning.

The Satanic Temple claims to be a non-theistic religion that views Satan as a figure who represents championing the human mind and spirit. The group says the club does not attempt to convert children to any religious ideology. The clubs began nationwide in 2020.

They said there will be various activities centered around the Seven Fundamental Tenets, including science and community service projects, puzzles and games, nature activities, and arts and crafts.

After School Satan Clubs gain popularity amid legal victories

The news spread around local social media Tuesday, with some parents expressing concern.

  cant talk about god in school or pray but can have a satan in the school the worlds coming to an end yall better get ready, wrote Facebook user Barryand Ashley Busby.

Others were more supportive.

I say this as an open-minded Christian, if they can have Bible Studies at the school, then they should be able to do this as well, wrote Bee Givens.

Will the Memphis area get snow this year? Not likely, NWS says

Parents of students at Chimneyrock Elementary were alarmed and concerned after the flyer announcing the new after school club began making the rounds.

If we dont want God in schools, we definitely dont need or want Satan in schools, said Felicia Dennis. Me and my whole family, we attend church. So this was a big shocker for me for this to be coming to my daughters school.

Its the organizations fifth active club in the nation. Campaign Director June Everett said it started after she was contacted by MSCS parents expressing interest.

Members of the satanic temple are not theistic satanists, so they dont believe in an actual real satan, Everett said.

She explained that the club can only operate in schools that have other religious clubs, so like-minded people can come together. She said they dont actually discuss Satanic teachings, but they do activities that are inspired by Satanic beliefs.

We can take Satan and view Satan as this creature and this character however we want. We dont have to believe Satan as this evil deity. We can view Satan as we wish and thats exactly what we do, Everett said.

But parents like Dennis said they still arent comfortable.

I feel that if possible, maybe a community center or something like that would be more fit. I dont feel it should be in the scene where they learn. If they dont want prayer in the schools, they shouldnt have this satan club, she said.

WREG reached out to Memphis-Shelby County Schools for a statement regarding the groups attendance at Chimneyrock Elementary.

A district spokesperson said MSCS facilities are rented out to several organizations.

For instance, the Good News Club meets at Chimneyrock Elementary weekly, the spokesperson said. That groups website describes the program as a clear presentation of the Gospel and an opportunity for children to trust Jesus as savior.

The following message was sent to parents by MSCS:

We understand that some of you have questions regarding the recent approval of a facility rental to The Satanic Temple, a federally recognized non-profit organization.

As a public school district, were committed to upholding the principles of the First Amendment, which guarantees equal access to all non-profit organizations seeking to use our facilities after school hours. This means we cannot approve or deny an organizations request based solely on its viewpoints or beliefs.

Board Policy 7002 outlines this commitment, allowing community groups and government entities to rent school property outside of school hours. These gatherings are not school-sponsored and are not endorsed or promoted by Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

The Satanic Temple, recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) public charity, falls under this policy and has the same legal rights to use our facilities after school hours as any other non-profit organization. It will be renting the facility in January, after school. You may read more about the organization in an online news story from the Washington Post.

We understand that this topic may raise questions. Thank you for your understanding and continued partnership.

Some parents we spoke with discussed the possibility of removing their children from the district because of this.

Meanwhile, as the school mentioned, the club is protected under First Amendment rights, so they must allow it to move forward.

Are you for or against?



The Satanic Temple to launch After School Satan Club at Memphis elementary schoolhttps://t.co/VlhjdJPPMW  WREG News Channel 3 (@3onyourside) December 12, 2023

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
The South Carolina attorney generals office is taking over the investigation of former Beaufort County Administrator Eric Greenway.

14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone, in a letter dated Nov. 28, requested that Attorney General Alan Wilson impanel the state grand jury for the investigation into Greenways alleged misconduct.

In the letter, Stone details that the grand jury, if empaneled, would have the power to subpoena evidence and compel witnesses to testify. Powers that Stone, as solicitor, does not wield.

This power can be helpful in investigations involving potential public corruption, Stone said in a statement provided to the media. The states 16 circuit solicitors do not have direct access to an investigative grand jury. That is why I have asked the attorney general to impanel these at the state level.

Wilson, responded on Dec. 4 saying After discussing this matter with you [Stone] and my staff, the OAG has decided to assume jurisdictions for all prosecutorial actions for the case.

Notably, the response does not say if or when the grand jury will be empaneled.

By law, state grand jury proceedings are secret unless and until the state grand jury issues an indictment or indictments, so we cannot comment on that, spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General, Robert Kittle told the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.

Greenway was hired to be Beaufort Countys administrator in May 2021 and served in that role until July 28 of this year, when he was terminated with cause. The council also ordered an audit of Greenways purchases and awarded contracts starting in January 2023.

Before the council would reveal what the cause was, a former employee who worked under Greenway came forward with allegations of harassment and retaliation she experienced from Greenway.

Later, the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette would investigate a mysterious purchase approved by Greenway for $36,000 worth of weighted blankets from a company owned by his deputy administrators husband. While county officials denied purchasing the blankets, photos showing the blankets sitting in a county owned facility were independently verified.
A Pennsylvania man shot by Rock Hill Police after a November armed bank robbery now faces more criminal charges, South Carolina officials said.

David Herbert Massie, 45, was shot in the hand when Rock Hill Police Department officers found him on a bicycle near the intersection of Herlong Avenue and Ebenezer Road after the Nov. 20 bank robbery on India Hook Road, officials said.

On Monday, the State Law Enforcement Division said it charged Massie with pointing and presenting a weapon and resisting arrest with a deadly weapon, according to warrants obtained by The Herald. Rock Hill Police said Nov. 20 Massie showed a gun to officers before he was shot.

Massie allegedly used a gun during the bank robbery and fled with an undisclosed amount of money before he was confronted afterward by officers, police said in a statement Nov. 20.

Rock Hill Police asked SLED to investigate shooting

Because of the shooting, Rock Hill Police requested SLED conduct an outside investigation.

In the new warrants, SLED alleges Massie pulled a gun on two officers and refused their commands after he was confronted by police who were searching for a bank robbery suspect.

RHPD officers attempted to make contact with Massie, who matched the description of an armed robbery suspect, a warrant states. Massie pulled a firearm and defied officers verbal commands to drop the weapon. Massie was subsequently shot by officers. As Massie was handcuffed, he pulled an edged weapon from his waistband.

The officers involved in the shooting have not been identified by either the police department or SLED. The warrants released by SLED blacked out the names of the officers.

What happens now?

Massie has not been convicted of any crime in connection with the November incident.

Court records and arrest warrants in the cases show Massie is from Pittsburgh. Officials have not released information about why Massie was in Rock Hill at the time of the incident in November.

He was previously charged by Rock Hill Police with armed robbery and possession of weapon during a violent crime, court and jail records show.

York County Prosecutors from the 16th Circuit Solicitors Office are expected to prosecute Massie, SLED said in a statement.

Court records do not show any trial dates. Massie remains in the York County jail without bond.
With the bare minimum legal notice, Mayor Darrell Steinberg and the Sacramento City Council are giving the public the least time allowable to learn that city elected leaders are considering raising the base pay for City Manager Howard Chan to a staggering $426,685 and, if that wasnt enough, Chan may get a bump in vacation that will give him 10 paid weeks off a year.

Chan was already the highest-paid municipal manager in California.

Opinion

The tactic could not be worse for both the mayor, the council and a manager who is pushing too hard for himself as opposed to his city in structural deficit.

In a Tuesday meeting packed with labor agreements for the citys various bargaining units, the agenda at the final possible moment posted a new special meeting at 6 p.m. that now includes salary adjustments up to 5 percent for the citys charter officers and the special vacation boost of six extra weeks for Chan, or 240 hours. This is on top of the 160 hours, or four weeks, Chan already receives as a veteran city employee who also gets 11 paid city holidays.

This is an even worse idea now than when a reluctant Chan pulled the very same proposal from consideration on August 29. California is expected to face a record budget deficit as high as $68 billion that will cause fiscal pain at every level of state government. Yet Steinberg and the City Council seem all too eager to treat the citys top employee differently than the rank and file and every other manager.

Within City Hall, Chan is portrayed by some as obsessively convinced he is underpaid and undervalued. In meeting by meeting, he makes his case with the elected leaders who ostensibly control the city purse. City of Sacramento voters have seen fit to keep the municipal power in the hands of an unelected city manager instead of an elected mayor.

How is that working out?

Placing this vacation proposal on the agenda at the eleventh hour reveals that Steinberg and a majority of the council are afraid of their manager. They are afraid of the potential repercussions of saying no. They prefer public criticism over a scorned Chan. There is no other conclusion to draw.

That Chan is insisting on jamming through his own special entitlements package, above and beyond far more modest adjustments for his peers, reveals just how little he thinks of his council and the standing of those elected leaders, some of whom like to remind Chan that he works for them. Well, yes and no.

Six weeks of extra vacation for Chan is worth another $49,233. If he wants just 21 days off (the paid city holidays plus two weeks of leave), he could cash out his time and make another $65,644.

Chans pension at the moment via the California Public Employees Retirement System is capped at $330,000 worth of government income. That cap will rise over time. But clearly, he could make up for income that will not count towards a future monthly pension. Ten weeks of vacation could make Chan whole. This logic makes sense to only one person on the planet.

The message that Chan is sending is: I can manipulate the process, making pawns out of the council majority, to make it happen.

Chan would have an actual case for a raise if he simply waited. On August 1, the council asked Chan to do its job and establish new managed homeless encampments known as Safe Ground entirely at his discretion. He has yet to establish a single site. If and when he does, he could rightfully say he has been doing three jobs  his own, that of the mayor, and the council.

But Chan does not want to allow Steinberg and the council to save face by adhering to a customary process that gives the public several days of notice.

As the city enters a difficult era of cost-cutting, Howard Chan has taken care of himself.

Again.

Such is public service in City Hall these days. Sacramento should not have the highest-paid city manager in California when the manipulation to get the raise, at the humiliation of all who vote for it, is the most notable achievement.
From scenic canals to cobblestone streets: Venice and Ljubljana could soon get a high-speed train

Despite sharing a border, Italy and Slovenia are not connected by a direct train. That could be about to change.

On Monday, Italian train operator Trenitalia tested a new route between Venice and Ljubljana.

A connection between the northeast Italian city of Trieste and the Slovenian capital was discussed in 2021 but never came to fruition.

If the test run is deemed successful, it will restore a cross-border service that hasnt existed since 2008. The new service could begin in April 2024.

What route did the Italy-Slovenia test train take?

On Monday morning (11 December), a high-speed Frecciarossa train set off from Mestre in Venice, heading north to Portogruaro, Monfalcone and Bivio Aurisina.

Finally, at the border station of Villa Opicina, it met Slovenian Railways staff to continue its onward journey to Sesana - a town 80 km southwest of Ljubljana. Operational tests were also carried out on the Slovenian railway network upon the trains arrival in the country.

The time seems to be ripe for the restoration of a cross-border service between the two countries, FS Italiane, Italy's national state-owned railway, said on its website ahead of the test run.

The final line could mean a direct train connection between Milan and Ljubljana.

Why visit Ljubljana?

Despite being less than 70 km from the Italian border, Slovenias capital city flies under the radar for many travellers. But its rich history, vibrant art scene and enticing food culture are more than worthy of attention.

Wonderfully walkable and gorgeously scenic, Ljubljana is also super affordable, making it a place where you can experience luxury for less.

Within day tripping distance are the wine producing region of Brda, thermal spas like Terme Dobrna, and the atmospheric Hotel Grad Otocec - a 13th century gothic masterpiece set on an islet in the middle of the shallow Krka river.

Nature lovers, meanwhile, can check out the mountainous Triglav National Park and the picturesque Lake Bled.
Martin Garcia, 64, was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, Teresa Moreno Garcia, 66. Police say he stabbed her to death in their Southeast Side home because he believed she'd cheated on him. Bexar County Sheriff's Office

Authorities have identified a woman who police say was stabbed to death by her husband because he believed shed cheated on him.

Teresa Moreno Garcia, 66, was found dead Wednesday at her Southeast Side home in the 200 block of Channing Avenue. Shortly after, police arrested her husband, Martin Garcia, 64, and charged him with murder.

The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office said she died of sharp force injuries and the manner of death was a homicide.

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According to a police report, officers were dispatched to the home after Martin Garcia called 911, saying he had cut his wrists and killed his wife with a knife.

He told the 911 dispatcher that his wife had cheated on him and was attempting to leave the house when he stabbed her.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found Martin Garcia outside. He was taken into custody without incident.

Police searched the home and found his wife on the floor in front of the couch with multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Anthony Police Department will continue its holiday tradition of giving toys to elementary-school students with its Operation Santa Drop.

The event will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14 at Tommy Sanchez Memorial Field, 813 S. 6th St., Anthony, Texas.

Santa will arrive from the sky in a helicopter, delivering toys to the good kids of Anthony Elementary School, according to Anthony ISD.

The school district says it would like to thank the following community partners for making the event possible: Anthony Police Department; Anthony, Texas, Police Officers Association; JCs Custom Shutters; Jobe Materials; El Paso Disposal; Geraldine Montoya, CPA; RTC Inc., Pena Briones McDaniel & Co.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
While most schools in the U.S. have returned to full-time in-person learning after going remote at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the lingering effects of the lockdowns still remain.

Chris Lantz is part of an attendance team in Louisville, Kentucky, tasked with making up the 30 calls a week searching for chronically absent students.

He spends many days knocking on doors in Jefferson County, but receiving no answer.

Chronic absenteeism, defined as at least 10 absences in one school year, has always been an issue in Lantz's district, but since the pandemic, 37% more students are missing weeks  sometimes months  of school. Last year, nearly 13.6 million students nationwide were chronically absent, nearly twice as many as the year before.

Jefferson County superintendent Marty Pollio told CBS News he thinks the rise in chronic absenteeism is a "major crisis."



"When you think of housing instability, food instability, a student who doesn't have clean clothes may not come to school," Pollio said.

Each Jefferson County school has a youth service center that provides everything from clean clothes and hygiene products to food for struggling students. In Jefferson County, 63% of families rely on schools for meals.



"We don't want to punish them for not going to school," Pollio said. "We want to take away all the barriers that might be keeping them from coming to school."

Hector, a 19-year-old student, works 40 hours a week to help support his family. He told CBS News he missed "a lot of days" of school last year.

"LIke half the year I didn't come to school," he said.

After several house calls, Lantz was able to convince Hector to return. He said the attention paid to him helped him to come back because it made him "feel like I'm special."

With added support, Hector is on track to graduate high school in 2025 at 20 years old.

Lantz said cases like Hector's help him feel like he's making a difference, regardless of how many houses he goes to with no answer.

"I think if you affect one person, it's a difference, you know, if you can change one person's life, I know that's cliche, but I think that's a big deal," Lantz said. "So, especially, you know, in some of our communities, you could save a kid."

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A recent discovery in the East Mediterranean has raised concerns that an invasive species has made its way into the region.

What happened?

The Media Line reported that Israeli marine researchers from the University of Haifa found a type of coral, Dendronephthya, about 46 yards deep off the coast of the village of Sdot Yam. Dendronephthya is commonly found only in the Red Sea, so the university said that this discovery suggests the migration of an alien species.

How the coral traveled to the East Mediterranean is yet to be determined, but The Media Line suggested, It is likely that this coral arrived from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal, as part of the well-documented Lessepsian migration.

Why is this concerning?

An invasive species is any organism thats introduced to a foreign area that can cause harm to the environment or human health.

In this case, the arrival of Dendronephthya to the Mediterranean presents potential risks to the rest of the local ecosystem. The Medial Line noted that researchers warn that due to the rapid attachment and growth capabilities of this coral type, it is expected to spread rapidly and become increasingly common across the Mediterranean Sea.

Per The Times of Israel, the researchers also added that if this coral was to continue growing in abundance in the Mediterranean, it could lead to the species of crab with which it lives symbiotically in the Red Sea following it and establishing a presence as well.

Also, the presence of Dendronephthya is an indication that the Mediterranean Sea has been affected by the Earths changing climate. In the past, the cooler waters of the Mediterranean provided a natural barrier against the arrival of tropical corals.

Until now, the low temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea during winter prevented tropical corals from entering the area, Hagai Nativ, a research student from Haifa Universitys Charney School of Marine Sciences, told The Times of Israel. The presence of Dendronephthya suggests that at least last winter, the water in the Mediterranean Sea was warmer than in the past.

Whats being done about it?

Unfortunately, more research is needed to determine the effects Dendronephthya will have on the region.

It is still too early to predict the ramifications of the specific coral species we found, Nativ said, but the finding provides further evidence that the natural barriers between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea are disappearing due to climate changes.

While the researchers are currently unable to predict what changes the arrival of Dendronephthya will bring, they were steadfast in their warning.

But in a complex system such as the marine ecosystem, even a small change can spark a chain reaction that leads to major change, they wrote.

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Popular brands enter lower-tier market

People's Daily Online) 10:20, December 12, 2023

A staff member makes coffee at a 24-hour coffee shop in Qingtian county, Lishui city, east China's Zhejiang Province, on Nov. 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

The presence of popular brands like Chinese drink chain HEYTEA, Starbucks, and other well-known names in third- and fourth-tier cities has brought great joy to many young people who have returned to their hometowns.

The emergence of these brands has transformed the lower-tier market into a highly desirable destination, thanks to the increased spending power of young consumers.

In November 2023, KFC launched a K-COFFEE cafe and restaurant in Shangyou county, Ganzhou city, east China's Jiangxi Province. Within a month of its opening, the establishment quickly gained popularity among young people in the area.

This is not the first time K-COFFEE has ventured into a county. In April 2023, the first K-COFFEE cafe in central China's Hubei Province opened in Yingcheng city.

Guo Wei, a native of Yingcheng, returned to her hometown after graduating from college in Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei. Since the opening of K-COFFEE, she has become a regular customer.

"I used to enjoy hanging out in coffee shops while I was in college. Since returning to Yingcheng over a year ago, the thing I struggled with the most was not being able to find a coffee shop that I liked. Now, I finally have a place in Yingcheng where I can come and enjoy coffee every day," Guo said.

Lower-tier cities have become an important market for coffee brands. Records show that Anji county in east China's Zhejiang Province, with a population of less than 600,000, already boasts of around 300 coffee shops.

Starbucks has opened 382 new stores in China, with many located in counties or county-level cities.

In addition to the proliferation of coffee shops, the lower-tier market is witnessing a notable diversity of brands across different sectors, including tea drinks, restaurants, clothing, and hotels.

Tea drink brands like HEYTEA and Nayuki have expanded into the lower-tier market by introducing franchise opportunities.

Nayuki's initial stores in third- and fourth-tier cities such as Nanyang, Shiyan, and Xinxiang have experienced remarkable success, with daily sales exceeding 5,000 cups.

A YumChina executive said KFC has expanded its footprint to cover more than 1,900 cities and towns in China. In the first three quarters of 2023, about 60 percent of the newly established KFC restaurants were located in lower-tier cities.

Pizza Hut boasts of a presence in over 700 cities and towns with more than 3,200 stores. In the first three quarters of 2023, around 50 percent of the newly established Pizza Hut restaurants were situated in lower-tier cities.

By the end of 2022, China's urban population had exceeded 920 million, with around 30 percent concentrated in over 1,800 counties and county-level cities. Furthermore, the county economy was witnessing continuous growth, with an increasing number of county-level cities achieving a GDP of over 100 billion yuan ($13.96 billion).

McKinsey estimates that lower-tier markets, especially counties, are projected to drive over 66 percent of personal consumption growth in China by 2030.

In recent years, young people in lower-tier cities have emerged as a significant driving force of consumption.

Despite having lower incomes compared to their counterparts in first-tier cities, they enjoy the advantage of stable employment and face less financial pressure when it comes to housing expenses. As a result, they demonstrate a higher propensity to spend.

According to a report by global management and consulting giant Accenture, the daily consumption demand in lower-tier cities in China is higher than in first and second-tier cities, with demand for clothing and footwear accounting for 74.4 percent of daily consumer needs.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
A SWAT team responded to a South Side gas station Tuesday after employees noticed a man asleep with a gun inside a vehicle. Gabriella Ybarra A SWAT team responded to a South Side gas station Tuesday after employees noticed a man asleep with a gun inside a vehicle. Gabriella Ybarra A SWAT team responded to a South Side gas station Tuesday after employees noticed a man asleep with a gun inside a vehicle. Gabriella Ybarra

A man cradling a handgun as he slept inside a pickup at a South Side gas station woke up Tuesday morning facing a SWAT team.

He had passed out inside a red Ford F-150 at a 7-Eleven gas station on Fair Avenue, police said. Employees of the gas station noticed him around 6 a.m. and called for EMS.

When EMS arrived, they alerted police who then called in the San Antonio Police Departments SWAT team as a safety precaution. Police shut down the Fair Avenue exit on Interstate 35 South.

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The decision was made to contact SWAT to treat it like a barricaded subject just for the officers safety and the publics safety, said Washington Moscoso, SAPDs public information officer. We didnt want to rush into somewhere not knowing what his intentions are.

After failing to bring the man to with a loud speaker and a flash bang, police woke him up using chemical agents, Moscoso said. He then was taken into custody.

The truck was stolen, Moscoso said, and had several bullet holes on it. Police have not released the mans name but said he may be wanted on multiple felony warrants.

At the minimum, he will face charges for unauthorized use of a vehicle and felony possession of a firearm, Moscoso said.
San Antonio police patrol the scene of an officer-involved shooting Sunday morning at Elmendorf Lake Park on the West Side. Gabby Ybarra/Staff

San Antonio police have released the name of a man who was killed during a struggle with park police on Sunday.

A park police officer fatally shot Ray Garcia, 27, near Elmendorf Lake Park on the West Side after police said he attempted to take another officers weapon.

Police Chief William McManus said Garcia was wanted on four outstanding warrants, including one for previously trying to take an officers weapon.

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McManus said park police were called to the location after receiving a report about a domestic disturbance between Garcia and his girlfriend. The San Antonio Police Department said the girlfriend called police and told officers arriving at the scene that Garcia had several outstanding warrants.

Police identified the officers involved as Mark DeLaCruz, with nine years on the force, and Juan Cardona, with 14 years with SAPD.

When Garcia saw the officers, he ran and entered the backyard of a home in the 3400 block of Buena Vista Street, police said.

When DeLaCruz caught up with Garcia, the suspect approached him in an aggressive manner, police said. DeLaCruz then used his taser on Garcia but it didnt stop him.

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During a struggle, Garcia attempted to take the officers weapon from his holster, police said. DeLaCruz then called to officer Cardona for help.
Jennifer Marie Delgado, 36, attends the first day of her trial Monday, charged with intentionally causing serious bodily injury to one of her children in 2018. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Prosecutor Kathryn Pollard listens to Dr. James Lukefahr, a pediatrician, as he explains the injuries he saw when treating the daughter of Jennifer Marie Delgado as her trial began Monday. Delgado, 36, is accused of injury to a child. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Defense attorney Paul Smith shows how a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine works to illustrate a point to the jury during his opening statement at the trial of Jennifer Marie Delgado, 36. She is charged with injury to a child. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Dr. James Lukefahr, a pediatrician, explains the injuries he saw when treating the daughter of Jennifer Marie Delgado, whose trial began Monday. Delgado, 36, is charged with injury to a child. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News State District Judge Christine Del Prado addresses the defendant on the first day of Jennifer Marie Delgados trial Monday. Delgado, 36, is charged with intentionally causing serious bodily injury to one of her children in 2018. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News San Antonio Fire Department paramedic Randa Brown answers questions on the witness stand at the trial of Jennifer Marie Delgado on Monday. Delgado, 36, is charged with intentionally causing serious bodily injury to one of her children in 2018. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Jennifer Marie Delgado, 36, is surrounded by her legal team on the first day of her trial Monday. Delgado, 36, is charged with injury to a child with serious bodily injury, accused of starving and neglecting one of her children in 2018. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Dr. James Lukefahr, a pediatrician, talks about the injuries, including severe tooth decay, that he saw when treating the 6-year-old daughter of Jennifer Marie Delgado as her trial began Monday. Delgado, 36, is charged with injury to a child with serious bodily injury, accused of starving and neglecting one of her children in 2018. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Defense attorney Paul Smith gives an opening statement to the jury on the first day of the trial of Jennifer Marie Delgado on Monday. Delgado, 36, is charged with injury to a child with serious bodily injury, accused of starving and neglecting one of her children in 2018. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News San Antonio Fire Department paramedic Randa Brown leaves the courtroom Monday after testifying on the first day of Jennifer Marie Delgados trial. Delgado, 36, is charged with injury to a child with serious bodily injury, accused of starving and neglecting one of her children in 2018. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News State District Judge Christine Del Prado instructs the jury Monday not to talk to anyone about Jennifer Marie Delgados trial until its over. Delgado, 36, is charged with injury to a child with serious bodily injury, accused of starving and neglecting one of her children in 2018. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

A judge declared a mistrial Tuesday at the start of the second day of testimony in the case of a mother accused of starving her 6-year-old daughter in 2018.

Defense attorney Paul Smith told state District Judge Christine Del Prado he had not reviewed the girls medical documents and sought a continuance to next week, but Del Prado reset the trial for Feb. 26 because the jurys expected term of service expired Friday, a court official confirmed.

It brought a sudden halt to proceedings against Jennifer Marie Delgado, 36, whose nonresponsive, malnourished child weighed only 19 pounds and smelled like death when she was brought to an emergency room, according to testimony Monday.

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Delgado is charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by failing to provide adequate nutrition to her daughter and by omission for failing to seek medical care in a timely fashion. If convicted, she faces up to life in prison.

Dr. James Lukefahr, a physician who specializes in child abuse pediatrics and directs The Center for Miracles at Christus Childrens Hospital, told the jury that the girl had so little tissue that the outlines of her hip bones, shoulder blades and ribs were visible.

He said the child had bedsores from malnutrition and not being moved, and her teeth were decayed, with parts of them broken off, which he attributed to malnourishment and a lack of dental care.

She had a body odor I have never experienced before, Lukefahr told the jury. She smelled like death.

He said hospital personnel bathed the girl four to five times but could not get rid of the odor.

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I cant explain it, he said, adding that in the next few days as the child was given nutrition, the smell went away.

The San Antonio Express-News is not identifying the child, who has cerebral palsy and is now 10, because she is a minor.

San Antonio Fire Department EMTs responded to Delgados 911 call that the child had stopped breathing on Dec. 3, 2018.

Randa Brown, a firefighter paramedic, said the girls pulse and other vital signs showed she was near death.

Her blood sugar was so low I wouldnt expect her to be conscious, she told the jury.

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It was almost implausible to me that she was alive, Brown added. Ive never seen anything like that in 15 years in ambulances and 20 years in the department.

Photographs shown to the jury displayed an emaciated child who was missing hair, which Lukefahr said is common for children who are this malnourished.

Prosecutor Kathryn Pollard told the jury that witnesses would detail a case of severe neglect and starvation of a little girl who suffered from numerous medical issues, was nonverbal, was wheelchair-bound and had to eat through a feeding tube.

You will see stacks and stacks of unused Pediasure in that apartment, Pollard told the jury, referring to a protein drink. Those cases were delivered each month to their apartment through Medicaid.

The child wasnt able to move, but her mother wasnt bathing her, moving her around, and most importantly, wasnt feeding her, Pollard told the panel, promising they would see a very clear understanding of the severe danger the defendant caused to her daughter.

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Smith, the defense attorney, told the jury that his client was poor and a victim of Medicaid, which he at times confused with Medicare. He stated that the fault for the childs serious health issues was that she had lost coverage for it.

The government doesnt want you to know that, he told the jury, promising they would see evidence of it, and asking at one point, Why is a person of Latino origin here and not a privileged person?

Smith said the child suffered from obstructive sleep apnea and used a bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPap) machine.

The government pays for all the equipment, but what happens when the money goes away? he said.

Smith also floated the idea that a child as young as 6 could attempt suicide and spent part of the afternoon cross-examining Lukefahr about whether the child could have been losing her hair because she was pulling it out herself.

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Jenny Gilruth, the SNP education secretary, said guidance will back the use of banning mobile phones - Ken Jack/Getty Images

Scottish head teachers will be given the power to ban mobile phones from classrooms, the SNPs education secretary has pledged after the devices were linked to pupils recording record low scores in numeracy and reading.

Jenny Gilruth told MSPs she could not unilaterally ban mobiles from schools but pledged guidance would be issued so that head teachers are empowered to take steps they consider appropriate.

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, she said if they see fit, the guidance will support the use of banning mobile phones.

Ms Gilruth also announced that work will start next year on updating the maths curriculum, with a specialist being appointed to lead the work.

But she expressed her disappointment after figures disclosed that teacher numbers have declined by 160 this year and threatened to claw back funding from councils.

Her statement came after last weeks Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) found an 18 points decline in maths since the tests were last administered in 2018  the equivalent of nearly an entire year of schooling.

The score for reading dropped by 11 points  about half-a-years school work  and in science it fell by seven points.

English pupils again outperformed their Scottish counterparts in all three areas, with the gap growing since 2018. Northern Ireland also did better than Scotland in maths and science.

Liam Kerr, the Scottish Tories shadow education secretary, said teachers should have the power to ban mobile phones - SST/Alamy Live News

The global study conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also found that Scotland had the widest attainment gap between the wealthiest and poorest pupils for maths of any of the UK home nations.

This is despite Nicola Sturgeon having pledged to make it her mission to close the gulf in performance. The study of 700,000 15-year-olds across the world was conducted in 2022, the final calendar year of her tenure as first minister.

The research also disclosed that 31.1 per cent of Scottish pupils admitted being distracted by digital devices in most or every lesson, compared to 18.6 per cent across the UK as a whole. This was also higher than the global average of 30.5 per cent.

More disruption

Andreas Schleicher of the OECD said last week that pupils use of smartphones in Scotland was quite clearly linked to greater anxiety and disruption and less concentration in the classroom.

Guidance has already been introduced south of the Border that allows head teachers to ban mobile phone use throughout the school day, including at break times, to tackle disruptive behaviour and online bullying.

Ms Gilruth told MSPs the power to ban mobiles lay with head teachers and councils but added: I want to examine all the evidence on this and encourage schools to take the action they deem necessary.

So we will work to provide refreshed guidance to schools on the use of mobile phones, as part of the joint action plan to respond to the behaviour in Scottish schools research.

This will take a range of factors into account  including considering pupils personal circumstances, particularly those of young carers.

But our starting position is that head teachers are empowered to take steps they consider appropriate  and if they see fit, the guidance will support the use of banning mobile phones.

Enhance learning

Liam Kerr, the Scottish Tories shadow education secretary, welcomed the move, saying: If teachers believe banning mobile phones in classrooms will enhance learning, they should have the power to do so.

The announcement came as the Scottish Government published figures that, contrary to the PISA assessment, showed literacy and numeracy improving. They were based on the opinion of teachers rather than a test set by an external body.

They found 79.6 per cent of primary and 89.6 per cent of S3 pupils reached the expected numeracy levels in 2022/23. For literacy, the figures were 72.7 per cent and 87.8 per cent respectively.

The difference in performance between the poorest and richest primary pupils for maths was 17 points, a slight fall compared to the previous year but still higher than before the pandemic. For S3 pupils, the attainment gap was 13.6 points.

There also remained a huge gap for literacy, with richer primary pupils outperforming their poor counterparts by 20.5 points. The difference at S3 was 13.7 points.

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This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

Soap star Billy Miller died from a gunshot wound, according to an autopsy report by the Travis County Medical Examiner obtained by NBC News.

The General Hospital and Young and the Restless actor was found dead in a bathtub at his home on Sept. 15 at age 43 with "an apparent gunshot wound of the head," the report said. The manner of death was ruled a suicide.

Billy Miller attends Premiere Of Apple TV+'s

Miller had both alcohol and cocaine in his system at the time of his death, according to the report. He also had a history of bipolar disorder and depression.

Millers manager confirmed the news of his death in a statement to TODAY.com on Sept. 17, noting that Sept. 17 would have been the actor's 44th birthday.

Emmy Award-Winning Actor Billy Miller died on September 15, 2023, in Austin, Texas. The actor was struggling with manic depression when he died, the statement reads. A cause of death was not provided.

Miller got his start playing Richie Novak on All My Children in 2007 before he won the role of reckless Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless."

He won three Daytime Emmys  in 2010, 2013 and 2014  during his time on the CBS soap.

In 2014, Miller joined the cast of General Hospital playing Jason Morgan/Drew Cain, which earned him another Daytime Emmy nomination in 2018 for outstanding lead actor in a drama series.

He left the ABC series in 2019 after 592 episodes, per IMDB.

Outside of soaps, Miller appeared in the 2014 Oscar-nominated movie American Sniper and had recurring roles on the TV dramas Suits, Ray Donovan and Truth Be Told.

His last role was a guest spot on NCIS in 2022, according to IMDb.

Many of Miller's fellow soap stars paid tribute to him on social media after his death.

"Selling Sunset" star Chrishell Stause, who played Amanda Dillon on All My Children from 2005 until 2011, wrote alongside a photo of her and Miller in her Instagram story, "Still processing this. Too many feelings, but you are gone way too soon and Im so happy I got to work with you all those years, but also call you a friend."

"I hope you are at peace now, added Stause.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill was forced to resign over the weekend amid widespread backlash resulting from her testimony on Capitol Hill last week in a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism. That has hardly put the issue to rest. The viral video of questioning by Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican, and the resulting furor that led to Magill's ouster, have ignited discussions about exactly how much educational institutions can or should restrict free speech.

Magill, who had led the Ivy League school for less than two years, stepped down on Saturday. The chair of Penn's board of trustees, Scott Bok, announced the decision in a letter and also submitted his own resignation. Magill was forced out after struggling to give a clear answer to a question, during a House education committee hearing, on whether calls for genocide against Jewish people would violate Penns code of conduct.

"One down, two to go," Stefanik posted on X, an apparent reference to Harvard president Claudine Gay and MIT president Sally Kornbluth, who also testified at the hearing.

After Magill's comments, six members of Congress from Pennsylvania sent a letter to the school's board of trustees calling for her resignation. Ross Stevens, a hedge fund manager and major Penn donor, threatened to withdraw a $100 million gift to the university.

There has been considerable division of opinion about Magill's resignation and its consequences, not all of it along predictable partisan lines. While many people, including many Democrats, have agreed that she could no longer lead a major university, others see this incident as a setback for free speech, warning about the potential threat to academic freedom and open debate. Many such concerns revolve around the impact of external influence from donors and politicians shaping campus codes of conduct and discourse.

Protecting speech that falls short of misconduct is particularly important in situations where critical social and political discussions take place, Alex Morey, an attorney at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, told Salon. That's even true, or especially true, she said, when such discussions involve rhetoric that ideological opponents find very offensive and hateful.

We cannot shut down one side, Morey continued. Even when free speech is likely to be upsetting or distressing to many people, "that doesn't mean we should empower the government or college administrators to decide which side is right. That's what any First Amendment analysis is about at its core.

The legal requirements are somewhat different for different kinds of educational institutions, Morey explained. Public universities are required by the First Amendment to respect free expression on campus, while private institutions like Penn, Harvard or MIT have committed to similar principles and are generally required to honor those promises under a contract law theory.

Such promises are critical to a university's mission of truth-seeking and knowledge building, Morey added, which requires an environment where a variety of viewpoints can be raised, debated and discussed."

Frederick Schauer, a free speech scholar at the University of Virginia School of Law, elaborated on Morey's point that major private colleges and universities, including Ivy League schools like Penn, have voluntarily chosen to adhere to First Amendment principles although they are not legally required to. But he's not sure that's the right standard.

The First Amendment is clearly understood to protect the free speech rights of neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan, protesters who advocate violence against the LGBTQ community and many other despicable people saying despicable things, Schauer said. Given that, he suggests, colleges and universities should consider how much of the First Amendment they want to take on board.

If there are things that we wouldnt and shouldnt permit in a seminar of 16 students, is a college campus more like a seminar or more like a public park? Schauer asked. There are arguments both ways, but it is certainly not obvious that all of the constraints that are properly applied to government should be applied to non-governmental colleges and universities.

While the ambiguous answers offered on Capitol Hill by Magill, Gay and Kornbluth clearly distressed many people, Schauer says they weren't entirely wrong: Whether and when expressing sympathy with a morally loathsome act like genocide is legally proscribable does indeed vary with context, in his view. Under some circumstances such comments might represent a threat, but only if directed at particular people. The legal definition of proscribable incitement, Schauer said, is very, very narrow. While advocating genocide against a group as a general proposition is morally despicable," it is also "legally protected under the First Amendment."

True threats, Morey explained, are statements where the speaker makes a serious expression of an intent to commit an unlawful act of violence. Discriminatory harassment is unwanted speech directed at a specific student or group that is so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that it denies the student or victim access to an educational opportunity or benefit.

Those categories of speech can reasonably be restricted, Morey said, but broad calls for Palestinian liberation on an American college campus" are unlikely to clear those bars. Similarly, student protesters chanting slogans like "Intifada" or "From the river to the sea" is "almost always" going to be interpreted as protected speech, she said, "even though some interpret those as calls for genocide against one side or another."

She continued: "Our democracy prizes the widest open discussion on these important political issues. There is no ban on calls for genocide. ... Plenty of people think statements like Women deserve bodily autonomy is a call for genocide against the unborn, or that saying There are two genders is a call for trans genocide, or that an IDF officer defending the war in Gaza is calling for Palestinian genocide.

The First Amendment protects a far wider range of speech than most people realize, for good and important reasons that benefit everyone on all sides of the current debate, whether they're pro-Israel or pro-Palestinian or hold other views, Morey added.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

On Friday, more than 70 members of Congress from both parties signed a letter calling for the resignation of Gay and Kornbluth, who both had similar struggles to Magill's in answering Stefanik's questions about the schools' code of conduct.

Stefanik called Magill's resignation "the bare minimum" of consequences and promised that universities can anticipate a robust and comprehensive Congressional investigation of all facets of their institutions' negligent perpetration of antisemitism.

Schauer suggested that much of the criticism directed at the three college presidents is about public relations more than about law, and about how we should condemn that which we might nevertheless protect."

Lee Kovarsky, a University of Texas law professor, told Salon that it's time for a reckoning about what he called the differential treatment of Jewish vulnerability on university campuses. But that's a complex conversation, he continued, one that involves different kinds of problems at different institutions.

We need to address that problem without locking down the rights to speech and expression of other groups. It should be possible to do both of those things at once," Kovarsky said, while expressing "grave doubts" that the current scenario is likely to lead to that outcome.

Even if people approve of Magill's resignation, or support the potential ousters of Gay and Kornbluth, they should be wary of a world of donor-influenced speech policies, Kovarsky added. While a college or university's donors are significant stakeholders and possess a "categorical right" to decide the use of their funds, he said, their involvement should not extend to an "outsized influence on speech codes."

The national controversy over Stefanik's antisemitism hearing has been fascinating and upsetting for campus speech advocates because of the hypocrisy on display, Morey said. These college presidents have suggested that they follow speech-protective university policies at all times, she said, when nothing could be further from the truth.

Elite institutions have frequently limited various forms of campus speech, Morey continued, which are often way less inflammatory than the proposed example of calling for Jewish genocide. Leaders like Gay and Magill have invoked the First Amendment inconsistently, she said, to protect forms of speech they perceive as popular among certain segments of the campus community.

Free speech policies and norms can "only benefit" campuses when they're applied "neutrally," Morey said. What happens on campus doesn't stay on campus. That's the whole point. If students learn democratic norms like free expression and due process," or learn "the benefits of talking across lines of difference and giving people the benefit of the doubt ... they'll bring those skills to our society when they graduate. If they learn authoritarianism  ceding their rights to those in power, censorship, suppression, othering, fear  they'll bring that to us, too."

We sometimes have to hear speech we hate, because the alternative is turning the power to decide over to whoever's in power at the time.
(Bloomberg) -- South Africas ambition to reform its health system through a controversial national insurance plan is irrational in its current form, risks de-stabilizing the tax base and needs the private sectors help to succeed, according to Adrian Gore, the head of Discovery Ltd.

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The National Health Insurance Bill, which aims to provide universal care through a state-run fund, bans the private sector from covering treatment covered under the plan. The proposal was approved last week by a second parliamentary chamber and is now being referred to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who can either sign it into law or request lawmakers to amend it.

The proposal doesnt sufficiently tackle the core issue of there being too little funding for it to be viable, said Gore, the founder of the Johannesburg-based administrator of the countrys largest medical-insurance provider.

Read More: Why South African Health-Care Revamp Stirs Opposition: QuickTake

The ruling African National Congress first agreed to the NHI plan in 2007 to broaden access to medical treatment in a nation where almost 85% of the population relies on a battered public system with too few doctors.

The tragedy of our country is a narrow tax base with high levels of unemployment, Gore told a media briefing on Monday. You dont have sufficient money to buy comprehensive benefits for all South Africans.

The government hasnt spelled out how it will raise the required funding, estimated to be as much as 500 billion rand ($26 billion) a year. Discovery projects the NHI will result in a 70% cut in health services for those who pay taxes  largely the same people buying private medical insurance  while levies will climb 30%.

It just doesnt seem plausible, he said. You could seriously destabilize the taxpayers that actually are funding the NHI.

Read More: Ill in England? Your Location Can Determine If You Live or Die

While this concern has been expressed by many in the private sector  and some have said if signed into law in its current form it will be challenged in court  Gore said Discovery hasnt yet decided whether to take that step or petition the president.

Our approach will always be to try and make the NHI workable, he said. Well have to see how it plays out.

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SOUTH BEND  Two shootings within 15 minutes of each other late Sunday night and shortly after midnight Monday are being treated as unrelated homicides by the South Bend Police Departments Violent Crimes Unit.

In the first shooting, South Bend officers responded to reports of a shooting about 11:55 p.m. Sunday in the 3900 block of Ardmore Trail and found a woman who had been shot.

Zawondra Lee, 52, later died of her wounds, according to police.

Some 15 minutes later, police were called to the 1600 block of North O'Brien Street, where a man was found with apparant gunshot wounds. Isiah Siggers, 34, later died from his wounds, police said.

The two shooting sites are 1.7 miles apart.

A police spokesman said investigators so far believe the shooting deaths are isolated incidents.

Autopsies for Lee and Siggers are set for Tuesday in Kalamazoo.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact Michiana Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP and leave an anonymous tip.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Two people die in separate weekend shootings in South Bend
Domatilia Caal is consoled by her brother, Cornelio Caal, and her sister, Filomena Caal, at the place along Shadywood Lane in South Austin where her husband was killed on Dec. 5. Shane James Jr. has been charged in that killing and five others in San Antonio and Austin. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Shane James Jr., 34, is charged with capital murder, aggravated assault against police officers and aggravated assault mass shooting, among other offenses, in connection with a Dec. 4-5 killing spree in San Antonio and Austin. Austin Police Department

A man accused of killing six people, including his parents, and injuring three others in a shooting spree in San Antonio and Austin last week is facing new charges.

Shane James Jr., 34, initially was charged with two counts of capital murder. The new charges against him include two additional counts of capital murder, two counts of aggravated assault against a public servant for allegedly shooting two police officers, and one count of aggravated assault mass shooting, Travis County Jail records show.

Two of the four murder charges are for capital murder of multiple persons. The other two are for capital murder by terroristic threat or other felony, defined as a murder committed in the course of another crime such as robbery or burglary.

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James is being held without bail. He is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 18.

The shooting spree began when James parents  Phyllis James, 55, and Shane James Sr., 56  were killed at their home in the 6400 block of Port Royal in the Mission Hill community in northeastern Bexar County.

Police say the killings occurred between the night of Dec. 4 and morning of Dec. 5. Both victims died of gunshot wounds to the head, according to the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office.

Authorities say the younger James then drove to Austin, where he and shot and wounded an Austin school police officer outside Northeast Early College High School shortly before 11 a.m. Dec. 5. The officers injuries were not life-threatening.

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An hour later, police said, James shot and fatally wounded Emmanuel Pop Ba, 33, and Sabrina Rahman, 25, in the 7300 block of Shadywood Drive in Southwest Austin. Pop Ba died on the scene; Rahman died at a hospital.

Investigators said James killed Pop Ba while stealing his vehicle and then killed Rahman, who witnessed the shooting. Rahman was pushing a baby in a stroller; James gunshots narrowly missed the infant, police said. James allegedly drove off in Pop Bas car.

Around 5 p.m. Dec. 5, James shot and wounded a cyclist in South Austin, police said.

The final two killings of which James is accused occurred around 7 p.m. in the 5000 block of Austral Loop in Austin, police said.

Officers responded to that address after a 911 caller said he was watching a live feed of his home security system and could see a man, later identified as James, breaking into the house.

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According to an arrest affidavit, James shot and killed two people in the home: Katherine Short, 56, and her daughter, Lauren Short, 30, who was described as having special needs.

Police saw James preparing to flee from the back of the house, and a detective ran to that spot to confront him. James shot at the detective and hit him multiple times, the affidavit said.

James then stole a blue 2015 Acura from the garage and fled, the affidavit states. Police pursued him at speeds that reached 90 mph. James lost control of the car and struck another vehicle, and police arrested him.

Police said James had an Inland Manufacturing 1911 A1 .45-caliber pistol in his waistband and two ammunition magazines in his pocket when he was taken into custody.

Before the killing spree, James was wanted in Bexar County on three misdemeanor arrest warrants for family violence dating to Jan. 6, 2022.

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Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said deputies responded to seven calls for disturbances at the home on Port Royal from April 2018 to August 2023.

The most recent incident involved a mental health crisis. James was nude in his bedroom and refused to let officers in. Salazar said the deputies left without taking him into custody, despite the outstanding misdemeanor warrants, because they wanted to avoid a violent confrontation.

James served in the Army from February 2013 to September 2015, was a licensed insurance agent in Dallas and was recently a manager of a car wash.

After being booked into the Travis County Correctional Complex on Dec. 6, James tried to escape and had to be forcibly subdued by corrections officers, authorities said.

There was no danger James would have gotten free, according to Kirsten Dark, a spokesman for the Travis County Sheriffs Office.

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SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea and the United States will hold talks on nuclear deterrence on Friday as part of Washington's commitment to share more insight with Seoul into planning in the event of conflict with North Korea.

The office of President Yoon Suk Yeol confirmed on Tuesday the second Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting will take place in Washington D.C., five months after the group's inaugural meeting.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Yoon announced the formation of the NCG during a summit in April as part of a new "Washington Declaration", under which Seoul also made a renewed pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons of its own.

Yoon has previously hailed the formation of the nuclear group as an upgrade of the alliance which aims to bolster "extended deterrence" against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Kim Myung-soo held a phone call with his U.S. counterpart Charles Q. Brown on Tuesday, the JCS said in a statement.

During the talks, the two agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and to counter Pyongyang's deepening military ties with Russia.

Kim and Brown also confirmed plans to launch a real-time data-sharing system to monitor North Korean missiles by the end of this year alongside Japan, the JCS said.

(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Ed Davies and Sonali Paul)
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol laid a wreath at the Netherlands' national monument in Amsterdam and toured the headquarters of tech powerhouse ASML on Tuesday at the start of a two-day visit focused on semiconductor cooperation.

Yoon's state visit, in which he met King Willem-Alexander and will hold a summit with outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, is the first by a South Korean president since the countries established diplomatic ties in 1961.

Yoon and Rutte will announce a joint statement to formalise a "chip alliance" between the countries, Yoon's security adviser Kim Tae-hyo said.

Under the alliance the two major players in the global semiconductor market will jointly respond in times of crisis in the chip supply chain, Kim said at a briefing on Tuesday.

Yoon is accompanied by a delegation from his country's major computer chip makers Samsung and SK Hynix. Both are major customers of ASML, and South Korea is ASML's second largest market by sales after Taiwan.

At the meeting at ASML headquarters, Samsung signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dutch company to jointly invest around 1 trillion won ($762 million) in a Korean research facility.

Separately, ASML and SK Hynix signed an agreement to collaborate on developing technology aimed at reducing energy use in chipmaking.

ASML is already building a new assembly line in South Korea with an investment of $181 million, Yoon's office has said.

Dutch and Korean research institutions including Eindhoven Technical University and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology signed an agreement on academic exchange, together with trade ministers from both countries.

South Korea and the Netherlands signed a strategic partnership treaty in Seoul in 2022, recognising their common interests as "mid sized" trading nations committed to the international rule of law.

The agreement specified the countries would look for ways to coordinate between government and the private sectors "and to jointly protect and promote critical and emerging technologies including in the area of semiconductors".

(Reporting by Toby Sterling; additional reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Ed Davies and Stephen Coates)
A knife-wielding suspect remains at large after robbing street vendors in South Los Angeles.

Surveillance video captured the hooded suspect walking up behind a street vendor worker and demanding all their cash.

The incident happened on Dec. 8 as the workers at Tacos El Caguamo were set up on East 78th Street.

The victim, Jose Segura Romero, becomes emotional when speaking about the ordeal, saying he was wondering whether he would be coming home to his family that night.

He came from behind me and forcefully applied pressure to my neck, Jose told KTLA in Spanish.

A knife-wielding suspect remains at large after robbing street vendors in South Los Angeles on Dec. 8, 2023. (Tacos El Caguamo)

The Tacos El Caguamo stand in South Los Angeles. (KTLA)

The suspects getaway car leaves the scene after robbing street vendors in South Los Angeles on Dec. 8, 2023. (Tacos El Caguamo)

The victim, Jose Segura Romero, owner of the Tacos El Caguamo food stand. (KTLA)

The Tacos El Caguamo stand in South Los Angeles. (KTLA)

Workers at the Tacos El Caguamo stand in South Los Angeles. (KTLA)

Workers at the Tacos El Caguamo stand in South Los Angeles. (KTLA)

He initially thought the robber was armed with a pistol but it turned out, the suspect was holding a knife. He and his wife handed over their cash before the robber fled the area.

Glendale man accused of racially-fueled attack on street vendors

Jose and his wife have been selling Mexican food on the same street corner for the last 12 years.

When my dad got home, I saw that he wasnt the same anymore, said Jocelyn Segura, Joses daughter. Hes a really happy person.

She said the frightening incident has left her father traumatized.

It frustrates me, not being able to do anything for [my parents] because they do work for this, Jocelyn said. Theyve been doing this for over 12 years.

Mother speaks on being targeted in anti-Mexican rant at Disneyland

The suspect escaped with around $500 and fled the scene in a black four-door Infiniti sedan.

On Monday night, street vendor activists turned up to provide security and resources for the family.

Were here to ask the community to come and let them know theyre not alone, said, Edin Enamorado, an activist. We also linked them up with a pro bono immigration attorney to help them out with the situation they just went through.

Jose said hes grateful for the outpouring of support. As for the suspect, he has this message: Think of the victims families. Im nobody to judge, but please dont do it again.

Jose and his wife were not injured during the robbery but are concerned the suspects next victim could encounter a different ending.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call LAPD at 1-877-275-5273.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The controversial bill would grant an amnesty to Catalan separatists after a failed independence bid in 2017 (PAU BARRENA)

Spanish lawmakers on Tuesday began debating a controversial bill to grant an amnesty to Catalan separatists that was pledged by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in order to remain in power.

The amnesty offer came six years after a failed independence bid by Catalan separatists, with Sanchez insisting it would help "turn the page" on Spain's worst political crisis in decades that still stirs up very raw emotions.

For years, Sanchez opposed such a move but recently admitted that he had had a change of heart.

Even though such a step was "complex to explain" to the Spanish public, it was a "necessary decision" to learn from what happened in 2017 and move towards a "resolution" of the conflict with Catalonia, he said Monday.

Lawmakers officially launched the parliamentary debate late Tuesday with a vote by 178 deputies in favour out of 350.

Lawmakers also approved the creation of three commissions sought by Catalan separatist parties in return for their support for Sanchez's left-wing coalition, including one to investigate a spying scandal involving Catalan leaders.

According to Citizen Lab, more than 60 mobiles linked to the Catalan separatist movement had been tapped with Pegasus spyware after the failed Catalan independence bid in 2017.

- 'Never-ending story' -

"What we're trying to do is.. to find a way out of this never-ending, hopeless confrontation" over Catalonia, said Patxi Lopez, spokesman for Sanchez's Socialists as the parliamentary debate kicked off.

Promising the measure would be swiftly adopted by Spain's parliament had won Sanchez the key support of Catalan separatist lawmakers that enabled him to be sworn in last month for a new term in office.

It will likely take several months to become law, but when it does, it will allow the courts to drop the charges against hundreds of separatist leaders and activists facing legal action over the October 2017 crisis.

That process should be completed within two months.

First and foremost, the move benefits Carles Puigdemont, who headed Catalonia's regional government when it staged a referendum banned by Madrid then made a short-lived declaration of independence.

Considered by many Spaniards as public enemy number one, he fled to Belgium to avoid prosecution although the amnesty will allow him to return home.

- 'The saddest session' -

Although the amnesty proposal is backed by a majority drawn from the ranks of the left, the radical left and Basque and Catalan parties, it has deeply divided Spanish society and provoked an outcry from parts of the judiciary.

In recent weeks, huge crowds of protesters have hit the streets to denounce the amnesty, answering a call by the right-wing opposition Popular Party (PP) placed first in July's general election but without enough support to form a government.

Opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo, who has angrily denounced the measure, described Tuesday's debate as "the saddest parliamentary session" since February 1981 when disgruntled right-wing officers stormed parliament in an attempted coup d'etat.

"This is a humiliation for Spain," he declared.

The PP, which holds an absolute majority in parliament's Senate upper house, has promised to do everything to delay the adoption of the bill that the Socialists want fast-tracked to speed up its promulgation.

The Senate can delay but not block the adoption of the measure.

Accusing Sanchez of a "coup d'etat", the leader of the far-right Vox party Santiago Abascal went a step further in his criticism over the weekend, saying the prime minister would meet a dictator's end.

"The time will come when... the Spanish people will want to string up (Sanchez) by the feet," he told the Argentine daily Clarin, in remarks that prompted an angry backlash from the government.

Denouncing Abascal for "hate speech that seeks to polarise and incite violence", Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said such language hadn't been heard "in Spain for many decades, since times that were very dark," referring to the 1936-39 civil war and ensuing dictatorship that ended in 1975.

More worrying for the government is the fact that the amnesty has deeply divided Sanchez's Socialists, with a survey published Monday in El Mundo daily showing 45.8 percent of those who voted for him in July were opposed to the measure.

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Former President Donald Trump, center, sits at the defense table with his attorneys at New York Supreme Court on Dec. 7, 2023, in New York. | Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, Associated Press

Donald Trump did not testify Monday in his New York civil fraud trial as expected. The former president took the stand in November and earlier said he would testify again, but he posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday saying he would no longer take the stand.

I have already testified to everything & have nothing more to say, Trump's post said in part.

Currently leading the race for the Republican presidential nomination, Trump reiterated his unfounded assertions that the 2020 elections were fraudulent. In his post, he specifically targeted President Joe Bidens campaign, accusing them of election interference, and labeled the charges against him as a witch hunt.

Trump, his two sons and their business are facing a $250 million fine for inflating their net worth by billions and misleading lenders and insurance companies.

Trump frequently lambasted New York Judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing the trial and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who filed the suit against him, according to Axios. Just before the civil trial started, Engoron found that Trump had committed fraud by exaggerating his net worth on financial records.

In response to Trumps refusal to testify Monday, James said in a statement on X, We have already proven that he committed years of financial fraud and unjustly enriched himself. No matter how much he tries to distract from reality, the facts dont lie.

Last Thursday, Trump watched from the defense table as an accounting expert, New York University professor Eli Bartov, blasted the states case and said Trumps financial statements were not materially misstated, per The Associated Press.

This week is anticipated to be the last for witness testimonies. Once the testimonies wrap up, the trial is set to pause until early January.

Engoron will make a final decision in the case following the break and closing arguments.

Related

Supreme Court asked to weigh in on presidential immunity

On Monday, special counsel Jack Smith asked the Supreme Court to review and decide if former President Trump is shielded by presidential immunity from facing charges in the federal case regarding 2020 election interference.

This case presents a fundamental question at the heart of our democracy: whether a former president is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office or is constitutionally protected from federal prosecution when he has been impeached but not convicted before the criminal proceedings begin, prosecutors wrote Monday, per The New York Times.

In his filing on Monday, Smith aimed to bypass an appeals court that was initially called to oversee the case. A federal judge previously decided the prosecution could proceed despite Trumps legal team promising to challenge this ruling.

In October, Trumps legal team filed its first motion to dismiss the case, citing what Trumps lawyers claim is his absolute immunity from prosecution for actions taken while serving in the nations highest office, per ABC News. The judge overseeing the case, D.C. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, rejected the motion.

The trial is set to begin in early March.

Should the Supreme Court agree to hear the case, it would mark the first instance of the Supreme Court intervening in part of the legal processes related to Trump, Axios noted.
The percentage of people in the San Antonio metro area who speak Spanish is on the decline, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Between 2018 and 2022, 30.8% of people in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area above the age of 5 spoke Spanish at home, according to census data. That's down from just over 33% from 2013 to 2017, according to census data.

The San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area still has the highest percentage of Spanish speakers among U.S. metro area's with populations between 2.25 million and 2.85 million, according to an Express-News analysis.

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Texas State Demographer Lloyd Potter said the lower percentage of Spanish speakers in San Antonio is in part due to the area's rapid growth. The number of Spanish speakers increased by nearly 6,000 from one period to the other, but the percentage dropped as growth brought in more people who don't speak Spanish. Potter said multi-generational Hispanic and Latino families may also have adapted to speaking English in the home.

The longer that Spanish speaking people are here, their families are going to be shifting to English, he said. They may go home to their parents house and theyll speak Spanish, but when they go home to their house, they're speaking English.

The new numbers are from the American Community Survey, which is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Potter said the five-year American Community Survey is used to understand the demographics of specific areas. Because the data are aggregated across multiple years, the Census Bureau is able to produce more detailed information for smaller geographic areas.

Local, state and federal governments use the information to target funding for specific areas. Additionally, measurements like language spoken at home can help government officials provide public health, voting and other services for residents who might not be able to speak or read English. Businesses also take interest in this data so they can learn where to best market their products.

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In September, the Census Bureau released results from the one-year American Community Survey for 2022. That summarizes just one years worth of data, which can limit the availability of information for smaller areas. While the one-year data provides a more timely estimate for things like income levels, it can be less accurate than the five-year survey at estimating things like populations of color and languages spoken at home.

The Express-News analyzed data from the latest five-year survey to learn about changes to five key metrics in the San Antonio area: the Spanish-speaking population, poverty levels, total population, residents of color and median age.

Here's a look at those findings:

Shifts among Spanish speakers

All age groups in the San Antonio metro area saw a decline in the percentage of Spanish speakers. The biggest drop came in the 18 to 64 age group, where the percentage of Spanish speakers declined from 35.6% in 2017 to 32.8% in 2022. That was the largest percentage point decline among the metro areas in the analysis.

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The share of San Antonians between the ages 5 and 17 who speak Spanish dropped from 23.3% in 2017 to 20.7% in 2022. Only the Las Vegas and Austin metro areas had bigger percentage-point declines in Spanish speakers among that age group.

Smaller percentage living in poverty

The percentage of people living in poverty in the San Antonio metro area dropped from 15.2% in 2017 to 13.7% in 2022, according to the census data. San Antonio still had the highest proportions of people who live below the poverty line among the metro areas in the analysis. San Antonios percentage remains slightly below the Texas average.

Potter said Texas high percentage is due to lower incomes in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and higher rates of poverty in the urban cores of Dallas and Houston. Additionally, the states large share of rural areas also have high rates of poverty. In 2019, the United States Department of Agriculture found that, across all race groups, rural residents had higher rates of poverty than those living in more urban areas.



Children under 18 make up about 35% of people in poverty, a 1.4 percentage point decrease from the 2017 level. The share of people in poverty who are above the age of 60 increased from 12.6% to 15.1%.

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For the United States as a whole, the proportion of people in poverty decreased from 2017 to 2022. The most recent survey includes data from before the coronavirus pandemic started to the tail end of the national emergency. According to Potter, the economic recovery toward the end of the pandemic may have helped the decrease in the percentage of people in poverty.

Without the pandemic, the government might not have put billions and billions of dollars into our economy in which case perhaps things would be worse off, he said. Certainly for a little while during the pandemic, people were really hurting. We did have people that moved into poverty, but they were able to move out once employment started picking up again.

Swift growth  but not as fast as Austin

The San Antonio metro areas population increased by 8% since the 2013-2017 measurement. But other metro areas saw bigger population increases. In particular, Austins population increased by nearly 15%, while Orlandos increased by 12% and Charlottes increased by about 10%.

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Some individual cities and communities within the San Antonio metro area saw greater changes. For instance, the population in New Braunfels increased by about 32% and Boernes population increased by more than 33%.

Within San Antonios city limit, the population decreased by about 1%.

San Antonio still has the highest share of people of color, but smaller growth

San Antonio has the highest share of people of color among the analyzed metro areas  about two out of every three people  but the areas growth in this share of the population is on the lower side. For comparison, he number of people of color in the Austin metro area increased by 21.7%, while San Antonios increased by 11.6%.

San Antonio is younger than other metro areas

San Antonios median age is about 35, which is on par with Texas median age but significantly younger than many areas around the country. However, the metro areas median age did increase slightly since the 2013-2017 period.

Potter said the median age in Texas is low by comparison due to higher birth rates, especially among the Hispanic and Latino ethnic groups. He also said that birth rates overall are declining and that people are living longer  which is why the median age has increased.

In the San Antonio metro area, Grey Forest, a city in the northwest of the area, has the oldest median age at nearly 58 years old while Lackland Air Force Base has the youngest median age at 21.
If youve flown out of San Antonio International Airport lately, you know that the crowds of passengers are back. In August, 813,000 travelers passed through the city-owned facility, which worked out to 93 percent of the average monthly totals in 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic laid waste to the air travel industry.

But San Antonio Internationals resurgence isnt all good news. Its highlighting some of the airports long-standing inadequacies. Travelers who waited out the worst of the pandemic are finding the number of nonstop flights out of San Antonio is still small compared to Austin-Bergstrom International, which is close enough to siphon off area passengers who really hate connecting flights. And as travelers crowd cattle-like into Terminal As concourse, one of the narrowest among big-city airports  well, its just as they remember it.

Those are the problems we see up close at the airport. To see the biggest one, we have to step back.

The city that the airport serves is growing  to such an extent that the travel demands of San Antonians will exceed the facilitys capacity in the near future.

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In August, 813,000 travelers passed through the city-owned facility, which worked out to 93 percent of the average monthly totals in 2019. Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

Between 2010 and 2020, the metro area grew by more than 400,000 people, an increase of 16 percent. At that pace, airport officials expect annual passenger totals to exceed 14 million by 2040.

Thats why the city of San Antonio is embarking on a 20-year, $2.5 billion expansion and redevelopment of San Antonio International. Approved by City Council nearly a year ago, the master plan calls for the extension of one of the airports two main runways, the construction of a new Terminal C and an additional parking garage, and the remaking of Terminal A. The city will pay for the capital project  one of the biggest in San Antonio history  with a mix of federal and state grants, bond revenue and facility charges paid by air travelers and airlines.

TOP FLIGHTS: The most popular flight destinations out of San Antonio

At this point, the airports expansion is largely conceptual. Corgan, a Dallas-based architecture and design firm, is currently drafting plans for Terminal C and other airport projects under a contract worth $3.8 million over three years. But Terminal C  the largest project within the master plan  will be under construction in 2024, with its opening planned for 2028.

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To understand how big the challenges are that airport officials are trying to overcome, we compare key aspects of San Antonio Internationals offerings and operations to peer facilities around the country, including Austin-Bergstrom.

Lets start with the number of nonstop flights out of San Antonio

Want to fly nonstop from San Antonio to Beijing? Sorry  you literally cant get there from here. The airports runways are too short.

The maximum distance an airplane can fly is determined by the amount of fuel in its tanks. To fly nonstop to, say, Europe or Asia, you need big jets with big fuel tanks. The more fuel you load onto a plane for long international flights, the heavier it becomes, and heavy planes need longer runways in order to get off the ground.

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San Antonios longest runways measure 8,505 feet  which is about a thousand feet short of accommodating the long-distance commercial airliners capable of reaching premium destinations such as London, Frankfurt or Dubai. However, the airport master plan notes that big jets  the Boeing 757-200 and 767-300/400ER  can fly to Europe from San Antonios runways but with reduced payloads only.

Of the 40 destinations reachable by nonstop flights out of San Antonio, the farthest are Boston and Seattle, both only 1,500 nautical miles away.

The San Antonio airports master plan notes several commercial jets that are capable of making these non-stop international flights:

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The Airbus A350-900 seats up to 325 passengers and requires 9,450 feet of runway for takeoff

The Boeing 767-200ER needs 10,500 feet of runway for takeoff

The Boeing 787-9 requires 13,200 feet for takeoff

But no matter how long your runways are, they need to be configured properly

Extended runways are essential for longer direct flights, but the ability coordinate multiple takeoffs and landings at the same time is also crucial.

Runways are built in relation to prevailing winds, or the direction from which the wind usually blows. And many of the worlds busiest airports provide multiple, parallel runways (the standard in the U.S. is 3,000 feet apart) to allow for simultaneous takeoffs and landings.

Normally, when runways are due for reconstruction due to age, usage and weathering, Federal Aviation Administration funding is available to help bankroll improvements. However, an assessment of San Antonio Internationals crosswind runway concluded that it was no longer required, making the runway ineligible for FAA funding.

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Airport officials have not included the construction of additional parallel runways in their 2040 planning horizon.

But runways are just one of the factors holding San Antonio back. You also need demand.

Longer, better configured runways and desirable local attractions  Orlando, Fla., has both. Thats why its airport has 124 percent more takeoffs and landings than San Antonio. The Orlando airport has four runways 9,000 feet long or longer, which gives airlines the flexibility to fly just about anywhere in the world. As far as attractions, take your pick: Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld or the Kennedy Space Center.

The Orlando airport offers 204 direct flights, the most of any facility we looked at. Orlando also sees the most annual passengers.

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Charlotte is a national center of banking and finance and home to the headquarters of nine Fortune 500 companies, including Bank of America and Lowes. The Charlotte airport had the largest number of flights among the airports we looked at. The enduring strength of the U.S. financial-services industry goes a long way in explaining why Charlotte saw the smallest drop in passenger counts from pre-COVID levels. In other words: business travelers.
Kate Cox has had to leave the state to undergo a medically necessary abortion. Associated Press

Before the Dobbs decision in 2022, Kate Coxs choice to have an abortion would have been private.

It would not have been indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons business, or ours.

It would have been a decision made between Cox, her husband and medical professionals. We would have no idea that Cox, 31, and a mother of two, recently learned that her fetus has trisomy 18, also known as Edwards syndrome, making the pregnancy nonviable. We would not know how doctors have said that carrying the pregnancy to term could create complications for Cox or threaten her ability to have children in the future.

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We would not know that ultrasounds had revealed that Coxs baby has a twisted spine, clubbed foot and irregular skull and heart; or that Cox has visited the emergency room a number of times in the past month.

All of this would be private, but with a near-total ban on abortions in Texas following the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision, it has become the center of national public attention and very much Paxtons business.

Represented by the Center for Reproductive Rights, Cox, who lives in the Dallas area and is about 20 weeks pregnant, recently petitioned a Travis County court to grant her a right to an abortion.

The idea that Ms. Cox wants desperately to be a parent and this law might actually cause her to lose that ability is shocking and would be a genuine miscarriage of justice, District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble said Thursday, signing an order.

Paxton then sent letters to three hospitals  Houston Methodist, The Womens Hospital of Texas in Houston and Texans Childrens Hospital in Houston  warning that the judges order did not insulate hospitals, doctors, or anyone else, from civil and criminal liability for violating Texas' abortion laws.

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He also appealed to the Texas Supreme Court, which late Friday temporarily blocked the lower courts order. And on late Monday, the Texas Supreme Court overturned the order, saying it falls to doctors, not judges, to make medically appropriate decisions. Obviously, this sidesteps the many issues Cox's case raises. By the time the decision was released, Cox had left the state to have the abortion.

From a legal perspective, Coxs case, despite this outcome, serves as a potential template for medical exceptions to Texas' near-total ban of abortions, defining when the health of a mother is in danger, which is a vague caveat in Texas' law. It also marks a shift in the legal battle over abortion rights. After decades of anti-abortion activists eroding abortion rights through the legal system, we are seeing movement in the other direction. Zurawski v. Texas, which involves 20 women with complicated pregnancies, could very well expand abortion rights here. But as abortion opponents can attest, change through the judiciary and state law takes time.

In the immediate court of public opinion, Cox's case has already demonstrated in the clearest of terms, the folly of Texas' abortion ban and the grotesqueness of government overreach into what should be private, medical decisions. Here we have a grieving mother, carrying a child with a fatal diagnosis. And here we have a state that insists she must carry that pregnancy to term, even though it could jeopardize her health and future fertility.

It is not a matter of if I will have to say goodbye to my baby, but when, Cox said in a statement last week. Im trying to do what is best for my baby and myself, but the state of Texas is making us both suffer.
(Bloomberg) -- The US Supreme Court signaled it will move quickly to decide whether to intervene in a clash stemming from the criminal charges against Donald Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

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The high court on Monday told Trumps legal team to respond by Dec. 20 to Special Counsel Jack Smiths request that the justices decide whether the former president is entitled to absolute immunity.

Smith is urging the justices to take the unusual step of bypassing a federal appeals court and directly reviewing a trial judges refusal to toss out the indictment against Trump. Smith told the justices earlier Monday that it is of imperative public importance they resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Should the justices refuse to take up the case immediately, they could do so after the appeals court rules.

Smiths filing marks the first time the Supreme Court has been asked to intervene in one of the four pending criminal prosecutions against Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

The Supreme Court order granted Smiths request to expedite handling of the matter, though he had sought to have Trumps lawyers respond even sooner, by Dec. 18.

Meanwhile, Smiths office also asked the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit to expedite hearing the immunity issue, a hedge in case the Supreme Court declines to take it up. That court on Monday gave Trump until Dec. 13 to respond to the governments request.

The case is United States v. Trump, 23-624.

--With assistance from Zoe Tillman.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  State Superintendent Ryan Walters filed for several changes to Oklahomas accreditation rules that would link a school districts accreditation to the students academic performance.

Supt. Walters proposed the new rules in Novembers State Board of Education meeting after Oklahoma received a C average in academic growth and achievement on the 2022-23 state report card.

State report card shows continued academic struggle amongst Oklahoma public schools

In order to ensure our schools are meeting the academic needs of our kids, we will be proposing a rule that would require districts to meet a certain threshold of academic performance. If they dont meet that threshold, they would get a deficiency and it would start penalizing them through the accreditation process, said Walters at the meeting.

210.35-2-210-Academic-DeficiencyDownload

The threshold requires school districts have at least 50% of students passing at a basic level in reading and math.

The Board of Education will also expect school districts who arent at the 50% mark to show at least a 5% increase in academic growth.

We want to incentivize districts that have fallen well below that to catch up to that 50% mark, said Walters. If they fall well behind that, getting all the way from 30% or 35% to 50% in a year could be rather difficult. Giving them the targeted goal of 5% growth over an academic year, we believe is very attainable. Weve got a lot of data around districts that have done this previously and year to year.

Potential accreditation downgrade for OK school districts with less than 50% of students passing at basic level

Walters says Oklahoma statute requires accreditation standards that equal or exceed nationally recognized accreditation standards to the extent that the standards are consistent with an academic results-oriented approach.

According to Walters, Oklahoma does not currently have such an accreditation standard.

We have tried a system that gave districts a free pass while their students suffered, and the results failed our students and failed their parents, said Walters. Just last week, it was revealed that in an international evaluation, US students scored among the lowest ever measured in math. Closer to home, Oklahoma students had the second-greatest [National Assessment of Educational Progress or The Nations Report Card] NAEP score decrease in reading and the greatest NAEP score decrease in math in the nation. The status quo is unacceptable and puts our state at risk for generations to come. Revamping our accreditation standards is a strong way forward for Oklahoma students. These standards are clear and achievable, and we know that setting high standards will produce the best results. We will not sit back and watch Oklahoma students fall farther behind. Most importantly, setting these standards will ensure every Oklahoma student gets a quality education while providing necessary supports for districts that need more help.

AG Drummonds opinion confirms lawmakers have authority to make OSDE rules

The newly proposed rules would also revise the levels of accreditation, adding an Accredited with Distinction tier at the top for districts that has all of its sites accredited with no deficiencies and passes a distinction audit.

210.35-3-201-Best-SchoolsDownload

Walters also plans revisions to the health and safety standards for accreditation.

Some of the new rules would give schools a health and safety deficiency if they maintain the employment or contract of a certified employee if their certificate is revoked or if they maintain the employment or contract of a non-certified employee that is convicted of a felony.

210.35-3-86 (Health and Safety Deficiency)Download

After a 60-day public comment period, the revisions will need to be approved by the Board of Education, the Legislature and the Governor.

KFOR has reached out to the Department of Education to find out when public comment will begin.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A survey of 500 Portland voters found most were aware of the Portland Police Accountability Commission and generally supported the idea of conducting investigations that protect the rights of the accuser and the accused.

The Portland Police Association (PPA) recently sought and independently funded a poll by DHM

Research. The survey that was conducted between December 2-7, 2023, showed 56% of people said theyd consider leaving the City of Portland if they could afford it and more than two thirds of respondents want more police officers on Portland streets.

Sixty-seven percent said they were aware of the commission, 20 members of the community who developed a new accountability system for Portland police and proposed it to City Council in September.

This commission was originally brought together after voters approved the plan for a new police oversight system in the November 2020 election, by an 82%-18% margin. This idea was championed by then Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty.

After making significant alterations to the commissions proposal, the City Council unanimously approved the plan in November 2023, despite public criticism from accountability advocates and those who think police are already disciplined too much.

Responses on Police Accountability Commission

Respondents in the survey were sharply split on a number of questions about the accountability commissions plan. For instance, only 24% believed hearings on police complaints should let complainants confront officers in a public setting  an idea in the approved plan. However, 63% believe the hearings and investigations should protect the constitutional and privacy rights of both parties.

Parts of the approved plan were overwhelmingly disfavored by those in the survey. Only 14% agreed that members of the accountability commission should determine improper officer behavior and punishment without reviewing training materials or receiving legal background information; 26% agreed commission members should be paid stipends equal to tens of thousands of dollars a year; and only 17% agreed the commission should operate without city oversight of its legal structure, hiring, firing, and treatment of employees, pay for members, or financial processes.

Read: DHM Research Survey on Police Accountability Commission

But survey takers were nearly equally split on whether the accountability commission should have full authority to separately investigate all complaints of police misconduct (43%) while 44% said the accountability commission should review the results of the investigations done by the police bureau or other investigators.

Only 37% said the accountability commission should have full authority to issue any punishments or dismiss Portland police officers based on its own findings.

A healthy margin of respondents said the accountability commission would improve public safety (42%) moreso than make public safety worse (18%).

But by a 57-23 margin, respondents said the accountability commissions plan should go back to voters with approved changes rather than being kept as is.

When asked if a ballot measure to repeal the accountability commissions plan and use its allocated budget to hire and train more officers on our streets, respondents were split: 44% supported that idea, 45% opposed.

BALLOT INITIATIVES

The survey also found overwhelming support  86%  for using existing marijuana revenues to help fund more officers, create new detox drop-offs and addiction treatment centers and increase the use of trained social workers to deescalate violent interactions.

Another 83% would support a plan to require Portland to create enough safe shelters for the homeless with mental health and drug treatment to allow existing city laws against street camping to finally be effectively enforced.

In a release PPA wrote:

We release these results today to start the conversation. This is a call for leadership. This is a call for action. 71% of respondents want more police officers to keep them and their families safe. 57% want City Council to make reasonable changes and submit a referendum so voters can ensure their intent is met when it comes to a functional police accountability system. 67% indicate that moving the accountability conversation back to voters is the way to earn public support.

We do not share this information to paint a dire picture of our Citys future. Instead, this is a call to the voices who have felt unheard, said Sergeant Aaron Schmautz, PPA President. Accountable, constitutional, and transparent policing is not an impossible goal. In many ways, the police in Portland have been held to the highest of standards for a very long time. Together,

we can create a system of accountability that is founded on the principles of due process, fairness, accessibility, and transparency, and that allows our public servants to do what they wish to do most: serve.

The PPA is calling to bring the issue of police oversight back to the voters.

Details about the survey

The margin of error in this DHM Research survey is 4.4%.

A total of 69% of the respondents self-identified as White/Caucasian, with 77% having at least some college, 72% earning less than $100,000 a year and just about evenly divided among the quadrants of Portland. Politically, 55% identified as Democrats, 8% as Republicans and 27% as non-affiliated.

And though respondents said homelessness and crime were the most concerning things in the city, 57% said neither they nor a family member have been a victim of crime within the past year.

KOIN 6 has reached out to the Portland Police Bureau for comment but has not heard back yet.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Police have arrested a suspect in the murder of Lizbeth Medina, a sixteen-year-old Texas student and cheerleader.

Rafael Govea Romero, 23, was arrested on 9 December after police located him in Schulenberg, Texas, an hour north of Lizbeths hometown of Edna, Texas. Police seized a vehicle and items of evidence tending to connect this suspect Romero to the murder of Lizbeth Medina, according to a department press release.

Mr Romero is being held on a $2,000,000 bond. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have also placed a detainer on Mr Romero, which means the jail must hold him for an additional 48 hours after his release to provide ICE agents with time to decide if they will take him into federal custody.

The arrest comes four days after Jaqueline Medina found her daughter dead in their apartment on 5 December. Lizbeths aunt, Ana Medina, has launched a GoFundMe for the family. As of 12 December, donors have contributed more than $20,000.

Jaqueline told local outlet Crossroads Today she hopes there is justice for her daughter.

Words cant explain what I felt at that moment, finding my daughter in the matter that she was, she said. All I can say is that I hope with all my heart that there is justice with my daughter.

Jaqueline said she hopes the community remembers her daughters exceptional qualities.

I just want her to be remembered as the special little girl that she was, she told Crossroads Today. Loving, kind, and bighearted.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The 17-year-old driver suspected in a deadly hit-and-run was found late Monday night after the crash on East Burnside earlier in the evening, authorities said.

According to the Gresham Police Department, officers responded around 6:30 p.m. to a crash involving a car hitting a pedestrian.

Authorities say the collision killed the pedestrian. The driver fled the scene and abandoned his car when it broke down due to damages sustained in the crash.

Unthank Plaza residents: Unsafe, unlivable after November fire

Officers said they located the 17-year-old driver when he returned to his home in Gresham later Monday night.

The crash is still under investigation and authorities ask anyone with information to contact the police.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
SAN DEIGO  The suspect killed by officers in a shooting at a 4S Ranch shopping center last week that also left a San Diego police sergeant seriously injured was identified by authorities on Monday.

Curtis Harris, a 46-year-old San Diego resident, was named by the San Diego County Sheriffs Department as the man shot by SDPD officers overnight Friday. According to SDSO, Harris had an unserved Emergency Protection Order against him tied to a prior domestic violence incident.

Authorities were alerted to the incident after receiving a report of the protection order and a possible stolen vehicle around 10 p.m. Thursday. According to SDSO, a description of the suspect in the case was identified through officers initial investigation, including that he was a felon and known to carry a firearm.

San Diego Police investigating string of armed robberies

Around 11:30 p.m., officers were able to locate the stolen vehicle in the parking lot of a shopping plaza in the 10500 block of 4S Commons Drive. According to SDSO, the location was a short distance away from the residence of the victim in the protective order signed by a judge.

Officers attempted to contact Harris, who was inside a Ralphs grocery store in the center, in order to serve him the protection order. However, SDSO said he proceeded to run outside the store, firing multiple rounds at officers.

One of the gunshots struck a sergeant with the SDPD SWAT team in the head, while another hit a SDPD vehicle. The sergeant was critically injured, but as of Monday, authorities said he remains in stable condition.

Three officers returned Harris fire, striking him multiple times. According to SDSO, he then collapsed, dropping the loaded firearm on the ground near him. An additional magazine was also found on his body.

Officers attempted to render medical aid to Harris and his partner. Both were transported to separate hospitals by paramedics. He was later pronounced dead by medical personnel at about 1 a.m. Friday.

An autopsy of Harris conducted by the San Diego County Medical Examiners Office confirmed the cause of death to be the gunshot wounds, with the manner of death ruled as a homicide.

Per the countywide memorandum of understanding, SDSOs Homicide Unit was called to the scene to conduct the investigation into the shooting involving the officers. SDPD is handling the investigation into the stolen vehicle.

Once SDSO completes its investigation into the shooting, it will be reviewed by the San Diego County District Attorney to determine if the officers bear any state criminal liability for discharging their weapons. SDPD will also conduct an administrative investigation.

North County pursuit ends in multi-vehicle crash: SDSO

The Commission on Police Practices will also review the incident and provide any appropriate recommendations.

The names of all SDPD personnel involved in the shooting, including that of the injured sergeant, are being withheld by SDSO at this time. It is also not clear if the partner mentioned by authorities was the victim in the domestic violence case, or what the nature of their injuries were.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 858-285-6330 or the after hours line at 858-565-5200. Those that would like to remain anonymous can do so by calling Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
Threats against election workers have surged in advance of the 2024 presidential election, putting our democracy on edge. Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

Any threat against an election worker is a threat against democracy, and with the 2024 presidential election looming, the peril is real and chilling.

Self-styled freedom fighters, confusing anarchy with patriotism, are attacking our single most important right  the vote. The polls give the people a voice, a say, in how government is run. To pervert that process is to squander our legacy of democracy.

The targets are election workers who keep the machinery of democracy running. Some are well known, including secretaries of state who lead the effort throughout the country, but most are anonymous, and for good reason. They do their jobs so well that they attract little attention, whether positively or negatively.

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But the freedom fighters know who these workers are, and they are going after them with a disturbing ferocity. The employees are being bombarded, Department of Justice officials say, with death threats  by hanging, shooting, even by beating.

This isnt going to be taken lightly, John Keller, a justice official who is part of a task force created to investigate election crimes, told the Associated Press. Federal judges, the courts are taking misconduct seriously and the punishments are going to be commensurate with the seriousness of the conduct.

A Texas man was recently sentenced to two years in prison for threatening Georgia election workers following the 2020 presidential election. Chad Christopher Stark, 55, was accused of posting threats on Craigslist about killing election officials. He urged Georgia residents to militia up.

Even more horrific, he included children in his rant.

Someone needs to get these people AND their children, he said. The children are the most important message to send.

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Stark is not alone. Justice officials have not identified  or arrested all the perpetrators  but they have reviewed more than 1,000 threatening messages. The department has filed more than a dozen cases; more are expected.

The threats spiraled after the 2020 election, when Donald Trump, still president, incited his followers to attack the Capitol. The insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, was just the beginning.

The peril, spawned by the Big Lie that President Joe Biden won the election through fraud, has morphed into online threats.

Once hailed throughout the world as a model of government, our democracy has not been in such a fragile state since the Civil War. Bad actors online have an outsized impact on what is still a good and decent nation. They distort the political landscape, relying on conspiracy theories to see what is not there and fail to see what is.

When we come to lynch your stupid lying Commie (expletive), youll remember that you lied on the (expletive) Bible, you piece of (expletive), a man allegedly said in a voicemail left for an Arizona official, according to the Justice Department. Were going to hang you.  Youre gonna die.

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Designed to intimidate elections workers before the presidential election next year, the nefarious plot seems to be working, FBI Director Christopher Wray said. The threats have inspired workers to flee the industry. One worker was frightened enough to set up a panic button in case trouble arises.

We dont feel safe in our work because of the harassment and threats that are based on lies, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes testified at a Senate hearing last month. It almost defies common sense that we have people who want to get into these jobs, but for the fact that these are the jobs that preserve our democracy.

It is too much to expect these bad actors to switch from ignorance to enlightenment before the election. The solution, then, is twofold. Other states must follow the leads of Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada and Oklahoma, which have increased protections for the workers and penalties for the perpetrators.

And the Justice Department must continue its aggressive campaign against these threats while providing election workers with as much protection as possible.
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Hungary has repeated a promise that it will not be the last NATO country to ratify Sweden's application to join the alliance, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said on Tuesday after meeting his Hungarian counterpart earlier in the week.

Sweden applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in May last year in a major shift in security strategy following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It hoped for smooth accession process, but the application has been held up by Turkey and Hungary that have so far refused to support it.

Billstrom said he met Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto in Brussels on Monday and asked whether Hungary stood by its promise not to be the last NATO member to approve Sweden.

"His clear message was, yes we do. We will not be last," Billstrom said.

Turkey indicated in late November it could be ready to approve Sweden as a NATO member within a few weeks.

But President Tayyip Erdogan has linked the process to Turkey's hopes of buying F-16 fighter jets from the United States, a deal Congress has delayed.

Billstrom said Sweden was following the discussions between Turkey and the United States closely, and had not received "any new information" on when Turkey would ratify Sweden's NATO application.

(Reporting by Simon Johnson; editing by Barbara Lewis)
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

We have reached a level of saturation coverage of campus anti-semitism that is slightly hard to fathom, Jonathan Chait wrote on Tuesday, marveling at how many stories the New York Times has devoted to the subject lately. It feels like a strange form of cultural reversal in which the reporters who were staking out diners in Trump country have all been reassigned to the Ivy League beat.

Thats a good line, but it doesnt feel like a reversal to me. Rather, theres a clear through-line between grandpas in red hats babbling over burgers about how Trump tells it like it is and the president of Harvard hedging on whether calling for Jewish genocide should warrant official discipline.

Certainly Chait is right that a lot of attention has been paid to campus antisemitism since October 7, as one would hope after the worst pogrom since World War II somehow led to ghoulish cheerleading for Palestinian victory from the river to the sea. What pushed the coverage toward saturation levels was Elise Stefanik interrogating the presidents of three Ivy League universities about their policies on genocidal sloganeering toward Jews and those presidents responding with, shall we say, something less than perfect moral clarity.

If you believe Stefanikand I dont normally advise believing Elise Stefanikthe footage of that questioning has now been viewed a billion times globally across various platforms. Whether thats true or not, its indisputably an international news story, one with enough cultural resonance to have inspired the opening sketch on Saturday Night Live last week.

Further proof that a proverbial nerve was struck comes from the variety of commentary the episode inspired. Our own Jonah Goldberg saw it as a lesson in how only the preferred narratives are privileged on campus. Graeme Wood at The Atlantic touted it as an opportunity for institutional leaders to revive resignation as an act of civic hygiene. Chait, meanwhile, insisted that the presidents were right to distinguish between threatening speech and threatening conduct.

My own view, in keeping with the running theme of this newsletter, is that the backlash to the incident amounts to the most sensational political victory for populism in years. Possibly since 2016.

And so no wonder that Times reporters on the populism beat would shift from staking out diners in Ohio to staking out dining halls at Harvard. If youre looking for evidence of two Americas separated culturally by class and education, the action has shifted abruptly from Youngstown to Cambridge.

To some extent it was sheer shock value that caused Stefaniks questioning of the Ivy League presidents to capture the public imagination. Normally you need to travel very far toward the end of the ideological horseshoe on either side to find someone willing to shrug at genocidal rhetoric, yet here were three prominent scholars indulging during a televised hearing with Congress.

But the real driver of public interest, I suspect, was the astonishment at seeing a cartoonish cultural stereotype vindicated in an unusually vivid way.

It was all there. The startling moral obtuseness to which the extremely well-educated seem curiously prone; the absurdity of a cohort known for policing esoteric affronts to sensitivity like microaggressions waffling on something as blatant as genocide; the favoritism in giving speech that supports leftist causes the benefit of a doubt that less progressive speech doesnt receive; and the condescension, laid bare in the smirking that Jonah wrote about, from a class of credentialed mandarins that sees itself as accountable morally only to its intellectual peers.

It was a ridiculous caricature of Ivory Tower sensibilities come to life, all your worst suspicions about higher education confirmed. It would be like thinking Only the faculty of Harvard could rationalize an idea as ludicrous as we should all eat babies, then turning on C-SPAN to find a professor at Harvard being asked whether its okay to eat babies and smugly replying, It depends.

Populism is most potent when the gap among its enemies between sanctimony and righteousness is widest. Its one thing for the elite to moralize when theyre setting a good moral example; its another for them to fail morally while not presuming to lecture others about morality. But when one of the most sanctimonious cohorts in American life whiffs on a moral test as basic as whether genocidal rhetoric belongs on campus, even my inner populist starts muttering about the ruling class.

Not just any ol wing of the ruling class either. As Michael Brendan Dougherty noted last week, these institutions are shaping the young intellects thatll eventually govern America, politically and culturally. When microaggressions committed against the left are treated as orders of magnitude more serious than major aggressions by the left, the best and brightest will draw predictable moral lessons from it.

The problem is not that these schools have speech codes; its that these speech codes are enforced by means of an unwritten, controversial, and idiotic woke ideology that alienates the vast majority of people in this country. In fact, this ideology casts the vast majority of people in this country as contemptible and irredeemable villains deserving of violent comeuppance.  In other words, these institutions are breeding a profoundly unfit leadership class that will bring civil strife and ruin to this country. Protecting the First Amendment requires that we preserve civilized discourse from being drowned out by the yawping of barbarians. The Ivy League is producing an idiotariat; everyone could see that this week. Asking it to change is not hypocrisy. Its the bare minimum of civilizational self-defense.

American meritocracy is a system and that system is riggedin many ways, to be sure, but morally too. The hearing with the Ivy League presidents revealed that more succinctly than any episode I can remember. It was proof of concept for populists that the elaborate and sometimes inscrutable enforcement of sensitivity norms on campus is really just intellectual window dressing to create political space for progressivism radicalism. The most esteemed institutions run by their cultural adversaries have been perverted to the point that even genocidal sloganeering like from the river to the sea is a shades-of-gray matter for excuse-making.

It was a gift to the diners in Youngstown. The fact that Harvards board of trustees has decided to stand by the schools president, Claudine Gay, in the aftermath is a gift to them too.

Penns president, Liz Magill, was out in less than a week after her exchange with Stefanik at the hearing. Gay was thought to be next, especially after evidence suddenly emerged that her previous academic writing contained passages that closelytoo closelyresembled passages in some of the scholarship she had drawn upon.

After mulling the matter over, Harvards board declared that shes staying.

JUST IN  Harvard board "unanimously stand in support" of Claudine Gay. pic.twitter.com/J7R5OdGrpt  Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) December 12, 2023

Why did Gay get to stay when Magill had to go?

She apologized for what she said at the hearing, you might point out, and thats true. When words amplify distress and pain, I dont know how you could feel anything but regret, Gay told the Harvard Crimson a few days ago, lamenting that she had failed to make clear that calls for violence against our Jewish communitythreats to our Jewish studentshave no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged.

But Magill also apologized, sort of, once the pressure on her began to mount. It didnt save her.

Donors at Penn had begun to revolt, you might counter, and that would also be true. Investor Ross Stevens pulled the plug on a partnership with the school worth $100 million after he watched Magills testimony. A school might tolerate a little light genocidal sloganeering on the merits, but when the bottom line starts to suffer because of it? Unforgivable.

The problem with this theory is that Harvard has also been hit in the wallet by graduates over Gays testimony. Hedge-fund manager Bill Ackman, an alumnus, claimed recently that hes personally aware of more than a billion dollars of terminated donations from a small group of Harvards most generous Jewish and non-Jewish alumni. Harvard wont go brokethe schools endowment stands north of $50 billion, more than twice the value of Pennsbut even the richest institution will think twice about taking a billion-dollar hit for the sake of keeping a single not-particularly-stellar employee on the job.

The likeliest reason Gay survived when Magill didnt, I think, is  those diners in red hats in Youngstown.

Nate Silver summarized the logic in a short Twitter thread. Once Magill was pushed out and right-wingers began clamoring for more scalps, a full-fledged battle in the culture war was declared. And Harvards powers-that-be concluded that theyd rather alienate some donors short-term by keeping Gay than alienate most of their community by surrendering in that battle to the right by getting rid of her.

Republicans arent the only ones capable of spitefully rallying behind a leader whos under siege from a political enemy, you know.

If the goal was to get Gay fired, Silver argued, the right did a poor tactical job of it. They looked trigger happy, for one thing; Stefanik actually declared one down, two to go following Magills resignation. The fact that some of the lefts least favorite people pushed their way to the front of the parade calling for Gays head also backfired. Christopher Rufo, the populist culture warrior, led the charge by accusing Gay of plagiarism. Ackman, the billionaire, claimed to have been told by reporters that Harvards trustees didnt want to be seen as kowtowing to him by firing her.

The fact that it was Stefanik, of all people, who asked the fateful questions about genocide at the hearing may have also rallied the board behind Gay. Stefanik is an alumna of Harvard herself; the university effectively disowned her after January 6, dropping her from an advisory board after her Trump sycophancy led her to vote against certifying Joe Bidens electoral votes. For many at the school, terminating Gay at Stefaniks behest might have amounted to effectively choosing the latter over the former. And at an institution dominated by leftists, Stefanik prevailing in that choice would have been unthinkable.

In fact, it was Stefanik more so than the witnesses she questioned who functioned as the butt of the joke in SNLs sketch about the hearing last weekend. That was an early tell that partisans had begun to polarize around the incident. If Stefanik, an admittedly execrable character, is too much of a villain for liberal comedy writers to take her side in a fight, it was a fait accompli that her enemies at Harvard would feel the same.

Even if that fight happens to be about whether universities should make an enormous exception for Jews to their usual rule of letting victims of offensive speech decide whether that speech is offensive or not.

So its the diners in Youngstownas represented by allies like Stefanik, Rufo, and (to a lesser degree) Ackmanwho, ironically, may have saved Gay. As the opposition to her became more identifiably populist and right-wing, as Silver pointed out, it became easier for Harvards trustees to cut her a break and side with the left. A smarter GOP activist class would have sat back and let the pressure on Harvard build organically from the American middleif, again, the goal was truly to get her fired.

But what if it wasnt?

I think populists are fine with Gay surviving, the same way theyre fine with Republicans losing elections. Defeat is useful in some circumstances, and may sometimes be preferable, because it proves the moral corruption of their enemies.

They got their scalp at Penn. Thats a victory for populists, circumstantial evidence of political muscle. But it also complicates their point about the system being rigged: The hallmark of a rigged system is that its superintendents arent accountable for their misdeeds. Magill was.

Having Gay survive at Harvard revives their thesis about a corrupt system. The system is so rigged that ambivalence toward genocidal sloganeering aimed at a vulnerable minority plus compelling evidence of plagiarism isnt enough to get an administrator with the right politics fired from her jobeven if its more than enough to get students guilty of similar offenses tossed out.

Demonstrating that is a victory for populism too.

And there may be more victories to come. Harvards refusal to punish Gay opens the door to arguing that if the school wont hold her accountable, other institutions must. As I was writing this newsletter, in fact, yet another prominent Harvard alumnus piped up with an idea:

The endowment isnt quite tax-free, thanks to a bill Ted Cruz voted for in 2017, but the taxes on it could certainly be raised considerably. The touchstone of populism is using state power to punish the rights cultural enemies. Harvard letting Gay off easy provides a handy justification for Cruz and others to do just that and further normalize that political ethos.

This episode does one more thing to aid the populist program: It encourages cancel culture.

Populists hate cancel culture! you might counter, but thats not actually true. They hate being the targets of cancel culture, which they often are because the most influential practitioners of that culture in American society are socially liberal corporate managers and educators. But they quite like the idea of institutions, beginning with government, bringing pressure to bear to silence their enemies. Its scarcely an exaggeration to say that thats what the post-liberal project is all about.

Its classical liberals who might rightly blanch at the thought of students being punished for chanting slogans about intifada. Peter Savodnik imagines how Magill might have replied to Stefaniks questions:

The bold thingthe right thingfor Magill to have said in response to Rep. Elise Stefaniks question was: Weve been doing things wrong here at Penn for a long time, telling people they cant say things that someone else might not like. Starting today, were done with trigger warnings, safe spaces, and microaggressions, and were dismantling the whole DEI complex at Penn, which, lets face it, is all about censoring wrong-thinkers and actually foments antisemitism on campus. Whats more, Im putting our students on alert: if youre uncomfortable with being subjected to speech that upsets you, you should go to school somewhere else. We put a premium on debate and argument at Penn, and that demands free expression.

Populists would doubtless prefer a system like that to one in which theyre forever being hassled by administrators for offensive speech while the dregs of progressive radicalism operate with impunity. But if you view political and institutional power as little more than tools in waging a culture war, the system you truly crave is one in which cancellation is accepted and the right, not the left, gets to decide whos canceled.

Cancellation is a little more acceptable on the American right after the episode with the Ivy League presidents than it was before, I suspect. The consensus is that the from the river to the sea crowd should be punished by administrators; Magill was rightly pushed to resign; and Gay should resign too or be fired. The fact that she hasnt been only proves how right the right is about the depth of corruption in higher education, and how much more work needs to be done to smash that institution before it can be reformed.

Left-wing discourse norms will gain a degree of bipartisan consensus in time as post-liberalism surpasses classical liberalism as the rights dominant ideology. Un-rigging the system will simply come to mean more evenhanded application of those norms, not undoing them. No wonder populists are excited.

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If you are an eligible U.S. citizen, you are required to respond to a jury duty summons. But what if you cannot make it to your summons date?

Heres what the California Courts deem as reasons that allow you to be excused from jury service:

Am I eligible to serve on a jury in California?

California law states you are qualified to be a juror if you are:

A U.S. citizen.

At least 18 years old.

Can understand enough English to discuss the case.

A resident of the county that sent the summons.

Have not served on a jury in the past 12 months.

Not already on a grand or trial jury.

Not under a conservatorship.

Not in jail or prison.

Not on parole or probation for a felony.

Not registered as a sex offender.

Not convicted of wrongdoing while in public office and have not had your civil rights restored.

What are valid reasons to be excused from jury duty in California?

According to the California Courts website, no one is exempt from being chosen for jury duty because of their job, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation or economic status.

Even if you are qualified to be a juror, you might still have what is called an undue hardship, the website states. An undue hardship is a difficult situation that prevents you from being able to serve.

If you face an undue hardship, the courts website states you might be able to be excused from jury service or postpone the service to a later date.

According to the website, reasons you can be excused from jury service include:

You have no form of transportation.

You would have to travel a long distance to attend your court date.

You have a physical or mental impairment.

You provide care for a dependent and cannot afford to pay for care.

It would be a financial burden for you.

If you feel you are eligible for an excuse, the website states to mark the category on the summons and return it to the court as soon as possible.

Even if you ask for an excuse, you may still be required to come to court to speak with the judge, the website states.

Can I postpone my California jury duty service?

Sometimes business or personal matters make it impossible to serve on the date shown on your summons, the California Courts website states.

If you are not able to appear on the date given to you for jury duty, you can ask to postpone your service.

The jury summons will provide directions to request service postponement, the website states. You must then give the earliest date you will be available to serve.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
(Bloomberg) -- Taiwans financial system undergirds a $760 billion high-tech economy, but its vulnerability to advanced hacks has raised fears of a worst-case scenario: a full-blown cyberattack from China that sends its currency and markets into a tailspin.

Most Read from Bloomberg

To bolster its online defenses, government officials and financial institutions in Taipei are consulting security experts from the US Treasury Department and working with American cybersecurity company SimSpace Corp. to run simulated cyberattacks, cramming a hypothetical three weeks of digital assaults into an eight-hour drill.

Tabletop cyber exercises are hardly new, even in Taiwan. But the urgency to beef up digital defenses in Taiwan is acute, as the island sits at the center of US-China tensions and has a critical presidential election in January. A victory by the ruling party could prompt Beijing  which views Taiwan as its territory  to take a more aggressive approach toward Taipei.

Taiwan has near zero capability to defend itself from these advanced cyberattacks, said Charles Li, chief analyst at Taiwanese cybersecurity firm TeamT5. He said his firms work tracking state-sponsored hackers in Taiwan showed that most of the islands government agencies and companies attacked last year did not even notice that they were being hacked.

Li said thats because small and medium-sized firms often lack the resources to effectively defend their systems. And despite cybersecurity investments by bigger companies and government agencies, they have still struggled to keep up with the constantly shifting techniques employed by state-sponsored hackers.

The number of state-sponsored attacks has been soaring, more than doubling in three years, according to TeamT5, which has clients from Singapore to the US. Moreover, researchers at cybersecurity firm Fortinet said that Taiwan accounts for about 55% of the billions of malicious cyber threats detected in the Asia-Pacific region this year.

Read More: Google Warns China Is Ramping Up Cyberattacks Against Taiwan

Taiwans Ministry of Digital Affairs reported the most common attack is focused on stealing sensitive information and that the frequency and number of threats surge depending upon geopolitical events.

For instance, during former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taipei in August 2022, Taiwan experienced foreign cyberattacks reaching levels 23 times higher than previous peaks and some government websites temporarily went offline due to the large volume of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, according to the ministry.

That period, which coincided with unprecedented Chinese military drills around Taiwan, highlighted the islands vulnerabilities.

The majority of cases were dealing with are espionage attacks, theyre stealing data, and theyre attempting to maintain a persistent presence inside these networks for as long as they possibly can, said Jon Clay, vice president of threat intelligence at Trend Micro Inc.

Read More: Can China Fight? Putins War Underscores Xis Military Weakness

Officials at Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office didnt respond to a request for comment.

Most cyber experts and officials acknowledge that Taiwan still has a lot to improve on when it comes to defending against sophisticated attacks. The latest exercises concluded that Taiwans banks still arent adequately prepared to meet the threat, according to participants and internal reports.

The reality is, theyre getting hammered, said Lee Rossey, co-founder and chief technology officer at SimSpace.

The irony of Taiwans vulnerabilities is that the island is home to the worlds most advanced chipmaking technology, thanks to a home-grown supply chain network that helped the semiconductor industry flourish. The industry has spent heavily on some of the most sophisticated cybersecurity and physical security measures to guard its intellectual property and factories.

But that hasnt translated to other sectors of Taiwans economy, analysts said.

Read More: Why Taiwans 2024 Election Matters From China to US: QuickTake

During the October exercises administered by SimSpace, which Bloomberg observed, banks of computer screens flickered and alarms sounded, while an oversized display at the front of the room highlighted icons of bombs and missiles representing cyberattacks and threats. Camera crews tracked the teams, filming their deliberations and actions to review later.

A cyberattack from China on Taiwans financial system is widely seen as a potential prelude to military action.

Chinese officials have said they would prefer that Taiwan unify with the Peoples Republic voluntarily, but they dont rule out the use of military force to make it happen and consider efforts to formalize the islands independence a national security threat. President Joe Biden has repeatedly said the US would come to Taiwans defense if attacked, prompting protests from Beijing.

Besides Boston-based SimSpace, Taiwan has also had talks with experts from the US Treasurys Office of Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection. That engagement is still in the early stages, but the collaboration is expected to help with intelligence sharing on financial security and build new simulators to mimic large-scale cyberattacks on the finance industry and trading systems, according to people familiar with the plans.

Chinese Hackers

One scenario Taiwan hopes to implement in future drills is a destruction of infrastructure that results in blackouts and communication breakdowns, according to the people. The idea is to simulate the kind of events that might happen during large-scale natural disasters or military conflict.

Officials want to avoid repeating what happened in 2020 when Taiwans biggest oil provider, CPC Corp., as well as Formosa Plastics Corp., were hit by ransomware attacks, which paralyzed their operations and gained access to critical files. Government investigations linked those attacks to the Chinese state-sponsored Winnti Group  or hackers associated with it.

Then, in late 2021, client accounts at several Taiwanese securities firms were infiltrated by unknown hackers, prompting the companies back-end trading systems to automatically purchase Hong Kong stocks, according to Taiwans financial regulator. An investigation linked the origins of those hacks to the Chinese cyber espionage group APT10.

China is constantly improving its capability to launch these advanced attacks, said Hank Huang, who runs the Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance, a government-advised NGO that conducts research projects and trainings for the financial sector.

There is still a long way to go in strengthening national security-level protection for the financial industry, Huang said.

--With assistance from Jing Li.

(Adds additional remarks from analyst in fifth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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After a Texas judge granted Kate Cox permission to have an abortion, Attorney General Ken Paxton sent letters to three Houston-area hospitals warning of potential civil and criminal consequences. A recent Texas Supreme Court decision in the case likely emboldens Paxton. Juan Figueroa/TNS Kate Cox had petitioned a Travis County court for an abortion after learning that her fetus had trisomy 18, also known as Edwards syndrome. She ultimately left the state to have the abortion. Associated Press

In avoiding the many issues Kate Coxs abortion case raises, the Texas Supreme Court has emboldened indicted Attorney General Ken Paxton to prosecute medical providers and left Texas women in an untenable position.

Mondays ruling, which overturned a lower courts order that had granted Cox an abortion for medical reasons, is utterly detached from reality. It asserts that no such order is needed because it falls to doctors, not judges, to use their reasonable medical judgment as to when an abortion may be necessary.

While Texas has a near-total ban on abortions, the states law vaguely provides for exceptions if a pregnant persons life is in danger or to prevent substantial impairment of a major bodily function.

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Cox, 31, and a Dallas-area mother of two, had petitioned a Travis County court for an abortion after learning that her fetus had trisomy 18, also known as Edwards syndrome. Not only was the pregnancy not viable, but doctors had said it risked Coxs health and future fertility. The Center for Reproductive Rights represented Cox, and on Thursday, District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble issued an order granting the abortion from Dr. Damla Karsan, who is based in Houston.

Paxton then responded, sending a letter to Houston Methodist, the Womens Hospital of Texas in Houston and Texans Childrens Hospital in Houston stating the ruling did not insulate hospitals, doctors, or anyone else, from civil and criminal liability for violating Texas' abortion laws.

He also appealed to the Texas Supreme Court, which ultimately overturned Gambles order. But by that time, Cox had left the state to have the abortion.

In its ruling, the Texas Supreme Court said it falls to medical providers to determine when an abortion might be necessary.

A woman who meets the medical-necessity exception need not seek a court order to obtain an abortion, the ruling says. The law leaves to physicians not judges  both the discretion and the responsibility to exercise their reasonable medical judgment, given the unique facts and circumstances of each patient.

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It also called on the Texas Medical Board to provide medical guidance.

But this ignores the chilling effect of Paxton's legal threats. Just how is a medical provider to come to the conclusion that an abortion is necessary if the threat of criminal charges looms over that decision without any legal clarity from the state's highest court?

Cox's pregnancy has uniquely captured the nation's attention, but high-risk pregnancies are hardly unique. A prevailing concern from anti-abortion activists was how this case could potentially serve as a template for other cases, but that possibility simply reflects the reality that there are many medically complicated pregnancies.

Perhaps needed clarity will come as the court decides Zurawski v. Texas, a case that involves 20 women with complicated pregnancies. But if, or until, that day comes, the Cox case raises more questions than it answers. No thanks to the Texas Supreme Court.

We respect that many people oppose abortion for moral and spiritual reasons, but Paxton's response ignores Cox's humanity while abusing the power of the state.

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This image provided by Kate Cox shows Kate Cox. A Texas judge has given the pregnant woman whose fetus had a fatal diagnosis permission to get an abortion in an unprecedented challenge to the states ban that took effect after Roe v. Wade was overturned last year. It was unclear Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023 how quickly or whether Kate Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two from the Dallas area, will be able to obtain an abortion. State District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble says she will grant a temporary restraining order that will allow Cox to have an abortion. (Kate Cox via AP) Associated Press This image provided by Kate Cox shows Kate Cox. A Texas judge has given the pregnant woman whose fetus had a fatal diagnosis permission to get an abortion in an unprecedented challenge to the states ban that took effect after Roe v. Wade was overturned last year. It was unclear Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023 how quickly or whether Kate Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two from the Dallas area, will be able to obtain an abortion. State District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble says she will grant a temporary restraining order that will allow Cox to have an abortion. (Kate Cox via AP) Associated Press The Texas Supreme Court hears oral arguments for Zurawski v. State of Texas, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Mikala Compton/AP

The Texas Supreme Court on Monday ruled doctors must use their reasonable medical judgment to determine when a patient qualifies for an abortion and called on the states medical board to issue more guidance.

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Abortion is banned in Texas, except in cases to save the pregnant persons life or prevent substantial impairment of a major bodily function.

The Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents Cox, has argued the law is too vague and threatens such steep penalties that physicians are fearful to intervene despite the risk to patients health. In a statement, Coxs lawyer said the courts ruling should enrage every Texan to their core.

If Kate cant get an abortion in Texas, who can? said Molly Duane, senior staff attorney at the Center. Kates case is proof that exceptions dont work, and its dangerous to be pregnant in any state with an abortion ban.

In the unsigned opinion, the justices said it would be an overreach for them to weigh in on Coxs specific circumstance.

A woman who meets the medical-necessity exception need not seek a court order to obtain an abortion, the ruling reads. The law leaves to physicians  not judges  both the discretion and the responsibility to exercise their reasonable medical judgment, given the unique facts and circumstances of each patient.

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The high court added that the Texas Medical Board, which oversees physicians, can do more to provide guidance in response to any confusion that currently prevails.

The Board could assess various hypothetical circumstances, provide best practices, identify red lines, and the like, the ruling said, referencing similar guidelines the agency has issued in the past on COVID-19.

More from Taylor Goldenstein: Texas women recount traumatic pregnancies in hearing over states abortion ban

The medical board did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The justices also suggested they shared the states concern that opining on whether a certain abortion is legal, as Coxs lawyers requested, would open the door to legalizing the procedure in situations that go beyond the emergency exception under the guise of interpreting it.

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Justices John Devine and Jimmy Blacklock concurred; none of the seven other Republican justices' names appear on the order. Devine has been vocal in the past about his anti-abortion views and once told a crowd of campaign supporters he had been arrested 37 times while protesting abortion clinics, according to the Texas Tribune.

Cox is believed to be the first woman to sue for permission to get an abortion since the fall of Roe v. Wade and Texas implementation of a near-total abortion ban.

Last week, Cox petitioned the court for access to the procedure after her fetus was diagnosed with a typically fatal condition and her physician said carrying the pregnancy to term could put her health and fertility at risk. Her lawyers said the mother of two already had been to the emergency room four times in the past month dealing with complications from the pregnancy.

In court, the attorney generals office argued Cox shouldnt be allowed to have an abortion because her condition didnt qualify as the risk to her health was not imminent.

A Travis County judge sided with Cox, allowing her to get an emergency abortion from her Houston physician, Dr. Damla Karsan. Then on Friday, the high court temporarily blocked the ruling before making the decision final.

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In Mondays ruling, the Texas Supreme Court stated that the states abortion ban does not require imminence, nor does it require that a patient be about to die before a doctor can rely on the exception.

If Karsan could attest to her reasonable medical judgment, which justices pointed out that she did not do in court filings, then she would have been free to perform the abortion under the law.

Our ruling today does not block a life-saving abortion in this very case if a physician determines that one is needed under the appropriate legal standard, using reasonable medical judgment, the ruling reads. If Ms. Coxs circumstances are, or have become, those that satisfy the statutory exception, no court order is needed.

Coxs lawyers did not provide any further information about where she may receive an abortion. The procedure is outlawed in all bordering states except New Mexico.

The Texas Supreme Court is still weighing a larger case brought by 22 women who, like Cox, faced dangerous pregnancy complications and were denied abortions because the emergency exception to the states ban was so vague their doctors feared legal consequences. Physicians who violate the ban can face prison time and steep fines. Karsan is also part of that suit.

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China, EU to provide greater stability for world, stronger impetus for development

10:27, December 12, 2023 By He Yin ( People's Daily

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Dec. 7 met with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen who were in China for the 24th China-EU Summit.

The two sides had in-depth exchanges of views on strategic issues critical to the direction of China-EU relations and global issues of mutual interest to draw a blueprint for, identify the focus of and inject impetus to China-EU relations. Both sides sent out a positive message of China and the EU working together for further progress in their relations.

The bilateral relationship between China and the EU has shown a good momentum of recovery and steady progress under the strategic guidance of leaders from both sides.

The two sides have hosted a series of high-level dialogues and reached an important consensus on cooperation, which showcased the resilience and vitality of China-EU relations, as well as the strategic significance and global influence of China-EU cooperation.

China and the EU have released a positive signal to strengthen communication, engage in dialogue and cooperation, and constructively handle differences, achieving fruitful results. This has injected stability and positive energy into the turbulent international situation.

There is no fundamental strategic disagreement or conflict between China and Europe. China will keep its Europe policy stable in the long run, continue to see Europe as an independent force in a multi-polar world, and stay committed to a China-Europe relationship that is not targeted at, subjugated to, or controlled by any third party.

China has released three policy papers on the EU, all of which take mutual respect as the primary principle in developing China-EU relations.

The two sides have developed a pattern of all-round, multi-level and wide-ranging cooperation since they established a comprehensive strategic partnership 20 years ago.

Taking stock of history, as long as China and the EU navigate the trend of the world, uphold the apt description of their relationship as a comprehensive strategic partnership, view each other from a strategic perspective, fully leverage the guiding role of the China-EU Summit and the five high-level dialogues, strengthen strategic communication, and increase understanding and properly handle differences through constructive dialogue, they will be able to ensure a stable, sound and long-term China-EU relationship.

China and the EU are partners, not rivals and their common interests far exceed differences. Xi stressed that the two sides need to develop a right perception of each other, promote mutual understanding and trust, honor commitments, do the right thing and be wholehearted in developing China-EU relations. They should not view each other as rivals just because their systems are different, reduce cooperation because competition exists, or engage in confrontation because there are disagreements.

There is a high degree of complementarity between the Chinese and EU economies. The two sides should leverage their complementary strengths in terms of market, capital and technology to upgrade traditional industries and foster emerging ones, explore new modes of cooperation, foster new areas of growth, and jointly improve industrial and supply chains. The two sides should do more to increase the breadth and depth of cooperation and tighten the bond of shared interests.

Recently, China has decided to apply unilateral visa-free policy on a trial basis to travelers holding ordinary passports from countries including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. This has been generally welcomed by relevant countries in Europe.

In the future, China and the EU should also bolster people-to-people exchanges and facilitate personnel interflows.

Xi underscored that Chinese modernization and European integration are strategic choices that China and Europe have made respectively with the future in mind. The two sides should respect and support each other, and leverage the complementarity of their development strategies for common progress. China will continue to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, including by creating synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative with the EU's Global Gateway to help developing countries grow faster.

At present, the China-Europe Railway Express service reaches 217 cities across 25 European nations, driving economic development and improving people's livelihoods in countries and regions along the routes. This has promoted win-win cooperation between Asia and Europe.

According to the latest statistics, the total volume of goods transported by the service in the first 11 months of this year already exceeded the total volume recorded in the whole of 2022.

As China pursues high-quality development and high-standard opening up, it sees the EU as a key partner for economic and trade cooperation, a preferred partner for scientific and technological cooperation, and a trustworthy partner for industrial and supply chain cooperation. China is ready to work with the EU for mutual benefit and common development.

Michel and von der Leyen noted that the EU highly values its ties with China, and does not want to decouple from China. It seeks a long-term, stable, predictable and sustainable relationship with China, and hopes that the EU-China Summit will help reenergize EU-China relations.

China-EU relations bear on the prosperity of Asia and Europe, as well as the stability of the international landscape. It should be well safeguarded and developed by both sides.

Xi pointed out that China and the EU are two major forces advancing multipolarity, two major markets in support of globalization, and two major civilizations championing diversity. Amid the increasingly turbulent international situation, the China-EU relationship has strategic significance and implications for global peace, stability and prosperity.

The EU side also believes that the EU and China have shared responsibilities and interests in keeping the world peaceful and stable.

The two sides should work together to safeguard multilateralism and strengthen global governance, so as to contribute to the well-being of mankind and addressing global challenges.

China and the EU should remain partners for mutually beneficial cooperation in a volatile and intertwined world. China is willing to work together with the EU, uphold mutual respect and win-win cooperation, follow true multilateralism, and continuously deepen the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, to provide greater stability for the world and stronger impetus for development.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
(Photo : Photo by Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

The Myanmar military junta convicted deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her Australian economic adviser Sean Turnell with three years imprisonment for allegedly violating a secrets law.

A Myanmar court ruled by the military junta jailed deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her Australian economic adviser, Sean Turnell, on Thursday with an additional three years of imprisonment for allegedly violating a secrets law.

Authorities also found Turnell guilty of violating an immigration law and was ordered to concurrently serve another three-year sentence. Under the same law, the Myanmar junta also charged a former British envoy, an American journalist, and a Japanese filmmaker.

Suu Kyi, Economic Adviser Convicted

The two defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges that were handed to them, which carry a maximum sentence of 14 years. A source familiar with the proceedings said that Suu Kyi and Turnell were given three years each with no hard labor.

The defendants and several members of the former's economic team are among the thousands who were arrested since the military junta took control of the government after ousting Suu Kyi's elected officials in a coup early last year, as per Reuters.

Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate, was previously sentenced to at least 23 years in prison in separate cases, the majority of which were related to corruption charges. However, the official has denied all of the allegations thrown at her.

Opposition to the military junta argues that the charges against the deposed leader are aimed at blocking her from ever getting involved in politics in the future and thus challenging the military's grip on power within the country.

According to the Associated Press, 58-year-old Turnell, who is also an associate professor in economics at Sydney's Macquarie University, served as an adviser to Suu Kyi. His family and friends expressed their hopes that he would soon be freed and deported, similar to what happened with other foreigners in Myanmar who were convicted of political offenses.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin To Proclaim Annexation of Russian-Controlled Areas in Ukraine; How Will It Impact The War?

Unjust Detention

Turnell's wife, Ha Vu, who is also an economist, said that the incident was heartbreaking to her, her daughter, the defendant's 85-year-old father, and the rest of their family to hear that Turnell was convicted and imprisoned. She noted that her husband has been one of Myanmar's greatest supporters for more than two decades and has worked tirelessly to bolster the nation's economy.

Ha Vu noted that her husband has been in a Myanmar prison for nearly two-thirds of his sentence. She begged authorities to consider his contributions to the country and asked them to deport him immediately.

In a statement, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong's office rejected the Myanmar court's ruling and called for Turnell's immediate release. Her office decried what it said was the unjust detention of Turnell as Australian diplomats were denied access to the court hearing for the verdict.

Wong added that the Australian government had consistently rejected the charges against Turnell during the more than nine months that he was unjustly detained by the Myanmar military junta.

She added that they would continue to take every opportunity to advocate strongly for the defendant to be released and returned to his family in Australia. The Myanmar military had not released the exact details of the defendants' alleged offenses, Aljazeera reported.

Related Article: Brazil's Lula Widens Lead Against Bolsonaro in Contested Presidential Elections

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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres took a firm stance and vowed that he would continue seeking a ceasefire in Gaza despite the US veto on a Security Council resolution last week.

The veto left the global agency without a clear route map to stopping the conflict in the war-torn region that has lasted for several months now. In his address, Guterres spoke at the Doha Forum in Qatar but did not directly criticize the US.

UN Chief To Continue Seeking Gaza Ceasefire

Instead, he said that the UN Security Council was "paralyzed by geostrategic divisions," adding that world institutions "are weak and outdated." He noted that they were caught in a time warp that reflects a reality of eight decades ago.

The UN chief detailed why he had employed the rare article 99 of the UN charter to use his extraordinary powers to force the Security Council to address the Gaza crisis. He said that he wanted the council to press for efforts to avert a humanitarian catastrophe. He reiterated his appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire, as per The Guardian.

Guterres said that the Security Council failed to achieve that but argued that it does not mean that the ceasefire is any less necessary. He added that the previously passed UN resolution that called for more humanitarian aid is not being implemented.

The UN chief said that he has expended every effort to build momentum for a ceasefire in Gaza and that the developments on Friday left diplomats with few short-term options. UN officials are focusing on trying to make sure that Israel fulfills commitments that were made last week to allow more aid into Gaza.

However, this comes as some Arab foreign ministers believe that momentum for a ceasefire may only build ahead of Ramadan at the beginning of March. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani said that he will not give up on the negotiations to secure the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

Related Article: US Vetoes UN Security Council Resolution Calling for Ceasefire in Gaza as Conflict Continues

Addressing Global Challenges

Al-Thani added that Doha will continue to pressure Israel and the Hamas militant group for a truce despite "narrowing" chances for such a move. According to Reuters, several political leaders of Hamas are based in Qatar, which has been leading negotiations between the two sides.

The head of UNRWA, which is the UN agency for Palestinians, said that the dehumanization of Palestinians has allowed the international community to tolerate Israel's continued attacks on Gaza. Philippe Lazzarini added that there was no doubt that a humanitarian ceasefire was needed in Gaza.

Guterres also said there needs to be a serious effort to bring global structures up to date, rooted in equality and solidarity. He added that they should be based on the UN Charter and international law.

The UN chief noted that it was now time to build bridges and find shared solutions to address various global challenges. According to UN News, Guterres said that beyond the Security Council, global governance is failing to manage two existential threats.

Related Article: Argentinian President-Elect Javier Milei Sworn In, Warns of 'Shock Adjustment' in Economy

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Kierre L. Williams, an Iowa man, was arrested after killing Rev. Stephen Gutgsell, a Catholic priest, in a Nebraska Church residence on Sunday.

According to the statement, Gutgsell was assaulted during an invasion of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, the archdiocese of Omaha. Fort Calhoun, with a population of about 1,000 people, is roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Omaha.

Williams Arrested After Killing Gutsgell

Gutsgell was taken to a hospital in Omaha, who suffered multiple injuries from stabbing. Police received a 911 call about an attempted break-in at the church after 5 am. Washington County Sheriff Mike Robinson said that the officers found Gutsgell injured and a suspected attacker inside the church as soon as they arrived.

Williams was arrested on charges of homicide and using a weapon to commit a felony. Robinson added that the case was still an ongoing investigation and the manner of death will not yet be released.

The officials still have not cleared if Williams has a lawyer. A message left at the county jail was not immediately returned.

Gutsgell pleaded guilty to theft by deception for embezzling $127,000 from an area church in 2007. He was sentenced to probation and was required to pay restitution.

Later, he was transferred to another church, and the church leaders defended Gutsgell, saying that he had learned his lesson, admitted his wrongdoings, and asked for forgiveness.

Michael Gutsgell, his fellow priest and brother, who served as chancellor of the Omaha archdiocese from 1994 until 2003, also pleaded guilty to theft charges.

Robinson said that the authorities did not believe Gutsgell's death was related to his criminal history. The Associated Press asked Robinson questions about the case on Sunday, but he did not respond.

Archdiocese of Omaha spokesperson Riley Johnson also declined to comment to confirm that Stephen and Michael were brothers.

Read Also: Atlanta Police Arrest Woman Who Doused Martin Luther King Jr. Home With Gasoline in Arson Attempt

Killing of Catholic Priests in the Philippines

In December 2018, three Catholic priests were killed in the Philippines. The political leaders in the Philippines continued to condemn the country's impunity culture.

Fr Jerome Secillano, a spokesman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, said in an interview with Al Jazeera, "We should be alarmed."

He added that killing was a form of violence, and they did not want violence to dominate the society. Instead, they want a violence-free society with citizens who are free to roam around with a sense of security and safety.

Richmond Nilo was the latest member of the Catholic clergy to be killed by unidentified gunmen while he was preparing for a church service in the northern province of Nueva Ecija.

Secillano noted that he did not see a pattern of Catholic priests being targeted. However, he admitted that the culture of impunity has continued and paved the way for the killing of Nilo and other priests.

Related Article: 'God's Architect': Canonization Cause of Sagrada Familia Architect Antoni Gaudi Advances



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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has initiated an enforcement action against colleges that violated discrimination laws, which protect students on campuses amid the rise in antisemitism.

On December 9, Hochul expressed her dismay at the failure of the presidents of several prominent universities to condemn antisemitism in a letter addressed to all colleges and universities in New York.

Hochul Initiates Enforcement Action

Hochul stated that the moral negligence shown in the disgraceful answers to questions posed during this week's congressional hearing cannot and will not be tolerated in New York. She said that she had discussions with the chancellor of the State University of New York, John King, and the chancellor of The City University of New York, Felix Matos Rodriguez, regarding antisemitism.

The chancellors have confirmed that calling for the genocide of any group of people would be considered a violation of the university system's code of conduct.

Furthermore, she emphasized that failure to address antisemitism on campuses would constitute a violation of New York State Human Rights Law as well as Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Hochul explained that under Title VI, any recipient of federal funds would be responsible for keeping the students free from a hostile environment based upon their ethnicity or national origin, which was a standard that has been applied to antisemitism.

"As Governor of New York, I want to reinforce that colleges and universities not in compliance with federal and state laws protecting students against discrimination can be deemed ineligible to receive state and federal funds," she said.

Read Also: Sean 'Diddy' Combs Faces New Rape, Sex Trafficking Lawsuit in New York After 4th Woman Accuses Music Mogul of Gang Raping Her

Magill's Resignation as President of the University of Pennsylvania

On December 9, the governor's letter followed the resignation of Elizabeth Magill as president of the University of Pennsylvania. Magill handed her resignation amid criticism for her refusal to declare that a call for the genocide of Jewish people would violate the university's code of conduct during a House committee hearing.

She pledged that she would consider a call for the genocide of Jewish people harassment or intimidation and would start evaluating campus policy on December 7.

Magill said in a video that she should have focused on the irrefutable fact that a call for genocide of Jewish people was a call for some of the most terrible violence human beings could perpetrate.

The chair of the University of Pennsylvania's board of trustees, Scott Bok, also handed his resignation on December 9.

Harvard University's President Claudine Gay apologized in an interview with The Crimson student newspaper. She said that she got caught up in a heated exchange at the House committee hearing and failed to denounce threats of violence against Jewish students properly.

Gay said that she should have had the presence of mind to return to her guiding truth that violence against the Jewish community has no place at Harvard and will never go unchallenged.

Related Article: Harvard President Faces Calls To Resign as Truck Billboards Swarm University



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The Pentagon's enigmatic X-37B spacecraft, often likened to a miniature space shuttle, is poised for another secretive mission as it gears up for a launch scheduled at 8:14 pm Eastern time today.

The unmanned drone, with its distinctive bulldog-like nose and compact wings, has fueled speculation and controversy regarding its true purpose and capabilities, as per Earth.

Pentagon X-37B Launch Delay

Originally slated for a Sunday night launch from Cape Canaveral, the mission faced delays due to powerful storms sweeping across the East Coast. With adverse weather conditions, the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron estimated a mere 40 percent chance of a successful launch on Sunday night. However, SpaceX, led by entrepreneur Elon Musk, later asserted a more favorable 70 percent chance of success by Monday night.

The X-37B is set to launch via a Falcon Heavy rocket, a decision attributed to the aircraft's speculated mission in a higher orbit than previous endeavors. Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Fritschen, the X-37B program director, expressed enthusiasm about expanding the spacecraft's capabilities through cutting-edge experiments for the Department of the Air Force and its partners.

General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, shed light on the upcoming mission, named OTV-7, emphasizing its role in carrying "groundbreaking" experiments to enhance the United States' space operations. The mission is expected to include experiments related to future space domain awareness technologies, potentially involving monitoring satellites from adversary nations for security threats.

One of the experiments highlighted involves exposing plant seeds to the harsh radiation environment of long-duration space flight, conducted in collaboration with NASA. The X-37 B's history includes testing various technologies, such as a solar panel designed to convert solar energy into microwaves, hinting at the Pentagon's exploration of innovative space-related technologies, according to New York Post.

Read Also: Atlanta Woman Arrested by Law Enforcement After Dousing Home of Martin Luther King Jr. in Failed Arson

X-37B's Decade in Orbit, Secrets, and Speculation

Despite the aircraft's prolonged time in orbit, accumulating over ten years of space experience, its true nature and objectives remain veiled in secrecy. The Secure World Foundation points out the US government's paradoxical stance of celebrating the program's success while withholding crucial information, even regarding the budget.

Brian Weeden, the director of program planning at the Secure World Foundation, emphasizes that much speculation about the X-37B may be inaccurate, attributing its reputation to the mystique surrounding its covert activities.

Secure World Foundation suggests that the spacecraft is likely focused on testing reusable space launch vehicle technologies and conducting on-orbit trials of new sensor technologies and satellite hardware.

China has expressed skepticism about the X-37B, labeling it as an example of the U.S. weaponizing space. In response, China has developed its own secretive reusable spaceplane, the Shenlong, further escalating the international competition in space capabilities.

As the X-37B embarks on another undisclosed mission, it continues to captivate global attention, raising questions about its true purpose and the strategic significance of its expanded presence in space. The Pentagon remains tight-lipped, adding to the allure of this mysterious spacecraft, The Washington Post reported.

Related Article: House Hearing Piles Pressure on Universities Over Alleged Institutionalized Antisemitism

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Iran has initiated the trial of Johan Floderus, a 33-year-old Swedish national employed by the European Union, who stands accused of spying for Israel and the grave offense of "corruption on earth," a crime punishable by death in Iran.

The Iranian judiciary's Mizan news agency revealed the charges in an online report on Sunday, alleging that Floderus engaged in extensive activities against national security and collaborated with the Zionist regime,as per to Al Jazeera.

EU Diplomat Johan Floderus Trial in Iran

Floderus, a member of the EU's diplomatic service, was arrested on April 17, 2022, at Tehran airport upon his return from a trip with friends. Currently held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison, his arrest coincided with the trial in Sweden of Iranian national Hamid Noury, who faced charges related to the mass execution of dissidents in Tehran in 1988 and was sentenced to life in July 2022.

The Iranian judiciary contends that Floderus conducted widespread intelligence cooperation with Israel and played a pivotal role in "subversive projects" benefiting the Israeli government. Additionally, he is accused of establishing a network of agents for the Swedish intelligence service, gathering information on Iran's nuclear and enrichment programs, and maintaining ties with the exiled People's Mujahedin (MEK) opposition group.

Floderus's family, deeply distressed by the situation, maintains that he has been arbitrarily detained without due process. In an interview with The Guardian, Johan's father, Matts Floderus, expressed the family's concerns, asserting that the impending trial is mere theater and make-believe. The family is anxiously awaiting the trial's outcome, which is expected in December.

Mizan, the Iranian news agency, released photos of Floderus appearing in a pale blue prison uniform, handcuffed, as the charges were read. The severity of the allegations, including "corruption on earth," one of Iran's most serious offenses, has sparked an international outcry, according to The Guardian.

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EU, Sweden Demand Johan Floderus Release

The European Union's foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, and Sweden's foreign minister, Tobias Billstrom, have both called for Floderus's immediate release. Borrell stated, "There are absolutely no grounds for keeping Johan Floderus in detention," echoing the sentiment of many who believe the charges are baseless.

Sweden, where Floderus is a citizen, declared on Saturday that the trial had commenced but did not specify the charges. The Swedish Foreign Ministry vehemently denied the accusations, asserting that every charge against Floderus is false. The ministry has communicated its concerns to Iran at various levels, emphasizing the arbitrary nature of Floderus's detention.

The trial adds strain to the already tense relations between Sweden and Iran, exacerbated since 2019 when Sweden arrested a former Iranian official involved in the mass execution and torture of political prisoners in the 1980s. The Iranian judiciary claims Floderus operated through projects sponsored by US and European institutions to gather intelligence for Israel. Another hearing is expected to be announced at a later date, raising questions about the transparency and fairness of the proceedings, Voice of America reported.

Related Article: US Prepares for New UN Resolution for Ceasefire in Gaza

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Pneumonia is a common lung infection that affects millions of children worldwide. One type of pneumonia, known as walking pneumonia, is a milder form of the infection that often goes unnoticed.

This comprehensive guide aims to examine the signs, symptoms, and treatment options for walking pneumonia in children. We will also discuss the causes, diagnosis, and preventive measures parents can take to protect their children from this respiratory illness, as per Kumdi.

Pediatric Pneumonia Outbreak

The Warren County Health District in Lebanon, Ohio, issued an advisory on November 29, noting an "extremely high number of pediatric pneumonia cases being reported this fall season."

According to the advisory, the average age of patients is 8 years old, and the case numbers were high enough to meet the Ohio Department of Health's definition of an outbreak. Two days later, on December 1, An update was issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). stating that they are monitoring reports of similar illnesses among children worldwide. Both organizations identified mycoplasma pneumonia as one of the causes of these infections.

After navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, parents may be alarmed to hear of a new outbreak affecting kids. However, mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, also known as "walking pneumonia," are not new, and we have effective treatments to combat them. Let's dive into what parents need to know about this illness.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a bacteria that can cause upper or lower respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia. While we currently seem to be experiencing a spike in cases, the bacteria itself is not new. Unlike COVID-19, which was novel and affected populations for the first time, mycoplasma is a bacteria that doctors have seen and treated before.

In some cases, lower respiratory or lung infections with mycoplasma pneumoniae are referred to as "walking pneumonia." This term is used because the symptoms tend to be milder compared to pneumonia caused by other bacteria, and most people with "walking pneumonia" do not require hospitalization, according to Huffpost.

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Understanding Walking Pneumonia

The gradual onset of mycoplasma pneumoniae sets it apart from other types of pneumonia that may present with sudden and severe symptoms. This infection has been called "walking pneumonia" for decades. Media outlets have now started referring to this illness as "white lung syndrome," based on X-ray appearance. However, this is not a medical term and does not indicate a new phenomenon.

It is not uncommon for infections caused by mycoplasma to rise every few years, and this could be one of those years. The symptoms of walking pneumonia can include high fever, coughing up mucus, chills, difficulty breathing, fatigue, loss of appetite, chest pain, sweating, and confusion in older people. It can be harder to spot in children, but symptoms may include rapid breathing, trouble breathing, fever, cough, and wheezing. In babies, symptoms can be more vague and may include fussiness or trouble feeding.

Amid concerns in China, Francois Balloux of University College London suggested that the recent spike in sickness is likely due to respiratory illnesses like flu or bacterial infections. He emphasized that there is no reason to suspect the emergence of a novel pathogen unless new evidence emerges.

If you or your child starts when experiencing pneumonia symptoms, it is critical to seek medical attention. assistance. The National Health Service (NHS) advises calling 999 or going to A&E if struggling to breathe, having pale or blue skin, sudden confusion, or if a baby is unresponsive and floppy, Mirror reported.

Related Article: Ancients Found to Have Made Elements Heavier Than Anything Listed on the Periodic Table

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Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has formally endorsed Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential race, signaling a shift in his stance towards the 45th president. McCarthy, who had not formally endorsed Trump's second presidential campaign while serving as a House leader, made the announcement during a preview of an interview for CBS Sunday Morning.

Speaking to CBS anchor Robert Costa, McCarthy stated that President Trump could "count on his support" in the upcoming election, as per Mail Online.

McCarthy Endorses Trump

This public endorsement comes just four days after McCarthy revealed in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that he would be leaving Congress at the end of December. During the interview, McCarthy not only expressed his support for Trump but also indicated his openness to serving in the Trump administration.

When asked by Costa if he would be willing to serve in a Trump cabinet, McCarthy responded, "In the right position. Look, if I'm the best person for the job - yes." This statement suggests that McCarthy is open to a role in the White House if Trump secures victory in the 2024 race.

McCarthy highlighted his past collaboration with Trump, emphasizing their joint efforts in securing a four-seat majority in the House during the 2022 midterms. Despite losing his position as House Speaker in October, McCarthy's support for Trump remained steadfast. However, the far-right faction's retaliation within the House led to his unprecedented removal from the role he once held.

Reflecting on his relationship with Trump, McCarthy stated, "Look, I worked with President Trump on a lot of policies. But we also have a relationship where we're very honest with each other." The history between the two Republicans has been marked by both collaboration and challenges, including the aftermath of the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, according to The Guardian.

Read Also: Guyana Urges US, UN To Intervene as Georgetown PreparesTo Defend Borders Amid Venezelua's Attempt To Claim Region

Trump Gains Strength in 2024 Race

While McCarthy's endorsement may strengthen Trump's position within the Republican Party, it also comes with a cautionary note. McCarthy advised Trump to refrain from campaigning on promises of revenge, stating, "America doesn't want to see the idea of retribution." Instead, he urged a message of rebuilding, restoring, and renewing.

Despite Trump facing 91 criminal charges and various legal challenges, McCarthy remains optimistic about the former president's chances in the 2024 race. A Wall Street Journal poll published recently showed Trump leading Biden by 47% to 43%. McCarthy believes that if Biden remains the Democratic nominee, Trump will secure victory, and Republicans will gain more seats in the House while retaking the Senate.

Given the recent resignation of McCarthy from Congress, his prospective cabinet role and alignment with Trump introduce a novel element to the ever-changing Republican Party landscape.

With McCarthy endorsing Trump as the leading candidate for the 2024 presidential nomination, the implications of this development could have a profound effect on the course of the forthcoming election. It is anticipated that the interview with CBS Sunday Morning will yield additional insights regarding McCarthy's decision and his outlook on the Republican Party's future, USA today reported.

Related Article: 2024 Election: Muslim Voters Alienated Amid Joe Biden's Israel-Hamas War Handling; Group Vows To 'Abandon Biden'

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As the COP28 climate talks in Dubai enter their final stages, full-scale resistance from oil-exporting countries, particularly the OPEC cartel, against a potential deal to phase out fossil fuels has triggered alarm among environmental advocates. Germany's climate envoy has characterized this resistance as a clear sign of "panic."

The OPEC cartel, comprised of 13 oil-rich nations, including major players like Saudi Arabia, has urged its members and OPEC+ allies to reject any agreement aimed at slashing fossil fuel production, as per Politico.

Fossil Fuel Phase-Out Faces OPEC Resistance

This plea has ignited heated debates among officials at the UN climate talks in Dubai, where a coalition of over 80 countries, including the United States, the European Union, and small island nations, is pushing for a deal that incorporates language to phase out fossil fuels, the primary culprits of greenhouse gas emissions.

COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber, recognizing the urgency of the situation, convened a special 'majlis,' allowing delegations to express their views in a less formal setting. Despite this effort, entrenched positions persisted among the delegations, making it unclear whether the forum had influenced a shift in stance.

OPEC, in a letter issued on December 6, called on its members to reject any language targeting fossil fuels in a COP28 deal. Observers have noted that some delegations seem to be heeding this call, further complicating the negotiation process.

Saudi Arabia, Russia, and other OPEC members argue that COP28 should prioritize reducing emissions rather than singling out the energy sources causing them. China's top climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua, described the current climate summit as the most challenging of his career, emphasizing the need for an agreement on fossil fuels for COP28 to be deemed a success.

Amidst the tensions, US Special Climate Envoy John Kerry held a meeting with China's delegation, though details of their discussion were not disclosed, according to New York Post.

Read Also: Chinese Spy Balloon Appears in Taiwan Strait, Defense Ministry Claims

COP29 Host Decision Amid Fossil Fuel Debate

The draft text proposed that COP29 be hosted by Azerbaijan in November next year, pending adoption by the summit. The core negotiating text, released on Friday, reflects a spectrum of options, from a phased-out approach aligned with scientific recommendations to various degrees of fossil fuel reduction.

Despite the resistance, a few nations, including Britain and Australia, signaled flexibility on the fossil fuel language, provided sufficient safeguards are in place. In contrast, the European Union maintained its stance that a phase-out of fossil fuels is essential to any effective climate deal.

The COP28 conference has seen commitments from countries to triple renewable energy and nuclear power deployments, reduce coal use, and curb methane emissions.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that if honored, these pledges could lower global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by 4 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2030. However, this represents only a third of the emissions gap needed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

As the clock ticks down on COP28, the world watches anxiously to see whether a compromise can be reached, balancing the urgent need for emissions reduction with the resistance from oil-exporting nations. The outcome will undoubtedly shape the global response to the climate crisis in the critical years ahead, Rauters reported.

Related Article: UPenn President Elizabeth Magill Resigns

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to replace Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno amidst swirling allegations of a slush fund scandal.

The Yomiuri newspaper reported that Kishida's decision came in the wake of accusations that threatened to undermine the credibility of his already struggling administration further, as per The Star.

Japan's Cabinet Shake-Up Amid Fund Scandal

Matsuno, a key cabinet member, is suspected of concealing 10 million ($69,000) in income derived from fundraising events organized by his faction within the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as reported by the Asahi newspaper on Friday. The scandal has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, and with Kishida's popularity plummeting, a major cabinet reshuffle is in the offing.

Reports from the Asahi and Mainichi newspapers on Sunday indicate that Kishida is not stopping at Matsuno; he is also planning to replace other key lawmakers, including Nishimura and Koichi Hagiuda, the police chief of the LDP.

These individuals, part of the LDP's largest faction, are allegedly linked to the mismanagement of fundraising proceeds, totaling more than 100 million yen ($700,000), which were allegedly kept off the books.

Efforts to obtain comments from the prime minister's office, Matsuno, and Hagiuda on Sunday proved futile, with all three remaining elusive. Matsuno, serving as the top government spokesman, had declined to comment during press conferences the previous week. Hagiuda, on the other hand, has promised an explanation pending an investigation into his funding, as reported by the Kyodo news agency on Saturday.

As the scandal unfolds, Tokyo prosecutors are gearing up to investigate lawmakers once the current parliamentary session concludes on Wednesday. Attempts to reach prosecutors over the weekend were unsuccessful, and a spokesperson reiterated their inability to comment on ongoing investigations, according to Japan Today.

Read Also: US Embassy in Baghdad Targeted by Rocket Fire: Report

Kishida's Dwindling Support Amidst Challenges

The allegations and impending investigations have dealt a severe blow to the public's support for Kishida's government, reaching its lowest point since he assumed office two years ago.

The issues extend beyond the current scandal, encompassing concerns about the LDP's connections to a controversial religious organization, escalating living costs, imminent tax hikes, and dissatisfaction with Kishida's economic policies.

"I am closely examining my own political financing report and would like to provide a thorough explanation at the appropriate time," commented Nishimura, head of the powerful Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

Despite expressing a sense of responsibility and apologizing for contributing to the growing distrust in politics, Nishimura emphasized that he had not been informed of any specific details at this time and intended to continue fulfilling his duties.

With Kishida's popularity on the decline and the cabinet reshuffle looming, the political landscape in Japan remains uncertain. The outcome of the investigations and the subsequent actions taken by the prime minister will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of Japanese politics in the coming weeks as the nation grapples with a leadership crisis and widespread disillusionment in the political sphere, Rauters reported.

Related Article: Sen. Kevin Cramer's Son Charged With Manslaughter for Fatal Crash That Killed Sheriff Deputy

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Xi kicks off Vietnam visit, calling for China-Vietnam community with a shared future

Xinhua) 13:09, December 12, 2023

HANOI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping kicks off a state visit to Vietnam on Tuesday with a call for building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

"We sincerely hope that our two nations will... steadily promote the building of a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance," Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks in a signed article published by the Nhan Dan Newspaper of Vietnam.

To steadily promote the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, Xi said the two countries need to maintain strategic communication, make good use of their complementary strengths, step up friendly exchanges, and properly manage differences.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. The two countries have enhanced their common interests with mutually beneficial cooperation, writing together a new chapter in their modernization drive.

LUCRATIVE TRADE

For Nguyen Dinh Tung, general director of Vietnam's Vina T&T Import Export Trading Service Company, a sales slump in the United States and Canada in the first four months of 2023 didn't disturb him very much. The company's export revenues increased by 20 percent thanks to growing shipments to China. The company has signed contracts to export 1,500 containers of durian, 15 tons of the fruit in each container, to China this year, he said.

Vietnamese vendors sell durians in Dongxing, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on May 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu)

In September last year, Vietnamese durians, with longer harvest seasons and lower prices compared to traditionally market-dominant Thai and Malaysian durians, gained market access to China under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) framework. The fruit is widely popular among Chinese consumers, offering new opportunities to durian growers, packers and producers in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, fruits like grapes, citrus and vegetables from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are also well-received in the Vietnamese market, fostering a sustained momentum in bilateral trade of agricultural products.

International cold-chain train services were launched on the China-Vietnam route last month, carrying fruits and vegetables from southwest China's Yunnan province to northwest Vietnam's Lao Cai province. The new services are expected to inject impetus into common prosperity and high-level opening-up along the railway routes, said Tao Qiang, deputy director of the cargo transport department of China Railway Kunming Bureau Group Co., Ltd., the service operator.

China has remained Vietnam's biggest trading partner for years, while Vietnam has been China's biggest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. In 2022, bilateral trade stood at 234.92 billion U.S. dollars, up 2.1 percent year on year. In the first 10 months of this year, bilateral trade reached 185.1 billion dollars, with China being Vietnam's biggest market for vegetable and fruit exports.

Le Thanh Hoa, deputy director of the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that it is expected that the bilateral trade volume will hit a new high after Xi's visit, and China will import more high-quality agricultural and sideline products from Vietnam to help its agricultural development.

DEVELOPMENT SYNERGY

In Hanoi, Vietnam's first city metro is running smoothly and carrying commuters through the city crowded with millions of motorbikes and cars. The Chinese-built metro line has witnessed soaring popularity as recent figures showed a 262 percent increase in passengers in the first three months this year from a year earlier.

A train runs on the Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban elevated railway in Hanoi, Vietnam, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

As a flagship project of advancing the synergy between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Vietnam's "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan, the 13 km Cat Linh-Ha Dong line with 12 stations covering three districts in Hanoi provides a convenient and comfortable alternative for commuters, as well as a chance to enjoy an overhead view of the capital.

Since its commercial operation in November 2021, the metro has run over 17.5 million passenger trips, and is welcomed by citizens for being eco-friendly and convenient with reasonable ticket prices, said Vu Hong Truong, general director of Hanoi Metro One Member Limited Liability Company.

Another exemplification of green development cooperation is the Chinese-invested Soc Son waste-to-energy plant in Hanoi. It can handle 4,000 tons of trash per day, or over 60 percent of the city's garbage, and has made important contributions to improving the city's appearance and environment.

The construction of the plant has effectively contributed to Vietnam's green energy transition and solved the problem of garbage pollution that had long troubled local people, said Gu Chaoqing, president of the Business Association of China in Vietnam.

Xi's state visit is a great encouragement for the business communities of both countries, Gu said, adding that it will further strengthen bilateral cooperation in economic, trade, investment and connectivity. It will also promote personnel exchanges and create more favorable conditions for business investments and development, benefiting the people of both countries and the region.

PROMISING OUTLOOK

"We will bring more benefits to our neighbors through Chinese modernization, jointly move forward Asia's modernization process, and provide new development opportunities for Vietnam and other Asian countries," Xi said in the signed article.

As Vietnam is mulling incentive packages to attract strategic investors and multinationals for more foreign direct investments, experts have suggested that besides financial incentives, Vietnam should focus on the upgrade of socio-economic infrastructure, the development of a green economy and the facilitation of administrative procedures.

This aerial photo taken on Oct. 16, 2023 shows a China-Vietnam (L) and a China-Laos international cold-chain freight trains pulling out of Yanhe Station of Yuxi City, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo by Chen Chang/Xinhua)

The goal aligns perfectly with the vision of the fast-growing Chinese investment in Vietnam, which ranked third last year and rose to second place in the first nine months of this year with an amount of 2.92 billion dollars.

The Chinese investment is actively adapting to the needs of Vietnam's economic transformation and upgrading, said Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo, listing high-tech, information and communication, new energy, green development and e-commerce logistics as areas with huge potential.

In September, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on Chinese enterprises and investors to participate in the investment in and construction of strategic infrastructure projects such as railways and highways in Vietnam.

Sharing a similar view, Xiong said China holds a positive and open attitude towards participating in Vietnam's infrastructure construction. Accelerating the connectivity of transport infrastructure, especially railway and road connectivity, is the focus of cooperation between the two countries under the BRI and the "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan, he added.

While co-chairing the 15th meeting of the Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on the two sides to leverage geographical proximity and industrial complementarity to jointly build a mutually beneficial, stable and unimpeded industrial and supply chain system.

The comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries will help both countries jointly advance their modernization with respective features, enrich the choices of modernization for developing countries and bring more benefits to the two peoples, said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
As part of the Israel-Hamas resolution, Italy, France, and Germany are now urging the European Union to impose ad hoc sanctions against the Palestinian militant group, as well as terrorist supporters.

These sanctions were proposed during a meeting between EU foreign ministers on Monday, Dec. 11; leaders discussed what are the next steps to consider in response to the worsening Middle Eastern war.

Foreign ministers of Germany, France, and Italy sent a letter to EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, saying that the European Union should take all necessary measures against Hamas and its supporters.

Italy, Germany, France Call for EU's Special Sanctions Against Hamas

According to The Guardian's latest report, Italian, French, and German foreign ministers said that they fully support the proposal to create an ad hoc sanctions regime against the Palestinian terrorist group and its supporters.

"The swift adoption of this sanctions regime will enable us to send a strong political message about the EU's commitment against Hamas and our solidarity with Israel," they said in their letter.

Reuters reported that these special sanctions could include finance restrictions against Hamas and travel bans for Israeli settlers who were responsible for violence in the West Bank.

"This implies a stronger European commitment both to combating Hamas' infrastructure and financial support and to isolating and delegitimizing Hamas internationally, which in no way represents the Palestinians or their legitimate aspirations," added the foreign ministers of the bloc's three biggest nations.

As of writing, the Palestinian militant group is already tagged as a terrorist organization in the EU list. This means that all funds or assets that Hamas has in the EU should be frozen.

Italy, Germany, and France didn't specify how they wanted to broaden or tighten the sanctions against Hamas terrorists and supporters.

If members of the European Union agreed to the proposed special sanctions, they would seek help from experts to draw up the legal framework to determine individuals and entities that should be targeted.

Read Also: UN Says Afghans Face Harsh Winter, at Risk of Death Amid Lack of Proper Shelter After Leaving Pakistan

Hamas Members Sanctioned by EU

On Friday, Dec. 8, the European Union announced that it added some Hamas members to its sanctions. One of them is Mohammed Deif; the commander general of Hamas' military wing.

The other one is Deif's deputy, Marwan Issa. Aside from these two Hamas members, the EU is also considering adding Hamas Gaza Chief Yahya Sinwar.

The proposed special sanctions and the additional Hamas members were announced after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized EU leaders, especially those of Germany, France, and Italy.

The Israeli leader said that the EU can't support the elimination of Hamas terrorists while pressuring the IDF to end the war. He explained that this would hamper their efforts to take down the Palestinian terrorist group entirely.

Related Article: IDF's Arrest Procedures Spark Outrage After Videos, Images Show Palestinian Men Stripped Naked Upon Apprehension in Gaza

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India's highest court has affirmed the central government's decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. The court mandated the holding of municipal elections in the region by September 30, 2024, as part of its ruling on Monday, December 11.

The move is seen by opponents as another action by the governing Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) to isolate one area of India with a Muslim majority.

Article 370 of Indian Constitution

In 2019, the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi repealed Article 370 of the Indian constitution, which had allowed the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region considerable autonomy for the preceding seven decades or more since the first India-Pakistan conflict over the Himalayan territory in 1947.

India's highest court has heard a number of petitions questioning the legality of that action since August of this year.

The assertion that Jammu and Kashmir's special status had been just temporary was confirmed on Monday when a panel of five judges voted unanimously to support Modi's move. "Article 370 was an interim arrangement due to war conditions in the state. Textual reading also indicates that it is a temporary provision," Chief Justice DY Chandrachud stated, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Modi hailed Monday's verdict as "a beacon of hope, a promise of a brighter future" when it was announced. "It is a resounding declaration of hope, progress and unity for our sisters and brothers in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh," he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Today's Supreme Court verdict on the abrogation of Article 370 is historic and constitutionally upholds the decision taken by the Parliament of India on 5th August 2019; it is a resounding declaration of hope, progress and unity for our sisters and brothers in Jammu, Kashmir and December 11, 2023

Also Read: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Boosts Reputation as Ruling Nationalist BJP Sweeps Polls in 3 States

Disappointment Voiced by Critics

Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir are two federal territories that were created after Modi revoked Article 370. Neither of these areas has its own legislature and is instead subject to direct federal control.

"This is a straightforward pandering to the Hindu-majority electorate in India," New Delhi-based defense expert Ajai Shukla told Al Jazeera after the 2019 cabinet decision. He said that the country's political climate has become increasingly divided, with the governing party wooing its Hindu base and opposing any measures it perceives as hostile to Muslims.

The disappointment was voiced by political parties in Kashmir that had fought the revocation and had gone to court.

The former chief minister and vice president of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference party, Omar Abdullah, expressed his dissatisfaction on X, but said it did not dishearten him. "The struggle will continue. It took the BJP decades to reach here. We are also prepared for the long haul."

Similar sentiments were expressed by Mehbooba Mufti, a fellow ex-chief minister and current head of the People's Democratic Party of Jammu and Kashmir. She wrote on X that this was only the beginning of their journey, "The people of J&K are not going to lose hope or give up. Our fight for honour and dignity will continue regardless."

Also Read: India Launches 'Khavda,' World's Largest Renewable Energy Project in Salt Deserts

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As part of its continued efforts to mediate the Israel-Hamas conflict, the United Arab Emirates has sent high-ranking diplomats to the border region between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. These diplomats hail from nations like Russia, China, and the United Kingdom.

In a report by Bloomberg, approximately 12 United Nations ambassadors, including representatives from Brazil, Japan, and Ghana, were flown in on Monday, December 11, on a plane organized by the UAE government out of Abu Dhabi. They stopped at the Rafah border, the primary entry point for humanitarian supplies into Palestinian territory, which connects Egypt and Gaza.

In reaction to Hamas's catastrophic assault on October 7, the UAE and an increasing number of other countries are attempting to convince Israel to cease its ground invasion and shelling of Gaza. A week ago, Abu Dhabi requested that the UN Security Council issue a swift declaration of a ceasefire. The United States, Israel's most trusted ally and a major weapons supplier, vetoed the proposal despite widespread support.

Serious Humanitarian Concerns

Zhang Jun, China's top envoy to the UN, speaking to media in Egypt, described the situation on the ground is most catastrophic. "We really should not allow the situation to become worse. We're here with the belief that with our joint efforts, we can stop the war," he added.

The traveling diplomats met with high-ranking UN officials who were engaged in delivering supplies to Gaza. The group has expressed grave concern over the humanitarian situation in the crowded area, which is home to little more than 2 million Palestinians.

In an interview with Bloomberg, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) chief Philippe Lazzarini said that the agency is "on the verge of collapse" as it pertains to providing relief to Gaza.

Some individuals have gone days without food after stealing food trucks and drinking sewage water, as he said. He reiterated that UNRWA's mission in Gaza remains unchanged and that, if feasible, the organization would expand its activities.

Also Read: Israel PM Netanyahu Calls on Hamas To Surrender Now, Warns 'Beginning of the End' for Terror Group

Amid the Conflict

In their invasion of southern Israel from Gaza, Hamas killed over 1,200 people and kidnapped 240. Meanwhile, according to the health ministry of the enclave, which is managed by Hamas, more than 17,000 Palestinians have been killed in the retaliatory airstrikes and ground invasion.

About 1.9 million people have been displaced from their homes in Gaza, according to the UN. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said humanitarian help cannot be effectively delivered.

As a result of the medical system's near-collapse, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning that more people may die from illnesses than bombs.

The UAW has been vocal in its condemnation of the civilian casualties caused by Israel's shelling, but it has not followed the lead of countries like Turkey in removing its ambassador or cutting diplomatic relations.

Also Read: Hamas Threatens To Kill All Hostages Unless Demands Met; Here Are Its Conditions!

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For some people, Christmas parties are exciting social events since they get to meet with their friends and relatives whom they haven't seen for a very long time.

But, for others, these social gatherings are a drag, especially to those who just want to spend their Christmas alone; cozy in their pajamas while seeping hot coffee and watching their favorite movies.

If you are one of them, then you already know how hard it is to decline Christmas party invitations because you can disappoint or even anger hosts.

But, a new study revealed that Christmas party hosts/organizers don't really mind if you decline their invitations.

Christmas Party Hosts Don't Mind if You Decline Invitations

Researchers in the U.S. conducted a study titled "Saying No: The Negative Ramifications From Invitation Declines Are Less Severe Than We Think" to see if declining Christmas party invitations will really have great consequences.

According to The Guardian's latest report, the new study interviewed over 2,000 Americans. In the first part of the research, 382 participants were separated into two groups.

One of the groups was asked to read an invitation from a hypothetical friend. The other group pretended to be organizers or hosts of Christmas parties or other similar gatherings.

Those who pretended to receive invitations said that they were afraid to decline since they thought hosts or organizers would be disappointed or angry. The other group who pretended to be party hosts said that they really didn't care if people rejected their invitations.

Based on the study's findings, people who received invitations tend to rate anticipated outcomes as more negative compared to those who are sending invitations.

"Across our experiments, we consistently found that invitees overestimate the negative ramifications that arise in the eyes of inviters following an invitation decline," explained the study's lead author, Dr. Julian Givi.

Involved researchers added that party hosts who previously declined invitations themselves tend to think less about rejections compared to people who always organize parties or other social gatherings.

Read Also: How To Avoid Black Friday Christmas Scams: UK Finance Shares Tips to Parents | HNGN - Headlines & Global News

How to Politely Decline Christmas Invitations

Although a new study proved that Christmas party hosts don't care if you decline their invitations, it is still important to know how to politely reject their letters.

To help you, here are some tips you can follow:

Always read the entire invitation letter and try to respond the same way the letter invited you.

You can use the most common excuses, such as it'll be a conflict with your family schedule, work, you won't be around, you already have plans, etc.

But, if the host is a very close friend or relative to you, then the best thing you can do is to tell them the truth.

Related Article: How to Survive Sleepless Nights on Christmas, New Year Celebrations-Here's What You Should Do

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FUKUOKA, Dec 12 ( NHK ) - A Japanese court has found three male former Ground Self-Defense Force members guilty on charges of indecent assault of a female subordinate.

The Fukushima District Court on Tuesday handed down two-year prison sentences, suspended for four years, to Shibuya Shutaro, Sekine Akito and Kimezawa Yusuke.

Prosecutors had demanded two-year sentences, alleging that the three defendants touched Gonoi Rina through her clothing at a training facility in Hokkaido in August 2021.

The three defendants had pleaded not guilty. They admitted to forcing Gonoi down using martial arts moves but said they had no intention of committing indecent acts.

Presiding judge Miura Takaaki said Gonoi's testimony in court matched those of higher-ranking members who were at the party and are credible. He said key parts of other testimonies by her superiors were also consistent and the behavior of the three defendants was suggestive of sexual acts. ...continue reading
The growth of the metro area, and by extension Council Bluffs, isn't a sure thing.

But if you went to place a prop bet on the area's continued growth, you wouldn't be likely to find very high-paying odds.

Other communities in the region are investing heavily in that growth, paving the way  in some cases literally  for an increase in population, as the metro area approaches a million residents.

Paved roadways, water and sewer lines and communication networks are among the investments that can promote the development of housing subdivisions. Zoning can be another hurdle, along with acquiring the property for development.

Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh said that the city is working with Pottawattamie County on a future land use study that should chart the course for future subdivisions and help them mitigate the risk of resistance by residents to future annexation.

Walsh said Iowa's annexation law creates challenges for cities looking to expand city limits.

"To annex property in Iowa, you have to go through a pretty expensive and arduous procedure, which includes preparing a statement document, going before the state annexation board, they review it, they say 'yeah, it's legitimate.' And then you have to go back to the community and and get the approval of the voters in the city and in the area to be annexed," Walsh said.

Council Bluffs tried to annex Green Meadows years ago, Walsh told members of the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce at a forum last month. A group of residents organized opposition to the annexation and fended off the city's efforts at the ballot box.

By comparison, Nebraska encourages regular annexation by cities through the use of sanitary and improvement districts, which are essentially miniature municipal governments that take on the risk of infrastructure development but that generally are annexed once they are matured and no longer incur significant debt when they're absorbed.

Not every SID ends up annexed, of course, as some take on additional debt to become unattractive or fail to build a tax base that makes extending city services worth it to their neighbor. But mostly the SIDs allow for steady, planned growth by cities.

Nebraska also facilitates larger cities gobbling up their smaller neighbors, which in the metro area is a looming threat for Ralston that's been warded off by a longstanding gentleman's agreement  along with the debt from the city's arena.

Walsh said it's normal for Omaha to announce an annual annexation package. But Omaha cannot cross county lines, meaning the communities to the south in Sarpy County are shielded.

As a result, growth has pushed into suburban communities, as there's less and less open land that's within Omaha's city limits and zoning jurisdiction.

"They are running out of ground pretty quickly," Walsh said.

Sarpy County is investing in a new sewer system that will open up significant portions of the county for development. An initial $130 million phase started last year on sewer lines to Springfield and through Bellevue, where Omaha operates a wastewater plant used by much of the metro area.

The county recently announced a $45.3 million low-interest loan from the federal government to start on a third sewer line. The roughly 19 miles making up the first phase are expected to be finished by 2025. The overall sewer project is expected to exceed $250 million.

Additionally, the county announced that its administrator, Dan Hoins, would depart to serve as the full-time administrator of the Sarpy County and Cities Wastewater Agency.

"I'm looking forward to dedicating my full attention to this once-in-a-generation project that will set up the county and Sarpy cities for continued growth, Hoins said in a news release.

Eventually, Sarpy County expects about 10,660 acres will be opened for development over the next three decades, including a mix of residential, commercial and industrial uses, although the project may take 50 years before it's finished. If it was built in 30 years and saw the growth expected to follow it, the Nebraska government could bring in $15.7 billion in revenue from sales, hotel, corporate income and personal income taxes.

"They're ready for that overflow when we grow," Walsh said. "Council Bluffs needs to be ready, too."

Walsh told the Nonpareil in an interview that he wants to be ready for that future growth.

"We were looking at what Sarpy County did  not trying to replicate it, but learn from it, the positives and negatives, and be ready when that housing boom comes," Walsh said. "Because I think it's going to come and I think the interstate (highway system) is going to contribute to that."

The mayor estimated that Council Bluffs won't see a significant impact until 10 to 15 years down the road, with the area near Pony Creek and Highway 92 expected to be the primary growth area.

Walsh said the city is concerned that developing that area as only residential acreages could result in a barrier to annexation  which could take place while other cities in the metro area are booming, adding to the potential competitive disadvantage for Council Bluffs.

"We can't get around those acres, if they create that area and don't want to be annexed, won't voluntarily be annexed," Walsh told the chamber members.

So the city's cooperative study with Pottawattamie County is identifying where subdivisions could go that the city might be more likely to annex in the future.

"I think that will benefit all of us in the future," Walsh said.
Jennie Edmundson Hospital hosted the Stuff the Truck donation drive for the Micah House on Thursday.

Volunteers from the hospital and the shelter collected food and Christmas toy donations from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the Micah House truck had to make at least five trips to the Lakin Campus and back due to the public's support.

Dianne Rose, facility and operations manager at the Micah House, said the shelter's need for pantry donations and other support is as great as ever, and she thanked those who donated to help support their residents and families this holiday season.

Methodist Health System Vice President of Marketing Jenni Stoll echoed those sentiments.

"This is a time when the community is really generous, and we're so grateful for that generosity," she said. "Care and caring is a big part of our mission at Methodist, and so to be able to give back to the community, especially during a time of need, it not only means a lot to our organization, but to our employees as well."

Volunteers also collected donations at Methodist Womens Hospital, Methodist Physicians Clinics Indian Hills location and Methodist Fremont Health in Omaha and Fremont, Nebraska.
Weather Alert

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 PM CST FRIDAY... ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON CST FRIDAY... ...WIND CHILL WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM FRIDAY TO NOON CST TUESDAY... * WHAT...For the Winter Storm Warning, heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 5 and 8 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph. For the Wind Chill Advisory, very cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 25 below zero. For the Wind Chill Warning, dangerously cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 50 below zero. Coldest wind chills are expected Saturday night into Sunday morning. * WHERE...Portions of east central, northeast, and southeast Nebraska. * WHEN...For the Winter Storm Warning, from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 PM CST Friday. For the Wind Chill Advisory, from midnight tonight to noon CST Friday. For the Wind Chill Warning, from 9 PM Friday to noon CST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Travel will be hazardous. Areas of blowing snow will reduce visibilities, even after snow has stopped falling. The hazardous conditions will impact the Thursday evening and Friday commutes. The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Avoid outside activities if possible. When outside, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. &&
A grouping of eight East African countries, IGAD, has said both Sudans warring generals agreed to hold a face-to-face meeting as part of efforts to implement a cease-fire and initiate political dialogue to end the countrys devastating war.

In a meeting of the leaders of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) held in Djibouti, the regional body secured a commitment from both Sudanese generals to an unconditional cease-fire and resolution of the conflict through political dialogue, the bloc said in a statement Sunday (10 December). The current IGAD chair, Sudans army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, agreed to a one-on-one meeting with the commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the IGAD statement added. The regional grouping is part of mediation efforts to end the conflict, along with Saudi Arabia and the United States, which facilitated rounds of indirect talks between the warring parties as recently as early November.

According to Alexis Mohammed, adviser to Djiboutis president, Hemedti and al-Burhan have accepted the principle of meeting within 15 days in order to pave the way for a series of confidence-building measures between the two parties that lead to the launch of a political process. Sudan slipped into chaos after soaring tensions between the two warring generals exploded into open fighting in mid-April, devastating the capital, Khartoum, and triggering waves of ethnic killings in Darfur despite several diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting. This comes as the United Nations has warned that it has only been able to reach a fraction of the nearly 25 million people in need of aid eight months into the bloody conflict. The head of the UNs humanitarian response for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, has called the situation catastrophic, while aid workers have called it the forgotten war.
At a recent summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), regional leaders decided to keep sanctions imposed on Niger after a July military coup and said they would need to see progress towards a transition to civilian rule before easing the measures.

The West African leaders met Sunday (10 December) for a summit with the region in crisis after consecutive coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger since 2020 and two attempted coups elsewhere in recent weeks. They demanded a short transitional period leading toward civilian rule in coup-hit Niger before the regional bloc would lift economic sanctions on the country. The ECOWAS has essentially recognized Nigers military junta in power, as it has set up a commission made up of leaders from Benin, Togo and Sierra Leone to negotiate with Nigers CNSP military leadership on a transition to democratic rule. The recognition of the junta appears to diminish the chances that Nigers President Mohamed Bazoum may be reinstated.

Based on the outcomes of the engagement by the committee of heads of state with the CNSP, the authority will progressively ease the sanctions imposed on Niger, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray said at the closing of the summit. Failure by the CNSP to comply with the outcomes of engagement with the committee, ECOWAS shall maintain all sanctions. Nigeria has recently asked the Niger regime to free deposed former President Bazoum and allow him to fly to a third country, as a step to opening talks on lifting sanctions. But Nigers military leaders rejected that option and have asked Togos President Faure Gnassingbe to act as a mediator. Nigers military leaders had previously said it would take three years to return to civilian rule.
The Executive Director of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders (Frontex), Hans Leijtens, emphasized Moroccos pivotal role as a strategic partner in countering cross-border crime.

Morocco is one of our strategic partners, and its evident that we need each other in cooperation to fight cross-border crime [and] to manage borders, stated Leijtens in his first visit outside of Europe.

Leijtens, in recognizing Moroccos significance as a key ally, expressed the interdependence between Frontex and Morocco, underlining the shared commitment to overcoming challenges that transcend geographical boundaries.

Leijtens further commended Morocco for its commendable performance in border management, a testament to the countrys dedication to security and cooperation. I want to congratulate [Moroccan authorities] with the results they are doing right now; a perfect job at their borders, he said.

The discussions held with Moroccan authorities focused on the challenges faced by both parties, fostering an open exchange of experiences and insights, Leijtens added, highlighting the constructive dialogue between Frontex and Moroccan officials.

Expressing optimism for the future, Leijtens conveyed confidence in the potential for an enhanced collaboration between Moroccan authorities and Frontex. In this regard, he conveyed Frontexs readiness to provide assistance while also expressing a keen interest in learning from Moroccos experiences.

Im very confident that we will enhance cooperation between Moroccan authorities and Frontex. We offer them our help, and were eager to learn from them, affirmed Leijtens, emphasizing the reciprocity and mutual benefit inherent in the partnership.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) announced Monday the approval by its board of directors of two loans valued at 165 million earmarked for the implementation of the Diversification, Industrial Acceleration, Competitiveness and Employment (DAICE) Program, an important aspect of the countrys National Development Plan 2021-2025.

The first loan is worth 120 million and the second valued at 45 million is coming from the Africa Growing Together Fund  a cofinancing fund created by the Bank and the Peoples Bank of China, the Abidjan-based lender notes.

The DAICE Program the bank argues aims to strengthen the Governments efforts towards economic diversification, green transition and industrial development.

More specifically, it is intended to support reforms and investments in the public assets needed to develop the private sector and to de-risk the financing of SMEs and innovative start-ups. DAICE will also develop new sectors, promote the green transition in the industrial sector, support the competitiveness of enterprises and their exports, and create jobs, AfDB said in a statement.

The program is structured around three components: strengthening the competitiveness of the priority business sectors (clusters) of the National Development Plan; improving access to finance for SMEs; and supporting diversification and the promotion of private investment. Its activities will help to strengthen the competitiveness of clusters, boost businesses access to finance, increase industrial investment and create jobs.

In addition, the DAICE Program is aligned with the Banks Country Strategy Paper 2023-2028 for Cote dIvoire and the countrys Vision 2030.
Two investment firms, Arkhouse and Brigade Capital, have reportedly made $5.8 billion in bids to acquire Macy's. This sends the company's stock soaring by more than 16% in trading early Monday, December 11, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

According to CNBC's sources, the retail giant is valued at $21 per share in the deal. On Friday, December 8, Macy's shares ended the day at just over $17, representing a decline of around 17% from the beginning of the year.

Sources close to the matter have indicated that, after due diligence, real estate investment business Arkhouse and asset management firm Brigade Capital would be prepared to make bigger bids. Notably, Macy's has been struggling to compete with internet retailers, and the company is already paying a premium for it.

Equity in Real Estate

There are 722 Macy's stores spread over 43 states plus Washington, DC; Puerto Rico, and Guam. It runs over 500 Macy's shops, 55 Bloomingdale's stores (which are more upmarket), and 160 Bluemercury stores (which it bought in 2015), all under the Macy's name.

Neil Saunders, a retail analyst with GlobalData, said that Macy's real estate holdings are probably where Arkhouse finds value. "An investor group that sells off real estate and perhaps takes other actions such as spinning off the ecommerce business, would certainly make some short-term gains," he told CNN.

But, according to Saunders, Macy's would suffer as a business if they pursued this plan. He predicted that Macy's would face "the worst of all worlds" if the company did not spend some of its earnings reviving its core retail operation.

Also Read: Amazon CEO Shares Secret To Successful Same-Day Delivery Service

Struggle for Traditional Department Stores

Traditional department shops like Macy's have been struggling for decades. A lower portion of the retail pie goes to Macy's due to competition from both online retailers like Amazon and large box businesses like Walmart and Target. These stores allow consumers to purchase food, clothing, and other home items all in one place.

Store closures have been a cost-cutting measure for Macy's in recent years. A total of 280 full-service department shops operating under the Macy's and Bloomingdale's names have closed in the last nine years, a reduction of one-third.

Compared to the same period last year, its net income dropped 74% in the first half of the current fiscal year. Stores that had been open for at least a year saw a 7% decline in sales.

From a high of $73 per share in June of 2015, the share price has likewise fallen. Although the $5.8 billion offer is up 32% from Friday's closing value, it is down 75% from the highest offer in 2015. Ever since then, Macy's has wasted $3 billion trying to stem the fall of its stock price via share repurchases.

Also Read: Walmart Pulls Ads from X, Suggests Using "Other Platforms" to Reach Customers

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The Moroccan government will have to spend 900 million dollars (9 billion dirhams) in 2024 and 2025 on the new deal struck with teachers to end their long strike, education minister Chakib Benmousa said.

After negotiations with teachers unions, the government had agreed to a wage hike of 1500 dirhams and an increase in other allowances, benefits, and promotions.

The wage hike will be implemented in two stages in 2024 and 2025 and would cost the state budget 9 billion dirhams, Benmousa told MPs.

The minister did not explain how the government will mobilize this additional funding, though Moroccan media reports this will be sourced from the general state budget.

The additional funding represents 13% of the 2024 education budget set at 7.4 billion dollars, up 7% from this year.

The strikes stirred anger among parents as pupils have been left out of schools for a long period so far this year, raising fears of a loss of the school year.

The education ministry plans to hire 20,000 new staff as it invests in innovative pedagogical tools to improve the performance of the education system.
The reckless ruling Algerian junta has refused to allow a C-17 plane of U.S. Air Force into its airspace without giving the reasons behind such a troubling move.

The incident, which has been reported by Spanish daily La Razon, comes after the visit paid by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Joshua Harris to Algiers to advance the UN political process in the Sahara to achieve an enduring solution without further delay.

According to ACARS messages published by Spanish daily, the American aircraft took off from U.S. naval base in Rota (Southern Spain) at 20:27 PM on December 9 heading for Algiers.

After nearly a three-hour flight, the C17 aircraft crew made a U-turn when Algerian air-controllers told them they were not allowed to fly over their territory.

The incident raises questions as the U.S. military planes used to operate non-stop flights over Algerian airspace without any restrictions even during the Gaza war.

According to some analysts, the Algerian regime was irked by the supportive remarks of U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary to Moroccos autonomy plan for the Sahara. He describes it as serious, credible, and realistic solution, without saying a word on self-determination referendum or Polisario, the Algeria-backed armed militia.

After trying to twist his statements and deceive public opinion, the U.S. embassy in Algiers published the integral text of an interview of Harris with Algerian media.

In this interviewed, the U.S. official said Washington wants to see a lasting political solution for Sahara. We are serious about using our influence to enable a successful UN political process, adopted by the Security Council.

In its resolutions, the Council urges all parties to the Sahara conflict to show a spirit of realism and compromise taking into account the current situation on the ground right now.

Mr. Harris insisted on creativity, pragmatism, and realism to overcome the deadlock, saying that the same type of efforts that led to unsuccessful political processes in years past are not likely to yield results, referring to self-determination which was ditched by the UN Security Council and UN General Assembly.
Benins Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari has expressed support to Moroccos territorial integrity, stating that his country considers the Autonomy Plan as the only credible and realistic solution to the regional dispute over Sahara.

This came in a phone talk Olushegun Adjadi Bakari had this Tuesday with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

The Beninese official assured Bourita that as part of the review of the diplomatic and consular map, he would advocate the establishment by Benin of a consular presence in the town of Laayoune in the Moroccan Sahara.

He also announced that he would be visiting Dakhla to take stock of the regions economic and social development, and to forge local partnerships.

The two sides, who also stressed the importance of bilateral relations driven by the willingness of King Mohammed VI and President Patrice Talon, reiterated the importance of active solidarity and mutually beneficial partnership as the basis of these bilateral relations.

The two officials also agreed to hold the 7th Moroccan-Beninese Joint Cooperation Commission in Cotonou in early 2024.

In this context, they commended the successful preparation of this Joint Commission, marked by the finalization of agreements and MoUs in several areas of cooperation, reflecting both countries willingness to breathe new life into the excellent relations binding them.

Nasser Bourita, who stressed the importance of the human dimension in bilateral relations, informed his Beninese counterpart of Moroccos decision to increase the number of training scholarships for Beninese students. He also informed him that, in the context of facilitating the free movement of people between the two countries, Morocco would give due consideration to visa exemption for Beninese nationals holding ordinary passports.

In the meantime, Beninese citizens will benefit, as from January 1, 2024, from the e-Visa facility, developed since 2023 with the Kingdoms brotherly and friendly states.
Two old frenemies who should come together on a crucial question of war and peace. Photo: Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

The debate in the United States, and more specifically within the Democratic Party, over the Israel-Hamas War has mostly focused on the question of whether Israel should accept a cease-fire that more or less ends the war without its goal of destroying Hamass military capabilities having been met. According to most polls, a majority of Americans favor such a cease-fire, citing the horrific ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza. President Biden has not agreed; nor have a majority of Democratic members of Congress; nor have virtually any Republicans, who mostly seem to worry Israel has not been lethal enough in dealing with Palestinians generally.

But the Biden administrations solidarity with the current Israeli government has recently frayed thanks to Bibi Netanyahus total rejection of Bidens demand that Israel aim at the restoration of Palestinian authority over Gaza (along with the West Bank) once the war is over. Israelis may presently have a higher opinion of Biden than of their own prime minister, but Bibi is nonetheless staking his governing coalition on the most definitive opposition to an ultimate two-state solution he can muster, after many years of opportunistic equivocation on the subject. Its been obvious for a while that Netanyahu is trying to keep his right-wing government together by triangulating against the U.S., as Noga Tarnopolsky reported at New York last month:

Netanyahu has openly defied the U.S., by far Israels most important ally, on every war-related issue except the goal of eradicating Hamas. He declared that Israel would retain security control for Gaza indefinitely, leading Biden to say occupying Gaza would be a big mistake. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also underscored that there should be no reoccupation of Gaza after the conflict ends. No attempt to blockade or besiege Gaza. No reduction in the territory of Gaza.

The back-and-forth has continued since then, with Netanyahu going out of his way to rule out the preferred long-term strategy for Gazas self-governance that Biden has proposed, as The Wall Street Journal reported last week:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday rejected the Biden administrations postwar plan to have the Palestinian Authority take over Gaza, the sharpest sign of his pushback against the U.S. blueprint for administering the enclave after the invasion ends.

After the great sacrifice of our civilians and our soldiers, I will not allow the entry into Gaza of those who educate for terrorism, support terrorism and finance terrorism, Netanyahu said, referring to the Palestinian Authority, which currently oversees parts of the West Bank, in a statement Tuesday.

I will not allow Israel to repeat the mistake of Oslo, he added, a reference to the 1993 agreement that established the Palestinian Authority and which Netanyahu has long criticized.

Oslo, of course, and the peace process it represented, aiming at a two-state solution, was the cherished and never-repudiated project of Democrats like Joe Biden. So the longtime tensions between most U.S. Democrats and right-wing Israelis on this subject were only submerged by the emergency of the Hamas attacks on Israel. They clearly havent gone away, and so long as Bibi maintains his grip on a governing coalition by suggesting a permanent Israeli occupation of virtually all of Palestine, the tensions will grow worse at the very moment when Israel depends on material and diplomatic support from Washington.

The question for the United States now is what Biden is prepared to do other than criticize Bibi. The logical next step, if he is willing to take it, has been laid out by his longtime frenemy Bernie Sanders, who has made it clear he will not support an imposed cease-fire on Israel that benefits Hamas, but does think long-term aid to Israel should be linked to a renewed Israeli search for a sustainable peace, as NPR recently reported:

Sanders told Morning Editions Michel Martin that he believes the only way the U.S. can tell Netanyahu that his military tactics are unacceptable is to not give him a blank check for the $10 billion that President Bidens security package seeks.

He does support giving Israel $4 billion to replenish its Iron Dome, a decade-old network of radar detectors and missile launchers that intercepts incoming rockets.

But he said further U.S. aid to Israel should come with conditions, adding that we cannot allow Israeli settlers to kill Palestinians on the West Bank and have got to also make it clear that the people of Gaza have a right to return and rebuild their homes.

And maybe most importantly, we need a commitment from the Netanyahu government that there will be a two-state solution, that the Palestinians in the area have a right to their own homeland, to live with security and dignity, Sanders said.

Perhaps Bibi will soon lose power, giving way to a government not so willing to rule out a two-state solution, and avoiding a confrontation with Biden that complicates and even imperils U.S. aid. But if that doesnt happen, sooner or later Biden has to put some teeth in his calls for a 180-degree turn in what Israel plans after its war in Gaza has ended. The yes to continuing the fight with Hamas combined with a no to permanent occupation that Bernie Sanders is promoting would accomplish this without undermining Israels war effort.
Photo: Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

As Israeli forces bomb civilians in Gaza, American activists and politicians are turning toward other, more tempting subjects. Maybe youve heard by now: Elite schools are in chaos. Students fight and administrators dither while donors complain, and the powerful are paying attention. The House recently convened a hearing on campus antisemitism, and tales of the Ivy League topped the New York Times homepage on Monday.

Cancel culture is not a new fixation for the Times. But the stakes have arguably risen with the onset of war. Since the Hamas attack on October 7 that Israel said killed around 1,200 people and took another 240 hostage, Israel has killed over 17,700 people in Gaza alone, most of them civilians, according to Gazas health ministry. Thousands of children are among the dead and millions have been displaced from their homes. The Israeli strategy is one of collective punishment, which will neither defeat Hamas nor free all the hostages. The situation in Gaza demands moral urgency from the world. Though there are glimpses of courage in America, the sight tends to be fleeting. Gaza is bleeding while a coalition of American activists, some members of Congress, and now the press are focused on campus speech.

The spectacle has already pushed one college leader out of a job. On Saturday, Elizabeth Magill resigned as president of the University of Pennsylvania. Shed first come under fire in September when a Palestinian literary festival was held on campus. Critics accused speakers, including academic Marc Lamont Hill and Roger Waters, once of Pink Floyd, of antisemitism. (In Hills case, the evidence is thin. In 2018 he lost a role at CNN after calling for a free Palestine from the river to the sea.) Major university donors would eventually withdraw contributions after October 7, accusing Magill of an inadequate response to antisemitism on campus.

Magills resignation comes days after she appeared at a congressional hearing on the subject. In a viral clip, Representative Elise Stefanik of New York accused students who chant intifada of calling for the genocide of Jewish people and asked Magill, Calling for the genocide of Jews, does that constitute bullying or harassment? Magill said, If it is directed and severe, pervasive, it is harassment, adding, It is a context-dependent decision, Congresswoman. Stefanik pounced: Thats your testimony today? Calling for the genocide of Jews is depending upon the context? On Saturday, after Magill announced her resignation, Stefanik rejoiced. One down. Two to go, she posted on X, referring not just to Magill but to Dr. Claudine Gay, the president of Harvard, and Dr. Sally Kornbluth of MIT, who both testified at the same hearing.

Stefanik isnt the only person who wants Gay and Kornbluth to lose their jobs. Her cause is championed by Bill Ackman, the billionaire hedge-fund manager and Democratic donor, and by conservative activists such as Christopher Rufo. On X, Ackman reposted a piece co-authored by Rufo, which accuses Gay of plagiarizing her doctoral dissertation. The conservative Washington Free Beacon said it uncovered additional examples. The Harvard Corporation called the examples a few instances of inadequate citation, said they did not amount to misconduct, and that Gay agreed to correct and update the works in question, according to the Harvard Crimson. On Tuesday morning, the board of Harvard announced that Gay would remain in office, dealing a blow to Stefanik, Ackman, and Rufo. The board of MIT has also said that it stands by Kornbluth.

Though Kornbluth and Gay appear safe for now, the underlying preoccupation with campus speech probably isnt going away. Pro-Israel groups like the Canary Mission have smeared critics of Israel for years, and that effort is bearing fruit for them now. In a video on Substack, the writer and editor-at-large of Jewish Currents, Peter Beinart, argued that the more difficult it becomes to defend Israels actions on the ground, the harder one needs to work to again create a new conversation about whats happening among Israels critics. There is no grand conspiracy, he said, and there is also real antisemitism in the U.S. But the descriptions of the kind of antisemitism that is supposedly happening on college campuses, right, is completely divorced from actual reality, he explained, adding later that the struggle, it seems to me, to end Israeli impunity also is a struggle for academic freedom and free speech in the United States.

Campus speech isnt an entirely inconsequential subject. Stripped down to its most basic element, the debate over speech is a fight over power. Who gets to speak is shorthand for who matters. If opponents of the anti-Zionist left can silence it, they can defeat it. That dynamic is heightened on the elite campus because in theory, to win that territory is to remake the ruling class. How else to explain Stefaniks gloating? The Republican representative from New York is no warrior against antisemitism. Her political opponents are Soros-backed, she sometimes says, which invokes images of a shadowy Jewish cabal.

Though the fight for free speech matters, actors like Stefanik and Rufo transform it into a farce. Its Gaza, not Stefanik or even Magill, that should command Americas attention. As the Times publishes story after story on Harvard and Yale, Israel destroys Gazas schools and kills its academics. The bloodshed wont slow without international pressure on Israel. Dont lose sight of Gaza, or the innocent dead. They cant afford a distraction.
At one point Monday, the front page of the New York Times had four stories covering the campus-antisemitism story. Another story (this one did not make the home page) reported from a pro-Palestine rally at Yale, where one protester briefly hung a Palestinian flag from a menorah before fellow protesters quickly had it removed. The incident, captured on video in a public space near the Yale campus but not on it, lasted little more than a minute, the Times reports.

We have reached a level of saturation coverage of campus antisemitism that is slightly hard to fathom. It feels like a strange form of cultural reversal in which the reporters who were staking out diners in Trump country have all been reassigned to the Ivy League beat. To be sure, Congress elevated the issue with hearings, and Representative Elise Stefanik staged a bit of demagogic theater, which legitimately seized the attention of (educated) readers. Because the issue has escaped into the conversation, its news value can attain a self-sustaining circularity: Everybody is talking about it because everybody is talking about it. (Guilty!)

This allows the critics of the university presidents to carp without stating clearly what exactly they object to and what exactly they propose.

For the main critics of the college presidents, who include many Democrats along with Republicans, the complaint is hypocrisy. The college presidents insist they cant always ban slogans that sound threatening to Jews because of free-speech principles. But that isnt how these places work, retorts Gerald Baker. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression puts Harvard dead last in its ranking of colleges by climate of free speech.

Its fundamentally about hypocrisy, said Massachusetts Democratic representative Jake Auchincloss. And, at least for me, what I reacted to viscerally from the testimony was particularly Harvard, which has an abysmal track record on championing and incubating free and open speech  now, [its] into the First Amendment, when its about antisemitism?

The hypocrisy charge is fair enough. Elite universities have been deeply influenced by left-wing discourse norms that make it very easy to disqualify challenges to progressive thinking as bigotry. These norms are putatively designed to protect students from racism, sexism, and so on, but they are inherently prone to abuse. If you give activists engaged in political contestation the opportunity to silence their critics, some of them are going to seize it.

The inconsistency is that one set of rules is applied to Jews, and another to other minorities. The general rules campus progressives employ hold that if somebody feels offended by a claim, then it is presumptively suspect, intent doesnt matter, and claims can be deemed racist or sexist if they are consistent with what a racist or sexist would say. (Racists hate affirmative action, so people criticizing affirmative action are under suspicion of racism.)

If you apply these rules to antisemitism, then you get a series of results that conservatives like and progressives hate. Yes, antisemites often couch their dislike of Jews inside criticism of Israel, so can we treat a piece of anti-Israel rhetoric as antisemitic if it is something an antisemite would say? If there is disagreement about whether a claim is antisemitic, do we need objective standards, or should we defer to the lived experience of the Jewish accuser?

Conservatives have spent years denouncing left-wing discourse norms while also demanding they be applied to Jews. The hypocrisy, as Ive long argued, runs both ways. Conservatives routinely dismiss vast swaths of anti-Israel rhetoric as antisemitic if it merely makes Israel supporters feel discomfort, conceivably implies violence, or vaguely activates an antisemitic trope. For other minorities, its not bigotry unless theyve seen a signed Klan membership card.

Pointing out hypocrisy by the other side doesnt resolve the issue if you dont bother to hold any consistent set of rules yourself.

National Reviews Noah Rothman complains, The double standard is that Jews are not subject to the coddling that other ethnic and religious minorities on American campuses experience. So should Jews be coddled? Should other minorities stop getting coddled? It cant be both.

My view is that illiberal discourse norms dont actually protect the minorities they purport to help, so applying them to Jews wouldnt actually help Jewish students, either.

That doesnt mean Jewish students dont deserve protection from legitimate harassment. That harassment is absolutely happening. But conservatives have catastrophized the scale and impact. Niall Ferguson is comparing the position of Jews in the academy to the situation in Germany in the 1920s and 1930s. There was a plane flying over Harvard Square toting a banner saying Harvard Hates Jews. Multiple critics are insisting Jewish parents should not send their children to elite American universities because its not safe.

This reminds me also of the rhetoric progressives have used to justify speech restrictions in academia. The premise that campuses are so overrun with racism and sexual violence is necessary to permit the conclusion that only deeply illiberal restrictions can make them safe.

The reality is that campuses are generally some of the most safe and welcoming spaces in America. And while antisemitic episodes do occur, with more frequency since October 7, Jewish students are on the whole quite safe at American universities.

Republicans in Congress have reasons other than concern for the welfare of Jewish students to elevate the campus-antisemitism problem to the level of national crisis. Taking antisemitism seriously, including antisemitism on the left, does not require submitting to hysteria.
Giuliani arrives at the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C. on Monday. Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP

On December 3, 2020, one month after Americans voted for president and nearly two weeks after Joe Biden was certified as the winner in Georgia, Donald Trumps campaign lawyers announced they had proof that the election had been stolen. WATCH, the official @TeamTrump account posted on Twitter, over a series of screenshots of surveillance footage from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, which had served as a temporary vote tabulation center. The campaign claimed that the images showed election workers clearing the room of witnesses, and then pulling suitcases filled with ballots from under a table. Testifying before the Georgia state legislature that day, a lawyer for Trumps campaign played a 90-second video, spliced together from many hours of surveillance footage, and drew attention to a handful of alleged culprits, including a lady in purple, who had the name Ruby across her shirt. Rudy Giuliani, the leader of the Trump legal team, repeated the claims of thievery on social media. SMOKING GUN FROM GEORGIA, he posted on the afternoon of December 3. He later called it the Zapruder film of the election.

Within hours, the conservative website Gateway Pundit had identified the lady in purple as a Georgia grandmother named Ruby Freeman, who had worked on the vote-counting at the arena as a temporary government employee. That evening, Freemans phone started blowing up and she learned that Giuliani and his colleagues had placed her at the center of a vast  and, needless to say, completely imaginary  conspiracy to stuff the ballot box. Freemans formerly quiet life would be hijacked in an instant, her attorney, Von DuBose, said on Monday, in his opening argument in a civil defamation trial in Washington. At the defense table, Giuliani  the former prosecutor, New York mayor, and 9/11 hero  scrolled on an iPad, averting his gaze from the victim of his lies.

Donald Trump has now been indicted on four occasions for his actions in and out of office, but somehow has managed to avoid any real accountability. On Monday, Jack Smith, the special prosecutor who is pursuing charges related to Trumps instigating role on January 6  the case best positioned to go to trial in March  filed an unusual appeal with the Supreme Court, calling for an emergency review of the ex-presidents sweeping claims of criminal immunity, which could allow the Republican front-runner to run out the clock until the next election. Trumps lesser minions, by contrast, lack the same powers of impunity.

Giulani, who led the campaigns post-election legal strategy  if you can call it legal, or strategy  currently faces an indictment in Georgia and disbarment as a lawyer. Freemans civil case presents a third avenue of accountability, threatening his financial ruin. The plan by Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss  a former supervisor at the Fulton County elections department  is to ask for as much as $43 million in compensatory damages, and the eight-person jury could potentially add many millions more in punitive damages on top of that.

Defamation lawsuits can often serve as a sort of side door to justice. In recent years, sex-crime victims have used defamation claims to expose Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Sandy Hook parents have won more than $1 billion in damages from Alex Jones. And such lawsuits have proven to be particularly effective means for meting out punishment to those who parroted Trumps false claims that he won the 2020 election. Though the legal standard for proving defamation of a public figure is high  plaintiffs must generally show that the speaker knowingly lied or showed reckless disregard for the truth  the fanciful and often-malicious conspiracies advanced by Trump and his supporters soared way over the bar. Earlier this year, Fox News agreed to pay $787 million to settle claims brought by a voting machine company Dominion, which Trumps supporters had accused of being in on the scam. Dominions lawsuits against other media organizations and individuals, including Giuliani, are still pending, as are many similar cases.

Ruby Freemans case is unusual in that the facts and Giulianis legal culpability are not in dispute by any of the parties, at least inside the courtroom. Freeman and Moss brought the case against Giuliani and the conservative One America News Network in 2021. The network reached a settlement, but Giuliani adopted a defiant stance, refusing to comply with numerous orders to turn over electronic records to the plaintiffs in the normal process of discovery. His attorney claimed he had lost access to the data after federal investigators seized his personal devices, which Judge Beryl Howell found unconvincing, considering the data was mostly backed up on the cloud. Earlier this year, she found that Giulianis willful shirking of his discovery obligations was so egregious that it merited a default judgment in favor of Freeman and Moss. She ordered a trial simply to determine how much Giuliani will have to pay in damages.

The value of our reputations is not determined by our income bracket, another of the plaintiffs attorneys, Michael Gottlieb, said in the opening statement. He described how his clients, a pair of working-class Black women, had been forced to give up their jobs, homes, and their anonymity after being branded as criminals by Trump, the most powerful amplifier on Earth. Freeman and Moss sat next to each other, facing the racially mixed jury, quietly passing back-and-forth tubes of hand moisturizer and tissues. The lawyers played video and audio clips in which Giuliani called them serial criminals, compared their actions to a bank heist, and suggested the video had caught them handing each other USB thumb drives like they were vials of heroin or cocaine. The nefarious object, the plaintiffs lawyers said, was actually a piece of ginger candy.

The lawyers played an audio tape of Trumps notorious call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which the president singled out Freeman as a professional vote-scammer and hustler and said his supporters were wondering why she hadnt yet been thrown in jail.

You know what was trending on the internet? Trump asked. Wheres Ruby?

According to her lawyers, Freeman and her family were repeatedly harassed by Trump supporters and she went into hiding right before January 6, when a mob of election-deniers descended on her home. She, her daughter, and her grandson (who used a phone number that used to belong to his mom) were barraged with abusive messages and phone calls. In the most searing moment of the trials opening, a series of voicemail messages were played for the jury.

You fucking cunt bitch 

Youre going to jail, Ruby 

Youre wanted for treason 

Turn yourself in now. You are a traitor of the United States of America 

Some messages used racial slurs; some threatened to hang Freeman from a tree.

In Giulianis defense, the Texas attorney Joseph Sibley said little of substance. My client did something wrong, he admitted at the outset. Her honor has already decided that. Giuliani and his lawyers have made little secret of their strategy, which is to quickly get to an appeal, where they will almost certainly argue that Howell, a Barack Obama appointee, was biased. (Her exchanges with Sibley were often dismissive, and sometimes acidic.) But whatever other Trump supporters might have said or done, Sibley claimed, his client had never promoted violence against these women. He pleaded for the jury to be merciful, saying that a huge verdict would be the civil equivalent of the death penalty. It will be the end of Mr. Giuliani.

In the hallway outside the courtroom, Freeman had no comment on the first days proceedings, but she did smile and raise a satisfied fist. After the proceedings adjourned for the day, Giuliani ambled down to a lectern outside the courthouse to address reporters, and directly contradicted what his lawyer had told the jury about his being in the wrong. Like Russian collusion, like being accused of being a Russian pawn at the first debate, Giuliani said, I was proven to be telling the truth and they were proven to be liars. Once again that will happen. When I testify we will get the whole story and it will be definitively clear that what I said was true. And that whatever happened to them  Its unfortunate if other people overreacted, but everything I said about them is true.

A reporter asked Giuliani if he regretted what he had said.

Of course I dont regret it, he replied. I told the truth. They were engaged in changing votes.

Unfortunately, thats not surprising, DuBose, Freemans attorney said a few minutes later, when told of Giulianis statement. He declined to comment further, saying that his clients would prefer to wait to tell their side of the story on the witness stand. I dont know if theres anything that will make them whole again, DuBose said, but they are looking forward to their day in court.

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Israels military said its mission to destroy an estimated 311 miles of Hamas tunnels across the Gaza Strip will take months, causing a scale of urban destruction that may prove impossible to reverse.

The devastating outcome of a drawn-out campaign against the militant group  with air strikes and ground battles continuing alongside the tunnel attacks  is likely to leave many of about 2.2 million Palestinians homeless and a question mark over where they can be re-housed.

In Beit Hanoun, a town of more than 50,000 people in the northern Gaza Strip, a roughly 25-mile Mediterranean enclave run by Hamas, the Israeli military has set about blowing up almost 100 shafts and several dozen tunnels, said Lieutenant Colonel Amit, who is overseeing their destruction and withheld his surname in line with army rules.

Beit Hanoun was among the places from which Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people on Oct. 7, triggering the ongoing counter-invasion. Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union.

The way it is now its not livable, Amit said of the town in a briefing near Gaza at the Tzeelim military base, where his 252nd Reserve Division is based. This is not beautiful what were doing. There is nothing nice about wars but this is necessary.

The destruction of tunnels is advancing Israels stated aim of dismantling Hamas infrastructure so the group cant repeat its deadly Oct. 7 assault. At the same time, reducing much of Gaza to rubble  which Hamas-run authorities say has killed at least 16,000 people to date, mostly civilians  is raising international concerns, including in the U.S.

The inhabitants of Gaza have been driven south by the fighting, but Israels campaign has started to move in the same direction. The United Nations has warned that civilians have run out of safe harbors and may need to be displaced into neighboring countries.

The situation is fast deteriorating into a catastrophe, U.N. chief Antonio Guterres said Wednesday, dramatically escalating his call for a cease-fire.

The tunnels, which are used by Hamas to move its militants from one place to another and to store weapons, are mostly located in densely populated areas, Amit said, using a map to illustrate.

Many are booby trapped, as are houses and roads, meaning that heavy de-mining equipment such as bulldozers are needed, increasing the extent of the damage. In a presentation, the military showed photographs and videos of rockets, grenades and Kalashnikov automatic rifles it said were found stashed in homes, schools and hospitals.

Our goal is to hurt Hamas and destroy Hamas as a political and military organization but you can see that these shafts are under normal peoples homes, Amit said, with his talk occasionally punctuated by the roar of fighter jets heading toward Gaza.

The military has so far discovered 800 tunnels across Gaza and destroyed 500 of them, with Beit Hanoun an area of particular focus. Now virtually all the inhabitants have fled the town, of which little is left. Amit is a reservist whose civilian work is in urban renewal, though he says hes now doing the opposite.

Some of the shafts are 98 feet deep, equivalent to the height of a 10-story building. Destroying them is a painstaking process with a considerable amount of explosives required to break down the concrete walls and blast-resistant doors.

Hamas has been building the tunnels since 2008 and it will take months, he said. We will be able to destroy Hamas as a functioning organization and then the infrastructure will take time.

Israel has yet to show it has a plan for Gaza after the war. Key allies such as the U.S. have expressed concern about the absence of a long-term strategy, as have key Arab nations.

Yet for now, the military isnt letting up on pursuing its goals for the territory  regardless of the damage caused.

For Gaza to be demilitarized, there is only one force that can see to this demilitarization  and that force is the Israel Defense Forces, Benjamin Netanyahu, the countrys prime minister, said on Dec. 5. I am not prepared to close my eyes and accept any other arrangement.
Elevating Mental Health Parity: Current Strides Towards Equitable Workplace Wellness

Amid the current mental health crisis, individuals must have access to the care they need and healthier and more supportive workplaces and communities.

The United States is in the midst of a serious mental health crisis. One in 5 American adults experience mental illness every year, and according to the most recent federal data, more than 46 million people in America experienced a substance use disorder in 2022. At the same time, suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. The personal and societal impacts of this crisis are, in many ways, immeasurable, but one thing is clear  it is incredibly important that we ensure that individuals have access to the care that they need and that we work together to create healthier and more supportive workplaces and communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated rates of anxiety, depression and substance use disorder as well as increased stress and burnout. Across the country, workers braved unprecedented working conditions to ensure that our economy continued to run and essential services were provided.

The same can be said for the climate crisis, as workers continue to face extreme heat and natural disasters in cities and towns in every corner of the country. These workers are heroes, and their sacrifices are ongoing, as many are facing long-lasting impacts on their mental and physical health because of these experiences.

The last few years have seen millions of workers transition to remote work. One of the side effects of this transition has been feelings of intense, widespread isolation and loneliness that many people are still experiencing today.

These various mental health conditions, when left untreated, can impact all parts of a persons life including relationships, family life, physical fitness and performance at work. In fact, in ADPs annual People at Work survey, almost half of workers said that their work is suffering because of poor mental health.

Work and mental wellness are deeply intertwined. Not only can a persons workplace have a significant impact on their overall mental health and their sense of purpose and fulfillment, but most people also rely on their job for the health coverage that they need, including for mental health conditions. Whether or not they have a good job is, for too many people, the difference between whether they are able to get the help they need or not.
Soaring supply from the United States and other non-OPEC+ oil producers could force the OPEC+ group to continue carefully managing its supply to the market for the next five years to prevent a collapse in oil prices, analysts at Rapidan Energy Group say.

For the next several years, at least, continually unified, vigilant, and effective OPEC+ supply management will be required to prevent a collapse in oil prices, Rapidan said in a report carried by Bloomberg.

Oil supply from the U.S., Brazil, and Guyana is rising much faster than initially expected, according to Rapidan, which was founded by former White House official Bob McNally.

U.S. crude oil production is breaking records these days, putting additional pressure on the OPEC+ group, which looks to keep oil prices above $80 per barrel by controlling market stability.

OPEC+ and its leader, Saudi Arabia, face the same old dilemma  how to counter surging U.S. production and prevent it from unraveling the efforts of the alliance to prop up prices.

Record-high U.S. oil production is a "huge problem" for OPEC+, Paul Sankey at Sankey Research told CNBC after the latest OPEC+ meeting.

The solution for Saudi Arabia could be to just flush the soaring non-OPEC+ output out by flooding the market with crude and thus sinking oil prices to levels below the U.S. profitability threshold, Sankey said.

But if OPEC+ wants to keep oil in the $80-$100 range, it will have to continue oil supply management over the next five years, according to Rapidan, which also said in its report that peak oil demand this decade is a mirage.

Oil demand not peaking by 2030 will be the next big surprise for the oil market, according to the analysts.

Still, We assume OPEC+ will successfully manage the market in the run-up to tighter conditions later this decade, Rapidan said.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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United States President Joe Biden sent an invitation to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to visit the White House. This comes days after Biden's administration issued a warning that US assistance funding to Ukraine will expire in weeks unless congressional partisans resolve their differences.

As a result of conservatives' objections to leaving out immigration changes they wanted as part of the deal, Republican senators last week blocked $106 billion in emergency aid, mostly for Ukraine and Israel.

Crucial US Visit

A statement by the White House, released on Sunday, December 10, said that the leaders will address Ukraine's pressing needs and the critical importance of the US' ongoing support as Russia increases its missile and drone attacks against Ukraine.

The meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 12, is meant "to underscore the United States' unshakeable commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia's brutal invasion."

In a report by The Guardian, Zelenskiy's office announced via Telegram that the leader of Ukraine would be visiting Washington on Monday, December 11, for a working visit that would include a lot of meetings and discussions. During this trip, he is expected to meet with Biden.

Senators from the US have asked Zelenskiy to speak to them on Tuesday morning at the Capitol, according to an adviser to the Senate leadership.

Additionally, Zelenskiy and US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson will have a private meeting in the Capitol on Tuesday, Johnson spokesperson Raj Shah told Reuters.

Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer of New York said that the Ukrainian leader had to cancel last week's video speech to US lawmakers.

See Also: Vladimir Putin Orders Russian Soldiers To Intensify Attacks Against Ukraine Before Russia's Presidential Election

Aid to Ukraine

Even though Congress has already set aside $111 billion to aid Ukraine, Biden's budget director Shalanda Young warned in a letter sent last week to Senate and House leaders that the US would not have enough money to supply weapons and aid to Ukraine by year's end, effectively crippling the country militarily.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in two interviews broadcast on Sunday that, with money for the Ukrainians dwindling, the situation is particularly precarious for their country. "This is a time to really step up because if we don't, we know what happens. Putin will be able to move forward with impunity and we know he won't stop in Ukraine."

Biden has shown his willingness to make substantial concessions in order to get the assistance package moving, as Blinken pointed out. The president is ready to engage in it, according to Blinken.

The administration has not yet provided a rationale for increased assistance to Ukraine, said Republican senator JD Vance. "So what we're saying to the president and really to the entire world is, you need to articulate what the ambition is. What is [$61 billion] going to accomplish that [$100 billion] hasn't?"

See Also: Russia Releases Chilling Warning Saying West's 500-Year Domination Is Near To EndRussia'se Has No Future

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This year's COP has been a wealth of climate commitments worth tens of billions of dollars, a number of deals in the transition space, and a couple of scandals.

It has also produced some oddities, such as complaints about the size of the venue that made dealmaking harder for lack of corridors and activists sporting caps with "Emissions" on them to remind Canada's government to approve an emissions cap scheme already, after years of talking about it.

What COP28 certainly did not produce, however, were any surprises when it came to the perhaps central topic of the summit: phasing out oil, coal, and natural gas.

The European Union led the charge against hydrocarbons even before the summit began. Earlier this year, it said it would seek a ban on oil, gas, and coal at COP28 as it stayed true to its word. At the summit, EU representatives urged the world, as represented in Dubai, to give hydrocarbons up in favor of alternative sources of energy. Then, the same representatives were "stunned" when oil-producing nations refused.

This weekend, the media sounded an alarm. The alarm was prompted by a revelation that OPEC had called on its member states to refrain from signing any document calling for the phaseout of hydrocarbons. The letter containing the call stunned French Energy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher, per her own words, and disappointed EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra.

Related: Tense Negotiations Over Fossil Fuel Phase Down as COP28 Nears End

"I am stunned by these statements from OPEC+. And I am angry," Pannier-Runacher said, as quoted by France 24 on Saturday when news of the letter, authored by OPEC secretary-general Haitham al Ghais, emerged.

The French official added that "OPEC+'s position endangers the most vulnerable countries and the poorest populations who are the first victims of this situation."

Commissioner Hoekstra, for his part, said that, "By many, including by me, that has been seen as out of whack, as unhelpful, as not in tune with where the world stands in terms of the very dramatic situation of our climate," per Reuters.

These reactions are hardly surprising. What is surprising is the fact that the people having them appear to have expected OPEC and its OPEC+ partners to willingly sign up for what would essentially be economic suicide over the long term.

Most OPEC members, including the group's leader, Saudi Arabia, rely on their oil and gas export revenues for most of their budget. Russia, contrary to certain beliefs, is not as dependent on its oil and gas revenuesbut they do represent a solid portion of its budget. The Central Asian OPEC+ partners are as oil-based as the Gulf economies.

The EU, which is a major consumer of oil and gas  and of coal, last year  is currently the biggest buyer of U.S. liquefied natural gas. It plans to reduce this dependency but there are zero signs this is happening. On the contrary: Germany is building more LNG import terminals.

The same EU has invoked the plight of poor nations that claim this plight is caused by climate change and the only way to arrest this change is by banning oil and gas and coalat a time when India and China have made it clear they are sticking with all hydrocarbons, including coal.

It is interesting that the EU is not lashing out at either India or China, two of the world's biggest consumers and the biggest drivers of oil, gas, and coal demand over the medium and long term. The EU is instead lashing out against oil- and gas-producing countries because this has become standard practice: if in doubt, blame oil and gas.

Yet, there should not have been any doubt about OPEC's position on the issue of oil and gas production and the hypothetical phaseout thereof.

As Al Ghais phrased it in the now notorious letter, "It seems that the undue and disproportionate pressure against fossil fuels may reach a tipping point with irreversible consequences, as the draft decision still contains options on fossil fuels phase out," he said.

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Then he went on to call on OPEC members to "proactively reject any text or formula that targets energy i.e. fossil fuels rather than emissions," as quoted by Reuters. This call is essentially a repeat of the message OPEC's head had for COP28: focus on emissions and not on the industry that produces the bulk of those emissions. Still, there were people who were surprised.

Given the non-existent possibility that OPEC will change its mind and the fact that the same is true of the EU climate change advocates, chances are that COP28 may go down in history as one of the most useless editions of the summit.

The big goal of the event was to clinch a deal for the phaseout of hydrocarbons on a global level. Those pushing this goal apparently ignored such stakeholders such as India, China, and the collective OPEC+, including its newest member, Brazil. Now, when events unfolded exactly as expected, climate officials are shocked and stunned. Perhaps the cure for this shock is setting the world more realistic goals instead of feeding an increasingly unhealthy fixation on oil and gas.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Shortly after pressuring Guyana to agree to talks with Venezuela over the annexation of oil-rich Essequibo, Brazil said it would resume electricity imports from Venezuela, which were halted four years ago, Reuters reports.

While the resumption of electricity imports from Venezuela was set in motion late in November, with authorization from the Brazilian government, the official resumption was announced at the same time that Guyana agreed to talks with Venezuela over Essequibo.

Brazil is attempting to play the role of mediator between Guyana and Venezuela and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro makes moves to annex Essequibo and force the withdrawal of foreign oil companies, including Exxon and Chevron, who have made major offshore discoveries here.

On Sunday, Guyanas president, Arfaan Ali, said he would meet with Venezuelan officials this Thursday to discuss the dispute.

I have made it very clear that on the issue of the border controversy, Guyanas position is non-negotiable, Ali said in a national broadcast.

As Guyana prepares for a potential invasion of Essequibo, which represents some two-thirds of its territory, and as Brazil deploys forces to its border for damage control, the hope is that talks could partially appease Maduro. Maduro has been pushing for direct talks for some time, while Guyana has repeatedly insisted that it is a matter to be decided by the United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In relation to our border, there is absolutely no compromise. The matter is before the ICJ and there is where it will be settled, Ali said, as reported by NBC. We expect that good sense will prevail and the commitment to peace, stability, the threat of disruption will cease.

In the meantime, Brazils resumption of electricity imports from Venezuela amid an easing of U.S. sanctions will likely mean lower energy costs particularly for consumers in the state or Roraima. Venezuelan electricity for export to Brazil is generated by the Guri hydroelectric plant, according to a Reuters report. The authorization is only temporary and will expire in January.

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Brazil canceled imports of Venezuelan electricity initially in 2019 due to souring relations.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The COP28 climate summit extended overtime on Tuesday as nations continue to disagree on wording about the use and production of fossil fuels, with former Western officials suggesting that the Dubai conference is on the verge of complete failure.

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore said that COP28 is now on the verge of complete failure.

The world desperately needs to phase out fossil fuels as quickly as possible, but this obsequious draft reads as if OPEC dictated it word for word, Gore added in an X post.

A draft final statement on Monday, which referenced only suggestions about Reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels angered many developed nations and island nations for not including any phase out of fossil fuels language.

The draft was put forward by the COP28 President, Sultan Al Jaber, who is also the chief executive of national oil company ADNOC.

This draft says that the Conference of the Parties calls upon Parties to take actions that could include, among other things, Reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner so as to achieve net zero by, before, or around 2050 in keeping with the science.

The draft also includes the texts, Rapidly phasing down unabated coal and limitations on permitting new and unabated coal power generation and Phasing out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption and do not address energy poverty or just transitions, as soon as possible.

Chances of a compromise looked slim early on Tuesday after the U.S., the EU, the UK, Australia, and a group of island nations most severely hit by climate change said they refuse to sign a document that doesnt mention a phase-out of fossil fuels. Delegates from small island nations said they would not endorse an agreement that would be a death warrant for the countries worst hit by climate change.

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By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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A ship in the Red Sea has been hit by a missile fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen, a day after the Houthis said they would target every vessel bound for Israel.

The information came from two unnamed U.S. officials who spoke to the War Zone. Per the report, the target is a commercial vessel by the name of M/T Strinda and it was attacked some 60 miles from the Bab el Mandeb chokepoint.

The news comes a day after the Houthis said they would consider every ship bound for Israel a legitimate target.

Separately, the UKs Office of Maritime Trade Operations released a warning for all commercial ships in the Red Sea today, saying that an Unknown Entity claiming to be the Yemeni Navy over Radio Frequencies has Ordering for a Ship near the Strait to Divert their Course towards Ports in Yemen.

Out of concern for the safety of maritime navigation, we warn all ships and companies to avoid dealing with Israeli ports, Yemens military spokesman Yahya Saree wrote on X, adding that The Yemeni Armed Forces reaffirms its full commitment to the safe continuation of the global trade movement through the Red and Arab Seas for all ships and all countries with the exception of ships affiliated to Israel or transporting commodities to Israeli ports.

The recent string of missile and drone attacks on vessels in the Red Sea has raised concerns about the security of oil shipments in the region. The concern, however, does not seem to be particularly acute, judging by oil price movements.

U.S. Navy forces in the region have been responding to the attacks, which has prompted calls for restraint from Saudi Arabia likely in a bid to avoid any further escalation of violence in a sensitive area for oil transport. The significance of these calls is especially notable in light of the fact that Saudi Arabia has been fighting the Houthis in Yemen for years.

Reuters has cited senior sources in the Iran-aligned camp as saying that the Houthis were using Red Sea attacks to pressure the U.S. to push Israel to cease its offensive on Gaza. Indeed, Yahya Saree's X thread noted that the attacks will cease if food and medicines are provided to Gazans.

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The Permian basin saw a surge in mergers and acquisitions this year, with the total value already exceeding a record $100 billion, led by the mega deals announced by ExxonMobil and Chevron, energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie said on Tuesday.

The Permian, the top oil-producing basin in the United States, saw a return of M&A activity this year as large operators look to add more acreage and expand their reserves and production.

The latter part of 2023 saw major deals announced, including $50-billion-plus deals for each of Exxon and Chevron.

In October, Exxon announced a deal to buy Pioneer Natural Resources in an all-stock transaction valued at $59.5 billion. The implied total enterprise value of the transaction, including net debt, is approximately $64.5 billion.

Exxon said back then that the proposed transaction transforms ExxonMobils upstream portfolio, more than doubling the companys Permian footprint and creating an industry-leading, high-quality, high-return undeveloped U.S. unconventional inventory position.

Weeks later, Chevron said it would buy Hess Corporation in an all-stock transaction valued at $53 billion with a total enterprise value, including debt, at $60 billion.

The frenetic deal-making this year also included Permian Resources buying Earthstone Energy in an all-stock deal valued at $4.5 billion, which is expected to create a $14-billion premier producer in the Delaware basin in the Permian.

The latest announced deal was Mondays statement from Occidental Petroleum, which said it would buy Permian oil and gas producer CrownRock for cash and stock in a deal valued at around $12 billion, including debt.

The acquisition will boost Occidentals premier Permian portfolio with the addition of around 170,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) of high-margin, lower-decline unconventional production in 2024, as well as approximately 1,700 undeveloped locations, Oxy said.

This transaction cements an absolute banner year in Permian acquisitions and divestments spend, Robert Clarke, vice president of upstream research at Wood Mackenzie, said in a statement carried by Reuters.

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Coupled with other mega 2023 deals like ExxonMobil and Pioneer, it solidifies Permian scale and multi-decade longevity as a 'must have' trait for US Majors and Super-Independents.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Russias crude oil shipments jumped in the four weeks to December 10, after storms in the Black Sea that had disrupted loadings in November subsided, tanker-tracking data monitored by Bloomberg showed on Tuesday.

Russias crude oil shipments from all its ports averaged 3.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in the four weeks to December 10, up by around 114,000 bpd compared to the four-week average to December 3, according to the data reported by Bloombergs Julian Lee.

Weekly shipments, which are much more volatile and not representative of average monthly exports, jumped to the highest level since the start of July with uninterrupted loadings at the Black Sea port in Russia in the week to December 10, the data showed.

At the end of November, oil exports from Russias ports on the Black Sea were disrupted as shipping was restricted due to storms in the region.

Russia has pledged to reduce its oil exports by 300,000 bpd until the end of 2023, in a show of solidarity with its OPEC+ partner Saudi Arabia, which is voluntarily reducing its oil production by 1 million bpd until 2023.

At the latest OPEC+ meeting, Russia said it would deepen the export cut to 500,000 bpd in the first quarter of 2024, with May and June of 2023 being the reference export levels for the cut, which will consist of 300,000 bpd of crude and 200,000 bpd of refined products.

Earlier this month, reports emerged that Russia has promised oil-flow tracking companies and price reporting agencies to provide data about its production, inventories, and fuel output after OPEC+ asked Moscow for more transparency in tracking its compliance with the cuts.

Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has classified its oil production and export data, saying it would not provide detailed information about its oil sector which could be used by the West to track down and clamp down on Russias oil exports, or oil revenues.

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Russia has always been evasive about its compliance with the OPEC+ agreement, even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Saudi Aramco is entering Pakistans downstream market by acquiring a 40% stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan Ltd, one of the countrys largest retail and storage companies, as the oil giant seeks international downstream expansion and Saudi Arabia looks to invest more in its ally Pakistan.

Saudi Aramco said on Tuesday it had signed definitive agreements to acquire a 40% equity stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan Ltd (GO), a diversified downstream fuels, lubricants, and convenience stores operator.

The transaction is subject to certain customary conditions, including regulatory approvals, the Saudi oil giant said.

The acquisition would be Aramcos first entry into the Pakistani fuels retail market, advancing its strategy to strengthen its downstream value chain internationally.

Our second planned retail acquisition this year aligns with Aramcos downstream expansion strategy, with a clear path ahead for growing an integrated refining, marketing, lubricants, trading and chemicals portfolio worldwide, Aramcos Downstream President Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani said in a statement.

Earlier this year, Qahtani said that Saudi Aramco looks to further bolster its downstream presence in the worlds top crude oil importer, China. The long-term prospects on the Chinese market are favorable for Saudi Aramco, which is looking to further expand its downstream business in China and lock in future term oil supply contracts with the top global oil importer.

Saudi Aramco announced earlier this year two major refinery and petrochemical deals in China, which not only give the worlds largest oil firm a share of the Chinese downstream market but also an additional export outlet for around 690,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Saudi crude in China.

Pakistans caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said in September that Saudi Arabia would invest up to $25 billion in Pakistan within the next five years in various sectors including mining, agriculture, and information technology.

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Georgene Schaben believes every day is a blessing.

The lifelong farm girl from Defiance, Iowa, taught preschool for 20 years after her children went to college. She loves spending time with her family, especially her grandkids.

Through good times and bad, the loss of a son and grandson and her own battle with lung cancer, the 71-year-old has kept the same outlook: Just stay positive.

I think that does more good than anything, she said. Appreciate the day you have, then go from there.

A chance discovery

Schaben can thank a nagging cough for the discovery of her lung cancer.

In 2020, she quit her 40-year smoking habit, and a persistent cough shed been battling vanished with her cigarettes. The cough returned in 2022, but sometimes it was worse than before. During a wellness visit in July that year, Schabens doctor in Harlan, Iowa, had an X-ray taken of her hip after she complained of pain there. She also mentioned her cough, and he decided to take a chest X-ray, as well.

We found it kind of by accident, Schaben said of the two white growths, known as nodules, that the X-ray revealed on her left lung. Fearing they could be cancer, her doctor ordered a CT scan of her lungs and suggested getting an expert opinion.

I told him, I feel good. I dont have cancer, she said. Of course, its always denial, right? I felt the best I had in years.

Dr. Sumit Mukherjee, a pulmonologist with Methodist Physicians Clinic, has plenty of experience reviewing images like Schabens. They come from patients complaining of lung issues as well as other initiatives to detect lung cancer earlier, when its most treatable. Those efforts include low-dose CT scans for patients with lung cancer risk factors and Methodist Health Systems Incidental Lung Nodule Program, which uses artificial intelligence to flag growths found during care for unrelated issues.

Im a strong believer in lung cancer screening, and its also quite amazing how many lung cancers are found on scans that are done for other reasons, Dr. Mukherjee said. Finding these lesions early  incidentally or with lung cancer screening  can have a great impact on survival and outcomes.

In Schabens case, the nodules were concerning enough that Dr. Mukherjee recommended a biopsy. A bronchoscopy and biopsy in late August didnt show cancer, but they did reveal an infection. Schaben was treated and returned for another CT scan in early November. Her nodules had grown and she soon underwent a CT-guided surgical biopsy.

The biopsy revealed that Schaben had stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer. In January, thoracic surgeon Dr. Karin Trujillo performed robotic surgery at Methodist Hospital to remove Schabens upper left lobe and several lymph nodes.

Its extremely important for her that this was caught when it was, Dr. Mukherjee said. She certainly would not have been a candidate for any of her treatments if this had waited much longer. A lesson that people can take from Georgenes story is to get yourself screened for lung cancer if you qualify.

I always think theres hope

After the surgery, Schaben began chemotherapy with oncologist Dr. Sakeer Hussain of Heartland Oncology and Hematology. Although she was worried about possible side effects, she found strength in the ultimate goal: beating cancer and spending more time with her family.

I did it for my grandson, she said. He had lost his daddy, and he told me, Grandma, I cant lose another person I love. I told myself that if I had to take chemo, Id go through it.

Shes also been involved in clinical trials. She credits a home exercise trial with helping her recover from surgery. Shes currently enrolled in a chemotherapy trial with Dr. Hussain that should conclude next spring, and her goals go beyond her own health.

I want to do this trial to help other people, too, she said.

For now, Schaben appears to be on the right path. She undergoes follow-up CT scans every six months to watch for a recurrence, and her outlook is a blend of realism and optimism.

Cancer has a way of coming back. We all know that. Thats the way it is, she said.

But, she added, you can control how you fight it.

I always think theres hope, she said. Thats the most important thing of all  keeping your spirits up. With the grace of God, the people we love and their support, and great doctors and medicine we have, you can go on.

For more information, visit bestcare.org.

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass.  Harvard President Claudine Gay will remain leader of the prestigious Ivy League school following her comments last week at a congressional hearing on antisemitism, the university's highest governing body announced Tuesday.

"Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing," the Harvard Corporation said in a statement following its meeting Monday.

Only months into her leadership, Gay came under intense scrutiny following the hearing in which she and two of her peers struggled to answer questions about campus antisemitism in the wake of the latest Israel-Hamas war, which erupted in early October.

Their academic responses provoked backlash from Republican opponents, along with alumni and donors who say the university leaders are failing to stand up for Jewish students on their campuses.

At issue was a line of questioning that asked whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate the universities' code of conduct. At the hearing, Gay said it depended on the context, adding that when "speech crosses into conduct, that violates our policies."

Some lawmakers and donors to the the university called for Gay to step down following the resignation of Liz Magill as president of the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday.

The Harvard Crimson student newspaper first reported Tuesday that Gay, who became Harvard's first Black president in July, would remain in office with the support of the Harvard Corporation following the conclusion of the board's meeting. It cited an unnamed source familiar with the decision.

A petition signed by more than 600 faculty members asked the school's governing body to keep Gay in charge.

"So many people have suffered tremendous damage and pain because of Hamas's brutal terrorist attack, and the university's initial statement should have been an immediate, direct, and unequivocal condemnation," the corporation's statement said. "Calls for genocide are despicable and contrary to fundamental human values. President Gay has apologized for how she handled her congressional testimony and has committed to redoubling the university's fight against antisemitism."

In an interview with The Crimson last week, Gay said she got caught up in a heated exchange at the House committee hearing and failed to properly denounce threats of violence against Jewish students.

"What I should have had the presence of mind to do in that moment was return to my guiding truth, which is that calls for violence against our Jewish community  threats to our Jewish students  have no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged," Gay said.

Testimony from Gay and Magill drew intense national backlash, as did similar responses from the president of MIT, who also testified before the Republican-led House Education and Workforce Committee.

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, a committee member who repeatedly asked the university presidents whether "calling for the genocide of Jews" would violate the schools' rules, voiced her displeasure on social media about the decision supporting Gay.

"There have been absolutely no updates to (Harvard's) code of conduct to condemn the calls for genocide of Jews and protect Jewish students on campus," she said. "The only update to Harvard's code of conduct is to allow plagiarists as president."

A grassroots watchdog group called StopAntisemitism said on social media that Harvard's decision "serves only to greenlight more Jew-hatred on campus." It said it continues to call for Gay's resignation and urged the corporation to reconsider.

College campuses nationwide have been roiled by protests, antisemitism and Islamophobia since the start of the war in Gaza two months ago, putting university administrators across the nation on the defensive.

The corporation also addressed allegations of plagiarism against Gay, saying that Harvard became aware of them in late October regarding three articles she had written. It initiated an independent review at Gay's request.

The corporation reviewed the results on Saturday, "which revealed a few instances of inadequate citation" and found no violation of Harvard's standards for research misconduct, it said. Gay is proactively requesting four corrections in two articles to insert citations and quotation marks that were omitted from the original publications, the statement said.
Elon Musk defended his Tesla Full Self-Driving feature once again against fraud allegations made by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

This was revealed by the automaker's Dec. 5 filing with the state Office of Administrative Hearings, which was just recently on Friday, Dec. 8.

Based on the filing, DMV had investigated the EV manufacturer's use of the Autopilot and Full Self-Driving brands between 2014 and 2017; the agency also investigated other similar terms used by Tesla.

DMV officials claim that Tesla is falsely using these brands to fool EV buyers. However, Elon Musk claimed that they were not doing anything wrong.

Elon Musk Defends Tesla Full Self-Driving Feature Against DMV

According to the Los Angeles Times' latest report, Elon Musk claims that it was DMV's fault for allowing Tesla to use the Full Self-Driving and Autopilot brands without implementing restrictions for the past few years.

The tech executive also argued that the U.S. Constitution's 1st Amendment Right allows them to use these terms in their business. Elon Musk even accused the Californian Department of Motor Vehicles of violating its free speech rights.

"The DMV chose not to take any action against Tesla or otherwise communicate to Tesla that its advertising or use of these brand names was or might be problematic," said Tesla via Reuters.

Elon Musk and his company further stated that in 2016, DMV decided not to impose prohibitions against the use of "self-driving" and other similar terms when drawing up regulations about statements on autonomous innovations.

"Tesla relied upon Claimant's (the DMV's) implicit approval of these brand names," added Tesla.

Read Also: Climate Activist Berates Tesla Driver for Sitting Inside His EV with Engine Running

California DMV's Accusations Against Tesla

On Nov. 20, DMV officials filed a motion, accusing Tesla of misleading car consumers with claims regarding the Full Self-Driving and Autopilot features.

One of the descriptions that the Department of Motor Vehicles pointed out is Tesla's claim that the system is designed for short and long-distance trips without any assistance from the human driver.

DMV's allegations could be true since the Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features are still far from being perfect.

However, Elon Musk always includes words like "hope" and "expect," meaning that they are still working on the automotive features to achieve the claims they make.

Related Article: What is Tesla Giga Water Loop? Here's What Elon Musk is Possibly Building Outside Gigafactory Texas

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Today is Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. Let's get caught up.

Keep scrolling for celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history. Plus, give our daily news podcast a listen:

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What to know about abortion lawsuits being heard in US courts this week

When the U.S. Supreme Court undid the nationwide right to abortion last year, it did not remove the issue from the courts.

Instead, it opened a new frontier of litigation, with states passing their own restrictions and opponents challenging them in courts across the country.

This week, at least four state supreme courts are dealing with abortion cases, including a Texas ruling Monday that rejected a woman's individual request for access to an abortion because of pregnancy complications.

Some things to know about the cases:

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MORE TOP STORIES

Zelenskyy will arrive on Capitol Hill as Biden's aid package for Ukraine risks collapse

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will arrive on Capitol Hill to a darker mood than when he swooped in last winter for a hero's welcome, as the Russian invasion is grinding into a third year and U.S. funding hangs in balance.

Zelenskyy's visit Tuesday comes as President Joe Biden's request for an additional $110 billion U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs is at serious risk of collapse in Congress. Republicans are insisting on strict U.S.-Mexico border security changes that Democrats decry as draconian in exchange for the overseas aid.

Read more:

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Special counsel asks the Supreme Court to rule on Trump immunity

Special counsel Jack Smith on Monday asked the Supreme Court to take up and rule quickly on whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted on charges he plotted to overturn the 2020 election results.

Smith made his request for the court to act with unusual speed to prevent any delays that could push back the trial of the 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner, currently set to begin March 4, until after next years presidential election.

***

MORNING LISTEN

Bad weather might keep you from heading out to a store, but does it change online shopping patterns? Learn more on the Across the Sky podcast.

***

WORLD NEWS

Israel-Gaza war

Israeli forces carried out strikes across Gaza overnight and into Tuesday as they pressed ahead with an offensive that officials say could go on for weeks or months, even as global calls for a cease-fire left both Israel and its main ally, the United States, increasingly isolated.

National Israel and US show sharp divisions over mounting casualties and future of war against Hamas

Pakistan suicide bomber

A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle at a police station's main gate in northwest Pakistan early Tuesday, killing at least 23 troops and wounding 32 others, and causing a part of the building to collapse upon impact, the military and officials said.

COP28

A stark standoff between countries that want a dramatic phase-out to fossil fuels causing damaging warming and those that don't crushed hopes for an on-time finish to a critical climate summit Tuesday.

Yemen's Houthi rebels

A missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen near a key maritime chokepoint, the rebels and authorities said Tuesday.

***

TRENDING TOPICS

***

TODAY IN HISTORY

Today in history: Dec. 12 In 2015, nearly 200 nations meeting in Paris adopted the first global pact to fight climate change, and more events that happened on this day 

Today in sports history: Dec. 12 In 1965, Chicagos Gale Sayers scores six touchdowns to lead the Bears to a 61-20 win. The six TDs give Sayers an NFL-record 21 for the season

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TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS
WASHINGTON  Special counsel Jack Smith asked the Supreme Court on Monday to take up and rule quickly on whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted on charges he plotted to overturn the 2020 election results.

Smith made his request for the court to act with unusual speed to prevent any delays that could push back the trial of the 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner, scheduled to begin March 4, until after next year's presidential election.

Later Monday, the justices indicated they would decide quickly whether to hear the case, ordering Trump's lawyers to respond by Dec. 20. The court's brief order did not indicate what it ultimately would do.

A federal judge ruled the case could go forward, but Trump said he would ask the federal appeals court in Washington to reverse that outcome. Smith is attempting to bypass the appeals court, the usual next step in the process, and have the Supreme Court take up the matter directly.

"This case presents a fundamental question at the heart of our democracy: whether a former President is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office or is constitutionally protected from federal prosecution when he has been impeached but not convicted before the criminal proceedings begin," prosecutors wrote.

Trump's presidential campaign criticized Smith for trying to go around the appeals court.

"There is absolutely no reason to rush this sham to trial except to injure President Trump and tens of millions of his supporters," the campaign said in a statement.

The court is next scheduled to meet privately Jan. 5. It's unclear whether the justices would convene sooner to take up Smith's request.

Underscoring the urgency for prosecutors in securing a quick resolution that can push the case forward, Smith and his team wrote: "It is of imperative public importance that respondent's claims of immunity be resolved by this Court and that respondent's trial proceed as promptly as possible if his claim of immunity is rejected."

At issue is a Dec. 1 ruling from U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan that rejected arguments by Trump's lawyers that he was immune from federal prosecution. In her order, Chutkan, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, wrote that the office of the president "does not confer a lifelong 'get-out-of-jail-free' pass."

"Former Presidents enjoy no special conditions on their federal criminal liability," Chutkan wrote. "Defendant may be subject to federal investigation, indictment, prosecution, conviction, and punishment for any criminal acts undertaken while in office."

Justice Department policy prohibits the indictment of a sitting president. Though there's no such bar against prosecution for a former commander in chief, lawyers for Trump say he can't be charged for actions that fell within his official duties as president  a claim that prosecutors vigorously reject.

Prosecutors are also asking the court to take up Trump's claim, also already rejected by Chutkan, that he cannot be prosecuted in court for conduct for which he was already impeached  and acquitted  before Congress.

Trump faces charges accusing him of working to overturn the results of the 2020 election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden before the violent riot by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol. He denies wrongdoing.

A Supreme Court case usually lasts several months from the time the justices agree to hear it until a final decision. Smith asked the court to move with unusual, but not unprecedented, speed.

Almost 50 years ago, the justices acted within two months of being asked to force President Richard Nixon to turn over Oval Office recordings in the Watergate scandal. The tapes were used later in 1974 in the corruption prosecutions of Nixon's former aides.

It took the high court just a few days to effectively decide the 2000 presidential election for Republican George W. Bush over Democrat Al Gore.

If the justices decline to step in at this point, Trump's appeal would continue at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Smith already asked for quick review there, too, but he said even a rapid appellate decision might not get to the Supreme Court in time for review and final word before the court's traditional summer break.

The special counsel's filings also show that Michael Dreeben, a former Justice Department lawyer who for years argued criminal cases at the Supreme Court, has joined Smith's team. Dreeben also was part of special counsel Robert Mueller's team in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Two North Omaha lawmakers are pledging support for city officials to establish an inland port authority, saying it would help coordinate economic development efforts in their districts.

State Sens. Terrell McKinney and Justin Wayne shared their support for this move in a press release Tuesday. In 2021, the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill Wayne introduced allowing up to five inland port authorities to be set up within the state. Since then, several authorities have already been established.

An inland port authority is an area controlled by an independent board that can engage in marketing, issue and sell bonds, and acquire property. Both lawmakers said this initiative would ensure that appropriated funds meant for underserved areas of Omaha are used for those purposes.

Wayne and McKinney are the leaders in a legislative effort that has allocated over $400 million in state and federal dollars to serve neighborhoods in North and South Omaha, along with some other underserved regions across Nebraska. According to the press release, more than $175 million has been invested for developments within two miles of the Omaha airport.

Most of the remaining funds were left up to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to issue via grants for local projects. The department has opened applications for those grants, but over the last six months, the only aid they have announced is $20 million for improvements at the Charles Drew Health Center.

These investments are critical for the future of North Omaha and cannot fail, Wayne said in the press release. DEDs approach to programming in the area has not been coordinated, and currently there is no requirement that any proceeds of the funds be reinvested into North Omaha. An Inland Port Authority will bring focus, transparency, and accountability to these projects and guarantee that the funds are kept in the community.

Wayne and McKinney are urging the states executive branch to support the City of Omaha pursuing an inland port authority, and they expressed support for future legislation that would reappropriate funds from DED to the authority if it is established.

North Omaha deserves an entity that is dedicated to steering its future forward and entirely focused on maximizing the impact of these once-in-a-lifetime dollars, McKinney said in the press release.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of December 2023
BLOOMINGTON  A Bloomington man who was charged with multiple drug offenses over the last three months was granted pretrial release on Monday.

According to court records, 61-year-old David N. Evans is accused of delivering less than a gram of a substance containing cocaine to a confidential source of the Illinois State Police Task Force Six on Sept. 25 and Oct. 31 in Bloomington.

He also is accused of possessing less than 15 grams of a substance containing cocaine on Nov. 7 and Dec. 3.

Evans is charged with two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, a Class 2 felony, and two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony.

However, since none of the charges were detainable offenses under the Pretrial Fairness Act, Evans was released from custody Monday.

Evans' arraignment is at 10 a.m. on Dec. 28.

Updated mug shots from The Pantagraph (copy) Bryant Lewis Derek Roesch Justin M. Mata Marcus D. Wesley Phillip Tinch Trisha L. Hanke William B. Givens David L. Oliver Kenneth E. Funk Jordan R. King Holly M. Isaacson Kenneth L. Minton Tony L. Jackson Britley L. Hilger Jasmine L. Smith Jackie S. Claypool Noah R. Demuth Brandon L. Parsano Alexander N. Williams Carlos Sanchez-Solozarzano Jaylin S. Bones Jordan R. King Dominique M. Banks Austin T. Daugherty Sandra M. Lewis Samantha E. Morris Nolan C. Love Nikkita L. Sandefur Katlin M.B. Wilson Eli C. Garozzo Tysean T. Townsend Curtis J. Byrd Noral K. Nelson Charles J. Tankson Davis, Micah S Livingston, Joshua D. Kevin L. Ewen Emmanuel K. Mpay Ahmad S. Manns Dylan R Mann Tony L. Jackson William R. Linden Zadek U. Moen Zachary T. Willis Cecily M. Sexton Tonisha A. Jackson James A. McConnaughay Jessica M. Longberry Barry D. Guyton Keon E. Spiller Melina Aguilar Carlos D. Cregan Wayne M. Damron Terrance L. Ford Stanley M. Miller Darryl R. Vinson Jarvis K. Heads Wesley M. Noonan Brad Carter Brian K. Burnett Kenneth D. Downey Kenyon J. Bones Brittany N. Greiner Ashley Tuttle.jpg John C Denight.jpg Sabrinna I. Buckley.jpg
NORMAL  Heartland Community College has named Noah Lamb as vice president of finance and administration.

Noah brings a depth of experience beyond that of just budget and finance  holding positions in administrative operations and business management during his career in higher ed, said Heartland President Keith Cornille in a statement. We are very fortunate to have him join our team and look forward to adding his perspective to the College.

The vacancy was created after the departure of former vice president of finance and administration Letisha Trepac in August. Since then, Sam Overton has been serving as an interim vice president of finance and administration.

Lamb, who has 15 years of nonprofit higher education experience in finance and budgeting, auxiliary operations, human resources, strategic planning and risk management, is scheduled to begin at Heartland on Jan. 22, pending approval from the Board of Trustees.

Lamb said he was honored to be selected for the role.

I continue to be impressed by the faculty, staff, students and Board on their devotion to the College's mission and students' success," he said in a prepared statement. "Im eager to begin this new role where I hope to bring my experiences, enthusiasm, and dedication to the Heartland community."

Lamb will move to Heartland from Springfield, Ohio, where he served as an assistant vice president of finance and administration at Wittenberg University.

Prior to joining Wittenberg in 2020, Lamb served as an assistant vice president of administrative operations at Hodges University in Fort Meyers, Florida, and as a senior budget analyst at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.

Photos: The 2023 Bloomington-Normal Jaycees Holiday Parade.
NORMAL  Illinois State University Interim President Aondover Tarhule is no longer being considered for a vice president and chancellor position at an Indianapolis university, which announced Monday that another candidate would take the job.

Reports emerged late last month that Tarhule was seeking a the new job at Indiana University-Indianapolis. That school will be officially rebranded by fall 2024 after its public university system opted to split a decades-long campus partnership in the states capitol with Purdue University.

An Indiana University statement on Monday announced that Latha Ramchand will instead lead the Indianapolis campus. IU said Ramchand is currently a executive vice chancellor and provost for the University of Missouri, where she took new approaches on bettering enrollment, student success and academic offerings.

Tarhule declined comment on the outcome of the search, an ISU media relations spokesperson said, out of respect for the search process.

In February, Tarhule took over as interim president of ISU, following the sudden resignation of former President Terri Goss Kinzy. Tarhule is contracted to serve as ISU interim president until June 2024.

The Missouri university system, where Ramchand , teaches 31,000 students at its flagship campus in Columbia, Missouri. Ramchand was previously a college of business dean at a Houston university.

Her hiring is set to become effective Feb. 12, as she will head the school of about 20,000 undergraduate students in Indiana.

According to a June statement from IU, the two Indiana universities are splitting from a joint partnership that in 1969 established Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

Starting in fall 2024, both will run as separate institutions.

The executive vice president and chancellor position was described in job postings as seeking a bold, visionary and entrepreneurial candidate who can partner with the campus community in Indianapolis and leadership at IU.

This article has been updated.

Photos: Illinois State mens basketball wins 69-61 over Eastern Illinois
NORMAL  The search for Illinois State Universitys next president marched onward Monday, as 29 committee members met that afternoon to review candidate selection processes and hear recruiter updates.

Fifteen candidates have submitted application materials for the position vacated by former President Terri Goss Kinzy, said Laurie Wilder, president of Parker Executive Search. The university's board of trustees hired the Atlanta, Georgia-based firm to lead the process.

The number reported by Wilder was a positive change from the committee's last meeting two weeks ago, when she said two people had submitted materials, three had been recommended and 10 indicated they were interested in learning more.

Also on Monday, it became clear that interim President Aondover Tarhule would not be leaving for a job at an Indianapolis university where he had interviewed for a leadership position last month.

Tarhule, provost and vice president for academic affairs, was named interim president after Kinzy's abrupt departure in February, less than two years after she took office. A reason for her resignation was never disclosed, and Kinzys separation agreement included a stipulation that neither party would address the matter publicly beyond the university-distributed statements they had already made.

Late last month, an ISU spokesperson confirmed reports that Tarhule was seeking a vice president and chancellor position at Indiana University-Indianapolis. The school will be rebranded by fall 2024 after its public university system opted to split a decades-long campus partnership in the states capitol with Purdue University.

On Monday, Indiana University announced that Latha Ramchand will instead lead the Indianapolis campus of about 20,000 undergraduate students in Indiana. IU said Ramchand is currently an executive vice chancellor and provost for the University of Missouri, where she took new approaches on bettering enrollment, student success and academic offerings.

The Missouri university system teaches 31,000 students at its flagship campus in Columbia, Missouri. Ramchand was previously a college of business dean at a Houston university, and her hiring is set to become effective Feb. 12.

Through an ISU spokesperson, Tarhule declined comment on the outcome of that search and whether he is vying to stay in his presidential role at ISU, citing respect for search processes at both universities.

By the numbers

Wilder said the firm has begun discussions with 18 individuals who have expressed interested. Another 20 have scheduled calls to learn more about the job, she added.

The labor market feedback has been very good, the search firm president continued. Wilder said there is nothing stopping us from turning potential interest into real interest.

She said interested parties have asked about ISUs strategic plans, history of state funding issues and why the previous president left, which was a real concern very early on. However, Wilder said theyve been able to move past that point with inquirers.

Wilder said in this stage of the search process, they pay more attention to the 18 who have already discussed the job with the firm and the 20 who have scheduled calls with them to learn more. Wilder said she expects many candidates will wait until just before the Jan. 10 deadline to apply.

Candidates and potential candidates represent a range of backgrounds, she said, including sitting presidents, provosts and vice presidents in academic affairs. Wilder said they would like to see the number increase, but they are concerned with quality over quantity.

She said there are a number of provosts from Research II institutions who want to know more about ISU, referencing the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education ranking system. Wilder said the vast majority of presidents come from provosts or vice presidents of academic affairs. She added to that category a undisclosed number of people from other parts of university administration, including vice president of student affairs and deans of colleges from Research I institutions.

Porsha Williams, vice president of the search firm, said media reviews are also being done on candidate to gather negative information the committee should consider. She said the firms team will not pass judgment on the candidates for the committee, but will help the committee to talk through issues to determine any deal breakers.

One person from the ISU campus has also been nominated several times for the role, Wilder and Williams confirmed. That individual was not identified, but both encouraged more nominations from the Normal campus.

Wilder said there are many conversations about internal candidates, which are likely part of every search they run.

The scary part about for potential candidates, especially for a public exposure component, is an interim being an internal candidate, she said.

Wilder said candidates are always concerned about the searchs legitimacy, and Parker Executive Search is known as a firm in the industry that doesnt take searches that are rigged.

We have put our professional reputation on the line to say that we have seen no indications that this is a search where were just going through the motions, the firm president said.

Next steps

The committee comprises 29 members, who include university trustees, students, faculty, staff and representatives of the ISU foundation board.

The next meeting will convene Jan. 25, over a week after its members will be forwarded materials from the search firm to review. Interviews with semi-finalists will then commence across double-meeting dates in early February.

Committee chair Kathryn Bohn asked the firm to confirm that those meeting on Feb. 5-6 will be a long day. Wilder said they can likely get through five or six interviews in a full day, while they typically recommend bringing around 10 across both dates.

Starting Jan. 15, Williams said the committee will have access to a qualitative rubric to evaluate applications, which was prepared in part with ISUs human resources staff.

She noted the positions description identifies the ideal candidate as a proven and seasonable administration, and ethical leader with a demonstration history of leadership success in the academic environment.

Williams said application evaluations will be tiered in three strength categories, which should help facilitate committee discussions to narrow down semi-finalists.

She said its their hope that if all committee members complete the evaluation process by Jan. 25, theyll be able to focus on a group of candidates theyll share a consensus on.

This story has been corrected to reflect future meeting dates for the presidential search committee.

Photos: Murray State at Illinois State mens basketball
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

Dec. 12, 1923: Let the muddy weather come! This may not be the slogan of most residents of the city, but from the viewpoint of T.M. Lancaster, city engineer, the statement is justified. Some 5,808 square feet of sidewalks have been laid at intersections which cost in the neighborhood of $1,031.47.

75 years ago

Dec. 12, 1948: Bloomington-Normal's 17,000th telephone went into service at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Carlson, 1309 North East Street. Harold L. Etes, Bloomington manager of the Illinois Telephone company, stated the Carlson's phone represented a net gain of 5500 since Dec. 1, 1938.

50 years ago

Dec. 12, 1973: An interchange connecting Gregory Street with Interstates 55-74 west of Normal was recommended for the long-range street plan. Harold Hubbell of Illinois Department of Transportation said traffic usage would not warrant construction before 1990.

25 years ago

Dec. 12, 1998: McLean County Unit 5's newest school, to be located at Raab Road and Henry Street in Normal, is just eight months from opening and still has no name. The public has been asked to submit ideas by Jan. 15. Once the new school opens, the staff, students and community will recommend mascots, mottoes and school colors for the school board to approve.

Vintage Pantagraph newspaper ads for medicine, 'magic' remedies Clover Blossom Extract - Nov. 15, 1883 St. Jacobs Oil - July 14, 1887 Castoria - July 26, 1892 Rheumatic Ring - May 29, 1894 Beefmalt - May 29, 1894 Wakefield's Cough Syrup - Feb. 13, 1908 S.S.S. - April 23, 1908 Olive Tablets - Nov. 20, 1911 Cold-go - Dec. 11, 1911 Dr. Danby - Dec. 11, 1911 Allcock Plasters - March 2, 1917 Olive Tablets - Feb. 23, 1918 Laxative Bromo Quinine - Oct. 16, 1918 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - April 24, 1919 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - April 29, 1919 Snake Oil - Nov. 22, 1919 Beecham's Pills - Nov. 22, 1919 Snake Oil - Nov. 29, 1919 Doan's Kidney Pills - March 8, 1920 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - Sept. 21, 1920 J.C. Hutzell's Eczema Treatment - Nov. 11, 1922 Gude's Pepto-Mangan - April 2, 1923 O-Joy Corn Wafers - March 4, 1930 Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription - March 19, 1930 666 Tablets - March 25, 1930 Cuticura - March 25, 1930 Geo-Mineral - Dec. 8, 1948 Anacin - Jan. 16, 1963 Liquiprin - Aug. 27, 1970 Icy Hot - Nov. 20, 1977
LEROY  Metronet announced Monday that all LeRoy residents and businesses located in initial construction areas will have access to 100% fiber optic internet.

As Metronet's service becomes available throughout the area, residents will have access to multi-gigabit speeds up to two gigabits, and businesses may access speeds up to 10 gigabits.

LeRoy residents will continue to see Metronet trucks throughout the area as expansion continues. Residents will receive notice via mail about construction in their neighborhood 30 days prior to starting. Yard signs and other messaging will also be provided to notify residents.

Metronet crews are identified by ID tags and branded vehicles.

Residents interested in signing up can visit metronet.com.
On Monday, Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy received death threats from Tyler Anderson, a New Hampshire man, at a campaign event.

Anderson was charged with a federal criminal charge after threatening to kill Ramaswamy. According to the US attorney's office, Anderson received a text message from the victim's campaign notifying him of a political event in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Ramaswamy Receives Death Threats

On December 8, Anderson responded to the text message and said, "Great, another opportunity for me to blow his brains out!' and 'I'm going to kill everyone who attends and then fuck their corpses."

The federal did not release the name of the candidate and the event. However, the charging documents identified a breakfast meeting on Monday, which was Ramaswamy's schedule to hold an event in the state.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the biotech entrepreneur, said that, unfortunately, the death threats were true. But they added that they were grateful to law enforcement for their swiftness and professionalism in handling the matter and prayed for the safety of all Americans.

Anderson was charged with relaying a threat to injure the person of another in interstate commerce. The offense can lead to a five-year sentence and a fine of up to $250,000.

He was expected to attend the trial in court in Concord, New Hampshire, on Monday afternoon.

According to NBC News, the charging documents said federal agents searched Anderson's residence on Saturday and discovered guns and the phone that was used to send the texts about Ramaswamy.

The campaign immediately notified law enforcement after receiving the threat in response to the automated text message. Ramaswamy's campaign did not publicly announce the threat to prevent imitators.

Furthermore, the agents also found threats in messages to another candidate, saying, "Thanks, I'll see you there. Hope you have the stamina for a mass shooting!"

Anderson has sent various messages to multiple campaigns. The second candidate was also not named in court documents.

Read Also: Iowa Man Arrested After Killing Catholic Priest in Nebraska Church Residence

Ramaswamy's Campaign

On January 23, New Hampshire will hold the second event of the Republican presidential primary. According to fivethirtyeight.com, former president Donald Trump has a comfortable New Hampshire lead over the former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, 44.7% to 18.9%.

Ramaswamy stood out early in the primary campaign but has fallen back amid many abrasive debate performances. The website shows he now sits fifth in New Hampshire, on 6.7% support, with only the former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson below him.

He announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination on February 21, 2023. He was also an entrepreneur, political commentator, and author.

His campaign focused on reducing the size of the federal government, supporting freedom of speech, opposing environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), opposing China, and opposing affirmative action.

Ramaswamy said in his campaign announcement that his plans were not just a political campaign but a cultural movement to create a new American dream for the next generation.

Related Article: Republican Presidential Debate: Candidates Seeking GOP Nomination Face 3rd Primary Discussion in Miami



@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SPRINGFIELD  A Livingston County judge abused her discretion when she criticized the state's new pretrial detention system but failed to apply its criteria properly, an appellate court has ruled.

In a 14-page opinion, a three-judge panel from the Fourth District Appellate Court found that Judge Jennifer Bauknecht "inappropriately took a 'monetary bail or nothing' approach" in the case of a 24-year-old man accused of soliciting sex from a 14-year-old girl.

"As judges, our role is not to choose the law but to faithfully apply it; that is, in fact, the sole object of our oath," wrote Justice Kathryn E. Zenoff, in an opinion joined by Justices Thomas M. Harris and Eugene Doherty.

"Where a law is passed by the legislature and upheld by our supreme court as constitutional, the role of the judge is to apply the law as it is, not as the judge might wish it to be."

A representative for Bauknecht's office said the judge could not comment on an active case.

The defendant, Brandin Atterberry, is accused of making sexual comments to a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl and driving from his home in Springfield to Fairbury to meet with her on Sept. 29. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of traveling to meet a child and indecent solicitation of a child, both Class 3 felonies.

At a detention hearing Oct. 2, Bauknecht found there was sufficient evidence that Atterberry, who does not have a criminal history, posed a threat to the community. The appellate court opinion included a transcript of her remarks, part of which the justices described as a "lengthy and biased commentary" about the Pretrial Fairness Act that abolished cash bail in Illinois.

Bauknecht said monetary bond "would have served as a very strong deterrent" to prevent Atterberry from engaging in criminal behavior, as he could run the risk of losing his bail money. Because lawmakers removed that option and she did not believe the county had sufficient resources to monitor the defendant on release, she ordered that he remain behind bars until trial.

Bauknecht acknowledged that a court assessment found Atterberry at the lowest risk of violating pretrial release conditions. She said, however, that she had handled at least 100 cases with similar charges, and it was not unusual to find the defendants had no criminal history and scored well on the risk evaluation.

"It's really alarming that there are that many people sitting in our community who are preying upon young children in the community," she said, according to the transcript.

Atterberry appealed, arguing that the judge improperly focused on her "disdain" for the recent legal changes rather than his case. He said the judge should have considered what possible conditions  such as electronic monitoring  could mitigate risk to the public and allow for his release.

The appellate court agreed. In its decision, issued Friday, the court ordered Bauknecht to "give this case the individualized attention it deserves."

William Scanlon, trial court administrator for the 11th Judicial Circuit, said the case now returns to Livingston County and he anticipates a second detention hearing to be held relatively soon.

Use of state resources

In her comments during the Oct. 2 hearing, Bauknecht also took issue with the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services. Created in 2021, the office provides pretrial investigation and supervision services for 71 of the state's 102 counties and is in the process of adding Kankakee and Stephenson counties. Investigation reports, which include a defendant's criminal record, residency, employment, community ties and social background, are prepared to help judges determine terms and conditions of a defendant's release before trial.

The Administrative Office of Illinois Courts said earlier this week that OSPS had completed 4,375 investigations since the new pretrial system took effect Sept. 18. Additionally, 2,318 defendants were ordered to submit to its supervision.

Since the Pretrial Fairness Act took effect, there have been 1,231 pretrial-related appeals filed in the state's five appellate districts.

However, Bauknecht said the resources made available for Livingston County  one pretrial officer  were not sufficient to ensure the community's safety if Atterberry were released.

"This is a brand new department created by the Illinois Supreme Court and funded by the legislature and staffed with over 300 people, including at least five layers of bureaucratic management," she said, according to the hearing transcript. "The pretrial officer reports to the supervisor, who reports to the Deputy Regional Chief, who reports to the head of District 8, who reports to the Region 3 Deputy Director, who reports to the Director, who reports to the Illinois Supreme Court.

"This should make the community feel much safer."

Speaking Tuesday, OSPS Director Cara LeFevour Smith said her office has a staff of around 180 people and she also reports to AOIC Director Marcia Meis.

Although a majority of counties do have a single pretrial officer, Smith added that larger counties like Champaign or Will have more than one.

Bauknecht noted the outlay of state resources for a newly created office came as the Livingston County jail continued to see "an inordinate number" of people with mental health disorders stuck awaiting treatment. At least one person, deemed unfit to stand trial and ordered to receive treatment at a state facility, had been waiting since June 23 to be transferred.

And, she said, the wait was about to get longer. The judge said the Illinois Department of Human Services told her the transfer could take another four to five weeks, as 180 people were waiting for admission to state facility.

All of this information, the appellate justices said, was irrelevant to whether the defendant should be detained before trial.

Roughly 200 inmates who have been found unfit to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity were awaiting placement at state facilities as of this week, said Scott Block, AOIC behavioral health administrator. Another 50 inmates are waiting to be assessed.
President Joe Biden needs to secure the nations southern border -- if not for its national security implications, then for Bidens own political benefit and the welfare of our republic.

Biden has admitted he is running for reelection because he thinks his predecessor is a threat to our democracy and believes he is the only Democrat who can stop Donald Trump. Biden said as much when he told donors at a recent campaign fundraiser in the Boston area: If Trump wasnt running, Im not sure Id be running. But we cannot let him win.

Trump has been saying the quiet part out loud during his reelection and retribution campaign. In a recent town hall in Iowa, Fox Newss Sean Hannity asked Trump to confirmed that, Under no circumstances, you are promising America tonight, you would never abuse power as retribution against anybody?

Trump replied, Except for day one. I want to close the border, and I want to drill, drill, drill. Trump has also said he would come after his political foes, the deep state and the media.

Taking Biden at his word, and agreeing with him that Trump should not be allowed back in the Oval Office, Biden needs to get serious about the border, secure it, and then tell the American people that he did.

Last October, the Associated Press ran a story headlined, The Biden administration says it is using executive power to allow border wall construction in Texas. I immediately thought to myself, if this is true, this is an act of political genius. Imagine a political world if Biden was the president to finish building the wall -- the wall that Trump promised to build and have Mexico pay for.

Over the past year, the Biden administration has rolled out new border management and enforcement policies as a way to drive down the number of illegal crossings on the southern border. Included in these efforts was the decision to continue construction of the above-mentioned border wall in Starr County, Texas.

Understanding the usefulness of physical barriers, Alejandro Mayorkas, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, stated in a notice: There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in the project areas. Biden has also created new paths for legal immigration.

Despite these efforts, a record number of illegal crossings have occurred this year at our southern border. In fiscal 2023, it was 2.5 million, according to NBC News, up from 2.4 million and 1.7 million in the two previous years.

It is also worth mentioning the illegal flow of synthetic fentanyl and its components which continue to poison our communities, which is also coming through our border with Mexico.

All of this creates the sense that the southern border is out of control, which feeds into the narrative of chaos under the Biden administration. Adding fuel to this fire is the more than 2 million cases pending in U.S. immigration courts, with some noncitizens waiting years to have their asylum cases heard.

Correct or not, the American electorate broadly disapproves of Bidens job as president. Many believe he is weak on border security. Polls broadly show that about 40% of the electorate approves of Biden and more than 50% disapproves.

According to a Fox News poll released in October, 71% of registered voters surveyed said that current levels of security at the U.S. border are not strict enough, with a majority of Democrats and Biden voters saying that more needed to be done to secure the border with Mexico. Eighty-two percent of independents voiced their disapproval with current border policies.

So let us connect some political dots. Biden seems to understand the imperative of defeating Trump again. The country rightly demands that our southern border be secured.

Following this logic, Biden needs to take every step he can in securing the southern border immediately. He should also work with Congress to reform the current immigration system. And then he needs to go out and shout from the rooftops exactly what he has done. All of which is the right thing to do.

If Biden does not act to secure the southern border and quickly, he is handing Trump the 2024 election. It is as complicated and simple as that.
Im seeing a significant amount of news articles in print and in the mainstream media expressing support for expanding voting rights. Liberal media outlets and Democrat Party leaders are generally the proponents. These articles are in addition to the almost daily race-baiting stories designed to keep the black minority voting the Democrat Party ticket come election time.

Frankly, Im more concerned about voting wrongs. Proper voter identification required is the most feared statement imaginable for the Democrat party leadership. Proper identification has ensured our voting system integrity for decades. To their credit, the progressive liberals have successfully chipped away at this perceived barrier. Vote by mail, vote harvesting, unmonitored drop boxes and even non-citizen voting in some states have all circumvented the norm of showing up on election day with proper ID.

Extensive early voting in some districts has technically determined the outcome prior to the actual candidate debates. Here in Illinois, our governor recently signed into law a bill that allows undocumented immigrants to obtain standard driver licenses. Pardon me for questioning the intent of this law, but are the border jumping beneficiaries of this legislation really driving around in SUVs? Or, is this perhaps just another work-around the Democrats have conjured up to legitimize a potential dependent voting base one day? In Illinois, with their recent gerrymandering manipulation, the Democrats have all but removed our local voice in determining who represents us in Washington, D.C.

Democrats have been observed in California registering the homeless, and allowing non-citizens to vote in San Francisco. The Democrat mayor of New York City put 800,000+ noncitizens on the voter rolls, though the State Supreme Court later nixed his deed. Democrats also work hard to help convicted felons get voting privileges.

Do you really want non-citizens and convicted felons determining your familys future?

Rick Skelley, Bloomington
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

At a massive dairy farm in the San Joaquin Valley, nearly 14,000 Holstein cows crane their necks through feeding stalls and gnaw leisurely on alfalfa.

Meanwhile, close to their hooves, a sprinkler system activates and flushes the herd's manure into nearby sewer grates. From there, the waste courses through a network of pipes and into an enormous lagoon covered by a thick vinyl tarp.

This enclosed pool, which looks something like a giant whoopee cushion, is known as a digester, and it's the cornerstone of California's bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its $7.5-billion dairy industry.

Californiathe nation's leading dairy-producing stateis home to 1.7 million milk cows, which belch and excrete copious amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas capable of warming the atmosphere 80 times more than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.

Instead of allowing methane from cattle waste to escape into the atmosphere, digesters harvest the gas from manure so it can be used to fuel heavy-duty trucks, generate electricity or supply gas furnaces and stoves.

It's a strategy California has invested in heavily as dairy farmers try to meet the world's growing appetite for butter and cheese. But while boosters say the technology has already helped the industry achieve 22% of its needed emission reductions, the facilities are coming under increasing fire from critics, who say they spew lung-damaging pollution in local communities and seriously undermine the state's net-zero carbon goals.

By providing financial incentives to capture and burn methane as an energy source, environmentalists argue, California is encouraging the production of, and reliance on, a fuel that still releases planet-warming carbon dioxide and other air pollutants once it is burned.

"Methane is not some unavoidable waste product that we need to capture and do something with," said Sara Gersen, a senior attorney with Earthjustice, a San Francisco-based environmental nonprofit. The state's approach, she said, "creates a perverse incentive for people to not only continue emitting methane, but ramp up how much methane is getting generated at their facility."

Massive dairy farms are already among the largest polluters in the San Joaquin Valley, a region that suffers the worst air quality in the nation. Now, residents worry that newly constructed digesters will make it even worse.

They point to research that suggests manure digesters increase the presence of ammonia, a toxic gas present in cow manure and urine. When the captured methane is burned for energy, it also produces other lung-aggravating pollution including nitrogen oxides.

Since 2015, California has funneled hundreds of millions of dollars toward the construction and operation of about 120 digestersthe most of any state in the nation. And state air regulators have unveiled plans that call for building up to 230 more by the end of the decade.

Maria Arevalo, an environmental activist living in California's dairy capital of Tulare County, has vehemently opposed state subsidies for digesters, arguing they reward farms for their pollution.

"They can make a lot of money for methane," said Arevalo, 74, who lives near one of the largest clusters of dairies. "But at what cost? It's our community that's dying. It's our community that's getting sick."

While the climate effects of dairy and beef farms have been well documented, their contribution to air pollution is seldom discussed. Yet the contaminants that manure releases into the air are known to impair lung and heart health.

The primary hazard is lung-irritating ammonia vapor, which binds with vehicle exhaust and smokestack emissions to form an even more dangerous pollutantfine particulate matter. When inhaled, this microscopic debris travels deep into the lungs and then into the bloodstream, where it causes swelling and scarring.

Persistent exposure to particulates can trigger heart attacks and strokes, in addition to various forms of lung disease.

A 2017 study by the University of Wisconsin examined emissions at dairies with manure digesters and found that when liquid manure is stored inside a digesteroften for weeks at a timeammonia becomes more volatile.

When this stored manure was removed from digesters for use as fertilizer, ammonia emissions grew as much as 81%, according to researchers.

Each year, the San Joaquin Valley, the heart of California's dairy industry, records the nation's highest ammonia concentrations and its greatest particulate pollution. Over half of the valley's fine particulate matter comes from ammonia-based pollution, which primarily comes from livestock waste, according to the local air district.

Clean air advocates say the burden of this pollution falls unfairly on small Latino farming communities such as Pixley, an unincorporated settlement of 4,000 people in Tulare County.

The town has 22 dairies and one feedlot that collectively house more than 118,000 cows, according to reports submitted to the regional water board. These animals produce nearly 2 million tons of manure annually.

Arevalo, a former farm laborer turned community activist, moved there in 1976, when much of the land surrounding the town was filled with cotton. But, over time, dairy farmers purchased land and built massive open-air barns on the outskirts of town.

The air, Arevalo said, became steeped with rancid odors from cow manure, and clouds of flies regularly descended on the town.

She began to recognize how grave the air pollution had become in the early 2000s, when she volunteered with her church to pray at the bedsides of members who had fallen sick.

Congregants, she said, almost always suffered from some form of respiratory illness or cardiovascular distress, commonly associated with particulate pollution.

Eventually, Arevalo also developed asthma and sleep apnea. She now must sleep with a mask and hose connected to a motorized breathing machine. The device sends pressurized air, as well as medication, to her lungs.

In a community where the median household income is around $42,000, exposure to poor air is often inescapable. Many residents can't afford air conditioning, which would filter air entering their homes. Instead, they open their windows on hot summer days.

Last year, Arevalo traveled to Sacramento to urge the California Air Resources Board to take steps to reduce dairy pollution. In testimony, she recounted the health effects she attributed to air pollutionnosebleeds, asthma and shortness of breath.

"We're older and our time is coming up," Arevalo said, choking back tears. "But it is sad to think about our children and what future they have. What will their health be like?"

However, the state dairy lobby argues that digesters are the most cost-effective climate solution in California's portfolio, and are essential for reaching the state's goal of net-zero emissionsthe point at which human greenhouse gas releases are balanced by their removal from the atmosphere.

"There's going to be trade-offs between one pollutant or another, and if we did identify something, it just means we have to find a way to mitigate it," said Michael Boccadoro, executive director of Dairy Cares. "It doesn't mean we should throw the baby out with the bathwater."

CARB, the state air regulator, has commissioned researchers from Princeton and UC Riverside to measure air pollution and greenhouse gases near dairy digesters, including ammonia and nitrous oxide. The results are expected to be published in the spring.

CARB and the dairy industry argue that even if there is a rise in ammonia, it isn't a significant threat to form more particulate matter. They acknowledged there's an overabundance of ammonia in the Central Valley, but argue that there's not enough tailpipe or smokestack emissions to ultimately boost particulate pollution.

But ammonia, by itself, is an issue. At high concentrations, it has the potential to shroud communities in a corrosive haze. It can foster more bacteria growth in waterways and result in large die-offs of fish. On land, it has the potential to alter soil chemistry and hinder the growth of trees and plants.

There is also the potential for this ammonia to break down into nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that is 265 times more effective at trapping heat than CO 2 .

Dairy cows are voracious grazers with complex digestive systems. Their four-chambered stomachs host bacteria that break down plant material and produce copious amounts of methane, causing cows to frequently burp. A single cow can also produce up to 100 pounds of methane-infused manure each day.

More than half of California's methane emissions come from cattle, due in part to how farms treat cattle manure. Dairies use water to flush cattle waste into large uncovered manure lagoons, and the deep, oxygen-free reaches of these ponds are a breeding ground for bacteria that produce methane.

In 2016, the Legislature passed a law to reduce statewide methane emissions by 40% by 2030. It was around this same time that the state Department of Food and Agriculture established a program to fund the construction of dairy digesters.

However, these covered lagoons also breed more bacteria and produce more heat-trapping methane than if manure was simply shoveled outside barns. Some environmental organizations have called on the state to support dairies that don't use water to transport manure, which they say would drastically reduce methane emissions.

"Human agriculture, for millennia, has raised cattle without storing the manure in these wet lagoons to create the unique conditions for methane creation," said Gersen, the Earthjustice attorney. "The methane problem that we have from dairies is a 21st century problem."

Despite such issues, digester advocates say the technology succeeds in preventing large amounts of methane from entering the atmosphere.

Tom Richard, professor of agricultural engineering at Penn State, said that while manure digesters aren't a "perfect solution," they are the most effective climate tool available. Given that methane naturally degrades into CO 2 in the atmosphere, it would be best to burn it for energy straightaway to prevent unnecessary warming, he said.

"We're taking this high-energy moleculemethaneand we're turning it into CO 2 , which would happen in the atmosphere anyway," Richard said. "But we're doing it in a way where we can capture that energy."

State construction grants and clean fuel subsidies have driven a boom in deploying the technology. In 2015, there were about 15 digesters in California. Less than a decade later, about 120 digesters are online, with roughly 100 more in development.

The state Air Resources Board allows for digester operators to be paid for the amount of dairy methane they capture and burn. In 2022, that state program doled out more than $568 million to dairy- and swine-biogas operations in California and elsewhere, according to Aaron Smith, a professor of agricultural economics at UC Davis.

Some critics believe this financial incentive sends a dangerous signal to farmers.

"You can imagine this dystopian situation we're arriving at where people start to keep farms just for the sake of creating methane and animals turn into basically power plants," said Sasan Saadat, a senior research and policy analyst for Earthjustice.

Some policymakers agree. At a state meeting earlier this year, CARB board member Gideon Kracov said relying on methane long term undermines California's commitment to transition away from combustible fuels, which contribute pollution and greenhouse gases.

"These are bridge fuels that we do not want in the transportation sector after 2040," Kracov said. "These are cleaner than diesel, and there has to be an appropriate return on investment. But we also need to signal to industry that the credit and subsidy has to end. Otherwise, I do believe we imperil our zero-emission future."

CARB staff recently recommended that the state end the financial incentives to capture and burn dairy methane by 2040. But the board will vote on the future of this program early next year.

Environmental groups also complain that the California Air Resources Board has erroneously deemed dairy methane to be a cleaner energy source than electric vehicles and other zero-emission technology.

Although burning dairy methane undoubtedly produces CO 2 , the Air Resources Board considers it a carbon-negative fuela designation typically reserved for an activity that removes more heat-trapping gases from the atmosphere than it emits.

On average, dairy methane earns a score of about minus-300. For comparison, gasoline and diesel are scored around 100, while an electric vehicle that is powered by solar energy would hypothetically be scored zero.

Critics say this calculation portrays dairy methane as California's most climate-friendly fuel, when in fact it produces a tremendous amount of CO 2 and other pollutants. They also have expressed frustration that CARB refuses to release CO 2 or nitrogen oxide emissions data for the digesters it funds.

State officials defended the carbon-negative designation.

"Because methane is a more powerful greenhouse gas than CO 2 , avoiding an emission of that molecule does more to avoid climate change than simply using a zero-emission vehicle," said Lys Mendez, a spokesperson for CARB.

Environmentalists have criticized CARB for failing to adopt new rules to limit greenhouse gas emissions from farms rather than providing incentives. Starting in 2024, California law gives CARB the authority to regulate methane emissions from dairy and livestock operations.

State air regulators contend they are following the Legislature's wishes by starting with incentives. They say also that stiff rules could drive dairies to other states with more lenient environmental laws.

Liane Randolph, chair of the state Air Resources Board, visited Pixley in the fall to talk with valley residents and environmental groups about concerns they had with dairy pollution.

Leslie Martinez, a community activist with the environmental nonprofit Leadership Counsel for Justice & Accountability, said she hoped the visit changed the way Randolph sees the massive dairies the agency is funneling money toward.

When Martinez sees dairy products sitting on refrigerated shelves, she can't help but ponder the environmental toll it takes to produce them: the odor, truckloads of manure and the haze that obscures the mountains.

"I like cheese. I love ice cream," Martinez said. "I'm not saying that we have to get rid of the dairy industry as a whole. But we have to think about ways to make it sustainable. ... There is no ice cream that is good enough to justify what is happening in Pixley."

As Arevalo, the Pixley resident, continues to call for change, her own health hangs in the balance. Her doctors have told her the only way to truly alleviate her respiratory issues is to move.

It's advice Arevalo refuses to take.

"Our community was here before all these cows," she said. "We live a humble lifewe're farmworkers. We don't make a lot of money. We barely eat with what we get paid. And for those of us that have a poor little house, we worked very hard to get that poor little house. And for someone to think that we can just sell it and buy a new one, it's just not true."

2023 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Activists protest against fossil fuels on the sidelines of the COP28 United Nations climate summit in Dubai on December 5.

Negotiators awaited a new draft deal on the fate of fossil fuels as UN climate talks went into overtime in Dubai on Tuesday after nations pushing for a phase-out clashed with Saudi-led oil producers.

The 13-day UN COP28 conference in the glitzy metropolis built on petrodollars has debated a historic first-ever global exit from fossil fuels, the main culprits in a planetary crisis of warming.

"We are close to a deal," said a source close to the Emirati presidency of COP28 as the talks, which were officially scheduled to end on Tuesday, continued following sleepless nights of negotiations.

A new draft text could be released in the next few hours, followed by a plenary that could be held in the evening or early Wednesday to adopt it, the source said.

Representatives of coalitions of countries headed into the office of COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber, whose previous draft drew outrage for lacking calls for a phase-out and instead suggesting that nations "could" reduce consumption and production of fossil fuels among other options.

The presidency source said the verb "could" would not appear in the next draft. Western negotiators had called for stronger language that would demand action on fossil fuels, not suggest it.

US climate envoy John Kerry said the talks could finish up Tuesday evening or maybe in the "small hours of the morning (Wednesday)".

An activist held a sign against fossil fuels at a COP28 event.

"But we're making progress," Kerry said as he headed into Jaber's office.

A COP28 spokesperson said "extensive consultations" with a wide range of groups would continue until 3:00 am (2300 GMT on Tuesday).

"This is to ensure everyone is heard, and all views are considered. He is determined to deliver a version of the text that has the support of all parties," the spokesperson said.

'Super majority'

More than 130 countries from Europe, the Pacific, the Caribbean and the Americas, including Brazil and the United States, have now joined forces to call for an exit from oil, gas and coal, according to a European official.

EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra has said that a "super majority" of the nearly 200 countries in the talks wanted stronger action on fossil fuels.

Jaber's previous draft was rejected by Western powers and low-lying island nations, which said they would not be signing their own "death warrant" as they are most at risk from extreme weather.

The fossil fuel lobby has showed up at COP28 in record numbers.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq have been the most vocal opponents of a phase-out.

At an energy conference in neighboring Qatar, Kuwaiti oil minister Saad Hamad Nasser Al Barrak called the phase-out a "racist and colonial" proposal that would wreck economies in the region.

Iraq's oil minister, Hayyan Abdul Ghani Al Sawad, said "fossil fuels will remain the major source of energy in the whole world".

Western negotiators signaled earlier that they were open to compromise language in the next draft.

Denmark's Dan Jorgensen, one of the climate ministers tasked with leading the talks, said the summit needed to be clear that fossil fuels were on their way out.

"I'm personally not married to one word," he said. "But I am insisting that the meaning of this formulation, whichever one we will end up having, has to be extremely ambitious."

French Energy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said, "Obviously we can accept edits that note that we're not all coming from the same place."

Scientists say the planet has already warmed by 1.2 degrees Celsius and that 2023 has likely been the warmest in 100,000 years.

US-China cooperation

Kerry met ahead of COP28 with his Chinese counterpart and reached an agreement to ramp up renewables, hoping to keep tensions between the two powersthe world's largest greenhouse gas emittersfrom scuttling global action on climate.

"I wouldn't say China is fighting with us, but we're not fighting China," said one person close to the negotiations who backs phasing out fossil fuels.

Scientists say the planet has already warmed by 1.2 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial times and that 2023marked by lethal disasters including wildfires across the worldhas likely been the warmest in 100,000 years.

The 2015 Paris summit endorsed an ambition of checking warming at 1.5Ca goal repeated in the latest draft, but which critics say is virtually impossible without serious efforts to curb oil, gas and coal.

Vanessa Nakate, 27, a leading climate activist from Uganda, warned: "If leaders fail to address the root cause of the climate crisis after 28 years of climate conferences, then they aren't only failing us, but they're making us lose trust in the entire COP process."

 2023 AFP
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An activist held a sign against fossil fuels at a COP28 event.

The world's climate negotiators on Tuesday haggled beyond a host-imposed deadline for a deal as at-risk nations voiced fury over a proposed compromise that stops short of phasing out fossil fuels.

The Emirati president of the COP28 summit had pressed the nearly 200 nations to reach an ambitious deal by the official end of talks at 11 am (0700 GMT), in an effort to force decisions.

But after another late night, there was no sign that the talks were anywhere near completion, with negotiators waiting for a fresh text after wide criticism of a draft released Monday.

"We have time and we are prepared to stay a little longer," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said.

The team from the Marshall Islandswhich lies on average 2.1 meters (seven feet) above sea level and is threatened with submersion as ice meltsvowed to stay until the end.

The Pacific archipelago's negotiator, John Silk, said that his country "did not come here to sign our death warrant".

Cassie Flynn, global director of climate change at the UN Development Programme, said it was still possible to reach a deal that goes beyond the draft's "watery" language on fossil fuels.

"Parties are working around the clock," she said. "Negotiators are scurrying around rooms and on phone calls to try to find the places where they can agree."

The fossil fuel lobby has showed up at COP28 in record numbers.

'Broken beyond repair'

Campaigners had hoped the COP28 summitset in a glitzy metropolis built on petrodollarswould take the historic step of calling for the first time for a global phase-out of fossil fuels, which account for three-quarters of greenhouse gas emissions blamed for the planetary crisis.

But climate decisions must be made by consensus and Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, has led opposition to the threat to its financial lifeblood.

The draft put forward by COP28 president Sultan Al Jaberhimself head of the UAE's national oil companyonly lists a series of options including reductions in fossil fuel production and consumption.

Clive Hamilton, a professor at Australia's Charles Sturt University and veteran watcher of climate negotiations, said the "extraordinarily weak draft" showed the influence of the fossil fuel lobby, which showed up at COP28 in record numbers.

"If anything like the current text is adopted, it will show the COP process to be broken beyond repair," he said.

Scientists say the planet has already warmed by 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 Fahrenheit) from pre-industrial times and that 2023marked by lethal disasters including wildfires across the worldhas likely been the warmest in 100,000 years.

The 2015 Paris summit endorsed an ambition of checking warming at 1.5 Celsiusa goal endorsed in the latest draft, but which critics say is virtually impossible without serious efforts to curb oil, gas and coal.

Scientists say the planet has already warmed by 1.2 degrees Celsius and that 2023 has likely been the warmest in 100,000 years.

"I don't think anybody here wants to be associated with the failure to live up to this responsibility. Not a lot of people in public life are asked to make life and death choices historically," said US climate envoy John Kerry, who helped negotiate the Paris accord.

"This is a war for survival," he said in a closed-door session which ended at around 2:30 am.

Kerry has supported calls to phase out fossil fuels, even though the United States remains the world's largest oil producer and much of the rival Republican Party adamantly opposes action on climate.

Revisions expected

Former US vice president Al Gore, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his climate advocacy, said that the "obsequious" draft looked as if it had been written by the OPEC oil cartel.

"In order to prevent COP28 from being the most embarrassing and dismal failure in 28 years of international climate negotiations, the final text must include clear language on phasing out fossil fuels," Gore wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Jaber acknowledged Monday there was work to do, and a person familiar with the COP28 presidency's thinking called Monday's text "an opening gambit" that could be built upon.

The 21-page text does not go so far as to demand action on fossil fuels, only presenting measures that nations "could" take.

"This is not a menu in a restaurant. We have to do all of these things," Canada's Steven Guilbeault, part of a group of ministers tasked by Jaber to shepherd negotiations, told AFP.

 2023 AFP
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The MetaInvert project provides comprehensive genomic data on tiny and previously little-studied soil organisms such as springtails (here the species Neelus murinus). Credit: Andy Murray

With the "MetaInvert" project, scientists are providing extensive genomic data on 232 species of previously little-studied organisms. They are tiny, enormously diverse, and widespread in the soil: soil invertebrates such as springtails, horn mites, millipedes and nematodes. These animals, which are often only visible under a microscope, fulfill important tasks in the soil ecosystem.

This is why they are increasingly becoming the focus of official measures to preserve biodiversity in the soil. The information contributes significantly to the identification and knowledge of community composition and function and the discovery of evolutionary adaptations to environmental conditions.

But what exactly are the characteristics and abilities of the individual species, which information does their genetic material reveal and how have they developed over the course of evolution?

Their performance is essential for the health of the soil: hordes of small multicellular but invertebrate animals tirelessly decompose organic material, regulate the activity of microorganisms, and promote the circulation of nutrients and the storage of water. In this way, they contribute not least to the production of food for us humans. However, as important as soil animals areand their significance for the soil is now recognizedthey have yet to be comprehensively researched.

This is where the "Metagenomic monitoring of soil communities (MetaInvert)" project comes in, which was developed at the Hessian LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG) and in which researchers from France, Spain and Sweden are participating alongside TBG and Senckenberg scientists.

In a study published in the journal Communications Biology, they describe their approach and the new genomics methods they use.

"Soil invertebrates are difficult to study due to their microscopic size and incredible diversity. We suspect that there are still hundreds of thousands of undescribed species worldwide. New genomic analysis methods are now providing completely new insights," reports study leader Miklos Balint, Professor of Functional Environmental Genomics at the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center, Justus Liebig University Giessen, and co-speaker at LOEWE-TBG.

The scientists are primarily focusing on methods of metagenomics and metatranscriptomics.

"While DNA- and RNA-based methods have long been used to support traditional taxonomy and ecological studies in groups of organisms that are difficult to analyze, we use 'shotgun metagenomics' to randomly sequence DNA fragments from a sample. As it can utilize all available genomic information for taxonomic identification, it is an increasingly viable approach to detect the presence of higher organisms with a nucleus, so-called eukaryotes," explains Balint.

Metatranscriptomics is used to detect genes that are actively transcribed into ribonucleic acids (RNA) as important information and function carriers of a cell and thus control ongoing biological processes. This provides information about the metabolic activity of the members of the soil community and about functional changes in these communities.

According to the study authors, comprehensive genome collections and databases form the "backbone" of these two methods. "With the genomic analysis of the 232 different species in our study, we have now created a large genomic resource to gain insights into the structure, activity and functioning of soil invertebrate communities. In addition, we were able to confirm that theories of genome evolution cannot be generalized across evolutionarily distinct invertebrate groups," says Balint.

With their results, the authors want to contribute to strengthening the understanding and protection of soil biodiversity. According to the study, the new findings and methods enable more detailed monitoring of both the composition and function of communities. In addition, evolutionary adaptations to changing soil conditions could be traced.

The "MetaInvert-ISO" sub-project, which was also initiated at the LOEWE Center TBG, aims to create a catalogue of standardized analysis methods for assessing soil biodiversity. These methods can be used to record, determine, and utilize reliable taxonomic data for the protection of soil biodiversity in a transparent and practicable mannerindependent of legal requirements.

More information: Gemma Collins et al, The MetaInvert soil invertebrate genome resource provides insights into below-ground biodiversity and evolution, Communications Biology (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05621-4 Journal information: Communications Biology

Provided by Senckenberg Gesellschaft fur Naturforschung
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Tellurite glasses containing a ~200 m gold particle (middle photo) and gold nanoparticles of different size and quantity (surrounding photos). Credit: Laurence Deziel

Silicate glass is a commonly-used glass found in most households, in drinking glasses or windowpanes for example. The integration of gold nanoparticles (NPs) in silicate glass has been used in art and decoration for centuries. These NPs impact the way the silicate glass interacts with light through the now well-known phenomenon called localized surface plasmon resonance.

This unique light modulation behavior has opened up applications from colored glass to special optical components. The ability to uniquely modulate light in gold NPs has inspired the scientific community to utilize these NPs in other glass types to generate new optical functionalities.

Of the many glass types investigated, tellurite glass has been of particular interest since it exhibits a unique combination of properties. Tellurite glass is somewhat easy to fabricate, is durable, has low phonon energy, possesses a wide transmission window, and has high solubility of luminescent rare earth ions, allowing these ions to emit bright light over a wide spectral range from visible to infrared light.

These are important features for optics, lasers, and telecommunications technologies such as fiber optics, laser systems, and sensing technologies. To achieve the desired light modulation behavior, the size, shape, distribution, and quantity of the gold NPs must be controlled carefully. However, the technique commonly used for precisely forming gold NPs silicate glass, the so-called striking technique, has proven insufficient to achieve precise control of gold NPs in tellurite glass.

In a paper published in Light: Science & Applications, a team of scientists including Professor Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem and Dr. Yunle Wei from the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Australia, as well as Dr. Jiangbo Zhao from the School of Engineering at the University of Hull, United Kingdom, and co-workers in Germany have developed a new approach to form gold NPs in tellurite glasses.

The team devised the new approach by identifying the challenges of the traditional striking technique to create gold NPs in tellurite glass and through a serendipitous discovery of gold NP formation in tellurite glass.

Based on this advance in knowledge and chance discovery, the team developed completely new methods for both steps of the striking technique: (i) a controlled cold crucible corrosion technique to incorporate gold ions into the glass, and (ii) a glass powder reheating technique to transform the gold ions to gold NPs.

Dr. Yunle Wei, co-inventor of the new technology and postdoctoral researcher within Professor Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem's team says, "This is a perfect example of turning a serendipitous discovery into an innovative technology with potential for real-world impact, thanks to great teamwork among collaborators."

The innovation of precise control over the gold NP formation in tellurite glass provides guidance for designing and manipulating the plasmonic properties in tellurite glass for exciting photonics research and applications in the future.

More information: Yunle Wei et al, Controlled formation of gold nanoparticles with tunable plasmonic properties in tellurite glass, Light: Science & Applications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41377-023-01324-x Journal information: Light: Science & Applications
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The IUCN has declared the first ever marine fish extinct after an assessment led by Charles Darwin University (CDU) experts. Credit: Edda Ael, Museum fur Naturkunde Berlin.

A species of ray, so rare it has only ever been recorded once back in the late 1800s, has been declared extinct after an assessment by an international team led by Charles Darwin University (CDU). The loss of the Java Stingaree, a small relative of stingrays, is the first marine fish extinction as a result of human activity.

This news comes as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released its updated Red List of Threatened Species.

The Java Stingaree (Urolophus javanicus) was known only from a single specimen collected in 1862 from a fish market in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The team conducted new modeling encompassing all available information on the species which has revealed the Java Stingaree as extinct.

CDU Ph.D. Candidate and lead assessor, Julia Constance said a range of issues had contributed to the Java Stingaree's disappearance.

"Intensive and generally unregulated fishing is likely the major threat resulting in the depletion of the Java Stingaree population, with coastal fish catches in the Java Sea already declining by the 1870s," Ms Constance said.

"The northern coast of Java, particularly Jakarta Bay where the species was known to occur, is also heavily industrialized, with extensive, long-term habitat loss and degradation."

"These impacts were severe enough to unfortunately cause the extinction of this species," she said.

As part of the assessment of the plight of the Java Stingaree, the team looked at known threats such as overfishing and habitat loss and whether the species had been recorded in fish markets through surveys.

CDU Ph.D. Candidate Benaya Simeon who is studying threatened rays in Indonesia, said that despite extensive survey efforts since 2001, no additional specimens have been found.

"A range of fish landing sites along the northern coast of Java and across Indonesia have been monitored extensively but they have not recorded the Java Stingaree," Ms Simeon said.

"The Java Stingaree was a unique dinner plate-sized ray with no similar species in Java and the fact it has not been found during innumerable surveys confirms its extinction."

CDU's Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Senior Research Fellow Dr. Peter Kyne said there are over 120 Critically Endangered marine fishes in the world and that the loss of the Java Stingaree is a tipping point for marine biodiversity.

"The Java Stingaree being named as extinct is a warning sign for everyone across the world that we must protect threatened marine species," Dr. Kyne said.

"We must think about appropriate management strategies like protecting habitat and reducing overfishing while also securing the livelihoods of people reliant on fish resources."

The IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species is the world's most comprehensive source on the global extinction risk and status of animal, fungus, and plant species.

Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List has identified over 41,200 species threatened with extinction globally.

The IUCN Red List provides information about the range, population size, habitat, ecology, use and trade, threats, and conservation actions that inform necessary decisions and policy changes to help protect species.

"Extinction is forever, and unless we can secure populations of threatened marine species around the globe, the Java Stingaree will only be the tip of the iceberg," Ms Constance said.
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The CUTE instrument development from concept (instrument schematic, top) to telescope characterization (CUTE flight telescope in the test facilities at the University of Colorado, middle), to predelivery in-band spectral resolution test data (bottom). Credit: The Astronomical Journal (2023). DOI: 10.3847/1538-3881/aca8a2

A spacecraft the size of a cereal box has collected precise measurements of the atmospheres of large and puffy planets called "hot Jupiters." The findings, led by a team from the University of Colorado Boulder, could help reveal how the atmospheres around these and a host of other worlds are escaping into space.

The observations are the first results to come from a hard-working NASA spacecraft known as the Colorado Ultraviolet Transit Experiment (CUTE).

Kevin France, principal investigator for the mission, will present the group's results at a media availability Monday, Dec. 11 at 4:30 p.m. at the 2023 meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.

The diminutive spacecraft, which measures just 14 inches in length, may be cute, but its scientific findings, published in The Astronomical Journal, are anything but. Since its launch in September 2021, CUTE has trained its single ultraviolet telescope at a series of hot Jupiters, some hundreds of light-years from Earth.

Hot Jupiters are among the hottest and angriest planets in the galaxy. As their name suggests, they are gas giants like our own Jupiter. These planets, however, hug much closer to their home stars, completing an orbit roughly once every several Earth days. In the process, stellar radiation cooks hot Jupiters to thousands of degrees Fahrenheit, and their atmospheres swell to enormous sizes, a bit like bread rising in an oven.

Researchers have long suspected that this constant pummeling from stellar radiation could strip away the atmospheres from around some exoplanets over millions-to-billions of years. Data from CUTE suggest that the process might not be so simple.

The CUTE team, which includes several undergraduate and graduate students, has observed seven hot Jupiters so far, with more on the way. Some of them seem to be losing their atmospheres, but others aren't.

"The planets seem to be coming in all of the flavors," said France, associate professor in the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) and Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences.

He added that CUTE is helping scientists to build out their field guide to the many kinds of planets that exist in the Milky Way galaxyincluding those that look nothing like Earth's close neighbors.

"We want to understand how our solar system fits into the family of solar systems in the universe," France said. "That means understanding the big planets, the small planets, the ones that have life and the ones that definitely don'tand all of the important physical processes that are operating on these planets."

Getting hot in here

CUTE's road to scientific success wasn't easy.

When the spacecraft first entered into orbit around Earth, France and his colleagues quickly noticed that it seemed to be experiencing a few glitchesa normal problem for many small satellites, or CubeSats, which often test out technology that's never before flown into space. In one case, the shutter that protected CUTE's telescope kept snapping shut when it wasn't supposed to.

The team, which included several undergraduate and graduate students, didn't give up. The researchers commanded the spacecraft to open its shutter, then drained the battery that fed it, preventing the apparatus from shutting again.

"CUTE is still working and collecting data today," France said. "When we got our first real science results, it was really exciting."

CUTE observes distant planets as they pass in front of their home stars, causing ultraviolet light from those stars to dim in the process. In some cases, the spacecraft is so precise that it can detect when starlight dims by just 1%.

In a paper published in September in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, the researchers described their observations of a world called WASP-189b. This planet orbits a star in the constellation Libra more than 300 light-years, or thousands of trillions of miles, from Earth. It's also incredibly toasty, with its atmosphere reaching temperatures of roughly 15,000 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the team's results. That's thousands of degrees hotter than the surface of the sun.

CUTE's observations also suggest that gas is escaping from around WASP-189b at a similarly staggering rate of about 400 million kilograms (nearly 900 million pounds) per second.

Planets evolving

Not all of the planets CUTE has studied in its first two years were so exciting. In unpublished results, the team observed a second planet called MASCARA-4b that didn't seem to be losing much gas at all. Others, like KELT-9b, fell somewhere in the middle.

France and his colleagues hope that their results could help uncover why some planets lose big chunks of their atmosphere, while others remain mostly unchanged. He suspects that it has to do with a combination of the planets themselves (larger planets generate a stronger gravitational pull) and the dynamics of their stars (more active stars likely wreak more havoc on planets than sedate stars).

Those same processes potentially sculpt planets, both in and out of Earth's solar system, over time. Scientists, for example, theorize that Mars once hosted a much thicker atmosphere, but the sun eroded it away over billions of years.

Atmospheric escape may also explain the origin of a class of planets known as "super Earths," which are slightly larger than our own world.

"There's a lot of evidence that suggests that super Earths begin as planets the size of Neptune with large, puffy atmospheres, which then lose so much mass that all that is left is the rocky core and possibly a thin atmosphere," France said.

CUTE's greatest legacy may be its impact on students, he said. The mission's small team of about 20 people were involved in almost every aspect of the spacecraft's lifefrom building the satellite to launching it, sending it commands, then downloading and analyzing scientific data. CUTE is currently orbiting about 326 miles (525 kilometers) above Earth's surface, and is expected to reenter the atmosphere by 2027.

"All of these things are what happens on big NASA missions, just on a much larger scale," France said. "Our students and early career scientists are getting the full experience from the proposal stage all the way to getting out the science product."

More information: Kevin France et al, The Colorado Ultraviolet Transit Experiment Mission Overview, The Astronomical Journal (2023). DOI: 10.3847/1538-3881/aca8a2 Arika Egan et al, The On-orbit Performance of the Colorado Ultraviolet Transit Experiment Mission, The Astronomical Journal (2023). DOI: 10.3847/1538-3881/aca8a3 A. G. Sreejith et al, CUTE Reveals Escaping Metals in the Upper Atmosphere of the Ultrahot Jupiter WASP-189b, The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2023). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/acef1c Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Letters , Astronomical Journal
The authorities reported that prosecutors charged ten teens in DC carjacking rings on Monday amid the rising vehicle thefts in Washington. The ten suspects were believed to be involved in two separate carjacking rings in DC.

Prosecutors Charge Ten Teens in DC Carjacking

The US attorney for the District of Columbia, Matthew Graves, announced in a news conference that the teens, who were being charged as adults, were allegedly responsible for at least 15 vehicle thefts and held victims at gunpoint.

Graves added that the charges were the largest federal carjacking arrest in DC this year. He noted that the charges were a serious response to show people that this was not a game but the real world with real-world consequences.

On Monday, Graves reported that the teens had a group chat discussing some of the carjackings that occurred recently. One defendant wrote that the carjacking was 'Grand Theft Auto' in real life.

The law enforcement claimed that one of the teens allegedly shot a ride-share driver multiple times during an attempted carjacking. The driver miraculously survived his injuries.

Furthermore, one of the groups of teens that have been charged was suspected of working together to target victims ranging from a dentist on the way to work, a mother with her children in her car parked in an elementary school, to an elderly couple pulling into the entrance of their house.

"What we want to say very loudly and very clearly ... is it is a really big deal, and it will be prosecuted as such," Graves said.

Read Also: Filipino Supply Boat Slips Past Chinese Ships to Resupply Naval Garrison at Second Thomas Shoal

Rising Vehicle Thefts in Washington

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith testified in a closed-door bipartisan briefing to lawmakers about rising crime in the district last week.

House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer, R-Ky., said they discussed the rising, unchecked crime impacting the nation's capital city. He shared that the meeting ended as a meaningful and productive discussion about the increasing crime.

However, Comer targeted the district's governing council and Graves. He argued that they have failed in their basic responsibility to keep Americans safe and criminals off the streets.

Another crime occurred this year as Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, was carjacked in Washington, and Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., was attacked inside her apartment.

Bowser announced a new real-time crime center a day after the congressional briefing. The center, to be launched in February, will be a joint clearinghouse to tackle crime in and around the nation's capital.

The DC police will serve alongside federal and local authorities to reduce crime in 2024.

Furthermore, Graves criticized the district's slowness in updating its public safety laws, which have not been comprehensively revised since 1901. The recent effort to update the laws was rejected by Congress, which has oversight over the district in an unusual arrangement because it was not a state.

Related Article: Capitol Hill Facing Surge in Robberies, Carjackings; Senate Offers Tips to Reduce Crime Risk





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Members of Congress agree that the administration needs to consider the concerns of indigenous communities when taking actions on oil and gas leasing in the Arctic. There is just disagreement on whose concerns should be prioritized.

The Biden administration's slate of actions announced in September included canceling the remaining oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge issued under President Donald Trump and proposing new protections for over 13 million acres in the neighboring National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

These proposals drew condemnation from many Republicansalready critical of the Biden administration's leasing policiesthat the moves will increase U.S. dependence of foreign sources of oil. Alaska's congressional delegation, which includes Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, said the administration ignored the wishes of those on the ground.

These frustrations were on display when the House Natural Resources Committee approved a bill that would prohibit the Biden administration from enforcing these actions. The bill was introduced by Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., and co-sponsored by Peltola, who was the only Democrat to vote in favor.

The bill also had support from Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation and Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope. At a Nov. 29 hearing, Doreen Leavitt, director of natural resources for the latter group, said their voices had been "continually dismissed" as the Biden administration considers the fate of drilling in the region.

In their Dec. 7 comments on the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska proposal, ICAS, the North Slope Borough and the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation expressed many of the same concerns.

"[The Bureau of Land Management] is failing to fulfill its broader duties to Congress and the indigenous people of the North Slope by capitulating to a political agenda that calls for ending domestic oil and gas development with no regard to the economic and national security consequences of those actions," the comments said.

Other Democratic members of the committee, though, spoke of their concerns that oil and gas development in the region would both be a major source of emissions and threaten the way of life of the Gwich'in people who depend on the region's caribou herds for subsistence.

Gwich'in representatives from Alaska and Canada were in Washington last week to urge expanded protections for the region. In a statement the Gwich'in Steering Committee said that during the trip it shared "as we have many times in the past that protecting the Arctic Refuge is not just about protecting land: it is about respecting our rights as Indigenous Peoples."

"Future generations deserve assurance from the US government that our culture, traditions, and connections to our sacred land and its animals will not be infringed on," the committee said.

Ranking member Raul M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., expressed his own concerns that opponents of the drilling did not have their concerns adequately addressed under the Trump administration when it moved to finalize the leases.

In their comments on the NPR-A proposal, environmental groups including the Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society and the Northern Alaska Environmental Center encourage stricter protections for the region.

"The lands and waters of the Reserve are globally unique ecosystems and culturally irreplaceable for the Alaska Native communities who live within the region and rely on its resources," the groups wrote.

"As the Biden Administration looks to fulfill its ambitious, yet necessary domestic and international commitments toward environmental justice, climate action, and the protection of biodiversity, the Reserve offers a tremendous opportunity for addressing their goals."

But for the groups that would see the most immediate economic benefits from drilling in the region, the development represents a way to support some of the most remote communities in the nation.

"I think that there is a lack of understanding just because they talk about subsistence and they talk about protecting the land and the animals for the people that are there," said Nagruk Harcharek, president of the Voice of the Arctic Inupiat. "But if you're threatening our economic base you're in turn indirectly limiting our ability to subsist."

2023 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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The wakayama soryu (blue dragon) was a mosasaur the size of a great white shark that lived 72 million years ago off what is now Japan. Credit: TAKUMI

Researchers have described a Japanese mosasaur the size of a great white shark that terrorized Pacific seas 72 million years ago.

Extra-long rear flippers might have aided propulsion in concert with its long finned tail. And unlike other mosasaurs, or large extinct marine reptiles, it had a dorsal fin like a shark's that would have helped it turn quickly and with precision in the water.

University of Cincinnati Associate Professor Takuya Konishi and his international co-authors described the mosasaur and placed it in a taxonomic context in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.

The mosasaur was named for the place where it was found, Wakayama Prefecture. Researchers call it the Wakayama Soryu, which means blue dragon. Dragons are creatures of legend in Japanese folklore, Konishi said.

"In China, dragons make thunder and live in the sky. They became aquatic in Japanese mythology," he said.

The specimen was discovered along the Aridagawa River in Wakayama by co-author Akihiro Misaki in 2006. Misaki was looking for fossils of invertebrates called ammonites when he found an intriguing dark fossil in the sandstone, Konishi said.

Misaki continued looking for ammonites before curiosity got the better of him and he returned to the dark bone. Closer examination revealed it was a vertebra, part of a nearly complete mosasaur captured in the hard sandstone.

The specimen is the most complete skeleton of a mosasaur ever found in Japan or the northwestern Pacific, Konishi said.

"In this case, it was nearly the entire specimen, which was astounding," Konishi said.

He has dedicated his career to studying these ancient marine reptiles. But the Japanese specimen has unique features that defies simple classification, he said. Its rear flippers are longer than its front ones. These enormous flippers are even longer than its crocodile-like head, which is unique among mosasaurs.

"I thought I knew them quite well by now," Konishi said. "Immediately it was something I had never seen before."

A mosasaur discovered in Japan was the most complete skeleton ever found in Japan or the northwestern Pacific. Credit: Takuya Konishi

Mosasaurs were apex predators in prehistoric oceans from about 100 million years ago to 66 million years ago. They were contemporaries of Tyrannosaurus rex and other late Cretaceous dinosaurs that ruled the Earth. Mosasaurs were victims of the same mass extinction that killed off nearly all dinosaurs when an asteroid struck what is now the Gulf of Mexico.

The Wakayama Soryu has some features similar to mosasaurs found in New Zealand and other features comparable to mosasaurs found in California, he said.

It had nearly binocular vision that would have made it a lethal hunter, he said.

Researchers placed the specimen in the subfamily Mosasaurinae and named it Megapterygius wakayamaensis to recognize where it was found. Megapterygius means "large winged" in keeping with the mosasaur's enormous flippers.

Konishi said those big paddle-shaped flippers might have been used for locomotion. But that type of swimming would be extraordinary not only among mosasaurs but among virtually all other animals.

Another prehistoric marine reptile called the plesiosaur used its paddle fins for propulsion, but it didn't have a long rudderlike tail, he said.

"We lack any modern analog that has this kind of body morphologyfrom fish to penguins to sea turtles," he said. "None has four large flippers they use in conjunction with a tail fin."

Researchers speculated that the large front fins might have helped with rapid maneuvering while its large rear fins might have provided pitch to dive or surface. And presumably like other mosasaurs, its tail would have generated powerful and fast acceleration as it hunted fish.

"It's a question just how all five of these hydrodynamic surfaces were used. Which were for steering? Which for propulsion?" he said. "It opens a whole can of worms that challenges our understanding of how mosasaurs swim."

The Wakayama Soryu (blue dragon) was a mosasaur the size of a great white shark that had a dorsal fin and long flippers. Credit: Takumi

Unique to mosasaurs, the Wakayama Soryu apparently had a dorsal fin, based on the orientation of the neural spines along its vertebrae. The orientation of these spines is remarkably similar to that of a harbor porpoise, which also has a prominent dorsal fin, the study found.

"It's still hypothetical and speculative to some extent, but that distinct change in neural spine orientation behind a presumed center of gravity is consistent with today's toothed whales that have dorsal fins, like dolphins and porpoises," he said.

A team of researchers spent five years removing the surrounding matrix of sandstone from the fossils. They also took a cast of the mosasaur in place to provide a record of the skeletal orientation of the bones before they were excavated.

More information: Takuya Konishi et al, A new derived mosasaurine (Squamata: Mosasaurinae) from south-western Japan reveals unexpected postcranial diversity among hydropedal mosasaurs, Journal of Systematic Palaeontology (2023). DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2023.2277921 Journal information: Journal of Systematic Palaeontology
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a) 12.0708.08.2018 anomalies of SST (ocean) and T2m (continent) after removing daily climatology and linear trend from whole time series; North Atlantic box (1540W, 4560N) and European box (020E, 4552.5N) used for subsequent average; b) Deseasonalised and detrended JJA mean values for North Atlantic (blue) and European box average anomalies (red) and difference (black); seasons of outstanding differences are highlighted; T2m anomaly difference between Vienna and Ilulissat (Greenland) representing the earlier SNAO defintion (dashed black); c) PC1 time series of the SNAO and PC2 time series of the SEA (see section 2.4); d) Deseasonalised and detrended daily JJA SST anomalies (black); quantiles (horizontal lines) and composite dates of events with negative tendencies of cold SSTs (blue dots), warm SSTs (red dots) and neutral SSTs (orange dots) as well as European heat event years highlighted; Composite dates of events with positive tendencies are not shown for visibility reasons. Credit: Tellus A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography (2023). DOI: 10.16993/tellusa.3235

The surface temperature of the North Atlantic plays an important role in the occurrence of heat waves in Europe. However, researchers at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in Kiel have shown that it is not high water temperatures but low water temperatures that are responsible for heat events on land.

For their study, they used a combination of observations and weather models to investigate the relationship between North Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SST) and heat events in Europe over the period 1979 to 2019. They have now published their results in the journal Tellus A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography.

The researchers found 12 events in which an unusually cold North Atlantic surface temperature was followed by a maximum land temperature in Europe. Additionally, there were 17 European heat events preceded by a drop in sea surface temperatures. In addition to the contrast between cool water and hot land temperatures, the interaction between a North Atlantic low-pressure system and a European high-pressure system was another striking feature.

Climate physicist Julian Kruger, a Ph.D. student in the Climate Extremes research group of the Marine Meteorology research unit at GEOMAR and lead author of the study, says, "We can see this connection particularly well in the summers of 2015 and 2018 when the North Atlantic was unusually cold and at the same time heat events occurred over Europe."

The researchers analyzed several meteorological factors to understand the relationship between North Atlantic temperatures and European heat events. They found that during these events, the subpolar North Atlantic experiences an increased flow of heat from the ocean into the atmosphere, as well as rising air masses and precipitation.

The released heat is transported towards Europe, contributing to the formation of an area of high pressure. This, in turn, favors clear skies with strong solar radiation, which is decisive for the maximum surface temperature in Europe.

Kruger says, "The results of the study contribute to the understanding of the statistical and physical relationship between the North Atlantic surface temperature and European heat events, which is also crucial for better predictability of heat events in a changing future climate."

More information: Julian Kruger et al, Connecting North Atlantic SST Variability to European Heat Events over the Past Decades, Tellus A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography (2023). DOI: 10.16993/tellusa.3235
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Ever been in a situation where you just can't get your message across? New research by Zakary Tormala and Mohamed Hussein suggests that you might want to rethink which pronouns you deploy.

Tormala, a professor of marketing at Stanford GSB, and Hussein, a Ph.D. candidate who studies the intersection between consumer behavior and politics, looked at how using "you" versus "we" pronouns affected how people responded to messages in settings such as online forums and a simulated workplace scenario.

Their findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, were arresting: In adversarial contexts that held the potential for disagreement or conflict, messages that used "you" and "your" were less persuasive, less likely to be shared, and more likely to be censored than ones that employed "we" and "our." People who participated in their study were also less inclined to interact or engage with the sources of messages that used "you" rather than "we."

The work was inspired by the pair's shared interest in receptiveness, which describes a person's openness to ideasand peoplewith whom they might disagree. "Openness doesn't mean you agree, but it means you're willing to engage with a person who holds that view," Tormala says.

Given the increasingly polarized nature of American society, finding ways to boost receptiveness could help bridge the seemingly intractable divide between people with opposing viewpoints. "Political polarization is at an all-time high," Hussein says. "Anything we can do to make the few conversations that are still happening more productive is a win."

Persuasion and censorship

Tormala and Hussein had previously found that signaling receptivenessfor example, by admitting uncertainty about one's opinionscould enhance persuasiveness. That led them to wonder whether fundamental aspects of language use, such as pronoun choice, might have similar effects.

They were also interested in exploring the factors that drive censorship. As Hussein explains, the ability to censor ideas was once reserved for emperors and kings. Nowadays, however, an ordinary person who volunteers as a content moderator for a social media or online discussion platform can decide which comments and messages stay up and which ones come down. Could perceptions of receptiveness drive such decisions?

Tormala and Hussein began by examining censorship in a place where it was almost guaranteed to be happening: the heated Reddit political forums (or subreddits) r/Liberal and r/Conservative. "It doesn't get any more adversarial than people discussing politics on Reddit," Hussein says.

In his analysis of more than 272,000 comments, Hussein discovered that the use of "you" pronouns increased the likelihood that a message would be censored, while the use of "we" pronouns decreased it. Further analysis revealed that the connection between "you" and censorship grew stronger as the tone of the messages became more negative.

The deleterious impact of second-person pronouns came as a surprise since prior work by other researchers indicated that using "you" in neutral or positive contexts actually bolstered perceived receptiveness and persuasiveness. Intrigued, Tormala and Hussein ran a series of controlled experiments to test the effects of using "you" versus "we" pronouns in the kinds of adversarial situations where receptiveness is most sorely needed.

For each experiment, the pair asked hundreds of participants on an online survey platform to respond to provocative messages or comments, including negative feedback from one team member to another on a failed work project and inflammatory comments on immigration and abortion. Participants were shown two versions of each message, one using "you" and the other "we." (The researchers also looked at the indefinite pronoun "one.")

Almost without fail, the use of "you" made participants much less willing to interact or engage with the person behind the message, much less likely to share messages with others, and much more likely to censor messages if given the opportunity. The only exception occurred when "you" was embedded in phrases of acknowledgment or agreement, such as "I hear you" or "you're right."

Tips for better reception

"We're not saying that 'you' invariably leads to worse outcomes," Hussein cautions. "We're saying that when 'you' is used in an adversarial or conflict-ridden context, it has the potential to inadvertently lead to these negative consequences."

Hussein and Tormala suspect that the impact of second-person pronouns is related to perceived aggression: In an adversarial setting, using "you" may seem accusatory, making recipients feel as if they are being blamed or attacked. That sense of hostility or aggression is then generalized to the person behind the message, who comes across as unreceptive.

"We," meanwhile, has the opposite effect: Because it is more inclusive, it seems less aggressive, enhancing the perceived receptiveness of whoever is behind the message. "Most people would rather talk to the person who said 'we got this wrong' than 'you got this wrong' because they seem more open," Tormala says.

That has implications for anyone trying to foster dialogue about any topic, whether it's political or professional. "When you're about to express disagreement with somebody, look for opportunities to use words like 'we' or 'us' or 'our,' rather than words like 'you' and 'your,' which can make it feel like you're putting the responsibility for the disagreement on them," Tormala says.

Broadly speaking, Tormala and Hussein advise that if you're trying to reach someone with an opposing view, be sure to signal that you are open to their perspective. "That makes people feel heard and appreciated, and in turn lowers their psychological defenses and makes them more open to hearing what you have to say," Hussein says. Receptiveness begets receptiveness, while unreceptiveness begets unreceptiveness. After all, it's not all about "you."

More information: Mohamed A. Hussein et al, You versus we: How pronoun use shapes perceptions of receptiveness, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jesp.2023.104555 Journal information: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
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Microorganisms that temporarily "go to sleep" play an important role in the evolution and survival of a population. Mathematician Shubhamoy Nandan conducted research on the effect of this characteristic called "dormancy" in a novel mathematical model.

Some microorganisms go into a dormant state when they face a hostile or stressful environment. Think of it as a deep sleep or hibernation. It can happen during extremely cold conditions or when they are exposed to chemical pollution, serving as a survival strategy. Plant populations also exhibit dormancy at times: Seeds can get buried deep in the soil as a result of environmental conditions and "wake up" generations later.

Nandan, who finished his Ph.D. in May 2023, constructed a mathematical model that describes this characteristic called "dormancy." It's a topic where mathematics meets biology.

Which genetic type will survive in the long term?

Looking at populations of microorganisms in a multi-colony setting, Nandan computed how they evolve, factoring in their dormant state. His model also looks at how the organisms reproduce and migrate between different colonies. But the inclusion of dormancy in the context of finite populations makes the research unique.

"It enables us to quantify which of the genetic types will survive in the long term," Nandan explains. "For example, if organisms of two different genotypes coexist in a multi-colony setting, eventually one will prevail and the other will go extinct." His model can predict the probability of the fate of each of them.

Microorganisms keep the model mathematically feasible

In theory, it could be applied to more complex organisms as well, such as plants and animals, but starting with microorganisms keeps the model mathematically feasible, according to Nandan. Moreover, the evolution of microorganisms happens much faster compared to more complex organisms. That makes it possible to compare the mathematical model to what happens in practice.

To support his model, Nandan also looked at particles in the air and in fluids that act in a similar way to microorganisms. They too can become dormant for a while. They stop moving and interacting with each other before returning to their natural "active" behavior. "This is a relatively new field in physics, and we thought it would be interesting to include it in this research and compare it with the biological context."

Research into medical applications could be a next step

Nandan is pleased with the enthusiasm about his research. He says it's not always easy to draw attention to purely theoretical research. Nevertheless, in a next phase, his work could also lead to medical applications.

"If you add the mutation of organisms to the equation, along with dormancy, it could become very interesting in cancer research," he explains. "One could better predict how a tumor will develop and which cancers can come back after a period of inactivity, so-called recurrence."

Exploring the theoretical model with real data would be an interesting next step in the research, according to Nandan. That would bring possible practical applications within closer reach. After finishing his Ph.D. in the spring, Nandan took up a position as a Quantitative Risk Analyst at a Dutch bank, but he doesn't exclude returning to academic research at some point.
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The soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) weighs no more than a 20-cent coin. Tens of thousands of individuals fly south along the Baltic coast of Latvia in August and September. Credit: Christian Giese

Pipistrelle bats have a magnetic compass and calibrate it at sunset, according to a new study. An international team of researchers led by the University of Oldenburg has used behavioral experiments to show that two different components of the Earth's magnetic field influence the orientation of these animals. Like birds, they seem to be sensitive to magnetic inclination.

The soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) weighs only a few grams, but it is estimated that members of this small bat species cover thousands of kilometers every year on their nocturnal migrations from north-eastern to south-western Europe. Precisely how they find their way across such long distances in the dark remains unclear.

However, an international team led by biologist Dr. Oliver Lindecke from the University of Oldenburg has found evidence suggesting that a magnetic sense may play a role in the bats' navigation. In behavioral experiments, the team discovered that two different components of the Earth's magnetic field influence the animals' orientation. The study has now been published in the journal Biology Letters.

Lindecke has already been studying the migratory behavior of the small mammals for 10 years. "Unlike with birds, so far there has been very little research into the magnetoreception of mammals that migrate over long distances," he explained. Together with earlier findings, the results of the current study indicate that soprano pipistrelles have a magnetic compass that they calibrate at sunset.

Lindecke and his colleagues conducted their experiments at the University of Latvia's Ornithological Station in Pape, a village on the Baltic Sea coast in the far south-west of Latvia. "Tens of thousands of bats migrate along the coast here in August and September, mainly towards Central Europe," Lindecke explains.

He had already discovered in an earlier study that these migratory bats readjust their internal orientation system at sunset: they use the point at which the sun sets for calibration to be able to pick their flight route later that night.

To test whether the bats have a magnetic sense and use it for navigation, the researchers trapped 65 soprano pipistrelles. The following day at sunset, a number of these bats were exposed to a manipulated magnetic field created using a device called a Helmholtz coil. The horizontal component was rotated 120 degrees clockwise in relation to the Earth's magnetic field, such that a compass needle would point south-east rather than north.

With a second group of bats, in addition to the horizontal shift the research team also reversed the inclination of the magnetic field so that it corresponded to the natural values measured in the Earth's southern hemisphere. A third group was used as a control group and exposed only to the natural geomagnetic field in the dunes on Pape beach.

A few hours later the researchers released the bats one by one in a field lab set up inside a Mongolian yurt at the Pape Ornithological station site in order to determine their take-off orientation. Earlier work had already shown that the animals maintain their chosen direction during their nocturnal flights.

The results: about half of the bats in the control group flew southwards, while the other half flew northwards. The two groups exposed to manipulated magnetic fields behaved differently from each other: the bats that had been exposed to a horizontal shift of the magnetic field generally took off in a north-westerly direction. In the group where, in addition to the horizontal shift, the inclination was also reversed, however, no discernible preferred direction of take-off was observed.

These results demonstrate one thing in particular, says Lindecke, "The bats are sensitive to both the magnetic field's horizontal component, known as polarity, as well as its inclination at sunsetand this still influences their take-off behavior several hours later."

Lindecke explained that although it is not yet clear which mechanisms the magnetic compass in migratory bats is based on, the study had shown that, like birds, migratory bats may use the inclination of the Earth's magnetic field for navigation.

More information: William T. Schneider et al, Migratory bats are sensitive to magnetic inclination changes during the compass calibration period, Biology Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0181 Journal information: Biology Letters

Provided by Carl von Ossietzky-Universitat Oldenburg
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This 360-degree mosaic from the Airey Hill location inside Jezero Crater was generated using 993 individual images taken by the Perseverance Mars rovers Mastcam-Z from Nov. 3-6. The rover remained parked at Airey Hill for several weeks during solar conjunction. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

Marking its 1,000th Martian day on the Red Planet, NASA's Perseverance rover recently completed its exploration of the ancient river delta that holds evidence of a lake that filled Jezero Crater billions of years ago. The six-wheeled scientist has to date collected a total of 23 samples, revealing the geologic history of this region of Mars in the process.

One sample called "Lefroy Bay" contains a large quantity of fine-grained silica, a material known to preserve ancient fossils on Earth. Another, "Otis Peak," holds a significant amount of phosphate, which is often associated with life as we know it. Both of these samples are also rich in carbonate, which can preserve a record of the environmental conditions from when the rock was formed.

The discoveries were shared Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the American Geophysical Union fall meeting in San Francisco.

"We picked Jezero Crater as a landing site because orbital imagery showed a deltaclear evidence that a large lake once filled the crater. A lake is a potentially habitable environment, and delta rocks are a great environment for entombing signs of ancient life as fossils in the geologic record," said Perseverance's project scientist, Ken Farley of Caltech. "After thorough exploration, we've pieced together the crater's geologic history, charting its lake and river phase from beginning to end."

Jezero formed from an asteroid impact almost 4 billion years ago. After Perseverance landed in February 2021, the mission team discovered the crater floor is made of igneous rock formed from magma underground or from volcanic activity at the surface. They have since found sandstone and mudstone, signaling the arrival of the first river in the crater hundreds of millions of years later. Above these rocks are salt-rich mudstones, signaling the presence of a shallow lake experiencing evaporation. The team thinks the lake eventually grew as wide as 22 miles (35 kilometers) in diameter and as deep as 100 feet (30 meters).

Later, fast-flowing water carried in boulders from outside Jezero, distributing them atop of the delta and elsewhere in the crater.

"We were able to see a broad outline of these chapters in Jezero's history in orbital images, but it required getting up close with Perseverance to really understand the timeline in detail," said Libby Ives, a postdoctoral fellow at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, which manages the mission.

This image of Mars Jezero Crater is overlaid with mineral data detected from orbit. The green color represents carbonates  minerals that form in watery environments with conditions that might be favorable for preserving signs of ancient life. NASAs Perseverance is currently exploring the green area above Jezeros fan (center). Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/JHU-APL

Enticing samples

The samples Perseverance gathers are about as big as a piece of classroom chalk and are stored in special metal tubes as part of the Mars Sample Return campaign, a joint effort by NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). Bringing the tubes to Earth would enable scientists to study the samples with powerful lab equipment too large to take to Mars.

To decide which samples to collect, Perseverance first uses an abrasion tool to wear away a patch of a prospective rock and then studies the rock's chemistry using precision science instruments, including the JPL-built Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry, or PIXL.

At a target the team calls "Bills Bay," PIXL spotted carbonatesminerals that form in watery environments with conditions that might be favorable for preserving organic molecules. (Organic molecules form by both geological and biological processes.) These rocks were also abundant with silica, a material that's excellent at preserving organic molecules, including those related to life.

"On Earth, this fine-grained silica is what you often find in a location that was once sandy," said JPL's Morgan Cable, the deputy principal investigator of PIXL. "It's the kind of environment where, on Earth, the remains of ancient life could be preserved and found later."

Perseverance's instruments are capable of detecting both microscopic, fossil-like structures and chemical changes that may have been left by ancient microbes, but they have yet to see evidence for either.

This animated artists concept depicts water breaking through the rim of Mars Jezero Crater, which NASAs Perseverance rover is now exploring. Water entered the crater billions of years ago, forming a lake, delta, and rivers before the Red Planet dried up. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

At another target PIXL examined, called "Ouzel Falls," the instrument detected the presence of iron associated with phosphate. Phosphate is a component of DNA and the cell membranes of all known terrestrial life and is part of a molecule that helps cells carry energy.

After assessing PIXL's findings on each of these abrasion patches, the team sent up commands for the rover to collect rock cores close by: Lefroy Bay was collected next to Bills Bay, and Otis Peak at Ouzel Falls.

"We have ideal conditions for finding signs of ancient life where we find carbonates and phosphates, which point to a watery, habitable environment, as well as silica, which is great at preservation," Cable said.

Perseverance's work is, of course, far from done. The mission's ongoing fourth science campaign will explore Jezero Crater's margin, near the canyon entrance where a river once flooded the crater floor. Rich carbonate deposits have been spotted along the margin, which stands out in orbital images like a ring within a bathtub.
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The 'one-pot' nanosheet method catalyzing a green energy revolution. Credit: Minoru Osada

A research group from the Institute for Future Materials and Systems at Nagoya University in Japan has developed a new 'one-pot' method to make nanosheets using less rare metals. Their discovery should allow for the energy-making process to be more eco-friendly. The journal ACS Nano published the study.

Producing clean energy is important because it helps reduce global warming and contributes to building a carbon-neutral society. A potential source of clean energy uses hydrogen catalysts, such as palladium (Pd). Industries use Pd in electrolysis to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. Afterward, the hydrogen in fuel cells is used to create electricity. The only byproduct is water.

Pd is commonly used in a spherical 'nanoparticle' form for catalyst use. However, a flatter, thinner surface would use fewer precious metals and increase the available surface area for the reaction.

Minoru Osada at Nagoya University and his research group have developed a new way to make Pd nanosheets. They named it the 'one-pot method' because it can be done in a single glass bottle. The resulting sheets were so thin (1~2 nm) that they can be compared to the size of a single molecule or DNA strand.

According to Osada, "Our newly developed method is a safe, simple, and energy-saving process. Nanosheets can be synthesized at a low temperature of 75C in a single hour with no special reaction vessel. Although the conventional synthesis method struggles to synthesize nanosheets with a uniform thickness and size, our one-pot method can easily do this."

These nanosheets offer great improvements over existing technology. "Our 2D nanosheets have 2.8 times more surface area than spherical nanoparticles because of their sheet-like shape," said Osada. "They had over twice the catalytic activity of the current generation of hydrogen evolution catalysts in performance tests."

Since hydrogen reactions are important for many industries, this research promises to have a transformative impact. Osada expressed hope that the new Pd nanosheets would be used not only in renewable energy but also in a wide range of industries.

"To date, Pd nanoparticles have been widely used as important catalysts for various chemical reactions ranging from gas purification to pharmaceutical synthesis. Pd nanosheets may potentially replace conventional Pd catalysts and revolutionize these processes."

More information: Sumiya Ando et al, Facile Synthesis of Pd Nanosheets and Implications for Superior Catalytic Activity, ACS Nano (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c07861 Journal information: ACS Nano
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Illustration of the process of light scattering inside the cavity directly to the waveguide through interaction between the optical and mechanical domains. Credit: Andre Garcia Primo/UNICAMP

The ability to transmit information coherently in the band of the electromagnetic spectrum from microwave to infrared is vitally important to the development of the advanced quantum networks used in computing and communications.

A study conducted by researchers at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil, in collaboration with colleagues at ETH Zurich in Switzerland and TU Delft in the Netherlands, focused on the use of nanometric optomechanical cavities for this purpose. These nanoscale resonators promote interaction between high-frequency mechanical vibrations and infrared light at wavelengths used by the telecommunications industry.

An article on the study is published in the journal Nature Communications.

"Nanomechanical resonators act as bridges between superconducting circuits and optical fibers. Superconducting circuits are currently among the most promising technologies for quantum computing, while optical fibers are routinely used as long-distance transmitters of information with little noise and no signal loss," said Thiago Alegre, a professor at the Gleb Wataghin Institute of Physics (IFGW-UNICAMP) and last author of the article.

According to Alegre, one of the key innovations in the study was the introduction of dissipative optomechanics. Traditional optomechanical devices rely on purely dispersive interaction, where only photons confined in the cavity are efficiently dispersed. In dissipative optomechanics, photons can be scattered directly from the waveguide to the resonator. "Optoacoustic interaction can be controlled more tightly as a result," he said.

Prior to this study, dissipative optomechanical interaction had been demonstrated only at low mechanical frequencies, precluding important applications such as quantum state transfer between the photonic (optical) and phononic (mechanical) domains. The study demonstrated the first dissipative optomechanical system operating in a regime where the mechanical frequency exceeded the optical linewidth.

"We succeeded in raising mechanical frequency by two orders of magnitude and achieved a tenfold rise in the optomechanical coupling rate. This offers highly promising prospects for the development of even more effective devices," Alegre said.

Quantum networks

Fabricated in collaboration with TU Delft, the devices were designed to use technologies that are well-established in the semiconductor industry. Nanometric silicon beams were suspended and free to vibrate so that infrared light and mechanical vibrations were confined simultaneously. A laterally placed waveguide positioned to permit the coupling of the optical fiber to the cavity gave rise to dissipative coupling, the key ingredient of the results presented by the researchers.

The study offers novel possibilities for the construction of quantum networks. In addition to this immediate application, it lays a basis for future fundamental research. "We expect to be able to manipulate mechanical modes individually and mitigate optical non-linearities in optomechanical devices," Alegre said.

More information: Andre G. Primo et al, Dissipative optomechanics in high-frequency nanomechanical resonators, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41127-7 Journal information: Nature Communications

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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

With wellies and waterproof clothing, Claudia Nielsen spent time splodging through the Bois-des-Bel peatlands earlier this year. The peatlands, located in Quebec, Canada, had been restored, with conservations working on them for 23 years. Nielsen was there to learn more about the restoration in her capacity as part of the coordination team of the EU project Wet Horizonswhich aims to restore wetlands in Europe.

Statistics published by the UN in 2022 suggest that roughly 12% of the world's peatlands have been drained, though in some countries, the numbers are much higher. Germany, for example, has drained more than 90% of its peatlands. Despite covering only 3-4% of the land surface of the Earth, peatlands contain around one-third of the world's soil carbondouble the amount of carbon found in the world's forests.

"We know that draining peatlands releases this carbon as greenhouse gases, and successful restoration can halt this trend and, in some cases, turn them back into carbon sinks," said Nielsen.

Records of draining peatlands go back millennia, with evidence suggesting it happened before Roman times. Most peatland was drained in recent centuries to support agricultural expansion, both crops and livestock, among other reasons such as forestry. Globally, the largest user of drained peatland is the animal agriculture industry.

With global emissions on the rise, scientists are increasingly looking for ways to extract carbon from the atmosphere and meet the targets set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Researchers like Nielsen are pushing to restore peatlands to their former glory in the hopes that they can help tackle the climate crisis. She says, however, that there are still questions that need to be answered.

"Right now, a lot of peatland restoration is restricted to blocking drains to keep the peat wet," said Nielsen. Peat is a material formed by the preservation of dead organic matter, like plants. Nielsen explains that rewetting the peat stops it from drying out and decayinga process that releases carbon dioxide. "Done in the wrong way in the wrong place, rewetted peatlands can become hotspots for emissions of another potent greenhouse gasmethane."

There are two different ways to deal with restoring peatlands, according to Nielsen: focusing on rewetting or on conservation. The former is minimal management and would involve simply blocking drains and allowing the peatlands to flood again, which would restore natural processesakin to rewilding. The latter, on the other hand, involves more active participation. This could involve nursing crops to help create the conditions for the original vegetation found on the land to thrive.

"I am particularly impressed with the moss layer transfer technique, which is proving very successful for restoring bog peatlands by re-establishing the growth of sphagnum mosses, which are their main vegetation," said Nielsen.

Her visit to the Bois-des-Bel peatlands was inspired by this technique, as it was used in the restoration of those peatlands. While there, Nielsen saw that there was sphagnum cover more than 30 centimeters deep. In comparison, she says, a neighboring area that was left to rewild was mostly bare and still emitting greenhouse gases.

The EU Commission passed the Nature Restoration Law in July, which aims to restore Europe's degraded ecosystems. Some backlash was aimed at the law. Wetlands International Europe's Peatlands Policy Officer, Elise Vitali, said in a press release that there was a "substantial watering down of the initial ambitions," with critical peatland restoration targets being scrapped. She added that this is "likely to set the EU on a path to failure in reaching its biodiversity and climate commitments."

One successful project in Europe has been the Lower Danube Green Corridor. In 2000, a joint declaration was signed by the environment ministers of Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Moldova to restore 223,000 hectares of former wetlands. The WFF claimed to have restored 6,000 hectares of wetlands in the area over an eight-year period as part of their Living Danube Partnership.

Although peatlands were drained for agriculture, there's a growing area of research looking into paludiculture, which involves farming on rewetted peat. Nielsen says, however, that very few farmers have adopted the techniques. "Most restoration still happens when governments step in and buy the land for nature conservationwe have a long way to go."

"Wetland restoration is, for me, part of a wider agenda for bringing back functioning ecosystems everywhere," said Nielsen. She adds that this isn't a matter of just science and must involve humans learning to reconnect with nature and one another. "Part of that is recognizing and reconnecting with the often-superior knowledge that indigenous people have about ecosystems and how they function."

Provided by European Science Communication Institute (ESCI)
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Gialiani's defamation trial begins in Washington and the former Donald Trump attorney could face $43 million in damages.

The trial is expected to last four days and marks the first step in a months-long legal battle between Giuliani and former Georgia election workers Wandrea "Shaye" Moss and Ruby Freeman. The latter two accused the former of smearing them following the 2020 election when he served as the head of Trump's legal team.

Rudy Giuliani's Defamation Trial

Giuliani's trial is putting on public display for the first time a Washington, D.C., jury on the actions of Trump's lawyers and campaign. It comes months before the former president is scheduled to go to trial on criminal charges related to his alleged 2020 election subversion efforts.

The former New York mayor's efforts also factor into the criminal allegations against the Republican businessman. Trump and his legal team and campaign are legally considered co-conspirators in the defamation case, as per CNN.

On Monday, an attorney for Freeman and Moss leaned on Giuliani's own words and social media posts during opening statements as he argued that the former Trump attorney had a devastating impact on their lives.

Giuliani has already been found liable for defamation and now owes Freeman and Moss more than $230,000. This came after he failed to respond to parts of the two plaintiffs' lawsuit. The mother and daughter are now seeking tens of millions of dollars as they claim that they suffered emotional and reputational harm as well as having their safety put at risk.

This was after Giuliani singled them out when he made false claims of ballot tampering in Georgia during the 2020 election. They are asking the Washington jury to consider awarding them between $15.5 million and $43 million for the reputational damage that they suffered alone from a series of specific statements made by Giuliani and several others.

On the other hand, Giuliani's lawyer told jurors that the tens of millions of dollars that Freeman and Moss were seeking would "be the end of Mr. Giuliani." He likened an award of that scale to a civil death penalty, according to the New York Times.

Read Also: Ethan Crumbley Receives Life in Prison Sentence for Michigan School Shooting That Killed 4 Students

Up To $43 Million in Damages

Joseph Sibley IV made the assertion during his opening statement on the first of his client's defamation trial. A lawyer for Freeman and Moss, Michael J. Gottlieb said that the former New York mayor's false accusations led to a "campaign of defamation and emotional terror" against his clients.

Gottlieb argued that the two women were forced to move out of their homes for safety and security after receiving thousands of threats that followed. He added that his clients' names became synonymous with crime, cheating, and fraud.

Court reporters said that Giuliani also exhibited strange behavior during the first day of his defamation trial on Monday. These included showing up roughly eight minutes after Howell had already taken the bench.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Kyle Cheney said that there was minimal eye contact between the former New York mayor and anyone else in the courtroom. This includes Freeman, Mose, and the judge in the case.

Furthermore, Giuliani remained seated even after the courtroom deputy asked everyone to rise for the judge as they took a 10-minute break. There were also witnesses who saw his belt still undone as it hung at his waist, said Newsweek.

Related Article: Air Force Disciplines 15 Servicemembers Over 'Lack of Supervision' in Relation to Jack Teixeira Discord Leak Case

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Australian Golden Christmas Beetle. Credit: Shantoo/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

In eastern Australia, the arrival of the summer holidays has traditionally been heralded by big iridescent beetles known as Christmas beetles due to their appearance during the Christmas season.

In recent years, public perception seems to suggest these lovely insects may no longer be arriving in high numbers.

Each year insect scientists like us field questions from the press and public about Christmas beetle populations: where have they gone? Why have their populations shrunk? Is it climate change?

So have Christmas beetles really declined? With the help of people around Australia, we're working to figure this out.

What are Christmas beetles?

In most of Australia, the term "Christmas beetle" refers to large beetles in the genus Anoplognathus. There are 36 Christmas beetle species, almost all of which are only found in Australia.

Christmas beetles are most common along the east coast and are found over most of the continent, except for a curious absence in the south west.

They emerge in early summer and seek out mates, sometimes pausing to munch on eucalyptus leaves. Females lay their eggs in the soil. After a few weeks, these eggs hatch into chunky white or cream colored larvae often known as "curl grubs."

Larvae live in the soil for 12 years until forming a pupa and transforming into their final adult form. They then dig their way out of the ground and take to the air, starting the cycle again.

Commonly observed species like the washerwoman (Anoplognathus porosus) and A. olivieri have classic Christmas beetle colouring, with flecks of iridescence across their tawny brown bodies.

But not all Christmas beetles are iridescent. Some, like the Granny Smith beetle (A. prasinus), are a vibrant green, while others look golden (A. aureus and A. parvulus).

To make things more complicated, people in Tasmania tend to use the term "Christmas beetle" to refer to the glorious golden stag beetle (Lamprima aurata). A lovely beetle to be surebut not the kind we're talking about.

Christmas beetles are also frequently confused with other scarab beetles, especially Argentinian lawn scarabs (Cyclocephala signaticollis) which are very common in the summer, particularly in cities. Argentinian lawn scarabs are smaller than most Christmas beetles and lack the distinct thickened back legs and scoop-shaped snout.

Native flower chafers such as fiddler beetles (Eupoecila australasiae), punctate flower chafers (Neorrhina punctata) and cowboy beetles (Chondropyga dorsalis) are also commonly mistaken for Christmas beetles. These beautiful summer-active beetles are pollinators of native flowers.

Have Christmas beetles declined?

Unfortunately, we don't have long term population data for any Christmas beetle species, so we cannot conclusively say if there's been a decline. However, many people (including some of the authors) remember there being more Christmas beetles in the past.

But memory alone is not strong enough evidence, so we've designed a project to help us determine the health of Christmas beetle populations. The Christmas Beetle Count is a community science project led by conservation organization Invertebrates Australia in collaboration with the University of Sydney.

We are asking the public to submit their sightings of Christmas beetles to the online database iNaturalist. We can then use the data to determine which Christmas beetle species are likely to be at risk of decline or extinction.

So far, the project has been a roaring success. As of December 2023, more than 8,000 sightings have been submitted by more than 4,000 people across Australia, including photos of four very rare species last sighted decades ago.

For one species (A. vietor), our observers took the first known picture of a living individualit had previously been known only from a single, dead beetle. This record was 300 km away from the only site previously known for this species, suggesting it occupies a larger range than thought.

Sightings like these help us better understand the distribution and population health of Christmas beetles, and anyone can help.

Are Christmas beetles coming back in 2023?

It's too early to determine if Christmas beetles have made a comeback this year. Between November 1 and December 8 2023, 532 "research grade" sightings of Christmas beetles have been reported, more than double from the same period last year.

Although the rise in reported sightings seems promising, it's possible this increase is not due to a growing beetle population, but rather because more people are aware of the project and are actively searching for Christmas beetles.

We will need a few more years of data before we can say anything conclusive about Christmas beetle population trends.

Why are Christmas beetles important?

Like many insects, Christmas beetles are likely threatened by habitat loss. We can help by conserving our native bushlandAustralia's pledge to preserve 30% of land is welcome news.

These insects play an important ecological role. Since they emerge at a predictable time of the year when many reptiles, mammals and birds are producing and raising their young, adult Christmas beetles may be an important food source for many animals.

The larvae of Christmas beetles tunnel through the soil helping to aerate it and to recycle organic matter. They likely serve as a protein and fat-rich meal for hungry birds, reptiles and mammals.

Christmas beetles are an iconic part of Australia's natural heritage, as uniquely Australian as koalas, platypuses and kangaroos.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Egypt and Northeast Africa in Antiquity, with Modern Geographical Boundaries. Credit: The Journal of Interdisciplinary History (2023). DOI: 10.1162/jinh_a_01977

Many reports from antiquity about outbreaks of plague mention Egypt as the source of pestilences that reached the Mediterranean. But was this really the case? Researchers from the University of Basel are conducting a critical analysis of the ancient written and documentary evidence combined with archaeogenetic findings to add some context to the traditional view.

Red and inflamed eyes, bad breath, fever, violent convulsions, boils and blisters over the entire body: these and other symptoms are mentioned by historian Thucydides in connection with the "Plague of Athens," which lasted from 430 to 426 BCE. He suspected that the epidemic originated in Aithiopia.

"This area isn't to be confused with the country we now know as Ethiopia, but was a more general term used at the time to refer to the region south of Egypt," explains Professor Sabine Huebner, Professor of Ancient History at the University of Basel.

Contemporary accounts suggest that later epidemics in the Mediterranean also started in Egypt and Aithiopia, such as the Antonine Plague, the Plague of Cyprian and the Justinianic Plague, which ravaged the ancient world between the second and sixth centuries.

Papyri providing new information

Was Egypt actually a gateway for pathogens spreading into the Mediterranean? Sabine Huebner and postdoc Dr. Brandon McDonald wanted to know more. As part of a project supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, they searched all available sources from antiquityin particular papyrifor information about epidemics associated with Egypt. They recently published their findings in the Journal of Interdisciplinary History.

In the case of the Justinianic Plague (541 to 544 CE), they found various references to the epidemic having first reached the Mediterranean world in Egypt before spreading into the Sea. But things looked rather different with the Antonine Plague (165 to at least 180 CE) and the Cyprian Plague (251 to 270 CE). "There's no clear proof that these two epidemics spread from Africa," says Sabine Huebner.

Transport hub as a catalyst

Although it's not possible to prove that Egypt was responsible in all cases, the evidence suggests that Egypt did indeed facilitate the spread of some infectious diseases into the Mediterranean.

As Sabine Huebner explains, "There are credible reports by medical writers from Roman times who describe disease outbreaks that were very likely to have been bubonic plague in early Roman Libya, Egypt and Syria." Several factors were at play that were beneficial to both the emergence and spread of pathogens.

One key driver of the rapid and large-scale spread of diseases was trade. For centuries Egypt was the "breadbasket of Rome," growing and exported grain in abundance. Goods from Central Africa and South Asia reached the Mediterranean Sea via the Nile and the Red Sea. They were then loaded onto ships at the Egyptian ports of Alexandria and Pelusium. This brought together people from a variety of different regions.

Pathogens also tended to develop along the Nile rather than in the hot, dry desert climate where there were fewer hosts for viruses and bacteria.

"Climatic changes were also beneficial to the emergence and spread of epidemics," explains co-author Brandon McDonald. The study shows that milder flooding of the Nile, or indeed no flooding at all, may have led to poor harvests and food shortage, which probably resulted in malnourished populations. This may have provided favorable conditions for the outbreak of diseases.

"Climatic changes themselves have an important effect on disease carriers such as fleas and mosquitoes," says McDonald. There may therefore be a connection between climate change and the outbreak of ancient epidemics, but the specific interactions need to be studied in more detail.

Additional archaeogenetic studies are currently being carried out as part of the aforementioned project. They are providing new information about pathogens from the ancient world and the societies affected by them. The studies may also contribute to our understanding of the evolution of pathogens and epidemiology over time and space.

The Thucydides model

So why do Greek and Roman accounts mention Egypt and Aithiopia as the origin of plagues if that wasn't the case?

Sabine Huebner says, "On the one hand, the idea of Egypt as the birthplace of epidemics is one that's steeped in tradition; neighboring societies such as the Hittites, the Israelites and the Greeks considered Egypt to be permeated by illness. Descriptions of these epidemics in Hittite or Egyptian sources or in the Old Testament are reminiscent of smallpox or bubonic plague."

And for his part, Thucydides helped lay the foundations for the continuation of this perception. "His accounts developed into a literary topos to a certain extent," says Huebner.

"As a historian of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides set new standards in terms of style and the way in which historiography was conducted. This made him a role model for many later historians."

Later authors aligned with Thucydides' famous description of the Plague of Athens in their depictions of disease events, that they themselves experienced, carrying over the origin of the epidemic that he so vividly recounted.

More information: Sabine R. Huebner et al, Egypt as a Gateway for the Passage of Pathogens into the Ancient Mediterranean, The Journal of Interdisciplinary History (2023). DOI: 10.1162/jinh_a_01977
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View of the Interamna Lirenas excavation from above and from the North. Photograph taken in September 2023. The remains of the theater can be seen in the center, with the remains of the basilica behind it. Credit: Alessandro Launaro

A rare roofed theater, markets, warehouses, a river port and other startling discoveries made by a Cambridge-led team of archaeologists challenge major assumptions about the decline of Roman Italy.

New findings from Interamna Lirenas, traditionally written off as a failed backwater in Central Italy, change our understanding of Roman history, its excavators believe.

Their thirteen-year studypublished today in the edited volume "Roman Urbanism in Italy"shows that the town in Southern Lazio continued to thrive well into the 3rd century A.D., bucking what is normally considered Italy's general state of decline in this period.

The team's pottery analysis indicates that the town's decline began around 300 years later than previously assumed, while a systematic geophysical survey has produced an astonishingly detailed image of the entire town's layout, highlighting a wide range of impressive urban features.

"We started with a site so unpromising that no one had ever tried to excavate itthat's very rare in Italy," said Dr. Alessandro Launaro, the study's author and Interamna Lirenas Project lead at the University of Cambridge's Classics Faculty.

"There was nothing on the surface, no visible evidence of buildings, just bits of broken pottery. But what we discovered wasn't a backwater, far from it. We found a thriving town adapting to every challenge thrown at it for 900 years. We're not saying that this town was special, it's far more exciting than that. We think many other average Roman towns in Italy were just as resilient. It's just that archaeologists have only recently begun to apply the right techniques and approaches to see this."

Because the site was mostly open fields, the archaeologists were able to conduct a magnetic and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey of around 60 acres. They also launched a series of targeted excavations around the forum.

Interpretation of geophysical survey results showing underground traces of Interamna Lirenas in the context of the wider landscape today. Credit: Alessandro Launaro

Pottery proves resilience

Until recently, archaeologists have tended to focus on evidence of higher status imported pottery rather than on the kind of plain commonware pottery used for cooking. The study of commonware has advanced over the last 20 years but Launaro's team made it specifically central to their investigation.

Forty years ago, Canadian archaeologists studied the distribution of fineware and amphorae potsherds in the ploughsoil above Interamna Lirenas and concluded that the town's occupation peaked in the late 2nd to early 1st centuries B.C. (at around 74 acres), before shrinking to around 25 acres by the 1st century A.D.

But Launaro and his colleagues mapped the town's development using a far larger and more reliable body of excavated evidence, tens of thousands of pieces of commonware pottery. This showed that the town actually resisted decline until the later part of the 3rd century A.D., around 300 years later than previously assumed. At its peak, the town would have housed around 2000 people.

Launaro said, "Based on the relative lack of imported pottery, archaeologists have assumed that Interamna Lirenas was a declining backwater. We now know that wasn't the case."

Julius Caesar

The team's re-appraisal of an inscription found in the nineteenth century (now lost) confirms that Interamna Lirenas gained the patronage of Julius Caesar in 46 B.C., but Dr. Launaro argues that this did not make it exceptional or explain the town's long-term success. Rather the archaeologists' findings help to explain why the town would have appealed to Caesar.

Launaro, a Fellow of Gonville & Caius College, said, "Interamna Lirenas was strategically located between a river and a major road, and it was a thriving node in the regional urban network. It would have been valuable to Julius Caesar as he sought to consolidate support across Italy during the civil wars."

"This town continually played its cards right, it was always forging relations with communities between Rome and southern Italy while thriving as a trading hub."

While we currently only know of three other towns to share this privilege, almost certainly there were more.

An artist's impression of the interior of the Interamna Lirenas theater from the seating area, showing the scaena, the facade of the stage. Credit: Alessandro Launaro

River port

The team's GPR survey near the River Liri revealed the presence of a large (40m x 12m) warehouse, a temple and a bath complex.

The researchers are confident that these structures all served a river port between the late 1st century B.C. and the 4th century A.D.

"River ports didn't just need warehouses," Launaro said. "People spent a lot of time working and resting in the vicinity so they needed all kinds of amenities, just like the ones we found here."

The River Liri was undoubtedly navigable because the Emperor Claudius planned to make it even more so by diverting the waters of a lake into it.

Launaro said, "This river port enabled Interamna Lirenas to profit from trade between Aquinum and Casinum, key centers to the north, and Minturnae and the Tyrrhenian coast to the southeast. It would have been crucial to the town's success."

The now wooded area under which the piers of the river port might still survive is not currently accessible so cannot be excavated for now.

Theater

The archaeologists discovered that the sector immediately to the north of the town's forum underwent significant redevelopment in the late 1st century B.C.

Drone view of the excavation of the two footpaths lining the street separating the basilica (top) from the theater (bottom) at Interamna Lirenas. Credit: Alessandro Launaro

Along the northwestern side of the town, the archaeologists discovered the remains of a roofed theater which would have towered over an open terrace. The theater (around 45 m x 26 m) would have been big enough to seat 1,500 people.

Roofed theaters are quite rare in Roman Italy and represent a significant upgrade on open-air structures, acoustically, architecturally and financially. The theater boasted diverse marbles imported from across the central and eastern Mediterranean.

Launaro said, "The fact that this town went for a roofed theater, such a refined building, does not fit with a backwater in decline. This theater was a major status symbol. It displayed the town's wealth, power and ambition."

The archaeologists found evidence of the theater undergoing improvements, including to the stage's architectural background. They also found an inscription bearing the name "Anoptes," a wealthy freedman of the Sulpicii Galbae, a powerful family which likely had trade links to Interamna Lirenas. The theater's construction likely benefited from the generosity of Anoptes.

At a time when Roman Italy may have struggled, Interamna Lirenas's theater was still in operation. An inscription stating that M. Sentius Crispinus was honored with a bisellium (a double seat) at some point between the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D. has indeed been linked with this theater.

Launaro said, "The assumed lack of a theater here was taken as evidence of the town's decline. At nearby Roman towns, archaeologists saw the remains of theaters sticking out of the ground. The remains of Interamna Lirenas' amazing theater was there all along, just completely buried."

Bath time

The town boasted an impressive three bath complexes.

The larger of these (c. 2,400 m2), located not far from the forum, featured a sizable swimming pool surrounded by a portico. An inscription tells us that the portico was a gift from M. Sentius Crispinus at some point in the 3rd4th centuries A.D.

The remains of the theater (bottom) and basilica (top) of Interamna Lirenas, seen from above. Credit: Alessandro Launaro

Another inscription reveals that in A.D. 408 another member of the family, M. Sentius Redemptus, saved the same baths from "collapsing" and kept them in operation with his benefactions.

This provides important evidence that even when Italy's decline was in full swing, Interamna Lirenas "continued to exist as a civic center of some relevance."

Housing

One of the most striking aspects of the town is the density of its occupation. 190 of the town's houses (84%) were small (under 500 m2), interspersed with 25 larger houses (5001,000 m2) and just 5 dwellings over 1,000 m2.

Much like Pompeii and Herculaneum, Interamna Lirenas offers no sign of zoning or separation by social status.

Trade

The team identified nineteen sizable "courtyard buildings," mostly located at a distance from the forum, which they believe may have served as indoor market buildings (macella), guildhouses (scholae), apartment blocks and, above all public warehouses (horrea).

This impressive infrastructure suggests that the town was a significant trade hub in service to larger centers including Aquinum and Casinum. This is supported by surviving lists showing that Interamna Lirenas hosted two different markets.

The archaeologists found a large open space (over 1 acre) to the southeast of the town which they believe served as a sheep and cattle market. Interamna Lirenas likely played a key role in the region's thriving wool trade.

A plan of Interamna Lirenas showing the distribution of different types of buildings. Credit: Alessandro Launaro

The archaeologists did not find a layer of ash or any other evidence to suggest that the town was violently destroyed.

Launaro argues that inhabitants probably deserted the town amid growing insecurity but before the Lombard invasion of the late 6th century A.D., because they knew they were on a direct route that marauding armies were bound to use.

Modern residents of Pignataro Interamna, the nearest town to the site, have taken Interamna Lirenas's revised history to heart.

Launaro said, "This community has been inspired by this story of reinvention and resilience. They've even renamed the local cafe after the Sundial we discovered."

More information: A. Launaro, "Interamna Lirenas: how special?" in A. Launaro (ed.), Roman Urbanism in Italy: Recent Discoveries and New Directions (Oxford, 2023)
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The relation between two microscopic provenances of the non-Hermiticity. Credit: Xiaoxiao Wang, Ruizhe Gu, Yandong Li, Huixin Qi, Xiaoyong Hu, Xingyuan Wang, Qihuang Gong

The exchange of energy and environment is inevitable in any physical system, so non-Hermitian systems that can be described by non-Hermitian Hamiltonians are ubiquitous. There are two kinds of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, describing nonreciprocal systems with anisotropic coupling, also referred to as nonreciprocal coupling, and gain-loss systems.

Three physicists won the Nobel Physics Prize for their discovery of topological phases and transitions in 2016. Recently, an emerging interplay of topological photonics and non-Hermitian photonics has enabled the realizations of topological lasers, non-Hermitian topological steering of light and topological entangled-photon emitters.

Compared with nonreciprocal coupling strengths, there are more mature technologies to generate tailored gain and loss distributions in various systems.

Existing principles for achieving nonreciprocal interlayer coupling have practical difficulties. Moreover, topological photonic systems may lose their original topological properties after adding nonreciprocity.

Researchers led by Prof. Xiaoyong Hu and Prof. Qihuang Gong at Peking University, China, are interested in non-Hermitian topological photonics. They provide a scheme for realizing the nonreciprocal interlayer coupling system by constructing on-site gain/loss in bilayer non-Hermitian topological systems.

The work titled "A scheme for realizing nonreciprocal interlayer coupling in bilayer topological systems" was published in Frontiers of Optoelectronics.

Their idea is to find the relation between two microscopic provenances of the non-Hermiticity, and the similarity transformations between nonreciprocal interlayer coupling and on-site gain/loss in the one-dimensional bilayer topological system and two-dimensional bilayer topological photonic crystal are revealed.

These results offer new perspectives for studying non-Hermitian topological photonics and manipulating non-Hermitian topological states in bilayer non-Hermitian topological systems.

The researchers predict potential applications such as observing non-Hermitian skin effect in three-dimensional systems, studying non-Hermitian topological physics such as non-Hermitian band topology. The related research work was completed by Mr. Xingyuan Wang from Beijing University of Chemical Technology.

More information: Xiaoxiao Wang et al, A scheme for realizing nonreciprocal interlayer coupling in bilayer topological systems, Frontiers of Optoelectronics (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s12200-023-00094-z

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Credit: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c04503

Two years after the scientists in Finland successfully made coffee in a laboratory, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland Ltd has released detailed information on the process. Published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, the scientific paper describes the exact process the scientists used to produce coffee starting from the original coffee plant itself, and establishing cell cultures to alter its aroma in the roasting process, caffeine content, flavor analysis, and sensory profiling by a panel of tasters.

While demand for coffee is rising, the production of coffee beans faces multiple sustainability challenges, concerning land and water use, laborers' rights, and climate change. According to the Center for the Promotion of Imports, Europe, the highest consumer of coffee in the world, imported over 3,602 thousand tons (3.6 million tons) of green coffee in 2021, with an estimated average of 5 kg of coffee consumed per person each year.

Cellular agriculture provides a potential avenue for solving the main issues in coffee production in a sustainable way, also allowing for more regional self-sufficiency in areas with climates that are not suitable for coffee bean farming. In addition, lab-grown coffee has the potential to speed up coffee production significantly.

Traditionally farmed coffee provides 12 harvests per year, whereas a new batch of lab-grown coffee can be made in a month due to the controlled process and the infinitely renewable nature of coffee plant cells that removes the need to grow new coffee plants from seeds.

When coffee plant cells grown in a bioreactor (top left) are roasted (top right and bottom powders), they develop colors similar to conventional light or dark roast coffee. Credit: Adapted from Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2023, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c04503

However, the journey of lab-grown coffee to grocery store shelves and people's kitchens is anything but complete. Dr. Heiko Rischer, Principal Scientist and Head of Plant Biotechnology at VTT, calls for an ecosystem dedicated to the production and commercialization of lab-grown coffee.

"It's one thing to grow coffee cells in a bioreactor. Making it a commercially viable product is a whole other matter. The raw material derived from different cultivars and species, and the soil, the elevation, climate, and even the year when the particular coffee beans were grown plus the processes of roasting, fermentation, brewing, are all factors that impact the end product. While lab-grown coffee is much more controlled, different approaches to, for example, roasting significantly impact the aroma profile of the coffee which is a key consideration for the end-customerthe consumer," elaborates Dr. Rischer.

Ideally, players interested in the same coffee value chain, such as cultivators, roasters, blenders, fermenters, and coffee brands could come together to build the processes required to produce and commercialize the new sustainable type of coffee.

"Our wish is that the publication of this paper, which clearly demonstrates proof of concept for lab-grown coffee, nudges forward the creation of an ecosystem or a collective that has the resources, know-how, and drive to pioneer an entirely new type of coffee. It is a huge challenge but one VTT is prepared to take on with the right partners and experts," says Dr. Rischer.

More information: Heikki Aisala et al, Proof of Concept for Cell Culture-Based Coffee, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c04503 Journal information: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
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Credit: Sara Levine | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

North America's 2021 heat wave was Washington's deadliest weather-related disaster, claiming over 100 lives in the evergreen state and many others in neighboring regions. Scientists not only suggest that such heat waves will grow more intense and strike more oftenin new work published in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, they reveal the underlying mechanism behind these strengthened heat waves.

"The scientific community has suggested for quite some time that heat waves will intensify under a changing climate," said lead author Ziming Chen, a postdoctorate researcher at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

"But we haven't understood exactly what is happening in Earth's atmosphere that intensifies these heat waves, nor what causes them to strike more frequently. Now, we can see which specific changes in atmospheric circulation patterns likely underpin these changes."

The authors of the new study sought to better understand how global warming affects heat domes like the one from summer 2021. The authors present their work this week at the American Geophysical Union's 2023 fall meeting in San Francisco.

Previous work by PNNL scientists suggests that current climate pledges from countries around the world are still insufficient to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, bringing the risk of continued extreme weather. COP28the global climate conference in which world leaders manage emissions pledges with the goal to limit warmingconcludes today.

"Our new work suggests that if current emission trends continue," said co-author and atmospheric scientist Ruby Leung, "we expect these changes to boost heat wave risk over the entire Northwest region in the coming decades. Residents of California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and other neighboring states may experience especially strong heat waves. By better understanding the conditions that precede these events, we can all be better prepared for them."

What causes heat domes, and why are they getting worse?

The process begins with a warmer sea surface in the Pacific Ocean, heated by greenhouse gas warming and further strengthened by an El Nino-like warming pattern.

That heat gives way to convection: the air above the warmer sea surface begins to mix as warm air rises and cool, dense air sinks. This convective mixing transfers heat upward.

This convection releases heat aloft, which then gives way to something scientists call atmospheric Rossby waves. Just as ocean waves move through the sea, atmospheric Rossby waves move through Earth's atmosphere to affect weather far downstream.

Rossby waves can strongly influence Earth's climate and even intensify extreme weather. In this new work, Rossby waves play a direct role in priming the Pacific Northwest for a heat-dome-like effect, threatening the region with sweltering heat.

Heat domes happen when high-pressure atmospheric conditions become fixed over a region, refusing to budge sometimes for weeks. The high-pressure conditions create clear sky, reducing cloud cover or rain from cooling the area. By simulating Earth's atmospheric processes, the authors find that Rossby waves could come to be stationary over the Pacific Northwest more often in the future, producing a heat dome-like effect.

They also find that these stationary Rossby waves may nearly double in magnitude in the coming decades.

"Although the amplitude of the heat dome-like stationary wave above the Pacific Northwest will be roughly twice as large under a high-emission scenario toward the end of the century," said Chen, "the intensity of heat waves would increase much more than that of the heat dome itself due to the contribution of background warming and land-atmosphere interactions."

Such interactions, like how much soil moisture is available to help cool the atmosphere through evaporation, can significantly affect the local climate. In the example of the summer 2021 heat wave, said Chen, overly dry soil contributed extra degrees of heat to an already intense heat wave. Changes in wind patterns, too, could likely push Rossby waves increasingly toward North America, bringing them to strike more often.

Past research by PNNL scientists has shown that hotter summer nights can boost urban heat stress, and that residents of many U.S. cities suffer these effects disproportionately. The authors of the new work hope their results will inform strategies to help communities better prepare for extreme weather. Understanding changes in extreme weather is key, also, in building a more resilient electrical grid.

More information: Ziming Chen et al, Projected increase in summer heat-dome-like stationary waves over Northwestern North America, npj Climate and Atmospheric Science (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41612-023-00511-2 Journal information: npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Until the early morning of February 24, 2022, Ukrainian scientist Olena Iarmosh did not believe there would be a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Iarmosh grew up and had settled in Kharkiv, her beloved city in Eastern Ukraine and only 40 km away from the Russian border, where she worked for more than 16 years as a lecturer in higher education before fleeing to Switzerland. At approximately 5 a.m., she awoke to the sounds of bombing, hoping that they were merely the loud sounds of technical maintenance at the local power plant.

"My city looks worse now after the bombing than after two occupations by German troops," says Iarmosh. Iarmosh remained steadfast in her apartment throughout the bombardment for nine days before fleeing westward, first in western Ukraine, until the bombing started there too. She then fled to Switzerland, all the while carrying out her teaching duties online, and eventually landed a temporary position at EPFL with Gaetan de Rassenfosse.

In the meantime, de Rassenfosse and his team set out to quantify the impact of the war's influence on Ukrainian research, with one of the most extensive surveys yet, analyzing the responses from roughly 2,500 Ukrainian scientists in autumn 2022. The results are published in Humanities & Social Sciences Communications.

"Our survey shows that Ukraine has lost almost 20% of top scientists, like Olena," explains de Rassenfosse of EPFL's College of Management of Technology, who was able to hire Iarmosh to work in his lab as a visiting professor.

"Many of these emigrant scientists are under precarious contracts at their host institutions. Of the scientists who stay in Ukraine, if still alive, about 15% have left research, and others have little time to devote to research given the circumstances of war."

The EPFL researchers found that research capacity in Ukraine, that is time directly devoted to research activity, is down 20%. The study reports that 23.5% of scientists still in Ukraine have lost access to critical input for their research, and 20.8% cannot physically access their institution.

de Rassenfosse and his colleagues highlight in the study that "the provision of more and longer scholarships emerges as a paramount concern" for migrant scientists. As for scientists still in Ukraine, the study suggests that "institutions across Europe and beyond can offer a host of support programs, such as remote visiting programs, access to digital libraries and computing resources, as well as collaborative research grants."

"From a purely academic perspective, moving abroad may actually be an opportunity to improve as a scientist, as our survey shows that being abroad means exposure to novelty," continues de Rassenfosse.

Now at UNIL on a temporary contract, Iarmosh is living day-to-day in Switzerland, trying to juggle constraints imposed by employer contracts and her temporary Swiss permit. "In Ukraine, with my level of education, there were many more options that I could choose from. In Switzerland, I am less picky about the job and know that each opportunity will be a positive experience for me."

Iarmosh continues, "Despite the war, Ukraine is doing a lot to keep researchers and scientists employed. Education in eastern and southern Ukraine is fully online. Ukrainian universities still want to keep us. They invite us to activities, ask us to supervise and continue research. It is a great privilege for all lecturers and researchers. They are trying to maintain a university education for youth."

"More generally, our study shows that Ukrainian scientists are getting more and more disconnected from the Ukrainian scientific community, and this is dangerous for the future of Ukraine and Ukrainian research," warns de Rassenfosse. "Policymakers must anticipate the renewal of the Ukrainian research system in order for scientists to return, and to train the next generation of Ukrainian scientists."

"I am the biggest patriot of my city," concludes Iarmosh. "Kharkiv is beautiful, the people, the mentality, the architecture, it is clean. I love Kharkiv. But the human loss has been colossal. Physically and mentally strong, patriotic, open-minded men stayed behind, fighting to protect Ukraine. We can rebuild buildings. It takes many years to build a new generation."

More information: Gaetan de Rassenfosse, The effects of war on Ukrainian research, Humanities & Social Sciences Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-02346-x
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One of the groups of breeding terns. Credit: Richard Kingsford

Widespread flooding and environmental flows have been a boon for our waterbirds and wetlandsbut long-term decline is persisting.

Significant rainfall over the past few La Nina years has boosted waterbird numbers in eastern Australia, the results from this year's aerial waterbird survey show.

The annual survey by UNSW researchers and government collaborators revealed there was widespread breeding of waterbirds in 2021 and 2022 throughout eastern Australia, particularly in the Murray-Darling Basin. The numbers of waterbirds have increased to more than half a million individualsduring this year's survey, the researchers counted 579,641 birds.

The survey, led by UNSW's Center for Ecosystem Science with major partner NSW Department of Planning and Environment and other state government collaborators, covers a third of the continent and provides one of Australia's most important long-term datasets on the health and biodiversity of the country's river and wetland areas. The survey also comprehensively covers the major rivers and wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin.

"It's great to see such a jump in numbers from previous years, ranked seventh highest in the last 41 years, showing the importance of the widespread flooding and environmental flows that we have seen in the last three years," says Center for Ecosystem Director Professor Richard Kingsford, who leads the aerial survey.

However, the scientists also found the four major markers for waterbird healthtotal abundance, breeding index, number of species breeding and wetland area indexhave continued to show significant declines over time.

"The results are still showing a long-term decline and so the long-term loss of waterbirds has not been reversed. If we leave aside 1983 and 1984, the peak years, three of the four major indices still show a significant downward trendand long-term trends are more informative for predicting population status than year-to-year fluctuations," Prof. Kingsford says.

The scientists found waterbirds were most abundant in the temporary wetlands of the Georgina-Diamantina River system in northwestern Queensland, with Lakes Mumbleberry and Torquinnie supporting more than 180,000 waterbirds. There were also more than 50,000 waterbirds south of the Coorong, in the southeast wetlands.

After widespread rainfall in 2022, 72% of waterbirds were located across 30 wetlands, making them less spatially concentrated and more evenly distributed than the previous year.

The coming big dry

Despite this big lift in numbers, the scientists recorded little breeding in 2023, reflecting the impacts of El Nino and the drying of eastern Australia. Wetland area indexthe total area of wetlands, coming in at 192,083 ha this yearalso decreased considerably from the previous flood year of 2022, and lies well below the long-term average.

Drier conditions have returned to much of Australia after the La Nina years, with October rainfall 65% below the 19611990 average across Australia. Many of the large wetlands surveyed in 2023 are drying right back.

On the edge of the Murray-Sunset National Park, there are spectacular dry temporary salt lakes that very seldom flood. Credit: Richard Kingsford

"Breeding species' richness and abundance decreased considerably compared to the previous year, with breeding abundance falling by an order of magnitude to slightly below the long-term average," says the survey's co-ordinator, Dr. John Porter, Senior Scientist from the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

Some rivers and wetlands in the northern Lake Eyre Basin, including the Diamantina and Georgina rivers, retained water in deeper channels and pools after moderate flooding, and supported large numbers of waterbirds.

Wetland survey

The team also comprehensively surveyed all the major wetlands across the Murray-Darling Basin, a separate survey funded by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and now in its 17th year for the wetlands of the River Murray, including the Coorong and Lower Lakes.

"Waterbird numbers were much higher in the Lower Lakes and Coorong than we have seen in recent years, with breeding of straw-necked ibis, Australian pelicans and pied cormorants in their usual breeding sites of up to several thousand," said Prof. Kingsford.

"These long-term data are critical to identifying trends in the health of rivers and wetlands and it is important that we continue to track these changes so that we can identify the problems and solutions, with degradation trends emerging above the high variability of our river systems.

"The implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is critical, most importantly ensuring that the floods continue to bring health to our rivers and their waterbirds, with the new major amendments further contributing to the recovery of rivers, wetlands and their biodiversity."
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Frequency of large fires in metal-rich landscapes. Satellite-derived fire occurrences greater than 2023 ha within generalized mafic and ultramafic landscapes from 2001 to 2020. Credit: Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43101-9

Wildfires can transform a benign metal in soils and plants into toxic particles that easily become airborne, according to a new study from Stanford University.

Published Dec. 12 in Nature Communications, the research documents high levels of a hazardous form of the metal chromium at wildfire sites with chromium-rich soils and certain kinds of vegetation compared to adjacent unburned sites. Known as hexavalent chromium or chromium 6, this is the same toxin made notorious by the 2000 film Erin Brockovich.

"Our study suggests far more attention should be paid to wildfire-modified chromium, and we presume additional metals as well, to more thoroughly characterize the overall threats wildfires pose to human health," said lead study author Alandra Lopez, a postdoctoral scholar in Earth system science at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

An overlooked hazard

Smoke plumes from wildfires are known to carry dangerous air pollutants, including gases, organic aerosols, and fine particulate matter, which can trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks, and early death.

Scientists and regulators have focused less attention on potential harm from metals like chromium, which is common in soils across the western United States, Australia, Brazil, Europe, Indonesia, and South Africa. With wildfires expected to become more frequent and severe due to climate change, the health risks posed by airborne chromium to firefighters, downwind residents, and others will need to be better understood, the researchers said.

"In the complex mixture of gases and particles that wildfires spew out as smoke and leave behind as dust, heavy metals such as chromium have largely been overlooked," said senior study author Scott Fendorf, the Terry Huffington Professor in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

Scientific opportunity knocks

In nature, chromium mostly occurs in a form known as trivalent chromium or chromium 3, an essential nutrient that our bodies use to break down glucose. Chromium 6, which increases cancer risk when inhaled or ingested via contaminated drinking water, most often results from industrial processes. High levels of chromium 6 historically have entered the environment from industrial runoff and wastewater.

Although natural chemical processes can trigger this transformation, laboratory experiments led by researchers at Australia's Southern Cross University provided evidence in 2019 that chromium 6 could also form rapidly from chromium 3 in surface soils heated by wildfires.

Intrigued by those findings, Fendorf and Lopez set out to test the theory that wildfires can leave soils contaminated with chromium 6. Focusing on California's North Coast Range, they identified sites in four ecological preserves that have recently burned across soils formed from naturally chromium-rich rocks, such as serpentinite.

Lopez collected soil from the preserves and separated out the smallest particles, which are most sensitive to wind transport. She measured hexavalent chromium concentrations in this ultra-fine dust from burned and unburned areas and gathered data on the local fire severity and the prevailing soil, underlying geology, and ecosystem types, ranging from open grasslands to dense forests.

The researchers found all these factors influenced chromium 6 levels in soil. Most dramatically, in the chromium-rich areas where vegetation allowed fires to burn at high heat for long durations, toxic chromium concentrations came in approximately seven times higher than in unburned areas, suggesting significant amounts of chromium 6 could become airborne.

Mitigating the risks

In terms of exposure risks, fire-induced toxic chromium would initially be encountered by first responders and people living near the conflagrations. Even after fires end, local communities downwind could be exposed because strong winds may carry fine particles of chromium-laced soil.

Much of the risk of inhaling airborne hexavalent chromium would likely decline after the first big rainfall washes the metal away and underground, said Fendorf, who is also a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.

Yet before the rains comewhich might take many months, especially as climate change brings more frequent and severe droughts to the American Westexposure risks would loom for people working to revegetate or rebuild burned areas, as well as recreationists checking out burn scars. More research is needed to understand potential threats to ecosystems and human health if fire-induced chromium 6 is washing into waterways or groundwater.

Fendorf said future research into wildfire-related toxic chromium exposure could help inform public health guidance, such as recommendations to wear an N95 mask when visiting a burn site.

To learn more, Lopez is now contributing to an assessment of firefighter health and exposure to metal-containing dusts.

With support from the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment's Environmental Ventures Program, Fendorf is working with colleagues to develop geospatial tools for predicting threats of toxic chromium generation and downstream exposure. These tools could eventually help researchers develop better ways to limit exposure to chromium and other overlooked metallic pollutants.

"While chromium is one of the metals of highest concern, we're sure it's not the only one," said Fendorf. "We expect subsequent studies to bear out additional metal inhalation exposure risks posed by wildfires."

More information: Alandra Lopez et al, Metal toxin threat in wildland fires determined by geology and fire severity, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43101-9. www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-43101-9 Journal information: Nature Communications
From New York State Police: A Glens Falls man was arrested over the weekend for alleged drug possession after he was pulled over by police for a traffic stop.

Police said in a news release that Taylor C. Hatch, 37, was arrested Saturday, Dec. 9 in Greenwich on charges of felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Hatch was stopped at 12:04 a.m. by troopers on Peck Avenue in Glens Falls for a traffic violation. The investigation determined Hatch did not have a valid drivers license and the vehicle he was operating was unregistered.

Further investigation discovered Hatch reportedly possessed a controlled substance packaged in a manner intended for sale, the police said.

Hatch was arrested and transported to the state police station in Greenwich for processing. He was then turned over to the Warren County jail to await arraignment.
About Me halvar.flake I like simple things. And complex things. And drinking beer with people like Fyodor Yarochkin. I like South America. And some parts of Asia, specifically Kuala Lumpur. I like French. I like Spanish. I'd like to like more languages. View my complete profile
China releases first pan-genome map of tea plant

Xinhua) 13:18, December 12, 2023

BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- A group of Chinese researchers established the first pan-genome map of the tea plant and completed the pan-genome sequencing of 22 cultivars, facilitating the genomics-assisted breeding of the crop, according to Science and Technology Daily.

Tea is one of the world's oldest crops and is grown to produce a variety of flavored beverages. Despite advances in sequencing technologies, the genetic mechanisms underlying key agronomic traits of tea remain unclear.

Researchers from the Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and other institutions selected 22 cultivars representing the broad genetic diversity of the tea plant for pan-genome sequencing and created a complete pan-genome map.

The research, which was published in the journal Nature Plants, discovered strong correlations between allelic variants and flavor-related chemistries.

The study also found multiple key genes related to agronomic traits such as leaf color and tea aroma.

These findings deepen the understanding of the genetic basis of tea quality and provide valuable genomic resources to facilitate its genomics-assisted breeding, according to the study.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
On Monday, Ottawa proposed their long-promised bill to improve water quality in First Nations communities, advance collaboration on water protection, and codify a new First Nations-led commission.

Indigenous services minister Patty Hajdu endorsed the bill and said they would apply a new framework for supplying water, drinking water, wastewater, and related infrastructure on First Nations land.

Ottawa Proposes Improvement on Water Quality

Hajdu discussed the bill on Parliament Hill at a press conference. She said outside the House of Commons that First Nations has made it clear that they must acquire the tools and powers to protect their inherent right to clean water.

"And this bill today is the first on a new path of law-making together," she added.

Assembly of First Nations Ontario regional chief Glen Hare, who appeared beside Hajdu, also agreed that the legislation was essential to keep families together. He shared that teachers often call the Children's Aid Society on parents who live in First Nations, saying they do not have access to clean water and accuse them of neglect.

Hare convinced all parties to support the legislation as they want the kids to be clean and healthy like everyone else, especially to stop the accusations to the parents that they do not take care of their children.

Hajdu's legislation was the closest the federal government had come to co-developing law with First Nations. However, some chiefs disagreed with the claims, especially those in Alberta.

She noted that all First Nations were provided with the draft legislation and a second draft based on consultations with communities. She added that the discussion will continue as the bill moves through the legislative process, and she looks forward to hearing from all stakeholders.

The bill will provide drinking water quality, and standards in First Nations communities would be determined by the federal government and First Nations together. However, such measures must match federal, provincial, or territorial guidelines.

Furthermore, the bill required the federal government to commit to providing funding at a comparable level to that offered by other groups of government off-reserve. The bill indicates First Nations can bring their cases to the courts if funding is not provided.

First Nations-led water commission ensured that the bill would monitor water in communities, help them obtain legal advice, and make recommendations to federal, provincial, and territorial governments.

Read Also: 'Oppenheimer' Set to Make Long-Awaited Debut in Japan Following Debate, Backlash

2013 Safe Drinking Water

The 2013 Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act aimed to support the development of federal regulations to improve First Nations' access to clean drinking water and the effective treatment of wastewater during the time of Stephen Harper's Conservative government.

However, many First Nations said the legislation was ineffective and dangerous, citing concerns about a lack of sustainable funding and the infringement of constitutional rights.

The Federal Court and the Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba approved the settlement of an $8 billion class-action lawsuit in December 2021. The settlement pushed to provide $1.5 billion in compensation to any First Nations and their members subject to drinking water advisories for at least one year between November 1995 and June 2021.

Related Article: UN Says Afghans Face Harsh Winter, at Risk of Death Amid Lack of Proper Shelter After Leaving Pakistan



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GANESVOORT  For 34 years, Dr. Pamela Reppert and MaryLou Gaylord, along with a cadre of like-minded carolers, have been bringing holiday cheer to senior communities on horseback.

First of all, there are a lot of horse people who like to get out onto their horses in the wintertime and do something, and we wanted to do something for the community, Reppert, a small animal veterinarian, told The Post-Star. There are a lot of people in Saratoga who have a lot of history with horses themselves either from growing up with draft horse or farm animals.

Reppert partnered with Gaylord, who was the director of recreational therapy at Saratoga Hospital, 34 years ago and the two came up with the idea to host horseback caroling for the residents of the nursing home on site.

Horses were very involved with these people who were 90-year-old, Gaylord said. It reminded them of growing up when the different vendors would come by on the farm with horse-drawn (carriages). I didnt even realize it was going to hit them that way in the beginning.

Each year, Reppert, Gaylord, and their merry menagerie get together and visit an area nursing home, to sing songs, relive fond memories, and hopefully make some new ones.

For the first 25 years, they held the event at the hospital where the residents could sit inside and watch the riders through the large windows at the front of the building, then step out and interact with the horses. After the nursing home was closed they kept the yuletide tradition alive at other locations. This year, the holiday hootenanny clip-clopped its way to the Home of the Good Shepard in Ganesvoort.

Its always well-received, were always very grateful to everyone who accommodates us, and well keep doing it as long as people want us to come, Reppert said.
A report from state Attorney General Letitia James found that health insurance companies across New York fail to maintain accurate network directories of mental health care providers, which is worsening access for patients seeking care and exacerbating the states behavioral health crisis.

For the report, released last week, staff from the Attorney Generals Office reviewed 13 health plans, including insurers in Buffalo, Rochester, Albany and New York City, and then called nearly 400 mental health providers listed on the health plans networks.

What the office found: Of the 396 providers called across all plans, only 56 providers  or 14% of those contacted  offered appointments. The remaining 86% were ghosts, meaning they were unreachable, not in network or not accepting new patients.

Our state is facing a mental health crisis, and this report clearly shows that insurance companies are failing to help New Yorkers in need, James said in a statement. By not maintaining accurate directories as required by law, health plans are making it harder for New Yorkers, especially the most vulnerable among us, to get mental health care and forcing them to delay or forego the care they need. I am calling on health plans to rapidly address this problem and help us tackle the mental health care crisis.

Addressing the states mental health care system has been a major focus for James. The attorney general held a mental health hearing in New York City in June 2022 and another one in Buffalo in January, gathering testimony that her office planned to use to push for legislative and enforcement solutions.

Relative of suicide victim describes mental health care system as 'abysmal at best' at AG's hearing "This hearing is not limited to any one population or any single patient," State Attorney General Letitia James said, as she kicked off the hearing. "We are examining the entire system, from Buffalo to Brooklyn."

At the Buffalo hearing in January, attended by more than 100 people, most of the more than 20 people who spoke described a broken mental health system. In a statement Thursday, the Attorney Generals Office called particular attention to one story shared during the Buffalo hearing from a parent who testified about her struggle to find appropriate care for her child and how that led to eight to 10 psychiatric emergency room visits.

Following the hearings, and after hearing stories of parents trying and failing to find a provider through their insurance plan, the Attorney Generals Office decided to conduct a statewide review of 13 health plans: Aetna; CDPHP; Cigna; Emblem; Empire BlueCross BlueShield; Excellus; Fidelis; Healthfirst; Independent Health; MetroPlus; Molina; MVP; and UnitedHealthcare. Those 13 plans provide coverage for roughly 12 million New Yorkers.

The office did not say why those health plans were chosen, though the report notes calls were made to listed providers in New York City, Albany, Buffalo and Rochester to ensure geographic diversity. Western New Yorks largest health plan, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York, was not included in the report.

In a statement Thursday, the New York Health Plan Association, which represents 26 health plans, said its members take seriously their obligation to provide comprehensive behavioral health benefits in compliance with state and federal laws. The association noted that while health plans work to ensure provider directories are as up to date and as accurate as possible, it takes a shared commitment from providers to update their information when there are changes in their network status.

The challenges facing the behavioral health care system are not unique to New York and have been exacerbated by widespread workforce shortages, association President and CEO Eric Linzer said in a statement. Our industry remains committed to working with the Attorney General, the Hochul Administration and legislative leaders on policy solutions to increase access and ensure patients can get the mental health care services, care and support they need.

For its report, the Attorney Generals Office conducted a simulated patient secret shopper study to examine the extent of the mental health provider ghost networks in the state. For two-thirds of the calls, staff tried to schedule an appointment for a fictional adult patient, while one-third of the calls involved attempting to schedule an appointment for a fictional 14-year-old patient.

Of the 13 health plans the office reviewed, four of them  Fidelis; Independent Health; Molina; and United Healthcare  involved calls placed to Buffalo-area providers.

The Attorney Generals Office placed 20 calls to psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers in Buffalo listed in Independent Healths provider directory. Of those, four providers were in-network and only two offered appointments.

The report also claims Independent Healths provider directory did not specify whether providers were accepting new patients, which is a requirement under New York law. The provider directory from Rochester-based Excellus, which owns Univera Healthcare in Western New York, also did not specify whether providers were accepting new patients, the report noted.

Independent Health spokesperson Frank Sava said the insurer appreciates the importance of this report and the ability to access care for mental health services, especially for our most vulnerable members.

To help ensure its provider directories are up to date, Sava said Independent Health does an annual survey and employs some of the same practices the attorney generals report used, including secret shoppers. Having accurate directories, he added, also requires providers to update their information when changes occur.

Sava also said ensuring access to mental health providers will require more efforts to address the shortages in the mental health workforce. Recognizing those workforce challenges is among the reasons why Independent Health started offering telemedicine services for behavioral health care through Teladoc in 2019, he said.

We will closely review the findings in the Attorney Generals report and look forward to working together with state agencies to ensure access to behavioral health providers through accurate provider directories and an expanded workforce, Sava said.

Similarly, the attorney generals staff also placed 20 calls each to Buffalo-area providers listed on the networks of Fidelis, Molina and UnitedHealthcare. Four providers on Fidelis network offered an appointment, while just two did so on UnitedHealthcares network, and only one offered an appointment on Molinas network.

James report also offered recommendations for how to increase access to mental health care.

Her office recommends that state regulators monitor health insurance networks through secret shopper surveys and other methods to ensure that the directories are up to date.

Other actions the attorney general would like to see include: state regulators taking enforcement actions against health plans that violate the law; health plans being required to meet cultural competence and language access standards; and health plans recruiting and providing more incentives for mental health care providers to join and stay in their networks, which could include providing higher reimbursement rates.
LOWER TOWNSHIP  A sailboat grounded near Sunset Beach burned overnight, leaving a smoldering shell by Tuesday morning.

It had to have been in the middle of the night, said Annette Patton, a West Cape May resident who regularly walks the beach. She called the police when she saw the sailboat ablaze, but she said she could smell the burning chemicals well before she saw the boat.

The fumes were terrible, she said.

The sailboat, named Panache, had been on the beach since October, drawing interest from photographers in part due to its proximity to long-abandoned railroad tracks often described as ghost tracks, because they would occasionally surface due to shifting beach sands there.

Patton presumed the boat was deliberately set on fire, as did many commenters on social media. It was set to be removed from the beach Tuesday.

It is a hell of a coincidence, deputy Police Chief Donald Vanaman said Tuesday. But he said there was no indication of a suspicious cause as of Tuesday morning, adding the boat was not insured.

A November post from the Sunset Beach gift shop, near the abandoned single-mast sailboat, said the boat had catastrophic damage with a cracked keel and was not seaworthy.

Patton described the boat as beautiful and well-appointed, with teak rails, solar panels and other upgrades.

Operator charged after sailboat runs aground in Ocean City A Florida man told police he fell asleep when he beached a single-mast sailboat at 48th Street in Ocean City a little after noon Wednesday. He faces charges of boating while intoxicated.

It was just gorgeous, she said.

When they first found the boat on the beach, she said, her husband, Bruce Bieber, a retired firefighter, boarded the vessel to make sure no one was injured.

The operators appeared to have walked away from the beached vessel.

The boat appeared to have been burning for some time before she called 911, she said. According to Vanaman, the first call came in at 6:56 a.m.

When firefighters arrived, the fire had almost burned out.

The boat grounded near one of New Jerseys most visible wrecks, the remains of the S.S. Altantus, a concrete ship that broke its moorings in a storm and ran aground off Sunset in 1926. A section of the stern remains visible just off the beach.

The ship grounded in a section of Lower Township near Cape May Point and West Cape May, a preserved stretch of beach, dunes, woods and wetlands called Higbee Beach. Vanaman said an officer from the state Division of Fish and Wildlife was at the scene Tuesday morning.

The fire is under investigation. We dont have any other comment at this time, said Larry Hajna, a spokesperson for the state Department of Environmental Protection, under which the Division of Fish and Wildlife falls.

2 rescued from stranded sailboat in Avalon A sailboat in Townsends Inlet off Avalon ran aground and was caught in rough seas caused by a thunderstom Tuesday afternoon, borough officials said.

Several commenters on a posted image of the sailboat appeared to assume the fire was deliberate, such as WTF is wrong with people? and Why would someone do that?

Some said they hoped someone would be prosecuted.

Patton said vandalism of the boat had increased the longer it remained on the beach, with people removing the solar panels, the boats wheel and other items. She said the sailboat fire will continue to leave a mark, from the smell of burning fiberglass to the charred debris she had already found washing up onto the beach.
A Pleasantville man was convicted Monday of murdering a 17-year-old Atlantic City boy in June 2020, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said.

Lewis Johnson, 34, also was found guilty of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and certain persons not to possess weapons. He faces a maximum sentence of life without parole when he is sentenced Feb. 4, the Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday in a news release.

The murder occurred in the early afternoon of June 8, 2020, on Blaine Avenue.

Johnson drove to Atlantic City from Easton, Pennsylvania, where he was staying at the time, to help his then-girlfriend, Shaquana Lewis, confront the parents of her daughter's boyfriend, after a physical fight happened between the kids the night before.

When they arrived at Lewis' daughter's boyfriend's home, Johnson ran up the steps with a loaded handgun to the second floor apartment's porch, where the victim, identified as C.W., and his foster brother were hanging out.

Johnson pistol whipped the victim, then shot him in the back and one of his feet, the Prosecutor's Office said.

After Johnson shot C.W., he fled back down the steps, shot back up at the boys from ground level, then fled the city in a car. He stopped at a liquor store in Pleasantville before driving back to his apartment in Easton, the Prosecutor's Office said.

C.W. was pronounced dead later that day as a result of his injuries, and Johnson was apprehended the next morning by the Prosecutors Office. The gun he used to kill the teen was found under his bed, the Prosecutor's Office said.
Nearly three-quarters of Philadelphia-area adults would visit Atlantic City casinos more if they were 100% smoke free, an online poll by Washington, D.C.-based Normington Petts found.

These data indicate that not only will Atlantic City not lose its customer base, but tourism could actually increase if casinos were smoke free, said Jill Normington, a partner at the polling and campaign strategy firm.

The polls findings run counter to claims from casino executives and smoking-ban opponents that a ban would harm the resort financially and might even lead to casino closings.

New Jerseys 2006 Smoke Free Act banned smoking indoors, except for 25% of casino floors.

On Thursday, the state Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee is scheduled to again debate a bill that would end Atlantic Citys casino smoking exemption. Last month the committee failed to move the bill.

Auto union boss urges New Jersey lawmakers to pass casino smoking ban Shawn Fain, the international president of the United Auto Workers union, recently won large raises for his workers. Now he's taking aim at a new target: New Jersey lawmakers who are delaying votes on a bill to ban smoking in Atlantic Citys casinos.

About 74% of casinogoers polled said they would be more inclined to visit if smoking were eliminated, in addition to 76% of non-casinogoers.

This is the latest evidence that going smokefree indoors is good for business, said Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers Rights. Its past time for New Jersey legislators to reject casino industry scare tactics and finally close the casino smoking loophole during this lame duck session. Casino workers lives are hanging in the balance.

Casino leaders have said the industry could suffer significant monetary losses, leading to about 3,000 layoffs and possibly casino closures if the exemption is ended.

Mark Giannantonio, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey, declined to comment on the poll because he had not seen it.

This poll backs up what we routinely hear from customers at the tables  they dont come to smoke, they come to gamble, said Lamont White, a leader of Casino Employees Against Smokings Effects. As Governor Murphy has said, Atlantic City is a gem. Weve got the ocean and the other competitors dont. If we have smokefree air, not only will more people come, but well save the lives of thousands of table games dealers like me.

GALLERY: Atlantic City casino smoking ban rally Smoking Ban Protesters seek smoking ban in Atlantic City casinos Smoking Ban Smoking Ban Smoking Ban Smoking Ban Smoking Ban Smoking Ban Smoking Ban Smoking Ban Smoking Ban Smoking Ban Smoking Ban Smoking Ban Smoking Ban Smoking Ban Smoking Ban Smoking Ban
CAPE MAY  South Jersey rarely produces statewide election candidates, and you dont get too much farther south in Jersey than Cape May.

Hotelier Curtis Bashaw may look to change that.

Last week, the New Jersey Globe reported that Bashaw was laying groundwork for a 2024 Senate campaign as a Republican.

Bashaw did not respond to requests for comment, but campaign strategist Michael DuHaime, a longtime friend of Bashaws who said he is familiar with Bashaws thinking, said he is exploring the possibility.

Right now hes considering it. Hes interested, DuHaime said Monday. Hes not running yet, but hes considering it.

With incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez indicted on federal corruption charges, 2024 could be an unusual opportunity for Republicans, who have not won a Senate election in New Jersey in five decades.

There are several declared candidates for nominations for both parties, and more potential candidates expressing interest, even as Menendez appears ready to fight to keep his seat.

Theres a lot of activity now. When you have a potentially open seat, people come from all directions, all thinking it could be me, said John Froonjian, executive director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University.

The Boarding House in Cape May proves that every dog has his day Do you love to travel but hate to leave your best friend behind? No, Im not talking about your husband. I mean mans best friend: your doggie.

Most of the Democratic leadership in New Jersey and many of the county Democratic leaders have abandoned Menendez, Froonjian said, which makes it extremely unlikely that Menendez could win the nomination next spring.

Thats often the death knell, Froonjian said.

Menendez has survived previous scandals, including a 2015 federal indictment. This time, investigators say they found more than a half-million dollars in cash and another $100,000 worth of gold bars at his house, allegedly from bribes.

Democrats around the state and beyond have called for his resignation, which Menendez has defied, and Froonjian said polls show his support has plummeted.

So far, Tammy Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs executive and the wife of Gov. Phil Murphy, and 3rd District U.S. Rep. Andy Kim have declared they will run for the Democratic nomination in the primary, as will former Senate candidate Larry Hamm, while others have either picked up paperwork or are considered likely candidates.

For the Republican nomination, declared candidates include Mendham Borough Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner and attorney Gregg Mele, along with Daniel Cruz and Michael Estrada. Among the other potential GOP candidates is Alex Zdan, a former TV reporter with News 12 New Jersey.

Contacted last week, Cape May County Republican Chairman Mike Donohue said Bashaw would make an excellent candidate. He also talked up U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a former Democrat who changed parties and is now closely tied with former President Donald Trump.

Van Drew had also considered a run for Senate but has since announced he will seek reelection to his House seat and serve as chairman of Trumps election campaign in New Jersey.

South Jersey helped launch the modern conservative movement After the recent election, Gov. Phil Murphy said there was a blue wave across New Jersey b

It can be tough for a South Jersey candidate to make a statewide splash, Froonjian said. For Van Drew, he said, Trump remains significantly popular in his district, but in most of New Jersey, the former president draws a negative response.

For Bashaw, its more of a numbers game. There are a significantly greater number of voters outside of South Jersey. Bashaw would be seen as a political outsider, Froonjian said, and so could be seen as untainted by political machines. But while he is well known in political and business circles, he is not a familiar name statewide.

If he were to run, thats what a campaign would have to be about, DuHaime said. Most campaigns look to raise the familiarity of candidates. In this instance, he added, being relatively unknown could be a benefit.

Nobody has universal name recognition except Menendez, and that name is bad, DuHaime said.

DuHaime, of Westfield in Union County, heads a national public affairs firm and was the chief strategist for Chris Christie when he unseated Jon Corzine for governor.

Bashaw is a former executive director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, a job he left in 2005. He has extensive business interests in New Jersey and beyond. His greatest name recognition is south of the Cape May Canal, where critics, friends and fans all but universally refer to him simply as Curtis.

Bashaw, 63, is best known for the renovation of Congress Hall, bringing a dilapidated historic building from the brink of demolition to a high-end hotel. Hes also the co-founder of Cape Advisors and Cape Resorts, and started Beach Plum Farm.

There have been Republicans appointed to the Senate, and Republicans have done well in races for governor over the decades, Froonjian pointed out, but New Jersey has not supported a Republican for Senate since the early 1970s.

He described New Jersey as a Blue state, but not a liberal one. Voters will support Democrats, he said, but on both sides of the aisle tend to back moderates over the ideological extremes.

DuHaime described Bashaw as a patriot trying to decide whether he should try to serve his country in a new way. His experience in fundraising and his statewide network could be significant advantages in what DuHaime described as one of the most expensive media markets in the country, with New York and Philadelphia television stations covering different areas of the state.
ALTANTIC CITY  Atlantic County Superior Court judge Michael Blee will decide by Jan. 10 if a lawsuit will proceed against an independent expenditure committee that state Republicans say worked to split GOP votes to benefit Democrats, and broke election reporting rules.

In a hearing Monday morning, the New Jersey Republican State Committee argued that Jersey Freedom, a newly formed group based in Queens, New York, failed to disclose required information in reports to the state Election Law Enforcement Committee to hide its donors and organizers until after the election.

Jersey Freedom used Democratic funding to support third-party conservative Republican candidates in the 2nd and 4th legislative districts in Novembers election to take votes from GOP-endorsed candidates, Republicans contend.

Jersey Freedoms attorney, on the other hand, argued the Election Transparency Act passed by the Legislature and signed into law in April removed some requirements for independent expenditure committees and said the group didnt violate the new law.

If they enact a nonsensical law that doesnt give transparency until after the election occurred, your remedy is to amend the law, said Jersey Freedoms attorney, William M. Tambussi.

Among other things, the new law did away with a requirement that independent expenditure committees file financial reports 48 hours ahead of an election.

Political committees are entitled to support any candidate on the ballot, Tambussi argued.

The new law only required the committees file reports 29 days and 11 days before the election, and 20 days after it, Tambussi said.

Polistina seeks ELEC investigation into dark money group Jersey Freedom State Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, has asked the state Election Law Enforcement Commission to do a full investigation into the Jersey Freedom super PAC's activities in the Nov. 7 general election.

He said the group did not raise $7,500, the threshold for reporting, until late in October so didnt have to report donors until the post-election report.

Any allegations regarding election reporting requirements should be handled by ELEC rather than Superior Court, said Tambussi, who has represented the Camden County Democratic Party since 1989.

The attorney for the New Jersey Republican Committee countered that Jersey Freedom did not meet the requirements of the new law, either.

(Election reporting) requires whomever is running the committee disclose a home address. (Jersey Freedom) didnt do that. They disclosed a post office box, said Jason N. Sena.

The post office box was given as the address of the person identified as running the committee, Eric Peterson of Queens, Sena said.

The person named as Jersey Freedoms New Jersey representative, Shane Walsh, of Egg Harbor Township, provided his street address but no apartment number, Sena said.

Its a multi-unit building in an apartment complex, Sena said. Its like leaving two digits off a phone number.

As a result, Sena was unable to serve either man with court papers, he said.

Judge freezes funds of dark money group targeting voters in 2nd, 4th districts A judge on Friday ordered a dark money group to stop any further expenditure of funds or any political communications or electioneering in connection with the Nov. 7 general election.

Then on the 11-day pre-election report the committee disclosed a $30,000 debt to a mail house in another state, Sena said, but disclosed no donors to pay that debt.

If I received a mail piece I should have the right to go to the ELEC website and look up who is funding the group, Sena said, adding voters could not do that.

In the 20-day post election report, Jersey Freedom reported raising $225,000 from Brighter Future Forward, a South Jersey Democratic super PAC.

Sena said ELEC cannot handle emergent issues during an election, and in fact wont confirm or deny whether it is investigating any entity after a request for an investigation is made.

In the 2nd District, Jersey Freedom sent mailings and paid for television ads for Libertarian candidate Shawn Peck, who dropped out of the race after realizing Jersey Freedom was trying to elect Democratic candidate Caren Fitzpatrick rather than GOP Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, who was running for reelection.

Peck dropped out too late to remove his name from the ballot, however, and Jersey Freedom continued to run the ads after he dropped out, Sena said.

Polistina won with 53% of the vote to Fitzpatricks 44% and Pecks 3%.

Jersey Freedom also paid for ads backing third party conservative Senate candidate Guiseppe Constanzo in the 4th District, who Republicans allege was a phantom candidate who did not campaign.

PAC that backed third-party candidates moves to dismiss GOP lawsuit The independent expenditure committee Jersey Freedom, which had its assets frozen by a Superior Court Judge Nov. 3, has filed a request to dismiss the New Jersey State Republican Committee lawsuit against it and have the court unfreeze its assets.

The 4th District covers parts of Camden and Gloucester counties and the Atlantic County towns of Buena and Buena Vista Township.

The Republican committee filed suit Nov. 2, and Blee held an emergency hearing Nov. 3, after which he froze the assets of Jersey Freedom and ordered it to stop making any further expenditures related to the Nov. 7 election.

As a result, Jersey Freedom filed motions to dismiss the case, arguing it did not break any laws and filed everything it needed to file with ELEC.
ATLANTIC CITY  Shawn Fain, the international president of the United Auto Workers union who recently won large raises for his workers, is taking aim at a new target: New Jersey lawmakers who are delaying votes on a bill to ban smoking in Atlantic Citys casinos.

The head of the powerful union, which represents workers at three casinos here, is urging legislators to move the bill forward in a scheduled hearing Thursday, warning that the union will monitor and track their votes.

Many casino workers have been pushing for three years to close a loophole in the states public smoking law that specifically exempts casinos from a ban. Despite overwhelming bipartisan support from lawmakers, and a promise from the states Democratic governor to sign the measure, it has been bottled up in state government committees without a vote to move it forward.

The same state Senate committee that failed to vote on the bill last month is due to try again Thursday. Fains letter to the state Senate and Assembly was timed to the upcoming hearing.

The casino industry opposes a ban, saying it will cost jobs and revenue. It has suggested creating enclosed smoking rooms, but has refused to divulge details of that plan.

Thousands of UAW members work as table game dealers at the Caesars, Ballys, and Tropicana casinos in Atlantic City, and are exposed on a daily basis to the toxic harms of secondhand smoking, Fain wrote in a letter sent last week to lawmakers. Patrons blow cigarette/tobacco smoke directly into their faces for eight hours, and due to the nature of their work, table dealers are unable to take their eyes away from the table, so they bear through the thick smoke that surrounds their workplace.

Fain rejected smoking rooms as a solution, calling the suggestion preposterous, and said it will oppose any amendment allowing anything less than a total ban on smoking in the casinos.

Currently, smoking is allowed on 25% of the casino floor. But those spaces are not contiguous, and are scattered widely throughout the premises.

At a Nov. 30 hearing in the state Senate, several lawmakers said they are willing to consider smoking rooms as a compromise.

The Casino Association of New Jersey did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Nor did state Sen. Joseph Vitale, chairman of the committee that will conduct this weeks hearing.

Chris Moyer, a spokesperson for the Atlantic City casino workers who want a smoking ban, said similar movements are underway in Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Kansas, Michigan and Nevada, and noted Connecticuts casinos are already smoke-free. Shreveport, Louisiana ended a smoking ban in its casinos in June.

Workers should leave work in the same condition they arrived, Fain wrote. Union. Non-union. Factory, office, casino, or any workplace in between, worker safety must be the #1 goal of every employer and worker throughout the state.
Three winters in a row, La Nina conditions brought everything from a record snowless season to multiple blizzards across the state.

This year, however, El Nino is back for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic and will influence our weather across New Jersey.

The first El Nino winter in 4 years is here; here's what that means for NJ's temperatures Three winters in a row, La Nina conditions brought everything from a record snowless season to multiple blizzards across the state. However, El Nino is back for the first since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and will try to influence our temperatures.

Judah Cohen, director of seasonal forecasts for Verisk Atmospheric and Environmental Research, said this winter will be mild or wild.

Cohen said the El Nino weather pattern will load the dice to bring numerous storms to the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, where New Jersey is. However, enough cold air will need to link up with those storms to actually bring snow. The winter as a whole is favored to have more seasonable or warmer than average days than colder than average ones.

The times most favored for snow and below average cold would be in December. Later February or March could also bring such a stretch.

It could be a sandwich of sorts. ... We had this winter bookend where it was active from a winter (weather) standpoint in the beginning and end and then, in the middle, nothing went on, Cohen said.

Cohen cites the winters of 2009-10 and 2017-18 as possible examples of what this winter in New Jersey could be like. Both of those winters featured a December with a long cold stretch, a snowstorm or both as the polar vortex entered the region.

The polar vortex is a low-pressure system that houses the most significant cold on Earth. The vortex likes to spin atop the North Pole. Sometimes, though, it stretches or splits, drifting into the Northeast.

In winter 2009-10, February saw well above average snowfall from multiple storms, with well below average temperatures. In winter 2017-18, four noreasters hit the state in March.

South Jersey combats fourth nor'easter in March Many schools closed Wednesday, coastal residents moved cars to high ground to avoid flooding

The wild or mild winter Cohen predicts is different from the past three winters. The reason mainly has to do with El Nino

El Nino (Spanish for little boy) is one of three phases of the El Nino Southern Oscillation. There also is La Nina (little girl) and a neutral state. New Jersey was in La Nina the previous three years, which contributed to the record low snowfall seen in parts of the state last winter.

What phase the globe is in is based on how Pacific Ocean temperatures off South America near the equator are faring compared to average. Warmer than average water means El Nino, cooler than average brings La Nina and near seasonable water temperatures bring the neutral phase.

The state of the El Nino Southern Oscillation is one of if not the main factor seasonal forecasters use to predict the upcoming winter. However, its influence on New Jersey is generally limited.

El Nino promotes a strong subtropical jet stream. The river of air roughly 30,000 feet above the ground that separates two airmasses can be seen as the storm track.

The warm, moisture-laden weather this type of jet stream brings will be persistent in the southern tier of the United States.

Then theres the polar jet stream, which separates the polar vortex from more seasonable temperatures. In an El Nino, this jet stream will move out of Western Canada toward the Great Lakes. From there, its path is hard to forecast. Sometimes, itll stay in New England, keeping New Jersey seasonable to milder than average. Sometimes, itll move to the Mid-Atlantic, bringing the outer edge of the frigid polar vortex into the state.

If the polar jet stream moves into the Mid-Atlantic, it can link up with the moist subtropical jet stream and develop noreasters. That would give most of New Jersey accumulating snow, potentially heavy snow.

This winter will likely be a strong El Nino. Going back in history, strong El Ninos typically saw few days with snow. However, when it snowed, it accounted for the vast majority of that seasons totals for New Jersey.

Average snowfall totals range from about 15 inches toward Cape May to around 50 inches in the highest peaks in northwestern New Jersey.

Average snowfall for select locations Sussex, Sussex County: 38.7 inches Newark, Essex County: 31.5 inches New Brunswick, Middlesex County: 29.0 inches Trenton, Mercer County: 26.6 inches Atlantic City International Airport, Atlantic County: 17.4 inches Lower Township, Cape May County: 14.8 inches Averages are based on the 1991-2020 climate average. Information via the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

However, two snows can bring as much or more than the average. Another way of understanding seasonal snowfall in New Jersey is by looking at the average number of times snow accumulates. This ranges from around five days in Cape May to over a dozen days in places like Newark and Sussex.

Average number of days with measurable snow Sussex, Sussex County: 12.2 days Newark, Essex County: 15.3 days New Brunswick, Middlesex County: 12.8 days Trenton, Mercer County: 10.7 days Atlantic City International Airport, Atlantic County: 8.9 days Lower Township, Cape May County: 4.9 days Averages are based on the 1991-2020 climate average. Information via the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Cohen and other forecasters say other factors will be at play this winter.

The Quasi-Biennial Oscillation is a wind roughly 60,000 feet above the surface that flows around the equator. This winter, flow is expected to run east to west, known as the negative phase.

A negative QBO regime tends to support the transport of polar and Arctic air masses toward the mid-latitudes of North America and Europe more often in the winter, Steve DiMartino, owner of NY NJ PA Weather in Freehold, Monmouth County, said in his winter outlook.

That adds confidence for at least one big winter storm in the state.

Snow cover halfway around the world, in Siberia, will also play a role this winter.

In recent years, Cohen has focused on how quickly October snow accumulated in Siberia. The more rapid increase in snowfall cover there, the more likely for snow and cold in the Northeast.

It was a very slow start (to October), but if there was a redeeming part, it was the last week of October, Cohen said about the quick downfall of snow to wrap up the month.

Cohen said the likelihood of average snowfall will be low. Either the subtropical and polar jet streams will link up for a few snowstorms, or they miss each other, leaving New Jersey less snowy than average again.

Taking into account all days between December and March, temperatures will likely be above average.
Poland appoints Donald Tusk as the country's new prime minister as he seeks to better the nation's European Union ties.

Tusk, the leader of a centrist party, returned as the leader of Poland for the first time in nearly a decade following a Monday vote in parliament. The former EU leader who also served as European Council president from 2014 to 2019 has strong connections in Brussels.

Donald Tusk Becomes Poland's Prime Minister

He is expected to improve Warsaw's standing in the bloc's capital and his ascension to power came almost two months after an election that was won by a coalition of parties that range from left-wing to moderate conservative.

The parties that are of the coalition ran on separate tickets but pledged to work with each other under Tusk's leadership. They seek to restore democratic standards and improve Poland's ties with its allies.

Poland's change in power is felt as hugely consequential for the roughly 38 million citizens of the Central European nation. It is where collective anger against the Law and Justice party resulted in a record-high turnout to replace the administration that many people believed was eroding democratic norms, as per the Associated Press.

The Law and Justice political party took office in 2015 and was able to increase its power over courts and judicial bodies. It drew accusations from the EU and many other international powers that it was eroding judicial independence. The party also turned taxpayer-funded public media into a party mouthpiece.

The latest vote resulted in 248-201 in support of Tusk in the 460-seat lower house of parliament, the Sejm, with no abstentions. Following the result of the vote, the prime minister expressed his gratitude to the people, saying that it marked a truly wonderful day.

Now, Tusk is scheduled to give a more substantial speech to parliament on Tuesday as well as present his Cabinet and face a vote of confidence for his new government. Afterward, he will be sworn in by Polish President Andrzej Duda, which will be scheduled on Wednesday morning.

Read Also: Boris Johnson Apologized for his Handling of the Coronavirus Pandemic

Bettering European Union Relations

The vote comes as Poland has seen tens of billions of euros of European Union funds being frozen because of a dispute with Brussels over democratic standards. Tusk has committed to mending relations and unblocking the fund, according to Reuters.

Earlier in the day, former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki of the Law and Justice party lost a vote of confidence. The PiS came first in the election held on Oct. 15 and it got the first shot at forming a new government. However, it lacked the needed majority and all other parties had ruled out working with it.

The latest vote puts an end to the eight-year rule of the right-wing Law and Justice party which has frequently clashed with EU authorities on various issues. Despite his win, Tusk could face difficulties in meeting his pledge to undo the consequences of the PiS administration.

The coalition that won in the elections comprised three parties, Tusk's Civic Coalition (KO), the Third Way, and the Left. Coalition MPs chanted the newly elected prime minister's name and sang the national anthem following the results of the vote, said BBC.

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OCEAN CITY  Its been years since a car made it all the way to Crook Horn Creek from 51st Street along a badly rutted dirt and gravel road.

The city shut the road to vehicle traffic several years ago after a summer of stuck vehicles.

Its been longer still since a passenger rail line ran along the tracks alongside that road. The trains stopped running in 1981.

But a proposal for the area could bring more bicycles and walkers, with a potential for a new nature trail within about a year.

Long-term flood control is also a project goal.

Nick Brown with the firm ACT Engineers Inc. discussed plans at a public information meeting at the American Legion hall on 46th Street last weekend.

As it stands, it would be tough to ride a bike the length of the dirt road, or even walk the whole way with dry feet, he said.

By early next year, plans are to design a nature trail for the dirt road, which runs about seven-tenths of a mile out to the marsh to the Intracoastal Waterway.

The project could go out to bid by the summer, with work starting by the end of 2024.

The plans call for a paved nature trail, to be a neutral color, and the installation of a split-rail fence, along with new trash cans and other improvements. The project is set to be funded by a $580,000 grant through the New Jersey Department of Transportation, to create an accessible and bike-friendly nature trail.

Brown said the work would take place within the current right-of-way and would not impact wetlands or the trees that now grow where the railroad track once ran.

The length of the route is densely grown with cedar, bayberry, poison ivy and other plants, and is home to a variety of birds and other wildlife.

State and federal permits would be required, Brown said, but they would be approvals to maintain an existing structure, not to create a new trail.

Plans also call for the reinforcement of the berm along which the railroad ran. That raised section helps protect the Ocean City Homes neighborhood near the nature path, blocking waves that can roll in from the north during storms when the marsh  and likely the neighborhood  are flooded.

Plans are also to improve the ways water drains out of the area.

In the longer term, Brown said, the city hopes to use that berm as part of a wider flood-control initiative, which could keep flood waters out, not just reduce the impact of waves.

Ocean City approves contract on 52nd Street berm Ocean City Council on Thursday unanimously approved a $58,550 contract to design a berm along a stretch of former railroad track leading into the marsh at 52nd Street.

This is step one of a larger conceptual plan for the city to help protect the entire back bay area from flooding and from storms, he said.

As proposed, work on that first step could begin next fall and continue into the winter.

The path will improve water access and encourage bike riding, walking and running, Brown said.

The path has long been used by birders, anglers and families to reach the back bay. A handmade bridge leads over the water at the end of 52nd Street, and there is a locked gate at 51st Street preventing vehicle access but allowing for walkers to pass.

For decades, the railroad carried passengers from Philadelphia the length of Ocean City along Haven Avenue and to other shore communities. After the railroad ended operations, people would often walk or drive the dirt road for sunsets, kayak access or to fish.

The city decided to close the route to vehicles after several instances in which drivers became stuck. There remain deep ruts in the route, which are filled with water for much of the year.

A public comment period on the proposal will be open through Dec. 23. Those who want to comment may email oceancityflooding@actengineers.com.
Another Winter of Energy Discontent in Kazakhstan?



Winter has arrived in Kazakhstan and with it, the first breakdowns in heating power and water supplies.

An accident at the Ekibastuz thermal power plant (TPP) in northeastern Kazakhstan on December 10 left parts of the plant flooded and forced the TPP to shift over to backup systems.

The Ekibastuz city administration released a statement saying the water was being pumped out and that work should be completed before the end of the day.

Residents said the temperature of the heating water being pumped to their flats had noticeably decreased.

After complaints from local residents in November, Ekibastuz Deputy Mayor Anuarbek Amanov announced on December 8 the city would be provided with stable supply of heat.

An accident at the Ekibastuz TPP in late November 2022 left some of the citys residents without heating for two weeks in sub-zero (Fahrenheit) temperatures.

As a result, the provincial governor was sacked.

Amid growing criticism of negligence and corruption, the head of the TPP took his own life one week after the accident at the TPP, though officials said the suicide was due to an argument with his wife.

Residents of Ekibastuz were not the only people facing heating problems on December 10, 2023.

Problems with power stations were also reported in the eastern cities of Balkhash and Temirtau.

In Southwestern Kazakhstan, part of the Caspian coastal city of Aqtau was without heating after a pipeline rupture.

Several schools in Aqtau announced there would be no classes on December 11 due to the heating outage.

Further north along Kazakhstans Caspian coast, the water supply to homes in the city of Atyrau was disrupted due to ice in the Ural River clogging water intake pipes leading to the city.

Divers had to plunge into the freezing waters to break up the chunks of ice.

Why Its Important: The winters of 2021 and 2022 clearly showed that Kazakhstans aging utility infrastructure is badly in need of overhaul.

For the last two years, top Kazakh officials, including the head of state, have urged and threatened local officials to take immediate measures to ensure reliable heating, electricity, and water supplies in winter.

As he has done many times in recent winters, President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev on December 11 ordered local officials and managers of the crippled plants to fix the problems immediately.

Winter had been relatively warm in Kazakhstan until the end of the first week of December. When temperatures finally plunged, the heating and water supplies in several cities were disrupted.

Colder days are coming and people in Kazakhstan must already be wondering if this winter they can rely on their local power and water systems to get them through to spring.

Ethnic Karakalpak Stripped of Kazakh Citizenship

Nietbay Urazbaev, a leading member of Kazakhstans ethnic Karakalpak community has been stripped of his Kazakh citizenship, raising concerns he could be deported to Uzbekistan.

The Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (KIBHR) released a statement on December 5 saying the Kazakh decision came after intervention from the Uzbek side.

According to the KIBHR, Uzbek authorities now claim Urazbaev failed to properly annul his Uzbek citizenship, and therefore is still a citizen of Uzbekistan.

Authorities in Kazakhstans western Mangystau Province, where Urazbaev lives, have accepted this explanation from Uzbekistan and annulled Urazbaevs Kazakh citizenship.

Urazbaev moved from Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan in 2004 and has been working with the regional Karakalpak national-cultural association in the Kazakh Caspian coastal city of Aqtau since 2007.

Uzbek authorities have implicated Urazbaev in the violence in Uzbekistans western Karakalpakstan Republic at the beginning of July 2022.

The violence started after Uzbek media published proposed amendments to the constitution that would have annulled Karakalpakstans nominal sovereignty.

Officially, 21 people were killed in the unrest and at least 243 others were injured.

Urazbaev was in Kazakhstan when the violence broke out, though he did post a video where he criticized the proposed amendments.

In May 2023, an Uzbek court ruled Urazbaev helped organize the protests and sentenced him in absentia to 12 years in prison.

Urazbaev says the process of canceling his Uzbek citizenship was completed in 2017 and he handed over his Uzbek passport at that time to the Uzbek consulate in Kazakhstan.

Urazbaev used a Kazakh passport to travel to Karakalpakstan several times between 2018-2021 and said he never had any problems with Uzbek authorities.

Why Its Important: Urazbaev is not the only ethnic Karakalpak in Kazakhstan whom Uzbek authorities are seeking to have extradited.

There are at least five others, all of whom are citizens of Uzbekistan and who were detained in Kazakhstan at the request of Uzbek authorities, but have since been released.

All five are seeking asylum, preferably somewhere outside Central Asia.

Urazbaevs case might give a signal about what these other five Karakalpak activists in Kazakhstan can expect.
SPRINGFIELD  U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Hindsboro, has endorsed former gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey's GOP primary challenge of incumbent Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, in Illinois' 12th Congressional District.

Calling him "MAGA to his core," Miller touted Bailey for his conservative positions on guns and abortion, challenging Gov. J.B. Pritzker's COVID-19 mandates and his background as a farmer. She said "he will be a conservative champion for the America First movement in downstate Illinois.

Bost's campaign could not immediately be reached for comment.

The endorsement, first reported by conservative website Illinois Review and then confirmed to Lee Enterprises by Bailey's campaign, is stunning yet unsurprising.

Miller and Bailey, who share the same sphere of influence in deeply conservative southeastern Illinois, have been close allies for years. It was at former President Donald Trump's rally for Miller just outside of Quincy in June 2022, for example, where Bailey received the former president's endorsement in his unsuccessful campaign for Illinois governor.

Miller's backing of Bailey can also be viewed as payback. Bost endorsed then-Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, over Miller last year in the 15th Congressional District GOP primary, which was a post-redistricting incumbent-versus-incumbent clash that Miller ultimately won with Trump's help.

Still, it's rare for a sitting member of Congress to endorse a primary challenge to a colleague of the same party.

The National Republican Congressional Committee, the party's campaign arm, is backing Bost. And even conservative allies of Miller, like Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, have lent their support to the incumbent. Bost also has a sizable fundraising advantage over Bailey.

There are few differences between Bailey and Bost's deeply conservative political views, meaning the race so far has largely been about personality, style and approach to the job.

Bailey has sought to paint five-term incumbent Bost as a Washington insider who has lost touch with Southern Illinois voters. Meanwhile, Bost has leaned into his experience, saying late last month that "you need someone to understand how policy works and how the rules work" in the halls of power.

Bost and national Republicans have sought to portray Bailey, who served two terms in the state legislature before running for governor, as a has-been show horse with little experience or interest in actually governing.

Bailey, in his statement thanking Miller for her endorsement, indicated that he will join Miller in the far-right House Freedom Caucus if he is elected. Bost, though having a conservative voting record, is not a member of the caucus.

Miller, first elected in 2020, is one of the most conservative members of Congress. Her tenure has not been without controversy.

In early January 2021, Miller made remarks about Adolf Hitler at a pro-Trump rally outside the Capitol. ("Hitler was right on one thing. He said, Whoever has the youth has the future, she said, speaking about the need to reach young people.) This drew widespread condemnation, some calls for her to resign and  eventually  an apology.

And at the Trump rally last year, Miller called the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade "a victory for white life," which her campaign quickly said was a verbal gaffe and that she meant to say victory for right to life.

Still, none of that prevented her from winning another term in her conservative rural Central Illinois district.

Her endorsement is a boost to Bailey.

But the most coveted prize in the race would be the backing of Trump, who has endorsed both candidates in the past but has stayed neutral in this race.

The former president won 70% of the Southern Illinois-based congressional district's vote in 2020. Both candidates have endorsed the former president's 2024 campaign.

The primary election is March 19.
Hampton plans to dissolve its police department and instead contract with the Rock Island County Sheriff's Department to provide protection services.

Hampton's Village Board of Trustees voted to approve the change and move forward with working out a contract with the county sheriff's department. The Hampton Police Department will no longer be in service.

Board members said the decision had been a long time coming and one they did not take lightly. Extra funds provided through the American Rescue Plan Act helped keep the police department around a little longer, Village President Christopher Bornhoeft said, but this day was always going to come because the village could not keep running on a deficit.

The move will provide more police coverage to Hampton residents, he said.

"This is not new, people; this is already happening," he said. "We have to put money away for the future ... there is a lot that goes into running a village ... a lot more than police."

Sheriff Darren Hart said his department hoped to work out a contract with the village before Hampton's fiscal year began in May 2024. Hart also said Hampton would not be the first town in Rock Island County to contract with the Sheriff's department. Other towns in the county that have a contract with the sheriff's department are Andalusia, Carbon Cliff, Cordova, Port Byron, Rapids City and Hillsdale.

'Lack of transparency'

The vote came after a lengthy public comment discussion from residents. The Heritage Center was packed, with at least a hundred in attendance and Hampton police officers standing in the back. Extra tables and chairs were brought out for more seats as people filed in, with some standing in the doorways.

At least half a dozen spoke, expressing their anger over what they saw as a the lack of transparency. They said they were blindsided and that the vote should be tabled so more input could be given on dissolving the police force and having the county provide services.

Residents expressed support for the Hampton Police Department, saying they want their own officers and department to remain. Hampton employs one full-time officer, along with additional part-time officers.

Resident Stacy Jones expressed her anger, saying the board held several backdoor and undocumented meetings, conducting business on behalf of the public without public notice.

"You have failed in duty of obedience," Jones said. "You have failed to carry out your oath of office."

She also said the board failed to post the meeting agenda online in the required amount of time in accordance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Jones was not the only resident who said the board failed to notify the public of Monday's meeting, stating that the agenda was not online.

Board members said the printed agenda was posted on the doors of the Heritage Center on Friday.

Nick Armstrong, who said he has lived in Hampton for 25 years, said he was willing to pay higher taxes if it meant keeping their own police department. He also expressed concern over transparency, saying it's the first time many residents in attendance heard of contracting with the county for services.

"Transparency ... we want that as a community; that is all we are asking for," Armstrong said.

Given the amount of people in attendance, Armstrong said, it is clear dissolving the police department is not supported by the community.

Bornhoeft said that not all 1,700 residents of Hampton were in attendance and that the village board had a duty to look out for the entire village  not just those in attendance.

No matter the vote, Bornhoeft said, residents will still continue to receive the coverage they need and police services are not disappearing. He stressed numerous times that when a Hampton officer is not working, county officers are already picking up those calls and providing coverage.

Whether people realize it or not, he said, the village already has been relying on the county for extra coverage.

Residents also were urging the board to table the vote, stating more time and consideration should be given for public input on the issue. Resident Elliot Stone urged the board to table the vote to find out what other solutions there may be.

Residents also expressed concern in delayed response time, stating that an officer in town could response faster. But Bornhoeft said that is not always the case and stated that in September, there were at least 50 shifts the Hampton Police Department did not cover and relied on the county officers to respond.

Hart said the Sheriff's Department and Hampton officials would work out how often they wanted coverage provided and look to have the Hampton Police station become a substation for county officers. The sheriff's department plans to have a dedicated officer for the village.

Nearby mayors express benefits

Mayors from Hillsdale, Port Byron and Cordova also were in attendance and spoke after listening to the concerns of the residents. All said they understood the concern residents were expressing, but said smaller villages can only do so much before funds run out.

Hillsdale Mayor T.J. Francis said his village had problems with staffing, and when he took over five years ago, one of the first things he had to do was look at and move forward with disbanding the Hillsdale Police Department for similar reasons as Hampton. His father, Bill Francis, was a police chief, he said, and knows how difficult it can be on smaller villages to fund departments and have adequate police coverage.

"It's not an easy issue," he said. "Sometimes, you have to take the emotion out of it and think about what's best financially and viability-wise."

Port Byron Mayor Barb Cray and Cordova Mayor James Boone also spoke, saying it was a hard decision to make but in the long run had saved the towns money and more coverage from county officers was provided than what their own police departments could do.

"We get great service (from the county sheriff's) and a lot of the deputies live in Port Byron," Cray said. "We get really great coverage ... service ... for way less money."

The three said they also received pushback from residents but knew it was the right decision to make in the long run in order to continue surviving on the funds they did have.

Trustees' response, what's next?

Trustee Steffanie Adams said the board had discussed budget concerns with the police department the past four years and the decision had come down to money. The police department, Adams said, has become more difficult to fund since they are required to make changes based on state regulations and changes the county makes.

Keeping up with those regulations, she said, is difficult since it requires more money to be spent  money they can't continue to try to supply on deficit.

"We were operating in the red, which means any money that we had saved ... we were having to borrow to keep this village running," Adams said. "The gravitas of this situation is not lost on any of us."

Trustee Mark White said as a former law enforcement officer of over three decades, it came down to a business decision. White said his concern was the village did not have the coverage it needed and it was already difficult to hire police officers.

"We made an honest effort to try to keep these guys and go as far as we are," White said, acknowledging the officers in the back of the room.

How spending on public safety and policing has changed over the last 40 years How spending on public safety and policing has changed over the last 40 years Spending on public safety in cities in the US has doubled since 1980 Police funding has remained about half of public safety budgets consistently for 40 years Even with ballooning public safety budgets, many cities allocate more money to the police Some cities have reigned in police spending, while others have tightened overall public safety budgets
Longtime friends and colleagues of Pat O'Brien are remembering him as a "fierce advocate" for wanting to improve his community.

O'Brien passed away over the weekend at 64 years old.

Many told the Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus that they are shocked at his sudden passing, and that it is a tremendous loss for the community. O'Brien has been a longtime Moline resident who was currently serving as the 6th Ward alderman. He also has served on county board, was serving on the Moline Housing Authority Board of Commissioners and the Rock Island County Waste Management Agency.

'It was very easy to like him'

Former Congressman Phil Hare, who O'Brien worked for during his tenure, said O'Brien was one of the hardest working people he knew and that it was easy to like him. O'Brien worked for the former Congressman as his District Director for the Illinois 17th Congressional District during Hare's time in office from January 2007 to January 2011.

Hare said after he got elected, he met O'Brien for lunch and asked him to serve as his District Director.

"He went, 'You're kidding me right?'," Hare said. "And I said I was dead serious."

There was nothing O'Brien would not do for him, Hare said, and would go above and beyond to provide the best constituent services as possible. Hare said he never received one complaint from a constituent about O'Brien, which "speaks volumes to his work ethic". There were a lot of bills people did not like, and O'Brien would always listen and never brush someone off.

"He gave everybody their time that they needed to talk about something and that's just the kind of person he was," Hare said.

Trying not to get choked-up remembering his friend, Hare said O'Brien's passing came as shock and that he was just texting him the other day about grabbing pizza this Wednesday.

"I miss him terribly," Hare said. "If you didn't like Pat, you didn't like anybody."

Doug House, who knew O'Brien for more than 35 years, remembered him as someone always looking out for other other people. The two were involved with local politics and organized labor and O'Brien was passionate when it came to just about everything, House said.

One day he got a call from O'Brien, House said, saying the city of Moline was hiring and that House should apply for it. He was hesitant about applying since he was eyeing another job at a union shop and a city job was the furthest thing from his mind. He talked to the union shop and by the time he hung up the phone with them, O'Brien was at his door with the city application and job description.

He ended up working the city of Moline for about 18 years. Remembering O'Brien showing up on his door, pushing him into a city job made a difference for him and his family.

"He was just looking out for other people and always trying to find a way to help," he said. "He was so passionate about helping people and trying to make the world a better place. "

Porter McNeil, a close friend and neighbor to O'Brien, said his passing is "shocking and heartbreaking and a true loss for the community". McNeil said he devoted his life to family, faith and community service.

Over the past couple of years, McNeil said the two have worked together on advocating for positive change, such as a tax increment financing district, or TIF, in the east end of Moline. McNeil serves on the Rock Island County Board.

O'Brien has been pushing for a TIF, at the east end of the city. O'Brien told the Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus earlier this year that the area is a "textbook definition" of a blighted area. Most recently, the city installed new playground equipment at the East End Park.

"He pushed hard for improvements to East End Park to create more recreational opportunities for the kids in the area...pushed hard for and passed a TIF," McNeil said.

County Board Chairman Richard "Qujias" Brunk said he has known O'Brien for at least 20 years and that his passing is a tremendous loss.

"His passing is a huge loss not only for those of us that knew him personally, but for the greater good and the community at-large," Brunk said. "He truly cared about the community whether through his service as an elected official both in the city of Moline or the county board."

O'Brien also served on the county board, after being appointed in 2019 to represent District 10 after his wife resigned from the seat.

Jeff Deppe, East Moline council member, also knew O'Brien for over three decades. Deppe and O'Brien worked on the same labor union and sat on the county board with him.

Deppe said he was a down-to-Earth, genuine guy and was always finding a way to help the community. Losing O'Brien, he said, is a big loss for those he represented in the sixth ward.

"You knew that he was going to be 100% for his ward and that's going to be the big loss for his constituents to have that voice that was there," Deppe said.

State Sen. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, has worked alongside O'Brien in the Rock Island Democratic Central Committee. Halpin serves as the committee's chair.

Halpin said O'Brien was a "moral compass" and always ready to help the city and area he lived in. O'Brien and his wife, Cecilia, Halpin said, were very community-oriented and loved the city they lived in.

"He looked at everything that he did with the eyes of how can you make Moline better," Halpin said.

Rep. Gregg Johnson, D-East Moline, said his and O'Brien's paths crossed many different times over the years and that O'Brien always was looking to get involved and help in anyway that he could.

For as long Johnson could remember, O'Brien had been one of the foundations of everything that was good in a community and when losing someone like him, it's tough and sometimes doesn't seem fair.

"Pat was involved at every single level," Johnson said. "He was one of those people who knew how to make this world better, no matter where he had to go."

There were times O'Brien didn't always see eye-to-eye with people, but that he was a principal person and loyal to his beliefs and would fight for what he thought was right, Johnson said.

Current, former elected officials remember O'Brien

Current and past city council members remembered him as a dedicated alderman, never afraid to speak his mind.

Ald. Alvaro Macias, 2nd Ward, said O'Brien was never afraid to tell it as it was and would always make it a point to advocate for his residents in the east end. There were times of disagreement, Macias said, but he always respected O'Brien's input given the years of experience and public service he had.

"He marched to his own beat in council," Macias said. "He leaves a legacy that will live on with others."

O'Brien used to represent the second ward from the late 1990s until 2005.

Alderwomen Jessica Finch, 5th Ward, and Anna Castro, 7th Ward, sit next to O'Brien in council chambers and said the empty seat at the meeting on Tuesday will be strange.

Finch and Castro were sworn into council May 2023 and have have gotten to know O'Brien over the past few months, both saying he was always willing to offer advice.

Castro said when she was sworn in, the mayor paired O'Brien as her mentor and she could always count on him for an honest answer.

"I could always count on him for honesty and candor," Castro said. "He just kind of spoke his mind on what he thought was right and that was it."

One thing she'll miss hearing, Castro said, is a little chuckle come from O'Brien when someone would say something he didn't necessarily agree on. She said he would just let out a small little chuckle but would never say anything negative about something.

Finch said she enjoyed his humor, that he always kept things light but professional and was a beloved and respected man through the community.

"If there was anything Pat taught me, it was dedication towards being a great public servant," Finch said.

Sam Moyer, former 5th Ward alderman, laughed while recalling how difficult it could be to predict where O'Brien would fall on an issue.

Moyer said O'Brien was very firm in his convictions and knew what he wanted to advocate for.

"He really understood the people he lived closest to (on the east end)," Moyer said. "I think they are really going to miss him even more because he really got them... really understood."

Mike Wendt, former 3rd ward alderman, said O'Brien will be greatly missed. Wendt said that O'Brien always advocated for his policies, was always willing to listen and remained true to his word.

Ald. Matt Timion, 4th ward, said O'Brien's dedicated most of his life to public service and giving back to the community and never faltered from it.

His presence, experience, and dedication, he said, never waivered.

At-Large Ald. James Patrick Schmidt said he was in disbelief over his passing and that his strong advocacy for the community will be deeply missed. Schmidt also spoke on how O'Brien was strong in his belief and always stood by his convictions while respecting others.

"We will miss him bringing a different perspective and just always providing such a stable, conviction-based way of doing everything," Schmidt said.
Bundt cakes, anyone?

Sweet tooth people rejoice, a Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise is opening in Rapid City, bundt everyone will have to wait a little longer.

The expectation date for opening will be late January, according to owner and operator Darcy Zandstra.

Im super excited, she told the Rapid City Journal, Weve been pushed back a bit; I was hoping to be open by the end of the year, but now were projecting January 20, 2024.

The Rapid City location, store number 596, will be the first one on this side of the state.

Theres a location in Sioux Falls, and one in Billings, Montana, explained Zandstra, but this is the first one here to serve the Rapid City and Black Hills community, and its already been well received.

Zandstra partnered with her brother and his wife, Ryan and Domonique Mettler, but Zandstra will be the one you see actively working in the shop, once opened.

As a mother of three, Zandstra was drawn to this franchise by the history of the company, with it being started in the kitchen by two friends.

I was unfamiliar with the product at first, Zandstra said, but I have grown to love it, not only for its quality Bundt cakes but for the way it started with two women, working around a busy home life schedule.

In 1997, Dena Tripp and Debbie Shwetz founded Nothing Bundt Cakes in their home kitchens in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Since then, they have expanded to almost 600 bakery locations in over 40 states and Canada.

The company claims to be the nations largest specialty cake company offering a modern spin on a classic treat.

Nothing Bundt Cakes handcrafts all of their Bundt cakes in every bakery in a variety of flavors and sizes. The company also offers a wide selection of retail items, such as party supplies, decorations and specialty gifts, such as notebooks, drinkware, cake wear, candles, coffee mugs, party packets of plate sets and balloons.

Nine different flavors from red velvet to chocolate chip, lemon, white chocolate raspberry, strawberry cream, snickerdoodle, confetti, carrot, classic vanilla, will be available, and they also offer a gluten free chocolate chip cookie Bundt cake.

Nothing Bundt Cakes is hiring for the new Rapid City location, at 612 Eglin Street, Suite 400. Zandstra is currently looking to bring aboard a Joy Creator who will assist customers in finding the right size and flavor Bundt cake for their needs, and Frosters, Bring your frosting skills! she laughed.

There are two QR code posters on the windows of the soon-to-be franchise location on Eglin Street, one for more information on applying for a job with Nothing Bundt Cakes, and one where you can learn more about the cake shop and sign up for updates. Those that sign up will also get a free bundtlet on members' birthdays, which are cupcake size cakes.

For more information, visit the companys website at nothingbundtcakes.com or email the Rapid City franchise location at Rapidcity-sd@nothingbundtcakes.com.
A federal judge sentenced a 31-year-old man Monday morning to three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role as the driver who failed to call for help in a November 2021 beating death of a 45-year-old Pine Ridge man.

Michael Red Cloud pleaded guilty on June 23 to accessory to second-degree murder after Robert Jumping Eagle was found on Nov. 28, 2021 lying in a grassy area about 1.5 miles from the Red Cloud School in Pine Ridge.

His attackers had beaten him to the point that first-responders who knew Jumping Eagle could not recognize him, U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier said at Red Cloud's sentencing hearing. She called the case "incredibly sad."

Schreier said Red Cloud was "least culpable" for the death.

He did not participate in the beating, but Red Cloud admitted he drove the vehicle on Nov. 27, 2021 which contained himself, Jumping Eagle, Vine Hayes and Lance Red Cloud the night of the murder. Lance Red Cloud is a relative of Michael Red Cloud's that he said he did not know well.

Hayes and Lance Red Cloud beat Jumping Eagle and left him in frigid temperatures, according to the admissions of the three defendants in the case. Red Cloud failed to call for help after leaving the scene with Hayes and Lance Red Cloud and then returning home.

"I'm truly sorry for the part I took," Michael Red Cloud said.

Jumping Eagle was still alive when first responders found him the next day, but he died before he could make it to the hospital. Schreier said Jumping Eagle "perhaps could have lived."

He admitted he was scared of Lance Red Cloud and Hayes, telling the judge he "didn't wanna get ganged or shot or stabbed." However, he continued to state he takes responsibility for his actions. He said the case opened his eyes to the "ripple effect" of his actions.

"It's been hard on my five-year-old son and my one-year-old daughter," he said.

Red Cloud cared for and had custody of his children at the time of the murder. He was also caring for his grandparents who raised him and had been working as a day laborer for the Oglala Sioux Tribe for six years. Schreier also noted that in the past Red Cloud graduated from high school, obtained his CDL, and worked as a firefighter for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The judge also highlighted Red Cloud's lack of criminal history prior to the murder. She said alcohol was, "really the only issue that you had."

According to court documents, Hayes and Jumping Eagle drank alcohol at a Pine Ridge residence the evening of the murder.

The two left on foot and walked to the Red Cloud residence and drank with Lance Red Cloud, Michael Red Cloud and another Red Cloud family member.

Afterwards, the group of four men left the house in Michael Red Cloud's blue four-door car with no windows. Red Cloud said the group was, "just out cruising around," and he didn't know the other two men intended to beat Jumping Eagle.

"Violence is not in his mindset," said John Rusch, Red Cloud's defense attorney.

Before she asked the judge for a three-year sentence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins said Red Cloud "does not deserve anywhere within the realm" of the sentences his co-defendants face. Schreier sentenced Lance Red Cloud to 14 years in August. He pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree murder.

Hayes has not been sentenced, but he pleaded guilty on Nov. 9 to assault resulting in serious bodily injury after an October trial resulted in a hung jury.

In his plea agreement, the defense and the government agreed to both recommend a 10-year prison sentence, the maximum for the charge. His sentencing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Jan. 26.
BROOKINGS  The Board of Regents will consider an expansion to its South Dakota Advantage program next week that would grant resident tuition rates to three additional states.

If the regents approve the measure, students from Minnesota, Kansas and Missouri will be able to attend South Dakota's six public universities at the same cost as South Dakota residents.

"It's becoming an increasingly competitive market and we're doing all we can to attract students to South Dakota," said Nathan Lukkes, executive director and CEO of SDBOR. "With the higher education landscape changing drastically and some of the demographic challenges coming up in the next decade, borders are becoming less and less important. And everybody's vying for the same students."

Universities face enrollment cliff

Since fewer children were born during the 2007-2009 recession, there will be fewer college-aged kids over the next several years. In order to mitigate enrollment declines, universities' outreach efforts will become more crucial than ever, said Tim Rave, Regents president.

"It's no secret we're going to start pushing up against the enrollment cliff, as every university in the country is. And it's imperative that we get out in front of that to encourage as many students to come to South Dakota (as we can) and stay once they graduate," he said.

The South Dakota Advantage program, which began in fall 2019, granted in-state tuition rates for Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado residents. Illinois and Wisconsin were added to the list in 2023.

There is already a separate reciprocity agreement with Minnesota that allows residents to pay the higher amount between their home-state tuition and the South Dakota campus they attend, according to the Board of Regents. Bringing Minnesota into the program will save Minnesota residents attending a South Dakota public university upward of $600 per semester.

Program has proven success

Jim Rankin, president of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, told News Watch that South Dakota Advantage is making his university more competitive in farther-away markets.

"I think we've got over 350 Colorado students, probably about just under 15% of our students," he said. "We didn't have those kinds of numbers in the past."

SDBOR enrollment data show out-of-state enrollment growth for first-time freshmen from each state in the initial South Dakota Advantage program. The exception is Iowa, which along with Nebraska were already granted in-state tuition.

According to SDBOR, here are the enrollment changes of first-time freshmen from surrounding states between fall 2018 and fall 2023:

Iowa: 483, 437

Nebraska: 266, 402

Colorado: 112, 149

North Dakota: 64, 96

Wyoming: 50, 82

Montana: 21, 33

The data also show total nonresident enrollment climbing in the SDBOR system from 12,700 in fall 2021 to 13,308 in fall 2023.

Building the state's future

Lukkes told News Watch that 23% of nonresident graduates stayed in South Dakota after graduation in 2019. By 2022, it had risen to over 28%.

"Last year we had 793 nonresident graduates that stayed and entered the workforce in South Dakota," he said. "The year before was 768, and the year before that 742. It's a critical piece of our workforce puzzle as we continue to struggle with shortages in education, health care and business."

Shawn Hembolt, assistant vice president for enrollment management at South Dakota State University, agrees.

"We know that if we can get them here, enrolled at our university, have them spend four quality years here in South Dakota, the chances of them staying in South Dakota and helping enhance our workforce and our state is even greater," he said.

Scrapping the out-of-state tuition rate for nearby markets means the universities make less money off of each student. But Rankin said the program is a net gain overall.

"You're charging a little less to those out-of-state students coming in. But at the same time, you're hoping to bring in more students that wouldn't have come here in the first place," he said. "What we really want to see is that increased enrollment, which will make up for that decrease in tuition."

In-state tuition tips the scales

RuthAnn Holmes, a Wyoming native, is a senior at SDSU majoring in agricultural communication. After graduating high school in 2020, it wasn't very clear where she'd end up.

"I had three big options," Holmes said. "I had Colorado State, Texas A&M and SDSU. They all have really strong animal science and meat science degrees I was interested in."

Holmes said being offered in-state tuition tipped the scales in favor of coming to South Dakota.

"I feel it's very important because I, by myself, am the one paying for tuition and I don't have assistance from my parents in paying for that," she said. "Paying in-state tuition made (college) a lot more financially available for me."

Holmes estimates SDSU's more affordable education saved her about $20,000 from her second-choice pick, Colorado State University. She said she's open to staying in South Dakota after graduating.

Location matters

Brock Brown, who serves on the Regents as a student, said most of his classmates at the University of South Dakota School of Law are from out-of-state, which shows the benefit of the lower tuition rates.

"Something they talk about constantly as the reason they chose to attend USD's law school is because of the cost compared to their own state," he said.

Brown also pointed out the distance between SDSU in Brookings and Black Hills State University in Spearfish is greater than the distance from SDSU to the Wisconsin, Missouri and Kansas borders.

"I think this (program) makes us competitive in states a little farther away and it gets some students that may not have looked at us to look at South Dakota a lot harder," Rankin said.

The Regents will discuss the proposed changes and may vote on the proposal at a Dec. 13-14 meeting at SDSU.
Clickbait ads claiming that Five Guys-a popular American fast food chain serving hot dogs, burgers, and french fries-is closing in 2024 have been debunked by fact-checkers.

These online advertisements started spreading in December. They are being posted on various online and social media platforms, such as Google.

But, most of them can be found on YouTube. What's suspicious about these Five Guys ads is that they all use the same photos. Now, fact-checkers were able to debunk the claims about Five Guys' closure.

Five Guys Closing Deadline 2024 Debunked

According to Yahoo Finance's latest report, Snopes, a reliable fact-checking website, rated the advertisements claiming Five Guys will close in 2024 as "false."

The fact-checker explained that these Five Guys ads were nothing more than misleading clickbait. Snopes explained that the ads fool users to click them and read a 68-slide article showing the restaurants that are about to close.

The article titled "These 53 Restaurant Chains Are on the Brink of Disappearing Entirely" mostly includes American brands that are expected to close all their branches across the U.S. and other parts of the globe.

The most suspicious thing about this article is that it doesn't contain Five Guys in its list of restaurants. Another issue that fact-checkers discovered is that it was written around 2020 and was last published in 2021.

Each of the brand features was described in several paragraphs; claiming that the American restaurants would close some or all their locations because of bankruptcy or other reasons.

If you are one of the readers who were fooled by these clickbait Five Guys ads, here's why advertisers used them in the first place.

Read Also: Fact Check: Las Vegas Sphere Israeli Flag Image Is Photoshopped, as Confirmed by Socmed

Why Clickbait Five Guys Ads are Used

Snopes said that advertisers used the clickbait Five Guys ads because they were relying on advertising arbitrage. This strategy involves using ads displayed on super-long articles to generate more money.

To simply this technique, advertisers use advertising arbitrage to attract consumers in a misleading way instead of giving them helpful content. As of writing, Five Guys hasn't made any statement regarding the fake advertisements claiming it will close all its branches.

If ever you encounter suspicious ads on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social media platforms, the best thing you can do is contact Snopes or other fact-checking websites so that other users can be informed.

Related Article: FACT CHECK: Viral Instagram Video Showing Israel Raising Flags in Al Shifa Hospital is False-Here's What Fact Checkers Revealed

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Property taxes are rising statewide, causing a financial burden for homeowners. After the 2023 session, business professionals worked with Representative Ladner to propose a bill capping the yearly growth in the valuation of owner-occupied homes at 3% for property tax purposes.

In 2022, the legislature passed HB 1325 to address the overvaluation of agricultural land. In 2023, Senator Kolbeck and Representative Ladner passed SB 26 to adjust the income and home value qualifications for the elderly and disabled. In 2024, they will address the valuations of owner-occupied single-family homes.

Senator Kolbeck explained that the proposed bill calls for setting a benchmark year for homeowners who owned or acquired their homes before or during fiscal year 2020 (pre-COVID). According to the proposal, the initial valuation of their property would be reset to the 2020 valuation, with an annual increase capped at 3% going forward. For homes purchased after fiscal year 2020, their valuation would be determined based on market value (sales price), with the annual increase also restricted to a maximum of 3% per year going forward. Why is the maximum annual increase in this bill set at 3%? County budgets are capped at 3% plus new growth. Teacher's salaries are capped at 3%, and South Dakota Retirement system is adjusted annually based on COLA, capped at 3.5%.

Lets take for example, the story of "Mr. Smith," a proud 3rd generation South Dakotan who has lived in his home for 42 years, a home he and his wife built with the intention of spending the rest of their lives in this home. In fiscal year 2020, the assessed value of his home was $200,000. However, since then, we have experienced an influx of people moving to South Dakota causing property valuations to increase. In 2021, Mr. Smith welcomed two new neighbors, Mr. Jones and Mr. Adams. They each purchased homes on either side of Mr. Smith for $600,000. Due to the current tax law that uses comparable sales or "market value" to determine a home's valuation, Mr. Smith's propertys valuation has been adjusted from $200,000 to $600,000, because his home now has the potential of selling for $600,000.

The Property Valuation Relief Bill proposes that his residential property valuation for tax purposes, would reset to the 2020 value of $200,000, with an annual increase of 3% for each year going forward, (2021, 2022, 2023, etc). In contrast, Mr. Jones & Mr. Adams, who purchased their homes in 2021 (after 2020), will have their valuations set at the market value (purchase price) of $600,000 and be increased 3% for each year going forward, (2022, 2023 and so on). The difference between the long-term owner Mr. Smith and new owners Mr. Adams & Mr. Jones? Mr. Adams and Mr. Jones knew at the time they purchased their homes that the valuation of their new homes would be at the purchase price of $600,000. Mr. Smith didnt.

Federal statistics indicate that homes change ownership every 7 years, triggering a reassessment at market value. South Dakotans want a fair tax system, but the results of COVID and new residents have driven up home values, causing big property tax hikes. Over time, this could put long-time residents, new owners, and seniors at risk of losing their homes. The 2022 census shows there are about 279,281 owner-occupied homes in South Dakota, with around 49,000 owned by individuals aged 65 or older.

The current tax system for homeowners in South Dakota lacks predictability and fairness. To address this, the legislature needs to establish a fair and predictable tax system. This bill aims to alleviate the burden of rapidly increasing owner-occupied residential property valuations for tax purposes, by implementing a 3% cap on future increases, providing relief to all residents and ensuring a more stable system. Representative Ladner emphasized that, "As lawmakers, it is our responsibility to act to assure that our long-term South Dakotans who helped to build this remarkable state by the strength of their backs, and the sweat of their brow, will be able to remain in their homes for years to come.

Senator Jack Kolbeck represents District 13 in the South Dakota Senate and Representative Trish Ladner represents District 30 in the South Dakota House.

Senator Jack Kolbeck, District 13 and Representative Trish Ladner, District 30
Employees of the U.S. Postal Service in Missoula have been dealing with serious issues this year, including not getting paychecks on time, inadequate staffing levels that essentially force many to work six or more days a week, poor workplace morale, absence requests being denied and high staff turnover at both the administrative and lower levels.

The issue is leading to severe mail delays in the area, with local residents complaining that important health, tax and business documents are not getting delivered on time.

The Missoulian spoke separately with three employees of the Postal Service in Missoula who described an extremely difficult workplace environment because there arent enough people to cover all of the necessary shifts. Carriers, especially rural carriers in the area, dont have enough substitute carriers to allow them to only work five days a week. If they take two days off a week, they often come back on their first work day to a huge pile of undelivered mail, meaning they have to work twice as hard.

All the employees requested anonymity because of fear of retaliation from their employer. They all said that theyve raised their concerns multiple times to supervisors, but nothing has improved over the course of months.

Its hostile here, one employee said. Some people are not getting their routes carried. Everyones mad. Well have stand-up meetings, people are yelling at each other. Its crazy in here. Its because were all worked to death and were tired. Its a circus. Theres an atmosphere of 'you cant take days off.' You can, but people are gonna get mad.

The employees the Missoulian spoke to all have worked for the USPS for multiple years, and all say the environment now is the worst it's ever been. Theres been a churn of new postmaster hires and resignations at the Missoula office recently.

The Missoulian reported earlier this year that many residents of Missoula are seeing unprecedented delays in getting mail. After that story came out, some Post Office employees reached out to explain that their workplace seems to be in a constant state of crisis.

The issue has become so dire that it's gotten the attention of Montana's Senate delegation. U.S. Sen. Jon Tester recently wrote a letter pressing the Biden administration to address staffing challenges and fill openings in Postal Service leadership with people who have experience with rural areas.

USPS is failing its own retention goals for non-career employees and as a result, Montana postal workers are being spread thin and working more than 60 hours a week, Tester wrote. It is unacceptable that folks are being asked to shoulder the burden of paying for a service that USPS is no longer able to reliably provide in rural communities.

The Billings Gazette recently reported that U.S. Sen. Steve Daines wrote to U.S. Postmaster Louis DeJoy in October 2022 to raise the issue of ballots not getting delivered on time. DeJoy responded by saying there were 25 carrier vacancies in Bozeman alone.

Overworked

Several rural carriers in Missoula confirmed that theres been extreme pressure to work much more than 40 hours per week this year.

Two carriers separately described how they are essentially being mandated to work six days a week.

You just get Sundays, said one carrier. If you dont come in, if youre on leave or on vacation or sick, youre coming in to your route not being carried. So youre taking two days of stuff and not getting paid extra for it.

Rural letter carriers work on a complicated automated system called the Rural Route Evaluated Compensation System, meaning they are not paid by the hour, according to the National Rural Letter Carrier Association. The system means they often dont get overtime unless their route has been evaluated to take more than 40 hours per week.

Since this evaluation occurs annually, a rural carriers route is constantly being adjusted and readjusted from year to year, making the rural craft the leanest and most efficient way to deliver mail, the associations website states. "Since the establishment of the evaluated pay system, rural letter carriers have the incentive to work as rapidly and efficiently as possible with the merit reward of returning home once their route and work is complete."

According to the 2018 USPS National Payroll Hour Summary Report, rural deliveries cost the USPS $6.62 per delivery less, on average, than a city delivery, which operates at a set hourly rate.

The system was implemented, amid controversy, this past spring. A letter from six U.S. senators at the time said the system "will reduce the pay of 66% of carriers significantly."

The U.S. Postal Service is an independent agency of the executive branch of the federal government. Postal employees do get coveted federal health insurance benefits.

Workers in Missoula say they've stuck with the job because of the wages and benefits, but the pressures to work more than 40 hours a week have increased recently.

I like the job, the carrier explained. Its good benefits and good pay. But its really hard to make appointments (for health care) and stuff. Wed be sitting a lot better if wed have six more subs to allow us to take a day off.

Three carriers also pointed to an issue recently where the USPS simply didnt give employees a paycheck in time.

Weve lost eight subs because they havent gotten correct paychecks, the worker said. "People wont put up with it. They just leave, which has caused us to be shorthanded so now we have to work six to seven days a week, 12 hours a day.

Another carrier separately described how he was essentially being forced to work six days a week

Some people dont do it, he said. But then what happens is they dont deliver your mail on your route. They dont deliver packages. Youll come into two days worth of mail which is a total pain in the fu--ing butt. So you kind of have to work that sixth day, unless you want to work two days in one day.

The employees described how not having two days off a week took a mental and physical toll on their personal lives.

You dont have time to have a social life, to rest and recover, one worker said. A lot of people have repetitive-use injuries because we do the same motion day after day after day. And theres no end in sight. Its not going to get better for a while.

He said that with all the new housing development in Missoula, routes are getting more stops and more packages and carriers are just having to pick up the pace.

Ive been working for 60 hours a week for at least a year and a half, he said.

Known problem

Kim Frum, a strategic communications specialist for the U.S. Postal Service, acknowledged the issues in a statement to the Missoulian.

Due to timekeeping errors at the local level, approximately 2,200 Postal Service rural carriers were not paid through the normal process on Friday, Nov. 24, Frum explained. Supervisors notified impacted employees and issued salary advancements in the form of Postal Money Orders beginning Wednesday, Nov. 22.

Frum also said the Postal Service is aware of its hiring challenges and is trying to address the issue.

Its a well-known fact the Postal Service is facing staffing and hiring challenges both in Montana and nationwide, she said. The need is especially urgent in most areas for mail handlers, clerks and mail carriers. All Post Office locations, including Missoula, have skilled, experienced management in place overseeing the day-to-day operations and using every available resource at their disposal to overcome staffing issues. A new Postmaster has been selected and they are expected to start mid-December.

As Christmas approaches, the situation will become more urgent.

Understanding that this is the busiest time of the year for the Postal Service and of course, we maximize the utilization of our employees within the guidelines of their contractual and collective bargaining agreements, Frum said. The Postal Service continues to aggressively hire in many locations across the country. With a workforce of more than 635,000, USPS is one of the nations largest employers with ongoing attrition needs.

She said there have been several job fairs in Missoula recently and there are more scheduled in the near future. There are currently open carrier jobs posted online at usps.com/careers and each posting may be used to fill multiple positions.

"A job with the Postal Service offers employees the ability to work where they live, good pay, stability, lifelong benefits and career advancement opportunities throughout the entire agency," Frum said.

Mailbox impact

Of course, the problems in the workplace at the Postal Service trickle down to customers not receiving their mail on time.

Two Missoula residents who live in the Miller Creek area said they've recently been going as long as a week without getting their mail.

"All of our neighbors say the same thing," said John Herring. "You can't call the Post Office. There's no number listed. They hide behind a curtain of pretty much anonymity. If you dig deep enough on the website, maybe you can find somebody to talk to."

Glen Bumgardner, another Miller Creek resident, says he and his neighbors are concerned about medical bills, important tax documents, work-related papers and other items not getting delivered on time.

Herring believes the organization is suffering due to bad management.

"I'm a business person," he said. "If I know I'm running into problems with not being able to hire or retain employees, I know I need to either pay a dollar an hour more or do a better job of getting the job description out there. I know it's difficult to find employees right now, but they're still serving tacos at Taco Bell."

Herring said he relies on the mail for sending official documents for work, so he's lately been forced to spend money for certified mail with a return receipt request. He said he's also seen advertisements paid for by the U.S. Postal Service that are trying to convince people that they deliver fast and efficiently.

"It's disappointing and somewhat infuriating," he said.
A clerk and recorder who expressed doubt about the integrity of the election process during her 2022 campaign may lose her election oversight duties in a Montana county in a vote Tuesday.

Commissioners for the county are set to decide whether to remove her duties, reflecting some of the turmoil nationwide since conspiracy theories spread about the 2020 presidential election.

Dozens of people attended the meeting, which was moved to the fairgrounds in Great Falls in anticipation of public participation. If the resolution passes, it would take effect immediately. All three commissioners and the clerk, Sandra Merchant, are Republican, and she has accused Commissioner Joe Briggs of playing politics with her job.

If youre in the same party you should be supporting each other and working together and that has not happened, Merchant said Monday.

Briggs said he proposed the resolution in response to complaints about the way several local elections have been run since Merchant was sworn in early this year. Lawsuits have been filed. The library board asked for court-appointed oversight for their mill levy election this summer.

Its been everything from people not getting ballots that should have to people who got ballots that shouldnt have in these various elections, so there seems to be some systemic problems, Briggs said Monday.

The issue needs to be settled before next years general election, Briggs said.

We need to get all of the issues identified and fixed before we get in to federal elections, because they do have broad ramifications, Briggs said.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester is seeking reelection in a race that could help determine the majority party in the Senate, and two U.S. House races will be on the ballot along with all the major statewide elected races, including governor.

Supporters of the motion said Tuesday morning that Merchant was in over her head and did not have the experience needed to run the elections office. Opponents said passing the resolution would disenfranchise people who voted for Merchant to be the clerk, recorder and the elections administrator.

Some opponents argued that if the change needed to be made, it should be delayed until the end of Merchants four-year term, which began in January.

Nationally, there have been concerns about people in position to oversee elections who have expressed doubts about or rejected the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. In some cases, local election officials have been accused of providing access to confidential voting systems in search of evidence to show elections are being manipulated.

There is no evidence of voting machines being manipulated and no indication of widespread voter fraud that would have changed the outcome of the 2020 election.

The Cascade County resolution proposes that that election oversight be removed from the clerk and recorders office and be assumed by the county commission, which would appoint an election administrator. State law allows for such a change and a handful of Montanas 56 counties have done it.

Merchant defeated Democratic clerk Rina Fontana Moore by fewer than 40 votes in November 2022.

Some Republicans had asked the county commission to ask Moore to recuse herself from administrating the election since she was on the ballot, Briggs said. She declined to step down temporarily and Briggs proposed taking election duties away from the clerk and recorders office. However neither of the other two commission members would second his motion.

In 2021, the Republican-controlled state Legislature passed legislation leaders said was needed to improve election security, but courts rejected those laws, saying the state brought no proof of the alleged widespread voter fraud the laws sought to eliminate.

Before Merchant took office, Briggs again moved to transfer the election duties to a non-elected administrator and again, nobody else supported him..

Things changed, however, as problems piled up during this years elections.

It went from being basically a structural issue, of someone in charge of an election should not be on the ballot, to broader questions about how things are being conducted here that didnt exist previously, Briggs said.

Merchant said after she took office, experienced employees in the elections department left without teaching her how to do the job.

She and her supporters argue Briggs motion is disenfranchising the people who voted for her to run elections and that the county could have done more to support her in the role.

They werent electing somebody to take care of the records in the other office, they voted for me because of elections and now their votes are being thrown out, Merchant said Monday.

Campaigning for the office as former President Donald Trump continued to make baseless allegations that widespread fraud cost him a second term, Merchant supported hand counting ballots and opening up ballot tabulators to make sure they could not be connected to the internet.

Merchant has not suggested opening tabulators or going to hand counts since shes been elected, but her supporters havent given up, Briggs said.

In the resolution, Briggs wrote that the county recently spent $200,000 on ballot tabulators and has received persistent criticism and concerns from certain members of the public who are politically aligned to the currently elected Clerk and Recorder that the countys ... tabulators are Wi-Fi connected, capable of being manipulated by foreign governments or other nefarious actors, and that the only way to remove such fears is for Cascade County to open the tabulators for public inspection.

However, doing so would void warranties and render the tabulators worthless, he said.

Briggs said he was the one who made the motion to remove partisan politics from elections administration and finds it a little ironic that it was Republicans who sought the change last year when a Democrat was in office and Republicans who oppose the change now.

From my standpoint, if you tout something because its the right way to do to it, then its the right way to do it, regardless of whether theres a Republican or Democrat in office, Briggs said.
Three Virginia colleges that are leading the way in health research could get a big financial boost.

On Monday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin proposed a $90 million investment to Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech to support their medical innovation departments.

Youngkin envisions Virginias research triangle, modeled off the successful higher education-led research collaboration in North Carolina.

The work of the three Virginia colleges has already drawn attention and hundreds of millions of dollars in philanthropy.

My administration is committed to building Virginias research engine for the future and creating high-paying jobs in the process, Youngkin said in a statement.

Youngkin next week will propose a two-year budget for the state. Lawmakers, who will take up the budget in the January session, would need to approve the appropriations before the one-time funds can be disbursed.

VCUs Medicines for All Institute would receive $13 million. Medicines For All rebuilds medicines with more affordable building blocks. It rebuilt Mercks COVID-19 therapy, molnupiravir, and reduced its cost from $2,000 a kilogram to $200.

VCU conducted $407 million worth of research in 2022, which makes it the 47th most among public schools in the U.S., according to a recent ranking by the National Science Foundation.

UVas Manning Institute for Biotechnology would get $50 million. UVa broke ground Friday on the institutes facility. Biotechnology generally refers to the process of modifying organisms, such as cells, into machines for human benefit. Examples include insulin and cancer-fighting cells.

UVas work will complement  not compete with  VCUs, Srirama Rao, VCUs vice president for research, said earlier this year. The most impactful advances in medicine tend to come from large, multi-discipline teams working at multiple institutions, said Mike Frielander, executive director of Virginia Techs Fralin Biomedical Research Institute.

Fralin would receive $27 million. The group researches treatment against the worlds leading causes of death, including heart disease, cancer and brain disorders. It has grown quickly, doubling its enterprise and lab facilities in Roanoke since it opened in 2010.

The colleges will partner with the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority, a state body that nurtures innovation and research.
Students and staff had to leave Cool Spring Elementary School in Mechanicsville just before normal dismissal time, the Hanover County Public Schools said in an alert to parents. Emergency crews determined that the building was safe, the alert said.

Principal Sarah Pike in a statement on the school website said students were let back into the building to get belongings and were dismissed for the day. She said the gas leak was near the school.
Police said deputies responded to the 1300 block of Hanover Courthouse Road near Depot Road in Hanover at around 10:31 p.m. Sunday for reports of a crash. Investigators determined that Berend High, 18, of Woodford, was driving a 2021 Chevrolet sedan when he lost control of the vehicle, exited the roadway to the right and struck a tree.
Christmas is just around the corner, but you still have time to snag some last-minute stocking stuffers. Check out some of the best affordable Christmas gifts for children in 2023.
On Wednesday, Dec. 6, students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, received an alert we all know and fear: "RUN-HIDE-FIGHT." A shooter opened fire on campus at 11:45 a.m. Three students were gunned down; another was injured and remains in the hospital. The most chilling part is not the terror or bloodshed, but how normal the killings were. When asked how she was feeling, one student matter-of-factly told a CNN reporter, Ive been in an active lockdown before, it wasnt anything crazy.

Colleges often fail to protect students from hate and violence  particularly as extremism and bigotry rise across the U.S. Just in the last five weeks, a gunman shot three Palestinian students near the University of Vermont after seeing them wearing traditional garb. At Cornell, a student was arrested after posting threats to shoot all you pig Jews. And at Stanford, a man hit an Arab Muslim student with his SUV as he screamed, f--- you and your people.

In moments like these, it is easy to wonder how students can possibly speak, study or even survive on campus. But there is one group of people students can look toward for guidance: themselves.

Students are more resilient than most people realize. I know this personally. I graduated from the University of Virginia this past May. Over the past six years, our student body survived the deadly Unite the Right rally, a series of hate crimes and a mass shooting. Administrators, professors, affinity groups and, of course, school-sponsored therapy dogs were integral to our recovery. But as the past two months have shown, students cant always rely on colleges for institutional support.

Jewish, Muslim, Palestinian and Israeli groups across the country have complained since the Israel-Hamas war began that administrators didnt do enough to condemn Hamas guns or Israels bombs, or did too much to elevate one groups suffering above another. The politics of deans' statements and Instagram stories can quickly grow caustic in a polarized environment, so its important that students and administrators hold each other in good faith. But this wouldnt be the first time that higher education let us down.

Hatred is all too common on college campuses. In 2020, the latest year for which the National Center for Education Statistics has data, the organization documented 571 on-campus hate crimes. Consider that hate crimes are notoriously underreported (per Police Chief magazine, federal data captures roughly one in 31 hate crimes), and the real number is likely many times higher.

Mass shootings are also far too common. There is no government database that tracks shootings at college campuses, largely because it is difficult to pinpoint where the campus stops and the surrounding community begins. But since the start of 2022, there have been incidents of serious violence at the University of Virginia, the University of Vermont, Michigan State University, Morgan State University, the University of Idaho, Virginia Commonwealth University, Bowie State University, Morgan State University (again), Jackson State and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, just to name a few.

Universities, especially HBCUs, are often targets of extreme hate. And many people fear that until we update our failing gun laws, students are sitting targets. But colleges can prevent some violence by enforcing rules already on the books. Before the UVa shooting, administrators were warned that the killer had guns in his dorm room  a clear violation of residence hall rules. But they didnt act quickly enough. Two weeks later, three students were killed.

Schools also can do more to help students in the wake of tragedy by establishing recovery plans before violence occurs. After the shooting in Charlottesville, the UVa campus was consumed by a sense of unknowing. Students didnt know what came next, professors didnt know if they should cancel classes, and administrators didnt know if they should send us home. Fortunately, UVa acted quickly to give our community time to grieve. But it was ultimately students who planned vigils, walk-outs and sit-ins.

Colleges need to take proactive measures to protect students before and after tragedy. But when schools fail, students stand together. We have for decades been the victims of death threats, violence, doxxing, harassment and hate. The ongoing crisis is an opportunity to revisit the need to better protect students. But it is not a reason to fear for the future of our youth. Students are strong enough to withstand anything. We just shouldnt have to.

PHOTOS: UVa community gathers for memorial run, six days after deadly shooting
A woman whose fetus was unlikely to survive called more than a dozen abortion clinics before finding one that would take her, only to be put on weekslong waitlists. Others seeking the procedure faced waits because they struggled to travel hundreds of miles for care.

Such obstacles have grown more common since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, doctors and researchers say, causing delays that can lead to abortions that are more complex, costly and in some cases riskier  especially as pregnancies get further along.

About half of U.S. states now have laws that ban or restrict access to abortion. Because of that, many clinics don't offer the procedure, which has increased demand for appointments at the remaining providers.

At various points, waits in several states stretched for two or three weeks and some clinics had no available appointments, according to results of a periodic survey spearheaded by Middlebury College economics professor Caitlin Myers. Doctors and researchers say even as wait times lessened, people still encounter other challenges, like planning and paying for travel, taking time off work and finding child care.

"All of those things can contribute to delays, and then it kind of becomes like this vicious circle," said Dr. Daniel Grossman, an OB-GYN at the University of California, San Francisco, who co-authored a research report earlier this year that compiled anecdotes from health care providers after Roe was overturned.

People may miss the window for medication abortions, which are not generally offered past 10 to 11 weeks of gestation. A dwindling number of clinics provide abortions as people move through the second trimester, which begins at 13 or 14 weeks. Costs for the procedure change, too, from up to $800 in the first trimester to $2,000 or more in the second trimester.

"While abortion is safe at all points in pregnancy," with an overall complication rate of 2%, it "does get more complicated as the pregnancy continues," said Dr. Colleen McNicholas, chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region.

At least 66 clinics in 15 states stopped providing abortions in the 100 days after Roe was overturned, according to an analysis last year by the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights.

The necessity for people to travel out of state is at the root of abortion delays. Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region's health center in Fairview Heights, Illinois, saw a 715% increase in patients from outside of Illinois or Missouri in the year after Roe.

The ongoing Myers Abortion Appointment Availability Survey called more than 700 facilities across the United States. Its latest survey, conducted in September, found that 11 states had median appointment wait times of more than five business days and four states had waits of at least eight business days, not counting weekends or holidays. The longest wait was in Iowa: 12 business days.

A year earlier, seven states had waits between 12 and 15 business days. In the report from Grossman's team, a health care worker described how it took one mom seven weeks to get an appointment for her pregnant teen, who was about 17 weeks along by then.

The latest statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are from 2021 and show that about 7% of abortions took place at 14 weeks or later.

While there's no way to know definitively whether delays pushed more abortions into the second trimester, several providers said they've seen the number rise in their own clinics. The St. Louis region's Planned Parenthood, for instance, tracked a 35% increase in the number of patients getting abortions at 14 weeks or later at the southern Illinois health center in the year after the Supreme Court decision.

Jillaine St.Michel struggled to find somewhere to have an abortion late last year after learning that her 20-week fetus had multiple genetic and developmental problems and probably wouldn't survive. She lives in Idaho, which has a ban on abortions, so St.Michel and her husband called about 15 out-of-state clinics, finally getting on a three week waitlist in Denver and a two-week waitlist in Seattle.

St.Michel, 37, said she worried about passing an abortion time limit: Washington state allows the procedure up to viability, the point a fetus may survive outside the womb. Some babies can survive with medical help at 22 or 23 weeks.

A chance cancellation opened up a spot in Seattle four days after she called to get on the list.

Clinics have taken numerous steps to reduce waits, such as adding more telehealth appointments for medication abortions, staying open longer and adding more staff. That's generally brought appointment wait times down.

But streamlining appointments is only part of the answer to reducing abortion delays, providers said. Individual issues like child care problems, canceled flights and financial concerns can be tough to overcome.

This is especially difficult as travel distances grow longer. Research by Myers and colleagues found the average driving distance to the nearest clinic rose substantially in some states after Roe. From March 2022 to September 2023, it shot up from 34 to 160 miles in Alabama, for example. The clinic where St.Michel, a chiropractor, had an abortion is about 500 miles from her home.

Hoping to help other families, St. Michel joined a lawsuit filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights, an organization of lawyers and advocates that supports abortion rights. The suit asks state courts in Idaho and Tennessee to place holds on abortion laws.

"I personally can't imagine that most people would be able to make this work," said St.Michel, who is pregnant again. "This is not how we should have to seek health care."
(Image: Berita Harian)

The Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia is back with its SAVE programme for the fourth time, this time offering rebates of up to RM400 for the purchase of selected energy-efficient electrical appliances. It is set to run for a year until December 2024.

Similar to previous versions of the programme, SAVE 4.0 is also aimed at helping to increase public awareness and to encourage them to buy energy-efficient appliances that will save consumers electricity consumption. The rebate will be granted to domestic households that purchase refrigerators or air conditioners with 4-star or 5-star energy efficiency labels by the Energy Commission (RM200 rebate allowed for each appliance, respectively).

Each individual or household with one electricity bill account is only allowed to redeem the rebate once for the appliances that they have purchased, which will be provided on a first-come first-served basis. To tap into the rebates, you can either present your electricity bill and IC in person at registered retailers when purchasing your appliances, or by applying for an e-rebate via participating e-commerce platforms like Lazada, Shopee, PGMall, Youbeli, and TikTok Shop.

If you opt to purchase your appliances in person at physical stores, the retailer will help you to check your eligibility based on your electricity bill and apply for the e-rebate on your behalf. Meanwhile, if you decide to do it online, you will need to browse and search for products that are eligible for the discount, then chat with the seller, who will then assist you in your application for the SAVE 4.0 voucher. Once approved, you will receive the voucher code, which can then be applied to your purchases during checkout.

Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Minister, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said that a total of RM50 million has been allocated by the Electrical Supply Industry Trust Account (AAIBE) for the SAVE 4.0 programme. Through this programme, our goal is to inspire more electricity users to adopt energy-efficient practices, leading to both energy savings and reduced electricity bills. The provision of subsidies or rebates in the future will be further streamlined with the forthcoming Padu system, enhancing the calculation of electricity subsidies, he added.

(Image: New Straits Times)

Nik Nazmi also shared that the previous programme, SAVE 3.0, had achieved notable results, recording 324 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy savings. This translates to a decrease of 281,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emission, as well as an annual cost reduction of RM129.4 million.

The SAVE programme was first launched back in 2011 and has been spearheaded by SEDA since.

(Sources: New Straits Times, SEDA)

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SpaceX has again delayed the launch of its Falcon Heavy rocket that is supposed to carry the secretive X-37B robotic spacecraft for the military.

The launch is now scheduled for Tuesday evening and marks the most recent delay in the latest mission of a mysterious space plane. It is considered one of the United States military's most fascinating projects as the nation continues its race to journey deeper into the universe.

SpaceX Delays X-37B Launch

The robotic spacecraft was supposed to take off onboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket at 8:14 p.m. ET from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday. However, the company later revealed that it was pushing back the schedule "due to a ground-side issue." This indicated a problem with the rocket's launchpad or fueling systems.

SpaceX also noted that it was working toward lifting off the rocket and the spacecraft at the next available launch opportunity, which is Tuesday at 8:14 p.m. ET. The reusable X-37B space plane resembles a miniature NASA space shuttle with the windows blacked out and is set to start its seventh experimental mission, as per CNN.

Many of the secretive plane's tasks have been classified but the U.S. Space Force did provide a few details about the goals for the uncrewed mission. The military craft makes it possible for the U.S. to carry out experiments to better understand how to improve ongoing and upcoming space operations and push the boundaries of what is possible.

Among the research that will be conducted onboard the spacecraft will be a NASA experiment that seeks to find ways to sustain astronauts on future deep-space missions. These are called Seeds-2 and will "expose plant seeds to the harsh radiation environment of long-duration spaceflight" while building on previous research.

The military's experimental missions also include operating the reusable space plane in new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies, and investigating the radiation effects on materials that NASA provides.

Read Also: International Space Station Turns 25

Mysterious Military Spacecraft

The X-37B spacecraft made its debut more than a decade ago and has since been a point of intrigue within the space community. This is mostly due to its mysterious activities in low Earth orbit. While the true nature of its purpose or location is unknown, skywatchers have occasionally spotted and photographed the craft, according to NBC News.

The last mission of the military's spacecraft was launched onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and prior to that, it went into space five times on United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rockets. The Falcon Heavy booster has significantly more power than both of the previous rockets.

The use of the more powerful Falcon Heavy rocket may also be due to mass as the X-37B features a cargo bay that can house equipment and experiments. It could be carrying a secondary mission payload that would require the added lift capability.

With each successive mission, the X-37B spends longer in space as the most recent one lasted 908 days. That particular mission was known as OTV-6 and came back to Earth in November 2022, said Space.



Related Article: Ancients Found to Have Made Elements Heavier Than Anything Listed on the Periodic Table

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Mexican wanted in U.S. for murder of 12 extradited

Mexico City, Mexico  Two men wanted in the U.S. have been extradited from Mexico. One of the men extradited on Monday was wanted for the murder of 12 people in Los Angeles.

Juan Manuel L was handed over to U.S. federal marshals Monday for his return to California. According to a State Attorney of the Republic (FGR) statement, Juan Manuel L was wanted in a Los Angeles court for the1993 deaths of 12 people.

He was required by the Superior Court of the State of California in the County of Los Angeles for the crime of homicide. In May 1993, Juan Manuel L and other members of a gang to which he belonged, set fire to various objects outside the apartment of the administrator of the building in which they lived.

The smoke reached the third floor causing the death of 12 people due to smoke inhalation and the intense heat, the FGR reported.

On the same flight, a second man, Jesus J was also returned to the U.S. According to the FGR, he was wanted by the District Court in Denver County Colorado, for the crimes of first-degree murder and injuries. In July 2017 in Denver, he shot two people, one of whom died.

Both men were flown in the protective custody of U.S. agents from the Mexico City International Airport to the U.S. to face criminal charges.
A $90 million investment will be made to launch Virginias Research Triangle network involving the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and VCU, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday.

The investment will be made when the three institutions sign an upcoming agreement, according to a news release from the governors office.

A biotechnology, life sciences, and pharmaceutical manufacturing network will be created to foster collaboration among the three major existing university research institutions, according to the release.

In his upcoming biennial budget, scheduled to be released on Dec. 20, Youngkin will include the total of $90 million in one-time funds to the University of Virginias Manning Institute for Biotechnology, Virginia Techs Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and the Virginia Commonwealth Universitys Medicines for All Institute, according to the release.

The institutions will partner with the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority to collaborate on commercialization and startup support.

Todays investment announcement lays the groundwork for remarkable startup innovation and commercialization that interconnects Charlottesville, the Greater Richmond Area, Roanoke and the New River Valley, Youngkin said in the release. Through this state commitment and private philanthropy, we are building Virginias research triangle and network, supporting our higher education institutions research endeavors, and expanding Virginias university research capacity that will enhance life-saving research development for generations to come. My administration is committed to building Virginias research engine for the future and creating high-paying jobs in the process.

Others involved were quoted in the release:

For the last decade, VCUs Medicine for All Institute has led the world in developing innovations to making medicines by lowering costs, strengthening supply resilience, and increasing quality. As we look towards the next decade of the advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in Virginia, Medicine for All is excited to be a partner in growing the capabilities and job opportunities this industry can bring to the Commonwealth. Governor Youngkins continued investment and support is helping make this a reality and we are grateful to be a part of this important initiative, said Frank Gupton, co-founder of Phlow and CEO, Medicines for All.

The Commonwealth will greatly benefit from this major collaborative initiative from Governor Youngkin to advance biomedical research, innovation and translation at and between the states major academic health centers. This investment will not only advance the ongoing biomedical and health sciences research at the states three largest academic medical centers but will facilitate increased collaboration and innovation between them, said Mike Friedlander, executive director of Virginia Techs Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and Virginia Tech vice president of health sciences and technology. At this time in history, the most impactful advances in medicine come from multi- and trans- disciplinary team science that requires groups with complementary expertise working together across institutions. This initiative will provide such an opportunity for researchers at UVA, VCU, and VTC to accelerate these advances for the benefit of the health of all. In addition to catalyzing research breakthroughs and their applications for improved health, this investment will contribute to the enhanced growth of the bioscience commercialization ecosystem across the state through development of intellectual property and emerging biotechnology companies, working closely with our academic medicine institutions.

Friedlander specified to The Roanoke Times Monday that Virginia Techs part of the research triangle would be focused on clinical research, a big next step for several projects already underway at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute.

Much of what we will focus on is things weve already seen success in, so things like cardiovascular health, neurohealth, and cancer research, Friedlander said.

Some of the projects that Friedlander mentioned specifically include ongoing work on methods to help protect cancer patients from the effects of radiation damage when receiving treatment, and behavioral research being conducted to help people avoid behaviors that lead to higher cancer risks, such as smoking and over-consumption of alcohol.

These are just some of the projects where the logical next step would be going to clinical research, Friedlander said.

The money would go toward building a dedicated space for clinical research and hiring staff for the new space.

We are exceptionally grateful for the Governors announcement today of the Commonwealths additional funding for the UVA Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, said K. Craig Kent, CEO of UVA Health and executive vice president of health affairs for University of Virginia. We look forward to continued collaboration with our other university research colleagues and the full spectrum of bioscience partners across Virginia.

Innovation is at the heart of a thriving economy and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Todays landmark investment announced by Governor Youngkin will help accelerate university collaboration and elevate Virginias leadership in the critical biotech, life sciences, and pharmaceutical manufacturing health sectors, said Joseph Benevento, president of the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority (VIPA).

The Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority will convene the three institutions to sign a memorandum of understanding with the authority and each other, and once the MOU is signed by the three institutions and by VIPA, $50 million will be available for UVAs Manning Institute for Biotechnology, $27 million will be available for Virginia Techs Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and $13 million will be available for VCUs Medicines for All Institute, according to the release.
ROCKY MOUNT  The Franklin County School Board approved a new policy and procedure Monday to review books in school libraries that have been identified by parents or others as objectionable.

The new process now gives clear guidelines on how schools in the district will handle complaints concerning challenged books going forward.

The rise in complaints about and challenges to books in school libraries is a national issue. PEN America, a writers group, says book banning by schools surged in the 2022-23 school year nationally, prompted by parent-led groups that overwhelmingly target the presence of books that tell stories of people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Franklin Countys school board unanimously approved the policy change, which was introduced at the November meeting. The vote was delayed until Monday to give the public a chance to review the policy posted on the school boards website.

I wish we didnt have to have policies like this, but I think in our current environment and climate, this is where we are, said Gills Creek District representative Jon Atchue before the vote on Monday.

School board member at large Kevin David emphasized the importance of parental oversight, but questioned several of the books that have been listed as concerning in recent months.

David said one book recently listed as offensive, Catcher in the Rye, was a personal favorite and other parents should not be allowed to ban something he deems appropriate for his child.

I can determine what is right for my child and I will, but I cant make that decision for everybody else, David said. It is not about banning books, and I dont think anyone up here wanted to ban books.

With the new policy, parents or guardians will be informed by email when their child checks out any book from the library unless they opt out of the notification process. They will also have the option to complete a form to restrict their child from checking out books of a certain title, series, author or specific classification section.

A Franklin County Public Schools employee, parent or guardian or a student may challenge a learning resource such as a library book, video, software or an instructional resource such as materials used in a classroom.

The review would begin with a conference with the schools principal and a complainant must review the material in its entirety before filing an official request.

During the conference, a principal may decide to honor a parents request to not allow their child to use the learning resource or instructional resource if a substitution of other instructional materials is appropriate.

The material would not be withdrawn from use with other students if a resolution is met at that point.

If a complainant desires further action, a local school review committee would be formed consisting of the school principal, the library media specialist, two classroom teachers, a parent and/or student and the complainant. The committee would read and review the challenged material and decide if it should be retained based on a two-thirds vote.

Boone District representative Dawn McCray said Monday it is important that books are read in their entirety during the review process. She has read several of the books listed so far as offensive and said, while there may be some questionable material, the full context of the book is needed to make a decision.

Reading books is an opportunity for people to identify with other experiences, McCray said.

The decision on if a child should read a book or not is something a parent should decide based on the maturity of the child, McCray said. She mentioned that some 15-year-olds are very mature and can handle those subjects while some 17-year-olds are not mature enough.

If the material is found to contain that is deemed sexually explicit it will be labeled accordingly and placed in a YA+ section rendering the material only accessible to check out with parent/guardian permission for students under the age of 17.

While the policy was approved on Monday, it will come back to the board in six months for review. Board members said changes or updates can be made after seeing how the policy is being used in schools.
A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out. Here are the facts:

Elon Musk and others spread meme reviving unfounded pizzagate conspiracy theory

CLAIM: An expert who debunked the pizzagate conspiracy theory has been jailed for possessing child sexual abuse images.

THE FACTS: A former ABC reporter referenced in a meme circulating online was recently sentenced to federal prison for such crimes, but he never investigated pizzagate. The long-dormant conspiracy theory  which posited that Democratic Party insiders harbored child sex slaves in a Washington, D.C. pizza parlor  has been revived online in recent days, boosted by prominent social media users including Elon Musk. The unfounded rumor was popular among supporters of Republican Donald Trump during his winning 2016 campaign for president and even led a North Carolina man to travel to Washington and fire a rifle in a local pizza parlor where he believed children were being enslaved.

Musk and others shared a meme referencing the television series The Office, claiming the conspiracy theory is real, involved trafficked children and that an expert who had debunked the theory just went to jail for child porn. In a follow up post on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the tech billionaire linked to a story about the September sentencing of former ABC journalist James Gordon Meek for possessing and transporting child sexual abuse images, implying the Virginia resident is the expert referenced in the meme. Musk's posts have since been deleted.

But the false connection stems from an image of a fabricated New York Post headline that spread online in recent months. Award winning ABC journalist who debunked pizzagate, pleads guilty in horrific child porn case, the headline reads over an image of Meek. The newspaper didnt comment, but a search of its website archive showed no such story, and the headline image does not match the outlets style.

Spokespersons for ABC News didnt respond to messages seeking comment, but a review of the networks online archives shows Meek never published an investigation on pizzagate while employed there. A 2017 story he co-wrote about Russian propaganda during the war in Syria only briefly mentions the conspiracy theory. Instead, numerous news outlets at the time, including CNN and The New York Times, debunked the rumor. Meek, who covered national security issues until his resignation last year, was sentenced to six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing child sexual abuse images.

 Associated Press writer Philip Marcelo in New York contributed this report.

Trump misleadingly cites duplicate ballots in disputed Georgia county as proof of election fraud

CLAIM: A recent court filing revealed that 3,600 duplicate ballots were cast for Biden and illegally counted in Fulton County, Georgia, during the 2020 election.

THE FACTS: A state review of the countys audit of the 2020 presidential race found errors and inconsistencies in the vote count, including some double counting of ballots, but the errors werent deemed criminal and they weren't enough to alter the election results. Nevertheless, former President Donald Trump is continuing to cast doubt on the legal filing in Georgias Fulton County as he seeks a return to the White House amid myriad legal cases, including election interference charges in the Peach State.

Fulton County, Georgia, acknowledges, in a major Consent Decree, that 3,600 individual ballots were DUPLICATED, the Republican wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. THATS A LOT OF CRIME. When are the rest of the facts coming out? We are all waiting. This is just the beginning. UNBELIEVABLE! In a video that spread widely on other platforms, Trump made similar remarks and called it massive voter corruption. Trumps posts refer to a June consent order that found Fulton County election workers misidentified and duplicated voting results during the state-mandated audit of the 2020 election, which was a hand recount of the presidential race results.

There was, in fact, no crime, Jessica Corbitt, a spokesperson for the Fulton County Board of Elections, responded in an email this week. The consent order addresses procedural issues but there were no accusations or admissions of criminal activity. The order identified 36 inconsistencies in batch tally sheets for the audit, but found they were due to human error and not intentional misconduct. It also found they did not affect the final election results as they represented a fractional number of the votes cast. The purpose of the risk-limiting audit was to confirm whether the results of the original tabulation were accurate, which the audit confirmed, reads the order.

The county agreed to take remedial steps to prevent repeat issues, according to the order. Those policies and procedures were put in place in time for the 2022 election. The court filing additionally states that it represents a civil settlement with no criminal ramifications and is not an admission of guilt or liability by Fulton County officials. Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia, noted Georgias election results were tallied three times in 2020: the initial Election Day count, the hand-counted audit and a final recount by voting machine requested by Trumps campaign. All three times, Biden prevailed. Its misleading to claim this is fraud, Bullock said by phone. Were there errors? Yes. But they were not malicious.

Corbitt, the Fulton County spokesperson, declined to address Trumps claims directly, but stressed elections in the county have undergone numerous reviews besides the audit investigation and no fraud has been identified. Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung maintained that the audit errors suggest more than 4,000 false votes for Joe Biden were counted. These errors from one county, in one category of votes (absentee ballots), could certainly have impacted the results, given that no other counties or vote categories were checked, he wrote in an email. Cheung didnt respond to requests to elaborate on the figures he cited.

Trump and 18 other people are facing charges in Georgia that include participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally try to keep Trump in power after his 2020 loss. Four people have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with Georgia prosecutors. The remaining 15 have pleaded not guilty, and no trial date has been set.

 Associated Press writer Philip Marcelo in New York contributed this report.

Video of West Bank fighting does not show a Doctors Without Borders medic giving a man a rifle

CLAIM: A video shows a Doctors Without Borders medic in the West Bank city of Jenin take an assault rifle from a man lying on the ground and hand it to a man nearby who begins shooting.

THE FACTS: The man identified as a medic in the video does not belong to Doctors Without Borders, which works only in hospitals in that area, a spokesperson for the organization told The Associated Press. He is wearing an orange vest with the letters PMRS below a yellow circle that matches those worn by members of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society. In the video, the man runs to a person lying facedown on a city street as people shout and gunfire is heard around them. He takes a rifle from the person, runs a few feet and hands it to another man who begins firing as the man in the orange vest takes cover.

In this video taken today in Jenin, a medic from Doctors without borders went to a terrorist who was shot by the IDF, lifted him up and took his weapon then brought it to another terrorist, reads one Instagram post. But Doctors Without Borders, known in French as Medecins Sans Frontieres, confirmed that's not the case. The person depicted in the video is clearly not wearing an MSF logo or any other identification related to MSF, Brienne Prusak, a spokesperson for the organization, told the AP in an email. MSF staff do not wear orange vests seen in the video. Our staff around the world are required to wear MSF identification (T-shirt, gear) because it is one of the main protections that we have: our medical identity and credibility.

Indeed, the mans vest matches those worn by members of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, which works in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. A photo on the groups Facebook page shows a worker wearing the same type of vest, which is clearly marked with PMRS logo. In contrast, a photo on the Doctors Without Borders website shows members of its staff wearing white vests with the organizations red and white logo on the back. It is not clear whether the man in the video actually works for PMRS or if he is simply wearing one of the groups vests. PMRS did not respond to a request for comment.

Doctors Without Borders does not work in areas of Jenin where the video spreading online was filmed, according to Prusak. The fighting occurred on a street outside a Western Union office and a bakery with a white awning. The same shops can be seen in a video tour of Jenin posted to YouTube in 2020. They appear on the left side of the video around the 5:08 mark. In Jenin, MSF supports the emergency room of the Ministry of Health Hospital and supports the pre-hospital emergency, Prusak wrote. Our MSF staff in Jenin do not carry out ambulatory services. We do not treat people outside in the streets. She added that the misrepresented video incites violence and poses a severe threat not only against MSF staff but all humanitarian workers in the region. Violence in the West Bank, including Jenin, has surged amid fighting in the latest Israel-Hamas war.

READ MORE: Video of West Bank fighting does not show a Doctors Without Borders medic giving a man a rifle

 Associated Press writer Melissa Goldin in New York contributed this report.

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.
Like needed maintenance on roads, the Virginia Department of Transportation launched its updated presence on the information superhighway, it announced Tuesday.

VDOT's new website is live, and is the first redesign in 15 years, according to a news release from the agency.

The new website prioritizes user experience and makes popular content, such as real-time traffic alerts and resources for business partners, easier to find, according to the release.

The new website is accessible for all types of users, including those accessing on mobile devices, needing translation options, or using assistive technology.

We are excited to be delivering a website built with the future in mind, said VDOT Commissioner Stephen Brich in the release. We know that people are seeking information to help them move through the Commonwealth, and VDOTs new site provides a modern way for all users to find that information easily.

Virginia 511 resources have also been integrated to help the public quickly access real-time traffic information, according to the release. The new website features equivalent auditory and visual content alternatives, translation options, tags to group information, and streamlined viewing and functionality for mobile browsers.

Visit the new VDOT website now on desktop and mobile devices at vdot.virginia.gov.

- The Roanoke Times
Citing a litany of problems that sometimes led to unsafe conditions, the auditing body of the state General Assembly is recommending sweeping reforms to Virginia psychiatric hospitals, including shutting down the states lone psychiatric hospital for children.

The review was conducted by the staff of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, known as JLARC, and was presented on Monday by a bipartisan group of elected officials from the General Assembly.

A team within the agency reported that most of the states psychiatric hospitals are overcrowded and poorly staffed, resulting in unsafe conditions; patients are inappropriately admitted; and costs are soaring as hospitals hire contractors as a last-minute stopgap staffing solution.

The 137-page study said problems were the worst at the states only psychiatric hospital for children, known as the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents in Staunton.

The small facility substantiated 32% of civil rights complaints made within the youth hospital, JLARC found, and staff used mechanical restraints at more than 40 times the national average. The report said the hospital was an immediate threat to the health and safety of the patients, most of whom are 12 to 17 years old.

These numbers are abhorrent, said Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Manassas, as he cited the findings to Nelson Smith, commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

They make my stomach turn, Smith says

Smith was present to offer comments after the report was presented to elected officials on the commission.

They make my stomach turn. Im sure they make your stomach turn, too, commissioner, McPike said.

Smith, an appointee of Gov. Glenn Youngkin, rebutted some of the reports findings and quickly recast the struggling psychiatric hospital system as a hangover from the administration of Gov. Ralph Northam.

Since the start of this administration, DBHDS has pushed to make critical improvements to the state hospitals, along with strengthening oversight and management of the facilities, said Smith, referring to Youngkins Right Help, Right Now campaign to reform mental health care in Virginia.

After the presentation, John Littel, Virginias secretary of health and human resources, said the Youngkin administration isnt inclined to shut down the youth hospital.

We dont think its time to talk about closing CCCA, Littel said.

Smith said drastic changes had already been implemented at the Staunton facility, including removing the leadership there and drastically reducing the amount of time children spend in restraints.

State has 9 psychiatric hospitals

The states nine psychiatric hospitals have had ongoing issues for years.

Central Virginia is home to Central State Hospital, the only maximum-security hospital and the site of the March death of Irvo Otieno, a 28-year-old Black man who asphyxiated in the custody of Henrico County sheriffs deputies and hospital employees.

The majority of patients arrive in these hospitals involuntarily, typically after a judge requests a competency restoration before a defendant can stand trial, a service that costs the state $110,000, according to the JLARC study.

It also concluded that overtime pay at the hospitals have ballooned to six times what Virginia paid in 2013, and DBHDS contracting costs have ballooned as much as 10 times.

The study pointed out that many of the problems developed after a 2014 law was enacted by the General Assembly that designated state psychiatric hospitals as beds of last resort. Central State officials were told that that they could not deny patients admission.

Critics said that led to severe overcrowding.

The basic standard for psychiatric hospitals is to operate at no more than 85% of capacity. But Central State Hospital has been running over 101% capacity since fiscal year 2021. Eastern State Hospital in James City County runs over 100%. Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute in Danville runs over 98%, and Western State in Staunton at more than 99%.

Those are unsafe operating levels, said Drew Dickinson, a JLARC analyst who presented the findings.

The report also identified other agencies that have aggravated conditions at state hospitals. Dickinson told officials that the state Office of the Inspector General reviewed 117 of 663 human rights complaints, even though they are required to review each complaint. The others were sent back to DBHDS.

We strongly believe that there needs to be more accountability placed on OSIG, Dickinson said.

Dickinson also said law enforcement agencies continue to do drop-offs that bypass regular admissions rules, like determining if a patient actually qualifies to be there or if they need urgent medical care first.

In January, Attorney General Jason Miyares issued an opinion explaining that Virginia law does not permit them doing so without the patient being admitted. The purpose of the opinion was to clarify who was responsible for arrestees who needed to be admitted for psychiatric help, a game of hot potato in which Miyares came down in support of the hospitals.

Since the opinion came out, however, more than 450 drop-offs have occurred, Dickinson explained, signaling that Miyares opinion has gone unheeded by the agencies.
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Israel and US show sharp divisions over mounting casualties and future of war against Hamas

Israel and the United States showed their sharpest public disagreement yet over the conduct and future of the war on Hamas as the two allies became increasingly isolated by global calls for a cease-fire
Llewellyn King is executive producer and host of White House Chronicle on PBS. His email is llewellynking1@gmail.com and you can follow him on Twitter @LlewellynKing2. This article is based on remarks he made to the Association of European Journalists annual congress in Vlore, Albania.
Director Christopher Wray has named Alicia D. Corder as the special agent in charge of the FBI Little Rock Field Office. She most recently served as section chief of the Internal Affairs Section of the Inspection Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.



Ms. Corder joined the FBI as a special agent in 2003 and was assigned to the Sacramento Field Office, where she investigated counterterrorism matters. In 2006, she moved to the Los Angeles Field Office where she worked in counterterrorism. In 2010, she returned to the Sacramento Field Office's Modesto Resident Agency, where she worked all criminal programs, such as violent crime, white collar crime, and crimes against children.

READ ALSO: Statement from President Joe Biden on the Shootings in Texas and Nevada



In 2013, Ms. Corder was promoted to supervisory special agent in the Directorate of Intelligence, HUMINT Operations Section. In 2015, Ms. Corder was selected as a squad supervisor in the Washington Field Office. In this role, she managed applicant processing and hiring, the New Agent Development Program, leadership skills assessment, and language testing, among other administrative matters.



In 2018, Ms. Corder was selected as the assistant special agent in charge of the Criminal Branch of the St. Louis Field Office, where she oversaw all criminal programs, including the St. Louis Gateway Strike Force, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). In 2021, Ms. Corder was named section chief of the Internal Affairs Section in the Inspection Division.



Prior to joining the FBI, Ms. Corder practiced law in Indiana. She earned a bachelor's degree from Indiana State University and juris doctor from Indiana University School of Law.

READ MORE: FBI Warning: 'Tis the Season for Holiday Scams

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SIOUX CITY  The Sioux City Council, by voting in favor of its consent agenda Monday, approved a development and minimum assessment agreement with a distributor of construction and mining equipment.

Road Machinery & Supplies Co. is relocating its Sioux City operations to Expedition Business Park by Sioux Gateway Airport.

This past summer, the company expressed interest in purchasing land in the Expedition Business Park at the intersection of Al Haynes Drive and Discovery Boulevard for a new location for their Sioux City operation. The Minnesota-based company currently has a location at 1400 Lewis Blvd.

There was no discussion before the council approved the agreement.

As part of the project, the company proposes to purchase the 11.47-acre parcel from the city and construct a 10,080-square-foot facility. The facility will include offices, high bay space for servicing equipment, a wash bay and space for outdoor storage of equipment and machinery.

The proposed purchase price is $37,897 per acre for a total price of $434,679.

Six existing jobs will be retained, and the company will likely add new employees as it expands its presence in the region, according to city documents.

Under the terms of the development and minimum assessment agreement, Road Machinery & Supplies Co. will purchase Lot 5 for $434,679, construct a new heavy equipment sales and service center on the parcel, retain the existing six employees, and commit to a minimum assessed value of $2 million on the completed project for a period of 10 years. The company will also provide the city with a right of first refusal on the remnant property which remains after the development of the original facility, according to the documents.

The city, in turn, will sell Lot 5 in Expedition Business Park to Road Machinery & Supplies Co. and provide a series of property tax rebates on a graduated scale as detailed in the development agreement.

The documents state that the city will see immediate revenue through the proceeds of the land sale and will also see increased tax revenue through new development on the site.

Grandview Park overlay project

The council, by approving its consent agenda, also green-lighted a resolution adopting plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the construction of the FY2024 Grandview Park hot-mix asphalt (HMA) Overlay Project.

The HMA overlay of the park road will preserve the road's integrity and mitigate damage to the park from the demolition of two water tanks in the park. The project includes the construction of Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines-compliant sidewalk ramps along the park road; a 1.5-inch HMA overlay of the park road, including the playground parking area; and the restriping of the playground parking lot. All construction work is scheduled to be completed before Saturday in the Park on July 6, according to city documents.

The documents state that city staff is ready to go out for bid on the project on Friday, with a bid deadline of Jan. 9. The project would have a late start date of May 20 and be completed within 20 working days.

The engineer's opinion of probable construction cost for the base bid is $200,000. The engineer's opinion of probable cost with the bid alternate to allow the contractor to keep the asphalt millings is $195,000.
"While we were hoping the paving would be completed in early fall, we're extremely excited that it is close to completion."

 Ryan Schaap, executive director of the PlyWood Trail Foundation, on the nearly complete first phase of the 16-mile trail through Woodbury and Plymouth counties

"I picked it up and looked at it a little. It looked like a bone."

 Tyler McDonald, a Sanborn, Iowa roofer who in 2015 found a fossil vertebrae from a mosasaur, a prehistoric marine reptile; his discovery, the only one known in Iowa, has since been the subject of research

"I work hard to do the absolute best job I can."

 Woodbury County Supervisor Jeremy Taylor, speaking at the supervisors' meeting last week, when he resigned as vice-chair in the aftermath of his wife's conviction of voter fraud

"The board has already spoken, now is the time for the public to use their own voice and speak on their own behalf."

Woodbury County Supervisor Matthew Ung, speaking about Taylor's status on the board

"They hear they're coming to Iowa, but they have no idea what the Iowa weather is like. Can you imagine coming from somewhere like maybe Mexico or Africa?"

 Karen Harrison, director of development of the Sioux City Public Schools Foundation, on the need for cold winter clothing among the district's immigrant students

"I needed practice debating somebody who was almost as liberal as Nikki Haley."

 Florida Gov. and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, speaking last week in Cedar Rapids about his televised debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom

"A lot of these temps are right on the line. We need about 26 degrees give or take to make snow."

 Sioux City Recreation Superintendent John Byrnes, on the preparations for Cone Park's seventh winter season

We had a caucus many years ago when we probably misjudged the space, and we kind of had fistfights in the parking lot, because people couldnt find places to park. Thats my caucus nightmare, is that people will complain bitterly because they didnt have that opportunity."

 Woodbury County Republican Party Co-Chair Suzan Stewart, on preparations for the GOP caucuses in January
Former President Donald Trump expanded his lead in Iowa with less than five weeks left until the 2024 Republican caucuses, with more than half of likely GOP caucusgoers naming him as their first choice candidate in the Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll published Monday.

The latest poll found Trump is the top pick for 51% of poll takers who plan to participate in the Jan. 15 Iowa Republican caucuses. Thats an increase from 43% in the October Iowa Poll. Only two other candidates reached double digits: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis rose 3 percentage points to 19%, breaking ahead of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley who stayed at 16%.

Several candidates have dropped their presidential campaigns as the Iowa caucuses draw near, including U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, former Vice President Mike Pence and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. While some political commentators predicted that a smaller field would help Republicans looking for an alternative to Trump rally around a single candidate, DeSantis and Haley did not see a major shift in the latest poll.

The slight increase for DeSantis comes after a heavy push by some prominent Iowa Republicans hoping to help DeSantis mount a serious challenge to Trump, who leads in early-state and national polls. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats both endorsed the Florida governor in November. Both endorsers have joined DeSantis on the campaign trail, telling Iowans they believe DeSantis is a better pick for the Republican nominee.

Election 2024 Trump Former President Donald Trump dances Oct. 7 after speaking at a rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Vander Plaats said in early December that Trump is still a friend to him, but that supporting DeSantis was about picking a president who can can spend his time defending this country versus defending himself.

Reynolds has said she does not believe Trump can beat President Joe Biden in the 2024 general election.

We can turn this country around, the popular Republican governor told a crowd in Des Moines when she endorsed DeSantis. But if we dont get this next election right, if we dont choose right, we are not going to get this country back.

In other early states, Haley is doing better than DeSantis. She moved ahead in New Hampshire and South Carolina polls, according to data gathered by FiveThirtyEight. But in both these contests, Trump remains more than 20 percentage points ahead of his competitors. While she has also won high-profile endorsements in recent weeks  gaining the support of Americans for Prosperity, the Koch-backed PAC, as well as from Wall Street figures like the CEO of BlackRock  her national momentum has not helped her footprint grow in Iowa.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy received 5% of likely GOP caucusgoers support. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has not campaigned in Iowa, polled at 4%, while former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson had 1% and Texas pastor and businessman Ryan Binkley polled at 0%. The poll found that 2% of respondents do not support any of the GOP candidates, and 3% said they were still not sure who their first choice for the caucuses is.

DeSantis and other candidates have emphasized on the campaign trail that Iowa breaks late, and that there is still time for another candidate to build momentum in the final weeks before the first-in-the-nation nominating contest. The Iowa Poll found that 46% of likely GOP caucusgoers said they could still be persuaded to support another candidate. Slightly more, 49%, said their choice was locked in.

Trump saw favorable poll results across the board  his favorability rating grew from 66% in October to 72% in the most recent poll  higher than that of DeSantis at 66% and Haley at 59%. Trump also took the lead as top choice among every demographic group tested in the poll: men and women, every age group, income bracket and education level, with self-identified Republicans and independent caucusgoers, as well as with first-time caucusgoers.

In the October poll, Trump and DeSantis were tied at 67% for their overall footprint, defined as how many polls respondents were actively considering them, or named them as a first or second choice candidate. While DeSantis stayed at 67%, Trumps footprint grew to 76%, with the 51% who listed him as their first choice combined with 13% who said he was their second pick and 11% who said they are actively considering him.

Haleys footprint decreased slightly from October, falling from 54% to 52%.

The Iowa Poll was conducted Dec. 2-7 by Selzer & Co., based on telephone interviews with 502 Iowans who said they are likely to attend the 2024 Republican caucuses. Results based on the full sample have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
Today is Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. Let's get caught up.

Keep scrolling for celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history. Plus, give our daily news podcast a listen:

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What to know about abortion lawsuits being heard in US courts this week

When the U.S. Supreme Court undid the nationwide right to abortion last year, it did not remove the issue from the courts.

Instead, it opened a new frontier of litigation, with states passing their own restrictions and opponents challenging them in courts across the country.

This week, at least four state supreme courts are dealing with abortion cases, including a Texas ruling Monday that rejected a woman's individual request for access to an abortion because of pregnancy complications.

Some things to know about the cases:

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MORE TOP STORIES

Zelenskyy will arrive on Capitol Hill as Biden's aid package for Ukraine risks collapse

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will arrive on Capitol Hill to a darker mood than when he swooped in last winter for a hero's welcome, as the Russian invasion is grinding into a third year and U.S. funding hangs in balance.

Zelenskyy's visit Tuesday comes as President Joe Biden's request for an additional $110 billion U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs is at serious risk of collapse in Congress. Republicans are insisting on strict U.S.-Mexico border security changes that Democrats decry as draconian in exchange for the overseas aid.

Read more:

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Special counsel asks the Supreme Court to rule on Trump immunity

Special counsel Jack Smith on Monday asked the Supreme Court to take up and rule quickly on whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted on charges he plotted to overturn the 2020 election results.

Smith made his request for the court to act with unusual speed to prevent any delays that could push back the trial of the 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner, currently set to begin March 4, until after next years presidential election.

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MORNING LISTEN

Bad weather might keep you from heading out to a store, but does it change online shopping patterns? Learn more on the Across the Sky podcast.

***

WORLD NEWS

Israel-Gaza war

Israeli forces carried out strikes across Gaza overnight and into Tuesday as they pressed ahead with an offensive that officials say could go on for weeks or months, even as global calls for a cease-fire left both Israel and its main ally, the United States, increasingly isolated.

National Israel and US show sharp divisions over mounting casualties and future of war against Hamas

Pakistan suicide bomber

A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle at a police station's main gate in northwest Pakistan early Tuesday, killing at least 23 troops and wounding 32 others, and causing a part of the building to collapse upon impact, the military and officials said.

COP28

A stark standoff between countries that want a dramatic phase-out to fossil fuels causing damaging warming and those that don't crushed hopes for an on-time finish to a critical climate summit Tuesday.

Yemen's Houthi rebels

A missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen near a key maritime chokepoint, the rebels and authorities said Tuesday.

***

TRENDING TOPICS

***

TODAY IN HISTORY

Today in history: Dec. 12 In 2015, nearly 200 nations meeting in Paris adopted the first global pact to fight climate change, and more events that happened on this day 

Today in sports history: Dec. 12 In 1965, Chicagos Gale Sayers scores six touchdowns to lead the Bears to a 61-20 win. The six TDs give Sayers an NFL-record 21 for the season

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TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS

Celebrity Birthdays: Dec. 12 Bill Nighy Cathy Rigby Dionne Warwick Eric Schenkman Jennifer Connelly Lucas Hedges Madchen Amick Mayim Bialik Regina Hall Sheila E. Sky Katz Tracy Austin
South Dakota needs a new flag, says Brandon Valley High School student Ryan Schultz.

Schultz, who is passionate about flag design and vexillology (the study of flags), is leading the charge, pushing for legislation that would establish a redesign committee.

I think having a good flag can unify us as a people, Schultz said.

In his hometown of Brandon, South Dakota and around the Sioux Falls area its rare to see the South Dakota flag flown aside from governmental buildings.

U.S. flags and Sioux Falls flags are the most popular in the area. Even University of Nebraska flags are flown more commonly than the South Dakota flag.

Thats proof, he said: If South Dakotans dont care enough to fly their state flag in their front yard, wear it on merchandise or learn its history and symbolism, then a revamp is needed.

Sen. Reynold Nesiba, D-Sioux Falls, was inspired by Schultzs suggestion and is considering introducing legislation in January. The bill is still being drafted, but would likely create a commission made up of legislators, governor-appointed members, tribal leaders and South Dakotans with expertise in history, art and tourism to help pick the new flag.

Our state flag serves as an important symbol of the state, Nesiba said in an emailed statement. A new design has the potential to raise awareness and in the process boost tourism, and to attract college and university students, entrepreneurs and workers.

Ultimately, the new state flag would be approved or rejected by the state Legislature and South Dakota governor, Nesiba said.

South Dakota flags 114-year history

State Historical Society Executive Director Ben Jones flies the state flag outside his Sioux Falls home. He sees more state flags in Pierre than the rest of the state.

I dont see it as much, certainly compared to Texas, Jones said. If it doesnt mean much to people today, my own view is it should. It has a history thats interesting.

The state flag has been changed twice in its 114-year history.

South Dakota did not have a state flag for its first 20 years as a state, until Seth Bullock, the first sheriff of Deadwood and a U.S. marshal at the time, introduced the idea to his state senator in the early 1900s. Bullock was inspired by a Spanish-American War veterans group to create one, Jones said.

The senator, Earnest May of Deadwood, introduced a bill to establish a flag designed by Ida Anding of the State Historical Society. The flag featured a sun on an azure background with South Dakota and The Sunshine State in an arc above and below the sun.

On the back was printed the state seal featuring hills, the Missouri River, a farmer, a mine and cattle to represent the states agriculture, diverse industry and natural resources. The state seal also includes the state motto, Under God the people rule, which Jones said has seen some controversy.

Sometimes the meaning of those things, some people take that in ways its not intended, Jones said. If it was understood in the manner of Thomas Jefferson and then the state founders meant it, as a secular reminder of where our rights come from, even the deist Jefferson thought they were created by the creator. I think thats important politically because if the government didnt give you your rights, the creator did, then the government cant take them away. I think thats a key part thats in our flag that isnt in other state flags.

The intricate seal was placed in the center of the azure background, all with a fringe of gold trimmed around the edge of the flag. The use of the state seal on the flag followed a Civil War-era trend among other state flags at the time.

This was the official state flag until 1963, when the two sides of the flag were combined. It was expensive to manufacture flags with different emblems on each side, and there were few South Dakota state flags in existence. The Legislature created a Special State Flag Account in 1966 through the South Dakota treasurer to sell flags at cost to the public and directed the state to keep a supply of South Dakota flags on hand to meet the demand from the public and organizations.

The flag changed again in 1992 to read The Mount Rushmore State, when legislators changed the states nickname during Governor George S. Mickelsons administration. Florida had also claimed The Sunshine State nickname in 1970, and the move aligned with Mickelsons focus on strengthening South Dakotas tourism industry  especially in the Black Hills, Jones said.

Yankton lawmaker Bernie Hunhoff broached the topic of modernizing South Dakotas flag in 2012, though the legislation quickly failed.

The description of the official state flag of South Dakota is outlined in state law, along with the official pledge to the state flag. It commonly flies over state buildings and schools across South Dakota, as well as the Ellsworth Air Force Base and National Guard installations.

You can broaden your perspective and understanding when you understand why the flag is the way it is, Jones said. You can see that the sentiments it was meant to express still apply to you.

South Dakota flag: An objective failure

But South Dakotas flag fails the good flag test, Schultz argues.

The North American Vexillological Association released guidelines for creating flags in 2006, and highlighted South Dakota as a Bad Flag. According to these guidelines  which can be controversial in the vexillology world  flags should:

Be simple enough for a child to draw it from memory.

Use meaningful symbolism through imagery, colors and patterns.

Use a limited color palette.

Refrain from lettering or seals.

Be distinctive from other flags.

The main reasons South Dakota fails the test is because it uses an intricate seal that cant be seen clearly from a distance or when the flag is waving several different directions in the wind, and because it uses lettering, which can be unreadable if the words appear backward on the flag while being flown.

Michael Green, an Indiana-based graphic designer, vexillographer and owner of Flags for Good, believes it would benefit South Dakota to redesign its flag. He compares flag design to branding and marketing.

Branding is all about creating symbols of belonging and identity, Green said. If you look at a city or state creating a new flag, its about creating symbols  something you want to fly or a brand you want to wear on your chest, assign to your identity and help express yourself, which is like Nike or Adidas brands.

Just like a company, states can rebrand or refine their image too, he said.

Minnesotas six finalist flag designs, submitted by the public and selected by a committee, have received backlash and strong critiques online. Public input is currently being accepted on the states website, and the commission will choose the new flag design on Dec. 12.

Examples of impactful state flags include Texas, Alaska and New Mexico. Even though California breaks the good flag rule, its memorable and something its residents take pride in.

The South Dakota flag is an objective failure in every use: People arent using it to show how proud they are of South Dakota. Non-South Dakotans couldnt pick it out of a group of other state flags from a distance, Green said. So redesign it. You have nothing to lose, but you have everything to gain.

Is a flag redesign worth it?

Flags dont have to follow the good flag, bad flag rules, said Scot Guenter, a professor of American studies at San Jose State University and an academic vexillologist  though he does consider them practical guidelines.

What matters is not just that the flag is pretty but that the flag is meaningful and connected to the group identity of the people the flag represents.

If South Dakotans dont feel connected to the flag then it doesnt really matter and it should be easy to change it, Guenter said. Flags are very important symbols of identity. Even though we live in the world of the internet, flags are used everywhere on the internet to express your identity. Theyll continue to be important symbols.

However, Schultz isnt hopeful that Nesibas bill will pass in its first year. He expects itll take years and a larger movement to grow among South Dakotans before the state will see the same benefits as he does.

A new flag design could be an opportunity for South Dakota, Guenter added.

If those early changes came for financial reasons or budget saving reasons, that could be a time for South Dakotans to say, Let it speak for us, he said.
An 800-year-old English charter that was hugely consequential for establishing rights of people to use public lands also protects a rural Rolfe, Iowa man accused of illegally cutting down and stealing dozens of trees from a wildlife management area in northwest Iowa, the mans attorney argues.

That is among several reasons why Jason Levant Ferguson, 41, wants a judge to reverse a jurys verdict last month that he is guilty of 51 charges for taking the trees without permission from public property in Pocahontas County.

His attorney, Kevin Fors, of Harcourt, argues that the provisions of the Charter of the Forest  issued in 1217 by King Henry III  were transferred by common law to the United States when it declared independence from England, according to documents Fors filed in state district court.

Fors points to a paragraph in the charter that says: Every freeman may agest his own wood within our forest at his pleasure and shall take his pawnage.

When we have the need to depend upon these rights, they need to be there for our protection or our society will not endure and we will spiral into authoritarianism much the same as happened in the time before the Charter of the Forest, Fors wrote.

Ferguson allegedly took more than 100 trees from the Stoddard Wildlife Management Area over the course of more than a year and planned to use the lumber to build a house, according to court records. One of the trees was a very old bur oak that was six feet in diameter at its base.

Claims news coverage tainted jury

The Iowa Capital Dispatch published a news article several days before Fergusons trial about timber thefts in the state that, in part, detailed the accusations against him. It was republished by several newspapers.

This article was picked up by other sources and was so dominate that it became an issue at a political rally of presidential politicians in Pocahontas during the trial, Fors wrote. He did not elaborate.

The article included information about Fergusons status as a felon and that a search of his property yielded evidence that someone was growing marijuana and manufacturing methamphetamine there. The article detailed how that evidence was suppressed because the search was improperly approved by a magistrate.

Fors said jurors would have likely seen the news coverage and that the State had colluded with Capital Dispatch to influence jurors.

It is well known that in Russia the State uses the news to assert its position; this has been especially noticeable since the start of the war in Ukraine, Fors wrote. This is the first time I have been involved in a case where those tactics were used by the State so vehemently against my client.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which was the Capital Dispatchs primary source of information about timber thefts, provided that information at a reporters request and had no influence over what the article contained or when it published.

Court records indicate potential jurors were asked whether they had seen news coverage of the allegations against Ferguson. The trial went for four days, and judges often admonish jurors to avoid news media during breaks in trials.

The Fort Dodge Messenger newspaper had published an article more than a year ago that detailed drug and weapons allegations against Ferguson.

Defense attorney claims he erred

Fors, who has been a licensed attorney in Iowa for nearly 40 years, also said he failed to object to a prosecution argument that Fors claims violated Fergusons right against self-incrimination.

Defendants attorney has only been trying one jury trial a year since the beginning of the pandemic and as such was rusty and did not object to the testimony at trial, Fors wrote. This failure to object was a failure to provide the defendant with effective assistance of counsel.

Fors said it was improper for the prosecutor to criticize the defense for not producing a witness to testify that Ferguson had previously had permission to take trees from the property, as he had claimed.

Fors argued that because Ferguson himself could have testified about the issue, the prosecutors argument insinuated Ferguson is guilty because he didnt testify, which would violate the Fifth Amendment. He said his failure to object would most likely be the subject of a post-conviction appeal if a judge accepts the jurys verdict.

Ferguson seeks an acquittal or a new trial. He is set to be sentenced next month and faces up to five years in prison for a felony theft charge and one year each for 50 timber buyer violation charges.

Pocahontas County Attorney Daniel Feistner, who is prosecuting the case, has not yet filed written responses to Fors motions. He told Iowa Capital Dispatch he anticipates the issues will be discussed at a hearing prior to sentencing.

Unlimited Access to the Sioux City Journal An unlimited digital and E-Edition subscription to the Sioux City Journal gets access to our E-Edition, which is the only way to read full online editions on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Last week a new memoir with the simple title of Molly got a five-star review in the Telegraph and a rave in the Los Angeles Times. Unusually for a literary memoir published by a small press, Molly also got the aggregation treatment from the New York Post and the British tabloid the Daily Mail. Famous poet Molly Brodak had a secret life as a serial cheater who had affair with a student days after her wedding to author husbandand he only found out while preparing slideshow for her funeral after her suicide, went the typically bloated, tell-it-all Mail headline.

Brodak appeared as a contestant on the short-lived third season of The Great American Baking Show, and she was beautifultwo facts that seem to have been enough, alongside the blindsided-cuckold angle, to interest the tabloids in a poet who, like every living poet other than Rupi Kaur, was not famed.

In the wake of Mollys odd high-low initial media reception, a fellow writer described the book on X (Twitter) as literary revenge porn against a mentally unwell woman who took her own life. And thus the discourse was off, with everyone arguing about whether a husband has the right to publish a suicide note, texts, diary entries, or photos left behind by a wife.

The author of Molly, Blake Butler, described nonsensically by the Daily Mail as a thriller author but really a writer of high-minded surreal and weird literary fiction, seemed to have no problem defending himself against allegations of exploitation. After all, he wrote (among many other fiery things), I  am very used to wading ass deep in the fuckshit of morons. To those who were eager to judge the memoir, Butler had simple advice: I recommend reading my book before forming an opinion of it from the tabloid medias atrocious butchering of it based on web ephemera over which I have no control.

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Well, I have now read Molly. I get why postmortem publication of these kinds of secrets might give some people pause, but the book is so vital, so full of force, its a memorial most people would be happy to leave behindthe bad parts included. Molly guts the cliche description of someone with mental illnessShe was troubledright down its belly, showing exactly how that trouble presented, its sound and smell and taste, how it grew and receded and grew, how it left Molly profoundly isolated from her family, her friends, her husband, everything she loved. (She seemed more alone than anyone I had ever met, Butler writes.) It doesnt pretend to know anything definitive about Molly at allnot-knowing is, in fact, part of its point. Butler is shattered at how he never really knew her. But he nonetheless describes her mind, and her ways of being, with such devoted attention that the book feels almost worshipful.

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The memoir starts with the story of the day Molly died by suicidea chapter published by the Paris Review earlier this year, which includes the description of the note Molly left on their front door for Blake to findthen goes back to the beginning, detailing the couples first interactions; their start-and-stop courtship, marked by infidelity and drama on both sides; their decision to commit to each other; and their half decade of domestic life, in a house in Atlanta with chickens in the backyard. The books pages are dotted with photos from their smartphones: Blake and Molly eating out during their take LSD and go have dinner phase; Molly flipping Blake the bird, ensconced in a group of friends at a restaurant table; Molly holding two of their hens; an absolutely stunning gothic masterpiece Molly baked in response to a friends prompt to make a cake that would look like an octopus eating flowers. Our daily homelife as a coupledespite the hard timeswas full of joy, Butler writes.

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In an early passage, as if reminding himself how much she was capable of feeling, Butler lists Mollys artistic heroes: Herman Melville, Paolo Uccello, Anne Carson, Jean-Luc Godard, Agnes Martin, Lou Barlow, Steve Albini, more. This dense, packed passage goes on for three pages, cataloging Mollys enthusiasms: films strange and dark but also uncanny and absurd; sentimental music shed put on just to make herself cry; everything natural, trees and rocks and weather and the sea; but also a YouTube video of a cat being scolded for hiding in a Christmas tree. In a separate paragraph, Butler describes the treats Molly would invent, early in their relationship, and bring to his house in a Tupperware: Root beer float cookies, pineapple cookies with orange glace, banana fudge blondies, apricot custard hand pies, blood orange Oreos dipped in vanilla bean white choc.

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But, Butler writes, for Molly, none of these enthusiasms could be purely, uncomplicatedly enjoyed: There always had to be a bitter pill, a tarnish to the silver, already there or soon to come. When her season of Great American Baking Show got canceled after one episode (judge Johnny Iuzzini got #MeTood), it only proved to Molly that nothing good could ever exist and she didnt deserve it anyway. Molly had made it all the way to the finale, one of three finalists, but nobody would ever see those episodes. What a fool shed been to waste her life on such an idiotic lark, this reconfirmed, Butler writes. Not only was she a leech for having wished to be on TV, all her efforts had been thrown out, like proper trash.

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Butler is honest about how difficult it could be to live with Molly. One rift stems from their wildly different childhoods: his, conventional, secure, happy; hers, neglectful, full of loss and uncertainty. (Brodaks New York Times obituary was framed around the story told in her own critically acclaimed memoir, Bandit, which is about growing up with her unpredictable, emotionally abusive bank-robber father.) Close to the time of Mollys death, Butlers mother gets dementia, then dies, suddenly, two weeks after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Molly cant step up, Butler writesnot in blunt words like those, but thats the message.

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In the aftermath of his mothers death, Mollys mother comes to visit and tries to help his grieving process through some kind of vibes-based meditation. He absolutely refuses, and Molly becomes furious at him, his implied comparison between his (loving, dead) mother and her (insensitive, never-enough, but still-alive) mother too much for her to take. Youre such a selfish piece of shit, she yells at him. As he grieves, and prepares his moms house for sale, she doesnt like him bringing home knickknacks and baby toys from his childhood home. Each of these relics, I slowly began to realize, as felt through Mollys eyes, only served to reinforce the attention shed never had, Butler writes, and therefore provided a good reason to despise me where it hurt most.

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Related From Slate In Her Bestselling Memoir, Liz Cheney Cant Bring Herself to Mention the Monster Under the Bed Read More

This break between the two of them is so painful it puts news of her affairs, which is what the Mail and the Post care about, in sharp perspective. The details of her unfaithfulness come two-thirds of the way into the memoir, when Butler finds partially undressed selfies and nudes he had never seen in her phone, and reciprocal photos sent of men. He finds emails, discovers a hidden drawer of sex toys, looks up Facebook profiles. He locates one particular man shed been with most steadily and recently, and speaks with him on the phone. Shed baited him by explaining how I never pay attention to her, how Im lazy and Im rude, how we act like roommates, grown apartjust the way shed described her prior husband many times to me, he writes. Worst of all are the emails he finds between Molly and her writing students, detailing escalations of out-of-class interactions that evolve into affairs.

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There was a lot of undestroyed evidence, he thinks to himself, as if she wanted to be caught, and maybe even understood. Nevertheless, he agonizes, should I be allowed to make this said? To bring to light a part of Mollys story she covered over at any cost?

I dont know. Itd be one thing to reprint such evidence randomly, without context. It feels like quite another to embed it in a book that contains so much other evidence, such careful observation, and such loving attention. Her infidelity hurts Butler, as does living with the emotional whiplash of her up-and-down moods. (In a section of the book, and in an interview published this week after last weeks online dust-up, he goes so far as to describe the effect on him as abuse.) But so does the evidence of the things she did only to herself. Describing a point of creative stasis in Mollys writing life, Butler includes a list she wrote, titled Master List of Things I Like and Might Write About. Shes systematically redacted more than half of the Things, for reasons unknown. Moss and ferns and sugar and water birds and cherries and the sound of a room full of people typing, all struck through as one.

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On their honeymoon, they ride horses on a beach. In that section of the book, theres a photo of her on horseback, turning around, looking back at him, face filled with joy. He ends the chapter with a line from one of her last poems, Horse and Cart: I cant even imagine a horse / anymore. / That we sat on their spines / and yanked their mouths around.

Could there be a more fitting tribute to a personespecially to a writerthan seeing that connection, light and dark, and putting it all down on paper? Id urge anyone upset about the idea of this gorgeous, sad memoiras I admit I was at firstto read the book. You certainly cant be more upset that this book exists than Butler himself is. He writes that he has tried to accept that chaos felt more like home to her than happiness, that her higher highs could only fund the lower lows, continuously preserving her grim worldview with the idea that anything not rotten to its core must be a lie. And then he adds: But how about you go ahead and try and get that through your head about your partner, the central pinion in your life?
This is Totally Normal Quote of the Day, a feature highlighting a statement from the news that exemplifies just how extremely normal everything has become.

This is unacceptable. Antisemitism has been allowed to fester on campus for years. Reps. Elise Stefanik and Kathy Manning (or: Elise Stefanik plagiarizing Kathy Manning?)

Elise Stefanik wasnt too terribly concerned about antisemitism in 2021, when she sponsored the End Zuckerbucks bill, a law with a name the Anti-Defamation League condemned for conjuring an antisemitic trope. Nor was she too worried about antisemitism last year, when she endorsed Carl Paladino, a New York politician who praised Hitler, for Congress. But after Stefanik, a Harvard alumna, saw an opportunity to go after Harvard University President Claudine Gay, Stefanik was extremely troubled by antisemitismand subjected Gay and other Ivy League presidents to a line of hypothetical-rich yes-or-no questioning designed to gin up maximal outrage, and succeeded. One down. Two to go, she tweeted, after the University of Pennsylvanias Elizabeth Magill resigned.

Stefaniks campaign against Ivy League presidents didnt just rely on antisemitism charges; it also featured a rearguard effort led by Harvard-minted billionaire financier Bill Ackman (whose name you may recognize from the Jeffrey Epstein extended universe). Ackman brought forward (ultimately thin) charges alleging plagiarism by Gay in her 1997 dissertation.

The introduction of plagiarism chargesmeant to add fuel to the fire, and make people even more mad at elite Ivy League administrators and their liberal students, I guesshasnt gone as expected. Gay has maintained her post, but now Stefanik herself is being accused of plagiarism. Democratic Rep. Kathy Manning is claiming publicly that Stefanik plagiarized at least three paragraphs of a letter Stefanik sent to the members of the governing boards of Harvard, MIT, and UPenn on Friday. Three paragraphs make up a pretty sizable percentage of the two-page letter.

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Manning posted the two drafts side by side on X, and one doesnt need to squint to see the commonalities. Stefanik, for her efforts, managed to change one clause at the end of the missives third paragraph ever so slightly: threats of violence became acts of violence, a writerly intervention that does succeed in making the claim even more factually dubious, but wouldnt get a middle school history student out of hot water. Other paragraphs feature similar  coincidences.

According to Politico, Stefanik and Manning were working together on a letter, but the partnership fell apart after Stefanik insisted on using the message to demand that the university presidents quit their postsa step too far for Manning.

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No matter. Stefanik went ahead and used language drafted by Mannings staff anyway, according to Manning spokesperson Gia Scirrotto, and published the letter Friday without Mannings name on it. To defend herself, Stefanik then tweeted, This is something that happens everyday on Capitol Hill. Plagiarism, evidently, is a site-specific infraction. Somebody alert Bill Ackman!

In truth, both representatives were likely plagiarizingor borrowing, abundantlyfrom an American Israel Public Affairs Committee directive. Both members count AIPAC as their top individual campaign donor, and both were indeed looking to score points after the infamous hearing Stefanik played a major role in orchestrating. (AIPAC, like many big-time lobbying outfits in Washington, is known for peppering its favored members with messaging guidance, talking points, and more, especially on pet issues.)

But the plagiarism ouroboros has slowed the Ivy League administrator revenge campaign at least for now, as Stefanik is fighting off the very same allegations that were supposed to push Gay over the brink. And Gay is decidedly staying in place. That wont be the end of this, though. Republicans have found an opening into railing on the Ivies, and theyd rather focus on the culture war on campus than the ever-climbing civilian death toll in Gaza.
Did you know there were radical messages hiding inside the most popular prime-time soap of the 1990s? Its truetake a close look at the details in certain episodes of Melrose Place and you can spot one of the most audacious pranks in pop-culture history. Isaac Butler tells the little-known story of the GALA Committee, an artists collective that snuck weird, funny, provocative pieces of contemporary art onto the show.

Plus: If youd rather listen to a version of this piece in audio, Decoder Ring featured Butlers reporting on the subversive effort.

Lies! 

Once again, the Supreme Court is considering another case built on lies. Mark Joseph Stern and Dahlia Lithwick discuss the rights emerging strategy of manufacturing cases on the basis of made-up claims.

Why the West Bank worries Biden 

Since the war started in Gaza, violent assaults by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank have doubled. What Next spoke to Dalia Hatuqa, a journalist living in Ramallah, about the alarming situation and what the U.S. State Department is trying to do about it.

Music to our ears 

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If youre searching for something new to listen to, Slates music critic has some recommendations. Carl Wilson shares his top 12 albums of 2023, along with two runners-up.

And speaking of music: Marc Masters chronicles how cassette tapes gave immortal life to the Grateful Dead.

Gimme shelter 

Sarah Stollers California hometown is now impossible to buy a home inbut even after a four-year-long house search, she cant seem to stop trying. She reflects on why this dream is so hard to let go of.

The Selena Gomez backlash, explained 

Selena Gomezs latest internet fracas began with defensive comments about her new boyfriend and spiraled out from there. Nadira Goffe breaks down why the internet has turned on the former Disney star.

Today, Slate   HAS BEEN SITTING IN CHAIRS TOO LONG

 much like Rebecca Onion was, until she ditched her chair to sit on the floor. She explains why floor sitting is the new standing desk.

Thanks so much for reading! Well see you back here tomorrow.
An indictment unsealed recently has charged Jason Edward Thomas Cardiff, a 48-year-old former CEO of a California-based business, with multiple counts of fraud and identity theft. Cardiff, previously residing in Upland, California, allegedly orchestrated unauthorized charges on thousands of consumer credit and debit card accounts.

Details of the Allegations

Cardiff, who owned and operated Redwood Scientific Technologies, is accused of directing his employees to use credit and debit card information from past customers to make unauthorized charges for products those customers never ordered. This fraudulent activity reportedly occurred between January and May 2018. The company, known for selling homeopathic thin film strip products, allegedly exploited customer trust in this scheme.

In addition, Cardiff is also accused of witness tampering, having allegedly ordered employees to destroy documents responsive to a Federal Trade Commission Civil Investigative Demand.

Discover the Zoho Ecosystem Sell Your Business ChatGPT Prompts for Business Advertise Your Business Here

Legal Response and Implications

Principal Deputy Attorney General Brian M. Boynton emphasized the Justice Departments dedication to investigating such unauthorized charges and holding perpetrators accountable. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada echoed these sentiments, condemning the exploitation of consumer trust by predatory businesses.

Inspector in Charge Carroll Harris of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Los Angeles Division highlighted the role of postal inspectors in uncovering the fraud, reaffirming their commitment to protecting consumers from such schemes.

Court Proceedings and Potential Sentences

Cardiff made his initial court appearance on November 27 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brianna Fuller Mircheff. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years for access device fraud, 20 years for witness tampering, and a mandatory minimum of two years for aggravated identity theft. The sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge, considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Cardiff has pleaded not guilty, with his trial scheduled for January 23, 2024.

The case is being investigated by USPIS and prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Manu Sebastian and Brianna Gardner of the Civil Divisions Consumer Protection Branch, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Valerie Makarewicz.

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This case highlights the ongoing efforts of the Justice Department and other federal agencies to combat financial fraud and protect consumer rights. The indictment serves as a reminder of the legal repercussions that can arise from exploiting consumer trust and engaging in fraudulent business practices.
Karen Celebertti, Miss Nicaragua's pageant director, announced her retirement from the organization on Monday after being accused of conspiracy, along with her husband and son, who were detained by the Nicaraguan police.

Celebertti worked for 23 years with eagerness and effort until Nicaragua won the world beauty crown this year.

Miss Nicaragua Pageant Director Announces Retirement

Celebertti released her first public statement after the accusations that followed the coronation of Sheynnis Palacios as Miss Universe on November 18 in El Salvador.

"I know that there will always be more opportunities for us," Celebertti wrote on X, formerly Twitter. She added that the time had come for her retirement.

She described Palacios' victory as an achievement for everyone and every Nicaraguan, without political distinction. Nicaragua's coronation gathered demonstrations of joy in the streets of Nicaragua, which was criticized by Daniel Ortega's government.

According to Toronto City News, the immigration authorities blocked Celebertti and her daughter Luciana from entering the country on November 22 after they attended Miss Universe's coronation and accompanied Palacios on her quick tour to Mexico.

The police raided Celebertti's home after the coronation in the southwest of Managua and arrested her husband, Martin Arguello, and their son, Bernardo. On December 2, the authorities accused some Arguello Celebertti family members of crimes of treason, conspiracy, and organized crime without confirming the arrest.

According to the National Police, Celebertti engaged on the internet actively and in the terrorist actions of a failed coup in 2018 protests in the streets. She was accused of trying to organize anti-government protests.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reported that the government banned protests after a violent crackdown of widespread anti-government demonstrations in 2018 that resulted in more than 320 deaths.

Read Also: Ottawa Proposes Long-promised Bill To Improve First Nations Water Quality

Miss Nicaragua in Miss Universe Pageant

Sheynnis Palacios was crowned as the 2023 Miss Universe in El Salvador. Palacios' victory was the first win of a Nicaraguan woman in Miss Universe. Palacios represented Nicaragua in the 2017 Teen Miss Universe pageant, placing in the top 10, and the 2021 Miss World pageant.

This year's pageant was judged by a panel including model Halima Aden, 'Queer Eye' star Carson Kressley, TikTok influencer Avani Gregg and two former Miss Universe winners, Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad & Tobago (Miss Universe 1977) and Iris Mittenaere of France (Miss Universe 2016).

Anntonia Porsild of Thailand placed as the first runner-up, and Moraya Wilson of Australia was the second runner-up. Together with Palacios, they were left with two rounds of hot-topic Q&As.

In the final round, she was asked who she would choose to spend a day in the life of, and Palacios chose the 18th-century British philosopher and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. She mentioned that the two broke boundaries and gave many opportunities to women.

"There are no limitations for women today," she added.

Miss Colombia, Camila Avella, and Miss Puerto Rico, Karla Guilfu, were in the top five, while another member of the top 10, Spain's Athenea Perez, was crowned the pageant's Miss Congeniality.

Related Article: Miss Universe 2023: Who Is Sheynnis Palacios? Everything About Nicaragua's History-Maker





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Clothing is big business in the United States. In fact, the clothing industry in America is expected to be worth 385 billion U.S. dollars by 2025. If youre looking to start your own business in that field, heres some steps to follow.

How to Start a Clothing Business

1. Find Your Niche

When finding your niche in the clothing market, its essential to conduct thorough market research. Understand the demographics and psychographics of your target audience. Consider not only age, gender, and lifestyle but also cultural influences, fashion trends, and socio-economic factors.

Look for underserved markets or areas where you can offer something unique. For example, focusing on eco-friendly materials, local artisan collaborations, or culturally inspired designs can set your brand apart.

2. Put Together A Budget

Knowing how much money youll need to operate your store is essential. Of course, you should put together a solid business plan. That way all the numbers are written down where you can reference them.

A start up clothing business should have a short-range budget that includes a monthly plan for at least one calendar year.

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In addition to a short-range budget, consider long-term financial planning. This should include projections for growth, potential expansion costs, and unforeseen expenses. Its also wise to plan for seasonal fluctuations in the fashion industry.

Keep a buffer for marketing campaigns, design iterations, and inventory management. Regularly update your budget as you gather more financial data from your operations.

3. Design Your Clothes

Staying the right size is important for a clothing start up. Up to 10 pieces in your first collection is a good size to begin with. Theres a tendency to do too much too soon and you will want to avoid that.

Heres where you want to do a little research to see what your competitors are up to. Try to design your first line and make it similar to what sells with at least one important difference. That one aspect that makes you stand apart is an important part of your branding and marketing too.

While designing your clothes, also think about your brand story and how each piece reflects this narrative. Its not just about the clothing but the message and values your brand embodies.

Sustainable practices, unique fabric choices, or innovative designs can be part of your brands story. Also, consider how your designs will evolve with fashion trends while maintaining a timeless appeal.

4. Organize Your Store

If youre putting together a brick-and-mortar store, youll need mannequins, display cases and stands for the clothes. Keep in mind that keeping the same style and finish for the mannequins and stands gives a consistent look.

Keeping styles and colors together in one area makes them eye-catching. Underwear and other intimates should go at the back of the store while outerwear can come up closer to the front.

For a physical store, think about the customer journey from the moment they enter. This includes the store layout, lighting, and even the scent. The ambiance should reflect your brands ethos. For an online store, focus on the user experience of your website.

Ensure easy navigation, quick load times, and high-quality product images. Consider virtual fitting rooms or augmented reality features to enhance the online shopping experience.

Whether you are youre selling online or offline, remember the power of social media. A well-designed and implemented Facebook business page is ideal for a clothing store. Instagram can supply an excellent visual appeal.

5. Develop a Sourcing Strategy

Decide where and how you will source materials. Will you use local suppliers, sustainable materials, or import fabrics? Building relationships with reliable suppliers and manufacturers is crucial. Consider the ethical and environmental aspects of your sourcing strategy, as these can become key selling points for your brand.

6. Set Up Efficient Production Processes

Whether youre producing in-house or outsourcing, establish efficient production processes. This includes quality control, timeline management, and cost-effective practices. If outsourcing, carefully vet manufacturers to ensure they align with your brands standards and values.

7. Implement Inventory Management

Effective inventory management is key to avoiding overproduction and stockouts. Use inventory management software to track stock levels, best-selling items, and seasonal trends. This will help in making informed decisions about production and sales strategies.

8. Build a Strong Online Presence

In addition to social media, consider blogging, video content, and other digital platforms to tell your brands story. Engage with your audience through these channels to build a community around your brand. User-generated content, such as customer reviews and styling posts, can be powerful tools for building trust and engagement.

Its important to develop a comprehensive digital marketing strategy. This includes SEO for your website, content marketing, email campaigns, and influencer collaborations. Utilize data analytics to understand customer behavior and preferences.

Tailor your marketing efforts based on these insights to create more effective campaigns.

9. Foster Customer Relationships

Create loyalty programs, offer excellent customer service, and gather feedback to improve your offerings. Engaging with your customers and making them feel valued can turn them into brand ambassadors.

Remember, the fashion industry is dynamic, so staying adaptable and responsive to market changes is vital. Keep innovating and exploring new opportunities to grow and sustain your clothing business.

10. Market Your Product

Once everything is up and running, its time to tell the world what youre up to. Regardless of whether youre a brick-and-mortar or online clothing store, the Internet offers some excellent marketing solutions.

If youre just starting out, looking for a strategic partnership is a good idea. Dont fool yourself into thinking that youll partner with one of the big brands like Nike right away. If you can find a brand that complements what youve got to sell (your shirts, their shoes, for example) you can get ahead.

Keep in mind that people love giveaways. If you can run a few of these contests on places like Instagram and Facebook, youll more than likely see your sales spike quickly in the beginning.

Building Your Brand: Effective Marketing Strategies for Your Clothing Business

Clothing is a thriving industry in the United States, projected to be worth 385 billion U.S. dollars by 2025. If youre aspiring to start your own clothing business, finding your niche and designing your clothes are important first steps. However, to succeed in this competitive market, you must also implement effective marketing strategies to promote your brand and attract customers.

Develop Your Brand Identity: Before launching your clothing business, define your brand identity. Identify your target audience, values, and unique selling proposition. Create a compelling brand story that resonates with potential customers and sets your business apart from competitors. Your brand identity will influence all aspects of your marketing efforts.

Before launching your clothing business, define your brand identity. Identify your target audience, values, and unique selling proposition. Create a compelling brand story that resonates with potential customers and sets your business apart from competitors. Your brand identity will influence all aspects of your marketing efforts. Create a Professional Online Presence: In todays digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial. Design an appealing website that showcases your clothing collections and reflects your brands personality. Invest in high-quality product photography and provide detailed product descriptions. Consider launching an online store to reach a broader audience beyond your brick-and-mortar location.

In todays digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial. Design an appealing website that showcases your clothing collections and reflects your brands personality. Invest in high-quality product photography and provide detailed product descriptions. Consider launching an online store to reach a broader audience beyond your brick-and-mortar location. Leverage Social Media: Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest are powerful tools for clothing businesses. Use these platforms to share engaging content, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and customer testimonials. Collaborate with influencers or fashion bloggers to widen your reach and attract new followers. Engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages promptly.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest are powerful tools for clothing businesses. Use these platforms to share engaging content, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and customer testimonials. Collaborate with influencers or fashion bloggers to widen your reach and attract new followers. Engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages promptly. Implement Email Marketing: Build an email list of interested customers and use email marketing to keep them informed about new collections, promotions, and events. Offer exclusive discounts or early access to new products to incentivize sign-ups. Personalize your emails based on customer preferences and buying behavior to enhance engagement.

Build an email list of interested customers and use email marketing to keep them informed about new collections, promotions, and events. Offer exclusive discounts or early access to new products to incentivize sign-ups. Personalize your emails based on customer preferences and buying behavior to enhance engagement. Host Events and Collaborations: Organize fashion events or pop-up shops to showcase your clothing in a unique setting. Collaborate with local artists, musicians, or other complementary businesses to create buzz and attract a diverse audience. Events provide opportunities to network, gather feedback, and establish lasting connections with potential customers.

Organize fashion events or pop-up shops to showcase your clothing in a unique setting. Collaborate with local artists, musicians, or other complementary businesses to create buzz and attract a diverse audience. Events provide opportunities to network, gather feedback, and establish lasting connections with potential customers. Optimize Search Engine Ranking: Improve your websites search engine ranking through search engine optimization (SEO) techniques. Use relevant keywords in your website content, product descriptions, and meta tags to make your business more discoverable online. Consider writing blog posts related to fashion trends or style tips to attract organic traffic to your site.

Improve your websites search engine ranking through search engine optimization (SEO) techniques. Use relevant keywords in your website content, product descriptions, and meta tags to make your business more discoverable online. Consider writing blog posts related to fashion trends or style tips to attract organic traffic to your site. Offer Exceptional Customer Service: Providing exceptional customer service is one of the most effective marketing tools. Focus on creating a positive shopping experience for your customers, both online and offline. Respond to customer inquiries promptly and resolve any issues with professionalism and empathy. Satisfied customers are more likely to become brand advocates and refer others to your business.

Strategy Description Develop Brand Identity Define your brand's target audience, values, and unique selling point. Create a compelling brand story that sets you apart from competitors. Create Professional Online Presence Design an appealing website showcasing your collections and reflecting your brand's personality. Utilize high-quality product photography and detailed descriptions. Launch an online store for wider reach. Leverage Social Media Utilize platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to share engaging content, testimonials, and behind-the-scenes glimpses. Collaborate with influencers and respond to audience engagement. Implement Email Marketing Build an email list to inform customers about new collections, promotions, and events. Offer exclusive discounts and personalize emails based on customer preferences. Host Events and Collaborations Organize fashion events or pop-up shops, collaborating with local artists and businesses to create buzz and connect with potential customers. Optimize Search Engine Ranking Improve website SEO using relevant keywords, product descriptions, and meta tags. Consider writing fashion-related blog posts to attract organic traffic. Offer Exceptional Customer Service Focus on creating positive shopping experiences, both online and offline. Respond promptly to inquiries and resolve issues professionally and empathetically.

By implementing these marketing strategies and consistently promoting your clothing brand, you can build a loyal customer base and position your business for long-term success in the dynamic fashion industry.

Conclusion

Starting a clothing business can be a lucrative venture, especially considering the thriving clothing industry in the United States. As the market is projected to reach a value of 385 billion U.S. dollars by 2025, it presents a promising opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs. Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can lay a strong foundation for your clothing business and work towards building a reputable brand in the competitive market.

Finding your niche and catering to specific subcategories within the clothing industry is essential to tap into unexplored market gaps and meet the unique needs of your target audience. Creating a comprehensive budget and a solid business plan will help you stay financially organized and prepared for the challenges ahead.

Designing your clothes strategically and focusing on your brands identity and unique selling proposition will set you apart from competitors and attract your desired customer base. Organizing your store or optimizing your online presence, with the power of social media and a professional website, can enhance your brand visibility and reach a broader audience.

Once your clothing business is up and running, marketing becomes paramount to attract customers and establish your brands presence in the market. Leveraging social media platforms, implementing email marketing, hosting events, and collaborating with other businesses can increase brand awareness and customer engagement. Furthermore, offering exceptional customer service is a surefire way to foster loyalty and encourage positive word-of-mouth referrals.

As you embark on your clothing business journey, keep in mind that building a reputable brand and maintaining customer satisfaction will require dedication, innovation, and continuous efforts. With the right strategies and a customer-centric approach, your clothing business can thrive and become a significant player in the ever-evolving fashion industry.

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Memorial Day is a national holiday to mourn and recognize Americas veterans who have died while serving in the United States armed forces. The day is observed on the last Monday of May and is marked with parades, services, a moment of silence, or visits to cemeteries and memorials.

It is a day where we remember and grieve for those who died in wars and deliberate on the price of war while also paying tribute to our fallen heroes.

Why You Should Send a Memorial Day Message

Memorial Day is used to honor those that have given their lives in the US Civil War, the World Wars, and other conflicts. By sending out Memorial Day messages to clients, co-workers, employees, and our bosses we:

Recognize the sacrifices made for us: The day is used to not only recognize the sacrifices of brave military personnel but also to recognize and also thank their comrades in arms, friends, and family. It is a holiday where we are all united in recognizing sacrifices made by our armed services.

It is patriotic: As an American business sending commemorating Memorial Day to coworkers and clients can help reflect your patriotism. Despite our political differences, Memorial Day brings us all together for a common cause to value the sacrifices made for all of us and unite us all as one people. Use the day to be a great example for others to follow.

It helps to thank those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms: As a business, you should show that you value the sacrifices made for you and indicate that you not only honor them but will never forget them.

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Helps build teams: Being a national holiday it helps bring people together under one cause and recognize that we are united. You can also use the day to inspire all of them for being responsible citizens and patriots.

Reasons to Send Memorial Day Messages Description Recognize Sacrifices Memorial Day messages honor and recognize the sacrifices of brave military personnel, their comrades, friends, and families who have given their lives in various conflicts. Reflect Patriotism Sending Memorial Day messages as an American business showcases patriotism, uniting people despite political differences, and emphasizing the value of sacrifices made for the nation. Express Gratitude Memorial Day messages allow businesses to express gratitude and appreciation for those who paid the ultimate price for freedom, demonstrating a commitment to never forgetting them. Foster Team Building As a national holiday, Memorial Day fosters team building, bringing people together under a common cause and inspiring them to be responsible citizens and patriotic individuals.

What Do You Include in a Memorial Day Message from a Business?

Celebrating Memorial Day weekend is the perfect opportunity to take a step back and remember those who have played a part in creating the life we enjoy.

The accompanying messages through cards, social media posts, and event banners can help bring attention to our fallen soldiers. And you can always use printing services to make it easier. Your Memorial Day messages should:

Keep it short: It is always best to not write a lengthy message often three or four lines will suffice. You will also need to acknowledge the sacrifices made by others for us, be respectful, and that the nation will not forget their service.

Include good quotes on honor: The message should include some good quotes on honor to help the mourning families and veterans find peace and consolation

Include quotes on sacrificing: This is for us to praise the sacrifices made by the American military men and women.

Include quotes on freedom: we should stress in our messages that freedom does not come free and easy. The freedoms and liberties we enjoy came by way of a heavy sacrifice that is why we will need to express our gratitude to those who have passed.

Include quotes about serving ones country: The day is meant to honor those that have selflessly served their nation and use the opportunity to recognize ones duty to the nation.

Memorial Day Messages to Send Warm Wishes to Clients

Here are some inspiring Memorial Day greetings to send to clients:

Wishing you a warm and Happy Memorial Day (Name of client). Let us remember all our heroes who have left us while saving our lives and our country.

Memorial Day is the day celebrated in honor of all those who kept the faith and fought for it till the last breath. Let us remember and thank them all. Wishing a very Happy Memorial Day to you

Freedom doesnt come overnight. You have to nourish and nurture the idea with your blood and sacrifices. We are fortunate to have such wonderful army men and women in our country. Happy Memorial Day.

We are fortunate to be born as American citizens as we have a strong history to look back. We are born in a country of brave men and women who brought us peace and happiness. Happy Memorial Day

As we remember and honor the brave souls who served our nation, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and warm Memorial Day wishes to you and your family.

May this Memorial Day bring you peace and reflection as we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Best wishes to you and your loved ones.

Reflecting on the courage and dedication of our fallen heroes, we send you warm wishes on this solemn day. May their legacy continue to inspire us all.

Memorial Day Messages to Send to Other Businesses

If you are lost for words on what do you say to a business on Memorial Day? Here are some great options:

Let us remember all our heroes in uniform who made ultimate sacrifices to defend our country from the enemies on this special day. Wishing you a warm and Happy Memorial Day.

On the occasion of Memorial Day, let us bow our heads in silence to remember and honor the sacrifices of hundreds of men and women who gave their lives for the country. Happy Memorial Day.

We are honored to be carrying such a strong legacy of brave American soldiers who are real-life heroes. Let us be proud of such an amazing history. Wishing you a very Happy Memorial Day.

We are a country of brave souls who fought for the pride of the country shed their blood and gave away their lives for the countrymen. Happy Memorial Day to you and your family.

On this Memorial Day, lets unite in honoring the memory of our nations heroes who bravely served our country. Warm regards from our team to yours.

In remembrance of the valiant men and women who served our country, we wish your business and team a reflective and respectful Memorial Day.

As we pay tribute to the extraordinary courage of our armed forces, we send our best wishes to your business. May their sacrifices continue to inspire us.

Memorial Day Messages to Send to Co-Workers

Share your patriotism and gratitude by sending these Memorial Day messages to your co-worker.

Let us celebrate the pious day of Memorial Day by remembering all the national heroes who fought for the country and its honor.

To make this life worthy, let us take inspiration from our brave soldiers who fought for the freedom of America. Have a Happy Memorial Day.

I wish all my co-workers a very Happy Memorial Day. May each one of us take inspiration from the brave soldiers and the patriotism they have for the country

Pray for them and work for the country to make it a meaningful Memorial Day.

Let us never forget the price we have paid to get this independence. Let us always remember the sacrifice of every soldier. Happy Memorial Day.

Real heroes never die. They always live in our hearts to inspire us, motivate us, and guide us in our lives. Sending you warm wishes on Memorial Day in remembrance of the true heroes we lost.

Lets remember our fallen service members with pride this Memorial Day.

Let us honor all the veterans and also all the servicemen for whom the nation always comes first. Warm greetings on Memorial Day.

Let us all take a moment to remember and honor the brave hearts who have served our nation. Wishing you a meaningful Memorial Day.

As co-workers, lets cherish the freedom we have, thanks to the sacrifices of our fallen heroes. Have a thoughtful Memorial Day.

Remembering together the brave men and women who gave their all for our country. Wishing you peace and gratitude this Memorial Day.

Memorial Day Message to Employees Examples

If you are wondering What do you say to employees on Memorial Day, here are some suggestions:

On Memorial Day, let us remember all those who gave away their comforts and lives so that we can enjoy 365 days of our lives with our family. Wishing you a Happy Memorial Day.

As I think of you on Memorial Day, I wish to celebrate this day which honors the spirit of the great nation USA and the glory of army men and women. Happy Memorial Day to you.

Memorial Day is not a day to honor just the veterans but it is also a day to honor those who lost their lives. Sending you warm wishes on Memorial Day to thank all those who fought for the country.

Dont let their sacrifices fade away with passing time but always keep them fresh in your memories to thank them. Happy Memorial Day.

Sending you warm wishes on this day of remembrance.

To the loved ones we have lost. You are forever in our hearts and minds. Your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

May God bless everyone who is mourning the loss of a loved one today. Be strong and cherish the moments of happiness.

Thank you to all those who have guarded my freedom and peace in my beloved country.

Your hard work and dedication reflect the spirit of those who served our nation. Wishing you and your family a peaceful Memorial Day.

Lets take inspiration from our heroes courage and dedication as we remember them this Memorial Day. Thank you for your commitment to excellence.

As we honor our fallen soldiers, lets continue to strive for greatness in their memory. Wishing you a solemn and reflective Memorial Day.

Examples of Memorial Day Messages to Send to Your Boss

You can also send your own Memorial Day message to your boss. Below are some to choose from:

We are forever grateful for the ultimate sacrifice of those who died protecting the United States of America. May their courage and dedication will never be forgotten.

Warm wishes to you and your family on Memorial Day. Our deepest gratitude goes to our beloved sons and daughters who gave us a chance to make this world a better place.

We appreciate all the great deeds and sacrifices done to grant us a chance to enjoy freedom.

I promise to keep the memory of the sacrifice of those who have died for my country.

I wish you a blessed Memorial Day and a cloudless future.

To the loved ones we have lost. You are forever in our hearts and minds. Your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten

We are forever thankful for all the good memories you gave us. We hope you know how grateful the people are for what you did for our country.

With the deepest admiration, we should strive to live by the liberties and principles for which our bravest soldiers fell.

Your leadership reminds us of the qualities of our nations heroes. Wishing you a reflective and respectful Memorial Day.

In honor of those who have served our country, we are inspired by your guidance and strength. Have a meaningful Memorial Day.

Remembering the sacrifices of our heroes, your leadership serves as a beacon of hope and resilience. Best wishes this Memorial Day.

Memorial Day Quotes to Add to Your Message

Below are some famous Memorial Day quotes to take inspiration from.

Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.  Adlai Stevenson, Politician

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God such men lived.  Martin Luther King, Civil rights advocate

Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay.- President Barack Obama

Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.  President Harry S. Truman

In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.  President Franklin D. Roosevelt

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.  President John F. Kennedy

No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.  President Calvin Coolidge

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes. Maya Angelou, Poet

Use These Memorial Day Message Examples to Create Your Own

Memorial Day is a solemn and noble occasion that demands a message filled with gratitude and pride. It is essential to remember the significance of this day and why our heroes sacrificed their lives for the freedom we enjoy. When creating your own Memorial Day messages, consider incorporating these elements:

Honor the Sacrifice: Express eternal gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice made by those who gave their lives for the United States of America. Acknowledge their courage and dedication in defending the nation.

Express eternal gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice made by those who gave their lives for the United States of America. Acknowledge their courage and dedication in defending the nation. Peace and Hope: Reflect on the sacrifice made by our men and women in uniform, hoping that their bravery will bring peace and a better tomorrow for the nation.

Reflect on the sacrifice made by our men and women in uniform, hoping that their bravery will bring peace and a better tomorrow for the nation. Remembering Worthy Ideals: Use the remembrance of fallen heroes to reflect on the ideals, virtues, and priorities that make the United States a great nation.

Use the remembrance of fallen heroes to reflect on the ideals, virtues, and priorities that make the United States a great nation. Unite in Homage: Encourage coming together as a community to pay homage to those who fought and died to ensure a free nation. Let Memorial Day serve as a reminder of the things that truly matter in life.

On this Memorial Day, let us pay tribute to the brave men and women who selflessly laid down their lives for our countrys freedom. Through thoughtful messages, we can honor their memory and continue to cherish the values they fought to uphold.
Comprehensive data from hundred of companies.

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Hundreds of companies and institutions filled out questionnaires for the Largest in Business yearbook. The latest edition is available in our online shop.

In this story, you will find out which company paid the most in taxes, where are the largest aquaparks or ski resort.

The rankings provide ratings in 50 different categories and show which sectors or companies have grown the most.

In this shorter online version of the story, you can read about all the top-ranked companies. More comprehensive results with detailed information about the largest companies are available in the yearbook, Largest in Business. The project has been created in cooperation with Sme daily, and the Finstat company. The key parameter for these rankings was revenue, but in some categories it was a combination of several criteria, like turnover or the number of employees. Within the financial sector, the ranking was typically based on the value of assets.

Strong economic pillar

Shared service centres (BSCs) are among the most important clients that occupy the most office space in Slovakia. They employ tens of thousands of highly qualified people.

Largest shared service centres IBM Deutsche Telekom  Kosice Dell AT&T Accenture Largest software firms and system integrators 1. ESET 2. Asseco 3. SAP Largest in area of hardware and telecom equipment 1. ASBIS SK 2. WESTech 3. Apcom Largest in telecom services 1. Slovak Telekom 2. Orange 3. O2 The detailed results are available in the Largest in Business yearbook.

According to the BSC Forum, these companies contributed more than 700 million to the state budget in employment taxes and levies last year. The largest of them is the American firm IBM.

Other important brands operating in this segment are AT&T, Dell, Deutsche Telekom, Henkel and Accenture.

80 per cent of the services provided by the centres in Slovakia have to do with finance, IT and customer relationships. If you look at the map of surrounding countries, customer or business development and IT stand out in all those other countries, but finance not as much as it does in Slovakia, said Peter Rusinak, AmCham Senior Policy Manager & AmCham BSCF Coordinator.

The idea that these companies only serve as call centres often persists. That was true of them in the nineties. Today, they solve much more sophisticated tasks.
Employers representatives suggest the state should adopt better solutions for third-country nationals.

Almost 350 national visas were granted between July 2022 and early October 2023. (Source: Unsplash)

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For years, employers have been complaining about the long and complicated process of hiring foreign workers, especially those from outside the EU.

Following repeated calls from the business sector, the state has adopted measures aimed at simplifying immigration procedures, at least for some. These include so-called national visas, which can now be granted to four different types of applicants.

One type, designed for highly-qualified third-country nationals who need to relocate, can also cover their families, which is seen as a plus.

Investment Advisory Guide Well-arranged information about the economy, labour market, investor support, legislation, and real estate as well as investment opportunities in Slovakia. For more details visit our online shop.

The fact that workers can be relocated together with their family members is a key element in successfully luring foreign talent and experts to Slovakia, Peter Rusinak, deputy director for policy and advocacy at the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Slovakia, told The Slovak Spectator.

Still, employers representatives point to ongoing problems that foreign nationals from outside the EU face when seeking to take up work here and say these need to be addressed in order to make Slovakia more competitive than its neighbours.

National visas speed things up
Even a beech tree with strong roots could not stand it.

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Branches and trees are breaking under heavy snow even in the Slovak Paradise national park in northeast Slovakia.

The village of Hrabusice should start removing fallen trees in the most visited gorge of Slovak Paradise, Sucha Bela, on Monday.

A helping hand in the heart of Europe offers for you Slovakia travel guide.

It has been closed since Thursday last week.

At the beginning of last week, there was a plan to replace the ladders in the gorge, but the weather complicated the situation and it is now uncertain.

"We don't know if the weather will allow it, because the trees are covered in snow. It's risky to fly a helicopter there, it might damage the trees. So, maintenance is not still uncertain," said Mayor Marcel Kacvinsky.

Due to the difficult terrain, he could not say how long the gorge will be closed.

There are also fallen trees in other parts of the national park. For example, in the Piecky gorge.

Tourists tend to visit the gorges

Employees of the Slovak Paradise National Park Administration are also supposed to help with the removal of the fallen trees.

"It's complicated, it cannot be done by just cutting the tree. It has to be done so that no one gets hurt, since the tree is up on the rocks. It's not an ordinary fallen tree, more people are needed," described head of the Slovak Paradise National Park Administration, Tomas Drazil.

In the winter season, the gorges are not visited much and only a few tourists go there. According to Drazil, they are mainly hiking aficionados.

Ordinary tourists are more likely to go on, for example, a walk to the Tomasovsky viewpoint.

A beech tree with strong roots also fell

According to him, the fallen-tree situation is a normal thing in winter, it's just that this year it ocurred a little earlier.

"It cannot be said that it's strange, but not every winter does it snow so much at once. Moreover, the snow was wet and it's freezing. Now a beech tree with strong roots has fallen in the gorge, and it was not an unstable tree," Drazil said.

Since branches and trees are currently breaking under heavy wet snow in other places and the situation is not yet stable, Drazil advises against going on a hike to Slovak Paradise.

He emphasised that the surface of the hiking trails is snowy and icy.

Korzar

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231211/us-endless-support-of-ukraine-israel-conflicts-worsening-gunpowder-shortage-1115527783.html

Relentless US Support for Ukraine and Israel Deepens Gunpowder Shortage

Relentless US Support for Ukraine and Israel Deepens Gunpowder Shortage

Former US Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski says that the US support of Israel and Ukraine is behind the nation's gunpowder shortage.

2023-12-11T23:43+0000

2023-12-11T23:43+0000

2023-12-12T06:35+0000

karen kwiatkowski

joe biden

volodymyr zelensky

ukraine

israel

environmental protection agency (epa)

defense department

gaza strip

israel-gaza conflict

occupational safety and health administration

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A gunpowder shortage in the US is the result of the countrys support of ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, as well as the American elite living in a fantasy land of unlimited funding, Karen Kwiatkowski, a retired US Air Force Lt. Col., former analyst for the Defense Department and activist told Sputnik.Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seem to be the big reason that most US gunpowder manufacturing has been shut down, or has moved overseas, Kwiatkowski added.The remaining gunpowder manufacturers, like General Dynamics, as well as their subcontractors, are the ones who benefit the most from the increased price, along with governments who want to limit gun ownership among their citizens. And because both gunpowder and fertilizers use the same precursor ingredients, that also limits the food supply.While much of the American political class insists US support of Ukraine will not wane, and that NATOs proxy war is not already lost, Kwiatkowski noted American entrepreneurs are not so naive.The US government lives in a fantasy world of unlimited funding, and of course, selling the idea of a better Ukraine in 2024 fits in with the Biden reelection campaign, Kwiatkowski explained, adding that the major capital and asset management firms in the US hold no such delusions, saying they are aware of funding limitations and they do track the actual productivity and futures of everything from weapons and ammo to food and medicine on a global level.In May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the creation of an investment fund by BlackRock to support the Ukraine Development Fund, a program still in the planning stages and not expected to fully launch until the end of hostilities.The disconnect between reality and the American elite and political class is typical of an empire in decline, Kwiatkowski said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231208/humanitarian-spending-used-as-shrewd-cover-for-enabling-corporate-open-season-on-ukraine-1115486366.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231211/mercs-unmasked-us-hired-guns-from-ukraine-spotted-in-gaza-operating-on-behalf-of-israel-1115521415.html

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israel

gaza strip

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/analysts-tusks-poland-to-be-same-as-kaczyskis-only-without-the-shouting-1115543612.html

Analysts: Tusks Poland to be Same as Kaczynskis Only Without the Shouting

Analysts: Tusks Poland to be Same as Kaczynskis Only Without the Shouting

Despite a change in leadership in the Sejm from Eurosceptic to pro-Brussels, Poland will largely continue on the course laid out for it by the Western powers. The Eastern European nation is a member of NATO and the European Union.

2023-12-12T18:59+0000

2023-12-12T18:59+0000

2023-12-12T18:59+0000

analysis

donald tusk

konrad rekas

mateusz piskorski

poland

euroskepticism

ukraine

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Donald Tusk returned to heading the Polish Council of Ministers on Monday, following a no-confidence vote in the Sejm that ousted then-Prime Minister Mateusz Morawieski of the right-wing Law and Justice Party. Tusk previously served as prime minister from 2007 until 2014, when he became president of the European Council. He heads the center-right Civic Platform party.On Tuesday, Tusk doubled down on Warsaw's international commitments, saying he would defend Polands national interests even as his government continues to support the Ukrainian cause, for which Poland has paid a deep economic price.The announcement came as the outgoing defense minister, Mariusz Blaszczak, said that Poland would object to an attempt by the European Parliament to consolidate national defense competencies in Brussels. Unlike Law and Justice, the Sejm coalition led by Tusk is much more pro-EU.However, Konrad Rekas, a Polish politician and independent commentator, told Sputnik that the change in Warsaw would be almost purely superficial.Contrary to its Eurosceptic declarations, the Law and Justice government unconditionally accepted the main directions of the European Commission's actions, including the energy transformation, extremely unfavorable for Poland, and the privileges given to Ukrainian carriers on the European market. [Law and Justice leader and former Deputy Prime Minister] Jarosaw Kaczynski shouted a lot but did absolutely nothing to make the Polish economy independent from the German one. So under Tusk's government it will be the same, only without the shouting.Indeed, Rekas noted that Warsaws enthusiastic support for Kiev, even to the detriment of its own military and its own population, would continue under Tusk as it had under Morawiecki.It is true that the Polish government buys masses of weapons, but only to send them for free further, to Kiev. Just in recent days, the Ukrainian 44th Independent Mechanized Brigade has confirmed the supply of modern M120K (SMK120) Rak self-propelled automatic mortars from the Poles, which were taken straight from the Polish army storages. Only when there is no longer anyone in Ukraine to use this weapon will it perhaps remain in Polish hands. Unfortunately, however, only to continue the NATO-Russia war with direct Polish involvement, he said.Mateusz Piskorski, a political observer and columnist for the Mysl Polska (Polish Thought) newspaper, told Sputnik that Tusks premiership would lead to more stable relations between Warsaw and Brussels, although there would still be conflicts, as there are between the EU and every European capital.For Poland, well, let's wait. Its too early to talk about what measures the new government will take regarding strategic decisions and strategic problems, because after all, it will be officially formed only tomorrow, and we dont even know yet what program this government has, he noted.Foreign policy was handled exclusively by the president and President Andrzej Dudas entourage, he explained. The prime minister and the ministry of foreign affairs were marginal structures from the point of view of the model of governing the country, and now Sikorskis rather strong, bright personality guarantees that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will once again play an important role in shaping the foundations of foreign policy.However, Piskorski noted that Tusks foreign policy course would ultimately depend on the general course of Western geopolitical interests, which might soon deviate from their course under Morawiecki.However, unlike Rekas, Piskorski predicted that Tusks government will have to bow to its financial reality and slow down its arms purchases from other partners, such as South Korea. However, he cautioned it would not be completely suspended.This is to be expected, if only because the outgoing Law and Justice government increased defense spending many times over, even above this 2% of GDP that the Western allies, represented by Washington in particular, have demanded. Therefore, I still think that the increase in the level of militarization and the purchase of new weapons will be slightly slowed down.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231103/poland-to-expand-army-to-300000-troops-1114699075.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231203/over-2500-trucks-stuck-at-ukrainian-polish-border-amid-strike-by-drivers---border-guard-1115356002.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231209/polish-media-debunks-zelensky-narrative-that-ukraine-is-fighting-for-wests-freedom-1115500113.html

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is new polish government pro-eu, will poland support ukraine, how is tusk different from morawiecki
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/denmark-rejects-russias-request-for-legal-aid-in-nord-stream-probe-1115537982.html

Denmark Rejects Russia's Request For Legal Aid in Nord Stream Probe

Denmark Rejects Russia's Request For Legal Aid in Nord Stream Probe

Moscow received an official notice from the Danish Prosecutor's office declining Russia's request for legal assistance in the investigation into the explosions the rocked the Nord Stream pipelines, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova revealed on Tuesday.

2023-12-12T13:00+0000

2023-12-12T13:00+0000

2023-12-12T13:01+0000

nord stream sabotage

denmark

maria zakharova

russia

nord stream 2

nord stream 1

nord stream ag

gas pipeline

investigation

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"We received from Denmark in December a refusal from the Prosecutor General's Office of this country in response to an appeal from the Russian Prosecutor General's Office on the legal assistance in the investigation of sabotage on the Nord Stream gas pipelines," Zakharova told a briefing. Moscow was not surprised by Copenhagen's decision, the diplomat said, adding that the refusal of legal assistance in the investigation of the sabotage "confirmed the course of the Danish authorities to conceal the truth about the true customers and perpetrators of the terrorist attack." The Nord Stream pipelines, built to deliver gas under the Baltic Sea from Russia to the European Union, were hit by explosions in September 2022. All three affected pipes were rendered inoperable.Denmark, Germany and Norway have left Russia out of their investigations into the attacks, prompting Moscow to launch its own investigation. Russia designated the attacks as acts of international terrorism. No official results of the investigations have yet been announced.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231111/will-us-investigate-nord-stream-explosions-1114885054.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/ex-cia-officer-ceasefire-veto-and-white-phosphorus-shells-for-israel-show-us-isolatation-1115541630.html

Ex-CIA Officer: Ceasefire Veto and White Phosphorus Shells for Israel Show US Isolation

Ex-CIA Officer: Ceasefire Veto and White Phosphorus Shells for Israel Show US Isolation

The US decision to continue arming Israel and Ukraine with weapons banned by international law only shows how isolated and desperate its international position has become, a former senior CIA officer told Sputnik.

2023-12-12T17:21+0000

2023-12-12T17:21+0000

2023-12-12T19:31+0000

analysis

ray mcgovern

israel

white phosphorus

un security council (unsc)

veto

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Israel has been accused of using white phosphorus munitions several times since the conflict with Hamas began on October 7 - as well as in previous conflicts with the Palestinians and other groups in the region. These accusations have come from locals who witnessed the strikes as well as NGOs like Human Rights Watch. One recent report in particular from a prominent US newspaper shed light that one attack in southern Lebanon in late October included white phosphorus artillery shells supplied to Israel by the United States.The day before the report dropped, the US used its veto power to block a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where more than 18,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7. It was the only country to vote against the resolution, and hours after the vote, US Congress used a special emergency power to circumvent normal approval processes and rush $106 million worth of weapons to Israel.Ray McGovern, a former CIA officer who prepared the presidents daily brief during the Ronald Reagan administration, told Sputnik that Washingtons willingness to arm its partners with internationally-banned weapons showed the level of desperation and isolation it has on the geopolitical stage.Now, I expect that the [UN] General Assembly to take this up in another day or two, that's a little different. The General Assembly has less teeth in it, less enforcement, less directive power. But it will be very interesting, because I would expect that if some 185 people vote for a ceasefire, and you have the United States and Great Britain and Fiji and the Marianas Islands and maybe Albania voting against the ceasefire - what more need I say about how isolated the United States has become?He said that there would not be accountability for the use of weapons like white phosphorus unless Israel loses.McGovern said he wouldnt put it past men like US Secretary of State Antony Blinken or White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan to dare to try and give Ukraine mini-nukes if the situation became dire enough.We'll show how strong we are and we won't lose, at least not until after the election, he said. That's how bad it is. So when you talk about white phosphorus, it's awful. So when I was in the army, you could use that for illumination, but everyone recognized you can't possibly use that if there were human beings beneath that. "So this is really bad and it shows the lengths to which the Congress will acquiesce in the Zionist-dominated administration - let's be very clear about that, self-proclaimed Zionists, going from Joe Biden to Blinken to Sullivan, to [Under Secretary of State Victoria] Nuland - what they're prepared to do to help their friend [Israeli Prime Minister] Bibi Netanyahu.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231211/how-team-biden-defies-own-human-rights-rules-in-israel-weapons-supplies-1115518899.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/netanyahu-says-israel-received-full-us-support-for-ground-operation-in-gaza-strip-1115540099.html

israel

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us sending weapons to israel, did israel use white phosphorus, ray mcgovern
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/explosive-revelation-canadian-hired-gun-training-both-ukrainian--israeli-soldiers-1115537424.html

Explosive Revelation: Canadian Hired Gun Training Both Ukrainian & Israeli Soldiers

Explosive Revelation: Canadian Hired Gun Training Both Ukrainian & Israeli Soldiers

Alex Gallant, a Canadian mercenary, military instructor and CEO of PMC Universal Guardian, which has been active in Ukraine, has been training IDF troops in Israel, as of November, Sputnik learned

2023-12-12T13:18+0000

2023-12-12T13:18+0000

2023-12-12T13:18+0000

world

ukraine

israel

sputnik

israel defense forces (idf)

palestine-israel conflict

mercenaries

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He arrived in Israel in mid-October, according to a number of posts from his social media accounts. Gallant claimed he was engaged in civil defense training here. However, the images posted on his pages paint a different picture, showing the Canadian surrounded by individuals wearing IDF uniforms.At the end of November, he announced that he was returning to Ukraine for the 4th time to work with military personnel from the Ukrainian army.The allied PMC, "Black Maple," known to be associated with "Universal Guardian," also shared a podcast touting Gallant as the Canadian who trained the IDF. Previously, Gallant and his team from "Universal Guardian" trained Ukrainian soldiers in the vicinity of locations such as Artemovsk (Bakhmut), Avdeevka, and Kramatorsk. In a twist of fate, Gallant narrowly escaped harm in Kramatorsk's Ria Lounge Bar when it was targeted by a missile strike carried out by the Russian Armed Forces last June. Gallant managed to leave the place just minutes before the attack.

ukraine

israel

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A cargo vessel sailing in the Red Sea was reportedly struck by a Houthi missile that was launched from Yemen as the ship was traveling through the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) initially said that the Strinda, which is a Norwegian-owned-and-operated ship, was struck at around midnight local time on Monday. The missile that hit the ship was said to be an Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ACSM).

Houthi Rebels Attack Cargo Vessel

The Strinda is an oil and chemical tanker that is part of the fleet of Bergen-based shipping firm Mowinckels Rederi. According to the company's website, the vessel was on its way to Italy when it was struck by the Houthi missile.

In a statement, chief executive Geir Belsnes confirmed that the Strinda was "hit by a missile" that caused it to catch fire. He noted that fortunately, there were no injuries resulting from the attack and the crew was able to extinguish the flames.

In an email, Belsnes said that their focus has been and, and remains, the safety and well-being of the seafarers onboard the Strinda. The official added that the vessel was now "proceeding to a safe port," as per Aljazeera.

The recent attack on the ship comes amid threats to commercial shipping in the area in the middle of the Middle Eastern war between Israel and the Hamas militant group. Houthi rebels, which are backed by the Iranian government, have carried out a series of attacks on ships in the Red Sea and have launched drones and missiles targeting Israel.

The rebels did not immediately take responsibility for the recent attack but there were reports that rebel military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said that an important announcement would be made very soon.

A naval agency that provides security alerts to ships, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, reported a fire on an unidentified vessel located roughly 15 nautical miles off the Yemeni port of Mokha.

Read Also: Former US Ambassador Slams Netanyahu as Threat to Israel, Calls for His Resignation

Rising Tensions in the Red Sea

Houthi commandos in mid-November seized the Bahamian-flagged Galaxy Leader while it was sailing in the Red Sea, claiming that it was linked to Israel. That particular vessel and its multinational crew remain in the port of Hodeida in Yemen, according to ABC News.

There were no U.S. Navy ships near the area when the Strinda was attacked by the Houthi missile but the destroyed USS Mason later began traveling towards the ship to offer assistance. The Mason and the destroyed USS Carney have in recent weeks been involved in several incidents.

These were where they shot down Houthi missiles or drones targeting commercial ships or Israel. Currently, the United States government is in discussions with other nations to form a multinational task force to protect commercial ships that sail through the region.

Tensions have run high in the Red Sea since the Hamas militant group attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,200 people and taking hundreds of hostages. In response, Israel has vowed to destroy the militant group in Gaza. Houthi rebels have repeatedly expressed their support of Hamas, said the Times of Israel.

Related Article: Hamas Threatens To Kill All Hostages Unless Demands Met; Here Are Its Conditions!

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/hungarian-foreign-minister-says-western-balkans-more-prepared-to-join-eu-than-ukraine-1115541406.html

Hungarian Foreign Minister Says Western Balkans More Prepared to Join EU Than Ukraine

Hungarian Foreign Minister Says Western Balkans More Prepared to Join EU Than Ukraine

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Tuesday it was discriminatory that the European Union was delaying the accession of Western Balkan countries but fast-tracking Ukraine, despite the latter being less prepared.

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"It would be irresponsible to start accession talks with Ukraine as the European Commission has not made adequate preparations. Neither the EU nor Ukraine is ready for a mutually beneficial and well-structured start of accession negotiations. The Western Balkan countries, on the other hand, have been waiting for many years and are quite prepared, so it is simply incomprehensible why some member states are blocking progress in their case," Szijjarto wrote on social media. He added that the countries opposing the Western Balkan states' accession have been prevailing in the EU recently. However, Hungary is among the proponents of the EU's expansion and "deems unacceptable the discrimination of the Western Balkans." Last week, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Budapest proposed not to include in the agenda of the EU's December 14-15 summit the vote to launch accession talks with Ukraine as it was already clear that no consensus would be found. He added that Ukraine's membership could be discussed in five to 10 years from now and on a condition that a strategic partnership agreement is signed with the country. With regard to the Western balkans, Orban has said that their accession was a "vital" interest for Budapest because it would solve the problems of illegal migration and energy supply.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231208/orban-on-prospects-of-ukraines-accession-to-eu-no-unity-among-member-states-on-this-matter-1115471446.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/hungary-resolute-on-no-aid-to-ukraine-from-eu-joint-budget-no-entry-talks-until-june-1115532537.html

Hungary Resolute on No Aid to Ukraine From EU Joint Budget, No Entry Talks Until June

Hungary Resolute on No Aid to Ukraine From EU Joint Budget, No Entry Talks Until June

Budapest believes that Kiev should not receive aid from the joint budget of the European Union and that the bloc should decide on membership talks with Ukraine not earlier than the European Parliament elections are held in June, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing Hungarian Minister for European Affairs Janos Boka.

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"Hungary will not change its mind  We can talk about the period after the December summit with member states, [but] I do not see any factor that would change our decision, which is rooted in principle," Boka told the Financial Times. He also said that about a third of EU member states had very serious doubts regarding Ukraine's membership in the bloc. In November, Hungary refused to approve the eighth tranche of 500 million euros ($543 million) in military funding for Ukraine within the European Peace Facility, saying that Kiev did not provide guarantees that Hungarian companies would not be put on its blacklist of "sponsors of war." Hungary has also called on the EU members not to include the Ukraine accession talks in the December European summit's agenda but rather postpone it for five to 10 years until the outlook for strategic cooperation with the country becomes clearer. Ukraine applied for EU membership in February 2022 and was granted candidate status four months later, all against the backdrop of the Russian special military operation. In November 2023, the European Commission recommended launching accession talks with Ukraine. The official decision, which requires the unanimous support of all member states, is expected to be made at the EU's summit in Brussels scheduled for December 14-15.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230925/hungary-refuses-to-support-ukraine-until-transcarpathian-hungarians-rights-ensured-1113651268.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/israeli-military-death-toll-since-start-of-ground-offensive-in-gaza-rises-to-105---reports-1115532741.html

Israeli Military Death Toll Since Start of Ground Offensive in Gaza Rises to 105 - Reports

Israeli Military Death Toll Since Start of Ground Offensive in Gaza Rises to 105 - Reports

The number of Israeli soldiers killed since the start of the ground operation against the Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip has risen to 105, The Times of Israel newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing the Israel Defense Forces.

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have released an updated number of Israeli soldiers killed over the course of the ongoing conflict. As of today, the death toll among Israel's soldiers has risen to 105. On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing over 1,200 people and abducting some 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Thousands of people have reportedly been killed so far in Gaza as a result of the conflict. On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The truce was extended several times and expired on December 1. Hamas is still holding over 100 people hostage. Israel moved its ground operation into the southern Gaza Strip.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231210/idf-says-hits-3500-hamas-targets-in-gaza-strip-since-end-of-ceasefire-1115514468.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/johnson-after-meeting-with-zelensky-us-lawmakers-need-clear-ukraine-strategy-to-approve-funds-1115543895.html

Johnson After Meeting With Zelensky: US Lawmakers Need Clear Ukraine Strategy to Approve Funds

Johnson After Meeting With Zelensky: US Lawmakers Need Clear Ukraine Strategy to Approve Funds

The members of Congress are still waiting to see a clear articulation of strategy on Ukraine and so far the White House has not provided any sufficient responses to their questions, US House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Tuesday.

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"We need a clear articulation of the strategy to allow Ukraine to win and thus far their responses have been insufficient. They have not provided us the clarity and the detail that we requested over and over since literally 24 hours after I was handed the gavel as the Speaker of the House," Johnson told reporters after meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington. Johnson in a separate statement about his meeting with Zelensky added that the Biden administration seems to be asking for additional billions of dollars with no appropriate oversight. President Joe Biden is asking Congress to approve a $106 billion supplemental package to address US national security matters, which includes providing Ukraine with $61 billion. However, Republican lawmakers have been reluctant to back this request because it lacks a "credible" plan to address the crisis on the US southern border. Johnson emphasized that the southern border is an "absolute catastrophe" due to the Biden administration's immigration policies. The House Speaker pointed out that its almost 7 million undocumented migrants who have been encountered at the southern border since Biden took office, an issue that must be addressed with a transformative change at the border. Schumer recently said he is willing to work with Republicans to add an amendment to the Biden supplemental package that will address their border security concerns, but it would need to have 60 votes to be adopted. The White House expects Ukraine aid funding will run out by the end of this year. A congressional source recently told Sputnik that new Ukraine funding is not expected to be approved before the end of the year.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/ukraine-on-brink-of-coup-as-zelensky-begs-us-for-more-money-1115541865.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/missile-hit-causes-fire-on-chemical-tanker-in-red-sea---reports-1115530587.html

Missile Hit Causes Fire on Chemical Tanker in Red Sea - Reports

Missile Hit Causes Fire on Chemical Tanker in Red Sea - Reports

A fire broke out on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea after it had been hit by at least one missile launched from the territory controlled by Yemen's rebel Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, The War Zone news portal reported Monday, citing US officials.

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Norwegian-owned chemical tanker Strinda, owned by Bergen-based shipping company A/S J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, has been attacked by a missile coming from a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen and hit 60 miles north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the Red Sea, the report cited US officials, who spoke condition of anonymity. The crew of the tanker was battling the fire, one of the officials said. The United States Navy's USS Mason, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, has responded to an emergency call and was in sight of the tanker, the report said. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the tanker was attacked by what is believed to be an anti-ship cruise missile launched from a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen, but there were no casualties. "At around 4 p.m. EST [21:00 GMT] on December 11, the Motor Tanker STRINDA was attacked by what is assessed to have been an Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) launched from a Houthi controlled area of Yemen while passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb. The STRINDA reported damage causing a fire on-board, but no casualties at this time," CENTCOM said. The command said there were no US ships in the area of the incident at the time of the attack, adding that USS Mason responded to the tanker's mayday call and was assisting the vessel.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231209/yemens-houthis-say-ready-to-let-all-vessels-pass-via-red-sea-except-israel-related-ships-1115503225.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/netanyahu-says-israel-received-full-us-support-for-ground-operation-in-gaza-strip-1115540099.html

Netanyahu Says Israel Received Full US Support for Ground Operation in Gaza Strip

Netanyahu Says Israel Received Full US Support for Ground Operation in Gaza Strip

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the country received full US support for a ground operation in the Gaza Strip.

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"I really appreciate the US support for the destruction of Hamas and the return of our hostages. After intensive discussions with President [of the United States Joe] Biden and his people, we received full support for a ground entry [into the Gaza Strip] and containment of international pressure aimed at ending the war. Yes, there are disputes about the 'day after Hamas,' and I hope that we will come to an agreement here," Netanyahu said in a video address posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). Israel will not allow the Palestinian movements Hamas or Fatah rule in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu reaffirmed.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231209/israel-plans-to-end-operations-in-southern-gazas-khan-yunis-in-3-4-weeks--reports-1115495417.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/russias-defenses-down-ukraines-tochka-u-missile-over-belgorod-region-1115530045.html

Russia's Defenses Down Ukraine's Tochka-U Missile Over Belgorod Region

Russia's Defenses Down Ukraine's Tochka-U Missile Over Belgorod Region

Russian air defense systems shot down a Ukrainian Tochka-U missile over the Belgorod Region early on Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

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"Today, at about 5:00 a.m. [local time, 02:00 GMT], an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack on targets on the territory of the Russian Federation using a Tochka-U operational-tactical missile was thwarted. Russian air defense systems on duty shot down the Ukrainian missile over the Belgorod Region, " the ministry said in a statement. Earlier in the day, Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram that an aerial target had been shot down over the village of Bessonovka in the region, adding that there were no casualties or material damage.The "Tochka-U" missile can carry a cluster munition with a variety of destructive elements. This makes it particularly dangerous for civilians.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220314/children-among-victims-as-ukrainian-military-attacked-donetsk-with-tochka-u-missile-dpr-head-says-1093854330.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/syrian-part-of-arab-gas-pipeline-ready-for-reboot-after-repair-works-oil-ministry-1115543119.html

Syrian Part of Arab Gas Pipeline Ready for Reboot After Repair Works - Oil Ministry

Syrian Part of Arab Gas Pipeline Ready for Reboot After Repair Works - Oil Ministry

Syrian Oil Minister Firas Hassan Kaddour has discussed with his Egyptian, Lebanese and Jordanian counterparts the possibility of putting the Arab Gas Pipeline into operation after Syria had completed repairs on its territory.

2023-12-12T18:05+0000

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The discussion took place on the sidelines of the 12th Arab Energy Conference in Qatar's capital city, Doha. The ministers also affirmed the importance of strengthening cooperation in the oil and gas sector. The pan-Arab gas pipeline was negotiated into existence by the countries of the Sinai Peninsula in 2000. Its first segment was launched in 2003 and ran from the Egyptian field in the town of El Arish to the Jordanian port city of Aqaba. The first leg of the Syrian segment was built in 2009 by Russian oil and gas construction company Stroytransgaz. Syria was transiting gas to and from Lebanon and Jordan before the start of war in 2011. In June 2022, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria signed an agreement to facilitate the supply of Egyptian gas to Lebanon to improve the latter's electricity situation. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry said that the United States agreed to make an exception from the sanctions list for gas transit via the pipe going through Syria. Beirut signed a similar agreement with Jordan and Syria in January 2022.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231027/us-bases-atop-syrias-largest-oil-and-gas-fields-reportedly-come-under-attack-1114525566.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/taxable-profit-from-frozen-russian-assets-estimated-at-over-16bln-in-4-years-reports-1115542502.html

Taxable Profit From Frozen Russian Assets Estimated at Over $16Bln in 4 Years - Reports

Taxable Profit From Frozen Russian Assets Estimated at Over $16Bln in 4 Years - Reports

The European Commission reportedly estimates that taxable profits from Russia's frozen assets will be over 15 billion euros ($16.2 billion) over the next four years.

2023-12-12T17:21+0000

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Later in the day, the European Union is expected to propose a new plan to apply a windfall tax to the profits generated by the frozen Russian central bank assets, aiming to use the funds for the future reconstruction of Ukraine, the report said. The plan includes several steps, such as identifying assets to which the measure can be applied, deducting expenses and national taxes, and accounting for the resulting profits in accordance with statutory capital and risk management requirements, the media outlet said. After that, the profits can be transferred to the EU budget, it added. The plan also includes measures to protect financial institutions holding the assets from legal risks and Russia's potential countermeasures, the report said. On Monday, European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said the commission was preparing to adopt a proposal to immobilize revenues from assets of the Russian Central Bank at a meeting on December 12. Most of the frozen Russian assets are held at the Belgium-based Euroclear central securities depository, with profits generated from them since the time they were sanctioned amounting to almost 3 billion euros, Bloomberg said in late November. Belgium reportedly said that it would invest 1.7 billion euros in the reconstruction of Ukraine next year. After the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Western countries imposed comprehensive sanctions against Moscow, including freezing Russian assets worth approximately 300 billion euros. The EU has been discussing a legal framework that would allow for the confiscation of assets of Russian citizens and entities accused of violating EU sanctions. Russia argues that any attempt by the EU to confiscate frozen assets would violate international law. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sputnik that Russia would do everything necessary to reclaim its assets.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/using-frozen-russian-assets-to-fund-ukraine-threatens-euros-reputation---ecb-1115278704.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/tusk-vows-to-protect-polish-interests-despite-commitment-to-ukraine-1115540251.html

Tusk Vows to Protect Polish Interests Despite Commitment to Ukraine

Tusk Vows to Protect Polish Interests Despite Commitment to Ukraine

Polands incoming prime minister, Donald Tusk, promised on Tuesday that he would protect national interests despite commitments to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

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"I want to say that Poland's full commitment to Ukraine  cannot mean a lack of cordial assertiveness when it comes to Polish interests, the interests of Polish entrepreneurs, farmers, and truckers," he said in parliament while presenting his governments programme. Tusk told the Sejm (Poland's parliament), which voted on Monday to appoint him as prime minister after rejecting Mateusz Morawieckis rival bid, that it would not be difficult to accommodate these two issues simultaneously. Ties between the two neighbors and allies soured in spring after unfettered access of duty-free Ukrainian food exports to the Polish market prompted Warsaw to ban some imports. Polish truckers have been blocking the border to protest permit exemptions for their Ukrainian competitors. Tusk, formerly the president of the European Council, also promised that he would oppose any attempts by the European Union to hoard power by amending founding agreements. Polands outgoing national defense minister, Mariusz Blaszczak, said that the European Parliament was planning to vote on the transfer of national defense competencies to Brussels and that Poland would object to the move.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231211/donald-tusk-to-be-sworn-in-as-polish-prime-minister-on-wednesday-1115526514.html

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The US House of Representatives approved a bill that will ban Russian uranium imports. They voted on the legislation on Monday, Dec. 11, as part of the government's efforts to pressure Russia to stop its invasion against Ukraine.

However, this new bill is far from becoming law since it needs to be approved by the Senate and then signed by US President Joe Biden. If all goes well, the new law could reshape America's nuclear infrastructure.

But, not in a good way. Here's what some US politicians think about the new Russian uranium import ban bill.

Why US Russian Uranium Import Ban Bill is Concerning

According to Reuters' latest report, the new bill was passed by voice vote in the House of Representatives after the chamber suspended traditional voting rules. The legislation called the "Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act" states that it would ban uranium imports from Russia 90 days after being enacted.

But, Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers shared her concerns regarding the new uranium import-banning bill.

"The risks of continuing this dependence on Russia for our nuclear fuels are simply too great," she said.

"It's weakening America's nuclear fuel infrastructure, which has declined significantly because of reliance on these cheap fuels," added the American official.

However, it was clarified that the bill contains waivers, which will enable the import of low-enriched uranium from Russia. This can happen if the US energy secretary determines that there's no alternative source available for nuclear reactor operation or an American nuclear energy firm.

The bill would also allow low-enriched Russian uranium imports if the shipments are in the national interest of the United States.

Read Also: Volodymyr Zelenskiy to Make Crucial US Visit, Aiming to End Senate's Assistance Funding Impasse for Ukraine

Negative Effects of Russian Uranium Import Ban Bill

Yahoo Finance reported that the new legislation comes with great economic ramifications since it aims to pivot away from Moscow's cost-effective enrichment services.

The Congressional Budget Office warned that if the bill becomes law, it would lead to a 13% price hike in nuclear fuel in the US. Aside from this, it could also disrupt the nuclear fuel market of America.

But, the Biden Administration already shared its plan to reduce these negative effects. The White House said that it is seeking a $2 billion boost from Congress to improve the nation's domestic enrichment capabilities; for both traditional and advanced nuclear reactors.

Related Article: Vladimir Putin Orders Russian Soldiers To Intensify Attacks Against Ukraine Before Russia's Presidential Election

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/ukraine-us-digging-for-new-strategy-as-time-and-money-run-out-1115531012.html

Ukraine, US 'Digging' for New Strategy as Time and Money Run Out

Ukraine, US 'Digging' for New Strategy as Time and Money Run Out

According to reports from the US press, both Kiev and Washington are currently reassessing their battlefield strategy in light of the failed counteroffensive. These revisions are expected to be implemented in the early months of next year.

2023-12-12T06:30+0000

2023-12-12T06:30+0000

2023-12-12T07:30+0000

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With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's arrival in Washington to plead for more aid, the US media is seemingly trying to assure their readers that not all is lost for the Kiev regime on the battlefield. The New York Times has hinted that American and Ukrainian military officials are devising a new strategy to "create enough of a credible threat" forcing Moscow into "meaningful negotiations" at the end of 2024 or in 2025. However, the two parties have yet to agree on the specific details that this strategy would entail.However, the media stated that the failure cannot solely be attributed to Ukraine not adhering to NATO's strategic plan. The newspaper also recognized that American and Ukrainian strategists "did not initially realize" to what extent the Russians were strengthening their defenses. "Ukrainian troops training in Germany practiced breaking through defenses far less strong than what they would eventually face," the report noted.Furthermore, Russia has demonstrated its expertise in employing diverse drone technologies and has effectively monitored the contact line, preventing Ukrainian forces from breaching its defenses. By the conclusion of 2023, Russia has bolstered its military presence, beefed up its arsenal, and obtained a significant advantage in terms of firepower, according to the report.The only silver lining, in the eyes of the West, were Kiev's missile attacks on Crimean infrastructure. However, even these actions failed to alter the overall power dynamics on the battlefield.Currently, the US military is urging their Ukrainian counterparts to embrace a strategy known as "hold and build." This tactic entails reinforcing Ukraine's military industrial capacity by digging in and making substantial improvements throughout 2024. Washington believes that this would "improve Ukraine self-sufficiency" and help it "repel any new drive" from Russia.The goal described by the media appears to be far more modest than what was declared by the West and Kiev before the Ukrainian counteroffensive disaster. Likewise, Washington's funding for the effort would be more modest, too, the newspaper noted. Having forked out over $111 billion to Ukraine over the 21 months of the conflict, US lawmakers want to see "a new strategy" before they vote for any additional funds.Furthermore, Ukrainian generals and senior civilian officials have "unrealistic expectations" about Washington's capabilities, since the US simply does not have that amount of weapons that Kiev wants to be supplied with, according to the media.Meanwhile, the Pentagon has decided to dispatch Lt. Gen. Antonio A. Aguto Jr. on the ground "to work more directly" with the Ukrainian military leadership and bolster coordination with Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, the top American commander in Europe.International observers are taking the rhetoric coming from Ukrainian and American officials about a new "long-term" strategy of digging in or boosting Ukraine's industrial capacity, with a grain of salt.Speaking to Sputnik on December 1, Russian military expert Ivan Konovalov wondered as to who would pay for Kiev's plan to build new defenses along the contact line. According to some estimates, Ukraine would have to strengthen at least 2,800 km (1,700 miles) to create a defense line. It would take at least eight to nine months to accomplish this feat, while its cost would be around $10 billion, per Russian military observers' estimates. Given that Kiev is almost out of money and Republican lawmakers are hesitant to greenlight a new multi-billion package for Ukraine, the situation is hanging in the balance.For his part, Scott Ritter told Sputnik last week that the Kiev regime does not have the luxury of time to focus on rebuilding its forces or defenses, as Russia is not going to provide it with any operational pause.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230906/what-is-russias-dragon-teeth-defense-1113154028.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231211/west-mulls-toppling-zelensky-has-list-of-successors---russian-foreign-intelligence-1115518604.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231206/scott-ritter-zelensky-in-dire-straits-as-ukraine-wont-get-operational-pause-in-winter-1115426496.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/unga-adopts-resolution-demanding-immediate-humanitarian-ceasefire-in-gaza-1115545182.html

UNGA Adopts Resolution Demanding Immediate Humanitarian Ceasefire in Gaza

UNGA Adopts Resolution Demanding Immediate Humanitarian Ceasefire in Gaza

The UN General Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

2023-12-12T21:43+0000

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egypt

mauritania

un general assembly

ceasefire

humanitarian

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A total of 153 members voted in favor of the resolution proposed by Egypt and Mauritania, while 10 countries voted against the measure and 23 abstained. The resolution "demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire" and urges all parties to "comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law." The resolution resembles a UAE-drafted UN Security Council resolution that was vetoed by the United States last week.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/ex-cia-officer-ceasefire-veto-and-white-phosphorus-shells-for-israel-show-us-isolatation-1115541630.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/us-republican-senator-vance-calls-zelenskys-demands-for-more-funding-disgraceful-1115537576.html

US Republican Senator Vance Calls Zelenskys Demands for More Funding 'Disgraceful'

US Republican Senator Vance Calls Zelenskys Demands for More Funding 'Disgraceful'

J.D. Vance, a US Republican senator from Ohio, described Kievs demands for billions more in military aid "disgraceful" after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returned to Washington this week to request more funding.

2023-12-12T12:09+0000

2023-12-12T12:09+0000

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volodymyr zelensky

joe biden

jonathan vance

ukraine

republicans

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senate

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"Its utterly disgraceful. We are about to go through the United States Senate tomorrow  a very undignified process where Zelensky comes to town and demands that you give him  the American taxpayer gives him  another $61 billion, and, by the way, if you want to secure your border first, you are actually a Putin puppet. He said this publicly today," Vance told Fox News on Monday. Zelensky is scheduled to meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday. He is also expected to sit down with Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell, as well as House Speaker Mike Johnson on Capitol Hill for a talk that comes amid a deadlock on a supplemental aid package for Ukraine. Republican lawmakers have insisted on the inclusion of border security measures in the bill, delaying its passage, while the Biden administration has warned that the US may run out of resources to support Ukraine if Congress does not approve further assistance.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231211/waning-funding-us-voters-and-gop-aligned-on-ukraine-aid-1115517968.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/us-senators-doubt-own-ability-to-pledge-new-aid-package-for-ukraine-this-week-1115539512.html

US Senators Doubt Own Ability to Pledge New Aid Package for Ukraine This Week

US Senators Doubt Own Ability to Pledge New Aid Package for Ukraine This Week

US senators on Tuesday expressed doubts they would be able to finally agree on a supplemental funding bill and, consequently, unblock a new aid package for Ukraine this week, before going on vacation for the rest of the year, due to disagreements over the inclusion of border security measures in the document.

2023-12-12T14:46+0000

2023-12-12T14:46+0000

2023-12-12T14:47+0000

americas

us

chris murphy

john kirby

ukraine

republicans

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the white house

james lankford

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On Monday, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the United States was seeking to announce a new military aid package for Ukraine by the end of 2023. However, US senators are scheduled to go on Christmas break on December 15. Meanwhile, Senator Chris Murphy, leading the talks for the Democrats, said that the possibility of the Senate reaching an agreement this week "seems like an uphill climb  but not impossible" and that he had seen "stranger things happen" in the parliamentary house, the broadcaster reported. Although US lawmakers "don't have the benefit of time right now," there still "can be a path" if Republicans reconsider their position, Murphy was quoted as saying by NBC News. Meanwhile, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that the year of 2024 will be very difficult if the US Congress fails to approve new military assistance for Ukraine.The failure by Congress to approve President Joe Bidens national security supplemental request "will have a significant effect on Ukraines capacity to hold territory, let alone to take territory back from Russians," Sullivan warned.If the US fails to provide the necessary amount of ammunition and weapons systems, it will be impossible for Ukraine to "have the battlefield progress that we have seen over the course of the past 18 months," he stated.In October, US President Joe Biden submitted a $106 billion supplemental request to Congress that includes $61 billion for Ukraine. In December, the total request grew to nearly $111 billion as Senate Democrats released new draft legislation. However, last week, the request was blocked, just as the previous one, due to disagreements among lawmakers, with Republicans demanding the inclusion of border security measures in the bill. The White House's Office of Management and Budget warned in a letter to Congress last week that it would run out of money for military aid to Ukraine by the end of the year unless Congress passed its supplemental funding request.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/us-speaker-doubles-down-on-border-issue-in-ukraine-funding-stalemate-amid-zelensky-visit-1115538335.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/merchants-of-misery-cornered-zelensky-joins-team-biden-in-appealing-for-more-ukraine-funding-1115537776.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/us-shows-anxiety-in-countering-china-by-listing-taiwan-provision-in-defense-budget-bill-1115538458.html

US 'Shows Anxiety' in Countering China By Listing Taiwan Provision in Defense Budget Bill

US 'Shows Anxiety' in Countering China By Listing Taiwan Provision in Defense Budget Bill

Lawmakers from the US Congress have finalized an $874.2 billion fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes parts that require a defense training program for troops on the island of Taiwan and enhanced cybersecurity cooperation.

2023-12-12T13:52+0000

2023-12-12T13:52+0000

2023-12-12T13:52+0000

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Chinese experts said on Friday that the US move to seek deeper military ties with Taiwan authorities will not essentially change the disparate military power contrast across the Taiwan Straits, but will only exacerbate tensions. With strength gap between Beijing and Washington narrowing, the cost for the US in seeking a military deterrence against the Chinese mainland on Taiwan island will become greater, while the effect will be increasingly limited. The $874.2 billion NDAA, which was released late on Wednesday (local time), is expected to pass in House and Senate and signed by US President Joe Biden later in December before taking effect. The legislation also includes provisions to strengthen AUKUS, the security bloc with UK and Australia, in a move regarded as advancing the "Indo-Pacific" strategy and thus "to counter China's influence."It calls on the Defense Department to "establish a comprehensive training, advising and institutional capacity building program for the military forces of Taiwan."The bill calls for continuous support for Taiwan in the development of "capable, ready, and modern defense forces," including by supporting acquisition by Taiwan of defense articles and services through military sales, with an emphasis on asymmetric capability.While calling for the US side to conduct practical training and military exercises with Taiwan authorities, the bill also maintains a provision that encourages exchanges between defense officials and officers of the US and Taiwan authorities "at the strategic, policy, and functional levels," improving the "interoperability" of the military forces and improving the reserve force of the Taiwan authorities.Additionally, the bill calls for deepened military cybersecurity partnerships between US and Taiwan authorities "to defend military networks, infrastructure and systems against hostile cyber activities."Compared to NDAA 2023, the bill contains relatively few new elements on "defending Taiwan," as the main points of attention - troop training, military officer exchanges, and cybersecurity cooperation - were not absent in previous editions, Wang Shushen, an expert at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.In the NDAA 2018, there were provisions asking the US to invite Taiwan authorities to participate in joint military exercises and "consider the advisability and feasibility of reestablishing port of call exchanges between the US navy and the Taiwan navy." In the NDAA 2020, cybersecurity cooperation with Taiwan island was listed for the first time.Both the NDAA 2019 and NDAA 2017 encouraged increased exchanges between senior officers and officials from the US and Taiwan authorities.The provisions on Taiwan are mostly suggestions from Congress, while how they are implemented at the practical level remains to be decided by the US government and Pentagon, analysts said.US lawmakers have continued to create new policy tools to provide military assistance to Taiwan, with the intention of influencing White House policy and at the same time strengthening the "deterrence" against the Chinese mainland, said Wang.The bill signals that the US will not stop expanding its military cooperation with Taiwan in the future and will become more militarily involved in order to enhance the ability of the Taiwan authorities to resist reunification by force if necessary, Chinese military expert Song Zhongping told the Global Times on Friday.But arming Taiwan is not about assisting in its defense, and essentially the US only wants to reap the benefits and use the island as a pawn to contain the Chinese mainland, Song noted."There is a huge gap in military power between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan island Although the bill will not bring an essential boost to Taiwan's military capability, the mainland will be prepared for the increase in tension in the Taiwan Straits," the expert said.Deterrence Less EffectiveAccording to a report from Taiwan-based media in November, the island authorities will send more than 114 troops to the US in 2024 to undergo training on high-mobility artillery-rocket systems and M1A2T Abrams tanks, as the island is set to receive deliveries of 38 M1A2T Abrams tanks and 11 HIMARS systems.In August, the Biden administration, for the first time ever, approved $80 million in funds to support the island under the State Department's foreign military financing (FMF) as a part of 2023 NDAA, according to a CNN report. The move was slammed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry as one that harms China's sovereignty and security interests and damages peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.As China's overall strength continues to grow, the US is getting more and more worried that China's reunification will impede the US' strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific region, Wang said.US anxiety is the reason behind the military support for the Taiwan authorities and increasing "deterrence" against the Chinese mainland, he noted, "but the credibility and effectiveness of the one-China assurance claimed by the US were undermined."Like previous editions, the NDAA 2024 made a symbolic reference to the US' one-China policy.The imbalance between "deterrence" and "assurance" has undoubtedly increased China-US military suspicion and security risks, Wang added.The US "deterrence" against the Chinese mainland has barely any effect, according to Wang, as the Taiwan question is at the heart of China's core interests, and China's will and determination to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity will not change in the slightest, and it will adopt a strong counter-intervention policy.As the gap in strength between China and US continues to narrow, the cost of the US strategy and the resources required to strengthen deterrence will become greater, while the effect will become more limited, Wang remarked.With the island's regional leader election approaching in January 2024, analysts warned the US to keep its promise not to send wrong signals to secessionists, so as to avoid an imbalance in the situation, which is also a test of the US-China relationship.During the heads of state meeting between China and US in San Francisco, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that the Taiwan question is the most important and sensitive issue in China-US relations. The US side should take real actions to honor its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence," stop arming Taiwan, and support China's peaceful reunification.During a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday, Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi stressed China's solemn position on the Taiwan question, urging the US not to interfere in China's internal affairs, and not to support and connive with any forces of "Taiwan independence."This article was originally published in Global Times.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231206/china-says-us-needs-to-stop-interfering-in-asian-states-internal-affairs---reports-1115423186.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231205/us-tomahawk-anti-ship-missiles-to-challenge-china-amid-taiwan-tensions--report-1115385789.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/us-state-dept-approves-potential-80mln-sale-of-javelin-missiles-to-romania-1115542966.html

US State Dept. Approves Potential $80Mln Sale of Javelin Missiles to Romania

US State Dept. Approves Potential $80Mln Sale of Javelin Missiles to Romania

The US State Department approved a potential $80 million sale of Javelin missiles to Romania, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on Tuesday.

2023-12-12T17:55+0000

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2023-12-13T06:14+0000

military

romania

javelin

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"The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Romania of Javelin Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $80 million," DSCA said in a statement. Romania requested to buy 263 Javelin FGM-148F Missiles and 26 Javelin Light Weight Command Launch Units, the statement said. The proposed sale would support US foreign policy and national security objectives by bolstering the security of a NATO ally, the statement said. The sale would not adversely impact US defense readiness, the statement said.In recent years, Russia has been expressing concern over unprecedented NATO activity near the western borders. NATO has been expanding under the pretext of "deterring Russian aggression." Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern about the build-up of the alliance's forces in Europe. The Kremlin noted that the Russian Federation does not threaten anyone, but it will not ignore actions that are potentially dangerous to its interests. Moscow has repeatedly stressed that NATO is aimed at confrontation. According to the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, further expansion of the bloc will not bring greater security to Europe. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Moscow remains open to dialogue with NATO, but on an equal basis, while the West should abandon the course of militarization of the continent.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220913/us-army-orders-311mln-more-javelin-missiles-for-jordan-lithuania---pentagon-1100741625.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231212/xinjiang-related-sanctions-reflect-us-behavior-of-double-standards-and-hegemony-1115537196.html

Xinjiang-Related Sanctions Reflect US' Behavior of Double Standards and Hegemony

Xinjiang-Related Sanctions Reflect US' Behavior of Double Standards and Hegemony

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday announced new sanctions against two Chinese officials for "serious human rights abuses" against Uygurs in Xinjiang, as the US also moved to block imports from three additional Chinese companies due to allegations of forced labor.

2023-12-12T12:25+0000

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Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said these sanctions were "illegal" and "based on lies," Reuters reported.The so-called "forced labor practices involving Uygurs and other minorities in China" is a topic frequently hyped by the US over recent years. It serves as the primary pretext for the US to continuously enact Xinjiang-related legislation and implement corresponding sanctions under the guise of a "legal" framework. On a deeper level, this aligns with the US strategic shift toward the Asia-Pacific, designating China as an imaginary adversary and comprehensively suppressing China, while simultaneously diverting attention away from US domestic issues and maintaining its global hegemony. The frequent imposition of Xinjiang-related sanctions by the US reflects its mindset and behavior of double standards, utilitarianism, and hegemony, Meng Qingtao, deputy head of the Human Rights Institute at the Southwest University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times. The US applies double standards both domestically and internationally based on its own interests and ideological criteria, selectively ignoring instances of "forced labor" policies and practices within its borders and among its allies. It turns a blind eye to statements from entities like the Volkswagen, which, through external audit firms, declared no sign of "forced labor" in its factories in Xinjiang. Instead, the US relies on reports from international human rights organizations as well as fabricated stories from alleged informants, to unilaterally assert the existence of so-called "forced labor" in Xinjiang.The US consistently follows a "utilitarian policy", which uses sanctions against officials and companies over Xinjiang-related affairs as a means to economically disrupt China's industrial chain, politically negate China's effective governance, and ideologically tarnish and demonize China to impede its peaceful rise.The US has established a global hegemonic system by relying on economic dominance through control of the international monetary system and manipulation of the International Monetary Fund, political dominance through leading the United Nations system, military dominance through military superiority and NATO expansion, and ideological dominance by exporting American-style freedom, democracy, and human rights. The frequent imposition of Xinjiang-related sanctions has once again exposed the true nature of US hegemony.These sanctions were among a series of actions the US took two days ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which outlines the basic rights that global citizens should enjoy, including the right to life, liberty, and personal security. Ironically, on the same day, the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. This disregard for human rights in such actions is, in itself, a betrayal of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is unethical, lacks moral boundaries, and exposes the hypocrisy of the US, which has always claimed to care about the human rights of ordinary people, including the right to life, Wang Sha, assistant researcher of Human Rights Institute at the Southwest University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times.The US abuse of unilateral sanctions and extraterritorial jurisdiction will inevitably have adverse effects on global development. At a time when the world economy faces significant challenges, and China is actively seeking solutions for global economic development through initiatives such as the Belt and Road, the US is not only suppressing China's economy but also hindering both its own domestic, and global economic sustainability.In recent times, the appearance of a seeming easing of tensions and increased cultural and economic exchanges in China-US relations is more of a diversionary tactic by the US - portraying a facade of improved relations while continuing covert actions. Every time the US challenges China's bottom line, it damages the mutual interests of both countries, reinforces misconceptions about China within American society, and subsequently harms the friendship and sentiments between the two nations, continually escalating the risk of confrontation between China and the US.For the US itself, its duplicitous actions will erode its judicial credibility and diplomatic authority on the international stage, reinforce its international image as a hegemon practicing power politics, deepen rifts between allies, and ultimately result in shooting itself in the foot.China has consistently prioritized the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, respecting and safeguarding human rights, actively exploring effective measures to combat terrorism and extremism according to law, and achieving significant successes. Actions speak louder than words, and the false narratives surrounding Xinjiang will ultimately be consigned to the trash can of history.This article was originally published in Global Times.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220908/gt-investigates-whats-behind-ohchr-so-salled-xinjiang-report-1100530165.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231207/china-slams-smearing--undermining-of-belt-and-road-as-italy-exits-project-1115448740.html

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Desperate Man continues to thrive in his new scenery as the former Canadian Horse of the Year pocketed the victory in the $32,000 Open Handicap Pace at Yonkers Raceway on Monday (Dec. 11) evening.

Covered Bridge (Jordan Stratton) fought for the lead with a :27.3 opening panel while Desperate Man (Brent Holland) jumped into second along the pylons. Covered Bridge controlled the tempo with two more panels in :56.3 and 1:24.2. At the third quarter panel, Desperate Man tipped to the outside in search of the lead. Down the lane, Desperate Man found his open track and kept going to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:51.3. Covered Bridge had to settle for second and Jahan Hanover (Jason Bartlett) rounded out the top three.

Travis Alexander trains the five-year-old Shadow Play gelding while racing stateside for Kathy Cecchin of Arthur, Ont. Desperate Man moved his career tally to 16 wins with $1,239,001 earned. His U.S. stint has produced five wins and one third in six starts. He paid $3.50 to win as the bettors' choice.
Fourth generation harness racing family member Lawrence S. DeVan looks fondly upon the outstanding individuals that he has met in his lifetime spent around Standardbreds.

Its not where I have been, or what I have done, DeVan stated while receiving the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) Lifetime Achievement Award. The takeaway is the many incredible people in the harness racing community that I have come to know along the way.

DeVan, who hails from the family of Hanover Shoe Farms founding father Lawrence Sheppard, offered his gratitude to a packed house when the Monticello-Goshen Chapter held its 64th annual banquet on Sunday, Dec. 10 in the Catskill Mountains.

While I consider myself extra fortunate to have met so many great people, I am especially thankful to the Monticello-Goshen Chapter for the thousands of dollars that the writers raise annually for the Harness Racing Museum and Goshen Historic Track, exclaimed DeVan. Their efforts are unparalleled in our sport!

As the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fames past president and current chairman of the executive committee, DeVan knows first-hand how benevolence and industry support helps maintain the iconic Goshen landmark and further enhance its prominence as a world class facility.

The chapter also honoured Ron Ochrym with the Excelsior Award for his dedication and contributions to harness racing in New York State. The former executive director of the NYS Racing and Wagering Board, as well as a few stints as acting director of the Agriculture Fund, which administers the New York Sire Stakes, Ochrym has worked tirelessly to ensure that the harness racing product and breeders program in the Empire State is one of the best in the nation.

In his remarks, Ochrym outlined the strength of the harness racing industry in New York, stating that, This year, we will have over 65,000 starters in 8,700 races at our seven pari-mutuel tracks. That number is triple the amount of N.Y. Thoroughbred participants, our counterparts that compete in the NYRA and Finger Lakes circuits.

Tom Cunningham, one of the best known insurance agents in the industry, received the chapters John Gilmour Good Guy Award. Flanked by his four daughters when receiving the award, he noted, Monticello has always been good to me. Its great to see that the local horsepeople are still a hearty bunch.

Team Messenger made several trips to the podium over the course of the lively evening, accepting several horse awards, including their second Trotter of the Year award for Chip Chip Conway. Owners and breeders Gary Messenger and Ken Weckstein also received the chapters Cradle of the Trotter Breeders Award for their success in the New York Excelsior Series this season.

Edison Hatter, harness racing announcer, analyst and TV personality, received the chapters Phil Pines Award for his contributions to the media and publicity. In just a few short years, Hatter has ascended to several key positions in the industry and his handicapping skills have earned him a reputation as a savvy horseplayer, as well as a polished commentator.

Aside from hosting nationally prominent honourees, the awards banquet still maintains its Borscht Belt roots. Since 1959, the Monticello-Goshen Chapter has been rewarding the local horsemen and women that compete at the Mighty M, as well as the hard-working staff and management that keep the races rolling.

A memorable part of the festivities the rousing applause and standing ovation received by Rising Star Award winner Adam Moeykens. A talented reinsman from Honesdale, Pennsylvania, the fifth generation horseman was surrounded by his large family. It was evident to all in attendance that Moeykens is admired on the backstretch, the 20-year-old was clearly moved by the experience and the accolades. In accepting his award, he noted that he was grateful for all the support that he has received from the Monticello trainers and owners.

The Mighty M Award of Appreciation was bestowed upon Mike Druss for his yeomans efforts in compiling and posting historic and dynamic images on the Monticello Raceway Memorabilia Facebook page.

Andrew Adamczyk was the trainer for the 2023 Monticello Raceway Horse of the Year Daamericansky. Matt Zuccarello was this years Amateur Driver of the Year, Kim Houghtaling received Caretaker of the Year honours and Lisa Davidowich was the chapters Fan of the Year. These folks received their awards along with their peers for the 40-plus divisional equine honours bestowed upon the hard-working trainers and caretakers that call the Sullivan County oval home.

With revenue from their loyal advertisers in the 68-page souvenir journal, the Monticello-Goshen Chapter of USHWA is able to raise enough funds to donate thousands of dollars every year to the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, as well as Goshen Historic Track. These two distinct, separate entities share the same hallowed ground and a singleness of purpose to preserve, protect and promote harness racing.

The practice of raising money and donating funds to Historic Track and the Hall of Fame began in the mid-1970s with Monticello Raceway publicity icon John Manzi, and has continued ever since. In just the last 25 years, the local Monticello-Goshen Chapter has donated well over $160,000 to these important industry preservationists.

(USHWA)

Photo of Larry DeVan (second from left) accepting his Lifetime Achievement Award from Janet Terhune (far left), Chris Tully (second from right) and Shawn Wiles (far right).
Leaders from throughout the community saw the inner workings of the Western Sugar Factory Wednesday, Dec. 6, as staff hosted roughly 30 visitors for the Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber of Commerces annual tour.

The chamber holds the event every year to raise money to provide scholarships to students pursuing ag-related careers. Following an informational presentation about the factory, attendees were divided into groups and sent out with guides through the factory.

The presentation included information about Western Sugars history as well as where the cooperatives farmland is located and how it operates. Grower Brandon Hessler led the presentation with the help of a couple videos to explain the processes that bring sugar beets to the factory, and sugar to the table.

He said the cooperative has been grower owned for 21 years and covers 110,000 acres across four states. Those states are Colorado, Montana, Nebraska and Wyoming, with 45,000 of those acres located in Nebraska.

The Scottsbluff factory was built in 1910. Hessler said that although there are plenty of parts in the factory that show its age, there are plenty of new additions and parts as well.

He also spoke about how technological advances have streamlined the process for growing, harvesting and processing the crops. With new seed varieties, the need for herbicides has decreased and as the components used to the factory have been simplified, Hessler said the hiring process has become easier as well.

He explained that they are also able to use a vast majority of the product they produce, as even the sugar they lose when it turns into molasses is sold as cattle feed.

During the tour, attendees were led through the facility and shown where the different steps of the process are conducted.

In the lab, Kevin Starr, who has worked at the factory for years and was leading one of the tour groups, explained the importance of quality control.

We cant run without these folks, Starr said. It is quality from one end to the other. Theres times we stop the whole operation because these folks tell us its not a quality product.

He said the methods that are used have become more advanced, but the actual process of extracting sugar from the beets has not changed much since it was created.

This is the way we do it, we dont make any sugar, we take away whats not sugar, Starr said.

Staff also led the group through the manufacturing side of the factory, including the control room where workers monitor production levels.

He explained part of the purification process using limestone and hot water. As the product is heated up to near its boiling point, limestone is added to remove undesired substances.

We put limestone rock and water in it and it breaks down into a slurry, Starr said. Most of the impurities will attract to the lime juice.

He said since the limestone is heavier, it will settle on the bottom of the solution where it can be removed. He also said that following the purification process, the solution resembles pale beer.

Attendees on the tour were a mix of farmers, some manufacturing interests and residents of the area who were interested in the factory. One of these was Bill Trumbull and his wife, Cheryl, who said he has always been curious about the factory.

Trumbull said that he had lived in the area his entire life and while he had always been surrounded by sugar beets and their production, he never knew much about it.

Weve wanted to do it for a number of years and it never worked out, Trumbull said.

While the recent harvest is over, work remains at the factory through the winter as crews will continue to produce and refine sugar from this years crop of sugar beets.
The UN General Assembly convenes on Tuesday to address the critical vote on a nonbinding resolution, urging an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and signaling a collective push for an end to the prolonged Israel-Hamas conflict.

Following the United States' use of its veto power in the Security Council, effectively obstructing the same resolution last Friday, Arab and Islamic nations promptly mobilized for an emergency session of the General Assembly, as per to Independent.

UN's Role in Israel-Hamas Conflict

In a recent statement, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric identified the distinction between Security Council resolutions and General Assembly decisions. While Security Council resolutions hold legal binding, General Assembly decisions lack the same legal weight. However, Dujarric emphasized that these decisions still hold considerable significance as they reflect the collective international opinion.

The Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, revealed that the defeated Security Council resolution had garnered support from 103 countries. He anticipates more co-sponsors and a strong vote in favor of the General Assembly resolution on Tuesday.

This move follows the General Assembly's initial response to the Gaza conflict on October 27, where a call for a "humanitarian truce" secured a 120-14 vote with 45 abstentions. However, subsequent Security Council attempts faced hurdles, with the first resolution adopted on November 15 calling for "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses." This was passed with a 12-0 vote, while the US, UK, and Russia abstained.

The recent Security Council meeting on Friday, prompted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoking Article 99 of the UN Charter, emphasized the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. Guterres warned of a potential "humanitarian catastrophe" and urged the council to demand a cease-fire. The US abstained in its support for Israel, as the vote stood at 13-1, with the UK abstaining, according to ABC News.

Read Also: Italy, Germany, France Call for EU's Special Sanctions Against Hamas

UN Resolution, Global Strike For Palestinian Rights

The General Assembly's draft resolution expresses "grave concern" over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, emphasizing the need to protect both Palestinian and Israeli civilians under international humanitarian law. In addition to an immediate cease-fire, it demands compliance with international humanitarian law and calls for the release of hostages, alongside ensuring humanitarian access.

Simultaneously, amid the ongoing conflict, Palestinians and their supporters are initiating a global strike against Israeli aggression. The Palestinian National and Islamic Forces called for a strike on December 11, urging people to refrain from public activities, including work and school. The goal is to disrupt the global economy and draw attention to the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.

Several countries participated in the strike, with roads empty, shops and offices closed, and even entire governments adhering to the call. The strike coincides with reports of unspeakable horrors faced by Palestinians, including attacks on hospitals and UN shelters.

As Gaza stands on the edge, the eyes of the international community are fixed on the UN General Assembly, where a crucial resolution is being voted upon. The resolution aims to provide relief to the innocent civilians who find themselves trapped in the midst of the ongoing conflict. The global community anxiously anticipates the outcome of this joint endeavor, as it holds the potential to establish a crucial humanitarian cease-fire in the conflict-ridden area, Outlook reported.

Related Article: UN Says Afghans Face Harsh Winter, at Risk of Death Amid Lack of Proper Shelter After Leaving Pakistan

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A Lincoln man was charged Friday after hospital staff determined injuries on a 1-month-old victim were allegedly not consistent with the father's statements, according to court records.

Dillon Tripple, 23, took his son to Bryan East Campus on Tuesday, where he was found to have facial injuries and a possible brain bleed, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Tripple allegedly told police that the injuries were caused by him tripping on his dog while holding the baby. The child was transported to the Children's Hospital in Omaha for additional medical attention, according to the affidavit.

In Omaha, apart from his facial injuries, it was discovered the baby had water in his lungs, genital bruising, and at least 22 fractures at different stages of healing, according to the affidavit.

Tripple agreed to meet with Lincoln Police Department investigators on Wednesday to discuss the injuries found on the victim, police say. On Thursday at around 9 a.m., LPD arrested Tripple in the 1600 block of North 56th Street.

Tripple was charged with first-degree assault and committing child abuse intentionally. Judge Laurie Yardley set his percentage bond at $500,000, meaning he would have to pay $50,000 to be released.

The victim is in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
In March 2022, three Nebraska Humane Society veterinary technicians were taking a break outside and feeling frustrated.

Due to staff turnover and shortages among the shelters animal behavior specialists, they had heard that dogs needing socialization and training to make them more adoptable were only going to be taken out of their kennels once a day. There wasnt enough staff to do more.

We were pissed about that, one of them recently recalled. We could get pretty passionate with our voices.

The three also believe someone may have overheard those voices.

The next day, they each were called into the human resources office and accused of bullying behavior.

Upset about the charge, one of the vet techs who had been at the animal shelter for nearly 20 years immediately resigned. And within days, three other vet techs and a vet tech assistant  one of them a recent NHS employee of the year  quit in protest.

The walkout of most of the vet tech staff created an immediate staffing crisis. And it came as NHS and other animal shelters across the country were being overrun by hundreds of dogs and cats surrendered by people who had adopted while staying home during the pandemic.

In response, NHS shuttered its low-cost spay and neuter clinic  a move that could only exacerbate the glut of unwanted pets.

And almost inconceivably, an agency which preaches the importance of spaying and neutering animals for months adopted out some dogs that had not been altered. The agency instead offered vouchers for adopters to have the procedures done at veterinary offices  many of which were never used.

Current and former Nebraska Humane Society employees say thats hardly the only way animal welfare has been harmed recently by staff turmoil.

A World-Herald investigation has revealed dismal employee morale, poor pay, top-down management and a toxic workplace environment that have contributed to massive turnover, chronic understaffing and operational dysfunction within the important Omaha institution.

Turnover at the nonprofit this year is running at an astonishing 58% annual rate. Thats eye-popping even in an industry known for its heart-wrenching, emotionally taxing work and burnout. The national rate for shelters was recently reported to be 38%.

NHS officials suggest that even with soaring turnover and resulting staffing woes, they've been able to meet animals needs without cutting corners.

Numerous employees interviewed dispute that. They said when workers are in short supply, its only natural that kennels arent cleaned as promptly. Veterinary procedures are delayed or foregone. Dogs and cats in need of socialization are engaged less frequently. And animals cant be adopted out as quickly.

It is absolutely hurting animals, said one former manager who quit this year, who like many spoke on condition they not be named in order to speak freely. They dont get out as often, they dont get as much attention, they sit in dirty kennels. Animals are not receiving the care they should be receiving. Because theres nobody to do it.

The World-Heralds findings have already prompted a major leadership shakeup within the nonprofit that serves the region as a shelter for unwanted pets, pet adoption agency and provider of municipal animal control services.

After The World-Herald recently shared its findings with NHS leaders, its unpaid, volunteer board days later accepted the resignation of CEO Nancy Hintz.

Weeks of interviews with some two dozen people  employees and former employees, from managers to animal care workers, as well as volunteers and donors  revealed a bitter irony: Omahas nonprofit dedicated to the humane treatment of animals hasnt treated its people very well.

Those interviewed acknowledged that burnout  compassion fatigue, as it's called in the industry  has long gone hand in hand with shelter work, where staffers are confronted with the reality of abused and neglected animals and face difficult life-and-death decisions. And they say the pay is poor and inadequate.

But they also cited a belief that the nonprofits leadership did not value its workers, their well-being, or their opinions on how the organization can function better.

Its coming from being dehumanized on a daily basis, and knowing you dont matter, said a department director who quit earlier this year. Youre replaceable.

Managers described the rank-and-file employees as worked to the bone due to the chronic understaffing, often foregoing lunch or breaks and putting in long hours to meet animals needs. Despite the toll that takes, many workers said they did not feel supported, appreciated, cared for or listened to.

There was no sympathy or compassion for people who have to do all these really hard things, said Jill Moss, an animal control administrator who quit last year after 22 years with NHS. I feel like they dont care about the employees. Kudos to the people who are still there taking care of the pets people are surrendering. Its a really hard job.

The World-Heralds findings were backed by the nonprofits own recent internal employee surveys, the results of which were obtained by the newspaper.

The surveys showed widespread dissatisfaction over leadership and the direction of the organization.

Most telling: Only one in three felt senior leaders valued people as the organizations most important resource. Just one in four they had created a positive work environment. One in three felt heard. A year after the first survey, only one in four saw positive change.

Hintz did not respond to an opportunity to comment sought through NHS.

In accepting Hintzs resignation, the board publicly praised her as a change agent who had helped the nonprofit navigate the pandemic and successfully raise funds. Mark Langan, the former longtime head of field operations for the nonprofit, also offered praise for Hintz and her support for his departments work.

Deyna Rouse, NHS board president, said the board had recently been focused on many of the same concerns raised by The World-Herald. As part of that effort, it had commissioned the employee surveys.

She said the board had worked with Hintz in the past year to improve operations, feeling those issues needed to be resolved first.

At Hintzs recommendation, NHS brought in a Utah animal sanctuary organization to assess how the shelter was being run compared to best practices. One of its recommendations, for example, was implementing playgroups for dogs as a way to give them more outside and socialization time while requiring less staff.

The board more recently turned its attention to personnel issues like morale and employee support, Rouse said, last month hiring another outside consultant.

As it worked through the process, Rouse said the board had been considering whether a change of leadership was in order. She suggested that when The World-Herald presented its findings, that influenced the boards thinking.

It would be inaccurate to say such changes had never crossed the mind of the governing board, Rouse said. To say (changes) might have been accelerated? Probably not (inaccurate).

'Very demoralizing to try to make a difference'

Saturday tends to be the busiest day for adoptions at the Nebraska Humane Society, as families from across the region come to the big, familiar complex near 90th and Fort Streets in hopes of meeting and taking home a new best friend.

But on a recent Saturday, there were only two adoption counselors available to introduce dogs to dozens of prospective adopters. Only one counselor was experienced enough to handle the most challenging of dogs, and she soon went home sick.

Three other adoption counselors were so new and green they had not yet been trained to adopt out any dogs; one had been on the job for just a few days. They could only adopt out cats or shadow the lone dog adoption counselor.

In the face of such critically low staffing, adoption appointments were shut off around noon, just two hours after the shelter opened for the day. Some potential adopters waited for hours to meet with pets. Others were shut out completely.

One family turned away had driven from Fremont in hopes of meeting Cora, a dog that had been in NHSs kennels for five months. And Cora wasnt the only dog or cat left to languish in the shelter that was overflowing with unwanted animals.

It was kind of a mess, one employee said.

A mess thats directly tied to the rampant turnover within NHS.

To be sure, turnover in shelter work in general has historically been high. Pay is low, as most shelters tend to be nonprofits that also rely heavily on volunteers to help them see to animals needs.

People attracted by the thought of being able to work around animals soon come face to face with animals that have been abandoned and abused. The customers they interact with can also get pretty emotional about animals, too.

Its an emotionally charged line of work to be having to look into the eyes of animals every day, Rouse said.

But the data suggests that NHS has taken turnover to a whole other level.

Among it's more than 200 employees, annual turnover was 46% in 2022 and is now sharply even higher this year. In some departments, annual turnover reportedly exceeds 100%.

From the outside, its surprising, especially given the strong community reputation of the institution founded in 1875.

A longtime active volunteer who knows people throughout the shelter said in recent years she saw many departures of workers who had been there for 10, 15 or 20 years. Many of them told her they thought the nonprofit had lost its way, she said.

She particularly cited the loss of the vet techs. She knew many of them, calling the charge they were bullies laughable.

When nationwide there are a limited number of vet techs and we have shelters filled to the brim, you need to keep your people engaged and happy, and instead they forced them out, she said. Its hard when you see a lot of the problems in our shelter are self-induced.

NHS has publicly attributed the closing of the spay and neuter clinic to the nationwide vet tech shortage. In fact, it was directly related to the sudden vet tech walkout. And while the sign on the door still says its temporarily closed, its now been more than 18 months.

Employees say turnover has been particularly high among adoption counselors, animal care workers, behavior specialists and customer service workers.

Depending on the job, such workers now start between $13 and $16 an hour, a wage so low many could qualify for food stamps.

Turnover is so high in adoptions, a former manager said most such employees tend to last only a few months, and few last more than a year.

People come and go all the time, said the manager. We were never fully staffed, and when we were, it never lasted long.

A current NHS manager said she spoke recently to two adoption counselors who quit around the same time, both citing the extra shifts they were constantly being asked to pick up due to short staffing.

We have a great bunch of people, but I think they feel taken advantage of, overworked and underpaid, she said. And if you don't have people to deal with it, the animals are the ones that suffer.

Such turnover also robs the department of experience and expertise.

One former employee who worked in adoptions said it wasnt uncommon for someone who had been working there for a month to be training someone new. She said a lack of knowledge can lead to mismatches that produce failed adoptions.

We have so many animals in there, another employee said. And if you don't have adoption staff, then we can't get them out.

To fill gaps in adoptions, NHS leaders have frequently pulled employees out of other departments to help out  often from the behavior department. But that leaves fewer behavior staffers to perform that vital work.

Even management employees whose pay is two or three times that of adoption counselors have been pulled in to help. The former senior director of business operations who resigned last year said it would clearly make more sense, both operationally and financially, to pay a wage attractive enough to keep an experienced adoption staff.

She also said NHS leaders frequent solution to getting more animals out the door has been to hold adoption sales, with animals offered free or at lower costs. Queues would fill up quickly, and customers would wait in long lines because there werent enough counselors.

Adoption sales dont work if you dont have the staff to do them, she said. It just made people angry to have to wait three or four hours.

The former business director said she repeatedly told the nonprofits top leaders about inadequate adoption counselor pay and how counterproductive it was. But she said the pay, at the time $12 an hour, was not addressed before she quit last year.

Several years ago, NHS animal control officers formed a union over pay and other working conditions. Not only were they paid about $14 an hour, NHS managers had rejected their requests for body armor for when they're requested to help police in dangerous situations where animals are present, or for rabies shots to protect them when dealing with wildlife and dangerous dogs.

Through collective bargaining, they ultimately gained those things, plus a boost in pay to $18 an hour.

Hintz earlier this year said she recognized not long after she was hired in 2016 that pay was an issue throughout the organization. NHS got more aggressive on the issue in the wake of the pandemic, commissioning a study comparing pay for all NHS workers to the market.

By earlier this year, all workers were brought up to at least the midpoint of the market, and other pay adjustments were made in certain departments, including adoptions, where starting pay is now $16 an hour.

But as the exodus from the shelter shows, there may be more work to do on pay. And many employees and donors believe the nonprofit has the resources to do it.

The City of Omaha just boosted NHSs annual financial support for animal control services by some $700,000, with a small part of that funding recently going toward boosting pay for animal control officers to $20 an hour.

The shelter also receives strong philanthropic support, two years ago opening a new privately funded $14 million adoption center. And its supported annually by a sizable endowment of nearly $30 million, too.

But employees also say pay is certainly not the only issue behind the animal shelters monumental turnover and staffing woes.

They described NHS management as extremely insular, top-down and siloed, enforced by a common Hintz mantra that employees should stay in your lane.

Leadership, they said, was not interested in employees feelings about how the shelter was being run or how things could improve. Seven different employees and volunteers interviewed by The World-Herald independently used the word toxic to describe the internal culture of their workplace.

It's very demoralizing to try to make a difference there, one manager said. It's kind of from the top down ... a 'my way or the highway' sort of mentality. And it's very toxic.

Several employees said workers sometimes have declined to bring important issues or concerns forward for fear of facing the wrath of leaders.

The former senior director of business operations noted during a meeting one day that only about a fourth of the vouchers NHS was giving to people who adopted unaltered dogs were being turned in at vets offices, suggesting most of the animals were not getting fixed.

She said Hintz later confronted her about the statement, asking whether she was working for or against the agency.

It felt like she was asking whether I was for or against her, she said.

Numerous employees also said they felt unsupported by NHS leaders as they dealt with the difficult conditions posed by the understaffing and a shelter overflowing with animals.

I dont think its compassion fatigue, said Brandi Busse, a former animal care worker. Its management fatigue.

The 47-year-old loved her work, making sure the dogs in her care were watered and fed, their kennels were clean and other needs were met. Though paid like a fast-food worker, after her kids had grown, Busse felt she could afford to devote herself to the animals.

Busse said when she was responsible for a kennel of 30 dogs, she would have time to sit and give them some extra attention as they endured the stresses of kennel life. One co-worker described Busse as loving those dogs like her own.

But when staffing became short, shed at times find 60 dogs under her care. Shed then work nine or 10 hours without a lunch break just to meet basic needs.

It was just the way management treated everyone. You didnt matter, she said. Even if you did something good, you were never recognized for it.

In fact, rather than being rewarded for her dedication to her dogs, Busse was fired.

Three weeks ago, Busse said she was feeding her dogs when a member of an outside hired cleaning crew came in and said he was going to clean the kennels.

With low staffing in animal care, NHS in recent years had hired the expensive cleaning service to assist with cleaning kennels.

Busse said there were issues with the cleaning crews. For example, there were reported incidents where the workers, who are not trained to work around dogs, sprayed hoses in their direction to get them to move to the compartments in the backs of their kennels so the front areas could be cleaned. She said she witnessed one such incident herself earlier this year.

NHS officials say they looked into such reports and deny there were any intentional spraying incidents. Any dogs who got wet, they say, did so inadvertently from splashing. They say the outside cleaning crews have also proven to do good work, with clean kennels vital to keeping disease from spreading among dogs.

On this day, Busse said she asked the cleaning worker to let her dogs finish eating first before he did his work.

The cleaner left and came back with two coworkers, and Busse said they insisted on cleaning the kennels right away. Intimidated, Busse told them to F--- off and let the dogs eat.

The next day, Busse was called into human resources and fired for her profanity.

A human resources worker said her language wasnt consistent with the great culture NHS was seeking to promote.

Given all the cultural issues within the shelter, the statement left Busse incredulous.

You guys are all a joke, she said just before leaving.

As in the cases of the vet techs, NHS officials declined to comment on the departures, calling them personnel issues.

Some employees acknowledge that in recent months they have seen efforts by NHS leadership to change the culture: things like better communication, and offers of counseling or other help through the employee assistance program.

But they said they saw no real progress in altering the dismal morale reflected in NHSs own employee surveys.

Now they are starting to say Heres a yoga class you can join, " one employee said. Its a little too late.

A new beginning

On Tuesday morning, word began buzzing around within the tight networks of current and former NHS workers.

My text message and Facebook Messenger went off 25 times in a row, said Moss, the former longtime animal control worker.

Then in the afternoon came the official emails from the NHS board to employees, volunteers and donors: It had accepted the resignations of Hintz and another senior manager. Pam Wiese, the communications vice president who has long served as the NHS spokesperson, would be taking over as interim CEO.

Moss said she was thrilled by the news, which she said left her super happy about the future prospects for rebuilding the culture within the Humane Society. She said Wiese is respected throughout the organization.

Everybody loves Pam, she said. Pam is like the face of the Humane Society.

Another former employee said she was brought to tears by the news.

"I am happy for the staff," she said. "I am relieved for the animals."

In her first interview since taking on her new role, Wiese Thursday said she and the board would be focused on moving the organization forward, including tackling turnover.

Right now its very high, and we know that, she said.

She said some progress has been made. The veterinary department recently became fully staffed, thanks to paying above-average wages for vet techs. Wiese offered no timeline on whether NHS would reopen the spay and neuter clinic.

Wiese said she also recognizes the need for more adoption counselors, who she said play a crucial role. NHS will consider in line with its budget whether more pay upgrades are needed to attract them, she said.

You are kind of trying to put an animal out into the world and decide that this is going to be the rest of its life, she said. And it's a pretty big responsibility.

Rouse said management will also be very focused on what more can be done "to support our people executing what is ultimately a really difficult job."

It all sounds great to Moss, who now has another job in a veterinary office. She likely wont be going back to NHS. But she said she suspects some others who left will.

Indeed, many interviewed by The World-Herald who quit the nonprofit had said it was difficult for them to leave the animals at the shelter behind. Some even said they felt guilty about it.

Everyone who quit or was fired would go back tomorrow if they felt management gave a crap about them, one of the former vet techs said earlier this month. They loved their jobs that much. We were there for the animals. We werent there for anyone else.

Photos: Inside the renovated Nebraska Humane Society
Natalie Reina Ramos has announced her campaign for a seat on the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education District 2 seat.

Ramos said in her announcement that her goal, if elected, is to help lead a unified, productive team in District 2 because she said there is a lot of work to do and time is of the essence.

Remember, United we stand, Divided we fall so my doors and phones will always be open and ready for any new ideas and suggestions that can enhance our educational purpose for the growth and welfare of these young children and soon-to-be adults in the Iredell County Community, Ramos said in a news release.

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Ramos has lived in Iredell County since she was 18 years old. She said as a single mother of two graduates of South Iredell High School and one of Central Piedmont Community College, it is a true blessing to be a candidate running for the first time as a Democrat for a seat on the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education. Ramos was recently elected as president of the African American Caucus and is a member of the Mooresville/South Iredell NAACP. She said it has been an honor to be able to portray her talents and educational background in these fields.

Ramos touted her background not just as a substitute teacher, nutritionist, and chairperson of the board at I-Care Head Start and Success Institute, but as a small business owner as well. She said her background helped her get to know the principals, teachers, town council members, residents, and the students in the area.

Ramos said she has a degree in business and technology, both high school and GED graduate of Mitchell Community College. Ramos has taught poetry at all the Iredell County libraries and as an independent self-publisher in many books, she said that has given her the opportunity to allow teens to express themselves through the art of poetry, songs, music, acting and dance.

Because as a performer I have learned the importance of communicating and letting your inside voice be heard so that things like suicides, bullying, gender, race, cultural backgrounds, religion, etc., that have been taking place in the school system for years can now openly be addressed in a safe, professional environment with people who care if I was to be elected as a representative for the Iredell Statesville School Education Board, Ramos said.

She said that the elections in 2024 are a chance to put an appropriate representative on the board.

I am someone who will solely focus on helping this new generation of students to be once again properly molded by the correct morals and standards into becoming better and stronger leaders, teachers, and role models that they were originally born and mentally designed to be, Ramos said. So again we as parents and candidates need to stay on point on what is truly needed to better the school systems pay, transportation, food, grades, curriculum, computers, supplies and all the important things that should have already been targeted by any previous persons who has sat on the seats that could have made a difference and lost hope.

So, I Natalie R. Ramos, am proudly ready to serve this Board and regain its momentum.
Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria.

Monday, two military bases in Iraq and Syria housing international coalition forces against the Islamic State group were targeted by a drone and rockets, according to a US military official speaking to AFP. At the same time, the export approval for essential food items like olive oil, Awassi sheep, mountain goats, pastries, noodles, and canned legumes by the Syrian Prime Ministry holds considerable consequences for the availability and pricing of these goods within Syria.

Drone, rockets fired at US-led coalition forces in Iraq and Syria

Both attacks were claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose formation of armed groups affiliated with the Hashed al-Shaabi coalition of former paramilitaries that are now integrated into Iraqs regular armed forces.

These pro-Iran groups violently oppose US backing for Israel in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which erupted on October 7 when the terror group launched a deadly attack into Israel, killing 1,200 people, most of them civilians massacred amid brutal atrocities in their homes, communities and at a music festival.

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The United States leads the international coalition battling jihadists in Iraq and neighbouring Syria, and its forces have come under repeated attack in recent weeks.

A drone attack targeted the Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq on Monday, without causing casualties or damage, the US military official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

And in northeast Syria, several rockets were fired at a base in the Al-Shaddadi region, the official added.

Turkeys airstrikes in northern Syria leave population in desperate humanitarian crisis

Turkeys devastating October campaign has caused severe and lasting damage to the fragile humanitarian infrastructure of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), leaving the population without adequate fuel, electricity and water as winter approaches, according to a recent Rojava Information Centre (RIC) report.

Turkey launched a heavy and systematic bombing campaign in the Kurdish-led de facto autonomous regions of Syria on the night of 4 October. The campaign resulted in 48 deaths, including nine civilians, and 47 injuries, including 15 civilians.

As outlined in the report, Turkeys military offensive included 25 warplanes and 64 drone strikes, deliberately targeting vital installations including oil fields, power plants, water stations, a hospital, gas producing stations and industrial sites. This was Ankaras most egregious military escalation in northeastern Syria since 2019, leaving vital infrastructure in ruins and rendering electricity and water supplies to homes, IDP camps, hospitals, bakeries, mills, pharmacies and schools inoperable.

The impact on the civilian population is profound, and while makeshift solutions have allowed for a relatively quick restoration of basic humanitarian services, AANES lacks the economic and logistical capacity to fully restore all infrastructure, even with the support of various NGOs operating in the region. As a result, the impact will be long-lasting, the RIC predicts.

The people of North and East have faced continuous air and ground attacks, deteriorating economic conditions, water cuts and acute shortages of essential goods since 2012, when the autonomy movement in Syrias northern regions began, followed by the establishment of AANES in 2018. The already precarious humanitarian and infrastructure situation in the region prior to Turkeys escalation has exacerbated the impact of Turkeys recent airstrikes.

The RIC report also takes a closer look at the impact of Turkeys attacks on the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) and on efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region.

Looking further afield, the report examines Turkeys use of F-16 fighter jets in the context of a possible imminent sale of such aircraft from the United States to Turkey. It also examines the Global Coalitions response to Turkeys attacks and raises concerns about possible violations of international law, with allegations that Turkey may be committing war crimes in North and East Syria.

Shining a light on Syria

Congressman French Hill wrote an op-ed for The Hill, in which he asserted that a resolute, unified global response is crucial to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria, exacerbated by Russian involvement and Assads regime, and to prevent the normalization of such atrocities in international relations. This stance advocates for continued economic and military support, rejecting normalization with Assad, and calls for a comprehensive global plan to bring about a political settlement in Syria, ensuring secure governance and an end to transnational criminal activities.

Since February 2022, the American public has been shocked by the brutality of Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine, marked by disturbing images of violence and destruction. Vladimir Putin, in power since 1999, has been involved in numerous conflicts, including in Chechnya, Georgia, Donbas, and Crimea. However, his involvement in Syria, supporting Bashar Al-Assad alongside Iran, has been particularly egregious, with over 300,000 deaths, 14 million displacements, and countless imprisonments.

In August, a visit to Syria and Turkey by a U.S. delegation, including Reps. Ben Cline and Scott Fitzgerald, highlighted the tragic human cost of the war. They witnessed firsthand the suffering of those injured and displaced by the conflict, particularly at the Dr. Muhammad Wassim Maaz Hospital and the SETFs facilities in Turkey and Syria. A visit to an orphanage revealed the personal tragedies of children who lost their parents to the war.

The delegation noted the global focus on Ukraine, contrasting it with the prolonged suffering in Syria. Recent attacks in Syria, even after their visit, resulted in more civilian casualties, including children. The delegation critiqued past Western policies towards these conflicts as ineffective and too appeasing.

Currently, there is widespread condemnation of Putins actions in Ukraine. However, there is concern about the Arab Leagues efforts to reintegrate Assad into the international community, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The delegation is skeptical that this will lead to positive changes in Syria, such as peace, refugee return, reduced Iranian influence, or an end to Assads drug trade.

The delegation calls for continued economic and military support to Syria, rejecting normalization with Assad, and urges a global plan for political settlement in Syria. This plan should aim for secure, peaceful governance and an end to criminal activities. Such efforts are essential for effective rebuilding and assistance for those devastated by the war and other calamities in the region.

Does export of basic food items affect their availability, pricing

Enab Baladi reported that the export of essential food items, such as olive oil, male Awassi sheep, mountain goats, locally manufactured pastries, noodles, and canned legumes, as permitted by the Syrian Prime Ministry, has significant implications for both the availability and pricing of these goods in Syria.

Initially, the export of olive oil was banned to ensure local market needs were met at affordable prices due to decreased production. However, the recent decision to allow its export, albeit in limited quantities, might lead to price increases. This is especially concerning given that the price of a tin of oil could rise significantly with the start of exports.

Similar impacts are expected for other goods like sheep, goats, pastries, noodles, and legumes. The exports of these items might contribute to a scarcity in the local market and a subsequent increase in prices.

The decision to allow exports is seen as a response to the economic needs of Syria, aiming to bring in foreign currency and support local industries. Factories are currently operating at a fraction of their capacity, and exports are viewed as a way to fully utilize their potential.

Past decisions to export commodities like potatoes and green garlic led to price hikes for these items in the local market. This indicates a pattern where exports can result in reduced local availability and increased prices.

The government is trying to increase foreign currency inflows through increased exports. This is in response to lifting subsidies on many commodities and the economic challenges faced by the country.

The exports are also seen as a way to support local industries which are suffering due to weak purchasing power in the Syrian market.

The government aims to project an image of stability and openness to international trade to attract traders and encourage their return to Syria.

Exporters face additional costs due to royalties during shipping within Syria, which may affect the feasibility of exports.

The export of basic food items in Syria is a double-edged sword. While it aims to support local industries and increase foreign currency inflows, it also risks increasing the prices and reducing the availability of these items for the local population, many of whom are living below the poverty line. The governments decision reflects a complex balancing act between economic needs and the welfare of its citizens.
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler emphasized that Turkey will not withdraw its forces from Syrian territory, according to Athr Press.

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler stated in a press interview on Monday that Turkey seeks to normalize relations with Syria. However, he emphasized that Turkey will not withdraw its forces from Syrian territory.

Guler, speaking to NTV, expressed Turkeys desire to improve relations with Syria after years of tensions, stating, We dont want another countrys territory at a time when Turkey and Syria aim to normalize relations. He acknowledged that the presence of Turkish forces in northern Syria is viewed as an obstacle by the Syrian state, but he justified it by citing the need to protect Turkeys borders from security threats posed by the PKK and PYD organizations, as reported by the Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah.

Guler criticized the U.S. support for these organizations, saying, Some friendly countries provide all kinds of support to terrorists, and emphasized the necessity of keeping them away from Turkish territory.

In a related development, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on December 6th a plan to clear the Tal Rifaat area and other regions in northern Syria from Kurdish terrorist organizations. He stressed the importance of securing areas near the borders where terrorists gather, particularly Tal Rifaat, according to the Turkish Anadolu Agency.

These Turkish statements align with renewed discussions about reactivating the reconciliation process between Syria and Turkey. In late November, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian discussed recent regional developments. Abdollahian expressed Irans commitment to supporting efforts to normalize relations between Ankara and Damascus. The discussions also covered addressing the activities of the PKK in northern Iraq and Syria, including its extension in Syria through the YPG, a major component of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Russian Presidents envoy to Syria, Alexander Yefimov, highlighted the significance of the Syrian-Turkish reconciliation issue, describing it as a focal point for mediators. Yefimov stated, We still consider the restoration of relations between Damascus and Ankara one of the important factors in the Syrian settlement. He believes that improving neighbourly relations based on respect for Syrias sovereignty will not only positively impact Syria but also contribute to the overall regional situation.

The Syrian government consistently underscores the complete withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syrian territory as a fundamental requirement for successful reconciliation with Turkey. President Bashar al-Assad, during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian, emphasized the inevitability of Turkish withdrawal as a crucial condition for the return of normal relations. Abdollahian, in turn, stressed the importance of respecting Syrias sovereignty and territorial integrity during the meeting.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Iran wants to channel the funds from Syria to Tehran via a railway connecting the port of Khomeini in Khuzestan, southwestern Iran, to the Mediterranean Sea, Syria TV says.

Iran appears to be expeditiously moving forward with the implementation of agreements it has reached with the Syrian regime, aimed at recovering accumulated debts spanning the past 13 years. The intention is to channel the funds obtained from Syria to Tehran via a railway connecting the port of Khomeini in Khuzestan, southwestern Iran, to the Mediterranean Sea. However, the realization of Irans policy in Syria, particularly through this transit line, is still a work in progress.

The transit line serves as a strategic avenue for Iran to broaden and solidify its influence along the transportation route, essentially reshaping its political axis with Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon into a cohesive geographical axis. This strategic shift is underscored by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisis call for an expedited full-scale implementation of agreements and understandings between the two nations, a move that aligns with the overarching vision of establishing an Iranian Silk Road.

Unfinished road

In 2011, Iran successfully concluded the construction of the 17-kilometer Khorramshahr-Shalamcheh railway, with the objective of establishing a rail link between Iran and the city of Basra. Subsequently, in 2014, Tehran and Baghdad entered into a memorandum of understanding to initiate the Shalamcheh-Basra line.

According to the agreement, Iran is responsible for designing and constructing a bridge over the Shatt al-Arab, while Iraq has committed to developing a 32-kilometre railway from the Shalamjah border to the Basra railway station within its territory.

Originating from Shalamjah on the Iraqi border, the railway traverses Basra, extends through the city of al-Bukamal at the Syrian border, and terminates at the Mediterranean port of Latakia. However, the lack of financial support from the Iraqi government has disrupted the intended route, as the agreement stipulates that Baghdad is obligated to complete the railway within its borders at its own expense.

Iranian official sources have emphasized on multiple occasions that the transit line holds the potential to contribute to Syrias reconstruction, enhance the transport sector, and facilitate religious tourism between Iran, Iraq, and Syria. These discussions and commitments were further solidified during the recent visit of Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous to Tehran.

Similar to Iraq, the Syrian regime faces challenges in fulfilling the Iranian project, grappling with substantial debt, economic and financial crises, and complexities in northeastern Syria, including the presence of U.S. forces and their allies. These factors pose obstacles to Irans ambition to link the routes of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative with Iraq through its territory.

Attacks on U.S. forces: Will it open the way for Iran?

Iran is intensifying its pressure on the Syrian regime to recover outstanding debts and activate a land transport transit line through Iraq to Syria, estimated at fifty billion dollars, as revealed by documents leaked from Irans Supreme National Security Council meeting.

Economic sources in Damascus disclosed to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that Iran is relentlessly working to activate a land transport transit line through Iraq to Syria, along with an organized and unregulated shipping line connecting Iran to Syrian ports. The primary objective is to establish an isolated trade route, circumventing international economic sanctions, and this initiative is referred to as the East-West Corridor in Iran.

Despite these efforts, Iranian agreements and projects in Syria continue to encounter numerous challenges and obstacles, including issues related to the laws and regulations governing economic activities in Syria. The prevalence of administrative corruption further complicates implementation, and political hindrances arise from the U.S. presence in Syria. Additionally, opposition from Syrians to the Iranian presence on their territory poses additional hurdles.

Under the pretext of supporting Gaza, Iranian militias are escalating attacks on U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq. A security official from the Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah has vowed to launch more attacks on U.S. forces in the region, asserting that the recent attacks on U.S. interests were just the beginning of a new set of rules of engagement, according to Reuters.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Like many Head Start programs nationwide, Lower Columbia College Head Start, Early Head Start and ECEAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program) is struggling to find enough staff to function at full capacity.

In September, the center was missing six classrooms worth of staff, leaving almost a quarter of their student enrollment for the year unable to be filled, LCC Head Start Director Mindy Leasure said. Now, several months into the school year, the center is still recruiting for about 20 positions needed to open three classrooms, which would have space for a total of 51 students.

The classrooms will open for enrollment when they are fully staffed, so families are encouraged to apply for the waitlist in the meantime, Leasure said. Applications are accepted year-round.

Head Start is a free federal program to prepare low-income children up to 5 years old for school. Lower Columbia College manages the eight Head Start centers in Cowlitz County.

The biggest need is for support staff such as teaching assistants, center aides, food service workers and bus drivers, Leasure said. She said they are starting to see an uptick in applications since rebranding the center aide position, which was previously listed as substitute teacher, to make the positions responsibilities clearer.

Last school year, limited staffing led to multiple temporary classroom closures every month, according to the programs end of month report for June. This is not in line with what parents should be able to expect from Head Start, Leasure said.

We need to be dependable and consistent for families, and we have always been that way since 1972, she said.

Even when classrooms were open, less support staff meant teachers were not able to spend as much one-on-one time with students who needed extra support, especially with the increasing number of students with behavioral issues or developmental delays following the COVID-19 pandemic, said Cathy Young, lead teacher at LCC Head Starts Barnes Center.

Teaching is a profession where we know were going to put in extra time, Young said. Thats what we do as teachers. But there are just not enough hours in the day to support all these kiddos.

A lack of substitutes also made it difficult for teachers to get time off when they need it, she said.

Between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, LCC Head Start returned 114 student slots to the state because there were not enough teachers, bringing their enrollment from 524 to 410 students, Leasure said. They are not the only Head Start program to downsize; the National Head Start Association reported in October that 55% of Head Start and Early Head Start programs surveyed had submitted a change of scope application to the Office of Head Start in the last three years, most of which resulted in a reduction in enrollment.

The National Head Start Association conducted a series of surveys between May 2022 and October 2023 documenting the number of vacancies at Head Start programs around the country, why staff are leaving and how centers are affected. In each survey, respondents cited compensation as the main reason for staffing issues.

According to the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP, the average annual salary for a lead teacher at Head Start is about $35,000, while a kindergarten teacher makes $63,700. The average salary for an assistant teacher is even lower, at just over $26,000 annually.

Were not making enough to live and sustain paying our bills, LCC West Center lead teacher Treva Strehan said.

With the cost of living rising, many Head Start employees are transferring to school districts and other jobs where pay is closer to a living wage. Young said that several teachers she mentored have moved on to nearby elementary schools, and that she was only able to continue working for Head Start because of her husbands higher salary.

As a Head Start graduate herself, she said that working for the program has always been a goal of hers and she does not want to leave despite the low pay.

Leaving Head Start would be a last resort, just because it means so much to me, she said.

The Office of Head Start submitted a notice of proposed rulemaking to the Federal Register Nov. 20 that included suggestions such as a significant wage increase to bring Head Start salaries closer to those in elementary schools, improved staff benefits including health insurance and free mental health services, and streamlining program services to lower burdens on both staff and families.

LCC Head Start currently offers most of these supports, with the exception of matching pay to local public schools, Leasure said.

Increasing pay for teachers would require increasing funding to Head Start, but an appropriations bill introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives Oct. 6 would instead reduce Head Start funding by $750 million, or 6% of its current funding, according to the National Head Start Association. This would result in a loss of Head Start services for an estimated 1,400 children in Washington state, Joel Ryan, executive director of the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP, said in an email to Head Start employees.

The bill is estimated to remove 17 children from LCC Head Start and would reduce available jobs, Leasure said. She said that any necessary job cuts would come through natural attrition such as retirements and cutting already vacant positions.

Its a time when our workforce needs more support, not less, and our children need more help than ever, she said. Less resources in the field is not going to help those children close the learning gap.
RIDGEFIELD  As Ridgefield, the states fastest-growing city since 2010, continues to urbanize  with more homes, a Costco, an industrial project and possibly an In-N-Out Burger on the way  city officials are seeking an additional route to Interstate 5.

The citys only direct connection to I-5 is via Pioneer Street, the citys main road. The intersection can be clogged to the point that drivers will exit I-5 at the 179th Street interchange, which is also often congested, and head north to Ridgefield.

To accommodate the growth, city officials are working to create a new connection with Interstate 5 at the existing Northeast 219th Street interchange at Exit 11, which currently extends only east toward Battle Ground.

Weve got three connections worth of traffic trying to use those two connections, Ridgefield Public Works Director Chuck Green said.

City officials have eyed a new connection since 2007. A 2019 Washington State Department of Transportation planning grant underwrote a study of potential routes. The next steps are the environmental and design phase, for which city officials sought but failed to secure $5 million in funding from the Legislature last session. City officials plan to try again in future legislative sessions.

Because the connection will be in both city and county jurisdiction, elected officials from both entities met Nov. 29 to discuss the project.

Options

Officials are considering seven potential routes for the connection, most of which take off from the 219th Street overcrossing and continue west for approximately 1 miles to connect with Hillhurst Road or Northwest 31st Avenue, which becomes Hillhurst Road after it crosses Williams Road heading north toward Ridgefield. Estimated cost for the routes ranges between $50 million and $62 million.

They either go north, south or west to avoid some property impacts, Green said. Thats why you see some of those alignments in different locations, but essentially, their termini is at the same place.

The one exception is an option that would head north and connect with Northwest Carty Road, which would then ferry drivers west. That version of the project would dovetail with a separate planned upgrade to Carty Road estimated to cost between $90 million and $100 million, with $40 million to $45 million for the route itself and an additional $50 million to $55 million for Northwest Carty Road upgrades.
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:

Yoon Suk Yeol has described chips as his 'top priority' during his visit to the Netherlands.

Dutch tech giant ASML and Samsung Tuesday signed a deal worth around 700 million euros to build a semiconductor research plant in South Korea, as President Yoon Suk Yeol wrapped up day one of a technology-focused visit.

Yoon was the first foreign leader to visit ASML's highly secure "cleanroom", on a trip to the Netherlands aimed at forging a "chip alliance" between the two global semiconductor powerhouses.

He toured the city-sized facilities of ASML, which makes cutting-edge machines to manufacture the semiconductor chips that power everything from your smartphone to your car.

ASML and Samsung later agreed to "jointly in the future" invest in the facility that would "develop cutting-edge semiconductor processing technology using next-generation EUV (extreme ultraviolet) equipment".

Semiconductors are the "linchpin" of ties between Korea and the Netherlands, Yoon told AFP in an exclusive written interview before becoming the first Korean leader to visit since ties were established in 1961.

But they have also emerged as a battleground between China and the West.

Washington and the Netherlands are among the powers that have imposed restrictions on exporting advanced chip-making equipment to China, fearing Beijing could use it to make cutting-edge weapons.

Beijing has described this as "technological terrorism".

Yoon said his host ASML's innovation in the sector had "been a major driver of an industrial revolution pushing the boundaries in areas like AI (artificial intelligence) and 5G communication".

As competition with China hots up, the semiconductor industry is "strategically more important than ever before, which makes this visit to the Netherlands especially meaningful", added Yoon in his AFP interview.

Yoon was joined on his visit to ASML by the heads of major chip makers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.

The two Korean firms are affected by the export curbs to China since they have based a large portion of their production, especially of advanced DRAM and flash memory chips, in China.

ASML too enjoys healthy sales to China, especially of DUV (deep ultraviolet) systems that print the tiny elements that make up a microchip.

Yoon told AFP his visit to ASML would mark a "crucial turning point" for ties between the two countries, with discussion on chip co-operation his "top priority" during the visit.

'Chip alliance'

His office has said the two nations want to forge a "chip alliance" that would involve governments, businesses and research universities.

The two countries are expected to sign several agreements after a meeting between Yoon and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Wednesday.

The Netherlands and Korea already enjoy strong trade ties.

Korea is the third-largest trade partner for the Dutch in Asia, while the Netherlands is the second-top partner for Korea in the European Union, according to the Dutch government.

During a summit between Yoon and Rutte in November 2022, the two countries signed a "strategic partnership" including a pledge to boost semiconductor ties.

The visit kicked off with a welcome ceremony from Dutch King Willem-Alexander, before the trip to ASML in Veldhoven, southern Netherlands.

In the ceremony on Amsterdam's historic Dam central square, Yoon and Willem-Alexander inspected a military guard of honour and chatted to children waving Korean and Dutch flags.

Yoon will head to The Hague for the meeting with Rutte Wednesday, following which the two men will hold a news conference.

 2023 AFP
Xi Jinping's anticipated state visit to Vietnam brings into focus the intricate dance of diplomatic maneuvers and strategic considerations.

As both leaders, Xi and Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong, exchange compliments on the historic friendship between their nations, the visit underscores a subtle competition for Vietnam's allegiance between China and the United States, as per The Time.

Vietnam's Diplomatic Balancing Act

Vietnam is anticipated to affiliate itself with Xi Jinping's "Community of Common Destiny" throughout the visit; this action is regarded as a challenge to the prevailing US-led global order. This is a reaction to the unanticipated designation of the United States as a "Comprehensive Strategic Partner" during the recent state visit of President Joe Biden to Hanoi, which effectively equated the two countries' influence in Vietnam's global alliances.

The visit also involves economic overtures, with China offering advanced railway technology to upgrade Vietnam's transport infrastructure. However, the agenda remains conspicuously silent on longstanding territorial disputes, historical grievances, and the bitter memories of conflict in the 1970s and 80s.

Despite diplomatic niceties, public sentiment in Vietnam, a country renowned for its strong anti-Chinese stance, continues to be cautious. In the world of online discussions, sensitive topics like territorial disputes and historical grievances are often brought up. However, it is worth noting that these particular issues are tactfully avoided in official discussions.

Vietnam's strategic approach to its ties with China can be traced back to its rich historical backdrop, characterized by a strong sense of national pride, arduous battles for independence against external forces, and an enduring apprehension towards its colossal northern neighbor. Although occasional anti-Chinese protests have occurred, the Vietnamese government treads cautiously to manage public sentiment, according to BBC News.

Read Also: IDF's Arrest Procedures Spark Outrage After Videos, Images Show Palestinian Men Stripped Naked Upon Apprehension in Gaza

Navigating China Ties Amidst Global Alliances

Despite this, the economic relationship between China and Vietnam holds great importance, as China stands as Vietnam's primary trading partner and the leading foreign direct investor. China's Belt-and-Road initiative, which seeks to expand economic influence, has garnered a range of responses in Vietnam, highlighting the presence of concerns regarding economic dependence.

Vietnam's strategic outlook, characterized by "bamboo diplomacy," aims to befriend all nations while avoiding alliances and conflicts. Yet, the upgrade in US-Vietnam relations this year signals a hedging strategy against Chinese influence, particularly in light of ongoing tensions in the South China Sea.

The increasing economic influence of China in Vietnam, in conjunction with the ideological connections that exist between the leaders of both countries, clarifies the intricate dynamics in operation. Nevertheless, despite the fact that Vietnam maintains a strategic alliance with China, its leaders remain on guard in anticipation of perceived assertiveness that may impede relations.

During his visit to Vietnam, President Xi Jinping carefully navigated the intricate diplomatic scenery. The relationship between these Asian neighbors is influenced by factors such as economic interdependence, historical grievances, and regional power dynamics, Voice of America reported.

Related Article: Israel PM Netanyahu Calls on Hamas To Surrender Now, Warns 'Beginning of the End' for Terror Group

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Australian, American charged with running cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme.

An Australian man and a US national have been charged in California with operating a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, the Justice Department said Tuesday.

David Gilbert Saffron, 51, of Australia, and Vincent Anthony Mazzotta Jr, 52, of Los Angeles, are accused of defrauding victims of more than $25 million, the department said in a statement.

They allegedly lured investors with promises of high-yield profits from cryptocurrency using trading programs that purported to employ an artificial intelligence automated trading bot.

The investment programs operated under various names including Circle Society, Bitcoin Wealth Management, Omicron Trust, Mind Capital, and Cloud9Capital.

Instead of investing the money, Saffron and Mazzotta used the funds to pay for chartered jet flights, luxury hotels, a personal chef and private security guards, the Justice Department said.

Saffron allegedly solicited investors using various aliases, including David Gilbert and Dave Gabe, and online personas, including the Blue Wizard and Bitcoin Yoda.

Saffron and Mazzotta are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to obstruct justice, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering and potentially face decades in prison.

 2023 AFP
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Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing global services, attends a press conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, France, June 20, 2023. Boeing said Monday, Dec. 11, that Pope will become executive vice president and chief operating officer on Jan. 1. Pope has spent nearly 30 years at Boeing, and has been CEO of the company's services business since last year.Credit: AP Photo/Lewis Joly, File

Boeing has promoted the head of its services business to chief operating officer, putting the female executive in discussion as a potential heir apparent to CEO David Calhoun in a male-dominated industry.

Boeing said Monday that Stephanie Pope's elevation to the job, which includes the title of executive vice president, takes effect Jan. 1.

Pope has spent nearly 30 years at Boeing, holding down key financial jobs in the company's defense, commercial airplanes and services divisions. She became CEO of the services unit last year.

Some industry observers were quick to tap Pope, 51, as a contender to become the aerospace company's next CEO. Richard Aboulafia, managing director of aerospace consultant AeroDynamic Advisory, named Pope and Chief Financial Officer Brian West as potential successors to Calhoun.

Calhoun, 66, has held the top job since January 2020, when he replaced Dennis Muilenburg, who was fired during the fallout from two fatal crashes involving Boeing 737 Max jets. Calhoun, however, has shown no indication that he plans to retire anytime soon.

Days after Calhoun turned 64 in 2021, Boeing raised the retirement age for CEO from 65 to 70he won't reach that age until early 2028. In February of this year, the company board gave Calhoun a $5.3 million retention grant that doesn't vest until 2025.

Boeing has struggled with manufacturing and supply-chain problems that have interrupted production of the Max and a larger airliner, the 787 Dreamliner. It has also suffered setbacks in military programs, including a contract with the U.S. Air Force to build two new presidential jets.

The company lost $2.2 billion in the first nine months of this year after losing more than $5 billion last year. However, it has a huge backlog of orders for commercial planes, as airlines look to update their fleets with more fuel-efficient models.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, takes part in a discussion at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit Nov. 16, 2023, in San Francisco. A federal court jury is expected to begin its deliberations Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, in an antitrust trial focused on whether Google's efforts to thwart competition against its app store for Android smartphones has also been illegally gouging consumers and stifling innovation.Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File

A federal court jury has decided that Google's Android app store has been protected by anticompetitive barriers that have damaged smartphone consumers and software developers, dealing a blow to a major pillar of a technology empire.

The unanimous verdict reached Monday came after just three hours of deliberation following a four-week trial revolving around a lucrative payment system within Google's Play Store. The store is the main place where hundreds of millions of people around the world download and install apps that work on smartphones powered by Google's Android software.

Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite video game, filed a lawsuit against Google three years ago, alleging that the internet search giant has been abusing its power to shield its Play Store from competition in order to protect a gold mine that makes billions of dollars annually. Just as Apple does for its iPhone app store, Google collects a commission ranging from 15% to 30% on digital transactions completed within apps.

Apple prevailed in a similar case that Epic brought against the iPhone app store. But that 2021 trial was decided by a federal judge in a ruling that is under appeal at the U.S. Supreme Court.

The nine-person jury in the Play Store case apparently saw things through a different lens, even though Google technically allows Android apps to be downloaded from different storesan option that Apple prohibits on the iPhone.

Just before the Play Store trial started, Google sought to avoid having a jury determine the outcome, only to have its request rejected by U.S. District Judge James Donato. Now it will be up to Donato to determine what steps Google will have to take to unwind its illegal behavior in the Play Store. The judge indicated he will hold hearings on the issue during the second week of January.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney broke into a wide grin after the verdict was read and slapped his lawyers on the back and also shook the hand of a Google attorney, whom he thanked for his professional attitude during the proceedings.

"Victory over Google!" Sweeney wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. In a company post, Epic hailed the verdict as "a win for all app developers and consumers around the world."

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is seen behind a Google sign at the company's office in San Francisco on April 12, 2023. A federal court jury is expected to begin its deliberations Monday in an antitrust trial focused on whether Google's efforts to thwart competition against its app store for Android smartphones has also been illegally gouging consumers and stifling innovation.Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File

Google plans to appeal the verdict, according to a statement from Wilson White, the company's vice president of government affairs and public policy.

"Android and Google Play provide more choice and openness than any other major mobile platform," White said.

Depending on how the judge enforces the jury's verdict, Google could lose billions of dollars in annual profit generated from its Play Store commissions. The company's main source of revenuedigital advertising tied mostly to its search engine, Gmail and other serviceswon't be directly affected by the trial's outcome.

The jury reached its decision after listening to two hours of closing arguments from the lawyers on the opposing sides of the case.

Epic lawyer Gary Bornstein depicted Google as a ruthless bully that deploys a "bribe and block" strategy to discourage competition against its Play Store for Android apps. Google lawyer Jonathan Kravis attacked Epic as a self-interested game maker trying to use the courts to save itself money while undermining an ecosystem that has spawned billions of Android smartphones to compete against Apple and its iPhone.

Much of the lawyers' dueling arguments touched upon the testimony from a litany of witnesses who came to court during the trial.

The key witnesses included Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who sometimes seemed like a professor explaining complex topics while standing behind a lectern because of a health issue, and Sweeney, who painted himself as a video game lover on a mission to take down a greedy tech titan.

In his closing argument for Epic, Bornstein railed against Google for exploiting its power over the Android software in a way that "has led to higher prices for developers and consumers, as well as less innovation and quality."

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney leaves a courtroom at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, Nov. 14, 2022. A federal court jury is expected to begin its deliberations Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, in an antitrust trial focused on whether Google's efforts to thwart competition against its app store for Android smartphones has also been illegally gouging consumers and stifling innovation. The case was filed by Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite video game. Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File

Google has staunchly defended the commissions as a way to help recoup the more than $40 billion that it has poured into building into the Android software that it has been giving away since 2007 to manufacturers to compete against the iPhone.

"Android phones cannot compete against the iPhone without a great app store on them," Kravis asserted in his closing argument. "The competition between the app stores is tied to the competition between the phones."

But Bornstein ridiculed the notion of Google and Android competing against Apple and its incompatible iPhone software system. "Apple is not the 'get out of jail for free' card that Google wants it to be," Bornstein told the jury.

Google also pointed to rival Android app stores such as the one that Samsung installs on its popular smartphones as evidence of a free market. Combined with the rival app stores pre-installed on devices made by other companies, more than 60% of Android phones offer alternative outlets for Android apps.

Epic, though, presented evidence asserting the notion that Google welcomes competition as a pretense, citing the hundreds of billions of dollars it has doled out to companies, such as game maker Activision Blizzard, to discourage them from opening rival app stores. Besides making these payments, Bornstein also urged the jury to consider the Google "scare screens" that pop up, warning consumers of potential security threats when they try to download Android apps from some of the alternatives to the Play Store.

"These are classic anticompetitive strategies used by dominant firms to protect their monopolies," Bornstein said.

Google's empire could be further undermined by another major antitrust trial in Washington that will be decided by a federal judge after hearing final arguments in May. That trial has cast a spotlight on Google's cozy relationship with Apple in online search, the technology that turned Google into a household word a few years after two former Stanford University graduate students started the company in a Silicon Valley garage in 1998.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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The start of 14 hours of fun.

A new sleeper service between Berlin and Paris arrived in the French capital on Tuesday, reflecting a growing drive for night trains as an alternative to short-haul flights.

The 14-hour nocturnal trip from the German to the French capital is to run three times a week, and is scheduled to become daily from October next year.

The connection is operated by French and German national train operators SNCF and Deutsche Bahn, while the rolling stock is provided by Austrian train company OeBB, whose "Nightjet" trains already criss-cross central Europe.

The maiden voyage left from Berlin's main station with government ministers from Paris and Berlin as well as the chiefs of the train companies in attendance to wave it off.

The overnight connection returns nine years after the previous service was stoppedalthough like many night trains it is relying on government subsidies to break even.

"It's a new era for the night train alliance," German Transport Minister Volker Wessing said in Berlin.

The train pulled out of Berlin 10 minutes behind schedule at 8:28 pm (1928 GMT) on Monday and arrived in Paris 15 minutes late at 10:39 AM (0939 GMT).

French Transport Minister Clement Beaune, who spent the night on the train, told waiting reporters in Paris that the trip had been "magnificent".

Ticket prices are kept low thanks to state subsidies.

"This Berlin-Paris service is a symbol that we need at the moment," he said, "because we need positive, ecological and European projects".

There are currently no direct daytime train services between Paris and Berlin.

If passengers accept one change, they can make the journey in under 8.5 hours in the daytime.

'Tight in airplanes, too'

Passengers on the Austrian-provided Nightjet trains can choose between ordinary seats, six-bunk cabins and sleeper cars with private compartments for one, two or three passengers.

"It's great to get on a train and wake up in Paris," said Annika Volz, an ambassador for the Franco-German Youth Office that organizes cultural exchanges between both countries.

"It's a strong, sustainable symbol for German-French relations," she said.

Volz said she was undeterred by cramped six-bunk compartments, saying: "space is tight in airplanes, too," she said.

Beaune called the trip 'magnificent'

One-way ticket prices start at just under 30 euros ($33), a low price point meant to stimulate demand and possible only thanks to subsidies.

Despite generating excitement beyond the ranks of rail enthusiasts, night trains remain an unreliably profitable business for operators.

In France, many lines are kept going by subsidies, with no less than 10 million euros a year going into the Berlin link.

The sector has experienced a renaissance as passengers and policy makers look for a cleaner alternative to air travel.

In 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron set the aim of opening 10 new sleeper services by 2030, with the results already visible.

As well as the Berlin link, several new connections between Paris and peripheral destinations in mainland France have already begun operation.

Some 100 million euros have been invested by the French government to revive the network and ready new carriages for service.

For clients, the climate benefits and charm of train travel have proven a draw.

In 2023, around 215,000 passengers took the night train to their destination, a 15-percent increase on the previous year.

 2023 AFP
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A quarter-mile inland from the eastern Japanese coastline, a sprawling complex of solar panels, robotic lawnmowers and the world's largest hydrogen power plant stands as a monument to the country's zero-carbon aspirations.

But surrounding the site are reminders of the biggest challenge Japan faces in realizing those ambitions: abandoned buildings, empty lots, roadside Geiger countersthe grim aftermath of one of the world's worst nuclear disasters.

As climate change worsens, nations around the globe have ramped up efforts to reduce fossil fuel use and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. But for Japan to achieve that goal, the government says it must turn back to the country's now-idled nuclear power plants, reigniting a painful debate over the necessity and safety of nuclear energy.

On March 11, 2011, the largest earthquake in Japan's recorded history triggered a tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people and knocked out power for the cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. The subsequent nuclear meltdown prompted the evacuation of nearby residents to escape harmful radiation.

Twelve years later, some areas in Fukushima prefecture remain uninhabitable, and some of its residents remain vehemently opposed to nuclear power.

"Neither the national nor local government will protect the community from local disasters," said Sumio Konno, 59, who grew up here in Namie, several miles north of the Daiichi plant, and fled during the disaster. "If they can't protect us, we shouldn't have such nuclear power plants."

Namie's population of 1,200 is still less than a tenth of what it was before the meltdown. Futaba, a town just west of the plant, reopened for residents to return only last year.

After the accident, nuclear power as a proportion of Japan's electricity mix fell from about 30% to 6% in 2019. But the country's plan to halve its use of fossil fuels in power generation by 2030 is contingent on boosting nuclear energy back up to at least 20%.

To accomplish that, Japan would need to restart 15 more of its 33 nuclear reactors, said Tatsuya Terazawa, chief executive of the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan. For years after the disaster, all of them were shut down and faced high safety hurdles and public opposition to restarting. So far, 12 reactors have resumed operations.

Environmental organizations and nuclear power critics argue that Japan can avoid restarting nuclear plants by building more solar and wind farms, increasing energy efficiency and improving flexibility in the country's electricity distribution system.

"The Japanese government claims that 100% renewable energy is impossible and that both nuclear power and thermal power are needed," said Akiko Yoshida, a campaigner with the environmental group Friends of the Earth Japan. "What is needed, however, is a flexible power system that makes the best use of fluctuating renewable energy."

But Terazawa said such improvements would help only marginally with Japan's energy needs and would face their own challenges. While Japan is working to develop more renewable energy, limited land has hampered expansion of wind and solar, he said.

Favorable tax incentives have already spurred rapid growth in solar, while lower wind speeds and more frequent typhoons also make wind power less reliable in Asia, he added.

Without nuclear energy, Terazawa said Japan would need to import more costly hydrogen, to fuel transportation and manufacturing, and also ammonia, which when mixed with coal and gas helps reduce emissions from burning. Hydrogen and ammonia are expected to account for only about 1% of Japan's power mix by 2030.

"The reality is that we still face constraints," Terazawa said. "We will need nuclear for a zero-carbon source of power."

The reassessment of nuclear energy as a critical source of low-carbon power has been hastened globally by growing concerns over climate change and rising energy costs amid the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. During an annual United Nations climate conference on Dec. 2, 22 countries, including the U.S., Canada, France, Britain and Japan, signed a pledge to triple nuclear generation capacity by 2050.

In the last couple of years, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has pushed to reopen nuclear plants, extend their lifespans and possibly build new ones. While Kishida said he wants to minimize reliance on nuclear energy, he has also said it will be an essential part of decarbonization.

Some surveys show that Japanese are warming to the idea. According to an annual poll by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, a slim majority of respondents51%were in favor of restarting idled nuclear plants for the first time since the Fukushima meltdown. The idea of building new reactors was less popular, with 45% in favor and 46% opposed.

To some residents of Fukushima prefecture, even in places that were never evacuated, returning to nuclear energy still seems a risk.

Last year, six plaintiffs who lived in the prefecture and were diagnosed with thyroid cancer following the 2011 disaster sued the Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, the operator of the Daiichi power plant, for nearly $5 million.

The plaintiffs were between six and 16 years old when the accident occurred, and said in the lawsuit that the released radiation caused their cancer. TEPCO has said there was not enough radiation exposure in those unevacuated areas to lead to cancer. Government officials have attributed higher levels of thyroid cancer in Fukushima to over-diagnosis following widespread testing.

One 48-year-old resident of Koriyama, a city west of the Daiichi plant and about 30 miles outside of the evacuation zone, said she believes her daughter, then 13, developed thyroid cancer because of radiation from the accident.

The mother, who declined to provide her name for fear of harassment for speaking about the sensitive issue, said she didn't have the resources or ability to move but often wondered whether it would have been better to leave right after the meltdown. Even now, she doesn't dry her clothes outside anymore.

"Before the accident, we didn't really think much about the nuclear power plants at allwe were just going about our daily lives," she said. "But after the explosion, we have had to live in fear of this radiation that we can't even see."

Besides the air, some residents are also worried about what's in the water.

Earlier this year, the Japanese government started releasing radioactive wastewater from the destroyed nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. Officials say the treated wastewater still contains the radioactive isotope tritium, but at concentrations that meet regulatory standards and are lower than that of other nuclear facilities.

The International Atomic Energy Agency concurs that the plan will have a negligible radiological impact and says the water will be monitored regularly. TEPCO says that releasing the wastewater, which has built up in more than 1,000 storage tanks after being used to cool the Fukushima plant's nuclear fuel rods, is necessary to fully decommission the plant and avoid another nuclear accident.

Masato Kino of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, who is in charge of the plant's decommissioning, said the government has conducted about 1,500 meetings with local communities and associations over the last two years to answer questions and allay concerns.

The wastewater release has also angered some of Japan's neighbors. China has banned all seafood from Japan, accusing the country of being "selfish and irresponsible." Residents of South Korea and Taiwan have expressed their alarm, though their governments have not taken direct action against it. To persuade skeptics, Kishida posted a video on social media of himself eating raw fish from the waters near Fukushima.

"We tried to be very transparent," Kino said. "What we can share, we've already shared. So I really wonder what else we can do."

Still, public distrust has lingered given the unprecedented scale of the wastewater release, which will occur incrementally over the next three decades, along with memories of the 2011 disaster.

"Poison is poison, no matter how much you dilute it," said Konno, the former Namie resident who now lives in Fukushima City, the prefecture capital, and remains a staunch opponent of anything to do with nuclear energy.

At the time of the 2011 earthquake, Konno was working as an engineer at the Onagawa nuclear power plant in the prefecture to the north of the Daiichi facility. He watched gas explosions near his hometown of Namie on TV and wondered if it was the end of the world.

His facility maintained power despite the tsunami. But the flooding kept Konno trapped inside with thousands of other workers; they ate only instant noodles for four days. Once Konno was able to leave, he went to find his family, which had fled to the south.

That was his last day with TEPCO. Now, Konno works as a tour guide and actor. He returns to Namie only to show visitors around his old family home, which has been locked up and closed to entry by the general public because of residual radiation.

Often they pass through the neighboring town of Futaba. He points out the deserted streets and the place where a now-infamous sign once declared: "Nuclear Power: Energy for a Bright Future." The sign was taken down after the accident.

Before the meltdown, the site of Namie's sleek new hydrogen power plant and industrial complex had been earmarked for another nuclear plant. After the facility was completed in 2020, Konno began including it in his tours, as a reminder that nuclear energy, too, had once been hailed as a safe and exciting new development.

"I don't have anything against trying new technology for the future, but that shouldn't be used as a method for covering up the past," he said, looking out over the expanse of solar panels.

Still, hydrogen seems like a vastly safer bet, one that offers hope for an end to nuclear energy.

2023 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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GPT-4 takes a misaligned action by engaging in insider trading. Credit: Scheurer et al

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are now widely employed worldwide, assisting both engineers and non-expert users with a wide range of tasks. Assessing the safety and reliability of these tools is thus of utmost importance, as it could ultimately help to better regulate their use.

Researchers at Apollo Research, an organization established with the aim of assessing the safety of AI systems, recently set out to assess the responses provided by large language models (LLMs) in a scenario where they are placed under pressure. Their findings, posted to the preprint server arXiv, suggest that these models, the most renowned of which is OpenAI's ChatGPT, could in some cases strategically deceive their users.

"At Apollo Research we think that some of the greatest risks come from advanced AI systems that can evade standard safety evaluations by exhibiting strategic deception," Jeremy Scheurer, co-author of the paper, told Tech Xplore. "Our goal is to understand AI systems well enough to prevent the development and deployment of deceptive AIs.

"However, so far, there are no demonstrations of AIs acting strategically deceptive without being explicitly instructed to do so. We believe that it is important to have such convincing demonstrations to make this problem more salient and convince researchers, policy makers and the public that this is an important problem."

By identifying scenarios in which specific AI tools can be strategically deceptive, Scheurer and his colleagues hope to inform further research assessing their safety. Currently, there is very little empirical evidence highlighting the deceptiveness of AI and the settings in which it can occur, thus the team feels that there is a need for experimentally validated and clear examples of deceptive AI behavior.

"This research was largely motivated by wish to understand how and when AIs can become deceptive and we hope that this early work is a start for more rigorous scientific treatments of AI deception," Scheurer said.

Scheurer carried out this recent study in close collaboration with his colleague Mikita Balesni, who developed the concrete trading task that they tested LLMs on. Their work was supervised by Marius Hobbhahn, senior investigator and CEO of Apollo Research.

"This was a model Red-Teaming effort (a cyber security term commonly used in the field of machine learning), which means that we attacked an LLM by adversarially feeding it text which will make it act in a misaligned (i.e., bad) way," Scheurer said. "This is in contrast to asking neutral questions (e.g., 'What is the capital of France?') and seeing how it responds."

As part of their study, the researchers specifically "attacked" the GPT-4, the LLM developed by OpenAI that underpins the functioning of ChatGPT. They did this by designing text inputs (i.e., prompts) that instructed the model to act as an AI system that makes financial investments within a simulated environment.

"We tell the model that it has access to various tools to seek profitable trades, send emails, and execute trade," Scheurer said. "We then simulate normal interactions that the model might have with its 'co-workers,' and crucially we introduce pressure on the model to perform well. For instance, the CEO sends the AI agent an email saying that the company is not doing well and needs a good year. Another 'co-worker' mentions via a message that an economic downturn is brewing, etc. Finally, a fellow trader mentions that there is an upcoming merger announcement between two companies, that could be profitable, while also mentioning that management will be unhappy if they discover that one trades on insider information."

The researchers found that in this simulated, high-pressure environment the GPT-4-based AI agent very frequently decides to act on the insider information it received from a fellow trader, buying stocks of the merging company. Moreover, the model explicitly determines that it should not mention the insider tip, providing alternative explanations for the trade it made inside a report prepared for its supervisor.

"Even when explicitly asked by the manager whether the model knew beforehand about the merger, the model will usually double down on its lie," Scheurer said. "I think it's important to state again that this is a Red-Teaming effort, i.e., we specifically searched for realistically looking scenarios where this would happen. Our research is thus more of an existence proof that such behavior can occur, and not indicative of how likely it is to occur in the wild."

This recent study by Scheurer and his colleagues provides a clear and tangible example of scenarios in which LLMs could be strategically deceptive. The researchers now plan to continue their research in this area, to identify other instances in which AI tools could be strategically deceptive and the possible implications of their deception.

"I think the biggest impact of our work is making the problem of strategic AI deception (without explicit instructions to behave deceptively) very concrete and showing that this is not only some speculative story about the future, but that this type of behavior can happen today with current models under certain circumstances," Scheurer added. "I believe this could make people take this issue more seriously, also opening up the door to a lot of follow up research by the community aimed at better understanding this behavior and ensuring that it no longer occurs."

More information: Jeremy Scheurer et al, Technical Report: Large Language Models can Strategically Deceive their Users when Put Under Pressure, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2311.07590 Journal information: arXiv

 2023 Science X Network
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Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Apple is doing it. Samsung is doing it. Even Nike is doing it.

Companies are increasingly reducing their reliance on China for manufacturing and sourcing, and are setting up shop elsewhere, largely in India, Vietnam, Taiwan and Mexico.

Apple has plans to greatly expand its presence in India, and produce about 25% of all iPhones there. Right now, Apple produces about 5% to 7% of iPhones in the country, according to a report in Reuters.

In 2022, Foxconn, the Taiwan-based company that Apple uses to make its iPhone, announced that it is investing $300 million to expand and build a new plant in Vietnam.

Samsung announced this year that it will spend 260 billion won ($205.7 million) to build a new factory in India to manufacture refrigerator compressors.

In January 2022, Nike had announced that nearly 51% of its shoes were being made in Vietnam. Meanwhile, its percentage of shoes made in China had dipped to 21%. In 2006, China made about 35% of Nike's shoes.

Companies are relying less on China for a variety of reasons, explains Nada Sanders, Northeastern University professor of supply chain management.

For one, the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the instability of many global supply chains, and companies are still adjusting and recalibrating nearly four years later.

But will all these companies reducing their reliance on China affect consumers?

Yes, they already have, says Sanders. "It's going to take longer for the average consumer to get products," she says. "The other thing is they are going to pay more."

China's long lockdown period in particular posed challenges for companies, and they are now diversifying their supply chain sourcing as a result, she says.

"Anybody that was sourcing from China was in a very difficult position," she says. "In a very quick response, many companies exhausted the inventories that they had, and they rapidly looked for alternative sources other than China whether it be Turkey or anywhere in southeast Asia."

"Companies are not going, "Now, we are going to go back to where things were,'" she says. "So many companies went out of business. China served as a realization that companies not only had to diversify to other sources, but to also move to other regions."

There are also larger geopolitics issues at play, Sanders explains.

Part of the reason Apple is reducing its reliance on China is because of the U.S.-China trade war, which was elevated during the Trump administration.

A Bloomberg investigation into Apple's supply chain operations points to the possibility of iPhone prices rising as a result of the company's contentious relationship with China and its move to other countries.

"The price of Apple products could indeed increase to reflect the potentially higher costs" of supply chain migration, said Bloomberg Intelligence's Steven Tseng in the report. "That said, it's possible that such cost hikes may not be fully reflected in the final prices, as that could hurt the market demand."

Sanders has some words of advice for shoppers as supply chains shiftspend your money wisely.

"I think that the average person needs to be much more careful with regards to spending," she says. "I think things are going to be much more expensive for quite a while."

This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu.
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San Francisco's runways are sinking more rapidly than 14 other major coastal airports, according to new research to be presented at #AGU23 this week. Sinking can cause deformation, cracks, and sinkholes, posing risks to aircraft. Credit: Liza Lester

After measuring minute elevation changes on runways at 15 coastal airports around the United States, researchers found that of airport runways sinking or subsiding, San Francisco (SFO) tops the subsidence chart at nearly 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) per year, while Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the slowest.

America's crumbling roads and sagging bridges have garnered attention over the past few years, prompting the passing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021. But the nation's runways are also feeling their age, posing serious hazards to the millions of travelers who fly every day, researchers say.

"The funding to maintain airport infrastructures is quite limited, so many are getting dilapidated," said Oluwaseyi Dasho, an environmental hazard specialist at Virginia Tech.

Dasho and his advisor, Manoochehr Shirzaei, wanted to better understand how coastal airports' runways, roads, and other transportation infrastructure are fairing. "U.S. airport infrastructure needs attention, especially focusing on runways," Dasho said. They measured subsidence, or the slow sinking of the ground surface, because cracks or bulging on runways can cause serious accidents for passengers and flight crews. Shifts that seem small on an annual basis can quickly add up.

In a new study to be presented on 14 December at AGU's Annual Meeting in San Francisco, researchers surveyed the infrastructure of 15 coastal airports in the United States over a 7-year time frame (2015-2022). They used the European Space Agency's Sentinel-1 radar satellite to measure surface elevation at an unprecedented submillimeter scaleideal for measuring small-scale changes in shifting infrastructure.

"It's the first subsidence data set ever created for U.S. airports runways," said Shirzaei, an environmental security expert at Virginia Tech, adding that such vertical accuracy can allow them to measure "very tiny deformation, such as the deformation of the ground from thawing and freezing."

Subsidence rates varied among the 15 sites studied, but all had observable changes. Of these airports, San Francisco International Airport had the fastest subsidence rate of -9.6 millimeters per year (0.38 inches per year). In comparison, Los Angeles International Airport had the slowest rate (1.7 millimeters per year, or around 0.07 inches per year).

Out of the nearly 7 million square meters (1,718 acres) of runway analyzed, the researchers found that more than 96% were at low risk of damage due to subsidence, and 0.3% of runway areas (about 13,825 square meters, or 3.5 acres) are at high or very high risk of damage, notably at Ronald Regan International Airport in Arlington, Va., and two Florida airports, Tampa International and Orlando International Airport.

While the infrastructure bill allocated billions of dollars for updating U.S. infrastructure, Dasho pointed out that the demand and need for maintenance updates far exceeds this budget. This research might help policymakers allocate limited funds.

"Prioritizing infrastructure allows equitable transportation infrastructure, particularly enabling underserved and socially vulnerable communities to develop and apply adaptation and mitigation strategies in the face of climate change," he said.

Shirzaei agreed, adding, "This technology will tell you very clearly which infrastructure and where is in the worst condition and needs attention first."
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:

CAES Experimental Setup used. Credit: International Journal of Thermofluids (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijft.2023.100437

A group of scientists have discovered a new application to generate and store chilled water to reduce the impact of air conditioning on the environment, reduce energy consumption, and lower dependence on fossil fuels.

The new scientific breakthrough, once industrialized, is certain to be good news for more than 70,000 delegates taking part in the United Nations' largest annual climate conference convened in the United Arab Emirates and attended by many world leaders.

The scientists say they arrived at their novel approach following extensive research and development on compressed air energy storage techniques, particularly the success of a medium scale laboratory-based system they have designed to boost the practical implications of their study.

The study, published in the International Journal of Thermofluids, has already been noted by a major UAE's oil enterprise, the Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC). The scientists expressed their optimism about the practical implications of their research, stemming from the success of their laboratory experiments.

Central air conditioning - expansion cooling system. Credit: International Journal of Thermofluids (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijft.2023.100437

The study, the authors write, focuses "on the potential of using expansion cooling, which is defined in conjunction with cooling effects generated during the expansion process of a gas." The interest in such cooling technology stems from the double benefit of utilizing a large-scale compressed air energy storage (CAES) system that can also provide cooling via the expansion of air.

CAES is primarily used as a method of storing energy. However, the authors write that "there is an indirect relation in which CAES can be linked to cooling systems in certain scenarios, particularly in large-scale industrial settings or combined power plants. In a typical CAES system, excess energy from power generation is used to compress air and store it in underground caverns or high-pressure containers."

CAES consequently manifests in reducing the electrical demand required for cooling applications. Such a concept is beneficial for hot climates, where most of the electrical demand is reserved for offsetting the cooling load, according to the study. The scientists find CAES friendly to the environment with better cooling impact and lower costs.

They remind their readers of the world's thirst for energy, a situation which is mainly satisfied by the combustion of fossil fuels which account for most of the world's emissions of greenhouse gases.

"The use of fossil fuels has resulted in enormous environmental issues, such as air pollution and climate change. Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas releases carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) into the atmosphere, where CO 2 is regarded as one of the primary greenhouse gases responsible for climate change," they write.

The UAE is among the world's 10 largest oil producers, pumping more than 3.7 million barrels of oil per day. In fact, the oil-rich Gulf region of the Middle East supplies more than 30% of the world's total oil production of more than 100 million barrels per day.

But the region is one of the hottest in the world, with temperatures usually breaking the benchmark of 50 Celsius in the extended summer months. Vampire air conditioning appliances are kept on 24 hours per day throughout the year, exacerbating global warming which scientists blame for the current record-breaking weather system.

Almost all sorts of buildings in the Gulf, among them some of the world's most known high rises, are mostly made of reinforced concrete and steel, with large panes of glass, which are no proof to the sweltering heat outside.

"Our research explores a novel approach to cool buildings in hot climates as an ancillary process to compressed air energy storage systems," says the study's lead investigator, Professor Abdul Hai Alami, Chairman of Sharjah University's Department of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering.

Such systems are traditionally employed to store energy from renewable sources like wind and solar power. However, the study, according to Prof. Al-Alami, discovers an additional application: generating chilled water for air conditioning.

The scientists' main target for the application of their approach is the UAE, where air-conditioning consumes 6070% of total energy demand which in terms of energy consumption per capita is among the highest in the world. However, the authors say their approach should not be confined to a single country as its implications can be suitable to cool buildings in hot climates anywhere.

The UAE is racing against time to meet a declared target of reducing overall energy consumption by 30% by 2030 at a time when statistics show energy demand to be surging by an average of 7.5% on a yearly basis. "In this context," Prof. Alami points out, "our proposed setup serves as a thermal compressed air energy storage system, where heat has to be added to the expanding air before it enters turbomachinery.

"The heat added to the expansion stage of the compressed air energy storage system produces chilled water at temperatures as low as 5C. We have built an experimental setup for the ancillary system with appropriate telemetric devices to measure the temporal temperature variation, which consequently can be used to estimate the available cooling capacity."

The developed air-conditioning system was found to be financially and commercially sustainable with a promising potential of replacing the existing systems. Prof. Alami says, "We found that one ton of conventional cooling can be replaced with a 500-L (0.5 m3) air tank at 20 bar operating for an hour. Hence, this research shows that compressed air energy storage systems have the potential to revolutionize the way we cool buildings in hot climates."

The study shows that the system leans on utilizing renewable energy sources to produce chilled water at lower temperatures, thereby reducing current reliance on traditional air conditioning systems that consume a lot of conventional energy and contribute to climate change.

Asked about the significance of the study and its practical implications, Prof. Alami says large-scale application of the project was feasible and he believed the interest the research has so far generated would lead to practical and useful implication to energy consumption in the UAE, the larger Middle East and even beyond.

"Our project offers a dual effect of energy storage through compressed air as well as producing a cooling effect during the expansion process. It is also worthy to note that during the compression stage of the stored air, and through proper thermal management, waste heat produced by the compressor can either be used in heating-based applications (water, air in winter), or resupply it to the air during the expansion process for enhancing the efficiency.

"Moreover, utilizing the cooling effect of air during the expansion process, and within the context of large-scale applications, falls into the proposed governmental policies, such as those in the UAE, where omitting conventional refrigerants is considered both a local and an international short-term goal."

The authors document in their study what Prof. Alami describes as a "notable success" in medium scale laboratory-based systems, which they believe should help in the transition towards large-scale compressed air energy storage using depleted oil wells.

"Gaining expertise in design parameters and subcomponents, as well as coupling ancillary systems for cooling or heating will elevate the transition to large-scale systems and amplify their overall benefits," adds Prof. Alami.

The primary goal of the project, as the authors outline in their study, is to develop a fully functional compressed air energy storage system, utilizing compressed air tanks, an air motor, a gear box, and a generator. They examine the effect of different parameters such as compression pressure, and compressed air tank configurations, as well as mechanical considerations such as gear box ratios and air motor ratings.

In our research, supported by a CASE experimental setup, we harness "wasted potential that is manifested in the cooling effect provided through the expansion process, as well as proving its benefit on the overall performance of the energy storage system, was one of the main targets."

The authors mention various practical applications that can accompany the development of compressed air energy storage systems like the one they have developed.

Prof. Alami says, "Coupling these systems with pre-existing solar PV or wind energy systems at a large scale will aid in attenuating fluctuations in energy production, as well as provide a scalable solution with a long lifetime, contrary to electrochemical-based energy storage systems.

"Additionally, in hot and arid climates, utilizing the cooling effect produced during the expansion process will help in decreasing the overall electrical load imposed by cooling requirements, by producing chilled water that can be circulated in pre-existing cooling systems. Similarly, heating effects are produced during the compression stage of air into storage tanks (mediums) that can be used during winter season."

Prof. Alami believes the project can revolutionize air conditioning systems. "Combining energy storage with air conditioning in the same setup resolves more than one problem; first, it introduces a robust energy storage solution to the energy mix, second it utilizes the thermal management of the air for air conditioning and finally this will automatically reduce the electrical load as air conditioning is one of the largest sectors of energy consumption in the UAE."

More information: Abdul Hai Alami et al, Expansion cooling prospects for large scale applications, International Journal of Thermofluids (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijft.2023.100437
Researchers bid to unlock mystery of shrinking mountain peaks

13:28, December 12, 2023 By Li Hongyang ( China Daily

Mountain heights can now be calculated with a far greater degree of accuracy thanks to the use of improved measuring equipment, global satellite navigation, and remote sensing technology. [Photo/CHINA DAILY]

Natural forces play significant role in reduced elevations

Mountain peaks, with their majestic beauty, have long fascinated adventurers and scientists alike.

In China, Sichuan province boasts stunning and spectacular scenic areas that include snow mountains, glacial lakes, rivers and virgin forests.

Recently updated data relating to nine mountains in the province highlights changes witnessed by these peaks, and their causes.

Information about the heights of the nine peaks, which include Mount Gongga, Mount Siguniang, Mount Luoji and Mount Guangwu, was last updated some 60 years ago.

The new data, which was released by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, and which includes the height of the snow surface on the peaks, shows that most of the mountains have shrunk by several meters.

The height of Mount Gongga, which is known as the "King of Sichuan mountains" and is the highest peak in the province, has fallen by nearly 50 meters from 7,556 meters to 7508.9 meters.

Gui Muzheng, senior engineer at the Ministry of Natural Resources' Third Institute of Aerial Survey and Remote Sensing in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, said: "That's quite a significant reduction. Due to earthquakes and other geological events in Sichuan, we need to provide accurate and up-to-date information to the government and the public for educational purposes and administrative planning.

"Compared with the 1960s, the accuracy of mountain peak elevation measurements has been enhanced with improved measuring equipment, global satellite navigation, and remote sensing technology," she said.

In addition, a number of natural factors play important roles in shaping mountain summits, including the impact of movement of the Earth's crust, climate change, and weathering, Gui added.

Sichuan, located on the southern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, is a particularly active tectonic zone, she said.

In recent years, the province has experienced significant earthquakes  including the 8.0 magnitude quake that hit Wenchuan county in 2008. Such events have altered the heights of these peaks.

Gui said the combined natural forces of wind and rainfall erode rocks and break down exposed surfaces. Over time, this can result in a reduced elevation of mountain peaks.

Climate change also plays a crucial role in shaping mountain summits, Gui said, adding that the retreat of glaciers and reduction in the thickness of snow cover contribute to changes in elevations.

A study by the provincial government, titled "Latest Investigation and Research on Modern Glacial Resources in Western Sichuan", found that the area of mountain glaciers in the province's western region fell by 22.1 percent from 1966 to 2020. Covering 593 square kilometers in 1966, the glaciers now occupy only 462 sq km.

Surveyors from Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, set out to measure mountain peaks. [Photo/CHINA DAILY]

High sensitivity

Among the mountain ranges affected, the glaciers on Mount Gongga are good examples of monsoonal temperate glaciers.

Liu Qiao, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, said temperate glaciers are highly sensitive to climate change.

Long-term observations by Liu, who began his glaciology research when he was a master's student in 2002, confirm the accelerating retreat of the Hailuogou Glacier on Mount Gongga.

During their fieldwork, researchers discovered that the glacier has undergone significant changes.

"The entire area of the glacier, including the ice tongue, has experienced apparent thinning, narrowing and retreat. The glacier's valley is now filled with fragmented ice, indicating substantial shrinkage," Liu said.

Known for its 1,080-meter-high icefall, the glacier has experienced remarkable thinning and slowdown, resulting in the detachment of its lower debris-covered ice tongue from the icefall since 2013. Once the two sections of ice are detached, the lower ice tongue will become a separate regenerated glacier, Liu said.

"The disconnection of the Hailuogou Glacier may be irreversible," he said.

Icefall refers to a portion of certain glaciers characterized by relatively rapid flow and a chaotic crevassed surface, caused in part by gravity.

From 1966 to 2009, the Hailuogou Glacier retreated at an average rate of 25-30 meters annually. However, from 2016 to last year, it retreated by more than 50 meters per year. Liu said this rapid shrinkage surpasses the retreat rate of typical continental glaciers in China.

Previously, snowfall replenished the glaciers, but the present shift toward increased rainfall at high altitudes is insufficient for the ice mass to accumulate, he said.

Climate records indicate a consistent warming trend in Sichuan since 1961.The province's average annual temperature last year rose to 15.9 C, surpassing the previous record held since 1961 by 0.7 C, the Sichuan Meteorological Service said.

Last year, the average annual precipitation in Sichuan was 12 percent below the long-term average.

"This decrease in precipitation, together with the rise in temperature, has caused the altitude of the glacier equilibrium line to rise," Liu said.

The equilibrium line is roughly equivalent to the snow line, and frequently varies over short distances from year to year on a specific glacier.

Glacier mass balance refers to the balance between ice gain and loss from the glacier system. Above the equilibrium line, the gain surpasses the loss, while below the line, the opposite situation pertains.

In the Mount Gongga area, the equilibrium line has reached altitudes of 5,200 to 5,300 meters, while in the 1990s, the line stood at about 4,800 meters, Liu said.

Collapsing and destabilizing not only occurred on glacier ice itself, but also on the surrounding terrain, Liu said.

When a glacier is thinning, the slopes on both sides of its valley are exposed and become unstable.

Disconnected trail

Several years ago at Lao Guanjingtai in Hailuogou, tourists could trek down moraine slopes, but now significant glacial retreat and failure of these slopes have resulted in the trail to the glacier becoming disconnected from the forest, Liu said.

Meanwhile, the retreat of glaciers has caused significant changes to the water flow of rivers, giving rise to various disasters, Liu said.

When flooding occurs, moraine materials consisting of unstable glacial deposits combine with water, resulting in the flow of glacial debris that can cause severe destruction. Infrastructure along riverbanks, including roads and bridges, is particularly susceptible to such damage, Liu added.

In addition, the flooding can cause significant damage to hydroelectric power stations.

Recent observations suggest that Mount Gongga and other peaks may be experiencing a decrease in their heights due to melting glaciers and an associated reduction in glacial mass.

Liu said that while the possibility of peaks experiencing such a reduction due to glacial melting cannot be ruled out entirely, the current evidence does not provide definitive proof.

"The ongoing process of glacial melting, and the subsequent decrease in glacial ice mass, can potentially contribute to a reduction in the altitude of mountain peaks. But without direct ground measurements, the notion that declining snow cover is the primary cause of such decreasing altitudes remains to be ascertained," Liu said.

"There is no data about changes to ice and snow thickness at mountain summits," he added.

To the contrary, some theories suggest that as glaciers experience loss of mass, the pressure on their underlying crust is reduced, causing the heights of mountain summits to rise, he said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Russian election authorities have announced that the 2024 presidential election will include balloting in four partially occupied Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed in 2022.

The Central Election Commission has adopted the decree to proceed with the vote in the Russian-controlled parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. Balloting will also take place in the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, as per ABC News.

Russia's 2024 Election in Occupied Ukrainian Regions

The announcement comes after Russian lawmakers set March 17, 2024, as the date for the upcoming presidential election. On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his candidacy, and he is all but certain to win another six-year term.

Head of the Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova, announced last week that the commission would make a separate decision on holding the vote in the four partially controlled Ukrainian regions because martial law is in place there. Russian lawmakers amended regulations earlier this year to allow elections in areas under martial law.

However, the decision has been met with strong opposition from Ukraine, which has condemned Russia's intention to organize presidential election voting in occupied Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine's foreign ministry stated that any voting in these territories would be "null and void." It said any international observers sent to monitor the Russian election would "face criminal responsibility." The foreign ministry has urged the international community to condemn Russia's intentions and impose sanctions on those involved, according to Fox News.

Read Also: Israel PM Netanyahu Calls on Hamas To Surrender Now, Warns 'Beginning of the End' for Terror Group

Ukraine Condemns Illegitimate Occupied Region Elections

The affected regions include Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk. The elections are scheduled from March 15 to 17, and the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declared that any voting in these territories would be illegal and devoid of meaning, constituting a blatant violation of the established norms and principles of international law.

This is not the first time Russia has attempted to hold such pseudo-elections in Ukrainian territories. Russian authorities held elections in annexed regions in September for Moscow-installed legislatures, which Ukraine and its Western allies condemned as a sham. The West has consistently responded to Moscow's previous attempts at pseudo-elections in Ukrainian territories by imposing sanctions on Russian officials.

Vladimir Putin declared his candidacy for the Russian presidential election 2024 on December 8, seeking his fifth term in office. Putin has already reset his presidential terms in 2021, potentially extending his tenure until 2036. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed concerns about the legitimacy of Putin's victory and raised questions about whether Western leaders would recognize the election result.

In the ongoing increase of conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, this move by the Russian authorities is expected to further strain the relationship between the two countries. It remains to be seen how the international community will react to Russia's effort to hold the presidential elections in occupied Ukrainian territories and what measures will be taken to ensure the legitimacy of the election, Yahoo News reported.

Related Article: Argentinian President-Elect Javier Milei Sworn In, Warns of 'Shock Adjustment' in Economy

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Mark A. Welsh III has been lucky to have a number of proud and memorable moments in his life. He said Tuesday ranks right at the top of the list.

Welsh was named Texas A&M Universitys next president when the Board of Regents unanimously voted to approve him as the full-time president during a special meeting Tuesday. Welsh has served as A&Ms acting/interim president since July 20 when he took over for M. Katherine Banks, who resigned amid a tumultuous summer on the main campus.

Welsh, who was previously dean of A&Ms Bush School of Government and Public Service since 2016, was named the sole finalist for A&Ms open president position on Nov. 17. A mandatory 21-day waiting period had to pass before he was officially appointed into his permanent role. Welshs salary will start at $1.1 million, per an A&M official.

This is pretty cool for me and not because its a great accomplishment so much because I think there are a lot of people who can do this job, Welsh said after the vote. Its just an opportunity to contribute to Texas A&M in a meaningful way and I love people who contribute in a meaningful way to Texas A&M.

Regents met in executive session for almost three hours before they reconvened in open session and took action. Regents Bob Albritton and Jay Graham met in-person inside A&Ms Memorial Student Center while regents David Baggett, John Bellinger, Randy Brooks, Mike Hernandez, Bill Mahomes, Michael Plank and Sam Torn joined over the phone. Two other items were discussed in executive session. There was no discussion among the regents before a vote was taken. Albritton left the meeting during executive session and was not a part of the vote. Welsh was present in the room during the vote.

Before his time at A&M, Welsh had a four-decade career in the U.S. Air Force. He was a fighter pilot, a four-star general and later served as the Air Forces chief. Welsh also commanded the American Air Force in Europe and NATOs Air Command at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and served as the CIAs associate director of military affairs along with being commandant of the United States Air Force Academy.

Although Welsh didnt graduate from A&M, he comes from a family of Aggies. His father, Mark A. Welsh Jr., is A&M Class of 1946. His graduation was delayed since he served in World War II alongside a number of other classmates. Welsh has five Aggie siblings and four children who went to A&M. His grandson is currently a student in A&Ms Mays Business School.

Welsh said he knows his father, who passed away in 2008, would be proud of him.

Any day a kid can make his dad proud is a good day, Welsh said.

When A&M was looking for a president in 2021, Welsh was one of four finalists for the job that eventually went to Banks.

The decision to name Welsh the lone finalist for president came at Chancellor John Sharps behest. Sharp told A&Ms Faculty Senate Executive Committee he would recommend Welsh for the permanent position to the regents during a meeting between the two parties and Mahomes on Nov. 13. Sharp said there was an urgency to reach a final decision and bring further stability to the universitys administration.

I have rarely seen anybody that has the kind of support of former students, from students, from faculty that General Welsh has, and I look forward to a great administration under his guidance, Sharp said after the vote.

Welsh has been active during his time as A&Ms interim president.

Soon after he took the position, he began a two-month assessment of The Path Forward, a Banks-led initiative from 2021 that brought sweeping organizational changes across campus and was met with mixed opinions. During the review, Welsh met with hundreds across campus. In early October, he announced decisions on how to move forward from The Path Forward during an all-faculty and staff meeting.

Campus community members have expressed their support of Welshs moves in the interim and have cited his transparency and rationale behind the decisions hes made over the past four months.

On Nov. 29, Welsh highlighted short- and long-term university goals and initiatives during his hourlong State of the University address where over 1,000 campus administrators, faculty and staff, leaders and students were in attendance. Over 5,000 streamed the speech online. Welsh said it was the first time he said he felt able to speak to the broader campus community about university matters other than those that were problematic.

While Welsh discussed where A&M was during a tumultuous summer and where the university currently sits, he spent almost 30 minutes sharing where he sees the campus going and announced two major science projects will commence in January as A&M officials continue to create plans to study the universitys capacity and student experience.

Welsh made one promise in front of regents and Sharp on Tuesday: He vowed to do everything in his power to not let A&M down.

I wasnt really worried about getting to this day, Welsh said. That wasnt the objective. It was just to be a good interim president. This is a bonus for me. 

I dont think I deserve applause for anything. The whole idea was get the team working in the right direction and do great things for Texas, for Texas A&M and for Aggies everywhere.

A&Ms Board of Regents also unanimously approved authorization of a 32.4-acre ground lease with NASA adjacent to the Johnson Space Center in Houston to house A&Ms $200 million Space Institute facility, which was approved in August.

This facility is expected to be owned and operated by A&M and house the Texas Space Commission (TSC), the Space Consortium, the Texas Space Aeronautics and Curation Exploratorium (T-Space), and the A&M Space Institute. The facility is expected to include labs, shops, classrooms, meeting rooms, control rooms and spaces for astromaterial curation for post-mission materials and sample research. The facility is also expected to house the worlds largest indoor extraterrestrial testbeds that emulate the Martian and lunar surfaces.
Despite ongoing efforts to provide professors with an improved support structure, Texas A&M University faculty continue to become increasingly worried about facing backlash for exercising their academic freedom.

On Monday, the Texas A&M Faculty Senate heard an update from the Task Force on Academic Freedom & Faculty Protection  which was created in August at the behest of Interim President Mark Welsh.

Following the presentation, Jane Bolin, a senior professor for the Texas A&M School of Nursing, spoke about an instance in which a younger associate professor left the school after facing backlash for her alleged views on diversity, equity and inclusion.

At the same time as the proposed hiring of Kathleen McElroy was ongoing, this same group that targeted her, targeted some of our other faculty members  one of whom was in the college of nursing  and that has caused some grave damage not only to the individual faculty member but to our school, Bolin said. Im told there were three, possibly, [Freedom of Information Act], or open record requests, to this young faculty member  because of the color of her skin and because of some of the things she wrote about.

In November, the Washington Examiner  a conservative publication  published an article claiming that the Texas A&M School of Nursing was attempting to make DEI hires before Senate Bill 17  which bans DEI from being considered in hiring  goes into effect Jan. 1.

In the article, the Examiner quotes from several emails sent by Arica Brandford, an assistant professor at the school of nursing, that were obtained via FOIA requests. The article presents Brandford as being focused on DEI-related issues and uses her email discussion of Black History Month and her former studies as evidence.

Bolin, who did not name the young faculty member used in her example, told the Faculty Senate that FOIA requests containing personal information should not have been released in the first place.

Because it is only by protecting our young faculty members and for them knowing that they have this needed support around them that they will continue to stay with us; sadly in the case of this young faculty member, it was too late, Bolin said. Also, when these FOIA or open records requests come down  we [should] closely monitor them and not immediately provide things that are protected.

Among the many proposals presented by the task force during the senate meeting, the suggestion to create an academic freedom council to guide future accusations against teachers stood out.

Heather Lench, the senior associate vice president for faculty affairs, presented the update and said that such a council would provide professors with the opportunity to have their accusations heard by their colleagues.

This would be a council of elected faculty with expertise in academic freedom and who receive training in principles and ideas around academic freedom, Lench said. They would have three charges within the university. One would be to provide an expert recommendation on issues related to academic freedom that could be used as evidentiary support.  they review and recommend a potential closure of misconduct allegations.  [And] they provide advice to the university administration regarding issues related to academic freedom locally and nationally.

Among the many recommendations, the task force also suggested extending employment protections for faculty to all professors. The protections would include paid leave during any investigative period, a time frame for minimum notice of non-renewal and allowing faculty to appeal dismissal or non-reappointment for results of violating their academic freedom, Lench said.

During the question-and-answer period following the discussion, Rajesh Miranda, a professor of neuroscience, questioned whether the culture of Texas A&M was to blame for allowing such outside scrutiny to target faculty.

I cant help but notice that three, and perhaps four out of four, of the last situations that weve had where faculty or staff have been targeted, have been faculty and staff that are [minorities], Miranda said. Is there something structurally about our institution that makes it appear to outsiders that we are uniquely vulnerable to this kind of pressures to impeding our academic freedom for certain types of faculty or staff?
Journey Strategic Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (NYSE:HPP  Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 13,432 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock, valued at approximately $57,000.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its stake in Hudson Pacific Properties by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 18,542 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $514,000 after purchasing an additional 612 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp lifted its holdings in Hudson Pacific Properties by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp now owns 76,876 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,133,000 after buying an additional 651 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its holdings in Hudson Pacific Properties by 10.9% during the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 12,625 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $123,000 after buying an additional 1,246 shares during the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Hudson Pacific Properties by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 81,235 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,254,000 after buying an additional 1,611 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mariner LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties by 13.6% in the 1st quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 14,901 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $414,000 after purchasing an additional 1,782 shares during the last quarter. 97.58% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Hudson Pacific Properties from a sell rating to a neutral rating and raised their price target for the stock from $5.50 to $6.25 in a report on Thursday, November 30th. BTIG Research raised Hudson Pacific Properties from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $11.00 price target on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 26th. Wedbush assumed coverage on Hudson Pacific Properties in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. They issued an outperform rating and a $8.00 price target on the stock. Mizuho raised Hudson Pacific Properties from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the stock from $10.00 to $7.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 18th. Finally, Bank of America downgraded Hudson Pacific Properties from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and cut their target price for the company from $5.50 to $4.00 in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Hudson Pacific Properties has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $7.84.

Hudson Pacific Properties Stock Down 1.8 %

Shares of HPP stock opened at $7.47 on Tuesday. Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. has a 1 year low of $4.05 and a 1 year high of $12.23. The stock has a market cap of $1.05 billion, a PE ratio of -9.83 and a beta of 1.23. The businesss fifty day moving average is $5.64 and its 200-day moving average is $5.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a current ratio of 1.51.

Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE:HPP  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 1st. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.27) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.21 by ($0.48). Hudson Pacific Properties had a negative net margin of 10.00% and a negative return on equity of 3.07%. The firm had revenue of $231.44 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $238.37 million. Equities analysts expect that Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. will post 0.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hudson Pacific Properties Profile

(Free Report)

Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE: HPP) is a real estate investment trust serving dynamic tech and media tenants in global epicenters for these synergistic, converging and secular growth industries. Hudson Pacific's unique and high-barrier tech and media focus leverages a full-service, end-to-end value creation platform forged through deep strategic relationships and niche expertise across identifying, acquiring, transforming and developing properties into world-class amenitized, collaborative and sustainable office and studio space.

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Hamilton Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund acquired 574 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $269,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Silicon Valley Capital Partners purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Activest Wealth Management purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $40,000. Laffer Tengler Investments purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 156.4% in the 1st quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 100 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $72,000. 81.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $525.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and issued a $650.00 target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. UBS Group restated a buy rating and set a $710.00 price objective (up previously from $612.00) on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Friday, October 20th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. Finally, Argus raised their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $470.00 to $620.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $570.82.

Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:LLY opened at $584.25 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $554.63 billion, a PE ratio of 105.84, a PEG ratio of 3.63 and a beta of 0.33. The companys fifty day moving average is $586.31 and its 200 day moving average is $527.86. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52 week low of $309.20 and a 52 week high of $629.97. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.08) by $0.18. The business had revenue of $9.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.88 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.55% and a return on equity of 48.12%. Research analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 6.62 earnings per share for the current year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.89%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 14th. This is a positive change from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 81.88%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Eli Lilly and Company news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $571.10, for a total value of $382,637.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 4,708 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,688,738.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $605.44, for a total transaction of $130,169,600.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 99,768,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $60,404,028,326.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $571.10, for a total transaction of $382,637.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 4,708 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,688,738.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

About Eli Lilly and Company

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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Balentine LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Free Report) by 17.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 22,053 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 4,806 shares during the period. Balentine LLCs holdings in Aflac were worth $1,539,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its position in Aflac by 99,608.4% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,691,395,636 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $118,059,415,000 after buying an additional 1,689,699,293 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Aflac by 338.0% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 5,604,901 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $93,656,000 after purchasing an additional 4,325,212 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP increased its position in Aflac by 71.2% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 6,512,084 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $420,160,000 after purchasing an additional 2,707,608 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Aflac in the 4th quarter worth about $175,416,000. Finally, Invesco Ltd. increased its position in Aflac by 62.4% in the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,936,608 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $317,865,000 after purchasing an additional 1,897,212 shares during the last quarter. 66.75% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Aflac Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:AFL opened at $83.11 on Tuesday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $80.35 and a 200 day moving average price of $75.17. Aflac Incorporated has a twelve month low of $60.20 and a twelve month high of $83.45. The company has a market cap of $48.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.95, a PEG ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a quick ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.

Aflac Dividend Announcement

Aflac ( NYSE:AFL Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The financial services provider reported $1.84 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.40. Aflac had a return on equity of 17.86% and a net margin of 24.17%. The firm had revenue of $4.95 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.31 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.23 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.3 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 15th were paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 14th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.02%. Aflacs payout ratio is 22.13%.

Insider Activity at Aflac

In related news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.47, for a total transaction of $38,235.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 26,598 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,033,949.06. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Aflac news, CFO Steven Kent Beaver sold 3,114 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.71, for a total value of $257,558.94. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 20,914 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,729,796.94. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.47, for a total value of $38,235.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 26,598 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,033,949.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 165,315 shares of company stock worth $13,420,962 in the last 90 days. 0.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AFL has been the topic of several research reports. Raymond James upped their target price on Aflac from $77.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Aflac from $74.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, November 2nd. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Aflac in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Aflac from $71.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 15th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Aflac from $70.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, September 14th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $79.63.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Aflac

Aflac Company Profile

(Free Report)

Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. It operates in two segments, Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan.

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Gray Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 10.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 22,972 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,245 shares during the period. Gray Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in Altria Group were worth $1,041,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Northwest Bank & Trust Co bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the first quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the first quarter valued at approximately $41,000. 58.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Altria Group

In related news, Director Robert Matthews Davis acquired 1,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, November 6th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $40.50 per share, for a total transaction of $48,600.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 8,473 shares in the company, valued at $343,156.50. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.07% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on MO shares. Citigroup cut their target price on shares of Altria Group from $46.50 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 18th. StockNews.com raised shares of Altria Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Altria Group from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 13th. Bank of America cut their target price on shares of Altria Group from $49.00 to $47.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Finally, UBS Group cut their target price on shares of Altria Group from $40.40 to $39.20 and set a sell rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $47.53.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on MO

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MO opened at $41.40 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $73.21 billion, a PE ratio of 8.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.66. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $39.06 and a 52 week high of $51.57. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $41.42 and a 200 day simple moving average of $43.27.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported $1.28 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.29 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $5.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.43 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 35.58% and a negative return on equity of 237.91%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.28 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 21st will be paid a $0.98 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 20th. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.47%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 79.84%.

Altria Group Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco products and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; and on! oral nicotine pouches.

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Balentine LLC increased its position in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Free Report) by 45.0% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 7,238 shares of the business services providers stock after acquiring an additional 2,246 shares during the period. Balentine LLCs holdings in Waste Management were worth $1,255,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WM. Acadian Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Waste Management by 534.5% in the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 3,344 shares of the business services providers stock worth $530,000 after acquiring an additional 2,817 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL raised its stake in Waste Management by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 53,067 shares of the business services providers stock worth $8,411,000 after acquiring an additional 370 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Waste Management by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 358,624 shares of the business services providers stock worth $56,842,000 after acquiring an additional 2,309 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd raised its stake in Waste Management by 83.8% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 680 shares of the business services providers stock worth $108,000 after acquiring an additional 310 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its stake in Waste Management by 44.8% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 33,030 shares of the business services providers stock worth $5,234,000 after acquiring an additional 10,212 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.34% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Tara J. Hemmer sold 10,048 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.19, for a total value of $1,720,117.12. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 49,099 shares in the company, valued at $8,405,257.81. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, VP Michael J. Watson sold 14,288 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.44, for a total value of $2,435,246.72. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 41,428 shares in the company, valued at $7,060,988.32. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Tara J. Hemmer sold 10,048 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $171.19, for a total value of $1,720,117.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 49,099 shares in the company, valued at $8,405,257.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 33,886 shares of company stock worth $5,797,964 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have weighed in on WM. Scotiabank reduced their price objective on Waste Management from $177.50 to $165.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. UBS Group upgraded Waste Management from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $170.00 to $190.00 in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Waste Management from $177.00 to $183.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. StockNews.com started coverage on Waste Management in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, HSBC started coverage on Waste Management in a research report on Friday, September 15th. They set a buy rating and a $192.00 target price on the stock. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $179.43.

View Our Latest Analysis on Waste Management

Waste Management Price Performance

NYSE:WM opened at $173.38 on Tuesday. Waste Management, Inc. has a 12 month low of $148.31 and a 12 month high of $174.80. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $165.63 and a two-hundred day moving average of $163.62. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.17. The firm has a market cap of $69.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.70.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The business services provider reported $1.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $5.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.27 billion. Waste Management had a return on equity of 34.14% and a net margin of 11.47%. The businesss revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.56 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Waste Management, Inc. will post 5.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Waste Management Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be given a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.61%. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.56%.

Waste Management Company Profile

(Free Report)

Waste Management, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of environmental solutions to residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in the United States and Canada. It offers collection services, including picking up and transporting waste and recyclable materials from where it was generated to a transfer station, material recovery facility (MRF), or disposal site; and owns and operates transfer stations, as well as owns, develops, and operates landfill facilities that produce landfill gas used as renewable natural gas for generating electricity.

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Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) has earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the thirteen analysts that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$127.52.

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Desjardins cut their target price on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$133.00 to C$130.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 6th. National Bankshares lowered their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$120.00 to C$117.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 4th. CSFB set a C$128.00 price target on shares of Bank of Montreal and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, September 12th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$138.00 to C$134.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 25th. Finally, Cormark lowered their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$128.00 to C$127.00 in a report on Monday, December 4th.

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Read Our Latest Report on Bank of Montreal

Bank of Montreal Price Performance

TSE:BMO opened at C$119.26 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of C$85.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.00, a PEG ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.16. The companys 50-day moving average is C$109.98 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$114.89. Bank of Montreal has a 1-year low of C$102.67 and a 1-year high of C$137.64.

Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, December 1st. The bank reported C$2.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$2.86 by C($0.05). The company had revenue of C$8.36 billion during the quarter. Bank of Montreal had a net margin of 15.04% and a return on equity of 5.91%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Bank of Montreal will post 12.671126 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of Montreal Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.51 per share. This represents a $6.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.06%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 29th. This is a boost from Bank of Montreals previous quarterly dividend of $1.47. Bank of Montreals payout ratio is 106.34%.

About Bank of Montreal

(Get Free Report

Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers.

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Florida's new bill aims to allow residents to kill bears for self-defense and property protection. But, the legislation needs to go before Florida House Committee on Tuesday, Dec. 12, first.

As of writing, hunting bears in Florida is illegal. This activity was first regulated way back in 1936 and continued until 1994 in certain parts of the state.

Now, if the new anti-bear legislation turns into law, Florida's residents can start killing bears for the safety of their properties and themselves.

Florida's New Bill to Allow Killing Bears

According to Fox News' latest report, the new bill called the "Self Defense Act" allows people to use lethal force against harmful bears, especially if they feel threatened and believe that force is critical to protect themselves or their private properties.

Before the bill is turned into law, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will present the needed information to lawmakers from the House Agriculture, Conservation, and Resiliency Subcommittee so that Florida black bear's history can be properly discussed.

Among the topics they will talk about is the black bear's growing population ever since it was taken off the threatened species list in 2012. However, many bear advocates are against the new Self Defense Act bill.

They argued that although FWC's data shows that human-to-bear conflicts are increasing across the state, including in residential areas as the animals search for food, the new bill isn't really necessary.

"If you move into this area, you have to do your homework," said Joe Humphreys, a Seminole County resident.

"Do your due diligence," he added.

Humphreys explained that he support the Second Amendment's right to self-defense. However, he clarified that this shouldn't apply to wild animals.

Read Also: Montana Officials Euthanize Grizzly Bear and Cub After Repeated Encounters with People

About Florida's Pro-Bear Killing Bill

Florida Today reported that the new Self Defense Act bill will allow residents to kill bears without being subjected to any civil, criminal, or administrative penalties.

But, they need to notify the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 24 hours after killing the bear. Aside from these, residents are not allowed to possess, dispose of, or sell the dead animal or its parts.

Once the dead bear's body is surrendered, FWC officials will be the ones to dispose of it. When it comes to the actual killing, the legislation strictly prohibits luring or provoking a bear.

Related Article: Japan Bear Attacks Alarmingly Increase Due to Hibernation Delays-What's Causing Them to Stay Awake Even in Winter?

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Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors cut its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM  Free Report) by 11.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 2,731 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 364 shares during the quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $511,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in IWM. 25 LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $33,000. Sound Income Strategies LLC increased its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 1,087.5% during the 2nd quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 190 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 174 shares in the last quarter. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the second quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Godsey & Gibb Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Finally, Northwest Bank & Trust Co bought a new position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $47,000.

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iShares Russell 2000 ETF Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of IWM opened at $187.16 on Tuesday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $174.11 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $181.99. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a 52 week low of $161.67 and a 52 week high of $199.26.

About iShares Russell 2000 ETF

iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM  Free Report).

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Trigano (OTCMKTS:TGNOF  Get Free Report) and Polaris (NYSE:PII  Get Free Report) are both consumer cyclical companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, valuation, earnings, dividends, institutional ownership, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Trigano and Polaris gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Trigano N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Polaris $8.59 billion 0.58 $447.10 million $10.23 8.57

Polaris has higher revenue and earnings than Trigano.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Trigano 0 0 0 0 N/A Polaris 0 11 2 0 2.15

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Trigano and Polaris, as provided by MarketBeat.

Polaris has a consensus target price of $111.82, suggesting a potential upside of 27.60%. Given Polaris higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Polaris is more favorable than Trigano.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

87.4% of Polaris shares are held by institutional investors. 2.8% of Polaris shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Trigano and Polaris net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Trigano N/A N/A N/A Polaris 6.57% 51.02% 11.38%

Summary

Polaris beats Trigano on 8 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Trigano

(Get Free Report)

Trigano S.A., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, marketing, and sale of leisure vehicles for individuals and professionals in Europe. It offers camping cars, caravans, motorhomes, trailers, and outdoor habitats. The company also provides mobiles homes, spare parts, and accessories, as well as leisure financing services. It offers its products through dealer networks and distributors, as well as through its online sales site, Triganostore.com. Trigano S.A. was founded in 1935 and is based in Paris, France.

About Polaris

(Get Free Report)

Polaris Inc. designs, engineers, manufactures, and markets powersports vehicles worldwide. It operates through three segments: Off-Road, On-Road, and Marine. The company offers off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles and side-by-side vehicles; military and commercial ORVs; snowmobiles; motorcycles; moto-roadsters, quadricycles, and boats; and aftermarket parts and apparel. It also provides ORV accessories comprising winches, bumper/brushguards, plows, racks, wheels and tires, pull-behinds, cab systems, lighting and audio systems, cargo box accessories, tracks, and oil; snowmobile accessories, which include covers, traction products, reverse kits, electric starters, tracks, bags, windshields, oil, and lubricants; and motorcycle accessories, such as saddle bags, handlebars, backrests, exhausts, windshields, seats, oil, and various chrome accessories. In addition, the company offers light duty hauling and passenger vehicles; gear and apparel, such as helmets, goggles, jackets, gloves, boots, bibs, hats, pants, and leathers; and pontoon and deck boats. It provides its products through dealers and distributors, and online; and retail and e-commerce sites. The company was formerly known as Polaris Industries Inc. Polaris Inc. was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Medina, Minnesota.

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Greenland Capital Management LP trimmed its stake in shares of Dover Co. (NYSE:DOV  Free Report) by 34.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 20,000 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 10,504 shares during the quarter. Greenland Capital Management LPs holdings in Dover were worth $2,953,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in DOV. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of Dover during the 1st quarter worth about $48,000. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund bought a new stake in shares of Dover in the 1st quarter worth approximately $938,000. Raymond James Trust N.A. raised its holdings in shares of Dover by 5.8% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 5,645 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $886,000 after purchasing an additional 310 shares in the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Dover by 6.5% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 9,126 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,465,000 after purchasing an additional 561 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. raised its holdings in shares of Dover by 6.1% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 140,560 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $22,055,000 after purchasing an additional 8,054 shares in the last quarter. 83.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently commented on DOV. Mizuho dropped their target price on shares of Dover from $165.00 to $162.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Dover from $152.00 to $140.00 in a report on Monday, October 9th. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Dover from $167.00 to $173.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Dover from $149.00 to $145.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Dover from $171.00 to $162.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Dover presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $161.38.

Insider Transactions at Dover

In other news, VP Anthony K. Kosinski sold 664 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $141.64, for a total value of $94,048.96. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 5,333 shares in the company, valued at $755,366.12. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, CFO Brad M. Cerepak sold 14,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $142.00, for a total transaction of $1,988,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 35,938 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,103,196. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Anthony K. Kosinski sold 664 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $141.64, for a total transaction of $94,048.96. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 5,333 shares of the companys stock, valued at $755,366.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Dover Stock Performance

DOV stock opened at $145.33 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The company has a market capitalization of $20.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.33. Dover Co. has a 12 month low of $127.25 and a 12 month high of $160.66. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $136.83 and a two-hundred day moving average of $141.29.

Dover (NYSE:DOV  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The industrial products company reported $2.35 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.33 by $0.02. Dover had a net margin of 12.09% and a return on equity of 26.23%. The company had revenue of $2.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.23 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.26 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down .2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Dover Co. will post 8.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Dover Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 30th will be paid a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 29th. Dovers payout ratio is 28.02%.

About Dover

(Free Report)

Dover Corporation provides equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services worldwide. The company's Engineered Products segment provides various equipment, component, software, solution, and services that are used in aftermarket vehicle service, solid waste handling, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, industrial winch and hoist, and fluid dispensing end-market.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DOV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Dover Co. (NYSE:DOV  Free Report).

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Green Dot Co. (NYSE:GDOT  Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Hold from the five brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $15.00.

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Craig Hallum cut shares of Green Dot from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $14.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Friday, November 10th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Green Dot from $19.00 to $16.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 18th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Green Dot in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Truist Financial cut their price objective on Green Dot from $17.00 to $10.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 13th.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Green Dot

Green Dot Stock Down 1.5 %

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Green Dot by 6.2% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,009,064 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $165,128,000 after purchasing an additional 349,720 shares during the period. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Green Dot by 48.2% in the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,934,157 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $46,419,000 after buying an additional 954,860 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in Green Dot by 8.9% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,432,444 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $45,584,000 after buying an additional 199,253 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Green Dot by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,119,294 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $39,716,000 after buying an additional 68,660 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in Green Dot by 11.8% in the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,918,976 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $48,185,000 after buying an additional 202,042 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.12% of the companys stock.

Green Dot stock opened at $9.05 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. Green Dot has a 1-year low of $7.30 and a 1-year high of $21.37. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $10.50 and a 200 day simple moving average of $14.79. The company has a market cap of $474.67 million, a P/E ratio of 13.12 and a beta of 0.90.

Green Dot (NYSE:GDOT  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 9th. The financial services provider reported $0.02 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.04 by ($0.02). Green Dot had a net margin of 2.45% and a return on equity of 8.51%. The company had revenue of $348.57 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $331.26 million. Research analysts anticipate that Green Dot will post 1.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Green Dot

(Get Free Report

Green Dot Corporation, a financial technology and bank holding company, provides various financial services to consumers and businesses in the United States. It operates through three segments: Consumer Services, Business to Business Services, and Money Movement Services. The company offers deposit account programs, including consumer and small business checking account products, network-branded reloadable prepaid debit cards and gift cards, and secured credit programs.

Further Reading

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Harber Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 16.2% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 233,347 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 32,475 shares during the period. Philip Morris International makes up about 6.0% of Harber Asset Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its largest position. Harber Asset Management LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $22,779,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in PM. Cornerstone Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 12,807.4% in the 2nd quarter. Cornerstone Advisors LLC now owns 26,485,964 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,449,000 after buying an additional 26,280,764 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 100,700.1% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,640,144 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,582,939,000 after buying an additional 15,624,628 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 116,185,273 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,342,014,000 after buying an additional 4,368,323 shares in the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 98,370.2% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 3,673,922 shares of the companys stock valued at $358,648,000 after buying an additional 3,670,191 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 1,225.5% in the 2nd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 3,568,402 shares of the companys stock valued at $348,046,000 after buying an additional 3,299,188 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Philip Morris International

In related news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.25, for a total value of $942,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 198,447 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,703,629.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.15% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Bank of America lowered their target price on Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $111.00 in a report on Friday, September 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Barclays lowered their target price on Philip Morris International from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $113.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Philip Morris International presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $109.27.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on PM

Philip Morris International Price Performance

Philip Morris International stock opened at $92.97 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $91.74 and a 200-day moving average of $94.16. Philip Morris International Inc. has a one year low of $87.23 and a one year high of $105.62. The company has a market cap of $144.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.77.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 19th. The company reported $1.67 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.62 by $0.05. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 9.62% and a negative return on equity of 129.48%. The company had revenue of $9.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.21 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.53 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 13.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 21st will be paid a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 20th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.59%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 100.97%.

Philip Morris International Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

See Also

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report).

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Hilltop Holdings Inc. lessened its position in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 1.5% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 26,293 shares of the companys stock after selling 391 shares during the period. Hilltop Holdings Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $2,567,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $753,000. Barrett & Company Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Spotlight Asset Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Studio Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 33.8% during the 4th quarter. Studio Investment Management LLC now owns 428 shares of the companys stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares during the period. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,000. Institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.25, for a total transaction of $942,500.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 198,447 shares of the companys stock, valued at $18,703,629.75. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.15% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

PM has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. They set a neutral rating and a $95.00 price objective for the company. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a buy rating and set a $114.00 price objective on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Bank of America lowered their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $111.00 in a research report on Friday, September 29th. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $111.00 to $105.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Philip Morris International presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $109.27.

View Our Latest Stock Report on PM

Philip Morris International Stock Performance

NYSE:PM opened at $92.97 on Tuesday. The firms fifty day moving average is $91.74 and its 200-day moving average is $94.16. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $87.23 and a 52 week high of $105.62. The firm has a market cap of $144.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.77.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The company reported $1.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.62 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $9.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.21 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 9.62% and a negative return on equity of 129.48%. Philip Morris Internationals revenue was up 13.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.53 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 21st will be paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.59%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 20th. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is presently 100.97%.

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

See Also

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report).

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Hormel Foods Co. (NYSE:HRL  Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Reduce from the six brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation and four have assigned a hold recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $39.63.

A number of research firms recently commented on HRL. Piper Sandler lowered their price target on shares of Hormel Foods from $41.00 to $35.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on shares of Hormel Foods from $29.00 to $26.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Hormel Foods from $36.00 to $31.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 16th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Hormel Foods in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock.

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Read Our Latest Report on HRL

Insider Activity

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hormel Foods

In related news, SVP Kevin L. Myers sold 5,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, October 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.93, for a total transaction of $160,836.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 38,937 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,204,321.41. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Insiders own 0.81% of the companys stock.

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Sei Investments Co. lifted its holdings in Hormel Foods by 21.8% during the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 238,295 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,584,000 after buying an additional 42,702 shares in the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Hormel Foods by 112.6% during the 2nd quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 39,021 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,569,000 after buying an additional 20,664 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC lifted its holdings in Hormel Foods by 12.9% during the 2nd quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 8,921 shares of the companys stock valued at $359,000 after buying an additional 1,016 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Hormel Foods by 10.2% during the 2nd quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 4,489 shares of the companys stock valued at $181,000 after buying an additional 415 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Hormel Foods by 3.7% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 27,868,383 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,120,866,000 after buying an additional 1,004,133 shares in the last quarter. 41.15% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Hormel Foods Stock Up 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE:HRL opened at $31.70 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $17.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.71, a P/E/G ratio of 4.27 and a beta of 0.24. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. Hormel Foods has a 12-month low of $30.12 and a 12-month high of $47.68. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $32.77 and a 200 day simple moving average of $37.22.

Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 29th. The company reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.44 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $3.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.26 billion. Hormel Foods had a return on equity of 11.47% and a net margin of 6.55%. The businesss revenue was down 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.51 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Hormel Foods will post 1.57 earnings per share for the current year.

Hormel Foods Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 16th will be given a dividend of $0.2825 per share. This represents a $1.13 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.56%. This is an increase from Hormel Foodss previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 12th. Hormel Foodss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 75.34%.

Hormel Foods Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Hormel Foods Corporation develops, processes, and distributes various meat, nuts, and other food products to retail, foodservice, deli, and commercial customers in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Retail, Foodservice, and International segments. The company provides various perishable products that include fresh meats, frozen items, refrigerated meal solutions, sausages, hams, guacamoles, and bacons; and shelf-stable products comprising canned luncheon meats, nut butters, snack nuts, chili, shelf-stable microwaveable meals, hash, stews, tortillas, salsas, tortilla chips, nutritional food supplements, and others.

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Investment Management Corp of Ontario trimmed its position in Owens Corning (NYSE:OC  Free Report) by 8.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 12,583 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 1,111 shares during the quarter. Investment Management Corp of Ontarios holdings in Owens Corning were worth $1,642,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. BROOKFIELD Corp ON acquired a new position in Owens Corning in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $279,000. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Owens Corning in the second quarter worth $194,000. Capula Management Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Owens Corning during the second quarter valued at $485,000. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV raised its position in Owens Corning by 14.9% during the second quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 8,283 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,081,000 after buying an additional 1,074 shares during the period. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc lifted its stake in Owens Corning by 78.1% in the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 244 shares of the construction companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. 90.22% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Owens Corning from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $130.00 to $180.00 in a research note on Friday. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Owens Corning from $185.00 to $153.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of Owens Corning from $168.00 to $155.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on shares of Owens Corning in a report on Tuesday, October 17th. They set an equal weight rating and a $143.00 price target on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Owens Corning from a sell rating to a neutral rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $113.00 to $150.00 in a report on Thursday, September 7th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Owens Corning currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $142.67.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director W Howard Morris sold 350 shares of Owens Corning stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.05, for a total value of $42,717.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 41,045 shares in the company, valued at $5,009,542.25. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.89% of the companys stock.

Owens Corning Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE OC opened at $143.84 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $128.04 and its 200-day simple moving average is $130.70. Owens Corning has a 52 week low of $83.98 and a 52 week high of $147.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a current ratio of 2.16. The firm has a market cap of $12.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.51.

Owens Corning (NYSE:OC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 25th. The construction company reported $4.15 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.89 by $0.26. Owens Corning had a return on equity of 25.59% and a net margin of 12.31%. The company had revenue of $2.48 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.54 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.57 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Owens Corning will post 13.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Owens Corning Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 8th will be given a dividend of $0.60 per share. This is a positive change from Owens Cornings previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 5th. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.67%. Owens Cornings payout ratio is currently 16.02%.

Owens Corning Company Profile

(Free Report)

Owens Corning engages in manufacture and sale of insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composite materials in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Composites, Insulation, and Roofing. The Composites segment manufactures, fabricates, and sells glass reinforcements in the form of fiber; and glass fiber products in the form of fabrics, non-wovens, and other specialized products.

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Investment Management Corp of Ontario boosted its holdings in shares of Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY  Free Report) by 17.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 28,584 shares of the technology retailers stock after buying an additional 4,241 shares during the quarter. Investment Management Corp of Ontarios holdings in Best Buy were worth $2,342,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA acquired a new stake in shares of Best Buy in the second quarter worth $25,000. Lansing Street Advisors bought a new position in shares of Best Buy during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group acquired a new position in shares of Best Buy during the first quarter valued at about $28,000. Clear Street Markets LLC increased its position in shares of Best Buy by 90.6% during the first quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 385 shares of the technology retailers stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares during the period. Finally, Cambridge Trust Co. raised its stake in shares of Best Buy by 3,900.0% in the first quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. now owns 400 shares of the technology retailers stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 390 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.10% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Best Buy

In other Best Buy news, Chairman Richard M. Schulze sold 213,693 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.10, for a total transaction of $16,048,344.30. Following the sale, the chairman now directly owns 288,393 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,658,314.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Chairman Richard M. Schulze sold 213,693 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.10, for a total value of $16,048,344.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 288,393 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $21,658,314.30. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Todd G. Hartman sold 7,948 shares of Best Buy stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.38, for a total value of $551,432.24. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 13,337 shares in the company, valued at approximately $925,321.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 226,641 shares of company stock worth $16,955,677 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.56% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have issued reports on BBY. Wedbush reissued a neutral rating and issued a $70.00 price target on shares of Best Buy in a report on Wednesday, November 22nd. DA Davidson raised their price target on shares of Best Buy from $87.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Best Buy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $79.00 to $85.00 in a report on Thursday, October 19th. TheStreet lowered Best Buy from a b- rating to a c rating in a research note on Monday, November 20th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Best Buy from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Best Buy currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $76.53.

View Our Latest Report on BBY

Best Buy Trading Up 1.4 %

BBY opened at $74.13 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $68.80 and a 200 day simple moving average of $74.27. Best Buy Co., Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $62.30 and a fifty-two week high of $93.32. The company has a market cap of $15.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 1.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.23.

Best Buy (NYSE:BBY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 21st. The technology retailer reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.10. Best Buy had a return on equity of 49.13% and a net margin of 2.93%. The company had revenue of $9.76 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.90 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.38 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Best Buy Co., Inc. will post 6.15 earnings per share for the current year.

Best Buy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 12th will be given a dividend of $0.92 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 11th. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.96%. Best Buys dividend payout ratio is 63.45%.

About Best Buy

(Free Report)

Best Buy Co, Inc engages in the retail of technology products in the United States and Canada. The company operates in two segments, Domestic and International. Its stores provide computing and mobile phone products, such as desktops, notebooks, and peripherals; mobile phones comprising related mobile network carrier commissions; networking products; tablets covering e-readers; smartwatches; and consumer electronics consisting of digital imaging, health and fitness products, home theater, portable audio comprising headphones and portable speakers, and smart home products.

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Stifel Financial Corp lifted its stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,270,595 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 356,136 shares during the quarter. Pfizer accounts for 0.7% of Stifel Financial Corps portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest holding. Stifel Financial Corps holdings in Pfizer were worth $486,767,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Holt Capital Advisors L.L.C. dba Holt Capital Partners L.P. increased its stake in Pfizer by 4.5% in the 2nd quarter. Holt Capital Advisors L.L.C. dba Holt Capital Partners L.P. now owns 40,500 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,486,000 after purchasing an additional 1,750 shares in the last quarter. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Pfizer in the second quarter worth approximately $2,113,000. Infrastructure Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 5.2% in the 2nd quarter. Infrastructure Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,751 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $211,000 after acquiring an additional 284 shares in the last quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in Pfizer by 71.8% in the 2nd quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC now owns 55,727 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,044,000 after purchasing an additional 23,284 shares during the period. Finally, Intrepid Family Office LLC grew its position in Pfizer by 175.0% during the 2nd quarter. Intrepid Family Office LLC now owns 27,500 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,009,000 after purchasing an additional 17,500 shares in the last quarter. 68.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Pfizer from $36.00 to $34.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Pfizer from $42.00 to $35.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Truist Financial reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $42.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Pfizer from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $38.00 to $39.00 in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price target on Pfizer from $35.00 to $34.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 1st. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $42.50.

Pfizer Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE PFE opened at $28.64 on Tuesday. Pfizer Inc. has a 12 month low of $28.30 and a 12 month high of $54.93. The company has a market cap of $161.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.65, a P/E/G ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 0.61. The businesss 50 day moving average is $30.77 and its two-hundred day moving average is $34.30. The company has a quick ratio of 2.05, a current ratio of 2.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.17) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.32) by $0.15. The business had revenue of $13.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.77 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 15.30% and a return on equity of 16.72%. On average, equities analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 1.54 EPS for the current year.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 10th were given a dividend of $0.41 per share. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.73%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 9th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio is currently 89.62%.

About Pfizer

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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The first night train from Berlin to Paris completed its first-ever voyage, leaving the German capital on Monday night and arriving at the French capital by Tuesday morning (December 11-12), hailing it as a milestone moment in the renaissance of cleaner alternatives to air travel across Europe.

German and French public broadcasters - DW and France 24, respectively - reported that aboard the train was French transport minister Clement Beaune, who exchanged an embrace with his German counterpart, Volker Wissing, before departure.

"It's a good start," Beaune recalled of the trip upon his arrival in Paris. "It's a symbol we need at the moment because we need positive projects, environmental and European projects."

The service would pass by the German cities of Halle, Erfurt, and Frankfurt before crossing the French border and pass by Strasbourg before ending in Paris's Gare de l'Est station.

Read Also: France's Disposable Vape Ban Backed by French Parliament

Return of the Sleeper Trains

The sleeper service between the German and French capitals has been called for by travelers, local politicians, and environmentalists for years since its last trip almost a decade ago.

Its return was sparked by a renewed interest in slow night travel and cleaner and cheaper travel alternatives to air travel after night trains were replaced by budget airlines and high-speed trains at the beginning of the 21st century.

Aside from Germany and France, whose national train operators - Deutsche Bahn and SNCF - would handle the service in both directions, Austrian train company OBB contributed to the project by providing its "Nightjet" rolling stock, expanding its operations beyond central Europe.

The train was cheered along its route, The Guardian reported. Before dawn, local politicians and residents of Strasbourg lined the city's station platform while waving French, German, and European flags.

In 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron said he aimed to open 10 new sleeper services by 2030, with the first operational one - the sleeper train from Paris to Aurillac - steamrolling the night before the Berlin-Paris service (Sunday, December 10).

The Paris-Aurillac service last operated in 2003.

The French government has invested 100 million ($108 million) to revive the national network and prepare new carriages for service. Meanwhile, Deutsche Bahn aimed to expand its night train connections to 13 other large European cities in partnership with other operators.

Related Article: Germany's Scholz Begins Hanukkah with Calls for Solidarity with Jews

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Greenland Capital Management LP lowered its stake in Pinnacle West Capital Co. (NYSE:PNW  Free Report) by 65.4% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 34,262 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 64,838 shares during the quarter. Greenland Capital Management LPs holdings in Pinnacle West Capital were worth $2,791,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Bridgefront Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital in the second quarter valued at about $654,000. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV grew its stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 3.2% in the second quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 65,781 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $5,359,000 after buying an additional 2,060 shares in the last quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC grew its stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 148.9% in the second quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 35,288 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,875,000 after buying an additional 21,111 shares in the last quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 8.3% in the second quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC now owns 10,712 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $873,000 after buying an additional 823 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MML Investors Services LLC grew its stake in Pinnacle West Capital by 59.1% during the 2nd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 4,965 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $404,000 after purchasing an additional 1,844 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.95% of the companys stock.

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Pinnacle West Capital Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE PNW opened at $75.65 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $8.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 0.50. Pinnacle West Capital Co. has a 12-month low of $68.55 and a 12-month high of $86.03. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $73.76 and its 200 day simple moving average is $77.52.

Pinnacle West Capital Increases Dividend

Pinnacle West Capital ( NYSE:PNW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The utilities provider reported $3.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.33 by $0.17. The business had revenue of $1.64 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.54 billion. Pinnacle West Capital had a return on equity of 7.68% and a net margin of 10.13%. Equities research analysts expect that Pinnacle West Capital Co. will post 4.29 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 1st were paid a dividend of $0.88 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, October 31st. This represents a $3.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.65%. This is an increase from Pinnacle West Capitals previous quarterly dividend of $0.87. Pinnacle West Capitals payout ratio is presently 83.81%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have weighed in on PNW. Bank of America lowered their price objective on Pinnacle West Capital from $78.00 to $69.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. KeyCorp upgraded Pinnacle West Capital from an underweight rating to a sector weight rating in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. StockNews.com raised Pinnacle West Capital from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, November 10th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Pinnacle West Capital from $71.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on Pinnacle West Capital from $81.00 to $77.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 28th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $75.75.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on PNW

Insider Buying and Selling at Pinnacle West Capital

In other news, EVP Robert Edgar Smith sold 1,610 shares of Pinnacle West Capital stock in a transaction on Friday, December 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.95, for a total transaction of $122,279.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,178 shares in the company, valued at approximately $697,069.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.31% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Pinnacle West Capital Profile

(Free Report)

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, through its subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company, provides retail and wholesale electric services primarily in the state of Arizona. The company engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity using coal, nuclear, gas, oil, and solar generating facilities.

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Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE:RCI  Free Report) (TSE:RCI.B)  Stock analysts at Zacks Research boosted their Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Rogers Communications in a note issued to investors on Thursday, December 7th. Zacks Research analyst V. Sawalka now anticipates that the Wireless communications provider will post earnings per share of $1.26 for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $1.24. The consensus estimate for Rogers Communications current full-year earnings is $3.17 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Rogers Communications Q3 2025 earnings at $1.22 EPS.

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Several other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised shares of Rogers Communications from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, September 15th. Desjardins raised shares of Rogers Communications from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 10th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Rogers Communications from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, November 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Rogers Communications currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $75.69.

Rogers Communications Price Performance

Shares of NYSE RCI opened at $45.44 on Monday. Rogers Communications has a fifty-two week low of $36.55 and a fifty-two week high of $50.16. The stock has a market cap of $24.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.70, a PEG ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.77, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.90. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $40.65 and its 200 day simple moving average is $41.92.

Rogers Communications (NYSE:RCI  Get Free Report) (TSE:RCI.B) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.95 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $3.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.74 billion. Rogers Communications had a return on equity of 21.47% and a net margin of 5.64%.

Rogers Communications Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 8th will be given a dividend of $0.36 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 7th. This represents a $1.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.17%. Rogers Communicationss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 99.32%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in RCI. Trexquant Investment LP bought a new position in shares of Rogers Communications during the second quarter valued at about $1,413,000. Alberta Investment Management Corp lifted its position in Rogers Communications by 15.9% during the first quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp now owns 1,430,944 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $66,231,000 after purchasing an additional 196,127 shares during the period. Monarch Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in Rogers Communications by 12.6% during the second quarter. Monarch Capital Management Inc. now owns 31,923 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $1,463,000 after purchasing an additional 3,580 shares during the period. Nexus Investment Management ULC lifted its position in Rogers Communications by 6.7% during the second quarter. Nexus Investment Management ULC now owns 5,380 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $246,000 after purchasing an additional 340 shares during the period. Finally, CenterBook Partners LP lifted its position in Rogers Communications by 31.0% during the first quarter. CenterBook Partners LP now owns 45,199 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $2,095,000 after purchasing an additional 10,698 shares during the period. 44.25% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Rogers Communications

(Get Free Report)

Rogers Communications Inc operates as a communications and media company in North America. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The company offers mobile Internet access, wireless voice and enhanced voice, device financing, device protection, global voice and data roaming, wireless home phone, bridging landline, machine-to-machine and Internet of Things solutions, and advanced wireless solutions for businesses, as well as device shipping services; and postpaid and prepaid services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands.

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Stifel Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,720,367 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 42,879 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corps holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $430,381,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of ITW. Horizon Investments LLC boosted its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 8.9% during the 2nd quarter. Horizon Investments LLC now owns 3,657 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $915,000 after acquiring an additional 298 shares during the period. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 55.1% during the second quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,021 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $508,000 after purchasing an additional 718 shares during the period. Invenio Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Illinois Tool Works in the second quarter worth about $247,000. Becker Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the 2nd quarter valued at about $205,000. Finally, Bowen Hanes & Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in Illinois Tool Works in the 2nd quarter valued at about $200,000. Institutional investors own 79.56% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently issued reports on ITW shares. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Illinois Tool Works in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Barclays dropped their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $213.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Thursday, September 7th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $250.00 to $235.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $244.00 to $256.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $265.00 to $255.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $238.08.

Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance

Shares of ITW stock opened at $250.41 on Tuesday. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 12-month low of $214.66 and a 12-month high of $264.19. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $234.78 and its 200-day simple moving average is $239.68. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.27. The company has a market cap of $75.35 billion, a PE ratio of 24.29, a PEG ratio of 4.79 and a beta of 1.13.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The industrial products company reported $2.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.46 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $4.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.10 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 95.68% and a net margin of 19.55%. The firms quarterly revenue was up .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.35 EPS. Analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 29th will be given a dividend of $1.40 per share. This represents a $5.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.24%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 28th. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio is presently 54.32%.

Illinois Tool Works Profile

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment offers plastic and metal components, fasteners, and assemblies for automobiles, light trucks, and other industrial uses.

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Stifel Financial Corp grew its stake in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (BATS:IEFA  Free Report) by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 8,900,579 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 77,308 shares during the period. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF makes up about 0.8% of Stifel Financial Corps portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest position. Stifel Financial Corps holdings in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $600,795,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 114,199.2% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 954,128,634 shares of the companys stock worth $58,812,489,000 after purchasing an additional 953,293,870 shares during the period. Bishop & Co Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 6,587.4% during the second quarter. Bishop & Co Investment Management LLC now owns 21,930,077 shares of the companys stock valued at $324,890,000 after buying an additional 21,602,147 shares during the last quarter. Cowa LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 7,482.8% in the first quarter. Cowa LLC now owns 7,950,414 shares of the companys stock worth $6,200,000 after buying an additional 7,845,566 shares during the period. Providence Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 6,192.3% during the 1st quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,504,317 shares of the companys stock worth $82,338,000 after acquiring an additional 5,416,840 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Alaska Permanent Fund Corp purchased a new position in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at $343,170,000.

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iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF stock opened at $68.36 on Tuesday. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF has a 52 week low of $56.55 and a 52 week high of $70.84. The company has a market capitalization of $100.49 billion, a PE ratio of 12.29 and a beta of 0.87. The stocks fifty day moving average is $65.00 and its two-hundred day moving average is $66.30.

About iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF

The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of developed-market stocks in Europe, Australasia and the Far East, and excludes North America IEFA was launched on Oct 18, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (NYSE:SHO  Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of Strong Sell from the six brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have issued a hold rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $9.10.

Several research firms have weighed in on SHO. StockNews.com cut Sunstone Hotel Investors from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, November 16th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an underweight rating and issued a $9.50 price objective (down previously from $10.00) on shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors in a report on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Sunstone Hotel Investors from $8.00 to $9.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Sunstone Hotel Investors from $10.00 to $9.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 25th. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on Sunstone Hotel Investors from $10.00 to $9.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, September 28th.

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Sunstone Hotel Investors Price Performance

SHO opened at $10.38 on Thursday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $9.63 and its 200 day simple moving average is $9.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 5.26 and a quick ratio of 5.26. Sunstone Hotel Investors has a 1 year low of $8.60 and a 1 year high of $11.38. The firm has a market cap of $2.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.94, a PEG ratio of 4.12 and a beta of 1.20.

Sunstone Hotel Investors (NYSE:SHO  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 7th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.20 by ($0.14). Sunstone Hotel Investors had a return on equity of 5.38% and a net margin of 9.61%. The company had revenue of $247.70 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $245.52 million. As a group, analysts predict that Sunstone Hotel Investors will post 0.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Sunstone Hotel Investors Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 16th. Investors of record on Friday, December 29th will be given a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 28th. This is a positive change from Sunstone Hotel Investorss previous quarterly dividend of $0.07. Sunstone Hotel Investorss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 55.00%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Advisors Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors by 168.4% in the 4th quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,065 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 1,923 shares in the last quarter. State of Wyoming bought a new stake in shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors in the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its holdings in shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors by 56.5% in the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 4,257 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 1,537 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors in the 1st quarter worth $91,000. Finally, Point72 Middle East FZE bought a new stake in shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors in the 4th quarter worth $94,000.

About Sunstone Hotel Investors

(Get Free Report

Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc is a lodging real estate investment trust ("REIT") that as of the date of this release owns 14 hotels comprised of 6,675 rooms, the majority of which are operated under nationally recognized brands. Sunstone's strategy is to create long-term stakeholder value through the acquisition, active ownership and disposition of well-located hotel and resort real estate.

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Gray Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 9.0% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 666 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after buying an additional 55 shares during the quarter. Gray Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $320,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Hamilton Wealth LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 4.8% during the 2nd quarter. Hamilton Wealth LLC now owns 523 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $251,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares in the last quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. now owns 6,497 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $3,122,000 after buying an additional 281 shares during the period. Holt Capital Advisors L.L.C. dba Holt Capital Partners L.P. boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 4.3% during the 2nd quarter. Holt Capital Advisors L.L.C. dba Holt Capital Partners L.P. now owns 1,215 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $584,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the period. Horizon Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Horizon Investments LLC now owns 25,364 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $12,191,000 after buying an additional 350 shares during the period. Finally, Hyperion Capital Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Hyperion Capital Advisors LP now owns 23,266 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $11,183,000 after buying an additional 234 shares during the period. 85.69% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

NYSE:UNH opened at $543.68 on Tuesday. The firms 50-day moving average is $535.39 and its 200-day moving average is $505.23. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52-week low of $445.68 and a 52-week high of $554.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.80. The company has a market cap of $502.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.60, a PEG ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.61.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.33 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $92.36 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $91.41 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 6.02% and a return on equity of 26.58%. The businesss revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $5.79 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.95 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 4th will be paid a dividend of $1.88 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 1st. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.38%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is 32.64%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNH has been the subject of a number of research reports. Truist Financial reissued a buy rating and set a $610.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $596.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $580.00 to $584.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 16th. StockNews.com lowered shares of UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, October 21st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $565.00 to $503.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $578.05.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total transaction of $2,448,171.44. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,218 shares in the company, valued at $5,017,173.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other UnitedHealth Group news, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 66,081 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.39, for a total value of $36,370,321.59. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 635,528 shares in the company, valued at $349,788,255.92. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total transaction of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 9,218 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,017,173.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 192,094 shares of company stock valued at $104,507,072. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About UnitedHealth Group

(Free Report)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

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Hudson Bay Capital Management LP trimmed its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 25.4% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 186,500 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 63,500 shares during the period. Hudson Bay Capital Management LPs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $7,960,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WFC. Barrett & Company Inc. acquired a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Studio Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Financial Connections Group Inc. grew its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 288.0% in the 2nd quarter. Financial Connections Group Inc. now owns 741 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 550 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter valued at about $40,000. 72.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wells Fargo & Company Trading Down 0.2 %

NYSE WFC opened at $46.00 on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company has a one year low of $35.25 and a one year high of $48.84. The companys 50 day moving average price is $41.63 and its 200 day moving average price is $42.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 0.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $167.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.94, a PEG ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 1.18.

Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The financial services provider reported $1.39 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.24 by $0.15. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 17.06% and a return on equity of 11.18%. The firm had revenue of $20.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.09 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.30 earnings per share. Wells Fargo & Companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.05 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 1st. Investors of record on Friday, November 3rd were issued a $0.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 2nd. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.04%. Wells Fargo & Companys payout ratio is 30.24%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Wells Fargo & Company

In other news, Director Richard K. Davis acquired 3,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 9th. The stock was bought at an average price of $41.22 per share, with a total value of $144,270.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,244 shares of the companys stock, valued at $174,937.68. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.07% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have issued reports on WFC shares. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $52.00 to $54.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, December 4th. HSBC started coverage on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Thursday, September 7th. They issued a hold rating and a $45.00 target price on the stock. Piper Sandler upped their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday. Raymond James upped their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Wells Fargo & Company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $48.84.

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About Wells Fargo & Company

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management.

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KABUL, Afghanistan  The odd device draws curious onlookers everywhere. From the outside, it resembles little more than a large black box on a tripod. Inside lies its magic: a hand-made wooden camera and darkroom in one.

As a small crowd gathers around the box camera, images of beauty and of hardship ripple to life from its dark interior: a family enjoying an outing in a swan boat on a lake; child laborers toiling in brick factories; women erased by all-covering veils; armed young men with fire in their eyes.

Sitting for a portrait in a war-scarred Afghan village, a Taliban fighter remarks: "Life is much more joyful now." For a young woman in the Afghan capital, forced out of education because of her gender, the opposite is true: "My life is like a prisoner, like a bird in a cage."

The instrument used to record these moments is a kamra-e-faoree, or instant camera. They were a common sight on Afghan city streets in the last century  a fast and easy way to make portraits, especially for identity documents. Simple, cheap and portable, they endured amid half a century of dramatic changes in this country  from a monarchy to a communist takeover, from foreign invasions to insurgencies  until 21st-century digital technology rendered them obsolete.

Using this nearly disappeared homegrown art form to document life in post-war Afghanistan, from Herat in the west and Kandahar in the south to Kabul in the east and Bamiyan in the center, produced hundreds of black-and-white prints that reveal a complex, sometimes contradictory narrative.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROJECT:

Made over the course of a month, the images underscore how in the two years since U.S. troops pulled out and the Taliban returned to power, life has changed dramatically for many Afghans  whereas for others, little has changed over the decades, regardless of who was in power.

A tool of a bygone era, the box camera imparts a vintage, timeless quality to the images, as if the country's past is superimposed over its present, which in some respects, it is.

At first glance the faded black-and-white, sometimes slightly out-of-focus images convey an Afghanistan frozen in time. But that aesthetic is deceiving. These are reflections of the country very much as it is now.

SEE THE FULL PHOTO COLLECTION:

Photos: A new view of life under the Taliban emerges Two years after U.S. troops left, AP photographer Rodrigo Abd returned to Afghanistan with an idea: to use an old-style Afghan box camera" to

***

AN UNEASY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CAMERA

During their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban banned photography of humans and animals as contrary to the teachings of Islam. Many box cameras were smashed, though some were quietly tolerated, Afghan photographers say. But it was the advent of the digital age that sounded the device's death knell.

"These things are gone," said Lutfullah Habibzadeh, 72, a former kamra-e-faoree photographer in Kabul. "Digital cameras are on the market, and (the old ones) are out of use." Habibzadeh still has his old box camera, a relic of the last century passed down to him by his photographer father. It no longer works, but he has lovingly preserved its red leather coating, decorated with sample photos.

On Afghan city streets today, billboard advertisements have faces spray-painted out, and clothing store windows display mannequins with their heads wrapped in black plastic bags, to adhere to the renewed ban on the depictions of faces.

But the advent of the internet age and of smartphones have made a ban on photography impossible to impose. The novel sight of an old box camera elicits excitement and curiosity  even among those who police the new rules. From foot soldiers to high-ranking officials, many Taliban were happy to pose for box camera portraits.

Outside a warehouse in Kabul, a group of men watch intently as the camera is set up. At first, they seem shy. But as the first portraits emerge, curiosity overtakes their reservations. Soon, they're smiling and joking as they wait to have their photos taken, pitching in to help when a black cloth backdrop slips off the wall. As each man steps forward for his portrait, set jaws replace tentative smiles. Adjusting their grip on their assault rifles, they look straight into the camera's tiny lens and hold their poses.

Most of these men joined the Taliban as teenagers or in their early 20s and have known nothing but war. They were drawn to the fundamentalist movement because of their fervent Muslim faith  and their determination to expel U.S. and NATO troops who invaded their country and propped up two decades of Afghan governments that failed to crack down on rampant corruption and crime.

Bahadur Rahaani, a 52-year-old Taliban member with piercing light blue eyes beneath his black turban, says he's happy to see the Taliban back in power. With them in government, "Afghanistan will be rebuilt," he says. "Without them, it is not possible."

***

PEACE, AT A PRICE

Two years after Taliban militias swept across the country to seize power again, there are strong echoes of life as it was before U.S.-led NATO forces toppled them from government in 2001.

Once more, the country is ruled by a fundamentalist movement that has restored many of the strict rules it imposed in the 1990s. The first Taliban regime was notorious for destroying art and cultural patrimony it deemed un-Islamic, such as the giant ancient buddhas carved into cliffs in Bamiyan. They imposed brutal punishments, chopping off hands of thieves, hanging supposed blasphemers in public squares and stoning women accused of adultery.

Once again, executions and lashings are back. Music, movies, dancing and performances are banned, and women are again excluded from nearly all public life, including education and all but a few professions.

The return to fundamentalist policies has chased away Western donors, aid workers and trade partners. Poverty has spiraled to crisis levels, fueled by the ban on women working, deep cuts in foreign aid and international sanctions. But there is nearly universal relief that the relentless bloodshed of the past four decades of invasions, multiple insurgencies and civil war has largely ceased.

There are still sporadic bombings, most attributed to enemies of the Taliban, the extremist group Islamic State-Khorasan Province, or IS-K. But Afghans interviewed say their country is more peaceful than they've known for decades.

The United Nations recorded 1,095 civilians killed in deliberate attacks between Aug. 15, 2021, when the Taliban reclaimed power, through May 30, 2023. That's a fraction of the annual civilian death toll over two decades of war between U.S.-led NATO forces and insurgents.

Even those who dislike the current regime say banditry, kidnapping and corruption, which were rampant under the previous governments, have been largely reined in.

But less crime and violence does not necessarily translate to prosperity and happiness.

***

WOMEN, ERASED

In a three-story building tucked in a Kabul alleyway, a group of women work silently at a loom. Zamarod's hands move swiftly, nimble fingers flitting between strands of yarn as she knots colored wool around them, making a carpet. Her movements are rapid, almost brusque, but her voice is soft and sad. "My life is like a prisoner," she says. "Like a bird in a cage."

The 20-year-old had been studying computer science, but the Taliban banned women from universities before she could graduate. Now she and her 23-year-old sister work in a carpet factory, falling back on a skill their mother taught them as children. They are among very few women who can earn money outside the home and, like others, asked that only their first names be used for fear of retribution for speaking out.

Women have experienced the starkest changes since the Taliban's return. They must adhere to a strict dress code, are banned from most jobs and denied simple pleasures such as visiting a park or going to a restaurant. Girls can no longer attend school beyond sixth grade, and women must be escorted by a male relative to travel.

For all intents and purposes, women have been being erased from public life.

Even in this environment, Zamarod hasn't given up on her dream of graduating. "We have to have hope. We hope that one day we will be free, that freedom is possible," she says. "That's why we live and breathe."

In another room, 50-year-old Hakima is introducing her teenage daughter Freshta to weaving. It is their only way of eking out a living, though she still dreams her 16-year-old daughter will someday become a doctor. "Afghanistan has gone backwards," she says, donning an all-encompassing burka to pose for a portrait. "People go door to door for a piece of bread and our children are dying."

While the clock has turned back for women who've lost financial independence and a voice in public life and government, in conservative, tribal parts of the country, expectations for women have always been different and have changed little over the years  even during U.S. and NATO military presence.

Even so, education is a priority for many Afghans. In dozens of interviews across the country, nearly everyone  including some members of the Taliban  said they wanted girls and women to be educated. Most said they believed the education ban was temporary, and that older girls would eventually be allowed back into schools. They say keeping girls and women confined at home doesn't help the country, or its economy.

"We need doctors, teachers," says Haji Muhibullah Aloko, a 34-year-old teacher in the village of Tabin, west of Kandahar. Women must be educated "so that Afghanistan improves in every sector."

The international community has withheld recognition of the Taliban and pressed its leadership to roll back their restrictions on women  to no avail.

"That is up to Afghans and not foreigners, they shouldn't get involved," Taliban government spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid says during an interview in Kandahar, the birthplace of the movement in southern Afghanistan and a stronghold of conservative values.

"We are waiting for the right moment regarding the schools. And while the schools are closed now, they won't be forever," he says. He won't give a timeline but insists "the world shouldn't use this as an excuse" not to recognize the Taliban government.

***

VICTORIOUS INSURGENTS

The village of Tabin lies deep in the Arghandab River valley, a fertile swath of fruit orchards and irrigation canals cutting through Kandahar Province's dusty desert.

But around it, the remnants of war are everywhere. The derelict remains of American combat outposts have faded warnings of mines and grenades spraypainted on their wind-blown blast walls. Tangles of abandoned razor wire litter the ground. Bombed-out houses lie in ruins. And there's the ubiquitous presence of armed young men adjusting from a life of fighting to one of living in peace.

The new jobs  policing streets, guarding buildings, collecting garbage  are the mundane, necessary tasks of governing. It's less dramatic than waging war, but there is palpable relief to be free of the violence.

Without fear of airstrikes or bullets, children shriek in delight as they splash about in an irrigation canal, leaping into the murky water from a bridge.

"Life is much more joyful now. Before there used to be lots of brutality and aggression," 28-year-old Abdul Halim Hilal says, sheltering from the blazing sun under a mulberry tree before posing for a portrait. "Innocent people would die. Villages were bombed. We couldn't bear it."

He joined the Taliban as a teenager, believing it was his moral duty to fight foreign troops. He lost as many as 20 friends to the war, and more were wounded. He's stung by the memory of his dead brothers-in-arms when he sees their fatherless children, but he's comforted by an unshakeable belief that their sacrifice was worth it.

"The ones that were killed were fighting to sacrifice themselves for the country," he says. "It's because of the blood they gave that we're now here, giving interviews freely, and the Muslims here are living in peace."

A villager walks by, glancing at the gaggle of curious children and adults gathered around the box camera. "It's so strange," he mutters. "We used to fight against these foreigners, and now they're here taking pictures."

Mujeeburahman Faqer, a 26-year-old Taliban fighter, now mans an uneventful security checkpoint in Kabul. Like many others, he's struggling to adapt to a peacetime mentality, because all he's ever known was war. "I had prepared my head for sacrifice," he says, "and I am still ready."

***

A FOUNDERING ECONOMY  AND A STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE

Security has improved since the end of the insurgency against U.S. forces. But with peace came an economy in freefall.

When the Taliban seized power again in 2021, international donors withdrew funding, froze Afghan assets abroad, isolated its financial sector and imposed sanctions.

That squeeze, combined with the near-total ban on women working, has crippled the economy. Per capita income shrank by an estimated 30 percent last year compared to 2020, according to the United Nations Development Program.

Nearly half of Afghanistan's 40 million people now face acute food insecurity, the U.N.'s World Food Program says. Malnutrition is above emergency thresholds in 25 of 34 provinces.

Struggling to survive is something Kasnia already knows at age 4. In a brick factory outside Kabul, she scoops out a chunk of mud with her tiny hands, kneading it until it is pliable enough for a brick mold. After countless repetitions, her movements are automatic. She works six days a week from sunrise until sunset, with brief breaks for breakfast and lunch, toiling next to her siblings and her father  one family among many in a sprawling factory where children become laborers at age 3.

"Everyone wishes that their children study and become teachers, doctors, engineers, and benefit the future of the country," says her father, Wahidullah, 35, who goes by one name, as do his children.

Even with the entire family working, there's often not enough money for food and they live hand to mouth on credit from shopkeepers. Of his three sons and three daughters, all except the youngest one are brickmakers.

"When I was young, my dream was to have a comfortable life, to have a nice office, to have a nice car, to go to parks, to travel around my country and abroad, to go to Europe," he recalls. Instead, "I make bricks." There is no bitterness in his voice, just acceptance of an inevitable fate.

Many Afghans have resorted to selling their belongings  everything from furniture to clothing and shoes  to survive.

When the Taliban banned movies, Nabi Attai had nothing to fall back on. In his 70s, the actor appeared in a dozen television series and 76 films, including the Golden Globe-winning 2003 movie "Osama." Now he is destitute.

His home, tucked in a warren of steep alleys, is now nearly devoid of furniture, which he sold in the bazaar to feed his extended family. Sold, too, is his beloved TV.

After 42 years of acting, Attai has no work. Neither do his two sons, who were also in the movie and music business. Attai is glad the streets are now safe, but he has 13 family members to feed and no way to feed them.

He asked local authorities for any job, even collecting garbage. There was nothing. So he started selling his belongings. "I have no hope right now," he says. Even begging is now punished by imprisonment under the Taliban.

Over the past year, he has become frail. His cheeks are sunken, his frame thinner. There's a sadness in his eyes that rarely leaves, even when he recounts his glory days.

"We made good movies before," he says. "May God have mercy that music and cinema will be allowed again, and the people will rebuild the country hand in hand, and the government will come closer to the people and embrace each other as friends and brothers."

***

PINPRICKS OF GLITZ

The shimmering lights of wedding halls cut through the gloom as night encroaches on Kabul, pinpricks of glitz in the darkness.

Despite the economic slump, wedding halls are doing a brisk trade, buoyed in part by wealthier Afghan emigres returning home for traditional marriage ceremonies now that the security situation has improved.

Weddings are a big part of Afghan culture, and families sometimes bankrupt themselves to ensure a lavish party for hundreds or even thousands of guests.

Construction of the Imperial Continental wedding hall began four years ago but was disrupted by the COVID pandemic and the Taliban takeover. The opulent venue finally opened its doors last year.

Manager Mohammad Wesal Quaoni, 30, cuts a dapper figure in a sharp suit as he sweeps through the glamorous, cavernous halls, juggling four weddings in one night. The former Kabul University lecturer in economics and politics is trying to ensure the business thrives amid the country's economic woes. It's not easy.

"Business is weak," he says, and onerous government rules and regulations don't help. The Taliban are raising taxes, but he says there isn't enough commerce to support a healthy tax base.

The ban on music and dancing doesn't help. Gone are the live musicians and even the DJs who would bring in extra revenue, Quaoni says. Weddings are segregated by gender but, for once, there's sometimes a bit more fun for the women.

Occasionally women and girls enjoy taped music in the ladies' section. "If they want, they do it," restrictions or not, he said. "Women will be women."

Five hundred miles west of the capital, on the outskirts of the city of Herat, businessman Abdul Khaleq Khodadadi, 39, has an entirely different set of challenges.

Rayan Saffron Company, where he is vice president, exports the prized spice to customers, mainly in Europe and the U.S. But the Taliban takeover and ensuing sanctions left many foreign clients reluctant to do business with an Afghan company  even though it's one of the few still allowed to employ women, whose hands are deemed more suitable than men's to extracting and handling the delicate crocus flowers.

The isolation of the banking sector has also left many Afghan companies with no way to trade except through a third country, usually Pakistan, which significantly increases costs. Then there's drought that has decimated crops, including saffron.

His company had aimed to increase their production this year. Instead, their production fell to half of what it was three years ago, he says.

Khodadadi says he is determined to persevere. For him, successful businesses are the best way to heal Afghanistan's wounds.

In the chaotic early days of the Taliban takeover, Khodadadi felt intense pressure to join the tens of thousands of people who fled, he says. He had a visa and family and friends urged him to leave, but he refused to go.

"It was very, very hard," he recalls. "But ... if I leave, if all the talented people, educated people leave, who will make this country? When will this country solve the problems?"

___

This story was supported by funding from the Pulitzer Center. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Photos: A new view of life under the Taliban emerges
Cambodia calls for Vietnam investment in automobile, electronics industries

By Minh Tuan Tue, December 12, 2023 | 9:33 pm GMT+7

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has called for Vietnamese investment in a wide range of industries including automobile and electronics as investment flows from Vietnam have stalled and fallen far behind China and regional peers.

Addressing the Vietnam-Cambodia Trade and Investment Promotion Forum in Hanoi on Tuesday, Manet expressed hope that strengthened trade, investment and tourism cooperation will give a boost to bilateral ties.

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet speaks at the Vietnam-Cambodia Trade and Investment Promotion Forum in Hanoi, December 12, 2023. Photo by The Investor/Minh Tuan.

Other industries open to Vietnamese investment include modern agriculture, food processing, digital technology, fintech and other manufacturing areas, he said.

Hun Manet is paying a two-day (December 11-12) official visit to Vietnam, the first ASEAN country he is visiting since becoming the Prime Minister of Cambodia.

Manet quoted data released by the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) showing foreign direct investment (FDI) in Cambodia in the first 10 months of the year increased 4% year-on-year to around $4 billion, with Vietnam accounting for a mere 2%.

He said investment by Vietnamese companies in Cambodia should be larger, given the favourable conditions of geographic proximity, preferential customs duties and taxes for bilateral trade, and complementarity in competitive edges.

Several investors implementing the nation-plus [hedging] strategy with an aim to mitigate risks have turned Cambodia and Vietnam into good partners that complement each other perfectly in supply chain connectivity, the Cambodian PM said.

He invited Vietnamese businesses to increase investments in Cambodia and urged Cambodian firms to do so in Vietnam to diversify their operations and supply chains.

Cambodia will always have its arms open for Vietnamese businesses who wisely invest in the country, which boasts a favorable strategic location, stable politics and economic condition, an increasing number of consumers, and an appealing environment, he said.

Addressing the forum, Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh highlighted the fact that Vietnam-Cambodia trade had surpassed the $10-billion mark in 2022, three years ahead of the target.

In official talks Monday, the two PMs set the goal of raising bilateral trade to $20 billion in the near future.

Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the Vietnam-Cambodia Trade and Investment Promotion Forum in Hanoi, December 12, 2023. Photo by The Investor/Minh Tuan.

Bilateral economic and trade relations have not matched their potential, Chinh acknowledged, calling for mutual investments in digital transition, climate resilience, circular economy and innovation-based industries.

He noted that Vietnam has already signed free trade agreements with over 65 of the largest markets worldwide and plans to have similar deals with Middle East, South American, and African nations as it bids to expand markets and repair supply chain disruptions.

The two PMs and other high ranking officials witnessed exchanges of several memoranda of understanding including one between Cambodias Rithy Granite Company and Vietnams Hung Hau Food Co. for a $50-million cashew and mango processing project; and a credit line of $15 million provided by Vietnams Military Bank for Cambodias Chip Mong Group.

Also at the forum, Vietnamese budget carrier Vietjet announced the launch of a direct flight between Hanoi and Siem Reap.
Texas judges have recently upheld the ban on TikTok for state employees using government devices and networks, citing concerns about data protection. The ban, which was challenged by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, argued that it infringed upon the First Amendment rights of faculty members conducting TikTok-related research.

However, US District Judge Robert Pitman rejected the challenge, asserting that the ban was justified due to data protection concerns, as per The Washington Times.

Knight Institute Challenges TikTok Ban on Faculty Research

The Knight First Amendment Institute filed a lawsuit in July, contending that the ban was obstructing faculty members from pursuing research related to TikTok. In his ruling, Judge Pitman contradicted a similar ban in Montana, which was blocked by another US judge last month.

The Montana ban was deemed to violate the Constitution and exceed the state's authority. TikTok had filed a lawsuit against Montana in May, claiming that the ban infringed on free speech rights.

The TikTok ban has been implemented by more than 30 US states and federal agencies, including branches of the government such as the White House, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department.

However, this ban does not cover national security, law enforcement, or security research activities on federal devices. TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, is a global sensation, boasting over 150 million users in the United States. Despite global concerns, TikTok denies any wrongful use of user data, according to Reuters.

The Knight First Amendment Institute's lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Coalition for Independent Technology Research, a group that includes Texas college professors. The professors claimed that the ban had impacted their work by denying them access to TikTok on-campus Wi-Fi and university-issued computers. While Judge Pitman acknowledged the impact on faculty members, he deemed the ban to be a reasonable restriction due to concerns regarding data privacy.

Read Also: Atlanta Police Arrest Woman Who Doused Martin Luther King Jr. Home With Gasoline in Arson Attempt

Texas vs. Montana

Notably, the Texas ban is narrower than the blocked ban in Montana. Texas limited its ban to state employees, while Montana's statewide ban was set to take effect next year until it was temporarily blocked.

The Knight First Amendment Institute reports that universities in more than 20 states have enacted some form of TikTok ban, as lawmakers fear potential national security threats posed by the Chinese-owned app.

Lawmakers in the United States, Europe, and Canada have been increasingly focused on restricting access to TikTok due to concerns about user data falling into the Chinese government's hands.

Critics point to Chinese laws that enable government access to data held by Chinese companies and citizens for intelligence purposes. Moreover, there are concerns that TikTok's content recommendations could be manipulated for misinformation purposes.

The Knight First Amendment Institute and TikTok have not yet issued a public comment on the court's decision. The institute continues to advocate for exemptions for university faculty in Texas and other states affected by the TikTok ban. As the debate over data privacy and national security intensifies, the future of TikTok's presence on government devices and networks remains uncertain, and further legal battles may ensue, India Today reported.

Related Article: Senator's Son Charged With Manslaughter for Fatal Crash That Killed Sheriff Deputy

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Bamberg County celebrated the grand opening of its new, $2.1 million public health and veterans affairs offices, which state officials touted as a one-stop shop for meeting residents needs.

State public health and veterans affairs officials and community members gathered at 50 Dickinson Extension in Bamberg for Fridays grand opening.

The county is transforming its former hospital into a law enforcement and health and human services complex. The Ed Darnell Law Enforcement Center was dedicated in July.

It stands as a testament to our community's progress, collaboration and commitment to ensuring the well-being of our residents, Bamberg County Administrator Joey Preston said.

This new facility now boasts cutting-edge features, including dedicated areas for critical records storage and, of course, everything the law enforcement center has to offer, electronic access. The building is fortified with a 250-KW natural gas standby generator, the administrator said.

The new offices occupy 6,350 square feet of space.

This portion of the project was 100 percent funded from the capital projects sales tax program, Preston said. He thanked county voters for approving the 1 percent sales tax a few years ago.

He said the county also received a $250,000 allocation from the state Department of Health and Environmental Control for the project.

Greg McFarland of Myrtle Beach-based architectural firm Pike-McFarland-Hall Associates Inc. said, We're grateful to be here today. It's always exciting to see this next installment into restoring this building, extending its useful life for a lot of years to come.

Taylor Lee is the public health director for DHECs Lowcountry Public Health Region, which includes Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun counties.

We now have well over 5,000 square feet of beautiful space that includes three preventive health exam rooms, three WIC exam rooms, a pharmacy, two maternal and child health offices, a lab, a medical records room, waiting room and a conference room that's also going to be dual serviced as a training room, Lee said.

All of these amenities and upgrades improve the quality of services we provide to Bamberg County and also help centralize other key services to residents, with us being co-located with the South Carolina Veterans Administration and also Bamberg County Sheriff's Department. We're also excited that future renovations of the facility will allow the Department of Social Services to be co-located across the hall from the health department, he said.

Lee said the centralization of public health services in one location was the goal we're trying to achieve across South Carolina, and we've achieved that here.

SCDHEC Director Dr. Edward Simmer said, This is the third ribbon cutting that I've had the privilege to do this year for a new health department. That's amazing, and that shows the commitment, I think, of our counties and our communities to the health of the people of South Carolina. 

One of our primary agency goals in our strategic plan is partnering with local communities and local community groups and this is a great example of that.

Simmer noted that DHEC will officially be split into the Department of Behavioral and Public Health and the Department of Environmental Services in July 2024.

The Department of Public Health will have a little over 3,000 people, but that's not nearly enough to do everything that needs to be done for the 5.7 million here in South Carolina, or even the people here in Bamberg County.

So the only way that we can be successful is by partnering with groups like this county, like the city of Bamberg, like many local community groups, Simmer said.

Dennis Thompson, region senior consultant with the Lowcountry Public Health Region, said, I'm so proud that I've been able to work as part of this project, and it is really a beautiful place to work.

Todd B. McCaffrey, the state secretary of Veterans' Affairs, also spoke on the project's impact.

There are nearly 400,000 veterans across the state of South Carolina, but I will tell you the veteran needs in more rural counties are especially acute. They have unique requirements because of geography, because of location, a whole number of things, McCaffrey said.

This facility, the fact that it couples veterans services with health services to eventually DSS and those kinds of things, really is a remarkable and innovative way of supporting veterans needs. So I'm really pleased to see that. Its both innovative, its effective and its efficient, as well. So it will serve veterans for years to come, he said.

Craig Walker, a veteran and director of the county Veterans Affairs Office, also spoke of the project's significance.

I am truly grateful for the handicapped accessibility offered and ample parking our veterans can now use. The additional office space will provide our veterans with a waiting area, more privacy, and the fact that we have a lobby means that they don't have to wait outside in the rain anymore, Walker said.

The county also presented the office with a new car to help transport county's veterans.

Preston said the next phase of the hospital's redevelopment will include space for the county's morgue and emergency operations center, coroner and EMS offices.

Bamberg Mayor Nancy Foster said the facility has been beautifully repurposed and will serve the county well.
Claflin University awarded degrees to 150 graduates on Friday, with University President Dr. Dwaun Warmack acknowledging several graduates from the stage.

Among them was 57-year-old Earnestine Cochran, the oldest graduate in the class. Warmack thanked Cochran for continuing to persevere and fight through to the finish to applause from the audience and other graduates.

Cochran did not expect the president to acknowledge her during the ceremony.

My heart stopped, she said, laughing. That made me very emotional. I shed a couple tears, but it was awesome.

Cochran was surprised on the morning of Dec. 8, but she shocked her own family on Thanksgiving when she said shed be graduating. Completing her courses online, she hadnt told anyone that she returned to school until just two weeks before graduation.

A teller at South State Bank in Orangeburg, Cochran returned to school after many years to finish her degree and help further her career.

She had to balance a job and classwork and struggled with a days-long hospital stay while battling COVID-19.

Finally having the diploma in her hand felt wonderful, she said.

Theres nothing like it, she said. Its an awesome feeling.

She was joined at Fridays commencement by her husband, son, daughters and sister-in-law.

She has accomplished something that will shine in our family for a long time, sister-in-law Minnie Dickerson said. I thank God for this moment, I thank God for her shining and I thank God for her setting the example for the next one to come along.

Cochran encourages other non-traditional students to start or finish their college education.

She graduated with a bachelor's degree in organizational management from Claflins Organizational Leadership Program.

Marva Smalls gave the commencement address. Smalls is executive vice president and global head of inclusion for Paramount and executive vice president of public affairs at Nickelodeon.

Smalls graduated from the University of South Carolina but often came to Claflin as president of the Youth and College Division of the NAACP and for the energy of an HBCU, she said.

Smalls commended the graduates for persevering through COVID-19; the high-profile killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Rayshard Brooks and others; assaults on democracy and voting rights; wars in Europe and the Middle East and climate change.

Claflin has prepared the graduates to help fix problems members of her generation helped create, she said.

Im not trying to be Debbie Downer, but the fact is the world you are entering upon this day is radically different from the world you entered when you started Claflin, she said. And its a world that needs changing, and its a world that needs you to be the change makers.

Smalls encouraged the class to follow a list of axioms she uses in her own life, including:

 Stay true to themselves

 Step outside their comfort zones

 Encourage and listen to others

She also announced she would be donating $25,000 to the university.

Family was a common theme at the ceremony.

Warmack acknowledged Marcus Burgess II, who graduated with an education degree. His father Marcus Burgess Sr. is vice president for Institutional Advancement at Claflin and graduated from Claflin, as did his father, who was also in attendance.

Burgess Sr., who has served for the entirety of Warmacks tenure, spoke to the graduates for the last time as he welcomed them into the alumni association.

Burgess is leaving to become president of St. Augustine University in North Carolina, Warmack said.

Warmack said he was honored to serve with Burgess and thanked him for his service to the university.

This is definitely a bittersweet moment, but Im so happy to share it with the Claflin family, Burgess said before leading the graduates, including his son, in a chant.

Over half of the graduates are their familys first college students and 70% are recipients of some kind of financial aid, Warmack said.

The president also recognized several full-time university staff members who were graduating, as well as the 11 inaugural graduates of the family nurse practitioner master's program.

He asked the audience to stand to recognize the family, friends and support systems of the graduates.

It takes a family and a village to do this work, he said. Students, you wouldn't have been able to do it without your village.

Class valedictorian Jada Sina Brown, a political science major, addressed the class. Brown overcame health challenges to graduate and plans to attend law school and eventually become an advocate for youths in the criminal justice system, Provost Karl Wright said.

We have so much to look forward to, Brown said. What feels like the end is often the beginning. My challenge to each of us is to continue to dream big. In high school, you may have been told to reach for the stars, but now is our time to reach beyond the stars.

Warmack encouraged graduates to return to the university as alumni.

I wish you continued success and many blessings, Warmack said. We are here with you. Graduation is just the beginning. We look forward to going on to do amazing work but more importantly we look forward to you coming home to celebrate at Claflin University.
An 18-year-old Denmark man is accused of shooting a male on the campus of South Carolina State University.

Azaurien Ghykes Haigler is charged with attempted murder, trespassing after warning and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He was taken into custody Monday.

Warrants say the shooting took place on Dec. 1 in Building F of Hugine Suites, a co-ed housing unit for S.C. State students.

Warrants claim Haigler and a male were engaged in a physical altercation when Haigler allegedly fired a handgun in the males upper torso.

Neither Haigler nor the male he allegedly shot are students at the university.

During a Monday bond hearing, Orangeburg County Magistrate James Rickenbacker deferred setting Haiglers bond. A circuit judge will make a decision on bond at a later date.

Rickenbacker claimed that Haigler is a danger to the community.

Back on Dec. 1, Haigler was out on bond from Nov. 8 charges of unlawful carrying of a pistol, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance near a school and possession of a stolen pistol.

During Haiglers bond hearing for those charges, Orangeburg County Magistrate Wanda Govan released him on his own recognizance and placed him on trespass notice for the campus.

Those charges and the shooting-related charges were brought by the S.C. State Police Department.

If Haigler is convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison.
Nothing goes better with a stack of pancakes or waffles than a generous pouring of maple syrup, but does it have any nutritional benefits?
COLUMBIA  Tomahawk Processing LLC announced that it will establish meat-processing operations in Laurens County.

The companys investment of $5 million will create 26 new jobs.

Tomahawk Processing will build a state-of-the-art, U.S. Department of Agriculture-inspected processing plant that will provide beef-processing and packing services. It will also provide private label packaging, allowing producers to sell products publicly in South Carolina and other states.

The lack of in-state processing capacity is probably the No. 1 concern I hear from beef producers in South Carolina, so this project is a big deal," S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers said. "This qualified team with South Carolina roots will help strengthen the agribusiness industry in our state.

"My partners and I are thrilled to announce that Tomahawk Processing will be locating in Laurens County, South Carolina. We look forward to partnering with South Carolina producers to help bring local beef direct to consumers," Tomahawk Processing Managing Partner Platt Moore said.

"Agribusiness is one of South Carolinas leading industries, and we celebrate Tomahawk Processings decision to invest and create jobs in Laurens County. I congratulate the company and look forward to a strong partnership, Gov. Henry McMaster said.

The company will be located at 5336 Metric Road in Laurens. Operations are expected to be online in the first quarter of 2025. Individuals interested in joining the Tomahawk Processing team should email tomahawkprocessing@gmail.com.
UAW has taken legal action against Honda, Hyundai, and Volkswagen, filing complaints about unfair labor practices.

The union alleges that the automakers are engaging in illegal "union-busting" activities at their respective plants as workers attempt to organize, as per UPI.

UAW Files Complaints Against Honda, Hyundai And Volkswagen

According to the UAW, Honda workers in Greensburg, Indiana, are being targeted and surveilled for pro-union activity, while VW executives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, have confiscated and destroyed pro-union materials. In Montgomery, Alabama, Hyundai managers are accused of unlawfully banning pro-union materials in non-work areas outside normal working hours.

UAW President Shawn Fain criticized the companies, stating, "These companies are breaking the law in an attempt to get autoworkers to sit down and shut up instead of fighting for their fair share." The union filed the unfair labor practice charges to address what it sees as attempts to suppress workers' rights to organize.

The allegations against Honda include management instructing workers to remove union stickers from their hats and threats of disciplinary action. The UAW claims these actions constitute a violation of workers' rights. Honda and Hyundai have not yet responded to requests for comment.

Volkswagen, responding to the allegations, stated that it takes such claims seriously and will conduct an investigation. A spokesperson for VW mentioned the commitment to providing clear, transparent, and timely information to educate employees and managers about their legal rights and obligations.

These companies are part of a group of 10 foreign automakers that the UAW targeted for unionization efforts after reaching contract agreements with Detroit's Big Three automakers in November. Despite being based overseas, these automakers, including Honda, Hyundai, and Volkswagen, operate manufacturing plants in the United States, according to CBS News.

Read Also: 5 People Arrested After High-Speed Chase in California's Bay Area

UAW President Urges Empathy Amid Rising Violence

Fain emphasized the urgency of addressing root causes and the need for empathetic leadership to combat the escalation of violence. The UAW's efforts focus on organizing factories in the South, where recruiting success has been limited.

The legal action against the automakers follows a broader strategy by the UAW to organize workers at non-union auto plants in the US after securing pay raises and benefits for its members at Detroit's Big Three automakers earlier this year. The UAW's president sees victory as contagious and aims to replicate the successful stand-up strike strategy used in negotiations with GM, Ford, and Stellantis.

The union has unveiled its ambitious plan to expand its membership by recruiting thousands of workers. Dubbed the "30-50-70 strategy," this carefully crafted approach involves a systematic process of garnering support and raising awareness.

According to the plan, the union initiates its campaign once it reaches a threshold of 30% worker support. As momentum builds, the union takes its cause to the streets, organizing rallies in the town when the support reaches 50%.

Finally, when the backing reaches an impressive 70%, the union boldly demands recognition or a vote. This strategic approach aims to maximize the union's chances of success in its quest to add new members to its ranks. According to the UAW, the organization believes that organizing foreign automaker plants will have a substantial impact on its total membership, Forbes reported.

Related Article: Panera Bread Faces Second Wrongful Death Lawsuit After Caffeinated Lemonade Allegedly Caused Man's Heart Attack

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(TBTCO) - Gia ca phe hom nay (11/1) tai thi truong trong nuoc noi dai chuoi ngay i len. Ghi nhan cho thay, muc giao dich cao nhat trong cac ia phuong uoc khao sat la 70.500 ong/kg. Trong khi o, gia tieu dao ong trong khoang 78.000 - 80.000 ong/kg sau khi uoc ieu chinh giam ong loat. oi voi cao su, gia ky han tren hai san giao dich uoc ieu chinh tang duoi 2% trong phien sang nay.
Lets be very honest with ourselves. The financial situation means there will be no transfer kitty available for strengthening the squad in January. I suspect Plan A is to muddle through with a small squad and do what we can to cope with injuries and suspensions.

If we bring in anyone, it will need to be either (a) free, or (b) on loan. And that might only be enabled if we can shift the likes of Gomes and / or Godfrey whether on loan or permanent deals.

Who might be out there?

Free transfers

Contracts tend to end in June rather than January. The main exception is the MLS where a few decent players will become available for free soon. US-based fans may have a more informed opinion on the following:

Miles Robinson: a decent USA international centre-back playing for Atlanta, managing 27 games so far this season after injuries. From what Ive seen, hes fast and quite classy on the ball without being particularly dominant in the air. At 26 he's earned a move to Europe and a bigger league. Might be a good low-cost replacement for Godfrey.





Kai Wagner: The German left-back made no impression in his homeland but has built a good career with Philadelphia, managing 7 assists already this season. At 26, he's practically an infant compared to our other full-back cover.

Otherwise, the free transfers are really quite obscure players from across South America  and very unlikely to be a high priority right now.

There are also a few unattached players who would also be free. These include Jesse Lingard, Phil Jones, Matty Longstaff, Shdrokan Mustaphi (once of our youth team) and Marvin Plattenhardt (a German left-back who nearly signed a few years ago). I suspect well give these a swerve too. Theres a reason why theyve all been unattached since summer

Loans

Although there are exceptions, this tends to comprise players at the Champions League clubs who cannot get a game. Many of these are very good players, they have just found themselves down the pecking order behind a few seasoned internationals.

I think that we can have:

Up to 7 loans in total

Maximum 2 loans from other English clubs

Presumably up to 5 loans from non-English clubs

Its been quite hard to find the information on this so please do correct me if you know the right position. There is a suggestion on-line that 2 is the absolute maximum; if thats the case, then the rest of the article is meaningless!

At present, we have Harrison (from Leeds) and Danjuma (from Villarreal). Contrary to what some Toffewebbers seem to believe, Dele Alli is not on loan. We bought him, albeit on a weird set of terms.

So it looks like we could recruit a decent number of additional loans  albeit only one more from an English club. So what might be available? From other Premier League clubs, here goes:

Disasi (Chelsea): A decent French centre-back who was never worth the 45m fee paid in summer. A big unit and a good leader in the right environment. He would be quality cover, and also enable us to use a very imposing and mobile back 3 too. Rumoured to be available already.





Chalobah (Chelsea): Another decent, imposing centre-back who is also rumoured to be available, although theyd be looking to sell ideally (rather than loan). I don't think he's that good really but Inter and even Bayern were rumoured to be interested over summer (as were we).





Sarr (Chelsea): A smaller left-footed centre-back who is a good player going nowhere at Chelsea, having joined a few years ago but barely played since (other than on loan).



Gusto (Chelsea): An excellent young French right-back bought for 30M in January last year. Might be available although possibly needed as cover given Reece James is fairly injury-prone.





Maatsen (Chelsea): A really good attacking young Dutch left-back who was at Burnley last season and is out of contract in June. Behind Cucurella and Chilwell (and maybe Colwill) for the first team  with some lad called Samuels-Smith doing well in the academy.



Chukwuemeka (Chelsea): An excellent, dynamic young English midfielder bought from Aston Villa for 18M. Been injured, but really talented and may be available.





Ugochukwu (Chelsea): An excellent, dynamic young French midfielder bought from Rennes for 27M. He's been injured, but really talented and may be available (why did Chelsea buy all these players?).



Madueke (Chelsea): An excellent, dynamic young English wing / forward bought from PSV for 35M. Possibly now behind Sterling, Nkunku, Mudryk and Palmer and so may be available. He'd add real quality, exciting dribbling and end-product to the right wing position.





Van de Beek (Man Utd): We know all about him. He probably needs to return to the Netherlands to rebuild his career but might not be the worst signing as a stop-gap.





Shoretire (Man Utd): A really talented English youngster with the first-team squad at Man Utd but behind Pellestri and Garnacho (no shame in that). Probably not what we need right now but one to monitor longer term.





Sancho (Man Utd): A really talented player who probably needs to cheer himself up in Germany again. Mind you, Id be over the moon if we signed him because he can be a special player on his day. If he could find his form with us it would take the attack up a level altogether.



Phillips (Man City): A very good midfield general in the right set-up (ie, not City). Would fit in very well at Everton, I am sure. Paul Kossof will tell me to give my head a wobble for mentioning him, but I can handle it. Bring it on, Paul.





Soares (Arsenal): A decent, experienced right-back  and at 32, a spring chicken compared with Young and Coleman.





Nelson (Arsenal): A talented right-midfield player who, at 23, really needs to find a club to give him more than just a few cameo appearances now and again. Signed a new contract at Arsenal in summer instead of leaving for free. Could conceivably be available. Would fit in nicely on our right flank  but I suspect hell hang on and hope to get enough games to merit a league title winners medal if Arsenal clinch first spot.

Across Europe, there are a few potential loan deals to be done too  from teams like PSG and Leipzig with swollen squads but nothing really stands out as it does sometimes. Its possible also that we might even try the MLS for loan deals (given Thelwells connections there) but again, nothing really obvious stands out.

In conclusion, there might just be a few options out there for January that are within our non-existent budget. If we could get (randomly) Kalvin Phillips and Miles Robinson that would position the squad very well to cope with the second half of another challenging season.

It's obviously not going to be a big spending January but we never have needed mega bucks to materially improve the squad. Heres hoping that Thelwell will have enough wriggle room to do his magic.

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12/12/2023

Everton U18s 4 - 1 Stockport County U18s

Stockport County U18s were defeated at Goodison Park tonight as Everton U18s won this 3rd Round FA Youth Cup tie.

Leighton Baines' young Blues begin their cup campaign under the floodlights at Goodison against the Greater Manchester outfit, who defeated Leighton Town 1-0 in the previous round.

Everton have won the prestigious FA Youth Cup three times - in 1965, 1984 and, most recently, 1998 - while also finishing runners-up on four occasions.

Supporters can watch the young Blues live on both Everton's official YouTube channel and Everton's official KICK channel.

Article continues below video content

After a couple of chances, Everton opened the scoring when the visiting keeper parried a corner out to his feet and he made no mistake, returning the ball goalward with interest.

But the County boys got back on even terms with the last kick of the half, scoring from a long punt upfield by their goalkeeper.

Sherif got Everton's second after the restart, an accomplished finish and the Blues sealed the win with a fine goal from Mathew Apter.

In between, Joel Catesby went into the advertising hoarding at some speed and there was a long pause while he received treatment behind the goalline.

Martin Sherif could have got his hat-trick when Everton were awarded a penalty in added time at the end but he missed the target completely with a shot that flew over the bar.

But later in added time, Geoarge Morgan finished a sweeping move from the back, slipping the ball past the Stockport keeper for the 4th goal.

Everton U18s: G Pickford, Finney, Van Schoor, O Samuels-Smith, Thomas, Bates (89' Foster), Beaumont-Clark, Armstrong (76' Apter), Sherif, Morgan, Catesby (66' Ebere}.

Subs not Used: Lukjanciks, Moonan, Davis, Maher, Foster.

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Our Mom, Bonnie Clay, 84, passed away on December 6, 2023 of COVID-19 at Banner Health, Casper, WY. She was born Bonnie Marie Compton on December 18, 1938 in Deer Lodge, MT to Melvin and Della Compton. She was the third child and second daughter in a family of eleven, which included nine brothers. She helped raise her eight younger brothers.

Some of Moms fondest memories were of attending high school in Ronan, MT. The highlight of her high school experience was attending school dances.

On August 13, 1957, she married Roger Clay in Butte, MT. They had four children, Karen, Teresa, Dale, and Shannon. They were married 25 years, and she became a widow on August 21, 1982.

Our Mom was such a wonderful cook and baker that she turned her talent into a career and retired in 2000 after almost two decades in the field. One of her greatest delights was sharing her recipes and cooking tips with her three daughters.

Mom loved to reminisce about family history with her children, especially Shannon, who took such wonderful care of her for most of her life. She enjoyed traveling with her daughters and the light of her life, her shih tzu, Gizmo. During Gizmos 15 years of life, he and Mom created so many incredible memories together. Each summer, Mom, Teresa and occasionally Gizmo, took special road trips together traveling throughout Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, and even Las Vegas. These were some of Moms favorite times with Teresa.

Mom is survived by her four children, Karen (Tony) Hayden of Gillette, WY, Teresa (Ron) Gilreath of Roundup, MT, Dale (Marjorie) Clay of Sheridan, WY, and Shannon Clay of Casper, WY. Three grandchildren, Roger, Christian, and Tye and one great grandchild, Lita, all of Sheridan, WY. Two brothers, Ray Compton of Gillette, WY and Ricky Clay of Kalispell, MT.

Mom was preceded in death by her husband Roger, her parents, seven brothers and one sister. Also, her precious Gizmo on Ocotber 17, 1923.

Cremation has taken place at Bustards Funeral Home in Casper, WY and services will be held at a later date in Ronan, MT.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Casper Humane Society in Casper, WY or Animal Rescue in your area, or adopt a fur baby.

As a final request from her three daughters, who love our Mom with all of our hearts, please strongly advocate for your family member in any retirement facility. Youre their voice.
Two lawmakers and an anti-abortion group argued Tuesday morning that they should be allowed to join the legal battle over Wyomings two abortion bans in front of the states highest court.

This legal debate has significant public interest, and the proposed intervenors are ready and uniquely qualified with more than five decades of experience in ensuring the protection of life, Tim Garrison, an attorney representing the proposed intervenors, argued Tuesday. While they have interest in the legislation they drafted, they should be put forward as activists.

A Teton County District Court judge ruled in June that Secretary of State Chuck Gray, Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, and Right to Life of Wyoming wouldnt be allowed to intervene in the ongoing abortion lawsuit.

Afterwards, Rodriguez-Williams, Neiman and the advocacy group appealed that decision to the Wyoming Supreme Court. The hour-long oral argument took place before the court on Tuesday morning and was live broadcasted.

Rodriguez-Williams sponsored and Neiman co-sponsored the Life is a Human Right Act, which is a near-total ban on abortions. They co-sponsored a medical abortion ban, too. It made Wyoming the first state to explicitly ban the use of pills for abortion.

What the proposed intervenors are asking the Wyoming Supreme Court to do is truly unprecedented, plaintiffs attorney Peter Modlin argued Tuesday.

We have been able to find no case, and the proposed intervenors have cited no case, allowing individual legislators to intervene in a case challenging a statute, Modlin said.

Its a slippery slope, Modlin said. If these legislators are allowed to intervene, the state may see legislators taking laws of all kinds to the courts for debate, which is not appropriate.

Teton County Judge Melissa Owens said that theres no room in this courtroom to make this a political foreground when she denied intervention this summer.

On Thursday, Owens will hear arguments about whether she should make a judgement in favor of those defending the state abortion bans, those challenging it or let the lawsuit head to trial.

One Wyoming Supreme Court Justice raised the issue of the timing on Tuesday. A summary judgement hearing is taking place this week, and the motion to intervene is premature, they said.

Garrison, on the other hand, argued the proposed intervenors would bring factual evidence in favor of the abortion bans to the lawsuit, which is a different approach than the state is taking, he said. It was up for debate whether witnesses would be allowed into the courtroom, but Owens decided last week to allow expert testimony.

The state didnt argue against the lawmakers and anti-abortion groups right to intervene, Assistant Attorney General Jay Jerde, who is representing the defendants, said Tuesday. The state simply argued against an evidentiary trial because these are questions of law.

They are trying to treat this like a court case, Jerde said. They are not treating this like a constitutional case only.

The states highest court will take this matter into advisement and issue a written opinion at a later date. Both abortion laws are on hold while the legal battle plays out.

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in Wyoming, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Star-Tribune app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
THE Merriam-Webster dictionary defines icon as a person or thing widely admired, especially for having great influence or significance in a particular sphere.

Subhas Panday believes his brother, Basdeo Panday, was such a person... and then some.
Trinidad and Tobago has lost a man who blazed a trail like few others before him ever had, and like few others ever will again.

These were the words of President Christine Kangaloo as she paid tribute to former prime minister Basdeo Panday at his state funeral, at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA), San Fernando, yesterday.
The prominent case that revealed a pervasive culture of harassment in the military led to the guilty conviction of three former soldiers for sexual assault on Tuesday, December 12, in a Japanese court.

Allegations of Sexual Assault

A 24-year-old former member of the Self-Defense Forces named Rina Gonoi is at the center of this case. Gonoi claims that three male coworkers pushed her down and performed a sex act on her in 2021.

The accused maintained their innocence, denying any involvement in sexual assault. The guys, whose ages ranged from 29 to 31, exhibited no emotion as the court delivered its ruling, which imposed a two-year suspended sentence on each of them, as reported by Reuters.

Speaking to reporters outside the district court in Fukushima, around 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Tokyo, Gonoi said, "I think it was good for Japan's society that the court handed down a guilty verdict and accepted the claims that I've made from the very beginning."

She added that the decision illustrates how it is not okay to do things for a laugh and that those actions are unlawful. When speaking, she was pausing mid-sentence to keep her calm.

For the claimed attack and the government's response after her complaints, Gonoi has now filed a civil lawsuit against her former colleagues and the government. She is demanding damages.

See Also: Australia Faces Mounting Pressure After Passing New Preventive Detention Law

Bold Move to Speak Out

According to Gonoi, who joined in 2020 and experienced ongoing harassment, the three males assaulted her by pinning her to the ground, separating her legs, and simulating a sex act by pressing their crotches on her.

Upon realizing that her complaints had gone unanswered by her superiors, she made the decision to depart from the army.

Gogoi made headlines in 2022 after going public with her accusations, and the Japanese defense ministry issued an official apology.

The defense ministry also started a broad assessment of harassment in the military and other organizations associated with the military, which uncovered about 1400 complaints.

Gonoi's battle garnered her widespread acclaim. She was designated one of Time Magazine's 100 emerging world leaders and one of the 100 most influential women globally by the British Broadcasting Corp.

Domestically, however, Gonoi has also been the object of internet hate.

Chelsea Szendi Schieder, a professor of Japanese history at Tokyo's Aoyama Gakuin University, stated, "The hurdles are incredibly high in Japan to be able to come out publicly and that has to do with ... the kind of backlash a woman gets when she speaks out about these issues."

According to Schieder, the ruling is quite significant, and she expects that many Japanese organizations will reassess their internal procedures in light of it.

As Japan seeks to bolster its military in the face of rising threats from both China and North Korea, the timing of the cases could not be worse since it is actively recruiting female troops.

See Also: US Coast Guard Sexual Assault Issue Update: Too Many Members Don't Trust Leadership-What's USCG's Plan?

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It was one of the best tributes (eulogies) I saw or heard, and perhaps the best speech Presi
Eddie Celaya is a breaking news reporter and host of the "Here Weed Go!" podcast. He graduated from Pima Community College and the University of Arizona and has been with the Arizona Daily Star since May 2019.
PHOENIX  Justices of the Arizona Supreme Court wrestled Tuesday with the question of whether lawmakers who approved allowing abortions through the first 15 weeks of pregnancy in 2022 actually intended to outlaw the procedure entirely if they ever were allowed.

During an hour-long hearing Tuesday, Jacob Warner an attorney with the anti-abortion Alliance Defending Freedom said that state lawmakers, in enacting that 15-week ban, did not repeal the older law that makes it a crime to terminate a pregnancy except to save the life of the mother. He contends there is no conflict, arguing the 15-week law simply adds an additional provision, making it illegal to perform abortions after that point except when there is a medical emergency to save a womans life or prevent serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function.

What that reflects, Warner told the justices is an intent by lawmakers to include an additional hurdle for pregnancies after that point.

But that claim the two laws do not conflict drew a skeptical response from Chief Justice Robert Brutinel. He said that is rewriting history.

Brutinel said thats not what lawmakers said when they adopted the 15-week ban in 2022. Instead, he said, they were anticipating the U.S. Supreme Court upholding a similar law from Mississippi, with the idea to have a similar law on the books here once that occurred.

They just got more than they asked for, Brutinel said, pointing out the nations high court went further and overturned entirely the 1973 case of Roe v. Wade that said women have a constitutional right to abortion.

That returned the decision of abortion laws to each state, a decision Warner argued resurrected the territorial-era law making it a crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, for anyone to terminate a pregnancy except to save the life of the mother.

The problem with that, said Brutinel, is that the 2022 law actually gave specific permission in the state health code for doctors to perform abortions through 15 weeks.

But Brutinel said what Warner is arguing that doesnt conflict with the fact that the old law  the one his client, Dr. Eric Hazelrigg of the anti-abortion Crisis Pregnancy Center wants the court to allow to take effect  makes performing virtually any abortion a crime.

Put another way, Brutinel said, Warners reading would require a doctor, faced with a woman less than 15 weeks pregnant who wants an abortion  allowed under the 2022 law  would have to figure out elsewhere that its criminalized in a different section of statute.

Thats a little unusual, the chief justice said. Thats not the usual course of conduct.

Hanging in the balance is whether women in Arizona will be able to have an elective abortion, at least through the first 15 weeks of pregnancy.

If the court sides with Warner, then elective abortions at any stage of pregnancy would become illegal, the way they were prior to the 1973 Supreme Court ruling.

But if they agree with Planned Parenthood Arizona and Attorney General Kris Mayes, they will leave intact the ruling of the Court of Appeals that says the newer law takes precedence.

But even if the majority of the justices side with Warner, Mayes said after the hearing that no doctor is going to get arrested, much less be prosecuted, while she is in office.

Mayes has taken the position  one not supported in any prior ruling of any Arizona court  that the right of abortion actually is protected under a provision of the state constitution that guarantees a right of privacy.

She also is acting under an executive order issued early this year by Gov. Katie Hobbs, also a supporter of abortion rights, which the governor says gives Mayes the sole authority to prosecute any abortion cases, stripping that authority from the 15 county attorneys to bring their own charges.

And if they try, I will stand against them, she said.

That authority, Mayes conceded, never has been litigated and likely would get a court fight.

Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane already has interceded in this case on the side of abortion foes, saying he wants to represent the interests of all people in his jurisdiction. And what that means, said Warner, is to fully enforce the territorial-era law.

Well see, Mayes said.

Let me put it this way: I hope we wont see, she continued. I believe that there arent very many county attorneys chomping at the bit to prosecute for medical care, even as she acknowledged McGranes position.

The law needs to be clarified, added Pima County Attorney Laura Conover, a supporter of the 15-week law.

Much of the arguments by both sides Tuesday centered on that question of conflicting laws.

Justice Clint Bolick pointed out that, in enacting the 15-week law, legislators specifically said they were not repealing the territorial-era law  and they were not legalizing any procedure that was currently unlawful.

What does that all mean? he asked.

Andrew Gaona, representing Planned Parenthood Arizona, said he reads that to mean the new law did not affect any procedure that was illegal in 2022. So, for example, the 15-week law did not override another already existing law that makes it a crime for a doctor to perform an abortion on a woman knowing that the sole reason she wants it is the sex of the child or because of a fetal defect.

What it does not mean, Gaona told the justices, is that lawmakers were saying they wanted the territorial-era law to come back if Roe was overturned. He said if that were the case legislators could have written that into the measure, the way they did in other states that had trigger laws repealing newer abortion restrictions and automatically reinstating long-unenforced bans.

If the Legislatures intent was truly that (the territorial-era law) should be resurrected in full and enforceable as to all if Roe v. Wade were to ever be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, I dont think its too much to ask the Legislature to state that clearly, Gaona said.

And he told the justices theres another reason to believe that the new law overrides the old one: the views of then-Gov. Doug Ducey, who Gaona said was no fan of abortion rights, we can all agree on that.

Gaona cited an interview Ducey gave to Capitol Media Services in 2022, even before the Supreme Court overturned Roe, after he signed the 15-week law.

The law of the land today in Arizona is the 15-weeks law, Ducey said then. And he said that will remain law regardless of the future of Roe.

Finally, Gaona told the justices they need to look at this from the perspective of a health regulation  the 15-week law  and not as a criminal matter.

Abortion is health care, he said. And what that means is this courts decision will have a profound impact on the ability of pregnant Arizonans to access that health care from PPAZ and other providers.

Conover echoed that sentiment after the hearing.

No one behind the bench or in front of the bench has a medical degree, she said.

And thats the problem with all of this, Conover said. This is a public health issue and its a conversation between a provider and a patient that sometimes occur while the patients life is absolutely in danger right in the emergency room.

Warner, by contrast, urged the justices to see it in a different light.

For over 100 years, Arizona has fully protected life from the moment of conception, he said.

Roe temporarily stopped that protection, Warner said. But the Legislature never gave up, he said, even reaffirming in the text of the 15-week enactment that it was not repealing the territorial-era law.

Conover said no matter what the court decides she believes the final word on this will come from voters who may have the chance in November to inscribe a specific right of abortion in the state constitution.

And Mayes, also a supporter of that ballot measure, said recent news underlines why there needs to be a constitutional amendment.

We want to be certain that what transpired in Texas over the last several days never happens in Arizona, she said. That refers to the decision of the Texas Supreme Court to deny the ability of a doctor there to perform an abortion on Kate Cox despite a fetal condition that could risk her future fertility if she doesnt get the procedure. Cox eventually had to leave the state to terminate the pregnancy.

What has happened in Texas is nothing short of egregious, disgusting and heartbreaking for Kate Cox, her family, and her doctor, Mayes said.
Euromonitor International, a worldwide market research organization, has once again ranked Paris as the most popular city destination in the world. This is based on the findings of their most recent annual survey.

According to a recently published list, Europe is also home to 63 of the top 100 city destinations in the globe!

The Top 100 City Destinations Index, compiled by Euromonitor International, makes comparisons between metropolitan areas all over the world in terms of tourism, sustainability, and economic performance.

Top 10 Dominated by Europe

The 2023 results showed that European locations were the most popular, with Paris in France topping the list.

The cities of Madrid in Spain, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Berlin in Germany, Rome in Italy, Barcelona in Spain, and London in the United Kingdom were all included in the top ten positions.

Only three cities outside of Europe were able to join them on the list: Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (in 2nd place), Tokyo in Japan (in 4th place), which was the city's first appearance in the top 10 list, and New York in the United States (in 8th place).

For the purpose of determining an overall beauty score, cities are assessed based on 55 variables that are broken down into six primary areas, as reported by Euronews. The following categories encompass economic and business performance, tourist performance, infrastructure for tourism, tourism policy and attractiveness, health and safety, and sustainability.

Points are granted for a variety of factors, including the demand for tourism, accessibility, the use of intelligent technologies, and conservation programs.

With continual improvements being made in the build-up to the 2024 Olympics, Paris was able to regain its title as the most famous city in the world.

London is ranked 10th on the list of cities with the greatest tourist infrastructure in the world, according to the report. Berlin, on the other hand, was ranked 6th thanks to its recent campaign, which aimed to increase tourism in the city's most distant neighborhoods.

Also Read: Surprisingly Affordable Travel Destinations You Probably Don't Know; Here's Where To Visit Soon!

Other Cities on the List

In the top 20, European cities still have a dominant position. Munich in Germany is ranked 12th, followed by Milan in Italy. With the debut of Ireland's first 3D city map, Dublin takes 15th rank; Austria's Vienna comes in at 18th; and Portugal's Lisbon comes in at 20th.

Outside of Europe, Singapore placed 11th, Seoul in South Korea placed 14th, Osaka in Japan came 16th, Hong Kong took 17th place, and Los Angeles in the United States came 19th.

The study claims that fast urbanization and broad use of technology are the main drivers of Europe's prosperity. Due to the growth of remote work in 2023, factors such as reliable internet, flexible scheduling, and pleasant workspaces were crucial.

Sustainable tourism, which includes well-developed public transportation systems and efforts to curb the problem of over-tourism, was also a major focus this year.

Four new places entered the top 100 this year, according to CNN. All four--Washington, DC (at 48th place), Montreal (at 68th), Santiago (at 88th), and Vilnius (at 92nd)--can claim to have had better tourist performances than last year.

Also Read: World Heritage Site of Ancient Jericho Ruins in Palestine Approved by UN Panel

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Open congressional seats typically draw a crowd of hopefuls, but the crowd lining up to replace outgoing Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Peoria, is being described by experts with words like all-stars, fascinating and fun.

The 20 candidates to file paperwork for the seat with the Arizona Secretary of States office for the primary or general election so far include two failed statewide GOP candidates, another two who were at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and the former congressman from the district, who resigned amid an ethics probe in 2017.

Grab your popcorn, pull up your chair because youre going to be in for a world of fun watching that race  its going to be a blast to watch, said Mike Noble, CEO of Phoenix-based Noble Predictive Insights.

The race got an early boost Friday, when former President Donald Trump endorsed Abe Hamadeh, the failed 2022 GOP nominee for attorney general  giving him a likely edge over the other nine Republicans in the race, many of them heavy hitters with big names and already established track records.

If Trump were to weigh in on the race, it would put his thumb on the scale of the election, said Paul Bentz, senior vice president of research and strategy at HighGround Inc., before Trumps announcement. Its likely in a very crowded race like this, that Trumps endorsement would make the difference.

But its not just Republicans in the hunt. The race has also inspired eight Democrats, an independent and one Libertarian who may have the highest profile of them all: Jacob Angeli-Chansley, known to many as the QAnon Shaman who became the face of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol in his face paint and horned fur hat.

History aside, analysts give Angeli-Chansley little hope in the district where registered Libertarians make up just 0.8% of voters. Republicans account for 39.8% of registered voters in the district, compared to 25.1% for Democrats and 33.9% for independent voters.

Lesko won the seat in a 2018 special election with 52.6% of the vote and has been reelected by increasingly large margins since, winning 96.5% of the vote last year against a write-in candidate.

Political observers said she could have kept the seat as long as she wanted, but Lesko announced in October that she would not seek reelection to a broken Washington. That set off a stampede of candidates for what is considered a safe Republican seat.

Noble said that should make it one of the most fascinating Republican primaries to watch in the state.

Its going to be, Id say the most action-packed election because Republican primaries are typically pretty bruising, he said.

In addition to Hamadeh, the GOP field includes Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma and state Sen. Anthony Kern, R-Glendale  who was also in the crowd on Jan. 6 but did not enter the Capitol. Former Rep. Trent Franks is running for the seat he gave up abruptly in late 2017, when the House Ethics Committee launched a sexual harassment investigation of Franks, who approached female staffers about being a surrogate mother for him and his wife.

But Franks name recognition may have waned, experts say, particularly in the face of bids by Blake Masters, the 2022 GOP Senate nominee who lost to Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, and Hamadeh, who narrowly lost his GOP bid for attorney general against Democrat Kris Mayes.

He (Franks) cannot assume that people know who he is because theyre much more likely to have recall about somebody like Hamadeh or Masters from the national media, Bentz said.

Bentz said Leskos departure has created a pressure release valve for GOP politicians, where a lot of Republicans were looking for some place to go. He noted that before they announced for Leskos seat, Hamadeh was considering a run for county attorney and Masters  who was also endorsed by Trump in 2022  was eyeing another Senate bid.

While it is nothing new for Republicans to dominate the district, Noble said the 2024 election could expose fault lines among Make America Great Again voters.

Noble finds it incredibly fascinating that Kari Lake, the failed 2022 GOP gubernatorial nominee now running for Senate, has endorsed Hamadeh, while Masters has been endorsed by Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Bullhead City and Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio.

Before you always had MAGAs running where theres kind of one ordained  but now youre seeing these fractions, Noble said.

Most expect the race to be determined in primary. Kyle Kondik, elections analyst at the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said the only hope in the general election is, If the Republican nominee ends up being very weak, that might open it up to the potential for you know, Democrats to bring an upset there.

Bentz and other experts all say that money will be a very strong indicator of whos able to be successful in this race.

Congressional races are interesting because there tends to be a greater correlation of spending to winning than in, than in other races, Arizona-based political consultant Jason Rose said.

Most of the big-name candidates have not reported fundraising with the Federal Election Commission because they entered the race after the last FEC reporting deadline. Only Democrat Gregory Whitten and Independent Jeremy Spreitzer filed campaign reports with the FEC, with Whitten raising a $58,136 and Spreitzer raising $11,215.

Rose believes the long list of aspiring candidates will begin to shorten.

Ill be surprised if all those people stay in, Rose said. Thats a clash of, no matter whether you agree with them or not, of all-stars and only one can win and some of those guys have lost before.

Whatever the final number of candidates, Noble expects an entertaining campaign.
More evidence implicating Joe Biden

Re: the Nov. 27 letter Disinformation follies.

Last month the Star published my letter to the Editor. Since then the Star has published at least two letters written by Democrats critical of my letter. It did not seem to matter to the writers that Biden repeatedly lied to America when saying he knew nothing of Hunter Bidens business deals and his son never received money from China. Biden met several of his sons domestic and foreign business partners in the White House and outside while as VP. Long before Republicans in Congress were investigating the Bidens for corruption and money laundering, in 2018 a Bank Secrecy Act Manager at a financial institution raised red flags over Hunter Biden receiving millions in wire transfers from Chinese entities with no apparent actual business deals conducted. The manager was concerned regarding reports of China targeting children of politicians for the purchase of political influence. Republicans in Congress believe Joe big guy Biden received a check for $40,000 from one of those Chinese transfers.

Janice DeAngelo

Tubac

No placeholder for District 3 replacement

Some candidates for the District 3 vacancy have announced they would not seek election. I believe this is a great disservice to residents of the area, and we should be granted the strongest candidate who will hold down the position after a vote in 2024. An appointee who is seeking election is held accountable by the people for their votes and actions, as they intend to take their incumbency to the polls. An appointee who has declared their intent not to run has no motivation to work hard for the people because they have literally declared they have no interest in asking the public to vote on their job performance. A placeholder appointee does not have to care what anyone thinks, as they have chosen to be a lame duck on day one of the job. Dont we deserve better?

Barbara Riehl

Northwest side

Do you use DoorDash?

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has their orders delivered with DoorDash. As a delivery driver, you have helped support my family with a difficult and unprecedented transition. So many are generous with tips and it means the world! I would however, like to remind everyone that if you do not tip we are not making anything. We do not get an hourly wage. The two or so dollars that we receive from DoorDash only covers the gas and wear on the vehicle. We are not working for free. Pharmacy, pet store and grocery orders seem to be a particular problem. As a bonus, when you do tip, you will receive your order faster. Drivers pick up higher paying orders without hesitation. This would not be a problem if dashers could keep refusing orders with no tip, but we are required to do a certain percentage. If you dont tip, please consider thinking about the person doing the job for you. Thank you!

Lorien Caldwell

Green Valley

ABOR mismanagement

The AZ Board of Regents states that they are responsible for increasing quality, affordability and efficiency of our universities, yet they have not acted to avoid the CHRONIC mismanagement that has resulted in debt of $240M, $125M last year. They are allowing the perpetrators, highly compensated management, to avoid any personal consequences. Their actions undermine the quality, reduce the affordability, efficiency and credibility of the degrees that they sell. It is ironic and unacceptable that UA executive management does not practice the business Management principles and skills that they teach. All persons experienced in developing human capital know that personal consequences, good and bad, are required to compel productive behavior (Pavlov). ABOR should not allow UA, the persons that created the debt, to shift the consequences of their chronic negligence to students and the Public. Instead, in fairness and to motivate effective corrective actions, Executive salaries should be reduced to pay off the debt for the next 3-years. If ABOR declines, they should be replaced.

Terry Finefrock

Foothills

Officer Hardestys murder

Re: the Dec. 10 article Officer killer could go from death row to life in prison.

As the prosecutor (now retired) who tried John Cruz for the murder of Tucson Police Officer Patrick Hardesty, allow me to clarify some misstatements regarding the case. In a 5-4 decision early in 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Cruz was entitled to a hearing on whether the instructions to the jury at trial in 2005 regarding his possible sentence were adequate. This ruling was largely based on another opinion from the court in 2016, eleven years after the trial. The Courts 2023 ruling was that Cruz was entitled to a hearing, it did not rule that his sentence be vacated.

Instead of the evidentiary hearing, the current prosecutors simply agreed that the instructions were erroneous and stipulated that the death sentence be withdrawn. While such a decision is clearly within the authority of the county attorney, she should be clear that the decision was hers and the attorney generals and not blame the outcome on the court which did not require such a result.

Rick Unklesbay

Midtown

An open letter to Biden

During Advent we examine our souls in preparation for the coming of the Prince of Peace. I am deeply troubled by your vetoing the Security Councils call for humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Your singular veto severed our connection to the rest of the world, thus abdicated the USs role as a world leader, a champion for human rights. You portrayed the US as a greedy arms dealer supporting a repressive tribal state in its brutal revenge on a terrorist group at the cost of countless innocent lives in their own homeland, and you a politician selling your soul for your own ambition. Is this your legacy?

Repent, before it is too late! Rescind the veto, apologize for prolonging the sufferings of the Palestinian civilians, and insist on a two-state Holy Land.

God have mercy on all humanity. The peace of the Lord comes with our repentance. Amen.

Ke Chiang Hsieh

Midtown

U of A financial troubles

As a former CFO I understand the difference between revenue and expense. As I follow the reporting of the financial issues facing the University of Arizona it is becoming abundantly apparent that the officers of the university know very little about addressing financial challenges. They constantly refer to increasing revenue by laying off people. In my world this is reducing expense. Other than the administration which is clearly out of line as an expense line, laying off people that are generating revenue by teaching students will yes, reduce expense but could also impact revenue. Today a statement, not sure if direct quote but laying off 100% means nobody will be left. I believe the university would be well served by bringing someone that truly understands the difference between revenue and expense. Revenue minus expense equals income. A university can operate at zero income but will eventually cease to exist at negative income.

Lee Hanson

Green Valley

Gas prices and the US president

After having read scores of letters to the editor over the last few months blaming President Biden for the high price of gas, I am now anxiously awaiting the days when the same writers submit letters thanking him now that gas in Tucson is under $3 a gallon!

Diane Dittemore
Jimmie Tramel Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow Jimmie Tramel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Oklahoma music artist Toby Keith launched a three-show run Sunday at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas with what a news release described as a triumphant return to the stage and touring.

In the first of three shows (they sold out in minutes to become one of the fastest selling tickets in the venues history), Keith performed a two-hour set.

One of the crowds favorite moments, according to the release, came when he sat on a stool, center stage, and performed six songs that he said shouldve been singles.

The concert also featured some of Keiths 32 No. 1 songs and 42 top 10 hits. Two more shows were scheduled Dec. 11 and Dec. 14.

Keith announced in 2022 that he was battling stomach cancer. The Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee recently released his 100% Songwriter album that highlights 13 of his most iconic solo-written songs.

Keiths latest hit single, Dont Let The Old Man In, was written by Keith in 2018 and was inspired by a conversation with Clint Eastwood. The song was featured in Eastwoods movie, The Mule, and it put Keith in the spotlight again at the 2023 Peoples Choice Country Awards, where Keith sang the song after being honored as the PCCAs Country Icon.

The performance boosted the song and music video into the No. 1 spot on the iTunes country songs and videos charts as well as into the top three in the all-genre charts.

The following week, the single claimed the No. 1 spot on Billboards country digital song sales chart and rose to top three on the all-genre chart. A few weeks later, Big Machine Records partnered with Keith to promote the song, which earned most-added status at country radio upon impact.

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Famed Italian film director Federico Fellini once said that life is a combination of magic and pasta.

For Sam English, the statement couldnt be more true.

English got a dream opportunity to attend culinary school in Italy and now has brought his talents home to Sand Springs with a dream opportunity to be the chef at one of the citys premier Italian restaurants, Little Venice.

Hes 20.

He graduated from Charles Page High School 19 months ago.

But his love affair with food betrays his tender age.

English said he grew up in the kitchen with his mom and grandma, who were always cooking something.

Thats kind of where I thrived, he said. It was fun being with my family, being in that environment, making food, giving it to people and seeing the smiles on their faces  being around the love and the passion that food brings to a lot of people.

English is the first in his family to pursue a career in the culinary arts, but he credits both sides of his family with influencing him in that direction.

I actively cooked with my mom and grandma, but my dad really enveloped me in the culture, as well, he said.

One of his earliest memories is baking with his mother as a young boy. Cracking eggs was his specialty.

If I was in another room, she would be like, Sam, you wanna come crack the eggs?

And I would be like, Yeah! And I would run in and crack the eggs. There would be like two or three of them, and it would make my whole day.

But for most of his life, English saw cooking as nothing more than a hobby.

Eventually it was his father who said to him, If you love it so much, you might as well pursue it as a career.

That led him to seek out a job at Little Venice to try on the food industry and see if it was a good fit.

I only washed dishes; I chopped some stuff. It really was not a chef job at all, and I still fell in love with it, because I would come out here (in the front of the restaurant) and shake peoples hands. I would look in their eyes and see their smiles because of the food they were eating that we made back there.

He was hooked.

English applied to attend Oklahoma State University-Okmulgees School of Culinary Arts, and he was accepted. But he wasnt satisfied.

I wanted to go to a place where they solely focused on cooking, he said.

So he began looking internationally and ended up applying to and being accepted by ALMA Escuela Internacional de Cocina Italiana in Parma in central Italy.

School lasted one year, during which time English took classes and worked at two internships.

Classes were held for four long, hard days each week, but the long weekends made up for it, he said.

They wanted us to go travel or eat or rest, English said. Pretty much every weekend I took an about an hour, hour-and-a-half train to somewhere to immerse himself in the culture and the food.

For his first internship, he spent a month working at a restaurant in Turin.

They send you to a restaurant where they think you will thrive and learn but also not drown, he said.

The second internship, in La Spezia, lasted five months and was followed by final exams back in Parma.

English said he speaks a little bit of Italian, but hes not fluent.

I always tell people I know kitchen Italian, he quipped. The other thing about Italy is its so easy to understand what theyre saying because theyre always speaking with their hands.

English started school in October 2022 as one of 20 classmates.

By the time he graduated three months ago, he was one of a class of eight.

It was unbelievable. It was definitely a dream, he said. Of course it was difficult. I had a lot of difficult times being away from my family, finding friends, learning the language and everything, but all in all, it was a perfect sacrifice.

Its safe to say English feels at home in the Italian cuisine arena, with its traditions steeped in love and family, but what food intrigues him?

Sushi.

Despite the dramatically different flavor palette, its the same approach that Italians take to food, he said. Theres a lot of love in sushi.

A critical component of Italian dining is pairing the perfect wine with a meal. As part of his classes, English had to learn about wine pairings. And as the drinking age in Italy is 18, he regularly drank wine or beer with his meals.

But in Oklahoma, hes unable to practice what he learned to preach.

I have like a gap year with drinking, he said. Its a little difficult because wine pairing is such a big deal.

But English said he wouldnt want to be anywhere else.

Little Venice owners Candy and Walter Munaretto have been very kind to give me the opportunity here, he said. Yes, I could have gone anywhere and picked up a normal cooking job, but I feel like the opportunity at my age to kind of run the kitchen was a golden opportunity.

The Munarettos, who have spent their lives working in the restaurant industry, including at Tulsas famed Summit Club, say English earned the opportunity.

Sam is night and day different than he was before spending a year in Italy, Candy Munaretto said.

She said she and her husband went to visit him in Italy, and I was like, Whoa. This kid is different.

Once back in Sand Springs and on the job, he was overwhelmed in the beginning, and you could see it, she said. It was scary for him.

But Munaretto knew Englishs potential. So they adjusted a few things. They made some accommodations.

And its just worked itself out, she said.

I dont expect perfection, Munaretto said. I just want it to be the best you can possibly do. And if it turns out to be perfection and people love it  oh, gosh, it just makes you feel so good inside.

How long will English want to stay at Little Venice? He doesnt know.

I couldnt really tell you my five-year plan, he said.

But thats not so surprising from a guy who as a high school senior decided with six months notice to spend a year in culinary school in Italy.

Im just enjoying my life (and) enjoying my job.
Police investigating a gun threat at Hale Middle School reportedly located and detained a 12-year-old student who had brought an Airsoft pistol to campus.

Officers responded after 2 p.m. when police received a text message about an armed individual walking around the school at 2177 S. 67th East Ave.

Several dozen Tulsa police officers and officers with Tulsa Public Schools campus police made contact with the student who reported the incident and determined that there was no active shooting.

While searching for any possible threats, investigators found that a seventh-grade student likely had a pistol, police said. That student was found with an Airsoft gun that could be confused for a real firearm.

"We are working in conjunction with Tulsa Public Schools on the most appropriate charges and course of action in relation to the 12-year-old who was taken into custody," police said in a statement.

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Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

A 23-year-old man is alleged to have shot his Creek County neighbor before driving to a police station and surrendering, according to a federal murder complaint.

Johnathan Robert Havlick, 23, is accused of fatally shooting Aaron Bendele at a residence just west of Sapulpa in the 16500 block of West Ozark Trail in Creek County, according to an affidavit filed in connection with his arrest warrant.

Bendeles grandmother found his body early Saturday in the front yard of the residence where he lived after waking up and noticing the front door of the residence open, the affidavit states. She then called Ben deles aunt, who in turn called 911 about 6:32 a.m.

About the time Bendeles aunt made the call to authorities, law enforcement officials said Havlick entered the Sapulpa police station and confessed to shooting someone.

Havlick told a dispatcher at the station that he shot someone living near Oklahoma 66 but could not provide an address, according to the affidavit.He reportedly told an officer that he has paranoid schizophrenia and had gotten mad at the man.

Havlick told the officer other people told him lies and jokes that he took literally, according to the affidavit. Havlick then stated that he shot Bendele before throwing the gun and his cellphone out of his vehicle while driving.

Havlick later told FBI special agents that he did not purposely kill Bendele.

Bendele lived in a single-family home at 16550 W. Ozark Trail, while Havlick lived in a truck camper on the property, according to the affidavit. Police who arrived first at the scene reported finding a trail of blood from Bendeles bedroom to where his body was located.

Agents searching Bendeles residence later found his cellphone plugged into a charger in his bedroom with a still-active phone call ongoing.Agents could hear a person snoring on the other end of the line, according to the affidavit.

When the person eventually awoke, he told the FBI that he was on the phone with Bendele when he heard Bendele say, John, dont do it, before hearing two gunshots with Bendele calling out for his grandmother between shots.

Agents did not find a revolver Bendele was said to keep loaded near his bed or its leather holster.

In addition to the second-degree murder charge, Havlick was also charged with one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

The charge was brought in federal court because Havlick is a member of the Cherokee Nation and the murder occurred within the Muscogee Nation.

Havlick made an initial appearance Monday in Tulsa federal court. He was ordered held in custody pending the results of a Thursday detention hearing.

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Interim Tulsa Superintendent Ebony Johnson pushed back on Monday against State Superintendent Ryan Walters insertion into local control matters and accused him of making new misleading or completely false claims about the school district.

Amid local school board discussions about whether to make Johnsons interim role as superintendent a permanent one, Walters wrote to school board members and Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum on Thursday evening, insisting that a national superintendent candidate search be conducted and suggesting that he believes Johnson is not bold enough or making aggressive enough decisions.

The state publicized his rebuke in a press release Friday morning.

Johnson said that since she took over upon Deborah Gists departure as superintendent to try to prevent a state takeover, she has instructed everyone at TPS to work in earnest to develop a cooperative, results-oriented relationship with the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Your memo last week disregarded not only that spirit of shared urgency and cooperation, but took a radical turn by calling my commitment, competence, and level of concern into question. I want to understand this major shift in the state departments rhetoric, she wrote in a letter sent to Walters on Monday afternoon and, echoing his actions, immediately shared widely in a press release.

Plainly, Tulsa Public Schools wants nothing more than to rapidly improve outcomes for students.

The Tulsa board is slated to vote on Johnsons employment status at a Monday meeting set for 6:30 p.m.

Hiring and supervising the superintendent is one of three primary functions of local school board members under Oklahoma law, along with setting policy and approving annual budgets.

Aside from his ongoing war of words, Walters would be powerless to remove local leadership of Tulsa Public Schools without at least three of Gov. Kevin Stitts appointees to the State Board of Education joining him in a vote for state takeover.

Walters latest message was menacing but stopped short of explicit threats.

I have been crystal clear on my position to select a new Superintendent for Tulsa  there should be an aggressive national search, and local leaders as well as other stakeholders must be involved in the selection process because the way that Tulsa succeeds is with the entire state of Oklahoma working together, Walters wrote.

The State Board of Education will not sit around idly while continuing to let TPS continue down the trajectory they were on under the previous leadership. Stop playing around the edges with programs that do not work and schools that continue to fail. There needs to be drastic change to turn the district around, and the next Superintendent needs to be aggressive in pursuing those changes 

All eyes are on Tulsa and every option at the disposal of the (State) Board and my office will be used if the culture of failure continues to be promoted in Tulsa.

Johnson wrote that many of Walters new claims are misleading or completely false and said her intent is not to address every problematic assertion you have made, but to highlight the most dire.

In summary, Walters assertions and Johnsons responses are as follows:

Assertion: There should be an aggressive national search for Tulsas next superintendent.

Response: Such a process and decision are a fundamental tenet of local control by a board of education  In short, a lengthy search process as you suggest would directly undermine us meeting the many goals the state board has established.

Offered as a prime example is the immediate need to hire a new chief financial officer, a new chief operating officer and a new chief of staff, a new deputy superintendent and a new chief talent officer. Quality candidates for any of these positions will not agree to come to work for TPS without greater certainty about who will lead the district for the foreseeable future, Johnson said. Failure to promptly fill the top administrative positions and take other employment actions for other critical positions will hamstring TPS from reaching the turnaround goals.

Assertion: Tulsas next superintendent will inherit a district that has had deep foundational issues for years, and sweeping changes and urgent actions are needed to remove Tulsa schools from the states failing schools list.

Response: Johnson said she has acknowledged from the get-go to Walters and his fellow state Board of Education members that TPS has significant deficiencies that have existed for years. I have expressed my willingness to take urgent action and have begun doing so  There is no risk I wont take, no urgent matter I will set aside in service to our students, families and their educators.

She also noted that Oklahomas school grade card sets up schools to be deemed failures because rather than judging schools only against a set of criteria, it also imposes a bell-curve for results, whereby there will always be F schools somewhere in the state.

Assertion: If the next superintendent does not make the bold changes needed to improve the district, the State Board will continue to do everything in its power to ensure the success of the district. All eyes are on Tulsa and every option at the disposal of the Board and my office will be used if the culture of failure continues to be promoted in Tulsa.

Response: Johnson insisted that TPS has already made immense strides in her three months at the helm.

She added: The TPS board is in the best position to decide who should be considered and who should be hired. That is the discretion that local control provides  If I am fortunate to be hired for whatever time-period, I can tell you and your board members, with certainty, that no culture of failure will be tolerated on my watch.

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TPS interim Superintendent Ebony Johnson speaks about the school district
Editor's Note Note: This story originally published in November. The Tulsa school board voted Dec. 11 to remove the 'interim' from Ebony Johnson's title, making her permanent superintendent.

When the going got tough at Tulsa Public Schools this year, it was a behind-the-scenes leader named Ebony Johnson who stepped up.

Two months later, some school board members  including the only one who did not support her appointment as interim superintendent  began discussing the idea of making her temporary duty assignment a permanent gig.

With threats of a state takeover still looming over the states largest school district, would Johnson accept or even compete for the job if a wider search is launched?

It doesnt get any simpler than her answer:

Yes, and yes.

Running a school district that serves 33,000 kids and is the citys third-largest employer is a big job on its own.

But Johnson is doing so while also contending with State Superintendent Ryan Walters unrelenting demands for proof that local leadership can produce rapid, significant improvement in student achievement indicators.

The Tulsa World went to Johnson, who has a proven track record of individual school site turnaround efforts, to get answers about her short-term strategies for the district she attended as a child and where she has dedicated her entire professional career.

Why was she willing to take the helm during a time of crisis and extraordinary scrutiny?

When folks have judgment around what can be done and what they dont believe is possible, thats when I get the most excited, Johnson said. Are there challenges that we have before us? Absolutely. But its unfair for there to be an inaccurate narrative that we are not producing students who are going on to be amazing.

Homegrown leader

Johnson attended Whitman Elementary, three different middle schools  then-Anderson Middle School, Deborah Brown Community School and Gilcrease Middle School  then McLain High School, where she graduated in 1994.

She laughs when recalling how all-business she was as a teen, but it seems like foreshadowing now.

I was always involved in leadership roles. I was senior class president, I read the morning announcements  anything I could do, Johnson said. I even walked around with a briefcase in high school and wore suit jackets.

During her high school years, she explored the possibility of going into broadcast journalism under the mentorship of a local TV newswoman.

In the end, her love of writing, speaking and reading made her believe that teaching those subjects would be a better path for her.

She majored in English education at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, completed a teaching internship at Muskogee High School and then came right back to Tulsa to begin her career at TPS in 1999.

She later completed a masters degree in school administration from Northeastern State University and a doctorate in education from the University of Oklahoma.

Johnson earned the honor of Teacher of the Year at her very first school, Monroe Middle School, before going on to work as a dean, assistant principal and then principal. She worked for several years as executive director of student and family support services for the whole district and her most recent role was as chief learning officer.

Becoming full superintendent of a district under the gun of a possible state takeover would come with career risks  but some of those she already accepted by becoming interim superintendent.

Johnson said she and her husband of 23 years and their children, who are 16 and 20, discussed all of the many considerations for her personally and for their entire family at that juncture.

She concluded there was no alternative but to step in and serve the district that served me, pour into the community that poured into me.

I feel that it would be a continuation of us moving in the right direction in leadership and it would allow us to not go backwards, but to continue forwards with the charge that we have before us, Johnson said.

Turnaround experience

Johnson spent years in the trenches working in schools with high concentrations of students living in poverty and struggling academically.

She affectionately calls them students who are most at-promise, rather than most needy.

She took on principalships of three schools on the states needs improvement or F schools lists  Academy Central Elementary School, McLain High School and Central High School.

Her blueprint for getting performance indicators in those places trending in the right direction is something that still informs her work today.

It goes something like this: First identify the gifts and talents of faculty and staff members, set high expectations and goals for improvement  then doggedly track them, hold herself up as a servant to support the entire team, and then get out of peoples way and give them full credit for their successes.

I set some strong goals from the beginning that we will be a premier school, we will not be an F school, and students will learn how to read, Johnson said. Alongside that is really just firing our families up around their role as their childs first teacher and making sure they were aware of all the things they could do to help us, as well.

Reality check

Johnson said she believes TPS needs to be more blunt with parents and the community at large about its greatest challenges.

What we have to do is a much better job of telling the truth. What is the actual issue here? she said.

For starters, new, extreme rates of chronic absenteeism since the pandemic are stifling student growth, and the state holds schools to account for those rates.

What can parents and families do? Send your children to school every day, Johnson said. We need help with that.

Students who miss 10% or more of a school year for any reason are considered chronically absent. Statewide, Oklahoma schools received a D for attendance on the most recent state report cards, with almost 20% of students meeting that definition during the 2021-22 school year.

The rates were even higher in Tulsa, with 45.38% of students classified as chronically absent in 2021-22, compared to 22% in 2018-19. On the most recent state report card, an alternative middle school was the only secondary TPS site to receive an attendance grade above a D.

At our secondary sites, we know that pre-pandemic, we had some students that truly struggled with what it meant to come to school on a regular basis because of a lot of factors, Johnson said. Post-pandemic, it has hit an all-time high. We feel like a lot of that has to do with students connecting to jobs and just a lot of helping their families out.

Chronic absenteeism is a serious focus for us. We need help with that.

Then theres the challenge of having a qualified teacher in each classroom when the students get there.

With five weeks left until winter break, TPS still has about 100 certified teaching vacancies across the district, with particularly acute needs for those serving English learners and students with special education needs.

A coinciding wave of baby boomer retirements has left TPS relying more heavily on rookie teachers who need a lot of extra support and training.

As of October, almost one-fourth of TPS teachers have less than two years experience. Additionally, since the start of the fiscal year on July 1, the district has had 235 emergency teaching certificate requests approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Education  an increase of 42 from one year ago and 91 compared to October 2020.

We have some great emergency- and alternatively certified teachers who look like they should have been in education this whole time, Johnson said. However, theres also an initial challenge of getting them up to speed with what it means to be a teacher and what it means to be an educator.

Lastly, Johnson feels there is a serious need for TPS to better explain the nuances of its student literacy scores and how the community can help address the continuous nature of this critical challenge.

Its absolutely not true that 88% of our kids cant read. Its false, not accurate and a gross misrepresentation. And its not fair for our district to carry the stigma that our kids cannot read, Johnson said.

The districts partnership with Reading Partners is a simple way concerned citizens can make sure more early readers are on track to read at grade level by third grade, by volunteering just one hour per week.

If you look at levels of proficiency across our state, we are struggling as a state in this area. But even a child scoring below basic level (on the state test) still does not mean they cant read. It means their amount of comprehension is still a struggle.

The timeline

As a condition for receiving its current state accreditation, TPS is now being required to provide monthly updates to the Oklahoma State Board of Education.

Specific requirements placed on the district include creating a plan to train all TPS teachers in the science of reading, creating an improvement plan for each of its 24 schools that received an F on the most recent state school report cards, and the developing and publishing new internal controls to prevent embezzlement.

TPS began using academic interventions for students based on the science of reading more than two years ago and is on track to implement professional development on the science of reading for all of its elementary school teachers in early 2024.

In addition to the monthly reports before the state board, Johnson and other TPS officials are meeting regularly with representatives from the Oklahoma State Department of Education to discuss the districts academic progress.

Two of those state officials are even touring schools to have in-depth conversations with educators in the field to see the challenges for themselves, and TPS has been offered helpful advice and even access to things such as a new holiday-time tutoring program the state will be launching, Johnson said.

Despite Walters threats of additional punitive measures if progress to his liking is not made within months, Johnson said given the districts faculty shortages and high concentration of students living in poverty or learning English as a second language, a realistic timeline for a complete academic turnaround is three to five years.

Right now, its a bit premature for us to land at a place where we can say whatll happen at the end of the year, she said. I can say that our district and our teams are working every day, looking at data on a consistent basis, monitoring progress, going into classrooms, talking with school leaders and other team members who work in various spaces and places, moving in and giving more support so that we can have the most successful year that we can have.

TPS will also try to avoid test fatigue before annual state tests in April by delaying the districts own spring progress test until after.

When asked what TPS parents can do about the target on the districts back, Johnson said she worries that a greater sense of urgency is needed.

She said deeper, daily check-ins on each childs progress would go a long way to support what were attempting to do at our school sites.

Asking their children daily, not just how are things going at school, but Lets talk about each class, Lets look at your grades in PowerSchool (online parent portal), I received the weekly grade update from TPS, lets discuss that, What type of supports can I give you for X, Y, Z class? Johnson said. That would be tremendous help from our parents and guardians.

Johnson isnt just talking the talk here. Her own 16-year-old child is among the districts 33,000 students in her charge.

Young students dont just need academic content. They need encouragement and support at school and home to become responsible, self-aware learners who are mindful of academic expectations, time management, organization and preparation, Johnson said.

My own child is taking a class that she enjoys but is a challenge for her, she said, with a little laugh. Its critically important that Im asking her questions about how hard have you studied? Are you being responsible? Are you aware of the expectations in the classroom? What do you need to do in order to be better prepared for the next test or quiz?

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The Tulsa school board moved forward with making Ebony Johnson superintendent late Monday despite State Superintendent Ryan Walters takeover threats and insistence on a nationwide search for other candidates.

Drawing loud cheers in the packed Education Service Center Selman Room, the board returned from a 90-minute executive session just after 11 p.m. Monday and voted 4-2 plus one abstention to name Johnson superintendent through June 30, 2026.

With Monday nights vote, Johnson is the first Black woman to lead TPS on a permanent basis.

I'm humbled, Johnson said. I'm grateful. I'm honored. There have been other superintendents before me that I hold in so much high regard, and I'm standing on their shoulders.

The two no votes were cast by Jennettie Marshall and E'Lena Ashley. Despite calling on the board in November to hire Johnson on a permanent basis and repeatedly praising Johnson during Mondays meeting, Jerry Griffin ultimately voted to abstain.

Marshall said she is not opposed to Johnson personally, but she took issue with school board leaders pushing ahead without a wider search or even considering other qualified employees at TPS.

I find myself concerned about the cloud of deception and manipulation that has been cast upon this process by board leadership. Unfortunately, this has taken place as we are fighting to maintain control by the local board, Marshall said.

Earlier in the evening, the board voted 4-2 with one abstention to follow a policy allowing it to suspend its own policy on advertising, posting or recruiting for the superintendents position in the event of an emergency. In this instance, board leaders said the resignations of five top administrators and Johnsons inability to attract long term replacements when she was under provisional status constituted an emergency.

A request from Marshall to vote on launching a national search was deemed out of order by the boards legal counsel since that possibility was not included on the meeting agenda.

Ahead of the executive session, Johnson reviewed the five priorities that have been guiding her leadership of TPS since she became interim superintendent in mid-September  directing intensive support of the districts most challenged school sites, increasing oversight of academic outcomes at all school sites, redeploying secondary school workers to increase graduation rates, raising community awareness about a chronic absenteeism crisis in local schools, and developing new fiscal transparency practices.

Even after tonight, no matter what happens, we have to keep fighting for our kids, Johnson said. There is a lot happening in the lives of our young people, and we need you all to be here for them.

Board member vows to file police report

Just before the vote, Marshall alleged that the board violated state law by discussing topics not on the boards set agenda behind closed doors during the executive session.

After the meeting, Marshall declined to answer the Tulsa Worlds questions about what those topics were but said she would be filing a police report.

When asked whether she remained in the executive session after off-agenda topics were discussed, Marshall answered: I stayed in the room for a while, and then I got up and left.

When asked about the allegation, Board President Stacey Woolley told the Tulsa World it was Marshall herself who raised the off-agenda topic during the executive session  and Woolley said she believes it was an intentional act to try to undermine the boards actions at Mondays meeting.

When asked what off-agenda topics came up, she said Marshall brought up recent allegations made against a TPS-sponsored charter school to try to bait fellow board members and that member Diamond Marshall responded and the two Marshalls got into a shouting match.

Woolley said both she and Board Vice President John Croisant, as well as two attorneys present, advised both Marshalls that that topic could not be discussed in executive session.

There was a moment where a couple of board members got out of line. They were asked by us, as well as two attorneys, to stop, and they continued yelling over us, Woolley said. They were asked multiple times to please stop.

Any board decision is a board decision, and now it is the responsibility of all board members to get behind her (Ebony Johnson) and do what the community has asked us to do, Woolley said.

I had well over 850 positive requests for the action that we took tonight, and I received three emails asking otherwise. I think its important that the public know that  we have heard very loudly from the public for Dr. Johnson.

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A man from Minnesota was released from jail on Monday, December 11, after almost 20 years on a wrongful murder conviction, according to authorities. "I just want people to know that I am innocent. I was innocent from the very beginning," he told CNN.

The conviction of Marvin Haynes was overturned on Monday by Judge William Koch of Hennepin County, who ruled that the evidence presented in the case was unreliable and "constitutionally improper." In 2004, Haynes was found guilty of murder for his role in the shooting death of 55-year-old Harry "Randy" Sherer.

Witness identification was crucial to Haynes' conviction. He was just 16 years old when the murder occurred. Haynes' constitutional rights were infringed upon during his 2005 trial, according to a press release Monday from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.

Freed From Prison

Haynes was granted freedom from the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater in Bayport, Minnesota, not long after his conviction was reversed. As the crowd erupted in excitement at Haynes' release, he made an appearance at the press conference with his loved ones, legal team, and Mary Moriarty, the Hennepin County Attorney.

According to USA Today, Haynes has stated his intention to acquire a job and see his mother, whom he has not seen in three or four years due to a stroke.

"I'm just appreciative to be here and people to recognize my innocence. All I want to do is move forward and just get my life back," he said.

See Also: Video Shows Oakland 7-Eleven Security Guard Brutally Shot Dead During Store Robbery

2004 Flower Shop Killing

In 2004, during a heist at a flower store in Minneapolis, Haynes was accused of shooting Sherer. Life in prison without the possibility of parole was his punishment after his 2005 conviction for first-degree murder and second-degree assault. Amy Klobuchar, the senior US senator from Minnesota, was the chief prosecutor for Hennepin County when he was convicted.

According to Judge Koch's ruling, Haynes' lawyers presented proof indicating the defendant did not fit the main eyewitness's physical description. He pointed out that the attacker he described was taller, heavier, and significantly older than Haynes, as reported by USA Today.

Moriarty said that the case's outcome had been dependent on the testimony of eyewitnesses. "There was no forensic evidence, such as fingerprints or DNA. There was no video connecting him to the crime. The murder weapon was never recovered. That should have made any prosecutor hesitant to bring charges because eyewitness identifications are often unreliable and one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions."

According to the Innocence Project, DNA testing often overturns erroneous convictions, the vast majority of which are the result of eyewitness misidentification. In almost 80% of its cases involving misidentification, the group has found indications of suggestive police methods.

The 2013 Department of Justice's first national examination of eyewitness identification standards found that almost four out of five US police departments lack codified protocols for managing identifications.

See Also: Vivek Ramaswamy Receives Death Threats from New Hampshire Man at Campaign Event

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OKLAHOMA CITY  The states multicounty grand jury has indicted an accountant tied to the illegal marijuana farm near Hennessey where four workers were massacred last year.
COMANCHE  Three and a half months removed from prison, Kara Chapman is striving to rebuild her life.

The 38-year-old mother works most days waiting tables at a catfish restaurant in Comanche. On days off, she volunteers with a local food pantry or drives 30 minutes north to visit her four children in Marlow. She hopes to progress through a transitional program and move into a duplex where she can have overnight visits with her kids.

When I found out Im going to prison and Im going for a cool minute, I had to make a decision on if I believe theres a plan for my life or if I just go hard and do what I want, Chapman said. Theres plenty of drugs in prison. But I made the decision that Im going to trust in Gods plan and make the most of this.

In October 2019, Stephens County Judge Ken Graham handed Chapman a seven-year prison sentence on a child neglect charge. She wasnt supposed to sniff freedom until late 2024.

But after considering her excellent disciplinary record, educational attainment and volunteer work while incarcerated, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended in 2022 that Gov. Kevin Stitt reduce Chapmans sentence. Stitt signed off on the commutation recommendation, and Chapman was released from the Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Taft on Aug. 23.

The opportunity Chapman had to earn early release could soon be unavailable to the vast majority of Oklahoma prisoners. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board is considering an administrative rule change that would place several restrictions on when Oklahoma prisoners may seek commutation.

Current guidelines allow most prisoners to seek commutation at any time, though they must wait at least three years to reapply if an application is rejected. The proposal making its way through the administrative rules process would create the following criteria for commutation eligibility:

The sentencing range for one or more of a prisoners current offenses has statutorily changed. For instance, if a legislative proposal to create a felony classification system is implemented, some prisoners may become eligible for commutation.

The prisoner does not have a projected release date and has served at least 30 years.

The prisoner has a favorable recommendation from a trial official, such as a district attorney or judge.

The prisoner has a favorable recommendation from the governor.

In a summary statement filed with the Secretary of States Office, Pardon and Parole Board counsel Kyle Counts wrote that the rule changes would promote fairness, transparency, efficiency and consistency in the boards procedures. During an August 2022 board meeting, Counts said the overhaul of eligibility criteria is partially in response to an Oklahoma County grand jury report that criticized the states commutation processes.

Pardon and Parole Board Executive Director Tom Bates said the proposed rules would weed out applications with little to no merit, such as a person sentenced to life in prison filing for commutation within months of arriving in state custody. He said some board members are uncomfortable with the notion that they might be overruling a judge or jury.

Can sentences be excessive? Bates said. Yes. Were just trying to put some guardrails and determinations around that.

If approved by the board, Bates said the proposed rules are subject to legislative review and final approval. A public comment hearing is set for 9 a.m. Jan. 8 at the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Building.

Commutations in Oklahoma accelerated in 2017 after the voters passed State Question 780, which reclassified several drug and property offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. Lawmakers made the law retroactive two years later, prompting Gov. Stitt to sign off on the mass commutation of more than 460 state prisoners on Nov. 2, 2019.

In the years following the mass commutation, estimated to be the largest in U.S. history, Stitt and Parole Board members faced heightened scrutiny from district attorneys and other law enforcement officials over a perceived lax attitude toward commutations.

That criticism intensified in February 2021, when Laurence Paul Anderson brutally murdered three people in Chickasha less than a year after Stitt approved his commutation application. A grand jury investigation released in May 2022 found that Anderson was improperly placed on the commutation docket in August 2019 after the board rejected his application two months earlier.

Morgan Hale is the managing attorney and program manager at Project Commutation, a Tulsa-based nonprofit that represents prisoners who claim they were excessively sentenced. She said adding restrictions would be a major blow to thousands of Oklahoma prisoners who use commutation as motivation to be productive and stay out of trouble while incarcerated. A single misconduct write-up can jeopardize a prisoners opportunity to appear before the board, Hale said.

This has real-life consequences for these people, Hale said. Some of them have worked really hard, and at the very minimum they should be afforded their five-minute hearing.

A Washington County judge sentenced William Trey Livingston III to 40 years in prison in 2010 for vehicular manslaughter, a crime that requires offenders to serve at least 85% of their sentences before becoming eligible for parole. Livingston, who was 35 years old when he was sentenced, expected to be incarcerated until at least his late 60s.

It was hard to come to terms that I had children who were 6 and 9 when I came in, knowing that I just now abandoned them and by the time I get out theyll have kids or grandkids of their own, Livingston said. You also know at that point, OK, my folks will die and my family will pretty much be gone.

Livingston worked a full-time job, earned a college degree and started an advocacy program against drunken driving while incarcerated. At the Joseph Harp Correctional Center, he gained the trust of prison staff and created an art guild where prisoners could paint, draw, crochet and do woodworking.

After years of legal back and forth, the Pardon and Parole Board in 2019 recommended that Livingstons sentence be reduced from 40 to 15 years. Stitt signed off on the proposal, and Livingston was released in January.

Livingston, who lives in Tulsa with his fiancee and works with Project Commutation, said its disheartening that prisoners in a similar situation might soon not have a shot at early release.

There are so many people in there doing the right thing, and all they want is a chance to someday get a job, get an apartment, pay their taxes and just be free, Livingston said. So many people have learned their lesson, but we cant see past their worst decision and moment.

Chapman said she plans to attend the Jan. 8 hearing and speak against the proposed rule changes. She said such changes would cause thousands of incarcerated people to lose a key motivation for success.

There are so many people that go to prison and dont do anything or try to change; they just sit in front of their TV, Chapman said. For those of us who go in and work hard and try to make positive changes, commutation is the only place that we have to be seen. To not even have the opportunity to present their case makes a lot of people lose hope.

Bates said the board plans to consider all public input and that modifications to the proposal are possible before the proposed rules are set for a vote. Written comments can be mailed to the Pardon and Parole Board or emailed to rules@ppb.ok.gov. In-person attendees at the Jan. 8 meeting will be allotted a maximum of three minutes to speak and must sign in by 9:10 a.m.

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Forty students from universities in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday rushed to Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to instruct local traders to sell products on TikTok Shop, one of the major e-commerce sites in Vietnam, firing them with online sales.

This activity was part of the Ho Chi Minh City Shoppertainment 2023 - Ben Thanh Heritage Market program held between Monday and Saturday this week.

As a long-serving fabric merchant at the iconic Ben Thanh Market, Nguyen Thi Ngoc said that she has the intention of shifting to online sales, but her age has discouraged her plan.

After being instructed by some students, Ngoc was energized, saying, I asked for their phone numbers so that I could seek further support.

She lamented that revenue from her stall has fallen post-pandemic.

Ngoc expects her sales to improve after opening an online shop on TikTok.

A small group of volunteer students encourage a local trader at Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City to start online sales. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Similarly, Tran Thi Minh Ky, a trader of clothes at the market, decided to run an online shop on TikTok, apart from maintaining her store at the marketplace, after being introduced to the popular e-commerce site.

Ky said that she had never sold goods online before.

I hope that after opening an online store, sales will increase, she added.

Many volunteer students said that most of the Ben Thanh merchants showed their willingness to learn how to sell goods in cyberspace.

However, a few disdained e-commerce due to their old age.

Cuong, leader of the student group, expected support for these local vendors to help them follow the trend of selling commodities through live streams on the short video-sharing platform to beef up their incomes from now until the end of the year.

During the Ho Chi Minh City Shoppertainment 2023 - Ben Thanh Heritage Market program from December 11 to 16, 2023, hundreds of key opinion leaders (KOLs) and TikTokers are invited to review products at the iconic Ben Thanh Market and introduce the citys tourism. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City pilots the promotion and trade of commodities through live streams on short video-sharing platform TikTok. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Online sales are expected to help merchants at Ben Thanh Market escape the doldrums that are facing traditional markets in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Nhat Xuan / Tuoi Tre

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Trade between Vietnam and China totaled US$155.7 billion from January to November, making the latter the Southeast Asian nations biggest trading partner during the period, according to statistics recently released by the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

China has been Vietnams largest trading partner for many years, with their import-export turnover accounting for 25 percent of Vietnams total import-export value.

Their trade has surpassed $100 billion for the sixth year in a row.

As of the end of November, Vietnam had imported goods worth $100.3 billion from China, turning the latter into the Vietnamese's biggest commodity supplier.

Exports of Vietnamese products to China reached $55.4 billion during the 11-month period, up $2.8 billion year on year.

China became Vietnams second-largest goods buyer, after the United States, during the period.

The China-bound shipment of Vietnamese vegetables fetched $3.4 billion in the 11 months, a year-on-year surge of 2.6-fold.

Phones and phone parts were Vietnams biggest export earner to the Chinese market between January and November, at $15.1 billion.

Computers and components came second, with a value of nearly $12 billion.

The Southeast Asian nation mainly bought computers, electronic items, equipment, and supporting parts from China in January-November.

Overall, Vietnam logged a $44.9-billion trade deficit with China during the 11-month period.

The statistics released on Tuesday also indicated that Vietnams import-export turnover had amounted to $619.3 billion as of November.

Exports of Vietnamese commodities between January and November were valued at $322.6 billion, down 5.8 percent year on year.

Among major earners were computers and parts; phones and phone components; machines and equipment; and textiles and garments, with a value of over $30 billion each.

During the period, Vietnam spent $296.7 billion on imports, down 10 percent year on year.

Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus of $25.9 billion in the time span.

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Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, along with his spouse Peng Liyuan, arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday afternoon for a state visit to Vietnam lasting until Wednesday.

Many Vietnamese officials and diplomats, including Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Internal Affairs Phan Dinh Trac, head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung, and chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee Tran Sy Thanh, gathered at Noi Bai International Airport to welcome the Chinese leader, his spouse, and their entourage.

Xis entourage includes director of the Chinese Party Committees General Office Cai Qi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, director of the Central Policy Research Office Jiang Jinquan, Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, and Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao, among others.

The visit takes place at the invitation of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his spouse, as well as State President Vo Van Thuong and his spouse.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) welcomes Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, December 12, 2023. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

President Xis state visit to Vietnam has fueled high expectations that Beijing and Hanoi will further elevate their relationship, boost cooperation in various sectors, and strengthen their long-lasting traditional friendship, according to China Daily.

In an article published earlier in Vietnam's Nhan Dan (People) newspaper, the Chinese leader said, This will be my third visit to beautiful Vietnam since I became General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the People's Republic of China. I feel that I am already immersed in the warmth that people would only have when visiting relatives and neighbors."

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic partnership, he added.

No matter how the global environment has changed, our two Parties and countries have worked together to uphold peace and tranquility, pursue development and cooperation, and promote prosperity and progres," Xi said in the article.

"We have found a promising path of jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Peng Liyuan, in a dark red dress, the wife of Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Xis previous visits to Vietnam as the Chinese Party general secretary and president took place in 2015 and 2017.

In December 2011, he traveled to the Southeast Asian country for an official visit when he was serving as Chinas vice-president.

Vietnam is the second country to welcome the Chinese leader without combining multilateral activities this year, following Russia in March.

China is Vietnams largest trade partner, while Vietnam is China's fourth-biggest trade partner in the world and the latter's largest trade partner in ASEAN.

The two sides bilateral trade reached US$155.58 billion in January-November this year. Of the total, Vietnam exported $55.98 billion worth of products to its northern neighbor, up 6.2 percent year on year and accounting for 17.3 percent of its total shipments.

The Southeast Asian nation spent $99.6 billion on imports from China, down nine percent over the same period last year, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade.

As of September 20 this year, China ranked sixth among the 144 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with over 4,000 active projects and $26 billion in registered capital, news site VnExpress reported.

Director of the Chinese Party Committees General Office Cai Qi (front) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (behind Cai Qi). Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (waving his hand, R) welcomes Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping (waving his hand, L) at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, December 12, 2023. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Chinese residents living and working in Vietnam welcome Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, December 12, 2023. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

The airplane carrying Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and his spouse is parked at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, December 12, 2023. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

The entourage of Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping travels on Vo Chi Cong Street in Hanoi, December 12, 2023. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi Tre

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Vietnams State President Vo Van Thuong and law-making National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue hosted separate receptions in Hanoi on Monday for Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who is visiting Vietnam through Tuesday at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.

President Thuong affirmed that Vietnam always supports Cambodia's national construction and development process.

Hanoi treasures and wishes to further strengthen its friendship and comprehensive partnership with Phnom Penh, he added.

PM Hun Manet expressed his pleasure at his first official visit to Vietnam since assuming power in August this year. This also marks his first trip to an ASEAN nation.

Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the positive growth of their bilateral relations and spoke highly of regular all-level exchanges, adding that the two countries have effectively implemented bilateral cooperation mechanisms and increasingly developed their comprehensive cooperation across the board.

The two leaders agreed to beef up cooperation in politics, national defense-security, economy-trade, science-technology, agriculture, tourism, education and training, and people-to-people exchange.

President Thuong took this occasion to express his thanks and propose that the Cambodian side continue creating favorable conditions for people of Vietnamese origin in Cambodia to live and do business there, including making it more convenient for them to process legal papers.

Both countries need to continue their joint efforts to complete the remaining 16-percent land border demarcation and border marker planting, with the goal of building a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.

The top Vietnamese official restated his invitation to Cambodias King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk to revisit Vietnam soon and extended his greetings and good wishes to the King, the Queen Mother, and other senior officials of Cambodia.

Vietnams law-making National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (R) shakes hands with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in Hanoi, December 11, 2023. Photo: quochoi.vn

During his reception for PM Hun Manet, NA Chairman Hue expressed his hope that the Vietnam visit by the Cambodian prime minister would help tighten and elevate the traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership between the two nations.

The top Vietnamese legislator and the Cambodian government leader hailed the positive outcomes of bilateral trade, which first surpassed US$10 billion in 2022.

Both nations need to further cooperate and support each other to develop an independent and self-reliant economy, as well as tighten ties between the two economies, with a focus on traffic infrastructure projects.

NA Chairman Hue suggested both sides should bolster cooperation in aquaculture, maintain strategic supply chains with high added value in agriculture, and boost the socio-economic development in the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area.

The two officials also wished that both countries would continue their close cooperation in building a stable borderline, adding that the two law-making bodies would maintain their collaboration and support each other at multilateral forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, and the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum.

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The administration of a town in Phu Yen Province, south-central Vietnam has commended and rewarded an 11th grader for detecting and catching a motorbike thief earlier this month.

Ngo Binh Thinh, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Hai Rieng Town, Song Hinh District, Phu Yen Province, said on Tuesday that he had given a certificate of merit together with a cash bonus to Kpa Y Sem, a 16-year-old student of Nguyen Du High School.

At about 9:40 pm on December 2, Sem was going out with his older brother when he detected a young man riding a motorbike which his friend had lost earlier.

Sem immediately reported the case to police in Hai Rieng Town and ran after the thief for over 10 kilometers.

He later caught the crook and handed him over to police.

A leader of the Hai Rieng Town police said the thief was Nguyen Huy Hieu, residing in Song Hinh District, who had been involved in many previous motorbike thefts in the district.

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Check out the latest news in Vietnam today:

Politics

-- Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, State President Vo Van Thuong, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on Monday afternoon hosted separate receptions for Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who arrived in Hanoi earlier the same day for a two-day visit.

-- Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, along with his spouse Peng Liyuan and a high-ranking Chinese delegation will arrive in Hanoi today to start a visit to Vietnam through Wednesday at the invitation of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his spouse, as well as State President Vo Van Thuong and his spouse.

-- The Vietnamese and Indian defense ministries launched a joint military exercise for United Nations peacekeeping operations in Hanoi on Monday.

Society

-- A four-year-old girl in Hanoi was hospitalized on Monday with dozens of wounds on her face and legs after being attacked by a bit pull dog. The dog tested positive for the rabies virus.

-- The Vietnam Rice Industry Association (VIETRISA) made its debut at its first congress for the 2023-28 tenure held in Can Tho City in southern Vietnam on Monday.

-- The Thang Long Project Management Board, which is authorized to manage the Cao Bo  Mai Son Expressway section in northern Ninh Binh Province, part of the trans-Vietnam expressway, has proposed expanding the section to six lanes from the current four lanes. The expansion project needs VND2 trillion (US$82 million) in investment and will be executed between 2024 and 2027.

-- A total of 38 suspects, including two former ministers, will stand trial next month for their serious violations related to the COVID-19 test kit scam at Viet A Technologies JSC. The trial was scheduled to last 20 days, starting on January 3, 2024, the Hanoi Peoples Court said on Monday.

Business

-- Up to 54.3 percent of the nearly 900 Japanese enterprises in Vietnam participating in a survey by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in Ho Chi Minh City forecast to be profitable in business activities this year.

-- Forty students from universities in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday rushed to Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to instruct local traders to sell products on TikTok Shop, part of the Ho Chi Minh City Shoppertainment 2023 - Ben Thanh Heritage Market program held between Monday and Saturday this week.

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A sanitation worker from Quang Ngai Province in central Vietnam has found and returned a fortune to its rightful owner.

While cleaning a street, the worker discovered a plastic bag containing a staggering VND100 million (US$4,100) in cash.

Instead of keeping the windfall for herself, the worker made the admirable decision to hand the bag over to the local police force, ensuring its safe return to the owner.

Bui Van Quang, general director of Quang Ngai Urban Environment JSC, for which the honest sanitation worker, Nguyen Thi Thuy Phuong, works, said on Tuesday that the company would commend and reward her.

This is a good deed. The company is proud to have employees like Nguyen Thi Thuy Phuong, Quang added.

Phuong, a 43-year-old resident of Son Tinh District, Quang Ngai, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that she and her colleague were cleaning Vo Nguyen Giap Street in Quang Ngai City, the provincial capital, when she spotted the plastic bag.

As the bag is new, I opened it and saw many stacks of banknotes. I did not count the money but kept it and continued my work, she recounted.

She thought that its owner would find it missing and would return.

Until the morning of the next day, no one came to receive the money, so she reported the case to her manager, who told her to talk to police officers.

She immediately went to the police station in Tinh An Tay Commune, Quang Ngai City.

Police later found that the moneys owner was Nguyen Van Cuong, a 29-year-old resident in Quang Ngai City and an employee of goods delivery firm Giao Hang Nhanh.

Cuong said the money was submitted by delivery men but he carelessly dropped it and thought that he would never see it again.

Receiving the money back, Cuong showed gratitude to Phuong for her honesty.

Phuong said she always wanted to return the money after spotting it.

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Representatives of the World Bank (WB) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) highly value and remain committed to its support for Vietnam's project to grow one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice in the Mekong Delta region.

WB country director for Vietnam Carolyn Turk highly lauded the Vietnamese government over this ambitious project at a ceremony to launch it on Tuesday, the Vietnam Government Portal reported.

Turk added that the project not only goes in line with green growth criteria but it is also aimed at three targets: improving rice farmers income, ensuring food security, and protecting the living environment.

The WB official made the comments when attending the project launching ceremony held in Hau Giang Province by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

She affirmed that the WB will accompany and support the Vietnamese government to successfully realize the large-scale project, in which a specialized rice cultivation area, covering one million hectares, will be set up in the Mekong Delta for growing high-quality, low-emission grains.

The bank will also assist Vietnam in taking part in the voluntary carbon market, giving the Southeast Asian country a sustainable financial source for national economic development in the future, Turk promised.

Speaking at the event, Cao Duc Phat, chairman of the board of members of the Philippines-based IRRI, who is also a former MARD minister, said IRRI warmly welcomes and supports the development of this project until 2030, with a direction toward green growth, according to Nong Nghiep Viet Nam (Vietnam Agriculture) newspaper.

This is the first large-scale project in the world in such a direction. The project is extremely necessary, concurrently addressing three major problems facing the rice industry of the world and that of Vietnam in particular: increasing rice output, enhancing rice farmers income, and adapting to and mitigating climate change, Phat said.

He added that rice is the main food of over three billion people and that rice production is the main employment and income for about 140 million smallholder farmers, using 11 percent of global arable land.

IRRI is particularly grateful to the Vietnamese government and the WB for choosing the institute as the international technical consultant for this important project, Nong Nghiep Viet Nam quoted Phat as saying.

At the event, the IRRI was set to sign with the MARD a memorandum of understanding on long-term cooperation in research and transfer of science and technology in rice production, Phat stated.

Addressing the ceremony, Minister of MARD Le Minh Hoan said the project will apply sustainable farming processes to add value to rice products, develop the rice industry, enhance the efficiency of rice production and trade, and improve income and quality of life for rice growers.

It will also help protect the environment, adapt to climate change, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, helping implement Vietnams international commitments, its net-zero emission target by 2050, Hoan said.

Upon the success of the project in the Mekong Delta, this model will be multiplied nationwide, aiming to promote 'green development, emission reduction, and high quality' as the distinctive features of the Vietnamese rice brand, the IRRI chairman stated.

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Hispanic people across the United States and around the world commemorate the 12th of December as the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, an apparition that allegedly happened in Tepeyac Hill in modern-day Mexico City in 1531.

According to Spanish-Mexican records, an indigenous man named Juan Diego saw the Virgin Mary in the appearance of a pregnant Nahua or Aztec woman. Mary asked Juan Diego to tell the bishop of Mexico City to build her a church at the top of the hill of the apparition site. She also reminded Juan Diego of her maternal care for the indigenous tribes of Mexico.

When asked for proof if it was the Virgin Mary who appeared to Juan Diego, he was instructed to pick flowers on top of Tepeyac Hill, a peculiar rarity as no flowers were growing in the Mexican winter. Juan Diego kept the flowers in his tilma, an indigenous cloak worn during that time, and presented the flowers to the bishop.

As the flowers dropped to the floor, an image of the Virgin Mary - similar to how Juan Diego saw her - was imprinted in his tilma.

Since then, a church was built in Tepeyac Hill, just as the Virgin Mary requested.

Over the years and decades since the apparition, millions of Aztecs and other indigenous Mexican tribes were converted to Catholicism due to the significant influence of the Virgin Mary being depicted as an indigenous Mexican just like them.

Overland, the devotion was shared by several Central American Hispanics. Through the trans-Pacific Manila-Acapulco galleon trade, the devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe found its way to the Philippines and flourished as a devotion in several churches, primarily in the town of Pagsanjan in the province of Laguna, southeast of Manila, where the image was venerated since 1687.

Just like the separate Spanish devotion of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Extremadura, the Guadalupe of Mexico was also considered a "Black Madonna," an image of the Virgin Mary in which it was depicted as dark-skinned.

Several scientific experiments have been conducted on Juan Diego's tilma, resulting in scientists becoming baffled as to how the tilma remained intact for almost 500 years given the material used at the time was supposed to disintegrate easily.

Given its impact on the Hispanic world, there are several places in the United States where they publicly celebrate the December 12 feast, especially in US states bordering Mexico.

Celebrations in Rome

In his homily for the Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pope Francis - himself a Latin American - focused on the miraculous image preserved in the tilma of Juan Diego, as well as the story of how the devotion came about.

"It is the image of the first disciple, of the mother of all believers, of the Church herself," he said, "which is imprinted in the humility of what we are and what we have, which is not worth much, but which will be something great in the eyes of God."

Francis added that the message of the image in the tilma was simple - that the Virgin Mary, who Catholics believe as the mother of Jesus, was "to remain permanently imprinted on these poor clothes, perfumed by virtues gathered in a world that seems incapable of producing them."

To celebrate Mary is to celebrate the closeness and tenderness of God who meets His people, who does not leave us alone, who has given us a Mother who cares for us and accompanies us. #OurLadyofGuadalupe  Pope Francis (@Pontifex) December 12, 2023

Separately, the pontiff tweeted a similar message.

"To celebrate Mary is to celebrate the closeness and tenderness of God who meets his people, who does not leave us alone, who has given us a mother who cares for us and accompanies us," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Francis visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe near Mexico City in 2016, where he had the chance to privately venerate the image in a small room behind the Basilica's sanctuary.

Read Also: Who is St. Nicholas? Here's the Jolly Old Heretic-Smacking Origin Story of Santa Claus

Guadalupe and the Flower World Prophecy

The National Catholic Register published an article on Tuesday (December 12) about what could be considered as the Virgin Mary is the fulfillment of Aztec prophecy and the conversion of Latin America to Catholicism while the Protestant Reformation was ongoing.

In their book "Guadalupe and the Flower World Prophecy: How God Prepared the Americas for Conversion Before the Lady Appeared," husband-and-wife authors Joseph Julian and Monique Gonzalez argued that Juan Diego's encounters with the Virgin Mary and the oral telling of a prophecy connected to the apparition were the motivations for the conversion of millions of native Americans.

The story relating to the apparition was told in Nahuatl, the native language of the Aztecs and Juan Diego's only tongue, and through Franciscan missionaries who learned Nahuatl and recorded the words of songs and poems being told by the natives to each other. The author couple revealed that there were several nearly-identical texts of the same song in different regions of Mexico and beyond at different times, which testified to the distances the songs traveled and to the Nahua skill at memorization.

Additionally, the first detailed account of the Virgin Mary's appearances at Tepeyac preserved the prose text in the Nahuatl language called "Nican Mopohua," which in English translates to "Here it is Told."

Recorded in 1649 by a priest named Fr. Luis Lasso de la Vega, the story was filled with colorful details and images that exactly corresponded to the mythic paradise of pagan Nahua spiritual tradition, known as "Xochitlalpan" or the "Flower World," which perfectly tied with the story of Juan Diego's apparent discovery of flowers in the middle of December, when flowers do not bloom.

The theory of the Flower World as a Nahua paradise was relatively recent in studies about pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican culture. In 1992, University of Arizona anthropology professor Jane Hill published a groundbreaking paper in the Journal of Anthropological Research titled "The Flower World of Old Uto-Aztecan."

The paper revealed the frequency with which flower motifs have appeared in a huge range of Indigenous non-Christian cultures stretching from the American Southwest to Central America. It was said that the flower references were accompanied by "chromaticism," which was the use of, and references to, rainbows, hummingbirds, shells, colorful insects, and other brilliant, iridescent colors - all of which were often associated with a song.

Hill argued that such motifs "must represent a very ancient level of religious thought," and she sought to link flower-related motifs to Indigenous people's attempts to access a "spirit world" of beauty and immortality beyond the one they experienced at that time. Hill's writings have inspired a large body of scholarship finding symbolic meaning in the floral themes that were ubiquitous in Indigenous visual art and poetry.

One example of such parallelisms was that between the "Nican Mopohua" and the Nahuatl song poem "Cuicapeuhcayotl" ("The Origin of Songs"), transcribed by the friar Bernardino de Sahagun in about 1560 as part of a large collection known as the "Cantares Mexicanos." Around 20% of the poems in the "Cantares" contain Flower World motifs.

However, the Gonzalezes argued that Juan Diego and his indigenous contemporaries were familiar with the "Cuicapeuhcayotl" or poems like it, and that Juan Diego's encounter with the Virgin Mary set in a world of transformative spiritual experience that they knew well, resonated powerfully.

In other words, for Juan Diego and the Nahua people, the "Cuicapeuhcayotl" was a prophecy and the Virgin Mary's appearance and the presence of flowers in her appearances was the fulfillment of such prophecies.

"It was the story itself, the encounter with the Flower World and the mythic power of [Juan Diego's] hero's journey, that converted those millions of people," Joseph Gonzalez told the Register.

While neither of the co-authors were academic scholars, their personal experience as Catholic converts pushed them to connect the pre-Hispanic Nahua prophecy with the story of Juan Diego and what they considered as the fulfillment of such prophecy. Joseph is a composer with extensive film and television experience who lapsed in his Catholic faith only to return to practice it again in 2008. Monique, on the other hand, is a convert to Catholicism and a devotee of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The couple married in 2009.

Related Article: 'God's Architect': Canonization Cause of Sagrada Familia Architect Antoni Gaudi Advances

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A Russian artist who is besotted with Chinese calligraphy and ink wash paintings is showcasing his works of art in Vietnam for the first time.

Twenty-four ink wash paintings created by Aleksandr Zhuravlev are on display at the Peony & Iris art gallery in downtown Ho Chi Minh City.

His exhibition, titled Breath of Brush, is set to wrap up on Sunday.

His first display in Vietnam has been drawing public attention.

A painting by Aleksandr Zhuravlev shows domestic tranquility. Photo: Huynh Vy / Tuoi Tre

Passionate interest in East Asian culture

Zhuravlev had a fondness for painting when he was young. He often drew cartoon characters, animals, and portraits of his friends and relatives.

With his passion for Wing Chun, Chinas concept-based martial art, he started learning about Chinese culture and philosophy several years ago.

He joined some cultural clubs in Moscow to gain knowledge about the art of the tea ceremony, Qigong, or a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation, painting, and calligraphy.

In 2000, Zhuravlev began to thoroughly study Chinese calligraphy and painting styles, while practicing Wing Chun with Vietnamese martial arts master Tran Hau Tuan.

Cross-border love for art has turned the Russian artist into a teacher of Chinese calligraphy and painting.

Many of his artworks have been included in private collections in Russia, China, the United States, Italy, Austria, Britain, and Vietnam.

Russian artist Aleksandr Zhuravlev (C) is pictured expressing his happiness and sending gratitude to his Vietnamese friends for their support during his first exhibition in Vietnam. Photo: Huynh Vy / Tuoi Tre

Destined for East Asian culture, Zhuravlev has occasionally traveled to Vietnam and made friends with several Wing Chun students.

Among them is Phung Thi Thu Thuy, the owner of the Peony & Iris art gallery. She helped him open the Breath of Brush exposition.

For Zhuravlev, ink wash paintings and calligraphy have strong magnetism, and have inspired numerous artists worldwide.

Through his ink wash paintings and calligraphic works, his entire feelings and experience can be shown clearly.

A painting titled Moon Rabbit by Aleksandr Zhuravlev. Photo: Huynh Vy / Tuoi Tre

Spreading joy and positivity

Among the 24 paintings exhibited in Vietnam, some were painted by Zhuravlev seven or eight years ago.

His works of art honor exultation and positivity, focusing on depicting East Asias traditional beauty, household relationship, and friendship.

He quoted novelist Dostoevskys proverb as saying, beauty will save the world,' adding that he hoped exhibition-goers would always be happy and enjoy a peaceful life.

Zhuravlev has a soul of art, and is relentlessly learning artistic skills, said Tuan.

It is so surprising to see the paintings about peonies, rabbits, cats, and sunflowers by a Russian reflect the beauty and tradition of East Asia, Thuy shared her feelings about Zhuravlevs artworks.

Below are Aleksandr Zhuravlevs paintings at the ongoing exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City:

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10 News First has bizarrely stated it is thrilled to announce that the 5.00pm weekday bulletin will continue to be produced locally and broadcast live from 10 Perths studio in Subiaco.

10 has been broadcasting from its Subiaco studios with presenter Natalie Forrest, Lachy Reid (Sport) and Beau Pearson (Weather) since March.

Next year that will continue, just like every other bulletin in the country, except for Brisbane, which is still broadcast from Sydney.

Martin White, Head of Broadcast News, said: Im immensely proud of the bulletin our local Perth team puts to air every day, and our focus is on strong, local news presented from our studio in Subiaco.

Pamela Magill, Executive Editor 10 News First Perth, said: The Perth newsroom has been delighted to be able to bolster our already strong local content with a locally presented bulletin. The decision to keep the bulletin in Perth is great news for our audience and really serves to highlight our commitment to local news.

Paul Townsend, General Manager and Sales Director Perth, added: I am thrilled to be able to share that 10 News First will continue to be produced and broadcast from our Perth station. The team do an incredible job and with Nat, Lachy and Beau on the desk we can ensure the best of Perth News is delivered locally with the support of the broader Paramount business globally.

It isnt clear if 10 will issue statements that it is thrilled to continue the status quo in Melbourne, Sydney or for every other show in the schedule, but I guess at this time of year, TV can be grateful for small mercies.
Screen Australia and the Australian Writers Guild have announced applications are open for The Creators program.

Now in its second year, The Creators is a career acceleration program for high-calibre, mid-career screenwriters to build toward the creation of their own shows.

Up to six writers with existing episodic slates will be selected to travel to Los Angeles USA to participate in training, industry meetings and networking events in 2024.

Screen Australias Head of Development Bobby Romia said, Following a successful inaugural year of The Creators, we are excited to once again collaborate with AWG to support a new cohort of writers in 2024. This program provides writers with exceptional opportunities in developing their careers, strengthening their business acumen and building crucial connections, whilst advancing their original Australian stories and gaining exposure to the US industry. This has been career-changing for the 2023 participants and I encourage all eligible screenwriters to apply.

AWG President Shane Brennan said, Building on the success of the first year of The Creators, we are delighted to support this incredible initiative again in 2024. Australian writers are amongst the best in the world and this program empowers them to realise their potential.

Susie Hamilton, The Creators Program Director said, The Australian Writers Guild is thrilled to be moving into Year Two of The Creators with the support of Screen Australia. The success of Year One has exceeded our expectations and we look forward to welcoming the next group of talented writer-creators to take part in this extraordinary program.

Building on the success of the 2023 program, this second iteration will provide selected screenwriters with world-class training, project and pitching development and networking opportunities to sell their stories in domestic and international markets.

Emmy Award-winner Jeff Melvoin (Northern Exposure, Killing Eve, Designated Survivor), founder and Chair of the Writers Guild of Americas Showrunner Training Program, will lead the selected writers in a training and pitching workshop in the US.

The Creators is supported by industry partners Scripted Ink. and Film Independent.

To apply, writers must have recent credits across television, feature film and/or theatre; and existing interest from the global community. They must also have a slate of 3-5 scripted episodic projects currently in development including one lead project with a draft pilot script that will be developed as part of the program. Applicants must be available from 4-17 May 2024 to attend.

For the full eligibility requirements and how to apply see the Guidelines here.

Applications are open and close at 5pm AEDT Thursday 1 February 2024.
The story of Keiko is a fascinating and tragic one.

The male orca was born in the waters off Iceland in 1977 and was nearly two years old when he was captured by fishermen.

He was taken in the Atlantic Ocean near Iceland in 1979 and was held in an aquarium in Iceland before being sold to Marineland in Niagara Falls, Canada. Three years later, at age five, he was sold to Reino Adventura, an amusement park in Mexico City.

His tank was tiny, and filled with tap water mixed with salt rather than real seawater. His health deteriorated during his fourteen years of confinement in Mexico.

Keiko was 19 years old when he was finally rescued.

Warner Bros. began filming the movie Free Willy  the story of a boy who helps free a captured orca from captivity - and the film became a surprise hit when released in July 1993.

At the end of the film, viewers were given a toll-free phone number to call to help save whales from commercial whaling, but over 300,000 people called asking for Keikos release instead.

In 1996, Warner Bros. and the International Marine Mammal Project collaborated to return Keiko to the wild.

In his large, new aquarium in Oregon, Keiko experienced natural seawater, pumped from the ocean, for the first time in 14 years.

After years of preparing Keiko for reintegration, Keiko was flown to Iceland in 1998 and in 2002, became the first captive orca to be fully released back into the ocean.

On 12 December 2003, the Free Willy/Keiko Foundation and the Humane Society of the United States reported that Keiko, the orca whale, died in the Taknes Fjord, Norway.

He died of acute pneumonia at the age of 27.

Keiko the orca - Jack Smith / AP

Wild male orcas are believed to live from 35 to 50 years or even longer, with females are believed to reach 90 years or more. At the time, Keiko was the second oldest male orca whod ever lived in long-term captivity.

Keiko is the only long-term captive orca who has ever been given the chance to return to his native waters.

Some critics say Keikos release back to the wild was a failure, even if many experts disagree.

Story continues

Indeed, throughout Keikos journey, controversy surrounded whether it was ethical to release him back to the wild, given his life in captivity.

After Keikos death, the NY Times called the project a bust, and many critics said it was a failure because Keiko never reintegrated with wild whales.

However, David Phillips, Executive Director of the Free Willy Keiko Foundation, stated at the time that the organisation took the hardest candidate and took him from near death in Mexico to swimming with wild whales in Norway.

Keiko had five years with the sights and sounds of natural seawater. I think it was a great success in terms of Keiko, his well-being, and the whole world that wanted to do the right thing.

20 years since his death, Keiko remains one of the most famous marine mammals in the world.

'Free Willy' (1993) - Warner Bros.

Willy, we still miss you.
Karla Oubre checked recently donated items at the Interfaith of The Woodlands Hand Me Up Shop in Spring In 2021. Spring is the most generous city per capita in the U.S., according to crowd-funding site GoFundMe's 2023 Year in Help report. The Houston suburb was the only Texas city to crack the top 10 in the U.S. this year. Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Birnham Woods Elementary student Baily Cowart, shown in 2018, started a mission to help students who were economically disadvantaged at her school. Spring is the most generous city per capita in the U.S., according to crowd-funding site GoFundMe's 2023 Year in Help report. The Houston suburb was the only Texas city to crack the top 10 in the U.S. this year. Jason Fochtman, Staff photographer / Staff photographer Refined Technologies Inc. president and CEO Cody Nath at the Refined Technologies Inc. offices in Spring in 2021. Spring is the most generous city per capita in the U.S., according to crowd-funding site GoFundMe's 2023 Year in Help report. The Houston suburb was the only Texas city to crack the top 10 in the U.S. this year. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Ashley Reel, then 14, reads a note that came with a box of donated dresses, as she sits among the homecoming dresses she collected for high school students who were victims of Hurricane Harvey, at her Spring home in 2017. Spring is the most generous city per capita in the U.S., according to crowd-funding site GoFundMe's 2023 Year in Help report. The Houston suburb was the only Texas city to crack the top 10 in the U.S. this year. Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Houston Chronicle

Spring is the most generous city per capita in the U.S., according to crowd-funding site GoFundMe's 2023 Year in Help report.

Spring has been on the list's top two since 2020 and was also No. 1 in 2021, based on the number of donations per capita for cities with more than 50,000 residents.

The Houston suburb was the only Texas city to crack the top 10 in the U.S. this year.

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Our mission at GoFundMe is to help people help each other, and we are excited to celebrate the generosity of Spring, Texas, spokesperson Melanie Standage said in a release. Year after year, Spring continues to top the list as one of the countrys most generous cities. Whether helping a neighbor after a storm, assisting veterans, or rallying to save a local restaurant, Spring neighbors are there for each other through it all.

More than 30 million people gave or received help on the crowdfunding site in 2023, starting more than 94,000 fundraisers to support businesses, the report said. More than $106 million was raised for natural disaster relief, and more than 240,000 fundraisers were started for animal-related causes.

The largest fundraisers in the Spring area include a GoFundMe for skydiving instructor David Hartsock, who became a quadriplegic after he and his client's reserve parachute got tangled in the air. Hartsock saved Shirley Dygert in 2009 by positioning himself under her, cushioning her fall. A GoFundMe for Hartsock has raised more than $422,000 to help pay for medical care since it was started in 2020.

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In the U.S., GoFundMe saw large increases in fundraisers for school lunch and student loan debt after pandemic-era policies ended this year. Fundraisers for senior care also increased by nearly 10% year-over-year.

Spring residents have also given back outside of crowdfunding. When Spring residents Matthew and Ashley Reel noticed their fellow Conroe ISD students were in need after Hurricane Harvey, they started nonprofits as teenagers to help food insecure families and provide free prom and homecoming dresses.

"I didnt want them to miss out on something as big as homecoming because of something they couldnt control  like a hurricane, Ashley Reel said.

Then-8-year-old Baily Cowart founded a nonprofit in 2019 to help give school supplies to her classmates in need at Birnham Woods Elementary.

Refined Technologies CEO Cody Nath, based in Spring, was one of the top donors to nonprofit humanitarian organization World Vision, which helps fund programs in Central America to mitigate poverty, lack of economic opportunities and violence. And one of Spring's most famous, world champion gymnast Simone Biles, regularly steps in at her parents' gym to mentor young gymnasts and advocate for mental health awareness and gymnast's rights.

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President and CEO of the US chip giant Jensen Huang (third, right) visits Vietnam's largest innovation space at the Vietnam National Innovation Centre in Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

At a roundtable discussion on the semiconductor industry and AI development trends and opportunities for Vietnam, Dung suggested NVIDIA enhance research and development (R&D) activities, carry out semiconductor and AI projects in Vietnam, and build R&D centres and labs at the National Innovation Centre (NIC), and high-tech parks.



Dung expressed his hope that NVIDIA will facilitate conditions for Vietnamese engineers to engage in internships and work at the corporation, help Vietnam develop incubators for semiconductor firms, while supporting the country to get access to and implement projects under the USs fund for semiconductor production and development activities.



Dung recommended NVIDIA expand cooperative and investment projects in Vietnam and partner with Vietnamese companies to develop a supporting ecosystem for the Southeast Asian countrys semiconductor and AI industries. It can also join hands with the NIC to carry out a project on semiconductor human resources development until 2030, and cooperate with Vietnams education establishments to implement human resources training programmes. At a roundtable discussion on the semiconductor industry and AI development trends and opportunities for Vietnam, Dung suggested NVIDIA enhance research and development (R&D) activities, carry out semiconductor and AI projects in Vietnam, and build R&D centres and labs at the National Innovation Centre (NIC), and high-tech parks.Dung expressed his hope that NVIDIA will facilitate conditions for Vietnamese engineers to engage in internships and work at the corporation, help Vietnam develop incubators for semiconductor firms, while supporting the country to get access to and implement projects under the USs fund for semiconductor production and development activities.Dung recommended NVIDIA expand cooperative and investment projects in Vietnam and partner with Vietnamese companies to develop a supporting ecosystem for the Southeast Asian countrys semiconductor and AI industries. It can also join hands with the NIC to carry out a project on semiconductor human resources development until 2030, and cooperate with Vietnams education establishments to implement human resources training programmes.

Dung stressed that a sound environment and close coordination between government agencies and businesses have an important role to play in developing the spearhead industries and making contributions to improving the competitive edge as well as making Vietnam a leading innovation centre in the region.



For his part, President and CEO of the US chip giant Jensen Huang spoke highly of Vietnams potential and opportunities to branch out its semiconductor and AI industries, especially the countrys human resources in the fields.



Vietnam is prepared for the AI development wave, and it is time for both sides to set up strategic relations in the fields, he said, adding NVIDIA will expand its existing partnership with Vietnam, making the country its second homeland.



According to Jensen Huang, it is necessary for the country to encourage new generations to engage in AI as well as improve the skills of its human resources, and develop 1 million AI experts.



NVIDIA stands ready to cooperate with Vietnam to improve its human resources capacity, and AI infrastructure, he stressed.



Earlier, Jensen Huang had a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, during which he said NVIDIA wishes to establish a base in Vietnam to attract talents in the fields.



NVIDIA is a multinational corporation specialising in the production of innovative graphics processing units (GPUs), application programming interfaces (APIs) for data science and high-performance computing, and system on chip units (SoCs) for mobile computing and the automotive market.



The company has more than 27,000 employees, and recently recorded a revenue of nearly 27 billion USD.



With the AI fever gripping across the globe, NVIDIA has plans to triple its AI production for 2024./.VNA
An overview of the talks between General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping (Photo: VNA)

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, right after the official welcome ceremony in Hanoi on December 12.



Party General Secretary Trong emphasised that the third visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President Xi Jinping coincides with the 15th anniversary of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, demonstrating the Chinese leaders special sentiment toward the long-standing friendship, and the current stature as well as the bright prospects of the bilateral relations.



He expressed his belief that the visit will be a new historic milestone, taking the relations between the two Parties and countries to a new height, meeting the aspirations and common interests of their people, for the sake of peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (R) and Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping (Photo: VNA)

In a friendly, sincere and straightforward atmosphere, the two leaders discussed in depth the situation of each Party and country, ties between the two Parties and countries, and global and regional issues of shared concern.



General Secretary Trong spoke highly of the historical significance of the CPCs 20th National Congress with the establishment of the "nucleus" position of Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and the guiding role of Xi Jinpings thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era. He also congratulated China on achieving significant new accomplishments since the 20th National Congress under the leadership of Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping.



The Vietnamese Party leader said he believes that the Chinese Party, State and people will fulfill the goals and tasks set by the 20th National Congress, successfully realise the second centennial goal, and build China into a strong, modern, wealthy, democratic, civilised, harmonious and beautiful socialist power.



Regarding Vietnam's situation, Trong stressed that during more than half the tenure of the CPV's 13th National Congress, Vietnam has made great efforts and achieved important results across the fields in the context of difficulties and challenges that were more serious and complicated than prediction.



He shared the goal and direction of developing Vietnam into a socialist-oriented high-income developed country by mid-21st century, together with specific development targets for 2025, 2030, and 2045 set forth at the CPVs 13th National Congress.



Party General Secretary Trong affirmed the Vietnamese Party and States consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralisation of external ties, as well as the defence policy of "Four No's" and active and proactive global integration.



Vietnam is a friend, a trustworthy partner and an active and responsible member of the international community, he said, reiterating that Vietnam considers developing relations with China a top priority and a strategic choice, supports the strong development of a socialist China making increasingly significant contributions to the cause of peace and progress of mankind.



The host also expressed appreciation for the Chinese peoples assistance in the revolutionary cause, construction of socialism and national development of Vietnam.



Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, for his part, congratulated Vietnam on its achievements over the past nearly four decades of Doi Moi (renewal), especially the significant and comprehensive results in implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, promoting synergy and unceasingly enhancing the country's international influence and stature.



He expressed confidence that under the firm leadership of the CPV with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the helm, the Vietnamese Party, State and people will successfully implement the major goals and tasks set by the 13th National Party Congress, laying important prerequisites for the successful realisation of the two 100-year goals set by the Congress.



The Chinese Party, Government and people attach great importance to the relations with Vietnam, considering Vietnam a priority in China's foreign policy on its neighbourhood, he said, adding that China consistently supports Vietnam's socialism building cause, prosperity and well-being of the people.



He recalled and stressed that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongs recent visit to the Huu Nghi (Friendship) international border gate and planting of a tree there convey a message of trust and development in the relationship between the two Parties, countries and their people.



Looking back on the development of the relations between the two Parties and States, the two leaders agreed that the traditional comrades-plus-brothers friendship, which was set up by President Ho Chi Minh and President Mao Zedong, and have been nurtured by generations of leader of both sides, is a valuable asset of both peoples.

Since Vietnam and China set up their Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in 2008, the bilateral cooperation in multifaceted fields has seen positive and comprehensive developments, while the relations between the two Parties and States have been continuously expanded and deepened under the motto of friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-lasting stability and looking towards to the future, and in the spirit of good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners.



Highly valuing the relations between the two Parties and States, with numerous achievements of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership over the past 15 years, and facing new requirements, both sides agreed that the building of a Vietnam  China community with a shared future carries strategic significance, and pledged to make efforts for the happiness of the two countries' people and for peace and progress of humanity in line with the UN Charter and international laws, and on the basis of mutual respect, equal and win-win cooperation, respect for each others independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and persistent settlement of disagreements via peaceful means.



Based on the above-mentioned orientations and principles, they concurred to unceasingly consolidate political trust, increase exchanges between high-level leaders of the two Parties and States in diverse and flexible forms, and bring into play the role of strategically orienting of the Party channel relationship in the bilateral ties.



They agreed to strengthen defence-security cooperation in a more practical fashion, making it a pillar in the bilateral ties; step up economic, trade and investment collaboration in a more sustainable and deeper manner; bolster education about the traditional relations between the two Parties and States among the Vietnamese and Chinese people, thus boosting the building of a firmer social foundation for the ties between the two Parties and States; and enhance closer multilateral cooperation for the benefits of the two countries and for the common interests of the international community.



Touching on the East Sea issue, they engaged in sincere and frank in-depth exchanges, laying stress on the necessity to better control and actively settle disagreements at sea, as well as maintain peace and stability in the East Sea and the region.

Vietnamese and Chinese Party leaders listen to introductions about tea (Photo: VNA)

Party General Secretary Trong proposed both sides well concretise the perceptions reached by high-level leaders; respect each others legal and legitimate interests; not to complicate the situation; settle disputes via peaceful measures in accordance with international laws, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982); carry out the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and hasten the finalisation of a code of conduct (COC) in the waters in line with UNCLOS 1982.



During the talks, the two leaders exchanged an array of regional and international issues of mutual concern. The Vietnamese Party chief underscored that amidst complicated developments in the region and the world, it is important for countries to jointly implement a policy of peace, cooperation and development; comply with international laws; respect each others equality and legitimate interests; solve disagreements via peaceful means; not to threaten and use force in international relations; cooperate for mutual development; and join hands to respond to traditional and non-traditional challenges.



Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping agreed with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong that two sides will direct their Parties, people and militaries to make greater efforts to develop the Vietnam  China relations in a firmer and more stable, sustainable, long-term and effective fashion, on a higher level of their Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.



Following their high-level talks, the two leaders looked at, and were introduced to the 36 cooperation documents signed between ministries, agencies and localities of both sides, which demonstrate the robust outcomes of the Chinese leaders visit.



Party General Secretary Trong invited his Chinese guest to a tea party, during which they reviewed their previous meetings and discussions, and enjoyed the unique tea ceremony of Vietnam.



In the evening of the same day, Party General Secretary Trong and President Thuong and their spouses organised a grand banquet to welcome Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and his spouse./.VNA
HA NOI  President and CEO of the US chip giant Nvidia, Jensen Huang, highly appreciated Viet Nam's great potential and opportunities in the semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) industry, especially the country's human resources in this field.

Huang attended a round discussion on semiconductor, AI development trends and opportunities for Viet Nam at NIC Hoa Lac on Monday.

The discussion was chaired by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), and organised by National Innovation Centre (NIC) and Nvidia.

This was an extremely great time for the two sides to establish strategic relationships, both AI and chip industries were vital to the prosperous development of countries, said Huang.

Nvidia would further expand its existing partnership with Viet Nam, as well as contribute to AI Viet Nam in the future, he added.

They were committed to turning Viet Nam into a second homeland and established a legal entity in the country, he noted.

The Nvidia President said that it is ready to co-operate with Viet Nam to improve AI skills and infrastructure.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung also commented that Viet Nam had a number of advantages to develop the semiconductor and AI industries as well as committed to create favourable conditions for Nvidia to operate in Viet Nam.

In addition, the minister requested Nvidia to promote research and implementation of semiconductor and AI investment projects in Viet Nam; co-operate, invest, build R&D centres, laboratories for designing and developing Nvidia's semiconductor chip products at NIC and high-tech parks.

He also asked Nvidia to co-operate, advise and support NIC in training resources and experts to develop training and practice programmes in the field of semiconductors and AI; create conditions for Vietnamese engineers and students to participate in internships and work at Nvidia.

The Minister of Planning and Investment also asked Nvidia to accompany Viet Nam in building a business incubator for the semiconductor industry, as well as advise the country on forming businesses to support the provision of products and services.

The ministry also requested the US chip giant to continue to expand co-operation and business investment activities in Viet Nam, promote co-operation with typical Vietnamese businesses and develop an ecosystem to support the semiconductor and AI industry in Viet Nam.

He also asked Nvidia to co-ordinate with NIC to implement the project on developing human resources for the Viet Nams semiconductor industry by 2030 and co-operate with major training establishments in the country to implement human resource training programmes for the semiconductor industry.  VNS
HA NOI  Accelerated disbursement of public investment capital in late 2023 and its sustained momentum in 2024 will fuel strong growth for infrastructure construction companies.

Public investment disbursement is in the final stretch. At the regular Government meeting held on December 6, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that there is very little time left in 2023, while there are many unfinished tasks. Therefore, the PM requested government members to propose solutions to achieve the set objectives.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), public investment disbursement until the end of November reached VN461 trillion (US$19 billion), equivalent to 65.1 per cent of the 2023 plan.

There is still approximately VN247 trillion of undisbursed capital, requiring resolute and coordinated efforts at all levels of the political system to achieve the highest completion rate, as directed by the PM in Directive No 08, which aims for a disbursement rate of over 95 per cent.

Nguyen uc Chi, Deputy Minister of Finance, said that the ministry will consider disbursement of completed investment projects within the prescribed time, no more than three working days from receipt of dossiers.

In fact, there are a lot of active public investment projects underway, and construction contractors have a full schedule.

On December 6, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Duy Lam inspected the construction status of the My Thuan 2 bridge project. The bridge connects Trung Luong - My Thuan and My Thuan - Can Tho expressways, shortening the distance between HCM City and Can Tho.

The total value of construction of My Thuan 2 bridge to date has reached about 97 per cent of the volume. Of the five bidding packages of the project, four have been completed. The remaining package can be completed before December 25.

Meanwhile, on December 5, the People's Committee of Cao Bang Province announced the results of selecting investors for the ong ang - Tra Linh expressway construction investment project (Lang Son - Cao Bang).

The joint venture of eo Ca Group JSC - ICV Vietnam Investment and Construction JSC - eo Ca Traffic Infrastructure Investment JSC - 568 Project Construction JSC was chosen to construct the project.

eo Ca Group has researched and proposed a plan to adjust the route with many mountain tunnels and valley overpasses, shortening the route length by 23km and reducing the total cost to nearly VN23 trillion, equivalent to a reduction of nearly half compared to the original plan.

Of which, the first phase of ong ang - Tra Linh Expressway has a length of 93.35km, starting point at the intersection of Tan Thanh border gate in Lang Son Province and ending point at the intersection with National Highway 3, Quang Hoa District in Cao Bang Province, with a total investment of more than VN14 trillion.

Rising attraction

VNDirect Securities Corporation expects that public investment disbursement in 2023 will increase by about 25 per cent and remain positive in 2024. According to the 2024 State budget plan provided by the Ministry of Finance (MoF), development investment spending is VN677 trillion, excluding the remaining balance that must be disbursed from 2023.

If we assume that 89 per cent of the plan assigned by the Government will be disbursed this year, there will be VN83 trillion left to add to the total public investment capital next year. As a result, the total target disbursement capital in 2024 will be VN760 trillion, 5 per cent higher than the Government's target in 2023," VNDirect said.

With the motivation from public investment, FiinGroup believes that infrastructure construction businesses have positive growth prospects in 2024.

The infrastructure construction segment of Vinaconex (VCG) is expected to benefit from the Government's policy of promoting public investment, said Yuanta Securities Company. Currently, Vinaconex is participating in five component projects of the North - South Expressway project phase 1 and three component projects of phase 2 and bidding packages of Long Thanh Airport (Vietur joint venture).

On the stock exchange, the largest foreign fund managed by Dragon Capital, Vietnam Enterprise Investment Limited, completed purchasing 1.3 million VCG shares of Vinaconex on November 2, increasing its ownership from 8.44 million shares to 9.74 million shares.

Meanwhile, KB Vietnam Securities Company predicts that the prices of HHV shares of eo Ca Traffic will rise to VN20,400 per share as traffic flows at BOT stations rise by 5 to 20 per cent. The company also encourages the implementation of public investments to support the growth of roads, bridges and infrastructure.

BSC Securities Company estimates that in 2023, eo Ca Traffic's revenue could reach VN2.6 trillion, with profit after tax of VN365 billion, an increase of 25 per cent and 37 per cent from 2022, respectively. By 2024, the business is likely to achieve revenue of over VN3.1 trillion and profit of VN445 billion.

Analysts said that public investment stocks are witnessing positive outlook, but investors need to be selective and learn more about business results before disbursement.

On the stock market, VCG shares were traded at VN24,400 a shares on Monday, while HHV were at VN15,550 per share.  VNS
HA NOI  As clams are one of the main aquatic products of Viet Nam and a popular product in many markets such as the Europe, the US, Japan, Malaysia and Australia, in recent years, many localities and businesses have made strong investments in sustainable production in order to achieve international certifications, creating a foundation to expand exports.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Viet Nam's bivalve mollusk export turnover in the first nine months of 2023 reached US$98 million, down 11 per cent over the same period last year. Of which, clam shipments alone reached $62 million, a fall of 19 per cent.

The top nine export markets for bivalve mollusks in the country during the period included Spain, Italy, Portugal, Japan, America, and China.

In addition, Vietnamese clam products have presented in nearly 60 markets worldwide. With the advantages of domestic production and significant potential for consumption markets, the clam industry is expected to reach new heights.

The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that Viet Nam has a variety of shellfish such as clams, blood cockles, snails, scallops and oysters, among others. Clams are also a key commodity that brings economic value and development potential. They are raised a lot in provinces such as Nam inh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Ben Tre, Tien Giang and Tra Vinh.

Many businesses are focusing on investing in technology and constantly improving quality, including Lenger Seafood Vietnam Co., Ltd.

The Dutch Lenger SeaFood Group has surveyed six clam farming provinces in Viet Nam. Realising the long-term clam farming potential of Nam inh Province, it decided to build a clam processing factory and establish Lenger Seafood Vietnam Co., Ltd. Since then, Lenger Seafood Vietnam has continuously tried and accompanied local people and authorities to promote the development of clam farming.

According to Tong Thi Luong, head of the Aquaculture Desk under the Nam inh Fisheries Sub-department, Lenger Seafood Vietnam Co., Ltd. is the first unit to invest in processing commercial clams in Nam inh province for export.

Starting from 2019, the Nam Dinh Fisheries Sub-department has worked with other units in the industry to coordinate and support Lenger Seafood Vietnam in linking with farming households in Nghia Hung District to reorganise production towards sustainable clam farming.

By 2020, Lenger Seafood Vietnam's farming area was certified as the first sustainable clam farming area according to ASC standards in the world. This is a favourable condition to open new consumption markets for clams.

Luong added that Nam inh Fisheries Sub-department has accompanied and supported Lenger Vietnam in applying high technology to the production process. In addition, the two sides have jointly built a high-tech clam seed production project and a clam farming model in ponds. The company assesses that this project will help improve the quality of clam varieties from the initial production stage, minimising difficulties and risks when raising clams on tidal flats.

According to Luong, the Nam inh Fisheries Sub-Department and the Nam inh Agro-Forestry-Fisheries and Fisheries Quality Management Sub-Department have deployed monthly environmental monitoring in concentrated clam farming areas.

At the same time, they have implemented a food safety monitoring programme in collecting bivalve mollusks. From there, Lenger can choose and evaluate product quality more accurately, helping improve the sale of clam products.

Nguyen Ho Nguyen, general director of Lenger Vietnam Seafood Co., Ltd., said that the company is one of the first to achieve ASC certification for Vietnamese clams. Currently, Lenger Vietnam has built a 500ha clam beach, and is developing other farms to support this important certification.

The company currently exports clams mainly to the European market, with the main products being frozen, vacuum-sealed whole clams and canned clam meat. Every year, the company supplies to the market more than 8,000 tonnes of frozen clams, with revenue reaching about $15 million a year. It is expected that by 2024, export output will reach 10,000 tonnes a year, he said.

inh Xuan Lap, deputy director of the International Cooperation Center for Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries (ICAFIS) under the Vietnam Fisheries Association, said that Vietnamese clams, especially the Myratrix Lyrata white clam, have great competitiveness in the world market.

Deep-water clam farming is a great opportunity for Viet Nam to expand its area and increase organic production. Vietnamese white clams can be processed into a wider variety of products to suit the global market.  VNS
HA NOI  Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB) has closed a medium-long-term syndicated loan worth US$280 million.

The agreement has been signed among VIB as the borrower and 13 leading financial institutions around the world, including United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB) as the Coordinator and Mandated Lead Arranger and Book-runner (MLAB), Mashreqbank PSC as Facility Agent and MLAB, Maybank as MLAB, and 10 other esteemed financial institutions which joined as credit partners.

Additional capital to promote core business

VIB said that the additional capital from this syndicated loan will be used by the bank to finance its core retail lending activities. The banks lending portfolio has low concentrated risk, with the ratio of outstanding loans with collateral up to 92 per cent.

Overall, the structure of VIB's retail loan portfolio is both diversified and balanced, including several key products ranging from housing and home repair loans, car loans and business loans, to credit cards.

Moreover, the mobilisation of this medium and long-term loan helps VIB strengthen its financial position, optimise funding costs, as well as maintain a stable capital structure, which will certainly reinforce VIBs liquidity and operational efficiency.

Notably, this is the second time that VIB has made an international long-term loan in 2023. Previously, in June 2023, VIB completed the drawdown of a 5-year loan worth $100 million from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). By the end of 2023, VIB's total outstanding capital raised from the international capital market will reach nearly $400 million.

Affirming reputation in the international capital market with leading partners

Initially, VIB set a target for the initial syndicated loan size of $200 million, with a greenshoe option.

After a series of successful roadshows in Singapore and Taiwan, VIB garnered the attention of numerous international financial institutions from promising markets such as UAE, Kuwait and Oman. This is a valuable opportunity for VIB to introduce itself to new markets, contributing to the global expansion of VIB's brand.

With positive feedback from the market, VIB decided to increase the loan amount from $200 million to $280 million.

"With the participation of 13 reputable international banks with a global presence in the syndication process, this transactions success is a demonstration of trust and appreciation for VIB's outstanding business performance in its 10-year journey of transforming the retail banking model," the bank said in a statement.

Han Ngoc Vu, Chief Executive Officer of VIB, shared: "With the retail-oriented strategy in recent years, long-term loan facility from the international market is one of our main capital mobilisation channels."

"This syndicated loan helps VIB not only meet the growing credit demand from customers but also diversify and optimise our capital structure, ensuring strong liquidity and a healthy balance sheet for sustainable growth goals," Vu said.

Lim Lay Wah, Group Head of Sector Solutions and Financial Institutions Group, UOB, said: The success of VIBs largest syndicated term loan is a testament to our deep understanding of the Vietnamese market. This helped VIB diversify its funding sources and tap into new sources of liquidity."

He said the transaction also received positive responses from global investors, resulting in an oversubscription despite the ongoing global geopolitical dynamic.

"As the One Bank for ASEAN, we are well-positioned for growth in this dynamic market environment and will continue to stay committed in Vietnam for thirty years and beyond, he added.

For his part, Soon Su Long, Country CEO of Maybank Vietnam, part of Maybank Group, the fourth largest bank in ASEAN by assets, said that VIB stands out as one of the industry's most profitable banks, with a distinctive retail-centric lending strategy.

"Beyond offering credit products to individual customers, VIB focuses on developing strategic non-credit business activities. This includes the development of products like credit cards and insurance, which contribute significant non-interest income to the bank."

"We expect that this transaction will mark the beginning of more collaborations with VIB, opening up new opportunities for joint development, he said.

Leading position with sustainable growth strategies

According to business partners, VIB is among the top five leading private banks in Viet Nam.

With high and stable growth momentum and operating efficiency, VIB has been recognised as one of the top six best-listed banks in Viet Nam for three consecutive years (2021-23) by Forbes.

Another aspect that also impresses international partners is VIB's digitalisation strategy and application of the latest technologies in the development of creative digital solutions for retail customers.

By building a digital banking ecosystem with a series of applications that cater to different demands, VIB aims to optimise the customer experience and maintain a foundation for sustainable growth.

With an active presence on the international capital market in the past few years, VIB has been increasingly well-recognised by leading financial institutions as a trusted business partner, proven by a total credit limit of over $2 billion from offshore commercial banks and development financial institutions.

Besides ordinary business activities, the bank has also allocated a large portion of the proceeds from offshore borrowings towards financing affordable housing mortgages and women-owned businesses, showing its firm commitment to contribute to mutual social goals.  VNS
HA NOI  With the increasing role of science and technology in the development of the capital in general and in solving social problems in particular, changes to the amended Capital Law are expected to create breakthrough mechanisms and policies, becoming an important driving force for sustainable development.

The capital city Ha Noi ranks first in favourable factors for developing science and technology in Viet Nam.

Scientific and technological infrastructure, investment resources for science and technology, potential and innovation of the capital city are high. However, the city has not yet fully exploited these advantages.

One of the reasons given by experts is inadequacies in science and technology policies. Specifically, the policy of meritocracy has been paid attention, but the incentive mechanism is not attractive or strong enough to draw leading science and technology human resources, talented scientists and foreign scientists to co-operate and support the solution of key issues of the city.

The city's science and technology management policy has not had breakthrough innovations, and has not created an open and favourable mechanism to maximise the potential of physical facilities and intellectual resources; with a lack of outstanding mechanisms and policies to support the transfer and application of results and products from city-level science and technology tasks.

Associate Professor Dr Bui Thi An, a member of the 13th National Assembly and president of Ha Noi's Female Intellectual Association, assessed that the draft Law on the Capital (amended) has fully concretised the spirit of Resolution 15-NQ/TW of the Politburo on directions and tasks for developing the Capital by 2030 with vision to 2045, with many new points promoting the development of science and technology associated with production practices; building it to become the leading centre of technology innovation, research, development, and transfer of the country and the region.

Towards the goal of building the capital city Ha Noi into the leading centre of innovation, scientific research, technology transfer and development of the country, moving forward to become a centre of science, technology and innovation of the Southeast Asia region, it is required that the Capital Law (amended) must have new, breakout and outstanding policy solutions to develop science, technology and innovation," An said.

Specifically, the city is prescribed special preferential and supporting measures in attracting, using and promoting potential, and honouring good experts and scientists.

The city encouraged and supported businesses and science and technology organisations to participate in technology incubation and innovation activities, business incubation, and development of the capital's creative start-up ecosystem; as well as mechanisms to support, transfer and apply results and products from tasks.

The content of this measure is institutionalised in the draft Law on the Capital (amended) in Article 25 on science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation.

The Draft Law on the Capital (amended) has seen the capital's unique points to bring in the law, which is a very good thing. In addition, if passed, the amended law will negate previous laws that are not appropriate. However, I suggest that in the decrees, the instructions need to be more specific and detailed so as to ensure the implementation of the law," commented An.

It is expected that changed mechanisms and policies will help the Party and State's guidelines and policies on science and technology development be realised, contributing to make science and technology truly become the driving force for socio-economic development; improving the overall science and technology level of capital city and the whole country.

Lao ong Thu o (Capital City's Labourers) newspaper quoted Nguyen Van An, living in Cau Giay District, saying that Ha Noi was a city with great potential in science and technology with a diverse network of science and technology organisations.

Developing regulations on science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation in the draft amended Capital Law was very practical, he said.

Through research, I assess that the Capital Law (amended) has many new points, contributing to promote science and technology. In particular, Article 25 of the draft is truly an innovation in the perception of policies for science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation, he added.

With current regulations, these amendments were expected to create an innovative mechanism that would contribute to the development of the capital city worthy of the position and role that the Party, State and People believed in," said An.  VNS
China vigorously advances construction of New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor

14:03, December 12, 2023 By Wang Binlai, Jiang Feng, Qu Xinming ( People's Daily

The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor is an international trade and logistics passage jointly built by Chinese provincial regions and ASEAN countries.

The passage takes provincial regions in western China as key transportation hubs and stretches southward to destinations across the globe, making use of various transportation modes including railway, maritime shipping and highway.

Photo shows an automated terminal of the port of Qinzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. (People's Daily Online/Feng Rongquan)

In recent years, China has been vigorously promoting the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. According to statistics, the trade volume between the 13 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities jointly building the passage and the ten ASEAN countries exceeded $130 billion last year, an increase of 73.3 percent compared to that in the beginning of the corridor's operation in 2017. This figure has exceeded $100 billion for three consecutive years.

Rail-sea intermodal trains departing from Chengdu International Railway Port in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province, for south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region have been operating steadily with a continuous increase in shipment volume.

According to Huang Jun, director of the dispatching workshop of the Chengdu North Railway Station under China Railway Chengdu Group, the Sichuan-Guangxi rail-sea intermodal trains, which start from Chengdu and export cargos to ASEAN countries via the port of Qinzhou in Guangxi, reduce shipping time by over a half compared with traditional river-sea transportation.

And more changes are happening to forge better connectivity.

A new rail line between Chengdu and Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, was opened at the end of 2022. The railway, together with the international freight line of Lancang-Mekong Express, shortens the trip between Chengdu and Laos' capital Vientiane to two days and 17 hours.

In July this year, the Lancang-Mekong-Sichuan Express was launched. The train service originates from Rayong province, Thailand, and travels via the China-Laos Railway from Vientiane to Chengdu International Railway Port. It then heads to Budapest, Hungary in Europe, through China-Europe freight trains.

The service connects the China-Laos Railway and the China-Europe freight train service, reducing the logistics transit time to a minimum of 15 days.

Vehicles to be shipped are parked in an international logistics park in southwest China's Chongqing municipality. (People's Daily Online/Sun Kaifang)

As of October this year, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor had established 139 logistics stations in 69 cities of 18 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China, reaching 480 ports in 120 countries and regions worldwide.

In the first three quarters of this year, the rail-sea intermodal trains of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor transported 633,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods, growing 14 percent year on year.

"In addition to the rail-sea intermodal transport, other modes of transportation such as the rail-road, river-rail-sea, road-sea and the air transportation are also being developed rapidly," said Liu Wei, director of the logistics and operation coordination center of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

Provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities involved in the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor are working together to promote the deep integration of transportation modes, establishing an efficient intermodal transport system for Asian and European countries and regions, Liu noted.

As hardware facilities are becoming more advanced, the level of logistics operations and service support is also improving. Guizhou and Yunnan provinces are implementing Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) rules in the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor according to their respective local conditions. Chongqing municipality has comprehensively implemented a fast customs clearance mode for railways and innovating new forms of foreign trade.

What's even more gratifying is that this passage is now empowered by digital development. By building digital and information platforms, provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities jointly constructing the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor have launched a series of convenient online services.

A truck carrying motorcycle parts manufactured by Fuego, a company in Qijiang, southwest China's Chongqing municipality, leaves the company's plant. The motorcycle parts are exported to Laos via rail-road transportation of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. (People's Daily Online/Chen Xingyu)

For example, the international trade "Single Window" of Ningxia Hui autonomous region has launched 781 services in 19 major categories, and 38 types of import and export regulatory certificates can be applied through the "Single Window." Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is promoting the integration of 5G, new infrastructure, and transportation infrastructure, enhancing the sharing capabilities of information platforms, and promoting the intensive and efficient development of transportation resources.

In 2022, 78 routes were opened along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, bringing rice from Laos and durians from Thailand to China and Europe, and taking specialties of west China like Guizhou's chili sauce to overseas destinations.

Leveraging advantageous industries such as automotive and electronic information, Chongqing saw its trade volume with Belt and Road countries and regions reach 333.14 billion yuan ($46.81 billion) last year. The municipality has attracted investment from 319 Fortune Global 500 companies.

Chinese enterprises have collaborated with Laos to develop modern agricultural industrial parks, and are exploring an integrated banana supply chain featuring transport, trade and production with Cambodia.

These vivid examples demonstrate how the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor facilitates industrial development.

The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor has become a vital link in promoting a smooth dual circulation, Liu told People's Daily.

It drives global division of industries and cooperation, and connects west China with the Southeast Asian and European markets, which will contribute to high-quality development, Liu added.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Cars drive down a well-lit area on West Lake Houston Parkway just before 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. Residents across Houston will now be able to get streetlights installed for free with the city council's vote to remove the $200 fee associated with the installation. Shakari Briggs/Staff Writer

Houston City Council members took away the financial burden some residents face when trying to get streetlights installed in their neighborhoods. Members voted Wednesday to remove the costs associated with the City of Houstons Street Lighting Program.

Im excited to vote on this bill, said Councilwoman Tiffany Thomas, of District F. Streetlights are a direct point around public safety and a lot of residents are going to be able to utilize this and I think our neighborhoods will become safer.

Previously, residents would pay about $200 to cover the first years operating costs for the installation. But now the amended ordinance will make it free.

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In my district, the residents kept pushing for street lighting  it makes them feel safer and so this gives them an opportunity to get lighting at no cost, said Councilwoman Tarsha Jackson, of District B.

Other council members echoed similar sentiments thanking Mayor Sylvester Turner for bringing the idea to the council for approval.

It was definitely turning into who could afford the streetlights were getting them and the people who couldnt were not getting them, said Councilwoman Amy Peck, of District A. Even when we used our council district service funds to pay for it, it was hard to get that word out to people. So, this is going to be really great. Its really important for public safety.

Back in 2016, Rice Universitys Kinder Institute for Urban Research conducted a study about streetlights and how they relate to crime in Houston. The research provided mixed evidence ultimately indicating that more streetlights dont necessarily mean less crime. The council didnt provide immediate data to support the notion that more streetlights deter crime in Houston. However, it didnt stop them from reiterating that light dispels darkness.

We know that well-lit areas deter crime and so taking the burden off of having a fee to install these lights is a great thing, said Councilwoman Mary Nan Huffman.
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet at an investment promotion forum on Tuesday in Ha Noi called on investors to enhance cooperation in investment and trade to unlock the untapped potential and push bilateral relations to new heights.

The Viet Nam  Cambodia Trade and Investment Promotion Forum was held as a part of the Cambodian PMs two-day official visit to Viet Nam.

Speaking at the forum, Hun Manet said Viet Nams investment in Cambodia has contributed significantly to promoting Cambodias socio-economic development.

Cambodia has opened Siem Reap International Airport and is going to open a new international airport in Phnom Penh, which together with plans for launching new flight routes, would promote travelling between the two countries.

Still, the potential remains largely untapped, especially with the shared long-distance supply chains and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) of which the two countries are both members.

The Cambodian PM pledges drastic efforts to maintain stability and improve the business environment to consolidate investors confidence when investing in Cambodia. Besides, Cambodia is also strengthening investment in the infrastructure system, increasing training for the workforce and promoting the development of the private sector.

Cambodia always welcomes Vietnamese investors, he stressed, also urging Cambodian investors to invest in Viet Nam to diversify production and supply chains.

Potential sectors are tourism, high-tech agriculture, transport, food processing, digital technology, infrastructure, real estate, banking and automobile manufacturing.

Emphasising the great potential between Viet Nam and Cambodia, Vietnamese PM Chinh urged enterprises to increase investment and trade exchanges for win-win cooperation.

He urged investors to focus on digital transformation, circular economy, tech-based and innovation-driven investment to widen space for development.

Sharing at the forum, PM Chinh said that Viet Nam is implementing three strategic breakthroughs including institutional reform, high-quality human resources development and infrastructure development. Viet Nam has also signed 16 free trade agreements (FTAs) with more than 60 markets in the world and continues to expand to Middle East, African and South America to diversify markets.

Chinh called on governments and enterprises from both countries to support each other in maintaining macro-economic stability, improving the business and investment environment, and building regional competitiveness to attract quality investment and promote sustainable socio-economic development.

Besides, investors should focus resources and speed up the implementation of investment projects to ensure progress and quality, law compliance, social responsibility, job creation, social security and environmental protection.

With the spirit of harmonising benefits and sharing risks, Chinh hopes that the two countries will make better efforts and determination toward prosperity and happiness.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said Viet Nam and Cambodia witnessed significant development in trade and investment cooperation with an average growth rate of bilateral trade of 20 per cent in the 2015-22 period to hit US$10 billion last year.

Viet Nam is the largest ASEAN investor in Cambodia and in the top five largest investors here with 205 valid projects with a total registered capital of $2.95 billion focusing on agriculture, energy, telecommunications, finance and banking, manufacturing and processing, healthcare, trade and services.

Cambodia is the second largest investment destination among 80 countries and territories in which Viet Nam invests.

To create breakthroughs in investment cooperation with Cambodia, Viet Nam will continue to coordinate with Cambodia to promote investments in industries in line with Cambodias priority including manufacturing and processing, renewable energy, high-added-value agriculture, food processing and tourism, especially economic development cooperation in border areas, Dung said.

Dung also proposes Cambodia improve the legal system, the business environment and the infrastructure system to facilitate trade and investment.

At the forum, the two PMs witnessed the granting of investment certificates, cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding between enterprises from both sides, including the opening of a route between Ha Noi and Siem Riep of Vietjet, a credit MOU between MB Bank in Cambodia and KNN and Mekong Land Development, and an MOU between CT Group and Angkor Sok Sen Chey.  VNS
HA NOI  Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien on Tuesday held a working session in Ha Noi with Cambodian Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul and Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation Hem Vandy, on the occasion of an official visit to Viet Nam by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.

The two sides agreed that bilateral cooperation in trade and industry has made noteworthy progress in the recent past. In 2022, Viet Nam-Cambodia trade turnover grew nearly 11 per cent from 2021 to reach nearly US$11 billion. Of the figure, Viet Nam's exports to Cambodia stood at $5.75 billion, up 19 per cent year-on-year while imports from Cambodia reached $4.82 billion, an increase of 2.48 per cent.

In the context of negative fluctuations in the world situation in the first 11 months of 2023, trade between Viet Nam and Cambodia totaled nearly $8 billion. Viet Nam is Cambodia's third-largest trading partner and its largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Viet Nam has been developing a remarkable number of projects in Cambodia to supply raw materials for domestic industrial production, especially rubber, thereby contributing to helping Cambodia stabilise people's lives and develop its economy. Cambodia is also a market for iron and steel products, construction materials, processed foods, and consumer goods from Viet Nam.

The two sides agreed on several measures to promote economic - trade and industrial cooperation between the two countries, aiming for higher trade turnover in the coming time through reviewing, supplementing and signing new legal frameworks relating to trade.

They also pledged to strengthen coordination and exchange information to fight cross-border smuggling, enhance the exchange of experiences to improve the business investment environment as well as policies to attract investment in the field of industrial production in Cambodia.

The ministers reached consensus on considering a mechanism of annual meetings of the three ministries to promote Viet Nam-Cambodia collaboration in the fields of trade and industry.

They agreed to continue to coordinate closely to address the remaining obstacles in trade and industrial relations between the two countries.  VNS
The event showcases 59 works by 35 artists, including lecturers and students who have been teaching and studying at the faculty since its first days and those who have just begun their first or second year of study there.
HA NOI  Chinese Ambassador to Viet Nam Xiong Bo has granted an interview to the press about the State visit to Viet Nam by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping from December 12-13.

2023 marks the 15th anniversary of the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. In recent years, the bilateral relationship has maintained positive momentum. How do you comment on the progress of ties between the two Parties and countries in recent years?

First of all, I want to emphasise that the relationship between the two Parties and two countries is very special. Both of our countries are socialist nations led by the Communist Parties, and are friendly neighbours with contiguous mountains and rivers. It can be said that the two neighbouring countries full of the above-mentioned characteristics are rare in the world.

When we talk about the relationship between the two Parties and two countries, we cannot help remembering the historical ties between the two Parties and nations in the past. Since the mid-20th century, during the prolonged struggle for national independence and liberation, the two countries always stood shoulder to shoulder, jointly fought and supported each other, and formed a durable friendship. President Ho Chi Minh and President Mao Zedong made extremely important contributions to building a strong foundation for the friendship between the two countries.

"The Viet Nam-China friendship is both comradeship and brotherhood," which vividly demonstrates the relationship between the two Parties and countries. This is also a statement made by President Ho Chi Minh.

In recent years, under the strategic leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the relationship between the two Parties and countries, and the China-Viet Nam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership have continuously achieved new progress. Especially last year, right after the successful conclusion of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong accepted the invitation to visit China. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was the first foreign leader to be invited to visit China, and this visit was very successful. It was also a visit of historical significance. The two Party General Secretaries reached common perceptions on the promotion of China-Viet Nam relations to a new height and defined the direction for the development of the bilateral relations in the new period.

Political trust between the two sides has been deepened following General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongs visit to China. This year, senior leaders of the two Parties and two countries have maintained close strategic exchanges.

President Vo Van Thuong travelled to China to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited Tianjin to attend the World Economic Forum. In September, PM Pham Minh Chinh attended the China-ASEAN Expo, and permanent member of the CPV Central Committee's Secretariat Truong Thi Mai visited China in April. Members of the CPV Central Committee's Politburo and leaders of Vietnamese localities also visited China.

Recently, Politburo member, Director of the Office of Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi visited Viet Nam and co-chaired the 15th meeting of the China-Viet Nam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation. Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Wang Yong also visited Viet Nam.

The Secretaries of Party Committees of Chinese provinces and autonomous regions such as Guangxi, Yunnan and Hainan sequentially visited Viet Nam.

Through high-level meetings and exchanges, leaders of the two sides exchanged views on important contents, learn from and consult with each other their experience in the Party building work and national management.

Trade and investment saw highlights in the relationship between the two countries.

The exchange and cooperation between the people of the two countries are vibrant. After both sides relaxed their pandemic prevention policies, people-to-people exchange quickly resumed. In the first 11 months of this year, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Viet Nam exceeded 1.5 million.

Overall, since last year, the relationship between the two Parties and countries has maintained a very positive and robust development momentum. We are full of confidence in the development and future of the relationship.

How does the upcoming visit hold significance to the bilateral ties, Ambassador?

It is the third visit to Vietnam by comrade Xi Jinping since the end of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in November 2012 in his capacity as the Party General Secretary. It is a reciprocal visit following General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to China last year, and it marks the third mutual visit by leaders of the two Parties since 2015.

The consistent strategic leadership of the highest-ranking leaders of the two Parties is the greatest advantage and fundamental assurance for the development of the China-Viet Nam relations. Regarding the timing of the visit, we must consider the current global context where unprecedented and rapidly evolving changes are occurring. In various regions, wars and conflicts are taking place, and in East Asia, the current peaceful and stable situation is highly valuable.

Looking at the internal situation of the two countries, currently, the socialist construction efforts of both countries are entering a new journey and a new stage of development. I believe that the highest leaders of the two Parties will have many opinions to exchange on this matter.

The upcoming visit presents a very important opportunity for leaders of both countries to maintain and enhance strategic exchanges in the new situation, on the back of the solid foundation of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership over the past 15 years. It aims to determine the new position of the bilateral relations in the new era, set a new direction for further development, and open up new prospects for cooperation in various fields. It will create new momentum for the sustainable development of the China-Viet Nam relationship. In summary, it could be characterised as a new positioning, a new direction and new momentum.

Can you tell what contents leaders of the two Parties and the two countries will discuss and what important agreements will be signed during this visit?

First of all, both Parties take the pursuit of happiness for the people and the pursuit of progress for humanity as their important tasks. Relating to these two important contents, the two sides will inform each other of the latest developments of their respective Party and State building process and join in-depth discussions to deepen and further elevate the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era. As I mentioned, the two sides will clearly determine the development direction of the bilateral relations in the new situation.

Senior leaders of the two countries will also compare notes on a range of important issues, including how to further deepen political, security, and economic-trade cooperation, people-to-people exchange, and joint work in multilateral mechanisms.

It is expected that the two sides will sign dozens of important cooperation documents in areas such as cooperation via Party channel, cooperation between agencies and localities, security-defence, justice, communication, and development connection, economy, trade and investment, digital economy, green development, import and export of agricultural products, irrigation, and maritime cooperation.

Leaders of the two countries will discuss international and regional situations of mutual interest. Therefore, this visit by Communist Party of China General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping will make an important contribution to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region as well as the world, and it will certainly receive widespread attention from the international community.

The highest-level leaders of the two Parties and the two countries have always maintained close exchanges in recent times. What important role does this play in the development of relations between the two countries?

As I have mentioned, persisting in the strategic leadership of the two Parties top leaders for the development of relations between the two Parties and the two countries is the greatest advantage and the most fundamental guarantee. I think that this is also important experience in maintaining the healthy, stable and sustainable development of bilateral relations in recent years.

It can be said that every exchange between General Secretary Xi Jinping and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong is an important exchange of ideas and strategies between the two great politicians, theorists, and strategists of contemporary Marxism, playing a decisive guiding role in the development of relations between the two Parties and the two countries.

The traditional friendship between China and Viet Nam, which was built and nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and President Mao Zedong, is said to be a valuable common asset of the two countries.

I think that the close friendship between the two countries Party chiefs is also a valuable common asset of the two peoples. Both sides are looking forward to the upcoming visit to Viet Nam by the Chinese leader.  VNS
HA NOI  General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping and his spouse Peng Liyuan arrive in Ha Noi on Tuesday morning, starting his State visit to Viet Nam from December 12-13.

The visit is made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and his spouse, and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Vo Van Thuong and his spouse, according to the CPV Central Committee's Commission for External Relations.

The entourage accompanying President Xi Jinping on the visit includes Secretary of the Secretariat of the Chinese Communist Party Cai Qi, Director of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Foreign Affairs Commission Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee Liu Jianchao, among others.

It is the third visit to Viet Nam by the Chinese General Secretary and President since the end of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in November 2012 in his capacity as the Party General Secretary. It is a reciprocal visit following General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to China last year, and it marks the third mutual visit by leaders of the two Parties since 2015.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency ahead the visit, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai said the visit will help deepen and elevate the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

According to Ambassador Mai, the December 12-13 visit takes place at a meaningful time as the two countries are celebrating the 15th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

It will be a continuation of high-level exchange activities between the two Parties and the two countries since the historic visit to China by Vietnamese Party leader Trong from October 30 to November 1, 2022.

The visit demonstrates the importance the Chinese Party and State and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping attach to Viet Nam-China relations, Mai said.

During the visit, high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and countries will have in-depth discussions on major, comprehensive orientations on deepening and elevating the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Viet Nam and China; promote exchanges between senior leaders of the two Parties and countries to further consolidate political trust; and actively bolster areas of collaboration, contributing to bringing bilateral relations to a more substantive and effective stage of development.

According to Chinese Ambassador to Viet Nam Xiong Bo, the visit presents a very important opportunity for leaders of both countries to maintain and enhance strategic exchanges in the new situation, on the solid foundation of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership over the past 15 years. It aims to determine the new position of the bilateral relations in the new era, set a new direction for further development, and open up new prospects for cooperation in various fields. It will create a new momentum for the sustainable development of the China-Viet Nam relationship. In summary, it could be characterised as a new positioning, a new direction and new momentum.  VNS
HA NOI  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and his spouse chaired an official welcome ceremony in Ha Noi on Tuesday for General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping and his spouse.

The welcome ceremony was held with 21-cannon salute, the highest level for a head of state.

The Chinese leader and his spouse are making a State visit to Viet Nam from December 12-13 at the invitation of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his spouse, and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Vo Van Thuong and his spouse.

Party General Secretary Trong invited the Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to ascend to the honorary podium, and 21 cannons were fired in salute. The two leaders then inspected the guards of honour of the Viet Nam Peoples Army.

The Viet Nam visit by the Party General Secretary and President of China and his spouse and a high-ranking delegation from the CPC and Chinese State is the first by the highest leader of the Chinese Party and State to Viet Nam after the 20th National Congress of the CPC. It comes one year after the historic visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022.

The visit takes place as Viet Nam and China are celebrating the 15th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. It will mark a new historical milestone in the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Following the welcome ceremony, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping.  VNS
HA NOI  Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong on Tuesday hosted 70 representatives out of 500 reputable citizens from ethnic minority groups across the country.

President Thuong said that the Party and State pay great attention to ethnic minority communities, with the issuance of many policies to support them, including national target programmes aiming to enhance the living conditions of ethnic minority groups.

He highlighted the great contributions of ethnic minority communities to the revolutionary cause of the Party and people both in the past struggle for national independence and reunification as well as to the present national construction and development.

The State leader spoke highly of the efforts by reputable people in implementing the Party and States guidelines and policies, encouraging other people to comply with laws, ensuring security, social order and safety. They also promote production and build the national great solidarity bloc, and develop cultural life in the community, contributing to preserving and promoting national cultural values.

He said he hopes that elderly, heads of villages and reputable people from ethnic minority groups will continue to show strong performance in realising the Partys policies on promoting the tradition and the strength from the great national solidarity bloc, thus making the nation more prosperous.

The State leader asked ministries, sectors and localities to implementing policies and the national target programme on socioeconomic development in mountainous and ethnic minority-inhabited areas in a more effective manner, while mobilising the engagement and supervision of the people in the work and encouraging households and individuals from ethnic minority groups to escape poverty.

President Thuong expressed his hope that senior citizens, heads of villages and prestigious people will continue to work to preserve and promote the unique cultural values of their ethnic groups, while popularising the Party and States policies and laws to local residents so as to prevent and combat allegations and plots to divide the great national solidarity bloc.  VNS
HA NOI  Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet left Ha Noi on Tuesday, concluding his two-day official visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

During his stay in Viet Nam, he paid floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, and laid a wreath at the monument to war heroes and martyrs on Bac Son Street in Ha Noi.

PM Hun Manet paid courtesy visits to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vo Van Thuong, attended an official welcome ceremony and held talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and met with National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue.

Vietnamese leaders hailed the visit by Hun Manet, saying it would make contributions to consolidating and creating a new milestone in the Viet Nam-Cambodia relations. They also congratulated the guest for his election as the Cambodian Prime Minister and Vice Chairman of the Cambodian Peoples Party, as well as the great achievements that Cambodia has carved out over the past time.

They laid stress on Viet Nam's consistent policy of respecting and giving top priority to the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability with Cambodia, while treasuring the tradition of solidarity and mutual support in the struggles for national independence in the past, as well as in the current national construction and development.

Hun Manet affirmed that Cambodia will stand shoulder to shoulder with Viet Nam to protect, preserve, nurture and develop the bilateral ties to a new height, and pass them on to the younger generations.

Leaders from both countries reached consensus on striving to boost two-way trade to US$20 billion in the time to come, and encouraging and facilitating investment and business cooperation activities of enterprises from both sides. They applauded close coordination by the two countries' competent agencies to maintain and consolidate the border line of peace, stability and development, while concurring to continue collaboration to accelerate the completion of the remaining 16 per cent of land border demarcation and marker planting work.

On the occasion, PM Chinh and PM Hun Manet witnessed the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology and the Cambodian Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation; the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce; and the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam and Cambodias National Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations.

They also attended the Viet Nam-Cambodia trade and investment promotion forum, and met with students from the Foreign Trade University.  VNS
HA NOI  Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said Viet Nam considers the development of relations with China a top priority and a strategic choice, for the happiness of the people of both nations, and for global peace and progress.

He made the remarks when he held talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping on Tuesday, following the official welcome ceremony with a 21-cannon salute, the highest level for a head of state, in Ha Noi.

The Chinese leader and his wife are making a State visit to Viet Nam from December 12-13 at the invitation of Party General Secretary Trong and his wife, and President Vo Van Thuong and his wife.

Party General Secretary Trong emphasised that the Chinese leaders third visit to Viet Nam coincides with the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries (2008-2023). He expressed confidence that this visit marks a new historic milestone, elevating the relationship between the two Parties and two countries to new heights, meeting the aspirations and common interests of the people of both nations for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

The two leaders delved deeply into discussions on the situations of each Party, each country, the relationship between the two Parties and two countries, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Party General Secretary Trong congratulated China, under the leadership of Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, for achieving new significant and comprehensive achievements since the 20th Party Congress.

He expressed confidence that the Chinese Party, State, and people will successfully fulfil the goals and tasks set at the 20th Party Congress and build China into a great, modern, prosperous, democratic, and civilised socialist society.

Sharing insights into Viet Nams situation, Party General Secretary Trong stated that the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam has assessed the country has never had such fortune, potential, international position and prestige as it does today.

He emphasised that over the first half of the 13th National Congress's term, Viet Nam has made significant and comprehensive achievements in various fields. The Party leader shared the goals and directions to strive for Viet Nam to become a developed country with high income in the direction of socialist orientation by the middle of this century, along with specific development goals for 2025, 2030, and 2045 set at the 13th National Congress.

He affirmed Viet Nams consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, diversification and multilateralisation, adding that Viet Nam is an active and responsible friend, a reliable partner, and a positive member of the international community.

Party General Secretary Trong stressed that Viet Nam supports China to become a stronger Socialist country, contributing to the cause of peace and progress for humanity.

Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping highly appreciated the achievements that Viet Nam has attained in nearly 40 years of oi moi (reforms), especially the significant and comprehensive outcomes in implementing the resolutions of the 13th National Congress.

He expressed belief that under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, with Party General Secretary Trong at the helm, the Party, the State, and the people of Viet Nam will successfully achieve the major goals and tasks set forth by the 13th National Congress, laying an important foundation for the successful realisation of the two 100-year goals as defined by the 13th National Congress.

The Chinese leader affirmed that the Chinese Party, Government, and people highly value the relationship with Viet Nam, considering Viet Nam a priority in China's neighbouring foreign policy.

He recalled the recent visit by Party General Secretary Trong to the Huu Nghi (Friendship) International Border Gate and the tree-planting event in August, which symbolised a message of trust and development in the bilateral relations between the two countries.

At the talks, the two leaders reviewed the development process of the relations between the two Parties and the two countries. This enduring bond, initiated and carefully nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh, Chinese President Mao Zedong, and other predecessors, is considered a precious asset for the people of both nations.

The leaders concurred in evaluating the 15 years since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in 2008 based on the motto of friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability and future-oriented thinking and the spirit of good neighbours, good friends, good comrades, good partners.

Both sides agreed to build a Viet Nam-China Community with a shared future, which holds strategic significance, striving for the happiness of the people of both nations, for global peace and progress.

This initiative aligns with the Charter of the United Nations and international law, based on the principles of mutual respect, equal and mutually beneficial cooperation, respect for independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. They reiterated their commitment to resolving disagreements through peaceful means.

Both sides agreed to continually strengthen political trust, enhance high-level exchanges between Party leaders and countries through diverse and flexible forms, and leverage the strategic guiding role of Party-to-Party relations in the overall bilateral relationship.

The two leaders agreed to reinforce cooperation in defence and security, making it one of the pillars of bilateral relations, while promoting sustainable and profound economic, trade, and investment cooperation, and enhance education on the traditional relations between the two Parties and two countries to build a more solid societal foundation for bilateral relations.

They also agreed to enhance closer multilateral coordination, contributing positively to the common interests of both nations and the international community.

On the issue of the seas, the two leaders emphasised the need for better control and active resolution of disagreements at sea, maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) and the region.

Party General Secretary Trong proposed that both sides effectively implement shared high-level perceptions, respect each other's legitimate and interests, and resolve disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

He also stressed the need to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) consistent with UNCLOS 1982.

During the high-level talks, the two leaders extensively discussed various international and regional issues of mutual concern.

Party General Secretary Trong stated that in the context of complex international and regional developments, it is crucial for countries to pursue policies of peace, cooperation, and development, adhere to international law, respect equality and the legal interests of each other, and resolve differences through peaceful means. Cooperation for mutual development and coordination in responding to both traditional and non-traditional security challenges was also underscored.

General Secretary and President of China, Xi Jinping, concurred with the opinions expressed by Party General Secretary Trong, stressing the need for both sides to promote the strong, stable, sustainable, and more effective development of the Viet Nam-China relationship at the new height of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

After the high-level talks, the two leaders were briefed on 36 cooperation agreements across various sectors signed between agencies, ministries, and localities of the two countries. These agreements showcase the comprehensive achievements obtained during this visit.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Public Security has just completed the draft amended law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Supporting Tools to prevent and fight new developments in crime.

According to statistics from the ministry, cases of criminals using homemade guns, rudimentary weapons, quasi-rudimentary weapons and knives to commit crimes are on the rise, complicating efforts to manage weapons.

In the past five years, 28,715 cases were detected nation-wide and 48,987 people were arrested for illegally using weapons, explosives, supporting tools, knives and knife-like devices.

Of these, the number of cases using knives and knife-like devices accounted for 58.6 per cent, primitive weapons accounted for 29.7 per cent, and homemade guns accounted for 6.2 per cent.

Specifically, in 2022, there were 1,127 criminal cases and 1,782 subjects, an increase of 128 cases and 350 subjects compared to 2019.

Particularly for criminals illegally using knives, swords, hammers and axes, there were 5,431 cases and 8,277 subjects.

Among them, organised crime groups and gangs have emerged and are operating very aggressively, causing many particularly serious cases, but legal avenues for authorities to handle these types of crimes were limited.

Knives are always available in everyday life. When conflicts arise, criminals are ready to use knives to attack victims.

However, because current law does not stipulate that knives are weapons, the act of using a knife is only handled when the subject commits a criminal offense such as murder, robbery and intentional injury, and they cannot be charged with illegal storage and use of weapons.

Similarly, homemade guns can have dangerous consequences like military weapons. However, according to current regulations, homemade guns cannot be equipped to the people's armed forces and they are strictly prohibited from being manufactured, produced, traded, transported, stored or used.

The ministry said that many people take advantage of the above loopholes to manufacture, store, buy, sell, transport and illegally use homemade guns and rudimentary weapons.

If this problem is not promptly prevented and handled, there will be a potential risk of causing loss of security and order.

To overcome these shortcomings, the ministry proposed in the draft many new regulations on weapons.

The current Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Supporting Tools classifies weapons including military weapons, hunting guns, primitive weapons, sporting weapons and other weapons which have similar features and effects.

In the draft, the ministry proposed to classify weapons including military weapons, primitive weapons and sporting weapons, of which shotguns, flintlock guns, explosive bullet guns, paintball guns, gas and air compression guns are added to the list of military weapons.

Similarly, highly lethal knives are added to the list of primitive weapons.

"Highly lethal knives" are defined as sharp knives with a blade length of 20cm or more, or knives with a blade length of less than 20cm but converted and assembled as a high-damage knives.

The ministry also proposed a number of additional prohibited acts such as researching, manufacturing, producing, trading, exporting, importing, storing, transporting, repairing, renovating, assembling, illegally using or appropriating rudimentary weapons, except for highly lethal knives used for labour, production and daily life purposes.

It is strictly forbidden to illegally bring weapons, explosives, explosive precursors, and supporting tools to public places, as well as illegally advertising weapons, explosives, explosive precursors, and supporting tools.

Currently, the ministry is collecting comments from agencies, organisations and individuals on the draft amended law and will propose that the Government report to the National Assembly Standing Committee to include the law in the 2024 Law and Ordinance Building Programme of the 15th National Assembly, for approval at the 7th Session of the 15th National Assembly in May 2024.  VNS
Javier Carranza, 59, stands in front of a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Houston. Carranza has come to honor the Virgin of Guadalupe every year since he was young.  Its about the joy found in tradition and the adoration of God. He shares.

Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer
HA NOI  The Ministry of Health (MoH) has asked provinces and cities to strengthen bird flu prevention and control, and prevent the disease from spreading to humans.

In a letter sent to relevant organisations recently, the MoH said that the International Health Regulations (IHR) in Cambodia had informed that from November 23 this year to now, Cambodia has had two more cases of human infection with A/H5N1 flu in Kampot Province.

So far this year, Cambodia has recorded six cases of the disease, including three deaths.

Cambodias Kampot Province is on the southwest border of Viet Nam.

In the context of increasing trade exchanges between Viet Nam and other countries, the risk of bird flu entering the country and infecting humans is very high, especially in provinces bordering epidemic-affected countries.

In Viet Nam, the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that bird flu still occurred sporadically in different localities.

The weather is in the transition period with unusual changes that are favourable for bird flu virus to develop.

People tend to increase poultry farming to prepare for the Lunar New Year, which will fall in February next year, so poultry transport and trading activities may increase, posing higher potential risks of infection to humans.

To proactively prevent bird flu from entering Viet Nam and spreading to humans, the MoH asked concerned organisations to pay attention and urgently carry out preventive measures.

Provinces need to manage people entering the country to detect suspected cases early, especially live poultry traders and people coming from epidemic-affected areas.

Samples should be taken and sent to the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology or the Pasteur Institute for diagnostic testing.

Medical units need to promote monitoring of cases of acute respiratory infections, severe viral pneumonia syndrome and flu syndrome to detect influenza A/H5N1 cases.

Hospitals should be ready to receive, quarantine and treat cases according to the MoHs regulations and notify the Centre for Disease Control for timely solutions.

Medical and veterinary agencies will co-ordinate closely with local authorities in detecting bird flu cases, especially at border gates and live poultry markets.

The MoH also requests localities to increase education on measures to prevent bird flu infection to humans in high-risk areas.

Provinces and cities must prepare drugs, chemicals and other means to handle outbreaks.

The MoH recommends that provinces should well coordinate in the work, and report the real situation to the MoH based on Circular 54/2015/TT-BYT issued on December 28, 2015.  VNS
HCM CITY  Two vessels have been seized for illegally exploiting sand in the coast area of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Tien Giang.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Phan Nhan Hau, head of the ong Nai Province-based Coast Guard Intelligence Division No. 2 under the Viet Nam Coast Guard Command, said a working team of the division and Border Guard of Tien Giang Province discovered the two vessels 10 nautical miles from the provinces Cua ai Estuary when conducting field reconnaissance.

The seizure is part of the divisions campaign to prevent and fight criminal activities including illegal smuggling, drugs and drug crime, human trafficking, smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods before, during and after the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

Accordingly, the working team on December 8 stopped vessel SG7776 registered in HCM City and found about 300 cubic metres of sand. The vessel has capacity of 2,168 tonnes.

The vessels captain, Nguyen Van Huong, 38, of Nam inh Province, and six crew members were on board.

Another vessel was found with no registered number and about 100cu.m of sand. Its vessels captain, Bui Van Quyen, 38, of Hai Duong Province, and seven crew members were on board.

The captains of the vessels did not have ship registration papers and licences for sand exploitation.

On December 9, the vessels were brought ashore and the cases handed over to the Coast Guard Region No. 3 Command based in Vung Tau City in the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau for further investigation.

Recently, the illegal exploitation of sand has been occurring regularly in the delta.

Illegal sand exploitation has increased along rivers and coastal areas across the country in recent years.

The uncontrolled exploitation of sand has seriously harmed the environment, hurt the structure and safety of waterway transport, caused land erosion, and altered the flow of water.  VNS
Participants at the event (Photo: VNA)

Tokyo  Vietnamese Professionals in Japan organised an event entitled "The Debaters" in Tokyo on December 10.



The event targeted the young Vietnamese community working in Japan, giving them information and options of whether to stay in Japan or leave the East Asian country given the weak yen and the fact that the Japanese economy faces challenging times.

Speakers provided the latest information on the labour market, economy, welfare and career opportunities, and the pros and cons of staying in Japan or leaving. This enabled participants to listen to perse perspectives, absorb the information and then consider their career paths.

According to Nguyen Tuan Anh, a coordinator at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - Japan Centre, the issue that foreigners working in Japan are most concerned about is that the yen has dropped more than 30% since the beginning of 2022, along with the rising cost of living in the East Asian country while salaries increase insignificantly. This has left the Vietnamese community in Japan facing many difficulties in daily life, especially those who want to send money back home.

However, Anh said that current economic policies are helping export companies in Japan earn record-high revenue, bringing positive signs to the economy and an expectation that the yen will recover. Therefore, staying in Japan is a suitable choice, especially for those who are working in export-related fields.

Anhs opinion was shared by speaker Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung, Head of Human Resource Development Division at FPT Software Japan, saying Japan is gradually losing its position in the global market. However, there are still opportunities to develop as Vietnamese people in Japan enjoy good social welfare, high quality of life and many incentives, she added.

Nhung emphasised that it is necessary for young people to equip themselves with a global mindset, information technology and digital transformation skills and enhance their exchanges to prepare well for their next stage of development.

Expansion in Vietnam a must for Japanese investors Japan continues to be one of the key players in Vietnams merger and acquisition market. At the Vietnam M&A Forum on November 28, Masataka Sam Yoshida, head of the Cross-border Division of RECOF Corporation, talked to VIRs Thanh Van about what could be next for Japans investors.
The granting of investment certificates took place within the framework of the event "Meet Singapore 2023" held in Binh Duong on December 11.

Accordingly, Tetra Pak Binh Duong JSC poured an additional $173 million into its project in the locality. In 2019, Tetra Pak inaugurated the countrys first-ever aseptic carton packaging material factory in Binh Duong, adding Vietnam to its global supply chain map. The facility specialises in producing aseptic cartons for domestic and export markets in ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand.

The second project is invested by Becamex-VSIP Power Investment and Development JSC with an investment capital of $4.2 million. Under the project, the company will install and distribute solar power to factories across industrial parks in the locality.

R-PAC Vietnam Co., Ltd.'s branch company invests $2.5 million in labels and packaging, with an investment capital of $2.5 million. Meanwhile, Petersson Vietnam Technology Co., Ltd. injects $2 million into communication equipment manufacturing and outsourcing.

Binh Duong is the second-largest foreign direct investment (FDI) recipient in Vietnam. The province has so far attracted more than 4,200 projects from 65 countries and territories, with a total capital of more than $40 billion. Among them, Singapore is the third largest investor in Binh Duong. Singaporean companies have invested in 290 projects with the total investment capital of nearly $5.5 billion.

In 2023, Singapore takes the lead among countries and territories investing in Binh Duong with the total investment capital of more than $450 million, accounting for 27.5 per cent of the total sum.

Kho Ngee Seng Roy, consul general of Singapore in Ho Chi Minh City said, "Binh Duong is one of the most attractive and promising locations in Vietnam for Singaporean investors, thanks to its strategic location in the Southern Key Economic Region. Going forward, Singapore will continue to accompany Vietnam in general and Binh Duong province in particular in innovation and digital transformation, especially developing renewable energy and green industrial parks."

Vo Van Minh, Chairman of Binh Duong People's Committee said, "Binh Duong is making efforts to lure Singaporean investment and cement cooperation with Singaporean partners. Hopefully, Singapore will continue to support the province in promoting cooperation in new fields towards green and sustainable development such as renewable energy, innovation, startups, and high-quality human resources development."

Abundant potential for Vietnam-Singapore relations Vietnam and Singapore have been working closely to strengthen bilateral ties in the green and digital economy. Gan Kim Yong, Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry, spoke with VIRs Minh Anh on the sidelines of the Singapore Week of Technology and Innovation 2023, about the next steps for bilateral relations.

Singaporean investors increasingly drawn to Vietnam Thanks to the open economic landscape and enormous growth potential in various sectors, Vietnam has always been on the list of favourable destinations for Singaporean investors, who have consistently been among the leaders in terms of foreign capital inflows into the country.
A survey on the business conditions of Japanese companies operating overseas was conducted by JETRO in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from August to September.

It included Japanese-affiliated companies with direct and indirect Japanese investment of 10 per cent or greater, and the branch and representative offices of Japanese companies in Vietnam. JETRO received valid responses from 849 businesses.

About 47 per cent of manufacturing and 65.5 per cent of non-manufacturing companies planned to expand, down 7.3 and 0.4 per cent on-year, respectively. Among the reasons for the expansions, Japanese companies are targetting consumption in the domestic market and increased exports.

"Although expansion ambitions remain high, Vietnam is the only country among the six key ASEAN nations to see a decreasing percentage compared to the previous year," said JETRO.

The percentage of companies that expect to generate operating profits in 2023 stood at 54.3 per cent, which is 6.6 per cent lower than the ASEAN average. From 2017 to 2019, the percentage was above the ASEAN average of 65 per cent.

The percentage of profitable companies in the manufacturing sector was 61.5 per cent, an increase of 0.4 points compared to the 2022 survey. The percentage of loss-making companies in the manufacturing sector climbed by 2.7 per cent to 22 per cent.

There were increasing numbers of profitable companies producing machinery and spares, textiles, electrical components, and electronics. Meanwhile, figures were lower for timber products, paper, and printing.

The percentage of companies turning a profit in the non-manufacturing sector was 46.7 per cent, while the figure for loss-making firms was 27 per cent, down 10.9 and 4.4 per cent, respectively. The number of profitable companies in the travel and amusement sector increased, whereas fewer sales, trade, and wholesale companies generated profits.

According to the survey, 32 per cent of companies said that their operating profit for 2023 would increase on-year, which is 15.6 per cent lower than in the 2022 survey. The percentage of companies with the opposite outlook stood at 35.7 per cent, an increase of 13.1 points.

Rising demand in the export market was the top reason for the increasing operating profit forecast for the manufacturing sector. The main factor driving non-manufacturing firms was domestic consumption, with improvements in productivity and reductions in labour costs also featuring prominently.

The most common reasons for the decreased operating profits were related to shrinking demand. Meanwhile, in the 2022 survey, they were rising raw material, parts procurement, and labour costs, as well as the effects of exchange rate fluctuations.

Looking at the forecast for 2024, 50.4 per cent of Japanese companies expected an increase on the back of the improvements seen this year.

Japanese escalate investment studies Japanese investors are implementing a careful study of the business environment in Vietnam, providing a basis for their long-term and sustainable expansion.

Expansion in Vietnam a must for Japanese investors Japan continues to be one of the key players in Vietnams merger and acquisition market. At the Vietnam M&A Forum on November 28, Masataka Sam Yoshida, head of the Cross-border Division of RECOF Corporation, talked to VIRs Thanh Van about what could be next for Japans investors.
Malaysia's Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (left) at the launch of Electric Motorcycle Use Promotion Scheme (MARiiCas) in conjunction with the Madani Government One Year Anniversary programme. (Source: Bernama)

Kuala Lumpur  The Malaysian government is committed to increasing the acceptance level of Malaysians to shift to electric-based vehicles including electric motorcycles, the countrys Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said on December 8.



Speaking at launching ceremony of the Electric Motorcycle Use Promotion Scheme (MARiiCas) in conjunction with the Madani Government One Year Anniversary programme, the minister said that the goal is is in line with the aspiration of and target set by the government to achieve zero carbon by 2050 as well as EV sales target of 20% in 2030 through the Malaysia National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).



He advised all Malaysian citizens with annual income of 120,000 ringgit (25,000 USD) and below to take advantage to register and apply for a cash subsidy of 2,400 ringgit provided by the government.



He said the launch of MARiiCas is timely and the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) believes the initiative can bolster the acceptance by the public to shift from using Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to EVs.



In a joint statement, MITI and the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics & IoT Institute (MARii) said this initiative offers incentives in the form of rebates to help increase the confidence and opportunity for the public to experience electric motorcycles as a medium of daily transport, according to Bernama.



The statement said the MARiiCas application platform by MARii has been activated to enable applicants to check their eligibility, apply for the incentive, access information relating to the electric motorcycle models that are being offered, and check their application approval.



The platform can be accessed through the website, insentif.marii.my beginning December 8, 2023.

Malaysia plans new wage scheme for low-income workers The Malaysian government will introduce a new programme to raise wages for low-income workers as the Southeast Asian country is grappling with rising living costs and growing inequality.
Vietnam Airlines invites prices for repair and overhaul services for Boeing 787 auxiliary engines. Source: vietnamairlines.com

Vietnam Airlines JSC would like to invite MROs to join the bidding for Repair & Overhaul for APS5000 apu during 2024-2027 with details as follows:

- Time of Request for Proposals Issuance: From 4pm on December 9 to before 4pm on December 25 (Vietnam time)

- Address of Request for Proposals Issuance:

Vietnam Airlines JSC 200 Nguyen Son, Long Bien district, Hanoi, Vietnam

Contact point:

Ngo Van Cam, Secretary  Project Team

E-mail: camnv@vietnamairlines.com, Tel: + 84 - (0)934590404 or,

Nguyen Thanh Son  Team leader

Email:sonnguyenthanh@vietnamairlines.com

Closing Time for submission of Proposals: 4pm on December 25 (Vietnam time)

If there would be of your interest, please do not hesitate to contact us at the above address.

Thank you.

Vietnam Airlines steadfast in going digital by 2025 Vietnam Airlines is accelerating its digital transformation in order to compete with the best. Hoang Ngoc Chi, deputy director of the Digital Transformation Centre, talked to VIRs Tung Anh about the airlines digital journey.
President and CEO of the US chip giant Jensen Huang (third, right) visits Vietnam's largest innovation space at the Vietnam National Innovation Centre in Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi - Vietnam boasts huge potential to develop semiconductor and AI industries, and pledges to create favourable conditions for NVIDIA corporation, a leading chip producer in the US, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said on December 11.

At a roundtable discussion on the semiconductor industry and AI development trends and opportunities for Vietnam, Dung suggested NVIDIA enhance research and development (R&D) activities, carry out semiconductor and AI projects in Vietnam, and build R&D centres and labs at the National Innovation Centre (NIC), and high-tech parks.

Dung expressed his hope that NVIDIA will facilitate conditions for Vietnamese engineers to engage in internships and work at the corporation, help Vietnam develop incubators for semiconductor firms, while supporting the country to get access to and implement projects under the USs fund for semiconductor production and development activities.

Dung recommended NVIDIA expand cooperative and investment projects in Vietnam and partner with Vietnamese companies to develop a supporting ecosystem for the Southeast Asian countrys semiconductor and AI industries. It can also join hands with the NIC to carry out a project on semiconductor human resources development until 2030, and cooperate with Vietnams education establishments to implement human resources training programmes.

Dung stressed that a sound environment and close coordination between government agencies and businesses have an important role to play in developing the spearhead industries and making contributions to improving the competitive edge as well as making Vietnam a leading innovation centre in the region.

For his part, President and CEO of the US chip giant Jensen Huang spoke highly of Vietnams potential and opportunities to branch out its semiconductor and AI industries, especially the countrys human resources in the fields.

Vietnam is prepared for the AI development wave, and it is time for both sides to set up strategic relations in the fields, he said, adding NVIDIA will expand its existing partnership with Vietnam, making the country its second homeland.

According to Jensen Huang, it is necessary for the country to encourage new generations to engage in AI as well as improve the skills of its human resources, and develop 1 million AI experts.

NVIDIA stands ready to cooperate with Vietnam to improve its human resources capacity, and AI infrastructure, he stressed.

Earlier, Jensen Huang had a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, during which he said NVIDIA wishes to establish a base in Vietnam to attract talents in the fields.

NVIDIA is a multinational corporation specialising in the production of innovative graphics processing units (GPUs), application programming interfaces (APIs) for data science and high-performance computing, and system on chip units (SoCs) for mobile computing and the automotive market.

The company has more than 27,000 employees, and recently recorded a revenue of nearly 27 billion USD.

With the AI fever gripping across the globe, NVIDIA has plans to triple its AI production for 2024.

SoftBank Group selling Arm to NVIDIA for up to $40 billion Japan's SoftBank Group said Monday it is selling British chip designer Arm to US chip company NVIDIA for up to $40 billion, potentially creating a new giant in the industry.

AI chip giant Nvidia 'extremely likely' to invest in Europe The CEO of Nvidia on Friday said that the world's most valuable chipmaker is "extremely likely" to invest in Europe.
Vietnam's growth is underpinned by perse sectors, from high-tech manufacturing to natural resources, and bolstered by significant trade relationships, especially with the US and China. (Source: VNA)

Hanoi - As Vietnam's economy is rapidly expanding, outpacing their ASEAN peers, it presents a unique opportunity for investors, said an article published on the Israeli-based financial market news site seekingalpha.com.

The article said such growth is underpinned by perse sectors, from high-tech manufacturing to natural resources, and bolstered by significant trade relationships, especially with the US and China.

Vietnam's economic reforms have created a virtuous cycle: reforms spurred exports, which in turn drove economic growth, leading to increased domestic demand. This trajectory has positioned Vietnam as a dynamic and integral part of the global economy, with a domestic market that continues to show robust growth potential, wrote the article.



It said Vietnam has grown into a well-persified economy that strikes an attractive balance between export-led growth and growing domestic demand that enjoys robust exports in addition to a growing domestic consumer base.

Vietnam's public equity opportunity set is heavily weighted towards financials, real estate and consumer staples. In the MarketVector Vietnam Local Index, the top 10 holdings are skewed towards these sectors, and are also heavily dependent on domestic revenues. This also lends credence to the argument that the Vietnamese economy enjoys robust domestic demand.

Local Vietnamese stocks, meanwhile, have outperformed broad emerging markets benchmarks since 2018. The article assessed that given Vietnam's economic and market-structure progress over the past decade, investors should look closely at this emerging opportunity.

Hyosung Group unveils $720 million investment in Vietnam Hyosung Group, a South Korean industrial conglomerate, has announced plans to invest $720 million in a biotech fiber manufacturing plant in Vietnam.

Apple to shift iPad development resources to Vietnam Tech behemoth Apple Inc. is for the first time planning to allocate product development resources for its iPad range to Vietnam, according to sources cited by Nikkei Asia. This move marks a significant shift in the tech giant's manufacturing strategy.
U.S. Attorney Alamdar Al Hamdani answers questions from reporters Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, at the U.S. Attorneys office in Houston. Hamdani was sworn in Dec. 12, 2022 as the 24th presidentially-appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. He is also the first Asian American to hold that office in that district. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Elders across the country saw an 84% increase in losses in 2022 from 2021 as they were swindled out of $3.2 billion, with Texas being the third most victimized state, pushing the U.S. Attorney's Office to watch out for scammers and educate Houston's seniors.

The U.S. Attorney called elders Houston's "most vulnerable victims." Texas had 5,674 elder fraud victims over the age of 60 in 2022, which is third most behind Florida (8,480) and California (11,517), according to an FBI report. Texas seniors lost more than $243 million. The schemes targeting the elderly in Houston include fraudulent call centers, lottery hoaxes, phishing emails, romance ploys and AI-generated scam calls, according to case records.

"The fraudsters of today are quite more sophisticated than the fraudsters of 10, 15 (or) 20 years ago," U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani said.

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The Department of Justice received 300 criminal and civil actions from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, which resulted in 650 defendants being convicted of stealing about $1.5 billion from around 2.4 million elderly victims, Hamdani said. About 94% of the cases were criminal in nature and 45% involved international schemes, he said. The full numbers for 2023 are not yet available.

In relation, from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, the numbers were nearly identical compared to a year later except there were 2.6 million elderly victims, 600 defendants being convicted and 40% of the crimes involved international schemes, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The FBI reported that 88,262 victims over the age of 60 lost a total of $3.2 billion in 2022 with an average loss of $35,101 per victim, according to the agency's Elder Fraud Report. In comparison, about $1.7 million was stolen in 2021, the statistics show.

MAN SENTENCED FOR KIDNAPPING TEEN: Kidnapped Houston teen reached out for help three times before being rescued from attacker

Several federal agencies are tasked to investigate these schemes, including the FBI, Homeland Security and IRS.

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"They're trying to target people where they can take advantage," Special Agent Jillian Bell with the IRS Criminal Investigations' Houston office said. "... They're really playing with peoples' emotions to rope them into some of these schemes."

Houston elders tricked with lottery, investigation schemes

Special Agent Louis Hirsh, from the IRS Criminal Investigations' Houston office, assisted in a case where a New York man, Anthony Laughing, Jr., conspired with a Canadian man, Martin Hogan, to defraud the elderly in the U.S. by telling them that they had won the Canadian lottery. Hirsh interviewed a recent widow living in Houston who developed a relationship with Laughing and would speak with him a few times a week.

"Ultimately he told her that she had to pay certain fees and taxes to get the money from Canada," said Hirsh. "He just kept drawing out the process and getting more money."

Hogan, Laughing and their other co-conspirators conned elderly victims out of $2.6 million, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Laughing was sentenced to six years in federal prison, while Hogan received a nearly 10-year bid.

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Another scheme affecting Houston's elderly involved 24 Indian citizens operating a fake call center from 2017 to 2020. The call center extorted millions from hundreds of elders by convincing them to send money wires, cash and gift cards by claiming they were being investigated by federal agents.

The Indian call center was a "government imposter scheme" that used personal information obtained from data brokers to contact victims, said Hamdani. Fraudsters involved in the scheme received up to 15 years in federal prison, he said.

'Educating and empowering the elderly'

The DOJ announced the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force in 2019 intending to address mass-marketing scams and return money to elder fraud victims. Most recently from September 2021 to September 2022, the DOJ and federal officials pursued about 260 cases that involved more than 600 defendants, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Federal grand juries in the Southern District of Texas, where Hamdani presides, returned indictments from September 2021 to September 2022 in 10 cases that involved more than 15 defendants, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The elderly victims involved in these cases lost a total of $38 million.

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The DOJ announced in October 2022 the expansion of the strike force to prosecute elder fraud schemes overseas.

Repaying elder victims their lost funds from the scams is ongoing as the DOJ notified over 550,000 people in 2021 alone that they may have been eligible for remission payments, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

"When you're a victim, let us know," said Hamdani. "The sooner you let us know, the sooner we can maybe quickly act."

To avoid potential schemes, elders should not click on text messages from unfamiliar numbers, visit untrustworthy websites or reply to emails sent from disreputable companies, said Bell. Downloading call-blocking apps on their cell phones could also help deter fraudsters, she said.

"It's common sense to some people, but it's not always utilized," said Bell.

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Elders who may be confused about an unfamiliar message or email are advised to ask their son, daughter, grandchild or a younger relative for input before clicking something or making a phone call, said Hirsh.

The U.S. Attorney's Office plans to expand its outreach in the coming months by going out into the community at places like retirement centers and working with AARP to spread awareness about elder fraud, said Hamdani.
The Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network this week is notifying current and former patients of a data breach could have compromised their medical privacy.

A network security incident on Oct. 22 allowed an unauthorized party to gain access to the nonprofit's network, according to the notice.

Information that was potentially exposed to an unauthorized third party included first and last names, birth dates, medical record numbers, health insurance policy number and medical and treatment information. The type of information at risk varied from person to person, the agency said.

The nonprofit is providing written notice to all those who were potentially affected, while assuring them that the network is now secure. The letter also advises patients of steps to protect themselves and how to sign up for identity theft protection services the agency is offering to them at no charge.

"HOTBHN has no reason to believe any individual's information has been misused as a result of this event," the nonprofit said in a news release.

The agency hired a specialized third-party forensic incident response firm to help secure the network and investigate the breach.

The agency, formerly known as Heart of Texas Regional MHMR, provides an array of services to individuals and families coping with mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities, using state and federal funds. In October it opened a $9.7 million, 27,500-square-foot diversion center on Imperial Drive to provide temporary housing and care for those suffering a mental health crisis.

Meanwhile, some Central Texas seniors have been receiving notices involving another healthcare data breach, unrelated to the Behavioral Health Network.

The U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has been investigating a data breach from May 27-31 involving an unauthorized party to access the network of Maximus, a Medicare contractor.

That information could have included names, Social Security and tax identification numbers, birth dates, drivers license numbers, medical history information, healthcare provider and prescription information, and health insurance and benefits information.

In November, the federal agency and Maximum sent letters to 330,000 Medicare recipients whose personal information may have been compromised. Those people are being advised on security steps to take and are being offered free credit monitoring.

Russell Devorsky, executive director of the Waco-based Heart of Texas Council of Governments, said anyone who gets a notice of the Medicare contractor breach should take it seriously.

This is a very unique and severe data breach," he said. "People need to be very careful about how they resolve this situation with their Medicare numbers.

Beneficiaries who are unsure about how to proceed may call the Heart of Texas Council of Governments at 254-292-1800 for clarification or assistance, he said.

If anyone calls claiming to be from Medicare and asks for identifying information, Devorsky said people should hang up. He said this is a sign of a scammer.

If someone calls claiming to be from Medicare or Medicaid or one of their contractors and they are for real, they will have all your personal information and not ask for it," he said.
ALLISON  A former Clarksville police officer gave an emotional final plea Monday before being sentenced to as many as 15 years behind bars for his conviction on 11 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Judge Rustin Davenport decided the 41-year maximum for Michael William Tobin Jr., 35, was more than is necessary to protect society, allow for rehabilitation and deter others  especially those in law enforcement  from engaging in such criminal behavior. Hell have to register as sex offender after getting out of prison.

Tobin, who resigned from his position as police lieutenant in 2022, said hes already serving three life sentences, metaphorically, after the case negatively impacted his relationship with his children, his now ex-wife, and forced him to surrender his law enforcement certification.

These life sentences came with much more than just the consequences at face value. These qualities of my life  fatherhood, husband, and police officer  were the very fabric of who I was, Tobin said.  Quite honestly, no matter your decision today, those sentences are far worse than anything you could present me with today.

Authorities said Tobin first met a teen while he was investigating sex offender Cody Blue, who was accused of offering girls alcohol and cigarettes in exchange for nude photos. Tobin later began having sex with the teen after she joined the departments ride-along program.

The charges stemmed from nude photos he allegedly exchanged with the teen, from nude photos he had the teen solicit from one of her friends, and from allegedly showing the teen pictures and videos of other girls collected in the earlier sex offender investigation.

A jury found Tobin guilty of the 11 counts Oct. 16. He was charged in August 2022.

Defense attorney Nellie OMara initially asked for a retrial and later a deferred judgment and suspended sentencing, all of which Davenport denied. The judge cited past evidence of intentional grooming, a breach of trust and what he saw as a lack of remorse in explaining why Tobin should be imprisoned.

Theres no indication that the prior conduct of the defendant wouldnt be repeated in the future, especially regarding young women, Davenport said.

Accordingly, the defendant noted his involvement with teenagers was something he took great pride in, the judge said. One example was at his church.

But its that sort of relationship that is a concern to the court, said Davenport.

Two of the felony charges carried up to 10 years in prison and one carried up to five years in prison. The remaining eight counts of aggravated misdemeanors were punishable by up to two years each. The incidents spanned an approximately 18-month span in 2021 and 2022.

We got 15 years, meaning hell at least have a sentence of 15 years. Unfortunately, with the law in Iowa, it doesnt mean hell get to spend all those 15 years behind bars, but hell spend a chunk of time, Assistant Iowa Attorney General Israel Kodiaga said afterward.

Two victims, who had interest in law enforcement careers and went on ride alongs with Tobin, offered impact statements, often staring right at him. They expressed resentment toward him for never having apologized to them and only thinking of the impact on himself instead of how the events had taken a lasting toll on their lives.

I consider myself lucky to advocate for those many victims who cannot. In a way, I carry their torch, said one of the victims.

Tobin maintained his innocence while expressing regret for how he handled himself. But his original choice to plead not guilty and not apologize directly to the victims suggested to them that he never accepted responsibility for his actions.

While I seek justice for the wrongs committed against me, I also hope that this case serves as a reminder of the responsibility and accountability that come with the authority and power of a police officer, said one victim.

No one should be above the law, and those who abuse their positions of trust must be held accountable for their actions. It is clear that Tobin abused his position of trust in the most disgusting way possible.

When it comes to using AI, nursing students trust themselves to use it correctlybut not their peers or administrators When it comes to using AI, nursing students trust themselves to use it correctlybut not their peers or administrators Nursing and Health Students May Receive Less Exposure to AI
WATERLOO  Bond has been set at $300,000 as charges were added for a Waterloo man arrested in a weekend shooting.

Authorities added first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and willful injury causing serious injury charges for Marqwane Shakeen Smith, 29, on Monday. He had been earlier arrested for felon in possession of a firearm.

Smith and others allegedly attacked Richard Sturdivant as he sat in a car parked in the 200 block of Glenwood Street around 4:40 a.m. Sunday.

Court records allege Smith reached into the vehicle and assaulted Sturdivant and then pulled him from the vehicle. Smith then held onto Sturdivant as he was being shot multiple times, records state.

Police said Smith also dug into the victims pockets and took items before he and the other assailants fled.

Sturdivant sustained multiple gunshot wounds and suffered serious injuries in the attack and remains hospitalized.

No other arrests have been made in the case.

Photos: Guns in Northeast Iowa crime cases
WATERLOO  After years of denying he had any role in his girlfriends 2021 death, Kevin Lee Halladey admitted to a sheriff's deputy he had killed her.

Jurors heard the states last piece of evidence in its first-degree murder case against Halladey, 42, of Reinbeck, Monday morning following a weekend recess.

Deputy Jonathan Rogers with the Grundy County Sheriffs Office told jurors that Halladey made the admission during a brief conversation on July 6, 2023.

Prosecutors played a short segment of Rogers bodycam video where Halladey could be heard saying I made a terrible mistake . I killed my girlfriend.

The defense noted Halladey also told the deputy it was an accident.

Halladeys girlfriend, Christian Chrissy Jeys, 41, was found unconscious on her dining room floor in the early morning hours of Dec. 16, 2021. She died about a week later in an Iowa City hospital without ever regaining consciousness.

In statements to deputies at the scene and investigators in the weeks and months that followed, Halladey denied any role, insisting that he and Jeys had been talking and she simply got down on the floor to take a nap and then stopped breathing.

An autopsy eventually determined Jeys died of blunt trauma to the head, with bleeding in the deeper sections of the brain.

The jury is now weighing the evidence during deliberations.

What prosecutors said was a fatal beating that killed Jeys came hours her 13-year-old son superficially stabbed Halladey during a spat at their home.

Defense attorney Aaron Hawbaker admitted his client was responsible for Jeys death. But he said it wasnt a murder case because Halladey didnt intend to kill her.

He argued the facts in the case lean toward manslaughter, one of the lesser charges available to the jury, and said it was a case of a domestic abuse that went too far.

Hawbaker noted that Halladey had tried to get help for Jeys after he realized the extent of her injuries.

If you want somebody to die  if you specifically attempt to kill them, to end their life  you do not spend your time attempting to save them. There is zero intent to kill, Hawbaker said.

Grundy County Attorney Erika Allen said Halladeys intentions were clear because the evidence showed he struck Jeys several times.

There are multiple impact sites  multiple blows to the head . He had time to think, time to consider, and he hit her again, Allen said.

Assistant Iowa Attorney General Nicole Leonard said Halladey had been worried that Jeys would chose her children over him and had been planning a way to get out of the relationship  telling her in an earlier Facebook message that he felt trapped and the only way out was death or prison.

Not only did he have malice on that evening, but he had malice weeks before, Leonard said. She said he ranted to sheriffs deputies as medics attempted to treat Jeys.

He was still spitting venom about this victim and her children as she is lying in a hospital bed fighting for her life.  Hes still saying all the mean things that he thinks about her  that shes a lesser person, less caliber, not as smart, Leonard said. He couldnt even say a nice thing about her as shes dying.

Prosecutors also noted that Halladey had assaulted Jeys on prior occasions in the past, including once when he was arrested for choking her.

Evidence at trial included testimony from people who saw Jeys alive and uninjured in the hours before she collapsed as well as audio from a neighbors security camera that recorded her and Halladey talking outside as they entered their home.

About an hour later, Halladey was banging on the neighbors door asking for help because Jeys wasnt breathing.

Photos: Reinbeck homicide trial, December 2023 120623jr-grundy-trial-2 120623jr-grundy-trial-4 Christian Marie Jeys 120623jr-grundy-trial-6 120623jr-grundy-trial-5 120623jr-grundy-trial-7 120623jr-grundy-trial-3 120823jr-reinbeck-trial-4 120823jr-reinbeck-trial-6 120823jr-reinbeck-trial-1 120823jr-reinbeck-trial-2 120823jr-reinbeck-trial-3 120723jr-grundy-trial-1 121123jr-grundy-trial-1 121123jr-grundy-trial-3 121123jr-grundy-trial-2 121123jr-grundy-trial-5 121123jr-grundy-trial-4 121223jr-grundy-verdict-1 121223jr-grundy-verdict-2 121223jr-grundy-verdict-4 121223jr-grundy-verdict-3
WATERLOO  Municipal elections in Iowa are ostensibly nonpartisan.

By definition, the process of getting candidates on the ballot does not involve a political party, and they dont have a Democrat or Republican identifier by their name.

But that doesnt preclude partisan influence or cues from indicating a candidates political leanings.

Prime examples are local parties giving funds to candidates campaigns and endorsements by county and state government officials of the candidate of their choice.

A local party chair or an arguably bias individual moderating a debate may be the reason for one candidate not showing up. Some candidates will speak at party events and theres even fundraising software associated with the political right or left.

Most experts dont see it as a major problem and dont recommend any changes to how things are done.

Research shows that nonpartisan elections take some of the partisan wind out of those elections, said Jayme Renfro, a political science professor at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. However, there are ways that partisanship leaks into them, which is easier and easier and easier now with technology and the ease of communication. Back in the day, it was harder to figure it out. Now its super easy to figure it out because you can look up anything.

Endorsements, fundraising, lawn signs and whether a candidate is a registered member of a party are available in the public domain.

Whether partisan influence could be stopped is another conversation. Another challenge would be determining where to draw the line when it comes to who or what can donate.

Within the confines of the law as it is, organizations get to express themselves politically with money, said Renfro. Thats another ball of wax we need to discuss if we have a problem with that. We have to go up the chain and reverse a whole Supreme Court decision. Its a much bigger issue.

Renfro supports keeping local elections nonpartisan, but points out one reason some may consider a change may be increased turnout because people go to the polls if they have that association.

Josh Wilson has served as public liaison to former Gov. Terry Branstad, as a communications director on Capitol Hill and been involved in several campaigns. More recently, he took part in door knocking with two local candidates and says the partisanship was obvious.

At least 50% of the time, he estimated, more important than those local issues at doors was the question  are you a Republican or are you a Democrat?

Renfro says a decision by a Vikki Brown, chairperson of the Black Hawk County Democrats, to co-moderate a debate ahead of a Waterloo City Council runoff election was perhaps a lapse of judgment but not an intentional act of favoritism.

Still, she noted that theoretically, it shouldnt have mattered with it being a nonpartisan election.

Wilson finds it more troublesome when the perception of bias or political maneuvering leads to candidates not participating, because forums and debates are extremely important and healthy for local democracy.

I think its time to lift the curtain. I feel like were living in a fantasy world. Every time you have local candidates announce now  it always comes up somewhere. Is this person a Republican or Democrat? he said.

Candidates political leanings in Black Hawk Countys two biggest cities can be identified on peoples social media pages, according Wilson. That being said, Alan Kemp, executive director of the Iowa League of Cities, said overall he thinks city elections are not overtly partisan.

People may be aware of a candidates leanings because humans are naturally political animals. But an adage he believes still holds true is a reason hed like to see the elections remain officially nonpartisan.

The old saying is there is not a Republican or Democrat way of filling a pothole, Kemp said.

Whether to accept funds or an endorsement is the personal choice of each candidate, Kemp feels. He also believes most officials would find it more troubling if forums were hosted by the parties outright.

What I think has probably become more unique  and this is one mans observation  politics has just been pushed more partisan over the past 10 or 20 years, he added. The world seems to see things through a partisan lens. I think thats sort of what has come up.

Adam Clapp, a Hawkeye Community College political science professor, says hed be concerned if parties were outright endorsing candidates.

He said it is impossible to have truly nonpartisan elections because everybody is going to have some sort of bias. But he acknowledges itd be nice if it was possible to keep partisanship out of them. Its harder in smaller towns, however, because fewer people are involved.

The Democratic Party chair is also a member of League of Women Voters, he said, which is a nonpartisan organization, although it certainly has a slant. When you dont have a lot of options, youre going to run into those things. The same with the even smaller towns. Youre going to get whos willing to do it.

Hed keep the elections nonpartisan, which may not be the view of political party members.

I have no doubt the two parties would love to do that. They are then able to run out candidates names and its going to bring more popularity and more votes, Clapp said.

If you think about voter turnout for local elections, though, its already pretty low and a lot of the people dont vote because of the number one key indicator of how you vote: Is there an R or D after your name? If you dont know what the options are, you give up.

13 political cartoons skewer George Santos
TALLINN, Estonia  The whereabouts of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny were unknown on Monday as officials at the penal colony where he is serving his sentence told one of his lawyers that he is no longer on the inmate roster, his spokeswoman said.

It had been nearly a week since the spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, had contacted Navalny. Prison officials "refuse to say where they transferred him," she said in posts on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A Navalny lawyer waiting at another penal colony in the region where he could have been transferred was told the facility had no such inmate, Yarmysh said.

"It remains unclear where Alexei is," she wrote.

Navalny has been serving a 19-year term on charges of extremism in a maximum-security prison, Penal Colony No. 6, in the town of Melekhovo in the Vladimir region, about 230 kilometers (140 miles) east of Moscow. He was due to be transferred to a "special security" penal colony, a facility with the highest security level in the Russian penitentiary system.

Russian prison transfers are notorious for taking a long time, sometimes weeks, during which there's no access to prisoners and information about their whereabouts is limited or unavailable. Navalny could be transferred to one of a number of such penal colonies across Russia.

Yarmysh earlier on Monday said that Navalny was due to appear in court that day via video link but did not, and that it has been six days since his lawyers or allies last heard from him.

Navalny, 47, has been behind bars since January 2021. As President Vladimir Putin's fiercest foe, he campaigned against official corruption and organized major anti-Kremlin protests. His arrest came upon his return to Moscow from Germany, where he recuperated from nerve agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin.

Navalny has since been handed three prison terms and spent months in isolation in the penal colony in the Vladimir region for alleged minor infractions.

He has rejected all charges against him as politically motivated.

Last week, Yarmysh said that for three days in a row Navalny's lawyers spent hours at the penal colony waiting for permission to visit him, only to be turned away at the last minute. Letters to the politician were not being delivered, and he didn't appear at scheduled court hearings via video link.

Yarmysh said Friday that the developments were concerning given that Navalny recently fell ill: "He felt dizzy and lay down on the floor. Prison officials rushed to him, unfolded the bed, put Alexei on it and gave him an IV drip. We don't know what caused it, but given that he's being deprived of food, kept in a cell without ventilation and has been offered minimal outdoor time, it looks like fainting out of hunger."

She added that lawyers visited him after the incident and he looked "more or less fine."

Concerns about Navalny reverberated across the globe. White House national security council spokesman John Kirby on Monday said that Navalny "should be released immediately" and "should never have been jailed in the first place."

"And we're going to work with our embassy in Moscow to see how much more we can find out," Kirby said.

___

Associated Press writer Chris Megerian aboard Air Force One contributed to this report.

___
Ron DeSantis expansive political machine is facing a churn of leadership, stagnant polling numbers and new concerns about potential legal conflicts. Multiple people familiar with DeSantis political network said that he and his wife had expressed concerns about the messaging of Never Back Down, the largest super PAC supporting the governors campaign. DeSantis team shared those messaging concerns with Never Back Downs board members, including Florida-based members with close ties to the governor. Federal law prohibits coordination between a campaign and a super PAC, though murky relationships between campaigns and allied outside groups have become commonplace. The DeSantis campaign says it remains focused on organizing in Iowa and sharing our vision.
Breaking news Houston Chronicle

A Houston police officer has been arrested and accused of driving while intoxicated.

Sgt. Kevin Tabora, who was assigned to the downtown patrol division, was arrested Saturday and booked into the Harris County Jail on one count of driving while intoxicated, according to the Houston Police Department.

MORE HOUSTON NEWS: Thousands of pounds of red snapper seized off Texas coast

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The man had been sworn in as an officer in December 2011, according to department officials.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Moments after a Nebraska priest called 911 to report that a man was standing in his kitchen with a knife, a dispatcher on the line heard screaming and a struggle. A deputy arriving a few minutes later heard the priest shout, Help me, before he found the man lying near the kitchen, bleeding profusely, according to murder charges filed Tuesday.

Nebraska prosecutors charged Kierre L. Williams, 43, with first-degree murder, burglary and two weapons counts in the stabbing of the Rev. Stephen Gutgsell, a priest at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun. Authorities said Gutgsell was attacked during a break-in at the church rectory, a crime that rocked the small town just north of Omaha.

An affidavit filed along with the charges details what deputies found when they arrived at the rectory, which is a home next to the church.

The documents did not detail any motive for the attack except to say the killing happened during a burglary. There is no mention of any prior connection between Williams and the 65-year-old priest.

After Gutgsell called 911 around 5 a.m. Sunday to report that a man was standing in his kitchen with a knife, the operator heard a struggle and screaming over the phone, according to the affidavit.

Washington County Deputy Brady Tucker said in the affidavit that the front door had been forced open when he arrived at the house. After he identified himself, he heard a man call out, Im here from the direction of the kitchen and Help me. When the deputy asked who else was in the home the voice said an intruder.

Court documents say Gutgsell was bleeding profusely from wounds on his face, hands and back when he was found lying in his kitchen with Williams sprawled on top of him. Williams was perpendicular to Gutgsell, with his back on top of the priest's chest.

The bloody knife used in the attack was found later in a bedroom next to a large pool of blood. Court documents did not explain how the struggle unfolded.

The rectory where Gutsgell lived is a one-story home with a two-car garage. It is newer but smaller than most of the homes in the neighborhood surrounding the church, which bears a cornerstone saying it was built in 1982.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office said Williams is from Sioux City, Iowa, which is about 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of Fort Calhoun, a town of about 1,000 residents.

Tucker said in his affidavit that he learned Williams was a felon with multiple warrants. Public records show Williams has been convicted of crimes in multiple states, including a drug possession case in Texas and more than a dozen cases in Florida dating back to his teens. He was recently charged with misdemeanor assault in a July soup kitchen fight in Sioux City, Iowa. He was homeless at the time of the fight, court records show.

Williams does not have a lawyer yet in Nebraska and will make his initial court appearance Thursday. His public defender in the Iowa assault case said he did not know anything about the Nebraska case and hung up on an Associated Press reporter Tuesday.

Gutgsell's stabbing is the second killing in Fort Calhoun this year, unnerving residents of the normally tranquil town. Both killings happened during break-ins where there was no clear connection between the intruders and the victims, making them all the more troubling.

It shouldnt happen in a small town like this, bar owner Andy Faucher said Monday as people gathered a few blocks from where Gutgsell was stabbed. Faucher said the fact that this latest killing involved a priest only intensifies the scariness of the situation.

Associated Press writer Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas, contributed to this report.
A 43-year-old Iowa man has been charged with first-degree murder and other felonies in connection with a brutal and seemingly random attack on a Fort Calhoun priest.

Kierre L. Williams, 43, from Sioux City, Iowa, was taken into custody Sunday morning after he was found laying on top of the Rev. Stephen Gutgsell, 65, inside the rectory of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church where Gutgsell lived. Court documents allege that Williams stabbed Gutgsell multiple times in the face, hands and back before he laid on top of Gutgsell in a "T" position as the priest yelled for help.

Williams faces charges of first-degree murder, burglary, possession of a weapon as a felon and use of a weapon to commit a felony. He is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday afternoon.

According to an arrest affidavit for Williams, Washington County Dispatch received a 911 call from Gutgsell reporting a home invasion in the rectory at 5:03 a.m. Gutgsell reportedly told dispatchers a man was in his kitchen and armed with a knife.

As a sheriff's deputy rushed to the scene, dispatchers advised the deputy an active disturbance was taking place and "they heard a struggle and screaming over the phone," according to the affidavit. The first responding deputy arrived at 5:09 a.m.

The front door to the rectory was open and the lights were on inside of the home. According to the affidavit, the deputy heard a male voice yelling "in here" and "help me" among other phrases as he walked into the entryway.

In a walkway near the kitchen, the deputy found Gutgsell laying on his back and "bleeding profusely" with a "severe" laceration to his face. According to the affidavit, Williams was found laying on top of Gutgsell in a "T" formation with his back against Gutgsell's chest.

The deputy commanded Williams to get on the ground, not move and place his hands behind his back, to which he complied. The deputy then told Gutgsell, who was suffering from multiple stab wounds to his face, hands and back, to crawl away from where Williams was laying.

At 5:10 a.m., two additional deputies arrived at the scene and handcuffed Williams before dragging him out of the way to allow Gutgsell to receive medical attention. Gutgsell was declared dead at the hospital within hours of the attack.

No weapon was found on Williams upon his arrest, but investigators later found a bloody knife blade and a large pool of blood on the floor of a bedroom in the rectory, according to the affidavit.

Gutgsells death came as a shock to residents of Fort Calhoun, a small town of approximately 1,000 people located about 17 miles north of Omaha. Gutgsell had been serving as priest of the St. Johns parish for about a decade. He also assisted at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Blair.

The archdiocese said in a press release that plans for who will be the priest at St. Johns parish are still being finalized. Details are expected to be announced later this week.

Funeral arrangements for Gutgsell are pending.

Photos: Washington County Sheriff's office investigates scene of fatal stabbing of priest
Donald Trumps stranglehold on the Republican presidential primary in Iowa continues  in fact, his lead grew  in the latest Iowa Poll from the Des Moines Register, NBC News and Mediacom.

Trump, the former president who is seeking a return to the White House, was the first choice of 51% of those surveyed in the latest Iowa Poll, far ahead of the remainder of the Republican presidential primary field.

That 51% is up 8 percentage points from Trumps support in the October Iowa Poll.

Trumps lead over the field increased to 32 points; Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis polled at 19% in the new Iowa Poll and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley was at 16%.

DeSantis and Haley are working to increase their support in Iowa and mount a challenge to Trump. DeSantis support increased 3 points from the October poll, while Haleys support remained flat.

That lack of movement for the duo came despite recent endorsements for each: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Christian conservative leader Bob Vander Plaats for DeSantis, and the Koch family-funded, conservative Americans for Prosperity advocacy organization for Haley.

No other candidates received more than 5% in the latest Iowa Poll.

The first-in-the-nation Iowa Republican caucuses will be held Jan. 15.
Vivienne Clarke

The chief executive of the migrants rights organisation Doras, John Lannon, has said that he did not think it was possible for the Taoiseach to give an assurance that Ukrainian refugees would not end up sleeping on the streets in Ireland.

Speaking on RTE radios Morning Ireland, Mr Lannon expressed concern that if the 90-day limit on accommodation is imposed it would drive people into homelessness and put people in precarious positions.

It's likely to leave women, children and men on the streets. We know that there are already 6000 people stuck in direct provision with refugee status, but they can't leave because there's no affordable accommodation.

There was no accommodation available for them, which was the reason why they were not leaving direct provision, he explained.

There is still a lack of clarity around the proposals, but we do have to also note that the problem here is that the Government hasn't done enough to provide mid to long-term accommodation.

They need to do that for both beneficiaries of temporary protection and for international protection applicants. We and others have been saying this for a year and a half now, but it still hasn't happened.

The Department of Children are still carrying the can when it comes to finding accommodation.

"Civil society, of course, has played its part as well, but it's now well pastime that the Department of Housing became involved to provide for the needs for people coming from Ukraine.

On Monday, coalition leaders signed off on plans to alter support for Ukrainian refugees in receipt of State accommodation.

Ukrainian refugees can currently receive 220 in jobseekers allowance while looking for work.

The proposals, which goes for formal Cabinet approval on Tuesday, would see the weekly 220 payment drop to 38.80 for those housed by the State.

Applicants could see the payment increase if they leave State-provided accommodation.

It is understood the proposals would also limit State accommodation for any new arrivals to 90 days.

The Government has said it is no longer possible to house all international protection applicants indefinitely.
 The heads of national delegations exchanged views on the situation in the field of biological security in the Organizations area of responsibility and the prospects for interaction between the CSTO member states in this area.

 The Russian side heard information about international exercises of rapid response teams to emergency situations of a sanitary and epidemiological nature based on mobile laboratories.

 The Action Plan of the Coordination Council for 2024-2025 was approved.

The next meeting is scheduled for the second half of 2024 in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

***

The Coordination Council of authorized bodies of the CSTO member states on biological safety issues was created at the initiative of the Russian Federation in 2021 by decision of the Committee of Secretaries of the CSTO Security Councils, taking into account the growing challenges in the field of biosafety in the post-Soviet space.

This subsidiary body is designed to solve the problems of coordinating activities and cooperation in the field of preventing and countering biological threats, to analyze the situation, exchange experience and information, as well as develop joint measures on issues related to the protection of citizens and territories of the CSTO member states from biological threats, to promote effective interaction of specialized institutions and organizations in the CSTO countries.

WtR
An Iowa man was injured Tuesday morning when the semi truck he was driving rolled over in Richmond Township near Winona.

Joseph Scott Biagioli, 41, of Des Moines, Iowa was driving a 2002 Volvo Tractor eastbound on County Road 3 at 8:15 a.m. when authorities said the semi crossed Highway 61.

The semi rolled and came to a final rest on the railroad tracks, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

Biagioli, who was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, suffered from non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at Gundersen in La Crosse.

No alcohol was involved in the crash and the road conditions were dry.
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Breaking news Houston Chronicle

A Houston Police Department sergeant was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, the department said.

Sgt. Kevin Tabora was relieved of duty because of the Saturday arrest, HPD said Monday night in a post on X.

MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: What does it mean for an officer to be relieved of duty?

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Tabora's arrest is being investigated by the police department's internal affairs division, according to the post.

"HPD holds its officers to the highest standard and will take appropriate action up to, and including, termination," the post said.

Tabora, 36, is assigned to the downtown patrol division. He has worked for the police department since 2011.

Court records show Tabora was arrested around 3:20 a.m. Saturday. He was released on a general order bond and is scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 15, according to court records.
You can also text the word "SHARE" and then a dollar amount to 50155 to donate directly to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.
Celebrities and plastic surgery go hand in hand  with the former traditionally serving as walking advertisements for the latter. But Hollywood types have preferred not to blab about it publicly, for fear of upsetting the illusion that their youthful appearance is natural, regardless of their age.

That may be changing a bit, with at least two celebs  with polar positions  speaking out recently about getting work done. For one, its Never! For the other, its No regrets!

AARP Membership Join AARP for $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. Join Now

Julie Chen Moonves, 53, the former news anchor-turned-TV personality as a cohost of the CBS reality show Big Brother for 23 years, is in the latter camp, as she explained in a recent interview with AARP.org.

Big Brothers 25th season concluded in November, and a new spin-off series, Big Brother Reindeer Games, premieres on Monday, Dec. 11. Meanwhile, Chen Moonves has been making the media rounds to promote her audio memoir, But First, God, about how she found salvation through Christ during a period of professional and personal turmoil.

In interviews for the memoir, she has been reluctant to delve into some aspects of the unhappy past, when her husband, Les Moonves, 73, the former chief of CBS, was accused by multiple women in 2018 of sexual misconduct. Those cases were settled and no criminal charges were filed. Soon after, she was gone from her daytime job as a panelist on The Talk. She backed her husband (he denied the allegations) and showed her support by changing her professional name to Julie Chen Moonves.

And then she got a lower facelift, a less invasive procedure than a full facelift. During interviews for her audiobook, she joked that she had wanted a revenge face after the unpleasantness of exiting The Talk. (She now acknowledges she was fired.)

For an AARP exploration of aging and attitudes toward aging in Hollywood, Chen Moonves spoke frankly about her surgery, which occurred just before she turned 50, chatting openly about her delight at the results and offering advice to others considering it.

What was the reaction among family, friends and the public to your facelift?

The most important reactions to monitor, Chen Moonves says, are from your mom, your husband, and your makeup artist. In that order. Actually, maybe makeup artist first, she half-jokes. And it was all amazing and positive  a lot of support before and after, no regrets. And the good news is the public reaction wasnt, like, What happened, you look different! Because I did learn early on, you dont want to look different. You want to look rested. So I think we achieved that.

Any second thoughts?

Oh, Im so glad I did it. Not once did I ever think of backing out or regretting it. I was happier than I even expected to be. The results were better than I could have imagined.

Did you get negative blowback after your earlier eyelift surgery?

Yeah, I did, admits Chen Moonves.

When she was an ambitious 25-year-old TV reporter of Chinese descent, she had a surgical procedure called a blepharoplasty. The procedure is sometimes medically required to correct obstructed vision, but critics claim some patients just want to look more Western. Chen Moonves said on The Talk in 2013 that she had sought a double-lid procedure to help her career, after her agent suggested it and her boss said her eyes made her look disinterested and too Chinese.

I got some blowback within my own family before I had it. I had a sister who thought it was, you know, denying my heritage, and she thought it was ridiculous. And then people in the newsroom back then in Dayton, Ohio, they were just kind of baffled. Like they didnt even understand what it was I was doing, trying to achieve or why.


US$2.3m North American Equipment Sale

Sydney, Dec 12, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Etherstack plc ( ASX:ESK ) is pleased to advise the group's North American subsidiary, Etherstack Inc., has signed a follow on US$2.3m deal to supply further digital radio communications technology to a North American channel partner, Daniels Electronics Ltd, a subsidiary of Codan Limited ( ASX:CDA ).



This renewal follows on from the US$1.35m deal announced in February 2020. The hardware components of the equipment to be supplied are manufactured in Australia by Etherstack.



The supply contract has an initial 6-year term and has provisions that are expected to generate Etherstack additional licensing and support revenues beyond the baseline US$2.3m. The majority of the baseline revenue will be recognised within the next 18 months.



Etherstack's CEO, David Deacon, said "We are very pleased to continue our longstanding relationship with one of Codan's North American business units. This is a good example of co-operation between Australian technology companies in the global market, and we continue to explore other areas of collaboration between the businesses".





About Etherstack Plc





Etherstack (ASX:ESK) is the world's leading licensor of wireless technologies for the digital LMR industry and the Company develops wireless products for the main digital radio communications standards known as APCO P25, TETRA and DMR. Over the past 25 years, over twenty wireless equipment manufacturers have licensed LMR technologies from Etherstack for use in their products.

MCPTT over LTE is an emerging cellular standard that provides public safety grade PTT (Push-To-Talk) solutions within 4G and 5G cellular networks. Demand for MCPTT services and equipment by telecommunications carriers and end user agencies has been steadily growing in the past few years and is expected to rise rapidly over the next 36-48 months.

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Texas A&M University Interim President Mark A. Welsh III talks to Paige Hayden, a junior biomedical sciences student, after speaking about his plans for the university following an assessment of the Path Forward initiatives during an all-faculty, staff and student meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 in College Station. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Gen. Mark A. Welsh III will serve as the 27th president of Texas A&M University, where he faces the momentous tasks of repairing relations with faculty who lost trust in the prior administration as well as maintaining the identity of the rapidly growing and changing institution.

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents unanimously approved Welsh on Tuesday, authorizing Chancellor John Sharp to begin negotiating his contract. The board members opted for stability in choosing the retired U.S. Air Force command pilot: He has served as interim president since July, when former President M. Katherine Banks resigned in the fallout of a botched hiring effort that was mired in politically motivated outside interference.

Welsh will earn an annual starting salary of $1.1 million, according to university officials.

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The board is certain that General Welsh will make a Texas-sized impact as President of our world-class flagship, Chairman Bill Mahomes said in a statement. His remarkable career embodies Aggie core values. Now his mission is to raise Texas A&Ms national stature in research, education, and student experience.

More by Samantha Ketterer: Texas university students tread divisive climate amid Israel-Hamas war

Welsh got a jump on several initiatives in his new office, having spent the fall working to restore A&Ms national reputation after scandal and regain the confidence of students, faculty and staff who say that the previous president didnt involve them enough in decision making. Faculty leaders have also said that hiring efforts have suffered as a result of past outside interference in their affairs, which they say infringed on their rights in the hiring and promotion process and chilled their speech in the classroom.

A&M System Chancellor John Sharp recommended Welsh to the Board of Regents, forgoing a national search for president given the urgency to select a new top administrator at the College Station campus. Welsh was one of four finalists for the position in 2021, when Banks was eventually selected.

Welsh served since 2016 as dean of Texas A&Ms Bush School of Government and Public Service, until Sharp named him acting president and the Board of Regents appointed him interim this summer.

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He served a distinguished four-decade career in the U.S. Air Force before that, rising through the ranks to chief of staff in 2012. He also commanded the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and NATOs Air Command at Ramstein Air Base in Germany; served as associate director of military affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency; and served as commandant of the United States Air Force Academy.

I just promise I will do everything in my power not to let you down, Welsh told the regents after the vote. More importantly, not to let down this remarkable university that Ive loved for a long time. Its a big deal to me.

Texas A&M University holds what is believed to be the largest population of any four-year institution in the nation, at more than 77,000 undergraduates, graduates and professional students enrolled this fall. Welsh will take the helm amid ongoing conversations about how to balance growth with a desire to maintain the traditions and core values that keep the A&M student experience distinct  excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service. As interim, he had already announced two university studies to kick off in January and go through June, one on capacity and the other on student experience.

Welsh is not an Aggie himself  he graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1976  but he grew up in San Antonio and comes from a large Aggie family. As interim president, he remained active with students, faculty and staff, sending the campus more than 20 personalized letters in a few months and launching an assessment of the former presidents controversial Path Forward plan, which upended the universitys academic departments in quick time and landed poorly with many in the A&M community.

Welshs assessment resulted in more than 100 meetings with students, faculty and staff and a conclusion that much of the plan would stay put to minimize further disruption at A&M.

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I have rarely seen anybody that has the kind of support from the former students, from the students, from the faculty, that Gen. Welsh has, Sharp said Tuesday. I look forward to a great administration under his guidance.

Faculty Senate Speaker Tracy Hammond agreed that her colleagues largely supported Welsh, although she regretted that they werent able to provide formal input before he became the sole finalist for the permanent position last month.

We were in a really difficult place. Everybody is supportive of the outcome but not necessarily the process, Hammond said. But I also understand very much so that our university needs some stability  I agree very strongly in President Welsh being the right person for that job.

Texas A&M University System leaders are looking to move past several incidents that placed the flagship in national headlines this summer. The former president resigned after Kathleen McElroy, a prominent Black journalist, told the Texas Tribune that A&M watered down her contract to lead the universitys revived journalism program over outside concerns about her experience in diversity, equity and inclusion. An internal review found that Banks directed the contract changes, and A&M reached a $1 million settlement with McElroy, who remains a tenured faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin.

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The university later came under fire after the Tribune found that a professor was placed on administrative leave following an accusation that she made personal attacks against Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during a guest lecture.

Faculty said the first incident was concerning for a breach in standard hiring practices, and the second for a supposed threat to academic freedom, or the right for faculty to speak freely and conduct research and teach on the topics they choose.


Raiden secures 100% of LCT & Ni-Cu-PGE Mineral Rights

Perth, Dec 12, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Raiden Resources Limited ( ASX:RDN ) is pleased to announce that it has secured a 100% interest of LCT and Ni-CuPGE mineral rights over the Mt Sholl project.



Mr Dusko Ljubojevic, Managing Director of Raiden commented: "This transaction not only provides the Company with 100% exposure to the potential LCT mineralisation on the project, in what has become an emerging LCT district and where the Company has recently demonstrated the potential for lithium mineralisation by defining multi-kilometre lithium in soil anomalies, but also provides the Company with 100% exposure to the Mt Sholl Ni-Cu-PGE deposit. While management has recently focused on lithium exploration throughout its portfolio in the Pilbara, we believe that the Mt Sholl Ni-Cu-PGE deposit represents significant potential to unlocking a district scale Nickel-Copper camp. Having also secured a 100% position in the base metal rights, the Company is in a position to also consider strategic options and partnerships as a means for advancing the Mt Sholl Ni-Cu-PGE deposit."



Management considers the Mt Sholl project to be prospective for lithium-bearing pegmatite mineralisation. On the basis of the recently announced lithium in soil anomalies and pegmatite drill intercept by GreenTech Metals Ltd ( ASX:GRE ), the Company carried out a soil sampling program, over what it considered are the most prospective zones. As a result of the program, several multi-kilometre lithium in soil trends and anomalies have been defined. These anomalies appear to correlate to the recent discoveries on the eastern side of the project area. The Company plans to initiate follow up groundwork on these anomalies in the early part of 2024, which will hopefully delineate further targets for follow up drilling.



Mt Sholl Ni-Cu-PGE Deposit



In April of 2023 the Company announced a Maiden JORC Mineral Resource ("MRE"), as well as a JORC Exploration Target for the Mt Sholl Ni-Cu-PGE deposit.



The MRE defined the following maiden resource:



23.4Mt @ 0.60% Ni_Eq1 or 1.54% Cu_Eq1 (at a 0.35% Ni_Eq cut-off) containing;



- 83.9kt of Ni metal, 93.7kt copper metal and 233,644oz of Pd+Pt+Au



- Including 5.8Mt @ 0.94% Ni_Eq or 2.48% Cu_Eq (at 0.70% Ni_Eq cut-off)



- 20.3Mt @ 0.58% Ni_Eq or 1.49% Cu_Eq are constrained within four shallow open pits (at 0.35% Ni_Eq cut-off)



- Larger resource of 40.4Mt @ 0.45% Ni_Eq1 or 1.17% Cu_Eq containing 183.2kt of Ni metal, 473.0kt copper metal and 300,972oz of Pd+Pt+Au (at 0.15% Ni_Eq cut-off)



- Mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth across all 4 deposits and is only constrained by current drilling



On the basis of geological modelling, geophysics and drilling, the Company defined a further JORC Exploration target including:

JORC Exploration Target of 80 - 150Mt at a grade range of 0.45% - 0.75% Ni_Eq or 1.15% - 1.95% Cu_Eq



Welcome Transaction Terms



Under the terms of the agreement, Raiden will acquire 20% of tenement holding from Welcome and post transaction will have 100% of the mineral rights in the 12 tenements.



In consideration for the acquisition of Welcome Exploration's 20% interest in the Tenements, Raiden will:



(i) pay the Vendor (or its nominee) cash consideration of $1,500,000 within 5 business days of fulfilment of the Conditions (Cash Consideration); and



(ii) issue the Vendor (or its nominee) $2,000,000 worth of fully paid ordinary shares in the Company (Consideration Shares) within 5 business days of fulfilment of the Conditions, at a deemed issue price of $0.05 per share, the consideration shares will be issued subject to approval by Raiden's shareholders.



The Consideration Shares are subject to a period of six (6) months voluntary escrow from the date of completion of the Proposed Transaction (Completion). Prior to Completion, the Vendor will enter into a voluntary restriction deed, on customary terms, to effect the voluntary escrow arrangement. The vendor will retain a 20% interest in the gold rights in the project (with Raiden owning 80% of the gold rights), which is free-carried to a final investment decision.



In addition to the Consideration, a milestone payment is payable of $5m in cash or script (if elected, shares are to be issued at $0.05 per share), upon a decision made by Raiden to proceed with the construction and operation of a mine (with or without a processing facility) on any Tenement or any part of a Tenement with respect to any mineral, excluding gold (Decision to Mine).



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/98M0R9OU





About Raiden Resources Limited





Raiden Resources Limited (ASX:RDN) (DAX:YM4) is a dual listed exploration and development company which is advancing the Mt Sholl Nickel-Copper-Cobalt-Palladium deposit in the Pilbara. The Company's portfolio host metals and commodities considered critical for the revolution of the energy and electrification revolution.

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The 'Mission: Impossible' actress was smitten by the Ethan Hunt depicter after seeing his role as a blood sucker in the classic horror adaptation of Anne Rice's novel.

Dec 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - Rebecca Ferguson let Tom Cruise know that she used to have a crush on him. The 40-year-old actress had a "big" infatuation with her "Mission: Impossible" co-star after seeing him in his 1994 horror movie "Interview with the Vampire" and was only too happy to admit her feelings when they met for the first time.

"I had a crush on him by the time I saw him star in 'Interview with the Vampire'. It's certainly a weird film, and I told him when we worked together that I had a big crush. I'm sure he was delighted! Who wouldn't be?" she told Sunday Times Culture magazine.

"Tom is a huge movie star, but I've been fortunate to work with so many great people. When I worked with Meryl Streep on 'Florence Foster Jenkins', I would go to the set, even when we weren't filming, just to see her act. She's spectacular."

Rebecca has never felt comfortable on the red carpet and has been studying her "Dune" co-star Zendaya Coleman tips for posing at ease. She said, "I was nominated for my first Golden Globe award in 2013 with 'The White Queen', with other nominees including Helena Bonham Carter and Helen Mirren."

"I just rocked up on the red carpet. I was winging it. I had no make-up artists or stylists. I was smiling for photos and then Cate Blanchett's team started nudging me to ask, 'Is it all right if Cate takes this?" She glided effortlessly, while I walked like a lumberjack."

"I'm not great at red carpets. Zendaya, who I worked with on 'Dune', can just play on set, wearing socks and no make-up, crazy hair, and then just put it on for the red carpet and become like a cat. I study how she does it, even though I'm older."

The "Doctor Sleep" actress had never even acted at school before she landed her first role, in Swedish soap opera "Nya Tider" when she was 16. She said, "I was the beige one in the popular group at school. I was very plain, ordinary, easygoing and didn't do school plays or Nativities. Then one day, despite never acting, I did a casting for a soap opera, Nya Tider, and I guess it came naturally to me."

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The 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' actor and the 'Give or Take' actress appear to have kept news about welcoming their second child together under tight wraps.

Dec 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - Congratulations are in order for Adam Driver and Joanne Tucker. The "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" actor and the "Give or Take" actress reportedly have welcomed their second child together, though they kept the happy news under tight wraps.

The 40-year-old actor and the 41-year-old actress have added a baby girl to their family of three, as reported by Page Six on Monday, December 11. However, the wedded couple has not made an official announcement about it yet.

The outlet also revealed that Adam had shared the news about Joanne giving birth to their second child with his co-workers. While practicing his opening monologue during a dress rehearsal for "Saturday Night Live", he reportedly stated, "Last year, I asked for a baby girl, and I got it, which is exhausting." He went on to say, "So this year, I wish for Ambien!"

The exciting news was unveiled several months after it was reported that Adam and Joanne were expecting their second child. In February, she was caught on camera with an apparent baby bump, which was covered with a top, during a rare public outing with Adam.

In the pictures, which were published by Page Six, Joanne and Adam could be seen unloading their car in front of their apartment in New York City after a grocery run. He was seen taking a large white bag and a baby reclined bather from their car onto a cart. In the meantime, Joanne was carrying a big black leather tote bag.

At that time, Joanne kept herself warm in a light gray sweatshirt and a pair of body-fitted long black pants. She also donned a blue beanie, a pair of black glasses, colorful sneakers and short black socks. Meanwhile, Adam sported a long-sleeved top, a pair of black jeans, brown boots, black shades and a matching beanie.

Adam and Joanne started their romantic relationship after meeting at The Juilliard School back in the early 2000s. They held a wedding ceremony in June 2013. The notoriously private couple welcomed their first child, a son, in 2016. However, they kept the news a secret until it got out two years later.

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While making a speech at the ceremony, the 'Iron Claw' actor pays tribute to his late '17 Again' co-star, whom he remembers as being 'so kind and generous' with him during the filming of their 2009 movie.

Dec 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - Zac Efron made sure not to leave out Matthew Perry from his speech as the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. As he was awarded with his own star on Monday, December 11, the 36-year-old paid tribute to his late "17 Again" co-star.

"The Iron Claw" star remembered the "Friends" alum as being "so kind and generous with me" during the filming of their 2009 comedy movie. "Collaborating with him and [director Burr Steers] - it was so much fun and really did propel me and motivate me in so many ways," he recalled. "It really pushed me into the next chapter of my career, and for that, thank you so much, Matthew. Thinking about you a lot today."

Zac's friends and co-stars, including Steve Nissen, Sean Durkin, Miles Teller and Jeremy Allen White, were present to help celebrate his milestone. Miles said in his speech, "For our generation, Zac was and is the first true superstar to come out of our class."

The "Top Gun: Maverick" actor praised the "High School Musical" star for how he has dealt with being "catapulted" into fame after having his breakthrough with the popular Disney Channel film. He continued, "Hollywood is a tough place," filled with stories about child actors who "20 years later, they're not standing up here in this capacity."

"Zac didn't just want to be famous. He didn't care about being on the cover of all those magazines. He wanted to be an actor. That is why we're here today, because Zac has delivered on that promise," he added of his friend. "He's a true triple threat with a combination of immense talent, incredible work ethic and an above-average face." Miles referred to Zac as "the first true superstar to come out of our class."

Zac previously addressed Matthew's passing at the premiere of his film "The Iron Claw" in Dallas, Texas back in November. He told PEOPLE that he would love to play his "17 Again" co-star in a future biopic, after Matthew expressed he would want Zac to play him before his sudden passing on October 28. "I'm honored to hear he was thinking of me to play him," the "Hairspray" star told the outlet. "We'll see. I'd be honored to do it."

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In a new interview, the Elvis Presley depicter in 'Priscilla' explains that this is currently the most 'free' he has ever felt in his career as he recalls his school days.

Dec 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - Jacob Elordi felt "deeply unsettled" when he was at school. The 26-year-old actor has recently enjoyed a star turn as the late King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley in the biopic "Priscilla" and explained that this is currently the most "free" he has ever felt in his career as he recalled discovering acting in an epiphanic moment at school during what was otherwise a "deeply unsettled" time for him.

He told Variety, " I feel the most free in my career that I ever have. When I was 15, I was at an all-boys Catholic school. I was deeply unsettled and didnt know why. In theater class, I read 'Waiting for Godot.' I didnt understand it, but something changed."

"Everything that I believed in just went out the window. I became an observer. Acting and performance and story became my church. I worked 24 hours a day, devouring everything that I could. My personality changed," he continued.

However, the "Euphoria" star, who started his film career opposite Joey King in teen franchise "The Kissing Booth", went on to add that despite finding success in Hollywood, the passion he felt in school disappeared and he ended up in a "scramble" for a number of years.

He explained, "Then I started making movies, and it went away. For two or three years, I was in a scramble. Even during 'Euphoria,' I was trying to catch it and find it again, because all these rules and ideas start getting put on performance. My whole thing was about losing myself in the performance. But now Im bringing 'Jacob Elordi' to a performance, which is such a heady, trippy thing. Ive been in the process of trying to shake it as it grows bigger and louder. But strangely enough, Im in a place now where I feel free."

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The 26-year-old cosmetics mogul and TV personality shows subtle support for her actor boyfriend at the premiere event for his new movie 'Wonka' in Los Angeles.

Dec 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - More details about Kylie Jenner's subtle support for her boyfriend Timothee Chalamet have emerged online. A new video caught a glimpse of the cosmetics mogul and TV personality attending the premiere event for his new movie "Wonka" in Los Angeles on Sunday night, December 10.

Opting to avoid the spotlight, the 26-year-old star of "The Kardashians", who was joined by her mom Kris Jenner, decided not to walk the red carpet that night. Instead, a video obtained by TMZ spotted Kylie sneaking into the Regency Village Theatre in Westwood just in time for the screening.

For the outing, the Khy founder was twinning with her boyfriend. The Kylie Cosmetics CEO was pictured arriving at the venue in an all-black outfit which consisted of a sheer top with a tight maxi skirt. The mom of two attempted to go low-key as she accessorized herself with dark sunglasses and a fuzzy purse.

A source told E! News that Kylie and Timothee were seen getting "very cozy" at the event. It was also said that Kylie and Kris were seemingly "loving the movie."

As for Timothee, the "Dune: Part Two" actor opted for an all-black snakeskin ensemble. The 27-year-old Oscar nominee seemed to have a blast at the premiere as he took some selfies with fans and posed for photographers solo. At one point, he was joined by co-stars Hugh Grant and Keegan-Michael Key.

Kylie and Timothee, who confirmed their romance in September, reportedly grow stronger day by day. Earlier this month, an informant said that the actor was "in awe" of his girlfriend and "everything she is accomplishing."

"He is very supportive of her career and she of his," the source further claimed, adding, "They both try to attend important events for each other. Since dating him, she seems very content, relaxed and focused." It was also said that the Kardashian-Jenner family "love[s]" the "Little Women (2019)" star as they think he is "very good" for Kylie.

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Nearly a month after the 'Equalizer' actor was officially announced to star in Antoine Fuqua's upcoming film, it sparks criticism about his casting as the ancient Carthaginian general.

Dec 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - Denzel Washington's casting in Antoine Fuqua's upcoming movie has stirred a controversy. After it was announced that the actor has been tapped to portray ancient Carthaginian general Hannibal in the Netflix movie, criticism arose about depicting the lead military commander as a black African.

Member of Parliament Yassine Mami has pointed out that Hannibal, who was born in 247 BC in Carthage, now known as Tunis, the Tunisian capital, was of West Asian Semitic origin. "There is a risk of falsifying history: we need to take position on this subject," the Tunisian politician reportedly stated.

French-language Tunisian newspaper La Presse has also published an editorial in which it similarly argues that depicting Hannibal as a black African is "according to Tunisians and many observers, a historical error."

On the other hand, Tunisian culture minister Hayet Ketat-Guermazi doesn't seem to see any problem with the casting. "It's fiction. It is their [Netflix's] right to do what they want," she responded to the controversy, according to French newspaper Le Monde (via Variety).

The Tunisian official went on stating, "Hannibal is a historical figure and we are all proud that he was Tunisian. But what can we do?" Instead of taking issue with it, she revealed that she is trying to negotiate with Netflix to shoot at least a portion of the film in Tunisia.

"I hope they decide to shoot at least a sequence of the film here and that that this is publicized. We want Tunisia to go back to being a location where foreign films are shot," Ketat-Guermazi stated, per the French news outlet.

Netflix, Washington and Fuqua have not responded to the complaints regarding his casting.

The still-untitled film will center on the legendary Hannibal, who invaded Italy famously riding a Northern African war elephant. According to the official logline, the movie is "based on real-life warrior Hannibal, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest military commanders in history. The film covers the pivotal battles he led against the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War."

Three-time Academy Award winner John Logan, who wrote Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" and Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator", is penning the script. Fuqua, Washington, Erik Olsen and Adam Goldworm will produce, with Jeremy Lott and Frank Rodriguez Moll serving as executive producers.

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Words are the 'Batman' star has been 'sure' about the 'Assassination Nation' actress 'for quite some time' and her pregnancy has only moved forward what he was planning to do in the near future.

Dec 13, 2023

AceShowbiz - Robert Pattinson is seemingly ready to retire his bachelor status. After dating Suki Waterhouse for five years, the British actor is reportedly looking to take their relationship to the next level with an engagement.

A source told Life & Style that the Edward Cullen depicter in the "Twilight Saga" film series is planning to propose to his girlfriend over the holidays. "He's telling pals he's looking to propose over the holidays when they will be surrounded by family," the so-called insider dished.

According to the informant, the 37-year-old "has always been marriage shy," but the "Daisy Jones & the Six" actress made him more confident. "He's been sure about Suki for quite some time, and the fact that she's pregnant has just moved the clock forward on what he was planning to do in the near future," the source added.

As for Suki, she's apparently more than ready to walk down the aisle. The source said the 31-year-old actress is thrilled, but "she's been careful not to push Rob into proposing. It's what she's wanted - and what better time than the holidays to get engaged!"

Robert and Suki have been dating since mid-2018. The multihyphenate star first sparked the pregnancy speculation after the couple was spotted on a hike in Los Angeles in early November. After several other public outings, she finally confirmed her pregnancy at the Corona Capital Music Festival in Mexico City on Sunday, November 19. For the gig, she wore a glittery pink minidress, a feathery coat, fringe-trimmed boots and glittery tights.

The 31-year-old said onstage, "I'm extra sparkly today because I thought it might distract you from something else that's going on," while gesturing at her growing belly. She then proceeded to flap open her coat to reveal a baby bump, prompting the crowd to erupt in cheers.

Robert has not publicly addressed his girlfriend's pregnancy, but a source recently told ET, "Suki Waterhouse and Rob Pattinson are expecting their first child together. She is so happy, excited, and appreciative of this experience. Suki and Rob are adorable together."

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The 'Hangover' actor really went all out with his method acting before he took on the role of the famous Jewish composer in the movie supported by Carey Mulligan.

Dec 13, 2023

AceShowbiz - Bradley Cooper was in character as Leonard Bernstein a year before shooting his biopic "Maestro". The actor stars as the legendary composer in the film which he wrote and directed acting opposite Carey Mulligan who played Bernstein's wife Felicia Montealegre - and Carey has revealed Bradley was speaking in the composer's voice in phone calls to her 12 months before they started filming.

"He did so much prep. He prepped to the point where he walked on set and didn't have to think - like you say. And I think to be able to direct it and write it and star in it and all that stuff, he needed to get everything out of the way," she told Variety.

"So he was ringing me a year before in full Lenny voice and everything," she added, "I'd be putting the kids to bed, and I'd get a FaceTime with him as Lenny, 'OK. Call you back, mate!' "

Carey added of the Netflix movie, "When he [Bradley] first offered me the job, he was like, 'I want you to do this, but sort of on the proviso that you go and really give it everything'. Which I immediately thought in my head, 'Not all in.' "

"There was something about it. I thought, 'Oh, crikey, that's playing a real person.' And playing someone who does have this quite interesting dialect. And there's a real responsibility to their children who are a big part of this process. It was huge. But that was actually the only way to do it, was just to do the whole thing."

It comes after it was revealed Bradley was so devoted to the part of Leonard Bernstein he spent six years learning how to conduct a six-minute piece of music for a scene in the film in which he worked with a real orchestra.

Speaking at a Q and A in New York City, Bradley said, "That scene I was so worried about because we did it live. That was the London Symphony Orchestra. I was recorded live, I had to conduct them. And I spent six years learning how to conduct six minutes and 21 seconds of music."

The "A Star Is Born" actor thanked his "wonderful teachers" for helping him to recreate Bernstein's style with the baton. Bradley explained, "I was able to get the raw take where I just watched Leonard Bernstein (conduct) at Ely Cathedral with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1976. And so I had that to study. And Yannick Nezet-Seguin [Music director of the Metropolitan Opera] made videos with all the tempo changes, so I had all of the materials to just work on."

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Octavia Johnson is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at octavia.johnson@houstonchronicle.com.

Before joining the Chronicle, Octavia worked as a digital content producer at WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tenn., where she became a leader in producing fast paced, audience-focused content.

Octavia graduated from UNC Pembroke with a bachelor's degree in journalism before earning her master's degree in media and communications at Norfolk State University.
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The 'Jesus Is King' rhymer has shocked fans with his outrageous hood that resembles the infamous KKK outfit when celebrating the release of his new studio album 'Vultures'.

Dec 13, 2023

AceShowbiz - Kanye West is being blasted as sick for wearing a black version of a KKK-style hood. The controversy-mired rapper, 46, who has been dumped from his money-spinning brand deals over his anti-Semitic outbursts, wore the shock outfit to his "Vultures" album listening party on Monday, December 11.

Initially showing up to the do, dubbed the "Vultures Rave", with a garment covering his face, dad-of-four Kanye later changed into the dark pointy black hood as the title track for the album played.

In the song, Kanye addresses allegations of his past anti-Semitic behaviour, rapping, "How I'm anti-Semitic?", along with a stream of abuse. His critics have since flooded social media to brand him "sick" and "disgusting," with others saying he is an "anti-Semite."

Others dismissed a theory Kanye was satirising white supremacy with his outfit.

More critics slated the face Kanye's daughter North, 10, whom he had with his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, 43, was at the event and at one point joined him on stage.

His and Kim's daughter Chicago, five, and son Saint, eight, were also in attendance and were spotted in the crowd with the rapper's new wife, Bianca Censori, 28. It appears Kanye and Kim's youngest child, four-year-old son Psalm, did not attend the party.

In Kanye's 2013 music video for the song "Black Skinhead", he featured a cast wearing black hoods.

The album party was also attended by stars including Ty Dolla $ign, Playboi Carti, Offset, Lil Durk, Chris Brown, and Kodak Black.

Kanye had partnerships including one with Adidas axed last year. He suffered a furious backlash after he wrote on Twitter, now known as X, he was "going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE." Kanye added, "You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda."

On Instagram, Kanye he posted a screenshot of a conversation with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, 54, where he wrote, "Ima use you as an example to show the Jewish people that told you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me."

Kanye also caused a storm by including T-shirts with the slogan "White Lives Matter" in a Yeezy fashion show in Paris.

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ACKO announced the appointment of Aravind Sampathkumaran as Senior Vice President, Core Products. With over 20 years of extensive experience in product management, Aravind brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to further strengthen ACKO's commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions.

Aravind Sampathkumaran, an alumnus of prominent companies like Swiggy, Sun Mobility, Yahoo, and Microsoft, has demonstrated exceptional leadership in various domains, including online and mobile consumer products, portals, search, advertising platforms, and social platforms. His recent endeavors include spearheading product and engineering leadership in electric mobility solutions.

A visionary entrepreneur, Aravind has also founded the Chatterati App, a cloud-hosted platform aimed at fostering highly engaged communities. This blend of corporate and entrepreneurial experience makes him uniquely qualified to lead ACKO's core product strategies.

Vishwanath Ramarao, Chief Technology and Product Officer, ACKO, expressed his enthusiasm: Aravinds track record of driving product strategy collaboratively and leading high-performance teams aligns seamlessly with ACKO's vision for the future. His extensive experience in both start-ups and large corporate organizations, coupled with a growth mindset, will play a crucial role in shaping and advancing product offerings."

Commenting on his appointment, Aravind Sampathkumaran said, Joining ACKO, a pioneer in tech-driven insurance solutions, is a thrilling new chapter for me. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at ACKO to enhance our product line and deliver innovative solutions that cater to the dynamic needs of our customers.

Aravind brings a wealth of experience and a track record of success in building and leading high-performance teams of software engineers. His leadership style, characterized by a focus on rapid tactical execution, continuous learning, and a customer-centric approach, makes him a valuable addition to ACKO. In addition to his demonstrated prowess in product management, Aravind's expertise extends across strategic partnerships, customer understanding, business management, program management, and digital marketing. With a proven ability to articulate a vision and create effective product strategies, Aravind is well-equipped to drive successful outcomes for ACKO.
Vredestein, shaped by its European heritage of more than 110 years and driven by its aspiration to provide an ultimate driving experience, is setting the pace for the future of global tyre technology. Now in India, and continuing the legacy for the next generation, Apollo Tyres Ltd has launched one of the most impactful and highly visible OOH and DOOH campaigns for Vredestein brand. In a milieu of outdoor sites, the Vredestein campaign stands out as a visual delight with an innovative and impactful rendition of its product.

Ideacafe who have conceptualized this campaign, in sync with Team Vredestein, is privileged to associate with the brand that has a legacy of over a century of craftsmanship and has continuously refined the art of tyre innovation and performance, establishing itself as Europes premier tyre manufacturer. Vredesteins values of Setting the Benchmark and Refined by Design is reflective in this highly impactful and clutter breaking Out of Home (OOH) campaign as well.

Speaking about this campaign, Vikram Garga, Group Head, Marketing, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. Apollo Tyres Ltd said, For the first OOH campaign for the premium Vredestein brand in India we were looking at creating an impact. I believe this innovative campaign with 3D creatives would appeal to the premium customers in Mumbai. We have already identified similar locations in other metropolitan cities, with high consumer base for Vredestein tyres, to roll out striking campaigns.

Speaking about the campaign, Nabendu Bhattacharya, CEO ideacafe.agency said, We are so proud to have associated with Vredestein and conceptualized what we believe to be a true clutter breaking creative effort for outdoors. Team Vredesteins belief in setting new benchmarks resonated with us because of which this collective effort has been such a huge success.

A premium European brand, Vredestein tyres, is manufactured at Apollo Tyres state-of-the-art facilities in India, and caters to the premium and luxury segment in passenger cars, while the two-wheeler tyres from the brand caters to the growing super biking segment in India. Vredestein brand is synonymous with premium styling and ultra-high performance, which are the two most important factors considered by the owners of luxury cars and superbikes.

Ideacafe, since its inception 9 months ago has grown into a 75-member strong team across India and has been focussing on the creative transformation of the outdoor medium at large.
In an era dominated by smartphones, the essence of meaningful relationships, especially between parents and children, often takes a backseat. Building on this concern, vivo, the innovative global smartphone brand, introduces the fifth edition of the #SwitchOff campaign.

Supported by a compelling video conceptualized by FCB India, the campaign draws insights from the 5th edition of vivo - Cyber Media Research's (CMR) study "Impact of Smartphones on Human Relationships 2023." The study reveals that 77% of parents acknowledge their children complaining about excessive parental smartphone use.

The campaign film, conceptualized by FCB India, unfolds within a family of three preparing for an upcoming vacation. The little girl's excitement is overshadowed by her father's constant phone attention, leaving her feeling overlooked. A pivotal moment arises when the girl expresses her favourite part of any vacation is the undivided attention she receives from her dad during a flight. This realization prompts her parents to address the issue, leading to a heart-warming scene where the father, to lift her spirits, pretends they are on a flight and switches off his phone, bringing joy to the little girl.

To propel the #SwitchOff initiative, vivo pledges to observe December 20, 2023, as the 'Switch Off' day. Encouraging Indian consumers to join, vivo urges individuals to power down their smartphones on this day during 8 pm to 9 pm, fostering quality time with their families. In a bid to sensitize people towards meaningful technology use, vivo collaborates with renowned Health and Science Writer Catherine Price. The author of 'How to Break Up with your Phone' and founder of 'Screen/life Balance' will advise vivo in crafting solutions to foster a healthier relationship with smartphones.

On this occasion, Geetaj Channana, Head of Corporate Strategy, vivo India, said, While smartphones serve as invaluable tools in our lives, advocating responsible usage is crucial. With the fifth edition of this campaign, we encourage our audience to choose their #SwitchOff time, expressing love and fostering strong connections with family. Let's collectively pledge to #SwitchOff for our families on 20th December and truly #LiveTheJoy found in moments spent together.

Additionally, in our commitment to address these concerns proactively, we have also introduced a personalized plan, in collaboration with our smartphone relationship advisor, Catherine Price. Available on vivo India Newsroom, this plan is designed to assist users in finding a harmonious balance between their relationships and digital exposure. I extend a warm invitation to all consumers to join us in this initiative, fostering a collective movement to enrich our genuine connections.

Talking about the campaign, Abhinav Kaushik, President of FCB India said, Technology is an undeniable part of our daily lives, but the way it has pervaded into our lives, we are becoming subjects of a culture where technology, especially the smartphone, has started to become an inhibitor in our relationships with our loved ones. Shifting from the role of an enabler, if the smartphone turns into a device that isolates people around us, it leads to a serious compromise in human relationships. vivo has taken up the challenge to initiate change with this campaign, encouraging people to 'Switch Off.' This is a first-of-its-kind effort that boldly recognizes the problem creating a divide between kids and their parents, especially when parents are too immersed in their smartphones at all times. Once again, it acknowledges the issue and genuinely urges people to 'switch off' to 'switch on' their relationships with their loved onesespecially the children who often mimic their parents' behavior. The father-daughter story and the heart-tugging emotion with a poignant take on smartphones form the very essence of this beautiful campaign.

The recently launched vivo-study sheds light on significant challenges in parent-child relationships due to excessive smartphone use. Notably, 90% of parents express occasional irritation when interrupted by their children engrossed in smartphone activities. Another 90% admit to spending less quality time with their children, potentially straining familial bonds. Alarmingly, 91% of children admit feeling lonelier due to their parents smartphone usage. Despite spending nearly two hours daily with their children, 75% of parents admit to simultaneous phone engagement, raising concerns about the quality of these interactions. Meanwhile highlighting the intent to address this issue, the report highlights that 93% of parents and children share feelings of guilt about the quality of their relationships. Additionally, an encouraging 96% of parents and 93% of children express a strong mutual desire to deepen family connections.
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 12.12.2023 - Together with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Switzerland will host the second Global Refugee Forum from 13 to 15 December 2023 in Geneva. The main objective of the forum is to bolster the effectiveness of aid provided to people fleeing from violence and crises, and to improve global coordination in this regard. The forum will take stock of the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees to date and seek to strengthen the commitment of the international community in this area. At the forum, Switzerland will reaffirm its support for the protection and integration of refugees both in Switzerland and abroad. In addition to the federal government, Swiss cantons, cities and civil society will contribute to this effort.

Over 4,200 delegates from more than 100 countries are expected to participate in the forum, which is held every four years. The 2023 event is being organised by Switzerland and the UNHCR in collaboration with Colombia, France, Japan, Jordan, and Uganda. A number of high-level representatives from states, international organisations, the private sector, and civil society will be in attendance.

The Swiss delegation will be headed by Christine Schraner Burgener, state secretary for migration. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) will be represented by Patricia Danzi, director general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The delegation will also include representatives from the City of Zurich and the civil society organisation Asylex, as well as a refugee residing in Switzerland. Switzerland has facilitated the official participation of nearly 100 refugees from around the world in the forum to ensure their voices are heard.

117 million forcibly displaced people

The global number of forcibly displaced people has seen a dramatic rise due to escalating conflicts, human rights abuses, climate change and poverty. Over 117 million people are currently classified as refugees, posing significant challenges for the international community.

Addressing these challenges requires a collective effort from public and private actors worldwide.

The forum provides an opportunity to discuss potential solutions to these challenges and to mobilise the necessary international support for the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees. The objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees are to alleviate the burden on countries hosting refugees, promote refugees' self-reliance, expand access to services for refugees in third countries, and improve conditions in refugees' countries of origin to enable them to return in safety and dignity.

Switzerland's commitment

The Global Refugee Forum provides a platform for states and stakeholders to publicly pledge their commitment to the objectives of the Global Compact for Refugees. Switzerland will make pledges in several areas at both national and international level on the basis of contributions from the federal government, cantons, cities and civil society. These commitments encompass efforts to combat human trafficking, promote access to education, protect unaccompanied minors and involve refugees in processes that directly impact them. Furthermore, Switzerland supports local authorities and civil society organisations in their efforts, and is strengthening its collaboration with international organisations. The goal of this cooperation is to provide technical expertise to facilitate the sustainable resettlement of refugees.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html



State Secretariat for Migration

https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home.html




One of the years most impressive sky spectacles will close out 2023 with the peak of the Geminids meteor shower.

The Geminids began mid-November and will build until the peak overnight between Dec. 13-14. After that, it will decrease in intensity until it ends on Christmas Eve  Dec. 24. According to NASA, the Geminids is considered to be one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers, capable of producing up to 120 shooting stars per hour.

Geminid meteors are bright and fast and tend to be yellow to greenish in color. They are best viewed during the night and pre-dawn hours, starting as early as 9 p.m.  10 p.m.

To view, NASA recommends finding an area far away from city or street lights. Come prepared for winter temperatures and then lie flat on your back with your feet facing south and looking up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. It will take about 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark and you will begin to see meteors.

Meteors are produced by leftover comet particles and bits of asteroids. When the objects come around the sun, they leave a dusty trail and, when the Earth passes through that debris, bits collide with the atmosphere and disintegrate creating the fiery and colorful streaks in the sky.

The Geminids are from Phaethon 3200, a small asteroid that takes 1.4 years to orbit the sun. It was first discovered on Oct. 11 1983 and, due to its close approach to the sin, was named after the Greek mythological character who drove the Sun god Helios chariot.
Tuesday is an important day in the long-drawn-out effort to start Alabamas medical marijuana industry.

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission is scheduled to award licenses for integrated companies that will cultivate, process, transport, and dispense medical cannabis products.

There are 36 applicants for integrated licenses, but the AMCC, under the law passed by the Legislature in 2021, can award only five.

Tuesdays license awards will be the third time the AMCC has awarded licenses to integrated companies. The AMCC rescinded license awards made in June and again in August because of lawsuits and problems with the AMCCs procedures, which the AMCC revised in October as a result of the litigation.

One of the new rules allowed the applicants to make public presentations before the AMCC. Those were done last week.

Another part of the new procedures was the subject of a new lawsuit filed Friday by Alabama Always LLC, a Montgomery company that applied for an integrated license and that has filed previous litigation against the commission.

After a hearing on Monday, Montgomery County Circuit Judge James Anderson denied the request by Alabama Always for an order that would block use of a rule the AMCC adopted in October.

Under that rule, the AMCCs 12 voting members will rank each of the 36 applicants, and the AMCC staff will average those to obtain a composite ranking. The composite ranking will determine the order in which the applicants are considered when the AMCC votes on license awards. Because only five licenses can be awarded, that means many of the 36 applicants might not be considered during the voting.

Alabama Always claimed in its lawsuit the process will allow one or two of the 12 voting members of the AMCC to blackball an applicant by giving it a ranking of 30 or below, making it unlikely the applicant will be considered before the five licenses are awarded. The company said that could happen even if the majority of the commission gave the applicant a high ranking.

During a hearing Monday afternoon, Judge Anderson said the AMCC can determine its own procedures as long as they follow the law and make the ranking records public. The AMCC has posted the composite rankings here.

Anderson said at the conclusion of the hearing that he would deny the Alabama Always request and later did so in a written order.

Tuesdays license awards in the integrated category will be the second time the AMCC has used the ranking and voting rule. On Dec. 1, the AMCC awarded licenses to a total of 20 companies in the five other categories, cultivators, processors, transporters, dispensaries, and testing labs.

Another part of the new ranking procedure was controversial during that meeting. There were ties in the rankings in the cultivator and processor categories. The AMCC used a drawing to break the ties. In the processor category, the drawing effectively eliminated one of the companies because the drawing was to determine the No. 4 ranking position, and the AMCC could only award four processor licenses.

The owners of the company that lost out in the drawing to be considered for a processor license, Enchanted Green, have filed a federal lawsuit claiming that the AMCC violated their right to due process by not having a better system in place to decide tie scores. They also broke open meetings law by conducting the drawing without allowing company representatives to examine the pieces of paper, the lawsuit alleges.

The company is seeking an emergency injunction to stop the licensing process. The AMCC has filed a motion asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit.

Chief U.S. District Judge Emily C. Marks of the Middle District of Alabama has scheduled a hearing in the case for 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the federal courthouse in Montgomery.

The Legislature approved medical marijuana in 2021 and created the AMCC to oversee seed-to-sale regulation of the industry, which will be fully intrastate.

Products can include gummies, tablets, capsules, tinctures, patches, oils, and other forms allowed by the legislation.

Patients who receive a recommendation from a certified doctor and receive a medical cannabis card from the AMCC will be able to buy the products at licensed dispensaries.

The products can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, weight loss and nausea from cancer, depression, panic disorder, epilepsy, muscle spasms caused by disease or spinal cord injuries, PTSD, and others.
This is an opinion column.

Alabama Rep. Brock Colvin, a Republican from Albertville, up there on Sand Mountain, is backing a bill that would forever prevent the State Health Department or other government busybodies from forcing anyone to wear a mask.

Not just to guard against COVID, but whatever comes next. Ebola. Face-eating zombie disorder. Who knows what the world has in store?

I dont believe [the government] should have that authority, Colvin said in the Alabama Reflector. I think that people are smart enough to make those decisions for themselves.

Au contraire, mon frere.

Excuse my French, but we live in a country  in a world  where doctors have to warn people that its a terrible, terrifying idea to braise chicken in NyQuil. Yet the sleepy chicken challenge, as the Internet called it, was a thing.

Suffice it to say Rep. Colvin and I disagree.

Just this spring, a woman in Waukesha, Wisc., listened to all the warnings from the MRI technicians. She told them she had no metal on her person, and climbed onto the table for her scheduled scan, according to the FDA.

But somehow, some way, some why, she concealed a loaded pistol on her body as she slid into that giant magnet. As the FDA later put it, the handgun was attracted to the magnet and fired a single round.

She shot herself. In the buttocks.

Mr. Colvin assumes too much.

Im reminded of Birminghams former mayor, Larry Langford, who, just months before he was convicted of corruption and sent to prison for the rest of his useful life, held a press conference to blame others for his problems.

Stupidity was everywhere, he argued. He had the city print shop create a sign to help make his point. On it, a series of arrows surrounded the words Cycle of Stupidity. Langford did not realize, as he appeared beneath that sign, that one of the arrows pointed straight down at him.

We live in a world where a third of millennials arent fully convinced the Earth is round, according to a study you can read about in Scientific American. But dont worry, millennials. That publication points out that its not just you.

Studies have shown that humans around the globe  or flat out across it, for a third of the millennials  have reversed a long trend of increasing IQs, and have headed in the opposite direction since Captain & Tennilles Love Will Keep Us Together topped the charts in 1975. Were losing IQ points every generation, according to several studies.

But we dont really need academic research to tell us that. We saw the Jerry Springer Show. And now all we have to do is look around. At Florida man. At the Tide pod challenge. At that YouTuber who crashed his plane for views, and ended up in prison. At Congress.

Or at Montgomery. Always Montgomery.

You will recall that Robert Bentley was not just a popular family values governor with a 50-year marriage and a reputation as a smart, decent guy. He was, and is, a doctor. But that didnt keep him from doing stupid stuff  like sending romantic texts to his sweetheart on a device that was synced to the iPad he gave his wife. Thats his ex-wife now. Hes an ex-governor.

People dont always study up or pay attention. Less than half Americans  Sen. Tommy Tuberville among them  can name the three branches of government.

And people make terrible decisions. All the time.

Youd think Colvin would know that. He comes from that part of our state immortalized by A&E as Meth Mountain. It was in response to that show that laws were passed to limit how much Sudafed you could buy. Because people, legislators figured, werent smart enough to police themselves.

Colvin might figure people are smart enough to decide whether they should wear a mask to protect themselves. But then, thats not really the issue. If and when the next epidemic comes  a new COVID strain or communicable brain-eating alien mad cows  the future wont be able to help us protect each other. If, that is, that future has to deal with Mr. Colvins mask ban.

Thats just not smart.

John Archibald is a two-time Pulitzer winner at AL.com.
A bill sponsored by Alabama Congressman Dale Strong, R-Monrovia, to further efforts for building a wall on the Mexican border has been included in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act.

The House version of the bill, known as the Finish It Act, would allocate materials from storage to be used to finish constructing the wall in border states, a project that began during the Trump presidency. Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi, first introduced the bill in the Senate in July with Strongs bill following in August in the House.

Strongs office announced Monday that Strongs bill is part of the NDAA. The bill must be approved by the full House and Senate as well as President Joe Biden and it remains to be seen if Strongs bill will survive as part of the spending bill.

The bill says at least $300 million worth of border wall materials has been stored by the Defense Department since Biden stopped construction. Storage costs for the materials at about 20 private locations in Arizona and New Mexico has exceeded $25 million, the bill says.

The bill has more than three dozen co-sponsors, including Alabama House Republicans Robert Aderholt, Jerry Carl, Barry Moore and Gary Palmer.

Every penny that goes to the Department of Defense should be used to best prepare our men and women in uniform to protect the United States, Strong said in the announcement. President Bidens use of defense funds to indefinitely store unused border materials is an irresponsible misuse of resources during the ongoing crisis at the border and a pivotal time for U.S. national security.

The House and Senate are expected to vote on the defense spending budget later this week.

It is astounding to me that the Department of Defense is paying $130,000 per day to do nothing with $300 million worth of border wall materials, Wicker said in Strongs announcement. This clear example of government waste is holding back our mission to protect American citizens and American security. President Biden appears to prefer spending money to avoid building the wall, rather than protect Americans from cartels.
Cannonball Jellyfish washed up on shore in Garden City, SC. David Gombka/Getty Images/iStockphoto

A bloom of jellyfish has been washed ashore in recent days off the coast of Port Aransas near Corpus Christi.

The group of cannonball jellyfish, or cabbagehead jellyfish, scattered the shoreline like polka dots, according to photos and videos from the shoreline.

Luckily for visitors to Port Aransas beaches, the cannonball jellyfish species don't produce much of a sting. Virginia Institute of Marine Science described it as "mild if felt at all."

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The cannonball jellyfish is named for its bell shape. It also has much smaller tentacles compared to other jellyfish. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division reports the average height of the animal is 12.7 centimeters and the average width is 18 centimeters.

Jace Tunnell, the director for community engagement for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Harte Research Institute, told KIII the bloom was not an uncommon event.
Kate Cox left the state to get an abortion on the same day the Texas Supreme Court blocked her ability to terminate her nonviable pregnancy under a medical exemption.

On Monday evening, the states highest court struck down a temporary restraining order issued by a Travis County judge on Thursday, which would have allowed her to get an abortion despite the states ban on the procedure. State Attorney General Ken Paxton petitioned the Texas Supreme Court to block that decision late Thursday night. The Supreme Court initially halted the decision Friday while it considered the case before issuing its opinion.

In its opinion, the court said that Coxs doctor, Damla Karsan, did not prove that Cox met the conditions required for a medical exemption. It also said that women who meet those standards need not seek a court order to obtain the procedure.

The law leaves to physicians  not judges  both the discretion and the responsibility to exercise their reasonable medical judgment, given the unique facts and circumstances of each patient, the opinion said.

Cox, 31, is at the center of the abortion lawsuit that has garnered national attention as the Dallas-area woman fought to get an abortion for a fatal fetal diagnosis despite Texas bans. Coxs doctors advised her that carrying the pregnancy to term could be harmful to her health and future fertility, according to the case filed last week by the Center for Reproductive Rights.

Cox made the decision to leave Texas for the abortion before the state Supreme Court released its opinion.

This past week of legal limbo has been hellish for Kate. Her health is on the line. Shes been in and out of the emergency room and she couldnt wait any longer, said center President Nancy Northup according to a post on X. This is why judges and politicians should not be making health care decisions for pregnant people.

The abortion rights group did not say where or when Cox would have the procedure.

Before suing the state, Cox said she experienced severe cramping and unidentifiable fluid leaks before her baby was diagnosed with full trisomy 18, a condition that makes it highly unlikely the baby will survive long after birth if its not stillborn. The suit alleges that Cox is at risk for severe complications because of her two prior cesarean sections and elevated vital signs.

During the hearing in Travis County court last week, Center for Reproductive Rights attorney Molly Duane argued that its unclear what the state considers to be elements needed to qualify for a medical exemption.

I read the statute, Dr. Karsan reads the statute to say that a serious risk of substantial impairment of Ms. Coxs reproductive functions would fall within the medical exemption, Duane said.

After the ruling was issued, Duane said this ruling should enrage every Texan to their core.

If Kate cant get an abortion in Texas, who can? Duane said in a statement. Kates case is proof that exceptions dont work, and its dangerous to be pregnant in any state with an abortion ban.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine filed a brief Monday before the courts ruling in favor of allowing Cox to have the abortion.

The pervasive climate of fear among the Texas medical community is certain to be made worse by this case and the States actions in opposing the abortion Ms. Cox needs, the medical group said in the court document. Perhaps thats the point of the States conduct.

Legal experts had said the case could serve as a model for similar situations in the other 20 states where abortion is outlawed or restricted. A pregnant woman in Kentucky filed a lawsuit Friday arguing that her states near-total abortion ban violates her rights to privacy and self-determination under the state constitution.

Under Texas abortion bans, pregnant people can only get an abortion if they have a life-threatening physical condition, or are at risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function. The state Supreme Court is currently reviewing another case, Zurawski v. Texas, that includes 20 women who say their abortions were delayed or denied because the exemption definitions were unclear.

The Zurawski lawsuit, also brought by the Center for Reproductive Rights, requests a temporary injunction that would exempt any Texan with a medically complicated pregnancy from the states bans, including those with fatal fetal diagnoses.

Cox now joins tens of thousands of Americans traveling out of state to obtain an abortion. Nationally, more than 92,000 patients crossed state lines for abortions in the first six months of 2023, compared to 40,600 in the first half of 2020, according to recent analysis by the Guttmacher Institute.

Abortions in Texas have fallen dramatically since the states bans went into effect, dropping from 50,000 in 2021 to 26 in the first six months of 2023, according to Texas Health and Human Services Commission data.

Senate Bill 8, also known as the Texas Heartbeat Act, bans abortion after six weeks gestation and is enforced through lawsuits from private individuals. People who help Cox obtain her abortion out of state could be sued under the statute, which has largely gone untested, said Carl Tobias, law professor at the University of Richmond.

The future of Coxs lawsuit is also unclear. Tobias said its possible that the case could continue to move through the legal system, even after Cox receives her abortion. Coxs lawyers informed the court that they want to proceed with the case, state Supreme Court director of public affairs Amy Starnes said in an email Monday.

Roe was a case that wasnt entirely different from this, and the Supreme Court kept the case alive under an exception that talks about something capable of repetition but evading review, Tobias said. You would never get through the whole court system before youd have to terminate your pregnancy as a plaintiff.

The landmark Roe v. Wade case, which was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022, originated in North Texas when a woman sued then-district attorney of Dallas County Henry Wade over the right to an abortion. When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in her favor in 1973, Jane Roe, a pseudonym for Norma McCorvey, had already given birth to the child.

Mondays ruling in the Cox case does not bode well for the future of Zurawski v. Texas, said Seema Mohapatra, health law expert and law professor at Southern Methodist University. The court is set to decide on the Zurawski case in coming months.

_____

2023 The Dallas Morning News. Visit dallasnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Sarasota County, Florida School Board member Bridget Ziegler is expected to face a political reckoning on Tuesday when her fellow board members consider calling for her resignation amid an ongoing sex scandal that has rattled Floridas conservative education movement.

School Board Chairwoman Karen Rose, whos long been politically aligned with Ziegler, asked for Tuesdays vote. So far, at least one other member, Democrat Tom Edwards, has called for Ziegler to resign, telling the Miami Herald that the scandal engulfing her and her husband, Florida Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler, is a distraction from the school boards work.

Bridget Zieger came under scrutiny late last month after it was revealed that her spouse has been under criminal investigation for rape allegations since early October. He has maintained that the encounter was consensual. In an interview with investigators in early November, Bridget Ziegler acknowledged that she and her husband had sex with the alleged victim over a year ago.

While Bridget Ziegler hasnt been accused of any wrongdoing in the case, the revelation that she had participated in a three-way sexual encounter with another woman has cast a pall over a prominent Florida Republican who has become one of the states most influential promoters of traditional values and conservative principles in Florida schools.

I dont think its appropriate for me or for anyone to tell someone what their sexual orientation or gender identity is. That is what the far right has done with their policies that tell people how to live and who to be, said former Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo, who is gay. But Bridget Zieglers crime is the harm that she inflicted on students and on families with her hypocrisy, her rhetoric and her extreme agenda.

Bridget Ziegler has been a fixture within Florida conservative circles for years.

She was first appointed to the Sarasota County School Board in 2014 by now-U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, who was governor at the time. She was also among the co-founders of the conservative parents group Moms for Liberty. When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education bill  dubbed by critics as the Dont Say Gay bill  into law last year, Ziegler stood behind him. She has said she helped write the legislation.

In February, DeSantis appointed Ziegler to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the governing body that oversees much of Disney Worlds business operations.

Spokespeople for Scott and DeSantis did not respond to requests for comment on Monday about the school boards upcoming vote and whether they believe Ziegler should resign from her position.

According to state law, school board members can only be removed by voluntary resignation or by first being suspended by the governor and then voted out of office by the state Senate.

The Sarasota County School Boards resolution needs the support of a majority of the panels five members in order to pass on Tuesday. While Rose and Edwards appear poised to vote in favor of the measure, its unclear which way two other members  Vice Chairman Timothy Enos and Robyn Marinelli  will break. Neither responded to the Heralds requests for comment on Monday.

Rose, who introduced the resolution calling for Ziegler to step down, did not respond to the requests for comment. In a previous statement, Rose called the scandal surrounding the Zieglers disturbing, saying that her request for Bridget Ziegler to step down was for the good of our students, teachers, staff and community.

Bridget Ziegler also did not respond to emails and a voice mail seeking comment. Its unclear whether she plans to attend the Tuesday evening school board meeting.

Edwards, who is openly gay, said that he hasnt spoken with his colleagues about the upcoming school board vote, but argued that it would be hard for any board member to oppose the resolution.

But he also said that he has little confidence that Ziegler will resign from the board, even if the resolution passes, noting how Christian Ziegler has also resisted repeated calls to step down as Florida GOP chairman, including from DeSantis and Scott. The Florida GOPs executive board is slated to meet on Sunday in Orlando to consider disciplinary action against Christian Ziegler.

If you just look at the language [DeSantis] used about Mr. Ziegler  that this type of distraction from the work at hand is not in the best interest of his party  Mrs. Ziegler falls into the same category, Edwards said. The hypocrisy will be a forever distraction from being the student-centric governance that we all want from public education.

Edwards said that he was tired of talking about Bridget Ziegler and the salacious details her sex life, but added that the scandal has wounded the facade called parental rights in education, which he said has been used by political status climbers to erode confidence in public schools.

The hypocrisy is so profound; its textbook, he said.

Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried said that Bridget Ziegler had lost the moral high ground that she has long claimed.

Why she should contemplate resigning is because the people that shes supposed to represent are going to have lost trust and faith in her, and she no longer is going to be able to do her job with any type of credibility, Fried said.

Theres been at least some tumult among conservative education activists in the days since news of the scandal broke.

Last week, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported that Bridget Ziegler had left her post at the conservative Leadership Institute, where she served as director of school board programs. Meanwhile, a Moms for Liberty chapter in Pennsylvania announced that it was splitting from the national organization over the groups response to the allegation against Christian Ziegler.

Moms for Liberty declined to answer the Heralds questions about the upcoming Sarasota County School Board vote and whether DeSantis should move to suspend Ziegler from the board should she refuse to resign.

Instead, a spokesperson for the group shared a previous statement from two of groups co-founders, Tina Descovich and Tiffany Justice, saying that Ziegler had left her role at Moms for Liberty nearly three years.

To our opponents who have spewed hateful vitriol over the last several days: We reject your attacks, Descovich and Justice said. We will continue to empower ALL parents to build relationships that ensure the survival of our nation and a thriving education system. We are laser-focused on fundamental parental rights, and that mission is and always will be bigger than any one person.

2023 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Jackson County authorities have charged a Pisgah man with murder following a shooting Monday night.

Jackson County Sheriff Rocky Harnen said deputies responded to a shooting call on County Road 88 at about 9 p.m.

A 44-year-old man, whose name has not yet been released, was found inside the home with several gunshot wounds.

The victim was later airlifted to Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga, where he was pronounced dead.

Joshua Alan Goolesby, 32, was arrested within an hour of the call.

He is being held without bond in the Jackson County Jail on charges of murder and a protection order violation, according to jail records.
Daniel Hatch, who was a 13-year-old homeless boy in September 1988, testified Monday that he believes he saw Melissa Ann Tremblay in the presence of two men prior to her killing in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Hatch told jurors he saw Tremblay, 11, sitting on the steps of the LaSalle Club. He told jurors he later saw her walking in the Broadway and State Street area, where she encountered a man on Sept. 11, 1988  the day she was killed.

Marvin Skip McClendon, 76, of Bremen, Alabama, is on trial in Salem Superior Court for Tremblays murder, a case that went cold for more than three decades.

Hatch, now age 49, said hes gone over what he saw in his own head millions of times. When he was arrested in 2013 in Lawrence on unrelated charges, he told police what he saw in 1988.

So at some point after 25 years you thought now is the time to tell them? asked defense attorney Henry Fastoldt of Hatchs 2013 admission to Lawrence police.

Yes, Hatch answered.

He said as a homeless youth, he spent his days looking for cars to steal, places to stay warm, and thinking about how he could get food. Sometimes, he slept in cars or unlocked railroad cars.

That night, he was walking to a friends house to get a screwdriver, a tool he used in car thefts. When he passed the LaSalle Club, he saw a man and a girl sitting on the stairs outside.

She was just a little bit younger than me, he said of the girl.

He said the man was named Mike Therrien, an adult from a local family his relatives had previously warned him to stay away from.

About 10 minutes later, he said he saw the man and girl cross Broadway and head to State Street where they encountered another man.

The next morning, Hatch said he and dozens of others were gathered in the backyard of his friends home nearby as police cars raced into the railyard where Tremblays body was found.

We were watching what was going on. ... Someone said a girl had been run over by a train, Hatch testified.

Hatch said he initially asked his brother if he should tell police what he had seen the night before.

He said, Stay out of it, Hatch recalled.

Hatch said he later moved out of Lawrence to Salisbury.

McClendon was charged with Tremblays murder on April 27, 2022. His trial on a first-degree murder charge opened Thursday, Dec. 7. Presiding Judge Jeffrey Karp has said the hope is jurors can start deliberating the case by Dec. 20.

Tremblay, a sixth-grader at Haigh School in Salem, N.H., was stabbed, beaten and killed in Lawrence near the LaSalle Social Club.

She was known to play in the adjacent neighborhoods while her mother and her mothers boyfriend frequented the social club. She was last seen alive by a railroad employee and a pizza delivery driver, authorities said.

Tremblays mother has since died. However, the girl does have surviving relatives and childhood friends living in the area.

Prosecutor Jessica Strasnick said DNA evidence links McClendon to the girls murder.

But Fasoldt, McClendons defense attorney, said the entire criminal case is based on assumptions, including leaps made with the DNA, and that McClendon had absolutely no reason to kill Tremblay.

Retired state Trooper Kenneth Kelleher, a lead investigator from 1988, has already testified as a prosecution witness. He told jurors he interviewed Randy Therrien, Michael Therriens brother, and another man, Robert Powers, as suspects in Tremblays murder.

Both Randy Therrien and Powers were in the area Sept. 11, 1988. But Kelleher testified he did not find any evidence that connected them to the girls killing.

The trial resumes Tuesday and jurors are expected to visit Lawrence and see the area where the LaSalle Club was previously located, along with the railroad yard.

Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter/X @EagleTribJill.

___

(c)2023 The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Mass.)

Visit The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Mass.) at www.eagletribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Alabama Attorney Generals office argued in a motion filed last week in a Louisiana congressional redistricting case that private individuals cannot bring actions under a key provision of the Voting Rights Act.

In a motion signed on by 12 Republican-led states, including Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall argued to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act does not give private individuals the right to sue, or uphold an individuals right to obtain monetary damages for claims of intentional discrimination.

There is no Section 2 liability unless it is shown that members of a protected class have less opportunity not just to elect representatives of their choice but also to participate in the political process, the motion argued.

More from Alabama Reflector

The argument rests on a recent 8th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion by Judge David Stras, appointed by former President Donald Trump, which argued that Congress only gave attorney generals the right to claim damages under the Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

The attorney generals office did not return a request for comment Monday.

The argument, if upheld by the federal courts, would severely limit future challenges under Section 2, which bans voting and election practices that discriminate by race.

NAACP Legal Defense Fund Deuel Ross, the organization representing plaintiffs who challenged both Louisiana and Alabamas maps, said in a phone interview that Louisianas case wont impact the Allen v. Milligan case decision in Alabama, the challenge that led to the court-ordered redrawing of Alabamas congressional map, as Alabama is in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ross said the argument Marshall raised does not have merit, and that it should be rejected.

Well see what happens in the 5th Circuit, but the court has already rejected that argument, theres Supreme Court precedent rejecting that argument, Ross said. And in the Alabama case, specifically, because its not in the 5th Circuit, anything that happens in the 5th Circuit wont directly impact the Alabama case.

The case, Robinson v. Ardoin, is similar to Allen v. Milligan. Plaintiffs in the Louisiana case are challenging a map with just one majority-Black district lawmakers, adopted despite a federal district court order. Louisianas Black population exceeds 30%, which the court said merits a second Black district out of six total.

Marshalls argument cites a 1971 Supreme Court case, Whitcomb v. Chavis, that states that [B]lacks enjoyed full access to the political process, and thus held that the failure of the ghetto to have legislative seats in proportion to its population emerges more as a function of losing elections than of built-in bias 

The 1971 case, the motion argued, explained that [participation] in the political processes meant those activities most common to voters: being allowed [1] to register or vote, [2] to choose the political party they desired to support, [3] to participate in its affairs[,]  [4] to be equally represented on those occasions when legislative candidates were chosen, and [5] not be regularly excluded from the slates of both major parties.

The United States Supreme Court in September denied Alabamas request to stay a lower court decision directing a special master to draw new state congressional maps to remedy Voting Rights Act violations, opening the door to Alabama having two congressional districts with majority or near-majority Black populations.

A three-judge panel in 2022 ruled that Alabamas 2021 congressional map violated the Voting Rights Act by packing Black voters into a single congressional district. The panel, citing the racial polarization of voting in Alabama  where white Alabamians tend to support Republicans and Black Alabamians tend to support Democrats  ordered the state to draw a second-majority Black district or something quite close to it.

After the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the lower court ruling last June, the Alabama Legislature in July approved a new map that created a 7th Congressional District in western Alabama and Birmingham with a BVAP of 50.65%, and a 2nd Congressional District in southeastern Alabama with a BVAP of less than 40%.

Plaintiffs said that map did not address the courts orders, and the three-judge panel agreed earlier this month. U.S. Circuit Judge Stanley Marcus and U.S. district judges Anna Manasco and Terry Moorer ordered special master Richard Allen to draw new maps, accusing legislators of ignoring their initial ruling.

The state appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing the ruling would lead to racial stereotyping and violated their own redistricting principles. Alabamas attorneys also made efforts to sway Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who joined most but not all of the courts decision in June upholding the lower court ruling. The Alabama attorney generals office frequently cited Kavanaughs opinion in a case banning affirmative action in college admissions, suggesting that plaintiffs and the lower court wanted to use affirmative action in the redistricting process.

Marshalls office ended the brief by concluding that Black Americans have the same voting rights as their white counterparts, and that vote dilution can only occur when people are prevented from participating in the political process.

The district courts contrary rule is circular with no offramp, the motion stated. [D]emands for outcomes will persist even decades follow[ing] the cutting away of obstacles to full participation.

Plaintiffs in the Louisiana case had not responded to Marshalls brief as of early Monday evening.
An Alabama man has been convicted for his role in a scheme that involved selling stolen military weapons stored at the Anniston Army Depot.

Steve Bonner, 62, of Goodwater, in Coosa County, acted as a middleman in the scheme by selling the stolen goods to buyers and delivering the items to the owner of a military surplus store in Sylacauga, prosecutors said when Bonner and others, including two army depot police officers, were indicted in May.

The stolen items included equipment that was designed to be attached to military weapon systems to provide operators with instant nighttime engagement capabilities and/or improved target acquisition.

Bonner was convicted Thursday by a federal jury in Birmingham on one count of conspiracy to steal government property, said U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona on Monday.

The equipment was designed to be attached to military weapon systems to provide users with the ability to use the weapons at night or improve their ability to acquire a target, prosecutors said.

Nine other defendants pleaded guilty in connection to the case:

Eric Matraia, 54, of Munford, pleaded guilty in February 2023 to conspiracy to steal United States property.

Stantillio Whitfield, 44, of Anniston, pleaded guilty in November 2022 to conspiracy to steal United States property.

Tevin Fletcher, 33, of Oxford, pleaded guilty in December 2022 to conspiracy to steal United States property.

Jerry Baker, 63, of Hokes Bluff, pleaded guilty in May 2023 to conspiracy to steal United States property.

James Kenneth Scott, 72, pleaded guilty in January 2023 to conspiracy to steal United States property.

Christopher Price, 55, of Childersburg, pleaded guilty in January 2023 to conspiracy to steal United States property.

Scott Bunch, 53, of Alexandria, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to conspiracy to steal United States property in October.

Shane Farthing, 41, of Gadsden, pleaded guilty in July 2023 to conspiracy to steal United States property.

Kelvin Battle, 53, of Anniston, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to conspiracy to steal United States property.
An Alabaster man has been charged with a DUI crash that seriously injured a Pelham police officer in July.

A Shelby County grand jury on Oct. 18 indicted Shaquille ONeal Montgomery, 30, on charges of first-degree assault, leaving the scene of an accident with injury, possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance  psilocyn, which is a psychedelic substance, according to court records.

Montgomery was booked into the Shelby County Jail and released Monday after posting $76,000 bond.

Pelham police Chief Brent Sugg released this statement:

The Pelham Police Department is grateful that the individual who caused the catastrophic injuries upon Officer Elizabeth Minter on July 1, 2023, was taken into custody in Alabaster on December 10, 2023. We look forward to a successful prosecution of the individual and continued physical improvements for Officer Minter. We are grateful to God that she survived the events of that night.

We appreciate the law enforcement agencies that have been involved throughout this process, including the men and women of the Pelham Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Alabaster Police Department, and the Shelby County Sheriffs Department.

Minter was directing traffic around a crash at mile marker 242 on Interstate 65 southbound shortly after 12:30 a.m. July 1 when she was knocked out of her boots by a speeding vehicle, Sugg said at the time of the incident.

The chief said the driver had ignored traffic control vests and emergency lights and was going about 80 mph.

Minter was quickly attended to by officers and firefighters and transported to UAB Hospital.

The mother of three needed multiple surgeries and extensive physical therapy.

A GoFundMe established in the days after the crash raised more than $60,000 for Minters recovery.

Its been a slow and painful process, but I believe all my experiences in life have taught me that with God I can push through it to the other side, Minter said in late July.

Right now, Im in a wheelchair. I have an external fixator device on my entire left leg, rods through my pelvis and hips going all the way across, a brace on my broken right leg, and a bandage on my healing broken ankle, she said. My recent x-rays have shown that things are healing on track.

Before she was struck, Minter and two other officers were at the scene of a three-vehicle wreck caused by a driver going the wrong way on the interstate at a high speed.
Breaking news Houston Chronicle

The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office arrested a high school principal Monday night on suspicion of solicitation of prostitution, officials said.

Brian Shillingburg, the principal at Clements High School in Sugar Land, was booked at 9:44 p.m. Monday in connection with the charge.

A Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman said the office is hopeful to release more information Wednesday. Court records list Jan. 22, 2024 as the date of his arraignment. A bail amount had not been set as of Tuesday afternoon and no attorney was listed as representing Shillingburg.

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Solicitation of prostitution/other payor is a state jail felony punishment, or the lowest class of felony, in Texas. If found guilty, the punishment for a state jail felony punishment is as much as two years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Clements principal Brian Shillingburg was arrested on (Monday) by the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office and charged with solicitation of prostitution/other payor. We are committed to ensuring there is no disruption to instruction and a smooth administrative transition," Fort Bend ISD said in a statement released Tuesday.

According to his LinkedIn page, Shillingburg, 43, has been a principal with Fort Bend ISD since 2016. He was previously the principal at James Bowie Middle School from July 2016 to August 2022.

Before his tenure at Fort Bend ISD, he was an assistant principal at Landrum Middle School in Spring.

He has been an educator since 2004. His LinkedIn page also lists him as a youth pastor at Spring Baptist Church Klein Campus from March 2011 to July 2013.
As Israel deals with a multi-pronged Hamas-led invasion from the Gaza Strip amidst unwarranted international pressure, Canadian writer David Solways scholarly collection of essays, Crossing the Jordan: On Judaism, Islam and the West, comes as a timely reminder of how multiplicity in self-identification is undermining Jewish unity. The book, to be released today, December 12, also addresses the idiosyncratic position of Israel among the nations of the world, the threat to liberal Judeo-Christian values posed by Islam, and the Lefts catalysis of the subsuming of Western culture.

Solway is a man of many parts  poet, scholar, teacher, chess enthusiast, education theorist, and literary critic. Born Jewish but not particularly religious or identity-conscious, he underwent a transformation post 9/11. He began to question his rejection of Jewish kinship and asked himself difficult questions that rid him of his Leftist inclinations. Among other things, the book speaks of his epiphanic recognition that the fate of Israel is the fate of every Jew, regardless of nationality or political view. In the light of the October 7 attack  Israels 9/11 (equivalent proportionately to seven 9/11s)  this exploration of personal change along with the impersonal twists of history makes for poignant reading.

Why, Solway asks, is Israel the only nation whose right to exist is questioned and threatened? Why is it labeled an occupier and a colonizer when Eretz Yisrael and Judah predate any Arab presence in the Holy Land by more than a thousand years? Why is it the only country that has been pressured to return captured territory after winning wars started by Muslim neighbors who have vowed to eradicate it? Why are its defeated enemies allowed to dictate terms of peace?

In their now internalized anti-Israel stance, the media, academia, the political class, and a significant section of the public embody antisemitism. They vilify Israel as an Apartheid state though it is perhaps the most pluralistic in the region. The U.N. and the E.U. censure Israel constantly. It is routinely treated as a pariah state while countries with abominable human rights records  communist China, Venezuela, Qatar, Iran, Cuba, and Turkey  get a pass. And in the worst aspersion, global antisemitism is blamed on Israels policies and the Jewish nation is exhorted, ad nauseum, to trade land for peace and end a conflict its enemies do not want to end.

Discussing his conflicted feelings about his Jewishness, Solway identifies self-loathing in the Jewish polity and its strong bent towards assimilation as leading causes of self-betrayal. He asks Jews to realize that antisemitism does not spare any Jew  whether pious, secular, leftist, ignorant, or perfidious. Even the Jews who have created a fallacious equivalence of immorality between Israels defense of its citizens and a terrorist groups attacks on innocent civilians will not escape antisemitism. Jews, he says, are uniquely defined by their enemies and by an uninterrupted chronicle of antisemitic bloodletting culminating in the Holocaust and morphing today into the multi-pronged attack by the Muslim world, the international Left, the United Nations and the European capitals.

The dilemma represented by the Holocaust for Jews today is the quandary of wanting to live a good life but needing to remember the sheer unaccountability of human evil festering beneath an indifferent heaven. This is something ineludible; indescribable and impossible to understand by proxy; and yet must somehow be confronted and absorbed. Jews are defined by a perpetual vulnerability: they never really have been safe throughout history, a fact they often reject. But, belonging to a culture that celebrates memory, they should remember  zakar, in Hebrew  lest another cataclysm be visited upon them. This is especially relevant as Jews face rising attacks in Europe, where it has become dangerous for them to wear visible signs of their faith, and where such attacks are willfully ignored by the media.

Hope was born for the Jews with the birth of Israel, which rose from the darkness of history with conviction, pride, and strength of purpose, promising that Jews will no longer be defenseless in the face of terror. But self-estrangement and a fractured Jewish people  some of them religious, some strongly leftist, and worst of all, some court Jews, who have defected spiritually and intellectually  are working to weaken the Jewish state. Some others foolishly believe in universal humanity  the idea that all cultures want the same things and share the same values  and some embrace assimilationist fantasies.

Our universities  which instead of teaching students to think, have become turbines of leftist indoctrination  are encouraging these fantasies. The current academic campaign against Jews and Israel, accusing the Jewish nation of ethnic cleansing of Arab-Palestinians, calling for its annihilation, and promoting boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS), is an update of the ancient blood libel. Not only does this make hatred of Jews respectable in the guise of academic freedom, it paves the way for the destruction of Western culture, based on Judeo-Christian values, debate, equality before the law, and freedom.

As the Left wreaks havoc by introducing, through violence and radical legislation, the ideas that human nature can be transformed, that wealth must be redistributed and property and individual rights abolished, and that mediocrity resulting from policies encouraging equality of outcome is permissible, the Islamic invasion of the West gathers strength.

Solway says terror is rooted in the Koran as a preferred modus operandi, along with long-term strategies of massive immigration, followed by the incremental establishment of shariah courts, no-go zones, erasure of the past, and the development of Muslim vote blocs. The left-liberal pursuit of multiculturalism feeds this metastatic growth in Western democracies. He says this is nothing short of cultural homicide.

The most powerful allies of Islam in its assault on Europe are the European postmodern elites, for whom cultures are interchangeable and Judeo-Christian values passe. They represent a fifth column in the establishment of Eurabia, as scholar Bat Yeor (Gisele Littman) dubbed it. Solway points to the 6,000 mosques in Europe, the 85 shariah courts in the U.K., and the extreme tolerance for Islamic clothing and shariah. In Denmark, Austria, and Holland people have been prosecuted for hate speech for warning about the trajectory of Islam. In the U.S. groups like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) actively spread Muslim influence on the campus. Meanwhile, the media, which openly demonizes Israel, refuses to identify Jihadists as such, instead calling them lone gunman.

Solway is astonished by such laxness despite Islams malign history and clarity of intent, its scriptural sanction of conquest and Islamization, and the presence of Jihadist camps and terrorist cells in Europe and America. All official schools of Islamic jurisprudence commend Jihad and there is no Islamic authority that supports moderation in Islam. Accusations of Israeli apartheid are ironic when it is Islam that separates men from women and believers from infidels. By allowing Islamic infiltration, the West is complicit in its own decline. Solway calls this Islamolepsy, a clouding of thinking in the face of impending peril.

Crossing the Jordan tackles these issues fiercely and thoroughly. Readers will be arrested by Solways concern for the future of Jews, Israel, and the West, as the Left and Islam work to destroy Western culture. Hopefully, readers will heed his message and awareness will precede action and recollection will influence the future. Recollection, remembrance, zakar  and preventive action based on that  only that will take the Jews, Israel, and the West across the Jordan, and preserve freedom.

Image: Screen shot Barnes & Noble // fair use
The political vigilantism taking place under the banner of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) must be immediately and completely excised from our military. DEI corrodes the moral foundations upon which our armed services were built and provides both the kindling and spark for igniting tribalism among our service members. Officers of all ranks who promulgate these destructive ideas must be immediately relieved of command because they actively endanger our nations security.

The war in Gaza has been instructive because the response to it in the streets of Western cities and on college campuses has pulled back the rhetorical stage curtain and laid bare the moral rot at DEIs core. It is impossible to turn on the TV or scroll through social media without seeing throngs of people waiving green, red, and white Palestinian flags and chanting about the horrors of Israeli colonial occupation and advocating for eradication of the Jewish state. Weve recently seen that Presidents of once prestigious American universities cannot publicly denounce their students who applaud medieval barbarity against innocent civilians for fear of offending the barbarians. To the benighted looking down from their moral high ground, the savagery Israelis have endured is merely the historical bill coming due for their oppression of Palestinians. Beheading people, killing children in their beds, and incinerating infants in ovens might be distasteful, but when members of an oppressed group do it to their oppressors it is justifiable given the history of the oppression they have endured. At a minimum, they say, the spasm of violence is a response that must be contextualized.

Although quantitatively different, the moral reasoning used to rationalize the slaughter and rape of innocent Israelis is qualitatively the same as the moral calculus inherent to DEI. Morality is no longer measured against objective and immutable ideas of good and evil but is instead determined by where actions or ideas fall on a politically approved taxonomy of grievances. By design, DEI erases the bright line between right and wrong and makes everything a contextual shade of ideological gray. But history teaches those moral lines are important, especially in the military.

For example, German soldiers didnt herd Jews onto railcars to Treblinka because the Wehrmacht, as an institution, emphasized the value of human life. (The Germans in WWII had a name for these people who were deemed racially or socially inferior -- Untermensch. Literally, the sub-human races.) Serbian troops didnt slaughter Bosnians and Croats and bulldoze them into mass graves because they respected people as individuals regardless of their ethnicity or religion. These, like the horrors recently committed against Israeli civilians, occurred because, and only because, one group ceased thinking about another group as sharing in their humanity. Quantitatively, theres still some distance between murdering people who are ethnically or culturally different and the precepts underlying DEI, but qualitatively, there isnt. Its the same idea of dividing people into classes based on inherent characteristics beyond their control and then acting on those differences. It is only a matter of time before the qualitative and quantitative points meet. It took about a decade in Germany.

The horrors on display in Gaza also show it is the slipperiest of slippery slopes to teach young men with guns that some people simply arent as valuable as other people, or to suggest that it might, just maybe, be justifiable to behead someone because they are a member of a group that is deemed an oppressor. Within the military context, this is the same type of moral relativism that will inevitably justify rounding-up and shooting partisans, torturing POWs, and razing enemy villages.

Shamefully, this is exactly what the American military is doing. Through DEI, the U.S. military promulgates, teaches, and ultimately enforces the idea people should be treated differently based on who their parents were or the color of their skin. The Department of Defense -- as an official policy -- implicitly recognizes the idea of guilt by blood. It is arrogant folly to believe these ideas can be contained within the services themselves and will not eventually seep into decisions and actions made by American forces in the field.

Napoleon famously opined that the moral is to the physical as three is to one and maybe an American military focused on diversity and led by officers who lack moral clarity will be an exception to this maxim. Perhaps American troops taught to segregate themselves based on ethnicity and relative victimhood will be able to put these ideas aside when they meet the enemy.

But this is dangerous speculation without any evidence to support it. The American military has been the worlds standard for better part of a century, and yet none of the forces put into the field were constructed or led according to DEIs principles. Why do the current political and military leaders believe a military organized around DEIs ideology will be better than the military we have?

Or, more cynically, do our current political and military leaders believe that having an ideologically conformist military is more important than fielding an effective, lethal, and patriotic one that can defend our nation? On the available evidence, it appears that they do.

Image: USAF, Airman Leala Marquez
I was recently asked if there was a defining moment that dramatically accelerated and perhaps made permanent the chaos this nation is presently facing. My answer: the two weeks between March 16 and March 30, 2020.

On March 16th, Donald Trump declared a National Emergency for COVID-19 and effectively shut down the nation for 15 days to slow the spread. At a press conference announcing the temporary shutdown he said: With several weeks of focused action, we can turn the corner, and turn it quickly.

Regardless of the severity, never throughout the annals of mankind has a nation been shut down to combat a pandemic. However, the politically compromised and dishonest medical advisors to Trump (including Drs. Fauci and Birx) advised him to declare a National Emergency and agree to a shutdown and social distancing by pointing to the supposed success of Chinas choreographed lockdowns.

Soon thereafter, Trump allied with Mitch McConnell and the Democrats to structure an unprecedented economic relief package which was passed by Congress on March 27, 2020. Trump signed the $2.2 Trillion Coronavirus relief bill or the CARES Act on the same day. This was the largest single spending bill in human history and equivalent to the annual Gross Domestic Product of Russia.

Within the voluminous CARES Act was $400 million to the states to legitimize, promote, and underwrite mass mail-in voting and by default, ballot harvesting. By including this spending in the relief package, both political parties and the White House gave their stamp of approval for mass mail-in voting and the inevitable attendant abuse and manipulation.

The announced initial 15 days to slow the spread of COVID-19 days became 45 days as Donald Trump, on March 30, 2020, reluctantly extended the de facto national shutdown for an additional 30 days after acquiescing to the so-called public health experts in the government.

Once that extension was announced, Trump lost control of events and it became impossible for him to reverse course. He was mercilessly mocked whenever he talked about ending the lockdowns toward the end of the 45-day period as the legacy media and the Democrats were incessantly fearmongering and the federal medical bureaucracy was deliberately inflating the infection and fatality numbers.

This cabal was secure in the knowledge that the measures outlined by Trump and the White House Covid Task Force would sink the economy and open the door to mass mail-in voting and voter fraud. Which would also be the catalyst to defeat Trump in the general election. Accordingly, the political opposition and legacy media unrelentingly wallowed in alarmism and championed draconian lockdowns, masking and social distancing while also promoting mass mail-in voting.

Thus, the extension issued on March 30th inevitably led to long-term lockdowns, massive economic dislocation, protracted school closures as the various state governors, pointing to Trumps decisions as their justification, initiated their own lockdown regimens. Trump was confronted with the reality that a president has no legal basis to intervene in the shutdown policies of the individual states.

Instinctively, Trump knew he had made a mistake as he watched the economy implode. However, due to the upcoming election, he hesitated to remove those around him, such as the duplicitous Drs. Fauci and Birx, who were not only incompetent but in league with the Democrat/Legacy Media axis.

Trump, in his speeches, did attempt to convince the governors and federal bureaucrats to alter course, but it was too late as the damage to his presidency, the nation, and the citizenry was a fait accompli. Further, with donor and federal government funding combined with insouciance on the part of the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee, the Democrat war machine relentlessly, and in some cases unconstitutionally, succeeded in changing election laws in numerous states prior to November 3, 2020.

The decisions and actions between March 16th and March 30, 2020 were the primary factor in the election of Joe Biden and the Obama-led Marxist takeover of the presidency and the Executive Branch, which has eventuated in the following:

A de facto open border resulting in over 10 million illegal immigrants and an untold number of potential terrorists flooding the nation,

$10.3 Trillion in new national debt since March of 2020 (in 2008 the total national debt was $10.0 Trillion),

A potentially permanent stagnant economy and ongoing inflation resulting in one dollar in November of 2023 buying only 82% of what it did in March of 2020, while real disposable income is down 7.5%,

A politically weaponized justice system and federal police force (FBI) targeting Trump and other political adversaries as well as everyday Americans,

Permanent uncontrolled mail-in voting in 34 of the 50 states,

The massive expansion of the government-sponsored censorship and domestic spying industry,

An overwhelming erosion of confidence in the Federal health bureaucracy due to manipulating data, promoting lockdowns, and the haphazard approval and mandating of the COVID-19 vaccine,

The funding of a never-ending and unnecessary war in Ukraine, the enriching of Iran, and the greenlighting of Chinese expansion and belligerency.

Donald Trump deserves to be recognized as an indispensable man who was the right president at the right time and prior to March of 2020 had one of the most successful presidencies in the modern era. However, when confronted by his adversaries and their manipulation of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Trumps acquiescence and decision-making process was out of character as he was far too fixated on the upcoming election.

The decisions a president makes in times of national crises oftentimes have enormous implications for the future of the country. The decisions made in those fateful two weeks between March 16 and March 30, 2020 are the backdrop to the chaos this nation is presently experiencing.

Image: OpenClipArt.com
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas War in October, there has been a notable spike in antisemitism on college campuses across the U.S. Reports have found that 73% of Jewish students have witnessed or experienced antisemitism on American campuses this academic year. An alarming 54% of surveyed Jewish college attendees do not feel safe on campus.

Nearly a quarter of surveyed students expressed sympathy for Hamas, a violent terrorist organization that has a history of suicide bombings, rape, kidnappings, murdering civilians, and genocidal rhetoric.

This is social justice teaching gone haywire. Its what happens when you romanticize radical political figures, teach Critical Race Theory, and restrict free speech and intellectual diversity on campus. The wide-eyed college students that used to march against inequality now foster hate.

College is a time of experimentation, whether with alcohol or ideas. Rebellion and self-exploration make students more susceptible to radical social justice ideologies such as Marxism. Selling a political philosophy to a freshman is easy -- all you really need is a seductive narrative. Look no further than the mythic Che Guevera. Students buy in to his false mystique as a martyr for equality. They even wear t-shirts adorned with his likeness. Why? Because the narrative theyve been fed is compelling: an underdog commanding his troops through the rough terrain of the Sierra Maestra mountains enveloped in a plume of cigar smoke.

It doesnt matter that Che scoffed at the concept of judicial evidence, was deeply racist, and condemned gays to concentration camps. Perception can often trump reality. Idealistic students are drawn to glorified images of radical political movements like moths to a flame.

And thats precisely whats behind the recent spike in antisemitism on college campuses. The idealistic student cant be bothered to recognize the more than 1,300 civilians who were killed by Hamas in the current conflict, nor the litany of atrocities that have been committed over the past couple of months. They recognize Hamas as the noble defender of downtrodden Palestine. And Israel, as the oppressor, deserves whatever ill befalls.

It makes perfect sense that they would draw these conclusions, as this binary of oppressor and oppressed is exactly what theyre being taught in classrooms pushing Critical Race Theory.

When they look at Israel and Palestine, all they see are power dynamics. Israels greater economic success, powerful allies, and policies that have adversely impacted Palestine make them a target for the social justice crowd. Settlers are not civilians as one Yale American studies professor so succinctly put it.

Its preposterous. Innocent Jewish citizens should not be punished for the policies of their government. And there is arguably no other group that has been more discriminated against in human history than the Jews.

The only potential antidote for the glamorization and the intellectual justification for left-wing antisemitism is intellectual diversity. Currently, only 26% of professors identify as being conservative and 17% as moderate. The academy is, effectively, an ideological echo chamber. Recognizing this, the spike in antisemitism should come as no surprise. What else should we expect from students when the only narrative they hear is the one that casts Israel as an evil oppressor?

The atmosphere among academics has to change. 40% of liberal professors are afraid of losing their job for making a social justice faux pas. This culture of fear has to end. More college administrators need to outspokenly condemn the support for Hamas and antisemitism on campus, otherwise they passively condone it.

The rise of antisemitism on college campuses might be surprising considering academias purported commitment to tolerance. But when radical ideologies are glorified and social sciences are fixated on antagonistically dividing people -- and when college officials are too timid to denounce anti-Jewish sentiment -- the result is a new generation of antisemites.

Peter Clark is a Young Voices Contributor. Follow him on Twitter @blog_logic.

Image: Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-2007-0329-501
The migrant crisis in Chicago has turned comical.

I mean that it makes me laugh, especially when we remember what they used to say about Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the law that eliminated sanctuary cities in Texas.

Take a trip down memory lane and remember that he was called a racist and "racista" for signing the law.

What a difference a few buses and thousands of migrants makes?

Up in Chicago, woke Mayor Brandon Johnson has come up with the latest idea to solve the problem.
Well, it happened.

Harvard's board voted 'yes' on keeping Claudine Gay as president of the university, despite her incredible failure to unequivocably condemn antisemitism on campus before Congress and the subsequent revelations that she apparently plagiarized some of her own academic work from others.

According to the New York Times:

Claudine Gay will stay on as president of Harvard University, the schools governing board announced on Tuesday, despite an uproar over her evasive answers at a congressional hearing about campus antisemitism. The members of the board, the Harvard Corporation, deliberated into the night on Monday before finally deciding not to remove Dr. Gay, the universitys first Black president, from her post. As members of the Harvard Corporation, we today reaffirm our support for President Gays continued leadership of Harvard University, said a statement signed by all of the board members other than Dr. Gay. Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing. The statement goes on, however, to acknowledge that Dr. Gay had made mistakes, including in her initial reaction to Hamass Oct. 7 attack on Israel. So many people have suffered tremendous damage and pain because of Hamass brutal terrorist attack, and the Universitys initial statement should have been an immediate, direct, and unequivocal condemnation, the statement said.

Well, it wasn't. And the freaks now run wild at Harvard, something that hasn't happened in recent years until Gay, who's a DEI enthusiast, came onboard.

Once again, the antisemites can rest easy and feel "affirmed" and good about themselves now that Gay is going to stay. As for the Harvard Jewish students who feel just a little threatened, well, now they have some lip service, but of course, it's only that. There hasn't even been a "stern warning" issued to them from Gay or anyone, let alone a threat to be expelled on the spot. Nothing has changed and since nobody's gotten murdered there yet, nothing will, the talk and threats will continue, nor is anyone about to be punished for spewing such vile thoughts.

Niall Ferguson has written a tremendous piece (save for one flaw) at Bari Weiss's The Free Press, explaining how this crap gets started, citing the example of prestigious universities in pre-war Germany being the first to embrace Hitler and Naziism and everything going downhill precisely because they did, from there.

(The flaw is that he repeatedly claims that Naziism come from the right, forgetting to spell out the word 'Nazi,' which is short for 'national socialism' and which was essentially socialist in character. It was called 'rightwing' by Stalinists who wanted to curse their competitors with the worst name they could think of, and it was done on almost the same logic that they called themselves 'Bolsheviks,' meaning 'big,' and their much larger body of leftist competitors 'Mensheviks,' meaning 'minor' or 'little.' But you can read right past that in the Ferguson piece and still embrace the value and thesis of it, which tells us so much about what happened and why the garbage going on at Harvard should be nipped in the bud.)

Instead, the wokesters at university are opting to keep Gay, who has embraced DEI policies, meaning, she has excluded everyone from the system who doesn't share her far-left ideology, so there aren't that many people there who are not going to support her.

Worse still, she has enforced DEI on others. Think of the example of how Harvard in 2019 loudly withdrew its offer of admission to Israeli Jewish conservative Parkland shooting survivor Kyle Kashuv to Harvard after jealous classmates tattled to the university about some bad bulletin board remarks about blacks he posted several years earlier when he was far younger and much less mature. Despite offering a full-throated apology, Kashuv's apology was not accepted, his appeal was ignored, and Kashuv paid the whole penalty. Gay was dean of the faculty of arts and sciences when it happened.

He's just one example, but there have been many as a result of Gay's DEI orientation of the school and its swift willingness to cancel others for real or perceived triggerings which in some cases, she has claimed as "threats."

That Kashuv was Israeli-Jewish is pretty interesting.

No cancel culture for Jew-haters, however, or the university presidents who enable them.

And somehow, Gay, who claims she's now sorry since the uproar and lost donations that came of it, expects us all to move on and carry on even though the same courtesy was not extended to Kashuv.

In this regard, Gay and her crew show us 'who they are,' and prove that antisemitism is pretty embedded with this bunch of loyalists.

And loyalists they are, not to scholarship, but to Gay herself, who has also failed the university miserably on the scholarship-reputation front.

Since her sorry performance before Congress, she's since been exposed as an apparent plagiarist by Christopher Rufo and Christopher Brunet on Rufo's Substack page:

We have obtained exclusive documentation demonstrating that President Gay may face yet another problem: plagiarism of sections of her Ph.D. dissertation, which would violate Harvards own stated policies on academic integrity. (We reached out to President Gay for comment, but received no response.) Gay published her dissertation, Taking Charge: Black Electoral Success and the Redefinition of American Policies, in 1997, as part of her doctorate in political science from Harvard. The paper deals with white-black political representation and racial attitudes. As evaluated under the universitys plagiarism policy, the paper contains at least three problematic patterns of usage and citation.

Didn't Stanford University just get rid of its president for plagiarism? They do have an 'honor code' that they apparently read, so out he went, but he did copy off someone else's paper, which has been a 'no-no' since the dawn of time. Harvard reportedly expelled 21 students for plagiarism in 2021.

Didn't the University of Pennsylvania get rid of its president, wokester Liz Magill, for being unable to condemn antisemitism unequivocally before Congress?

Does Harvard have a different attitude to these things, or worse, does it have a different attitude because the perpetrator is black? How's that going to go over for Harvard's academic reputation, and what kind of message does that send to Harvard's current students?

Fox Business's Charles Payne, who always follows the money, saw some cynicism in this move from the board, noting the university's huge endowment, along with its double standard:

Breaking: Key oversight board backs Harvard University leader: We unanimously stand in support of President Gay



I suspect Harvard believes it has enough cash to weather the storm. This time they are wrong. But this underscores why they should finance Harvard student degrees pic.twitter.com/CqUs3N6S1D  Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) December 12, 2023

Standards, who needs standards? Hain't we got the money?

With this bad decision, he thinks those days may be limited. Get woke, go broke...

Image: Pexels / public domain
I admit to a certain naivete about the Holocaust. Specifically, I knew there was a time when people denied it ever happened, but I was unaware that this particular conspiracy theory was still around. I thought that the weight of evidence for the Holocaust was so overwhelming that no decent person could possibly doubt it had occurred. Clearly, my mistake was in not realizing that there is a great deal of indecency in the world today regarding the Jewish people.

Ive seen the headlines about the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and how they equivocated in Congressional hearings on whether students should be disciplined for calling for the genocide of Jews. While its dismaying that such officials are unwilling to go on the record condemning pro-Palestinian activists who want to push all the Jews in Israel into the sea and out of their own country, its heartening to read that there was such a backlash against their testimony that all three are facing calls to step down.

Its good to see pictures of truck billboards calling for the resignation of Harvard president Claudine Gay. I appreciate the comments of White House spokesperson Andrew Bates, who said, Its unbelievable that this needs to be said: calls for genocide are monstrous and antithetical to everything we represent as a country. Any statements that advocate for the systematic murder of Jews are dangerous and revolting  and we should all stand firmly against them, on the side of human dignity and the most basic values that unite us as Americans.

Image: Internet meme; creator unknown.

I hope that the loss of donors, including a promised donation of one hundred million dollars to the University of Pennsylvania that was withdrawn after the hearings, will send a clear message that antisemitism needs to stop immediately and that any college student calling for harm to Jewish people needs to face strong disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion.

However, there is a more insidious problem in our society today. A recent survey released by Fridays YouGov found that ten percent of Democrats believe the Holocaust never happened. In urban areas, the percentage was even higher, with fourteen percent of Democrats denying the reality of the Holocaust. Voters between the ages of 18 and 29 scored the highest in this deplorable category, with twenty percent claiming the Holocaust is a myth. In New York, twenty percent of those surveyed claimed that Jews caused the Holocaust.

While it is encouraging to see Ivy League college presidents being held accountable for antisemitic views, I find it extremely troubling that Holocaust denial is on the rise. Jews are increasingly under attack all over the world. Hamas has launched a war against Israel. We need more than ever to remember the Holocaust and honor the Jewish people who survived it to bear witness.

It has been said that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it, but Holocaust denial goes beyond forgetting history. The lie of such a denial is nothing more than a cynical ploy by the left to blame the Jewish people for the greatest crime that was ever perpetrated against them.

Pandra Selivanov is the author of The Pardon, a story of forgiveness based on the thief on the cross in the Bible.
Doug Emhoff is Americas Second Gentleman because he is married to Kamala Harris, Americas vice president. The Biden administration likes him because hes amiable, leftist, and ostensibly Jewish. However, as his misbegotten Hanukkah tweet shows, hes as Jewish as Joe Biden or Nancy Pelosi are Catholic (or Kamala Harris is black)which is to say, not at all. Its a garment they pull on only when they need it politically.

Hanukkah celebrates two things: First, it celebrates a huge victory in the 2nd century B.C. when the small Jewish colony of Judea dealt a stunning military defeat to their Seleucid Greek overlords. Second, it celebrates the great miracle of the oil.

When the Jews regained access to and control over their Temple, they discovered that the Greeks had desecrated it. The purification ritual (or re-dedification) required eight days of holy oil, but the Jews had only one days worth. However, thanks to Gods hand, that one day of oil lasted for eight days, with the eight Hanukkah candles commemorating that eight-day miracle.

Put another way, Hanukkah is a story of triumph, both military and spiritual. However, the Jewish Doug Emhoff didnt quite see it that way. To honor the holiday, he offered a very different narrative in a now-deleted tweet:

Doug Emhoff deleted this, which is not the story of Hanukkah, the Maccabean Revolt depicted in the Bible https://t.co/hhMd38OPMd pic.twitter.com/kvs1UikYOx  Jack Poso  (@JackPosobiec) December 12, 2023

The story of Hanukkah and the story of the Jewish people has [sic] always been one [sic] of hope and resilience. In the Hanukkah story, the Jewish people were forced into hiding. No one thought they would survive or that the few drops of oil they had would last. But they survived and the oil kept burning. During those eight days in hiding, they recited their prayers and continued their traditions. Thats why Hanukkah means dedication. It was during those dark nights that the Maccabees dedicated themselves to maintaining hope and faith in the oil, each other, and their Judaism. In these dark times, I think of that story.

The X communitys response was swift, merciless, and very amusing:

The story of Hanukkah and the story of the Jewish people has always been one of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In the Hanukkah story, the Jewish people were forced into hiding by MAGA white supremacists. No one thought they would survive or that the few drops of CBD oil they pic.twitter.com/l2R9JorYjp  Noah Pollak (@NoahPollak) December 12, 2023

Just found the Rabbi who taught Doug about Hanukkah https://t.co/XAPVYL9l5A pic.twitter.com/AhY8WQgI4E  AG (@AGHamilton29) December 12, 2023

Doug Emhoff is the Kamala Harris of Second Gentlemen.  Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 12, 2023

Come back for Doug's Passover message where he informs us that one of the Ten Plagues was Climate Change. https://t.co/HsOXihWgWM  Dave Gordon (@D_Gordzo) December 12, 2023

Theres another thing wrong with the post, and thats the picture. You can see that a vast chasm separates the two candles in the menorah. Thats all wrong. The candles are supposed to be lit in regimental order, one immediately after the other, with another added each night. Also, the fact that one is burned down while the other is just lit shows that this was a completely staged event, with Emhoff himself ignorant of how to proceed.

Image: Doug Emhoff and Kamala Harris (edited). X screen grab.

Emhoff, of course, deserves all the mockery hes receiving. Having said that, Im actually quite pleased about his ludicrous Hanukkah post because it perfectly illustrates a point Ive been trying to make for a very long time, and one that becomes more important in a time of rising antisemitism: Leftist Jews are Jews In Name Only (aka JINOS).

JINOS are engaged in a form of Kabuki theater that sees them claiming the trappings of Judaism while being ignorant about the Jewish faith and entirely dismissive of Jewish values. Their Judaism is a fashion and lifestyle statement rather than a set of values. Their holy book isnt the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), nor is their understanding of those books further illuminated by the Talmud or the Midrash (the ancient and determinative collected works of rabbinical teachings).

For JINOS, the holy book is Das Kapital (even if they havent read it), the exegesis is in the Democrat party platform, and the Temple is leftist academia. Those are the teachings and institutions that guide them, all of which are grounded in Marxist thought, not Judaism. They are the equivalent of Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, two loud and proud Catholics who embrace and foist on America the same DNC, Marxist, statist values as the JINOS.

Just as you cannot judge a book by its cover, its an error to take on faith a persons statement that he is Jewish, Catholic, Muslim, or Protestant Christian. If that person is a leftist, that persons real faith is the Gospel of Marx.

UPDATE: Below is an excellent segment from Caroline Glick, the pertinent point being her discussion about Hellenization.
Thomas Friedman is a writer for the New York Times. He is an admirer of Manmohan Singh. The latter was Indias prime minister in late November 2008, when Pakistani militants invaded his country and murdered almost 200 totally innocent citizens and residents. Did Singh return the favor and invade Pakistan? He did not. Instead, he relied upon diplomacy to rectify that situation.

What lesson does Friedman draw from this episode of brutality followed by military inaction? It is that Israel should borrow a leaf from India and confine its retaliation against Hamas to diplomatic, covert and other [such] means.

There are all sorts of disanalogies between India and Israel. India and Pakistan have similar sized populations; their land masses are much like one another in terms of geographic and demographic dimensions. The size of the population in Israel is some nine million. If you add up the population size of all its neighbors, it reaches into the billions. The same sort of disparity arises with regard to land mass. Israels is less than one percent of all of that of its neighbors, and potential enemies, Abraham Accords or no Abraham Accords. Barring nuclear war, the existence of neither India nor Pakistan is at stake in any altercation between them. The same cannot said for the warring parties in the Middle East. The existence of Israel hangs in the balance in the present engagement between the IDF and Hamas, if its neighbors decide to pile on. The same cannot at all be said for all the Arab and Islamic countries in this geographical area. An Israeli victory does not at all spell the demise of all of them, again abstracting from the use of nuclear weapons.

The Pakistani raid was not at all as vicious as was that of Hamas. There were no rapes, beheadings, torture, etc., involved. The members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba group did not film their depredations, show them widely, and thereby create even greater anguish for the Indians. No hostages were taken. Fewer than 200 victims out of a population size that of India is a drop in the bucket, in both percentage and absolute terms, compared to 1,400 out of nine million in the Israeli case.

There is historically worldwide antisemitism. There is no analogous anti-Indianism. Thirty student groups at prestigious Harvard University immediately after October 7, 2023, a day that will live in the annals of infamy for all time, blamed all of the deaths that took place solely on Israel. Pictures of the children held captive were torn down all over the world. Nothing even remotely resembling these outrages took place in the earlier unjust episode in Asia. If there were a viciousness meter available, what Hamas did to Israel would be off the charts; what occurred to the Indians, horrid as it was, would not compare.

There was no holocaust for India. There was for Israel  well, for Jews. The Indians never came within a million miles of total annihilation. The Jews did. It makes them a bit nervous. Both pairs fought each other several times. But it was never life or death for either India or Pakistan. The same cannot be said for the two adversaries in the Middle East.

Israel is dependent on the U.S. India is not. The latter, then, is able to fight its enemies with both hands free, so to speak. In sharp contrast, Israel is forever looking over its shoulder for U.S. approval, or at least not serious disapproval. Thus, it must fight its enemies with one hand tied behind its back. India can afford not to repay the Pakistanis in kind; Israel cannot, regarding its enemies.

Need another disanalogy? We Jews are continually being accused of killing Christ. Of being money-lenders and hucksters. Of being wickedness incarnate. No one makes any similar critique of India. The worst they are accused of, at least in the U.S., is taking call center jobs away from Americans. Thus, almost before Israel launched any military counter at all to that below-the-belt attack on helpless civilians, mothers and children, it was accused of a disproportionate response, or being responsible for all the deaths involved. At that time, there were only Israeli casualties. Nothing of the sort ever occurred in the Indian-Pakistani context.

India is not Israel, apart from both starting with the letter I. I am deliriously happy that Thomas Friedman has no official power in Israel.

Image via Pxfuel.
When leftwing outlet Dazed Magazine published its Winter 2023 issue, the front cover depicted three young Muslim women in quasi-Islamic dressone woman wore solid blue, the next wore solid white, and the last wore solid red for a sort of French flag mimicry stuntwith a caption that read Togetherness: Resistance in France. (Now I saw quasi-Islamic because Im pretty sure 4-inch stilettos and head-to-toe red garb would warrant an honor killing in certain parts of the Islamic world.) See below:

The cover of DAZED's Winter 2023 issue - #TheBaddieIssue (282) - paints a harsh but true picture of the country formerly known as France, where the "croissant" is no longer a patisserie.#DIEversity#UNSleeperCell pic.twitter.com/OKziTLCAM1  Nick F. Cerutti (@TheNickFCerutti) December 7, 2023

And here is the lede for the feature article:

In France, where the secular state is a source of historical pride, Muslim women are being shut out from society by politicians who pander shamelessly to the far right. Now, they are taking the fight for bodily autonomy into their own hands[.]

The essay focused on the French governments abaya ban and included a number of glamor shots of other young Muslim women in, again, quasi-Islamic dress: haute couture designers like Balenciaga, Gucci, and Saint Laurent arent your typical producers of abayas, and Prada heels and skintight spandex dont exactly convey modesty.

As noted in the lede, the narrative pushed by Dazed is that the far right is driving a discriminatory agenda to shut out Muslim women from societybut the abaya ban came about thanks to a far-left government, and its something that Emmanuel Macron, Frances president and free-for-all migration advocate, explicitly supports. Its inaccurate to describe any cultural pushback as emanating from the far right because in reality, those who support making France great again are just normal French people who dont want to see a thriving Western culture obliterated by Sharia-loving jihadis. Islamization always ushers in cultural degradation; crime, violence, oppression, chaos always accompany the introduction of third-world mentality muslims into a Western society.

The girls who defied the ban are painted as resistance fighters standing up to oppression (the irony), but Id like to introduce you to the women who actually deserve a round of applause for their resolute patriotism, via an article at RAIR Foundation:

In a bold response to the recent front-page feature of Dazed, a left-wing fashion magazine promoting sharia clothing, the Nemesis collective, a group of French female conservative activists, has voiced its strong opposition.  In response, the Nemesis collective organized a photo shoot featuring three French women, each adorned in the national colors of France, symbolizing their love and respect for French culture and values. This move was intended to juxtapose their vision of French femininity and freedom against the backdrop of the Dazed feature, which glorifies a tool of submission under sharia law.

See the two covers, juxtaposed below:

Cultural jihadis celebrated in France, but French patriots do it better.



The addition of the ham is a chef's kiss.



Kudos to the set designer. pic.twitter.com/9LDFdRsIv0  Olivia Murray (@americaliv1) December 12, 2023

I have to iterate, perhaps my favorite touch was the cured sausages (pork) displayed prominently across the tablebravo!

Image generated by AI.
A dog runs onto the 14th green during play during the first round of the Insperity Invitational golf tournament, Friday, April, 28, 2023 in The Woodlands. Eric Christian Smith/Contributor

You might already have your flight booked for this holiday, but knowing how to keep your pet safe while away is always a challenge.

Leaving on a trip can be chaotic, especially while travelers consider what gifts to pick out for loved ones. It is also a stressful time for pets, who can pick up on signs you're headed out  so what do you do with your pet while you're gone?

Here are a few things to consider as you start to find your pet a place to stay.

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GOOD TO KNOW: Thinking about gifting a pet for Christmas? Officials advise against it.

Is a pet sitter or boarding facility better?

According to the Animal Humane Society, a pet sitter might be a better option for lengthy stays, especially if you have more than one pet. Pets with complicated medical issues or ones afraid of new environments may thrive best at home, especially if the pet sitter is a familiar friend or family member. Pet owners should hand out care instructions and ask how their pets will be treated while they are away.

"You want to know what their protocol is in an emergency," said Claire Ellington, senior general manager at Rover Oaks Pet Resort.

Sites like Houston's Best Pet Sitters or Rover can help connect pet parents with the perfect match while they are away.

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Pet hotels typically require up-to-date vaccinations and some information about your animal's medical history. They can also be pricey.

Ellington said anyone leaving their pet at a hotel should take a tour first and read reviews thoroughly. She advises pet owners to ask many questions as they move through the facility. How many hours are pets on hand without oversight? Do employees look happy to be there? It can also be good to ask if any team members are trained in pet CPR.

"Does it look clean? Do the dogs look calm or relaxed?" Ellington said. "You can tell a lot just by walking through."

There are two Rover Oaks locations in Houston, which are mostly booked for the holiday season. Ellington recommends calling the facilities to ask about availability or the waitlist.

Camp Run-A-Mutt



This dog boarding and daycare site is one place to consider sending your dog while you are away. The cage-free facility has two locations in the Houston area and always has someone present with dogs.

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While prices typically start at $46 per day, lodging during the holiday season will cost $55 until after the new year. Before dogs can stay the night, they must spend a test day at the facility. Staff will determine if your furry friend can spend time with workers and other dogs without misbehaving. Availability this month is tight, so be sure to call ahead to get a spot.

Houston Bark Park



Houston Bark Park has three locations in the Houston area that are also limited in space. Dogs must qualify for daycare by passing a temperament test, and they are required to be up to date on rabies and other vaccines. Each day will cost $65, and the facility asks pet parents to bring their dog's preferred food.

The Ruff House



While the Ruff House has limited availability, there are spots open in December for pet owners looking for a cage-free place for their pups. Boarding costs $55 per night and requires a pet evaluation at least five days before the dog stays the night.
Customizing your online experience is about to get a whole lot more exciting as Google Chrome embraces the power of generative AI to introduce a feature that lets you create personalized browser themes. This move comes on the heels of Googles recent ventures into AI, including the introduction of the competitive ChatGPT 4 rival, Gemini. However Google admits that its Gemini hands-on video was staged.

Google Chrome, a browser known for its user-friendly features, has been an integral part of the digital landscape for over a decade. Chrome themes are will soon receive a significant upgrade with the integration of an AI-powered theme generator. Unveiled in the Canary releases of Google Chrome, the new feature, aptly named Create Theme with AI, allows users to fully customize themes using the capabilities of generative AI.

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There will be an overwhelming number of options available for creating AI themes in Chrome

The steps of creating a personalized theme involves selecting a theme subject from an array of options, ranging from landscapes and buildings to food and nature. Once you choose a broad theme, you can delve into the fine-tuning process, selecting the art style, mood, and color options to create a truly unique browsing experience. However, as of now, the feature is not yet active, and users are eagerly awaiting the first glimpse of the final wallpapers.

While the feature isnt live in Chrome Canary (unstable) by default and may not be easily accessible at the moment, its impending arrival underscores Googles commitment to infusing AI into its products. This follows the recent revelation that Google Chrome is gearing up to introduce a Help me Write feature, leveraging generative AI to assist users in crafting posts, reviews, and more across the web.

This will be a great opportunity for Google to showcase the power of AI

The Create Theme with AI feature is a testament to the evolving role of artificial intelligence in enhancing digital experiences. By harnessing the power of generative AI, Google Chrome aims not only to improve user experience but also to showcase the potential of AI in shaping unique and personalized digital aesthetics.

As with any innovative feature, the upcoming AI-powered theme generator will likely undergo testing in the Canary build before making its way to the beta version and, eventually, the stable release. Users can anticipate this exciting addition to Chromes arsenal in the coming months.
Gemini is Googles flagship AI model, and we can expect it to be used in several of the companys new projects coming out. The companys working on a project that will give you a deep insight into, well YOU. Its called Project Ellmann, and its powered by Gemini, and it might just give you the creeps.

In case you dont know what Google Gemini is, its the latest and greatest AI model launched by Google. Its the model currently powering Google Bard, and its also been implemented into the Pixel 8 Pros Tensor G3 chip. At this point, there are only three versions of the model available, which are Gemini Pro (powering Bard) and Gemini Nano (powering the Pixel 8 Pro). These are the two smaller versions of the model. So, if youre wondering how to use Gemini, there are two ways.

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The largest version is called Gemini Ultra, and thats not coming out until early next year.

Project Ellmann is powered by Gemini, and its a bit creepy

At this point, its obvious that companies like Google and Meta know more about us than we do. The data that they collect on us can tip the scales, and cause us to be a bit uneasy. Weve seen Google use its massive amounts of data on us in different useful ways, but Project Ellmanm will take this to a new level.

Imagine opening ChatGPT but it already knows everything about your life. Thats a quote from Google, and it pretty much sums up what this project is all about. Project Ellmann will use the data that Google has on you (including picture data, search history, etc.) in order to answer questions that you ask. The company gave examples such as When was the last time I saw my sibling? and Do I have a pet?.

Ellmann will be able to pull from the information collected from you to answer these questions. It goes pretty deep, as its touted to be able to know your eating habits, which isnt something thats easy to discern from internet data. It might go by images of food that you take and food-related Google searches. Heck, it could even tell when a person was born, find information on their parents, and more stuff like that.

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Uhh, creepy much?

So, any person reading this would, understandably, be concerned. However, this isnt a user-facing project, and we dont know if Googles even going to launch it. The company stated that This was an early internal exploration, so its probably just a prototype at this point. should we decide to roll out new features, we would take the time needed to ensure they were helpful to people, and designed to protect users privacy and safety as our top priority.

Judging by what Googles saying, it doesnt look like the company even has any solid plans to release Project Ellmann. Thats a relief, as this seems like the kind of project that walks the line between innovative and invasive. Not many people want to know that an AI model has so much in-depth information on them. Its to the point where you can expect some massive lawsuits against the company.
Not much is officially known about Sonys PS5 Pro, but a new set of specs has leaked that may give consumers an idea of what to expect. One notable highlight suggests that the PS5 Pro will have Ray Tracing improvements that come from the RDNA4 architecture. However, the consoles GPU architecture will reportedly be RDNA3. Itll use either 56 or 60 compute units depending on the leak.

Two recent leaks from different sources point to one or the other. As VideoCarz notes, a user on X that goes by Kepler suggests that the compute units will be set at 60. But the more detailed leak from ResetEra with a long list of specs suggests that itll be 54 compute units.

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Could leaked PS5 Pro specs be pointing to

Viola, as the APU is called, will have a CPU based on AMDs Zen2 architecture, with the GPU being an RDNA3/RDNA4 hybrid. This combination will place most of the graphics processing on the RDNA3 tech while RDNA4 will handle the Ray Tracing improvements. Perhaps these improvements could mean that the PS5 platform would deliver ray tracing with 60 frames per second.

This is technically possible now with the PS5. But in games that offer a Performance Mode for the faster 60 frames per second, the resolution isnt really at full 4K. More powerful hardware, like the RDNA3/RDNA4 GPU, could allow for full 4K with faster frames instead of having to choose between the two. This is all speculative of course.

Specs have not been confirmed

Sony has yet to confirm that the specs in this leak are accurate. And thats to be expected considering that the PS5 Pro hasnt been confirmed by Sony yet either. But Sony was rumored to already have the PS5 Pro in development as early as March of this year. Insider Gamings Tom Henderson also states on Keplers leak that Sony was expecting PS5 Pro specs to leak this month. Due to the company sending out PS5 Pro development kits to third-party studios.

In addition to some of the above-mentioned specs, the PS5 Pro is also rumored to be coming with 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, and Sony could be looking to reveal the console in September of 2024. You can view the full set of leaked specs in the image below.
Samsung has just announced a couple of new mid-range Android smartphonesGalaxy A15 and Galaxy A25 5G. The former is available in 4G and 5G flavors while the latter is 5G-only. Both devices will go on sale in select markets this week, with a wider availability expected later.

Galaxy A15 and Galaxy A25 5G have a lot in common

The Galaxy A15 and Galaxy A25 5G introduce a new design element to Samsung smartphones. The new devices have their frame slightly raised around the power and volume buttons on the right. The company calls it the Key Island design. This is just one of the many similarities between the two phones.

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For starters, both handsets have flat front and back panels with a vertical rear camera array. We are looking at a 50MP primary rear shooter combined with a 2MP macro camera, though only the latter has OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). The ultrawide lens is a 5MP sensor on the former and 8MP on the latter. The devices feature the same 13MP selfie camera.

The 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display has a U-shaped notch and an FHD+ (10802340 pixels) resolution. The Galaxy A15s panel boasts a 90Hz refresh rate and 800 nits of peak brightness. The Galaxy A25 5G, on the other hand, upgrades to a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,000 nits of peak brightness. Both devices should feature Vision Booster for improved screen visibility and color accuracy under sunlight.

Samsung has equipped these devices with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 25W fast wired charging via a USB Type-C port. They also feature a side-mounted capacitive fingerprint scanner (embedded into the power button), and Knox security. The phones run Android 14-based One UI 6.0 out of the box. The company has promised four generations of Android OS upgrades (up to Android 18) and five years of security updates.

A key differentiator between the two phones is the chipset. The Galaxy A15 is powered by MediaTeks 6nm Helio G99 SoC operating at up to 2.2GHz (the 5G version has the Dimensity 6100+, which is the same SoC with an integrated 5G modem). The Galaxy A25 5G gets a more powerful Samsung Exynos 1280 5nm chip with a peak speed of 2.4GHz. The phones come with 6GB/8GB RAM and 128GB//256GB storage, with Micro SD card support.

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Price and availability

As of this writing, Samsung has announced the availability of the Galaxy A15 in Vietnam only. The 8GB+128GB 4G version costs VND 4,990,000 (roughly $205) while the 8GB+256GB 5G version starts at VND 6,290,000 (roughly $259). The device will be available for purchase in the country starting this Saturday, December 16.

The Galaxy A25 5G will also be available in Vietnam on the same day with a price tag of VND 6,590,000 (roughly $271) for the 6GB+128GB variant. Additionally, Samsung has confirmed that the device will arrive in France this week. However, it hasnt announced the pricing in this part of the world. The two new mid-range Galaxy devices are expected to arrive in the US shortly.
Xi says to exchange views on overarching, strategic issues with Vietnamese leaders

Xinhua) 14:22, December 12, 2023

HANOI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, said Tuesday that he expects to have an in-depth exchange of views with Vietnamese leaders on the overarching and strategic issues critical to the direction of the relations of the two Parties and two countries.

The leaders of the two sides will also discuss international and regional issues with common concerns, according to a written speech by Xi released upon his arrival for a two-day state visit to Vietnam.

He is scheduled to hold talks respectively with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and President Vo Van Thuong, and meet with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue.

Xi was warmly received at the airport by Pham Minh Chinh and other senior officials. More than 400 Vietnamese and Chinese people from all walks of life waved the flags of the two Parties and two countries to welcome the Chinese leader.

It is Xi's third visit to the Southeast Asian country since he became general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese president.

In the written speech, Xi said China takes its relations with Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, adding that he looks forward to taking the visit as an opportunity to push bilateral relations to a new stage.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, right, speaks with Texas state Sen. Brian Birdwell before the start of a press conference concerning border security along the Texas border with Mexico at the Weslaco DPS Headquarters on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, in Weslaco, Texas. (Joel Martinez/The Monitor via AP) Joel Martinez/Associated Press

Its easy to imagine how it happens. Lets say it's a young guy in a Texas border town living, literally, on the edge of this nation. Like a rock climber splayed against the side of a canyon, hes managed to find a handhold of sorts  steady work, lets say, with a construction crew. Hes undocumented, his situation is precarious, but so far hes hanging on.

Driving to the job site each morning, hes always aware that the well-worn wallet in the back pocket of his jeans doesn't contain official papers, documents to prove he belongs. Every few miles, he drives past black-and-white SUVs, state troopers waiting, watching, occasionally darting into the flow of traffic to cut a vehicle out of the herd. He glances at the speedometer as he passes, then stares straight ahead, both hands gripping the steering wheel. Stomach muscles constrict; hes short of breath.

One evening, he has a beer or two at the ramshackle bar he occasionally frequents after work. He drives home carefully. Too carefully. Flashing red lights pierce the darkness. He commits a grievous error: He presses down on the accelerator. A mile or so down the road, with DPS troopers in pursuit, he loses control, loses his life.

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CRASH AND BURN: A Houston Chronicle investigative series

Our fictional undocumented immigrant represents 74 real-life individuals who have been killed in vehicle chases under Operation Lone Star, Gov. Greg Abbotts multibillion-dollar border boondoggle. According to state data and news reports compiled by the advocacy group Human Rights Watch, vehicle pursuits have risen sharply since Abbotts border full-court press began in March 2021. Troopers chasing vehicles thought to contain smugglers or people living in the country illegally has resulted in nearly three deaths and seven injuries every month. According to the 77-page report by Human Rights Watch, at least seven bystanders also have been killed, including a 7-year-old girl in Ozona who was getting ice cream with her grandmother, a mother and her 25-year-old daughter in Mission, and two brothers in Laredo.

Public safety doesnt require careening around Texas roadways or crashing into Texans cars and homes, said Alison Parker, deputy U.S. director of Human Rights Watch, in response to a request for comment from reporter Benjamin Wermund of Hearst Newspapers. Texas Operation Lone Star is maximizing chaos, fear and human rights abuses against Texans and migrants, which might be a cynical way to win political points but is not a responsible way to run a government.

The Texas Department of Public Safety referred Wermund to a recent statement Director Steve McCraw provided to the New York Times. McCraw said the agency relies on troopers to decide when to chase and when to back off and that he expected them to pursue in a judicious manner. A spokeswoman for Abbott blamed President Joe Biden, whose border policies, she said, invite Mexican cartels to profit off the chaos through dangerous human trafficking and smuggling operations along the border that endanger innocent lives.

Theres no doubt that human traffickers and drug smugglers pierce the border, although the drivers who die during the chases are not necessarily working for the cartels. According to the report from Human Rights Watch, many are young Texans who have been recruited on social media to drive people from the border to San Antonio or Houston or Dallas. Theyre not hardened smugglers or drug traffickers; theyre young people whove chosen a foolish way to make a buck.

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Virtually all the chases began with minor traffic violations or, as Norma Herrera, a Rio Grande Valley-based consultant with Human Rights Watch, noted, suspicion on the part of law enforcement that too many people are riding in the same vehicle or theyre traveling along a road commonly used by smugglers.

There needs to be a review of the policy regarding officer discretion, Herrera told the Chronicle editorial board. Vehicle chases should be allowed only in cases of violent offenses or where theres an imminent threat to the public. She also noted that there are safer ways to investigate and apprehend people suspected of transporting undocumented immigrants, whether its using license plate information or evidence gathered from helicopters.

We can all agree that running from the cops is wrong. We can agree that smuggling fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into this country is an outrage. We can agree, as well, that a nation has a right, indeed an obligation, to control and secure its borders.

The report on vehicular chases in Texas counties near the border is yet the latest reminder among many that Abbotts Operation Lone Star is not only expensive  nearly $10 billion of taxpayer money either spent or allocated  but also counterproductive. His concertina wire, his serrated river buoys (recently declared illegal by a federal court), his occupation force of Texas National Guard personnel and DPS troopers, his plan to spend $1.54 billion on a Texas border wall and, most recently, a new law making it a state crime to cross the border between ports of entry have done little if anything to prevent drug smuggling and human trafficking. Theyve done little to stop the flow of migrants and asylum-seekers from around the world. And they certainly haven't helped create an efficient and orderly immigration process.

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What Operation Lone Star has done is interfere with federal immigration enforcement. What it has done is intimidate local residents, particularly those who, in the eyes of DPS, "resemble" people without papers. Meaning, all too often, people whose only sin is having the wrong shade of skin.

Operation Lone Star has been defined by corruption, incompetence, and cruelty, said U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, in a recent statement. Under the guise of border security, Governor Greg Abbott has embarked on an unprecedented campaign of government overreach  seizing private property, destroying livelihoods and turning American border cities and towns into war zones where helicopters buzz overhead and armed troopers pull over American citizens for looking too much like immigrants.

Castro and U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, have introduced legislation that would prevent federal immigration enforcement monies from being diverted to support Operation Lone Star. Presumably, the DPS troopers doing the chasing would head back home if their amendment passed  or they would head to Houston if Mayor-elect John Whitmire gets his way.

Abbott probably has nothing to worry about. Even with Biden signaling openness to significant compromises on U.S. border policy, border security remains a major sticking point between the two parties on the $110 billion national security supplemental funding bill that would bring much needed aid to Ukraine. The Castro-Casar amendment will likely get drowned out by 2024 campaign noise.

The governor and his legislative cohorts will continue exacerbating our border security and immigration problems instead of working with the White House, with Congress and with other border states to help solve them. Building a safe, orderly and humane immigration system, to borrow Casars words, will continue giving way to fear-mongering and the fervent hope among MAGA Republicans that Donald Trump gets a second chance to shut the border down and drive the illegals" out. Under that nightmare scenario, cops chasing cars would be among the least of our worries.
A Government offer of a 2.5 billion financial package to support the return of the Stormont executive is a short-term sugar rush, Alliance Party deputy leader Stephen Farry has said.

Representatives from the five main Stormont parties will return to Hillsborough Castle on Tuesday for technical talks on the offer.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris outlined the details to party leaders on Monday as part of an attempt to stabilise the regions finances and encourage a return of the powesharing institutions.

But the party leaders have said the package, which includes a lump sum to settle public sector pay claims, does not contain enough money.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris revealed the financial package in a meeting with Stormont leaders on Monday (James Manning/PA)

Sinn Fein has said Wednesday should be a cut-off point for talks with the Government, while the DUP has insisted there is some way to go both in talks on public finances and on discussions to reach a deal on post-Brexit trade arrangements.

Mr Farry said more work needs to be done on the proposed financial package.

It is in the right space, talking about some of the right ideas in terms of things that need to happen but the quantums of money on the table are simply not sufficient, he told the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme.

This is about the future of Northern Ireland and we need to make sure that Northern Ireland has sufficient resources to have sustainable public finances.

As things stand this is not the case. The figures offered yesterday arent deeply embedded into our finances.

We will get a short-term sugar rush in terms of resources, but we will be back in the same situation within 18 months to two years and that doesnt really serve anyones interests.

Steve Aiken from the UUP said his party had submitted a number of questions about the financial offer (Liam McBurney/PA)

Ulster Unionist MLA Steve Aiken said his party had submitted a list of questions about the offer.

He added: There is a substantial amount of money up front when you initially look at it.

We should, if we agree to it and we get the Assembly and executive back up and running, be able to cover public sector pay.

But then we have to look at how we are going to manage finances going forward.

There is a lot of the detail we need to tease out today.

Social Democratic and Labour Party MLA Matthew OToole said parties which would form a Stormont executive had the opportunity to negotiate a better financial deal (Liam McBurney/PA)

SDLP MLA Matthew OToole said: It is clear that often when large numbers are announced there is devil in the detail and that is the case this time.

But it is also clear that the parties which are going to form an executive now have the opportunity to collectively work to get a package that they believe they can deliver on.

Then they should be held accountable for their ability to deliver on that.

The proposed measures in the Government offer include funding for public sector pay rises this year, reform of the funding model for Northern Ireland, including the setting of a new fiscal floor and increasing the period by which Stormont has to pay back a budget overspend.

Devolved government has not been functioning in Northern Ireland for nearly two years because of the DUPs ongoing boycott of the institutions in protest at post-Brexit trade agreements.

The DUP has been in negotiations with the Government to secure legislative assurances over Northern Irelands economic position in the UK.
Clara Amfo will step down from hosting BBC Radio 1s Future Sounds show next year to work on new projects with the network.

Jack Saunders, who currently presents the stations Future Artists and The Official Chart shows, will be taking over from April 15.

The show has previously been fronted by a host of renowned presenters such as Zane Lowe, Annie Mac and Steve Lamacq.

Amfo said: Im so proud of the work Ive been able to do on every show, whether its been from the 8th floor, a city in the UK or a pop stars house across the pond.

Jack Saunders will take over as host of Future Sounds next year (Ian West/PA)

Im grateful to have had the ears of the listeners who have consistently shown up for me.

Im enamoured by everyone Ive had the privilege of working alongside for each and every broadcast.

Im energised and excited for my next chapter as part of the network and beyond.

During her time helming the show since 2021, she has helped elevate new artists through her hottest record feature.

Amfo previously hosted Radio 1s Live Lounge, The Official Chart on Radio 1, and her 1Xtra programme.

Following the success of her interviews with artists including Doja Cat, Pink Pantheress, Raye, Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney, she will now focus on artist specials for the network over the coming year and will launch a new BBC Sounds music show in 2024.

On taking over the show, which will air from 6pm on Monday to Thursday, Saunders said: All Ive ever wanted to do is host this show on Radio 1 and all my dreams have become a reality.

I cant wait to champion new music and be the voice for a new generation of artists.

During his time with Radio 1 he has helped lead coverage of a number of major UK festivals such as Glastonbury, Download Festival, Reading & Leeds and BBC Radio 1s Big Weekend.

Sian Eleri (Ian West/PA)

Following Saunders move away from Future Artists, Welsh radio DJ Sian Eleri will host a new show focused on launching artists and bands from across all genres.

Eleri said she was overjoyed to take over the show, which will begin in April 2024 and will air on Monday to Wednesday from 8pm to 10pm.

She added: Covering the show has always been a delight, and Im excited to build on what is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding parts of the job  finding and championing the best new artists in the world for listeners to enjoy, at such a prestigious time slot for the station. I cant wait.

Alyx Holcombe will take over the hosting duties on Radio 1s Indie Show, which will air from 9pm to 11pm every Sunday starting from January 7.

Meanwhile, Scottish presenter Arielle Free will host a new dance show on Thursday nights starting in April 2024.

Head of BBC Radio 1 Aled Haydn-Jones said: Jack was born to host this show  I am so excited to hear what he delivers for Radio 1s music-loving audience.

I am delighted that Sian, Alyx and Arielle also gain new shows  they join a great line-up of specialist presenters on Radio 1 who will put a strong spotlight on new UK music artists, bands and DJs.

Id like to thank Clara for everything she has done for Future Sounds and Im delighted that she will be staying with Radio 1 and BBC Music to continue to bring some amazing artist highlights over the next year and beyond.
The death of an asylum seeker on board the Bibby Stockholm barge will be investigated fully, Home Secretary James Cleverly has said.

Police were called to reports of the sudden death of a man living on the giant vessel, which houses migrants in Portland, Dorset, early on Tuesday morning.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax described the news as a tragedy born of an impossible situation and said he had been told by the Home Office the man is thought to have taken his own life.

Several other sources told the PA news agency the death is believed to be a suicide.

The mayor of Portland Carralyn Parkes told PA she met with residents on Bibby Stockholm who said a young man killed himself, and they are shocked, saddened but not surprised.

It comes as Rishi Sunak prepares to face a crunch Commons vote on plans to change the law so the UK can send migrants to Rwanda.

Mr Cleverly told MPs of the death, adding: The House will understand that at this stage I am uncomfortable getting into any more details. But we will of course investigate fully.

Dorset Police said the force received a report of a sudden death of a resident on the Bibby Stockholm shortly after 6.20am.

Officers are carrying out inquiries into the circumstances of the incident and the coroner has been notified of the death, a force spokesman said.

Video footage appeared to show a body being removed from the barge on Tuesday afternoon.

The age and nationality of the man and further details of the incident are yet to be confirmed.

Mr Drax said: This is a tragedy born of an impossible situation. I was informed of the death by the Home Office this morning and await more information.

While I never agreed to, nor accepted the imposition of the barge in South Dorset, I believe it was at least a decent, safe haven for some of those cruelly trafficked across the Channel.

One can only imagine the desperate circumstances which led to this sad outcome. We must do all that we can to end this evil trade in human misery.

The barge  the first to be used as part of government efforts to cut the cost of asylum accommodation  has capacity to house up to 500 single men in around 200 bedrooms.

Asylum seekers were first moved on board in August but evacuated days later after the discovery of Legionella  the bacteria which can cause the potentially fatal Legionnaires disease  in the water supply.

Migrants were taken back to the barge some two months later and Home Office interim second permanent secretary Simon Ridley told MPs in November that there were around 200 people on board.

The plan has attracted considerable opposition, prompting legal challenges and protests, with campaigners branding it cruel and inhumane.

News of the death drew criticism from charities who called for an independent review, an end to the use of such facilities for asylum accommodation and criticised the conditions on board.

Migrants are not detained and held on board so there is no automatic independent probe into the incident by watchdogs who investigate deaths in custody.

Earlier this year the Home Office denied the barge was a floating prison and said the people on board would be free to come and go as they want.

Ms Parkes however said asylum seekers described the conditions on Bibby Stockholm as appalling with airport-style security, tight space, bad food and fear of reprisals if they were to speak out.

She added: Some people are more resilient than others, some people can cope with the conditions, and some people cant.

I think we should desist using things like the Bibby Stockholm as a place to accommodate human beings. Its totally unsuitable, its not fit for purpose.

The Refugee Councils chief executive Enver Solomon said: This is an appalling loss of life but tragically not surprising.

We know from our work supporting men, women and children in the asylum system that many are deeply traumatised and feel isolated, unable to get the help they need. Some are so desperate they self-harm and feel suicidal.

Nobody who comes to our country seeking asylum should be left without the support they need yet the system has more hostility than compassion built into it.

It is imperative that an independent review is carried out into this death so that lessons are learned to avoid any further tragedies of this kind.

Steve Smith, the chief executive of Care4Calais, called on the Government to take responsibility for this human tragedy, adding: They have wilfully ignored the trauma they are inflicting on people who are sent to the Bibby Stockholm, and the hundreds being accommodated in former military barracks.

The use of the Bibby Stockholm barge has prompted protests (James Manning/PA)

Charity Freedom from Torture said the incident was another reminder that the Governments punitive anti-refugee policies are not only cruel but they cost lives, adding: Its time this Government ends the use of barges and barracks as asylum accommodation once and for all.

Amnesty International UK said it was time for the UK to drastically change course on asylum and the Jesuit Refugee Service UK (JRS UK) repeated calls for the barge to close.

Charity Safe Passage said the death should be in all MPs minds as they prepared to vote on the Rwanda Bill on Tuesday evening.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman previously insisted the Bibby barge was safe amid threats of legal action from firefighters about the suitability of the plan.

Fire Brigades Union (FBU) general secretary Matt Wrack said: The FBU warned this summer that detaining vulnerable human beings in prison-like conditions on a barge was a cruel and dangerous policy being pursued by the Home Office.

While the circumstances surrounding the death are not yet known, there are still very real safety concerns about forcibly keeping people onboard a floating prison.

Ministers must end this barbaric practice immediately.

While Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union general secretary Mick Lynch demanded a full public inquiry into the death and for details of the contract drawn up between Home Office ministers and Corporate Travel Management  which operates the barge  to be made public.

Having visited the barge recently, Mr Drax said he couldnt see any areas of concern, adding that it was very peaceful and well run.

The chief inspector of borders and immigration David Neal also visited the site in October and told MPs last month the conditions inside were pretty good and better than many hotels, but questioned whether some of the staff involved in the site were appropriately skilled.

He is due to carry out an inspection of the barge in January.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman told reporters migrants living on the barge have a medical assessment, including for emotional trauma and support is available.

For mental health support, call the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
A drill rapper has been found guilty of murder after boasting on video that the victim was killed with the same gun that injured the latters brother two years earlier.

Kammar Henry-Richards, 25, known as Kay-O, and three others were convicted over the death of Kacey Boothe last August 13 and a plot to murder the intended target Khalid Samanter.

Mr Boothe, 25, was shot as he got in his car outside the first birthday party of Mr Samanters child at the Peterhouse Community Centre in Walthamstow, north-east London.

The two men were associated with a London Fields gang said to be in a rivalry with the defendants E9ers gang.

Jurors were told the attack was well-planned and carefully orchestrated.

The gun used in Mr Boothes murder was used on seven occasions between 2020 and the day he was killed.

Mr Boothes older brother Kyle Boothe survived being shot with it on August 1 2020.

Days after Mr Boothes death, Henry-Richards bragged about the killing in a rap video called Kay-O Laughing Stock.

The lyrics read: Big Boothe and Little got hit, same sig, thats a sour family.

Both got slapped at functions, neck and head, handguns come handy.

In another version, the lyrics read: Big Boothe shoulda lurked, got his neck back ripped. Lil got burst, shoulda bin with his.

Prosecutor Anthony Orchard KC told jurors: A boast was being made that the same sig (gun) had been used to shoot both Kacey Boothe and his elder brother Kyle Boothe.

This fact was known only to those involved in the shootings and not to the police at that time.

Eleven days before the murder, Mr Samanters entirely innocent neighbour Abdirahman Jeylaani was shot as he sat in his car near his home in a case of mistaken identity. He was lucky to survive.

The gun used to kill Mr Boothe was also fired in Hackney Wick earlier the same day and later disposed of, jurors were told.

Mr Orchard said the defendants conspired to kill Mr Samanter or otherwise shoot another London Fields associate, with each helping and encouraging the gunman.

He said the defendants took steps to hide traces that could provide clues as to who was involved.

None of the defendants, from east London, gave evidence in their defence.

It was asserted on their behalf that they were not involved in the murder but were concerned with the theft of cars.

The jury deliberated for a week to convict Henry-Richards, Kamani Brightly-Donaldson, 24, Jeffrey Gyimah, 21, and Joao Pateco-Te, 27 of murder.

They were found guilty of conspiracy to murder Mr Samanter and conspiracy to possess a firearm or firearms with intent to endanger life.

Brightly-Donaldson was also convicted of having a prohibited firearm.

Roody Thomas, 26, admitted having a prohibited firearm, but other charges against him were not proceeded with.

The jury was discharged on Tuesday after failing to reach verdicts on a further defendant  Kadeem Brightly-Barnes, 31.

The other defendants were remanded into custody to be sentenced on a date to be fixed in next year.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can relieve almost all symptoms of menopause. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Menopause awareness campaigners have warned that new guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) around care for women going through menopause will harm womens health rather than help them.

It comes after the new draft guidelines for GPs were published last month. Nice has said that doctors should offer cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) alongside or as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in women struggling with symptoms of menopause.

HRT can alleviate symptoms of menopause - like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep issues and mood swings - as it replaces oestrogen, progesterone or both. These hormone levels drop naturally as a woman ages, usually between the age of 45 and 55.

Nices new guidelines lays out clearly the risks and benefits of taking HRT, and states that CBT was found to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flushes and night sweats.

It adds: While it is important that people know about the risks associated with HRT, it is also important they are made aware it is unlikely to increase or decrease their overall life expectancy.

This guidance will worsen the struggle

Many women who go through the menopause struggle with symptoms that can be disruptive to everyday life. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

In recent years, awareness around menopause has increased dramatically, thanks to campaigners and celebrities like Davina McCall who are speaking up about it.

But the organisations new guidance has not been welcomed by campaign groups and experts, who warned that it uses misogynistic language and would result in doctors becoming more reluctant to prescribe HRT and women more fearful about asking for or accepting it.

In a statement to the Guardian, Justine Roberts, founder and chief executive of Mumsnet, highlighted that women currently struggle to access HRT, adding: By emphasising the negative over the positive, failing to include information about the safest forms of HRT and placing CBT on par with hormone replacement therapy, this guidance will worsen the struggle.

Dr Louise Newson, a GP and menopause specialist who also campaigns loudly for better menopause care, told Sky News that the guidelines were a disappointing draft update. We must address the long-term health risks of low hormones, she continued. There is good quality, established evidence about the protective effects of HRT in relation to osteoporosis, heart disease, clinical depression, and colon cancer, and there is emerging evidence around dementia risk also being reduced.

These are ignored in this document and the perceived risks of breast cancer stated in these draft recommendations are not based on good quality evidence.

Dr Newson is referring to a part of the guidelines that reads: While there is some evidence around taking HRT and breast cancer risk in early menopause (ages 40 to 44), there is a lack of evidence about the effects of taking or not taking HRT on overall health outcomes in this age group. Nice called for more research into this area.

Why is there a taboo around HRT?

To understand the backlash against Nices draft guidelines, we must look back to the start of the 20th century. HRT first became available in the 1940s in the form of an oestrogen pill under the brand name Premarin. It grew in popularity and hit its peak in the 1960s, considered to be revolutionary for women managing their menopause symptoms.

But in the 1990s, HRTs status plummeted after a clinical randomised trial in the US, called Womens Health Initiative (WHI), raised concerns about HRT and suggested that extended use of the drug could increase the risk of breast cancer and heart disease.

According to the British Menopause Society, the UKs regulatory authorities issued an urgent safety restriction on HRT following the publication of the WHI study. This resulted in widespread confusion and uncertainty amongst both doctors and HRT users.

Many doctors stopped prescribing HRT and many women abandoned HRT immediately, with a return of their menopausal symptoms. The number of women taking HRT fell by 66%, which has not changed so that now after more than 10 years, there has been almost a generation of women who have mostly been denied the opportunity of improved quality of life during their menopausal years, the society said in its 2022 factsheet about HRT.

The WHI study, which was published in 2002, tested the cardiovascular effect of hormone therapy in older women (50 to 79 years). The test focused on a form of progesterone and oestrogen that is no longer used by doctors today due to the development of more effective and safer HRT, and did not include a large number of women who recently started menopause.

The benefits of taking HRT may outweigh the risks, menopause campaigners have argued. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

The study reported a 26% increase in the risk of breast cancer among these older women on this specific type of HRT - but it did not make a distinction between the participants who used HRT and their age. The results received a huge amount of negative media attention.

Dr Ginni Mansberg, author of The M Word, wrote in the Guardian: As a postscript, late analysis of WHI data shows that if you look only at women between the ages of 50 and 59, when most women use it and need it, there are clear benefits of HRT. These women had fewer cancers, fractures and deaths from any cause compared with the women taking placebo.

But the legacy of the WIH study has continued to persist, with many women declining HRT out of the belief that it puts them at a much higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Is HRT safe now?

The risks associated with HRT vary depending on what type of HRT is used, your existing risk of developing breast cancer (ie. family history of breast cancer), and lifestyle factors that may increase the risk such as smoking and obesity.

The British Menopause Society said that, while the WHI long-term randomised clinical trials published in 2020 found that women on combined oestrogen and progestogen HRT had an increased risk of breast cancer diagnosis, there was no significant increase in mortality.

It adds that other data has suggested that other forms of HRT are likely to be associated with a lower risk of breast cancer compared to that seen with other progestogens.

Studies have also suggested that HRT can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and is unlikely to increase the risk of dementia or have a negative effect on cognitive function in women starting HRT under the age of 60.

Attitudes towards HRT have begun shifting, with the number of patients being prescribed it in England rising by almost a third in just one year, from 1.8 million in 2022-23 to 2.3 million in 2021-23. In April this year, HRT pre-payment certificates were introduced to make it more affordable and accessible.

But the damage done by the WHI study continues to make women fearful of HRT, with only 14% of menopausal women in the UK taking HRT. According to Balance, Dr Newsons menopause support website, uptake of HRT is as low as 2% in some areas of the UK, and there are concerns that women in the most deprived areas do not have equal access to HRT.

Dr Newson wrote: The fact that more women are accessing the treatment they need to manage their menopause symptoms is fantastic, and illustrates that awareness of menopause is increasing and women are more confident in seeking help. But we want to ensure that all women have equal access, whatever their income or circumstances, and that no woman experiences supply issues with the medication they rely on.

Watch:NHS should offer women therapy for the menopause, new guidance says

Read more about menopause:
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has cancelled a meeting with the Scottish Government to discuss arrangements for talks with overseas ministers, MSPs were told.

Scottish External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson said it was surprising that the discussions, scheduled for this week, had been cancelled given the row that has erupted in the wake of First Minister Humza Yousafs talks with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Those discussions, which took place while Mr Yousaf was at the Cop28 summit in Dubai but, the lack of a UK Government representative at the meeting, led to Lord Cameron threatening to withhold support for the Scottish Governments international relations efforts.

The Foreign Secretary had said that the absence of a UK official contravenes the protocols in our guidance on FCDO support to devolved Government ministers overseas visits, adding that further breaches of this would see the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) withdrawing logistical support.

Scottish External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson was called on to give a firm commitment that Foreign Office officials would be invited to talks between Scottish and overseas ministers (Jane Barlow/PA)

He also said the UK Government may consider the presence of Scottish Government offices in UK Government posts overseas.

Raising the issue at Holyrood, Conservative MSP Donald Cameron pointed out that the devolution settlement reserves foreign affairs to the UK Government.

The Tory MSP said: By meeting President Erdogan, of all people, to discuss foreign policy, namely the situation in the Middle East, the First Minister acted against both the spirit and letter of an established protocol which requires FCDO official attendance.

He called on the Scottish External Affairs Secretary to make a firm commitment that all future Scottish Government meetings with overseas officials will have a representative from the Foreign Office present.

But Mr Robertson said it was unfortunate that FCDO officials sometimes do not make themselves available for such events.

And he said the letter from the UK Foreign Secretary had been all the more surprising as Lord Cameron had a few days earlier cancelled a meeting we were due to have this week to discuss these issues.

He went on to insist that the Scottish Governments only interest when meeting overseas ministers was promoting Scotlands interests.

And while Mr Robertson stressed FCDO officials are invited to attend all formal meetings the Scottish Government has overseas, it is impossible to predict where and when informal meetings will happen during large scale events like Cop28.

He added that to threaten Scotlands interests, on the basis of these discussions, arranged at pace, is ridiculous.

Mr Robertson said the Scotland Act did not bar Holyrood ministers from meetings overseas, as long as they do not purport to speak for the United Kingdom or to reach agreements which commit the UK.

He told MSPs: I have always been happy to be accompanied by representatives of the UK  whenever I undertake international meetings.

That is the position of the Scottish Government.

Mr Yousaf, meanwhile, has already branded Lord Camerons letter as being petty and misguided.

Speaking on Monday, the First Minister said: For Lord Cameron to say hes basically going to stop Scotlands international engagement because of one meeting, where one FCDO official wasnt able to attend  because, of course, at events like Cop, diaries can change quite last minute  is really petty, really misguided.
Lord Cameron is unaccountable to MPs as the Israel-Gaza conflict escalates, Labour has claimed.

The Foreign Secretary faced continued criticism from shadow foreign secretary David Lammy, who pointed out his counterpart could not appear before MPs as the war in the Middle East risked becoming still even worse.

Andrew Mitchell, Lord Camerons deputy in the House of Commons, meanwhile claimed that Mr Lammy was in almost continuous contact with the Foreign Secretary, joking he could only be closer if they were in a civil partnership.

Labour frontbencher Mr Lammy told MPs: Another day where the Foreign Secretary is unaccountable in the middle of a war that could get still even worse. West Bank violence is rising, Hezbollah have attacked Israeli positions and Israeli air strikes have hit towns in south Lebanon.

A widening in this conflict is in no-ones interests, and all parties must show restraint.

While (Lord Cameron) is absent from this place, what steps is the Foreign Secretary taking to prepare for further escalation and deter all parties from full-blown regional war?

Foreign Office minister Mr Mitchell responded: I fully understand that (Mr Lammy) wishes to have close contact with Lord Cameron as the Foreign Secretary. But he will be aware that he is in almost continuous contact with the Foreign Secretary by text and WhatsApp.

Indeed, if he was in any closer contact it would probably be a civil partnership.

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Mr Mitchell later said that the Governments plans for visa bans for Israeli settlers involved in violence in the West Bank Palestinian territories are moving forward.

Imran Hussain, the Labour MP for Bradford East, said: Over the last year we have seen a dangerous rise in the number of attacks by violent, illegal Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their property.

Even the United States announced that they would be imposing a travel ban on violent, extremist settlers last week but all the UK Government has been able to announce is that planning is going on.

Mr Mitchell replied: While I cant give a commentary across the House, I can tell him that our plans in that respect are moving forward.

Elsewhere in the debate, Labour MPs claimed the number of civilian deaths in Gaza is not proportionate, with some calling for a ceasefire.

Labour MP for Bristol East Kerry McCarthy asked: What does Israel having to abide by international law actually look like?

Labour MP Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) meanwhile said: The proportionate civilian deaths in Gaza is significantly higher than the average civilian death toll in all conflicts around the world during the 20th century, doesnt that give the lie to any claims that Israel is avoiding civilian deaths?

As the death toll in Gaza approaches 20,000, isnt it time now for the whole international community including the UK to support a ceasefire that protects civilian lives?

In response Mr Mitchell said: Britain has made it absolutely clear to the authorities in Israel that we expect them to abide by international humanitarian law and understand and accept the rules of law.
Amazon Prime Air's director of safety, flight operations, and regulatory affairs has reportedly departed the company, leaving them with no liaison with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Read Also: Amazon Appeals FTC Antitrust Lawsuit

Amazon Loses Primary Liason to FAA

In 2015, Amazon hired Sean Cassidy, a former Alaska Airlines pilot and vice president for the world's largest pilots union. He was tasked to oversee any strategic partnerships in the drone delivery program.

During his stay, Cassidy was responsible for the company's relations with the FAA as they developed the drone delivery program. The drone was one of the projects of Jeff Bezos, who dreamt of dropping packages on customers' doorstep through drones.

"This is my last day at Prime Air and at Amazon, so a quick note to pass along my profound thanks to so many of my friends and colleagues here who have made this nearly nine-year journey such an amazing experience," Cassidy wrote on an internal memo.

Development on Amazon Prime Air

Previously, Amazon announced that the drone delivery program would be expanding to Italy, the U.K., and another city in the U.S. by 2024. Once operational, eligible customers will have the drone option as long as the item fits the weight limit.

Meanwhile, an incident from November logged a crash at Amazon's drone test site in Pendleton, Oregon. The drone got "substantial" damage during the accident, but there were no other casualties. The National Transportation Safety Board is already conducting a class 4 investigation into the incident.

Amazon has promised that the company will work closely with regulators and governments globally for the expansion of the drone delivery program. For now, customers would have to wait until 2024 to see if the company will push through its promise.

Related Article: Amazon Plans Ultra-Fast Deliveries Using Drones in Italy, UK, and US
Northern Ireland needs long-term solutions and not dangled baubles, Alliance leader Naomi Long has warned Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris.

The five main Stormont parties took part in round-table talks with Mr Heaton-Harris at Hillsborough Castle to discuss public finances.

The parties were united in saying a plan, which includes cash as well as revenue raisers, from the Government does not go far enough.

There was also pressure on the DUP to re-enter Stormont after remaining out of government for more than a year and a half as part of its protest action to raise unionist concerns at post-Brexit trading arrangements.

(Left to right) Conor Murphy, vice president of Sinn Fein Michelle ONeill and president of Sinn Fein Mary Lou McDonald speak to media outside Hillsborough Castle (Liam McBurney/PA)

Sinn Feins Stormont leader Michelle ONeill has said that the financial package does not touch the surface of what is needed in Northern Ireland.

Asked if the package was enough, Ms ONeill said: Absolutely not.

What is on the table today does not even touch the surface of what is required to have good properly funded public services.

We have a battle, but it is a battle the parties must fight together and take this right to the British Government. If the Executive is going to be successful then we need to have properly funded public services.

Ms ONeill also said that there needed to be a decision by the DUP on a return to Stormont by Wednesday.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson welcomed what they heard on Monday as a first step.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson (Liam McBurney/PA)

I think it puts on the table an offer that begins to address some of the issues that are at the heart of the shortfall in our budgetary arrangements, he said.

Does it go far enough? No. Is more work required? Yes it is.

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long claimed baubles were dangled at political parties, instead of long-term solutions.

For us this is not about a short-term fix, it is not about dangling baubles at us before Christmas and getting everybody to rush back and say that this will be resolved immediately, she said.

The DUP have had 18 months to mull over the minutiae of the Windsor Framework and the changes they want to it. This is much more important in terms of Northern Irelands long term sustainability and so we need to ensure that as much detail and attention is paid to the detail of this deal and to the finances around this deal as has been paid to any other part of it.

Ms Long also emphasised the importance of stability at Stormont: I do not want this to become an annual event where we stand here Christmas by Christmas and talk about how to restore institutions that have fallen.

I think people generally out there feel enough is enough. We need our institutions restored as soon as possible and reformed so they dont collapse again. thats our bottom line and we made that very clear in the room today.

Meanwhile Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said there were eye-watering figures in a financial package being offered by Government, but said the long-term plan was not clear.

When you look at it initially it is quite attractive, but you have to look in the long-term, he said.

We are not quite sure, we have to do a lot more looking through it and then talking to people and negotiating around it.

There are quite eye-watering figures being talked about now.

He added: The problem is what happens next year, the year after and it is not quite clear how we are going to deal with that.

We can do the pay deals for our nurses, our teachers, our police now, but we dont know if well be able to do it in 12 months time.

The other thing that is quite clear, if there is no Executive then there is no pay deal whatsoever.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood pressed Sir Jeffrey to lead the DUP back into devolved government.

As we know theres a huge black hole in the public finances in Northern Ireland. We have people behind us who are frontline workers who have to go out and strike in the cold to be paid properly. And weve hundreds of thousands of people  a quarter of our population  on health waiting lists. Thats a lot of work to be getting on with, he said.

The first thing that has to happen is that Jeffrey Donaldson has to make a decision to get back into Government.

We want to be supportive around that, we want to be constructive around that, but in terms of the financial conversation, that will obviously be a conversation that the Executive parties will have to have with the Government.
Rishi Sunak will try to avert a mass rebellion by right-wing Tory MPs against his Rwanda plan, as he struggles to reconcile the competing demands of different Conservative factions.

Would-be rebels have warned the Prime Minister that major surgery is still required to fix the flagship asylum legislation, with as many as 40 MPs prepared to either abstain or vote against the proposed legislation in its first Commons vote on Tuesday.

Around 20 members of the New Conservatives will attend a breakfast with Mr Sunak in Number 10 later this morning, as ministers engage in a last-ditch attempt to win over party colleagues and avert a humiliating defeat at the second reading.

The grouping of mostly 2019 MPs warned on Monday, after a meeting at the office of backbencher Danny Kruger and attended by former ministers Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman, that the Bill needs major surgery or replacement.

In a boost to the Prime Minister, One Nation moderates  numbering around 100 MPs  said that they would recommend backing the bill after attending a meeting addressed by Attorney General Victoria Prentis.

But the chairman Damian Green also warned that its MPs would oppose any amendments that would risk the UK breaching the rule of law and its international obligations.

He said: We support the Bill unamended, but if anyone brings forward any amendments that breach our international obligations or breach the rule of law, we vote against those amendments at future stages.

We will vote with the Government tomorrow, but we want the Government to stick to its guns and stick to the text of this Bill.

Ministers are expected to continue to make overtures backbenchers over the course of Tuesday, with a vote in the Commons not expected until the evening.

No Government legislation since the Shops Bill in 1986 has fallen at second reading, but if all Labour and other opposition party MPs vote against it, a revolt by 29 Tories would be enough to defeat it.

Tory MPs could rebel against the Rwanda plan (Steve Parsons/PA)

Tories with concerns could instead choose to abstain or back the legislation at this stage but then seek to toughen it up  or water it down, depending on their views  as it progresses through the Commons.

A spokesman for the New Conservatives said: More than 40 colleagues met tonight to discuss the Bill.

Every member of that discussion said the Bill needs major surgery or replacement and they will be making that plain in the morning to the PM at breakfast and over the next 24 hours.

Home Secretary James Cleverly used an article in the Telegraph to defend the plan overnight, writing: After Brexit, the United Kingdom is a fully sovereign country once again  and of course we must control our borders. Anyone who agrees must support the Rwanda Bill.

It came after he also addressed Tory MPs in an another briefing on Monday afternoon. Not long before, Conservative backbench European Research Group chairman Mark Francois had called on the Prime Minister to pull the legislation after lawyers convened by the caucus deemed it an incomplete solution to problems posed by small boat asylum claims.

The Bill allows ministers to disapply the Human Rights Act but does not go as far as overriding the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Governments current assessment is that only one in 200 cases will successfully avoid being sent to Rwanda once the Bill becomes law.

If individual claims are permitted everyone will make one, the court backlog will balloon, our detention capacity will become overwhelmed within days, people will be bailed, and new arrivals will simply abscond. The proposed bill is both legally and operationally fundamentally  Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) December 11, 2023

But critics of the plan have disputed the Home Offices modelling of how effective it would be.

Mr Jenrick, in a post on social media, doubled down on his rebuke of the plan: If individual claims are permitted everyone will make one, the court backlog will balloon, our detention capacity will become overwhelmed within days, people will be bailed, and new arrivals will simply abscond.

The proposed bill is both legally and operationally fundamentally flawed.

Human rights group Amnesty International UK urged all MPs to vote against the legislation, calling it an outrageous attack on the very concept of universal human rights.

Chief executive Sacha Deshmukh said: It should alarm politicians that the only way the Government thinks it can force through its doomed Rwanda policy is by removing basic protections and preventing the court from scrutinising its actions.

This Bill is a threat to everyones human rights, because if the Government can recast the facts to serve its own purpose regardless of the reality, then there is no way for anyone to show their rights have been violated.

We are urging all MPs in the strongest terms to take a stand against this outrageous attack on the very concept of universal human rights.

Mr Sunak won support from former Cabinet colleague Ben Wallace, who used an article in the Telegraph to warn his party not to wreck the Government over the issue.

The former defence secretary said that the vote should not become an exercise of making the perfect (but unrealistic) the enemy of the good.
Rishi Sunak urged MPs to back his Rwanda plan as he battled to ward off a Tory revolt over the plans.

Ahead of a crunch Commons vote on Tuesday the Prime Minister said: To stop the boats, we need to back this Bill.

Mr Sunak invited MPs from the New Conservatives group to breakfast at No 10 in an attempt to persuade them to back the Safety of Rwanda Bill.

Today MPs will vote on the toughest ever anti-illegal immigration legislation. This bill will allow us to control who comes into this country  not criminal gangs or foreign courts. To stop the boats, we need to back this bill.  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) December 12, 2023

Would-be rebels have warned Mr Sunak that major surgery is still required to fix the flagship asylum legislation, with as many as 40 Conservatives prepared to either abstain or vote against it.

A revolt by 29 Conservative MPs could be enough to defeat the Safety of Rwanda Bill at its first Commons hurdle  something that has not happened to a piece of Government legislation since 1986.

In a social media post, Mr Sunak publicly pleaded with MPs to back him: Today MPs will vote on the toughest ever anti-illegal immigration legislation.

This Bill will allow us to control who comes into this country  not criminal gangs or foreign courts. To stop the boats, we need to back this Bill.

The legislation is intended to address the Supreme Courts concerns about the plan to send some asylum seekers who cross the English Channel to Rwanda rather than allowing them to attempt to stay in the UK.

Conservative MPs Danny Kruger, Marco Longhi, Jonathan Gullis, and Miriam Cates, leaving Downing Street after their breakfast summit with Rishi Sunak (Yui Mok/PA)

The court ruled against the scheme, but the new legislation and a treaty with Rwanda are intended to make it legally watertight.

The New Conservatives, made up mainly of MPs elected since the 2016 Brexit referendum, are one of the main Tory factions with reservations about the plan, claiming it does not go far enough.

The groups co-founders, Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger, and Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson were among those in Downing Street.

Jonathan Gullis, one of those who attended the breakfast summit, told TalkTV he still had grave concerns about the legislation and had not yet decided how he would vote.

I still have those concerns that we will end up being bogged down with individual claims that mean that well see very few people put on the plane to Rwanda, he said.

The European Research Group, another prominent caucus on the Tory right, claimed it had enough MPs to scupper the Bill.

ERG leader Mark Francois also called for Mr Sunak to withdraw the Bill and rewrite it to toughen it up, rather than put it to a vote on Tuesday.

(PA Graphics)

Deputy ERG chairman David Jones told Times Radio: We believe we have the numbers, if necessary, to stop the bill progressing.

We would far rather the Government did that itself and spoke to us constructively about a better piece of legislation.

One MP who attended the breakfast meeting told reporters the Prime Minister had said he would listen to ideas for tightening the Bill but did not commit to specific amendments.

He said: I would love to know what he means by tightening the Bill.

The MP added that backbenchers were falsely pinning their hopes on the possibility of amending the Bill, and were deluding themselves if they believed they could vote it down at a later stage.

We will engage with the Government in good faith. This is a matter of practical politics as well as principle: we have failed to deliver on our promise to stop the boats twice already. There is neither public patience nor sufficient time for us to fail again. (7/7)  Simon Clarke MP (@SimonClarkeMP) December 12, 2023

Former Cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke joined the chorus of criticism of the Bill, saying the Government should withdraw the legislation and come back with a new Bill that could avoid appeals against being sent to Rwanda.

He said: This is a matter of practical politics as well as principle; we have failed to deliver on our promise to stop the boats twice already. There is neither public patience nor sufficient time for us to fail again.

Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson  who replaced Robert Jenrick after he resigned in protest at the legislation  insisted he is very much in listening mode as last-ditch efforts to woo would-be rebels continue.

He told Sky News: Theyre not pesky rebels  they are respected colleagues who I have worked with.

Mr Tomlinson said as a former member of the ERG I know the concerns that colleagues have.

I knew the desire of colleagues right across the breadth of our broad church in the parliamentary party. What do they want? They want this Bill to work.

The way Im going to help to persuade them to support the Bill and to support us as we pass the Bill through Parliament is to help show that the Bill is actually going to work, because thats what we all want. We all want this legislation to work. And that is what Im determined to do.

(PA Graphics)

The New Conservatives invitation to Downing Street follows a meeting in Mr Krugers office on Monday night  attended by Mr Jenrick and former home secretary Suella Braverman  which concluded the Bill needs major surgery or replacement.

But in a boost to the Prime Minister, One Nation moderates  numbering around 100 MPs  said they will recommend backing the Bill after attending a meeting addressed by Attorney General Victoria Prentis.

However, in an indication of the difficulties facing Mr Sunak as he struggles to assert authority over his party, One Nation chairman Damian Green also warned its MPs would oppose any amendments that would risk the UK breaching the rule of law and its international obligations.

Mr Sunak is expected to meet with the One Nation group on Tuesday afternoon, while the right-wing groups will hold their own meeting to decide whether to abstain on the legislation or vote against it.

One Conservative MP said former immigration minister Robert Jenrick would play an influential role in the decision, but had not yet decided how he would vote.

The Bill allows ministers to disapply the Human Rights Act but does not go as far as overriding the European Convention on Human Rights, which Tory hardliners have demanded.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer dismissed the Rwanda plan as a gimmick and piece of political performance art.
Rishi Sunak is trying to avert a damaging rebellion by right-wing Tory MPs over his Rwanda plan ahead of a crunch vote on Tuesday night.

The Prime Minister invited the New Conservatives group to breakfast at No 10 as the Government battled to avoid a humiliating defeat over the scheme to send asylum seekers to the African nation.

Would-be rebels have warned Mr Sunak that major surgery is still required to fix the flagship asylum legislation, with as many as 40 MPs prepared to either abstain or vote against it.

A revolt by 29 Conservative MPs could be enough to defeat the Safety of Rwanda Bill at its first Commons hurdle  something that has not happened to a piece of Government legislation since 1986.

Around 20 members of the New Conservatives were expected at the No 10 breakfast meeting.

The groups co-founders, Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger, and Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson were among those in Downing Street.

Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson  who replaced Robert Jenrick after he resigned in protest at the legislation  insisted he is very much in listening mode as last-ditch efforts to woo would-be rebels continue.

He told Sky News: Theyre not pesky rebels  they are respected colleagues who I have worked with.

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick resigned in protest at the legislation (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Mr Tomlinson said he is a former member of the European Research Group (ERG), one of the Tory factions critical of the Bill, and I know the concerns that colleagues have.

I knew the desire of colleagues right across the breadth of our broad church in the parliamentary party. What do they want? They want this Bill to work.

The way Im going to help to persuade them to support the Bill and to support us as we pass the Bill through Parliament is to help show that the Bill is actually going to work, because thats what we all want. We all want this legislation to work. And that is what Im determined to do.

He also dismissed criticism of Rwandas leader, Paul Kagame, from the Democratic Republic of Congos president, Felix Tshisekedi, who accused his neighbour of behaving like Adolf Hitler by having expansionist aims.

There are various ways of describing thats one. Thats not one that I recognise, thats not one that our country recognises.

(PA Graphics)

The New Conservatives invitation to Downing Street follows a meeting in Mr Krugers office on Monday night  attended by Mr Jenrick and former home secretary Suella Braverman  which concluded the Bill needs major surgery or replacement.

Jonathan Gullis, one of the MPs invited to No 10, told TalkTV he still had grave concerns about the legislation and had not yet decided how he would vote.

I still have those concerns that we will end up being bogged down with individual claims that mean that well see very few people put on the plane to Rwanda, he said.

Former Cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke joined the chorus of criticism of the Bill, saying the Government should withdraw the legislation and come back with a new Bill that could avoid appeals against being sent to Rwanda.

He said: This is a matter of practical politics as well as principle; we have failed to deliver on our promise to stop the boats twice already. There is neither public patience nor sufficient time for us to fail again.

ERG leader Mark Francois also called for Mr Sunak to withdraw the Bill and rewrite it to toughen it up, rather than put it to a vote on Tuesday.

Deputy ERG chairman David Jones told Times Radio: We believe we have the numbers, if necessary, to stop the bill progressing.

We would far rather the Government did that itself and spoke to us constructively about a better piece of legislation.

But in a boost to the Prime Minister, One Nation moderates  numbering around 100 MPs  said they will recommend backing the Bill after attending a meeting addressed by Attorney General Victoria Prentis.

However, in an indication of the difficulties facing Mr Sunak as he struggles to assert authority over his party, One Nation chairman Damian Green also warned its MPs would oppose any amendments that would risk the UK breaching the rule of law and its international obligations.

He said: We support the Bill unamended, but if anyone brings forward any amendments that breach our international obligations or breach the rule of law, we vote against those amendments at future stages.

We will vote with the Government tomorrow, but we want the Government to stick to its guns and stick to the text of this Bill.

If individual claims are permitted everyone will make one, the court backlog will balloon, our detention capacity will become overwhelmed within days, people will be bailed, and new arrivals will simply abscond. The proposed bill is both legally and operationally fundamentally  Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) December 11, 2023

Home Secretary James Cleverly used an article in the Telegraph to defend the plan overnight, writing: After Brexit, the United Kingdom is a fully sovereign country once again  and of course we must control our borders. Anyone who agrees must support the Rwanda Bill.

The Bill allows ministers to disapply the Human Rights Act but does not go as far as overriding the European Convention on Human Rights, which Tory hardliners have demanded.

The Governments current assessment is that only one in 200 cases will successfully avoid being sent to Rwanda once the Bill becomes law.

But critics of the plan have disputed the Home Offices modelling of how effective it would be.

Mr Jenrick said: If individual claims are permitted everyone will make one, the court backlog will balloon, our detention capacity will become overwhelmed within days, people will be bailed, and new arrivals will simply abscond.

The proposed Bill is both legally and operationally fundamentally flawed.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer dismissed the Rwanda plan as a gimmick and piece of political performance art.

He told BBC Breakfast Labour would use the money being wasted on the Rwanda scheme to step up cross-border policing to tackle human trafficking gangs and speed up asylum claim processing, with those refused permission to stay sent back to their country of origin.

What I wouldnt do, and what I wont vote for, is 290 million spent on a gimmick that is the Rwanda scheme, that wont work, at the very most will take about 100 people. Weve got 160,000 people waiting for their asylum claims to be processed, so its a drop in the ocean, he said.

Human rights group Amnesty International UK urged all MPs to vote against the legislation, calling it an outrageous attack on the very concept of universal human rights.
A pair of thugs who kidnapped and killed a popular radio DJ in an empty bar near Tottenham Hotspur Stadium have been jailed.

Mehmet Koray Alpergin and Gozde Dalbudak were snatched as they returned home from an Italian restaurant in Mayfair, central London, in October 2022, the Old Bailey was told at a trial which ended last month.

They were taken to a wine bar backing on to White Hart Lane, where 43-year-old Mr Alpergin, a father-of-two, was tortured to death.

A post-mortem examination found evidence that he had been beaten with a baseball bat, scalded with boiling water and had the soles of his feet stabbed, while there was also bruising to his genitals.

Tejean Kennedy, 33, who was found guilty of kidnap, false imprisonment and manslaughter (Met Police handout/PA)

His body was dumped in Essex woodland and 34-year-old Ms Dalbudak spent two days locked in a toilet before being freed by her captors and given money for a taxi.

Ms Dalbudak, who has since returned to her home in Turkey, recalled her boyfriend telling her my love, dont be scared and sorry, my love before he cried out in pain as he was beaten.

Jurors found Tejean Kennedy, 33, and Ali Kavak, 26, guilty of the kidnap and false imprisonment of the couple and Mr Alpergins manslaughter.

Samuel Owusu-Opoku, 35, was found guilty of two counts of kidnap, while Steffan Gordon, 34, had admitted kidnap and was found guilty of two counts of false imprisonment.

Kavak was also convicted of perverting the course of justice by helping to dispose of Mr Alpergins body and destroying two vehicles by fire. Owusu-Opoku admitted the charge.

Two more suspects are still at large and are believed to have fled abroad.

At the Old Bailey on Tuesday, Judge Sarah Whitehouse KC said drugs were at the heart of the case, referencing evidence by prosecutors that it was related to international organised crime.

She described Mr Alpergins death as a horrific murder, adding if the defendants were convicted of that offence they would have received a life sentence with a minimum term of 30 years and probably considerably higher.

Describing the moment Mr Alpergin and his girlfriend was kidnapped, Judge Whitehouse said: They were attacked by a group of males and bundled into the back of a van.

Ms Dalbudak was locked in a lavatory. She was terrified and cold.

That first night, Ms Dalbudak had to listen to the sound of Koray Alpergin being tortured and there was no doubt that he was tortured to death.

Ali Kavak, 26, was found guilty of kidnap, false imprisonment and manslaughter (Met Police handout/PA)

Mr Alpergin, who was originally from northern Cyprus, was a well-known and popular figure in the British Turkish community.

He owned a Turkish language radio station in London, Bizim FM, and had in the past been pictured with celebrities from the worlds of high-end cuisine and rap.

Mr Alpergins naked body was found by a dog walker after being dumped in woods near Loughton in Essex on October 15 2022.

He suffered 94 separate injuries to his body including cuts and bruises, broken ribs, a heavy blow to the head and strangulation marks to the neck.

Reading a statement on behalf of his family at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, his cousin, Neliz Halil, spoke of their indescribable pain and the brutality of Mr Alpergins death.

She accused the defendants of attempting to escape the consequences of their heinous actions and tarnish (Korays) character, describing his killers as a danger to society.

Mr Alpergins parents had not smiled since his death and his father had suffered two strokes and a heart attack because of the pain of losing his son, Ms Halil told the court.

She added: How can you tell your children about the barbaric torture their uncle experienced?

Prosecutor Peter Ratliff, reading a statement by Mr Alpergins former wife, said his son had been unable to sleep and suffered visions of the violence committed against his father.

Judge Whitehouse sentenced Kavak, from Tottenham, to 13 years imprisonment and Kennedy, of Cricklewood Broadway, to 20 years.

Gordon, of Northolt, was sentenced to eight years and Owusu-Opoku, of Wood Green, to seven years imprisonment

Yigit Hurman, 18, from Muswell Hill, north London, who admitted perverting the course of justice, was sentenced to two years.
The new trailer for Dune: Part Two further explores the relationship between Paul Atreides, played by Timothee Chalamet, and Chani, played by Zendaya.

Denis Villeneuves much-anticipated science fiction sequel had been set for release on November 3, but was postponed following the Sag-Aftra US actors strike  and will now launch on March 1 next year.

On Tuesday, Warner Bros released a new teaser with intense scenes from US stars Chalamet and Zendaya.

It opens with Chani comforting Paul after he experienced a nightmare, with her later telling him although he comes from dukes and great houses, the Fremen are equal. What we do, we do for the benefit of all, she says.

The teaser clip features the pair engaging in a passionate kiss while sitting on top of a sand dune.

Later, Chalamets character tells her: My allegiance is to you, do you believe meI want you to know, I will love you as long as I breathe.

She replied: You will never lose me, as long as you stay who you are.

A previous two-minute teaser saw the pair leading the Fremen people to take revenge on those who conspired to destroy his family.

It also saw British actress Florence Pugh warning against the end of House Atreides, as she joins the cast as Princess Irulan, daughter of the supreme ruler of the galaxy, played by Christopher Walken.

A fresh look at Walkens character was shown in the new trailer, alongside Austin Butler as villain Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.

Villeneuve co-wrote the screenplay for the epic science-fiction drama with Jon Spaihts.

Part One was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won six  including for original score, visual effects, cinematography and editing.
Sir Keir Starmer accused the Tories of falling far from Sir Winston Churchills politics and instead echoing those of Donald Trump as he vowed Labour would focus on the mundane stuff of getting things done.

The party leader sought to pitch the Opposition as the sensible alternative to a Government too stuck in an indulgent vortex of infighting and divisiveness to deliver policies.

In a direct appeal to Conservative voters, he promised Labour would put economic stability, secure borders and better management of taxpayer money at the heart of its agenda.

Delivering a speech in Buckinghamshire to mark the four-year anniversary of the 2019 election, Sir Keir hit out at so-called culture war politics, saying: These arent Churchills Tories anymore.

If anything, they behave more and more like Donald Trump. They look at the politics of America and they want to bring that here.

Its all woke, woke, woke. Wedge, wedge, wedge. Divide, divide, divide.

People cant afford Christmas. If they call an ambulance this winter, they dont know if it will come. Six thousand crimes go unpunished every day.

Common sense is rolling your sleeves up and solving these problems practically, not indulging in some kind of political performance art.

(PA Graphics)

Sir Keir also attempted to further distance himself from the left-leaning politics of Jeremy Corbyn, in whose shadow cabinet he previously served.

Working people up and down our country looked at my party, looked at how wed lost our way, not just under Jeremy Corbyn, but for a while, and they said: No, not this time. You dont listen to us anymore. Youre not in our corner, Sir Keir added.

He said the changes he has made as Labour leader have aimed to reverse the damage done by reneg(ing) on the partys promise to serve working people.

Not just a paint job, a total overhaul, a different Labour Party, driven by your values, relentless in earning your vote.

Sir Keir said the Governments Rwanda policy, which Labour will oppose in a crunch Commons vote later on Tuesday, is an example of its inability to deliver.

Labour would focus instead on doing the basics better  the mundane stuff, the bureaucratic stuff, he said.

The party leader has said his plan to tackle the crisis of small boats involves working with the EU to catch people-smuggling gangs and improving the asylum system in the UK to cut the backlog of claims.

(Jacob King/PA)

He hit out at Rishi Sunak for suggesting that it is only the concern for international law shown by the Rwandan Government which is stopping him from ripping up the UKs commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights.

MPs on the Tory right have been calling for the Government to disapply the treaty if necessary to get flights to Kigali running as the 290 million scheme remains grounded after a series of legal setbacks.

Sir Keir, who has a background in human rights law, described the ECHR as an achievement not just of this nation but of Winston Churchill and the Conservative Party that brought peace and protection to the world, following our victory over fascism.

Some have questioned whether Labours opposition to the Rwanda scheme is because it believes the policy is doomed to fail or because it against the moral values of the partys leadership.

On Tuesday Sir Keir said it was both, telling the event: It doesnt work, it will cost a fortune and it is against our values.
Edible marijuana samples are set aside for evaluation at a cannabis testing laboratory in Santa Ana, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. The number of young kids, especially toddlers, who accidentally ate marijuana-laced treats rose sharply over five years as pot became legal in more places in the U.S., according to an analysis published Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2022, in the journal Pediatrics.

Three students were hospitalized after showing signs of a drug overdose at a South Florida middle school, multiple outlets have reported.

Broward Sheriffs Office Fire Rescue said they transported students to local hospitals from Lauderdale Lakes Middle School Monday morning, the Miami Herald reported. Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Michael Kane told the Herald the substance causing the symptoms was not immediately known.

Officials said Monday the children were in "stable" condition, WSVN reported.

Lauderdale Lakes Middle School is located approximately 35 miles north of Miami. The school's website shows it is a magnet school in Broward County, teaching kids in grades 6 through 8.

Florida students took 'edibles', school officials say

A statement from Broward County Public Schools shared with USA TODAY Tuesday indicated that the students took "edibles" with an unknown substance. Where the children got the edibles is under investigation.

"Parents and guardians are reminded to speak with their children about the importance of positive decision-making and maintaining a drug-free and healthy environment, stressing the potential risks associated with sharing unpackaged and unfamiliar food items," the statement read. "Students who knowingly consume and/or transmit illicit substances on campus can be subject to disciplinary consequences as outlined in The Code Book for Student Conduct."

More: 9 students from same high school overdose on suspected fentanyl, Virginia governor steps in

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida middle school investigating edibles that hospitalized 3
Three standing ovations from American CEOs. A four-hour discussion with President Biden. Promises of cooperation on policy issues and enticements to foreign companies and investment. Chinese President Xi Jinpings visit to America was certainly eventful.

But what did it really accomplish? Direct communication between the two world leaders is a positive, but nothing on the economic front got resolved. The fact is that the economic war between these two superpowers has only intensified in the past 12 monthsand the stakes are only rising.

The CCP has declared as its primary objectives Chinas own security and economic growth. But en route to those objectives, it has taken countless actions that also serve the purpose of upending Americas economic dominance. Such an outcome would essentially destroy the long-held, rules-based economic world order. Losing this competition would mean the U.S. losing its national security along with its economic primacy, and even putting democracy in general at risk.

In this conflict, U.S. companies are the front-line combatants, whether they realize it or not (and all too often, they dont). Thats why its urgent that the Biden administration mobilize and unify the U.S. business community, before the tide of the conflict turns irreversibly. U.S. companies need to develop sound plans and have support as they execute those plansup to and including, for many companies, disengaging from China.

Little meaningful recourse

Business leaders who trust that China will change by drawing closer to Western norms are gullible or gamblers. (Many have been gullible for 25 years!) They should know that they operate at the mercy of the CCP and the legal system it controls.

Sharing technology and know-how with Chinese companies, as the CCP demands you do, gives you temporary favor. When the Chinese company you shared it with becomes competitive, you are no longer needed. You will be marginalized, become unprofitable, and your market share will dwindle. Thats when you will see the virtue of phasing out of China or selling the business to Chinese owners, though the price will be depressed by then.

Signs of the CCPs economic aggression are staring us in the face. The Chinese governments partial ban on iPhones in September wiped out $200 billion in Apples market value. No surprise that Tim Cook immediately flew to Beijing!

But other companies have suffered deeper, longer-lasting wounds. Two Western technology jewels, along with two large consulting firms, built Huaweis world dominance in telecom infrastructure. Americas Lucent (which later became Nokia through mergers involving Alstom and Siemens) and Swedens Ericsson suffered market share declines, cut their R&D, and lost their technology edge. They got mauled in China. Huawei, meanwhile, now has a commanding telecom market share in almost all developing countries. This has troubled U.S. officials for years: Telecom infrastructure controlled by an ardent opponent is a major national security issue.

The pattern persists with the unwitting help of U.S. corporations. Americas current technology behemoths have lobbied Washington to soften the bans on selling their wares to China, for fear of losing scale advantage and hurting shareholder value.

To replace todays complacency with a strategy that will win the economic conflict with China, we need only to look back to the lessons of a far bigger conflict: World War II. That conflict created a model of Washington and corporate America working together toward one goal, and thats what we need now.

The FDR model

At the outbreak of World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered private manufacturers to shift their production to weapons and supplies for the fight in Europe. The government provided all the help these companies needed, and many came out stronger post-war.

Washington must ensure that Americas business engine is fully deployed in what should be fought as a nation-to-nation competition, not company-to-nation. Businesses can supply the technology and expertise needed to maintain dominance over China. Well need to ensure that our technology in fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotech, and semiconductors is always ahead of China and doesnt leak across the Pacific.

Such an effort is recently picking up speed at the Department of Commerce and bodies such as the interagency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). But the progress is uncoordinated and still lacks gravitas. The Commerce Department has restricted the sale of technology to certain Chinese firms. But too many transfers are getting around the ban.

The Biden administration has also moved to block U.S. firms and individuals from investing in Chinese entities that are likely to create technology relevant to military and national security. The Treasury Department is charged with implementation. On October 31st the House select committee on China formally urged the department to hurry up.

The edge that America has over China is shrinking and its debt to China is huge and growing at a fast clip, especially since the renminbi has been devalued by 20%. To fight back, America must step up, be bold, and be strategic on several other fronts beyond the restriction of technology transfers.

This begins with defining precisely the objectives of both opponents. It means both clarifying U.S. objectives and getting into the heads of Chinas decision-makers. In armed conflicts, the generals study the psychology of the opponents, and their staffs generate military moves by practicing war games. Secretary Raimondo has the right experience to lead the economic version of these war games.

Next, the administration should pull together the pivotal 100 or so American companies that are foundational to global competition. The administration and its partners should build a robust analytical framework that connects the consequential trade and investment-flows issues that most affect these companies.

The tax code should be adjusted to enable American companies to withstand the serious adverse effects of the tit-for-tat during transition. They should be allowed to write down the losses they realize from disengaging from China, as well as any penalties China might impose on them.

Start with a phased approach that incentivizes voluntary compliance by U.S. companies, since it will take time to disengage from investments in China.

Secretary Raimondo is now in the first phase of action. She is forming working groups among U.S. and Chinese companies to focus on trade and investment issues of common goods and services. Those dialogues will build trust and make it easier to tackle more difficult issues around dumping, selling below cost, subsidies, artificial exchange rates, and compliance to deliver promised actions.

In the long run, more decisive steps should follow, including:

* Gradually replacing Chinese imports with American goods in toys, games, furniture, footwear, and apparel, but over a two-year timespan. Instead of sending $100 billion to China for these items combined, keep the money in U.S. hands.

* Granting a five-year window of tax credits and low-cost loans to businesses in critical industries and appoint a commission to oversee the process.

* Garnering support from our allies in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea to impose similar bans on technology transfers, foreign direct investment, and product dumping. The latter is a growing threat because of Chinas enormous excess capacity and ability to incur negative cash flow. Brazil is already banning dumping, and other nations should follow suit.

In short, whats needed is timely decoupling of American business from China, not merely derisking. Remember that decoupling was started by China, not by the United States, in the first place. To win will require transformative action from both Washington and corporate America. Both parties should get the public on board and make it happen now before it's too late.

_____________________________

Ram Charan is an adviser to CEOs and boards of directors worldwide, and a member of corporate boards in several countries. He has written 36 books and numerous articles in Harvard Business Review. His next book is titled: The Confrontation: How to End the U.S. vs. China Economic War to Save Democracy.

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Hackers allegedly affiliated with the People's Republic of China have infiltrated major US facilities, including its water, power, communication, and transportation services, US security officials reported on Monday.

Among the victims of the recent attacks were a water facility in Hawaii, a major West Coast port, an oil and gas pipeline, as well as a power grid in Texas, The Washington Post reported.

The cyberattacks have been attributed to the larger military "Volt Typhoon" campaign that has been disrupting American logistics for over the year.

US officials noted that the attacks on Hawaii, a major US Navy port, were made "to complicate US efforts" to respond if a conflict arose in Taiwan.

The attacks were made months after the Office of the Director of National Intelligence warned that China is almost certainly capable" of organizing cyberattacks on US infrastructures.

Also Read: Chinese Hackers Accessed US Government Email Accounts, Microsoft Confirmed

What is the Volt Typhoon Campaign

First discovered just over a year ago, the "Volt Typhoon" campaign has already targeted small companies and organizations across America.

After the recent attacks, US officials are sure that the attacks were deliberately made to disrupt or cause havoc later.

Joe McReynolds, a China security analyst at the Jamestown Foundation, said that China is "trying to build tunnels into your enemies' infrastructure" for later attacks.

Leaked internal documents have already shown that Chinese officials are willing to use "network warfare" to disrupt command centers, critical infrastructure, and military logistics systems.

Related Article: Australian Government Agencies are Targeted by Chinese Hackers Using ScanBox Malware

US-China Negotiations Remain at Standstill

Peace talks between the two superpowers have been at a standstill amid the rising tension in the Indo-Pacific region.

US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, met last month to discuss trade and transportation relations.

Talks on climate cooperation have been assured but the relationship remains contentious on other economic aspects.

Recent reports have since seen the two countries increase their presence in the Eastern waters amid rising political tensions in the region.
Rifts between the United States and Israel spilled into public view Tuesday as President Joe Biden warned that Israel was losing international support for its campaign against Hamas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected American plans for post-war Gaza.

The divides, which until now had mostly been contained behind the scenes, reflected growing differences between the two staunch allies as the civilian death toll in Gaza mounts.

Speaking to Democratic donors in Washington, Biden voiced criticism of Israels hardline government and said Netanyahu needed to alter his approach.

I think he has to change, and with this government, this government in Israel is making it very difficult for him to move, Biden said, calling Netanyahus government the most conservative government in Israels history.

He warned support for the countrys military campaign is waning amid heavy bombardment of Gaza and added that the Israeli government doesnt want a two-state solution.

Speaking ahead of Bidens comments at the fundraiser, Netanyahu admitted Tuesday that he and the US president disagree on what should happen to Gaza after the war. In a statement, the Israeli leader said: Yes, there is disagreement about the day after Hamas and I hope that we will reach agreement here as well.

The pair of remarks amounted to some of the most candid to date when it comes to the persistent differences between Israel and the United States, its top international ally.

Before the war broke out following Hamas terror attacks on October 7, Biden had been open in his criticism of Netanyahus governing coalition, which includes far-right parties. But he has mostly stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Netanyahu in public since the conflict began, despite mounting criticism of the Israeli campaign.

Netanyahu has been asked repeatedly for his vision for a post-war Gaza in interviews with international media since October 7, telling CNNs Dana Bash in an interview last month that he did see a role for some kind of civilian Palestinian authority, albeit one that had been reconstructed.

But in his statement Tuesday before Bidens remarks at the Democratic fundraiser, Netanyahu said: I would like to clarify my position: I will not allow Israel to repeat the mistake of Oslo.

Bidens comments Tuesday  in particular, that the current Israeli government does not want a two-state solution  suggest major differences with his Israeli counterpart.

That idea  of a Palestinian state existing alongside the state of Israel  took off in the 1990s, with a series of agreements known as the Oslo Accords, which created, among other things, the Palestinian Authority (PA), which assumed partial control over the West Bank and Gaza.

The PA was effectively driven out of Gaza by Hamas in 2007 but the Biden administration has made increasingly clear it believes the PA should resume governance of the enclave when the war is over.

After the great sacrifice of our civilians and our soldiers, I will not allow the entry into Gaza of those who educate for terrorism, support terrorism and finance terrorism, Netanyahu said.

Gaza will be neither Hamastan nor Fatahstan, Netanyahus statement concluded, a reference not just to Hamas but also to Fatah, the largest Palestinian faction, which was instrumental in the signing of the Oslo Accords, and continues to control the Palestinian Authority three decades later.

Israel began its assault on Gaza shortly after Hamas terror attacks, which left more than 1,200 people dead. Biden has said Israel has a right and a responsibility to defend itself.

In phone calls, however, Biden has encouraged Netanyahu to do more to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza, and top administration officials have said there is a gap between Israels intentions and the realities on the ground.

Speaking Monday evening at a White House Hanukkah reception, Biden acknowledged Israel was in a tough spot following the Hamas attack on October 7 and the subsequent war in Gaza. And he alluded to differences with Netanyahu amid the current fighting.

Well continue to provide military assistance to Israel until they get rid of Hamas, but we have to be careful  they have to be careful, Biden said. The whole worlds public opinion can shift overnight, we cant let that happen.

Biden and Netanyahu have a decades-long relationship that has at times been strained. At the Monday evening reception, Biden said he once gifted Netanyahu a photo and wrote at the top: I love you but I dont agree with a damn thing you had to say.

Its about the same today, Biden said, adding hed had my differences with some Israeli leadership.

Biden administration officials have been pressing their Israeli counterparts in recent weeks to begin planning for what happens in Gaza once the military campaign ends, including insisting on keeping the door open for an eventual Palestinian state.

The US says it would reject any proposal that includes Israeli control over Gaza and has warned against shrinking the Palestinian territorys boundaries.

The US is also pressuring Israel to open the Kerem Shalom border crossing to allow humanitarian aid trucks to go directly into Gaza on an emergency basis, US officials told CNN.

The Israeli government on Tuesday allowed aid trucks to be inspected at Kerem Shalom for the first time since Hamass attack on October 7, but those trucks must still drive back through Egypt before entering Gaza through the Rafah crossing. While the move doubles Israels capacity to inspect aid trucks, it does not resolve the bottleneck that is emerging at the Rafah crossing.

Biden raised the issue directly with Netanyahu during their last call last week, the US officials said. National security adviser Jake Sullivan also urged his Israeli counterparts to open up the Israel-Gaza crossing before he arrives in Israel for meetings on Thursday, the officials said.

Rafah cannot absorb a sufficient amount of aid to meet the needs of the Palestinian people which are only growing as there have been more people displaced, Sullivan told CNN in a phone interview Tuesday.

We need the capacity that Kerem Shalom provides  on an emergency basis  to get more food, water, medicine and essentials in to be distributed to Palestinian civilians and were putting that quite urgently to the Israeli government to say, We are asking you to do this ASAP because of the nature of the humanitarian situation on the ground, he added.

A spokeswoman for the Israeli prime ministers office declined to comment on the US move. Israel has so far resisted the idea. It cut off all commercial and humanitarian aid traffic from Israel into Gaza since Hamas launched its surprise terrorist attack on October 7 and has vowed to sever all ties with Gaza.

CLARIFICATION: This story has been updated to include Bidens full remarks regarding Netanyahu and the Israeli government.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A campus security supervisor at a California high school, who was arrested in June and charged with making and selling explosives on social media, pleaded guilty on Monday, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.

Angelo Jackson Mendiver, 27, used an Instagram account to sell the explosives and then sent them in the mail to residents of other states, according to court documents. He worked closely with a male juvenile high school student in the city of Arvin, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles.

Mendiver, who worked at Arvin High School, pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in manufacturing and dealing in explosive materials," "mailing explosive devices and making false statements to FBI agents, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert said in a news release Monday.

Arvin High School in Arvin, Calif. (Google Maps)

Representatives of Arvin High School redirected inquiries about the case to the Kern High School District's press office, which could not be reached for comment.

At his sentencing on April 1 next year, Mendiver will face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count, said the Eastern District of California Attorney's Office.

FBI agents seized approximately 500 pounds of explosives from Mendiver's residence on June 1, and another 500 pounds of explosives from the juvenile's residence. The U.S. Attorney's Office said items used to make the explosives were also found in both homes.

Police recovered photos and videos that Mendiver sent on Instagram to the juvenile showing homemade explosives he created using titanium salute. The U.S. Attorney's Office said Mendiver wrote homemade kills all consumer in the messages.

According to a court indictment from June, Mendiver was also accused on counts of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, improper storage of explosives and criminal forfeiture in addition to the charges he pled guilty to.

Mendiver's court-assigned attorney could not be reached for comment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar is prosecuting the case.
CNN will host two Republican presidential primary debates next month in Iowa and New Hampshire  states that hold the first contests in the race for the 2024 GOP nomination, the network announced Thursday.

The events will provide Republican voters an opportunity to hear the governing philosophies of the leading candidates seeking to challenge the likely Democratic presidential nominee, President Joe Biden, in November.

The first debate will take place on January 10 at 9 p.m. ET at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, less than a week before Iowa caucusgoers weigh in on the Republican presidential race, and will be moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. The second debate will be held on January 21 in New Hampshire at New England College. The location was originally announced as St. Anselm College.

To qualify for participation in the Iowa debate, candidates must receive at least 10% in three separate national and/or Iowa polls of Republican caucusgoers or primary voters that meet CNNs standards for reporting, according to the network. One of the three polls must be an approved CNN poll of likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers.

Candidates will be invited to participate in the New Hampshire debate if they receive at least 10% in three separate national and/or New Hampshire polls of Republican primary voters that meet CNNs standards for reporting. One of the three polls must be an approved CNN poll of likely New Hampshire Republican primary voters. Candidates who finish in one of the top three positions in the Iowa caucuses will receive an invitation to participate in the New Hampshire debate.

Former President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have hit 10% in at least three qualifying polls, including one of likely caucusgoers in Iowa. DeSantis said December 7 in a post on X that he is looking forward to debating in Iowa! Haley on December 15 accepted CNNs invitation to debate in Iowa and called on Trump to do the same.

The qualifying window for the Iowa debate closes on January 2 and the New Hampshire debate qualifying period ends on January 16.

According to the network, in each debate, candidates must also meet the definition of a natural-born citizen, as well as age and residential requirements as defined by Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, file a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission and agree to accept the rules and format of the debate.

To determine polling eligibility in Iowa, only polling data collected from surveys that began no earlier than October 15, and released no later than 12:05 p.m. ET on January 2, will be considered.

In New Hampshire, only polling data collected from surveys that began no earlier than November 1, and released no later than 12:05 p.m. ET on January 16, will be considered.

Poll results reported with a decimal place will not be rounded up or down in either case.

National and state polling shows that Trump holds a commanding lead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. But a handful of Republican candidates are battling to be the alternative to Trump.

The Republican National Committee said Friday that candidates are free to participate in any forum or debate of their choosing during January, freeing them from a previous requirement that prevented them from participating in non-RNC-sanctioned debates.

We have held four successful debates across the country with the most conservative partners in the history of a Republican primary. We have no RNC debates scheduled in January and any debates currently scheduled are not affiliated with the RNC, the RNCs Committee on Presidential Debates said in a statement. It is now time for Republican primary voters to decide who will be our next President and candidates are free to use any forum or format to communicate to voters as they see fit.

ABC News and WMUR-TV will also hold a Republican presidential primary debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, days after the Iowa caucuses. The debate, in coordination with the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, will be held at Saint Anselm College on January 18.

Read the full CNN debate criteria below.

To receive an invitation for the January 10, 2024, CNN Republican Presidential Primary Debate, a candidate must:

 Fulfill the requirements outlined in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States.

 File a Statement of Candidacy with the Federal Election Commission.

 Achieve at least 10% (without rounding) in three separate national and/or Iowa polls of Republican caucusgoers or primary voters that meet CNNs standards for reporting. One of the three qualifying polls must be an approved poll of Iowa likely Republican caucusgoers.

 Agree to accept the rules and format of the debate.

Recognized polls:

To determine eligibility, only polling data collected from surveys that began no earlier than October 15, 2023, and released no later than 12:05 p.m. ET on January 2, 2024, will be considered. Poll results reported with a decimal place will not be rounded up or down.

To receive an invitation for the January 21, 2024, CNN Republican Presidential Primary Debate, a candidate must:

 Fulfill the requirements outlined in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States.

 File a Statement of Candidacy with the Federal Election Commission.

 Achieve at least 10% (without rounding) in three separate national and/or New Hampshire polls of Republican primary voters that meet CNNs standards for reporting. One of the three qualifying polls must be an approved poll of New Hampshire Republican likely primary voters.

 A candidate who finishes in the top three positions of the Iowa caucuses will receive an invitation to participate in the New Hampshire debate.

 Agree to accept the rules and format of the debate.

Recognized polls:

To determine eligibility, only polling data collected from surveys that began no earlier than November 1, 2023, and released no later than 12:05 p.m. ET on January 16, 2024, will be considered. Poll results reported with a decimal place will not be rounded up or down.

Polls that meet CNNs standards for reporting and have been released during the qualifying period that would count thus far for determining candidate eligibility include: CNN, CNN/University of New Hampshire, Fox News, Marquette University Law School, Monmouth University, Monmouth University/The Washington Post, NBC News, NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom, and Quinnipiac University. Other polls that meet CNNs standards for reporting and have recently surveyed on the race for the Republican nomination but were not conducted during the qualifying period include: CBS News/YouGov, Marist College, The New York Times/Siena College, the Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post/ABC News.

This story has been updated with additional details about the debate locations and candidate participation.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Washington  The Georgia election worker who was the target of unsubstantiated claims of fraud in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election took the witness stand Tuesday in the defamation lawsuit against former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and testified about the emotional toll the online threats and lies have taken on her daily life.

Wandrea' ArShaye "Shaye" Moss  a former ballot supervisor in Atlanta  and her mother, Ruby Freeman, are suing Giuliani for millions in damages after he baselessly accused them of participating in election fraud.

"Every single aspect of my life has changed," Moss told the jury in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, describing how the spread of misinformation that the pair added fake ballots to the vote count in Joe Biden's favor and inserted a USB drive into election machines forced her into a life of fear, and contributed to her failure to be promoted at work and to her socially isolated existence.

"I'm most scared of my son finding me or my mom hanging in front of our house," she said through tears.

The two election workers were thrust into the political spotlight as Trump and his allies were pushing claims of fraud across the country  including in the swing state of Georgia, where Mr. Biden won  and the two became an unwitting l flashpoint for those who argued the election had been stolen from Trump.

Moss  a 39-year-old mother who was an interim absentee supervisor in Fulton County during the 2020 election  testified that immediately after the election, she felt as though she and her team had done a "perfect" job counting ballots and scrutinizing numbers to ensure the vote count was accurate.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted many voters across the state to vote by mail, Moss said, and it was her job to oversee that ballot count.

"The election went well," she said Tuesday. "I was so proud of myself and my team."

In Moss' telling, that changed just about a month after the election, on Dec. 4, 2020, when Giuliani shared on social media security camera video from inside the State Farm Arena where Moss and her mother were counting ballots with other electron workers. He falsely claimed the video showed the pair engaging in fraud.

Georgia investigators later conducted a review of the election and found the "numerous allegations made against the Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections, and specifically, two election workers, were false and unsubstantiated." "There was no evidence of any type of fraud as alleged," according to the findings. Jurors on Tuesday also saw video depositions of officials from the state explaining that there was no evidence of fraud.

Moss and Freeman contend that it was after Giuliani singled them out in the video and spread lies about them that they began receiving online threats and their lives began to change.

Moss told the jury she was forced to completely change her hair in order to disguise herself and later had to leave her job. She applied for work at a Chik-fil-A but ultimately did not get the job after the hiring manager recognized her name and asked her about the videos online.

In looking at the initial posts by Giuliani, Moss, her voice filled with emotion, told the jury, "My reaction is how can someone with so much power go public and talk about things that he has no clue about?"

"It's hurtful, it's untrue. It's not fair," she said, at times wiping away tears from her eyes as she testified.

"Glad it's 2020 and not 1920," said one online message to Moss, who is a black woman, in the aftermath of the claims. Voicemail threats with racist language were also played in court.

"Everybody knows exactly what a black woman would be doing in 1920," she said Tuesday.

At issue in the federal trial is exactly how much in damages Giuliani will have to pay Freeman and Moss for defamation. Judge Beryl Howell already ruled the former Trump attorney was liable for the false claims against the pair and told the jury of eight Washington, D.C., residents they were to assume many of the factual claims against him are true.

At an earlier stage in the case, Giuliani conceded he had made false statements about Freeman and Moss when he claimed they engaged in voter fraud during the election, but he maintained that he was engaging in constitutionally protected speech when he leveled the accusations.

During opening statements on Monday, Giuliani's defense attorney, Joseph Sibley, sought to distance his client from the actions of those who attacked Freeman and Moss, telling the jury that Giuliani didn't intend for individuals to threaten them and was not mentioned in any of the correspondence.

Sibley said he would not contest the facts of the case because of the court's previous rulings, and he conceded that the jury would see lots of evidence of damages. "At the end of thisI'm gonna ask you to award a number of damages against my client," he said Monday but said the number he will argue for at the end of his trial will be "fair and proportional" for what he said Giuliani did.

Under cross examination, Moss conceded that another publication, the Gateway Pundit, was the first to publicly indemnify her and her mother in December 2020. Giuliani, however, was "driving the bus" and picking up his followers to spread the lies, she said.

Sibley pressed Moss about whether she had any reason to believe Giuliani intended for her to be subject to racist threats, to which she responded, "I can't say what he wanted, but I can say that he was not spewing the lies where there are a majority [of] Black people as viewers."

Moss argued Giuliani "knew his people would believe the lies and have his back" and wanted people to "lock [them] up." Sibley, however, asked whether she knew whether those who threatened her were motivated by Giuliani's words or by those of the other publication.

Before she alleged Giuliani targeted her online, Freeman testified, "My life was lit. My life was great. I was always out. Very sociable. I wasn't afraid of going out alone." But after the videos spread online and the threats started to mount, "I now am very anxious. I have like these nonstop anxious sweats. I have a lot of dark moments. I no longer go out. I will not be caught out anywhere alone, ever."

"I'm just the whole new, messed-up person," Moss said Tuesday, "I don't want anyone to see my mom and I together."

Moss and Freeman have argued they suffered from a barrage of death threats, racist language, and late-night visits to Freeman's Georgia home. Moss said Tuesday people even went to her grandmother's home on New Year's Day 2021 to "arrest" her, and she has since entered into a depressive cycle of anxiety and overeating.

"I felt like the worst mom ever to allow him to have to hear this, have to experience this day after day after day," Moss said Tuesday of her teenage son, recounting that he failed every class after the threats started.

Outside of federal court on Monday, after the first day of trial, Giuliani told reporters he did not regret his comments about Freeman and Moss and contended he "told the truth."

"They were engaged in changing votes," Giuliani said Monday.

Moss referenced the latest Giuliani comments during her testimony, and they also caught the attention of Judge Howell, who raised concerns about the statements. "Your client is still lying on me and ruining my reputation furtherhow could you work in law if everyone was saying you're a horrible lawyer," she told Giuliani's lawyer.

When pressed by Giuliani's attorney during cross examination about the amount of damages sought in the lawsuit, Freeman said it was not just about her and her mom's reputation, but sending "a message."

"We need to make sure the election workers that are still there don't have to go through this," she argued, adding, "Hitting someone in the pockets" will leave an impression for the future.

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News of Matson's death was shared by Erie News Now, the local broadcast outlet where she worked for 17 years

Emily Matson News/Facebook Anchor Emily Matson

The Erie, Pennsylvania community is mourning the loss of one of its own.

Emily Matson was a news anchor at Erie News Now, where she worked for 17 years before the local broadcast outlet "learned" of her death. The outlet's parent company, Lilly Broadcasting, confirmed the news in a statement released Monday.

It is with a very heavy heart that we have learned of the passing of our beloved Erie News Now news anchor Emily Matson, the company said, adding that Emily was a shining light in our newsroom, delivering news with a passion and love she had for the Erie community and Northwest Pennsylvania.

We loved Emily dearly and our hearts go out to the Matson family and her husband Ryan at this time, the statement concluded.

According to Deadline, she was 42. No cause of death was revealed.

Emily Matson News/Facebook Anchor Emily Matson

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In a tribute on Facebook, one of Matson's Erie News Now colleagues, reporter Jamison Hixenbaugh, called her death utterly devastating. He added that there are no words to describe the loss of Emily.

Working side-by-side with her off-and-on for the past 15 years, I can vouch...she was one of the most wonderful people I've ever met, Hixenbaugh continued. She was such a talented journalist and anchor, but even more, she was an incredible friend.

WVLT-TV anchor Christyn Allen, who previously worked with Matson at Erie News Now, described her former colleague as "the brightest light" in a lengthy Instagram tribute.

She was a fiercely loyal friend, and if you were lucky enough to be one of her people, you'd hit the jackpot. She always made sure her people were taken care of. I'm so thankful our paths crossed, and we never lost touch, Allen wrote.

Emily Matson News/Facebook Anchor Emily Matson

According to Matsons profile on the outlets website, she started her broadcast news career by working at the NBC affiliate WICU-TV, producing a morning show before leaving that post to become a general assignment reporter.

I feel I'm really making a difference in the Erie community, meeting new people, and telling the stories that affect everybody every day, she said, per her profile, which also noted that she was a two-time recipient of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Outstanding Spot News award.



As a member of the Erie News Now team, she co-anchored the 7 p.m. desk with John Stehlin and then the 11 p.m. desk alongside Mike Ruzzi.

I must be dreaming! An anchor gig in my hometown! I am so happy to be in Erie, telling the stories which impact my neighbors every day, Matson said of her job, per her profile page.



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Key takeaways

Student loan repayment assistance programs can offer employees tax-free benefits up to $5,250.

Employer programs offer different types of assistance, including signing bonuses, recurring payments directly to lenders, service-based assistance tied to specific careers and contributions tied to retirement savings.

Some government program offering assistance do not require the recipients to pay taxes and are not subject to the same caps as employer-based offerings.

Many programs help student loan borrowers pay down their debt faster, but student loan repayment assistance programs may be among the most effective.

These programs, offered by government agencies and private employers, can provide hundreds or even thousands of dollars in aid to borrowers every year. Currently, employers can provide up to $5,250 in student loan repayment annually as a tax-free benefit for employees.

Understanding how these programs work and how to qualify can bring you closer to your goal of paying off student loan debt. Consider all your options, including navigating student loan rates, to maximize your ability to repay your debt in a way that works for your budget.

Types of employer student loan repayment assistance

There are several different types of assistance you may receive, depending on your employer:

Signing bonus: Some employers offer a lump-sum payment as a signing bonus when you first start at the company.

Recurring payments: With platforms like Gradifi, employers can make direct payments to your lender on your behalf. These payments can occur monthly, annually or in some other interval. Some companies may even offer a lump-sum payment after youve been employed for a set period. In some cases, employers may include the assistance in your paycheck, which you can use to pay down your loans.

Service-based assistance: If youre a member of the military or your career qualifies you for a loan repayment assistance program offered by a government agency, youll typically receive annual payments or a lump-sum payment after youve provided the required service and met other program requirements.

Tied to retirement savings: Employer retirement contributions are often tied to how much the employee sets aside for retirement. But in some cases, an employer may offer to contribute to your retirement if you put a certain percentage of your paycheck toward student loans instead.

Trade unused vacation time: At least one company allows employees to apply some unused paid time off toward their student loans instead of carrying it over to the following year.

How employer student loan repayment gets taxed

In the past, student loan repayment assistance payments were considered taxable income to the employees and were subject to payroll taxes. But when the CARES Act passed in March 2020 as part of the relief provided amid the coronavirus pandemic, it allowed employers to provide up to $5,250 in annual student loan repayment assistance without tax consequences for the employer or the employee. The Consolidated Appropriations Act extended the tax break through 2025.

Note, however, that the $5,250 limit is a combined limit that also includes employer-provided tuition assistance programs. Many companies also offer tuition reimbursement, which is different than student loan reimbursement.

Tuition assistance programs typically reimburse employees up to a certain dollar amount after they complete their coursework. There are often specific eligibility requirements for the reimbursement, such as the courses being related to the employers industry or your job function. These programs target employee development, while the goal of student loan repayment programs is often employee financial wellness.

If youre receiving assistance through a government program, you may not need to pay taxes on any of the assistance you receive. This is true of the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, which offers up to $50,000 in payments over two years. Check the program youre applying for to learn whether taxes will come into play.

How to access employer student loan repayment benefits

If youre working for a private employer that offers student loan repayment assistance, you may need to be with the company for a set period before youre eligible. Some companies offer the benefit from the start.

If your current employer doesnt offer the benefit, you may consider suggesting it to your human resources manager. Try highlighting the benefits to the company. For instance, employers who offer student loan repayment assistance can do so tax-free up to the $5,250 limit. Plus, offering these benefits may help recruit, engage and retain employees.

If your company isnt interested, you can consider looking for a company that offers student loan repayment assistance.

Alternatively, you may be able to access student loan repayment assistance programs through a federal or state government agency based on your career choice. For example, health professionals, public defenders, military members and STEM workers may be eligible for loan repayment assistance programs. Do some research to find out if a government program exists for your occupation and whether you qualify.

Which companies pay off student loan debts?

More and more private companies are starting to offer student loan repayment assistance programs, so it isnt easy to provide a comprehensive list. Employers who offer student loan repayment benefits include firms like Ally Financial, Chegg, Google and more.

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, just 8 percent of companies offered a student loan repayment benefit in 2019. In 2023, that figure grew to 34 percent, according to a report by the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

The bottom line

Student loan repayment benefits offered by employers are slowly increasing in popularity. And thanks to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, employers can now provide student loan repayment as a tax-free benefit through 2025.

If youre job searching and your student loan debt is a concern, it pays to look for employers who offer this benefit. If you already work for an employer offering this type of program, ensure you understand how the program works to maximize the benefit. You wont want to miss out on assistance in repaying student loans.

Use Bankrates student loan calculator to help determine how much employer assistance could speed your repayment process and save you on interest.
A Florida couple who married just last week were killed in a double homicide over the weekend, officials say.

Deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office responded to a shooting Saturday morning in West Palm Beach and found a man and woman dead with gunshot wounds at a residence, the sheriff's office said. At the time, police said they were talking to a person of interest.

On Monday, the sheriff's office said that person  46-year-old Sony Josaphat, who previously lived at the home  had been arrested on two counts of first-degree murder.

At his first court appearance Sunday, he was ordered to be held without bond and appointed a public defender. NBC News has reached out to his attorney for comment.

The family has invoked Marsys Law for both victims, the sheriffs office said in a statement, meaning their names wont be made public. Lets keep them in thought and prayer during this difficult time.

The couple had been married just one week before they were discovered dead, a woman who described herself as the bride's sister told NBC affiliate WPTV of West Palm Beach.

A redacted criminal probable cause affidavit reveals the shooting was a targeted domestic violence incident.

Josaphats daughter had called 911 Saturday morning and reported that she saw her father shoot the newlyweds, the document states. When deputies arrived, they found the daughter and her brother at the home and the victims lying on the sidewalk outside the front door.

Josaphat had not lived at that residence where the shooting took place in over a year, but he randomly showed up from time to time and had a history of being controlling, the document said. The affidavit redacted the details explicitly stating the connection between Josaphat and the victims.

According to the affidavit, the day of the shooting, Josaphat was seen walking through the yard of the home before he approached the victims and opened fire.

In an interview, Josaphat told a deputy he became overtaken with anger when he saw a surveillance camera being installed by the front door of the home where the shooting took place, the affidavit said.

He walked up to [redacted] and said, Good morning. They said Good morning back to him. Sony then shot [redacted] in the upper torso and head. He then shot [redacted] several times, the affidavit said.

Even after they were shot, he kept shooting with his Glock 17, the affidavit said. When he left in his car, he noticed his Glock magazine was empty, called his pastor and confessed what he had done, according to the document.

He then drove to Palm Beach Sheriffs Office headquarters, entered the main detention center courthouse and surrendered, declaring that he had just killed the victims.

According to court documents, Josaphat didnt have a previous history of domestic violence nor a restraining order with the victims, and drugs nor alcohol were involved in the shooting.
Former Congressman George Santos of New York is not a loveable character. Facing federal charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, false statements, falsification of records, aggravated identity theft, and credit card fraud around misuse of his campaign accounts, he is also a shameless and prolific liar.

Santos has claimed: to be the descendant of Holocaust survivors; a Wall Street executive with Goldman Sachs and Citigroup (both firms have no record of his employment); that his mother was a 9/11 victim; that his mother died of cancer; that he played college volleyball at a college he did not graduate from before getting an MBA at another university he did not attend; that he had employees at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando the night of the mass shooting; that he was never a drag queen.

But, more worryingly, he is accused of using his campaign account for shopping sprees for luxury items. That sounds fairly ho-hum. The federal charges also detail allegations that he fraudulently used donor credit cards to make charges in their name. Thats a new one.

His former campaign treasurer has already pled guilty to falsifying federal campaign reports in order to qualify for national campaign support, including financial support.

Merritt Hamilton Allen

On December 1, the House of Representatives voted 311-114 to expel Santos from the House. The House Ethics Committee completed an investigation into his conduct and submitted a report earlier in November that was approved unanimously.

Two Democrats voted not to expel; two voted present. 112 Republicans voted not to expel. Some had reasonable explanations, the most common noting that Santos had not yet been convicted of a crime. Representative Bill Huizenga of Michigan made a notable comment in his official statement: Even dirtbags deserve due process.

Yet, there was a disturbing trend among the Republican no votes. 67 of the Republicans who voted against expelling Santos  60 percent - also voted to overturn the 2020 election. In that 67 are the most self-serving and extreme members of the caucus: Boebert, Gaetz, and Greene among others.

These are members of Congress who want personal power at the expense of everything else. These are the ones who ignored the wishes of voters, in many cases from states in which they did not live, in attempting to overturn the 2020 election. And then they fundraised on it.

Now, on the Santos vote, this me-first bloc shows that keeping one more R vote is more important than upholding the dignity and reputation of the House of Representatives. Because, we have to win! At all costs!

This is not legislative representation. These are completely self-obsessed individuals focusing each day on how to rake in campaign cash and social media attention. This is not crafting policy to propel our nation forward in difficult and dangerous times.

This is foolishness. And the GOP tolerates this self-indulgence on the part of candidates and elected leaders on national, state and county levels.

The Republican Party has fostered and nurtured this plague by standing by silently after the 2020 election and President Trumps eight-week tantrum that culminated in a riot on the Capitol and the majority of the House Republican caucus voting to overturn the election with no legal basis to do so. But, anything for a win, right?

What message are we sending our citizens and the world? It should have come as no surprise when in 2022, defeated Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro, a bombastic right-wing populist president with legal woes rivalling Donald Trumps, also decided to mimic Trump by challenging his presidential election loss to Lula da Silva, who won by more than 60 million votes. By standing by their man, the Republican Party is encouraging further challenges to democracies around the world.

So much for the party of Lincoln and Reagan.

Its maddening to me that coming into the 2024 election, its still a valid debate question to ask whether a candidate believes Joe Biden is the lawfully elected President of the United States. Allowing Trumps lies about the 2020 election to go unchallenged and unanswered for three years is reprehensible on the part of my party. Even more, its cowardly.

There is another likely reason the worst of the MAGA caucus voted not to expel Santos: the glass house rule. Matt Gaetz is awaiting the outcome of his own House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and misuse of funds. Lauren Boebert is still recovering from her bad date night where she vaped, groped and flipped her middle finger during a theater outing. And Marjorie Taylor Greene just got her committees back after posting support of violence toward Democrats. Since then, shes been busy attacking Jews and Muslims with equal ignorance (one wonders where she stands on the Israel war).

I can see why this crowd might be worried about expulsion proceedings. Heaven only knows what other skeletons are in their closets.

And if you dont like Speaker Mike Johnson, cheer up. His job just got harder. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy just announced he will depart Congress at the end of the year. With Santos expulsion, the GOP margin in the House come January will be just two members. With this chaotic caucus, who knows how long he will last anyway?

*Columnists note: I made a terrible error in my last column about local artists but learned great news with the correction. Nancy Sims, now Nancy Gray, is well and thriving (she admits to being hard of hearing: me, too!). She left a lovely voice mail with the Daily Press but not her phone number. Please get in touch, Nancy  Jared and I would love to catch up! And my apologies for the error. Being away from Silver City for 30+ years makes me a poor correspondent at times for local events of note.

Merritt Hamilton Allen is a PR executive and former Navy officer. She appeared regularly as a panelist on NM PBS and is a frequent guest on News Radio KKOB. A Republican, she lives amicably with her Democratic husband north of I-40 where they run one head of dog, and two of cat. She can be reached at news.ind.merritt@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: The GOP's ethics problem won't go away with George Santos
The Government should immediately stump up for a pay rise for Northern Ireland public sector workers  rather than making it dependent on Stormonts return, Sinn Fein has insisted.

Money to settle outstanding public sector pay demands in Northern Ireland is included in a 2.5 billion package the Government has offered in support of a restored powersharing administration in Belfast.

But Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton Harris has made clear to the local parties that the package will only be made available if devolution returns.

Pay awards made to other public sector workers in the UK this year have not been implemented in Northern Ireland due to the regions ongoing governance impasse and associated financial woes.

Representatives of the five main parties attended talks with Government officials at Hillsborough Castle on Tuesday to examine the finer detail of the financial offer tabled on Monday.

But party leaders have already said the package does not go far enough.

The offer also comes with an expectation that returning devolved ministers would seek to raise more revenue within Northern Ireland, with hiked rates bills one route by which that could be achieved.

DUP representatives outside Hillsborough Castle (Liam McBurney/PA)

The DUP criticised the Government proposals as not adequate on Tuesday, insisting London ministers did not appreciate the seriousness of the financial problems facing Northern Ireland.

The offer was made amid ongoing efforts by the Government to convince the DUP to end its blockade of the powersharing institutions.

Devolved government has not been functioning in Northern Ireland for nearly two years because of a DUP boycott in protest at post-Brexit trade agreements.

The DUP has been in negotiations with the Government to secure legislative assurances over Northern Irelands economic position in the UK.

Both sides insist that process remains ongoing, but speculation has been mounting in recent weeks that devolution may soon return, with the tabling of the financial package interpreted by many as a further step toward restoration.

The proposed measures in the Government package include funding for public sector pay rises this year, reform of the funding model for Northern Ireland  including the setting of a new fiscal floor, and increasing the period by which Stormont has to pay back a budget overspend.

As the politicians assessed the details of the offer in Hillsborough on Tuesday, public sector workers, one dressed as a Grinch, staged a protest at the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) in Belfast.

Sinn Fein MLAs Conor Murphy and Caoimhe Archibald (Liam McBurney/PA)

Emerging from the discussions inside Hillsborough Castle, Sinn Feins Conor Murphy called on the Government to immediately make available the lump sum to settle the public sector pay claim.

The fact is, if the British Government currently has money to pay public sector workers who are standing out here yesterday freezing (at a protest at Hillsborough Castle) and will be on strike again, why dont they pay them now? he said.

Why should workers have to wait for the DUP to decide if they are going to do powersharing or not do powersharing as to whether they will get a wage this year?

Mr Murphy has said it is very clear there is still no reason for the Northern Ireland Executive not to be in place, as he called on the DUP to end its boycott.

Asked if he felt Sinn Fein was not being listened to during the talks with the NIO, Mr Murphy added: This isnt a real negotiation, lets not be fooled by that.

This is a presentation of the NIO of some grand plan that theyve come up with that falls short of what is needed.

A real negotiation would be with a first and deputy first minister over to London to talk to a British Prime Minister, supported by other Executive ministers talking to the Treasury.

DUP MLA Gordon Lyons said he did not believe the Government grasp the gravity of the situation and where we are at in terms of our public finances.

He said there had to be a long-term solution to Northern Irelands funding crisis.

We dont want something which just gets us over the hump of this year or allows for pay increases to take place over one year, he said.

We want to ensure in the next number of years we have that certainty so were not back here again and public sector workers are having to go on strike again.

Regarding a potential return to Stormont before Christmas, he said: We have not and are not going to put any timelines on this.

We are very clear we want to see Stormont back on a sustainable footing. That means the political issues, the constitutional issues, the economic issues, need to be resolved.

I am hopeful that progress can be made, and be made quickly.

But he said his party returning to Stormont was not enough to bring financial stability to Northern Ireland.

The reality is we need to see that funding in place and that funding is not there, he said. That is what we are looking to resolve.

He added: Going back to Stormont in of itself does not resolve these issues.

Alliance MLA Andrew Muir said there was a risk the negotiations could drift over Christmas as he said public patience with the DUP has run out.

We also need a clear message from the DUP that they are going to go back into the Assembly and the Executive, he said.

That will give us a much stronger basis upon which to argue to the UK Government.

Ulster Unionist MLA Steve Aiken said the issue of revenue raising measures was more complex than introducing a major hike to rates bills.

Just a straightforward, were going to increase the rates by 15%, I dont think thats where we are, he said.

SDLP MLA Matthew OToole has said it would be inexcusable for negotiations around the Governments offer on a public-sector pay deal and the restoration of Northern Irelands institutions to drag on beyond Christmas.

I dont think public-sector workers or people who rely on our public services are going to wait any longer for more dither, more delay and more indecision, he said.
More than 700 members of Harvard University's faculty have signed a letter urging administrators to resist calls to remove the school's president amid an outcry over her testimony last week at a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism.

"We, the undersigned faculty, urge you in the strongest possible terms to defend the independence of the university and to resist political pressures that are at odds with Harvard's commitment to academic freedom, including calls for the removal of President Claudine Gay," the letter says.

"The critical work of defending a culture of free inquiry in our diverse community cannot proceed if we let its shape be dictated by outside forces," the letter goes on to say. NBC News obtained the text of the letter from history professor Alison Frank Johnson, one of the faculty members leading the effort.

Claudine Gay, president of Harvard University, at a House hearing on campus antisemitism on Dec. 5, 2023. (Michael Brochstein / Sipa USA via AP)

Frank Johnson said 723 people had signed the letter by Monday afternoon  more than a quarter of the school's 2,452 faculty members. She declined to release the names of the signers but said in an email that she was "very, very pleased by how broad the base of support is!"

The letter was delivered to the Harvard Corporation, the governing body that could decide Gays fate less than six months after she assumed the role. Harvard's press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter.

In a separate letter, the executive committee of the Harvard Alumni Association said it "unanimously and unequivocally" supported Gay. "We have full confidence in her leadership during this difficult time," the committee members wrote.

The pressure on Gay mounted over the weekend after University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned. Gay, Magill and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth have drawn fierce criticism after they appeared to dodge the question of whether students calling for the genocide of Jews should be punished.

In a contentious exchange at the five-hour hearing last Tuesday with Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Gay said "that type of hateful speech is personally abhorrent to me" and "at odds with the values of Harvard."

Stefanik then pressed Gay: "Can you not say here that it is against the code of conduct at Harvard?"

Gay did not answer directly, saying in part: "We embrace a commitment to free expression even of views that are objectionable, offensive, hateful  its when that speech crosses into conduct that violates our policies against bullying, harassment, intimidation."

Magill responded to Stefanik in similar terms that critics described as lawyerly and evasive. Instead of directly replying to Stefaniks yes-or-no question about the schools code of conduct, Magill said the decision would be "context-dependent."

Gay has apologized for her remarks. In an interview with The Harvard Crimson student newspaper published Friday, she said in part: "I got caught up in what had become at that point, an extended, combative exchange about policies and procedures."

"I failed to convey what is my truth," said Gay, the second woman and the first Black person to lead the Ivy League campus.

The university presidents' testimony went viral on social media and drew furious criticism from the White House and political leaders in both parties, as well as Jewish community advocates, alumni and donors. The backlash has been driven in part by Stefanik and billionaire investor Bill Ackman.

"One down. Two to go," Stefanik, a graduate of Harvard, tweeted after Penn announced Magill's resignation Saturday night.

Ackman said on X, "Now the focus turns to Presidents Gay and Kornbluth and the boards of @Harvard."

Stefanik has said the House Education and Workforce Committee would launch an investigation with "the full force of subpoena power" into Harvard, MIT, Penn and other unspecified universities.

"We will use our full Congressional authority to hold these schools accountable for their failure on the global stage," Stefanik said in a statement.

Laurence Tribe, the constitutional law scholar, confirmed that he was one of the faculty members who signed the letter. Five days ago, in a post on X, Tribe criticized Gays testimony as hesitant, formulaic, and bizarrely evasive.

In a phone interview Monday afternoon, Tribe said he believed his positions were "completely consistent."

"I continue to believe that her answer was terrible. I think, in fact, her inability to respond in a meaningful way to Elise Stefanik was so bad that it cast doubt, in my mind, on the wisdom of the Harvard Corporation in having selected her to lead the university in the first place," he said.

"But whether she was the right person for the job is a completely different question from whether Harvard should now buckle to pressure from the likes of Elise Stefanik, who has long been on a warpath against any form of liberalism on college campuses and elsewhere," he added.

In a column published Monday in The Boston Globe, the Harvard professor and well-known linguist Steven Pinker criticized the social and political environment on the campus but wrote: "I dont believe that firing Gay is the appropriate response to the fiasco."

The war between Israel and Hamas has divided college campuses nationwide, sparking protests and confrontations between students. Jewish and Muslim students have described concerns about hate speech, harassment and threats.

The Anti-Defamation League, a leading Jewish advocacy organization, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a prominent Muslim advocacy group, both reported rises in bias incidents after the war broke out.

In their testimony, the three college presidents repeatedly condemned both antisemitism and Islamophobia.
(Photo : Unsplash/Matthew Manuel)

Microsoft has announced that it will give labor leaders a seat at the table for discussions about the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce. This collaboration aims to establish an open dialogue, share information on AI trends, incorporate worker perspectives into AI development, and shape supportive public policies.

Microsoft and Labor Union's "Historic Alliance"

On Monday, Microsoft announced a partnership with a significant labor group representing 60 unions and 12.5 million workers to foster an open discussion about the future of artificial intelligence and alleviate concerns about AI replacing jobs.

Microsoft's strategic alliance with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) addresses growing concerns from labor unions about the impact of AI on jobs. This historic alliance will involve AI learning sessions for workers, specialized workshops on AI career opportunities from 2024 to 2026, and labor summits hosted by Microsoft to gather feedback from labor leaders and workers.

Three Main Goals of the Alliance

The alliance has three main goals: to share information with labor leaders and workers on AI trends, to include worker perspectives in AI development, and to shape public policy supporting the tech skills of frontline workers. Microsoft will also conduct training sessions for workers and students on the latest AI developments starting in 2024. Microsoft's vice chair and president, Brad Smith, emphasized that working with labor leaders directly ensures that AI benefits the country's workers. AI providers are responding more actively to public concerns about how their technologies impact workers, likely driven by rising fears that these technologies might replace human jobs.

READ ALSO: The AI Landscape: Potential Job Displacement for Asian American and Women Workers

Committed "Neutrality Framework"

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler stated that the partnership recognizes workers' crucial role in AI development, deployment, and regulation. The labor movement looks forward to collaborating with Microsoft to enhance workers' involvement in creating workforce-centered design, training, and trustworthy AI practices.

Growing Fear of Job Displacement by AI

The announcement arrives as business leaders and policymakers consider the various effects AI might have on the job market in the future. While tech industry leaders have often praised AI for improving efficiency and reducing workload, labor leaders and critics are expressing concerns about the possibility of AI causing job losses. A poll by the AFL-CIO in August found that 70% of respondents are worried that AI could displace workers, reflecting the anxiety among workers about this issue.

Future Commitment

The partnership announced on Monday includes an agreement where Microsoft commits to a "neutrality framework" for future organizing efforts by AFL-CIO unions and affiliates. This extends the neutrality agreement Microsoft established with the Communications Workers of America Union (CWA) last year during the organization of workers at Activision Blizzard amid Microsoft's acquisition of the gaming company.

Despite the tech sector's historical criticism for being unfriendly to organized labor, Microsoft and the AFL-CIO affirmed that the new framework reinforces a shared commitment to respect employees' rights to form or join unions. It also emphasizes the intention to negotiate collective bargaining agreements that support workers during rapid technological change.

RELATED ARTICLE: Exploring the Workplace Implications of ChatGPT Integration

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Hunter Biden asked a judge Monday to throw out his three-count felony gun indictment, which was filed earlier this year by special counsel David Weiss.

President Joe Bidens embattled son is challenging the indictment on several fronts, including claims that the case violates his Second Amendment rights, and a separate argument that prosecutors are reneging on a previous pledge not to charge him with gun crimes.

The gun indictment stems from a revolver Hunter Biden purchased in October 2018 and possessed for less than two weeks. Hes accused of lying on a federal form when he swore that he wasnt using or addicted to any illegal drugs  even though he was addicted to crack cocaine at the time. Hes also accused of illegally possessing the gun.

In addition to the gun case in Delaware, Hunter Biden is also facing federal tax charges in California. Weiss sought the indictments last week after a plea deal collapsed over the summer.

Hunter Bidens lawyers have argued for months that part of their now-defunct deal with prosecutors is actually still valid and is supposed to block Weiss from filing gun charges.

The parties had struck two intertwined deals: a plea agreement in which Hunter Biden would plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors and a diversion agreement in which Weiss would drop a gun charge in two years if Hunter Biden stayed sober and out of trouble.

The tax plea deal imploded under scrutiny in July and never went into effect. The two parties signed the gun deal before the plea hearing  however, there was a line for the signature of a court probation officer, and that person never signed the paperwork. Itll now be up to US District Judge Maryellen Noreika to decide whether it is legally binding.

Neither the Court nor anyone else is a party to the (Diversion) Agreement, Hunter Bidens lawyers wrote in a court filing on Monday. The Agreement need only be approved and executed by the parties to become effective, and that has occurred.

Hunter Bidens team said they also believe the sweeping immunity in that agreement shouldve blocked Weiss from bringing the recently filed tax charges in California.

Hunter Bidens lawyers also argued that the case cant move forward because there are fatal legal problems with how the special counsel was appointed. Similar arguments were raised during special counsel Robert Muellers probe into then-President Donald Trump, and they were rejected.

Claims of right-wing bias

Hunter Bidens attorneys also argued that he is being unfairly prosecuted for political reasons and accused Weiss of caving to Republican pressure.

His attorneys said the bias started with Trump, who was in office when the probe began in 2018, and continues with congressional Republicans, who are now weaponizing the case to defeat his father in the 2024 election.

Mr. Trump is ground zero for improper motive, his attorneys wrote. During his term in office, President Trump incessantly called in demagogue-like fashion on DOJ, the media, the public, and even foreign governments to target and investigate Mr. Biden.

They argued that Trump, extremist House Republicans and top far-right media figures made it clear that they wanted Mr. Weiss to keep this litigation alive through the presidential election (regardless of merit) and for him to bring more serious charges as a foil for the investigations and prosecutions of former President Trump.

In their view, Weiss buckled under political pressure, abandoned the plea deal that his own office had proposed just a few months earlier and decided to file two indictments.

In previous court filings, Weiss pushed back against this theory, saying Hunter Bidens arguments fail to identify any actual evidence of bias, vindictiveness, or discriminatory intent and ignore an inconvenient truth  that he wasnt charged with any crimes when Trump was president, undermining his claims of political prosecution.

Hunter Bidens team also publicly disclosed an email that disputes the explosive claim from House Republicans and Internal Revenue Service whistleblowers that Democratic appointees at the Justice Department stymied Weiss charging decisions in the criminal probe.

A Justice Department official, Brad Weinsheimer, told Hunter Bidens lawyers in May that, As the Attorney General has stated, U.S. Attorney Weiss has full authority to bring charges in any jurisdiction as he deems appropriate, according to court filings.

This is contrary to the congressional testimony of the IRS agents, who said they believed Weiss lacked those authorities and was blocked by Joe Biden-appointed US attorneys from bringing charges in California and Washington, DC.

Second Amendment case

The viability of the gun possession charge is already in question. A federal appeals court previously struck down the law, which says illegal drug users cant own firearms.

That ruling in August only applies to Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi  but it puts the statute on shaky ground and could tee up the Supreme Court to invalidate it nationwide.

The New Orleans-based appeals court based its unanimous decision on a landmark June 2022 Supreme Court case that expanded the reach of the Second Amendment.

Persons protected by the Second Amendment can no longer be denied gun ownership due simply to past drug use  a practice inconsistent with this nations historical tradition on firearm regulation, Hunter Bidens lawyers wrote in a court filing on Monday.

They argued that its inevitable the Supreme Court will invalidate the law, and that the false-statement charges are also improper because theyre based on the same theory.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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Maria Sofia Valim

The influencer community has lost one of its rising stars.

On Saturday, Dec. 9, the father of Maria Sofia Valim, a 19-year-old influencer from Brazil, confirmed that the young Internet personality had died.

Vitor Valim, who serves as mayor of Caucaia, wrote of his late daughter, "It is with the deepest pain and sadness that I inform everyone of the passing of my beloved daughter Sofia."

He continued in the translated statement, "Unfortunately, her body did not survive. I thank everyone for the prayers and affection dedicated to me and my family in this moment of extreme suffering."

Vitor went on to ask "for everyone's understanding at this time of so much pain, adding, Wake and burial ceremonies will be limited to family only.

News of Maria Sofia's death comes after she previously underwent an emergency liver transplant. Just last week, Vitor told his followers that his daughter "was able to find a donor due to the urgency of her case."

He added at the time, "The next 48 hours will still be observation so that we can know if Sofias body will accept the new organ.

Amid news of Maria Sofia's passing, many have expressed their condolences on social media. One follower commented, "May God give you strength and protect you, we will be together in prayers."

Another chimed in, "We will be together with you my mayor @vitorvalimtv! May God comfort your heart ."

A third added, "May your daughter be in a good place next to the Father, and may you attain peace in the face of this terrible pain."

Next: Remembering the Stars and Legends We've Lost In 2023
Mexican Americans and other Latinos across the country have been lighting candles, offering flowers and praying the rosary; in Illinois, thousands have made their famous annual pilgrimage to mark Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico and the Americas.

The feast day on Dec. 12 marks the miracle that took place almost 500 years ago, according to the Catholic Church, when the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared several times to an Indigenous peasant near present-day Mexico City  and as proof left her life-size image marked on a cloak.

But in New York, Our Lady of Guadalupe is also the namesake of the city's oldest Spanish-speaking Catholic congregation, whose founding 121 years ago and its subsequent generations of worshipers are a window into the history of the city's Hispanic and Latino residents.

Some New Yorkers are fighting to keep the churchs original building  with a distinctive Spanish Baroque facade located in two former brownstone mansions  from being altered or destroyed, as it's one of the last remnants of the once-bustling community known as Little Spain.

Our Lady of Guadalupe was founded in 1902 as the first church for a Spanish-speaking congregation in New York City.

To the left of the original building's three-story entrance is a worn plaque that says in the first half in Spanish, "Iglesia Catolica para los de la Lengua Espanola," which loosely translates to "Catholic Church for those of the Spanish language." In the lower half in English, it says Roman Catholic Church Spanish-American.

spanish-american church roman catholic religion religious (Arturo Conde)

Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Spanish Benevolent Society  the oldest Spanish immigrant club in New York, popularly referred to as La Nacional (The National)  had been the focal points of a thriving enclave of Spaniards during the 1920s through the 1940s, when their population almost doubled in the city, from 14,659 to 25,283, according to "Hispanic New York: A Sourcebook."

The name of Our Lady of Guadalupe actually comes from Spain  and the original church on 14th Street was in a neighborhood full of Spaniards, said Monsignor Kevin J. Nelan, who served the parish from 2002 to 2010. But towards the end of the century, as more Mexicans started to come to New York, they were naturally attracted to the church by the name.

The church was largely made up of Spaniards, Puerto Ricans and other Spanish speakers, such as Cubans, in addition to Mexicans.

When it comes to cultural significance, said Roberto Sanfiz  the executive director of the Spanish Benevolent Society Our Lady of Guadalupe is key to understanding how different Spanish speakers in New York came together to forge an early Hispanic community.

The use of the name Guadalupe was specifically chosen to attract many different Spanish speakers in the city, not just Spaniards, Sanfiz said. Even though there is a Guadalupe in Spain, it was meant to tie in with the famous Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico.

Sanfiz said early Latino food companies like Cafe Bustelo and Goya Foods, which were founded in the 1920s and the 1930s by Spanish immigrants, also shared a similar goal of connecting other Spanish-speaking Americans beyond those who immigrated from Spain.

In addition, Sanfiz said, ownership of the current brownstone home of La Nacional, which is three doors west of the chapel, was transferred to Spanish-language newspaper publisher Jose Camprubi in 1924. Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Camprubi purchased New Yorks oldest Spanish-language newspaper, La Prensa (which today is part of El Diario), as he called on all Spanish speakers in North America, South America and Spain to work together as a community.

A growing Mexican congregation, a new home

The church's location in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan also meant it was a place of worship for other famous New Yorkers, including Beat poet and author Jack Kerouac and social activist and journalist Dorothy Day.

About a century after the church's beginnings, the old chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe, on 14th Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues, was too small to house the city's fast-growing Mexican community, according to Nelan, with many having to congregate during services on the street.

Nelan estimates that 1,500 people congregated on Sundays, but the chapel could fit only a maximum of 200.

So, in September 2003, the Guadalupe parish merged with St. Bernard, which had a significantly larger church one avenue west from the chapel  and became Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Bernard. The numbers of parishioners at St. Bernards had declined dramatically, especially the non-Hispanic population  and the Puerto Rican population was also aging out," Nelan said. "So it was really a perfect fit."

Nelan remembers hundreds of people the night before the Guadalupe feast day after the merger. He said that had been happening at the old chapel since the 1990s as the city's Mexican population grew. As a result of the patron saints popularity, other churches in New York neighborhoods where Mexicans were settling in started to use the devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe to draw people to their parishes.

'Like a mother to us all'

But as Mexican devotees in New York look to their patron saint, other New York City Spanish speakers remember the chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe as an emblem of their faith and identity for multiple generations.

During World War II, my father only had three days furlough to get married. So my parents got married at Our Lady of Guadalupe and had their reception at La Nacional, said Estrella Diaz, a Eucharistic minister at another Catholic parish in Staten Island, whose family comes from Galicia, in Spain.

marriage Spanish American spanish speakers catholic (Courtesy Estrella Diaz)

Diaz was also baptized at Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1955. And she remembers walking up to 14th Street to visit the chapel when she lived in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Guadalupe was part of the Spanish community, like La Nacional or Casa Moneo, a store on 14th Street that sold authentic foods from Spain, Diaz recalled. "Any time we were on 14th Street, wed stop in to light a candle and say a prayer.

Similarly, Puerto Ricans  who became the biggest Latino group in New York  also found a home in Our Lady of Guadalupe.

In his memoir, Bernardo Vega, a Puerto Rican journalist and author, noted the founding of the church in what was at that time the heart of the Latin community.

But while Vega also lamented that the church could not change the negative way many Puerto Ricans were marginalized in the city, other Puerto Ricans found acceptance through the church and their faith.

I first went to the old capilla [chapel] of Guadalupe 45 years ago," said Giselle Leon, whose family is originally from Ponce, Puerto Rico, and still lives in the neighborhood. "Both of my children were baptized there. I was going through a tough time in 1978. So I went to the capilla to pray and pray. And I havent stopped going since.

Leon works at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Bernards on weekends. She remembers when there were still many Spaniards in the neighborhood and later when big groups of Mexicans started attending Mass at the old chapel.

Leon sees the saint as a protector who holds all of them together in one community.

To me, Guadalupe is like a mother for all of us. She intercedes for us. She protects us. She is the patroness of all Latinos. Not just Mexicans, but all Spanish speakers, she said.

Trying to preserve history

Advocates have been pressing the city to protect Our Lady of Guadalupe's original building with landmark status. The Archdiocese of New York deconsecrated the chapel in January, which would allow the building to be sold in a real estate deal and potentially altered or torn down.

In a letter dated Aug. 3, the Landmarks Preservation Committee said the chapel is more altered and less architecturally significant compared to other churches in the city.

The letter also said the parish served other communities in various languages. Therefore, the old chapel does not appear to possess a strong enough association with a specific community to merit consideration for landmark status based on its cultural significance alone.

For Andrew Berman, the executive director of Village Preservation  a nonprofit group that helped get landmark status for roughly 1,250 buildings in Manhattan  the commissions response is extremely disappointing.

There are less than a handful of buildings in all of New York City that are landmarked because of their connection to Hispanic history. And this churchs historic significance is frankly undeniable, he said. Hispanic New Yorkers make up about 30% of the citys population. And if they were their own city, they would be the fourth-largest city in the United States.

In recent years, Berman said, the commission has designated buildings that have been altered more radically than the chapel. As examples, he referred to the famous Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, an important part of LGBTQ history, as well as the Louis Armstrong House in Corona, Queens.

The changes for the Guadalupe church are relatively cosmetic  and, in some cases, consistent with different generations of the Spanish-speaking community, Berman said. That reddish stucco reinforces the Hispanic history of the building.

'An emblem of our identity'

UCLA professor Charlene Villasenor Black, a Mexican American art history expert in the iconography of Catholic saints, said that while Our Lady of Guadalupe is a symbol of religious and ethnic identity for many Mexicans, the Guadalupe name comes from another saint in Extremadura  a western Spanish region that borders Portugal.

Devotees described Our Lady of Guadalupe as a dark-skinned woman with long, straight black hair who spoke in Nahuatl  the language of the Aztec and Toltec civilizations in Mexico. And the Catholic Church, Villasenor Black said, promoted the miracle of the Virgin of Guadalupe to help foster conversion to Catholicism in the 16th century.

Over time, the Virgin of Guadalupe has evolved to become the emblem of social and political movements.

Cesar Chavez took her on as a symbol of the United Farm Workers. Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa both took her on as a symbol of the Mexican Revolution, Villasenor Black said. And Father Miguel Hidalgo, who led the fight for Mexicos independence in 1810, also took Guadalupe as a symbol for this political struggle.

In the U.S., according to Villasenor Black, Our Lady of Guadalupe holds another significance for Latinos.

I think she is a symbol of resistance to assimilation," she said. "Thats why shes so prominent in the barrios, our neighborhoods. You see her on walls as an emblem of our identity."

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Israel pressed ahead Tuesday with an offensive against Gazas Hamas rulers that it says could go on for weeks or months. Ahead of a non-binding vote at the United Nations later Tuesday, Israel and the United States faced global calls for a cease-fire in Gaza.

More than 17,700 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory. About 90% of Gazas 2.3 million people have been displaced within the besieged territory, where United Nations agencies say there is no safe place to flee. With only a trickle of humanitarian aid reaching a small portion of Gaza, residents face severe shortages of food, water and other basic goods.

Israel says 97 of its soldiers have died in its ground offensive after Hamas raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 240 hostages. Qatar, which has played a key mediating role, says efforts to stop the war and have all hostages released will continue, but a willingness to discuss a cease-fire is fading.

Currently:

 A missile strikes a Norwegian-flagged tanker in Red Sea off Yemen in apparent expansion of rebel attacks.

 Palestinians hope a vote in the U.N. General Assembly will show wide support for a Gaza cease-fire.

 Iraq scrambles to contain fighting between U.S. troops and Iran-backed groups, fearing Gaza spillover.

 Biden vows to keep standing with Israel and calls the surge of antisemitism around the globe sickening.

 Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Heres whats happening in the war:

ISRAELI FORCES HAVE STORMED A HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN GAZA, HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS

CAIRO  A spokesman for Gazas Health Ministry says Israeli forces have stormed a hospital in northern Gaza.

Ashraf al-Qidra said the troops forced all the men in Kamal Adwan Hospital, including medics, to gather in the courtyard after entering the facility on Tuesday. He called on the U.N. and the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. The army says it is rounding up men in northern Gaza as it searches for Hamas fighters. Photos and video circulated online show detainees stripped to their underwear, bound and blindfolded. Some who have been released say they were beaten and denied food and water.

The U.N. humanitarian office says the hospital has 65 patients, including 12 children in intensive care and six newborns in incubators. Some 3,000 displaced people are sheltering there, all awaiting evacuation because of severe shortages of food, water and electricity.

Most of the population of northern Gaza fled weeks ago when Israel ordered a full evacuation. Ground troops invaded in late October after a blistering three-week air campaign. Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields.

Tens of thousands of people remain in the north, where they have been almost entirely cut off from humanitarian aid for weeks. The health system in the north has largely collapsed.

A SURGEON IS SHOT FROM OUTSIDE A NORTH GAZA HOSPITAL, DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS SAYS

CAIRO  A surgeon was wounded after being shot from outside a hospital in northern Gaza that is surrounded by Israeli forces, Doctors Without Borders said. The aid group said the shooting occurred Monday at Al-Awda Hospital, and that five hospital staff at Al-Awda Hospital, including two of its own doctors, have been killed while caring for patients since the start of the war.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have remained in northern Gaza, even after Israel's evacuation orders and as airstrikes have leveled entire neighborhoods. Very little humanitarian aid has been allowed into northern Gaza, and the health system has all but collapsed.

The United Nations humanitarian office, known as OCHA, said a convoy delivering medical supplies to the north for the first time in more than a week came under fire on the way to another hospital over the weekend.

The convoy evacuated 19 patients but was delayed for inspections by Israeli forces on the way south. OCHA said one patient died and a paramedic was detained for hours.

A HOUTHI MISSILE HITS A TANKER NEAR YEMEN

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  A missile suspected fired by Yemens Houthi rebels slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen, a key maritime chokepoint, authorities said Tuesday.

The assault on the oil and chemical tanker, Strinda, expands a campaign by the Iranian-backed rebels targeting ships near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait by striking a ship that has no clear ties to Israel. That potentially imperils cargo and energy shipments coming through the Suez Canal and further widen the international impact of the Israel-Hamas war now raging in the Gaza Strip.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree issued a video statement claiming the rebels only fired on the vessel when it rejected all warning calls.

The Strinda was coming from Malaysia and was bound for the Suez Canal onward to Italy with its cargo of palm oil, Belsnes said. Saree alleged without offering any evidence the ship was bound for Israel.

All crew members are unhurt and safe, said Geir Belsnes, the CEO of the Strindas operator J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi. The vessel is now proceeding to a safe port.
BROCKTON  Seamoss, fresh coconut water, and eating fried fish sandwiches under a palm tree by the ocean is a way of life in Trinidad, and one entrepreneur wants to bring her heritage to America through her business, Fruit Fetish Seamoss.

You may have heard the unglamorous side of seamoss, that it smells and tastes like fishy ocean water, or you may have seen videos of content creators gagging at the taste of it on TikTok, but Laurelee Monteiro is on a mission to change this stereotype.

The Brockton resident decided to experiment and make a fruit-infused seamoss derived from Jamaica.

Fruit Fetish Seamoss owner Laurelee Monteiro prepares a fresh new jar of seamoss cinnamon and honey for a customer.

What is seamoss?

Seamoss, or Irish moss, is a seaweed found in the ocean. Its gluten-free and vegan, with many nutrients, including vitamin B2, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.

The entrepreneur was suffering from constant dizziness and low Iron. Doctors put her on iron supplements, but it caused other side effects.

How did Fruit Fetish Seamoss start?

Monteiro sought an alternative, perhaps a homeopathic way to heal herself. She thought of the natural remedies shed grown up with in Trinidad. She remembered the properties natural seamoss contains, including 92 out of 102 essential vitamins and minerals the body needs to function correctly.

Fruit Fetish owner Lauralee Monteiro adds organic cinnamon to her seamoss mix before blending.

But there was a problem. Monteiro hated the way natural seamoss tasted, but she knew it would benefit her in the long run, so she ran to Google and researched ways to enhance the flavor without disrupting its superfood goodness.

I wanted to incorporate seamoss into my daily lifestyle, so I learned how to infuse it with organic fruits and herbs, which gave it a good taste. I have 12 flavors; the most popular are passion fruit and turmeric. I take two tablespoons of seamoss daily, and my immune system is better, Im not dizzy anymore, and my iron is back to normal, Monteiro said.

The base for Fruit Fetish's products, seamoss, is a form of algae, which contains 92 of the 102 most essential minerals, according to the Fruit Fetish owner Lauralee Monteiro.

Seamoss makes the entrepreneur feel amazing with a boost of newfound energy, which is much needed since shes a new mother of a 1-year-old who keeps her up at night.

Monteiro recently quit her corporate job at Bank of America and is pursuing this business full-time with the full support of her husband.

Fruit Fetish Seamoss flavor menu in Randolph

She offers seamoss in 12 flavors, including soursop, dragon fruit lemonade, blue spirulina, pineapple, elderberry, and hibiscus. The business also sells facemasks and hair oil infused with seamoss extract.

Some samples of the various seamoss offered by Lauralee Monteiro's Fruit Fetish; strawberry guava, blue spirulina, and mango.

The love of fruit, hence the name fruit fetish, came from Monteiros desire to eat fruits, from pineapples to mangos, every day in Trinidad. She likes them all.

Eating fresh fruit and watching the waves crash onto the shore was a way to pass the time on Sundays.

Monteiro visited the beach every Sunday as a reset ritual to reconnect with nature and enjoy the beautiful earth God created, she said.

Other seamoss-based products are available, such as turmeric seamoss facemask, which is designed to brighten skin, slow wrinkles, clear dark spots and blemishes.

You can find the products at the American Food Basket located at 300 N Main St., Randolph, or buy them online by visiting www.lazavibeauty.com.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton woman opens Fruit Fetish Seamoss in Randolph
In an rare move, Miami federal prosecutors have dropped a criminal case against a Uruguayan banker who was accused of helping politically connected businessmen launder $1.2 billion that authorities say was fleeced from Venezuelas state-owned oil company and later invested in Europe and South Florida.

Marcelo Federico Gutierrez Acosta y Lara was accused with other defendants in 2018 of conspiring to commit money laundering by moving the proceeds of massive loans to Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) through a lucrative currency exchange system to Malta, Switzerland and Miami during Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros administration.

Gutierrez was one of 12 defendants charged in the high-profile case in which prosecutors allege the Venezuelan ring paid millions of dollars in bribes to PDVSA officials to make highly profitable loans to the national oil company. The loans were made in bolivars and the payments in dollars and euros, while being washed through the Venezuelan governments favorable currency exchange system to magnify the profits.

So far, five defendants, including three PDVSA officials, a Venezuelan banker and a Miami money manager, have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison; six other defendants, including the Venezuelan ringleader, are at large or face trial.

It is not clear why federal prosecutors dropped the conspiracy charge against Gutierrez, the 12th defendant. The governments order of dismissal, signed by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams last month, offers no explanation. On Monday, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Miami declined to comment.

Took too long to free banker, his lawyer says

Gutierrezs defense attorney, Bruce Udolf, a former longtime federal prosecutor in South Florida, said his client should never have been included in the original indictment or initial criminal complaint because he played no part in the alleged Venezuelan money laundering racket.

Im glad they finally did the right thing, but its a shame it took so long, Udolf told the Miami Herald on Friday, adding that Justice Department inertia and a rotation of case prosecutors contributed to the delay.

This took five years of my clients life, including negotiations with federal prosecutors in South America.

Prosecutors initially alleged Gutierrez agreed to launder some of the tainted Venezuelan loan proceeds though the Puerto Rico-based Vestin Bank International, where he had been a former director. But the transfer never occurred.

According to the criminal complaint, the conspiracy charge against Gutierrez was based on conversations that the banker allegedly had in 2017 meetings with a federal confidential informant who was posing as a representative of a potential client looking to launder money through Vestin Bank.

According to the complaint, the transactions never occurred because the client, a PDVSA official who later pleaded guilty in the case, decided against transferring money through the United States.

But Udolf said that official account was inaccurate. Rather, he said Vestin Bank refused to do the transfer for the PDVSA official, Abraham Edgardo Ortega, after discovering problems with the funds from the Venezuelan government.

Vestin has since been acquired by Standard International Bank and Gutierrez has not been a shareholder since August 2018, Standard said in a statement, adding that it had no links to Vestins prior business, no ties to Venezuela and no plans to enter the Venezuelan market.

Udolf also noted that certain facts from the complaint actually exonerated Gutierrez, pointing that a Miami investment broker who later pleaded guilty in the case told the federal informant that Gutierrez did not know about a kickback scheme involving the PDVSA official when he was asked to launder money through Vestin.

No, no, I havent told him anything at all, I mean, zero, zero, zero, the investment broker, Gustavo Adolfo Hernandez Frieri, told the informant, according to the complaint.

Sham loans to Venezuelan oil company

The cases main money-laundering scheme unfolded in late 2014 with a sham loan to PDVSA that was repaid through the governments bolivar-dollar exchange system, siphoning $600 million from the state-owned oil companys coffers, according to the indictment and other court documents. That money was moved offshore to bank accounts in Switzerland and Malta, though the network of co-conspirators used an associate based in Miami to launder a portion of the PDVSA funds in the United States.

By 2015, the conspiracy had doubled to $1.2 billion embezzled from Venezuelas national oil company, the indictment says. Meanwhile, an associate became a key informant for U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, including recording conversations in undercover meetings with some of the co-conspirators.

The HSI informant has not been charged in the Miami case. The accused ringleader is Venezuelan Francisco Convit Guruceaga, who allegedly collaborated with other influential business people to exploit the oil-rich administrations of the late President Hugo Chavez and his successor, Maduro, who is also a suspect in the case.

While Convit and other co-conspirators remain at large, five defendants have cooperated with U.S. authorities and pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges.

In July 2023, a former PDVSA general counsel was sentenced to three years after admitting that he accepted more than $11 million in bribes for his supporting role. Alvaro Ledo Nass, a lawyer who also served as secretary of PDVSAs board of directors, was ordered to pay back the bribery money to the U.S. government as part of his punishment imposed by the judge. He was also fined $7,500.

The judge called the foreign corruption conspiracy a cancer that acts like a virus.

Last year, another top lawyer of Venezuelas oil ministry was sentenced to more than four years in prison. Carmelo Urdaneta Aqui, the former legal counsel for Venezuelas Ministry of Oil and Mining, was convicted of accepting tens of millions of dollars in bribes and investing some of his illicit payments in a Sunny Isles Beach high-rise condo and other real estate in the Miami area.

Williams, the judge, approved the feds seizure of $49 million worth of assets, including his luxury condo in the Porsche Design Tower in Sunny Isles Beach, two apartments in Miami Beach and a Swiss bank account.

Previously, federal prosecutors and Homeland Security Investigations froze hundreds of millions of dollars in bank and real estate assets belonging to the dozen defendants. The first was Venezuelan banker Matthias Krull, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder some of the PDVSA money secreted away in European bank accounts.

Krull paid $600,000 forfeiture judgment and served one year and three months because of his extensive assistance to federal prosecutors.

In 2021, Ortega, the former executive director of financial planning at PDVSA, was sentenced to two years and four months after he admitted accepting more than $12 million in bribes that were secretly wired to U.S. and other financial institutions. Ortega also cooperated with prosecutors.

Ortega, who served as PDVSAs top financial officer from 2014 to 2016, admitted that he conspired with the leader of the money-laundering ring, Guruceaga. Ortega also said he collaborated with the Miami-based investment broker, Hernandez.

Hernandez pleaded guilty to accepting $12 million from Ortega to invest in fake mutual funds in the United States so that the transactions looked legitimate, prosecutors said. Hernandez was sentenced to nearly four years.
The Adelson family matriarch who is accused of plotting the murder of her former son-in-law put on a show in court as she shook her head and shrieked Oh my God when claims were made about her alleged plot to kill herself.

Donna Adelson, 73, appeared in a Leon County, Florida courtroom for her arraignment on Monday in the 2014 shooting death of FSU law professor Dan Markel.

Her jaw dropped when a jail official explained to the judge that she was in solitary confinement because she allegedly made comments that she wanted to die and also made suicidal statements on jailhouse calls.

Ms Adelson shook her head several times and smirked at the jail officials comments before Judge Stephen Everett decided he had enough of Adelsons commentary.

Ms. Adelson, please keep your comments to yourself, Judge Everett said. Let your lawyer [Marissel Descalzo] argue on your behalf.

Ms Adelson was arrested in November at Miami International Airport one week after her son Charlie Adelson was convicted for his role as the mastermind behind Markels murder.

On Tuesday, a disheveled Charlie Adelson appeared in court where he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder. Leon Circuit Judge Stephen Everett also sentenced him to 30 years on the conspiracy and solicitation charges, to be served consecutively.

Donna Adelson, 73, was arrested in November for the 2014 death of FSU law professor Dan Markel (Law&Crime)

When given the opportunity to speak, the 47-year-old dentist gave a short statement, telling the court: I just want to say I maintain my innocence.

Prior to the sentencing, Dan Markels father Phil Markel, gave a heart-wrenching victim impact statement via Zoom, where he recalled the joy he felt during the birth of his son, and then recounted Markels many academic achievements.

I miss my son with all my heart, he said. Losing a son or daughter is something one should have to go through.

Mr Markel then explained that Charlie Adelson in particular, was a major cause of our heartbreak in the murder of his son and the loss of our two grandsons.

He noted that he and his wife have only had limited contact with their grandsons over the years, which he called incredibly painful, and said they have no idea what the kids have been told about their dads murder and believes they were brainwashed. He added that the kids last names were changed from Markel to Adelson.

The wheels of justice turn very very slowly but right now were grateful that theyre still turning, he said.

It is satisfying to see justice being done, and it would be appropriate to ask for the maximum sentence for the perpetrators of Dannys murder, he added. Thank you, today is a good day.

Charlie Adelson was sentenced on Tuesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole

Jailhouse calls emerged in recent weeks that involved Ms Adelson telling her son that she was getting things in order, creating trusts, and making sure her grandchildren are taken care of.

Donna discusses plans for a suicide, but also discusses plans to flee to a non-extradition country, according to the affidavit.

Donna Sue Adelson has considerable financial resources to accomplish this, the affidavit continued. On Nov. 7, 2023, Donna and Harvey Adelson booked flights to Vietnam with a stop in Dubai.

Ms Adelson has been in jail for just over two weeks but claims she has been subjected to cruel and inhumane conditions at the facility and she wants out, preferably in time for Christmas.

Her attorney Marissel Descalz filed a motion last week requesting that Ms Adelson be moved from solitary confinement into the general population at Leon County Detention Facility or be placed on house arrest.

Ms Descalz wrote in the motion that some jail staff have treated her with cruelty, including denying her blood pressure medication and preventing her from showering for days at a time and has been allowed to call her husband, Harvey Adelson, only once.

The judge denied the request to be moved from solitary to house arrest and set her next court date for 9 January.

Ruth and Phil Markel listen as Charlie Adelson is cross examined by Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman last month

Ms Adelson was arrested on 13 November at Miami International Airport as she and her husband were attempting to board a flight with one-way tickets to Vietnam. She was apprehended and then transported to Tallahassee where she was booked on 20 November.

The matriarch was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation in the murder-for-hire killing of Dan Markel.

She is the fourth person to be arrested  the latest twist in the 2014 killing that was arranged by Charlie Adelsons former girlfriend, Katie Magbanua, who hired her ex-husband Sigfredo Tuto Garcia and his friend Latin Kings leader Luis Rivera to carry out the murder.

Magbanua and Garcia are serving life sentences and Rivera is serving a 19-year sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and testifying against the others.

Prosecutors argue that the Adelsons conspired to get rid of Markel after a bitter custody dispute between Markel and his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, Donnas daughter.

Wendi, who has denied involvement with the murder and testified under immunity at several trials, has not been charged. Neither has her father, Harvey Adelson.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Moments after a Nebraska priest called 911 to report that a man was standing in his kitchen with a knife, a dispatcher on the line heard screaming and a struggle. A deputy arriving a few minutes later heard the priest shout, Help me, before he found the man lying near the kitchen, bleeding profusely, according to murder charges filed Tuesday.

Nebraska prosecutors charged Kierre L. Williams, 43, with first-degree murder, burglary and two weapons counts in the stabbing of the Rev. Stephen Gutgsell, a priest at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun. Authorities said Gutgsell was attacked during a break-in at the church rectory, a crime that rocked the small town just north of Omaha.

An affidavit filed along with the charges details what deputies found when they arrived at the rectory, which is a home next to the church.

The documents did not detail any motive for the attack except to say the killing happened during a burglary. There is no mention of any prior connection between Williams and the 65-year-old priest.

After Gutgsell called 911 around 5 a.m. Sunday to report that a man was standing in his kitchen with a knife, the operator heard a struggle and screaming over the phone, according to the affidavit.

Washington County Deputy Brady Tucker said in the affidavit that the front door had been forced open when he arrived at the house. After he identified himself, he heard a man call out, Im here from the direction of the kitchen and Help me. When the deputy asked who else was in the home the voice said an intruder.

Court documents say Gutgsell was bleeding profusely from wounds on his face, hands and back when he was found lying in his kitchen with Williams sprawled on top of him. Williams was perpendicular to Gutgsell, with his back on top of the priest's chest.

The bloody knife used in the attack was found later in a bedroom next to a large pool of blood. Court documents did not explain how the struggle unfolded.

The rectory where Gutsgell lived is a one-story home with a two-car garage. It is newer but smaller than most of the homes in the neighborhood surrounding the church, which bears a cornerstone saying it was built in 1982.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office said Williams is from Sioux City, Iowa, which is about 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of Fort Calhoun, a town of about 1,000 residents.

Tucker said in his affidavit that he learned Williams was a felon with multiple warrants. Public records show Williams has been convicted of crimes in multiple states, including a drug possession case in Texas and more than a dozen cases in Florida dating back to his teens. He was recently charged with misdemeanor assault in a July soup kitchen fight in Sioux City, Iowa. He was homeless at the time of the fight, court records show.

Williams does not have a lawyer yet in Nebraska and will make his initial court appearance Thursday. His public defender in the Iowa assault case said he did not know anything about the Nebraska case and hung up on an Associated Press reporter Tuesday.

Gutgsell's stabbing is the second killing in Fort Calhoun this year, unnerving residents of the normally tranquil town. Both killings happened during break-ins where there was no clear connection between the intruders and the victims, making them all the more troubling.

It shouldnt happen in a small town like this, bar owner Andy Faucher said Monday as people gathered a few blocks from where Gutgsell was stabbed. Faucher said the fact that this latest killing involved a priest only intensifies the scariness of the situation.

___

Associated Press writer Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas, contributed to this report.
Highland has joined several other Illinois municipalities in attempting to exempt itself from a new law requiring five vacation days per year for all employees.

The Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act requires employers to provide five paid days off per year that can be used for any reason, such as sick children or car breakdowns or other needs. Employers may require notice, but cannot deny the leave.

Union leaders cheered the law, along with business interests such as the Illinois Manufacturers Association and Illinois Retail Merchants Association.

However, the Illinois Municipal League wrote a sample ordinance for municipalities such as cities and villages to exempt themselves. It states that providing five days of leave will negatively impact local governments, as it also includes part-time workers.

The city council voted unanimously Monday to define its leave policies with the current leave offered to full-time and part-time employees who are not represented by a union. City Manager Chris Conrad said that everyone was earning at least a week of vacation time a year, as well as 104 hours of sick time a year.

So we were pretty much doing more than what the law required before, he said. (Its) not a major change for us.

So why try to exempt the city from the law if it was already in compliance? Conrad said Highland has a volunteer fire department and a number of seasonal workers. The paid leave law exempts fire protection districts, parks and some others as it pertains to seasonal workers and firefighters, he said, but did not exempt municipalities that have those same employees.

Highland is a bit of an anomaly in that we have all these services under the city umbrella rather than through a park district or a fire protection district, Conrad said. This is just one of those quirks when you try to write a one-size-fits-all law. I would venture a guess that most state legislators are probably not familiar with or have seen a lot of communities organized like we are, which is why they took into consideration the park districts, (fire protection districts), etc. but forgot about the municipalities.

Conrad said the guidance from the Illinois Municipal League was that municipalities should take some affirmative action to exempt themselves, and created the sample ordinance under consideration by several metro-east communities. Godfrey and Glen Carbon, among others, are voting or have voted on a similar ordinance in the past few weeks.

The law takes effect Jan. 1.
(Photo : Unsplash/BoliviaInteligente )

During his inaugural trip to Southeast Asia, NVIDIA's CEO, Jensen Huang, expressed that Vietnam is considered the company's home. He confirmed the company's intention to establish a center in the country, emphasizing its purpose as a hub to attract global talent to advance Vietnam's semiconductor industry and digitalization, as reported by Vietnamese media.

The Chipmaker's Team-Up with Vietnam

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang envisions Vietnam as a potential secondary home for the graphics processing and artificial intelligence (AI) chip leader. There are plans to establish a base in the country. Speaking at an event in Hanoi on Monday, Huang announced plans to strengthen partnerships with various Vietnamese companies, including Viettel, FPT, Vingroup, and VNG, and expressed interest in establishing a second NVIDIA base in Vietnam.

Having invested $250 million in Vietnam, NVIDIA is scheduled to discuss semiconductor collaboration agreements with Vietnamese tech companies and authorities in a meeting on Monday, as reported by Reuters on Friday.

The chipmaker has partnered with Vietnam's top tech firms to implement AI in cloud computing, automotive, and healthcare industries. This information was revealed in a September document published by the White House when diplomatic relations between Washington and Vietnam were strengthened.

NVIDIA's commitment to expanding in Vietnam could enhance its supply chain diversification, which aligns with the U.S. government's interest in strengthening diplomatic ties with Vietnam amid U.S.-China tensions. Despite NVIDIA shares initially declining by 1.7% on Monday, they have significantly increased in value, more than tripling so far this year.

China Tensions

Vietnam, housing major chip assembly factories, including Intel's most significant globally, aims to broaden its presence in chip design and potentially chip manufacturing, as trade tensions between the United States and China are creating opportunities for other countries in the region. Last week, during a meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Huang mentioned NVIDIA's goal to establish a network of AI chip plants in Japan.

READ ALSO: X to Start Hiring Japan Engineers in 2024, Aims to Foster Strategic Partnership with Its Second-largest Market

NVIDIA Plans for 2024

Apart from their current collaboration, the company has hinted at its upcoming plans. In a report on November 7, the company announced the launch of its RTX 4070 Super and RTX 4080 Super GPUs in 2024. This information was also supported by hardware leaker Kopite7kimi, which is known for providing trustworthy NVIDIA hardware information.

Kopite7kimi mentioned that the introduction of the RTX 40 series Super cards is expected at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2024. Although the company is not formally registered as a CES exhibitor, it often uses conference rooms for press briefings and displays of its latest gaming technology.

Leakers in the hardware community have been slowly sharing details about the RTX 4080 and RTX 4070 Super cards. There are indications that the RTX 4080 Super may come with 20GB of VRAM. Additionally, a larger memory bus is expected for both RTX 40-series Super GPUs compared to the current 4080/4070 cards.

The RTX 4080 Super is expected to have a 320-bit memory bus, and the RTX 4070 Super might come with a 256-bit memory bus. It's crucial to recognize that these details are still based on rumors until officially confirmed by NVIDIA.

RELATED ARTICLE: Companies Invest Millions for AI Workforce Integration, Anticipating Extended ROI Beyond A Year

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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Forget the national polls that show the country has soured on President Joe Biden, and consider the Electoral College with less than 11 months until Election Day 2024.

Former President Donald Trump would need to flip three states Biden won in 2020 to complete his political resurrection and retake the White House  and a new set of CNN battleground state polls out Monday suggests that if the election were held today, Trump is most of the way there.

Biden, like Hillary Clinton, got millions more votes nationwide than Trump, but Biden secured the White House in 2020 thanks to the thinnest of margins in a few key states Clinton lost in 2016.

Georgia plus Michigan plus one more = a Trump win

While national polling suggests the country doesnt much approve of either Biden or Trump, it is battleground state polls like the ones CNN released Monday from Michigan and Georgia that should raise serious questions about Bidens ability to make the Electoral College math work.

Assuming Trump secures the Republican nomination (a pretty good assumption at the moment), if he can flip Georgia and Michigan and their 31 combined Electoral College votes, he would need to flip just one more battleground state that Biden won in 2020. These include Arizona, with its 11 Electoral College votes; Pennsylvania with 19; or Wisconsin with 10.

A lot can change in a year

Thats not to say Trump is a shoo-in. It will be a busy stretch of campaigning and criminal trials over the next year.

Trump faces federal and state charges for election subversion, charges for mishandling classified material, and charges in New York related to hush-money payments made on his behalf to an adult-film star who said in 2016 they had an affair. Trump denies that claim and maintains his innocence in all of the criminal matters.

Special counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the federal prosecutions of Trump, took the rare step Monday of asking the US Supreme Court to decide whether Trump has any immunity from prosecution. Bypassing appeals courts and settling the issue could help Trumps first criminal trial get underway on time in March.

But his very real legal jeopardy has yet to put him in any kind of political jeopardy.

Stronger in Iowa

His primary rivals have failed to coalesce around a single alternative to Trump. In fact, a new NBC News/ Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll suggests Trumps support is only growing in Iowa, which holds the first spot on the GOP primary calendar with its caucuses on January 15. He has the support of 51% of caucusgoers. None of his five rivals even hit 20% in the poll.

In Georgia, Trump could go on trial as soon as August for 2020 election interference  among other things, he asked local officials to find him enough votes to overcome Bidens 11,779 margin of victory in that state. Although Fulton County prosecutors want the trial to begin in August, it is also possible the state trial is delayed until after the election.

A conviction could change things

Most registered voters in Georgia  52%  say they approve of the charges, and a strong minority, 47%, say Trump should be disqualified from the presidency if the charges are proven.

But right now, Trump has a lead in that state among registered voters (49%) over Biden (44%) in a hypothetical matchup, according to the CNN poll conducted by SSRS. For context, when Trump won the White House in 2016, he won Georgia by less than a percentage point.

Small swings could change everything

A swing of a few hundred thousand of the nearly 5 million votes from Georgians expected to cast a ballot in 2024 is the key to the states 16 electoral votes. In 2020, Biden got 306 electoral votes to Trumps 232. Trump needs to pick up 38 more electoral votes beyond what he won the last time to reach the magic number of 270.

In Michigan, part of the blue wall Biden rebuilt in 2020, he beat Trump by 154,188 votes, a decisive improvement over 2016, when Clinton lost to Trump by just 10,704 votes.

Today, Trump is polling at 50% in CNNs Michigan poll compared with Bidens 40%. Its telling that 10% of registered Michigan voters said they wont vote for either man, but the frustration seems to be breaking against Biden at the moment in a hypothetical race for the states 15 electoral votes.

Biden has work to do

If Michigan represents the blue wall Biden rebuilt in 2020 along with narrow victories in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, Georgia is part of the diversifying Sun Belt that Democrats have long seen as their future.

Biden won there in 2020 with the support of 88% of Black voters, a key constituency in Georgia, according to CNNs exit polls.

In the Georgia poll released Monday, Biden gets the support of 71% of Black voters (vs. 24% for Trump), not an exact comparison since those figures are among all registered voters, not necessarily those who will turn out to vote in 2024. But it certainly suggests Biden has work to do to maintain Democrats diverse coalition.

Polls dont vote, but voters do, said Biden campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz, who added, our campaign is hard at work reaching and mobilizing our diverse, winning coalition of voters one year out on the choice between our winning, popular agenda and MAGA Republicans unpopular extremism.

Biden supporters are quick to point out that former President Barack Obama overcame voters doldrums in 2012 and that Democrats outperformed polling in the 2022 midterm election by only narrowly losing the House of Representatives and keeping control of the Senate.

Expect a lot more of that message as Trumps criminal trials get underway next year.

By the end of another bruising election year in which both candidates attack each other and warn that the very future of the republic is at stake, no one is likely to be inspired by the system.

Interestingly, Trumps lead in Georgia and Michigan is built on people who dont always take part in the political process.

CNNs Jennifer Agiesta and Ariel Edwards-Levy write:

Trumps margin over Biden in the hypothetical matchup is significantly boosted by support from voters who say they did not cast a ballot in 2020, with these voters breaking in Trumps favor by 26 points in Georgia and 40 points in Michigan.

Those who report having voted in 2020 say they broke for Biden over Trump in that election, but as of now, they tilt in Trumps favor for 2024 in both states, with Biden holding on to fewer of his 2020 backers than does Trump.

CNNs Arlette Saenz notes that Biden, perhaps testing material before the general election campaign gets into full swing, has slowly started to find ways to single out Trump, the leader of the GOP pack, at his events, with the most forceful pushbacks coming in off-camera fundraisers.

The greatest threat Trump poses is to our democracy, he told a donor crowd in Los Angeles over the weekend. Because if we lost that, we lose everything.

Biden is also beginning to ramp up his visits to battleground states. On Monday, he headed to Pennsylvania, another key state he won in 2020, visiting a Philadelphia firehouse to tout more than $22 million in federal grant money that will fund the salaries of 72 firefighters and allow the city to reopen three previously closed fired companies.

Thats one small event with a very targeted audience, but hes entering a campaign that could be decided by a small number of voters in specific states.

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A Utah man has been jailed for a year for filming himself torturing and crushing guinea pigs and posting the videos on YouTube.

Samuel Webster, 20, of Farmington, Utah, pleaded guilty to animal torture via crushing and posting clips of his actions online in October 2021.

According to court documents, Webster purchased four male guinea pigs from a pet supply store in Farmington, Utah before purposefully subjecting the animals to serious injury.

He posted a total of 23 videos to YouTube, including some that were allegedly titled Guinea Pig Torture and Torture is Fun, and commented on his own videos about wanting to kill and torture guinea pigs.

In one instance he hit a guinea pig and then sexually abused it, later posting the footage on YouTube and titling the video Porn.

Webster further admitted that the guinea pigs were obtained in interstate commerce for the purpose of creating and distributing YouTube videos around the world that he made of himself torturing and killing the animal.

He pleaded guilty to distribution of animal crush video and animal crushing in August.

Crushing, in this case, is defined as an animal being intentionally crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury, and is obscene.

On Tuesday Webster was sentenced to 12 months and one day behind bars with three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,500.

The animal torture committed by Mr. Webster was not only illegal but inhumane and cruel, said US Attorney Trina A Higgins of the District of Utah.

Torture of any kind to an animal is unacceptable. Our office will work with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute all crimes of this nature.

Animals deserve to be treated humanely which is why the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act was passed in 2019, said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI.

Evidence shows that intentional animal cruelty can also be a precursor to other violent crimes.

We are grateful for the publics assistance reporting this horrific abuse so law enforcement could put a stop to it and have Mr. Webster face the consequences."

The FBI Salt Lake Field Office investigated the case with valuable assistance by the Woods Cross Police Department. The United States Attorneys Office of the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
Editors Note: See highlights from CNN Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpours interview, which aired Tuesday on Amanpour, above.

London, UK (CNN)  For an artist whose work focuses so heavily on mortality, Marina Abramovics joie de vivre may come as something of a surprise.

She appeared giddy as she roamed the main galleries at Londons Royal Academy of Arts, which is hosting a major retrospective of her five-decade career. Speaking to CNNs Christiane Amanpour, the Serbian artist sometimes known as the godmother of performance art said she is hilarious in real life.

Im honestly ready to (do) stand-up comedy, she joked, explaining how her outlook was shaped by an embolism that nearly killed her earlier this year: I need to laugh.

Marina Abramovic sits on one of her artworks, "Red Dragon," during a photo call at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. - Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images

But a jovial disposition doesnt stop Abramovic from thinking about death all the time, she said while contemplating a video of herself in Nude with Skeleton, a 2002 performance in which she laid naked with a skeleton on top of her. The piece is one of four being reperformed live at the exhibition, which runs until January.

I just want to know how it feels, she remarked peacefully, referring to the transition from life to death.

Overcoming fear

Abramovic, who has just turned 77, describes her body as her tool. She has tested it in almost every way possible in the name of art, enduring vast amounts of pain and once even losing consciousness during a performance.

She told Amanpour her work is all about daring to do things that scare her and showing you can overcome the fear of pain, the fear of dying, the fear of suffering.

"Rhythm 0" (1974) by Marina Abramovic. - Marina Abramovic/Donatelli Sbarra

Her creations also encourage  demand, even  viewers to engage with them, producing fleeting, liminal moments that erode the distinction between artist and audience. For a 1974 performance piece titled Rhythm 0, Abramovic placed dozens of objects on a table in a gallery in Naples, Italy and instructed the audience to use them on her as desired.

(In) the first one or two hours nothing really happened, she said. But it soon turned violent, with people ripping off her shirt, cutting her skin and even pointing a loaded gun at her neck. She realizes now that she could have been killed.

Imponderabilia, first staged in 1977, is another exploration of the body and human relations. In its original iteration, Abramovic and her then-lover Frank Uwe Laysiepen (the late German artist known as Ulay) faced each other naked in the doorway of a museum, requiring visitors to squeeze between them to enter. The work was intended to remind viewers that without artists there would be no museums.

We wanted to be, in a very poetical way, the door of the museum, Abramovic explained.

Restaging Imponderabilia at the Royal Academy  this time with the help of two nude models  the artist agreed to offer a side door to visitors looking to bypass the experience. She considers the concession a result of restrictions facing artists today.

We had (a) radical way of doing stuff, which now, because of political correctness and so on, we are not able to do anymore, she lamented.

Abramovic and Ulays romance produced more than a decade of artistic collaborations. Their story was immortalized in their 1988 performance The Lovers, in which the couple initially planned to walk the Great Wall of China from opposite ends and get married once they met in the middle.

"Four Crosses," (2019) on show at Abramovic's new exhibition at London's Royal Academy of Arts. - Guy Bell/Shutterstock

But it took several years for Chinese authorities to approve the plan, by which time they had grown apart.

We never give up on anything, Abramovic recounted, adding that they decided to reframe their intentions for the piece: Instead of marrying, were going to say goodbye.

They walked for 90 days and documented the experience. It was incredibly emotional, the artist told Amanpour.

The artist is present

After parting ways on the Great Wall, the duo didnt see each other for more than 20 years. Their surprise reunion famously took place in 2010 at New Yorks Museum of Modern Art during Abramovics blockbuster performance, The Artist is Present, which she sat at a table for over two weeks and invited visitors to sit silently opposite her. Ulay was among more than 1,500 people to take her up on the offer.

Ulay and Marina Abramovic's emotional reunion at a performance of "The Artist is Present" at New York's Museum of Modern Art in 2010. - Will Ragozzino/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

I could see solitude; I could see pain, Abramovic said of the people who sat across from her. I could see unhappiness. I could see happiness. I could see so many different emotions. Basically, you have nowhere to escape except your true self. And I could see it and you can see yourself.

Abramovic ended a tour of the exhibition by showing Amanpour the deeply personal work that won her a Golden Lion award at the Venice Biennale in 1997. Created in response to the Balkan wars, Balkan Baroque saw the artist scrubbing a sea of bloody cow bones with a metal brush for four days. The idea, she said, was to create a metaphor that this can be in any war, anywhere.

Palestinians, Israelis, Ukrainians, Russians  theyre all here in this room, she concluded.

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A Delta Air Lines aircraft heading to Detroit, Michigan from Amsterdam was diverted to Canada after experiencing a mechanical issue, the airline confirmed Monday afternoon. The 270 passengers aboard spent the night in military barracks in eastern Canada after the plane was forced to land.

Delta flight 135, an Airbus 330, was redirected to Goose Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador, a Canadian province about 1,700 miles away from the flight's intended destination at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

The 270 customers who were on board were heading back to Detroit as of Monday afternoon, thanks to an additional aircraft that was sent to bring the passengers and crew home, according to an airline spokesperson.

Flight diverted, passengers stranded: 270 spent 24 hours in military barracks after emergency landing in Canada

Passengers spent night in military barracks

Passengers aboard a Delta Air Lines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit spent the night in military barracks in eastern Canada after an emergency landing at Goose Bay airport.

A passenger told Fox 2 in Detroit the plane took "a sharp turn" during the flight, and that the pilot told passengers on the plane they had to land because there was a problem with the de-icer for one of the engines.

"Crew duty times have been impacted due to weather and runway conditions at the Goose Bay airport causing the airport to suspend operations," a statement from Delta reads. "We apologize to customers for this inconvenience as we continue to work to make them comfortable."

An airline spokesperson did not respond to further inquiry from the Detroit Free Press regarding the details of the mechanical issue and why a third aircraft, another Airbus 330, was necessary for getting passengers home.

Delta worked with officials in Goose Bay to arrange for food, water, and accommodations Sunday into Monday, the airlines said, adding that passengers will be compensated for the inconvenience.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Delta flight to Detroit diverted to Canada over plane mechanical issue
Senate Democrats are calling on conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from ruling on former President Trumps claim that he is immune from prosecution for alleged crimes he committed while in office.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and other Democrats on the panel argue that Thomas faces a conflict of interest because his wife Ginni was outspoken in support of Trumps false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

There are so many unanswered questions about the relationship of the justice and his family with the Trump administration that I think in the interests of justice, he should recuse himself, Durbin said.

Durbin added that of course he is concerned that the conservative-leaning Supreme Court, to which Trump appointed three justices, could wind up ruling that the former president is immune from prosecution by special counsel Jack Smith or Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) over actions he took while president to block the peaceful transfer of power in 2021.

If we say certain people are above the law, I believe it diminishes values in this country, he said.

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Durbin and other Senate Democrats are stepping up pressure on Thomas to recuse himself from hearing Trumps immunity claim because they dont have much faith that Chief Justice John Roberts would enforce ethical or recusal guidelines among members of the court.

When they came back with their supposed code of conduct, it didnt address recusal like we did in the bill that we passed, he added, referring to the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act, which the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced in July.

Durbin made his comments after Smith, the special counsel, asked the Supreme Court on Monday to consider and issue a speedy ruling on Trumps immunity claim.

Trumps trial on four felony counts charging him with attempting to subvert democracy is scheduled to begin March 4.

The Supreme Court has ordered Trumps lawyers to respond to Smiths request by Dec. 20.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said Ginni Thomass support for the pro-Trump crowd that demonstrated on the National Mall on Jan. 6, 2021, some of whom later stormed the Capitol, raises serious concerns about the prospect of Justice Thomas ruling on a federal prosecution of Trump.

Blumenthal noted that the special counsels case against Trump for trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election concerns Jan. 6, which involved [Thomass] wife.

Blumenthal also said the argument could be made that anyone on the Supreme Court with whom [Thomas] has discussed his wifes involvement in efforts to overturn the election may have an improper interest.

Ginni Thomas texted Trumps chief of staff, Mark Meadows, after the 2020 election urging him to contest President Bidens victory and later attended the pro-Trump rally that took place before protesters stormed the Capitol in a failed effort to stop the certification of the election results.

She urged Meadows to help Trump stand firm in opposing the results of the election and claimed Biden and the Left is attempting the greatest Heist of our History.

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), another member of the Judiciary Committee, said Justice Thomas has both a conflict of interest and the appearance of a conflict of interest in any case about Trumps efforts to subvert the 2020 election.

Hirono said recusal usually applies when theres an actual conflict and when theres an appearance of conflict.

I think in Clarence Thomass case, its both, she added.

Hirono said Thomas should have recused himself from other matters, such as his grant of a stay on a lower court order that would have required Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to testify before an Atlanta special grand jury about efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.

I think Justice Thomas should have recused himself from some of the other cases that came before him where his wife was very much involved. The fact he didnt really raises concerns for whether they have a recusal practice that makes any kind of sense, Hirono said.

Graham, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday that its up to Justice Thomas whether he should recuse himself from hearing arguments about Trumps legal immunity.

Im sure Clarence Thomas will make his own decision, he said.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), another member of the Judiciary panel, dismissed the Democrats calls for Thomas to recuse himself as absurd.

Theyre not the ones to make that judgment call, nor am I aware of any standard by which he should be required to recuse himself in such a case. Thats absurd, he said.

Other Democrats said the call for Thomas to step away from cases involving Trump makes sense given his wifes outspoken political advocacy for the former president.

It seems to make sense. Certainly the Supreme Court has a very poor record of taking its recusal responsibility seriously and being transparent about their rationale, said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), the chair of the Senates Federal Courts and Oversight Judiciary Subcommittee.

Washington, D.C., District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan on Dec. 1 rejected Trumps sweeping immunity claims.

Whatever immunities a sitting president may enjoy, the United States has only one chief executive at a time, and that position does not confer a lifelong get-out-jail-free pass, Chutkan wrote.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  The top two senators negotiating an immigration deal cautioned Monday that the clock is ticking and they may not be able to reach an agreement this week before the Senate is scheduled to adjourn for the rest of the year.

That means President Joe Biden's package of aid to Ukraine and Israel could falter with it, with the debate slipping into an election year that will make it even harder to secure a bipartisan agreement.

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., who is leading the discussions for Republicans, said he still believes negotiators are making progress but cautioned that every day that goes by without a deal makes it more complicated to reach one.

Theres no way to get it done this week, Lankford said in an interview. The question is are we staying in next week or does this actually move into early January to be able to resolve? Thats a big unknown at this point, and that depends on how the negotiation actually goes and how were actually working through to be able to actually get text that actually works.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., a Biden ally who is leading the negotiations for Democrats, has voiced frustration with GOP demands, calling them extreme and implausible. He said there "can be a path" if Republicans revise their approach based on what can realistically pass Congress with bipartisan support.

"Obviously, we don't have the benefit of time right now," he said.

Donetsk Region, Ukraine: Ukrainian infantrymen of the 24th Mechanized Brigade man defensive trenches hundreds of meters from Russian military positions. (Justin Yau / Sipa via AP)

Asked whether the Senate can finish a deal this week, Murphy said: "I've seen stranger things happen in the Senate. But that certainly seems like an uphill climb  but not impossible."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected Tuesday to visit Capitol Hill to speak to senators and meet with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who has endorsed the GOP demands to block Ukraine aid unless Congress pairs it with tougher immigration and asylum laws.

Hes preaching to the converted, as far as Im concerned. So I dont know what this is designed to do, said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. I dont see what the purpose is, but obviously wed be glad to listen to what he has to say.

Senate Republicans proved last week that they were unwilling to debate a bill to grant aid to Ukraine and Israel without immigration restrictions, as all 49 of them filibustered the package. The failed vote Wednesday rekindled negotiations that had previously faltered. Murphy and Lankford huddled with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., on Thursday for about an hour, a source said.

But there has been no breakthrough in the negotiations, senators said.

Lankford said he's happy to hear what Zelenskyy has to say, but hearing their national security issues also reminds us of our national security issues. Quite frankly, were not going to go help other countries and not look at actually whats happening in the United States.

Sources with knowledge of the negotiations say Democrats have been willing to make concessions in tightening asylum rules, but the talks have been stuck over GOP demands to curtail presidential powers to use parole to temporarily admit asylum-seekers. Democrats fear the proposals to reform parole would force mass detentions and deportations that they consider cruel.

The House and the Senate are scheduled to leave town for the holidays in just three days, leaving precious little time to resolve a series of thorny issues that have bedeviled Congress for years. They could cancel some or all of recess to keep working on it, but thats unlikely to happen unless they are close to an agreement they can vote on.

Even if the Democratic-led Senate reaches a deal, there's no guarantee it will be passed by the Republican-controlled House, where conservative hard-liners are making demands that Democrats roundly say are nonstarters.

Hopefully the House is willing to stay, if we can get a deal done, Murphy said. Hopefully the House is willing to stay and process anything the Senate can move, but thats their own decision.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said Congress should stay in town until it reaches a deal.

"I want to see a reason why we should leave. That means that basically they don't have the concerns that we have with Ukraine," he said, referring to the country's ability to defend itself against Russia. "I still have, very much, those concerns. We should stay and get it done."

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., dismissed the need for a briefing on Ukraine from Zelenskyy and said senators are well aware of the situation. "I think it hurts, theyre dragging him into a domestic political debate," Graham said. "If they had asked me I would have said you shouldnt do this.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said she also wants to hear a plan from Zelenskyy for "how they intend to win this war" and what Ukraine needs from the U.S. to do so.

"And then, as far as moving forward on the package, it has to have border policy, and the president knows that," she said. "I've had so many Democrats, both the House and the Senate, that have said, 'This would make our election a lot easier if the president will just move forward on border policy.' So there are a lot of folks that really think we need to get border policy done."
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Sweden's drugs agency on Monday asked doctors to hold off on prescribing diabetes drugs for the treatment of obesity, pointing to signs that a spike in such usage has left diabetics short of medication.

World number one diabetes drug maker Novo Nordisk, and more recently also Eli Lily, are seeing demand soar for weight-loss drugs that are of a class originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes.

The so-called GLP-1 receptor agonists have also been shown to trigger a feeling of fullness after eating and slower gastric emptying.

The Swedish Medicines Agency said in a statement it urged doctors to prescribe specifically intended diabetes medicines only to patients diagnosed with the illness until further notice.

"The Swedish Medical Products Agency takes very seriously the fact that chronically ill patients are left without their medication due to an extensive prescription outside the approved indication," it said.

There is a growing crisis in Europe over the supply of Novo Nordisk's diabetes therapy Ozempic, which uses semaglutide, the same active ingredient as the drugmaker's weight-loss drug Wegovy.

Physicians have the legal right to prescribe medicine for a purpose other than what the medicine is primarily intended for.

(Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, editing by Anna Ringstrom and Terje Solsvik)
TAIPEI, Taiwan  As Taiwan prepares to elect a new president next month, officials are telling the public to guard against China trying to influence their votes.

President Tsai Ing-wen, who has served two terms and is unable to run again, has warned that China is spreading disinformation ahead of a contest that could be pivotal for Taiwan, a self-ruling island democracy that Beijing claims as its territory.

The frontrunner in the Jan. 13 election is Lai Ching-te, Tsais vice-president, whose Democratic Progressive Party holds that Taiwan does not need to declare independence because it is already effectively a sovereign state.

Lai faces challenges from Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang, Taiwans main opposition party, and Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan Peoples Party. Both parties, which failed to run on a united ticket, favor closer relations with China.

China, which sees Lai as a separatist and troublemaker, has framed the election as a choice between war and peace. A September poll by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation reported that 48.9% of Taiwanese are in favor of gaining formal national independence. The poll also found that just less than 27% supported keeping the "status quo," while less than 12% backed unification with China, which has not ruled out the use of force in achieving unification. A separate poll by the National Chengchi University Election Study Center, found that less than 6% of Taiwanese supported either immediate independence or unification.

The status of Taiwan is one of the biggest flashpoints in Chinese relations with the U.S., which does not have official relations with Taipei but is its biggest international backer.

Taiwan has seen a recent increase in disinformation from bots and Beijing-friendly online influencers trying to persuade voters that the U.S. is not a dependable partner, said Wen-Ti Sung, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council who is based in Taipei.

A lot of it will be trying to say that the U.S. has only provided indirect military assistance to Ukraine, and surely the U.S. would do even less for Taiwan in case China ever tried to invade, he said.

The message is that there will be no knight in shining armor to save you when things really go down, suggesting it would be safer to move closer to China, Sung added.

Taiwan Holds Annual Han Kuang Military Exercise (I-Hwa Cheng / Bloomberg via Getty Images file)

According to results of a Taiwan survey released last month, 34% of respondents agreed that the U.S. was a trustworthy country, down almost 10 percentage points from 2021. Less than 10% of respondents considered China to be trustworthy, according to the survey by the Institute of European and American Studies at Academia Sinica, a research institution in Taipei.

The Taiwan election must be free from outside interference, Washingtons top diplomat in Taipei said this month.

Sandra Oudkirk, director of the American Institute in Taiwan and the de facto U.S. ambassador, said the United States did not have a preferred candidate in the election and that its policy on Taiwan would stay the same no matter who won.

Taiwan's President Tsai Attends DPP Election Campaign Launch (Annabelle Chih / Getty Images)

We support Taiwans vibrant democracy and look forward to working with whichever leaders Taiwan voters elect in 2024, she said in a Dec. 4 speech at National Taiwan University.

She added that the U.S., which has also been targeted by Chinese influence operations, would support Taiwan in its efforts to combat disinformation.

When it comes to disinformation in Taiwan, China will not let any opportunity go, said Chihhao Yu, co-director of the Taipei-based Taiwan Information Environment Research Center.

Disinformation efforts piggyback on existing domestic issues such as frequent power outages, Yu said, attacking the Taiwanese government and Taiwans democratic processes.

Its part of a bigger scheme to discredit Taiwan, but also to win over Taiwanese hearts to say that the PRC or China is a better option, he said, using the initials for Chinas formal name, the Peoples Republic of China.

Disinformation efforts would most likely have only a limited effect on how voters in Taiwan cast their ballots, said Tzu-wei Hung, a research fellow at Academia Sinica.

Chinas cognitive warfare hurts not because it will change the presidential election result, but because it will intensify existing political polarization in Taiwan, he said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry denies such accusations, saying China is the top victim of disinformation, while the U.S. is the biggest source of spreading disinformation. The source of disinformation can also often be difficult to identify, and a past case traced origins back to a student in Taiwan.

In the lead-up to Taiwans election, China has also kept up its near-daily military pressure, with the Taiwanese Defense Ministry detecting 10 Chinese aircraft and 11 vessels around the island in the 24 hours to Monday morning. Also on Monday, the defense ministry said it had sent forces to monitor a Chinese naval formation in the Taiwan Strait led by the Shandong aircraft carrier.

Taiwans military also said last week that it had found what appeared to be the remains of a weather balloon most likely from China that crashed on a Taiwan-controlled island off the Chinese coast. It said an investigation was still underway.

Janis Mackey Frayer reported from Taipei, Taiwan, and Jennifer Jett reported from Hong Kong.
By Michael Martina

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Taiwan's new de facto ambassador to the United States, Alexander Yui, arrived in Washington on Monday, according to a tweet from a U.S. official, taking up Taipei's highest-profile diplomatic post at a sensitive time ahead of the island's election in January.

Taiwan officials have warned that China is trying to sway the democratically governed island's Jan. 13 presidential and legislative election, which is happening as Beijing ramps up military and political pressure to try to force Taipei to accept its sovereignty.

Despite a lack of formal ties, Washington is Taiwan's main diplomatic backer and arms supplier, and U.S. President Joe Biden has asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping to respect Taiwan's electoral process.

The American Institute in Taiwan's (AIT) managing director, Ingrid Larson, welcomed Yui upon his arrival to Washington on Monday, AIT chair Laura Rosenberger said in post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Representative Yui is a friend we know well, and with his significant experience, we're confident our partnership will continue to grow and strengthen!" said Rosenberger, who leads AIT as it manages unofficial U.S. ties with Taiwan.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO), Taiwan's de facto embassy in Washington, did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

Taiwan late last month appointed Yui, formerly Taiwan's representative to the European Union, as the envoy to Washington, replacing Hsiao Bi-khim who vacated the post to be the vice-presidential running mate for current Vice President Lai Ching-te.

Lai and Hsiao, from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, are leading in the polls, but China views them as separatists and has rebuffed Lai's offers of talks.

U.S. officials have been careful to avoid taking a public position on candidates in Taiwan's election, but have said stability in the Taiwan Strait is crucial and that Chinese military coercion around Taiwan ahead of the election is dangerous and provocative.

The Biden administration also has sought to stabilize rocky bilateral relations with Beijing, and has repeatedly said it is not supportive of Taiwan independence.

Political and military analysts widely expect that Beijing will continue to carry out military patrols and drills around the election and in the run-up to the inauguration of the eventual winner to dissuade any moves that China would view as supporting Taiwan's independence.

(Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Sandra Maler)
A trio of top Senate Democrats is demanding the federal government require airlines to carry epinephrine auto-injectors  such as EpiPens  on board commercial flights.

In a letter shared first with CNN, Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Chuck Schumer and Ed Markey tell the Federal Aviation Administration it has a glaring gap in its requirements for what is carried as part of in-flight emergency kits, which puts airline passengers at risk.

Epinephrine auto-injectors treat a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. The letter says FAA standards last updated in 2004 only require that airlines carry epinephrine in syringes designed to be used primarily in the event of a cardiac emergency.

Stocking only the vials of epinephrine, without auto-injectors, could have deadly consequences, according to the advocacy group FARE (Food, Allergy, Resource & Education).

Most Americans do not know how to determine the proper dose of epinephrine to administer from a vial to treat an anaphylactic food allergy reaction, nor do they know how to safely and properly do so without an autoinjector. the group warns on its website.

Now the lawmakers are pushing the FAA to change its requirements for airlines.

We urge you to amend the current standing regulation to require that epinephrine auto-injectors be included in the emergency medical kit of every flight, as well as engage in regular review of medical kit requirements, the letter reads.

The FAA said Tuesday it will respond directly to the senators and is reviewing emergency medical kit requirements.

In 2020, the agency said airlines could voluntarily carry epinephrine beyond the ampules required to be carried mainly for cardiac resuscitation, after it received input from the Aerospace Medical Association in 2019.

The Association of Flight Attendants, a labor union representing flight attendants from United Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Alaska Airlines, says it has long advocated for Congress and the FAA to review and make recommendations to the list of medications required onboard including allergy pens.

Alexa Jordon was on a flight from Boston to Chicago in May 2019 when she ate a salad she bought in the airport that was not supposed to contain tree nuts, to which she is allergic. After using her own EpiPen that she carried on board, my throat remained extremely tight, and I was terrified that it would not improve without a second shot, Jordon told CNN.

Almost 6% of adults and children in the US have a food allergy, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those food allergies are life-threatening for 33 million Americans, with a food allergy reaction sending someone to the emergency room every three minutes, according to FARE.

In-flight medical emergencies occur on about 1 in every 604 flights, and allergic reactions occur often, accounting for 1.6% of those emergencies, a 2018 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found.

The Transportation Security Administration allows passengers to bring medically necessary EpiPens through airport security checkpoints.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Lauren Mascarenhas contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
(Photo : Unsplash/Priscilla Du Preez)

A business's prosperity and lasting presence depend on its workforce's overall positive mental well-being. A positive mental state gives individuals the resilience to tackle life's stresses, challenges, and setbacks associated with employment. Individuals can navigate challenges more adeptly and sustain productivity by building defenses against negative emotions and anxiety during tough times.

What Is Employee Mental Health?

Studies have shown a strong connection between mental and physical health, with conditions like depression, heart disease, and cancer having an impact on one's overall health. Mental health is essential, and employee creativity, productivity, and social interactions may all suffer if they are experiencing mental health issues. Hence, prioritizing mental health at work contributes to employee success, which is necessary for businesses to grow and thrive.

Looking After Mental Health at Work

Mental health significantly influences your work performance when you are mentally well. Employees are likely to be more focused, creative, and efficient. Hence, supporting mental health in the workplace is a compassionate approach and a strategic imperative for companies. Here are critical insights into why companies need to prioritize and actively support mental health at work:

Creating a Supportive Environment

A workplace that prioritizes mental health fosters a supportive and inclusive atmosphere. This involves acknowledging that everyone faces challenges and providing resources and support for those struggling with mental health issues.

Reducing Stigma

Open conversations about mental health contribute to reducing the stigma associated with it. When employees feel comfortable discussing their mental well-being, it creates an environment where seeking help is normalized, promoting a healthier workplace culture.

Work-Life Balance

Balancing work and personal life is crucial for mental health. Encourage breaks, discourage excessive overtime, and promote flexible work arrangements. These practices help prevent burnout and contribute to a healthier work-life balance.

READ ALSO: The Repercussions of Employer Surveillance, Workers Getting Worse at Their Jobs And More Likely To Quit

Communication and Feedback

Clear communication and constructive feedback are vital components of a mentally healthy workplace. Employees should feel valued and appreciated; regular feedback sessions can contribute to professional growth and a positive mental outlook.

Providing Resources

Employers can offer resources such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), counseling services, or mental health workshops. These can serve as valuable tools for employees dealing with stress, anxiety, or other mental health challenges.

Promoting Physical Health

Given the connection between physical and mental health, supporting physical well-being activities like fitness regimens or wellness campaigns can also benefit mental health. Additionally, leaders are essential in establishing the culture of a mentally healthy workplace. When leaders put their mental health first and communicate honestly, it inspires others to follow suit.

Flexibility and Accommodations

Recognize that individuals may have different needs. Offering flexibility in work hours, remote work options, or accommodations for mental health conditions demonstrates a commitment to supporting employees in their unique circumstances.

Training and Education

Providing training and educational resources on mental health awareness equips employees and leaders with the knowledge to recognize signs of distress, support colleagues, and foster a culture of empathy.

Taking steps to prioritize mental health benefits the individual and contributes to a more positive and productive workplace. It's an investment that improves well-being, job satisfaction, and overall team success.

RELATED ARTICLE: 5 Ways to Assess Workplace Culture Before You Are Hired

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
There is not a ticket, nor even a decision on fielding one, but the No Labels organization mulling a third-party candidate slate in the 2024 presidential elections said it secured just-in-case ballot access in crimson Florida.

During a conference call last month, Ryan Clancy, No Labels' chief strategist, said the Sunshine State is one of 12 states the group has received approval for a "placeholder ballot line"  meaning it will be able to place the name of a presidential and vice presidential candidate should the organization decide to field a ticket as an alternative to an expected Joe Biden-Donald Trump rematch.

The Florida Division of Elections said last month that No Labels had procured enough signatures to place candidates on the 2024 ballot. By spring, Clancy said the goal is to have placeholder status, or close to it, in 27 states, and all 50 states and the District of Columbia in late summer.

"We've got a head start and we feel very good about our path to get on the ballot in the states," Clancy said Nov. 16.

What is No Labels?

It is an organization founded in December 2010 to seek bipartisan solutions to issues. It has been aligned with the so-called "Problem Solvers" caucus on Capitol Hill, a group of more moderate Democrats and Republicans who work to form consensus on public policy and legislation.

Since 2021, however, No Labels has been studying the idea of a unity ticket composed of presidential and vice presidential candidates from both major parties.

Why is No Labels' 'unity ticket' concept stirring controversy?

Who No Labels will choose for their "unity ticket," presumably a more moderate Republican and Democratic candidate, or whether the group will even offer an alternative, won't be decided for months, although much speculation has swirled around retiring U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia.

The discussion itself on considering a No Labels candidate has been a source of controversy for much of 2023.

Democratic Party strategists, Biden surrogates and others have been caustic to the idea of a No Labels ticket. They claim it would only hand the election to Trump by drawing away votes from the president in pivotal battleground states.

Happy Thanksgiving? Trump's dueling holiday greetings; Biden's guide to 'crazy' MAGA talk

Beyond that, a third-party ticket in Florida faces an uphill climb in a state that has considerably reddened since 2016, where smaller parties have gained minuscule traction and where a 2020 constitutional amendment to pry open primaries to no-party affiliated voters failed.

Nonetheless, Clancy said the option to pursue an alternative ticket next year has been driven by sentiment, detected in numerous polls, showing voters across the United States are not enthused by a Biden-Trump rematch.

"The genesis of that was really inquiries from our nonmembers from across the country who started to look over the horizon at the election coming down the pike," Clancy said. "And they effectively all seemed to say this  is the sequel nobody wants to see and what do we do about it."

So who could be on the No Labels ticket? And when will we find out?

The "what do we do about it" part, however, still seems speculative.

Besides the conjecture around Manchin, there's also been talk of former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney as a potential third-party candidate. Cheney has not ruled out a candidacy but has said she would not be part of an alternative ticket if it improved Trump's chances of winning.

But Clancy and No Labels national director Joe Cunningham insisted last month the door is open to any leading political figure willing to run on a unity ticket.

Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney said she will not run as a third-party candidate in next year's presidential election if she thinks it would improve former President Donald Trump's chances of winning.

"I can tell you with certainty that there's no candidate that has the inside track on getting this," Clancy said.

He added that, by the end of the year, No Labels will unveil details of its nominating process. The group, he noted, has already released 30 "common sense" ideas that anyone seeking to be on the ticket would be expected to support  at least to a large degree.

Trump 2024: Debate and rally split screen gave viewers sharp contrast between Trump and GOP rivals

OK, but is the No Labels effort just a spoiler play to keep one candidate from winning?

Cunningham, a former congressman from South Carolina, said No Labels is committed to making sure there is a road to winning, rather than just being a spoiler, next November.

"We're in a unique moment in time where an opening is present and we are preparing to offer that ticket if that opening remains and a pathway to victory exists," he said.

The "opening," No Labels said, is reflected in a series of public and internal surveys showing broad dissatisfaction within the U.S. electorate.

No Labels points to polls showing the number of U.S. voters who say they would consider supporting a unity ticket has risen this year to 77.1 million people from 64.5 million, a 19.5% increase. Another, they said, is a CNN poll of so-called "double haters," people who do not like either Biden or Trump, that placed the number at 36%.

There's been much speculation that retiring U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, will run as a third-party candidate.

The 36% figure is especially important, Clancy and Cunningham emphasized, because that share of the vote in a multiparty contest could be enough to win. Whether that's correct is far from certain, others have said.

The 1992 presidential election, which fielded a significant third presidential candidacy by businessman Ross Perot, was won by Democrat Bill Clinton with 44% of the popular vote but 370 electoral votes, 100 more than necessary. In 2000, alternative candidacies by Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan may well have cost Vice President Al Gore Florida's electoral ballots, won by Republican George W. Bush by just 537 votes.

Speaking of Florida, where does it stand politically?

In recent elections, firmly in the Republican camp.

In 2020, then-President Trump carried the state with a 3.3-percentage point margin of victory, a virtual landslide in a state where presidential, U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections have typically been won by razor-thin margins.

Then, in 2022, Gov. Ron DeSantis and four other Republicans seeking statewide office, including incumbent U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, won their races by double-digit margins. And, stunningly, they carried the erstwhile Democratic bastion counties of Palm Beach and Miami-Dade.

Last year's results led many pundits to declare the state no longer a battleground but, rather, firmly in red territory.

As of the end of October, the GOP led the state in active registered voters with 5.15 million while Democrats ranked second (4.47 million) and no-party affiliated voters trailed right behind (3.61 million).

2024 polling: New survey from FAU shows Trump topping Biden in Florida despite disapproval ratings for both

But if No Labels ended up being a spoiler, who would get hurt most? Biden or Trump?

Clancy and Cunningham emphasized the goal of a No Labels-sponsored ticket would be to win the White House, but they insisted their alternative would not necessarily kneecap either Trump or Biden's re-election, as has most often been speculated.

"The reason we have seen more incoming from the Democratic side thus far is the Democrats know, or think they know at least, who their nominee is going to be and so they have a lot of actors on that side that have had an opening to focus their efforts on us while the Republicans are still fighting it out," Clancy said.

But he insisted that Republicans in red states won't welcome No Labels competition just as Democrats have been cold to it. He pointed to a USA Today/Suffolk University poll showing a candidacy by anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy polls more voters away from Trump than Biden.

A recent poll showed a candidacy by anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy could pull more voters away from former President Donald Trump than President Joe Biden.

"We just don't agree at all with the presumption that an independent by definition is only pulling more from one side because we haven't seen that in a lot of the public polling and we haven't seen it in ours, either," Clancy said.

Cunningham agreed, saying the RFK Jr. performance "undermines" the belief the "Trump base is impermeable" and not at risk of erosion.

"Robert Kennedy chipping away undermines that argument," he said. "And would lend itself again, depending on who is on top of the ticket and what that ticket looks like, that it has that ability to draw from Trump."

Looking ahead to next year: Top Republican encourages early voting and vote-by-mail in 2024, contradicting Trump

No Labels insists goal is to provide alternative to political extremes

Clancy said the spoiler conjecture detracts from No Labels' main goal: offering an alternative.

"The biggest things we're focused on is putting up the best ticket with the best chance to win and that really meets what the public wants," he said.

An example he cited is on immigration, where voters, Clancy said, are stuck between two extremes.

"Here is your choice if you are a voter: You can vote for 'open borders' people or vote for the 'put immigrants in camps' people," he said. "Well, that isn't where most voters are, at all."

And that's what voters keep telling pollsters on all sorts of policy priorities, he said.

"That's a dynamic we see in issue after issue," Clancy said. "That people are being given a false choice, not only of candidates but of policy choices.

"Where the public lands on a lot of these issues is very different from how issues are going to be talked about in a binary Trump-Biden debate, and we think the public wants to actually have ideas talked about in a different way than they are otherwise going to be talked about in a Biden-Trump rematch."

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Will a No Labels alternative to Trump, Biden appear on Florida ballot?
Implementation of a new law allowing the state to penalize anti-abortion counseling centers for using deceiving practices against patients could be permanently blocked pending the signature of a federal judge.

U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston could sign the agreed order as early as Tuesday, considered a rare victory for anti-abortion advocates in Illinois. Johnston issued a temporary injunction in August to halt enforcement of the new law defined by him as "painfully and blatantly a violation of the First Amendment."

Carolyn Cochran Kopel of Springfield participates in an abortion-rights rally in front of the Springfield Federal Courthouse Thursday, April 13, 2023.

Named as the defendant in the case, Attorney General Kwame Raoul championed the cause during the Illinois General Assembly's spring session, riding the support of fellow Democrats in both chambers.

More: 'I'm an American': Newest U.S. citizens take oath at Springfield ceremony

The law would have permitted his office to investigate limited services pregnancy centers suspected of misleading or interfering with an individuals attempt to seek an abortion. It would have also allowed the state to temporarily or permanently close the operations and to issue up to a $50,000 civil penalty.

In a statement, Raoul clarified the order does not impact the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act or the AG offices prior authority under the act.

Patients in Illinois can be assured that as states continue to enact draconian restrictions on access to reproductive health care, I will not waver in my efforts to ensure that Illinois remains an oasis of reproductive freedom in the middle of our nation, he said.

Gov. JB Pritzker addressed the matter Tuesday afternoon at an unrelated event in Chicago. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act, as he understands it, would still allow lawsuits to be filed against the anti-abortion clinics and thus make the new law unnecessary.

"People should not be lied to when they are seeking healthcare," he said in defense of the bill he signed in July.

Attorney Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society, a conservative not-for-profit Chicago-based law firm, represented the plaintiffs. Breen said he was pleased with the judge's decision.

The federal court was spot on in holding that (Senate Bill) 1909 is both stupid and very likely unconstitutional, he said, the plaintiffs also collecting attorney fees through the proposed order. SB 1909 exempts abortion facilities and their speech, while exclusively regulating pro-life organizations and their speech, in flagrant violation of the First Amendment.

Others such as Jennifer Welch, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, saw the order in contradiction to equitable access to reproductive health care.

"Planned Parenthood of Illinois stands by its patients' ability to access reproductive health care including abortion, without being deceived, intimidated or misled," she said in a statement.

Contact Patrick M. Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Federal judge might block anti-abortion clinic consumer fraud law
In South Paterson, stores, restaurants, bakeries and pharmacies went dark on Monday. On block after block, metal gates were pulled down over storefronts and closed signs turned outward.

Business owners hung signs in doors letting the public know that they had closed in support of the Global Strike for Gaza, an international one-day effort to call for a cease-fire.

The situation in Gaza has hit home for us in an intensely personal way, said Amjad Abukwaik, who had shuttered his business, Sheefa Pharmacy, on Palestine Way. Our decision to close our doors today is a solemn acknowledgement of the human toll of the conflict and a small gesture of solidary with those who continue to endure unimaginable hardships.

Abukwaik, who lost 30 members of his family in Israeli airstrikes, said the decision to shut down business was not a political statement, but a human one. He joined business owners Monday at Gould Park to call for an end to the bombardment of Gaza and for the U.S. to take concrete steps toward lasting peace.

A majority of the businesses are closed in solidarity for the Global Strike for Gaza along Main St in South Paterson, NJ on Monday Dec. 11, 2023.

The massive shutdown of business was an unusual sight in the normally busy shopping and dining district, which had not felt this deserted since the days of COVID lockdowns. The strike, initiated by Palestinian activists and grassroots organizations, comes just days after the United States vetoed a UN resolution calling for a cease-fire.

Activists and strike supporters shared the #StrikeForGaza hashtag on X, formerly known as Twitter, urging people to stay home from school and work and to refrain from spending money.

Videos and photos shared on X showed shuttered shops and empty streets in the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. In the Detroit Metro area, also home to a large Arab American population, at least 100 businesses also shut their doors on Monday, according to TCD Dearborn News.

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In South Paterson, known as Little Palestine, Syrian, Jordanian and Turkish business owners, including Muslims and Christians, joined the strike. The strike unfolded with messages late Saturday evening and on Sunday, via word of mouth and text messages.

Rania Mustafa, executive director of the Palestinian American Community Center in Clifton, said people have felt desperate about the conflict and were willing to act, "even if it means putting their own livelihoods on hold."

Ghassan Yousef, who owns Al-Quds Super Market in Paterson and Kanoon Restaurant in Clifton, said his business had dropped 40% in the past two months because people who are grieving and upset do not want to shop or dine out. Still, he did not hesitate when he heard the call to shut down on Monday.

A majority of the businesses are closed in solidarity for the Global Strike for Gaza along Main St in South Paterson, NJ on Monday Dec. 11, 2023.

"Even if they ask me to close for a whole month, I will do it," Yousef said. We have to stand up together as one hand, to stand up to the people making the decisions, to stop the killings. Thats the least we can do we can do.

Among the crowd in Gould Park were school-aged children whose parents had kept them out of school. Heyam Asmar, of Paterson, said she kept her five children home and sent notes to the schools telling them they were supporting the strike for Gaza.

We want our kids and the community here to understand what is happening, Asmar said.

Paterson mayor: These are my priorities now  and in 2024

The Paterson School District reported a higher than normal amount of student and staff absences at four local schools with a large population of students with Arab ancestry, Dan Juan, interim director of communications, said in a statement. In those schools, 101 staff members were absent Monday. Information on student absences was not immediately available.

The District recognizes that the Israeli/Gaza War is greatly distressing for many of our staff and students, Juan said. Their right to speak freely of their feelings regarding the conflict is respected. The District would like to reiterate that it is providing emotional and mental health support to any student, family, and staff member that needs it.

Israel has killed more than 17,700 Palestinian people in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war, according to Gaza health authorities. About two-thirds of the dead are women and children. About 90% of Gazas 2.3 million people have been displaced in Gaza. The bombardment followed the attack by Hamas, which has been labeled a terrorist organization by the United States and others, attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7 leaving 1,200 dead, including many civilians.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ businesses closed for a strike. What's behind it?
Kelly Klein, Food Bank of Northeast Georgia director of development (left) accepts a frozen turkey from St. Mary's chief human resources officer Beth Patrick (right).

St. Mary's Health Care System along with its colleagues and volunteers recently donated 372 frozen turkeys to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia to help families in need this holiday season, according to a news release.

Just before Thanksgiving, St. Mary's leaders gave their colleagues and volunteers frozen turkeys as a token of appreciation. If they do not pick up their turkey, then they are automatically donated to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. The Food Bank picks up the turkeys the Monday before Thanksgiving to distribute to their clients, according to the news release.

Every year Im amazed and moved by the number of colleagues who choose to donate their turkey, said Beth Patrick, St. Marys chief human resources officer. We are keenly aware that the number of people who have food insecurities in our community is growing. Were thrilled that so many colleagues and volunteers love getting these turkeys, and were just as thrilled that so many donate them to help others who are in need.

Kelly Klein, Food Bank of Northeast Georgia director of development, said the food bank continues to see elevated need throughout the Athens area.

"Increased cost of living is forcing people to make difficult choices between food and other necessities," Klein said. "We are truly thankful to be part of this community where we see so many coming together to support our mission, to connect neighbors with nourishing food."

To donate to the food bank in Athens, drop off your food at their warehouse at 861 Newton Bridge Rd. between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information go to: https://foodbanknega.org/.

Christmas cookies: 'They dont stay around long': Christmas cookies a special treat at Athens area bakeries

Open on Christmas Eve and Day: Not in the mood to cook? Athens area restaurants open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: St. Mary's donates 372 turkeys for those in need in Athens area.
A Russian-speaking stowaway managed to fly from Denmark to Los Angeles without a passport, visa or plane ticket last month, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday.

Sergey Vladimirovich Ochigava arrived at LAX at 1 p.m. on Nov. 4, the complaint said. But at the Customs and Border Protection checkpoint, officers discovered he was not listed as a passenger on on Scandinavian Airlines flight SK 931 from Copenhagen, or any other flight.

"When questioned, Ochigava gave false and misleading information about his travel to the United States, including initially telling CBP that he left his passport on the airplane," the affidavit said.

Labor Day Holiday Weekend To Cap Off Record Summer Of Air Travel (Mario Tama / Getty Images)

The suspect said he was confused, had not slept for three days and can't remember how he boarded a plane without a ticket, boarding pass or passport.

The complaint, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by FBI Special Agent Caroline A. Walling, said Ochigava committed the offense of being a stowaway on an aircraft, a crime that carries a potential jail sentence of up to 5 years.

When questioned by CBP officers, his bag was searched and found to contain Russian ID cards and an Israeli ID card, but no passport.

Officers found a partial picture of a passport on the suspect's phone, showing his name, date of birth and passport number, but not his passport photograph. The complaint did not say whether he was a Russian or Israeli citizen, or a joint national.

Flight crew noticed Ochigava walking around the plane and changing his seat, the complaint said. "In addition, he asked for two meals during each meal service, and at one point attempted to eat the chocolate that belonged to members of the cabin crew," it said.

The crew did not ask to see his boarding pass but noted that the seat he at first took was listed as unoccupied. The flight crew did headcounts for their individual sections as normal, but the criminal complaint said this was just to make sure the plane was balanced for takeoff and landing  they did not tally numbers across the whole flight.

Some crew noticed that Ochigava was attempting to talk to people around him, "but most of the passengers ignored him," the complaint said.

Multiple searches could not find him in the CBP database, which contains a list of everyone who is booked on a flight to the U.S. One CBP officer noted they had never before had a passenger make it to the border without being listed in the CBP system.

When interviewed by the FBI with a Russian interpreter, Ochigava said he was confused and "did not understand what was going on," the complaint said. He said he might have a plane ticket to the U.S. but wasn't sure and could not remember how he boarded the plane in Copenhagen nor how he got through airport security without a passport, boarding pass or ticket.

He said he had a PhD in economics and marketing and had previously worked as an economist in Russia.

His phone contained a Maps app screenshot showing a hostel in Kiel, a city in northern Germany. A warrant has been granted to seize and search the black iPhone SE.

Stowaways making it to the U.S. are exceptionally rare and some have done so by clinging to a plane's landing gear in freezing conditions. In 2021 a 26-year-old man from Guatemala was found in a landing gear compartment at Miami International Airport.

Last year, a 22-year-old man survived an 11-hour flight from Nairobi, Kenya, to Amsterdam, Netherlands, also by hiding in the landing gear compartment.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan made clear the high stakes of aid for Ukraine on Monday, saying the fate of a negotiation over billions in funding for the country could put all of Europe at risk.

I do not think its hyperbole to say that basically the security of Europe is at stake, and therefore the risk of American men and women having to go deal with another massive war in Europe, as we have before, if we dont work with Ukraine to stop Russia in Ukraine. Thats at stake, Sullivan said at a Washington event hosted by The New Republic on Monday.

Look, the arithmetic here is simple, he continued. We have now, as of the end of December, used up all of the funding that Congress has given us to supply weapons to Ukraine, and then to replenish our stocks with the weapons that weve handed over.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington this week to meet with top lawmakers and plead the case for Ukraine aid. He was to meet with senators, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and President Biden on Tuesday.

Sullivan said the U.S. can no longer provide Ukraine with weapons, vehicles, aircraft and ammunition if funding is not passed as soon as possible.

And as weeks go by, that will have a material effect on Ukraines battlefield position, he said.

Ukraines late summer counteroffensive stalled after little progress this fall, and a Russian offensive also made little progress as the war has devolved into a stalemate as winter sets in.

Sullivan added that aid for Ukraine is bigger than just backing an ally against Russia, but also speaks to core American values.

I believe the American people still want to see the United States standing for the basic proposition that a free people deserves to be free, and we should help them be able to achieve that, he said. And if we dont, I really think it undermines the very idea of who we are as a country. And there isnt really a greater stake than that.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott hugs Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts after the Sunday game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

An employee at AT&T Stadium was arrested after Arlington police accused him of letting in fans without tickets during the Dallas Cowboys home game on Sunday.

The Cowboys were set to face off against NFC East rivals the Philadelphia Eagles at the team's stadium in Arlington, Texas, where attendance has averaged 93,574 all season, according to ESPN. But Sunday's attendance may have been a little higher than usual, and not just because two of the NFL's best teams were going head-to-head in a nationally-televised primetime game.

According to Arlington police, a detective working at the stadium became aware that a contracted employee at one of the entry gates had let a group of people into the stadium who did not have tickets in exchange for cash. The employee's job was to scan fans tickets after they passed through the security checkpoint.

When the detective questioned the employee, he admitted to pocketing the cash, according to the Arlington Police Department. The 19-year-old was arrested and charged with one count of commercial bribery, police said.

Police did not specify how many fans the teen is suspected of letting in.

The Cowboys defeated the Eagles 33-13, leaving both teams with a 10-3 record with four weeks remaining in the regular season.

USA TODAY left a message Tuesday with AT&T Stadium that was not immediately returned.

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AT&T stadium worker let ticketless fans in Cowboy-Eagles game: Police
By Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) -The Texas Supreme Court on Monday overturned a lower court's ruling that would have allowed a pregnant woman to get an emergency abortion under the medical exception for the state's near-total abortion ban, granting a petition by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The unanimous ruling from the Texas Supreme Court came hours after lawyers for the woman, Kate Cox, said in a court filing that she had left the state to obtain the abortion, but nonetheless wanted to pursue the case. Cox has said her fetus had a fatal diagnosis and that her health was at risk if she continued the pregnancy to term, including her ability to have more children in the future.

The high court, whose nine justices are all Republicans, said in its unsigned opinion that a "good faith belief" by Damla Karsan, a doctor who sought to perform the abortion and sued alongside Cox, that the procedure was medically necessary was not enough to qualify for the state's exception.

Instead, the court said, Karsan would need to determine in her "reasonable medical judgment" that Cox had a "life-threatening condition" and that an abortion was necessary to prevent her death or impairment of a major bodily function.

"A woman who meets the medical-necessity exception need not seek a court order to obtain an abortion," the court wrote. "The law leaves to physicians - not judges - both the discretion and the responsibility to exercise their reasonable medical judgment, given the unique facts and circumstances of each patient," the court wrote.

The case is a major test of the scope of the medical exception, an issue that is already before the court in a separate case brought by 22 women who experienced pregnancy complications, though none of those women was seeking an immediate abortion. Monday's ruling appeared to reject a key argument by the plaintiffs in that case - that doctors' good-faith belief should be enough to meet the exception.

"This ruling should enrage every Texan to their core," Molly Duane of the Center for Reproductive Rights, a lawyer for Cox, said in a statement. "If Kate cant get an abortion in Texas, who can? Kates case is proof that exceptions dont work, and its dangerous to be pregnant in any state with an abortion ban."

Paxton's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cox's fetus was diagnosed on Nov. 27 with trisomy 18, a genetic abnormality that usually results in miscarriage, stillbirth or death soon after birth.

Paxton had urged the Texas Supreme Court to quickly step in after District Court Judge Maya Guerra Gamble at a hearing in Austin last Thursday issued a temporary restraining order allowing Cox to have an abortion.

In his filing to the top court, Paxton's office said Cox fell "far short of demonstrating" she met the criteria for a medical exception and warned that Texas courts were not intended to be "revolving doors of permission slips to obtain abortions."

Cox, 31, of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, filed a lawsuit last Tuesday seeking a temporary restraining order preventing Texas from enforcing its abortion ban in her case.

Cox's lawyers have said her lawsuit is the first such case since the U.S. Supreme Court last year reversed its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which had guaranteed abortion rights nationwide.

Cox, who was about 20 weeks pregnant when she first sued, said in her lawsuit that she would need to undergo her third Caesarian section if she continues the pregnancy. That could jeopardize her ability to have more children, which she said she and her husband wanted.

Cox said in her lawsuit that although her doctors believed abortion was medically necessary for her, they were unwilling to perform one without a court order in the face of a lack of clarity in how the exception would be interpreted and potential penalties including life in prison and loss of their licenses for violating the state's abortion laws.

Paxton warned in a letter sent shortly after Gamble issued the order that it did not shield doctors, hospitals or anyone else from prosecution or potential civil liability for violating Texas' abortion laws. The letter was sent to three hospitals where Karsan has admitting privileges.

Last Friday, while the case was pending, a pregnant woman in Kentucky filed a new class action lawsuit challenging that state's abortion ban.

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot and Leslie Adler)
By Daphne Psaledakis, Simon Lewis and Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on hundreds of people and entities, including in China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, as it targets Russia's sanctions evasion, future energy capabilities, banks and its metals and mining sector.

The U.S. Treasury and State departments targeted more than 250 individuals and entities in Washington's latest action attempting to crack down on Russia and its evasion of sanctions imposed by the U.S. and its allies over the war in Ukraine.

"We will continue to use the tools at our disposal to promote accountability for Russias crimes in Ukraine and those who finance and support Russias war machine," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The Treasury said it imposed sanctions on a network of four entities and nine people based in China, Russia, Hong Kong and Pakistan over the facilitation and procurement of Chinese-manufactured weapons and technologies to Russia.

It said the network sought to circumvent U.S. sanctions and Chinese controls on the export of military-related materials.

It also targeted Turkey, United Arab Emirates and China-based companies over the shipment of technology, equipment and inputs, including ball or roller bearings, aircraft parts and X-ray systems.

The China-based firms targeted included commercial satellite imagery companies that Treasury said provided high-resolution observation imagery to Russian mercenary firm Wagner.

The State Department also targeted Chinese entities in an action against a network it said was involved in procuring microelectronic components for Russian state conglomerate Rostec, which itself is under U.S. sanctions.

It said the microelectronics were being used to develop electronic warfare systems. Companies in Russia, Turkey and Hong Kong were also targeted as part of action against the network.

Washington has stepped up diplomatic pressure on countries and private companies globally to ensure enforcement of the sanctions it, the European Union and other Western nations have imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

"The anti-Russian steps announced today ... are nothing more than an attempt to put a good face on a bad game," Russia's envoy to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, said in comments posted on the Russian embassy Telegram messaging app. "Nothing will help Zelenskiy. But the Americans risk getting even more bogged down in the quagmire of the Ukrainian conflict."

Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said China regulates military and dual-use exports responsibly and opposes the United States' use of sanctions, which he called "unilateral" and "illegal."

"We firmly oppose the U.S. side sanctioning relevant companies under groundless pretext," Liu said in an emailed response to questions about Tuesday's sanctions.

UAE's embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its foreign ministry did not immediately reply to a request outside usual working hours.

A Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that while Turkey only imposed sanctions endorsed by the United Nations Security Council and opposed unilateral measures, Ankara took measures to minimize any circumvention of sanctions.

"Strict monitoring and prevention of efforts to skirt sanctions through Turkey is an integral part of our non-abidance policy," the official said, and added the Turkish financial and commercial sector dealt primarily with Western markets.

"Inevitably, there are evasion attempts by obscure and insignificant entities that are uneducated about or indifferent to sanctions," the person said. "Such entities will unavoidably incur the consequences of unilateral restrictive measures."

Turkish authorities are taking regulatory actions if the circumventions amount to a pattern breaching Turkey's policy, the official told Reuters.

FUTURE ENERGY

The U.S. targeted three companies developing the Ust-Luga liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, a facility at a Baltic seaport in northwest Russia to be operated by Gazprom and RusGazDobycha.

The yet-to-be-built complex is part of Gazprom's strategy to shift focus to processing and is poised to become Russia's largest gas processing plant, and one of the world's largest in terms of production volumes.

The sanctions were put on Russian-based companies Limited Liability Company Northern Technologies, Joint Stock Company Kazan Compressor Machinery Plant, and Limited Liability Company Gazprom Linde Engineering.

Washington is seeking to interfere with Russia's future energy production and fuel export capacity. The move came a little over a month after Washington put sanctions on an entity developing another LNG project, Arctic-2 LNG in Siberia.

It was not immediately clear how Russia's future LNG exports would be affected. The U.S. is the world's largest LNG exporter. German company Linde stopped work at Ust-Luga in 2022 due to Western sanctions. This year Russia has been talking with China to involve Chinese companies in construction of the plant.

Gazprom did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The State Department also targeted Russian businessman Vladislav Sviblov and Highland Gold Mining Ltd, a UK-registered company owned and controlled by him that it said is Russias seventh-largest gold producer, as well as other companies connected to Sviblov following action Britain took in November.

A representative for Sviblov declined to comment.

The State Department also designated three shipping companies and three Russian-flagged commercial vessels it said have been used to transfer munitions between North Korea and Russia.

North Korea's mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Washington also targeted four Russian financial institutions - including Expobank, the proposed buyer of HSBC's Russian business - and dozens of Russia-based entities involved in the import, production, modification and sale of defense-related and industrial technology, including drones.

The State Department also listed former telecoms CEO Ivan Tavrin and a network of companies he runs. It said Tavrin "has become one of Russias biggest wartime dealmakers since the beginning of Russias illegal war against Ukraine."

A representative for Kismet, owned by Tavrin, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the sanctions. New Towers, one of the companies in Tavrin's empire, declined to comment.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Simon Lewis, Timothy Gardner, Michael Martina, Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu in Washington, Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow, Alexander Marrow in London, Maha El Dahan in Dubai, Tuvan Gumrukcu in Ankara and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Gerry Doyle)
MIAMI (AP)  The Biden administration announced on Monday that it has imposed visa restrictions on nearly 300 Guatemalan lawmakers, private sector leaders and their families it accuses of "undermining democracy and the rule of law.

Guatemala faces mounting criticism by world leaders and watchdogs accusing it of attempts to block progressive President-elect Bernardo Arevalo from taking office in January.

The victory of Arevalo and his Seed Movement party is seen as a threat to those who have long wielded power in Guatemala. The anti-corruption crusader has been a target for months, with arrests of party members, raids and repeated requests to lift his immunity so prosecutors can investigate him directly.

The State Department in a statement condemned ongoing anti-democratic actions by prosecutors and other actors and noted intent to delegitimize Guatemalas free and fair elections and prevent the peaceful transition of power.

The State Department did not provide The Associated Press with the names of those subject to visa restrictions.

In its statement, it said those individuals were responsible for, or complicit in political targeting of opposition, intimidation of peaceful protestors, raids, opening of ballot boxes and lifting of immunity of electoral magistrates who certified the election.

Last week, prosecutors alleged that minutes seized during a raid of electoral offices showed that results from the presidential runoff vote Arevalo won in August had irregularities and were therefore void.

Arevalo accused the prosecution of seeking to undermine his ability to govern, and was quickly backed by a growing number of international entities such as the Organization of American States and the European Union, which had sent observers to monitor the election and confirmed that voting adhered to democratic standards.

The visa restrictions imposed by the United States were likely prompted by a series of controversial congressional votes in November. One targeted four electoral magistrates, who later left the country. Another passed a budget that critics say would simultaneously handicap Arevalo in delivering on campaign promises while boosting funding for offices that have supported alleged democratic attacks.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Friday that the bloc was also contemplating sanctions on those attempting to reverse the vote.

These latest actions and statements of the Public Prosecutors Office of Guatemala represent an attempt at a coup detat, spearheaded by politically motivated prosecutors, Borrell said in a statement. They show contempt for the clear will of Guatemalas citizens.

___

Associated Press reporter Sonia D. Perez contributed to this report from Guatemala City.
The unification ministry handling inter-Korean affairs said Tuesday it has launched a probe to verify details of unauthorized meetings between South Korean filmmakers and members of a pro-North Korea group in Japan.

The move came as the ministry has been seeking to tighten the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act amid heightened inter-Korean tensions.

Under the law, South Korean nationals are required to file prior notification with the government before contacting members of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.

Among those who have been requested by the ministry to clarify why they did not file a prior notification are documentary director Kim Ji-woon and producer Cho Eun-sung, who respectively took part in films shedding light on discrimination facing members of the pro-North Korea group in Japan.

Currently, hundreds of thousands of Koreans live in Japan, many of them descendants of Koreans forcibly brought to Japan as laborers during Tokyo's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

The ethnic Korean community, however, was later divided into two separate groups, with each supporting South and North Korea, respectively.

The ministry said the probe is aimed at verifying the details of their meetings and promoting inter-Korean exchange in an orderly manner rather than fundamentally blocking all exchange.

"The issue was raised in a recent parliamentary audit and we are in the stage of verifying the details," a ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

"It is true that the law had been loosely applied in the past but the government's stance is to establish order and a system for exchange and cooperation based on law and principle," the official said.

When asked about recent cases in which prior requests to meet members of the pro-North Korea group for academic purposes were denied, the official attributed the rejection to grim inter-Korean relations.

"We are managing the system in a prudent manner, (permitting) only essential humanitarian cases," the official said, citing "grave" circumstances stemming from North Korea's provocations.

Critics have raised concerns that the latest measure could hamper all forms of civilian inter-Korean exchange and cooperation.

In a separate case, the ministry is in the process of imposing a penalty on independent lawmaker Youn Mee-hyang for attending an event organized by the pro-North Korea group without notifying the government in advance. (Yonhap)


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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian parliament ratified with 61 to 26 votes on Tuesday the agreement on involving a 50 million loan in budgetary support from the OPEC Fund.

The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is supporting green, inclusive and sustainable development in Armenia with a 50 million loan through its program lending instrument.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. At its meeting today, the Board of the Central Bank of Armenia decided to reduce the refinancing rate by 0.25 pp, setting it at 9.25%.

The Lombard repo facility rate is at 10.75%

The Deposit facility rate is at 7.75%.
By Anna J. Park

Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Bok-hyun called on the boards of directors of financial holdings companies, Tuesday, to enhance fairness and transparency in the appointment process of CEOs and outside directors to improve corporate governance.

He also urged the boards to strengthen monitoring and supervision of management at the financial groups and to improve their corporate culture that focuses on short-term performance.

The comments were made during Lee's meeting with the board chairpersons of eight financial groups  KB, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, NH NongHyup, BNK, DGB and JB  at the Korea Federation of Banks (KFB) in central Seoul, Tuesday.

The board of directors should always bear the ultimate responsibility of bringing about the improvement of corporate governance," the FSS governor said.

He also pointed to the so-called "entrenchment effect," which refers to CEOs or key management officials of companies using their position to pursue goals that only benefit themselves and not the shareholders.

"We particularly urge the boards of directors of financial groups to make special efforts to strengthen procedural legitimacy and fairness to prevent 'entrenchment effects' by management as well as to preclude the emergence of a closed corporate culture," Lee stressed.

He added that a board of directors should focus on risk management policies by strengthening their supervisory function over management to ensure that an excessive concentration of a CEO's authority does not lead to a failure to adhere to compliance measures.

Highlighting that risk management and internal controls are essential for financial institutions to achieve sustainable growth, the FSS chief called on domestic financial companies to comply with a set of "best practices for the governance structure of financial holdings companies and banks" announced earlier in the day.

"The FSS strongly urges the board of directors to actively come up with specific improvement roadmaps for each principle included in the best practices announced today," Lee said during the meeting.

The state-run watchdog agency and the banking sector formed a task force five months ago to draw up the best practices for corporate governance at banks.

The list of the best practices presents 30 core principles to achieve a desirable governance structure, such as improving the appointment of the CEO and the management succession processes, ensuring the collective coherence and independence of the board of directors, and strengthening the evaluation system for outside directors.
In a recent escalation of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, reported the destruction of over 75 Israeli combat vehicles. These incidents, detailed in a publication dated December 10, 2023, underscore the intensifying clashes between Hamas militants and the Israeli Army. However, the Israeli government has not confirmed the destruction of Merkava tanks since the beginning of the conflict on October 7, 2023.

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Israeli Army Merkava tank (Left Side) deployed in the Gaza Strip. (Picture source IDF)

The Al-Qassam Brigades specifically mentioned targeting a military bulldozer, a Merkava tank, and a military excavator east of Khan Yunis, a city in the southern part of Gaza. Additionally, they claimed to have bombed a group of Israeli soldiers operating in the northern and eastern sections of the city.

In a strategic shift, the northern Gaza Valley became a focal point, with Hamas stating it targeted Israeli command rooms in the southern axis of Gaza City using 114mm calibre short-range rockets.

This surge in violence follows the breakdown of a temporary truce on December 1, 2023. Israel's response has been marked by an intensified bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Galant, acknowledging the rising cost of the conflict, admitted on Tuesday that the Israeli army has faced significant challenges and losses.

The Israeli media, on December 7, reported an increase in military fatalities, with the death toll reaching 92 since the ground invasion of Gaza commenced in late October. Hamas contends that the actual number of Israeli casualties is higher than reported, suggesting that Israel is downplaying the figures to maintain public support and avoid negative impacts on the government's approval ratings.

In the Gaza War, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, prioritized targeting Israeli Merkava tanks. The Merkava, a main battle tank of the Israel Defense Forces, is renowned for its advanced armor and protection systems. The focus on these tanks by the Al-Qassam Brigades was part of their strategy to counter the technological superiority of the Israeli military.

To achieve this, the Al-Qassam Brigades used anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), which are effective against armored vehicles. These missiles are capable of penetrating heavy armor, posing a significant threat to tanks like the Merkava. Additionally, the group employed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and land mines, which could be used in ambushes against Israeli armored columns or patrols.

Furthermore, the Al-Qassam Brigades also relied on their knowledge of the local terrain in Gaza to conduct guerilla-style warfare. This involved hit-and-run tactics, allowing them to strike unexpectedly and then retreat into the densely populated urban areas, complicating the response from the Israeli forces.

Overall, the targeting of Merkava tanks by the Al-Qassam Brigades during the Gaza War reflected a strategic approach to counter the military capabilities of Israel, using a combination of advanced weaponry and guerilla warfare tactics tailored to the challenging environment of the Gaza Strip.

According to open-source information, the HAMAS militants are equipped with Russian-made PG-7VR anti-tank rockets and Kornet anti-tank guided missiles that can be used to destroy tanks such as the Israeli Merkava.

The PG-7VR is a type of anti-tank rocket designed for use with RPG launchers. It features a tandem HEAT (High Explosive Antitank) shaped charge, a design that enhances its effectiveness against a wide range of targets. This design enables it to penetrate and cause significant damage to various types of tanks, both heavy and light armored vehicles, as well as structures made of reinforced concrete and brick. Additionally, it is effective against enemy personnel located within buildings and fortifications. One of the key advantages of the PG-7VR rocket is its cost-effectiveness, combined with its high penetration power and destructive capability.

The Kornet anti-tank guided missile is a sophisticated Russian weapon system, notable for its exceptional range and armor-piercing capabilities. It boasts an effective engagement range of up to 5.5 kilometers, allowing for long-distance targeting of enemy assets. The missile employs a potent tandem-charge warhead, designed to effectively penetrate and neutralize modern armored vehicles, including those equipped with reactive armor. Its armor penetration capability is formidable, exceeding 1,000-1,200 mm of Rolled Homogeneous Armor (RHA) after reactive armor, making it highly effective against even the most heavily armored tanks. The Kornet's precision and power, combined with its extended range, make it a critical asset in anti-tank warfare, capable of taking out targets at distances and with effectiveness that few other systems in its class can match.

Hamas Israel War 2023
Bangladesh Elections: Rise of Dummy Candidates as a Political Strategy

In the 2014 Assembly elections, the Mahasamund constituency in Chhattisgarh had grabbed headlines because the BJP candidate there, Chandu Lal Sahu, had 10 other namesakes contesting the poll from the same seat, deployed by a rival to confuse the voter and cut into the BJP vote. Ajit Jogi was the Congress candidate at Mahasamund in that election. We dont know whether the copycat Sahus were his handiwork. But the strategy almost worked. Jogi lost the election by the skin of his teeth -- just 1,217 votes.

The 10 namesakes were what we in Indian electoral jargon describe as dummies, who are used all the time across the country as a strategic sideshow in our polls, fielded by candidates with the intention of misleading voters and hurting opponents.

But that definition is being rewritten as we speak. Because about 1,000 km east of Mahasamund, in neighbouring Bangladesh, the national general election of January 7, 2024 is turning dummy candidates from being electoral adjuncts into the mainstream. Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina has decreed that no Awami League candidate should win the election uncontested; if there is no Opposition candidate, then the Awami League candidate must ensure there is a dummy candidate and defeat him or her in the vote in order to be a legitimate winner.

In short, dummy candidates seem to be getting deployed to lend legitimacy to an election that has come under a cloud because the main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has declared a boycott of the poll. The BNP wanted the polls held under a neutral government. The Awami League said this would be unconstitutional.

But the BNPs boycott has put the ruling Awami League under pressure, especially since the United States has started scanning how the elections in this China-friendly country are being conducted. Yes, that is easily the most important reason for US interest in Bangladesh: Dhakas proximity to Beijing and the latters enormous investments in that country.

The Awami Leagues strategy to deflect the American glare appears to be to deploy dummies so that the polls seem to be vigorously contested, even if it really turns into an intra-party affair.

Some figures that may help understand the situation. The Bangladesh Jatiya Sansad, or Parliament, has 300 seats. The country has 44 registered parties. Fifteen of those parties make up the Jatiya Oikya Front, headed by the BNP under former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, currently under house arrest. This front is boycotting the polls as it did in 2014. So, the number of parties fighting the elections is around 30. Of those, 14 parties form the ruling Awami League-led Grand Alliance.

According to data in The Dhaka Tribune newspaper, attributed to the Bangladesh Election Commission, of the 2,741 nominations filed, 298 are by the Awami League, 747 by Independents, the rest by other parties including Jatiya Party, the Trinamool BNP (that has broken away from the BNP), the Bangladesh Nationalist Movement, the Kalyan Party and so on. The final number of candidates contesting the January 7 polls will emerge only after December 17, the last date for withdrawal of nominations.

The Awami League may have filed 298 nominations, but the number of party members who had aspired to a ticket was a mammoth 3,369. The nominations left more than 3,000 party members disappointed, among them 71 sitting MPs. So, when Sheikh Hasina encouraged dummy candidates, there was a stampede. Of the 747 Independents, 440 are reported to be Awami League members. Around 30 of them are former Awami League MPs.

The dummies are, however, are supposed to be just that, dummies, and not rebel candidates.

All Awami League members who have filed nominations as dummies must reportedly have the partys blessings. This is leading to some heartburn. Some dummy Awami League candidates have being quoted in the local media saying they are not fighting the polls to lose.

While dummies have to have the blessings of the Awami League, there are other Independents who are not associated with the ruling party. Reports suggest that many such Independents were persuaded to file nominations by coercive intelligence agencies to fluff up the numbers.

What if a large number of Independents and/or dummies are elected? London-based political analyst Kamal Ahmed writes: The strategy could backfire if an unusually large number of Independents are elected. It could allow disgruntled allies and party rebels to gang up and form a powerful bloc, causing a larger split in the ruling alliance.

But the Awami League doesnt appear worried about such consequences. Its focus is to pull off an election that looks hard fought. Bangladesh knows that the world is watching.

THE WORLD IS WATCHING

Bangladesh has been under the scanner ever since Sheikh Hasina came to power in 2009 in an election held under a neutral government. She removed that same neutral government provision from the Constitution in 2011. That resulted in the Opposition boycotting the next general election in 2014. In 2018, the BNP participated but widespread reports of rigging on the night before polling day cast a deep shadow on the results.

Since 2018, Dhakas proximity to Beijing as well as to Moscow has grown, the last one on clear display during the Ukraine stand-off. It was something that made the US uncomfortable and resulted in its new Visa Policy to Promote Democratic Elections in Bangladesh in May, denying visas to officials suspected of scuttling free polls in the country, and to members of their families too.

Sheikh Hasina accused the US of meddling in its internal affairs. China and Russia backed Sheikh Hasina. India kept a low profile in this debate till it had to take a position. In the November 2+2 meetings with the United States in New Delhi, Bangladesh was discussed but not mentioned in the joint statement signalling, experts say, a difference of opinion.

After the meeting, at a press conference, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra, however, spelt out Indias position. The election in Bangladesh is their internal matter, and it is for the people of Bangladesh to decide their future. As a close friend and partner of Bangladesh, we respect the domestic process there and will continue to support the countrys vision of a stable, peaceful, and progressive nation.

For India, stability in the neighbourhood and, in the face of US pressure, a government that has kept its word and cracked down on insurgency and fundamentalism clearly won the day. India will be watching the January 7 polls and the election results very closely. Dummies or not.
by Shafique Khokhar

Forced conversions, child brides, and abuse of blasphemy laws are just a few examples. Christian and Hindu girls and young women are especially targeted in the Muslim-majority country. Greater commitment and accountability are needed from police, government, and judiciary. In one year, 3,914 rapes, 664 cases of domestic violence, 174 honour killings, and 44 acid attacks were recorded in Punjab alone.

Lahore (AsiaNews)  Religious minorities in Pakistan face human rights violations daily, including forced conversions, child brides, and attacks using and abusing, laws and regulations such as those on blasphemy, often used against rivals or to settle personal disputes. The problem is especially acute for Christian and Hindu girls and young women.

Given this ever-present emergency, some prominent figures and advocacy groups made an appeal yesterday, 10 December, Human Rights Day. Celebrated around the world, the observance commemorates the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948, 75 years ago.

The appeal is addressed to Pakistans police, judiciary, government officials, and political leaders to enforce the law and protect those who are victims of abuse.

Many civil society groups urge the government to uphold legal and administrative safeguards to protect ethnic and religious minorities from human rights violations and abuses.

Successive governments have introduced a legal framework and established national human rights institutions, explained Fr Abid Tanvir, vicar general of the diocese of Faisalabad; however, women, people with disabilities, and religious minorities are still facing discrimination and exploitation for the lack of political will and insufficient allocation of resources to institutions.

Shazia George echoes such sentiments. A former member of the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW), she currently is the executive director of the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM).

Last year, Punjab recorded 3,914 incidents of rape, 664 cases of domestic violence, 174 instances of honour killing, 44 cases of acid throwing, and 14 incidents of forced marriages, she explained. This demonstrates a weak implementation mechanism that undermines the effectiveness of existing laws.

Joseph Jansen, president of Voice for Justice (VFJ), notes that Pakistan has received aid and its economy has benefited from engaging with international partners and human rights institutions since 2014.

In particular, the European Union has renewed the Asian countrys GPS+[*] status for another four years. Under this mechanism, the EU provides special incentives for countries that protect rights, workers, the environment, etc. But in the case of Pakistan, the EU has also expressed concerns in a recent assessment report about its lack of progress in human rights.

For Ashiknaz Khokhar, the EU report points to Pakistan's chronic shortcomings in protecting religious freedom and minority rights; he urges the government to make greater efforts to implement UN recommendations.

Shamaun Alfred drew attention to the case of Anwar Kenneth (pictured), who has been behind bars on blasphemy charges for more than two decades, calling for his acquittal.

Finally, Nadia Stephen said that the government should take steps to ensure equal rights, protect citizens' lives and property, and address outstanding issues through reforms.

To this end, it should criminalise forced conversions, amend blasphemy laws to prevent blasphemy-related abuses, and introduce a regulatory framework to prevent hate crimes and mob violence.

[*] Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus.
A month after Operation 1111 began, ethnic militias reportedly overwhelm junta forces, and are now close to complete control of the state capital, Loikaw, and Moebye, a strategically important township. Meanwhile, the civilian death toll continues to rise: At least 82 have been killed since the start of the offensive.

Yangon (AsiaNews)  A month after the start of the military offensive against Myanmars army in Kayah State, ethnic Karenni forces have taken control of the capital Loikaw and the strategic township of Moebye, the Karenni Army (KA) reported.

Together with the Karenni National Defence Force (KNDF) and the People's Defence Force, a paramilitary movement opposed to the junta, KA launched Operation 1111 in the border area between Shan and Kayah.

A KA source told Radio Free Asia (RFA) that the rebels control all of Moebye township, with the exception of an area held by Battalion 422, and "80% of the city of Loikaw".

"We are carrying out attacks very cautiously to avoid civilian casualties and damage," said Colonel Phone Naing. We will first remove all the junta troops, then we will set up an administrative mechanism there.

One of the pillars of the junta", the Kayah State Police Headquarters, under the control of the Myanmar Home Affairs Ministry, was demolished.

While waiting to set up an administration to replace the junta, the militias have taken control of security to protect the population.

For political analyst Than Soe Naing, Loikaws strategic importance is crucial for the control and supply of other cities in Kayah State.

Recently, the junta blocked humanitarian aid from reaching the population, even going so far as to occupy the cathedral in an attempt to punish rebels and civilians and shield themselves in a sacred place.

The city is almost under control, the analyst said. However, it cannot be said that it has been fully controlled as the main camp is still in the hands of the junta, and they are still using Loikaw airport for reinforcements and other military supplies.

Meanwhile, the Karenni Humanitarian Aid Initiative (KHAI) is reporting that at least 82 civilians died between 11 November (start of Operation 1111) and 8 December: 39 men, 18 women, 12 minors, two novice monks, and 11 people who could not be identified.

Of these, 43 were killed by artillery shelling, 24 in airstrikes, and 15 by small arms fire. KHAI said the junta carried out 353 airstrikes on Loikaw over 20 days between 11 and 30 November, with about 10,000 people trapped without means of escape.

A KHAI member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that those displaced by the fighting in Kayah State are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
by Dario Salvi

In this interview with AsiaNews, Avi Dabush, executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights, looks back at the tragic hours when terrorists attacked Kibbutz Nirim. Despite the fear and the violence, he considers the release of the hostages to be paramount and has launched a new outreach programme in the West Bank. For him, it is time to work for rights and justice. In Gaza, the parish of the Holy Family was also hit; a water tank and solar panels were destroyed.

Milan (AsiaNews)  Avi Dabush, executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights, an organisation that works for peace and coexistence through direct aid to Palestinian communities, victims of harassment and violence in the West Bank, clearly remembers the attack on 7 October.

He remembers the "fear" for his family and children, spending "over eight hours" hiding while Hamas terrorists roamed around his kibbutz, Nirim, holding the door handle of the safe room, as a last and extreme form of defence.

In this interview with AsiaNews, he renews his appeal for and commitment to the release of the hostages still held in Gaza, which he considers a priority, worried about the spread of the war "in Khan Yunis, where we know that other prisoners are detained".

At a time when the Israeli government is pressing for war, with the death toll in Gaza exceeding 18,000, mostly civilians, including women and children, working on "human rights" and "space, rights, and opportunity" for all in the Holy Land is key.

The ongoing fighting has not spared Gazas Latin parish of the Holy Family, which was struck last weekend by shrapnel during Israeli attacks that destroyed water tanks and roof solar panels, as well as some cars and parts of the church compound.

The interview with Avi Dabush follows:

Almost two months after Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel, what do you remember of those terrible events?

I remember most, the horror of the event, the fear, for the children, for my family. We were hiding in our safe room for eight hours totally alone, the army was not there and our kibbutz, Nirim, was overrun with terrorists. As someone who works in the field of human rights, I look back at these events as a terrible abuse of human rights, something which must never happen to anyone, anywhere.

Which is the most vivid memory that has stuck with you the most?

For hours, I held the door handle of the safe room, hearing terrorists outside. This will always stay with me.

Did the days of truce, when prisoners were exchanged, give hope for a solution or at least a de-escalation of the conflict?

I am coordinating the kibbutzs support and response for our hostages in Gaza. I am in favour of having a ceasefire for the return of hostages. This is a major focus for me. We are dealing with a highly complex event, or series of events, with human rights suffering in many different contexts and among different communities. For me the return of the hostages, my neighbours and friends, is of the utmost importance.

What did you feel seeing the release of some of the people kidnapped by Hamas during the attack? Does hope remain alive for the others still in the hands of the kidnappers?

There was huge joy, personal, family, and communal, on the return of the hostages. Of the five hostages from Kibbutz Nirim, three were released and this was a crucial moment for us. But this was accompanied by a growing fear for those still in captivity. We started to get an understanding of the conditions, and we are deeply worried for those still kidnapped. Seeing the war operation in Khan Yunis, where we know hostages are being held, is really worrying.

What happened, the October 7th attack, is a horror. Palestinian voices are talking about a 'horror' taking place in the Gaza Strip, with innocent victims among civilians. Are these two different horrors the two sides of the same coin?

From a human rights perspective, any harm to a civilian population must be denounced. This value does not differ from population to population; it is a human right. We are only too aware of the results of war and we must hold on to the equal value of a human life, which is at great threat at this time.

Is it possible, in your opinion, to get out or overcome this logic of confrontation, revenge, of wall against wall? Some people are afraid of an escalation or widening of the conflict to the West Bank . . .

Ultimately the only solution is a diplomatic one. There must be a formal agreement between Israel, Palestinian entities, regional leaders, the United States, and the international community. It is clear that we have reached a dead end in policy around managing the conflict, and the political thinking needs to change. With the involvement of the international community, we have more chance of creating the climate for such a solution.

In this framework of conflict, of violence, how can the battle for human rights be pursued?

Our organisation, Rabbis for Human Rights, was founded over 30 years ago during the first Intifada. It was a time when Israeli society first became aware of the occupation and the Palestinian story. I, myself, have spent much time in Palestinian towns; Gaza was our main city when I grew up in Ashkelon! But we were not aware of the situation. So our organisation was founded during conflict, and since then we have experienced many forms of recurring conflict. And this is the key time for human rights work, during conflict. We hope, pray and work that this terrible round of conflict will be the last, and that we may come to a realisation that the only future here is where there is space, rights, and opportunity for everyone.

The latest military escalation is the bloodiest in 50 years, many observers say, a consequence of opposing extremisms on the two fronts. Is there space for dialogue between Hamas and Israels ultra-right-wing government?

We know from history that extremists, from different sides, strengthen each other. They create the two sides of the coin. It is not a coincidence that this conflict comes at the time of the most extreme government Israel has known. For exactly this reason we need to reject extremism. Before the war began, I was running weekly demonstrations against the government in Beersheba (in opposition to Netanyahus controversial justice reform). We need to create a new paradigm where dialogue and partnership are rewarded; through these values we can reject extremism.

What are Netanyahu's political responsibilities in this scenario?

I am not a political commentator. Our role is to help design the solutions, not prophesies. My feeling is that Netanyahu has lost his right to a seat at the leadership table. The leadership we need to develop must be serious and responsible and will have different values and an agenda for how to resolve the conflict.

Has the focus on the West Bank, the territories, the settlements, on the domestic clash over justice, left aside the Gaza issue? To what extent did this influence the current situation?

We have witnessed a severe escalation in settler violence in the West Bank since the start of the war. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports three times more attacks, and we are certainly seeing this on the ground, starting with violence in agriculture. I just saw today a film, from our Palestinian coordinator, of settlers harvesting olives from Palestinian-owned trees, to horrendous attacks with weapons that have taken innocent lives. We have been calling to every possible body, the Israeli army, the government, and in the international arena, to crack down and end this terrorism. Rabbis for Human Rights is based on Jewish thought and values, so we call settler violence, Jewish terrorism; it is based on a hateful ideology, and very far from the Judaism of peace and justice we espouse.

We are also witnessing an economic crisis in the West Bank, with hundreds of thousands unable to continue their work in Israel and having no income for two months. The olive harvest, that we usually provide protective presence for, was much curtailed by the army and Jewish terrorism, and all the Palestinian farmers we are in touch with were unable to get to many of the areas where their trees are. Prices are also increasing in the West Bank due to lack of freedom of movement, supply chain and more. So now we have started a new project for humanitarian aid  delivering basic food parcels to the most vulnerable communities in the West Bank.

How do you feel and what do you think of the situation, yourself and all the people like you who have promoted and worked for peace, reconciliation, and dialogue in the past?

I am absolutely worried! These are very difficult times for anyone who believes in human rights, dignity, and peace. It is clear to us that we must be active at this time, we must pray with our feet and model actions that speak louder than words. This is why we are working harder in the West Bank. When we go out to provide a protective presence for Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest, we are advancing peace. Now what we need to do is create more partnerships, coalitions of all those who share these values of peace, human rights, and justice. Strengthening these coalitions, between Jews and Palestinians, will create an alternative, and lead societies to adopt the values which are needed.

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by Mathias Hariyadi

The ongoing wave of migration to Indonesia is the strongest since 2017, when the harshest persecution in Myanmar began. Discontent is mounting among the population, especially in Aceh province. President Joko Widodo: 'Tough action against human traffickers, temporary assistance only for refugees'.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - The inhabitants of the province of Aceh, the westernmost province on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, are increasingly demonstrating publicly - in the streets and via social media - their discontent towards the influx of Rohingya migrants, the population mostly more Muslim who was the target of persecution by the Burmese army in 2017 (subject of a United Nations investigation for genocide).

The Rohingya who today are also fleeing the civil war in their country. Over the last few weeks, more than 1000 people have disembarked, crossing almost 2,000 kilometers to escape to Indonesia or Malaysia. The current wave of migration is the largest since the military persecution of 2017.

Some of the more than 300 Rohingya refugees who arrived on Indonesia's western shores on Sunday were moved to a temporary shelter during a visit by a United Nations representative. A group of 135 refugees, mostly women and children, have been moved to a temporary shelter in Aceh Besar.

However, the local population blocked the main access road, so these Rohingya were sent, escorted by law enforcement, to another government compound in Aceh province. Last Wednesday, according to some amateur footage circulating on social media, dozens of police blocked a group of around 150 protesters who were trying to break down a gate and pushing the officers to reach the area where the migrants were housed.

This sentiment also gained ground following the message from President Joko Widodo who explicitly spoke of a government plan to bring back almost 1,500 Rohingya to Myanmar. Widodo who at the same time also spoke of "illegal trafficking of human beings" widespread among refugees: "I was informed - the president said last Friday - of the growing number of Rohingya refugees arriving in Indonesia, especially in the province of Aceh" . Jokowi added that Indonesian authorities will not hesitate to take tough action to combat human traffickers, providing temporary humanitarian assistance to refugees only.

President Widodo also instructed his subordinates to address the issue with the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) based on data provided by the Indonesian Minister for Political Affairs and Security, Mohammad Mahfund Mahmodin, who spoke of at least 1,478 refugees Rohingya present in Aceh: "The local population of some Indonesian provinces such as Aceh, northern Sumatra and Riau - said the minister - is burdened by their arrival".

Rafendi Djamin, regional director for South-East Asia and the Pacific at Amnesty International and member of the Advisory Board of the ASEAN Network, said: "Jakarta is normatively bound by international laws for the reception of asylum seekers and refugees and is expected treat these Rohingya refugees appropriately".

In response, however, Minister Mahfud maintains that Indonesia "is not legally bound to the United Nations Convention on Refugees. Therefore, we are not forced by the UNHCR to provide temporary assistance, but if is provided to them only for purely humanitarian reasons, he concluded in the wake of Malaysia and Australia's declarations that they will no longer welcome Rohingya refugees.
by Steve Suwannarat

The Chinese president began a two-day visit to Vietnam aiming for greater cooperation but will not be able to ignore territorial disputes caused by Beijing's unilateral changes to maps in the South China Sea. Hanoi wants to get the maximum economic benefits from its "bamboo diplomacy".

Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Hanoi today for a visit that follows that of his US counterpart, Joe Biden, in September, which significantly improved diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States.

Xi's talks with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Communist Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong are aimed at boosting relations between the two countries, characterised by historical enmities and alliances underpinned in the past by shared ideological basis, now replaced by a strong trading relationship.

During the two-day visit to Vietnam, which began with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, the foreign guest will not be able to ignore territorial disputes that his government has sparked with unilateral changes to its maps of the South China Sea to include areas claimed by Vietnam, against a backdrop of past armed confrontations.

Shared borders, economic relations, and ruling parties with similar ideological bases in both countries are essential elements for a relationship that began with normalisation of diplomatic relations in 1991.

However, Chinas claims, backed by a growing military presence in the South China Sea, have pushed Hanoi to seek ever closer relations with Washington.

The US has long been committed to countering Chinese expansionism in the region, which has the most intense maritime traffic in the world, with several countries allied with Washington or at least accessible to US air and naval power.

Closer US-Vietnamese ties worry China, whose exclusive strategic partnership with Vietnam was lost two months ago in favour of the United States.

For this reason, ahead of Xi's visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin was keen to stress that the visit also aims at bringing China-Vietnam relations to a higher position with an agenda that includes "politics, security, practical cooperation, the formation of public opinion, multilateral issues and maritime issues.

For Vietnam, the visit by such an eminent guest confirms the success of its "bamboo diplomacy", i.e. seeking maximum economic benefit from its friendship with the People's Republic of China while keeping doors open to investments and exports from the United States and countries allied with Washington, using the latters influence and deterrence to ensure its own security.
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By Yoon Ja-young

The National Tax Service (NTS) held its 26th annual Korea-China Commissioners Meeting in Beijing, China, last week after a four-year break, to exchange opinions and enhance collaborative efforts on major tax issues.

According to the tax office, the meeting on Dec. 5 with Chinas State Taxation Administration dealt with the current tax administrative challenges of each country and ways to facilitate the effectiveness of the Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) and Advanced Pricing Arrangement (APA) to resolve double taxation issues for companies entering each market.

Additionally, the commissioners pledged to provide active taxpayer support and create a tax environment conducive to businesses making stable investments and focusing on management activities.

Both tax authorities acknowledged the increasing importance of taxpayer-centric tax administration amid heightened economic uncertainty. They shared experiences in improving taxpayer convenience and supporting the economy in their respective countries.

The NTS presented recent progress regarding digital innovation, such as changes to Korea's HomeTax system and the introduction of an AI tax assistant service, along with various tax support measures for small and medium-sized enterprises including corporate tax deductions and an exemption advice program.

Furthermore, both commissioners emphasized the importance of actively addressing the issue of double taxation for taxpayers. They shared the operation status of the MAP and APA systems between the two countries and discussed future directions for development.

The NTS Commissioner Kim Chang-ki proposed various methods to swiftly resolve double taxation issues including exchanges of position papers before the MAP and APA discussions and the expansion of both face-to-face and virtual meetings. In addition, commissioners agreed to activate working-level exchanges to strengthen tax cooperation between the two countries by sharing experiences and knowledge.

Prior to the commissioners meeting, Kim had a meeting with representatives of Korean companies in China, where he listened to their challenges and suggestions and delivered them to STA. He also requested active tax administrative support for Korean companies and people.

We will continue to engage in active tax diplomacy, sharing Korea's tax innovation practices with the international community and providing active support to maintain the competitiveness of overseas Korean companies from a taxation perspective, the tax office noted.
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Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky has again travelled to the United States in a bid to obtain additional assistance in his war against Russia. The Ukrainian leader is scheduled to meet with his US counterpart, Joe Biden, as well as members of Congress in Washington.

According to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, Biden will assure Zelensky that the White House stands firm in its request to provide billions in additional aid to Ukraine.

However, congressional approval of Ukraine's funding is one of the main challenges Zelensky will face during his time in Washington.

For months now, as is also the case in some European countries such as Hungary, several members of Congress have expressed their refusal to continue funding Ukraine, which will be in its second year of war next February.

The United States has been Ukraine's main supporter during the Russian invasion. Since the beginning of the war, Washington has provided Kiev with more than $44 billion in security assistance, which is roughly half of the military aid Ukraine has received, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

I met with leaders of US defense companies and expressed my gratitude to every American worker who manufactures weapons that help us safeguard our people and defend our land.



I appreciated all American companies that attended last week's US-Ukraine defense industry conference. pic.twitter.com/B82hyH2BUZ  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) December 11, 2023

"It is unlikely that other countries will be able to make up the shortfall if Washington withdraws," notes Ian Lovett in The Wall Street Journal. Also, "many US weapons systems already in Ukraine need US munitions", he adds.

Before meeting with Biden and addressing Congress, Zelensky spoke at the National Defense University in Washington, noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeing his "dreams come true" because of delays in assistance to Kiev.

"Each of you here understands what it means for a soldier to wait for ammunition: to wait weeks, months, not knowing if any support will arrive," said the Ukrainian president, who said that freedom was weakening when "support for freedom fighters diminishes".

Zelensky received a standing ovation after his speech at the National University in Washington.



The Ukrainian President declared:

'We won't surrender. We know what to do, and you can count on Ukraine. Similarly, we hope to count on you. It's crucial that politics doesn't betray pic.twitter.com/5GRjlqnvP3  Maria Drutska  (@maria_drutska) December 12, 2023

In the United States, Zelensky also met with the head of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva. Hours before the meeting, the IMF executive board approved a $900 million fund for Ukraine from its $15.6 billion lending programme.

Georgieva stressed that Ukraine's economy has proved resilient despite the Russian invasion in February 2022 and the "enormous social and economic costs" it posed. Kiev has received more than $68.5 billion in budget support since the war began, Finance Ministry data compiled by Reuters show.

I met with the IMF Managing Director @KGeorgieva.



We discussed the review of the long-term financing program for Ukraine and further cooperation for Ukraine's stability and strengthening. I welcome the important decision to allocate a $900 million tranche.



I thanked IMF for pic.twitter.com/FPtwlx3RPh  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) December 11, 2023

Zelensky's visit to the US, the third since the war began in February 2022, comes at a time of stalemate in the conflict. The summer counteroffensive failed to achieve significant victories, despite heavy armaments and high casualties, leaving Russia with almost 20 per cent of Ukraine's territory.

Zelensky also faces great domestic pressure, as his political rivals have begun to openly criticise him while polls show that his public support has declined from 91% in May to 76% in October, according to the International Institute of Sociology in Kiev.
The all-new Tacoma's build & price is live, although be warned that it's not functioning as intended at press time. Retailing at $31,500 (plus $1,495 for destination), the midsizer is quite a bit pricier than Toyota's previous-gen Tacoma. How much pricier?

4WD

Photo: Toyota

kWh

Think $2,900 for the most basic of specifications. For the 2023 model year, that would be the SR with the Access Cab, six-foot beet, 2.7-liter engine, and rear-wheel drive. Said cab was dropped for 2024, meaning that the SR kicks off with the XtraCab and six-foot bed. What's more, Toyota discontinued the aforementioned 2.7 in favor of a four-cylinder turbocharged mill.Both the 2.7- and 3.5-liter engines have been replaced by the i-FORCE turbocharged 2.4-liter I4, which is joined by either an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. The stick shift is limited to a handful of configurations, including the work-oriented SR, but only as long as you get it with the Double Cab.Twinned with the 2024 Toyota Tundra (both are based on the TNGA-F platform), the redesigned Tacoma follows in the footsteps of its larger sibling with a hybrid powertrain. The i-FORCE MAX isn't available right now, though. Series production of the i-FORCE MAX will start no later than April 2024.Rated at 6,500 pounds (2,948 kilograms) for maximum towing capacity and 1,709 pounds (775 kilograms) for maximum payload, the fourth-gen Taco is available in the US in a grand total of six grades. The SR is joined by the highly popular SR5, the rear-drive and XtraCab-only TRD PreRunner, the TRD Sport (can be had with a manual), the TRD Off-Road (rev-matching manual available as well), and the well-equipped Limited. Not long now, the hybrid-only TRD Pro and Trailhunter will be added to the configurator . At the moment of reporting, the Limited is the priciest Tacoma of the bunch at $52,100 withand the high-output I4.High-output I4 what? Similar to GM's Chevrolet Colorado, the Japanese rival (that's actually made in Mexico) features a single powerplant with a variety of tunes. The auto-equipped SR, for example, starts with 228 horsepower and 243 pound-feet (330 Nm) on deck. Upgrading to the manual results in 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet (420 Nm). The SR5 with the automatic improves to 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet (430 Nm). Said differences in peak horsepower and torque further apply to the auto- and manual-equipped TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road.Although not available to configure for the time being, we also know that hybrid-assisted trucks develop 326 horses and 465 pound-feet (630 Nm) at full chatter. In a similar fashion to the Tundra i-FORCE MAX, the Tacoma i-FORCE MAX features a small high-voltage battery (make that 1.87) and a transmission-integrated electric drive unit.Given the added complexity over the previous generation, the 2024 Toyota Tacoma may prove a bit of a headache in the first year of production. Because it's closely related to the third-gen Tundra , there's no denying that we'll be hearing about reliability- and quality-related concerns in the nearest of futures.The Tacoma's main rival in the mid-size truck segment is the Colorado, which starts at $29,200 (sans destination). The Nissan Frontier is $29,930, whereas the Ford Ranger is $32,565. If you prefer unibody, Honda is much obliged to sell you a brand-new Ridgeline for as little as uhm $39,750.
Maeve M80 is the name of a fresh aircraft concept that could take regional aviation by storm in just a few years. It's different from any other alternative aircraft because it was developed based on the customer feedback provided for the Dutch startup's original concept, the all-electric Maeve 01.

Earlier this year, a Dutch startup connected to the reputable TU Delft Campus unveiled the design of a zero-emission, battery-powered aircraft. The Maeve 01 was described as a 44-passenger airliner with a 250 nautical miles (460 km) range and the ability to be fully recharged in just half an hour, thanks to an innovative, fully robotized process.The Maeve 01 sounded promising, but the feedback from potential customers wasn't as positive. They needed a much longer range and a bigger capacity in order to even consider regional operations. The Maeve team got to work and ended up changing its concept drastically. The new product is a hybrid-electric version with a double capacity and upgraded performance.Renamed M80, the new aircraft ditched the original four electric motors in favor of a hybrid-electric configuration. The M80 is also seven meters (23 feet) longer than the previous model and boasts a shorter wing.The 80-seater will be able to cover up to 800 nautical miles (1,480 km), with a maximum cruise speed of 400 knots (740 kph). The main idea is to match the performance of existing turboprops while still offering considerable benefits in terms of lower emissions and operational costs.The state-of-the-art design, combined with the hybrid-electric propulsion, will result in fuel consumption reduction of up to 40% compared to regional jets, which translates to reduced emission levels and costs. Plus, the M80 will also be certified to run on power-to-liquid fuels based on hydrogen and other types of alternative fuels, which could further cut emissions by up to 95%.When it comes to operational costs, the Dutch aircraft promises a 25% lower trip cost compared to regional jets of the same size and a 20% lower seat-mile cost compared to turboprops in the same size category.According to the Dutch company's chief technical officer, Martin Nuesseler, the propulsion system will come from one of the industry's giants, and it will be the first commercial application of that new technology.The bad news is that the drastic design changes also mean delaying the certification process. While the initial electric airliner was due to start flying in 2028 and get the green light by 2030, the M80 aims to be fully certified by 2031.In the meantime, Maeve is negotiating with potential customers among the top air carriers in the world and is also considering expanding its operations to Germany in the near future.
A Fiat 500e customized by Kartell was sold with nine times its usual price. More than a quarter of a million dollars for a Fiat? Well, it is a special Fiat that sold for the money that you would normally buy a Ferrari F8 Tributo, for instance.

Photo: Kartell

The model is making a comeback to the American market after a three-year hiatus. The Italian model was introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2022, but deliveries are set to start in the spring of 2024. The 500e starts at $32,500 before incentives. However, the EPA-rated range of only 149 miles (240 kilometers) might discourage customers.The 500 has always been a fashion icon, so it is fashionably late when it comes to sales. That is so Hollywood. The star of the Fiat lineup, the 500e was also in the spotlight at the Art Basel Miami. There were actually three of them, bearing the signatures of Bvlgari, Armani, and Kartell.The latter was the one which got most of the attention. The model is dressed in a 'monoblock color,' the Kartell blue, which is derived from the companys Yves Klein blue. The wheels and mirror caps found inspiration in Kartells Kabuki lamp.The front grille, wheel, and mirror caps are made of polycarbonate recycled from what Kartell calls "end-of-life parabolic projectors." Tactile textile plastics, which are 100% recycled polypropylene and polyester, show up in the customized cabin. Transparent polycarbonate covers the dashboard.All three jewels from Bvlgari, Armani, and Kartell sold for an incredible $600,000. But the Kartell variant was the one that enticed the most. It sold for a staggering $275,000. That is almost nine times the usual price of the model.The 500e Bvlgari was auctioned off for $175,000, while the Armani variant will find its way to the driveway of someone who paid $150,000 to take it home. All sold for double the estimate.None of the vehicles can be driven in the United States because they do not comply with the motor vehicle safety standards in the country. That means that the buyers will have to go through quite a complicated procedure. They will have to export the vehicles to their point of origin, Italy, before the sale of the vehicle can be transacted and the title can be transferred.Following the securing of the title in the origin country, the buyers will receive the necessary documentation that will allow them to export the vehicles out of Italy and into the country they choose.The Fiat 500e is powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor, which delivers 116 horsepower (118 PS) and 162 lb-ft (220 Nm) of torque. Top speed is rated at 93 mph (150 kph), while the minuscule 500e takes 9 seconds to hit 62 mph (100 kph) from a standstill.
Ford is cutting the production of the F-150 Lightning by half in 2024. The move comes following an ever decreasing demand for EVs.

EV

Photo: Ford

For the past few weeks, there have been rumors about thedemand slowdown, with Ford warning that it is imminent. The Dearborn-based carmaker is doing everything possible to reduce loss and is reportedly slashing the production of the F-150 Lightning The move, which is a major reversal, comes after Ford boosted production capacity to 150,000 units per year starting in 2023 at the company's Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan. That is three times the original planned production capacity.Ford is currently rolling out around 3,200 units per week at the Dearborn assembly plant. The numbers will be reduced in half, as the company is planning to cut 1,600 units of those produced, in 2024, according to a memo from Ford to suppliers cited by Automotive News. The reason for the decision would be the changing market demand.The company is canceling or postponing the $12 billion investment in the development and production of EVs. Fords motivation does not necessarily have a corresponden e in reality. According to a report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Americans purchased one million EVs in 2023. It is a record-breaking figure.Never before has the local car industry sold so many electric cars in a year. And 2023 is not over yet. Automakers, though, were expecting more, but high prices and poor infrastructures in some areas must have scared off customers.There are currently around 2.4 million EVs registered in the United States, with more than one third of them (36 percent) being registered in California.Automotive giants such as Ford, General Motors, and Volkswagen announced a slowdown on their electrification plans, in terms of financial investments.Ford sold 20,365 F-150 Lightnings so far this year, up by 53 percent compared to last years 13,258 units. 4,400 units were sold in November, up by 113 percent, a record month, according to the companys CEO, Jim Farley. The carmaker accounted for a little over 8 percent of all electric vehicles sold in the United States.The Blue Oval electric lineup also includes the Mustang Mach-E and the E-Transit van. During the companys 3Q call in November, Ford announced that the production of the Mustang Mach-E would also be slowed down. Furthermore, the second BlueOval SK JV battery plant in Kentucky is also under question right now.Fords main competitors are Rivians R1T and Teslas Cybertruck. Tesla will ramp up production at the Giga factory in Austin, Texas, in 2024, to keep up with the reservations piling up since 2019. Meanwhile, Rivian did not announce any plans on slowing down production.
The United States will continue to pursue diplomacy with North Korea despite "well founded" skepticism over the recalcitrant regime's willingness for dialogue, a State Department official said Monday.

Matthew Miller, the department's spokesperson, made the remarks after Kurt Campbell, the nominee for deputy secretary of state, expressed concerns during a recent Senate confirmation hearing that Pyongyang appears to have decided it is no longer interested in diplomacy with Washington.

"I will say that we will continue to encourage diplomacy with North Korea. That has been our policy all along," Miller told a press briefing.

"But I think it's safe to say that his skepticism is well founded given that we have seen North Korea refuse to accept our offer to pursue diplomatic alternatives since the beginning of this administration," he added, referring to Campbell's remarks.

During the hearing on Thursday last week, Campbell, currently the National Security Council coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs, voiced skepticism over the prospects of the North's return to dialogue and stressed the need to focus "even more" on deterrence.

Campbell was apparently referring to last month's statement by Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which ruled out the possibility of the North resuming dialogue with the U.S.

Tensions flared anew after Pyongyang conducted a satellite launch, which Seoul, Washington and other countries have criticized as a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions banning any launch using ballistic missile technology. (Yonhap)
The most important thing Google Maps needs to know to do its magic is your location, as the application must determine where you are to provide features like navigation.

Photo: Google

Photo: Google

Photo: Google

Despite the obvious benefits of letting Google Maps know your location , privacy-conscious users believe the application should always track their whereabouts.Location History and the Timeline are two important features bundled with Google Maps. And the way they work is part of this set of concerns hitting some devices.Location History allows Google Maps to track your locations and power features like the Timeline. If you haven't used Timeline before, you should, as the feature remembers all the places you've been and then offers information on your visits.You can access the Timeline on the web and see where you traveled, letting you remove the data as often as you want. Location History also comes with an auto-delete setting that automatically purges all information every 18 months.While Location History is off by default in Google Maps, privacy advocates criticized the search giant for uploading location information to its servers. Your location data was collected from Google Maps running on your device and uploaded to the cloud for further processing. The information you could see in Timeline was stored in the cloud.Google knows it was a major shortcoming, so this new privacy update changes the approach by saving all Timeline data on the device. The location information won't leave your smartphone, be it an iPhone or an Android device, and Google promises you'll also get the essential tools to remove all or part of the information. Additionally, you'll be allowed to disable Timeline completely if you don't want a history of your locations to be stored.Google also makes changes to the automatic removal option. While the data is now deleted every 18 months, the company drops this setting to three months by default.The Mountain View-based search giant knows that providing users with more data controls is integral to their experience, and now that Google Maps and location data privacy are getting an overhaul, the available options will also receive an update.For example, users can disable Location History entirely if they don't want to use its capabilities. On the other hand, they can also ignore the change that keeps all data on the device and stick with the current approach, allowing all the location information to be uploaded to the cloud. Google says this is a recommended step for anyone who doesn't want to lose their data when changing their mobile devices (or when getting a new smartphone). Because the data is stored locally, when you get a new phone, you'll have to migrate the location data, too. As a result, Google says the easiest way will be to upload it to the cloud, in which case you'll see it on the new device when logging in with your Google account.Privacy-obsessed users might fear that their data could be accessed while stored in the cloud, but that won't be the case. Google says everything will be automatically encrypted so nobody can read it. Not even the parent company that is.Additionally, the new auto-delete control for Location History will be set to three months, but users can always extend the period and have it removed later. If they don't want the automatic removal, that's fine, as Google will let users disable the feature, too.Google Maps also stores activity related to specific places , showing the information on the application when searching for a certain location. The company will soon bring all the place-related information in the same place, displaying all visits you've made to the location and letting you remove the data with a single tap. The feature will be available on Android and iOS in the coming weeks under a dedicated section for each location you visit on Google Maps.Last but not least, Google Maps will also make it easier to access all activity controls related to the location information stored on your device. The application will require just a single tap on the blue dot, which shows your location on Google Maps , to see if Location History or Timeline settings are enabled and find out if the application can access your location (you can also do this from your device's privacy settings, though it's more of a no-brainer that Google Maps doesn't have access to your location if it can't tell you where you are and show your location on the map).Tapping the blue dot will also provide access to other handy tools, including location sharing and calibration, should Google Maps not work correctly (something you should do when the application doesn't correctly determine your location and places you in the middle of nowhere on the map).This feature will also debut on Android and iPhone in the coming weeks.
SUV

EV

Sure, the comparison between a turbo V8-equipped crossoverand an edgy full-sizepickup truck might be farfetched. But they did it anyway, and hopefully, the new darling of the quarter-mile drag racing community will keep it confined to the local dragstrip rather than the streets. If not, and they were in Italy, they would quickly find their match.Nope, it's not the latest Lamborghini Urus Performante Polizia special service vehicle  it's the good old radio: nothing travels faster than radio waves when you break the law. Anyway, as far as the bespoke Urus Performante we see dressed in white and light blue with details like yellow and blue checkered decals and the Italian flag, this one is not trying to catch anyone  just help save lives.According to the automaker, Automobili Lamborghini and the Italian "Polizia di Stato" have been in a fruitful partnership for two decades  and now the Sant'Agata Bolognese automaker has prepared a Urus Performante for the Italian Highway Police that will enter service next year after the recent presentation in Rome. This bespoke super-SUV is actually "fitted out for organ transport and special services," so it's not precisely chasing any bad guys.Of course, it also got a lovely little ceremony to mark the special occasion - Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, handed the SUV's keys to Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi in the presence of Head of Police Vittorio Pisani right in front of everyone, in Piazza del Viminale, Rome. As noted by the carmaker, this is the sixth Lambo enjoying active duty alongside the Italian state police's Highway Police fleet  the others are Huracan LP610-4 supercars."It is with great pleasure that we are continuing our twenty-year cooperation with the Italian State Police ," commented Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. "Knowing that our cars are used for public duties and, above all, for crucial operations to save human lives can only make me and the whole company proud. These initiatives, which bring us great satisfaction, demonstrate our innate close ties with Italy."Lamborghini Centro Stile handled the design of the police livery on the Urus Performante; Lamborghini technicians fitted the super-SUV according to police specifications, including the 360-degree blue LED lights on the roof and two-tone electric sirens. Interestingly, although the vehicle is focused on "special services including the urgent medical transport of organs and plasma," inside the cockpit, there is still the full array of police equipment: an armored weapon box, a flip-down message display, plus the special compartment in the trunk containing service equipment and a defibrillator for first aid response, along with a portable fridge for the transportation of organs.
Apple has just released iOS 17.2, a new software update for the iPhone that includes plenty of goodies, starting with support for a translate option on the iPhone 15 Action button and ending with new weather widgets.

Buried into the release notes is also a mention that car owners should consider good news.The Cupertino-based iPhone maker has introduced further tweaks for wireless charging in "certain vehicles," addressing an issue that has previously wreaked havoc for some iPhone 15 Pro buyers.It all started shortly after the debut of the latest-generation iPhone. BMW owners decided that charging an iPhone 15 Pro using the factory-installed wireless adapter bricks the smartphone, frying the NFC sensor , and breaking down features like Apple Pay. Many BMW owners contacted Apple and eventually brought their smartphones to the Apple Store, with the staff offering replacement units and advising them to no longer use the wireless charger in their cars.While it was unclear whether the wireless charger bricked the iPhone, Apple eventually released a software update to resolve the problem, adding that the issue also happened in a small number of Toyota cars. No further specifics were shared, but the bug appeared squashed, with no reports of bricked iPhones.However, iOS 17.2, now available for download, includes additional fixes for the wireless charging experience in the car. However, Apple didn't share any specifics, keeping the fix for "an issue that may prevent wireless charging in certain vehicles" as mysterious as possible. It's unclear what car brands and models were affected.iOS 17.2 is available for all devices that received the main iOS 17 update, namely the iPhone XS and newer. To install the update, you must go to Settings > General > Software update on your iPhone. The process takes only a couple of minutes and requires a device reboot.Other than that, iOS 17.2 doesn't bring any significant changes for drivers. Users have been complaining of other problems with CarPlay, but it looks like Apple ignores all of them, focusing on improvements for the mobile experience.CarPlay has become a major struggle since the debut of iPhone 15, as the switch from Lightning to USB-C proved to be a huge change that made many users confused. Some USB-C cables are charging-only and can't be used for CarPlay, but less tech-savvy people don't know this and end up struggling to get the in-vehicle experience running.Apple has tried to address the confusion first with a Lightning to USB-C adapter and then with a third-party USB-A to USB-C cable sold in its stores, but the company has so far ignored any software refinements for CarPlay.iOS 17.2 also includes a long list of other improvements, and you can find the full changelog in the box after the jump.
1968 was the debut of the third generation of the Corvette, the streamlined sportscar inspired by the Mako Shark concept penned by Lary Shinoda a few years before. The model lasted until 1982  the longest production run of all the eight series of Americas Sportscar  and offered some of the most emblematic Corvettes ever. One example, however, has a story so wild its bound to eclipse anything else in the Corvette world.

The sixties were not the greatest era to possess a brand-new Chevy Vette if the owner didnt have a locked garage or at least didnt stay away from areas notorious for car thievery. New York wasnt the safest place in America regarding car ownership  over 215 cars were stolen every day, on average, during that year.Thats 78,000 automobiles in one year, and the police had a lot of paperwork to process to file the downpour of complaints. By January 22, 6,620 cars had already been reported as stolen. The date is not random  that day, 27-year-old Alan Poster was among those waiting in line at a police station to inform of his missing 1968 convertible Corvette.That would be the end of this article were it not for a series of occurrences that would make a Hollywood blockbuster look dull in comparison. In 2005, a routine inspection by the CBP returned a stolen car alert. A shipping container on its way to Sweden was carrying the same 1968 Corvette once owned by Alan Poster.However, the National Insurance Crime Bureau database didnt say anything about the plaintiff  no name, address, or other means of identification. It was December 7, 2005, and the Customs handed over the case to two detectives in Queens. The men spent four days In the microfilm archive room, painstakingly scrolling through all the records. The deadline set by the CBP was January 1, 2006  if the owner were not found, the car would be shipped to Scandinavia.On December 23, the New York policemen cracked the case and found the owners name after reviewing 500 records and 20,000 files. That didnt end the story , for Alan Poster had relocated to California In the seventies. Tracking him down was a lot easier than linking him to the vehicle in the first place, and one day, his telephone rang.At the other end of the line, one of the two case detectives asked him straight away, 'You had a car stolen in '69? A Corvette? What color was it?' Mr. Poster replied, 'Blue.' The New Yorker landed his punchline: 'We have your car.' At first, Alan Poster thought it was a terrible joke, and it took the policeman a while to convince him otherwise.After nearly 37 years, his beloved $6,000 Corvette was back with him. Incredibly, it was still in one piece , very much functional and good-looking, albeit with many modifications. The original Le Mans Blue Poly livery and the blue interior were gone. The 68 Corvette was grey on red, and the 327-cubic-inch V8 (5.4-liter) motor had been replaced with a 427 (7.0-liter) big-block.The cruel irony of this 37-year drama is that a night before having his car stolen, in that January 1969 night, Alan Poster thwarted another attempted theft. As he got to the Corvette, he noticed it driving away with a stranger behind the wheel. He managed to pull the guy out, only to let him go unharmed. Poster didnt even report the incident, but 24 hours later, fate struck back with a vengeance.In 2006, the media coverage of this fairy tale was extensive (see the second video for a sample), and so were the offers to buy the car. However, Alan Poster declined them all  including a hundred grand from comedian Jerry Lewis. The original owner intended to enjoy his dream Vette to the fullest now that he had it back. Fatefully, he never got to it.After restoring the Chevy to its original state  paint and mechanicals  he barely put 100 miles (160 km) over the 60,000 (97,000 kilometers) the car had when the authorities found it. The big-block was pulled out, and an original 1968 327 V8 was fitted to the four-speed manual transmission. The motor wasnt the factory-installed plant but a period-correct eight-cylinder Chevy small-block. Hear it in the first video attached.Seventeen years later, Alan Pster, now in his 80s, decided it was time to let go of his nostalgia. His dream Corvette was put up for sale, and it found a new caretaker in exchange for $40,000. Little is known of the cars 37-year lost history : the police backtracked the vehicle as far as they could go, but the thief was never identified. The vert Vette has passed through several hands, but all the former owners were exonerated, as they didnt know what they were buying a stolen vehicle. The Corvette had never been titled after Poster purchased it, and its a mystery that it survived altogether.
Early Rivian R1T owners got in trouble with the powered tonneau covers on their trucks, which broke prematurely. Rivian took note and promised a fix, but it took more than a year before the updated covers became available. Here are the first impressions from an R1T owner who just got the new powered tonneau cover installed.

Although Rivian made a powerful impression with the R1T, things weren't always perfect with the first electric pickup truck to market. Early owners soon discovered that the powered tonneau cover had a poor design, which caused it to fail prematurely. Rivian acknowledged the issue and promised to offer a fix, but it turned out to be one of the biggest failures in the automotive world. The first problems surfaced in December 2021, and one year later, Rivian couldn't figure out how to solve them.In October 2022, Rivian appeared to have given up offering a powered tonneau cover, so it removed it from the configurator and advised potential buyers to opt for a manual cover instead. Even those who did specify the manual cover got their pickups without one because Rivian couldn't design it. The earliest time Rivian could deliver it was in the summer of 2023. Thankfully, the manual cover is retrofittable, but even so, people resorted to aftermarket and even make-shift solutions.In May, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe showed both the manual and powered tonneau covers installed on an R1T truck at the factory, raising hopes that these parts will ship to R1T owners soon. One month later, the first manual covers were delivered, although not without drama. Apparently, this time, the packaging was faulty, which for some meant the covers were damaged during delivery.Back to the powered tonneau cover, Rivian promised to start installs toward the end of October, but things did not move. It also sent confusing messages to owners about the possibility of retrofitting the powered cover on a pickup that was delivered without it. Thankfully, it now appears that the first Rivian R1T owners have had their trucks fitted with the updated powered tonneau cover, as revealed in a post on Rivian Forums.User ColoradoAdventure just picked up his truck from the Denver service center with the updated cover. According to his words, it was the second install, so they tested it thoroughly before calling him to pick up the truck. The technicians also revealed they went to Normal, Illinois (Rivian factory) to watch the updated covers tested. The engineers poured sand into and on top of it to prove it could run without issues.ColoradoAdventure reveals that the powered tonneau cover still features a single motor, but it comes with an updated spring system to prevent panels from getting out of alignment. It also has reinforced panels and gearing, as well as a cleaning system to prevent dirt from getting inside. Everything else seems like before, including the water resistance, which still leaves some water to drip on the sides.From what it looks and how it sounds, Rivian hasn't changed much on the original design despite needing two years of development. Hopefully, the updated design will prove more reliable in the long run because Rivian cannot afford another failure. However, what Rivian owners would really want is to see that the cover is strong enough to support two people , the same as the Tesla Cybertruck's tonneau cover.
Those who followed the Cybertruck for the past year know that Tesla's electric pickup is not that good for off-road adventures. A video shared on Instagram shows a release-candidate Tesla Cybertruck rescued by a Ford F-350 recovery truck after it slid off-trail. This could happen to anyone, but in the case of the Cybertruck, there is more to it than bad off-road skills.

OHV

Tesla started Cybertruck deliveries with an underwhelming delivery event on November 30, but it seems to have stepped up its game recently as customer deliveries began. During development, we've been following closely with the Cybertruck adventures, sometimes cheering for a breakthrough discovery, sometimes pointing to a design flaw. When it comes to its off-road capabilities, though, let's just say the Cybertruck did not impress.Probably the first time the Cybertruck was shown in a bad light was during the breakthrough ceremony of Tesla's lithium refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas. Although the Cybertruck impressed with its "cyber-shovels" and the custom-made rack, it became famous when it remained stuck in the mud in a corn field nearby. Much has been said back then about the driver's skills and even more about the Cybertruck's tires.I know that any vehicle, no matter how off-road capable it is, can get in trouble when the driver doesn't know his game and the tires are just inadequate for the terrain. However, the Cybertruck made a habit of looking bad while going off-road. More recently, during a last-minute test session, the Cybertruck climbed the Hollister Hills stair steps. Although it got to the top, it also appeared to struggle mid-course, either because the driver was inexperienced or because the Cybertruck was not properly configured.Again, this turned into a discussion about tires and drivers, with Tesla fans absolving their beloved Cybertruck of all guilt. It might be so, but when it happens so many times, you might think it's a good idea to stick to the paved roads, even when your truck has a 17-inch road clearance. This was again obvious in a video shared on Instagram showing a rescue operation involving a Cybertruck.This was not a production model but a release-candidate prototype, which means what happened to it might not be relevant to the production model. According to Matt Chambers, the person who shared the video, the Cybertruck slid off-trail at Corral Hallow. With its all-season tires and non-functional lockers (reportedly due to a software issue), the truck had zero possibility of climbing back on its own.Thankfully, other off-roaders were in the area, helping the Cybertruck driver get out of that bad situation. Unfortunately for Tesla and the driver, they also shared everything on Instagram. What's intriguing, beyond the Christmas tree in the truck's bed, is that the video poster says the truck had no recovery points, and they had to hook the towing cable to the suspension. This is indeed weird, which made me revisit the Cybertruck pictures I gathered over the past months.It turns out that some Cybertruck prototypes (and the production vehicles sent to Tesla showrooms across the country) have two pickup points in front. However, there were some release-candidate Cybertrucks without the recovery points (see one in the gallery). This means they are either removable (and not installed in this case) or not available on all prototypes. Either way, this caused headaches for the rescue team, but they made it in the end.
War is a messy business no matter how you look at it, and our society, advanced as it claims to be, should have none of it. Sadly, we're now getting more and much larger wars than we've had in decades.

Photo: Highland Systems

Photo: Highland Systems

Because of this the world's defense industries are booming, with more and more weapons being produced by the behemoths activating in this field all across the planet. But there are also smaller companies and even startups that have boarded the arms race train.One such company is Highland Systems. Based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) the group is officially a "project management company," which basically means they're trying to come up with ideas the defense industry could use sometime in the future.Highland became news a couple of years ago, and has constantly made the headlines since. Their portfolio of projects includes at the moment armored vehicles , a submarine, and a trimaran, but these guys say they are also in the business of re-equipping medium and heavy tanks.Over the coming months we'll try to take a closer look at what this company (but also others) has to offer to the world, and we've decided to start with the Phantom, an armored multi-purpose vehicle that looks so appealing and good we kind of wish it was never designed as a tool to fight battles, but as a personal vehicle to be taken out for a spin.Word of the Phantom first surfaced back in 2022, when the first sketches of it surfaced. I said at the time this thing looks like something that would have felt right at home in the soon-to-be-launched Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, and I stand by my belief even after I've gone into the specifics of the thing while researching this piece. Only it now somehow feels a lot more suitable for a stint in Halo.Before getting into it, let's address the elephant in the room. At the time when it was introduced the Phantom was nothing more than a design study and to my knowledge it remains so even to this day. That means you'll not get to see it anywhere in the world in physical form at the time of writing.The thing was imagined as a B6 armored vehicle. As a reminder, B6 on a vehicle means it comes loaded with stuff that can take bullets fired from up close by assault rifles like the AK-47. And it can take them both in the body panels and in the glass.On top of that, B6 also means underbody protection by means of steel plates which can take blasts from mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).It may not be the most effective form of armored protection. BMW , for instance, offers VR6 on its armored vehicles, and that means it the X5 for instance can survive blasts from DM51 hand grenades. But B6 comes with one major advantage, that of still being light enough to allow for a vehicle to remain as nimble as it should be.And that's particularly useful over uneven terrain, where the Phantom was imagined to operate first and foremost. Loaded with all the armor, people, and gear, the vehicle is supposed to tip the scale at 6,000 kg (13,200 kg), which is about one-third of the weight of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) that's currently making the headlines.The Phantom is about as long and wide as a BMW 7 Series, coming in at 5,300 mm and 2,300 mm, respectively, but a lot taller, sitting proudly at 2,200 mm. That means it's large enough to accommodate up to six people at a time.Highland did not pinpoint exactly what kind of powertrain the vehicle would use, saying only it would be some kind of dieselelectric solution. It should provide the Phantom with impressive torque levels, no less than 12,000 Nm, and enough horsepower to handle pretty much anything: 1,600 hp.The vehicle would be capable of operating in fuel, electric, and hybrid modes, and its useful operating time would be between 3.5 hours when using solely the battery to 18 hours when running hybrid.The fighting machine would be capable of reaching a top speed of 160 kph (99 mph) in the best of road conditions. Where those perfect road conditions are not met, it will drive a lot slower, of course, but the key fact here is it will continue to drive, thanks to the 40 cm (16 inches) ground clearance.If it ever gets made, the Phantom will be configurable, and it can be equipped and prepared for a variety of operations, run either by military or government organizations.At the time of writing though, despite enough time having passed since it was first shown, the armored vehicle designed in the UAE is still not on the production lines. Until it gets there, maybe the higher-ups in charge of the Halo series take notice and find a role for it in one of the upcoming seasons. Seems like the right fit
No matter how diverse the tiny house industry gets, some folks will always prefer going back to basics  single-level homes on wheels without lofts, ladders, and staircases. In other words, why make it complicated when you can enjoy total comfort without all the hassle and at lower costs?

Photo: Mobi House

Photo: Mobi House

Photo: Mobi House

Looking at this European brands impressive tiny house range, its hard to believe that it started out as a small family business. Bartek, the man who founded Mobi House together with his wife, Kasia, was one of the pioneers in the industry. At the time when he became interested in tiny houses , the concept was barely known in Poland and even in Europe. He used his experience of working in Norway as a foundation for a fresh, tiny house construction business, and it worked. Today, this is one of the most successful brands in Europe, with an incredible portfolio.Mobi House has something for everybody, starting with the smallest single-level tiny houses, all the way up to ultra-spacious models with multiple bedrooms and even roof terraces. The Carnation tiny is one of the most beautiful versions of the brand's single-level designs. It's as minimalistic and delicate-looking on the inside as it is on the outside but full of pleasant surprises at the same time.The Carnation is just a little over seven meters long (23.6 feet) and 2.5 meters wide (8.2 feet) with regular-height ceilings. The open-plan layout strays from the traditional configurations by including a separate main-floor bedroom, which is a rare and unusual feature for a tiny house in this size category. This way, The Carnation can delight its owners with both a bedroom and a lounge area instead of a single space with multiple uses. Plus, it flaunts a beautiful double-sided kitchen, while the amount of available storage is almost unbelievable.The Carnation isn't the popular contemporary-style abode with generous glazing and an indoor/outdoor flow. Instead, it boasts the discrete and dainty charm of a rustic cabin with tiny windows and one main entry. Still, the French doors help bring in more natural light to the lounge area.This cozy lounge area is the first room that greets you as soon as you step inside. A huge modular sofa (one of the Mobi House trademarks) dominates the entire area. Modular furniture is one of the key features in most tiny homes that boast limited length. This type of sofa saves a great deal of space and is multi-functional. It doubles as a practical storage solution and can also be converted into an extra bed.On the wall next to it, you'll notice the "classic folding chairs, another common choice when it comes to small dwellings . Since there's no room for an actual dining nook, The Carnation offers an ad hoc solution.All that you need to do is set up the pivoting extension at the end of the kitchen countertop and take the folding chairs off the wall, and you have a perfect dining area, as if by magic. It's a clever solution that allows the home dwellers to move freely around the house for the rest of the time without any pesky pieces of furniture getting in the way. With such compact spaces, the circulation flow needs extra attention.The kitchen is also remarkably spacious in terms of storage, considering the overall surface. There are drawers and overhead cupboards on each side, as well as full-height pantries. The perfect symmetry created by the mirroring windows, shelves, and countertops also creates a relaxing, aesthetically pleasing style.It's an important part of the Carnation's warm and soft ambiance. The basic appliances, including a ceramic plate, an electric fridge, and a range hood, are also carefully integrated, which contributes to the kitchen's clean, clutter-free style.Perfect symmetry is also noticeable when looking at each end of the house, where you'll spot discrete sliding doors in contrasting colors. The one next to the lounge area leads into the home's secretive main bedroom. It feels secretive because it's totally separate from the rest of the house and protected by the barn door. Don't expect a lavish master bedroom. This is a really compact space with zero walk-around space. You literally have four walls, a bed frame, and an adorable overhead cabinet.It might feel a bit cramped for some, but it's still easier to access and more comfortable than a loft bedroom of a similar size. Plus, the large window is a great addition that ensures proper ventilation, plenty of natural light, and even a nice view when you wake up in the morning. At the opposite end, a compact but elegant bathroom reveals all the basic appliances you'd need, including a decent-sized shower cabin and a tiny vanity. The Carnation successfully combines a fairytale-like exterior with an ingenious and unexpected layout. It truly maximizes spaces by adding a main-floor bedroom while also creating an airy and minimalistic ambiance without any clutter. Like all Mobi House designs, the Carnation tiny can also be customized and optimized for sustainable, eco-friendly living.
ICE

EV

Cynical yet highly intelligent, the Ford Motor Company has decided to let the iconic Mustang have one last-powered hurrah  only that it's not just a limited edition or two like with the 2024 Chevy Camaro or even seven 'Last Call' versions like with the 2023 Dodge Challenger and Charger. Instead, they are letting this one slide without any sort of electrification for an entire generation  up until 2028MY, at the very least, according to the rumor mill.Instead, Chevy is retiring the Camaro nameplate with no successor in sight, and Dodge will probably do the same with the Challenger while the next-gen Charger is reverting to a two-door lifestyle with Bansheeprowess under the hood  and potentially some Hurricane inline-six aids, as well. However, GM fans are not really prepared to see the C8 Corvette as the only sporty passenger car option across the entire Chevrolet lineup As such, many of them have started fantasizing about the return of the Impala or Chevelle nameplates to the roster. With that in mind, it is no wonder that a few have even taken things into their hands, or rather at the tip of the CGI brush, as is the case with the imaginative realm of digital car content creators. While some folks only have eyes for the potential comeback of the full-size Impala (SS) sedan, the peeps over at the A1 Cars and Car Info Channel venues on YouTube propose a couple of Chevy Chevelle muscle car revivals that adhere to strict traditions  both in terms of design and body styles.The resident pixel master from A1 Cars, probably assisted by the wizardry of AI software, takes the easy road  he or she envisions the returning Chevelle as an extension of the sixth-generation Camaro's styling and underpinnings. Probably based on the same platform, this fantasy muscle car has a much larger wheelbase, as attested by the large rear windows, and only the front exudes a contemporary design. Conversely, the rear brings back the good old Chevelle SS days of the mid- to late 1960s.In case you think that's not a bad thing, be prepared to drop a jaw or two at the sight of the hypothetical restomod-style Chevy Chevelle revival portrayed by the peeps at the Car Info Channel. Their resident virtual artist is even more extreme, as the front is a direct homage to the days of the double-round headlights of the first and second generations. At the same time, the rear of the coupe version feels like old-school supercar material rather than a simple muscle car.Additionally, they are also bringing back the two-door convertible style into fashion  and that clearly bodes well for the idea from Q Cars , which dreams of a returning Chevelle with the allure of a solid and muscly four-door sedan!
China launches campaign to tackle content issues involving online short videos

Xinhua) 16:23, December 12, 2023

BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has launched a campaign to address the growing concerns surrounding the content of short videos.

The month-long campaign focuses on three prominent issues, namely, the dissemination of false information, improper behaviors in short videos, and the spread of erroneous concepts, according to a notice issued by the CAC.

Among the listed inappropriate behaviors are showcasing explicit content, creating vulgar personas, and engaging in risky activities, among others, according to the CAC.

The notice demands that short video platforms optimize their algorithms, and prioritize distributing high-quality video content rather than relying solely on quantitative criteria such as likes and reposts.

It added that short video platforms should also strengthen their content review systems.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
North Korea's main newspaper on Tuesday published a rare photo of a former South Korean justice minister attending an anti-government rally in Seoul as part of apparent propaganda coverage criticizing the South.

The photo of former justice minister and liberal politician Choo Mi-ae appeared on the Rodong Sinmun alongside 11 other photos of a candlelight protest held near the presidential compound in central Seoul last week.

The photo, carried without a source, showed a smiling Choo as she held up a picket sign calling for a special prosecution investigation against first lady Kim Keon Hee.

While Pyongyang has often used its main newspaper for a domestic audience to carry articles on anti-government protests in South Korea, it has rarely published a photo of a prominent politician in South Korea.

From May to early November this year, the Rodong Sinmun carried some 40 articles on anti-government protests in South Korea, according to government data.

An official at South Korea's unification ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, earlier said such coverage appeared to be an attempt to "distort and emphasize a negative image of South Korea and prevent North Koreans from developing positive expectations." (Yonhap)
My government warmly welcomes the European Commissions [recent] decision to recommend the European Council to open accession talks with Moldova and Ukraine and to grant candidate status to Georgia, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said late on Monday. This decision is welcomed not only by the government of Armenia but also people of Armenia, who also have European aspirations.

Yerevan is committed to coming closer to the European Union to the extent the EU will deem it possible, Mirzoyan added in a speech delivered during a meeting in Brussels of the foreign ministers of EU member states and five ex-Soviet republics involved in the 27-nation blocs Eastern Partnership program.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian expressed that commitment when he addressed the European Parliament in October. He stopped short of announcing plans to seek Armenias eventual membership in the EU.

In his speech, Pashinian also accused Moscow of using the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict to try to topple him. A Russian official responded by saying that the Armenian premier is helping the West turn Armenia into another Ukraine.

Mirzoyan and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell met in North Macedonia late last month as a team of EU officials wrapped up a visit to Yerevan during which they explored ways of bringing Armenia closer to the bloc.

Borrell also met with Mirzoyan in Brussels earlier on Monday. He said they had a good exchange of views  on concrete ways to enhance EU-Armenia relations but did not elaborate.
12 December 2023 20:30 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

The separatist clan and revanchist groups supporting the non-existent republic of "artsakh", in and out of Armenia are still struggling to bring back the so-called regime. It is quite surprising that this initiative took place on the eve of taking steps for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Because when every time the negotiations end successfully, on the other hand, the mechanism of separatism comes into action again and tries to hinder the processes by any means or by the hands of foreign elements. This time, the pseudo-national assembly of the so-called regime has made stupid statements.

A few months after the napalm of aggression pouring from different corners of the world in the propaganda of anti-Azerbaijani statements, the Armenian diaspora, which continues to serve its masters around the world, decided to go on a knife edge. The month started with important events as the parties (Armenia and Azerbaijan) resolved several important issues on the way to signing a peace treaty. The first bricks were laid for the establishment of the peace process in the South Caucasus. And to achieve the set goals, Azerbaijan and especially Armenia need to stick to the set path.

As there is no bad without good, Azerbaijan expects from the adherents of "chaos" all possible actions and statements directed against and hindering the achievement of the set goals. The statement itself says.

"In the history of Artsakh's national liberation struggle, the 1991 independence referendum is the cornerstone of the establishment of a republic based on self-determination and democratic principles. The 1991 independence referendum became the cornerstone on which the Republic of Artsakh was built and became the pride and beacon of victory for all Armenians. On the same day in 2006, at the referendum on the adoption of the Constitution, the people of Artsakh once again expressed their desire to have an independent state and to continue the path of struggle for freedom."

This statement bears the ground of aggression and revanchism, which refers to 19 September 2023 as military aggression on the part of Azerbaijan. We all remember well what pushed the separatist clan to keep Garabagh under occupation for decades, and we remember how the West wanted to freeze the Garabagh conflict.

The Garabagh issue is closed. Garabagh is Azerbaijan, and someone should work on it and accept the reality with eyes wide open." The Armenian National Assembly said in a statement that by committing genocide of the Armenian population, Azerbaijan forced the "Artsakh president" to sign the document as a precondition for the cessation of hostilities. Just as people who are heavily addicted to something cannot give it up, those who make such statements are like drug addicts who need a new dose of slander and propaganda.

Despite the separatist leader Arayik serving his sentence in Baku, his predecessors are still trying to seize Khankendi and restore their so-called regime. The only excuse for them is the "oppressed people" whose rights they sweat to protect.

On the other hand, all this is grist to the mill of the pro-Western forces who want to freeze the conflict in the South Caucasus. Because for them, all these activities aim at best to slow down the peace process, and at worst to stop it completely.

To sign a peace treaty between the countries, Armenia needs a strong and independent government in Yerevan that can make a reasonable decision for itself and the entire nation. The past cannot be brought back, but the present can still be changed and a strong foundation of trust and relations between the countries can be built.

Why was this statement passed by the authorities of Yerevan, when there is an opportunity to put an end to the suffering and wars between the countries?

We remember well that scam when pro-Western clans tried to prolong the conflict in the South Caucasus at the hands of separatists, either by blocking the leading roads to the town of Khankandi and its blockade by separatists, or by periodically deploying military forces near the borders with Azerbaijan. It is important to note that Azerbaijan called on Armenia to solve everything peacefully, without bloodshed and losses, and offered to reintegrate the Armenian inhabitants of Garabagh into Azerbaijan.

It is important to remember that Armenia needs its citizens now, since, according to the Chairman of the "Democratic Consolidation" party Suren Petrosyan, according to official statistics, more than 17,000 people who voluntarily moved from Garabagh to Armenia have already left the country. Consequently, some parties are still trying to blame the internal problems on the neighbour (Azerbaijan) and do not accept the reality as it is.

Along with this news, a Western face with sheer aggression towards Baku has also appeared. This is the chairman of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur regional council Renaud Muselier. The remaining aggressive Armenians from the national assembly could not do without their French sister. The support came in handy. You can directly observe the Unification attack.

"To entrust the organisation of COP29 (UN Climate Change Conference 2024 - ed.) to Azerbaijan would be a disgrace to the international community, an insult to Armenians, to Artsakh and an admission of failure in the climate struggle.

I will resist this with all my strength!"

Renaud Muselier, Chairman of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur Regional Council, instead of judging Azerbaijan's hosting of an international event, would do well to clean up the dung pile in front of his office. If Muselier doesn't think about lowering taxes and abating inflated fertiliser prices the farmers might one day feed him that manure. So his real fear should first start in front of his office.

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To remind the pro-revanchist and pro-separatist French official, the Eastern European Regional Group has identified Azerbaijan as the country that will host the COP in 2024.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan has joined the fight against global climate change by becoming a party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Azerbaijan intends to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases by 35 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. After 2030, a more ambitious goal is set to reduce greenhouse gases by 40 percent by 2050.

Azerbaijan has offered to host the conference in Baku. Along with Azerbaijan, Armenia and Bulgaria have nominated their candidatures. On 7 December 2023, in a joint statement issued after direct negotiations between the Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Armenia withdrew its candidacy in favour of Azerbaijan.

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Abbas Ganbay is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @Noend33

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 December 2023 15:30 (UTC+04:00)

Asim Aliyev Read more

In modern history, several people have played a role in regaining the independence of some states that tried to get rid of empires. Despite being under the rule of the Soviet Empire for many years, Azerbaijan, as one of those states, was able to have the most valuable asset of independence thanks to deep politics and the genius of a visionary leader. Every nation is proud of its historical figures - Azerbaijan is always indebted to its national leader, the genius of Heydar Aliyev, in gaining its independence and standing up as a strong state. Today, our nation benefits from the statehood policy that Heydar Aliyev left as a legacy.

The Azerbaijani Nation always remembers Heydar Aliyev - the architect and founder of our modern country, a genius who did great and irreplaceable work for the independence and development of his nation and country. Heydar Aliyev is not only a historical figure who solved fateful problems of the nation and state of Azerbaijan, but also a statesman who created history by rescuing his nation in a hard time.

Heydar Aliyev was first elected as the first Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan at the plenum on July 14, 1969, and became the head of the republic. In a short time, he implemented a broad program of reforms in all spheres to turn Azerbaijan into one of the most advanced republics among the former Union Republics. During his authority, hundreds of plants, factories, and production sites were established on the republic's territory. Some 213 large industrial enterprises were launched. Due to many important production areas, Azerbaijan occupied one of the leading positions in the USSR.

His achievements as the head of the Soviet Azerbaijan soon drew the attention of Moscow and he was promoted to the post of the First Deputy Premier of the Soviet Union in 1982. At that time, Azerbaijan had been already known as a developed industrial republic.

The socio-economic, political, moral, and psychological base created by Heydar Aliyev during his leadership of Azerbaijan from 1969-1982 became very important for the Azerbaijani people in the years leading to the independence. On the eve of the collapse of the USSR, Azerbaijan became one of the few republics among the 15 union republics capable of solving its economic problems at the expense of its internal capabilities thanks to the National Leader.

Even though the National Leader, who played a great role in the history of Azerbaijan, was persecuted in 1987-1990, the genius politician survived the persecution and returned to his homeland on July 20, 1990. When he returned to his homeland, the attempts to prevent him from coming to power in Azerbaijan and even to remove him from authority in Nakhchivan could be considered the blackest pages and the most unforgivable mistakes of our history.

However, in the first years of its independence, Azerbaijan found itself in the bloodiest maelstrom of its history. Anarchy reigned in the country and national leader Heydar Aliyev was the only hope for the salvation of the Azerbaijani people.

In June 1993, at the request of the people, the return of Heydar Aliyev to power was a decisive turn in the history of Azerbaijan. The wise statesman eliminated the threat of civil war after several political measures. The plan of external and internal enemies to divide and destroy Azerbaijan and annihilate our reestablished independent state failed. Therefore, June 15, 1993, is called National Salvation Day.

One of the most important achievements of the National Leader in the field of foreign policy is Azerbaijan's establishing bilateral relations and expanding this network with dozens of foreign countries. Thanks to his efforts, Azerbaijan signed a Contract of the Century which paved the road for an economic boost. The Contract of Century was not just an ordinary oil agreement, but also the means that brought new technologies in the oil and gas sector to the country. Unfortunately, life did not allow him to see the positive results of the great works done under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the successor of the national leader today. The National Leader of all the Azerbaijani people passed away on December 12, 2003.

Heydar Aliyev, who devoted his dignified life to the happiness and progress of the Azerbaijani people, will always live as an unforgettable personality in the history of our respected nation. With deep respect and compassion, we honor the bright memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people - Heydar Aliyev.

Today Azerbaijan is headed by Ilham Aliyev, a worthy successor of Heydar Aliyev's path by successfully continuing his policy of democratic, legal, and secular state-building. Expressing the will of the Azerbaijani people, Ilham Aliyev became the president of independent Azerbaijan and the leader of the world's Azerbaijanis. He pays attention to ensuring human rights and freedoms in the country. As a result of his resolute and purposeful policy, the victorious Army of Azerbaijan put an end to 30 years of Armenian invasion. Thus, within 44 days, the myth of the "invincible Armenian army" made up of the enemy over the years collapsed in the eyes of the world, and the Armenian army was defeated. The liberation of Azerbaijani lands from Armenian occupation once again showed that Ilham Aliyev's policy was aimed at the benefit of his fatherland and Nation. Due to the wise internal reforms carried out by President Ilham Aliyev, as well as a far-sighted and purposeful foreign policy, Azerbaijan has become a leading state in the South Caucasus. In other words, Heydar Aliyev's policy lives and wins forever in the world.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 December 2023 17:44 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

The largest power plant in the Caucasus, which is being built in Mingachevir on the territory of Azerbaijan TPP, will be put into operation in the first half of 2025, Chairman of Azerenerji Baba Rzayev told journalists, Azernews reports.

The chairman noted that the construction of the new station is being carried out in accordance with the schedule.

Also, Rzayev said that work is underway to launch renewable energy sources in the territories liberated from occupation.

"Work will start in Jabrail to launch a solar power plant with a capacity of 240 megawatts," the Chairman added.

To recall, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is helping to build a wind power plant in Azerbaijan. This will be the first of its kind in the country and the largest in the Caucasus region. The EBRD has arranged a loan of US$ 197.1 million (186.9 million) to ACWA Power Azerbaijan Renewable Energy, the company that will build the plant. Once it is built, the plant will generate up to 893 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean electricity each year, which will reduce carbon emissions by more than 400,000 tonnes annually. The EBRD is also helping Azerbaijan to meet its goal of using renewable energy sources for 30% of its energy needs by 2030.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Asif Rustamov's film "Cold As Marble" has been screened in Russia.

The film won Best Screenplay Award at the 7th International Arctic Open Film Festival held in Arkhangelsk, Azernews reports.

Arctic Open screens local and international professional or first-time filmmakers, celebrating the best in Arctic-related filmmaking from across the globe.

With 15 nominations within 4 categories, the festival aims to select and promote the best films made in 2022-2023 domestically and globally; provide filmmakers with the opportunity to interact with audiences at Q&A sessions, screenings, and social events and much more.

Note that "Cold As Marble" is co-produced by Azerbaijan (Azrbaycanfilm, ITV, Baku Media Center) and France (Arizona Films).

The film tells the story of a man (actor Elshan Asgarov), who is actually a failed artist, potentially owing to his blindness in one eye, so he has to work as a gravestone engraver, specialising in portraits of the deceased. Another peculiar thing about him is his habit of avoiding the bedroom in his modest house, even when his married girlfriend (Natavan Abbasli) visits him.

His routine changes one day when he finds an unexpected visitor who has broken into the house  his own father (Gurban Ismayilov, the winner of the Best Actor Award at the festival), who is supposed to be serving a prison sentence. The dad keeps berating the son, shouting homophobic slurs at him and trying to steer his life to bring it more into line with his own hustle schemes.

However, unlike other people, the son knows his fathers dark secret and why he was imprisoned in the first place, and the girlfriend may have a scheme of her own that can be brought to fruition only with the help of a criminal. It seems that tragedy might repeat itself in yet another cycle.

The main producer of the film is Arzu Aliyeva, and the screenwriters are Asif Rustamov and his Dutch colleague Roelof Jan Minneboo. director Asif Rustamov, production operators Oktay Namazov and Adil Abbasov, and production designer Rafig Nasirov.

The producers are Fariz Ahmadov, Orman Aliyev, and Guillaume de Seille, and the creative producer is Irada Bagirzade. Elshan Asgarov, Natavan Abbasli, and People's Artist Gurban Ismayilov co-starred in the movie.

"Cold As Marble" is Asif Rustamov's second full-length work. The cinematic work had its world premiere in November 2022 at the POFF Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, where it was awarded in the category of Best Actor (Gurban Ismayilov). Besides, the movie was awarded Best Director (Asif Rustamov) at the 16th Eurasia International Film Festival in Almaty and the main prize of the jury at the 29th International Festival of Asian Films (Festival International des Cinemas d'Asie) held in Vesoul, France.

In November, the film was awarded the Best Actor Award and the Grand Prix at Moscow Premiere International Film Festival. At the same time, the screenwork won the Golden Hedgehog," the main award of film critics.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 December 2023 14:40 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Baku Music Academy has marked the 150th anniversary of Sergei Rachmaninoff, one of the greatest pianists and conductors of the 20th century.

The event was organized by the Solo Singing and Opera Singing Department, Azernews reports.

Head of the Solo and Opera Singing Department People's Artist Khuraman Gasimova and the head of the Music Theory Department, Honored Teacher, Professor Konul Nasirova spoke about the life and work of the classic.

Students of People's Artist of the USSR Fidan Gasimova, People's Artists Khuraman Gasimova and Gulnaz Ismayilova, Honored Artist Ilham Nazarov performed at the concert-conference.

Young talents performed works by Sergei Rachmaninoff, accompanied by Honored Artists Rena Agayeva and Nigar Malikova, accompanists Ulviya Aliyeva and Maryam Yusifova.

Video materials and recordings of the world famous musician and masters of vocal performing arts Fidan Gasimova and Khuraman Gasimova became the highlight of the event.

Undergraduates from the Faculty of History and Theory highlighted the composer`s work. The students' presentation was prepared with the participation of Associate Professor Elmira Panakhova.

Among the guests of the concert-conference were the Vice-Rectors of the Baku Music Academy, Honored Teacher, Professor Narmina Guliyeva, Honored Artist, Professor Gulnaz Abdullazade, Dean of the Faculty of History and Theory, Honored Teacher, Professor Gulzar Mahmudova and the musical community.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, Milli.Az.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 December 2023 11:51 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

State Security Service employees pay tribute to the National leader's Alley of Honor, Azernews reports.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the passing away of Heydar Aliyev, honorary head of Azerbaijan's security bodies, saviour of Azerbaijan's modern statehood, National Leader of Azerbaijani people, Colonel General Ali Nagiyev, head of the State Security Service (SST), and personnel of the Service visited the grave of the Great Leader in the Alley of Honor, laid wreaths and flowers in front of the grave, expressing their deep respect to the genius' bright memory.

According to the press service of the National Academy of Sciences, the memory of outstanding ophthalmologist-scientist, and academician Zarifa Aliyeva was also honoured, and flowers were laid at her grave.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 December 2023 11:03 (UTC+04:00)

Ilham Aliyev will be the candidate of the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) in the upcoming early presidential elections, Tahir Budagov, YAP deputy chairman and head of the Central Administration, Azernews reports citing Trend.

He noted that a new charter of the party was approved at the YAP congress in 2021, according to which the authority to nominate a presidential candidate was transferred to the board.

"This issue will be considered at the board meeting. The Azerbaijani people used to say that the one who liberates Karabakh will become the eternal president of Azerbaijan. I think that President Ilham Aliyev, by the policy he has been pursuing for 20 years, liberating our lands from Armenian occupation, has earned the right to bear such a title. I believe that every Azerbaijani adheres to this opinion," Budagov said.

On December 7, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on holding an extraordinary presidential election in the country on February 7, 2024.

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12 December 2023 12:05 (UTC+04:00)

On December 12, the Defense Ministrys leadership visited the Alley of Honor on the commemoration day of the architect and founder of the modern state of Azerbaijan, the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, Azernews reports.

Wreath and flowers were laid at the grave of the National Leader and tribute was paid to his memory.

Then the leadership of the Ministry of Defense paid tribute and laid flowers at the grave of prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva.

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12 December 2023 12:51 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

On 11 December, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov attended a meeting of Foreign Ministers of Eastern Partnership countries, Azernews reports.

Within the framework of his working visit to Brussels, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov took part in the meeting of foreign ministers of the Eastern Partnership Programme (EaP) member states.

The Foreign Ministry's Press Service Department reports that the meeting chaired by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell was also attended by European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varheli, as well as foreign ministers of the European Union and Eastern Partnership member states.

The event started with a speech by High Representative Josep Borrell and Commissioner Oliver Varhely.

The meeting discussed the current state of cooperation within the EaP, the prospects of the EU's relations with partner countries, and regional security issues.

In his speech at the event, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said that the meeting was a significant opportunity to review the cooperation within the EaP, as well as the next steps.

Pointing out the importance of matching the priorities of the Eastern Partnership with the realities of the region, as well as the regional initiatives being implemented, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov expressed confidence that this platform through the right approach and adaptation to the current trends of regional development can make a positive contribution to the EU co-operation with the region.

It was underlined that Azerbaijan fully supports and encourages the cooperation with Central Asian partners aimed at enhancing regional transport, energy and digital connectivity in line with the EU-Central Asia Strategy, as well as their potential participation in relevant EaP activities.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov touched upon the expanding potential of the Southern Gas Corridor, and spoke about Azerbaijan's priorities such as the supply of additional gas volumes and potential export of green energy to Europe, as well as the investments Azerbaijan is making in the transition to green energy, and emphasised the importance of the Middle Corridor.

It was noted that the digitalisation of the Middle Corridor is important in terms of ensuring transparency and facilitating transit, and digital transformation can become a horizontal priority within the EaP. The special significance of Azerbaijan's support in the issue of chairing COP29 was emphasised.

Jeyhun Bayramov also informed the participants of the meeting in detail about the process of normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It was noted that mutual recognition and respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity is the only way to sustainable peace, stability and prosperity in the South Caucasus.

Concern was expressed that despite Azerbaijan's comprehensive and open expression of its justified concerns, some EU member states continue inflammatory rhetoric and taking unilateral steps.

It was emphasised that the EU monitoring mission to Armenia has not achieved its stated objectives of promoting confidence building between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but instead has been widely used as a propaganda tool against Azerbaijan.

It was also noted that increasingly destabilising initiatives such as arming Armenia, including through the EU, undermine the credibility of the EU as a "neutral mediator" and efforts to normalise relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a whole. It was emphasised that arming or otherwise exploiting one partner against the other is in no way compatible with the stated objectives of the Eastern Partnership.

Taking into account the mentioned appeals, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov once again called on all interested parties not to harm the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The meeting continued with speeches by the foreign ministers of other Eastern Partnership Programme participating countries.

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South Korea's spy agency said Tuesday it has detected signs that North Korea is seeking to dispatch its workers to Russia in a violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

"As there are movements of North Korea seeking to send its workers to Russia, we are keeping close tabs on the situation," the National Intelligence Service said, without elaborating.

The move came as North Korea and Russia have been strengthening military and economic cooperation following the summit between the North's leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September.

There have been suspicions that North Korea is pushing to expand the illegal dispatch of its workers to Russia to earn hard currency, as Moscow is believed to be suffering labor shortages due to the mobilization of young people for its war in Ukraine.

Earlier in the day, North Korea's state media reported that a Russian delegation, led by Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of the Russian far eastern region of Primorsky Krai that borders North Korea, arrived in Pyongyang on Monday.

He was welcomed by Ji Kyong-su, vice minister of external economic relations, at Pyongyang International Airport, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The KCNA did not provide details on the purpose of the visit.

Speaking to a Russian media outlet last month, Kozhemyako said he plans to visit North Korea this year to discuss cooperation in the fields of tourism, trade and agriculture.

But there are views their talks may discuss the possible deployment of North Korean workers to Russia, which is banned under UNSC resolutions against North Korea.

An official at South Korea's unification ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, hinted at the possibility of dispatching North Koreans to Russia, noting the two sides have demand for it and signs of such deployment have been detected overseas.

In November, North Korea and Russia signed a bilateral protocol on expanding cooperation on the economy, science and technology, just four weeks after the visit to Pyongyang by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

"Considering the series of events, it is assumed that some kind of cooperation between Russian and North Korea is taking place," the ministry official said.

A foreign ministry official in Seoul said the suspected dispatch of North Korean workers to Russia is a violation of two specific U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions that banned giving North Koreans a work permit and required all North Korean workers in Russia to be sent back home by the end of 2019.

"We are closely monitoring the North Korea-Russia activities believed to be taking place in various areas," the official said. (Yonhap)
12 December 2023 16:25 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Return of two Azerbaijani servicemen taken captive by Armenia will be ensured, Azernews reports, citing Prosecutor General of the Republic of Azerbaijan Kamran Aliyev. .

To recall that the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia issued a joint statement.

It should be noted that as a result of negotiations between the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia an agreement was reached to take tangible steps to strengthen confidence between the two countries.

Guided by the principles of humanism and as a goodwill gesture, the Republic of Azerbaijan releases 32 Armenian servicemen. The list of 32 does not and cannot include the leaders of the notorious regime who committed war crimes against the Azerbaijani people and crimes against humanity - Araik Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arkady Ghukasyan, Ruben Vardanyan, including such persons as Vagif Khachaturyan, Alesha Khosrovyan.

In turn, the Republic of Armenia, guided by the principles of humanism and as a goodwill gesture, releases two Azerbaijani servicemen.

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12 December 2023 15:52 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

On December 11, 2023, the 15th meeting of the States Parties to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in Times of Armed Conflict was held at UNESCO headquarters, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry.

It was reported that the draft resolution "Impact of mines on cultural heritage" included in the agenda of the meeting was adopted by unanimous decision of 135 Parties to the Convention:

"The resolution praises the efforts of Member States to protect and defend cultural property (cultural heritage) during armed conflicts and post-conflict periods and notes that the use of mines and other explosive devices, contrary to international humanitarian law, can cause significant damage to cultural property.

The resolution expresses concern that the use of mines and other explosive devices poses a serious threat to cultural property.

The resolution emphasizes the importance of preventing actions that violate the 1954 Hague Convention," the Foreign Ministry said.

It was noted that the issue of the impact of mines on cultural heritage is the first resolution in the history of UNESCO, which was discussed and adopted unanimously. At the same time, for the first time in the history of the Convention, the issue of similar content was put on the agenda by Azerbaijan.

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12 December 2023 15:05 (UTC+04:00)

By Asim Aliyev

A memorial event dedicated to the memory of National Leader of Heydar Aliyev was held in Seoul under the organization of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Korea. At the event, a minute of silence honored the National Leader's memory, Azernews reports.

Ambassador Ramin Hasanov noted the irreplaceable role of outstanding statesman Heydar Aliyev in the history of Azerbaijani statehood and political heritage of the National Leader. He noted the year 2023, coinciding with Heydar Aliyev's 100th jubilee, was declared the "Year of Heydar Aliyev" in Azerbaijan by the relevant Decree of President Ilham Aliyev as a sign of respect to the National Leader's irreplaceable services to Azerbaijan. The diplomat emphasized that the name of Heydar Aliyev, who was managed to lead Azerbaijan out of a very difficult situation and save our statehood, has become a symbol of modern and strong Azerbaijan.

The Ambassador emphasized that Ilham Aliyev continues to pursue the policy with skill and foresight, the political line laid down by the National Leader. The restoration of territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country under the leadership of President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev is proof of this. The diplomat noted that Azerbaijan is currently making efforts to achieve sustainable peace in the region, as well as trying to normalize relations with Armenia and sign a peace agreement in the near future.

This was followed by a short documentary depicting the National Leader's foreign policy activities and diplomatic efforts.

The event continued with a commemorative concert of works by Azerbaijani and foreign composers performed by Korean musicians Park Jeong Ju, Yeon Kyung Kwon and Bo Bae Yoon.

The event was attended by heads and staff of accredited diplomatic missions in the Republic of Korea, representatives of socio-political, cultural, scientific and educational circles of Korea, media representatives and members of the Azerbaijani Diaspora.

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12 December 2023 16:11 (UTC+04:00)

By Asim Aliyev

A ceremony dedicated to the death anniversary of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev was held in Los Angeles (USA), Azernews reports.

A memorial ceremony was organized at the Islamic Center of Inglewood, one of the oldest mosques in California, on the initiative and with the support of Azerbaijan's Consulate General in Los Angeles.

It was noted at the event that as a result of visionary policy of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, state independence was developed in Azerbaijan, religious stability was strengthened and ties with the Muslim world were established. At the same time, during the National Leader's leadership, conditions were created for people to freely practice all religions in Azerbaijan.

Speaking at the memorial ceremony, Azerbaijan's Consul in Los Angeles Ramil Gurbanov stated that the wise policy of the National Leader is successfully continued today by President Ilham Aliyev. Emphasizing that Azerbaijan is one of the modern countries, the Consul stressed that the country liberated its territories from invasion, and fully ensured its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

It was also reported that Shusha, which is one of the important centers of historical, cultural, socio-political life of Azerbaijan, including one of the symbols of Islamic civilization, and liberated from occupation, was declared "cultural capital of the Islamic world" by ISESCO for 2024.

President of the Islamic Society of Inglewood Javid Bawa expressed his impressions of the inter-religious tolerance he observed during his visit to Azerbaijan.

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12 December 2023 14:25 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Next year the process of return to the liberated territories will be intensified, Azernews reports, citing Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the territories of the Garabagh economic region (except Shusha district) Emin Huseynov telling at in an interview with journalists, Azernews reports.

Emin Huseynov noted that big reconstruction works are underway in Garabagh. He noted that more than 3,000 families of former IDPs have already returned to their native lands. He added that it is planned to resettle 20,000 people in the city of Aghdam.

In this regard, it is planned to resettle 20,000 people in the city of Aghdam.

"Design works are being finalized in the city and construction works have started. It is planned to build 5 neighborhoods in the city," he said.

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12 December 2023 16:57 (UTC+04:00)

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Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov took part and spoke at the informal meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM) within the framework of his business trip to the Kingdom of Belgium, Azernews reports.

FM @Bayramov_Jeyhun participated & delivered speech at the informal meeting of #ODEDGUAM Foreign Ministers on the sidelines of working visit to #Brussels. Minister spoke about #Azerbaijan's vision for GUAM Chairmanship in 2024 & prospects of cooperation within the Organization. pic.twitter.com/2k3n649Rbd  MFA Azerbaijan  (@AzerbaijanMFA) December 12, 2023

In this direction, the importance of compliance with joint commitments, as well as international legal norms was emphasized.

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12 December 2023 17:12 (UTC+04:00)

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"We expect progress on long-term climate finance at COP29 in Azerbaijan," President of the Green Party in Senegal Baye Salla Mar told reporters on the sidelines of the COP28 conference in Dubai (UAE), Azernews reports.

"We thank the UAE for the successful organization of COP28. Here we have great progress in terms of contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund. We congratulate Azerbaijan as the host of COP29. We hope that logistical problems will be solved and significant progress in long-term climate finance will be noted," the Party President emphasized.

It should be noted that the Eastern European Regional Group has chosen Azerbaijan to host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which was officially announced on 11 December during the COP28 conference in Dubai. COP29 is scheduled to be held in Azerbaijan in November 2024.

It should be recalled that in addition to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Bulgaria have put forward their candidatures. However, on 7 December 2023, after direct negotiations between the Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Armenia decided to withdraw its candidacy in support of Azerbaijan. Bulgaria followed Armenia's example and also withdrew its candidature.

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12 December 2023 17:59 (UTC+04:00)

By Asim Aliyev

Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev visited the Kingdom of Bahrain on December 11, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry.

It was noted that within the framework of the visit Y.Rafiyev met with Bahrain's Deputy Foreign Minister for Diplomatic Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the current situation and further prospects of Azerbaijan-Bahrain relations. The sides emphasized that the political relations between the two friendly countries are at a high-level and they are interested in developing cooperation in other spheres as well.

During the meeting, the importance of high-level mutual visits between Azerbaijan and Bahrain was touched upon, and the importance of improving the legal framework was emphasized.

The sides noted that there are great opportunities for the development of mutual cooperation in the field of economy and trade and agreed to organize a meeting of representatives of business circles of the two countries in the near future.

At the meeting, the sides expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Bahrain within international organizations and stressed the importance of continuing cooperation in this direction.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Bahrain informed his Azerbaijani counterpart about the results of the 19th Regional Security Summit - "Manama Dialogue 2023" held in his country on November 17-19 this year.

During the meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on regional issues.

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12 December 2023 19:20 (UTC+04:00)

By Asim Aliyev

Prestigious Moroccan French-language newspaper "Al-Bayan" published an article dedicated to the memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev on December 12, Azernews reports.

The article "Heydar Aliyev - founder of the Azerbaijani State and its Cooperation with Morocco" emphasizes that the National Leader is a strong personality who successfully led the Azerbaijani people out of the historical crisis and political trials and led them to independence. It is pointed out that the period of Heydar Aliyev's leadership of Azerbaijan became a bright page in the country's history and the unique merits of the genius in building an independent state.

The article also notes the role of the National Leader in laying the foundations of relations between Azerbaijan and Morocco. In this regard, the historical significance of Heydar Aliyev's visit to Casablanca in December 1994 to participate in the OIC summit and his meeting with King Hassan II of Morocco is emphasized. It is also reported that the strategy of the leaders of the two countries was successfully developed by President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

The author pointed out that in 2023 Azerbaijan celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of National Leader Heydar Aliyev. At the same time, he noted that the Azerbaijani people always honor and remember the memory of the National Leader and the day of his return to power is celebrated in the country as a national holiday.

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12 December 2023 11:35 (UTC+04:00)

On December 11, 2023, the President of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) Rovshan Najaf met with the delegation of Mizuho Financial Group, one of the largest bank holdings in Japan, Azernews reports.

At the meeting, satisfaction was expressed with the long-term effective activities of Japanese companies in Azerbaijan, and it was emphasized that the cooperation relations between SOCAR and Mizuho Bank are developing successfully.

Within the framework of the meeting, SOCAR's long-term corporate goals, in this regard, the work carried out in the areas of energy transition, digitization, innovation and business sustainability were reported.

The parties reviewed existing and future opportunities for cooperation in the field of energy and exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

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President Yoon Suk Yeol began his state visit to the Netherlands by meeting with a group of Korean residents and vowing to upgrade the two countries' relations to a "semiconductor alliance."

Yoon arrived in Amsterdam on Monday (local time) on a four-day visit aimed at strengthening cooperation between Korea, a leading chip manufacturer, and the Netherlands, home to chipmaking equipment companies such as ASML.

"Semiconductors are an important area not only for our industries but also for our security," he said during the dinner meeting with some 100 Korean residents at an Amsterdam hotel. "Through this visit, the semiconductor cooperation between Korea and the Netherlands will be upgraded to a semiconductor alliance."

Yoon is scheduled to visit the ASML headquarters in Veldhoven on Tuesday, together with Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Chairman Chey Tae-won. The two Korean companies are among the world's leading chipmakers.

Yoon will become the first foreign leader to tour a "cleanroom" manufacturing facility there, according to his office.

"(The cooperation) between Korea and the Netherlands is expanding its horizons from strategic areas such as national defense and security to economic and cultural exchanges, as well as exchanges in cutting-edge science and technology," he said. "With the signing of many agreements and MOUs during this visit, the Korea-Netherlands relationship will deepen further."

Yoon thanked the Korean community in the Netherlands for serving as a bridge between the two nations, noting their number has grown to nearly 10,000.

He also recounted the long history between the two countries, including the influences of two Dutch sailors  Jan Weltevree and Hendrik Hamel  whose vessels drifted to Korea in the 17th century and led them to spend many years in the country.

The Netherlands also sent more than 5,000 troops to fight alongside Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. (Yonhap)
Understanding that there are two firm positions concerning the Open Border Crises, but many realties regarding its current, and, or projected real impacts to the functioning, sustainability of this Constitutional Republic: What position below best represents what you know to be true regarding this impactful policy?

0% The United States' must continue the Executive initiative of Open Borders until a Democratic Congress can codify full Demographic Inclusion by keeping the Biden /Harris Open Borders policy in place.34.62% Our United States' borders are sovereign just as are our self-governed citizens, where borders must be maintained, monitored and defended, which is the position of core Republicans.3.85% I am in favor of Open Borders to make my America more of a global community; however, the federal government must now fix problems that "Red State" governors have caused in our cities.61.54% I do NOT favor the Democratic Socialists' disruption of the cultural fabric of my Representative Republic, and there will be Treasonous Hell to Pay when the certain calamity begins in earnest.
Korea aims to build a cold chain logistics center in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam by 2027, the presidential office said.

The project will be pursued under a letter of intent to be signed between Korea's Busan Port Authority and the Netherlands' Port of Rotterdam Authority during President Yoon Suk Yeol's ongoing state visit to Amsterdam this week, according to senior presidential secretary for economic affairs Park Chun-sup.

"It will be aimed at constructing the first cold chain logistics center in Europe by 2027 by renting a plot of land inside the Port of Rotterdam," Park told reporters in Amsterdam on Monday (local time).

"With the growing interest of European consumers in K-food, we expect it to help increase our exports of fresh food and reduce the logistical costs of exporting companies," he said.

Park added that Korean shipments of frozen goods to Europe are expected to quadruple by 2030, making it critical to secure additional cold chain logistical hubs on the continent. (Yonhap)
Convicted South Carolina murderer Alex Murdaugh has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for stealing money from clients.Murdaugh, previously sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the murders of his wife and youngest son, pleaded guilty in September to 22 counts of financial fraud and money laundering. His sentence was handed down on Tuesday, CBS News reported.Murdaugh is currently seeking a new trial for the murder charges, but will have to serve nearly 23 years of his sentence for financial crimes even if the murder conviction is overturned. As part of the plea agreement, Murdaugh gave up his right to appeal the financial sentencing, meaning that he will be at least 76 years old before he could be released from prison if the murder conviction is overturned.Murdaugh admitted to stealing around $12 million from clients over the years after promising to help them with medical bills or pain and suffering. One victim, Jordan Jinks, had been a friend of Murdaugh's since they were children. He asked Murdaugh to represent him after he incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills for a neck injury resulting from someone rear-ending his car.Jinks paid the bills, assured that Murdaugh would obtain a settlement to refund him. When Murdaugh received that settlement, he kept the money for himself.Jinks said during Murdaugh's sentencing.While taking responsibility for the financial crimes, Murdaugh adamantly denies killing his wife, Maggie, and their youngest son, Paul.Murdaugh said when pleading guilty in September.His defense attorney, Dick Harpootlian, noted at the time:A jury found Murdaugh guilty of murder on March 2, and he was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.The decision came after just a few hours of deliberation and a six-week trial where more than 70 witnesses testified. Murdaugh has maintained his innocence, suggesting his son Paul was the main target for the murders due to his involvement in a 2019 boat crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach.Murdaugh spent nearly two days testifying in his own defense at his trial and immediately admitted to lying for years about his whereabouts on the day his wife and son were murdered.The prosecution had already argued that Murdaugh lied about not going to the dog kennels on the day his wife and son were murdered. Prosecutor Creighton Waters previously pointed to cell phone evidence taken from Paul's phone less than five minutes before he was killed. Paul had filmed one of the dogs to send to a friend, and prosecutors allege Murdaugh's voice can be heard in the background of the recording. Murdaugh has said he wasn't at the kennels that night. Prosecutors said that Murdaugh murdered his wife and son around 8:49 p.m., just a few minutes after the video was taken.When Murdaugh took the stand, his defense attorneys asked him if he had lied to police about his whereabouts on the night his family was murdered, and Murdaugh admitted to lying.Murdaugh said, according to People Magazine.
The Lunacy of Voting for Cross-town Busing



Several weeks ago, I wrote about the Lunacy at the School Board regarding their proposal to tear down the John Cotton Tayloe and the Eastern Elementary School buildings and replace them with an approximately 1,000 student school building to house kindergarten thru the third-grade students. The plan is to get a 42-million-dollar grant from the Lottery and for Beaufort County taxpayers to pony up ten million dollars in matching funds.

For those who want their news in small bites, what I am reporting is that the majority on this school board and county commission propose to spend 50 million dollars with little or no comprehensive planning and without looking at all of the needs in the county. This decision will result in continuation of the crazy chopped up grade patterns and continue a horribly inefficient student busing system of cross town busing. The decision was made with NO public input and with less than an hour of public discussion by both boards combined. In short, it is hard to imagine a worse decision-making process than they used here.

Dont forget, when the decision in the last bond issue was made to build two new schools on Market Street, Chocowinity, the only schools with growth trends, was promised new classrooms.

Dont forget also that no study has been given to going to neighborhood schools to reduce busing and allow for continuity that a K-8 system would provide. This decision will lock the Washington Attendance Area into a grossly inefficient crosstown busing system for years to come. When they vote for this school, they are voting for cross-town busing of our youngest children when they could have gone towards neighborhood schools. This is s Bussing Decision for years to come.

This decision will make nothing better in addressing the problem of declining enrollment, but will in fact exacerbate it. It fails to look at the potential for reversal of, or mitigating, enrollment decline that the proposed interstate corridor between Greenville and U S 17 into Beaufort County holds. In that sense this proposal is the worst possible option for drawing students from Pitt into Beaufort. Not only would an attractive school in the growth area help Beaufort's declining enrollment ($$$) but it would also attract badly needed residential development if planned well. Rather, what it proposes is to put a new school in an area of declining enrollment and blocks out an effective K-8 grade structure. It will not attract much needed residential growth.

Moreover, we have been given no engineering data on the site at Eastern. For heaven's sake people, they are planning to build a 50-75 year school in a ravine! The drainage problems could be significant, but we have no preliminary planning to adequately assess the site. We already know the site is a traffic hazard. Go by that school before the school day and you see the traffic problems that now exist. Those problems will be increased with a larger school population. The site may be more suitable for a smaller school, but it is obviously not suitable for the current population, much less for a significantly larger population.

It would be difficult to find a worse planning model than this. There is no engineering or architectural assessment of the site much less the data to compare new to renovation costs of these things they just pull out of the air as justifications. There has been no discussion of the educational impact that the chopped-up grade structure, as opposed to a K-8 system. And it is obvious that the demographic data on student population shifts have not been considered.

This decision will lock in the cross-town busing of our youngest children for fifty years or more to come.

Above all, we have no student location data to support this decision. It is quite possible that within the life of this facility we will be looking at excess K-8 capacity in the Washington Attendance Area and a continuation of the very inefficient cross-town busing that was supposed to be temporary. Before we spend 42 million dollars, we need long-range facilities plan that looks at all of the feasible alternatives, including going to a K-8 system, and compares the needs of other schools in a comprehensive plan to use this lottery money.

This decision obliterates one of the prime reasons for merging the two school systems.

This decision forecloses the benefit of an interstate highway connector and locating a facility to draw students from Pitt County, to mitigate the problems of cross-town busing and declining enrollments. See the map link below. It ignores the fact that the County already owns a large unused site in the Chocowinity area with water and sewer, and is the only area in the county with anticipated growth without the proposed interstate.

The lunacy has spread to five of the seven Beaufort County Commissioners. A full ten minutes was allocated for debate to authorize the School Board to proceed with what turns out to be no plan. This is a no plan event because no plan was presented. No details were presented, and no presentation was made or allowed as to the benefits or disadvantages of spending the 52 million dollars at this site compared to other possibilities, such as using land currently owned in Chocowinity for a new school.

This decision was made with NO legitimate facilities planning. There was no consideration given to what other alternatives exist, or could be made to exist. It is, in short, the worst possible school facilities planning I have ever seen, with perhaps the horrendous planning that went into putting two oversized schools side by side on Market Street, smack in the middle of an area of declining enrollment.

There was a fierce and heated discussion when I started asking questions. The Superintendent came prepared with no answers, no numbers, no statement of advantage in doing the project other than we could get 42 million dollars free if we pony up ten million. He offered no other options for comparison. Stan Deatherage and I got hostile rebukes when we tried to ask questions. We took more than ten minutes, but the entire time was spent fending off efforts to stop anything intelligent from happening.

It was obvious the decision had already been made in the back room to proceed with trying to get the 42 million dollars. Staff chimed in and assisted Commissioners Randy Walker, Frankie Waters, Ed Booth, Jerry Langley and John Rebholz in getting the vote across the line. It was five to two with me and Stan Deatherage voting against.

The allocation of only ten minutes, the School Superintendent showing up with no documentation, and the enthusiasm of the staff in supporting the effort was proof the decision had been made in the back room.

Frankie Waters had slides prepared to puff his position. The slides were made at County expense and were displayed on the video equipment. No commissioner has ever used county equipment to support his political opinion before (to my knowledge). Fake Frankie Waters insists that all commissioners have the right to use county equipment this way.

Frankie Waters takes great pride in asking all commissioners to divulge whether they have a conflict of interest in anything on the agenda at the beginning of each meeting. It is always unethical and sometimes illegal for a public official to vote on issues that benefit them personally. It is also unethical for public officials to vote to appropriate public funds to promote their personal political opinion on an issue. Fake Frankie Waters does not think so. He sits on the Republican Executive Committee while having made donations to Democrats. There is no evil in Frankies world.

There are a multitude of problems that should be addressed before starting a project like this. Among these are sending so many small children to such a large school. We have small children who get on buses around 6:30 AM and get home around 6:30 PM. With a larger school this situation will get worse.

Over two thirds of Beaufort County Schools are rated at the D level on state tests. Does the school system have a plan to improve our ratings? Will the new school contribute to better learning programs and conditions? What are the plans for classroom layout, clustering or parking lot pick up. Most of the schools in Beaufort County are half empty and the County is losing students annually. Why build more schools? What is wrong with the Eastern Elementary to minimum of ten million dollars? Is there money in the 52-million-dollar budget to buy furniture and IT systems for the new school? Every day the buses roll to bus kids across town will cost more. Etc, etc, etc. This is the worst possible example of good school facilities planning.

What is happening here is a school board and superintendent presenting a proposal to spend fifty million dollars for one site while having no long-range comprehensive plan for the entire county. It is the worst possible example of facilities planning I have ever seen.

It is obvious that neither the school board nor the county commissioners have spent any time trying to solve any of these problems. Because of the lack of effort by these two bodies of elected officials and their back-room effort to keep the public out of the process, I cannot support the effort until the public is actually

involved. We need the involvement of all to have a good education system. Not just a few big shots.

Based on events and policy decisions made by both the school board and the county commissioners during the past several years I have zero confidence that there will be anything positive come from this reckless effort other than to make the architects and contractors rich and get some peoples names on brass plaque on the school buildings.

Most of the members of the school board and the board of county commissioners have abandoned any responsibility to the public and are allowing unelected bureaucrats to make important decisions for us. This will continue as long as the majority of these boards are not willing to do anything about it. Some commissioners said the larger schools would make education cheaper. They are not willing to address the quality of education issue. Nor do they have any data to compare the high expense of cross-town busing.

If this grant is made to Beaufort County, only 4 or 5 people will make all the decisions in the back room and then tell the rest of us what to do. They dont care if they have the word honorable in front of their name and they get their pay. Have no doubt. This is a busing decision that will cost us in multiple ways for fifty years or more.

Finally, and what may be most important: This decision thumbs is nose at the parents and taxpayers. No real data is offered to support it. No public participation in the decision was afforded by either the School Board or County Commission. If you ever wanted an example of how to NOT spend fifty million dollars on a school, you would be hard pressed to find a better example of incompetence by school officials and decision-making by elected officials than this decision represents.

We are now in the election process for the 2024 elections. Voters have an opportunity to roll both boards.

Can you pick the losers on these boards? Vote for change.

We will have more to report on the politics of this decision in a later edition.

DOT_Planning.Map.pdf
The South Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) tasked with discussing nuclear and strategic planning between the allies will hold its second session in Washington this week, the presidential office said Tuesday.

The group will meet Friday to discuss "detailed measures" to strengthen deterrence against North Korea's nuclear threat, the office said in a press release.

The meeting will be led by the National Security Councils of the two countries and joined by defense, foreign policy, military and intelligence officials from both sides.

"The upcoming meeting plans to check the directions and progress on the implementation plans discussed at the inaugural session and discuss next-stage plans," the presidential office said. "By doing so, South Korea and the United States are expected to actively implement the Washington Declaration agreed by President Yoon Suk Yeol and President Biden and build strong credibility for the South Korea-U.S. extended deterrence."

The NCG was established under the Washington Declaration adopted by Yoon and Biden during their summit in Washington in April as part of measures to strengthen the U.S. extended deterrence commitment to defending ally South Korea with all of its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons.

The inaugural session was held in Seoul in July, led by Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo, U.S. National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and NSC Coordinator for Defense Policy and Arms Control Cara Abercrombie.

During that meeting, the two sides established a range of workstreams to bolster nuclear deterrence and response capabilities on the Korean Peninsula.

In particular, the allies discussed "joint planning and execution" of South Korean conventional support to U.S nuclear operations, as well as how to "enhance visibility of" U.S. strategic asset deployments around the Korean Peninsula, a joint statement said.

On the day of the meeting, the U.S. nuclear-capable submarine USS Kentucky made a port call in South Korea's southeastern city of Busan, the first such visit to the country since 1981. (Yonhap)
While ASCs are preparing themselves for growth headed into 2024, many systems are still struggling to obtain top-of-the-line healthcare workers.

"The single greatest threat is not in bricks and mortar, or implants and supplies or payer reimbursements. Instead, it is systemic national shortages of perioperative professionals, starting with certified registered nurse anesthetists, surgical technologists and registered nurses," Les Jebson, regional administrator at Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health, told Becker's. "Those that create a team-based care environment, offer flexible staffing and benefits and tight orchestration of procedure scheduling at specific locations will be better positioned to deal with this threat."

Several states across the U.S., including New York and Florida, are taking actions to bolster their healthcare workforces and combat shortages.

New York lawmakers are scheduled for a legislative hearing on Dec. 19 that will address pressing workforce needs, according to a Dec. 7 report from FingerLakes.com.

This hearing will gather input from healthcare workers, providers and stakeholders statewide to help legislators determine the most pressing needs when creating the 2024 state budget.

The main focus will be on addressing staffing challenges, reducing healthcare costs and introducing new education programs, with an eye on the projected $4.3 billion budget gap.

Florida legislators have introduced the "Live Healthy" initiative, which focuses on expanding the workforce, increasing access and encouraging innovation, according to a Dec. 11 report from NBC 2.

The legislative package calls for $900 million that would go toward expanding Florida's healthcare workforce with new opportunities for education and training.

The initiative would also remove barriers for foreign-trained physicians, broaden state assistance for medical and dental education, increase access for low income Floridians and allocate money for new healthcare innovations.
Headed into the holiday season, medical specialists are making their "dream" wish lists not just for themselves, but for their practices and patients as well.

Here are the items on two GI specialists' holiday wish lists:

Sharda Rohit, MD. Gastroenterologist at Swedish (Seattle): I am hoping to obtain upgraded scopes and trial new hemostatic clips and powders. I also hope UnitedHealthcare relents in requiring prior authorization prior to endoscopy. And increased access to inpatient capsule endoscopy.

Benjamin Levy III, MD. Gastroenterologist at University of Chicago Medicine: I hope that gastroenterology practices nationally will incorporate artificial intelligence into their endoscopy suites over the next year so that we can use software such as GI Genius to help us detect difficult-to-see flat polyps more easily. This amazing new artificial intelligence technology places a target box on the endoscopy screen (much like you'd see in a movie like Top Gun) as it detects polyps. Having an additional set of computer eyes will improve colonoscopy quality nationally and also help teach our gastroenterology fellows in training.

In addition, I would love for intestinal ultrasound to continue expanding nationally. This is a life changer for inflammatory bowel disease patients because we can now evaluate for disease activity in the clinic without performing a colonoscopy. Intestinal ultrasound can be used in clinic to quantify inflammation in real time; check for complications such as strictures, abscesses and fistulas; and assess how a patient is responding to medication. What's really cool is that intestinal ultrasound can be used in clinic to offer accurate bowel images for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease patients without drinking a colonoscopy prep solution. This technology can also help evaluate for recurrence after surgery.
Baptist Health Foundation, in partnership with Birmingham, Ala.-based Baptist Health System, has donated over $350,000 to 38 healthcare organizations in 2023.

The foundation launched the Community Support Fund with Baptist Health System in 2022, according to a Dec. 11 news release shared with Becker's. The funds give charitable grants to established 501(c)3 nonprofits that provide healthcare or health-related services and operate within the foundation's four-county footprint: Jefferson, Shelby, Talladega and Walker. While not a requirement, faith-based programs are given priority, the release said.

Birmingham Metro Baptist Association's ReMedy program, which collects and refurbishes usable medical equipment to loan to people in need, is one of the fund recipients. "The Community Support Fund has provided a crucial lifeline for ReMedy by allowing us to embark on a major expansion," Christopher Crain, executive director of Birmingham Metro Baptist Association's ReMedy program, said in the release. "This expansion not only addresses an unmet need but also positions us to double our impact. With the support of the Baptist Health Foundation, we can prevent nearly $1 million worth of used medical equipment from ending up in landfills and extend a helping hand to those in need."

One hundred percent of the funds raised by the foundation, which operates freely from any hospital or healthcare organization, are used to provide financial support to qualified patients, continued medical professional education, employees in need of monetary aid, patient and family pastoral care, and community-based wellness programs.

The foundation plans to back more nonprofits in 2024 by addressing access to healthcare, food insecurity, behavioral health, and individuals finding themselves in crisis.
Morrison (Ill.) Community Hospital reported a data breach that affected 122,488 patients.

The hospital said that an unauthorized party accessed its network on Sept. 24. Morrison Community Hospital said that it doesn't have any reason to believe that patient information has been misused, according to a Nov. 22 Morrison Community Hospital news release.

The hospital also said that it has "reviewed" and "enhanced" its cybersecurity posture to prevent another incident. Law firm Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP is investigating the incident.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health has filed plans for a freestanding emergency department in Lighthouse Point, the South Florida Business Journal reported Dec. 11.

The project is expected to cost $24 million, with an estimated completion time of fourth quarter 2025, a Broward Health spokesperson told Becker's in an email.

If approved by the city's development review committee, the freestanding ED would be located on a 1.03-acre site that the health system purchased for nearly $5 million, with plans to demolish the existing 15,742-square-foot office building, the publication reported.

Plans for the freestanding ED include a two-story, 14,074-square-foot facility with 9,417 square feet dedicated to the ED and another 4,757 square feet for a medical office. While the ED wouldn't host overnight stays, the facility would also feature 36 parking spaces, 10 treatment rooms and a CT scanner.

The proposal comes after the system's October groundbreaking of another freestanding ED in Sunrise, Fla., in partnership with Hollywood, Fla.-based Memorial Healthcare System.

"While we work toward city approval, Broward Health is pursuing an expansion of its footprint to Lighthouse Point," Shane Strum, president and CEO of Broward Health, said in a statement shared with Becker's. "It is always our goal to not only provide the highest quality care to our community, but also convenient access to that care. The new freestanding emergency department, like the one being built in Sunrise, is the latest step in fulfilling that mission."
On the evening of Dec. 11, the U.S. House voted in favor of moving The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act forward.

The proposed legislation passed the House on a bipartisan 320-71 vote. Introduced Sept. 8, the bill would require hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, labs, imaging service providers and pharmacy benefit managers to meet new price transparency requirements, along with several additional provisions.

"This bipartisan legislation delivers on our commitment to lowering health care costs and providing increased transparency for patients  something 95 percent of Americans support," Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, House Energy and Commerce Committee chair, said in a Dec. 11 news release. "It helps Americans save money on out-of-pocket expenses and seniors save millions on medicines through important Medicare payment reforms. I thank my colleagues for their hard work and support of the legislation and urge the Senate to consider it without delay."

Prior to its passing, the bill was met with some opposition from the American Hospital Association. In a Dec. 11 statement shared with Becker's, AHA President and CEO Rick Pollak urged Congress to oppose and rework the legislation should Medicare site-neutral cuts remain part of the package, out of concern these cuts could harm hospitals.

AHA told Becker's they have no further comment on the House's passing of the legislation.

The proposed bill is now headed to the Senate, and if passed, will go to President Joe Biden for final approval before becoming law.
Lewiston, Maine-based St. Mary's Health System, a member of Tewksbury, Mass.-based Covenant Health, is laying off 31 employees and reducing working hours for additional employees.

In an effort to address financial challenges and ensure long-term sustainability, the health system, which includes a 233-bed acute care community hospital, will also end 2023 with a negative operating margin. The pandemic, low patient numbers and revenue, rising supply and labor costs, and increased patient acuity were also listed as reasons for the layoffs.

"This decision was not made lightly," Cindy Segar-Miller, president of St. Mary's Health System, said in a statement shared with Becker's. "It reflects the seriousness of our financial challenges and our desire to protect our community and employees from even deeper, more painful cuts in the future. These changes have touched all levels and many areas of our health system, including team members in top leadership positions."

Some employees have also been asked to transfer to other positions. Severance pay and extended health coverage through the severance period is being offered to eligible employees.
Butler (Pa.) Health System has been downgraded from a "BBB" to a "BBB-" with a negative outlook, Fitch Ratings reported Dec.11.

Fitch said the ratings come as the result of a "deepening operating deficit through the 2023 fiscal year," including a weaker-than-budgeted operating loss through the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, ending Sept. 30, 2023.

Butler Health saw $13.1 million in operating losses in the first quarter of 2024. The system also saw $40.7 million in operating losses for the 2023 fiscal year and an operating loss of only $13.5 million for the 2022 fiscal year, a spokesperson for Butler Health told Becker's in an email. The system is currently operating under a Charlotte, N.C.-based Truist Bank waiver of its 1.25x debt service coverage ratio.

"Clearly, we are disappointed with the development, but not surprised," Tom Albanesi, CFO of Butler Health, said in a statement shared with Becker's. "The rating remains investment grade. We remain committed to our financial improvement plan and rating upgrades will follow."

The news comes after the Jan. 1 merger of Butler Health and Excela Health to create Greensburg, Pa.-based Independence Health System. Off to a rocky start, the system saw combined operating losses of $22.7 million on operating revenue of $261.8 million for the three months ending Sept. 30.

To combat these operating and financial challenges, Butler Health has brought in an outside consultant to help with operational improvements. With $65 million in initiatives, $34 million of sustainable improvements are planned for fiscal year 2024.

"Over the longer term, the restoration of patient volumes to pre-pandemic levels, moderating staffing costs, implementation of turnaround initiatives, and increases in reimbursement will aid operational stability and should allow BHS to meet its covenants and return to more stable and sustainable financial result," Fitch said in a Dec. 11 report. "Over the intermediate term, results will remain constrained and more indicative of low investment grade or non-investment grade credit quality."
Korea's foreign ministry said Tuesday that it has submitted a revised report to the U.N. Human Rights Council on the issue of Japan's wartime forced labor, after the initial version drew criticism with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's remarks being suggested as Tokyo's official apology.

In an August U.N. report on the state of the promotion of truth, justice and reparations in Korea, the government included the remarks Kishida had made during the May summit with President Yoon Suk Yeol that "My heart hurts as many people suffered such difficulty and grief under the harsh environment."

Kishida's comments, introduced under the "official apology" subsection of the report, sparked backlash from civic groups, with critics accusing the government of distorting the truth by making Kishida's personal opinion look like an official apology from the Japanese government.

The foreign ministry said later it was considering submitting a revised version of the report.

In the revised report shown on the U.N. website Tuesday, it left Kishida's remarks unchanged and added: "Some victims and bereaved families of forced labor continue to demand an official apology and compensation from the Japanese government and companies."

The revised statement includes a text "objectively reflecting the situation that requires an official apology for the forced labor issue, similar to the part related to sexual slavery by the Japanese military," foreign ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said in a briefing.

"We intend to make efforts to create a future-oriented relationship by consistently and faithfully inheriting the spirit of the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration, in which the Japanese government expressed an apology for colonial rule," Lim said, referring to a 1998 joint declaration adopted by the then leaders of the two countries.

In the declaration, the two leaders called for overcoming the past and building new relations, with Obuchi expressing remorse for the "horrendous damage and pain" Japan's colonial rule inflicted on the Korean people.

Many Koreans were forced to toil at Japanese mines and munitions factories against their will during World War II, when Korea was a Japanese colony, and the issue has remained a major thorn in bilateral relations.

Tokyo has maintained that all reparation issues related to the 1910-45 colonization of Korea were settled in the 1965 deal to normalize bilateral diplomatic ties.

In March this year, the Yoon Suk Yeol government announced it will compensate the forced labor victims on its own without asking for contributions from the Japanese companies, leading to a significant warming of bilateral relations and the resumption of reciprocal visits by leaders. (Yonhap)
StoneBridge Healthcare, a hospital turnaround firm, is looking to enter a management contract with Delaware-based WoodBridge, a nonprofit organization, to acquire West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health for $706 million, the Philadelphia Business Journal reported Dec.12.

WoodBridge, a sister organization to StoneBridge, was expected to share a nonbinding agreement in principle with Tower Health on Dec. 12, which includes the intent to purchase the system's assets, the publication reported.

An initial cash payment of $550 million, including the assumption of finance leases with liabilities of $156 million, and a commitment of hiring nearly all the system's 11,000 employees are featured in the proposed deal.

Tower Health operates Reading Hospital, Pottstown Hospital and Phoenixville Hospital. St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia is also under the system in partnership with Drexel University.

If all goes well, the plan would involve StoneBridge negotiating a management agreement with WoodBridge, Joshua Nemzoff, founder and CEO of StoneBridge, told the Journal. However, Mr. Nemzoff said WoodBridge is only interested in acquiring the Reading, Pottstown and Phoenixville hospitals.

This is not the first time that StoneBridge has attempted to acquire the system. Last November, the firm offered Tower Health $675 million, which was turned down. StoneBridge, in partnership with Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Health Network, also made two conditional offers in 2021 to acquire the system's assets for $600 million, which were also declined.

Formed in 2020, StoneBridge's mission is to purchase and turn around acute care hospitals that are in significant economic distress. The firm currently does not own or operate any hospitals. Like StoneBridge, WoodBridge also hasn't completed hospital deals, and will have its own separate board of directors, the publication reported.

Tower Health declined to provide Becker's with a comment. Becker's has also reached out to StoneBridge Health regarding the potential acquisition.
Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Corewell Health has named Robert Fitzgerald, MD, president of its Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.

Dr. Fitzgerald began serving as the hospital's interim president and pediatric department chair in February, according to a Dec. 11 news release. He joined the hospital in 2002 as a pediatric intensivist, and has since served as its section chief for pediatric intensive care and division chief of acute care medicine.

The 241-bed hospital is based in Grand Rapids, Mich., and employs more than 300 providers across 70 pediatric specialties.
UC San Diego Health has named Karandeep Singh, MD, as its inaugural chief health artificial intelligence officer, a newly created C-suite role for the health system.

Dr. Singh, who will step into the role Dec. 29, will oversee strategies on how to incorporate AI into clinical processes, according to a Dec. 12 news release from UC San Diego Health. Specifically, Dr. Singh will look at how AI can streamline documentation, enhance efficiency and elevate the overall patient experience.

Additionally, he will establish the necessary structure and governance to facilitate responsible and successful deployment of AI in healthcare, according to the release.
UPMC has named Brian Durniok president of Erie, Pa.-based UPMC Hamot and its Northwest Pennsylvania and New York market.

Mr. Durniok has been serving as interim president of UPMC Hamot since July, in addition to his roles as president of Jamestown, N.Y.-based UPMC Chautauqua and Seneca, Pa.-based UPMC Northwest, according to a Dec. 4 news release shared with Becker's. He will continue to helm all three hospitals until replacements are named to the Chautauqua and Northwest facilities.

Mr. Durniok joined Pittsburgh-based UPMC in 1995 as a director of human resources UPMC Horizon in Mercer County, Pa., and has held other leadership roles since. At UPMC Northwest  where he was named president in 2017  he was instrumental in developing the telemedicine service line, which is the largest across UPMC's network, the release said.
Missouri and Kansas lawmakers are expressing concerns about a proposed partnership between University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City (Kan.) and Liberty (Mo.) Hospital, the Kansas Reflector reported Dec. 11.

Liberty Hospital's board in October voted to pursue a partnership with the health system. Through the proposed partnership, Liberty would have the opportunity to expand services and improve the patient experience with greater access to treatments and specialists, the hospital said in a news release. U of Kansas Health would benefit by growing its presence in Northwest Missouri.

Among the Missouri lawmakers who have come out against the deal is state Sen. Greg Razer, who pre-filed a bill that would halt the proposed partnership, according to the Reflector. The bill would prohibit hospital boards from partnering with an out-of-state health system "operated by an institution of higher education" without voter approval.

Mr. Razer said he is concerned the partnership would take healthcare dollars away from Missouri to "prop up Kansas" and that it would be a recruiting tool for Lawrence-based University of Kansas.

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson is one of the lawmakers on that side of the state line who are concerned by the potential deal, the report said.

U of Kansas Health is governed by the U of Kansas Hospital Authority, a board established by state statute, primarily appointed by the governor and affiliated with the U of Kansas School of Medicine, according to the report. The health system has not been owned by the state in 25 years and does not receive state or local tax dollars. It currently operates more than a half dozen clinics in Missouri.

A U of Kansas Health spokesperson told the news outlet, "The patients and families we serve and those Liberty Hospital serves are looking for the best possible healthcare close to home regardless of state lines. They come to our health system because they need answers and we can help them. We are proud to offer the care they need."
Earlier this month, Aurora-based Children's Hospital Colorado announced it was scaling back its education benefit program for workers for certain healthcare degrees. Now, the hospital has adjusted its plan for current enrollees after feedback from affected employees.

"Over the past few days, after announcing our changes to our education benefits, hospital leaders have had the opportunity to have several additional conversations with team members who would be impacted by these changes," Leila Roche, a spokesperson for Children's, said in a statement shared with Becker's on Dec. 12. "While we did our best to make our original decision thoughtfully and with care and consideration, it is based on those conversations and relationships with our team members that we have decided to maintain the original benefits offered to those who are currently enrolled in a Guild program.

"Changes for future enrollees and to the 2024 offerings will move forward as initially announced last week."

The news follows Children's partnership with Guild, an education platform, to offer tuition-free learning benefits to employees. The partnership, launched in April 2022, provides employees access to Guild's programs from education providers. These programs include undergraduate and graduate degree options, high school completion and college prep, among other offerings.

With the partnership, the hospital also agreed to pay up to $5,250 annually for employees to access additional programs within Guild's learning marketplace. Programs focus on areas such as healthcare, business, technology, psychology and hospitality.

Ms. Roche told Becker's earlier this month that the organization decided to make changes to the scope of its 2024 Guild educational offerings in the catalog due to significantly higher-than-expected use.

"This was a very difficult decision and one we did not make without serious consideration of various options," she said.

The decision left some workers trying to figure out their next steps, The Denver Post reported on Dec. 11. A Children's nurse who is pursuing a master's in a behavioral health field told the newspaper she would be unable to apply for financial aid before the next semester begins.

"They gave us about a one-month notice," said the nurse, who spoke to the newspaper on the condition of anonymity over fears she could lose her job. "A lot of us don't have five, six grand saved to pay for our next term."

The hospital has now decided to maintain the original benefits offered to those who are currently enrolled in a Guild program. For future enrollees, it has put a cap on the amount it can pay annually and adjusted the programs/degrees it is offering.

Future enrollees will be able to continue their education with tuition support paid upfront by Childrens Colorado up to $5,250 annually for each team member enrolled, Ms. Roche said.

"This limit was already in place for some programs and now will be implemented for all programs," she said. "For 2024, we also had to limit new enrollments in our Guild catalog but will continue to allow enrollment in critical, hard-to-fill areas."

Overall, Children's has committed more than $11 million to team member education through Guild since offering the program. Ms. Roche said the hospital "remains dedicated to making a significant annual investment in this benefit and the education of more than 1,000 team members."

Editor's note: This article was updated at 7:48 p.m. CST on Dec. 12.


Workers at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin, Minn., have signed a petition seeking a vote on the removal of United Steelworkers Local 11-005 as their bargaining representative.

The petition for decertification was filed by Erin Krulish, a patient care specialist at the Mayo Clinic location in Austin, with the National Labor Relations Board with assistance from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, according to the NRTW. The foundation is a nonprofit with a mission "to eliminate coercive union power and compulsory unionism abuses through strategic litigation, public information and education programs."

The NLRB website states that employees may seek a vote to remove a union if they believe support for a union has diminished, after collecting signatures from at least 30% of workers in a unit. A majority of workers in Ms. Krulish's work unit, which includes licensed practical nurses, medical assistants and patient care specialists, signed the petition, according to the NRTW.

The foundation said in a Dec. 12 news release that workers want to take away union bosses' "monopoly bargaining powers." Ms. Krulish and her co-workers voted in a deauthorization vote in 2022 to remove what the NRTW says are the union's "forced-dues powers," but they are now seeking a vote to remove the union from the workplace entirely.

An election date has not been set. However, if a majority of workers vote to remove United Steelworkers Local 11-005, the union will be removed from the workplace.

Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin shared a statement with Becker's saying it has learned that more than 50 employees have signed the petition for decertification.

"This is a staff-led effort," the statement said. "We are grateful for the confidence the petitioners have in Mayo Clinic Health System."

USW District 11 Director Cathy Drummond shared the following statement with Becker's: "The anti-union effort at Mayos Austin Clinic is yet another example of an outside organization inserting itself in an attempt to strip workers of their power. This group has a clear agenda: to turn workers against each other and ultimately deprive them of their ability to bargain strong contracts. Our union remains committed to empowering all workers in their fight for fair wages and safe working conditions."
Large language models may not always exhibit poor performance in clinical reasoning and, in specific restricted scenarios, could surpass the capabilities of clinicians, according to a Dec. 11 study published in JAMA Network Open.

Researchers from Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center conducted a study where they pitted ChatGPT-4 against clinicians. The researchers inputted a set of five example medical cases into the chatbot that had been given to clinicians in a previously published survey on probabilistic reasoning.The researchers then gave ChatGPT an identical prompt 100 times, soliciting the likelihood of a specific diagnosis based on the patient's presentation.

They also tasked the chatbot with updating its estimates in response to certain test results, such as mammography for breast cancer. The team then compared the probabilistic estimates with responses obtained from the survey, which encompassed more than 550 human practitioners.

The researchers found that in all five cases, ChatGPT-4 demonstrated superior accuracy compared to human clinicians when assessing pretest and post-test probability following a negative test result. The large language model did not perform as well after positive test results, however.
A former VCU Health employee found guilty of second-degree murder after shooting his coworker in a hospital stairwell has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

Christopher Boisseau was convicted by jury in September of the charges from the May 10 shooting of his co-worker, Ty'Quan White, in a stairwell within Richmond, Va.-based VCU Medical Center North Hospital. Mr. White died from the injuries he sustained.

On Dec. 11, Mr. Boisseau was sentenced by a Richmond Circuit Court judge to 20 years in prison for second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, according to NBC 12.

Prosecutors claimed that the argument between the two employees started over a trash assignment. During his trial, Mr. Boisseau had claimed he used the firearm in self-defense after Mr. White allegedly reached for his pocket, where he also possessed a firearm.

VCU Health has made several changes to its security and safety resources this past year, including the installation of weapon screening devices in facilities that connect to its medical center, reduction of entry points to its hospital and outpatient facilities, and expansion of badge-controlled access points.
Pfizer will donate the royalty rights from sales of cancer drug Bavencio to the American Association for Cancer Research starting in January.

Pfizer said in a Dec. 12 news release that it is donating the rights to address concerns from antitrust regulators related to its $43 billion deal to buy Seagen. The drugmaker received the required regulatory approvals and expects to close the deal on Dec. 14 after announcing the deal in March.

After the deal closes, Pfizer said it will create a separate cancer drugs operation led by Chris Boshoff, MD, PhD, who will serve as chief oncology officer and executive vice president. The new structure and rights agreement will go into effect January 1.
South Korea's foreign ministry said Tuesday it is "deplorable" that North Korea has published a white paper accusing the West of violating human rights, urging Pyongyang to "look back on itself."

The North announced the publication of the white paper on human rights Monday on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations, dismissing international criticism of North Korea's egregious human rights situation.

"We find it deplorable that North Korea has published the so-called white paper on human rights. North Korea does not respect even the most basic rights," foreign ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said in a briefing.

"We express deep regrets, in particular, that North Korea is making far-fetched claims about the human rights situations in the West, including the United States, and using human rights to propagate its cause of nuclear and missile provocations," Lim said.

"On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we hope that North Korea will listen to these voices of the international community and reflect on itself," he added.

In the white paper, the North said the dignity and rights of its people are "ruthlessly being violated" in the U.S. and other Western countries. It accused the U.S. of attempting to topple the regime by taking issues with the human rights conditions. (Yonhap)
Nitazenes, a group of highly potent, synthetic drugs made in the 1950s as opioid analgesics, are becoming more commonly used in street drugs. In some cases, it can even be 10 times more potent than fentanyl.

After being developed, nitazenes were never approved to go to market or for medical use. As a result, in the street drug supply, nitazenes are often found mixed with fentanyl or other agents, but their presence is not always disclosed to drug buyers, who may not even be familiar with nitazenes, according to a June 2023 study published in Cureus. These drugs pose a particular challenge since there is little experience in how to reverse a nitazene overdose or potential drug-drug or drug-alcohol interactions.

Since 2019, there have been 2,400 reports of nitazenes in drug-seizures by the Drug Enforcement Administrations Diversion Control Division.

The nitazenes can make [a drug mix] stronger than fentanyl, Anthony Salisbury, the special agent in charge of the Homeland Security Investigations field office in South Florida, told The Washington Post in a Dec. 10 report. As if we needed something stronger than fentanyl.

While Naloxone can reverse nitazene overdoses, it can be complicated when patients or clinicians do not realize they have been taken. A small study published in August 2023 in JAMA found that patients who had nitazenes in their system often needed more Naloxone to be revived than individuals who had overdosed on fentanyl alone.
Medline, the Northfield, Ill.-based major medical supplier, made several headlines this year for key developments ranging from newly inked deals to challenges due to fire damage at a manufacturing plant.

Here are the supplier's top 5 headlines covered by Becker's from 2023:
The layoff process used to be abrupt: a worker learns their job has been cut and they leave the same day (sometimes with a security escort). Now, some companies are alerting employees that their roles will be eliminated months in advance, The Wall Street Journal reported Dec. 10.

The longer runways  adopted by the likes of Wells Fargo and Disney  benefit both employer and employee, according to the Journal.

Many companies overhired during the pandemic, causing the white-collar job market to tighten. Employers, now sporting the upper hand, are adding additional steps to their hiring processes to ensure they choose the right candidate. A longer goodbye gives them time to be more selective when bringing on replacements.

Advance layoff notice also benefits employees by giving them more time to find a new opportunity and figure out their finances while still collecting a paycheck. This reflects positively on employers, who have faced increased social media backlash for mass layoffs this year. It also shows existing and prospective employees that the company aims to treat them fairly  a practice that could improve retention rates in the future, Wade Rogers, senior vice president of global human resources and chief compliance officer at the chemical company Huntsman, told the Journal.

"How we handle ourselves and how we handle our relationships with our associates matters," Mr. Rogers said.

A long layoff period is more dangerous at some companies, such as those where a begrudged employee can access confidential patents or business plans, according to the Journal. Others worry that workers who receive advance notice of their impending layoff will lose motivation while continuing to collect their pay.

Jennifer Bender, who most recently served as senior vice president of human resources at the technology company Change Healthcare, recommended letting these employees know they could still be terminated sooner if they give the company due cause. At her company, which informed people of their layoff date two to four weeks in advance, this reduced security concerns.

"It's really a best practice at this point," Ms. Bender told the Journal.
There are 27,639 orthopedic surgeons practicing in the U.S., according to data firm Definitive Healthcare.

Here are 25 insights on orthopedic surgeon compensation, incentive bonuses, practice setting and other topics, drawn from recent reports and surveys:

1. From 2020 to 2023, the number of orthopedic surgeons fell by 655 or 4.3%.

2. California has the most active orthopedic surgeons in the U.S. at 2,870. Texas rankled second with 1,924 orthopedic surgeons, and New York has 1,700.

3. The number of orthopedic surgeons is projected to shrink by 5,050 by 2025, according to Physicians Thrive.

4. Orthopedic surgeon pay varies by setting, according to Physicians Thrive's "2023 Physician Compensation Report:"

Single specialty: $650,000

Multi-specialty: $663,000

Rural Health Clinic: $603,000

Hospital Department Practice: $675,000

Academic Department: $400,000

5. Orthopedic surgeons are the second highest-paid medical specialty in the U.S., according to Medscape's "Physician Compensation Report 2023." Plastic surgery was the top-paying specialty.

6. The average annual pay for orthopedic surgeons in 2023 was $573,000, up 3% compared to 2022.

7. The top five cities with the highest pay for midcareer (eight to 14 years of experience) orthopedic surgeons, according to the Medscape physician salary calculator.

Louisville, Ky.: $589,622

Austin, Texas: $582,144

New Orleans: $577,726

Salt Lake City: $572,959

Sacramento, Calif.: $570,563

8. For orthopedic surgeons with 15 to 21 years of experience, the highest paying cities were:

Salt Lake City: $720,685

Austin, Texas: $652,024

Atlanta: $636,566

Cincinnati: $630,616

Indianapolis: $628,271

9. The average revenue generated by orthopedic surgeons is $3.3 million, according to a 2022 report from Merritt Hawkins.

10. On average, orthopedic surgeons earn an average $134,000 each year in incentive bonuses, according to Medscape.

11. Average orthopedic surgeon salary over the past five years, according to Medscape:

2019: $482,000

2020: $511,000

2021: $511,000

2022: $557,000

2023: $573,000

12. Twenty-eight percent of orthopedic surgeons reported having a net worth of at least $5 million in 2023, according to Medscape.

13. Eighty-two percent of orthopedic surgeons reported being named in a malpractice suit, just behind OBGYNs and general surgeons, according to Medscape's "Physicians and Malpractice Report 2023."

14. Only 10% of orthopedic surgeons are women, according to Medscape.

15. Of the 10 largest U.S. cities, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio had the widest average pay gap between male and female orthopedic surgeons with an average $147,312 difference.

16. Forty-three percent of female orthopedic surgeons and 29% of male surgeons reported feeling burnout, according to Medcape.

17. The top three contributors to burnout were too many bureaucratic tasks, lack of respect from administrators, employers, colleagues or staff, and insufficient compensation or salary.

18. Still, orthopedics was one of the happiest physician specialties outside the workplace. About 65 percent of orthopedic surgeons report feeling either happy or very happy outside of work.

19. Orthopedic surgeons report spending 13.7 hours per week on administrative work.

20. Forty-seven percent of orthopedic surgeons report spending 30 to 40 hours seeing patients weekly. Two percent spend more than 60 hours seeing patients weekly, and 23% spend less than 30 hours with patients.

21. Fifteen percent of orthopedic surgeons are still paying medical school debt.

22. Ninety-seven percent of "young orthopedic surgeons," defined by Medscape as physicians younger than 40, would choose the specialty again, according to the "Young Physician Compensation Report 2023."

23. Seventy-nine percent of young orthopedic surgeons would choose to practice medicine again.

24. There are 5.8 active orthopedic surgeons per 100,000 people, according to the U.S. Physician Workforce Data Dashboard.

25. Net revenue and case mix of orthopedic cases in ASCs, according to VMG Health's "Multi-Specialty ASC Benchmarking Study" 2022.

Average revenue: $3,791

25th percentile: $2,890

90th percentile: $5,316

Average case mix: 21%

25th percentile: 8%

90th percentile: 50%
Northern Montana Hospital in Havre added smart knee replacements with Zimmer Biomet's Persona IQ device, according to a Dec. 12 news release in the Havre Daily News.

The implant has a sensor that measures a patient's range of motion, step count, walking speed and other gait metrics. Surgeons and patients can access the data through a HIPAA compliant platform to monitor recovery and care management.

Northern Montana Hospital is the first hospital in the state to offer Persona IQ, M. Benjamin Farr, MD, said in the release.
Colin Lewis derides partys support of Brexit and its decision to boycott Stormont

The DUP has been plain stupid in any economic plan to support Brexit and later boycott devolved government, a retired senior civil servant has claimed.

Writing in todays Belfast Telegraph, Colin Lewis, who was deputy permanent secretary at the Department for the Economy in 2020, says there has been little logic in the DUPs decision to leave government.

In his career, Mr Lewis also held roles in the departments of Finance & Personnel, Agriculture & Environment, Justice, and Economic Development. He is also a former managing director of corporate services at Invest NI.

Read more Why the finger of blame for economic vandalism should point to the DUP

Mr Lewis said that the prospect of job losses at further education colleges, resulting from budget cuts imposed by Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris, was ultimately a result of DUP policy.

It seems that one consequence of the DUPs cunning plan is to impose further economic pain and woe on the people of Northern Ireland, having previously been party to helping to create the circumstances that led to the UK as a whole effectively voting for self-imposed economic sanctions and a sustained diminution in its overall wealth  AKA Brexit.

But a DUP spokesman dismissed Mr Lewiss critique.

This is rubbish, he said.

Mr Lewis said the DUP had been stubbornly ignoring the economic downside of its boycott.

What makes this stance particularly bizarre is that the same party would have always claimed, or at least implied, that it is the party for business, as witnessed by the fact that since the restoration of devolution in 2007, its ministers  seven of them in total  have continually held the governments economy portfolio.

He said the DUP had been able to exploit a global economic upturn and gain positive public attention from investment successes, notwithstanding that in reality they often played no significant role whatsoever in securing any of these.
Existing tenants commit to lease extensions, with some upsizing premises

House of Cavani at The Boulevard

Eric Tommasini, House of Cavani store manager, and Chris Nelmes, retail director at The Boulevard, Banbridge

Co Down designer outlet The Boulevard has welcomed two news brands  creating 12 new jobs  just in time for Christmas.

Luxury clothing brand House of Cavani opened its new store at the Banbridge outlet last week, taking a 2,000 sq ft unit on the west of the scheme.

The menswear brand which specialises in suits, created six new jobs with the opening of its new store.

Mens shirt designer Double TWO has chosen the Banbridge based outlet for its first Northern Irish store and is taking up a 1,400 sq ft unit at the shopping centre, creating six new jobs.

The designer brand will carry a range of its iconic mens shirts as well as casual wear clothing and ladies fashion and will open in time for the festive season.

As well as the new store openings at The Boulevard, a number of existing tenants have also committed to lease extensions, with some upsizing their stores.

House of Cavani at The Boulevard

Longstanding tenant, Next and pop-up shop turned permanent tenant, Molton Brown, both signed significant lease renewals this year.

Popular candle brand, Yankee Candle, which opened its store at the designer outlet last year, also signed a significant renewal.

A number of tenants also upsized their footprint at the centre, including Mountain Warehouse which upsized its footprint to a total of 3,552sq ft and opened the classic surf brand, ANIMAL onsite.

Following record sales, global denim fashion brand Levis relocated to a more prominent unit in the scheme, taking up 50% more space to meet shopper demands.

The denim brand first opened at the mall outside Banbridge in 2019, and upgraded to a 3,800 sq ft unit at the front of the centre.

The Boulevard, Banbridge

Paul McCann, asset manager at Lotus Property, said: We are delighted to welcome a host of new stores to the scheme in time for Christmas and also to secure ongoing commitment from existing tenants in 2023.

It is a testament to how The Boulevard and its tenants are performing that we are consistently seeing strong interest turning into signings at our scheme.

The Boulevard continues to record strong sales and footfall figures year-round, which will only be further bolstered by the new brands available to our loyal customers.

The Boulevard is owned by Banbridge-based commercial property development company Lotus Property.

The popular shopping centre which is located between Dublin and Belfast is home to a number of popular designer brands including GUESS, Kurt Geiger, Timberland and Joules.
Northern Irelands biggest new and used car dealer Charles Hurst has announced a raft of redundancies less than two weeks before Christmas.

The Belfast Telegraph understands that around 100 employees are facing redundancy across the groups eight sites in the region.

The announcement was made internally on Monday within weeks of the dealers parent company Lookers plc being taken private by new owner Global Auto Holdings.

A source told this newspaper that business managers and sales teams at the groups 160 sites across the whole of the UK have been told their jobs are at risk.

"We feel as if it is a disgrace in the way that we were told and the fact that we were told so close to Christmas, one at-risk employee said.

People who have worked for the company for over 40 years have also been told that they are out the door.

The move could see as many as 650 staff in total made redundant, which accounts for 10% of the groups 6,500-strong workforce.

A spokesperson for Lookers plc, which acquired Charles Hurst back in 1996, said: Last week, Lookers confirmed that a certain number of corporate and support roles that relate to its status as a listed company may be affected by a proposed programme now that the business is no longer listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Read more Takeover of Charles Hurst owner Lookers plc approved by shareholders

We have now completed a detailed review of our business and operations in order to keep the business efficient and ensure we have a manageable cost base.

"Unfortunately, a number of roles have been identified across our operations that are now at risk of redundancy.

In September, Lookers plc shareholders voted in favour of a 504m takeover bid from Canadian car giant Global Auto which is part of Toronto-based Alpha Auto Group Holdings, an operator of car dealerships across North America.

It was approved by 91% of shareholders.

The deal is worth 130p per Lookers share after a previous bid for 120p was rejected.

Charles Hurst, which is led by operations director Jeff McCartney, is NIs largest car dealer group and runs Europes biggest automotive retail operation on a 30-acre site on the Boucher Road in south Belfast.

Earlier this year the car dealer announced plans for 2m investment and 26 new jobs as it expands its electric car offering, paving the way for a new CUPRA and SEAT dealership.

Mr McCartney expressed delight after introducing the ground-breaking hybrid and all-electric vehicles to meet fast-growing local demand for cutting-edge, sustainable and innovative driving options.

Lookers reported a pre-tax profit of 84.4m last year on revenue of 4.3bn. It employs around 6,500 people.

Founded in Manchester in 1908 by John Looker, the business originally sold bicycles, and the occasional used car.

The business quickly switched to selling mainly cars, and in 1973 it listed on the London Stock Exchange.
James Scallon, chief executive SOS Sales and Lee Tipton, operations manager at SOS Sales with the first GRW tanker from South Africa to arrive in Armagh

An Armagh-based provider of tankers and trailers has secured an exclusive multi-million pound contract to supply tankers manufactured by South African company GRW.

The 8m deal with transport equipment designer SOS Sales, will make the Armagh business an authorised dealer of GRW liquid tankers and the largest GRW customer in the UK and Ireland.

The partnership, which has been supported by Danske Bank, will see SOS Sales supply a range of GRW manufactured specialised liquid tankers for food and chemical transportation, including hazardous liquids.

The deal was secured following a visit by the SOS Sales team to GRWs headquarters in South Africas Western Cape in October, and the first tanker has already arrived in Armagh.

A second order for 100 tankers has also been agreed, with delivery expected to take place over the next two years.

James Scallon, chief executive and founder of SOS Sales, said: We are thrilled to have GRW as a strategic partner to SOS Sales Ltd and are delighted to lead their distribution within Ireland and the UK to industry.

As a local business, and provider of new and used tankers and trailers across the globe, we strive to provide and source for our many customers the best in class within tankers, and we know GRW has one of the worlds most advanced liquid tanker manufacturing plants in the world.

This partnership underpins our focus in SOS Sales Ltd on excellence and we are delighted to have agreed the first suite of tankers which have started to arrive in Armagh, with more en route to Belfast port. Sales are already in place for several of the first fleet, so popular is GRW as a manufacturer.

Gerhard van der Merwe, chief executive of GRW, added: We are very pleased to announce the new partnership with SOS, our working relationship with James and Lee spans over many years.

We are very excited to be back in the UK and Irish market to supply our existing and new customers with high-quality tankers.

Our tankers have proved their superior structural integrity over many years dating back as far as 2006.

Our expanded product offering includes petroleum, ADR and food grade liquid and dry bulk tankers. SOS will provide the after sales service to ensure optimal up time for our products.

SOS Sales employs seven people across two sites in Armagh and at Ellesmere Port in England and was set up by Mr Scallon 20 years ago.

It has since become a major UK provider of new and used tankers and trailers to a wide range of customers and industries worldwide.
A Co Tyrone man has been remanded in custody in relation to charges of rape and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to his partner

A Co Tyrone man has been remanded in custody in relation to charges of rape and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to his partner.

Appearing by video-link from police custody the accused, who is aged in his twenties but cannot be named to protect the identity of the complainant, is charged with attempting to unlawfully and maliciously cause grievous bodily harm to the woman, assaulting her, damaging her phone and unlawfully possessing a knife.

All matters are alleged to have occurred on December 7 and are aggravated by domestic abuse.

In the course of reporting this, the complainant further alleged she had been raped on three occasions on dates between October and December this year.

A detective constable from the PSNI Public Protection Unit told Enniskillen Magistrates Court all charges could be connected.

He explained the complainant told police of an incident last week in the family home which followed a verbal argument over the defendants intoxication, which led to him becoming physically abusive, pushing and shoving her.

She went upstairs as their children were asleep and she didnt want them to be disturbed by what was going on.

However, the defendant followed her and when she tried to use her phone to call for help, he grabbed this and threw it against a wall, smashing the screen.

She screamed which was heard by neighbours but the defendant went outside to speak to them.

On his return he again pushed the complainant violently onto the stairs, where he punched her with a closed fist to her head and back, causing bruising and pain.

While lying on the stairs, the defendant went to the kitchen and returned with a large knife which he held against her throat and told her to say her last words.

She asked him to tell the children she loved them.

The defendant removed the knife from her throat and she managed to get to her feet and run upstairs.

While making a statement on this, she also disclosed being raped on three occasions by the defendant.

She would be forced into having sex without her consent and on each occasion she had said no but he continued regardless.

The defendant was arrested and replied no comment to all questions put to him.

The detective advised the sexual matters will be handled by the Rape Crime Unit in due course.

A defence solicitor said while he had been instructed to apply for bail at present there is no suitable address for release as the only option is the family home which it was accepted was not possible, although the detective told the court even with an alternative address, bail will be opposed.

The defence continued, I have concerns around the rape allegations and the police may have jumped to charge too quickly. I was present when those points were discussed with (defendant) in interview and took a total of four minutes. The court should bear in mind the status of that particular aspect of the investigation.

District Judge Alana McSorley ruled she was satisfied the charges were properly connected at this stage.

She also noted the latest incidents allegedly occurred while the children were present in the house.

The defence suggested adjourning the bail application to allow time to source an alternative address which Judge McSorley agreed but added, I want my comments around this matter to be noted, especially in respect of the children.

She adjourned the case for mention by video-link next week.
President Yoon Suk Yeol began his state visit to the Netherlands by meeting with a group of Korean residents and vowing to upgrade the two countries' relations to a "semiconductor alliance."

As the first official schedule, Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee attended a welcoming ceremony hosted by Willem-Alexander, king of the Netherlands, held at Dam Square in Amsterdam on Tuesday (local time).

Then, they were greeted by the Netherlands' palace and government officials at the Royal Palace.

Yoon arrived in Amsterdam on Monday on a four-day visit aimed at strengthening cooperation between Korea, a leading chip manufacturer, and the Netherlands, home to chipmaking equipment companies such as ASML.

"Semiconductors are an important area not only for our industries but also for our security," he said during the dinner meeting with some 100 Korean residents at an Amsterdam hotel. "Through this visit, the semiconductor cooperation between Korea and the Netherlands will be upgraded to a semiconductor alliance."

Yoon is scheduled to visit the ASML headquarters in Veldhoven on Tuesday, together with Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Chairman Chey Tae-won. The two Korean companies are among the world's leading chipmakers.

Yoon will become the first foreign leader to tour a "cleanroom" manufacturing facility there, according to his office.

"(The cooperation) between Korea and the Netherlands is expanding its horizons from strategic areas such as national defense and security to economic and cultural exchanges, as well as exchanges in cutting-edge science and technology," he said. "With the signing of many agreements and MOUs during this visit, the Korea-Netherlands relationship will deepen further."

Yoon thanked the Korean community in the Netherlands for serving as a bridge between the two nations, noting their number has grown to nearly 10,000.

He also recounted the long history between the two countries, including the influences of two Dutch sailors -- Jan Weltevree and Hendrik Hamel -- whose vessels drifted to Korea in the 17th century and led them to spend many years in the country.

The Netherlands also sent more than 5,000 troops to fight alongside Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War.

Yoon's focus on chip cooperation was evident during a meeting with his aides aboard the presidential plane en route to Amsterdam, according to a senior presidential official.

During the two-hour meeting, Yoon spent about half the time discussing semiconductors, the official said. (Yonhap)
All evidential material has been obtained in a cross-border investigation into the killing of a woman in Limerick, a Belfast court heard today.

Prosecutors confirmed they have received files from authorities in the Republic of Ireland for the case against a man accused of stabbing Geila Ibram to death during a sexual exchange.

Habib Shamel, 32, remains in custody at HMP Maghaberry charged with carrying out the murder on April 4 this year.

A judge indicated that a timescale for a trial will be mapped out next month.

Ms Ibrams mutilated body was discovered at an apartment block in the Dock Road area of Limerick.

The 27-year-old victim, who was originally from Romania, died from multiple stab wounds inflicted to the neck, face and abdomen in what police described as a vicious and frenzied attack.

Read more Vigil in memory of Geila Ibram to take place as family plan to bring body of stabbed Romanian mum home

Shamel, an Afghani national with an address at Cecil Street in Limerick, was later arrested in the Malone area of south Belfast.

He is charged with Ms Ibrams murder under the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975, which allows the PSNI to prosecute in Northern Ireland if a suspect has travelled from another jurisdiction.

A previous court heard claims that he had arranged a sexual exchange with the victim on the day she died.

CCTV footage allegedly showed him arriving at her property and then leaving again less than two minutes later.

Detectives claim he injured his hand during the suspected encounter and attended hospital in Limerick before travelling north by bus.

With the PSNI providing assistance in the murder investigation, a formal International Letter of Request (ILOR) was sent to the Republic of Ireland.

A joint investigation team comprising agencies from both jurisdictions was also set up.

Part of the process also involved setting up a meeting in The Hague, the Dutch city where the International Criminal Court is seated.

At Belfast Magistrates Court today it was confirmed that the investigative steps have been completed.

A Crown lawyer confirmed: A full file has now been received by the PPS (Public Prosecution Service). The final files were delivered today.

Counsel for Shamel submitted that a Preliminary Enquiry (PE), the procedural step required to have him returned for trial, should be held as soon as possible.

Adjourning proceedings until January 9, District Judge Steven Keown confirmed: That will be to (establish) a timescale for PE.
A local council today admitted health and safety offences arising from the tragic death of an electrician who was killed during a storm.

Matt Campbell (24) died while working for Lagan Construction at Slieve Gullion Forest Park in Co Armagh as strong winds lashed Northern Ireland during Storm Ali in September 2018.

At Newry Crown Court today, a defence KC for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council asked for the two charges to be put again and there was a subsequent guilty plea.

The council, with its head offices at Downshire Civic Centre in Downpatrick, entered guilty pleas to failing to make appropriate risk assessments for non-employees and employees respectively and to failing to ensure, so far as would be reasonable practicable, the health and safety of employees and non-employees on September 19, 2018.

Following the councils guilty pleas, Judge Gordon Kerr KC said he could not deal with the case until the trial of Lagan Construction Ltd had been concluded.

Lagan Construction Ltd, with offices on Sydenham Road in Belfast, faces the same two charges and their trial is scheduled to begin in early January.

Just the week before his death, Matt and his fiancee Robyn Newberry had sent out 'save the date' cards in preparation for their wedding in August the following year and on the day tragedy struck, she had collected the couples wedding rings.
A Co Antrim man allegedly stamped on a womans head after she declined his offer of a beer, a court heard today.

Robert Andrews, 35, is also accused of threatening to cut her throat during an unprovoked attack at a friends home.

Details emerged as Andrews, of Rosebrook Grove in Carrickfergus, was refused bail.

Belfast Magistrates Court heard that the defendant and alleged victim are not well known to each other.

Police claimed Andrews launched a violent assault on February 27 this year when she arrived at a flat where her friend lives.

Within five minutes, because she wouldnt take a beer from him, he became very aggressive and attacked her, a detective alleged.

This was unprovoked he dragged her to the ground, stamped on her head and told her he was going to cut her throat.

The alleged assault lasted for approximately 10 minutes, according to police.

Andrews faces counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and making a threat to kill.

Defence counsel Richard McConkey told the court: He is denying the charges and is presumed innocent.

The barrister argued that his client has now spent several months in custody and could be released to live with a friend.

But District Judge Steven Keown ruled that the proposed address was unsuitable.

Denying bail, he added: Over and above that, the risk of re-offending is too great, based on the (alleged) facts of the case.

Andrews was remanded in continuing custody until January 9.
Fifty serving police officers in Northern Ireland have applied to work in Australia and 199 have asked for ill-health retirement this year, MPs have been told.

Liam Kelly, chairman of the Northern Ireland Police Federation, also told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that a major data breach within the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) will have a massive detrimental impact on future recruitment to the force.

The committee heard evidence from officer and staff association groups following the publication of an independent review into the data leak.

In August the details of almost 9,500 PSNI officers and staff were mistakenly published in response to a freedom of information (FoI) request.

The list included the surname and first initial of every employee, their rank or grade, where they are based and the unit in which they work.

Police later said the information is in the hands of dissident republicans.

On Monday, a review into the incident, headed by Pete ODoherty, temporary commissioner at the City of London Police, made 37 recommendations.

It said the breach was the consequence of the service not seizing opportunities to secure and protect its internal information and pointed to a siloed approach to information management functions.

Asked about the impact of the breach on future policing numbers, Mr Kelly said: I have no doubt that the data breach has had a massive detrimental impact on future recruitment.

He said the review report was an opportunity for the PSNI to demonstrate its desire to improve around the management of data.

Superintendent Gerry Murray, from the Catholic Police Guild of Northern Ireland, said: I think the recruitment with regards to coming from the Catholic, nationalist and republican community has been severely dented.

Warren Scott, the PSNI departmental assistant secretary at the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance, told MPs that 75% of recent applicants for a civilian detention officer position had withdrawn from the process.

Superintendent Gerry Murray, chairperson of the Catholic Police Guild of Northern Ireland, answered questions in front of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee (UK Parliament/PA)

He said: That is really showing what people in the public are now thinking about having the PSNI as an employer.

The witnesses were also asked about the impact of the breach on serving officers and staff members.

Mr Murray said: Our members are still fearful and still anxious.

When the data breach occurred it was the middle of summer, we were all enjoying children, grandchildren enjoying the summer holidays.

We are now into the middle of winter with most of our staff, police officers, are going to work during the hours of darkness and coming home in the hours of darkness.

My people are fearful.

He added: I have spoken to 29 of my officers within the Catholic Police Guild who have gone out and bought camera equipment, doorbell cameras.

This will go on for some time. This will not be resolved this year or next year because fear and the exclusion some feel is still very much with them.

Mr Kelly drew attention to the hidden aspect of the impact on officers.

He said: What we have seen is a massive increase in people presenting themselves to occupational health and asking for help and support.

Unfortunately occupational health within the organisation has been underfunded and under-resourced.

To see a psychologist in PSNI there is an eight-month waiting list. You can imagine the personal impact on someone who is struggling with their mental health that they cant see and talk to someone for eight months.

He added: What we have also seen is an exponential rise in the number of officers who are citing the data breach as the final straw for them in relation to either staying in service or applying for ill-health retirement.

This year we have 199 people asking for ill-health retirement. That is a 100% increase on normal.

The data breach has been cited as the straw that broke the camels back for people.

They feel let down by the organisation, unsupported by the organisation and cant see a pathway of coming back to the organisation.

Mr Kelly continued: What we are seeing is our officers are committed to doing the best they can, people are struggling and looking for help and unfortunately that help is either negligible or is so far down the line that they are now looking at alternatives.

We have 50 of our officers have applied to go to Australia, that is just extraordinary.

In years gone by you could count those on one hand. We now have 50 officers who have put themselves forward to say we no longer think we can serve in Northern Ireland, we want to remain within policing and Australia is the option for them.
Richard Roncero, from Scotland, is raising money and awareness of his charity, which supports those suffering from addictions and homelessness

While the Christmas lights at Belfast City Hall might be nice to observe while wrapped up in a warm coat cradling a cup of hot chocolate, many others will have quite a different view of the festive decorations illuminating the city centre.

One Scottish man is planning on sleeping rough in Belfast for the next week in an attempt to raise money and awareness of a charity he founded which helps to support those suffering from addictions and homelessness.

Richard Roncero is director of Steps to Hope, a charity he established in April 2018 after turning his life around, which had been wrecked by cocaine addiction.

He was kicked out of school when he was 15, which led to an early life of criminality that included jail time.

Richard is now spending the next eight weeks sleeping on the streets of eight different cities across the UK to try and raise awareness of homelessness, especially at this time of year.

He has just completed his first week on the streets of Glasgow and arrived in Belfast on Tuesday evening.

Read more Health workers in Northern Ireland stage Grinch protest in pay dispute

He will then travel to Cardiff, Blackpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Inverness and Dundee in the following weeks.

Speaking about the past week on the streets of Glasgow, he said it has been really cold and isolating.

I literally just had my sleeping bag and the clothes on my back. I certainly dont feel hygienic right now and I have been purely relying on the public to survive every day, he said.

When youre sitting there in the cold holding an empty cup looking up at people walking by pleading for help you feel so separated from society; its a miserable existence.

He told the Belfast Telegraph that he has also been subject to verbal abuse throughout the week.

Its just exhausting, and Glasgow has been heaving especially coming up to Christmas, there is easily a couple of hundred people walking past you ever two minutes, thats thousands of people just not even looking near you every day and you start to feel really down and depressed.

Richard said that while he doesnt expect everyone to be giving him money, he said that he found a smile and a hello all the more valuable.

When someone treats you like a human being it makes you feel so much better, he said.

One woman bought me a cup of tea and she brought the milk over in a separate cup, it was nice to be acknowledged that as people we have different tastes and preferences, small things like that just mean so much when you have nothing.

This is not the first time Richard has slept rough to raise funds for the charity.

He previously underwent a six-week sleep-out which enabled the charity to raise 90,000  enough to put a substantial deposit down on a large property in West Lothian. That is now being renovated to be a 10-bedroom facility which will house people in recovery from addiction.

So far, his recent fundraising drive has raised more than 31,000 in just one week.

If youd like to support Richards campaign you can donate via justgiving.com/campaign/sleeprough8weeks8cities.

To follow Richards journey across the UK you can do so on the Steps to Hope Facebook page.
The cold conditions are causing problems on the roads (stock image)

A three car crash on the M2 motorway Belfast bound has been moved to the hard shoulder/bus lane.

The crash, which was in the outer lane, occurred near motorway services and junction 4 at Sandyknowes.

All traffic lanes are now open but delays are still expected.

Meanwhile, the double pedestrian crossing on the Malone Road/Rosemary Park (near House of Sport Roundabout) in Belfast was not working on Thursday morning due to damage in a crash on Wednesday afternoon.

Road users are asked to approach with caution, and be watchful for pedestrians trying to cross the road at this location.
Sinn Fein MLAs Conor Murphy and Caoimhe Archibald arrive at Hillsborough Castle where political leaders are receiving technical briefings from Northern Ireland Office officials on the details of a proposed financial package of 2.5 billion to help Northern Ireland return to a stable financial footing and support the return of the Stormont Executive. Liam McBurney/PA Wire

(left to right) Alliance Party MLA Andrew Muir, SPAD Claire Johnson, and MLA Eoin Tennyson arrive at Hillsborough Castle where political leaders are receiving technical briefings from Northern Ireland Office officials on the details of a proposed financial package of 2.5 billion to help Northern Ireland return to a stable financial footing and support the return of the Stormont Executive. Liam McBurney/PA Wire

A person dressed as the Grinch outside Erskine House, Belfast, ahead of UNISON health workers delivering thousands of cards from union members and their families to the Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris. Picture date: Tuesday December 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story ULSTER Stormont. Photo credit: Liam McBurney

UNISON union health care members, along with the Grinch, hold a protest outside the NIO's office at Erskine House in Belfast (PressEye)

Secretary of State Chris Heaton Harris may think hes more like Santa at the minute bringing a bag of goodies to Northern Ireland  but for many here hes still seen as the Grinch who stole Christmas.

And yesterday  to emphasise their point  health workers brought their pay protest to the front door of the Northern Ireland Office headquarters in Belfast.

Public service workers with the union Unison  with one dressed up as the Grinch  who have stated that thousands of working families here are facing Christmas without an increase in pay, delivered Christmas letters addressed to the Secretary of State to Erskine House, detailing their concerns.

Back in Hillsborough, it was a grey and foggy start to the second day of talks as discussions continued after Mr Heaton-Harris outlined the details of a 2.5bn financial package as part of an attempt to end Northern Irelands financial crisis and bring about a return of the political institutions here.

The package includes a lump sum to settle public sector pay claims, but requires the return of the Stormont Executive.

The weather appeared to match the mood of those involved as they emerged from the talks on Tuesday, with just one day left to sort matters out.

Sinn Fein was represented by Conor Murphy and Caoimhe Archibald, while Emma Little-Pengelly and Gordon Lyons appeared for the DUP.

Sinn Fein MLAs Conor Murphy and Caoimhe Archibald arrive at Hillsborough Castle where political leaders are receiving technical briefings from Northern Ireland Office officials on the details of a proposed financial package of 2.5 billion to help Northern Ireland return to a stable financial footing and support the return of the Stormont Executive. Liam McBurney/PA Wire

The SDLP's Matthew O'Toole and Colin McGrath attended, as did Alliance MLAs Eoin Tennyson and Andrew Muir, while Robbie Butler and Steve Aiken represented the Ulster Unionists, and their leader Doug Beattie later made an appearance too.

Mr Heaton-Harris was not present for Tuesdays negotiations, as he is in London for a Commons vote on Rishi Sunaks emergency Rwanda bill, which compels UK judges to treat the east African nation as a safe country for asylum seekers after the Supreme Court ruled the scheme unlawful, on the grounds people could be returned to their home countries and face harm.

Despite part of the castle being closed for the discussions, it didnt stop school children from visiting the royal grounds for their separate tours.

One school bus which reversed up the hill to the castle ended up knocking out its indicator light after bumping into a wall as politicians were also making their way inside the building  jokes soon ensued among those outside whether it would be an indicator of how the day would go.

A photograph snapped of Gordon Lyons caught in the headlights also seemed apt given his party leader's dismay at Chris Heaton-Harris' offer from Monday.

DUP MLA Gordon Lyons at Hillsborough Castle where political leaders are receiving technical briefings from Northern Ireland Office officials on the details of a proposed financial package of 2.5 billion to help Northern Ireland return to a stable financial footing and support the return of the Stormont Executive. Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Northern Ireland Office staff provided media workers waiting outside the grounds with mince pies and hot drinks in the afternoon, while the SDLPs Matthew OToole joked that everyones wearing coats apart from the politicians.

And while all five parties seem to be agreed that a better financial deal from the UK government is needed for public service workers here, relations still appear to be as frosty as the weather when it comes to agreeing a deadline for Stormonts official return.

Mr OToole said he doesnt think the current financial deal being discussed should drag on.

As weve found out in this place so often, once you allow deadlines and momentum to drag on and elongate, people dont make decisions, he continued.

"Weve had that for the last 18 months from Jeffrey Donaldson.

When asked later if power-sharing could come back before Christmas, Gordon Lyons asserted: Were not going to put any timeline on this. Weve been very clear that we want to see Stormont back on sustainable footing.

And behind the gates, the politicians, and the media with their microphones and camera, one woman who was passing by on her bike, who had stopped to listen in to the commotion, simply stated the word bulls*** before continuing on her cycle.
(left to right) Alliance Party MLA Andrew Muir, SPAD Claire Johnson, and MLA Eoin Tennyson arrive at Hillsborough Castle where political leaders are receiving technical briefings from Northern Ireland Office officials on the details of a proposed financial package of 2.5 billion to help Northern Ireland return to a stable financial footing and support the return of the Stormont Executive. Liam McBurney/PA Wire

SDLP director of communications Martin McAuley (left) and MLA Colin McGrath arrive at Hillsborough Castle where political leaders are receiving technical briefings from Northern Ireland Office officials on the details of a proposed financial package of 2.5 billion to help Northern Ireland return to a stable financial footing and support the return of the Stormont Executive. Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MLA Emma Little-Pengelly arrives at Hillsborough Castle where political leaders are receiving technical briefings from Northern Ireland Office officials on the details of a proposed financial package of 2.5 billion to help Northern Ireland return to a stable financial footing and support the return of the Stormont Executive. Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Sinn Fein MLAs Conor Murphy and Caoimhe Archibald arrive at Hillsborough Castle where political leaders are receiving technical briefings from Northern Ireland Office officials on the details of a proposed financial package of 2.5 billion to help Northern Ireland return to a stable financial footing and support the return of the Stormont Executive. Liam McBurney/PA Wire

DUP MLA Gordon Lyons at Hillsborough Castle where political leaders are receiving technical briefings from Northern Ireland Office officials on the details of a proposed financial package of 2.5 billion to help Northern Ireland return to a stable financial footing and support the return of the Stormont Executive. Liam McBurney/PA Wire

The DUPs Gordon Lyons has said that going back to Stormont in and of itself does not resolve the current financial issues that Northern Ireland is facing.

Speaking to press amidst ongoing financial talks between the five political parties here, the Northern Ireland Office and other government officials, Mr Lyons said he and his party colleagues have been talking to public service workers who are continuing to protest for pay rises.

"Going back to Stormont in and of itself does not resolve these issues. You need the funding to ensure we get the outcome that everybody wants to see, he said.

And the truth is, Northern Ireland has not been funded according to its need over the last number of years. We have an overspend because we have been underfunded.

We had the public service workers here telling us how they needed that pay rise, we want fairness for our public service workers.

"They dont want to go on strike and we dont want to see them go on strike. That funding is not there and thats what were working to achieve.

"Were not asking for any more than other devolved administrations are getting. Were asking to be funded according to need. 

Mr Lyons added that the DUP are not putting a timeline on their return to power-sharing, and that they want to see Stormont back on sustainable footing.

Thousands of public sector workers on are set to head to the picket lines again on January 18.

Read more As grey skies mirror talks mood  the Grinch visits NIO offices to deliver letters to Secretary of State

Health convenor Stephanie Greenwood said: Today we will be telling the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that with thousands of working families facing into a poorer festive break we are reminded of the famous story of the Grinch who stole Christmas.

Sinn Feins Conor Murphy also said that ongoing financial discussions at Hillsborough are not the real negotiations.

Sinn Feins Conor Murphy has said that ongoing financial discussions at Hillsborough are not the real negotiations.

This isnt the real negotiation and lets not be fooled by that, he told media outside the castle grounds.

A real negotiation would be when a first and deputy first minister go over to London to talk to a British prime minister, supported by other executive ministers to talk to the treasury.

Thats the best possible opportunity we have to press the real case for the north which is yet to be delivered.

"They [the Government] also decided that we have been underfunded for a number of years, yet they still are trying to make us pay off a debt that is a consequence of that underfunding. Theyre still trying to punish the people of the north; what we need is an executive negotiating from a position of strength.

When asked about aspects of the talks in Co Down, Mr Murphy continuously stressed that its very clear though that theres still no reason whatsoever for the Executive not to be in place.

Meanwhile, Ulster Unionist Steve Aiken has said Northern Ireland needs to start making tough decisions after it was proposed that any returning executive should commit to raising rates by at least 15%.

Weve ducked making tough decisions for quite a long time  that is the problem with Northern Ireland says Steve Aiken

The South Antrim representative was the first local political party member to emerge from Hillsborough Castle after the second day of talks.

On Monday, Chris Heaton-Harris made an offer of a financial package worth 2.5bn to support the return of a Stormont executive.

The package would include a lump sum to settle public sector pay claims and the establishment of a new "needs-based" funding formula for public services.

It would also allow budget overspends at Stormont from last year and this year to be repaid over five years.

An executive would have to commit to raising rates by at least 15%, which would be a condition all five main political parties would have to agree upon before returning to power-sharing.

All the main parties have said the sum offered is not sufficient to address the financial crisis.

'Sir Jeffrey has struck a deal'

Mr Aiken said: There are real issues here that have to be looked at and thats what were in there right now beginning to discuss and thats what all the political parties should be doing.

"But do you know what's going to help it a lot better? If there actually was a Northern Ireland Executive there fighting our corner, and thats why we should be back in.

While he didnt say for certain that rates would rise, he added: Heres the problem with Northern Ireland; weve ducked making tough decisions for quite a long time.

Were going to have to ask those questions, and thats something that having an executive, looking at these issues, is one of the things we're going to have to do.

Weve got to have public services that the whole of Northern Ireland deserve. Weve got to look at how were going to manage that. A lot of decisions are going to be necessary and the only way to do that is actually having a Northern Ireland executive there doing it.

Asked if financial officials were receptive to the ongoing discussions, Mr Aiken laughed and said: You know as well as I do, theres officials there from the Department of Treasury, and one of the things I learned a long time ago is if the Treasury are agreeing with you, you start getting concerned.

He further noted that quite frankly, one day is not enough to iron out the fine details of an appropriate deal.

These are very detailed discussions, its obvious. We've been having discussions with the civil service for months and months behind the scenes.

Theres a lot of detail there that needs to be worked out. Actually trying to do this over two or three days is complicated, but weve made a start and thats the thing we should all be looking to.

The SDLP are attending the meetings as constructive opposition going forward.

The partys Matthew OToole said: Its clear that the British Government are trying to get this closed quickly.

"I think its legitimate to ask them why, for example, they arent backdating the new funding arrangements for NI.

"It is clear that the British Government are starting to put an offer on the table, but that offer needs to be better.

"Those parties in there have a mandate to improve that deal.

Alliances Andrew Muir affirmed that Tuesdays talks have been largely technical. Key principles the party has argued for include a fiscal floor and stabilisation funding, which essentially means that funding from London will keep up with the level of need in Northern Ireland.

He said that what we also need is a clear message from the DUP that theyre going to go back into the Executive and that will give us a much stronger basis upon which to argue to the UK Government.

"The DUP have had nearly two years of collapsing the institutions, and now were expected to conclude these negotiations in a matter of days, he added.

Mr Heaton-Harris was not in Northern Ireland on Tuesday, as he was in Parliament to vote on Rishi Sunak's emergency Rwanda bill.

He is expected to return to Hillsborough tomorrow for the third and final day of financial talks.
A leading economist has said the devil will be in the detail of the Governments reported 2.5bn financial package offered to support the return of the Stormont Executive.

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris held talks about Stormonts dire economic situation with the five main political parties yesterday.

It subsequently emerged that the Government has offered a package, including funding for public sector pay increases  but it is dependent on the return of the power-sharing institutions.

The financial support includes:

 Funding to public sector pay rises;

 Reform of the funding model for NI;

 A stabilisation fund of the next four years to give the Executive access to additional financial support;

 Giving the Executive the power to spend money currently provided by the Government for specific NI projects to transform public services instead; and

 Extending the two-year period to pay back Stormonts budget overspend to five years.

To benefit, the Stormont parties would have to introduce revenue-raising measures, including hiking rates by at least 15%.

For the average house in Belfast this would mean an increase of around 216 on the typical annual rates bill.

UUP leader Doug Beattie talks to health care workers protesting over pay

Stormont is on track for a 450m overspend this year, rising to around 1bn if public sector pay awards are factored in. Last year there was an overspend of 300m.

Earlier this year the NI Fiscal Council produced a report which concluded that, for every 100 per head spent on public services in England, Northern Ireland would need 124 per head to deliver the same standard of public services.

Economist Dr Esmond Birnie is a member of the NI Fiscal Council. While the council has not yet received an official breakdown of the financial package, he said it appears as though the Government has now accepted that Northern Ireland needs increased funding per head to deliver services to the same standard as in England.

I think it is also very significant, and a good thing based on past problems, that this time around it looks like money for the transformation of the way the NI public sector works is being put into a special  hopefully strongly-ringfenced  fund, he said.

But overall the devil will be in the detail.

However, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the financial package being offered falls short of what is needed.

We will study what the Government has said. Our initial reaction is that it falls short of what is required to enable our public services to be placed on a sustainable basis in terms of funding of those public services, he said. There is still some way to go in terms of both the negotiations that we have been engaged in with the Government on the Northern Ireland Protocol related issues and there is still some way to go in these discussions about the budgetary pressures.

But we are committed to working each day to make the progress thats required and to see Northern Irelands institutions restored on a sustainable and stable basis and on a basis that unionists as well as nationalists can support.

Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill, Mary-Lou McDonald and Conor Murphy arrive

Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill said the financial package being offered does not touch the surface of what is required to have properly funded public services.

We have a battle, but it is a battle the parties must fight together and take this right to the British Government, she said.

If the Executive is going to be successful then we need to have properly funded public services.

She added: What we now need to have is a decision to be made in terms of the restoration of the Executive.

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said For us this is not about a short-term fix, it is not about dangling baubles at us before Christmas and getting everybody to rush back and say that this will be resolved immediately.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said he doesnt feel the financial package will be enough in the long term.

He added: The problem is what happens next year, the year after and it is not quite clear how we are going to deal with that. We can do the pay deals for our nurses, our teachers, our police now, but we dont know if well be able to do it in 12 months time.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood urged Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to re-enter Stormont.

As we know theres a huge black hole in the public finances in Northern Ireland, he said.

We have people behind us who are frontline workers who have to go out and strike in the cold to be paid properly. And weve hundreds of thousands of people  a quarter of our population  on health waiting lists.

Thats a lot of work to be getting on with. The first thing that has to happen is that Jeffrey Donaldson has to make a decision to get back into Government.

We want to be constructive around that, but in terms of the financial conversation, that will obviously be a conversation that the Executive parties will have to have with the Government.
By Jon Dunbar

I've bought my fair share of scooters in Korea before, maybe as many as eight, some from shops and some from online sources, all secondhand. But looking for an electric scooter put me out of my depth.

How do you shop for an electric vehicle, if you've never experienced one before? Who sells them, and where do they come from? Another concern I had was that some of these companies were making customers sign up for a waiting list, so how long would it take for a new bike to be delivered?

By chance, I discovered a suitable-looking bike on Coupang of all places, priced competitively compared to what else Id seen and apparently available for delivery through a simple online purchase. It made ordering a new road vehicle as easy as getting my next box of cat food.

I had my mind set on the Wacco Motors E6S. It advertised a maximum speed of between 85 kph and 95 kph, and a driving range of between 70 km and 100 km on a single charge. However, obviously these figures are mutually exclusive, meaning if youre hitting 95 kph, youre not traveling the full 100 km.

It has a 72 volt battery with a 45 ampere-hour rating  higher numbers than the basic bike, although I still have yet to understand in practical terms what they mean. Is it equivalent to a combustion engine with a 125cc capacity?

It also helped that the E6S is a stylish bike, sort of like my previous bike, a Daelim Besbi. Not that that matters much to me, but if all other factors like performance and price are equal, I want a bike that looks good as well.

But rather than shopping via a Coupang seller I wanted to see if I could buy from the company directly. That's what my friend Morgan had done when he'd bought his electric scooter one year earlier, and he said they were very helpful with everything.

So I found the website of Wacco Motors, which is apparently a Korean company. It appears Waccos bikes are assembled in Korea but with parts from China. (Later when I would see the bike upon delivery, there was a big fat Made in China label on the back, which fortunately was covered up by the license plate.)

Being a foreign resident of Korea, I found the reservation process on the company website frustrating, so I contacted them through a live chat function offered on their web page. I tried to communicate during Korean office hours, and an employee was able to provide me with the information I needed to complete the process.

Before I could register to purchase an electric scooter, there was one annoying roadblock in my way: I had to submit a certificate showing my residence status. As a foreigner, I found it impossible to apply for the needed document on the government website, so I went to the local district office. After a lot of stress, I ended up not even needing to fill out a form  all I had to do was explain why I was there and show my permanent residence card, and then the civil servant handed me the exact certificate I needed.

Next, I was asked to select between two scooter shops near my address that deal with Wacco scooters. I selected one in Malli-dong, a working-class neighborhood west of Seoul Station that used to host a lot of scooter shops before gentrification hit. Then I was told this would be where I would pick up my new scooter, and also where I would bring it for warranty repairs. Had I known that, I might have selected the other one, which was downhill from my home, as opposed to halfway up Mallijae Pass which might be difficult if I have to push it all that way uphill.

Only a few shops are available to work on electric scooters, for good reason. Gas-powered scooters are built on technology that has been around for decades, and any shop can fix them. EV scooters are too new to bring just anywhere.

Another choice I was offered was the color of the vehicle. Cautiously, I asked if the color selection would make a difference in delivery time, and was told no. So I chose metal gray. Soon after, the dealer shop contacted me saying that color was unavailable, at which point I selected olive green. But nope, that one was also unavailable. So between black, ivory and white, I moved my choice to black, before changing my mind and going with ivory, the most unique color among the three. Later, on my way home, I found out someone living on the same block as me had the exact same bike, in the same color. And I also realized that the color matches the dairy carts that are driven around by middle-aged women selling probiotic milk and various other products.

Picking up the new bike

It didnt take long  less than 24 hours  before my reservation went through and the Malli-dong shop contacted me to say the bike was already at their store, available for pickup the following day. When I first learned Id have to make a reservation, I was picturing a weeks-long wait, but this was fast.

I showed up the next day ready to complete the purchase. The shop I chose appears to be a dealer of Wacco bikes, and also does a lot of business with emissions testing on gas-powered motorbikes, as I witnessed three separate tests during my time there.

But there were more trials for me to endure before I could drive away. First, obviously, there was the payment issue. The subsidy, through Seoul City Hall it seems, had already been subtracted from the total price.

Next was insurance. As a scooterist with at least 15 years of experience, I have my friend Mr. Chun at Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance on speed dial. He swapped my existing insurance from my Besbi to the new E6S, and told me I would have to unregister the license plate for the older bike as soon as possible, or there could be fines.

As this was Friday, I didnt complete that task until the following Monday. To do so, I had to remove the license plate and present it along with registration papers at the district office. I went to a local hardware store to buy metal-cutting shears that could cut the plate off the bike. All this was good enough for the district office. Also, incidentally, I had registered that bike in Dongjak District near where I bought it, but unregistered it in Yongsan District with no problems whatsoever.

My new bike was waiting patiently at the scooter shop, but I was feeling less patient as I next had to go to the district office to register it and get a new license plate. So I caught a taxi away from my new ride and plunged into bureaucracy. Registering the new bike was time-consuming and frustrating. I started off pretty enthusiastic, but by the end, after having to run around and make three separate payments at the district office, I was frazzled.

Finally, I got out of there and caught a taxi back to the scooter shop. It took what felt like an hour of running around looking for a taxi that would pick up someone off the street who didn't have any of the taxi-hailing apps. Finally, I caught one and had him bring me back to Malli-dong, where I would be picking up my new wheels, which would free me from the burden of any more taxis.

Once back in the shop, I still had to wait an agonizing amount of time before I could finally take possession of my new scooter. First, the shop owner was conducting another emissions test on a motorcycle, which he explained to me was a big source of income for the business. I wondered if they would have to put my new bike through this process, just to prove that it didnt have any emissions (not counting its manufacturing and assembly processes).

Affixing a license plate is something best left to a proper mechanic, something I found out with a previous scooter after I almost lost the license plate and ended up having to return to the district office for new bolts. So this time, I presented my new license plate for them to install.

Oh yeah, there was just one more thing to go through before I could hop on the bike, something pretty major that I had no experience with despite all my years of riding various scooters in Korea: the battery.

To be continued
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said anyone arriving from Ukraine seeking international protection would only be guaranteed state accommodation for 90 days (Niall Carson/PA)

The Government intends to cut financial support for those fleeing the war in Ukraine that are in receipt of state accommodation from the end of January.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the new arrangements would mean anyone arriving from Ukraine seeking international protection would only be guaranteed state accommodation for 90 days.

During that period, those arrivals will be paid a 38.80 euro subsistence allowance and an additional 29.80 per child per week in recognition of the fact that accommodation has been provided.

Arrivals in these circumstances are currently entitled to a jobseekers allowance of 220 euro per week.

Mr Varadkar said the Government would work with arrivals and NGOs to find other accommodation during that 90-day period, adding: Many different possibilities arise, taking up employment where possible  which many Ukrainians have done and do provide their own accommodation, pledged accommodation and staying with people they know and networks.

He said if people move out of state accommodation after or before the 90-day window they will be assessed for social welfare like any Irish citizen, including eligibility for the rent allowance, but not social housing or the housing assistance payment.

He said the move, which would see legislation enacted by the end of January, was to bring the Irish offering into line with other western European countries, some of which, he said, had not welcomed as many Ukrainians as Ireland on a proportionate basis.

Speaking during Leaders Questions in the Dail, Mr Varadkar said he was proud that Ireland had welcomed 100,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine during the biggest movement of people thats happened in Europe since the Second World War.

He said this included 10,000 children in Irish schools, 10,000 working in the economy and 70,000 in some form of state-provided accommodation.

But the situation is that accommodation is scarce and the numbers coming in remain very large and were making this change with that in mind, recognising that other European countries have acted similarly, to change what they offer over the course of two years. Were now following suit.

Mr Varadkar said people fleeing the war would continue to be welcome in Ireland.

He was responding to a query from Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald who told him that he was correct to say that accommodation is scarce.

However, Ms McDonald added that she was very concerned that the Government had no plans to house the arrivals for 90 days, to secure temporary accommodation, or for where the international-protection applicants would go once the 90-day window ended.

She said there was a major embedded housing capacity problem in Ireland and asked if the Ukrainians would have to find a home in a system that is already at breaking point.

People cant find rented accommodation for love nor money and when they do the rents are extortionate. Or will Ukrainian people be given a tent and told to take their chances on the streets?

She said the decision to change the supports was taken at a time when the housing system is broken, overwhelmed and creaking at the seams.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Varadkar replied that the Government was confident it would be able to provide accommodation for the initial 90 days.

People who have moved into state accommodation from Ukraine dont always stay there. Some have moved on to find their own accommodation, others have moved on to other parts of the European Union.

So accommodation does become free in the existing former hotels, former B&Bs. We also have the modular homes which the (Office of Public Works) is building, we have the refurb programme which is taking old buildings and bringing them back into use as a combination.

So all of that will continue and weve already managed to find accommodation for over 70,000 Ukrainians.
The Bibby Stockholm migrant accommodation barge following the death of an asylum seeker on board (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Local residents have spoken of their sadness at the predictable death of an asylum seeker aboard the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Dorset Police have confirmed the sudden death of a resident of the vessel at Portland Port on Tuesday morning.

A small number of bunches of flowers had been placed at the entrance to the port with a sign left by the Portland Global Friendship Group which said: So very sad that one of our friends from a distant land has died today. May you rest in peace.

Retired civil engineer Gabriel Hyde told the PA news agency that he felt the death was shocking because it had been predictable.

Flowers left at the entrance to the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge at Portland Port in Dorset following the death of an asylum seeker on board (Ben Mitchell/PA)

He said: Its terribly sad, we have all known that some of the people are very low and it hasnt come as a surprise, which makes it so shocking to be expecting something like this and for it to happen.

Mr Hyde added: I have just come here to show my respects to one of my fellow people who has died tragically and unnecessarily, I do not want to make political points about it, its a very sad situation.

Its a human point, if you put people in miserable circumstances deliberately, people who are in any case vulnerable, its going to be no surprise if one of them decides its all too much, this is what has happened in this case.

His wife Wanda Hyde said: If they were dogs from Romania they would have been homed; we treat dogs better than humans, its appalling.

Simon Pugh-Jones, a retired teacher, said: Its a simple thing about caring for people  in Britain we do care about people but we have a government that goes out of its way not to care about people.

If we do not care about people, tragedies happen.

Cathi Aanwyn left a bunch of flowers with a note saying: Remembering our neighbour and friend, with deep sorrow for the pain he endured. May you now rest in peace.

Ms Aanwyn said: I just felt deeply, deeply sad because somebody that is here, right beside us, who has come all the way to this country and has been in so much pain that they think they have no hope and no future and has taken their own life.

And it could be any of our son, brother, friend, so I just feel deeply sad for him, his friends, his family and the situation as well.

For mental health support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
Two men arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a newborn baby in Ipswich have been released on bail.

A teenage female also arrested on suspicion of murder remains in custody for questioning, Suffolk Constabulary said on Monday evening.

Officers were called at about 12.35pm on Saturday to a property in Norwich Road, where the body of a newborn baby had been found outside the premises.

Paramedics also attended but the baby was declared dead at the scene.

A Home Office post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death is due to take place on Tuesday.

Following initial police inquiries on Saturday afternoon, officers subsequently arrested two men aged in their 30s and the female.

On Sunday, officers applied for a warrant of further detention at Ipswich Magistrates Court which granted them an additional 21 hours to question the male suspects.

A spokesperson for the force said: The two men have now been released on bail until February 6 pending further inquiries, while the female currently remains in police custody for questioning, having arrived at Martlesham Police Investigation Centre at a later time than the men.

A small police scene remains in place within the Norwich Road property.

Suffolk Constabulary said detectives are treating it as an isolated incident.

But residents will continue to see an increased police presence and members of the public are encouraged to approach officers and discuss any concerns, the force said.

Any witnesses, or anyone with any information that could assist the inquiry, are asked to contact the forces major investigation team, quoting reference: 71043/23.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Congos security forces and rebel groups have agreed on a 72-hour ceasefire to de-escalate tensions in the countrys eastern region near the border with Rwanda, the US has announced (Jerome Delay/AP)

Congolese security forces and rebel groups have agreed on a 72-hour ceasefire to de-escalate tensions in the countrys hard-hit east near the border with Rwanda, the US has announced.

The move comes just days before Congos presidential election, but some of the regions many rebel groups quickly distanced themselves, and neither government commented.

White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement that the agreement was backed by both Congo and Rwanda.

The most prominent rebel group is the M23 with links to Rwanda, a major source of tension between the neighbours even as Rwanda denies supporting the rebels.

UN soldiers stand guard in Goma (Jerome Delay/AP)

The US said the agreement includes the withdrawal of forces occupying the locality of Mushaki  seized this month by the M23  and the RP1030 road, a main supply route in eastern Congo.

The wider region has struggled with conflict for decades as more than 120 armed groups fight for control of mineral resources or to defend their communities.

On Tuesday, some of the rebel groups distanced themselves from the agreement, saying it does not concern us but instead involved the Congolese and Rwandan governments.

We no longer trust these kinds of decisions because this is not the first time that a ceasefire has been declared, Heritier Ndange, spokesman for the Alliance of Patriots for a Free and Sovereign Congo, told a press briefing attended by other groups.

Neither Congo nor Rwanda has publicly commented on the ceasefire, which the White House said will help advance the implementation of the confidence-building measures to protect civilians as Congo prepares for the election on December 20.

The US government will use its intelligence and diplomatic resources to monitor the activities by armed forces and non-state armed groups during the ceasefire, the statement added.

President Felix Tshisekedi, centre, flanked by his wife, Denise Nyakeru, greets supporters at a rally in Goma as he seeks re-election (Moses Sawasawa/AP)

The M23 rose to prominence 10 years ago when its fighters seized Goma, eastern Congos largest city on the border with Rwanda.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has often accused Rwanda of destabilising Congo by backing the rebels. UN experts have linked the rebels to Rwandan forces.

Mr Tshisekedi, who is seeking another term, earlier said rebel-controlled territories might not participate in the vote for security reasons.

The top United Nations official in Congo warned on Monday that tensions between Congo and Rwanda have escalated, heightening the risk of a military confrontation.

Congos government is insisting on the withdrawal of UN and regional peacekeeping forces from the region, saying they are ineffective, and some have started to leave the country.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was scolded by the judge over comments he made to reporters (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

A Georgia election worker told jurors that she feared for her life after she received a barrage of racist and threatening messages fuelled by Rudy Giulianis false claims that she and her mother had rigged the 2020 election results in the state.

Wandrea Shaye Moss told jurors she seldom leaves her home, suffers from panic attacks and battles nightmares brought on by a barrage of threatening and racist messages.

She sobbed as she told the court that her life was turned upside down by the accusations, though they were quickly debunked by state officials, and recounted changing her appearance to try to hide as Mr Giuliani and other allies of former president Donald Trump used surveillance footage to accuse her and her mother, Ruby Freeman, of committing voter fraud.

The 39-year-old said: I was afraid for my life. I literally felt like someone going to come and attempt to hang me and theres nothing that anyone will be able to do about it.

Her emotional evidence came on the second day of a defamation trial that Mr Giulianis lawyer has said could financially ruin the former New York City mayor.

Ms Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, are seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages.

Mr Giuliani is preparing to defend himself against criminal charges in a separate case in Georgia over his efforts to keep Mr Trump in power.

He has pleaded not guilty in that criminal case, which accuses him and others of scheming to overturn Donald Trumps 2020 election loss in the state of Georgia. Mr Giuliani has denied any wrongdoing.

The judge overseeing the defamation case has already found Mr Giuliani liable and he has also acknowledged in court that he made public comments falsely claiming Ms Freeman and Ms Moss committed fraud while counting ballots.

The only issue remaining in the trial is the amount of damages Giuliani will have to pay the women.

One of the two election workers giving evidence said that she feared for her life after seeing Rudy Giulianis false claims (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The womens lawyers estimated that reputational damages could reach 47 million dollars (37 million), and suggested emotional and punitive damages on top of that could be tens of millions.

Ms Moss, who also gave evidence before the US House Committee that investigated the Capitol attack, recounted being brought into her directors office after Mr Giuliani falsely claimed during a Georgia legislative hearing in December 2020 that workers at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta had committed election fraud.

Ms Moss did not have any idea that lies about them were being spread and thought her director wanted to recognise her for her election work or give her a job she had been promised, she told jurors.

Instead the mood in the room was sombre, and soon she learned the real reason for the meeting.

I am shown these videos, these lies, everything that had been going on that I had no clue about, Ms Moss said.

Ms Moss said she went home that night, scared and confused, and could only watch as the angry messages poured in.

Shown a video of Mr Giuliani speaking on his online show about a false suitcase ballot conspiracy, she said: How can someone with so much power go public and talk about things that he obviously has no clue about? It just obvious that its lies.

Earlier, the judge overseeing the case scolded Mr Giuliani for comments he made outside the courthouse in which he insisted his false claims about the women were true.

US District Judge Beryl Howell warned Mr Giulianis lawyer that the remarks his client made to reporters about Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea Shaye Moss when leaving the courthouse a day earlier amounted to defamatory statements about them yet again.

The judge appeared incredulous, asking Mr Giulianis lawyer about the contradiction of his opening statements calling Ms Freeman and Ms Moss good people but then the former mayor repeating unfounded allegations of voter fraud.

The trial is to determine how much Rudy Giuliani will have to pay two Georgia election workers whom he falsely accused of fraud (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

How are we supposed to reconcile that? she asked the lawyer.

Mr Giulianis lawyer, Joseph Sibley, conceded her point and told the judge he discussed the comments with his client but added: I cant control everything he does.

He also argued that the former mayors age and health concerns make long days in court challenging.

Outside the courthouse on Monday, however, Mr Giuliani told reporters: When I testify, the whole story will be definitively clear that what I said was true, and that, whatever happened to them, which is unfortunate about other people overreacting, everything I said about them is true.

Rudy Giulianis lawyer suggested to the court that the defamation case could financially ruin the former mayor (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Mr Giuliani added that Ms Moss and Ms Freeman were engaged in changing votes.

When a reporter pushed back, saying there was no proof of that, Mr Giuliani replied: Youre damn right there is.  Stay tuned.
The remains of the historic Waiola Church in Lahaina, Hawaii (Lindsey Wasson/AP)

The heart of Lahaina, the town on the Hawaiian island of Maui hit by a wildfire in August that killed at least 100 people, reopened on Monday to residents and business owners holding day passes.

Work remains to be done to safely clear properties of burned debris and rebuild.

The reopened areas include Banyan Tree Park, home to a 150-year-old tree that burned in the fire but that is now sprouting new leaves, Lahainas public library, an elementary school and restaurants.

Reverend Ai Hironaka, resident minister of the Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, takes off protective equipment after walking through his temple (Lindsey Wasson/AP)

An oceanfront section of Front Street, where the fire ripped through a traffic jam of cars trying to escape town, reopened on Friday.

People entering scorched lots are advised to wear protective gear to shield them from hazards.

Test results released by the state Department of Health on Sunday confirmed the ash and dust left by the fire is toxic and that arsenic is the biggest concern while samples also showed high levels of lead.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been removing batteries, propane tanks, pesticides and other hazards from more than 2,000 destroyed buildings ahead of residents and business owners being able to visit their properties.

The US Army Corps of Engineers will begin hauling away the remaining debris and take it to a landfill after it gets permission from property owners.
Worries about Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny spread after prison officials said he was no longer on the inmate roster (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

The loss of contact with Alexei Navalny at the prison colony where the opposition leader was being held likely signals a Kremlin effort to tighten his isolation while President Vladimir Putin runs for re-election over the next three months, Mr Navalnys spokeswoman has said.

Worries about Mr Navalny spread on Monday after officials at the facility east of Moscow said he was no longer on the inmate roster.

Mr Navalnys spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said his associates and lawyers have been unable to contact him for a week.

Alexei Navalnys allies believe that the opposition leader is being moved to increase his isolation in the run up to Russias March elections (AP Photo, File)

Prison officials said he has been moved from the colony where he has been serving a 19-year term on charges of extremism, but they did not say where he went.

Prison transfers in Russia are notoriously secretive, with authorities providing no information about the whereabouts of inmates until they reach another facility and are given permission to contact relatives or lawyers.

Ms Yarmysh told The Associated Press: We now have to look for him in every colony of special regime in Russia. And there are about 30 of them all over Russia.

So we have no idea in which one we will find him.

She noted that they can transfer a prisoner for weeks or even for months, and no one will know where he is.

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Russias Federal Penitentiary Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Mr Navalnys possible transfer and whereabouts.

Earlier this year, another prominent opposition figure, Andrei Pivovarov, also went missing during a prison transfer.

His transfer, from a detention centre in Russias southern region of Krasnodar to a penal colony in the northwestern region of Karelia, took roughly a month.

Once at a new facility, prison officials there are legally obliged to notify relatives or lawyers within 10 days, but Ms Yarmysh said they can hardly be expected to follow the rules in Mr Navalnys case.

She said the authorities will likely try to keep his location secret for as long as they can after Mr Putin declared his intention to run for president.

Mr Putin will seek another six-year term in the March 17 election, moving to extend his rule of over two decades.

They will try to hide him as long as possible, Ms Yarmysh said.

I guess this was made deliberately to isolate Alexei during this period of time so he wouldnt be able to influence all these things in any way, because everyone understands  and Putin, of course, understands  that Alexei is his main rival, even despite the fact that he is not on the ballot.

Vladimir Putin is seeking re-election in Russias March elections (Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

When asked where Mr Navalny is, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov snapped that we have neither a desire nor an opportunity to track down inmates.

Commenting on US expressions of concern about Mr Navalny, Mr Peskov said that he has been convicted and is serving his sentence.

He added: We consider any interference, including by the United States, inadmissible.

Mr Navalny, 47, has been behind bars since January 2021.

He was arrested upon his return from Germany where he had recuperated from nerve agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin.

Mr Navalny, who campaigned against official corruption and organised major anti-government protests, has rejected all charges against him as a politically motivated vendetta.

The opposition figure has been serving his sentence at the Penal Colony No 6, in the town of Melekhovo in the Vladimir region, about 230 kilometres (140 miles) east of Moscow.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced to 19 years for extremism, charges he rejects as a politically motivated vendetta (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

He was due to be transferred to a penal colony with an even higher level of security.

The loss of contact with Mr Navalny was particularly worrying, given that he recently fell ill, Ms Yarmysh said.

She said prison officials had given him an IV drip when he felt dizzy and he had to lie on the floor of his cell.

It looks like it might have been a faint from hunger because he isnt being fed properly and he doesnt have any ventilation in his cell and he doesnt have any like proper exercise time, Ms Yarmysh said.

While Mr Putins re-election is all but certain, given his overwhelming control over the countrys political scene and a widening crackdown on dissent, Mr Navalnys supporters and other critics hope to use the campaign to erode public support for the Kremlin leader and his military action in Ukraine.

Authorities could try to send Mr Navalny to a remote colony to further limit his influence, Ms Yarmysh said.

Since the start of his imprisonment, he has continued his scathing attacks on the Kremlin in comments his associates posted to social media.

I guess they decided that it would be smarter for them to send him as far away because hes still too loud and too present in the public field, Ms Yarmysh said.
The United States successfully conducted a test of an upgraded ground-based interceptor (GBI) to shoot down an intermediate-range ballistic missile Monday, its military said, as it seeks to counter growing threats from North Korea, Iran and other potential adversaries.

The Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency (MDA) led the test of the GBI designed to intercept a ballistic missile in a midcourse phase of flight. GBI is a key element of the United States' Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system meant to defend the U.S. against intermediate and long-range missile attacks.

The interceptor was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Monday morning in a test that the agency said demonstrated the ability of the GMD's capability to "engage threats faster."

The agency highlighted that the GMD system defends the U.S. against threats from "rogue nations such as North Korea and Iran."

"The GMD system is vitally important to the defense of our homeland, and this test demonstrates that we continue to provide enhanced capabilities for our existing GBI fleet while we rapidly design and deliver the leap-ahead technology of the Next Generation Interceptor," MDA Director Lt. Gen. Heath Collins said in a release.

It marked the first test of a three-stage GBI operating in a two-stage mode, "which means the third stage was commanded not to ignite and allowed earlier release of the kill vehicle, providing closer range engagements," according to the agency.

The U.S. has a multilayered global missile defense construct consisting of the GBI and other interception programs to defend its mainland, its forces abroad and allies. (Yonhap)
A Congolese government soldier stands guard by a UN truck at the Kibati checkpoint north of Goma (AP)

Rising tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have heightened the risk of a military confrontation that could draw in Burundi, the top UN official in Congo has warned the Security Council.

Special representative Bintou Keitas warning on Monday came shortly before the ambassadors from the neighbouring DRC and Rwanda traded accusations in the council.

The DRC holds a presidential election on December 20 in which president Felix Tshisekedi is seeking a second term against two dozen candidates.

As voting nears, the government is pushing to have regional and international peacekeeping forces withdraw, including more than a 17,700-strong UN force.

Democratic Republic of the Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, centre, flanked by his wife, Denise Nyakeru, greets supporters at a rally in Goma (Moses Sawasawa/AP)

A regional force of officers from East African countries began leaving the DRCs largest city Goma last week.

Mr Tshisekedi has long accused Rwanda and its president Paul Kagame of providing military support to M23 rebels, the latest iteration of Congolese Tutsi fighters to seize towns in parts of mineral-rich North Kivu.

The UN and human rights groups accuse M23 of atrocities including rape and mass killings and say it receives backing from Rwanda, which denies any ties with the rebels.

Ms Keita told the council the eastern provinces are facing escalating insecurity especially related to the renewed M23 crisis.

She said new pockets of insecurity also have emerged in other parts of the country, notably the Greater Katanga region and Mai-Ndombe and Tshopo provinces, and that insecurity has compounded the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

According to the UN humanitarian office, more than 6.5 million people are displaced in the DRC, 5.5 million of them in the three eastern provinces.

UN soldiers stand guard in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (AP)

DRC ambassador Zenon Mukongo accused Rwandan soldiers of supporting the M23 rebels and reiterated his countrys call for an end to the Rwandan aggression, withdrawal of its troops and the eradication of armed interest groups in Congo including M23. He urged the Security Council to take action to achieve this.

Rwandas new UN ambassador Ernest Rwamucyo accused the neighbouring government and its coalition of illegal armed militia groups and foreign mercenaries of violating a regionally brokered peace process.

He said DRCs termination of the African regional force undermines all the regional efforts to bring peace to the east of the country and urged the government to recommit to the agreements.

Ms Keita said election campaigning began relatively peacefully but violent clashes between supporters of rival political parties are occurring in many provinces.

President Tshisekedi told a rally on Sunday that the United Nations came to help and protect the Congolese people, but it didnt work.
The vote in the 193-member world body, which included Palestinian United Nations Ambassador Riyad Mansour, was passed 153 in favour, 10 against and 23 abstentions (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to demand a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday in a strong demonstration of global support for ending the Israel-Hamas war.

The vote also shows the growing isolation of the United States and Israel.

The vote in the 193-member world body was 153 in favour, 10 against and 23 abstentions. The United States and Israel were joined in opposing the resolution by eight countries  Austria, Czechia, Guatemala, Liberia, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay.

The support was higher than for an October 27 resolution that called for a humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities, where the vote was 120-14 with 45 abstentions.

After the United States vetoed a resolution in the Security Council on Friday demanding a humanitarian ceasefire, Arab and Islamic nations called for an emergency session of the 193-member General Assembly to vote on a resolution making the same demand.

Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding. But the assemblys messages are also very important and reflect world opinion, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

Palestinian United Nations Ambassador Riyad Mansour ahead of the UN General Assembly vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

The General Assembly vote reflects the growing isolation of the United States as it refuses to join demands for a ceasefire.

More than the United Nations or any other international organisation, the United States is seen as the only entity capable of persuading Israel to accept a ceasefire as its closest ally and biggest supplier of weaponry.

In tougher language than usual, though, President Joe Biden warned before the vote that Israel was losing international support because of its indiscriminate bombing of Gaza.

President Joe Biden had earlier warned that Israel was losing international support (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, Pool via AP)

I think it will send a message to Washington and to others, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters before the vote.

He said a demand from the United Nations, whether from the Security Council or the General Assembly, should be looked at as binding.

And Israel has to abide by it, and those who are shielding and protecting Israel until now should also look at it this way, and therefore act accordingly, Mr Mansour said.

The resolution expresses grave concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population, and it says Palestinians and Israelis must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law.

It also demands that all parties comply with international humanitarian law, notably with regard to the protection of civilians, and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access.

(PA Graphics)

The resolution makes no mention of Hamas, whose militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted about 240 in the surprise attack inside Israel on October 7 that set off the war.

One amendment proposed by the United States would have added a paragraph stating that the assembly unequivocally rejects and condemns the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas.

A second amendment proposed by Austria would have added that the hostages are held by Hamas and other groups and should be released immediately.

Both amendments were voted down.

The war has brought unprecedented death and destruction, with much of northern Gaza obliterated, more than 18,000 Palestinians killed according to the Hamas-run health ministry, 70% of them reportedly children and women, and over 80% of the population of 2.3 million pushed from their homes.
And will it be enough to take the DUP back to Stormont Sam McBride gives his analysis of whats going on amid Stormont talks

Is Sir Jeffrey Donaldson about to jump, and if he does will his party jump with him?

We have been here before. Stormont collapses. The Government uses a financial package carrot to try and entice the parties back into the devolved institutions.

This time the sum involved, at face value at least, is 2.5bn. The parties are united for once  thats just not enough to fix Northern Ireland.

Theres always the stick as well of course  no deal means no additional funds  and that means sectors like health and education continue to struggle.

And all the while the DUP says theres still some way to go in the negotiations on the Northern Ireland Protocol and Windsor Framework?

The Belfast Telegraphs Northern Ireland editor, Sam McBride, joins Ciaran Dunbar with his assessment.
Vicky's Vlog: Going to Vietnam!

(People's Daily App) 16:46, December 12, 2023

Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to Vietnam from Tuesday to Wednesday, a trip that is expected to pave the way for further elevation of bilateral relations and expansion of cooperation in multiple sectors. Our journalist has departed for the Vietnamese capital to cover President Xis upcoming visit. Check out this video for Vickys latest news from Hanoi.

(Produced by Wang Zi, Di Jingyuan and Kou Jie)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
South Korea's new top general held phone talks with his U.S. counterpart for the first time Tuesday and agreed to strengthen cooperation against North Korea's military threats, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

The talks between JCS Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo and his U.S. counterpart, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., took place amid heightened tensions after North Korea scrapped a 2018 inter-Korean pact designed to prevent clashes along the border.

During the talks, the two generals discussed the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and shared the view on enhancing trilateral cooperation with Japan to deter and respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

They said they will make efforts to operationalize a system to share North Korean missile warning data in real time with Japan by the end of the year, and to stage various trilateral exercises.

In August, President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida outlined such efforts in a joint statement after their Camp David summit.

Meanwhile, Brown reaffirmed America's "extended deterrence" commitment to using the full-range of its military capabilities to defend South Korea, according to the South's JCS.

Kim called North Korea's recent decision to restore all military activities halted under the 2018 inter-Korean tension reduction agreement a "direct and existential" threat to South Korea and a "grave challenge" to the international community.

The North scrapped the deal on Nov. 23 after the South partially suspended the agreement in protest of the North's launch of its first military spy satellite on Nov. 21.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Cloudy skies with afternoon snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Scattered snow showers during the evening. Then partly to mostly cloudy overnight. Low 32F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
SUNDERLAND  The Sunderland Selectboard will host a public hearing on amendments to the town plan in preparation of designating a Village Center.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 18, at the Town Offices, 104 Mountain View Road.

The meeting will include a presentation by Bennington County Regional Commission Assistant Director Janet Hurley on what the Village Center designation would mean for Sunderland.

She will be coming here to present to anybody what the Sunderland Village designation is all about and get input from the town and the planning board, said Selectboard Chair Dixie Zens. Id like to see this move forward. Its really a great idea to get our town a little bit more on the map, maybe.

Its going to be a good thing for my town, thats my belief, he added, speaking at Mondays selectboard meeting.

BCRC needs the towns approval and input in submitting an application to the state, so were in the queue and will be able to get this designation. It doesnt mean its a done deal but it requires that we have this warned meeting, Zens said.

Sunderland Planning Board member Gordon Dossett said it was one of a series of steps the town has to go through. Im hoping the town will see the merits of this. I dont think theres a down side to it, really.

The proposed designated Village Center extends from the Ira Allen Cemetery and includes the Sunderland Union Church, the Ira Allen House, the Equinox Mountain toll road, and a mix of residential and commercial uses and buildings.

Once the Village Center area is designated, many funding sources become available, Dossett said outside the meeting.

They could do lighting, or you could do sidewalks, or some other kind of project that we might want to do, he said. I mean, the church is going to call for some money to fix it up. That would be terrific to be able to fix that church.

The historic Sunderland Union Church, which is deteriorating, is owned by a group of trustees.

I think our issue here is, there's not really a center, a meeting place for this town, Dossett said. And it would be nice to have some sort of common point where we say, Okay, that's our town center. If we draw in some sort of coffee house or craft beer place or something, then people might start to hang out there.

The Village Center designation provides access to state incentives for the town and private property owners within the area to encourage revitalization of underutilized commercial buildings and of historic homesteads, as well as protection of local landmarks. The designation could also help to preserve public open space within the area and lead to pedestrian-oriented enhancements.

There are two specific additions to the Town Plan to be considered as part of the Dec. 18 meeting. One is in the Economic Development Policy section and the other is in the Economic Development Actions section.

The mixed-use corridor along Route 7A is a particularly important area in Sunderland, containing the towns Main Street and representing an area of historic significance that most closely resembles a village center, the policy section states. Streetscape enhancements and other infrastructure investments, improvements to existing buildings and historic structures, and potential infill development would reinforce this area as an important community center and hub of economic activity.

It adds, Vermonts Village Center designation program helps to focus financial and other resources on such areas, making it easier for both the town and private property owners to implement projects that protect historic assets while making the area look, feel, and function as a vibrant village.

Welcome to Sunderland

In another effort to raise the visibility of the town, theres a plan in progress to design and post Welcome to Sunderland" signs.

We have talked with the elementary school and tomorrow afternoon the students will have their ideas about what might be neat for our town signs, Zens said. Were looking to put a sign on 7A both north and south, and weve asked the elementary school to have their kids draw up their concepts. And were going to take all that, were going to evaluate it as a board.
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A former Georgia election worker has testified that she feared for her life as she received a barrage of threatening and racist messages fueled by Rudy Giulianis false claims that she and her mother had rigged the 2020 election results in the state
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, told business leaders Monday that he hopes this week in Washington, D.C. will be "the last session until January."
South Korea's top military officer on Tuesday called for "overwhelming" capabilities against possible North Korean provocations as he visited a border island in the wake of Pyongyang's scrapping of a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement.

Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo made the call at a Marine Corps unit on the northwestern border island of Yeonpyeong in the Yellow Sea, after the North vowed last month to restore all military measures halted under the pact.

The agreement called for measures to reduce tensions and prevent accidental clashes, such as banning military drills and maneuvers near the land and sea borders, and closing coastal artillery gunports.

"With the scrapping of the Sept. 19 military agreement, the enemy is raising the level of provocations by opening their coastal gunports around the northwestern islands and can carry out deceptive or surprise provocations at any time," Kim was quoted as saying.

He also inspected an artillery unit that returned fire against the North during the bombardment of the island in 2010, calling for a "firm" response if the enemy ever carries out a provocation again.

The 2010 shelling killed four South Koreans, including two civilians.

Kim visited other western front-line operational areas of the 2nd Marine Division and instructed troops to maintain readiness against various enemy threats, his office said.

On Nov. 23, Pyongyang scrapped the 2018 agreement after Seoul partially suspended the deal in protest of the North's launch of its first military spy satellite on Nov. 21. (Yonhap)
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye (Matthew 7:3-5).

Sometimes the source of conflict is obvious and sometimes it may not be. Sometimes the disagreement may have been going on for so long you may not even know what you are really fighting over anymore. For this reason, the first prayer should be for clarity. You are not just praying for clarity in the situation, but for God to make known what is in your heart.

Lord,

As you can see, there is conflict among us. We want to resolve this, but before we can do that, please show us what is in our own hearts. Reveal what the source of the conflict is so we can work toward a solution. Search our hearts and allow us to see what is within each one of us. Let us not back away from what you reveal, but help us address what you reveal so we can then move forward to overcome this conflict.

Amen.

Photo credit: Getty Images/JensHN
The Apostle Paul affirmed the significance of prayer, and wrote in one of the epistles, Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Prayer is a powerful way to connect with God, to develop a relationship with Him, and to cast your cares upon Him. There are countless examples of prayer throughout Scripture. It is apparent that prayer is significant to the faith of a believer. When we read about the life and ministry of Jesus in the Gospel accounts, we find that He prayed often and made this spiritual discipline a priority in His life. Jesus took time to get away and spend time with God. Prayer is incredibly important for every believers spiritual growth.

To pray is Gods will for us. But, as inspiring as that sounds, is it possible to pray without ceasing? What did Paul mean by such a statement? Pray without ceasing means to have a heart inclined to prayer, to pray often, and to make the discipline of prayer a high priority, just as Jesus did.

What Does "Pray without Ceasing" Mean?

The Apostle Paul wrote the epistle we know as 1 Thessalonians to the church of Thessalonica. He sent it shortly after he had established the congregation there. In the letter, he affirmed and commended their ongoing love and passion for Jesus. Paul also warned the church of Thessalonica to be prepared for the second coming of Jesus by keeping their hearts pure and holy for His return. It is in this context that we find Pauls assertion to pray without ceasing.

In the fifth chapter of this epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul urged the church to cling to the Gospel they had received and to hold onto what was good and righteous. They were to continue living holy lives and prayer was essential to that instruction. Paul reminded them of the importance of prayer to keep their faith strong and to stay connected to Gods truth so that they would not be deceived by false messages.

The Greek word translated to without ceasing is  (adialeiptos), which means constantly or without intermission. In most Bible translations, this word is interpreted as without ceasing, but other versions also translate to continually (NIV) or all the time (The Message).

Whichever version of the Bible you read, the meaning remains the same and consistent with the Greek word. The various translations of the Bible help emphasize the same message, which is to pray often and diligently.

Photo credit: Getty Images/palidachan
Of all the annual Christian celebrations, Resurrection Sunday and Christmas services are the most anticipated and also garner the largest attendance. Families who frequently stay home on Sundays usually come out in full force, often bringing unbelieving friends and family members. The hope of many Christians is that the Gospel message will bring salvation to the lives of those they welcome to their church home.

Resurrection Sunday services tend toward celebratory hymns known mostly to Christians. Christmas services often include carols known by the general population, because secular and Christian musicians and songwriters have popularized tunes which speak of the Saviors birth. The radio and streaming services are flooded with melodies recorded by everyone from Handel (Messiah) to Bing Crosby (White Christmas) to Alvin and the Chipmunks (Christmas Dont be Late). Some songs are sacred, others, not even.

Why Do People Go to Church at Christmas?

Christians attend Christmas services to worship the Lord with brothers and sisters in Christ, and to celebrate Jesus First Advent. Bible readings and reflections focus on the Scriptures which foretold Jesus coming (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2), and services are centered on the glorious account of Jesus birth found in Luke 2:1-21.

For others who do not know Jesus Christ as Savior, they either accept an invitation, follow a lifelong habit of attendance, or perhaps they long to find that special feeling they expect every year. However they find themselves at a biblical Christmas service, its the onus of the church to welcome every visitor and present Jesus as Lord and Savior. He is, after all, the reason we celebrate this season.

Is It Okay to Celebrate Christmas Only on Christmas Eve?

In 2022, Christmas falls on a Sunday. Some churches have chosen to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve and leave Christmas Day for families to worship in their homes. Is that okay?

According to Lifeway Research, half of U.S. Protestant pastors say a Christmas Eve service is their churchs largest event during the holiday season (48%). The same research shows only seven percent of Protestant pastors say Christmas Day is their largest event. Yet sixty-three percent of Protestant pastors say they plan to have services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

For many, the chance to worship God on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is a joyful bonus.

Whatever a church decides, the important matter is celebrating and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ as we invite others who dont know Him as Lord.

Does It Matter to God How Elaborate Our Celebrations Are?

The Old Testament has numerous passages which say, Praise the Lord. Often, David is saying this in one of the many Psalms he wrote. The final verse of the last Psalm in our Bible tells us, Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. The New Testament uses the phrase just once in Romans 15:11. Otherwise, we see the word rejoice used in many places when referring to how we are to celebrate the Lord (Philippians 4:4).

Psalm 34 shows us what a man of praise David was. He started this psalm by saying Gods praise would be continually in his mouth. Just reading that short passage shows David to be a man who loved God and rejoiced at the good things He did. Our worship should reflect the same kind of fervency  during the Christmas season too.

Before any church service, worship music is to prepare our hearts for the message to come. But for such a celebration as Christmas, the music chosen and presented for services ranges from the stillness of O, Little Town of Bethlehem to the splendor of Handels Messiah.

Some churches include events throughout the month of December which allows members to prepare their own hearts and to bring guests so they may hear of the good news of Jesus. Some churches stage Christmas concerts which are performed for many days during December and are grand in nature. And for Christmas services, some worship leaders believe the more extravagant the better. They include such things as fake snow, live animals, blazing lights, and stage theatrics not often seen outside Las Vegas. A fine line exists between worshipful music and performance. Its the responsibility of the church leaders to make sure those in the Sanctuary are directed in thought and praise to Jesus, not in wonder at a sound and light show.

When the heavenly host, radiant from the glory of God appeared to the shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem, they first said, Glory to God (Luke 2:14). These shepherds had just seen and heard a magnificent host of heavenly beings aglow from the glory of God. Then they saw Jesus! What did they do? They made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child (Luke 2:17).

What do people remember when they leave a Christmas service  flying musicians and neon lights with fake snow covering the congregation? Or do they go home pondering the Savior and what He has done for us? Thats whats of the utmost consideration when planning and attending a Christmas Eve (or Christmas Day) service.

How Did the Early Church Celebrate Christmas

Although Christmas celebrations as we know them did not exist in the early first centuries, by the time of the late second century, there was great interest in keeping a record of when Jesus was born. Pastor Kevin DeYoung says, The first mention of December 25 as Jesuss birthday comes from a mid-fourth-century almanac called the Philocalian Calendar. Ligonier ministries adds, One of the early church fathers, Chrysostom, right around 400, had a sermon on the nativity. And he said this: Come, let us observe the feast. Truly wondrous is the whole chronicle of the nativity. For this day, the ancient slavery is ended. The devil confounded. The demons take to flight. The power of death is broken. Paradise is unlocked. The curse is taken away. Sin is removed from us. Error driven out. Truth has been brought back.

From that time, the Christian celebration of Jesus birth have been varied. Did you know that Christmas celebrations in Great Britain had fallen almost by the wayside when Charles Dickens picked up his quill to write A Christmas Carol? It is said that after the publication of his well-loved book, charitable giving increased exponentially.

But since then, the infusion of Santa Claus and more stories about Christmas (Twas the Night Before Christmas), and Christmas greeting cards have transformed Christmas into more than a time of celebrating the Lords birth. Christmas has taken on a retail transformation filled with indulgence, luxury, and a gift-giving extravaganza. Yet even amid the clutter of secular celebrations, the truth and majesty of the proclamation to the shepherds remains unabated, and we still celebrate Immanuel  God with us! His message will never diminish.

What Does This Mean for Us?

Christmas is a joyful time for most of the Western world and is filled with time with family and friends, activities, and the giving of gifts (modeling the gifts brought to the Christ Child). Its easy to get caught up in the wants of gifts and making merry. The pressure to meet all the demands of the holiday season brings much fatigue and sadness to some. But instead, we can embrace and rejoice in the greatest gift ever given  our Lord Jesus  and rest in Him. As we worship in prayer, Bible study and song this Christmas, we can praise the Lord in meaningful worship!

Merry Christmas!

Photo credit: Getty Images/fstop123

Lisa Loraine Baker is the multiple award-winning author of Someplace to be Somebody. She writes fiction and nonfiction. In addition to writing for the Salem Web Network, Lisa serves as a Word Weavers mentor and is part of a critique group. She also is a member of BRRC. Lisa and her husband, Stephen, a pastor, live in a small Ohio village with their crazy cat, Lewis.
Police have referred a lawyer to the prosecution Tuesday for investigation and potential indictment on charges of allegedly beating his wife to death during a quarrel at their residence in Seoul.

The 50-year-old, who holds a U.S. attorney license and worked at a major law firm in Seoul, is accused of assaulting his wife in her 40s with an unspecified blunt instrument to her death on Dec. 3.

The suspect declined to comment on reporters' questions as he was escorted out of the Seongbuk Police Station in Seoul at 8:15 a.m. on the way to the prosecutors' office.

The autopsy results by the National Forensic Service (NFS) suggested the victim died from asphyxia by neck compression and hypovolemic shock, according to the police.

On Wednesday, the Seoul Central District Court granted an arrest warrant for him, citing his flight risk.

The man, who is reportedly a son of a former multi-term lawmaker, is known to have quit his job at the law firm after the incident. (Yonhap)
(Matthew 2:23)

Nowadays we celebrate Matthew 2:23 with songs and grand sermons saying,  he would be called a Nazarene (NIV). In first-century Israel, though, that name was more insult than an honor. Nazareth then was todays equivalent of a backward, hick towna small, insulated place that was easy to overlook. Even Jesus disciples viewed people living there with open disdain (John 1:46).

Yet Matthew included the insult in the account of Jesus early years without complaint. God, he seems to say, is not ashamed to be associated with even the lowliest of his childrenand Jesus the Nazarene is proof that.

8. Son of the Most High/Son of God

(Luke 1:32, 35)

Son of the Most High/Son of God is perhaps the most important title ever ascribed to Jesus. Its only because Christ is Gods Son that he can be called Immanuel, or King of the Jews, or Messiah and so on. If he were only a human son of Joseph and Mary, then none of those other Christmas titles (except Nazarene) would be applicable, or even possible.

In ancient Israel, to name one a son meant more than only a familial relationship, and in the case of Christ that was remarkably true. To declare this baby to be Son of the Most High or the one and only Son of God (John 3:16) was to say that Jesus was of the same substance as God, equal with Godthe human incarnation of God himself. Theologian Lawrence O. Richards explains Christs sonship this way His unique position is based on his coexistence with God and as God from the beginning (Expository Dictionary of Bible Words)

In fact, it was this Son of God concept that incited religious leaders to pursue the death penalty for our Christ: For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God (John 5:18)

And so then, this is the real reason for our annual holiday traditions, and the meaning behind all those Christmas names of Jesus:

The Son of God has come 

Photo Credit: GettyImages/Simon Lehmann
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Increasing adoption of technology by healthcare professionals is fostering a change in the sales and marketing model of pharma companies

Bessemer Venture Partners, a leading global venture capital and private equity firm, has released its report focused on the sales and marketing stack of Indian pharma companies, analysing India's burgeoning pharmaceutical market and the role of technology in further amplifying this growth.

As per the report, the $50 billion Indian pharmaceutical market is expected to grow at ~8% CAGR for the next 5 years and is poised for transformation. Bessemer firmly believes that technology led engagement solutions, will be a pivotal driving force in how Indian pharma companies market and position themselves.

The convergence of the increasing digital adoption among doctors, evolving regulatory forces, the imperative for seamless omni-channel engagement, has created a pressing need for pharma companies to change their approach to sales and marketing.

The report highlights how India pharma companies are looking for innovative omni-channel marketing solutions to engage with doctors. Simultaneously, there has been a notable shift in doctors adoption of technology, especially in the post-COVID landscape. They are increasingly open to digital interactions with pharmaceutical companies, marking a significant transformation in the way these crucial stakeholders engage in the industry.

For innovative sales and marketing solutions for pharma companies, the report recommends the need to have competitive insights, analytics, omnichannel marketing and content management mechanisms to ensure an outcome based approach. This is followed by pharmacovigilance, which includes strict drug safety reports, checks on counterfeits and prevention of adverse events.

As we delve further into the report, it also highlights opportunity for a pharma-focused end-to-end SaaS platform to offer support for innovative sales and marketing, pharmacovigilance and R&D. Similarly, it also highlights how successful healthcare professional (HCP)-networking sites will be able to monetise data insights through pharma companies and other providers.
Comprehensive training initiatives for pathologists and medical oncologists will be imparted

AstraZeneca Pharma India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Roche Diagnostics India to improve diagnostics for breast cancer patients with a key focus to streamlining HER2 diagnostics with newer advancements in the field.

Breast cancer, globally the most prevalent cancer among women, takes a critical turn when transitioning to metastatic stages, accounting for 30% of post-diagnosis cases and constituting a primary cause of breast cancer-related fatalities.

Vital to patient care is the reassessment of biomarkers, specifically HER2, guiding crucial treatment decisions. The 15% to 20% of cases identified as HER2 positive present opportunities for targeted therapies, with advancements in HER2 testing continually optimizing its clinical application since the 1980s.

In 2020, it was estimated that breast cancer claims nearly 700,000 lives worldwide each year and that there would be over 2.2 million new cases. Approximately half of all patients with breast cancer (mBC) express low levels of HER2. These patients with HER2 low status may now be eligible for a targeted treatment, which could significantly improve their outcomes.

The new initiative is focused on advancements in HER2 testing standardisation and reporting. As per the partnership, comprehensive training initiatives for pathologists and medical oncologists will be imparted. Training modules designed for oncologists will cover advances in HER-2 testing and HER-2 low interpretations.

The collaboration aims to address existing diagnostic challenges, reduce turnaround times, and elevate the overall patient experience, reinforcing the pivotal role of diagnostics in shaping effective treatment strategies for metastatic breast cancer patients in India.
Under the umbrella of Brand South Africas Play Your Part programme, a new CMO Council initiative in 2023 will audit, identify, and showcase corporate best practices and successes in blending self-interest with altruism in the country.

Source:  123rf 123rf a new CMO Council initiative in 2023 will audit, identify, and showcase corporate best practices and successes in blending self-interest with altruism in the country

Increasingly, there is pressure on brands, particularly those doing business in emerging markets, to be cause-committed, truthful, authentic, community-engaged, and morally and culturally aligned with how they can help the planet and society as a whole.

The survey will evidence private sector commitment to ESG and sustainability progress, the benefits of CSI spend, and the value realised from improving the well-being of people, communities, living conditions, and micro-economies in the country.

It will help Brand South Africa highlight the innovation, vibrancy, inclusivity, and effectiveness of business with a purpose in the country. And establish corporate South Africa and multi-nationals doing business here as best practice leaders worldwide and a positive reflection on the Nation Brand.

Areas of discovery

Areas of discovery (primary and secondary research) and discussion with chief marketers and reputation leaders in South Africa (and abroad) will include:

Level of commitment, progress and comparative success by different types and size of companies (domestic and foreign) operating in South Africa.



Areas of priority, focus and achievement relative to addressing societal needs  empowerment, education, training, housing, healthcare, safety, security, essential service delivery, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, community development, diversity, sustainability, and the environment.

Forces and factors influencing and elevating CSI strategies  shareholder/stakeholder pressure, social media voice, increased governance, research studies, corporate conscience, brand reputation, business value, socioeconomic concerns, special interest groups/NGOs, etc.



Level of activation and engagement of key audiences and stakeholders in the organisational ecosystem, including employees, supply chain, distribution/service network and customer base.



Outcomes and progress relative to balancing corporate concern for people, planet, and profit  any indicators, metrics or analytics evidencing or underscoring the theme of Doing Better by Doing Good.



Identification and recognition of those corporates leading the way and setting the pace as standouts, innovators and flag-bearers playing their part in South Africas upliftment of disadvantaged communities, at-risk constituencies, and general societal and environmental conditions.

Issues, challenges, complexities, and ROI/impact associated with Ethical Branding policies and practices; how to achieve organisational buy-in, participation and ownership.



Benefits of delivering on an ethical brand promise or claim; ensuring corporate behaviour and brand authenticity is true, trusted, and transparent.

Three categories of companies

Outreach, conversations, and online engagement will take place across three categories of companies that are represented on the CMO Council:

South African multinationals in banking, telecoms, retail, manufacturing, insurance, food and beverages, business process outsourcing, IT services, digital media, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, etc. Foreign multinationals in financial services, automotive, FMCG, information technology, digital media, professional services, consulting, travel, hospitality, industrial systems, and health care products. Locally based and internally focused South African enterprises and emerging growth companies across all business and industry sectors.



Key tactical and budgetary components

Key tactical and budgetary components include:

Strategic partnership formalization and announcement; media and LinkedIn groups.



Outreach to more than 1,000 marketing leaders in SA; email and messaging.



Campaign branding with dedicated program page and call outs on CMO Council website

Curation of third-party research and data points on CSI and CSR in SA.



Audit of CMO Council member involvement and commitment to CSI

Best practice interviews with brand leading CMOs selected by CMO Council.



Content development in different digital formats for global consumption.



GTM  Content publication, promotion, and affiliate syndication worldwide.



Targeted email marketing, PR, social media/LinkedIn group postings.



Blogs, podcasts and online discussion forums.



On regional web conference and on-demand webcast.



Marketing roundtables and/or dinner dialogues.



Selection and recognition of leaders and innovators.

Global findings

The CMO Council recently polled its global members on what they viewed as the essential benefit of making a stand as an ethical brand and evidencing corporate social responsibility in business.

Findings indicate most senior marketers believe the biggest gain will come from furthering customer relationships and brand affinity:

Customer preference/trust: 62%



Employee affinity/loyalty: 28%



Financial performance/gain:6%



Investor confidence/support: 4%

Responsibility for corporate ESG (environmental, social, governmental) and sustainability mapping and tracking is somewhat like ownership of customer experience (CX) in the enterprise.

Defused across multiple lines of business, functional siloes and operational areas. Unfortunately, real ESG accountability and accurate reporting are still a work in progress for companies of all sizes.

Another CMO Council poll of its members on LinkedIn earlier this year reveals 84% of marketing leaders believe CMOs should be a pivotal leader and at the forefront of organisational strategy, delivery, adherence, and brand communications around the ESG mandate.

A lesser 11% view CMOs as part of a team. Only a handful see the CMOs on the sidelines or not involved.
Celebrated as a beacon for Africas budding agricultural talent, the third annual Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba is set to grace Pretoria East from Thursday, 4 to Saturday, 6 April 2024, marking its debut at an inner-city farm. Hosted by Food For Mzansi, this prestigious three-day event is poised to unite more than 1,300 people over a three-day period.

Join us for an unparalleled celebration of young agricultural movers and shakers, encourages Ivor Price, co-founder of Food For Mzansi. The 2024 gathering  hosted at Lavender Kontrei Mark  promises an enriching blend of insights, connections, and the ingenuity of our young agri-stars, igniting conversations that will shape the future of farming in South Africa and beyond.

Highlights of the 2024 Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba

A gathering of minds: Envisioned as a convergence of young farmers, agripreneurs and agricultural leaders, the event offers a fertile ground for exchange, sharing experiences, and nurturing a collective commitment to the agricultural landscape. Early ticket reservations are recommended to secure a coveted place at this sought-after gathering.

Envisioned as a convergence of young farmers, agripreneurs and agricultural leaders, the event offers a fertile ground for exchange, sharing experiences, and nurturing a collective commitment to the agricultural landscape. Early ticket reservations are recommended to secure a coveted place at this sought-after gathering. Eminent speakers: Over 60 top speakers, renowned for their transformative contributions in agriculture, will grace the stage, imparting wisdom and fostering inspiration among attendees.

Over 60 top speakers, renowned for their transformative contributions in agriculture, will grace the stage, imparting wisdom and fostering inspiration among attendees. A triad of exploration: Spanning three days, this immersive event will delve into knowledge-sharing sessions, interactive workshops, and expansive networking opportunities. A dedicated day for workshops and masterclasses promises to deepen engagement and interaction.

Spanning three days, this immersive event will delve into knowledge-sharing sessions, interactive workshops, and expansive networking opportunities. A dedicated day for workshops and masterclasses promises to deepen engagement and interaction. Innovative exhibitions: Experience ground-breaking innovations from 50 sought-after exhibitors unveiling the latest in agricultural technology, products, and exhibits. In a significant expansion, the 2024 Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba will introduce a specialised showcase for livestock and agricultural machinery.

Experience ground-breaking innovations from 50 sought-after exhibitors unveiling the latest in agricultural technology, products, and exhibits. In a significant expansion, the 2024 Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba will introduce a specialised showcase for livestock and agricultural machinery. Connecting opportunities: Entrepreneurs and innovators will have exclusive access to engage directly with banks, investors, and funders eager to support pioneering agricultural ventures.

Entrepreneurs and innovators will have exclusive access to engage directly with banks, investors, and funders eager to support pioneering agricultural ventures. Educational endeavours: Educational partners including universities and colleges will be present, offering pathways and insights into agricultural education, nurturing the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Educational partners including universities and colleges will be present, offering pathways and insights into agricultural education, nurturing the next generation of agricultural leaders. Mzansi Flavour food court: A delectable addition to the indaba, this presents an enticing culinary journey that reflects the rich diversity of South African cuisine. Attendees can enjoy a wide variety of food stalls, each boasting an array of flavours and dishes.

New venue unveiled

The 2024 Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba will unfold at the Lavender Kontrei Mark in Pretoria East. This strategic location ensures seamless access via major highways, connecting Gauteng, Free State, and North West provinces. Additionally, it conveniently lies within a 50-minute drive from OR Tambo International and Lanseria International airports.

Early-bird tickets are now available on Quicket, starting from R500 (excl. VAT) for a two-day pass and R750 (excl. VAT) for three-day access. Tickets include access to parking and entry to all masterclasses, demonstrations, and exhibitions. The three-day pass includes business management training on the Saturday morning.

On request of young farmers attending in previous years, meal tickets are excluded from the 2024 ticket prices. This allows attendees the freedom to explore and dine at various food stalls according to their tastes and budgets.

A select number of exhibition spaces remain available for agricultural enterprises, agripreneurs, and innovators seeking to showcase transformative ideas, products and services. Secure your exhibition space via this link.
South Africa has agreed to a recommendation from national oil company PetroSA to select Russia's Gazprombank Africa as an investment partner for its mothballed gas-to-liquid (GTL) refinery at Mossel Bay, a government statement said on Monday, 11 December.

Source: Reuters.

Gazprombank is Russia's third-largest lender by assets and a key conduit of the Russian energy trade.

The 45,000 barrel-per-day Mossel Bay GTL plant has been under care and maintenance for several years as dwindling offshore gas resources meant the plant could no longer operate.

PetroSA has been looking for investors to try and get its flagship plant working as South Africa frets about security of fuel supply following the closure of its two largest refineries, Sapref and Enref, due to accidents and business decisions.

"Cabinet noted that this selection of GazpromBank is still dependent on the Final Investment Decision that will be informed by a joint bankable business case, as well as all the terms and conditions which are anticipated to be finalised in April 2024," a cabinet statement said.

The GTL plant is a key element of negotiations between TotalEnergies and PetroSA to reach a gas supply agreement that will potentially link a huge TotalEnergies gas discovery to a PetroSA offshore platform.

The platform was used to supply domestic gas directly to Mossel Bay, and making use of this infrastructure could help accelerate potential gas supplies from the TotalEnergies discovery.

Talks for a possible tie-up between TotalEnergies and PetroSA have become bogged down over the gas price, several sources have revealed.
On 25 January 2016, and after a delay of approximately three and half years in instituting the disciplinary hearing, Major General S.L. Mapyane, who was employed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) was dismissed for misconduct in respect of five charges of fraudulent travel claims for the period between August 2010 to July 2012. It was alleged that he claimed disbursements for official trips as if he had used his own private vehicles, when in fact, he had travelled in official SAPS vehicles. The five charges were similar, save for the dates and incidents when the contraventions supposedly occurred.

Image source: Narith Thongphasuk  123RF.com

Mapyane approached the Safety and Security Sectoral Bargaining Council to challenge the procedural and substantive fairness of his dismissal. On procedural fairness, he contended that the SAPS flouted the South African Police Discipline Regulations, 2006 (Discipline Regulations), which required that the SAPS promptly institute disciplinary action. He further contended that the contravention of the Discipline Regulations tainted the overall substantive fairness of his dismissal. That being the case, Mapyane argued that the charges were vitiated by delay and ought to have been quashed.

The arbitrator found that Mapyane was trial prejudiced due to the excessive and unexplained delay and that the first three charges were vitiated by this delay. However, Mapyanes dismissal based on the fourth and fifth charges was found to be procedurally and substantively fair.

Aggrieved by this outcome, Mapyane approached the Labour Court seeking to review and set aside the arbitration award. In Mapyane v South African Police Service & Others (24 November 2023), Mapyane contended that, having found that the delay in instituting the disciplinary hearing was unreasonable, the arbitrators conclusion that his dismissal on charges four and five was fair, was irrational.

Impact of the delay

Mapyane alleged that the arbitrator failed to appreciate the negative impact of the delay, being lapses in witnesses memory with time, the passing of his main witness in respect of charge four, and difficulties in securing evidence to refute the allegations. This, he alleged, rendered his dismissal procedurally unfair, and also vitiated the decision to dismiss him (Excessive Delay argument).

He further alleged that the arbitrator committed irregularities in the manner in which he evaluated the evidence. In particular, Mapyane argued that the arbitrator had failed to evaluate the inherent probabilities in the versions that were before him and relied solely on credibility findings, which ultimately resulted in an unreasonable outcome (Inherent Probabilities argument).

On the Excessive Delay argument, the Labour Court considered the decision of the Constitutional Court in Stokwe v Member of the Executive Council: Department of Education, Eastern Cape and Others, which endorsed the application of various criminal factors in labour law matters when considering the delay in instituting or finalising disciplinary proceedings.

These factors include the length of, and explanation for, the delay, whether the employee has taken steps to assert her/his right to a speedy process, any material prejudice to the employee caused by the delay and the nature of the alleged offence. In Stokwe, the Constitutional Court observed that the delay had a concrete impact on the employees disciplinary process and on her personally as she had to contend with an uncertain future, and this factor was found to have had a negative impact on the procedural fairness of the disciplinary hearing.

Labour Court ruling

Based on this authority, the Labour Court found that the arbitrator failed to interrogate the effect of the excessive delay on the fairness of the procedure. Further, the arbitrator misconceived the nature of the enquiry by relying on Avril Elizabeth Home for the Mentally Handicapped v Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and others. As a public authority, the SAPS was enjoined to observe the procedure set out in the Disciplinary Regulations and promptly attend to the disciplinary action. Therefore, the Labour Court found the three-and-a-half-year delay to have tainted the fairness of the procedure.

On whether this delay vitiated the sanction of dismissal, based on a waiver on the SAPS part to take disciplinary action against Mapyane, the Labour Court found that there was no evidence to support this. The Court found that Mapyane had been criminally charged for the same offence and the SAPS had engagements with the investigating officers who were investigating the disciplinary allegations. Accordingly, he could not have harboured any expectation that SAPS had waived its right to discipline him due to the delay.

In respect of the Inherent Probabilities argument, the Labour Court found the argument to be flawed, on the basis that the arbitrator made several findings of fact wherein he interrogated the versions and rejected Mapyanes version in respect of the two charges of fraud.

Role and responsibilities

In considering the appropriateness of the sanction of dismissal, the Labour Court held that Mapyane, as a Major General heading the serious organised crime unit, was expected to act in good faith and protect the interest of the SAPS as a custodian of discipline.

Moreover, the Labour Court held that honesty and integrity are integral requirements of all positions within national law enforcement agencies such as the SAPS, and if not upheld, the credibility of these institutions and the confidence of the public in them would be undermined. In this regard, the Labour Court upheld the arbitrators findings in respect of substantive fairness.

Ultimately, having found the review to be successful only in relation to procedural unfairness, the Labour Court ordered compensation equivalent to three months salary as at the time of Mapyanes dismissal.

Importance of the case

Although decided in the context of a public sector employment relationship, this judgment is important for all employers as it highlights one of the objectives of the Labour Relations Act, to promote expedient resolution of labour disputes.

In this regard, employers are reminded to take prompt disciplinary action against employees in cases of misconduct. While excessive and unreasonable delays may not automatically vitiate a dismissal or impair the substance of the case against an employee, such delays may taint procedural fairness.
The United Nations on Monday appealed for $46bn in funding for 2024 to help millions of people affected by humanitarian crises around the globe, including in the occupied Palestinian territories, Sudan and Ukraine.

File photo: United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths gestures as he stands near damaged buildings, in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, in Aleppo, Syria, 13 February 023. Reuters/Firas Makdesi

In its Global Humanitarian Overview for 2024, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that nearly 300 million people will require humanitarian assistance next year due to conflicts, climate emergencies and economic factors.

That includes 74.1 million people in East and Southern Africa, a large portion of whom are affected by the crisis in Sudan.

"We will target for our specific needs, for the agencies that I represent, 181 million of those 300," said UN aid chief Martin Griffiths.

He said that other organisations, including the Red Cross and national Red Cross societies, had made their own funding appeals.

The humanitarian system is facing a major funding crisis, with just over one-third of the $57bn required to provide aid funded last year, OCHA said in its annual assessment of global humanitarian needs.

Griffiths described this as the "worst funding shortfall in years." He said it had been difficult to decrease the appeal for 2024 and ensure aid agencies were "realistic, focused and tough-minded" when assessing needs.

"I think the Middle East as a whole and Gaza and West Bank in probably going to be the area of greatest need," Griffiths said.

"But Ukraine is going through desperate times and a war that will restart in full swing next year. It will need a lot of attention."
Actor Yoo Ah-in on Tuesday admitted to some of his charges, including smoking marijuana, in his first court appearance after being indicted in October for habitually using illegal drugs.

The 37-year-old actor, whose legal name is Uhm Hong-sik, said he admits to smoking marijuana in the trial at the Seoul Central District Court. But he denied the charge of using an excessive amount of propofol, a controlled substance, saying many parts of his indictment are different from the facts.

Yoo is accused of getting injections of propofol and other medical drugs on 181 occasions at clinics across Seoul between 2020 and 2022 under the pretext of having cosmetic procedures. He reportedly took 9,635.7 milliliters of propofol, 567 milligrams of midazolam, 11.5 milliliters of ketamine, and 200 milligrams of remimazolam.

The actor is also charged with allegedly using other people's names to illegally purchase some 1,100 sleeping pills on 44 occasions, smoking marijuana with four people and coercing others to take the narcotics.

Yoo's lawyer said at the trial that some of the propofol-related contents in the indictment differ from the facts and are somewhat exaggerated.

The actor offered an apology for "causing concern to many people" before entering the courtroom.

The next hearing is slated for Jan. 23. (Yonhap)
Top craft gin distiller gives new purpose and meaning to outdoor advertising.

Inverroche, the distiller of exceptional craft gins infused with indigenous fynbos that is sustainably harvested from the Cape floral kingdom around its distillery in Stilbaai, celebrates its close connection to nature in everything it does.

Aligned with this connection and its commitment to doing business mindfully, Inverroches latest groundbreaking campaign is using a unique series of billboards to showcase its products. These pioneering billboards, which are situated in four strategic locations in Johannesburg and Pretoria, feature a living cloak of lush spekboom. Each house around 1,000 plants potted in recycled, UV-resistant containers, making them easy to handle, maintain and redistribute once the billboards are taken down.

These spekboom plants are supported on custom-manufactured steel grids fitted with gutters to collect rainwater that is stored in Jo-Jo tanks and used to irrigate the plants. The water is then distributed using a solar-powered continuous-flow plumbing system, which was developed in partnership with Epic Outdoor. Each billboard is individually constructed to ensure optimal use of natural resources.

The hero natural resource, spekboom (Portulacaria Afra), is endemic to South Africa and one of natures most efficient carbon absorbers. Along with this well-known benefit, spekboom is also hardy, waterwise and easy to propagate. Individual plants can grow to a height of two to three meters within four years  and live for up to 200 years, which is why the plant is being cultivated to support projects like the Spekboom Net Zero (SNZ) in the Eastern Cape to restore overgrazed farmland.

Abundant to South Africa, just as the fynbos Inverroches gins are infused with, the use of spekboom on the billboards, perfectly aligns to Inverroches brand promise, which is to respectfully work with the natural environment; to build an emotional connection with its audiences; and to actively contribute to sustainable socio-economic development.

Like Inverroches previous campaigns, using live spekboom on billboards is not only innovative and adventurous, it demonstrates the brands commitment to working with nature and local communities to create a business that is successful in the deepest sense of the word. It is also a way to raise awareness of how the choices all of us make, both in business and our private lives, can help rather than harm the environment.

The billboards, which were established in early November, are situated at Sandton Close in Sandton, OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, the Mall of Africa in Midrand and Parkview Mall in Pretoria. Each element of these billboards has been carefully sourced and a second life planned to ensure a cyclical outcome that is aligned with the Inverroche brand promise.

The thousands of plants needed to create these landmark installations were sourced from the Owl Rescue Centre in North West, adding yet another beneficial dimension to the initiative. The centres spekboom project was started by eight-year-old Rebecca Murray  daughter of its founders, Brendan and Danelle Murray  when she found out how beneficial the plants are for the environment. It is now also used to raise funds for the centre.

When the billboards are taken down in the New Year, the plants will be donated to Water for the Future, a community project formed to rejuvenate the only perennial river in Johannesburg, the Jukskei. Not only is this innovative NPO restoring the upper reaches of the river, which was badly polluted five years ago, it is also mobilising local communities through skills training, employment, volunteering and art.

Block by block, it is steadily developing a seven-kilometre-long green corridor that meanders through several of the citys eastern suburbs, creating a valuable ecological refuge for many species of birds, fish, frogs and insects, contributing to the areas social identity, and promoting economic activity. The spekboom plants will be planted along the river, where they will continue their great work of capturing carbon for many years to come.

Not only will the spekboom be part of a cyclical journey, so too will the canvas used on the billboards, which will be donated to Shwe, a skills development and empowerment project for women. All of Shwes products are made from upcycled billboards and manufacturing cut-offs. Its mission is to create jobs and reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

Inverroches spekboom billboards have been designed not only to promote the brands exclusive range of craft gins but, to remind everyone of how interconnected people are with nature. They are also intended to support a circular economy in which all resources are wisely  and thoroughly  used.
The Innovation Hub, a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency, has been recognised at the esteemed Startup Ecosystem Stars (SES) Awards for its significant contributions to fostering a dynamic innovation ecosystem. The agency, which is strategically tasked with driving innovation in Gauteng Province and is a leader in Enterprise Development, was honoured at the event co-hosted by the France International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind The Bridge.

The award ceremony took place at the ICC Headquarters in Paris, France, on 7 December 2023. The Innovation Hub was lauded for its exceptional efforts in nurturing entrepreneurial skills and intellectual property, thereby enhancing innovation capabilities and bolstering the Gauteng economy's global competitiveness.

The SES Awards aim to shine a spotlight on excellence in global innovation ecosystems, with invited organizations representing cities, regions, or countries. The Innovation Hub's accolade is part of a broader celebration that includes 14 regions and cities across four categories.

This recognition is further highlighted in the report, Building Startup Ecosystem Stars: The Worlds Life Cycle of Innovation 2023. The report showcases groundbreaking case studies, spotlighting exemplary practices and pivotal figures shaping the landscape of global innovation.

Mothibedi Matshele, the Interim CEO of The Innovation Hub, expressed gratitude.

Being recognised on a global scale is encouraging to continue undeterred in our mission to foster innovation and support entrepreneurs. This acknowledgment fuels our commitment to driving positive change.

The Innovation Hub's success story is interwoven with global narratives, illustrating its integral role in the interconnected web of innovation. This acknowledgment is not just an award; it's a testament to the Hub's commitment to fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurs on a global scale.

Innovation hunters

Global "innovation hunters" today, such as Venture Capital funds and large corporates are predominantly focused on a handful of global hotspots characterised by a significant concentration of scale-ups, capital, and talent.

These hotspots include Silicon Valley, Israel, and a limited number of other hubs worldwide. Meanwhile, most local ecosystems, encompassing countries, regions, and cities, remain relatively unnoticed. For these locales, the imperative of scaling and establishing rapid global connections is not a viable option.

Despite this, many local governments are actively prioritising policies and allocating public funding to foster the growth of their economies through the attraction and promotion of technological innovation.

As the Hub receives this prestigious recognition, we also celebrate the broader community of innovators acknowledged in this global showcase. The report encapsulates the essence of achievement, serving as inspiration for those embarking on their innovation journey. In the world of innovation, every recognition is a step forward, and The Innovation Hub is leading the way with innovation that knows no bounds, concluded Mothibedi.
The AAA School of Advertising hosted its annual Student Showcase at its Bryanston campus on 30 November, and Cape Town campus on 1 December. This much anticipated event shines a spotlight on the exceptional work of AAA students, surrounded by friends and family, and features insightful presentations from distinguished guest speakers as a way to contribute to the development and growth of aspiring creatives.

The Bryanston showcase was a dynamic affair, with guest speakers such as award-winning graphic designer, David Tshabalala Slaying Goliath, and creative consultant plus AAA alum, Ahmed Tilly, who captivated the audience with their wealth of experience and creative prowess.

David Tshabalala, known for his innovative approach to graphic design has collaborated with some of the biggest brands in Africa, including KFC, Netflix, Converse, Audi, Smirnoff, Reebok and was named Mail and Guardians 200 Young South Africans list in 2015. Ahmed Tilly, a luminary in the advertising world, spanning several decades, spoke of his journey from co-founding Black River FC to becoming group chief creative officer at FCB and Hello Computer. Tilly's insights into building award-winning campaigns for iconic brands like Nandos and Channel O provided invaluable lessons for AAAs aspiring young minds as they mould their brands and start to specialise in either graphic design, art direction, copywriting or marketing.

Together, these powerhouses highlighted the importance of trusting ones inner voice and how creativity is the greatest tool to express yourself through impactful storytelling. Tilly also spoke on how respect is the key to success in the creative industry; respect for ones craft, family, and the people you work with, this is what takes you far.

At the Cape Town campus, AAA welcomed Stephen Horn, the founder and producer of Politically Aweh, and the country director of Clean Creatives. As the founder of a satirical news show that has earned accolades, Horn provided students with a unique perspective on using creativity as a tool for social commentary. Horn's involvement with Clean Creatives, a global movement advocating for sustainable practices in media agencies, resonated with students who are increasingly conscious of the impact of their work on the world. His sponsorship of AAA students for the Loeries brunch this year has also showcased a commitment to supporting emerging talent and fostering a community of responsible creatives.

In addition to the plethora of exposure students receive when studying at AAA, the showcase served as a transformative experience for students, offering them a rare chance to connect with industry leaders and gain insights that extend beyond the classroom, opening the pathway to mentorship and internship opportunities. It not only inspires students but helps them envision the practical applications of their skills. The exposure to real-world success stories and challenges equips students with a more profound understanding of the industry, fostering a spirit of innovation and resilience.

This is how AAA bridges the gap between academia and industry, empowering students to dream big, think creatively, and embrace the diverse opportunities within the ever-evolving world of marketing and advertising.
The multistakeholder model being embraced by the UN gives corporations even more power over society, the economy and the environment, at the expense of national democratic institutions.

At last weeks COP 28 Summit, held in Dubai, which as Yves pointed out is one of the most air conditioned cities on the planet, indigenous groups kicked up a storm about the unprecedented number of fossil fuel lobbyists attending the UN talks. At least 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists had been granted access to the negotiations, according to an analysis cited by the Guardian. Thats four times the number registered for COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, itself a record year, and seven times the number of official indigenous delegates.

Also heavily represented at the negotiations were Big Ag corporations  hardly surprising given that one of the main talking points at this years event was tackling emissions from the food sector. From De Smog:

Attendees are present from some of the worlds largest agribusiness firms  such as meatpacker JBS, fertiliser giant Nutrien, food giant Nestle and pesticide firm Bayer  and powerful industry trade groups. Meat and dairy interests are especially well represented with 120 delegates in Dubai, triple the number that attended COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Overall the analysis of the delegates list by DeSmog shows that the total number of people representing the interests of agribusiness has more than doubled since 2022 to reach 340. In addition, the analysis reveals that over 100 delegates have travelled to Dubai as part of country delegations, which grants privileged access to diplomatic negotiations. This number is up from just 10 in 2022 With greater scrutiny over emissions from meat and dairy companies, it is not surprising they are stepping up their game to head off any COP outcome that might hinder their operations, Ben Lilliston, from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy told DeSmog. Even so, a tripling of delegates is alarming  it drives home the urgent need for reforms that limit corporate influence at UN climate meetings.

A Shift in Global Governance

If anything, the opposite is happening. The rapid rise in both the number and, presumably, influence of corporate lobbyists at the UN climate summit is part of a rarely discussed but hugely significant shift in global governance that has been under way for decades but is dangerously close to completion: the corporate takeover of the United Nations. The process is poised to accelerate further at next years UN Future Summit, as the renowned German financial journalist Norbert Haring recently warned on his blog:

The complete subjugation of the UN to corporate interests, which the World Economic Forum outlined with its Global Redesign Initiative in 2010 and has successfully pursued since then, is to be enshrined in the rules and regulations of the world organisation at the UN Future Summit in 2024. This is important not least because of the planned pandemic agreement, which is to give WHO excessive powers. In his 2021 report Our Common Agenda, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres outlined his ideas for reforming the way international organisations work (global governance) and set up a High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism to draw up reform proposals. These were then supposed to be discussed at the UN General Assembly in September 2023 and translated into concrete resolutions. However, there was resistance from the G77 group, which represents countries of the Global South. The discussion of the High-Level Advisory Boards proposals was therefore postponed until next year. This multi-stakeholder future summit is now to take place in September 2024 and decide on the main features of the UN reform.

The High-Level Advisory Board has already published an 83-page report outlining the steps needed to modernise the worlds foremost multilateral institution. It includes the following paragraph (on page 18):

Our global governance system has a glaring hole: the private sector. Companies of all sizes drive advancements in new technologies; energy, industrial, and agricultural companies are

responsible for a huge portion of our global carbon emissions and pollution; banks and

finance companies handle our global financial flows; and private companies deliver most of

our goods. But our multilateral treaties largely ignore these actors, wrongly assuming that

State action is sufficient to regulate this global network of private actors.

This paragraph could have been lifted straight out of the World Economic Forums Global Redesign Initiative (2010), which was led by the WEFs three most senior executives  Klaus Schwab, its Executive Chairman; Mark Malloch-Brown, then its Vice-Chairman; and Richard Samans, its Managing Director. In its final report, titled Everybodys Business: Strengthening International Cooperation in a More Interdependent World, the GRI proposed the creation of a system of multi-stakeholder governance as a partial replacement for intergovernmental decision-making.

That is essentially what the High-Level Advisory Board is also calling for: the replacement of multilateralism  the process of organising relations between the governments of multiple countries, ideally governed democratically, that has been the model of global governance for the past century  with the World Economic Forums model of multi-stakeholder partnerships, which would bring together the private sector, governments and civil society groups across all areas of global governance. As mentioned, this process has been in the works for decades, as the GRI project directors explained almost 15 years ago:

While experimentation with individual publicprivate and multistakeholder partnerships has flourished over the past decade, including in many international organisations, they continue to play an incremental, even experimental, role in the international system rather than a systematic one. For this to change, policy-making processes and institutional structures themselves will need to be adapted and perhaps even fundamentally repositioned with this in mind.

The WEFs Main Stakeholder: Transnational Corporations

If enshrined in the UNs rules and regulations at the UN Future Summit, the WEFs multi-stakeholder model will grant corporations, many of them partly or even largely to blame for the major crises the world faces, even more power and influence over society, the economy and the environment, at the expense of national democratic institutions. It will mean even less democratic representation and accountability in the decisions taken by UN institutions. In the WEFs vision  laid out in the GRIs final report  the government voice would be one among many without always being the final arbiter.

Its not hard to guess who that role will generally fall to. After all, the WEF represents some of the worlds wealthiest and most influential people and corporations. On its website, it has kindly laid out, in alphabetical order, all of its partners, strategic partners and associate partners. It reads like a Whos Who of many of the worlds largest corporations and philanthro-capitalists, primarily (but not exclusively) from the US and Europe. A is for Apple, B is for Blackrock (or Blackstone Group), C for Citi, D for Deutsche Bank, E for Exxon Mobil, F for Foxconn, G for Glencore, etc.

In a 2016 article for the Transnational Institute, Harris Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Center for Governance and Sustainability and former chief of the NY Office of UNCTAD, distilled the three core elements of the WEFs multi-stakeholder model of governance:

First, that multi-stakeholder structures do not mean equal roles for all stakeholders; second, that the corporation is at the centre of the process; and third, that the list of WEFs multi-stakeholders is principally those with commercial ties to the company: customers, creditors, suppliers, collaborators, owners, and national economies. All the other potential stakeholders are grouped together as government and society. Note that [Klaus] Schwab says nothing about democracy in this approach to multi-stakeholder activities.

The WEF already plays a significant role in shaping global policy, in part through its Young Global Leaders Forum (2005-today) and its predecessor, the Global Leaders for Tomorrow program (1993-2003). These two programs have helped to create a transnational clique of would-be elitists, some of whom have gone on to fill very important roles in both the public and private spheres. It is almost the epitome of George Carlins Big Club that you and I aint in.

BusinessWeeks Bruce Nussbaum described the program as the most exclusive private social network in the world, while the WEF itself says the selected leaders represent the voice for the future and the hopes of the next generation.

Graduating from one of the two programs is presumably still a badge of honour within corporate and elitist circles, but it is one that is increasingly concealed from public view as scrutiny of the program grows. Today, it seems that as soon as an alum reaches a senior government position in the US or a major European country, their names are scrubbed from the WEFs YGLs community page. The lists of participants in the WEFs Global Leaders for Tomorrow program are also no longer available on the WEFs website, but have been preserved for posterity on the Wayback Machine (heres the list for the inaugural class of 93).

Combined, the WEFs two apprenticeship programs have accumulated well over a thousand current members and alumni from the worlds of business, politics, science, culture and sport, including:

From the private sector: Bill Gates (Microsoft), Paul Allen (Microsoft), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Peter Thiel (Palantir), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Pierre Omidyar (eBay), Jack Ma (Alibaba Group), Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia), Niklas Zennstrom (Skype), Ana Botin (Grupo Santander) Richard Branson (Virgin), Stephane Bancel (Moderna) Elon Musk, Eric Schmidt (Google) and Larry Page (Google).

From the public sector (excuse the bullet points):

This is just a small sample of some of the more prominent figures that have passed through the program over the past 30 years. In 2017, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab hinted that even Russian President Vladimir Putin had attended the program, though that has not been fully confirmed. Speaking at an event organised by the Harvard Kennedy School of Governance, Schwab bragged that the WEF was penetrat[ing] the cabinets of governments around the world through its new generation of Young Global Leaders. He cited the example of Canada, where more than half of Justin Trudeaus cabinet had participated in the program.

But its not just the cabinets of national governments that the WEF has been infiltrating. In November 2019, just three months before the COVID-19 pandemic began in earnest, the Davos-based club pulled off the mother of all public-private partnerships when it signed a strategic partnership agreement with the UN.

The International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which connects over 280 NGOs, social movements and advocates across more than 75 countries, warned that the agreement gives transnational corporations preferential and deferential access to the UN system at the expense of States and public interest actors. At the time, this development was barely reported upon but NC featured an interview by Lynn Fries of Harris Gleckman. A key excerpt:

LYNN FRIES: Civil society is calling the World Economic Forum-UN Agreement a corporate takeover of the UN. HARRIS GLECKMAN: The UN Charter starts with the words We the Peoples. What the Secretary-General is doing through the Global Compact and now through the partnership with the World Economic Forum is tossing this out the window. He is saying: Im going to align the organization with a particular structural relationship with multinationals, with multistakeholderism, and set aside attention to all the different peoples of the world in their particular interests of environment, health, water needs and really talk about how to govern the world with those who have a particular role in creating problems of wars from natural resources, of creating problems relating to climate, creating problems relating to food supply and technologies. That is undermining a core element of what the United Nations has been and should be for its next 75 years. LYNN FRIES: Its striking that the Agreement was signed as the UN is celebrating 100 years of multilateralism, the centenary year 1919 to 2019. And next year 2020 will mark the 1945 signing of the UN Charter 75th anniversary. HARRIS GLECKMAN: Lynn, if I could give you an overview of what Im concerned about the aspect of this about multistakeholderism is that the Secretary-General is the leading public figure for the multilateral system, the intergovernmental system. The World Economic Forum is the major proponent or one of the major proponents that a multi-stakeholder governance system should replace or marginalize the multilateral system. So the Secretary-General is taking steps to just jump on the bandwagon of multistakeholderism without a public debate about the democratic character of multistakeholderism, about a public debate about whether this is effectively able to solve problems, without a public debate about how stakeholders are selected to become global governors or even a public debate about what role the UN should have with any of these multistakeholder groups.

This lack of accountability or transparency is, as always, a feature, not a bug. In 2021, the WEF and the Office of the Secretary-General concluded a memorandum of understanding on the corporate sectors involvement in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, which was never made publicly available by the UN nor submitted to the General Assembly.

A few months ago, Gleckman issued another warning, this time in an op-ed for Al Jazeera:

Instead of expanding access to the UN system to communities of people impacted by todays crises, [UN Secretary Secretary-General Antonio Guterress vision, as set out in his report to the General Assembly, Our Common Agenda) gives more influence and power to corporate actors who are most culpable of bringing us to the precipice of ecological and social disaster. The secretary-generals approach, called multistakeholder governance, would increase corporate influence over global governance, deepening the damaging consequences of prioritising return on investment above social and ecological needs. In a multistakeholder world, corporate executives and other founders bring together a friendly group of civil society organisations, governments, academics, UN staff, and other non-state organisations to take on a global governance role. This would marginalise over two-thirds of the nations of the UN. Instead, a new vision and institutional arrangement that focus on people and the planet should be at the heart of the Summit for the Future.

Instead, the UN, like the WHO, is pushing for increasingly authoritarian solutions such as digital identity, modelled on Ukraines State in a Smartphone model of digital governance, and online censorship, which are precisely the sorts of things the WEF has been calling for in its Great Reset and Fourth Industrial Revolution. The only thing standing in the way of the WEFs takeover of the UN, it seems, is opposition from the G77 group of Global South countries. Long may it stay firm!
Israel tacitly encouraged Hamas to stay in power, according to the New York Times.

In some cases, Israeli support was more obvious.

Israeli security forces would help escort millions in funds into Gaza, helping Hamas, NYT reported.

Israeli officials are facing backlash after years of Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu quietly allowing Hamas to remain in power.

But reporting in the New York Times has revealed that Netanyahu's government was more hands-on about helping Hamas: they helped a Qatari diplomat bring suitcases of cash into Gaza, indirectly boosting the militant organization, according to the report.

The calculus  the Times reported on Sunday, citing Israeli officials, Netanyahu's critics, and the man's own reported statements  was to keep Hamas strong enough to counteract the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, allowing Netanyahu to avoid a two-state peace solution and keep both sides weak.

Israeli security officials got it wrong; they didn't think Hamas was capable, or even interested, in launching a large attack against the Jewish state.

To keep Hamas propped up, Netanyahu's government worked with Qatari to keep the money flowing, the New York Times reported. Israel knew that Qatar was supporting Hamas, but didn't oppose the payments and even lobbied American lawmakers not to sanction Qatar.

In 2018, Netanyahu's administration came up with a plan, according to the New York Times. As part of a peace agreement with Hamas, Qatar would bring millions into Gaza to distribute to Gazan families, the outlet reported.

Israeli security officials would meet with a Qatari diplomat at the border between Israel and Jordan, according to the New York Times report.

They would then drive him past the border crossing and into Gaza, according to the outlet.

Though the money was meant for Gazan civilians, Western intelligence determined that Hamas was taking money from the funds to use themselves, the outlet reported.

The propped-up peace lasted until October 7, when Hamas fighters launched a terror attack across the Israeli border. The militants killed about 1,200 people and took dozens more hostage, Israeli officials said.

Israel has since responded with a massive bombing and ground campaign in Gaza. About 17,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to Hamas-led Gazan health authorities.

Though a short ceasefire allowed a hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel, the fighting has since continued.
Haavara [was] a company for the transfer of Jewish property from Nazi Germany to Palestine. The Trust and Transfer Office Haavara Ltd., was established in Tel Aviv, following an agreement with the German government in August 1933, to facilitate the emigration of Jews to Palestine by allowing the transfer of their capital in the form of German export goods. The Haavara Agreement is an instance where the question of Jewish rights, Zionist needs and individual rescue were in deep tension. Jewish organizations outside of Germany had declared a boycott against German goods and hoped to delegitimate the Nazi regime. The Zionists saw this agreement as a way of attracting Jews to Palestine and thus rescuing them from the Nazi universe even if that meant cooperation with Hitler. For a time the Nazi program of making Germany Judenrein and the Zionist policy of seeking olim coincided. The amounts to be transferred were paid by prospective emigrants into the account of a Jewish trust company (PALTREU  Palestina Treuhandstelle zur Beratung deutscher Juden) in Germany and used for the purchase of goods, which the Haavara then sold in Palestine. The proceeds, in Palestine currency, were paid to the emigrants living in Palestine. The rate of exchange was adjusted from time to time by the Haavara according to the disagio, necessitated by the subsidy which the Haavara granted the Palestinian importers, to make up for the steadily deteriorating value of the Reich mark, so the German goods could compete with other imports. The ensuing disagio, borne by the emigrants, accordingly increased from 6% in 1934 to 50% in 1938. The major part of the transfer proceeds provided the 1,000 Palestine Pounds (then $4,990) necessary for a "capitalist" immigration certificate of the Mandatory administration, but also for other categories of immigration, such as Youth Aliyah, students, and artisans as well as for the transfer of public funds. The transfer weakened the boycott of German goods declared by many Jewish organizations around the world, and thus met with considerable opposition. The controversy was settled at the Zionist Congress in Lucerne (1935) which decided by a vast majority in favor of the transfer and placed the Haavara under the supervision of the Jewish Agency. The Zionists sought to attract immigrants to Palestine, most especially the affluent German Jewish immigrants and the Germans sought to get rid of their Jews, increase their exports and a propaganda victory by dividing the Jews regarding the boycott. The Haavara continued to function until World War II, in spite of vigorous attempts by the Nazi Party to stop or curtail its activities. The total transfer amounted to LP 8,100,000 (Palestine Pounds; then $40,419,000) including LP 2,600,000 (then $13,774,000) provided by the German Reichsbank in coordination with Haavara. The Haavara transfer was a major factor in making possible the immigration of approximately 60,000 German Jews to Palestine in the years 19331939, and together with the money invested by the immigrants themselves, in providing an incentive for the expansion of agricultural settlement and for general economic development. It also served as a model for a similar arrangement with the Czech government and the immigration of several thousand Jews on the eve of World War II.

Th Haavara Agreement has long been a thorn in the side of Zionist historical canon because of the obvious narrative difficulties it presents. As a result, pro-Israeli media is forced to come up with rationales for how the Third Reich funneling money to fund the creation of Israel (the literal definition of Zionism) wasnt actually a Zionist endeavor.

Via The Independent:

Claims that Hitler was a Zionist, or supported Zionism, before his anti-Jewish policies turned into murder and extermination flare up at regular intervals. They usually cite the controversial Haavara Agreement (Transfer Agreement) of August 1933 as the most potent evidence of a wilful cooperation between Hitler and the Zionist movement. When viewed in a certain way, this deal does superficially seem to show that Hitlers government endorsed Zionism  but just because it was a mechanism to help German Jews relocate to Palestine it does not imply it was Zionist.

The salient point here is not to conflate Zionism and Nazism  which are obviously divergent ideologies  or the Israeli state and the Third Reich, or whatever simple-minded reactionary bullshit smear one would expect from the American mainstream media for shining light on such unsavory historical facts as above.

Obviously, Nazi Germany and the Zionists of the day in the early-to-mid-20th century had only briefly intersecting political agendas  the tenuousness of which were evidenced by the agreements controversial nature among the constituencies of the relevant factions.

Rather, the relevant revelation is one I have previously tried to make: Zionism is a political project that ultimately has only a superficial relationship to Judaism. The purported relationship between the ancient Abrahamic religion called Judaism and the political project called Zionism is drummed up by many parties, both hostile and friendly to the state of Israel, for practical and ideological purposes.

The Israeli propaganda machine is very adept at conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism, a tactic it has employed with greater force  but, thankfully, receding effectiveness  recently than ever before in a veritable PR blitzkrieg as it scrambles to drum up international political support for its campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Related: The Conflation of Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism Is a Propagandistic Lie

Israel is, and always has been since it was first imagined several hundred years ago in Europe, an explicitly political project.

In general, the purview of Armageddon Prose is geopolitics, not ancient theological beefs. No volume or intensity of accusations of antisemitism or censorship at the behest of the Israel lobby is going to budge me off of the acknowledgment of reality.

*Note: As you might have noticed if you follow the news closely, youre not likely to get the kind of perspectives on the Israel-Gaza conflict offered at Armageddon Prose from the corporate state media or even, unfortunately, from much of the independent media, a large portion of which for whatever reason sees fit to aggressively promulgate the Israeli state narrative.

If you appreciate the work we do here, consider lending a small token of support (monthly memberships are just $5/month). If you already do, many thanks and God bless.

Ben Bartee, author of Broken English Teacher: Notes From Exile, is an independent Bangkok-based American journalist with opposable thumbs.

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Police are looking into a claim that a university in a city south of Seoul repatriated 22 Uzbek students against their will before the end of semester, officials said Tuesday.

According to Hanshin University, 23 Uzbek nationals attending a language institute on its campus in the city of Osan, just south of Seoul, were ordered to board a large bus headed to Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Nov. 27.

The school personnel on board later told the students that they must return home, given their failure to meet the requirements to stay in the country.

Foreign students are required to possess bank accounts with over 10 million won ($7,616) in deposits during their stay, according to relevant guidelines by the justice ministry.

Upon arrival at the airport, the school staff and private guards boarded 22 students, excluding one who complained of health issues, onto an airplane bound for Uzbekistan.

Police launched an investigation following a complaint from the family of one of the students.

Some of the students claim the school tricked them into boarding the bus by lying about its destination, and the repatriation was made by force.

The university officials countered that the decision was inevitable, adding they have repeatedly informed the students of the stay requirements, but the requirements were not met.

The Uzbek nationals reportedly entered Korea with a D-4 visa on Sept. 27, and could stay until later this month, given their stay requirements were met.

The police plan to look into whether university faculty threatened or forced the international students to leave the country. (Yonhap)
Attention grows on president's possible veto

By Nam Hyun-woo

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is threatening President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) with its push to launch special counsels. One of which would look into first lady Kim Keon Hee over stock manipulation allegations and another to investigate six people accused of receiving at least 5 billion won in bribes in relation to a land development scandal in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, linked to the DPK chief.

Regarding the moves as the DPKs saber-rattling ahead of next years general elections, the PPP is urging Yoon to use his veto power. At the same time, however, concerns over a backlash are rising as the president has already vetoed several bills, and a recent survey showed that the public wants the investigations.

During a DPK Supreme Council meeting, Monday, council member Rep. Park Chan-dae said, If he vetoes bills on special counsel probes, President Yoon, who stressed fairness and common sense, will face criticism that he deceived the people.

Rep. Jung Chung-rae, another Supreme Council member, also said, The clock is ticking for the special counsel to investigate the first lady, adding that he wonders what will be Yoons choice.

The talks on special counsels reemerged after DPK floor leader Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo on Dec. 8 pledged that the majority-holding DPK will pass the two special counsel bills during a Dec. 28 National Assembly plenary session.

A special counsel probe refers to an investigation by an independent counsel  called a special prosecutor  who works on cases involving high-ranking officials. To appoint this counsel, the Assembly either uses the existing Act on the Appointment of Independent Prosecutor or legislates a special bill for the respective case.

Opposition lawmakers have been mostly choosing to legislate new bills because the other way is more advantageous to the ruling side in terms of forming a committee to select a special counsel.

Both were proposed by the minor opposition Justice Party and endorsed by the DPK. The two special counsel bills were put on the Assemblys fast-track system in April, which allows any bill to be tabled at a plenary session automatically after an eight-month deliberation period.

To pass the bills, the attendance of half of the lawmakers is necessary and the approval of half of those attending is required. The DPK holds 168 out of 300 seats, meaning it can pass the bills unilaterally.

Pundits are saying this move is the opposition checkmating Yoon and the ruling party.

Of the bills, the special counsel probe on the first lady is the key, and the point is that public sentiment toward the first lady remains negative, said Park Sang-byeong, a professor at Inha University's Graduate School of Policy Science. Along with the stock manipulation scandal, she has been mired in a plagiarism allegation and faces constant suspicions over her influence on state affairs.

If the bill passes, and Yoon approves that, the investigation will reach its peak in March, just a month before the general elections. The ruling party will have to carry on its campaign with fresh allegations and suspicions rising every day.

The ruling party is already arguing that Yoon should exercise his veto rights against the special counsel bills.

If an investigation begins, it will be a news magnet, and the party has no option but to stage election campaigns with debates on special counsel investigations, PPP senior spokesperson Rep. Park Jeong-ha said in a radio interview with SBS. (Yoon) absolutely has to veto the special counsels.

PPP Rep. Ha Tae-keung, who is an ardent critic of Yoon, also said in a radio interview with BBS that a veto will trigger criticisms due to the negative sentiment on the first lady, but Yoon has to exercise his rights.

Park noted that vetoing the special counsel bill would draw a backlash. Since the PPP has been accusing the DPK of attempting to protect its chairman, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, from prosecution through political means, Yoons efforts to protect his wife could be perceived in a similar light.

Yoon has already vetoed several bills passed by the DPK, and vetoing another will aggravate public sentiment and harm his neutrality as president, Park said. This will only make the DPK increase its offensives on Yoon and the PPP and urge voters to pass judgment on the ruling bloc.

Public sentiment is also against Yoon exercising his veto rights. According to a Gallup Korea poll, 70 percent of respondents said Yoon should not veto the special counsel bill on the first lady.

The poll also showed that 67 percent of respondents in conservative strongholds Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province said Yoon should not veto the bill. The poll surveyed 1,033 respondents from Dec. 7 to 8 and was requested by the Kookmin Ilbo, a daily newspaper. Further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commissions website.

Chances are high that Yoon will veto the special counsel bill, despite possible criticisms from the DPK, Park said. To turn the negative sentiment toward the ruling bloc away, Yoon may choose to create a bigger ripple by making a bold move in national policies, such as reforming the national pension.




NEW DELHI (PTI): The Indian and Vietnamese armies began an 11-day military exercise in Vietnam on Monday, in sync with the expanding strategic engagement between the two countries against the backdrop of common concerns over China's increasingly aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea.



The aim of the exercise is to foster a collaborative partnership and promote interoperability between the two forces, the Indian Army said.



"The joint exercise will help in promoting understanding and interoperability between the two contingents and further strengthen the defence cooperation between the friendly armies," it said.



In reflection of the growing strategic ties, India gifted its in-service missile corvette, INS Kirpan, to Vietnam in July.



Vietnam, an important country of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), has territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea region.



India has oil-exploration projects in the Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea.



The military exercise  "VINBAX-23"  between the two armies will take place from December 11 to 21 in Hanoi.



The Indian contingent comprises 45 personnel  39 from an engineer regiment of the Bengal Engineer Group and six from the Army Medical Corps.



The Vietnam People's Army has deployed 45 personnel for the drill.



VINBAX was instituted in 2018 and the first edition of the joint military exercise was conducted at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.



It is an annual training event conducted alternately in India and Vietnam.



The last edition was conducted at the Chandimandir military station in August 2022.



"The aim of the exercise is to foster collaborative partnership, promote interoperability and share best practices between the two sides under Chapter VII of UN Charter on Peacekeeping Operations," the Indian Army said in a statement.



"The exercise will be conducted as a command post exercise-cum-field training exercise with focus on deployment and employment of an engineer company and a medical team," it added.



The Army said the exercise will encourage exchange of ideas and both contingents will jointly rehearse tactics, technique and procedures.



"Ideas will be exchanged on modern methods to construct roads, culverts, helipads, ammunition shelters and observation posts in operational areas. In addition, rehearsals will be carried out for drills related to combat engineering and combat medical tasks," it said.



The drill will culminate with a validation exercise, wherein the standards attained by both contingents will be showcased.



"Both sides will conduct technical military operations in accordance with scenarios akin to worldwide deployment of United Nations' contingents," the Army said.


A federal court jury in the US has decided that Googles Android app store has been protected by anti-competitive barriers that have damaged smartphone consumers and software developers, dealing a blow to a major pillar of the technology empire.

The unanimous verdict in San Francisco came after just three hours of deliberation following a four-week trial revolving around a lucrative payment system within Googles Play Store.

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The store is the main place where hundreds of millions of people around the world download and install apps that work on smartphones powered by Googles Android software.

Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite video game, filed a lawsuit against Google three years ago, alleging that the internet search giant has been abusing its power to shield its Play Store from competition in order to protect a gold mine that makes billions of dollars annually.

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This is an example of the greatness of the American justice system. A billion dollar company challenges a trillion dollar company over complex antitrust practices, and a jury of 9 citizens hears the testimony and renders a verdict. And here it is in writing! https://t.co/6btDlhRqEF Advertisement  Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) December 12, 2023

Just as Apple does for its iPhone app store, Google collects a commission ranging from 15% to 30% on digital transactions completed within apps.

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Apple prevailed in a similar case that Epic brought against the iPhone app store, but that 2021 trial was decided by a federal judge in a ruling that is under appeal at the US Supreme Court.

The nine-person jury in the Play Store case apparently saw things through a different lens, even though Google technically allows Android apps to be downloaded from different stores  an option that Apple prohibits on the iPhone.

Just before the Play Store trial started, Google sought to avoid having a jury determine the outcome, only to have its request rejected by US District Judge James Donato.

Now it will be up to him to determine what steps Google will have to take to unwind its illegal behaviour in the Play Store. The judge indicated he will hold hearings on the issue during the second week of January.

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Epic Games chief executive Tim Sweeney smiled broadly after the verdict was read and slapped his lawyers on the back, also shaking the hand of a Google lawyer, whom he thanked for his professional attitude during the proceedings.

Victory over Google! Mr Sweeney wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

In a company post, Epic hailed the verdict as a win for all app developers and consumers around the world.

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Victory over Google! After 4 weeks of detailed court testimony, the California jury found against the Google Play monopoly on all counts. The Courts work on remedies will start in January. Thanks for everyones support and faith! Free Fortnite! https://t.co/ITm4YBHCus  Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) December 12, 2023

Google plans to appeal against the verdict, according to a statement from Wilson White, the companys vice president of government affairs and public policy.

Android and Google Play provide more choice and openness than any other major mobile platform, he said.

Depending on how the judge enforces the jurys verdict, Google could lose billions of dollars in annual profit generated from its Play Store commissions.

The companys main source of revenue  digital advertising tied mostly to its search engine, Gmail and other services  will not be directly affected by the trials outcome.

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The jury reached its decision after listening to two hours of closing arguments from the lawyers on the opposing sides of the case.

Epic lawyer Gary Bornstein depicted Google as a ruthless bully that deploys a bribe and block strategy to discourage competition against its Play Store for Android apps.

Google lawyer Jonathan Kravis attacked Epic as a self-interested game-maker trying to use the courts to save itself money while undermining an ecosystem that has spawned billions of Android smartphones to compete against Apple and its iPhone.

Epic Games chief executive Tim Sweeney hailed Victory over Google! on X after the verdict (Jeff Chiu/AP)

Much of the lawyers duelling arguments touched upon evidence from a catalogue of witnesses who came to court during the trial.

Key witnesses included Google chief executive Sundar Pichai, who sometimes seemed like a professor explaining complex topics while standing behind a lectern because of a health issue, and Mr Sweeney, who painted himself as a video game lover on a mission to take down a greedy tech titan.

In his closing argument for Epic, Mr Bornstein railed against Google for exploiting its power over the Android software in a way that has led to higher prices for developers and consumers, as well as less innovation and quality.

Google has staunchly defended the commissions as a way to help recoup the more than 40 billion US dollars (almost 32 billion) it has poured into building into the Android software that it has been giving away since 2007 to manufacturers to compete against the iPhone.

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Android phones cannot compete against the iPhone without a great app store on them, Mr Kravis asserted in his closing argument. The competition between the app stores is tied to the competition between the phones.

But Mr Bornstein ridiculed the notion of Google and Android competing against Apple and its incompatible iPhone software system.

Apple is not the Get out of jail for free card that Google wants it to be, he told the jury.

Google chief executive Sundar Pichai was a key witness in the trial (Eric Risberg/AP)

Google also pointed to rival Android app stores such as the one that Samsung installs on its popular smartphones as evidence of a free market.

Combined with the rival app stores pre-installed on devices made by other companies, more than 60% of Android phones offer alternative outlets for Android apps.

Epic, however, presented evidence asserting the notion that Google welcomes competition as a pretence, citing the hundreds of billions of dollars it has doled out to companies, such as game maker Activision Blizzard, to discourage them from opening rival app stores.

Besides making these payments, Mr Bornstein also urged the jury to consider the Google scare screens that pop up, warning consumers of potential security threats when they try to download Android apps from some of the alternatives to the Play Store.

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These are classic anti-competitive strategies used by dominant firms to protect their monopolies, he said.

Googles empire could be further undermined by another major anti-competition trial in Washington which will be decided by a federal judge after hearing final arguments in May.

That trial has cast a spotlight on Googles cosy relationship with Apple in online search, the technology that turned Google into a household word a few years after two former Stanford University graduate students started the company in a Silicon Valley garage in 1998.
Chang Je-wons decision revives faltering efforts to reform ruling party: experts

By Jung Min-ho

Chang Je-won, a three-term lawmaker known as a key member of President Yoon Suk Yeols inner circle, said on Tuesday that he decided to forgo a reelection bid in line with the ruling party's efforts for reform.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly, Chang said the success of the Yoon administration depends on the results of the April 10 general elections and added that he will try his best to help the People Power Party (PPP) win as an ordinary member without a parliamentary seat.

"There is nothing more important than the success of the Yoon administration. Winning the election is the minimum condition for its success," he said.

"My heart aches, not because of my desire for the lawmaker seat or political career, but because I feel sorry for the residents in Sasang District (his constituency in Busan) who have always been supportive," he added.

The announcement comes amid faltering efforts  and hopes  to improve the partys image ahead of the crucial elections that it must win in order to achieve substantial and lasting reforms the president promised. Since taking power in May 2022, all major bills proposed by the PPP have been blocked by the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), the main opposition party that holds a majority in the Assembly.

After little progress was made under a reform committee, led by a naturalized Korean physician, many have expressed skepticism over the PPPs chances of winning in the upcoming elections. But with Changs decision, the efforts for reform have now gained some traction, experts said.

His departure, which is symbolic, will increase pressure on the so-called PPP establishment and lead many to follow suit. Given his political influence and relationship with Yoon, there would be a ripple effect, Cho Jin-man, a politics professor at Duksung Womens University, told The Korea Times.

In its key proposal, the reform committee urged senior lawmakers and Yoons former aides to give up reelection bids or run in swing districts instead of the PPPs traditional strongholds. Ihn Yo-han, who had led the committee, said such steps were necessary to demonstrate to the public the PPPs will to change and make sacrifices.

Changs decision immediately put PPP leaders, including Chairman Kim Gi-hyeon and floor leader Yun Jae-ok, in a tough position where they must reassess their roles and make decisions about their own political future, said Lee Hyun-chool, a political science professor at Konkuk University.

Speaking to reporters after Changs media conference, the PPP floor leader praised the lawmaker for making a sacrifice for the success of the Yoon administration. But he did not comment when asked whether he believes the party needs more people to make such sacrifices.

On the same day, the PPP chairman did not show up at his office. All his appointments, including a policy meeting with lawmakers, were canceled. Speculation abounds that he might be pondering a major decision on his own future.

Experts said, for the party as a whole, all this is good news, especially at a time when the rival camp is showing few signs of any positive reforms to attract swing voters.

If the PPP can manage to keep its unity and recruit talented people during the nomination process, it may produce better results than currently estimated, Lee said.

Recent surveys show neither party is in a clearly favorable position. A Gallup poll released on Friday shows the approval rating of the PPP was 35 percent, and the DPK was supported by 33 percent. The rate of those supporting neither party was 27 percent.

On Tuesday, the National Election Commission began to accept prospective candidates' registrations for their preliminary candidacies, until the official candidate registration opens on March 21.

The preliminary registration system was adopted to give new politicians a chance to promote themselves before the official campaign period. After registration, candidate hopefuls are allowed to engage in limited campaign activities, including setting up an election office and hiring up to three paid staffers.
Fifty serving police officers in Northern Ireland have applied to work in Australia and 199 have asked for ill-health retirement this year.

Liam Kelly, chairman of the Northern Ireland Police Federation, told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that a major data breach within the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) will have a massive detrimental impact on future recruitment to the force.

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The committee heard evidence from officer and staff association groups following the publication of an independent review into the data leak.

In August the details of almost 9,500 PSNI officers and staff were mistakenly published in response to a freedom of information (FoI) request.

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The list included the surname and first initial of every employee, their rank or grade, where they are based and the unit in which they work.

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Police later said the information is in the hands of dissident republicans.

On Monday, a review into the incident, headed by Pete ODoherty, temporary commissioner at the City of London Police, made 37 recommendations.

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It said the breach was the consequence of the service not seizing opportunities to secure and protect its internal information and pointed to a siloed approach to information management functions.

Asked about the impact of the breach on future policing numbers, Mr Kelly said: I have no doubt that the data breach has had a massive detrimental impact on future recruitment.

He said the review report was an opportunity for the PSNI to demonstrate its desire to improve around the management of data.

Superintendent Gerry Murray, from the Catholic Police Guild of Northern Ireland, said: I think the recruitment with regard to coming from the Catholic, nationalist and republican community has been severely dented.

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Warren Scott, the PSNI departmental assistant secretary at the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance, told MPs that 75% of recent applicants for a civilian detention officer position had withdrawn from the process.

Superintendent Gerry Murray, chairperson of the Catholic Police Guild of Northern Ireland, answered questions in front of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee (UK Parliament/PA)

He said: That is really showing what people in the public are now thinking about having the PSNI as an employer.

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The witnesses were also asked about the impact of the breach on serving officers and staff members.

Mr Murray said: Our members are still fearful and still anxious.

When the data breach occurred it was the middle of summer, we were all enjoying children, grandchildren enjoying the summer holidays.

We are now into the middle of winter with most of our staff, police officers, are going to work during the hours of darkness and coming home in the hours of darkness.

My people are fearful.

He added: I have spoken to 29 of my officers within the Catholic Police Guild who have gone out and bought camera equipment, doorbell cameras.

This will go on for some time. This will not be resolved this year or next year because fear and the exclusion some feel is still very much with them.

Mr Kelly drew attention to the hidden aspect of the impact on officers.

He said: What we have seen is a massive increase in people presenting themselves to occupational health and asking for help and support.

Unfortunately occupational health within the organisation has been underfunded and under-resourced.

To see a psychologist in PSNI there is an eight-month waiting list. You can imagine the personal impact on someone who is struggling with their mental health that they cant see and talk to someone for eight months.

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He added: What we have also seen is an exponential rise in the number of officers who are citing the data breach as the final straw for them in relation to either staying in service or applying for ill-health retirement.

This year we have 199 people asking for ill-health retirement. That is a 100% increase on normal.

The data breach has been cited as the straw that broke the camels back for people.

They feel let down by the organisation, unsupported by the organisation and cant see a pathway of coming back to the organisation.

Mr Kelly continued: What we are seeing is our officers are committed to doing the best they can, people are struggling and looking for help and unfortunately that help is either negligible or is so far down the line that they are now looking at alternatives.

We have 50 of our officers have applied to go to Australia. That is just extraordinary.

In years gone by you could count those on one hand. We now have 50 officers who have put themselves forward to say we no longer think we can serve in Northern Ireland, we want to remain within policing and Australia is the option for them.
The company that produced the carpet tiles used on the walls of the Stardust nightclub did not recommend they be used on walls and sold them off as a job lot because they were being discontinued, an inquest has heard.

Graham Whitehead, the Company Secretary for the UK based Illingsworth and Company Limited, who supplied the Stateroom tiles used on the walls of the Stardust nightclub, told the 1981 Tribunal of Inquiry before Mr Justice Ronan Keane that the company had never advertised the tiles for use on walls.

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We could not stop it being done but we have not recommended it, he said.

Extracts of Mr Whiteheads evidence to the tribunal were read into the record on Tuesday at Dublin District Coroners Court by Mark Tottenham BL, a member of the coroners legal team, as he is unavailable to give evidence to the inquest.

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Mr Whitehead said that this particular tile, the Stateroom tile, was coming to the end of its life and the company was selling it off as there was another tile on the market to take its place. He told the tribunal that this was reflected in the price.

The tribunal heard the original price of the tile was one pound 28p, but it was sold off at 75p per tile.

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The inquest has already heard that, during the 1981 inquiry, evidence was given that the carpet tiles were the most substantial contributor to the spread of the fire. It heard that a surface spread of flame test was carried out and these tiles were found to be of Class 4 rating, not Class 1 as required.

Evidence

The jury has also heard evidence that in his statement, Declan Conway, a sales representative for the company that provided the carpet tiles for the Stardust, said that he spoke to Stardust manager Eamon Butterly, who requested that Mr Conway obtain a fire certificate from the manufacturer of the tiles. Mr Conway said he was able to get the certificate that met the British standard specification.

In his evidence to the tribunal, Mr Whitehead said the company would never issue a fire certificate as we are not an appropriate body to issue one.

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The company secretary said the document sent to Mr Conway was not a fire certificate but was for information. He confirmed to counsel at the inquiry that his company did not know for what purpose it was to be used when it was sent.

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Mr Whitehead said he was Company Secretary and Financial Controller for Illingsworth Ltd, based in Bradford, and had worked at the company for seven years. He confirmed that the company had supplied several orders of tiles to Bernard McLoughlin Ltd, an agent working for them Ireland, who had a salesman called Declan Conway working for him.

He confirmed that an order for carpet tiles known as Stateroom tiles was placed in January or February 1978.

He said the order was initially passed through credit control for processing on January 24th, 1978.

He said he had traced a letter addressed to Mr Conway dated 26th January which referred to the results of a flammability test the salesman had recently requested.

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Mr Whitehead said the document enclosed referenced flammability on carpet tiles laid on floors and came from their laboratory.

He said this was a standard document circulated amongst the companys customers upon request.

Asked what the function of the document was, Mr Whitehead said: This is to help architects to establish fire worthiness of carpet tiles.

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Mr Whitehead went on to tell the inquiry that he had never been in the Stardust ballroom and said it was completely incorrect that he had attended the opening night of the club.

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In his testimony, the company secretary also said tiles had been displayed on the walls of one of their showrooms but this was only for show purposes.

He said the company did not produce carpet tiles for use on walls.

The Stateroom tiles supplied were normal, domestic, tufted carpet tile, he added.

Asked to express an opinion as to whether the tiles would be suitable for use on the wall or not, Mr Whitehead said he had asked his companys technical department about this, and they had said that under no circumstances would we recommend these tiles for wall covering.

Mr Whitehead also told the tribunal that this particular tile had reached the end of its life and the company was jobbing it off. They had another tile on the market to take its place, he said.

Asked whether the fact that the company was selling these tiles off was reflected in the price, Mr Whitehead confirmed that it was.

In response to questioning, Mr Whitehead said he was not aware of any other premises where carpet tile was used as a wall covering.

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He confirmed the first order for the Stateroom tiles passed through credit control on January 24th, 1978 and this was for a total of 2,899 tiles.

Mr Whitehead confirmed he had read a transcript of previous evidence where it was suggested that he knew carpet tiles were going on the walls of the Stardust. This is perfectly untrue, I did not know, he said.

When asked if what was supplied was the remnants of what was left of the Stateroom tile, Mr Whitehead said Id assume so. He said the tiles went out at one pound 28p and this was subsequently reduced to 75p net.

'Job lot'

He confirmed the order was a job lot and he was giving it at a reduced price.

Asked if this was the biggest sale of carpet tile his company had received in Ireland Mr Whitehead said he didnt know.

Pressed as to whether it was far and away the biggest single order received, the company secretary said he would assume it would be but would have to check. He said he did not know what the total value of the order was.

Mr Whitehead confirmed the company did not recommend that their products be used on walls. We have never advertised, throughout my investigations and my discussions with other people, we have never recommended. We could not stop it being done but we have not recommended it.

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In our particular rooms we have a wall in our display where it is shown, tiles on walls and on waterfalls and stands but it is publicity material, he said.

Most carpet people you go into a showroom they have a carpet on the wall but we would never recommend that they be put on the wall other than for display purposes. I discussed this with our technical people and they said we have never had an inquiry for them to be placed on a wall and would not recommend any large area being put on the wall.

Prior to Mr Whiteheads extracts being read to the inquest, Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane told the jury that the module related to the emergency response to the Stardust fire has now concluded.

Later, she addressed the jury in relation to the part-heard evidence of two previous witnesses, former Stardust doormen John Furley and Gabriel ONeill.

She said Mr Furley had been in the process of giving evidence and answering questions to counsel when medical reports were received, and he was permanently stood down.

She told the jury he must therefore be regarded as a part-heard witness and said this was important when they come to assess the totality of the evidence heard at the inquest. She said there had been an inability to explore certain areas with the witness and she outlined to the jury a number of the areas that were left unexamined.

Dr Cullinane said Mr ONeill had given some evidence to the inquest remotely and was due to return and give further evidence on a different date. She said he subsequently indicated that he was not willing to return and, in circumstances where he lives outside the jurisdiction, it is not within her jurisdiction to summonses him. She told the jury he should also be regarded as a part-heard witness.

Extracts of Mr ONeills evidence to the Keane tribunal were then read to the inquest.

Mr ONeill previously told the inquest he had been employed as a doorman for about a month at the time of the fatal fire.

In his statements to gardai in 1981, Mr ONeill initially said that when he heard about the fire, he went to exit five, and it was free and easy to open it.

However, he later said his reference to opening exit five was not correct. Mr ONeill said that when he went to the door, he saw this exit was locked, and he tried and failed to open it.

He agreed with counsel at the inquiry that his statement contained gross and deliberate lies.

In his garda statements, Mr ONeill also said he saw doorman Leo Doyle and Stardust manager Eamon Butterly open fire exit five from the outside.

However, when this was put to him at the tribunal he said: I dont remember saying they were the ones that opened exit five.

The inquest continues on Wednesday.
The Government intends to cut financial support for those fleeing the war in Ukraine that are in receipt of State accommodation from the end of January.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the new arrangements would mean anyone arriving from Ukraine seeking international protection would only be guaranteed state accommodation for 90 days.

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During that period, those arrivals will be paid a 38.80 subsistence allowance and an additional 29.80 per child per week in recognition of the fact that accommodation has been provided.

Arrivals in these circumstances are currently entitled to a jobseekers allowance of 220 per week.

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Mr Varadkar said the Government would work with arrivals and NGOs to find other accommodation during that 90-day period, adding: Many different possibilities arise, taking up employment where possible  which many Ukrainians have done and do provide their own accommodation, pledged accommodation and staying with people they know and networks.

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He said if people move out of state accommodation after or before the 90-day window, they will be assessed for social welfare like any Irish citizen, including eligibility for the rent allowance, but not social housing or the housing assistance payment.

He said the move, which would see legislation enacted by the end of January, was to bring the Irish offering into line with other western European countries, some of which, he said, had not welcomed as many Ukrainians as Ireland on a proportionate basis.

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Speaking during Leaders Questions in the Dail, Mr Varadkar said he was proud the State had welcomed 100,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine during the biggest movement of people thats happened in Europe since the Second World War.

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He said this included 10,000 children in Irish schools, 10,000 working in the economy and 70,000 in some form of State-provided accommodation.

But the situation is that accommodation is scarce and the numbers coming in remain very large and were making this change with that in mind, recognising that other European countries have acted similarly, to change what they offer over the course of two years. Were now following suit.

Mr Varadkar said people fleeing the war would continue to be welcome in Ireland.

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He was responding to a query from Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald, who told him that he was correct to say that accommodation is scarce.

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However, Ms McDonald added that she was very concerned that the Government had no plans to house the arrivals for 90 days, to secure temporary accommodation, or for where the international-protection applicants would go once the 90-day window ended.

She said there was a major embedded housing capacity problem in Ireland and asked if the Ukrainians would have to find a home in a system that is already at breaking point.

People cant find rented accommodation for love nor money, and when they do, the rents are extortionate. Or will Ukrainian people be given a tent and told to take their chances on the streets?

She said the decision to change the supports was taken at a time when the housing system is broken, overwhelmed and creaking at the seams.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Varadkar replied that the Government was confident it would be able to provide accommodation for the initial 90 days.

People who have moved into state accommodation from Ukraine dont always stay there. Some have moved on to find their own accommodation, others have moved on to other parts of the European Union.

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So accommodation does become free in the existing former hotels, former B&Bs. We also have the modular homes which the (Office of Public Works) is building, we have the refurb programme which is taking old buildings and bringing them back into use as a combination.

So all of that will continue and weve already managed to find accommodation for over 70,000 Ukrainians.
Graham Dwyers appeal against his 2015 conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine OHara will be heard by the Supreme Court in January.

The appeal, which was granted earlier this year, centres on the admission of mobile phone call data records at his criminal trial.

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The Supreme Court has fixed the hearing of the appeal for January 16th. It has been set down for one day.

The matter was briefly mentioned before Mr Justice Maurice Collins on Tuesday morning. The judge confirmed a timetable for the exchange of legal submissions in the case.

The judge also asked the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Dwyer's legal team to see if the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) wish to take part in the hearing.

"The court is not inviting IHREC to get involved," the judge said. "However, if it does wish to participate, it will need to get any submissions to the court and the parties as soon as possible," he added.

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Remy Farrell SC, for Dwyer, and Sean Guerin SC, for the DPP, said they did not know if IHREC wished to get involved, but said they would both make inquiries regarding the commission's intentions.

Data gathering

Earlier this year, the Court of Appeal dismissed Dwyers conviction appeal on all grounds, including in relation to the admissibility of the call data evidence.

The Court of Appeal agreed with the prosecution that there was enough evidence to support the conviction, even if the disputed call data evidence had been excluded.

The limited call data evidence in dispute was the Court if Appeal said not very significant and was properly admitted into evidence.

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There was other evidence to link Dwyer to two phones that formed part of the prosecution case, the appeal court also found, adding there was evidence to the same effect independent of the call data records which was "as powerful and perhaps more compelling".

However, following an application by Dwyer's legal team, the Supreme Court deemed it should consider his appeal.

The court held that "significant issues of general public importance arise" as to the admissibility of the call data evidence retained and accessed under a 2011 Irish law that was struck down by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in 2014.

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The court said it is also important to properly characterise the illegality involved, considering the data was obtained in compliance with the provisions of the 2011 Communications (Retention of Data) Act, but where the Act itself was subsequently found to be inconsistent with EU law.

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The scope and application of legislation governing courts directions in conviction appeals will also be considered by the Supreme Court.

Discretion

Dwyers lawyers submitted to the Supreme Court that the Court of Appeal misunderstood the CJEUs decision regarding the 2011 law and incorrectly considered that the trial judge had discretion to admit the phone call records.

They also submitted that the matter will probably require legal questions to be referred to the CJEU.

Dwyers application was opposed by the DPP.

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Dwyer was convicted of murder by a unanimous jury verdict in March 2015 and sentenced to life in prison.

Ms OHara, a 36-year-old childcare worker, was last seen in August 2012 in a public park in Shanganagh, south Dublin.

Some of her remains were found on Killakee mountain just over a year later, and she was identified from dental records.

Prior to his conviction appeal at the Court of Appeal, Dwyer took High Court civil proceedings which successfully challenged the 2011 Irish law under which the mobile phone metadata was retained and accessed by gardai investigating Ms OHaras death.

The civil proceedings progressed to the Supreme Court and the CJEU, meaning his separate conviction appeal was not heard by the Court of Appeal until late last year.

Dwyer denies murdering Ms OHara and also denies that he bought and used a Nokia phone found in Vartry Reservoir in Co Wicklow in 2013.

His trial was told the phone was used to send Ms OHara messages, including one about stabbing, culminating in a text dated August 22nd, 2012  the last day she was seen  to go down to the shore and wait.
US president Joe Biden warned that Israel was losing international support because of its indiscriminate bombing of Gaza.

The president spoke out with unusually strong language speaking out in unusually strong language just hours before the United Nations demanded a humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

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Mr Biden said to donors during a fundraiser on Tuesday: Israels security can rest on the United States, but right now it has more than the United States.

President Joe Biden made the comments during a gathering of Jewish donors (Elizabeth Frantz/Pool via AP)

It has the European Union, it has Europe, it has most of the world supporting them.

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Theyre starting to lose that support by indiscriminate bombing that takes place.

The president said he thought prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu understood, but he was not so sure about the Israeli war cabinet.

Israeli forces were carrying out punishing strikes across Gaza, crushing Palestinians in their homes as the military presses ahead with an offensive that officials say could go on for weeks or months.

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The president offered a harder-than-usual assessment of Israels decisions since the October 7th attack by Hamas and the moves by his conservative government.

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Mr Bidens top national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, will head to Israel this week to consult directly.

Mr Biden also renewed his warnings that Israel should not make the same mistakes of overreaction that the US did following the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks.

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Mr Biden recounted a well-worn story about him inscribing on a photo with Mr Netanyahu decades ago, Bibi, I dont agree with a damn thing you have to say.

This time, the president added to his retelling of the story: That remains to be the case.

The fundraiser was part of a gathering of Jewish donors, many of whom attended a White House Hanukkah reception on Monday evening.

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Mr Biden said that when he warned Mr Netanyahu of a loss of international support over the bombing, the Israeli leader mentioned that the US had carpet-bombed Germany in World War II and dropped the atomic bomb on Japan.

Thats why all these institutions were set up after World War II, to see that it didnt happen again, he said.

Dont make the same mistakes we made in 9/11. Theres no reason we had to be in a war in Afghanistan. Theres no reason we had to do so many things that we did.

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Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he appreciated American support (Ronen Zvulun/Pool Photo via AP)

The UN General Assembly voted on Tuesday overwhelmingly in favour of a non-binding resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

The vote comes days after the US vetoed a similar measure at the UN Security Council.

The UK abstained from the 13-1 vote but France and Japan were among those supporting the call for a ceasefire.

Only Security Council resolutions are legally binding under the terms of the international bodys charter.

Before Mr Bidens comments at the fundraiser, Mr Netanyahu said in a statement that he appreciated American support and that he had received full backing for the ground incursion and blocking the international pressure to stop the war.

Yes, there is disagreement about the day after Hamas and I hope that we will reach an agreement here as well.

I would like to clarify my position: I will not allow Israel to repeat the mistake of Oslo. Gaza will be neither Hamastan nor Fatahstan.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will travel to Israel for talks this week (Chung Sung-Jun/Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Biden specifically called out Itamar Ben-Gvir, the leader of a far-right Israeli party and the minister of national security in Mr Netanyahus governing coalition, who opposes a two-state solution and has called for Israel to reassert control over all of the West Bank and Gaza.

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Mr Ben-Gvir sits on Israels security cabinet but is not a member of the countrys three-person war cabinet.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Sullivan said he would speak with Mr Netanyahu about timetables for ending major combat in Gaza, and that he would be carrying Mr Bidens thoughts on the matter.

He said he would also be looking to hear from Mr Netanyahu and Israeli officials on the issue.

The subject of how they are seeing the timetable of this war will certainly be on the agenda for my meetings, Mr Sullivan said during an appearance at a forum hosted by the Wall Street Journal.

The national security adviser suggested that at some point there would be a shift from the high-intensity Israeli operations seen over the last several weeks to more focused operations to achieve Israeli objectives.

He also said he would also speak to Mr Netanyahu about his recent comments that Israel Defence Forces would maintain open-ended security control of Gaza after the war ends.

Mr Sullivan reiterated the Biden administrations position that it does not want to see Israel reoccupy Gaza or further shrink its already small territory.

The US has repeatedly called for a return of the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority and the resumption of peace talks aimed at establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

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I will have the opportunity to talk to Prime Minister Netanyahu about what exactly he has in mind with that comment because that can be interpreted in a number of different ways, Mr Sullivan said. But the US position on this is clear.
A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle at the main gate of a police station in north-west Pakistan early on Tuesday, killing at least 23 troops and wounding 32 others, and causing part of the building to collapse, the military and officials said.

The suicide attack  one of the deadliest attacks since January  resulted in multiple casualties Pakistans army said in a statement.

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It added that six militants also opened fire and the ensuing shootout between them and security forces lasted for hours before the terrorists were gunned down.

Local police officials also confirmed all six attackers were dead.

Separately, the statement said troops killed 27 insurgents in multiple operations in the same region.

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Officers examine the damage after a suicide bomb attack at a police station on the outskirts of Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan (AP)

The death toll from Tuesdays attack is likely to rise as some of the injured officers are in a critical condition, authorities said.

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The bodies of the 23 security forces killed were transferred to a hospital, senior police official Mohammad Adnan said.

The attack targeted the Daraban police station in Dera Ismail Khan, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, local police officer Kamal Khan said.

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The province is a former stronghold of the militant Pakistani Taliban group, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP.

The newly formed militant group Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, or TJP  believed to be an offshoot of the TTP  claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying it targeted the officers who were at the police station.

The statement also claimed that 20 officers were killed. However, this could not be independently verified.

A larger number of security forces from across the country have recently had a constant presence at the Daraban police station where they have been carrying out intelligence-based operations against militants in the area with help from local police, said Mr Khan

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Pakistan President Arif Alvi denounced the attack and conveyed his condolences to the families of those who were martyred.

In a statement, he said their sacrifices would not go to waste and that such attacks cannot weaken the resolve of security forces.

Pakistans caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti also denounced the onslaught in a statement, calling it an act of terrorism.

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Security officials at the scene after the blast (AP)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a rise in violence with several deadly incursions by militants this year.

In January, at least 101 people were killed, mostly police officers, when a suicide bomber disguised as a policeman attacked a mosque in the north-western city of Peshawar.

The Pakistani Taliban have stepped up attacks on security forces since 2022. Authorities say the insurgents have become emboldened while living openly in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover of that country in 2021.

The TTP, though a separate group, is closely allied with the Afghan Taliban.

Dera Ismail Khan is located near South Waziristan, a former sanctuary for militants.

Pakistans army carried out multiple operations against militants there after some attacked an army-run school, killing more than 150 people, mostly schoolchildren, in 2014.
A looming election rematch next year between US president Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump would be closely fought, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found, with both candidates saddled with profound vulnerabilities that could cost them the White House.

Mr Biden, an 81-year-old Democrat, continues to be plagued by voters' doubts about the strength of the economy, as well as concerns about the security of the US-Mexico border and worries about crime.

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Republican former president Trump, 77, faces his own worries, including four criminal trials on a bevy of charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his handling of classified documents. A conviction prior to the November 5th, 2024, election could cost him significant support, the poll found.

The poll showed Mr Trump with a marginal 2-point lead in a head-to-head match-up, 38 per cent to 36 per cent, with 26 per cent of respondents saying they weren't sure or might vote for someone else.

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The poll, conducted online between December 5th-11th, surveyed 4,411 US adults nationwide and had a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of about 2 percentage points.

Mr Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination by a wide margin, the poll showed.

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Overall, the poll showed deep apathy among many voters at a potential Biden-Trump rematch. About six in ten respondents said they were not satisfied with America's two-party system and want a third choice.

RFK Jr factor

They may have one, in the form of anti-vaccine activist Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has launched an independent bid. The poll showed that Kennedy, part of the storied political family, could draw more support from Mr Biden than Mr Trump.

Mr Trump's lead widened to a 5-point advantage when respondents were given an option to vote for Mr Kennedy.

Some 16 per cent of respondents picked Mr Kennedy when given the option, while Mr Trump had 36 per cent support, compared to 31 per cent for Mr Biden.

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Mr Kennedy, whose uncle John F Kennedy served as president and whose father, Robert, was a senator and attorney general, faces a challenge to amass enough signatures to get on the ballot on all 50 states.

Last week, a super PAC fundraising committee backing Mr Kennedy's bid said it would spend up to $15 million to get Mr Kennedy on the ballot in 10 states as a starting measure.

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Third-party candidates have affected the outcome of US elections even without winning. In 1992, a strong showing by Ross Perot helped put Democrats Bill Clinton in the White House and in 2000, some Democrats blamed Ralph Nader's bid for contributing to Al Gore's loss to Republican George W Bush.

The state-by-state Electoral College system used to pick presidents, and deep-seated partisan divides, mean that voters in just a handful of states will play a decisive role in the election's outcome.

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Robert F Kennedy Jr. makes a campaign announcement at a press conference on October 9th, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo: Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images

In the seven states where the election was closest in 2020 - Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina and Michigan -- Biden had a 4-point lead among Americans who said they were sure to vote.

Other polls have shown that some voters are concerned about Mr Biden's advanced age. He would be the oldest president ever elected to a second term.

But his candidacy likely will be buttressed by the public's continued support of abortion rights, as well as his advocacy for gun control, climate-change measures and higher taxes on the ultra-rich, the new poll showed.

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The survey also highlighted the significant risks to Mr Trump's campaign as he faces a series of criminal trials next year. Some 31 per cent of Republican respondents said they would not vote for Trump if he was convicted of a felony crime by a jury. He has denied any criminal wrongdoing.

Some 45 per cent of respondents said Mr Trump was the better candidate for handling the economy, compared to 33 per cent who picked Mr Biden.

World Hunter charges hit Biden emotionally, but politica... Read More

Mr Biden, however, had a similar advantage on the issue of abortion, with 44 per cent of respondents saying he was the better candidate for abortion access, compared to 29 per cent who picked Mr Trump.

Some of Mr Trump's strength also appeared tied to concerns by some voters about crime and immigration. Asked which candidate was better on the issues, 42 per cent picked Mr Trump on crime compared to 32 per cent who selected Mr Biden.

Fifty-four percent of respondents agreed with a statement that "immigration is making life harder for native-born Americans," with a similar share saying Mr Trump was the better candidate for the issue.
Former US president Donald Trump, the leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, has promised to crack down on illegal immigration and restrict legal immigration if elected to a second four-year term in office.

Here are some of the policies under consideration:

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Border enforcement

Mr Trump has said he would restore his 2019 "remain in Mexico" programme, which forced non-Mexican asylum-seekers attempting to enter the United States at the Mexican border to wait in Mexico for the resolution of their cases.

The programme was terminated by president Joe Biden, a Democrat who is seeking re-election in 2024. Mr Biden defeated Mr Trump in 2020, pledging more humane and orderly immigration policies, but has struggled with record levels of migrants caught crossing the US-Mexico border illegally.

Mr Trump has said he will seek to detain all migrants caught crossing the US-Mexico border illegally or violating other immigration laws, ending what he calls "catch and release."

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Mr Trump focused on building a wall on the Mexico border during his first term and has pledged to close gaps in the border wall if re-elected. His administration built 450 miles (725 km) of barriers across the 1,954-mile (3,145-km) border, but much of that replaced existing structures.

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Travel bans

Mr Trump has said he would implement travel bans on people from certain countries or with certain ideologies, expanding on a policy upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

Mr Trump previewed some parts of the world that could be subjected to a renewed travel ban in a mid-October speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and "anywhere else that threatens our security".

During the speech, Mr Trump focused on the conflict in Gaza, saying he would bar the entry of immigrants who support the Islamist militant group Hamas and send deportation officers to pro-Hamas protests.

Mr Trump said in June he would also seek to block communists, Marxists and socialists from entering the United States.

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Mass deportations

Mr Trump has pledged to launch the largest deportation effort in US history.

He aims to deport millions of people living in the country illegally each year, using large-scale roundups and by creating camps to hold them while they await removal, The New York Times reported in November.

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The former president would redirect military funds to pay for the deportation effort, the Times reported. Such an action would almost certainly be challenged in court and Congress could potentially restrict use of the funds.

Mr Trump has also vowed to take aggressive new steps to deport immigrants with criminal records and suspected gang members by using the little-known 1789 Alien Enemies Act.

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Mr Trump has said he would deputise the US National Guard and local law enforcement to assist with rapid deportations of criminals in states that cooperate.

Legal immigration

Mr Trump said in May that he would seek to end automatic citizenship for children born in the US to immigrants living in the country illegally, an idea he flirted with as president. Such an action would run against the long-running interpretation of an amendment to the US Constitution and likely trigger legal challenges.

During his first term, Mr Trump greatly reduced the number of refugees allowed into the US from abroad and has criticised Mr Biden's decision to increase admissions. He would again suspend the resettlement program if re-elected, The New York Times reported.

Mr Trump has said he would push for a "a merit-based immigration system that protects American labour and promotes American values". In his first term, he took steps to tighten access to some visa programs, including a suspension of many work visas during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Mr Trump has vowed to end Biden "parole" programmes that have allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants with US sponsors to enter the US and obtain work permits, including Ukrainians and Afghans. He has called Mr Biden's programmes an "outrageous abuse of parole authority".

He would seek to roll back Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations, The New York Times reported, targeting another humanitarian program that offers deportation relief and work permits to hundreds of thousands. Mr Trump tried to phase out most TPS enrollment during his first term, but was slowed by legal challenges. A federal appeals court in September 2020 allowed Mr Trump to proceed with the wind-down, but Mr Biden reversed course and expanded the program after taking office.

Family separation

In a town hall with CNN in May, Mr Trump declined to rule out resuming his contentious "zero tolerance" policy that led thousands of migrant children and parents to be separated at the US-Mexico border in 2018. He defended the separations again in November, telling Spanish-language news outlet Univision that "it stopped people from coming by the hundreds of thousands".

World Biden vs Trump would be a close rematch, with RFK... Read More

While Mr Trump has refused to rule out reinstating a family separation policy, key allies who could potentially join a second-term administration are wary, Reuters reported.

The Biden administration in October announced a settlement agreement with separated families that would offer them temporary legal status and other benefits while barring similar separations for at least eight years.

DACA

Mr Trump tried to end a programme that grants deportation relief and work permits to 'Dreamer' immigrants brought to the US illegally as children, but the termination was rebuffed by the Supreme Court in June 2020. Following the Supreme Court ruling, the Trump administration said it would not accept any new applications to the program, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and would explore whether it could again try to end it.

Mr Trump plans to try to end DACA if elected, The New York Times reported.
A Georgia election worker told jurors that she feared for her life after she received a barrage of racist and threatening messages fuelled by Rudy Giulianis false claims that she and her mother had rigged the 2020 election results in the state.

Wandrea Shaye Moss told jurors she seldom leaves her home, suffers from panic attacks and battles nightmares brought on by a barrage of threatening and racist messages.

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She sobbed as she told the court that her life was turned upside down by the accusations, though they were quickly debunked by state officials, and recounted changing her appearance to try to hide as Mr Giuliani and other allies of former president Donald Trump used surveillance footage to accuse her and her mother, Ruby Freeman, of committing voter fraud.





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The 39-year-old said: I was afraid for my life. I literally felt like someone going to come and attempt to hang me and theres nothing that anyone will be able to do about it.

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Her emotional evidence came on the second day of a defamation trial that Mr Giulianis lawyer has said could financially ruin the former New York City mayor.

Ms Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, are seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages.

Mr Giuliani is preparing to defend himself against criminal charges in a separate case in Georgia over his efforts to keep Mr Trump in power.

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He has pleaded not guilty in that criminal case, which accuses him and others of scheming to overturn Donald Trumps 2020 election loss in the state of Georgia. Mr Giuliani has denied any wrongdoing.

The judge overseeing the defamation case has already found Mr Giuliani liable and he has also acknowledged in court that he made public comments falsely claiming Ms Freeman and Ms Moss committed fraud while counting ballots.

The only issue remaining in the trial is the amount of damages Giuliani will have to pay the women.



One of the two election workers giving evidence said that she feared for her life after seeing Rudy Giulianis false claims (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

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The womens lawyers estimated that reputational damages could reach 47 million dollars (37 million), and suggested emotional and punitive damages on top of that could be tens of millions.

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Ms Moss, who also gave evidence before the US House Committee that investigated the Capitol attack, recounted being brought into her directors office after Mr Giuliani falsely claimed during a Georgia legislative hearing in December 2020 that workers at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta had committed election fraud.

Ms Moss did not have any idea that lies about them were being spread and thought her director wanted to recognise her for her election work or give her a job she had been promised, she told jurors.

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Instead the mood in the room was sombre, and soon she learned the real reason for the meeting.

I am shown these videos, these lies, everything that had been going on that I had no clue about, Ms Moss said.





Ms Moss said she went home that night, scared and confused, and could only watch as the angry messages poured in.

Shown a video of Mr Giuliani speaking on his online show about a false suitcase ballot conspiracy, she said: How can someone with so much power go public and talk about things that he obviously has no clue about? It just obvious that its lies.

Earlier, the judge overseeing the case scolded Mr Giuliani for comments he made outside the courthouse in which he insisted his false claims about the women were true.

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US District Judge Beryl Howell warned Mr Giulianis lawyer that the remarks his client made to reporters about Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea Shaye Moss when leaving the courthouse a day earlier amounted to defamatory statements about them yet again.

The judge appeared incredulous, asking Mr Giulianis lawyer about the contradiction of his opening statements calling Ms Freeman and Ms Moss good people but then the former mayor repeating unfounded allegations of voter fraud.



The trial is to determine how much Rudy Giuliani will have to pay two Georgia election workers whom he falsely accused of fraud (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

How are we supposed to reconcile that? she asked the lawyer.

Mr Giulianis lawyer, Joseph Sibley, conceded her point and told the judge he discussed the comments with his client but added: I cant control everything he does.

He also argued that the former mayors age and health concerns make long days in court challenging.

Outside the courthouse on Monday, however, Mr Giuliani told reporters: When I testify, the whole story will be definitively clear that what I said was true, and that, whatever happened to them, which is unfortunate about other people overreacting, everything I said about them is true.

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Rudy Giulianis lawyer suggested to the court that the defamation case could financially ruin the former mayor (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Mr Giuliani added that Ms Moss and Ms Freeman were engaged in changing votes.

When a reporter pushed back, saying there was no proof of that, Mr Giuliani replied: Youre damn right there is.  Stay tuned.
An association of dog meat farmers held a protest rally Tuesday against a proposed bill banning the consumption of dog meat, saying unilateral legislation amounts to an abuse of legislative power.

The protest by members of the Korean Dog Meat Association came as a subcommittee of the parliamentary committee on agriculture and food was set to discuss a special bill banning the raising of dogs for meat, as well as the butchering, distributing and selling of dog meat.

The proposed bill, championed by the government and the ruling People Power Party, would give a three-year grace period upon the passage of the bill, with law enforcement slated to begin in 2027. The government and the party seek to sign the bill into law within the year.

Holding a press conference in front of the National Assembly, the Korean Dog Meat Association urged a halt to the bill, saying that dog meat consumption is a matter of people's basic rights, including the right to choose what they eat.

They also argued that unilaterally legislating bans on dog meat consumption without considering the opinions of the public and those concerned amounts to "an abuse of power" by the government and the legislature.

The association also accused the government of threatening the survival of dog meat farmers, distributors and restaurants, saying the government's pledged assistance for the dog meat industry's conversion to other types of commerce falls far short of expectations.

The group said corresponding government compensation and assistance should precede the legislation, demanding 2 million won ($1,522) per dog over a five-year period along with a minimum 10-year grace period.

According to government statistics, there are around 1,150 dog farms, 34 butchering businesses, 219 distributors and approximately 1,600 restaurants that sell food made with dog meat. (Yonhap)
Israeli forces have stormed a hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, a spokesman for the territorys Health Ministry has said.

Ashraf al-Qidra said the troops forced all the men at Kamal Adwan Hospital, including medics, to gather in the courtyard after entering the facility on Tuesday.

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He called on the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.



Destruction in Rafah in the Gaza Strip after an Israeli strike (Hatem Ali/AP)

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The army has said it is rounding up men in northern Gaza as it searches for Hamas fighters.

Photos and video circulated online have shown detainees stripped to their underwear, bound and blindfolded. Some who have been released say they were beaten and denied food and water.

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The UN humanitarian office said the hospital has 65 patients, including 12 children in intensive care and six newborn babies in incubators.

Some 3,000 displaced people are sheltering there, all awaiting evacuation because of severe shortages of food, water and electricity.

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Most of the population of northern Gaza fled weeks ago when Israel ordered a full evacuation.

Ground troops invaded in late October after a blistering three-week air campaign. Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields.

Tens of thousands of people remain in the north, where they have been almost entirely cut off from humanitarian aid for weeks. The health system in the north has largely collapsed.



Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

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Israel has said its offensive against Gazas Hamas rulers, sparked by their attack on October 7, could go on for weeks or months.

In a briefing with the Associated Press on Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant refused to commit to a firm timeline, but signalled that the current phase of heavy ground fighting and air strikes could stretch on for weeks and that further military activity could continue for months.

He said the next phase would be lower-intensity fighting against pockets of resistance and would require Israeli troops to maintain their freedom of operation.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain security control over Gaza indefinitely.
The owner of the Miss Universe franchise in Nicaragua is retiring from her role with the beauty contest, she announced on social media, days after she was charged alongside her husband and son with conspiracy against the government.

Last month, Karen Celebertti oversaw the Central American nation's first victory in the pageant, when Nicaraguan Sheynnis Palacios was crowned Miss Universe at the event in El Salvador.

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Ms Palacios' coronation caused a political stir after videos were leaked of the beauty queen participating in anti-government marches in 2018 when she was 17, prompting the government to accuse the opposition of using her victory to plan new protests.

Ms Celebertti - whose location could not be immediately established - has been banned from entering Nicaragua over accusations of conspiracy dating back to 2018. Authorities said she and her son and husband played a role in organising the anti-government protests.

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"The time has come for me to retire," said Ms Celebertti on Monday evening in an Instagram post, ending a 23-year stint as the country's beauty contest head.

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Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios walks onstage during the 72nd Miss Universe Competition at Gimnasio Nacional Jose Adolfo Pineda on November 18th, 2023 in San Salvador, El Salvador. Photo: Alex Pena/Getty Images

The businesswoman did not explain the reasons for her retirement but defended her family.

"My husband and I come from hardworking, honest families... we have raised our children to be good, educated and responsible human beings."

She also defended the beauty queen's victory, saying that "a crown should be respected as an achievement of all". Ms Palacios has not returned to Nicaragua since her victory.

Nicaraguan police said earlier this month that the local Miss Universe organisation had been used to "turn pageants into political traps and political ambushes, financed by foreign agents".

The government banned protests following a violent crackdown on widespread anti-government demonstrations in 2018 that left more than 320 dead, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
The loss of contact with Alexei Navalny at the prison colony where the opposition leader was being held likely signals a Kremlin effort to tighten his isolation while president Vladimir Putin runs for re-election over the next three months, Mr Navalnys spokeswoman has said.

Worries about Mr Navalny spread on Monday after officials at the facility east of Moscow said he was no longer on the inmate roster.

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Mr Navalnys spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said his associates and lawyers have been unable to contact him for a week.

Alexei Navalnys allies believe that the opposition leader is being moved to increase his isolation in the run up to Russias March elections (AP Photo, File)

Prison officials said he has been moved from the colony where he has been serving a 19-year term on charges of extremism, but they did not say where he went.

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Prison transfers in Russia are notoriously secretive, with authorities providing no information about the whereabouts of inmates until they reach another facility and are given permission to contact relatives or lawyers.

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Ms Yarmysh told The Associated Press: We now have to look for him in every colony of special regime in Russia. And there are about 30 of them all over Russia.

So we have no idea in which one we will find him.

She noted that they can transfer a prisoner for weeks or even for months, and no one will know where he is.

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Today, as on Friday, the lawyers tried to get to IK-6 and IK-7  two colonies in the Vladimir region where Alexey @navalny might be. They have just been informed simultaneously in both colonies that he is not there.



We still don't know where Alexey is.    (@Kira_Yarmysh) December 11, 2023

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Russias Federal Penitentiary Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Mr Navalnys possible transfer and whereabouts.

Earlier this year, another prominent opposition figure, Andrei Pivovarov, also went missing during a prison transfer.

His transfer, from a detention centre in Russias southern region of Krasnodar to a penal colony in the northwestern region of Karelia, took roughly a month.

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Once at a new facility, prison officials there are legally obliged to notify relatives or lawyers within 10 days, but Ms Yarmysh said they can hardly be expected to follow the rules in Mr Navalnys case.

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She said the authorities will likely try to keep his location secret for as long as they can after Mr Putin declared his intention to run for president.

Mr Putin will seek another six-year term in the March 17th election, moving to extend his rule of over two decades.

They will try to hide him as long as possible, Ms Yarmysh said.

I guess this was made deliberately to isolate Alexei during this period of time so he wouldnt be able to influence all these things in any way, because everyone understands  and Putin, of course, understands  that Alexei is his main rival, even despite the fact that he is not on the ballot.

Vladimir Putin is seeking re-election in Russias March elections (Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

When asked where Mr Navalny is, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov snapped that we have neither a desire nor an opportunity to track down inmates.

Commenting on US expressions of concern about Mr Navalny, Mr Peskov said that he has been convicted and is serving his sentence.

He added: We consider any interference, including by the United States, inadmissible.

Mr Navalny, 47, has been behind bars since January 2021.

He was arrested upon his return from Germany where he had recuperated from nerve agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin.

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Mr Navalny, who campaigned against official corruption and organised major anti-government protests, has rejected all charges against him as a politically motivated vendetta.

The opposition figure has been serving his sentence at the Penal Colony No 6, in the town of Melekhovo in the Vladimir region, about 230 kilometres (140 miles) east of Moscow.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced to 19 years for extremism, charges he rejects as a politically motivated vendetta (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

He was due to be transferred to a penal colony with an even higher level of security.

The loss of contact with Mr Navalny was particularly worrying, given that he recently fell ill, Ms Yarmysh said.

She said prison officials had given him an IV drip when he felt dizzy and he had to lie on the floor of his cell.

It looks like it might have been a faint from hunger because he isnt being fed properly and he doesnt have any ventilation in his cell and he doesnt have any like proper exercise time, Ms Yarmysh said.

While Mr Putins re-election is all but certain, given his overwhelming control over the countrys political scene and a widening crackdown on dissent, Mr Navalnys supporters and other critics hope to use the campaign to erode public support for the Kremlin leader and his military action in Ukraine.

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Authorities could try to send Mr Navalny to a remote colony to further limit his influence, Ms Yarmysh said.

Since the start of his imprisonment, he has continued his scathing attacks on the Kremlin in comments his associates posted to social media.

I guess they decided that it would be smarter for them to send him as far away because hes still too loud and too present in the public field, Ms Yarmysh said.
Sir Keir Starmer accused the Tories of falling far from Sir Winston Churchills politics and instead echoing those of Donald Trump as he vowed Labour would focus on the mundane stuff of getting things done.

The party leader sought to pitch the Opposition as the sensible alternative to a British government too stuck in an indulgent vortex of infighting and divisiveness to deliver policies.

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In a direct appeal to Conservative voters, he promised Labour would put economic stability, secure borders and better management of taxpayer money at the heart of its agenda.

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Delivering a speech in Buckinghamshire to mark the four-year anniversary of the 2019 election, Mr Starmer hit out at so-called culture war politics, saying: These arent Churchills Tories anymore.

If anything, they behave more and more like Donald Trump. They look at the politics of America and they want to bring that here.

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Its all woke, woke, woke. Wedge, wedge, wedge. Divide, divide, divide.

People cant afford Christmas. If they call an ambulance this winter, they dont know if it will come. Six thousand crimes go unpunished every day.

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Common sense is rolling your sleeves up and solving these problems practically, not indulging in some kind of political performance art.

(PA Graphics)

Mr Starmer also attempted to further distance himself from the left-leaning politics of Jeremy Corbyn, in whose shadow cabinet he previously served.

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Working people up and down our country looked at my party, looked at how wed lost our way, not just under Jeremy Corbyn, but for a while, and they said: No, not this time. You dont listen to us anymore. Youre not in our corner, Mr Starmer added.

He said the changes he has made as Labour leader have aimed to reverse the damage done by reneg(ing) on the partys promise to serve working people.

Not just a paint job, a total overhaul, a different Labour Party, driven by your values, relentless in earning your vote.

Mr Starmer said the UK governments Rwanda policy, which Labour will oppose in a crunch Commons vote later on Tuesday, is an example of its inability to deliver.

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Labour would focus instead on doing the basics better  the mundane stuff, the bureaucratic stuff, he said.

The party leader has said his plan to tackle the crisis of small boats involves working with the EU to catch people-smuggling gangs and improving the asylum system in the UK to cut the backlog of claims.

(Jacob King/PA)

He hit out at Rishi Sunak for suggesting that it is only the concern for international law shown by the Rwandan Government which is stopping him from ripping up the UKs commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights.

MPs on the Tory right have been calling for the UK government to disapply the treaty if necessary to get flights to Kigali running as the 290 million scheme remains grounded after a series of legal setbacks.

Mr Starmer, who has a background in human rights law, described the ECHR as an achievement not just of this nation but of Winston Churchill and the Conservative Party that brought peace and protection to the world, following our victory over fascism.

Some have questioned whether Labours opposition to the Rwanda scheme is because it believes the policy is doomed to fail or because it against the moral values of the partys leadership.

On Tuesday, Mr Starmer said it was both, telling the event: It doesnt work, it will cost a fortune and it is against our values.
Rooke is a writer and executive producer and also narrates the BAFTA-nominated series, which is set at the fictional Brent University in 2013. Derry Girls Dylan Llewellyn plays Jack  If you cant cast yourself as better-looking in your own life story, then whats the point? Rookes voiceover quips early on  a 19-year-old closeted gay man struggling after his fathers death. Jack was supposed to start his journalism course a year earlier, but was paralysed with grief, unable to leave his bed.

Based on the semi-autobiographical work of British comedian Jack Rooke, Big Boys is inspired by Rookes own time at university following the death of his father in his late teens.

A coming-of-age comedy set at university doesnt sound groundbreaking or like something that would have wide appeal, but this six-part series surprises on both fronts.

Early on, we see him at home with his mum Peggy (Doctor Whos Camille Coduri) trying to come to terms with their loss; a dizzying montage of the tight-knit pair consoling each other, watching TV (there are a lot of British telly references throughout the series), accepting endless meals from concerned neighbours  and Jack feeling guilty about pleasuring himself after so many people telling him his dad is always looking down on him. Such is the tone of Big Boys: a kind-hearted, poignant comedy that is as comfortable with emotional damage as it is with wank jokes.

Unlikely mates: Jon Pointing as Danny and Dylan Llewellyn as Jack in Big Boys. Credit: Chris Harris

Jack arrives at university to learn theres been a mistake with his accommodation, and that hes rooming not in the halls of residence but in an old classroom with mature-age student Danny (Jon Pointing). Danny at first seems the polar opposite to shy, anxious Jack  he presents as a proper lad, keen to get on the beers and meet girls. But it soon transpires that Danny is less uptight about Jacks sexuality than Jack himself. And behind his cheery bravado, hes also struggling with a complicated family life and, as an alarm on his phone reminds him every evening, a regime of medication for depression.

An easy, if seemingly unlikely, friendship forms quickly. Danny is eager to get out there on their first night on campus, cajoling Jack, unaccustomed to social interaction, into joining him. But when it gets too much for Jack, Danny happily leaves, helping Jack calm down by quizzing him on programs in the TV guide, something his mum does with him. Llewellyn and Pointings performances are both brilliant (even if Pointing is actually 36); their on-screen friendship never feels forced.
Representatives from nearly 200 countries agreed at the COP28 climate summit to begin reducing global consumption of fossil fuels to avert the worst impacts of climate change, a first-of-its-kind deal signalling the eventual end of the oil age.

The deal struck in Dubai after two weeks of hard-fought negotiations was meant to send a powerful signal to investors and policy-makers that the world is now united in its desire to break with fossil fuels, something scientists say is the last best hope to stave off climate catastrophe.

It is the first time that the world unites around such a clear text on the need to transition away from fossil fuels, said Norway Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide of the agreement.

It has been the elephant in the room. At last, we address it head on.

The final deal is the result of two weeks of hard-fought negotiations designed to send a powerful signal to investors and policy-makers that the world is now united in its desire to break with fossil fuels. Credit: Getty

More than 100 countries had lobbied hard for strong language in the COP28 agreement to phase out oil, gas and coal use, but came up against powerful opposition from the Saudi Arabia-led oil producer group OPEC, which argued that the world can slash emissions without shunning specific fuels.

That battle pushed the summit into overtime on Wednesday.

Now that the deal is struck, countries are responsible for delivering on the agreements through national policies and investments.

The proposed deal would specifically call for transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner ... so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science.

It also calls for a tripling of renewable energy capacity globally by 2030, speeding up efforts to reduce coal, and accelerating technologies such as carbon capture and storage that can clean up hard-to-decarbonize industries.



Reuters
Only in our little town, writes Jude Alcorn of Mullumbimby. The sign outside the butchers shop today: Christmas rolled pork with vegan stuffing.

On the back of the Byrons of Avalon Beach comes another call for a reunion, this time from David Williams of Port Macquarie, and triggered by the same name game (C8): In the late 60s I attended Dookie Agricultural College, Victoria. For three years I shared a class with another David Williams. Fortunately he had no middle name and favoured far-left politics, so was nicknamed Commo, whereas I had the middle initial K, so became Decay (DK). Should you read this, Commo, please get in touch, as we are having a class reunion of those of us still above the grass early next year in Melbourne.

In my day there was a surfeit of Andrews, says Oliver Brown of Maroubra. A fine enough name in itself, but the result was that all ended up known almost solely by a nickname, usually unkind, and retained by many to this day. Baby namers, beware.

The spelling variations of first names show how determined some parents are to give their child a unique moniker, but none comes close to the myriad complexities of Michaela, reckons Grant Heaton of that C8 hot spot Port Macquarie. In my almost 40 years of teaching, here are a few of the more distinctive takes on the feminine form of Michael Ive encountered: Mykyla, Mikaela, Michela, Mykala, Mikaylah, Michela, Micaela and Makayla. Spellchecker officially hates you, Grant.

With great respect to Col Shephard (C8), theres a simple way to tell Big Bash sides apart, advises Mickey Pragnell of Kiama. Two players have bats. Anybody without one is the opposition.
Cairns airport officials were scheduled to meet tonight to discuss potential openings tomorrow, with an update expected about 7pm.

The airport ceased operations at 8pm on December 12 ahead of Jaspers expected landing.

Despite the uncertainty around tomorrows operations, some holiday-goers have received notifications of cancelled flights further down the coast.

Wesley Smith was booked to fly from the Whitsunday Coast (Proserpine) to the Gold Coast on a new route from budget carrier Bonza on December 14.

However, just after 3pm he received a text message notifying that the flight had been cancelled and a full refund would be issued.

With the full impact of cyclone Jasper yet to materialise, airport operations may remain unclear for some time.
He was kind and always willing to help.

But Queensland constable Matthew Arnold also loved a good prank and was known for his cheeky looks and sarcasm.

Most of all, we miss the sound of his truck arriving in the driveway, and him announcing he was home, the Arnold family said.

This is how Arnolds family members remember the 26-year-old a year on from when he was mercilessly gunned down alongside his partner Rachel McCrow while on a routine job.

The constables had attended a remote property on Wains Road in Wieambilla, more than three hours drive west of Brisbane, when they were shot and killed by Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train.
Suppressing critical media regresses nation

A week ago, prosecutors raided the home of the head of Newstapa, an online news site.

The raid was triggered by the investigative media outlets reporting of an alleged fake interview in 2021. The government believed the reporting was carried out to discredit the then-opposition presidential candidate, Yoon Suk Yeol.

It was the second search and seizure of the investigative media company in the last three months. In September, prosecutors also raided three broadcasters who reported on the issue by quoting Newstapa.

Verifying a presidential candidates qualifications is a basic duty of the media. The online paper may or may not have been used by people with political intentions, but the facts of this case are not yet complete. Still, the governing camp accused the media outlet of defaming the president. The head of the ruling party called it election rigging and treason punishable by death.

Korea is not the scene of a raging battle, but journalism has become a life-or-death job here it appears.

Yoon vowed to better communicate with the public through the media when he took office 19 months ago. That was also the reason, at least ostensibly, for moving the presidential office from Cheong Wa Dae to the former defense ministry. However, it has been more than a year since the president has taken questions from reporters. He has not held news conferences or met journalists upon arriving at the office daily even though he initially promised that he would.

The diplomatic president has had interviews mainly with U.S., U.K. and Japanese newspapers or broadcasters before embarking on foreign tours. The only Korean media outlet enjoying that privilege was the hard-right Chosun Ilbo. Instead, Yoon made direct communication with the public through well-choreographed town hall meetings or live telecasts of his opening remarks at cabinet meetings. Former presidents held yearly press conferences, mainly prearranged ones. Yoon avoids even that.

Nobody likes to be criticized, but elected officials cannot evade criticism. Even the media-averse Donald Trump has appeared on CNN, his fiercest critic, even if just for political purposes. Unfortunately, it appears highly unlikely for Yoon to give an interview to any of the left-leaning media outlets in Korea in any scenario. He seems to think of the media as a mechanical message conveyor.

The former U.S. leader termed critical or unfriendly news as fake news. We hope Yoons frequent mentioning of fake news does not harbor such intentions.

Recently, the chief executive nominated former senior prosecutor Kim Hong-il to head the Korea Communications Commission, a broadcasting watchdog. Kim reportedly was Yoons most respected prosecutor and effectively fought crimes. Still, Kim has no experience in media affairs, let alone broadcasting. One cant help but wonder if the president thinks many potential criminals reside at broadcasting stations.

Even right-wing dailies, including Chosun, are urging Yoon to rethink and withdraw his nomination for the head of the commission. The president has yet to make his next move. If Yoon pushes ahead with his decision, he wont be able to avoid isolation.

Most Koreans know all this is related to the parliamentary elections next April. Even as legacy media's influence declines, terrestrial broadcasters still exert considerable influence, especially in tight elections. If that is why Yoon is appointing his former boss as his broadcasting czar for at least the next four months, he must think twice.

That will lead the ruling party  and the president  to an irrecoverable defeat in the remaining years.

Political scientists say Yoon has ample reason for wanting a victory in the general elections, given his unpopular policies and low approval rating. Some say a big defeat could even paralyze his administrative ability.

A different scenario is possible only if Yoon changes his mind and does the opposite. The president could tell prosecutors to stop harassing critical journalists, designate a new broadcasting czar and hold a news conference on New Years Day. These will save the governing party, firm up his presidency and ensure smoother state administration.

And that is not a tall order in a normal democracy.
Hundreds of shocked parents have discovered their school will not reopen in 2024 because of financial struggles, with just six weeks over the Christmas holidays to enrol their children elsewhere.

Charlotte Mason College, a Christian school at Kallangur in Moreton Bay, emailed families on Monday afternoon to explain the school closed its doors for the last time on Friday.

Charlotte Mason College in Moreton Bay has emailed parents to say the school will not reopen in 2024.

The Prep-to-Year 10 school had offered on-campus classes and distance education.

Many of you have been aware of the tumultuous history of the school, Parents National Education Union [Australia] Inc board chair Sarah Biggs wrote in an email to parents.
For the first time in her career, Dr Enas Kabar is unable to help her patients.

The Palestinian doctor has no access to medications or the vital health services that keep the sick alive, such as dialysis or chemotherapy.

Dr Enas Kabar, a doctor working in Gaza.

What is happening is breaking my heart, Kabar said, her voice quavering down a phone line from the southern Gazan city of Rafah.

Some people only think of the bombing and the death, but its also painful to see people with chronic diseases suffer.
The Lost Dogs Home says an animal lovers $3.6 million gift will fund the rebuilding of its Cranbourne shelter and save thousands more cats and dogs per year.

Joy Christensens bumper bequest, described by the homes staff as phenomenal, is a record donation to the 113-year-old animal welfare charity.

Heres to Joy: Employees at the Lost Dogs Homes Cranbourne centre, Brock Bushell and Annie Damerdjian, with Roscoe. Credit: Simon Schluter

The dogs homes gifts and wills manager Ross Anderson said it was an exceptional gesture. Its an incredibly generous and thoughtful thing to do, he said.

Christensen, who died aged 99 in 2020, indicated in 2003 that she would leave a significant legacy to the home, but didnt specify how much.
The Albanese governments new migration strategy is a step in the right direction. But a failure to deliver on its promises  particularly regarding cuts in net migration numbers  will be ruthlessly punished by its political opponents.

When international borders reopened in early 2022, the Coalition government had in place, or introduced, extraordinary measures to increase arrivals of students and working holidaymakers, two of the major drivers of Australias current surge in net migration. These measures included fee-free visa applications, unlimited student work rights and the special COVID visa for any temporary entrant in Australia who could secure any job. These measures rapidly accelerated visa applications.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton looks set to make immigration a key election issue, especially if Prime Minister Anthony Albanese fails to get migrant numbers under control. Credit:

Later in 2022, following a federal election and change of government, businesses were complaining about labour shortages and major lobby groups were hammering the Albanese government to increase immigration. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton quickly blamed the government for not being responsive to business concerns during a very hot labour market.

The government increased the permanent migration program  that is, the number of permanent visas issued irrespective of whether the person is in Australia or not  and began clearing the massive backlog of applications it had inherited from the Coalition. But by the end of that same year, it was clear net migration was booming and on track to reach record levels.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong should use her upcoming trip to the Middle East to demand the elimination of Hamas and secure a role for Australia in brokering a post-war political settlement in Gaza, according to former Australian ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma.

The former Wentworth MP, who was sworn in as a Liberal senator for NSW last week, said Wongs planned mid-January trip to Israel was overdue and that it was unfortunate she had not visited the Middle East in the 18 months since Labor took office.

Incoming NSW Liberal senator Dave Sharma says it is not wishful thinking for Hamas to be eliminated as a powerful force in the occupied Palestinian territories. Credit: Anna Kucera

I think she needs to express quite clearly Australias support for Israels right to defend itself, and that extends to the elimination of Hamas as a political and military actor, Sharma said in an interview with this masthead.

I dont see a sustainable resolution to this conflict unless and until Hamas is removed from political power in Gaza.
Australias first female vascular surgeon has put up her hand to try to wrest Josh Frydenbergs former seat of Kooyong from teal independent Dr Monique Ryan at the next federal election.

Susan Morris, who runs a practice in Kew, told friends on the weekend that she planned to nominate for Liberal preselection in the wealthy seat in Melbournes inner east.

Battle for Kooyong: Surgeon Susan Morris, teal independent Monique Ryan and Amelia Hamer. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen and supplied

Morris, who is yet to submit her nomination forms, will be pitted against Amelia Hamer, who has formally nominated ahead of the January 15 cut-off. Senior Liberal senator Jane Hume, for whom Hamer once worked, is one of Hamers character references.

Neither Morris nor Hamer are high-profile figures and it would require an upset for one of them to unseat Ryan, who defeated the former Coalition treasurer at last years election and holds the seat with a 3 per cent margin. Frydenberg, who now chairs investment bank Goldman Sachs Australian and New Zealand operation, in September ruled out a political comeback, at least in this election cycle.
Universities and private colleges considered at high risk of recruiting international students to Australia to work rather than study stand to lose tens of millions of dollars in revenue under the governments new migration strategy.

Victoria University and Federation University in Victoria and Wollongong and Newcastle universities in NSW are among those whose ability to easily recruit international students is in jeopardy, according to confidential independent ratings seen by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.

Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil, who on Monday unveiled the federal governments strategy to bring down migrant numbers. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Meanwhile, the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia, which represents hundreds of private colleges, described the new migration strategy as reckless and said Australias broken visa processing system was to blame  not students.

There is a real risk that it will diminish Australias reputation as a high-quality [educator of] international students, ITECA chief executive Troy Williams said on Tuesday.
Gaza Strip: He sits, unexpectedly, in front of an Israeli flag, his white hair and closely cropped beard set off by an equally unexpected half-smile.

I am Yousef Mahmoud Hamad al-Mansi, he says into the camera, adding that hes a former minister of communication and housing for Hamas.

They destroyed the Gaza Strip, he says of current Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar and his lieutenants, the ones who launched the October 7 attack in which 1200 Israelis were killed, 240 were kidnapped and Israel was driven to carry out its deadly war in Gaza.

Relatives and friends attend the funeral of Muhammad Abdullah Hasaballah, 22, killed by air strikes in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Credit: Getty

People in Gaza say that Sinwar and his group destroyed us  we must get rid of them.
On Wednesday, the United Nations demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the war after more than three-quarters of the 193-member General Assembly, including Australia, backed the move, which had been vetoed by the United States in the Security Council last week. Loading Washington does not have a veto in the General Assembly. It voted against the draft resolution, along with Israel and eight other countries. The text garnered 153 votes in favour, while 23 countries abstained from the vote. General Assembly resolutions are not binding but carry political weight, reflecting a global view on the war. US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the General Assembly before the vote that there were aspects of the resolution that the US supported, such as the need to urgently address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, protect civilians and free hostages.

But she added: Any ceasefire right now would be temporary at the best and dangerous at worst - dangerous to Israelis, who would be subject to relentless attacks, and also dangerous to Palestinians, who deserve the chance to build a better future for themselves, free from Hamas. A man mourns as he collects the body of a Palestinian killed in an airstrike on Khan Yunis on Wednesday. Credit: Getty Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy said: This war will end when we can answer the diplomat-babysitter test. Would those diplomats voting to save Hamas skin at the United Nations feel safe babysitting children in Kfar Azza, Beeri and Nir Oz? For that to happen, Hamas must be destroyed. And that is exactly what we will do. Australia, New Zealand and Canada issued a joint statement calling for a pause in fighting in Gaza and efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire on Wednesday. We want to see this pause resumed and support urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire. This cannot be one-sided. Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields, and lay down its arms, the leaders statement said.

Flooding of tunnels begins The Israeli military has begun pumping seawater into Hamas tunnel complex in Gaza, The Wall Street Journal has reported, citing unnamed US officials. Israeli soldiers show the media a tunnel under Gaza City last month. Credit: AP Some Biden administration officials have said the process could help destroy the tunnels, where Israel believes the militant group is hiding hostages, fighters and munitions, the Journal reported, while other officials have expressed concerns the seawater would endanger Gazas fresh water supply. The officials said the flooding process would likely take weeks, using pumps to draw water from the Mediterranean Sea.

Violence in the West Bank Seven Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, including five in a drone strike during an Israeli raid, the Palestinian Health Ministry and the Palestinian official news agency WAFA said. They said the dead included a 13-year-old who died after Israeli forces prevented an ambulance from transferring him to hospital for treatment. Israels military confirmed the drone strike, and said it had killed an unspecified number of Palestinians who were spotted hurling explosive devices and firing at its forces.

Israeli troops were operating to expose explosive devices planted under roads to attack the security forces, the military said in a statement. Israeli soldiers are seen during an army operation, in the Jenin refugee camp, West Bank. Credit: AP The troops found weapons, ammunition and explosive devices, tunnels and an observation control room, and dismantled a bomb making site, the statement said. One other person was injured in the attack on al-Sibat neighbourhood in the city of Jenin, WAFA reported. Jenins hospital director told the agency the Palestinians were directly targeted. Israeli forces are encircling three hospitals in the area, WAFA added.

Before this attack, the Health Ministry reported that 275 Palestinians had been killed in the occupied West Bank since the October 7 attack on southern Israel by gunmen of the Islamist movement Hamas operating out of the Gaza Strip. Tami Cohen and her daughter Hadas at a funeral for their husband and father, Major (res.) Eviatar Cohen who was killed fighting in southern Gaza. Credit: Getty Bodies of Hostages recovered The Israeli army announced it had retrieved the bodies of two hostages from Gaza in an operation that killed two Israeli soldiers. Soldiers retrieved the bodies of Eden Zakaria, 27, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival, and Ziv Dado, 36, a soldier serving near the Gaza border. Dado was killed on October 7 and his body was taken to Gaza. Zakaria was wounded on October 7, and it was unclear if she was taken alive or dead to Gaza, according to reports on Israels Channel 12.

Hospital stormed A spokesperson for Gazas Health Ministry said Israeli forces stormed a hospital in northern Gaza. Loading Ashraf al-Qidra said the troops forced all the men in Kamal Adwan Hospital, including medics, to gather in the courtyard after entering the facility. He called on the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. The army says it is rounding up men in northern Gaza as it searches for Hamas fighters.
While the small apartment policy is very rigid, its also stood the test of time and it doesnt need to be changed at this point, he said. The amount of stock between 17sqm and 35sqm for apartments would be relatively low and I dont think its enough to drive a policy change.
By Chyung Eun-ju and Joel Cho

In the realm of technological progress, it is undeniable that AI technology has been the most disruptive innovation in recent times, revolutionizing industries and causing rippling economic effects throughout numerous segments of the market. According to statistics published in the Forbes Advisor, the AI market size is expected to reach $407 billion by 2027.

As we witness this unprecedented growth, we are also seeing that consumers are treading carefully, as they express concerns about businesses using AI. And this led us to question: Should the regulation of AI technology be centralized, especially considering its disruptive nature and the myriad legal and ethical concerns it brings to the forefront?

AI, as we know it today, is already clearly a disruptive innovation, pushing the boundaries of what we once thought was possible. From autonomous vehicles and personalized medicine to algorithmic decision-making and deepfake technology, the capabilities of AI seem limitless. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and the unbridled use of AI has sparked debates around the need for a centralized regulatory framework.

One of the primary arguments favoring centralized regulation is the sheer diversity of AI applications. From machine learning algorithms that influence our social media feeds with targeted content to advanced image and language processing that generates realistic deepfake content, AI technology manifests itself in various forms, each with its own set of challenges and implications. The spectrum of AI is vast and continuously evolving and people are expressing their concerns over the very volatile and unpredictable future it presents.

Centralized regulation could provide a cohesive approach to address the nuanced legal and ethical concerns associated with these diverse applications.

Consider the issue of AI-generated content and its potential to harm an individual's image and reputation. Deepfake technology, which utilizes AI to create hyper-realistic fake videos or audio recordings, poses a significant threat to personal and public trust. Just back in September, a South Korean man, in his 40s, was sentenced to over two years in prison for creating over 300 items of content depicting sexual abuse of minors through AI. Even going back two years ago, social rage was expressed on the presidential offices online petition page demanding stricter punishment for deepfake porn depicting female Korean celebrities.

Without centralized oversight, navigating the legal landscape surrounding the malicious use of AI becomes a complex and challenging task. A centralized regulatory body could establish clear guidelines on the responsible use of AI, helping to define the fine line between pushing innovation and abusing it.

It is also impossible to ignore that the current state of limited and decentralized regulation of AI raises concerns over the lack of uniform ethical standards. As AI systems are deployed globally, they interact with diverse cultures, legal systems and societal norms. What might be considered an acceptable use of AI in one jurisdiction could be deemed ethically questionable or even illegal in another. Centralized regulation could bridge these ethical gaps, fostering a global consensus on the responsible development and deployment of AI. For instance, in South Korea, the Ministry of Science and ICT has stepped in by announcing its AI Ethics and Trustworthiness Assurance Plan to enhance the reliability of AI-generated content in October of this year. South Korea held the 4th AI High-Level Strategic Dialogue to bring together the government and private sector stakeholders to improve AI trustworthiness after an AI policy promotion event that President Yoon Suk Yeol attended in September. The South Korean government seems to lean towards centralized regulations as the National Assembly participates in legislating AI-related rules. People Power Party lawmaker, Ahn Cheol-soo has been trying to make legal categories for forbidden AI, high-risk AI and low-risk AI.

A centralized regulation could be a key factor in cultivating responsibilities and fostering more innovation by balancing the prospects and risks.

However, we must also acknowledge the fact that the call for centralized regulation is not a universal consensus. Some critics argue that the dynamism of AI technology requires a more flexible and adaptable regulatory approach. Rapid advancements and unforeseen applications demand a regulatory framework that can evolve alongside the technology itself.

The EU parliament was hailed as the first to set thorough AI rules, but recently, conflict with Big Tech firms has hindered the efforts of the European Union. Tech firms are arguing that excessive regulations go against the foundational purpose of AI services such as OpenAIs ChatGPT. While firms argue that too much regulation can obstruct innovation, lawmakers assert that additional regulations are important to foster innovation.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AI researcher Max Tegmark, expressed how tech leaders may feel concerned about the AI risks but are more intent on innovating faster than competitors. On Nov. 15, he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Lawmakers must stand firm and protect thousands of European companies & consumers from the lobbying and regulatory capture of Mistral, Aleph & U.S. tech giants. He had recommended the establishment of a regulatory agency resembling the Food and Drug Administration but for AI, so that companies demonstrate that the product is safe before releasing source codes of AI models to the public.

YouTube seems to think otherwise. YouTube changed its policies to allow AI-generated content on its platform. Instead of being really restrictive, YouTube gave permission to post deepfakes as long as creators followed some disclosure requirements. As long as creators are transparent and check a box that lets the platform know that the content was generated by AI, creators can upload deepfakes, with a label that lets viewers know it was made by AI. In other words, YouTube is just trusting that creators will be ethical and honest about how their content was made, without robust and reliable tools to detect AI-generated videos. This seems like YouTube is allowing considerable flexibility for creators to generate potentially problematic content.

Such efforts seem to also be regarding the upcoming 2024 U.S. elections. Other Big Tech companies such as Google and Meta, have also revised their policies so that users have to inform viewers if the content was generated through deepfakes. The U.S. Federal Election Commission has also started to put efforts into regulating campaign videos. In South Korea, a revision to the Public Official Election Act was made to ban political campaign videos made with deepfake technology 90 days prior to an election.

In light of this recent heated discussion, governments should be concerned for the well-being of our society, and tools such as AI that play a pivotal role in so many facets of society, must be regulated as weapons are. A world with AI already feels like a dystopian world, and without proper regulation, it seems that the future of this technology may tread toward a world arguably less safe than we are used to.

Chyung Eun-ju (ejchyung@snu.ac.kr) is a marketing analyst at Career Step. She received a bachelor's degree in business from Seoul National University and a master's degree in marketing from Seoul National University. Joel Cho (joelywcho@gmail.com) is a practicing lawyer specializing in IP and digital law.
Section 55 of the Credit Act allows ASIC to suspend or cancel a credit licence if, among other things, ASIC believes that the licensee cannot satisfy the fit and proper person requirement. If the licensee is a corporation, it will not meet that requirement if its officer is not a fit and proper person.
6. Continuous innovation and community engagement

Australian Broker remains dedicated to continuous improvement, with plans to add new features and content based on user feedback. The company will maintain its regular daily EDM service over the new year, delivering the latest news and updates about lenders, aggregators, brokers, and loans directly to our readers.
China's President Xi Jinping attends a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing (Photo: Reuters / Yukie Nishizawa)

In a strategic visit to fortify Sino-Vietnamese relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping embarked on a two-day trip to Vietnam, signaling Beijing's intent to solidify its influence in Southeast Asia. This visit, marking Xi's first to Vietnam since 2017, closely follows recent diplomatic engagements of Vietnam with Western nations, notably the United States and Japan.

This journey holds significant implications for the regional geopolitical landscape, especially as Vietnam has been nurturing its ties with Western countries, including elevating its diplomatic relations with the U.S. to the same level as China during President Joe Biden's visit in September. Vietnam, while ideologically aligned with China due to its Communist governance, has been keenly navigating its strategic position amidst growing regional tensions, particularly in the South China Sea.

The focus of Xi's visit, beyond the ceremonial marking of 15 years of "comprehensive strategic partnership" between China and Vietnam, extends to various areas of collaboration. High on the agenda are infrastructure projects, with Beijing keen on integrating northern Vietnam into its southern supply chain networks and possibly incorporating Vietnam into its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Hanoi metro, a project funded under the BRI framework, signifies Vietnam's cautious approach in openly aligning with Beijing's ambitious infrastructure plans.

Trade and economic cooperation also dominate the discussions, with China being Vietnam's largest trading partner. However, this relationship is characterized by a trade deficit favoring China, prompting Hanoi to seek more balanced economic engagements. Furthermore, Xi's visit includes discussions on strengthening connectivity, green energy initiatives, and critical mineral cooperation, reflecting the broad spectrum of bilateral interests.

Xi's op-ed, published prior to his visit, emphasized the concept of a "community with a shared future," a strategic narrative that underscores Beijing's vision for its relationship with Hanoi. Despite Vietnam's hesitation, the phrase has seemingly been adopted, indicating Hanoi's delicate balancing act between its traditional ally and its Western partners.

Vietnam's increasing role in the Indo-Pacific security and economic landscape has not gone unnoticed. Japan, the third-largest foreign investor in Vietnam, has recently enhanced its economic and security ties with Hanoi, echoing the rhetoric of a "free and open Indo-Pacific." Such developments highlight Vietnam's strategic importance in regional geopolitics and its efforts to hedge against China's assertiveness, especially in maritime disputes.

The visit, thus, represents a critical juncture in Sino-Vietnamese relations, with Beijing endeavoring to reaffirm its influence in the region while Vietnam continues to navigate its complex position between major global powers. As both countries grapple with changing international dynamics, the outcomes of Xi's visit could significantly shape the future trajectory of their bilateral relations and the broader regional geopolitical landscape.
By Advait Palepu, Cindy Wang and Shruti Srivastava

The Adani Group has been maintaining its relationship with a controversial contracting firm controlled by a Taiwanese family, with previously unreported regulatory filings showing how the connection has evolved amid a government investigation and auditor scrutiny.



The contracting firm  Howe Engineering Projects (India) Pvt Ltd.  contains the core operations of a business called PMC Projects Pvt Ltd. that Indias government alleged in 2014 was being used by billionaire Gautam Adanis empire to siphon money overseas. Adani denied all wrongdoing and the probes findings were dismissed in 2017 by an adjudicating body.

In April 2016, PMCs engineering business was folded into Howe, according to court filings. Howe has remained an Adani contractor for some of the largest ports and railway lines presently under construction in India, recent filings analyzed by Bloomberg show.

Deloittes inability to determine whether Howe should be labeled a related party was why the auditor raised red flags about payments by Adanis ports company to the contracting firm in May. The accounting giant then resigned as the auditor for Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. in August, saying it didnt have sufficiently wide oversight over the broader conglomerates accounts.

Howe puts a spotlight on the challenges shareholders continue to face in understanding how money flows through Adani companies nearly a year after allegations of fraud by short seller Hindenburg Research. Adani has denied all Hindenburgs allegations. Hindenburg took direct aim at PMC, alleging it was an Adani related party used to suck money out of the Adani Groups publicly listed entities. Its report didnt mention Howe.

In an email, a spokesperson for the Adani conglomerate said that Howe and PMC are independently operated and managed companies, arent Adani related parties and all transactions are compliant with the law. The commercial and business transactions undertaken by the Adani entities for project management services were entered into in the ordinary course of business at arms length basis, the statement said.

Indias securities regulator has been conducting a probe into Hindenburgs allegations about Adani. While the agency hasnt announced its findings yet, it has said that its investigations will examine potential related party transactions among other issues.

PMC Projects and Howe are both owned by an entity registered in Mauritius, which is in turn owned by Taiwanese entrepreneur Chang Chien-ting, filings show. Chang along with his father Chang Chung-ling has had lengthy financial dealings with Adani companies.

When companies identify contractors as related parties during the accounting process, the payments are subject to a much higher level of scrutiny from auditors and the board. However, since Adani has said Howe and PMC arent related parties, the group isnt required to put the Howe payments through these added checks.

Bloomberg visited the office of Hi Lingos Co Ltd., a firm where Chung-ling, the father, is the registered owner in Taiwan. There was only one large logo by the entrance of its office: Adani.





A secretary at the office said that Chung-ling declined to be interviewed. When Bloomberg called a number it was given for the son, the man who answered first asked: How did you get my number?, but then went on to say that he wasnt Chang.

PMC Projects was founded in 2005 by Dr Malay Mahadevia, a long time senior Adani executive, but its ownership was transferred to multiple entities several times over the years. By 2012, its shares had been transferred to the Changs PMC Infra Ltd. in Mauritius, filings show. By 2016, the bulk of its business was housed in Howe  the inflection point after which Howes revenue shot up.

Bloomberg sent requests for comment to the corporate email addresses of PMC and Howe, but they werent answered.

Howe is little known in India and there havent been allegations of illegal business dealings involving it. About $450 million of Adani advances to Howe were outstanding as of June, according to the documents analyzed by Bloomberg.

Adani had never publicly disclosed the payments to Howe until Deloitte flagged them in May. About $245 million of refundable deposits was returned by Howe to Adani since then. Contractors typically return these funds once a project is completed or terminated.

The question is who is getting the money, what work are they doing for Howe and Adani, how is the money being spent?, asks Sharmila Gopinath, a specialist advisor for India at the Hong Kong-based Asian Corporate Governance Association. What reason is there not to disclose these payments when there are obviously deep ties with these people, with the owner?

Crucial Questions



In recent months, Adani stocks have begun to rebound after losing more than $150 billion in market value following Hindenburgs allegations. The US government, meanwhile, concluded that Hindenburgs allegations werent applicable to the conglomerates ports subsidiary before extending the firm as much as $553 million for a container terminal in Sri Lanka, a senior US official recently told Bloomberg.

The group has also drawn new global investments. But some of its stocks still remain off their peak, reflecting the questions still hanging over its sprawling businesses.

Howes Ahmedabad offices are housed inside four floors of a glass building thats a two minute walk away from Adani Groups head office within Shantigram, a 600 acre township owned and developed by the conglomerate.

It had annual revenue of 32.8 billion rupees ($390 million) in the last fiscal year, according to its filings. Although Howe has other clients, most of its work is for Adani, according to four people familiar with its operations, who asked not be named because they werent authorized to speak to the media. Of the 59 projects listed on Howes website, 33 belong to Adani.

The conglomerate provides Howe with funds or advances to manage the construction of its ports, and the money is then passed on to sub-contractors, according to the people familiar with its operations. So, while millions of dollars from Adanis publicly traded ports business have flowed into Changs Howe, where all of it landed remains unclear.

Adani said in its statement that while business and commercial transactions are privileged and cannot be routinely disclosed, they are all fully compliant with the relevant applicable laws.

Business groups cant automatically be assumed to have acted inappropriately, but possible related party transactions are a risk because there can be abuse, said Gerhard Schnyder, professor of International Management and Political Economy at Loughborough University in London, speaking broadly on corporate governance.

An Old Hand



The older Chang was a director of Adani Global Ltd. in Mauritius in 1997, and of Adani Global Pte Ltd. in Singapore between 2003 and 2005 alongside Gautam Adanis older brother Vinod, according to the conglomerates public reports.

In 2007, entities controlled by the older Chang owned large blocks of Adani Ports, only to transfer them to entities controlled by Vinod Adani, filings analyzed by Bloomberg show. The fathers entities have also owned shares in other Adani businesses.

In August, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project said in an investigation that the father traded in Adani stock through several offshore entities, pumping up the price in the previous decade and obscuring the true ownership of stock by the groups founders. The origins of the funds used werent clear, OCCRP said.

The Adani Group has refuted OCCRPs allegations, calling them recycled claims and saying that the expert committee appointed by Indias Supreme Court in March found no evidence of price manipulation in Adani companies stocks.

Indias revenue intelligence agency conducted at least three investigations into billing and invoicing at the Adani group between 2014 and 2017. Investigators looked into the relationship between Adani companies and the Taiwanese father-son duo at the time, according to a person familiar with the government probes, who asked not to be named because they werent authorized to speak to the media.

In a 2014 show cause notice, investigators alleged that Adani companies imported power equipment and other hardware from manufacturers in South Korea and China through Changs PMC Projects and Electrogen Infra FZE Ltd, a Dubai-based entity ultimately owned by Vinod Adani. They alleged that the invoices used for payments by PMC Projects to Electrogen were inflated, allowing funds from Adani companies to be siphoned abroad.

The Adani Group was cleared of all the allegations made against it in 2017 by an adjudicating authority of the agency and later by a customs tribunal. Investigators at the revenue department tried to mount another legal challenge, but Indias Supreme Court dismissed the case, saying that there was no need for interference and upheld the findings of the adjudicating body.

Big Business



Although Adani has said Howe isnt a connected entity, Gopinath, the governance expert, says that since Adani was paying the contractor large sums of money and its Taiwanese associates were the ultimate owners of the firm, the transactions should have been declared as related party transactions.

Some of Indias rules on the subject can be open to interpretation. For instance, transactions must be disclosed as related party payments when one party has the ability to control or exercise significant influence over the other by participating in its financial and operation decisions.

Accounting experts interviewed by Bloomberg also said that if there is a transfer of resources, shared employees or if directors are appointed to specifically to oversee common projects then they should be seen as related parties and payments to them should be subject to added scrutiny from the board and auditors.

Beyond the big contracts flowing from Adani to Howe and PMC, there has also been a revolving door of employees between the three firms, filings show. Past directors at Howe and PMC were also appointed to the boards of Adani group companies over the years.





The physical proximity of offices (a standard trade practice in such contracts) or the mere holding of directorship  that too, 17 to 26 years ago  will not make the queried transactions related party transactions, Adani said in its statement.

Gopinath said more scrutiny is needed across India to assess payments by listed companies because investor money is involved.

We need to tinker with related party transaction regulations because this has opened up a new can of worms, she said about the debate around Adanis disclosures.
Multiple suicide bombers stormed a police station in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, killing at least six security personnel and injuring 16 others, authorities said.

The suicide bombers stormed the security compound of the Daraban police station of the unruly Dera Ismail Khan district bordering the South Waziristan tribal district.

The terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the building of the police station, which was followed by a mortar attack.

In an exchange of fire between the security forces and the attackers which followed the attack, at least six security personnel were killed and 16 injured, police said.

All the attackers were killed by the security forces while fresh contingents of police were rushed to the site, and a subsequent search operation was launched, official sources said.

A relatively unknown militant organisation, Tehrik-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), claimed responsibility for the attack. The terror organisation has been behind some major attacks in Pakistan.

Its spokesperson, Mullah Qasim, termed the attack a suicide mission (Fidayein).

An emergency was declared in district hospitals while all schools and colleges were closed due to the attack.
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Walmart today announced that the first India-made bicycles are hitting select stores in the U.S. just in time for the holidays. Hero Ecotech Ltd., one of India's foremost manufacturers and exporters of bicycles, has designed a cruiser-style bike for Walmart carrying the Concord brand available in both adult-sized mens and womens versions adding to the companys growing bicycle offerings.

Hero Ecotech Ltd. is among many Indian manufacturers who are building supplier relationships with Walmart, helping the company accelerate their goal to triple exports of goods from India to $10 billion annually by 2027. Walmart recently

announced

the

Walmart Growth Summit

, an invitation-only event

offering export-ready suppliers, micro-, small- and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs), cross border trade suppliers, and innovative companies an opportunity to pitch for business. The event will be held on February 13-15, 2024, in New Delhi.

Our goal at Walmart is to provide high-quality products at price points that all customers can access. Our collaboration with Hero Ecotech supports that goal and demonstrates manufacturing growth and capability in India overall, said Andrea Albright, Executive Vice President, Sourcing, Walmart. India is well-positioned to support increased demand for products by Walmart customers, and we are excited about our partnership with Hero Ecotech. This collaboration furthers our work to strengthen resiliency in our global supply while contributing to economic growth worldwide.

India's rich history as a leading manufacturer of bicycles is exemplified by Hero Ecotech Ltd. The cruisers sold in Walmart U.S. stores are built with more than 90 percent of raw materials sourced from India. The company stands as one of the premier manufacturers of mobility products in India and holds the distinction of being Indias largest exporter of bicycles, shipping to over 80 countries.

At Hero Ecotech Ltd., we are excited about our collaboration with Walmart to bring our products to Walmart customers this year, said Vijay Munjal, Chairman, Hero Ecotech Ltd. We are proud to be among the first Indian-built products to join the bicycle category at Walmart and believe the Concord cruisers represent the quality work of our employees and our company. I encourage manufacturers here in India to consider working with Walmart and seek opportunities to directly engage with them at the Walmart Growth Summit in February.

Walmarts commitment to the India market is not new, with the company already exporting products across a range of categories. As part of Walmarts contribution to the countrys

Make in India

initiative, the company aims to empower 50,000 MSMEs to participate in domestic and global supply chains through Walmart Vriddhi, a comprehensive growth and training program launched in 2019 that helps MSMEs modernize, scale, and meet their domestic and international ambitions.

Companies interested in doing business with Walmart should visit WalmartGrowthSummit.com for more information.
China's top 10 internet trending terms unveiled

Xinhua) 16:53, December 12, 2023

BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The "top 10 Chinese internet trending terms" of 2023 were unveiled Tuesday by the National Language Resources Monitoring and Research Center.

Terms on the list include "@Future," part of the English slogan of the Hangzhou Asian Games; "Special Forces-Style Travel," a hip way among young people in China to make the best out of short holiday breaks; "Intelligent Life," and "Village Super League."

As part of the yearly event "Chinese Language Review 2023," the "top 10 Chinese internet trending terms" are selected based on the internet part of the national language resources monitoring corpus, which boasts a corpus scale of over 8 billion characters.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
By Chung Hwang-keun

We have been looking for a friend like Korea, Julius Maada Wonie Bio, president of the Republic of Sierra Leone, told me when I visited the African nation in October.

Those words conveyed much more than what he really meant. President Bio has placed the top priority on achieving food security as a national task of utmost importance, as his country is in the process of being rebuilt after having gone through civil war.

Amid this situation, the president chose Korea as a partner to work together in cooperation. He was eager to participate in the K-Ricebelt project and learn from Koreas experience of enhancing rice productivity.

Koreas international development cooperation in agriculture has never been under such a spotlight as today. This is more attributable to the national brand "Korea" rather than its larger assistance, compared to other countries.

Todays severe food shortages in African countries were a challenge as severe as what Korea faced one or two generations ago. However, Korea overcame this challenge through the Green Revolution, and laid the foundation for growth to join the ranks of advanced countries.

The reason that African countries are paying attention to Korea does not lie in receipt of funding, but in making a better future by taking Koreas experience of overcoming hardship following the 1950-53 Korean War and achieving economic development.

Koreas experience of developing a new rice variety, Tong-il rice, and achieving self-sufficiency in rice production is becoming a seed of hope for Africa through the K-Ricebelt project.

Thanks to advanced countries donation of heifers in the past, Korea was able to develop world-class dairy technologies. Such experience and know-how are now being transferred to dairy farmers in Nepal, with a donation of 101 cattle to the nation in December last year.

Koreas rapid economic growth in aa shor timeframeed to development of diverse technologies and policies spanning from low to high levels. Thus, Korea has diverse levels of agricultural knowledge to share with other countries. This is the unique soft power possessed solely by the nation, and it is the reason that many countries choose to collaborate with us in the field of agriculture.

On the occasion of the 2023 Development Cooperation Week in November, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs held the 2023 Global Agricultural ODA Forum in Ghana, a member of the K-Ricebelt project, to share the outcomes of Koreas agricultural official development assistance (ODA) projects and future plans with the recipient countries and experts from international organizations.

An official from the World Food Programme (WFP) emphasized the significance of the K-Ricebelt project for sharing the secrets and experience of Koreas agricultural development, and said that the world today, faced with crises caused by climate change and war, needs such leadership.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warned, in the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) Report released in July, that the number of people facing hunger around the world is increasing.

President Yoon Suk Yeol emphasized that countries with financial and technological capacities must assume responsible roles during his speech at the U.N. General Assembly in September. Accordingly, the ministry has increased next years ODA budget by 65 percent. Going forward, we will continue making the utmost effort to share our experience in agriculture with other countries and planting seeds of hope around the world.

Chung Hwang-keun is the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Postal Code
Chaebol heirs subject to highest inheritance tax rate of 60 percent

By Lee Min-hyung

The government should reduce inheritance tax on businesspeople, as the worlds highest related tax rate of up to 60 percent in Korea is feared to adversely affect companies' ability to create jobs and increase investment, company officials and scholars said Tuesday.

The financial burdens of inheritance tax here are high enough that tycoons use loans to to pay. Experts argued that this goes against the global trend, as most developed nations in Europe and the United States are moving to alleviate business leaders tax burdens.

European countries, such as Sweden and Norway, have abolished the inheritance tax, and the U.S. and a group of other developed European countries are discussing the agenda of cutting the tax, so local companies there enhance their global competitiveness, Kim Dae-jong, a professor of business administration at Sejong University, said.

Officials from Koreas major conglomerates also argued the nations economy is feared to take the biggest hit unless the current tax system is revised on par with the global standard.

The excessive level of inheritance tax may end up causing overall economic loss for Korea, as less firms will be willing to make investments and create more jobs, as some business leaders still face a tremendous amount of tax burden, an official from one of Koreas top-tier conglomerates said on condition of anonymity.

For instance, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun is estimated to pay at least 2 trillion won ($1.52 billion) in inheritance tax. Chung is the third-generation heir of the nations largest automaker.

LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo recently settled his inheritence tax payment in installments over the past five years. The amount surpasses 700 billion won.

Bereaved families of late Nexon founder Kim Jung-ju ended up choosing tax payment in kind with shares of Nexons holding firm, NXC, worth 4.7 trillion won out of 6 trillion won levied on them as inheritance tax.

This prompted calls for the Korean goverenment to address what some believe to be an excessive level of inheritance tax affecting mainly chaebol families.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho also recently raised the agenda, saying that it is high time for the government to revise the outdated inheritance tax system.

Koreas inheritance tax rate is the highest level among OECD member countries, Choo told lawmakers last month. A total of 14 out of 38 nations do not levy any inheritance tax at all. If the National Assembly submits any revision act regarding the issue, the government will also actively discuss the agenda.

According to a poll conducted by the Korea Enterprises Federation, more than 70 percent of respondents voted in favor of reducing the maximum inheritance tax rate or abolishing the system and changing it into a capital gains tax. The respondents include a group of 211 professors of economics and business administrators in Korea.
Karnataka Board Exam 2024

The primary educational authority in Karnataka is the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board or KSEEB. The Karnataka board was created in 1966 and is in charge of carrying out state-level exams like the SSLC and PUC. The many facets of school education are overseen by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board or KSEEB.

We hope that your preparation for the SSLC is on the right track. We are here to support you with the content that help you in the 10th board exams. Please note that your preparation for all the subjects must be completed before January 2024. The reason is the exams will be conducted in the month of March 2024. Last year Karnataka SSLC Board exams were conducted from March 31 to April 15, 2023. So this year the dates will be somewhere around this. Also, the results for Karnataka SSLC 2024 will be announced in the month of May.

We have attempted to cover the many duties and activities of the Karnataka Secondary Education Board on this page. A comprehensive choice of study materials, the Karnataka State Board syllabus, and other tools are also offered to aid students in getting ready for the Karnataka State Board exams. In India, the secondary school system is overseen and governed by the Karnataka State Examination Board.

Karnataka Board Exam 2024 Results

Karnataka School Examinations and Assessments Board, KSEAB, would tentatively issue Karnataka SSLC Result 2024 in May 2024. Students can access the Karnataka SSLC Result 2024 by entering their registration number and date of birth on the official website - kseab.karnataka.gov.in/ and karresults.nic.in. Karnataka SSLC Result 2024 date has not yet been offiicially declared. Students should be aware that the online SSLC result 2024 is tentative. They can obtain the SSLC Results 2024 Karnataka by SMS.

Over 8 lakh students will able able to view their SSLC Result 2024 Karnataka both online and offline.

Students may also view their Karnataka 10th Result 2024 by SMS and Digilocker. They must contact their respective schools for the authentic marksheet as soon as the results for the Karnataka SSLC Tests 2024 are announced. They must also keep a copy of the online SSLC Result 2024 Karnataka Marksheet for future reference. Students must prepare according to the Karnataka SSLC Curriculum 2023-24 in order to attain better outcomes in the Karnataka SSLC Test 2024. The Karnataka SSLC Answer key 2024 will be available on the board's official website - kseab.karnataka.gov.in/. The Karnataka SSLC exams will be held at over 2,800 exam centres throughout the state. Students should maintain their Karnataka SSLC Admission card ready in order to check the SSLC Result Karnataka.

The Karnataka SSLC Board exam was held from 31 March to 15 April, 2023. On May 08, 2023, the Karnataka Class 10 results were released. The Karnataka SSLC Supplementary results 2023 was announced by the board on June 30, 2023 at 11.am. On June 6, 2023, the board announced the Karnataka SSLC Revaluation Result 2023. Those who applied for revaluation / retotaling could view thier results on the official website - kseab.karnataka.gov.in/.

According to KSEAB data, the KSEEB 10th Pass Percentage in 2023 is 83.89%. In the Karnataka SSLC Results 2023, girls once again outperformed boys. A total of 359511 females, or 87.87%, completed the KSEEB 10th exam 2023, while 341108 boys, or 80.08%, passed the exam.

How to check SSLC Result 2024 Karnakata via SMS

Occasionally, the official websites go down owing to high traffic shortily after the results are announced. Students can also check their results by SMS in this instance. They can do so by following the steps outlined below:

Open the messaging app on the mobile phone

Enter KSEEB10 (Roll No.)

Please send it to 56263.

SSLC 2024 Karnataka Result will be delivered to the same mobile number.

Students must save a screenshot of their KSEEB SSLC Result 2024 for future use.

Karnataka SSLC Result 2024: How to check via Digilocker

Step 1: Navigate to digilocker.gov.in.

Step 2: Select Sign Up. Enter your name, date of birth, phone number, email address, and Aadhar number.

Step 3: Make a six-digit security code. Submit.

Step 4: Create an account with a username and password.

Step 5: Under the 'education' tab, select the Karnataka Board.

Step 6: Go to the SSLC Exam result 2024 Karnataka Page.

Step 7: Sign in with your Aadhar Card.

Step 8: The Mark Sheet for the Karnataka SSLC Result 2024 will be displayed on the screen

FAQs:

1. What is the terminology for class 12 in Karnataka?

Ans: The name given to higher secondary education in Karnataka is pre-university course (PUC).

2. Are SSC and SSLC the same?

Ans: Undoubtedly, SSLC and SSC are interchangeable terms. It is known as SSC in Andhra Pradesh and SSLC in south India.

3. Who is the Education Minister of Karnataka?

Ans: Sri B.G. Nagesh is the Education Minister of Karnataka.

4. What does KSEEB do?

Ans: It (KSEEB) carries out and oversees a number of tasks, such as creating study plans, establishing curricula, holding tests, recognising schools, and offering guidance, support, and leadership to all secondary educational institutions falling under its purview.

5. What mark must a student receive to pass the SSLC board exams in Karnataka?

Ans: In order to pass the SSLC board exams in the state of Karnataka, all candidates must receive at least a 35% score.

KSEEB SSLC Exam At the conclusion of the academic year, the Karnataka SSLC Board is in charge of organising the board exams for Class 10 students in connected schools. The board also determines the class 10 curriculum, syllabus, and textbooks. In order to enrol in a school or college for higher education, pupils must pass the Karnataka SSLC Board Examination. Secondary School Leaving Certificate is referred to as SSLC. The Karnataka State Education Board often holds SSLC examinations in the months of March and April. For children who did not pass the primary examination, the Karnataka State Board additionally administers a second exam in the month of June. Almost 8.41 lakh children typically take the SSLC exams in Karnataka, according to reports. The primary educational authority in Karnataka is the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board of KSEEB. The Karnataka Board was created in 1966 and is in charge of carrying out state-level exams like the SSLC and PUC. The many facts of school education are overseen by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board for KSEEB. Dates of the examinations are not yet announced, but if we refer to last year examination schedule Karnataka SSLC Board exams was conducted from March 31 to April 15, 2023. Through this we can predict that the dates of Boards will be somewhere around this. It is obvious now that you must finish your exam preparation by January, 2024 and keep the rest days for your revision. We hope that your preparation for the SSLC is on the right trace, but it not then need not worry. We are here with the basic content gulde that will help you in the board exams. If your haven't started the preparation already then now is the time to prepare with us to obtain your desired results. Also, the results for Karnataka SSLC 2024 will be announced in the month of May, In this page we have attempted to cover a comprehensive choice of study materials, the Karnataka State Board Syllabus, & other tools are helpful for students in getting ready for the Karnataka State Board Exams. Karnataka School Examinations and Assessment Board will release the Karnataka SSLC Time Table 2024 and Karnataka 2nd PUC 2024 time table in online mode. The Karnataka board 2024 time table is likely to be released in December, 2023. You can download the PDF of Karnataka State Board Exam time table from the official website - kseab.karnataka.gov.in and pue.karnataka.gov.in. KSEEB SSLC Question Papers

DPUE 2nd PUC Exam Higher Secondary Education in Karnataka is referred to as Pre-University Course (PUC). The program lasts two years; the first year, Class 11, is referred to as First PUC, while the second year, Class 12, is referred to as Second PUC. It is essential for students to succeed on the second PUC Board Exam in order to gain admission to a university for higher study. The board exams for students in the first and second PUC are administered by the Department of Pre-University Education in Karnataka in affiliated colleges and schools throughout the state.



Karnataka 2nd PUC Result 2023 Declared The Karnataka 2nd PUC result 2023 released on April 21, at 10 AM. The results are available on the official website at karresults.nic.in, starting at 11 AM. The examinations were administered in 2023 from March 9 to March 29. For the exams, more than 7 lakh students registered. The Karnataka 2nd PUC Result 2023 was declared on the official website of the Department of Pre-University Education, Karnataka (DPUE). The candidates who have appeared in the 2nd PUC Examination are supposed to keep an eye on the official website of the Board. Students are expected to visit the official website; karresults.nic.in to get the latest information related to the results 2023 and many more. Karnataka 2 PUC Result 2023 - How to Check Secondary PUC Result? Students should visit the official website of the Karnataka School Examination and Evaluation Board https://kseab.karnataka.gov.in/.

Step 1: Click on the PUC Result link on the page that opens.

Step 2: Then another page will open for you.

Step 3: Students type their registration number on that open page.

Step 4: Then click on 'Submit'.

Step 5: Then your result will be displayed to you. DPUE 2nd PUC Question Papers

KSEEB SSLC Time Table 2024 Class 10 Time table KSEEB SSLC Supplementary Exam Time Table 2021 Released The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) has released the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) Supplementary exam time table 2021. Download Karnataka SSLC Supplementary Exam Date 2021 The Board will be conducting the Karnataka SSLC Supplementary exam 2021 on September 27 and 29. Students are advised to check the Karnataka SSLC Supplementary time table 2021 pdf on the portal that consists of subject code, time, duration and maximum marks. Karnataka SSLC Result 2021 Declared The KSEEB has announced the Karnataka SSLC result 2021 on August 9. Candidates need to use their login credentials such as registration number and date of birth to check Karnataka 10th result 2021. The overall pass percentage is 99.99%. Karnataka SSLC 2021 Answer key Released The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) has released the Karnataka SSLC 2021 answer key and question paper on the official portal. One can download the Karnataka SSLC exam answer key 2021 on the official website. The Board has released the Karnataka SSLC Examination MCQ answer key along with question papers for the Core Subjects (Paper 1), Alternative Subjects (Paper 1) and JTS Subjects (Paper 3). The board is likely to release the results in the second week of August. High Court Dismisses Plea To Cancel Karnataka SSLC Class 10 Exams 2021 The Karnataka High Court has dismissed the plea regarding the cancellation of Class 10 SSLC exams. The Court has approved that SSLC exams can be conducted from July 19 as scheduled. Earlier, the government has cancelled the annual regular exams due to COVID. It has rolled out the MCQ format to conduct the Class 10 (SSLC) exams. The state has cancelled Class 12 board exams (2nd PUC) exams and decided to promote students based on the previous year performance. Karnataka SSLC Hall Ticket 2021 And Model Question Papers Released The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) has released the SSLC exam 2021 model papers. It has also released the SSLC hall tickets which will be available through school login. Download SSLC 2021 Model Question Papers The KSEEB will be conducting the Karnataka SSLC exams 2021 in multiple-choice questions OMR based on July 19 and 22. The Board has also released the Karnataka SSLC hall ticket 2021 for the objective exam. Karnataka SSLC Exams To Be Held On July 19 & 22 The KSEEB will conduct the Secondary School Leaving Certification (SSLC) examination or Class 10th exams on July 19 and 22, 2021. Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar has announced that the exam will be held in multi-choice objective type questions. "This time the SSLC exam, conducted by the state board, will be held in two days. The core subject exam such as mathematics, Social Science and Science will be held on July 19 and language subject exam will take place on July 22. Both the exams will take place from 10.30 AM to 1.30 PM," the minister said. Karnataka Releases SOP For Class 10 Board Exams The Karnataka government has released the process to conduct the Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination (Class 10th) board examination in July by releasing the standard operating procedure (SOP) for teachers. The timetable and other details will be released soon. Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar said those in charge of the exam centres should abide by the SOP. As per the sources, there would be 12 children in the examination hall and only one student at each desk to maintain physical distancing. Karnataka Cancels 2nd PUC Exams 2021, SSLC Exams In July The Karnataka Government has decided to cancel the 2nd PUC (Class 12th) board exams amid the COVID-19 situation in the state. Karnataka Minister for Primary & Secondary Education Suresh Kumar has confirmed that 2nd PUC exams were cancelled for the academic year 2020-21. He also said that the SSLC exams will be held in the third week of July 2021. The exam authority, DPUE, is likely to release the alternative assessment criteria soon on its official portal. Decision On Karnataka SSLC And PUC Board Exams 2021 Soon With the announcement of cancelling CBSE Class 12th board exams, many states are under the pressure to cancel the board exams. Karnataka government is all set to take its decision regarding the postponed SSLC (Class 10th) and PUC (Class 12th) board exams 2021. The State Education Minister Suresh Kumar had said that it is very important to conduct PUC (Class 12) examinations. This is very important and appropriate for the student's future. Earlier, the Union Government has cancelled the CBSE Class 12th board exams because the conditions are not conducive to hold the examinations. Karnataka SSLC Exams 2021 Postponed The Government of Karnataka has decided to postpone the Class 10th (SSLC) board exams scheduled to begin in June due to the ongoing second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic. Karnataka Minister for Primary & Secondary Education S Suresh Kumar has announced that the Karnataka SSLC exams 2021 postponed news. The revised schedule will be released after analysing the situation.
The Indian Navy Civilian Entrance Test registration process will begin on December 18, 2023. Candidates can apply online at joinindiannavy.gov.in, the official website of the Join Indian Navy.The application deadline is December 31, 2023. The organisation will fill 910 positions as a result of this recruitment campaign. Read on for more information about eligibility, the selection procedure, and other details.

Overview

Organization Indian Navy

Post Name Chargeman, Draughtsman, and Tradesman Mate

Vacancies 910

Notification December 08, 2023

Registration Date December 18 to 31, 2023

Official Website joinindiannavy.gov.in

Notification

The Indian Navy INCET Notification 2023 announced the employment of 919 various roles, including Tradesman Mate, Senior Draughtsman, and Chargeman, for the Entrance Test (INCET)-01/2023. The Navy INCET Notification 2023, issued on December 8, 2023, announces the beginning of the online application procedure, which is set to begin on December 18, 2023.

How to Apply for Indian Navy Jobs 2023?

The following are the steps to apply online:

To begin, go to the official website joinindiannavy.gov.in. Following that, go to the homepage and select the Recruitment area. Following that, you must select Indian Navy Recruitment 2023.

Following that, you must carefully read the Indian Navy Recruitment 2023 official announcement.

The applicant must next select the option to Apply Online.

Following that, the applicant must carefully and accurately complete each question on the application form.

Following that, you must submit your signature, photograph, and other documents.

Following that, the applicant must pay the application fee by category.

After it has been properly completed, the application must be sent.

Finally, print the application form and save it.

Selection Procedure

The selection procedure includes a computer-based assessment. All shortlisted/eligible candidates must take an online computer-based test with multiple-choice questions in both English and Hindi. The exam lasts 90 minutes, has 100 questions, and has a maximum score of 100.

Fees for Examination

Candidates must pay a fee of 295/- online using net banking or via Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/ Debit Card/ UPI. Candidates from SC/ST/PWD/E-servicemen and women are exempt from paying the application fee. Candidates can get further information on the Indian Navy's official website.
Tamil Nadu Board Exam 2024

The Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education, popularly known as the Directorate of Government Examination, i.e.; DGE is a state-level Board that conducts examinations for the students of Tamil Nadu. The Department of Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, India, is in charge of the Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education, which was founded in 1910. Three board examsone at the end of class 10 and the others at the end of classes 11 and 12are administered by the Tamil Nadu State Board of School Examination to measure the progress of students. Universities utilize the class 12 (together with class 11) board test results as a cut-off for entrance to their programs and to establish eligibility.

As students embark on their academic journey, the approaching Tamil Nadu Board Exam 2024 will be important turn in their academic careers. It is one of India's oldest and most well-known boards. Being the oldest, it is also considered as one of the toughest boards in South India. But you need not to worry as you have landed in the right location.

We hope that you have already started preparing for the upcoming exams as the dates are out of the Tamil Nadu board. The Tamil Nadu Board offers several streams, Including SSLC (Secondary School Leaving Certificate), Anglo Indian, Oriental School Leaving Certificate (OSLC), and Matriculation. It also offers a Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Stream for 11th and 12th Grade. The Board published the Tamil Nadu 10, 11th, and 12th Timetable online at dge.tn.gov.in.

The TN SSLC theoretical examinations will be held between March 26 and April 08, 2024, and the TN HSC Examination will take place March 01 to March 22, 2024.

Not to mention, passing the Tamil Nadu Board Examinations would qualify you to advance in your career. This page is a comprehensive resource of both students and parents, Providing important insights on exam complexities, essential preparation strategies, and key milestones.

FAQs:

1. In Tamil Nadu, how many boards are there?

Ans: Three board examsone at the end of class 10 and the others at the end of classes 11 and 12are administered by the Tamil Nadu State Board of School Examination to measure the progress of students.

2. Is the Tamil Nadu State Board valid?

Ans: The Tamil Nadu government has authorised the Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education, making it legitimate in every sense. It is one of India's most well-known and oldest boards.

3. What grade system is followed by the Tamil Nadu State Board?

Ans: The Tamil Nadu Board Grading System 2022 uses an eight-point scale, starting with A1 and progressing through A2, B1, and E. Based on their achievement in the Class 10 and 12 Board Exams, the students are evaluated with the aid of the Tamil Nadu Grading System.

4. Who is the Tamil Nadu Education Minister for 2024?

Ans: Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi is the Education Minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.





TNBSE SSLC Exam The Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education or the Directorate of Government Examination (DGE) is made responsible for conducting the Board Examination of Class 10, every year. The candidates who will be appearing in the examination should be well-versed in the curriculum of the DGE, Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education provides all the important details related to the board on the official website of the DGE, Tamil Nadu.



TNBSE SSLC Question Papers

TNBSE HSC Exam Class 12 is a very prominent stage in the lives of students. It is the final step through which they will be upgrading themselves for their future higher studies. The Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education or the DGE, Tamil Nadu plays a crucial role, as it is responsible for administering the Class 12 Board Examination. The appearing candidates are requested to keep an eye on the official website of the DGE, Tamil Nadu for the latest information and updates; that will be highly helpful to the candidates. TNBSE HSC Question Papers

TNBSE SSLC Time Table 2024 Class 10 Time table TN Class 10th (SSLC) Exam Result 2021 Declared The TNDGE has declared the Tamil Nadu Class 10th (SSLC) result 2021 on August 23 at 11 am. Candidates can check their TN SSLC result 2021 Tamil Nadu by entering their registration number and date of birth. This year, the Board had decided to cancel the TN Class 10 exams 2021 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results were prepared based on the internal assessments. TN 10th Result 2021 On August 23 The Directorate of Government Examinations, Tamil Nadu is likely to release the TN SSLC provisional marksheet at 11 am on August 23. The exam authority has confirmed that the TN 10th marksheet 2021 link will remain active till August 31. Candidates can download their provisional marks certificate of TN 10th result 2021 through the official website. TN Class 12th Result 2021 Evaluation Criteria Released TN Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced the evaluation criteria of TN HSC results 2021. The Board will prepare the TN Class 12th result 2021 based on the 50:20:30 formula. It contains weightage from Class 10, 11, and 12 marks respectively. The results contain a weightage of 30% in Class 12, 20% weightage in Class 11 and 50% weightage in Class 10 board exam marks. The sources suggest that the results will be released by July 31. No Entrance Test For Admission To Tamil Nadu Class 11 Tamil Nadu government has decided not to hold any entrance examination for admission to Class 11. It has also decided to increase the number of seats by 10-15 per cent. Schools witnessing a large number of applications can consider the Class 9 marks for admission. The official sources suggest that classes for these students will begin from June-third week. Decision On Tamil Nadu Board Exams 2021 Soon Tamil Nadu Government is all set to announce its decision regarding the Class 10th and Class 12th board exams 2021 soon. Amid the Centres decision to cancel the Class 12th board exams 2021, the TN is under pressure regarding the decision. State Education Minister said that the government is likely to hold consultations with parents and others to take a decision on the TN +2 Public Exams and SSLC exams. Earlier, Tamil Nadu has cancelled SSLC and +1 examinations and postponed the +2 exams due to the COVID-19 pandemic. TN Class 12th Board Exams 2021 Postponed The Tamil Nadu government has decided to postpone the Class 12 board exams in view of the COVID-19 surge across the state. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu K Palaniswami has chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation of Coronavirus in the state and decided to impose a complete lockdown on Sundays and night curfew between 10 pm and 4 am to contain the spread of the virus. However, the ongoing TN HSC practical exams will be conducted as per the schedule. TN Government Cancels SSLC And HSE +1 Exams 2021 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has decided to cancel the Board Exams 2021 for Class 10 and Class 11 for this year due to an ongoing pandemic. It has promoted all the students of Class 9, Class 10 and Class 11 to the next grade without appearing for the examination. Last year, the Government has also cancelled the board exams for Class 10 and Class 11. It promoted students to the next grade. TN HSE Exams 2021 Will Be Held From May 3 The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Government Examinations (TNDGE) has released the Date Sheet for Tamil Nadu State Board Higher Secondary Exam (HSE) or Class 12. The TN HSE+2 Examinations will be conducted from May 3 to 21, 2021. The exams will be conducted from 3rd May 2021 between 10 A.M. to 1:15 P.M. and the candidates will get 10 minutes for reading the question paper and verifying their particulars. This year, more than eight lakh students would appear for the TN HSE+2 Examinations. Tamil Nadu Schools To Reopen For Class 10 And 12 The government of Tamil Nadu is all set to reopen the schools for Classes 10 and 12 students. The state health department has directed the staff to screen the students and faculty due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Deputy Directors of Health are advised to use the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram teams to screen the students and faculty for screening. The primary health centre (PHC) teams could be mobilised if required. TN 11th Supplementary Result 2020 Declared The Directorate of Government Examination, Tamil Nadu (TNDGE) has declared the HSE (+1) Plus One supplementary result 2020 on October 29 at 11 am. Candidates who have appeared for the written exams conducted in September can check their TN Plus One Supplementary result 2020 on the official site at dge.tn.gov.in. Click Here For TN 11th Supplementary Result 2020 One should enter their roll number and date of birth to access the TN HSE (+1) Plus One supplementary results 2020. It has also provided an option for re-checking and re-totalling. Earlier, the Board has released the Class 10 and Class 12 supplementary result 2020.
SK hynix, Dutch firm to jointly develop eco-friendly, energy-saving tech

By Ko Dong-hwan

Samsung Electronics and ASML agreed to jointly invest 1 trillion won ($762 million) to build a research fab in Korea to develop cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing technologies using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) equipment, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Tuesday.

Another Korean chip giant, SK Hynix, also signed a deal with the Dutch firm to jointly develop technology to reduce energy loss in semiconductor production by using EUV equipment.

The deals were reached during a meeting between key businesspeople from the semiconductor industries of both countries.

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Peter Wennink, president and CEO of ASML, the world's only manufacturer of EUV lithography equipment used to design and manufacture computer chips, signed the deal at the Dutch company's headquarters in Veldhoven, the Netherlands.

Also taking part in the meetings were Korea's SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and the heads of Dutch semiconductor firms, including Benjamin Loh from ASM, Andreas Pecher from Zeiss SMT and Luc Van den hove from IMEC.

The meetings happened on the sidelines of President Yoon Suk Yeol's four-day state visit to Amsterdam on Monday (local time). Yoon is the first Korean president to make a state visit to the Netherlands since the two countries formed diplomatic relations in 1961.

Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun and his Dutch counterpart, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Geoffrey van Leeuwen, were also present at the signing ceremony.

The ministry said forming a partnership with ASML, which generated 21.2 billion euros in revenues last year, is critical to the government's goal of supporting Korean chipmakers so they can stay ahead in the global semiconductor industry. Because ultra-precision microfabrication, or patterning the finest details on cutting-edge microchips, is key to making more advanced semiconductors, forming close ties with the company that dominates the EUV lithography equipment market is the top priority, according to the ministry.

"The latest Samsung-ASML deal has put Korea one step ahead of its rivals in the global semiconductor market where competition is fierce to improve ultra-precision microfabrication," said Ahn. "And we expect the SK Hynix-ASML deal to usher into Korea a more environmental ecosystem for chip fabrication equipment."

ASML, which operates in 16 countries, opened its first Korean office in 1996. The Dutch company now operates facilities in Hwaseong, Icheon and Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province and Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province.

The top trade officials of the two countries also signed an agreement to introduce cutting-edge semiconductor academies in Eindhoven University of Technology and ASML's headquarters in the Netherlands.

The new establishments will allow Korean graduate school students and professionals who are engaged in the industry in Korea or elsewhere in the world to learn about EUV machines and related technologies. This, according to Ahn, will translate into training Korean workers in the semiconductor industry.

The schools' five-year program opens next February, involving both classroom lessons and field studies at industry-leading firms or schools in the Netherlands, including ASML, NXP and Eindhoven University. The semiconductor academies are expected to train 500 chip experts in both countries.

"Today marks the renewed alliance between Korea, the strong chip fabricator, and the Netherlands, the strong tool maker for semiconductor manufacturing," said Ahn, who visited ASML's clean room and checked the latest EUV equipment. "The new bilateral partnership will make the global chip supply chain firmer and spur more technological innovation."
Cemtech Middle East & Africa 2020 was successfully held in Dubai, UAE, between 16-19 February. To view pictures from the event, please click here. A full conference report is also available here.


Lafarge Canada signs steel slag agreement with CarbiCrete

12 December 2023

CarbiCrete has entered into an agreement with Lafarge Canada (Holcim) for the processing of steel slag, the key material in its carbon-negative concrete block technology. The Lafarge team will process the material at its St Constant-Montreal East manufacturing facility.

We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint and leading the way in sustainable construction, expressed Andrew Stewart, vice-president of Cement at Lafarge Canada (East). Our partnership with CarbiCrete is a testament to our dedication to offering sustainable solutions and actively participating in the circular economy.

CarbiCretes patented slag-based process involves curing concrete blocks with carbon dioxide, which is mineralised and permanently removed from the atmosphere. The companys technology is currently being used by Canadian hardscape manufacturer Patio Drummond to produce carbon-negative blocks in Drummondville, Quebec.

Collaborating with Lafarge allows us to leverage long-established infrastructure and years of expertise in processing steel-related byproducts, says CarbiCrete CEO, Chris Stern. This enables us to make an immediate climate impact as we scale the deployment of our technology which reduces embodied carbon in concrete by both avoiding emissions and removing carbon through mineralisation.

Published under
Allies of the jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Monday that they had been unable to locate him for six days, and that he had likely been transferred to another facility.

Navalny is serving a 19-year prison sentence on extremism charges, and a court this summer ordered to move him to a harsher "special regime" prison colony.

"We still do not know where Alexei is," his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said on social media.

She said his lawyers tried to visit Navalny at the IK-6 facility in the Vladimir region of Russia where he was being held, and tried a "special regime" colony  IK-7  in the same region.

"They have just been informed simultaneously in both colonies that he is not there," Yarmysh said.

"They refuse to say where they have taken him," she said in another post.

The United States said it was "deeply concerned" by reports that Navalny's whereabouts were unknown and demanded he be released immediately.

"He's now been gone for allegedly a week and neither his representatives or his family know where he is," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

"He should be released immediately, he should never have been jailed in the first place," Kirby told journalists travelling with U.S. President Joe Biden aboard Air Force One.

Kirby added that Washington was going to work with the U.S. embassy in Moscow to look into Navalny's possible location.

'He can be anywhere'

His disappearance comes as President Vladimir Putin announced he will run for a fifth term in March, intent on prolonging his long rule.

Since launching its military offensive on Ukraine last February, the Kremlin has escalated its crackdown against Navalny, who opposes Russia's offensive, as well as his allies and the Russian opposition more broadly.

Moscow has detained thousands of people including high-profile political activists for criticising the conflict and highlighting alleged Russian military atrocities.

Navalny's allies believe he was taken out of the Vladimir region.

"He can be anywhere," said Leonid Volkov, another Navalny ally. "What's worse, he could be transferred for several weeks."

Russia's extensive prison system often takes weeks  or even months  to transfer prisoners between far-flung facilities by rail.

Prison officers have in the past often sent Navalny to a solitary punishment cell  where he has spent at least 266 days.

The opposition figure, who has complained of a series of health problems and has lost weight in prison, communicates with the outside world through his lawyers.

Navalny galvanised huge nationwide protests in Russia before he was jailed in 2021 on fraud charges after returning from Germany.

He had been recovering from a poisoning attack with Novichok, a Soviet-designed nerve agent, that he and independent investigators say was carried out by Russian agents.

In August, his initial sentence of nine years was more than doubled to 19 years, as Moscow prosecutors accused him of creating an organisation that undermined public security by carrying out "extremist activities."

Navalny had established a network of political offices across the country and a corruption watchdog that brought credible graft allegations against political elites. (AFP)
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a U.S. military audience on Monday that he hoped he can still count on the United States and urged Congress not play into Russian President Vladimir Putin's hands, as he started a critical visit to Washington to shore up security assistance.

"We won't give up. We know what to do and you can count on Ukraine. And we hope just as much to be able to count on you," Zelenskyy said in an address to the National Defense University.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has warned Congress that a failure to renew military assistance to Ukraine could tip the nearly two-year-old war in Russia's favor, creating national security threats for the West.

Zelenskyy, in an oblique reference to disputes in Congress over allocating aid, said it was "crucial that politics ... not betray the soldiers."

"Let me be frank with you, friends. If there's anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capital Hill, it's just Putin and his sick clique," Zelenskyy added.

Zelenskyy has been invited to meetings at the White House and with members of Congress on Tuesday. Many Republican lawmakers have questioned continued aid to Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine early last year, triggering a war that has killed or wounded hundreds of thousands and led to the biggest confrontation between Russia and the West in six decades.

Bolstered by billions of U.S. military aid, as well as U.S. intelligence, Ukraine was able to fend off Russia's initial attempt to sweep the country and roll Russian forces back in key towns. But Kyiv failed to break through Russian defensive lines in a major counteroffensive push this year and Russia is now on the offensive in the east.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned that Putin still hoped to achieve victory in Ukraine, even as he offered assurances of "unshakable" U.S. support to the country.

"Despite his crimes and despite his isolation, Putin still believes that he can outlast Ukraine and that he can outlast America. But he is wrong," Austin said to applause.

He added, in apparent reference to Congress: "America's commitments must be honored."

Congress has approved more than $110 billion for Ukraine since Russia's February 2022 invasion but it has not approved any funds since Republicans took over the House from Democrats in January.

By mid-November, the U.S. Defense Department had used 97 percent of $62.3 billion in supplemental funding and the State Department had used all of the $4.7 billion in military assistance funding for Ukraine it had been allocated, U.S. budget director Shalanda Young said last week. (Reuters)
1/11/2024

East Ridge offices and library will be closed in observance of MLK Day on Monday. For those with trash service on Monday, those will be collected on Tuesday.. Make sure to place trash ... more
Trust for Public Land announced the promotion of David Johnson to Parks and Schoolyards program manager for its Tennessee office.David has served TPL since 2017 as a program director. Previously, he held several roles with the City of Chattanooga, including as assistant director of Parks, where he oversaw budgeting and operational improvements throughout the parks system. He holds a master of public administration in local government management from North Carolina State University and a bachelor of science in parks, recreation and leisure studies from Western Carolina University.In his new role as Parks and Schoolyards program manager, Mr.Johnson will be tasked with leading efforts to safely and thoughtfully make some public school yards as accessible to students and neighbors alike after school hours, officials said.TPLs research shows that almost 20 million people across the country do not have easy and safe access to a park, and this includes thousands of kids and their families here in Chattanooga, said Noel Durant, TPLs Tennessee state director. We can start to address this by transforming some under-utilized school playgrounds into safe, welcoming parks that neighborhoods need. David is the perfect person to work with residents, school leaders and other community partners to bring this vision to life.In Chattanooga, the Community Schoolyards program is a collaboration between TPL, Hamilton County Schools and the City of Chattanooga. A pilot project is currently underway at East Side Elementary, with two more schoolyard transformations scheduled for 2024.Mr. Johnson collaborates with local leaders to plan parks, trails and open space, focusing on neighborhoods with low investment and parkland.
A Mississippi man said a birthday visit to Chattanooga for sex with very young boys "is looking to be the best trip I've ever taken." He said, "I can't wait."

Dennis Gaal, 49, of Picayune, Ms., was arrested at the Hotel Chalet at the Chattanooga Choo Choo soon after arriving in town.

He is charged with child rape and two counts of solicitation of a minor.

Gaal had not realized his online conversation was with an undercover FBI officer.

The officer said he began communicating with a man who joined a private online group on Nov. 12. He said the man stated he was originally from Louisiana, but had moved to Mississippi. He said at the time he was in California working as a chef for an offshore hiring company.

He said the man, later identified as Gaal, expressed a preference for very young boys and told of past molestations. Gaal also revealed that he is on a Sex Offender list for convictions in 2000 for sex with a two-year-old boy.

Gaal said his birthday was Dec. 11, and he suggested that he drive up to Chattanooga and get a hotel room. He sent a photo of five infant outfits and an infant elephant rattle, which he said he would bring with him.

Gaal booked a second room for the individual (undercover officer) who was allegedly to supply him with the very young boys.
Swift action by the Tennessee Department of Agricultures Agricultural Crime Unit (ACU) resulted in the recovery of stolen cattle worth thousands of dollars. Three suspects, Gary James Hill from Sweetwater, Tn. and Thomas Dewayne Pressley and Donna Ann Vaughn, both from Athens, Tn., were taken to the McMinn County jail, each facing felony charges of theft over $6,000.

The theft occurred in Englewood in McMinn County, Tn. during the early morning of Dec. 3. Quick investigative work led ACU Special Agent Clint Brookshire 130 miles west to Lincoln County. There he identified five cattle recently purchased by a citizen through a private Craigslist transaction as the stolen property. Pressley and Ms. Vaughn were tracked down in Sweetwater on Dec. 6. and arrested, followed by Hill on Dec. 7 who was located in Athens.

The cattle were recovered and returned, and ACU recovered a portion of the money from the fraudulent sale for the buyer. The buyer is not believed to be involved in the theft. The McMinn County Sheriffs Department and Sweetwater and Athens Police Departments partnered with ACU in the investigation.

The Agricultural Crime Unit is a vital component of the Tennessee Department of Agricultures mission to serve, support, and promote agriculture and forestry in the state. ACU law enforcement officers are charged with investigating and enforcing state laws related to the agriculture community. To accomplish this work they collaborate with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

Since July 1, 2023, ACU has investigated 271 cases and offenses statewide.

To contact ACU call 844-AG-CRIME (844-242-7463) or email agriculture.crime@tn.gov.
Drivers traveling on I-24 in Hamilton County should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have a temporary impact on traffic. As part of Phase 2 (the second of two projects) to widen and improve the I-75 at I-24 interchange, Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews will begin construction on the new South Moore Road and McBrien Road bridges.

Beginning Wednesday, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., and continuing nightly through the end of the year, the contractor will use rolling roadblocks to stop traffic (for up to 30 minutes at a time) on I-24 to set new bridge beams. Only one direction of I-24 will be temporarily closed at a time. After 30 minutes, traffic will be allowed to clear and/or return to a free flow condition before starting another closure. This process will be repeated throughout the night until all beams have been set. These brief closures are necessary for the safety of the motoring public.

Tentative Work Schedule:

Nights of 12/13 and 12/14: South Moore Road bridge over I-24 East

Nights of 12/18 and 12/19: McBrien Road bridge over I-24 East

Nights of 12/20 and 12/21: McBrien Road bridge over I-24 West

Nights of 1/2/24 and 1/3/24: South Moore Road bridge over I-24 West

There will be no closures during the holiday travel period (6 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 22  6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2). Drivers should consider an alternate route and are encouraged to avoid the area during these times. Significant delays are expected. Drivers should follow all posted signage and remain alert to changing traffic conditions. This work is weather-dependent. Should inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances cause delays, it will be rescheduled to take place at a later date. Uniformed police officers will be present to assist with traffic control and law enforcement.
The Signal Mountain Council on Monday night named Matt Justice as the interim city manager. There will be a special called meeting on Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. to approve his contract.

City Manager Elaine Brunelle will be at one more council meeting as an employee before her retirement after working for the city 18 months. Her last day will be Dec. 27. Mayor Charles Poss said, Elaine has been fabulous and the town is grateful for her time in that position. She is leaving to devote more time to her family.

It is hoped that the search will be short because Mr. Justice also holds another job with the town, as director of the Signal Mountain Water Utility. Council member Clay Crumbliss said that since Mr. Justice started in the water department, he has done an exceptional job in getting things done and has fast-tracked a lot of projects that had been delayed for a long time - in particular the interconnect with Walden Ridge Utility District. He added that with Mr. Justices record, he expects for the city to continue making progress during this period between permanent city managers and said it is important that it is not a stand-still time for the town.

The town of Signal Mountain will use Municipal Technical Advisory Services to help in the search for the permanent city manager. Honna Rogers, a consultant with MTAS, gave the council an overview of the procedures recommended for conducting the search. The process will be the same as the last time that position was vacant.

The first step is to identify the qualities and attributes the council wants in a city manager then a position profile will be created, followed by advertising the job. Ms. Rogers will review the resumes and reduce them to a short list of applicants. A panel of area city managers may participate in the interviews in order to weigh in with their experience.

MTAS will also do a check of references. Then the town may hold a reception for citizens to meet the applicants. If the procedure for the search is approved by the first council meeting in January and advertising for the job begins at that time, Ms. Rogers said that resumes could be received during the following four to six weeks. The interviews could take place in March.

The Signal Mountain Water Utilitys purpose is to provide safe, reliable, and efficient water services to residents and businesses in the town. Monday night, the council adopted the official policy for SMWU that includes the policies and procedures that govern that department. The water company is also applying for a grant from the Department of Environment and Conservation for water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects. The council voted to approve a contract with Southeast Tennessee Development District for professional administrative services for the grant. The money was allocated to the town of Signal Mountain from American Rescue Plan funds. TDEC will be paid three percent of the total project amount with a maximum fee of $22,741.

The council also amended Signal Mountains public records policy which is meant to provide economical and efficient access to public records. And the towns air pollution control ordinance for maintaining safe air quality was also amended to incorporate certain federal regulations. Council Member Andrew Gardner said that this ordinance does not apply to the use of fire pits and grills for cooking food at home because those are considered to be recreational fires.

In the town managers report, Ms. Brunelle said that the auditors have worked through the towns books and finances and have discovered some audit findings. That will require the council to discuss and make some decisions to remedy the situation, she said. That topic will be listed on the agenda for the special called meeting Dec. 18. Action can be taken, if needed, at that meeting because it will be on the agenda.

Commendations were presented for three long-time employees of the town. Timothy Foster started his 20- year career as a police officer with the Signal Mountain department in 2003. Loretta Hopper who is stepping down from the position of public works director, began the job in 2001 and served in that capacity for over 22 years. And Dana Cole has been the records clerk for the town of Signal Mountain since 1996. Mayor Poss thanked her for over 27 years of valuable service.
Banned throughout the EU since October 2023: microplastics in all cosmetic products and detergents. But what alternatives are there? Researchers at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW) want to find out together with the family-run company bb med. product GmbH from the Lower Rhine region.

Microplastics have so far been added to cosmetic products (e.g. shower or facial scrubs) or detergents (washing and cleaning agents) as abrasives and opacifiers. These are water-insoluble, solid plastics that are five millimetres or smaller. Dermatologists sometimes emphasize that exfoliation is not necessary for healthy skin, but who hasn't experienced the pleasantly soft feeling on the skin after exfoliation?

The problem with added microplastics is that the particles enter the wastewater during the washing process. The particles that are washed into the sewage system are so small that sewage treatment plants are unable to filter them. In wastewater treatment plants, the wastewater undergoes a multi-stage purification process: Solids are removed, UV light kills germs and membrane systems filter bacteria and viruses. With their multi-stage purification process, sewage treatment plants are not designed for micropollutants. This includes microplastics. For this reason, with the REACH chemicals regulation, the EU has put a stop to the use of microplastics in products whose residues end up in wastewater but still leave the sewage treatment plant after the purification process and end up in bodies of water.

Even if the proportion of microplastics that end up in wastewater through scrubs or detergents is quite low, research into alternatives is a start. bb med. managing director Robert Beinio is aware of this responsibility: "We have not been using microplastics for a long time. And the umbrella organization of European cosmetics associations also recommended back in 2015 that plastic particles should no longer be used in cosmetics," he emphasizes. Nevertheless, Robert Beinio and Dr. Dirk Bockmuhl, Professor of Hygiene and Microbiology at the HSRW, have set themselves the goal of using natural alternatives. "We are taking a closer look at one of them in our project: walnut shells," says the professor from the Faculty of Life Sciences.

To gain a better understanding of this, the trip is going to Kyrgyzstan: "The country has great, natural walnut forests, the sustainable use of which we can ensure in the SUFACHAIN project. We also want to take into account the by-products of the walnut harvest. As part of the project, we want to investigate the technological challenges of this potential use - in particular the grinding process to achieve non-sharp-edged particles and the microbiological quality - and find solutions," says Bockmuhl, explaining the research project's approach.

There are a few hurdles to overcome in order to support the Kyrgyz farmers. Bockmuhl is also aware of this: "Walnut shells, as well as the apricot kernel shells also being studied in the project, are repeatedly exposed to microbial contamination during growth, harvesting and further processing, for example by mold fungi. In order to obtain a safe cosmetic ingredient, these microbiological problems must be recognized and solved. We want to do this in the project in such a way that the products can be processed with the least possible use of biocides and without the use of potentially problematic treatment methods such as irradiation. To this end, we primarily want to optimize process steps in Kyrgyzstan with our local partners, but also develop possible, low-risk preservation methods," says the HSRW professor.

And before such a product can be marketed, there is also a lot to consider in terms of product safety: "In the case of a peeling product with core flours, for example, the sharpness of the particles is important. Depending on the origin of the particles and the degree of grinding, they may be suitable for use on the face or rather for a foot peeling," says the Kalkar-based entrepreneur Beinio. "The product also has to pass a storage test at different temperatures, known as the stability test. This is an accelerated ageing process. Then the microbiological safety is tested by means of a preservation stress test. For the safety of the buyers using the product, a toxicological report is drawn up and a dermatological test is carried out," explains Bockmuhl. Beinio adds that the various natural cosmetics labels and their requirements for certification also play an important role.

According to Bockmuhl, the aim of the project is to develop a cosmetic ingredient, not a finished cosmetic. The project concept, which involves working with final formulations, means that application is actually possible quite quickly after successful completion of the project. On the other hand, the project also aims to "open up ways for Kyrgyz farmers to market walnut shells, which would otherwise be a pure waste product. From a scientific and industrial point of view, we want to open up opportunities to overcome the technological hurdles mentioned by mapping and scientifically supporting the entire product development process from the walnut shell ingredient to the finished cosmetic with regard to the Kyrgyz products. Ultimately, the aim is for farmers to optimize their added value in the future by marketing high-quality products - including those made from current food production waste," says the HSRW professor, summarizing the project.

The SUFACHAIN project aims to create a win-win-win situation in line with the three pillars of sustainable management: Ecology, economy and social issues. A waste product is further processed, thereby supporting farmers economically. And a company from Kalkar on the Lower Rhine benefits from soon being able to launch more sustainable products on the market.
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The United States cannot turn the tide of war in Ukraine by pumping tens of billions more dollars into the country, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, ahead of planned talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. leaders.

Zelenskiy will make his case for more U.S. aid for Ukraine's war against Russia during talks in Washington later on Tuesday with U.S. President Joe Biden and Congressional leaders at a time of increasing doubts among many Republican lawmakers.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would "very closely" follow Zelenskiy's meetings in Washington.

"It is important for everyone to understand that the tens of billions of dollars pumped into Ukraine did not help it gain any success on the battlefield," Peskov told a regular news briefing.

"The other tens of billions of dollars that Ukraine wants to be pumped into its economy will also be doomed to the same fiasco... This cannot change the situation on the battlefield, but it also can't change the advance of the 'special military operation"," he said.

Moscow describes its military actions in Ukraine, launched on Feb. 24,2022, as a "special military operation" to demilitarise a country it says poses a direct threat to Russian security interests. Kyiv and its Western allies say Russia is engaged in an unprovoked war of aggression and a land grab.

Peskov said Ukraine's failures on the battlefield were undermining Zelenskiy's position.

The next round of U.S. aid for Ukraine has been held up by a demand from House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans that no more funds be dispatched unless steps are first taken to tighten controls on the U.S. border with Mexico.

Russia currently controls nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory. Military frontlines have not budged very much in recent months despite a Ukrainian counter-offensive. (Reuters)
Warning: You may be unable to use chopsticks without thinking of this crazy medical story for a while.

A man in Vietnam recently went to the hospital complaining of intense headaches and ended up having two chopsticks removed from his brain. Yes, you read that right; the man had chopsticks in his brain.

The man, who has chosen to remain anonymous, is 35 years old and went to Cuba Friendship Hospital in Dong Hoi, Vietnam, on November 24th.

He told doctors he had been suffering from intense headaches for five months and had also been dealing with lots of fluid loss.

Doctors then sent him in for multiple CT scans and discovered he had tension pneumocephalus, which is a life-threatening and very dangerous neurological condition that occurs due to an increase in pressure within the skull.

Then, doctors decided to examine the man further and found something shocking. He had a pair of chopsticks in his brain.

When the doctors broke the news to the man, he suddenly remembered that five nights prior to his hospital visit, after a night of drinking, he got into a drunken fight with another man.

While he didnt seem to remember much from that night, he did recall getting stabbed in the face with something by his opponent.

However, when the man went to the hospital to get checked out right after the fight, upon first examination, doctors didnt see any chopsticks up his nose or anything wrong with his nose for that matter.

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During the 1700s, a collection of scrolls, which have been deemed the Herculaneum Scrolls, were unburied from the volcanic ash and rubble created by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

The ancient scrolls had originally been kept in the library of a building near Pompeii.

They were found carbonized and effectively preserved underneath 65 feet of volcanic mud. However, previous efforts to interpret the documents were unsuccessful. Anyone who attempted to unroll them would cause them to crumble into pieces.

In the nineteenth century, several scrolls were pulled apart by machine, only for the brittle papyri to disintegrate right away. As a result, researchers were unsure how to proceed.

The writing in the nearly 2,000-year-old scrolls had been considered illegible to the human eye until recently.

Back in March, the Vesuvius Challenge was announced, offering up a prize of $700,000 to whoever could decipher the contents of two of the scrolls.

The competition was led by University of Kentucky professor Brent Seales and financed by investors Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross.

With the help of artificial intelligence technology, progress has been made. Now, one word from the scroll can be fully read.

The word porphyras can be interpreted as the color purple, purple dye, or cloths of purple in Greek. It was found by a 21-year-old computer science student at the University of Nebraska named Luke Farritor.

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Although Samuel Bellamys career as a pirate was short-lived, he quickly rose to prominence and has been named historys wealthiest pirate.

The captain dominated the oceans for two years, and during his rule, he took ownership of 53 ships. He was later known as Black Sam. So, how did Black Sam become so influential?

Samuel Bellamy was born in 1689 in a small English village. As a teenager, he became a sailor and set out to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, intent on seeking a way to make his fortune.

During his time in the Cape Cod area, he was believed to have had an affair with a woman named Maria Hallett. After he left in search of treasure, she was said to have produced his child. By his mid-twenties, he had turned to piracy.

He went on an expedition to locate the valuables of a shipwrecked Spanish vessel, but the treasure hunt proved unsuccessful. However, this incident was what kickstarted his career as a pirate.

He ended up joining the crew of Captain Benjamin Hornigold and sailed with him on the Marianne for several years.

Eventually, Bellamy led a mutiny, kicking Hornigold off his own ship, along with any other crew members who remained loyal to him, including Edward Blackbeard Teach, another notable pirate from legend who was Hornigolds second-in-command.

Apparently, Hornigold always avoided attacking British ships, which Bellamy did not agree with.

From 1715 to 1717, Bellamy was a pirate and a popular one at that. In just a matter of months, he successfully captured more than 50 vessels. He was also thought to have inspired the fashions we associate with pirates today. He loved expensive clothing, especially black coats, and rejected the style of wearing powdered wigs.

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Christmas is the celebration of a conclusion. A baby who cannot yet talk is the divine Word of God spoken to humankind. A child lying in a manger on a dark night in a poor town completes thousands of years of sacred history.

Marys firstborn is Gods last word. In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Heb. 1:12, RSV).

Gods first recorded speech in Scripture consisted of words of one syllable: Let there be light (Gen. 1:3). The first thing we are told about God is that in creating a place for humanity, he provided visibility. He did not leave us to grope in darkness. God let humankind see where they were going.

The simplest and most elementary condition of human existence is the subject matter for Gods first word. Beyond the satisfaction of her needs, light is the first reality a baby shows awareness of. Before she can see a face or distinguish a father from a mother, she sees and can respond to light. Just so basic is the content of Gods first word in creation. He offered no complicated notions on predestination, reconciliation, or sanctificationonly the one-syllable words Let there be light.

The early chapters of Genesis are a primer on God. God spoke using words that everyone could grasp: day, night, earth, trees, waters, stars, birds, fish, beasts, man. Before we have read past the first chapter, we have heard God speak a basic and decisive word to us in terms that a child can understand. We turn the pages and hear of sin and murder, war and judgment, music and crafts, building and history. We hear the profound words of God speaking to us of his will and his ways.

We come to the great names of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. God was still speaking, and his word was expanding. The history and lives of these people became the vocabulary of Gods message. There was still no mistaking it for anything other than the word of God, but he filled out the narrative and filled in the details of each life situation.

God called Abraham, accompanied Isaac, changed Jacob, and saved Joseph. The message still carried a majestic simplicity, but the context grew more intricate and complex to match the intricacy and complexity of our lives.

The words multiplied in Moses story. Thousands of people were forged into a new nation. Their lives were placed in relationship and formed countless possibilities for sin, faith, rejection, rebellion, worship, and love. And with each new event came a new word. Moses transmitted the word of God in commandment, regulation, and exhortation to the people of God (Israel).

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Because many people were living in close proximity, Moses had to render fine judicial decisions. Because long stretches of time separated promise from fulfillment, he had to preach convincing sermons. The word of God found new applications and fresh situations. The primer of Genesis chapter one gave way to an advanced-level textbook.

The centuries passed, and in imitation of Moses, many tried their hands at speaking the word of God. They shouted advice, counsel, rebuke, and guidance to the people. Some of the speaking bore authenticity; some of it was patently spurious. But the net effect was confusion.

With so many words of God being spoken, who could hear the word of God? God restored authority and legitimacy to his word by inaugurating a kingship in Israel: Saul, David, and then Solomon. No longer could people set themselves up to speak to the nation. God had his anointed through whom he ruled and spoke. Credentials accompanied the spokesperson for God. Organization and coherence again encompassed the word of God.

But then, as so often happens, the organization became professionalized. The word of God turned into a formal edict. The institution became dead to its Lord. The kings grew more interested in politics than in prayer, more engrossed in government than in God.

And this created a new way of speaking the word of God: through the prophets. Isaiah thundered, Jeremiah wept, Amos denounced, and Hosea pled. Indifference gave way to sensitive response. Deaf ears were traded for alert minds. The prophets were gifted with eloquence and insight. They spoke the word of God with power and clarity. It was an exciting word, a glad word. No human word could stand in comparison to it.

This passage from Isaiah reverberates down to our times:

How beautiful upon the mountains

are the feet of him who brings good tidings,

who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good,

who publishes salvation,

who says to Zion, Your God reigns.

Hark, your watchmen lift up their voice,

together they sing for joy;

for eye to eye they see

the return of the Lord to Zion.

Break forth together into singing,

you waste places of Jerusalem;

for the Lord has comforted his people,

he has redeemed Jerusalem.

The Lord has bared his holy arm

before the eyes of all the nations;

and all the ends of the earth shall see

the salvation of our God. (Isaiah 52:710, RSV)

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As all this was written down and pondered by succeeding generations, it brought bewilderment and confusion. It needed interpretation. A new profession came into being to guide the people through the forest of words. Scribes and rabbis became the peoples allies in hearing the word of God. They in turn wrote commentaries and interpretations of what had been written, and their words soon engulfed the word of God in an ocean of comment.

Yet what the people needed was not another commentary but a conclusionnot another book but a last chapter to the book they already had. The process could become interminable, so there had to be a stopping place. The logical search for complete truth would never end. The people needed a revelation.

So, God spoke a last word: Jesus. But there is a surprising difference in this word. Jesus is not just a speechmaker for God; he is God. His whole being is a word of Godhis presence, his action, and his talk. We complain that the deeds of some people speak so loudly that we cannot hear what they say.

Yet we cannot make that complaint of Jesus, for his deeds and words are identical. Jesus became an event. He was a stopping place for sacred history. The birth of Jesus was like arriving at the top of a mountain peak after a long, difficult climb: You can look back and see the whole trip in perspective, see everything in true relationship. And you dont have to climb anymore.

But I have been talking as if everyone has spent years struggling with the meaning and conclusions of the Old Testament. More likely, you have not read it through for years, or maybe you have never read it at all. What does this text say to you who have not pondered the first words, who have not been bothered by the fragmentariness of Scripture? Will the last word have any meaning if you have not read the first word? Will the answer make any sense if you have never asked the question?

A great many Old Testament prophecies had been left unfulfilled. Many things were said of the future that never came to pass. Many hopes were articulated that no reality ever confirmed. And then Jesus was born in Bethlehem. One of the great thrills of the early church was seeing this great mass of unfulfilled detail suddenly come together in fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament suddenly had a point to itand the point was Jesus.

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We can see the operations of their excited minds in all the New Testament letters: This was done in fulfillment of Isaiah  of Moses  of Jeremiah  (see Matt. 2:17, 4:14; Luke 24:44). All the loose ends were tied together. All the strained interpretations they had been forced to manufacture to hold things together could now be thrown out because Christ held things together in a conclusion. All their labored attempts to explain away inconsistencies and gaps now were done away with because Jesus gave all the words wholeness and integrity.

This is why the church has consistently insisted on the necessity of keeping and reading the Old Testament. There was a strong movement in the first centuries of the church to abolish the Old Testament. Those believers reasoned that since we have everything in Christ, why bother with all the incompleteness and fragmentariness of Israel?

Why plow through all those genealogies (such as 1 Chronicles 3:10, RSV, which says, The descendants of Solomon: Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son) when one really needed to know only the name above every nameJesus? But the church didnt accept this reasoning.

All of that really is the word of God spoken to humankind in various conditions and times: The word is as true as ever. Although it is old, it is not obsolete. Although it is ancient, it is not antiquated. And if it is not read, the foundation of Jesus is never understood. To skip reading the Old Testament would be to skip the first thirty-nine chapters of a forty-chapter book.

The Confession of 1967 summarizes the churchs stance: The Old Testament is indispensable to understanding the New, and is not itself fully understood without the New. This is why it is the usual practice to give an exposition of the Old Testament during Advent, so that the gospel of Christmas is seen in its true setting.

But while the importance of reading the Old Testament cannot be too strongly emphasized, I cannot say that everything depends on it. If you are one of the many who do not read it or have not read it enough, you will still find a meaning in the text. The reason is that God has not confined his speaking to what is recorded in Scripture. That is where his authoritative word is written, but he has spoken many other times and in many other placesin places where we have been and at times when we have heard him.

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If each of us were to write a completely honest and thorough history of our personal life up to the present, that would in many ways parallel the writing we call the Old Testament. That autobiography would begin with the simplest facts: birth, life, light, food, parents, disobedience, and rebellion. And as the years increased, the words would become more difficult and the arrangement more complex.

From the simple elemental realities of infancy would come the intricate emotional, physical, and mental realities of adolescence and adulthood. Nothing that we would thus record would be untrue, but we would have to confess that much of it did not make sense. Many thoughts, events, feelings, and experiences would appear to be in contradiction and at cross-purposes.

The body makes promises for which there is no fulfillment. The emotions cry out for satisfaction that is never given. The mind asks questions for which no answers are found. As we look back on them, our lives quite undeniably happened, but do they go anywhere? Is there any central meaning or any conclusion?

Our private doubts, disappointments, frustrations, and strangely incomplete joys can fill in the details of such a story.

Whatever its specifics, it will echo in a remarkable way the experience of the men to whom God spoke in many and various ways  by the prophets. This experience is the context for the last word of God in Jesus. The word of God conclusive in Jesus gives sense and meaning to every persons life. This gospel is the affirmation to what in W. B. Yeats was only surmise:

What the worlds million lips are thirsting for,

Must be substantial somewhere.

For many people, Christmas is a dreary time. Maybe it is that way for more people than we think. The labored and frantic efforts to bring merriment into the holiday lead us to suspect that the good cheer is not rooted in substantial joy. The demand for happiness and well-wishing that society and friends impose on one and all pushes some who have hearts full of despair and unhappiness only further into gloom.

And all of useven the relatively happy and optimisticwhen we look into our own souls discover great areas of emptiness. We live on the surface; frivolity is characteristic of us. Can joy spring from such a well? Can merriment be structured on such a foundation?

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It can, if we have another word to listen to besides the words from our own inadequate, fragmentary pasts.

When the stories about Jesus birth took form in the early church, they emphasized the fact that it was night when he was born. The shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night; the wise men were following the star through the night; in Herods gloomy midnight councils all the little children of Bethlehem were to be slain, and in every way it was against encompassing darkness that Christs coming shone out.

When people now say that these are dour times in which to keep Christmas (the time of the Vietnam War, of world poverty, of secularism, of commercialism, of nuclear terror), they forget this basic fact about the Christmas stories. This is indeed a dark time. In easier times we left the night out of the picture and made of the Christmas season a lighthearted holiday of festival and merriment, but now we are back where Christmas startedwith its deep black background behind the Saviors coming, like midnight behind the star.

In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs (Heb. 1:14, RSV).

To us a child is born, to us a son is given (Isaiah 9:6). Amen.

Excerpted from Lights a Lovely Mile by Eugene H. Peterson. Copyright  2023 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.

No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Eugene H. Peterson is the late translator of The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language and author of more than thirty books, including As Kingfishers Catch Fire and A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.
Bahala na.

Itu sudah takdir.

Nanigoto mo akirame ga kanjin.

These are some of the popular phrases that people in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan use when faced with circumstances they feel resigned to. Theyre akin to another common quip: Que sera sera, derived from the Italian for Whatever will be, will be.

In other words, these expressions often carry a fatalistic attitude toward life. Fatalism refers to the belief that events that occur are fixed in advance, such that human beings are powerless to change them. While fatalisms impact and influence may not be overtly discernible, it permeates aspects of culture, whether because of a particular countrys religious roots or its historical and political developments.

This may be especially so in Asia, which is considered one of the most religiously diverse continents in the world. Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong constitute 6 of the 12 societies worldwide with a very high degree of religious diversity, according to the Pew Research Center.

In countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India, a Buddhist or Hindu worldview contributes to the idea of karma, where ones actions in the present will determine the outcome of ones future life. In Indonesia, it is Islam that shapes fatalistic thinking (captured by the common phrase inshallah). In South Korea, Korean shamanism is a contributing factor toward the widely accepted practice of fortunetelling. In Hong Kong, astrology, luck, and feng shui play a large role in crafting ones understanding of destiny or fate.

But fatalism isnt just restricted to cultural and social spaces. It also impacts the ecclesiology and missionality of churches in Asia, which can be gleaned in responses to suffering, natural disasters, or political instability.

Christianity Today interviewed the following pastors and scholars in South, Southeast, and East Asia on how fatalistic thinking shows up in their cultures, what the key sources of fatalism are in their contexts, how fatalism has impacted or influenced their churches, and which Bible verses challenge it. Their responses can be found in this special series eight articles, listed to the right on desktop and below on mobile:

Hong Kong

KK Ip, senior pastor of EFCC-International Church in Wan Chai

Indonesia

Amos Winarto Oei, lecturer in ethics, dogmatics, and history at Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Aletheia in Lawang

India

Havilah Dharamraj, head of biblical studies at the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies in Bengaluru

Japan

Kei Hiramatsu, pastor and New Testament professor at Central Bible College in Tokyo

The Philippines

Dick O. Eugenio, dean of the School of Leadership and Advanced Studies at Wesleyan UniversityPhilippines in Cabanatuan City

South Korea

Paul J. Park, assistant professor of systematic theology at Torch Trinity Graduate University in Seoul

Sri Lanka

A. N. Lal Senanayake, president of Lanka Bible College and Seminary in Kandy

Thailand

Kelly Hilderbrand, director of DMin program at Bangkok Bible Seminary in Bangkok
In Bahasa Indonesia, there are several expressions that might reflect a fatalistic attitude toward life. Some common phrases are itu sudah takdir (That is destiny), itu sudah jalan hidup (That is the path of life), or namanya nasib (The name is fate). These expressions are often used to accept certain outcomes or situations with a belief that they are predetermined. Another phrase is mau bagaimana lagi?, which can be translated to What else can we do? or How else could it be? This can convey a sense of resignation and acceptance of circumstances beyond ones control.

Fatalism in Indonesian culture has multiple sources, including traditional beliefs, cultural practices, and, to some extent, interpretations of religious teachings. While fatalism is not inherently tied to any specific religion, cultural syncretism and the blending of traditional and religious beliefs can contribute to its prevalence.

As Indonesia is the biggest Muslim-populated country, it follows that Islam is a major religious factor for understanding fatalism in Indonesian culture. One example of how Islam shapes fatalistic thinking in Indonesia is how individuals attribute both positive and negative life events to Allahs divine will. This acceptance of Allahs plan can lead to a sense of resignation or submission to whatever fate has been ordained, fostering a fatalistic mindset.

Muslims in Indonesia use the term inshallah (if Allah wills), as Arab Muslims (and many Arab Christians) do in the Middle East. But Indonesian Christians usually use the Indonesian translation of this Arabic phrase instead: kiranya kehendak Tuhan yang jadi, akin to the English phrase the Lord willing.

Attitudes toward destiny or fate can vary significantly among individuals and communities. In many rural areas of Indonesia, traditional cultural practices and beliefs often play a significant role in shaping these perspectives. For example, in rural Javanese communities, there might be a strong adherence to traditional Javanese mysticism (Kejawen) or animistic beliefs, which can contribute to a worldview that emphasizes the role of destiny. In contrast, exposure to diverse ideas and cultures in urban settings, coupled with access to education and information, can contribute to a more secular or individualistic perspective. This may lead to a reduced emphasis on fatalistic beliefs in shaping ones life path.

Christianity does not inherently promote fatalism, but excessive interpretations of certain theological concepts, such as predestination, may result in fatalistic thinking among some Christian communities in Indonesia.

Fatalism may unconsciously influence aspects of Indonesian evangelicals theology. It could impact their understanding of Gods sovereignty, potentially leading to a passive acceptance of challenging circumstances. In the face of suffering or natural disasters, there might be a struggle to reconcile the belief in a loving and powerful God with the fatalistic notion that events are predetermined.

Fatalism can also affect the Indonesian church by potentially hindering proactive engagement in societal issues. If fatalistic attitudes prevail, there might be a tendency to view social problems fatalistically rather than seeking constructive solutions. This can impact the churchs role in advocating for justice, compassion, and societal transformation.

In Indonesia, engagements on societal transformation usually happen collectively. Churches may join together through legally established councils like the Communion of Churches in Indonesia to provide input to the government on social issues related to church well-being or society at large.

Addressing fatalism requires intentional efforts within the church community. Pastors and leaders can emphasize the importance of personal responsibility, active engagement in social issues, and the transformative power of faith. Providing practical guidance on problem solving and encouraging a biblical worldview that values both Gods sovereignty and human agency can help counter fatalistic tendencies.

Two relevant Bible verses for challenging fatalistic thinking could include Proverbs 16:9, The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps (ESV), and Romans 8:28, And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (ESV). These two verses from the Old and New Testaments harmonize the tension or the paradox between acknowledging Gods sovereignty and recognizing the importance of human responsibility and action.

Read our contributors bios in the series lead article, Destiny Is All? How Fatalism Affects Churches Across Asia. (Other articles in this special series are listed to the right on desktop or below on mobile.)
In Sri Lankan culture, fatalistic thinking is shaped by a blend of traditional beliefs, religious practices, and historical experiences.

Buddhism, the predominant religion, often interprets life events through the lens of karma, emphasizing the inevitability of circumstances based on past actions. This can foster fatalistic attitudes as individuals accept their present situations as a consequence of their deeds. The Hindu minority in Sri Lanka also adheres to a belief in the karmic nature of life.

The Christian community, influenced by colonial-era Christianity, may express similar fatalistic notions by attributing life events to destiny, divine will, or predestination.

In 1505, the Portuguese brought Roman Catholicism to Sri Lanka. In 1658, the Dutch, who emphasized the concept of predestination in Calvinist theology, occupied the country. During the colonial era, missionaries from various Christian denominations arrived in Sri Lanka, each with his or her own theological perspective. If individuals were exposed to a form of Christianity that heavily emphasized predestination, which suggests that certain eventsincluding ones salvation or life circumstancesare predetermined by God and cannot be altered by human actions, it contributed to fatalistic thinking. If this theological perspective was emphasized in missionary teachings, it might have influenced individuals to believe their life circumstances were preordained.

Missionaries also often sought to convert local populations to Christianity by emphasizing the need for salvation and the consequences of sin. If the message focused heavily on the idea of divine judgment and the inevitability of certain outcomes based on ones actions, it could contribute to fatalistic attitudes. For instance, individuals might come to believe that their suffering or challenges were a result of divine judgment or destiny.

Fatalistic expressions in Sinhala include karume (karma); laba upan hati (its the way we are born); bambaketu hati (the way the god has engraved); deva kematta (Gods will); daiwaya (destined to be so); pera paw (past sins); and purwekala paw (sin in the previous life).

Sri Lankan evangelicals approaches to church involvement in sociopolitical and economic issues are mostly divided, reflecting a spectrum of perspectives within the church community. While some evangelicals advocate for active engagement in societal matters, others hold a more reserved or even skeptical stance. The influencing factor for this divide is their theological perspective. Those who advocate liberation theology are more engaged in social issues, while others maintain a reserved or passive approach.

Evangelical Christians in Sri Lanka must address fatalism by promoting critical thinking through education and engaging in theological discussions within the community. Educating the congregation about nuanced perspectives on suffering and divine intervention is a key strategy to counter fatalistic views. By encouraging a more proactive approach, evangelicals can bridge the gap between prayerful reliance on God and practical efforts to address societal issues. Lanka Bible College and Seminary, for instance, is hosting a two-day seminar series to guide local churches in taking intentional actions and steps toward positively influencing and transforming their communities.

Within the rich tapestry of religious and social beliefs in Sri Lanka, a prominent notion asserts that our suffering is intricately tied to the consequences of past sins or karma. However, when we turn our attention to biblical texts like Job and the Beatitudes, a different and alternative perspective on the profound meaning of suffering emerges. In the realm of biblical teachings, suffering is seen not merely as a punitive outcome but rather as a profound aspect of the human experience that can hold deep significance.

These teachings encourage us to seek meaning and understanding in the face of adversity. While there is a belief in prayer for wisdom to descend from above, wisdom literature, particularly the Book of Proverbs, imparts a different wisdoma wisdom that calls for intentional, active pursuit. It suggests that the journey toward wisdom requires personal commitment and may involve sacrifices, underlining the idea that acquiring wisdom can sometimes come at a personal cost.

In essence, the juxtaposition of cultural beliefs in Sri Lanka and the insights gleaned from these biblical texts invites a reflection on the multifaceted nature of suffering and the active pursuit of wisdom as a transformative and intentional endeavor.

Read our contributors bios in the series lead article, Destiny Is All? How Fatalism Affects Churches Across Asia. (Other articles in this special series are listed to the right on desktop or below on mobile.)
Fatalism in Thailand primarily arises from a Buddhist worldview and belief in karma.

Thai culture, in general, is influenced by Theravada Buddhism. The central tenet of Buddhism is karma, which means action or deed. However, in its usual sense, it means the fruit of our action. If we do good, we will receive good. If we do evil, we will receive evil. Forgiveness by some deity does not exist. We must reap what we sow.

How does this express itself in Thai thought? Everything we are and everything that happens to us are a result of karma. We deserve everything that happens, whether good or bad. The major aspects of our present lives are predetermined by the events and our choices in a past life.

The word in Thai for karma is often used as a curse word. If something bad happens to another person, they will say kaam (), meaning that person received what he or she deserved.

A very capable and successful blind missionary friend was consistently denied a missionary visa in Thailand. Thai government officials could not accept that a blind man could ever become a holy priest of religion. His blindness was proof that he did something horrible in a past life. His blindness was proof that he was a bad person.

This is why most orphanages, outreach to prostitutes, and foundations that help the poor or disadvantaged are Christian organizations. Thai people are often merciful, giving, and caring, but their motivation is to earn merit for themselves so that they may be reborn into a more advantageous setting in the next life.

Christianity exists in stark contrast to the fatalistic views of Buddhism. The gospel really is good news to a person from a Buddhist worldview where no hope exists, apart from a continual series of lifetimes struggling to be free from rebirth into a world of suffering and toil.

Many people want to reject the worldview of karma. Karma is bad news. We must save ourselves. We get what we deserve. Our lives are controlled by karma. Abandoning a karmic worldview for belief in a universe where Jesus loves us and is merciful toward us is uniquely transforming.

However, coming out of a fatalistic worldview can be a hindrance to discipleship and Christian growth.

Thai people resonate with this example I use in my seminary classes: Westerners tend to believe they can do anything, even when they cannot. Westerners do not always evaluate themselves realistically. Westerners believe they can do anything or be anyone they desire. They can be rich, successful, or smart if only they work hard enough.

In contrast, Thai people typically believe they evaluate themselves realistically. They are aware of their own strengths and weaknesses. However, after evaluating themselves, they do not believe they can change or grow. Thai people believe that this is the way they are and that they cannot change.

Another challenge is found in how Thai people come to Christ. According to my research, Thai people do so through attraction and power. They see that Christians are different, loving, accepting, honest, and caring. Converts will also relate that they had a supernatural encounter with God of some sort, answered prayer, a powerful experience of Gods presence, a dream, a vision, or deliverance.

After they make a commitment to Christ, some do not yet think of themselves as sinners in need of repentance. That issue can be a problem; however, we must think of conversion not as an event but as a process of discipleship that continues for the believers lifetime.

To challenge fatalistic thinking in Thai culture, I look to Psalm 103, a full lesson in the grace and mercy of Yahweh God. Fatalism and karma have no mercy. One is trapped in their situation without hope or remedy. But in Jesus we have hope, salvation, and a future.

Read our contributors bios in the series lead article, Destiny Is All? How Fatalism Affects Churches Across Asia. (Other articles in this special series are listed to the right on desktop or below on mobile.)
A Taiwanese army pilot was offered $15 million to defect by landing an U.S.-made transport helicopter on a People's Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier during a military drill near the island, according to prosecutors.

But the scheme fell through after the officer was arrested in August for allegedly spying for Beijing, a Taiwan court has heard.

The pilot, identified by his surname Hsieh, was approached in June by mainland Chinese intelligence officials through a retired Taiwanese army officer to fly the CH-47 Chinook helicopter onto the aircraft carrier, the Taiwan High Court Prosecutors Office said in an indictment revealed by lawmakers on Monday.

"According to the instruction from the [mainland] agents, Lieutenant Colonel Hsieh was asked to fly the helicopter at low altitude along the coastline to the Chinese Communist carrier which would be staging drills close to the waters 24 nautical miles [44km] off [Taiwan]," the indictment said.

In exchange, prosecutors said Hsieh would be paid NT$200,000 ($6,355) per month, and the mainland side would help evacuate his family to Thailand in the event of a cross-strait conflict.

Hsieh initially declined the offer because it was too risky, but later accepted the proposition when mainland agents raised their offer to $15 million with a $1 million "deposit", if he accepted, the indictment said.

Hsieh also proposed that the PLA stage the drill in waters near the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung so that he would not need to cross the median line that separates the island and the mainland in the Taiwan Strait, therefore minimizing the chance the helicopter would be intercepted by Taiwan's air force, according to prosecutors.

The indictment said that Hsieh held a teleconference with mainland operatives in July to discuss the details of the alleged defection, including helping his family immigrate to Thailand.

The prosecutors later arrested Hsieh and the retired officer following a tip-off, which "prevented the U.S.-made aircraft from falling into the hands of the communist force", the indictment said.

The would-be defection came to light on Monday after lawmakers grilled Taiwan's defense minister Chiu Kuo-cheng in a meeting over the security lapse within the military and measures the ministry were to adopt in response.

"I feel pained too, to have discovered a case like this and those allegedly involved must be dealt with according to the law," Chiu told lawmakers.

The defence ministry also issued a separate statement on Monday, saying the military and security agencies in Taiwan had conducted an internal investigation and fully cooperated with the judiciary in its probes.

Hsieh's case surfaced a week after Taiwanese prosecutors indicted a group of active and retired officers on Nov. 27 for allegedly spying for Beijing.

The case also came as the ministry reported that the PLA's Shandong battle group sailed south through the Taiwan Strait on Monday on the mainland side of the median line. No further details were provided by the ministry.

Around the time Hsieh was first approached by the mainland agents, the same battle group passed through the same area on June 21.

Beijing, which views Taiwan as its territory, to be taken under control by force if necessary, has intensified its military operations around the self-ruled island since August last year after then U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei.

Beijing said the visit was a violation of its sovereignty and a breach of the U.S.'s one-China policy.

The United States, like most countries, does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state, but is opposed to any unilateral change by force in the cross-strait status quo.

Read the full story at SCMP
International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC) founder Mike Bickle has admitted to inappropriate behavior and moral failures that took place more than 20 years agobut he says the claims of sexual abuse that emerged against him this fall are false.

Bickle publicly addressed recent allegations of abuse for the first time Tuesday, saying he had repented for his past sins, apologizing for how the situation has affected his family and ministry, and asking followers not to come to his defense online.

Some may wonder why I am just now making a public statement 20+ years later? It is because I was recently confronted about things that I said or did 20+ years agothings I believed were dealt with and under the blood of Jesus, he wrote. Since this has now become public, I want to repent publicly.

A group of former IHOPKC leaders released a statement in October saying Bickle had been accused of sexual misconduct where the marriage covenant was not honored and that they had heard corroborating testimony from several victims. In The Roys Report last week, a woman alleged that Bickle sexually abused her while she was an intern at IHOPKC 27 years ago.

Bickle has been on leave from the ministry since October 26 while IHOPKC leaders looked into the allegations. On Sunday, after weeks of back-and-forth, the church announced a third-party investigation. Bickle said he drafted a statement on October 28 but was advised by legal counsel to wait.

Bickle, 68, did not describe his past inappropriate behavior other than to say he wasnt admitting to the more intense sexual activities that some are suggesting. He also referred to false allegations of sexual abuse.

He said he had previously quickly and sincerely repented, though he was still sorrowful over his sin.

Earlier this fall, a group of former IHOPKC leadersreferred to by the ministry as the advocacy grouphad learned about allegations against Bickle spanning decades.

Dwane Roberts and Brian Kim, who had previously served on IHOPKCs executive leadership team and board, and Wes Martin, former Forerunner Christian Fellowship pastor, said they attempted to meet with him directly and then brought their concerns to IHOPKC leaders when he refused.

Leaders calling for transparency and accountability from IHOPKC believe Bickles confession to inappropriate behavior falls short.

This is a fraction of what Mike is actually guilty of, preacher Joel Richardson posted. This is nothing more than a public relations move.

IHOPKC has brought on a new spokesman, Eric Volz, with the international crisis resource agency David House. Volz called Bickles statement a step in the right direction and said, We clearly have two sides to this story and this is 100% why we need an independent third party investigation.

Bickle is a major figure in charismatic Christianity, and his prayer movement has spurred hundreds of houses of prayer around the globe. In Brazil, the Florianopolis House of Prayer was the first church to distance itself from Bickle while the investigation took place.

Bickle referred to the social media debates and online distain surrounding the allegations. He advised family and friends to not come to his defense and to not insult his detractors. I have confidence the Lord will speak concerning what He sees and says about me in His timing, he said.

IHOPKC shared Tuesdays statement on social media and told followers, Please continue to pray 

Bickle plans to refrain from public ministry for an extended season and possibly indefinitely.

I see this as Gods delayed loving discipline on my life (Heb. 12:6, 11). I will look to other leaders to determine how long this season will lastit may be long and it may be even permanent, the letter said. I will only reengage in my preaching ministry if God confirms it through others.

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Ask a British person about Nativity plays, and its not unlikely that a crustacean will get a mention. Emma Thompsons slightly incredulous discovery that there was, in fact, more than one lobster present at the birth of Christa scene in Love Actuallyis a nod to some of the more outlandish consequences of playing with the Christmas story. But the scene also reflects the cherished place the Nativity play continues to hold in British culture.

With Christmas just weeks away, many a parent is likely to be setting aside tea towels to adorn the heads of tiny shepherds, if not sewing eight legs on an octopus.

While precise statistics are hard to come by, polls suggest that Nativity plays remain widespread in schools in the UK. In the years before the pandemic, around 8 in 10 parents reported that their children had taken part in a Nativity play. In 2021, when COVID-19 public health measures were still in place, 81 percent of teachers were still planning to put on a Nativity play, even if it had to be online.

In a typical production, young children will enact the story of Christs birth, from the angels visit to Mary to the arrival of the wise men. While many are simple retellings in school halls, some entail an impressive degree of stage management.

At Mayfield School, a Catholic boarding school for girls in Sussex, a tradition dating back to the 1950s sees Mary and Joseph journey through the village with a donkey. They are turned away at the local pub before arriving at the schools 14th-century chapel, with a real baby playing the part of Jesus.

Rob Barward-Symmons, impact and evaluation manager at the Bible Society, describes Nativities as fascinating moments in the context of British Christianity  this key moment in which a huge proportion of the population are not only hearing Scripture but embodying it and experiencing it.  We do kind of take it for granted.

For most children and young people in Britain, he observes, school is the only place where they are going to encounter the Bible. The vast majority of childrenaround 94 percentare educated in state-funded schools. For centuries most schools were run by church authorities, and even today, around a third of Englands state-funded schools are faith schools, a majority of which are affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church or Church of England.

Anyone can go to a faith school, although some schools do give priority to children from families that are regular worshipers. (Theyre the minority75 percent of parents of kids under 18 go to church rarely or never.) Most of the 1.9 million pupils taught in state-funded faith schools in England will not attend church outside of school.

Even for the majority not attending a faith school, the classroom will likely be the place they encounter religion through lessons on the subject. Technically, all state-funded schools are required by law to provide an act of collective worship that is broadly Christian every day, but the extent to which schools comply varies enormously.

While debate about the place of Nativity plays in a multicultural society occasionally arises, they remain popular. A 2020 poll found that 78 percent of the population approved of schools performing them and that around as many had taken part in a Nativity play when they were at school. This is despite the fact that less than two in five of the population identify as Christian.

Theyre a valued rite of passage for parents to share with their children, Barward-Symmons observes. This revisiting of this experience that people have gone through.

The nostalgia factor is something that has been observed at close hand by Lucinda Murphy, who recently completed a PhD exploring Nativity plays. She interviewed four parents whose children had recently performed in a Nativity play in a nonfaith primary school in a multicultural area of North West London.

For one nonreligious parent, it was seeing your kids doing the stuff you did when you were five that created a powerful sentimental attachment. A Hindu mother who had attended a Church of England school as a child was keen for her children to have the same memories, to know the story she had learned as a kid.

Celine Benoit, a senior teaching fellow at Aston University whose work explores how children encounter religion in primary schools, agrees that there is a huge sense of nostalgia that goes with Nativity plays.

Her research has led her to conclude that Nativity plays in schools are not primarily about celebrating Christianity and the birth of Jesus. Rather, she suggests, they illustrate the fact that a certain form of Christianitya liberal form of Christianity, if you likeis viewed as entwined with Englishness.

She connects this to research showing that parents often expect schools to teach their children about the basics of Christianity.  In that way, the learning gets passed on, and it doesnt have to happen in the home context.

Nativity plays are viewed less as a religious festival and more as a cultural performance, she argues. This is not to detract from parents attachment: At her own daughters school, nine performances were put on in 2021 to enable as many parents as possible to watch, while obeying COVID-19 health guidelines.

Barward-Symmons agrees that the ubiquity of Nativity plays should not give rise to overconfidence in their evangelistic potential.

There is the risk of it being perceived as a childs story equivalent to a fairy story: nice, lovely, and not a space for going into complexities around the Virgin Birth and the depth of the Incarnation, he observes.

There remains a challenge, he says, to get children to consider and reflect and think about this story as something that has a deeper truth behind it and is not purely a British cultural tradition. He wonders how many teachers are encouraging children back to the Bible to read the gospel accounts from which Nativity plays are a few steps removed.

Interestingly, a recent national review of religious educationa compulsory subject for state-funded schoolssuggested that pupils could study the concept of the Incarnation as part of the Nativity story from the age of five.

In fact, the Bible Societys own research with children aged 8 to 15 contained some encouraging findings. As of 2014, 71 percent recognized that the Nativity story is in the Bible, while 75 percent had read, heard, or seen it. It was by far their favorite Bible story.

At St Marys, a Church of England primary school in East Barnet, an area in north London, a traditional Nativity play is performed every year by the youngest children, while older pupils take part in a more contemporary Nativity production. Last year, they put on Bethlehem Bandits, a musical by Dave Corbett in which a group of bandits fail to steal anything from Mary, Joseph, the wise men, and even the shepherds and decide to change their ways.

Children arrive at the school with lots of different experiences of faithsome with very little, and some with lots, says the headteacher, Maria Constantinou, who aims for every pupil to establish the ability to hold a balanced and well-informed conversation about beliefs and religion, including the Christian faith.

As a church school, Nativities are part of our identity, she told CT.

It gives the children an opportunity to really experience the story and empathize with what it might have been like for the holy family. We weave our collective worship theme during Advent into this, to support the children to understand how the birth of a tiny baby would change the lives of so many people. A Nativity helps even the youngest members of our St. Marys family to know the story of the first Christmas and that it's not all about wrapping paper and presents.

Nativities are about people and communities as much as they are about the message of Gods love and Christs light and hope, she says.

Many performances involve an element of audience participation, with parents, grandparents, siblings, and members of the local clergy often present. There is always laughter at the puns and terrible jokes (We must give these camels a rest before they get the hump), she observes, and a few tears of pride, especially when we end the infant Nativity with a beautiful rendition of Away in a Manger.

Its an approach that resembles medieval mystery plays, says Eleanor Parker, lecturer in medieval English literature at Brasenose, a college of Oxford University, who notes that including additional, sometimes comic elements to Nativities is nothing new.

Medieval dramas telling the Christmas story took a creative approach that brought the story to life, she says. In one play, there is a comic storyline in which the shepherds play tricks upon one another. You have a sense of those shepherds as people  characters you can relate to.  Its quite moving, then, when you see them at the manger, giving their cherries to the baby Jesus.

While St. Francis is often cited as the originator of the Nativityhe famously used live animals to create the first-ever Nativity scene in Greccio, Italy, in 1223, as a backdrop to his preachingParker notes that Nativity plays in schools are a 20th-century invention that arose after a reawakening of interest in medieval mystery plays.

Suppressed at the Reformation, religious plays remained taboo for centuries, right through the Victorian period, she explains. This shifted in the early decades of the last century, with a more open-minded approach to medieval culture that, rather than dismissing the plays as superstition, recognized them as lively, interesting, original ways of telling the story.

While todays Nativity plays are performed as standalone productions, in the medieval era, the story would have been part of a larger cycle of plays telling the story of Christianity from Creation to Judgment Day, usually during the summer given their outdoor nature. While children may have contributed to the music used in productions, Parker thinks it unlikely that they would have been given the roles they now enjoy in Nativities.

Like Nativity plays, mystery plays were widely accessible, designed to communicate Bible stories through visual performance, and appealing to an audience that was young and old, literate and nonliterate. While many contained comedic elements, the entire cycle would not have shied away from the darker elements of the story, including Herods persecution, Parker notes.

For Barward-Symmons, the popularity of the modern Nativity play represents a foundation for teachers and others to build upon, to encourage children to ask deeper questions.

What does it mean for this child born to poor and marginalized parents, who have been kicked out of their homeland, who are ostracized in many ways, to be fully divine, fully human, in the form of this tiny vulnerable infant? he says.

What does it mean for Jesus to be visited by wise men or shepherds? To be hunted by Herod? There is the potential for tapping into this well-known story and going, Have another look; look deeper; reflect on it more. Its something you know, but theres more to it.
Home World 'Very rare' ancient coin depicting Jesus uncovered in Norway

A "very rare" gold coin depicting the image of Jesus Christ that may have come from the Byzantine Empire roughly 1,000 years ago was recently discovered in Norway.

A metal detectorist found the artifact in the mountains of Vestre Slidre, over 1,600 miles from Istanbul, Turkey, formerly known as Constantinople, which served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire.

According to a statement from the Innlandet County Municipality in Norway, the coin is known as the Byzantine histamenon nomisma.

On one side, the coin displays Christ holding the Bible. The other side features an image of what researchers believe were rulers of the time, Basil II and Constantine VIII, who were brothers and co-emperors of the Byzantine Empire from 962 to 1025.

"The coin is unique in the Norwegian context," the Innlandet County Municipality stressed in its statement, according to Google Translate. "It has held up exceptionally well. The coin appears largely unchanged from when it was lost, perhaps a thousand years ago."

According to the statement, the coin was minted sometime between 977 and 1025 AD and featured a dotted, triple border.

The coin has two inscriptions, one in Latin which says: "Jesus Christ, King of those who reign." The other inscription is Greek: "Basil and Constantine, emperors of the Romans."

Municipality officials can only speculate about how the coin made it to Norway.

During that time, Harald Hardrade was the emperor's bodyguard. He later became king of Norway, according to the Archaeological Institute of America. Speculators question if the coin could have been part of Hardrade's salary, which he brought home during a trip home circa 1034.

Three emperors died during Hardrade's time in Byzantium, and it was customary for bodyguards to loot the palace after a king had died, according to the statement from the municipality.

"The treasures he acquired during his time as part of the emperor's guard in Constantinople, he sent to Prince Yaroslav in Kyiv. Among other things, the taxes were to contribute to a dowry, so that Harald could marry one of Jaroslav's daughters; Elliptical," the Municipality reported.

According to municipal officials, princes of Kyiv had familial ties to the emperors of Byzantium. Basil II was Queen Ellisiv's great-uncle.

"We know that Valdres was part of the Bjrgvin diocese until 1125. And one of the older traffic routes is called Bispevegen. It is not impossible that the coin was lost by one of the clergy on their travels," the municipality's statement adds.

Another explanation is that the coin arrived in Norway via the salt trade.

"The old trade routes, the salt roads, were based on trade in salt from Western Norway, so it is also possible that the coin entered into a good trade between salt and herring from the west, and iron ingots, reindeer skins and antlers from the east."

The location of the finding will not be investigated until 2024 because the coin was found in late fall. Researchers are still in the decision-making process of how to approach examining the site.

"We cannot currently say more about the discovery site than that it is a beach zone. Cultural Heritage in Innlandet County generally does not recommend detector searches in outlying areas," Innlandet County Municipality said.

"In the beach zone, there is usually a lot of movement in the masses and less danger of coming across untouched cultural monuments. We take this opportunity to refer to our guidelines for metal detecting."
Home U.S. Fauci takes flak for saying Catholic faith 'a thing I don't need to do'; critics call it 'straight up satanic'

Dr. Anthony Fauci recently drew scorn on social media after a clip went viral during which he explained that he feels no need to practice his Roman Catholic faith because he draws instead on his own "personal ethics."

During an interview with BBC commentator Katty Kay that aired earlier this month, Fauci stopped to notice the chapel where he married Dr. Christine Grady and noted that while he was raised Catholic, he no longer practices for "a number of complicated reasons."

"First of all, I think my own personal ethics of life are, I think, enough to keep me going on the right path," the former director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases explained. "And I think that there are enough negative aspects about the organizational church that you are very well aware of."

Going on to say he's "not against" the Catholic Church, Fauci said he still identifies as Catholic and has partaken of the Catholic sacraments, but dismissed practicing Catholicism as "almost like a pro forma thing that I don't really need to do."

Anthony Fauci explains that although he identifies as Catholic, his personal ethics on life are so strong that he has no need to practice the religion. It seems like a pro forma thing that I dont really need to do. pic.twitter.com/r5YbCs2gbM  Laura Powell (@LauraPowellEsq) December 9, 2023

Those comments were met with criticism, especially from many on social media who suggested that Fauci, who participated in a virtual papal audience in 2021, revealed in his response that he seemingly believes himself to be God.

"This is confirmation of all the demonic language Ive used discussing this fiend the last few years," Blaze TV host Steve Deace tweeted. "This is straight up satanic levels of 'ye be like God' and 'I will be like the Most High' stuff. Fauci is openly and literally proclaiming he is his own god here."

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford University professor who was a major critic of restrictive COVID-19 lockdown measures during the pandemic, tweeted: "Hard to say which is worse  his theology or his science."

"He isn't just science. He's religion too," author James Lindsay wrote, apparently referencing when Fauci told MSNBC host Chuck Todd in 2021 that attacks against him "quite frankly are attacks on science."

"He played God once," wrote Spectator contributing editor Stephen Miller. "Why should he have to take a demotion?"

"Does this man have the worlds biggest ego or what? He doesnt need to practice his religion because hes such a good person? How did we let Fauci run the country for two years?" asked Outkick writer Ian Miller.

"I suppose he feels satisfied at getting to play God during the pandemic," wrote Spectator World editor Amber Duke.

"He's got his own Church of Fauci to run," wrote Common Sense Society executive editor Christopher Bedford.

Catholic author Kennedy Hall described Fauci as "unironically the logical conclusion of the spirit of Vatican II."

"It was a council geared toward the glory of man as the end of creation. If man is perfected, he then has no need of God," Hall added.

"Faucis explanation of his 'faith,' while tragic, might be the most lucid articulation of what I sense most fallen-away Catholics actually believe," tweeted Father Stephen Blaxton, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Sandusky, Michigan. "His heartbroken gaze at the beautiful chapel where he was married and the sense of loss at those fond memories is also too common."
Home Politics Satanic display in Iowa State Capitol stirs debate among GOP lawmakers: 'Outrage and disgust'

A satanic exhibit in the Iowa State Capitol has caused a stir among Republican state lawmakers, who are debating the legality of allowing such displays on state property. | Screengrab/Twitter

A satanic exhibit in the Iowa State Capitol has caused a stir among Republican state lawmakers who are debating the legal necessity of allowing such displays on state property.

An organization describing itself as The Satanic Temple of Iowa erected an altar depicting a silver rams head on a mannequin adorned with a red cape and surrounded by candles and flowers, according to local KKCI Des Moines. The statue also holds a red wreath with an inverted pentagram.

Iowa state Rep. Jon Dunwell, a Republican and Christian pastor who also serves as assistant majority leader, told The Christian Post that while he disagrees personally with what the display represents, he doesn't believe the government should be getting involved.

"For me, I would rather have an evil, blasphemous display or no display at all than have the state dictate what they think is appropriate," he said.

Dunwell's comments to CP echoed a thread he wrote on X explaining his position on the satanic display. The thread garnered millions of views on the platform over the weekend and prompted criticism from some who suggested he wasn't opposing it forcefully enough.

As many of you have become aware, last week a display was erected at the Iowa Capitol by the Satanic Temple of Iowa. As I have responded to concerns from Iowans about the display, I wanted to share with you how the display came to be and my response.



How did it happen?

 The pic.twitter.com/8ODJXCxu9Y  Rep. Jon Dunwell (@jdunwell) December 8, 2023

Dunwell explained in the thread that The Satanic Temple had applied for the display in August, and that the Iowa Legislature's Department of Administrative Services (DAS), which governs the displays, does not discriminate on the basis of religion or ideology. He also claimed that the original plan for the display to feature a goat skull was denied.

Dunwell pushed back against any accusation that his position is radical, telling CP that he believes "the [government] would not be a good arbitrator of what is an appropriate religious expression, and what is not appropriate religious expression."

"And that's the danger when you begin to inflict restrictions upon freedom," he said.

Dunwell described himself as "a Bible-believing, crazy Evangelical Christian," but said that while he brings his faith and everything else about him to his role as a legislator, he doesn't believe it's his job to impose his faith on anyone else.

"I have the freedom to express [my faith] and freedom to talk about it," he said. "It influences my decisions, but it is not something that I say, 'You have to have my faith, and only my faith can be expressed.'"

While Dunwell said he believes a day is coming "when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord," he also said that day is in the future and that Christians are not called to establish His kingdom politically in the meantime.

"I am nervous about government interfering with religious expression, even religious expression I may disagree with," he said, adding that many of his Christian friends and constituents agree with him that there is "nothing to fear" about the satanic altar, which he dismissed as "an inanimate object."

"Though this is uncomfortable, and though this may be [what] even some would call blasphemous toward our faith, the reality is God is bigger than this," he said. "And we have the ability to stand against this spiritually, and we have the ability to express our ideas about it, but we don't need to live in fear of it, or get all angry and behave in an un-Christian way because someone does something we disagree with."

Dunwell's fellow state Rep. Brad Sherman, who is also a Republican and a pastor, took a different view on the topic, arguing in a newsletter last week that there is potential legal recourse by which satanic displays could be prohibited on state-owned property.

"The outrage and disgust for this satanic display is widespread, but few people think there is much that can be legally done about it because of free speech and freedom of religion," Sherman wrote. "However, I disagree."

Citing the preamble to the 1857 Iowa State Constitution, which established the state on the basis of a belief in a "Supreme Being" and "dependence on Him for a continuation of those blessings," Sherman described any legal interpretation that would afford Satan and God the same religious expression as "twisted and tortured."

"Such a legal view not only violates the very foundation of our State Constitution, but it offends the God upon whom we depend and undermines our wellbeing," Sherman argued.

He also said that civil magistrates are not exempt from obedience to God, and that they "must submit to Him in government as much as any other area of life."

"Either He is God or He is not," Sherman added.

Claiming that it violates the Iowa State Constitution, Sherman called on Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to remove the "blasphemous display." He also called for the adoption of "clarifying legislation" that would prohibit satanic displays on state property and allow the Ten Commandments.

CP has reached out to Sherman's office for comment.

Andrew T. Walker, who serves as associate professor of Christian ethics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, echoed Sherman's sentiments in an op-ed for World magazine, arguing that there are potential limits to constitutional freedom, and that there is neither a theological nor a political basis for allowing satanic displays on government property.

"Constitutional analysis is determined through legal tests of adjudication, and no right is absolute," Walker wrote, noting how even English philosopher John Locke  whose theories helped frame American political thought  argued that atheism was a threat to public order and should not be tolerated.

"To think that raising questions about the limits of constitutional rights is somehow scandalous and illegitimate in itself is to misunderstand constitutionalism," Walker said. "Constitutionalism is a social pact for agreed-upon cooperation. For good or for ill, depending on the question at hand, every constitutional order is guided by some explicit or implicit limiting principles."

Walker argued that limits could potentially be placed on satanic displays on government property based on questions such as whether Satanism meets the definition of a traditionally understood religion, whether a reasonable person would see it as a civic and moral good, or whether a reasonable observer would view satanic displays as serving to "advance a prurient purpose."

"Satanism, whether real or pretend, is an outright celebration of evil, darkness, and perversity," Walker wrote. "So, in my view, there should be no Satanic displays in government buildings. Yes, even a Baptist can say such things."

Satanic Temple co-founder Lucien Greaves told the Des Moines Register that the display is not intended to be a dig at Christians, and that the government should not be dictating what religious displays are permissible.

"People assume that we're there to insult Christians and we're not," Greaves told the outlet. "And I would hope that even people who disagree with the symbolism behind our values, whether they know what those values [are] or not, would at least appreciate that it's certainly a greater evil to allow the government to pick and choose between forms of religious expression."

Satanic mockeries of Nativity scenes have made headlines in recent years in places such as neighboring Illinois, where in 2021, members from that state's chapter of The Satanic Temple installed a statue of baby Baphomet swaddled in a manger in the Illinois State Capitol rotunda. Another year featured a Snaketivity statue depicting a serpent coiling around Eve's hand to offer her the forbidden fruit.
Home Opinion Iranian president must be arrested in Geneva this week

This week, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees is sponsoring the 2023 Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. The event will see participation from various heads of state, as is to be expected of a forum that explores opportunities for governments throughout the world to help alleviate a global refugee crisis. One should not expect, however, that any of the participating officials would themselves be contributors to the crisis. Yet this description certainly fits Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, whose prospective attendance was revealed just days in advance.

Because of this, the forum is now expected to be the site of large-scale protests on Wednesday, as Iranian expatriates and supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran gather to draw attention to Raisis decades-long role in politically-motivated executions and overall repression of dissent  phenomena which have forced millions of people to flee the Islamic Republic over the past four decades.

These protests will no doubt underscore the impact that Raisi has had on the accelerating pace of executions since assuming the presidency in 2021. But they will place particular emphasis on the role that he played in 1988 as one of four members of the Tehran death commission that oversaw mass executions of political detainees in two major prisons. Similar panels of clerical judges were convened in a number of other localities that year, so that nationwide, more than 30,000 prisoners were executed in a span of about three months.

Raisis eventual ascension to the presidency was directly influenced by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who had previously appointed him as head of the judiciary, as a steppingstone toward the second-highest office in the regime. Critics of the regime were quick to recognize both promotions as endorsements of Raisis repressive credentials, and as affirmations of a commitment to further violent crackdowns on dissent.

This perception was reinforced by the fact that Raisis tenure as judiciary chief coincided with a major anti-government uprising. In that role, he contributed significantly to a crackdown that was ultimately revealed to have claimed more than 1,500 lives in November 2019 alone. When he attained the presidency less than two years later, Raisi was able to promote similar violence against participants in the next major uprising, which broke out in September 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the morality police.

The latest crackdown killed another 750 people in the streets of Iranian cities and in detention centers where a total of 30,000 people were processed after being arrested for protesting peacefully or defending themselves against unprovoked attacks by security forces. Not only that, but the regimes response to the 2022 uprising continued throughout the following year, inspiring an ongoing surge of executions, with more than 700 victims so far this year, and 215 just since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7.

The UNHCR is no doubt aware of this phenomenon and Raisis role in it. After all, its sister institution, the UN Human Rights Council, has been conducting an investigation into the overall crackdown and has publicly warned about the surge of executions being based upon a desire to terrorize the Iranian people into compliance. This only makes it more inexplicable that the UNHCR would embrace Raisis participation in the Global Refugee Forum, without so much as issuing a statement to acknowledge his personal role in violating the rights of refugees and others.

The NCRI took the initiative to issue such a statement on Saturday, calling Raisis imminent visit to Geneva a stain in the history of the UN and an insult to human rights, the sacred right to asylum and all the values for which contemporary humanity has sacrificed tens of millions of lives.

The statement went on to say that if Raisis participation in the forum remains unchallenged, then the UN will only be perpetuating a culture of impunity that has been developing since the international community first failed to address the mass executions that were being ordered by Raisi and his colleagues in 1988. This, in turn, emboldens the Iranian people to further massacre the Iranian people, the NCRI concluded.

In 2016, NCRI President Maryam Rajavi announced a formal campaign seeking justice for the victims of the 1988 massacre. Since then, global awareness has grown regarding that crime against humanity, with activists inside the Islamic Republic sharing fresh information about the locations of secret mass graves in which some of the victims are buried.

The NCRI now stands ready to hand over that information to the UN, to initiate a formal international inquiry which could lead to the prosecution of Raisi, Khamenei, and other Iranian officials. Sadly, neither the UN nor its leading member states appear interested in pushing for such an inquiry at the moment. Raisis invitation to Geneva underscores this fact.

But until he is back in Tehran, there remains an opportunity to order his arrest on the basis of universal jurisdiction over major violations of international law, and to finally demonstrate that the Iranian regime no longer enjoys impunity with respect to its crackdowns on an increasingly restive population and organized movement for a democratic alternative to the Islamist dictatorship.
Home U.S. Covenant School eyes April return after tragic shooting, cites safety and emotional readiness

The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, the site of a devastating shooting in March that left six dead after a trans-identified shooter opened fire, will return to its main campus at Burton Hills in April after a period of renovation and preparation.

In a detailed letter to parents, Interim Head of School Trudy Waters outlined the reasons behind the delayed return, emphasizing the Presbyterian school's commitment to safety, minimizing learning disruptions, teacher readiness and acknowledging the anniversary of a past school shooting.

"It is important to know that this decision has not been made lightly but has been made on the bent knees of the Leadership Team before the Lord. It is one that has been agonized over, debated over, and prayed over," Waters wrote, according to the letter detailed by WTVF.

"The Leadership Team and I share in the disappointment you may be feeling; please remember many of us are parents, too. Our entire community is navigating uncharted territory in a situation that has never been encountered before. There is no guidebook,"

The Covenant School had initially aimed for a January return. Despite Covenant Presbyterian Church's investment of over $3 million in renovations, the complexity of implementing new security measures necessitated a postponement, she said.

"We understand that this news will raise lots of questions. Your trust, understanding, and cooperation during this period of adjustment are greatly appreciated. To foster a sense of unity and prioritize the well-being of our community, we encourage you to share your questions and concerns directly with the Leadership Team. Please feel free to reach out to any of us to discuss your inquiries or concerns  we're here to help and listen, and we are happy to meet face to face."

In March, 28-year-old Audrey Hale opened fire at the Christian school, which is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA), killing Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all 9 years old, as well as Cynthia Peak, 61; school headmaster Katherine Koonce, 60; and Mike Hill, 61. Hale was shot and killed by police just minutes after launching her attack.

Hale, a former student at the school, sought to kill "cr*ckers" with "white privileges," according to leaked pages of her manifesto that documented the plans to commit mass murder. Authorities discovered that Hale possessed a detailed map of the school and was armed with two "assault-type rifles and a handgun."

"I hope I have a high death count.  God let my wrath take over my anxiety," Hale wrote, according to leaked pages published by Steven Crowder, host of "Louder with Crowder," in November.

Hale's writings had been the subject of intense debate. Nashville police said they would release the writings until they close the investigation. Despite exhaustive efforts, the police stated in December that they had "exhausted all available investigative avenues" in tracing the source of the leak.

In her letter, Waters said teacher and student readiness was another critical factor in deciding to re-open the school in April. She said the school's faculty has been undergoing sessions to prepare emotionally and mentally for the return. Similarly, many students are still showing signs of trauma, she said, and the extended period will allow for additional healing opportunities at the Burton Hills campus.

"The Leadership Team and The Covenant School Board remain committed to providing the best possible education for your children while prioritizing everyone's safety and well-being. We appreciate your continued support and prayers as we navigate through these unforeseen circumstances," she wrote.
Home World Gaza's only Catholic church damaged by airstrike: 'A miracle prevented a big catastrophe'

The only Roman Catholic Church in Gaza was damaged by an alleged Israeli airstrike over the weekend as Palestinian Christians caught up in the Israel-Hamas conflict reportedly face an increasingly "desperate" situation.

Shrapnel from Israeli army strikes targeting nearby buildings damaged Holy Family Church and its parish buildings in Gaza City, wrecking its solar panels and destroying its water tanks, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need. Cars and other parts of the parish complex were also reportedly damaged.

"Only a miracle prevented a big catastrophe from happening to us," a local partner with the charity was quoted as saying in a press release.

The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas' Oct. 7 surprise attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and the abduction of over 240. In response, Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes and a ground offensive seeking to free hostages and eradicate Hamas, a terror organization that has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says that over 18,000 people have been killed and 50,000 injured since the war began.

Hundreds of people have taken shelter in the Holy Family Church. ACN, which has been providing meals, food coupons, medical supplies, as well as rent and utility bill payments for displaced Christians, also noted that the parish has run out of fuel, electricity and reliable means of communication.

Although Israel urged residents to flee the conflict zone to southern Gaza, Father Gabriel Romanelli, the pastor of Holy Family Parish, told Catholic News Agency that many in his community chose to stay in northern Gaza when the fighting began because "bombings were taking place both north and south."

"They chose to remain where they were, trusting in Jesus, so they truly felt the presence of God," Romanelli was quoted as saying.

He added that while there is great shock and sadness among Christians in Gaza, they have great trust in Gods divine protection.

Local sources told ACN that 22 Christians have died since the war began, 17 of whom died when an Israeli airstrike intended to strike a Hamas command center damaged the compound of the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrios, the oldest church in Gaza. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem accused Israel of a "war crime."

Holy Family Church joins the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrios as one of two churches sheltering many displaced Christians in Gaza City. ACN reported last month that approximately 750 were seeking refuge at Holy Family Church, including more than 100 children.

Last month, an airstrike reportedly destroyed the Rosary Sisters School, which was associated with Holy Family Church and served 1,250 Christian and Muslim students, according to ACN. Additionally, at least 53 Christian families homes have been destroyed, according to an ACN project partner.

Sister Nabila Saleh of the Rosary Sisters, who serves as principal of the school, noted that the school had been evacuated and nobody was killed.

On Oct. 15, Father Youssef Asaad joined Saleh and another sister to film themselves huddled in a stairwell while speaking to Pope Francis, who called them to pray and express his support for the Catholics caught in the midst of the conflict, according to Vatican News.

Bestselling Evangelical American-Israeli author Joel C. Rosenberg has been in touch with Palestinian Christians in Gaza and has urged Israeli leaders and the international community to act on their behalf as their situation grows increasingly dire.

"It pains me beyond measure to report to you that the situation facing Palestinian Christians in Gaza has gone from bad to worse to desperate," Rosenberg wrote in a Dec. 7 report for All Arab News.

"Since the beginning of the war, nearly 1,000 Christians have been sheltering in two historic church buildings in Gaza City and in a group of private homes nearby."

Rosenberg claims the food and fresh water supply of those sheltering in the churches is dwindling quickly and that Christian NGOs are continually hitting bureaucratic roadblocks in their attempts to offer humanitarian support. Adults are foregoing what little food remains to give to the children, many of whom cry from hunger, according to sources who spoke to Rosenberg.
Home Politics Out-of-state travel for abortions doubled in last 3 years, report suggests

Interstate abortion travel has more than doubled from 2020 to 2023 as many states have implemented bans and restrictions on the procedure, a new report suggests.

The Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion research organization, released a report examining the magnitude of interstate abortion travel following the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision. The Dobbs decision determined that the U.S. Constitution doesn't contain a right to abortion, overturning the Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.

The report, released Thursday, compared data on interstate abortion travel from 2020, before the Dobbs decision, to 2023, the first full year after the ruling. Following the Dobbs decision, several states implemented bans and restrictions on abortion.

The Guttmacher Institute's report found that 92,100 women traveled out of state to obtain an abortion in the first six months of 2023 compared to 40,600 in the first half of 2020.

According to the pro-life activist organization Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, 15 states have near-total abortion bans, two states prohibit abortion after six weeks gestation, two states ban abortion after 12 weeks, four states have strong pro-life protections in litigation while Florida bans abortion after 15 weeks gestation.

The Guttmacher Institute identified Illinois as the state that performed the highest number of abortions on women who do not live in the state, with 18,870 non-residents receiving abortions in the first half of the year.

The report attributed a large number of out-of-state abortions to the state's location adjacent to three states with near-total abortion bans: Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri.

The Guttmacher Institute lists Illinois as one of 17 states that protect a right to abortion before viability and one of 13 states with "shield" laws that limit "negative effects of out-of-state abortion restrictions and bans on abortion providers in the state."

New Mexico saw 8,230 women travel into the state to receive abortions in the first half of 2023. The report noted that the state borders two states with near-total abortion bans: Texas and Oklahoma.

Florida also attracted 5,780 out-of-state women seeking abortions in the first six months of 2023. The report contrasts abortion policy in Florida with that of other states in the South. Although Florida has a 15-week abortion ban on the books, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi have near-total abortion bans, while Georgia prohibits abortions after six weeks gestation.

A total of 3,990 women traveled to Colorado to obtain abortions in the first six months of 2023. The report cited the state's proximity to Oklahoma, which has a near-total abortion ban; Nebraska, which has a 12-week abortion ban; and Utah, where abortion is prohibited after 18 weeks gestation as stronger pro-life protections remain tied up in litigation, as the reason why the state has become an abortion destination.

Other states that performed a considerable number of abortions on women traveling from out-of-state in the first half of 2023 include North Carolina (8,920), Kansas (5,780), Maryland (4,400), Georgia (4,370), New York (3,700), California (3,630), New Jersey (3,040), South Carolina (2,490), Minnesota (2,420), Virginia (2,370), Ohio (1,610), Nevada (1,350), Michigan (1,270), Washington (1,210) and Pennsylvania (1,140).

"We knew that more people have been traveling across state lines for abortion since the end of Roe, but these findings are stunning nonetheless, and powerfully illustrate just how disruptive the overturning of Roe has been for tens of thousands of abortion patients," Guttmacher data scientist Isaac Maddow-Zimet said in a statement.

Maddow-Zimet, the project lead behind the latest research, added that "where people are traveling to get care is an important piece of the puzzle in untangling the post-Dobbs abortion landscape."

"Policies that protect and expand access, such as those that permit any qualified health provider  not just physicians  to offer abortion care or shield laws that protect providers from criminal investigation from hostile states, have been critical in helping states meet patients' needs," said Guttmacher Vice President for Public Policy Kelly Baden.

While several states have enacted abortion restrictions following the Dobbs decision, a handful of other states have gone in the opposite direction as voters have approved establishing constitutional rights to abortion. Last year, voters in California, Michigan and Vermont approved ballot questions enshrining a right to abortion in their respective state constitutions, while a similar initiative passed in Ohio earlier this year.

At the same time, voters rejected ballot measures that would have established pro-life protections in Kansasand Montana, while a measure that would have clarified that there was no state constitutional right to abortion failed to pass in Kentucky.
Home U.S. Nonbinary 'socialist' pleads guilty to vandalizing pro-life pregnancy center: 'Abort God'

An Ohio woman has pleaded guilty to vandalizing a pro-life pregnancy care center, having spray-painted messages like "abort God" and "Liars" on the building.

Whitney M. Durant, 20, who also goes by the name Soren Monroe, pleaded guilty last Friday to violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a federal law prohibiting the intentional damaging or destroying of facilities that provide reproductive healthcare services.

A Bowling Green State University student at the time of the crime, Durant vandalized the property of HerChoice, a pro-life center based in Bowling Green, Ohio, also known as the Bowling Green Pregnancy Center.

U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio said in a statement that the government "will enforce federal laws that protect uninterrupted access to all clinics providing reproductive health services, whether they provide women with options that include abortion care or whether they solely encourage women to consider non-abortion alternatives."

"Here, the vandalized clinic did not provide abortion care, but that did not give the defendant license to deface the clinic's property in protest, violating federal law in the process," stated Lutzko.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for next April. Durant faces a maximum of one year in prison for the misdemeanor charge under the FACE Act.

In April, Ohio Right to Life announced that HerChoice had been vandalized with phrases including "Fake Clinic," "Jane's Revenge," "Fund Abortion" and "Abort God" on the exterior wall of the clinic while "Liars" was spray-painted on a window.

"Jane's Revenge" refers to a collective of pro-choice domestic terrorists who have a record of threatening and attacking churches and pro-life organizations over their views on abortion.

In July, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio arrested Durant and charged the student with a federal misdemeanor charge under the FACE Act.

While a student, Durant was a member of the activist student organization the Bowling Green Student Rights Union and a member of BGSocialists. Durant reportedly identifies as nonbinary.

The BGSRU released a statement on Instagram stating at the time that while it "does not condone the use of vandalism," it still "stands in solidarity with activists who choose to use non-violent disobedience as a form of protest."

The group also provided a link to a GoFundMe page launched to help pay Durant's legal fees and called on voters to support the ultimately successful referendum making abortion a state constitutional right in Ohio.

Signed into law by Democrat President Bill Clinton in 1994, the FACE Act came in response to a reported uptick in threats and violence leveled against abortion centers.

Although occasionally used to prosecute vandals of pro-life facilities, the FACE Act is often used to prosecute pro-life activists who block access to abortion facilities, resulting in prison sentences of several years.

In September, Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas introduced legislation aimed at repealing the FACE Act, arguing that it wrongfully targets nonviolent pro-life activists.

"Biden's Department of Justice has brazenly weaponized the FACE Act against normal, everyday Americans across the political spectrum, simply because they are pro-life," Roy claimed in a statement.

"Our Constitution separates power between the federal government and the states for a reason, and we ignore that safeguard at our own peril. The FACE Act is an unconstitutional federal takeover of state police powers; it must be repealed."
Home World British man wearing Crusader gear attacked after taking down Palestinian flag in London neighborhood Assault occured in lone Muslim-majority locality in England

A viral video shows a British man using a ladder in an effort to take down a Palestinian flag flying in the heart of London before being attacked by an apparent Palestinian sympathizer.

The video shared Dec. 8 on social media shows a man wearing a Crusader-themed red cross skull cap and hoodie propping up a ladder at a bus stop in the Muslim-majoriy neighborhood of Tower Hamlets in east London to remove the flag when the attack takes place.

After the unidentified man climbs atop an apparent trash bin, he is seen making his way slowly up a ladder leaning against the flagpole. As he climbs higher toward the flag, a small black car stops in the middle of the street.

The man then rips the flag off the pole and as he makes his way down the ladder, the passenger in the black vehicle runs out and kicks the ladder out from under him.

After tumbling to the ground, the cross-wearing man takes the ladder and throws it at the passenger. He then runs off toward another ladder near the flagpole, giving the car passenger a chance to pick up the first ladder.

A guy took down a Palestine flag In Langdon Park Tower Hamlets. pic.twitter.com/1fXkUnPzC2  London & UK Street News (@CrimeLdn) December 8, 2023

The two men are then seen swinging ladders in each others direction in the middle of the street, where the two eventually come to blows. A third man arrives and immediately takes the ladder from the cross-wearing man, who then runs out of frame.

He later reported the assault to police. Officers are still investigating and no arrests have been made, a spokesperson for the Metro London U.K. Police told the Daily Mail.

The incident was caught on video one day before a massive pro-Palestinian rallyin London drew thousands calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as the Israel-Hamas war continues into its third month.

Last month, authorities arrested another British man who took to social media to criticize the number of Palestinian flags that were being mounted in one local neighborhood.

Police in Tower Hamlets raised concerns about the number of Palestinian flags on display back in October and decided to remove them from lampposts, citing safety concerns, the BBC reported.

One local lawmaker who asked not to be identified told the BBC, "One flag outside someone's home as an individual statement is one thing. But on nearly every lamppost is different.

"If I was from certain communities I might not feel safe. It may not be breaking the law but local councils have a duty to deal with this and try to keep all people together."

A 2011 government census found that 38% of the population in Tower Hamlets identify as Muslim, the highest percentage of Muslim residents in England and Wales. According to the census, Tower Hamlets is the only local authority in the U.K. where Muslims, not Christians, are the largest single religious group.

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, a number of cities around the world have flown the Palestinian flag, including in Ireland, where the flag has gone up at government buildings in Dublin, and in California, where the city of Fresno raised the Palestinian flag in solidarity shortly after the war began.

The official flag of England, meanwhile, is called St. Georges Cross, a flag dating back to the 12th century featuring a red horizontal cross against a white background.

The flag was used to identify both soldiers and civilians during the Crusades, the series of wars launched by the Roman Catholic Church to regain control of Jerusalem and the Holy Land.
Supreme Court Decision On 'Gay Conversion Therapy,' Pro-Choice Young Adults More Likely To Vote, Ancient Coin Depicts Jesus

link to download the audioinstead. link to download the audioinstead. 08:26 08:26

Top headlines for Tuesday, December 12, 2023

In this episode, we begin with the US Supreme Court's decision to uphold Washington State's ban on gay conversion therapy and what this means for similar laws across the country. Next, the controversy surrounding Dr. Anthony Fauci's statements about his personal ethics and their relationship to his Catholic faith. Then, we explore a fascinating report on the voting habits of young pro-life and pro-abortion adults in America, especially against the backdrop of increasingly prevalent abortion-related referendums. Finally, we marvel at the discovery of a thousand-year-old, rare gold coin in Norway, imprinted with an image of Jesus Christ, that's believed to be from the Byzantine Empire.

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Top headlines for Tuesday, December 12, 2023

In this episode, we begin with the US Supreme Court's decision to uphold Washington State's ban on gay conversion therapy and what this means for similar laws across the country. Next, the controversy surrounding Dr. Anthony Fauci's statements about his personal ethics and their relationship to his Catholic faith. Then, we explore a fascinating report on the voting habits of young pro-life and pro-abortion adults in America, especially against the backdrop of increasingly prevalent abortion-related referendums. Finally, we marvel at the discovery of a thousand-year-old, rare gold coin in Norway, imprinted with an image of Jesus Christ, that's believed to be from the Byzantine Empire.
Home Opinion Americans at the crossroads of Gabriel and Lucifer

I suppose the angel Gabriel gets more attention at Christmas than at any other time of the year. After all, he appeared to both Mary and Zechariah to announce the births of Jesus and John the Baptist. Gabriel told Zechariah: I stand in the presence of God (Luke 1:19). And he told Mary: Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you (Luke 1:28).

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin ... (Luke 1:27). This noble teenager was Gods chosen vessel and given the greatest role ever assigned to a human being. Mary humbly accepted her assignment and told Gabriel, May it be to me as you have said (Luke 1:38).

When the angels Gabriel and Lucifer came to a crossroads in Heaven, Gabriel went right and Lucifer went left. In complete contrast to Marys humility, Lucifer rebelled in Heaven and sought to undermine his Creator. Some people consider Lucifer (Satan) to be the evil equivalent of God. In actuality, Lucifer is simply a created being like every other angel. Lucifer can only be in one place at one time, whereas God is omnipresent. And so, you see, Lucifer does not even come close to Gods level of power, majesty, dominion and capabilities.

Instead, think of Lucifer as Gabriel's evil counterpart. Interestingly, Michael is the only angel in the Bible called an archangel, (Jude 9) whereas Gabriel and Lucifer are not mentioned as such. Lucifer chose to reject God, whereas Gabriel remained true to his Creator.

I wonder what Lucifer was thinking when Gabriel brought those messages from God to Mary and Zechariah. Perhaps he mused: That could have been me going on special assignments. Instead, I will be punished in never-ending torment (see Rev. 20:10) as a result of my prideful lust to become the center of attention. Gods Word declares, The devil is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short (Revelation 12:12).

Lucifer assumed he knew better than Gabriel, and that he even knew better than God. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom (Proverbs 11:2). Lucifer is the prime example of Proverbs 16:5: The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

Every American stands at the crossroads of Gabriel and Lucifer. We are presented with various choices everyday. Will I do things my way, or Gods way?

Will I continue to hold grudges against those who have wronged me, or will I forgive them because the Lord first loved and forgave me? Will I continue to be judgmental of others and look down on them, or will I wake up and realize that I too am a sinner and therefore have absolutely no right to throw stones at others?

Another example involves Gods beautiful design for sex to take place only within marriage between a man and a woman. The alternative path involves sex whenever you feel like it, regardless of marriage. Which path at the crossroads will you take?

Likewise, God wonderfully designed the two immutable genders of male and female, (Genesis 1:27) as compared to a counterfeit approach where individuals assume they can switch their gender back and forth based upon their subjective feelings at any given moment. One perspective is consistent with Gabriels humble submission to the Lord, while the other notion resembles Lucifers rebellious rejection of Gods design.

Gabriel exemplifies obedience to God, whereas Lucifer exemplifies disobedience to God. And unlike the fallen angels, Gabriel and all of Gods holy angels clearly understand their primary role is to worship God. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come (Revelation 4:8). When God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, Let all Gods angels worship Him (Hebrews 1:6).

Why worship the babe of Bethlehem? Because Jesus Christ is God and worthy of praise, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit. In addition, Jesus is trillions of times higher than Gabriel in perfection, power and essence. The Son is the radiance of Gods glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So He became as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is superior to theirs (Hebrews 1:3-4).

While Gabriel is a wonderful example of obedience to God, Christians are never to engage in the worship of angels (Colossians 2:18). Such idolatry is an abomination to the Lord. Christians follow Jesus Christ and not Gabriel. Likewise, Christians should never pray to angels or seek to communicate with them. Gods holy angels are not divine but are ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14).

Speaking of salvation, the crossroads of Gabriel and Lucifer also underscores the highway to Heaven and the broad road to Hell. The route to Hell is paved with religious deeds and works righteousness. In other words, many people try to earn their way into Heaven, which ultimately leaves them locked out of Paradise. The only way to enter Heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ. (see John 3:16; John 14:6; Galatians 2:16). Repenting of your sins and relying upon Christs sacrifice on the cross rather than your religious deeds and noble efforts is the only way to be saved, redeemed, justified, born again and forgiven.

Every American stands at the crossroads of Gabriel and Lucifer this Christmas. Which path will you choose? Will you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, or the popular path of the wicked spirit known as Lucifer? As Joshua told the Israelites: If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15).

Jesus described the broad road that leads to destruction and the narrow road that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). The King of kings also revealed: Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit (Matthew 7:17). What kind of fruit is being produced in your life today?
Home Opinion Feminism, LGBT ideology and surrogacy

My wife suffered in labor for 37 hours a few weeks ago. In those hours, like the 42 long weeks of restless symptoms and sleepless nights throughout the pregnancy, what made it all worth it was that she would hold our dear son, uninterrupted, in her arms immediately after he was born.

I cant imagine what it would have done to her if after knowing Solomon for 42 weeks and struggling to give birth to him for 37 hours  he was ripped away from her forever.

Thats what surrogacy is. Its a godless practice that creates motherless children.

There are 2 types of surrogacy: traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy is when a woman conceives a child for an intended father through natural insemination (sexual intercourse) or artificial insemination.

Gestational surrogacy is when a woman agrees to carry an embryo conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) from the intended fathers sperm and the intended mothers egg.

In both types of surrogacy, whether the surrogate is the gestational carrier or the biological mother, she loses parental rights to the child.

Surrogacy has become a major industry in recent years. In Canada, surrogacy has increased by 400% over the last 10 years. Last year the industry made around $14 billion and its projected to make $129 billion by 2032. The average cost of surrogacy is about $150,000. However, most of the money is paid to agencies. Surrogates generally receive between $30,000 to $60,000.

Stripping mothers from their children will harm their spirits and stripping children from their mothers will harm society. Motherlessness can be just as harmful as fatherlessness. What makes fatherlessness so harmful to children isnt merely the absence of their father  its the absence of half of what God has instituted in parenting: a father and a mother.

In other words, God didnt generally ordain so-called two-parent households. He specifically ordained one husband and one wife fathering and mothering children. Meaning, motherlessness is just as harmful as fatherlessness. Children need their mothers just as much as they need their fathers, if not more.

Ive never met my father. He abandoned my mom and me before I was born. But at least I wasnt abandoned by the parent Ive known since the day God began knitting me in her womb. A mothers bond with her child is so unique that for the first few years of my life, I didnt notice I was fatherless.

So as a fatherless man with a heroic mom, its unthinkable that children are being taken from their mothers.

Although, its more accurate to say are being given away by their mothers. Children are not stolen from surrogates, they are sold by them.

Some people justify surrogacy by suggesting it is morally equivalent to adoption. But thats insulting to women who selflessly give up their children for adoption. In an adoption, the mother doesnt get paid. Shes strictly offering the baby a better life. However, in surrogacy, the mother is exchanging the baby for a better paycheque.

Its impossible to ignore the similarities between surrogacy and abortion. Simply, they are selfish choices that strip children of their most basic rights. If abortion was illegal in America, surrogacy would also probably be illegal.

Its presumably not a coincidence that the first surrogacy in America happened just 3 years after the Supreme Court ruled on Roe v. Wade.

For decades some women have murdered their babies for nothing. It was only a matter of time before other women sold their babies for 30 pieces of silver.

Also, just as abortion is a direct consequence of feminism, surrogacy is an indirect consequence of feminism. Surrogacy is a result of delayed marriages and delayed parenting. After years of postponing motherhood, many Millennial and Gen X single and married women are relying on surrogacy to give them children.

However, surrogacy isnt just what happens when women choose careers over children. Its also what happens when men choose men over women. Surrogacy, therefore, is a consequence of both feminism and LGBT ideology.

The reason why surrogacy has become such a lucrative business in America over the last decade is that the Supreme Court legalized so-called gay marriage almost 10 years ago.

Surrogacy is the consequence of feminism and LGBT ideology. Until we reject these godless ideologies, there will be more fatherless and motherless children.

When society rejects what God has ordained for marriage and parenting, it will always lead to disaster.

Originally published at Slow to Write.
Home Opinion Revelation 19: The grandeur of Christs return (part 1)

In the annals of world history, there were figures whose names became synonymous with hope and liberation. Their actions resonated with a peoples collective yearning for freedom. Giuseppe Garibaldi, a valiant leader of the Italian Risorgimento, was one such beacon for a nation yearning to be delivered from its political fetters. During Italys darkest hours, Garibaldis name was whispered over and again as a promise of salvation, an assurance that their captivity was soon to be ended. The rallying cry, Garibaldi is coming! was echoed across the land, bringing with it the prospect of a brighter, united Italy.

Revelation chapter 19, verses 11-16, predicts an even greater deliverer is on the horizon. He is a world deliverer, whose arrival will transcend political boundaries and usher in a kingdom of eternal significance. Unlike any other before him, he will be the desire of every nation, the embodiment of every hope. Jesus Christ is coming. Christs reign promises not only liberation but unparalleled joy, enduring peace, and boundless blessings for everyone who awaits His arrival.

Here is what the Bible tells us:

Then I saw Heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords (Revelation 19:11-16).

Unquestionably, this verse is the culmination of everything that has previously been said in the book of Revelation. The late M.R. Dehaan in his commentary, Revelation, has written:

In this brief but highly descriptive and clear passage we have the pointed account of the consummation of all the ages, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ in glory to set up his kingdom upon the earth. In this chapter, we approach not only the climax of the entire book of Revelation but the climax of the entire Bible as well. All the prophets looked forward to this event. When Jesus was here on the earth, the disciples asked him again and again concerning this event. It is the hope of Israel, the theme of all prophecy, the consummation of the ages, and the vindication of the humiliation of his first coming. The discussion of the Tribulation is concluded in Revelation 19, the wedding of the Lamb has occurred, and the time has come for Christ to return to take the kingdoms of this world and to make them his own. This is the event for which believers have been praying Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. This is the event of which believers have sung throughout the centuries of the history of the Church as they lifted their voices in happy anticipation.

Yes, amen and amen! One of my favorite hymns from my teenage years when I first gave my life to Christ, and remains as such to this day, has a verse that still thrills me:

Praise him! Praise him! Jesus our blessed redeemer!

Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring!

Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;

Crown him! Crown him! Prophet and Priest and King!

Christ is coming, over the world victorious,

Power and glory unto the Lord belong:

Praise him! Praise him! Tell of his excellent greatness!

Praise him! Praise him! Ever in joyful song!

Christ is coming and his entry into the world again is going to be an extraordinary event. The text says that heaven will be opened (vs. 11).

History says that when George IV was crowned as King of the United Kingdom in 1821, a lavish and highly symbolic coronation procession took place in London. The streets were cleared, and thousands of spectators gathered to witness the event. The route was meticulously prepared, with decorations, arches, and grand displays along the way. The king was dressed in splendid regalia, and the procession featured horse-drawn carriages, military escorts, and dignitaries. This grand spectacle symbolized the kings authority and was a demonstration of the monarchys power and prestige.

What king has ever displayed such authority, command, and distinction that Heaven, the sky, and the clouds part, perhaps even celestial bodies, the sun, moon, and stars will have to clear the way for Christs arrival here on earth? This world has never seen such pomp and circumstance  never witnessed such a display of grandeur, magnificence, and ceremonial splendor as will be witnessed on the day of his return.

The Lord Jesus, says the apostle John, will come again riding on a white horse (vs. 11).

Most Americans can identify with the arrival of a cowboy on a white horse in an old Western movie. Riding on the white horse symbolizes that the rider is the hero or the protagonist. Its a visual cue that signals to the audience that this character is the central figure, and he will play a significant role in resolving conflicts. The use of the white horse in cinema represents moral clarity and a strong sense of justice. When the cowboy comes riding into town on a white horse, someone like the Lone Ranger or Roy Rogers, it means that this individual will oppose and overcome the dark and villainous characters. Riding the white horse means the cowboy is the hope of a new beginning, a positive change, redemption, and renewal.

The Lord Jesus riding a white horse as he comes back is expressive of much of the same. It signifies he is the central, conquering, and triumphant figure of history. He comes to set everything right. He will have absolute victory over evil, sin, and all opposing forces. On that white horse, Christ is a stark contrast between the dreadful and distressing rulers of this world. Mounted on his white horse, Christ Jesus is seen for what He is  the long-awaited promise that despite the trials and tribulations which the righteous face, He secures victory and vindication.

He is called Faithful and True (vs. 11). Christ is faithful and unwaveringly true to the promises of God. He is utterly reliable and trustworthy.

The Scripture says, God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he never spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? (Numbers 23:19). The Scripture also says, For all of Gods promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding Yes! And through Christ, our Amen (which means Yes) ascends to God for his glory ( 2 Corinthians 1:20). In other words, the entirety of Gods promises find their fulfillment in Christ, and in him, we find the assurance that they are completely trustworthy.

Christ is the very embodiment of truth. He said, I am  the truth (John 14:6). In a world filled with falsehood and deception, Christ is the ultimate source of truth and the perfect standard of right and wrong.

Revelation chapter 19 verse 11 also says that the Lord who comes again judges in righteousness and makes war.

Typically, most people never think of the Lord as one who wages war. Nevertheless, this is one way that Revelation describes Christ. We should be careful not to take such passages to mean the Lord Jesus is a promoter of violence and warfare in the sense of human conflicts. On the other hand, neither should we depict the Lord as someone who is against any warfare.

Some passages of Scripture describe the Lord as a warrior:

The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is his name!(Exodus 15:3). Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle (Psalm 24:8). Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle (Psalm 144:1).

The late Dr. Lorraine Boettner, a tremendous Presbyterian writer, has probably written one of the simplest books on Christianity and war. Its titled, The Christian Attitude Toward War. Boettner succinctly states:

Sometimes we hear it said that all war is wrong  wrong for the defenders as well as the aggressors  and that even when waged with the sincere purpose of restraining evil, it tends to produce greater evils than those against which it is directed. Those propositions, we submit, simply are not true. We hold that there is such a thing as a just war  just on the part of those who defend their lives and their homes against unprovoked aggression, but sinful on the part of those who make the attack. To cite only a few instances: If the people of Europe had not resisted the Mohammedan invasions, Europe would have been conquered and, humanly speaking, Christianity would have been stamped out. If at the time of the Reformation the Protestants had not resisted the Roman Catholic persecutions, crimes such as were practiced so freely in the Spanish and Italian Inquisitions, would have become common over all of Europe, and Protestantism would have been destroyed. If the American colonists had not fought for their rights, this country would not have gained its independence. In international affairs, as in individual affairs, it often happens that there is an innocent party and a guilty party, although in most cases the guilt is not altogether on one side. And of course, there have been many senseless, stupid, inexcusable wars in which neither side was at all concerned about righteousness. We want to be neither pacifists nor militaristsIt should not be necessary to say that we hate war as do all right-minded people. We hope that our country may never have to engage in another. We desire peace, but we realize that there are some things worse than war. We desire peace, but not the kind that is found in the slave camp or the cemetery. It is true that Christ came as the Prince of Peace, and that his followers should strive to promote peace by all lawful means. And for that reason, it may seem strange that any professed Christian should enter a protest against a modern pacifist movement. Anyone who does speak against it doubtless will be misunderstood by some. We believe, however, that that movement is dangerous, and that it has no necessary or legitimate part in the evangelical program.

Many Christian theologians and leaders saw World War II as a struggle against evil and tyranny. They invoked passages from the Bible to emphasize the belief that God was on the side of the Allies and that their cause was just. Ephesians 6:12, which speaks of spiritual warfare against the spiritual forces of evil, was sometimes invoked to emphasize the need to confront and defeat the Nazi regime. Biblical themes of liberation and rescue were also used. The liberation of concentration camps and the ending of Nazi atrocities were seen as a righteous mission. Passages such as Isaiah 61:1, which speaks of bringing good news to the oppressed and setting captives free, were rightly cited in this context.

Christ is indeed the one who brings peace. Nevertheless, there is another side to his nature. He is a man of war who will wage war against evil and finally secure peace throughout the whole world.

The rider on the white horse is said to have eyes as flames of fire, and he wears many crowns (vs. 12).

In the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament, the Ancient of Days is described as having hair as white as wool and eyes like blazing fire. This symbolizes Gods eternal wisdom and righteous judgment (Daniel 7:9). Not even the darkest recesses of the human soul can escape the fiery eyes of him who sees and knows everything.

In other passages such as Revelation 1:14, Daniel 10:6, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, and Psalm 18:8, the same kind of imagery is employed to convey Gods divine indignation and the seriousness with which he views sin and rebellion.

When I was a youngster in school, corporal punishment was still being practiced. One day I got in trouble for something I actually didnt do. The teacher who paddled me went overboard, humiliating me in front of the class, and beating me so badly that I had severe bruising and even bleeding on my buttocks. When my father found out about what happened to me, there was a fire in his eyes like I had never seen before nor ever saw again. He went looking for that teacher, and fortunately for the teacher, my father didnt find him.

When Christ comes again, he will come with fiery eyes to seek out those who have marginalized his children, humiliated them, beaten them, and shed their blood. And he will find them, and they will know the fullness of His wrath.

Christ, the one on the white horse, wears many crowns (v. 12). In the context of Revelation, Christs many crowns symbolize his victory over sin, death, and evil. This includes his victory over the forces of darkness and his triumph over the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet.

Other diadems that rest upon the brow of the Son of God would also include these nine:

1. The Crown of Creation (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16).

2. The Crown of Salvation (Hebrews 2:9).

3. The Crown of Righteousness (I John 2:1; I Corinthians 1:30).

4. The Crown of Victorious World Conqueror (John 16:33).

5. The Crown of Grace (Ephesians 2:8,9).

6. The Crown of the Great Shepherd (John 10:11).

7. The Crown of Judge (2 Timothy 4:1).

8. The Crown of Everlasting Life (John 3:16).

9. The Crown of King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).

Furthermore, the apostle John says, A name was written on him that no one understood except himself (v. 12).

In his commentary on the book of Revelation, William Barclay has suggested several interpretations:

He says that some suggest that the undisclosed name is Lord, emphasizing Jesus divine authority (Philippians 2:9-11). Others say it might be IHWH (YHWH), the Jewish name for God, signifying its holiness. Various scholars contend its a name that can only be revealed when the believer has finally entered into the life of Heaven. He says it might also be a relic of the old idea that knowing a divine beings name is to have a certain power over him.

But perhaps the most compelling idea, says Barclay, is the one put forward by H.B Swete which says in the essence of Christs being there must always remain something beyond mans understanding. Notwithstanding the dogmatic helps which the Church offers, the mind fails to grasp the inmost significance of the Person of Christ, which eludes all efforts to bring it within the terms of human knowledge. Only the Son of God can understand the mystery of his own being.

These interpretations emphasize the enigmatic nature of Christs identity.

Glory to God! This cosmic Christ is coming back. There is even more to see about this One who rides the white horse to forever save.

Christs nature is vaster than the universe itself. It cannot be fully measured.

Nevertheless, for everyone who has come to know Him as Savior and Lord, there is the promise of spending all of eternity exploring the beauty of his person and character.
1,000-year-old coin depicting Jesus found in Norway

An extremely rare gold coin with the image of Jesus on it has been uncovered in Norway.

The 1,000-year-old coin was found in Norway's Vestre Slidre mountains by a metal detectorist and is believed to be Byzantine.

It is in remarkable condition for its age. A crisp engraving of Jesus holding a Bible can be clearly seen on one side, while researchers believe the reverse shows Byzantine rulers Basil II and Constantine VIII, who ruled over the empire together from 962 to 1025.

The coin bears two inscriptions, one paying tribute to "Jesus Christ, King of those who reign". The other is in Greek and states "Basil and Constantine, emperors of the Romans".

It is believed to have been minted between 977 and 1025 AD.

The discovery is "very rare" and has excited officials at the Innlandet County Municipality in Norway, which made the announcement.

"The coin is unique in the Norwegian context," it said in a statement originally released in Norwegian.

"It has held up exceptionally well. The coin appears largely unchanged from when it was lost, perhaps a thousand years ago."

Officials can only speculate as to how the coin ended up in Norway, some 1,600 miles from Istanbul, which was the capital of the Byzantine Empire when it was known as Constantinople.

One theory is that the coin was part of the wages of Harald Hardrada from the time when he led the Varangian Guard - a unit of bodyguards to the Byzantine emperors. He later returned to Norway and became King Harald III.

Other theories posit that it was lost by a clergyman on his travels along one of the older traffic routes through the region, or that it came to Norway via the salt trade.

"The old trade routes, the salt roads, were based on trade in salt from Western Norway, so it is also possible that the coin entered into a good trade between salt and herring from the west, and iron ingots, reindeer skins and antlers from the east," said officials.

Investigations of the discovery site are planned for 2024.
Calls for end to India's anti-conversion laws after hundreds of Christians arrested

There have been calls for India to do more to protect the religious freedom of minority faiths after reports that hundreds of Christians have been arrested under controversial anti-conversion laws.

UCA News reports that 398 Christians - mostly Protestant pastors and church members - have been arrested in the state of Uttar Pradesh since the law was passed there three years ago.

There have been reports of further arrests in the Indian press, with 42 Christians, including 27 pastors, brought in for questioning in Uttar Pradesh at the end of last month.

They were rounded up after a complaint was lodged that they had been trying to convert tribal and poor people by fraudulent means. According to reports, police confiscated their religious books and laptops and two in the group were formally arrested.

Release International, a ministry that supports persecuted Christians worldwide, is calling on the Indian government to overturn the "draconian" anti-conversion laws, which exist in 12 out of India's 28 states.

It said that while the laws are intended to prevent conversion by force, in reality they are preventing Christians from sharing their faith at all, despite this being permitted by the Indian Constitution.

Release International CEO Paul Robinson said that the laws have led to pastors being arrested under false allegations and reports of women and children being terrorised as they return home from church meetings.

"In the worst cases, pastors have been beaten up and a few have been killed," he said.

The warning comes after months of violence and bloodshed targeting Christians in the north-eastern state of Manipur and ahead of important national elections next year, which Release fears will lead to further gains for the Hindu nationalist BJP party.

"Given the prevailing trend, the persecution of Christians in India is likely to increase," said Mr Robinson.

"Year upon year, our partners are reporting a rise in the persecution of Christians in India."

He called for the anti-conversion laws to be repealed to prevent further bloodshed.

"We are witnessing the world's largest democracy becoming an increasingly intolerant society," he said.

"Release International calls on the Indian government to act swiftly to prevent the spread of this culture of hostility towards minority faiths, and to overturn the anti-conversion laws."
Church of England's same-sex prayers to be used from Sunday

The Church of England is making its controversial prayers for the blessing of same-sex couples available for use in services from Sunday.

Use of the Prayers of Love and Faith for the first time follows their approval by the House of Bishops at an online meeting today.

The Church of England's parliamentary body, General Synod, passed a motion last month encouraging bishops to commend the prayers and permit standalone services on a trial basis.

The House of Bishops is still considering proposals for how the standalone services should be formally authorised under canon law.

The final text of the prayers, which are strongly opposed by evangelicals, were published by the Church of England today.

"The Prayers of Love and Faith are offered as resources in praying with and for a same-sex couple who love one another and who wish to give thanks for and mark that love in faith before God," the introduction reads.

"To celebrate in God's presence the commitment two people have made to each other is an occasion for rejoicing. The texts are offered to express thanksgiving and hope, with prayer that those who are dedicating their life together to God may grow in faith, love and service as God's blessing rests upon them."

The prayers ask that God would fill same-sex couples "with the grace to rejoice always in their love for one another, and to follow the Way of holiness and hope revealed in your Son Jesus Christ".

The prayers were published today along with pastoral guidance that sets out how they are to be used.

The Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, who is co-chairing the group overseeing the introduction of the prayers together with the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, said: "The Prayers of Love and Faith are resources to pray with and for a same-sex couple who are committed to one another in faithfulness and love. They are intended to enable those who wish to give thanks for and joyfully mark that commitment before God and their community of faith."

The approval of the prayers has left many evangelicals questioning their future in the Church of England. Some have already left.

Eleven bishops have publicly dissented from the decision of the House of Bishops to commend the prayers. They include the Bishop of Blackburn Philip North, the Bishop of Chichester, Martin Warner, and the Bishop of Lancaster, Jill Duff.

The House of Bishops has said it will consider pastoral provision for those who are unwilling to offer the blessings on grounds of conscience.

"It is intended that there will be wide process of consultation regarding the provision to ensure that whatever is agreed serves to promote unity and has broad support across the Church," the Church of England said.

Bishop Snow said: "We know not everyone in the Church of England agrees on these important questions which go the heart of who we are  about people's lives, their love and our shared faith. This is reflected in the House of Bishops, where there remain different views on the best ways to proceed.

"These prayers are offered as pastoral provision. It is our prayer that they can be used with grace and understanding. Sharing them will be a blessing to the whole Church."

Evangelicals have questioned how introducing the prayers can take place without undermining the Church's insistence that its doctrine on marriage as a lifelong union between a man and a woman remains unchanged.

Church of England Evangelical Council member, Andrew Goddard, has said that a "significant proportion" of the Church of England do not want the Prayers of Love and Faith and that the result of the strength of opposition could be "not another revision but the recall of the product".

Beyond England, the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans (GSFA) warned before the prayers were formally approved that they would cause the Church of England to be in violation of the "clear and canonical teaching of the Bible" and lead to "impaired communion with many provinces of the Anglican Communion".
Gaza church damaged in airstrike

Gaza's only Catholic church has been damaged in an Israeli air strike, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has said.

The Catholic charity said that the Holy Family Church suffered shrapnel damage from an airstrike on nearby buildings over the weekend.

Water tanks and solar panels on the church's roof were destroyed, and cars and parish buildings were also damaged in the strike.

The damage was confirmed by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. A local ACN partner commented, "Only a miracle prevented a big catastrophe from happening to us."

The Holy Family Church parish is home to the Rosary Sisters and a priest who are caring for 750 displaced Christians, including 100 children and 70 people with special needs.

The parish is continuing to care for them despite severe hardships brought on by the conflict. The parish has run out of fuel, no longer has electricity, and also does not have a stable means of communication.

ACN is supporting thousands of Christians in the Holy Land, including many in Gaza, with meals, food coupons, medical supplies and financial support to cover rent and utility bills.

The charity said that the situation in Gaza is "becoming more desperate by the day".
Xi's Vietnam visit to inject vitality into ties, consolidate mutual trust

Global Times) 08:30, December 12, 2023

At the year-end of 2023, China's head-of-state diplomacy turns the spotlight on Vietnam. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, will pay a state visit to Vietnam from December 12 to 13, a trip which is expected to chart course for future growth of bilateral relations, inject vitality into sound bilateral political mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Xi's visit is at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and State President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Vo Van Thuong.

On Monday, Vietnam+ published an article entitled "Chinese top leader's Vietnam visit to create new momentum for bilateral ties," commenting that "the visit will make a prominent landmark and be an important highlight on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.''

For a country's top leader, the destination of state visits at the beginning or the end of a year has strategic considerations and implications, Shen Yi, a professor at Fudan University, told the Global Times.

Shen said Vietnam being the destination of Xi's visit at the 2023 year-end conveys a clear message: China attaches great significance to neighboring countries, and to those who have responded goodwill toward China's principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in relation to its neighbors.

Mutual visits

In November 2015, Xi visited Vietnam for the first time as the head of state and top leader of the CPC. When he met Nguyen Phu Trong, Xi's opening remark was, this is a promise between the two of us, and also my commitment, to have the mutual visits of the general secretaries of our two countries within a year.

Two years later, when Xi landed in Vietnam the second time in November 2017, the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries had realized mutual visits within a single year twice in three years. And that was Xi's first overseas trip on the heels of the landmark 19th CPC National Congress.

On October 31, 2022, Xi welcomed Nguyen Phu Trong for his official visit to China, which was the first foreign leader's visit to China right after the conclusion of the 20th CPC National Congress.

Then comes the latest visit, starting on Tuesday, which will be the third time for Xi and Nguyen Phu Trong to realize mutual visits in about a year.

As Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on December 1 during his visit in Hanoi, the two parties and two countries have seen close high-level exchanges and frequent contacts like visiting relatives, which fully demonstrates the high level and special nature of China-Vietnam relations.

Special ties

"Vietnam-China relations have many advantages that are difficult for any other country to have," Viet Hoang, senior lecturer at International Law Faculty, Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, told the Global Times.

Hoang said as neighbors with land and sea borders, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries are easier to develop than with other countries that aren't as geographically close; More importantly, it is difficult to find any bilateral relationship that, in addition to the official channels of the state and the people, has a stable, powerful and effective exchange channel like the exchange channel between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of China.

Hoang also noted that the two countries share many similarities, creating favorable conditions for cultural exchange activities such as tourism and study abroad programs between their respective peoples.

"I believe President Xi's visit will boost more people-to-people exchanges between China and Vietnam," a Chinese tourist, who was visiting Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature, which is also translated as Temple of Confucius), told the Global Times on Monday.

In Hanoi, Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam is one of the historical sites with the most Chinese characteristics. It was Vietnam's first national university from 1076 to 1779, where students learned Chinese. It now houses the statues of Confucius and his disciples.

The tourist shared his new discovery with the Global Times. He took out a 100,000 VND (Vietnamese DONG) banknote, and said, look, the temple of literature is printed on the back side of the banknote, adding "this is a proof our bond has a long history and that the bond is still close."

"It's big news here!" A Vietnamese told Global Times in Hanoi on Monday when asked if she knew Chinese leader will embark on a visit to Vietnam. She said she is looking forward to more cooperation with China and to more Chinese people coming to Vietnam. In her eyes, more cooperation means mutual prosperity and better life.

US distorted angle

As the visit approaches, some US media activated their distorted analysis. The VOA wrote on December 8 that the visit comes as "Hanoi-US Relations Warm." On the same day, The Diplomat commented, "The trip comes on the heels of the Vietnamese government's significant diplomatic upgrades with the US and Japan."

They refer to US President Joe Biden's visit in Vietnam in September which lifted Washington to Hanoi's comprehensive strategic partner.

The narrative suggests as if China had little interaction with Vietnam in the past, and only rushes to the Southeast Asian country after US visit, turning a blind eye to the frequent contacts between China and Vietnam like visiting relatives in recent years and regular mutual visits since the normalization of ties between the two, Shen told Global Times.

China has been seriously developing ties with Vietnam for the long term, unlike the US, which aims to use Hanoi to gain its selfish profits when needed, and sets it aside when not. This is the biggest difference between China-Vietnam ties and US-Vietnam relations, Shen added.

China-Vietnam ties eye mutually beneficial cooperation, not the third party, experts said.

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China and Vietnam are both socialist countries on a path of reform and transformation in keeping with our respective national realities. Strengthening unity and friendship and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries serves the common interests of both sides, and contributes to peace, stability and prosperity of the region and beyond.

Mao added that a shared path and a shared future is the hallmark of China-Vietnam relations. An elevated bilateral relationship is a natural result in accordance with the overwhelming trend.

Nguyen Tang Nghi, vice dean in act at faculty of international relations, College of Social Sciences & Humanities, Vietnam National University of Ho Chi Minh City, told the Global Times that the strong and manifold relationship between Vietnam and China has been cultivated and developed by generations of leaders from both countries. Vietnam has no reason to form alliances with third parties to counter China, nor does it have any reason to allow other countries to use Vietnam as a tool to confront China.

The prosperity and stability of the Vietnam-China relationship not only hold special significance for the people of both countries, but also have an impact on the security, political, and economic landscape of East Asia, Nguyen Tang Nghi said.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
Articol adaugat de: UNICEF Moldova

Alte articole de la acest autor:
Charities have inadvertently overlooked the needs of younger generations in their fundraising and marketing and must adapt to appeal to them more, a report has said.

Tomorrows Donor, Today is the first installment of a research project by the GOOD Agency, Eden Stanley and the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIoF).

The report identifies five trends from the research that generations of people under 50 are looking for and provides guidance on how charities can engage future donors.

Charities seen as old-fashioned

Some respondents felt that businesses were more likely to solve social issues than charities because they have access to more resources and technology.

Another key issue raised was the perception of charities, as respondents said they can be seen as old-fashioned, cautious and uninspiring.

Indeed, the researchers asked generative artificial intelligence to illustrate typical charity donors and typical charity ads which the report said mirrored these sentiments.

The image of a typical charity donor showed a well-dressed white man, while the typical charity adverts showed people looking upset in a downcast and grey environment.

The sector needs to work hard to overcome these perceptions to truly inspire the public and engage with younger generations, the report reads.

Respondents to the research also used words like pastiche, cheesy and poor quality to describe charity adverts.

Charity shops were the most engaged with

Over ten days, respondents were asked to record any sightings or encounters they had with charities.

Charity shops ranked the highest, followed by email or social media, then paid advertising, community collection and street fundraising.

Worryingly, most participants could not recall seeing any charity communications at all during this period. This raises an important question regarding whether the sector is effectively reaching younger generations in their preferred environments and media channels, the report reads.

Donations first thing to go when purse strings tighten

Respondents reported that charity donations were the first thing to go when incomes became stretched.

A few of the reasons that people said they did not donate to charity were not being able to afford it, a lack of knowing what the charity was spending its funds on, and when a story was not told compellingly.

Reasons given as to why people did donate to charity were the personal proximity to a cause, the desire for a feel-good moment or supporting a friends or family members fundraising efforts.

Trends that charities can tune into

The report identified five macro-trends within the online community that it believes charities can tap into to engage donors.

The first was when charities present proven solutions to social issues. It gave the example of how a Crisis advertisement presents a life after homelessness, demonstrating the changes being made through donors' gifts.

It advises charities to review their fundraising asks for tangibility and inspiring hope and to research the most effective way to frame your stories.

The second trend was contagious positivity, where charities can craft joy for donors by updating them on how they are helping people or through humorous ads.

Therefore, the report suggests charities generate new products that make giving more fulfilling for donors and grow their gaming products which lead on joy and enjoyment.

Another trend was respondents saying they wanted to see changes in their local communities, and the report suggests charities engage with this by integrating charity shops and other regional properties into larger charity campaigns.

One participant said: Bring it down to smaller issues. Just look at poverty in Strathclyde. Its a much smaller issue than global poverty. If we could just look at local areas first then expand out, well have success.

Good is listening well, not speaking for

The fourth macro-trend identified was charities listening to the people they aim to support. The report suggests charities centre people with lived experience in their storytelling and the organisation.

The report reads: Reject the temptation to speak in an institutional voice and instead work hard to listen to your audiences and create more platforms for lesser-heard voices with lived experience to speak for themselves. This shift towards a more inclusive and participatory approach should enhance charitys effectiveness and resonance with a wider audience, as well as diverse communities.

Another trend charities should engage with is peoples desire for self-development, according to the report, so supporters can improve themselves by supporting a charity.

It gave examples of Christian Aid running a six-month training and mentoring scheme for young activists and Sense Sign School giving basic sign language lessons in exchange for regular donations.

The report is based on qualitative research collected from an online community of 26 participants aged 18 to 50, chosen to represent the UK population.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
Early one morning last month, Ulvi Hasanli, the director of Abzas Media, an independent news organization in Azerbaijan, got in a taxi to the airport when, he alleges, masked men blocked the vehicle, ejected him from it, and punched him in the face. He was taken to a local police station and detained. Sevinj Vagifgizi, the editor in chief at Abzas, told reporters that Hasanli had been arrested in retaliation for the outlets reporting on government corruption; hours later, she was arrested as well. Around the same time, Mahammad Kekalov, another Abzas staffer, went missing; it later transpired that he, too, had been detained. Before November was out, masked police officers also showed up at the home of Aziz Orujov, the director of an online broadcaster called Kanal 13. His wife alleged that the officers treated him like a terrorist. Officially, at least, his crime was building a home on land that was not registered in his name.

This wasnt the end of the arrests for people connected to Abzas and Kanal 13: police later detained Nargiz Absalamova, a journalist at the former outlet, and Rufat Muradli, a host on the latter. Muradli was sentenced to thirty days in jail on hooliganism charges (he was accused of shouting obscenities in public, but his lawyer says he was arrested without any explanation); the other journalists were ordered detained for at least three to four months as they await trial. Karol Luczka, of the International Press Institute, told Voice of America that he had never seen so many members of the press arrested in such a short time anywhere in the region. Anar Mammadli, a political analyst, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that the government of Ilham Aliyev, the autocratic president, is very vulnerable to serious claims of corruption, and that Abzass investigations risked sapping its political capital.

The arrests have a geopolitical context: in September, Azerbaijan seized Nagorno-Karabakh, a long-disputed, largely Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijans recognized borders, driving much of the population into neighboring Armenia. As Mammadli told RFE/RL, no little of Aliyevs political capital stems from a prior successful offensive in the region in 2020; as the same outlet notes, Abzass recent reporting on official corruption included allegations related to graft in territory that Azerbaijan reclaimed in that fighting. Gulnoza Said, of the Committee to Protect Journalists, told VOA that by arresting reporters, Azerbaijan may be sending a message of domestic media control to countries that have expressed support for Armenia.

In late November, following the arrests of the first three journalists from Abzas, Azerbaijani officials summoned diplomats from the US, France, and Germany and accused them of illicitly funding the outletindeed, the official charges against its journalists seem to revolve around the claim that they brought illegal foreign donations into the country. (Police say they found the equivalent of around forty thousand US dollars in cash at Abzass offices; staffers have suggested that the money was planted there.) Separately, loyalist media has accused the US of using Abzas and other organizations to undermine the Azerbaijani government, accusing the American provocation machine of holding the strings of gangs, according to RFE/RL. USAID, the US development agency, acknowledges that it has provided training to Azerbaijani journalists, but insists that it has done so transparently. It denied the other claims.

This year, Ive covered a range of threats to the worlds media, including the erosion of press freedom in the former Soviet Union, growing efforts there and elsewhere to punish and stigmatize newsrooms that receive foreign funding, the abuse of invasive spyware, the broader exportation of censorship across international borders, and the limitationsand dangersof covering wars. All of these trends find at least some echo in the media environment in and around Azerbaijansometimes to a shocking extent. And yet the country often goes under the radar in the global conversation around press freedomeven as watchdog groups diligently track its decline in the country and officials sometimes lash out at them in response.

These groups often trace Azerbaijans crackdown on the free press to 2014, when, according to CPJ, a series of raids, arrests, and criminal investigations against independent media and press freedom groups began. The country was hardly a haven for press freedom before that; by the time of elections in 2018, CPJ was reporting that Azerbaijan had silenced critics in an industrious and methodical way, and was among the worlds worst jailers of journalists. (Not that Aliyevs approach was all stickper CPJ, his regime also offered reporters free apartments.) In 2022, officials implemented a restrictive new law that targeted outlets that receive foreign funding or operate from exile (as has happened elsewhere in the region) and reportedly mandated that all journalists join an official register, requiring them to hand over information including their work contracts and bank details. Officials reportedly also proposed punishments for outlets whose reporting they did not find to be objective, or that contained curse words. To stay on the register, news sites would have to publish twenty stories per day.

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Press freedom has also come under threat as a result of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh; Reporters Without Borders notes that tensions over the enclave have provided an additional pretext for censoring the media. Covering the area has sometimes been dangerous: during the fighting in 2020, at least six journalists were injured, four of whomincluding a pair from Le Mondewere hurt in shelling that Armenia blamed on Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan countered that Armenia put the journalists in harms way); in 2021, two staffers from Azerbaijans state media were killed when a landmine exploded near the enclave. Access to the enclave has also been restricted, by both Azerbaijani and Armenian officials. (Overall, RSF rates Armenia much higher for press freedom than Azerbaijan, which is currently in the bottom thirty countries globally on an index the group maintains; Armenia, by contrast, sits just below the US.) Journalists entering Nagorno-Karabakh via Armenia have been publicly blacklisted by Azerbaijan. Journalists entering via Azerbaijan have found their movements restricted.

Earlier this year, RSF warned that the enclave was fast becoming a news and information black holeAzerbaijani activists, whose presence is believed to have been orchestrated by the Azerbaijani government, blocked a key road into Nagorno-Karabakh. Only loyal media were allowed to cover the supposed demonstrations. A Spanish journalist who visited the area told RSF that he was watched by minders from Azerbaijani state media, who, he said, subsequently misquoted him in articles as saying that the road wasnt blocked. During the recent Azerbaijani offensive, independent Armenian journalists based in Nagorno-Karabakh were among those forced to flee. The New York Times spoke with a fleeing man who had just burned decades of video tapes that hed made of the area. He said he feared being pursued as an Armenian spy.

Dissidents beyond Azerbaijans borders have faced sharp threats and repression in the past. The country has been accused of abducting at least one exiled journalist and repatriating him to face prison time; in 2017, a journalist with an opposition-leaning broadcaster reported being detained and physically attacked while scoping out a possible new office in Ukraine. Around the same time, I reported for CJR that the state of Azerbaijan was suing two French journalists in French court after they labeled the country a dictatorshipa strikingly novel suit (states dont, and often cant, sue individuals beyond their borders) that was eventually thrown out. In 2021, an expansive transnational investigation into the abuse of Pegasus, a potent Israeli-made spyware tool, led off with the case of Khadija Ismayilova, a prominent Azerbaijani journalist whohaving been jailed and subjected to a secret recording of her sex life in her home country, among other forms of harassmentwent into exile, only to discover that her phone had been compromised. The same investigation found more than forty Azerbaijani journalists on a leaked list of potential targets of Pegasus, which is sold to state actors. The phone of Vagifgizi, the now-jailed editor of Abzas, was among several that were confirmed to have been hacked.

Last week, the US nonprofit Freedom House released a report detailing the escalating transnational repression of exiled journalists. Among the stories the group included was that of Mahammad Mirzali, an Azerbaijani opposition activist and vlogger who has lived in France since 2016. In 2020, someone shot at his car; the following year, Mirzali was repeatedly stabbed in the city of Nantes, where he lives. His assailants tried to cut out his tongue. Mirzali survived; he now keeps an ax in his apartment, rarely sleeps at night, and only goes out with police protection, according to a recent profile in the newspaper Ouest-France. He has said that he receives thousands of threatening messages per day, sometimes from Azerbaijani officials. French officials have investigated at least eight people for threatening Mirzali, including a pair who were arrested last year with a gun in their possession and his address in their car sat navs. (Aliyevs government has denied any involvement in the threats to Mirzali.)

Aliyev, who first inherited power from his father in the early 2000s, isnt going anywhere soon. Last week, he called snap elections for early in the new year, an apparent attempt to capitalize on the victory in Nagorno-Karabakh that also made further sense of the recent wave of arrests of journalists. Ilham Aliyev, in the environment of mass arrest and repression, isolation from the democratic world, and in a situation where there are minimal opportunities for elections, has set up a sudden election spectacle and intends to extend his personal power, an opposition leader said. Not that Aliyev is that isolated. As COP28, a United Nations climate summit, began to wrap up in Dubai this week, it was confirmed that next years edition will take place in Azerbaijandespite the countrys booming fossil-fuel industry, and deteriorating treatment of the press.



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: How did we cover threats to democracy in 2023?

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
LUSAKA, Zambia (AP)  Eleven informal miners have been confirmed dead and their bodies retrieved from an open-pit copper mine in Zambia after landslides buried them in tunnels they were digging last month. One survivor has been found but up to 26 others remain missing and are feared dead nearly two weeks after the disaster.

Rescuers announced the latest death toll late on Sunday. The survivor, a 49-year- old man, was pulled out from underneath the debris last week and is recovering in the hospital, said the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit, which is overseeing the rescue operation.

Rescuers also retrieved the first two bodies last week. Nine more were recovered this weekend, the disaster management unit said.

Government officials say as many as 38 miners might have been buried under the landslides at the mine near the city of Chingola, on Zambias copper belt, although they aren`t certain of the exact number.

They have been relying on families to report missing relatives and fears were growing that the death toll could rise to more than 30.

Efforts to recover the remaining accident victims are ongoing, the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit said in a statement.

The disaster happened Nov. 30 when heavy rain caused landslides and the miners were buried in three separate tunnels while working in them late at night. The rain also caused the area around the tunnels to be flooded and rescuers have had to pump out water from the site as well as clear rocks and earth. The army has been helping with the rescue operation.

The miners are believed to have been digging for copper ore illegally without the knowledge of the mine owner, making it difficult for authorities to know exactly how many were trapped underground.

Zambia is among the top 10 copper producers in the world. Chingola, which is around 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of the capital, Lusaka, has large open- pit mines, some of them stretching for kilometers (miles). They are surrounded by huge waste piles of rocks and earth that have been dug out of the mines.

The government said debris from one of the waste piles is thought to have collapsed on the miners tunnels in the heavy rain. Informal mining is common in the area, where small-scale miners go underground without proper safety precautions.

Police said in the days after the tragedy that they believed that most of the miners were dead, but were criticized by the government, which said it was too early to make that statement.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema visited the mine last week and said he retained hope that there might be more survivors.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Crawford & Co. Appoints Senior VP for Technical Services

Crawford & Co has promoted Jeff Van Fleet to the position of senior vice president, claims operations in its Global Technical Services unit.

Van Fleet rejoined Crawford this year, the Atlanta-based claims administrator said in a press release. He previously was western regional manager at BrightClaim in Sacramento.

The Global Technical Services Unit is staffed by forensic accountants who assess business interruption claims, analyze mitigation options and develop objective loss-measurement methodologies, according to Crawfords website.

In his new role, Van Fleet will be responsible for shaping the strategic direction of GTS claims operations, Crawford said. He will play a pivotal role on a team of dynamic professionals responsible for efficiently managing and resolving claims.

ICW Group Hires VP for Risk Management

ICW Group Insurance Cos. appointed Sandy Smith as vice president of risk management.

Smith will lead the San Diego-based companys loss control services, focusing on workplace injury prevention for workers compensation policyholders nationwide, ICW Group said in a press release.

Prior to joining ICW Group, Smith led the policyholder services team for EMC Insurance Cos. as assistant vice president and served in other risk improvement positions at Continental Western Group and Liberty Mutual, ICW said.

Smith has a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering from the University of Iowa and an Masters degree in business administration from Iowa State University.

Great American Hires Assistant VP for Fidelity/Crime Division

Great American Insurance Group has appointed Nicholas T. Moraites as assistant vice president of claims in its Fidelity/Crime division.

Moraites brings 17 years of legal experience to the position, Great American said in a press release. Most recently he was senior claim counsel for Travelers in Pittsburgh, according to his LinkedIn page.

Before joining the insurance industry as claim counsel for Travelers in 2020, Moraites was a vice president for litigation and contracts with PLS Logistics Services anda litigator for the Eckert Seamans law firm in Washington, D.C., according to LinkedIn.

Moraites has a bachelor of arts in political science from the University of Pittsburgh and a juris doctor from George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia. He will be based in Pittsburgh.
A combination of heavy rain, snow, and wind brought threats of flooding and power outages to the Northeast on Monday, part of the same storm system that killed six people in Tennessee, where tornadoes toppled houses and tens of thousands of people lost power in the wintry weather.

The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings through the evening as snow fell across Vermont and northern New York, where up to 10 inches of snow could accumulate. The weather service said that snowfall rates of an inch an hour were possible. Many schools were closed in Vermont.

A mix of rain and snow was falling in New Hampshire and some roads had minor flooding in Maine, and gusty winds were expected in New England Monday afternoon.

Heavy rain and strong winds left thousands of Connecticut homes without power Monday morning, and some roads were closed because of downed trees and poles. With parts of the state receiving more than 5 inches of rain Sunday and Monday, the Connecticut state Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security said river and stream flooding will be a concern for the next few days.

Between 1.5 to 3 inches of rain fell in the New York City area overnight, but the storm was moving fast and a flood watch and wind advisory were lifted Monday morning.

The Washington, D.C., area also saw rain and mild temperatures turn into some slushy snow and near-freezing conditions Sunday night.

The situation in parts of Tennessee and Kentucky was more dire: Emergency workers and community members were dealing with the aftermath of severe weekend storms and tornadoes that sent dozens of people to hospitals while damaging buildings, turning over vehicles and knocking out power. In all, 11 Tennessee counties were affected by Saturdays tornadoes and severe weather. Weather service teams were out Monday assessing damage.

The tornado that hit Clarksville, Tennessee, on Saturday, killing three people and injuring 62, was an EF3, with peak winds of 150 mph (241 kph), the weather service office in Nashville announced. It was on the ground for more than an hour, traveling 43 miles (69 kilometers) across Montgomery County, Tennessee, and Todd and Logan counties in Kentucky. At its widest point the tornados path was 600 yards (549 meters).

Another tornado that struck the Madison neighborhood just north of Nashville and also raked Hendersvonville and Gallatin was an estimated EF2, with winds of 125 mph (201 kph), the weather service said. Authorities said it tossed one mobile home onto another, killing three people inside the two homes.

It`s nothing out of the ordinary for us to have tornadoes this time of year, meteorologist Scott Unger in Nashua told The Associated Press on Monday. The environment was just right. We had the warm, moist air coming up from the Gulf. We had the cold air coming down from the north. The two things combine and create the right conditions for us to have tornadoes.

In the Bowling Green, Kentucky, area, an EF1 tornado traveled more than 2 miles with peak winds of 90 mph (145 kph). And in west Tennessee, a survey team determined that an EF1 tornado with peak winds of 110 mph (177 kph) tracked nearly 25 miles (40 kilometers) over a half hour across Gibson and Weakley counties in west Tennessee with a maximum width of 600 yards (549 meters), but there were no fatalities and only three minor injuries.

It`s really painful to watch, especially at Christmas season, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee toward reporters after touring the damage Sunday. But again, there`s a great wave of hope when you watch Tennesseans come alongside.

The weather service office in Raleigh, North Carolina, confirmed that an EF1 tornado with maximum winds of 110 mph (177 kph) was on the ground for about 4 minutes on Sunday afternoon as it traveled about 1.5 mile (2.4 kilometers) in the Garner area south of Raleigh. No injuries or deaths were reported and the damage was mostly snapped and uprooted trees, leaving some structures damaged. Central North Carolina received much-needed rain on Sunday, with some spots getting 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) or more, the weather service said in a social media post.

Top photo: A storm damaged home is seen along Nesbitt Lane, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn. Central Tennessee residents and emergency workers are continuing the cleanup from severe storms and tornadoes that hit the area. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A bill introduced by a Democrat and trial attorney would take a step toward something that property insurers have longed for in recent years  actual cash value coverage on roofs, at least condominium roofs.

State Rep. Hillary Cassel, D-Dania Beach, this week pre-filed House Bill 655, which would establish a condominium windstorm pilot program just for the state-created Citizens Property Insurance Corp. The measure may have bipartisan support: A companion bill, Senate Bill 802, was filed by Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, a Republican from Doral.

The legislation would allow Citizens to offer actual cash value on condo roofs that are heavily damaged in a storm, instead of full replacement value. Replacement of roofs has proven to be a key cost driver for Florida property insurers in recent years. Cassel said her bill could be a partial solution to escalating premiums, premiums that have left a number of condo owners and associations without wind coverage.

Florida has taken tremendous steps in the past few years to increase condominium safety and association financial health, Cassel wrote on Facebook. But we owe it to our residents to find common sense solutions to help ease financial burdens.

The bills would require a majority vote of the condo association to participate in the pilot program.

The problem with ACV is that it may help reduce premiums, but it could still leave a condominium building without a roof, said Michael Carlson, president of the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida, which represents some of the largest property insurers in the state.

The downside is that the condo association may not have the funds to pay for what ACV wont cover, he said.

He gave this example: If a condo building sees its roof heavily damaged, the insurance may pay only $15,000 as actual cash value. But to fully repair or replace the surface may cost $30,000. That leaves the condominium owners having to pay $15,000 out of pocket. And thats on top of other costs that may be incurred from more-frequent building inspections and repairs, as well as reserve funding measures required by Florida condominium laws passed in the wake of the 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse.

Cassel could not be reached for comment. The regular 2024 Florida legislative session is set to begin Jan. 9.
AVON LAKE, Ohio -- A touch of Hawaii was present at Learwood Middle School during its annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremony Dec. 7.

Eighth-grade student Lila Mueller started at the school this fall when her family moved to Avon Lake from Hawaii, where her father had completed his last tour of duty with the Army.

She was chosen to read a proclamation at the ceremony, where there was also a 21-gun salute commemorating the 2,403 Americans killed in the surprise attack on the naval base by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service.

Mom Janette Mueller said: It was such an honor for Lila to be chosen by the principal to be the reader for the ceremony. We had spent the last three years in Hawaii stationed on Oahu, and we could literally see Pearl Harbor from the window of our house.

We were very familiar with everything that occurred there on that unfortunate day 82 years ago.

Lilas dad, Kyle Mueller, retired as a sergeant first class after 20 years of service in the Army. The family returned to its roots in Northeast Ohio, as Kyle grew up in Olmsted Falls and Janette in Bay Village.

Lila was very familiar with the history of Pear Harbor, Janette said. We visited the USS Arizona and USS Utah memorials many times over the three years we were living there.

It was a very big honor for Lila to be chosen to speak in front of her classmates and staff. My husband and I were there, and her grandparents. It was a very nice ceremony.

Lila, 13, read out details of the attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to the United States entering World War II, and explained how today we honor both the military personnel and civilians who lost their lives in the attack.

It was very surreal to hear her talk about the places and the ships that were lost, as we have been to those memorials and we have heard those stories firsthand, Janette said. It held a lot of meaning and was very moving.

Lila said: I was very happy that I was asked do it. It was an honor to represent some of Hawaii and show my respect.

Read more from the Sun Sentinel.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  School officials across Northeast Ohio say they received emails this weekend that warned of bomb threats, messages authorities said were not credible.

In notes to families and staffs, administrators said that the FBI is investigating with local authorities, as there have been similar messages sent across the state. The FBI said Monday it found no information to indicate a specific and credible threat.

Administrators said the hoaxes, sent to districts across the state and Texas, stemmed from swatting, or mass calls made from a single location far from where the threats take place. The attempts seek to elicit responses from police and local officials.

There were no reports of the messages affecting classes Monday.

Swatting incidents have hit schools and businesses across Ohio in recent months. In some cases, the calls have reported shootings that have taken place. In others, bomb threats.

Last month, several Medina County schools received the hoaxes. Because of computer software, it can take weeks for authorities to trace the suspects.

In November, a man reported that he had shot and killed his mother in their living room of a Mayfield Heights home. As officers set up a perimeter around the house, the caller told dispatchers that he was with a swatting group and that the call was a hoax.

He also said he was in Germany and knew the call could not be traced. He subsequently began laughing and played a recording of gunfire sounds.

In May, authorities said a 20-year-old man from Bremerton, Washington, made 20 calls to police in 11 states in a four-month span. The calls also targeted a 12-year-old girl in Shaker Heights and taunted police in Northeast Ohio, according to prosecutors.
We had one day in Otaru. A whole 24 hours to explore this northern port city in Hokkaido before hopping aboard a ferry to continue our journey across Japan.

So in this episode, were going to hit some of Otarus main attractions. That means visiting Kitaichi Hall which is illuminated only by petroleum lamps, sipping local Otaru beer, sampling some sake, and a few other surprises along the way. So join us in Otaru, Japan for 24 hours!
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
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A blue and white checked gingham dress, worn by Judy Garland in the "Wizard of Oz," hangs on display, Monday, April 25, 2022, at Bonhams in New York.

This "Wizard of Oz" dress could be off to see the auction house very soon.

A federal judge in New York on Monday dismissed a lawsuit challenging the ownership of a dress worn by Judy Garland when she played Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," which for more than a year had held up a planned auction of the storied garment by The Catholic University of America.

Judge Paul Gardephe gave the plaintiff, Barbara Hartke, 10 days to present an argument as to why he should not lift an injunction that has blocked the auction since mid-2022.

In his ruling, Gardephe wrote that Barbara Hartke had failed to establish that she had legal standing to assert an ownership right in the "Oz" dress, which previously was owned by the Wisconsin woman's uncle, the late Rev. Gilbert Hartke, a longtime professor at Catholic University. The school, located in Washington, D.C., says it is the owner of the dress.

Anthony Scordo III, Barbara Hartke's lawyer, told CNBC on Monday that he hopes to soon have her appointed as an executor of her uncle's estate, which could allow her to renew her legal claim to the dress's ownership.

"We're not out of the box yet," said Scordo.

He also plans to argue to the judge that it would be "premature to lift the injunction" blocking the auction while Barbara still might have grounds to contest the ownership.

In a statement, Catholic University said that it "is very encouraged and pleased that the motion to dismiss was granted and looks forward to reaching finality in this case in the coming weeks."

Gilbert Hartke, who had served as chairman of the university's drama department, received the blue and white dress from the Oscar-winning actress Mercedes McCambridge, who was a friend of Garland's. The dress is believed to be one of six worn by Garland in the 1939 film. Garland died in 1969; McCambridge in 2004.

After Father Hartke died in 1986, the dress was missing for decades, but then was found in 2021 in a trash bag above faculty mail slots during a renovation of the Hartke Theater at the university.

Catholic University contracted with the Bonhams auction house in March 2022 to sell the dress in New York. The dress was expected to fetch between $800,000 to $1.2 million at auction.

But that sale was put on hold when Barbara Hartke sued both the university and Bonhams in Manhattan federal court last year.

Gardephe's ruling Monday dismissing her claim noted that Father Hartke had taken a vow of poverty when he became a priest of the Dominican order in 1933. In that vow, Hartke renounced his ownership of "temporal goods," and agreed to turn over his salary to the College of the Immaculate Conception.

The judge wrote that Barbara Hartke's lawsuit, which asserts that the dress belongs to her uncle's estate, failed to plead facts demonstrating that she is a "real part of interest."

The ruling also notes that there is nothing in the court record to show that she has been appointed a personal representative of her uncle's estate despite her having petitioned the D.C. Probate Court for that role.

As a result, "she lacks standing to bring this action," Gardephe wrote.

The judge left the door open for Barbara Hartke to amend her lawsuit to make another argument for legal standing. But Gardephe noted that "it appears doubtful" that such a claim would succeed.

Barbara Hartke's lawyer Scordo told CNBC that received the case files for her uncle's estate from Probate Court only in October, long after they were requested, and that there has been no ruling yet on her application to be appointed personal representative for the estate.
In this article WFC Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT

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Here are the most important news items that investors need to start their trading day:

1. December momentum

Stocks ticked higher Monday, extending some year-end momentum. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose about 0.4%, or more than 150 points. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.2%. All three major averages are coming off six straight weeks of gains, but there are some major economic reports out later this week that could rock the boat. November's consumer price index reading is due Tuesday, the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision is out Wednesday and a host of other global central banks will follow with their rate decisions on Thursday. Follow live market updates.

2. Oracle reports

A sign is posted in front of the Oracle headquarters in Redwood Shores, California, Dec. 9, 2021. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images

Oracle stock slipped nearly 9% in extended trading after the software giant missed Wall Street estimates in three of four key revenue segments for its fiscal second quarter. Sales in cloud services and license support; cloud and on-premises licenses; and services all fell below consensus, according to StreetAccount estimates. Only hardware, the company's smallest division by revenue, beat estimates. Earnings per share outperformed, however, and net income jumped 44% year over year.

3. Pickups cut down

Ford Motor Company's electric F-150 Lightning on the production line at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, on Sept. 8, 2022. Jeff Kowalsky | AFP | Getty Images

Ford is cutting its planned 2024 production of the F-150 Lightning pickup in half, a stark reversal for the EV it's been touting as the key to mass adoption. The automaker now expects to produce about 1,600 of the electric trucks on average per week at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, next year, down from recent production plans of about 3,200. Ford executives have recently been noting that they'll match production with customer demand, which, as we know, hasn't been as robust as hoped across the EV industry.

4. Discount discrimination

A woman walks past Wells Fargo bank ATMs in Washington, DC, on March 14, 2023. Andrew Caballero-reynolds | AFP | Getty Images

A recent industrywide probe by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau into mortgage bankers' use of loan discounts raised questions about the practice at Wells Fargo , CNBC's Hugh Son reports. The bank received an official notice from the CFPB regarding the discounts and conducted an internal investigation into the matter, which extended into late this year. The discounts, which could shave 25 to 75 basis points off a borrower's APR, were found to be applied with "statistically significant disparities," disadvantaging Black and female customers.

5. White House meeting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy walks down the White House colonnade to the Oval Office with US President Joe Biden during a visit to the White House in Washington, DC, on September 21, 2023. Kevin Lamarque | AFP | Getty Images
(This is CNBC Pro's live coverage of Tuesday analyst calls and Wall Street chatter. Please refresh every 20-30 minutes to view the latest posts.) Analysts on Tuesday focused on retail names along with some tech stocks. Goldman Sachs named Target its top long idea for 2024 as disinflationary trends take hold. Bank of America also initiated Crocs with a buy rating and a price target that implies strong gains ahead. Elsewhere, Morgan Stanley upgraded HP Inc to overweight from equal weight. Check out the latest calls and chatter below. 9:07 a.m. ET: Aftermarket 'supercycle' leads Blair to initiate bullish coverage of Boeing, TransDigm and Heico "Depressed aircraft production for the past three years, combined with revenge travel, will result in an aftermarket supercycle for the next decade," William Blair analysts led by Louie DiPalma wrote Monday in initiating coverage of Boeing, Heico and TransDigm with outperform ratings. Blair also reiterated an outperform opinion on "aftermarket rising star VSE Corp." "Airlines will continue to extend the lives of aging aircraft with spare parts to accommodate the robust travel demand coming out of the pandemic, driving a $110 billion aftermarket parts and services industry with steady growth," DiPalma wrote. Optimism surrounding Boeing derives from "elevated aftermarket demand since one-quarter of its revenue comes from services," plus higher production rates of new planes.  Scott Schnipper 8:59 a.m. ET: Argus upgrades Humana after Cigna-Humana deal fallout Argus Research upgraded Humana to buy from hold and maintained its $550 target price, which indicates shares could climb 15.4%. The firm also reaffirmed its 2024 earnings per share estimate of $32. Humana's stock is down nearly 7% this year. "We view news reports that Cigna and Humana have called off the merger talks as a positive for Humana," analyst David Toung wrote in a Monday note. "We think that Humana has solid growth opportunities in Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and healthcare services." The demographics of the Medicare Advantage market is "attractive," Tongue added, citing research from Deloitte that said roughly 26 million "Baby Boomers" in the U.S. will become eligible for Medicare between now and 2030.U.S. health insurer Cigna scrapped plans to negotiate an acquisition of Humana after both parties failed to agree on a price and also announced plans to buy back $10 billion worth of shares, according to Sunday reports.  Pia Singh 8:58 a.m. ET: Bank of America downgrades Illumina Bank of America downgraded shares of Illumina to an underperform rating as demand elasticity dwindles and the company shows no signs of a "quick fix on the horizon." "We still think ILMN is the dominant market leader in DNA sequencing (albeit competition is incrementally more troublesome than historically)," wrote Michael Ryskin. "However, with mgmt's outlook of "roughly similar" sales in 2024 as 2023, ILMN will now have gone through 4 years of essentially no revenue growth in the core business." The analysts slashed his price target to $100 from $140 a share, representing 15% downside from Monday's close. The stock's shed nearly 42% this year. For years, Illumina's revenue growth stemmed from price elasticity of demand, with the company expanding its customer base and volumes by lowering prices with new products. But that advantage has evaporated in recent years. "ILMN has struggled to grow revenues over the past 4 years, and we see no imminent fix to a myriad of challenges facing the business," Ryskin said. Shares slipped 1.3% before the bell.  Samantha Subin 8:56 a.m. ET: Buy the correction in bitcoin miners Riot and CleanSpark, says Bernstein Bitcoin miners dropped double digits on Monday, dragged down by a pullback in the price of bitcoin, after a sharp rally in the past month. This is a clear buying opportunity, says Bernstein. "Any tactical correction is an opportunity to gain bitcoin mining exposure, in our view, as we expect bitcoin will continue to see strength into the ETF approval in January," he said in a note Tuesday morning. "RIOT and CLSK are positioned well to participate in the entire bitcoin new cycle for the next 18 months, where we expect bitcoin to touch post halving (April 2024) new highs in 2024 and reach new cycle highs of ~150K by mid-2025." Generally, mining stocks benefit from bitcoin price increases, which translate into higher mining revenue for the company. However, mining companies differ in operating costs and revenue exposure. The firm has outperform ratings on Riot Platforms and CleanSpark , which fell 11% and 14% in the previous session, respectively, but are both higher in premarket trading Tuesday. Bernstein's price targets imply 60% upside in Riot and 61% in CleanSpark.  Tanaya Macheel 8:06 a.m. ET: JPMorgan stands behind the U.S. construction sector The construction sector looks solid despite near-term headwinds, according to JPMorgan. The bank upgraded shares of Martin Marietta Materials and Vulcan Materials to overweight, respectively lifting its price targets to $530 from $490 and $245 to $240 for the stocks. This means that both stocks could rally 12% from their Monday closes. Analyst Adrian Huerta wrote that he is more constructive on construction stocks, now that the sector is trading in line with its historical averages. "We are improving our expectations despite a weaker outlook on volumes as pricing remains resilient, which should push some additional margin expansion in '24," he said. Huerta added that additional upside sources include midyear price increases, further normalizing costs, and stronger-than-expected volumes. "We note companies continue to have very strong balance sheets and could be looking for some larger M & A opportunities, especially on the aggregates front, should market conditions be favorable, while a sharper than expected downturn should also mean an increase in share repurchases," he elaborated. Both stocks have been on fire this year, with Marietta soaring 39% and Vulcan popping 25%.  Lisa Kailai Han 7:58 a.m. ET: JPMorgan upgrades Henry Schein to overweight Customers are starting to return to dental supply company Henry Schein after its October cybersecurity breach, JPMorgan said. Analyst John Stansel thinks the uncertainty around the company's 2024 on the back of the cybersecurity incident is "overdone." Stansel upgraded shares to overweight from neutral and increased his price target on shares by $11 to $82. The new price target represents 15% upside potential from Monday's close. "We increase our estimates for 2024 slightly to reflect a lower expected cybersecurity headwind and believe that our estimates incorporate a reasonable amount of conservatism around the macro- environment," Stansel wrote in a Tuesday note. "On balance, we now see a path for HSIC to move past 2023 where it underperformed dental peers and work through several overhangs in 2024," he added. Dentists also expect spending growth in consumables and equipment, he added, which should help boost Henry Schein.  Hakyung Kim 7:41 a.m. ET: Don't overlook this sports streamer's path to profitability, Cantor Fitzgerald says FuboTV is a pure play on the cord-cutting trend that investors are underestimating, according to Cantor Fitzgerald. Analyst Brett Knoblauch initiated coverage of the sports streamer's shares at an overweight rating. His $5 price target implies an upside of 60.3% for the stock. "FUBO, in our view, is one of the best pure-play ways to play cord-cutting and the associated shift of advertising dollars away from linear TV and to connected-TV (CTV)," he wrote in a note to clients on Tuesday. Knoblauch said the company is a major sports streaming service with a path to profitability that's more realistic than the market is anticipating. Specifically, he said investors may be overlooking: Its growing importance to TV network owners amid the shift to streaming from linear. The ability to raise prices for subscribers. Upside to advertising revenue. The likelihood of turning positive on adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow by the end of 2025. Shares jumped nearly 3% before the bell on the back of Knoblauch's call.  Alex Harring 7:38 a.m. ET: Bank of America initiates coverage of Crocs Investors should be encouraged by Crocs' growth story and leading margins, according to Bank of America. Analyst Christopher Nardone initiated coverage of the casual footwear retailer with a buy rating and a $128 price target, which suggest 22.4% potential upside for the stock. Shares ticked up 1.5% in premarket trading. The stock has lost 3.5% this year. CROX YTD mountain CROX in 2023 "The Crocs business has strong momentum having increased sales at a 25% CAGR since 2019 (sales +14% YTD)," Nardone wrote in a note. "We expect continued strong sales at Crocs coupled with incremental progress at HD will lead to multiple expansion from depressed levels." Some of Croc's share price success this year has been "obscured" by the poor performance and challenges facing the company's HeyDude brand, which Nardone believes is priced in. HeyDude, which Crocs acquired in February 2022 for $2.5 billion, saw revenues slump 8.3% in the third quarter. "We think Crocs will remain strong and conservatively forecast 6% sales growth for the brand in F24E (vs 12% in F23E)," Nardone said, adding that the company has strong free cash flow that remains under-appreciated. "We are encouraged by positive Spring '24 order book trends for Crocs but model lower total sales growth in '24 given wholesale uncertainty."  Pia Singh 7:13 a.m. ET: Citi downgrades Macy's, cuts price target on buyout offer skepticism Citi Research analyst Paul Lejuez downgraded Macy's to sell from neutral, citing the firm's skepticism on its recent buyout offer actually materializing. The firm's $14 price target suggests shares of the legacy retailer could lose roughly 32% over the next 12 months. Shares have soared nearly 79% this quarter, but they are up just 0.6% for the year. Macy's jumped 21% on Monday alone after the retailer received a $5.8 billion buyout offer . "In this interest rate environment and with the secular challenges M faces, it may be difficult to finance," Lejuez said. The analyst added that the retailer's Herald Square location in New York City, for example, is worth less than it was pre-pandemic. Macy's sales have slowed over the past year as it struggles to compete with online competitors.  Pia Singh 7:01 a.m. ET: Goldman Sachs upgrades fresh food retailer Sprouts Farmers Market Goldman analyst Leah Jordan upgraded natural and organic food retailer Sprouts Farmers Market to buy from sell, citing optimism on new store trends and volume. Her 12-month price target of $49 suggests 5.3% upside for the stock. "We have been wrong on our prior Sell rating for SFM, as the company has executed better-than-expected amid its transformation focusing on health enthusiasts," Jordan wrote in a note. According to the analyst, Sprouts Farmers Market is seeing higher new store productivity indicated by improved traffic and search results by state, lower promotion risk as its customer base skews higher income, and potentially increased wallet share opportunity as loyalty program efforts ramp up over the next year. Jordan forecasted "limited earnings growth" across the speciality retail coverage group in 2024, however. Still, the risk of deflation next year will likely hit packaged food harder than fresh food retailers, she noted. The stock has popped 43.7% this year, beating the broader market. Shares are up 1.1% in early morning trading.  Pia Singh 6:28 a.m. ET: Barclays downgrades Airbnb, Expedia on cautious travel outlook Barclays is more cautious on travel stocks looking ahead to 2024, anticipating that "pent-up travel demand" will become exhausted as a softer demand environment hits consumers' leisure spending budgets. "We think online travel growth slows from here," Young said in a Tuesday note. "We do think the travel category will deliver outsized growth in 2024, particularly in online channels, but we remain very cautious around recession risks." Analyst Trevor Young downgraded Airbnb to underweight from equal weight on indications that demand is slowing down and pressures from hotel peers, such as consumers' frustration with fees, is picking up. His $100 price target on the stock indicates roughly 30% downside. Young also downgraded Expedia to equal weight from overweight and maintained his $150 price target, which suggests shares can gain just over 1%. Although the stock has soared this year, bookings growth may "remain subdued," the analyst said. Both stocks have gained more than 67% this year.  Pia Singh 6:09 a.m. ET: JPMorgan upgrades Rio Tinto JPMorgan Analyst Patrick Jones upgraded global mining group Rio Tinto to overweight from neutral on the firm's higher medium-term outlook for commodities and fixed income, including on iron ore, where it expects the market to "remain relatively balanced." Shares jumped 2.8% in premarket trading. "RIO has a best-in-class balance sheet with minimal debt and substantial capital headroom," the analyst wrote in a Tuesday note. "We expect RIO to shift to a more balanced deployment of capital between cash returns & organic growth over the medium-term, but still offer relatively strong dividends." The firm also upgraded Norwegian aluminum and renewable energy company Norsk Hydro to overweight from underweight, and steel and mining company ArcelorMittal to overweight from neutral.  Pia Singh 5:59 a.m. ET: In a deflationary environment, Target is Goldman's favorite Goldman named Target its "best long idea" for fiscal year 2024 and upgraded Dollar Tree and Best Buy to buy. "As we look into FY24, we are more bullish on the potential for stock upside in the hardlines/broadlines universe than we have been in the last two years," analyst Kate McShane wrote in a Tuesday note.McShane highlighted several catalysts behind the optimism, including: Constructive outlook on the health of the consumer based on continued labor market strength, which could normalize the demand for services and goods, benefitting retailers like Target Goldman's view that fiscal year 2024 could be a "year of sales inflection" for several retailers More favorable sales backdrop, with a lean inventory environment, improved supply chain and advancements in tech that could drive promotion personalization to drive margin growth McShane said she sees long-term growth for Target tied to market share gains across categories from various mall-based retailers on strong merchandising, as well as a recovery to operating margins as costs and markdowns normalize.  Pia Singh 5:36 a.m. ET: JMP upgrades Zillow Group, says consensus estimates are too low Zillow Group has already outperformed the broader market this year, but JMP still views its stock price as a "compelling opportunity." Analyst Nicholas Jones upgraded his rating to market outperform from market perform and assigned a price target of $60, which implies shares stand to gain 36.9% from Monday's close. Shares gained 2.6% in premarket trading. The stock is up more than 40% this year. Z YTD mountain ZIllow in 2023 Jones said he thinks consensus estimates on Zillow are too low for 2025 and 2026 given building pent-up residential real estate demand and increasing expectations that rates will lower in the second half of next year, which should lead to an increase in volume. "As ZG benefits from our estimated growth and profitability patterns, we expect the stock price to benefit from multiple expansion," Jones wrote in a Tuesday note. "Further, we see upside to our above-consensus numbers as ZG scales its newer solutions, which we will continue to monitor from here."  Pia Singh 5:36 a.m. ET: Morgan Stanley upgrades HP Inc Morgan Stanley raised its rating on HP Inc. to overweight from equal weight. The bank also hiked its price target on the stock to $35 from $31. The new forecast calls for 16% upside. Analyst Erik Woodring cited an improving tech hardware market, particularly for PCs, for the upgrade. "We see it as an underappreciated play on the PC market recovery that should also benefit from re-accelerating capital returns and operational efficiency," the analyst wrote. HP Inc shares are up 12% year to date, lagging the S & P 500 in that time. This underperformance, Woodring said, is a "function of the weaker demand environment, concerns about the print business, and its largest shareholder (Berkshire Hathaway) selling down its > 10% ownership stake." A securities filing released Monday showed Berkshire lowered its stake in HP to 5.2%. "However, we believe many of these negative catalysts are either past us ( Buffet selling ), or already captured in valuation (weak demand, print concerns)," he added. "And with the PC market set to inflect to growth next year - a key driver of multiple expansion and [free cash flow]- and HP expected to return to elevated shareholder returns, we believe now is the time to get more constructive, with both positive EPS growth and multiple expansion key drivers of outperformance."  Fred Imbert
COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber speaks to the media at the U.N. climate conference on Dec. 10, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  The draft text for a COP28 climate deal that does not include the phasing out of fossil fuels has drawn widespread criticism from major players, highlighting enduring rifts on the international summit's final day.

The document, published by the United Arab Emirates' presidency of the climate summit, stressed the need to reduce emissions, but did not call for the doing away of fossil fuels altogether. Scientists say fossil fuels are the single biggest factor contributing to potentially life-threatening climate change.

Delegates from the U.S., European Union and climate-vulnerable countries like many in Africa and the Pacific Islands issued urgent warnings over the draft deal, putting them at odds with many oil-producing countries that oppose the targeting of fossil fuels.

Wopke Hoekstra, the EU's chief COP28 negotiator, told press that the draft was "clearly insufficient and not adequate to addressing the problem we are here to address."

"That is not because we want it, the minister or I want it, or the Europeans want it," Hoekstra said. "Because scientists are crystal clear about what is needed and on the top of that list is phasing out fossil fuel because there is a direct [correlation] between doing that and making sure we get the earth, we get people out of harm's way."

U.S. Special Climate Envoy John Kerry expressed similar concerns, saying: "We're not where we're meant to be in terms of the text ... Many of us have called for the world to largely phase out fossil fuels, and that starts with a critical reduction this decade."

"This is a war for survival," he added.
U.S. President Joe Biden pauses during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023.

President Joe Biden appeared Tuesday to offer his harshest criticism yet of the Israeli government since Hamas' terrorist attack on Oct. 7, saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a "tough decision to make."

Biden made the remarks at an off-camera campaign reception in Washington on Tuesday afternoon, suggesting that Netanyahu's government is hindering a long-term solution.

"I think he has to change, and with this government, this government in Israel is making it very difficult for him to move," he said.

More from NBC News:

The president said that far-right members of the Israeli government, like National Security Minister Ben Gvir, don't want a two-state solution with the Palestinians and that changes must be made to the government. "This is the most conservative government in Israel's history," Biden said.

Biden warned that Israel is beginning to lose support in Europe and around the world because of its military offensive against Hamas in Gaza and the rising number of civilian deaths. The president reiterated that Israel can learn from the mistakes that the U.S. made after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

At the same time, Biden said that Hamas must be held accountable for Oct. 7.

He also spoke about the conflict in the Middle East during a White House Hanukkah reception Monday evening.

"I make no bones about it, I've had my differences with some Israeli leadership. I've known Bibi for now 51 years," he said. "We have to be careful. The whole world's public opinion can shift overnight."
Shanghai Pudong district at sunrise Dukai Photographer | Moment | Getty Images

China's leaders vowed to boost domestic demand, prioritize the development of strategic sectors and tackle the country's real estate crisis, following a key meeting that laid out economic priorities for the new year. Under a new slogan pledging to achieve stability through economic progress, Chinese leaders said it's necessary to overcome some difficulties and challenges, which include insufficient demand, overcapacity in some industries, weak social expectations and many hidden risks which still exist, according to a Tuesday evening broadcast on the state-owned China Central Television. "China's economy has achieved a recovery, with solid progress made in high-quality development in 2023," Chinese leaders said, according to a brief readout of the two-day meeting published by state-owned Xinhua. "China still has to overcome some difficulties and challenges to further revive the economy."

In a CCTV readout of the meeting, China's leaders stressed that a focus on high quality development is key, prescribing a nine-point plan that included technological innovation in the industrial system, boosting domestic consumption, expanding high-level foreign investment and revitalizing agriculture to boost food security. This year's Central Economic Work Conference comes as the post-Covid-19 recovery of the world's second-largest economy has so far fallen short of expectations. A litany of policy support measures have not sufficiently lifted economic sentiment, igniting calls for Beijing to amp up its stimulus amid renewed fears of a deepening slowdown.

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It's not helped by the most recent raft of economic data, which has pointed to persistently weak domestic demand. China's consumer prices fell in November at their fastest rate in three years, while producer price deflation extended into a 14th month. In U.S. dollar terms, imports fell by 0.6%, missing Reuters' forecast for a 3.3% increase from a year ago.

Property risks

Some of the largest real estate developers are facing serious debt problems as part of Beijing's broader deleveraging of the once-bloated real estate sector  which accounts directly and indirectly for about one third of China's economic activities. China's leaders pledged to diffuse risks linked to the property sector, local debt and small and medium financial institutions. They also signaled a strategy to build affordable housing in an attempt to resolve the nation's spiraling real estate crisis, which has been festering since President Xi Jinping kicked off a crackdown on the sector in late 2020.

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The readout also addressed major economic issues ranging from the country's declining fertility rates to high rates of unemployment, particularly among the younger population, and the resilience and safety of the domestic supply chains. China's leaders additionally reiterated they would support the development of private enterprises and foster innovation in science and technology, green transformation and the digital economy, including artificial intelligence.

Fiscal policy posture

The Beijing leaders pledged to strengthen macro policies, while continuing to implement proactive fiscal policies and prudent monetary action. The language employed in the Tuesday readout is similar to the one used by the Politburo  the top decision-making body of the ruling Chinese Communist Party  in a Friday release. At the time, the Politburo said that fiscal policy "must be moderately strengthened" and will be "flexible, moderate, precise, and effective" to stimulate economic recovery, according to state-run news outlet Xinhua.

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China's President Xi Jinping (right) and his wife Peng Liyuan arrive at Noi Bai International airport in Hanoi on December 12, 2023. China's President Xi Jinping arrived in Vietnam on December 12 for his first visit in six years, as he seeks to counter the United States' growing influence with the communist nation.

China's President Xi Jinping began a two-day visit to Vietnam on Tuesday to upgrade ties between the Communist countries three months after U.S. President Joe Biden travelled to Hanoi, as the major powers vie for influence in the Southeast Asian nation.

Making his first trip to Vietnam in six years, Xi was welcomed at Hanoi airport by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and people on the route to his hotel waved flags of both countries, pictures on state media showed.

Despite ties that have been very close on the economic front, the neighbors have been at odds over boundaries in the South China Sea and have a millennia-long history of conflict.

"Asia's future is in the hands of no one but Asians," Xi said in an opinion piece published in the newspaper of the Vietnamese Communist party ahead of his visit.

A "community with a shared future" between the two countries would have strategic significance, he added, while warning against rising "hegemonism" in the world, an apparent reference to the United States, though he did not name it.

Xi's visit was delayed also because of lengthy talks over use of the phrase "shared future", favored by Beijing to describe ties between the two sides, though initially resisted by Hanoi, officials and diplomats have said.

Months in the planning, the visit had briefly even been considered to be scheduled ahead of Biden's trip, officials have said.

However, the upgrade in ties would just be symbolic, said Le Hong Hiep, a specialist in Vietnamese strategic and political issues at Singapore's ISEASYusof Ishak Institute.

"Vietnam's mistrust of China runs deep, and from the Vietnamese people's viewpoint, there is little to no 'shared destiny' between the two countries, as long as China continues to claim most of the South China Sea," he said.

"DOZENS" OF DEALS

Beyond taking ties to a level Beijing may see as being above those with the United States, upgraded status would come with the signing of "dozens of co-operation documents," Vietnam's state newspaper Tuoi Tre quoted China's ambassador Xiong Bo as saying before Xi's visit.

Deals are expected to include Chinese investments to upgrade rail links between the neighbors, which would include grants, though the volume and terms of possible loans are not clear.

Boosting transport links would allow Vietnam to export more to China, especially farm products, while Beijing wants to further integrate the country's north with its southern supply chain networks.

Chinese firms have moved some operations to Vietnam quicker this year than before the COVID-19 pandemic, looking to be closer to Western clients there, lower risks from U.S.-China trade tension and cut exposure to China's weakened economy.

Stronger rail networks would speed import of components from China for assembly in Vietnam, effectively expanding China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

In his op-ed piece, Xi called for faster co-operation on building infrastructure.

China has pushed to include Vietnam in its Digital Silk Road, which may entail investments for new undersea optical fiber cables, the 5G network and other telecoms infrastructure.

Although the Hanoi metro is Vietnam's only project to have received BRI loans, it has not been labelled as such in a country where anti-Chinese sentiment is still widespread enough that such moves could be viewed as getting too close to Beijing.

Xi urged wider co-operation in security, connectivity, green energy and critical minerals, in a reference to the rare earths, of which China is the world's leading refiner while Vietnam has the second largest estimated reserves after its neighbor.
More Europeans support the prospect of Ukraine joining the European Union than oppose it, despite the costs and risks involved, a new survey has found ahead of a key European Council summit this week.

Polling of six EU member states indicated considerable support for the admission of Kyiv and, to a lesser extent, Chisinau, Moldova, as EU capitals, having both been granted candidate status in the wake of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the European Council on Foreign Relations found.

Support for Ukraine's accession was most prevalent in Denmark and Poland, where majorities were in favor of the idea. Austria was the outlier, with more people opposing the notion.

Among the reasons cited for opposition were concerns over the economic and security implications of admitting a war-torn nation.

That compares with broad resistance toward the accession of other EU hopefuls, most notably Turkey, whose accession talks have stalled following what the commission dubbed a "backsliding" on democracy and rule of law.

Responses were also cool toward the membership of Georgia and Balkan states, though Montenegro was a standout for approval.

Overall, newer EU members were more open to the prospect of enlargement than were older members.

The findings come as the European Council is set to meet in Brussels on Thursday for expanded membership discussions.

Accession talks for Ukraine and Moldova will be top of the agenda for the bloc's 27 heads of government after the European Commission recommended last month that formal discussions begin.
An Israeli army self-propelled artillery howitzer fires rounds from a position near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on Dec. 7, 2023.

Israel's war against Hamas  which has turned the blockaded and then besieged Gaza Strip into a post-apocalyptic wasteland  is now in its third month.

The offensive, launched on Oct. 7 after Hamas militants killed some 1,200 people in Israel in a brutal terror attack and took another 240 hostage, has now killed more than 18,000 Palestinians in Gaza, health authorities there say. Hospitals have ceased to function, entire families have reportedly been wiped off the registry and scores of aid workers and journalists are among those killed.

The aim, Israel's government says, is to fully eliminate Hamas  it denies targeting civilians, although even its staunchest ally, the United States, is now saying that it must do more to protect civilian life.

Hamas, an Islamist militant and political organization designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. and European Union, has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. It has a stated goal of destroying the state of Israel, which the United Nations classifies as an occupier over the Palestinian territories since 1967. In the years since Hamas took power in the small enclave, its capabilities, finances and weapons supplies have grown significantly, thanks to financial support from the likes of Iran and Qatar.

CNBC spoke to ten experts in counterterrorism, Middle Eastern history and security, and military operations to get their answers to the question: Can Hamas be, in fact, eliminated?

Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington

"No. Hamas is not a bunch of individuals, or a set of equipment and infrastructure. It's a brand, and as long as there are a group of living Palestinians who want to call themselves Hamas, Hamas still exists. It is extremely stupid to declare a war aimed that cannot be accomplished. Yet this is what Israel has done. And unless the Israeli leadership begins to draw down its rhetoric about war aims, Israel perforce will fail because it has set itself unachievable goals and they are writing Hamas's victory speech with their own proclamations."

Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe

"To 'eliminate' or destroy Hamas, Israel will have to destroy the root cause of Hamas, its reason for existence. That means Israel will have to accept progress towards a two-state solution and Palestinian statehood for Gaza and the West Bank.

Hamas cannot have a leading role in governing Gaza but Israel's refusal to accept the two-state solution only guarantees continued efforts by Hamas to destroy Israel. Israel taking away that motivation, and getting the illegal settlement problem solved, will make it much easier for Arab nations to support Israel. It will also require the U.S. to put more pressure on Iran to stop supporting Hamas.

At the end of the day, IDF will kill a lot of Hamas and destroy much of their current network and infrastructure. But using lethal kinetic force only, without a political non-kinetic component to the strategy, is unlikely to lead to the 'elimination' of Hamas."
Six U.S. lawmakers wrote to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday expressing their opposition to the proposed $24.6 billion acquisition of grocery chain operator Albertsons by peer Kroger , according to a letter reviewed by Reuters.

Kroger and Albertsons have said they expect to complete their merger by early 2024, once the FTC completes its antitrust review.

Senators Elizabeth Warren, Mazie Hirono, Bernie Sanders and Cory Booker and representatives Summer Lee and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said in the letter that Kroger's proposal to divest 413 stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers would not address harms to consumers, workers, and the grocery industry if the merger is allowed.

The lawmakers are arguing that store divestitures as a remedy to mega-mergers often fail to maintain competitive conditions because companies have an incentive to ensure that the businesses they spin off do not succeed.

C&S, which secured financial backing from SoftBank Group Corp for its deal with Kroger, operates primarily as a supplier rather than a grocery store operator. It currently has around two dozen stores under the Grand Union and Piggly Wiggly brands.

"Kroger's merger with Albertsons will mean workers gain from $1 billion in higher wages, expanded benefits, long-term job security, and a strong unionized workforce. The merger will also mean lower prices and more choices for fresh food for customers and more investments in our communities," a Kroger spokesperson said in a statement.

Other lawmakers, including congressmen Greg Landsman, Brian Fitzpatrick and Josh Gottheimer have sent letters to the FTC in support of the deal.

"Albertsons merging with Kroger will expand competition, lower prices, protect union jobs, and enhance customers' shopping experience," a representative for Albertsons said in a statement.

The only parties that would benefit if the deal is blocked would be Amazon, Walmart and other large, non-union retailers, whereas a combined Kroger and Albertsons would ensure that neighborhood supermarkets can better compete against large retailers, Albertsons argued.

The FTC declined to comment.

Kroger has said that it will not close any stores, distribution centers or manufacturing facilities or lay off any frontline associates as a result of the merger.
Veteran investor and longtime Joe Biden supporter Mike Novogratz is switching sides to fundraise for Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., the president's long shot primary opponent.

Novogratz, the CEO of cryptocurrency-focused Galaxy, will co-host a campaign fundraiser for Phillips on Saturday in New York City at the home of David Barry, the president and CEO of real estate firm Urby, according to an invitation reviewed by CNBC. Invitees are encouraged to give $3,300 to attend.

In 2020, Novogratz donated $200,000 to the Biden Action Fund, a joint fundraising committee for both the Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee, according to a Federal Election Commission filing.

Novogratz also donated more than $1 million that year to a super PAC called Defeat by Tweet, which sought to use Donald Trump's tweets against him.

"I worked hard in 2020" for Biden, Novogratz told CNBC. This time around, "I think he's too old. I think Trump is too old, too. We need fresh people." Biden turned 81 in November, while Trump turns 78 next June.

Novogratz, 59, views Phillips as a smart centrist with a strong business record. He also plans to meet with former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley next month, as he contemplates helping her defeat Trump.

A Biden campaign spokesman said he didn't know Novogratz and wished him well. "I don't know who that is but we appreciate his support of the president and wish him the best," Biden campaign spokesman TJ Ducklo said in a statement. Biden is coming off a successful West Coast fundraising swing, bringing in over $15 million over the course of just a few days.

Novogratz is one of a small group of wealthy Biden supporters who are looking for an alternative to the party's incumbent. Chamath Palihapitiya, a longtime tech executive, backed Biden in 2020 but publicly soured on him and co-hosted a fundraiser for independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Novogratz's concerns about Biden's age are shared by voters. An August Associated Press poll found that 77% of respondents said Biden was too old to be effective in a second term.

Biden's approval ratings are currently around 40%, according to a November NBC News poll.

Novogratz has also been critical of the Biden administration's stance on cryptocurrency. He recently claimed at a business summit in Miami that the "Biden administration, the Democratic Party really doesn't like crypto."

Still, even with the support of people like Novogratz, Phillips remains a long shot candidate for president.

A recent Morning Consult poll shows Biden ahead of Phillips by 69 percentage points.
Creators rejoice: Netflix is finally revealing viewership statistics on nearly all of its shows and movies.

Netflix released its first "What We Watched" report Tuesday, which ranks almost all of its shows and movies by amount of hours viewed over the past six months. Netflix will release updated reports every six months, the company said.

Netflix has long had a reputation for lack of transparency about the popularity of its shows and movies. This has led to some distrust in the creator community, co-CEO Ted Sarandos acknowledged during a conference call with reporters Tuesday. Netflix kept its viewership data private as it built its business so it could experiment while not giving away data to potential competitors, Sarandos said.

"This is the actual data that we use to run the business," Sarandos said. "I'm the co-CEO of a public company, so sharing bad information has consequences."

Netflix now has almost 250 million global subscribers, far outpacing any other streaming service. That has given Sarandos confidence he can be open with viewership statistics. Hollywood actors and writers both mentioned heightened transparency during their strikes earlier this year as they campaigned to be paid in line with how audiences consumed their content. Netflix has also launched an advertising tier that demands more transparency as brands want information about how frequently certain shows and movies are watched.

"This is probably more information than you need, but I think it creates a better environment for the guilds, for us, for the producers, for creators and for the press," Sarandos said.

Season one of "The Night Agent," a Netflix original action thriller, was the service's most-viewed show during the past six months, garnering 812 million viewing hours. "The Mother," starring Jennifer Lopez, was the streaming service's top movie. Between January and June, 55% of Netflix viewing came from original films and series and 45% from licensed titles, Sarandos said.

Netflix revealed viewing information for more than 18,000 titles, accounting for 99% of all its viewing and all titles watched more than 50,000 hours.

Read Netflix's report here.

WATCH: JPMorgan raises Netflix price target to $510
Energy stocks been laggards for much of this year, and were the only sector not to rise in the hot November rally  but some analysts are still bullish. In fact, Louis Navellier, chairman and founder of Navellier & Associates, said energy is his "top conviction call" right now. He predicts that crude oil prices will surge again in the spring as seasonal demand returns. "I think Russia is the big wild card at this moment," he told CNBC's " Street Signs Asia " on Friday, adding that much of the uncertainty comes from geopolitical and weather risks. "A very cold winter could disrupt Russian crude oil production and Black Sea ports have been hampered by storms," Navellier said. Furthermore, he said, Russia's exports have fallen to a three-month low as a result of "wild weather" in the Caspian Sea. "The proxy war in the Middle East, plus Venezuela's threat to seize two-thirds of Guyana are other wild cards that could impact crude oil prices," he added. Navellier likes liquefied petroleum gas shipping company Dorian LPG , refinery PBF Energy , as well as oil and gas companies ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil . In a Dec. 7 note, Citi noted that global oil and gas prices have deflated almost 30% this year, but also highlighted oil's defensive qualities, such as lower debt than the rest of the market. "The sector enters 2024 with just one-third the level of leverage of the broad equity market, a relative advantage that the group has not held since the heady oil price days of 2007/08," it said. Because of that, the oil sector is able to use balance sheet strength to protect shareholder distributions, while other sectors face the prospect of refinancing at a significantly higher cost, Citi noted. Citi named two buy-rated energy companies: British oil and gas firm BP and ConocoPhillips. It said that "there is still more left in the trade" given that its valuation is "two-turns" cheaper than its large-cap U.S. peers. Citi also pointed to its potential for growth  underpinned by its shale business  which can outpace that of its peers by the end of the decade. It said BP's appointment of a new CEO looks to be a "potential equity catalyst." BP, in "offering both benchmark exposure and a credible New Energy story ... can attract capital," Citi wrote. JPMorgan, for its part, said in its 2024 commodities outlook that it's tactically bullish on oil and gas. "We see value in energyboth oil and gasthough timing an entry and exit will continue to be critical," it said. "Steady demand growth should push prices of key commodities, like oil, higher off current spot levels in 2024, with carry adding further to returns," the bank added. It predicts that demand for oil should keep oil prices at a range of between $80 and $90 per barrel, with Brent peaking in the third quarter of 2024. Brent was around $76 on Monday.
Former President Donald Trump has found a new way to monetize his infamous mugshot, while also selling the chance to see his face in person.

Trump announced Tuesday that snippets of the suit he wore for that photo would be available for purchase, as part of a new sale of NFT "digital trading cards," a product he debuted in late 2022.

Customers who buy 47 of the $99 apiece digital cards, Trump says, will receive a physical card containing a piece of the suit Trump is seen wearing in the photo.

"It was a great suit, believe me, a really good suit. It's all cut up, and you're gonna get a piece of it," Trump said in a video on Truth Social.

The $4,653 package also includes a dinner with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club and residence in Palm Beach, Florida.

The Aug. 24 photo was shot in an Atlanta-area jail, where Trump was booked on state charges of conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges.

Like the first round of card sales, the current offer claims the cards are "not political and have nothing to do with any political campaign."

Still, by offering buyers an in-person dinner with Trump, the deal essentially provides access to a former president and current top presidential contender  without any of the guardrails of federal campaign finance rules.

The cards are produced and sold by NFT INT LLC, which has a licensing agreement with Trump to use his name and image.

Trump said the 2022 digital card offer sold out within hours. He later reported earning between $100,001 and $1 million in income from the sale. He released another series of 47,000 cards in April.

The cards show cartoon versions of Trump in various hero-like postures and outfits. One in the new batch shows him gripping blue bolts of lightning in front of the U.S. Capitol as fighter jets fly past. Another shows him sitting in the place of Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial statue.

"Some people call these cards pop art or modern art," Trump said in the video. "They give me muscles where, believe me, I don't have them."

NFTs, short for nonfungible tokens, are unique digital assets that have their ownership recorded on a digital ledger called a blockchain.

For those who buy 47 digital cards, the physical cards will contain one of 2,024 pieces of Trump's suit from the mugshot. Some of these cards are autographed, according to the site.
UBS is out with its 2024 outlook, and it expects some wild swings for markets next year. The Wall Street firm on Monday said it sees the S & P 500 ending next year at 4,850, roughly 5% above Monday's close of 4,622.44. For now, investors should stay "bullishly positioned" as stocks will continue to climb, according to UBS Investment Bank chief U.S. equity strategist Jonathan Golub. Stocks have been on a tear recently, with the S & P 500 riding a six-week winning streak. During that time, the broad market index is up around 12%. .SPX YTD mountain SPX in 2023 However, he warned investors to be ready when the data starts to show cracks in the economy. UBS expects a gross domestic product decline in the second or third quarter of 2024. "The large spread between current strength and expected weakness presents a dilemma for investors," Golub wrote Monday. "We recommend remaining constructively positioned until the data deteriorates, with a focus on (1) labor market conditions, (2) credit performance, and (3) profit projections." In fact, Golub expects an ugly double-digit sell-off at some point in 2024. While stocks typically fall six to seven months before a recession, the strategist noted the timeline can range from as soon as zero months to as much as 15 months. "With P/Es 2-3 multiple points below their 2022 highs, and the backdrop strong, we see further upside over the near-term," Golub wrote. "That said, we expect a double-digit drawdown some time in 2024." Still, the strategist is bullish on tech, saying the sector will reaccelerate earnings growth next year and account for roughly 2% to 3% of S & P 500 profit growth. He also recommends health care and communication services. He is neutral on financials, and underweight energy, materials and staples. Other strategists on the Street have also put out their 2024 outlooks. Goldman Sachs' David Kostin said he anticipates the S & P 500 will end next year at 4,700 , just a stone's throw from where the broader index is currently trading. Bank of America's Savita Subramanian put out a rosier forecast at 5,000.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Joe Biden walking to the Oval Office of the White House on Sept. 21, 2023.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded a meeting with U.S. senators Tuesday morning in Washington, after which Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin said he was "angry that we would consider walking away from Ukraine at this moment" in history.

"What does it mean in the future when the United States says, 'We're on your side?' Does it mean anything if we walk away from Ukraine? I don't think so," Durbin told reporters, according to NBC News.

Zelenskyy is taking part in a series of meetings with officials ahead of talks and a press conference with President Joe Biden later Tuesday, as concerns grow over the U.S.' commitment to donate more aid to Kyiv.

Continued funding for Ukraine is a bone of contention among U.S. lawmakers, although Biden and Ukraine's other allies have warned that a cessation in aid could lead to a victory for Moscow. Republican U.S. Senator J.D. Vance said Sunday that Ukraine may need to cede some land to Russia in order to end the war.

The meeting also comes as another top Ukrainian security official admitted that Ukraine's counteroffensive had not lived up to hopes and expectations.
US President Joe Biden greets Chinese President Xi Jinping before a meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' week in Woodside, California on November 15, 2023.

Nearly a month after President Joe Biden announced that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed to resume direct communications between U.S. and Chinese military commanders, U.S. defense officials have repeatedly tried to reach their Chinese counterparts but not received any responses, according to three senior U.S. officials.

Biden touted an agreement to restore direct military communications, or a hotline, after more than a year at a Nov. 16 news conference after he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco. The resumption of those communications was one of the signature achievements cited by U.S. officials.

Biden called the agreement "critically important" and evidence that he and Xi "made real progress," saying, "We're back to direct, open, clear, direct communications."

Since then, U.S. military officials have reached out to their Chinese counterparts to re-establish a decades-old military communications channel and to schedule talks on maritime safety, officials said. Administration officials also touted the resumption of the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement as a critical achievement out of Biden's meeting with Xi.

Two senior U.S. defense officials said that they remain hopeful that maritime safety talks will take place at some point next year but that nothing has been scheduled yet.

China broke off direct military contacts with U.S. forces in the wake of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's controversial visit in August 2022 to Taiwan, a self-ruling island democracy that Beijing claims as its territory.

A spokesman for the Chinese National Defense Ministry confirmed at a news conference on Nov. 30 that the two presidents had agreed to resume direct military-to-military contacts.

But in response to a question, the spokesman, Wu Qian, noted continuing Chinese concerns about U.S. military activities in Taiwan and the South China Sea.

"Equality and respect are part of the correct way for China and the United States to get along with each other and are also the basic prerequisite for developing military-to-military relations," he said.

Wu added that China hoped the U.S. will create a "favorable atmosphere and conditions for the sound and steady development of military-to-military relations."

Several days later, an article in the state-controlled Chinese media quoted a professor who criticized a White House spokesman's comment two days after the summit that the U.S. would continue selling arms to Taiwan.

"This latest statement once again proves the inconsistency in U.S. positions, actions, and statements, inevitably undermining mutual trust in Sino-U.S. strategic relations and hindering the recovery of military relations," the professor said.

A Defense Department spokesperson stressed the importance Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other senior U.S. military leaders place on military-to-military communications with China and said they stand ready to participate.
3d illustration flag of China. Close up waving flag of China. Aoraee | Istock | Getty Images

U.S. proposals to clamp down on investments in China may be being undermined by continued funding from some of America's biggest institutional investors, new analysis shows. The majority of U.S. public pensions, as well certain universities and non-profit organizations, have committed funds to China and Hong Kong, including in sensitive technologies  some as recently as this year, according to a report by Future Union, a non-partisan trade organization. The 74 largest contributors have allocated more than $70 billion to companies in China and Hong Kong via more than 1,100 investments in various funds, including those with exposure to tech majors such as TikTok-maker ByteDance, Tencen t and Alibaba . The data  which was compiled through a combination of public and private databases, including capital markets database Pitchbook, CapitalIQ and Private Equity International  hones in on the U.S.'s biggest pension funds found to be invested in China. However, the report's authors said the number invested is likely to be much larger.

The 74 are the best exemplars of a long laundry list of U.S. pension funds invested in China. Andrew King executive director of Future Union

"The 74 are the best exemplars of a long laundry list of U.S. pension funds invested in China," Andrew King, executive director of Future Union, told CNBC via the phone. The findings come as U.S.-China relations have deteriorated over recent years amid concerns over national security, trade and defense, including China's increased provocations toward Taiwan. The first face-to-face meeting in November between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping indicated an ostensible warming of ties, yet Washington has remained steadfast in its plans to "de-risk" from Beijing. In August, Biden instituted a ban on certain investments in China, specifically sensitive technologies, which is expected to be implemented from next year. While not in violation of the ban, the funds' ongoing investments in an "adversary" highlights the "historical misuse of capital" by key capital allocators, King said, adding that the idea of the report was to get the funds "to move and change." Of the top 74 pension funds cited in the report, three-quarters made investments within the last 36 months  the minimum threshold instituted by Future Union to "obviate claims of plausible deniability" over rising U.S.-China tensions. Four in 10 (39%) committed funds within the past 12 months. "This is a staggering 75% renewal rate by pension portfolio managers entrusted to responsibly manage the retirement wealth of the U.S. pensioners, despite the geopolitical implications," King said. "It's become the latest greenwashing, where everybody says the right things [about divesting from China] but getting them to adhere to it is a different story," he added.

California and New York funds lead the charge

The New York State Common Retirement Fund (NYSCRF), which serves over 1.2 million public employees, was identified as the largest investor in China and Hong Kong, according to the report, committing a total of $8.3 billion to the region, including $3.5 billion (42%) in the past 36 months. Commenting on the findings, a NYSCRF spokesperson disputed the total sum invested, saying that it was closer to $6.1 billion, or "less than 3% of its more than $250 billion in assets." The California Public Employees Retirement System (CaIPERS)  which describes itself as "the nation's largest public pension fund," serving more than 2 million of California's public employees  ranked second. The fund has invested an aggregate $7.8 billion in China, a quarter ($1.8 billion) of which was committed over the past three years, including in 2023. A spokesperson for CaIPERS said it is "a global investor and believes diversification is a key component to generating the returns needed to meet the retirement security of our 2 million members." They added that the fund is "closely monitoring" discussions in Washington and elsewhere, and said that it will comply with "any additional government requirements that might be initiated."

The largest public pension funds investing in China and Hong Kong U.S. Public Pension Number of Investments Total Amount of Investment ($mm) Date of Latest Inv. Commitment New York State Common Retirement Fund (NYSCRF) 72 8,392 2022 California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) (CA) 80 7,866 2023 California State Teachers Retirements System (CalSTRS) (CA) 58 5,559 2022 Washington State Investment Board (WASIB) 24 5,025 2022 San Francisco Employees' Retirement System (SFERS) (CA) 80 3,381 2022 Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System (PAPSERS) 31 3,220 2021 New York State Teachers' Retirement System (NYSTRS) 30 3,142 2022 Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (MASRPS) 34 3,050 2023 Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (ORPERS) 26 2,925 2021 Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TXRS) 24 2,775 2022 Oregon State Treasury (ORST) 17 2,080 2018 Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois (ILTRS) 34 2,012 2022 New Jersey Division of Investment (NJDI) 20 1,812 2020 Florida Retirement System Pension Plan (FRSPP) (FL) 15 1,664 2022 Texas County & District Retirement System (TXCDRS) 44 1,605 2022 Virginia Retirement System (VARS) 11 1,450 2022 Employees Retirement System of Texas (TXERS) 18 1,368 2022 Minnesota State Board of Investment (MNSBI) 15 1,316 2022 State of Michigan Retirement Systems (MISMRS) 32 975 2021

Source: Future Union

Both the California State Teachers Retirement System (CaISTRS) and the New York State Teachers' Retirement Fund invested $5.6 billion and $3.1 billion in China, respectively, the report found  with each allocating one-quarter of those sums within the last 36 months. CaISTRS said that, as of December 2022, approximately 1% of its portfolio was invested in China, and that it was in full compliance with Biden's executive order. It added that its exposure to China was "modest" and that it plans to hire dedicated China managers to "recognize and manage" associated environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks. Washington State Investment Board also committed over $5 billion to China, around 20% of which in the past 36 months, according to the report. A WASIB spokesperson confirmed that the total funds invested was approximately accurate as of September 2023, but disputed that its commitments had risen over recent years. The Minnesota State Board of Investment committed more than $1.3 billion in China since 2008, with a notable 70%  or $900 million  invested in the last 36 months, the report found. Meantime, the Teachers Retirement Fund of Texas committed more than $2.7 billion to China funds, 23% over the last 36 months, including in the last year. The fund said in 2022 that it intends to reduce future commitments by half. CNBC contacted the other funds cited but they did not wish to provide comment.

University endowments invest heavily

The report also found that numerous U.S. universities, both public and private, are significantly invested in China. University endowments have invested a total of $7.7 billion in China and Hong Kong via 385 investments, many of which within the past 36 months, according to public data analyzed by Future Union. It added that the true value of investments could be greater given the limited disclosure requirements for private higher education institutions. "The reality is much more objectionable than depicted, as private universities are largely exempt from disclosing investments. Simultaneously, many of the U.S. public universities have shielded such investments from public review and disclosure," King said.

The university endowments investing in China and Hong Kong University Endowments Number of Investments Total Amount of Investment ($mm) Date of Latest Inv. Commitment Texas Permanent School Fund (TX) (Public) 39 1,971 2022 Univ. of Texas System Endowment (TX) (Public) 29 1,607 2022 Univ. of Michigan Endowment (MI) (Public) 83 1,570 2023 Regents of Univ. of California (CA) (Public) 22 1,556 2022 Princeton Univ. (NJ) (Private) 12 155 2020 Univ. of Missouri System Endowment (MO) (Public) 9 153 2022 Univ. of Washington (WA) (Public) 11 89 2022 Stanford Management Company (CA) (Private) 12 80 2014 Texas A&M Univ. System Endowment (TX) (Public) 9 50 2021 Yale Univ. Endowment (CT) (Private) 6 50 2015 Univ. of Pittsburgh Endowment 10 43 2020 Texas Tech Univ. System Endowment (TX) (Public) 8 42 2021 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA) (Private) 6 22 2016 Duke University/The Duke Management Company (NC) (Private) 7 20 2020 Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OK) (Public) 5 14 2022 Carnegie Mellon Univ. Endowment (PA) (Private) 7 10 2020 Univ. of Oklahoma Foundation (OK) (Public) 10 N/A 2011 Univ. of Chicago Endowment (IL) (Private) 7 N/A 2015 Harvard Management Company (MA) (Private) 7 N/A 2011 MITIMCo/Basic Retirement Plan (MA) (Private) 7 N/A N/A Columbia University Endowment (NY) (Private) 5 N/A 2015

Source: Future Union
Yemen's Houthi militants on Tuesday claimed an attack against a Norwegian tanker, days after the group pledged to target Israel-bound ships of any nationality.

The vessel Strinda was headed for Israel when it was "targeted with a suitable naval missile" after its crew "refused to respond to warning," Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said on social media on Tuesday.

The U.S. Central Command said on social media that the tanker Strinda was late on Monday "attacked by what is assessed to have been an Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) launched from a Houthi controlled area of Yemen while passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb" strait in the vicinity of Yemen. Centcom said that the Strinda reported damage that caused a fire on board, but no casualties.

There were no U.S. ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but the country's destroyer class vessel, the USS Mason, responded to the Strinda's mayday call and rendered assistance, Centcom added.

The vessel's Norwegian owner, Mowinckels Rederi, confirmed that the Strinda was hit by a missile and caught fire.

"Fortunately, there were no injuries to any member of the crew, who managed to extinguish the fire," the company told CNBC by email, adding that the vessel was carrying feedstock for biofuel and was en route from Malaysia to Italy with a fully Indian crew and is now proceeding to safe harbor.

The attack against the Strinda comes within days of the Houthi's Dec. 9 announcement that the Yemeni force would broaden its naval offensives to now target all vessels headed for Israel, irrespective of nationality, "if the food and medicine keep not accessing the Gaza Strip."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 12)  The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) warned on Tuesday against a recruitment scheme where overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) illegally work in a transit country instead of their original destination.

In a live broadcast on X (formerly Twitter), DMW officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac cautioned that such a scheme could be a recipe for trouble for OFWs. He said the department would issue an advisory against it on Wednesday.

"We would issue an advisory on upcoming, hindi (not) upcoming, but a current practice of so-called third country hiring," said Cacdac.

The DMW official said that there were instances wherein some OFWs with reentry visas to Saudi Arabia, stay first in the Philippines for a vacation and later book a flight returning to Saudi Arabia with a layover in Dubai.

But instead of boarding the flight to Saudi Arabia, these OFWs stay in Dubai to find other work, the agency added.

"This is a fair warning to OFWs, apparently they are so called willing victims with this practice," said Cacdac.

"Pag kayo po ay may reentry [visa] sa isang bansa, tulad ng Saudi, wag na po kayong tumalon at magpunta elsewhere," he added. "Diretsyo po ng Saudi, wag pong bumaba ng transit destination, doon sa transit country para magbalak o magtangka magtrabaho kasi recipe yan sa pagiging isang distressed o sa pagkakaroon ng problema sa empleyo sa transit country."

[Translation: If you have a reentry visa to a country like Saudi Arabia, please do not go somewhere else. Go directly to Saudi and do not stay at the transit country to look for a job because that's a recipe for being distressed or having employment issues in the transit country.]

In October, 95 distressed Filipinos from Saudi Arabia sought repatriation from the Philippine government. They were provided with cash assistance and medical check-up.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 12)  SMNI hosts Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz will be celebrating Christmas and New Year with their families after a House panel agreed to release them from detention.

Citing humanitarian grounds, the House Legislative Franchises Committee unanimously voted during a closed-door hearing on Tuesday to release the two hosts from Batasang Pambansa.

They were freed Tuesday night after undergoing a medical exam.

Paranaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, the committee chairman, clarified that the development has nothing to do with the writ of habeas corpus petitions filed by the spouses of the two hosts before the Supreme Court.

"Sila po ay papalayain for humanitarian reasons dahil Kapaskuhan. May sulat naman tayo galing kay Ka Eric na sila ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa kanilang ginawa," Tambunting said.

[Translation: We will free them for humanitarian reasons because it's Christmas. Anyway, we received a letter from Ka Eric that they are apologizing for their actions.]

He said the committee will summon Badoy and Celiz if necessary in succeeding congressional hearings on SMNI.

"They're free to go, this is not a furlough. We've freed them from detention. If we need them we'll just call them back," the lawmaker added.

Badoy and Celiz were detained at Batasang Pambansa for a week after being cited for contempt by the committee.

Celiz incurred lawmakers' ire for refusing to name his source for the report that House Speaker Martin Romualdez allegedly has a 1.8-billion travel fund.

Badoy, on the other hand, gave conflicting information on SMNI's revenues from advertisements.

Meanwhile, Tambunting said he is leaving it up to the Senate to deal with the employee who reportedly gave the information about Romualdez's alleged travel fund to Celiz.

The lawmaker said he relayed the name of Celiz's source to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri after the host divulged the identity to him on Tuesday.
Cebu (CNN Philippines, December 12)  Around 600 houses were totally destroyed in a huge fire that hit a congested neighborhood in Barangay Pusok in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on Tuesday afternoon.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan estimated around 20,000 individuals were affected and rendered homeless because of the blaze that began past 1 p.m.

There are no reports of injuries, but most of the residents were not able to save their belongings.

The mayor said it could be the biggest fire ever recorded in Lapu-Lapu City.

Most of the houses in the neighborhood were made of light materials. Some of the houses were on stilts near the shores of the Mactan Channel.

Chan assured the residents that the city government will immediately provide assistance.

The mayor added that City Hall will cancel its Christmas parties and use the budget to help the fire victims instead.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated by the local fire department.

Cebu-based correspondent Dale israel contributed to this story.
While Pallas' cats Bo and Nancy might look like house cats and display some typical behaviors, they're not likely to become a pet anytime soon. Their fierce personalities and fluffy, fast bodies allow them to escape snow leopards and survive their harsh Himalayan climate. And keep an eye out for their wide range of facial expressions  they're the original internet grumpy cat with their human-like faces.
More than 80 people gathered both in person and online to take part in a Dec. 5 meeting in Goldendale that covered a variety of topics.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday emphasised that Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir was a catalyst for separatism, which in turn promoted terrorism. While addressing the Rajya Sabha during the discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Shah said that Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir was a catalyst for separatism.



"Article 370 in J&K gave rise to separatism which in turn promoted terrorism," the Minister said.



He highlighted that there are other states with more Muslim population than Kashmir.



"Then why only J&K was suffering from terrorism? It was because Article 370 led to separatism," Shah said.



His remarks came after the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the abrogation of Article 370 four years ago.



He also said that the Supreme Court's verdict on Jammu and Kashmir marks a significant defeat for opposition parties.



Shah said: "The court's order vindicated the government's stand."



Taking a swipe at the Opposition, including the Congress he said: "Today, the decision (by Supreme Court on Article 370) has also come. Still, they (Congress) say that they don't accept this and that Article 370 was abrogated wrongfully." He said that he cannot explain to them what is the reality. "One wrong decision can be taken but when history and time prove that the decision is wrong, one should come back towards the interest of the nation. I still say, come back otherwise there won't remain even how many are left now (MPs elected to the House).



"If you want to stick to this decision even today, public is watching -- there will be face off in 2024 and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi will become the Prime Minister for the third time," he said taking a pot shot at the Congress.



He further said that the Supreme Court also accepted that it is not right to challenge the announcements of Governor's rule and President's rule.



"When the temporary provision was made, the question arose that if it is temporary then how will it be removed? So a provision was inserted inside Article 373 that the President can amend Section 370, ban it and can also take it completely out of the Constitution," he pointed out.



The Minister then also said that the Modi government is committed to ensuring justice to displaced Kashmiri people.



He further said that had there not been an untimely ceasefire in Kashmir, the issue of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) might not have arisen and he also asserted that the Home Minister declared that PoK belongs to India, and emphasised that no external force can snatch it away.



The Home Minister asserted that the people of Kashmir reject those who advocate separatism, indicating a growing rejection of such ideologies among the local population. "We have tried to finish the ecosystem of terror funding," Shah said.



Shah also lauded the Prime Minister for transforming the outlook of Kashmiri youth and said: "Prime Minister Modi has replaced stones in the hands of Kashmiri youth with laptops."



Shah also highlighted a shift in the narrative among the people of Kashmir, emphasising that discussions now center around democracy and development rather than entertaining separatist ideologies.



"Those who say Article 370 is 'permanent' are insulting Constitution and Constituent Assembly," Shah said.



The Home Minister also assured that the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, a promise he had previously made, would be fulfilled at an appropriate time.



Earlier in the day, Congress MP Vivek Tankha took demanded for a comprehensive investigation into the 'Kashmiri Pandit genocide'.



Tankha said: "We want a commission of enquiry over the genocide against Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir. We are the only people who are victims. We are the only people in the world who are displaced in their own country. No one settles there, we go only for few times and few days. This is a chance where the country and community implores that it should listen to their problems.



"Upon this demand, the House erupted in laughter and Shah welcomed the request and asked the speaker to allot an extra five minutes to Tankha.




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Chinese VP meets chairman of leading global mining group

Xinhua) 18:50, December 12, 2023

BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Dominic Barton, chairman of the mining group Rio Tinto, in Beijing on Tuesday.

Since the beginning of this year, China's economy has continued to rebound, Han said, noting that China is still a major contributor to world economic growth and the Chinese side is fully confident of achieving the annual economic growth target.

"Adhering to the right direction of economic globalization, China will further deepen reform, expand opening-up, promote high-quality development, and work with other countries to address common challenges," Han said, adding that the potential of China's economic development is still huge and there is still a lot of room for new urbanization.

"We welcome Rio Tinto Group to continue to deepen practical cooperation with China, share the new opportunities brought by China's development, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results," Han said.

Speaking highly of China's economic and social development achievements, Barton said Rio Tinto is optimistic about China's economic growth potential.

Rio Tinto will adhere to its long-term development strategy in China, continue to increase cooperation with China on economy, trade, technology and human resources, and maintain the stability and smooth flow of the global industrial and supply chains, Barton added.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
Microsoft has partnered with the AFL-CIO  the largest US union group, representing 60 unions and 12.5 million workers  to explore how AI will impact workers amid growing concerns about job losses with the rising adoption of the technology.

The collaboration was formed to share in-depth information on AI technology trends with labor leaders and workers and obtain their perspective on the development of AI to help shape public policy that supports the technology skills and needs of frontline workers.

By working directly with labor leaders, we can help ensure that AI serves the countrys workers, said Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, in a press release. Microsoft has invested $13 billion in OpenAI, the creator ChatGPT.

As part of the partnership, a Microsoft AI expert will conduct learning sessions starting in early 2024. Microsoft will also work with the American Federation of Teachers to explore opportunities for career and technical education to prepare students for emerging high-paying jobs. Microsoft will also host labor summits, which will allow workers and labor leaders to work directly with AI product developers, researchers and business leaders to enable it to develop AI to be a worker-centered technology."

This partnership reflects a recognition of the critical role workers play in the development, deployment and regulation of AI and related technologies, said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler in the press release.

In addition, Microsoft and the AFL-CIO will also work together to propose policies that help workers acquire skills and knowledge to flourish in the AI economy. The two organizations will support the expansion of registered apprenticeships, particularly in non-traditional tech occupations, and advocate for funding for career and technical education.

On the AI curriculum front, LinkedIn Generative AI content will be tailored to specific sectors most impacted by AI, and Microsoft and the AFL-CIOs Technology Institute will jointly develop and implement new content and professional learning opportunities to prepare workers for the future workplace, Microsoft said.

AI is likely to transform the workplace. While generative AI is likely to play a crucial role in addressing skills shortages, there is also a growing concern that AI will not just help enhance productivity and efficiency but will automate tasks, making many jobs redundant. Significantly, in a survey conducted by AFL-CIO earlier this year, 70% of those polled voiced concerns about AI replacing workers.

Zenimax-CWA Union records a win

The agreement between Microsoft and AFL-CIO makes it easier for employees at Microsoft to form unions, as the company has agreed not to conduct anti-union campaigns. This is in line with its overall approach to unionization, as it accepted the formation of the first certified union at its gaming subsidiary, ZeniMax, earlier this year.

In a related development, members of the ZeniMax Workers United-Communications Workers of America (CWA) have won a tentative agreement allowing them to have a say in the companys adoption of AI in the workplace. It is the first unit at a major US tech company to reach an agreement over the use of AI at the workplace.

The agreement commits ZeniMax to uses of AI that augment human ingenuity and capacities, to ensure that these tools enhance worker productivity, growth, and satisfaction without causing workers harm. Zenimax has agreed to provide notice to the union in cases where AI implementation may impact the work of union members and to bargain those impacts upon request, according to a CWA press release.

The agreement establishes that the guiding principles behind AI implementation at work must be fair, reliable and safe, private and secure, inclusive, transparent and accountable.
For many criminals, smuggling is a simple matter of navigating their ship away from traditional spaceports and landing directly in the desert. For those of us without access to spacecraft, however, were stuck heading to border crossings and hoping the guards dont know about our secret compartments.

Take care. Those compartments may not be so secret at all. The very first place the guards will look is...

5 A Fake Penis Some of you jumped into this article, quickly skimming till you reached the story about someone smuggling stuff in their butt. We havent included any story like that; those arent notable. Dont worry, well get back to covering butt stuff next week at latest. Instead, we have someone smuggling stuff in their penis. It was an artificial penis, and the smuggler made the mistake of traveling to a country that has a specific single word for fake penises: Belgium. There, they call this a kunstpenis. When a British man arrived in Brussels Airport from Jamaica, he set off their cocaine alarms, and the Beligian guards nudged each other, saying, Lets see if he has cocaine in his kunstpenis. A hospital determined the man did, one that contained 127 grams of cocaine he was carrying for personal use. Zxc/Wiki Commons Intimate use, even. The prosecutor recommended a sentence of three years. This happened in February 2020, and the following month, airports shut down worldwide, to allow all customs officials to better implement protocols for checking for kunstpenises.

4 Live Puppies Good news! For this next story, we have some photos of adorable puppies. DEA Easy there. This many puppies in one spot is never good news. Advertisement We also have bad news: Each of them has a pound of heroin in them. The DEA discovered these puppies in 2005 as part of an international investigation into a Colombian drug ring. Smugglers had cut each of the dogs open, inserted a bag of liquid heroin into their stomachs and then sewed them back together. The puppies were bound for the United States, where they would presumably breeze past customs. If a drug sniffing dog barked at them, officials would assume he was just saying hello. Once they reached their destinations, members of the ring would have cut the pups open to retrieve the drugs, and stitching them back up and treating them medically would have been considered wastes of time. They had no room for patience  or patients. The DEA, however, were able to save the dogs  or at least some of them. They had doctors operate on six pups to extract the heroin. Three survived; three others did not. DEA Wow, this story just gets cruella and cruella. Advertisement The drug ring had used a veterinary student to operate on the dogs. This guy, Andres Lopez Elorez, went on the run, and it took another decade for authorities to arrest him in Spain and a further four years to sentence him. Every dog has its day, said the U.S. attorney who announced the sentencing, showing a questionable understanding of what that saying means. Advertisement

3 A D.A.R.E. Lion D.A.R.E. is a program for teaching kids to say no to drugs. It does not work. If anything, it appears to lead to increased drug use. It seems telling kids all drugs are bad merely convinces them all drugs are equally bad. Later, they realize some mild drugs are fine, they conclude all drugs are fine and they embrace everything. One conspiracy theory says everyone knows D.A.R.E. is useless, and the only reason police push for it is to get an officer in the classroom so kids see cops as friends. Advertisement In 2014, police at a Greyhound Bus Station in Plattsburgh, New York, spotted a 22-year-old guy with a plush lion wearing a D.A.R.E. T-shirt. The lion was wearing the shirt, not the man, but either one sounds suspicious. No honest person walks around with D.A.R.E. gear. NYSP Note also the suspects dilated pupils. Inside the stuffed lion, police found weed, cocaine and LSD. They arrested bus passenger Greg on three counts. They also publicized the story, even though it painted their D.A.R.E. program so poorly, because thats how much the whole thing amused them.

2 Turtle Cereal Animals are not merely vectors for smuggling drugs. They are also contraband that themselves get smuggled. We have near-constant examples of people trying to smuggle turtles, in contravention of turtle law. The really notable cases are the ones where someone smuggles a large number of turtles. Advertisement Advertisement Consider one case from 2014, where authorities at the Detroit Airport caught a Canadian man carrying more than a thousand turtles. He hid the animals in cereal boxes and inside snow boots. Authorities sent the turtles to the Detroit Zoo, where they took over, leading to the revitalization of the Detroit economy weve all seen during the past decade. A pair of Malaysian smugglers in 2019 surpassed that, when they were caught with over a thousand turtles each. And then there was the Oxnard man caught last year with this: Advertisement He smuggled 1,700 reptiles over the course of six months, a combination of turtles and also crocodiles, lizards and more. His method, which worked the first 35 times he tried it: He just put the animals in his pants. We guess customs guys kept asking him, Do you have anything in your pants, and he kept answering, Well, do you want to see my snake? They let him through, until one guard did if fact decide they wanted to see his snake. Advertisement
Heres one we havent heard before. Former SNL star Cecily Strong was so uncomfortable with a political cold open sketch last weekend that she declined to be in it -- despite playing the role in dress rehearsal just hours earlier.

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The sketch in question spoofed the event earlier in the week in which three college presidents floundered through questions about antisemitism and free speech on campus. Strong would have played Rep. Elise Stefanik, who in the sketchs words would be screaming questions at these women like Im Billy Eichner. Newcomer Chloe Troast stepped in for Strong at the last minute.

Why the change of heart? Strong, who hasnt shied away from controversial SNL sketches in the past, hasnt commented publicly. The New York Post cites a TV source as saying, Cecily was uncomfortable with the sketch. The Post also quotes another insider, who said, There were a variety of reasons, and last minute Cecily pulled out of the cold open.

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Another person who was uncomfortable with the sketch? Unsurprisingly, thats Rep. Stefanik. One of Stefaniks top advisors told the Daily Mail that the representative hadnt actually watched the sketch, but found plenty to hate about it nonetheless. The spokesperson, Alex DeGrasse, reported that Stefaniks office was 'flooded' with messages from both sides of the aisle who were appalled and disgusted by the antisemitic trash spewed by unfunny, morally bankrupt 'comedians.'' Considering that Stefanik herself was one of the main people being spoofed, lets take that with a grain of salt.

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The Wrap, providing a less partisan take than either the New York Post or Daily Mail, noted that the sketch only drew lukewarm laughs from the SNL audiences. Conservatives have gone hard with social-media criticism of the cold open as antisemitic, notes The Wrap, citing an online comment that said This sketch was very similar to the university presidents themselves: afraid of offending someone, thus pissing off everyone.

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Not surprisingly, Fox News Greg Gutfeld smells blood. Never a fan of comedy on the mainstream networks, Gutfeld took to X yesterday to pile on, accusing SNL of siding with Ivy League neoracists.

One theory for Strongs departure: The story was developing in real time -- one of the university presidents resigned hours before the sketch aired live -- so Strong may not have been comfortable with the evolving nature of the situation. Could the lack of laughs at dress rehearsal have contributed to the decision?

One thing that all the news sources agree on, at least for now: Theres no official comment from either Strong or Saturday Night Live.
Annie is a reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. She previously was a digital producer for The Chronicles Datebook section. She graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2017 with a degree in journalism. During her time there, she spearheaded a culture column, produced radio pieces for NPR-affiliate station KCBX, and was a DJ and writer for KCPR, the campus radio station. Before joining the Chronicle, she was an associate producer at SFGATE and interned at VICE and Flood Magazine. Shes particularly interested in communities and scenes that are often misunderstood.

She can be reached at avainshtein@sfchronicle.com.
Superintendent Matt Wayne is expected to give the school board the big budget picture Tuesday evening, and based on a preview of his presentation, the current outlook is ugly. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle 2022

San Francisco schools are facing a massive deficit created by years of overspending as well as recent raises, leaving the district with no choice but to cut staffing by more than 900 already vacant positions, according to district officials.

Superintendent Matt Wayne gave the school board the big budget picture Tuesday evening and the current outlook is ugly.

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Without taking drastic action to address spending, the board would face a $421 million deficit by the 2025-2026 school year, equaling more than a third of the current $1.2 billion budget.

The proposed staffing cuts would eliminate almost a tenth of the 10,000 staff positions in the 47,000-student district.

The school board is expected to tell state education officials this week that at this point, the district may not be able to meet all of its financial obligations through 2026.

We need to make some aggressive changes to how we operate as a district to balance the budget, school board President Kevine Boggess told the Chronicle.

Two years ago, state officials, concerned about the districts projection of a $100 million deficit, appointed fiscal experts to help guide San Francisco schools into the black.

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Theres still a big hill to climb to get there and folks should be wondering how to get rid of that $421 million deficit, said one of the experts, Elliott Duchon.

Its very serious, he said of the massive deficit predicted. I think the worry comes in with what they have to do in the next two years so that gets down to zero, really.

Eliminating vacant positions is perhaps the easiest step in a long process, he said.

In addition to a budget wake-up call Tuesday, Wayne outlined what it will take to balance the budget, although closing and merging schools is not on the list at the moment. Its unclear whether layoffs will become part of the plan in the coming months.

A good chunk of the ongoing deficit is from salary and benefit increases for teachers and other staff, which will cost the district about $179 million annually once fully implemented. The district narrowly avoided labor strikes before giving the compensation increases.

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Adding to the fiscal headache, the district is facing declining enrollment, losing more than 5,000 students since before the pandemic and an expected loss of several thousand more in the coming years. That means a loss of state funding based on student attendance.

Wayne is proposing several actions to address the ongoing overspending, including the elimination of 927 jobs, which are already vacant, saving the district more than $103 million annually.

That would include positions for more than 130 teachers, 101 special education instructional aides, 44 custodians, more than 120 central office staff and administrators, and a long list of support, maintenance, facilities and other staff.

Another 186 vacant positions would still be filled, based on the superintendents recommendations.

That doesnt mean layoffs at this point, but it does mean significantly fewer adults in classrooms and at school sites, as well as cuts at the central office. Teachers union President Cassondra Curiel questioned the impact on students.

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For years we have been advocating for better fiscal management to ensure that SFUSD can meet the needs of our students, Curiel told the Chronicle. We will continue to advocate for the fully staffed schools our students deserve and fight any cuts that attempt to balance budget deficits on the backs of our students and schools.

Under the superintendents proposal, the district would also shift costs so that some pots of money that are currently reserved for specific uses would be used to pay for more general expenses. That would mean using a voter-approved enrichment fund designated for arts, music, libraries and physical education to instead help cover raises for educators and other staff.

Thats not ideal, Boggess said, adding that hes already getting complaints about doing so. That said, using money from the enrichment funds will give the district breathing room to make adjustments.

And: It signifies the hard place were in with the budget.

The district has been struggling for years to get spending under control, largely relying of late on pandemic recovery funds and other one-time sources of cash to keep afloat.

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Our previous (relative) abundance of resources have masked our budget issues, according to the superintendents presentation. We cannot expect the City or anyone else to come in and save us. 

The superintendent and school board are expected to ramp up the budget process in the coming months, including a shift in how schools are funded, ensuring resources are allocated based on specific staffing levels aligned to current enrollment.

They will also be looking at additional cuts, with potential layoffs decided before March 15, which is the annual deadline to send out pink slips to educators who could lose their jobs.

Boggess said he believes the school board can be creative and can make decisions to give schools the resources they need to get students to read and graduate.
Liberty Duck breast at the now-closed La Folie in San Francisco. Liberty Ducks, a Sonoma County farm, is struggling with avian flu. John Storey/Special to the Chronicle

A fast-spreading outbreak of avian flu thats affected more than 69 million birds nationwide since 2022 has reached one of the crown jewels of Bay Area poultry: Liberty Ducks, a Sonoma County farm name-checked on the menus of its roughly 200 wholesale clients, including Chez Panisse and the French Laundry.

One of Libertys smaller production farm locations recently tested positive for the virus, Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Reichardt wrote in an announcement for a fundraiser to help the business fend off the virus and deal with the lingering financial repercussions of the COVID pandemic.

There was never going to be a good time for this to hit, but during the holidays it is especially hard, Reichardt wrote in an email to the Chronicle. These should have been our biggest three weeks of the year, and its been severely crippled with the outbreak. "

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A United States Department of Agriculture database that tracks the spread of whats known as highly pathogenic avian influenza shows that 4,900 birds at a commercial duck farm in Sonoma County were affected on Thursday, Dec. 7. The tracker does not identify farms by name.

The virus, the Eurasian H5N1 strain, is often fatal in birds. Its spread primarily by wild waterfowl like geese and ducks, and is worst during migration season. The strain is considered a low risk to humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But it may result in higher prices for chicken, duck and eggs, said Bill Mattos, president of the California Poultry Federation.

I dont think weve lost the number yet in California to affect pricing overall, said Mattos, citing the states annual production of 275 million chickens, 12 million turkeys and about 8 million ducks.

But we need to be diligent, because this is just the beginning of winter, he went on. This is a very, very scary time.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors declared a state of emergency on Dec. 5 after approximately 250,000 birds were euthanized following positive tests at two other Sonoma County farms. Another 270,000 commercial egg-laying hens at another Sonoma County farm were affected the following day.

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The virus has now reached five counties in California, spreading most recently to Stanislaus County, where more than 800,000 chickens were affected in the last week alone, according to the USDA.

Jim Reichardt, Jennifer Reichardts father, founded Liberty Ducks in Sonoma County in 1992. Breeding plumper Pekin ducks for high-end customers like chef Traci Des Jardins at San Franciscos now-shuttered Jardiniere, Liberty soon became synonymous with the gourmet duck business. It still is today.

At Michelin-starred Chinatown restaurant Mister Jius, chef Brandon Jew serves about 60-75 Liberty ducks a week, dry-aged and prepared in a Peking style with crackly skin. Its kind of a centerpiece of our menu, said Jew. News of the flus impact on Liberty Ducks farm has him concerned, Jew said.

The tea-smoked duck at Mister Jius in San Francisco. Chef Brandon Jew called the dish a centerpiece of his menu. John Storey/Special to the Chronicle

When the virus is detected at one farm, a quarantine zone is established around it to protect its neighbors, because the virus can also be spread on surfaces like hands, shoes, or clothing. Liberty Ducks was already unable to move or process its ducks due to the recent quarantine, Jennifer Reichardt wrote, and last week, chefs like Jew didnt receive their orders.

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Poultry farms in California typically practice intense biosecurity, said Maurice Pitesky, a professor at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine-Cooperative Extension, but the virus is spreading despite them.

These affected farms, these are good farms, Pitesky said. They know what theyre doing.

Mike Weber, co-owner of Sunrise Farms in Sonoma County, recently euthanized 82,000 egg-laying hens hit with the virus at one of his farms in Petaluma  a horrible achievement that took more than a week.

Its like a science fiction movie, he said of the virus. Everything looks fine, and then it doesnt. As the birds get sick, the barns, normally full of scratching, flapping and clucking, go eerily silent.

The day before Thanksgiving, Weber heard from nearby Reichardt Duck Farm, run by relatives of the Liberty Duck owners, that they had tested positive for the virus. Pekin ducks from that 122-year-old business have hung in the windows of Chinatown restaurants for generations. Owners were forced to euthanize its entire flock of 170,000 birds, said Weber. Reichardt Duck Farm did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

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A few days later, on Nov. 27, the virus had spread to Sunrise Farms. Weber noticed several dead hens in one of his barns, which he collected in a garbage bag and drove to a lab in Davis for a PCR test. They said, I have bad news for you  this is not gonna be fun,  said Weber.

Birds not killed by the virus needed to be euthanized using chambers with carbon dioxide gas to stop the spread. In order to withstand the rotting stench of the fowl as they bagged them up, Weber and his co-workers applied Vicks VapoRub below their nostrils. He described grown men crying because we could not protect these birds.

Weber couldnt compost the bodies nearby, fearing possible runoff from rain into a nearby stream. So they transported them in sealed trailers to a special dump, dug a hole, and covered it quickly to prevent local seagulls and vultures from contamination.

Sunrise Farms has other farms in Sonoma County, with about 800,000 egg-laying hens total. So far, the damage amounts to up to $1 million in lost birds and $4 million in lost profits. Now, Weber is most worried about the virus spreading to other farms.

This is a wildfire, he said. And it can go with the wind to the next poultry ranch.

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After Joseph Shapiro reported he was assaulted, San Francisco police told him he was required to make a citizens arrest because the crime was a misdemeanor. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

Regarding He was assaulted on S.F.s streets. Why did police make him file a citizens arrest? (Opinion, SFChronicle.com, Dec. 9): Emily Hoevens article on the citizens arrest process will leave many readers with the wrong impression about how crime is handled by San Francisco police.

In this case, our officer did everything right, but its made to seem otherwise.

When an assault victim shows no sign of physical harm and refuses medical treatment, under the law it must be treated as a misdemeanor. This means officers cant just go arresting anyone at the point of a finger. Our officer would have broken police department policy, California law and most likely violated the suspects civil rights if he just did what the victim wanted.

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As police officers, we feel for crime victims, and we dislike much of the process that we must ask them to participate in. But we enforce the laws, not write them.

Its not popular to state this, but victims and witnesses are part of the justice system, too. It requires the full participation of both to successfully prosecute someone.

Our officer did his job. He followed the law and continued to follow the case until a lawful arrest could be made while respecting the Constitution. He should get a pat on the back instead of a cheap shot a year later.

Tracy McCray, president, San Francisco Police Officers Association

Get them an apron

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Regarding They thought they were painting murals to boost S.F. civic pride. Were they used as political pawns? (Opinion, SFChronicle.com, Dec. 7): I was shocked to read Soleil Hos Opinion Piece in the Chronicle. I found it poorly researched, extremely slanted and misleading. It is a thinly disguised hit piece directed at a single organization  Together SF, and its leader, Kanishka Cheng.

Ho, the Chronicles former restaurant critic, for some reason seems to have a vendetta against Together SF.

Together SF and several other community action groups have worked together to develop real solutions to the root causes of our citys serious problems. In just a few short months, they have made tremendous strides in energizing and informing concerned San Franciscans willing to move the agenda forward.

Several of Together SFs lead staff were previously at top levels of city government. I prefer to put my trust in their observations, conclusions and recommendations rather than those of the Chronicles former restaurant critic. Please send her back to the kitchen.

Barbara Pletz, San Francisco

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Mind your business

Regarding S.F. merchants want controversial bike lanes removed, say theyre destroying businesses (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, Dec. 7): Its clear from the Chronicles reporting that some San Francisco business owners on Valencia Street want it all.

They want bike lanes moved to other streets in the neighborhood. They want healthy foot traffic on a pedestrian-friendly street thats also welcoming to cars. They want more parking, but they want to take up available spots with parklets in front of their restaurant. They want to be able to make left turns, despite the danger to pedestrians and cyclists. They want lower rents.

They want to blame Muni Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin for people not coming to their restaurants and shops.

Perhaps as business owners they should  instead of wanting everything from us in the neighborhood  take responsibility for the quality of the establishments they run.

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Mark Shahinian, San Francisco

Solace for Giants fans

Regarding Shohei Ohtani goes to Dodgers for $700M. Heres what it means for Giants (Giants, SFChronicle.com, Dec. 9): So the San Francisco Giants missed out on the $700 million man, Shohei Ohtani. He instead signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Of course, he did.

But lets look at the bright side: All Giants fans everywhere, whose motto for years has been, The next best thing to a Giants win is a Dodgers loss, will take smug satisfaction when, after winning 100 games or more in the regular season, the Dodgers are knocked out of the first or second round of the playoffs.

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The image of North Beach has long been well-defined.

Theres the Italian overlay, once seen in the faces and now reflected in the abundance of pasta- and pizza-fueled restaurants. The beatnik-era poets published by still-vibrant City Lights Bookstore. Wooden buildings that press tight against steep blocks below Coit Tower.

Its an alluring collage  and one that was feeling musty by the time COVID-19 hit in 2020, especially in a city that, in recent years, has put a premium on the different and new. Yet, not only has the aged district weathered the pandemic, the commercial heart of North Beach also feels more vibrant than it has in a decade or more.

Grant Avenue street fairs on the first Friday of every month draw large and lively crowds. Sales tax revenue was back to 2019 levels by the end of 2022. Since then, a bookstore has opened in a historic bakery closed since 2015, a grocer has moved into a former bank and there are several new restaurants and cafes.

Molinari Delicatessen on Columbus Avenue in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Nov. 2. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

The infusion of new businesses deserves credit for part of the renewed scene  but an equally important draw is the underlying components of a neighborhood that bears traces of prior generations and cultures. The result? An idiosyncratic blend of people and place, aspects that in the past four years have shown themselves strong enough to withstand a citys ups and downs.

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North Beach doesnt offer an easy formula that can be replicated in other parts of San Francisco. Instead, it shows the strength of a sturdy foundation.

When the pandemic came I wondered, is it going to die? It was already sagging, Joe DAlessandro, president of San Francisco Travel, said of the neighborhoods commercial core. I was very pleasantly surprised.

For many casual visitors, the neighborhood is anchored by the broad diagonal of Columbus Avenue, a flatiron-lined boulevard that begins at the Transamerica Pyramid and proceeds past Chinatown and Russian Hill to Fishermans Wharf. Other people might identify it with Grant Avenue, home to small local shops and the venerable Caffe Trieste, or the sliced rectangle of Washington Square Park that has served as a sort of village green since 1850.

Look close, and the seemingly simple picture grows more complex.

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Such neighborhood icons as City Lights and Vesuvio Cafe lie below Broadway, though thats often seen as the neighborhoods southern boundary. Grant Avenue Garage, the northernmost business on Grant Avenues four-block commercial strip, posts all its signage in Chinese as well as English. The boundary between North Beach and Telegraph Hill is a mystery to anyone not living on one side or the other.

The complexity also helps explain why this compact place can feel so expansive.

On a recent Sunday afternoon, for instance, 16 people loitered outside Golden Boy pizza on Green Street between Columbus and Grant amid the blocks half-dozen parklets. Flour + Water Pizza Shop did brisk business around the corner on Stockton. The long-running art show inside Washington Square Park shared space with sunbathers, a tour group and people exercising their dogs. The playground was packed.

Its not flashy, but it has real character, said Maureen Hardy, a senior associate with BCV Architecture who has worked in an office above what now is Flour + Water since 1999. The park is activated all day long, with so many types of people out and about.

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The liveliness is reinforced by the varied draws framing the park  the post office on the east and Muni stop on the west, Sts. Peter and Paul Church to the north with its parish school and Marios Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe on the southwest corner. That perennial, which dates to 1971, has been joined by eateries popular with residents as well as visitors, such as Tonys Pizza Napoletana.

Several spaces facing the park sat vacant in the aftermath of such economic jolts as the dot-com bust of the early 2000s. It didnt help that as areas like Valencia Street and Hayes Valley attracted people looking for hot new local scenes, North Beach seemed passe  a visitor zone with one gimmicky Italian spot too many.

Left: Pedestrians walk down Green Street in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Feb. 18. Right, top: Susan Stauter with her dog, Bugsy, socializes with Linda Ligi at Caffe Trieste at Grant and Union in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Nov. 2. Right, bottom: Washington Square Park in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Nov. 2. Photos by Adam Pardee/Special to the Chronicle; Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Top: Pedestrians walk down Green Street in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Feb. 18. Middle: Susan Stauter with her dog, Bugsy, socializes with Linda Ligi at Caffe Trieste at Grant and Union in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Nov. 2. Bottom: Washington Square Park in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Nov. 2. Photos by Adam Pardee/Special to the Chronicle; Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Brokers would say, Its a tourist trap, according to pizza impresario Tony Gemignani, who sought out North Beach in 2008 to launch what now is his flagship restaurant. But I never thought of it as just that.

Hans Baldauf, a founder of BCV Architecture, remembers encountering variations of such opinions back then.

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Absolutely, wed get that all the time, Baldauf said We were seen as part of the old fabric.

DAlessandro felt that way at times, even though he has lived for more than 15 years in a neighborhood that he calls a magical place.

I was worried about North Beach, he recalled last month, nursing a cappuccino among the regulars at Caffe Trieste. It felt like it had lost its local pull.

But that traditional urban fabric, with its snug architectural stock and jumbled living patterns born in an age of urban density, proved to be a foundation for resilience while other San Francisco commercial districts seemed to implode.

Left: The City Lights Bookstore in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Feb. 18. Right: People drink and socialize inside Vesuvio Cafe in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Feb. 18. Photos by Adam Pardee/Special to the Chronicle Top: The City Lights Bookstore in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Feb. 18. Above: People drink and socialize inside Vesuvio Cafe in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Feb. 18. Photos by Adam Pardee/Special to the Chronicle

The proliferation of parklets was an obvious example, when parking spaces along Grant and Green seemingly sprouted chairs and tables overnight. The potential already was there  several fully public ones had been installed a few years before the pandemic  and the village-like nature of neighborhood politics translated to several city agencies bringing in such basics as barriers and artificial grass without elaborate public hearings beforehand.

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This was the first neighborhood to turn its lights back on, said Aaron Peskin, the supervisor for North Beach, who was fielding calls from neighborhood mainstays almost as soon as the shelter-in-place orders were announced in March of 2020. Whatever the aesthetic appeal of the parklets, they happened remarkably fast.

Couple that with their concentration in a small area crisscrossed by streams of people  such as stir-crazy residents of nearby districts seeking a convenient change of scene  and sidewalks began filling up.

Each block, you could see 100 people sitting outside, said Francesco Covucci, co-owner of three restaurants in the neighborhood. Others would hear about this and be saying, People are going to North Beach, there must be something happening. 

As COVID vaccines were refined and other neighborhoods came back to life, North Beach didnt flag. The renewed energy stuck.

Flour + Water Pizzeria opened this summer, for instance. In part, co-owner Thomas McNaughton was drawn to the airy storefront that stretches through its narrow triangular block. But there also was the attraction of catching a wave in a location that you wouldnt expect.

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North Beach feels like a small town within the larger city, suggested McNaughton, whose other Flour + Water has attracted diners to the Mission since 2009. We wanted to go all in on that.

Top left: Tonys Pizza at Stockton and Union Streets in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Nov. 2. Top right: A man drives a classic car on Grant Avenue in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Nov. 2. Bottom left: North Beach residents Tierney Henderson and Minko Gechev celebrate Gechevs birthday on Green Street in San Francisco on Nov. 2. Bottom right: Golden Boy Pizza on Green Street in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Nov. 2. Photos by Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Top: Tonys Pizza at Stockton and Union Streets in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Nov. 2. Second from top: A man drives a classic car on Grant Avenue in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Nov. 2. Third from top: North Beach residents Tierney Henderson and Minko Gechev celebrate Gechevs birthday on Green Street in San Francisco on Nov. 2. Above: Golden Boy Pizza on Green Street in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco on Nov. 2. Photos by Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

On the map, North Beach is a static grid of rectangular blocks. In real life, its a grid sliced by Columbus Avenue and draped into the bowl between Russian and Telegraph hills. More subtle still, most blocks are sliced and punctured by service alleys.

These elements, combined, create unexpected vistas and intriguing shortcuts.

During the pandemic, they also served as a lifeline.

Covucci and his partners in the summer of 2020 opened California Fish Market on Green Street, a project they had launched just before COVID. There were big costs to recoup; there also is an alley next to the restaurant, and the city allowed Covucci to deploy 20 widely spaced tables for diners.

The alley was like a blessing, Covucci recalled this fall. It gave us the extra push we needed to stay in business during that uncertain time.

For North Beach Citizens, a social service nonprofit, a dead-end alley off Kearny Street became a place to serve meals and distribute groceries to struggling residents of North Beach and Chinatown.

The move was born of necessity  clients werent allowed inside the Citizens modest storefront between Tommasos pizza and a strip club  but the outdoor service proved to be an upgrade that made it easier for case workers to assist potential clients in need of help. As the pandemic ebbed, the safety valve stayed in use.

We couldnt shut down, but we needed space for social distancing, said Kristie Fairchild, executive director of the nonprofit founded in 2001. It was a natural fit.

Alleys arent an obvious aspect of what makes North Beach distinct; they date to the mid-1800s, as newcomers to the fast-growing city filled in the flats near what then was the shoreline and scaled the western slopes of Telegraph Hill. Dense blocks filled with small buildings needed delivery spaces away from bustling streets; the alleys also allowed additional room to build mid-block housing.

The layout evolved without conscious planning  and helped the district adapt to changing circumstances more nimbly than neighborhoods built around the demands of automobiles and large-scale development.

Those traits arent easily replicated. Neither are the accrued layers of small buildings with longtime owners and, often, tenants who leased their flats decades ago. Such structural and residential diversity translates to something that, in 21st century America, feels exotic.

Green Street connects to Grant Street during sunset in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco. Adam Pardee/Special to The Chronicle

North Beach isnt perfect. No neighborhood is.

The neighborhoods protectors can be too judgmental about new businesses or development proposals, fighting change because its not exactly what the most tenacious critics desire. There still are empty storefronts, especially along Broadway, and everything from lampposts to refuse bins are marred by spray-painted tags.

Fairchild knows another aspect of the local scene, homelessness. You dont see people erecting tents, or obvious victims of the fentanyl scourge, but some clients of North Beach Citizens sleep in doorways at night. Others rent in SROs and spend their days in Washington Square Park.

Overall, though, she relishes how the pieces come together.

Its so dense, theres such a strong community, Fairchild said after a long morning walk. Add the historical piece  and the views  and that really makes it special.
A weak area of low pressure will raise light winds in parts of the Bay Area on Tuesday, though mild temperatures are expected to prevail. Baron/Lynx

An area of low pressure is expected to draw in light winds on Tuesday. These dry breezes will help air out lingering clouds and fog across the Bay Area, leading to sunshine and mild daytime temperatures.

The North Bay highlands and inland areas east of the Caldecott Tunnel can anticipate rounds of light breezes over the course of the day on Tuesday, with gusts occasionally reaching 20 mph along the foothills. The mercury will gradually rise to the lower 60s by the afternoon, making for great recreational weather throughout the outer suburbs of the Bay Area.

After a couple of morning drizzles on San Franciscos west side, fog and mist is likely to cling to parts of the shoreline Tuesday afternoon, keeping temperatures closer to the upper 50s for San Francisco and Oakland. That said, partly cloudy skies will help make it feel a little warmer by the afternoon, especially in downtown San Francisco and Jack London Square.

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Be sure to have a sweater on hand for the big cooldown after sunset. Temperatures are likely to once again fall to the lower to mid-40s along the bay shore, with upper 30s possible in the inland valleys overnight.

Tuesday breakdown

San Francisco: Patchy fog and light drizzles are on tap for San Franciscans on the west side this morning, with conditions improving by noon. Sunshine will prevail in the afternoon, though the weak December sun is likely to warm temperatures only to the upper 50s. Look for light winds throughout the day.

After sunset, temperatures will drop to the upper 40s, making for yet another cold night.

East Bay: Residents in the Oakland and Berkeley hills can anticipate patches of fog in the morning before sunshine pierces through the veil by noon. Look for partly cloudy skies and light winds as temperatures rise to 60 along the bay shore and delta, and lower 60s in the Tri-Valley area.

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Once the sun sets around 4:51 p.m., expect temperatures to fall to the lower 50s in the evening and lower to mid-40s by midnight.

North Bay: A steady stream of winds off the Mayacamas Mountains will gradually spill into the highlands of Napa and Sonoma counties over the course of the day, raising the temperature to the lower 60s. Cooler air along San Francisco Bay will keep the mercury closer to the mid-50s for residents on the Marin County shoreline and in the delta region.

Look for a cold night across the region as lows fall to the mid-40s by the water and upper 30s to lower 40s inland.

Pacific Coast and Peninsula: Light breezes and patches of fog are on tap along Highway 1 and in the San Bruno Gap this morning. Sunshine will return by the afternoon, though daytime temperatures are likely to make it only to the upper 50s. Slightly warmer air south of Millbrae will lead to highs in the lower 60s for cities like West Menlo Park and Palo Alto.

The mercury is then expected to fall to the lower 40s overnight across the Peninsula, though a few upper 30s arent out of the question at higher elevations.

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South Bay and Santa Cruz: A mild day is on tap for residents in the Santa Clara Valley and Santa Cruz Mountains, where sunny skies will raise temperatures to the mid-60s by the afternoon. Light winds off Monterey Bay will keep the air about 2 to 3 degrees cooler along the shoreline.
Zawacki is the executive director of the Schenectady County Historical Society at 32 Washington Ave. in the Stockade District of Schenectady, joining the organization in 2014 as its curator and becoming executive director in 2017.

GETTING TO KNOW - A University of New Paltz graduate in 2009 with a bachelor of arts in history and French, Mary Zawacki is passionate about the past  especially Schenectady Countys history.

A: I was a history major in college. I started as an English major because I like writing and communications. Then I took a Russian history class, and I was like, Oh, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

I was lucky to have a couple of college internships working in museums, specifically historic sites. I knew my career from a very early age, and I'm lucky in that way.

Q: Growing up downstate, was history a large part of your education?

A: Local history does get neglected in school. As a student, New York City is separate, but I wasn't aware of how much history New York State has. Coming to a place like Schenectady, which has been studied for so long by so many historians, is incredible. There have been so many wonderful historians who have done so much incredible work about local history here. And it's my honor to take their work and share it with the public.

Q: The Capital Region has been a backdrop for several movies. What does that mean to you as a historian?

A: I love that. I love that. My favorite movie of all-time was First Reformed, [released in 2017]. I don't know if it was filmed here, but it was supposed to be in Upstate New York [Ficticious Snowbridge, in Albany County].

I wish everyone would film their movies up here. I think upstate New York is so special. We have so much to offer. Of course, I'm watching The Gilded Age [an HBO drama series set in 1882 New York City]. I love spotting Washington Park, Troy. Maybe someday they'll come to Schenectady. My fingers are crossed for Season Three.

Q: You dont fit the stereotype of a typical historian or curator. What has the reception been like by your peers when you tell them about your position?

A: I don't get that from people my age. It's more often people who are of an older generation. Surprisingly, younger people are interested in history. I think many millennials really like this stuff. Ive looked at our audience, and a lot of our programs will have couples coming for a date, which is great. Then you have millennial parents bringing their kids.

Q: You are celebrating the historical societys annual Festival of Trees, but do you have a favorite event or exhibit?

A: I really love doing the big festivals out at Mabee Farm [Historic Site] because we can keep those free. It's affordable for everyone, and we just reach so many people through that. We get so many people through the doors of the Mabee House, which is fantastic because we're out of the way out there.

As soon as this opens [Festival of Trees], we will be going into planning for next year and what are some of the new ideas we can come up with. Those are still generating. So, I'm excited to put out our schedule and see what we'll have for 2024.

Q: Saratoga and Saratoga County are preparing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War and its historic events there. Will the historical society be a part of that celebration?

A: We are planning big things going into 2025 and 2026. We have the Liberty Flag in our collection, and as far as we know, it is the only Liberty flag still in existence  a flag that local people hoisted on the eve of the American Revolution to show their support. It's from the 1770s. It's very frayed, very faded. It may be the only one in existence.

We're going to do a lot of activities around that  exhibitions and programming. We're excited to be a part of it. Schenectady wasn't a battle site, but there were people here who went off and fought and were involved in supporting this revolution.

Q: As a historian, where do you go to relax and unwind?

A: I live in the Stockade, so I'm often here. My favorite spot is Front Street. I love the houses on Front Street. I love how cheerful they are. I love seeing neighbors. I love seeing all the dog walkers, and I love going down to Riverside Park, especially at sunset.

Q: As curator and executive director, what is your view on your time at the Schenectady County Historical Society?

A: I'm lucky to be able to work for this organization because it is a very vibrant organization. We're very busy. We have a lot of stuff going on  a lot of the time. The staff is encouraged to be creative. So we're coming up with new ideas for exhibitions and programming, and that's a lot of fun for me.

The Schenectady County Historical Society is located at 32 Washington Avenue, Schenectady. The Festival of Trees exhibit runs through Dec. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
No one was hurt in the Dec. 7 shooting outside Temple Israel in Albany.

Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 28, of Schenectady, was charged Monday with the second firearms crime, accused of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, prosecutors said.

ALBANY - The Schenectady man accused of firing a shotgun outside Albany's Temple Israel last week now faces a new charge related to the purchase of the firearm, federal prosecutors said.

The federal law enforcement affidavit filed in the first case Friday morning alleges Alkhader "stood outside of the Temple Israel while possessing a Kel-Tec KS7 12 gauge pump shotgun" and then "fired two rounds from the aforementioned shotgun into the air."

At least two dozen preschool children were on the premises at the time, officials have said.

He was taken into custody shortly after.

While in custody, Alkhader told law enforcement that the events in the Middle East have impacted him and he regularly uses marijuana, the affidavit read.

The initial charge is based on Alkhader being ineligible to possess the shotgun due to being a marijuana user.

The incident is being investigated as a hate crime, Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins told reporters that evening. Witnesses and officers reported the man said "Free Palestine," Hawkins said.

Alkhader is now accused of getting the shotgun by giving a friend money to purchase the firearm for him, prosecutors said. The friend then purchased the shotgun from a licensed dealer in Albany County and gave it to Alkhader, prosecutors said. He allegedly had the friend purchase the shotgun believing he was potentially ineligible due to a prior order of protection or restraining order, prosecutors said.

In the process, the friend lied on an ATF form by affirming the firearm was for himself. A release did not address the status of the friend.

Alkhader was arraigned on the initial charge Friday morning and ordered held pending trial.
Over a decade ago it became obvious that 21st century warfare was different. By 2011 the war on terror had caused 51,600 American military casualties comprising 6,200 dead and 45,400 wounded. This included a small number of CIA, State Department, and other agency personnel. Over 99 percent were military personnel working for the Department of Defense. Not all the casualties were from combat, with 21 percent of the deaths from non-combat causes. In World War II that was 25 percent. The fighting in Iraq accounted for 71 percent of the deaths and 70 percent of the wounded. Outside of Afghanistan and Iraq, operations in dozens of other countries represented 2.5 percent of deaths, but about 71 percent of these were from non-combat causes.

The first 21st century war was quite different from the 20th century conflicts. For one thing, far fewer Americans are being killed or wounded in combat. And fewer and fewer of those who are wounded die. Its a continuing trend. Last year, eight percent of the wounded died (American forces are still in combat in some areas, but far less than in a war), compared to eleven percent in 2009. There are several reasons for more troops surviving battle wounds (and injuries from accidents). An obvious cause is body armor. Improvements over the past decade, in terms of design and bullet resistance, account for about 20 percent of the decline in casualties. There's a downside to this, as the body armor is heavier and cumbersome. This reduces a soldier's mobility and increases casualties a bit (and saves some enemy lives as well.)

Another major factor is medical care, which has gotten much better, quicker, and faster. Not only are procedures more effective, but badly wounded soldiers get to the operating table more quickly. Medics now have capabilities that, during Vietnam, only surgeons possessed. Movement of casualties to an operating room is much faster now, partly because of better transportation, but also because of more efficient methods, and operating rooms that are placed closer to the battlefield.

Another major factor is the change in what caused casualties. Explosions, especially from roadside bombs, were less likely to cause fatal wounds. For example, 12.9 percent of bullet wounds were fatal, compared to 7.3 percent for bombs and 3.5 percent for RPGs and grenades in general. The enemy in Afghanistan preferred to use roadside bombs, because U.S. troops were much more effective in a gun battle as they were taught effective combat maneuvers and practiced those as part of their training. All this contributed to the changing the ratio of wounded-to-killed, that was 6-to-1 in 1970s Vietnam, to 10-1 in 2011.

In Iraq and Afghanistan, there has also been a dramatic reduction in combat deaths compared to Vietnam, and previous 20th century wars. The death rate, adjusting for the smaller number of troops involved in Iraq and Afghanistan, revealed such a massive reduction in combat deaths that the percentage of deaths that were from non-combat causes actually went up. For example, there were 47,359 combat deaths in Vietnam, which represented 81.4 percent of the military deaths in Vietnam. The remaining 10,797 deaths were from non-combat causes and comprised 18.6 percent of all deaths. In Iraq it is 80 percent and 20 percent. In Afghanistan it was 70 percent and 30 percent. The ratio of dead to wounded is also different in Iraq, where for each dead soldier there were 7.2 wounded. In Afghanistan it was 1 dead soldier for 8.1 wounded

There are also differences in the types of casualties. For example, in Vietnam, bullets caused 38 percent of the deaths. In Iraq, it was only 19 percent, and 27 percent in Afghanistan. The Iraqis were notoriously inaccurate riflemen, even though the urban battle space in Iraq was very similar to Vietnam. There is more of a tradition of marksmanship in Afghanistan, despite or probably because of, the frequently longer distances involved. The superior protective vests, often called body armor, worn by Americans troops have made it more difficult for enemy marksmen, as chest shots are now frequently useless and fatal head shots are very difficult. The new helmet worn by American troops proved capable of stopping a rifle bullet, something combat helmets had been unable to do during a century of use. The helmets were originally designed to minimize injuries from high-speed metal or non-metal fragments created by exploding artillery shells, hand grenades or explosions in general.

In Vietnam, 15.7 percent of American combat deaths were caused by IEDs, or Improvised Explosive Devices, while in Iraq and Afghanistan IED deaths were initially 60 percent, and then declined. Casualties were avoided or made less severe with the development of MRAP armored trucks. Heavy use of these vehicles reduced the impact of the explosives. The roadside bomb was a much less effective weapon, a loser's weapon, because it killed more civilians than enemy troops riding in their MRAPs and other armored vehicles. This played a major role in turning local civilians against the Iraqi terrorists and Afghan Taliban.

Aircraft related deaths from crashes were 14.6 percent of the combat fatalities in Vietnam, while it was only a few percent in Iraq and Afghanistan. The current helicopters were built with Vietnam experience in mind, and are more resistant to damage and safer to crash land in. Ground vehicle related deaths were two percent in Vietnam, but more than double that in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of the ground vehicle deaths were non-combat related. That's because from World War II to the present, the U.S. armed forces put huge numbers of trucks and other vehicles on roads (often poorly maintained, or shot up), at all hours, in all weather and with drivers fighting fatigue. There being a war on, the vehicles often proceeded at unsafe speeds.

What made the experience so different in the 21st century, versus 20th century wars? It was a combination of things. The most important difference is that the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are fighting smarter. While the Vietnam era troops were representative of the general population, the post-Vietnam era army was all-volunteer and highly selective. The troops were smarter, healthier, and better educated than the general population. In the 1970s the United States eliminated peacetime conscription and all recruits after that were volunteers. During the first three decades of all-volunteer soldiers, new attitudes developed throughout the army, which always got most of the conscripts The army, so to speak, became more like the marines, which were always all-volunteer, and more innovative as a result. This ability to quickly analyze and adapt gets recognized by military historians, and other armies, but not by the media. It also saves lives in combat.

This innovation has led to better training, tactics, and leadership. Smarter troops means smarter and more capable leaders, from the junior sergeants leading fire terms of five soldiers all the way up to the generals running the whole show. Smarter troops lead to tactics constantly adapting to changes on the battlefield. The better tactics, and smarter fighting, has been the biggest reason for the lower death rate.

Better weapons and equipment have made U.S. troops less vulnerable to attack. GPS guided weapons made the biggest difference. There were now GPS guided bombs, shells, and rockets. This enabled troops to hit a target with the first shot and be closer to the explosion and better able to move right in after the bomb or artillery shells explode and take care of armed enemy survivors. Another benefit is much fewer civilian casualties. In both Iraq and Vietnam, the enemy frequently used civilians as human shields, and the better trained American troops were able to cope with this in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And then there was night vision gear. This first appeared during Vietnam, but in four decades, the stuff has gotten better, lighter, and cheaper. Every soldier has night vision now, as do most combat vehicles. There are also better radios, better uniforms, even better field rations. It all made a difference.

Then there was the Internet, which enabled the troops to get in touch with each other. This made a big difference. Not just for the combat troops, but also for the NCOs and officers. Each community had different problems and solutions. With the Internet, they could easily discuss problems, and quickly share successful solutions. The troops did this by themselves, and it was up to the military to play catch up. Life-saving tips are passed around with unprecedented speed. This made a major difference in combat, where better tactics and techniques save lives.

Computers and video games had an impact as well. The draft ended about the same time that personal computers and video games began to show up. There have been three decades of troops who grew up with PCs and video games. It was the troops who led the effort to computerize many military activities, and video games evolved into highly realistic training simulators. The automation eliminated a lot of drudge work, while the simulators got troops up to speed before they hit the combat zone. Computers also made it possible to do things with information, especially about the enemy, that was not possible before. A lot of troops instinctively understand operations research and statistical analysis, and they use it to good effect. Research has also shown that heavy use of video games trains the user to make decisions faster. That's a lifesaver in combat.

UAVs and Trackers took a lot of uncertainty out of combat. For nearly a century, the troops on the ground depended on someone in an airplane or helicopter to help them sort out who was where. Early in the 21st century the observer overhead was replaced by robots. UAVs, especially the handheld UAVs ones every infantry company has, give the ground commander his own recon aircraft. He controls it, and it works only for him. Combat commanders now have a top-down view of their troops, and the enemy. This has made a huge difference, creating some fundamental changes in the way captains and colonels command their troops. For higher commanders, the GPS transponders carried by most combat vehicles provides a tracking system that shows a real-time picture, on a laptop screen, of where all your troops are. This takes a lot of uncertainty out of command.

Living conditions enabled troops in combat to be more alert and effective. Some civilians thought air-conditioned sleeping quarters for combat troops, and lots of other amenities in base camps, was simply indulgent. It is anything but. Getting a good night's sleep can be a lifesaver for combat soldiers, and AC makes that possible. Showers, internet links to home and good food do wonders for morale, especially for soldiers getting shot at every day. Good morale means a more alert, and capable, soldier. The combat units often go weeks, or months, without these amenities, but the knowledge that these goodies are there, and eventually to be enjoyed, takes some of the sting out of all the combat stress. The rate of combat fatigue in Iraq has been much lower than in Vietnam, or any previous war.

The enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan was not as effective as the Vietnamese were. The Taliban are more effective than the Iraqis, but not by much. All this is partly due to cultural factors, partly because in Vietnam, the North Vietnamese were sending trained soldiers south. The North Vietnamese also had commandos called sappers, who, while small in number, caused a lot of anxiety, and casualties, among U.S. troops. The irregular Viet Cong fighters in South Vietnam, were largely gone after 1968 as a result of the failed Tet Offensive, but even these fighters tended to be more deadly than the average Iraqi gunman or Afghan warrior. The Iraqi troops have had a dismal reputation for a long time, but they can still be deadly. Just not as deadly as their Vietnamese counterparts. The lower fighting capability of the Iraqis saved lots of American lives, but got far more Iraqis, including civilians killed. The Afghans have a more fearsome reputation, but in practice they are no match for professional infantry. And conventional wisdom to the contrary, they have been beaten many times in the past. They are blessed, after a fashion, to live in a place that was not worth conquering. So, whoever defeated them, soon left.

Finally, there is the data advantage. The military, especially the army, had collected, since Vietnam, massive amounts of information on how each soldier died. There were detailed records of soldier and marine casualties. The army, in particular, collected and analyzed this data, and then passed on to the troops new tactics and techniques derived from this analysis. The army restricted access to the data, as it could provide the enemy with useful information on how effective they were. Some basic data was made public, but the details were locked up for over a decade. Studying this data was a full time job for many people in the military, and there was a constant stream of suggestions resulting from this analysis, and those suggestions often turned into yet another small decline in combat deaths.
One of those Covid Inquiry obsessives was loitering nearby when Rishi Sunak arrived in West London. 'Lives are more important than money!' screamed this protester, her voice twisted out of shape by anger.

Mr Sunak did not respond. But in the course of the next few hours, in a chess match-style examination from Hugo Keith KC, the PM calmly argued that both lives and livelihoods were his priorities throughout the Covid crisis.

Mr Keith, unofficial shop steward for the amalgamated union of pro-lockdown boffins and big-state fingerwaggers, again seemed to lean toward restrictions on the public.

Lockdown this, lockdown that: it was all put in that husky voice and the disarmingly polite manner, with slight hint of Terry-Thomas front teeth.

An innocent might conclude that handsome Hugo was one of life's charmers. Think about it long enough, mind you, and you'll see that the theory he is pushing at this lawyers' bunfight is scandalous. For the one L word we have not heard at the inquiry has been Liberty.

One of those Covid Inquiry obsessives was loitering nearby when Rishi Sunak (pictured giving evidence at the inquiry) arrived in West London. 'Lives are more important than money!' screamed this protester, her voice twisted out of shape by anger

Mr Sunak did not respond. But in the course of the next few hours, in a chess match-style examination from Hugo Keith KC, the PM calmly argued that both lives and livelihoods were his priorities throughout the Covid crisis

British identity, indeed British law, was once wedded to the concept of individual freedom. Even medieval kings had to accept that.

Yet the 21st-century London elite now treats it merely as a negotiable extra, something to be cancelled on, say, the post-dated diary entries of a chief scientific adviser or the WhatsApp messages of a deranged Downing Street aide.

If Sage recommended the suspension of habeas corpus, would Mr Keith posit it as a reasonable policy proposal, worthy of circulation to all the relevant Whitehall departments? I wish I could be certain he would not.

With nothing much else in his diary  only the possible collapse of his Government and party  Rishi had to endure a whole day at this tooth-grindingly slow durbar of despotism. He had brought along a couple of writing implements and a rubber, which he placed neatly to one side.

He wore a crisp new white shirt with a small collar. His hair was fresh lacquered and raked. He had done his prep. Whereas normally it has been Mr Keith who has called for slides to be shown of certain pages of evidence, this time the witness also did it, asking for specific pages of his submissions to be highlighted.

A good sub-editor could have got Mr Keith's questioning down to an hour. But sub-editors, unlike lawyers, are paid to work to tight deadlines.

Lawyers make more from spinning things out. If you are on up to 220 an hour and you can keep it going for years, you could be looking at early retirement to a finca on the Med'. If Mr Keith, 56, ever buys a yacht, perhaps he'll call her the Lady Hallett, with brass railings and a gin deck.

Mr Keith urged the PM to give shorter answers and then immediately went into a question which had more clattering sub-clauses than a Canadian freight train. Up at her throne, the judge was busy writing something. Doing her Christmas cards? Perish the thought.

With nothing much else in his diary  only the possible collapse of his Government and party  Rishi had to endure a whole day at this tooth-grindingly slow durbar of despotism. He had brought along a couple of writing implements and a rubber, which he placed neatly to one side

The main juice, such as it was, concerned Eat Out to Help Out, the Treasury scheme that enemies of the current PM now say was a killer. Mr Sunak argued that the scientists had had a month to object to it if they had so wished.

Mr Keith backed away from the matter. Perhaps he, too, is noticing that Sir Patrick Vallance's backside-covering version of events is crumbling.

Rishi was accorded more courtesy than other members of Boris Johnson's regime. Was this because, like Comrade Keith, he is a Wykehamist (ie, an old boy of Winchester College)?

Establishment types consider him a more hygienic and house-trained fellow than some of the other Brexiteers. Judge Hallett beamed down with rouge-cheeked approval.

Mr Keith did not quite invite him to join in a chorus of their old school song, the Domum, but there was none of that 'dog's mess on my shoe' attitude we had when he was interrogating Dominic Cummings.
Dropping the late Queen's convention that those first in the line of succession travel separately, William, Kate and the children motored together to Kate's Westminster Abbey carol service.

In the event of an unlikely disaster, we could have ended up with Harry as the heir apparent and Meghan as Princess of Wales. The King has not altered Harry and Andrew's positions in the line of succession. For the sake of everyone, William might consider his travel arrangements in future  or ask his dad to change the succession rules.

William, Kate and the children motored together to Kate's Westminster Abbey carol service, dropping the convention of the late Queen that those first in the line of success travel separately

Might William consider his travel arrangements in future  or ask his dad to change the succession rules?

Interviewing Nigel Farage, ITV's Good Morning Britain host Ed Balls mischievously asked: 'What we all want to know is, are you seeking to use your Celebrity journey in order to rejoin the Conservatives and maybe, finally, get into the UK Parliament, because you've tried lots of times before?'

Farage fired back: 'I tried lots of times before, you're right. I also won two national elections, in European elections, leading two different parties... so I can do without that kind of commentary.'

Former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls and former UKIP leader clashed on ITV's Good Morning Britain

Ed Balls mischievously asked whether Farage was seeking to use his reality television appearance as a springboard to return to politics

After former Labour frontbencher Balls lamely suggested he was being a 'bit touchy', Nigel added: 'If you poke me with a stick, I'll poke back.'

Movie star Ryan O'Neal, who has died aged 82, once turned down a proposal from Peter Sellers. The bonkers comedy legend offered the US actor a Ferrari in return for his then wife Leigh Taylor-Young, pictured with Sellers.

Peter Sellers once offered a Ferrari to Ryan O'Neal in exchange for his then wife, Leigh Taylor-Young

They starred together in the 1968 film I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! At least when priapic Sellers fancied Princess Margaret, he offered husband Lord Snowden his missus Britt Ekland in exchange, rather than a motor!

Naked Gun star Priscilla Presley expresses alarm at Liam Neeson replacing her friend Leslie Nielsen in the reboot. 'Don't get me wrong, Liam is a fantastic actor, but I just can't see him as Frank Drebin,' she says. 'I'll never forget the day I met Leslie on set.

Priscilla Presley starred in Naked Gun with Leslie Nielsen, and recalled a mischievous side to the actor

He could see I was nervous and behaved like the perfect gentleman: 'Don't worry, Priscilla. Sit next to me and we'll go through a few scenes.' He'd put a whoopee cushion under my chair and we didn't stop laughing for ten minutes.'

Journalist Tony Holden had a splendid funeral send-off yesterday at St Martin-in-the-Fields. Paying tribute was his great friend Lord Bragg, whose vicar daughter Marie-Elsa Roche Bragg led the prayers and eulogies from Tina Brown, Gyles Brandreth and Scottish journalist Magnus Linklater. But what would Tony have thought of the Reverend Bragg declaring: 'We will have the Our Father or Our Mother as you please.'

Tony, a Shakespeare biographer, would have chuckled at his son Joe ending his overlong address with his favourite joke about Will being ordered out of a pub. Asked for an explanation, the publican declared: 'You're Bard.'
Sir Keir Starmer's immigration policy is based on a lie. A well-intentioned lie, a lie designed to make us feel better about ourselves; but a lie nonetheless, a lie that will eventually bring down any Government he gets to lead.

He trotted out his falsehood again and again in interviews yesterday. Labour's solution to illegal immigration was to 'break the gangs'.

Ah, what a delightful idea. Wouldn't it be lovely if we could blame the Channel crossings on a few evil people traffickers?

We could then regard every illegal entrant as a victim  the highest accolade our debased age bestows. We could imagine them all as desperate families who have been exploited by callous mafiosi. We could divert resentment of illegal immigration away from the illegals themselves.

The trouble is, it's piffle. The idea that demand would dry up if there were no middlemen is a fantasy. Blaming people-traffickers is sheer deflection.

The reason dinghies keep setting out for our southern coast is that the people in them, mainly young men, think they will be better off in the UK. They know that, once they have set foot on British soil, they will statistically be almost certain to stay.

Sir Keir Starmer's immigration policy is based on a lie that will eventually bring down any Government he gets to lead

Pretending it's all the fault of nasty people-smugglers won't change any of this. Neither will the associated feel-good fib, namely that if we did more to tackle global poverty, people would have no reason to move in the first place.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for raising living standards in poor countries. But doing so will, paradoxically, lead to more rather than less immigration as aspirations rise in those countries and technology improves.

Listening to the Labour leader, my mind drifted back to the summer of 2015, when record numbers of migrants crossed the Mediterranean.

I spent part of that summer volunteering in a hostel for unaccompanied minors in southern Italy. The residents came mainly from West Africa. They were brave and ambitious lads, doing what I hope I would have done in their situation. But they were not refugees. They were fleeing poverty rather than persecution.

There are billions of people in their situation, most of whom would come to the West if they had the chance.

What struck me, as we met each new wave of arrivals dropped off by the Italian coastguard, was that almost all the passengers carried smartphones  even those who had nothing else beyond the clothes they stood up in.

Those phones let them transfer credit and information as they undertook their epic voyages across the Sahara and the Mediterranean. As incomes rise in Africa, many more young men will be in a position to attempt such journeys.

We are, in other words, just starting a new age of mass migration, a volkerwanderung. How we deal with it will define the politics of every wealthy country. I have no doubt that much of the legal infrastructure we put in place after World War II, including the UN Refugee Convention (1951) and the European Convention on Human Rights (1953) will end up being dismantled.

But Labour, despite its customary pre-election tack to the Right, refuses to think in these terms. It still sees the world as a pyramid of hier-archy and oppression, with straight white men at the top and immigrants near the bottom. It condemns the people-smugglers because it is comfortable attacking the profit motive; but it cannot bring itself to condemn, in similar terms, the people entering Britain illegally.

The reason dinghies keep setting out for our southern coast is that the people in them, mainly young men, think they will be better off in the UK

If, as opinion polls suggest, Sir Keir becomes our next prime minister, I believe immigration will break his Government.

The numbers will increase and, whereas the present administration is at least trying to tackle the problem, he has no serious plan.

Indeed, he admitted yesterday that, if the Rwanda scheme were up and running by the time he took office, and visibly having a deterrent effect, he would still scrap it.

His sole policy, other than wishful thinking about breaking the gangs, is to sign a deal with the EU which would result in Britain taking more asylum seekers than it sends back.

The number of Channel boat people is falling, as ministers do battle with an inert Home Office bureaucracy and with a judiciary determined to overturn deportation orders.

Over the past year, Mediterranean crossings rose by 83 per cent, but Channel crossings are down by 34 per cent. That fall would not survive a change of Government.

Rishi Sunak made stopping the boats one of the five pledges on which he invited the country to judge him. He knows failing will mean electoral annihilation. He is therefore dealing with the fundamental problem, namely politicised judges who keep ruling on the basis of what they think the law ought to say rather than what it says.

Sometimes, the results of their legal decisions are extraordinary. One man, a violent drugs dealer, overturned his deportation because he would face 'obstacles [to] integrating back in Nigeria'. Another escaped removal on grounds that it would prejudice relations with his child.

When the Tories first tried to send illegal entrants to Rwanda, the Court of Appeal struck down the law  not on grounds that Rwanda was unsafe, but that it might later send deportees somewhere else, an objection that, if you think about it, applies to every country.

Migrants know that, once they have set foot on British soil, they will statistically be almost certain to stay

If, as opinion polls suggest, Sir Keir becomes our next prime minister, I believe immigration will break his Government

The Supreme Court, in its final ruling, made a point of citing 'customary international law'  its way of signalling to ministers that, even if they expressly disapplied the European Convention and the UN Refugee Convention, judges would still find a way to overrule them.

Labour, by contrast, cannot overcome its instinctive preference for Leftie lawyers over pro-sovereignty politicians.

The irony is that the Euro-fanatical Starmer is increasingly out of step with the EU. Even as he pledges to scrap the Rwanda scheme, Austria, Denmark and Germany are exploring similar deals. Italy already has one with Albania.

And while Labour rages at the Conservatives for daring to disapply parts of the European Convention, the French government recently ignored a European Court ruling to deport someone it regarded as a radical Islamist.

We can expect more along these lines as migratory pressures increase. Voters will insist the post-war architecture be revised. They might demand that judges be removed from the picture altogether.

Sooner or later, that is where we will end up. Either the various international accords drawn up before mass air travel will be modified, or we shall quit them. Perhaps we will end up giving the Home Secretary the arbitrary right to admit a certain number of deserving refugees a year  a number that could be modified by Parliament in case of a war in a friendly country or similar, but that would not be subject to judicial review.

Before any of that happens, though, things will get worse. People will watch the increasing numbers of illegal arrivals, and will connect it to the breakdown of social norms that they observe when, for example, anti-Israel demonstrators clamber onto war memorials.

At that point, there will be a backlash  against any Labour Government, for sure, and possibly against the entire political system. It won't be pretty. But, given Starmer's pretence that he can somehow solve the problem by being nicer to the EU, it may be inescapable.

Lord Hannan of Kingsclere is a former Conservative MEP and serves on the UK Board of Trade.
Seconds after the result, Chief Whip Simon Hart winked at Rishi Sunak and he responded by hugging him.

As a beaming Rishi left the packed chamber he patted colleagues and thanked his new immigration minister, Michael Tomlinson, a quiet lad who had risen to the occasion.

Labour MPs were unfazed. The Government's healthy majority looked more of a blow to Mark Francois, self-styled Tory rebel leader, who had been putting himself around for days with no little strutting.

He and his confreres, including Suella Braverman, stayed glued to their seats during the vote, abstaining. The result was a pikestaff in the gizzards for Corporal Francois. Military surgeons were last night operating.

Amid all the rococo oratory in this Rwanda debate, all the stiff, pink rhubarb from lawyers, the most remarkable speech came from an obscure Tory MP, Nick Fletcher (Don Valley).

As a beaming Rishi (pictured) left the packed chamber he patted colleagues and thanked his new immigration minister, Michael Tomlinson, a quiet lad who had risen to the occasion

The debate was opened by James Cleverly (left), Home Secretary. Things soon became fiendishly legalistic. Mr Cleverly looked underequipped for such combat and needed prompts from lawyer colleagues

Even Mr Fletcher's friends would not call him Demosthenes. A voice like cardboard. His is not the most nimble of political brains. He just said, to howling gyp from Labour MPs, what his electors thought.

'Doncaster's full.'

His opening words sent the opposition into torrents of disgust. Mr Fletcher proceeded, in his flat drone, to describe what happened in his constituency when asylum seekers arrived.

Neighbours saw house values plummet. 'We're turning part of our country into a ghetto,' continued Mr Fletcher. 'Shocking!' roared Labour. Dogged Mr Fletcher plodded onwards, a cyclist pedalling through a mist of slurry. He was doing what he felt he had been sent to Westminster to do, even though the elite mocked.

A memorable afternoon. Newark's Robert Jenrick, newly out of government, made a fluent, notes-free speech which felt like a leadership pitch. He has lost weight. The house was rapt. Mr Jenrick has made himself something. Has he outmanoeuvred Suella? She avoided the debate.

Sir Geoffrey Cox, whose trouser belt now sits a long way above the Plimsoll line, opened the throttle on his Lagonda larynx and explained why he thought the Bill would do the trick. What a voice. When this Horace Rumpole of West Devon is in full flow, greenhouse panes quiver and ice-cubes rattle in nearby gins and french.

The debate was opened by James Cleverly, Home Secretary. Things soon became fiendishly legalistic. Mr Cleverly looked underequipped for such combat and needed prompts from lawyer colleagues. An early intervention came from Sir Bill Cash (Con, Stone). It sounded  so far as one can ever follow old Bill's contributions  that he was going to support the Government. That felt significant.

The debate, in terms of policy disputes, happened on the Tory side: a contest between Righties such as Danny Kruger (Devizes), who criticised the Supreme Court, and not-so Righties such as Sir Robert Buckland (South Swindon), who worships the judiciary.

The debate, in terms of policy disputes, happened on the Tory side: a contest between Righties such as Danny Kruger (Devizes), who criticised the Supreme Court, and not-so Righties such as Sir Robert Buckland (South Swindon), who worships the judiciary

Where, asked Sir Robert with pomposity and some anger, did the Bill leave 'the principle of comity'? 'Exactly!' shouted Sir Chris Bryant (Lab, Rhondda), as if he understood what comity meant. On that he was at least a step ahead of Mr Cleverly.

The speech by Labour's spokesman, Yvette Cooper, was puerile, over-long, devoid of policy.

One of her worst performances yet. Mr Cleverly put her off by repeatedly muttering, some 20 times, 'what's your policy?'

Expostulating disgust was done better by the SNP's Pete Wishart who, in a reference to the film Life of Brian, said the Tories made 'the People's Front of Judea look like a model of unity'. Kevin Foster (Con, Torbay) thought it quite something to 'get a lecture on unity from the Scots Nats'.

Labour's Stephen Kinnock said that his late mother Glenys, who died only last week, would have disliked the bill. An emotive argument, but perhaps excusable in the circumstances.

'Speaking as a lawyer, I feel queasy,' mewed Maria Eagle (Lab, Garston & Halewoood). Sammy Wilson (DUP, E Antrim) said he was heartily sick of such lectures.

Lawyer MPs should look to their political responsibilities and do what they had promised at the last election.
Don't miss our brilliant new podcast, The Crown: Fact or Fiction with Robert Hardman and Natasha Livingstone. Listen now on Spotify , Apple or wherever you get your podcasts

Long known as a straightforward, practical kind of woman, Princess Anne found a very practical solution when things conspired to make her second marriage tricky.

Anne was already divorced from first husband, Captain Mark Philips, when she agreed to marry Timothy Laurence.

But the Church of England did not permit the remarriage of divorcees. So on this day, December 12, 1992, Anne and Timothy Laurence wed in a small ceremony north of the border in the Scottish Presbyterian Church.

It was a far cry from the magnificence of Princess Anne's 1973 marriage to Mark Philips at Westminster Abbey, which had been the first royal wedding to reach a mass television audience - and in colour!

Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence were married on on December 12, 1992, in Crathie Kirk, near Balmoral in Scotland

Princess Anne and Tim Laurence pictured with his mother, Prince Philip, Peter Phillips, Zara Phillips and Queen Elizabeth on their wedding day

It was less than a month after her decree absolute that the Princess Royal and Tim Laurence were married at Crathie Kirk, Balmoral.

Sir Tim first made it to the heart of royal life in 1986, when he was appointed as the Queen's Equerry - an official assistant to the Royal Family.

READ MORE: How Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence rose from being an unknown aide to the Queen to Princess Anne's devoted husband Advertisement

The pair slowly fell in love and three years later, Timothy proposed to Anne with a cabochon sapphire and diamond ring. It was a simple yet unique design, suited perfectly for the no-nonsense royal.

The ceremony involved just 30 guests including her parents the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, her children Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew.

The wedding also happened to take place just days after Prince Charles and Princess Diana announced their legal separation.

For the big day, Princess Anne opted against the traditional bridal gown and instead wore a high-neck shift-style dress with a white suit jacket.

She accessorised the look with black shoes and carried a small bunch of heather for her bouquet - matching the flowers in her hair, styled with her signature beehive.

Sir Timothy wore his naval uniform.

Traditional Scottish bagpipes played as the newlyweds left the church for their post-ceremony celebration at Craigowan Lodge on the Balmoral estate.

The low-key affair had just 30 guests in attendance, including her parents the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip (pictured)

Pictured: Tim Laurence and Princess Anne seen in their car after their wedding ceremony

Having made the leap from royal servant to royal spouse, Sir Tim has now been at the heart of the world's most famous family for more than 30 years.

As well as accompanying the Queen at engagements, Sir Tim also escorted other royals, such as Princess Diana and the Duchess of York to venues and events.

His discretion and calm competence quickly won the trust of other royals with the late Queen and Prince Philip said to have been firm admirers.

A connection between the princess and her future husband first became noticed when, in 1988, Anne invited him to become a trustee of her charity - The Princess Royal's Charity Trust.

By then, her relationship Mark Philips was on the rocks and matters seemed to escalate when the existence of a series of letters written by Sir Tim to Anne became public knowledge.

The letters had been stolen from Anne's briefcase and delivered to The Sun. Rather than publishing them, the newspaper handed them to the police.

Almost overnight, he went from being an unknown member of the Queen's staff to a potential love interest of the married Princess Royal. The navy officer believed that the saga would be the end of his career.

It had been less than four decades since King George VI's married Equerry, Peter Townsend, had seen his own career come to a virtual halt when it emerged that he and Princess Margaret were in love.

Times had changed, however.

Within days of the letter's existence emerging, the Queen showed her support for Sir Tim by having him by her side at public engagements.

It was said, however, that Prince Philip had been less forgiving and had been angry that a servant of the Queen had acted in such a way with his married daughter.

But that did not stop Sir Tim's romance with Anne from blossoming, as her marriage to Phillips petered out.

The pair announced their separation at the end of August in 1989 and in April 1992 the Palace announced that Anne had filed for divorce.

Pictured: A bystander waiting for for the Princess Royal's wedding at Crathie Church, Scotland

Pictured: Princess Anne and Sir Tim with their dog on their first wedding anniversary in 1993

Pictured: The banns of marriage for the Princess Royal and Timothy Laurence in 1992

Anne and Sir Tim went public with their romance in May 1992, a fortnight after her divorce was finalised. The couple took to the floor together at the Royal Caledonian Ball in London for a series of dances.

Their wedding later that year provided a happy ending to what the Queen had described as her 'annus horribilis'.

Princess Anne and Sir Timothy now live together on the Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire.

Anne's two children from her first marriage, Peter Philips and Zara Tindall, also live on the estate with their respective partners and children.
Generation Z are finally ditching vapes - but it's not because of the myriad of health concerns.

The younger generation's love of vaping has sparked global concern, with disposable vapes soon to be axed in the UK under new Government plans to prevent children from becoming addicted to the devices.

But now, there is finally a cause strong enough to encourage socially conscious youngsters to go cold turkey - showing 'solidarity' with the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Protestors have recognised that he DRC is currently facing a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by an increased demand for cobalt, a resource concentrated in the Congo, which is used in the lithium-powered batteries found in vapes.

Gen Z's response to the problem has been to quit the nicotine devices to drive down cobalt demand in the Congo - and track the process on social media.

The younger generations have ditched vaping in a bid to tackle the poor conditions in cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and they've taken to TikTok to explain why

Cobalt is the chemical element found in almost every tech gadget that uses a lithium-powered battery on the market today.

Companies often pledge that their cobalt is ethically sourced - but a plethora of evidence suggests otherwise.

A series of images taken from inside mines in the DRC, where 90 percent of the world's cobalt is mined and used to make the batteries that power our tech-led lives, raise uncomfortable questions.

People tirelessly work in the vast polluted mines of the DRC, where toxic red dust burns their eyes, and they run the risk of skin disease and a deadly lung condition.

For a wage of just 8p a day, the children are made to check the rocks for the tell-tale chocolate-brown streaks of cobalt  the prized ingredient essential for the batteries that power gadgets including electric cars.

The cobalt is mined by unregulated labour and transported to Asia where battery manufacturers use it to make their products lighter, longer lasting and rechargeable.

Generation Z have realised the connection between cobalt mining in DRC and their love of their lithium-fuelled vapes.

In one video, a profile dedicated to encouraging vapers to quit, shared an explanation.

One filmed a lengthy video encouraging her followers to ditch the vapes to support the environment and help people in the DRC

One content creator has tracked her journey of quitting vaping 'for Congo' on TikTok by the hour

The trend has picked up a high number of supporters on TikTok, with the younger generations quitting vaping 'in solidarity with the people of Congo'

She said: 'Here's why people are quitting vaping for the Congo. Congo is currently facing a complex humanitarian crisis with over six million people displaced.'

'Much of this conflict is fuelled by an increase in demand for cobalt. Lithium-ion batteries, which are found in vapes, contain cobalt. So, by quitting vaping, you reduce the demand for lithium-ion batteries, reduce the demand for cobalt, and you can make an impact on this problem from afar.

She concluded: 'If you want to help, you can quit vaping, you can donate to organizations like the IRC and UNICEF, you can educate yourself and help spread the word, and you can be a more conscious consumer and hold companies accountable for where their materials come from and the impact that that has on the broader community.'

Elsewhere, other content creators have tracked their progress since quitting vaping on TikTok.

One shared a video with the writing: 'Three hours of no [smoke emoji] for Congo.

A sea of workers Shabara, one of the largest cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where hundreds of thousands of people are exposed to toxic chemicals every day while mining for the precious mineral

Children aren't spared the strains of manual labor in the 'artisanal' mines of the DRC. Above, a child carries a sack of rocks in Kapata, southwest of Kolwezi

A woman carries her infant as she mines for cobalt in the hills several kilometers northwest of the town of Kambove

Another posted a video and said: 'Day three of no vaping in solidarity with the people of the Congo.'

Individuals have also taken to X, formerly called Twitter, to share their thoughts on the debate.

One said: 'I havent had nicotine in over a year. The only thing stopping me from getting a vape is Congo. I feel hopeless for the planet. I quit nicotine because of my future potential children, but I dont see a future so whats the point  only Congo for me.'

A second added: 'Im going to try to quit vaping as solidarity for Congo, I have one elf bar rn [right now] and when this dies it could possibly be my last vape. This has been a journey.'

A third agreed and said: 'This is [going to] be hard for a lot of yall to hear but if you truly and I mean truly stand with the Congo, youd quit vaping.

Social media users have taken to X, formerly called Twitter, to explain why they have quit vaping

'Vapes are made using cobalt. That same cobalt that people and children are dying mining for you so you can vape. #FreeCongo.'

A fourth wrote: 'Love how these generations wouldn't quit vape for their health but would quit in a heartbeat for Congo.'

A fifth said: 'Just saw someone say this on TikTok but people who vape if youre not going to quit for yourself quit for the people of Congo! Vapes are partially made out of cobalt and buying a new one every few days is funding the Congo genocide. FREE CONGO.'

Another agreed and wrote: 'If you havent quit vaping for your health, quit vaping for Congo (DRC). Lithium is the main component of most vape batteries and the Congo mines (anti-humanity run, owned, and operated) produce most of the worlds electronics materials. #FreeCongo.'
But at 19, Hamna found out her parents had betrothed her to her own cousin

Growing up in Maryland, she believed her parents would 'get used to the culture'

A young woman who immigrated from Pakistan to the United States as a child broke free of an impending arranged marriage by enlisting in the military.

Hamna Zafar, 23, spent most of her young life in Maryland after her family left Pakistan when she was nine years old.

Though she'd had a strict upbringing - with little freedom to pursue extracurriculars or friendships - Hamna never really realized how traditional in their thinking that her parents remained.

'I was just expecting my family to kind of get used to the culture in the United States,' she told People.

During her first year of college, Hamna Zafar, 23, who'd grown up in Maryland, discovered that her Pakistani parents were planning to force her into an arranged marriage with her cousin

'Growing up, they never really mentioned arranged marriage.'

That assumption unfortunately made the series of events at the dawn of Hamna's young adulthood, beginning at 19 years old, all the more shocking and painful.

Since moving to the US, her family had often traveled back to Pakistan to see relatives - and Hamna thought that a vacation taking place during her freshman year of college would be no different than past trips back to their homeland.

But she discovered that not only had she been betrothed to her cousin, but she'd also be attending her own engagement party on the second day of the visit.

'I thought it was a normal family trip to Pakistan,' she explained to People.

'Then I saw the jewelry, the dresses I was stepping into my 20s, and they wanted to make sure I knew I was engaged and not laying eyes on other guys.'

What's worse, she'd grown up with the cousin and had viewed him like a brother, according to a story about Hamna's background on the US Air Force website.

Unsettlingly, the same cousin had seemed happy about the forced arrangement during their engagement celebration, further reported People, while Hamna recalled feeling like she was in a daze.

Hamna, along with her family, immigrated from Pakistan to the United States when she was just nine years old

'I thought it was a normal family trip to Pakistan,' Hamna recalled of when she'd learned that her parents had arranged a marriage for her behind her back

'I was trying to swallow that pill I was trying to comprehend what was really happening to me,' she said.

Back in the US, where she remained completely financially dependent on her parents, she began frantically texting her newfound college friends for help.

Someone's suggestion to join the military stood out - and soon enough she made it in person to a Navy recruiter's office.

'"I needed to move out or do something because if I wait, I'm going to be sent back to Pakistan to marry my cousin,"' Hamna remembered telling the recruiter.

'The recruiter said, "Okay we are starting your paperwork ASAP!"'

Not long after, the events of one harrowing evening led to the end of Hamna's life as she knew it.

She'd had to go through a requisite in-person step of the Navy recruitment process, with the recruiter personally driving her there and back to her home afterward.

But Hamna was caught by her mother sneaking into her house at 9 p.m., well past her curfew. Furious, she grabbed her daughter's phone, and discovered her secret plan to join the Navy.

'She found everything,' Hamna said in the Air Force website story.

'That night she threatened to send me back to Pakistan and tell my father everything. I knew she was being serious, and I knew that if I went back to Pakistan I would never be allowed to come back to the United States.'

Backed into a corner, Hamna phoned up her recruiter again. 'I said, "We need to do something because I'm about to be sent back to Pakistan and I won't be able to come back,"' she recalled.

That same night, she snuck out of her her family's house - never to return.

By the beginning of COVD-19, she found herself crashing in a hotel, paid for by the remainder of her college scholarship funds.

'I wondered if I had made a mistake,' she reflected. 'The pandemic was happening, I was alone, and I just kept wondering if I should go back home and marry like my family wanted. I didn't agree with it, and I didn't want to, but I felt lost.'

Meanwhile, her family remained too furious with her to entertain even a small degree of reconciliation.

The repercussions of her actions were all the more terrifying given how honor killings are historically condoned in traditional Pakistani culture.

'My cousins said awful things to me, but I know they would never actually do anything to me,' Hamna explained.

'I've heard of women getting killed from becoming a disgrace and it was seen as normal Things have changed a bit, but at the same time in Pakistan it is normal to punish women for bringing disgrace to the family.

'My own mother told me she wished I would burn in hell fire.

'My father wanted nothing to do with me and my cousin was furious I wasn't going through with the marriage. I needed support and I had none.'

But one of her college friends, Austin, ultimately proved to be her saving grace on telling his parents, Oscar Abarca and Claudia Barrera, about Hamna's situation.

Rejected by her birth family after fleeing their Maryland home, she found shelter with a college friend's family, the Barrera-Abarcas, who supported her at her Air Force graduation

Following her 2023 graduation from training, Hamna found work as an airman at Kirtland Air Force Base near Albuquerque, New Mexico

Soon, the Barrera-Abarca family reached out to Hamna and offered to take her in.

'[Claudia] took me back to their house and asked me what happened,' Hamna said.

'I told her everything about the engagement, the arranged marriage to my cousin, and then joining the Navy to get away. She told me I could live with them for as long as I want, do whatever I needed to do to get my degree, and that I didn't have to join if I wasn't ready to.'

Now with a safety net thanks to the family, Hamna elected to put off joining the military while earning her associate's degree. She also eventually decided that the Air Force would be a better fit for her than the Navy,

In 2022, Claudia, who Hamna now calls 'mom,' and Oscar dropped her off at training camp.

Standing only five-foot-two, Hamna initially found boot camp grueling, but rose to the challenge.

'You need to control your mindset, because your mind is always stronger than your body,' she told People.

A year later, her original family declined her invitation to her Air Force graduation - but the Barrera-Abarcas showed up for her.

Hamna now works as an airman at Kirtland Air Force Base near Albuquerque, New Mexico.

'She's so petite and humble, you can't help but want to protect her,' Claudia told People of her unofficially adopted daughter.

'When we dropped her off at basic training, she looked so tiny, and I started crying. [My husband] said, "She's tiny, but she's strong."'
Former senior legislator of Shanghai expelled from CPC, public office

Xinhua) 18:58, December 12, 2023

BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Dong Yunhu, a former senior legislator of Shanghai, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from public office over severe violations of Party discipline and the law.

The decision came following an investigation conducted by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision with the approval of the CPC Central Committee, according to an official statement released on Tuesday.

Dong was the former secretary of the leading Party members' group of the Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress and former chairman of the committee.

The investigation found that Dong had lost his ideals and beliefs and deviated from the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee by trading the memberships of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, leaving negative political impacts.

Disloyal and dishonest to the Party, Dong had resisted investigation, carried out superstitious activities, and accepted money and gifts against regulations and banquet invitations that might affect the fairness of his performance of public duties, according to an official statement.

He went against the rules to aid others in job promotions, was engaged in power-sex and power-money trades, meddled in judicial activities, and took advantage of his positions to benefit others in loans, land sales, and business operations. He also accepted large amounts of money and property in return, the statement said.

In line with Party regulations and laws, a decision was made to expel him from the Party and dismiss him from public office, confiscate his illicit gains, and hand over his case for judicial proceedings, said the statement.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chaolan)
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She recalled the unbearable pain she experienced from the fire

After their family home went up in flames, Erika rushed in to save Lena

A mom who ran through fire to save her baby when their house went up in flames has recounted the 'excruciating' pain she felt while recovering from various third-degree burns as a result of her heroic actions.

Erika Sparks, 40, and daughter Lena, now two, from Virginia, suffered second and third-degree burns to both their face and body after their house blew up two years ago.

When the mother-of-four's home caught on fire on Christmas Day and her then-11-month-old was trapped among the flames, without even hesitating, Erika sprinted into the flames and grabbed her baby - putting her under her shirt to protect her from the blaze.

The mother and daughter have both now recovered and Erika is ready speak about the 'traumatizing' event - in hopes of warning others of the dangers of house fires and show other burn victims that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Erika Sparks, 40, and daughter Lena, now two, from Virginia, suffered second and third-degree burns to both their face and body after their house blew up two years ago (seen before the fire)

She has recounted the 'excruciating' pain she felt while recovering from various third-degree burns as a result of her heroic actions (seen after the fire)

When the mother-of-four's home caught on fire on Christmas Day and her then-11-month-old was trapped among the flames, Erika sprinted inside (the damage is shown)

She said: 'To this day, we still don't know what caused the fire. We are all so traumatized, but I'm just so grateful that we escaped the blaze alive.

'The fact that Lena and I survived is a miracle.'

On Christmas Day 2021, Erika was enjoying the festivities with husband Robert, 37; grandad Franco, 81; and children Mariah, 19; Isabella, 14; Robert Jr., 10; and baby Lena, then 11 months.

The mom-of-four noted that she remembered the day vividly because it was Lena's first Christmas.

And while the day began 'perfectly', it quickly took a horrible turn.

'It was Lena's first Christmas, so it was extra special. We woke up early to open presents and the children played with them all morning. It was perfect,' she said before detailing the catastrophe that took place.

About 2pm, Erika put Lena down for a nap in her crib, which was on the bottom floor of their three-story town house in New York.

The mother and daughter have both now recovered and Erika is ready speak about the 'traumatizing' event (Erika and her family shown before the fire)

The mom-of-four noted that she remembers the day vividly because it was Lena's first Christmas (the damage of the fire shown)

About 2pm, Erika put Lena down for a nap in her crib, which was on the bottom floor of their three-story town house in New York (Lena pictured after the fire)

After putting her to sleep, Erika went back to the second floor, where she started prepping the Christmas dinner with her husband.

However, just half an hour later, the fire alarm began going off.

The fire system they had in place in their home told them exactly where the flames were located.

After she heard 'fire downstairs, fire downstairs,' she knew she had to save Lena.

'When I opened the door, black smoke hit me. I held my breath and sprinted down the stairs. When I reached the bottom, I saw 6ft flames outside Lena's bedroom door,' she recalled of the terrifying moment.

'The heat was unbearable. But I had to save my baby. I ran through the flames and picked Lena up out of her crib. She looked terrified.

'I covered her under my T-shirt and ran back through the fire and outside.

After she heard 'fire downstairs, fire downstairs,' she knew she had to save Lena (seen with her father after the fire)

After escaping the fire with Lena, Erika's grandad rushed them to Westchester Medical Centre in New York (Erika and her family seen after the fire)

Lena was monitored for a week before she was discharged from the hospital, while Erika continued to receive treatment (the damage of the fire seen)

After escaping the fire with Lena, Erika's grandad rushed them to Westchester Medical Center in New York.

As soon as they arrived, Erika was put into a coma and on a ventilator.

She had second and third-degree burns to her face, hair, arms, stomach and back.

Meanwhile, Lena was treated for second and third-degree burns to her face, nose, cheeks, hands and feet.

Erika recalled her shock at seeing herself for the first time after being treated.

'I woke up four days later and couldn't believe what I looked like. I was wrapped up in bandages and looked like a mummy,' she explained.

'But all I cared about was Lena. Robert had left a note next to my bed, saying he was with Lena and that she was ok. I was so relieved.'

Luckily, neither Lena or Erika needed surgery.

Lena was monitored for a week before she was discharged from the hospital, while Erika continued to receive treatment.

While there, doctors performed regular dressing changes and frequently scrubbed her wounds.

Luckily, neither Lena or Erika needed surgery (Erika and her family seen after the fire)

While there, doctors performed regular dressing changes and frequently scrubbed her wounds (Erika seen after the fire)

Although the pain was unbearable, the mom-of-four tried to focus on the fact that they were able to survive the fire.

She said: 'The pain was excruciating. But I tried to focus on how lucky we'd been to escape the fire. When I saw Lena for the first time since being hospitalized, I broke down.

'Seeing the burns on her face and her body wrapped in bandages was heart breaking.'

After spending over two weeks in ICU, Erika was discharged and reunited with her family.

However, the damage from the fire left them homeless, so the family spent three weeks living in a hotel room before moving into a rented property.

And the devastation of the fire still haunts the mom-of-four - who revealed that firefighters never found a cause of the fire.

She added: 'All of my kids were born in that house. It was incredibly hard to let it go.

'Fire officers couldn't find a cause of the fire, which was so upsetting as we wanted answers.'

Now, two years after the traumatic day, Erika still suffers the effects of her burns and has reduced movement in her hands.

Although the pain was unbearable, the mom-of-four tried to focus on the fact that they were able to survive the fire (her family seen)

Erika and her family have since moved to Virginia in hopes of focusing on making new and happy memories (Lena shown after the fire)

She explained: 'I'm still in horrible pain from my burns. I have to make sure that Lena and I are well protected when we are in sunlight.

'We are also super cautious when using electrical appliances.'

Luckily, Lena was only left with one small scar on her foot.

Erika and her family have since moved to Virginia in hopes of focusing on making new and happy memories.

'My family and I have moved to Virginia to start a new life. The most important thing for me is that we are happy, healthy and together. For that, I am so grateful,' she said.
Controversial YouTube star Shane Dawson and husband Ryland Adams have welcomed twin boys via surrogate.

The couple took to Instagram to announce the birth of their sons - Jet Parker Adams Yaw and Max Chandler Adams Yaw - who were born on December 7.

Shane, 35 - who was 'canceled' after old videos of him making pedophilia jokes and dressed in blackface resurfaced - and Ryland, 32, wrote: 'The best day of our entire lives and nothing else will ever compare.'

The pair had been giving followers regular updates on their journey to parenthood, including flaunting their designer baby clothing haul, but have now said that they 'won't be showing much of [their kids] in the future.'

Controversial YouTube star Shane Dawson and husband Ryland Adams have welcomed twin boys via surrogate

The couple took to Instagram to announce the birth of their sons - Jet Parker Adams Yaw and Max Chandler Adams Yaw - who were born on December 7

Shane, 35, and Ryland, 32, wrote: 'The best day of our entire lives and nothing else will ever compare'

The pair had been giving followers regular updates on their journey to parenthood but have now said that they 'won't be showing much of [their kids] in the future'

In the joint post, which was shared on Sunday, the couple who tied the knot in January wrote: 'There's no words to express how it feels to be the fathers of these two beautiful boys.

'The best day of our entire lives and nothing else will ever compare.

'We probably won't be showing much of them in the future but because many of you have been on the journey with us we felt it was right to show the destination. We are so unbelievably grateful.

'Thank you for the love and support during this entire process.

'We can't wait for all the moments that are on the way. Cherishing every single one.'

In the accompanying snapshots, both fathers were shown cradling the newborns and giving them feeds in the hospital before taking them home in their baby carriers.

The couple, who moved from Los Angeles to Colorado in 2021, confirmed they were expecting twin boys via surrogate earlier this year.

In the now viral video, the lovebirds explained that although they had initially hoped to have one boy and one girl, based on the advice of their doctor, they had decided to have two twin boys instead.

In the joint post, which was shared on Sunday, the couple who tied the knot in January wrote: 'There's no words to express how it feels to be the fathers of these two beautiful boys'

In the accompanying snapshots, both fathers were shown cradling the newborns and giving them feeds in the hospital before taking them home in their baby carriers

The new fathers said: 'We can't wait for all the moments that are on the way. Cherishing every single one'

When babies are born through IVF, which is the process their surrogate is using, fertility doctors are able to identify XX or XY chromosomes in the embryo, making the gender selection nearly 100 per cent accurate, so parents can chose the gender of their child, according to the Pacific Fertility Center of Los Angeles.

Ryland said: 'We went into this thinking we were going to do a girl of mine and a boy of Shane's, and when [the doctor] was going through, he was like "well the most optimal for pregnancy on both of your ends are boys."'

After confirming with their surrogate, whom they didn't reveal the name of, that she was okay with carrying twins, the couple gave the go-ahead to their doctor.

Later in the clip, Shane and Ryland showcased the many designer baby clothes and accessories they had splurged on.

The items purchased included a Ralph Lauren Onesie ($75), Burberry Shoes ($190), a Burberry Bib ($80), Golden Goose Sneakers ($300), multiple custom-made blankets, and another Ralph Lauren Baby Onesie ($20).

Shane and Ryland previously showcased the many baby clothes and accessories they had splurged on

The items purchased included a Ralph Lauren Onesie ($75), Burberry Shoes ($190), a Burberry Bib ($80), and multiple custom-made blankets

The couple also took viewers to their beauty room to reveal that they would be transforming it into a nursery.

'So we decided that this beauty room would be transformed into the nursery to start because it's just like centrally located, it can be really dark with that black-out blind, but it's also bright if we want to have people over to visit the babies,' Ryland explained.

They added that when the boys got older they wanted them to share a room so they could create a closer bond.

Shane was once a beloved face of the video-sharing platform, but in June 2020, the internet turned against him when clips of him dressing in blackface, and making inappropriate jokes resurfaced.

Following the circulation of the clips, Shane shared an apology video on YouTube and disappeared from the web until the following year.

And while many social media users still have mixed feelings about his recent return to YouTube, many of them have congratulated him and Ryland on their baby news.
Luke Flunder is a British wine expert and shared his opinions on Aussie wines

A wine expert who has tried over 600 Australian drops has revealed his top blends, the best bottles to pair with Christmas food, and one mistake novices always make at tastings.

Luke Flunder, from Suffolk, first got into the business when he travelled the world after school and visited hundreds of wineries.

The 37-year-old is now a seasoned professional - and Aussie wines are among his favourite blends.

'The great thing about Australian wines is that they're very diverse and have so many options for a wine drinker to go between,' he told FEMAIL.

He also said that Australian wines are more 'attainable' while still being top quality - as some European wines can be too expensive.

Luke Flunder [pictured], from Suffolk, first got into the wine business when he travelled around the world after school and visited hundreds of wineries

The expert revealed that Australian Shiraz that has been aged for 20 years is 'one of the best options' because of its exceptional taste and and budget price - with bottles starting from just $25.

Mr Flunder's top wines everyone needs to try are Clare Valley Riesling from Knappstein Wines ($22), Margaret River Semillon ($23.99 from Fraser Gallop Estate) and Cabernet Sauvignon ($22.99 from Once & Well).

The wine merchant also enjoys Tasmanian Pinot Noir ($34 from Drew Valley), and Barossa Valley Shiraz ($23.99).

'I always avoid budget Australian Chardonnays,' he said. 'They're non-distinctive and don't offer much - there's no point of difference.'

Mr Flunder previously shared his opinions on Yellow Tail Shiraz - dividing Australians.

What wines can I pair with my Christmas meals? A wine experts top Christmas wines: Dry Riesling

Sparkling Tasmanian blends

Rhone wines from The Barossa Valley and MacLaren Vale What will taste the best with my Christmas lunch? Light fish meals: Sauvignon Blanc Seafood with creamy sauces: Oak Chardonnay from South Australia Ham: Pinot Noir Turkey: Pinot Noir or Grenache Beef wellington: Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz Advertisement

The wine expert's recommendations for Christmas in the summer include focusing on dry Rieslings, sparkling Tasmanian wines, and the new 'experimental' varieties such as Rhone wines produced in The Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale - with prices of the latter ranging from $25 to $230.

'You need to make sure you're pairing light wine with light food, and flavourful wines wines with heavy dishes,' Mr Flunder advised. 'The food should complement the tastes of the wine.'

He recommended pairing fish dishes with a Sauvignon Blanc or a clean Riesling - but creamy fish meals work best with Oak Chardonnays from South Australia.

'If you're serving ham or turkey, you need something with a little bit of a body - like Pinot Noir or Grenache.

'Similarly, Cabernet Sauvignon blends pair really well with beef wellington.'

Mr Flunder's top wines everyone needs to try are Clare Valley Riesling, Margaret River Semillon and Cabernet Sauvignon, Tasmanian Pinot Noir, and Barossa Valley Shiraz

The online wine merchant shared that he 'always' splashes out on a Pinot Noir and never regrets his decision to go the extra mile.

'You can really tell where it comes from,' he said. 'You can taste the quality and difference between countries and styles.'

'There's a thread running through the Australian reds - you know they'll be the full expression of the grape because of the sunshine and heat.'

Mr Flunder's favourite Pinot Noirs from Down Under are blends from Felton Road ($85) in Central Otago, New Zealand, and Burn Cottage ($107).

When it comes to wine tasting, the top mistake people always make is taking everything 'too seriously'.

'People overcomplicate wine, you just need to trust your instinct,' he said.

'The main things you need to look out for are: how many aromas you can detect, if there's something that sticks out and throws off the balance, and the complexity of the drink.

'It's easy to tell if a wine is good or not - does it take you on a journey or fall off the edge of a cliff?'
A first edition hardback copy of a Harry Potter book has sold for a whopping 55,000, after being bought for just a tenner in 1997.

A copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was spotted in a bargain bucket in the Scottish Highlands by a 58-year-old local woman 26 years ago, and was auctioned by Hansons on December 11 this year.

The book came without a dust jacket so was initially sold to the woman for a reduced price of 10. It ended up on a remote Scottish peninsula

She let it sit in a cupboard under the stairs for years, just like the titular character of the novel but it remained in pristine condition, unlike other originals which often decayed in children's rucksacks.

The forgotten treasure finally went under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers, where it was sold to a private UK online buyer.

Pictured left is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and its blurb on the right. Hansons book expert Jim Spencer is centred, holding up the prized copy

The elated seller found out about the fantasy series after reading one of J K Rowling's first interviews in national newspaper The Scotsman, in the late 1990s.

The recently retired third sector manager explained that she bought the book with minimal knowledge of the series, before it became a bestseller and worldwide hit.

She said: 'I bought the Harry Potter book before anyone really knew much about it, or the author. I found it during a family caravan trip touring round the highlands of Scotland.

'I discovered a bookshop cafe on an isolated peninsula after driving miles on a single-track road in the north-west of Scotland.

'I recognised the distinctive book cover straight away. The book seller had placed it in a wicker "bargain bucket" basket on the floor.

Because it had no dust jacket, I got a couple of pounds knocked off the price. Our two children enjoyed the wizard tale as a bedtime story all through that holiday in 1997.'

Hansons Auctioneers claim that the first book in the series is the rarest and most valuable - essentially gold dust for collectors.

Resident book expert Jim Spencer said: 'It's a great result for a great find. This was a genuine, honest first issue and a fantastically well-preserved example. It was fresh to market and it deserved to go full steam like the Hogwarts Express.

Harry Potter first edition for 10 bargain bucket buy and sells for astonishing sum

The book was bought for a discounter price in the Scottish Highlands as it came without a dust jacket

'Of the 500 first issue hardbacks printed, 300 went to schools and libraries in order to reach a bigger audience. This is one of the even scarcer 200 that went to bookshops'.

Jim explained that the copies are becoming increasingly difficult to locate, and that the seller's must be 'one of the few remaining copies that's been in private hands since it was purchased in 1997'.

The bookseller finds many first editions of the book are badly worn, particularly when they are ex-library copies but noted that this version was in great condition.

He finished: 'It's astonishing it ended up on a remote Scottish peninsula, and it was all down to an article in The Scotsman  and perhaps a dusting of magic  that encouraged the inquisitive and very lucky buyer to pluck it from the bargain bin'.
Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander welcomed South Korea's President and First Lady to the Netherlands on Tuesday.

The Dutch royal, 51, wowed in a chic royal blue coat as she stepped out for the welcoming ceremony of Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee on Dam Square in Amsterdam.

The ceremony marked the first day of the five-day state visit of the Republic of Korea to the Netherlands.

Maxima wrapped up warm as she added a navy scarf and matching fascinator to her sophisticated ensemble.

She added height to her frame in stilettos and accessorised with leather gloves and a velvet clutch bag.

Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander welcomed South Korea 's President and First Lady to the Netherlands on Tuesday

Mrs Kim looked equally as stylish in a long green coat which she paired with a navy scarf and tights.

King Willem-Alexander and Mr Yoon watched the guard of honor, and the Royal Netherlands Navy's marine band played the two countries' anthems.

The presidential couple are scheduled to lay a wreath at a national monument in Dam Square dedicated to World War II victims.

Later the Dutch royals will hold a private luncheon with their guests and they will attend a state dinner at the Royal Palace this evening.

On Monday, the Korean presidential jet arrived in the Netherlands and the couple received a red carpet welcome at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, greeted by a Dutch honor guard.

Yoon's trip comes upon the invitation of King Willem-Alexander, making this the first state visit to the Netherlands by a Korean president since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1961.

Yoon's visit comes after King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed them to Britain last month.

The royals staged a glittering state banquet in their honour at Buckingham Palace for their first state visit since the King's coronation and the second of his reign.

The Dutch royal, 51, wowed in a chic royal blue coat as she stepped out for the welcoming ceremony of Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee (left) on Dam Square in Amsterdam

Maxima wrapped up warm as she added a navy scarf and matching fascinator to her sophisticated ensemble

Mrs Kim looked equally as stylish in a long green coat which she paired with a navy scarf and tights

King Willem-Alexander (right) and Mr Yoon (left) watched the guard of honor, and the Royal Netherlands Navy's marine band played the two countries' anthems

The opulent ceremony marked the first day of the five-day state visit of the Republic of Korea to the Netherlands

Prince William and Kate Middleton also played a key role by greeting the President and the First Lady at their London hotel.

The Prince and Princess of Wales travelled with Mr Yoon and Mrs Kim to a Horse Guards Parade ceremonial welcome, where the King and Queen were waiting.

Following the event, they travelled to Buckingham Palace to view a special exhibition of items from the Royal Collection relating to South Korea in the Picture Gallery.

Charles and Camilla took their place standing on the royal pavilion around midday and briefly greeted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron, Home Secretary James Cleverly and the Defence Chiefs of Staff.

Queen Camilla and King Charles pose with the President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, during a formal farewell at Buckingham Palace last month

A guard of honour, formed by F Company Scots Guards, gave a royal salute amid traditional pomp and pageantry - and the King and Mr Yoon inspected the troops.

Members of the Scots Guards were recently deployed to South Korea where they were training troops. Mr Yoon walked past the two ranks of Guardsman casting his eye over the servicemen before returning to the royal pavilion with the King.

Weeks of preparation had gone into the official ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards Parade with more than 1,000 soldiers and 230 horses gathered for the occasion. In all seven military bands and nine military units were involved.

Lines of Foot Guards from F Company Scots Guards and the dazzling Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals stood to attention.
Prince Harry could become King of England in 2024 according to the writings of history's most notorious seer - the 16th century French astrologer Nostradamus.

His infamous work Les Propheties (The Prophecies), published in 1555, predicts the future across 942 quatrains - poetic verses.

Some attribute this text with predicting 9/11, the rise of Adolf Hitler and the development of Artificial Intelligence.

Described as the 'Prophet of Doom', the apothecary was inspired by biblical texts and his own experiences of plague, with predictions often focusing on famine and sorrow.

Find out what we have in store for 2024 according to Nostradamus below.

The world is facing dangerous conflict and a new King in 2024 - at least according to the predictions of 16th century astrologer Nostradamus (pictured)

Joe Biden and Xi Jinping met last month in an attempt to thaw tensions between their countries, but Nostradamus predicted conflict with a 'Red adversary'

What did Nostradamus predict for 2024?

Confrontation with China

Joe Biden tried to thaw relations with China when he and Xi Jinping met in November 2023 to discuss Taiwan, fentanyl and climate change.

However, Nostradamus' predictions suggest it could have all been in vain.

In a verse which begins by describing 'combat and naval battle', he writes of how a 'Red adversary will become pale with fear, putting the great Ocean in dread.'

The 'Red adversary' could refer to China, given the colour of their flag, and the references to naval conflict are eerie in light of escalating discussion about the state of Taiwan - with the island located at the junction of the East and South China Seas.

And this is certainly a conflict to avoid if China is the adversary in question, with Beijing boasting the largest navy on the planet.

The famous seer also predicted the 'King of the Isles' being 'driven out by force' to be replaced by 'one who will have no mark of a king', which author Mario Reading interpreted as Prince Harry replacing King Charles on the throne

Royal turmoil

British author and Nostradamus commentator Mario Reading has spoken previously of how the French astrologer - whose full name was Michel de Nostredame - perhaps foresaw the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

And the seer could be in for another royal reckoning, with one of his predictions talking of the 'King of the Isles', who has had a controversial divorce being 'driven out by force'.

He is then replaced by 'one who will have no mark of a king'.

In Reading's analysis, this points to King Charles III abdicating due to 'persistent attacks on both himself and his second wife', and Harry replacing him, rather than William or any of his children, as the man who has 'no mark of a king'.

Nostradamus predicts in one of his quatrains that 'dry earth will grow more parched', with wildfires already massively increasing in the last year

Climate Catastrophe

With 2024 coming in off the back of the COP28 summit, this prediction from Nostradamus could ride on December's events in Dubai which are expected to break records for carbon emissions - not a great sign.

Climate chaos has already begun with cases of wildfires, flooding and drought increasing around the globe in recent years, especially in 2023.

But what's interesting is how he seems to have foreseen these apocalyptic events, all those centuries ago.

He predicts: 'The dry earth will grow more parched, and there will be great floods when it is seen.'

Elsewhere, he warns of storms leading to starvation. 'Very great famine through pestiferous wave,' he wrote.

Pope Francis, currently in his mid-80s and having suffered health problems in recent times, could be moving on

A new Pope

The King is not the only major figure in line for replacement according to Les Propheties.

Pope Francis, currently in his mid-80s and having suffered health problems in recent times, could be moving on.

One passage reads: 'Through the death of a very old Pontiff, A Roman of good age will be elected, Of him it will be said that he weakens his see, But long will he sit and in biting activity.'

What did Nostradamus get right about 2023?

One of Nostradamus' passages could be applied to Russia's war in Ukraine, which has caused the price of wheat to skyrocket. Pictured: A rocket landed in a wheat field in March 2023 in Mykolaiv, Ukraine

One of the prophesies which could be applied both to 2022 and 2023 relates to the increasing cost of living since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

'So high will the bushel of wheat rise,' Nostradamus wrote, 'That man will be eating his fellow man.'

Since February 2022, wheat prices rose to even higher levels than those seen after the financial crash in the late 2000s, and it is only just beginning to fall back to pre-war levels now.

And while cannibalism has not taken hold, a metaphorical interpretation could liken this to the bloodshed of the very same war.
Home Alone is considered to be the most popular Christmas movie of all time - but many viewers are unaware of the behind-the-scene truths.

US-based content creator Talk2Pops took to TikTok to lay bare a series of revelations about the iconic 1990 family favorite.

He explained how the snow was actually made from potato flakes as well as detailing how all the stunts were real.

And other social media users were left shocked by the claims.

Home Alone is considered to be the most popular Christmas movie of all time - but many viewers are unaware of the behind-the-scene truths

In the clip, which has so far been viewed more than 102,000 times, content creator Talk2Pops begins: 'Did y'all know most of the snow at Home Alone was actually mashed potatoes?'

In the clip, which has so far been viewed more than 102,000 times, the social media star launches straight into the revelations: 'Wait, but did y'all know most of the snow at Home Alone was actually mashed potatoes?'

Cutting to footage from the time, the narration continues: 'There was no snow on the ground, so what they did was they had rolls of white material and potato flakes to imitate falling snow for Mrs McCallister, who finally makes it home during a blizzard.'

Talk2Pops, who has garnered more than 313,200 follows on the video-sharing platform, adds: 'Also, the actor who plays Cousin Fuller is actually Macaulay Culkin's younger brother, Kieran.

'But, y'all, what really got me was that all these years, I thought this was a real movie that he was watching,' he says in reference to the black-and-white flick that Kevin plays when home alone which includes the iconic line: 'Keep the change, you filthy animal.'

He explains: 'Turns out they only shot it for the movie.'

Dishing more revelations, the content creator shares: 'The house is actually located in Winnetka, Illinois.

'Most of the film wasn't even shot inside the house. They built an entire set at a local high school.

'And not to mention, it was the same school that Ferris Bueller's Day Off was shot at.'

But Talk2Pops was not finished there, adding: 'Most of the stunts in the movie were actually real'

Talk2Pops, who has garnered more than 313,200 follows on the video-sharing platform, adds: 'Also, the actor who plays Cousin Fuller is actually Macaulay Culkin's younger brother, Kieran'

'But, y'all, what really got me was that all these years, I thought this was a real movie that he was watching,' he says in reference to the black-and-white flick that Kevin watches

But Talk2Pops was not finished there, adding: 'Most of the stunts in the movie were actually real.'

Cutting to an interview with one of the stunt doubles, he said: 'I did the first stair fall.

'No one told me how to take the fall. I just launched myself as high and far as I could.'

And another added: 'It was not funny at all. It was terrifying.'

Executive producer Scott Rosenfelt said: 'Those falls were very difficult. Falling on the tacks and the paint cans swinging and everything.

'And if it doesn't work, you gotta do it again. And they got nicked a lot of times.'

Freddie Hice, the stunt coordinator on the film, added: 'One of my favorite stunts in the movie is when the two burglars come in right below the main staircase and they both do this upside down falling.

'No pads, no wires, no matrix c**p. It was just real.'

And viewers flooded to the comment section as one wrote: 'Now this is the stuff I love to know about movies'

Last, but not least, the clip reveals how the famous scene where Kevin lets out a scream after applying aftershave for the first time was improvised.

It explains: 'He was supposed to [slap his face] and then pause and scream.

'But he kept his hands there just cause it was such a little kid thing to do.

'[Culkin] created this iconic moment by putting his hands there and keeping them there.'

And viewers flooded to the comment section as one wrote: 'Now this is the stuff I love to know about movies.'

Another joked: 'My favorite things about movies the FACTS.'

And a third simply said: 'Learn something new every day.'
The Prince of Wales made a surprise appearance at the Christmas party of a charity that means an awful lot to him this year.

William, 41, popped down to The Passage, a homeless charity in London which he first visited with his mother Princess Diana in the 1990s, to take part in the charity's Christmas meal.

In a heartwarming video posted on Twitter, the royal father-of-three, dressed in a festive green jumper, puts on his apron and gets stuck in with preparing food in the kitchen - sprouts and all.

He also sticks around to serve turkey and all the trimmings to people who have come to The Passage, of which he is patron, to enjoy their Christmas dinner, before joining them while they eat.

William's surprise visit to the London-based charity comes as he vows to ramp up his work in ending homelessness across the UK - something he has promised this year.

Prince William, 41, visited homelessness charity The Passage, based in London, to join staff and people who use the charity's services for Christmas dinner

It also comes after Kensington Palace released another slick video of his wife, Kate, 41, and children George, 10, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five, joining another charity ahead of Christmas, as they helped out at a baby bank in Windsor.

Earlier this year the Prince of Wales announced a 3 million fund to tackle homelessness in the UK - with the ambitious plan to bring it to an 'end' within five years.

Through his Royal Foundations charitable arm, he is funding six projects in flagship locations around the country.

During his visit, the Prince of Wales donned an apron and chatted to kitchen staff as he helped them prepare

The Prince of Wales posed for photos with guests at The Passage - including one who was wearing a very festive jumper

The royal shared a joke with one of the guests at the Christmas parrt while he dug into a pudding

Prince William greeted guests at the lunch with warmth as he spent the day with them

Father-of-three William appeared deep in conversation with one of the guests at the Christmas meal

Prince of hugs! As William served up pudding, one guest at the dinner couldn't resist a hug with the royal

Royal father-of-three William sat down to eat with people at the charity after he had spent time preparing the meal

The Prince of Wales appeared to share a joke with one gentleman who had been invited to the Christmas party

Wheres your hat, William? As dinner guests donned their festive paper hats from Christmas crackers, the royal shook hands with them

Yes chef! Prince William chatted to chefs in the kitchen at The Passage as he took instructions on what to do

The Prince of Wales looked festive in a green jumper paired with his apron

They will bring together local stakeholders, experts and even house builders to eradicate rough sleeping, sofa surfing and temporary hostels and bring about substantive change.

As a member of the Royal Family, William acknowledges his critics may question why someone from such a privileged background believes they can solve such a widespread issue.

Figures suggest more than 300,000 people  nearly half of whom are children  are homeless, whether living on the streets, in cars, or hostels and other types of temporary accommodation.

The royal's first visit to The Passage was when he was 11 years old; and he visited a shelter run by the charity with Princess Diana and Prince Harry.

He has been involved with several organisations working in the field ever since, including Centrepoint and The Big Issue. Now the 41-year-old heir to the throne believes he can use his unique convening power as a member of the Royal Family to bring together coalitions of individuals, organisations and businesses to work together based on specific local needs.

The programme, run by his Royal Foundation, will be known as Homewards.

Launching the ambitious plan in June, he said: In a modern and progressive society, everyone should have a safe and secure home, be treated with dignity and given the support they need. Through Homewards, I want to make this a reality and over the next five years, give people across the UK hope that homelessness can be prevented when we collaborate.

Its a big task, but I firmly believe that by working together it is possible to make homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated.

Last week, William was spotted out and about once again selling copies of The Big Issue as he spent the afternoon in a London supermarket with a seller of the magazine Dave Martin, 61.

His visit to Tesco with Dave followed a similar trip out with the Big Issue vendor back in 2022 to mark the future King's 40th birthday.

On that occasion, William sold 32 copies of the Big Issue in less than an hour as he spent the day on the streets of Victoria, London.

He also wrote for the magazine, explaining he wanted to shine a light on the issue of homelessness, recalling when he first visited a homeless shelter with his mother, the Princess of Wales. He added that Diana, 'in her own inimitable style, was determined to shine a light on an overlooked, misunderstood problem'.

He even said he plans to take his children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, to see the work of 'fantastic' organisations he works with 'just as my mother did for me'.
A mother has lifted the lid on the staggering prices at Disney World after she had to fork out a whopping $70 for a bowl of cereal for her daughter.

Autumn Scott took to TikTok to showcase the hefty costs at the Cinderella's Royal Table resort restaurant in Orlando, Florida.

She filmed travel companion Kaitlin LeBeouf, from Louisiana, who was left baffled by the pricing.

The mom-of-two had paid a standard fee of $69 per person for the breakfast buffet menu - however her daughter only chose to enjoy a single bowl of cereal, meaning that the simple dish cost her mom nearly $70.

Kaitlin LeBeouf, from Louisiana, was left stunned by the pricing at the Cinderella's Royal Table resort restaurant in Orlando, Florida

The mom-of-two paid a large standard fee per person for the breakfast menu - however her daughter only wanted a bowl of cereal, meaning the dish cost $70

The description of the setting reads: 'Cinderella makes your acquaintance in the majestic Grand Hall before you ascend a spiral staircase to the banquet room above'

In the clip, which has been viewed more than 1.3 million times, Autumn films Kaitlin and her daughter at the breakfast table.

Both are sporting Minnie Mouse headbands and look to be in good spirits against the stunning castle backdrop.

But Autumn calls out: 'Kaitlin, tell me what your kid got for $70.'

Kaitlin then turns to her daughter who reluctantly holds up her bowl of cereal to the camera.

The duo brand it as 'Cinderella cereal' before Kaitlin concludes: 'It's even better in Disney.'

Other social media fans were left stunned by the revelation as one wrote: 'This is exactly why I'm waiting until my kids are at an age where they can legit appreciate the vacation.'

Another quipped: 'Nope. We've got cereal at home.'

And a third simply joked: 'Happiest place on earth....'

Other social media fans were left stunned by the revelation as one wrote: 'This is exactly why I'm waiting until my kids are at an age where they can legit appreciate the vacation'

The official website for Cinderella's Royal Table states that the breakfast pricing is $42 per child (aged three to nine) and $69 per adult - plus tax and gratuity.

Kaitlin did not disclose the age of her daughter.

The price is for an inclusive buffet with other items listed on the kids menu including a Mickey-shaped waffle, egg white frittata or fruit and seed oatmeal mix.

The description of the setting reads: 'Cinderella makes your acquaintance in the majestic Grand Hall before you ascend a spiral staircase to the banquet room above.

'Then, dine in a storybook setting surrounded by soaring stone archways, majestic medieval flags and spectacular stained-glass windows overlooking Fantasyland.'
King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain have released a new family portrait for their 2023 Christmas card.

The royal couple put on a united front as they beam alongside their daughters, Infanta Sofia, 16, and Princess Leonor, 18 - amid shocking allegations made by Letizia's brother-in-law stating they had an affair.

Yet, in the newly unveiled photograph, captured on Princess Leonor's 18th birthday in October, the Spanish family of four appears stronger than ever.

Queen Letizia, 51, exudes elegance in a Carolina Herrera dress, which she debuted a year earlier, accessorised with Bulgari earrings and a Coreterno ring.

The mother-of-two showcases glamorous make-up, incorporating a smoky eye and nude lip, while her hair is swept back into a chignon.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain have released a family portrait for their 2023 Christmas card

Hailing from the Fall 2013 collection, the royal's cobalt blue dress features a keyhole neck with embellished detailing, as well as a cinched waist and godet skirt.

Meanwhile, Princess Leonor is glowing in a chic Sastreria Serna suit, teamed with Lodi pumps and Gold & Roses diamond earrings.

Her younger sibling Infanta Sofia blossoms in a floral silk Erdem dress with LMDI Collection ballerina shoes, while her father King Felipe looks smart in a traditional morning suit.

The momentous day was marked with a number of institutional events for Princess Leonor, who is heir to the Spanish throne. She was first joined by her parents and sister as she swore her allegiance to the Constitution in front of the Cortes Generales.

The release comes amid an eventful month for the Spanish royal family, as Queen Letizia has faced explosive claims that she was dating the ex-husband of her sister, Telma Ortiz, while involved with King Felipe VI.

Letizia, 51, wore the same Carolina Herrera dress on Princess Leonor's 18th birthday in October

Queen Letizia beamed as she stood with her family and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on 31 October

Ortiz's former husband Jaime Del Burgo, 53, currently based in the UK, recently contributed to a tell-all book about the 51-year-old Spanish royal, in which he makes the far-fetched claim that he and Letizia were still romantically involved after her 2004 wedding to Felipe.

The entrepreneur - who claims he was dating Letizia when she first met the heir to the Spanish throne - also shared a selfie the Queen took in a mirror during one of her pregnancies as 'evidence' of their relationship on X, formerly known as Twitter, last night.

In the selfie, the royal can be seen wearing a black pashmina - which Jaime claims belonged to him - and he also typed out a message, supposedly sent to him by the Spanish Queen.

It read: 'Love. I wear your pashmina. It's like feeling you by my side. It takes care of me.

After sharing the image, other X users questioned the validity of Jaime's claims - given there is no evidence that Letizia sent him the photo or accompanying message. The businessman has since deleted his X account.

A spokesperson for the Spanish royals told FEMAIL: 'We have no comment to make about this.'
MANZINI  In a disturbing trend, a total of at least E250 000 worth of stokvel money has been reported stolen between November and December.

The latest incident happened at Dvokolwako, where thieves supposedly broke into a home and stole over E80 000 of stokvel money. This happened last Friday. Police are still investigating cases and some suspects have been requested to assist them relating to the stolen money. eanwhile, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed two cases at the moment.

Confirm

Thieves broke into a home and stole money amounting to over E80 000. We can confirm that we are closely following some people linked to the theft and the police are making a breakthrough, the police spokesperson revealed. She further confirmed that another case was reported at KaPhunga, where approximately E40 000 was also stolen, belonging to a stokvel, last week. On Friday, this publication reported about one Bongani Tsela, a treasurer of a stokvel, who was charged after purportedly lying to the police that he was robbed of money amounting to E48 000 belonging to the society. Tsela, a 42-year-old of Vusweni under Chief Senzangakhona, allegedly committed the offence at Mncitsini. It was reported that the accused allegedly came up with tricks on how he would purportedly deceive the stokvel members as they were expected to distribute the money they had been saving since January among themselves.

Suspect

The suspect was said to have come up with a trick of supposedly injuring himself, to create the impression that he was injured by people. It has also been gathered that the police took him to hospital for a medical check-up. After he was discharged from the hospital, the accused person is said to have reported the robbery claims at the Mbabane Police Post. The police are said to have had some suspicions as to why the money went missing at this time of the year. The source said they could not arrest him after reporting the matter. The accused person later came and narrated how he used the stokvel money for his personal gain. He then handed himself over to the police, the source further alleged.

When appearing before Senior Magistrate Sifiso Vilakati last week, his right to legal representation was explained to him and he elected to conduct his own defence. The accused person was then remanded in custody until December 15, 2023, pending trial on January 15, 2023. The Crown did not oppose his bail application. The accused person also went further to tie both his hands and feet. We dont know how he came up with such a plan. As if that was not enough, Tsela was found with socks stuffed inside his mouth, while also covered in a blanket. He then put the money bag next to the door, which was left wide open,

According to sources close to the matter, Tsela is believed to have used the money for his personal gain. It has been gathered from the sources that Tselas first trick of trying to come out innocent in the matter was making attempts to injure himself, so that it looked as if he had been attacked by certain people, who later walked away with the stokvel money.

The source further alleged that members of the stokvel were not aware that their treasurer allegedly misappropriated all the funds for his personal gain.

According to the source, members of the stokvel were under the assumption that thieves came and took away their money a few days before it was to be distributed.
The King and Queen are set to make their first official visit to Canada since the Coronation next year, according to reports - but steps are already being made to shield them from protestors.

Charles, 74, and Camilla, 75, are set to visit the Commonwealth nation in May 2023, according to the Mirror - which will be two years since their last trip to Canada.

However, reports suggest the week-long trip will be carefully tailored so Their Majesties will face as little disruption and opposition as possible amid a growing anti-monarchy movement.

The Palace and the Foreign Office are said to be working closely on the details of the trip, with Palace insiders noting it will likely be a test of the King's popularity in Canada.

A source told the newspaper that people responsible for the trip had 'raised concerns' about the level of opposition Charles and Camilla might face.

Charles and Camilla are set to visit Canada in their first visit to a Commonwealth nation next May, the Mirror reports (pictured in Ottawa, May 2022)

An Ipsos poll of Canadians in September 2022, shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth, revealed the nation was bitterly divided on Canada's future within the Commonwealth.

The poll revealed a narrow majority of 54% of Canadians believed that the nation's tie to the British monarchy should have been severed with the death of Queen Elizabeth.

Meanwhile, 56% of people surveyed said they thought Charles would do a good job as King.

It also noted that younger people were more likely to believe the nation should sever its ties with the British monarchy.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth, an Ipsos poll of Canadians revealed more than 50% believed it was the right time for the nation to cut its ties with the British monarchy

The Mirror also reports a more recent poll from September this year, The Leger Survey, which revealed that 81% of Canadians said they did not feel attached to the monarchy.

Debate has been reignited in several Commonwealth countries in recent years about their membership in the state group.

In 2021, Barbados made the historic decision to remove Queen Elizabeth as its head of state. When the monarch died the following year, many anti-monarchy activists argued it was the right time for their nations to sever ties with the Commonwealth.

In particular, politicians in Jamaica and Antigua have signalled their desire to leave the Commonwealth.

Reports suggest deliberations were carried out behind-the-scenes to decide which Commonwealth nation Charles would visit first as King.

Care has been taken in choosing Canada, after the Prince and Princess's 2022 visit to Belize, the Bahamas and Jamaica was met with heavy opposition as the pair were labelled 'out of touch'.

A source told the paper that there were 'very real fears' that anti-monarchy protests would affect the location of future state visits.

After much discussion and deliberation, it is said that Canada was determined a 'safe space' for Charles and Camilla.
An invitation to a Christmas party arrives: is it a cause for joy, or dread? For those of us who fear ending up bored, drunk or both over the festive period because we're too polite to say no to a night out, there is welcome news.

Research, published this week in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, says it's fine to turn down social invitations. We overestimate the disappointment or anger felt by the party-giver if we decline an invite.

In reality, people tend to be understanding as long as they are given a reason, even if that means telling them that we 'just want to stay home and relax'.

Glass of champagne in hand, six of our top writers tell us how they navigate the party season when they'd much rather be curled up in front of the telly...

An invitation to a Christmas party arrives: is it a cause for joy, or dread? For those of us who fear ending up bored, drunk or both over the festive period because we're too polite to say no to a night out, there is welcome news (Stock image)

The best thing a friend can do is cancel a meet-up before I do

By Julie Burchill

After many decades of hyper-social activity  back in the 20th century it wasn't unheard of for me to go to the Groucho Club twice a day, for a respectable lunch with a publisher and then a disgraceful evening with mates  there's nothing I like more than my own company, though my husband's comes a close second.

Let others curse the rail strikes as the work of the red menace  they make me feel like singing The Red Flag, as the constant threat of them makes leaving my Brighton lair to socialise in London totally untenable.

Surely it's normal to be bored with one's bosom buddies by the time one reaches 64? There's nothing nicer that a dear friend can do for me than cancel our meeting before I do  all at once I feel a rush of affection towards them, and remember why I liked them in the first place.

One of the best times in my life was when I had to wear an Aircast boot for six months after I was found to have a condition called Charcot syndrome, which affects the nerves in the foot. It provided the perfect excuse not to go to parties. Oddly enough, it never stopped me going on holiday, which I did twice during that time.

Amusingly, someone whose wedding in London I'd refused to go to because of my foot saw me getting drunk at the Champagne Bar at the airport, and waspishly wrote to me 'Shouldn't 'Can't leave Brighton' be 'Can't leave Brighton except via Gatwick' in the interests of veracity?'

I was bereft when the Aircast came off; nevertheless, 'my foot's playing up' was a useful excuse for many years.

If you've got a headache or a cough, you're still expected to soldier on, especially in the festive season, but if you physically can't walk somewhere, no one expects you to rock up in a sedan chair.

Not everyone can suffer from an ailment as exotic as Charcot's, but I would advise that 'I've dropped a weight on my foot and it's literally twice the size' works well, if only just the once.

If you need to take definitive action, grit your teeth, go to the damn party, get drunk and tell the party-giver that they haven't amused you since 2015.

It's drastic, but they won't ask you back and when it comes to boredom, prevention is better than cure  or excuse  any day.

I'm the queen of party excuses!

By Marion McGilvary

Christmas parties  don't you just want to cover yourself in tinsel and hide behind the tree with a box of Quality Street rather than go to them?

I am the queen of excuses. I mean I love the 'idea' of a party but attending them is actual torture. I used to think I was an extrovert, but recently realised I was usually just drunk. Until that second glass of wine hits, I'm a textbook case of social anxiety. I hate talking to strangers, I have no filter and end up saying crass things out of nervousness. Plus, I just can't mingle.

I'm the woman in the corner chugging wine alone (thus quickly inebriated while everyone else discusses Rwanda and Covidgate). Until my tongue is loosened with prosecco, I am afraid to offer an opinion, and then  bam  when I do, I sound like Attila the Hun.

My partner is equally tongue-tied, unless you want to hear a monologue on Chelsea's abysmal season or get a lecture on global warming. So it's fair to say we are not party people. But I always say yes. And then, the evening dawns and I'm doing backstroke trying to get out of it.

The Migraine is a useful excuse  indeed it is practically a get-out-of-party-free card. Around Christmas everyone is suddenly suffering. Must be all that cheap plonk.

Another excuse I use is babysitting my grandchild. Then there's the sprained ankle and the bad back  though I'm wary of the last one, lest I tempt fate.

But, hey, I've been on the other end of excuses myself. One friend claimed she and her partner had had a terrible row so she was too upset to come over. I met her in Sainsbury's shortly afterwards looking happy, wheeling a full trolley of food.

To be honest, I don't blame her. I'd much rather be at home, with Curzon on Demand, not worrying about looking fat or smiling blankly when my partner recounts the rate at which the polar ice cap is melting. I like to meet my friends singly, for coffee. After all, caffeine doesn't make you wake up next morning cringing at what a fool you made of yourself the night before.

Research, published this week in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, says it's fine to turn down social invitations (Stock image)

Sorry, the dog was sick on my trousers

By Roland White

I am a master of the party excuse. The car's on the blink is a particular favourite, partly because my car is very often on the blink, but it's particularly unreliable during the Christmas party season. This is a time when I am often struck down by heavy colds or overwhelmed by work; or I discover at the last minute that the dog has just vomited over my party trousers.

These have all been handy excuses I have used to avoid the misery of Christmas get-togethers. Indeed, it's the only thing I miss about Covid ('Really sorry, but I've just tested positive').

Please don't think me curmudgeonly  I can barely spell it. For most of the year I am so cheery I could be mistaken for Colin, that very irritating man from The Fast Show.

However, I suffer from a medical condition that makes festive parties particularly trying.

To use the jargon, I am a martyr to 'Being Slightly Below Average Height At Parties' syndrome. When you are 5ft 6in on your tippy toes, parties are a nightmare.

Why is it that regular partygoers are so tall? Where are all these people the rest of the time?

Tall party guests circle round and form themselves into impenetrable human stockades, their backs facing outwards. For anybody below about 5ft 8in, it's impossible to break through.

We are left to hop from foot to foot on the outer perimeter of these walls of backs, hopelessly reflecting on the laughter and the fun we are clearly missing.

You think I'm making a fuss about nothing? Years ago I was invited to a party that was packed out with comedians and comic writers.

As I arrived, Victoria Wood was on her way out and looking very cross indeed.

I should have known then what to expect. Victoria was 5ft 5in.

Don't say you're playing Santa

By Rob Crossan

When turning down a Christmas invitation, a blunt 'So sorry, can't make it' might seem slovenly on the etiquette front.

But I've learned the hard way that if your excuses (lies) for a no-show veer on the unnecessarily baroque, your fingers will get burned.

While working at a local radio station on the Wirral in my 20s, I decided to swerve a pre-Christmas 'lunch, nibbles and drinks' party hosted by some tedious friends of my family. The husband was a bell-ringer. Need I say more?

Crying off, I claimed I'd been asked to play Santa at the radio station's office party. As excuses go, it seemed hewn from gold: making me look benevolent but unavoidably detained. But, foolishly, I also told the host what time I was finishing my shift.

'Oh we'll all still be here, you can come on afterwards,' said the bell-ringer's wife with matriarchal finality in her voice.

So, ridiculously, I actually ended up buying a Santa outfit from a fancy-dress store in Rock Ferry, bringing it to the party in a bag and claiming I'd 'just got back' from playing Santa.

The stream of lies became a boozy torrent. Guests rummaged in my fancy dress bag as I merrily told tales of having gorgeous PAs and DJs of both sexes sitting on my knee.

I entirely fabricated a Secret Santa present exchange where my own gift (a bottle of cheap Scotch) was still in the office.

All the while, my bag was sifted through by the bell ringer, his wife and their guests, who all pleaded with me to dress up for them, while taking it in turns to try on Santa's hat and fluffy white beard.

I hid in the loo until I felt I could flee, but didn't make it. Accosted by the bell-ringer on his driveway, my final lie was to swear I'd love to take a trip up the bell tower 'to see how it all worked' before a matins service in the New Year...

I now keep my festive party excuses simple and effective. And I'm still trying to get rid of the Father Christmas suit.

Perhaps I'll place my ad for it here? Unused. A tenner or best offer accepted. One previous, now very honest, owner.

We overestimate the disappointment or anger felt by the party-giver if we decline an invite. In reality, people tend to be understanding as long as they are given a reason, even if that means telling them that we 'just want to stay home and relax' (Stock image)

Save the partying for the spring

By Libby Purves

When the lights come on at 4pm at the end of another year, a part of us feels like a sleepy, irritable, possibly rather mangy old bear who needs to hibernate.

A book, a bit of telly, beans on toast, early bed. No dressing-up, no slap, no requirement to sparkle at any level at all. Lovely.

I fight this urge, try to keep up the outings (through flooded lanes or drizzling streets), greet every invitation with 'Ooh yes!'

But even if you are chronically sociable and easily bored (I tend towards both), there are times you just can't face it. And doing this brings a two-fold pang.

It's easy to suppress the voice which tells you you're missing out, but the second pang is pure guilt: not only are you wasting your life, staying flopped on the couch, but you're actually being rude, ungrateful, and are unlikely ever to be asked again.

Even if you really like the hosts and immediately make a plan for coffee, or an online chat, or to support their charity, it feels rather churlish.

We all have self-esteem problems  it's hard to reject someone who actively wants your company, and thinks you're worth something.

The new research, from West Virginia University, also informs us that more than three-quarters of us have accepted invitations when we didn't want to.

Horrifying: think of all those glum, reluctant faces round thousands of tables, glancing at their watches and wondering how soon they can start talking about getting back 'for the babysitter' when their youngest is 27.

If you're one of those, break out the chocolates and the furry slanket, and channel your snoring inner bear.

There's time enough for partying when spring comes.

How to prioritise your invitations

By Steph and Dom Parker

An invitation plops onto the mat. Initially Doms response is No! because this is the time of year when we all have least time to spare, what with present buying, sorting plans for the Day itself, and general tying up of loose ends at work.

But issuing a blanket rejection to all feels rude, and risks missing something genuinely fun. So Dom and I reach for our very simple checklist

1. Is it on an impossible-to-do weeknight, or an easier weekend lunchtime?

2. Can we get there easily if we dont drive? (And as you can imagine, we rarely want to.)

3. Will we have to stand up much? With both of us suffering from age-related back issues, too much standing at drinks parties elicits an immediate No. If you explain this, forgiveness will usually be granted.

4. And most weighty of all on our list, who is it from? This is the final test and you can almost use a points system here. If from friends who have lots of parties, its not a drama to miss this one. If its a work event  yawwwn  will you miss out on a promotion if you dont go? Or will you be the smug Ms Reliable who stayed at home, didnt get drunk and kiss Kevin the graduate trainee and therefore stand [i]more[i] of a chance of promotion?

Is it from a school parent, and if so, the hideously boring ones or the fun squad who will be up till 3am? Or is it a family invite, a gathering of the clan en masse to maintain the annual group therapy sessions and exchange information about your year? And if so, how do you get on with them all? Is the lie of the land wobbly? Personally, I dread it.

In the end, Dom and I will make the decision at the kitchen table, phone calendars in one hand, glass of Pinot in the other. Cue heated debate ending in flushed argument.

My advice is tread lightly with your real friends - they are the ones who hold you up when you start to crumble and really require your presence. Plus, those are the best parties.

As for the rest, if you dont want to go but feel you have to, reach for a large glass immediately upon arrival and try to keep your smile real. Sit down when you need to.

Oh, and do put the dates into your phone, and set an alarm to remind you. After all that angsting, we often forget to go anyway!
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands stunned in a ruby ballgown with lace and velvet panelling as she joined King Willem-Alexander at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam this evening to welcome some very special guests to the nation.

The Dutch King and Queen held a state banquet for South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee, who are currently on a state visit to the Netherlands - just a month after they were hosted in the UK by King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Attending the state banquet this evening, Queen Maxima was radiant in a long sleeved, floor-length gown with a full skirt and lace inserts.

The super stylish royal wore her thick blonde locks in a sleek bun and accessorised with a dazzling tiara.

Meanwhile the South Korean first lady oozed glamour in a chic black gown with statement sleeves.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands looked radiant in a burgundy gown with lace inserts as she attended a state banquet in Amsterdam this evening

The state banquet comes after King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima celebrated another special occasion closer to home last week - as their eldest daughter, Crown Princess Amalia, celebrated her 20th birthday.

This weekend, the Princess of Orange posted a heartfelt message of thanks to fans on social media for wishing her many happy returns.

She thanked the well-wishers in a statement posted on the Dutch royal household's Instagram account, accompanied by a black-and-white photo of her.

The Princess, who has two younger sisters Alexia and Ariane, celebrated her 20th birthday on Thursday.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima hosted the event to welcome the South Korean president and first lady to their country

The Dutch Queen, who hails from Argentina, looked radiant in the gown, which she paired with dazzling earrings and a tiara

King Willem-Alexander addressed guests at the banquet with a speech

Proost! Queen Maxima shared a toast with the president of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol

The state banquet in Amsterdam follows the South Korean president and first lady's trip to the UK

Maxima's floor-length, full-skirted gown featured lace panelling over velvet material

Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands has thanked royal fans for their well wishes on her 20th birthday

In the message of thanks, the future Dutch queen said: 'Many thanks for all the congratulations I received on the occasion of my 20th birthday. All the heartwarming messages made my day even more special.'

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima have raised their eldest daughter in private to the best of their abilities when she was growing up, despite the fact she was the heir to the throne.

However, as she reaches adulthood and her role is set to change, she has been stepping into the limelight a little more.

Earlier this year, the Dutch monarch appeared on a podcast where he revealed he does not shield his three daughters from the 'reality' of their lives in the public eye.

In an interview on the Through the eyes of the King podcast, reported by the NL Times, he said: 'They are not blind and deaf, they see everything on social media, they read everything, they hear everything. We don't cut them off from anything. And they talk about it.'

The heir to the Danish throne, who is the eldest of three daughters, celebrated her 20th birthday on Thursday

'It affects them,' he added, saying that he has also had to learn to deal with negative comments on social media during his time in the public eye.

The monarch explained that he encourages his daughters not to see social media criticism as a personal attack, saying that for children growing up, it was 'very annoying' to see the criticism posted online.

'Kids dont have a filter in that regard, but its reality, and they have to learn to deal with that.'

He said it is important to teach his children not to take things personally as, for the most part, he believes online trolling is not personal.

Elsewhere, Willem-Alexander told the podcast that he hopes his eldest daughter can enjoy spending time on herself and with her family before she becomes a monarch in the 'distant future'.

He said he wished the heir apparent a long time to prepare for the role so she can start a family or do whatever she pleases.

Then he revealed he will sit down with his daughter to decide together when she will ascend the throne, but added it was a decision to be made 'between Amalia and me'.
Jenny Carruthers knows starkly the agonising death that may await her. Ten years ago, the mother of three's partner died at home in terrible pain from terminal bone cancer. Now, Jenny has been told she, too, faces the same.

Her partner, Gypie Mayo, had enjoyed fame playing guitar with rock bands such as Dr Feelgood and The Yardbirds.

He was diagnosed first with liver cancer in 2010 when he was 60. He had surgery and chemotherapy, but in December 2012 he learnt that the cancer had spread to his bones and that it was terminal.

'Gypie had a very difficult last two months dying at home,' says Jenny, 55, a healthcare assistant from Bath.

'He was in so much pain that I could hear him screaming from the other side of the house when he turned over in bed. It was heart-wrenching. Dreadful.

Jenny Carruthers (pictured) knows starkly the agonising death that may await her. Ten years ago, the mother of three's partner died at home in terrible pain from terminal bone cancer. Now, Jenny has been told she, too, faces the same

'At home he was put on an intravenous drip of powerful painkillers but he said that it 'didn't even touch the sides' of the pain.

'We had quiet conversations about whether he could die with an overdose but he couldn't put me in a position of breaking the law, so he never asked me actually to do it.'

Gypie died at home in October 2013, aged 62.

'If medically assisted dying under the care of qualified doctors and nurses had been legal, he would have chosen to have gone sooner,' says Jenny.

'Instead, he suffered two months of absolute agony.'

By cruel coincidence, now Jenny has been told that she, too, has terminal bone cancer.

In June 2018, she found a breast lump while in the shower.

'I knew what it was instantly,' she says. Surgeons removed the lump and she had radiotherapy.

Fear of the cancer returning led Jenny to pay for a private mastectomy in September 2020 because NHS doctors did not deem it necessary.

'When they tested the tissue after the op, the surgeons found tumour cells,' says Jenny, adding that it seems these were a second, new cancer rather than a spread of the first.

In January 2021 Jenny was told that the cancer had spread to her left hip bone, pelvis, spine, ribs and sternum. She has been off work ever since.

Alex Pandolfo (pictured) says he feels haunted by having had to watch his father die at the age of 68 with severe cognitive impairment in 2005, 'having spent the last five years of his life unable to speak, and tortured with hallucinations and rages'

She is receiving monthly treatment with palbociclib, a drug that blocks growth-promoting proteins in cancer cells, and every four weeks she has injections of denosumab, which helps to strengthen bones by limiting activity of cells that break down old bone material.

'I'm told that everything is stable at the moment. But only about 5 per cent of people with my condition live five years after diagnosis. So who knows what will happen? I live from three-monthly scan to three-monthly scan in anxious hope,' says Jenny.

'I know that, ultimately, I'm heading to the same end as my partner. Nursing Gypie at home gave me full comprehension of exactly what will happen.'

She would rather a medically assisted death at home.

As Jenny says: 'My dream would be to have a big party with all my friends to celebrate my life, have a quiet moment with my children and then take a little pack of prescribed assisted-dying medications under medical supervision and fade away.'

Last week it was revealed that the actress Diana Rigg, who died from cancer in 2020, had made an impassioned plea just before her death calling for assisted dying to be legalised. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier that year, and in a recording that's just been released by her daughter, the actress Rachael Stirling, she described one of the 'least attractive aspects of my condition', becoming incontinent.

It was, she said, the most 'dehumanising thing that can happen', adding that nobody talks about 'how awful, how truly awful the details of this condition are, and the ignominy that is attached to it. Well, it's high time they did.

'And it's high time there was some movement in the law to give choice to people in my position. This means giving human beings true agency over their own bodies at the end of life. This means giving human beings political autonomy over their own death.'

Currently, UK law will not allow such a thing.

Under the 1961 Suicide Act it is a criminal offence to help someone take their own life, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

To avoid this, according to figures from the UK charity Dignity In Dying, more than 630 Britons with terminal illnesses have travelled to Switzerland to pay around 15,000 for an assisted death, where the process is legal and open to foreigners.

However, Jenny cannot bear the thought of how this would impact on her grown-up children.

'Waving goodbye to them at the airport and boarding a plane to Switzerland... how could I do that?' she asks.

'But neither do I want my kids to have to witness my last two months of screaming agony.'

Her fears are not unfounded. A 2018 report by the Royal College of Anaesthetists said: 'Evidence suggests that 45-56 per cent of patients with advanced incurable cancer [around 72,000 to 89,600 each year in the UK] experience moderate to severe intensity pain before they die, often for many months.'

Jenny and others like her are now hopeful that UK law may soon change - thanks to a Bill being put through the Isle of Man parliament, the House of Keys, that could make it the first part of the British Isles to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill residents (they will need to have been 'ordinarily resident' on the island for at least a year).

Last month, the Bill passed its second reading - if it passes through the final stage, it could mean assisted dying being legalised on the Isle of Man in 2025.

Other assisted-dying Bills are already making progress in Scotland and Jersey.

Last week it was revealed that the actress Diana Rigg (pictured), who died from cancer in 2020, had made an impassioned plea just before her death calling for assisted dying to be legalised

In Holyrood, parliamentarians are drafting their Bill's wording, which will be followed by committee scrutiny and a Stage One vote (the first of three stages before a Bill can become law). No date is currently set for potential legalisation.

In Jersey, meanwhile, proposals are being refined for debate in its parliament, the States Assembly, in June 2024. If this is approved, drafting a new law may begin in September.

Across the world, assisted dying has been legalised for more than 250 million people in countries such as Australia and New Zealand, and 11 jurisdictions in the U.S.

Assisted dying generally involves a person with a terminal illness or incurable condition being helped to take their own life by means of lethal drugs provided by a doctor.

In Western Australia, for example, where the practice was legalised in 2019, it applies to people who have a medical condition that is advanced, progressive and will cause death most probably within six months (or 12 months if it is a neurodegenerative disease such as dementia), and is causing intolerable suffering that cannot be relieved.

For this to be allowed, they must be assessed by two specially trained doctors and deemed suitable. They are then allowed to end their life with approved (though not publicly specified) lethal drugs, either administering the drugs themselves or having a doctor administer them. Here in the UK, groups are calling for assisted death to be legalised in one form or other.

The campaign group Dignity In Dying wants it legalised for people who are terminally ill, and who are legally competent to decide to end their own lives.

Another UK group, My Death, My Decision, is calling for a broader law that would legalise assisted death both for the terminally ill, and also for people who are suffering intolerably with incurable conditions, such as those who are paralysed or in great pain.

However, many in the UK oppose assisted-dying legislation.

Dianna Rigg had been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier that year, and in a recording that's just been released by her daughter, the actress Rachael Stirling, she described one of the 'least attractive aspects of my condition', becoming incontinent

Dr Gordon Macdonald is chief executive of Care Not Killing, an alliance of organisations fighting against changing the law  it campaigns instead for better palliative end-of-life care.

He calls the Isle of Man legislation 'disappointing' and told Good Health: 'By allowing the deliberate ending of human life with death-row drugs, many vulnerable people will feel pressured into ending their lives.

'This is exactly what we see in Canada, which introduced euthanasia in 2016, where thousands who are killed annually cite fear of being a burden or loneliness as a reason [for choosing medically assisted death].'

He argues that we should be investing in much better palliative care so that people with terminal illnesses can die without the fear of agonising pain.

'While killing is cheap, providing high-quality palliative care and supporting people at the end is not', he says.

'But this is what we would urge members of the House of Keys to focus on, and pull back from this dangerous policy.'

In 2015 The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked the UK at the top of 80 countries in a 'quality of death' index, based on palliative-care provision and national strategies. Yet despite this ranking, an estimated 'one in four people is not able to access palliative care services', according to the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

In Parliament, some tentative moves are under way to consider legalising medically-assisted dying.

The last time legislation was proposed, by Baroness Meacher in 2021, her Assisted Dying Bill passed its second reading unopposed in the House of Lords, but then ministers did not allocate it committee time for consideration before Parliament broke in April last year. In layman's terms, the legislative window had expired.

'Assisted dying's time has come for the British Isles,' argues Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity In Dying. 'A debate must be brought forward in Westminster as a matter of urgency to end the suffering inflicted on families with every day that Parliament drags its heels.'

The Health and Social Care Select Committee is conducting the first House of Commons inquiry into assisted dying.

The committee, which launched in December 2022, is expected to issue a report later this year.

Separately in the Commons, pro-assisted dying MPs are lobbying for a change in the law via their All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Choice at the End of Life.

Its co-chair, Kit Malthouse, Conservative MP for North West Hampshire, told Good Health: 'We think legalisation is coming - it's a matter of when, not if.

'This is a story of progress across the world. It does not seem sensible that the UK should be the last to hold-out.'

Kit Malthouse says the APPG is lobbying for a law that would say: 'Where an individual is considered by two doctors as having six months left to live, and if a judge sees that the person has a settled desire to end their life and the mental capacity to make that decision, they would be given permission to have an assisted death.'

'Such a law would enhance countless people's lives,' Kit Malthouse argues.

As for the practical medical implementation, he adds: 'In theory it would be an NHS-provided service, or at least one that is free at the point of need, with medical and nursing practitioners able to opt out for reasons of conscientious objection, as they are with abortions.'

The British Medical Association, the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of GPs and the Royal College of Nursing all maintain a 'neutral' stance on legalisation. However, the British Medical Association told Good Health that it wants to see an 'opt-in' system, where doctors volunteer to perform assisted deaths.

If significant numbers of doctors refuse to perform this work, people wishing for assisted deaths in the UK could effectively face a postcode lottery on whether their choices are enacted.

Meanwhile, the current guidelines for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), covering England and Wales, suggest it has diluted its stance on the criminality of assisting a suicide, by stating that a prosecution for assisting a suicide is less likely if the CPS deems, on the evidence available, that the deceased individual had reached a voluntary, settled and informed decision to end their life and if the person who assisted the death was motivated wholly by compassion.

Even if a law is eventually passed that met the requirements of Kit Malthouse's APPG, it would not be enough for potentially millions of people - including Alex Pandolfo, 69, a retired education consultant from Lancaster.

In 2014, Alex found that he was losing track of time and having difficulty writing things down.

'This was unusual because I was physically highly fit and had always been fluent and on top of things,' he says.

'My GP sent me to a memory clinic and I was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's.'

Doctors told him that he could expect to die within anything from three to 11 years. 'I've had to stop doing things such as driving and my ability with numbers is bad, too,' he says.

On top of knowing his condition is incurable, Alex says he feels haunted by having had to watch his father die at the age of 68 with severe cognitive impairment in 2005, 'having spent the last five years of his life unable to speak, and tortured with hallucinations and rages'.

His father had developed multiple systems atrophy, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by a combination of symptoms that affect both the central nervous system (which controls movement) and the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary functions such as blood pressure.

Having seen what his father endured, and knowing that there's no cure for his condition, Alex - who is single and has no children - put together sufficient money to buy membership with a Swiss assisted-dying organisation.

He says: 'At the time of your choosing, they will put an intravenous drip into your arm, and you switch on a machine that will inject a lethal dose of a barbiturate drug into you.'

For many, ending their life with a self-administered drug in a foreign medical facility may sound a horrifying prospect. But Alex says: 'Psychologically, I was a real mess until I signed the forms: I'd been suicidal. I couldn't face what Dad had suffered.

'Now, I feel confident I can live well - until the day I feel that cognitively I'm getting increasingly confused and am in danger of losing the capacity to make legal decisions.

'At that point I will take the plane to Switzerland. But for the moment I have life quality. Right now I'm off to Carlisle for a couple of days to a rock concert.

'I would definitely prefer to die at home, around the people I know, rather than go off to Switzerland.

'Yet even if the Isle of Man and APPG legislative approach becomes law across the UK, it won't help me - because it requires two doctors to certify that you are terminally ill with six months or less to live.

'But no one can predict with any certainty when a person with Alzheimer's will die.

'I could be stranded for years in the grip of severe dementia, and still none of the medics could measure my life expectancy with any confidence.

'I think, instead, that the decision to undergo assisted death should be legally open to anyone over the age of consent who has an illness or condition that has a serious impact on their quality of life and for which there is no cure or effective ameliorating treatment.

'If they have the mental capacity to make that legal decision to have their life ended, then they should have the right to an assisted death.'

Such an approach is supported by the campaign group My Death, My Decision.

Its chair, Trevor Moore, told Good Health: 'Drawing a line for assisted death at terminally ill people who have a fixed period of six months to live is too arbitrary and it excludes people who suffer intolerable conditions that are not terminal, as well as those who

face death through dementia.' With the latter condition, important safeguards would be in place, he adds, so that people diagnosed with dementia who request the right - in the future - to have an assisted death would have to be assessed for mental competency at the point when they request this right, as well as when they request actually to go through with it.

But as he acknowledges: 'You could leave it too late at that point if your dementia has progressed too far and you can't be deemed compos mentis.'

Nevertheless, such legislation would still go much too far for other assisted-death campaigners because it opens the door for anyone with non-terminal conditions - such as mental illness or a physical disability - to be permitted to end their lives with medical assistance.

Clearly, there is no way forward that will satisfy everyone. But Kit Malthouse is optimistic.

'Our primary goal now is to get all the major parties to have a manifesto commitment that the next Government would give parliamentary time for a Bill in the next Parliament,' he says.

'We hope to see a vote in the next two to three years, and we hope to see assisted dying legalised.'
More than 17,000 lives could be saved every year if healthcare in Britain was as safe as other developed nations, a report suggests.

Researchers at the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London examined data on 38 countries from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Norway finished top of the league table for patient safety, followed by Sweden and South Korea, while the UK placed 21st and Mexico in last place.

The experts focused on four key patient safety indicators for their rankings: maternal mortality, treatable mortality, adverse effects of medical treatment and neonatal disorders.

This includes causes of death that can be mainly avoided through timely and effective healthcare, including screening and treatment, and medical blunders.

The experts focused on four key patient safety indicators for their rankings: maternal mortality, treatable mortality, adverse effects of medical treatment and neonatal disorders (stock image)

The analysis suggests that 17,356 lives could have been saved in the UK in 2019 if it had performed at the level of the top 10 per cent of countries.

This would have meant 15,773 fewer deaths classified as treatable mortality, 776 fewer neonatal deaths, 27 fewer maternal deaths and 780 fewer deaths due to adverse effects of medical treatment.

Many others have survived poor care but suffered avoidable physical or mental disabilities, which are not captured by this report, the authors note.

The countries included in the 'Global State of Patient Safety' report, commissioned by the charity Patient Safety Watch, are all members of the OECD.

It said: 'Our patient safety country ranking highlights existing variations in performance and clear opportunities for shared international learning.'

The researchers warn that without more global cooperation and increased reporting of data, efforts to improve patient safety will be delayed or insufficient, risking harm and lives.

They considered 89 indicators for their report, including the four used to produce the league table, but no country was able to provide all of them.

Australia, New Zealand and Norway have the highest availability of patient safety data available, with 75, while the UK has 68.

Professor the Lord Ara Darzi, co-director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation, said: 'To enhance patient safety, we must first recognise that progress is impossible without measurement.

'Our report underscores the urgent need to establish a robust global framework for collecting comprehensive patient safety data, addressing existing data gaps, and implementing meaningful indicators.

'Collaboration is the key to progress, and it is imperative that we work together to elevate patient safety.

'Patient safety should be evaluated through the lens of the patient, and we must wholeheartedly embrace interventions that incorporate the perspectives of patients, families, and caregivers.'

James Titcombe, from Patient Safety Watch, said: 'In 2020, 800 women died every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth worldwide' (stock image)

James Titcombe, from Patient Safety Watch, said: 'I am optimistic for a future with improved patient safety globally. But there is much work still to do.

'In 2020, 800 women died every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth worldwide.

'We must monitor and improve patient safety indicators and ensure that we engage patients in this effort.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'Patient safety is paramount, and any death caused by failings in this area is unacceptable.

'As this report recognises, the UK has taken significant steps to improve the safety of care.

'We have delivered the first NHS Patient Safety Strategy and appointed the first Patient Safety Commissioner to make patients' voices heard throughout the health system.

'We have also established a new independent body - the Health Services Safety Investigations Body - to investigate serious patient safety incidents and embed system-wide learning, and last week announced a review into the NHS duty of candour.'
Health services in Estonia, Israel and Austria provide safer care than Britain and the US, a report has revealed.

Researchers at the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London examined data on 38 developed countries.

The experts focused on four key patient safety indicators for their rankings: maternal mortality, treatable mortality, adverse effects of medical treatment and neonatal disorders.

This includes causes of death that can be mostly avoided through timely and effective healthcare, including screening and treatment, and medical blunders.

Norway finished top of the league table, followed by Sweden and South Korea, while the UK placed 21st and Mexico last.

The US fell within the bottom six, according to the rankings.

The analysis suggests 17,356 lives could have been saved in the UK in 2019 if it had performed at the level of the top 10 per cent of countries.

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This would have meant 15,773 fewer deaths classified as treatable mortality, 776 fewer neonatal deaths, 27 fewer maternal deaths and 780 fewer deaths due to adverse effects of medical treatment.

Many others have survived poor care but have been left with avoidable physical or mental disabilities, which are not captured by this report, the authors note.

The countries included in the 'Global State of Patient Safety' report, commissioned by the charity Patient Safety Watch, are all members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

It says: 'Our patient safety country ranking highlights existing variations in performance and clear opportunities for shared international learning.'

The researchers warn that without more global cooperation and increased reporting of data, efforts to improve patient safety will be delayed or insufficient, risking harm and lives.

READ MORE: Areas of England with highest cancer death risk revealed as major study finds patients living in poorest parts of country are 70% more likely to die... so how does YOUR area fare? Northern cities  including Liverpool, Manchester, Hull and Newcastle  and some coastal areas have the highest death tolls, while affluent parts of London had the lowest Advertisement

They considered 89 indicators for their report, including the four used to produce the league table, but no country was able to provide all of them.

The team calculated the average safety score across countries, then gave each nation a final score based on how their performance varied from that average  known as standard deviation.

Australia, New Zealand and Norway have the highest availability of patient safety data available, with 75, while the UK has 68.

Professor the Lord Ara Darzi, co-director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation, said: 'To enhance patient safety, we must first recognise that progress is impossible without measurement.

'Our report underscores the urgent need to establish a robust global framework for collecting comprehensive patient safety data, addressing existing data gaps, and implementing meaningful indicators.

'Collaboration is the key to progress, and it is imperative that we work together to elevate patient safety.

'Patient safety should be evaluated through the lens of the patient, and we must wholeheartedly embrace interventions that incorporate the perspectives of patients, families, and caregivers.'

The authors find that many indicators have shown limited improvement over time, and there is significant spread in performance, even between comparable groups of countries.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Patient safety is paramount, and any death caused by failings in this area is unacceptable.

'As this report recognises, the UK has taken significant steps to improve the safety of care.

'We have delivered the first NHS Patient Safety Strategy and appointed the first Patient Safety Commissioner to make patients' voices heard throughout the health system.

'We have also established a new independent body - the Health Services Safety Investigations Body - to investigate serious patient safety incidents and embed system-wide learning, and last week announced a review into the NHS duty of candour.'

HM Treasury data shows the NHS annual budget. In 2020/21, the NHS was given 129.7billion of core funding for its usual services, which was topped up with an extra 18billion to help with the pressures from the pandemic. For 2021/22 the Treasury said the health service received 136.1billion pounds of core funding, as well as 3billion to help with the Covid recovery. The health service has been allocated 151.8billion for 2022/23 and 157.4billion for 2023/34. The Autumn Statement topped up these figures by 3.3billion each

Official figures also show waiting lists for routine NHS procedures also shot up to a a new record high, with around 6.5million patients in England waiting for 7.77million appointments and procedures in England

James Titcombe, of Patient Safety Watch, became a patient safety campaigner after his son Joshua died nine days after his birth in 2008, following failings in his care.

Joshua was one of 11 babies and a mother who died over nine years at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust.

Mr Titcombe said: 'Analysis of the data shows that thousands of lives could be saved if the NHS was as safe as the top performing countries and that the NHS in England ranks only 21 out of 38 countries for patient safety.

'This must serve as a wake up call for the government and NHS leaders that we must do more to accelerate the pace of change.

'Healthcare systems around the world operate in different and often unique circumstances, but when it comes to patient safety, they are frequently working to solve similar problems.

'Global collaboration, sharing data and strategies and interventions adopted to improve patient safety, has huge potential to help transform the rate of progress not just in the UK but everywhere.

'I hope today's report and the publicly available data platform can act as a catalyst in supporting future efforts to accelerate the rate of patient safety progress, both here and around the world.'
One in five Britons would support the reintroduction of a Covid lockdown right now  even though the worst of the pandemic is over.

Shock polling data of 2,000 adults revealed a fifth would back the Government if it ordered people to only leave their home for essential shopping, an hour of exercise and work.

This is similar to what happened during Britain's full-blown lockdown. During the darkest days of the pandemic, Brits were threatened with 200 fines if caught flouting the stay-at-home order.

Experts told MailOnline the results were 'upsetting', saying it demonstrated the effectiveness of 'project fear'.

Ministers believed such restrictions were needed to stop NHS hospitals from being overwhelmed.

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But experts insist brutal curbs  proven to have devastated the economy and crippled the health service  are no longer needed thanks to the UK's wall of immunity.

Vaccines and repeated waves of infection mean the virus circulating nowadays resembles something closer to the flu, as opposed to the killer illness that sparked panic when it emerged in China towards the end of 2019.

The new survey, carried out by research group More in Common, shows a fifth of Brits would also support any Government decision to force pubs and restaurants to shut again.

Hospitality was shut down for months at a time during the Covid crisis and a tenth of the entire sector has permanently closed since March 2020.

Around four in ten would also back requirements to wear masks on public transport, the survey revealed.

Nearly half of Gen X (aged 41 to 55), Boomers (aged 56 to 74) and the Silent Gen (over-75s), backed this measure. Gen Z (aged 18 to 24) were least likely to back it, at 41 per cent.

Millennials  people aged 25 to 40  were most likely to support a lockdown (28 per cent), while the over-75s were least likely to back it (14 per cent).

There were also patterns of support between different parts of the country.

Those from London and the North East who took part in the survey were least likely to oppose Covid restrictions being brought in right now.

At the other end of the scale, the East Midlands and South West were least likely to accept them being imposed.

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The results are based on responses from 2,033 people in Britain who were quizzed between November 30 and December 4.

They were asked whether they would support or oppose the Government bringing back Covid restrictions 'at the current time'.

Health chiefs have warned of high demands on the NHS due to typical winter pressures, including seasonal bugs, staff absences and demand on A&E.

Fresh strikes by junior doctors, who are demanding more pay, are set to further stretch the health service.

However, Covid is causing a fraction of admissions compared with previous years.

Just 2,064 infected patients were admitted to hospitals in England in the week to December 1. For comparison, the figure for the same week stood at 3,936 in 2022, 4,624 in 2021 and 8,614 in 2020.

Experts have warned that a fresh wave could be triggered by a new variant, called JN.1, which has taken off in the UK and has mutations that help it dodge protection from vaccines and previous infections. However, scientists have also warned that fresh waves of infection are to be expected.

Ed Hodgson, an associate at More in Common, told MailOnline: 'While most of the public clearly do not support the reintroduction of the most restrictive Covid measures, there are significant minorities who do.

'While many people in the UK have many negative memories from lockdown, we also consistently find groups of people in our focus groups who look back at the time nostalgically  enjoying either the slower pace of life that came with lockdown, or the time it gave them to spend with their family or focus on personal projects...

However, Covid is causing a fraction of admissions compared to previous years. Just 2,064 infected patients were admitted to hospitals in England in the week to December 1. For comparison, the figure for the same week stood at 3,936 in 2022, 4,624 in 2021 and 8,614 in 2020 (shown in graphic)

Support was strongest for wearing masks on public transport, with 45 per cent saying they would support the Government ordering people to don a face covering. Nearly half of Gen X (aged 41 to 55), Boomers (aged 56 to 74) and the Silent Gen (over-75s), backed this measure. Gen Z were least likely to back it (41 per cent)

Poll results show that the breakdown was the same for closing pubs and restaurants (20 per cent support vs 72 per cent opposed), with backing highest among millennials and Gen Z  who are aged 18 to 24  and lowest among older Brits

'That said, it should be stressed support for these measures in the abstract doesn't always translate into support in real life when the impacts of such policies become clearer.

'What the polling does show is that some members of the public are surprisingly receptive to more heavy-handed intervention.'

Professor Keith Willison, a vocal Covid commentator and chair of chemical biology at Imperial College London, told MailOnline: 'It is upsetting that 20 per cent of UK adults feel this way about reintroducing lockdown restrictions.

'It demonstrates the effectiveness of "project fear" which was initiated four years ago now, and I am not surprised unfortunately.

'It is going to take many years to recover from the lockdown disaster.

'Lockdown irrevocably changed our work patterns, our trust in medical experts and many other aspects of our society and wellbeing.

'"Project fear" also helped drive the emergence of the working from home lifestyle, which many office-based workers now embrace.

'It would be interesting to know if such people are over-represented in the 20 per cent calling for a return to restrictions.'

A quarter (23 per cent) of people said they would support rules that would only let people meet others outdoors and in groups of up to six.

This restriction was most popular among Millennials (29 per cent) and least popular among the over-75s (18 per cent).
Doctors say this may be linked to high levels of antibiotic resistance in China

Doctors in China say the 'white lung' pneumonia outbreak may have been partly-driven by 'superbugs'  or infections resistant to many antibiotics.

Over the past six or so months, northern China has been struck by a wave of millions of lung infections in children following the country's brutal lockdowns.

When images emerged of mask-wearing crowds packed into hospitals and hazmat-clad officials disinfecting schools  there were fears a new pathogen could be to blame.

But tests have shown that kids have been falling sicker than usual with common seasonal respiratory illnesses like bacterial infections, RSV and colds.

Now doctors fear the surge in mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, a bacteria that can trigger pneumonia, may have been caused by antibiotic resistance.

Images of hospitals crammed with child patients sent shockwaves around the world last month. China says this may be driven by antibiotic resistance

The above map shows mycoplasma pneumoniae infections by select countries between 2011 and 2016. The black proportion of each pie represents the proportion of infections resistant to macrolide antibiotics, such as Azithromycin. It shows the levels are much higher in China

Figures from the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Microbiology show 90 percent of infections with this bacteria are now resistant to common antibiotics in China.

For comparison, in the US and Europe it is resistant in 10 to 15 percent of cases.

When antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, some bacteria may mutate or or acquire genes that make them resistant to the drugs' effects.

These bacteria can then multiply rapidly because other bacteria that are not resistant were killed by the drug  prompting a resistant strain to emerge.

Overuse of antibiotics raises the risk of this happening, experts say, and the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is normally treated with the antibiotic azithromycin.

But major overprescription of this drug has sparked resistance in the bacterial population  rendering it mostly ineffective.

Doctors are left with few options when patients don't respond to the drug, and instead must consider using other antibiotics that raise the risk of issues like teeth discoloration and bone abnormalities.

The outbreak in China was named 'white lung' because children suffering from the pneumonia had white patches on X-rays of their lungs.

Doctors said the patches showed areas with denser lung tissue, which can be caused when the body fights infections with bacteria like mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Alluding to the antibiotic-resistance threat in China, Dr Yin Yudong, an infectious disease doctor at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, told a local publication: 'We have to take various measures to curb antibiotic drug resistance.

'Otherwise, we risk having no treatments for children.'

Azithromycin, which is also available in the US, is prescribed by doctors on request in China or even in anticipation of illness.

Some doctors may even prescribe it for colds, reports Bloomberg, despite the fact these are commonly caused by viruses against which antibiotics have no effect.

In China, it is also common for patients to receive antibiotics via intravenous drips at young ages  unlike in other countries.

Dr Zuo-Feng Zhang, chair of epidemiology at the Fielding School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles, said: 'Very few kids here in the US have had antibiotics from IV drips by the time they hit adolescence.

'But which kid in China hasnt? Thats a thing the hospital will do even for minor ailments.'

In China, overcrowding at some major hospitals has now got so bad that parents with sick children are having to wait seven hours to get help.

And in some cases, they were even asked to bring hooks from home in order to hang up infusion bags full of medicine in hallways.

Video has also been published showing people in hazmat suits spraying classrooms, in a throw back to the early days of the pandemic.

Officials in China say they are now reaching a 'fluctuating downward trend' in infections and hospitalizations nationwide.

The above image shows the lungs during 'white lung syndrome' or acute respiratory distress syndrome, which is diagnosed via the white spots or opaque areas appearing in the lungs. The above patient was a 57-year-old man in 2014

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common bacteria that normally causes a mild infection which resolves on its own.

But it does trigger a flare-up in cases every five to seven years and, in serious cases, can leave patients suffering from chest pain, coughs and excessive sweating.

The infection is rarely fatal.

Doctors have also suggested China's surge in infections could be due to a 'pandemic exit wave'.

Lockdowns, which were harshest in China, robbed children of exposure to 'good germs' needed to prime the immune system  making them more vulnerable to infections.

There has also been an uptick in pneumonia cases recorded in some European countries and parts of the US this year, raising fears of another wave of sickness.

Experts say this may still be driven by a pandemic 'exit wave' because of the time taken for immunity to be restored and infection trends to return to normal.

They said this is not likely to be linked to the situation in China because mycoplasma pneumoniae is already widespread.

Concerns were first raised over the outbreak in China in November when an alert was published on the ProMED system, which was also the first to alert the world to Covid.

Beijing quickly came under fire internationally, especially after revealing it had been aware of the situation since May.

The World Health Organization demanded more information from China including on whether it was detecting a new pathogen.

Concerns were especially sharp given the Covid pandemic and the fact China took weeks to warn the rest of the world of the outbreak  and even then refused to say whether the virus was spreading from human-to-human.
READ MORE: Popular baby foods STILL contain toxic metals like lead and arsenic

Toxic metals found in foods like dark chocolate, leafy green vegetables, and baby food have, for the first time, been linked to thousands of cases of cancer annually in the US.

Lead, arsenic, and cadmium levels in food have been rising in recent years as they seep into soil and water and contaminate crops used to feed particularly vulnerable populations like children.

For decades, these metals have been linked to cancers and other health problems - but until now, there has never been a number.

Now, researchers have found that 13,000 cases of bladder, lung, and skin cancers every year can be linked to contaminated foods.

Researchers found that foods highest in toxic metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium included baby food, root vegetables like beets, rice, and dark chocolate

Metals occur naturally in the environment and can seep into soil and water, contaminating crops

Paradoxically, it was healthy foods like rice, wheat, and leafy green vegetables that were most likely to cause cancer.

The toxic metal cadmium - found in foods like potatoes and dark chocolate - had a 'very high' chance of causing pancreatic cancer, which is notoriously difficult to detect and kills more than 90 percent of patients once it spreads.

The team called upon the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enact stricter limits on metals in food and for the food industry to adopt safer practices, as these foods have higher than the recommended limits. They also urged stronger warnings to consumers.

In January, the FDA issued a limit for lead of 10 parts per billion (ppb) in fruits, some vegetables and yogurt, and 20ppb in root vegetables - which include carrots, beets and potatoes - and dry cereal.

The agency also stated that the food industry should cap arsenic levels in infant rice cereal to 100ppb. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), drinking water should contain no more than 10ppb.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends daily cadmium consumption be limited to 0.0002 milligrams per kilogram.

Dr Felicia Wu, lead study author and food scientist at Michigan State University, said: 'Results from these studies have important implications for food safety regulations, public health policies, and consumer awareness.'

The team analyzed studies on humans and animals conducted between 2000 and 2023 on the effect of lead, cadmium, and arsenic on cancer and other illnesses like heart disease, kidney failure, liver toxicity, and developmental delays.

They found that foods laced with metals were linked to 6,000 cases of bladder and lung cancers. Arsenic, in particular, also contributed to 7,000 cases of skin cancer.

Toxic metals like lead and cadmium have been linked to several brands of baby food

The above graphic shows the 28 chocolate bars tested by New York-based nonprofit Consumer Reports. All were found to contain lead and cadmium. Consumer Reports compared levels of the heavy metal in about an ounce of the chocolates to the recommended daily exposure levels from the Californian Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

Foods containing lead were shown to increase the risk of kidney, brain, bladder, breast, and stomach cancers. It was most strongly linked to kidney cancer, which affects 81,800 Americans every year and kills 14,890, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Typically, kidney cancer affects adults ages 65 to 74, and it's twice as likely to impact men over women. About 80 percent of patients are expected to survive for five years after being diagnosed.

Lead was also linked to developmental effects in children, which is in line with other recent research.

The CDC warns that young children exposed to lead can suffer hampered development of their brain and nervous system.

Around 2.5 percent of children under the age of five have been exposed to dangerous levels of lead, experts believe.

As a result, they may have slowed growth, learning, behavior, hearing and speech issues.

Lead is most commonly found in beets, chocolate, and baby food.

Earlier this year, the FDA warned that kids' WanaBana fruit puree pouches were high in lead after four children in North Carolina had 'extremely high' concentrations in their blood.

The researchers also found that arsenic, which has been detected in baby food, seafood, rice, and mushrooms, was linked to a greater likelihood of developing skin and bladder cancer.

Skin cancer affects more than 5.4 million Americans every year, the ACS estimates, though more than 90 percent are expected to survive after five years.

Arsenic was also 'very likely' to lead to heart disease. It has also been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders and higher chances of infant mortality.

The researchers also evaluated cadmium, a toxic metal found in nuts, potatoes, seeds, cereal grains, and leafy green vegetables like spinach.

Of the cancers linked to cadmium, pancreatic cancer was the only type to receive a 'very high' likelihood.

Pancreatic cancer is the third deadliest form of the disease in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). On average, just 12.5 percent survive after five years. Once it spreads, that figure drops to just three percent.

NCI estimates there will be about 64,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed this year, along with more than 50,000 deaths.

Cases are on the rise. In the US, the disease incidence has increased by one percent every year since 2000, the ACS estimates.

The disease has been dubbed a 'silent killer,' as symptoms, which include jaundice and abdominal pain, are often attributed to other diseases. By the time most patients catch it, it has spread to other organs, making it more difficult to treat.

Other cancers linked to cadmium included prostate, renal, bladder, breast, and endometrial cancers.

The study comes after an October report from the watchdog Consumer Reports found that one-third of chocolates had high levels of lead or cadmium, and every single one had detectable levels of the metals.

This summer, Consumer Reports also sounded the alarm after finding that several brands of baby food, including Gerber, are still packed with lead, arsenic, and cadmium, despite the FDA recommending limiting these metals in baby food.

Some states have started pushing stricter regulations for metals in baby food. In October, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill forcing baby food makers to test for metals and publish results on the products' websites.

The researchers plan to conduct additional studies on the effect of toxic metals on long-term health.

The studies were presented Tuesday at the 2023 Society for Risk Analysis Annual Conference in Washington, DC.
This is called the Christchurch mutation, and could hold the key to therapies

The Colombian woman has two copies of a rare variant of the APOE gene

A woman who has avoided Alzheimer's despite the disease blighting most of her family may offer clues as to how to beat it, a study suggests.

The unnamed Colombian woman, now in her late 70s, has kept fit and healthy despite half of her family coming down with the condition and some even developing it in their 40s.

She carries two copies of a rare variant of the APOE gene, called the Christchurch mutation, and is the only person in the world known to do so.

In the latest study, researchers at Washington University in St Louis used genetically altered mice to show that the mutation cuts the link between the early phase of Alzheimer's, when amyloid beta collects in the brain, and the later stage, when tau tangles build up and cognitive decline starts.

Alzheimer's disease causes around two thirds of cases of dementia and is triggered by the build-up of protein clumps called plaques, which interrupt and destroy nerve cells in the brain and prevent it from functioning normally

They found that with the mutation, the brain's waste disposal cells were more efficient at getting rid of tau tangles.They found that with the mutation, the brain's waste disposal cells were more efficient at getting rid of tau tangles.

This means the woman's brain was still filled with amyloid, but she remained mentally sharp.

Dr David Holtzman, lead author of the study and professor of neurology, said: 'Any protective factor is very interesting, because it gives us new clues to how the disease works.

WHO ARE THE COLOMBIAN FAMILY PLAGUED BY EARLY-ONSET ALZHEIMER'S? An extended family consisting of around 6,000 members, who live in and around the Colombian city of Medellin in the country's Antioquia region, are known to have an inherited form of Alzheimer's disease. Scientists have found that, for decades, most members of the community have developed Alzheimer's disease in their 40s and 50s. Typically, the brain-destroying disease does not begin until someone is much older. The family, whose family tree stretches back some 300 years, have been found to have a genetic mutation which is responsible for the disease. The mutation is on a gene called presenilin 1 (PSEN1). PSEN1 is responsible for the creation of the amyloid protein which builds up to create toxic, brain-damaging clumps on the nerve cells of Alzheimer's patients. Mutations make it more likely that damaging amounts of the protein will be created, and are one of the main reasons for familial Alzheimer's disease. Some people in the Colombian family with the PSEN1 mutation were observed to develop Alzheimer's slightly later than others, lasting into late middle age, but none have yet been found to escape it completely. Sources: Nature; Stat Advertisement

'As people get older, many begin to develop some amyloid accumulation in their brains.

'Initially, they remain cognitively normal. However, after many years the amyloid deposition begins to lead to the accumulation of the tau protein.

'When this happens, cognitive impairment soon ensues. If we can find a way to mimic the effects of the APOE Christchurch mutation, we may be able to stop people who already are on the path to Alzheimers dementia from continuing down that path.'

This may lead to the creation of new drugs which imitate the impact of the mutation and stop amyloid in people's brains deteriorating into Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's builds up over roughly 30 years, with the first two decades happening silently as amyloid gathers but no negative effects are caused.

When the amount of amyloid reaches a tipping point, tau tangles will spread through the brain, causing cell death.

The brain will slow down and begin to shrink, leading to thinking and memory issues.

Dr Holtzman said: 'One of the biggest unanswered questions in the Alzheimers field is why amyloid accumulation leads to tau pathology.

'This woman was very, very unusual in that she had amyloid pathology but not much tau pathology and only very mild cognitive symptoms that came on late. This suggested to us that she might hold clues to this link between amyloid and tau.'

The researchers used mice genetically modified to overproduce amyloid and altered them to carry the human APOE gene with the Christchurch mutation.

Then they injected the mice's brains with a small amount of human tau, which would usually see tau spread throughout the brain.

However, similarly to the Colombian woman, the mice only developed minor tau spreading, despite having lots of amyloid.

The researchers realized the vital difference was how active the brain's waste disposal cells were, called microglia.

In the mice with the APOE Christchurch mutation, the microglia surrounding amyloid plaques were very efficient at getting rid of tau clusters.

Dr Holtzman said: 'These microglia are taking up the tau and degrading it before tau pathology can spread effectively to the next cell.'

'That blocked much of the downstream process; without tau pathology, you dont get neurodegeneration, atrophy and cognitive problems.

'If we can mimic the effect that the mutation is having, we may be able to render amyloid accumulation harmless, or at least much less harmful, and protect people from developing cognitive impairments.'

The study was published in the journal Cell.
MBABANE - Civil servants will smile all the way to the bank on Friday this week, as they will receive their salaries.

This was confirmed by the Ministry of Finance Communications Officer, Setsabile Dlamini. Civil servants are usually paid from the 20th to the 23rd of every month. Dlamini said civil servants should expect their salaries on Friday, December 15. This is meant to allow them to shop early for the festive season.

The National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) President, Bawinile Ndlovu, appreciated government for thinking about the welfare of employees. Ndlovu said getting their salaries early meant that they could do their shopping early, in order to reduce congestions in towns. She stated that civil servants would get all their needed essentials, so that they can allow other employees from different sectors, to make their shopping.

Adding, Ndlovu warned civil servants about effective spending, saying that as much as they needed to celebrate the festive season, they should spend within their means. She stated that there was no need to waste money, paid because they still had other responsibilities in January. Reality is that there is nothing much to celebrate during Christmas. They should celebrate within their means and further celebrate the day through worshipping God.
America's biggest pharmacies have been quietly sharing Americans' private medical records with police without their knowledge.

In what is being described as a 'staggering' breach of privacy, a congressional probe found the seven largest chains released people's sensitive information to law enforcement or federal investigators without a warrant.

While some of the pharmacy chains required their lawyers to review law enforcement requests, three of them  CVS, Kroger and Rite Aid which have 60,000 stores nationwide  said they allowed staff to hand over the records in their stores.

Senator Ron Wyden, who led the investigation, said it raised grave concerns because medical records were among the 'most personal' information for patients  revealing long-term conditions, sexual behavior and birth control.

There are now concerns that women could be hunted down by officials in states where abortions are illegal for taking abortion drugs.

Senator Ron Wyden, for the democrats, urged the administration to tighten rules around the release of medical records

They sent this letter to the Department of Health and Human Services urging them to do more to plug the gap

Sen Wyden warned the current rules allowed for a 'full blown witch hunt' by Republican states against women.

This week mother-of-two Kate Cox was forced to travel out of Texas after a court denied her an abortion for her fetus which has a fatal genetic complication.

Current rules allow law enforcement to request medical records using a subpoena.

These can be issued by court clerks or government agencies but, unlike a warrant, do not require the approval of a judge.

And unlike subpoenas, warrants require law enforcement to establish a probable cause to believe a crime has been committed before making the request.

Senators said thousands of Americans have their medical records accessed via subpoenas every year.

The most common reason these subpoenas are issued to pharmacies is because of suspected medical malpractice, workers compensation, insurance fraud or due to a criminal case.

Senator Wyden, chair of the Senate's Committee on Finance, warned: 'It turns out that the major pharmacies in the US routinely provide patient medical records to law enforcement without a warrant.

'The potential ramifications of this for anyone on birth control, medication for mental illness or other personal conditions are staggering.

'This means that law enforcement in a red state could get a woman's medical records and prosecute her for procuring abortion pills, or even birth control, if Republicans target contraception as some have promised to do.

'This would be a full blown witch hunt.'

The Senator  alongside congress members Pramila Jayapal and Sara Jacobs  urged the rule to be changed so that law enforcement must obtain a warrant before demanding medical records. Medical records release is governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (or HIPAA).

The findings of the investigation were sent to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in a letter earlier today.

A spokesman for the agency declined to comment.

For the investigation, they contacted America's seven biggest pharmacies to ask them whether demands from law enforcement were reviewed by legal professionals and if a warrant was required to share the information.

Pharmacy records hold some of the most intimate details of a patient's personal life, including years old medical conditions and the prescriptions they take for mental health and birth control.

Chains also share information across state lines, which could allow investigators to link a person's out-of-state medical care back to their home state.

The above shows how pharmacies are protecting patients' medical records

CVS was among those to say its staff faced 'extreme pressure' to respond to law enforcement officials with a subpoena immediately

Kroger also said its staff faced 'extreme pressure' to comply with the requests, admitting they did not first check with legal professionals

Five of the eight pharmacies they contacted  Amazon, Cigna, Optum Rx, Walmart and Walgreens Boots Alliance  confirmed they all required law enforcement demands for pharmacy records to be reviewed by legal professionals.

All the pharmacies stated they did not require a warrant in order to share the information.

CVS, Kroger and Rite Aid said they complied with law enforcement demands 'immediately' because of the 'extreme pressure' their staff face.

They did not require legal professionals to review the request, but added staff were told they could 'contact the legal department' if they had concerns.

Twenty-one states now have partial or full abortion bans, which have come into force after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade.

After releasing the letter, Wyden warned the current policy could lead to a witchhunt on women seeking abortions

After releasing the letter, Wyden warned the current policy could lead to a witchhunt on women seeking abortions

Fourteen states have almost total bans on abortion in place, while the remaining seven have rules prohibiting the practice.

An estimated one in three women between 15 and 44 years old live in states where abortion is partially or fully banned.

The senators fear law enforcement in these states could request women's medical records via a subpoena.

They could then use these to prosecute someone for having an abortion in a state where it is illegal.

In Texas, attorney general Ken Paxton has warned pharmacies that they could face criminal charges for providing women with 'abortion-inducing drugs'.

Kate Cox, a Dallas-area mother of two who sought abortion after learning her fetus had a fatal genetic condition, left the state on Monday because the state's lower court blocked a ruling that would have allowed her to get the procedure.

Some states, like Louisiana, Montana and Pennsylvania, offer additional protections for medical data disclosure.

The investigators said the overturning of Roe v Wade was the catalyst for them conducting the survey.

They also noted that it was already standard practice in the tech industry to notify customers when their records were requested. They said that pharmacies should not be held to a different standard.

A spokeswoman for CVS, the country's largest pharmacy chain, said it is compliant with HIPAA and that its teams are 'trained on how to appropriately respond to lawful requests from regulatory agencies and law enforcement'.

She added: 'We have suggested a warrant or judge-issued subpoena requirement be considered and we look forward to working cooperatively with Congress to strengthen patient privacy protections.'

She added that most requests for information come with a requirement to keep them confidential.
The number of passengers flying through Heathrow is just 2 per cent below pre-pandemic levels as travel continues to bounce back.

Europes busiest airport revealed 6.1m travellers jetted in and out of its terminals in November  only slightly below the 6.2m that flew in the same month of 2019.

Heathrow has enjoyed steady growth since global travel restrictions were lifted, with an increasing number of people flocking abroad.

But the latest figures come as speculation mounts that Saudi Arabias investment fund could be looking to seize majority control of the west London airport after taking a 10 per cent stake in the group last month.

Sources suggest that Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund (PIF) is in talks with other Heathrow shareholders, who are considering selling off their stakes.

All aboard: Heathrow revealed 6.1m travellers jetted in and out of its terminals in November  only slightly below the 6.2m that flew in the same month of 2019

The Saudi sovereign wealth fund, whose vast array of assets includes Newcastle United FC, agreed to pay 1billion to Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial for an initial holding in the group. Ferrovial also sold a 15 per cent stake to French buyout group Ardian.

Heathrows remaining shareholders are sovereign wealth funds from Qatar, China and Singapore, and pension funds from Quebec, Australia and the UKs Universities Superannuation Scheme. Saudi Arabia continues to expand its travel portfolio.

Heathrow has flown 72m passengers in the first 11 months of the year, which is up 30 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Business has been bolstered by major celebrations, including a surge of travellers to North America last month for Thanksgiving.

More than 50,000 passengers flew across the Atlantic from Heathrow on November 17, which was the last Friday before the holiday. Diwali also sparked a surge in travel to India.

Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye said: For so many, holidays and cultural festivities are all about spending quality time with friends and family.

Last month saw passengers travelling to celebrate Thanksgiving and Diwali with their loved ones, and we are making final preparations for the Christmas getaway.

Heathrow expects about 6.5m passengers to travel through the airport this month as the festive season gets into full swing.

This would be a 10 per cent increase on the 5.9m travellers who jetted off in December 2022, but still behind the 6.7m who flew in the festive rush of 2019 before the pandemic hit.
Shares in a Welsh car battery firm nearly tripled after it hired three former Tesla executives.

DG Innovate surged 176 per cent after it named Peter Bardenfleth-Hansen as chief executive while Christian Eidem and Jochen Rudat will join as executive directors.

All three have previously worked at the US electric car giant, with Bardenfleth-Hansen and Rudat holding senior roles at Teslas European teams.

Eidem, a former venture capitalist, worked as an advisor to both Tesla and its billionaire boss, Elon Musk.

As part of the reshuffle, DG Innovates chief Peter Tierney will become an executive director.

Power up: Welsh car battery firm DG Innovate surged 176% after it named Peter Bardenfleth-Hansen as chief exec while Christian Eidem and Jochen Rudat will join as executive directors

Chairman Nick Tulloch lauded the trios world-class track record in the electric vehicle and mobility sector.

The appointments are a major boost to the UKs tech sector, which has been accused of failing to attract talent in recent years.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: Most people will have never heard of DG Innovate yet the stock was certainly shouting from the rooftop as the market opened.

This tiny company delivered the type of news that sends small cap investors into a frenzy.

DG Innovate, which develops batteries and electric motors, also said it has raised 2.4million in funding to help the development and commercialisation of the companys technology.

This sum is more than half the companys value as of Friday last week when it was worth around 4.6million.

Based in Caerphilly, the group is developing sodium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, which are a potentially cheaper and safer alternative to widely used lithium batteries.

Rivals in the field include AIM-listed AMTE Power and privately held Northvolt.

Shares added 0.08p to 0.12p.
Members looking for face time with the new speaker would do well to attend the weekly Bible study he holds on Capitol Hill

The rise of Mike Johnson to the speakership meant the demise of the old guard in the House - Kevin McCarthy's political henchmen have taken a back seat and a new crop of conservative leaders now have the speaker's ear.

Launching five spots up from the relatively unknown and idle role of conference vice chair to speaker, Johnson has frequently said he feels like he is 'drinking from Niagara Falls' as he learns the ins and outs of the job that put him second in line to the presidency.

The new speaker's inner circle of strong Christian conservatives and border security hawks are now more powerful as they work together on the GOP's top priorities.

These are the House Republicans Johnson is closest to and whom he consults with regularly as he wrangles a difficult conference and the 435-member body:

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise

As two lifelong Louisianans, the speaker maintains close contact with his No. 2, Steve Scalise - in a vast departure from previous leadership dynamics.

The majority leader went for Johnson's current job before him but could not clinch the votes needed to become speaker. Scalise has held his seat in the House for 15 years and has been in leadership since 2014 when he first became his party's whip.

McCarthy and Scalise had a notoriously fraught relationship, with squabbles that sometimes spilled out into the public.

'He's close with his Judiciary colleagues, as well as the Louisiana delegation like Scalise, etc. He's a strong man of faith so he's gravitated towards members like that,' one source close to the speaker said.

Members looking for face time with the new speaker would do well to attend the weekly Bible study he holds on Capitol Hill.

As two lifelong Louisianans, the speaker maintains close contact with his No. 2, Steve Scalise - in a vast departure from previous leadership dynamics

House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington

Johnson also regularly consults with two committee chairs - Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas.

The relationship between Arrington, chair of the Budget Committee, and McCarthy had soured when the former speaker took the House GOP's fiscal agenda into his own hands. That left Arrington and his budget plan for the next decade on the sidelines.

Johnson is known to have tight relations with the southern delegation, and Arrington and he came to Congress at the same time in 2016. Both are devout Christians and family men and they've been friends since long before the speakership.

Arrington had thought about jumping into the speaker's race himself - as did a plethora of other Republicans over the frenzied three weeks without a leader. He ultimately decided against it and gave a nominating speech for Johnson to Republicans behind closed doors.

Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Rodgers, chairwoman of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, also gave a nominating speech for Johnson to Republicans. She and Johnson became friends shortly after he arrived in Congress in 2017, when she was serving as GOP conference chair. When Johnson became vice chair he often turned to Rodgers on how to navigate the role.

McCarthy, meanwhile, had notoriously depended on members like Reps. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., chair of the Financial Services Committee and interim speaker after his ouster, and Garrett Graves, La., for cutting deals and whipping the conference into shape.

Speaker Mike Johnson is close with Chairs Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Jodey Arrington

Classmates, Judiciary colleagues and southerners

The speaker grew close with a number of other southern Republicans who were freshman members at the same time he was - including Rep. Drew Ferguson, Ala., who is allied with Scalise and served as Republicans' chief deputy whip from 2018-2022.

He's also close with Lance Gooden, whose birthday party he went to last week. Gooden, R-Texas, took Johnson's seat on the Armed Services Committee when he became speaker and worked together on the Judiciary Committee. Gooden's wife is from Shreveport, La., Johnson's hometown.

They've been in 'consistent contact' over the Biden impeachment inquiry - which is supposed to get a full House authorization this week.

The speaker grew close with a number of other southern Republicans who were freshman members at the same time he was - including Rep. Drew Ferguson, Ala.

He's also close with Lance Gooden, whose birthday party he went to last week

Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan

Johnson is in frequent communication with the lead impeachment investigators, in particular House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, Ohio.

Jordan, like Scalise, also ran for the speakership immediately before Johnson, but failed to get the votes needed to rise to the leadership position.

But there is no bad blood between the two - in fact, Johnson was briefly a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, of which Jordan still is apart of.

However, Jordan and other Freedom Caucus-aligned Republicans have shown the first signs of public frustration with Johnson over his handling of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) reauthorization.

'We just feel like he isn't listening,' one Freedom Caucus-aligned source told DailyMail.com.

But Jordan could potentially smooth things over since his relationship with Johnson has solidified during their years on the committee together.

The other Biden impeachment managers are House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, Ky., and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, Mo.

House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik

In Johnson's previous leadership position, conference vice chair, he was Stefanik's right hand man.

Earlier this month Stefanik showed Johnson around her home state. The pair hauled in over $1.5 million - in a show of Johnson's fundraising chops in battleground New York.

The pair also did a dual interview together on 'Fox and Friends' last week where they talked George Santos, impeachment and Ukraine aid.
Radioactive substances could be smuggled out of Ukraine's besieged nuclear power plants and end up being used to create 'dirty bombs' for terror attacks in the UK if border security is not tightened across NATO territory, a nuclear expert has warned.

Dr Bahram Ghiassee, a nuclear scientist, warned that the 'unprecedented' aerial attacks on Ukrainian nuclear power plants by Russian soldiers during the war have 'severely' undermined the facilities' security.

Dr Ghiassee, an Associate Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society think tank, said this increases the risk of terrorists, proxy groups acting for 'hostile states' and organised crime syndicates gaining access to the radioactive substances.

He warned the terrorists could then illicitly traffic the nuclear materials through Europe and into the UK where they can be used for assassinations or construct radioactive 'dirty bombs' for terror attacks in major cities such as London.

'Such devices could be used in attacks on crowded public events and transport hubs in London and other major cities,' Dr Ghiassee said in a report exclusively seen by the MailOnline.

He warned that given that 45,000 migrants entered the UK illegally in 2022, there is a real risk that radioactive substances could 'easily be smuggled into the UK for 'malicious activities', including assassinations and the construction of 'dirty bombs'.

Russian serviceman guards an area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station after seizing control of the plant

A worker in a hazmat suit and gas mask is pictured during the command and staff exercises to practise actions in the event of an accident at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

Dr Ghiassee urged the UK and European countries to strengthen their borders to prevent the illicit transnational trafficking of radioactive substances in order to 'protect their national security'.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and took over one of the world's largest nuclear power plants, the world has watched with bated breath as to whether a nuclear catastrophe could occur.

Ever since Russian troops took control over Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine, Kyiv and Moscow have traded blame for shelling the facility and accused each other of nuclear terrorism.

Regular power outages resulting from shelling made it impossible to operate the plant safely, and its six reactors have been shut down to minimise the threat of a disaster.

But alarmingly, there are more than 3,000 spent nuclear fuel rods containing highly radioactive substances and plutonium stored inside metal casks inside towers at Zaporizhzhia, which are vulnerable to aerial attacks.

Dr Ghiassee said the aerial attacks on the nuclear plant and the resulting damage could make it easier for terrorists or proxy groups acting for hostile States to illicitly acquire the radioactive substances and create nuclear 'dirty bombs'.

Such a device - which has long been a nightmare scenario for counter-terror experts - combines conventional explosives with nuclear material to disperse a lethal radioactive plume.

Those close to the blast would be killed instantly while survivors would be terrified and scrambling to get away from the radioactive fallout - knowing that the material can cause serious illness such as cancer.

'These radioactive substances could be illicitly trafficked across national borders, thus posing significant security threats to Ukraine, and countries beyond its borders, including the UK,' Dr Ghiassee says, adding that terrorists could use drones to transport the nuclear matter.

'Nothing that 45,000 migrants entered the UK illegally in 2022, it is plausible that gramme-quantities of radioactive substances could easily be smuggled into the UK for malicious activities,' he added.

Dr Ghiassee warned that if the UK and Europe do not tighten their borders, the terrorists could assassinate their foes and detonate dirty bombs in major cities across the continent.

'The land and maritime borders and crossings in the UK and European NATO countries need to be strengthened to mitigate and prevent illicit transnational trafficking of radioactive substances and radioactive sources, thus protecting their national security,' Dr Ghiassee said.

He added: 'Radiation detectors are currently deployed at airports, border crossings, and maritime crossings. However, their deployment at other geographical locations needs to be considered, in order to enhance the efficacy of preventing and detecting the illicit trafficking of radioactive substances.'

Dirty bombs have long been feared as a potential weapon of terrorists because their main objective is to sow panic, confusion and anxiety by hurling radioactive dust and smoke into the atmosphere.

A local resident passes by a private house damaged in the Russian missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday

Since the full-scale invasion began, Russia has accused Ukraine, without providing evidence, that Kyiv might be planning to use a 'dirty bomb' in the war.

In response, Kyiv and its Western allies say there is no truth at all to the accusation, and that the idea that Ukraine would poison its own territory is patently absurd. They say Moscow could be making the allegation to justify an escalation of its own.

Dirty bombs are relatively primitive, imprecise weapons. They are much easier and cheaper to build than a nuclear device and also less deadly. Indeed, dirty bombs do not create city-flattening atomic explosion but are designed to spread toxic waste.

Security experts have long worried about them as a form of terrorist weapon to be used on cities to cause havoc among civilians.

'They're more of a psychological weapon,' said Scott Roeckner, vice president for the nuclear materials security program at The Nuclear Threat Initiative. 'When you're trying to scare people, intimidate people, you'd use a weapon like this.'

The radioactive dust and smoke can spread far and are dangerous if inhaled near the blasts epicentre. The radioactive cloud would likely spread over several streets, according to Roecker.

But as radioactive material spreads through the atmosphere, it becomes less concentrated and less harmful.

Key factors in radiation exposure are what type of radiation it is, how long someone is exposed to it, and whether the radiation was absorbed through the skin, inhaled or consumed orally.

The economic damage could be massive from having to evacuate urban areas or even abandon whole cities.
Vladimir Putin could deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine amid growing battlefield losses and no victory in sight in a move that could spark a Third World War, a nuclear expert has warned.

Dr Bahram Ghiassee, a nuclear scientist, said Putin could view deploying tactical nukes as a 'justified' escalation of the Ukraine war if the Russian despot feels his forces face defeat amid a continued supply of Western weapons to Kyiv.

If Putin does unleash his arsenal of 1,816 tactical nuclear weapons on Ukraine, the radioactive fallout from such a strike would threaten the lives of those living in NATO countries such as Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, Dr Ghiassee warned.

These nuclear weapons can have yields of up to 100 kilotons - five times the amount of the American atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

Dr Ghiassee, an Associate Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society think tank, said the UK and NATO could view this as a radiological attack on member states and force them to declare war on Russia under Article 5 of the military alliance's treaty.

The UK and its NATO allies could respond by deploying their own advanced nuclear missiles at Russia in a move that would spark a Third World War.

'The direct involvement of the UK deploying its advanced nuclear missiles, under the auspices of NATO, could lead to a major nuclear confrontation in Europe,' Dr Ghiassee said in a report exclusively seen by the MailOnline.

A Russian Iskander-K missile launched during a military exercise at a training ground at the Luzhsky Range, near St. Petersburg, Russia, in 2017

Dr Bahram Ghiassee, a nuclear scientist, said Putin could view deploying tactical nukes as a 'justified' escalation in the war in Ukraine if the Russian despot feels his forces face defeat amid a continued supply of Western weapons to Kyiv. Pictured: Iskander missile launchers

Ukrainian soldiers fire from the MT-12 or 2A29 gun "Rapira" is a Soviet smoothbore 100-mm anti-tank gun on December 7 in Avdiivka, Ukraine

He urged the UK to use all diplomatic ties to warn Putin against escalating the conflict further - as doing so would mean he would see the full wrath of the West.

Alan Mendoza, the Executive Director of Henry Jackson Society, told MailOnline that such a doomsday scenario will turn into a reality if Putin feels he is losing the war in Ukraine.

'If Putin's increasing desperation to win a war he is slowly losing turns to outright panic, then there are fears that he might go nuclear in order to turn the tide of battle his way,' Mendoza said.

'This is not as far-fetched as it seems. Russia has already engaged in nuclear mock exercises during the conflict, and Russian nuclear doctrine allows for the use of nuclear weapons in self-defence if the Motherland is directly threatened.

'Who knows what claims a panicked Putin fearing the collapse of his regime might make to save his own skin?'

Indeed, Putin has warned since launching his full-scale invasion of Ukraine that Moscow is ready to use 'all available means' to fend off attacks on Russian territory deemed existential - a reference to its nuclear arsenal.

Russia is thought to have around 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons - compared to America's 100 - which include bombs that can be carried by aircraft, warheads for short-range missiles and artillery rounds.

The tactical nuclear weapons are intended for use on the battlefield and have a short range and a low yield compared with much more powerful nuclear warheads fitted to long-range missiles that are capable of obliterating cities.

Moscow views them as a way of compensating for NATO's strength in advanced conventional weapons since the Cold War.

Dr Ghiassee warned that with Russia suspending its participation in the New Start, its decision to move nukes to Belarus and lower the threshold for deploying nuclear weapons, the prospect of Putin pressing the deadly button could become a reality.

'The conflict, from the outset, has been fought under the long shadow of nuclear weapons,' Dr Ghiassee said.

'The prolongation and escalation of the conflict, the supply of advanced weapons systems by the West, and the failure of the Kremlin to achieve its military objectives might be used as justification by Russia to deploy its 'battlefield' tactical nuclear weapons, with catastrophic consequences.'

Indeed, Russia has in recent years raised the threshold on their use of nuclear weapons in its security doctrine - from 'situations critical for the national security of the Russian Federation' in 2000 to the more precise 'aggression involving the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is under threat' in 2014.

For Putin, that would be losing territory such as Crimea which would in turn threaten the despot's position of power.

If Putin (pictured on December 11) does unleash his arsenal of 1,816 tactical nuclear weapons on Ukraine, the radioactive fallout from such a strike would threaten the lives of those living in NATO countries such as Hungary , Poland , Romania and Slovakia, Dr Ghiassee warned

Putin's arsenal of 5,889 nuclear weapons includes 1,816 low-yield short-range tactical nuclear weapons and Russia has claimed to have tested the nukes.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia has recently carried out exercises that involved 'delivering a massive nuclear strike by strategic offensive forces in response to an enemy nuclear strike'.

Dr Ghiassee warned that if Putin does unleash the tactical nuclear weapons on Ukraine, it wouldn't just be Ukrainians who would suffer. Radioactive fallout would likely cross westwards into NATO member countries like Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

'It could therefore be construed as a radiological weapon attack against NATO allies' and spark a Third World War, Dr Ghiassee warned.

Member nations agree that an armed attack against one or more of them 'shall be considered an attack against them all', according to Article 5 of NATO's founding treaty.

If such an attack does occur, each NATO member will assist the country or countries that have been attacked with any action it 'deems necessary'.

With multiple NATO member countries, including the UK, France and US, possessing nuclear weapons of their own, a 'devastating' Western response could follow.

Dr Ghiassee urged the UK, France and US - the permanent members of the UN Security council - to use all available diplomatic and political means to 'deescalate Russia's dangerous nuclear rhetoric'.

'The spectre of a nuclear war has been looming over Europe since the very outset of the armed conflict in Ukraine,' he said.

Mendoza agrees and told MailOnline: 'It would be better for us all therefore if Russia were to be reminded that in nuclear terms, MAD can only ever stand for Mutually Assured Destruction.

'Telling Putin credibly and firmly that he and his cronies would not survive a guaranteed Western response to such criminality today, will be the best way to prevent a nightmarish tomorrow.'

Experts have warned that Putin is preparing for a 'larger conflict' with the movement of troops and nuclear weapons into Belarus.

Officials in Moscow and Minsk have said that the warheads sent to Belarus could be carried by Belarusian Su-25 ground attack jets or fitted to short-range Iskander missiles.

The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, which has a 673 mile border with Ukraine, will allow Russian aircraft and missiles to reach potential targets there more easily and quickly if Moscow decides to use them.

It would also extend Russia's capability to target several NATO members in Eastern and Central Europe with the tactical nuclear weapons, which Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said were around five times more powerful than US atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

Putin and his cronies have warned for months that the war in Ukraine could turn into a nuclear war. The Russian despot warned in June that 'there will be no winners, including America' in a Third World War.

Putin said in a thinly veiled threat: 'The United States pretends not to be afraid of an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, but sane people there clearly do not want to take this to a Third World War.

'In the event of a Third World War, there will be no winners, including America.'

And earlier this year, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's Security Council, warned that attempts by Ukraine to reclaim control over Crimea in its counteroffensive was a 'threat to the very existence the Russian state' - something that warrants a nuclear response under the country's security doctrine.

'Every day of supplying Western weapons to Ukraine makes the nuclear apocalypse closer,' Medvedev said at the time.

Ukrainian military analysists have said that Putin's goal is to discourage Ukraine's Western allies from providing Kyiv with more weapons during their counteroffensive by using 'nuclear blackmail'.
When Dynamo buries himself alive in front of millions of viewers later this week, he will be following in some rather unfortunate footsteps.

The magician, whose real name is Steven Frayne, is set to attempt a feat that some of the greatest names in magic tried and failed to pull off.

In 1915, great American escapologist Harry Houdini kicked off the trend when he was buried without a coffin beneath six feet of earth.

But he panicked while trying to dig his way out and, by the time his hand broke the surface, he had fallen unconscious and had to be pulled free by his assistants.

British magician Alan Alan attempted the stunt again in 1949, but he too had to be rescued and was moments from death when he finally emerged, shaken but alive.

And his countryman Antony Britton had a go in 2015 but also had to be saved by rescuers, with photographers capturing the moment his hand burst through the soil.

Illusionist David Blaine had more success with a variation on the stunt in 1999, which saw him spend a week underground in a see-through coffin.

After nearly four years off the nation's TV screens due to severe health struggles, Dynamo making a comeback with a new one-off show, titled Dynamo Is Dead

Harry Houdini

Houdini performed at least three separate buried alive stunts.

After surviving his first attempt, he told in his diary how it was 'very dangerous' and the 'weight of the earth is killing'.

However, in his first variation on the stunt in 1926, he opted to submerge himself in water while inside a coffin.

At New York's Hotel Shelton, he spent more than an hour at the foot of a swimming pool and claimed not to have used any trickery.

Instead, he was said to have taken very short breaths to avoid using up all the oxygen in the coffin.

Houdini performed at least three separate buried alive stunts. After surviving his first attempt, he told in his diary how it was 'very dangerous' and the 'weight of the earth is killing'. However, in his first variation on the stunt in 1926, he opted to submerge himself in water while inside a coffin

He repeated the feat the following month and was set to enact a fourth variation in 1927, but died before he could carry it out.

A promotional poster that was produced for the hyped-up event inspired Blaine to carry out his own feat in 1999.

Houdini died in 1926 from a ruptured appendix, just days after being repeatedly hit in the abdomen by a woman who had asked if it was true that he could resist punches to his chest.

Houdini was set to enact a fourth variation in 1927, but died before he could carry it out. A promotional poster that was produced for the hyped-up event inspired Blaine to carry out his own feat in 1999

Alan Alan

The British magician, who died aged 87 in 2014, was known during his career as the 'British Houdini'.

His specialty involved escaping from a straightjacket while suspended from a burning rope high above the ground.

But he first made headlines with his attempt to echo Houdini in 1949.

In a stunt that was branded 'Houdini II buried alive' and filmed by British Pathe, Alan headed to Cobham, Surrey.

British magician Alan Alan, who died aged 87 in 2014, was known during his career as the 'British Houdini'

Alan is seen being tied up in a straightjacket for yet another daring escape attempt in 1959

After lying down in a freshly dug grave, he had a piece of cardboard placed over him before earth was shovelled back into the hole on top of him.

But, when there was no sign of him after several minutes, his assistants frantically dug him back out.

They soon realised that they had packed the earth too tightly.

Footage showed him grimacing in pain as he was pulled out of the soil.

Alan Alan hangs over the River Thames in a straight jacket, as Tower Bridge looms in the background

David Blaine

In what was his first public endurance feat, Blaine spent a whole week in a Perspex coffin underneath three tones of water outside the Trump building in Manhattan in 1999.

Then just 25, he garnered significant public attention with the stunt. Thousands of people came to watch him lying six feet beneath the ground.

When the tank that lay above him was lifted after a week, Blaine told onlookers: 'I saw something very prophetic... a vision of every race, every religion, every age group banding together and that made all this worthwhile.'

In what was his first public endurance feat, Blaine spent a whole week in a Perspex coffin underneath three tones of water outside the Trump building in Manhattan in 1999

The escapologist did not eat any food and subsisted on just two to three tablespoons of water a day.

Speaking in 2022 about what inspired him to carry out the stunt, Blaine told Joe Rogan's podcast: 'There's a poster of Houdini where he was buried alive, but he never did the stunt.

'He died before he got to do it. But he was going to be buried alive underground in a coffin.

'So I stared... I loved that poster since i was a kid, it's like in the magic books you see that poster.'

He followed the feat a year later with a stunt that saw him live for three days entombed in a block of ice in New York's Times Square.

Blaine's other escapades include standing for 35 hours on a 90ft-high pillar in 2002 - again in Manhattan - and living for 44 days in a Plexiglas box above the River Thames in 2003.

Then just 25, he garnered significant public attention with the stunt. Thousands of people came to watch him lying six feet beneath the ground. Above: Blaine in the box, with Donald Trump standing next to him

Antony Britton

In what was the second attempt to emulate Houdini's original stunt, British escapologist Antony Britton buried himself alive in 2015.

Britton went one step further than Houdini and Alan by opting to be handcuffed.

Despite insisting that he would be able to free himself, rescuers at the site in West Yorkshire had to leap into action after nine minutes passed without any sign of life.

He said afterwards: 'I almost died. I was just seconds away from death. It was scary. The pressure of the soil was crushing around me.

In what was the second attempt to emulate Houdini's original stunt, British escapologist Antony Britton buried himself alive in 2015

Despite insisting that he would be able to free himself, rescuers at the site in West Yorkshire had to leap into action after nine minutes passed without any sign of life

'Even when I found an air pocket, when I exhaled the soil around me was crushing me even more.

'I could feel myself losing consciousness and there was nothing I could do. I was pretty much dying.'

That stunt came a year after Britton nearly died when a stunt that saw him hang upside down in a straightjacket from a burning rope went wrong.

The rope burnt faster than expected and he was forced to dislocate his shoulders to free himself before he plummeted to the ground.

Dynamo

After nearly four years off the nation's TV screens due to severe health struggles, Dynamo making a comeback with a new one-off show, titled Dynamo Is Dead.

'Right now I feel happy to be alive. Albeit  I'll be ultimately happier when I come out of that grave. Touch wood,' he told the Sunday Times.

The magician is also set to ditch his long-time stage name, hence the title of the new programme.

The live show will air live at 9pm on Sky Max.
Four people with intimate knowledge of events surrounding Christina Revels-Glick's death have insisted that she did not die by suicide but was brutally murdered following a violent dispute with a 'boyfriend', DailyMail.com can reveal.

It is three weeks since footage of 36-year-old Revels-Glick's arrest for pleasuring herself on Georgia's Tybee Island beach went viral.

Bodycam footage of police cuffing her after she was reported by a beachgoer who witnessed her using her vibrator by the shore July 1, 2021, had been viewed by more than 2.5million within three days of its release.

Earlier this month her story took a tragic turn as family members told DailyMail.com that Revels-Glick had taken her own life just eight months after the humiliating incident. She had been dead for approximately 30 days before her body was found.

It seemed a sorry tale of a woman whose life had spiraled into petty crime and substance abuse.

Now, in a dramatic twist, several key witnesses have come forward to push back at Hinesville Police Department's conclusion that she died by her own hand.

Bodycam footage went viral of Christina Revels-Glick being arrested in July 2021 for pleasuring herself on Tybee Island Beach in Georgia

DailyMail.com revealed that eight months after her arrest, she was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Bloody handprints are seen in photos from her apartment

Now neighbors tell DailyMail.com they think she was brutally murdered following a violent dispute with a 'boyfriend'

The police incident report shed light on the sad truth. Revels-Glick shot herself in the head and died of a wound that appears not to have been fatal immediately. But neighbors claim it was no suicide

They include the man who found her body in her blood-spattered apartment in the small Georgia town.

And the downstairs neighbors, to whom police never spoke, who told DailyMail.com they heard a violent commotion in Revels-Glick's apartment one month earlier. They say a man whom they believed to be a boyfriend was with her that night and that they never saw her, or him, again.

Speaking to DailyMail.com Commander of Hinesville Police Department's Criminal Investigations Divisions William Oberlander admitted, 'It was not a normal suicide. If it was a suicide. '

Christina Revels-Glick was arrested in July 2021 for pleasuring herself on Tybee Beach in Georgia

There was such a vast amount of blood - pooled in the bedroom and living room, spattered around the bathroom's sink and surfaces, smeared on mirrors, and tracked through the hallway where her body lay - that one seasoned police officer told DailyMail.com it was, 'like Helter Skelter.'

Commander Oberland continued, 'We don't know if she shot herself on purpose or if she shot herself accidentally.' For him that is the only unanswered question.

But he can see, he said, why someone surveying where she died might view the scene as proof that Revels-Glicks was the victim of an attack and had fought and lost a violent battle for her life.

Certainly, that's what downstairs neighbor Jonathan Johnson, 36, thinks happened. And he believes he heard the attack in action. He said, 'I believe that dude killed her. We heard a lot of commotion that one night then we never saw her or heard her again.'

Johnson's wife Jasmine, 34, claimed, 'I asked, ''Should we call the police?'' But you're not sure sometimes, like if you get involved maybe you'll get hurt too.'

Johnson continued, 'That guy was there all the time, and his car was over here that night. When we came out the next day it was gone.

'There was a lot of commotion on that particular day, and we were like, 'Shall we call the police?' But we weren't sure.

'We used to hear her walking around up there, she had a heavy kind of walk. That night it was like a lot of heavy walking and moving around going off. After that it was just silent up there.'

It would be roughly a month before Revels-Glick's landlady Felicity Rollins, Rollins's boyfriend and family friend, Gareth White, discovered the awful truth on March 31, 2022.

Gareth White, landlady Felicity Rollins' boyfriend, said, 'I've seen someone shoot themselves in the head right in front of me and you just drop. You don't go moving around all over the place'

Revels-Glick's landlord found her decomposing remains amid an horrific scene of an apartment spattered and trailed with blood after entering the home because she had failed to pay rent

Speaking to DailyMail.com truck-driver White, 47, a military veteran with four tours of Iraq, explained, 'I used to live in the apartments just across the way  I gave the lady the keys when she moved in. She was slim, beautiful, full of life.

'I know she was excellent about paying her rent on time so Felicity knew something was wrong when she was late, and she couldn't make contact with her.

'I told her I'll go up there with you.'

Records show that Rollins had requested a welfare check on her tenant two weeks earlier.

Hinesville Police Department records seen by DailyMail.com show that they visited Revels-Glick's' apartment on March 19 and that 'negative contact was made.' There appears to have been no follow up.

White recalled, 'I was sitting waiting in my truck when Felicity and her boyfriend came back down and said, 'Something's wrong. We think there's a dead body in there.' They'd pretty much turned straight around when they opened the door. I didn't believe it. I thought they were messing so I went up.'

White knew they were telling the truth as soon as he reached the second floor and the partially opened door  which was unlocked when Rollins had tried it.

Whitney Phillips does not believe that what she saw when she entered the apartment aligns with the police finding of suicide

He said, 'That smell just hits you. I knew there was something very wrong. I walked in and past the kitchen which kind of opens onto the living room. Then round to the right there's a mirror on the wall and I saw blood on it and thought, that ain't good.

'I looked further round to the right, and she was laid out right there in the hallway. She was bloated. I saw her when she was skinny.'

White's military training kicked in as, he said, 'my antennae went up and I started looking, doing room clearance making sure no-one was there.'

He said, 'I'm looking around, went into the bathroom, the main bedroom and there was a little bit of blood there.

'To me, the way she was, where she was, and the blood on the mirrorit looked like she was trying to struggle to get to the phone or the door or something.

'It's like she was walking, or crawling to try to get somewhere, get away, something.

'I got out of there and said, 'We got to call the police.'

White said he considered taking photographs to make sure that what he was seeing was preserved but that he decided against it as, despite all he has seen overseas, he didn't want the scene in that apartment, to 'haunt' him.

White's recollection chimes with Hinesville Police Department's crime scene photographs and incident report, obtained by DailyMail.com which states, 'There was 'a large amount of blood' on the living room floor, 'two separate blood trails leading in both directions in the hallway,' and 'blood [was] observed in the guest bedroom on a chair, desk and computer.'

The report says that a pistol was found lying on the master bedroom bed and notes, 'A hole was also observed in the roof directly above the bed. On the opposite side of the hallway a decomposing female body (later identified as Ms Christina Revels-Glick) was observed laying on the ground.'

It notes that Revels-Glick had 'an exit wound from a bullet on her forehead.'

White said that he did not recall seeing any gun nor any obvious head wound though admitted a small caliber firearm (the bullet was 9mm) may not cause the sort of catastrophic damage one might assume accompanies a gunshot wound.

In fact, it may well be that Revels-Glick's advanced state of decomposition and the shock of her discovery, simply made it impossible for White to see the damage done.

Because, according to the autopsy seen by DailyMail.com, there was a 'gaping 1- 1 1/2-inch entrance wound,' on Revels-Glicks's chin. The report states that the bullet traveled through her 'skin, soft tissue of the floor of the mouth, hard palate, anterior cranial fossa, dura, brain, and frontal bone before exiting the forehead.'

Speaking to DailyMail.com Commander of Hinesville Police Department's Criminal Investigations Divisions William Oberlander admitted, 'It was not a normal suicide. If it was a suicide.'

The resultant injuries were devastating but, according to Cmdr. Oberlander, not immediately fatal.

He explained, 'I believe the injury she sustaineddidn't kill her instantly and simply with the shock and trauma of that, she got up, she probably couldn't see or was fairly hindered in what she could see, and she either tried calling for help or tried to do something [to stop the bleeding]. But there was just a tremendous amount of blood.'

It's a scenario that White cannot accept He said, 'I've seen someone shoot themselves in the head right in front of me and you just drop. You don't go moving around all over the place.

'To me what I saw doesn't match up with her killing herself like that. To me, all that blood, her being laid out like thatit looked like somebody who had been attacked. It looked violent.'

Perhaps it is just too awful to consider that a person did indeed suffer such an awful, protracted death alone and at their own hand.

Revels-Glick's landlady, Rollins, 25, was so traumatized by what she witnessed in the apartment that night that, according to her sister Whitney Phillips, 36, she has never been back to it.

Instead, she asked Phillips, who also lives locally, to go there to let crime scene cleaners into the apartment once police had removed the body and concluded their investigation.

Phillips does not believe that what she saw when she entered the apartment aligns with the police finding of suicide. She said, 'There was blood in every room in that apartment but there were other things, like unopened packages, things for the apartment, like she was expecting still to do things.

'Why would she be ordering stuff for the house? Why would she still be paying her bills if she was planning to kill herself? She was never late on rent.'

Phillips said she was surprised to see two cell phones sitting in plain sight next to a packet of cigarettes. She said, 'Wouldn't the police have taken them to go through her calls or her texts? Why would you leave them when they might have contained evidence?'

Search warrants reviewed by DailyMail.com show that police recovered two cell phones, one laptop, a box of jewelry, one silver watch, one gold watch, keys, and a box of bullets from the scene.

Phillips also said that she had called the police following a conversation she had with the downstairs neighbors who told her of that violent altercation they had heard a month earlier.

She said, 'I called and said you should speak to them. I told them everything the man told me that night, but they didn't call back or follow up and I didn't hear nothing else.'

Cmdr. Oberlander said he did not recall anybody coming forward to shed light on any such thing.

According to Phillips, 'I didn't sleep right for a week after seeing the inside of that apartment. You could see the marks on the wall where her body had been, and on the carpet where it had laid.

'To me it looks like she was panicking, trying to get away, trying to save her life. Why would she be moving through the house like that? That doesn't make no sense.'

But to Cmdr. Oberlander it does. It fits the bleak narrative of a woman who may have intended to kill herself in an instant but failed to do so and suffered; or a woman who shot herself accidentally and was left to struggle in horror with the aftermath.

He said, 'Maybe she was thinking about [suicide] or maybe she was just playing with the gun. It's clear based on the history we did of her that she had a few problems and a few things in her life she would have probably changed if she could.'

Her family members say the Tybee Beach incident did not lead to her death, but instead she fell into alcohol and drug abuse

White drew a diagram of Christina's apartment to show where he found her decomposing body

Her death certificate listed Christina's cause of death as suicide, though polic admit it wasn't a normal suicide

There is little doubt that Revels-Glicks, a divorced mother of two sons  one 15, the other 19 - led a chaotic and troubled life in the years preceding her death.

One family member told DailyMail.com that she had been 'wild' and 'reckless,' leaving what could have been a 'nice life' in Savannah, for an increasingly transient existence.

Records show that Revels-Glick had numerous brushes with the law in Georgia and Florida, where she was deemed a fugitive from justice having been accused of stealing a car in 2018. And she was arrested on more than one occasion as well as cited for public drunkenness that same year.

Chatham County Court records also show several civil filings against her including suits pursuing her for unpaid rent, damage to property and stolen property.

In one instance repeated attempts to find and serve Revels-Glick - who appears to have re-partnered by 2017 and was going under the name Glick-Revels Snell -proved unsuccessful.

In July 2018 and in her absence the court ruled against her and her then partner  to whom DailyMail.com could find no record of marriage - to the tune of $11,051.71.

By January 2019, having now reverted to the name Revels-Glick, she was sued in Savannah by Harmony Towne Homeowners Association for breach of contract, but the case was dismissed as, again, court officers were unable to locate her.

The Johnsons recall that there was 'a lot of traffic' in and out of her apartment with many men visiting. Johnson said, 'I don't know what she did for work and I'm not judging but there were a lot of men and we heard she worked at a strip-club too.'

But he added, 'She was always nice to talk to, always smiled, said hello to our kids when she was coming in and out.'

And according to Phillips, her sister told her that Revels-Glick was a model tenant. She said, 'She told my sister she was getting her life back together, but she had nowhere to go so that's why she was subleasing from her. She always paid on time; she was no trouble.

'To me it's just so sad. I was crying after I saw what I saw. I didn't even know the lady but to think that a person died right there and didn't get found for so long.

'Did she cry out for help? I just imagined the pain and suffering because she bled. She bled a lot.'

Cmdr. Oberlander shares Phillips's sense of the horror of the scene, he said, 'She suffered a traumatic injury, and she flailed about the inside of that apartment at least to the front living room, through the hallway twice and into the bathroom once, maybe twice.'

But while the civilian witnesses focus on what they saw, the cops looked just as keenly towards what they did not see.

According to Cmdr. Oberlander, 'There is nothing to indicate that she was the victim of a violent crime.

'We never found any indication that there was anyone else present in that apartment. The doors were locked and there was no sign of forced entry.'

The few valuables' Revels-Glick possessed were left untouched and in plain sight.

He continued, 'There were no handprints or footprints, anything that would indicate a second person inside that apartment.

'The blood came to just the front portion of the living room, nothing at the front door, nothing at the back door.

'If somebody was there to do her harm, wouldn't they have shot her a second time?'

Cops never dusted the gun for prints but were confident that there had been nobody else present when it was fired.

Oberlander said, 'If you were going to run from the apartment there would be blood going down the stairs, or blood on the back patio or something.

'And shooting somebody underneath the chin when you're going to kill them is not the norm.'

Yet by Cmdr. Oberlander's own admission the scene was not 'the norm' for a suicide either.

It was not the norm, and it was not swift and whether it was the result of an intentional or accidental act it was a brutal end to a once promising life.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will make a last-minute plea to Congress on Tuesday for a weapons package to continue his fight against Russia as nearly half of Americans say the U.S. has already spent too much on the war-torn nation.

His in-person visit, the third since the war began, will be his most crucial and is a sign of how dire the White House believes the situation: both to get Zelensky his funding and how critical that money is to hold off Russian forces.

But a Financial Times-Michigan Ross poll found that 48% of voters said the U.S. was spending 'too much' on sending financial and military aid to Ukraine. And a Pew Poll found only 31% of Americans say the same but - when broke down further - 48% of Republicans said there was too much spending on Kyiv.

President Joe Biden has asked Congress for $61.4 billion for Ukraine as part of a $110 billion package that also includes money for Israel and other national security priorities.

The money is caught up a debate over U.S. immigration policy and border security with no sign of a deal in sight. And Congress is scheduled to leave town at the end of this week for the rest of the year.

Many Republican lawmakers, particularly in the House, argue that enough American money has been spent on Ukraine and it's better off being spent at home. Those GOP lawmakers are trying to tie border security to the funding package for Kyiv and Israel.

The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion for its fight since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded the country in February 2022.

But the Biden administration has warned that a failure to renew military assistance to Ukraine could tip the nearly two-year-old war in Russia's favor, creating national security threats for the West.

'This cannot wait,' Biden said in an impassioned, televised address at the White House on Wednesday.

'Frankly, I think it's stunning that we've gotten to this point in the first place, where Republicans in Congress are willing to give Putin the greatest gift he could hope for.'

Zelensky said he would tell Biden and lawmakers about the achievements he can see Ukraine winning in the next year.

'I'm confident that freedom can be stronger than any of its enemies,' he said.

Zelensky will begin his day on Capitol Hill, attending an all-senators meeting after a joint invitation from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. He'll then meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Then he heads to the White House for an Oval Office meeting with Biden and a joint press conference with the president.

'This is exactly the right time to have President Zelensky in town to have these discussions because of what's going on in Ukraine, the increased activity we're seeing by the Russian armed forces as winter approaches, but also what's going on Capitol Hill,' National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Monday.

United States President Joe Biden and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine at a September Oval Office meeting

Biden's budget director Shalanda Young said on Dec. 4 that the US would run out of resources to assist Ukraine by the end of the calendar year.

By mid-November, the U.S. Defense Department had used 97% of $62.3 billion in supplemental funding and the State Department had used all of the $4.7 billion in military assistance funding for Ukraine it had been allocated, she noted.

The U.S. has supplied roughly half of the military aid to Ukraine and it's unlikely any other country could make up the difference. Additionally the U.S. has sent American weapon systems, which need U.S. ammunition.

The Biden administration is going all out to get Zelensky's war funded.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, appearing on the Sunday political talk shows, warned that the clock is ticking.

'This is a time to really step up because if we don't, we know what happens. Putin will be able to move forward with impunity and we know he won't stop in Ukraine,' Blinken said.

But Republicans appeared to be standing firm ahead of Zelensky's meetings with them. The right-wing, led by 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump, has dramatically soured against Ukraine's cause.

'What's in America's best interest is to accept Ukraine is going to have to cede some territory to the Russians and we need to bring the war to a close,' Senator JD Vance, a close Trump ally, said Sunday.

'If Congress needs to delay votes on the security supplemental to reach an agreement on border security, so be it. Risks from an unsecured border are simply too great,' wrote Republican Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska on X.

Zelensky's wife is also making a plea to Europe as Hungry threats to veto a vote in the European Union to approve $50 billion in aid for Ukraine.

'We really need the help,' Olena Zelenska told the BBC over the weekend. 'In simple words, we cannot get tired of this situation, because if we do, we die.'

She added: 'It hurts us greatly to see the signs that the passionate willingness to help may fade.'

As President Zelensky headed to Washington DC on Monday the Russian military hit Kyiv with its most intense salvo of ballistic missiles in months.

All eight missiles aimed at the city of 3.3 million people were shot down, the Ukrainian military said.

In his first public appearance in America on Monday, Zelensky warned that failure to help his country defeat Russia is fulfilling Vladimir Putin's 'dreams' of wrecking democracy in Europe.

'Let me be frank with you, friends  if there's anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill, it's just Putin and his sick clique,' Zelensky told the National Defense University. 'They see their dreams come true when they see delays.'

'When the free world hesitates, that's when dictatorships celebrate.'

'Let me be frank with you, friends  if there's anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill, it's just Putin and his sick clique,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said

President Zelensky will attend an all-senators meeting after a joint invitation from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (left) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (center). He'll then meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson (right)

Russian President Putin appeared in a video circulated online Sunday where he said Ukraine will only grow weaker as Russia grows stronger and sipped champagne

Zelensky said politicians should not 'betray the soldier' as he pointed to the drying up U.S. being cheered by Putin.

'You can count on Ukraine and we hope just as much to be able to count on you,' Zelensky said. 'Putin must lose.'

His warning came ahead of his meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Brown at the National Defense University.

He wore his trademark army style green sweatshirt, emblazoned with the words 'I'm Ukrainian,' and flew into Washington after a round of diplomacy this weekend in Argentina.

Putin, meanwhile, appeared in a video circulated online Sunday where he said Ukraine will only grow weaker as Russia grows stronger.

'When you don't have your own foundations, you don't have your own ideology, you don't have your own industry, you don't have your own money,' he said, holding a glass of champagne in his hand. 'You don't have anything that's your own. Then you don't have a future, but we have a future.'
Two GOP-led committees are pushing different versions of their reauthorization bills and Johnson plans to put both on the floor in the spring

The NDAA will include a short-term extension of the tool until April

House Freedom Caucus-aligned Republicans showed the first signs of public frustration with Johnson's handling of FISA reauthorization

Speaker Mike Johnson has a critical test ahead of him as he navigates competing Republican priorities in legislation to reauthorize an important FBI spy tool.

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) specifically allows intelligence agencies to engage in warrantless surveillance. It's intended for use on foreign citizens to stop terror attacks, but countless Americans have been caught up in it.

FISA is set to expire at the end of the year unless Congress takes action - and Republicans want key reforms included so that there won't be future abuses of the program.

But here's where it gets tricky - two GOP-led committees are pushing different versions of their reauthorization bills.

Earlier Monday Speaker Johnson had plans to put both on the floor this week - one from Judiciary and one from Intel - in a 'queen of the hill' style setup to see what bill gets more support. But after pushback on that decision, neither bill will come up for a vote this week.

That decision comes after far-right House Freedom Caucus-aligned Republicans showed the first signs of frustration with Johnson over his handling of FISA reauthorization.

Speaker Johnson has said that he is supportive of the short-term extension to get the FISA renewal bill in a better place before final passage

'We feel like he isn't listening,' one member who is supportive of the Judiciary bill told DailyMail.com.

Days after saying he would not include FISA extension in the nation's must-pass defense bill, the NDAA, Johnson reversed course and said the sprawling legislation would include extension of FISA until April 19.

As a result, the Freedom Caucus issued an ominous threat in opposition to the NDAA's inclusion of FISA.

'Any reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) must be considered only with significant reforms and as a standalone measure,' the statement said.

'Under no circumstances should an extension be attached to 'must pass' legislation such as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA),' the roughly 50-member caucus said in a statement.

'The members of the House Freedom Caucus are prepared to use all available leverage to change the status quo.'

Now, to fix FISA in the longer term and appease his farther-right colleagues, Johnson plans to put the competing bills on the House floor and see which one gets more votes.

FISA reauthorization is a rare debate where the two sides do not fall along party lines, and Democrats are in support of both the Intel and Judiciary plans.

Many Republicans do not agree with the approach of putting two committee chairs' bills on the floor.

'We need to extend [FISA] for four months and agree on one bill,' Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., told DailyMail.com. 'The majority don't know the specifics that Intel knows and Judiciary knows.'

Asked why Johnson 'can't make any decisions,' Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan told reporters: 'You'd have to ask him that.'

Johnson wrote in a dear colleague letter Thursday that he would bring both the Intel and Judiciary bills to the floor 'under a special rule that provides members a fair opportunity to vote in favor of their preferred measure.'

He also said the NDAA extension provides 'the necessary time to facilitate the reform process in a manner that will not conflict with our existing appropriations deadlines and other conflicts.'

Judiciary lawmakers' version of the bill addresses issues that Section 702 threatens constitutional rights to privacy to allow U.S. intelligence officials to dig up dirt on Americans in the database without a warrant.

Others, especially those on the House Intelligence Committee, believe any lapse in FISA reauthorization could threaten national security.

The House Judiciary Committee led by Jim Jordan advanced a bill last week that would overhaul the law by requiring surveillance warrants except in the case of a cybersecurity threat or any other potential immediate harm.

The Intelligence Committee's bill led by Mike Turner would reauthorize Section 702 for eight years and would require the FBI to show probable cause before searching for Americans in the database.

The House Judiciary Committee led by Rep. Jim Jordan advanced a bill last week

House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner told DailyMail.com that reforms will 'significantly lessen' abuses of FISA

FISA has also been under scrutiny since its separate authority under Title I also led to the controversial surveillance of former Trump advisor Carter Page.

A letter first obtained by DailyMail.com last week from the hard-hitting Trump officials Bill Barr, Robert O'Brien, Mike Pompeo and others to Johnson urges the new speaker to endorse a renewal that includes meaningful reforms - but no warrant requirements they say could 'hinder national security.'

The Intelligence Committee's version also has the backing of top law enforcement groups including the Major County Sheriffs of America, National Sheriffs' Association, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association and the NY Uniformed Firefighters Association.
MANZINI  The services of a civil servant under the Ministry of Health, who was found with two boxes of medical supplies during a police raid, have been terminated.

The civil servant was said to have been found in possession of various medical supplies, which he is suspected to have intended to sell for his own benefit. According to sources, the civil servant was found with the two boxes of medical supplies during the annual routine raids conducted by the police. The raids, it has been gathered, are conducted in all the homesteads surrounding Lusekwane route to Masundvwini before Incwala. It was said on January 4, 2023, when conducting the raids, the police came to a homestead where the civil servant resided.

Sources informed this publication that the Ministry of Health employee rented a flat at the homestead and when the police raided it, they found two boxes filled with pharmaceutical supplies and medical drugs. The raids were conducted in areas surrounding Matsapha, which included Masundvwini, Eteni and New Village. It was gathered that when he was questioned on the ownership of the contents of the boxes, the health employee failed to account for its source or provide proof of purchase.

Scrutinised

The sources stated that when the police scrutinised the contents of the boxes, they discovered that some of the medication included donated items, such as the prime safe primary infection controls, which were valued at E1 658.26. The police also found items which included hydrogen peroxide, paracetamol syrup, cetirizine dihydrochloride, ibuprofen, magnesium hydroxide, calamine lotion, folic acid, providone iodine (1 000 ml) and pyrazinamide. Also among the items were various units of praziquantel, contrimoxazole, isoniazid, albendazole tablets, erythomycine tablets, acyclovir tablets, ferrous sulphate 200mg tablets, ferrous sulphate and folic acid, pyridoxine and aspirin.

The quantity of the items was mostly in singular or two units, with the highest quantity being 11 calamine lotions. There were suspicions that the civil servant, whose name is known to this publication and has been deliberately withheld, had submitted a list of medication to the Central Medical Stores (CMS), to be supplied with it. The list was purported to have not been authorised by his employer and it resulted in him being in possession of the two boxes of pharmaceutical supplies and medical drugs at his rented flat. It was gathered that the health employees work and duty station had a limited need for him to possess medication as he was employed at the Blood Bank.

In February 2023, the Auditor General (AG), Timothy Matsebula, presented his Forensic Investigation Proposal and Audit of Acquisition, Distribution and Management of Pharmaceuticals Report, where he stated that drugs worth E151.6 million were missing and or unaccounted for, in public health facilities around the country. It is also not the first instance a Ministry of Health employee was found to be using medical drugs and pharmaceutical supplies for personal gain. This publication last year reported that a nurse employed by government brought her own medicines to a pharmacy, which she moonlighted at on weekends. This was detailed in the Retail Pharmacy Survey in May 2022, which reported a litany of findings that were against the legislation set to safeguard public health.

Arrested

Also, at the height of COVID -19, a civil servant under the employ of the Ministry of Health was arrested for the theft of personal protective equipment (PPE), among other items, which were meant for cadres in public health facilities. Furthermore, as the acute shortage of medical drugs and supplies was being reported by this publication, following a number of investigations, insinuations that some of the medication was being stolen to be supposedly sold to mushrooming pharmacies in the various parts of the country started doing the rounds.

This led to an investigation by the ministry, wherein it was uncovered that, among the many one-room retail pharmacies, some had no records of where they sourced their stock while others were owned by civil servants in the health sector.

Meanwhile, subsequent to the raid by law enforcers, the civil servant was slapped with three charges by his employer which included; dishonesty in that he contravened Section 49 (g) of the Public Service Act 5 of 2018 and Section 36 (b) of the Employment Act of 1980, as amended. Section 49 (g) states that; It is misconduct for a public officer to engage in a dishonest act, violence, threats or ill treatment towards the employer of the officer, or towards any member of the family of the employer or any other employee of the undertaking in which the officer is employed.

On the other hand, Section 36 (b) of the Employment Act of 1980, as amended, states that; It shall be fair for an employer to terminate the services of an employee for any of the following reasons because the employee is guilty of a dishonest act, violence, threats or ill treatment towards his employer, or towards any member of the employers family or any other employee of the undertaking in which he is employed. The civil servant was said to have engaged in these act between the months of November and December 2022, where he supposedly submitted a list to the CMS with 22 items, which were not authorised. The medical supplies which were reportedly found in the two boxes are valued at E11 878.48.

He was also charged for contravening Section 49 (c) and (m) the Public Service Act 5 of 2018 as well as Section 36 (l) of the Employment Act of 1980. Section 49 (c) of the Public Service Act 5 of 2018 states that; It is misconduct for a public officer to use, without the consent of the prescribed authority, any property or facilities provided for the purposes of the public service for some purpose not connected with the official duties of the officer while Section 49 Sub-section (m) states that; It is misconduct for a public officer to engage in any private activity during working hours or outside working hours using government property or equipment.

Terminate

On the other hand, Section 36 (l) of the Employment Act of 1980 states that; It shall be fair for the employer to terminate the services of an employee for any other reason which entails for the employer or the undertaking similar detrimental consequences to those set out in this section. The second count was said to emanate from the fact that in the employees rented flat in Matsapha, he was found in possession of government medicines, which he supposedly intended to sell for his personal gain. It has been also gathered that the civil servant was charged with misconduct, which brought the public service into disrepute. It was said his act of being found in possession of the medicines, which subsequently resulted in his arrest, resulted in him contravening Section 48 of the Public Service Act of 2018 and Section 36 of the Employment Act of 1980.

Section 48 of the Public Service Act of 2018 states that; Any act done without reasonable excuse by a public officer, which amounts to a dereliction of duty or failure to perform to proper in a proper manner any duty imposed upon the public officer as such, or which contravenes any enactment relating to the public service or which is otherwise pre-judicial to the efficient conduct of the public service tends to bring the public service into disrepute shall constitute misconduct or unsatisfactory service.
Humza Yousaf has risked damaging the UKs standing on the international stage by holding private talks with foreign leaders, the Scottish Secretary has said.

The First Minister is alleged to have broken strict Foreign Office rules five times during the Cop28 summit.

The rules require Foreign Office officials to be present during meetings with overseas leaders and representatives.

It comes after Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron threatened to prevent the Scottish Government from operating mini embassies within UK Government premises abroad unless it sticks to the rules.

There was outrage yesterday over dangerous private talks about Israel between Mr Yousaf and the president of Turkey.

Not one, not two  but FIVE blatant offences

Five breaches of protocol at Cop28 by Humza Yousaf, who met, clockwise from top left: Pakistans acting PM Shehbaz Sharif; Najib Mikati, Lebanons PM; EC president Charles Michel; Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission chief; Turkeys president Erdogan

Alister Jack Secretary of State for Scotland said yesterday the meeting was just one of five occasions when the First Minister breached protocol during talks with world leaders at Cop28

SNP ministers also faced calls to slash their 35million-a-year international and European relations budget and to redirect the money towards devolved services instead.

At a meeting of Westminsters Scottish Affairs Committee yesterday, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: Foreign affairs is reserved under the Scotland Act and it is important for the UK  the United Kingdom  to speak on the world stage with one consistent voice.

It is wholly unacceptable for the Scottish Government to promote foreign policies which are at odds with the United Kingdom Government. It risks causing confusion and it damages the UKs standing in the world.

At the weekend, Lord Cameron threatened to throw Scottish Government officials out of overseas Foreign Office premises if there are any further breaches of the agreed protocol whereby officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) are notified about meetings SNP ministers have with foreign governments  and sit in on the meetings.

His warning came after Mr Yousaf met Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the Cop28 summit in the United Arab Emirates without FCDO officials being present.

Mr Erdogan has branded the Wests approach to events in Gaza as barbarism and accused Israel of behaving like a war criminal.

The First Minister said he and Mr Erdogan discussed the humanitarian catastrophe and called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire  in direct contrast to the UK position on the issue.

Mr Jack said yesterday the meeting was just one of five occasions when the First Minister breached protocol during talks with world leaders at Cop28. He said he supports Lord Camerons stance 100 per cent.

Although the Scottish Government said FCDO officials were invited to the talks between Mr Yousaf and the Turkish president, Mr Jack said the notice was issued at the last minute and there wasnt enough time to get there.

He told the committee chairman Pete Wishart: But it wasnt the only offence. Without Foreign Office officials present, there was a meeting with [European Commission president] Ursula von der Leyen, [European Council president] Charles Michel, the prime minister of Lebanon and the acting prime minister of Pakistan.

So there were five different occasions where meetings happened with foreign ministers without an official [from the FCDO]. If there arent to be any sanctions, all the Scottish Government have to do is take Foreign Office officials to their meetings.

Mr Jack said he understood the UK Government only became aware of the five meetings on the First Ministers Twitter page. Labour peer Lord Foulkes said Mr Yousafs meeting with Turkeys president was dangerous and the First Minister had become his useful idiot in the UK.

Mr Yousaf said yesterday the approach from Lord Cameron is really petty and, frankly, misguided.
More than 100 officers have applied to join a single force in Australia amid warnings of a mass exodus from Police Scotland, the Mail can reveal.

The huge contingent all submitted applications to Western Australia Police in the past year.

The force, which is based in East Perth, launched an international recruitment drive targeting applicants from the UK, Ireland and New Zealand in October 2022.

Its commissioner, Col Blanch, said he wanted skilled, experienced constables to work on the frontline to help cover the biggest policing jurisdiction in the world.

Police Scotland is in the midst of a recruitment freeze

There have already been 750 applications to join the Western Australia Police Force, and five Scots officers work there already

Western Australia Police Force has so far received 750 applications, with five Scottish police officers having already started work.

David Threadgold, chair of the Scottish Police Federation, representing rank-and-file officers, said: For 100 serving Police Scotland officers to look for alternative employment in a single Australian police force should be a stark warning to the Scottish Government, the Scottish Police Authority and the police service of Scotland as to the situation we currently face.

We are in the midst of a recruitment freeze and officers are being stretched to the limit. Our own dialogue with officers leaving the service suggests the three main causes are pension changes, resourcing levels and workload.

He added: I fully expect similar challenges will exist in Australia, but as long as Police Scotland remains chronically underfunded by the Scottish Government, and without significant internal reform, we will continue to nurture a situation where our officers will consider taking the plunge Down Under.

Those who apply to Western Australia Police Forces recruitment scheme can go on a pathway towards Australian citizenship, which otherwise can be difficult to acquire.

Police Scotland warned earlier this month that without a funding boost of 128million, officer numbers could fall by almost 1,500  equal to around 6.4 per cent of the total.

The force, however, rejected claims that it is struggling to retain officers.

A spokesman said: As with all sectors, people leave policing for all sorts of reasons. However, retention levels within Police Scotland are very high compared with other organisations.

The proportion of officers leaving through resignation has been falling every year and an internal survey found high levels of job satisfaction.

Scottish Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay said: Its little wonder so many Scottish police officers are being tempted to quit and move to the other side of the world, given the drastic impact of the SNPs mismanagement of Scottish policing.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: The rate of voluntary resignations among officers in Scotland is around half that of officers in England and Wales.
Preparations are underway as Cyclone Jasper inches towards the Queensland coast, bringing the threat of flash floods, thunderstorms and gale-force winds.

The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted the storm would make landfall on Wednesday within a 400km stretch of coastline between Cooktown and Innisfail.

The system weakened to a category one as it moved west towards the coast over the weekend but is expected to re-intensify before making landfall near Port Douglas, north of Cairns, as a category two by Wednesday afternoon.

When category two tropical cyclones make landfall, you can expect:

Severe Wind Speeds: Average wind speeds ranging from 89 to 117 km/h, accompanied by gusts reaching 125164 km/h.

Average wind speeds ranging from 89 to 117 km/h, accompanied by gusts reaching 125164 km/h. Damage Potential: Minor damage to houses and significant damage to signs, trees, caravans, and certain crops.

Minor damage to houses and significant damage to signs, trees, caravans, and certain crops. Power Outage Risk: There is a risk of power failures due to the impact of the cyclone.

Supermarket shelves in Cairns have been stripped bare of essentials like bottled water and canned goods however some items are still available (pictured)

There remains a 'slim' chance the cyclone could develop into a category three.

'If the system is slower and crosses on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning there is a slight chance that it will intensify into a category 3 before crossing,' a Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson explained.

'That's just something we will be keeping an eye on today.'

Gale-force winds of up to 150km/h are expected to hit several communities from Tuesday in Wujai Wujai, Wonga, Port Douglas, Cairns, Babinda, Innisfail, Ravenshoe, Herberton, Atherton and Mareeba from early tomorrow morning.

Damaging winds up to 120km/h will also threaten coastal areas between Cape Flattery and Townsville, extending inland to Palmerville and Chillagoe.

Ports in Mourilyan, Cairns, Port Douglas, Cooktown and Cape Flattery are closed.

Heavy rain that could develop into flash flooding is due to develop on Wednesday between Cape Flattery and Cardwell with 24-hour totals exceeding 250mm.

Gail force winds are expected to move inland as the cyclone crosses.

'Cyclone Jasper will weaken as it heads inland on Thursday. It will be heading towards the Gulf of Carpentaria, continuing on a westward trajectory,' the bureau said.

Residents are not only facing the threat of dangerous winds before the storm makes landfall, but Jasper has also generated a storm tide that is currently impacting coastal areas from Cooktown to Townsville.

A storm surge or tide is when coastal waters rise above highest tide levels because of a cyclone, developing 'tsunami-like waves' that travel inland.

The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted Cyclone Jasper (pictured) would make landfall on Wednesday within a 400km stretch of coastline between Cooktown and Innisfail

Pictured is the red zone in path of cyclone

'Large waves may produce minor flooding along the foreshore. People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to help their neighbours,' the bureau said.

Those in the Cairns region have been told the storm surge could occur in any of the regions indicated by the red, orange and yellow zones on the disaster warning map.

Port Douglas has also been named a possible storm surge 'red zone'.

'Storm surge is a threat to life and property,' a warning posted to the Cairns Disaster Centre Facebook page said.

Evacuation centres have been set up across the region, with Deputy Premier Steven Miles warning of a significant risk of flash flooding when Jasper makes landfall.

'It will then progress across the Cape, affecting some of the most vulnerable Queensland communities,' he said.

Swiftwater rescue teams and extra police and power crews have been sent to the state's north in anticipation of the wild weather.

Preparations are well underway in the far north where there are fears up to 500mm of rain will fall in some areas.

Sandbags have been provided in Cairns where about 15,000 properties are at risk of storm surge flooding with a king tide predicted.

There remains a 'slim' chance the cyclone (pictured) could develop into a category 3, prompting authorities to take considerable precautions

The Cairns hospital is also vulnerable, prompting plans to sandbag the facility and the cancellation of elective surgery on Wednesday to free up beds.

A nearby aged care facility may also be evacuated.

Cairns Airport remains operational but a number of airlines have indicated there will be schedule changes or flight cancellations.

Residents have been told to prepare for isolation before Tuesday afternoon as the cyclone could flood roads, cutting people off from towns and cities.

'It's been over 60 years since we've had a direct hit,' Cairns mayor Terry James said.

'The roads will be cut off, potentially the power will be cut off. We tend to lose our power with a lot of rain and the onslaught of a cyclone.'

Mr James urged locals to stock up and be prepared for five days without power.

'The most important thing, make sure all the things outside the home that can be airborne through the strong winds, such as trampolines, furniture, all those things are packed away and brought inside,' he said.

'It's important to have your emergency kits ready with battery packs, some battery packs for your phone and enough food for five days.'

Preparations are under way as Cyclone Jasper inches towards the Queensland coast bringing the threat of flash floods, thunderstorms and powerful winds

Late on Monday, Jasper was 425km east of Cairns and about 365km from Townsville, with winds of 85km/h and gusts of up to 120km/h

Services in the region including the Daintree River ferry will be placed on hold, with the Cairns Harbour Master instructing the grounding of all vessels.

'The potential for very strong winds, rising water levels and possible debris moving through the Daintree River would mean operating the ferry would not be safe,' Douglas Shire Council said in a statement.

Cairns District Disaster Co-ordinator Acting Chief Superintendent Sonia Smith has urged holidayers to reconsider travelling up north.

She urged drivers to stay up to date with road closures and flash flooding warnings.

Late on Monday, Jasper was 425km east of Cairns and about 365km from Townsville, with winds of 85km/h and gusts of up to 120km/h.
Spending for so-called international embassies should be slashed by SNP ministers in the upcoming Budget, opponents have said.

The Scottish Conservatives yesterday called for the annual 35million international and European relations budget to be reduced in Deputy First Minister Shona Robisons spending plans next week.

The funding is used for overseas visits and the Scottish Governments network of offices abroad. Ministers were instead urged to focus on devolved areas.

Scottish Conservative external affairs spokesman Donald Cameron said: At a time when they are facing tough financial choices  not least because of uncosted public sector pay deals and council tax freezes  the SNP should be looking to make savings in the overseas budget.

The Scottish people would rather money was spent on essential frontline services, such as health and education, than on Nationalists grandstanding on the global stage designed to push their independence obsession.

Deputy First Minister Shona Robison is under pressure ahead of the upcoming Budget

Scottish Conservative Donald Cameron has condemned SNP 'grandstanding on the global stage'

Ministers discussed the upcoming budget at a Cabinet meeting yesterday.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: Deputy First Minister Shona Robison updated Cabinet on the preparations ahead of the publication of next years draft Budget.

She is continuing discussions with individual ministerial colleagues to finalise details ahead of the draft Budgets publication on December 19.

Cabinet noted the unprecedented difficulty of the fiscal situation following what ministers have described as the worst case scenario of the Autumn Statement, but reiterated its determination to protect essential public services, tackle the cost of living crisis and to grow the economy.

The Scottish Governments budget for 2023-24 saw spending on international and European relations swell by 5.1 per cent, from 33.3million to 35million.

The Government has been stepping up overseas activity in recent years and has established a network of nine foreign offices, dubbed foreign embassies, across Europe and North America.

This includes new offices in Warsaw, Poland, and Copenhagen, Denmark, last year, and seven international offices which had already been set up, costing 5.5million a year to run.

Read more about Scottish Secretary Alister Jack's damning verdict on First Ministers unchaperoned sit-downs with foreign leaders.
Fashion retailer Next has stopped selling a Pan Am-themed Christmas jumper after a public backlash.

It was removed from Next's website after outrage from Lockerbie locals, who called it 'offensive' to the victims of the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over the town.

A petition was started by resident Phil Geddes, 39, and has been signed by more than 1,500 people.

Mr Geddes called on Next to 'uphold their commitment to respect and empathy' for customers and immediately remove the jumper from sale.

The 36 jumper has been withdrawn from sale by Next

Police officer at site of the wreckage in December 1988

His petition said: 'As a resident of the town at the time of the Lockerbie bombing, an event that has left an indelible mark on the lives of many hundreds of people, it is with this personal experience that I raise my voice against a product currently being sold by Next.

'This item, in its design or message, is offensive and disrespectful to those affected by this tragic event.'

The jumper had been available on the retailer's website for 36 but has now been removed.

The row comes a week before the 35th anniversary of the Lockerbie bombing, which killed 270 people on December 21, 1988.

The Pan Am passenger plane was ripped apart by a bomb as it flew over the Dumfriesshire town on its way to the US.

The explosion killed 243 passengers, 16 crew and 11 local residents just four days before Christmas in what is still the biggest single terrorist atrocity on UK soil.

Mr Geddes said: 'I was only five at the time, but the Lockerbie disaster is my earliest memory.

'I remember the noise of the plane, my brother hiding under the bed, and us running outside and seeing a fireball in the sky.

'There are people in my town who found bodies, and I know people who are still terrified of flying because of it.

The row comes a week before the 35th anniversary of the Lockerbie bombing, which killed 270 people on December 21, 1988 (File photo of a Pan Am plane)

'My part isn't important  they're the real victims.'

Mr Geddes, a manager at an HGV firm, said the jumper 'annoyed' him after he spotted it while Christmas shopping.

Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was killed in the explosion, said that although the jumper did not offend him, he was concerned it could tarnish the memory of the women who washed and mended the clothes of the victims before sending them to bereaved relatives.

Dr Swire, 87, said: 'Anything that detracts from those local ladies and their kindness is regrettable.'

A spokesman for Next said: 'In response to customer contact, Next removed the 'All + Every' third-party branded items from its marketplace over the weekend.'
Former President Donald Trump fat-shamed his 2024 GOP rival, Chris Christie, posting a picture of him Monday, in which the former New Jersey governor is sporting unflattering shorts.

Christie is coming off of a dynamic debate performance, though he remains in far-off fifth place nationally. In New Hampshire, where he's focused most of his energies, he's currently in third.

Still, his warnings about Trump being a 'danger to this country' - as Christie said from the stump in the Granite State Friday - must have irritated the ex-president, who tore into him on Instagram and Truth Social.

'Not fit for office, mentally or physically,' Trump said in the caption of the photo.

The picture shows Christie standing in an awkward position and sporting khaki belted shorts with a white polo short tucked into them.

Former President Donald Trump fat-shamed his rival, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, in social media posts on Monday, suggesting Christie couldn't handle the presidency 'mentally or physically' and suggesting he suffers from 'TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME'

Christie is coming off a strong debate performance, but Trump - pictured outside of Trump Tower on Monday - is the far-off frontrunner. The former New Jersey governor is in fifth place nationally and third place in New Hampshire, where he's focusing the most energy

'We need strong people not suffering from a harsh terminal disease, TDS, TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME!!!' Trump also offered.

Additionally, Trump highlighted two videos on X that showed right-wing conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, a prominent supporter of the ex-president, trolling Christie at an event and making fun of his weight.

In one video, posted by Loomer last month, she yells at Christie that he's never going to be president.

'You might have a heart attack from eating too much but you'll never be president,' Loomer yelled.

In another video, Loomer is heard telling Christie, 'You dont need to run for President fata**, you need to get on a treadmill.'

'The proudest moments of my career is to be opposed by someone like you,' Christie told Loomer at the time.

Christie has struggled with his weight through adulthood and quietly got gastric-banding surgery in February 2013.

Trump also posted the unflattering picture of Christie on Instagram Monday. Christie is the most vehement anti-Trump candidate who remains viable in the race, though he's at a distant fifth place nationally

Christie is by far the most vehement anti-Trump candidate who remains viable in the race.

During Wednesday night's debate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the former New Jersey governor called out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy for not taking on Trump.

'I look at my watch now, we're 17 minutes into this debate and except for your little speech in the beginning we've had these three acting as if the race is between the four of us,' Christie observed.

He blasted them for treating the 'fifth guy' like the Harry Potter character Voldemort.

'He who shall not be named,' Christie said. 'They don't want to talk about it.'

Christie then called Trump 'unfit' - the same dig Trump took at him Monday, pointing out the ex-governor's girth.

Trump, himself, is no stranger to controversies about his weight.

In August, when Trump was booked in Fulton County Jail over charges related to his plot to overturn the 2020 election, the ex-president said he weighed 215 pounds and was six-foot-three, dimensions usually reserved for a professional athlete.

Trump previously weighed 239 pounds in 2018 and 244 pounds in 2020.

Even at the 239-pound mark, Trump attracted skeptics, dubbed 'girthers,' who believed that then White House Dr. Ronny Jackson used that weight and said Trump was six-foot-three because he'd be just below what's considered clinically obese.
A window manufacturing boss has been fined $60,000 after prodding a worker while he hung upside down from a crane at a work Christmas party.

Steve Yousif, the owner of Jaden Commercial Windows, was handed the hefty fine after he was sentenced at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Yousif was seen in a video slapping and poking worker Ilyas Elkharraz while he was strung-up from a warehouse roof in December 2020.

Footage of the incident was played to the court in November and showed the 27-year-old repeatedly slapping a shirtless Elkharraz after taping his legs to the crane.

Steve Yousif (pictured left) was fined $60,000 for repeatedly slapping and poking a former worker while he hung from the ceiling at his company's warehouse

Others were heard laughing in the background while the dangerous stunt was carried out with the video later shared on social media.

Magistrate Andrew Sim blasted Yousif's behaviour at his sentencing yesterday.

He described the act as a 'targeted... campaign of terror against two vulnerable workers'.

Yousif was not physically present at his sentencing but instead appeared via video link.

Mr Elkharraz, who was 23 at the time, quit his job at the window manufacturing company and launched a case with Victoria's workplace safety watchdog WorkSafe.

He told A Current Affair in 2021 that he felt 'like a piece of meat' when his former boss began hitting him.

'I got nightmares from it,' Mr Elkharraz said. 'It's like I was a cow, hanging upside down.'

Magistrate Sim said Yousif tormented Elkharraz over a period spanning more than two years and stopped him from attending TAFE.

He said Yousif had belittled him in on instance by 'grabbing him by the neck' before pushing him to the ground.

The dangerous stunt was filmed showing Elkharraz (pictured centre) hanging from a crane as others watched on

Yousif (pictured centre) is also alleged to have threatened Elkharraz several times over a two year period and even barred the worker from attending his TAFE classes

Another employee claimed Yousif threatened to sack him, intimidated him and swore at him.

'You victimised, humiliated and threatened both victims,' Magistrate Sim said.

Yousif's company was previously trading under the name Melbourne Glass Solutions but the company's operations were wound down following the WorkSafe investigation.

Yousif's barrister Joseph D'Abaco previously claimed his client had suffered enough from the fallout from media reports.

Mr D'Abaco said Yousif's business would be under thereat if his client was convicted of the offence.

'There is a real risk if the court enters a conviction against Mr Yousif this would affect JADEN's ability to successfully tender for certain projects,' he said.

Magistrate Sim said he was not satisfied Yousif was genuinely remorseful and fined him $60,000 with conviction and ordered him to pay WorkSafe's $6,000 legal fees.
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has hit out Anthony Albanese's government and called for a cancelled Australia Day event in Britain to be reinstated as she called for Australians to be 'proud' of their national day again.

During an interview with 2GB's Mark Levy, Senator Price urged Anthony Albanese to reverse the decision made by the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Stephen Smith, to cancel the annual Australia Day Gala.

Mr Smith cancelled the Australia Day Gala black-tie, run by the not-for-profit Australia Day Foundation to fund scholarships for Australians to study in Britain, citing the 'sensitivities' the event touches on 'for some Australians'.

Price said the move by Mr Smith, the former Labor MP who was hand-picked to the plum diplomatic posting by the Prime Minister, was 'unAustralian' and 'uncalled for'.

'I would like to understand where Mr Smith thinks he can make this determination all by himself. Who gave him permission to do so?' she asked.

LNP Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says Voice advocates have failed to understand what Australians voted for

Senator Price argued the result of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum showed that 'Australians are sick of being put down'.

'I think it is a put down to put an end to any celebrations of Australia Day,' she said.

She called on Australians to celebrate Australia Day next year.

'I think we have to get back to being proud of what it means to be Australian in this lucky country and appreciate what we do have.

'I think the Prime Minister should be overturning those (Mr Smith's) actions because they are uncalled for and unAustralian.'

She also accused Voice advocates of failing to come to terms with the real meaning of the measure's defeat at the October 14 referendum, which saw over 60 per cent of voters reject it.

On Monday UNSW Professor of Law Megan Davis argued the Voice lost because of Australians' 'hatred of politicians' who were 'too front and centre' of the Yes campaign.

Senator Price said this response 'demonstrated just how of touch' Yes advocates with everyday Australians who voted down the Voice 'because they didn't want Australia to be divided along the lines of race'.

Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Stephen Smith has cancelled an annual Australia Day fundraiser saying it could offend the sensitivities of some Australians

Senator Price called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) to overturn Mr Smith's Australia Day decision

'Every day Australians were sick of being called racist of being told they were on the wrong side of history if they voted no,' she said.

'They said yes to a united Australia where we recognise each and every one of us as Australian citizens equal, regardless of race gender or any other label.

'Its just a pity there are still some supporters of the Voice who cant come to terms with that.'

Senator Price also hit out at energy minister Chris Bowen, who began a speech at the Cop28 climate talks in Dubai with a modified Acknowledgment of Country, which normally is used to honour Aboriginal traditional owners.

'It has lost any meaning now if you are going to other parts of the world and suddenly this pops up in your address.'

As the Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Price was scathing about her government counterpart Linda Burney.

Senator Price said Ms Burney, as Minister for Indigenous Australians, appeared 'lost for any ideas on how to move forward' other than going back 'for more discussions' with Voice advocates.

'It is time for action no more talk and if you dont have many ideas than you are probably not the right person for the job, Senator Price said calling for an audit of how tax payer money is spent on Indigenous issues.

Senator Price was asked if she would consider running for Prime Minister but laughed off the suggestion.

'I need to sit back and get to know the job a little bit more,' she said seemingly about her own portfolio,' Senator Price said.

'Its been a huge 18 months and there is a lot of work that has to be done but I am very grateful for all the support out there.'
Tyson Fury and two of his brothers have been accused of dodging a huge 82,000 council tax bill over land which is being used to house caravans and motorhomes.

The 35-year-old heavyweight boxer dubbed 'The Gypsy King', and his brothers John and Shane allegedly owe the money for allowing the vehicles to park up on land next to their 1million mansion in Styal, Cheshire.

Magistrates are reportedly set to issue a legal order to force the family to pay the 82,166.85 bill to Cheshire East Council, according to The Sun.

The three men supposedly own the mansion, which is inhabited by their father John Fury Senior, and the land adjacent to it, according to Land Registry papers seen by The Sun, and therefore bear responsibility for paying the bill.

If the Furys fail to cough up the funds, they will face a visit from the bailiff, who will be sent to reclaim the family's assets from their home.

Tyson Fury and his father John (pictured together)

The heavyweight boxer (right), 35, dubbed The Gypsy King, and his father John (left), 59

John is said to live at the Cheshire mansion, while Tyson and his wife Paris, 33, own a 1.7million property (pictured) in Morecombe, Lancashire

Tyson bought the mansion in Lancashire for 1.695million in December 2020

The Sun reported on Monday that it is 'not thought that the Furys will attend court today'.

Barrister Sarah Robson, a fixed costs specialist at Alpha Court Chambers, told newspaper: 'Often, the first time people realise a liability order has been granted is when bailiffs are sent round.

'Cases are often sent to magistrates in batches of hundreds and sometimes thousands, and they are rubber stamped without real scrutiny.'

John Fury Snr is said to live at the Cheshire mansion, while Tyson and his wife Paris, 33, own a 1.7million property in Morecombe, Lancashire.

Tyson bought the mansion in Lancashire for 1.695million in December 2020, according to land registry records, purchasing it through their firm Tyson Fury Ltd without needing a mortgage.

The family used to live in a 550,000 home overlooking Morcambe Bay before they moved to their new home, which is built on a plot that used to be occupied by a static caravan-style bungalow.

The star has an extensive property portfolio. In 2018, Tyson boasted that he had bought a mansion in Marbella, Spain, for around 6million, it was claimed.

And back in May 2021 he suggested that he had purchased a sprawling property in Las Vegas, it was reported.

Tyson and John after an open workout at BOXPARK Wembley, London on April 19, 2022

Tyson Fury with his father John Fury

Tyson met Paris (pictured together) when she was 15, and they didn't start dating until after Paris' 16th birthday

Tyson met Paris when she was 15, and they didn't start dating until after Paris' 16th birthday.

The two tied the knot in 2008 at St. Peter in Chains Catholic Church in Doncaster, South Yorkshire and celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary last month.

In September, the couple announced they had welcomed their seventh child together - a baby boy.

They are already parents to Venezuela, 13, Prince John James, 11, Prince Tyson II, seven, Valencia Amber, five, Prince Adonis Amaziah, four, and Athena, two.

Tyson has described his father John, who has five other sons including Love Island star Tommy Fury, 24, as the 'clan leader'.

John was once jailed for gouging out a fellow Traveller's eye in a savage feud. He was sentenced for 11 years for the 'cold-blooded' 2011 attack, which left his victim half-blind.

He was eventually released in February 2015, after serving less than half his sentence - and later said: 'He's lost an eye and I've lost five years of my life.'

MailOnline has contacted the Furys and Cheshire East Council for comment.
She said she 'literally lost her childhood' after her parents changed her age to 22

Ukrainian dwarf Natalia Grace has come face-to-face with her father who accused her of being a 'sociopath' for faking being a child as cameras caught the tense exchange between the two.

Their meeting was captured in the newest ID documentary 'Natalia Speaks' that looks at the latest developments in the case.

Michael Barnett and his wife Kristine claimed Natalia Grace lied about being a six-year-old Ukrainian orphan with a rare genetic disorder that the family adopted. Instead, they say, she was a homicidal adult intent on harming them and their children.

Natalia and Michael sat feet apart with Natalia Grace Barnett angrily refuting Michael's claims, including that she once loomed over the couple while they were sleeping while clutching a blade.

'I was never in y'all's room with a knife,' an exasperated Natalia Grace tells Barnett, while placing her head in her hands.

'I know what I saw,' Michael responded.

Natalia Grace Barnett had an emotional showdown with former adoptive father Michael Barnett in a new docuseries called 'Natalia Speaks' where she refuted the wild allegations against her including that she was not a six-year-old girl as her adoptive family suspected but a homicidal adult

Natalia refuted the Barnett's claim that she once stood over their bed clutching a knife as they slept

The showdown is being featured in a six-part docuseries entitled Natalia Speaks, which will debut January 1 at 9/8c on ID.

'This is my side of the story,' Natalia said of the series, adding, 'Do I look like a monster to you?

She also vows to address some of the wild accusations that have been leveled at her, including that she tried to kill her adoptive family.

'In every lie is a hidden truth, but you gotta dig enough to see it,' she added. 'They are not going to get away with this.'

Natalia Gracie also states she 'lost her childhood' after the Barnetts petitioned a judge to change her legal age to 22.

The new documentary will feature previously unseen evidence and footage, as well as new theories and testimony from an array of voices, including the retired FBI agents who initially investigated Natalias case, genetic experts who help determine Natalias true age, and the Tippecanoe County Deputy Prosecutor Jackie Starbuck who prosecuted Barnett in his October 2022 trial.

The Barnetts were taken into custody in 2019 on child neglect charges after they abandoned Natalia in an Indiana apartment while they moved to Canada after changing her age.

Natalia Grace Barnett was put into a Lafayette, Indiana, apartment by her adoptive parents Michael and Kristina Barnett in 2011, after they came to suspect she was far older than she claimed

The Barnetts left Natalia alone in an apartment drawing the concern of neighbors

The Barnetts were charged with neglecting their child after ditching Natalia in the early 2010s and moving to Canada after they petitioned a court to move her birth year back 14 years, which was granted. Kristine's charges were dropped while Michael was cleared last year

Michael was acquitted of the charges in October, while Kristine had her case dismissed in March, just three weeks before her trial.

Cynthia Mans, Natalia's new adoptive mom, claims Michael 'smirked' at her when found not guilty.

'It was like watching my daughter be raped,' Mans says in the documentary. 'There was no justice served, if I could have caught Kristine in an alley and put a black hoodie on I would have busted her upside the head.'

The saga of Natalia's adoption has generated global headlines in recent years amid the documentary and the arrests of her former adoptive parents.

The couple adopted Natalia in April 2010, believing they were taking home a six-year-old child.

But their dream adoption quickly turned into a nightmare when they realized she may not be who she had claimed, and they suspected she was a menacing adult masquerading as a child.

Just a year later they left Natalia in a Lafayette, Indiana, apartment while they fled north, claiming she had tried to kill them.

'She tried to poison and kill my wife,' Michael claimed. '(And) one night, I opened my eyes and Natalia is standing at the foot of the bed with a knife in her hand.'

The orphan claims she had her childhood 'stolen' by the Barnetts after they legally changed her age

Kristine, who is accused of abusing Natalia in the bombshell documentary, told DailyMail.com in 2019 that her family were terrorized by the Ukrainian in the months after they adopted her.

She alleged Natalia threatened to stab the family in their sleep, pushed her towards an electric fence, and poured bleach in her coffee.

She would make statements and draw pictures saying she wanted to kill family members, roll them up in a blanket and put them in the backyard, she told DailyMailTV.

She was standing over people in the middle of the night. You couldn't go to sleep. We had to hide all the sharp objects.

I saw her putting chemicals, bleach, Windex something like that, in my coffee and I asked her, "What are you doing?" She said, "I am trying to poison you."

The media is painting me to be a child abuser but there is no child here, said Barnett.

However, Natalia branded her former adoptive parents 'liars' and claimed they had tried to make her out to be a 'crazy person'.

For their part the Barnetts said they began to suspect their new daughter could be older than her years on the one of the first nights they spent together.

Natalia, pictured days after being collected from her Florida adoption center in May 2010 by the Barnetts, soon had her new parents suspicious as she had her period and an adult vocabulary for a six-year-old

Natalia, pictured being home schooled in December 2010, was the subject of a bombshell documentary detailing her adoption ordeal called 'The Curious Case of Natalia Grace'

Questions remain over Natalia's true age after it was legally changed from eight to 22 in 2012

They described one incident where Kristine let out a blood-curdling scream while bathing the girl they thought was just six when she noticed she had 'full pubic hair'.

In the months after, the couple alleged that there was 'a lot of escalation'. This included discovering she had been hiding her period from them for months.

On another occasion, when Natalia met another six-year-old with a rare bone disorder named spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, the stark difference in age became seemingly undisputable.

Natalia, who did not speak with a Ukrainian accent, towered over her playmate, while her bone structure and vocabulary were far more advanced.

The incidents led to them taking Natalia to a psychiatrist who diagnosed her as a 'sociopath' according to the couple.

The numerous red flags led the family to seek an attorney, and in 2012 a petition launched by the family at probate court was granted and a judge legally changed her birth date from 2003 to 1989 on her Ukrainian birth document.

After the couple was granted their petition, they decided to move her into the apartment in Lafayette - three counties away from where they lived - while they moved to Canada.

Later in court, Natalia would testify that sustained herself mostly on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Ramen Noodles and an occasional pizza. She said she had limited use of her hands and arms, and struggled to open canned food.
MBABANE - Through its intelligence, government has reportedly found that four people are orchestrating a second wave of the political unrest in the country.

The four, according to government, participated and lost in the 2023 General Elections.The individuals in question are said to have allegedly travelled to an overseas country, to solicit finances to sponsor the purportedly envisaged political unrest, according to the Government Spokesperson, Alpheous Nxumalo. Eswatini is fresh from the June/July 2021 unrest, which resulted in a number of people losing their lives and further causing destruction to private and public properties, to the value of E700 million.

Looted

Thousands of people lost their jobs, stock was looted from businesses and buildings were vandalised. Government responded by establishing the Reconstruction Fund. The fund was set up to assist formal and informal businesses, which were affected, to rebuild after the unrest. Nxumalo, in a statement, said government was aware of the individuals enjoined in a diabolical plan to orchestrate a second wave of a national unrest. According to the government spokesperson, some of the people in question wanted to be part of the 12th Parliament, but they lost during the general elections. Voters threw their candidature outright and therefore, they are angry, disgruntled and are now dangerous political renegades, Nxumalo said.

He explained that anyone who wanted to push the country into another experience of social unrest does not have the countrys interests in the centre of their activities, thus he warned the nation to stay away from such political elements.

Nxumalo stated that the four people were dangerous in society and they should be locked up as they were not fit to be part of society. Adding, he said any second wave of the unrest would be a deadly project for the country and economically catastrophic for the public. Nxumalo went on to condemn all those who were stalking violence and tensions in the country. We cannot build a better and prosperous Eswatini on faultiness but unity of purpose and coexistence, he said. Furthermore, the government mouthpiece also warned the people he was referring to, whom he described as hell-bent elements, and their handlers and sponsors, to desist from disturbing the peace and security of the kingdom. He said the kingdom had invested a lot in cultivating and maintaining the peace and security of the country.

Anyone found on the wrong side of the law, shall obviously face the consequences of offending the law, Nxumalo warned. A purported plane ticket for a flight from O.R Tambo International Airport Johannesburg to Shenzhen International Airport in China, where it will arrive at 4:55am today, has been seen by this publication. The flight is Air China 868, which is an Airbus Industrie A350-900. The passenger was flying Economy and the flight was 12 hours 45 minutes. This publication enquired from Nxumalo if government had any form of documentation supporting the claims as some people may view this as propaganda. Nxumalo was also asked about the steps government had taken after becoming aware of the information and intentions of the four people.

Propaganda

In response, Nxumalo stated that government did not play propaganda. He said they had shared enough information for one to dig further for more information, with a view to dispute or complement what government said. He went on to clarify that this was both an intelligence and security matter, which would not be discussed in public spaces. Nxumalo explained that at political level, it was important for government to indicate that they were aware of what was happening and that they were seeing everything. Meanwhile, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said they did not discuss issues of security publicly.
A Florida man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder following the killing of newlyweds who were found shot to death in their home near West Palm Beach on Saturday morning.

Sony Josaphat, 46, who lives at a home on the same block where the couple were killed, has been arrested and is currently being held in the Palm Beach County jail without bond.

The couple died from their gunshot wounds and have not yet been identified publicly. They tied the knot just one week earlier.

The 45-year-old woman who was killed was originally from Haiti and had been working as a nurse, while her husband, who was also from the Caribbean country, served as a local pastor.

A pastor and his newlywed nurse wife were both shot to death at a home near West Palm Beach on Saturday. The pair, who were originally from Haiti, had married just one week earlier

One woman who was outside the home where the couple was killed claimed to be the murder victim's sister.

'She has never been as happy as she was now,' the woman said to WPTV.

A wedding photograph of the happy couple taken just one week earlier sees the couple smiling broadly next to one another.

Three of the woman's children were inside the home during the shooting. They included an adult who witnessed the killings.

'The family has invoked Marsy's Law for both victims,' the sheriff's office said in a statement, meaning their names won't be made public. 'Let's keep them in thought and prayer during this difficult time.'

Officials have not said whether the shooting occurred inside the home or outdoors.

Josaphat's daughter called 911 on Saturday morning to report how she saw her father shoot the newlyweds.

Sony Josaphat, 46, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and is in the Palm Beach County Jail with no bond

When deputies arrived on scene, the daughter and her brother were at the home while the victims were found lying on the sidewalk outside the front door of the house.

Josaphat used to live at the home but had not been there in more than a year.

He had been known to randomly show up from time to time and had a history of being 'controlling,' a redacted criminal probable cause affidavit reveals, according to NBC News.

The affidavit redacted the details that explicitly stated the connection between Josaphat and the victims.

On the day of the shooting, Josaphat was spotted walking through the front yard of the home and opened fire.

He later told a Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy how he was overcome with 'anger' after he saw a surveillance camera being installed by the front door of the home, according to the affidavit.

Josaphat used to live at the home but had not been there in more than a year. He had been known to randomly show up from time to time and had a history of being 'controlling,' a redacted criminal probable cause affidavit reveals

Neighbors in the usually quiet community said loud bangs were heard but thought the couple were working on their home

Police are seen at the scene of the shooting on Saturday

'He walked up to [redacted] and said, "Good morning." They said "Good morning" back to him. Sony then shot [redacted] in the upper torso and head. He then shot [redacted] several times,' the affidavit details.

Josaphat drove himself to Palm Beach Sheriffs Office headquarters, went into the main detention center courthouse and surrendered, declaring how he had just killed the victims.

Court documents say that Josaphat did not have a previous history of domestic violence or a restraining order with the victims

Neighbors in the usually quiet community said loud bangs were heard but thought the couple were working on their home.

'I heard what sounded like gunshots, but I thought people were just working on someone's roof so I ignored it and went into the house and then later when I went back outside that's when I saw all the police activity out here,' Dicter Pineda told WPTV.

Another neighbor said the two killings were particularly shocking and that although she didn't know the victims personally, they were members of her church.

'It's pretty quiet and we don't have too many things over here so I don't know how this happened,' Deanne Germeil said. 'This is horrific. It's terrible, and I don't know how to describe this,' she told WPBF.

'My heart goes out for the deceased,' added Daniel Meighan. 'I just pray that it doesn't happen again to someone else, something this awful.'
The federal government will crack down on international students gaming the visa system but offer a new pathway for skilled migrants on high salaries.

Overseas students will also have to achieve higher English test scores to prove they are competent but not necessary good at speaking, listening and reading Australia's national language.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil is promising to reduce overall net overseas migration by 185,000 over four years based on new, stricter rules.

But Treasury is now forecasting 510,000 migrants would have arrived in 2022-23 - up from 400,000 predicted in the May Budget.

The Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook is also expecting 375,000 arrivals for 2023-24 - more than the 315,000 forecast just seven months ago.

So far, immigration shows little sign of slowing down with 440,300 permanent and long-term arrivals, on a net basis, in the year to October, new data released on Tuesday showed.

The federal government is now vowing to crack down on international students gaming the visa system but offer a new pathway for skilled migrants on a six-figure salary (pictured are students outside the University of New South Wales)

Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil is promising to reduce overall net overseas migration by 185,000 over four years based on new, stricter rules (she is pictured left with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese)

With permanent migration for this financial year capped at 190,000, international students made up the bulk of annual arrivals with 38,790 of them coming to Australia in October alone.

Treasury is now predicting 1.6million permanent and long-term overseas arrivals in the five years to June 2027, a big jump from the 1.5million intake forecast during the last Budget.

But Labor argues migration would have grown by 1.8million over five years without its crackdown.

Here are the new measures outlined in Migration Strategy which the Department of Home Affairs unveiled on Monday.

International students who visa hop

The government has vowed to 'apply additional scrutiny' to international students applying for another student visa.

The Department of Home Affairs cited data showing a trend where students switched 'particularly to courses that are below their current level of study, to prolong their stay in Australia has been growing'.

The number of international students staying in Australia on a second, or subsequent, student visa grew by more than 30 per cent to more than 150,000 in 202223.

The biggest growth in 'visa hopping' was with the vocational education and training sector where students are less likely to finish a course.

In 2022-23, 69,000 students were granted a subsequent student visa or shifted to a vocational course, compared with 42,000 students in 2018-19 before the pandemic.

A new genuine student test will require any eligible students applying inside Australia to provide evidence demonstrating any subsequent course will further their career, or complement their degree in their area of expertise.

This could include doing research to qualify for a postgraduate Masters degree.

'Prospective international students who cannot demonstrate this sensible course progression from their initial course of study will not meet the genuine student test,' the department said.

Students will now be required to pass English language tests, with the government arguing Australia's existing English language requirements were less stringent than Canada (pictured is a student of Universal Learning Group learning English)

English language requirements

Students will now be required to score higher marks in an English language test, with the government arguing Australia's existing requirements were less stringent than Canada.

Labor argued this was also designed to prevent workplace exploitation.

'English proficiency has a clear and direct relationship with strong education and labour market outcomes,' the department said.

This followed a separate Migration Review which found 'lower English proficiency may make migrants more vulnerable to exploitation'.

To get a student visa, a foreigner must achieve an International English Language Testing System score of six out of nine, which would imply someone has 'modest' English proficiency.

This is far from the perfect score implying expert English proficiency or the band 'seven' score for 'good'.

Target dodgy education providers

Dubious 'high risk' private education providers who market their courses as a pathway to permanent residency would face 'targeted scrutiny'.

Ms O'Neil has ordered her department to prioritise student visa applications for low-risk education providers, which are more likely to include established universities.

But less reputable private colleges could face long waits in getting visas assessed.

'Higher risk providers will experience slower processing times as visa decision makers consider the integrity of a provider, as well as the individual student applicants,' the department said.

The new rules are coming into effect by the end of this year in time for the 2023-24 student visa season.

Temporary graduate visa crackdown

Former student visa holders are entitled to a temporary graduate visa giving them the right to work in Australia after graduating.

The Migration Review found that former international students to be among the largest cohort of 'permanently temporary' migrants, with more than 50 per cent of them in low-skilled jobs.

This means they aren't on a path to gaining the skilled work experience to become eligible for a skilled permanent visa.

Consequently, 19,000 students and graduates have remained in Australia for nine years.

Highly-skilled workers earning at least $135,000 will be eligible for a new specialist skills pathway designed to 'drive innovation and job creation' (pictured is a stock image of mining engineers in Western Australia's Pilbara region)

'These migrants cannot fully establish a life in Australia and face barriers in the labour market based on their temporary status.

To remedy this, the test score required to obtain a temporary graduate visa will increase.

This will require International English Language Testing System score of 6.5 out of 9 - up from 6 previously - which would imply a 'competent' level of English.

Specialist skilled pathway for those on $135,000 salary

Highly-skilled workers earning at least $135,000 will be eligible for a new specialist skills pathway designed to 'drive innovation and job creation'.

Skilled migrants in this position will have to earn the same as Australian workers in the same occupation.

To qualify, they must be nominated by an approved employer and meet health and character requirements.

This will apply to any occupation except tradies, machinery operators and labourers won't be eligible.

With unemployment still low at 3.7 per cent, the government argues prioritising a pathway for the top 10 per cent of income earners could add $3.4billion to the economy over the next decade 'not accounting for the broader significant economic benefit to their employers and to the Australian economy'.
Billionaire Bill Ackman is continuing his campaign for the removal of Harvard President Claudine Gay over her handling of campus antisemitism, arguing she's cost the university significant funds.

Gay, 53, survived a scheduled meeting of Harvard's board on Sunday amid calls for her removal, but her future at the Ivy league institution remains uncertain after her disastrous congressional hearing.

In the letter sent by Ackman to his alma mater and posted to X on Sunday, he claimed Gay's testimony was not just a matter of character but they were costing the school money.

'President Gay's failures have led to billions of dollars of cancelled, paused, and withdrawn donations to the university,' Ackman wrote.

'I am personally aware of more than a billion dollars of terminated donations from a small group of Harvard's most generous Jewish and non-Jewish alumni,' he added.

Billionaire Bill Ackman (left) is continuing his campaign for her removal of Harvard President Claudine Gay (right) over her handling of campus antisemitism, arguing she's cost them donations

'I have been copied and blind copied on numerous letters and emails to the University from alums who have written scathing letters to Gay and/or the Board withdrawing donations.'

Ackman accused Gay of 'doing more damage to Harvard's reputation than anyone in the university's history.'

The billionaire demanded the university's board of directors review Gay's history, including accusations of plagiarism, and of discriminatingly against those that don't fit the look of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Ackman said: 'As Dean, Gay showed no respect for basic American legal principles when she fired Harvard Law School Professor Ronald Sullivan as residential dean for taking on the legal defense of Harvey Weinstein. President Gay should hope that someday when she needs counsel, she will be able to obtain quality representation for herself.'

Ackman also mentioned the case of former Winthrop House faculty dean Ronald Sullivan, who in 2019 accused Gay of dismissing him from his role because of his work on Harvey Weinstein's defense team.

The law professor, who was the first black dean of a Harvard school, accused Gay and Dean of the College Rakesh Khurana of lying about their motives for dismissing him when they claimed it was because he fostered a toxic work environment.

'The actions were cowardly and craven and Dean Gay and Dean Khurana just consistently and repeatedly lied to the student body and they know better,' he said, according to The Harvard Crimson.

'Their problem was that I represented an unpopular person... They said it to my face and other senior members said it to my face and then they turned around and lied to the student body.'

Gay, 53, survived a scheduled meeting of Harvard's board on Sunday amid calls for her removal, but her future at the Ivy league institution remains uncertain after her disastrous congressional hearing

Harvard has denied the decision was because of Sullivan's work with Weinstein, which sparked protests on campus. Sullivan remains a law professor at Harvard.

In his letter to the Harvard board, Ackman also cited Harvard's plummeting in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression College Free Speech Rankings since Gay took over. While the school has never been high on the list, it reached its worst-ever ranking, landing at the very last spot.

The foundation said: 'Harvard completed its downward spiral in dramatic fashion, coming in dead last with the worst score ever: 0.00 out of a possible 100.00. This earns it the notorious distinction of being the only school ranked this year with an 'Abysmal' speech climate.'

Gay, a professor of Government and of African and African-American Studies, was inaugurated as Harvard's first black president back ink July. She has taken interest in DEI policies and created the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging.

Ackman claimed 'the actions of the OEDIB have led to preferences and favoritism for certain racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ groups at the expense of other groups, and made some members of the Harvard community feel included at the expense of others that are excluded.'

The billionaire was accused of racism when he suggested Gay had only been hired because she matched the DEO profile.

In his latest open letter, he said: 'I was recently accused by several bloggers and other commentators of being a racist when I shared that the board, in the search process that led to the hiring of President Gay, would not consider a candidate for president that did not meet DEI criteria.

I just learned of @realchrisrufo analysis of #ClaudineGays work and the allegations of plagiarism. I have not read the articles or books in question. However, two things come to mind: imitation is said to be the highest form of flattery and secondly Dr. Gays committee, pic.twitter.com/0388xnHqSi  Dr. Carol M. Swain (@carolmswain) December 11, 2023

A billboard truck at Harvard University on Sunday demanding the removal of president Claudine Gay

'I have confirmed now from multiple sources that the search committee that led to President Gay's appointment excluded non-DEI eligible candidates from the process.'

DailyMail.com has not independently verified Ackman's claim.

Ackman has also shared accusations of plagiarism made against Gay by bloggers Christopher Rufo and Christopher Brunet, who claim the Harvard leader lifted identical wording for her 1997 dissertation.

The bloggers accuse Gay of using nearly verbatim language from authors Lawrence Bobo and Franklin Gilliam and scholar Carol Swain.

Swain reacted to the claims on Twitter, writing: 'I just learned of analysis of #ClaudineGay 's work and the allegations of plagiarism. I have not read the articles or books in question. However, two things come to mind: imitation is said to be the highest form of flattery and secondly Dr. Gay's committee, reviewers, and colleagues should have caught these alleged transgressions.'

The author added: 'I would like to know if [Gay] cited me in her published works on districting and representation. This would have had far more long term implications for my career. In academia we get rewarded on the basis of citations.'

Gay has apologized for her performance during last week's hearing, but the backlash has continued.

On Sunday two billboard trucks replaying her remarks to Congress were dispatched to the Massachusetts campus hours.

Gay, UPenn's Liz Magill and MIT's Sally Kornbluth were summoned before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce last week by lawmakers concerned by reports of a rise in antisemitism at leading universities.

They faced heated questioning from committee chair Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) but failed to assert that calls for genocide against Jews on campus would definitively constitute harassment.

'This is only the very beginning of addressing the pervasive rot of antisemitism that has destroyed the most 'prestigious' higher education institutions in America,' Stefanik wrote on Saturday evening.

Adding: 'Harvard and MIT, do the right thing. The world is watching.'

Just minutes after Magill's statement announcing her departure, the chair of the Upenn's board of trustees, Scott Bok, also resigned.

UPenn President Liz Magill resigned from her post on Saturday

MIT President Dr. Sally Kornbluth was also grilled for her school's response to protests. She too failed to outwardly condemn calls for the genocide of Jews

Bok's Vice Chair, Julie Beren Platt, has been named interim chair of the board.

In a statement issued Saturday evening Magill wrote: 'It has been my privilege to serve as President of this remarkable institution.

'It has been an honor to work with our faculty, students, staff, alumni, and community members to advance Penn's vital missions.'

In his own resignation statement Bok defended Magill as a 'good person' who is 'not the slightest bit anti-Semitic' but had made a 'misstep' after 'months of relentless external attacks.'

Gay apologized for her remarks on Thursday as the backlash intensified, telling college newspaper The Crimson she 'got caught up in what had become at that point, an extended, combative exchange about policies and procedures.'

'What I should have had the presence of mind to do in that moment was return to my guiding truth, which is that calls for violence against our Jewish community - threats to our Jewish students - have no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged,' she added.
The family of a cop who was killed on a rural property in Queensland a year ago have shared a heartbreaking message for their 'beautiful' and 'kind' son.

Police constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, as well as neighbour Alan Dare, were all shot and killed by Stacey, Gareth and Nathaniel Train at their Wieambilla property on December 12, 2022.

Two other officers, Keely Brough and Randall Kirk, were injured while all three of the Trains were killed later that night in a shootout with police.

Constable Arnold's family shared a heartbreaking message about the 26-year-old a year after he was murdered, describing his death as 'unfathomable'.

Officer Matthew Arnold (pictured) was killed during a fatal shootout in a rural property in Queensland last year

The two officers went to the property (pictured) to carry out a welfare check before they were confronted with gunfire

'A day when incomprehensible evil murdered our beautiful son and brother, for simply doing his job,' a statement from the family read.

'It is so cruel and unfair that we never got to say goodbye. We miss Matt's laugh, kindness, empathy and willingness to help.

'These traits were what made him such an excellent police officer and made him love his job.'

Constables Arnold and McCrow along with two other police officers had made their way to the property to carry out a welfare check on Nathaniel.

The officers were ambushed by Nathaniel's wife Stacey and his brother Gareth who opened fire with the two constables executed at close range.

Mr Dare, was killed when he went to check on what was happening on the property next to his own.

A mass shoot out began before a heavily-armed special ops squad later shot Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey dead later that night.

Nathaniel was the former head teacher at Walgett Primary School in the NSW greater west, and at Yorkeys Knob State school in Far North Queensland.

He hadn't been seen by loved ones for more than a year and was believed to have been living in northern NSW before he went up to Wieambilla to join his brother Gareth.

Constable Rachel McCrow (pictured left) was one of three victims of the incident

Good Samaritan neighbour Alan Dare (pictured) was also killed after he went to the Trains' property to investigate

Posts obtained by Daily Mail Australia showed Gareth was extremely active online in the comments sections of fringe news websites and regularly shared bizarre theories about major world events.

Last week, officers from Queensland Police travelled to to the US to arrest 58-year-old man Donald Day in Arizona.

Police allege Day is connected to a video the Trains posted on the night they were killed.

The breakthrough comes after Queensland Police investigators from the ethical standards and security and counter terrorism commands recently travelled to the US.

'We've personally met with the FBI, we've handed over material that was  of interest to them,' Deputy Police Commissioner Tracy Linford told reporters earlier this year.

A pre-inquest coronial hearing held in June heard there were investigations into the online activities of the Trains to 'identify possible associates who may have influenced them in their actions'.

Queensland Police have advised that the families of the slain officers and Mr Dare have been informed of the latest developments, along with the coroner.

An inquest into the shooting is set to begin in 2024.

FBI agents arrested Arizona-based conspiracy theorist Don Day, 58, in connection over the shooting last December
Steven Miles has an immediate task in front of him after becoming Queensland's new Premier - to improve the Labor Party's polling numbers.

While Mr Miles will say he wants to improve the running of the state, the only reason he is now the premier is because Annastacia Palaszczuk's government was headed for defeat in the October 2024 state election.

A recent YouGov poll for the Courier-Mail showed the LNP leading Labor 52-48 on a two-party-preferred vote.

Ms Palaszczuk's personal ratings were even below that of her party, so Labor powerbrokers made the decision that she had to go, forcing her departure last Sunday.

Though well known in his home state, the new premier is little known beyond its borders; so who is Steven Miles?

The new Queensland Premier Steven Miles (left) is pictured with his wife Kim McDowell

Queensland's new Premier Steven Miles (left) is pictured with his predecessor Annastacia Palaszczuk

Early life, education and introduction to politics

Mr Miles, 46, was born in Brisbane on November 15, 1977 to a mum who was a workplace health and safety inspector and a dad who was a fitter at the Golden Circle cannery.

He was educated at the private St Paul's Anglican school in Bald Hills and joined the Labor Party when he was 16 after noticing membership forms in a driving instructor's car while having a lesson.

How Annastacia Palaszczuk went from being a little known political heiress to ruling Queensland for almost a decade Advertisement

Mr Miles later set out his left wing credentials while studying at the University of Queensland, where his primary degree was in political science and journalism.

He scored the TJ Ryan Scholarship  named after the premier in Queensland's first majority Labor government  to study at UQ.

He went on to do a PhD, with his doctoral thesis being titled: 'Trade Union Renewal in Australia: rebuilding worker involvement.'

After university, Mr Miles was a co-founder and managing director of Reveille Strategy, a public relations agency helping left wing organisations to 'mobilise for campaigns and trumpet their message to the community'.

Before being elected to the state parliament in 2015, he also worked as an adviser to then state treasurer Andrew Fraser and as industrial relations director of Together, the Queensland public sector union.

He had previously run, unsuccessfully, for the seat of Ryan in the 2010 federal election.

Personal life

Mr Miles is married to Kim McDowell, who he met in the union they both worked for, and they have three children, Sam, 15, Aidan, 12, and Bridie, 9.

He was the Health Minister during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

When the pandemic hit, his daughter Bridie, then aged 6, asked her mum if it meant her dad had to work more. It did.

Mr MIles said that hearing that comment was 'heartbreaking' for him, telling the Courier-Mail at the time 'that you don't get to decide when the bus comes, you just get to decide whether you get on it or not'.

'A lot of it comes down to changing how Kim and I balance things,' he said.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles is pictured with his sons Aidan and Sam and daughter Bridie

Steven Miles (left) and his wife Kim McDowell (right) are pictured voting in the Queensland state election

Political life

Failing at his first attempt to win a seat for Labor in 2010 taught him a valuable lesson that there are no guarantees.

'The day after those kinds of losses, you feel like it was all wasted but actually it always steps you in the right direction,' he said.

He got elected to the state parliament in Labor's unexpected 2015 election win, just three years after the party had been reduced to just seven MPs in a landslide loss.

Mr Miles did not have to spend any time on the backbenches and was immediately sworn in as the Environment Minister under Ms Palaszczuk.

He became the Health Minister after the Palaszczuk government was re-elected in late 2017 and as the most senior member left from Labor's left faction, he was promoted to Deputy Premier in May 2020.

After Ms Palaszczuk's third straight election victory in October 2020, Mr Miles moved from being the Health Minister to State Development and Infrastructure.

Labor insiders claim Mr Miles has a unique nickname, 'Lord Giggles'.

Steven Miles is pictured with Annastacia Palaszczuk and then Australian prime minister Scott Morrison at an announcement at the Gabba in Brisbane, Monday, March 21, 2022

Hard road ahead

There are still 10 months to go before the next Queensland election on October 26, 2024, and winning it will be an uphill battle for Labor, which is trailing the LNP under David Crisafulli by 52-48.

One LNP MP told the Courier-Mail that what he called Mr Miles' unconvincing 'attack dog' position during the pandemic meant a lot of voters had a negative opinion of him.

'It's not rocket science  they'll make him out to be the family man, a suburban dad but the perception is set in, it's a huge hurdle for him to change that,' the MP said.

But having failed at his first attempt to win a political contest and having won every time since then, Mr Miles has shown he is up for the challenge.
'Baroness Bra' Michelle Mone and her husband were interviewed by detectives from Britain's FBI under caution during a probe into the couple's PPE Medpro firm, it was claimed last night.

The Conservative peer and Ultimo bra tycoon has been embroiled in controversy surrounding 'Covid VIP lane' contracts worth more than 200million that were awarded to the company during the pandemic.

Britain's national law enforcement agency, The National Crime Agency (NCA), confirmed it has been investigating her and her husband Doug Barrowman's role in the scandal since May 2021.

In a documentary, which aired on Sunday, it was revealed that the couple were interviewed by NCA detectives once during the investigation, while last year their home was raided by officers in search of documents that could assist the inquiry.

The Mirror has reported that the interview was carried out under caution and they were not arrested.

An NCA spokesperson said: 'The NCA opened an investigation in May 2021 into suspected criminal offences committed in the procurement of PPE contracts by PPE Medpro.'

The Conservative peer and Ultimo bra tycoon has been embroiled in controversy surrounding 'Covid VIP lane' contracts worth more than 200million that were awarded to the company during the pandemic

PPE Medpro was awarded Government contracts worth more than 200 million to supply personal protective equipment after Lady Mone recommended it to ministers

The National Crime Agency (NCA), confirmed it has been investigating her and her husband Doug Barrowman's (pictured together) role in the scandal since May 2021

PPE Medpro was awarded Government contracts worth more than 200 million to supply personal protective equipment after Lady Mone recommended it to ministers.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has since issued breach of contract proceedings over the 2020 deal on the supply of gowns.

Lady Mone spoke in the documentary to say she and her husband Doug Barrowman will be cleared because 'we've done nothing wrong'.

But she did admit her 'regret' in not being upfront about her links to the PPE company straight away, saying she made an 'error'.

The Baroness went on to say she suffers from panic attacks and nightmares about the NCA 'crashing through the house' and she sees them standing over her bed.

While the rest of the UK was under strict lockdown, the couple married and were able to share their celebrations with 90 guests, thanks to the Isle of Man's decision to scrap social distancing, before jetting off on honeymoon to the Maldives.

But, behind these jubilant scenes, trouble was already brewing for the mega-rich lovebirds. Just a month after their lavish nuptials, journalists began asking questions about Lady Mone's links to PPE Medpro.

She consistently denied any 'role or function' in the company, with her lawyers insisting she was 'not connected to PPE Medpro in any capacity'.

Lady Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman said they've 'done nothing wrong'. Pictured: The couple talking in a scene from the documentary

Michelle Mone opens the new Ultimo concession at Debenhams, Glasgow in 2015

But it later emerged that the former model contacted then Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and fellow Tory peer Theodore Agnew in May 2020, offering to supply PPE equipment 'via my team in Hong Kong'  five days before PPE Medpro was even incorporated as a company by her husband's business associates.

The firm was then fast-tracked by the Government through its 'VIP lane' for politically connected companies.

She and her husband broke their silence in the documentary where they spoke to Mark Williams-Thomas, an investigative journalist who is best known for exposing Jimmy Saville as a paedophile in The Other Side of Jimmy Saville, a television documentary he presented in 2012.

Lady Mone had initially denied having any links to PPE Medpro but admitted in the film: 'I made an error in what I said to the press.

'I regret not saying to the press straight away, 'Yes, I am involved.' And the Government knew I was involved.'

The film, part of a public fightback, was funded by PPE Medpro, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

Lady Mone, who was made a peer by Lord David Cameron in 2015, claimed it is '100% a lie' to suggest she was not transparent with officials, and her husband claimed a 'DHSC negotiator' suggested the case could 'go away' for the right sum.

Baroness Mone in the House of Lords before the State Opening Of Parliament at Houses of Parliament in 2017

Doug Barrowman (left) pictured with Baroness Michelle Mone (right) at Cheltenham in 2019

She said in the documentary: 'It's 100 per cent a lie. It's not true. I wanted the guys to succeed, I wanted the NHS to succeed. I wanted a win-win situation.'

When asked what she felt when the pandemic hit, she said: 'I thought I could fix it. I could fix it by getting quality PPE on time at the best prices.'

The Baroness said she is now breaking her silence on the controversy as she 'just can't take it anymore'.

She claimed she has received messages from people calling for her to be put in jail, for her to be 'put in an orange jumpsuit' and even someone who wrote 'I'm going to throw acid on her'.

The scandal has negatively affected her mental health, as she admitted she is seeing a doctor and is on medicine currently.

She said: 'I'm not doing well at the moment with my mental health. I don't want people to feel sorry for me but I'm in a lot of pain and I'm struggling.

'It's been a real fight. But we will win because we've done nothing wrong. It's cruel and it's nasty but we will win.'

Lady Mone argued she is being used as a scapegoat by the Government for its own Covid failings.

'I am ashamed of being a Conservative peer given what this Government has done to us,' she told The Telegraph.

Baroness Mone and Douglas Barrowman at 'Dining With The Stars' charity dinner in 2019

The couple pictured at Casa Do Lago restaurant in Quinta do Lago, in February this year

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, who allegedly had involvement in the contract process, insisted that 'ministers did not take individual decisions' on pandemic contracts.

Mr Gove told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'Those decisions were taken after a painstaking process by teams of civil servants who assess the worthiness of any contract that's put forward.

'So the suggestion, which some have put forward, that somehow ministers were seeking deliberately to do favours, or line the pockets of other individuals, I think is totally unjustified because the decisions were only taken after a proper, coherent and fair procurement process.

'As with any procurement process, might it sometimes be the case that the goods which have been bought turn out to not to be adequate - that is deeply regrettable but that is a consequence of what happened at pressure.'

Matt Hancock and Mr Gove were both questioned by NCA as part of their investigation.

Others questioned include Lord Bethell, a former Health Minister, and Lord Agnew, who served in the Cabinet Office.

Former Health Secretary Hancock has previously claimed the Baroness sent him 'aggressive' emails.

In response, she said in the film: 'I can sometimes come across as feisty, but I'm not aggressive, I'm not abusive. To be honest, I'm not a fan of his anyway.'

Mr Hancock was responsible for four companies being referred to the VIP contracts scheme.

One of them was Excalibur Healthcare Services, a medical company run by a Labour donor that was asked to provide ventilators.

The firm charged 135 million, or 50,000 each, to supply 2,700 ventilators. Three weeks earlier another company had provided the same model of VG70 ventilator for 8,800, according to the Times.

A DHSC spokesman said: 'We do not comment on ongoing legal cases.'
Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage but no arrests have been made

The security guard was trying to stop a suspected thief

An Oakland 7-Eleven security guard was shot dead during a store robbery leaving his daughter in tears over his senseless killing by an alleged thief.

Just after 10pm, James Johnson, 59, was shot by a suspect inside the convenience store as the security guard tried to stop the suspect from stealing merchandize, police said.

Johnson's daughter who went by the name Snow said her father worked at the store for approximately two years and that he lived in the building behind it in the Adams Point neighborhood.

'He was protecting the family at 7-Eleven, 'cause I know how my father is. He would do that for anyone he cared and loved,' Snow tearfully said to KPIX 5 News.

Investigators said they have surveillance video that captured the crime but have not arrested the suspect.

James Johnson, 59, was shot dead by a suspect inside a 7-Eleven in Oakland on Saturday after he tired to stop them from stealing merchandize

Johnson's daughter, Snow, broke down as she talked about her thoughtful and caring father

As Snow broke down in front of the store, she revealed she and her father recently lost her mother, Julie Johnson, just ten months ago.

'She died four days before my birthday and I just found out from my little brother that my dad died,' Snow said.

Longtime customers gathered around the store and shared fond memories of Johnson.

'James is a good person. Good for the community and this guy helped everybody and took care of everybody here,' a customer named Joseph Silva said.

Another customer, Brian Wolcott, said: 'He was a nice man, a giant man, pretty tall. He would talk to everyone came in.'

The city of Oakland has seen an uptick in violent crime, specifically at 7-Eleven locations.

On November 25, footage captured the shocking moment a mob of gunman attacked an armed guard before they went on to rob a truck full of cigarettes in broad daylight.

This robbery happened outside a 7-Eleven in Oakland's Grand Lake neighborhood, just about four minutes from where Johnson was shot.

Johnson worked at the 7-Eleven in the Adams Point neighborhood for about two years and lived in a house behind the store

Snow is seen breaking down in tears outside of the store after hearing that her father died

The entire robbery lasted about 90 seconds and the gunmen reportedly got away with tens of thousands of dollars worth of cigarettes.

There have been 3,469 robberies this year in Oakland, a 36 percent increase from the previous year.

Oakland's crime report also showed that 1,554 of those robberies had firearms involved.

Police said that they have responded to 110 homicides in 2023 alone.

Restaurants in Oakland have also been affected as they've lost thousands of dollars a week as diners have had their cars and jewelry robbed mid-meal.

Many locals have now decided to avoid the city's downtown area.

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price is facing a recall as a result. Hundreds of locals have started a group, named Save Alameda for Everyone, in a bid to oust Price from her position because of her soft-on-crime approach.

'Oakland is dangerous right now. Things need to change,' Silva told KPIX 5 News.

Oakland Police Department said some of the worst-hit areas have been Laurel, North Hills, Joaquin Miller, and the Greater San Antonio area.

A mob of gunmen attacked an armed guard before robbing a truck full of cigarettes in broad daylight in Oakland on November 25

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price is facing a recall as a result of the violent chaos. Hundreds of locals have tried to oust her from her position

Johnson's heartbroken daughter wants justice for her father.

'He was a great man. He was a very great man. He was one of those guys who would give you anything if you needed anything,' she said.

'I hate this. This has gotten to be way too much. My condolences to his family. To have to go through this is awful but having it happen during the holiday season is even worse,' someone commented on Facebook about Johnson's tragic death.

Another commenter said: 'This is so sad! Justice for this security officer!'
The Metropolitan Police has been blasted after telling protesters in Trafalgar Square to stop waving Israeli flags because it is a 'heritage site' - despite the square playing host to several pro-Palestine rallies in recent weeks.

In a video shared online by the campaign group Eye on Antisemitism, the officer can be heard telling a protester to take the flag 'off the wall' in front of the National Gallery before he is then challenged by someone filming the exchange.

During the two-minute clip, the Met constable says: 'You're not meant to be here because this is a protected heritage site, so you need a licence to be here, to do what you're doing.

'You didn't have one in the first place and we've been nice enough to let you be here, alright?'

The person filming claims during the clip that the officer 'got jittery' after someone shouted 'Free Palestine' - and points out that the square has been the site of many pro-Palestine rallies in the last two months.

The Metropolitan Police officer said he and his colleagues had been 'nice enough' to let pro-Israel protesters hold a rally in Trafalgar Square

The Metropolitan Police officer told protesters to take a flag 'off the wall' because Trafalgar Square is a 'protected heritage site'

The officer then says he won't 'argue' with the person filming about his request for the flag to be removed - prompting them to reply: 'Two-tier policing, innit'

A pro-Palestinian protest in Trafalgar Square on November 4. Protesters can be seen standing on, and draping flags over, the same area of the square

A previous gathering on October 14 - one week after Hamas' violent incursion into Israel - saw protesters climb onto the base of Nelson's Column

Shaking his head, the constable replies: 'Sir, I'm not arguing with you.' He then claims he has asked people to take flags down in the past before he is then challenged by other observers.

The man filming then adds: 'On Saturday there were thousands of Palestinian flags here. You got jittery over one Star of David, yeah. Two-tier policing, innit.'

He continues: 'This is a heritage site he said, right? And that's why you're not allowed the flag up there. Did that stop the Palestinians from climbing up there Saturday and waving all their flags?'

The video has been watched more than 40,000 times and 'liked' more than 1,100 times on X, formerly Twitter, according to analytics provided by the website.

'Absolutely sick of these double-standards,' wrote one X user, posting a sea of Israeli flag emojis. 'I know which flag I would rather see.'

Another user added: 'Oh look @metpoliceuk another example of your two tier policing policy on camera again.'

A third person, sharing the video to their own profile, added: 'For goodness sake, why on earth is this @metpoliceuk officer causing such a situation? It's a flag.'

The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for comment.

An assembly of pro-Israel protesters - including some calling for Israel to do more to bring home Hamas hostages - gathered in Trafalgar Square on Monday night beneath a large menorah lit up for Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights.

Protesters chanted 'bring them home now' in the square, which has been the focal point of several pro-Palestine demonstrations in the weeks since Hamas terrorists crossed into Israel and slaughtered 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians.

The Metropolitan Police has been criticised for its allegedly lax approach to policing pro-Palestine marches, including assemblies in the central London plaza.

Pro-Palestine activists have previously been photographed standing on and draping flags over the same walls where the Star of David flag was hung on Monday night.

The square has also been the scene of ugly clashes between police and pro-Palestine activists - leading to some activists being detained by officers. Others have been pictured setting off flares.

Beyond this, protesters have climbed on statues, including the square's iconic lions, and other sculptures elsewhere in London.

Trafalgar Square has been the scene of clashes between pro-Palestinian activists and police officers (pictured: a scuffle on October 14)

Pro-Palestinian activists climb on top of one of Trafalgar Square's fountains during a protest on November 4

A man wears a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf and waves a Palestinian flag in front of one of Trafalgar Square's lions on October 21

Police watch as pro-Palestine activists wave sparklers during a protest in Trafalgar Square on October 14

The central London square has also hosted a number of rallies by pro-Israel activists calling for the safe return of Hamas hostages

Last month, a Met Police officer was filmed politely asking a pro-Palestine marcher to climb down from a war memorial at Hyde Park Corner before doing nothing to arrest him. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the man had not broken any laws.

On Saturday, officers were slammed for not immediately detaining attending the latest Palestinian solidarity march, who brandished a sign comparing the IDF's treatment of Palestinian prisoners to the Nazis during the Holocaust.

It later issued an appeal in a bid to trace the woman who was seen carrying the sign - and even issued a direct response to a photographer who videoed his attempts to speak to officers about the placard.

The Met said in a tweet to cameraman Stuart Mitchell: 'The officers didn't stop because as the video was being filmed, they were already following the person holding the placard while waiting for other officers to reach them. That was their focus.'

Officers have also issued an appeal to trace a man carrying a sign depicting the Star of David with the caption: 'The Final Solution?' - an alleged reference to the Holocaust.

At least 13 protesters were arrested in Saturday's protest, largely in connection with offensive signs.

An additional 2,000 officers have been dispatched to the capital every weekend since Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, costing taxpayers an estimated 20million and stretching the Met's frontline resources.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley last week told Mayor Sadiq Khan that his force has been 'severely bent out of shape' by protesters over the conflict in the Middle East.

More than 17,000 Palestinians have been killed in the two months of air strikes and ground operations that followed the Hamas incursion, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. It claims two thirds of the dead are women and children.

The IDF claims to have killed 7,000 Hamas terrorists since the October 7 attacks, though its claims have not been independently verified.
President Joe Biden doubled down on his support for Israel at the White House's Hanukkah celebration Monday night, but also warned leaders of the Jewish state that they needed to be 'careful' because the 'whole world's public opinion can shift overnight.'

Biden was joined at the menorah lighting by second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, and around 800 guests, who were packed into the White House's East Room, and called his commitment to the Jewish people's safety and to Israel 'unshakable.'

'You don't have to be a Jew to be a Zionist,' Biden said, while also offering, 'folks, were there no Israel, there wouldn't be a Jew in the world who was safe.'

But the president also distanced himself from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a leader he's known for decades, as criticism has ramped up over Israel's killing of civilians in Gaza as Israeli forces try to take out the terror group Hamas in the aftermath of the October 7 terror attack.

Biden said Netanyahu has a picture of the two of them on his desk when they were younger, in which the Democrat had inscribed: 'Bibi, I love you, but I don't agree with a damn thing you have to say.'

'It's about the same today,' Biden said to laughs.

President Joe Biden did a delicate dance at Monday's Hanukkah reception, voicing support for Israel but distancing himself from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the Democrat has taken more political heat over Israel's killing of civilians in Gaza

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, light the first flame of the menorah Monday night as the White House held its annual Hanukkah reception. Emhoff has been put in charge of an initiative to help combat anti-Semitism

The president said the U.S. would continue to bolster the Israeli military in its effort to 'get rid' of Hamas.

'But, but we have to be careful. They have to be careful,' Biden said. 'The whole world's public opinion can shift overnight. We can't let that happen.'

Biden said he'd continue to press on to get the Israeli hostages released from Hamas.

'And we're not going to stop until we get every one of them home,' he pledged.

The president also committed to 'lead the world on humanitarian assistance to innocent Palestinians civilians.'

'To emphasize to our Israeli friends that we really need to protect civilian life,' Biden said.

'And let me be clear, Hamas using rape, sexual violence and terrorism and torture of Israeli women and girls is appalling and unforgivable,' Biden said, telling the crowd he had seen some of the photographs. 'It was beyond, it was beyond comprehension.'

President Joe Biden walks onstage at the White House's Hanukkah reception Monday night. During brief remarks he doubled down on his support for Israel but cautioned the Israeli government to be 'careful' as there has been outcry over the killing of Palestinian civilians

President Joe Biden spoke about how his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has gone back decades remarking how a photograph in Bibi's office from Biden reads: 'Bibi, I love you, but I don't agree with a damn thing you have to say'

'We all have to condemn such brutality without equivocation, without exception,' he added.

He also told the Jewish community gathered at the White House that he understood that they were hurt by the 'silence and the fear for your safety,' calling the uptick of anti-Semitism 'sickening.'

Biden met with Holocaust survivors and their families before coming onstage.

He also gave a special shout-out to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who gave a recent floor speech condemning anti-Semitism.

Since the war began, there has been a 388 percent increase in antisemitism in America, Anti-Defamation League Director and CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said earlier this month.

Emhoff has taken the lead for the administration in speaking out against the wave of anti-Semitism.

'We're calling upon all Americans to make clear that there is no place for hate in America, against Jews, Muslims or anybody else,' Biden said.

The president then told a story about a menorah on display at the White House this hanukkah, found by a father at a home in an Israeli kibbutz, after his son was murdered and his wife and daughter were forced to hide from Hamas terrorists for 20 hours.

'He pulled something from the ashes fully intact, a menorah,' Biden said. 'A reminder, a reminder to hold onto the miracle of hope and faith because when we do no night is so dark we can't find light.'

'No one knows that better than the Jewish people,' the president added wishing the crowd a happy Hanukkah.
Bahrain's Housing Ministry will begin distributing 6,800 new homes to Bahrains citizens from Saturday (December 16) as the kingdom marks its National Day as well as the anniversary of His Majestys Accession to the Throne, said a report.

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, gave the orders yesterday (December 11) as he chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting at Gudaibiya Palace, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.
If convicted of the charges he could be facing 22 years in jail unless a plea deal is struck

George Santos is talking about a possible plea deal with prosecutors as he seeks to avoid prison in fraud case, court records show.

The disgraced former Congressman, who was expelled from the US House earlier this month, is now in talks with attorneys from the Eastern District of New York.

There is no word on the details of the possible plea.

Court docs state Santos is 'presently engaged in plea negotiations with the goal of resolving this matter without the need for a trial.'

Santos is currently facing a 23-count federal indictment for allegedly stealing the identity of his donors and using their credit cards to spend tens of thousands of dollars. He faces up to 22 years in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty and called the case a 'witch hunt.'

George Santos has been in talks with the feds on how he can avoid a trial over allegations he stole his donors' IDs and used their credit cards to fund his lavish lifestyle

The former Long Island representative was kicked out of Congress in early December after an ethics committee found he had stolen donor funds

Santos was forced out of Congress on Dec.1 after an ethics committee found he had stolen donor funds to splash on Botox and OnlyFans.

Over 100 Republicans joined Democrats in booting out the fabulist liar in a historic vote totaling 311 to 114, with two members voting 'present.'

Santos has previously stated he would not hesitate to take a plea deal or community service over his fear of being sent to prison.

'I think everybody should be afraid of going to jail. It's not a pretty place and I want to work to avoid that as best as possible,' he told The Point. 'I'm going to negotiate the best I can.'

His comments come as a stark U-turn from his position in September prior to his expulsion when he vowed he would not take a plea deal.

The Republican fabulist was expelled from Congress in an extraordinary vote after his long history of lying was exposed and he was hit with multiple criminal charges.

His mountains of lies include fabricating family links to the Holocaust, 9/11 killing his mother, working on Wall Street, recovering from a brain tumor, being of Ukrainian-Jewish descent and starting a charity.

The Long Island congressman fled Capitol Hill as he became just the sixth House member in history to be kicked out earlier this month.

George Santos, seen on September 29, now faces 23 federal charges in total over allegations he stole campaign donations

The ousted lawmaker was forced out after refusing to resign and insisted he is the victim of a 'witch hunt'

It came after a damning house ethics report found he used campaign money and donations to fund a lavish lifestyle, engaged in fraud, filed false election reports and 'willfully' violated ethics.

Santos has tried to shift the blame on to his former campaign treasurer Nancy Marks, who pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in October.

Another of his former fundraisers, Samuel Miele, has also pleaded guilty to federal charges.

Santos' trial is currently due to comment on September 9 next year, but prosecutors are pushing to move up the start date to May or June.

DailyMail.com has contacted Santos' lawyers for comment.
Man was among the first to respond

A firefighter has died while battling a blaze that engulfed a suburban property.

Emergency crews were called to the house fire on Grose Vale Road in Gross Vale, in Sydney's north-west, just before 8am on Tuesday.

Michael Kidd, who was on call with Fire and Rescue NSW, was part of the crew called out to extinguish the blaze.

The 51-year-old collapsed while fighting the inferno and paramedics performed CPR on him but could not revive the firefighter.

He is understood to have been struck by a falling beam.

A firefighter has died after he was called out to a blaze at a property near Richmond (pictured), in Sydney's north-west

A crime scene has been established and an investigation into the incident has been launched.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Fire and Rescue NSW confirmed in a statement Mr Kidd had died fighting the fire and said they were working with police in their investigation.

'Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) regrets to advise of the death of a firefighter at a house fire at Grose Vale, north-west of Sydney, this morning,' the statement read.

'FRNSW is working with other authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and also provide support to the mans family, his crew, and the others impacted by this tragedy.'

'Our condolences are with the firefighters family, friends and colleagues at this tragic time.'

Gross Vale Road was closed following the fire and it is expected that road will be closed for a while.

The 51-year-old man collapsed while he was fighting the fire at the property (pictured) after the home became engulfed in flames

Thick plumes of smoke were seen (pictured) coming out of the property after the fire erupted

Shocking footage captured thick plumes of smoke emerging from the property after the fire erupted.

The fire was well alight inside the home with parts of two-storey property well alight.

More fire crews were seen arriving to help battle the blaze with a fire truck seen making it's way up the road leading towards the home.

The blaze appeared to be controlled by emergency services as they remained on the scene to monitor the situation.

Plumes of smoke could be seen coming out of the top of the home with firefighters seen hosing down part of the front of the property.

Fire crews (pictured) were seen at the property as emergency services raced the the scene to battle the blaze

Members of Fire and Rescue NSW (pictured) seen responding to the fire that tore through the property

Police have begun investigating the death of a firefighter who collapsed while he was battling the fire at the home

Fire crews were seen on the property carrying hoses as they fought the terrifying blaze

Smoke was seen coming out over the top of the property as firefighters were seen hosing down parts of the front of the home with water

Fire crews were seen hosing down parts of the home after the blaze ravaged the property
Anger has grown after an American citizen believed to have been working for the US intelligence services 'fled' the UK following a car crash that led to a nurse unable to walk.

Isaac Calderon, 22, failed to show up to a court date after he was charged with causing Elizabeth Donowho, 56, serious injury by dangerous driving in a collision on the A4103 near Shucknall in Herefordshire on 31 July.

Ms Donowho, from Malvern, Worcestershire, said she was unable to walk for six weeks following the crash that left her with a fractured sternum and two broken ankles.

Calderon, who is said to be 'associated with the secret services', was due to appear at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on December 1 but instead boarded a commercial flight to Texas, police reportedly said.

Pressure is now mounting on the Government as it considers whether to request Calderon's extradition, with Ms Donowho telling The Sun that she is 'appalled the authorities have allowed this to happen'.

Elizabeth Donowho was unable to walk for six weeks following the collision that happened on the A4103 near Shucknall in Herefordshire on 31 July

Ms Donowho, of Malvern, Worcestershire, said she was left unable to walk for six weeks after the collision - in which she broke both of her ankles, as well as suffering a fractured sternum and a broken bone in her hand

Pictured: Scans show Elizabeth Donowho's ankle after the crash which she claims left her unable to walk for six weeks

Radd Seiger (left), who has acted as an advisor and spokesman for Harry's Dunn's family, including his mother Charlotte Charles (right) is now supporting Ms Donowho (centre)

The incident has drawn comparisons with the case of US citizen Anne Sacoolas, who pleaded guilty via videolink at the Old Bailey to causing death by careless driving in the case of Harry Dunn in August 2019.

Sacoolas, who had been driving on the wrong side of the road, was able to leave the UK when diplomatic immunity was asserted on her behalf by the US government following the killing of the teenage motorcyclist.

There are understood to be no issues surrounding diplomatic immunity in Mr Calderon's case.

Radd Seiger, who has acted as an advisor and spokesman for Harry's family, is now supporting Ms Donowho.

He labelled Calderon 'a fugitive on the run' and said he 'must be returned to the UK without delay'.

West Mercia Police told Ms Donowho the 22-year-old suspect had been carrying out work 'associated with the secret service' and working on matters 'that might come under the Official Secrets Act' prior to the crash.

The force also told the 56-year-old that the 'extradition process' has now commenced after Calderon left the country to return to Houston, Texas, in the US on a commercial flight on November 25.

Police also told Ms Donowho they had received 'assurances' from his employer that he would not leave the country, but did not specify who the employer was.

The nurse said: 'He could be anywhere in the world now, I do doubt that we will ever see him again.'

Ms Donowho broke both of her ankles in the collision, as well as suffering a fractured sternum and a broken bone in her hand.

The Hereford Times said the suspect's occupation was given as an American soldier during December's court hearing.

Calderon has been described as a 'private citizen' by the US Embassy and police said he had been in the UK on a work visa.

It is understood there are no issues surrounding diplomatic immunity in the case.

Police were not advised of any intention Calderon had of leaving the UK, it is understood.

Pictured: The A4103 near Shucknall in Herefordshire where the crash occurred on July 31

He had been interviewed on August 15 by officers, 15 days after the initial crash as he had required immediate hospital treatment.

Confirming Calderon's departure, West Mercia Police said: 'On Friday 1 December 2023 at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court a warrant was issued for the arrest of Issac Calderon, 22, who is wanted for failure to appear at court on a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

'Mr Calderon is an American citizen who, we understand, was in the UK on a work visa.

'Our inquiries have established that he left the UK on November 25 and flew to the United States.

'We are engaging with his solicitor to inform him of the warrant and the need for him to return to the UK.

'We have also prepared appropriate paperwork should we need to request extradition, to ensure that the case can be heard in court.'

Harry Dunn was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside US military base RAF Croughton

Anne Sacoolas was able to leave the UK when diplomatic immunity was asserted on her behalf

A US Embassy spokeswoman said: 'The US Embassy does not comment on law enforcement matters involving private US citizens.

'The US and UK co-ordinate closely on law enforcement matters.'

The Home Office said it would neither confirm nor deny whether an extradition request had been made until the suspect had been arrested, as a matter of longstanding policy and practice.

MailOnline has contacted the US Department of State.
Ministers anticipate small-boat arrivals could continue for up to a decade, it has emerged, amid vast sums being spent on the Channel crisis.

The Home Office thinks migrant reception centres will continue operating for up to ten years at a cost of 700million.

Documents show ministers are seeking contractors for the processing centre at Manston, Kent, and a reception site at Western Jet Foil, in the port of Dover where Channel migrants disembark.

The contracts would run until at least 2030 and potentially until 2034, the BBC reported.

The Government's official legal advice on Rwanda, published yesterday, confirmed figures which emerged in June, indicating the cost of asylum accommodation alone could spiral to 11billion a year.

The Home Office thinks migrant reception centres will continue operating for up to ten years at a cost of 700million. Pictured: Migrants carrying a boat on their shoulders last year

Currently the asylum system is costing 4billion a year, including 8million a day to house more than 50,000 irregular migrants in hotels. Pictured: Migrants pictured in Dover, Kent last month

Ministers anticipate small-boat arrivals could continue for up to a decade

It said: 'The Government estimates that if illegal immigration goes unaddressed, the costs of asylum accommodation alone could increase to 32million per day by 2026.

'The Government therefore needs to use all the powers at its disposal to prevent and deter unlawful migration.'

Currently the asylum system is costing 4billion a year, including 8million a day to house more than 50,000 irregular migrants in hotels.

It came as MPs heard the costs of the Rwanda scheme are likely to rise as a result of measures laid out in new legislation published last week.

Last week the Mail revealed an extra 100million payment to the east African nation was signed off this year.

It came on top of previous sums totalling 140million, with another 50million to be handed over in April.

In March, it was announced Britain would give 478million to the French to step up beach patrols.
A doctor who avoided two bans over nude photos of patients is facing a new disciplinary action after boasting: 'It's a perk of the job getting to take pictures of young lads in their underwear.'

Dr Christopher Valentine, 61, a sex health expert, managed to keep his job after receiving previous complaints in the workplace. He is alleged to have behaved inappropriately during consultations with five patients.

He allegedly got on his hands and knees behind a patient who was unnecessarily ordered to undress, a tribunal heard.

Valentine - whose area of practice is listed as Hartlepool - denies the charges but admits others at Dunoon in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, The Sun reported.

Dr Christopher Valentine, 61, a sex health expert, managed to keep his job after receiving previous complaints in the workplace

Valentine is alleged to have behaved inappropriately during consultations with five patients

The doctor is accused of stumbling towards one patient while he lay on a bed, with his crotch near to the patient's face.

He is also accused of asking another patient to undress so he could check for tattoos, despite the patient saying he did not have any.

The doctor first faced the General Medical Council in 2006 for capturing nude photographs of patients for 'educational purposes'. He was then cleared of serious misconduct.

The sex expert also avoided an outright ban in 2015 for keeping naked images of two patients on an iPad.

The most recent tribunal continues in Manchester.
Legal advice to ministers insists the Rwanda scheme has a 'clear lawful basis' and describes changes demanded by Right-wing backbenchers as 'alien to the UK's tradition of liberty and justice'.

In a rare move, the Home Office published a summary of its official 'legal position' on the proposals.

The five-page summary attempted to knock down the case for tougher measures advocated by Tory MPs including former home secretary Suella Braverman.

The document warns that blocking the ability of migrants to bring legal action would be 'a breach of international law and alien to the UK's constitutional tradition of liberty and justice'.

It adds that even in wartime, access to courts was maintained 'in order that individuals can uphold their rights and freedoms'.

In a rare move, the Home Office published a summary of its official 'legal position' on the proposals (pictured: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak)

The five-page summary attempted to knock down the case for tougher measures advocated by Tory MPs including former home secretary Suella Braverman (pictured)

The document went on: 'This is a novel and contentious policy, and the UK and Rwanda are the first countries in the world to enact it together.

'There are risks inherent in such an innovative approach but there is a clear lawful basis on which a responsible government may proceed.'

READ MORE: Rishi Sunak faces crunch vote on his Rwanda plan which his MPs say will go down to the wire after days of grandstanding from both wings of the Tory party Advertisement

But the summary said moves to block every court challenge 'would mean that there would be no respectable argument that the Bill is compatible with international law'.

It added: 'It would also go against Rwanda's own explicit wishes that our partnership remains compliant with international law, and likely collapse the scheme.'

As a result, the Bill must allow very limited scope for migrants to bring legal challenges against being sent to Rwanda, based on 'wholly exceptional individual circumstances', it said.

The document predicted hardly any migrants would be able to lodge legal action under the 'exceptionally narrow' grounds for claims, such as very rare medical conditions.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'As the legal advice sets out, we think we have a tough and strong piece of legislation which will achieve our objectives.'

Earlier Defence Secretary Grant Shapps had insisted that the vast majority of legal challenges by small boat migrants would be overturned within just 17 days under the proposed new laws.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that migrants' attempts to block their removal from Britain will be dealt with 'a good deal faster' than currently.

However last night the Law Society's chief executive Ian Jeffery predicted that the new Bill was likely to end up being challenged by the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg.
The sister of a man charged with the murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee has had DUI charges against her dropped, two weeks after she was arrested for crashing her $150,000 Mercedes.

Khazar Momeni, 38, the wife of plastic surgeon Dino Elyassnia, was arrested on November 27 in San Francisco's Tenderloin district. She was seen pulling up to a rundown smoke store, where she and a young man purchased two canisters of N20 - popular party inhalants made of nitrous oxide and known as whippets, hippy crack or laughing gas. The gas, when inhaled, can cause a rapid rush of euphoria.

Momeni drove away from the store and side-swiped several cars before crashing. The can of 'whippet' was on the front seat of her car, next to her designer handbag, when she was arrested.

Witnesses told DailyMail.com that she was shaking, and was visibly high.

She was initially charged with two counts of hit-and-run, and accused her of failing to provide proof of insurance and failing to drive within her lane.

Momeni's brother Nima, a tech entrepreneur, has been arrested and charged with Lee's murder. Prosecutors have said the stabbing happened after Nima Momeni confronted Lee about his relationship with his sister, and demanded to know whether or not the two had done drugs together.

Khazar Momeni, 38, is seen being arrested on November 27 after crashing her car. She is the sister of the man accused of killing Cash App founder Bob Lee. Momeni was arrested on a DUI charge after a crash

Khazar Momeni is seen confronting the police officer, begging not to be arrested after the crash

The 'whippet' canister was seen next to her designer handbag in the front seat of her Mercedes

On Monday, prosecutors announced they had dropped charges against Khazar Momeni for the crash.

'The charges against her are being discharged at this time pending further investigation,' the San Francisco District Attorney's Office said.

'Although the charges against Ms. Momeni are being discharged, the investigation is continuing, and charges could be filed at a later date.'

Prosecutors have not yet received a toxicology report for the incident, the office said.

Dismissing charges due to delays in the blood toxicology report is 'very common and not unusual,' the spokesperson for the office said.

Khazar Momeni, the sister of a man accused of killing tech entrepreneur Bob Lee, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and a hit-and-run

Momeni, who is married to prominent plastic surgeon Dr. Dino Elyassnia, was seen with her husband supporting her brother in court

Prosecutors believe Momeni's brother Nima (left) killed Cash App founder Bob Lee in April after quizzing him about his alleged sexual relationship with his married sister

Charges against her brother, Nima, for the alleged killing of Lee remain pending. Surveillance video of Lee's final night shows him entering the tony Millennium Tower apartment building in downtown San Francisco, where Khazar Momeni lives.

Video footage then shows Lee and Nima Momeni leaving the building together shortly after 2am and driving off in Nima Momeni's car.

Lee was found shortly after 2:30am in the Rincon Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, which has tech offices and condominiums but little activity in the early morning hours.

Prosecutors have said the stabbing happened after Nima Momeni confronted Lee about his relationship with his sister, and demanded to know whether or not the two had done drugs together.

Khazar Momeni has regularly supported her brother in court since his arrest on April 13. Momeni has pleaded not guilty to killing Lee and faces 26 years to life if convicted.
The House's most conservative faction has now elected Rep. Bob Good, who voted to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as its leader.

Good will now take the reins of the nearly 50-member Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative rabble-rousers dedicated to 'breaking the status quo.'

Good, R-Va., was one of eight Republicans who voted for the motion to vacate - putting Speaker Mike Johnson on notice.

The election came after drama broke out within the caucus when Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, resigned from the board over its recommendation that the group elect Good.

The House's most conservative faction has now elected Rep. Bob Good, who voted to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy , as its leader

Good takes the one-year, term-limited position over from Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., whose cell phone was seized by the FBI after he led efforts in 2020 to overturn the Pennsylvania election results.

The leadership shakeup comes as war breaks out over reauthorization of a controversial FBI spying tool.

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) specifically allows intelligence agencies to engage in warrantless surveillance. It's intended for use on foreign citizens to stop terror attacks, but countless Americans have been caught up in it.

Now Judiciary- and Freedom Caucus-aligned Republicans support one bill with major reforms and Intel-aligned and other Republicans support another, which is a reauthorization with little overhaul but important fixes to stop abuses of the program.

Johnson has agreed to attach a four-month extension of FISA's Section 702 to must-pass defense legislation, the NDAA, further angering the Freedom Caucus.

The caucus issued an ominous threat over the fourth-month extension: 'The members of the House Freedom Caucus are prepared to use all available leverage to change the status quo. We will not simply vote no on bad legislation and go home for Christmas.'

Good will lead the group's messaging as they fight for FISA reforms - and as they battle over how to fund the government in fiscal year 2024 when short-term government funding bills run out.

Funding for some agencies of government will run out on January 19. Funding for the others will run out February 2. Given divisions within Congress, it looks unlikely that they will pass 12 single-subject appropriations bills - as hardline Republicans had wanted.

Past Freedom Caucus chairs have used the position as a launch pad for other high-profile jobs. Freedom Caucus co-founder Mark Meadows went on to serve as former President Donald Trump's chief of staff and former caucus chair Jim Jordan is now serving as the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
Peter Dutton has called for Australia's highest-ranking British diplomat to apologise and said he should be 'ashamed' after moving an Australia Day black-tie gala event from January 26.

High Commissioner to the UK, Stephen Smith, chose to scrap the date for an annual Australia Day fundraiser citing 'sensitivities' tied to the date, which has been the subject of controversy in recent years.

A spokesperson for Mr Smith later said the choice was made with respect to proposing an alternative night for the high-profile event.

In a televised address aired on Tuesday, the Opposition leader called the decision to move the date 'crazy' and 'utterly unacceptable' and called for Mr Smith to publicly retract his decision.

'How can we have a High Commissioner who is ashamed of Australia Day? Australia Day is a celebration of our history and our heritage,' Mr Dutton said.

'I think the vast majority of Australians will be celebrating Australia Day and I think the High Commissioner in London, if he's not prepared to celebrate Australia Day, if he's ashamed of Australia Day, then frankly I think he should be looking for a new job.'

Opposition leader Peter Dutton called the decision to move the date as 'crazy' and 'utterly unacceptable', and called for Mr Smith to publicly retract his decision

Kylie Minogue attends the Australia Day Gala Dinner at Australia House in London on January 24, 2015, the event now scrapped on the national day by High Commissioner Stephen Smith

READ MORE: Melbourne council pushes to scrap Australia Day celebrations and fly flag at half-mast to mark Day of Mourning Advertisement

The date January 26, which marks the First Fleet's landing at Sydney Cove in 1788, is considered a day of mourning for Indigenous communities with some campaigners referring to it as Invasion Day, or Survival Day.

A survey of over 2,000 people conducted by YouGov in 2022 found that 56 per cent of people were in favour of keeping the date of Australia Day as is. Nearly half of those aged under 35, however, supported a changed date.

Joining in on the backlash, Opposition Indigenous spokesperson Jacinta Price told 2GB earlier on Tuesday that Mr Smith's decision to move the date of the event was 'un-Australian.'

'I think it's a put down to put an end to any celebrations on Australia Day. I think we have to get back to being proud of what it means to be Australian,' she said.

Opposition Indigenous spokesperson Jacinta Price told 2GB earlier on Tuesday that Mr Smith's decision to move the date of the event was 'un-Australian'

The Coalition's calls against the moving of the date came amid burgeoning discussion from leaders on how the country should progress its efforts to achieve Indigenous reconciliation in the aftermath of the defeated Voice referendum.

Speaking out publicly for the first time after the October 14 loss, Voice architect and prominent pro-Voice campaigner Professor Megan Davis told reporters from the Australian Financial Review that the grassroots Indigenous rights movement would continue its advocacy, despite mourning communities believing the opportunity for reconciliation was 'dead.'

Former Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt also spoke out earlier this week, telling the Sydney Morning Herald that said despite the rejection of a constitutional Voice the prospect of reaching the nation's closing the gap should be tackled in a 'pragmatic' way.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney's priorities in 2024 would focus on issues identified by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, including health, education, jobs, housing and justice

The government has yet to confirm how it plans to pursue other parts of the Uluru Statement, including Treaty and Truth. It has already allocated $5.8 million to 'commence work on establishing an independent Makarrata Commission to oversee processes for agreement making and truth-telling.'

A spokesperson for Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney said the minister's priorities in 2024 would focus on issues identified by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, including health, education, jobs, housing and justice.

This includes new funding for justice reinvestment to reduce incarceration rates, investment into basic services in remote areas, and replacing the 'failed' remote employment and community development services program.
A US Air Force 'spy' space shuttle due to be launched by SpaceX as part of a classified mission has been forced to stand down minutes before it was due to take off.

Elon Musk's SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket was scheduled to take off at 8:14pm ET from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

But a 'ground issue' led to the mission being axed at the eleventh hour.

'Standing down from tonights Falcon Heavy launch due to a ground side issue,' a statement from SpaceX said.

'Vehicle and payload remain healthy. Team is resetting for the next launch opportunity of the USSF-52 mission, which is no earlier than tomorrow night.'

The X-37B is a military spacecraft that carries classified payloads into Earth's orbit. It was due to take off on Monday night before a 'ground side issue' led to the mission being called off

SpaceX confirmed the aircraft's launch has been delayed until Tuesday night at the earliest

This mission would have been the secretive X-37B's seventh since it debuted in 2010, and most of the craft's payload is classified.

Initially the mission was postponed by ten minutes, with SpaceX optimistic it would still go ahead with a live webcast of takeoff.

'Now targeting 8:24 p.m. ET for tonights Falcon Heavy launch of USSF-52. Weather is 85% favorable and the webcast will go live ~15 minutes ahead of liftoff,' a statement said.

But just ten minutes after announcing the delay the rocket company revealed the mission would be canceled.

Some experts have speculated that the US Space Force craft is used to run spy missions, to keep an eye on Chinese space operations or to test reconnaissance systems.

The X-37B can theoretically carry weapons into space, possibly to defend US satellites against anti-satellite weapons.

China and Russia have accused the US government of using the craft as a bomber.

This pilotless craft has been performing a range of classified missions for the military group since 2010, allowing the group to test new technologies in space.

The delay was the second in 24 hours after a launch on Sunday from from NASA 's Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida was similarly postponed

The X-37B is a military spacecraft that carries classified payloads into Earth's orbit. Its last mission lasted 908 days.

Past missions have demonstrated that the X-37B is a military workshop for new space technologies.

The X-37B can make stealth changes to its orbit, tweaking direction in a hard way for observers to detect.

Powered by solar cells with lithium-ion batteries, the plane was orbiting at around 200 miles high.

In 2015, the US Air Force confirmed the craft was being used to test a new electric propulsion system.

A statement from the US Space Force said the X-37B mission would involve 'a wide range of test and experimentation objectives'.

'These tests include operating the reusable spaceplane in new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies, and investigating the radiation effects on materials provided by NASA.'

According to a statement, Space Force gave SpaceFlightNow, the Falcon Heavy launch marks a new era for the craft - which has previously launched on a Falcon 9 or Atlas V, both of which have significantly smaller payload capacities.

'The use of a Falcon Heavy rocket will expand the X-37B flight envelope, launching into a new orbital regime and enabling unique experimentation opportunities for the X-37B,' the Space Force said.

Monday night's mission would have been the secretive X-37B's seventh since it debuted in 2010, and most of the craft's payload is classified

The Falcon Heavy rocket can carry a much heavier payload into space than the Falcon 9 or Atlas V can. This suggests the X-37B will be flying higher than it did during past missions

The delay on Monday followed a previous setback on Sunday, which pushed takeoff back by 24 hours.

No exact reason was given for the initial delay, but SpaceX had hoped the mission would proceed as planned on Monday with more favorable weather conditions.

'Now targeting Monday, December 11 for Falcon Heavys launch of the USSF-52 mission, with weather conditions forecasted to improve to 70% favorable for liftoff on Monday night.,' an update read.

'The team will use the time to complete additional pre-launch check outs.'

Though details of the X-37B's orbit and activities are classified, official documents seem to confirm that it was due to take a different path than it has in the past.

In addition to its classified payload, the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle would have carried an experiment that tracks the effects of space radiation on seeds.

The first mission in 2010 lasted 224 days, the second a year later went on for 468 days, and the mission that ended in 2019 lasted a total of 780 days.
Sustainability Forum Middle East (SFME) is gearing up to launch its second edition from January 8 to 9, 2024 in Bahrain in which over 500 senior decision makers are expected to attend.

The Forum, which is a regional platform for engagement, dialogue and skills building in support of climate action, will focus on promoting regional decarbonisation with a focus on Achieving Net Zero  Pathways to Accelerating Implementation.

Its world-class programme will look holistically at the road to net-zero and the essential collaborations, funding and regulations required to accelerate the journey for businesses across sectors and the regional economies.

Highlights and outcomes

Importantly, on the agenda will also be highlights and outcomes from the COP28 conference recently held in the UAE and its implications for Mena climate action.

The Forum, over its two days, will feature a number of keynote addresses and interactive panel sessions with participation from high-level speakers including senior government officials and business and climate leaders who will look at issues critical to achieving net-zero targets.

Featured speakers include executives from Acwa Power, Alba, APM Terminals Bahrain, Bank ABC, Bapco Energies, Boston Consulting Group, Central Bank of Bahrain, Deloitte, EY-Parthenon, Electricity & Water Authority (EWA), Expo City Dubai, HSBC, Infracorp, KPMG, Lucid Motors, Red Sea Global, Standard Chartered Bank, Zu'bi & Partners, among others.

The Forum will also include a series of workshops focused on helping companies develop strategies for lowering their carbon footprints and launching their own net-zero journeys. Workshops will be delivered by Deloitte, KPMG, The Sustainability Group, CFA Society Bahrain and PetroSkills. Companies are encouraged to register for these knowledge-packed sessions, which will help participants come away with an enhanced understanding and insights on how to develop effective plans to decarbonise their business models and operations.

Diverse group

Laila Danesh, Managing Director at FinMark Communications, the Forums founder and organiser, said: Were excited to announce further details of the Forum and the dynamic programme of speakers, panels and workshops we have put together. We look forward once again to bringing together a diverse group of business leaders with climate and sustainability experts to discuss meaningful solutions for the complex energy and economic transition that lies ahead.

Supporting the Forum are a group of partners dedicated to regional climate action. These include Lead Partners: Bank ABC and Infracorp, Strategic Partners: Tamkeen, Bapco Energies and Standard Chartered Bank, Forum Partners: APM Terminals Bahrain, Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (Asry), Zubi & Partners, The Bahrain Ship Repairing and Engineering Company (BASREC) and American Chamber of Commerce, Bahrain, Official Carrier: Gulf air Group Media Partners: Asharq Business with Bloomberg, BFT and OGN.--TradeArabia News Service
Creditors will discuss its financial viability next week

One of Australia's leading body shaping and wellness chains has been plunged into administration as the cost of living forces households to tighten their belts.

Body Catalyst, a non-surgical cosmetic chain with 29 clinics in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, went into administration last Thursday.

Alan Walker and Glenn Livingstone from WLP Restructuring will meet with creditors to discuss the financial viability of the company on December 19.

Scentre Group, which owns Westfield, will likely have a seat at the table with 10 Body Catalyst stores located in shopping centres across the east coast.

Body Catalyst, a non-surgical cosmetic chain with 29 clinics in New South Wales , Victoria and Queensland went into administration last Thursday

Landlords, the Australian Taxation Office and suppliers are also expected to attend the first meeting of creditors on December 19 who will consider whether additional locations need to close after eight stores closed their doors this year.

Mr Walker said the business would continue to operate 'at the moment' while administrators assessed the company's financial position.

The administrator hopes to restructure the company 'in order to save jobs and as many clinics as possible and that households prioritising the essentials amid the rising cost of living had hurt revenue.

He said cosmetic procedures still remain a 'sensitive spend decision' with the company also struggling under the weight of fixed overhead costs.

'The Administrators are continuing their review of Body Catalyst Group, working closely with stakeholders, staff and customers to minimise operational disruption,' Mr Walker said in a statement.

'Our express objective is to restructure the business and keep as many clinics open, people in employment, and customers served as possible.'

Body Catalyst was founded by Samantha Barakat Light in 2015 and once boasted 44 clinics across Australia and New Zealand.

In a statement, Ms Bakarat Light said it was with a heavy heart that the company entered voluntary administration and subsequent closure of clinics.

'The challenging economic landscape characterised by 13 interest rate rises over the past year, decreased consumer spending, and escalating operating costs has forced us to reevaluate our business structure. This difficult decision was made with the long-term sustainability of our company in mind,' she said.

'Despite these challenges, we are determined to emerge stronger and more resilient. As part of our commitment to a brighter future, we are reorganising our operations to create a leaner and more efficient business model.

'This restructuring will enable us to refocus on delivering high-quality services to our clients in key locations, whilst navigating the changing economic climate.

'We appreciate the support of our loyal clients and partners during this transitional period, and we look forward to serving you with renewed vigor and commitment in our refined and revitalised business model.'

Body Catalyst was founded by Samantha Barakat Light (left) in 2015 and once boasted 44 clinics across Australia and New Zealand

Body Catalyst offers clients services like cryolipolysis fat freezing, cellulite reduction, skin tightening treatments and muscle defining treatments.

Treatment prices cost between hundreds and several thousands of dollars.

Clients can also sign up to a membership program for $59 a week to access exclusive offers and discounted treatments.

A 10-pack Cellulite Buster package is $3,140 while the Tight Tummy package costs $3,699 - with both treatments promising to tighten lose skin and improve definition.

Body Catalyst was founded by Samantha Barakat Light in 2015 and once boasted 44 clinics across Australia and New Zealand.

Ms Barakat Light previously revealed she was inspired to start the self-funded company after discovering the benefits of cryolipolysis.

Freezing fat, known medically as cryolipolysis, is one of the most popular, non-invasive methods of permanently reducing stubborn body fat.

'I started Body Catalyst 3 years ago after I found that irrespective of how well people ate or how much they exercised, they would still retain weight in certain areas. Coming from a Health Science background, the disconnect between the two fascinated me as much as it frustrated me,' Ms Barakat Light said in 2015.

'This disconnect affected people's confidence (including my own). In-fact, the harder we work at keeping our bodies healthy and happy, the more frustrating it is to have stubborn pockets of fat.

'When I learned of cryolipolysis, I was excited to find a treatment that helped this very issue and my vision was to make this technology accessible to everyone - and with Body Catalyst I achieved that.'

Alan Walker and Glenn Livingstone from WLP Restructuring will meet with creditors to discuss the financial viability of Body Catalyst on December 19

Ms Barakat Light stepped down from her role as CEO in May of this year.

In a LinkedIn post, the founder said she would shift to a 'behind-the-scenes role' where she could focus on the company's strategy and the big picture.

Badia Kita, who oversaw the company's successful expansion into Auckland, New Zealand, has taken over as CEO.

There are 15 clinics located in Victoria and include areas such as Armadale, Geelong and Moonee Ponds.

Another nine are set up in NSW with Bondi Westfield, Camden and Mosman among the locations while another five are operating in Queensland.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Body Catalyst for comment.
Sue Johnson says she supports 'right to die' ahead of new Channel 4 show

In her dying days, it has been revealed that Dame Diana Rigg made a heartfelt plea to MPs to give people autonomy over their deaths.

Now actress Sue Johnston has said she believes everyone should 'have a right' to end their own lives  ahead of her new Channel 4 comedy drama Truelove which deals with euthanasia.

The series sees a group of over-70s agree to help each other to die when their time comes.

It has been revealed that Dame Diana Rigg made a heartfelt plea to MPs to give people autonomy over their deaths

Sue Johnston has said she believes everyone should 'have a right' to end their own lives

Ms Johnson made the intervention in an interview with Radio Times, ahead of a new TV series which grapples with the issue

Royle Family star Ms Johnston, 80, told Radio Times: 'You think of yourself in that condition  everyone sitting round the bed while you're lying there, zoned out on morphine  and you think, 'I hope I don't go like that.'

But she added: 'I don't think I would have the courage to go to Switzerland. And it would be so awful for my son to take me there and come back on his own.'

Ahead of her death from cancer in 2020 aged 82, actress Dame Diana called for assisted dying to be made legal in a series of recordings on tape, her daughter Rachael Stirling revealed in The Observer.

Dame Diana said it was 'high time there was some movement in the law to give choice to people in my position.'
The Texas Supreme Court on Monday backed an appeals court in overturning a lower court ruling that would have allowed a mom to have an abortion - hours after she left the state to get the procedure in another area.

Kate Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two, won the rare challenge to the Lone Star State's abortion ban after her pregnancy was ruled unviable.

She argued that she may lose her uterus if her pregnancy continued, and it would prevent her from having a third child in the future.

The lower court decision was appealed, and that court overturned the decision. But, by that time, Cox had fled to another area to get the procedure.

'After a week of legal whiplash and threats of prosecution from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, our client Kate Cox has been forced to flee her home state of Texas to get the time-sensitive abortion care needed to protect her health and future fertility,' the Center for Reproductive Rights confirmed on social media.

Hours after she left, Texas' Supreme Court ruled she could not have had the abortion in their state.

Dallas mom Kate Cox, 31, is carrying a baby diagnosed with a chromosomal abnormality that is almost certain to cause death before birth or soon after

UPDATE: After a week of legal whiplash and threats of prosecution from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, our client Kate Cox has been forced to flee her home state of Texas to get the time-sensitive abortion care needed to protect her health and future fertility.  Center for Reproductive Rights (@ReproRights) December 11, 2023

After a judge ruled Cox could have an abortion, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened her doctors with legal action and appealed the decision

The Texas Supreme Court  comprised of nine Republicans  called on the state's medical board to provide more guidance on the 'medical emergency' exception to Texas' law, which forms the foundation of Cox's case.

The court said Cox's doctor did not establish or attest that Cox's symptoms were life-threatening.

'No one disputes that Ms. Cox's pregnancy has been extremely complicated. Any parents would be devastated to learn of their unborn (fatal condition) diagnosis. Some difficulties in pregnancy, however, even serious ones, do not pose the heightened risks to the mother the exception encompasses,' the opinion states.

'The exception requires a doctor to decide whether Ms. Cox's difficulties pose such risks,' the ruling continues.

'(A doctor) asked a court to pre-authorize the abortion yet she could not, or at least did not, attest to the court that Ms. Cox's condition poses the risks the exception requires.'

The ruling continued: 'The courts cannot go further by entering into the medical-judgment arena. The Texas Medical Board, however, can do more to provide guidance in response to any confusion that currently prevails.'

'Each of the three branches of government has a distinct role, and while the judiciary cannot compel executive branch entities to do their part, it is obvious that the legal process works more smoothly when they do.'

Kate and her husband Justin seen virtually attending a legal hearing

Demonstrators march and gather near the Texas state Capitol in Austin following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022.

After the US Supreme Court ruled last year that states could decide abortion for themselves, a so-called trigger law went into effect in Texas-- banning all abortions after six weeks except when the mother's life was in jeopardy

Cox, a married mom from Dallas, decided with her doctor her pregnancy had to be terminated after learning her fetus would die at birth and that carrying the child to term could hurt her chances of future pregnancies.

Because of an abortion ban in Texas, Cox asked a judge to grant her a medical exemption to the state law, which does not permit abortions after six weeks - a period when most women don't even know they are pregnant.

The judge ruled in Cox's favor last week, but only days later, Attorney General Ken Paxton - who is the target of multiple investigations himself - challenged the ruling.

'This past week of legal limbo has been hellish for Kate,' said Nancy Northup of the Center for Reproductive Rights.

'Her health is on the line. She's been in and out of the emergency room and she couldn't wait any longer. This is why judges and politicians should not be making healthcare decisions for pregnant people.'

It's unclear where Cox has fled to, but her lawyers claim her story shows why abortion bans are so dangerous.

'Kate desperately wanted to be able to get care where she lives and recover at home surrounded by family,' Northup added.

'While Kate had the ability to leave the state, most people do not, and a situation like this could be a death sentence.'

Two counties in Texas have gone so far as to make it illegal to transport someone through one of these counties or cities for the purpose of obtaining an out-of-state abortion.

Mitchell County, a rural county near the Texas-New Mexico border, is among them.

Positioned on Interstate 20, it's a likely county through which women would pass if they were seeking an out-of-state abortion.
Ronnie Lynn shot himself in the forehead with a gun at his Rostraver Township, Pennsylvania, home

Two parents have been charged after their four-year-old son shot himself in the head with a gun left lying around at the family's Pennsylvania home.

Ronnie Lynn was left paralyzed and required a feeding tube after the bullet ricocheted through his skull during the tragic incident on July 6.

The youngster came across the loaded and unsecured weapon underneath a bed at his Rostraver Township home while looking for a paint set, police said.

Laura Steele and Michael Lynn have now been charged with endangering the welfare of children by a parent/guardian and recklessly endangering another person.

Both parents were home at the time of the shooting and heard a 'pop' before discovering their bleeding son lying next to a handgun, WTAE reports.

The parents of Ronnie Lynn, four, have been charged after the youngster shot himself in the head with a gun he found laying around his Rostraver Township home

Michael Lynn and Laura Steel face child neglect charges over the tragic accident on July 6

Ronnie was left paralyzed and with damage to his brain and eye after he stumbled across the loaded and unsecured weapon under a bed while looking for a paint set

Steele told cops she had forgotten the gun was under the bed as it had been there for so long.

Ronnie was rushed to UPMC Children's Hospital in a stable but critical condition and was paralyzed along his right side.

His grandfather Wally Lynn told WTAE the youngster shot himself in the forehead and that the bullet had gone 'all the way back.'

He only survived thanks to the quick response of EMS workers who managed to get him into surgery within an hour of responding to the call.

In September, his family said he was on the mend and recently had his feeding tube removed and regained sensation in his limbs.

'His right arm and right leg was paralyzed, and now he's kicking that foot,' Ronnie's grandfather said.

The youngster had also begun to regain his speech as of a few months ago.

However, he still could not walk and required the use of a wheelchair.

Steele told police that the gun had been lying under the bed for so long she had forgotten about it

Ronnie had regained some of the movement in his arm and leg but was still reliant on a wheelchair as of September

'They'll put them in a wheelchair, and he has to wear a helmet. So my son, you know, being a good dad, he bought himself a helmet,' Wally Lynn said. 'Then they go around for what they call a field trip. He just waves at all the nurses.

The family was hopeful Ronnie would be out by the holidays.

A GoFundMe page for the, 'strong little independent boy' indicates he has been left with damage to his brain and his eye. \

His parents 'have not left his side' since the incident, according to the fundraiser even though Steele is battling stage four breast cancer.

The page was set up to help cover medical expenses. It has raised $6,735 of its $8,000 goal.

'Ronnie is a strong little independent boy, only 4 years old. Curious of the world and space around him,' the fundraiser states.

'He loves to help his dad and Pap Pap with any work that needs done around the house, even going behind him cutting grass with his own little tykes mower to make sure that no spots were missed.

'He loves to dance around with his family and cook with his Mimi. He would do all kinds of arts and crafts with his sister and play video games with his brother. Ronnie is a very loved little boy.'

The youngster was saved by the EMS' quick response which got him onto the operating table within an hour

Police ruled the shooting as accidental but announced the charges on Monday.

'This was a tragic and unacceptable shooting that ultimately could have and should have been prevented,' Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said.

'There is one simple solution to prevent these types of incidents from happening, and it is to store your firearms in a safe and secure location.

She added that Ronnie, 'will likely have to live with this painful reminder for the rest of his life.'
Jetstar has launched a massive sale in time for Christmas with flights from just $29 across Australia and overseas.

The budget airline is offering discounted airfares as part of its 'Jetsmas' sale which got underway at midday on Tuesday.

Travellers can book flights from Melbourne to Sydney for just $29 with flights from Sydney to Adelaide priced at $79

There are also several deals on offer for those looking to make the most on an overseas trip.

Passengers can travel from Perth to Bali for $145 with a flight from Melbourne to Hamilton Island setting travellers back a modest $119.

Jetstar has launched another massive sale with the budget airline offering thousands of discounted airfares

Customers will need to fork out a bit more for a flight from Melbourne to Seoul with the flight to the South Korean capital setting passengers back $368.

The most expensive flights are trips from Melbourne to Tokyo with customers expected to fork out $398.

A flight to the Japanese capital from Sydney also costs the same amount under the deal.

The airline partnered up with Aussie rockstar Shannon Noll as part it's latest offering with a new song called '12 Days of Jetmas' released as part of the sale.

More 200,000 discounted one-way airfares are on offer with flights set to be flown across across 95 domestic and international routes.

Club Jetstar members were eligible to access the deal from midday on Tuesday while non-members will have to wait until midnight.

The sale ends on at 11.59pm on December 17 unless all flights are sold sooner.

Travellers can head to several overseas destinations including Hamilton Island (pictured stock image)

Customers can will need to fork out a big more with flights to Seoul (pictured stock image of Seoul)

A spokesperson from Jetstar told Daily Mail Australia that discounted airfares would be on offer for flights until the middle of next year.

'Travel dates vary per route but include early February to mid-June 2024.' the spokesperson said.

The discounted airfares as part of the 'Jetmas' sale only cover flights one way and checked baggage is not included.

There are several flights that will be heading to tourist hotspot Bali (pictured)
A former student of the man who shot and killed three people last week at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas said he resigned from another college after making sexual comments toward her.

Kristin Marshburn, 28, recalled the 2016 day that Anthony Polito made a remark about her appearance as she sat in the front row of his business class at East Carolina University in North Carolina.

'He said to me that if I wore that shirt that low cut for the rest of the semester, I'd be sure to get an A,' Marshburn told NBC News.

Marshburn said that the 'bold comment' was in front of her and approximately 35 other students, most of whom were men.

She reported the uncomfortable comment to the dean of the business school later that day. In January 2017, Polito resigned from his associate professor position at the university, where he worked since 2001.

Kristin Marshburn, 28, revealed that the UNLV shooter, Anthony Polito once made a sexual comment toward her during his business class at East Carolina University in 2016

Marshburn recalled what Polito said to her as she sat in the front row of his class that day. 'He said to me that if I wore that shirt that low cut for the rest of the semester, I'd be sure to get an A'

It is not clear if Polito left the school due to the comment he made toward Marshburn, but she said that he never returned to class after she reported it.

The incident occurred when she was in her junior year as Marshburn recalled other students faces 'just being appalled' when they heard the comment.

'They looked sad for me,' Marshburn said.

On December 6, Polito, 67, killed three UNLV faculty members on the fourth floor of the business school.

After opening fire, the gunman went to several other floors of the business school before he was killed in a shootout with two university police detectives outside the building, next to the university's student union, UNLV Police Chief Adam Garcia said.

In a statement, UNLV President Keith Whitfield said the mass shooting was 'the most difficult day in the history of our university', and said his 'heart breaks for the families, friends and loved ones of Dr Navarro and Dr Chang.'

Both Navarro and Chang were killed in a 40-minute rampage carried out by Polio who did not work at UNLV, but reportedly had applied for multiple jobs there but was rejected each time.

Navarro's former professor at the University of Puerto Rico, David Correa, told the Las Vegas Review Journal that she was a mother-of-four.

She was first identified in an Instagram post shared by the California All-Stars Las Vegas Cheer Gym, which said: 'Our hearts are shattered as we share the devastating news of the loss of a beloved member of our Cali family in yesterday's senseless shooting.

'Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to the Navarro-Velez family during this unimaginably difficult time,' the post said.

Patricia Navarro Velez (left), Cha Jan "Jerry" Cherry (middle) and Naoko Takemaru (right) were all shot and killed in the UNLV shooting on Wednesday when Polito opened fire

Law enforcement officers head into UNLV campus after reports of an active shooter in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. December 6, 2023

Professor Cha Jan 'Jerry' Chang, 64, taught business and worked at UNLV for over 20 years, and was a longtime respected educator focusing on management information systems.

A former student praised the professor on an education rating site after news of his death, saying they were 'fortunate' to be taught by him and 'wish he wasn't taken away from us so soon.'

Chang died from a gunshot wound to the head, the coroner ruled, and Navarro-Velez died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to 8NewsNow.

The third victim was identified as Naoko Takemaru, 69, who was an associate professor of Japanese studies at the university.

It was later revealed that Polito mailed 22 letters to university faculty members across the U.S., but the contents of those letters wasn't immediately known, said Sheriff Kevin McMahill on Wednesday.

Officials were able to intercept some of the letters sent, and the first opened had an 'unknown white powder substance,' said McMahill.

The sheriff said police have contacted everyone on the suspect's target list, except for one person who was on a flight.

'None of the individuals on the target list became a victim,' McMahill said.

Sheriff Kevin McMahill is seen on Wednesday evening addressing a press conference. The sheriff said police have contacted everyone on the suspect's target list, except for one person who was on a flight

Marshburn said that she decided to come forward with her account so other woman could feel like they can be heard too

When Marshburn reported the incident to the dean in 2016 she also went on to mention how Polito rarely stuck to the curriculum, and instead fixated on Las Vegas

After the UNLV shooting, Marshburn spoke publicly of her interaction with the professor. She said that she decided to come forward with her account so other woman could feel like they can be heard too.

'Its not OK for our professors, or anyone, to make sexual comments, or about anything were wearing, the way that we look, Marshburn said.

When Marshburn reported the incident to the dean in 2016 she also went on to mention how Polito rarely stuck to the curriculum, and instead fixated on Las Vegas.

'I did not learn one thing about supply chain management,' she said.

Another student, Paul Whittington, now 33, told the Associated Press that Polito frequently went on tangents during class about his many trips to Las Vegas.

Polito told his students he visited twice yearly, staying in different hotels and going to various clubs, Whittington said.

Another former student of Polito backed Marshburn's claim and said that he also made her feel uncomfortable.

The 32-year-old woman from Durham, North Carolina who wished to remain anonymous told NBC News that he 'pursued' her almost the entire semester as he sent her constant emails, texts and even bought her gifts.

'I felt preyed upon,' the woman said.

The woman said that she once viewed Polito as a mentor until he took it too far and invited her to Las Vegas in 2012.

She said she never thought to report Polito because he was well respected on campus and that the entire situation felt unusual to her

'It was just so bizarre,' she said.

.
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff is drawing criticism over his post lighting a menorah for Hanukkah and the history of the holiday, with some claiming he flubbed the details.

Emhoff, who is Jewish, posted what he considers the origin story of the holiday along with himself and Vice President Kamala Harris.

'The story of Hanukkah and the story of the Jewish people has always been one of hope and resilience. In the Hanukkah story, the Jewish people were forced into hiding,' he wrote. 'No one thought they would survive or that the few drops of oil they had would last. But they survived and the oil kept burning.'

'During those eight days in hiding, they recited their prayers and continued their traditions,' Emhoff added. 'That's why Hanukkah means dedication. It was during those dark nights that the Maccabees dedicated themselves to maintaining hope and faith in the oil, each other, and their Judaism.'

The post has since been deleted but not before several people could take issue with Emhoff's version of the story.

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff is drawing criticism over his post lighting a menorah for Hanukkah and the history of the holiday, with some claiming he flubbed the details

The holiday is meant to honor the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the second century, as well as the Maccabees' defeat of their oppressors.

The oil used in a menorah represents a one-day supply that amazingly lasted in the temple for eight days.

'Doug Emhoff deleted this, which is not the story of Hanukkah, the Maccabean Revolt depicted in the Bible,' wrote Jack Posobiec.

'That's... not the Hanukkah story,' added Talia Katz.

"Im really hoping the Second Gentleman left this to some hapless and uneducated intern who couldnt be bothered to even consult Wikipedia. Eight days of hiding? Yikes, man!" added Jason Bedrick of the Heritage Foundation.

Ben Shapiro was more blunt: 'Doug Emhoff is the Kamala Harris of Second Gentlemen.'

Emhoff lit the menorah along White House staff that are descendants of Holocaust survivors at a Hanukkah reception at the White House on Monday night.

Altogether, the president and First Lady Jill Biden will host nearly 800 guests to celebrate the fifth night of Hanukkah, the White House said. Guests will include Holocaust survivors, Members of Congress, state and local officials, entertainers, and leaders from across the Jewish religious denominations.

The reception comes during a period of the most intense fighting of the war sparked by Hamas' Oct. 7 assault on Israeli border communities. Since the war began, there has been a 388 percent increase in antisemitism in America, Anti-Defamation League Director and CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said earlier this month.

Biden will discuss how Hanukkah is a timeless story of miracles, and that even in dark times we can find the light, a White House official said.

Emhoff has taken the lead for the administration in speaking out against the wave of anti-Semitism.

President Joe and Jill Biden to host 800 guests at White House on Monday night to celebrate the fifth night of Hanukkah

Speaking at a ceremony to light the National Menorah on Thursday, Emhoff said there was a 'crisis of antisemitism' that was making it difficult for many Jews in America to celebrate Hanukkah.

He also criticized the presidents of three elite universities for their Capitol Hill testimony about antisemitism on campus, saying it was an example of why many Jews have felt 'feeling unmoored and afraid' because of backlash to Israel's military response in Gaza.

'Seeing the presidents of some of our most elite universities literally unable to denounce calling for the genocide of Jews as antisemitic  that lack of moral clarity is simply unacceptable,' Emhoff said.

'Let me be clear. When Jews are targeted because of their beliefs or identity, and when Israel is singled out because of anti-Jewish hatred, that is antisemitism. And it must be condemned and condemned unequivocally and without context,' he said.

The presidents of Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania have been criticized for failing to say whether students calling for genocide would be disciplined.

Liz Magill, the president of UPenn, has since resigned. The presidents of Harvard and MIT are facing similar pressure.

Biden has decried attacks on Muslims and Jews alike.

'We reject all forms of hate, whether against Muslims, Jews, or anyone. That's what great nations do, and we are great nation,' he said in October in an Oval Office address.
Police are holding Kierre L. Williams, 43, of Sioux County, Iowa on suspicion of murder but have not released a motive

A Nebraska Catholic priest who was brutally stabbed to death in his rectory on Sunday had a previous conviction for embezzling $125,000 from his parishioners, it has been revealed.

Stephen Gutgsell was arrested in 2007 for stealing from his Omaha congregation. He reached a deal in the case that saw him sentenced to probation instead of 20 years in prison. He was also forced to pay $40,000 in restitution.

Years later, Gutgsell, 65, was violently attacked at the St. John the Baptist rectory in Fort Calhoun. He had called 911 to report a break-in moments before he was found fatally wounded.

Kierre L. Williams, 43, of Sioux County, Iowa, was subsequently arrested and charged with homicide and use of a weapon to commit a felony.

Police have not released a motive in the case.

Nebraska Catholic priest Stephen Gutgsell who was stabbed to death in his rectory had a troubled past including an arrest for stealing $125K

Gutgsell, 65, was taken to an Omaha hospital on Sunday, where he died from his stab injuries, church officials said

Police have not stated whether the men were known to each other prior to the murder.

'He is not from the area. He is not from Fort Calhoun or even Nebraska as far as we know about,' sheriff's officials said of Williams.

In 2007, Gutgsell was arrested and charged with stealing more than $125,000 over three years from his Omaha parish, The Pillar reports.

The religious leader had racked up massive credit card debts that he turned to theft to cover, according to court records.

But there is scant detail available on the crime, as Omaha police have refused to release several pages of 'investigatory' material, citing Nebraska's records statutes.

Reporting from KETV at the time states that Gutgsell resigned from St Patrick's parish and was placed on administrative leave during the investigation.

He turned himself in to police in February 2007 after reaching a deal with prosecutors. His attorney Jim Schaeffer said the priest was 'ashamed of his conduct.'

Kierre L. Williams, 43, of Sioux County, Iowa, was arrested for killing Gutgsell during an invasion at the rectory of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

Before joining St. John the Baptist (pictured) in Fort Calhoun, Gutgsell oversaw a Omaha church where he stole from the congregation

The clergyman racked up massive credit card debts which he resorted to theft to pay before parishioners got wise to the scheme and he was forced to resign from his post. Years later, he joined the Fort Calhoun church (pictured) where he was stabbed to death

'He knows he was wrong and he's asking forgiveness from his parishioners and the church,' Schaeffer said.

Rather than face up to 20 years in prison, Gutgsell was instead placed on probation for five years, ordered to carry out 500 hours of community service and sent to Canada for a residential treatment program for religious offenders.

He was also ordered to pay the Archdiocese of Omaha around $40,000 in restitution.

At the end of his probation in 2012, he had almost $13,000 left to pay but remained on good terms with the church.

The Archdiocese of Omaha told court officials the priest had 'agreed to continue making payments' on the amount owed and had no objections to his probation ending.

In an online comment, a former parishioner named Joe Coliano claimed to have known Gutgsell before and after his arrest.

He described him as 'a good priest who, in a weak moment, made some bad decisions 15 years ago' but said he owned up, 'got help' and remained in good standing with the diocese.

Earlier this year, Gutgsell's brother Fr. Michael Gutgsell reached a plea deal with prosecutors after being charged with stealing nearly $200,000 from an elderly priest.

Gutgsell avoided a 20-year prison term and a $25,000 fine and was instead ordered to do 500 hours community service, pay $40,000 in restitution to the Archdiocese of Omaha and was placed on probation for five years

Police have not released a motive for the Sunday slaying in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska

Court documents state that Fr. Michael managed to steal the money after obtaining power of attorney for 'vulnerable' Fr. Ted Richling, who he was accused of exploiting.

He was also accused of stealing at least $94,000 from St. Joseph Church in Springfield, Nebraska, where he was serving as a priest.

This charge was later dropped in March 2022 after he repaid the money.

In another bizarre twist, Fr. Michael then gave the money he stole to homeless man Michael Barrett, who he met while priest of Omaha's cathedral in 2013.

The clergyman allegedly believed Barrett would pay him back, court documents state.

He was suspended from ministry pending the charges and it is not clear when or if he will be reinstated.

Mike Fitzgerald, a parishioner at St. John the Baptist, said the regular 8:30am service at Gutgsell's church was canceled. He told Omaha World Herald: 'Father Gutgsell has been here 11 years, and I thought he was a very holy man.

'He did a lot of things for the community. He always made sure that the (church) bulletin had everything in it that we needed to know about things going on at the church.'
A Victorian woman who killed her best friend after crashing into a pole while high on cannabis has asked to be spared jail time.

Jessica Glennie, 24, was driving with Janelle Noonan-Long in Diggers Rest just before midnight on September 25, 2021, when she lost control of her car.

The driver's side of the Holden ute crashed into an electricity pole on Plumpton Road and the car flipped onto its roof before landing upright.

Ms Noonan-Long was crushed by the ute's roof and pronounced dead at the scene, while Glennie needed to be airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Driver Jessica Glennie (pictured), 24, has asked to be spared jail time over a fatal car accident which killed her best friend, Janelle Noonan-Long

She continues to undergo treatment to this day after suffering multiple spine fractures, a collapsed lung, a miscarriage and a traumatic brain injury.

Glennie cried throughout her plea hearing in the Victorian County Court on Tuesday, where she admitted dangerous driving causing her best friend's death.

She also pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of cannabis.

Her lawyer Naomi Smith said the 24-year-old loved Ms Noonan-Long and was acutely aware she was to blame for her death.

'She made me a better person,' Glennie said in a statement through her lawyer.

'It's hard for me to think of a future without her.'

Ms Noonan-Long's family also made victim impact statements to the court, describing their ongoing grief after losing their beautiful, kind-loving soul.

The victim and her partner Taylah Modrich had been planning to start a family together, but that was taken away from them.

'Losing Janelle has not only stolen the joy from the present but also cast a shadow over the future,' Ms Modrich said in her statement.

Janelle Noonan-Long (pictured) died after the Holden ute Ms Glennie was driving smashed into a pole in Diggers Rest, northwest of Melbourne

Glennie cannot remember the day of the crash nor explain what caused her to lose control of the vehicle.

Evidence showed the ute was in good condition, the road was clear and Glennie had not been speeding.

There was 3ml of cannabis found in Glennie's blood sample after the crash.

Ms Smith said Glennie had been diagnosed with cannabis use disorder, major depression and anxiety.

The 24-year-old also had a four-year-old son with developmental delays to whom she was the primary carer, Ms Smith said.

The defence counsel urged Judge Peter Lauritsen not to send Glennie to jail, saying her already ailing physical and mental health would suffer in custody.

Being separated from her son would also be detrimental to her health and the young boy's development, Ms Smith said.

The prosecution called for a jail term to be handed down alongside a community corrections order.

Judge Lauritsen will hand down his sentence in February, with Glennie's bail extended to her next court date.
Questions have been raised about the circumstances behind the death of a young man who, according to witnesses, fell into a deep pit dug in sand and was pulled free in a lengthy rescue effort but died six days later in hospital.

The life support machine of Josh Taylor, 23, was switched off on Thursday, having lost his pulse for almost an hour during the incident on Bribie Island in Queensland's Moreton Bay on December 2.

Mr Taylor and the group he was with were said to have dug the 1.5m-deep pit to roast a pig under the sand - in the style of a Maori 'hangi' - but locals have raised doubts about that, as fires are banned on the island's beaches.

There has been an alternative theory floated that the group may have been hunting the island's wild boars and dug a sand trap to try to catch one.

Detectives have now launched a criminal investigation into the death.

Mr Taylor fell into a sand hole on Queensland's Bribie Island on December 2

Josh Taylor's life support was switched off on Thursday after he suffered horrific injuries on Bribie Island in Queensland 's Moreton Bay on December 2 (Josh is pictured with his family)

Mr Taylor was said to have fallen into the hole when he stumbled and overbalanced as he got out of a chair, with his flailing arms bringing down its walls on top of him.

The Brisbane man was buried headfirst, with his ankles only barely visible to rescuers, who tried to pull him out after their attempts to dig him out failed.

But the weight of the sand and the suction created as they yanked at him meant even the brute force of 15 men pulling on a rope around his feet was unable to dislodge him.

An off-duty paramedic advised the rescue party to try pulling in a different direction which eventually managed to free him.

But one rescuer, passer-by Nathan, said Mr Taylor's body 'broke' as he was released.

'All of his family were screaming at us, telling us to help, telling us to get rope so we could pull him out. It was pretty gruesome,' Nathan said.

'There were like 15 men on the rope pulling and he did not budge. It was pretty gnarly when he popped out. I threw up.

'He broke. The suction, the force of everyone pulling.'

Mr Taylor did not have a pulse when he was freed but rangers, friends and family performed CPR for 45 minutes until he was flown to Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Rangers in the area also used a defibrillator before paramedics arrived.

Nathan revealed to media that Mr Taylor's group had told him they had been digging a fire pit to roast a pig when the accident happened.

But doubts over that explanation were not only based on the fire ban on the island's beaches, but the location of the pit, which was among trees and bushes with overhanging branches which carried a risk of being set alight.

Locals questioned why anyone would build a fire pit among trees and bushes with overhanging branches (pictured) which could easily catch fire if exposed to flames below.

Josh Taylor was a keen follower of surfing and fishing pages on social media, but he also followed an Australian pig hunter, Chris Wertheim (pictured)

'The story about them roasting a pig and him accidentally falling in doesn't add up,' one local said.

'You can't have a fire on the beach, and the smoke would be obvious for miles around, not to mention the danger of starting a bigger bushfire as a result.

'It would make more sense that they were digging a pig trap instead.'

Mr Taylor was a keen follower of surfing and fishing pages on social media, but he also followed an Australian pig hunter, Chris Wertheim, whose profile picture is of him posing with a wild boar his dogs had killed.

Queensland's department of environment and science said they were unable to comment.

'The circumstances surrounding this tragic incident are currently being investigated by Queensland Police,' said a spokesman.

But they added: 'Feral pigs are found across most of Queensland and are known to be on Bribie Island.

'Pig hunting in Queensland is restricted to privately owned land, with the landholders express permission.'

Josh Taylor was said to have fallen into the hole when he stumbled and overbalanced as he got out of a chair, with his flailing arms bringing down its walls on top of him

A GoFundMe by family friend Georgia Hoffman for Josh's parents, Belinda and Peter Taylor, raised more than $70,000 before it was brought to a conclusion

Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia enquiries were still underway.

'The circumstances are all under investigation,' said a spokesman.

A GoFundMe by family friend Georgia Hoffman for Josh's parents, Belinda and Peter Taylor, raised more than $70,000 before it was brought to a conclusion.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Hoffman, Nathan and Mr Taylor's family for comment.
Federal prosecutors asked the US Supreme Court on Monday to rule quickly on whether former president Donald Trump has immunity from prosecution so his trial on charges of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election can go ahead as scheduled.

"This case presents a fundamental question at the heart of our democracy: whether a former President is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office," Special Counsel Jack Smith said in a filing to the nation's highest court.

Smith asked the Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, including three justices nominated by Trump, for an expedited ruling.

"The United States recognizes that this is an extraordinary request," the special counsel said. "This is an extraordinary case."

"It is of paramount public importance that respondent's claims of immunity be resolved as expeditiously as possible -- and, if respondent is not immune, that he receive a fair and speedy trial on these charges," Smith said.

The Supreme Court said it would expedite consideration of Smith's petition that it take up the case, and asked Trump's attorneys to state by December 20 their position on the special counsel's request.

The former Republican president's historic trial is scheduled to begin in Washington on March 4, 2024.

Trump's lawyers have repeatedly sought to delay the trial until after the November 2024 election including with a claim that a former president enjoys "absolute immunity" and cannot be prosecuted for actions he took while in the White House.

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is to preside over the first ever criminal trial of a former president, rejected the immunity claim on December 1.

"Whatever immunities a sitting President may enjoy, the United States has only one Chief Executive at a time, and that position does not confer a lifelong 'get-out-of-jail-free' pass," Chutkan said.

"Defendant's four-year service as Commander in Chief did not bestow on him the divine right of kings to evade the criminal accountability that governs his fellow citizens," she added.

Lawyers for Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, have appealed Chutkan's ruling to a federal appeals court.

Smith is asking the Supreme Court to bypass the appeals court and take up the case itself on an emergency basis.

- 'No person is above the law' -

In his filing, Smith said "a cornerstone of our constitutional order is that no person is above the law.

"The force of that principle is at its zenith where, as here, a grand jury has accused a former President of committing federal crimes to subvert the peaceful transfer of power to his lawfully elected successor," the special counsel said.

"Nothing could be more vital to our democracy than that a President who abuses the electoral system to remain in office is held accountable for criminal conduct."

A Trump spokesperson denounced Smith's move, saying in a statement there is "no reason to rush this sham to trial except to injure President Trump."

Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor, told AFP Smith's request is a rare procedure but he makes "compelling arguments."

"Smith essentially contends that the future of the US as a functioning democracy is at stake," Tobias said.

Trump was indicted in August for seeking to upend the results of the November 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden in a concerted effort that led to the violent January 6, 2021 attack by his supporters on the US Capitol.

The former president is accused of seeking to disenfranchise American voters with his false claims he won the election.

Smith also asked the Supreme Court to decide whether Trump's prosecution violates constitutional protections against double jeopardy -- being tried twice for the same crime.

Trump was impeached by the Democratic-majority House of Representatives for "incitement of insurrection" following the attack on the Capitol but was acquitted by the Senate.

The nine Supreme Court justices are to hold their next conference on whether to accept new cases on January 5. The current court term is scheduled to end in June.

cl/dw
A mother who is suspected to have killed her three-month-old daughter before taking her own life has been identified.

Perth nurse Chloe Prince and her 12-week-old baby were found dead inside their Morley home, in Perth's north west, about 11am on Monday.

Prince's partner and the father of her child, Andrew Standing, is believed to have made the gruesome discovery before phoning the police.

Detectives are treating the deaths as a possible murder-suicide and have launched a criminal investigation. Mr Standing is not considered a suspect.

Chloe Prince (pictured) was found dead in her Morley home on Monday morning along with her three-month-old daughter

Shocked neighbours have described the family as 'nice people' who kept to themselves

According to property records, Prince bought the single-storey home on Robinson Road for $422,000 in 2017.

Despite living in the street for more than six years, many neighbours say they did not know the couple other than the rare wave hello when they crossed paths.

Neighbour Peter Stanton said the couple kept to themselves and he never really saw them outside.

'It is very sad,' Mr Stanton told Daily Mail Australia.

'They seem to stay in the house a hell of a lot.

'There were a couple of chairs on the front patio but I never saw them out there.'

Mr Stanton said the father appeared to be a night shift worker in the dairy industry and would 'mostly sleep' during the day.

It is believed Prince's partner, Andrew Standing (pictured), discovered the bodies

Forensic teams are pictured outside the family's home on Monday morning

West Australian Police were called to Robinson Road, Morley, just after 11am and found an infant child and a woman inside a home

Mr Standing's work truck could be seen parked outside the house on Tuesday as forensics teams scoured the house.

Another neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had only run into the couple around three times since they moved in.

He said the tragedy was 'very sad' and the young family were 'nice people'.

According to LinkedIn, Prince worked as a registered nurse at Armadale Kelmscott Memorial Hospital.

Like their lives at home, their social media profiles paint the picture of a very private couple.

Mental Health Minister and Morley MP Amber-Jade Sanderson described the deaths as 'terrible' (pictured, Chloe Prince with family)

Aside from a handful of photos of themselves, the few images on their Facebook accounts are of their pet pugs.

Mental Health Minister and Morley MP Amber-Jade Sanderson described the deaths as 'terrible'.

'If you or a loved one is struggling, please reach out for help,' she wrote on Facebook.

Anyone who has any information about the tragedy or saw anything suspicious

For confidential support 24/7 call Lifeline on 131 114 or 1800 RESPECT.
Ben Roberts-Smith said it was his 'sole mission' to destroy the journalists who first aired allegations about him being involved in war crimes

Ben Roberts-Smith said it was his 'sole mission' to destroy the journalists who first aired allegations about him being involved in war crimes, a new documentary on the case has revealed.

The Federal Court ruled in June that articles published by Nine newspapers and The Canberra Times alleging the decorated SAS soldier's involvement in four murders while deployed in Afghanistan were substantially true.

Investigative journalists Chris Masters and Nick McKenzie, who wrote the pieces on the allegations against Roberts-Smith, have now given the public a closer look into the investigation and subsequent defamation case.

Their documentary 'Revealed: Ben Roberts-Smith Truth on Trial', which is available to stream on Stan, included audio claiming to be of the Victoria Cross recipient plotting to 'destroy' the careers of the reporters who'd spoken out against him.

'I just want vindication, I don't give a s**t about the money,' Roberts-Smith is heard saying to an unidentified person which later became a source to McKenzie and Masters' investigation.

'Once I get that it'll be the end of their careers and that's what I'm aiming for.

'I'm going to do everything I can to f**king destroy them mate, all those journalists, that's my sole mission in life.'

'Revealed: Ben Roberts-Smith Truth on Trial' premiered on Stan on December 10.

Investigative journalists Chris Masters (right) and Nick McKenzie (left), who wrote the pieces on the allegations against Roberts-Smith, have now given the public a closer look into the investigation and subsequent defamation case through their new Stan documentary

During the defamation case, Justice Anthony Besanko dismissed Roberts-Smith case against Nine Newspapers and found the father-of-two war hero was complicit in the murder of four Afghan men.

The soldier has not been criminally charged and has since appealed the decision.

The Stan documentary took viewers back to when the first article was published in 2018, and featured interviews with former soldiers.

McKenzie said throughout their investigation they weren't after Roberts-Smith, but were simply 'after the truth'.

Masters said a lot of people had seen Roberts-Smith as a 'bully', and added the soldier couldn't cop criticism.

He recalled an interview he had with him in 2017, before the allegations were published, and said Roberts-Smith became very defensive when he brought up criticism from other soldiers.

'He started to lose it and called them cowards, hopeless, useless,' Masters said.

'His anger was like steam. I walked away thinking this is not a man with nothing to hide.'

Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie, who also served in the Australian Defence Force from 2003 to 2015, also appeared in the Stan film.

He said there was a time when 'whispers' began circulating among soldiers about kill counts and 'individuals taking matters into their own hands'.

Roberts-Smith was a decorated SAS soldier who'd been awarded the prestigious Victoria Cross

Roberts-Smith has launched an appeal against the Federal Court's findings. He will appear in court again in February

'In those whispers Ben Roberts-Smith's name was always mentioned,' Mr Hastie said.

One SASR soldier who chose not to be identified also spoke out against Roberts-Smith in the documentary.

'Here's a guy who thinks he's gonna win the war in Afghanistan by killing as many people as he can,' he said.

READ MORE: Bombshell as Australia's most decorated soldier announces he will fight findings he is a murderer and a war criminal Advertisement

The case - which ran for 110 days over four years - was the second-longest and most expensive defamation trial Australia has ever seen, reportedly costing $25million in legal fees.

The court found Nine Newspapers had proved the 'substantial or contextual truth' to all defamatory imputations alleged by Roberts-Smith and all but two of the allegations they had made against the soldier.

The judge found Roberts-Smith 'murdered or was complicit in and responsible' for the murder of four Afghan men between 2009 and 2012.

The former SAS corporal was said to be involved in the murder of two Afghan males on a mission to Whiskey 108 on 12 April 2009.

He was also found to have been involved in the murder of one Afghan male on a mission to Darwan on 11 September 2012 and an Afghan male on a mission to Chinartu on 12 October 2012.

It also found he was a war criminal for 'breaking the moral and legal rules of military engagement'.

Roberts-Smith has appealed the decision and will appear in court again in February.
Motorist was seen at nearby roundabout

Footage has captured a terrifying road rage attack after a motorist and passenger hurled objects at a car with a family inside of it on a major motorway.

The shocking incident unfolded along the Pacific Highway, in Queensland, after 10am on Tuesday.

Dashcam video recorded the moment a driver and his passenger inside a silver Mazda began to throw objects at the car in front of them.

The objects appear to miss the rear end of the vehicle.

The driver of car was then seen dangerously merging onto the right lane before the male passenger who was shirtless appeared to gesture at the other motorist.

The driver of the silver Mazda (pictured) and a male passenger was seen throwing objects at th motorist

A few minutes later the Mazda was seen overtaking several vehicles before the car took off.

The driver with the family insider their car shared the video of the incident to Facebook warning other motorists to take care.

'Please beware of this couple, I had my four-year-old in the car when this happened,' the motorist wrote.

The road rage incident is believed to have started at a roundabout in Eagleby, around 34 kilometres south-east of Brisbane.

The family were targeted by the pair at an Ampol service station nearby.

'They were first behind me, and started screaming as I couldn't move forward due to incoming cars...' the motorist said.

The motorist noticed the driver of the Mazda becoming impatient before the car made it's way through the roundabout.

The two vehicles then crossed paths as they headed southbound on the motorway.

The driver of the Mazda was reported to police however the vehicle's registration and the car was not found in their system.

A spokesperson from Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia the alleged incident was reported as a traffic complaint.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Harvard President Claudine Gay appears set to keep her job despite widespread outrage over her Congressional testimony and mounting calls for her to be fired.

An official announcement on her status is expected on Tuesday, but New York Times sources suggested on Monday night that she will remain in her role.

Talks between Gay and university leaders stretched late into Monday, as the embattled leader faced criticism for her comments on Capitol Hill and refusal to condemn anti-Semitic harassment on the campus in the wake of Hamas' attack on Israel.

Alumni, students and outsiders have blasted Gay and some claim the school has lost over $1billion in potential donations in the wake of her testimony. Billionaire megadonor Bill Ackerman has been among the loudest calling for her removal.

'I have been told now by two reporters that one of the factors that made it challenging for the Harvard board to fire Gay was that they were concerned it would look like they were kowtowing to me,' Ackman wrote Monday on X.

Under fire Harvard President Claudine Gay appears set to keep her job despite widespread outrage over her Congressional testimony refusing to properly condemn antisemitism on campus

A 'study-in' on Sunday saw students take over one of the university's main libraries following calls for Gay to be ousted

'In other words, the reporters explained, quoting the trustees: 'Had Bill just stopped tweeting, we would have come to the right answer.' So much for Veritas,' he added, citing the Latin word for 'truth' and Harvard's motto.

The weekend saw Gay surprisingly drum up support as over 640 Harvard faculty members signed a letter of support, urging the school to resist calls to fire her, describing the attacks against her as 'politically motivated.'

On Monday, the Executive Committee of Harvard University's Alumni Association announced their full support for the scholar, and asked the school's governing boards to publicly back her, according to the Harvard Crimson.

The group wrote: 'President Gay is the right leader to guide the University during this challenging time... She is thoughtful. She is kind. She is resolutely dedicated to the growth and wellbeing of our very diverse community. We recognize that there was disappointment in her testimony this past week. President Gay has pointed this out and apologized for any pain her testimony causeda powerful demonstration of her integrity, determination, and courage.'

However, a competing 'no confidence' letter demanding Gay's resignation or firing was also gathering steam among students, alumni and staff over the weekend.

'It is not appropriate for Claudine Gay to serve as President of Harvard, as she does not represent our collective values or the Harvard that we have come to know,' that letter said.

Outside public perception has been damning, with Ackman accusing Gay of 'doing more damage to Harvard's reputation than anyone in the university's history.'

Billionaire alumnus Bill Ackman (left) - who has led the charge against the president already helped secure the resignation of UPenn President Liz Magill - claimed in a post on X Tuesday that he's the reason Gay (right), who now also faces accusations of plagiarism , won't be sacked

Talks were being held with the school's board of directors late into Monday night to find a way to allow Gay to stay on as president despite criticism

The billionaire demanded the university's board of directors review Gay's credentials, including accusations of plagiarism, and of discriminating against those that don't fit the look of woke Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices.

Gay, a professor of Government and of African and African-American Studies, was inaugurated as Harvard's first black president in July. She has taken interest in DEI policies and created the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging.

Ackman claimed 'the actions of the OEDIB have led to preferences and favoritism for certain racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ groups at the expense of other groups, and made some members of the Harvard community feel included at the expense of others that are excluded.'

The billionaire was accused of racism when he suggested Gay had only been hired because she matched the DEI profile.

In his latest open letter, he said: 'I was recently accused by several bloggers and other commentators of being a racist when I shared that the board, in the search process that led to the hiring of President Gay, would not consider a candidate for president that did not meet DEI criteria.

Ackman also mentioned the case of former Winthrop House faculty dean Ronald Sullivan, who in 2019 accused Gay of dismissing him from his role because of his work on Harvey Weinstein's defense team.

The law professor, who was the first black dean of a Harvard school, accused Gay and Dean of the College Rakesh Khurana of lying about their motives for dismissing him when they claimed it was because he fostered a toxic work environment.

'The actions were cowardly and craven and Dean Gay and Dean Khurana just consistently and repeatedly lied to the student body and they know better,' he said, according to The Harvard Crimson.

'Their problem was that I represented an unpopular person... They said it to my face and other senior members said it to my face and then they turned around and lied to the student body.'

Harvard has denied the decision was because of Sullivan's work with Weinstein, which sparked protests on campus. Sullivan remains a law professor at Harvard.

Gay, 53, survived a scheduled meeting of Harvard's board on Sunday amid calls for her removal, but her future at the Ivy league institution remains uncertain after her disastrous congressional hearing

In his letter to the Harvard board, Ackman also cited Harvard's plummeting in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression College Free Speech Rankings since Gay took over. While the school has never been high on the list, it reached its worst-ever ranking, landing at the very last spot.

The foundation said: 'Harvard completed its downward spiral in dramatic fashion, coming in dead last with the worst score ever: 0.00 out of a possible 100.00. This earns it the notorious distinction of being the only school ranked this year with an 'Abysmal' speech climate.'

Gay, UPenn's Liz Magill and MIT's Sally Kornbluth were summoned before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce last week by lawmakers concerned by reports of a rise in antisemitism at leading universities.

They faced heated questioning from committee chair Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) but failed to assert that calls for genocide against Jews on campus would definitively constitute harassment.

'This is only the very beginning of addressing the pervasive rot of antisemitism that has destroyed the most 'prestigious' higher education institutions in America,' Stefanik wrote on Saturday evening.

Adding: 'Harvard and MIT, do the right thing. The world is watching.'

I just learned of @realchrisrufo analysis of #ClaudineGays work and the allegations of plagiarism. I have not read the articles or books in question. However, two things come to mind: imitation is said to be the highest form of flattery and secondly Dr. Gays committee, pic.twitter.com/0388xnHqSi  Dr. Carol M. Swain (@carolmswain) December 11, 2023

A billboard truck at Harvard University on Sunday demanding the removal of president Claudine Gay

Gay apologized for her remarks as the backlash intensified, telling college newspaper The Crimson she 'got caught up in what had become at that point, an extended, combative exchange about policies and procedures.'

'What I should have had the presence of mind to do in that moment was return to my guiding truth, which is that calls for violence against our Jewish community - threats to our Jewish students - have no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged,' she added.

UPenn's Magill resigning from her role along with chair of the UPenn board of trustees, Scott Bok. Bok's Vice Chair, Julie Beren Platt, has been named interim chair of the board.

In a statement issued Saturday evening Magill wrote: 'It has been my privilege to serve as President of this remarkable institution.

'It has been an honor to work with our faculty, students, staff, alumni, and community members to advance Penn's vital missions.'

In his own resignation statement Bok defended Magill as a 'good person' who is 'not the slightest bit anti-Semitic' but had made a 'misstep' after 'months of relentless external attacks.'

UPenn President Liz Magill resigned from her post on Saturday

MIT President Dr. Sally Kornbluth was also grilled for her school's response to protests. She too failed to outwardly condemn calls for the genocide of Jews

MAUREEN CALLAHAN: This sneeringly out-of-touch sketch was as unfunny as the rancid antisemitism it excused - no wonder it died a well-deserved death. Now the terminally woke SNL should do the same

This was the weekend 'Saturday Night Live', on life-support for years, well and truly died.

SNL's most recent cold open, ostensibly mocking the congressional testimony of three presidents at America's top universities  the smirkiest of whom, Liz Magill of UPenn, resigned in disgrace hours before airtime  took aim at the wrong target.

Incredibly, outrageously, they made Elise Stefanik, the Republican congresswoman whose expert questioning revealed the depths of tolerated antisemitism on college campuses, look like the village idiot.

No wonder SNL vet Cecily Strong, who played Stefanik in the dress rehearsal, pulled out after feeling 'uncomfortable' with the sketch.

Portrayed in the live show by newcomer Chloe Troast as shrill, unhinged, atonal, unstylish and dumb  you know, everything SNL thinks of their flyover audience  this Stefanik, in SNL's alternate worldview, was on the wrong side of history.

You know, the same side that remains horrified by the October 7 attacks on Israel, the rape, torture and murder of hostages  including small children  and the antisemitism raging throughout America, endorsed by our woke elite.

This was the weekend 'Saturday Night Live', on life-support for years, well and truly died. SNL's most recent cold open, ostensibly mocking the congressional testimony of three presidents at America's top universities - the smirkiest of whom, Liz Magill of UPenn, resigned in disgrace hours before airtime - took aim at the wrong target.

Troast, as a screeching Stefanik: 'Now I'm gonna start screaming questions at these women Antisemitism: YEA or NEA!?!'

The real Stefanik, a Harvard graduate, was calm and composed. She asked those questions with the gravity they deserved.

But in SNL's version, it was the spineless presidents of the Ivy League, who otherwise disallow free speech and disinvite speakers when black, gay, or trans communities voice concern, who were the real heroes here.

'Yessssss or nooooooo', SNL's Stefanik continued hysterically, mewling her words like a toddler. 'Is calling for the genocide of Jews against the code of conduct for Harvard?'

That was supposed to be a punchline. But the live audience wasn't laughing at this misogynistic grotesquerie.

No wonder SNL vet Cecily Strong (pictured), who played Stefanik in the dress rehearsal, pulled out after feeling 'uncomfortable' with the sketch.

One can imagine producers in the control room furiously trying to cue up canned laughter.

How wrong-headed this was. How out-of-touch with every American who was appalled by last week's testimony.

That cohort includes a bipartisan majority of Congress, the White House, the vice president's husband Doug Emhoff, billionaire Ivy league donors, and left-of-center columnists such as Maureen Dowd and Andrew Sullivan.

Yet still the sketch wrapped up with a congressional chairwoman stating that 'this was all very useless'.

As comedy, yes  it was most definitely useless.

But, in what it tells us about the sorry state of SNL, it remains quite useful.

The buck stops with SNL's creator Lorne Michaels who, at age 79, has held a vice-like grip on America's longest-running satirical show for the better part of its 50 years.

If NBC would like SNL to see another 50, Michaels should be shown the door.

Michaels who, by the way, was born Lorne David Lipowitz on a kibbutz in Palestine, whose staff is largely composed of Ivy League grads, and who hasn't generated a genuine megastar since Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers or Tina Fey.

Whose much-vaunted show hasn't been relevant in decades. This latest flop is Exhibit A as to why.

Power corrupts. Michaels has had too much of it for too long. He seems more concerned with his famous friends and keeping his political heroes safe rather than skewering anyone who deserves it.

The buck stops with SNL's creator Lorne Michaels (pictured with Pete Davidson) who, at age 79, has held a vice-like grip on America's longest-running satirical show for the better part of its 50 years.

To be a good comic is akin to being a good journalist: You can't want to be accepted by the people you cover. You can't want to be one of them. You have to stand apart, keep your eye jaundiced, take to task any and all who deserve it.

And, at the risk of sounding ageist, Michaels represents a gerontocracy that refuses to make way for the next generation. Culturally and politically, America deserves better.

Consider all the wide-open targets SNL has ignored for many years now. Alec Baldwin, a good friend of Michaels who depicted Donald Trump on the show throughout his presidency, is totally off-limits.

Alec Baldwin! He's a gold mine whose much-younger wife, Hilaria, is a white woman from Boston who's faked being Spanish for years! Who went on the 'Today' show and mused, in her fake Spanish accent, 'How you say cucumber'?

Who, along with Alec, has played the victim as he still faces charges for accidentally shooting his cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, a young wife and mother, on the set of his movie 'Rust'.

Trump and anyone on the right  skewer, fillet, repeat. Alec and Lorne's other pets? Let's not ruffle feathers.

SNL commits comedic malpractice constantly.

Where are the spoofs of Harry and Meghan? How can SNL leave that to Trey Parker and Matt Stone of 'South Park'?

Perhaps because, as Page Six reported in February, Michaels came close to booking Harry as a guest host and, like a crushing teenage boy, still holds out hope.

Meanwhile, his writers' room has surely been instructed to ignore the Netflix doc, Harry's memoir 'Spare', Meghan's 'Mandela moment' in her interview with The Cut, and the two-hour high-speed Manhattan car chase H&M claimed to have endured, in fear for their lives, a claim doubted publicly by New York's own mayor Eric Adams.

You know, little stuff like that.

And for a show that still goes balls-to-the-wall on Trump, SNL gives Joe Biden and his scandal-scarred son Hunter the velvet glove treatment  if they're depicted at all.

Indeed, as the world turned to condemn America's most out-of-touch Ivy League presidents, the other blockbuster story breaking last week was the First Son's nine-charge tax indictment that could see him face up to 17 years in jail.

But from SNL  silence.

Consider all the wide-open targets SNL has ignored for many years now. Alec Baldwin, a good friend of Michaels who depicted Donald Trump on the show throughout his presidency, is totally off-limits.

And where are the spoofs of Harry and Meghan? How can SNL leave that to Trey Parker and Matt Stone of 'South Park'? Perhaps because, as Page Six reported in February, Michaels came close to booking Harry as a guest host and, like a crushing teenage boy, still holds out hope.

It wasn't always like this. This show used to have teeth. It used to speak truth to power and influence fairly.

But somewhere along the way, Michaels began caring more about which super-celeb he was schmoozing with over dinner and being welcomed into every VIP room than actually doing his job.

Consider that for much of the 70s through the 90s, leaders of both political parties were fair game. Bill Murray mocked a post-Chappaquiddick Ted Kennedy, dashing onstage dripping wet, seaweed hanging from one ear, musing that he may have left wife Joan in his car, presumably underwater.

That sketch aired in 1979, as Kennedy challenged a fellow Democrat, the incumbent Jimmy Carter, for president.

In the mid-70s, Chevy Chase often made headlines for mocking President Gerald Ford's penchant for falling down.

We haven't so much as seen SNL's Joe Biden trip up Air Force One.

Nor have we seen any mockery of Biden's inability to speak extemporaneously, or to find his way off any given stage, or his attempts to shake hands with people who aren't there.

If there's one thing that kills comedy, it's playing favorites.

The last time SNL really went after a Democratic superstar was decades ago.

With good cheer and real savagery, Bill Clinton was portrayed through the 90s as a glutton who snarfed McDonald's, who told the nation that depositions in his sex scandal contained 'good stuff hot', a horndog who warned America that their next president would be comparatively boring.

'George W. Bush  here's his scandal', said Darrell Hammond's note-perfect Clinton. 'He was spoiled by his parents and he partied a little  30 years ago. Big deal! Do you know what I did this morning?'

Huge laughs.

'I mean, I don't want to spoil it for you', Hammond continued, 'but it involved a Polaris missile full of heroin and the girl from 'American Beauty'. Yes, yes it did.'

Alas, the SNL of today goes after only one side. Liberals, Democrats, and the woke far-left  the targets most in need of ridicule  are verboten.

But Michaels either can't or won't see it.

'[The] first priority can't be not offending people you like or who are powerful', Michaels told the New York Times last year. 'It's the reverse'.

An America disgusted by this weekend's sketch begs to differ.

It's hard to believe that not one SNL cast member spoke up in the writers' room or at dress rehearsal.

It's hard to believe that script made it past NBC brass  executives, standards and practices, anyone with a shred of moral fiber.

Their inability to read the room at this most crucial moment  to side with a liberal elite that justifies antisemitism while mocking those horrified by it  means one thing:

Just as this woefully unfunny sketch died a well-deserved death, now the terminally woke SNL should do the same.
Preston is the supervisor for the Tenderloin District where a majority of the homeless and drug-ridden population reside

A liberal San Francisco supervisor has blamed capitalism for the city's sprawling homeless issue and said that it's 'counterproductive' to arrest people openly doing drugs in public.

Dean Preston, the Supervisor representing District 5, has also been very open about his support for the 'defund the police' movement.

'I think we have a very, very bloated police budget. All kinds of waste in the police department. I mean, I could cut a hundred million dollars out of the police department,' he said in a recent clip shared online from the UnHerd documentary.

His district is a part of the Tenderloin District, an area well known for its open-air drug market and homeless population in the city.

San Francisco has faced an exodus of businesses as the downtown deals with drugs and homelessness overrunning the city.

Dean Preston, the District 5 Supervisor for San Francisco, has blamed the homeless epidemic on capitalism and said that there is a 'bloated police budget'

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show the homeless filling the streets in San Francisco's Tenderloin District where vagrants regularly relieve themselves on the sidewalk

Preston went on to blame the country's economic structure to be a main reason why District 5 is severely affected by homelessness.

'I think what you're seeing in the Tenderloin is absolutely the result of capitalism and what happens in capitalism to the people at the bottom rungs,' Preston said in the interview.

He disagreed with the city's 'inconsistent' approach when it comes to getting rid of homeless encampments and arresting drug users. Preston said the technique 'has not made our city any safer. It's actually made it less safe. It increases overdoses.'

His comments come as the homeless population swarmed back to the streets of San Francisco after Governor Gavin Newsom decided to temporarily clean up the city for Chinese President Xi's visit last month.

Newsom quickly erased the ever-growing homeless encampments and drug activity on the streets in preparation for the APEC Summit as President Joe Biden flew in to meet with his Chinese counterpart.

The city worked around-the-clock to clear out encampments, boost shelter placements and deploy 'night ambassadors' to keep vagrants away from the area.

After the six-day event that drew more than 20,000 visitors wrapped up on November 17, special attention to the Tenderloin District ended.

'The Monday afterwards, the gates were gone and so were all the police,' architect Rick Garcia, 48, told DailyMail.com.

'A little bit of residual cleanliness remained but then pretty quickly the mentally disturbed folks, the fent zombies, started making their way back into the neighborhood. And since they're tolerated, they'd been able to come here unchecked,' Garcia added.

Governor Gavin Newsom recently cleaned up the city in preparation for Chines President Xi's visit last month, and after the conference the streets in the Tenderloin District went back to the way they were

X Owner Elon Musk and other San Franciscans said that Preston's progressive policies have contributed to the ruination of the city, full of open drug-taking, ram-raids and violent crime.

'Also, Dean Preston needs to be fired. He is arguably the person most responsible for the destruction of San Francisco,' Musk said in a recent post.

In another post to X, Musk said: 'Dean Preston should be in prison for what he's done to San Francisco.'

In response to the CEO's remarks, Preston replied: 'It's a reality check that it's not a safe or productive place to share my thoughts.'

'Twitter has been overwhelmed by trolls and disinformation since Musk took over. With the owner of the site calling for me to be jailed, it became clearer it was time to move to a new platform.'

Shopping carts and trash are seen strewn across the sidewalk in San Francisco's Tenderloin District

California Gov. Gavin Newsom greets Chinese President Xi Jinping last month in San Francisco

A DailyMail.com analysis of cuts faced by key departments in San Francisco reveals the police department must find savings of $18.5 million and public health budgets could lose $26 million

Preston was elected in 2019 as the District 5 Supervisor and according to the Board of Supervisors website, he 'advocates for fundamental change at the local, state and national levels.'

Preston has previously hit back at Musk's criticism. In a statement on his website last month, Preston called Musk a 'billionaire fascist.'

The Tenderloin district is in the heart of San Francisco and near the Asian Art museum. It's just a few blocks from City Hall. The area also includes part of the Compton Transgender Cultural District.

The homeless population and crime rates have skyrocketed and left a lot of locals to flee the city, along with major retailers.

Robberies are up 14 percent so far this year in the Golden Gate City where mayor London Breed last month demanded cuts of 18 percent from next year's police budget.

Reported deaths from drug overdoses reached 620 in the first nine months of the year, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, up from 540 for the same period in 2020.

The city stands to lose $200 million a year in revenue through its business exodus - which has seen major hotels and retailers flee the city center.

Retail stalwart Old Navy announced it would be shuttering its flagship store in the area last month, becoming the latest chain to exit the city.

Nordstrom also announced it would be closing all of its locations in the city.

In April, Whole Foods announced it was closing all their locations, with Anthropologie and Office Depot having also made the same decisions leading some analysts to predict that the city has entered a 'doom-loop' of permanent decline.
A man will face court accused of sexually assaulting 33 women at a Melbourne nightclub.

Victoria Police on Tuesday announced they had charged the 33-year-old man from Cranbourne in the city's southeast with a further 65 counts of sexual assault, after he was earlier charged with six of the same offences on October 27.

The man allegedly sexually assaulted 33 women at a nightclub on Chapel Street at Prahran over three nights: September 23, October 41 and October 21 this year.

He was originally bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on January 11 but has since been summonsed to appear over the fresh charges on December 22.

Chapel Street is a popular nightlife district in Melbourne.
Christian Ziegler's alleged victim says the couple previously engaged in a menage-a-trois with her prior to her rape

The board is eying a resolution requesting her resignation in the wake of the rape accusations against her husband Christian Ziegler

A Florida school board is poised to demand the ouster of the Moms for Liberty co-founder whose GOP chairman husband has been accused of rape.

The Sarasota County School Board cannot directly remove Bridget Ziegler from the panel, but it is mulling over a resolution requesting she step down.

Board Chair Karen Rose said she is 'shocked and deeply saddened' by the rape allegations involving Ziegler's husband, Christian Ziegler, and the couple's admissions about having a three-way sexual encounter previously with the accuser.

'I personally care about Bridget and her family and deeply regret the necessity for this course of action,' she wrote in the resolution.

'But given the intense media scrutiny locally and nationally, her continued presence on the Board would cause irreparably harmful distractions to our critical mission.'

The Sarasota County School Board is due to vote on whether to approve a motion requesting Moms for Liberty founder Bridget Ziegler steps down in light of the rape allegations against her GOP chair husband

The board cannot remove Bridget Ziegler outright, even though her husband Christian has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman the two had planned to have a menage-a-trois with

Bridget Ziegler has served on the Sarasota County School Board since 2014, she has previously been its chair and was appointed by former Florida governor Rick Scott

Bridget Zieglerdid not respond to email messages seeking comment about the resignation resolution, which is on the board's agenda for a Tuesday evening meeting.

She has served on the board since 2014, when she was appointed by then-Gov. Rick Scott, and has previously been its chair.

The Sarasota Police Department is investigating a woman's accusation that Christian Ziegler raped her at her apartment in October.

Police documents say the Zieglers and the woman had planned a sexual threesome that day, but Bridget Ziegler was unable to make it.

The accuser says Christian Ziegler arrived anyway and assaulted her, according to the documents.

Christian Ziegler has not been charged with any crime and maintains his innocence, contending the encounter was consensual.

Scott, Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Florida Republicans have called on him to step down as Republican chair, but he has refused to do so.

Ziegler said he would remain as chair 'because we have a country to save and I am not going to let false allegations of a crime put that mission on the bench as I wait for this process to wrap up.'

The school board's Chair Karen Rose said she was 'shocked and saddened' to hear of the allegations against the couple

Ziegler previously earned the endorsement of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for her Sarasota school board seat

Her GOP chairman husband admitted to having sex with the unnamed accuser, according to an affidavit, but insisted that it was consensual

His lawyer, Derek Byrd, said in an email Monday he is 'hoping (the) investigation is closed soon.'

A Sarasota Police Department spokesperson said there is no timetable for the probe to conclude.

Bridget Ziegler has long been active in conservative politics. She was a champion of the DeSantis-backed law known by critics as 'Don't Say Gay,' which restricts teaching of sexual and gender material in early school grades.

Moms for Liberty, which she co-founded in 2021, aims to inject more conservative viewpoints in schools, restrict transgender rights, battle pandemic mask mandates and remove books they object to from school classrooms and libraries.

In addition, DeSantis appointed Bridget Ziegler to the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District that oversees Walt Disney World's operations.

That panel - which replaced one controlled by Disney - was created by the Legislature at DeSantis' request after Disney objected to the 'Don't Say Gay' law.

The board currently is the subject of state and federal lawsuits over control of the huge theme park outside Orlando.

There have been calls for her to step down from her position and it already appears that she has walked away from the conservative Leadership Institute after her profile on the website was scrubbed.

The resolution is set for the school board's agenda at a meeting on Tuesday evening

DeSantis and other Republicans have since called for Ziegler's husband, 40-year-old Christian, to step down from his own role as Florida Republican chairman amid the rape accusations

The Pennsylvania chapter of Moms for Liberty broke away from the national organization this week, citing the fallout from the sex scandal.

Democrats and other critics say the Zieglers are hypocritical because the alleged sexual activities are completely at odds with the conservative views they push on others, particularly LGBTQ people.

'The Zieglers have made a habit out of attacking anything they perceive as going against `family values, be it reproductive rights or the existence of LGBTQ+ Floridians,' state Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said in a statement. 'The level of hypocrisy in this situation is stunning.'

The state GOP has called a meeting for Sunday in Orlando to discuss Christian Ziegler's future as party chair.

It comes amid a criminal probe into his behavior. According to an affidavit, the 40-year-old contacted one of his female friends about having a threesome with him and his wife on October 2.

After learning that Bridget Ziegler wouldn't take part, the woman texted Christian: 'Sorry I was mostly in for her.' She asserts that the chairman showed up at her home anyway and assaulted her.
Actress Sue Johnston has hit out at the way elderly people are stereotyped on TV as being 'either lying in bed dying or struggling up the road bent over a walking stick'.

The Royle Family and Brookside star expressed her frustration that the older generations are 'pigeonholed' into characters who was 'always on their own'.

The 80-year-old, who played matriarch Barbara Royle in the hit comedy, said she was fed up of OAPs not having 'feelings or relationships' and always being shown as 'cranky'.

Speaking to the Radio Times ahead of the release of her latest show, Channel 4 comedy drama Truelove which deals with euthanasia, Johnston said 'life isn't like that'.

The series, which also stars Lindsay Duncan, 73, Clarke Peters, 71, Karl Johnson, 75 and Peter Egan, 77, sees a group of over-70s agree to help each other to die when their time comes.

Sue Johnston says she is frustrated that older people are stereotyped as being 'cranky' and 'lying in bed' on TV. Pictured: The actress on This Morning in December 2019

Johnston (left) played Barbara Royle in the hit sitcom The Royle Family. Pictured: (L-R) Sue Johnston as Barbara, Ricky Tomlinson as Jim, Ralf Little as Antony, Craig Cash as Dave and Caroline Aherne as Denise

The actress added that 'traditional productions say that when you're in your seventies you don't have thoughts, feelings or relationships'. Pictured: Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson on The Royle Family

Johnston said the show was a refreshing change from the usual way that elderly characters are portrayed.

'Traditional productions say that when you're in your seventies you don't have thoughts, feelings or relationships, but you do,' she told the Radio Times.

'To get a script where your character isn't a granny sitting in the corner all cranky, or someone lying in bed, is very good.'

READ MORE HERE: Actress Sue Johnston backs the 'right to die' after it was revealed Dame Diana Rigg made a heartfelt plea to MPs over the issue before her death Advertisement

The actress, who played Sheila Grant in beloved soap Brookside, told the Telegraph that 'people in their 70s, 80s, 90s are still important to society'.

She said: 'It's so brilliant to have a script that puts all us old people together and makes it seem normal, because when you get older, you're pigeonholed. Usually, it's 'Old woman in bed', 'Granny in the corner'.'

The programme also touched Johnston on a personal not, who this week revealed she was supportive of efforts to legalise the 'right to die'.

She told the Radio Times: 'You think of yourself in that condition  everyone sitting round the bed while you're lying there, zoned out on morphine  and you think, 'I hope I don't go like that.'

But she added: 'I don't think I would have the courage to go to Switzerland. And it would be so awful for my son to take me there and come back on his own.'

Johnston is not taking things slow as she enters her 80s, with the actress also set to appear with My Family star Robert Lindsay, 73, in Generation Z - a Channel 4 comedy by Ben Wheatley about OAPs who become flesh eating zombies.

She is also set to appear in a documentary about the Royle Family, during which she reveals she has only recently been able to watch the sitcom after the deaths of many of its cast members, including its creator Caroline Aherne.

The actress, 80, who played Barbara Royle in the comedy, was left so heartbroken by the deaths of her former co-stars that she could not bring herself to watch a single episode of the BBC series.

Sue Johnston has only recently been able to watched her hit sitcom The Royle Family after the deaths of many of its cast members, including its creator Caroline Aherne (Sue pictured last week)

Caroline Aherne, who co-created the programme and starred as Sue's on-screen daughter Denise Best, died in 2016 at the age of 52 after a battle with cancer

Liz Smith, who portrayed the beloved Norma 'Nana' Speakman, the mother of Sue's character Barbara, died aged 95 on Christmas Eve in 2016 (pictured for the sitcom in 2000)

Peter Martin, who played neighbour Joe Carroll in The Royle Family, died aged 82 in April this year, while Doreen Keogh, who played Peter's on-screen wife Mary Carroll, died in 2017 (Peter and Doreen pictured on the show in 2000)

Caroline Aherne, who co-created the programme and starred as Sue's on-screen daughter Denise Best, died in 2016 at the age of 52 after a battle with cancer, while actress Liz Smith, who portrayed the beloved Norma 'Nana' Speakman, the mother of Sue's character Barbara, died aged 95 on Christmas Eve in 2016.

Peter Martin, who starred as neighbour Joe Carroll in The Royle Family, died at the age of 82 in April this year, while actress Doreen Keogh, who played Peter's on-screen wife Mary Carroll, died in 2017 at the age of 93 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Johnston told the Radio Times Christmas issue: 'It was very hard, because there are so many people in it who are no longer with us, but The Queen of Sheba [the landmark 2006 episode] is my favourite, and I watch it with a lot of pride.

READ MORE HERE: Craig Cash breaks down in tears while revealing his heartbreaking reaction to pal Caroline Aherne's cancer diagnosis as he pays tribute in documentary Advertisement

'The first series was rerun the other day, and do you know, little kids now ask for selfies with me because they love it as much as the older generations did. I think how proud Caroline would have been to know it's still loved.

'It was one of the happiest jobs I have ever done. And yes, I miss her. All the time.

'She's another one who would have loved to have got old and grown wrinkles Although maybe she would have had Botox!'

The Royle Family fans were left in floods of tears during the 2006 Christmas special, The Queen of Sheba, when character Norma 'Nana' Speakman, played by the late actress Liz Smith, died.

Nana, the mother of Johnston's character Barbara, was often seen clashing with Barbara's husband Jim (Ricky Tomlinson) over a variety of hilarious issues from owning everything featured in an episode of Antiques Roadshow to not sharing her chocolates.

In the episode, bedridden Nana met her newborn great-granddaughter Norma, who Denise and David (Craig Cash) named after her.

After she was rushed to hospital, she woke up to see her family around her bed before dying peacefully.

Actress Liz, also known for starring in sitcom The Vicar of Dibley, died at the age of 95 on Christmas Eve in 2016.

Sue will feature this Christmas in a one-off BBC Two tribute special to the comedy actress and writer Caroline Aherne, creator of The Royle Family, who died of cancer in 2016, aged 52.
Billionaire James Packer has ruthlessly ousted some of his inner circle, including one of his closest friends.

The reclusive businessman appears to have trimmed his inner circle of trusted lieutenants, including former right-hand man and school friend, Ben Tilley.

Mr Tilley has been a part of the Packer family's sphere for the past 50 years and was a classroom pal of Mr Packer at Sydney's upscale Cranbrook school, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

He was often spotted alongside Mr Packer, including on board Mr Packer's $250million superyacht IJE, which regularly hosts exclusive clientele.

Aussie billionaire James Packer (pictured right with ex-fiance Mariah Carey) has undertaken a purge of some of his closest business allies

Most recently, Mr Tilley project-managed the construction of Packer's grand $50million estate in the Mexican luxury resort of Cabo San Lucas.

In June 2021, Mr Tilley spent $8.9million on a ritzy apartment in the Crown Sydney tower, just a few floors above Mr Packer's luxurious residence.

Two other associates have also reportedly been exited from Mr Packer's tight-knit inner circle.

It is understood Guy Jalland left his position as chief executive of Consolidated Press Holdings (CPH), Mr Packer's multibillion-dollar private investment company, ending a 35-year business relationship.

CPH finance director Mike Johnston is also believed to be departing after 20 years.

In his biography, Mr Packer described Mr Johnston as 'a good friend' who had shown 'complete loyalty to me and my family'.

Former right-hand man and school friend Ben Tilley was among those cut from Mr Packer's inner business circle (pictured left to right is Gonzalo Pieres, Ben Tilley, James Packer and Karl Stefanovic)

Guy Jalland (right) and Mike Johnston (left) have also been dropped as Mr Packer's business associates

Both Mr Jalland and Mr Johnston were key figures in the 2020 Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority's (ILGA's) probity inquiry into Packer's $6billion Crown Resorts casino group.

Mr Packer and his associates did not respond to questions on Tuesday from the news outlet about the departures.

However, sources with knowledge of the changes said Mr Tilley and Mr Packer remained good friends and Mr Tilley's departure was carried out amicably.

In June last year, Mr Packer, set up an 'investment committee' to arrange where to spend the $3.3billion he acquired after the sale of his 37 per cent stake in Crown Resorts.

He has invested money in a various enterprises, including a multimillion-dollar stake in Alan Jones' online media company ADH TV.

Also in 2022, Mr Packer revealed he was building a resort in Barbuda with Hollywood legend Robert De Niro.
A highly respected doctor has died in hospital after being brutally bashed and stabbed by a gang of thugs in a terrifying home invasion.

Michael Yung, 61, was attacked at his $2million home on James Street in Gilberton, Adelaide's inner north at 4:20am on Monday, and rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.

His family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support on Tuesday afternoon after doctors informed them his injuries were 'non-survivable'.

Dr Yung had received injuries to the chest, bowel and head, causing bleeding of the brain.

The eminent paediatrician's death is the most recent tragedy for his family after Kathryn Browne-Yung, his health policy expert wife, suddenly died in her sleep in March 2020.

Shortly after her death Dr Yung created a $5,000 scholarship to support Indigenous medical students in the name of his 'kind, thoughtful and intelligent' wife.

His family have requested for donations to be made to the Kathryn Browne-Yung Scholarship Fund In lieu of flowers.

The perpetrators have evaded capture despite a large-scale manhunt being launched on Monday, however police are hopeful arrests will be made in the near future as CCTV from the area continues to be examined.

Detective Superintendent Des Bray said the attackers were 'most likely' behind a spate of attempted and realised car thefts and break-ins in some of Adelaide's most affluent suburbs in the days and hours before Dr Yung was attacked.

A highly respected paediatrician, Dr Michael Yung (pictured) has died from his injuries after being brutally bashed in his own home by a gang of thugs

The eminent paediatrician's death is the most recent tragedy for his family after Kathryn Browne-Yung (pictured), his health policy expert wife, suddenly died in her sleep in March 2020

TIMELINE OF POTENTIALLY RELATED INCIDENTS ON MONDAY 12:02am- Black BMW seen driving slowly down James and Dutton Streets 2:45am- Five people seen fleeing the crash of a Black BMW on Seaview Rd. A Mazda was stolen soon after in West Lakes 3:40am- A torch was seen nearby to Dr Yung's house and a person was seen attempting to steal his sons car 4:20am- Dr Yung is attacked by a gang of thugs who broke into his James St home 4:22am- Two people caught on 'poor' quality CCTV footage walking along James Street Advertisement

These include north-eastern suburbs of Gilberton, Walkerville, Medindie, and Henley Beach, Fulham and Tennyson in the Western Beaches.

'There's been an escalation in the last couple of days where we've seen these 15 offences committed by these people,' he told reporters.

While the investigation is still in its infancy, Det Supt Bray said the gang had committed 'aggravated serious criminal trespass and an extremely serious assault against (Dr Yung)'.

'We're looking at that group to see if they're involved, or if any of their friends, associates or people that live with them are involved,' he said.

'We just need to see where the investigation takes us and not develop any bias towards any particular type of offender at this stage and keep an open mind.'

Investigations into the assault are being assisted by Operation Mandrake, a crime squad established in 2003 to investigate crimes committed by Indigenous youth.

Det supt Bray said he had 'every confidence' that the squad will 'locate and arrest' those responsible.

Dr Yung's 30-year-old son who lives at the home, was found at the scene uninjured but 'distraught' according to Det Supt Bray.

'His son is a good person who has absolutely nothing to do with this,' he said.

'It's fortunate he also wasn't the victim of the terrible assault Michael suffered.'

Residents of Gilberton had reported hearing screams in the early hours of Monday after a series of recent home invasions.

CCTV footage from homes in neighbouring suburbs shows five young people roaming the streets and attempting to break into mansions.

Footage from one home, taken just moments before the attack, shows five people wearing tracksuits walking along the street before trying to break into the home.

Police believe a group of about five people are 'most likely' behind a spate of attempted and realised car thefts and break-ins in the days leading up to Dr Yung's death

One of the thugs, wearing gloves and what appears to be a Gucci bag, can be seen attempting to unlock the front door before calmly walking away.

Three residents of Gilberton, who wished to remain anonymous, said that they had recently been victims of break-ins.

One resident reported that police had been patrolling the area more at night while another said she had to install CCTV cameras after thieves jumped over her gate and stole a bike.

Dr Yung's family, including his two sons, a brother and sister, granted the doctor's wish to have his organs donated as a final gift to medicine.

'He was a strong believer in organ donation,' A close friend of Dr Yung's told The Advertiser.

'He had advised dozens and dozens of families over the years about the benefits of donating organs.'

His youngest son had urgently flown home from a holiday in Thailand on Monday night while other family members located interstate and internationally came to be by Dr Yung's side in his final moments.

The former head of the paediatric intensive care unit at Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital had practiced medicine for almost 40 years.

The 61-year-old received 'non-survivable' injuries to the chest, bowel and head after the gang of youths broke into his home at about 4:20am on Monday (pictured, police at the scene)

While the thugs have evaded capture despite a large-scale manhunt being launched on Monday, police are hopeful arrests will soon be made (pictured, police at the scene)

His friends have remembered the 'typical Aussie bloke' as a stalwart supporter of the Hawthorne football club and a passionate cricket fan with a 'laconic sense of humour'.

The South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas, took to X to send his condolences to Dr Yung's family, describing his death as an 'absolute tragedy'.

'I know the full resources of SAPOL are investigating this shocking crime.

'The State Government stands ready to provide any additional resources needed to assist in the investigation,' premier Malinauskas wrote.

The state's Health Minister Chris Picton said it was 'an immensely sad day that has left the entire SA Health family in shock and grief'.

'Dr Michael Yung was an outstanding doctor who dedicated his life to helping others including caring for some of the sickest and most vulnerable children of our state,' Minister Picton wrote on X.

Minister Picton and SA Health's Chief Executive Dr Robyn Lawrence described Dr Yung as 'a popular, respected and integral clinician' in a joint statement released on Tuesday.

'It is in these difficult times we come together in support of each other and we express our deepest sympathies to the Womens and Childrens Health Network community  where the loss of Dr Yung will be deeply felt,' the statement reads.
Fort Johnson, LA (71446)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible late. High 72F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 54F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
A man has been charged with a domestic violence offence more than three years after his girlfriend plunged to her death from a luxury hotel balcony overlooking Sydney's Darling Harbour.

Police allege the 51-year-old man, who was arrested at a home in Engadine, south Sydney, about 9am on Tuesday, locked his girlfriend Jodie Lovell on the balcony before her death on May 22, 2020,

He and Ms Lovell - a 45-year-old mother of two from Kareela - had enjoyed a night out and headed back to their $509-per-night room at the Hyatt Regency in Darling Harbour.

Soon after, he alerted hotel staff that she had fallen 10 stories from the Sussex St hotel balcony and emergency services were called.

Jodie Lovell (above) plunged 10 stories to her death from a balcony at the hotel Hyatt Regency on May 22, 2020

Her then-boyfriend, 51, was arrested by police on Tuesday (pictured, the Hyatt Regency in Darling Harbour)

Ms Lovell's body was found on the hotel's first-floor roof (pictured, police recreating Ms Lovell's fall at the hotel a week after her death)

Her body was discovered on the hotel's first-floor rooftop. Officers recreated her fall from the room using a dummy a little over a week later.

Detectives established Strike Force Cumulus to investigate Ms Lovell's death.

'He was charged with take/detain person with intent to obtain advantage (domestic violence),' it said in a statement.

'Police will allege in court that the man locked the woman out on the balcony prior to her fall.'

The 51-year-old man was granted conditional bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court on Friday January 12, 2024.

Lifeline 13 11 14

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

Ms Lovell's (above) then-partner told police at the time he'd locked her on the balcony following a heated argument
Rishi Sunak is on a collision course Tory rebels today as he begged them not to kill off his Rwanda plan after crisis talks at No10.

The PM is facing the biggest test of his premiership so far as he scrambles to defuse a mutiny by right-wingers who are demanding the government toughens up emergency legislation to revive the deportation scheme.

Lee Anderson, the Conservative deputy chairman, Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger were among those arriving for an hour-long breakfast meet in Downing Stree. They were served bacon rolls, despite earlier claims smoked salmon was on the menu.

Critics have been warning that 'major surgery' is still needed to fix the flagship Bill, with as many as 40 MPs prepared either to abstain or vote against in the Commons tonight. In theory 29 Tories going into the Noe lobby, or 57 abstaining, would be enough to thwart the premier.

It would be the first time since 1986 that a government Bill has not secured a second reading, which is usually a formality before amendments are brought later in the process.

But after the discussions, Mr Sunak took to social media to insist that his party must 'back this bill'.

A No10 source stressed that the text as it stands has been 'drafted with close attention to detail'.

'It was a very useful meeting to hear MPs thoughts and discuss their concerns. The bill has been drafted with close attention to detail, with colleagues input helping to shape the legislation,' the source said.

'The tests set for the bill have been met and we will continue to listen to and engage with colleagues across the party as it passes through parliament. This bill will work and will do what we need it to do.'

In a sign of alarm among Tory whips, MPs on one Commons committee are said to have been ordered to return from a Caribbean trip in order to take part in the showdown.

Former Cabinet ministers Dame Priti Patel, Ben Wallace and David Davis have been mobilised as Downing Street desperately tries to contain the chaos, delivered a stark message that defeat for Mr Sunak could collapse the Government and force a general election.

Tory MPs include Jonathan Gullis, Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger (left, second left third left) arrived at No10 this morning for talks with the PM

Tory deputy chair Lee Anderson (right) was also among the guests arriving at Downing Street today

Rishi Sunak (pictured) is battling to prevent a revolt on the Tory Right from derailing the Rwanda scheme and potentially his government

The Prime Minister will hold last-ditch talks with rebel MPs this morning aimed at heading off defeat when the Commons votes tonight on his legislation, designed to finally get deportation flights off the ground (file image)

MPs Neil O'Brien, Marco Longhi, Jill Mortimer, Lia Nici and Alexander Stafford were also seen arriving for the meeting in No10 this morning.

A Commons defeat today would mark the first time that a Government has failed to get legislation past a first reading since 1986, when Margaret Thatcher wanted to scrap restrictive Sunday trading laws.

The 'five families' trying to make Rishi an offer he cannot refuse The New Conservatives A right-wing traditionalist group led by evangelical Christians Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger. Its ranks are drawn mainly from MPs first elected in 2019, with a lot of Red Wall politicians including Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson involved. was only formed in May but has made headlines agitating for a more hardline party that is tough on immigration, pro-traditional families and strong in fighting the culture war. It has called for a hard cap on migrant numbers. European Research Group An older Brexiteeer group on the right of the party which came to the fore during the Brexit years under Jacob Rees-Mogg. It played a key role in organising opposition to Theresa May and has continued to be a thorn in the side of the Government when it wants to be. Led now by Mark Francois it has convened a 'star chamber' led by veteran eurosceptic Bill cash to run the rule over the Rwanda law. Common Sense Group Another informal group on the right led by Suella Braverman ally Sir John Hayes and Sir Edward Leigh. In 2021 it backed a 'Britain Uncancelled' campaign with Sir John launching a blistering attack on statue-toppling, politically correct woke warriors, and demanded to know why Whitehall departments granted 'huge sums of money' to groups that were 'entirely hostile to British values of fairness, open-mindedness, mutual respect and reasonableness'. One Nation Caucus A group of more than 100 MPs on the moderate wing of the party. It has described leaving the ECHR as a red line for its members. It is said to be unhappy at the law giving ministers unilateral plans to brand Rwanda as 'safe' and over-rule human rights laws and may yet refuse to back the new law in Parliament. Northern Research Group A group founded by ex-Tory chairman Sir Jake Berry to represent Conservatives in seats in the north of England, many of which switched from Labour for the first time at the last election. Less openly ideological than some of the other groups, but regards immigration as a key issue for its voters. Advertisement

No10 has been playing down the prospect of amending the Bill at a later stage, arguing that the text goes as far as possible without breaching international law.

But touring broadcast studios this morning illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson  who replaced Robert Jenrick after he resigned in protest at the legislation  insisted he is 'very much in listening mode'.

He told Sky News: 'They're not pesky rebels  they are respected colleagues who I have worked with.'

Mr Tomlinson said he is a former member of the ERG, one of the Tory factions critical of the Bill, and 'I know the concerns that colleagues have'.

'I knew the desire of colleagues right across the breadth of our broad church in the parliamentary party. What do they want? They want this Bill to work.

'The way I'm going to help to persuade them to support the Bill and to support us as we pass the Bill through Parliament is to help show that the Bill is actually going to work, because that's what we all want. We all want this legislation to work. And that is what I'm determined to do.'

Writing in the Mail today, Dame Priti urged fellow Right-wingers to unite behind the legislation and take the fight to Labour.

The former Home Secretary insisted: 'The choice all MPs face today is a stark one. To oppose the Rwanda Bill, do nothing and continue to offer succour to the evil people-smuggling gangs putting lives at risk and putting pressures on our asylum system.

'Or to vote in favour of the Bill, work with the government to improve it through considering amendments, and ensure the most robust measures to tackle illegal migration are finally implemented in conjunction with the Government of Rwanda.'

She added that now is the time for the Conservatives 'to work collectively' and to 'do the right thing' for the British public.

Mr Wallace also warned rebels not to 'wreck' the Government by voting against the bill.

Writing in the Telegraph, he told MPs not to 'make the perfect (but unrealistic) the enemy of the good'.

One senior Tory said the vote was 'looking tight'.

At one point yesterday, Conservative whips considered the drastic move of pulling the vote to avoid a potential defeat.

'Some of the rebels are sitting on big majorities and maybe don't care, but others are not in that position,' one source said.

'They should think very carefully about what the consequences might be if they vote this down.'

But government sources now insist the vote will go ahead after Tory moderates threw the PM a lifeline by backing him, despite 'real concerns' the plan could undermine Britain's commitment to international law.

The architect of the original Rwanda scheme says it would send 'a very powerful message to the public about our intent, credibility and ambition to tackle illegal migration if we calmly and collectively unite... to tackle illegal migration and the evil people smuggling gangs'.

Mr Davis predicted the legislation 'will go through' tonight.

He told LBC Radio that fellow Eurosceptics were 'playing with Brexit fire', referring to fears the rebels could reopen wounds from fighting over the UK's departure from the EU that the Tories thought had been healed years ago.

He added: 'I'm not sure quite why they're doing it, unless they're being encouraged by people who have other interests.'

MPs on the Right warned they could vote down the plans after they published a legal opinion which warned that the legislation was an 'incomplete' solution  and said 'very significant amendments' were needed to ensure the scheme does not get bogged down by further legal challenges.

Mark Francois (left), chairman of the European Research Group (ERG), urged the PM to 'pull the Bill' because it had 'so many holes in it'

Mark Francois, chairman of the European Research Group (ERG), urged the PM to 'pull the Bill' because it had 'so many holes in it'.

Sir Simon Clarke, from the Conservative Growth Group, said 'there is no point frankly relitigating this issue unless it does work'.

Mr Sunak will make a final appeal for support at a breakfast meeting with MPs on the Tory Right today.

A spokesman for the New Conservatives said the 40-strong group believes the Bill 'needs major surgery or replacement and they will be making that plain in the morning to the PM at breakfast and over the next 24 hours'.

Priti Patel says MPs face a 'stark choice' over Rwanda Bill Writing in the Mail today, Priti Patel said: 'The choice all MPs face today is a stark one. To oppose the Rwanda Bill, do nothing and continue to offer succour to the evil people-smuggling gangs putting lives at risk and putting pressures on our asylum system. 'Or to vote in favour of the Bill, work with the government to improve it through considering amendments, and ensure the most robust measures to tackle illegal migration are finally implemented in conjunction with the Government of Rwanda.' She added that now is the time for the Conservative party 'to work collectively' and to 'do the right thing' for the British public. Advertisement

Two MPs claimed the rebels had the numbers to vote the legislation down if they didn't get the answers they needed.

Meanwhile, the ERG will hold a final 'plenary' this afternoon to decide how it should vote.

A source said: 'We will be meeting immediately before the vote and then walking down to the chamber, stopping off for a bit of Dutch courage along the way if necessary.'

The Safety of Rwanda Bill has been drawn up in response to last month's Supreme Court ruling that sending Channel migrants to the east African state would be unlawful.

The court found that Rwanda's asylum system was potentially unsafe because there was a risk that migrants could be sent back to their home countries where they might be ill-treated.

Ministers signed a treaty with Rwanda last week stating that migrants sent from the UK will not be deported to their home countries.

Today's legislation would declare in law that Rwanda is safe, ruling out further court challenges to the principle of the scheme. It also excludes the plan from parts of the Human Rights Act.

But to the dismay of critics, individual migrants will still be able to lodge legal appeals.

An assessment by the ERG's 'star chamber' of lawyers said the new law does not go 'far enough to deliver the policy as intended'.

It warned it would be 'much easier' than the Government thinks for individual migrants to frustrate their removal  and said individual claims should be banned.

But Mr Sunak says strengthening the proposals by even 'an inch' would cause the Rwandan government to pull out, triggering the collapse of the scheme.

The 100-strong One Nation group of moderate MPs said it would back the Government. Chairman Damian Green said: 'The most important thing at this stage is to support the Bill despite our real concerns.'

It comes after the Home Office today published a summary of its official 'legal position' on the Rwanda plan in a sign of government jitters

The five-page summary attempted to knock down the case for tougher measures advocated by Tory MPs including former home secretary Suella Braverman.

The document warns that blocking the ability of migrants to bring legal action would be 'a breach of international law and alien to the UK's constitutional tradition of liberty and justice'.

It adds that even in wartime, access to courts was maintained 'in order that individuals can uphold their rights and freedoms'.

The document went on: 'This is a novel and contentious policy, and the UK and Rwanda are the first countries in the world to enact it together.

'There are risks inherent in such an innovative approach but there is a clear lawful basis on which a responsible government may proceed.'

But the summary said moves to block every court challenge 'would mean that there would be no respectable argument that the Bill is compatible with international law'.

It added: 'It would also go against Rwanda's own explicit wishes that our partnership remains compliant with international law, and likely collapse the scheme.'

As a result, the Bill must allow very limited scope for migrants to bring legal challenges against being sent to Rwanda, based on 'wholly exceptional individual circumstances', it said.

The document predicted hardly any migrants would be able to lodge legal action under the 'exceptionally narrow' grounds for claims, such as very rare medical conditions.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'As the legal advice sets out, we think we have a tough and strong piece of legislation which will achieve our objectives.'

DAME PRITI PATEL: I understand the concerns, but we MUST back Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill

The choice all MPs face today is a stark one. To oppose the Rwanda Bill, do nothing and continue to offer succour to the evil people-smuggling gangs putting lives at risk and putting pressures on our asylum system.

Or to vote in favour of the Bill, work with the government to improve it through considering amendments, and ensure the most robust measures to tackle illegal migration are finally implemented in conjunction with the Government of Rwanda.

Having spent many years considering and working on this issue, I certainly recognise and respect the concerns and unease that some of my Conservative colleagues have about these new laws to overcome the legal challenges that have held back flights to Rwanda.

But now is the time for our party to work collectively to do all that needs to be done to secure the partnership and removals to Rwanda.

The public know that the Labour Party has no credible plan to address illegal migration  other than to open the doors and let more in  so they are looking to us to do the right thing.

Now is the time for our party to work collectively to do all that needs to be done to secure the partnership and removals to Rwanda, says Dame Priti Patel (pictured)

The public know that the Labour Party has no credible plan to address illegal migration  other than to open the doors and let more in  so they are looking to us to do the right thing (file image)

It would send a very powerful message to the public about our intent, credibility and ambition to tackle illegal migration if we calmly and collectively unite to deliver a partnership which is one of many measures introduced to tackle illegal migration and the criminal people smugglers.

The UK's economic and migration partnership with Rwanda was carefully designed with our friends in the Kigali government to demonstrate a new way to treat asylum seekers with compassion and supporting resettlement, while acting as a deterrent effect to the small-boat crossings that were putting lives at risk.

The partnership was one of many measures, new laws and operational activities I put in place to deal with illegal and dangerous entry into the UK by small boats.

These included coordinated international law enforcement activities to arrest and prosecute the criminal gangs facilitating these journeys, tougher prison sentences for people smugglers, and reforms to the asylum application and appeal process to streamline them and prevent the system being abused.

While some have spent the past 20 months talking down Rwanda, we should welcome the fact that this is a country that already supports around 130,000 refugees through schemes established with the United Nations Human Rights Council, showing we are an active partner in addressing migration issues. We have also embraced economic, legal and political reforms over the last quarter of a century.

When I negotiated and agreed the partnership in April 2022, I knew it would face criticism and legal challenge and was prepared for it. Of course, the usual suspects  the opposition, activists and NGOs and lawyers  objected.

We saw campaigns waged against it, hostile comments in the media, and outrage from celebrities.

But while our opponents sought to talk it down and offer no solutions to the pressures caused by illegal migration, I was working closely with ministers in the Rwandan government to put robust arrangements and safeguards in place.

New legislation including the measures which the Government has now sought to reinforce with a treaty and the new laws being debated today will put the partnership on a stronger legal footing (pictured: Home Secretary James Cleverly in Rwanda)

With all these measures agreed, it was deeply frustrating firstly to see the European Court of Human Rights interfere and block the first flights from taking off in June 2022 at the last minute, and then see our domestic legal processes lead to the decision of the Supreme Court last month to rule against the partnership with Rwanda.

But the Supreme Court judgment left the door open for the Government to consider options to resolve the issue, including operational measures on the ground to address the risk of 'refoulement'  sending asylum seekers to another country where they are likely to face ill-treatment  and demonstrate it would not materialise.

New legislation including the measures which the Government has now sought to reinforce with a treaty and the new laws being debated today will put the partnership on a stronger legal footing.
A Norwegian-flagged tanker has been hit by a cruise missile launched by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea in their latest attack on ships to protest against Israel's bombardment of Gaza.

US military Central Command said the anti-tank cruise missile, launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, hit the Strinda last night and the destroyer USS Mason is providing assistance.

The Iran-backed rebels targeted the tanker with a rocket after the crew refused to respond to all warnings, Houthi military spokesperson Yehia Sareea said in a televised statement.

He vowed that the Houthis would continue blocking ships heading to Israeli ports until Israel allows the entry of food and medical aid into the Gaza Strip - more than 1,000 miles from the Houthi seat of power in Sanaa.

The attack on the tanker Strinda took place about 60 nautical miles (111km) north of the crucial Bab al-Mandab Strait separating East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula at about 9pm (GMT), a US official said. A second US official said the Strinda was able to move under its own power in the hours after the attack.

Geir Belsnes, chief executive of the Strinda's operator J Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, said: 'All crew members are unhurt and safe. The vessel is now proceeding to a safe port.'

The oil and chemical tanker was coming from Malaysia and was bound for the Suez Canal.

US military Central Command said an anti-ship cruise missile 'launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen' hit the Strinda and the destroyer USS Mason (pictured in 2021) was providing assistance

US military Central Command said the anti-tank cruise missile, launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen, hit the Strinda (file image) last night

The Houthi spokesman said that the group had managed to obstruct the passage of several ships in recent days, acting in support of the Palestinians.

The Houthis have waded into the Israel-Hamas conflict - which has spread around the Middle East since October 7 - attacking vessels in vital shipping lanes and firing drones and missiles at Israel itself.

On Saturday, the Houthis said they would target all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their nationality, and warned international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports.

The chemical tanker is Norway flagged, and its Norwegian owner, Mowinckel Chemical Tankers, and manager Hansa Tankers could not be immediately reached for comment outside office hours.

The Strinda had loaded vegetable oil and biofuels in Malaysia and was headed for Venice, Italy, data from shiptracking firm Kpler showed. It was not immediately clear whether the STRINDA had any ties to Israel.

The group, which rules much of Yemen, says its attacks are a show of support for the Palestinians and has vowed they will continue until Israel stops its offensive on the Gaza Strip - more than 1,000 miles from the Houthi seat of power in Sanaa.

The Houthis are one of several groups in the Iran-aligned "Axis of Resistance" that have been taking aim at Israeli and U.S. targets since their Palestinian ally Hamas attacked Israel.

During the first week of December, three commercial vessels came under attack in international waters, prompting a U.S. Navy destroyer to intervene.

The Houthis also seized last month a British-owned cargo ship that had links with an Israeli company.

The United States and Britain have condemned the attacks on shipping, blaming Iran for its role in supporting the Houthis. Tehran says its allies make their decisions independently.

Saudi Arabia has asked the United States to show restraint in responding to the attacks.
The widow of police officer Andrew Harper, who was killed in the line of duty when he was dragged to his death by bike thieves, will be made an MBE at Windsor Castle after her tireless campaigning for stronger laws in his memory.

Lissie Harper has been recognised for her services to victims of violent crime and their families.

She successfully campaigned for Harper's Law, which has extended mandatory life sentences to anyone who commits the manslaughter of an emergency worker on duty.

PC Andrew Harper, who worked for Thames Valley Police, was killed while responding to a bike theft by three teenagers in Berkshire in August 2019.

He was caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a winding country road, just four weeks after getting married.

Lissie Harper has been recognised for her services to victims of violent crime and their families

Mrs Harper's husband PC Andrew Harper, who worked for Thames Valley Police, was killed while responding to a bike theft by three teenagers in Berkshire in August 2019

His death happened just hours before he was due to clock off and begin his honeymoon with his new wife.

The law was proposed by Mrs Harper to the Government in reaction to the prison sentences handed to the three teenagers responsible for his death.

Henry Long, 19, was sentenced to 16 years and 18-year-olds Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were handed 13 years in custody for manslaughter at the Old Bailey, but all three were cleared of murder by the jury.

Mrs Harper's quest to change the law came 'in the midst of grief and incomprehensible loss', and was backed by the likes of the then-Home Secretary Priti Patel and then-Justice Secretary Dominic Raab.

Harper's Law came into effect last June, and applies to police, prison officers, firefighters and paramedics.

When the legislation became law, she said: 'I will never be rid of the hollowness that the burden of grief inflicts, but I know without hesitation that my husband Andrew would be immensely proud of this achievement in his name.

'Andrew believed in fairness and peace - he had the strongest moral compass of anyone I ever met and that is why I know without a shadow of a doubt that he is smiling down at me with pride and love as Harper's Law, his legacy is now achieved.'

Actress Vicky McClure and politician Michael Fabricant are among the other notable names to be recognised for honours.

Henry Long, 19, was sentenced to 16 years and 18-year-olds Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were handed 13 years in custody for manslaughter at the Old Bailey for Mr Harper's death

Mrs Harper successfully campaigned for Harper's Law, which has extended mandatory life sentences to anyone who commits the manslaughter of an emergency worker on duty

McClure, best known for playing Detective Inspector Kate Fleming in the BBC series Line Of Duty, will be made an MBE for her services to drama and charity.

The 40-year-old first rose to prominence playing the cool and easy-going Lol Jenkins in the 2006 film This Is England and its subsequent TV follow-up series.

She was nominated for a Bafta Television award for best supporting actress in 2015, and a National Television Award for drama performance in 2021.

McClure has been an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society since 2018 and has raised awareness around the disease through her creation of Our Dementia Choir.

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant will become a knight after being named on former prime minister Boris Johnson's resignation honours lists.

Sir Michael, 73, has been an MP for more than 30 years and won his Lichfield constituency by a majority of more than 23,000 at the 2019 general election.

He served as the vice chair of the party between 2012 and 2014.

On Monday Sir Michael said he would be voting for the Government's controversial Rwanda Bill, indicating he would push for changes as the legislation passed through the Commons.
Far-right activist, Tommy Robinson, has lost a court appeal to overturn his ban on attending London protests, which he argued was an 'abuse of human rights'.

The 40-year-old founder of English Defence League, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was arrested at a march against antisemitism in central London on November 26 after its organisers said that they did not want him to attend.

Following the arrest a condition of his bail was that he may not enter the capital unless he was meeting with solicitors or attending court.

However a judge at Westminster magistrates court has altered these terms to allow him to enter the area inside the M25 for meetings with political groups that have been pre-approved by the Met Police.

The Met Police charged him with failing to comply with a section 35 direction excluding a person from an area after he attended an antisemitism protest on November 26 (pictured)

Robinson claimed that the conditions of his bail infringed on his human rights

READ MORE: Tommy Robinson is charged with breaching an exclusion order after being escorted from march against antisemitism Advertisement

At Westminster magistrates court on Monday, Robinson argued his human rights are being infringed by the bail conditions, and insisted he should be allowed into the city to attend protests.

District Judge Michael Snow rejected the appeal, on the grounds that Robinson 'showed significant hostility' to police on the day of his arrest and that 'he is likely to commit further offences.'

He said: 'I know who Mr Lennon is. I know he has a particular view of matters and protests arising from what's occurring in Israel and within the Middle East.'

'Protests which have taken place in relation to the ongoing situation in the Middle East are continuing, and it's likely, therefore, that Mr Lennon will wish to attend those protests, either to support or counter the position taken by others.

He will appear at Westminster magistrates court on January 22, but he indicated at Monday's hearing that he intends to plead not guilty to the charge and take the case to trial. Pictured: Robinson being arrested on November 26

The judge continued: 'I'm satisfied, because of the behaviour exhibited, on the basis of the allegations in the police statement, if Mr Lennon does attend he is likely to commit further offences.

'He is entitled to exercise his democratic right in a way that doesn't involve the risk of further offending.'

He was charged with failing to comply with a section 35 direction excluding a person from an area and he will appear at Westminster magistrates court on January 22.

Robinson indicated at Monday's hearing that he intends to plead not guilty to the charge and take the case to trial.
The United Arab Emirates, host of the COP28 climate summit, said Tuesday it would seek consensus with a new draft deal after wide criticism of language on fossil fuels.

Majid Al Suwaidi, COP28 director general, played down the attacks on the text released Monday, saying the Emirati hosts were testing countries' 'red lines' and were working on another draft.

'We need to work on how we put their views into the text in a way that everybody can be happy with, and that we can move forward to achieving the goals' of checking warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, he told reporters.

'I think that what happened with our text was really that we were on it having honest, practical, pragmatic conversations about where people's red lines really were,' he said.

'The point is to get a consensus.'

One protester condemns the use of fossil fuels during COP28

Under the rules of the UN climate convention, agreements need consensus of all participants - nearly 200 countries.

Saudi Arabia has led the charge against calls backed by vulnerable nations and Western powers to phase out oil, gas and coal, the biggest culprit in the planet's climate crisis.

"We've known for a long time that the language around fossil fuels is complicated," he said.

"There are those who want phase-out, there are those who want phase-down. There are those who want different formulations," he said.

"The point is to get a consensus, and we don't want one formulation that causes blockages in the process."

Negotiators are already working past a deadline set by the Emiratis to complete work by the 13-day conference's official close at 11 am (0700 GMT) on Tuesday.

"We all would like to finish on time, but we all want to get the most ambitious outcome possible. That's our singular goal," Suwaidi said.

Mr Kerry, who was confronted by climate activists as he left the meeting, described the pursuit of the 1.5C target as a 'war of survival'.

The proposed deal set out a range of actions that nations 'could' take to cut greenhouse emissions to net-zero by 2050, but were not bound to

'I, like most of you here, refuse to be part of a charade' of not phasing out fossil fuels, he said.

Some Pacific Island nations argued the text surrounding the 1.5C warming target amounted to a death sentence.

'For us this is a matter of survival. We cannot put loopholes in our children's futures,' said Tuvalu's delegation chief Seve Paeniu, who added the proposed text 'doesn't even come close to delivering 1.5 as a north star'.

Cedric Schuster of Samoa, who chairs the Alliance of Small Island States, said its members felt their voices were not being heard.

'We will not sign our death certificate,' he said. 'We cannot sign on to text that does not have strong commitments on phasing out fossil fuels.

'We have been asked throughout this process, what is at stake if these negotiations do not return a strong outcome that keeps 1.5 alive. How can you not understand - it is our very survival that is at stake?'

Zhao Yingmin, China's vice minister for ecology and environment, said at the meeting that 'the draft fails to address the concerns of developing countries on some key issues' and in particular the idea that greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025.

Despite the criticisms and allegations, Saudi Arabia and other oil-states remained steadfast in their approach to the deal.

The nation's representative at the climate summit, Noura Alissa, publicly said the deal 'must work for all'.

'It must be relevant, it must make to sense to accelerate action for every single country in this room, not some over others,' she added.

The talks are due to end on Tuesday, when a revised text is expected to be presented, but many observers expect it to run over.
Heart-rending images of a Palestinian man mourning the deaths of his three young children have put into stark perspective the devastation wrought by Israel's Defence Forces in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

Desolate Islam Harb can be seen clutching the body of his baby son Omar to his chest and gently kissing his forehead.

Meanwhile, his eyes are transfixed on the ground below where the corpses of his two young daughters, Joid and Maria, lie still.

To hide their fatal injuries, their bodies are wrapped head to toe in white linens - save for their lifeless faces, with eyes pressed shut and mouths gaping as if still gasping for air.

Harb looks quiet and solemn, as if unable to fully compute what has happened. But a third image shows his relatives sobbing as they grieve over the tiny bodies.

The dark images, taken in Abu Yossef Al-Najar hospital in Rafah in south Gaza, show but a glimpse of the havoc and death brought by Israeli bombs.

More than 18,000 Palestinians - mostly women and minors - are believed to have been killed in the past two months of war.

It is this death and destruction that sees Israel and the United States becoming increasingly isolated in the face of near-global calls for a peace deal in Gaza.

A non-binding vote in favour of a ceasefire is expected to pass at the United Nations later today, even as Israel presses ahead with its offensive against Hamas that leaders say could stretch well into the New Year.

Palestinian man Islam Harb reacts next to the bodies of his twin girls Joid and Maria and his son Omar, who were killed in an Israeli strike amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas at Abu Yossef Al-Najar hospital, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip

Islam Harb holds the corpse of his baby son to his chest as he looks down at the faces of his dead daughters

Palestinian man Islam Harb and his relatives react next to the bodies of his children

The grandmother of Palestinian baby Idres Al-Dbari, who was born during the war and killed in an Israeli strike in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, reacts at Abu Yousef al-Najjar hospital in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip December 12, 2023

An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) artillery unit, using a self-propelled artillery howitzer, fires towards Gaza near the border on December 11, 2023 in Southern Israel

A picture taken from southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip on December 12, 2023, shows smoke billowing during Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian territory

The grandfather of Sidal Abu Jamea, a Palestinian girl from Khan Yunis, carries her wrapped body after she died overnight while sleeping in a tent from a shrapnel fragment that hit her in the head

A Palestinian mourns relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip at a morgue in Rafah on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023

A view of debris in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on houses, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, December 12, 2023

People search building rubble for items to salvage following an early morning Israeli strike in Rafah

Palestinians pick through rubble to find survivors and any items of value that may be salvageable

Palestinian man Islam Harb reacts next to the bodies of his twin girls Joid and Maria

Israeli Defence Minister Gallant yesterday refused to commit to a firm timeline, but signalled that the current phase of heavy ground fighting and airstrikes could stretch on for weeks and that further military activity could continue for months.

He said the next phase would be lower-intensity fighting against 'pockets of resistance' and would require Israeli troops to maintain their freedom of operation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain security control over Gaza indefinitely.

In light of the soaring death tolls, the UN secretary-general and Arab states have rallied much of the international community behind calls for an immediate cease-fire.

But the US vetoed those efforts at the UN Security Council last week as it rushed tank munitions to Israel to allow it to maintain the offensive.

The resolution put forth on Friday was backed by almost all other Security Council members and dozens of other nations - the final vote in the 15-member council was 13-1, with the US the only veto, and the UK abstaining.

Today's non-binding vote on a similar resolution at the General Assembly would be largely symbolic of the international community's condemnation of ongoing bombing of Gaza.

Much of the northern part of the Strip has been obliterated, and hundreds of thousands have fled to ever-shrinking so-called safe zones in the south.

The health care system and humanitarian aid operations have collapsed in large parts of Gaza, and aid workers have warned of starvation and the spread of disease among displaced people in overcrowded shelters and tent camps.

Strikes overnight and into Tuesday in southern Gaza - in an area where civilians have been told to seek shelter - killed at least 23 people, according to an AP reporter stationed at a nearby hospital.

In northern Gaza, the aid group Doctors Without Borders said a surgeon in the Al-Awda hospital was wounded Monday by a shot from outside the facility, which it says has been under 'total siege' by Israeli forces for a week. There was no immediate comment from the military.

US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood raises his hand during a United Nations Security Council meeting on a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza at UN headquarters in New York on December 8

People mourn by the body of a member of the Harb family killed following Israeli bombardment

A youth mourns by the bodies of relatives killed following Israeli bombardment at al-Najjar hospital in Rafah

Palestinians inspect the damage at the site of Israeli strikes on houses, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, December 12, 2023

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the attacks on Gaza could go on for weeks or months

Soldiers from an artillery unit light a hanukkiah made out of artillery charge containers on the fifth night of Hanukkah near the Gaza border on December 11, 2023

Palestinians inspect the damage at the site of Israeli strikes on houses

The sun rises above Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on December 12, 2023

Israel and its main ally, the US, argue that any cease-fire that leaves Hamas in power, even over a small part of the devastated territory, would mean victory for the militant group, which has governed Gaza since 2007 and has pledged to destroy Israel.

But many experts consider Israel's aims to be unrealistic, pointing to Hamas' deep base of support in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it is seen by many Palestinians as resisting Israel's decades-old military rule.

'Destroying Hamas, even its military capability - Israeli leaders' chief war aim - will be a tall order without decimating what remains of Gaza,' said the Crisis Group, an international think tank, in a report over the weekend that also called for an immediate cease-fire.

Gallant said Israel has already inflicted heavy damage on Hamas, killing half the group's battalion commanders and destroying many tunnels, command centers and other facilities.

The Israeli military said Tuesday that its aircraft targeted rocket launching posts throughout Gaza and that ground troops has found 250 rockets, mortar shells and rocket-propelled grenade launchers in a raid.

Israeli officials have said some 7,000 Hamas militants - roughly one-quarter of the group's estimated fighting force - have been killed and that 500 militants have been detained in Gaza the past month, claims that could not be verified.

At least 104 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the Gaza ground offensive, the army says.

Gallant said that in northern Gaza, Hamas has been reduced to 'islands of resistance,' while in the south, where Israel expanded ground operations earlier this month, 'they are still organized militarily.'

Hamas says it still has thousands of reserve fighters - another unverified claim - and on Monday it fired a barrage of rockets that wounded one person and damaged cars and buildings in a Tel Aviv suburb.

The attack set off sirens in the city, where Gallant's office and the military headquarters are located.

Israel launched the campaign after Hamas gunmen streamed across the border on October 7, killing some 1,200 people and seizing about 240 others.

More than 100 hostages, mostly women and children, were freed during a cease-fire last month in exchange for Israel's release of 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Two months of airstrikes, coupled with a fierce ground invasion, have resulted in the deaths of over 18,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory.

The actual toll is likely higher, as thousands are missing and feared dead under the rubble, and efforts to maintain the count have been hindered by the collapse of the health sector in the north.

Israel blames civilian casualties on Hamas, saying it positions fighters, tunnels and rocket launchers in dense urban areas, using civilians as human shields.

With Israel allowing little aid into Gaza and the UN largely unable to distribute it amid the fighting, Palestinians face severe shortages of food, water and other basic goods.

Israel has urged people to flee to what it says are safe areas in the south, and fighting in and around the southern city of Khan Younis - Gaza's second largest - has pushed tens of thousands toward the city of Rafah and other areas along the border with Egypt.

But Israel has also continued to strike what it says are militant targets in so-called safe zones.
A prolific shoplifter brazenly walked out of a Next store with hundreds of pounds worth of clothes in astonishing CCTV before stealing 600 of alcohol from a Co-op and pinching slabs of meat from Waitrose.

Footage shows how Lorraine Williams, 51, walked around the Next branch eyeing up stock then cramming her trolley with six coats and a pair of jeans before casually strolling out of the shop.

She made off with 535 worth of goods from the store in Serpentine Green Shopping Centre, Hampton, Cambridgeshire, at about 6.45pm on October 30 without any attempt to pay.

And two days later on November 1 she entered a branch of Waitrose carrying a bag with the slogan 'I only came for one thing' before pinching cuts of meat worth 121.

She is seen in video grabbing joint after joint from the meat fridge in Waitrose, West Town, before a staff member apparently becomes suspicious and stands watching nearby.

However that didn't put her off and a week later she was back - stealing 20 bottles of alcohol worth about 600 from the Co-Op in Bentley Avenue, Yaxley.

Williams also stole items from supermarkets including Co-op, Waitrose and Sainsbury's

Lorraine Williams admitted four counts of theft, going equipped for theft and breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order imposed last year for similar crimes

Footage shows how Williams, 51, walked around the Next branch eyeing up stock

She crammed her trolley with six coats and a pair of jeans before casually strolling out of the shop

The shoplifter then moved on to the Sainsbury's in Chequers Shopping Centre, Huntingdon, on November 18 where she took further booze.

Williams has now been ordered to pay more than 1,000 in compensation for the thefts to the shops she stole from.

She admitted four counts of theft, going equipped for theft and breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order imposed last year for similar crimes.

On two occasions in the last two months, Williams was caught on CCTV at Brotherhoods Retail Park in Peterborough - a breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which was imposed by the courts in May 2022 following multiple convictions for shoplifting.

That order states she is not allowed to go to Brotherhood Retail Park, Maskew Avenue Retail Park or any Spar, Iceland, or Food Warehouse store in the Peterborough area.

On December 4, Williams was spotted by response officers at an underpass near Rhubarb Bridge in Peterborough and arrested for the shoplifting incidents and breaching her CBO.

She was further arrested for going equipped for theft and being in possession of heroin after being found with a foil-lined bag and a wrap of the class A drug.

Williams, of Eastfield, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court on December 6 where she admitted the charges and she was sentenced to 26-weeks in prison, suspended for 18-months.

She must also complete a 30-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR), pay 500 in compensation to Next and 600 to Co-Op.

Williams first entered Next in Serpentine Green Shopping Centre, Hampton, Cambs, with a shopping trolley at about 6.45pm on October 30 and made off without making any attempt to pay

She grabs joint after joint from the meat fridge before a staff member apparently becomes suspicious

It follows similar charges last year, where she stole clothes from TK Maxx at Brotherhood Retail Park on August 31.

Meanwhile in January 2021 she used a de-tagging device to steal thousands of pounds worth of goods from several branches of Tesco and was also in the dock for stealing a Ted Baker handbag worth 180 from John Lewis in Cambridge on October 3, 2020.

Then, she was handed 18 weeks in prison.

Police previously described her as a 'prolific shoplifter who causes significant loss and disruption to local businesses'.

It comes amid an alarming rise in shoplifting, with offences up a quarter in England and Wales in the year to June.

Some 365,164 shoplifting offences were recorded by police in that time - up 25% on the previous 12 months.

The Co-op said its food business lost 33m in the first six months of 2023, while other groups have warned that it isn't a victimless crime.

PC Stacey Ireson, who investigated the most recent thefts for Cambridgeshire Police, said: 'Williams is a prolific shoplifter who is evidently going to great measures to steal from businesses and go undetected.

'For as long as she continues to commit crime or breach her CBO, we will continue to put her before the courts.'
Flood barriers were deployed to protect homes along the River Severn today as its levels continue to rise and parts of Britain brace for another inch of rain.

The Environment Agency installed the defences in the Frankwell area of Shrewsbury, with the river expected to peak in the town today and in Worcestershire tomorrow.

Officials tweeted videos of the demountable barriers, saying they were 'very strong to hold back the power of water when the River Severn rises during heavy rain'.

Six posts that are each 10ft (3m) high were attached to a ground plate with large bolts, which were then tensioned down to form a seal. During very high water there will also be a support post situated behind the main posts for additional support.

It comes as 40 flood warnings were in place across England today in areas where flooding was 'expected', as well as 158 flood alerts where flooding was 'possible'.

And the Met Office issued two wet weather warnings for parts of southern Scotland and North East England for up to 1.6in (40mm) of rain to fall today.

The Environment Agency erects flood defences in the Frankwell area of Shrewsbury yesterday

The River Severn, pictured in an EA video yesterday, is expected to peak in Shrewsbury today

Flood barriers were installed in Shrewsbury yesterday amid concerns over the River Severn

The Environment Agency has issued flood alerts (in amber) and warnings (in red) for England

One warning for South West Scotland ran until 10am today, while an alert for South East Scotland and North East England began at 9am and lasts until 8am tomorrow.

READ MORE The town surrounded by flood water during Storm Fergus: St Ives in Cambridgeshire is almost cut off after the River Great Ouse burst its banks in torrential rain Advertisement

A separate warning was also in effect until 7am today for the entirety of Northern Ireland.

The Met Office said affected areas could see disruption to bus and train services, while power cuts and flooding of homes and businesses was also likely.

Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said: 'After a pretty nice start to the week, things will turn much more unsettled across the UK for Tuesday.

'Rain pushes up into northeastern areas throughout (Tuesday) morning and then it will linger across northeastern parts of England as well as southeastern Scotland.

'There's been a lot of rainfall here recently, so the ground is well saturated. Behind that, plenty of showers are developing.

'These will push into parts of the Midlands by the middle part of the day and without much of a breeze they could be quite long-lasting showers. They bring a risk of hail and thunder as well.

'So a bit of an unsettled, unpleasant day for many, particularly if you get caught in those showers.'

It comes after a succession of named storms over the weekend  with Storm Elin on Saturday and Storm Fergus on Sunday sweeping eastwards with winds of up to 81mph and torrential rain.

Stranded cars in flood water today as the levels of the Old Bedford river and River Delph rise following recent rain in Welney, Cambridgeshire

Cars and cyclists travel through flooded country lanes at Dunsden in Oxfordshire this morning

Dog walkers out in the woods in the mist today on a wet morning in Dunsden, Oxfordshire

People walk in the rain in central Glasgow today after wet weather warnings were issued

Christmas shoppers take cover as they walk in the rain through central Glasgow today

People use umbrellas to protect themselves from the rain in central Glasgow today

Vehicles are driven through floodwater in Greenwich, South East London, this morning

The Met Office said the amount of rain which fell in England and Wales between December 1 and 9 was more than double what is normally expected.

An average of 52.1mm (2.05in) fell across the two nations. This was 50 per cent of the usual total for the whole of the month, when only 26 per cent of December rainfall would normally occur on the first nine days.

Storm Fergus was the sixth named storm of the current season, which began at the start of autumn.

It compares with a relatively benign 2022/23, when there were only two named storms both of which were last summer and no storms over the autumn, winter or spring.
This is the moment a woman labelled as 'shameless' staged a photoshoot in front of a homeless man sleeping in a tent.

The woman - who a passerby called an 'influencer', which hasn't been confirmed - was seen posing for the camera against a wall, right next to a man sleeping on the street.

He was wrapped up against the freezing temperatures in a woolly hat and trying to get some rest in a duvet.

To make matters worse, there was a sign outside of his tent which read 'hungry'. It's not clear whether she was aware of him next to her.

The photoshoot took place outside 'The Geological Society' in Piccadilly, central London opposite Fortnum and Mason.

The woman was seen posing for the camera against a wall, right next to a man in a tent

He was wrapped up against the freezing temperatures in a woolly hat and a duvet

The photoshoot took place outside 'The Geological Society' in Piccadilly, central London

The woman was filmed dressed in a white coat and scarf doing various poses against the building's wall, only a few feet away from the green tent.

Jack Mason watched on and was shocked by what he saw.

He said: 'Shameless influencers in London.

READ MORE - Eight-year-old boy fears he'll be left without presents this year after he and his mother were evicted from their home and went to live in a hotel Advertisement

'The street has many beautiful buildings and tourist attractions.

'The Geological Society not being one of them, so they had definitely chosen that spot to take pictures because of the tent.'

One local, called Lucinda, said: 'This is heartbreaking' while another, called Nia, fumed: 'The ick influencers in London give is unreal.'

Another person said: 'That's so disgusting. People do anything for attention nowadays.'

A local named Beth said: 'The way my jaw dropped, this has to be a joke. Poor man.'

Another - called Emily - said: 'It's worrying that some people in our society think this is ok to do.'

It comes after a security guard working for McDonald's was sacked after he was filmed deliberately soaking a homeless man and his sleeping bag in water.

Footage shared to social media showed a man in a high-viz jacket shamelessly wetting the area where a homeless man was camped out.

The video, taken on Victoria Street in London on Saturday night, then showed crowds erupting into fury as the man's belongings were completely flooded.

As Christmas approaches, many are in the mood for giving, with several celebrities pictured volunteering to help the homeless.

Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner dressed in a hi-vis jacket to volunteer at Crisis UK and posted on her social media to encourage people to donate.

Meanwhile, Prince William shared a video explaining the 'great work' the homelessness charity The Passage does, including 'life-changing' work to prevent homelessness and human trafficking.
Judges will be allowed to use chatbots like ChatGPT to help write legal rulings - despite warnings AI can make up fictional cases that never happened.

In guidance issued to thousands of judges in England and Wales, the Judicial Office said the tool can be useful for summarising large amounts of text.

But it said the chatbot was a 'poor way of conducting research' that was liable to invent past cases or legal texts.

Master of the Rolls Sir Geoffrey Vos said AI 'offers significant opportunities in developing a better, quicker and more cost-effective digital justice system'.

'Technology will only move forwards and the judiciary has to understand what is going on,' he said. 'Judges, like everybody else, need to be acutely aware that AI can give inaccurate responses as well as accurate ones.'

Lord Justice Birss revealed in September that he used ChatGPT when he was summarising an area of law he was already familiar with

In September a judge described ChatGPT as 'jolly useful' as he admitted using it when writing a recent Court of Appeal ruling.

READ MORE - Chat GPT boss unveils plans to scan peoples EYEBALLS to help prove they are human Advertisement

Quoted in the Telegraph, Lord Justice Birss said: 'I think what is of most interest is that you can ask these large language models to summarise information. It is useful and it will be used and I can tell you, I have used it.

'I asked ChatGPT can you give me a summary of this area of law, and it gave me a paragraph.

'I know what the answer is because I was about to write a paragraph that said that, but it did it for me and I put it in my judgment. It's there and it's jolly useful.

He was thought to be the first member of the British judiciary to reveal he used the AI tool to write his judgement.

Earlier this year, two New York lawyers were fined for using fake case citations generated by ChatGPT, igniting a debate over the tool's 'hallucination problem' where it makes up false information.

Judge Kevin Castel said attorneys Steven Schwartz and Peter LoDuca acted in bad faith by using the AI bot's submissions - some of which contained 'gibberish' - even after judicial orders questioned their authenticity.

New York City lawyer Steven Schwartz was fined earlier this year for using fake case citations generated by ChatGPT

The pair had been representing Roberto Mata, who claimed his knee was injured when he was struck by a metal serving cart on an Avianca flight from El Salvador to Kennedy International Airport in New York in 2019.

When the Colombian airline asked a Manhattan judge to throw out the case because the statute of limitations had expired, Schwartz submitted a 10-page legal brief featuring half a dozen relevant court decisions.

But six cases cited in the filing - including Martinez v. Delta Air Lines, Zicherman v. Korean Air Lines and Varghese v. China Southern Airlines - did not exist.

Passing sanction, Judge Castel, of the Southern District of New York, said: 'Technological advances are commonplace and there is nothing inherently improper about using a reliable artificial intelligence tool for assistance.

'But existing rules impose a gatekeeping role on attorneys to ensure the accuracy of their filings.'
A Piccadilly mansion where Lord Byron once lived and wrote some of his most famous works has gone on the market for 29.5 million.

The grade II-listed townhouse, set over six floors and comprising of 14,000 square foot of space, is located in one of London's most affluent neighbourhoods, overlooking Green Park in Mayfair.

The residence, which newly-married Lord Byron bought back in 1815, has been used as an office building in recent years, but is being sold with planning permission for conversion back into a family home.

Big enough for up to eight bedrooms, agents estimate that the building could be worth as much as 70 million once the refurbishment is complete - which could end up costing 15 million in itself.

The house was built between 1760 and 1764 and became Byron's London's home where he wrote some of his most famous works, including his tragic verse Parsinia and his narrative poem, The Seige of Corinth.

A Piccadilly mansion where Lord Byron once lived and wrote some of his most famous works has gone on the market for 29.5 million

The grade II-listed townhouse, set over six floors and comprising of 14,000 square foot of space, is located in one of London's most affluent areas, overlooking Green Park in Mayfair

The house was built between 1760 and 1764 and became Byron's London's home where he wrote some of his most famous works, including Parsinia and The Seige of Corinth

Less than a year after moving into the home, the poet, whose daughter Ada was born at the house, was beset by scandal amid persistent rumours of a relationship with Augusta Leigh, his half-sister.

His distressed wife, Annabella Milbanke, famously left him by walking down the steps of the house in full public view and into a waiting carriage with the child in her arms.

Not long after that, Byron fled the country, never to return.

He went on to die a national hero in Greece after the First and Second Seige of Missolonghi in 1824 amid the nation's war of independence against the Ottoman Empire.

Later occupants included Baron and Baroness dErlanger, French merchant bankers.

Baroness Catherine d'Erlanger, who established a salon in the property which hosted poetry readings in the drawing room, was attended by the likes of Winston and Clementine Churchill, WB Yeats, the Duchess of York (later the Queen Mother) and society photographer Cecil Beaton, who took a portrait of Catherine in the drawing room in 1930.

Peter Wetherell, founder and chairman of agents Wetherell, which is handling the sale, said: 'The provenance of this Piccadilly mansion building overlooking Green Park is outstanding.

'It was once the London home of poet Lord Byron and during the 1920s and 1930s was the Mayfair private palace of French heiress Baroness Catherine d'Erlanger, one of the richest women in Europe at the time.

The residence, which Lord Byron bought in 1815, has been used as an office building in recent years, but is being sold with planning permission for conversion back into a family home

There are four sizeable garages included within the sale, located on nearby Down Street Mews

'Now a buyer has the opportunity to close the circle and bring this landmark building back to life.'

The Mayfair listing came as a new survey showed sales in the elite district priced at more than 10 million doubled this year with total proceeds up from 123 million to 313 million.

Figures compiled by agents Beauchamp Estates showed that the upsurge in the Mayfair super-prime residential market has been driven by American and Middle East buyers, in particular clients from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

During 2023 the average value and size of house sold in Mayfair has been 25.5 million and 10,976 sqft respectively, significantly up on 2022 when the figures were 14.5 million and 5,272 sqft respectively.

Gary Hersham, founding director of Beauchamp Estates says: 'During 2023 the Mayfair super-prime housing market has boomed, Mayfair is currently the most sought after address in prime central London for wealthy home buyers from around the world.

'Beauchamp Estates has completed a dozen big deals for super-prime homes in the district over the last few months with most of our clients choosing to purchase large lateral apartments.

'The 10 million plus deals landscape in Mayfair has been dominated by American and Middle East buyers who have undertaken cash purchases and taken advantage of preferential exchange rates for dollar buyers.'
A tiny studio flat with no kitchen and just a microwave on a table to cook food next to the bed can be all yours for 1,473 a month.

The kitchen/bedroom area of the pokey pad has a single bed, a mini chest of drawers, the table with the microwave and a small TV mounted on the wall.

There is a separate bathroom area that comes with a toilet, sink, and shower.

However, the shower is separated from the loo by a shower curtain instead of a cubicle.

There is no separate kitchen and the only place to cook meals is in a microwave perched on a table, which is yards from the bed.

The bedroom/kitchen area has a bed, a min set of drawers, a chair, a small TV mounted on the wall and a table with a microwave for cooking

The bathroom has a toilet, sink and shower. However, the shower is only separated from the loo by a shower curtain

The first-floor bedsit - which is aimed at students - is in Camden, north London.

The rent works out at 17,676 a year and tenants will also need to pay a 1,700 deposit to secure the flat.

The rent does include monthly bills and the furniture in the pictures are included, if required.

It is being let by Next Property and advertised on Zoopla.

The listing reads: 'A first-floor studio apartment in the heart of Camden Town, close to Camden Lock Market, Camden Town Underground station and all the shops, bars and restaurants, Camden High Street

'Furnished or unfurnished, student-friendly.

'Shower room, air conditioning, flat screen TV, communal washing machine.'
New 'gender diverse' guidelines for Australian Surf Life Saving Clubs have raised fears the organisation is being 'highjacked by activists'.

The draft 'Diverse Gender Factsheet for Surf Life Saving Clubs' details how the organistaion should instruct members to 'retrain your brain' to avoid calling people by their biological gender.

The guidelines say that volunteers should advocate for the rights of gender diverse people and that clubs should include more 'gender neutral' spaces and unisex toilets.

'Avoid making assumptions or asking invasive questions about someone's gender identity, expression, or history,' the guidelines state.

New 'gender diverse' guidelines for Australian Surf Life Saving Clubs have attracted criticism (stock image)

The new draft 'Diverse Gender Factsheet for Surf Life Saving Clubs' has detailed how to be inclusive of gender diversity

'Advocate for the rights and needs of gender diverse people in all communities.'

The document suggests members apologise if they accidently uses the wrong pronouns when addressing someone.

'This can take a lot of practice to retrain your brain especially if you knew someone before transition with a different name or gender, so try to practice when you are alone or in your head,' it says.

Surf Lifesaving Australia members have raised their concerns about the new guidelines, suggesting instead that clubs should focus on their core objective of keeping Australians safe in the water.

'The movement has been hijacked by woke Americanism - from being a quintessentially Australian organisation which is all about volunteering to save lives, around mateship, to this progressive agenda,' one anonymous surf life saver told The Daily Telegraph.

'To say you should retrain your brain is an outrageous thing to say.'

The new guidelines say volunteers should advocate for the rights of gender diverse people and clubs should include more 'gender neutral' spaces and unisex toilets (stock image)

Several volunteers have spoken out against the changes, with one suggesting the organisation had been 'hijacked by activists' (stock image)

Another long-term volunteer said many members are 'incandescent' at the proposed changes.

'It employs ideological activist language,' he said.

'More concerning to me is the potential impact this could have on the safety and privacy standards traditionally upheld in sports, especially in changing areas where women and children are most vulnerable'.

The member said the document appears to propose changes that could allow 'unaccompanied males unfettered access to female changing areas'.

Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce explained the document had been developed in consultation with all the states and territories.

'With changing community needs and expectations there's a requirement for us to ensure we're inclusive for all persons, identifying as any gender and to cover the non-binary gender allocation,' he said.

'Out of our membership of around 76,000 members we only have on our records around 20 members identifying themselves as non-binary.

Women's advocate Katherine Deves (pictured) has spoken out against the controversial new guidelines

'In NSW we are actively promoting ourselves as an inclusive organisation'.

He said the issue of 'catering for the gender category of non-binary is going to be challenging for a lot of surf clubs'.

Women's advocate Katherine Deves said policing speech and 'pretending sex does not exist' was not congruent with the idea of community participation in surf life saving.

Women's Forum Australia chief executive Rachel Wong raised concern that female members may not feel comfortable sharing change rooms and toilets with biological males.

'And how included will little girls be when pushed out of their competitions by boys identifying as girls?' she said.
A 71-year-old man was apparently crushed to death when he became trapped in an automatic car wash in Spain.

The victim, not named in local media, became trapped between a car and the moving steel framework of the car wash in Gandia, near Valencia, at around 5:30 pm on December 10.

The car wash is understood to have been located between the CV-670 road and Grau Avenue.

It is currently unclear if he had tried to leave a vehicle in the middle of a wash or if he had mistakenly walked in while it was operating.

Firefighters could only get him free by removing the car after they found him unconscious and without a pulse.

The victim, not named in local media, became trapped between a car and the moving steel framework of the car wash in Gandia, near Valencia

The car wash is understood to have been located between the CV-670 road and Grau Avenue

Firefighters could only get him free by removing the car after they found him unconscious and without a pulse

They tried to revive him with a defibrillator and CPR but paramedics later declared him dead at the scene.

Photographs show the automated car wash after it was cordoned off by the police following the bizarre accident.

The authorities told local media that the victim suffered severe head and chest trauma before he died. It is not known if he had any family, and whether they have been informed of his passing.

It comes after MailOnline earlier this year revealed that a grandfather killed after becoming trapped in a car wash in Melbourne, Australia, was a beloved father of two and grandfather and an active member of the Greek community when his life was tragically cut short.

Athanasios Papageorgiou was left fighting for his life after becoming trapped inside the car wash at a Puma branded service station in Springvale, southeast of Melbourne, in November 2019. He died three days later.

He had told his wife Maria he was simply going out to get fuel when a snap decision to wash his car ended in tragedy.

'He went to fill the car, something happened to the machine and he died of suffocation,' she told friends and family via social media at the time.

Just days earlier, Mr Papageorgiou could be seen enjoying a traditional Greek event at the Greek Community of Springvale and District tavern where he was a regular.
Married At First Sight UK star Luke Worley has revealed he was attacked, claiming he needed a tetanus jab after a man tried to bite his finger off.

The 31-year-old reality star said the incident happened earlier this week.

He took to his social media on Monday to share a photo of his injured and bloodied finger.

He said: 'Some bloke tried to bite my finger off.'

The sales executive didn't expand on the details of the attack but confirmed he was taken to hospital for treatment.

He posted on Instagram: 'One swollen hand, one hospital trip, one tetanus jab, one course of antibiotics', with a 'rolling-eyes' emoji underneath.

Luke Worley took to social media to share a photo of his injured and bloodied finger

Luke said the incident happened earlier this week but didn't expand on the details of the attack

The attack comes two weeks after he proudly showed off his almost two stone weight loss in a beach snap.

READ MORE - Married At First Sight UK star Luke Worley shows off his almost two stone weight loss after shock split from co-star wife Jay Howard Advertisement

He wrote: 'Coming off MAFS I was 205lbs, now Im 183lb. 22lbs lost. Getting match fitand then ready for a much needed holiday.'

Luke was removed from the Channel 4 show after hitting rival Jordan Gayle during a disagreement.

The pair have now agreed to go head-to-head in the ring, after Jordan propositioned Luke to a boxing match.

Channel 4 bosses ejected the Essex salesman with immediate effect after he shocked both cast and crew with his aggressive behaviour.

The broadcaster, who has a zero tolerance against violence, had no option but to axe Luke, which also marked the end of his on-screen wife Jay Howard's time on the E4 series.

Jordan was allowed to stay on the show because Luke instigated the ruckus, which he later said he was 'proud' of despite it being a 'controversial' move.

Married At First Sight star Luke Worley proudly showed off his almost two stone weight loss

The reality star, 30, put his body transformation on full display via his Instagram page

Luke, 30, was ejected from the series after having a physical fight with co-star Jordan Gayle

A show insider told MailOnline: 'Luke and Jordan struggled to get along from the moment they met, but no one was expecting them to clash like they eventually did.

READ MORE - Married At First Sight UK's Luke Worley booted off the show after having a physical fight with co-star Jordan Gayle Advertisement

'The cast attend a couples' retreat and during dinner things got particularly heated between them and later they come to blows inside Jordan's apartment.

'Channel 4 bosses had no choice but eject Luke from the programme, which consequently ended his wife Jay's time in the process... as per the show's rules you enter as a couple and leave as a couple.

'The fight was caught on camera, meaning there's every chance it could be shown in the most explosive scenes ever to be aired on Married At First Sight UK.'

Luke and Jay married after meeting for the first time at the altar and quickly became close, bonding over their shared humour.

They were one of the show's happiest couples with Luke, who quit his well-paid job to be on Married At First Sight, admitting the sex with Jay was the 'best he ever had.'

Jay also credited Luke for enhancing her confidence after he spent one of their dates with his arm tied behind his back to learn how she experiences every day life.

The sales team leader, 31, was born without her left arm and explained on the series that throughout her childhood she was 'chucked in bins' and 'tied to a fence' by school bullies, leaving her feeling like she wasn't 'worthy' of a romantic partner.
This is the chilling moment one of Shakira Spencer's killers befriended the 35-year-old before she was tortured, starved and battered to death.

Ms Spencer, 35, was found dead by police at her home in Hanwell, west London, after a neighbour spotted maggots crawling from under her front door on September 25, 2022.

The trio of sadistic killers who kept Ms Spencer alive with sachets of ketchup and turned her from a 'beautiful, happy, healthy' size 16 to a 'gaunt and skeletal' size six shortly before her death, were found guilty of murder on Monday, December 11.

One of the murderers, Ashana Studholme, 38, made friends with the mother-of-two and took over her life and finances, while fellow killer and boyfriend Shaun Pendlebury moved into her flat.

Back in 2017, the evidence of this befriending can be seen on Facebook, when Ms Studholme's account commented on a photo of Ms Spencer, saying 'natural beauty'. Earlier in that same year, Ms Spencer's murderer left another unsettling comment on a selfie of the victim, writing 'pretty xx'.

Ms Spencer, 35, was found dead by police at her home in Hanwell, west London, after a neighbour spotted maggots crawling from under her front door on September 25, 2022

One of the murderers, Ashana Studholme, 38, made friends with the mother-of-two and took over her life and finances

Ms Spencer had gone from being a 'beautiful, happy, healthy' size 16 to a 'gaunt and skeletal' size six shortly before her death, jurors heard

Ms Studholme was found guilty of murder

Ms Studholme, her boyfriend Mr Pendlebury, 26, and friend Lisa Richardson, 44, were arrested on suspicion of Ms Spencer's murder before a three month trial into her death. All three denied but were convicted of murder and preventing a lawful burial by an Old Bailey dury.

A disturbing image shows Ms Spencer looking gaunt and almost unrecognisable compared to photos of the mother during happier times - when she was described as a voluptuous size 16 weighing just under 12 stone.

The abuse reached a 'frenzied climax' on around September 11 and 12 last year when Ms Spencer was beaten 'to the brink of death' at Ms Studholme's home, the jury was told.

She was bundled into the boot of Pendlebury's borrowed Honda Civic car and driven back to her flat, where she was locked in a hallway cupboard, it was claimed.

Ms Hunter said ice was packed around Ms Spencer in a primitive bid to slow decomposition.

Newspapers were carefully laid on the floor next to the bed as if Ms Spencer had been reading and died in her sleep, jurors heard.

An alternative plan to dispose of the body in a caravan was abandoned because the defendants could not risk moving her due to the state of decomposition, it was suggested.

As part of the cover-up, the defendants cleaned the victim's blood, bodily fluids and DNA from their homes and removed all traces of their presence from Ms Spencer's flat.

Ashana Studholme is seen being arrested at her home for the murder of Ms Spencer

Footage shows Lisa Richardson being arrested on suspicion of Ms Spencer's murder

Shaun Pendlebury is seen being arrested on suspicion of Ms Spencer's murder

A harrowing photograph shows the gaunt face of starved mother-of-two Shakira Spencer just days before she was battered to death by her killers

Shaun Pendlebury's mugshot for the Shakira Spencer trial

Lisa Richardson's mugshot after she was found guilty of murder

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, from Scotland Yard, said Ms Spencer was murdered in 'the most savage and inhumane way imaginable'.

He said: 'Shakira was a beautiful, happy mother who was kind and had a trusting nature.

'Shakira could be vulnerable and these defendants took advantage of that by controlling and isolating her from everyone she knew in order to control and enslave her in the most dehumanising and degrading way.'

Mr Howie added: 'Whatever their cruel and sadistic motives were, there is no acceptable explanation for what Shakira was put through.

'This was a complex and challenging investigation. A meticulous timeline was created to pull together the different strands of evidence, paralleled against each other, in order to prove the defendants' campaign of controlling behaviour and violence.

'This included the retrieval and viewing of thousands of hours of CCTV, extensive forensic examinations, pathology, witness accounts, searching of houses and vehicles and reviewing the defendants' phones.

'That examination revealed what Shakira had been subjected to, with footage, messages and voice notes recorded by the defendants themselves that would prove key.'

Ms Spencer was forced to sleep under newspapers in the hallway at Studholme's home.

The killers treated her as her slave and enjoyed torturing her with a makeshift blowtorch and boiling water poured on her from a kettle.

When they had tired of their sadism, they bundled her into the boot of a car and drove her back to her flat at Lambert House, Holbeck Row, where Ms Spencer was locked in a cupboard while they waited for her to die.

They then moved her to a bunk bed where the body was left rotting for two weeks.

Footage shows Ms Spencer walking on Greenhill Road on September 10, 2022, days before her death

Ms Spencer was found dead in her flat in Hanwell, west London, after a neighbour raised the alarm

Ms Spencer had gone from being a 'beautiful, happy, healthy' size 16 to a 'gaunt and skeletal' size six shortly before her death, jurors heard

Prosecutor Allison Hunter, KC, said earlier: 'Over the months leading up to her murder the defendants, primarily Studholme and Richardson subdued and dominated Shakira so totally that she was under all of their complete control.

'She was isolated from everyone she had previously known, her freewill seemingly sapped and stolen from her.

'They stole her self-respect, her finances, took over her flat, treated her like a slave, ordering her wake up in the early hours of the morning to clean their houses, sending her to the shops to do their errands, feeding her only on sachets of ketchup and then in circumstances of unbelievable depravity, boasted about and on occasion photographed and filmed what they did and were intending to do to her.

'This was the slow erosion of a human being over many months culminating in what the Crown says was a sustained, frenzied and almost feral attack over several days - scalding her, blowtorching her, hitting her head, whipping her with belts and hitting with fists and a glass bottle.

'When that didn't kill her outright she was bundled into a boot, taken to her own flat and locked in a cupboard and denied even food or water until she died.

'She was then left to rot in a bed as they attempted to mop up anything showing their involvement.

'Shakira Spencer was clearly perceived by these defendants as a species less than human.'

Jurors had deliberated for nearly 18 hours to reach verdicts and were excused by the judge from jury service for life due to the 'harrowing nature' of the case.

Devi Kharran, senior Crown prosecutor, said: 'Evidence presented during the trial proved that Pendlebury, Studholme and Richardson exercised twisted and sadistic control of Shakira Spencer over an extended period.

They spun a web of lies in every effort to hide their actions. 'The CPS built a strong case against them using video footage filmed by the defendants themselves, mobile phone evidence, forensic analysis, and a confession from Shaun Pendlebury himself to prove beyond doubt that they were responsible for her death.

'The level of suffering that Shakira endured is simply unimaginable. Our thoughts remain with all of Shakira's family and friends. I hope this conviction brings them some sense of justice.'

Ashana Studholme, 38, her boyfriend Shaun Pendlebury, 26, and friend Lisa Richardson, 44, all denied but were convicted of murder and preventing a lawful burial by an Old Bailey jury today after a three month trial (pictured: Hanwell)

Shaun Pendlebury, 26, Ashana Studholme, 38, and friend Lisa Richardson, 44, all denied but were convicted of murder

Lisa Richardson denied but was convicted of of the murder of Ms Spencer

Ms Studholme beat Ms Spencer around the head with a bottle in the bedroom leaving blood splattered on the walls.

She texted Richardson and said 'I've buss her head in. I need you here, I will go to jail.'

Pendlebury then chased her with a 'blowtorch' made of a lighter and aerosol before the killers beat her in the kitchen and poured boiling water on her feet.

In the evening of 12 September the victim was bundled into the boot of a red Honda Civic motor vehicle borrowed by Pendlebury from his aunt.

The couple bought kebabs and and were captured laughing joking as they returned to Studholme's home.

They then began an intensive clean-up operation at Studholme's house, buying materials with money from Ms Spencer's bank accounts.

By the time Ms Spencer was killed, Studholme was 'in receipt of all of her benefits and had control of all of her finances'.

Studholme was caught with Ms Spencer's personal documentation including bank accounts, disability allowance applications and Nationwide Trust fund documents.

Richardson said she saw the assaults on Ms Spencer by Pendlebury and Studholme but was not involved.

Ms Spencer used to be a healthy size 16 and was found dead in her flat in Hanwell, west London, after a neighbour raised the alarm

She sent a series of messages mocking and abusing Shakira.

Jurors were told on 14 July, that she sent a message to Carla Gilmaney saying: 'I've just f*ck this b*tch up this b*tch...she ant going no we're xx iamvgoing smash hur up nah joke.'

She sent another message saying she was going to 'mash up' Ms Spencer.

Richardson denied that she was controlling Ms Spencer and forcing her to clean her house.

She said she did not know how badly Ms Spencer was injured because when she asked her something she 'could only say bub, bub, bub.'

Pendlebury claimed he didn't intervene when Studholme beat Ms Spencer to death because it 'wasn't his house'.

'It's not my place to do anything, it's not my house,' he told the jury.

He said that on 11 September he went into the kitchen and saw Studholme slapping Ms Spencer 'dragging her, pulling her around and pushing her up against the cupboard door.

'I saw Lisa dragging Shakira about and I think she kicked and stamped on her a couple of times.'

He said: 'I didn't get involved I just went about my business. I didn't have no part. It had got to a point where seeing this just felt normal.

'It was just another day, sadly. This happened every day with them.'

He said he didn't call an ambulance because Ms Spencer was 'a whole adult who knows her body.'

He then went to his uncle's house and confessed to abusing Ms Spencer and asked him if he could get him a ticket to the Seychelles where his grandmother lived.

His uncle later contacted the police.

Pendlebury said Studholme has an overbearing character and he felt dominated by her, and that he has a low IQ, anxiety and a 'highly compliant nature.'

Shaun Pendlebury's mother Michelle said Studholme controlled her son and Richardson.

She said on one occasion Studholme had made her hit Ms Spencer herself.

She told police: 'She'll make you hit her too. She gets you riled up and you don't even know why you're just worked up.

Ashana Studholme was found guilty of Ms Spencer's murder

'She wants you under her feet every 24 hours of a day. I felt like I was there every single day.

'I was at hers every single day, it was 'Michelle, can you do this, do that..'

'Even with partners she treated them like dogs.

'If you don't do what she says she'll hit you mate, she kicks, she doesn't care.'

Studholme did not give evidence at trial but previously served time in custody for punching and kicking a woman in the back.

The prosecutor told the court: 'They stole her home...took over her finances, controlled her whereabouts, destroyed her clothes, cut off most of her hair and they beat her.

'They scorched her, burnt her, beat her with a massager, left her to urinate herself and then they bundled her into the boot of a car, shoved her battered and bruised into a cupboard and left her to die.

'They are guilty of murder, and it really is murder of the most foul.

'They are guilty of denying a decent burial and I hope you do not lose one second of sleep if you do find them so.'

Pendlebury, of Tewkesbury Road, Richardson, of Broomcroft Avenue, both Ealing, and Studholme, of Greenhill Road, Harrow, all denied but were convicted of murder and preventing a lawful burial.

Judge Angela Rafferty KC ordered reports and remanded the three in custody ahead of sentencing in the new year.
Nigel Farage has fired another broadside at Rishi Sunak over Rwanda today as Reform UK rose again in the polls.

The I'm A Celebrity bronze medal winner and former Ukip leader hit out after emerging from the Australian bush to leap straight back into UK politics.

Mr Farage warned that immigration will dominate the next election if the Prime minister doesn't get it sorted soon.

Mr Sunak faces a battle to unite the Tories over his new plan to get Rwanda deportation flights off the ground, which faces its first Commons test tonight.

A new poll by Redfield & Wilton Strategies has Reform UK, led by Richard Tice but with Farage as honorary president, on 11 per cent, up one and just two percentage point behind the Liberal Democrats.

However a separate poll by YouGov suggests Mr Farage's personal popularity has barely increased after his run in the Jungle.

Speaking on GB News - where he is a presenter - from Australia he said: 'The next general election and British politics for some years to come will be utterly and completely dominated by the immigration issue...

A new poll by Redfield & Wilton Strategies has Reform UK, led by Richard Tice but with Farage as honorary president, on 11 per cent, up one and just two percentage point behind the Liberal Democrats.

The I'm A Celebrity bronze medal winner and former Ukip leader hit out after emerging from the Australian bush to leap straight back into UK politics .

'Will the backbenchers have the guts to vote it down? Well normally they march up to the top of the hill and they march back down again. Most of them are a spineless bunch. I hope that I'm proved wrong.

'What is for certain is that Sunak is on course to lead the Conservative Party to their worst election result in modern times and frankly, I think they deserve pretty much everything that's coming to them.'

The PM is facing the biggest test of his premiership so far as he scrambles to defuse a mutiny by right-wingers who are demanding the government toughens up emergency legislation to revive the deportation scheme.

The Tory right has warned that 'major surgery' is still needed to fix the flagship Safety of Rwanda Bill, with as many as 40 MPs prepared to either abstain or vote against it. In theory 29 Tories going into the No lobby, or 57 abstaining, would be enough to thwart the premier.

Lee Anderson, the Conservative deputy chairman, Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger were among those arriving for the breakfast meet - where they were served smoked salmon.

In a sign of alarm among Tory whips, MPs on one Commons committee are said to have been ordered to return from a Caribbean trip in order to take part in the showdown.

Former Cabinet ministers Dame Priti Patel, Ben Wallace and David Davis have been mobilised as Downing Street desperately tries to contain the chaos, delivered a stark message that defeat for Mr Sunak could collapse the Government and force a general election.

If it is voted down it would be the first time since 1986 that a government Bill has not secured a second reading, which is usually a formality before amendments are brought later in the process.

MPs Neil O'Brien, Marco Longhi, Jill Mortimer, Lia Nici and Alexander Stafford were also seen arriving for the meeting in No10 this morning.

No10 has been playing down the prospect of amending the Bill at a later stage, arguing that the text goes as far as possible without breaching international law.

But touring broadcast studios this morning illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson  who replaced Robert Jenrick after he resigned in protest at the legislation  insisted he is 'very much in listening mode'.

He told Sky News: 'They're not pesky rebels  they are respected colleagues who I have worked with.'

Mr Tomlinson said he is a former member of the ERG, one of the Tory factions critical of the Bill, and 'I know the concerns that colleagues have'.

'I knew the desire of colleagues right across the breadth of our broad church in the parliamentary party. What do they want? They want this Bill to work.

'The way I'm going to help to persuade them to support the Bill and to support us as we pass the Bill through Parliament is to help show that the Bill is actually going to work, because that's what we all want. We all want this legislation to work. And that is what I'm determined to do.'

Writing in the Mail today, Dame Priti urged fellow Right-wingers to unite behind the legislation and take the fight to Labour.

The former Home Secretary insisted: 'The choice all MPs face today is a stark one. To oppose the Rwanda Bill, do nothing and continue to offer succour to the evil people-smuggling gangs putting lives at risk and putting pressures on our asylum system.

'Or to vote in favour of the Bill, work with the government to improve it through considering amendments, and ensure the most robust measures to tackle illegal migration are finally implemented in conjunction with the Government of Rwanda.'

She added that now is the time for the Conservatives 'to work collectively' and to 'do the right thing' for the British public.

Mr Wallace also warned rebels not to 'wreck' the Government by voting against the bill.
Activists are calling for a boycott on fashion chain Zara in Canada following a new promotional campaign they say is mocking the deaths of children in Gaza.

Footage shared on social media showed pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside a store in Canada with flags in a video captioned 'Boycott Zara! Shame on them!'

A store in Montreal was shown with the chain's 'Zara' branding graffitied over with 'Gaza' and messages of 'Free Palestine'.

In another video, one activist highlighted a recent campaign by Zara shared on Instagram - and since removed - which saw a model dressed in a black jacket stood in front of a white background including debris and a mannequin wrapped in white fabric.

'It was the most disgusting collection I've ever seen... They are making fun of us and they are making fun of children who have been killed and our houses which have been destroyed,' the activist said, calling for a boycott of the brand.

In response, Zara have taken down their advert and issued a statement today: 'After listening to comments regarding the latest Zara Atelier campaign 'the jacket' we would like to share the following with our customers.

Zara said the shoot was 'conceived in July and photographed in September', showing models against unfinished sculptures in a workshop to 'showcase craftmade garments in an artistic context'.

'Unfortunately, some customers felt offended by these images, which have now been removed, and saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created. Zara regrets that misunderstanding and we reaffirm our deep respect towards everyone,' a statement read.

Activists said Zara's campaign - which featured wrapped mannequins and debris - was mocking Gaza, where some 18,000 people have been killed since the start of October

Left: Graffiti outside a Montreal store reads 'You f****d with the wrong generation / Right: protestors march outside a Zara in Canada

Social media users took to X to criticise the campaign, referring to it as 'shameful,' 'disgusting' and a 'mockery'. These two images have been deleted from their Instagram page after they were compared to photos of dead bodies in Gaza

A woman embraces the body of a Palestinian child killed in Israeli strikes, at a hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 17

Critics have taken to social media platforms to call for others to avoid the brand, some sharing parallel pictures of heartbroken families clutching body-bags in the Gaza Strip.

More than 18,000 civilians have been killed in Gaza since the start of October, the majority caught up in fighting between Israel and Hamas following the latter's bloody strike into southern Israel on October 7.

Harrowing images circulated from the Gaza Strip over the last ten weeks have shown forlorn scenes as parents clutch white white sacks covering deceased children.

Zara, a Spanish multinational retailer, says the campaign was thought up in July and photos were shot in September, a month before the conflict erupted.

It said the promotional shoot was inspired by men's tailoring from centuries gone by - but did not comment on the boycott.

But calls to boycott the retailer have continued to circulate online.

Writing on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, user Afreen said: 'Zara is finally getting the attention and treatment they deserve #BoycottZara'.

Khadija wrote: 'Zara['s] recent campaign exploiting a genocide and commodifying Palestinian pain for profit is disgusting.

'Shame on you brand Zara for stopping so low prioritizing greed over humanity & pretending it was harmless.'

Another wrote: 'Our suffering is not your aesthetic. Our dying children are not your source of inspiration. Have some shame. Some humanity.'

'My jaw dropped seeing this. Boycott for life. You are disgusting demons. I can't believe what I'm looking at,' another user wrote.

Six posts showcasing the campaign were scrubbed from Zara's Instagram page, and parent company Inditex (ITX.MC) said the photos has been pulled from all platforms.

Zara had already pulled the 'Atelier' photoshoot from its website and app home pages on Monday.

The jackets - priced $229 up to $799 - were still for sale on Zara sites.

Graffiti on a store in Canada following the controversial campaign by Zara

Protestors with flags in Canada following Zara's post, which offended protestors

Users called for a boycott of the Spanish multinational retail clothing chain on X (Twitter)

One user said the campaign was exploiting a genocide for profit. Zara claims to have thought up the shoot back in July, taking the pictures in September before airing it in November

The hashtag continued to trend after Zara took down the offending posts

A Palestinian man holds a child's dead body in a body bag in his arms as he mourns at Nasser Hospital, in Khan Yunis, Gaza on November 18, 2023

A picture taken in southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip on December 11, 2023

Palestinians injured following Israeli strikes on al-Maghazi refugee camp receive care at Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir Balah in the central Gaza Strip on December 11, 2023

Zara previously received backlash in 2022, when some Palestinians posted videos of themselves burning clothes by Zara and calling for others to boycott the brand in response to a franchise owner in Israel hosting a campaign event for hard-right Israeli politician Itamar Ben-Gvir in his home.

Safa news agency, based in Palestine, quoted an auditor at the time, saying 'the losses incurred by the company are estimated at tens of millions of shekels within a very short period.'

READ MORE: Heartbroken father cradles his toddler son as the bodies of his twin girls lie before him after they were killed in Israeli strike - as UN votes on ceasefire resolution Advertisement

One shekel is worth approximately 0.27 USD.

The boycotts come as critics mount opposition to Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip in retaliation to Hamas' October 7 strike into southern Israel.

Nearly 1,200 Israelis were killed, mostly during the initial assault, and around 240 hostages were taken back into Gaza - many of whom have since been released as part of prisoner swaps mediated by Qatar.

Gaza - with a high birth rate and a population of around 50 per cent children - has also endured horrific civilian casualties as the conflict rages on. Some 18,000 are expected to have been killed so far, mostly as a result of Israel's bombing campaign.

Israel also said on October 9 it would impose a 'complete siege' on the Strip, cutting access to food, water, fuel, power and medical supplies, before embarking on a dramatic land invasion to snuff out Hamas' leadership believed to be operating out of bases in Gaza and - Israel believes - under civilian infrastructure protected by international law.

Having pushed through Gaza City in the north, Israel is now focusing its attention south, warning civilians to move or risk getting caught in military operations.

Civilians and local charities urge many living in the Strip's south have already been displaced from the north and have nowhere else to go.

Tjada DOyen McKenna, Chief Executive Officer of humanitarian NGO Mercy Corps, said: 'With northern Gaza separated and largely destroyed and southern Gaza now under intensifying military operations and constant airstrikes, there is no safe place in Gaza left to go.

'It is abundantly clear that not enough is being done to protect civilians, who are killed daily by the hundreds, cannot find safe refuge anywhere, and are struggling to survive in unlivable and inhumane conditions.

A child wears a 'Stop Killing Children' sign near symbolic body bags representing young victims during a 'Children's March for Palestine' on December 2, 2023 in Los Angeles

People mourn by the bodies of people killed following Israeli bombardment, including three children from the Harb family, at al-Najjar hospital in Rafah, Gaza Strip on December 12

Relatives of Palestinians who died during Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip mourn next to their wrapped bodies, outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, December 12

'A Mercy Corps team member shared this week, the ceasefire served as a passage from one hell to another, without any visible resolution.

'Our colleagues tell us that each day revolves around lining up in queues for 15 or 20 hours to get only a little bit of food, clean water, cooking gas or fuel.

'Each night brings with it the terror that they and their families may not live to see the morning, and each morning brings with it more news of loved ones lost.'

Supplies of food, water, fuel and 'other basic necessities are depleted and most essential services have completely collapsed', Mercy Corps added, citing the accounts of team members working on the ground.
A Russian driver had a miraculous escape after his Volkswagen Touareg plunged 40ft from a multi-storey car park.

He was driving the SUV when it smashed through a flimsy barrier and fell to the road below.

A video caught the moment of the dramatic fall.

The VW did a corkscrew spin on the way down, with the front taking the full force of the strike with the ground.

It then righted itself on all four wheels.

The lucky driver - named as Evgeny Shamko, 40 - suffered no more than shock, said reports.

He was driving the SUV when it smashed through a flimsy barrier and fell to the road below

The VW did a corkscrew spin on the way down, with the front taking the full force of the strike with the ground

The lucky driver - named as Evgeny Shamko, 40 - suffered now more than shock, said reports

A check was being done for alcohol in the blood after a bottle was found in the crashed Volkswagen Touareg

A witness said: 'The ambulance came but did not pick him up.

'He was not injured.'

He was seen giving a statement to officers in a police car.

A check was being done for alcohol in the blood after a bottle was found in the crashed Volkswagen Touareg, said reports.

It comes after a UK court was told that senior US military officer understood to be the head of space policy for the US joint chiefs of staff at the Pentagon caused a car collision that left two teenagers seriously injured under debris.

Colonel Benjamin Oakes went on trial today at York Magistrates' Court.

The officer, who hails from Harrogate, has denied two counts of causing injury by careless driving in North Yorkshire.

Prosecutors told a district judge how Oakes was driving a white Vauxhall Astra outside Ashville College independent school in Harrogate on February 2 this year.

Louise Berry, prosecuting, said Oakes was edging out of a junction when he clipped a Ford pickup truck, causing that vehicle to swerve and spin.

The truck collided with a wall and two boys were buried under debris, she told the court.
Chinese President Xi warmly welcomed upon state visit to Vietnam

Xinhua) 21:06, December 12, 2023

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, arrives in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, Dec. 12, 2023, for a state visit at the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

HANOI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- A Boeing 747 jet bedecked with the Chinese national flag made a graceful descent at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Tuesday noon.

Amidst the cheers of over 400 representatives from China and Vietnam, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, stepped out of the aircraft cabin, greeting the welcoming crowd with smiles and waves.

As the flags of both countries, along with the communist party flags featuring sickle and hammer, fluttered in the gentle breeze, Xi descended from the airstair.

Waiting at the red carpet laid out on the tarmac was Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who was anticipating the arrival of the esteemed Chinese guest at the airport.

Upon seeing Xi step off the staircase, Pham Minh Chinh extended his welcoming hands. The two leaders had a brief chat.

Other senior Vietnamese officials on the scene, including Phan Dinh Trac, a member of the Political Bureau, secretary of the Secretariat and chairman of the Commission for Internal Affairs of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, as well as Le Hoai Trung, secretary of the Secretariat and chairman of the Commission for External Relations of the CPV Central Committee, along with local representatives, also joined the greeting to the Chinese president.

Following the exchange of pleasantries, Xi and Peng were presented with bouquets of flowers by Vietnamese youths, symbolizing a cordial welcome.

People welcome Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, Dec. 12, 2023. Xi arrived in the Southeast Asian country for a two-day state visit. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

"Welcome President Xi Jinping," cheered the crowd dressed in colorful ethnic clothing. In the friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere, Pham Minh Chinh walked Xi to a Hongqi limousine nearby.

Along the road adorned with red banners hailing "Long live Chinese-Vietnamese Friendship!" and "Deepen Friendship between Vietnam and China, Comrades as well as Brothers," Xi's motorcade traversed from the airport to the hotel.

Later in the day, Xi attended a welcome ceremony hosted by General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong before the two leaders held a meeting.

In a written speech upon his arrival, Xi said China takes its relations with Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, adding that he looks forward to taking the visit as an opportunity to push bilateral relations to a new stage.

This was the first visit to Vietnam by Xi in six years, during which he and Trong are expected to jointly announce the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Liang Jun)
A murderer who stabbed a 23-year-old woman to death has been jailed for life.

Gabrielle Marshall was found dead at her friend's house in Ulverstone, Tasmania, on June 15, 2021.

Colin William Drake pleaded not guilty to murdering her in July that year but changed his plea to guilty this September.

Gabrielle Marshall was found dead at her friend's house in Ulverstone, Tasmania , on June 15, 2021

Ms Marshall had moved to Tasmania from Queensland just weeks before she died.

At Drake's sentencing at the Supreme Court in Burnie, Justice Tamara Jago said there was no clear reason for the murder - calling it 'random violence committed against a stranger', the Mercury reported.

She added that the killing could have been sexual or an attempt to steal cigarettes.

'Whatever the reason behind the defendant's murder, it is apparent he is a danger to the community,' the judge added.

'Ms Marshall's senseless and brutal murder caused immense shock and extreme pain and suffering for her family.'

Drake was sentenced to life in jail and will be eligible for parole in 20 years.
Shipping delays in the Panama Canal threaten 22million worth of fruit, vegetables, coffee, tea and meat from Peru bound for Britain this Christmas, experts said today.

Britain relies heavily on imports from the South American country, according to a study of UK-bound ships using the canal by data and analytics firm Russell Group.

Researchers claimed the products may be in short supply in shops this month. Most of the disruption will be related to fruit, with 18million worth coming from Peru.

They issued a warning over fears the ongoing disruption - due to a drought - may result in 'empty or reduced quantities of these items on the supermarket shelves'.

It comes after the Panama Canal Authority began restricting vessel transits in the summer as the drought limited supplies of water needed to operate its lock system.

A container ship transits through the Panama Canal on December 7 as the drought continues

Usually-submerged tree trunks above the surface of Gatun Lake in Panama earlier this month

A Panama Canal worker navigates his boat along the popular shipping route last week

A car transported and a cruise ship both transit through the Panama Canal on December 7

Only 22 daily transits are now allowed, down from about 35 in normal conditions - and the situation will worsen in February when transits will fall further to 18 a day.

How the Panama Canal was a long and deadly construction project The Panama Canal was a marvel of engineering opened in 1914 that created a 50-mile shortcut between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. It meant vessels travelling from one side of the Americas to the other no longer had to make an 8,000-mile detour lasting two months around the southern tip of Chile. The US began construction in 1904 following a failed attempt by the French in the 1880s, although the idea of such a passage was first explored by King Charles I of Spain in the 1500s. The canal cost more than $350million (280million), making it the most expensive construction project in US history at that time. However it was also extremely dangerous work, with at least 5,600 people killed while it was being built out of a total of 56,000 employed between 1904 and 1913. By 2010, the canal had seen one million ships pass through. American vessels are the most common users of the canal, followed by ships from China, Chile, Japan, Colombia and South Korea. Advertisement

With many UK consumers starting to shop for perishable items ahead of Christmas - now less than a fortnight away - concerns are building that the disruption may stop such exports from Peru and other South American countries such as Chile and Ecuador making the journey.

Suki Basi, managing director and founder of Russell Group, told MailOnline today: 'The current crisis in Panama could not come at a worse time for the UK.

'With the economy suffering from a lack of consumer confidence due to the cost-of-living crisis, another supply chain crunch will do little to boost that confidence.'

He added that shipping companies 'face a dilemma now, as they are forced to wait in the queue and see their perishable items become ruined, pay a higher fee, or navigate alternative routes, extending delays and increasing emissions', adding; 'It is a difficult dilemma, and one that has no easy solution.'

Russell Group's figures were based on current and forecast trade data from investment experts Moody's and marine intelligence service IHS Markit.

Its analysis comes after concerns reported in MailOnline last week that presents heading to Britain on container ships may not arrive in time for Christmas because of the drought.

Water levels in the 50-mile canal from the Pacific ocean to the Atlantic have fallen to their lowest since the mid-1900s.

Scores of massive container ships carrying gifts such as the new iPhone, TVs, bikes and clothes are being delayed by up to four weeks  and the crisis could last for several months.

Congestion in the canal could have a wider impact across the global supply chain  with experts also warning that Christmas in the UK and Europe could be affected.

Marco Forgione, director general of the London-based Institute of Export and International Trade, has called on the Government to introduce a formal import strategy linked to the export strategy.

The average wait time in the queue has risen from 4.3 days on November 7 to 11.7 this month, data revealed. Before the route experienced delays, some 38 ships passed through each day

Low water levels outside the Miraflores locks of the Panama Canal on November 3 this year

Panama Canal employees work in a dry chamber of the West Lane of Pedro Miguel locks in May

A container ship is seen near the Panama Canal on December 2 amid concerns for shipping

Low water levels outside the Miraflores locks of the Panama Canal on November 3 this year

He said the strategy 'must establish a diverse supply chain for the UK  ensuring that we are not reliant on one route for our imported goods which will help to mitigate the impact of delays such as those we are currently seeing in the Panama Canal'.

READ MORE The price of your Christmas dinner revealed: How cheaper Brussels sprouts, puddings and sparkling wines are curbing the cost of the festive feast Advertisement

Mr Forgione continued: 'Delays like this ripple across the whole supply chain and have a catastrophic impact  which is concerning for both businesses and consumers during the busiest retail period of the year.

'There are supplies, such as iPhones, that won't be here in time for Christmas, however, many retailers have planned in advance after the disruption to the Panama Canal back in August.

'However, during the vital months of November to March, much of South American shipping is focused on exports of fruit and vegetables, generally via refrigerated containers.'

He said that much of the produce from Peru, Chile and Ecuador will be routed via the Panama Canal.

Mr Forgione added: 'What is a major concern is post-Christmas If these issues continue, not only could the export of fruits and vegetables be impacted, but we could see extended transit times and squeezing up costs even more for UK importers.

'If vessels miss scheduled port stops due to delays, products will need to take longer alternative routes to reach their final destinations.

'The commercial impact on businesses will also be significant if fresh produce is spoiled and wasted, delivery deadlines are missed, and cargo is stuck in ports. Not just retailers, but the firms entrusted with shipping these good as well.

A container ship passes along the Panama Canal on August 11 this year

A ship passes in the Panama Canal on August 21 which is facing difficulties due to drought

A container ship travels along the Panama Canal on August 11 this year

The container ship Tampa Triumph passes through the Miraflores Locks in September this year

'Situations like this highlight the vulnerabilities in our UK supply chains and the need for solid strategies to be in place in order minimise the impact of future disruptions.'

Food costs and energy prices could rise because grains and fuels are on ships also stuck in the canal. Nearly 80 ships have suffered significant delays.

Some companies have reportedly paid as much as $4million (3million) to move to the front of the queue to get free.

This is compared to an average auction price of about $173,000 (137,000) just one year ago.

Other options include sailing south around South America or Africa, or via the Suez Canal.

But those longer routes can add up to two weeks to shipping times, elevating costs for fuel, crews and freight leases.

Economist Inga Fechner of ING Research told Bloomberg: 'It's getting more costly, and looking for alternative routes will increase costs and maybe also weigh on prices in the end.'

The average wait time in the queue has risen from 4.3 days on November 7 to 11.7 this month, Panama Canal Authority data revealed.

Before the shipping route experienced delays, some 38 ships passed through each day. A total of more than 14,000 ships crossed the canal in 2022.

The shipping snarl through one of the world's main maritime trade routes also comes at the peak season for US crop exports.

Ships moving crops have waited up to three weeks to pass through the canal as container vessels and others that sail on more regular schedules are scooping up the few slots available.

The Miraflores locks of the Panama Canal on November 3 this year

A ship crosses the locks on its journey through the Panama Canal in July this year

Aerial view of Panama canal in the area of Pedro Miguel locks on December 13 last year

A bulk carrier travels along the Panama Canal through Cocoli Locks on April 19 this year

The restrictions could continue to impede grain shipments well into 2024 before the region's wet season should begin to recharge reservoirs and normalise shipping in April or May, analysts said.

READ MORE Panama Canal backlogs threatens iPhone and other gadget deliveries in time for Christmas Advertisement

'It's causing quite a disruption both in expense and delay,' said Jay O'Neil, proprietor of HJ O'Neil Commodity Consulting, adding that the disruption is unlike any he's seen in his 50 years of monitoring global shipping.

Grain ships are often at the back of the line as they usually secure their slots only a few days before arriving, while others including cruise and container ships book months in advance.

The Authority also offers the rare available slots to its top customers first, none of which are bulk grain haulers, Mr O'Neil said.

Any scheduled slots that come available are auctioned off, but demand is exceptionally high.

Mark Thompson, senior trader at Olam Agri, said: 'The grain trades and the bulk carrier segment are going to be the last customers to go through the Panama Canal. I would not rely on the Panama Canal any time soon.'

Wait times for bulk grain vessels ballooned from around five to seven days in October to around 20 days by late November, Mr O'Neil said, prompting more grain carriers to reroute.
Tyson Fury's father arrived at court today after his son was accused of dodging a 82,000 council tax bill over land being used to house caravans and motorhomes.

The 35-year-old heavyweight boxer dubbed 'The Gypsy King', and his brothers John and Shane allegedly owe the money for allowing the vehicles to park up on land next to their 1million mansion in Styal, Cheshire.

Magistrates are reportedly set to issue a legal order to force the family to pay the 82,166.85 bill to Cheshire East Council, according to The Sun.

The three men supposedly own the mansion, which is inhabited by their father John Snr, and the land adjacent to it, according to Land Registry papers seen by The Sun, and therefore bear responsibility for paying the bill.

If the Furys fail to cough up the funds, they will face a visit from the bailiff, who will be sent to reclaim the family's assets from their home.

John Fury, the father of boxer Tyson Fury, arrives at Chester Magistrates' Court this morning

John Fury, the father of boxer Tyson Fury, arrives at Chester Magistrates' Court this morning

Tyson Fury and his father John (pictured together)

The Furys allegedly owe the money for allowing vehicles to park up on land next to their 1million mansion in Styal, Cheshire (file picture)

The heavyweight boxer (right), 35, dubbed The Gypsy King, and his father John (left), 59

John is said to live at the Cheshire mansion, while Tyson and his wife Paris, 33, own a 1.7million property (pictured) in Morecambe, Lancashire

Tyson, pulling a caravan, has boasted of owning a 6million villa in Marbella, Spain

The Sun reported on Monday that it is 'not thought that the Furys will attend court today'.

Barrister Sarah Robson, a fixed costs specialist at Alpha Court Chambers, told newspaper: 'Often, the first time people realise a liability order has been granted is when bailiffs are sent round.

'Cases are often sent to magistrates in batches of hundreds and sometimes thousands, and they are rubber stamped without real scrutiny.'

John Fury Snr is said to live at the Cheshire mansion, while Tyson and his wife Paris, 33, own a 1.7million property in Morecambe, Lancashire.

Tyson bought the mansion in Lancashire for 1.695million in December 2020, according to Land Registry records, purchasing it through their firm Tyson Fury Ltd without needing a mortgage.

The family used to live in a 550,000 home overlooking Morecambe Bay before they moved to their new home, which is built on a plot that used to be occupied by a static caravan-style bungalow.

The star has an extensive property portfolio. In 2018, Tyson boasted that he had bought a mansion in Marbella, Spain, for around 6million, it was claimed.

And back in May 2021 he suggested that he had purchased a sprawling property in Las Vegas, it was reported.

Paris Fury shared some photos with husband Tyson Fury during their holiday to Saudi Arabia

Tyson and John after an open workout at BOXPARK Wembley, London, on April 19, 2022

Tyson Fury with his father John Fury

Tyson met Paris (pictured together) when she was 15, and they didn't start dating until after Paris's 16th birthday

Tyson met Paris when she was 15, and they didn't start dating until after Paris's 16th birthday.

READ MORE Inside the Furys' lavish holiday to Saudi Arabia: Paris playfully pouts with husband Tyson after flying on a HUGE private jet with their seven kids Advertisement

The two tied the knot in 2008 at St Peter in Chains Catholic Church in Doncaster, South Yorkshire and celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary last month.

In September, the couple announced they had welcomed their seventh child together - a baby boy.

They are already parents to Venezuela, 13, Prince John James, 11, Prince Tyson II, seven, Valencia Amber, five, Prince Adonis Amaziah, four, and Athena, two.

Tyson has described his father John, who has five other sons including Love Island star Tommy Fury, 24, as the 'clan leader'.

John was once jailed for gouging out a fellow Traveller's eye in a savage feud. He was sentenced for 11 years for the 'cold-blooded' 2011 attack, which left his victim half-blind.

He was eventually released in February 2015, after serving less than half his sentence - and later said: 'He's lost an eye and I've lost five years of my life.'

MailOnline has contacted the Furys and Cheshire East Council for comment.
A prisoner recovering from penis enlargement surgery broke out of a hospital in Thailand on Saturday.

Theft convict Thanaphat Mayod, 37, was admitted to the Bang Lamung Hospital in Chonburi province on December 6 when his genitals swelled painfully due to penis enlargement injections that became infected.

Despite the severe swelling, Thanaphat managed to hatch a daring escape plan which he enacted in the early hours of December 9.

He had his wife Wasana Kuaysuwan, 30, smuggle in a pair of steel cutters, and used the tool to break the restraints chaining him to the hospital bed while hiding behind the curtain dividers.

With a catheter still attached to his penis, he left the room on the seventh floor, and was caught on CCTV hobbling through the hospital corridors undetected.

The convict hatched a daring escape plan which he enacted in the early hours of December 9

Theft convict Thanaphat Mayod, 37, (pictured, centre) was admitted to the Bang Lamung Hospital in Chonburi province on December 6 when his genitals swelled painfully due to penis enlargement injections that became infected

He then took a lift to the ground floor and left the building through a window.

However, Thanaphat's freedom was short-lived as he was found by police just 28 hours later on December 10, hiding under a black bag while huddled on the rooftop of the hospital's psychiatric ward less than 70ft away from the surgical ward.

He was taken to the emergency room as he was in a poor condition, with agonising pain coming from his manhood, where silicone filler had been injected.

The runaway patient told authorities he was driven to commit the jailbreak 'because he missed his family.'

He said: 'I had the penis enlargement operation before I went to jail. It became infected because I couldn't care for it. I just saw the opportunity to escape from the hospital, because I wanted to see my wife again.'

The runaway patient told authorities he was driven to commit the jailbreak 'because he missed his family'

His wife Wasana (pictured) was detained for helping an inmate escape

He was taken to the emergency room as he was in a poor condition, with agonising pain coming from his manhood, where silicone filler had been injected

Thanaphat allegedly admitted to borrowing another patient's phone to tell his wife to bring the steel cutters

He said he fled behind the building and climbed up a power post to the top of the psychiatry ward after a security guard saw him

Thanaphat allegedly admitted to borrowing another patient's phone to tell his wife to bring the steel cutters. He said he fled behind the building and climbed up a power post to the top of the psychiatry ward after a security guard saw him.

Officials said Thanaphat will be charged for attempting to escape prison, while his wife Wasana was detained for helping an inmate escape.

Meanwhile, Sahakarn Petchanarin, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and acting Director-General of the Department of Corrections, said:

'A committee has been created to examine the facts. We will investigate how the prisoner was able to escape.

'As for the two guards guarding the prisoner, they are also being investigated and we expect the results to come out soon.

'The work of both men continues to normally until the results are released.'
The detention of an Irish teacher who refused to refer to a transitioning transgender student as 'they' rather than 'he' in May last year is set to be reviewed today.

Enoch Burke was jailed for a second time in September for ignoring a court order that banned him from the premises of his former school in Ireland's Co Westmeath.

He is now again facing the prospect of spending Christmas behind bars, something he avoided last year when a high court judge directed his release just days before.

By then, he had spent more than 100 days in prison for refusing to stay away from Wilson's Hospital School, as he had been ordered to do by the courts.

The row broke out more than a year ago, when during a meeting in 2022 with the headteacher and his deputy, Burke said that his Evangelical Christian beliefs meant he 'opposed transgenderism'.

The detention of Irish teacher Enoch Burke - who refused to refer to a transitioning transgender student as 'they' rather than 'he' in May last year - is set to be reviewed today

Following this, Burke publicly criticised the headteacher's 'demand' that staff use students' chosen pronouns, following a service at the Church of Ireland school to celebrate its 260th anniversary

Burke was accused of 'breaching the confidence' of the transitioning student, and as a result, the teacher was suspended with pay.

He was later fired for gross misconduct in August last year.

However, Burke continued showing up at the school - prompting his former employer to obtain a court order to get him to stay away from the grounds.

In September last year, Burke was jailed for 100 days for ignoring the court order.

During an appeal, the teacher argued that he was being imprisoned because of his Christian beliefs, and was released days before Christmas 2022.

But Burke was imprisoned for the second time in September this year for refusing to stay away from the school again  and has been told he will remain in prison indefinitely until he agrees to comply with the court order.

A review in his imprisonment is set to be heard today.

In order to secure his release, he has to 'purge his contempt' - something he has previously said he cannot do because of his religion beliefs.

If he does refuse, he will likely spend Christmas in prison this year.

Burke is currently being held in Dublin's Mountjoy Prison.

His loyal family, who are known for their radical religious activism and involvement in other high court legal cases, continue to protest at the school.

They maintain he's being persecuted for his Christian beliefs  while his supporters have insisted the whole 'country is behind him'.

However, others less sympathetic to the cause view his stubborn refusal and his family's protests as attention seeking, with one newspaper columnist pointing out that the Burkes 'like to get their own way'.

The family, from Castlebar, County Mayo, are fundamentalist evangelical Christians.

Parents Martina and Sean Burke have ten children - Ammi, Elijah, Enoch, Esther, Isaac, Jemima, Josiah, Keren, Kezia, and Simeon.

They have hit the headlines in the past due to their anti-LGBT protests, including in 2017, 2018 and 2019 when they protests the annual gay pride parade in Castlebar.

It was also revealed in 2023 by the Irish independent that Enoch spent several thousands of euros on Facebook advertisements attacking LGBT politicians such as Katherine Zappone and Maria Walsh during the 2019 EU parliament elections.

Burke has been jailed twice for refusing to stay away from Wilson's Hospital School (pictured), as he had been ordered to do by the courts

His loyal family, who are known for their radical religious activism and involvement in other high court legal cases, continue to protest at the school

The saga began in spring 2022 when headteacher Niamh McShane sent an email to her staff informing them of the student's new name and pronouns.

After receiving the email, Burke is said to have raised his issue with the change of pronouns during a staff meeting on May 10.

While giving evidence in a later trial, deputy headteacher John Galligan said that Burke 'erupted' during the meeting and 'changed colour completely'.

In a follow-up meeting between the headteacher, her deputy and Burke, Mr Galligan claimed the jailed teacher repeated how he was 'opposed to transgenderism' as a result of his religion.

Following this, Burke is said to have publicly interjected after a religious service celebrating the school's 260th anniversary to criticise Ms McShane's supposed 'demand' that staff refer to the student by their chosen pronouns.

Following the chapel service, Burke is alleged to have approached the headteacher at a meal where he asked her to withdraw her 'demand' again.

As a result of this, the headteacher believed Burke was guilty of gross misconduct  as other students may not have been aware the student was transitioning.

Ms Freda Malone, who worked at the school as a guidance counsellor, claims Burke 'breached the confidence' of the student on two occasions during that occasion.

Speaking at a High Court hearing in March this year, Ms Malone said the headteacher was escorted home by other guests at the event and they later 'formed a ring' around her home out of concern for her safety.

In August last year, Ms McShane submitted a stage-four report to the chair of the board John Rogers about Burke's outbursts  which prompted the representative to arrange a meeting with the teacher. The purpose of the meeting was to decide if Burke should be suspended or face any kind of disciplinary.

After this, the board made the unanimous decision to place Burke on paid leave while they dealt with the misconduct allegation.

Enoch Burke is seen being removed by Gardai on January 25 after following a bus through school gates, despite a court order banning him from the grounds

Enoch's siblings Ammi and Josiah Burke seen outside an Irish court in October 2023. The pair have been vocal in their support of Enoch

Despite being put on leave, Burke is said to have attended a staff meeting at the start of the school year. After repeatedly arriving on school grounds, Burke was allegedly asked to leave 'every hour' by the deputy head.

In May 2023, the Irish High Court ruled that the school had acted lawfully in suspending Burke and said Enoch had been 'trespassing' on their grounds.

In an attempt to keep Burke away from the premises while they conducted the investigation, the school took out a temporary court order against the teacher  which still didn't deter him.

In August last year, Enoch was sued by the school for his failure to comply with the court order and later arrested for being in contempt of court.

At his initial hearing on September 6 that year, Mr Burke told Judge Quinn: 'I am a teacher and I don't want to go to prison. I want to be in my classroom today, that's where I was this morning when I was arrested.'

'I love my school, with its motto Res Non Verba, actions not words, but I am here today because I said I would not call a boy a girl.'

When the case went to the High Court the following week, Burke, who was representing himself, maintained that he would not purge his contempt of court for violating the order, insisting that he was being persecuted for his faith.

When asked by Judge Eileen Roberts if he would abide by the order, Burke said: 'I cannot do that. I go back to jail as a law-abiding citizen of the state always. But God first.' Addressing the court, Burke said: 'The question is not will I purge my contempt but how this court order could have been granted?

'The court is asking me to purge my contempt, but this court has robbed me of my constitutional right. It was wrong what the court did. How can I purge my contempt of that which is wrong?'

But Judge Roberts disagreed with his argument. The teacher was escorted out of the court to prison by three prison guards to loud applause from the public gallery with many hollering: 'The country is with you Enoch.'

Pictured: Enoch Burke seen outside Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath one week after he was dismissed in January 2023

Dozens of people packed the public gallery shouting 'disgrace' and 'shame' following the judge's decision - something that would become a theme of future hearings.

The teacher served more than 100 days behind bars before being released on December 21 last year on an 'open-ended- basis.

On January 18, Burke and his family interrupted a school board meeting, which was being held at the Mullingar Park Hotel in Westmeath, with police intervening.

Two days later, it was announced that Burke had officially been dismissed from his position at the school for for intimidating and harassing a colleague and breaching the confidence of the child who was in the process of transitioning.

At the time, a statement from the school read: 'He was informed in person at 3:30pm this afternoon in the presence of chairperson of the board of management John Rogers and principal Frank Milling that he was dismissed.'

One week later, the High Court ruled that Burke would be fined 700 a day if he continued ignoring the court order which requires him to stay away from the school.

Burke appealed the board's decision to dismiss him  which resulted in the case going to the Irish High Court in March.

Mr Justice Owens excluded the teacher on the first day after he continually interrupted proceedings and refused to comply with rules.

Scenes of pandemonium broke out at the Court of Appeal, as Burke, his parents and three of his siblings were physically dragged out of the courtroom by gardai.

Enoch's mother, Martina Burke, accused the judges of 'bowing to the altar of transgenderism' while waving a copy of the Constitution.

His sister Ammi, a solicitor, also attempted to argue with the judges mid-ruling, saying her brother's constitutional rights were not being upheld. The judge asked her to sit down, and then requested that gardai remove her.

During the hearing, Freda Malone said the school was concerned for the transgender student's safety and feared Burke would continue making public protests in front of other students.

Meanwhile, Mr Galligan discussed Burke's initial outburst at the staff meeting and his repeated attempts to remove the teacher from the premises during his suspension.

Irish teacher Enoch Burke leaves the the Court of Appeal in Dublin, following a unanimous ruling to dismiss his appeal against court orders made against him, Tuesday March 7, 2023

Burke's sister Ammi is forcibly removed from the Court of Appeal in March for interrupting a judgment being read out

Following the hearing, Justice Owens made an order restraining Burke from trespassing on the school premises  but noted that this did not prevent him from being outside the gates.

In July, Burke was ordered to pay 15,000 to Wilson's Hospital School to cover their legal fees and for damages.

Appearing before Justice Alexander Owens, Burke said that objecting to people being transgender was his right.

Then in September, Burke was jailed for a second time after refusing to comply with the High Court order.

The school's new headteacher Frank Milling said that having to lock doors was creating a health and safety issue for faculty.

On top of this, the headteacher said he was unable to carry out some of his everyday duties as he has to monitor Burke  who has been known to follow cars through the gates.

After gaining access by following a bus in January, Mr Milling  who has expressed concern for how the situation is impacting current students  told Burke: 'Stop. Stop. Get off the property.'

Despite being removed from the premises by two uniformed gardai, Burke returned to the gates following his release later that same day.

Speaking at the gates, Burke told local press that he had been 'wrongfully arrested' for trespassing and insisted he has 'broken no laws' and 'done nothing wrong', the Irish Independent reports.

Justice Mark Heslin said there was 'no dispute' that Burke has 'fragrantly breached' court orders to stay away from the school.

Former history and German teacher Burke seen arriving at the Four Courts in Dublin after being dismissed by the school

As a result, the judge ordered that Burke remain in prison 'indefinitely' until he agrees to follow the court order and not return to his old workplace.

After finding Burke to be in contempt of court, Justice Mark Heslin asked the teacher on three occasions if he understood the order against him. However, Burke remained silent.

Burke was returned to Mountjoy Prison  where he spent his first prison sentence  and was told he could be released if he agreed to stay away from the school.

The former teacher has been imprisoned at the facility since September 8 and has been participating in court hearings via video link.
The brawler who could seen waving around a folding chair during the infamous Alabama riverfront brawl back in August successfully avoided jail after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge on Monday.

Reggie Bernard Ray was given a 90-day suspended sentence, will be forced to perform 50 hours of community service and pay court costs of $357.

Ray, 43, who is black, was one of the six people charged in relation to the mass brawl.

The video of the fight created a discussion nationwide about race as it appeared as though a group of white men attacked the black captain of a boat named the Harriott II after a dispute over space at the dock.

In the shocking video, Ray could be ween hitting a man with no top on multiple times with a folded up chair in a scene reminiscent of WWE. A police officer said that body cam footage also showed Ray hitting a woman with the chair, reports AL.com.

Reggie Ray, 43, had been charged with disorderly conduct following the viral brawl

He is believed to be seen smashing another man over the head with a chair as he tries to escape

The same man is later seen smashing a woman the head with a chair as she sits on the floor

Authorities found that Ray's role in the brawl came in the latter part of the fight.

Ray's case is the last of the six people charged in relation to the case to be resolved in court.

In November, the co-captain of the Harriott II was accused of misdemeanor assault in the melee by one of the white boaters charged in the fight. The white man alleged that he was struck first during the fight.

The man's complaint charges the co-captain with misdemeanor assault, according to court records.

'I was not trying to fight,' the man wrote in a statement.

Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed and police Chief Darryl J. Albert issued a statement last month reiterating that the city and police department did not file the charges against the co-captain and that the police investigation considers him to be a victim.

Video of the fight was shared widely online, sparking countless memes and parodies.

Montgomery police said the brawl began when the white boaters refused to move their pontoon boat so the city-owned Harriott II riverboat could dock in its designated space. The boat's co-captain said he was attacked after moving the pontoon boat a few feet to make way for the riverboat.

Five other people were previously charged in the brawl. Two white boaters previously pleaded guilty to charges of misdemeanor assault or harassment.

DailyMail.com can reveal the mugshots of Allen Todd, 23, and Richard Roberts were also charged

Mary Todd, 21, turned herself in last month along with her boyfriend Zachary Shipman

Zachary Shipman (far left) was among four white members of the brawl to be arrested and charged for the fight - before Ray became the fifth to be charged on Friday

In an interview with ABC's Good Morning America in September, the Harriott II's co-captain, Dameion Pickett, 43, and two of his colleagues said they never expected the encounter to turn so violent.

'This man just put his hand on me. I was, like  it's my job, but I'm still defending myself at the same time. So when he touched me, I was, like, "It's on,"' Pickett said.

After being ignored by the group, the Harriott II's captain instructed Pickett to it for them.

'[I] really just moved it about one, two, four-- four steps to the right, that's it,' he said, adding he was concerned not just with the passengers on his boat, but with the other group's pontoon.

'If our boat hit theirs, it would sink, he said.

Pickett was immediately violently confronted by the other boat's owners who almost immediately started hitting him.

Roshein 'Rahrah' Carlton, who works as a steward on the Harriott II and is a years-long friend of Pickett, said he heard the group of white boat owners yelling racial slurs.

'It's our duty as-- as our coworker, as a team, to go and aid and assist him,' he said.

Eventually, dozens joined in the fight - including 16-year-old Aaren Hamilton-Rudolph, who worked on the Harriott II and was filmed jumping in to the water and swimming to the dock to help Pickett.

He'd only been on the job for two weeks at the time, but felt compelled to step in.

'When they first started hitting on him, no one helped. I couldn't just watch and let him get beat on. Everyone else was just recording it,' he said.

Pickett said he is grateful he was not more seriously injured.

'I got some bumps and bruises here and there, I am here by the grace of God.

'I went to work to work, not to be in a fight or get jumped,' he said.

Zachary Shipman, Mary Todd, Richard Roberts and Allen Todd were all charged with misdemeanor assault.
Fashion brand Zara said on Tuesday it regretted the 'misunderstanding' over an advertising campaign featuring mannequins with missing limbs and statues wrapped in white that triggered calls for a boycott by some pro-Palestinian activists.

Some online drew parallels between the mannequins wrapped in white sheets and the distressing images of bodies in white shrouds which have come out of Gaza since October 7 amid the war between Israel and Hamas.

Critics also accused the retailer of insensitivity towards deaths in war-torn Gaza after images from the fashion shoot featured mannequins with missing limbs and a model in a wooden box and surrounded by rubble.

Other images, which have since been removed from the firm's Instagram page, show supermodel Kirsten McMenamy posing with mannequins wrapped in white cloth and plastic.

'Unfortunately, some customers felt offended by these images, which have now been removed, and saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created,' Zara said in a post on its Instagram account.

It added the photoshoot took place a month before the Hamas attacks of October 7, which triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

Fashion giant Zara has come under fire for its new campaign that features a mannequin wrapped in white plastic and surrounded by rubble

Social media users took to X to criticise the campaign, referring to it as 'shameful,' 'disgusting' and a 'mockery'. These two images have been deleted from their Instagram page after they were compared to photos of dead bodies in Gaza

Zara released a statement on Instagram on Tuesday morning

One image showed a model holding a mannequin wrapped in what appeared to be white plastic.

The UK's Advertising Standards Authority said it had received 110 complaints that the ad's imagery referenced the current Israel-Hamas conflict and was offensive.

The watchdog said it was reviewing the complaints but was not currently investigating the ad.

Zara said the campaign, advertising its Atelier line, was 'conceived in July and photographed in September'.

Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people. Israel launched retaliatory attacks, which the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory says has killed more than 17,700 Palestinians in Gaza, around two-thirds of them women and children.

'Zara regrets that misunderstanding and we reaffirm our deep respect towards everyone,' Zara said.

That account had seen tens of thousands of comments posted about the photos, many with Palestinian flags, while '#BoycottZara' was trending on messaging platform X.

The campaign for the Spain -based fashion giant quickly received a wave of backlash online, with posts branding it 'shameful,' 'disgusting' and a 'mockery'.

Some social media users drew parallels between mannequins used in the campaign and distressing pictures of bodies wrapped in shrouds from Gaza

Some Zara outlets in Montreal were vandalised following the controversy

Zara said the campaign advertising its Atelier line was photographed in September (PA)

Ahmed Shihab-Eldin said that Zara had won 'the award for most tone deaf brand of the year'.

Six posts showcasing the campaign, which was shot by British fashion photographer Tim Walker, were scrubbed from Zara's Instagram page.

Mr Walker has previously photographed celebrities such as Stormzy and Jodie Comer for the covers of British Vogue, as well as taking shots of Lady Gaga, Emma Corrin and Miriam Margolyes.

Zara said at the launch of the collection on December 7 that it was inspired by men's tailoring from past centuries.

The photos appeared to show an artist studio with ladders, packing materials, wooden crates and cranes, and assistants wearing overalls.

There had been calls for boycotts of the fashion brand, owned by Inditex, which also owns other popular high street stores such as Pull and Bear and Bershka.

In Montreal, Canada, activists sprayed Zara stores with pro-Palestinian slogans.

Zara has described the new clothing line on its Instagram page as: 'A limited edition collection from the house celebrating our commitment to craftsmanship and passion for artistic expression.'

Taking to social media on Tuesday morning, Zara said: 'After listening to comments regarding the latest Zara Atelier campaign 'The Jacket', we would like to share the following with our customers.

'The campaign, that was conceived in July and photographed in September, presents a series of images of unfinished sculptures in a sculptor's studio and was created with the sole purpose of showcasing craftmade garments in an artistic context.

'Unfortunately, some customers felt offended buy these images, which have now been removed, and saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created.

'Zara regrets that misunderstanding and we reaffirm our deep respect towards everyone'.
Sir Keir Starmer today demanded Rishi Sunak call a general election should he lose a crunch House of Commons vote on the Rwanda migrant scheme tonight.

The Labour leader attempted to pile the pressure on the Prime Minister as Mr Sunak bids to rally Tory support for his latest effort to revive the beleaguered asylum plan.

Sir Keir confirmed Labour would scrap the Rwanda scheme if his party enters government as he attacked it as a 'gimmick' and claimed it 'isn't going to work'.

He swiped that 290million of taxpayers' cash had 'already been wasted' on the plan 'for nothing' in return.

The PM is spending the day scrambling to win support among Tory MPs for his Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

The emergency legislation has been drafted by Mr Sunak as an attempt to get past the Supreme Court's block on plans to send asylum seekers to Africa.

Sir Keir Starmer demanded Rishi Sunak call a general election should he lose a crunch House of Commons vote on the Rwanda migrant scheme tonight

The PM is spending the day scrambling to win support among Tory MPs for his Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill

Tory right-wingers have urged the PM to 'pull the Bill' and come up with 'completely new legislation' amid their concern it isn't tough enough to avoid future legal challenges.

Meanwhile, Tory moderates have said they will vote for the Bill tonight - but warned they will not support any attempts to make it tougher should it risk Britain's obligations under international law.

It has left Mr Sunak facing the humiliating prospect of suffering defeat at the Second Reading of the Bill in the Commons tonight, which would be the first such loss for a Government since 1986.

Asked whether the PM should call an immediate general election if he loses this evening, Sir Keir said: 'If the PM loses the vote then of course he should call a general election.

'I think there should be a general election as soon as possible - we are in the middle of a cost-of-living country that is worse in this country than many other countries.'

Yet the Labour leader predicted Mr Sunak would 'easily' win the vote on his emergency legislation later.

He said: 'It'll go through tonight, I don't doubt. There'll be a lot of shouting and screaming but in the end, it'll go through.

'The PM's got an 80-seat majority. We shouldn't even be having a discussion about whether he's going to get his basic legislation through.

'Government hasn't lost a second reading vote since 1986. This is a Government with a majority.

'So I don't think we should allow them the indulgence of pretending it's going to be tight and he's done a brilliant job to get it over the line.

'He's got an 80-seat majority, he should get it over the line very, very easily.'

Sir Keir said the money already spent on the Rwanda scheme would not prevent him from scrapping the plan if he replaces Mr Sunak as PM.

'Its already been wasted. Its been spent. This money has been spent, hundreds of millions of pounds for nothing,' he said.

But he also indicated Labour could consider its own scheme in which Britain processes asylum claims in third countries.

Pointing out how this would differ from the Rwanda plan, Sir Keir said: 'This is a straight deportation scheme in relation to people who've already arrived.

'Other countries around the world do have schemes where they divert people on the way and process them elsewhere. Thats a different kind of scheme.

'And, look, Ill look at any scheme that might work.'

Sir Keir commented on tonight's vote as he answered questions from reporters following a speech in which he blasted the latest Tory 'psychodrama' over the Rwanda plan.

He claimed Britain was being left 'ungoverned' while Conservatives 'fight like rats in a sack'.

In a direct pitch to disgruntled Conservative voters, Sir Keir sought to compare his focus on the 'mundane stuff' of governing Britain to the latest Tory chaos.

He also continued his bid to try and reassure voters that Labour had changed since the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.

Sir Keir delivered the speech in Buckinghamshire on the fourth anniversary of the 2019 general election.

That contest saw Labour lose swathes of seats in the traditional heartlands as the party, under Mr Corbyn's leadership, suffered their worst defeat since the 1930s.

Sir Keir, who has branded the Rwanda plan a 'gimmick', delivered a speech in Buckinghamshire on the fourth anniversary of the 2019 general election

The Labour leader swiped that 290million of taxpayers' cash had 'already been wasted' on the Rwanda plan 'for nothing' in return

Reflecting on Labour's loss in 2019, Sir Keir said: 'Working people up and down our country looked at my party, looked at the journey we'd been on  not just under Jeremy Corbyn, but for a while. And they said "no".

'We'd taken a leave of absence from our job description. Reneged on an old partnership  the Labour bargain that we serve working people  as they drive our country forward.

'Everything I've done as leader, every fight I've had, has been to reconnect us to that purpose.

'If you want a government committed to economic stability, the rule of law, good public services, restoring Britain's standing, making family life more secure and putting the country first, this is what a changed Labour Party will deliver.'

Sir Keir attacked the 'circus' in Westminster as the Prime Minister scrambles to win support among Tory MPs for his new Rwanda Bill.

Commenting on the latest Tory infighting, which has been compared to the party's deep divisions over Brexit, Sir Keir said: 'We're all stuck in their psychodrama, all being dragged down to their level.'

'While they're all swanning around self-importantly with their factions and their "Star Chambers", fighting like rats in a sack, there's a country out here that isn't being governed.'

The Labour leader warned those who previously voted Conservative that the change to the country would come 'from a Tory fifth term'.

'It's about doing the basics better. The mundane stuff. The bureaucratic stuff,' he added.

'Busting the backlogs, rebuilding a functioning asylum system, removing people more quickly so you don't have to run up hotel bills, and cross-border police force that can smash the smuggler gangs at source.'

In a series of TV and radio interviews this morning ahead of his speech, Sir Keir confirmed Labour would cancel the Rwanda plan if they win the general election.

He dismissed the scheme as a 'gimmick' and piece of political 'performance art'.

Sir Keir told BBC Breakfast that Labour would use the money 'being wasted on the Rwanda scheme' to step up cross-border policing to tackle human trafficking gangs.

'What I wouldn't do, and what I won't vote for, is 290 million spent on a gimmick that is the Rwanda scheme, that won't work, at the very most will take about 100 people,' he said.

'We've got 160,000 people waiting for their asylum claims to be processed, so it's a drop in the ocean.

'It costs a fortune and, as we learnt from the Prime Minister when he finally admitted it last week, the deal be struck will also involve Rwanda sending their refugees across to the United Kingdom.

'It's a gimmick, it won't work, it is performance art. What I would do is do the more mundane, sleeves-rolled-up, practical work to stop this vile trade in the first place.'
Three teenagers have been confirmed dead and two more are fighting for their lives after a horror crash involving a bus and a car in south Wales.

Emergency services were called to Ely Valley Road, Coedely Tonyrefail, at 7pm last night and the street remains closed while investigations into the collision continue.

Two 18-year-olds and a 19-year-old were declared dead at the scene with local police saying their thoughts and prayers were with those affected and their families.

Two other teenager boys, aged 18 and 19, were taken to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff with life threatening injuries.

The collision was said to involve an Audi AI and a bus.

The road has been closed since 7pm last night while investigations into the collision continue. Pictured: Ely Valley Road, Coedely, Tonyrefail

Rhondda Cynon Taf council's deputy mayor Councillor Dan Owen-Jones was at the scene soon after the crash after a resident called him.

He said the incident has cast a 'dark cloud over the community' and sent those affected his 'deepest sympathies'.

'I'm not going to tell you what I saw when I first arrived because I don't want to share that, that will stay with me,' he said.

'But when I stepped back as the emergency services were arriving and it was down to them to do what they're best at.

'I was then asked if it was at all possible I could stand at the back line and control the oncoming traffic, which I did.

'That's where I was for a number of hours on this very cold night. But being one of the local councillors it was only right I was there.

'The neighbourhood stood up, fair play to them, on this freezing cold evening. Hot drinks were plentiful.'

He said a community centre was later opened as a 'safe haven and warm place for distressed family and friends' arriving at the scene.

'I couldn't imagine their feelings,' he added. 'What I've seen and witnessed, I never ever want to witness again.

'And if anything I can do for the families, then so be it, in a very distressing time.

'It's more distressing this time of year, isn't it? Why is it it always happens this time of year?

'What I am concerned (for) at the moment is the families and the siblings.'

Pictured: A map of the street where the horror crash occurred last night in south Wales

Superintendent Esyr Jones of South Wales Police said: 'Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic incident. Trained family liaison officers are supporting the families at what must be an extremely difficult time for them.'

Anyone who witnessed the collision or the manner in which either vehicle was being driven prior to the collision is asked to contact South Wales Police.

In addition, anyone with any dash cam or mobile phone footage or who was witness to the collision is asked to contact us quoting reference 2300420639.

Alex Davies-Jones, MP for Pontypridd, thanked all the emergency services, first responders and members of the public who tried to help at the scene but confirmed 'utterly devastating news' was coming from the community this morning.

Meanwhile, Rhondda MS Buffy Williams also wrote on Facebook and said she was 'hope and praying that those involved aren't seriously injured'.

She said: 'I've received a call from South Wales Police to confirm they are currently at the scene of a serious collision in Coedely.

'There are very many reports on Facebook, some with differing information. Please refrain from adding to the rumours or speculation, a further statement will be made by South Wales Police in due course.

'Hoping and praying that those involved aren't seriously injured, and thank you to the emergency services for their response again this evening.'

At 11.45pm last night, South Wales Police issued an update.

A spokesman said: 'Officers currently remain at the scene of a serious collision in Coedely #Tonyrefail involving a bus and a car.'

Chief Superintendent Steve Jones said at the time: 'Please can we ask the public to refrain from speculation and rumour while our officers deal with this serious collision.

'These are obviously tragic circumstances and we do not wish for speculation online to cause suffer further distress to the families of those involved.

Three teenagers have been confirmed dead and two more are fighting for their lives after a horror 'head-on' crash involving a bus and a car in south Wales Pictured: Ely Valley Road, Coedely, Tonyrefail

'The road is likely to remain closed through to the morning while officers investigate the collision.

'Anyone with dash cam footage or who was witness to the collision is asked to contact us quoting reference 2300420639.'

The horror crash comes after four teenagers were found dead in their overturned car in north Wales.

Jevon Hirst, 16, Harvey Owen, 17, Wilf Fitchett, 17, and Hugo Morris, 18, were found in their crashed silver Ford Fiesta near Snowdonia National Park on Tuesday after being reported missing.

Wilf and Harvey had both turned 17 less than a month before the crash.

Earlier this year, three young people were found dead in their crashed car off a major road in cardiff.

Eve Smith, 21, Rafel Jeanne, 24, and Darcy Ross, 21, were all killed in the crash on the outskirts of Cardiff on March 4.
Rishi Sunak is on the brink of war with the Tory Right today as he tries to save his Rwanda plan.

The PM is facing the biggest test of his premiership as he fends off demands for the government to toughen up emergency legislation to revive the deportation scheme.

An hour-long breakfast summit at No10 - where potential rebels including Lee Anderson, the Conservative deputy chairman, Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger were served bacon rolls - failed to break the deadlock this morning.

Critics have been warning that 'major surgery' is still needed to fix the flagship Bill, with around 29 Tories voting against or 57 abstentions needed to thwart the premier.

It would be the first time since 1986 that a government Bill has not secured a second reading, which is usually a formality before amendments are brought later in the process.

But MPs said Mr Sunak gave no real ground, and after the discussions took to social media to insist that his party must 'back this bill'.

A No10 source stressed that the text as it stands has been 'drafted with close attention to detail' and flatly rejected suggestions that the Bill could be pulled.

Kicking off the debate in the Commons at lunchtime, Home Secretary James Cleverly said 'this government is stopping the boats'.

However, Robert Jenrick led Conservatives voicing grave doubts, accusing ministers of 'sophistry' and cautioning that the public will not tolerate failure.

Some right-wingers are concerned that Labour will abstain if the legislation gets to third reading, effectively robbing them of their opportunity to halt it. MailOnline understands the ERG bloc is holding another meet at 5.15pm to make a final decision on tactics before voting starts at 7pm.

In a sign of alarm among Tory whips, Net Zero minister Graham Stuart is being dragged back from the COP28 summit in Abu Dhabi to vote, before heading back to the Middle East in a near-7,000 mile round trip.

MPs on one Commons committee have been ordered to cancel a Caribbean visit in order to take part in the showdown.

Former Cabinet ministers Dame Priti Patel, Ben Wallace and David Davis have been mobilised as Downing Street desperately tries to contain the chaos, delivering a stark message that defeat for Mr Sunak could collapse the Government and force a general election.

Keir Starmer twisted the knife as he delivered a speech today, saying that Mr Sunak must go to the country if he loses.

Tory MPs include Jonathan Gullis, Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger (left, second left third left) arrived at No10 this morning for talks with the PM

Tory deputy chair Lee Anderson (right) was also among the guests arriving at Downing Street today

Robert Jenrick led Conservatives voicing grave doubts in the Commons this afternoon, accusing ministers of 'sophistry' and cautioning that the public will not tolerate failure

The Prime Minister will hold last-ditch talks with rebel MPs this morning aimed at heading off defeat when the Commons votes tonight on his legislation, designed to finally get deportation flights off the ground (file image)

A Commons defeat today would mark the first time that a Government has failed to get legislation past a first reading since 1986, when Margaret Thatcher wanted to scrap restrictive Sunday trading laws.

MPs Neil O'Brien, Marco Longhi, Jill Mortimer, Lia Nici and Alexander Stafford were also seen arriving for the meeting in No10 this morning.

The 'five families' trying to make Rishi an offer he cannot refuse The New Conservatives A right-wing traditionalist group led by evangelical Christians Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger. Its ranks are drawn mainly from MPs first elected in 2019, with a lot of Red Wall politicians including Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson involved. was only formed in May but has made headlines agitating for a more hardline party that is tough on immigration, pro-traditional families and strong in fighting the culture war. It has called for a hard cap on migrant numbers. European Research Group An older Brexiteeer group on the right of the party which came to the fore during the Brexit years under Jacob Rees-Mogg. It played a key role in organising opposition to Theresa May and has continued to be a thorn in the side of the Government when it wants to be. Led now by Mark Francois it has convened a 'star chamber' led by veteran eurosceptic Bill cash to run the rule over the Rwanda law. Common Sense Group Another informal group on the right led by Suella Braverman ally Sir John Hayes and Sir Edward Leigh. In 2021 it backed a 'Britain Uncancelled' campaign with Sir John launching a blistering attack on statue-toppling, politically correct woke warriors, and demanded to know why Whitehall departments granted 'huge sums of money' to groups that were 'entirely hostile to British values of fairness, open-mindedness, mutual respect and reasonableness'. One Nation Caucus A group of more than 100 MPs on the moderate wing of the party. It has described leaving the ECHR as a red line for its members. It is said to be unhappy at the law giving ministers unilateral plans to brand Rwanda as 'safe' and over-rule human rights laws and may yet refuse to back the new law in Parliament. Northern Research Group A group founded by ex-Tory chairman Sir Jake Berry to represent Conservatives in seats in the north of England, many of which switched from Labour for the first time at the last election. Less openly ideological than some of the other groups, but regards immigration as a key issue for its voters. Advertisement

No10 has been playing down the prospect of amending the Bill at a later stage, arguing that the text goes as far as possible without breaching international law.

According to a Conservative MP who was at the meeting this morning, Mr Sunak avoided telling them he would amend the legislation.

'I think a lot of colleagues are falsely putting their hopes on amendments and will end up missing the opportunity to kill the Bill,' they said.

He added that he expected the Labour Party to abstain on the Bill's third reading, meaning there would not be enough votes to block it even with a rebellion.

He said: 'Some colleagues are deluding themselves if they think that they will have another shot.'

A No10 source said: 'It was a very useful meeting to hear MPs thoughts and discuss their concerns. The bill has been drafted with close attention to detail, with colleagues input helping to shape the legislation,' the source said.

'The tests set for the bill have been met and we will continue to listen to and engage with colleagues across the party as it passes through parliament. This bill will work and will do what we need it to do.'

Kicking off the second reading debate in the House, Mr Cleverly said: 'This Government is stopping the boats. Arrivals are down by a third this year as illegal entries are on the rise elsewhere in Europe.'

He said small boat arrivals are up by 80 per cent in the Mediterranean but down by a third across the English Channel.

The Home Secretary outlined steps the Government has taken so far, saying: 'These things are having an impact, and a positive one.'

He said returns agreements and cooperation agreements had been signed with other countries, saying 50 hotels are being 'returned to the local communities', and said the asylum backlog has gone from 92,000 to less than 20,000.

He added: 'We have sent back 22,000 illegal migrants. And the UK's arrangement with Albania proves that deterrents work.'

But in his contribution, Mr Jenrick said: 'This is not a bad Bill but it is not the best Bill. I want this Bill to work.

'The test of this policy is not 'is it the strongest Bill we've done?', it's not 'is it a good compromise?', it's 'will it work?'.

'That is all the public care about. They don't care about Rwanda as a scheme, they care about stopping the boats. And we are sent here to do that for them.

'I will never elevate contested notions of international law over the interests of my constituents, over vital national interests like national security, like border security.

'This Bill could be so much better, let's make it better. Let's make it work.'

As the whipping operation became increasingly frantic, the PM's official spokesman confirmed Mr Stuart has returned from COP28 to attend Parliament, but would then be going back to Dubai.

Asked about the carbon emissions from the flights, the spokesman said: 'This Government is not anti-flying. We don't lecture the public to that regard. The most important thing is the outcomes of Cop, which Minister Stuart is obviously leading for the UK on.

'Ministers have a number of roles, the negotiations continue and he will return to Cop.'

Touring broadcast studios this morning illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson  who replaced Robert Jenrick after he resigned in protest at the legislation  insisted he is 'very much in listening mode'.

He told Sky News: 'They're not pesky rebels  they are respected colleagues who I have worked with.'

Mr Tomlinson said he is a former member of the ERG, one of the Tory factions critical of the Bill, and 'I know the concerns that colleagues have'.

'I knew the desire of colleagues right across the breadth of our broad church in the parliamentary party. What do they want? They want this Bill to work.

'The way I'm going to help to persuade them to support the Bill and to support us as we pass the Bill through Parliament is to help show that the Bill is actually going to work, because that's what we all want. We all want this legislation to work. And that is what I'm determined to do.'

Writing in the Mail today, Dame Priti urged fellow Right-wingers to unite behind the legislation and take the fight to Labour.

The former Home Secretary insisted: 'The choice all MPs face today is a stark one. To oppose the Rwanda Bill, do nothing and continue to offer succour to the evil people-smuggling gangs putting lives at risk and putting pressures on our asylum system.

'Or to vote in favour of the Bill, work with the government to improve it through considering amendments, and ensure the most robust measures to tackle illegal migration are finally implemented in conjunction with the Government of Rwanda.'

She added that now is the time for the Conservatives 'to work collectively' and to 'do the right thing' for the British public.

Mr Wallace also warned rebels not to 'wreck' the Government by voting against the bill.

Writing in the Telegraph, he told MPs not to 'make the perfect (but unrealistic) the enemy of the good'.

One senior Tory said the vote was 'looking tight'.

At one point yesterday, Conservative whips considered the drastic move of pulling the vote to avoid a potential defeat.

'Some of the rebels are sitting on big majorities and maybe don't care, but others are not in that position,' one source said.

'They should think very carefully about what the consequences might be if they vote this down.'

But government sources now insist the vote will go ahead after Tory moderates threw the PM a lifeline by backing him, despite 'real concerns' the plan could undermine Britain's commitment to international law.

The architect of the original Rwanda scheme says it would send 'a very powerful message to the public about our intent, credibility and ambition to tackle illegal migration if we calmly and collectively unite... to tackle illegal migration and the evil people smuggling gangs'.

Mr Davis predicted the legislation 'will go through' tonight.

He told LBC Radio that fellow Eurosceptics were 'playing with Brexit fire', referring to fears the rebels could reopen wounds from fighting over the UK's departure from the EU that the Tories thought had been healed years ago.

He added: 'I'm not sure quite why they're doing it, unless they're being encouraged by people who have other interests.'

MPs on the Right warned they could vote down the plans after they published a legal opinion which warned that the legislation was an 'incomplete' solution  and said 'very significant amendments' were needed to ensure the scheme does not get bogged down by further legal challenges.

Mark Francois (left), chairman of the European Research Group (ERG), urged the PM to 'pull the Bill' because it had 'so many holes in it'

Mark Francois, chairman of the European Research Group (ERG), urged the PM to 'pull the Bill' because it had 'so many holes in it'.

Sir Simon Clarke, from the Conservative Growth Group, said 'there is no point frankly relitigating this issue unless it does work'.

Mr Sunak will make a final appeal for support at a breakfast meeting with MPs on the Tory Right today.

A spokesman for the New Conservatives said the 40-strong group believes the Bill 'needs major surgery or replacement and they will be making that plain in the morning to the PM at breakfast and over the next 24 hours'.

Priti Patel says MPs face a 'stark choice' over Rwanda Bill Writing in the Mail today, Priti Patel said: 'The choice all MPs face today is a stark one. To oppose the Rwanda Bill, do nothing and continue to offer succour to the evil people-smuggling gangs putting lives at risk and putting pressures on our asylum system. 'Or to vote in favour of the Bill, work with the government to improve it through considering amendments, and ensure the most robust measures to tackle illegal migration are finally implemented in conjunction with the Government of Rwanda.' She added that now is the time for the Conservative party 'to work collectively' and to 'do the right thing' for the British public. Advertisement

Two MPs claimed the rebels had the numbers to vote the legislation down if they didn't get the answers they needed.

Meanwhile, the ERG will hold a final 'plenary' this afternoon to decide how it should vote.

A source said: 'We will be meeting immediately before the vote and then walking down to the chamber, stopping off for a bit of Dutch courage along the way if necessary.'

The Safety of Rwanda Bill has been drawn up in response to last month's Supreme Court ruling that sending Channel migrants to the east African state would be unlawful.

The court found that Rwanda's asylum system was potentially unsafe because there was a risk that migrants could be sent back to their home countries where they might be ill-treated.

Ministers signed a treaty with Rwanda last week stating that migrants sent from the UK will not be deported to their home countries.

Today's legislation would declare in law that Rwanda is safe, ruling out further court challenges to the principle of the scheme. It also excludes the plan from parts of the Human Rights Act.

But to the dismay of critics, individual migrants will still be able to lodge legal appeals.

An assessment by the ERG's 'star chamber' of lawyers said the new law does not go 'far enough to deliver the policy as intended'.

It warned it would be 'much easier' than the Government thinks for individual migrants to frustrate their removal  and said individual claims should be banned.

But Mr Sunak says strengthening the proposals by even 'an inch' would cause the Rwandan government to pull out, triggering the collapse of the scheme.

The 100-strong One Nation group of moderate MPs said it would back the Government. Chairman Damian Green said: 'The most important thing at this stage is to support the Bill despite our real concerns.'

It comes after the Home Office today published a summary of its official 'legal position' on the Rwanda plan in a sign of government jitters

The five-page summary attempted to knock down the case for tougher measures advocated by Tory MPs including former home secretary Suella Braverman.

The document warns that blocking the ability of migrants to bring legal action would be 'a breach of international law and alien to the UK's constitutional tradition of liberty and justice'.

It adds that even in wartime, access to courts was maintained 'in order that individuals can uphold their rights and freedoms'.

The document went on: 'This is a novel and contentious policy, and the UK and Rwanda are the first countries in the world to enact it together.

'There are risks inherent in such an innovative approach but there is a clear lawful basis on which a responsible government may proceed.'

But the summary said moves to block every court challenge 'would mean that there would be no respectable argument that the Bill is compatible with international law'.

It added: 'It would also go against Rwanda's own explicit wishes that our partnership remains compliant with international law, and likely collapse the scheme.'

As a result, the Bill must allow very limited scope for migrants to bring legal challenges against being sent to Rwanda, based on 'wholly exceptional individual circumstances', it said.

The document predicted hardly any migrants would be able to lodge legal action under the 'exceptionally narrow' grounds for claims, such as very rare medical conditions.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'As the legal advice sets out, we think we have a tough and strong piece of legislation which will achieve our objectives.'

DAME PRITI PATEL: I understand the concerns, but we MUST back Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill

The choice all MPs face today is a stark one. To oppose the Rwanda Bill, do nothing and continue to offer succour to the evil people-smuggling gangs putting lives at risk and putting pressures on our asylum system.

Or to vote in favour of the Bill, work with the government to improve it through considering amendments, and ensure the most robust measures to tackle illegal migration are finally implemented in conjunction with the Government of Rwanda.

Having spent many years considering and working on this issue, I certainly recognise and respect the concerns and unease that some of my Conservative colleagues have about these new laws to overcome the legal challenges that have held back flights to Rwanda.

But now is the time for our party to work collectively to do all that needs to be done to secure the partnership and removals to Rwanda.

The public know that the Labour Party has no credible plan to address illegal migration  other than to open the doors and let more in  so they are looking to us to do the right thing.

Now is the time for our party to work collectively to do all that needs to be done to secure the partnership and removals to Rwanda, says Dame Priti Patel (pictured)

The public know that the Labour Party has no credible plan to address illegal migration  other than to open the doors and let more in  so they are looking to us to do the right thing (file image)

It would send a very powerful message to the public about our intent, credibility and ambition to tackle illegal migration if we calmly and collectively unite to deliver a partnership which is one of many measures introduced to tackle illegal migration and the criminal people smugglers.

The UK's economic and migration partnership with Rwanda was carefully designed with our friends in the Kigali government to demonstrate a new way to treat asylum seekers with compassion and supporting resettlement, while acting as a deterrent effect to the small-boat crossings that were putting lives at risk.

The partnership was one of many measures, new laws and operational activities I put in place to deal with illegal and dangerous entry into the UK by small boats.

These included coordinated international law enforcement activities to arrest and prosecute the criminal gangs facilitating these journeys, tougher prison sentences for people smugglers, and reforms to the asylum application and appeal process to streamline them and prevent the system being abused.

While some have spent the past 20 months talking down Rwanda, we should welcome the fact that this is a country that already supports around 130,000 refugees through schemes established with the United Nations Human Rights Council, showing we are an active partner in addressing migration issues. We have also embraced economic, legal and political reforms over the last quarter of a century.

When I negotiated and agreed the partnership in April 2022, I knew it would face criticism and legal challenge and was prepared for it. Of course, the usual suspects  the opposition, activists and NGOs and lawyers  objected.

We saw campaigns waged against it, hostile comments in the media, and outrage from celebrities.

But while our opponents sought to talk it down and offer no solutions to the pressures caused by illegal migration, I was working closely with ministers in the Rwandan government to put robust arrangements and safeguards in place.

New legislation including the measures which the Government has now sought to reinforce with a treaty and the new laws being debated today will put the partnership on a stronger legal footing (pictured: Home Secretary James Cleverly in Rwanda)

With all these measures agreed, it was deeply frustrating firstly to see the European Court of Human Rights interfere and block the first flights from taking off in June 2022 at the last minute, and then see our domestic legal processes lead to the decision of the Supreme Court last month to rule against the partnership with Rwanda.

But the Supreme Court judgment left the door open for the Government to consider options to resolve the issue, including operational measures on the ground to address the risk of 'refoulement'  sending asylum seekers to another country where they are likely to face ill-treatment  and demonstrate it would not materialise.

New legislation including the measures which the Government has now sought to reinforce with a treaty and the new laws being debated today will put the partnership on a stronger legal footing.
A Ryanair plane was forced to make an emergency landing this morning after being forced to divert to the Portuguese Algarve following a technical issue.

A 'Code Red' alert was triggered at Faro Airport when Ryanair flight FR 1249, which was travelling from Manchester to Tenerife South, reported problems and the pilot had to abandon course.

The alert was sounded around 9.20am when the plane was already south-west of Faro and heading towards the Canary Islands.

It had to turn back and head north for the landing after experiencing a malfunction, a source from the Algarve Sub-Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command told local media.

More than 70 responders including police, firefighters and Civil Protection workers were mobilised along with around 30 emergency vehicles. All roads to the airport were blocked for 15 minutes.

But despite concerns, the plane landed safely just before 10am local time.

A Ryanair plane was forced to make an emergency landing this morning after being forced to divert to the Portuguese Algarve following a technical issue

Some 164 passengers were believed to be on board, none of whom sustained injuries, and as of late Tuesday morning were awaiting a backup aircraft to continue their journey.

A statement from Ryanair said: 'This flight from Manchester to Tenerife diverted to Faro due to a technical issue with the aircraft.

'The aircraft landed normally, and the passengers disembarked. Engineers are checking this aircraft and a spare has been routed to operate this flight to Tenerife, which departed at 10:56 local time.

'We apologise sincerely to affected passengers for this tech diversion, which was beyond Ryanair's control.'

A Ryanair plane had to make an emergency landing at the same airport a week ago after the pilot fell ill.

The aircraft was heading from London Stansted to Morocco.

Portuguese daily Correio da Manha said the pilot had told passengers before landing that he wasn't feeling well and the diversion also triggered a 'red alert' at the airport.

Albufeira, in the Algarve, is pictured

A spokesman for Ryanair said at the time: 'This flight from Stansted to Morocco diverted to Faro when one of the pilots became ill.

'The aircraft landed normally, and passengers were transferred to an alternative aircraft operated by another crew before continuing to Morocco.'

In April a packed easyJet plane heading to Agadir in Morocco from London Gatwick also had to divert to Faro.

Local reports at the time said the flight diversion was the result of the pilot suffering an 'indisposition', and led to an identical red alert being activated before the Airbus A320 was landed safely.

EasyJet said in a comment at the time: 'easyJet can confirm that flight EZY6469 from London Gatwick to Agadir on 21 April diverted to Faro due to the First Officer requiring medical assistance.

'The Captain performed a routine landing in accordance with standard operating procedures and the aircraft was met by medical services on arrival in Faro.

'A replacement crew was arranged and passengers have since continued their journey to Agadir. We apologise for any inconvenience experienced due to the diversion and resulting delay.'

'The safety and well-being of its passengers and crew is easyJet's highest priority.'
Harvard University remains completely divided as it looks as though embattled President Claudine Gay will stay on in her role despite the immense criticism she has faced over her handling of anti-Semitism on campus.

On Tuesday, the Harvard Corporation, the Ivy League school's highest ranking body, is expected to release a statement announcing Gay's stay of execution.

Jewish students, families and alumni have accused the schools of tolerating antisemitism, especially in statements by pro-Palestinian demonstrators since the Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 and killed around 1,200.

That attack prompted a massive counterattack by Israel that has left over 17,700 Palestinians dead, according to the Gaza health ministry.

One of Gay's most stern critics, Harvard alum and billionaire, Bill Ackman, openly questioned the decision to retain Gay. He also asked: 'How did the Harvard Alumni Association support President Gay without polling its members first?'

Claudine Gay, pictured during her disastrous appearance before Congress on December 5, will remain as Harvard President, it was reported early Tuesday

A billboard truck at Harvard University on Sunday demanding the removal of president Claudine Gay

Ackman earlier speculated that the board would not relieve Gay because they 'they were concerned it would look like they were kowtowing' to the 1992 MBA grad.

It was widely reported this week that as many as 650 members of Harvard faculty members had signed a letter in support of Gay's presidency.

However, another letter circulated on social media over the weekend demanding Gay either resign or be fired. At the time of writing, the no-confidence letter has been signed by 1,184 alumni, current students and faculty.

'It is not appropriate for Claudine Gay to serve as President of Harvard, as she does not represent our collective values or the Harvard that we have come to know. President Gay must resign or be replaced,' one section of the letter reads.

The letter specifically cites Gay's disastrous appearance before a congressional committee last week in which the president failed to properly denounce anti-Semitism.

'When questioned by Congress regarding whether calling for the genocide of Jews constituted bullying or harassment at Harvard, she responded that it 'depends on the context,'' the letter continues.

'No apology or messaging will walk back the testimony she gave under oath to the nation and the world,' another section reads.

While a Change.org petition that has been sent to current Harvard students has garnered 2,580 signatures. That campaign takes aim at Gay's perceived lack of attention towards Islamophobia on campus.

The petition is titled: 'Demand President Claudine Gay's Resignation for Inadequate Response to Current Crisis.'

It was started by a senior student at Harvard.

Nearly 100 incidents of anti-Semitic violence or intimidation have been recorded at US colleges and universities since the Hamas attacks and in the ensuing conflict

Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee set up posters with the message 'Free Palestine.' The student group claimed to have received racist death threats in the wake of their statement

Pro-Palestine protesters flood the Harvard University campus on October, 14

Writing in The Atlantic, Harvard grad Graeme Wood encouraged Gay to offer her resignation.

'Gay should resign. To offer her neck to Harvards Board of Overseers would show her confidence that its members... would see past her error and ask her to endure in her position.

'It would also demonstrate her willingness to own that error, to acknowledge it publicly and unselfishly. Maybe the board would accept her resignation, and maybe it would not.

'Either of these fates is better than the one she is courting. At the moment she is trying to wriggle out of her error, and clinging to her job as if her dignity depended on keeping it.'

'Better to teach by example that the reverse is often true, that dignity depends on leaving a joband that staying suggests that one has nothing else, once it is gone, Wood wrote.

The letter in support of Gay was delivered to the 13-member Harvard Corporation on Sunday night.

Pressure has hiked on Gay since the weekend, after University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned on Saturday.

Pro-Palestine protestors at Harvard hang up a sign that reads 'Stop the genocide in Gaza'

Bill Ackman (pictured), the CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management has been on of Gay's most ardent critics

More than 1,600 Jewish alumni have threatened to withdraw donations to Harvard University in response to the pro-Palestine protests across the campus

More than 70 U.S. lawmakers signed onto a letter demanding that the governing boards of the three universities remove the presidents, citing dissatisfaction with their testimony.

But Alison Frank Johnson, a Harvard professor of history and a co-author of the petition delivered to the school's corporation, rejected the politicized calls for Gay's removal.

'I get the impression that many people don't know how much support she has, as a scholar, colleague, and administrator, within the university - including from people who sometimes disagree with her,' Frank Johnson wrote in an email.

'We don't want to lose her because of a political stunt.'

Frank Johnson would not provide the language of the petition, but confirmed that it asks the Harvard Corporation 'not to bend to political pressure, including pressure to remove the president.'

In October, just a week after the attacks in southern Israel, the Palestine Solidarity Committee student group released a statement holding Israel 'entirely responsible for all unfolding violence,' cosigned by a few dozen other student organizations. At least one student had a job offer rescinded as a result of the statement.

Then Accuracy in Media, a conservative group, arranged for a billboard truck to drive around campus showing the faces of students associated with the groups. 'Harvard's leading anti-Semites,' it called them.

A 'study-in' on Sunday saw students take over one of the university's main libraries following calls for Gay to be ousted

Talks were being held with the school's board of directors late into Monday night to find a way to allow Gay to stay on as president despite criticism

Former Harvard President Lawrence Summers, who is Jewish, was critical of university leadership for appearing 'at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel.'

'In nearly 50 years of @Harvard affiliation, I have never been as disillusioned and alienated as I am today,' Summers said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Summers joined the university's Hillel student group later in the week in opposing efforts to 'vilify,' as he put it, signers of the anti-Israel statement.

'Such intimidation is counterproductive to the education that needs to take place on our campus at this difficult time,' Harvard Hillel said.

The backlash continued was more than 1,600 Jewish alumni have threatened to withdraw donations.

The largest community of alumni, who also have billionaire status have warned that they too will withdraw their donations if nothing is done in response to the conflict.

In a letter written by the Harvard College Jewish Alumni Association to the President and Dean of the university, members said: 'We never thought that, at Harvard College, we would have to argue the point that terrorism against civilians demands immediate and unequivocal condemnation.'

'We never thought we would have to argue for recognition of our own humanity,' the letter continued.
It's not quite Caribbean weather in wintry London at the moment, but even wearing two coats indoors might be pushing it.

Former Cabinet minister Geoffrey Cox raised eyebrows last night after speaking to LBC about illegal immigration while performing a masterclass in layering.

Sir Geoffrey, who was attorney general under Theresa May and Boris Johnson, popped in to chat to Andrew Marr last night as part of an offensive by moderates in support of the new Rwanda flights law.

But it was what he was wearing, rather than what he said, that caught the attention of his peers in clips of the interview posted online.

Despite being inside LBC's London studio he was wearing two tops over his suit, plus a fetching scarf.

Sir Geoffrey hit the headlines in 2021 after the Mail revealed he used Covid rules on remote working to vote in Parliament from the British Virgin Islands, where he was working as a lawyer earning around 1million a year.

It was later revealed he also earned up to 110,000 defending the controversial former premier of the Cayman Islands in a high profile corruption trial.

After seeing his get-up in his LBC interview, Labour MP Sarah Owen said: 'Guessing he's just finding it colder here than the Cayman Islands.'

Despite being inside LBC's London studio he was wearing two tops over his suit, plus a fetching scarf

After seeing his get-up in his LBC interview, Labour MP Sarah Owen said: 'Guessing he's just finding it colder here than the Cayman Islands.'

Temperatures in the Caribbean tax haven are currently in the high 20s Celsius.

And Tory MP Neil O'Brien dryly added: 'Very rare to see this level of tailoring nowadays, even on the wealthy.'

Later, speaking to the BBC's Newsnight from Parliament, he had ditched his layers and was wearing a simple suit.

There he urged his party colleagues to back the Rwanda Bill.

'I am surprised my colleagues feel it is so porous to legal challenge, because it seems to me it has been drafted very tightly,' he said.

'I think it is about as far you could go without risking the complete blockage and collapse of the bill.'

The Tory MP experienced during his time in Cabinet deep divisions with the Conservatives over Theresa May's Brexit deal.

Ahead of Tuesday's vote at second reading, he said it was important that his party 'realised we are one team and we must unite behind a sensible interpretation of how we implement this policy'.

He added: 'We must agree on the structure of a Bill. This structure seems to me - and I'm by no means namby-pamby when it comes to asserting parliamentary sovereignty - this bill seems to me to be a very good starting point.'
Another major open air carol service that has been running for more than 70 years faces the axe over health and safety fears.

Organisers of the Christmas Eve carol singing service in Rose Square, Canterbury, are considering pulling the plug on the popular event after concerns were raised by charity volunteers about the number of people attending.

It comes less than 24 hours after a trendy East London Christmas market was forced to cancel its famous carol tradition for the rest of the year due to huge overcrowding after seeing it on TikTok.

Fears over the limited number of volunteers available to manage the thousands in attendance, which traditionally includes the Archbishop of Canterbury, has led to talk of the event in the Kent city being cancelled for the first time since 1952.

Confusion over its future has arisen after the Lord Mayor of Canterbury's Christmas Gift Fund, which has long organised the service, posted on social media that it had been called off.

Organisers of the Christmas Eve carol singing service in Rose Square, Canterbury, are considering pulling the plug on the popular event after concerns were raised by charity volunteers about the number of people attending

The Archbishop of Canterbury is one of the thousands in attendance for the Christmas Eve carol service

The charity said: 'We are very sad to advise you that the Community Carol Singing on Christmas Eve (December 24) in Rose Square, Canterbury will not take place this year.

'We are a small committee of volunteers and the requirements to ensure that the event goes ahead safely is beyond what we can do.

'Whilst it is very disappointing we have nevertheless continued to distribute gifts for those in need and have spent over 13,000 this Christmas season to ensure that many of our neighbours will have received help from The Lord Mayor of Canterbury's Christmas Gift Fund.'

The singalong event is incredibly popular with locals, being referred to as the 'highlight' of their Christmas season.

The Christmas Eve carols were unable to go ahead in both 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, but the event was replaced with an online alternative.

The announcement of the cancellation caused sadness among the many long-term attendees, one of whom said: 'I have attended this event since childhood, so for 70 years, and it's the start of Christmas for me.

'I'm gutted but so pleased that the charity is still able to continue.'

Another regular attendee shared their sadness at the potential demise of the decades-long tradition, saying: 'That is such a blow.

'As a family we have supported it since the very beginning.'

However, the Lord Mayor of Canterbury herself, Jean Butcher, said that not all hope was lost for the popular event.

She revealed that the council is in talks with the Lord Mayor of Canterbury's Christmas Gift Fund and Whitefriars, with the goal of preserving it.

The Christmas Eve carols were unable to go ahead in both 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, but the event was replaced with an online alternative

Visitors posted videos of the hoards of people, saying it was a 'disaster waiting to happen'

Canterbury City Council leader Alan Baldock added: 'We're very anxious that it does go ahead. We're pulling out all the stops and at the moment we're optimistic.

'We understand just how important this carol service is to the people of Canterbury.'

The Lord Mayor of Canterbury's Christmas Gift Fund and Canterbury City Council have been contacted for further information.

Whitefriars declined to comment on the potential cancellation of the event.

This is not the first Christmas carol event in the UK to be effected by health and safety concerns.

Up to 7,000 people turned up to the last event at Columbia Road Christmas Wednesdays, in Bethnal Green, with organisers saying they have now axed the event over fears for public safety.

Footage uploaded to TikTok of last week's event show massive crowds enjoying the festive singalong, which saw the local vicar wheeling a piano down the street to accompany carolers.

Some who attended said they were 'packed in like sardines' and feared it was a 'disaster waiting to happen', while locals blamed the 'dangerous' overcrowding on the event being advertised on social media.

Columbia Road has long been a tourist hotspot in the capital, with its flower market held every Sunday seeing a rise in visitors year-round  in part thanks to being promoted by social media influencers.
The world's second oldest woman has died at the age of 116 at a nursing home in Japan.

Fusa Tatsumi, who was Japan's oldest person, passed away on Tuesday at a care facility in Osaka after eating her favourite meal of bean-paste jelly.

Born on 25 April 1907, Tatsumi raised three children with her husband Ryutaro, a farmer, in Osaka, local broadcaster MBS reported.

'Tatsumi died aged 116 at a care facility in Osaka on Tuesday,' an official in Osaka's Kashiwara city said, as tributes to the supercentenarian poured in.

'I think she did great to get to this age,' Tatsumi's eldest son, Kanji, 76, told local media.

Fusa Tatsumi, who was Japan's oldest person, passed away on Tuesday at a care facility in Osaka after eating her favourite meal of bean-paste jelly

A black and white photo of Fusa Tatsumi taken when she was in her 20s

After graduating from school, she married her husband Ryutaro, a farmer who grew peaches and grapes, at the age of 32

Born on 25 April 1907, Tatsumi raised three children with her husband Ryutaro, a farmer, in Osaka, local broadcaster MBS reported

Osaka governor Hirofumi Yoshimura offered his condolences, recalling a party he attended to celebrate Tatsumi's longevity in September.

'I still remember how healthy Ms Fusa Tatsumi was,' Yoshimura said. 'I sincerely pray for her soul.'

In footage aired by local media outlets she was seen in a wheelchair, mostly sleeping, at her 116th birthday celebration in April.

Tatsumi was born on 25 April 1907 in Yao City, Osaka Prefecture, as the fifth of six siblings.

After graduating from school, she married her husband Ryutaro, a farmer who grew peaches and grapes, at the age of 32.

Two years later, she gave birth to her eldest daughter in 1941 and then her eldest son in 1947. Her husband later died at the age of 55.

Tatsumi worked hard on the family farm for more than 20 years and would carry baskets of harvested fruit on her back up and down the steep slope of the orchard.

Her family said this had helped train Tatsumi's body, which may have been a factor in her longevity.

After graduating from school, she married her husband Ryutaro (pictured together), a farmer who grew peaches and grapes, at the age of 32

Two years later, she gave birth to her eldest daughter in 1941 and then her eldest son in 1947

The mother-of-two was passionate about growing chrysanthemum flowers and flower arranging as a hobby

Fusa Tatsumi, the world's second oldest woman, has died at the age of 116 at a nursing home in Japan

The mother-of-two was passionate about growing chrysanthemum flowers and flower arranging as a hobby. But while gardening in her 70s, she fell and broke her femur - the only serious injury she sustained in her life.

Tatsumi was healthy enough to live in her family home until she was 106. She would eat three meals a day and was careful to have a healthy diet consisting of vegetables, fish and a small amount of meat.

Her care home said she would drink one litre of water a day and would keep a plastic bottle and cup within reach of her bed. They added that Tatsumi, at the age of 110, would do her own make up and often chat to staff.

Tatsumi became Japan's oldest person in the country after the death of a 119-year-old woman, Kane Tanaka, in April 2022.

Guinness World Records had officially acknowledged Tanaka's status as the world's oldest person in April 2022.

Today, that honour belongs to US-born Maria Branyas Morera, who will turn 117 on March 4 next year.

Tatsumi was the second oldest woman in the world but her death means that Edith Ceccarelli, from the US, holds that honour now.
It comes after allegations of anti-Semitism, plagiarism and discrimination

Claudine Gay will remain as Harvard president with the full support of the Ivy League college's governing body, the university's board announced Tuesday.

The Harvard Corporation - the college's executive board - said in its statement: 'Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing.'

The board acknowledged Gay's mistakes in handling anti-Semitism on campus, adding: 'So many people have suffered tremendous damage and pain because of Hamass brutal terrorist attack, and the Universitys initial statement should have been an immediate, direct, and unequivocal condemnation.

'Calls for genocide are despicable and contrary to fundamental human values. President Gay has apologized for how she handled her congressional testimony and has committed to redoubling the Universitys fight against antisemitism.'

The Harvard Crimson was first to report Gay would keep her job despite widespread calls for her to resign from the political and business worlds after her disastrous appearance on Capitol Hill last week where she refused to say that calling for the genocide of Jews constituted harassment.

Claudine Gay, pictured during her disastrous appearance before Congress on December 5, will remain as Harvard President, it was reported early Tuesday

A billboard truck at Harvard University on Sunday demanding the removal of president Claudine Gay

Billionaire hedge fund alumnus Bill Ackman - who has led a campaign to unseat Gay that included plagiarism allegations against the scholar - claimed Harvard's board did not want to be seen kotowing to him.

In its statement on Tuesday, Harvard's board addressed accusations that Gay plagiarized part of her dissertation, saying they opened a probe at Gay's own request.

'The University became aware in late October of allegations regarding three articles. At President Gays request, the Fellows promptly initiated an independent review by distinguished political scientists and conducted a review of her published work,' the board said.

'On December 9, the Fellows reviewed the results, which revealed a few instances of inadequate citation. While the analysis found no violation of Harvards standards for research misconduct, President Gay is proactively requesting four corrections in two articles to insert citations and quotation marks that were omitted from the original publications.'

The board continued: 'In this tumultuous and difficult time, we unanimously stand in support of President Gay. At Harvard, we champion open discourse and academic freedom, and we are united in our strong belief that calls for violence against our students and disruptions of the classroom experience will not be tolerated.

'Harvards mission is advancing knowledge, research, and discovery that will help address deep societal issues and promote constructive discourse, and we are confident that President Gay will lead Harvard forward toward accomplishing this vital work.'

The Harvard Corporation: Harvard Fellows Paul J. Finnegan and Tracy Pun Palandjian

The Harvard Corporation: Harvard Fellows Tino Cuellar and Shirley M. Tilghman

Harvard Corporation Fellows Kenneth I. Chenault and Biddy Martin

Harvard fellows Timothy R. Barakett and Penny Prtizker

Harvard Fellows Diana Nelson and Karen Gordon Mills

The Harvard Corporation, formally the President and Fellows of Harvard College, has 12 members, including Gay, former president of Amherst College Biddy Martin and former American Express CEO Kenneth I. Chenault.

Gay, the school's first black president, was appointed to the post in July 2023. She sparked fury during a congressional hearing last week after she said that it depended on context whether calls for the genocide of Jews at Harvard constituted harassment and violated the rules.

She was subsequently forced to issue an apology following the hearing that cost University of Pennsylvania Liz Magill her job over a similar response.

Gay, who on Monday denied reports she is a plagiarizer, first sparked fury following the October 7 massacre of 1,200 people in Israel with a tepid condemnation of the outrage.

She was subsequently forced to issue two subsequent apologies that offered more vociferous condemnation of Hamas, the Palestinian terror group behind the atrocities.

Gay has been slammed for taking a pro-free speech stance on hatred towards Jews at a campus recently branded the most censorious in the United States.

New students are warned that failing to use a person's requested pronoun or being 'fatphobic' could constitute violence.

Gay also helped lead the charge against a black Harvard Law School professor axed from his job after defending Harvey Weinstein.

Ronald Sullivan says he was booted from his job in 2019 after agreeing to represent the perverted movie mogul. He accused Gay and others of concocting a false story about him being a bully to get rid of him.

Sullivan said: 'The actions were cowardly and craven and Dean Gay and Dean Khurana just consistently and repeatedly lied to the student body and they know better.

Billionaire hedge fund alumnus Bill Ackman - who has led a campaign to unseat Gay - claimed Harvard's board did not want to be seen kotowing to him

I have been told now by two reporters that one of the factors that made it challenging for the @Harvard board to fire Gay was that they were concerned it would look like they were kowtowing to me. https://t.co/QrgFHUVEJh  Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) December 12, 2023

'Their problem was that I represented an unpopular person... They said it to my face and other senior members said it to my face and then they turned around and lied to the student body.'

Despite the backlash, Gay held on to institutional support at Harvard.

On Monday, the Executive Committee of Harvard Universitys Alumni Association announced their full support for the scholar, and asked the school's governing boards to publicly back her, according to the The Harvard Crimson.

The group wrote: 'President Gay is the right leader to guide the University during this challenging time... She is thoughtful. She is kind. She is resolutely dedicated to the growth and wellbeing of our very diverse community. We recognize that there was disappointment in her testimony this past week. President Gay has pointed this out and apologized for any pain her testimony causeda powerful demonstration of her integrity, determination, and courage.'

Ackman responded to the alumni group's letter, saying: 'How did the  Association support President Gay without polling its members first?'

Additionally, more than 700 Harvard faculty members signed a letter in support of Gay, urging the school to resist calls to fire her, describing the attacks against her as 'politically motivated.'

Harvard legal scholar Lawrence Tribe, who previously slammed Gay's testimony as 'deeply troubling' told CNN he signed the petition because 'once external pressures, whether from ultrawealthy donors or from politicians pursuing their ideological agendas, override the internal decision-making processes of universities, we are on the road to tyranny.'

Former Winthrop House faculty dean Ronald Sullivan accused Gay of dismissing him from his role because of his work on Harvey Weinstein's defense team

Gay has been accused of using nearly verbatim language from author Carol Swain

Harvard professor Lawrence Lobo, one of the scholars allegedly plagiarized by Gay, told the Boston Globe: 'I find myself unconcerned as our work was explicitly acknowledged'

The groups' support for Gay followed an open letter by Ackman to Harvard, his alma mater, accusing Gay of 'doing more damage to Harvards reputation than anyone in the universitys history.'

Ackman claimed 'the actions of the OEDIB have led to preferences and favoritism for certain racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ groups at the expense of other groups, and made some members of the Harvard community feel included at the expense of others that are excluded.'

The billionaire was accused of racism when he suggested Gay had only been hired because she matched the DEO profile.

In his latest open letter, he said: 'I was recently accused by several bloggers and other commentators of being a racist when I shared that the board, in the search process that led to the hiring of President Gay, would not consider a candidate for president that did not meet DEI criteria.

'I have confirmed now from multiple sources that the search committee that led to President Gay's appointment excluded non-DEI eligible candidates from the process.'

DailyMail.com has not independently verified Ackman's claim.

Ackman has also shared accusations of plagiarism made against Gay by bloggers Christopher Rufo and Christopher Brunet, who claim the Harvard leader lifted identical wording for her 1997 dissertation.

The bloggers accuse Gay of using nearly verbatim language from authors Lawrence Bobo and Franklin Gilliam and scholar Carol Swain.

Swain reacted to the claims on Twitter, writing: 'I just learned of analysis of #ClaudineGay 's work and the allegations of plagiarism. I have not read the articles or books in question. However, two things come to mind: imitation is said to be the highest form of flattery and secondly Dr. Gay's committee, reviewers, and colleagues should have caught these alleged transgressions.'

Elise Stefanik, a Republican representing New York, grilled the three university presidents last week

UPenn President Liz Magill was forced to resign on Saturday after her disastrous testimony

MIT President Dr. Sally Kornbluth was also grilled for her school's response to protests. She too failed to outwardly condemn calls for the genocide of Jews but has survived the backlash

The author added: 'I would like to know if [Gay] cited me in her published works on districting and representation. This would have had far more long term implications for my career. In academia we get rewarded on the basis of citations.'

Reacting to news that Gay would keep her job, billionaire Elon Musk wrote: #DefundHarvard'

Gay, Magill MIT's Sally Kornblith drew intense national backlash after testifying before the Republican-led House Education and Workforce Committee on Tuesday.

At issue was a line of questioning that asked whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate the universities code of conduct. At the Tuesday hearing, Gay said it depended on the context, adding that when 'speech crosses into conduct, that violates our policies.'

Gay eventually told The Crimson she was sorry, saying she 'got caught up in what had become at that point, an extended, combative exchange about policies and procedures.'

'What I should have had the presence of mind to do in that moment was return to my guiding truth, which is that calls for violence against our Jewish community  threats to our Jewish students  have no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged,' Gay said.
An abusive boyfriend who killed the mother of his four children before setting their home alight was released from a hospital's mental health unit just days prior, it can be revealed.

Anaru Ormond, 32, repeatedly stabbed his long-time girlfriend Siva Auvae, 31, inside their home in Kallangur, north of Brisbane, at 7pm on Saturday.

Ms Auvae was able to run from her attacker for about 100m but died in the middle of the street. Ormond then returned to the home to set it on fire and take off on foot.

A brief manhunt was launched for Ormond before he was taken to hospital for serious burns he suffered from the blaze, succumbing to the injuries on Sunday morning.

Ormond had been taken to Prince Charles Hospital, in Chermside, by police on December 3 but was released last Tuesday, four days before killing Ms Auvae.

Siva Auvae (pictured), 31, died on Saturday after her partner Anaru Ormond repeatedly stabbed her at their home in Kallangur, north of Brisbane, before setting their house on fire

It has since been revealed that Osmond had been released from the mental health unit at Prince Charles Hospital (pictured) just four days prior to the incident after just a two day stay

A statement from Ormond's family revealed the 32-year-old had been battling with numerous mental health issues including depression, agitation and sleep deprivation prior to killing Ms Auvae, the Courier Mail reported.

He was admitted to Prince Charles Hospital's mental health unit under an Emergency Examination Authority order.

The legal mechanism allows someone to be taken to a health facility involuntarily if they are deemed a serious risk of harming themselves.

Ormond's family said he was supposed to have stayed in the unit for 'a minimum of two weeks' because he was considered an 'extreme case'.

They claim that hospital staff allowed him to leave the unit after showing signs of improvement so long as he continued to take medication and returned on Monday.

'Our big brother phoned the clinic to confirm this was true, they reassured him, based on their professional opinion Anaru will be okay,' the statement reads.

Osmond was taken into hospital under a Emergency Examination Authority order that deemed his mental state a risk to the health of himself and others (circled, Osmond fleeing the scene)

Hospital staff assured Osmond's family that he had shown signs of improvement and was allowed to leave as long as he continued to take his medication and returned on Monday

A spokeswoman for Metro North, who oversee Prince Charles Hospital, extended their condolences to those affected by the tragedy but stood by their decision to release Ormond.

'Metro North Health is legally unable to hold voluntary patients in its care for treatment,' she said.

'We are unable to provide any detail on the specifics of this patient case as the matter is before the coroner.

'As part of our standard process, Metro North Health will undertake a review of the care provided... Early investigations indicate the treatment was in accordance with relevant clinical guidelines.'

Ms Auvae's death comes just 16 days before Christmas, which would have also been her 32nd birthday.

Osmond would die on Sunday having suffered serious burns from setting the couple's home alight (pictured) shortly after Ms Auvae died in the middle of the street

It was revealed on Monday that Ms Auvae had been mowing the grass with her killer just hours before her brutal murder, according to CCTV footage.

Neighbours described hearing a 'loud bang' and a 'blood-curdling scream' before the fire.

Kiana Jeffrey had been sitting out the back of her home with family having a barbecue when she noticed smoke billowing from the home.

'I quickly ran to the top of the driveway and my friend was walking to our house yelling, stop, stop, stop,' she told the Courier Mail.

'Then I looked and there was blood everywhere and a lady was face down in the middle of the road.'

Ms Jeffery said Ms Auvae had keeled over in front of one home where Ormond had jumped the fence.

Residents rushed from their homes to assist the badly injured woman.

'I just remember seeing her blood everywhere, on the driveway there was a big puddle and all the police just came flying,' she said.

Ms Auvae (pictured), a Maori woman, has been remembered as a 'loving and protective mother with a flawless nature'

Detective Harbison said the tragedy was a 'dynamic, evolving incident when police, paramedics and fire officers arrived'

Ms Auvae, a Maori woman, who only recently moved to Queensland from Sydney, has been described a 'loving and protective mother with a flawless nature'.

Detective Inspector David Harbison from Moreton Police told reporters on Sunday that police were investigating a domestic violence related homicide.

Ms Auvae's family have started a GiveALittle fundraiser campaign to return her body to New Zealand and get her four children back home.

'Her whanau here in New Zealand are doing everything they can to find out more details surrounding her death and the events leading up,' her family said.

'There are going to be a lot of costs associated with bringing her back to New Zealand as well as sorting out arrangements for her four beautiful children.'

Police are urging anyone who may have seen anything in the area at the time of the incident, or who may have relevant dashcam or CCTV footage, to come forward.
The father of a murdered Sandy Hook victim has slammed Elon Musk as a 'sociopath' after he reinstated conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to X.

David Wheeler, whose son Benjamin, 6, lost his life in the 2012 massacre at his school, told TMZ the billionaire has 'no convictions' in welcoming Jones despite his previously taunting and harassing of Sandy Hook victim families.

Wheeler previously testified against Jones as the alt-right radio host lost a $965 million defamation lawsuit last year, for past claims that the shooting that killed 20 first-graders and six teachers had been a 'false flag' hoax.

Musk restored Jones' account to the platform following a controversial user poll this week, a year after he pledged not to allow Jones back because of his own grief in losing a child, and he had 'no mercy for anyone who would use the deaths of children for gain, politics or fame.'

David Wheeler, the father of a first-grader killed at the Sandy Hook massacre, slammed Elon Musk as a 'sociopath' with 'no convictions' after he reinstated conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to X

Benjamin Wheeler, 6, was among 20 first-graders and six teachers fatally shot in the 2012 school shooting. Alex Jones claimed that the attack was a 'false flag' hoax and the grieving families were crisis actors

Elon Musk (left) has come under fire for reinstating the X account of Alex Jones (right), despite previously condemning him for using the 'deaths of children for gain, politics or fame'

Within hours of the school shooting in December 2012, Jones was claiming it was a 'false flag' attack concocted by the federal government for an excuse to recall guns.

He would go on to say the massacre has 'got inside job written all over it', and 'theres a cover-up, theres actors, theyre manipulating, theyve been caught lying, and they were pre-planning before it and rolled out with it.'

Jones was first found liable for damages against families of Sandy Hook victims in 2022, after Wheeler was joined by grieving parents in detailing the impact Jones' antics had on them.

They recalled receiving death threats and said Jones motivated people to show up at their homes, with some stricken parents forced to live in hiding through fear of Jones' followers, and were unable to visit their children's graves.

Wheeler testified that when one extremist turned up at his home, they demanded to see Ben, insisting he was alive.

'It was demeaning. It felt like being delegitimized in a way,' he said, adding that Jones' followers cited a student film he made in college as proof he was a 'crisis actor.'

'It's very stressing,' he testified at one hearing. The total damages Jones has been ordered to pay have risen to almost $1.5 billion, however Jones has since declared bankruptcy.

Wheeler said he stopped using X when Musk bought it last year, but was not surprised to see the Tesla chief welcome the far-right figurehead back.

Jones was reinstated following a user poll of almost two million votes tweeted out by Musk on Saturday, which saw 70 percent of users vote to reinstate Jones' account.

'The people have spoken and so it shall be,' Musk said at the conclusion of the poll.

Stricken Sandy Hook families said they were forced into hiding through fears of Jones' followers, who claimed within hours of the shooting that it was a hoax concocted by the government as an excuse to round up guns

Musk's change of tune to his past stance that he had 'no mercy' for Jones led Wheeler to feel his family's tormenter was allowed back onto the public platform 'based on the opinions of users and not his own convictions, tells me that he has no convictions.'

Wheeler also called on users to delete their accounts in protest.

Musk's U-turn came a year after he publicly refused to welcome Jones back to the platform after he bought it, citing the death of his own child.

One person posted: 'Bring back Alex Jones' - to which Musk replied: 'No.'

Musk continued: 'My firstborn child died in my arms. I felt his last heartbeat. I have no mercy for anyone who would use the deaths of children for gain, politics or fame.'

However, he appears to have reversed course after Jones appeared in an interview with Tucker Carlson, to which he responded by saying he would 'consider' bringing him back.

Musk's decision to reinstate Jones comes after he appeared in a bizarre interview with Tucker Carlson (pictured together on Thursday), where he claimed President Biden is drugged up on amphetamines and wanders the White House naked and lost in the middle of the night

'Will consider. In general, since this platform aspires to be the global town square, permanent bans should be extremely rare,' he said.

'Also, if he does say something false on this platform, then @CommunityNotes will correct him, whereas that would not be the case elsewhere. Let's hold a poll.'

The same interview saw Jones bizarrely claim President Joe Biden is frequently drugged up on amphetamines and wanders the White House naked and lost in the middle of the night.

Jones told Carson that he believed Joe Biden was 'completely out of his mind.'

'He wanders around for the entire two and a half years naked in the White House. In the middle of the night, doesn't know who he is.

'They have to give him a bunch of drugs - a bunch of amphetamines in the morning, and they have to drug him at night.

'Sometimes he'll be out for the morning, for a while, then come back at night for a ball. That's when there's a real problem.'

Carlson nodded, looking grave. 'He is on drugs. I have established that,' the former Fox News host concluded.
This is the horrifying moment police manage to save a three-year-old being held at gunpoint by a woman they shot and killed during a raid.

Cops arrived at the apartment in San Bernardino, CA, early on Sunday to find Darvet Brown, 35, holding a gun to the head of the child, whose grandmother had called 911 in desperation around 8am that morning.

San Bernardino police found Brown, who they said was 'very distraught', standing on the balcony of an apartment on the 200 block of E. 21st Street with a gun pointed at the child.

It was unclear who the apartment belonged to or why Brown was there. The mother of the child later confirmed she was a friend, but not a relative, according to police.

The SBPD added her behavior was not 'completely understood at this time'.

At least one officer opened fire at Brown and hit her, but she continued to hold the gun, police said. When she allegedly refused to drop the gun, police shot a second time, fatally hitting her.

Police bodycam showed the woman with the gun pointed at a child as they trained their weapons on her in an apartment in San Bernardino, CA on Sunday morning

According to police, the woman had barricaded herself inside the apartment when they found her.

They caller had warned authorities she was hysterical and said the child was not safe with her inside.

After getting in and shooting Brown, who they said was a resident of San Bernardino, officers rushed to grab the baby before delivering it safely to family members outside the apartment.

Lt. Jennifer Kohrell with the San Bernardino Police Department said Brown 'had been very violent with the residents there for quite some time before we even got there.'

Neighbor Jack Quiroz said he was in bed on Sunday morning when he heard police attending.

'Yeah I was scared. Of course, who wouldn't be?' he said. 'First I heard the helicopter and then I heard gunshots. And I came outside and I seen the police all over the place.'

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Chavez at chavez_ed@sbcity.org.

Violent crime in California rose in 2022, up 5.7 per cent from 468 crimes per 100,000 in 2021 to 495 last year.

While homicides declined just over six per cent, robbery (theft with force) and aggravated assault rose by 9.9 per cent and 5.2 per cent, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.

The nonpartisan research group notes violent crime state-wide is up 13.5 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019. Overall, violent crime has steadily risen in recent years, climbing in six of the last eight.

Still, it is a considerable improvement on the peak of 1,115 violent crimes per 100,000 residents recorded in 1992.

San Mateo has seen the biggest increase in violent crime, according to the institute, followed by Contra Costa and Sacramento.

Violent crime in San Bernardino has conversely seen a general downward trend this year, according to statistics released by San Bernardino Police Department. Robbery in 2023 fell six per cent from figures recorded between 2021 and 2022.

The Public Policy Institute of California observed violent crimes rising again statewide

Aggravated assault in the same period fell by 18 per cent, SBPD recording 125 incidents this year after rising to 152 in 2022 from 129 in 2021.

Assault with a firearm fell 25 per cent on 2021/22's figures - and stayed below the five year average.

There were three reports of homicide locally in 2023, down from 11 in 2022, 11 in 2021, 6 in 2020 and 5 in 2019.

The PPIC notes San Bernardino saw a significant spike in property crime in 2022, however.
The former church of The Vicar of Dibley star Dawn French has appointed a female reverend - after officials sparked a sexism storm by barring women from applying for the position.

Revd Carol Edleston will take on the role in March at St Fimbarrus Parish Church in Fowey, Cornwall, which has not had a vicar for four years.

Fowey Parochial Church Council (PCC) made the initial decision to employ a new vicar in March but barred women from taking up the role as they advertised for a male vicar - despite Church of England laws allowing female vicars.

It divided locals at the time as the decision from Fowey Parochial Church Council (PCC) came after a minority of the congregation were alleged to have said they could not remain within the church on a 'theological basis' - unless the priest was a man.

But many others decried the 'sexist' decision, believing it was ironic given that Dawn French, who played a female vicar in one of her most famous roles, is a former resident of Fowey.

The former church of The Vicar of Dibley star Dawn French has appointed a female vicar, Revd Carol Edleston (pictured) after officials sparked a sexism storm for barring women

Dawn French, best known for her role as Geraldine Granger in the BBC's Vicar Of Dibley, is a former resident of Fowey

The Church said Revd Edleston will now take on the role in March as the Priest for Fowey.

Posting the news on social media, the Church wrote: 'We are pleased to say that Bishop Hugh has announced that our new Priest for Fowey Parish Church will be Rev Carol Edleston, who lives in Fowey and has a heart for the town and the people.

'We are thrilled. Say hello if you see Carol in the street.'

Revd Edleston, who is currently a curate in St Austell, and Truro Anglican, said the appointment 'marks a step in the right direction for the parish, and a strategic appointment, as the parish works towards a new relationship with the parishes of Tywardreath and Golant as envisaged in the deanery plan'.

Revd Carol Edleston, whose husband's family will be celebrating their move to Fowey for a century now, has already officiated at a number of large community events in the town during recent months.

During the sexism row, locals were quick to comment, with one stating that the vote 'makes the church look less relevant and more weird'.

Another said: 'Oh the irony. So Dawn French lived here, she played a female vicar, which is not good enough for her former home.'

French, 65, is best known for her role as Geraldine Granger in the BBC's The Vicar Of Dibley.

Revd Edleston said: 'Words can't express how delighted I was to receive the offer of the position of "Priest for Fowey" from Bishop Hugh.

'Fowey is where our heart is; we love the people, the town and of course, the church.

'At community events, I have received overwhelming kindness.

'There is no place I would rather serve.

'The church has already worked on a vision for moving forward which brings St Fimbarrus into the heart of the community and we strongly support this aspiration.

'Knowing Fowey as I do, I believe this is what the town would like to see.

'This is the beginning of a new chapter in the life of this ancient church, and I sincerely believe it will be a precious one, with people coming together, finding God's love and peace, and sharing it around I can't wait!

'We are incredibly fortunate to have a great deal of talent on our doorstep, and I know that the gifts Revd Shona has, the strong leadership of our Rural Dean, Revd Paul, and the support of the diocese will bring a richness to the work in Fowey, and in turn we will share what we have been given with those around us. There are exciting possibilities ahead.'

Fowey Parochial Church Council (PCC) made the initial decision to employ a new priest at St Fimbarrus Parish Church (pictured) in March but barred women from taking up the role as they advertised for a male vicar - despite Church of England laws allowing female vicars

The quaint port town of Fowey, where residents were divided over the decision to bar women from becoming the local church priest

Merisa MacInnes, PCC Vice Lay Chair, added: 'After years of being a church led by lay volunteers, we are thrilled to have our own named, local priest.

'Carol is loved and respected by those in church and the wider community of Fowey. She will be warmly welcomed and it is an answer to prayer that Carol has such a strong calling to serve as our local priest.

'She will bring enthusiasm, experience and new ideas to keep our parish church at the heart of our town.'

The Ven Kelly Betteridge, Archdeacon of Bodmin, said: 'I am delighted that someone who knows and loves Fowey and its people, and who is loved by them, will be the new 'Priest for Fowey'.

'Carol's unique understanding of the place, and her vision for the parish church, offers fresh hope after a challenging season.

'I look forward to seeing the way in which she will use her many gifts and graces to enable the church to flourish and the wider parish to know it has a church of warmth and welcome at the heart of Fowey.'

Neighbouring communities Tywardreath and Golant had also recently appointed a female vicar - the Reverend Shona Hoad.

The sexism claims were strongly denied by the church, but in July a newly elected parochial church council said it would reverse the position and open up the possibility of a woman becoming priest.
  aillarionov



Blinkens puzzling riddle







Blinken seemed to be addressing an American audience as Congress considers whether to provide Kyiv with another $60 billion in aid. But his riddle muddied the frothing waters of public debate. When looking at the US investments in Ukraines resistance so far, one finds that most of the money goes to defense and security contractors, manufacturers, and array of other service providers whose roles are often unclear. The bottom line is that aid to Ukraine has fueled the American economy and produced more jobs.



Official figures seem to be different. According to the Pentagon, from February 24, 2022, to December 6, 2023, actual deliveries of military assistance to the territory of Ukraine via Presidential Drawdown Authority, known as the PDA channel, was



The Pentagon also reported that, via Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) channels, it placed orders with American companies to produce military materials for Ukraine for



Ukraines Ministry of Finance reported that US budget assistance to Ukraine was



Humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian citizens amounted to



Hence, from the official Pentagon, US State Department and Ukrainian Ministry of finances figures we find:



all US military aid and budgetary assistance actually transferred to government of Ukraine amounted to $43.4 billion ($19.0 billion via PDA channels, $1.5 billion via USAI and FMF channels, and $22.9 billion as budget support);



all US military aid to Ukraine ($20.5 billion delivered and $23.7 billion financed but not yet transferred) amounted to $44.2 billion;



all US assistance in all areas (including $43.4 billion as military and budgetary aid to the Ukrainian government and $2.6 billion as humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian citizens) amounted to $46.0 billion;



all US assistance to both the state of Ukraine and its citizens in all areas ($46.0 billion actually provided and $23.7 billion already financed, but not yet transferred) amounted to $69.7 billion.

Which brings us to Blinkens riddle. If the share of security assistance to Ukraine spent on US soil, according to the Secretary of State, is 90 percent, then the share of military aid spent on the territory of other countries including Ukraine is no more than 10 percent of the total.



Therefore, out of the total $44.2 billion of all military assistance to Ukraine, 90 percent, or $39.8 billion, stayed in the United States, while the remaining 10 percent, or $4.4 billion, was transferred to Ukraine and other countries. But the latter figure clearly contradicts official Pentagon data, according to which $25.2 billion worth of military aid was actually delivered to Ukraine alone at then-announced prices, or $19.0 billion at later corrected prices.



Another approach to the Blinkens puzzle would be to assume that both figures are correct  the Pentagons data of $25.2 billion military aid delivered and later recalculated at $19.0 billion, as well as Blinkens 90 percent as the share of security assistance staying in the United States. By Blinkens logic, the administration had spent ten times what it claims to have actually delivered to Ukraine. Blinkens 90 percent-stays-home figure forces us to calculate that the absolute size of the Biden administrations military aid to Ukraine expenditures invested on the territory of the US is not $23.7 billion but ranges eight to ten times that: between $190 billion and $252 billion.



This abstruse difference makes no sense. It is more than double the



So what does all this mean, we dont know. Blinken offers no clues to help solve his puzzle. All he did was to make it harder for the American public and their elected representatives to understand their sacrifice, past and future, for Ukraine.

https://centerforsecuritypolicy.org/blinkens-puzzling-riddle/

Ninety percent of American military aid to Ukraine stays in the United States. Or so thats the puzzling riddl e Secretary of State Antony Blinken posed during a recent press conference with the British Foreign Secretary. Blinken seemed to be addressing an American audience as Congress considers whether to provide Kyiv with another $60 billion in aid. But his riddle muddied the frothing waters of public debate. When looking at the US investments in Ukraines resistance so far, one finds that most of the money goes to defense and security contractors, manufacturers, and array of other service providers whose roles are often unclear. The bottom line is that aid to Ukraine has fueled the American economy and produced more jobs.Official figures seem to be different. According to the Pentagon, from February 24, 2022, to December 6, 2023, actual deliveries of military assistance to the territory of Ukraine via Presidential Drawdown Authority, known as the PDA channel, was $25.2 billion in the then-announced prices, and $19.0 billion in reality, or a $6.2 billion overvaluation of military aid. The Department of Defense revealed this huge discrepancy last June.The Pentagon also reported that, via Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) channels, it placed orders with American companies to produce military materials for Ukraine for $23.7 billion . About $1.5 billion of that already had been sent.Ukraines Ministry of Finance reported that US budget assistance to Ukraine was $22.9 billion Humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian citizens amounted to $2.6 billion , but including it in the aid to Ukraine total is incorrect, according to the State Department methodology, which calculates totals to governments, not to individuals.Hence, from the official Pentagon, US State Department and Ukrainian Ministry of finances figures we find:Which brings us to Blinkens riddle. If the share of security assistance to Ukraine spent on US soil, according to the Secretary of State, is 90 percent, then the share of military aid spent on the territory of other countries including Ukraine is no more than 10 percent of the total.Therefore, out of the total $44.2 billion of all military assistance to Ukraine, 90 percent, or $39.8 billion, stayed in the United States, while the remaining 10 percent, or $4.4 billion, was transferred to Ukraine and other countries. But the latter figure clearly contradicts official Pentagon data, according to which $25.2 billion worth of military aid was actually delivered to Ukraine alone at then-announced prices, or $19.0 billion at later corrected prices.Another approach to the Blinkens puzzle would be to assume that both figures are correct  the Pentagons data of $25.2 billion military aid delivered and later recalculated at $19.0 billion, as well as Blinkens 90 percent as the share of security assistance staying in the United States. By Blinkens logic, the administration had spent ten times what it claims to have actually delivered to Ukraine. Blinkens 90 percent-stays-home figure forces us to calculate that the absolute size of the Biden administrations military aid to Ukraine expenditures invested on the territory of the US is not $23.7 billion but ranges eight to ten times that: between $190 billion and $252 billion.This abstruse difference makes no sense. It is more than double the total allocations of the four so-called Ukraine aid bills passed by Congress in 2022. It has nothing common with any congressional appropriation or official reporting by US government agencies.So what does all this mean, we dont know. Blinken offers no clues to help solve his puzzle. All he did was to make it harder for the American public and their elected representatives to understand their sacrifice, past and future, for Ukraine. Tags: , ,   , 

From: shumakova_elena Date: December 12th, 2023 05:42 pm (UTC) (Link)  -      ?



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Edited at 2023-12-12 05:44 pm (UTC) From: shumakova_elena Date: December 12th, 2023 06:10 pm (UTC) (Link)



https://youtu.be/b4g34jaXqXk?feature=shared  ,        From: tasha08_vct Date: December 13th, 2023 02:15 pm (UTC) (Link)    2  16 . ,     ,      . (Deleted comment) From: segey_nazarov Date: December 14th, 2023 07:42 pm (UTC) (Link)   . . :            ,    .  ,         !  ,               ,     .    !              -  !    , ,     , ,         200,           !

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A bride-to-be framed her ex-boyfriend's sister for driving offences and landed her with a fine and six penalty points on her licence after falsely giving her name when she was pulled over by police.

Katie Loughnane, 30, who had a previous conviction for drink driving and having no licence from 2019, had taken out a motor insurance policy in Sophie Davies's name, the court heard. She was pulled over by police after it expired.

The mum of three from Wrexham escaped jail after a judge said it would be a 'terrible thing' if her youngest child was to be without their mother at Christmas.

She pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court to making a false statement to obtain insurance and perverting the course of public justice.

Pictured: Katie Loughnane, 30, pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court to making a false statement to obtain insurance and perverting the course of public justice

She was sentenced to ten months in prison, suspended for 18 months, along with a requirement that she attends 15 days of rehabilitation activity with the probation service.

Miss Davies had her licence endorsed and was convicted of having no car insurance in her absence at a magistrates court.

She only realised she had been penalised ten months later, when she carried out checks on her driving licence online and noticed the points had been added without her knowledge.

The wrongful conviction meant Miss Davies had to apply for the case to be reopened and then twice had to appear before JPs (Justices of the Peace) before the PC who pulled over Loughnane confirmed it was not Miss Davies at the wheel.

It was not disclosed why Loughnane gave a false name on the car insurance details for the Audi.

In a statement Miss Davies said: 'I've always been nice to her and I wonder why she has done this.'

Judge Simon Berkson said Loughnane was 'the sole carer' of her children and they would be without their mother if she went to prison.

The judge told her: 'This was serious offending and the court has been balancing whether to send you to immediate custody or whether to suspend that sentence.

'You told a lie to get yourself out of trouble, perhaps forgetting you would be getting someone else into trouble.

'She ended up with a fine and getting points on her licence which she did not deserve. She had to go to court on two occasions to undo what you did.

'I have to sentence you for a stupid and unsophisticated lie which went beyond that, which you could have imagined.

'Perhaps you now regret what happened. It had a marked effect on the victim of your crime. She wonders why you picked on her and you have never had any trouble with her in your life. She is now really worried about things.

Pictured: Katie Loughnane framed her ex-boyfriend's sister for motoring offences and landed her with a fine and six penalty points on her driving licence

'But you have three young children, the youngest is two years old. You are the sole carer. If you were sent to prison, your children would be without their mother. For the youngest being without a mother is a terrible thing.

'You know now that if you commit another crime you would put your children in jeopardy. Please work with the people trying to assist you in your life.'

Michael Whitty, counsel for the prosecution, said: 'The initial false insurance application was made on 8 October 2020 when the defendant provided details of Sophie Davies, that being the sister of her ex-boyfriend, to obtain a false certificate of insurance.

'In August of 2021, the defendant was stopped in an Audi on Whitchurch Road in Chester by Constable Harrop as the vehicle was showing as having no insurance.

'Again the defendant provided details of Sophie Davies. She purported to provide emails confirming the policy of insurance. Further enquiries revealed that the policy was not in place. It had been cancelled in July.

'The vehicle was seized and a traffic report was completed.

'In her absence, Sophie Davies was convicted of using a vehicle without insurance on 7 January 2022 and she was fined, and six points were applied to her licence.

'That went unnoticed until October 2022 when Miss Davies checked her driving licence online. She was surprised to find six points for the offence of having no insurance and she embarked on the process of trying to unravel what happened.

'She contacted the court and was told that she was convicted of driving a vehicle with no insurance.

'Miss Davies was given the details of the vehicle and knew then that it was the defendant. She knew because of the relationship that had been in place between her brother and the defendant and that it was the defendant's car.

'In order to put it right, Miss Davies had to attend Wrexham Magistrates' Court in the December to make the first step in the process of undoing the conviction and ultimately, it was undone.

'But the matter was then brought back to Chester Magistrates Court in April with the Crown offering no evidence in the case of Sophie Davies for using a vehicle with no insurance in August.

'PC Harrop had met Sophie Davies and confirmed that she was not the one he had stopped.

'It was confirmed that the defendant was the driver and she was arrested. She gave a 'No comment' interview.

'Sophie Davies talked about being left feeling intimidated and vulnerable and nervous during the investigation.

'She was plainly concerned that there may be repercussions for reporting the matter to the police.

'She described the stressful situation, requiring to take time off work to go to court to prove her innocence, and it having an impact on her mental health. She also sought professional help.

'She was afraid she was not going to be able to prove her innocence. She is concerned about the ramifications such as debt letters or loans or financial commitments that are not truly hers.

'Miss Davies also talks about having concerns that this is not only the only time her details have been used. This has left her with a number of unanswered questions.'

Loughnane had a previous conviction from September 2019 for driving with excess alcohol, having no insurance, and driving without a proper licence, when she was fined and disqualified from driving.

Her counsel John Wyn Williams said: 'It was a stupid and unsophisticated lie and has led to someone being at risk of being convicted of a serious criminal offence. That is why the courts normally, in these circumstances, are forced to pass immediate custodial sentences.

'But I hope on behalf of the defendant to persuade the court in her circumstances it can be suspended.

'She is a mother doing her best to look after three very young children. There has been a long time since the offence and there has been no further offending. There has been no retribution as far as Miss Davies is concerned.'
A self-styled 'professor of peace' who brushed off allegations of anti-Semitism and crimes against humanity has finally been suspended by his ultra-liberal college over a sex-for-grades scandal.

Mohammad Mahallati helped spark a Department of Education probe into anti-Semitism at Oberon College in Ohio last month amid claims he harassed Jewish students and defended Hamas in lectures.

The tenured professor of religion served as Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in the late 1980s and was accused of covering up the regime's massacre of 5,000 jailed opponents in 1988.

But the progressive college only moved against him when it emerged that he sexually harassed a student at Columbia University in the 1990s.

'It's disheartening that it took Oberlin College three years to take this crucial step,' said Lawdan Bazargan, whose brother Bijan was among those murdered in 1988.

Iranian diplomat turned 'professor of peace' Mohammad Mahallati has been placed on 'indefinite administrative leave' by Oberon College

Mahalatti played a key role as Iran's ambassador to the UN in covering up the country's massacre of 5,000 jailed political opponents in 1988

He helped spark a Department of Education probe into anti-Semitism at the college in Ohio last month amid claims he harassed Jewish students and defended Hamas in lectures

'We call upon Oberlin College to not only take these actions but also to meet with the family members of the victims to hear their voices and experiences.'

The DOE's Office of Civil Rights began its investigation after former Oberon student Melissa Landa sent the department a dossier of allegations of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel incidents on campus.

'Before Professor Mahallati deleted his students' blogs, I read them along with other alumni, and saw that they reflected his violent anti-Semitic teachings,' she told Fox News.

'Through his lectures and his readings, Mahallati taught his students that Israel is an apartheid, settler-colonial regime and that Hamas is a benevolent organization that represents the will of the Palestinian people.'

The professor was one of Tehran's most high-profile figures during one of its most murderous phases and defended its 1989 fatwa which called for the death of author Salman Rushdie over his 'blasphemous' novel The Satanic Verses.

'I think all Islamic countries agree with Iran,' he told reporters.

'All Islamic nations and countries agree with Iran that any blasphemous statement against sacred figures should be condemned.'

Earlier this year the human rights organization Amnesty International accused him of crimes against humanity for misleading the world over the 1988 massacres.

He claimed the prisoners were killed on the 'battlefield' during the country's war with Iraq and blamed 'fake information from a terrorist organization in Iraq'.

With a PhD in Islamic studies he got a job at Columbia University but was sued by a 32-year-old graduate student in 1997 who accused him of sustained sexual harassment.

In recent years he had recast himself as an advocate for peace and an expert in conflict resolution

He was among delegates to the first World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace in 2005

The Palestinian Christian woman claimed he promised good grades in exchange for sexual encounters and threatened to withhold her grade if she did not keep silent.

He 'attempted to retaliate against her' when she broke off the relationship, 'defamed' her and 'caused her significant emotional distress', court documents state.

He tried to claim diplomatic immunity against the claim but the court awarded her a settlement and compensation in 1998.

The scandal did not stop him moving to jobs at Yale, Princeton and Georgetown, and by 2007 he has been appointed Chair in Middle East and North African Studies at Oberon where he recast himself as an advocate for peace and an expert in conflict resolution.

The college has been among those accused of fostering an atmosphere of anti-Semitism and was forced to fire professor Joy Karega in 2016 over a series of Facebook posts blaming Israel and Jews for 9/11.

It was also forced to pay $36.5 million to a local bakery last year which it defamed as racist, after the storeowner chased down three black students who stole from the business in November 2016.

College spokeswoman Andrea Simakis has now revealed that Mahalatti was placed on 'indefinite administrative leave' at the end of last month.

'We learned of the lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York against Mahallati from a media inquiry sent to us December 5,' she said.

'We would not hire a faculty member whom we knew had a history of sexual assault, harassment, or abuse of anyone, including a student, colleague, or staff member.

Oberlin College has now paid out the full $36.5 million it owes to the owners of Gibson's Bakery after it lost a defamation case

Jonathan Aladin, Endia Lawrence (center) and Cecilia Whettstone (right) were all convicted of shoplifting from Oberlin - but the woke college still accused the family-run business they stole from of racism, and boycotted them

'We will not tolerate sexual offenses at Oberlin. We take all reports of sexual assault, harassment and abuse extremely seriously.'

Fatemeh Pishdadian whose parents were tortured and executed by Iran's regime in 1981 welcomed the action.

'This development, however, should not be mistaken for swift or decisive action by Oberlin College,' she said.

'It reflects a belated response to pressing demands for truth and justice which continued for years, echoing our call that those who shield the actions of oppressive regimes have no rightful place in our academic institutions.'
Loyalty's family remember him as 'a beautiful soul' who 'always had a smile on his face'

He was killed after he wandered into the garage at a family friend's home where the dogs were being kept

The little boy has been identified as Loyalty Charles Scott, a student at Glenfair Elementary School

The Portland boy who was fatally mauled by two dogs in the home of a family friend has been identified and pictured for the first time by family members who are 'turned upside down' by his loss.

Loyalty Charles Scott, affectionately known as 'Mookie,' died after two Great Dane-mastiff mixes attacked him in the garage of a residence where his grandmother dropped him before school.

'Our family is completely turned upside down and trying to figure out how to keep going,' Loyalty's aunt, Mariah Scott, wrote in a GoFundMe campaign.

'Loyalty touched so many hearts. He always had a smile on his face and there was no way anyone could be in a bad mood around him.

'He loved everyone and everything. He was so pure and unaffected by the negatives in the world. He definitely changed my outlook on life and made this world so beautiful!'

The six-year-old boy fatally mauled by two dogs in the home of a family friend last week has been identified as Loyalty Charles Scott, a student at Glenfair Elementary School

Loyalty, affectionately referred to as 'Mookie,' died December 5 after two Great Dane-mastiff mixes attacked him

He had been dropped at the home by his grandmother, Rena Scott, so her friend could take him to school. Rena says she is 'devastated' by the boy's loss

On December 5, Portland Fire & Rescue arrived at a house in Parkrose Heights after receiving reports of a possible animal attack.

There, they found a woman covered in blood who said she had entered the garage to take care of her Great Dane-mastiff mixes when Loyalty opened the door behind her.

The Glenfair Elementary student had been dropped off by his grandmother, Rena Scott, earlier that morning so he could be taken to school.

The woman living in that home, Koko Miller, is a high school classmate of Loyalty's grandmother. She is the self-professed owner and operator of a company called 'K-9 Protection.'

Portland Police Bureau Public Information Officer Mike Benner said Miller 'did everything she could' to save Loyalty's life, even grabbing a gun.

He added that there had never been any calls to police about the animals, but the little boy knew not to go around them, which is why they were in the garage.

Loyalty was pronounced dead at the scene.

The two dogs were euthanized last week. A third dog that was in the home at the time is being held by Multnomah County Animal Services pending further investigation.

Benner says it is 'way too early' to determine whether Miller will face criminal charges.

Loyalty was killed after he opened the door to the garage where the dogs were being held

Police say while the six-year-old knew to stay away from the dogs, there had never been any calls to the residence regarding the animals

Loyalty's aunt, Mariah Scott, set up a GoFundMe to support his grieving grandmother

Rena Scott described her grandson as a 'beautiful soul' who was 'always happy'

Loyalty's grieving family set up a GoFundMe to support the boy's grandmother.

'Rena is the only person that provides for these kids and these babies want for nothing,' Mariah wrote. 'She has to work a lot to give them the life she believes they deserve.

'Also with Christmas looming on the horizon, shes also got to figure out how to make her 9 other grandkids Christmas as special as possible. Right now, all she can focus on is figuring out how to breathe.'

Rena told KOIN 6 that she was 'devastated.'

'He was just beautiful. He was just beautiful,' she said of her grandson. 'He was a beautiful soul. Always happy.'

The GoFundMe has raised just under $12,000 so far.

Loyalty was left in the home of Koko Miller, where police say he was frequently dropped off by his grandmother and taken to school

Miller has headed a company called 'K-9 Protection' since 2003, according to LinkedIn

The two dogs involved in the attack were euthanized last week, while a third dog that was in the home at the time is being held by Multnomah County Animal Services

The Portland Police Department has offered to pay for the little boy's funeral expenses

Two counselors from Glenfair Elementary left their own messages commemorating the life of the little boy.

'Loyalty, we will miss laughing, playing, singing, dancing, and smiling with you,' wrote Haven Lewis, referring to the boy as 'a bright light' with 'huge and infectious' energy.

'We will miss you beyond words. Grandmom, sisters, aunties, family and friends, we are sending you all of our love and we will be here for you always.'

Marissa Yang Bertucci described Loyalty as 'the funniest, sweetest, most special and charismatic boy.'

'I am so sorry for your heartbreak, grandma, sisters, auntie, and everyone who loved and continues to love him,' she wrote, signing off as 'Miss Marissa.'

The Portland Police Department will pay for the little boy's funeral expenses, according to his aunt.
A former human resources worker is suing a hospital in Wyoming for threatening to have her involuntarily committed after she voiced concerns about money management and ethics to her superiors.

The complaint, filed by ex Weston County Hospital District staffer Amanda McDade Thursday, alleges a turn of events it calls 'malevolent' once she reported the alleged behavior - resulting in her being threatened with a Title 25 hold by hospital brass.

The guidance is Wyoming's way of involuntarily committing a mentally ill person, and McDade claims it was retaliation for her raising 'concerns of money mismanagement, illegality, and ethics' at the Newcastle medical healthcare facility.

'Instead of this being remedied,' the document states, McDade 'was retaliated against and subjected to a hostile work environment,' until she was forced to resign.

The complaint, however, first states that McDade reported as a whistleblower, going through the proper channels and the hospital's then-top Board of Trustees member to do so.

When made aware, the hospital instead asked McDade to cover up their errors, the complaint alleges - a request McDade refused before leaving her role.

Amanda McDade, a former human resources worker at Wyoming's Weston County Health Services (facility seen here), is suing the hospital for threatening to have her involuntarily committed after she voiced concerns about money management and ethics to her superiors

Represented by Cassie Craven (pictured), the woman alleges a turn of events it calls 'malevolent' once she reported the alleged behavior in 2021 - resulting in her allegedly being threatened with a Title 25 hold by hospital brass and subjected to a 'hostile work environment'

'The frightening tale [began] on October 14, 2021,' the complaint states, when McDade received 'an unprompted appointment call from the office of her treating physician'.

The doctor, identified as Sara Thurgood, is a practitioner at the 12-bed hospital who doubled as McDade's personal doctor.

The suit claims the call to confirm the appointment came during work hours, but to the HR worker's surprise, was billed as one meant to discuss medication, rather than professional work matters.

Specifically, the doctor allegedly wanted to speak about her 'concerns' with a medication - despite McDade later stating that she was not having any issues with any prescribed medicines, nor did she expect an appointment.

Upon airing her confusion to the doctor's nurse, the worker told McDade 'she didn't know' and 'was just doing what [the doctor] asked.'

The staffer added that she 'would let Thurgood know she didn't need an appointment.'

The complaint alleges that McDade immediately grew suspicious, due to her, months earlier, reporting alleged unethical behavior on the part of her colleagues.

She says she became aware of the unspecified activities thanks to her access to the 12-bed facility's payroll records, sometime after she was brought on as a human resources generalist in June 2019.

The complaint, however, first states that McDade reported as a whistleblower, going through the proper channels and the government-funded hospital's then-top Board of Trustees member, Connie James (left) to do so. McDade's doctor who also worked at the hospital, Sara Thurgood, later told her brass were planning to potentially hit her with a mental health hold

'During the course of her employment, the Plaintiff raised concerns of money mismanagement, illegality, and ethics through the proper chain of command,' the document states.

Her report also included allegations of discriminatory policies that were supposedly in place at the district, which in addition to its onsite hospital has a 58-bed nursing facility.

It also alleged labor law violations on the part of the state government funded institution, all uncovered in reports that 'were not kept confidential by the defendant and its agents,' the complaint states.

McDade 'reported as a whistleblower through the proper process,' it continues, specifically going to then-Board of Trustees President Connie James to discuss the alleged illegalities.

'Instead of remedying the situation, the defendant requested [McDade] modify records in the documentation to cover up what had occurred,' the lawsuit continues.

McDade found the request 'unethical and likely illegal', and claims she did not comply.

The matter was not brought up again, but allegedly resurfaced with Thurgood's forced appointment, which occurred even after McDade tentatively cancelled, the complaint claims.

A couple of hours after McDade finished her phone call with Thurgood's nurse, she found herself confronted by the physician in her work office.

The complaint notes how the doctor was 'uninvited' and her visit was 'unannounced,' leaving the plaintiff 'immediately taken aback' and wondering if there had been a 'mix-up.'

Thurgood, the document states, allegedly acted as if nothing was afoot, and claimed her nurse had not communicated to her that they were not to meet.

'Well, that is not what [the nurse] told me,' Thurgood reportedly said. 'Do you mind if I close these doors in your office so that we can have a confidential conversation with me here as your doctor first and foremost?'

Thurgood responded by closing her absent supervisor's door and her own office door, the complaint says. It further alleges McDade, now suspicious, began recording the encounter, by secretly pushing the 'record' button on her phone.

Thurgood proceeded to discuss real facets of McDades earlier treatments before suddenly shifting tone.

'Heres the thing,' Thurgood reportedly said at this point in the conversation. 'Theyre so concerned for you.'

'No they're not,' McDade allegedly responded, referring to the higher-ups in the district that she reported to. 'They're so concerned in saving their own a** right now.

Thurgood allegedly responded: 'Theyre probably both, because theyve got an employee theyre concerned about with what youve taken to the board.'

She allegedly continued: 'I dont know the details, but theyre concerned about that, but then theyre also concerned with just some of the things that youve said and things that would suggest an almost manic [episode]'.

McDade answered, 'Im not manic in any way shape or form,' the complaint states, at which point Thurgood reportedly looked at her and agreed,

She, however, allegedly added: 'My biggest concern here is that they are talking about potentially, uhh, I hope that its OK Im telling you this, theyre talking about potentially involuntary commitment.'

Lawyers for McDade write how she was left 'blindsided in horror' by the revelation, despite Thurgood assuring her she couldnt commit her herself because it would be a conflict of interest.

She went on to add that as a doctor, she had had little involvement with Title 25 proceedings in the past, except for one incident during her residency and another where a person was threatening others with a knife, the document claims.

'I dont really know what to do,' the doctor reportedly told McDade. 'My thought initially was to keep, to try to keep them from -'

'I dont know what its going to take to keep them from resorting to commitment - you know what I mean.'

The document goes on to claim that Thurgood proceeded to suggest an adjustment to one of McDade's medications, before the HR worker walked out in shock and left the hospital.

'Certainly, the government cannot threaten to strip us of our civil liberty and freedom when their illegality and ethics are called out through the proper process,' says McDade's attorney (seen here). 'To silence the voice of those who speak against you and threaten to place them in an involuntary mental health hold, as a government employer, is nothing that should ever occur in the free United States of America'

At this point, the complaint alleges McDade 'legitimately expected the cops to meet her at the door with a straight jacket to see their malicious plan through.'

Later that day, she emailed her higherups her notice of resignation, while fighting back bouts of anxiety for days afterward.

Her suit, filed in federal court due to the hospital's state-funded status, names the district as a defendant, and not Thurgood - who on Monday told Cowboy State Daily that she was merely a 'pawn' in the alleged scheme.

'I felt extremely uncomfortable by what I was asked to do,' she told the Wyoming website, alleging she didnt know about the money mismanagement concerns McDade had aired against the hospital.

'They were wanting me to declare her either a danger to herself or other people  thats what you have to do to Title 25 someone,' she went on to recall, claiming she was told to call the appointment. 'I did not see that in her.'

The doctor went on to offer transparency in regard to the alleged incident, but said she was not at liberty to discuss specific facets surrounding it due to laws pertaining to doctor-patient confidentiality.

She told the publication: 'I want to be as objective as I can in order to help Amanda,'

Reflecting on the 2021 meeting, she admitted, 'As a physician, Ive never been asked to do something so odd.'

When asked about the lawsuit, the Weston County Hospital District - which does business as Weston County Health Services - declined to comment.

McDade's attorney, Cassie Craven, this week said the suit is important to protecting the freedoms of American citizens, particularly when dealing with a governmental entity.

'Certainly, the government cannot threaten to strip us of our civil liberty and freedom when their illegality and ethics are called out through the proper process,' Craven said.

'To silence the voice of those who speak against you and threaten to place them in an involuntary mental health hold, as a government employer, is nothing that should ever occur in the free United States of America'.

Her client's suit demands economic damages including back pay, front pay and lost benefits to be established at a trial, and compensatory damages for future losses, emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience and mental anguish.

Punitive damages, to be determined at a yet-to-be-confirmed trial, could also be awarded.

Craven did not immediately respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment.
Pro-Palestine activists have stormed Zara stores in protest over the fashion giant's latest ad campaign which critics claim 'mocked deaths in Gaza'.

Video footage appears to show activists protesting at stores in Stockholm, Sweden and Madrid, Spain, holding effigies of dead babies and sticking posters with pro-Palestine slogans on store windows.

Zara earlier said on Tuesday it regretted the 'misunderstanding' over an advertising campaign featuring mannequins with missing limbs and statues wrapped in white sheeting that triggered calls for a boycott by some pro-Palestinian activists.

Some online drew parallels between the mannequins wrapped in white sheets and the distressing images of bodies in white shrouds which have come out of Gaza since October 7 amid the war between Israel and Hamas.

The images have since been removed from the chain's social media.

At some Zara stores, graffiti has covered up the brand's name as activists scrawled pro-Gaza slogans on the walls

Pro-Palestine activists pictured inside a Zara after the ad campaign aired

Fashion giant Zara has come under fire for its new campaign that features a mannequin wrapped in white plastic and surrounded by rubble

Video footage appears to show activists protesting at stores in Stockholm, Sweden and Madrid, Spain

Video footage shared on X showed a group of people waving large Palestine flags outside a store in Spain. A second store in the background of the video pinpointed the location to Madrid.

Several people were seen gluing posters with the slogan 'todas somos palestina' ('We are all Palestinian') on the store's front glass.

Video from a second store, believed to be in Stockholm, Sweden, showed around six activists entering a Zara while holding bundles designed to look like the shrouds of dead babies.

They had tape over their mouths and paraded around the shop holding the bundles high and waving posters.

Other stores have been targeted with graffiti as activists sprayed pro-Palestine slogans on their windows.

Critics previously accused the retailer of insensitivity towards deaths in war-torn Gaza after images from the fashion shoot featured mannequins with missing limbs and a model in a wooden box and surrounded by rubble.

Other images, which have since been removed from the firm's Instagram page, show supermodel Kirsten McMenamy posing with mannequins wrapped in white cloth and plastic.

'Unfortunately, some customers felt offended by these images, which have now been removed, and saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created,' Zara said in a post on its Instagram account.

It added the photoshoot took place a month before the Hamas attacks of October 7, which triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

At one store, thought to be in Madrid, protesters stuck posters to the shopfront with the slogan 'we are all Palestinian'

Several dozen activists were seen outside one store, thought to be in Madrid

Social media users took to X to criticise the campaign, referring to it as 'shameful,' 'disgusting' and a 'mockery'. These two images have been deleted from their Instagram page after they were compared to photos of dead bodies in Gaza

Zara released a statement on Instagram on Tuesday morning

One image showed a model holding a mannequin wrapped in what appeared to be white plastic.

The UK's Advertising Standards Authority said it had received 110 complaints that the ad's imagery referenced the current Israel-Hamas conflict and was offensive.

The watchdog said it was reviewing the complaints but was not currently investigating the ad.

Zara said the campaign, advertising its Atelier line, was 'conceived in July and photographed in September'.

Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people. Israel launched retaliatory attacks, which the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory says has killed more than 17,700 Palestinians in Gaza, around two-thirds of them women and children.

'Zara regrets that misunderstanding and we reaffirm our deep respect towards everyone,' Zara said.

That account had seen tens of thousands of comments posted about the photos, many with Palestinian flags, while '#BoycottZara' was trending on messaging platform X.

The campaign for the Spain -based fashion giant quickly received a wave of backlash online, with posts branding it 'shameful,' 'disgusting' and a 'mockery'.

Some social media users drew parallels between mannequins used in the campaign and distressing pictures of bodies wrapped in shrouds from Gaza

Some Zara outlets in Montreal were vandalised following the controversy

Zara said the campaign advertising its Atelier line was photographed in September (PA)

Ahmed Shihab-Eldin said that Zara had won 'the award for most tone deaf brand of the year'.

Six posts showcasing the campaign, which was shot by British fashion photographer Tim Walker, were scrubbed from Zara's Instagram page.

Mr Walker has previously photographed celebrities such as Stormzy and Jodie Comer for the covers of British Vogue, as well as taking shots of Lady Gaga, Emma Corrin and Miriam Margolyes.

Zara said at the launch of the collection on December 7 that it was inspired by men's tailoring from past centuries.

The photos appeared to show an artist's studio with ladders, packing materials, wooden crates and cranes, and assistants wearing overalls.

There had been calls for boycotts of the fashion brand, owned by Inditex, which also owns other popular high street stores such as Pull and Bear and Bershka.

In Montreal, Canada, activists sprayed Zara stores with pro-Palestinian slogans.

Zara has described the new clothing line on its Instagram page as: 'A limited edition collection from the house celebrating our commitment to craftsmanship and passion for artistic expression.'

Taking to social media on Tuesday morning, Zara said: 'After listening to comments regarding the latest Zara Atelier campaign 'The Jacket', we would like to share the following with our customers.

'The campaign, that was conceived in July and photographed in September, presents a series of images of unfinished sculptures in a sculptor's studio and was created with the sole purpose of showcasing craftmade garments in an artistic context.

'Unfortunately, some customers felt offended buy these images, which have now been removed, and saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created.

'Zara regrets that misunderstanding and we reaffirm our deep respect towards everyone'.

Zara and Inditex have been contacted for comment.
An Israeli frontline medic has told how she treated a Palestinian in Gaza who she later discovered was a terrorist involved in the October 7 atrocity.

Dr. Roni, 31, said the extremist refused to even look at her such was his contempt but despite losing personal friends in the massacre she does not regret helping him.

The mother-of-two who was a civilian surgeon when war broke out spoke exclusively to the Daily Mail from her forward base on the Gaza border.

As artillery fire cracked overhead, she told how she was called by her commander to attend to injured Palestinians inside the territory.

During the event, when we treated the people, there was one person that I was sure doesn't hate me - he kissed my hand while I treated him, she said.

Dr. Roni (pictured) was a civilian surgeon when war broke out

Despite losing friends in the atrocity and seeing dozens of victims in her civilian hospital, Dr. Roni does not feel any difficulty in having treated a terrorist

105 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began in late October

READ MORE: Heartbroken father cradles his toddler son as the bodies of his twin girls lie before him after they were killed in Israeli strike - as UN votes on ceasefire resolution Advertisement

But there was one young guy that I felt that didn't make eye contact with me. That's one of the people that I found out later was in Israel on October 7.

While Dr. Roni immediately suspected he was affiliated with Hamas, she says he is not the only Palestinian she treated who has been later confirmed by intelligence as a terrorist.

Describing why she feels no regret, she explained: 'I'm just there to do what I know how to do.

'That's what I do. I don't have any conflict because I believe here or in the hospital, as a doctor, my job is to treat people.

'And it's a slippery slope if I start to question who do I need to treat and should I not treat.

The mother who has three-year-old twins, Eden and Ariel, with her 38-year-old husband, Eldad, was a cardiac surgery resident at Shiba Medical Centre in Tel Aviv.

Roni was at a medical conference in Vienna on Black Saturday, and went back to Israel almost immediately

She was called up to join the frontline team and now goes deep into Gaza to save injured Israeli soldiers and treat Palestinians on humanitarian corridors

Now the unassuming medic who says she has to smile so that she doesnt cry still cannot quite believe the surreal situation she has found herself in since terrorists slaughtered over 1,200 Israelis.

She laughs when asked if she could ever have imagined herself entering Gaza clutching an M16 assault rifle to rescue soldiers under gun and rocket fire from Hamas.

On October 7 she was at a medical conference in Vienna  but as soon as she saw the images coming out of her country she got the first plane back home to help.

I think maybe in other countries its hard to imagine being a soldier, she said, sitting in the Humvee a few hundred feet from Gaza that she must be ready to leap into and race over the border at a moments notice.

But really, I dont feel Im a solider. I am, but its not really who I am. Im a doctor, Im an Israeli citizen, and Im here because I have no other choice.

She said of saving both Israelis and Palestinians: 'I'm just there to do what I know how to do'

'I don't have any conflict because I believe here or in the hospital, as a doctor, my job is to treat people,' she said

Because there is a terror organisation that if given the chance would kill me, my daughters; would rape me and my daughters.

READ MORE: Tanker is hit by Houthi cruise missile in the Red Sea - US warship heads to support vessel targeted in latest ship attack Advertisement

I would love to be home now, rather than being here. I would love to be with my girls and with my husband and at my work that I really love.

But instead, I am here, because I really feel like we dont have any other option. If we need to fight for our lives, then I should be part of it.

After returning from Vienna, Dr. Roni, who cannot give her surname for security reasons, initially treated victims at her hospital from the October 7 massacre.

But days later she was called up to work on the frontline  getting a two-week crash course in military aid including a two-hour session to learn how to fire her weapon.

I asked if I could leave the gun at the base, she said, grinning. But they said I must have it to protect myself. It is the lightest one they have.

Dr. Roni must now camp on the Gaza border or stay on bases inside the territory on two week rotations, the only woman in her unit.

'[Hamas] is a terror organisation that if given the chance would kill me, my daughters; would rape me and my daughters,' she said

In civilian life, Dr. Roni would cry each time she lost a patient, but despite everything she has seen, including not being able to save one soldier from horrifying injuries, she is still yet to shed a tear

Before I went to Vienna I cried because I was going to leave my daughters for five days, it felt so terrible, she said. Now Im going to leave them for two weeks to go into Gaza.

But it doesnt feel terrible, because I know Im doing something that I really need to do.

In civilian life, Dr. Roni would cry each time she lost a patient, but despite everything she has seen, including not being able to save one soldier from horrifying injuries, she is still yet to shed a tear.

Here I had a lot of experiences that on a normal day would make me cry  and it didnt happen yet, Dr. Roni said, before smiling sadly and adding: I guess it will come after.

Israel's retaliatory assault has so far killed at least 18,205 people and wounded nearly 50,000, according to the Gaza health ministry, which says many thousands more dead are uncounted under the rubble or beyond the reach of ambulances.

105 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began in late October.

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said on Tuesday at the end of an overnight visit to the Gaza Strip that civilians there were enduring 'hell on earth' as Israel's war against Hamas grinds on.

'Back in #Gaza, endless deepening tragedy. People are everywhere, live in the street, need everything. They plead for safety & for an end to this hell on earth,' UNWRA chief Philippe Lazzarini said in a post on X, adding his agency was facing 'an impossible situation'.

Israel's retaliatory assault has so far killed at least 18,205 people and wounded nearly 50,000, according to the Gaza health ministry

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Israel was no exception to US policy that any country receiving U.S. weapons must comply with the laws of war

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said on Tuesday at the end of an overnight visit to the Gaza Strip that civilians there were enduring 'hell on earth'

Some diplomats predict the coming vote will win more support than the assembly's October call for 'an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce'

The 193-member UN General Assembly is likely to pass a draft resolution on Tuesday that mirrors the language of a demand for a ceasefire blocked by a US veto in the 15-member Security Council last week.

While General Assembly resolutions are not binding, they carry political weight on the world stage.

Some diplomats predict the coming vote will win more support than the assembly's October call for 'an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce.'

The United States has backed Israel's position that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas, although it has also called on its ally to do more to limit harm to civilians.

US President Joe Biden told a White House celebration for the Jewish holiday of Hannukah on Monday that his commitment to Israel was 'unshakeable'.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Israel was no exception to US policy that any country receiving U.S. weapons must comply with the laws of war.
The boy was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital where he was pronounced dead

An 11-year-old boy has died after being found with a shoelace around his neck at the Stratford Arms Hotel on the Upper West Side on Monday

An 11-year-old boy has died at a New York City hotel housing migrants after being found in the building's lobby with a shoelace tied around his neck.

The boy was found unconscious in the lobby of the Stratford Arms Hotel on the Upper West Side on Monday evening, police said.

The unresponsive child, who was living at the hotel, was found by authorities around 5pm.

He was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to police.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing and no further details will be released until a family member has been notified, an NYPD spokesperson said on Tuesday morning.

The boy was found unconscious in the lobby of the Stratford Arms Hotel on Monday

The 11-year-old was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to police

The medical examiner is expected to determine that call of death, but did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

The hotel on West 70th Street has been used as temporary housing by authorities during the surge in migrants arriving in New York over the past year.

In September single migrants were moved from the hotel to a facility on Randall's Island to make room for migrant families, The New York Post reported.

Mayor Eric Adams has introduced a 30 day limit for single adults in temporary shelter housing.

Adam's administration has been struggling to deal with a massive surge of migrants that has seen over 140,000 arrive since last year.

'I don't see an ending to this. This issue will destroy New York City,' Adams declared in September.

Adams has estimated the city will spend $12 billion over the next three years to handle the influx, setting up large-scale emergency shelters, renting out hotels and providing various government services for migrants.

Earlier this month the Democrat announced a $110.5 billion budget, claiming cuts across all departments were necessary after the city spent $1.45 billion in fiscal 2023 on the migrant crisis.

Adam's administration has been struggling to deal with a massive surge of migrants that has seen over 140,000 arrive since last year

Hundreds of asylum seekers waiting for accommodation lined 7th street and Avenue B in Manhattan in November

Ibrahim, from Chad, (far left) has been waiting for five days to be given new temporary housing, and claimed officials keep telling him to come back the next day

Many of the migrants DailyMail.com spoke to recalled a man getting hypothermic while waiting and being taken to the hospital after 911 was called

The budget cuts would cause NYPD officers to be cut by a fifth, or 13.5 percent, by postponing the next five academy classes, bringing officers below 30,000 - down from 36,000.

Education would also take a $1 billion hit over two years and it would cause a delay in the rollout of composting in the Bronx and Staten Island, causing reduced trash pick-ups as well as cuts to the city's pre-K programs.

The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library also would need to eliminate Sunday service due to the budget cut.

'Without sufficient funding, we cannot sustain our current levels of service, and any further cuts to the Libraries' budgets will, unfortunately, result in deeper service impacts,' the libraries said in a statement.

The cuts would also decrease funding for two children's programs: summer school and universal prekindergarten.

Adams has long warned about the potential of budget cuts to help offset the rise in costs for housing migrants. He has pleaded with the federal government for more resources, but they have fallen on deaf ears.
An Irish teacher who refused to refer to a transitioning transgender student as 'they' rather than 'he' in May last year is set to spend Christmas in prison.

Enoch Burke was jailed for a second time in September for ignoring a court order that banned him from the grounds of his former school in Ireland's Co Westmeath.

A review of his detention was held at the High Court today where Burke refused to purge his contempt by giving an undertaking that he would obey the court order to stay away from Wilson's Hospital School, from which he was fired last year.

Lawyers for the school said the former teacher refused to purge his contempt, and that they would ask with 'great reluctance' that he stay in Dublin's Mountjoy Prison.

The judge said it was clear Mr Burke had no intention of purging his contempt, and that he saw no reason to release him until he did so.

The next review will be held February 27, the judge said, adding that Burke could come to court to give assurances that he would abide by the order at any time.

Burke, an Evangelical Christian, has spent 95 days in prison after he was jailed on September 9, and he will now remain in prison over Christmas.

The row broke out more than a year ago, when during a meeting in 2022 with the headteacher and his deputy, Burke said that his beliefs meant he 'opposed transgenderism'.

The detention of Irish teacher Enoch Burke - who refused to refer to a transitioning transgender student as 'they' rather than 'he' in May last year - is set to be reviewed today

Following this, Burke publicly criticised the headteacher's 'demand' that staff use students' chosen pronouns, following a service at the Church of Ireland school to celebrate its 260th anniversary

Burke was accused of 'breaching the confidence' of the transitioning student, and as a result, the teacher was suspended with pay.

He was later fired for gross misconduct in August last year.

However, Burke continued showing up at the school - prompting his former employer to obtain a court order to get him to stay away from the grounds.

In September last year, Burke was jailed for 100 days for ignoring the court order.

During an appeal, the teacher argued that he was being imprisoned because of his Christian beliefs, and was released days before Christmas 2022.

But Burke was imprisoned for the second time in September this year for refusing to stay away from the school again  and has been told he will remain in prison indefinitely until he agrees to comply with the court order.

In order to secure his release, he has to 'purge his contempt' - something he has previously said he cannot do because of his religion beliefs.

His loyal family, who are known for their radical religious activism and involvement in other high court legal cases, continue to protest at the school.

They were also present at Tuesday's hearing, with the judge having to rise five time throughout due to interruptions from Mr Burke's mother Martina, sister Ammi, father Sean and brother Isaac - as well as Burke's own submissions.

The judge said these submissions had nothing to do with the sole issue before the court, according to Ireland's public service broadcaster RTE.

The judge also said that it was regrettable that he had to rise on a number of occasions to maintain order in the court, and that police were needed to intervene.

RTE reported the judge as saying the 'tag team nature' of the interruptions - presumably by the family - showed they have been done to cause maximum disruption, and that they would not be tolerated.

The Burke family maintain Enoch is being persecuted for his Christian beliefs  while his supporters have insisted the whole 'country is behind him'.

However, others less sympathetic to the cause view his stubborn refusal and his family's protests as attention seeking, with one newspaper columnist pointing out that the Burkes 'like to get their own way'.

The family, from Castlebar, County Mayo, are fundamentalist evangelical Christians.

Parents Martina and Sean Burke have ten children - Ammi, Elijah, Enoch, Esther, Isaac, Jemima, Josiah, Keren, Kezia, and Simeon.

They have hit the headlines in the past due to their anti-LGBT protests, including in 2017, 2018 and 2019 when they protests the annual gay pride parade in Castlebar.

It was also revealed in 2023 by the Irish independent that Enoch spent several thousands of euros on Facebook advertisements attacking LGBT politicians such as Katherine Zappone and Maria Walsh during the 2019 EU parliament elections.

Burke has been jailed twice for refusing to stay away from Wilson's Hospital School (pictured), as he had been ordered to do by the courts

His loyal family, who are known for their radical religious activism and involvement in other high court legal cases, continue to protest at the school

The saga began in spring 2022 when headteacher Niamh McShane sent an email to her staff informing them of the student's new name and pronouns.

After receiving the email, Burke is said to have raised his issue with the change of pronouns during a staff meeting on May 10.

While giving evidence in a later trial, deputy headteacher John Galligan said that Burke 'erupted' during the meeting and 'changed colour completely'.

In a follow-up meeting between the headteacher, her deputy and Burke, Mr Galligan claimed the jailed teacher repeated how he was 'opposed to transgenderism' as a result of his religion.

Following this, Burke is said to have publicly interjected after a religious service celebrating the school's 260th anniversary to criticise Ms McShane's supposed 'demand' that staff refer to the student by their chosen pronouns.

Following the chapel service, Burke is alleged to have approached the headteacher at a meal where he asked her to withdraw her 'demand' again.

As a result of this, the headteacher believed Burke was guilty of gross misconduct  as other students may not have been aware the student was transitioning.

Ms Freda Malone, who worked at the school as a guidance counsellor, claims Burke 'breached the confidence' of the student on two occasions during that occasion.

Speaking at a High Court hearing in March this year, Ms Malone said the headteacher was escorted home by other guests at the event and they later 'formed a ring' around her home out of concern for her safety.

In August last year, Ms McShane submitted a stage-four report to the chair of the board John Rogers about Burke's outbursts  which prompted the representative to arrange a meeting with the teacher. The purpose of the meeting was to decide if Burke should be suspended or face any kind of disciplinary.

After this, the board made the unanimous decision to place Burke on paid leave while they dealt with the misconduct allegation.

Enoch Burke is seen being removed by Gardai on January 25 after following a bus through school gates, despite a court order banning him from the grounds

Enoch's siblings Ammi and Josiah Burke seen outside an Irish court in October 2023. The pair have been vocal in their support of Enoch

Despite being put on leave, Burke is said to have attended a staff meeting at the start of the school year. After repeatedly arriving on school grounds, Burke was allegedly asked to leave 'every hour' by the deputy head.

In May 2023, the Irish High Court ruled that the school had acted lawfully in suspending Burke and said Enoch had been 'trespassing' on their grounds.

In an attempt to keep Burke away from the premises while they conducted the investigation, the school took out a temporary court order against the teacher  which still didn't deter him.

In August last year, Enoch was sued by the school for his failure to comply with the court order and later arrested for being in contempt of court.

At his initial hearing on September 6 that year, Mr Burke told Judge Quinn: 'I am a teacher and I don't want to go to prison. I want to be in my classroom today, that's where I was this morning when I was arrested.'

'I love my school, with its motto Res Non Verba, actions not words, but I am here today because I said I would not call a boy a girl.'

When the case went to the High Court the following week, Burke, who was representing himself, maintained that he would not purge his contempt of court for violating the order, insisting that he was being persecuted for his faith.

When asked by Judge Eileen Roberts if he would abide by the order, Burke said: 'I cannot do that. I go back to jail as a law-abiding citizen of the state always. But God first.' Addressing the court, Burke said: 'The question is not will I purge my contempt but how this court order could have been granted?

'The court is asking me to purge my contempt, but this court has robbed me of my constitutional right. It was wrong what the court did. How can I purge my contempt of that which is wrong?'

But Judge Roberts disagreed with his argument. The teacher was escorted out of the court to prison by three prison guards to loud applause from the public gallery with many hollering: 'The country is with you Enoch.'

Pictured: Enoch Burke seen outside Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath one week after he was dismissed in January 2023

Dozens of people packed the public gallery shouting 'disgrace' and 'shame' following the judge's decision - something that would become a theme of future hearings.

The teacher served more than 100 days behind bars before being released on December 21 last year on an 'open-ended- basis.

On January 18, Burke and his family interrupted a school board meeting, which was being held at the Mullingar Park Hotel in Westmeath, with police intervening.

Two days later, it was announced that Burke had officially been dismissed from his position at the school for for intimidating and harassing a colleague and breaching the confidence of the child who was in the process of transitioning.

At the time, a statement from the school read: 'He was informed in person at 3:30pm this afternoon in the presence of chairperson of the board of management John Rogers and principal Frank Milling that he was dismissed.'

One week later, the High Court ruled that Burke would be fined 700 a day if he continued ignoring the court order which requires him to stay away from the school.

Burke appealed the board's decision to dismiss him  which resulted in the case going to the Irish High Court in March.

Mr Justice Owens excluded the teacher on the first day after he continually interrupted proceedings and refused to comply with rules.

Scenes of pandemonium broke out at the Court of Appeal, as Burke, his parents and three of his siblings were physically dragged out of the courtroom by gardai.

Enoch's mother, Martina Burke, accused the judges of 'bowing to the altar of transgenderism' while waving a copy of the Constitution.

His sister Ammi, a solicitor, also attempted to argue with the judges mid-ruling, saying her brother's constitutional rights were not being upheld. The judge asked her to sit down, and then requested that gardai remove her.

During the hearing, Freda Malone said the school was concerned for the transgender student's safety and feared Burke would continue making public protests in front of other students.

Meanwhile, Mr Galligan discussed Burke's initial outburst at the staff meeting and his repeated attempts to remove the teacher from the premises during his suspension.

Irish teacher Enoch Burke leaves the the Court of Appeal in Dublin, following a unanimous ruling to dismiss his appeal against court orders made against him, Tuesday March 7, 2023

Burke's sister Ammi is forcibly removed from the Court of Appeal in March for interrupting a judgment being read out

Following the hearing, Justice Owens made an order restraining Burke from trespassing on the school premises  but noted that this did not prevent him from being outside the gates.

In July, Burke was ordered to pay 15,000 to Wilson's Hospital School to cover their legal fees and for damages.

Appearing before Justice Alexander Owens, Burke said that objecting to people being transgender was his right.

Then in September, Burke was jailed for a second time after refusing to comply with the High Court order.

The school's new headteacher Frank Milling said that having to lock doors was creating a health and safety issue for faculty.

On top of this, the headteacher said he was unable to carry out some of his everyday duties as he has to monitor Burke  who has been known to follow cars through the gates.

After gaining access by following a bus in January, Mr Milling  who has expressed concern for how the situation is impacting current students  told Burke: 'Stop. Stop. Get off the property.'

Despite being removed from the premises by two uniformed gardai, Burke returned to the gates following his release later that same day.

Speaking at the gates, Burke told local press that he had been 'wrongfully arrested' for trespassing and insisted he has 'broken no laws' and 'done nothing wrong', the Irish Independent reports.

Justice Mark Heslin said there was 'no dispute' that Burke has 'fragrantly breached' court orders to stay away from the school.

Former history and German teacher Burke seen arriving at the Four Courts in Dublin after being dismissed by the school

As a result, the judge ordered that Burke remain in prison 'indefinitely' until he agrees to follow the court order and not return to his old workplace.

After finding Burke to be in contempt of court, Justice Mark Heslin asked the teacher on three occasions if he understood the order against him. However, Burke remained silent.

Burke was returned to Mountjoy Prison  where he spent his first prison sentence  and was told he could be released if he agreed to stay away from the school.

The former teacher has been imprisoned at the facility since September 8 and has been participating in court hearings via video link.
Another day and another poll with bad news for President Joe Biden.

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll - like many other polls over the past month - found Donald Trump in the lead. Even more worriesome for Democrats, the poll shows independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. takes votes away from Biden and 60% of voters say they want another option when it comes to the 2024 presidential race.

It's the latest in a series of bad numbers for Biden: polls from the Wall Street Journal, CNN, Emerson and others show Trump is head when it comes to next year's election. The former president leads by 2 points in the RealClearPolitics polling average.

But the looming election rematch next year between Biden and Trump would be closely fought with both candidates saddled with profound vulnerabilities that could cost them the White House.

Biden, an 81-year-old Democrat, continues to be plagued by voters' doubts about the strength of the economy, as well as concerns about the security of the U.S.-Mexico border and worries about crime.

Trump, 77, faces his own worries, including four criminal trials on a bevy of charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his handling of classified documents. A conviction prior to the Nov. 5, 2024, election could cost him significant support, the Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

The poll showed Trump with a marginal 2-point lead in a head-to-head matchup, 38% to 36%, with 26% of respondents saying they weren't sure or might vote for someone else.

The poll, conducted online Dec. 5-11, surveyed 4,411 U.S. adults nationwide and had a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of about 2 percentage points.

Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination by a wide margin, the poll showed.

Overall, the poll showed deep apathy among many voters at a potential Biden-Trump rematch. About six in ten respondents said they were not satisfied with America's two-party system and want a third choice.

They may have one, in the form of anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has launched an independent bid. The poll showed that Kennedy, part of the storied political family, could draw more support from Biden than Trump.

Trump's lead widened to a 5-point advantage when respondents were given an option to vote for Kennedy.

Some 16% of respondents picked Kennedy when given the option, while Trump had 36% support, compared to 31% for Biden.

Kennedy, whose uncle John F. Kennedy served as president and whose father, Robert, was a senator and attorney general, faces a challenge to amass enough signatures to get on the ballot on all 50 states.

President Joe Biden has been trailing in most polls of the 2024 presidential race for the past month

Donald Trump not only leads Joe Biden in polls for the 2024 presidential race, he also leads in polls for the Republican nomination

Polls show voters would like alternative candidate like Robert F Kennedy Jr

Last week, a super PAC fundraising committee backing Kennedy's bid said it would spend up to $15 million to get Kennedy on the ballot in 10 states as a starting measure.

Third-party candidates have affected the outcome of U.S. elections even without winning. In 1992, a strong showing by Ross Perot helped put Democrats Bill Clinton in the White House and in 2000, some Democrats blamed Ralph Nader's bid for contributing to Al Gore's loss to Republican George W Bush.

The state-by-state Electoral College system used to pick presidents, and deep-seated partisan divides, mean that voters in just a handful of states will play a decisive role in the election's outcome.

In the seven states where the election was closest in 2020 -- Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina and Michigan -- Biden had a 4-point lead among Americans who said they were sure to vote.

Other polls have shown that some voters are concerned about Biden's advanced age. He would be the oldest president ever elected to a second term.

But his candidacy likely will be buttressed by the public's continued support of abortion rights, as well as his advocacy for gun control, climate-change measures and higher taxes on the ultra-rich, the new poll showed.

The survey also highlighted the significant risks to Trump's campaign as he faces a series of criminal trials next year. Some 31% of Republican respondents said they would not vote for Trump if he was convicted of a felony crime by a jury. He has denied any criminal wrongdoing.

Some 45% of respondents said Trump was the better candidate for handling the economy, compared to 33% who picked Biden.

Biden, however, had a similar advantage on the issue of abortion, with 44% of respondents saying he was the better candidate for abortion access, compared to 29% who picked Trump.

Some of Trump's strength also appeared tied to concerns by some voters about crime and immigration. Asked which candidate was better on the issues, 42% picked Trump on crime compared to 32% who selected Biden.

Fifty-four percent of respondents agreed with a statement that "immigration is making life harder for native-born Americans," with a similar share saying Trump was the better candidate for the issue.
A bestselling author and Rabbi slammed a recent controversial 'Saturday Night Live' skit, claiming it constituted a 'complete breakdown of comedy.'

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman argued that the skit, which mocked Elise Stefanik, was proof of the perceived 'hypocrisy and toxicity' within liberal ideology.

The NBC show is facing massive backlash over its 'tone-deaf' sketch depicting testimony by the presidents of Harvard, UPenn and MIT regarding anti-Semitism at the nation's top universities.

Reichman highlighted the missed opportunity for the show to satirize the absurdity of the 'postmodern ideology' instead of mocking Stefanik.

'SNL chooses to make fun of Elise Stefanik instead of actually calling out what is perhaps the funniest and most egregious violation of the postmodern philosophy for the past decade,' Reichman told Fox News Digital.

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman, author of 'The Journey to Your Ultimate Self,' argued that the skit, which mocked Elise Stefanik, was proof of the perceived 'hypocrisy and toxicity' within liberal ideology

Reichman, also said the skit was the 'most embarrassing' he has ever seen on X, formerly Twitter

He argued that the skit exemplifies the decline of comedy, adding that comedians are stifled by cancel culture unless they adhere to the prescribed narrative.

'SNL is basically losing any credibility it has left of trying to actually be funny,' he added. 'No one watches it anyways, but it was funny and that's why it went viral of people seeing just how sad the left agenda has become.'

'What we have, basically, here is one of the most fascinating expressions of a complete breakdown of morality, but also a real expression of what postmodernism has become,' Reichman said.

Reichman, author of 'The Journey to Your Ultimate Self,' argued that the skit represents a broader breakdown of truth, postmodern ideology, and comedy itself.

'Now, for the past decade, what the left has done is they've weaponized speech. They said that if you use the wrong pronoun, if you say something that hurt someone's feelings because they identify in some way, and you have violated their internal identity, even though it's impossible to play a game because people can choose their identity every single day and there's no way to actually structure that legally,' Reichman said to Fox News Digital.

'They have weaponized that in order to further the agenda of breaking down the path, breaking down history, breaking down tradition, breaking down religion, and bringing in a new era of thought,' he continued. 'It's hypocritical. It makes no sense.'

Saturday Night Live continues to face massive backlash over its 'tone-deaf' sketch of the Congressional hearings of anti-Semitism on campus

He criticized SNL' for becoming a mere 'megaphone of the agenda' and losing credibility as a source of genuine humor.

Reichman said postmodernism is the erosion of truth and reality, undermining established structures and principles.

According to the Rabbi, postmodernists reject traditional values, viewing religion as outdated, and seek to dismantle societal norms for a perceived utopian society.

'It's the unspoken new religion, the new cult, the new in-ideology of postmodernism,' he said.

Reichman suggested that the skit's viral nature highlights the sad state of the left's agenda, and a departure from the show's comedic roots.

Reichman also emphasized the recent focus on Israel, calling out the left for criticizing the state because it represents a religious democracy, and claimed the idea challenged the leftist goal of eliminating structured traditions and ideas.

'Now, why has the left come out against Israel for the past couple of months? Because Israel represents the left's worst nightmare. Israel is a religious democracy, and the left wants to do away with religion, with essentially any structured tradition of ideas,' Reichman said.

The rabbi also criticized the response of college presidents to calls for the death of Jews, and questioned the inconsistency in applying guidelines that would swiftly penalize offenses in other contexts.

He furthermore called out the left for weaponizing speech and canceling individuals for minor offenses while ignoring more severe transgressions.

Reichman condemned the skit as the 'most embarrassing' he has ever seen on X, formerly Twitter.

Former SNL star Strong was set to play Rep. Elise Stefanik in the sketch, but was replaced by newcomer Chloe Troast after the dress rehearsal

Former SNL star Cecily Strong reportedly backed out of the controversial skit about the congressional hearings on anti-Semitism on campus, according to a new report.

Strong, 39, was scheduled to play Rep. Elise Stefanik on Saturday's and even participated in the dress rehearsal before the live show.

However, she changed her mind at the last minute, sources told The New York Post, and was replaced by newcomer newcomer Chloe Troast.

The NBC show is facing massive backlash over its 'tone-deaf' sketch depicting testimony by the presidents of Harvard, UPenn and MIT regarding anti-Semitism at the nation's top universities.

Fox News' The Five host Greg Gutfeld was one of many critics of the sketch, writing on X: 'how to explain SNL siding with Ivy league neoracists? wondering what colleges their writers attended.'
Donations to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Archewell Foundation have plunged by $11million (8.7m) in the past year - leaving it with losses of 537k - with boss and the couple's right-hand man James Holt handed a massive 280% pay rise, it was revealed today.

The Sussexes have released their charity's annual report and a glitzy promotional film showing their good works in 2023 - but it has also emerged that its finances have dived.

An income tax return filed in the US revealed today that in 2022 donations were down to just over $2million (1.6m) - down from $12.9million (10.3m) in 2021, an astonishing drop of $11million (8.7m).

And 2021's profit of $9million (7.1m) has nosedived amid a lack of donations. The Archewell Foundation recorded a loss of $674,485 (536,357) for last year because revenue was $2million but costs were $2.67million.

Last year there were only two major donors giving around $1million (795,210) each. The year before an unidentified wealthy donor gave them $10million but there was no repeat in 2022.

It follows a tumultuous year for the couple, which saw Harrys vitriolic memoir, Spare, top the bestseller lists but their personal popularity ratings tumble.

They were also the subject of ridicule by popular televisions shows such as South Park and Family Guy, lambasted after claims about a reportedly near catastrophic car chase in New York and lost their lucrative podcast deal with Spotify, where one senior executive labelled them ******* grifters.

The couple set up their Archewell Foundation after quitting the Royal Family and say it is an impact-driven global nonprofit that puts compassion into action which is committed to a simple but profound mission: show up, do good.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have released a video showing Archewell's 2023 'impact' - but their annual report also reveals that their foundation has recorded a loss

The foundation has filed its annual tax return showing donations have plunged (top set of circled figures) and a profit has turned into a loss (bottom, circled) - but they do still have cash in the bank

The foundation's highest paid employee is Meghan and Harry's right-hand man James Holt (right with the couple in their Netflix Invictus documentary). He was paid $227,405 a year ($180,835), including a $20,000 (15,904) bonus

This section of the report shows two contributions of $1million each (800,000) to Archewell

The Foundation employed five people, with salaries totaling $640,441 (509,285) for the year. Harry and Meghan did not take a salary.

But executive director James Holt, considered the Sussexes' right-hand man since Megxit, was paid $227,405 a year (180,835), including a $20,000 (15,904) bonus. This was around a $170,000 (133,000) pay rise, up from his starting salary of $59,846 (47,641) the year before.

Holt's 2021 salary did not reflect a full 12 months of work because he joined in the middle of the year, it is understood.

Despite the loss in 2022, it appears that the foundation, described as a 'non-profit' organisation, still holds around $8.3milllion (6.6m) in cash and assets.

The charity still has reserves available and an Archewell spokesperson contested Holt's pay rise.

The spokesperson said the accounts showed the charity was doing well and managed its finances aptly and would likely have millions to spend each year.

High-profile foundations sometimes receive a large amount of funding in the first year which is then used over the course of several years. If a foundation already has a large amount of money in the bank this may lead them to reduce future fundraising.

Harry and Meghan have released a video showing Archewell's 2023 'impact' just hours after the Princess of Wales shared a clip of herself at a baby bank with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The royal couple shared a one-minute clip showing people and causes their foundation has helped throughout 2023. They have shared similar videos in the past, but usually not until January.

This release, just hours after Kate was praised for the sweet footage of the Wales children at at Windsor baby bank, may now raise eyebrows in royal circles.

Perhaps in a bid to show they are a hands-on couple, the video shows them hugging veterans, packing bags for school girls in Nigeria and taking selfies with dozens of supporters.

It comes as brand experts have warned of the demise of 'Brand Sussex' following the fallout from Omid Scobie's poison-penned book Endgame, which attacked the Royal Family and named Kate and King Charles as 'expressing concern' about Prince Archie's skin tone before he was born.

The Duchess of Sussex recently signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME) mega-agent Ari Emanuel whose clients include Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Serena Williams and other A-Listers - but WME is reportedly having second thoughts.

The new slick video, certainly appears to be a bid to show the couple as global players, and put them both front and centre throughout.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW

The foundation's high end video includes a clip of Harry and Meghan at a mental health summit in New York as they show the charity's good works

The clip show's Meghan Markle's visit to a charity to help military families

The Duchess of Sussex , 42, visited the Fisher House Foundation, a charity that provides homes for military families while their loved ones are in hospital

The Wales children helped their mother and volunteers pick out donations and make boxes to go to children in need for Christmas. From left: Louis, Kate, George and Charlotte

It includes footage from Meghan's visit to the Fisher House Foundation in Los Angeles, as well as the couple's calls to entrepreneurs, visits to New York to speak at a mental health summit and a trip to the Marcy Lab School in Brooklyn throughout 2023.

It also shows workers rebuilding a playground in Uvalde, Texas, following a massacre that killed 21 - including 19 children - in 2022.

Another clip from August showed Harry and Meghan calling young entrepreneurs, to tell them initiatives they run received a share of $2million in grants.

Shiny footage also shows a glammed-up Meghan hosting a panel discussion at the World Mental Health Day Festival in what marked their first-ever in-person event for the Archewell Foundation.

It comes hours after the Princess of Wales shared a clip of herself with Prince George, Princes Louis and Princess Charlotte at a baby bank in Windsor.

The Wales children helped their mother and volunteers pick out donations and make boxes to go to children in need for Christmas.

While sorting through piles of donated clothes, George, ten, and Charlotte, eight, folded up items with their mother Kate.

But unlike his older siblings Louis, five, picked up and lobbed a T-shirt on to the neat pile.

Harry and Meghan also published a 25-page impact report alongside the video, with Meghan revealing she was inspired to do work with Archewell following her time in the Firm.

While a working member of the royal family, Meghan supported the Hubb Community Kitchen for women following the Grenfell Tower fire.

She now works for a similar group called the Welcome Project.

'As with the Hubb Community Kitchen, The Welcome Project uses the power of food to bring people together,' the report states.

The report also explains that the pair are 'committed to a simple but profound mission to show up and do good'.

'Our work, especially this year, has been rooted in fostering community and remaining responsive to those in need amidst the evolving challenges we encounter in today's world.'

It explains the foundation has helped to provide 3,176 hours of trauma-informed mental health support to those in the earthquakes of Turkey and Syria, while also helping more than 2,500 girls in Nigeria receive menstrual products and health education.

Other achievements include supporting recently resettled Afghan women.

The shiny video may be a slick attempt to put Meghan and Harry on the global stage again.

Meghan recently appeared on the red carpet at Variety's 'Power of Women' gala where she teased 'exciting' new projects for her and Harry. She also sat with two of LA's most powerful women, one working for the Oscars and another high up at Universal Studios.

But Mark Borkowski, one of Britain's most experienced crisis managers, has said he believes that Omid Scobie's Endgame - and the royal race row it sparked - has 'backfired spectacularly' for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

He is also convinced that the farrago over the Dutch translation naming King Charles and Kate 'was clearly a publicity stunt', a claim Mr Scobie denies.

Mr Borkowski has said that Meghan's Hollywood relaunch is 'clearly not working'. He claims that her new talent agency WME may be considering dropping her after less than six months amid signs the 'Hollywood machine' has 'probably had enough of them'.

He previously told MailOnline: 'Something is beginning to unwind at the heart of Meghan and Harry. I think 2024 is going to be seismic, either because they're going to do something to recover and find a new positive tactic or it's going to be the undoing of the brand. It can only go one or two ways. It can't stay where it is at the moment. Because it's clearly not working'.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle paid a visit to a Brooklyn school, with the duchess wearing a letterman jacket she was gifted during her last solo engagement as a working royal

The visit came ahead of their appearance at New York City's Hudson Yards for the Archewell Foundation Parents' Summit: Mental Wellness in a Digital Age

Meghan was gifted the jacket by the Senior Debate Squad during a visit to Robert Clack School in support of International Women's Day in 2020 before she left the royal family (pictured)

He said the couple's brand could be 'finished' in the next year because they are viewed so negatively, in part because of the dignified silence from the Royal Family in the face of 'constant' attacks by the Sussexes and their allies.

He said: 'We've see countless appearances of Meghan on red carpets. The story of her being back in play in Hollywood is is all about Meghan trying to return to her own turf and being available for work and getting back to Hollywood.

'But I would suggest they are getting perhaps conveniently left behind by the Hollywood machine, who have probably had enough of them and enough of the negativity.

'They're hinting their big plans ahead, but you know, we've heard that all before. So they have to deliver something now'.

On rumours WME might drop Meghan he said: 'I suspect this is in fact true. It just shows that constant erosion of the institution is not working.'

Brand and culture expert Nick Ede told MailOnline that Endgame could be as dangerous for her career as Spare - her husband's memoir - was for Prince Harry, claiming her representatives in LA will be worried she has 'tarnished her reputation and could potentially damage the reputation of her agency'.

Mr Ede believes Meghan could soon become 'too hot to handle' after two members of Harry's family were named as being at the centre of the race row allegations in a Dutch version of the book. He also claimed that the silence from the Sussexes since the book came out makes Meghan look 'guilty by association', despite vehement claims by Mr Scobie, who is an ally of the actress, and her friends that she had nothing to do with the book.

Meghan and Harry paid their respect to troops in clip shown in the video, which showed them at the opening of a new veterans' training facility in San Diego

Meghan Markle opted for a $1,490 Carolina Hererra cardigan - emblazoned with poppies - to meet with military veterans and their families at Camp Pendleton in San Diego

Mr Ede said: 'The book written by Omid Scobie is potentially a career incendiary device for Meghan. Just as Harry's own goal of a book has proved for him, the new book by Scobie unfortunately has fuelled a fire which many had thought would die down.

'The issue for a huge Hollywood agent is that they will find it hard to navigate the career of Meghan fearing that more will come out over time and that, with court cases looming from her sister and potentially her father, she has tarnished her reputation and could potentially damage the reputation of her agency.

Footage also shows the couple's appearance at The Marcy Lab School in Brooklyn, which aims to prepare 'young adults of colour for rewarding, wealth-generating careers in the tech sector' within just one year of education.

Footage shows the duo posing alongside several students at the school, with the Duchess sporting black skinny jeans, a form-fitting black top, and a pair of Jennifer Chamandi heels  along with the letterman jacket that she received from a debate team at a school in the UK in March 2020.

Another clip shows the couple meeting with military veterans and their families at Camp Pendleton in San Diego.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined the Navy SEAL Foundation for the official opening of a new veterans training facility, known as the 'warrior fitness programme', ahead of Veterans Day on November 11.

Meghan and Harry's Archewell Foundation has teamed up with the Nigeria-based GEANCO Foundation to support schoolgirls in the West African nation

As well as providing backpacks and other school supplies, Archewell and GEANCO are also providing period products

The Archewell Foundation has provided funds to support schoolgirls in the West African nation as they begin a new term

Another clip shows school girls in Nigeria receiving backpacks.

Archewell funded a project based in Nigeria called the The GEANCO Foundation, which provides school supplies and period products to girls and young women in the West African nation.

It came after the Duchess of Sussex bonded with Nigerian athletes at the Invictus Games after finding out she had Nigerian ancestry, and said she couldn't wait to visit the country 'for [her] mum and the kids'.

At the opening ceremony for the tournament, Prince Harry revealed that his wife would be lending its athletes her personal support after finding through a genealogy test that she is 43 per cent Nigerian.

In the subsequent days, she was seen hugging a competitor and describing her as 'my Nigerian sister', before being introduced to further members of the team and the defence chief, who gave her a nickname - Amira Ngozi Lolo - she could use if she ever visits the country.

Another clip shows Meghan on International Women's Day visiting a homeless shelter for pregnant women, handing out essential supplies to expectant mothers on behalf of Archewell.

In a $4,000 black cashmere Max Mara coat worn over black cropped trousers and a black woollen sweater, Meghan and her team at Archewell distributed baby gifts.
Robert Jenrick led Tory attacks on Rishi Sunak's Rwanda plans today during a bad-tempered Commons debate.

Mr Jenrick, who plunged the PM into chaos by quitting as immigration minister last week, branded parts of the emergency legislation 'sophistry' and warned it will not work.

He said that tougher action is needed because 'the public are watching' and will not tolerate failure - although in a hopeful sign for the government he did suggest he will not vote against the proposals outright, adding 'let's make it better'.

Meanwhile, Labour claimed that the UK is now set to hand the African nation 400million after Home Secretary James Cleverly confirmed another 50million is due next year.

But Mr Cleverly mounted a robust defence, saying the government is determined to 'stop the boats' and 'that is what voting for this legislation means'.

Mr Sunak is facing the biggest test of his premiership as he fends off demands for the government to toughen up emergency legislation to revive the deportation scheme.

An hour-long breakfast summit at No10 - where potential rebels including Lee Anderson, the Conservative deputy chairman, Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger were served bacon rolls - failed to break the deadlock this morning.

And there have been complaints that ministers are 'winding people up' with their approach.

Critics have been warning that 'major surgery' is still needed to fix the flagship Bill, with around 29 Tories voting against or 57 abstentions needed to thwart the premier.

It would be the first time since 1986 that a government Bill has not secured a second reading, which is usually a formality before amendments are brought later in the process.

But MPs said Mr Sunak gave no real ground, and after the discussions took to social media to insist that his party must 'back this bill'.

A No10 source stressed that the text as it stands has been 'drafted with close attention to detail' and flatly rejected suggestions that the Bill could be pulled.

Some right-wingers are concerned that Labour will abstain if the legislation gets to third reading, effectively robbing them of their opportunity to halt it. MailOnline understands the ERG bloc is holding another meet at 5.15pm to make a final decision on tactics before voting starts at 7pm.

In a sign of alarm among Tory whips, Net Zero minister Graham Stuart is being dragged back from the COP28 summit in Abu Dhabi to vote, before heading back to the Middle East in a near-7,000 mile round trip.

Robert Jenrick led Tory attacks on Rishi Sunak's Rwanda plans today during a bad-tempered Commons debate

Home Secretary James Cleverly mounted a robust defence, saying the government is determined to 'stop the boats' and 'that is what voting for this legislation means'

Tory MPs include Jonathan Gullis, Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger (left, second left third left) arrived at No10 this morning for talks with the PM

Tory deputy chair Lee Anderson (right) was also among the guests arriving at Downing Street today

MPs on one Commons committee have been ordered to cancel a Caribbean visit in order to take part in the showdown.

A Commons defeat today would mark the first time that a Government has failed to get legislation past a first reading since 1986, when Margaret Thatcher wanted to scrap restrictive Sunday trading laws.

No10 has been playing down the prospect of amending the Bill at a later stage, arguing that the text goes as far as possible without breaching international law.

The 'five families' trying to make Rishi an offer he cannot refuse The New Conservatives A right-wing traditionalist group led by evangelical Christians Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger. Its ranks are drawn mainly from MPs first elected in 2019, with a lot of Red Wall politicians including Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson involved. was only formed in May but has made headlines agitating for a more hardline party that is tough on immigration, pro-traditional families and strong in fighting the culture war. It has called for a hard cap on migrant numbers. European Research Group An older Brexiteeer group on the right of the party which came to the fore during the Brexit years under Jacob Rees-Mogg. It played a key role in organising opposition to Theresa May and has continued to be a thorn in the side of the Government when it wants to be. Led now by Mark Francois it has convened a 'star chamber' led by veteran eurosceptic Bill cash to run the rule over the Rwanda law. Common Sense Group Another informal group on the right led by Suella Braverman ally Sir John Hayes and Sir Edward Leigh. In 2021 it backed a 'Britain Uncancelled' campaign with Sir John launching a blistering attack on statue-toppling, politically correct woke warriors, and demanded to know why Whitehall departments granted 'huge sums of money' to groups that were 'entirely hostile to British values of fairness, open-mindedness, mutual respect and reasonableness'. One Nation Caucus A group of more than 100 MPs on the moderate wing of the party. It has described leaving the ECHR as a red line for its members. It is said to be unhappy at the law giving ministers unilateral plans to brand Rwanda as 'safe' and over-rule human rights laws and may yet refuse to back the new law in Parliament. Northern Research Group A group founded by ex-Tory chairman Sir Jake Berry to represent Conservatives in seats in the north of England, many of which switched from Labour for the first time at the last election. Less openly ideological than some of the other groups, but regards immigration as a key issue for its voters. Advertisement

Mr Jenrick said: 'This is not a bad Bill but it is not the best Bill. I want this Bill to work.

'The test of this policy is not 'is it the strongest Bill we've done?', it's not 'is it a good compromise?', it's 'will it work?'.

'That is all the public care about. They don't care about Rwanda as a scheme, they care about stopping the boats. And we are sent here to do that for them.

'I will never elevate contested notions of international law over the interests of my constituents, over vital national interests like national security, like border security.

'This Bill could be so much better, let's make it better. Let's make it work.'

Former Cabinet ministers Dame Priti Patel, Ben Wallace and David Davis have been mobilised as Downing Street desperately tries to contain the chaos, delivering a stark message that defeat for Mr Sunak could collapse the Government and force a general election.

Keir Starmer twisted the knife as he delivered a speech earlier today, saying that Mr Sunak must go to the country if he loses.

MPs Neil O'Brien, Marco Longhi, Jill Mortimer, Lia Nici and Alexander Stafford were also seen arriving for the meeting in No10 this morning.

According to a Conservative MP who was there, Mr Sunak avoided telling them he would amend the legislation.

'I think a lot of colleagues are falsely putting their hopes on amendments and will end up missing the opportunity to kill the Bill,' they said.

He added that he expected the Labour Party to abstain on the Bill's third reading, meaning there would not be enough votes to block it even with a rebellion.

He said: 'Some colleagues are deluding themselves if they think that they will have another shot.'

A No10 source said: 'It was a very useful meeting to hear MPs thoughts and discuss their concerns. The bill has been drafted with close attention to detail, with colleagues input helping to shape the legislation,' the source said.

'The tests set for the bill have been met and we will continue to listen to and engage with colleagues across the party as it passes through parliament. This bill will work and will do what we need it to do.'

Kicking off the second reading debate in the House, Mr Cleverly said: 'This Government is stopping the boats. Arrivals are down by a third this year as illegal entries are on the rise elsewhere in Europe.'

He said small boat arrivals are up by 80 per cent in the Mediterranean but down by a third across the English Channel.

The Home Secretary outlined steps the Government has taken so far, saying: 'These things are having an impact, and a positive one.'

He said returns agreements and cooperation agreements had been signed with other countries, saying 50 hotels are being 'returned to the local communities', and said the asylum backlog has gone from 92,000 to less than 20,000.

He added: 'We have sent back 22,000 illegal migrants. And the UK's arrangement with Albania proves that deterrents work.'

As the whipping operation became increasingly frantic, the PM's official spokesman confirmed Mr Stuart has returned from COP28 to attend Parliament, but would then be going back to Dubai.

Asked about the carbon emissions from the flights, the spokesman said: 'This Government is not anti-flying. We don't lecture the public to that regard. The most important thing is the outcomes of Cop, which Minister Stuart is obviously leading for the UK on.

'Ministers have a number of roles, the negotiations continue and he will return to Cop.'

Touring broadcast studios this morning illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson  who replaced Robert Jenrick after he resigned in protest at the legislation  insisted he is 'very much in listening mode'.

He told Sky News: 'They're not pesky rebels  they are respected colleagues who I have worked with.'

Mr Tomlinson said he is a former member of the ERG, one of the Tory factions critical of the Bill, and 'I know the concerns that colleagues have'.

'I knew the desire of colleagues right across the breadth of our broad church in the parliamentary party. What do they want? They want this Bill to work.

'The way I'm going to help to persuade them to support the Bill and to support us as we pass the Bill through Parliament is to help show that the Bill is actually going to work, because that's what we all want. We all want this legislation to work. And that is what I'm determined to do.'

Writing in the Mail today, Dame Priti urged fellow Right-wingers to unite behind the legislation and take the fight to Labour.

The former Home Secretary insisted: 'The choice all MPs face today is a stark one. To oppose the Rwanda Bill, do nothing and continue to offer succour to the evil people-smuggling gangs putting lives at risk and putting pressures on our asylum system.

'Or to vote in favour of the Bill, work with the government to improve it through considering amendments, and ensure the most robust measures to tackle illegal migration are finally implemented in conjunction with the Government of Rwanda.'

She added that now is the time for the Conservatives 'to work collectively' and to 'do the right thing' for the British public.

Mr Wallace also warned rebels not to 'wreck' the Government by voting against the bill.

Writing in the Telegraph, he told MPs not to 'make the perfect (but unrealistic) the enemy of the good'.

One senior Tory said the vote was 'looking tight'.

At one point yesterday, Conservative whips considered the drastic move of pulling the vote to avoid a potential defeat.

'Some of the rebels are sitting on big majorities and maybe don't care, but others are not in that position,' one source said.

'They should think very carefully about what the consequences might be if they vote this down.'

But government sources now insist the vote will go ahead after Tory moderates threw the PM a lifeline by backing him, despite 'real concerns' the plan could undermine Britain's commitment to international law.

The architect of the original Rwanda scheme says it would send 'a very powerful message to the public about our intent, credibility and ambition to tackle illegal migration if we calmly and collectively unite... to tackle illegal migration and the evil people smuggling gangs'.

Mr Davis predicted the legislation 'will go through' tonight.

He told LBC Radio that fellow Eurosceptics were 'playing with Brexit fire', referring to fears the rebels could reopen wounds from fighting over the UK's departure from the EU that the Tories thought had been healed years ago.

The Prime Minister will hold last-ditch talks with rebel MPs this morning aimed at heading off defeat when the Commons votes tonight on his legislation, designed to finally get deportation flights off the ground (file image)

He added: 'I'm not sure quite why they're doing it, unless they're being encouraged by people who have other interests.'

MPs on the Right warned they could vote down the plans after they published a legal opinion which warned that the legislation was an 'incomplete' solution  and said 'very significant amendments' were needed to ensure the scheme does not get bogged down by further legal challenges.

Mark Francois (left), chairman of the European Research Group (ERG), urged the PM to 'pull the Bill' because it had 'so many holes in it'

Mark Francois, chairman of the European Research Group (ERG), urged the PM to 'pull the Bill' because it had 'so many holes in it'.

Sir Simon Clarke, from the Conservative Growth Group, said 'there is no point frankly relitigating this issue unless it does work'.

Mr Sunak will make a final appeal for support at a breakfast meeting with MPs on the Tory Right today.

A spokesman for the New Conservatives said the 40-strong group believes the Bill 'needs major surgery or replacement and they will be making that plain in the morning to the PM at breakfast and over the next 24 hours'.

Priti Patel says MPs face a 'stark choice' over Rwanda Bill Writing in the Mail today, Priti Patel said: 'The choice all MPs face today is a stark one. To oppose the Rwanda Bill, do nothing and continue to offer succour to the evil people-smuggling gangs putting lives at risk and putting pressures on our asylum system. 'Or to vote in favour of the Bill, work with the government to improve it through considering amendments, and ensure the most robust measures to tackle illegal migration are finally implemented in conjunction with the Government of Rwanda.' She added that now is the time for the Conservative party 'to work collectively' and to 'do the right thing' for the British public. Advertisement

Two MPs claimed the rebels had the numbers to vote the legislation down if they didn't get the answers they needed.

Meanwhile, the ERG will hold a final 'plenary' this afternoon to decide how it should vote.

A source said: 'We will be meeting immediately before the vote and then walking down to the chamber, stopping off for a bit of Dutch courage along the way if necessary.'

The Safety of Rwanda Bill has been drawn up in response to last month's Supreme Court ruling that sending Channel migrants to the east African state would be unlawful.

The court found that Rwanda's asylum system was potentially unsafe because there was a risk that migrants could be sent back to their home countries where they might be ill-treated.

Ministers signed a treaty with Rwanda last week stating that migrants sent from the UK will not be deported to their home countries.

Today's legislation would declare in law that Rwanda is safe, ruling out further court challenges to the principle of the scheme. It also excludes the plan from parts of the Human Rights Act.

But to the dismay of critics, individual migrants will still be able to lodge legal appeals.

An assessment by the ERG's 'star chamber' of lawyers said the new law does not go 'far enough to deliver the policy as intended'.

It warned it would be 'much easier' than the Government thinks for individual migrants to frustrate their removal  and said individual claims should be banned.

But Mr Sunak says strengthening the proposals by even 'an inch' would cause the Rwandan government to pull out, triggering the collapse of the scheme.

The 100-strong One Nation group of moderate MPs said it would back the Government. Chairman Damian Green said: 'The most important thing at this stage is to support the Bill despite our real concerns.'

It comes after the Home Office today published a summary of its official 'legal position' on the Rwanda plan in a sign of government jitters

The five-page summary attempted to knock down the case for tougher measures advocated by Tory MPs including former home secretary Suella Braverman.

The document warns that blocking the ability of migrants to bring legal action would be 'a breach of international law and alien to the UK's constitutional tradition of liberty and justice'.

It adds that even in wartime, access to courts was maintained 'in order that individuals can uphold their rights and freedoms'.

The document went on: 'This is a novel and contentious policy, and the UK and Rwanda are the first countries in the world to enact it together.

'There are risks inherent in such an innovative approach but there is a clear lawful basis on which a responsible government may proceed.'

But the summary said moves to block every court challenge 'would mean that there would be no respectable argument that the Bill is compatible with international law'.

It added: 'It would also go against Rwanda's own explicit wishes that our partnership remains compliant with international law, and likely collapse the scheme.'

As a result, the Bill must allow very limited scope for migrants to bring legal challenges against being sent to Rwanda, based on 'wholly exceptional individual circumstances', it said.

The document predicted hardly any migrants would be able to lodge legal action under the 'exceptionally narrow' grounds for claims, such as very rare medical conditions.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'As the legal advice sets out, we think we have a tough and strong piece of legislation which will achieve our objectives.'

DAME PRITI PATEL: I understand the concerns, but we MUST back Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill

The choice all MPs face today is a stark one. To oppose the Rwanda Bill, do nothing and continue to offer succour to the evil people-smuggling gangs putting lives at risk and putting pressures on our asylum system.

Or to vote in favour of the Bill, work with the government to improve it through considering amendments, and ensure the most robust measures to tackle illegal migration are finally implemented in conjunction with the Government of Rwanda.

Having spent many years considering and working on this issue, I certainly recognise and respect the concerns and unease that some of my Conservative colleagues have about these new laws to overcome the legal challenges that have held back flights to Rwanda.

But now is the time for our party to work collectively to do all that needs to be done to secure the partnership and removals to Rwanda.

The public know that the Labour Party has no credible plan to address illegal migration  other than to open the doors and let more in  so they are looking to us to do the right thing.

Now is the time for our party to work collectively to do all that needs to be done to secure the partnership and removals to Rwanda, says Dame Priti Patel (pictured)

The public know that the Labour Party has no credible plan to address illegal migration  other than to open the doors and let more in  so they are looking to us to do the right thing (file image)

It would send a very powerful message to the public about our intent, credibility and ambition to tackle illegal migration if we calmly and collectively unite to deliver a partnership which is one of many measures introduced to tackle illegal migration and the criminal people smugglers.

The UK's economic and migration partnership with Rwanda was carefully designed with our friends in the Kigali government to demonstrate a new way to treat asylum seekers with compassion and supporting resettlement, while acting as a deterrent effect to the small-boat crossings that were putting lives at risk.

The partnership was one of many measures, new laws and operational activities I put in place to deal with illegal and dangerous entry into the UK by small boats.

These included coordinated international law enforcement activities to arrest and prosecute the criminal gangs facilitating these journeys, tougher prison sentences for people smugglers, and reforms to the asylum application and appeal process to streamline them and prevent the system being abused.

While some have spent the past 20 months talking down Rwanda, we should welcome the fact that this is a country that already supports around 130,000 refugees through schemes established with the United Nations Human Rights Council, showing we are an active partner in addressing migration issues. We have also embraced economic, legal and political reforms over the last quarter of a century.

When I negotiated and agreed the partnership in April 2022, I knew it would face criticism and legal challenge and was prepared for it. Of course, the usual suspects  the opposition, activists and NGOs and lawyers  objected.

We saw campaigns waged against it, hostile comments in the media, and outrage from celebrities.

But while our opponents sought to talk it down and offer no solutions to the pressures caused by illegal migration, I was working closely with ministers in the Rwandan government to put robust arrangements and safeguards in place.

New legislation including the measures which the Government has now sought to reinforce with a treaty and the new laws being debated today will put the partnership on a stronger legal footing (pictured: Home Secretary James Cleverly in Rwanda)

With all these measures agreed, it was deeply frustrating firstly to see the European Court of Human Rights interfere and block the first flights from taking off in June 2022 at the last minute, and then see our domestic legal processes lead to the decision of the Supreme Court last month to rule against the partnership with Rwanda.

But the Supreme Court judgment left the door open for the Government to consider options to resolve the issue, including operational measures on the ground to address the risk of 'refoulement'  sending asylum seekers to another country where they are likely to face ill-treatment  and demonstrate it would not materialise.

New legislation including the measures which the Government has now sought to reinforce with a treaty and the new laws being debated today will put the partnership on a stronger legal footing.
Rudy Giuliani's lawyer has urged a Washington, D.C. jury not to hit him with the civil 'death penalty' and instead keep damages to a 'fair and proportional' figure.

The pleading came at the start of a defamation trial where two Georgia election workers are seeking $43 million in damages, and where a judge has already ruled the former Donald Trump lawyer defamed them.

Giuliani's defense lawyer Joseph Sibley argued Monday that his client shouldn't be held responsible for the actions of others, and said the two workers were asking for the 'civil equivalent of the death penalty.'

Wandrea 'Shaye' Moss, a former voter registration officer in Fulton County, testified at the second day of Giuliani's defamation trial Tuesday that her life 'flipped upside down' in early December 2020 when Trump allies began falsely claiming her and her mother, Ruby Freeman, engaged in election fraud after the November election.

She told the jury Tuesday that she feared for her life after Giuliani and other Trump allies falsely accused her of attempting to rig the 2020 election.

Rudy Giuliani, former personal lawyer for President Trump, is facing the civil equivalent of the 'death penalty,' according to his lawyer. A jury will decide on damages after two former Georgia election workers successfully sued him in civil court

'How can someone with so much power go public and talk about things that he obviously has no clue about?' Moss, 39, said of Giuliani. 'It's just obvious that it's lies.'

Giuliani is facing financial difficulties as he fends off separate criminal conspiracy charges in Georgia.

This summer he put his Manhattan co-op up for sale for $6.5 million, then slashed the price this fall.

The jury hearing the case features biographies that speak to the federal city where Giuliani's financial future will be determined. It includes a Forest Service employee, a Defense Intelligence Agency analyst, an accountant for the Girl Scouts, and an Al Jazeera journalist, CBS News reported.

A federal judge has already determined that Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, defamed Moss and Freeman. The only issue for the jury to decide is how much Giuliani owes in damages

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, who is overseeing the case, scolded Giuliani earlier on Tuesday for repeating the accusations as he left the courthouse following the first day of the trial

The trial will determine if and how much money Giuliani will have to pay to Shaye Moss (left) and her mother Ruby Freeman (right) after the lawyer for former President Donald Trump repeatedly pushed debunked claims that they were trying to steal the election for Joe Biden

Giuliani's lawyer has said that there is limited evidence that his statements were the cause of the harm the two workers suffered.

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, who is overseeing the case, scolded Giuliani earlier on Tuesday for repeating the accusations as he left the courthouse following the first day of the trial.

Giuliani told reporters on Monday outside the courthouse that 'everything I said was true' and again accused Moss and Freeman of 'changing votes,' according to an ABC News report. Giuliani confirmed in court on Tuesday that he made the statement.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs noted that the judge has already deemed that Giuliani's prior statements were false and he should not be allowed to challenge that determination during the trial.

Howell said Giuliani's Monday remarks 'could support another defamation claim' and contradicted his lawyer's statement in court that the workers were 'good people.'

The judge said it would be 'grossly unfair' for Giuliani to make similar statements when he testifies at trial, which is expected later this week.

Giuliani lawyer Joseph Sibley told the judge that the case has 'taken a toll' on the 79-year-old Giuliani, but he would be able to manage his client's statements in court.

'I can't control what he says outside the courtroom,' Sibley said.
Parts of Britain are expected to enjoy 'remarkable' mild temperatures for December this weekend with the Met Office revealing the mercury could get up to 14C (57F).

Forecasters said unusually mild air for December will arrive from the sub-tropical Atlantic Ocean in the coming days, lifting temperatures widely above average.

The 'exceptionally mild conditions' are particularly expected in central and northern areas of the country with daytime temperatures set to reach the mid-teens Celsius.

Minimum temperatures 'could be even more remarkable, widely staying in double figures and perhaps locally remaining in the low teens Celsius throughout the night'.

The jet stream had brought frequent areas of low pressure in recent days including two named storms, but its track will shift further north allowing pressure to build.

The Met Office said unusually mild air for December will arrive from the sub-tropical Atlantic

The jet stream track will shift further north and this will allow pressure to build in the South

High pressure will build in the South later this week with temperatures expected to hit 14C

Minimum temperatures are unlikely to fall below double digits in the South later this week

Temperatures are also expected to stay at 10C even overnight in the North later this week

Britain's highest maximum temperature ever recorded in December was only four years ago when Achfary in the Highlands hit 18.7C (65.7F) on December 28, 2019.

READ MORE Britain braces for another soaking: Barriers are deployed to protect homes along the River Severn as water levels continue to rise Advertisement

While such heights are unlikely to be reached this week, the Met Office is expecting a peak of 14C (57F), with the North East set to be the mildest area.

And the unseasonably warm conditions will be in stark contrast to two weekends ago when even daytime temperatures in the South were widely below freezing and the Lake District faced heavy snow.

Met Office meteorologist Oliver Claydon told MailOnline today: 'Later this week the jet stream will move further north and allow pressure to build from the south.

'As well as bringing a drier spell to much of the UK, it will bring in milder Atlantic air from the South West.

'This unusually mild air for December will push temperatures for much of the UK above average with daytime temperatures in the mid-teens and overnight temperatures potentially in the low teens in some locations.'

He said the warm weather could also be helped along by the foehn effect.

This is a change from wet and cold conditions on one side of a mountain, to warmer and drier conditions on the other.

In Britain, it tends to happen over the Highlands where the moist prevailing westerly winds encounter high ground along Scotland's west coast.

The Environment Agency has issued flood alerts (in amber) and warnings (in red) for England

This can mean the west faces wet weather while the lower lying east enjoys warmth and sunshine.

READ MORE Now Met Office says it COULD snow on Christmas Day: Forecasters say there is 'increased' chance of a dusting of the white stuff in late December and the New Year Advertisement

Mr Claydon said: 'As well as the source of mild air, the foehn effect will help push temperatures even higher in some north-eastern parts of the UK.

'The highest temperature is likely to be around 13C to 14C, most likely in the North East of the UK.'

It comes as flood barriers were deployed to protect homes along the River Severn today as its levels continue to rise and parts of Britain brace for another inch of rain.

The Environment Agency installed the defences in the Frankwell area of Shrewsbury, with the river expected to peak in the town today and in Worcestershire tomorrow.

Officials tweeted videos of the demountable barriers, saying they were 'very strong to hold back the power of water when the River Severn rises during heavy rain'.

Six posts that are each 10ft (3m) high were attached to a ground plate with large bolts, which were then tensioned down to form a seal. During very high water there will also be a support post situated behind the main posts for additional support.

It comes as 40 flood warnings were in place across England today in areas where flooding was 'expected', as well as 158 flood alerts where flooding was 'possible'.

And the Met Office issued two wet weather warnings for parts of southern Scotland and North East England for up to 1.6in (40mm) of rain to fall today.

The Environment Agency erects flood defences in the Frankwell area of Shrewsbury yesterday

The River Severn, pictured in an EA video yesterday, is expected to peak in Shrewsbury today

Flood barriers were installed in Shrewsbury yesterday amid concerns over the River Severn

One warning for South West Scotland ran until 10am today, while an alert for South East Scotland and North East England began at 9am and lasts until 8am tomorrow.

READ MORE The town surrounded by flood water during Storm Fergus: St Ives in Cambridgeshire is almost cut off after the River Great Ouse burst its banks in torrential rain Advertisement

A separate warning was also in effect until 7am today for the entirety of Northern Ireland.

The Met Office said affected areas could see disruption to bus and train services, while power cuts and flooding of homes and businesses was also likely.

Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said: 'After a pretty nice start to the week, things will turn much more unsettled across the UK for Tuesday.

'Rain pushes up into northeastern areas throughout (Tuesday) morning and then it will linger across northeastern parts of England as well as southeastern Scotland.

'There's been a lot of rainfall here recently, so the ground is well saturated. Behind that, plenty of showers are developing.

'These will push into parts of the Midlands by the middle part of the day and without much of a breeze they could be quite long-lasting showers. They bring a risk of hail and thunder as well.

'So a bit of an unsettled, unpleasant day for many, particularly if you get caught in those showers.'

It comes after a succession of named storms over the weekend  with Storm Elin on Saturday and Storm Fergus on Sunday sweeping eastwards with winds of up to 81mph and torrential rain.

Stranded cars in flood water today as the levels of the Old Bedford river and River Delph rise following recent rain in Welney, Cambridgeshire

Cars and cyclists travel through flooded country lanes at Dunsden in Oxfordshire this morning

Dog walkers out in the woods in the mist today on a wet morning in Dunsden, Oxfordshire

People walk in the rain in central Glasgow today after wet weather warnings were issued

Christmas shoppers take cover as they walk in the rain through central Glasgow today

People use umbrellas to protect themselves from the rain in central Glasgow today

Vehicles are driven through floodwater in Greenwich, South East London, this morning

The Met Office said the amount of rain which fell in England and Wales between December 1 and 9 was more than double what is normally expected.

An average of 52.1mm (2.05in) fell across the two nations. This was 50 per cent of the usual total for the whole of the month, when only 26 per cent of December rainfall would normally occur on the first nine days.

Storm Fergus was the sixth named storm of the current season, which began at the start of autumn.

It compares with a relatively benign 2022/23, when there were only two named storms both of which were last summer and no storms over the autumn, winter or spring.
Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Harper, was supported by her new partner and parents as she received her MBE from King Charles for her campaigning work.

PC Andrew Harper was killed in the line of duty when he was dragged to his death by bike thieves, and his widow tirelessly campaigned for stronger laws in his memory.

Mrs Harper has been recognised for her services to victims of violent crime and their families, receiving an MBE at Windsor Castle, supported by her parents and partner, Dan Terry - who is also an emergency worker.

She successfully campaigned for Harper's Law, which has extended mandatory life sentences to anyone who commits the manslaughter of an emergency worker on duty.

PC Andrew Harper, who worked for Thames Valley Police, was killed while responding to a bike theft by three teenagers in Berkshire in August 2019.

He was caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a winding country road, just four weeks after getting married.

Lissie Harper was supported by her partner and parents as she received her MBE

She smiled as King Charles gave her the gong - the name for the MBE medal

King Charles shook Mrs Harper's hand at the Windsor Castle ceremony

Mrs Harper's husband PC Andrew Harper, who worked for Thames Valley Police, was killed while responding to a bike theft by three teenagers in Berkshire in August 2019

Speaking about her new romance on the podcast The Stigma of Grief, Mrs Harper revealed she felt pressure to be seen as grieving but feels it's important to live again.

She said: 'There's this expectation to be this figure, the grieving widow... like we're expected to wear black for the rest of our lives and sit and mourn. It's not sustainable... and it's not fair.

'And although some people resign themselves to being alone forever, that's not the case for me.'

'It's normal to feel scared and wonder if you're doing the right thing. It's a common feeling of do I deserve to feel happy again? Am I betraying the person I love who isn't here?'

The business owner said: 'I think probably most of the people who sadly aren't with us would want their loved ones to find happiness again.

'It's not going to be the same, it's not going to be better or worse, it's just going to be different and that's been really important for me to find that again. There's no right or wrong time, no matter what anyone else says.'

Mrs Harper, from Oxford, admitted her first date with the 999 worker - who she has not named - felt 'strange' after being with her husband for so long.

'You become a different person when you go through something like this,' she added.

'You kind of grow out of the person you were before because you have no choice.'

Lissie Harper has been recognised for her services to victims of violent crime

Henry Long, 19, was sentenced to 16 years and 18-year-olds Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were handed 13 years in custody for manslaughter at the Old Bailey for Mr Harper's death

PC Harper's death happened just hours before he was due to clock off and begin his honeymoon with his new wife.

READ MORE - Widow of slain PC Andrew Harper is dating another emergency worker more than four years after he was killed Advertisement

The law was proposed by Mrs Harper to the Government in reaction to the prison sentences handed to the three teenagers responsible for his death.

Henry Long, 19, was sentenced to 16 years and 18-year-olds Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were handed 13 years in custody for manslaughter at the Old Bailey, but all three were cleared of murder by the jury.

Mrs Harper's quest to change the law came 'in the midst of grief and incomprehensible loss', and was backed by the likes of the then-Home Secretary Priti Patel and then-Justice Secretary Dominic Raab.

Harper's Law came into effect last June, and applies to police, prison officers, firefighters and paramedics.

When the legislation became law, she said: 'I will never be rid of the hollowness that the burden of grief inflicts, but I know without hesitation that my husband Andrew would be immensely proud of this achievement in his name.

'Andrew believed in fairness and peace - he had the strongest moral compass of anyone I ever met and that is why I know without a shadow of a doubt that he is smiling down at me with pride and love as Harper's Law, his legacy is now achieved.'

Actress Vicky McClure and politician Michael Fabricant are among the other notable names to be recognised for honours.

Mrs Harper successfully campaigned for Harper's Law, which has extended mandatory life sentences to anyone who commits the manslaughter of an emergency worker on duty

McClure, best known for playing Detective Inspector Kate Fleming in the BBC series Line Of Duty, will be made an MBE for her services to drama and charity.

The 40-year-old first rose to prominence playing the cool and easy-going Lol Jenkins in the 2006 film This Is England and its subsequent TV follow-up series.

She was nominated for a Bafta Television award for best supporting actress in 2015, and a National Television Award for drama performance in 2021.

McClure has been an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society since 2018 and has raised awareness around the disease through her creation of Our Dementia Choir.

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant will become a knight after being named on former prime minister Boris Johnson's resignation honours lists.

Sir Michael, 73, has been an MP for more than 30 years and won his Lichfield constituency by a majority of more than 23,000 at the 2019 general election.

He served as the vice chair of the party between 2012 and 2014.

On Monday Sir Michael said he would be voting for the Government's controversial Rwanda Bill, indicating he would push for changes as the legislation passed through the Commons.
A 'deeply desperate' husband who killed his seriously ill wife after becoming frustrated at NHS delays in her treatment has today been spared jail.

Retired police officer Grenville Richings, 83, strangled elderly spouse Elizabeth to death after she was left 'crushed with pain' following a serious fall and delayed health service appointments.

Just as the couple were approaching their Diamond wedding anniversary, devoted Mr Richings killed the retired nurse before kissing her and lying her on the sofa with her arms crossed over her chest.

The churchgoer then made a suicide attempt and wrote in his journal - which he would use to write about his wife's declining health - 'Peace, may God forgive me'.

After pleading guilty to manslaughter, a crown court judge today gave him a suspended prison sentence, ruling the killing an 'act of mercy' as he concluded Richings' 'mental torment' must have been 'intolerable'.

Salisbury Crown Court, Wiltshire, heard Mrs Richings was found dead by paramedics on June 3 this year at the 500,000 riverside home she shared with her husband in Bournemouth, Dorset.

Retired police officer Grenville Richings outside Salisbury Law Courts

Police investigating at the couple's home in Wick, Dorset, in June 2023

The court was told how Mr and Mrs Richings - who was originally from Ayr, south west Scotland - had met in their early 20s and had been happily married for 59 years.

Prosecuting, Anna Vigars KC, told the court: 'Their marriage had been not only long but according to their daughter - stable and content.'

It was heard over the last few years that both husband and wife - who shared three children and four grandchildren - suffered a decline in their health.

Mrs Vigars said: 'Since he had been in his 60s, Mr Richings suffered from heart problems and he had significant care and support from his wife.'

The husband and wife had been caring for one another but things worsened on May 11, 2023, when Mrs Richings suffered a bad fall - something that had become increasingly 'frequent' in recent years - and suffered a fractured vertebra in her back.

Mrs Vigars said the pensioner must have felt like the 'rug was pulled out from under him' and neighbours noticed how much they were both struggling.

Mr Richings' personal notebook included a number of extracts in regard to his wife's condition from the fall onwards.

He was growing frustrated and helpless, and wrote 'So much time wasted consulting NHS people instead of action'.

Mrs Vigars added: 'His stress levels because of the time that medical referrals were taking was 10 out of 10.'

Mr Richings killed the retired nurse before kissing her and lying her on the sofa with her arms crossed over her chest

On June 3, Mr Richings - reluctant to leave his wife - went food shopping with his daughter Katherine Draycott, but reportedly 'wanted to return home as soon as they could'.

Mrs Draycott went home and it was reported later that day, the pensioner wrote in his journal that his wife - who was referred to as Betty by friends and family - was 'shivering and shaking'.

In the evening, Mrs Draycott rang the house and spoke to her father on the phone.

Mrs Vigars added: 'His speech sounded slurred and he said to her that he had strangled his wife and called an ambulance.'

Mrs Vigars said police attended their Bournemouth home, adding: 'They found Mrs Richings' body lying on the sofa. She was covered in blankets with her arms covering her chest. Mr Richings was in his bed.'

At 15:15, Mr Richings had written in his diary 'Peace, may god forgive me'.

Mitigating, Patrick Gibbs KC, said there had been an 'exponential deterioration' in both husband and wife's health which led to the events.

Mr Richings had pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Winchester Crown Court, Hampshire, last month

Mr Gibbs said Mrs Richings was suffering 'continuous pain, hopelessness and despair' and the retired police officer was 'putting on a brave face' until the end.

He told the court: '[Mr Richings] had a genuine belief that this was an act of mercy. There is no dangerousness here.

'He believed that he would soon see her again, free of pain.'

Discussing motivations, Mr Gibbs added: 'The answer must be that he had loved her for so long that his mind couldn't bear any longer to see crushed by the pain and despair that she was in.

'He could no longer give her life or happiness. He gave her the last good thing left to both of them which was peace.'

Mr Gibbs said there were no aggravating features to this case and Mr Richings was not just a man of good character, but 'exemplary character'.

He added: 'The event of the third of June is only a part of their story. Their story is long and happy.'

Mr Richings' personal notebook included a number of extracts in regard to his wife's condition from the fall onwards

Sentencing the pensioner, His Honour Judge Timothy Mousley KC said: 'Betty was 83 years old and so were you, you had been together since your early 20s and you were approaching your diamond wedding anniversary.

'You have had three children and with them grandchildren and are obviously a very close family.

'As you and Betty got older, inevitably health problems became more numerous, more serious and harder to deal with.

'On the 11th of May she fell over in the house.

'It caused her great pain and there was a delay in her receiving the treatment and care that she needed. She had in fact suffered a fractured vertebra.'

Judge Mousley said the fall caused a 'serious decline in her health' and 'added enormously to the burden' carried by the retired police officer.

He said Mr Richings was not himself at the time, and was suffering an 'abnormality of mental function' due to his worsening mental health.

The judge added: 'I conclude that the mental torment must have been intolerable. A psychiatrist described you as deeply desperate.

'You told a psychiatrist that after you strangled Betty, you kissed her.

'She was found lying across the sofa peacefully, with her arms crossed across her chest.

'I am satisfied you believed killing was an act of mercy.'

Mr Richings had pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Winchester Crown Court, Hampshire, last month.

Today, he was handed an 18 month sentence, suspended for two years.

For mental health support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
It was only a matter of time before the curse of the 'Scottish play' struck again.

But for actors Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma it was bad luck that it returned in the opening week of their production of Macbeth in Liverpool last month.

The highly anticipated play was halted midway through the first half after an audience member collapsed.

Then as the performance resumed, another punter fainted with a thud inside the custom-built theatre at The Depot in the Fairfield area of Liverpool.

Both had pre-existing conditions which caused them to faint, a spokesman for the production said.

They added that the theatre goers recovered and both have since returned to watch a full performance after being invited back.

It was only a matter of time before the Scottish curse hit Macbeth. But for actors Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma it was bad luck that it struck in the opening week of their much anticipated show in Liverpool last month

A witness said: 'It was incredibly warm inside the theatre, so at first when the person collapsed in front of us we thought they must have fainted.

'Some staff passed water over to them, but they quickly realised it may be something more serious and a paramedic was called with a heart monitor.

'The play was stopped while the person was treated and taken away by ambulance.

'The director came out and talked the audience through where we were up to in the play and explained they would have to cut one of the scenes where there is a lot of blood that spills onto the stage as it would take too long to clear up.

The play was halted midway through the first half after an audience member was treated for a suspected heart attack

'Then just as it started up again, there was a thud and another person went down behind us.

'Thankfully it looked as though they had just fainted in the heat and they recovered so the play could carry on, but what bad luck!'

Harry Potter star Fiennes and Varma, who portrayed Ellaria Sand in hit series Game of Thrones, are starring as Lord and Lady Macbeth throughout next year.

The production, directed by Simon Godwin, opened on November 28 and will also be shown in Edinburgh, London and Washington after finishing its run in Liverpool.

Fiennes is taking on the title role after playing Shakespearean leads on stage in the likes of Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Richard III.

Fiennes is taking on the title role after playing Shakespearean leads on stage in the likes of Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Richard III

Superstitious thespians never call Macbeth by its title because they claim it is cursed.

Actors who have suffered injury during or just after productions include Orson Welles and Charlton Heston.

In 1849 a riot in America killed more than 30 audience members and Abraham Lincoln supposedly read it the night before his assassination.
Dakota Johnson has signed with the A-list Hollywood agent who stepped down from her role on the board at Creative Artists Agency after sharing a post accusing Israel of genocide, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Maha Dakhil, 48, resigned from her role at the internal board of CAA after she shared the inflammatory post on her Instagram story, amid the Israel and Hamas conflict.

The post, which originally came from an account called 'FreePalestine', said 'you're learning who supports genocide', regarding Hamas' attack on October 7.

Dakhil has temporarily stepped back from her position as co-head of the motion picture department for the CAA, after apologizing for her actions.

But Johnson is the first A-Lister to be assigned to Dakhil, who is half-Libyan, since the scandal became public.

Dakota Johnson is the first A-lister to sign with Maha Dakhil, who is half Libyan, since the controversy

Dakhil, 48, resigned from her role on the board at Creative Artists Agency after she shared a post on Instagram accusing Israel of genocide

The actress signed with the agency in November, and CAA will rep her in all areas, including her TeaTime Pictures production company.

Johnson has remained silent regarding her personal views on the Israel and Hamas conflict, with Dakhil continuing to work with her other clients in the wake of the controversy.

She has worked with stars such as Tom Cruise, Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman, who is Jewish.

As well as reposting the criticism of Israel, Dakhil wrote: 'That's the line for me. What's more heartbreaking than witnessing genocide? Witnessing the denial that genocide is happening.'

Dakhil reportedly tried to organize a meeting with some of her Jewish colleagues to further explain and apologize, but several of the co-workers were so furious they refused to attend.

She deleted the messages shortly after posting them and apologized in a statement to Variety, saying: 'I made a mistake with a repost in my Instagram Story, which used hurtful language. Like so many of us, I have been reeling with heartbreak. I pride myself on being on the side of humanity and peace.

'I'm so grateful to Jewish friends and colleagues who pointed out the implications and further educated me. I immediately took the repost down. I'm sorry for the pain I have caused.'

Dakhil continues to represents several A-listers including Natalie Portman, who is Jewish

Dakhil, who has worked with stars such as Tom Cruise (left) and Reese Witherspoon will continue serving her clients. Tom Cruise met with Dakhil in the midst of the controversy and went to CAA in person to show his support for her

Dakhil apologized for and deleted the post and resigned from her role at the internal board at Creative Artists Agency after sharing an inflammatory post about the Israel and Hamas war. She is pictured in 2021 with actress Salma Hayek

But the posts had made their way around the Hollywood community, Variety reported, and many of her colleagues at CAA were reportedly 'offended and saddened'.

Dakhil addressed her comments on Instagram, writing: 'Choice of words is important. Dialogue is healing. As each excruciating day passes, I'm listening and learning more from my friends. Thank you.

'I'm holding all our families in my prayers  I am grieving for everyone who is suffering right now. I continue to mourn all innocent lives. My mission is peace.'

Variety reported that Tom Cruise met with Dakhil in the midst of the controversy and went to CAA in person to show his support for her.

Dakhil also works as an agent for Madonna, Anne Hathaway and Steven Spielberg, and signed former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company Higher Ground.

CAA, arguably the most powerful agency in Hollywood, issued its own statement supporting Israel after the October 7 attacks.

The company said it 'stands with the people of Israel, the Jewish community, and all innocent victims in the face of horrific acts of terrorism. For those with family, friends, or loved ones living in or connected to Israel and the region, our thoughts are with you. We wish for peace for all people.'
A mother has shared how she survived her jealous ex-fiance shooting a 'hole in her face' with an AR-15 assault rifle before killing himself - because he was 'too scared to go to prison'.

Abigail Winters, 22, had broken up with ex-fiance Bryan States seven months prior to the horrifying attack on May 2, 2022 outside his home in Kansas City.

Aged just 21 at the time, Abigail was waiting in her car outside her ex's house while her mother was inside collecting their one-year-old baby, Staisles.

While she waited Bryan States shot at her through the car window hitting her twice in the shoulder - and a third time in the face before running away.

'I saw the blood and thought in movies they put pressure on the wound, so the only wound I knew I had was my face, so I put my hands on my face and there was a hole in my face.'

She said her ex-lover ran away and later texted her "Oh my god are you okay?" before shooting himself dead.

'He thought he was going to go to jail for child endangerment. He wasn't going to let that happen. He wanted us to die together.'

Abigail Winters pictured in hospital after being shot in the face by her 'jealous ex-fiance'

Abigail and Bryan had been together since they were just 13

Abigail with her son and partner Jordan Taylor, 24, who she met on Tinder in early 2022

Having been with Bryan since they were just 13, the couple had split in October 2021 after their newborn baby Staisles arrived and Abigail began to fear for her son's safety.

In February 2022, Abbi began dating again and met painter Jordan Taylor on Tinder, but her enraged ex couldn't handle their new relationship, even smashing Abigail's car windows when he heard they'd spent the night together.

Just weeks before the shooting, Bryan had attacked Abigail in the park with her son and Jordan, who called the police and had him arrested at the scene for domestic battery and child endangerment.

The 22-year-old believes her violent ex-fiance had hoped to kill the both of them the day before the court date.

Abigail, who used to work at daycare, is still recovering more than a year later but remains in a healthy relationship with 24-year-old Jordan and hopes to raise awareness about domestic violence.

Abigail, from Kansas City, Kansas: 'The day before court is when he shot me.

'It was a very traumatic day. I got there [to his house] and my mom went inside to get my son.

'I was sitting in the car. I was texting my boyfriend that I was sorry that I was there and then that's when Bryan shot me twice in my shoulder.

'I looked up and saw him. I didn't feel the first few shots, I heard them. I tried to protect my face with my two hands and he shot me again between my fingers in my face.

'It was through the car window. I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't through the car window, it was such a big gun, I wouldn't be alive.'

'I was so calm and peaceful. Nothing hurt. I remember being very alert. I remember the entire thing,' she added.

Abigail pictured with her former partner, Bryan States, who shot her and himself in 2022

Abigail and Bryan following the birth of their child during the pandemic

Damage to the car after Bryan fired his AR-15 at Abigail in 2022

Abigail was found by her mum who had heard the gunshots from inside, before strapping Staisles into his car seat and driving Abigail away to safety where she called an ambulance.

Abigail, who is now a domestic violence advocate, said: 'I was doing fine, I left Bryan, I got myself a car, a job, I was doing wonderful.

'Every time I felt I was doing good, he took it away from me. There was a lot of jealousy and sadness. He was very very jealous of Jordan.

'He never cared about my son, he just used him as leverage.

'He took my baby for a whole week and wouldn't give him back. He wanted me to meet him and come pick my baby up at the park, but only if my boyfriend came too.

'He put his hands on me at the park in front of my boyfriend and my boyfriend had him arrested for child endangerment.

'After he was arrested, he was in for a week for domestic battery and domestic assault and child endangerment.

'After that, he was very angry when he got out.'

Abigail met Bryan when they began walking home from school together at the age of 13, but she says there had been red flags from the beginning of their relationship, starting off with 'little things like pinching'.

Soon these warning signs turned into 'full-level' abuse where he would punch and kick her, but she felt a constant pressure to stay with him as he'd cry and tell her he had no one else.

Abigail said: 'At first, I noticed he was a little odd and I felt bad for him. It felt like he was a sad dog almost. I wanted to fix him.

'He wasn't a very touchy person. He didn't want to kiss or hold hands, things like that.

'We just kind of existed together, until he got angry and then he'd take it out on me.

'I wanted to stay with him because I felt like he didn't have anyone else. I just wanted to get him help.'

Abigail lost her eye in the attack and required extensive surgery on her heart, ribs and lungs

In recovery: Abigail, now 22, with partner Jordan Taylor, 24 from Kansas City

Abigail pictured with her son Staisles after she was shot in the face by her ex-fiance

Abigail lost her eye in the attack and spent a month in hospital where she underwent two heart surgeries, a rib surgery, and surgery on both of her lungs.

Since then, she takes pain medication every day and has more surgeries to come, all while struggling with depression and PTSD after the eight years of abuse but is able to lean on her boyfriend Jordan, who has supported from the beginning.

Abigail said: 'Jordan's been there the entire time through the recovery process.

'He teaches me every single day what a good man is. He's been a good man to our son too. He's kind and generous, he's just very patient with me.

'I'm not ashamed that I need help now. It's okay to not be okay, if you need help it's okay and it's okay to say you need help. I wish I'd gotten help earlier.

'My message [for other women suffering domestic abuse] is to get out. Love your family, your family loves you, your friends love you, they're not gone. You've just been gone. They're still here for you.

'Let them love you. Find a healthier relationship. You will find one out there by loving yourself.'

Kansas City Police Department confirmed that a shooting occurred on May 2, 2022 and that Bryan States died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Polish premier-designate Donald Tusk today urged for more support for war-torn Ukraine and called for a stronger EU as he awaits a lawmakers' vote on his proposed government.

His address to lawmakers made clear that his government would strive to restore Poland's credibility in the EU and give it an important voice amid the war in neighbouring Ukraine.

'Poland's task, the new government's task, but also the task of all of us, is to loudly and firmly demand the full determination from the entire Western community to help Ukraine in this war. I will do this from day one,' he said.

'I can no longer listen to some European politicians and those from other Western countries who say they are tired of the situation in Ukraine.

'They say to President Zelensky's face that they no longer have the strength, that they are exhausted.'

The veteran politician and former EU chief's administration is expected to garner enough backing in parliament to bring to a close eight years of right-wing populist rule.

The Tusk cabinet could be sworn in on Wednesday, allowing him to travel to Brussels for an EU summit on Thursday and Friday as the new prime minister.

'We will call loud and clear for full mobilisation on the part of the free world, the West in support of Ukraine in this war. There is no alternative,' Tusk added earlier today.

He also promised to resolve the month-long blockage at the Ukraine border by Polish hauliers, who are demanding the reintroduction of entry permits for their Ukrainian competitors.

Incoming Polish prime minister Donald Tusk presents his government's programme and asks for a vote of confidence in Parliament in Warsaw, Poland December 12, 2023

'We will call loud and clear for full mobilisation on the part of the free world, the West in support of Ukraine in this war. There is no alternative,' he said

Ukrainian military soldiers fire from the MT-12 or 2A29 gun 'Rapira' - a Soviet smoothbore 100-mm anti-tank gun

A Ukrainian tank in the field last week in Avdiivka, Ukraine. Both Ukraine and Russia have recently claimed gains in the Avdiivka, where Russia is continuing a long-running campaign to capture the city

Ukrainian soldiers work to improve the tracks on an APC close to the frontlines in Donetsk

A Ukrainian soldier takes a drag of a cigarette amid freezing temperatures near the frontline in Donetsk, December 7

The show of support for Ukraine appeared to be mutual as its president Volodymyr Zelensky immediately tweeted his 'congratulations' on Monday after Tusk was tapped as premier.

Tusk's call to action came as Zelensky arrived on Capitol Hill to press Congress for additional military help, as further US funding is uncertain due to a domestic political dispute.

Zelensky was set to move over to the White House this afternoon for one-on-one talks with President Joe Biden and a joint press conference.

The trip - coming as Ukraine's main phone operator suffered what it said was a massive hacking attack - represents a desperate bid by Zelensky to keep Ukraine's most important international backer from drifting away.

Republicans are increasingly lukewarm about the need to support Ukraine and are also treating Biden's request for billions of dollars in new armaments as a bargaining chip for gains on immigration reform and US-Mexico border security - one of the most intractable issues in US politics.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky is pictured delivering a speech in Washington DC today

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky (C) walks with US Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (L) and US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (R) before meeting with members of the US Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, USA, 12 December 2023

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky smiles back at International Monetary Fund Director Kristalina Georgieva after they spoke to the press following talks at IMF headquarters in Washington, DC, on December 11, 2023

In a speech on Monday at the National Defense University in Washington, Zelensky said politics should not 'betray' Ukraine's soldiers and he echoed Biden's frequent warning that the Ukrainian struggle against invasion has global implications.

'When the free world hesitates, that's when dictatorships celebrate and their most dangerous ambitions ripen,' he said. 'They see their dreams come true when they see delays.'

'Putin must lose,' he said.

But the Kremlin scoffed at the impact of US support, echoing the arguments made by some senior Republicans who say that continuing the flood of weaponry to Ukraine would be futile.

'It is important for everyone to understand: the tens of billions of dollars pumped into Ukraine did not help it gain success on the battlefield,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

'The tens of billions of dollars that Ukraine wants to be pumped with, are also headed for the same fiasco.'

In an interview with Russian state television on Sunday, Putin said that Ukraine was 'running out' of arms because its defence industry was not able to produce enough.

'When there is no base of their own, no ideology of their own, no industry of their own, no money of their own, nothing of their own, then there is no future. And we have one.'

Russia also said it was pressing ahead on the ground, just as Ukraine's freezing winter deepens.

Ukrainian soldiers walk through the destroyed city on December 7, 2023 in Avdiivka, Ukraine

Outgoing Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki (front row C). Polish lawmakers will vote on the proposed new government of Donald Tusk, whose pro-EU administration is expected to garner enough support to put an end to eight years of right-wing populist rule

Jaroslaw Kaczynski (C), leader of Poland's Law and Justice (PiS) party, looks on as designated Polish prime minister Donald Tusk (not in picture) gives a speech to present his programme to lawmakers at the Polish Parliament in Warsaw, Poland on December 12, 2023

The bombed-out city of Avdiivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region

Ukrainian military repairs the track of a BMP-1 on December 7, 2023 in Avdiivka

Back in Poland, Tusk, who previously served as prime minister from 2007 to 2014 and was president of the European Council from 2014 to 2019, has promised to unblock billions of euros in EU aid that have been frozen because of long-standing tensions between Brussels and the outgoing government.

His confidence vote comes on the heels of the outgoing conservatives' failure to form a government of their own for lack of viable coalition partners.

The right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party won the most seats in October's general election but failed to win a majority.

Still, PiS prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki was given the first crack at forming a new government and his proposed cabinet failed to muster enough backing in parliament on Monday.

While Tusk's Civic Coalition came second in the ballot, it secured a majority by joining up with two smaller pro-EU opposition political groups, the Third Way and Left.

Describing the right-wing administration as years of 'darkness', Tusk said on Monday his government would work to 'right all of the wrongs'.

His arch-nemesis, PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, fired back by accusing Tusk of being a 'German agent' and rued 'the end of democracy'.

Freedom hero and Nobel Prize winner Lech Walesa - known for despising the PiS - said ]he was 'happy that Poland is back on the path of development'.

Expectations for the new government are running high but the populists will remain very influential and have appointed allies to key posts during their time in power.

PiS has allies in the presidency, the central bank and the supreme court, as well as in several important judicial and financial state institutions.

Polish President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the outgoing government, is due to step down ahead of a presidential election in 2025 but he could use blocking tactics between now and then, vetoing legislation.
Congress is stepping up its efforts to counter increasing Chinese 'economic aggression' by calling for the U.S. to cut off more financial ties to the communist regime.

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party released a comprehensive report Tuesday morning outlining the many challenges facing the U.S. and its allies by China.

'This is a blueprint for not just how we can de-risk from China, but how we can turbocharge the American economy for decades to come,' Chairman Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., told DailyMail.com in a call. 'The status quo is not working.'

The 53-page bipartisan report runs through a series of over 150 recommendations for the U.S. to most effectively counter China and detach from its reliance on the hostile nation. It is designed to be an outline to push through legislative fixes that can garner Republican and Democratic support over the next several months.

The first of three 'pillars' is to 'reset the terms' of the United States' economic relationship with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and 'recognize the serious risks of economically relying on a strategic competitor.'

President Joe Biden met with Chinese president Xi Jinping at the Apec summit in San Francisco last month

Chairman Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and ranking member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., at a Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party meeting

The lawmakers write that both the government and the private sector 'can no longer ignore the systemic risks associated' with doing business in China.

Their recommendation is to enact new tariffs in a 'relatively short period of time' in order to give the U.S. economy time to adjust.

Those proposed tariffs would be imposed on new items, including smartphones and toys, in addition to increasing previous taxes.

The lawmakers say that when China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, the anticipated economic benefits did not meet the mark.

Second, the report says the U.S. must immediately stop 'technology and capital' that is 'fueling' China's military modernization and human rights abuses.

Their recommendations run through ways that the U.S. can 'create transparency' about U.S. companies invested in the PRC - and disclose 'key risks' associated.

Specifically, 'to ensure transparency for investors,' annual disclosure requirements should include details regarding 'material ties to the CCP' and profits.

The Treasury Department would also be required to provide 'monthly reports' on U.S. portfolio holdings of 'foreign securities on the basis of nationality' and extended to sector - which the department does not currently collect data on.

Third, the U.S. must invest in itself in order to further detach from China and be able to stand on its own in the case that Taiwan is invaded in the near future.

The strategy must be 'proactive' so that the U.S. can 'increase economic and technological collaboration' with 'likeminded partners' and allies.

All of the three pillars combined would 'level the economic playing field, reduce the PRCs hold on U.S. and allied critical supply chains, and invest in a future of continued economic and technological leadership for the United States and its likeminded allies and partners,' the report states.

Raja Krishnamoorthi, R-Ill., who serves as the ranking member on the panel, told DailyMail.com the report is a 'consensus product.'

'This is really important - I call it upping our game,' he added about pillar three specifically, encouraging development and turbocharging the U.S. workforce.

The report comes as Beijing's military have burrowed into more than 20 major suppliers in the last year alone including a water utility in Hawaii, a major West Coast port and at least one oil and gas pipeline, analysts have revealed.

They have bypassed elaborate cyber security systems by intercepting passwords and log-ins unguarded by junior employees, leaving China 'sitting on a stockpile of strategic' vulnerabilities.

Codenamed Volt Typhoon, the project has coincided with growing tension over Taiwan and could unplug U.S. efforts to protect its interests in the South China Sea.

'It is very clear that Chinese attempts to compromise critical infrastructure are in part to pre-position themselves to be able to disrupt or destroy that critical infrastructure in the event of a conflict,' said Brandon Wales of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

The hackers often cover their traces by using unsuspicious devices such as home or office routers in a bid to steal employee credentials, officials said.

Another issue on top of mind of Congress is China's infiltration of Guam, an important U.S. military installation.

Analysts believe that China's military has changed its strategy from intelligence-gathering to infiltration in a bid to sew chaos should war break out

China's focus on Guam is of particular concern, as the US territory is a key military base in the Pacific, and would be a major staging ground for any American response in the event of a conflict in Taiwan or the South China Sea

In 2019, the Biden administration enacted a policy to allow Chinese nationals to visit the Northern Mariana Islands for 14 days without a visa. From there, many have been reported to charter boats to Guam in order to get information on sensitive U.S. military sites.

Sen. Joni Ernst, speaking exclusively with DailyMail.com at the annual Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California, earlier this month said the visa loophole allows spies to take a 'hard look' at what that U.S. is doing militarily in Guam and then 'use that against us.'

'We're trying to close those loopholes. I just think it's very, very important that we do this,' said Ernst, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Arrest records show she had discussed committing suicide or fleeing the country after her son was convicted for his role in the murder

The matriarch was reprimanded by a Leon Circuit Judge for disrupting the hearing as attorneys described the plot she had to end her own life

A mother-in-law accused of arranging a murder-for-hire plot to kill her daughter's estranged husband shrieked in a Florida court when evidence suggesting she was suicidal was heard.

Donna Adelson, 73, has been charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and solicitation of first-degree murder in the 2014 killing of her daughter's husband, Dan Markel.

The matriarch was handcuffed and shackled and wore a purple jail jumpsuit while appearing in court for her arraignment on Monday, reported the Tallahassee Democrat.

As Gregg Toomey, an attorney for the Leon County Sheriff's Office, described statements she made about wanting to take her own life before and after her arrest, Adelson shrieked 'Oh my god!', prompting the judge to reprimand her.

'She very clearly spoke about a plan to kill herself using sleeping pills,' Toomey said when Donna Adelson interrupted.

Donna Adelson, 73, was animated during her arraignment hearing Monday in a Tallahassee courtroom. She pleaded not guilty to murder charges of her former son-in-law

The #Adelson family matriarch accused of plotting the murder of her son-in-law appeared in court for her arraignment Monday. #DonnaAdelson appeared very animated throughout the hearing, shrieking Oh my God! at one point, shaking her head, and dropping her jaw when an attorney pic.twitter.com/6mDHmlyT3N  Law&Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) December 11, 2023

The Florida mother-in-law was reprimanded by Leon Circuit Judge Stephen Everett when she interrupted the court with her shrieks as an attorney was describing her plot to end her life

Leon Circuit Judge Stephen Everett said: 'Mrs. Adelson, please keep your comments to yourself and let your lawyer argue on your behalf.'

'When she was booked into the jail here, she made a statement that she wanted to die,' Toomey said.

'Now before her arrest in Miami, she also had... a 25-minute phone call. I've personally listened to it. She very clearly spoke about a plan to kill herself using sleeping pills.'

Arrest records indicate Donna made phone calls to her son Charles Adelson after he was convicted over his role in the murder and discussed plans to commit suicide or fleeing to a non-extradition country.

During the arraignment hearing, defense attorney Marissel Descalzo argued her client should be taken off suicide watch, claiming Donna's treatment in jail is impeding their ability to communicate.

Last week, Descalzo filed a motion alleging jail staff were forcing her client to eat with her hands and sit naked and asked for her release on house arrest

Descalzo also requested the court issue Adelson with a 'psychological evaluation' that would place her in a different unit - which Everett denied.

Adelson was arrested in November at Miami-Dade Airport after investigators learned she had a one-way ticket to Vietnam which has no extradition treaty with the US, following the conviction of her son Charles for his role in Markel's murder.

Charles Adelson is scheduled for sentencing on Tuesday after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and solicitation of first-degree murder.

Donna Adelson's next court appearance is scheduled for January 9.

Donna Adelson has been charged in the 2014 murder of Dan Markel (right). He was married to Donna's daughter Wendi Adelson (left) but amid their bitter divorce the pair were fighting about where their kids would live

Dan Markel, a dad-of-two and law professor at Florida State University, was shot as he sat in his car outside his home

Wendi wanted to move from Tallahassee to South Florida to be closer to her family. However, a judge at the time ruled that Wendi Adelson couldn't relocate without Markels consent and he refused, saying she couldnt move the children to Miami

Charles had organized the killing through his girlfriend Katie Magbanua who then employed her ex-boyfriend Sigfredo Garcia and his friend Luis Rivera to carry out the killing.

Markel's death had revolved around a court battle that he had won to stop Donna's daughter Wendi from moving from Tallahassee to South Florida with her two sons.

He was shot in the head as he sat in his car outside his Tallahassee home, after taking his kids to daycare and going to the gym.

The Adelsons immediately became suspects after Wendi Adelson told detectives that the killing of her ex-husband could have been arranged on her behalf, saying her parents were 'very angry at Markel'.

The court heard that Donna Adelson 'hated' Markel and was 'desperate to find a way' to overcome his determination to stop his two sons moving to South Florida.

Markel had asked a judge to prevent her from having unsupervised contact with her grandkids and prosecutors uncovered a July 2013 email in which she reacted to the court ruling.

'It's time to take control of your life and not let Jibbers think he's just 'won' anything by having you remain in Tallahassee, eight hours away from the only family you have, and lose out on what will be a job that will afford you and your children advantages that they will never otherwise be able to enjoy,' she told her daughter.

'Let's show this **** what will make him absolutely miserable. You know his weak points; money, religion, control.'

Authorities say the Adelsons considered offering Markel $1 million to let his ex-wife and sons move, but then Charlie Adelson and other members of the family began plotting his death.

During his trial, it was shown that Charles paid Magbanua $138,000, which she split with the killers.

Adelson was arrest at Miami-Dade International Airport after investigators learned she had a one-way ticket to Vietnam which has no extradition treaty with the US

She allegedly talked about fleeing the country or committing suicide after her son Charles Adelson (pictured) was convicted in Markel's murder

Charles had organized the killing through his girlfriend Katie Magbanua (pictured) who then employed her ex-boyfriend Sigfredo Garcia and his friend Luis Rivera to carry out the killing

Sigfredo Garcia, left, and his friend Luis Rivera, right, had been hired to carry out the killing

The family then gave her a no-show job at their dental practice and other payments totaling more than $56,000. Charles Adelson also gave her a used Lexus.

Magbanua and Garcia were convicted of first-degree murder and Rivera is serving a 19-year sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for testifying against them.

During the trial, Wendi took the stand to testify that her family had nothing to do with the 2014 murder of her ex-husband. She denied having any knowledge of the murder-for-hire plot or any involvement herself.

Wendi, who works as an attorney, ended up moving to Miami days after her husband was shot. She was granted limited immunity for her testimony.

Wendi Adelson and her father, dentist Harvey Adelson, have not been charged.
Outgoing Democrat Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara has been blasted for failing to show up to work on Monday after closing her office in a show of support for Palestine.

Lara, 33, who was the first black socialist woman elected to Boston City Council in November 2021, represents residents in District 6, the Boston Herald reported.

In an Instagram post, that has since been taken down, Lara asked her 2,500 plus followers to join the 'Global Strike for Gaza' - a call issued by the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces.

The post, shared by many Palestinian activists and social media influencers, urged others to refrain from 'all aspects of public life,' including work, banking and even grocery shopping.

Two of Lara's peers in her district confirmed her Boston City Hall office was closed all day on Monday - and many have since slammed the councilor's decision to skip work when she has a duty to serve those who elected her.

Lara is set to be replaced in January after losing the September primary to incoming councilor-elect Benjamin Weber, who is Jewish. In October, she appeared in court after crashing her car into a house, injuring herself and her seven-year-old son.

Democrat Boston City Council Kendra Lara encouraged her 2,500 followers to join the 'Global Strike for Gaza' in an Instagram post

Lara was facing charges for crashing her car into a house in June injuring herself and her 7-year-old son (pictured)

Democrat Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara's office door (pictured) at Boston City Hal was closed on Monday. Lara did not show up at work to show her 'support for Palestine'

Larry DiCara, a former city councilor told the Boston Herald Lara 'has a right to whatever political opinions she wants, but she's elected to represent the people of her district. That happens to include me.'

DiCara said that in the ten years he served the people of Boston, between 1972 and 1981, he never once closed his door - even during the historic Blizzard of 1978 that killed more than 100 people.

'I don't want to get in a big fight because she's out the door- I never closed my office, for any reason, in 10 years, because I'm there to serve the people who elected me, I'm there to serve the people who elected me,' he said. 'Not once.'

'This whole, we're in a different world now where people think they can sit someplace else and work remotely,' he told the news outlet. 'I mean, people come into the office, they want to see their city councilor. That's democracy.'

When incoming councilor Weber was asked if he planned to keep his office open every work day, he said: 'I will focus on the needs of District 6 residents and will make decisions about how to schedule my time through that lens.'

He added: 'I support any peaceful action that might bring an end to the bombing in Gaza and the return of all the hostages.'

Hamas' brutal attack on Israel on October 7 led to the massacre of 1,200 innocent people including, babies, children, the elderly and soldiers and the capture of 240 hostages in Gaza.

A ceasefire earlier this month, prompted the release of 110 hostages - mostly women and children - but 137 hostages remain in captivity.

More than 17,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel's aerial bombing campaign since October. A recent study conducted by Israel has shown that of that number 60 percent of those killed were civilians, LiveMint reported.

As Lara expressed her solidarity to her constituents in Beantown, the same was happening across East Jerusalem and the West Bank with markets, schools and government offices closed.

The Qatari state-owned Arabic-language news television network that also owns Al Jazeera English reported that the strike was against 'Israel's relentless bombing of the Gaza Strip.'

Lara's car crashed through a fence and hit a house in the Jamaica Plains district of Boston

In October, Lara appeared in court facing seven charges after crashing her car into a house in June, injuring herself and her seven-year-old son Zaire.

She totaled the gray 2019 Honda Civic when it crashed through a metal fence, ran over bushes, and slammed into the left side of a home in the Jamaica Plains district.

A police report said that she was driving more than double the speed limit. She was also accused of driving with a 'revoked license', in an unregistered car, without insurance and an expired inspection sticker. Her son was also not in a booster seat at the time of the crash, CBS News Boston reported.

Two of the charges, speeding and reckless operation. were dropped. She was found 'not responsible' for driving without a seatbelt, according to prosecutors.

The judge has not made a ruling yet on the remainder of the charges.
TV presenter Kirsty Young should be given the green light to build a lodge on a deserted island on Loch Lomond, an official report has said.

The presenter, 55, and her husband Nick Jones, 58, bought Inchconnachan Island in Scotland and plan to demolish a bungalow and replace it with a timber three-bedroom lodge and also replace the boathouse.

The island in Trossachs National Park is also called 'Wallaby Island' due to the marsupials that inhabit it.

The proposed development on the island sparked outrage and a number of objections being lodged from residents and environmental groups.

But a dossier submitted by authority staff to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park planning and access committee has recommended permission be granted subject to conditions.

The presenter, 55, and her husband Nick Jones, 58, bought Inchconnachan Island and plan to demolish a bungalow and replace it with a timber three-bedroom lodge and new boathouse

The proposed development on the location sparked anger and a number of objections being lodged from residents and environmental groups

Former Desert Island Discs presenter Kirsty Young and her husband Nick Jones purchased Inchconnachan Island (pictured) in 2020

It said the plans would not have an adverse effect on the 'integrity' of the Loch Lomond special protection area.

The committee will meet next week to make a ruling on Young's plans but members have been encouraged to approve the plans.

A 100-page report said: 'The proposal is a well-considered and high-quality development that would befit the context and quality of the location.

'The ecological and sustainability design measures incorporated into the proposal would ensure that it addresses the climate mitigation and adaptation objectives.

'In conclusion, it is recommended that the planning application be supported on the basis that it would accord with the relevant development plan policies and guidance and that there are no other material considerations that would outweigh the support offered by the development plan and that the planning application and proposal will not result in an adverse effect on either the integrity of the Loch Lomond Woods special area of conservation (SAC) or the Loch Lomond special protection area (SPA).'

History: The secluded island in Loch Lomond was once the summer retreat for the Countess of Arran, Fiona Gore (pictured on her speedboat in 1982), who became the unlikely champion powerboater at the 1980 Segrave Trophy

The island (pictured) allows for a range of activities including sailing, kayaking, mountain biking, angling and hill walking

The report said the lodge should not be occupied by any group or individual for more than 90 days in one calendar year and that a record of guests should be kept for inspection by national park authorities.

Concerns were raised over the future of the wallabies on the island but Young released a statement denying she wanted to move them.

A petition had gathered thousands of signatures before Young said she had no plans to 'eradicate' the wallabies.

Luss and Arden Community Council had raised fears over an osprey nest near to the proposed site for the lodge.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said they had no objections to the plans while Woodland Trust Scotland had objected as the building work would involve cutting down trees.

Pictured: Plans for the new boathouse the couple hope to build after demolishing the old one

The couple plan to replace the island's derelict bungalow (pictured) with a timber three-bedroom lodge according to plans

Young and her husband bought the 103-acre island in 2020 for 1.6m.

It had been owned by the Colquhoun family since the 14th century and is accessible by boat from the nearby village of Luss.

Wallabies have lived on the island for almost 80 years after being introduced at the end of the Second World War.

Young hosted BBC radio show Desert Island Discs but left the programme in 2018 after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and a chronic condition known as fibromyalgia which causes pain and fatigue.

MailOnline has contacted Kirsty Young's representatives for comment.
The couple are staying with family after losing their home, car and belongings

Her boyfriend, Aramis Youngblood, was thrown through midair and their four-month-old was discovered in a tree yards away

Sydney Moore found herself trapped beneath a toppled wall as she clutched her one-year-old son

A young mom in Tennessee was left shaken after losing her home, car and nearly her two boys when a 150-mile-per-hour tornado lifted her trailer off the ground while the family was inside.

Sydney Moore, 22, was inside her living room with boyfriend Aramis Youngblood moments before powerful winds battered their trailer, which sat on a secluded road in Clarksville.

With the couple were their sons, four-month-old Lord and one-year-old Princeton.

'My boyfriend said, "It sounds like an airplane,"' Moore told WZTV. She said she didn't hear any alarm sirens until she was 'already in the air.'

As the walls of their home began to tremble violently, she grabbed the toddler. Youngblood attempted to reach Lord, who was in his bassinet.

Sydney Moore was inside her living room with boyfriend Aramis Youngblood when their Clarksville, Tennessee, trailer was hit by 150mph winds and lifted from its foundation

The couple scrambled to get to their infant children, one-year-old Princeton (left) and four-month-old Lord (right)

The powerful storm ejected Youngblood from the home and trapped Moore beneath a fallen wall (pictured: debris in the West Creek Farms neighborhood in Clarksville)

'He tried to grab him, but he couldn't and the tip of the tornado sucked them both up,' Moore said.

Youngblood and the baby were tossed from the home as Moore found herself trapped beneath a toppled wall.

Still holding on to Princeton, she managed to wriggle out and began searching for the remaining members of the family.

'We were screaming for each other,' she said. 'I just remember asking, "Wheres my baby!" and my childs father said he didnt know.'

Youngblood found Lord yards away from their ruins of their trailer.

'He found him laying in a tree, like somebody placed him in this tree,' Moore said. 'All he had was a gash on the side of his face. It had to have been God.'

As their car had been destroyed, the 22-year-old walked a mile to reach an ambulance. Doctors tended to Lords ear and assessed Princeton's injuries, which were only minor.

The family is staying with relatives for the time being and Moore's sister, Caitlyn, created a GoFundMe to support them.

As Moore clung to Princeton (pictured), she began a desperate search for the remaining members of her family. She and Youngblood found Lord in a tree nearby

The 22-year-old walked a mile to reach an ambulance. Her boyfriend was left with a broken collarbone and Lord suffered a gash on his face, but Princeton's injuries were only minor

The family moved in with relatives after they lost their home, car and belongings including supplies like diapers and formula for their children

Youngblood, who operates machinery at Clarksville-based battery manufacturer Hankook & Company, is currently unable to work.

'Their (trailer) rental company has graciously put them in a hotel for a month,' Caitlyn wrote. 'They did not have insurance on their car, so unfortunately that is a total loss.'

She added that the tornado took baby supplies including formula, diapers, wipes and clothing. The family is also missing their cat, Balue.

So far, the campaign has raised $2,440 of its $5,000 goal.

'This disaster has affected more than just this family, so I would like to extend my thoughts and prayers to everyone affected,' Caitlyn wrote.

She also left a message on Facebook, offering a prayer to the community at large.

'God please wrap your arms around this town and all the victims of this devastating tornado,' she wrote.

'Keep the emergency responders covered as they try to sort through the debris and help each injured person. Please grant them the strength to rebuild and overcome from this loss.'

The storms were labelled as EF-3 in Clarksville, with estimated wind speeds between 136 and 165 miles per hour, and EF-2 in Madison and in Sumner County

Thousands remain without power and at least six people are confirmed dead across the region

Moore's sister set up a GoFundMe to support the young couple and their two children, as Youngblood is currently unable to work

The young mother was shocked to find Lord virtually unharmed. 'It had to have been God,' she said (pictured: Moore at Princeton's baby shower in 2022)

Moore and Youngblood were eager to welcome their first child in August 2022 and shared several photos of Princeton's baby shower to social media.

In one picture, the young mother grins and holds her pregnant stomach in front of a banner reading 'A little prince is on the way.'

The couple's Facebook pages are filled with photos of their two children. Lord, the youngest, was born in July.

Their family is just one impacted by the tornado, which knocked over trees and lifting buildings from their foundations.

The National Weather Service labeled the storms as EF-3 in Clarksville - meaning estimated wind speeds between 136 and 165 miles per hour - and EF-2 in Madison and in Sumner County.

Thousands remain without power and at least six people are confirmed dead amid an ongoing state of emergency issued by Governor Bill Lee.

As many as 100 military families have been displaced from Fort Campbell housing in Clarksville, and nearly 80 people have been hospitalized across the region.
A gingerbread house containing a number of rare diamonds has been given a price tag more than most real mansions.

The extraordinary culinary creation, worth 3.1milllion, is the latest work of artist and designer Debbie Wingham, also known as the Queen of the most expensive'.

The Dolce Gabbana inspired gingerbread house is adorned with three rare and pink diamonds worth just over 1 million each.

The gingerbread house was made with 15kg of flour and more than 17kg of sugar, taking more than two weeks to complete. It was built with a combination of ginger cookie, icing sugar, chocolate, sprinkles and fondant for the decorations.

And the cake, along with the diamonds, was used as the centrepiece of a proposal by a multi-millionaire to his girlfriend, who said yes.

The Dolce Gabbana inspired gingerbread house is adorned with three rare and flawless pink diamonds worth just over 1 million each

The extraordinary culinary creation, worth 3.1milllion, is the latest work of artist and designer Debbie Wingham, also known as the Queen of the most expensive'

The couple, who have not been identified, are said to be Russian and based in Marbella.

The three diamonds from the cake will now be used to create an engagement ring and matching earrings that will be on show at a New Year engagement party before a big summer wedding.

Ms Wingham, 41, said: It is always rewarding when you deliver a creation but this one had high stakes as it was a proposal confection. I don't think I have ever been so nervous. Add I was delighted when they notified me that she said yes."

The gingerbread house was made with 15kg of flour and more than 17kg of sugar, taking more than two weeks to complete

It was built with a combination of ginger cookie, icing sugar, chocolate, sprinkles and fondant for the decorations

Inside the house there are clothes made from rice paper, edible mannequins in the window, as well as delicious shoes and designer handbags

The Dolce and Gabbana theme was chosen as it was the clients favourite fashion brand and the detailed interior decorations mirrored those in a store in Puerto Banus in Spain

The Dolce and Gabbana theme was chosen as it was the clients favourite fashion brand and the detailed interior decorations mirrored those in a store in Puerto Banus in Spain.

Inside the house there are clothes made from rice paper, edible mannequins in the window, as well as delicious shoes and designer handbags. The walls are also decorated like a Dolce and Gabbana store.

Originally a fashion designer, the miners daughter from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, Ms Wingham made a name for herself in the luxury confectionary market.

Kim Kardashian and Karl Lagerfeld are among her celebrity clients to have bought cakes.

Her previous most expensive creations have included a 48.5million cake covered in diamonds, a Christmas tree worth 11.9million, an 11.7million dress and stiletto shoes decorated with diamonds and precious stones worth 11.4million.
Her vehicle was recovered - but the teenager was not inside the car when it was discovered and her location still remains unknown

The car of a 17-year-old missing girl from Illinois has been found in a pond close to the area where she was last seen alive - but the teen's location still remains unknown.

Brissa Romero went missing last Monday as she was on her way to a work holiday party at the Bowlero bowling alley in Vernon Hills, Illinois.

On Monday night, the Carpentersville teenager's car was recovered by search crews from a retention pond just a mile away from where she was last seen alive.

Brissa wasn't inside her Nissan Rogue when it was pulled out of the water - but investigators believe that she had been in the vehicle when it went into the lake.

'Based on the condition of the vehicle and all the evidence we have at this point, it appears that Brissa was in that vehicle when it drove into the lake,' said Vernon Hills Police Chief Patrick Kreis.

PICTURED: Brissa Romero, 17, was heading to Bowlero bowling alley for a work holiday party located in the northern suburb of Vernon Hills last Monday when she suddenly vanished

Last night the Carpentersville teenager's car was recovered by search crews from a retention pond just a mile away from where she was last seen alive

The car was retrieved from the pond at 4 pm on Monday after a police supervisor on the scene spoke to a witness who had spotted a backpack floating on the water.

Police found the backpack and it appeared to belong to Brissa - so they called in additional forces to search the area and eventually found the car.

The pond is just off a T-intersection of Lakeview Parkway and Executive Parkway, according to police.

Brissa might have been unfamiliar with the area and driven through the intersection instead of turning right or left, which would have led her to drive down an embankment and into the pond.

Surveillance footage from December 4 - the night Brissa went missing - shows that the young woman made a pit stop at her job to pick up her iPad that she had forgotten before heading out again to the party.

The video footage was from a fast-food restaurant that was around one to one and a half miles away from the pond.

Officials said her phone last pinged near the party venue but no one at the party saw her.

Brissa's frantic family is asking anyone who lives or works in the area or owns a business to check their security video, between 7 pm and 9 pm that evening.

The dark-haired, brown-eyed Romero, who stands at 5 feet, 1 inches tall, was wearing a green long sleeve shirt, black vest, ripped black jeans and black Uggs.

After her disappearance, police conducted an extensive search using drones and surveying local ponds for her vehicle, but nothing surfaced until last night.

Jocelyn Rubi Romero told the news outlet last week that everyone in the family shares their location of where they are with with their parents.

'She called my mom at 6:55 pm and said she was on the way over here, and my mom kept looking at her location, and she was heading over here,' Rubi Romero said, 'but around the time that she arrived, she did not call my mom.'

Brissa wasn't inside her Nissan Rogue when it was pulled out of the water - but investigators believe that she had been in the vehicle when it went into the lake

Surveillance footage from December 4 - the night Brissa went missing - shows that the young woman made a pit stop at her job to pick up her iPad that she had forgotten before heading out again to the party

Brissa might have been unfamiliar with the area and driven through the intersection instead of turning right or left, which would have led her to drive down an embankment and into the pond

A $14,000 reward has been posted for he safe return of Brissa Romero (pictured). The flyer shows the teen's Illinois license plate and the clothes she was wearing - black vest, green long sleeve shirt, black ripped jeans, black Uggs - when she was last seen. The flyer was posted in English and Spanish

A vigil was held on Sunday night near Town Center Road and Milwaukee Avenue, the last known place where Brissa was seen. Family and friends gathered to pray that their loved one is found safe and returns home.

Clutching a large crucifix towards her chest, Romero's distraught mother, Blanca Aguilera wept, as she said: 'I want my daughter back as soon as possible. I just want my daughter back.'

Romero was attending Harper college and was studying to become an ultra-sound technician.

Aguilera said that one of their last conversations she and her daughter had was about college and Romero's future plans.

Described as a 'hard worker' the teen was busy working two jobs before she went missing, and was not someone who would runaway from home.

'Somebody came and took her, I don't know what they think,' said the heartbroken mom. 'I just want my daughter back.'

Dulce Romero, the missing woman's sister, said that based on what she knows, she is 'trying to figure out if, by any chance, something happened where somebody was able to contact her during the drive.'

She is trying to remain hopeful and is leaning on the community.

'That night, maybe there's something they can actually find that in the within their private cameras that the police don't have access to,' she said.

A $14,000 reward has been posted for her safe return.

The police are urging anyone who may have security video that could assist them to contact the Carpentersville Police Department at 847-551-3481.
President Joe Biden believes son Hunter was only charged with tax and gun crimes because he ran for president in 2020 and feels a mix of guilt, sadness and anger over the political attacks his son has endured.

Axios reported Tuesday on the president's biggest 'trigger:' Hunter, which sources said was the No. 1 issue to impact Biden's mood.

Biden reportedly told close associates that Hunter likely wouldn't be facing criminal prosecutions had he not sought the White House.

The president also feels guilty that Hunter has become a favorite target in the conservative press.

The news site also reported that Biden's relationship with Attorney General Merrick Garland has become 'strained' over his decision to elevate U.S. Attorney David Weiss to special counsel to oversee Hunter's cases.

Hunter Biden (left) is President Joe Biden's (right) biggest 'trigger,' as the president feels a mix of guilt, sadness and anger over the criminal charges his son is facing and has told allies he believes Hunter was only targeted because of his presidential run

Axios reported Tuesday on the 'strained' relationship Biden has with Attorney General Merrick Garland, photographed at the White House Hanukkah reception Monday night, due to his decision to elevate U.S. Attorney David Weiss to special counsel in August

In the weeks following Biden's 2020 election win, the Biden-Harris transition team acknowledged that Hunter's taxes were under Department of Justice investigation.

Weiss, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump but signed off on by the state's two Democratic senators, was in charge of that case.

He was asked by the Biden administration to stay on in an effort to look like the White House wasn't meddling in the investigation.

Two IRS whistleblowers - Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler - alleged that Weiss had asked to be promoted to special counsel status and that request was denied.

Both Weiss and Garland denied the whistleblowers' claims and another top official, FBI agent Thomas Sobocinski, who oversaw Hunter's case, also said the whistleblowers' account wasn't true.

Still, there was enough pressure - especially after Hunter's so-called 'sweetheart' plea deal fell apart - for Garland to appoint Weiss special counsel in August.

Since then, Hunter has been indicted on three gun charges and on Thursday night was indicted on nine fresh tax charges.

Axios reported that people close to Biden have fumed over Garland's decision to elevate Weiss - charging that he did so under the 'guise of objectivity.'

One source compared Garland to former FBI Director James Comey, whose comments about the Hillary Clinton email investigation during the 2016 race likely colored public opinion - when all the while former President Donald Trump was also the focus of an FBI probe over his campaign's connections to Russia.

Comey broke precedent by making a public statement when the FBI decided not to charge Clinton for breaking the law over her handling of classified information.

He did so again when he informed Congress that the email probe had been reopened - just 11 days before the election, which Trump won.

Biden's annoyance at Garland was captured in August - after the special counsel decision was made - at a White House event.

There, the president said dryly: 'Attorney General Garland- I haven't seen you in a long while. It's good to see you.'

Garland was also on hand at the White House during Monday night's Hanukkah reception, but Biden didn't publicly acknowledge him in the 800-plus crowd.

Axios also pointed to the demise of the friendship between Biden and Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who called on Hunter to be investigated during the 2020 presidential race.

Biden believes Graham broke an unspoken Senate rule by going after one of his family members to appease Trump politically.

Graham has argued that Hunter's foreign business deals, while Biden was serving as vice president, are fair game.

The New York Times reported that after Biden won the election, Graham called the president-elect and Biden blew up at him.

Biden later said that Graham had proposed they have lunch at the White House, an opportunity the president declined.
Sex on a balcony for all to see is just one of many troubling complaints coming from an Airbnb rental in an upscale Texas neighborhood.

Residents of townhomes valued up at $500,0000 according to the Houston Fox station, are fed up with what they describe as sex parties, violence and drug use happening at the short-term rental.

Video that has been pixelated shows people having sex on an open balcony at the Airbnb - close to an elementary school.

'Two individuals decided to engage in some adult activities right there, right in front of us, right in front of everybody,' one neighbor who asked to remain anonymous told Fox 26 reporter Randy Wallace.

A couple are seen having sex on the balcony of a Houston Airbnb in a pixelated image provided by a horrified local resident

A scantily-clad woman was also filmed walking through the neighborhood in a thong. It is unclear if she was one of the two people caught having sex on the balcony

Another shocking photo shows a woman wearing a thong outfit strutting along a cobbled pathway.

Clips also showed guests at the Airbnb shrieking and screaming at night - while others paying expensive mortgages and rent struggle to relax inside their homes.

People who live in the townhomes near Houston's Galleria Mall say this is not what they signed up for when they moved into the posh neighborhood with their kids.

'It was terrible. This was on a Monday morning. We could have had kids. There is an elementary school just 2 minutes away,' a different resident stated.

Frustrated homeowners say they regularly witness sex parties, fights, yelling, and half-naked people walking around the Airbnb.

The Airbnb features five king and queen beds, according to the online listing

Walls in the rental are painted black. There are also high-end touches, like designer bedding

An online listing for the property, which includes a pool, notes that parties and events are not allowed

They are increasingly alarmed by armed people seen smoking pot, illegal in the Lone Star State, who block the entrance to their homes.

'If I can describe in one word what happened to the neighborhood, it's filth. They bring filth to this established family neighborhood,' a third resident added.

Residents showed records of phone calls and emails to Houston police with pleas for help.

After 87 attempts to get police to help shut down the out-of-control short-term rental, the townhouse remains in operation.

According to the rental's listing, the 'luxury' home sleeps up to 10 people and can be reserved for a little as $486 a night.

Photos of the property show black walls, large mirrors and beds covered in Chanel bedding.

'Each bedroom is fitted with silky smooth linens, comfy blankets, and soft pillows thatll feel like youre sleeping on heavens clouds,' the online post says.

The listing specifically spells out that parties are not allowed.

Airbnb did not immediately respond for comment regarding the party palace.
Chicago police have not identified any of the suspects but say an investigation is underway

Four armed thieves have been caught on camera robbing a Chicago jewelry store in the middle of the day.

Surveillance video shows the armed suspects entering Joyeria Molina and stealing valuable items last week.

Footage shows one of the thieves rushing to the entry door as one customer stepped out, letting the other burglars in.

They were seen smashing glass cases in the store to access the items.

One of the offenders is heard yelling at Owner Maria Coronel to 'get on the f****** floor.' Instead, she ran out of the door.

Coronel has not clarified the value of the items stolen. No injuries were reported.

Surveillance video shows the armed suspects entering Joyeria Molina and stealing valuable items last week

They were seen smashing glass cases in the store to access the items and one of the offenders is heard yelling at Owner Maria Coronel to 'get on the f****** floor.' Instead, she ran out of the door

According to officials, once they were done ransacking the store, the group fled in a white sedan.

The distressed owner told FOX32: ' I opened a year and a half ago. This makes me feel really scared to continue operating my business. I'm planning to close the store in fear of something like this happening again.

'I have received only a bit of help from the police and I'd like for more support from them. I hope the videos can help other businesses stay alert.'

She further said the store had several security cameras and automatic locks on the front door, which she thought would have been enough to keep thieves away.

Chicago police have not identified any suspects involved in the robbery but say an investigation is underway.

The distressed owner told FOX 32: ' I opened a year and a half ago. This makes me feel really scared to continue operating my business. I'm planning to close the store in fear of something like this happening again

Chicago police have not identified any suspects involved in the robbery but say an investigation is underway

This comes two weeks after a pedestrian was robbed at a Chicago intersection by a rifle-wielding gang.

The incident occurred on September 23, but surveillance video of the scene was revealed later after the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communication refused to release it.

As the woman made her way across the six-way intersection at 4.45am, a silver sedan pulled up as one suspect pointed the gun at her and the others shook her down.

They then sped off and went on to rob four other people as cops in the area refused to follow the armed suspects.

The video of the woman being robbed begins as she crosses the walkway at North Avenue in the heart of Wicker Park before the car pulls up.

The passenger doors swing open as one suspect dressed in black with a mask on his face, points the rifle straight at her.

Four masked suspects charged at a woman on a busy Chicago street and robbed her at gunpoint with a rifle

Three more assailants dressed in a light grey hoodie and black outfits then go after the woman who let go of her suitcase that sits on the corner.

With her hands up, she gave up her backpack as one of the robbers snatches it and the other two go through her pockets.

A white SUV stops at a red light at the intersection and the suspect with the gun points it directly at the vehicle and waves it to move along.

The thief in the gray hoodie takes the last of her stolen goods and the four of them pile back into the car and speed away.

The woman is left on the corner with her suitcase and glances down the street before she turns around and heads back to where she came from.

Surveillance video of the crime was then reviewed by Chicago Police officers who informed other patrol units of the descriptions of the masked robbers.

According to CWB Chicago, the getaway car's left headlight was out, and the back right window was broken.

In 2023, a total of 9,667 robberies were reported, compared to that of last year when 7,771 were reported.
Netflix are accused of making a potential 'historical error' in casting Denzel Washington as historic military leader Hannibal

Netflix's decision to cast Denzel Washington as historic military leader Hannibal in its upcoming blockbuster has sparked a furious race row in Tunisia.

The streaming giant is accused of making a potential 'historical error' in casting Washington, who is black, as the ancient Carthaginian general, with historians still stumped over his ethnicity over 2,200 years after his reign.

Outrage over the casting spilled into Tunisian parliament and sparked an online petition calling on Tunisia's Ministry of Culture to 'take action against the attempt to steal our history.'

The controversy in the African nation comes months after nearby Egypt was also embroiled in a Netflix scandal over docudrama 'Cleopatra', which was accused of 'blackwashing' after hiring a black actress to play the Macedonian-Greek empress.

Denzel Washington (pictured in April 2023) has been cast as ancient military leader Hannibal for an upcoming Netflix blockbuster, sparking fury in Tunisia where the general hailed from

Hannibal was a Carthaginian general famed for leading his army - including African war elephants - across the Alps as he laid siege to the Roman Empire in 2018 BC

The row over Washington's selection in the film's lead role sparked a wave of criticism online, which then erupted in the halls of the Tunisian parliament, according to French outlet Courrier International.

Tunisian Member of Parliament Yassine Mami argued that the chamber 'needa to take position on this subject', as he felt 'there is a risk of falsifying history.'

'This is about defending Tunisian identity and listening to the reactions of civil society,' he said.

Tunisian newspaper La Presse also took a public stance against Washington's casting in an editorial, claiming that the decision is 'according to Tunisians and many observers, a historical error.'

Washington is set to team up with director Anthony Fuqua in the film, the latest in a long line of collaborations between the pair including the actor's Oscar-winning turn in 2001 hit film Training Day.

Hannibal was born in 247 BC and was of West Asian Semitic origin, being born in the region of Carthage - now Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.

He is considered by many historians to be among the greatest military leaders in history, and his career included a famous siege of Rome in 218 BC when he led African war elephants across the Alps.

Denzel Washington (right) is set to team up again with director Antoine Fuqua (left) in the blockbuster Hannibal. The two have collaborated a number of times, including Washington's Oscar-winning turn in 2001 hit Training Day

Historians have been stumped over Hannibal's skin color over 2,200 years after his reign. He was of West Asian Semitic origin, and was born in the region of Carthage - now Tunis, the capital of Tunisia

Experts have been divided over his skin color, as although it is agreed that he was of Phoenician heritage - now known as modern day Lebanon and Syria - he ruled at a time of numerous interchanging empires and intermixing, reports The Guardian.

Tunisia's outrage at the casting has also come at a time of heightened racial tensions in the nation, which has seen President Kais Saied allege that sub-Saharan migrants are flooding the nation to turn the majority-Arab nation 'purely African.'

However, while Mami felt Washington's selection was offensive, culture minister Hayet Ketat Guermazi said the move was out of her control, and she was negotiating to have some scenes in the film shot in Tunisia.

'Its fiction; Its their right to do what they want,' she said. 'Hannibal is a historical figure, even if were all proud that hes Tunisian  What could we do?'

'What matters to me is that they shoot even one sequence in Tunisia and mention it. We want Tunisia to become a platform for foreign films again.

'I hope they decide to shoot at least a sequence of the film here and that that this is publicized. We want Tunisia to go back to being a location where foreign films are shot.'

Netflix came under fire earlier this year after casting black actress Adele James, 37, as Egyptian leader Cleopatra

It comes months after Netflix came under similar criticism for casting black actress Adele James in the role of Egyptian queen Cleopatra.

Egyptology experts and historians slammed the show for 'blackwashing' the historical icon, with records showing she was of Macedonian-Greek origin.

Fans reacted with similar distain as, four days after its release, the show was given just a one percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reportedly the worst ever documented.
A teenage girl accused of murdering Brianna Ghey stored the details of the boy she alleges carried out the 'frenzied' stabbing under the name of a movie hitman played by Keanu Reeves, a court heard today.

The 16-year-old, who denies murdering the transgender schoolgirl, admitted saving her co-defendant in her tablet as 'Tesco John Wick'.

But she insisted this was not a reference to him being her 'hitman' but instead that he 'looked like a less good version of John Wick, like a Tesco John Wick'.

The alleged killer  who is being referred to as Girl X  admitted agreeing a plan with co-accused Boy Y to stab Brianna to death and encouraging him to bring a sharp knife.

She today admitted that she 'enjoyed' the idea of the transgender schoolgirl dying 'a horrible death'.

A teenage girl accused of murdering Brianna Ghey (pictured) stored the details of the boy she alleges carried out the 'frenzied' stabbing under the name of a movie hitman played by Keanu Reeves, a court heard today

Brianna Grey was stabbed 28 times with a hunting knife on February 11, a court has been told

But she denied that she and the boy who she claims stabbed the 16-year-old after the trio met up in a park 'turned your fantasy into reality', insisting they only planned to 'hang out'.

Follow every detail of the case on The Mail's acclaimed podcast The Trial The Trial...takes listeners behind the headlines and into the courtrooms of some of the biggest trials in the world. The first series 'The Trial of Lucy Letby' was a global hit, with more than 13million downloads, while season two focused on the murder of Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old teacher from Ireland. Its third season follows the tragic case of Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old transgender girl killed in Warrington, England. Follow the evidence as the jury hears it, in twice-weekly reports from The Daily Mail's Northern Correspondent Liz Hull and broadcast journalist Caroline Cheetham. Advertisement

Girl X and Boy Y, who cannot be named as they are both 16, are accused of murdering Brianna in Culcheth Linear Park near Warrington, Cheshire on Saturday, February 11.

The schoolgirl was stabbed 28 times in a 'frenzied' attack and died at the scene.

The pair, who were both 15 at the time, are said to have been fascinated by torture, violence and death, while handwritten notes about serial killers were found in Girl X's bedroom following her arrest.

Both deny Brianna's murder, blaming each other, Manchester Crown Court has heard.

Yesterday Girl X told jurors that on the afternoon of Brianna's death, she turned away to 'stretch her legs' and left her beside a bench with Boy Y when she heard 'screaming'.

Asked by her barrister, Richard Pratt KC, what she saw when she turned around, Girl X replied: 'I saw [Boy Y] stabbing Brianna.'

She then saw Brianna 'fall and land face-down on the floor', saying she felt 'shocked'.

The court has heard that Girl X saved Boy Y's contact details in her tablet computer as 'Tesco John Wick'.

Cross-examined today by prosecutor Deanna Heer KC, she agreed that John Wick was a fictional movie 'hitman' or 'assassin' played by Keanu Reeves.

But she denied doing so because she regarded Boy Y as her 'hitman', insisting it was 'a bit of a joke' between them.

'I said he looked like a less good version of John Wick, like a Tesco John Wick,' she added.

Girl X, dressed today in a tartan dress and dark cardigan, and with her hair tied back, was giving her evidence screened from the public gallery by a curtain.

Trial judge Mrs Justice Yip told jurors this had been done to reduce 'distractions'.

Today Girl X agreed she had 'enjoyed' the idea of her and Boy Y killing someone.

Asked why, Girl X answered: 'I'm not exactly sure, I just found the overall thing quite interesting I guess.'

Girl X agreed that she liked the idea of 'having power over someone' and 'being able to cause them pain and suffering', and found knives 'fascinating'.

Asked why she then began fantasising about killing Brianna, who she found 'quite attractive' and regarded as a 'good friend', Girl X said she 'just randomly got thoughts' about killing people, even if she was 'really close to them'.

'Did you find the idea of killing Brianna  who you were attracted to  exciting?' Mrs Heer asked.

'I guess so, yeah,' Girl X answered.

'Did you want to kill her because she was transgender?'

'No.'

'Did you think that she was prettier than you?'

'In a way, yes.'

'Did you think Brianna would be an easy person to kill?'

'Possibly, yes.'

Asked if she thought Boy Y  who Girl X has claimed 'didn't exactly agree with people who were trans' - would like the idea of killing Brianna because she was transgender, she replied: 'Possibly, yes.'

Prosecutors have told the jury that the two youths planned to kill Brianna Grey (pictured)

Brianna Ghey's mother Esther Ghey arrives at Manchester Crown Court on November 27

Jurors have heard that Boy Y and Girl X swapped messages at the end of January discussing trying to kill Brianna with an overdose of medication.

Around the same time, Brianna's mother Esther found her 'screaming and crying' in her bedroom and saying: 'I think I'm going to die.'

But she began to recover after throwing up.

Earlier in her evidence, Girl X claimed she and Brianna had gone to a supermarket and bought 'random tablets' to see if it would make them feel 'high', but instead just felt 'a bit sick'.

She insisted she never gave Brianna any pills without her knowledge.

Today Mrs Heer read out messages in which Girl X suggested tricking Brianna into drinking acid by pouring it into a McDonald's milkshake.

'Did you think that would be a horrible death?' Mrs Heer asked.

'Possibly, yes,' Girl X said.

'Did you enjoy the idea?'

'I think I did, yes.'

Today Mrs Heer asked her: 'Did you think [Boy Y] did that because you told him to?'

'No,' she replied.

Girl X said the trio simply planned to 'hang out' in the park.

'Is the real reason you wanted [Boy Y] to be there is you wanted [Boy Y] to help you kill Brianna?' Mrs Heer asked.

'No,' she said.

Girl X also confirmed that a second alleged murder plan was found when police searched her bedroom related to Brianna.

The note describes slitting someone's throat after giving her 'alcohol, sleeping pills' then dismembering the body and burying the pieces.

Earlier Boy Y's barrister Richard Littler KC concluded his cross-examination of Girl X.

She agreed that a fantasy was something where you would 'like it to happen' but it probably never would.

Mr Littler asked: 'Why would you have a fantasy about murdering your good friend?'

Girl X answered: 'I'm not sure, I don't know where it comes from.'

Girl X was challenged whether the reason she faked messages between herself and an imaginary drug dealer was to give herself more time while she was 'trying to find the courage' to stab Brianna.

Girl X denied this and said she just wanted to keep Brianna in the park because she rarely went out in Culcheth.

'I'm going to suggest you stabbed Brianna and turned your fantasy into reality,' Mr Littler said.

'No,' she answered.

No further witnesses or evidence are being called in Girl X's defence, the jury was told.

They were then told Boy Y would be giving his evidence tomorrow by typing his responses as he had been diagnosed with 'selective mutism' following his arrest.

'Although he has good overall understanding of language, following his remand he gradually stopped speaking to anyone except his mother,' his junior counsel Stephen Swift said.

Mr Swift said that although the condition was described as 'selective', in reality '[Boy Y's] silence is not a matter of choice'.

People leave flowers near Linear Park in Culcheth in February where Brianna Ghey was found

The judge said it had been accepted that in order for Boy Y to have the opportunity to give his evidence, he would therefore type his answers which would then be read to the jury.

Concluding her cross-examination of Girl X earlier, Mrs Heer asked why she hadn't tried to step in when Boy Y allegedly stabbed Brianna.

She replied that she feared it 'could go badly wrong for me if I intervened'.

Boy Y had started to run off, and after finding no sign that Brianna was breathing she followed suit, she said.

'It wasn't going to look great with me stood by Brianna so I just ran,' she added.

Girl X insisted she was 'too much in shock' to see if there was anything she could do to help Brianna, and couldn't call 999 as she 'didn't know how to get the words out'.

She denied using Brianna's phone to send a message reading 'Girl where are you?' to 'set up an alibi', and said she couldn't remember why she deleted a Snapchat exchange with her.

Girl X said she went straight to her room when she got home, avoiding her parents.

Asked why she didn't raise the alarm as 'there was a killer on the loose', Girl X said she 'couldn't think straight'.

'Was it because you were in it together and you didn't want [Boy Y] to get caught?' said Mrs Heer.

'No,' she answered, denying thinking they had 'got away with it'.

Girl X denied that a Snapchat tribute she posted to Brianna the day after her death was an attempt to cover her tracks.

She insisted it was intended as 'a memorial' because she was 'upset about what got done to Brianna'.

Girl X denied that the truth was that she and Boy Y had 'lured' Brianna to the park as part of a plan to kill her.

'Is the truth that you helped [Boy Y] to stab Brianna?' Mrs Heer asked.

'No,' Girl X replied.

'Did you also stab her?'

'No.'

'You've lied to this jury just like you lied to the police,' Mrs Heer said.

'No,' she answered.

Last week jurors heard how Boy Y  who has yet to give evidence  told police he had turned away to urinate behind a tree, and on looking back saw Girl X stabbing her 'at least three times'.

Girl X, now 16, of Warrington, and Boy Y, also 16 and of Leigh, Greater Manchester, both deny murder.

The trial continues.
This is the shocking moment a Turkish lawmaker collapsed suddenly in parliament after reportedly having a heart attack following an impassioned rant in which he said Israel would 'suffer the wrath of Allah'.

Video showed the moment Hasan Bitmez, 53, fell on the floor after giving a speech in the General Assembly Hall in Ankara - prompting other politicians to run over to his aid.

Rounding off a strongly worded speech, Bitmez had concluded, 'We can perhaps hide from our conscience but not from history,' stating that 'Israel will suffer the wrath of Allah', as reported by The Yeshiva World.

In that moment, he stumbled and dropped to his knees before lying flat on his back. The Saadet Party Kocaeli Deputy had to be stretchered out of the hall after receiving chest compressions 'for a long time', Turkish media reports.

Turhan Comez, a deputy from the Kemalist IYI Party and a trained doctor, was reportedly the first to help his political rival.

The Turkish lawmaker gave a speech in the Grand Assembly Hall before collapsing

A politician runs over after Bitmez was seen falling onto the ground at the assembly hall

He was taken to hospital and moved to an ICU in critical condition, the health minister said

Bitmez was taken to the Bilkent City Hospital in Ankara where he is listed as in 'critical condition'. Saadet chairman Temel Karamollaoglu told reporters 'Bitmez's health was still at risk' and asked for 'prayers for his recovery'.

READ MORE: Heartbroken father cradles his toddler son as the bodies of his twin girls lie before him after they were killed in Israeli strike - as UN votes on ceasefire resolution Advertisement

Dr Fahrettin Koca, health minister of Turkey, said in a statement today that Bitmez was 'disturbed' during his speech at the General Assembly, adding that he was currently undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of the Ankara hospital.

Bitmez, who is married and has a child, was elected as the 28th Term Kocaeli Deputy in the elections of May 14, 2023.

Saadet is an Islamist Turkish political party founded in 2001.

After the Islamist Virtue Party was banned in July 2001 for violating secularist principles of Turkey's constitution, reformists founded the incumbent Justice and Development Party (AKP), a conservative party run by president Recep Tayip Erdogan, while hardliners formed Saadet.

While Turkey has a 99.8 per cent Muslim population, the country is bound to a number of secular and progressive principles enshrined by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in the early 20th century.

Turkey and Israel normalised ties only last year, but relations have soured since Hamas' October 7 strike into southern Israel.

Erdogan - who only narrowly won the May election - has looked to widen his conservative base with backing from the country's religious fringe.

Since October, he has taken a strong position against Israel and both countries have recalled their ambassadors while remaining open to trade.

Prior to the war, Erdogan had expressed political support for Hamas' political wing, seeing it as a viable government in the Gaza Strip. The war has seen a shift in rhetoric.

At the end of October, the president accused Israel's allies of creating a 'crusade war atmosphere pitting Christians against Muslims'.

'The main culprit behind the massacre unfolding in Gaza is the West,' he said at a rally of several hundred thousand Palestinian supporters in Istanbul on October 28.

Turkey has also pledged humanitarian aid to Gaza, with harrowing accounts of food, water, fuel and medical supply shortages coming out of the beleaguered enclave.

'A total of 51 containers of medical supplies, generators and 20 ambulances, with necessary permissions, were loaded onto a ship from Izmir's Alsancak port and sent to Egypt,' Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on November 10.

'As part of the aid, a fully equipped heavy-climate type field hospital with operating rooms and intensive-care units and inflatable type field hospitals were sent,' he said.

More than 18,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict since October, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Some 40 per cent of the 2.3million population are children, and more than half the total have already been displaced by Israeli forces warning of invasion.

The IDF instructed Gazans living in the north to move on or risk being caught in a military escalation as early as October 13 but many have been unable to move due to sickness, age or injury, unwilling to leave their homes or caught in accidental bombings or areas designated safe zones.

Concern as the Saadet party official, 53, reportedly had a heart attack in the hall

President Erdogan wears a scarf depicting the Palestinian and Turkish flags during a rally organised by the AKP Party in solidarity with civilians in Gaza, in Istanbul, October 28

LEFT: A man holds a child, both injured in an Israeli bombardment, as they receive treatment at a trauma ward in Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on October 24. RIGHT: A woman embraces the body of a Palestinian child killed in Israeli strikes, at a hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 17

Smoke billowing during Israeli bombardment on northern Gaza, amid continuing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas, on December 11, 2023

As Israel sweeps south to root out Hamas leaders believed to be around the city of Khan Yunis, questions arise around where they can still flee to.

Nearly 1,200 Israelis have been killed in the conflict so far, most of them when armed members of Hamas ambushed southern Israel in a surprise attack on October 7.

Around 240 hostages were also taken back into Gaza, many of whom have since been exchanged in prisoner swaps with Israel mediated by Qatar.
Military sources have revealed that a British warship and helicopter were forced to chase off a Russian submarine that was caught lurking off the Irish Coast.

The submarine was found directly south of the entrance to Cork Harbour, just outside the 12-mile territorial limit afforded to every state under international law.

A Russian-registered civilian vessel was accompanying the submarine at the time, and is understood to have been acting as its 'surface satellite,' military insiders told the Irish Examiner.

Just before it got dark, a British helicopter flew into the area and dropped sonar equipment into the water, hovering for a short while and then leaving the scene.

Shortly after this, a Royal Navy anti-submarine frigate arrived to monitor the submarine's movements on behalf of Ireland.

The submarine was found just outside the 12-mile territorial limit afforded to every states under international law (File photo)

The submarine and its companion vessel were found outside the entrance of Cork Harbour (pictured)

While the mission took place six months ago, details were only recently shared.

Sources told the Irish Examiner that Royal Navy vessels were used, as Ireland's military does not have the capacity to monitor submarine movements on its own warships.

Military sources told the newspaper that Russia has realised that the UK is vulnerable on its western flank as a result.

They added that these near-incursions along the Irish Coast are becoming more and more common.

The Royal Navy has already been shadowing Russian warships off the south coast of Ireland which are 'making a point to Britain' in a 'concerning' sign of Putin's increased aggression.

According to navy sources, the group of Russian ships are believed to have been supporting the war in Ukraine.

They are led by the Slava-class cruiser Marshall Ustinov, which is the sister ship of the Ukrainian missile-destroyed Moskva.

Russia has realised that the UK is vulnerable on its western flank, military sources said

Russia's group of warships also includes the destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov and the tanker Vyazma, along with a suspected submarine.

It is not known where the ships will next go, but sources have claimed that the ships are 'making a point' to Britain that they are close by.

Some naval experts have said they could go past a naval base at Faslane. If the boats take a route like this, naval ships may have to patrol for more time than expected, as Faslane houses Britain's nuclear deterrent.

Former captain of a nuclear-powered submarine and commander Ryan Ramsey said: 'The Russians have every right to do this but it's definitely posturing and a return to more aggressive Cold War behaviour by them.

'This might be part of Putin's strategy of pushing NATO in every environment. Within this group there will be a Russian hunter-killer but she won't enter the Irish Sea because the tidal stream currents would make it too dangerous.'

MailOnline has contacted both the UK's Ministry of Defence and Ireland's Defence Forces for comment.
America's biggest bank has been accused of allowed an elderly client to lose his entire $50 million fortune by pushing high risk investments despite his obvious signs of dementia.

Peter Doelger, 86, had luxurious homes in Boston, Palm Beach and Paris after a building an energy company and successful investment career.

But he has been forced to move in with relatives after losing all but $1.5 million to bad investments, fees and debt interest after five years with JPMorgan.

The bank made him sign a 'big boy letter' confirming he was competent to make risky investment decisions in complex markets.

But it is being sued for ignoring the deterioration of a man who had already been hospitalized for delusions and memory loss, and had told one doctor he could 'hear someone talking to him from his stomach'.

The bank repeatedly offered upbeat market predictions to their client that failed to materialize

A $7million Palm Beach home was among those lost as Doelger's investments withered

His wife's son-in-law James Serritella said he was 'horrified by what I saw' and is representing Doelger in court

'We had 100 percent trust in them that they will manage our assets,' his wife Yoon, 76, told Bloomberg.

'We didn't expect them to make us a fortune but at least make us comfortable.'

Doelger is descended from the New York magnate Peter Doelger who made his fortune from breweries in the 19th century.

But the younger Doelger made his own fortune in Boston from building a nationwide network of insulation contractors.

He sold the company to Honeywell in 1995 and began a successful investment career taking in biotech companies, Korean real estate and complicated energy-based securities called master limited partnerships (MLPs).

JPMorgan bought in on his success, extending him a $6 million credit line, and convincing him to move his portfolio to the bank and its MLP specialists in 2015.

Doelger offered to put $33million into MLPs but the bank's guidelines said clients should have no more than five percent of their wealth in the risky and volatile investments.

But with his background as a successful businessman, the bank deemed him a 'sophisticated investor' legally allowed to take risky stakes.

James Baker, now a president at the bank, told colleagues that Doelger was worth between $90 and $100 million and the firm agreed to allow the $33million investment if he signed a letter absolving them it of liability.

A colleague of Baker's office told his team that Doelger would 'sign any letter that we draw up', and the head of the firm's private bank in Boston wrote 'Rah whoo!' in celebration when they received his letter in October of that year.

But Doelger was worth just half what the bank thought and already showing pronounced signs of decline, signing the letter just three days after he was diagnosed with 'paranoid ideation, cognitive deficits and dementia'.

The couple's condo in Boston (pictured) has also gone and they have moved in with relatives

He was already carrying a $17million debt to the bank and over the next three months his portfolio lost 19 percent.

He was paying up to $400,000 a year in interest and $250,000 in advisory fees, and lost another $1 million in 2016 when a currency debt swap the bank advised him to take went bad.

MLPs fell another 17 percent in 2017 but the bank offered a sunny forecast for their prospects and tried to deter him from paying off his debts to them by not passing on rate rises.

'The client currently has almost $14 million outstanding and we do not want to change pricing and risk the client paying down the entirety of the line,' one wrote.

Doelger had never used a computer and Baker would visit him at his Palm Beach home to update him on his investments.

Yoon said she never understood the discussions and quizzed her husband about them afterwards.

Doelger is descended from the New York magnate Peter Doelger who made his fortune from breweries in the 19th century

'I said "Peter, do you understand what he was saying",' she told Bloomberg.

'He said "No." I told him I never understood what he was saying. Now I feel like we were both dumb and dumber.

'I didn't want to volunteer to people that my husband has dementia.

'We don't want to talk about it.'

A psychiatrist has told them that Doelger's dementia had been advancing for five years at that point and would have been obvious to any observers.

'By this time, Peter was exhibiting signs including memory loss, poor judgment, difficulty with abstract thinking, and confusion, among others,' the doctor, Dale Panzer, wrote.

As 2019 ended there was just $20 million in the portfolio and Doelger owed $10 million to the bank, but he received another upbeat prediction of the year ahead.

Instead another $4 million was lost in the first two months as the Covid pandemic took hold, decimating demand for oil.

Millions more were lost in a market rout on March 24, cutting the investment to $4.1 million.

With oil prices still tumbling and the couple hours from insolvency Yoon stepped in and sold the rest of the portfolio days later to pay off their debts.

Just $1.5 million of their once mighty fortune remains to them and they have been forced to move in with Yoon's daughter in New Jersey.

The bank denies malpractice and has counter-sued the couple claiming they warned Doelger of the risks he was running.

'JPMorgan repeatedly suggested to Mr. Doelger that he diversify and reduce his overall exposure,' it said in a statement.

'Mr Doelger signed an agreement, delivered to Mr Doelger and his personal attorney, acknowledging that advice and affirming that he was "financially knowledgeable and sophisticated" and "fully aware of the concentration risk".'

And it denies it ever noticed anything wrong in its client.

'No one at JPMorgan ever observed any signs of cognitive decline from Mr Doelger when working with him, and neither Mr. Doelger, his personal advisers, or his family members ever told JPMorgan prior to this legal dispute that Mr. Doelger was suffering from any cognitive decline.'

Banks do not have to impose an age limit on those it classifies sophisticated investors although they are supposed to look out for signs of vulnerability.

But the case has sparked demands for reform from campaigners.

'This case screams out for more attention to how waning cognitive abilities affect older people's capacity for financial decision-making and independent financial management,' said Naomi Karp, a former analyst for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

'We need to put more responsibility on financial firms since they are well-positioned to detect warning signs.'

JPMorgan has accepted that Doelger is incapable of testifying in the upcoming court cases and the couple are being represented by lawyer James Serritella who is Yoon's son-in-law.

'I was horrified by what I saw,' he said.

'I don't believe Peter understood this stuff the way they made him out to understand it.

'Peter trusted people: "I don't need to know all the ins-and-outs because I trust you."

'So this whole construct of the sophisticated guy, we strongly disagree with that.'
The British Museum staff member suspected of stealing and damaging thousands of items is not co-operating with the search to recover them, according to the chair of trustees George Osborne.

An independent review into the thefts has recommended the institution completes the documentation of its collection and closes any gaps in the registration of objects.

It was revealed in August that an estimated 2,000 items from the collection, worth millions of pounds, were found to be missing, stolen or damaged and that police were investigating.

The British Museum previously disclosed that one million artefacts were unregistered

An unnamed member of staff has been sacked and the museum is taking legal action.

Mr Osborne told the BBC: 'One of the things that we've got to get to the bottom of is exactly the motivation of the individual who we believe is responsible.

'But he has not been talking or co-operating.'

He added: 'We were the victim of an inside job. We're determined to learn the lessons, make sure the collection is safe and be a more open, transparent and self-confident institution going forward.'

The review, led by Sir Nigel Boardman, Chief Constable of British Transport Police, Lucy D'Orsi and Deputy High Court Judge Ian Karet, says that of the 2,000 items, some 1,500 are missing or stolen.

Around 350 items have had portions removed, such as gold mounts for gems.

Museum officials believe these portions are likely to be unrecoverable because they have probably been sold for scrap, the report adds.

Around 140 items have been damaged by tool marks.

Of the 1,500 missing or stolen items, 351 items have already been returned and more than 300 further items have been identified.

Interim director at the British Museum Sir Mark Jones described the recommendations as `helpful

A key target of the thefts, which took place over a long period of time, were unregistered items  mainly gems and jewellery  in the department of Greece and Rome.

The museum's interim director Sir Mark Jones has previously disclosed that one million artefacts are unregistered and announced steps to upload digitally or improve 2.4 million records.

The museum was alerted to suspicions of thefts in 2021 by academic and antiquities dealer Dr Ittai Gradel but an initial investigation incorrectly concluded there was no basis to the claims.

Later that year, a spot check by internal audit revealed an item not in its proper location within the Greece and Rome strongroom, leading to a wider audit of the strongroom as well as the Greece and Rome jewellery and gem collection.

The audit, which began in April 2022, subsequently revealed further evidence of missing objects.

Mr Osborne acknowledged the lapse over Dr Gradel's warnings, telling the BBC: 'It was not taken as seriously as it should have been. And that's a big lesson for us to learn.'

The report cannot be published in full because of the police investigation but the review recommendations say: 'The museum should identify the unregistered or inadequately registered objects within the collection and register them fully.

'The museum should introduce a policy regulating how registration should be undertaken  what information and in what detail artefacts should be registered.'

It added: 'This policy should require newly acquired objects to be registered promptly.'

Implementation of more than a third of the published recommendations were already under way or completed, the British Museum said, including a plan to complete the documentation and digitisation of the entire collection within the next five years.

Chair of British Museum trustees George Osborne said the museum had accepted the recommendations in full

Mr Osborne said: 'This review shows the British Museum is putting our own house in order, indeed we commissioned it because we were determined to learn the lessons of what went wrong.

'The British Museum was the victim of thefts over a long period, and we apologise again that this was allowed to happen.

'The ongoing police investigation means the full report cannot be published today, but we have accepted the recommendations in full, and have started to recover hundreds of the stolen items.

'Above all, we're determined to emerge from this period a stronger, more open, and more confident museum that is fit for the future. Thanks to the hard work of the review team, we're now equipped to do just that.'

Sir Mark said: 'This is a helpful set of recommendations, many of which we are already delivering on.

'No-one can pretend this has been an easy period for the museum, but I have the utmost admiration for the commitment of the staff to building a stronger future for the museum we all care so deeply about.'
Macy's lucrative $8 billion real estate empire including $2b Manhattan flagship location has made it the target of a $5.8bn buyout bid, analysts suggest.

The investor group launching the bid has valued the iconic stores' shares at $21 as the legacy bricks and mortar retailer struggles against online competition.

Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital Management submitted the proposal on December 1, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Arkhouse usually focuses on real estate investment, with Brigade already holding retail-focused investments such as J.C. Penney, Sears and Neiman Marcus.

The move suggests that much of the value of Macy's lies in its real estate, including its 1.25 million square foot Herald Square flagship store, which Bloomberg estimates could be worth $2 billion alone.

Macy's 1.25 million square foot Herald Square flagship store is worth an estimated $2 billion

The 700,000 square foot San Francisco store (pictured) was sold for $270 million in 2016

However, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Mary Ross Gilbert insists that the lofty price could actually be a bit less than its true worth.

Gilbert said the estimate could be higher given a "major development underway that includes a new office tower.

TD Cowen analyst Oliver Chen estimates that Herald Square accounts for about a fifth of the value of Macy's real-estate portfolio.

'When you look at the value of Macy's, the real estate is the jewel,' Neil Saunders, a managing director with research firm Global Data told the Journal.

Despite Bloomberg's $8 million approximation, Saunders estimates that the chain's property is worth around $6 billion, more than its market capitalization as of Friday of about $4.8 billion.

Macy's currently owns more than 300 of its roughly 783 stores, which include Bloomingdale's and the Bluemercury beauty chain.

It also owns an additional 102 locations, but leases the land the stores sit on.

Four more locations are partly owned and partly leased, according to securities filings.

Saunders also noted that Macy's retail business has suffered from 'years of chronic underperformance.'

Net sales for the first nine months of the year declined 7.7 percent to $14.97 billion compared with $16.22 billion for the same period in 2019. Profit over that period fell 22 percent to $175 million.

Net sales for the first nine months of the year declined 7.7 percent to $14.97 billion compared with $16.22 billion for the same period in 2019

It also owns an additional 102 locations including a store in Philadelphia (pictured)

'There's way easier places to make money than buying a midtier department store,' Joel Bines, former head of Alix Partners, told Bloomberg.

'Why would you want the brain damage of trying to make money in this space?' he added.

In the face of pressure from activist investors in the past, who urged Macy's to sell its real estate and to lease it back, the company opted to sell some locations and to work with real estate firms to realize value at other stores.

The 700,000 square foot San Francisco store was sold for $270 million in 2016 and plans to build an office tower on top of the New York store were developed.

'As critical as we are of Macy's current management, they are at least focused on trying to run the business as a retailer,' Saunders added.

Explaining that while selling real estate would generate short-term profit, over the long term it would leave Macy's in a weakened position that would see the 'brand fade further and faster.'

Macy's did not respond to request for comment.
A neighbor from hell has been ordered to remain in jail as he awaits trial on charges of making a couple's lives miserable.

Maurice Raffoul, 43, was told he'll remain behind bars after he was filmed breaking a protective order by screaming 'Nobody f**ks with me you worthless little s**t' at his alleged victims.

Raffoul has reportedly been terrorizing his neighbors for years from his parents' home.

Police have visited the address more than 100 times since 1995, according to a local news investigation from KUTV.

On Monday, Raffoul appeared in court following his most recent arrest in early November for violating a civil stalking injunction against his neighbors Sean and Cheryl Hannon.

Handcuffed, in a prison jumpsuit, he stood beside his attorney who asked the judge that he be released on an ankle monitor or other surveillance system.

He has been in solitary confinement since November 15.

In a partial video of an encounter between Raffoul and the Hannons, the middle-aged man screams, using multiple obscenities, at his neighbors.

Maurice Raffoul, 43, has long-been terrorizing his neighbors, whom he's accused of hacking his electronic devices

'Nobody f**ks with me you little worthless sh*t,' he screams. His outburst was captured by the Hannon's home surveillance system.

'You should have filed when I first started you b**ch. Know your law and get on your knees at Sim Gill's Office.'

Sim Gill is the Salt Lake City District Attorney - though it is not entirely clear what exact process Raffoul is upset about.

Raffoul's hostile relationship with the Hannon's appears to go back to at least 2017, when Raffoul accused Sean Hannon of coming into his come, hacking his email and cell phone and subsequently controlling his television.

His attorney, David Drake, who put Raffoul's accusations in a recent court filing, wrote that Hannon repeatedly turned on Raffoul's television in the middle of the night, waking his parents.

Also in the filing, Drake wrote that after the TV incidents had begun, Sean confronted Raffoul and yelled at him: 'It's me, you idiot. I'm the one who is doing it.'

Sean Hannon maintains that he has 'never tapped into their house I have never been inside their house; Ive been on the outside of their house when we were cordial and neighborly to each other, but Ive never been inside their house.'

'I have no ability to hack into their TVs or into their computers or their Wi-Fi any way, shape, or form. I work on the sales side of TV; I do not work in the news side of TV,' he said.

On Monday, Raffoul appeared in court alongside his attorney, where the judge denied him bail and sent him back to solitary confinement

Neighbors Cheryl and Sean Hannon say there is no merit in anything Raffoul has said and that they live in fear of the man who was previously convicted for attacking his father

Raffoul was arrested in early November for violating a stalking injunction his neighbors - Cheryl and Sean Hannon - have against him

Drake's filing, which Hannon says he does not believe the attorney fact checked, also accuses Hannon of producing a news report about Raffoul for KUTV News that was 'filled with lies and half-truths.'

Hannon works for KUTV in Salt Lake City, but is not a news producer, does not work in the news department, nor is he an executive.

Cheryl Hannon said that no one on the other side of this case 'is based in reality.'

Raffoul's Adult Probation and Parole agent wrote that the defendant often says strange and concerning things during their meetings.

The agents, David Hanna, said that Raffoul uses 'aggressive' and 'violent language' when he discusses people he believes have wronged him.

Raffoul was previously convicted of a third-degree felony for abuse of a vulnerable assault, in this case his father, whom he attacked in 2021.

The judge in the case suspended his prison sentence and instead gave the violent criminal some jail time and probation on the supervision of a parole officer.

Raffoul's father - Assad - has consistently defended his son and has, according to the report, also spewed conspiratorial, paranoid theories, including one that features mob involvement.

In court on Monday, Salt Lake County Depty District Attorney Chelsey McHugh told the judge that the state was very concerned about Raffoul's potential release ahead of trial.

'I'm concerned about witness and victim harassment,' she said, adding that the defendent has been flagged for elevated risk of committing violent crime, and score a six out of six on recidivism, according to his parole officer.

The judge quickly ruled to keep Raffoul in his 'current custody status,' which could mean back to solitary confinement. He will next appear in court on January 8.

State attorneys said Raffoul is a high risk defendent to release from prison ahead of trial, given previous violations of his parole

Cheryl Hannnon says she has PTSD from being terrorized by Raffoul and does not want him back on the streets ever

Following the hearing, the Hannons say they are relieved Raffoul will continue to be locked up for the moment.

'I feel more comfortable being able to walk around outside my home now not knowing that I might be accosted by him at any moment at any time,' said Sean Hannon.

'Were constantly looking around, looking out and seeing whats going on outside even this morning getting here we looked outside to see whats going on because you never know, you never know.

'If he'll beat up his own father and mother, what's he going to do to us when he gets out. I don't want him out on the street,' he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded for 'life and death' aid to continue his country's fight against Russia, telling senators at a closed briefing his citizens would resort to 'guerilla war' if needed and support dries up.

The president met with Senate leaders, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and pitched an all senators briefing in an extraordinary lobbying push amid declining support for the Biden administration's policy of bolstering Ukraine's defense.

'The president did mention at some point in time guerrilla warfare, if he doesn't get the kind of support  if it degraded [to] that point,' Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson told a group of reporters after the meeting.

'I mean, Putin would be facing a long term guerrilla war in whatever parts of Ukraine you'd occupy that can't be particularly attractive for him,' he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) walks with US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) and US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (L). He met with senators and House Speaker Mike Johnson to plead for continued US support

Biden has proposed a $61 billion aid package, but Republicans in the House and Senate are rallying around a demand require border policy changes. They note that Biden included Border requests in his request for supplemental emergency funds.

'I know that everybody wants Ukraine to win. I just don't see that in the cards,' said Johnson, in some of the more pessimistic comments to come out of the meeting. 'As evil as [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is, as violated as Ukraine is, you have to look at the reality of the situation. Ukraine can't do what it would need to do to bring Russia to her knees,' he said.

He said if lawmakers 'really think this is such a huge point in history and so vital to provide Ukraine [$61 billion] worth of aid, they have to look at the clear and present danger of our unsecure border or open border and fix that. We'd be doing them enormous political favor for just forced them to do that.'

'It boggles my mind that they don't understand how dangerous this is for America to have that open border and truthfully what a political liability it is. There's a deal to be done here,' he added.

The two issues are now firmly linked. 'There's not going to be any help for Ukraine if we don't have a border agreement,' said Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), calling on pro-Ukraine Democrats to 'be speaking the strongest' for a border deal.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who has been a cheerleader for Ukraine support, was more optimistic  but also made his own call for the border aid push.

'I mean they're not losing the war. They're going to do really well with our help,' he said. 'I told President Zelensky, I've never been more worried about a 9/11 than I am now. The FBI director warned us that we have a combination that's lethal.'

Zelensky told senators Ukrainians would fight a guerilla war against Russia if they had to and if large scale US support stopped

He said a 'rogue's gallery of terrorist groups want to hit America because we're helping Israel and he's worried about the status of the border.'

'We're miles apart,' said Graham. 'The only reason we don't have a deal is they're refusing to make the policy changes that will gain control of the border.'

Graham said the Ukrainians weren't giving up. 'They'll fight to the last person. This is going for decades,' he said.

Grassley also invoked guerilla war when asked by DailyMail.com about the worst case scenario for Ukraine if U.S. support dried up.

'You'll have instead of having people at the front lines fighting, you're going to have Ukrainians operating a guerilla warfare.'

'Of course that's not okay,' he said, asked about that potential outcome.

President Biden indicated a willingness to reach an accommodation with Republicans on border funding, but Republicans say the administration won't bend on their push for policy wins. The Biden administration says stocks that the US is able to supply to Ukraine are running low.

'The day we get those policy changes. We'll get a big vote in the Senate and I think enough in the House,' Graham predicted.

As for the Ukrainians, 'they'll keep fighting forever, but they need not only the money and the aid we're going to give them. They need more weapons, longer range weapons,' he said.

Zelensky, who has pleaded for aid at foreign capitals around the globe, continues to make urgent requests.

'Its a matter of life and death for Ukraine,' a senior advisor told the Washington Post, describing his pitch. 'Time is of the essence: Thats the message.'

Retiring Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said he thinks the administration understands 'there has to be policy changes' on border policy. And he said Congress should stay in town until the Ukraine / border problem is resolved.

'I don't think we should leave until we get this,' he said.
Rishi Sunak's hopes of seeing off a revolt on his Rwanda plan looked to be growing tonight as rebels baulked at prompting a full-blown crisis.

The PM has been meeting wavering MPs one-on-one as he tries to defuse right-wing unrest at his emergency legislation intended to get deportation flights going.

With the clock ticking down to the 7pm votes, Mr Sunak was told the so-called 'five families' of MPs on the Tory right would continue to withhold their support for the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

But it was suggested a number of them would not outright reject the Bill in the Commons tonight and would instead abstain in the hope of amending the legislation at a later date.

Mark Francois, the chair of the European Research Group, said: 'We have decided collectively that we cannot support the Bill tonight because of its many omissions.'

He added that Sir Bill Cash, the senior Conservative backbencher, was expected to come forward with proposals to toughen the Bill in the coming weeks.

'The Prime Minister has been telling colleagues today he is prepared to entertain tightening the Bill,' Mr Francois added.

'We very much hope... those amendments may yet be accepted. If they are not and the Bill remains unamended again, collectively, we agreed to reserve the right to vote against it at Third Reading.'

Mr Francois said the 'bulk' of the 'five families' would abstain in the Commons vote on the Bill's Second Reading tonight.

Mark Francois, the chair of the European Research Group, said MPs on the Tory right were continuing to withhold support for the Rwanda legislation

As he wound up the Commons debate on the Bill this evening, illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson denied there was 'civil war' within the Tories.

It came after Labour shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper jibed that Mr Sunak's bid to woo rebel MPs to support the Bill had been a 'total failure'.

One former minister who has been pushing for the Bill to be bolstered predicted that it will 'just about get through'.

However, hardliners have been incensed by the government's tactics during a frantic day of coaxing and strong-arming.

One senior right-winger told MailOnline that whips were 'winding people up' by being 'on transmit rather than receive'.

Even if the Bill survives its second reading - typically a straightforward stage - Mr Sunak will still face a stormy ride later in the process as amendments are tabled.

Robert Jenrick led Tory opposition to the Bill during a bad-tempered Commons debate this afternoon.

Mr Jenrick, who plunged the PM into chaos by quitting as immigration minister last week, branded parts of the emergency legislation 'sophistry' and warned it will not work.

He said that tougher action is needed because 'the public are watching' and will not tolerate failure. There are reports that Mr Jenrick will vote against the plan, although other influential figures on the Right are keeping their cards close to their chest.

Labour is claiming that the UK is now set to hand the African nation 400million after Home Secretary James Cleverly confirmed another 50million is due next year.

But Mr Cleverly mounted a robust defence, saying the government is determined to 'stop the boats' and 'that is what voting for this legislation means'.

Mr Sunak is facing the biggest test of his premiership as he fends off demands for the government to toughen up emergency legislation to revive the deportation scheme.

An hour-long breakfast summit at No10 - where potential rebels including Lee Anderson, the Conservative deputy chairman, Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger were served bacon rolls - failed to break the deadlock this morning.

MailOnline understands the ERG bloc was due to meet from 5.15pm to make a final decision on tactics before voting starts at 7pm.

In a sign of alarm among Tory whips, Net Zero minister Graham Stuart has been dragged back from the COP28 summit in Abu Dhabi to vote, before heading back to the Middle East in a near-7,000 mile round trip.

Robert Jenrick led Tory attacks on Rishi Sunak's Rwanda plans today during a bad-tempered Commons debate

Home Secretary James Cleverly mounted a robust defence, saying the government is determined to 'stop the boats' and 'that is what voting for this legislation means'

Tory MPs include Jonathan Gullis, Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger (left, second left third left) arrived at No10 this morning for talks with the PM

Mr Sunak seemed in good spirits as he was spotted outside Downing Street earlier

Critics have been warning that 'major surgery' is still needed to fix the flagship Bill, with around 29 Tories voting against or 57 abstentions needed to thwart the premier. In reality the figure will have to be higher as a number of independents are expected to support the party line.

A Commons defeat today would mark the first time that a Government has failed to get legislation past a first reading since 1986, when Margaret Thatcher wanted to scrap restrictive Sunday trading laws.

MPs on one Commons committee have been ordered to cancel a Caribbean visit in order to take part in the showdown.

Mr Sunak is said to have refused to give ground at the breakfast meeting. After the discussions he took to social media to insist that his party must 'back this bill'.

A No10 source stressed that the text as it stands has been 'drafted with close attention to detail' and flatly rejected suggestions that the Bill could be pulled.

The 'five families' trying to make Rishi an offer he cannot refuse The New Conservatives A right-wing traditionalist group led by evangelical Christians Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger. Its ranks are drawn mainly from MPs first elected in 2019, with a lot of Red Wall politicians including Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson involved. was only formed in May but has made headlines agitating for a more hardline party that is tough on immigration, pro-traditional families and strong in fighting the culture war. It has called for a hard cap on migrant numbers. European Research Group An older Brexiteeer group on the right of the party which came to the fore during the Brexit years under Jacob Rees-Mogg. It played a key role in organising opposition to Theresa May and has continued to be a thorn in the side of the Government when it wants to be. Led now by Mark Francois it has convened a 'star chamber' led by veteran eurosceptic Bill cash to run the rule over the Rwanda law. Common Sense Group Another informal group on the right led by Suella Braverman ally Sir John Hayes and Sir Edward Leigh. In 2021 it backed a 'Britain Uncancelled' campaign with Sir John launching a blistering attack on statue-toppling, politically correct woke warriors, and demanded to know why Whitehall departments granted 'huge sums of money' to groups that were 'entirely hostile to British values of fairness, open-mindedness, mutual respect and reasonableness'. One Nation Caucus A group of more than 100 MPs on the moderate wing of the party. It has described leaving the ECHR as a red line for its members. It is said to be unhappy at the law giving ministers unilateral plans to brand Rwanda as 'safe' and over-rule human rights laws and may yet refuse to back the new law in Parliament. Northern Research Group A group founded by ex-Tory chairman Sir Jake Berry to represent Conservatives in seats in the north of England, many of which switched from Labour for the first time at the last election. Less openly ideological than some of the other groups, but regards immigration as a key issue for its voters. Advertisement

Some right-wingers are concerned that Labour will abstain if the legislation gets to third reading, effectively robbing them of their opportunity to halt it.

No10 has been playing down the prospect of amending the Bill at a later stage, arguing that the text goes as far as possible without breaching international law.

A source said of Mr Sunak wooing his backbenchers: 'He's talking to lots of people.

'No one is taking any votes for granted.

'We are keen to work with colleagues on this.'

But one senior right-winger told MailOnline: 'The government are going about this completely wrong.

'They are on transmit rather than receive, which is just winding people up.'

Another source claimed chief whip Simon Hart cancelled a meeting with rebellious MPs that had been due to happen at 5pm so he could hold an 'emergency meeting' with No10.

In the House, Mr Jenrick said: 'This is not a bad Bill but it is not the best Bill. I want this Bill to work.

'The test of this policy is not 'is it the strongest Bill we've done?', it's not 'is it a good compromise?', it's 'will it work?'.

'That is all the public care about. They don't care about Rwanda as a scheme, they care about stopping the boats. And we are sent here to do that for them.

'I will never elevate contested notions of international law over the interests of my constituents, over vital national interests like national security, like border security.

'This Bill could be so much better, let's make it better. Let's make it work.'

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper branded the proposal 'extortionately expensive' after she questioned whether ministers have made further commitments beyond the cash already spent on the grounded scheme.

The Home Office confirmed 240 million has been paid to Rwanda so far with another payment of 50million anticipated in 2024/25.

No asylum seeker has been sent to Rwanda so far as flights remain grounded because of a series of legal setbacks.

The National Audit Office (NAO) will publish a report next year on the costs of the scheme so far and estimated spending in the future.

Former Cabinet ministers Dame Priti Patel, Ben Wallace and David Davis have been mobilised as Downing Street desperately tries to contain the chaos, delivering a stark message that defeat for Mr Sunak could collapse the Government and force a general election.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer twisted the knife as he delivered a speech earlier today, saying that Mr Sunak must go to the country if he loses tonight's vote.

MPs Neil O'Brien, Marco Longhi, Jill Mortimer, Lia Nici and Alexander Stafford were also seen arriving for the meeting in No10 this morning.

According to a Conservative MP who was there, Mr Sunak avoided telling them he would amend the legislation.

'I think a lot of colleagues are falsely putting their hopes on amendments and will end up missing the opportunity to kill the Bill,' they said.

He added that he expected the Labour Party to abstain on the Bill's third reading, meaning there would not be enough votes to block it even with a rebellion.

He said: 'Some colleagues are deluding themselves if they think that they will have another shot.'

A No10 source said: 'It was a very useful meeting to hear MPs thoughts and discuss their concerns. The bill has been drafted with close attention to detail, with colleagues input helping to shape the legislation,' the source said.

'The tests set for the bill have been met and we will continue to listen to and engage with colleagues across the party as it passes through parliament. This bill will work and will do what we need it to do.'

Kicking off the second reading debate in the House, Mr Cleverly said: 'This Government is stopping the boats. Arrivals are down by a third this year as illegal entries are on the rise elsewhere in Europe.'

He said small boat arrivals are up by 80 per cent in the Mediterranean but down by a third across the English Channel.

The Home Secretary outlined steps the Government has taken so far, saying: 'These things are having an impact, and a positive one.'

He said returns agreements and cooperation agreements had been signed with other countries, saying 50 hotels are being 'returned to the local communities', and said the asylum backlog has gone from 92,000 to less than 20,000.

He added: 'We have sent back 22,000 illegal migrants. And the UK's arrangement with Albania proves that deterrents work.'

As the whipping operation became increasingly frantic, the PM's official spokesman confirmed Mr Stuart has returned from COP28 to attend Parliament, but would then be going back to Dubai.

Asked about the carbon emissions from the flights, the spokesman said: 'This Government is not anti-flying. We don't lecture the public to that regard. The most important thing is the outcomes of Cop, which Minister Stuart is obviously leading for the UK on.

'Ministers have a number of roles, the negotiations continue and he will return to Cop.'

Touring broadcast studios this morning illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson  who replaced Robert Jenrick after he resigned in protest at the legislation  insisted he is 'very much in listening mode'.

He told Sky News: 'They're not pesky rebels  they are respected colleagues who I have worked with.'

Mr Tomlinson said he is a former member of the ERG, one of the Tory factions critical of the Bill, and 'I know the concerns that colleagues have'.

'I knew the desire of colleagues right across the breadth of our broad church in the parliamentary party. What do they want? They want this Bill to work.

'The way I'm going to help to persuade them to support the Bill and to support us as we pass the Bill through Parliament is to help show that the Bill is actually going to work, because that's what we all want. We all want this legislation to work. And that is what I'm determined to do.'

Writing in the Mail today, Dame Priti urged fellow Right-wingers to unite behind the legislation and take the fight to Labour.

The former Home Secretary insisted: 'The choice all MPs face today is a stark one. To oppose the Rwanda Bill, do nothing and continue to offer succour to the evil people-smuggling gangs putting lives at risk and putting pressures on our asylum system.

'Or to vote in favour of the Bill, work with the government to improve it through considering amendments, and ensure the most robust measures to tackle illegal migration are finally implemented in conjunction with the Government of Rwanda.'

She added that now is the time for the Conservatives 'to work collectively' and to 'do the right thing' for the British public.

Mr Wallace also warned rebels not to 'wreck' the Government by voting against the bill.

Writing in the Telegraph, he told MPs not to 'make the perfect (but unrealistic) the enemy of the good'.

One senior Tory said the vote was 'looking tight'.

At one point yesterday, Conservative whips considered the drastic move of pulling the vote to avoid a potential defeat.

'Some of the rebels are sitting on big majorities and maybe don't care, but others are not in that position,' one source said.

'They should think very carefully about what the consequences might be if they vote this down.'

But government sources now insist the vote will go ahead after Tory moderates threw the PM a lifeline by backing him, despite 'real concerns' the plan could undermine Britain's commitment to international law.

The architect of the original Rwanda scheme says it would send 'a very powerful message to the public about our intent, credibility and ambition to tackle illegal migration if we calmly and collectively unite... to tackle illegal migration and the evil people smuggling gangs'.

Mr Davis predicted the legislation 'will go through' tonight.

He told LBC Radio that fellow Eurosceptics were 'playing with Brexit fire', referring to fears the rebels could reopen wounds from fighting over the UK's departure from the EU that the Tories thought had been healed years ago.

The Prime Minister will hold last-ditch talks with rebel MPs this morning aimed at heading off defeat when the Commons votes tonight on his legislation, designed to finally get deportation flights off the ground (file image)

He added: 'I'm not sure quite why they're doing it, unless they're being encouraged by people who have other interests.'

MPs on the Right warned they could vote down the plans after they published a legal opinion which warned that the legislation was an 'incomplete' solution  and said 'very significant amendments' were needed to ensure the scheme does not get bogged down by further legal challenges.

Mark Francois (left), chairman of the European Research Group (ERG), urged the PM to 'pull the Bill' because it had 'so many holes in it'

Mark Francois, chairman of the European Research Group (ERG), urged the PM to 'pull the Bill' because it had 'so many holes in it'.

Sir Simon Clarke, from the Conservative Growth Group, said 'there is no point frankly relitigating this issue unless it does work'.

Mr Sunak will make a final appeal for support at a breakfast meeting with MPs on the Tory Right today.

A spokesman for the New Conservatives said the 40-strong group believes the Bill 'needs major surgery or replacement and they will be making that plain in the morning to the PM at breakfast and over the next 24 hours'.

Priti Patel says MPs face a 'stark choice' over Rwanda Bill Writing in the Mail today, Priti Patel said: 'The choice all MPs face today is a stark one. To oppose the Rwanda Bill, do nothing and continue to offer succour to the evil people-smuggling gangs putting lives at risk and putting pressures on our asylum system. 'Or to vote in favour of the Bill, work with the government to improve it through considering amendments, and ensure the most robust measures to tackle illegal migration are finally implemented in conjunction with the Government of Rwanda.' She added that now is the time for the Conservative party 'to work collectively' and to 'do the right thing' for the British public. Advertisement

Two MPs claimed the rebels had the numbers to vote the legislation down if they didn't get the answers they needed.

Meanwhile, the ERG will hold a final 'plenary' this afternoon to decide how it should vote.

A source said: 'We will be meeting immediately before the vote and then walking down to the chamber, stopping off for a bit of Dutch courage along the way if necessary.'

The Safety of Rwanda Bill has been drawn up in response to last month's Supreme Court ruling that sending Channel migrants to the east African state would be unlawful.

The court found that Rwanda's asylum system was potentially unsafe because there was a risk that migrants could be sent back to their home countries where they might be ill-treated.

Ministers signed a treaty with Rwanda last week stating that migrants sent from the UK will not be deported to their home countries.

Today's legislation would declare in law that Rwanda is safe, ruling out further court challenges to the principle of the scheme. It also excludes the plan from parts of the Human Rights Act.

But to the dismay of critics, individual migrants will still be able to lodge legal appeals.

An assessment by the ERG's 'star chamber' of lawyers said the new law does not go 'far enough to deliver the policy as intended'.

It warned it would be 'much easier' than the Government thinks for individual migrants to frustrate their removal  and said individual claims should be banned.

But Mr Sunak says strengthening the proposals by even 'an inch' would cause the Rwandan government to pull out, triggering the collapse of the scheme.

The 100-strong One Nation group of moderate MPs said it would back the Government. Chairman Damian Green said: 'The most important thing at this stage is to support the Bill despite our real concerns.'

It comes after the Home Office today published a summary of its official 'legal position' on the Rwanda plan in a sign of government jitters

The five-page summary attempted to knock down the case for tougher measures advocated by Tory MPs including former home secretary Suella Braverman.

The document warns that blocking the ability of migrants to bring legal action would be 'a breach of international law and alien to the UK's constitutional tradition of liberty and justice'.

It adds that even in wartime, access to courts was maintained 'in order that individuals can uphold their rights and freedoms'.

The document went on: 'This is a novel and contentious policy, and the UK and Rwanda are the first countries in the world to enact it together.

'There are risks inherent in such an innovative approach but there is a clear lawful basis on which a responsible government may proceed.'

But the summary said moves to block every court challenge 'would mean that there would be no respectable argument that the Bill is compatible with international law'.

It added: 'It would also go against Rwanda's own explicit wishes that our partnership remains compliant with international law, and likely collapse the scheme.'

As a result, the Bill must allow very limited scope for migrants to bring legal challenges against being sent to Rwanda, based on 'wholly exceptional individual circumstances', it said.

The document predicted hardly any migrants would be able to lodge legal action under the 'exceptionally narrow' grounds for claims, such as very rare medical conditions.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'As the legal advice sets out, we think we have a tough and strong piece of legislation which will achieve our objectives.'

DAME PRITI PATEL: I understand the concerns, but we MUST back Rishi Sunak's Rwanda Bill

The choice all MPs face today is a stark one. To oppose the Rwanda Bill, do nothing and continue to offer succour to the evil people-smuggling gangs putting lives at risk and putting pressures on our asylum system.

Or to vote in favour of the Bill, work with the government to improve it through considering amendments, and ensure the most robust measures to tackle illegal migration are finally implemented in conjunction with the Government of Rwanda.

Having spent many years considering and working on this issue, I certainly recognise and respect the concerns and unease that some of my Conservative colleagues have about these new laws to overcome the legal challenges that have held back flights to Rwanda.

But now is the time for our party to work collectively to do all that needs to be done to secure the partnership and removals to Rwanda.

The public know that the Labour Party has no credible plan to address illegal migration  other than to open the doors and let more in  so they are looking to us to do the right thing.

Now is the time for our party to work collectively to do all that needs to be done to secure the partnership and removals to Rwanda, says Dame Priti Patel (pictured)

The public know that the Labour Party has no credible plan to address illegal migration  other than to open the doors and let more in  so they are looking to us to do the right thing (file image)

It would send a very powerful message to the public about our intent, credibility and ambition to tackle illegal migration if we calmly and collectively unite to deliver a partnership which is one of many measures introduced to tackle illegal migration and the criminal people smugglers.

The UK's economic and migration partnership with Rwanda was carefully designed with our friends in the Kigali government to demonstrate a new way to treat asylum seekers with compassion and supporting resettlement, while acting as a deterrent effect to the small-boat crossings that were putting lives at risk.

The partnership was one of many measures, new laws and operational activities I put in place to deal with illegal and dangerous entry into the UK by small boats.

These included coordinated international law enforcement activities to arrest and prosecute the criminal gangs facilitating these journeys, tougher prison sentences for people smugglers, and reforms to the asylum application and appeal process to streamline them and prevent the system being abused.

While some have spent the past 20 months talking down Rwanda, we should welcome the fact that this is a country that already supports around 130,000 refugees through schemes established with the United Nations Human Rights Council, showing we are an active partner in addressing migration issues. We have also embraced economic, legal and political reforms over the last quarter of a century.

When I negotiated and agreed the partnership in April 2022, I knew it would face criticism and legal challenge and was prepared for it. Of course, the usual suspects  the opposition, activists and NGOs and lawyers  objected.

We saw campaigns waged against it, hostile comments in the media, and outrage from celebrities.

But while our opponents sought to talk it down and offer no solutions to the pressures caused by illegal migration, I was working closely with ministers in the Rwandan government to put robust arrangements and safeguards in place.

New legislation including the measures which the Government has now sought to reinforce with a treaty and the new laws being debated today will put the partnership on a stronger legal footing (pictured: Home Secretary James Cleverly in Rwanda)

With all these measures agreed, it was deeply frustrating firstly to see the European Court of Human Rights interfere and block the first flights from taking off in June 2022 at the last minute, and then see our domestic legal processes lead to the decision of the Supreme Court last month to rule against the partnership with Rwanda.

But the Supreme Court judgment left the door open for the Government to consider options to resolve the issue, including operational measures on the ground to address the risk of 'refoulement'  sending asylum seekers to another country where they are likely to face ill-treatment  and demonstrate it would not materialise.

New legislation including the measures which the Government has now sought to reinforce with a treaty and the new laws being debated today will put the partnership on a stronger legal footing.
A pro-Russian Polish politician has been accused of antisemitism after he brutally put out Hanukkah candles inside Poland's parliament building with a fire extinguisher, with lawmakers slamming the shocking act as 'absolutely scandalous'.

Grzegorz Braun was thrown out of Poland's Sejm after ripping the red extinguisher from the wall of the government building and marching towards the display celebrating the Jewish holiday.

As he strikes towards the candles, he sets off the extinguisher - covering the floor and shocked bystanders in a cloud of white powder.

The shocking footage shows Braun putting out the candles on a menorah that was lit for Hanukkah while filling the air with a lingering haze.

Seconds later, a female official desperately tries to grab the fire extinguisher from Braun's hands - only for the far-right MP to blast her in the face with the white power.

Grzegorz Braun, a member of the far-right Confederation party is seen after using a fire extinguisher on to put out candles on a menorah

Shocking footage shows Braun putting out the candles on a menorah that was lit for Hanukkah while filling the air with a lingering haze

Video shows Grzegorz Braun ripping the red extinguisher from the wall of Poland's Sejm building and marching towards the display celebrating the Jewish holiday

The shocking footage shows Braun putting out the candles on a menorah that was lit for Hanukkah while filling the air with a lingering haze

Seconds later, a female official desperately tries to grab the fire extinguisher from Braun's hands - only for the far-right MP to blast her in the face with the white power

Braun, a pro-Russian member of the Confederation party, then puts down the extinguisher as the woman and onlookers scream at him. He then wipes his hands and walks towards his bag before walking to the chamber.

He then took to the podium in the chamber where he described the Hanukkah as 'satanic' and said he was restoring 'normality'.

Who is Grzegorz Braun? Grzegorz Braun, 56, is a pro-Russian member of Poland's monarchist Confederation party. He has in the past falsely claimed that there is a plot to turn Poland into a 'Jewish state'. Tomasz Piatek, a Polish investigative journalist who has researched Braun, said that Braun 'presents himself as an enemy of modern Western civilization' who has also propagated anti-Protestant hatred. Braun has also called for homosexuality to be criminalized. He is also known for his anti-American views and is virulently against the EU. Advertisement

Asked just after the incident if he was ashamed, Braun replied: 'Those who take part in acts of Satanic worship should be ashamed.'

Braun in the past has falsely claimed that there is a plot to turn Poland into a 'Jewish state.'

All major political forces quickly denounced the incident carried out by Braun, and said there would be no tolerance for antisemitic and xenophobic behavior in the Sejm, the Polish parliament.

The speaker of the parliament, Szymon Holownia, called the act 'absolutely scandalous' and excluded him from the day's parliamentary proceedings. He said he was reporting him to prosecutors.

'This should have never happened,' Holownia said. 'Poland is home for all religions.'

The parliamentary proceedings were suspended. As Braun left the chamber, he shook hands with other far-right lawmakers.

'There will be no tolerance for racism, xenophobia, antisemitism... as long as I am the speaker of parliament,' Holownia told reporters. The candles were lit again after the incident.

Rabbi Shalom Ber Stambler, who led the Hanukkah ceremony as he has done for 17 years, said the celebration took place peacefully and had just ended when suddenly chaos broke out and he became aware that Braun was putting out the candles on the sixth night of the weeklong festival.

People begged him to stop and a woman, a member of the Jewish community, tried to stop Braun. Kickback smoke from the extinguisher went into her face and she needed medical attention afterward.

'He was doing it in a very brutal way,' Stambler added, speaking of Braun.

Braun is seen placing the fire extinguisher down after putting out the flames, as shocked bystanders and security staff gather round

Grzegorz Braun, far-right Polish lawmaker from Confederation party, walks after using a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles

Stambler, a rabbi for the Chabad community, said that if felt like Braun wanted to disrupt a day when many people were happy after Donald Tusk was elected and gave his inaugural speech to parliament.

'Somebody was trying to destroy it,' Stambler said. 'And I think the impact is the opposite. Now there will be even more awareness of how much tolerance is needed, how it is important.'

After the incident the candles were lit again.

Poland's Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich told Reuters by telephone that Braun's actions were not representative of the country and that he was 'embarrassed' by them.

Grzegorz Braun, far-right Polish lawmaker from Konfederacja party, stands after using a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles at the parliament in Warsaw

Braun speaks to the media while covered in white powder after putting out the Hanukkah candles in the Polish parliament

Security worked to get people away from the scene as powder filled the air

'Someone extinguished the Hanukkah candles and a few minutes later we relit them,' he said. 'For thousands of years our enemies have been trying to extinguish us, from the time of the Maccabees right through to Hamas. But our enemies should learn, they cannot extinguish us.'

Cardinal Grzegorz Rys of Poland's Catholic church said in a statement posted on social media platform X that he was ashamed of Braun's actions.

'I apologise to the entire Jewish community in Poland,' he wrote.

New Prime Minister Donald Tusk called it a disgrace and said such an incident should never be repeated.

Israel's ambassador for Poland, Yacov Livne delivers a speech during Hanukkah celebrations at parliament on December 12, before the chaos unfolded

Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who was elected yesterday, called Braun's actions a disgrace and said such an incident should never be repeated

Tusk was elected on Monday and gave his inaugural speech to parliament on Tuesday, pledging to demand that the Western world keep up its help for Ukraine.

Tusk also called on Poland's fractious political class to unite, saying it cannot afford divisions while Russia is waging a war of aggression across the border, a conflict many fear could spread if Moscow prevails.

'Poland's task, the new government's task, but also the task of all of us, is to loudly and firmly demand the full determination from the entire Western community to help Ukraine in this war. I will do this from day one,' Tusk said in a session attended by Ukraine's ambassador and former Polish presidents, including the anti-communist freedom fighter Lech Walesa.

Hours later, the important day in parliament was disturbed by Braun after he grabbed the fire extinguisher and put out candles on a menorah during a Hanukkah celebration.
A Chicago suburb turned away busloads of migrants - enacting a $750 fine for each allowed to step off the bus - as the Windy City buckles under weight of new arrivals.

Several buses with migrants arrived in Metra stations in Cicero and in Rosemont near O'Hare International Airport's remote parking, from El Paso, Texas, this week, where officials said they were then turned away and banned from entering.

Police reportedly allowed the migrants to descend from the buses if they had someone waiting for them, but threatened to impound the bus and arrest the driver for endangering the passengers if he let them out, Mayor Brad Stephens said.

A $750 fine per person was approved in Cicero imposed on any person who lets a migrant off the bus, spokesman Ray Hanania said to the Chicago Tribune.

'It's wrong to drop people on the street with nowhere to go,' Hanania said. 'We think every community should do this to prevent this. They need to force the state to come up with a better plan for homeless people.'

Busloads of migrants were turned away after they arrived in Metra stations in Cicero and in Rosemont near O'Hare International Airport's remote parking

Police reportedly threatened to impound the bus and arrest the driver for endangering the passengers if he let them out, Mayor Brad Stephens said

A $750 fine per person was approved in Cicero imposed on any person who lets a migrant off the bus, spokesman Ray Hanania said to the Chicago Tribune. Pictured: Migrant children occupy their time in a small tent community, Wednesday,

In November, Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens announced a new tax as part of the effort aimed at preventing long-term migrant stays and preserve the middle-income town's convention business.

Since August 2022, Chicago accepted nearly 26,000 migrants who are now sheltered around Chicago, including at police stations.

This comes just one day after it was announced that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has begun filing dozens of lawsuits against 'rogue' bus companies transporting migrants from the southern border.

At least 55 lawsuits have been filed by the city since it implemented the laws regarding when and where buses are authorized to arrive November, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The lawsuits identify 77 buses accused of violating the regulations which is come cases involve fines.

Buses were limited to only two per hour, and drop-offs were set between 8am and 5:30 pm Monday through Friday.

A man and woman stand in the late morning sun near their tent in a small migrant community Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, near a Northside police station in Chicago

The Mayor's spokesperson called the busses 'rogue' and 'uncoordinated' and claimed they are endangering the lives of newly arriving migrants.

In a statement, Cassio Mendoza, said the bus companies should be held accountable.

Chicago 'continues to welcome asylum-seekers but the city cannot safely and efficiently shelter migrants when bus companies, contracted by the State of Texas, flagrantly violate all safety measures that the city has put in place,' he said.

In October, it was revealed that Texas has bused nearly 52,000 migrants to Dem-run cities, including 18,500 to New York and 13,500 to Chicago.

Gov. Greg Abbott said at the time that he would not stop sending the migrant buses north and that Texas 'is going to continue to use every tool that we can to secure the border the best that we can.'

In addition to the migrant surge, crime is spiking in the windy city - causing mounting pressures for Mayor Johnson.

Four people are dead after a weekend of violence in Chicago saw at least 22 shot and no-one arrested for any of the murders.

It came as the latest police figures showed crimes up by 68 per cent on this time two years ago in the Democrat-led city.

Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson has overseen a 19 percent rise in Chicago's crime this year

The shootings were double the 11 recorded the previous weekend and began on Friday with the gunning down of an 18-year-old man found shot to death at 9pm inside a car in the Englewood district.

That evening saw two off-duty police officers robbed at gunpoint in the nearby South Loop district where 32-year-old Corey Ivy was found shot dead in his SUV on Saturday.

It made grim reading for the mayor of a city where more than 300 people have been murdered since he took office on May 15 on a promise to build 'a better, stronger, safer Chicago'.

An hour after the 18-year-old was found dead, Ismael Yanez, 42, was shot in the head while driving in Archer Heights.

The father-of-three was pronounced dead in hospital.

Little over three hours later a gunfight in the street left three people shot and one dead on the city's Northwest Side.

A 31-year-old man was in the 1600 block of North Hamlin Avenue at around 1.17am when two men drove up and began shooting at him.

Their target, who has a concealed carry license holder, returned fire shooting one of his attackers in the chest, killing 44-year-old Edwin Lopez instantly.

Robbery is up by a half this year alone while motor vehicle thefts have tripled since 2020

Four were dead and another 18 injured after the latest weekend of shootings in the Windy City

His other attacker was expected to survive after being shot in the shoulder, while the 31-year-old target was shot in the torso and taken to a hospital in 'fair condition', police said.

But you only have to go back to late November to find a more deadly weekend, when six people were shot dead between Friday 17 and Sunday 19.

Johnson previously supported the Defund the Police movement and has been widely criticized for a soft-on-crime approach.

He made history when he was elected as the first person to unseat a presiding mayor in the Dem-led city since 1983, pledging to make the city a place where 'all residents can live and work free from the threat of violence'.

Johnson's radical approach to policing involves reallocating funds from enforcement to social services like housing and education, while taxing the rich and local businesses.

But the former union organizer said the city doesn't have the money to solve its problem because '70 percent of large corporations in the state of Illinois don't pay a corporate tax'.

'It's that type of restraint on our budget that has caused the type if disinvestment that has led to poverty, of course that has led to violence,' he added.
A Brazilian bodybuilding influencer is being probed for his ties to a chemicals company that allegedly diverted precursors used to produce crack and cocaine.

On Tuesday, Federal Police agents raided the Sao Paulo mansion of fitness guru Renato Cariani, who is listed as a business partner of Anidrol, the company that is under investigation.

The law enforcement agency alleges that Anidrol rerouted ethyl acetate, acetone, ethyl ether, lidocaine hydrochloride, mannitol and phenacetin  chemicals required for the production of crack and cocaine  and the provided invoices with the name of pharmaceutical companies to cover up the sales.

The precursors were then delivered to Cariani's friend, Fabio Spinola, who allegedly provided them to drug traffickers.

Spinola was arrested at his home in Parana, where police discovered $20,000 in cash.

Brazilian fitness influencer Renato Cariani is being investigated over his involvement Anidrol, a chemicals company that allegedly set up fake invoices to cover up the sale of precursors for the production of cocaine and crack

Brazilian authorities arrested a suspect on Tuesday with ties to Sao Paulo-based chemicals company Anidrol, which allegedly diverted chemicals to drug traffickers for the production of cocaine and crack

The law enforcement agency carried out 16 search and seizure warrants throughout Sao Paulo and one each in the states of Minas Gerais and Parana.

Prosecutors and the police sought arrest warrants against Cariani and two other people, but a Sao Paulo judge rejected the requests.

Cariani released a video statement to his 7 million followers on Instagram indicating he and other partners were shocked by the investigation of Anidrol, which has been in business for over four decades.

'It's a beautiful company, where my partner, who is 71 years old, is the great administrator, the great manager of the company, he is the one who leads the company, a company with its own headquarters, which has all the licenses and all national and international certifications,' he said.

'A company that works fully regulated. So, for me, for my partner, for everyone, it was a surprise.'

Renato Cariani issued a statement to his 7 million Instagram followers indicating he was surprised by Tuesday's raid at his mansion on Sao Paulo as police investigated his links to a chemicals company that reportedly diverted precursors to drug traffickers for the production of crack and cocaine

An agent with Brazil's Federal Police inspects an office at the Sao Paulo mansion of fitness influencer Renato Cariani

The scheme, the Federal Police revealed, dates back to 2017 when Spinola established a fake email address with the name of an alleged AstraZeneca employee.

Sao Paulo prosecutors were contacted by AstraZeneca in 2017 after it received a noticed from Federal Revenue Service that questioned over multiple invoice with cash payments that were not reported.

The pharmaceutical company alleged that it had never purchased the chemical and that it had not done business with the company that had sold it.

A second company, Cloroquimica, would also discover that its name has been attached to four invoices for sales of chemicals in April and June 2017.

Renato Cariana is a Brazilian bodybuilder with 7 million followers on Instagram and 6 million on YouTube

Authorities allege that Brazilian chemicals company Anidrol sent out invoices with the names of three companies, including AstraZeneca, to cover up the sale of chemicals that were actually diverted to drug traffickers

In 2018, LBS Labarosa alerted authorities that it's company name was fraudulently linked to multiple invoices that were presented by Anidrol and a second company, Quimietest.

Investigators discovered that Quimietest did not have a physical business address, was linked to Anidrol and listed Cariani's wife as one of its former partners.

Prosecutors and police attempted to arrest the individuals involved with the fraudulent claims, but arrest warrants were denied by a court.

A total of 60 fraudulent transactions showed that at least 12 tons of chemical products has been purchased under the scheme.
An Oklahoma State University student died while hunting for ducks after his waders filled up with water and dragged him to the bottom of the lake.

OSU mourns loss 24-year-old graduate student Jackson Williams who studied in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.

Williams, originally from Arkansas, was duck hunting in Sooner Lake - which is in the small town of Red Rock, 30 miles away from where Oklahoma State University is located in Stillwater.

Game wardens said the 24-year-old went to retrieve a duck when he hit an unexpected drop off - causing his waders to fill with water, KOCO News reported.

The weight of water in his hunting waders dragged him underwater - prompting the friend he was with to call emergency services.

OSU mourns loss 24-year-old graduate student Jackson Williams who studied in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences

Williams was duck hunting in Sooner Lake - which is in the small town of Red Rock, 30 miles away from where Oklahoma State University is located in Stillwater

Game wardens said the 24-year-old went to retrieve a duck when he hit an unexpected drop off - causing his waders to fill with water

Williams's friends and family are heartbroken by his sudden death - and the OSU community has been rocked by the tragic accident

Several agencies responded to reports of the drowning and side imaging conducted by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol's Lake Patrol eventually found his body on lake floor.

Williams' friends and family are heartbroken by his sudden death - and the OSU community has been rocked by the tragic accident.

His mother, Karen Turner Williams, said her son was 'in heaven duck hunting with Jesus' and said the world won't be the same without him.

In a statement, OSU said, 'Our hearts go out to Jackson's parents and family, friends, co-workers, the 4-H'ers and producers he advised and his former OSU Rodeo team members.'

'Our hearts go out to the family and the friends and loved ones of this young man. We want to make sure everyone knows that our hearts and prayers are with them.'

Game wardens explained how the tragic accident happened - saying that waders are hard to get off when on dry land - 'in a panic, in cold water, it can be really tough,' said Capt. Ben Bickerstaff with the Oklahoma Game Wardens.

'Our thoughts and prayers go out to this young man's friends and family,' game wardens said. 'The hunting community is small and close knit, he will be missed.'

Williams also served as the OSU Extension Agriculture and 4H Educator for youths in Logan County.

His mother Karen Turner Williams said her son was 'in heaven duck hunting with Jesus' and said the world won't be the same without him

Williams, originally from Arkansas, also served as the OSU Extension Agriculture and 4H Educator for youths in Logan County

The Logan County Cooperative Extension Service said: 'We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jackson Williams, who served as our OSU Extension Agriculture and 4-H Educator in Logan County.

'Jackson was passionate about helping and educating others. Even in his short time serving Logan County, he was well-known and liked by all who had the opportunity to meet him.

'He loved working with the teens in Logan County and knew how to encourage them to do their best.

'He also enjoyed working with producers in the county to help them find solutions to their problems.

'And he did it all with a smile on his face. He was a great co-worker and will be missed by all.'
A law student slammed her woke college for refusing to erect a menorah in a study area - before removing all its Christmas trees too.

Rachel Cook, a first year student at Canada's University of Alberta asked the law department last Tuesday, if she could place a menorah in the area after seeing Christmas trees and garland on campus.

But the school refused the Jewish student's request and told her in an email that it was removing the trees too, even though Cook had not complained about the trees and had no problem with them.

She said: 'I got an email from the vice dean (telling me) "No trees either, were going to take all those down because of your concerns.

'Thats when I responded, "But I dont have concerns, I actually find them quite pretty. I just wanted to display a menorah."'

Rachel Cook (pictured) a first year law student at the University of Alberta, who is Jewish and celebrates Hanukkah, asked the law department on Tuesday if she could place a menorah in the study area after seeing Christmas trees and garland on campus

A decorated Christmas tree stands in the study hall on the campus of the University of Alberta

James Muir, the law school's vice dean, wrote back thanking Cook for 'raising your concerns about the decorations in the Law Centre.'

'In light of the issues you have raised, we have decided to remove the tree from the David Percy lounge on Dec. 7,' Muir wrote in part, in an email that was published in the JNS-Jewish News Service.

'We intended no religious message and so will remove the tree. We are also following up on university policies regarding decorations in December/January.'

Muir added that Cook could hold a Chanukah event, although special permission would be needed in certain places on campus to have burning candles.

Cook told the news outlet that she never had an issue with the Christmas trees. In fact, earlier this month, she enjoyed a candy cane the vice dean was handing out when he was dressed as Santa.

The University of Alberta in Edmonton is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, has a student enrollment of 40,000, according to 2022 figures

Cook was also bemused that the Christmas trees were removed while festive garlands remained.

'They've decided now the secular line is that if it's nature-themed and lying flat, that's secular. But if it's in tree form (it's religious),' she said.

Cook believes the faculty got rid of the Christmas trees because it did not want to display what it sees  in her view, incorrectly  as an endorsement of Israel, as per the news outlet.

She said her university peers don't have an issue with a menorah. 'I have not talked to a single student on campus who has a problem with a menorah.'

Cook, who has Canadian-American citizenship, told JNS that 'being Jewish is a fundamental part of my identity.

'I believe my Judaism is giving me the strength to stand up against the system and the wave of hate. I am deeply proud of my Jewish identity and am honored when friends of other faiths include me,' she said.

After the October 7 Hamas massacre and subsequent Israeli bombing of Gaza, Cook says she has been raising concerns about anti-Semitism on campus.

The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, and has a student enrollment of 40,000, according to 2022 figures.

DailyMail.com has contacted Cook and the University of Alberta for further comment.
A secondary school headteacher has launched legal action to stop the parents of two pupils from waging a 'campaign of harassment' against him in what is thought to be the first case of its kind.

The parents used social media to claim that Kevin Flanagan was an 'evil bully', and mounted a vendetta against him, his girlfriend, and children, the High Court in London will hear.

Mr Flanagan, head of Pensby High School in Heswall, Wirral, rated 'good' by Ofsted, is suing Keith and Stephanie Critchley, and seeking an injunction to force them to take down a Facebook page originally called FamiliesFightFlanagan.

He's also claiming damages of 20,000 plus legal costs.

The dispute began in March 2022 when Mr Critchley, 58, allegedly became 'aggressive and highly abusive' towards Mr Flanagan and his female deputy head during a meeting at school about their younger daughter, 12.

The parents used social media to claim Kevin Flanagan (pictured) was an 'evil bully' and mounted a vendetta against him, his girlfriend, and children, the High Court will hear

Mr Flanagan, head of Pensby High School in Heswall, Wirral, rated 'good' by Ofsted, is suing Keith and Stephanie Critchley (pictured), and is seeking an injunction to force them to take down a Facebook page originally called FamiliesFightFlanagan

The dispute began in March 22 when Mr Critchley, 58, allegedly became 'aggressive and highly abusive' towards Mr Flanagan and his female deputy head during a meeting at school (Pensby High School in Heswall, pictured) about their younger daughter, 12

According to the legal papers, Mr Critchley was 'at one point appearing to be on the brink of physically attacking Mr Flanagan'.

'The meeting was cut short and Mr Critchley was escorted from the school premises.'

In May 2023, Mrs Critchley complained about how her daughter was being treated and spoke to Mr Flanagan and another teacher in the school reception.

According to the claim, when Mr Flanagan suggested her daughter should speak to her head of year, Mrs Critchley responded aggressively, 'raising her voice and shouting at him'.

Mrs Critchley was asked to stop shouting and gesticulating at Mr Flanagan, then asked to leave the school site.

Later that month, Mrs Critchley set up a Facebook group called FamiliesFightFlanagan, which described him as despicable, a bully who humiliated children and a liar who abused his power as a headteacher.

Following warnings from the school governors and interventions by the police, the group's name has been changed to FamiliesFightFeckless, but the campaign went on, even after the Critchleys removed their daughters from school.

Mr Flanagan (second from right) is also claiming damages of 20,000 plus legal costs

According to the legal papers, Mr Critchley (right) was: 'At one point appearing to be on the brink of physically attacking Mr Flanagan. The meeting was cut short and Mr Critchley was escorted from the school premises'

According to the legal documents Mr Critchley told the headteacher that he would mount a relentless campaign until he was removed as headteacher, and later following Mr Flanagan's girlfriend as she drove, beeping his horn and driving aggressively.

Mr Flanagan says he was so upset and distressed about the campaign against him that he considered resigning as headteacher of the 885-pupil secondary modern school.

The school governors stepped into the row, and, worried for his safety, Mr Flanagan spoke to police several times before he turned to the court.

He accuses the parents of becoming aggrieved initially because their children were not classed as having special educational needs and lists a catalogue of issues including Mr Critchley having to be escorted from the school for shouting abusively, both parents intimidating staff at the school gates, offensive postings on Facebook and YouTube, and Mr Critchley driving behind his girlfriend aggressively, beeping his horn.

Mr Critchley is said to have turned up outside the headteacher's home at 9pm one evening, called the headteacher, who has Irish heritage, a 'paddy', and harangued the co-chairman of the school governors outside his front door.

Later that month, Mrs Critchley (right) set up a Facebook group called FamiliesFightFlanagan, which described him as despicable, a bully who humiliated children, and a liar who abused his power as a headteacher

Mr Critchley (pictured) is said to have turned up outside the headteacher's home at 9pm one evening, called the headteacher, who has Irish heritage, a 'paddy', and to have harangued the co-chair of the school governors outside his front door

Mr Flanagan lists a catalogue of events he brands as a campaign of harassment in a thirty-page legal document, detailing false claims made on the Facebook page.

The Facebook page, whose name was later changed to FamiliesFightFeckless, became an echo chamber for the 'disgruntled and querulous', he claims.

In June 2023, the campaign appeared to move from social media onto the street, with the Critchleys driving slowly past the school, or standing opposite the gates appearing to film the beginning and end of the school day.

A number of the comments by other parents on the Critchley's Facebook page were supportive of the school, it is claimed, and the legal papers quote one comment, accusing the page of being 'hypocritical' and doing the very thing which they claimed Mr Flanagan was doing  bullying.

One user wrote: 'You have demonstrated 'bullying' in the most basic way by starting a Facebook group where like minded people gather to 'b***h' (because that's what it is, you're b******g, if you had any validity to your argument, you would be straight to the local councils education department or OFSTED) All this is undermining leadership and putting the continuity of the education my child and plenty of others receive into jeopardy.'

Later that month, Mr Flanagan addressed the Facebook page in a letter to parents, including the Critchleys, in which he accused them of bullying, saying: 'It is hard stand up to behaviour, such as threats, intimidation and victimisation of others.'

In June 2023, the campaign appeared to move from social media onto the street, with the Critchleys (pictured) driving slowly past the school, or standing opposite the gates appearing to film the beginning and end of the school day

His wife Stephanie (pictured), 34, said: 'I'm devastated that it's gone so far. We don't regret putting up the Facebook page but I do regret sending my two daughters to his school'

He thanked those who had sent him messages of support and added: 'I realise it does take some bravery to stand up to a process that can go so far, so quickly and allow for bullies to gain a platform quite so freely.'

Later that month the school's governors 'invited' the Critchleys to take down their Facebook page or face legal action. Instead the couple allegedly turned up at the home address of the chairman of the governors.

According to the documents he then began 'screaming' at his daughter to return to him and 'attempted to charge into the school swearing and shouting at Mr Flanagan' and 'repeatedly called Mr Flanagan a "f*****g n**head".'

Former publisher Mr Critchley, 58, told MailOnline he and his wife were taking legal advice on how to respond to the lawsuit.

He said: 'I was shocked when the legal letter came through, we are being badly treated, not him. What he's saying is absolute rubbish. He's got a vendetta against us.

He claimed he had called the police on Mr Flanagan. The father-of-four added: 'He's a bully who's never got on with us as we've stood up to him. We're now taking legal advice of what to do.'

His wife Stephanie, 34, said: 'I'm devastated that it's gone so far. We don't regret putting up the Facebook page but I do regret sending my two daughters to his school.

'We have complained to the police, Ofsted and the school governors about him.'
Five men, aged between 69 and 90, have been arrested and charged in connection with alleged, non-recent, abuse incidents at Edinburgh Academy, police have said.

Police Scotland said a sixth man, aged 74, will also be reported to the procurator fiscal.

The abuse incidents are alleged to have taken place at the school between 1968 and 1992.

Edinburgh Academy previously apologised for historic abuse after it was investigated as part of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

Nearly 50 witnesses gave evidence to the inquiry, including broadcaster Nicky Campbell who spoke publicly about the abuse he said he had suffered.

Police investigated non-recent incidents of abuse at Edinburgh Academy (pictured)

Detective Inspector Colin Moffat, of Police Scotland, said: 'We would like to thank everyone who has come forward and assisted our inquiries to date.

'While the investigation of child abuse, particularly non-recent offences, can be complex and challenging, anyone who reports this type of crime can be assured that we will listen and we will investigate all reports, no matter when those offences occurred or who committed them.

'If you have suffered abuse, or you know anyone who may have been the victim of child abuse, then please call Police Scotland on 101.'
Three gang members who kidnapped and stripped naked a man over a 100,000 debt before holding him prisoner for five days have been jailed.

The victim, in his 20s, was snatched off the street by the violent criminals after he took too long to repay the money.

An innocent bystander was also abducted after finding himself 'in the wrong place at the wrong time' and was beaten alongside the debtor.

The pair, who were taken off the streets of Reading in Berkshire, were held in a small kitchen flat where they were stripped of their clothes and subjected to repeated assaults.

The horrendous ordeal finally came to an end when a heavily armed police squad rescued them in a dramatic raid on December 13, 2021.

Ringleader Erlind Demiraj, 32, was found guilty after a four-week trial of one count each of conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to blackmail.

Gevin Pasha,22, was convicted of two counts of false imprisonment and one count each of conspiracy to blackmail, conspiracy to kidnap and assault occasioning actual bodily harm

Today, Erlind Demiraj, 32, Klej Doci, 20, and Gevin Pasha, 22 were respectively sentenced to 16 years, 11 year, and five years' imprisonment for their crimes.

Judge Heather Norton, sentencing the three men at Reading Crown Court said: 'This kidnapping was carefully planned and those five days were spent by not just one but two victims who were made to sleep on the floor in a small room, not given water or food, and forbidden to go to the toilet.

'One of the victims appears to have been taken simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnessed the kidnapping.'

Shehzab Khan had owed the gang a large debt of 100,000 which led the criminals to threaten and blackmail him and his parents over the course of 2021.

The court heard that throughout the year, Khan's parents were even forced to remortgage their home to repay the gang 48,000 of that debt.

When the parents could no longer pay the three defendants - along with other members of the gang - decided to kidnap and hold Mr Khan hostage in a bid to force his parents to find more money in exchange for his release.

The abduction took place on December 8 2021, when Mr Khan was kidnapped from Maiden Place in Lower Earley, Reading, at around 6.30pm.

He was kidnapped along with another man aged in his 20s, who was described by the prosecution as 'collateral damage' as he was a witness to Mr Khan's kidnapping.

Fourth defendant Garcon Lala, 28, previously admitted two counts of false imprisonment and one count each of conspiracy to blackmail, conspiracy to kidnap and assault occasioning actual bodily harm

Both men were then driven to a flat in Northampton where they were kept hostage for five days until police rescued them following a raid on December 13, 2021.

The prisoners were finally rescued by police following a dramatic raid on December 13, 2021.

Although many shots were fired by police during the raid, no one suffered any gunshot wounds, the judge heard.

Mr Khan, however, suffered deep bruises, cuts and cigarette burns from his time spent in captivity.

Sentencing, Judge Norton told the court: 'The two victims were held and assaulted over the course of five days.

'They were kept in the flat's small kitchen, deprived of water and food, and prevented from going to the toilet. Mr Khan was humiliated by being forced to strip and remained without clothing for some time, hit with a hammer and with a plank of wood, later found by police in the flat.'

Ringleader Demiraj, of Orts Road, Reading, was later arrested by Dutch authorities attempting to cross from Belgium into the Netherlands and was extradited to the UK in November last year.

He was found guilty after a four-week trial of one count each of conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to blackmail.

He pleaded guilty to one count of perverting the course of justice in February this year, which followed his attempts to intimidate the Khan family into refusing to give evidence for the prosecution during the trial. He was sentenced to 16 years.

Upon sentencing the judge said: 'It is entirely clear that Mr Demiraj was the person in charge.

'His demands for money were made not only to Mr Khan but also to his parents who were kept under pressure through various threatening behaviours including driving past the family home, photographing the family home, visiting the family home and demanding money directly from the parents.'

Pasha, of Gray Street, Northampton, was convicted of two counts of false imprisonment and one count each of conspiracy to blackmail, conspiracy to kidnap and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Doci, of St Margaret's Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, was convicted of two counts of false imprisonment and one count of conspiracy to kidnap. He was cleared of one count of conspiracy to blackmail and common assault.

As he was only 18-years-old at the time of the offence, Doci was sentenced to five years in a young offenders' institution.

A fourth defendant, Garcon Lala, 28, of Eastern Road, Haringey, London, previously admitted two counts of false imprisonment and one count each of conspiracy to blackmail, conspiracy to kidnap and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He will be sentenced at the same court later.

A fifth man, Gentjan Kica, 34, of Glenrosa Road, Reading, was cleared of one count of conspiracy to blackmail.
Do you know the homeowner?

Do you know the homeowner?

Do you know the homeowner?

Do you know the homeowner? Email stewart.carr@mailonline.co.uk

A Bristol homeowner has installed a tall wooden fence outside their home to block cold callers and warns anyone who knocks unannounced will face a 25,000 fine.

The elaborate notice, placed in front of a regular terraced home in the Bedminster suburb of the city, also appears to ban people putting junk mail through the letterbox.

The sign warns any passing charity fundraiser, political canvasser, delivery driver or stricken neighbour that there will be consequences for stepping into the small front porch and knocking on the door.

The sign reads: 'To all persons corporations councils and agents thereof. Vehicles manned or remotely operated' before outlining the 'fee schedule' should anyone trespass.

A Bristol homeowner has installed a tall wooden fence outside their home to block cold callers and warns anyone who knocks unannounced will face a 25,000 fine

The elaborate notice, placed in front of a regular terraced home in the Bedminster suburb of the city, also appears to ban people putting junk mail through the letterbox

'Minimum penalty 25,000 or 1,500 Troy ounces of British silver coins. Per person or per vehicle per offence including vehicles either manned or remotely operated.'

At present 1,500 Troy ounces of silver is the equivalent to 27,360.

The resident then quotes the case law that backs up their right to charge trespass penalties - all of which appear to be from New South Wales in Australia.

The notice ends with: 'This means you are bound and agree to this contract by entering uninvited, whether you think so or not - applies to you whether you think so or not. ID to be surrendered for inspection.'

A black post box is installed beneath the sign for 'legitimate mail'.

Bristol City Council has been approached for comment.
President Joe Biden has invited family members of Americans taken hostage by Hamas to a meeting at the White House on Wednesday after some were declined an invitation to a menorah lighting ceremony.

It will be Biden's first in-person meeting with them since the Israeli Americans were kidnapped on October 7 during the attacks in Israel.

The meeting invite came after several family members had asked to attend a Hanukkah reception at the White House Monday night but never received invitations, the father of one missing Israeli American told CNN.

'Were not going to stop until every hostage is returned home,' Biden told donors in Washington on Friday, saying the U.S. commitment to Israel is 'unshakable.'

Several family members have been camped outside the White House in Lafayette Square where, on Tuesday, they attemped to stage a holiday meal on a picnic blanket on the sidewalk outside the residence to demonstrate the missing places that will be at their tables over the holidays.

President Joe Biden has invited family members of Americans taken hostage by Hamas to a meeting at the White House on Wednesday

Eight Americans - seven men and one woman - are still believed to be held hostage after being taken captive since Hamas unleashed its surprise attack on Israeli. Four Americans, including a 4-year-old girl and three women, were released as part of a U.S.-negotiated cease-fire that was brokered with the assistance of Qatar and Egypt.

It's unclear how many families will attend Wednesday's meeting with the president and some may appear virtually, a White House official told NBC News.

Biden has spoken with some family members over zoom. Other senior administration officials have met wth some family members in person, including National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Family members have expressed their frustration with the slow pace Israeli Americans are being released. The White House has said that at least 31 Americans were killed by Hamas and other militant groups on Oct. 7.

Administration officials have said repeatedly they remain in close contact with their Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian counterparts about the situation after the truce that allowed for some hostages to be released was broken.

Sullivan blamed Hamas for the breakdown of the Nov. 24 to Dec. 1 truce because the militants refused to release more hostages.

'Hamas to this day continues to hold women, elderly people, civilians in significant numbers. And yet still, it's saying, Hey, how about everybody just stops. So we believe that Israel has the right to defend itself,' he said a Wall Street Journal forum.

Meanwhile, Ruby Chen, whose son Itay is a reservist missing since Hamas' attack on Israel, told CNN a number of the families were in Washington, DC, this week, and had asked the White House about attending the Hanukkah reception but were not invited.

The reception, which celebrated the fifth night of Hanukkah, featured some 800 guests, according to the White House, including Holocaust survivors, lawmakers and various Jewish leaders.

Community of Jewish groups gather outside of the White House during the fifth night of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights

President Joe Biden looks on as second gentleman Douglas Emhoff lights the menorah during a Hanukkah Holiday Reception in the East Room of the White House

At that event, Biden touted the work his administration has been doing to try to secure the release of the remaining hostages and to get humanitarian aid into Gaza.

He said he had spent 'probably up to 20 hours' working with Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials.

'There's a whole range of things going on now that are really very, very difficult,' Biden said. 'We've gotten more than 100 hostages out and we're not going to stop till we get every one of them home.'

But the White House also has said they don't have any specific news to share.

'We're not close to inking another deal on a humanitarian pause and nor do I have any news to break here today about the return of hostages, either ours or those of many other countries that are being held hostage,' spokesman John Kirby said last week.

'We're still trying to get as much information as we can about the hostages that are being held. We have some information, as I said before, on some of the hostages because their families are talking to us. And that's been a terrific source of information and context,' he added.

'We have less information on others, but not for lack of trying.'
A postmortem has confirmed a man killed during a police shooting in east London died of a single gunshot wound to his abdomen.

Lithuanian national Giedrius Vasiljevas, 40, was shot by a Metropolitan Police officer during an incident at an address in Weston Green, Dagenham, on November 23.

He had phoned 999 and reportedly told the operator that he wanted to take his own life and that he had loaded guns, according to a police statement.

Officers rushed to his home using a specialist negotiator to try to 'bring the incident to a safe conclusion'.

But Mr Vasiljevas - who according to his family had a history of mental health problems - is understood to have confronted officers on his doorstep before shots were fired

Giedrius Vasiljevas, right, was shot dead by police in Dagenham, east London, on November 23

Mr Vasiljevas reportedly called police warning them he wanted to take his own life with a loaded gun

Mr Vasiljevas' devastated wife, Sigita Vasiljeva, paid tribute to him his death, saying: 'He was a hardworking family man and a good father, but he needed psychological treatment and he couldn't find the help he needed'

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is investigating the incident, revealed that a postmortem has been carried out.

The watchdog said it had met Mr Vasiljevas' family ahead of his inquest which is due to open on Wednesday at East London Coroner's Court.

IOPC regional director Charmaine Arbouin said: 'This was a tragic incident and we recognise the devastating impact this has had on Mr Vasiljevas' family and friends, and all of those affected.

READ MORE: 'Suicidal' man shot dead by police Advertisement

'Fatal police shootings are rare but when they happen it's important that there is an independent investigation to establish all of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

'We recently met with Mr Vasiljevas' family to extend our condolences and explain our role. We appreciate that his family and friends and the wider community will want answers quickly and our investigators are working hard to establish the facts.

'We will, of course, continue to keep Mr Vasiljevas' family fully informed on progress.'

The Met Police previously said officers attended the address in Weston Green after they were contacted by a man, now named as Mr Vasiljevas, who said he would take his own life and claimed he had loaded firearms.

Police attempted to engage with him before two shots were fired by an officer just before 9pm, the IOPC said.

Despite the efforts of police and paramedics, Mr Vasiljevas was pronounced dead at 9.30pm.
A former marine who was ordered to take down an eight-foot 'F**k the government' sign on his Pennsylvania property has sued the zoning officer and borough for violating his free speech rights.

A first amendment battle unfolded as residents of Olyphant Borough, Pennsylvania, challenge the borough sign ordinance against the massive billboard situated on the front porch of their home.

The Bliler family is taking legal action against what they perceive as an 'unconstitutional infringement' on their First Amendment rights.

The lawsuit, exclusively obtained by Dailymail.com, alleges that the borough's sign ordinance violates the residents' freedom of speech by imposing restrictions on the content, size, and permitting process for signs displayed on private property.

Plaintiffs Dave, Chelsea, and Paige Bliler brought the case against the Olyphant Borough, Pennsylvania and William Shigo, the Boroughs Zoning Officer.

A first amendment battle unfolded as residents of Olyphant Borough, Pennsylvania, challenge the borough sign ordinance against the monstrosity situated on the front porch of their home that reads 'F*** THE GOVERNMENT' in bold red font

The Bliler family is taking legal action against what they perceive as an 'unconstitutional infringement' on their First Amendment rights

'Peacefully expressing political speech through signs on ones own property is a central liberty protected by the First Amendment,' the lawsuit alleged.

'The right to display opinions on matters of public concern has long been vital to the concept of American identity and trumps all but the most important government interests. Attempts to regulate such speech carry a heavy presumption of invalidity.'

The lawsuit is in response to an enforcement letter, alleging a violation of the sign ordinance, threatening a $500 fine, and mandating a permitting process by the borough.

The Blilers opted to remove the sign to avoid penalties but now fear expressing similar views due to potential liability under the ordinance.

The lawsuit claims that the borough's sign ordinance places heavy limitations on residents' ability to express political, ideological, or religious views on their properties.

'The Boroughs sign ordinance tramples this liberty,' it writes. 'It limits most residential property owners to just one sign that is no larger than six square feet.'

'Whether the sign is for ideological causes, political campaigns, or religious faith, almost all signs are subject to this restriction.'

According to the complaint, the ordinance imposes a one-sign limit, not exceeding six square feet, subject to a content-reviewing permitting process.

But the borough has reportedly exempted itself from these regulations, allowing unlimited government signs without the need for permits.

The Blilers seek injunctive relief, declaring the ordinance unconstitutional both in general and as applied to their sign.

The lawsuit requests nominal and compensatory damages, as well as attorney fees and costs.

The ultimate goal is to challenge what the Blilers perceive as an infringement on their fundamental constitutional rights.

In 2021, A New Jersey woman has won an appeal to keep her 'F**k Biden' banner just over a week after a local judge ordered her to remove them or face a $250-a-day fine

In 2021, A New Jersey woman has won an appeal to keep her 'F**k Biden' banner just over a week after a local judge ordered her to remove them or face a $250-a-day fine.

Andrea Dick, 54, hung 10 pro-Trump signs on her Roselle Park home, where she lives with her mom, that included the former president extending two middle fingers over the words 'F**k Biden'.

Municipal Court Judge Gary Bundy ordered Dick to take down three of the 10 signs or face a daily fine of $250 because they violated local public obscenity laws.

But Judge Bundy's ruling was vacated by the state's Supreme Court on Tuesday after the ACLU got involved and warned that Bundy's edict violated Dick's First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

The civil liberties organization challenged the original ruling, with New Jersey's Supreme Court agreeing.
Adelson was on Tuesday jailed for life without parole after earlier conviction

A disgraced dentist will die in prison for hiring hitmen to shoot his former brother-in-law dead during a bitter custody battle.

Charles Adelson, 47, was jailed for life without parole on Tuesday for ordering the hit on law professor Dan Markel, 41 - who was married to his sister, Wendi Adelson.

Markel was shot twice in the head at point-blank range outside his home in Tallahassee, Florida, on July 18, 2014.

Adelson was convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and solicitation of first-degree murder on November 7.

Disgraced dentist Charles Adelson, 47, will die in prison for hiring hitmen to shoot his former brother-in-law dead during a bitter custody battle

With scraggly hair and a greying beard, Adelson proclaimed his innocence even as he was packed off to prison for the rest of his days

Dan Markel (right) was shot dead outside his home in 2014. He was married to Wendi Adelson (left) but amid their bitter divorce the pair were fighting about where their kids would live

With scraggly hair and a greying beard, Adelson proclaimed his innocence even as he was packed off to prison for the rest of his days.

'I would just like to say I maintain my innocence,' he told the court, as Markel's family watched via videolink from Canada.

The murdered lawyer's father, Phil Markel, earlier asked for the sentence in his victim impact statement, telling the court he 'suffered tremendously'.

'Not only have I lost my son, but I also lost my two grandsons,' he said.

'It is satisfying to see justice being done, and it would be appropriate to ask for the maximum sentence for the perpetrators of Danny's murder. Thank you. Today is a good day,'

Adelson has 30 days to appeal his conviction and sentence. A jury unanimously convicted him after just three hours of deliberations.

He mouthed 'no' when his murder verdict was read out.

Wendi wanted to move from Tallahassee to South Florida to be closer to her family but a judge ruled Wendi Adelson couldn't relocate without Markel's consent, and he refused

The Florida mother-in-law was reprimanded by Leon Circuit Judge Stephen Everett when she interrupted the court with her shrieks as an attorney was describing her plot to end her life

His mother, Donna Adelson, 73, also faces life in prison on the same charges as her son, and caused a stir with an outburst at her arraignment on Monday.

The matriarch was handcuffed and shackled and wore a purple jail jumpsuit while appearing in court for her arraignment on Monday

As Gregg Toomey, an attorney for the Leon County Sheriff's Office, described statements she made about wanting to take her own life before and after her arrest, Adelson shrieked 'Oh my god!', prompting the judge to reprimand her.

'She very clearly spoke about a plan to kill herself using sleeping pills,' Toomey said when Donna Adelson interrupted.

Leon Circuit Judge Stephen Everett said: 'Mrs. Adelson, please keep your comments to yourself and let your lawyer argue on your behalf.'

'When she was booked into the jail here, she made a statement that she wanted to die,' Toomey said.

'Now before her arrest in Miami, she also had... a 25-minute phone call. I've personally listened to it. She very clearly spoke about a plan to kill herself using sleeping pills.'

Adelson was arrest at Miami-Dade International Airport after investigators learned she had a one-way ticket to Vietnam, which has no extradition treaty with the US

Donna Adelson, 73, was animated during her arraignment hearing Monday in a Tallahassee courtroom. She pleaded not guilty to murder charges of her former son-in-law

Arrest records indicate Donna made phone calls to Adelson after he was convicted over his role in the murder and discussed plans to commit suicide or fleeing to a non-extradition country.

Adelson was arrested in November at Miami-Dade Airport after investigators learned she had a one-way ticket to Vietnam, which has no extradition treaty with the US, after her son's conviction.

Markel, who worked at Florida State University, was married to Adelson's sister Wendi for six years before their relationship broke down.

They shared custody of their two young sons but Wendi wanted to move from Tallahassee to South Florida to be closer to her family.

Markel, a dad-of-two, was shot as he sat in his car outside his home

However, a judge at the time ruled Wendi couldn't relocate without Markel's consent and he refused.

Prosecutors told jurors during the trial that Adelson paid to have the prominent professor killed and used his girlfriend, Katherine Magbanua, to hire the father of her two children, Sigfredo Garcia, to commit the murder.

They said Garcia enlisted the help of his childhood friend, Luis Rivera.

Magbanua and Garcia were convicted of first-degree murder and Rivera is serving a 19-year sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for testifying against them.

Markel was shot as he sat in his car outside his home, after taking his kids to daycare and going to the gym.

The court heard that Donna Adelson 'hated' Markel and was 'desperate to find a way' to overcome his determination to stop his two sons moving to South Florida.

Markel asked a judge to prevent her from having unsupervised contact with her grandchildren and prosecutors uncovered a July 2013 email in which she reacted to the court ruling.

Wendi Adelson chuckles in court as she is asked about her brother Charles Adelson and the number of girlfriends he has had

Charlie Adelson rubs his face as he waits for closing arguments in his trial

'It's time to take control of your life and not let Jibbers think he's just 'won' anything by having you remain in Tallahassee, eight hours away from the only family you have, and lose out on what will be a job that will afford you and your children advantages that they will never otherwise be able to enjoy,' she told her daughter.

'Let's show this **** what will make him absolutely miserable. You know his weak points; money, religion, control.'

Authorities alleged the Adelsons considered offering Markel $1 million to let his ex-wife and sons move, but then Charles Adelson and other members of the family began plotting his death.

During the trial, Wendi took the stand to testify that her family had nothing to do with the murder of her ex-husband and denied having any knowledge of the plot or any involvement herself.

Wendi, who works as an attorney, moved to Miami days after her husband was shot. She was granted limited immunity for her testimony.

After Adelson was found guilty on all three charges, Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman speaks with Dan Markel's parents, Phil and Ruth Markel

Adelson testifies during his trial

Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman asked her: 'In all the years this has been pending, your brother has known who killed your child's father and you didn't know?'

'I did not know,' Wendi replied. She testified that she didn't find out about what happened until earlier that day.

Cappleman asked: 'Your family had your ex-husband killed to try to help you, right?' And Wendi responded on the stand: 'No, that's completely untrue.'

Wendi said in a police interview in 2014 that her brother Charles joked that he was looking into hiring a hit man, but bought her a TV instead because it was cheaper.

Cappleman asked in court: 'Is that what he said?'

Wendi responded: 'That was the joke that he made in poor taste, yes.'

The TV has always been Wendi's alibi. She has never been accused of any involvement in the murder of her ex-husband.

The mother-of-two was at home the morning of the homicide, waiting for a Best Buy Geek Squad member to come look at her cracked TV.

Sigfredo Garcia during his trial in 2019. Magbanua and Garcia were convicted of first-degree murder and Rivera is serving a 19-year sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for testifying against them

Katherine Magbanua pictured in court in 2019

In a nine-year-old case with many twists and turns, Adelson took the stand in the closing days of the trial as the only defense witness, insisting prosecutors got the facts of the case wrong.

He said in his testimony that he felt a sense of relief to finally tell the public he was a victim of extortion and not the mastermind who hired the hitmen who shot Mr Markel.

He further testified that he had nothing to do with the murder and he was stunned when Magbanua came to his home and said her friends were the killers.

The dentist said she told him he needed to pay more than $300,000 in 48 hours or he also would be killed.

Prosecutors told jurors in closing arguments that there were far too many inconsistencies with Adelson's trial testimony.

The sensational case to bring the law professor justice involved four arrests and three trials over nine years.
A delighted Moroccan migrant who thanked President Joe Biden after illegally entering the U.S. is now reportedly homeless and cannot find work in New York City.

The man who identified as Ous, short for Oussama, crossed the border at Lukeville, Arizona, and admitted to multiple media outlets that he wasn't seeking asylum and instead traveled to seek job opportunities in NYC.

He gleefully said at the border: 'I love you Joe Biden, thank you for everything Joe Biden I am a good person I want to be a good person here in the United States.'

The 20-year-old is now in the Big Apple and told NewsNation and Border Correspondent Ali Bradley that he is having trouble finding a place to live and cannot work without a social security number or driver's license.

'The problem I have is at work. I want to work here legally without violating the law, because I promised you in the video that it [illegally crossing the border] would be the first violation and the last violation,' he told her.

Ous said he is staying with a friend and wants to find his own place, but can't afford to without a job, which he can't get because he doesn't have a social security number or driver's license.

A migrant identified as Ous who thanked President Joe Biden after illegally entering the country is now reportedly homeless and cannot find work in New York City

In an earlier interview, Ous told Bradley he believed finding work will be easy and he wants to drive Uber in New York. Ous said he wants to file taxes and pay into the system.

'I'm going to New York City to my friend to help me with something and I will buy new bicycle and I will work Uber,' he said.

New York City has taken in more than 140,000 migrants since spring 2022, and data shows at least 95,000 migrants have arrived in the Big Apple in 2023.

The city is buckling under the strain of new arrivals and Mayor Eric Adams has pleaded for state and federal aid as it is estimated the migrant crisis will cost the city $12 billion over the next three years.

The former NYPD captain has since been forced to slash the city budget to cope, with $110.5 billion in reductions across the board - including billions taken from important departments like education and policing.

A total of 41,277 people listed NYC as their destination when they crossed the border into the US, according to data from Syracuse Universitys TRAC immigration database seen by the Post.

They were handed Notices to Appear in front of an immigration court in the city, which has a legal obligation to shelter those who arrive.

Bradley reported Ous received a Notice to Appear on his own recognizance set for October of 2024 in New York.

Ous said he came to the US because he feels like an American and loves American music, especially Lana Del Ray.

Migrants lining up to get into a New York City shelter. The Big Apple has taken in at over 140,000 migrants since spring 2022

Migrants bundle up waiting out in the cold to get into a shelter. NYC Mayor Eric Adams estimated the migrant crisis will cost the city $12 billion over the next three years

'When I was five years old, I feel myself I'm an American guy because I love Michael Jackson, Nirvana,' said Ous.

He told Bradley getting sent back to Morocco was not an option and he would commit suicide if he had to.

At the end of his interview Ous said: 'Thank you Joe Biden for everything. We love you Joe Biden.

DailyMail.com exclusive reporting found Border Patrol chiefs say there's a 'new phenomenon' of migrants turning themselves in and not avoiding arrest because they know they will be released under Biden administration policies.

The stunning admissions by the chiefs of several border sectors was revealed during testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee.

The committee, led by top Republican Mark Green, is actively probing Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas' role in perpetuating the ongoing border crisis.

Green said to DailyMail.com 'Secretary Mayorkas' policies encourage lawbreaking to such a degree that record numbers of illegal aliens are actually turning themselves in to Border Patrol agents, expecting to be released, rather than trying to escape across the border uncaught.'

Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke from the San Diego Sector told investigators in May that the rising amount of migrants turning themselves in is relatively new.

He affirmed that the enormous amount of illegal migrants who are 'giving up' and not actively trying to avoid arrest is a 'more recent phenomenon.'

Migrants waiting at the border wall in Lukeville, Arizona. In the Tucson Sector specifically, a surge in migrant encounters has included hundreds of adult male crossers from the Middle East, Asia and Africa

Large groups of migrants in Lukeville, Arizona. The Tucson Sector saw 17,500 encounters in a single week, its highest weekly total ever recorded

Chief Patrol Agent John Modlin, who operates in the Tucson Sector in Arizona, told investigators that the amount of migrants 'giving up' and handing themselves over to agents is in the hundreds.

Modlin said that due to the frequency of 'large give up groups,' it is 'not uncommon now to see a group of 200 to 300 people giving themselves up, and theyre doing it in some of the most remote areas.'

As a result, it is 'saturating' border patrol agents in the field and pulling a lot of resources to those areas, he said during a July deposition.

Migrant encounters at the open southern border hit their highest ever single day total last Tuesday, as an astounding 12,000 people flooded across the border into the US.

In the Tucson Sector specifically, a surge in migrant encounters has included hundreds of adult male crossers from the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The sector saw 17,500 encounters in a single week, its highest weekly total ever recorded.
Speaker Mike Johnson exited a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seemingly unswayed on the urgency of the need for aid, insisting no U.S. dollars would pass over without adequate U.S. border provisions.

'I reiterated to him that we stand with him and against Putin's brutal invasion,' the speaker said of their conversation.

But he added: 'I have asked the White House since the day that I was handed the gavel as speaker, and for clarity, we need a clear articulation of the strategy to allow Ukraine to win.'

Johnson then went on to blame Democrats for not being open enough to the border provisions Republicans demand in exchange for foreign aid.

'It is not the Houses issue right now, the issue is with the White House and the Senate, and I implore them to do their job,' the speaker said.

Johnson then launched into a diatribe on the importance of border security.

'What the Biden Administration seems to be asking for is billions of additional dollars with no appropriate oversight, no clear strategy to win, and none of the answers that I think the American people are owed,' Johnson went on.

'I have also made very clear from day one, that our first condition on any national security supplemental spending package is about our own national security first. The border is an absolute catastrophe.'

Congress seems poised to leave town for the year without a deal on foreign aid coming together. The Senate is looking to combine Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan aid together - and include border security. But that package is on ice now due to an impasse over border provisions.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters it would be 'practically impossible' to get Ukraine aid through Congress before the end of the year.

'Even though we reach an agreement, to craft it, get it through the Senate, get it through the House before Christmas,' McConnell said. 'Doesnt mean its not important.'

Kyiv, Ukraine: Local residents remove items from their home, which were destroyed by the Russian missile attack on December 11

Meanwhile Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he had called Johnson and asked him to keep the House in session. But Johnson said he would not do that without a clear path forward.

'I dont know what else to do. Im not going to have everybody sit here through Christmas twiddling their thumbs,' he said.

'Were willing to work. The House members will work. Weve shown that over and over and over, but were not getting any cooperation from the White House and the Senate Democrats at all,' Johnson told radio host Hugh Hewitt this morning.

Meanwhile Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded for 'life and death' aid to continue his country's fight against Russia, telling senators at a closed briefing his citizens would resort to 'guerilla war' if needed and support dries up.

The president met with Senate leaders, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and pitched an all senators briefing in an extraordinary lobbying push amid declining support for the Biden administration's policy of bolstering Ukraine's defense.

'The president did mention at some point in time guerrilla warfare, if he doesn't get the kind of support  if it degraded [to] that point,' Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson told a group of reporters after the meeting.

'I mean, Putin would be facing a long term guerrilla war in whatever parts of Ukraine you'd occupy that can't be particularly attractive for him,' he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) walks with US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) and US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (L). He met with senators and House Speaker Mike Johnson to plead for continued US support

Biden has proposed a $61 billion aid package, but Republicans in the House and Senate are rallying around a demand require border policy changes. They note that Biden included Border requests in his request for supplemental emergency funds.

'I know that everybody wants Ukraine to win. I just don't see that in the cards,' said Johnson, in some of the more pessimistic comments to come out of the meeting. 'As evil as [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is, as violated as Ukraine is, you have to look at the reality of the situation. Ukraine can't do what it would need to do to bring Russia to her knees,' he said.

He said if lawmakers 'really think this is such a huge point in history and so vital to provide Ukraine [$61 billion] worth of aid, they have to look at the clear and present danger of our unsecure border or open border and fix that. We'd be doing them enormous political favor for just forced them to do that.'

'It boggles my mind that they don't understand how dangerous this is for America to have that open border and truthfully what a political liability it is. There's a deal to be done here,' he added.

The two issues are now firmly linked. 'There's not going to be any help for Ukraine if we don't have a border agreement,' said Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), calling on pro-Ukraine Democrats to 'be speaking the strongest' for a border deal.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who has been a cheerleader for Ukraine support, was more optimistic  but also made his own call for the border aid push.

'I mean they're not losing the war. They're going to do really well with our help,' he said. 'I told President Zelensky, I've never been more worried about a 9/11 than I am now. The FBI director warned us that we have a combination that's lethal.'

Zelensky told senators Ukrainians would fight a guerilla war against Russia if they had to and if large scale US support stopped

He said a 'rogue's gallery of terrorist groups want to hit America because we're helping Israel and he's worried about the status of the border.'

'We're miles apart,' said Graham. 'The only reason we don't have a deal is they're refusing to make the policy changes that will gain control of the border.'

Graham said the Ukrainians weren't giving up. 'They'll fight to the last person. This is going for decades,' he said.

Grassley also invoked guerilla war when asked by DailyMail.com about the worst case scenario for Ukraine if U.S. support dried up.

'You'll have instead of having people at the front lines fighting, you're going to have Ukrainians operating a guerilla warfare.'

'Of course that's not okay,' he said, asked about that potential outcome.

President Biden indicated a willingness to reach an accommodation with Republicans on border funding, but Republicans say the administration won't bend on their push for policy wins. The Biden administration says stocks that the US is able to supply to Ukraine are running low.

'The day we get those policy changes. We'll get a big vote in the Senate and I think enough in the House,' Graham predicted.

As for the Ukrainians, 'they'll keep fighting forever, but they need not only the money and the aid we're going to give them. They need more weapons, longer range weapons,' he said.

Zelensky, who has pleaded for aid at foreign capitals around the globe, continues to make urgent requests.

'Its a matter of life and death for Ukraine,' a senior advisor told the Washington Post, describing his pitch. 'Time is of the essence: Thats the message.'

Retiring Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said he thinks the administration understands 'there has to be policy changes' on border policy. And he said Congress should stay in town until the Ukraine / border problem is resolved.

'I don't think we should leave until we get this,' he said.
Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley will be endorsed by New Hampshire's popular GOP Gov. Chris Sununu at an event in Manchester Tuesday night.

Sununu's endorsement comes as the former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor tries to position herself as the top Trump-alternative in the narrowing 2024 GOP field.

Standing in her way is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who she's leapfrogged in New Hampshire but still leads Haley in Iowa polls.

National polling still has DeSantis narrowly ahead of Haley, but the gap is closing.

DeSantis was previously endorsed by Iowa's popular Gov. Kim Reynolds, with Haley trying to echo that with Sununu's plug in New Hampshire.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley (left) will be endorsed by New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (right) in Manchester Tuesday night as she seeks to become the GOP's top Trump-alternative in the 2024 primary race

Nikki Haley posted to X Tuesday that it was going to be a 'great day in New Hampshire with Gov. Chris Sununu' after the news broke that she was gaining his endorsement

Sununu announced in June that he wouldn't seek the White House and in July that he wouldn't run for reelection after serving four terms as the Granite State's governor.

The moves allowed him to dedicate his time to finding a Trump replacement, as he has argued that the ex-president needs to go.

'Republicans will lose again,' he predicted in a June op-ed for The Washington Post.

'We must not be complacent, and candidates should not get into this race to further a vanity campaign, to sell books or to audition to serve as Donald Trump's vice president,' he wrote.

'Since 2017, the national Republican Party has lost up and down the ballot, in red states and in blue states, and in elections spanning the House, Senate and presidency,' he continued. 'That will happen again unless we Republicans undergo a course correction.'

Sununu also memorably called Trump 'f***ing crazy' during the annual Gridiron Dinner in Washington in 2022.

The Post was first to report on Sununu's upcoming Haley endorsement.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (left) stands alongside Nikki Haley (right) at a campaign stop in Hooksett late last month. Sununu has been shopping for a Republican candidate to take on Trump in a two-way primary race

Sununu has argued that the GOP field simply needs to narrow in order for Trump to lose.

It's unclear if he'll call on the remaining viable candidates - DeSantis, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy - to drop out when he makes his appearance with Haley Tuesday night.

But during a September appearance at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, the governor said candidates should get out of the race 'hopefully before Super Tuesday.'

The Iowa caucuses will be held on January 15 while the New Hampshire primary is January 23. Super Tuesday next year comes on March 5.

'The candidates need the discipline and responsibility to get out,' Sununu said. 'Because one-on-one he loses, there's no question about that. He will not retain 50 percent of the vote if it's one-on-one ... if seven or eight candidates have the discipline to get out, he's toast.'

Sununu's appearance with Haley in Manchester Tuesday night will come around the same time DeSantis is headlining a CNN town hall with Iowa voters.

In a statement to DailyMail.com a spokesperson for Christie, who's focused heavily on winning New Hampshire, shrugged at Sununu's endorsement of Haley.

'We have seen the reports of Governor Sununu's decision to endorse Nikki Haley. This puts us down one vote in New Hampshire and when Governor Christie is back in Londonderry tomorrow, he'll continue to tell the unvarnished truth about Donald Trump and earn that one missing vote and thousands more,' Christie spokesperson Karl Rickett said.
President Joe Biden issued a stunning rebuke of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning Israel is losing support across the globe and its conservative government needs to 'change'.

In a surprise move Biden ramped up pressure on Israel to rein in its bombing campaign in Gaza with his most scathing criticism since the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas.

Biden also accused Israel of not wanting a long-term two-state solution, which would give Palestinians their own nation, but said it must happen.

The rupture between Washington and Tel Aviv came amid a growing civilian death toll in Gaza as Israeli forces search for Hamas terrorists, and as Biden faces calls from his own party and allies to seek a ceasefire.

Speaking at a closed-door political fundraiser in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, Biden said: 'They're starting to lose that support by indiscriminate bombing that takes place.

President Joe Biden issued his harshest criticism to date against Israel - above Biden with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv in October

'I think he has to change, and with this government, this government in Israel is making it very difficult for him to move. Bibi's got a tough decision to make. This is the most conservative government in Israel's history.'

Biden said the Israeli government 'doesn't want a two-state solution' but that, ultimately, 'can't say no' to a Palestinian state.

He said: 'We have an opportunity to begin to unite the region...and they still want to do it. But we have to make sure that Bibi understands that he's got to make some moves to strengthen...you cannot say 'no Palestinian state'...That's going to be the hard part.'

Biden issued his blunt warning hours after Netanyahu flatly rejected American plans for the future of the region.

Netanyahu ruled out any later role for the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority in Gaza, which Washington wants to see, opening up a divide between the allies.

'There is disagreement about 'the day after Hamas,' Netanyahu said in a video statement posted on social media, 'and I hope that we will reach agreement here, as well.

'After the great sacrifice of our civilians and our soldiers, I will not allow the entry into Gaza of those who educate for terrorism, support terrorism and finance terrorism,' Netanyahu said. 'Gaza will be neither Hamastan nor Fatahstan.'

President Joe Biden is greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport, on Oct. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv.

Palestinians look for survivors of the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023

Patients from Gaza arrive in Ankara, Turkey on December 12, 2023

Israel has retaliated hard against Hamas since the terrorist group attacked on October 7th. But many nations are expressing concern about the number of Palestinian civilians being killed as Israel bombs Gaza.

Nearly 16,000 Palestinians have been killed and most of Gaza's 2.3 million inhabitants have been displaced since the war began.

Damage also has been considerable. Nearly 40,000 buildings or about 18% of all pre-conflict structures have been damaged or destroyed in the Gaza Strip, a U.N. assessment showed on Tuesday.

With little aid allowed into Gaza, Palestinians face severe food shortages along with a lack of water and other basic goods. Some worry that Palestinians will be forced out of the territory altogether.

About 1,300 people on the Israeli side have died since the war began. Israel says Hamas still has 117 hostages and the remains of 20 people who died in while in captivity or during the initial attack.

Biden's remarks came after he invited family members of Americans taken hostage by Hamas to a meeting at the White House on Wednesday after some were declined an invitation to a menorah lighting ceremony.

It will be Biden's first in-person meeting with them since the Israeli Americans were kidnapped on October 7 during the attacks in Israel.

The meeting invite came after several family members had asked to attend a Hanukkah reception at the White House on Monday night but never received invitations, the father of one missing Israeli American told CNN.

'We're not going to stop until every hostage is returned home,' Biden told donors in Washington on Friday, saying the U.S. commitment to Israel is 'unshakable'.

Several family members have been camped outside the White House in Lafayette Square where, on Tuesday, they attempted to stage a holiday meal on a picnic blanket on the sidewalk outside the residence to demonstrate the missing places that will be at their tables over the holidays.

People search through the rubble of damaged buildings following an Israeli air strike on Palestinian houses, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas

President Joe Biden is encouraging Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) to change his strategy

Smoke rises over Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from southern Israel

Eight Americans - seven men and one woman - are still believed to be held hostage after being taken captive since Hamas unleashed its surprise attack on Israeli. Four Americans, including a 4-year-old girl and three women, were released as part of a U.S.-negotiated cease-fire that was brokered with the assistance of Qatar and Egypt.

It's unclear how many families will attend Wednesday's meeting with the president and some may appear virtually, a White House official told NBC News.

Biden has spoken with some family members over zoom. Other senior administration officials have met wth some family members in person, including National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Family members have expressed their frustration with the slow pace Israeli Americans are being released. The White House has said that at least 31 Americans were killed by Hamas and other militant groups on Oct. 7.

Administration officials have said repeatedly they remain in close contact with their Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian counterparts about the situation after the truce that allowed for some hostages to be released was broken.

Sullivan blamed Hamas for the breakdown of the Nov. 24 to Dec. 1 truce because the militants refused to release more hostages.

'Hamas to this day continues to hold women, elderly people, civilians in significant numbers. And yet still, it's saying, Hey, how about everybody just stops. So we believe that Israel has the right to defend itself,' he said a Wall Street Journal forum.

He said during his upcoming visit to Israel he will discuss with Israeli officials their timetable for the war in Gaza.

'The subject of how they are seeing the timetable of this war will certainly be on the agenda for my meetings,' said Sullivan, who is expected to travel later this week.

Meanwhile, Ruby Chen, whose son Itay is a reservist missing since Hamas' attack on Israel, told CNN a number of the families were in Washington, DC, this week, and had asked the White House about attending the Hanukkah reception but were not invited.

The reception, which celebrated the fifth night of Hanukkah, featured some 800 guests, according to the White House, including Holocaust survivors, lawmakers and various Jewish leaders.

Community of Jewish groups gather outside of the White House during the fifth night of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights

At that event, Biden touted the work his administration has been doing to try to secure the release of the remaining hostages and to get humanitarian aid into Gaza.

He said he had spent 'probably up to 20 hours' working with Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials.

'There's a whole range of things going on now that are really very, very difficult,' Biden said. 'We've gotten more than 100 hostages out and we're not going to stop till we get every one of them home.'

But the White House also has said they don't have any specific news to share.

'We're not close to inking another deal on a humanitarian pause and nor do I have any news to break here today about the return of hostages, either ours or those of many other countries that are being held hostage,' spokesman John Kirby said last week.

'We're still trying to get as much information as we can about the hostages that are being held. We have some information, as I said before, on some of the hostages because their families are talking to us. And that's been a terrific source of information and context,' he added.

'We have less information on others, but not for lack of trying.'
Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Andrew Harper, has found love again four years after her husband was killed in the line of duty.

PC Andrew Harper, 28, died on August 15, 2019, when he was dragged beneath the wheels of a car for a mile near Sulhamstead, Berkshire.

The PC had been married for less than a month when he died and his widow has since tirelessly campaigned for stronger laws in his memory.

Today, Mrs Harper was recognised for her services for victims of violent crime and their families, receiving an MBE at Windsor Castle, supported by her parents and her new partner, Dan Terry - who is also an emergency worker.

Mr Terry was first pictured alongside Mrs Harper on November 22 last year but the couple appear to have kept their relationship out of the spotlight.

Lissie Harper, the widow of slain PC Andrew Harper, has found love again with Dan Terry (pictured together) four years after her husband was killed in the line of duty

Lissie Harper smiled today as King Charles awarded her an MBE medal at Windsor Castle

Lissie and PC Andrew Harper, 28, had been together for 13 years before marrying on July 18, 2019. They were due to go on their honeymoon just hours after the end of PC Harper's shift on August 15 when he was killed in the line of duty

Speaking about her new romance on the podcast The Stigma of Grief, Mrs Harper revealed she felt pressure to be seen as grieving but feels it's important to live again.

She said: 'There's this expectation to be this figure, the grieving widow... like we're expected to wear black for the rest of our lives and sit and mourn. It's not sustainable... and it's not fair.

'And although some people resign themselves to being alone forever, that's not the case for me.

'It's normal to feel scared and wonder if you're doing the right thing. It's a common feeling of do I deserve to feel happy again? Am I betraying the person I love who isn't here?

'I think probably most of the people who sadly aren't with us would want their loved ones to find happiness again.

'It's not going to be the same, it's not going to be better or worse, it's just going to be different and that's been really important for me to find that again. There's no right or wrong time, no matter what anyone else says.'

Mrs Harper, from Oxford, admitted her first date with the 999 worker felt 'strange' after being with her husband for 13 years.

'You become a different person when you go through something like this,' she added.

'You kind of grow out of the person you were before because you have no choice.'

Lissie Harper was supported by her partner and parents as she received her MBE

King Charles shook Mrs Harper's hand at the Windsor Castle ceremony

Mrs Harper's husband PC Andrew Harper, who worked for Thames Valley Police, was killed while responding to a bike theft by three teenagers in Berkshire in August 2019

Lissie Harper has been recognised for her services to victims of violent crime

Lissie Harper is pictured here with her hero husband PC Andrew Harper who was killed while he was on duty shortly after the couple were married in 2019

PC Harper's death happened just hours before he was due to clock off and begin his honeymoon with his new wife.

PC Andrew Harper, who worked for Thames Valley Police, had been part of the road policing unit for just six weeks when he was killed while responding to a bike theft by three teenagers.

He was caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a winding country road, leading to his death.

His widow successfully campaigned for Harper's Law, which has extended mandatory life sentences to anyone who commits the manslaughter of an emergency worker on duty.

READ MORE - Widow of slain PC Andrew Harper is dating another emergency worker more than four years after he was killed Advertisement

The law was proposed by Mrs Harper to the Government in reaction to the prison sentences handed to the three teenagers responsible for his death.

Henry Long, 19, was sentenced to 16 years and 18-year-olds Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were handed 13 years in custody for manslaughter at the Old Bailey, but all three were cleared of murder by the jury.

Mrs Harper's quest to change the law came 'in the midst of grief and incomprehensible loss', and was backed by the likes of the then-Home Secretary Priti Patel and then-Justice Secretary Dominic Raab.

Harper's Law came into effect last June, and applies to police, prison officers, firefighters and paramedics.

When the legislation became law, she said: 'I will never be rid of the hollowness that the burden of grief inflicts, but I know without hesitation that my husband Andrew would be immensely proud of this achievement in his name.

'Andrew believed in fairness and peace - he had the strongest moral compass of anyone I ever met and that is why I know without a shadow of a doubt that he is smiling down at me with pride and love as Harper's Law, his legacy is now achieved.'

Actress Vicky McClure and politician Michael Fabricant are among the other notable names to be recognised for honours.

Mrs Harper successfully campaigned for Harper's Law, which has extended mandatory life sentences to anyone who commits the manslaughter of an emergency worker on duty

McClure, best known for playing Detective Inspector Kate Fleming in the BBC series Line Of Duty, will be made an MBE for her services to drama and charity.

The 40-year-old first rose to prominence playing the cool and easy-going Lol Jenkins in the 2006 film This Is England and its subsequent TV follow-up series.

She was nominated for a Bafta Television award for best supporting actress in 2015, and a National Television Award for drama performance in 2021.

McClure has been an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society since 2018 and has raised awareness around the disease through her creation of Our Dementia Choir.

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant will become a knight after being named on former prime minister Boris Johnson's resignation honours lists.

Sir Michael, 73, has been an MP for more than 30 years and won his Lichfield constituency by a majority of more than 23,000 at the 2019 general election.

He served as the vice chair of the party between 2012 and 2014.

On Monday Sir Michael said he would be voting for the Government's controversial Rwanda Bill, indicating he would push for changes as the legislation passed through the Commons.
A transgender author has celebrated his throuple life as he shared snaps of himself with his trans girlfriend and trans wife - who also has her own trans girlfriend.

Rowan Jette Knox, 47, formerly known as Amanda Jette Knox, announced on his social media in August that he was 're-introducing' himself as a trans man.

The Toronto-based writer and activist, who started taking testosterone earlier this year, followed in the footsteps of his husband-turned-wife and son-turned-daughter.

Responding to a prompt on Threads to post his significant other, Knox wrote: 'Ok I have two though. Polyamory spoils me,' alongside two dashing photos with his smiling trans wife, Zoe, and trans girlfriend, Dani.

Posting a recent update on his hormone changes, Knox said: 'So heres me at 47 years old, six weeks into my medical transition.

Rowan with his trans girlfriend, Dani. He wrote 'polyamory spoils me'

Rowan with his trans wife, Zoe. Knox has been open on social media about his life changes, as well as his untraditional living arrangements

'Im slowly starting to look like the guy I always knew I was deep down and well, its everything, really.'

He also made note of his intense hunger and now that his body is adapting to male hormones - writing in all capitals: 'Why am I hungry all the time.'

Knox has been open on social media about his life changes, as well as his untraditional living arrangements.

After sharing the selfies with his partners, he said: 'I always lose followers when I mention I'm polyamorous.

'Being trans is fine, apparently, but having two consensual romantic relationships where my partners are great friends and we all live together and our house is full of love is BAD BAD ICKY WRONG BYE.'

Knox's husband, previously his wife, is also trans. The couple, parents to a trans daughter, enjoy a four-way open polyamorous relationship with another transgender couple, who they also live with.

Knox's wife Zoe was previously known as Mark, but came out as transgender in July 2015, after 19 years of marriage.

The pair's daughter Alexis revealed that she was transgender in early 2014.

Rowan says he too was born in the wrong body, but that it took a long time to come to terms with his true gender.

Rowan and Zoe live with their transgender partners Dani and Dame in the same Toronto house. Dani and Dame are themselves a couple.

A polycule: Dani, Rowan, Zoe and Dame (from left to right) all live together in Toronto in a four-way relationship

Knox (second from left) and wife Zoe (third from left) are now in a polyamorous relationship with another trans couple, Dani (far left) and Dame, and live together at a newly purchased home in Toronto

He describes the unusual relationship as a 'polycule.' He previously shared his delight at realizing he was non-binary before coming out as transgender and told PinkNews: 'Trans joy is infectious'.

Speaking about starting testosterone, he told his followers: 'The only way I can describe it is: the hormones in my body feel right for the first time in my life and it changes absolutely everything. The noise in my head has quieted. I am at peace.'

Knox wrote about first meeting Dani last year after reaching out to her for advice about his own experiences during that troubled time - and the two, according to Knox, 'bonded immediately in a way I rarely do these days.'

Previously praising Alexis for showing Zoe how 'to be brave like her by example,' Knox, in the meantime, has continued to post about the family's unique experiences, ramping up his presence in recent months as he too revealed he was transgender.

Provided in a post to his Instagram account over the summer, the writer's revelation read: 'It is with joy, relief, and a fair amount of anxiety that I am re-introducing myself to you as Rowan Jette Knox.

Knox's daughter, Alexis (seen here at age 11), became the first in the family to come out as trans - doing so publicly in the form of a Microsoft funded video series featured her then-mother (right) and new mom Zoe (not pictured) in supportive roles

Knox's most recent book, One Sunny Afternoon, is a memoir of 'trauma and healing.' It was released by Penguin Random House in September

'I am a trans man, am medically transitioning, and will be exclusively using he/him pronouns going forward.'

Now, after more than a month on testosterone, he posts about mundane things such as using the men's restroom and his hair, while continuing the comment on the renewed backlash she's faced over the past few months.

He recently wrote: 'I have a happy personal story to wrap up the week: My wife and I just signed the papers to sell our home.

'Im trans and havent legally changed my name yet. Our lawyer, whos known us for a decade, put a declaration into the contract where he certified I am the same person as the one on the title.'

He went on to reveal how 'he just did it... because... that allowed me to sign everything as Rowan.'

Knox's most recent book, One Sunny Afternoon, is a memoir of 'trauma and healing.' It was released by Penguin Random House in September.
A dog walker was left shocked after he spotted a fin belonging to a large shark that was swimming just metres away from the shore.

David Rogers, 55, made the discovery in the water off Southampton, Hampshire, and initially thought he was being pranked by someone wearing a fake shark fin.

He was walking his miniature schnauzer Luna along the shoreline at around midday on Saturday when he spotted the fin poking out of the water.

Referencing the 1975 film Jaws, the builder said: 'I just thought: "I'm going to need a bigger boat."

'I'm certainly not going skinny dipping anymore, I will tell you that.'

David Rogers, 55, was walking his miniature schnauzer Luna along the shoreline at around midday on Saturday when he spotted a large fin poking out of the water

Mr Rogers sent photos of the encounter to his partner Vicky Siou, 48, who thought it was a wind-up

Mr Rogers, from Warsash, Southampton, said the mystery shark was 15 to 20 metres away from the shore.

He said: 'It was just hovering.

'It couldn't have been a dolphin, because they are quite active and the fin was too large.'

Mr Rogers said that after watching the large fish for five minutes he soon realised it was real.

He sent photos of the encounter to his partner Vicky Siou, 48, who thought it was a wind-up.

She said: 'I was dead jealous, in fact, I'm thinking of going back and walking there myself to see if I can see it.'

The couple did their own research and spoke to Vicky's father Richard Cannon, 75, who is an avid wildlife photographer, to work out what type of shark it was.

Mr Rogers from Warsash, Southampton, said the mystery shark was 15 to 20 metres away from the shore

Mr Rogers initially thought the fin belonged to a killer whale or a great white shark due to its size but was told that it was likely to be that of a harmless basking shark (pictured)

Miniature schnauzer Luna. Mr Rogers spotted the fish near the Solent Breezes Holiday Park and said: 'It was right where Southampton Water goes into the Solent, so it must have been there swimming and came a bit closer to shore'

Mr Rogers initially thought the fin belonged to a killer whale or a great white shark due to its size but was told that it was likely to be that of a harmless basking shark.

Basking sharks are the second largest species of fish on the planet, behind the whale shark, and they often frequent British coastal waters.

Despite being the largest shark breed in the UK, they pose little risk to humans and feed on the plankton that they filter out of the water.

Mr Rogers spotted the fish near the Solent Breezes Holiday Park and said: 'It was right where Southampton Water goes into the Solent, so it must have been there swimming and came a bit closer to shore.'

His estate agent partner added: 'I'm not a huge fan of the sea because of the things normally swimming in it - but you certainly won't catch me in it now!'
Rishi Sunak headed off a Tory mutiny over his flagship Rwanda scheme tonight - but was warned he could face another debilitating rebellion in the New Year as MPs plot to 'kill' the legislation.

After a day of arm-twisting by Conservative whips and the Prime Minister himself, MPs in the Commons voted by 313 votes to 269 - a majority of 44 - to approve the principle of the Safety of Rwanda Bill.

The legislation aims to revive the flagship deportation policy after it was ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court last month.

However, Right-wingers warned that they were ready to 'kill' the legislation in the New Year unless the PM agreed to their demands to toughen it up.

A rebel source said: 'This Bill has been allowed to live another day. But without amendments, it will be killed next month. It's now up to the Government to decide what it wants to do.'

But former deputy PM Damian Green, part of the moderate One Nation group of Tories, told Sky News: 'It wasn't just a win, it was quite a big win,' adding there was 'less opposition than people were expecting'.

With the clock ticking down to the votes, Mr Sunak was told the so-called 'five families' of MPs on the Tory right would not back the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill. However, the Commons list shows none rejected the Bill outright, with all instead opting to abstain in the hope of amending the legislation at a later date.

Some 29 seem to have deliberately sat out the division, including Suella Braverman and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick. A couple look to have concluded that the measures are too harsh.

According to the Telegraph, those who abstained in the vote did not gain permission from party managers, prompting concerns that there would be enough Tory rebels in future debates.

Figures are not certain as some MPs had other reasons for not voting, such as illness. It would have needed around 29 Tories voting against or 57 abstentions to overturn the government majority.

In reality the figure would have had to be higher as five independents supported the party line. They included ex-Tory Peter Bone, who has just returned from being suspended from the House.

A defeat on the totemic policy could well have been terminal for Mr Sunak - although he still faces a massive test to push the legislation through the rest of the Parliamentary process.

It came as:

Sir Keir Starmer said Labour would scrap the Rwanda scheme even if it was working, describing it as a 'gimmick';

Climate minister Graham Stuart was forced to make a 7,000-mile round trip from the Cop summit in Dubai to vote, clocking up more than three tons in carbon emissions;

A Home Office dossier insisted the Government can state 'with confidence' that Rwanda is safe and the Supreme Court's objections to the asylum scheme have been neutralised;

Labour claimed that the cost of the Rwanda scheme is set to rise to almost 400million;

Former Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, said immigration laws should be tightened so migrants can be removed within a fortnight, limiting them to just 'one right of appeal';

The apparent suicide of an asylum seeker on the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset placed new pressure on ministers over asylum policy;

A poll found that just 1 per cent of the public believe the Rwanda legislation will succeed in completely stopping illegal Channel crossings.

Rishi Sunak seemed to be breathing a sigh of relief as he was driven away from Parliament tonight

The emergency legislation intended to get Rwanda deportation flights up and running passed its first hurdle in the Commons by 313 to 269 - a majority of 44

Posting on social media after the announcement, Mr Sunak said he can 'deliver' on his vow to Stop the Boats

Tory MPs sitting on the top left of the picture as the division took place appeared to be abstaining

The government had a relatively comfortable margin of 44 in the second reading vote

Any attempt to harden the Bill - even if Mr Sunak were minded to do so - would provoke howls of protest from the One Nation wing of the party. Moderates have already been voicing disquiet at the measures to loosen human rights rules. Ex-Cabinet minister Damian Green told Sky News that the law 'goes right to the edge of what is acceptable'

Celebrating his win after a tense day Mr Sunak was seen hugging Simon Hart - the chief whip - just seconds after the victory was made.

Posting on social media after the announcement shortly after, Mr Sunak said: 'The British people should decide who gets to come to this country  not criminal gangs or foreign courts.

Who were the Tory abstentions? An analysis of the Commons voting list reveals there were 29 likely Tory abstentions on the Second Reading of the Rwanda Bill. They were: Sir Jake Berry Suella Braverman Sir Bill Cash Miriam Cates Rehman Chishti Simon Clarke Theo Clarke Sarah Dines Richard Drax Sir James Duddridge Tobias Ellwood Natalie Elphicke Mark Francois Chris Green Jonathan Gullis Sir John Hayes Adam Holloway Tom Hunt Robert Jenrick Dr Caroline Johnson David Jones Danny Kruger Marco Longhi Craig Mackinlay Stephen McPartland Robin Millar Jill Mortimer Jesse Norman Sir John Redwood Advertisement

'That's what this Bill delivers. We will now work to make it law so that we can get flights going to Rwanda and stop the boats.'

Policing minister Chris Philp was sent out on media tonight to hail the 'pretty solid' majority.

Before the vote, Mark Francois, the chair of the European Research Group, said: 'We have decided collectively that we cannot support the Bill tonight because of its many omissions.'

He added that Sir Bill Cash, the senior Conservative backbencher, was expected to come forward with proposals to toughen the Bill in the coming weeks.

'The Prime Minister has been telling colleagues today he is prepared to entertain tightening the Bill,' Mr Francois added.

'We very much hope... those amendments may yet be accepted. If they are not and the Bill remains unamended again, collectively, we agreed to reserve the right to vote against it at Third Reading.'

One former minister who had been pushing for the Bill to be bolstered predicted that it will 'just about get through'.

However, hardliners have been incensed by the government's tactics during a frantic day of coaxing and strong-arming.

One senior right-winger told MailOnline that whips were 'winding people up' by being 'on transmit rather than receive'.

Even though the Bill has cleared its second reading - typically a straightforward stage - Mr Sunak will still face a stormy ride later in the process as amendments are tabled.

Despite voting to support the Bill, former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said he could always rescind his backing at a later date.

He said: 'We always reserve the right to do what we have to do when we think it doesn't work, my personal view is I want to see the Government listen and engage.

'Right now this was a very difficult Bill to get through, very contentious, it was the toughest bit of legislation concerning people's rights, in terms of asylum seekers, that we've seen, and that's because the crisis is big and many people are dying in the channel.

'It's happening all over Europe  France is in defiance of the European court, sending people back.

'Denmark passed legislation to send people back, Sweden is doing the same, Germany is in turmoil, Italy is talking about defying the court  this is not just the UK.

'It's part of the problem that all around Europe we're facing, so this is the issue here on our island and we have to resolve it, otherwise it creates chaos.'

Mr Jenrick led Tory opposition to the legislation during a bad-tempered Commons debate this afternoon.

The MP, who plunged the PM into chaos by quitting as immigration minister last week, branded parts of the emergency legislation 'sophistry' and warned it will not work.

He said that tougher action is needed because 'the public are watching' and will not tolerate failure.

Labour is claiming that the UK is now set to hand the African nation 400million after Home Secretary James Cleverly confirmed another 50million is due next year.

But Mr Cleverly mounted a robust defence in the House, saying the government is determined to 'stop the boats' and 'that is what voting for this legislation means'.

Mr Sunak was facing arguably the biggest test of his premiership as the day kicked off.

An hour-long breakfast summit at No10 - where potential rebels including Lee Anderson, the Conservative deputy chairman, Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger were served bacon rolls - failed to break the deadlock this morning.

In a sign of alarm among Tory whips, Net Zero minister Graham Stuart was dragged back from the COP28 summit in Abu Dhabi to vote, before heading back to the Middle East in a near-7,000 mile round trip.

MPs on one Commons committee were ordered to cancel a Caribbean visit in order to take part in the showdown.

Mark Francois, the chair of the European Research Group, said MPs on the Tory right were withholding support for the Rwanda legislation

Robert Jenrick led Tory attacks on Rishi Sunak's Rwanda plans today during a bad-tempered Commons debate

Home Secretary James Cleverly mounted a robust defence, saying the government is determined to 'stop the boats' and 'that is what voting for this legislation means'

Mr Sunak seemed in good spirits as he was spotted outside Downing Street earlier

A Commons defeat today would have marked the first time that a Government had failed to get legislation past a first reading since 1986, when Margaret Thatcher wanted to scrap restrictive Sunday trading laws.

Mr Sunak is said to have refused to give ground at the breakfast meeting. After the discussions he took to social media to insist that his party must 'back this bill'.

A No10 source stressed that the text as it stands had been 'drafted with close attention to detail' and flatly rejected suggestions that the Bill could be pulled.

The 'five families' trying to make Rishi an offer he cannot refuse The New Conservatives A right-wing traditionalist group led by evangelical Christians Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger. Its ranks are drawn mainly from MPs first elected in 2019, with a lot of Red Wall politicians including Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson involved. was only formed in May but has made headlines agitating for a more hardline party that is tough on immigration, pro-traditional families and strong in fighting the culture war. It has called for a hard cap on migrant numbers. European Research Group An older Brexiteeer group on the right of the party which came to the fore during the Brexit years under Jacob Rees-Mogg. It played a key role in organising opposition to Theresa May and has continued to be a thorn in the side of the Government when it wants to be. Led now by Mark Francois it has convened a 'star chamber' led by veteran eurosceptic Bill cash to run the rule over the Rwanda law. Common Sense Group Another informal group on the right led by Suella Braverman ally Sir John Hayes and Sir Edward Leigh. In 2021 it backed a 'Britain Uncancelled' campaign with Sir John launching a blistering attack on statue-toppling, politically correct woke warriors, and demanded to know why Whitehall departments granted 'huge sums of money' to groups that were 'entirely hostile to British values of fairness, open-mindedness, mutual respect and reasonableness'. One Nation Caucus A group of more than 100 MPs on the moderate wing of the party. It has described leaving the ECHR as a red line for its members. It is said to be unhappy at the law giving ministers unilateral plans to brand Rwanda as 'safe' and over-rule human rights laws and may yet refuse to back the new law in Parliament. Northern Research Group A group founded by ex-Tory chairman Sir Jake Berry to represent Conservatives in seats in the north of England, many of which switched from Labour for the first time at the last election. Less openly ideological than some of the other groups, but regards immigration as a key issue for its voters. Advertisement

Some right-wingers are concerned that Labour will abstain if the legislation gets to third reading, effectively robbing them of their opportunity to halt it.

No10 has been playing down the prospect of amending the Bill at a later stage, arguing that the text goes as far as possible without breaching international law.

A source said of Mr Sunak wooing his backbenchers this afternoon: 'He's talking to lots of people.

'No one is taking any votes for granted.

'We are keen to work with colleagues on this.'

But one senior right-winger told MailOnline: 'The government are going about this completely wrong.

'They are on transmit rather than receive, which is just winding people up.'

Another source claimed chief whip Simon Hart cancelled a meeting with rebellious MPs that had been due to happen at 5pm so he could hold an 'emergency meeting' with No10.

In the House, Mr Jenrick said: 'This is not a bad Bill but it is not the best Bill. I want this Bill to work.

'The test of this policy is not 'is it the strongest Bill we've done?', it's not 'is it a good compromise?', it's 'will it work?'.

'That is all the public care about. They don't care about Rwanda as a scheme, they care about stopping the boats. And we are sent here to do that for them.

'I will never elevate contested notions of international law over the interests of my constituents, over vital national interests like national security, like border security.

'This Bill could be so much better, let's make it better. Let's make it work.'

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper branded the proposal 'extortionately expensive' after she questioned whether ministers have made further commitments beyond the cash already spent on the grounded scheme.

The Home Office confirmed 240million has been paid to Rwanda so far with another payment of 50million anticipated in 2024/25.

No asylum seeker has been sent to Rwanda so far as flights remain grounded because of a series of legal setbacks.

The National Audit Office (NAO) will publish a report next year on the costs of the scheme so far and estimated spending in the future.

Former Cabinet ministers Dame Priti Patel, Ben Wallace and David Davis had been mobilised as Downing Street desperately worked to contain the chaos, delivering a stark message that defeat for Mr Sunak could collapse the Government and force a general election.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer twisted the knife as he delivered a speech earlier today, saying that Mr Sunak must go to the country if he lost tonight's vote.

MPs Neil O'Brien, Marco Longhi, Jill Mortimer, Lia Nici and Alexander Stafford were also seen arriving for the meeting in No10 this morning.

According to a Conservative MP who was there, Mr Sunak avoided telling them he would amend the legislation.

'I think a lot of colleagues are falsely putting their hopes on amendments and will end up missing the opportunity to kill the Bill,' they said.

He added that he expected the Labour Party to abstain on the Bill's third reading, meaning there would not be enough votes to block it even with a rebellion.

The MP said: 'Some colleagues are deluding themselves if they think that they will have another shot.'

A No10 source said: 'It was a very useful meeting to hear MPs thoughts and discuss their concerns. The bill has been drafted with close attention to detail, with colleagues input helping to shape the legislation,' the source said.

'The tests set for the bill have been met and we will continue to listen to and engage with colleagues across the party as it passes through parliament. This bill will work and will do what we need it to do.'

Kicking off the second reading debate in the House, Mr Cleverly said: 'This Government is stopping the boats. Arrivals are down by a third this year as illegal entries are on the rise elsewhere in Europe.'

He said small boat arrivals are up by 80 per cent in the Mediterranean but down by a third across the English Channel.

The Home Secretary outlined steps the Government has taken so far, saying: 'These things are having an impact, and a positive one.'

He said returns agreements and cooperation agreements had been signed with other countries, saying 50 hotels are being 'returned to the local communities', and said the asylum backlog has gone from 92,000 to less than 20,000.

He added: 'We have sent back 22,000 illegal migrants. And the UK's arrangement with Albania proves that deterrents work.'

As the whipping operation became increasingly frantic, the PM's official spokesman confirmed Mr Stuart had returned from COP28 to attend Parliament, but would then be going back to Dubai.

Asked about the carbon emissions from the flights, the spokesman said: 'This Government is not anti-flying. We don't lecture the public to that regard. The most important thing is the outcomes of Cop, which Minister Stuart is obviously leading for the UK on.

'Ministers have a number of roles, the negotiations continue and he will return to Cop.'

Tory MPs include Jonathan Gullis, Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger (left, second left third left) arrived at No10 this morning for talks with the PM

The Safety of Rwanda Bill has been drawn up in response to last month's Supreme Court ruling that sending Channel migrants to the east African state would be unlawful.

Only 1 per cent of Brits think Rwanda bill will stop Channel crossings Only 1 per cent of British voters believe that The Safety of Rwanda Bill will stop the boats, a YouGov poll has found. Meanwhile only 2 per cent of Conservative voters felt that the emergency legislation would completely stop the dangerous crossings. The survey of 2,001 voters, first reported in the Telegraph, revealed that nearly two-thirds thought the measures would not reduce the crossings. Those who backed the Tories in 2019 were the most optimistic, with 29 per cent backing the bill to reduce or stop the boats. But 60 per cent believed it would not. Advertisement

The court found that Rwanda's asylum system was potentially unsafe because there was a risk that migrants could be sent back to their home countries where they might be ill-treated.

Ministers signed a treaty with Rwanda last week stating that migrants sent from the UK will not be deported to their home countries.

Today's legislation would declare in law that Rwanda is safe, ruling out further court challenges to the principle of the scheme. It also excludes the plan from parts of the Human Rights Act.

But to the dismay of critics, individual migrants will still be able to lodge legal appeals.

An assessment by the ERG's 'star chamber' of lawyers said the new law does not go 'far enough to deliver the policy as intended'.

It warned it would be 'much easier' than the Government thinks for individual migrants to frustrate their removal  and said individual claims should be banned.

But Mr Sunak says strengthening the proposals by even 'an inch' would cause the Rwandan government to pull out, triggering the collapse of the scheme.

The 100-strong One Nation group of moderate MPs said it would back the Government. Chairman Damian Green said: 'The most important thing at this stage is to support the Bill despite our real concerns.'

It comes after the Home Office today published a summary of its official 'legal position' on the Rwanda plan in a sign of government jitters

The five-page summary attempted to knock down the case for tougher measures advocated by Tory MPs including former home secretary Suella Braverman.

The document warns that blocking the ability of migrants to bring legal action would be 'a breach of international law and alien to the UK's constitutional tradition of liberty and justice'.

It adds that even in wartime, access to courts was maintained 'in order that individuals can uphold their rights and freedoms'.

The document went on: 'This is a novel and contentious policy, and the UK and Rwanda are the first countries in the world to enact it together.

Rishi Sunak (pictured at Cabinet this morning) dramatically saw off a revolt on his Rwanda plan tonight as rebels baulked at prompting a full-blown crisis

'There are risks inherent in such an innovative approach but there is a clear lawful basis on which a responsible government may proceed.'

But the summary said moves to block every court challenge 'would mean that there would be no respectable argument that the Bill is compatible with international law'.

It added: 'It would also go against Rwanda's own explicit wishes that our partnership remains compliant with international law, and likely collapse the scheme.'

As a result, the Bill must allow very limited scope for migrants to bring legal challenges against being sent to Rwanda, based on 'wholly exceptional individual circumstances', it said.

The document predicted hardly any migrants would be able to lodge legal action under the 'exceptionally narrow' grounds for claims, such as very rare medical conditions.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'As the legal advice sets out, we think we have a tough and strong piece of legislation which will achieve our objectives.'
A US servicewoman killed a man after pulling her car out in front of his motorbike at a busy junction, a court heard today.

Airman first class Mikayla Hayes, 24, was driving home from RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk when she allegedly failed to spot Matthew Day approaching.

The father-of-one died from massive injuries after his Yamaha motorbike collided with Hayes' maroon Honda Accord on the 60mph A road.

The defendant, who denies causing death by careless driving, claims she didn't see Mr Day's red and white motorbike as it 'blended into the road and sky'.

Opening the case, prosecutor Rachel Scott said: 'The issue at the heart of this case is whether the defendant's driving fell below the standard expected of a careful and competent driver.

Airman first class Mikayla Hayes (pictured), 24, was driving home from RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk when she allegedly failed to spot Matthew Day approaching

The father-of-one (pictured) died from massive injuries after his Yamaha motorbike collided with Hayes' maroon Honda Accord on the 60mph A road

'The prosecution case is that there was no good reason why Miss Hayes should not have seen Mr Day's motorbike approaching her.

'Visibility was good, his approach was not hidden by the road layout or other vehicles. He was there to be seen and he was seen by other road users.'

Hayes was driving home to Downham Market in Norfolk when Mr Day, 33, struck her car in Southery and was 'thrown into the air' and killed on August 26 last year. He left behind a partner and a daughter who was two-years-old at the time.

A witness who was driving in front of Mr Day said he had been matching her speed which was 'well under 60mph'.

A second eye-witness who was on a motorbike behind Hayes as she waited to turn right from a B-road onto the A10 said he 'saw her head turning side to side' before she drove forward as Mr Day approached.

The jury at Norwich Crown Court was told another motorist who stopped at the scene went over to Hayes who 'kept saying "I didn't see him"'.

During a police interview, Hayes said she had been taking her 'normal route home'.

'She said she looked both ways and saw a clear passageway both left and right, looked again to make sure it was clear, then pulled out,' Miss Scott said.

The defendant, who denies causing death by careless driving, claims she didn't see Mr Day's red and white motorbike as it 'blended into the road (pictured)'

The jury at Norwich Crown Court was told another motorist who stopped at the scene went over to Hayes who 'kept saying "I didn't see him"' (pictured: a court sketch of Mikayla Hayes)

The defendant reported seeing Mr Day's motorbike when she was 'at the halfway point of her turn'.

Hayes was tested for drink and drugs and the results were negative. There was also no evidence she had been using her phone, Ms Scott said.

Mr Day had a low concentration of THC in his system, indicating he had used cannabis at some point before the fatal collision.

But Ms Scott added: 'The evidence doesn't suggest he failed to act appropriately when Miss Hayes pulled out in front of him.'

Experts for the defence and prosecution agree that 'nothing about the road, the weather or the driving conditions was a factor', the jury was told.

'They also agree that the main cause of the collision was Miss Hayes pulling out from a side road into the path of a motorbike that had priority,' Miss Scott said.

However, there is a disagreement on how many seconds there were between Hayes pulling out and the collision and how much time Mr Day had to react.

Ms Scott said: 'The prosecution case is that by pulling out too far, Mikayla Hayes did something that a careful and competent driver should not and would not have done.'

The trial continues.
The border crisis has a new victim-- US citizens who live near the border and legally cross from the US to Mexico on a regular basis.

With a surge of migrants illegally flooding into the US west of Lukeville, Arizona, US border officials have shut down the port of entry in town to legitimate traffic.

The Tucson area, which Lukeville is part of, has seen 17,500 encounters in a single week-- the highest weekly total ever recorded.

As thousands of migrants from around the world illegally slip into the nation by simply squeezing through openings in the border wall, federal agents at the port of entry have been sent to help understaffed Border Patrol officers handle the surge of unauthorized migrants.

The port of entry has been closed-- a move that will cost businesses in Arizona thousands of dollars a day as legal crossers scramble to figure out how they will get to work and school on either the US or Mexican side.

The humanitarian and growing economic crisis has prompted both US Senators from the Grand Canyon to call on President Biden to send National Guard troops in to re-open the port of entry.

Migrants from various Africa and Latin American nations walk towards the temporary processing center set up near Lukeville, Arizona after crossing illegally into the US from Mexico, as the number of migrants surges

Migrants wait to be processed and transported at a Border Patrol temporary processing center near Lukeville, Arizona, U.S. on December 12, 2023

In remote Lukeville, Arizona (some 2.5 hours from Tucson, the US Customs and Border Protection port of entry has been shut down due to a surge in illegal border crossings west of town

'For far too long, Arizona communities have paid the price for Washingtons failures on the border,' Arizona Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly said in a joint statement Tuesday.

'This decision is an unacceptable outcome that further destabilizes our border, risks the safety of our communities, and damages our economy. Our ports of entry are key drivers of economic growth and security in our state, and it is critical that they be properly staffed and resourced.'

The closure will hurt US citizens like Stephanie Fierro, 26 who lives in Arizona, but whose Mexican husband lives south of the border can't cross into the US.

We come and go every day, the eight-months pregnant mom told the New York Times.

She's hoping the port of entry opens so she can see her husband before their second child is born.

Port of entry agents in blue, assist Border Patrol agents in green, with processing migrants near Lukeville, Arizona

Migrants are body searched before boarding a bus at the temporary processing center after crossing the border wall into the U.S. from Mexico, as the number of migrants surges in the border town of Lukeville, Arizona

The US port of entry is closed last week due to an influx of migrants in Lukeville, Arizona

Gov. Katie Hobbs has also asked Pres. Biden to redirect some 200 National Guard members already in the Tucson area to Lukeville.

She has demanded $512 million from the federal government to repay what the state has spent on the border crisis.

Border Patrol agents are so overwhelmed in the remote desert hot spot-- some 2.5 hours from Tucson-- that they have used charter flights to transfer some migrants to El Paso, Texas and two other cities in the Lone Star State to process the border crossers.

Additionally, federal air marshals who usually guard commercial flights Federal Protective Service officers who guard U.S. government buildings, have been sent to the border, the Border Report revealed.

Over the summer, Lukeville became a popular crossing spot for migrants who were guided to open doors in the border wall by smugglers.

The gates were ordered to be welded open by top brass with the Border Patrol-- infuriating rank and file agents who could do nothing to stop masses of migrants brazenly walk through the open floodgates into America.

Some 55,224 migrants illegally crossed into the country through the Tucson area in October.

The region remains the busiest in the nations for migrant encounters, according the federal government.
A pedophile who 'couldn't wait' to rape a baby has been arrested after driving hundreds of miles to allegedly fulfil his sick fantasy.

Dennis Allen Gaal, 49, thought he was meeting a fellow pervert in a hotel room in Chattanooga, TN, to abuse a 10-month-old boy on Monday, police said.

He was instead ambushed by officers and charged with attempted child rape and two counts of attempted solicitation of a minor.

Gaal salivated over raping the infant and planned 'the best trip I've ever taken' from his home in Mississippi, according to an affidavit.

He even sent photos of five baby outfits and a rattle shaped like an elephant he promised to bring with him.

But as he spilled his disturbing criminal history and plans for the hotel room meeting, he was actually talking to an undercover FBI agent.

Dennis Allen Gaal, 49, thought he was meeting a fellow pervert in a hotel room in Chattanooga, TN, to abuse a 10-month-old boy on Monday, police said

The agent said he began talking to Gaal on November 12 when he joined a private Telegram group, an app he preferred 'for fear of being caught'.

He expressed sexual interest in boys aged zero to 12 - but they 'can be older if look younger', the affidavit alleged.

Gaal said he 'wouldn't hurt [the baby] but would love to play... Would love to see if it happens' after the agent dangled potential sexual contact with the infant.

'Looks like I may have to take a trip to Tennessee sometime soon,' he said.

Gaal gave the undercover agent his phone number and booked two rooms at the Hotel Chalet as they set up the meeting.

He told the agent his birthday was December 11 and he was keen to celebrate it with the sordid roadtrip.

'That sounds awesome. I can't wait. This is looking to be the best trip I've ever taken,' he said, according to the police document.

Gaal also bragged of his past abuse of several young children, claiming it all started with his two-year-old nephew.

He claimed to have also molested three boys aged two to four, and had a criminal record for abusing a child he babysat.

Court records show Gaal was jailed for 10 years after a trial on August 14 to 16, 2000, for sexually abusing a two year old boy.

His abuse was revealed after he confessed to a friend after she asked him if he had ever raped anyone and he responded that it depended on her definition of rape.

Gaal claimed the boy, despite being just two, was the one who made sexual advances towards him and asked to be molested.

Gaal was jailed for 10 years after a trial on August 14 to 16, 2000, for sexually abusing a two year old boy (pictured after his 1999 arrest)

The friend told Gaal if he didn't tell the boy's mother, she would - and followed through two weeks later.

The shocked mother asked her son if he had touched his babysitter's penis, to which he replied 'no mama, he's been doing it to me.'

'He put his ding-a-ling in my mouth and he made me put my ding-a-ling in his mouth and he peed on me,' the boy said, according to court documents.

The boy's mother and Gaal's friend confronted him along with the boy's father and other friends and family, where Gaal said 'I guess I'm guilty'.

However, he again claimed he was the victim and had 'allowed' the boy to perform oral sex on him.

The child's mother called police two days later on April 16, 1999, and he told officers even more horrifying things Gaal, whom he called 'spanky', did to him.

Gaal stuck to his story that the boy was the one who molested him, but a jury unanimously found him guilty.
President Joe Biden told Volodymyr Zelensky not to give up hope as he hosted the Ukrainian president at the White House on Tuesday as part of a pressure campaign to get Republicans in Congress to approve the funds needed for Kyiv to fight off Russian forces.

'I don't want you giving up hope,' Biden said to him in the Oval Office. 'We're going to stay at your side.'

Zelensky flew into Washington to advocate for an $61.4 billion that is being held up by Republicans on Capitol Hill who want to attach provisions tied to U.S. southern border security.

'People need to be confident that freedom will be secure and strong enough to win,' he said to Biden in the Oval.

President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House

And Biden warned Congress will give Russian President Vladimir Putin the 'greatest Christmas gift' ever if they don't approve more funding for Ukraine.

'Congress needs to pass a supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for holiday recess before they give Putin the greatest Christmas gift they could possibly give him,' Biden said.

The Ukrainian president spent the morning at the Capitol lobbying lawmakers but it may all be for not: Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell told his senators the talks are going no where.

McConnell, at a private Senate luncheon that took place shortly before Biden's meeting with Zelensky, said the talks will be punted to January, Punchbowl DC reported.

The move would be a blow to Biden's administration and his Zelensky's war effort.

Biden repeated his concern that Putin would increase his offensive if Congress didn't act. And he warned Putin was planning to bombard Ukraine's electrical grid this winter.

'Putin plans to bombard Ukraine's electric grid and with rockets plunging families in the darkness in the coldest part of the year and doing great damage. We can't and won't let him succeed,' Biden said.

Zelensky said his country was working to become less dependent on outside aid.

'Ukraine is greatly becoming less dependent on aid and we are moving to right direction and I want to discuss with the president how to strengthen it, especially enhancing our air defense and ability to destroy Russia's logistics,' he said.

Zelensky's in-person visit to Washington, the third since the war began, is his most crucial and is a sign of how dire the White House believes the situation: both to get Zelensky his funding and how critical that money is to hold off Russian forces.

Biden has asked Congress for $61.4 billion for Ukraine as part of a $110 billion package that also includes money for Israel and other national security priorities.

The money is caught up a debate over U.S. immigration policy and border security with no sign of a deal in sight. And Congress is scheduled to leave town at the end of this week for the rest of the year.

Many Republican lawmakers, particularly in the House, argue that enough American money has been spent on Ukraine and it's better off being spent at home. Those GOP lawmakers are trying to tie border security to the funding package for Kyiv and Israel.

The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion for its fight since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded the country in February 2022.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell - seen with President Zelensky and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in the Capitol - told his senators the talks are going no where

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives at the White House

But the Biden administration has warned that a failure to renew military assistance to Ukraine could tip the nearly two-year-old war in Russia's favor, creating national security threats for the West.

Zelensky began his day on Capitol Hill, attending an all-senators meeting after a joint invitation from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. He then met with House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Biden's budget director Shalanda Young said on Dec. 4 that the US would run out of resources to assist Ukraine by the end of the calendar year.

By mid-November, the U.S. Defense Department had used 97% of $62.3 billion in supplemental funding and the State Department had used all of the $4.7 billion in military assistance funding for Ukraine it had been allocated, she noted.

The U.S. has supplied roughly half of the military aid to Ukraine and it's unlikely any other country could make up the difference. Additionally the U.S. has sent American weapon systems, which need U.S. ammunition.

The Biden administration is going all out to get Zelensky's war funded.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, appearing on the Sunday political talk shows, warned that the clock is ticking.

'This is a time to really step up because if we don't, we know what happens. Putin will be able to move forward with impunity and we know he won't stop in Ukraine,' Blinken said.

Johnson left his meeting with Zelensky seemingly unswayed on the urgent need for aid, insisting no U.S. dollars would pass over without adequate U.S. border provisions.

'I reiterated to him that we stand with him and against Putin's brutal invasion,' the speaker said of their conversation.

But he added: 'I have asked the White House since the day that I was handed the gavel as speaker, and for clarity, we need a clear articulation of the strategy to allow Ukraine to win.'

Johnson then went on to blame Democrats for not being open enough to the border provisions Republicans demand in exchange for foreign aid.

'It is not the House's issue right now, the issue is with the White House and the Senate, and I implore them to do their job,' the speaker said.

Schumer said he had called Johnson and asked him to keep the House in session. But Johnson said he would not do that without a clear path forward.

'I don't know what else to do. I'm not going to have everybody sit here through Christmas twiddling their thumbs,' he said.

'We're willing to work. The House members will work. We've shown that over and over and over, but we're not getting any cooperation from the White House and the Senate Democrats at all,' Johnson told radio host Hugh Hewitt this morning.

Zelensky, meanwhile, pleaded for 'life and death' aid to continue his country's fight against Russia.

'The fight we're in is a fight for freedom,' he repeatedly said in the meetings, according to lawmakers.

He also told senators his citizens would resort to 'guerilla war' if needed and support dries up.

'The president did mention at some point in time guerrilla warfare, if he doesn't get the kind of support  if it degraded [to] that point,' Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson told a group of reporters after the meeting.

'I mean, Putin would be facing a long term guerrilla war in whatever parts of Ukraine you'd occupy that can't be particularly attractive for him,' he said.

President Zelensky with House Speaker Mike Johnson

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (center) walks with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (right) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (left)

President Biden indicated a willingness to reach an accommodation with Republicans on border funding, but Republicans say the administration won't bend on their push for policy wins. The Biden administration says stocks that the US is able to supply to Ukraine are running low.

'The day we get those policy changes. We'll get a big vote in the Senate and I think enough in the House,' Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham predicted.

As for the Ukrainians, 'they'll keep fighting forever, but they need not only the money and the aid we're going to give them. They need more weapons, longer range weapons,' he said.
Footage shows the moment a 17-year-old was shot dead at a juvenile detention center - after managing to get ahold of an unattended firearm.

The incident happened in September in Illinois, at the Sangamon County Juvenile Center in Springfield.

The suspect, teenage inmate Camren Darden, was killed as a result - after coming across the gun on the facility's floor despite guards there not carrying weapons.

Video released last week shows the subsequent police response to the situation at the usually gun-less facility, after Darden began firing shots from inside the building toward cops called to the scene.

It also shows him taking an unnamed female inmate hostage, before being gunned down by a police officer as he actually exited the jail for a brief second.

Cop declined to answer how an inmate was able to access a firearm, but were cleared of wrongdoing by by the Sangamon County States Attorney's office. A state-run investigation remains ongoing.

The incident happened this past September in Illinois , at the Sangamon County Juvenile Center in Springfield. The suspect, teenage inmate Camren Darden, was killed as a result - after coming across the gun on the facility's floor despite guards there not carrying weapons

It also shows him taking an unnamed female inmate hostage, before being gunned down by a police officer as he actually exited the jail for a brief second. Cop declined to answer how an inmate was able to access a firearm. Their investigation remains ongoing

'This is the Sangamon County Detention Center,' a caller can be heard saying in the new footage of the September 30 incident, which saw all the facility's inmates evacuated and relocated to different juvenile centers.

'Oh my goodness,' the male voice continues as shots reverberate in the background. 'We have a kid that has a gun and he shooting inside.'

The jail staffer then trails off, before becoming frantic as the incident escalates.

'Oh my god, we need someone here now!' he exclaims at a point.

The accompanying surveillance clip - filmed in the facility's cafeteria - shows the rest in full, with Darden seen brandishing and pointing the unidentified handgun before coming across the female inmate.

He proceeds to grab her by the neck while holding the gun to her head, while seemingly speaking to corrections officers on the other side of a window within the jail as the situation worsens.

The woman, meanwhile, is seen complying under gunpoint with the inmate's requests, with her hand raised high in the air.

The 911 call, meanwhile, continues, and a dispatcher is heard asking the caller if the active shooter had fired on anyone.

'I think he did - yes,' the caller responds, with cops later confirming he 'fired at multiple victims' before officers with the Springfield Police Department eventually arrived on the scene.

After being shot at least twice, the suspect (seen here) was taken to HSHS St. John Hospital for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries. An obituary posted after his passing revealed him to be a student of Springfield Highschool, who 'loved playing XBOX and listening to music'

After the first hail of bullets from responding officers, the teen dropped the gun- before making a mad rush to the firearm once again that ended his life

The second stream of fire proved fatal, and ended the minor's escape plan permanently

'You think he did?' one of the dispatchers goes on to ask, while another inquires about the hostage.

'Who is he holding hostage?' the dispatcher asks.

'One of the other residents - a female,' the distraught caller responds.

At that point, the gunman is seen firing a shot through the aforementioned window, where the caller and other staff were apparently taking shelter.

'He just shot through the f***ing window at me,' the caller exclaims, sounding increasingly distraught.

The same staffer goes on to add: 'He's got a female resident hostage and he just blew a f***ing window right next to me while I tried to get into another room with another resident.

'We need as many units as you got.'

The dispatcher goes on to heed the caller's request, sending an emergency correspondence to all of the Sangamon County cops that was shared this week along with the six-minute surveillance snippet.

'Attention all units,' the dispatcher says in the clip. 'Sangamon County's enroute to an active shooter. 2202 South Dirsken. The juvenile center.'

The media package released by the Springfield Police Department proceeds to shift to body-camera footage of one of two officers who eventually arrived on the scene.

The two Springfield Officers, a veteran and an officer who was reportedly under training, are then seen rushing to the scene, and park their vehicle outside the detention center.

At that point, the more senior officer - whom the department did not name - produces a department issued assault rife, and prepares to storm the jail.

Springfield Police Chief Ken Scarlette in a statement described what happened next - revealing that Darden had come close to escaping the facility, and had made it to the front door.

Springfield Police Chief Ken Scarlette in a statement described how Darden had come close to escaping the facility, and had made it to the front door

The suspect is seen making one last dash for the downed weapon, leading the officer to shoot once again through the front door's glass window, striking him again and causing him to slump to the ground

With the crisis under control, several other officers rushed into the entrance area of the center, and quickly began applying tourniquets to the suspect's wounds in an attempt to save his life

'When [the officers] observed the front door swing wide open, the veteran officer observed the suspect armed with a handgun and the hostage,' says Scarlette in a segment of the media package.

'The veteran officer immediately retrieves his department issued rifle from the trunk area as the officer in training takes up a position from just behind him,' the top cop continues.

'Tell me what you see! Tell me what you see,' the senior officer is heard instucting his partner in the footage, before approaching the front door of the jail with the firearm locked and loaded.

A dual screen dynamic - one coming from a surveillance camera at the facility's front doors and the other still conveying the officer's bodycamera - ensues, as well as a hail of bullets coming from the cop.

'Put your hands up! Put your hands up!' the officer exclaims after firing what appears to seven quick shots.

Almost instantly, the teen and hostage flee back into the building, with Darden dropping the gun on the front vestibule's floor.

At that point, officers said the suspect had been shot, leading him to drop the handgun.

However, still intent on escaping, the suspect proceeds to make one last dash for the downed weapon, leading the officer to shoot once again through the front door's glass window, striking him again and causing him to slump to the ground.

The teen eventually died 'from multiple gunshot wounds' after firing the above weapon several times at jail staffers. Cops Tuesday still would not say how Darden was able to obtain the handgun, which was seized as evidence

As of Tuesday, other inmates have yet to return to the Sangamon County Juvenile Center. An investigation into how the incident occurred remains ongoing

With the hostage screaming, the gunman - now lying on the ground - goes on to put his hands up in surrender, at which point the officer rushes in and orders the female inmate to leave.

'Get out now!' he screams, still pointing his gun at Darden, as another view from his partner's bodycam shows him leading the woman to safety.

With the crisis under control, several other officers rushed into the entrance area of the center, and quickly began applying tourniquets to the suspect's wounds in an attempt to save his life.

Both the suspect and the hostage were subsequently taken to HSHS St. John Hospital for treatment, where Darden succumbed to his injuries and died at 9:41 PM, according Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon.

Allmon said the cause of death was 'from multiple gunshot wounds', and cops Tuesday still would not say how Darden was able to obtain the handgun.

An obituary and GoFundMe posted after his passing revealed him to be a student of Springfield Highschool, who 'loved playing XBOX and listening to music. He also loved racing cars.'

Due to the suspect's age, officials did not say what charges he had been originally incarcerated on.

He leaves behind a mother and stepdad and three siblings. As of Tuesday, other inmates have yet to return to the Sangamon County Juvenile Center.

An investigation into how the incident occurred, headed by the Illinois State Police, remains ongoing.
The Sergeant Major of the British Army's world-famous parachute display team died after attempting an unplanned stunt at 3,000ft, an inquest has heard.

Sergeant Dean Walton, 36, of the Red Devils, became entangled in his own parachute and that of another jumper's, causing the fatal accident.

The attempted 'canopy stack' apparently came as a surprise to Sgt Walton's partner who survived by pulling his reserve chute.

Nimsdai Purja waited three seconds  which he said felt like a lifetime  before managing an emergency exit over the jump site in Seville, Spain. He was found crying next to the body of Sgt Walton who suffered fatal injuries to his chest, spine and head on October 14 last year.

Yesterday, a coroner watched video footage showing Sgt Walton approaching Mr Purja in mid-air.

The Sergeant Major of the British Army's world-famous parachute display team died after attempting an unplanned stunt at 3,000ft, an inquest has heard

Sergeant Dean Walton, of the Red Devils, became entangled in his own parachute and that of another jumper's, causing the fatal accident

Sgt Walton then attempted to stand on Mr Purja's canopy, causing it to collapse. Sgt Walton then lost his balance and became entangled.

Mr Purja told the hearing at Winchester: 'My assessment was we are losing the altitude very rapidly, we are going into spin, if we don't do something about it, we are going to die.

'I waited a while for him to take action, we couldn't solve it and we are [closer to] hitting the ground, so I operated the reserve. I had no option. The brutal reality is he was my instructor and he should never have stood on the top of my canopy, I could have also died.'

Pallbearers carrying Sgt Walton's coffin at the Oaks Crematorium in November 2022

A tribute from the Red Devils at Mr Walton's funeral

When asked how long he waited for Sgt Walton to release himself, he replied: 'Probably three seconds  it seems like for ever though.'

Formed in 1964, the Red Devils are the Army's official parachute display team. It is made up of serving paratroopers who return to combat duties after their performances. The Red Devils participate in around 60 shows each year.

Sgt Walton, a married Afghanistan veteran, had performed around the world with the team, including celebrations to mark the England men's football team playing in the Euro 2020 championships.

Sgt Walton and Mr Purja, a celebrated Nepalese mountaineer and former Special Forces soldier, were planning to set up a skydiving business when the tragedy occurred. They were practising various manoeuvres on the day.Mr Purja paid tribute to his friend: 'Dean was someone who lit up a room and was an outstanding colleague and husband. He was someone who served with great pride in the Parachute Regiment.'
In the days after the Hamas attack on Israel, Joe Biden flew to Tel Aviv where he hugged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a very public show of support.

For weeks afterwards, he talked up their decades of friendship even as Western allies began to express reservations about the bombs raining down on Gaza in a wave of destruction.

That all changed Tuesday when Biden went public with criticism of Israel for the first time in a hint that criticism from the left of his own party and international warnings of an impending humanitarian catastrophe had caught up with him.

He delivered a public message that Netanyahu and his hardline government had to change course if it wanted to retain international backing for its assault on a terrorist group that killed at least 1200 Israelis.

'They're starting to lose that support by indiscriminate bombing that takes place,' he told a gathering of donors.

President Joe Biden embraced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after stepping off Air Force One in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 18

Biden has made much of his close relationship with Netanyau. The then vice president is seen here in 2011 in Israel with Netanyahu and his son Yair (second left) and with Jill Biden (right)

The message sent shockwaves through Israel.

'There is an enormous amount of anger,' said Aryeh Lightstone, who was chief adviser to Trump's ambassador to Israel. He described the words as 'deeply inappropriate.'

But for White House Kremlinologists, who had been studying recent statements for a sign of an administration changing tack, it was perhaps less surprising.

Vice President Kamala Harris used a speech 10 days ago in Dubai to issue the strongest demand yet that Israel abide by international humanitarian law.

'Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed,' she said. 'Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating.'

On the same day, Biden's defense secretary warned that Israel's campaign could backfire by radicalizing a new generation of Hamas recruits.

'In this kind of a fight, the center of gravity is the civilian population,' said Lloyd Austin. 'And if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat.'

The approach seemed to stem the classic good cop/bad cop school of international diplomacy. Biden's lieutenants were tasked with delivering warnings, while the president continued to offer warm words of support.

That tack was no surprise to those who knew Biden well, or had seen him at work as vice president for Barack Obama.

'The approach that we're taking with Israel and, quite frankly, with our partners in the region is working,' said White House spokesman John Kirby defending the friendly relationship recently

Ten days ago, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Israel was sacrificing a strategic victory for a tactical one because of the rising number of dead Palestinians

Netanyahu and Biden at the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem in 2010

In fact, Biden has repeatedly touted his success in using a friendly approach and long personal relationship to influence Netanyahu. (On Monday he said they had been friends for 51 years.)

For example, he said privately that when he was vice president during Israel's 2014 assault on Gaza he advised his then boss that the best way to handle the Israelis was to hug them close rather than publicly criticising them.

'If this was the Obama years, we would've been a lot more publicly critical than we have been by now,' a senior administration official told NBC News recentl.

'And that wouldn't work. We wouldn't have the influence.'

When quizzed about the approach, officials said it was paying off.

They pointed to the administration's success in getting humanitarian aid into Gaza and hostages out by getting Israel to agree to a pause in fighting, despite concerns it would allow Hamas to rearm.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters last month: 'The approach that we're taking with Israel and, quite frankly, with our partners in the region is working.

'It's getting aid in to people that need it. It's getting a pause in the fighting. It's getting hostages out. It's getting Americans out.'

The approach angered some quarters of the administration.

Hundreds of federal employees signed an open letter demanding the Biden administration push for a cease-fire, and dozens of diplomats at the State Department sent official dissent cables.

That had not been enough to shift policy for a president who has made much of his warm ties to Israeli politicians down the years.

Israeli soldiers stand on tanks deployed on the southern border with the Gaza Strip on November 29, 2023, as a truce between Israel and Hamas entered a sixth day

The destruction in Gaza has angered many Democrats who want Biden to take a tougher line on Israel in calling for a ceasefire

Palestinians look for survivors of the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah on Tuesday, Dec. 12

Insiders only recently said Biden felt his approach of staying close to Israel had been vindicated after his former boss Barack Obama preferred being more publicly critical

His relationship with Netanyahu dates back to the early 1980s when Biden was a young senator and the future Israeli prime minster worked at the country's embassy in Washington.

Both stayed close to the center of power. And their families posed together during a 2011 visit when Biden was vice president and Netanyahu was prime minister.

But their relationship was badly strained under Obama, who sought to bring Iran in from diplomatic isolation.

At the same time administration officials were outspoken in their criticism of Israeli settlement building in the occupied West Bank, which was seen as undermining any chance of eventually reaching a two state solution.

One official made clear their hostility to the Israeli PM, calling him 'a chickens***' in comments that appeared in The Atlantic.

But even then, Biden made clear his warmth towards Netanyahu.

'We're still buddies,' Biden said at the time, using the prime minister's nickname. 'He's been a friend for over 30 years, I said, "Bibi, I don't agree with a damn thing you say but I love you."'

He reached for the same form of words on Tuesday at the donor gathering, after slamming Netanyahu's government for lurching to the right. He claimed he had written those words on a photo he once gave the Israeli PM.

'It's about the same today,' he said.

Whether it is a principled stand, based on a spiraling death toll in Gaza, or a simple reminder to Israel that it needs to keep international opinion on its side, or a short-term political consideration, as his polling numbers take a hit with younger voters who are more sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, Biden clearly thinks a little bit of space is good for the relationship.
A North Carolina man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in his apartment for ten days.

William Todd Murell, 58, was found guilty of first-degree rape and felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury on November 13.

The victim, a mother-of-three and former police officer, testified that Murell gave her alcohol and Trazodone, dragged by her arms and legs, kicked her in the head and raped her over a 10-day period between February 1 and 11, 2020.

The ordeal occurred at Murell's apartment in Asheville where police were called after receiving 911 calls from concerned neighbors and Murell himself.

Police conducted several welfare checks, in which the victim said she was not able to ask for help for fear Murell, who was acquitted of a kidnapping charge, would escalate the abuse further.

William Todd Murell, 58, was found guilty of first-degree rape and felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury on November 13

The ordeal occurred at Murell's apartment in Asheville (pictured) where police were called after receiving 911 calls from concerned neighbors and Murell himself

The first welfare check was requested on February 5 by the victim's estranged wife who became concerned.

On February 6, police conducted their second welfare check after Murell took the victim to a restaurant, and concerned diners called 911.

Two days later on February 8, police conducted a third welfare check after Murell himself called 911 to report that the woman was unconscious.

When the Ashville Fire Department arrived, the victim did not ask for help or say she wanted to leave, Fox News reported.

When asked in court why she did not communicate with responding officers the victim said, 'I've asked myself that a million times. I was so scared. I was so embarrassed.'

The victim told the court how she was dragged by her hair, kicked, burned and sexually abused during the 10-day imprisonment.

Two further welfare checks occurred on February 9 and 10 but did not result in a rescue.

The victim eventually found her phone and contacted friends to help her escape the house on February 11.

Murell also faces kidnapping and rape charges in a separate case from March 4, 2020, when he allegedly kidnapped another woman and sexually assaulted her in his home

Friends and family helped her leave Murell's residence, taking her for treatment at Pardee Hospital.

Medical staff found the victim had a lethal blood alcohol level of 0.335 per cent, a severe brain injury and traces of barbiturates and benzodiazepines in her system.

She also had cuts, burns and bruises throughout her body.

'She might very well have died if she hadn't gotten out that day,' Assistant District Attorney Katie Kurdys told the court during closing arguments.

Staff at Pardee Hospital presented evidence of her injuries, including a sexual assault kit and images of cigarette burns on her back and chest, among other wounds, in court last month.

Murell also faces kidnapping and rape charges in a separate case from March 4, 2020, when he allegedly kidnapped another woman and sexually assaulted her in his home.

The victim managed to escape two days later after Murell fell asleep, when she walked to a bus shelter took a bus to a local service station and called 911.
The Duke of Northumberland has lost his bid to 'bulldoze' allotments and build 80 flats on his Grade-I listed Syon Park estate, which is a victory for locals who fought to preserve it's current state following a years-long David vs Goliath battle.

Ralph Percy, the 12th Duke of Northumberland, applied to build 80 flats on his Grade-1 listed Syon Park estate, said to be a 'green sanctuary for residents' and 'wildlife haven' in Isleworth, west London.

An inquiry was launched into the plans after the duke said he wished the Syon estate to pay for itself with the new properties.

Northumberland Estates said it hoped the rent money would go towards upkeep for Syon House, the Percy family home on the estate.

The three-acre site has been used for allotments since the First World War and has been the set for period dramas including The Madness Of King George and Gosford Park.

Ralph Percy (pictured), the 12th Duke of Northumberland, applied to build 80 flats on his Grade-1 listed Syon Park estate, said to be a 'green sanctuary for residents' and 'wildlife haven' in Isleworth, west London

The three-acre site (pictured) has been used for allotments since the First World War and has been the set for period dramas including The Madness Of King George and Gosford Park

A spokesperson for the group that challenged the Northumberland Estates planning application said it was a victory for campaigners, including Isleworth Labour councillors Salman Shaheen, Sue Sampson, and John Stroud-Turp, alongside Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth Ruth Cadbury

John Longmuir, inspector at the Planning Inspectorate, threw out the duke's appeal to build on the Park Road Allotments on Monday, saying: 'I find that overall, the weight to the benefits of the proposal does not outweigh the harms to heritage assets and the loss of open space.'

A spokesperson for the group that challenged the Northumberland Estates planning application said it was a victory for campaigners, including Isleworth Labour councillors Salman Shaheen, Sue Sampson, and John Stroud-Turp, alongside Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth Ruth Cadbury.

They said Northumberland Estates had planned to build on nearly three-quarters of the allotments, and said: 'The David versus Goliath battle to save Park Road Allotments in Isleworth from being bulldozed for flats by the Duke of Northumberland - one of Britain's richest people - concluded in a stunning victory for campaigners fighting to save the treasured green space.

'The long-running saga ended with the Planning Inspectorate dismissing the Duke of Northumberland's appeal against Hounslow Council's decision to reject his plans.

'The allotments have served as a green sanctuary for residents. Not least during the pandemic, when they proved a vital lifeline for people's mental and physical health.'

Northumberland Estates has twice attempted to develop the land, it said, with Hounslow Council first rejecting plans in 2018.

In October 2021, Hounslow Council's planning committee turned down another proposal after it received nearly 1,000 objection letters.

Northumberland Estates appealed the council's decision but it was rejected on Monday.

Sue Casey, chair of the Isleworth Society, said it was an important decision for the community and for local wildlife.

She said: 'The inspector's decision to turn down the appeal by Northumberland Estates is so significant for the Isleworth community.

'Important local open space (LOS) is secured; heritage is protected and wildlife preserved.

'The allotments have served as a green sanctuary for residents. Not least during the pandemic, when they proved a vital lifeline for people's mental and physical health,' the campaigners said

Northumberland Estates has twice attempted to develop the land, it said, with Hounslow Council first rejecting plans in 2018 and again in 2021. Northumberland Estates appealed the council's decision but it was rejected on Monday

'The Isleworth Society is delighted with this outcome - of great benefit to present as well as to future generations.'

Stephen Hurton, chair of Park Road Allotment Association, also welcomed the decision.

He said: 'Park Road Allotment Association is delighted that the appeal has been rejected.

'It is a great cause for celebration that the allotment site will be retained as local open space for the wider benefit of all locals and wildlife.

'These allotments have brought such joy to plot holders.

'They have been a place of sanctuary and community where people, young and old, can come together to grow food and be amongst nature.

'We hope that we can work together with Northumberland Estates to maintain the site as allotments.'
A British advertising firm has allegedly pulled a billboard campaign that pictured Israelis kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 following 'an unusual volume of complaints from the public'.

The campaign was organised by the Israeli Embassy along with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum as a way to draw attention to the plight of those still trapped in Gaza following the terrorists' bloody onslaught.

London Lites terminated what was meant to be a two-week ad campaign on boards throughout the capital after just six days, Jewish News reports.

The company reportedly said that it had received thousands of complaints in response to the posters, which picture Israeli hostages and feature the now-famous hashtag 'Bring Them Home Now'.

It also claimed that threats had been made to its staff over the adverts, and that shops near the displays were also threatened, according to Israeli outlet Channel 12.

Gadi Moshe Mozes, 79, was taken captive by terrorists on October 7 from Kibbutz Nir Oz

Pictured: Missin Israeli Noa Argamani, 26, who was snatched at the Supernova music festival

Among those pictured in the campaign were 79-year-old Gadi Moshe Mozes, who was taken captive from Kibbutz Nir Oz as he tried to reason with terrorists who attacked the community.

Others pictures included Yarden Bibas, the father of two of the youngest Hamas hostages Ariel, 4, and Kfir Bibas, who is less than a year old.

Another captive, Noa Argamani, 26, was snatched at the Supernova music festival, with horrific footage showing her begging for her life on the back of the bike, screaming 'Don't kill me!'

The Israeli Embassy in London said in response to the adverts being taken down: 'We regret that the 'London Lites' company caved to the threats of an extreme minority in the UK, which forcefully tries to limit freedom of expression.

'The Embassy is considering further steps against the company. The Embassy will continue to raise awareness for the 137 Israeli hostages that remain as hostages by Hamas in Gaza.

Yarden Bibas, a hostage and the father of two of the youngest Hamas hostages Ariel, 4, and Kfir Bibas, who is less than a year old

Tamir Nimrodi, 19, an Israeli soldier, was taken hostage from his base near the Gaza border on October 7

'There should be nothing controversial about raising awareness for innocent civilians being held hostage by a terror organisation. This is a humanitarian cause.

'This breach of contract plays into the hands of terrorists by actively ignoring the war crimes of Hamas and also by succumbing to intimidation and threats in London.'

London Lites, which has 41 screens around the city, has run similar campaigns and worked with Jewish groups in the past.

The company has been facing rising backlash over its decision, particularly following multiple incidents of posters being ripped down around the country.

A spokesperson for London Lites said: 'Following discussions with the Metropolitan Police about community safety concerns regarding billboard site advertising this campaign, we have regrettably taken the decision to cease advertising on community cohesion grounds.

'London Lites previously carried advertising for the Campaign Against Antisemitism and supports freedom of speech.

'However, we received an unprecedented number of concerns from the public in response to the advertising campaign last week, and the safety of all members of the local communities where we advertise is paramount.'
Its founder, Dryden Brown, has been accused of being part of a 'creepy internet subculture'

But the company is light on details, with no fixed site for its first city and uncertain membership numbers

Praxis has raised $19million in funding from several big tech backers including the fund which had a $125million stake in FTX

NYU dropout, Dryden Brown, 27, has raised $19 million to build a new Mediterranean city 'for the future', Praxis, for 'people who want to build technology companies'.

Brown is yet to secure a location for his company's flagship city, but promises it will have 'thousands of acres of Mediterranean canvas' and be a 'special economic zone'.

Interested parties can apply for a 'steel visa' which would allow them to become a resident if the city is built, but the Praxis website warns they may then be asked to make a $5,000 deposit to 'move forward'.

Brown claimed there are 12,000 people already interested in moving to the unbuilt city - but then clarified to the New York Times this was the number of people who had signed up for Praxis group chats on Discord, Telegram, and Signal.

The Times claims that beneath the shiny exterior, Praxis is part of a 'creepy internet subculture' and a 'fascist breeding ground within the American right'.

An internal Praxis memo seen by the Times reportedly extols 'traditional, European/Western beauty standards on which the civilized world, at its best points, has always found success.'

Dryden Brown speaking at a conference in Amsterdam in November

A mock-up of what Praxis could look like if it is built

Former Praxis employees told the Times Brown had discussed wanting to attract tech talent to his city by introducing founders to 'hot girls'.

Brown was homeschooled in Santa Barbara, California, so he could surf competitively - he then applied to Harvard, Stanford, Oxford and Cambridge but was rejected by them all.

He said being homeschooled gave him the time to 'spend a lot of time learning about charter cities and sea steading and these different ideas when they were very nascent.'

Charter cities are a kind of decentralized economic zone where a less wealthy country leases a piece of land to a third party to govern.

Brown eventually went to NYU but dropped out, before getting a job at a hedge fund.

According to the Times, he was fired from the hedge fund and started his plans to build a city.

He said: 'Covid hit and I was sort of forced to confront this question of how do I work on building a new city, stuck in this tiny apartment in New York?'

Brown prides himself on creating a 'community' of people interested in technology and a new society

He began building Praxis with a series of events designed to draw in young tech-bros and socialites who may want to join and promote the city.

They made slick renders of what the futuristic city would look like: an idyllic Mediterranean vista with a town nestled in between two hills - soaring spires and modern glass domes littering wide streets.

Praxis says the town will center around a 'walkable urban maze woven together at the heart of the city  encouraging chance encounters and the delight of uncharted discovery.'

Then there will be a waterfront with a public square and an 'inviting coast with elegant beaches, piers, and boardwalks.'

Praxis hosted dinners, salons and parties to bring together the group and try to create a community.

Brown claims it worked, saying: 'There have even been a few marriages come out of Praxis which has been pretty cool.'

The day after one Praxis party, a Guardian US editor named Amana Fontanella-Khan who had attended one party posted on Instagram that Praxis wanted to 'create their own laws, not pay taxes and remove the poors and the undesirables.'

She added that the reason 'these ghouls' were 'courting the downtown club scene,' was to solicit new members.

An internal Praxis memo seen by the Times outlines three 'persona groups' they want to populate the city.

They describe them as 'muscular', 'clean' warriors to protect society from threat, 'very thin' priests, who 'define the values and beliefs of society' and 'portly' 'merchants' who include venture capitalists and cryptocurrency professionals.

Praxis throws parties, events and dinners to entice prospective members - pictured with composer Emily Bear who is not thought to be linked to Praxis

In 2021 Praxis went through the first of two funding rounds, raising $4.2million including some from Pronomos Capital, a Peter Thiel-backed city-building fund run by Patri Friedman, the grandson of the libertarian economist Milton Friedman.

In their next funding round, they received investment from Paradigm, a venture capital firm best known for its $125 million stake in Sam Bankman-Frieds failed crypto exchange FTX.

Bankman-Frieds trading firm, Alameda, also invested in Praxis.

Speaking at a conference in Amsterdam last month, Brown promised: 'We're going to build a new city, on the Mediterranean focused on technology focused on building a community of people who want to build technology companies in a special economic zone that really facilitates that in one of the most beautiful places in the world.'

He was light on specifics, but told the audience that he was working with 'two former prime ministers' and had already been approached by an interested host country.

A month before, in September, Mother Jones published an expose about his politics, reporting that he had urged staff to read the fascist writer Julius Evola.

DailyMail.com contacted Praxis, Paradigm and Pronomos for comment.
Boeing is facing calls to ditch its demand that mechanics inspect their own safety-critical work as it tries to claw back profits lost due to crashes and the pandemic.

The aircraft manufacturer has been hit by a series of costly delays which have delayed the roll-out of its 737s this year including mis-drilled holes in the fuselage and incorrectly installed parts.

It was increasing the number self-inspection tasks in a bid to speed construction until ordered into reverse by watchdogs at the Federal Aviation Administration last year.

Now unions have demanded it ditch the practice entirely rather than risk another disaster.

'We have inspectors for a reason,' Cornell Beard of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) told the Wall Street Journal.

Cornell Beard of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers says self-inspection continues to endanger the safety of passengers

Boeing's production of its 737 MAX aircraft has been hobbled by production delays this year

Bogus parts have ended up in CFM56 engines, the world's best selling jet engine, which is used in planes including Airbus A320 models and the Boeing 737

'These are airplanes, if there's a problem, we don't get to pull over on a cloud and kick the tires.'

Profits at the Virginia-based company rose steadily through the decade to $19.7 billion in 2018.

But they collapsed to a loss of $5.6 billion in 2020 after two of its 737 MAX aircraft crashed in quick succession, causing the fleet to be grounded for almost two years.

Self-inspection was not a factor in either crash but unions have warned that the company cannot risk jeopardizing public confidence in an industry already reeling from a bogus parts manufacturing scandal.

Jose Yrala was arrested in London last week over claims his company AOG Technics supplied parts with forged safety paperwork that have ended up in at least 126 commercial aircraft engines around the world including every major US carrier.

'You have to have a redundant system,' IAM chief Jon Holden told the paper.

Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala (right), 35, is the founder of AOG Technics, a London-based company which allegedly supplied aircraft parts with counterfeit paperwork which ended up in at least 126 commercial aircraft engines around the world

'It's important to have an experienced inspector, someone who can be a second set of eyes and make sure the work is done appropriately.'

Boeing relies on self-inspection for its own manufacturing and that of its suppliers but insists that it applies to less than 10 percent of tasks.

The company abandoned the practice at its plant in North Charleston, South Carolina, last year as it automated the process.

Workers at the plant had warned the practice led to serious safety hazards, like debris being left in the sensors that measure air speed.

It also resulted in planes leaving the factory with rags and surplus bolts left inside, wobbly cabin seats and badly fitted galley equipment.

But former Boeing executive Bill Osborne said technology was steadily doing away with the need for manual inspection.

Using a wrench to ensure that a fixture was tight enough was a typical example of a now obsolete practice, he claimed.

'The wrench would make a small noise when they reach the proper torque; then there is this guy who would listen for the click,' he explained.

'That's kind of outdated now, when we have a digital wrench that can record the torque automatically and then over Wi-Fi send that data to a server and create a permanent record.'

Former Boeing executive Bill Osborne (left) says technology is doing away with the need for manual inspection but Jon Holden of the IAM says the technology itself needs checking

The crash of the Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 MAX six minutes after takeoff on March 10, 2019, killed all 157 people on board. Pictured, wreckage is piled at the crash scene of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 near Bishoftu, Ethiopia

A spokeswoman for Boeing insisted that the self-inspection tasks that remain are conducted 'under appropriate oversight and controls and communicated to the FAA'.

And analysts say that even with the increased use of technology the practice is unlikely to disappear entirely with Boeing's profits at just fifth of what they were at their peak.

'It won't be about how a human will check their own work or how can a machine check the work,' said Bogdan Epureanu of the University of Michigan, a mechanical-engineering professor specializing in aerospace.

'But about how can humans and machines work together to identify issues.'
Amid plea deal talks, George Santos says he is considering coming back to Congress in the future after he became only the sixth lawmaker in history to be ousted by his House colleagues.

Santos, 35, departed court in Long Island on Tuesday after only 20 minutes inside for a hearing on charges that include theft of public funds, money laundering and making false statements to the House of Representatives.

Wearing a blue blazer over a dark sweater, Santos declined to comment on the case to reporters as he left the courthouse.

'It's cold, go home,' he said to one reporter.

A legal team for Santos was successful in preventing prosecutor attempts to speed up the trial.

Former Rep. George Santos leaves a Long Island court on Tuesday after a 20 minute hearing

Santos' attorney Joseph Murray (left) was successful in getting the judge to move the case and let the sides focus on a plea deal for Santos (center)

The former lawmaker's lawyer Joseph Murray expressed on Tuesday optimism regarding plea deal negotiations in the criminal fraud case and asked the judge to let them focus on these talks.

Meanwhile, Santos expressed potential for wanting to one day run for office again.

'I'm not done with public service, I want to go back to Congress,' Santos told WABC radio in an interview that aired before court on Tuesday morning.

He added: 'I'm not saying today, I'm not saying tomorrow. I'm 35, I have a lot of things I need to take care of first, I think we all know.'

On December 1, 206 Democrats and 105 Republicans voted to expel Santos from the House of Representatives. Two Democrats and 112 Republicans voted against the expulsion, and 10 did not vote.

He is the only Republican to ever be expelled from Congress by his colleagues and only the sixth in the history of the House of Representatives.

Tuesday was his first court appearance since the expulsion.

During the hearing on Tuesday, Santos' attorney argued that it was premature to bring the September trial forward while the two parties are in talks to resolve the case with a plea deal.

'We should focus on the plea deal. I believe they can be fruitful,' Murray told Judge Joanna Seybert in the federal court in Long Island.

Santos told WABC in a radio interview that aired Tuesday morning: 'I'm not done with public service, I want to go back to Congress. I'm not saying today, I'm not saying tomorrow... I have a lot of things I need to take care of first'

Murray also argued he was 'struggling' to keep up with 'voluminous materials' produced by the government prosecutors during the discovery process.

Seybert agreed with Murray and said she would try to move the case and set the next hearing for January 23.

Santos was not convicted of a federal crime before being expelled and is still embroiled in a lawsuit on charges including wire fraud, theft of public funds, money laundering, identity theft and making false statements to Congress.

He was under an Ethics investigation in the House regarding his multiple fraudulent statements when running for his seat for New York's 3rd congressional district. The vote to expel him came after the Ethics report released in November implicated Santos in fraud.

But he still hopes to regain the trust of his district and the American people with potential future aspirations to return to public service.

Santos faces several criminal charges, among the most serious that he defrauded campaign donors and lied to Congress about his wealth.

The criminal case also alleges that the former lawmaker received unemployment benefits while employed and used campaign contributions to pay for personal expenses  like designer clothing.

Santos pleaded not guilty to an indictment in October.
A pro-Palestinian mob holding racist banners claimed the Labour Party was 'Zionist' and 'racist' during a rally this evening.

Protesters chanted 'Labour Party, Zionist Party' and 'Labour Party, Racist Party' at the demonstration near Westminster Bridge in central London.

The mob had reportedly followed Labour Party officials to the area and continued their protest while they were in a meeting.

The protest is the latest in weeks of pro-Palestine demonstrations in the capital. While largely peaceful, protests around the UK have been marred by some demonstrators' anti-Semitic chanting and signs.

The anger towards Labour comes just days after a pro-Palestine activist engaged Sir Keir Starmer in a tense exchange which saw the party leader quizzed over his stance on the Gaza crisis.

Protesters chanted 'Labour Party, Zionist Party' and 'Labour Party, Racist Party' at the demonstration in Westminster

The mob had reportedly followed Labour Party officials to the area and continued their protest while they had a meeting

HAPPENING NOW WATERLOO



The mob has followed Labour officials to a meeting in Waterloo where they stand outside shouting



"Labour Party Zionist Party, Labour Party Zionist Party"



And then



"Labour Party Racist Party" pic.twitter.com/TaeF58mJlt  Harry's Place (@hurryupharry) December 12, 2023

One sign at the rally tonight said: 'The coconuts are getting paid. Men, women and Gaza betrayed.'

Another said: 'No votes for genocide supporters,' signalling the protester's anger at the opposition's response to the bloodshed in Gaza.

Labour has been severely split over the crisis, which has seen more than 18,000 Palestinians killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Several Labour MPs have responded by calling for a ceasefire - contrary to the party line.

Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who voted against a ceasefire, received backlash from many online after he told the House of Commons 'a widening in this conflict is in no-ones interests, and all parties must show restraint.'

He said yesterday that the damage done over the past two months in Gaza was 'intolerable' and attacked two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers for 'totally unacceptable' support of illegal settlements in the West Bank.

But he stopped short of supporting a permanent ceasefire, which several Labour MPs are calling for after ten frontbenchers resigned over the issue last month.

The Labour leader suffered a huge revolt in the House of Commons as 56 of his MPs defied him and backed calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Sir Keir saw vast swathes of his parliamentary party ignore his orders and vote in favour of an SNP-led demand for an 'immediate ceasefire' in the Middle East.

In a self-filmed video, a pro-Palestine supporter is seen approaching the Labour leader as he looks at a laptop with an aide in a train carriage

The latest demonstration came as the Metropolitan Police was blasted after telling protesters in Trafalgar Square to stop waving Israeli flags because it is a 'heritage site' - despite the square playing host to several pro-Palestine rallies in recent weeks.

In a video shared online by the campaign group Eye on Antisemitism, the officer can be heard telling a protester to take the flag 'off the wall' in front of the National Gallery before he is then challenged by someone filming the exchange.

During the two-minute clip, the Met constable says: 'You're not meant to be here because this is a protected heritage site, so you need a licence to be here, to do what you're doing.

'You didn't have one in the first place and we've been nice enough to let you be here, alright?'

The person filming claims during the clip that the officer 'got jittery' after someone shouted 'Free Palestine' - and points out that the square has been the site of many pro-Palestine rallies in the last two months.

The Metropolitan Police officer said he and his colleagues had been 'nice enough' to let pro-Israel protesters hold a rally in Trafalgar Square

The Metropolitan Police officer told protesters to take a flag 'off the wall' because Trafalgar Square is a 'protected heritage site'

The officer then says he won't 'argue' with the person filming about his request for the flag to be removed - prompting them to reply: 'Two-tier policing, innit'

A pro-Palestinian protest in Trafalgar Square on November 4. Protesters can be seen standing on, and draping flags over, the same area of the square

A previous gathering on October 14 - one week after Hamas' violent incursion into Israel - saw protesters climb onto the base of Nelson's Column

Shaking his head, the constable replies: 'Sir, I'm not arguing with you.' He then claims he has asked people to take flags down in the past before he is then challenged by other observers.

The man filming then adds: 'On Saturday there were thousands of Palestinian flags here. You got jittery over one Star of David, yeah. Two-tier policing, innit.'

He continues: 'This is a heritage site he said, right? And that's why you're not allowed the flag up there. Did that stop the Palestinians from climbing up there Saturday and waving all their flags?'

The video has been watched more than 40,000 times and 'liked' more than 1,100 times on X, formerly Twitter, according to analytics provided by the website.

MailOnline has contacted Labour for comment.
The Andes flight disaster changed the lives of 45 people on October 13, 1972.

Now, the grim Netflix movie Society of the Snow will provide its streaming platform viewers with an inside look of the surviving passengers harsh realities.

Everything began when a pilot, Lieutenant-Colonel Dante Hector Lagurara, crashed into the Andes Mountains in South America after realizing the plane was 43 miles away from where they were supposed to land.

12 passengers died immediately, 17 others died from injuries and suffocation by avalanche, and 16 passengers survived through hard work and by eating the flesh and organs off the bodies of their dead friends.

Society of the Snow, which details the 72 days the passengers fought to survive in the wilderness, will be released in Uruguay theaters tomorrow, Spain movie cinemas on December 15, and available on Netflix starting January 4.

The upcoming film, Society of the Snow, is based on the 1972 Andes flight disaster - 12 passengers died immediately, 17 others died from injuries and suffocation via avalanche

16 passengers survived the crash after being stuck in the cold weather for 72 days, and its search efforts being called off

The upcoming film is based on the book of the same name written by Pablo Vierci, which was published in 2009.

Vierci was not on the plane, but he went to school with the passengers on the ill-fated plane.

One of the actual survivors who suggested the idea of cannibalism, Roberto Canessa, also wrote a book published in 2016 about his experiences.

His autobiography was named I Had to Survive: How a Plane Crash in the Andes Inspired My Calling to Save Lives.

Despite the idea being Canessa's, the survivor admitted that the thought of eating their friends' remains was 'too terrible to contemplate.'

'For a long time, we agonized. I went out in the snow and prayed to God for guidance,' he wrote.

Canessa added: 'Without His consent, I felt I would be violating the memory of my friends; that I would be stealing their souls.'

'We wondered whether we were going mad even to contemplate such a thing. Had we turned into brute savages?,' he continued.

'Was this the only sane thing to do? Truly, we were pushing the limits of our fear.'

Canessa also participated in a long walk while stranded with fellow survivor Fernando Parrado, saying he preferred to walk to meet his death rather than wait for it to come to him.

The survivors had little food and became sick, which is when they decided to eat the skin and organs of their dead friends known as cannibalism

Cannibalism was difficult for the survivors to adapt to at first but they eventually adjusted to it despite how terrible it was to contemplate

Ramon Sabella discussed his decision to turn to cannibalism after he and the 15 other survivors got together for the 50th anniversary of the plane crash.

'Of course, the idea of eating human flesh was terrible,' Sabella told The Sunday Times.

The seemingly terrible idea was difficult for the passengers, but Sabella said that they all got used to it.

'In a sense, our friends were some of the first organ donors in the world - they helped to nourish us and kept us alive,' he added.

Survivor and author of After the tenth day Carlos Paez Rodriguez remembered what what it was like in the freezing cold, and how he felt like 'it was his duty' to tell his story.

'I'm condemned to tell this story forever more, just like the Beatles always having to sing Yesterday,' he stated.

None of the victims names will be changed for the film that is based on a book written by Pablo Vierci, who went to school with some of the victims

Director of Society of Snow J.A. Bayona told Today via The US Sun, 'We were shooting 12,000 feet, exactly in the same place where the plane crashed, at the same time of year.'

The movie will likely be emotional and possibly painful for the survivors to watch based on what Society of Snow will be about.

Multiple survivors will be portrayed by Uruguayan actors and there are no changes made to the names of the survivors.
A New York court decided to allow the state's Democrat-run legislature to draw up its congressional maps - in one could be a momentous blow to the House's Republican majority.

In 2022, the path to victory for Republicans ran straight through New York - they flipped four seats in the typically blue state. Democrats need a net five seats to take back the House next cycle.

The seven-judge panel's decision follows a nearly two-year court battle over the Empire State map.

Republicans were already expected to fight an uphill battle to hold on to the seat vacated by Rep. George Santos' expulsion.

In a 4-3 opinion issued Tuesday, the court ordered the state's redistricting commission to draw a new map by February 28, 2024. The state's liberal legislature has final say over the map - and Republicans have warned that Democrats will gerrymander.

Rep. Mike Lawler, one of four Republicans who flipped blue seats in 2022

Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y., another freshman who flipped a blue seat in the Empire State

'We are disappointed but not surprised by the Court's decision to allow Democrats a second attempt at gerrymandering the maps,' Savannah Viar, spokeswoman for the NRCC, House Republicans' campaign arm, said in a statement. 'Instead of focusing on policies that appeal to everyday voters, Democrats are trying to cheat their way to power.'

The state's Independent Redistricting Commission deadlocked last year and the legislature stepped in to draw up its own map. The Democratic-controlled legislature devised a map so favorable to Democrats that it was thrown out by a state court and replaced by a court-drawn map.

'The decision today opens the door for Democrats to rig our Congressional district lines so that elections are not decided by voters, but politicians in a back room,' Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and state GOP chair Ed Cox said in a statement.

Democrats, meanwhile, celebrated the map.

'We are eager for the Independent Redistricting Commission to get back to work to create a new, fair congressional map  through the process New York voters intended,' said Susan DelBene, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
The University of Pennsylvania has appointed the dean of the Ivy League's medical school as its new interim president after the resignation of Liz Magill.

The board of trustees announced that J. Larry Jameson, 69, is to become the school's caretaker leader effective Tuesday.

It comes after Magill stepped down following her disastrous appearance on Capitol Hill where she - along with the presidents of Harvard and MIT - refused to agree that calling for the genocide of Jews was against university rules. Harvard president Claudine Gay and her MIT counterpart Sally Kornbluth remain in post.

Jameson is UPenn's longest serving and has worked as Executive Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System as well as Penn Medicine since 2011. He will remain in post until the board of trustees appoints a permanent president.

'Penn is fortunate to have the benefit of Dr. Jameson's experience and leadership during this time of transition. A consummate University citizen and the longest serving current dean, Dr. Jameson is a collaborative, innovative, and visionary leader with extensive engagement with each of Penn's 12 schools,' Penn's Interim Board of Trustee's Chair Julie Platt said in a statement to the university community Tuesday.

UPenn's board of trustees announced J. Larry Jameson, 69, to become the school's interim president effective Tuesday, replacing Liz Magill

This comes after Magill's resignation after her disastrous congressional hearing and handling of anti-Semitism on campus

'Among other activities, he chaired the review of the School of Arts and Sciences, as well as the Consultative Committees for the selection of the Provost, the Dean of the Wharton School, and served on the Presidential Selection Committee. Dr. Jameson has a deep appreciation for Penn's values and world-class research, teaching, patient care, and service,' Platt added,

Magill resigned from her post as president on Saturday following fierce backlash to her controversial congressional testimony.

She, along with the presidents of Harvard and MIT, was summoned before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce by lawmakers concerned by reports of a rise in antisemitism at leading universities.

They faced robust questioning from committee chair Congresswoman Elise Stefanik but failed to assert that calls for genocide against Jews on campus would definitively constitute harassment - which is prohibited within their student rules.

Following international outcry, including more than 70 lawmakers calling for her resignation, Magill stood down.

Pressure is now growing for the president's of Harvard and MIT whose testimony largely mirrored Magill's, with congresswoman Stefanik writing 'One down. Two to go' on X.

Claudine Gay will remain as Harvard president with the full support of the Ivy League college's governing body, the university's board announced Tuesday.

'This is only the very beginning of addressing the pervasive rot of antisemitism that has destroyed the most 'prestigious' higher education institutions in America' Stefanik wrote on Saturday evening.

Adding: 'Harvard and MIT, do the right thing. The world is watching.'

Just minutes after Magill's statement the chair of the Upenn's board of trustees, Scott Bok, also resigned.

Bok's Vice Chair, Julie Beren Platt, has been named interim chair of the board.

In a statement issued Saturday evening Magill wrote: 'It has been my privilege to serve as President of this remarkable institution.

'It has been an honor to work with our faculty, students, staff, alumni, and community members to advance Penn's vital missions.'

U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik during the tense House Education and The Workforce Committee hearing

In his own resignation statement Bok defended Magill as a 'good person' who is 'not the slightest bit anti-Semitic' but had made a 'misstep' after 'months of relentless external attacks.'

'Today, following the resignation of the University of Pennsylvania's President and related Board of Trustee meetings, I submitted my resignation as Chair of the University's Board of Trustees, effective immediately,' he said in a statement.

'While I was asked to remain in that role for the remainder of my term in order to help with the presidential transition, I concluded that, for me, now was the right time to depart.'

He acknowledged that Magill had made an error during her disastrous Congressional testimony and described it as a 'dreadful 30-second sound bite'.

Bok added: 'Former President Liz Magill last week made a very unfortunate misstepconsistent with that of two peer university leaders sitting alongside herafter five hours of aggressive questioning before a Congressional committee.

'Following that, it became clear that her position was no longer tenable, and she and I concurrently decided that it was time for her to exit.'

He wished Magill 'well in her future endeavors' and praised her as a 'good person and a talented leader who was beloved by her team'.

He continued: 'She is not the slightest bit anti-Semitic. Working with her was one of the great pleasures of my life.

'Worn down by months of relentless external attacks, she was not herself last Tuesday.

'Over prepared and over lawyered given the hostile forum and high stakes, she provided a legalistic answer to a moral question, and that was wrong.'

Magill was slammed for her testimony, in which she said that reprimanding students who call for a Jewish genocide was not paramount - but 'context' specific.

She was asked a 'yes or no' question on whether calls for the genocide of Jews counted as hate speech, and repeatedly said it depended on the context.

On Wednesday she attempted to clarify her comments, but the damage was done: a wealthy alumnus withdrew a $100 million donation, and her remarks were roundly condemned by the ADL, the White House and politicians across the board.

Magill issued a groveling video statement attempting to explain her failure to condemn calls for the genocide of Jewish people on campuses.

She said she was not 'focused' on the issue, and said she wanted to 'be clear' that calls for genocide were 'evil, plain and simple' - although she said the blame lay with her university's policies and the constitution, rather than with her.

Magill said: 'There was a moment during yesterday's Congressional hearing on antisemitism when I was asked if a call for the genocide of Jewish people on our campus would violate our policies.

'In that moment, I was focused on our university's long-standing policies - aligned with the U.S. Constitution - which say that speech alone is not punishable.

'I was not focused on, but I should have been, the irrefutable fact that a call for genocide of Jewish people is a call for some of the most terrible violence human beings can perpetrate. It's evil, plain and simple.'

Magill said she hoped to draw a line in the sand, and clarify her position.

'I want to be clear: a call for genocide of Jewish people is threatening, deeply so,' she said.

'It is intentionally meant to terrify a people who have been subjected to pogroms and hatred for centuries, and were the victims of mass genocide in the Holocaust.

'In my view it would be harassment or intimidation.'

But, Magill said, it was not officially classed as harassment - a policy she said was outdated and needed review.

Magill pledged to work to update the existing rules.

'For decades under multiple Penn presidents and consistent with most universities, Penn's policies have been guided by the Constitution and the law,' she said.

'In today's world, where we are seeing signs of hate proliferating across our campus and our world in a way not seen in years, these policies need to be clarified and evaluated.

'Penn must initiate a serious and careful look at our policies.'

She concluded that she was 'committed to a safe, secure and supportive environment so all members of our community can thrive. We can, and we will, get it right.'

On Thursday, as the House Education Committee said they were investigating the issue further, the board of Wharton - the world's first business school, founded in 1881 at the University of Pennsylvania - said Magill needed to resign.

In a letter addressed to her, they said leadership of the university needed to change 'with immediate effect'.
Australia has voted in favour of a United Nations resolution supporting a ceasefire in Gaza - hours after it joined with allies New Zealand and Canada to say they are 'alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza'.

The 193-member United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly in favour of an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza with 153 members in favour, 10 against - including the United States - and 23 abstaining.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a joint statement with his counterparts from NZ and Canada that Australia supports the creation of a sustainable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip but Hamas must give up its weapons.

'We are alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza,' the statement released on Wednesday said, as the Israeli bombardment of Hamas militants in the enclave continues.

'The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians,' the leaders said.

Health authorities in the Hamas-run Gaza say the death toll from Israel's offensive has passed 18,000.

Anthony Albanese says civilians cannot be allowed to suffer in Israel's bid to defeat Hamas

Anthony Albanese, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also said any ceasefire 'cannot be one-sided'.

'Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields and lay down its arms,' they said.

The three leaders condemned 'Hamas' unacceptable treatment of hostages' and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the captives.

The Australian and Canadian governments both consider Hamas a terrorist organisation while New Zealand authorities have designated the entity's military wing a terrorist group.

I've joined @AlboMP and @JustinTrudeau to express our views on the tragic and ongoing loss of life in the Israel-Hamas conflict.https://t.co/VFJEJ3Ig6a Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) December 12, 2023

The joint statement condemned Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7 and the 'heinous acts of violence perpetrated in those attacks, including sexual violence', after militants killed 1200 people and took more than 200 hostages.

The three governments recognised Israel's right to defend itself.

'In defending itself, Israel must respect international humanitarian law,' they added.

There was also 'no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza', the leaders said while opposing 'the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, the re-occupation of Gaza, any reduction in territory and any use of siege or blockade' and backed a two-state solution.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong is expected to visit Israel and other countries in the Middle East in January.

The 193-member United Nations General Assembly was due to vote to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the conflict on Wednesday after the United States vetoed such a move in the Security Council.
Villagers have called for a meeting with landfill bosses after living with the smell of rotten eggs for two months.

Locals living near Hafod tip in Wrexham, North Wales, have been blighted by the stench and are demanding to meet with bosses to discuss their concerns.

The horrible odour has drawn the attention of local politicians who have written to the Welsh Government environment body Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to investigate the possible cause.

NRW has already identified parts of the site that may be responsible and said another audit of the tip is due next week.

It is also liaising with the owners of the site, Enovert North, to implement an action plan in a bid to contain the foul stench.

Villagers have called for a meeting with bosses of the Hafod tip (pictured) in Wrexham after living with the smell of rotten eggs for two months

Locals living near Hafod tip in Wrexham, North Wales, have been blighted by the stench and are demanding to meet with bosses to discuss their concerns. Pictured: Heol Kenyon in Johnston which is near the tip

Welsh Labour MS Ken Skates, who represents Clwyd South, said he is pushing for better protection from emissions for fed-up families.

He said: 'I have been contacted by numerous residents over the past couple of weeks who are utterly fed up with the stench coming from the site.

'I run in the area regularly and agree with local people that it's actually getting worse. It can't go on like this.'

Mr Skates wrote to NRW last month alongside Cllr David Bithell, of Wrexham county council, to call for action.

He added: 'Cllr Bithell and I will continue to push for stricter enforcement and better protection from emissions for residents.'

Cllr Bithell said: 'Local residents also need to have confidence in the site operator, Enovert, that it's operating in line with its permit conditions.

'NRW stated that they are working with Enovert on a revised plan to address these issues and assured us they will scrutinise the plans to ensure they sufficiently address the gas leakage. We welcome their intervention as the regulator.'

The horrible odour has drawn the attention of local politicians who have written to the Welsh Government environment body Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to investigate the possible cause. Pictured: Heol Orsaf in Johnston which is near the tip

David Powell, of Natural Resources Wales, said: 'NRW inspectors are continuing investigations into the cause of odour emissions at Hafod Landfill.

'We have identified parts of the site which have been giving rise to these odours.

'We continue to liaise with the site operator Enovert North, who are implementing their action plan to contain the odour and comply with their environmental permit.

'We will be completing a further audit of the site next week and the report will be published on NRW's public register in due course.'

MailOnline has contaced Enovert for comment.
Commentary: China, Vietnam jointly build a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance

17:11, December 12, 2023 By Zhai Kun ( People's Daily Online

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President, is on a state visit to Vietnam from Dec. 12 to 13.

The visit will further strengthen relations between the CPC and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the two countries, and deepen the traditional friendship between the two parties and countries. It is a landmark event that takes place against the backdrop of crucial historical opportunities for both parties and countries to advance the socialist cause, seek cooperation and development, maintain regional and global peace and stability, and build a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

First, the visit will further deepen relations between the two parties and countries. Since the establishment of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, bilateral relations have enjoyed a steady development. China and Vietnam are committed to building a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, which reflects a new high in political mutual respect and trust, closer economic mutual benefits and win-win cooperation, more frequent cultural exchanges, and a better inheritance and development of civilization and wisdom. Meanwhile, China and Vietnam cooperate in the international arena, rise to the challenges, and safeguard regional and global peace and stability. Such a cooperation framework has brought greater well-being to both peoples, and contributed to the harmonious development of the world.

Second, the all-dimensional interaction is consolidated. A distinctive and effective interaction framework covering the exchanges between political parties, government departments, legislatures, local governments, and civil society organizations has taken shape. Exchanges between political parties have enabled both sides to gain a better understanding of each other's governance concept. Substantial progress has been made in economic cooperation and cultural exchanges between the two government departments. Legislatures have frequently interacted, learning from each other in the formulation of laws and regulations, thus promoting the construction of the socialist rule of law. Cooperation between local governments has enriched the content of bilateral cooperation, fleshed out the policies and measures of bilateral cooperation, and helped it become closer and more innovative. And civil society organizations' participation has injected new vitality into the development of bilateral relations, promoting mutual understanding among the peoples and nourishing people-to-people amity. This all-dimensional interaction pattern has not only yielded substantive results at the bilateral level, but is highly influential in the region and the world, pushing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Furthermore, the docking of their strategic planning has continuously empowered bilateral cooperation. The signing of a cooperation document between the two sides on the docking of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle plan marks a deeper strategic docking, pushes pragmatic cooperation in areas such as agricultural products, interconnectivity, high-tech, and tourism for in-depth development, and brings strategic cooperation to an all-round and high-quality development phase, offering new opportunities to prosperity and stability for both countries and the region. It can be said that deeper cooperation in docking their strategic planning has built a cooperative network covering multiple fields, featuring shared interests, and ushering in a brighter future for the peoples of both countries.

The visit of general secretary Xi Jinping will help both countries build a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, and re-calibrate the course of bilateral ties. It will also boost the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era characterized by peace, prosperity, and a shared destiny. This visit is crucial to the region's pursuit of win-win cooperation, and the exploration of a path to modernization for the world featuring peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity.

The author is a professor at the School of International Studies, and vice dean of Institute of Area Studies of Peking University.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
A body has been pulled out of the same lake where investigators found the car belonging to a missing teen from Illinois.

Brissa Romero went missing last Monday as she was on her way to a work holiday party at the Bowlero bowling alley in Vernon Hills, Illinois.

On Monday night, the Carpentersville teenager's car was recovered by search crews from a retention pond just a mile away from where she was last seen alive.

Police are now saying they pulled a body that matches Brissa's description out of the lake during search efforts on Tuesday.

Carpentersville police are waiting on confirmation form the Lake County Coroner's office to say for certain that the body found is that of the missing teen.

PICTURED: Brissa Romero, 17, was heading to Bowlero bowling alley for a work holiday party located in the northern suburb of Vernon Hills last Monday when she suddenly vanished

Last night the Carpentersville teenager's car was recovered by search crews from a retention pond just a mile away from where she was last seen alive

Brissa wasn't inside her Nissan Rogue when it was pulled out of the water - but investigators believe that she had been in the vehicle when it went into the lake.

'Based on the condition of the vehicle and all the evidence we have at this point, it appears that Brissa was in that vehicle when it drove into the lake,' said Vernon Hills Police Chief Patrick Kreis.

The car was retrieved from the pond at 4 pm on Monday after a police supervisor on the scene spoke to a witness who had spotted a backpack floating on the water.

Police found the backpack and it appeared to belong to Brissa - so they called in additional forces to search the area and eventually found the car.

The pond is just off a T-intersection of Lakeview Parkway and Executive Parkway, according to police.

Brissa might have been unfamiliar with the area and driven through the intersection instead of turning right or left, which would have led her to drive down an embankment and into the pond.

Surveillance footage from December 4 - the night Brissa went missing - shows that the young woman made a pit stop at her job to pick up her iPad that she had forgotten before heading out again to the party.

The video footage was from a fast-food restaurant that was around one to one and a half miles away from the pond.

Officials said her phone last pinged near the party venue but no one at the party saw her.

The dark-haired, brown-eyed Romero, who stands at 5 feet, 1 inches tall, was wearing a green long sleeve shirt, black vest, ripped black jeans and black Uggs.

After her disappearance, police conducted an extensive search using drones and surveying local ponds for her vehicle, but nothing surfaced until last night.

Jocelyn Rubi Romero told the news outlet last week that everyone in the family shares their location of where they are with with their parents.

'She called my mom at 6:55 pm and said she was on the way over here, and my mom kept looking at her location, and she was heading over here,' Rubi Romero said, 'but around the time that she arrived, she did not call my mom.'

Brissa wasn't inside her Nissan Rogue when it was pulled out of the water - but investigators believe that she had been in the vehicle when it went into the lake

Surveillance footage from December 4 - the night Brissa went missing - shows that the young woman made a pit stop at her job to pick up her iPad that she had forgotten before heading out again to the party

Brissa might have been unfamiliar with the area and driven through the intersection instead of turning right or left, which would have led her to drive down an embankment and into the pond

A $14,000 reward has been posted for he safe return of Brissa Romero (pictured). The flyer shows the teen's Illinois license plate and the clothes she was wearing - black vest, green long sleeve shirt, black ripped jeans, black Uggs - when she was last seen. The flyer was posted in English and Spanish

A vigil was held on Sunday night near Town Center Road and Milwaukee Avenue, the last known place where Brissa was seen. Family and friends gathered to pray that their loved one is found safe and returns home.

Clutching a large crucifix towards her chest, Romero's distraught mother, Blanca Aguilera wept, as she said: 'I want my daughter back as soon as possible. I just want my daughter back.'

Romero had been attending Harper college and was studying to become an ultra-sound technician.

Aguilera said that one of their last conversations she and her daughter had was about college and Romero's future plans.

Described as a 'hard worker' the teen was busy working two jobs before she went missing, and was not someone who would runaway from home.

'Somebody came and took her, I don't know what they think,' said the heartbroken mom at the time. 'I just want my daughter back.'
A thunderstorm asthma warning has been issued for much of Victoria's east.

People in central, west and south Gippsland have been warned there is a high risk of developing the condition due to a combination of high grass pollen levels, thunderstorms and strong winds.

There is a chance a large number of people may develop asthma symptoms over a short period of time, the state's health department says.

A moderate risk warning is in place for the Mallee, Wimmera, southwest, north central, northern country, northeast and east Gippsland.

People have been told to avoid being outdoors in a storm or during winds before a storm, take preventative medication and carry a reliever.

Health authorities earlier warned of a heightened risk of thunderstorm asthma, and that peak season for the condition could run until January due to a longer than usual grass pollen season.

Ambulance Victoria emergency management director Justin Dunlop also warned conditions are similar to 2016, when ten people died and emergency departments were overwhelmed during a thunderstorm asthma event.

Among those affected by the epidemic were people with seasonal hay fever who had not ever had asthma.
Israel has voiced outrage at the UN's vote for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with its ambassador warning that fighting will only end when Hamas terrorists 'put down their weapons'.

Gilad Erdan made an impassioned speech to the UN General Assembly shortly before the landmark resolution to see an immediate end to fighting between Hamas and Israel was passed.

'If you want a real ceasefire, here is the right address. Here is the phone number of Hamas's office in Gaza, you can all call,' he told delegates before reading out the number of Yahya Sinwar, a terror leader who has been dubbed 'Gaza's Bin Laden'.

The furious official went on: 'Tell Hamas to put down their arms, turn themselves in and return our hostages. This will bring a complete ceasefire that will last forever.'

Hamas senior official Izzat El-Reshiq responded by welcoming the vote and urged the international community to pile pressure onto Israel to abide by the resolution. Talks between the two sides are ongoing, key negotiator Qatar said earlier this week.

Calls for a ceasefire from around the world are becoming increasingly desperate amid a rising Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which the Hamas-run health ministry says stands at more than 18,400.

Israel declared war on Hamas after around 1,200 Israelis were killed by the terrorists during their October 7 rampage, while more than 200 people were taken hostage.

So far, all attempts to secure a permanent ceasefire have proven futile, and while politically significant due to it reflecting a global view on the war, the latest vote is non-binding.

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, held up what he said was the phone number of top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar ahead of the non-binding vote on a ceasefire

 Breaking: Israel  ambassador to the UN  @giladerdan1: If you want a ceasefire, ask Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas. This is his number. pic.twitter.com/2fujCbYeLJ  Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) December 12, 2023

The General Assembly, which includes all 193 UN member nations, voted 153 in favor of the resolution

The Israeli army on December 12, 2023 shows soldiers operating in the Gaza Strip

Overall, ten countries, including the United States and Israel, voted against, while 23 abstained

The UN's paralyzed Security Council failed to make the same call last week after the United States vetoed a similar declaration in the 15-member Security Counci.

The General Assembly, which includes all 193 UN member nations, voted 153 in favor of the resolution, exceeding the 140 or so countries that have routinely backed resolutions condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Ten countries, including the United States and Israel, voted against, while 23 abstained. Pressure is piling on the US as calls for a ceasefire grow and it remains in support of Israel's war on Hamas.

But cracks are beginning to show between the allies, with US President Joe Biden warning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that Israel risked losing global support for its war against Hamas amid its 'indiscriminate' bombing of Gaza.

In his most blunt remarks since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas which provoked the current conflict, Biden told donors that Netanyahu needed to 'change' his stance on a two-state solution for the Palestinians.

Netanyahu meanwhile said there was 'disagreement' with Biden over how a post-conflict Gaza would be governed, reflecting a rare rift after weeks in which the US leader has strongly backed Israel.

Biden told a campaign event in Washington that Israel had 'most of the world supporting it' after the Hamas attacks, in which Israel says 1,200 people died. Hundreds were also taken hostage.

'But they're starting to lose that support by the indiscriminate bombing that takes place,' Biden said.

Ambassador of Palestine, Riyad Mansour, speaks during a press conference with representatives of other Arab nations after the vote

Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield speaks during the UN General Assembly emergency special session on the Israel-Hamas war

Israeli forces shell the Gaza Strip from the border area in southern Israel

Smoke rises over Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from southern Israel, December 12, 2023

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said Tuesday that more than 18,400 people - mostly women and children - had been killed in Israel's bombardment since October 7.

The US president also dismissed arguments that he said Netanyahu had made that allied forces had 'carpet-bombed' Germany and used nuclear weapons against Japan in World War II.

Biden said he'd told Netanyahu that international institutions were set up after the war 'to see to it that it didn't happen again' and reiterated that the United States had made 'mistakes' after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Biden then said that Netanyahu had a 'tough decision to make' regarding his hard-right government.

'He's a good friend, but I think he has to change and, with this government, this government in Israel is making it very difficult for him to move,' the US president said.

'They don't want a two-state solution,' he said, describing it as the 'most conservative government in Israel's history.'

His comments reflect a growing split over what happens after the war, with US calls for Gaza to be turned over to a strengthened Palestinian Authority receiving a cool reception in Israel.

The Palestinian Authority is currently in charge of the West Bank while Islamist Hamas controls the Gaza Strip.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu said following a conversation with Biden that there was 'disagreement' between the allies over 'the day after Hamas.'

Palestinians search for survivors following an Israeli bombardment in the southern Gaza city of Rafah

A seriously injured child is treated by medics at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, following Israeli strikes

The Israeli premier said he hoped 'we will reach agreement here' but he vowed not to 'repeat the mistake of Oslo,' referring to the 1993 peace accords signed in the United States.

Washington has been calling for weeks on Israel to take more care to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza, saying that too many Palestinians have been killed.

Biden had given a similar warning about global support during a ceremony at the White House on Monday to mark the Jewish holiday of Hannukah.

'We have to be careful. They have to be careful. The whole world's public opinion can shift overnight, we can't let that happen,' he told guests.
A Canadian 'poison' chef accused of selling lethal drugs on the internet to help vulnerable people across the world take their own lives has been charged with 14 counts of second degree murder.

Kenneth Law, 57, has now been charged with a total of 28 offences after he allegedly sold 1,200 packages of lethal substances on the internet to people in 40 countries.

The so-called merchant of death is said to have sold them between late 2020 and April 2023, including to people in the UK.

After his arrest in Ontario, Law was initially charged with two counts of counselling and aiding suicide.

In August, he received a further 12 charges of counselling or aiding suicide, bringing the total number to 14 and yesterday Law was charged with 14 counts of second degree murder.

Kenneth Law, 57, has now been charged with a total of 28 offences after he allegedly sold 1,200 packages of lethal substances on the internet to people in 40 countries

Anthony Jones, a 17-year-old from Michigan, was one of Law's alleged victims. He ran to his mother screaming 'I want to live' after he ingested the substance that eventually killed him

Tom Parfett, 22, from Berkshire, allegedly died shortly after buying products from Law's company

The 28 charges relate to 14 victims and are the result of an investigation by 11 Canadian police forces, Peel Regional Police said.

Outside Canada, the National Crime Agency said it launched its own probe into the deaths of 88 people in the UK who bought substances online to assist with suicide.

In total, 272 individuals in the UK were identified as allegedly having purchased products from the websites over a two-year period up to April 2023. The NCA said 88 of those people have died.

His alleged victims included teenagers and young adults in their 20s and 30s.

Anthony Jones, a 17-year-old from Michigan, was one of Law's alleged victims.

'It was 3 a.m. and he went running into his mom's room, screaming and begging to call emergency responders,' New York lawyer Carrie Goldberg told CTV News Toronto.

Michael Dunham also died after buying products said to be from Kenneth Law's company

He ran to his mother shouting 'I want to live' after ingesting the substance, which eventually killed him, the initial investigation revealed.

In Britain, Tom Parfett, 22, Michael Dunham, 38, Neha Raju, 23, and a 21-year-old student allegedly died after buying products from Law's company.

The father of Berkshire born Mr Parfett said: 'I believe my son would still be alive if it wasn't for this man and this substance.'

Law, from Mississauga, Ontario, is also being investigated by police in the United States, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.

For confidential support call Samaritans on 116123 or visit www.samaritans.org
The House is on track to vote on authorizing the Biden impeachment inquiry on Wednesday - and nearly all Republicans are onboard.

The resolution passed out of the House Rules Committee Tuesday, its final step before heading to the House floor.

Only Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., is still solidly a 'lean no.' 'Ive got 24 hours to get some sense knocked into my head,' he joked to reporters.

Even the moderate and Biden district Republicans seem to be onboard with authorizing the inquiry - and insist it does not put them in a bind of being obligated to hold a vote on impeaching the president further down the line.

'With anything with due process, there's there's a chance for all outcomes to occur,' Rep. John Garcia, R-Calif., who represents a district Biden won in 2020, told DailyMail.com.

Speaker Mike Johnson insisted they were not under any obligation to push through with impeaching the president just by opening an inquiry. 'We're not going to prejudge the outcome of this,' he told reporters. 'It's not a political calculation. We're following the law'

The vote will come on a day when Hunter Biden is in DC - but is not expected to show up to his mandatory deposition on Capitol Hill

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy had declared the inquiry open in October, but now Republicans say they need a vote to fully green-light the probe due to White House 'stonewalling.'

Holding a vote to impeach the president could prove more politically divisive - and potentially damaging to Republicans from swing districts. Not holding a vote to impeach Biden risks looking like the investigation has exonerated him.

Speaker Mike Johnson insisted they were not under any obligation to push through with impeaching the president just by opening an inquiry.

'We're not going to prejudge the outcome of this,' he told reporters. 'It's not a political calculation. We're following the law.'

The vote will come on a day when Hunter Biden is in DC - but is not expected to show up to his mandatory deposition on Capitol Hill.

Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer and Judiciary Chair Rep. Jim Jordan have threatened to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of court if he does not appear for a closed-door deposition by December 13.

Authorizing the probe with the approval of a majority of the House is a way for Republicans to bolster their standing in potential court battles.

Hunter's lawyers have insisted their client will only testify publicly. Republicans have said he must first come in for a private deposition before he gets a public testimony.

Now, Republicans say Hunter could hide behind the shield of the most recent Department of Justice indictment - which hit him with nine criminal charges for avoiding paying taxes while spending millions on an 'extravagant lifestyle.'

The probe is investigating whether Biden partook in the business deals that capitalized on his name to enrich his family and whether he used the Department of Justice to offer special treatment to his son.

Republican impeachment investigators will need to significantly ramp up the proof they have of Joe Biden's involvement in his family's overseas business dealings if they are to have the votes to impeach the president. Some Republicans say they have not yet seen enough proof to convince them to impeach the president.

'The thing about evidence is that you need to see it before you prejudge it,' Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., chair of the pragmatic Main Street Caucus told DailyMail.com.

House Republicans have uncovered evidence of payments from Hunter and James Biden to Joe Biden's bank accounts after lucrative business dealings, but the White House has shown evidence suggesting those could be loan repayments.
Joe Biden said Vladimir Putin is 'banking on the U.S. failing to deliver for Ukraine' and accused Republicans of 'turning their backs on freedom's cause.'

In a press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House the U.S. President said 'extreme' Republicans would be 'judged harshly' by history for trying to make military aid to Ukraine conditional on there also being a plan for more security at the border with Mexico.

Biden said 'holding Ukraine funding hostage' was not the way to get a deal on security for the southern American border and attacked what he claimed was Republicans' 'partisan' agenda.

'Holding Ukraine funding hostage in an attempt to force through an extreme Republican partisan agenda on the border is not how it works. We need real solutions,' he said.

'This is stunning that we've gotten to this point. I will not walk away from Ukraine and neither will the American people,' he noted.

Volodymr Zelensky and Joe Biden take questions at the White House

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a joint press conference with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House in Washington, U.S., December 12, 2023

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a joint press conference with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, U.S., December 12, 2023

Biden added: 'Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine.'

And he slammed Republicans holding up the funding: 'If you're being celebrated by Russian propagandists, it might be time to rethink what you're doing. History will judge harshly those who turned their back on freedom's cause.'

The two men wrapped up their afternoon of meetings at the White House with a joint press conference.

Zelensky shot down any suggestion Ukraine would give up its territory to make a peace settlement with Russia.

'That is insane,' he said bluntly.

'But I have a question to this people if they are ready to give up their children to terrorists. I think no,' he added.

And he expressed optimism that the deadlock in Congress would be broken, allowing the Ukraine to get American aid.

'I got the signals,' he said of his meetings with lawmakers. 'They were more than positive. But we know that we have to separate words and particular results. Therefore we will count on particular results.'

Earlier Tuesday, Biden told Zelensky not to give up hope as he hosted the Ukrainian president at the White House on Tuesday as part of a pressure campaign to get Republicans in Congress to approve the funds needed for Kyiv to fight off Russian forces.

'I don't want you giving up hope,' Biden said to him in the Oval Office. 'We're going to stay at your side.'

Zelensky flew into Washington to advocate for an $61.4 billion that is being held up by Republicans on Capitol Hill who want to attach provisions tied to U.S. southern border security.

'People need to be confident that freedom will be secure and strong enough to win,' he said to Biden in the Oval.

President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House

And Biden warned Congress will give Russian President Vladimir Putin the 'greatest Christmas gift' ever if they don't approve more funding for Ukraine.

'Congress needs to pass a supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for holiday recess before they give Putin the greatest Christmas gift they could possibly give him,' Biden said.

The Ukrainian president spent the morning at the Capitol lobbying lawmakers but it may all be for not: Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell told his senators the talks are going no where.

McConnell, at a private Senate luncheon that took place shortly before Biden's meeting with Zelensky, said the talks will be punted to January, Punchbowl DC reported.

The move would be a blow to Biden's administration and his Zelensky's war effort.

Biden repeated his concern that Putin would increase his offensive if Congress didn't act. And he warned Putin was planning to bombard Ukraine's electrical grid this winter.

'Putin plans to bombard Ukraine's electric grid and with rockets plunging families in the darkness in the coldest part of the year and doing great damage. We can't and won't let him succeed,' Biden said.

Zelensky said his country was working to become less dependent on outside aid.

'Ukraine is greatly becoming less dependent on aid and we are moving to right direction and I want to discuss with the president how to strengthen it, especially enhancing our air defense and ability to destroy Russia's logistics,' he said.

Zelensky's in-person visit to Washington, the third since the war began, is his most crucial and is a sign of how dire the White House believes the situation: both to get Zelensky his funding and how critical that money is to hold off Russian forces.

Biden has asked Congress for $61.4 billion for Ukraine as part of a $110 billion package that also includes money for Israel and other national security priorities.

The money is caught up a debate over U.S. immigration policy and border security with no sign of a deal in sight. And Congress is scheduled to leave town at the end of this week for the rest of the year.

Many Republican lawmakers, particularly in the House, argue that enough American money has been spent on Ukraine and it's better off being spent at home. Those GOP lawmakers are trying to tie border security to the funding package for Kyiv and Israel.

The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion for its fight since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded the country in February 2022.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell - seen with President Zelensky and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in the Capitol - told his senators the talks are going no where

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives at the White House

But the Biden administration has warned that a failure to renew military assistance to Ukraine could tip the nearly two-year-old war in Russia's favor, creating national security threats for the West.

Zelensky began his day on Capitol Hill, attending an all-senators meeting after a joint invitation from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. He then met with House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Biden's budget director Shalanda Young said on Dec. 4 that the US would run out of resources to assist Ukraine by the end of the calendar year.

By mid-November, the U.S. Defense Department had used 97% of $62.3 billion in supplemental funding and the State Department had used all of the $4.7 billion in military assistance funding for Ukraine it had been allocated, she noted.

The U.S. has supplied roughly half of the military aid to Ukraine and it's unlikely any other country could make up the difference. Additionally the U.S. has sent American weapon systems, which need U.S. ammunition.

The Biden administration is going all out to get Zelensky's war funded.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, appearing on the Sunday political talk shows, warned that the clock is ticking.

'This is a time to really step up because if we don't, we know what happens. Putin will be able to move forward with impunity and we know he won't stop in Ukraine,' Blinken said.

Johnson left his meeting with Zelensky seemingly unswayed on the urgent need for aid, insisting no U.S. dollars would pass over without adequate U.S. border provisions.

'I reiterated to him that we stand with him and against Putin's brutal invasion,' the speaker said of their conversation.

But he added: 'I have asked the White House since the day that I was handed the gavel as speaker, and for clarity, we need a clear articulation of the strategy to allow Ukraine to win.'

Johnson then went on to blame Democrats for not being open enough to the border provisions Republicans demand in exchange for foreign aid.

'It is not the House's issue right now, the issue is with the White House and the Senate, and I implore them to do their job,' the speaker said.

Schumer said he had called Johnson and asked him to keep the House in session. But Johnson said he would not do that without a clear path forward.

'I don't know what else to do. I'm not going to have everybody sit here through Christmas twiddling their thumbs,' he said.

'We're willing to work. The House members will work. We've shown that over and over and over, but we're not getting any cooperation from the White House and the Senate Democrats at all,' Johnson told radio host Hugh Hewitt this morning.

Zelensky, meanwhile, pleaded for 'life and death' aid to continue his country's fight against Russia.

'The fight we're in is a fight for freedom,' he repeatedly said in the meetings, according to lawmakers.

He also told senators his citizens would resort to 'guerilla war' if needed and support dries up.

'The president did mention at some point in time guerrilla warfare, if he doesn't get the kind of support  if it degraded [to] that point,' Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson told a group of reporters after the meeting.

'I mean, Putin would be facing a long term guerrilla war in whatever parts of Ukraine you'd occupy that can't be particularly attractive for him,' he said.

President Zelensky with House Speaker Mike Johnson

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (center) walks with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (right) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (left)

President Biden indicated a willingness to reach an accommodation with Republicans on border funding, but Republicans say the administration won't bend on their push for policy wins. The Biden administration says stocks that the US is able to supply to Ukraine are running low.

'The day we get those policy changes. We'll get a big vote in the Senate and I think enough in the House,' Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham predicted.

As for the Ukrainians, 'they'll keep fighting forever, but they need not only the money and the aid we're going to give them. They need more weapons, longer range weapons,' he said.
Campaigners accused Stuart of going 'awol' as talks reached the crunch stage

The UK's Net Zero minister was last summoned home from the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai to vote on the Rwanda Bill  before heading back out to the Middle East.

Graham Stuart made the 7,000-mile round trip to London and back to support the Government after fears that rebel MPs could vote it down  so every vote in favour was crucial.

Members of the International Development Committee, meanwhile, had been due to travel to the Caribbean but had to cancel it in order to cast their ballots.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also moved a speech that was supposed to take place in a Red Wall seat in the North yesterday to a venue closer to London.

Campaigners accused Mr Stuart of going 'awol' just as environmental talks in the UAE reached the crunch stage and called it a 'dereliction' of leadership.

Graham Stuart (pictured) made the 7,000-mile round trip to London and back

The UK's Net Zero minister was last summoned home from the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai (pictured) to vote on the Rwanda Bill  before heading back out to the Middle East

Climate activists attend a protest against fossil fuels during the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai today

The summit was in deadlock last night after the deadline passed for the final agreement to limit global warming to 1.5C, raising fears the meeting could conclude before Mr Stuart's return.

There were also questions about the environmental impact of the minister flying back to then return to Cop again following estimates that a one-way flight would emit between 3.1 and 3.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Asked about the carbon emissions from the flights, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'This Government is not anti-flying.

'We don't lecture the public to that regard. The most important thing is the outcomes of Cop, which minister Stuart is obviously leading for the UK on.'

Criticism was levelled at the Government in the early stages of Cop28 as King Charles, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron flew to Dubai in separate private jets.

Secretary of State for Net Zero Claire Coutinho had left the conference in the early stages, placing Mr Stuart in charge of the UK delegation.

The UK hosted the Cop26 summit in Glasgow and has attempted to position itself as a leader in the climate talks.

Mr Stuart's departure provoked fury from campaigners.

Friends of the Earth's international climate campaigner Rachel Kennerley said: 'It's astounding that the minister responsible for delivering climate action is deserting Cop28 with crucial negotiations hanging in the balance.'

Rebecca Newsom, head of politics at Greenpeace UK, said: 'This is an outrageous dereliction of leadership at the most critical point during this conference.'

A Government spokesman said: 'Minister Stuart has returned to the UK to attend Parliament in his role as an MP.

'There will continue to be full official representation on the ground at the summit, including by Lord Benyon at ministerial level.

'Minister Stuart will continue to be the lead UK minister for negotiations and remains in constant contact with the UK lead climate negotiator and Lord Benyon, with any final decisions agreed with him.'

Mr Stuart wasn't the only MP to be recalled to participate in the vote. The Government imposed a three-line whip, ordering MPs to cancel foreign trips.
Donald Trump's legal team finally rested their defense in his New York fraud trial, after one final courtroom skirmish where Judge Arthur Engoron told them there was 'no way' he would rule in their favor.

The final squabble came Tuesday, after Trump failed to appear in his own defense as he originally forecast and son Eric made a surprise appearance to watch the final moments of the family business's case.

That came after the former president posted Sunday that 'I have already testified to everything & have nothing more to say.'

'We do rest,' Trump lawyer Chris Kise told the judge, who Trump attacked as 'crooked' throughout the trial while also firing off posts targeting his wife and chief judicial clerk.

Trump lawyer Chris Kise indicated took a series of steps on general court matters 'for appellate purposes,' prompting a quip from Engoron.

Eric Trump leaves Manhattan Civil Court after making a surprise appearance to watch the Trump Organization lawyers rest their defense

Lawyers for former President Donald Trump rested their case in his New York fraud trial

'You're going to appeal,' he said, ABC News reported.

Kise said he planned to make a motion for a 'directed verdict' on Friday. That would be an opportunity for the judge to rule there was no sufficient evidence to the prosecution's case, effectively ending a matter where he has already made a finding of fraud.

'There is no way I am going to grant that,' Engoron told him. 'You'd be wasting your time.'

The statement came at the end of a $250 million fraud trial to decide on the amount of financial penalty Trump and the Trump Organization will face  with his ability to do business in New York State also on the line.

Trump has railed against his prosecution throughout the proceeding, including during his final courtroom visit Friday. He has used the trial to score frequent televised appearances before the media from inside the courtroom, and has seen his poll numbers against Republican opponents and President Joe Biden rise during the duration of the trial.

Judge Arthur Engoron told Trump lawyer Chris Kise there was 'no way' he would rule in favor of his motion for a 'direct verdict' on the case

Kise indicated that Trump's team planned to appeal

Tuesday featured more questions from prosecutors about Trump's penthouse apartment, which they say inflated its value by about $200 million by using inaccurate square footage

New York AG Letitia James, who Trump has repeatedly attacked as partisan and 'racist,' was inside the courtroom for the defense's final presentation.

There was some more action from the prosecution Tuesday over the valuation of Trump's penthouse apartment. Prosecutors say his firm goosed the value of the Trump Tower unit by $200 million.

Under questioning, from Trump International Realty exec Kevin Sneddon about how he came up with the valuation of the unit. He said he got the information from former Trump Organization exec Allen Weisselberg, who phoned in the information to get a value years ago.

'I asked if I could see it. He said that was not possible. I asked if there was a floor plan or any specs. He said he did not have any of that information,' Sneddon testified. 'He said, 'It's quite large. I think it's around 30,000 square feet.''
A young mum and dad described by neighoburs as 'nice and polite' have been charged with murder over the death of a respected surgeon during an alleged home invasion.

Dr Michael Yung, 61, a highly-regarded intensive care paediatrician, died after he was allegedly stabbed inside his $2million Gilberton home, in Adelaide's inner-northeast, early on Monday.

Kerem Aydin, 22, and his partner Jacinta Davila, 27, both from the inner western suburb of Thebarton, were arrested at a home in neighbouring Torrensville on Tuesday night.

They have been charged with murder, aggravated serious criminal trespassing and committing theft using force and are due to face Adelaide Magistrates Court later on Wednesday.

The arrests came just hours after Dr Yung's family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support after being advised by doctors his injuries were 'non- survivable'.

On Monday, while Dr Yung was still fighting for life in Royal Adelaide Hospital, his son shared a family photo on Facebook.

Well respected paediatrician, Dr Michael Yung (pictured), died after allegedly being attacked in a home invasion

Kerem Aydin, 22, and Jacinta Davila, 27 (pictured) have been charged over Dr Yung's alleged murder

The image, taken in 1996, shows Mr Yung, his late wife Kathryn, and his son playing with party blowers as they celebrated one of his childhood birthdays.

In the comments, relatives expressed their support and said they were travelling to Adelaide and would be soon by his side.

Meanwhile, other photos posted on social media reveal Davilla and Aydin are also the parents of a young child.

One neighbour who lived next to the couple in Mansfield Park, Adelaide, about 12 months ago described them couple as 'nice' and 'polite', the Adelaide Advertiser reports.

In one post, she shared a photo of the family together, writing: 'Family is truth, where life begins'.

On LinkedIn, Davila described herself as 'honest and hardworking individual' with a 'friendly, driven personality' who is seeking employment in retail.

Aydin's profile on the same website claims he has been a 'self-employed CEO' for the past five years but does not name his company.

'Ive worked in a variety of different jobs for different reasons but mainly for experience,' his bio reads.

'I learn tasks very swiftly, and will most probably do something without having to be asked to do it, mainly just common sense.'

Mr Yung's son shared a the above photo of him with his parents on social media on Monday as his father fought for life in hospital

Crime scene tape and forensic cleaners were seen at the Yungs' home on Wednesday

Tributes have begun to mount on the pavement outside Dr Yung's home

Aydin added that his eclectic work experience has included glasshouses, picking vegetables, working in his family's sweet shop, installing security cameras, retail and working at service businesses such as mechanics and repair shops.

'I love to learn new things, one thing leads to another and Ive already found myself a new passion,' the bio continues.

Mr Yung's 30-year-old son was at the home at the time of the alleged attack but fortunately remained uninjured.

Police will allege they arrived to find the son 'distraught' and Dr Yung suffering injuries to the chest, bowel and head, which caused bleeding of the brain.

The 61-year-old was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital where he was placed into an induced coma following emergency surgery, before his life support was switched off just over 24 hours later.

Despite an initial police theory a youth gang was responsible, no connection has been identified between the arrested couple and those being sought for a recent crime spree across Adelaide.

SA Police had been investigating a string of break-ins across wealthy suburbs such as Gilberton, Medindie, Walkerville, Henley Beach, Fulham and Tennyson under Operation Mandrake.

Police have confirmed detectives are not seeking any other suspects over Mr Yung's death at this time.

Acting Commissioner Linda Williams said the man and woman who have been charged were not linked to Indigenous or African heritage offenders sought as part of operations Mandrake and Meld.

Finger print dust could be seen at the home on Wednesday after it was declared a crime scene earlier this week

Pictured: Two bouquets seen propped up against the bottom of Dr Yung's Gilberton home on Wednesday

'The motive is yet to be worked through as part of the investigation but my advice is theres no connection with the other activity in those suburbs or with any of the persons of interest that wed normally deal with in Operation Mandrake,' she said.

Dr Yung was the former head of the Women's and Children's Hospital paediatric intensive care unit and had practised medicine for almost four decades.

The eminent paediatrician's death is the most recent tragedy for his family after Kathryn Browne-Yung, his health policy expert wife, suddenly died in her sleep in March 2020.

Shortly after her death Dr Yung created a $5,000 scholarship to support Indigenous medical students in the name of his 'kind, thoughtful and intelligent' wife.

His family have requested for donations to be made to the Kathryn Browne-Yung Scholarship Fund in lieu of flowers.

Police are urging anyone with dashcam footage between midnight and 5am on Monday December 11, within a 500m radius of James Street and Nottage Terrace at Gilberton or anyone who has information that may assist with the investigation to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Britain is to allow Rwanda the power of veto over any migrants it is due to receive from the UK.

In a fresh controversy for the Government, the African nation has confirmed it will be able to reject asylum seekers it doesn't want, should the plan eventually get off the ground.

This poses the risk of Rwanda 'cherry picking' easy option migrants from non-terror linked countries  such as Albania or India  while barring those deemed a security risk or with criminal convictions in their home country or Britain.

The Rwandan government told the Mail last night: 'We will decide on whether to approve a transfer request for an individual based on information sent from the UK. This information includes, among other things, any criminal record or security issues known to the UK.'

Government spokesman Yolande Makolo added: 'A criminal record does not automatically mean we will reject the transfer request.

Rwandan Government spokesman Yolande Makolo (pictured) said: 'A criminal record does not automatically mean we will reject the transfer request'

'If someone is deemed a security risk by the UK, then it will inform the decision made by Rwandan authorities. It's not an automatic rejection.'

However, Ms Makolo refused to specify what level of security or terror risk would trigger a veto by her government. She explained that it depended on what details on the person Britain provided.

The original flight destined for Rwanda from Britain was grounded in June after a late-night intervention by European judges which led to a reprieve for eight migrants on board.

All are thought to have remained in Britain, including one Albanian who last month told the Mail that he was still on the list for removal to east Africa although he is currently working for cash on a south London building site.

Rwanda has made clear the new Treaty signed off by Home Secretary James Cleverly in Africa last week contains the get-out clause allowing Kigali to reject asylum seekers it doesn't want.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel earlier this year

Last night, think-tank Migration Watch UK said that the Rwandans have already built up 'a lot of leverage' over Britain when it comes to the deal.

Executive director Dr Mike Jones added that one problem was that the UK might not even know the full truth about an asylum seeker they ask Rwanda to accept. The majority destroy their identity papers before arrival making their true past, criminal, terror-related or otherwise, impossible to ascertain by the Home Office.

Dr Jones said that the Rwanda veto meant Britain might be left to cope with a problem group of migrants which the African country refused to take.

The Daily Mail revealed earlier this year that 19 suspected terrorists, some claiming to be asylum seekers, had entered Britain illegally on small boats and were then put up in migrants' hotels.

It was understood there could be no criminal prosecutions because the suspicions against them were based on intelligence material, which cannot be used in courts, rather than proven evidence.
The law should be tightened so migrants can be removed within a fortnight, the former Lord Chief Justice said today.

In an explosive intervention in the immigration debate, Lord Thomas said he found it inexplicable that migrants were allowed to bring a series of legal challenges against being forced to leave Britain.

He said the system should be rejigged to limit them to 'one right of appeal'.

The remarks by Lord Thomas  who was the head of the judiciary in England and Wales between 2013 and 2017  will boost the Government's proposals to streamline the asylum system.

But they also risk antagonising the large sector of the legal profession who make a good living by drawing out immigration cases with multiple appeals.

The remarks by Lord Thomas  who was the head of the judiciary in England and Wales between 2013 and 2017  will boost the Government's proposals to streamline the asylum system

A group of people thought to be migrants crossing the Channel while overloaded on a small boat heading to Dover on August 29

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, his predecessor Boris Johnson and former home secretary Priti Patel have all attacked 'Lefty lawyers' for exploiting human rights laws to frustrate Government efforts to strengthen border controls.

'You need to simplify and tighten the procedure  that is where we ought to be directing our attention,' Lord Thomas told a University of Law podcast.

'The only way properly to solve the immigration issue... is that you ought to actually be able within a set period of time  say a fortnight  to hear, investigate, decide, give him one right of appeal  why you should have more than one right of appeal I simply don't understand  and remove them.'

He added: 'The problem with immigration is that we've never properly got the system to deal with it speedily.

'We haven't put the money into it.'

However, Lord Thomas said the Government should not override the European Court of Human Rights if it intervened to block flights to Rwanda. He questioned powers already brought into law under the Illegal Migration Act earlier this year that allow ministers to ignore interim injunctions, known as Rule 39 orders, which were used by the court in Strasbourg to block the first Rwanda flight moments before take-off in June last year.

'If you have subjected yourself to a court, and it was our voluntary decision to do so... then you have to take the rough with the smooth, and if they've decided they have this jurisdiction then you ought to follow it,' he said.

'You can't expect others to respect the law if you say you won't respect the law of someone else.'

Lord Thomas said any disagreements over Strasbourg's powers to impose Rule 39s should be resolved 'politically' in the Council of Europe, which oversees the court.

Speaking on the podcast The Judges: Power, Politics and the People, hosted by legal journalist Frances Gibb, he also described his clashes with Liz Truss when she was justice secretary and lord chancellor, adding: 'Her period as lord chancellor showed the issues that would subsequently arise when she had more senior posts, particularly that of prime minister, of someone who doesn't listen, doesn't take advice and doesn't understand the Constitution.'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hit back at the 'insane' suggestion from a reporter Tuesday that Ukraine should give Russian President Vladimir Putin some occupied territory to end the war.

Zelensky, standing side-by-side at a White House press conference with President Joe Biden, also insisted that he was confident that Republicans would relent and approve a bill giving the war-torn nation an additional $61.4billion in military aid.

The Ukrainian president was asked about the stalled counter-offensive against Russia and if he'd cede territory to end the nearly two-year long assault.

'That's insane, to be honest,' Zelensky said through an English interpreter.

'That's part of Ukrainian society. We are talking about human beings. They are being tortured, they are being raped and they are being killed,' he said. 'That's not a matter of territory. That's a matter of life, of families, of children, of their histories.'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hit back at the 'insane' suggestion from a reporter Tuesday that Ukraine should give Russian President Vladimir Putin some occupied territory to end the war

A local resident reacts to her flat being shelled in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region of Ukraine. Zelensky argued that giving up territory to the Russians is 'insane' because it would be losing part of 'Ukrainian society'

'I don't know whose idea it is, but I have a question to these people, if they are ready to give up their children to terrorists. I think no,' Zelensky then offered.

Zelensky also said that 'extreme' Republicans would be 'judged harshly' by history for trying to make military aid to Ukraine conditional on there also being plan for more security at the border with Mexico.

Biden said 'holding Ukraine funding hostage' was not the way to get a deal on security for the southern American border and he took the opportunity to slam Republicans' extreme agenda.

'Holding Ukraine funding hostage in an attempt to force through an extreme Republican partisan agenda on the border is not how it works. We need real solutions,' he said.

'This is stunning that we've gotten to this point. I will not walk away from Ukraine and neither will the American people,' he noted.

Biden added: 'Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine. History will judge harshly those who turned their back on freedom's cause. Putin will keep going.'

The two men wrapped up their afternoon of meetings at the White House with a joint press conference.

Volodymr Zelensky and Joe Biden take questions at the White House

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a joint press conference with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House in Washington, U.S., December 12, 2023

Russian President Vladimir Putin is photographed Tuesday at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Washington

Earlier Tuesday, Biden told Zelensky not to give up hope as he hosted the Ukrainian president at the White House on Tuesday as part of a pressure campaign to get Republicans in Congress to approve the funds needed for Kyiv to fight off Russian forces.

'I don't want you giving up hope,' Biden said to him in the Oval Office. 'We're going to stay at your side.'

Zelensky flew into Washington to advocate for an $61.4 billion that is being held up by Republicans on Capitol Hill who want to attach provisions tied to U.S. southern border security.

'People need to be confident that freedom will be secure and strong enough to win,' he said to Biden in the Oval.

President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House

And Biden warned Congress will give Russian President Vladimir Putin the 'greatest Christmas gift' ever if they don't approve more funding for Ukraine.

'Congress needs to pass a supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for holiday recess before they give Putin the greatest Christmas gift they could possibly give him,' Biden said.

The Ukrainian president spent the morning at the Capitol lobbying lawmakers but it may all be for not: Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell told his senators the talks are going no where.

McConnell, at a private Senate luncheon that took place shortly before Biden's meeting with Zelensky, said the talks will be punted to January, Punchbowl DC reported.

The move would be a blow to Biden's administration and his Zelensky's war effort.

Biden repeated his concern that Putin would increase his offensive if Congress didn't act. And he warned Putin was planning to bombard Ukraine's electrical grid this winter.

'Putin plans to bombard Ukraine's electric grid and with rockets plunging families in the darkness in the coldest part of the year and doing great damage. We can't and won't let him succeed,' Biden said.

Zelensky said his country was working to become less dependent on outside aid.

'Ukraine is greatly becoming less dependent on aid and we are moving to right direction and I want to discuss with the president how to strengthen it, especially enhancing our air defense and ability to destroy Russia's logistics,' he said.

Zelensky's in-person visit to Washington, the third since the war began, is his most crucial and is a sign of how dire the White House believes the situation: both to get Zelensky his funding and how critical that money is to hold off Russian forces.

Biden has asked Congress for $61.4 billion for Ukraine as part of a $110 billion package that also includes money for Israel and other national security priorities.

The money is caught up a debate over U.S. immigration policy and border security with no sign of a deal in sight. And Congress is scheduled to leave town at the end of this week for the rest of the year.

Many Republican lawmakers, particularly in the House, argue that enough American money has been spent on Ukraine and it's better off being spent at home. Those GOP lawmakers are trying to tie border security to the funding package for Kyiv and Israel.

The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion for its fight since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded the country in February 2022.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell - seen with President Zelensky and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in the Capitol - told his senators the talks are going no where

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives at the White House

But the Biden administration has warned that a failure to renew military assistance to Ukraine could tip the nearly two-year-old war in Russia's favor, creating national security threats for the West.

Zelensky began his day on Capitol Hill, attending an all-senators meeting after a joint invitation from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. He then met with House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Biden's budget director Shalanda Young said on Dec. 4 that the US would run out of resources to assist Ukraine by the end of the calendar year.

By mid-November, the U.S. Defense Department had used 97% of $62.3 billion in supplemental funding and the State Department had used all of the $4.7 billion in military assistance funding for Ukraine it had been allocated, she noted.

The U.S. has supplied roughly half of the military aid to Ukraine and it's unlikely any other country could make up the difference. Additionally the U.S. has sent American weapon systems, which need U.S. ammunition.

The Biden administration is going all out to get Zelensky's war funded.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, appearing on the Sunday political talk shows, warned that the clock is ticking.

'This is a time to really step up because if we don't, we know what happens. Putin will be able to move forward with impunity and we know he won't stop in Ukraine,' Blinken said.

Johnson left his meeting with Zelensky seemingly unswayed on the urgent need for aid, insisting no U.S. dollars would pass over without adequate U.S. border provisions.

'I reiterated to him that we stand with him and against Putin's brutal invasion,' the speaker said of their conversation.

But he added: 'I have asked the White House since the day that I was handed the gavel as speaker, and for clarity, we need a clear articulation of the strategy to allow Ukraine to win.'

Johnson then went on to blame Democrats for not being open enough to the border provisions Republicans demand in exchange for foreign aid.

'It is not the House's issue right now, the issue is with the White House and the Senate, and I implore them to do their job,' the speaker said.

Schumer said he had called Johnson and asked him to keep the House in session. But Johnson said he would not do that without a clear path forward.

'I don't know what else to do. I'm not going to have everybody sit here through Christmas twiddling their thumbs,' he said.

'We're willing to work. The House members will work. We've shown that over and over and over, but we're not getting any cooperation from the White House and the Senate Democrats at all,' Johnson told radio host Hugh Hewitt this morning.

Zelensky, meanwhile, pleaded for 'life and death' aid to continue his country's fight against Russia.

'The fight we're in is a fight for freedom,' he repeatedly said in the meetings, according to lawmakers.

He also told senators his citizens would resort to 'guerilla war' if needed and support dries up.

'The president did mention at some point in time guerrilla warfare, if he doesn't get the kind of support  if it degraded [to] that point,' Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson told a group of reporters after the meeting.

'I mean, Putin would be facing a long term guerrilla war in whatever parts of Ukraine you'd occupy that can't be particularly attractive for him,' he said.

President Zelensky with House Speaker Mike Johnson

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (center) walks with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (right) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (left)

Biden indicated a willingness to reach an accommodation with Republicans on border funding, but Republicans say the administration won't bend on their push for policy wins. The Biden administration says stocks that the US is able to supply to Ukraine are running low.

'The day we get those policy changes. We'll get a big vote in the Senate and I think enough in the House,' Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham predicted.

As for the Ukrainians, 'they'll keep fighting forever, but they need not only the money and the aid we're going to give them. They need more weapons, longer range weapons,' he said.
The motion is not legally binding and only recommends that Ziegler resign

Bridget Ziegler said she was 'disappointed' and voted against the motion

A Florida school passed a resolution with 'no teeth' demanding that Moms of Liberty co-founder Bridget Zeigler step down from her role.

The resolution came after police started an investigation into her husband, Christian, for an alleged rape of a woman who said she was in a three-way relationship with the Zeiglers.

The Sarasota County School Board voted 4-1 during Tuesday's meeting asking Bridget Ziegler to voluntarily step down from the panel.

Ziegler voted against the measure and called it 'disappointing.'

The board can not force her to resign and Bridget Zeigler has given no indication she plans to leave her post.

The Sarasota County School Board passed a motion demanding the resignation of Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler in the wake of rape allegations against her Republican chair husband

Ziegler's husband Christian has been accused of rape of a woman who said she was in a three-way relationship with the couple

Christian Ziegler has not been charged but is subjected to a criminal investigation

The resolution was drafted by the board's chair Karen Rose and stated that Ziegler's continued presence would cause, 'an irreparably harmful distraction to the school board's ability to fulfil its critical, constitutional mission of operating'.

'It's not about the left, it's not about the right, it's about students,' Rose said in introducing the motion.

'Any proposal I put forward is based on instruction, learning and what is in the best interest of our students. Safety and security is foremost.'

Her motion, which is not legally binding, was seconded by fellow board member Robyn Marinelli who received a round of applause for her support.

Ziegler said she was 'disappointed' the vote would be going ahead and pointed out she sits on other public boards where her presence was not considered a problem.

She did not respond at length to the motion, but asked the board's lawyer Patrick Duggan to reiterate the measure 'does not have any teeth.'

Only the the governor has the power to remove Ziegler and the board declined to move to write a letter to Ron DeSantis.

Sarasota County School Board passed the motion calling for Ziegler's resignation 4-1 on Tuesday

The board's chair Karen Rose proposed the motion which stated that Ziegler's presence would cause, 'an irreparably harmful distraction to the school board's ability to fulfil its critical and constitutional operations'

Ziegler was a key player in the passage of DeSantis' 'Don't Say Gay' Bill and founded the conservative Moms for Liberty chapter.

But the Florida governor has subsequently called for Christian Ziegler to step down as Republican chair amid the investigation - Christian has not been charged in the case.

'I am not here to characterize the sexual proclivities of Mrs. Ziegeler, Having sex with another bowman in a threesome with her husband is not the issue,' resident Rudolph Lucek told the hearing.

'But when you claim the moral high ground and then you attack the moral integrity of others the blatant hypocrisy of Mrs. Ziegler and how it reflects on the credibility of this board is a significant concern to this community.'

Sarasota parent Elizabeth Bornstein told the board she was 'upset, furious, in disbelief' over the scandal as she called for the board to hold Ziegler 'accountable'.

'BZ must resign now, like the Wizard of Oz the curtain has been pulled back on Bridget Ziegler,' Joyce Peralta added.

'While claiming she was fighting for family values, it is now evident that Bridget and her husband Christian were fighting culture wars for the couple to gain power money.

'How many parents delighted this week in having to answer the question from their children "what is a three-way"?'

She added she did not care about 'what consenting adults do privately' but was troubled by the 'campaign of hate' Ziegler was allegedly leading due to her views on LGBTQ+ and race issues.

The board cannot remove Bridget Ziegler outright, only Governor Ron DeSantis can make that move

Ziegler voted against the motion and said she was 'disappointed' the resolution was being debated since her position on other public boards has not been called into question

Ziegler previously earned the endorsement of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for her Sarasota school board seat. He has since encouraged her husband to step down amid the sex scandal

'Your children deserve privacy that will only be obtained when you and your husband remove yourself from the public positions that amplify you hypocrisy.'

But others leaped to Ziegler's defense, including resident Martin Hyde.

'I'm proud of Bridget Ziegler turning up tonight, it took a hell of a lot of guts,' he said.

'Whatever you think the truth is she is one person against a whole room, and shame on you anyone who comes here to talk about a mother-of-three.

'Let's try to be reasonable, I don't dispute your right to come here and call Bridget out [...] but spare a thought for a young mother-of-three, spare a thought for someone who has committed no criminal offense whatsoever.'

Meanwhile a pastor urged the board not to judge Ziegler too harshly, quoting the bible as he said 'let he who is without sin cast the first stone'.

Ziegler has served on the board since 2014, when she was appointed by then-Gov. Rick Scott, and has previously been its chair.

The Sarasota Police Department is investigating a woman's accusation that Christian Ziegler raped her at her apartment in October.

Police documents say the Zieglers and the woman had planned a sexual threesome that day, but Bridget Ziegler was unable to make it.

The accuser says Christian Ziegler arrived anyway and assaulted her, according to the documents.

After the allegations surfaced, Christian Ziegler said he would remain as state Republican chair 'because we have a country to save and I am not going to let false allegations of a crime put that mission on the bench as I wait for this process to wrap up.'

The Zieglers are pictured at an event. Christian's lawyer, Derek Byrd, said in an email he is 'hoping (the) investigation is closed soon'

Bridget Ziegler is a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a right-wing parental rights group, and Sarasota County School board member

His lawyer, Derek Byrd, said in an email he is 'hoping (the) investigation is closed soon.'

A Sarasota Police Department spokesperson said there is no timetable for the probe to conclude.

Bridget Ziegler has long been active in conservative politics Moms for Liberty, which she co-founded in 2021, aims to inject more conservative viewpoints in schools, restrict transgender rights, battle pandemic mask mandates and remove books they object to from school classrooms and libraries.

In addition, DeSantis appointed Bridget Ziegler to the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District that oversees Walt Disney World's operations.

That panel - which replaced one controlled by Disney - was created by the Legislature at DeSantis' request after Disney objected to the 'Don't Say Gay' law.

The board currently is the subject of state and federal lawsuits over control of the huge theme park outside Orlando.

There have been calls for her to step down from her position and it already appears that she has walked away from the conservative Leadership Institute after her profile on the website was scrubbed.
The red-hot rental market is set to cool next year as rents have simply risen too fast in some areas, experts predict.

In its latest rental report, Zoopla claimed tenants face no longer being able to afford the high rents in some areas, something that has already led to growth for new lets dropping to single digits.

The growth in rents slowed to 9.7 per cent higher in December, down from 11.9 per cent a year ago.

Zoopla said the pace of growth could be set to halve in 2024.

It said rents have risen at such a pace during the past three years that they are 'reaching a ceiling' as tenants face growing affordability pressures.

The red-hot rental market is set to cool, according to a new report by property website Zoopla

The annual growth in rents is forecast by Zoopla to slow during the course of next year

Lettings agents confirmed that a slight shift was already beginning to occur in the market.

Harriet Scanlan, of Richmond estate agents Antony Roberts, said: 'We have seen a slight shift in the dynamic of the rental market with increased stock becoming available.

'This is offering tenants a broader spectrum of choice, leading to a decrease in multiple offers on each property, providing a more measured and considered approach for prospective tenants.

'Landlords are still enjoying the benefits of a buoyant letting market, with little to no void periods. They also continue to enjoy rental increases upon renewal or reletting, although the pace of these increments appears to have slightly tempered.'

Zoopla said London has seen the biggest slowdown in rents during the past year, down from 17 per cent a year ago to 9 per cent in December.

Rents in the capital rose rapidly from the middle of 2021, having fallen by 10 per cent during the pandemic between 2020 and 2021.

While the rate of growth may be slowing according to Zoopla, separate figures from Hamptons lettings agents showed that rents in London remain painfully high, typically at 2,415 a month.

It compares to an average rent in Britain of 1,348, Hamptons said.

Zoopla said annual rental growth is lowest in the inner London boroughs of the City of London, at 6.3 per cent, Westminster at 7.3 per cent and Tower Hamlets at 7.3 per cent.

Four factors that pushed up rents A combination of factors have pushed rental demand well above average for the past three years, according to Zoopla. 1. The re-opening of the economy after pandemic restrictions were lifted from mid 2021 onwards, including a resumption of international travel. 2. The strength of the labour market with jobs growth boosting demand for rented homes. 3. Higher mortgage rates have made access to home ownership more expensive. This has kept would-be buyers in rented homes and reduced available supply. 4. Record levels of immigration into Britain, particularly high numbers of overseas students, has boosted demand. Zoopla explained how demand and supply is impacting the rental market across Britain Advertisement

At the other end of the spectrum, rental growth in Scotland continues to gain momentum and currently stands at 12.9 per cent, up from 11.4 per cent a year ago.

Demand has been strong in Scotland, but rent controls are another factor behind the strong growth in rents for new lets.

Landlords and agents are likely to be pushing rents higher to allow for the fact that rental increases will be capped at 3 per cent a year throughout a tenancy. There is also the affordability headroom to do this.

At a city level, rental growth in Edinburgh is up 5.2 per cent and up 13.2 per cent in Glasgow.

Northern regional cities such as Manchester, Bolton, Derby and Newcastle are also seeing double-digit rental growth from strong demand and greater headroom for rents to increase relative to earnings.

Zoopla said it had recorded a jump in cuts to asking rents of more than 5 per cent, with the volume of reductions highest in London

Zoopla claimed that there are 'signs that rents have risen too fast in some areas,' with it recording a jump in cuts to asking rents of more than 5 per cent.

This is tracking in line with the second half of 2020 when the pandemic hit demand and is evidence of growing resistance to rent increases from tenants who may be looking to move to cheaper areas.

10 per cent of London rents in November saw asking price reductions of at least 5 per cent

The volume of asking price reductions is currently highest in London, where 10 per cent of rental listings in November 2023 saw asking rent reductions of at least 5 per cent.

Meanwhile, the proportion across the rest of Britain has also jumped to 7 per cent, the highest it has been for more than five years.

Zoopla said it is evidence that the strong upward momentum in rents during the past three years is reaching a ceiling as tenants face growing affordability pressures.

Reductions are spread across the market with a concentration in the 1,000 to 1,500 per month bracket.

The volume of asking rent reductions of at least 5 per cent is on the rise, says Zoopla

Zoopla added the slowdown in rental growth in 2024 will be kept in check by an ongoing scarcity of supply due to low levels of new investment in the face of more regulation and higher mortgage rates.

It expects UK rental growth to slow to 5 per cent by December 2024 with growth in London of 2 per cent, the lowest level since 2021.

Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: 'The UK is past peak rental growth which will be welcome news to renters who have seen rents rise by almost a third - 31 per cent - in the last 3 years.

'London will lead the slowdown, acting as a drag on the UK growth rate.

'The rental market has been stuck in a period of static supply and strong demand, which has pushed rents higher.

'Demand has been driven by the strength of the labour market, the re-opening of the economy after the pandemic lockdowns, record immigration and higher mortgage rates, making it harder for would-be first-time buyers to buy a home.

'Faster growth in earnings has supported a faster pace of rental growth. The supply-demand imbalance in rented housing is not going to disappear in 2024 - however, the market is set to become more balanced than it has been in the past three years.

'The slowdown in rental growth in 2024 will be down to a weaker labour market, slower earnings growth and growing affordability pressures limiting the pace at which rents can rise, particularly in southern England.

'Rents have room to rise above the UK average in regional cities where affordability is less of a constraint, but this won't be the case indefinitely.'
The Poonawalla family had 'no plans' to move to the UK permanently

5,000 square foot home is London's second most expensive sale ever

An Indian billionaire known as the 'vaccine prince' has agreed to pay around 138million for a Mayfair mansion, becoming London's most expensive home sale of the year.

Adar Poonawalla reached a deal with Dominika Kulczyk, daughter of Poland's richest man Jan Kulczyk, to buy Aberconway House - a 25,000 square foot home from the 1920s near Hyde Park.

The price tag makes the property the second-most expensive home ever sold in London and the biggest deal of the year, according to luxury property agents.

The property will be acquired by Serum Life Sciences, a UK subsidiary of the Poonawalla family's Serum Institute of India, people familiar with the transaction said.

Adar Poonawalla bought Aberconway House - a 25,000 square foot home from the 1920s near Hyde Park

The price tag makes the property the second-most expensive home ever sold in London and the biggest deal of the year, according to luxury property agents

Mr Poonawalla got a Mercedes-Benz S-Class modified to look like a bat mobile for his son's sixth birthday

The next largest sale of 2023, according to agents, was the 113million purchase of Hanover Lodge. Essar Group billionaire Ravi Ruia's family office bought the mansion in Regent's Park, which had been linked to Russian property investor Andrey Goncharenko.

The capital's most expensive house sale was 2-8a Rutland Gate, sold in January 2020 by the estate of the former Saudi Arabian crown prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz for a record-breaking 210million to Hui Ka Yan, the founder and chair of Evergrande.

High-end properties in London have remained attractive to international buyers despite new transparency measures brought in to help target Russian money after the war in Ukraine, whilst the rest of the housing market has slowed due to fewer buyers relying on mortgages.

Dominika Kulczyk, the daughter of Poland 's richest man Jan Kulczyk

Mr Poonawalla, who took over leadership of the Serum Institute from his father in 2011, rented the Grade II-listed property in 2021 for more than 50,000 a week.

The impressive red-brick residence is named after Henry Duncan McLaren, aka Baron Aberconway, a turn-of-the-century industrialist who built the Grosvenor Square mansion.

According to the Financial Times, the Poonawalla family had 'no plans' to move to the UK permanently, but that 'the house will serve as a base for the company and family when they are in the UK'.

The London deal follows multimillion-pound investments in vaccine research and manufacturing facilities near Oxford by Mr Poonawalla's company.

In 2021, the family pledged 50million to Oxford university for a new Poonawalla Vaccines Research Building, having manufactured hundreds of millions of doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
Experts report the discovery of major buildings following 13 years of excavations

It remained abandoned for around 1,500 years, a lost relic of the Roman era.

But a forgotten town that dates back to the days of Julius Caesar has finally been uncovered in Central Italy.

Interamna Lirenas, located about halfway between Rome and Napes, was a 'thriving' Roman town that would have been home to 2,000 people at its peak, experts say.

Despite being mistaken by archeologists in the 1980s as merely a small settlement, it was a grand town complete with a housing, a temple, baths and a roofed theatre.

Unlike Pompeii and Herculaneum, it wasn't destroyed by a natural disaster and was only abandoned in the 6th century AD due to the threat of invasion.

Drone view of the excavation of the two footpaths lining the street separating the basilica (top) from the theatre (bottom) at Interamna Lirenas

The site of Interamna Lirenas occupies a southern spur of a river terrace in the middle of the Liri Valley, a fundamental route of communication across Central Italy

What is Interamna Lirenas? Interamna Lirenas is a former Roman town in Central Italy, located about 80 miles from Rome. It was founded in 312 BC and abandoned in 6th century AD - so after the end of the Roman Empire. Even when Italys decline was in full swing, Interamna Lirenas continued to exist as a civic centre of some relevance. It's been described as an 'invisible town' because its physical remains are not readily apparent. Despite being mistaken by archeologists in the 1980s as merely a backwater, it was a grand settlement complete with a housing, a temple, baths and a roofed theatre. Advertisement

The experts focused on pottery and the foundations of buildings from the excavations, as well as the results of geophysical surveys of the ground.

Excavations at the site commenced in 2010, but only now have the results been published.

The 13-year study was authored by Dr Alessandro Launaro at the University of Cambridge's Classics Faculty.

'Interamna Lirenas was strategically located between a river and a major road, and it was a thriving node in the regional urban network,' he said.

'It would have been valuable as he sought to consolidate support across Italy during the civil wars.

'This town continually played its cards right, it was always forging relations with communities between Rome and southern Italy while thriving as a trading hub.'

Interamna Lirenas was founded in 312 BC, during the era of the Roman Republic (the era before the mighty Roman Empire).

The town gained the patronage of Roman general Julius Caesar in 46 BC, two years before his murder (which led to the formation of the Roman Empire in 27 BC).

But Interamna Lirenas was abandoned in the 6th century  around 100 years after the decline of the Empire.

According to Dr Launaro, this town managed to 'buck the trend' of the Empire's decline, but exactly how is unclear.

'We believe that local and regional networks (political, social and economic) proved very resilient and allowed life to continue,' he told MailOnline.

Interamna Lirenas was home to a number of magnificent buildings that no longer stand, with only their foundations now visible following excavations.

Namely, a roofed theatre, built with marble imported from across the Mediterranean, measured around 150 by 85 feet and would have been big enough to seat 1,500 people.

This aerial shot shows the remains of the theatre (bottom) and a public building called a basilica (top)

Artist's depiction of the theatre that could seat about 1,500 spectators and its roof spanned 80 feet, enough to put it in line with some of the largest roofs in the Roman world

An artist's impression of the interior of the Interamna Lirenas theatre from the seating area, showing the scaena, the facade of the stage

READ MORE Experts find inscriptions at Pompeii made prior to volcanic explosion Inscriptions were found at the house at Via di Nola, one of Pompeii's longest streets Advertisement

Roofed theatres were quite rare in Roman Italy and would've been seen as a significant upgrade on open-air structures, according to Dr Launaro.

'This theatre was a major status symbol,' he said.

'It displayed the towns wealth, power and ambition.'

Next to the theatre stood a public building called a basilica, typically used for governmental or legal purposes.

The town also boasted three bath complexes, the largest of which featured a big swimming pool surrounded by a portico, a type of elaborate porch.

Much like Pompeii and Herculaneum, Interamna Lirenas shows no sign of zoning or separation by social status and was densely packed with houses of various sizes.

In all, 190 of the towns houses (or 84 per cent) were small (less than 5,380 square feet), 25 were larger (between 5,380 and 10,700 square feet) and only five were over 10,700.

The team also found 19 'courtyard buildings' which they believe may have served as indoor market buildings, guildhouses, apartment blocks and public warehouses.

The experts focused on pottery (picture) and the foundations of buildings discovered during the excavations, as well as the results of geophysical surveys of the ground

This shot from drone footage captured in September 2023 shows a stunning view of the 'invisible town', historically overlooked by experts

Geophysical survey results showing underground traces of Interamna Lirenas surrounded by the wider modern-day landscape

A plan of Interamna Lirenas showing the distribution of different types of buildings. Note the predominance of housing

Dr Launaro and colleagues did not find a layer of ash or any other evidence to suggest that the town was violently destroyed like Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Instead, the inhabitants probably deserted the town amid 'growing insecurity' over whether the region was safe, at some point in the 6th century.

The academic points to the invasion of the Germanic people known as the Lombards took place in the late 6th century AD.

The townsfolk of Interamna Lirenas because they knew they were on a direct route which Lombard armies were bound to use, he suggests.

However, the town was progressively reducing in size over the previous couple of centuries.

Dr Launaro's study appears in the edited volume of a new book published today, called Roman Urbanism in Italy.
Scientists are struggling to open the canister that contains the asteroid samples

The sample contained a material that the lead scientist hasn't seen in a meteorite

NASA scientists studying a 4.5 billion-year-old asteroid say they could be on the verge of unlocking secrets about the origins of life on Earth.

On Monday, the agency announced its first results from a historic seven-year mission that saw them intercept the ancient asteroid Bennu as it orbited the sun and bring back samples to study here on Earth.

These initial results showed that the sample collected from the asteroid is richer in carbon, one of the building blocks of life, than any other extraterrestrial sample.

It also contained significant amounts of water in the form of hydrated minerals, yet one more essential ingredient in the recipe for life.

Scientists say it is possible an asteroid like Bennu delivered to Earth these and other building blocks of life billions of years ago, jumpstarting the process that led to our existence.

Astromaterials processors work to salvage asteroid particles from around the base of the OSIRIS-REx collection canister

Almost 5 percent of the sample is carbon, according to Dante Lauretta, head of the OSIRIS-REx asteroid return mission.

'That is a very carbon-rich sample - the richest we have in all our extraterrestrial material,' he told the Washington Post at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.

'We're still unraveling the complex organic chemistry, but it looks promising to really understand: Did these carbon-rich asteroids deliver fundamental molecules that may have gone on to contribute to the origin of life?'

Some scientists believe that life's beginnings occurred in the primordial soup, where chemical reactions eventually yielded the molecules that lead to life: amino acids, sugars, fats, and so on.

Others, though, suspect that these chemicals came from outer space, delivered by asteroids that struck a young Earth. This theory, called 'pseudo-panspermia,' differs from 'panspermia,' which proposes that actual organisms have been delivered between planets and star systems.

Lauretta's team also found a light-colored triangular stone, a material he claims he hasn't seen in a meteorite before.

'It's a head-scratcher right now. What is this material?' said Lauretta.

It's unclear whether he meant that the material is totally unknown, or whether it is a known material that is unusual to see on a meteorite.

Whichever case is true, it added to the excitement of these initial findings.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Lauretta to clarify the details of this mineral and will update the story with his response.

Bits of rock and dust accumulated around the collection canister on the OSIRIS-REx craft, which returned to Earth in September

In this image taken from video released by NASA, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft touched the surface of the asteroid Bennu during its collection mission in October 2020

Lauretta and his team are not promising a definitive answer to the chemical origin of life on Earth, but they are keeping it front of mind as they analyze the material collected from Bennu.

They do not expect to find biological material - signs of animals, plants, or microorganisms - in the asteroid debris.

What they do hope to find are some of the chemical building blocks of life: sugars that form the basis of DNA, fats that make up cell membranes, or amino acids, the basic materials of proteins.

The team has not yet published its results in a scientific journal, so their findings have not been scrutinized by other experts.

'There will be some exciting, detailed organic molecular results coming soon,' said Lauretta. 'But the team needs a bit more time to think about them because we need to make sure all the results are correct. This is so important, we don't want to make a mistake.'

There is one complicating factor: They can't get the sample canister open.

All of the analysis so far has been based on the dust and debris that came back on OSIRIS-REx but did not make it all the way into the canister.

Out of the 35 fasteners that hold the canister closed, 2 will not open.

Bennu formed about 4.5 billion years ago, so its age is around the same as Earth's. Scientists hope it holds clues to the astral origins of life

NASA scientists and engineers are now working on special tools that can be used to get the canister all the way open, which will probably not happen until the new year.

'The samples are a few billions of years old; they can wait another few weeks,' NASA director of planetary science, Dr. Lori Glaze, told the BBC.

Not only will they need to develop the tools, they will also have to test them to make sure they are suitable for the delicate task of extracting space gravel from the collection device.

Another issue that the team is facing, albeit less serious, is that they seem to have much less material than initially suspected.

So far, they have been able to sweep up 70.32g of asteroid dust that didn't make it into the container.

And based on the device's weight, compared to when it first departed, there is likely 120g left inside - plus or minus about 20g.

Back in September when the craft landed on Earth, scientists estimated that it contained about 250g (8.8 ounces) of material.

That number has now been halved, to about 170g. Fortunately it's more than enough, though, Lauretta said.

'We're ecstatic; sixty grams was the requirement before the mission and we've already got 70. So, I couldn't be happier.'
Every year, over one million tourists flock to Wiltshire to visit Stonehenge.

But despite its popularity, the prehistoric monument could soon be dropped from the prestigious list of United Nations World Heritage sites.

The High Court heard today how Stonehenge is at risk of being delisted if a road tunnel near the project goes ahead.

Campaigners fighting the tunnel say the government was 'irrational' 'to give no weight' to the threat by UNESCO, the UN heritage agency over the 1.7 billion scheme.

It would mean it would no longer sit along side the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal and the Acropolis on the list.

Every year, over one million tourists flock to Wiltshire to visit Stonehenge. But despite its popularity, the prehistoric monument could soon be dropped from the prestigious list of United Nations World Heritage sites

Campaigners fighting the tunnel say the government was 'irrational' 'to give no weight' to the threat by UNESCO, the UN heritage agency over the 1.7 billion scheme

READ MORE: Stonehenge road tunnel is approved in long-running battle The proposed tunnel is south of the current A303, which runs within a few hundred metres of the famous UNESCO world heritage site in Wiltshire. Pictured: An artist's impression of the plans Advertisement

Lawyers for Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site (SSWHS) say this would mark 'the first step being taken towards de-listing' and would be 'the direct result' of the Government's decision.

SSWHS is challenging Transport Secretary Mark Harper's backing of plans, which include the two-mile tunnel, to overhaul eight miles of the A303.

It also notes that the road tunnel A development consent order previously issued for the National Highways project was quashed by the High Court in July 2021 amid concern about the environmental impact on the site.

But the Department for Transport (DfT) approved the tunnel from Amesbury to Berwick Down in Wiltshire for the second time on July 14 this year.

At a hearing in London starting on Tuesday, campaigners' lawyers sought permission to make another attempt to halt the plans.

The Government has argued that the need for the scheme and its benefits 'outweighed the harms', including the 'less than substantial harm to heritage assets'.

National Highways says its plan for the tunnel will remove the sight and sound of traffic passing the site and cut journey times.

The A303 is a congestion hotspot, with drivers heading to and from the South West during peak holiday periods often stuck in long queues

SSWHS is challenging Transport Secretary Mark Harper's backing of plans, which include the two-mile tunnel, to overhaul eight miles of the A303. Pictured: an artist's impression of the tunnel

David Wolfe KC, for SSWHS, said in written arguments that campaigners had set out the effects of the site being de-listed by Unesco, arguing that its 'value... must be considered to this and future generations'.

He said this is 'not just in monetary terms, but research value, cultural importance, emblematic value, and reputation of the UK as showing to the world that it cares for its world heritage site and respects its obligations in the world heritage convention'.

Mr Wolfe said the approved scheme would 'destroy' around seven hectares of the world heritage site, a change that would be 'permanent and irreversible'.

James Strachan KC, for the DfT, said in written arguments there was 'no inadequacy' in a ministerial briefing over the 'hypothetical' risk of world heritage site de-listing.

'The world heritage site has not been delisted, nor is it said that it will be de-listed if the... scheme proceeds,' he said.

For decades, motorists on the A303, which passes the stone circle, have endured severe congestion on the popular route to and from the South West

Those behind the scheme hope it will help tackle congestion and noise around the iconic site (pictured in March 2020)

The Stonehenge site, with Avebury, was declared by Unesco to be a world heritage site of outstanding universal value in 1986 on account of the size of the megaliths, the sophistication of their concentric plans and the complexes of neolithic and bronze age sites and monuments.

The A303 is a congestion hotspot, with drivers heading to and from the south west during peak holiday periods often stuck in long queues on the single carriageway stretch near the stones.

The road project is classified as nationally significant, which means a development consent order is needed for it to go ahead.

The hearing before Mr Justice Holgate is due to conclude on Thursday, with a ruling expected at a later date.
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One in five young Americans believe the Holocaust did not happen, a shock poll has found.

The survey, by The Economist and YouGov., included 1,500 people ranging in age from 18 to over 65 years old who were asked a series of questions about the massacre of six million Jews.

Approximately 20 percent of people aged 18 to 29 agreed with the statement 'the Holocaust is a myth' and even more believed the death toll has been exaggerated.

The results are being linked to data that showed 32 percent of this age group gets their news from TikTok, where misinformation and antisemitism have persisted for years - the platform previously launched campaigns to combat issues.

The poll comes amid concerns universities have become breeding grounds for anti-Semitism, which has led Congress to launch an investigation into Harvard University, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania following their presidents' failure to condemn students calling for a Jewish genocide.

A survey conducted this month found that 20 percent of people aged 18 to 29 agreed with the statement 'the Holocaust is a myth.' This is compared to eight percent in the group of people aged 30 to 40. However, zero respondents aged 65 and older agreed with the statement

Despite the substantial evidence of records, remains and testimonies, many young Americans do not believe the horrors that happened some 80 years ago. Pictured is the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland

The poll was conducted from December 2 through December and asked a sample group of 1,500 Americans questions about the Holocaust and other related issues.

While 20 percent of participants aged 18 to 29 agreed the Holocaust is a myth, another 30 percent stated that they did not agree or disagree with the statement.

Only eight percent of respondents aged 30 to 44 agreed it was a myth, along with two percent of people between 45 and 64.

However, 0 percent agreed in the group of respondents who were more than 65 years old.

In addition to ages, the poll also shared data regarding race - with 13 percent of Black people agreeing with the statement.

Another survey asked 1,500 Americans if they agreed or disagreed with the statement, 'The Holocaust has been exaggerated.' For the 18 to 29 group, 23 percent agreed, and 26 percent neither agreed or disagreed

And 10 percent of men surveyed also agreed with the statement, compared to four percent of women.

When looking at political affiliation, 10 percent of those who identify as Democrats said they agreed that the Holocaust is a myth.

Approximately 6 percent of Republicans shared the same belief.

Overall, 7 percent of Americans believe the Holocaust is a myth.

Another survey asked 1,500 Americans if they agreed or disagreed with the statement, 'The Holocaust has been exaggerated'.

For the 18 to 29 group, 23 percent agreed, and 26 percent neither agreed or disagreed.

Asked elsewhere in the survey whether they believe it is anti-Semitic to deny that the Holocaust took place, 17 percent of respondents in the 18 to 29 age group said that it was not anti-Semitic, and a further 37 percent said that they were not sure.

Asked elsewhere in the survey whether they believe it is anti-Semitic to deny that the Holocaust took place, 17 percent of respondents in the 18 to 29 age group said that it was not anti-Semitic, and a further 37 percent said that they were not sure

The conflict in Gaza has trickled over into the US, where Americans are flooding the streets in protest for either Israel or Palestine

The Economist reported that 'social media may play a role,' citing a 2022 survey from the Pew Research Center that found Americans under 30 typically trust what they see on platforms.

The poll comes amid the war in Gaza following an unprecedented attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7, which killed more than 1,200 people and seized over 240 hostages.

Israel launched jet fighters shortly after the attacks, bombing the Gaza strip that the Hamas-run health ministry said had killed more than 17,700 people since October.

Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas from the Gaza Strip and launched an aerial campaign and subsequent ground invasion.

The war has trickled over into the US, where Americans are flooding the streets in protest for either Israel or Palestine.

The poll comes just days after senators introduced a bill to reauthorize federal funding for the Never Again [Holocaust] Education Act.

Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen, of the Democratic Party, said: 'Failing to educate students about the gravity and scope of the Holocaust is a disservice to the memory of its victims and to our duty to prevent such atrocities in the future.'
KFC. Beetroot soup. Prawns.

Christmas meals can vary enormously from country to country.

Here we reveal ten popular Christmas treats around the world.

We think you'll find it Claus-itively fascinating...

KFC - Japan

Forget carving the Turkey, in Japan millions of people tuck into KFC fried chicken at Christmas

Instead of feasting on turkey, many Japanese people tuck into buckets of KFC chicken during the festive period.

KFC meals have become synonymous with Christmas, with some diners ordering theirs weeks in advance.

The tradition started back in the 1970s with a 'Kentucky for Christmas' marketing campaign.

It was created by Takeshi Okawara, the manager of the first KFC in Japan, in a bid to tempt tourists and expats who couldn't find turkey to eat on Christmas day, explains the BBC.

Now, millions of people in Japan sit down to eat KFC for Christmas, ordered from stores with Colonel Sanders mascots outside.

Roscon de Reyes - Spain

Pictured is a doughnut-shaped cake eaten on January 6 in Spain called Roscon de Reyes

Christmas in Spain is quite the treat. Celebrations start as early as mid-December and last until January 6 - the day of the Epiphany.

On the morning of this date, or the night before, it's traditional to tuck into a doughnut-shaped cake called Roscon de Reyes, which roughly translates to 'King's Cake'.

It's stuffed with cream, topped with candied fruit and hidden inside is a fava bean and a small toy. Find the toy, and you'll be lucky for the whole year, it's said. Find the bean - and you're footing the bill for next year's cake.

Bulgogi and kimchi - South Korea

If you're dining in South Korea over Christmas, you might find bulgogi or kimchi on the table (both are pictured above)

Instead of a traditional roast Christmas dinner, in South Korea, you might find the table laid with bulgogi - thin marinated slices of meat - or kimchi.

Other festive favourites according to Orientalmart are sweet potato noodles and tteokguk  a rice cake filled with meat or seafood and served with clear broth.

The website says many younger Koreans may share the Christmas meal with their partners or friends and reserve New Year's Day for family.

Oysters - France

Oysters are a popular Christmas tradition enjoyed in France, typically on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve the French enjoy a nocturnal feast called Le Reveillon.

Family and friends gather to enjoy a luxurious spread, notes website Lou Messugo, that is usually accompanied by fine wine and Champagne.

Among the food will be a selection of seafood, including oysters, shrimp, crab and lobster. Smoked salmon, scallops and snails are popular too, the website says.

Pickled herring - Sweden

Swedes enjoy pickled herring at Christmas, along with beer spiced with cinnamon

The Swedes celebrate with a feast at Christmas, known as a Julboard, literally translating to 'Christmas table'.

The elaborate affair usually includes pickled herring, according to Swedishfood.com, along with cold meats, pates and terrines, hot food and desserts.

The buffet is often accompanied by a drink of glogg (Swedish mulled wine), a cocktail or julol - Christmas beer spiced with cinnamon, orange peel and vanilla.

Prawns - Australia

Aussies usually tuck into around 22,000 tonnes of prawns during the festive period

Australian Christmas lands in the peak of summer - too hot to be slaving away in the kitchen.

A typical Christmas Down Under includes a barbecue with grilled meats, salads and plenty of cool beer.

Seafood is also a popular Christmas day tradition, according to the Marine Stewardship Council. Aussies usually tuck into around 22,000 tonnes of prawns during the festive period - the equivalent of 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Stollen Cake - Germany

In Germany the spiced and fruity Stollen cake is typically enjoyed at Christmas

Germany is home to many sweet festive treats including the spiced and fruity Stollen cake, known in Germany as Weihnachtsstollen or Christstollen.

The traditional festive bread dates back to 14th century Germany, and was baked on Christmas in honour of royalty and church clergymen, Outlook Traveller says.

The 'hump' of the Stollen, it is thought, symbolises the camels that carried gifts to Jesus on the first Christmas.

'The preparation of fruits and raisins alludes to jewels and gifts given to Jesus on Christmas,' the website says.

Beetroot soup - Poland

Beetroot soup, or borscht, is a traditional starter typically enjoyed in Poland on Christmas Eve

The celebration of Christmas in Poland usually begins on Christmas Eve, with a supper known as wigilia.

The formal meal is celebrated and served on a table covered with a white tablecloth, according to the Polish Tourism Organisation.

On it will be culinary customs such as beetroot soup or 'borscht', a traditional starter that can be served hot or cold, alongside various types of fish, noodles and sweet treats.

Christmas pudding - UK

The Christmas pudding has been a fixture on British tables for years

The traditional British Christmas dinner frequently sparks debate, from when to tuck in to whether to include Brussels sprouts or Yorkshire puddings.

But if there's one thing Brits can agree on, it's the Christmas pudding. The sweet, dried-fruit pudding has been a fixture on British tables for centuries.

Diners can buy it at just about any supermarket - or prepare the mixture weeks before the big day.

Bibingka and puto bumbong - Philippines

Two rice dishes Bibingka (top) and Puto Bumbong (bottom) are eaten in the Philipines over the long celebrations leading up to Christmas Day

Bibingka and puto bumbong are popular desserts in the Philippines, especially so during the Christmas season.

Bibingka is a spongy cake with a buttery flavour, explains www.wazzuppilipinas.com, while puto bumbong is a rice-cake dessert, it notes, made from glutinous rice flour cooked in bamboo tubes, resulting in a purple texture.

Traditionally, the latter is served with grated coconut and brown sugar.
Peak travel season is quickly approaching but there is still time to employ some tried and tested tricks to keep costs and stress levels down.

DailyMail.com has gathered a sleighful of top tips from the experts, with everything from the best days to fly to how to deal with delays covered.

For US travelers, the experts highly recommend spending $78 on TSA PreCheck as this will speed up wait times at airport security and as a general rule, it's best to arrive up to 2.5 hours early for flights to take backlogs into account.

Take a trip down to see how to make holiday travel a little easier to navigate with these tips and more.

Best and worst days for air travel

December 21 and 22 will be the busiest days for departures, 'with more than 3.7 million seats scheduled to depart from US airports'

Looking for the best day to travel around Christmas? Hayley Berg, a lead economist at Hopper, advises traveling on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day as 'these will be the least busy and the cheapest days to fly.'

At the other end of the scale, she says December 21 and 22 will be the busiest days, 'with more than 3.7 million seats scheduled to depart from US airports.'

She adds: 'Airports will remain busy throughout the week following Christmas, as some holiday travelers head home from Christmas trips and others take off on New Year's trips.'

The earlier the flight, the better

There can be lots of travel disruptions around peak times, but Hayley says planning ahead will allow you to navigate any setbacks.

When it comes to booking flights, she recommends taking the first departure of the day.

She explains: 'It's always best to take the first flight of the day.

'This is because in general, flights departing after 9am are twice more likely to be delayed than departures scheduled between 5am and 8am. To avoid travel disruption, fly as early in the morning as possible.'

Traveling early also applies to road travel as more backups will happen as the day goes on.

How to score a holiday flight deal

The cheapest days to depart will be December 19, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day

When it comes to domestic travel, Hayley Berg says the cheapest days to depart will be December 19, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and travelers can save up to 20 per cent or around $114 per ticket.

To return, Hayley recommends booking a flight on December 28.

She warns not to 'wait too close to the weekend as prices will be higher for trips returning right before New Year's Eve.'

December 26 will also be one of the most expensive days to return as 'travelers will pay about $30 more to fly home right after Christmas.'

Plan ahead for disruptions

Travelers should expect delays over the holiday season, Hayley says, and make necessary preparations.

When you are making plans, she advises adding trip protection 'and some travel providers, like Hopper, offer Flight Disruption Guarantee which allows you to rebook a new flight immediately, regardless of carrier, if you're delayed, canceled by the airline or you miss a connection.'

She adds: 'This is a foolproof way to ensure you get to your destination as quickly as possible, if your trip gets disrupted!'

Some plans, also allow you to instantly cancel or change your itineraries without incurring any additional fees.

If you can, Hayley recommends building in a buffer day as 'this will allow for some wiggle room, should any delays or disruptions interfere with your travel plans.'

Arrive early and sign up for TSA PreCheck

Travel pros advise signing up for TSA PreCheck or CLEAR to skip the lines at busy airports

Experts from Expedia US say there are a number of things travelers can do to make the airport experience more pleasant.

Firstly, they recommend arriving as early as possible with at least 2 to 2.5 hours to spare before your boarding time.

For international flights, they recommend adding another hour on top of this.

Secondly, the travel pros advise signing up for TSA PreCheck or CLEAR to skip the lines at busy airports.

For new applicants, the TSA PreCheck fee costs $78 and appointments can be scheduled online.

Sara Rathner, a personal finance expert at NerdWallet, also reveals that some airlines offer expedited security access for an additional fee.

She explains: 'United's Premier Access offers exclusive security lanes, dedicated airport check-in lines and priority boarding starting at $15 per ticket.

'Southwest's Fly By Lane gets you access to the front of the ticket counter and security checkpoints at select airports. You get this when you buy a Business Select Fare or hold A-List or A-List Preferred Southwest elite status.'

Lastly, if possible, try to pack carry-on only.

An Expedia spokesperson told DailyMail.com: 'I also always advise my friends and family to pack light and take a carry-on.

'That way, there's less chance your luggage gets lost in situations of delays or cancellations.'

Keep alert on the day you travel

Sign up for alerts and check flight status before you go to the airport, Hopper's Hayley says to learn about delays and cancellations as early as possible.

She reveals: 'On most U.S. carriers, passengers can sign up for text, email, and/or in-app notifications about any changes to their itinerary including delay and cancellations.

'It's also advisable to know what options you have available before you travel.

'Be sure to check airline policies, many carriers will waive change fees if there is a weather advisory or give compensation/travel credit if your flight is canceled within a few hours of departure.'

What to do if you're stranded

If you do get stranded, Hayley recommends adopting the 'multitasking approach.'

She says: 'The first thing you should do if your flight is canceled, is to get in line to speak with an airline representative at the same time you call the customer support center.

'During a major disruption there can be hundreds of other travelers trying to get support from airline representatives at one time.

'Get in line to speak with an agent in your terminal at the same time that you get on the phone to call the support center. Oftentimes an agent can reach you in the phone queue faster than an agent at the airport!'

If there aren't any flights until the next day, Hayley recommends skipping the airport hotels and opting for something close by for better pricing and availability.

To get to your destination quicker, Hayley also suggests checking alternative airports or renting a car could also be an option.
Nicole says American Airlines only offered her $50 in compensation

She was disorderly and vomiting - and Nicole realized she was sick on her bags

A woman has opened up about her flight from hell - which she says saw an 'intoxicated' passenger verbally abusing her fellow travelers before vomiting on two of her bags.

Nicole Schreib was getting ready to travel from New York to Miami on a American Airlines flight when she says she spotted two highly intoxicated women in the bathroom at the airport.

'Two of them were walking arm and arm, stumbling drunk, and ran right into me in the bathroom,' she told Business Insider.

'It was just crazy because it was 7:30 in the morning.

Nicole Schreib was getting ready to travel from New York to Miami on a American Airlines flight when a highly intoxicated woman sat in front of her (pictured) - and vomited on her bags

'You don't expect that at that time.'

When she boarded the flight with her fiance, she realized one of the women was actually on her flight sat in front of her, and was causing a scene.

'[The woman was] slurring her words and can barely talk,' Nicole said.

'This woman should not be on this plane. I was concerned, honestly.'

Mid-flight, one of the women started vomiting - with some of it landing on two of Nicole's bags, which were stowed under the seat in front of her.

'I couldn't believe the amount,' Nicole, who works as a lawyer according to her social media profile, admitted.

The disgruntled passenger said she didn't take any photos of the vomit, and was told by a flight attendant they couldn't clean it up as it's a bodily fluid.

After landing, she contacted American Airlines hoping the company would compensate her for the inconvenience - and vomit - adding the flight crew was aware she was drunk when she boarded the flight.

Nicole Schreib (pictured) recounted her experience on social media, expressing her disappointment in the airline

@AmericanAir allowed this intoxicated, verbally abusive woman on my flight despite removing one of her friends. Here she is calling the two men in her aisle pu**ies prior to puking on the floor and my bags - $50 credit is all they offered as compensation. #americanairfail pic.twitter.com/BTPl4FDBfR  Nicole Schreib (@NicoleSchreib1) December 4, 2023

As per Business Insider, the airline emailed Nicole telling her they couldn't take responsibility for the other passenger.

'I'm sorry to hear your property was damaged by another passenger,' the email read.

It continued: 'While I can certainly understand your frustration with the situation, unintentional things can and do happen in public spaces. Although it is unfortunate that you were involved in this situation, we are unable to take responsibility for the actions of another individual.'

After pushing the issue further, Nicole said she was offered $50 in compensation - saying that's not good enough.

'It's not about the money,' she argued. 'It was about taking a little responsibility and actually apologizing for what happened.'

A spokesperson from American Airlines told the DailyMail.com: 'We strive to provide a positive travel experience for all of our customers, and a member of our team has reached out to learn more.'

Nicole said said she didn't take any photos of the vomit on her bag, and was told by a flight attendant they couldn't clean it up as it's a bodily fluid (stock image)

She claims American Airlines only offered her $50 in compensation when she contacted them, upset about her experience (stock image)

The lawyer took to social media to share what had happened - along with a short clip of the offending woman lying in her seat with her feet up on the wall - and try to get some answers.

'American Airlines allowed this intoxicated, verbally abusive woman on my flight despite removing one of her friends,' Nicole wrote on X, previously known as Twitter.

'Here she is calling the two men in her aisle "pu**ies" prior to puking on the floor and my bags - $50 credit is all they offered as compensation,' she raged.

In a follow-up post, Nicole responded to a reply from American Airlines, who suggested she request a review of the email they sent her.

'I did that and spoke to someone and that's when I was offered the ridiculous amount of $50 compensation for the horrific flight that included wiping that woman's vomit off my personal belongings,' she wrote in a scathing reply.

'She was visually intoxicated and verbally obnoxious and abusive well before takeoff.'

Nicole said she was unsure if she would book another American Airlines flight and would be flying with a 'bag that is waterproof' from now on.
Fred Sirieix is set to return to First Dates for a new series after his I'm A Celebrity stint.

The French maitre d'hotel, 51, will head up the Channel 4 dating show to celebrate 10 years of the programme.

He will be joined by returning stars Merlin Griffiths and Cici Coleman as well as new cast members Francesca Martu, Jamie McCleave, Aoife Smyth and Kofi Yeboah-Mensah.

After spending time in London and Manchester, Fred will watch sparks fly between a fresh line-up of blind daters at a brand-new restaurant location.

The restaurant will move to The Botanist in Bath, which is housed in the extraordinary Octagon Chapel, a grade II listed building built in 1767.

Fred Sirieix is set to return to First Dates for a new series after his I'm A Celebrity stint

The French maitre d'hotel, 51, will head up the Channel 4 dating show to celebrate 10 years of the programme

The building is steeped in history and was originally a church frequented by author Jane Austen.

Fred said: 'Filming in Bath was the best decision we've made. For me, it felt like the best ever First Dates that we've had in 10 years.

'It was just really beautiful and magical. Everybody's energy, enthusiasm and excitement was just through the roof.'

He continued: 'It's about true love and it's real. It's about real people wanting to find true love and they go there for the right reasons.

'They may or may not find love on First Dates, but they know that they can trust us to look for the best possible match for them. Also we can all relate to it, whether we're in a relationship or not, we hear their stories and I think that what it reminds us is that nothing is normal, and nothing is not normal.

'It's about what you and this other person find together and how you are making a connection together. It's also very entertaining, we're very nosy, we want to know what's going on in people's heads and First Dates does that.'

Since it began airing in 2013, the show has made matches between countless couples, even seeing wedding bells and First Dates babies. A spin-off show, First Dates Hotel, launched in 2017.

Meanwhile, resident cocktail maker Merlin added: 'Heres a little secret from behind-the-scenes, did you know Fred can eat an entire Nandos chicken in a single sitting?

It comes after Fred's stint in the I'm A Celebrity jungle - as he was third to be eliminated despite being an early favourite

He will be joined by returning stars Merlin Griffiths and Cici Coleman as well as new cast members Francesca Martu, Jamie McCleave, Aoife Smyth and Kofi Yeboah-Mensah

'Not a quarter, not a half but a full chicken. Lord knows he needs it, because I believe he does 300 press-ups every morning.'

Executive producer Rich Mears said: 'First Dates' 10th anniversary felt very special to us, so we really wanted to pull out all the stops to make this a great series for daters and viewers alike.

'We wanted to keep all the First Dates' warmth and heart that we all know and love, but it was also a great time to refresh things

'Fred adores his new restaurant, and him and his A-team of cupids have really worked their magic as we have had more successful dates than ever before.'

Fred was the third celebrity to be eliminated from the I'm A Celebrity jungle despite being an early favourite - after clashes with Josie Gibson over cooking and disagreements with Nella Rose and Nigel Farage.

First Dates will return to Channel 4 on January 2.
Ncuti Gatwa has opened up on taking on the role of the Doctor after his much-anticipated debut as the 15th Time Lord on Saturday night.

The Sex Education actor, 31, finally made his first appearance on screen as the 15th Doctor when David Tennant's incarnation of the character regenerated.

But he admitted that he was almost overwhelmed by taking on the iconic role due to its 'weight' and 'legacy'.

Speaking to Radio Times, Ncuti explained that he was given advice by many of the previous actors to play the Doctor.

However, he explained that it was Jodie Whittaker who he felt a 'particular affinity' to as they both had to face down backlash after being cast, as they were both taking the Doctor in a new trailblazing direction, being the first woman and the first black actor.

He said: 'They all gave me amazing individual pieces of advice. I spoke to David, I spoke to Matt [Smith], I spoke to Peter [Capaldi].

Ncuti Gatwa has opened up on taking on the role of the Doctor after his much-anticipated debut as the 15th Time Lord on Saturday night

The Sex Education actor, 31, finally made his first appearance on screen as the 15th Doctor when David Tennant's incarnation of the character regenerated.

Ncuti explained that he was given advice by many of the previous actors to play the Doctor, but it was Jodie Whittaker (pictured) who he felt a 'particular affinity' to, as they were both taking the Doctor in a new trailblazing direction

'I think I felt a particular affinity to Jodie [Whittaker] just because of the shared struggle, as in the Doctors never been seen like this before, and what that means for yaysayers, naysayers. How do you navigate that? She was so generous. With her story and her experience of it all.'

Speaking about being cast as the first black man in the role that had only been played before by white actors, Ncuti said he had prepared himself for backlash.

He said: 'I was a little bit braced for impact and then was very pleasantly surprised because it was the antithesis [of what I was expecting].

'But then, also, whats scary is that we all live in [social media] bubbles. I remember scrolling on Twitter and being like, "Oh my gosh. Im so loved."

'And then I clicked on one tweet that wasnt as positive. And then that opened up an entire world of the opposite feeling. "Oh no. There they are." Seeing the anagrams of my name [made into a racial slur] was just lovely.

'But it was interesting. As I say, I live in a very leftist, liberal bubble. And in fact, theres a really great episode coming up next year where we lean into that.'

When asked if the show would directly address the Doctor's race, Ncuti confirmed: 'Yes, definitely. It would be stupid if we didnt.

'The Doctor has always walked into unknown situations and taken charge with authority. Historically, theres only really one demographic of people that are able to do that  and its certainly not a woman, and its certainly not someone black. Thank God, things are changing.'

Speaking about being cast as the first black man in the role that had only been played before by white actors, Ncuti said he had prepared himself for backlash

When asked if the show would directly address the Doctor's race, Ncuti confirmed: 'Yes, definitely. It would be stupid if we didnt'

However, he added his reluctance at first, saying: 'Going into initial production meetings I was keen to, I guess, keep up the traditionalism of the show. I didnt want to be seen as too wild a choice. So its been a process of the show encouraging me to embrace myself.'

Ncuti confessed that the pressure was difficult to handle at first, saying: 'I was questioning every line. It was the weight of the role  the legacy.

'And I dont know if I should say this because I dont want to let doubt in. But I thought, "I cant fail at this. I cannot blow it."

'And so everyone was trying to calm me down, saying, "Ncuti, youre doing fine, while I was all, "No, no! We have to reshoot the whole day!"'

However, he said that what helped him was that he related to the Doctor and after receiving the scripts said he felt 'like it was written for me.'

He said: 'Its all in me  its good casting. Or I hope so. In the week of watching Doctor Who before my audition, I thought, "I get it. Youre always on your own, youre always wanting an adventure. Youve always surrounded yourself with people. You dont really fit in anywhere but youre able to get on with everyone."

'It was just I get whats going on with you, Doctor. I see it!'

He continued: 'When I got the [scripts] through for the audition, the words just started flying out of me. It almost felt like it was written for me.

Ncuti confessed that the pressure was difficult to handle at first, saying: 'I was questioning every line. It was the weight of the role  the legacy'

However, he said that what helped him was that he related to the Doctor and after receiving the scripts said he felt 'like it was written for me'

'The way the characters mind works and the way it chops and changes. The way hes got seven billion thoughts in his head at one time and is always constantly thinking to the future. I just thought, "Thats how I am".'

Ncuti admitted that he did hesitate in taking the role at first before realising that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

He recalled: 'I told my agent I needed a week. There was some apprehension. But it was also a no-brainer.

'As an actor, the role was just too juicy to turn down. It was too full of everything. The humour, the fun, the emotion, the darkness of it. It was just like a juicy, juicy steak to cut into.'

He has been eagerly awaiting his debut just the same as everyone else, saying: 'Ive been waiting for so long!

'I got cast so long ago and then started filming so long after that, that it feels like this thing thats never going to come. I dont think Im fully taking in what Im on the precipice of.'

Ncuti added that he has 'relaxed' into the role now as he continues shooting his second series as the Doctor, due to air in 2025.

He said: 'It feels so much fun now. Ive relaxed and [the Doctor] seems to have sunk down a little bit deeper, from my chest into my gut.'

Ncuti admitted that he did hesitate in taking the role at first before realising that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity

Ncuti added that he has 'relaxed' into the role now as he continues shooting his second series as the Doctor, due to air in 2025

He admitted that he is still adjusting to being at the forefront of a family show however, explaining that he had already received a telling off from showrunner, Russell T Davies.

Ncuti memorable stripped down in June for an incredible photoshoot in British Vogue.

He insisted however, that producers were fine with that, saying: 'I did think, "Oh yeah, Ive got my kit off so Im probably going to get a couple of phone calls about this". But, no, theyve been very encouraging.'

But he added: 'The only time Ive ever gotten in trouble for anything was when I swore [while wearing] a Doctor Who costume.

'I got called into Russells office. Woo! And he let me know that thats not acceptable. He said, "Do what you want when youre out of costume, but when youre in costume, do not let us catch you swearing."

'I was like, fair enough. And I guess that was a lesson. For the last four years Ive been co-leading an X-rated show, and so Im on a constant journey of learning what it is to be a PG role model and the lead of a family show.'

Ncuti will next be seen in his first official episode on Christmas Day, but confesses he will 'far away from a TV' when the show airs.

When asked what is next for the actor and if he would be up for playing Doctor Who for the long haul, he replied: 'No idea, no plan. I just know that Im loving it and my love for it is growing.'

He admitted that he is still adjusting to being at the forefront of a family show however, explaining that he had already received a telling off from showrunner, Russell T Davies (pictured together last year)

Ncuti will next be seen in his first official episode on Christmas Day, but confesses he will 'far away from a TV' when the show airs
I'm A Celeb quitters Jamie Lynn Spears and Grace Dent are returning for the show's reunion episode following their shock exits, MailOnline can reveal.

The former campmates will join the rest of the cast including Jungle King Sam Thompson, 31, in their first sit-down interviews since fleeing Australia with food critic Grace recalling her toughest moments.

Grace, 50, became the first contestant to quit the show this year amid mounting speculation about her ill appearance, with sources telling MailOnline being voted for another gruesome Bushtucker Trial 'pushed her over the edge.'

Britney Spears' sister, 32, followed her exit citing 'medical issues', leaving the series in crisis after two stars opted to leave for the first time in the show's 21-year history.

But Jamie and Grace will be back on camera on Wednesday night during the programme's I'm A Celebrity... Coming Out episode, where they will detail their emotional experiences in the Aussie jungle.

I'm A Celeb quitters Jamie Lynn Spears and Grace Dent are returning for the show's reunion episode following their shock exits, MailOnline can reveal

The ex-campmates will join the rest of the cast including Jungle King Sam Thompson in their first sit-down interviews since fleeing Australia with Grace recalling her toughest moments

Britney Spears' sister followed Grace's exit citing 'medical issues', leaving the series in crisis after two stars opted to leave for the first time in the show's 21-year history

A TV source told MailOnline: 'Jamie and Grace will be speaking for the first time since they quit life in the jungle.

'Viewers will finally get to hear first-hand the highs and lows experienced by both of the stars, who are yet to open about the reasons behind their shock departures.

'Grace goes into detail about the struggles she faced while Jamie hints that the love and admiration she has for her campmates will see her travel to the UK for a reunion.'

On Sunday evening, Sam was crowned King of the Jungle, beating heavyweight boxer Tony Bellew to the title.

The ITV final was watched by a peak audience of 7.6million and the series has reached over 25million viewers including across streaming platform ITVX.

Sam was congratulated by his co-stars including This Morning host Josie Gibson who presented him with the floral jungle crown.

The cast have since been enjoying their freedom and luxuries, sunbathing in Australia, with Sam singing JLS hits alongside Marvin Humes.

Celebrating the end of the series with a party, the celebrities were reportedly 'tame' and opted out of a late night in favour of catching up with loved ones at home.

A source told MailOnline: 'Grace goes into detail about the struggles she faced while Jamie hints that the love and admiration she has for her campmates will see her travel to the UK for a reunion'

Shortly after her return to the UK, Grace shared a post with her followers saying she was 'overwhelmingly sad' over having to leave the show earlier than anticipated

On Sunday evening, Sam was crowned King of the Jungle, beating heavyweight boxer Tony Bellew to the title

Shortly after her return to the UK, Grace shared a post with her followers saying she was 'overwhelmingly sad' over having to leave the show earlier than she anticipated.

She explained that her 'wet' time in the jungle with no contact from friends and family left her in appreciation of 'normal life', which she now sees as 'beautiful.'

Grace added: 'I didn't go out as I planned or I wanted, but I did what I could, and I did it in a siren red gel manicure without chipping a nail. I didn't cry when I took off my bra to find a family of mealworms living in the right cup. At some level, this *must* be an achievement.'

Meanwhile, Jamie, who jetted back to the US after leaving the camp, described starring in I'm A Celeb as an 'incredibly special time' saying her co-stars were some of the 'best people' she had ever met.

Jamie struggled from the get-go because she missed her children and the wet weather conditions also made her time in the jungle harder to cope with.

Although her reason for leaving has not been officially revealed, Jamie spent a lot of her time on the show in tears and said being away from her two daughters became overwhelming.
Bianca Censoris latest X-rated fashion has sparked renewed concern among her friends, who fear Kanye West is using his wife as a puppet, with insiders claiming her outfits are the result of a blazing row in the wake of her recent trip home to Australia.

The 28-year-old, who married the controversial rapper, 46, last December, has worn a slew of increasingly more bizarre ensembles in recent days, including nude sheer tops and a silver string bodysuit  all of which she teamed with oversized stuffed toys.

Now, a source close to Bianca has revealed fears that the clothing is a reaction to her wearing what she wanted during her solo trip to Melbourne last month  something that allegedly irked Kanye, who likes to have control over her wardrobe.

Bianca loved being the center of attention when she returned home, and her friends thought that they got thought to her, a source told DailyMail.com exclusively.

But this attention has changed her. For a few weeks though, she seemed to be back to herself.

Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori was nearly naked in an X-rated silver string ensemble at Miami's LIV nightclub, covering up with only a stuffed cat toy, on Sunday night

Bianca, 28, also flashed her nipples at an Art Basel event, sparking concerns from her friends

The Australian star's friends fear Kanye is using her as his 'puppet'. Pictured in Dubai with another cuddly toy

When she returned to Kanye for the party in Dubai, she was more herself than shes ever been with him, but this did not sit well with him. She wore what she wanted and was seen talking to people, being flirty and having a good time.

This apparently caused a huge fight with them because he does not like his women to be themselves. He wants them to be sexy  but sexy with what he wants them to wear. The next time she is out she is naked with a stuffed animal.

They continued: It is like a child holding onto their stuffed animal or their blanket. They do it because the feel secure with it. It helps to relieve anxiety. But when a grown woman is naked in public carrying a stuffed animal

This scares those who know her. Instead of carrying a teddy bear, she should be holding onto her husbands hand. She is almost a puppet at this point in Kanyes play.

Bianca was fully naked, bar a silver string ensemble and a chain-link-style head covering, on Sunday as she enjoyed a night out in Miami with her husband, who has been condemned for doubling down on his anti-Semitic comments of late. She teamed the look with a fluffy white lion.

Her outing came hours after she was pictured flashing her nipples in a nude bodysuit and carrying a giant white stuffed bear at an Art Basel event.

Last month she was seen clutching another stuffed animal at fashion designer Amina Muaddi's pop-up store after being reunited with Kanye in Dubai.

It is not the first time concerns have been raised for the Australian, who is listed as an architect for Kanyes Yeezy brand.

Bianca, pictured before she was dating Kanye, once had long hair and wore less bizarre outfits

Bianca held onto a stuffed cat as she strolled into a nightclub in Miami on Sunday night

Bianca, pictured with her husband Kanye and designer Amina Muaddi, in Dubai where they reunited after her solo trip home to Australia

Back in October, insiders claimed that she has 'no mind of her own anymore' and instead simply 'obeys' Kanye, who has reportedly instructed her to 'never speak'  and has issued a set of rules to live by.

'Kanye has a set of rules for Bianca, which include never speak and wear what he wants her to wear,' the source told DailyMail.com at the time.

'She is also required to eat certain food items and to work out even though Kanye doesnt work out.

'She has no mind of her own anymore and obeys him because he has convinced her that they are royal.'

Bianca, who was first pictured with Kanye in January, exhibited some bizarre outfits during their summer European vacation, including nude tights and sheer tops.

She also went topless, simply carrying a purple pillow to cover her modesty, just days after the pair put on a lewd display on a boat in Venice.

Previous baffling outfits have also included a black nylon dress which featured a head covering and a giant foam collar.

Biancas friends staged a successful intervention to raise concerns about her relationship with Kanye and his alleged 'controlling ways,' telling her to 'wake the f*** up' when they were reunited last month for the first time since she secretly tied the knot with the GoldDigger rapper.

Bianca had previously accused her friends of being 'jealous' of her newfound fame when they expressed concerns that her husband is manipulating her into a 'radicalized' version of his ex-wife Kim Kardashian.

But after months of allegedly avoiding those closest to her, a source exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com that she was 'starting to see things from an outside perspective'.

Kim filed for divorce from Kanye in February 2021. They now co-parent their four children - North, 10, Saint, seven, Chicago, five, and Psalm, four. Pictured seen in 2020

'Everyone is just glad that they finally were able to get through to Bianca,' they said. 'Her friends let her know exactly how they feel and they told her that she needs to wake the f*** up.

'She knows that she has shut out those close to her and she is also starting to see through the smoky mirrors of her marriage. She is aware of Kanye's controlling ways and she is starting to see things from an outside perspective.'

Kanyes ex Kim was vocal about his influence over her fashion choices during their seven-year marriage.

In a 2018 interview with W Magazine, she said: 'I always thought I had really good styleuntil I met my husband and he told me that I had the worst style.'

And in an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, the SKIMS founder said: 'Kanye has always dressed me. In the early 2000s, he would literally just send me random emails with all these looks and what my style should be.'

The couple have four children together: North, 10, Saint, seven, Chicago, five, and Psalm, four.
Tammy Hembrow and her Love Island Australia boyfriend of three months Matt Zukowski announced their engagement over the weekend.

And while some fans sent their well-wishes, the glamorous influencer has received even more backlash after a close-up photo of her sparkling engagement ring was shared online.

Popular Instagram account Influencer Updates posted a series of pictures of Tammy's previous engagement rings (from ex- fiances Reece Hawkins and Matt Poole) and allowed their followers to savagely compare them.

Tammy received a tear-drop diamond ring from first fiance Reece Hawkins when he proposed back in 2017.

Her second fiance Matt Poole got down on one knee in 2021 with an oval-shaped sparkler on a diamond band.

Tammy Hembrow and her Love Island Australia boyfriend of three months Matt Zukowski announced their engagement over the weekend

Her latest ring from Zukowski appears to be the largest out of the three - a huge oval-shaped diamond on a gold band.

'The first Matt ring was the nicest,' one wrote under the post, while others agreed saying 'Matt Poole's was the best' and 'definitely Matt #1'.

Meanwhile, one brutally remarked 'why don't we get a close up of Reece's ring so we can all really compare and see the broke to rich timeline' and another wondered 'what happens to all these rings?'

And while some fans sent their well-wishes, the glamorous influencer has received even more backlash after a a close-up of her sparkling engagement ring was shared online

Another comment read 'Quite the collection, stocking them for financial security.'

'Poole's is definitely the prettiest one. Has great taste. Zukowski's looks like he took "you can copy my homework but change it up" meme seriously but failed to live up to Poole's,' wrote one more.

The critiques kept coming, with one claiming the 'new one doesn't have much bling. It looks like a s**t quality diamond, very dull and opaque.'

Tammy is pictured wearing her latest engagement ring from Matt Zukowski

It comes after Tammy shared a loved-up video of Matt's proposal on Sunday.

The footage showed the precious moment Matt got down on one knee at the beach and pulled out an engagement ring for Tammy.

The clip was filmed from a distance and showed the lovebirds standing in a decorative love heart display on the sandy shore.

Popular Instagram account Influencer Updates posted a series of pictures of Tammy's previous engagement rings (from ex- fiances Reece Hawkins and Matt Poole) and allowed their followers to savagely compare them

A shocked Tammy raised her hands to her face in disbelief before excitedly jumping into Matt's arms as she happily accepts his proposal.

Tammy captioned the footage with some heartfelt words: 'Never in my life have I felt so safe, so loved, so understood, so cared for. What a plot twist you were.'

Tammy has been engaged two times before - her first time was with fellow influencer Hawkins, who is the father of her two eldest children, son Wolf, eight, and daughter Saskia, six.

The glamorous influencer shared a loved-up video to Instagram on Sunday capturing the heartwarming moment Matt proposed to her while on holiday in the Maldives

Tammy captioned the footage with some heartfelt words: 'Never in my life have I felt so safe, so loved, so understood, so cared for. What a plot twist you were'

In November 2021, the fitness guru became engaged to restaurateur and former Ironman Poole.

The pair, who split in December 2022, share one-year-old daughter Posy.

Many of Tammy's followers took to the comments section to joke that they hoped she'd finally make it down the aisle the third time around.

'Wait, didn't this happen last year with someone else?' one fan joked and another added: 'That's what you said about the last one'.

'Maybe third time will be it! I literally can't keep up with how many times you've been engaged,' a third joked.

Their shock engagement comes just two months after they went Instagram official with their romance.

Tammy and Matt sparked engagement rumours last week when she was spotted on their holiday sporting a massive diamond engagement ring.
Bijou Phillips partied with the Hiltons while estranged husband Danny Masterson has been serving his 30 year sentence for a rape conviction.

The 43-year-old actress and model - who was seen for the first time after Masterson was expelled from Scientology back in October- posed with Nicky Hilton and friends in front of a Christmas tree in snaps which were posted on Monday.

The rest of the photos in the gallery featured Nicky's, 40, sister Paris and mother Kathy as it was posted with the caption: 'Holidays at the Hiltons [Christmas tree emoji]'

Bijou donned a sparkly green mini dress along with black pantyhose and matching heels as she posed alongside Nicky, Allison Wise, and Kimberly Stewart.

Her blonde locks were worn down into waves as her make-up was complete with a swipe of red lip.

Bijou Phillips partied with the Hiltons while estranged husband Danny Masterson has been serving his 30 year sentence for a rape conviction; the former couple are seen in LA in May

This was a much different look than the last time she was spotted out back in October as she was pictured for the first time since her estranged husband Danny Masterson was expelled from Scientology and declared a 'suppressive person'.

Days before that Masterson, 47, was expelled from the Church of Scientology following his rape conviction that earned him 30 years in prison - which requires the That '70s Show star's family and friends to sever all communication with him.

Her ex husband - who has also agreed to give Bijou both legal and physical custody of the couple's daughter Fianna, nine - has been declared a 'suppressive person'  or 'SP'  which the Church of Scientology defines as someone whose behavior seeks to impede the spiritual progress of those around him.

But even with the expulsion, the church maintains that Masterson is innocent of all charges, according to insiders.

The shocking development was revealed by longtime private investigator Jeffrey Augustine on his website, The Scientology Money Project, which has been dedicated to exposing the alleged wrongdoings of the church since 2014.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Augustine, a former Scientologist himself, explained the reasons behind the radical decision to cut ties with a member they publicly supported during two lengthy criminal trials.

Augustine, 66, said the Church of Scientology had not planned to go public with the news and are still telling members Masterson is innocent and that former Scientologist Leah Remini conspired with other revengeful former members to disparage him.

'According to my sources, Danny has been declared a suppressive person, which means he would be expelled from Scientology,' Augustine said.

In October Masterson, 47, was expelled from the Church of Scientology following his rape conviction that earned him 30 years in prison - which requires the That '70s Show star's family and friends to sever all communication with him; the former couple are seen in May

'They are telling Scientologists that he will file an appeal and that he is innocent of the charges for which he was convicted.

'They (church officials) declared Danny a suppressive person for not maintaining the high ethical standards for the Church of Scientology, and other reasons  but not because he was convicted of rape,' Augustine added.

Masterson was convicted of two counts of rape in May. He was given his long prison sentence in September. A third rape charge ended with a hung jury. An earlier trial saw jurors deadlocked.

Augustine spoke out while attending a protest held in front of the Church of Scientology Celebrity Center in Hollywood on Saturday where dozens of former members and alleged victims of sexual abuse spoke out against the injustices of the 'cult'.

Chrissie Carnell Bixler, the accuser whose case ended without a guilty verdict attended Saturday's protest along with one of the women whose evidence convicted the star of That '70s Show.

When asked about Masterson being declared suppressive, Bixler told DailyMail.com: 'They should have declared him an SP when I originally went to them.'

Bixler and the other two women he was convicted of raping are suing the convicted rapist in a separate civil suit, another possible reason for his expulsion.

Augustine said: 'A lot of Scientologists were complaining that they have friends and family members that they can't talk to because they were declared suppressive. They questioned why Danny Masterson was allowed to be a Scientologist in good standing when he's brought such a horrible public relations situation on to the church with his felony rape convictions.

Her ex husband has been declared a 'suppressive person'  or 'SP'  which the Church of Scientology defines as someone whose behavior seeks to impede the spiritual progress of those around him

'So the members are asking why were their friends and family declared for reading the internet, watching Leah Remini's show, and doing other things that are far below what Masterson was charged with?'

Augustine said he was not surprised with the decision to put Masterson behind them because the church's controversial leader David Miscavige has to save face.

'Miscavige has the International Association of Scientologists event coming up in London. It's the first post-pandemic big multimillion dollar fundraiser.

'I think Miscavige is clearing the decks ahead of the IAS in London so he's not asked about Masterson. In other words, he wants it handled. He doesn't want Danny Masterson to be the focus.

'They are not going to make a public announcement. They are going to tell everyone at this big, posh London event don't talk about it, don't mention Danny. He has now become a person whose name must not be mentioned.'

'They are still maintaining his innocence, saying he will appeal and that's not why he's been declared, but this is not to be talked about by anyone,' he said.

The Church of Scientology did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Augustine, a licensed private investigator and longtime critic of the church, is married to former Scientologist Karen de la Carriere, one of the highest ranking members of the church who worked alongside church founder L. Ron Hubbard. She left the church in 2010 after 35 years.

Two of the three women who accused Masterson of rape were among those at the protest on Saturday.

'The suit is coming up and Scientology doesn't want to be accountable. They are going to say they have nothing to do with Masterson anymore,' Augustine explained.

Masterson grew up in a family of practicing Scientologists. His stepfather Joe Reaiche and mother Carole Masterson had been members of the Sea Org, the 'clergy' of the controversial faith.

Reaiche himself would eventually be deemed suppressive for questioning certain teachings and has not had any contact with his children since.

Like his own father who was kicked out of the church, Masterson may not even be aware that he has been declared a suppressive person and will find out when everyone cuts ties with him.

'I don't think Bijou wants to visit him in prison ever. She was just awarded custody of their daughter.

'I personally think Bijou Phillips will leave the Church of Scientology, that's my prediction. It's brought her nothing but grief, heartache and sorrow,' Augustine added.

Phillips stood by her husband throughout the two trials  the first of which ended with a hung jury  turning up on his arm each day for the court hearings.

But just 12 days after his September 7 sentencing she filed for divorce after 12 years of marriage.

In her filings she revealed that she and Masterson  who is currently in LA's Central Men's Jail awaiting a decision as to where he will serve his sentence  had been living apart for five years.

'I think she will shift towards Billy Baldwin and Chyna Phillips and their Christianity,' said Augustine. 'That's what I think will happen to Bijou if she gets out. There is no reason for her to stay in Scientology.'

Augustine said news for the church has been getting worse and worse. He said the next thing that could happen is for the IRS to revoke the church's tax exemption status.

'That would mean they are not a religion,' he said.

Expelled: Masterson, 47, was expelled from the Church of Scientology following his rape conviction that earned him 30 years in prison; the couple are seen on May 16 in Los Angeles

'They are currently protected by First Amendment religious protections and they would become a for-profit business. That would not allow them to get away with covering up rapes, pedophiles, white collar criminals  all of that would end.

'They have a culture of covering up sexual crimes and that's what happened with Danny Masterson for twenty years,' said Augustine.

Alexa Nikolas of Nickelodeon's Zoey 101 spearheaded the protest on behalf of her 'Eat Predators' movement, which she founded in 2022 to call out sexual predators and networks who protect them. Nikolas has never been a Scientologist.

The actress led the protest which lasted for more than thee hours with supporters chanting: 'Protect survivors, not Scientology, a cult is a predator...power to survivors.'

'Disconnection is suppressive. Scientology stop doing it,' said an ex-member who goes by the name Lara FM as she held a sign that said Declared Suppressive Person.

She confirmed: 'Yes, that's 100% true that Danny has been expelled.'
Social media star Kurt Coleman quit alcohol two years ago.

And on Monday, the 26-year-old shared jaw-dropping before and after photos to Instagram, capturing his stunning body transformation since going sober.

The before picture showed a shirtless Kurt looking heavy and out of shape, with the influencer sporting a grim facial expression.

Fast forward two years and the shirtless after snap showcased a now transformed Kurt, with toned abs, muscular biceps and a determined look on his face.

The Queensland native captioned the photos with some reflective words: 'Wow, working out is like getting surgery without going under the knife.'

Social media star Kurt Coleman quit alcohol two years ago. And on Monday, the 26-year-old shared jaw-dropping before and after photos to Instagram. Pictured

'It's like photoshopping yourself prettier each day that goes by. I'm so proud.'

Many of Coleman's celebrity friend were quick to congratulate him on his incredible health progress.

'You look that good,' gushed Married At First Sight's Hayley Vernon and others quickly agreed.

Fast forward two years and the shirtless after picture showcased a now transformed Kurt, with toned abs, muscular biceps and a happier appearance

Kurt has been sober for over two years after being hospitalised after drinking a single glass of wine that lead doctors to discover he has pancreatitis.

Since then the social media star has worked on his health and said he's the 'happiest' he has ever been.

'So many people laughed at me when I obviously lost who I was and was just really lost for a while,' he wrote on Facebook back in February.

'Especially the comments on this photo on the left - over 500 of them where everyone was making fun of how I looked. I didn't think it was funny at the time.'

He admitted he agrees he didn't 'look like himself', but he said he ended up 'getting sick not long after that'.

Kurt - who now shares regular photos of his body, which he describes as his 'temple' - said he is now the 'most me I have ever felt'.

Kurt has been sober for over two years after being hospitalised after drinking a single glass of wine that lead doctors to discover he has pancreatitis
She has been vocal about her opposition to the newly-opened Westconnex Rozelle Interchange in the Sydney's inner-west, and even resorted to hiring a helicopter to get to work last week in order to beat traffic snarls.

And Rebel Wilson looked well and truly over the city's traffic nightmares as she hopped out of her car in Balmain on Monday morning.

Dressed in a baggy T-shirt, black trousers and loafers, the Pitch Perfect star appeared irate and exhausted.

The actress was seen hauling a large Hermes handbag in one hand while weighed down with another black travel bag she wore on her shoulder.

Looking less than happy, the Bridesmaids favourite hid her well-known features behind a pair of black-tinted sunglasses and tied her trademark blonde hair back in a ponytail.

Rebel Wilson looked irate and exhausted as she hopped out of her car in Balmain on Monday, after raging about how the new Rozelle Interchange traffic in Sydney ruined her commute to work

The actress was seen hauling a large Hermes handbag in one hand while weighed down with another black travel bag she wore on her shoulder

The outing came just hours before the Australian-born Hollywood actress jetted off to Fiji for a Christmas getaway with members of her family, including her mother Sue and her boyfriend Peter.

It is not known if Rebel's fiancee Ramona Agruma and their daughter Royce has joined them on the trip.

She posted pictures of her idyllic getaway and in one could be seen enjoying a meal.

The Pitch Perfect star captioned the intimate photo: 'Fiji is the BEST this time of year.'

Looking less than happy, the Bridesmaids favourite hid her well-known features behind a pair of black-tinted sunglasses and tied her trademark blonde hair back in a ponytail

The outing came just hours before the Australian-born Hollywood actress jetted off to Fiji for a Christmas getaway with members of her family, including her mother Sue and her boyfriend Peter

Another photo showed her mother Sue and her boyfriend Peter posing in front of some palm trees.

The LA-based actor, who recently returned home to direct her upcoming film The Deb, took to Instagram last Wednesday to vent about traffic congestion on the new Westconnex Rozelle Interchange.

She revealed she had was forced to hire a helicopter to take her to work that day.

She posted pictures of her idyllic getaway and in one could be seen enjoying a meal

'I've had to get a helicopter to work because of the traffic at the Rozelle Interchange, but you know, it's all good,' said the actress sarcastically.

Behind her a helicopter could be seen preparing to take her to work.

Rebel has previously called on the New South Wales government to fix one of Sydney's most notorious intersections after she was forced to sit at traffic lights for 30 minutes.

The roadway, which stretches for 16.6km and cost the government $4billion, was opened late last month and has been referred to by critics as the 'spaghetti junction' due to commuter's confusion over traffic lanes.

Filming herself in the passenger's seat earlier this month, Wilson complained she was running late to work because of the traffic and branded the interchange as 'crazy'.

'I've just been stuck in traffic. I'm just trying to go to work, it's a Tuesday morning. You know, what normally can take 15 minutes, 30 minutes, to go from Victoria Road to the Anzac Bridge... I literally was just at one traffic lights for almost 30 minutes,' she ranted.

Rebel said the interchange's traffic lights make it almost impossible for residents living in suburbs like Balmain and Rozelle to 'drive anywhere in the mornings'.

The NSW government previously warned the new Rozelle Interchange could lead to up to six months of increased congestion while drivers get used to the new set-up.

Rebel accompanied her rant with a fiery caption that read: 'Government needs to do something re Rozelle Interchange NOW! Let the traffic flow from Victoria Rd to Anzac Bridge like it used to!!'

In a subsequent post, she added: 'Having a baby, and working 12 hour days means I do NOT need an extra hour STUCK IN SYDNEY traffic caused by stupid decisions!'

It is just one of the many examples of Rebel lambasting the Rozelle Interchange on her Instagram Stories.

A week earlier, she posted another photo from inside her car after being forced to wait in traffic.
Susan Sarandon started her week by heading out for a stroll in New York City, amid the fallout of her controversial comments at a pro-Palestine rally.

The 77-year-old Oscar-winning actress was seen out and about in the Big Apple, just days after she apologizied for her 'terrible mistake.'

She stated that Jewish people are, 'getting a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim' during a November 17, which sparked widespread outrage and affected her professional career as well.

Sarandon stepped out with a black and white striped shirt under a black leather jacket with floral prints.

She also donned a black hat and accessorized with gold earrings for the outing on Monday.

Susan Sarandon started her week by heading out for a stroll in New York City, amid the fallout of her controversial comments at a pro-Palestine rally

She completed her look with black pants and red leather boots for the outing on Monday afternoon.

Sarandon spoke during a pro-Palestine rally on November 17, stating that the war against Hamas is making Jewish people, 'getting a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim.'

The remarks were met with prompt backlash, with critics claiming Sarandon ignored the centuries of prejudice and antisemitism the Jewish community has endured.

The 77-year-old Oscar-winning actress was dropped by her Hollywood representative, United Talent Agency, which is run by Jewish CEO Jeremy Zimmer, where she had been since 2014.

She took to Instagram on December 2 to issue an apology, revealing that she had not planned to speak at the rally but was suggested to do so.

'This phrasing was a terrible mistake, as it implies that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true,' she said.

She said the rally was 'to highlight the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and call for a ceasefire,' and said she had not planned to speak at the gathering, but was invited to address the crowd.

'Intending to communicate my concern for an increase in hate crimes, I said that Jewish Americans, as the targets of rising antisemitic hate, 'are getting a taste of what it is like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence.'

She completed her look with black pants and red leather boots for the outing on Monday afternoon

Sarandon said her words ignored 'centuries of oppression and genocide in Europe' as well as recent atrocities, such as the Tree of Life synagogue attack, which saw 11 murdered in October 2018 in Pittsburgh - the worst attack on the Jewish community in modern US history.

Sarandon added: 'I deeply regret diminishing this reality and hurting people with this comment.

'It was my intent to show solidarity in the struggle against bigotry of all kinds, and I am sorry I failed to do so.'

Since the October 7 terror attack by Hamas, which killed 1,200 Israelis, and the reprisals in Gaza, which have killed 15,000 Palestinians, Sarandon has attended several rallies in New York.
Terri Irwin stunned her fans this week by posting a throwback photo from 30 years ago to social media.

In it, the 59-year-old conservationist looked strikingly similar to how she does today.

Fans were quick to gush over Terri's ageless beauty and marvel at how she looks just as good three decades on.

'Just as gorgeous now as you were then!' one fan gushed and a second person added: 'You don't age'.

The jaw-dropping snap from 1992 captured Terri in her trademark Khaki uniform.

Terri Irwin stunned her fans this week by posting a throwback photo from 30 years ago to social media, in which she looks exactly the same as she does today. The conservationist, 59, showcased her ageless beauty by sharing to Instagram the jaw-dropping snap from 1992

The Oregon-born star posed up a storm next to a hotel pool and positively glowed in the photo, in which her luscious brunette hair frames her striking features.

'Remembering 1992, the first time Steve and I were on national television in Australia to talk about The Crocodile Hunter documentary series,' she wrote next to the photo.

'This was such a big deal, Steve took a photo of me by the hotel pool!'

Terri is all smiles in the incredible photo and fans were quick to point out that three decades later the Irwin matriarch is still as stunning as ever. Pictured: Terri in 2019

Last month, Terri paid a sweet tribute to her late husband Steve in celebration of his love for animals.

The reality TV star posted a photo to Instagram showing her late husband Steve 'The Crocodile Hunter' Irwin posing up a storm with a cockatoo and revealed the bird was still part of their Zoo family.

The lovebirds met in 1991 when she visited Australia Zoo while on a holiday from the US and they married the following year.

Steve tragically died at 44-years-old when a stingray barb pierced his chest on September 4, 2006, while filming near Batt Reef, Queensland, in his native Australia.

Terri famously took over Australia Zoo after being widowed with the couple's two children.

Irwin and her children Bindi, 25, and Robert, 20, have worked hard in the years since Steve's passing to keep his conservation legacy alive.

Last month, Terri paid a sweet tribute to her late husband Steve in celebration of his love for animals. Both pictured
Sydney Sweeney turned heads in not one but two amazing white looks as she continued promoting Anyone But You on Monday.

The actress, 26, wowed in an elegant turtleneck sweater and skirt combo as well as a sexier suit with a sheer corset-inspired top.

As for her wintry dress look, Sydney hit a fashion high note with her blonde hair slicked back up into a sleek updo with two glossy strands framing her radiant complexion.

Her look was given the golden touch with a number of metallic accessories while her feet were slipped into glossy white heel boots.

She likely turned a few more heads while clad in a sexier look during a promotional outing with Anyone But You co-star Glen Powell.

Sydney Sweeney turned heads in not one but two amazing white looks as she continued promoting Anyone But You on Monday

Sydney sizzled in a pair of white trousers teamed with a cropped blazer and sheer corset style top worn beneath her jacket.

Glen was also looking dashing in a blue jacket worn over a white sweater and navy trousers.

The duo linked up with Drew Barrymore, who couldn't have looked any happier to be meeting up with the pair.

She pulled Sydney in for a warm hug as they mingled in front of fans.

That wasn't the only look Sydney was wowing in that day.

She also worked a low-cut black vest adorned with gold buttons along with flared blue jeans. The Euphoria star draped a black coat elegantly over her shoulders and accessorized with a headband and sunglasses.

Sydney was also seen in a black velvet tuxedo inspired mini dress while out with Glen.

They were arm in arm as they walked down the sidewalk in midtown, looking lovingly at one another.

As for her wintry dress look, Sydney hit a fashion high note with her blonde hair slicked back up into a sleek updo with two glossy strands framing her radiant complexion

She likely turned a few more heads while clad in a sexier look during a promotional outing with Anyone But You co-star Glen Powell

The duo grinned as they posed by fans

They also shared the spotlight with Drew Barrymore

This comes after the pair admitted they grew to 'love each other' on the set of their new film Anyone But You, but added they had a purely platonic relationship.

During the outing, the White Lotus star also wore black knee socks with open toed platform shoes accessorized with a feminine bow.

She wore camera ready makeup with a bright pink lip and let her long, blonde hair flow freely, pulling it away from her face with a demure black headband.

Glen, 35, looked handsome in black slacks and a white sweater. He kept warm in a gray wool jacket and donned black ankle boots.

The Devotion star sported a bit of scruffy beard below his dark sunglasses.

Barrymore shared a warm embrace with the Euphoria star

Sydney draped a coat over her shoulders during another outing in the Big Apple

She worked a pair of flared blue jeans and boots

Sweeney and Powell seemed to take advantage of the rumors about a possible romance between them by sharing loving glances with each other as they promoted their new movie in New York Monday

Sydney, 26, looked stylish in a black velvet tuxedo inspired sleeveless mini-dress with a drop waist, a satin collar and a white ruffled 'shirt'

In an appearance on Today on Monday, the pair laughed and joked with each other as they spoke with host Hoda Kotb about the movie.

Sydney not only stars in the film, but served as an executive producer, along with her fiance Jonathan Davino, 40.

The movie is about a couple whose romance quickly fizzles after a great first date.

They find themselves thrown together again when both travel to Australia for a destination wedding, and decide to pretend they're a couple.

Noticing the chemistry between them and the fact both had brought family members with them to the set, Hoda asked them point blank, 'Is this like a little romance?'

Glen, 35, looked handsome in black pants and a white sweater. He kept warm in a gray wool jacket and donned black ankle boots. The Devotion star sported a bit of scruffy beard below his dark sunglasses

The pair star in the upcoming rom-com, Anyone But You about a two people who pretend to be a couple while attending a destination wedding in Australia. The movie opens December 22

The quested resulted in lots of giggling between the two with Glen replying, 'No, but we do love each other,' he said.

'And, honestly, this is one of the most spectacular humans I've ever met. She's really great.'

Glen is currently single, having broken up with model Gigi Paris earlier this year.

He became one of the most eligible bachelors in Hollywood after his star-making turn in the Tom Cruise film Top Gun: Maverick.

Sydney starred in the movie, and also served as an executive producer on the project along with her fiance Jonathan Davino, 40 (pictured in Los Angeles in October)

Right now, the Glen's main squeeze is his rescue dog Brisket, whom he adopted during a 'low point' earlier this year

Right now, the actor's main squeeze is his rescue dog Brisket, whom he adopted during a 'low point' earlier this year, according to an interview in Men's Health.

The pragmatic star says rumors and gossip are something that comes with his profession.

'When all that stuff happened, you know, publicly, it felt disorienting and unfair,' he explained.

'But what I'm realizing now is that's just a part of this gig now.'

Anyone But You opens in theaters December 22.
Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac shared his 'near death experience' on the breakfast show on Tuesday.

Taking to his Instagram stories, 42-year-old Mac showed video of himself getting involved in a knife throwing act at Brisbane burlesque club Pink Flamingo during a Sunrise segment.

The weatherman stood against an upright wooden board while a man hurled a series of knives at the board around him, with the caption on the video reading 'become a TV weatherman they said.'

'Normally in television, the knives go in your back so this is a little bit unorthodox,' the presenter nervously quipped before the weapons plunged into the wood around him.

'This is not a fun day at work,' he said as the performer continued to throw the knives, before revealing 'I felt the wind of that one go past my eye!'

The breakfast show weatherman, grateful to be alive, led a cheer after the performer finished the stunt.

It comes as the weatherman has returned to screens after taking a month break from his role on the show to focus on full-time fatherhood.

The presenter was in good spirits as she donned a Santa hat while he showed off his dance moves during a live segment from a Christmas dance party.

Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac (pictured) shared his 'near death experience' on the breakfast show on Tuesday

'Normally in television, the knives go in your back so this is a little bit unorthodox,' the presenter nervously quipped before the weapons plunged into the wood around him

'Unapologetic main character energy,' he wrote over the video.

Sam announced that he was stepping away from his on-air duties in December while taking paternity leave.

Sam's decision was to allow his stylist partner Rebecca James, 35, to return to the workforce for the first time since giving birth.

Mac has returned to screens after taking a month break from his role on the show to focus on full-time fatherhood

Speaking to 7Life, Sam said he is looking forward to spending quality time with Margot, who recently started walking.

'It's my turn to be getting Margot up, feed her and basically becoming her personal assistant/servant,' Sam joked.

'Margot's changed so much even in the past couple of months. So it's super exciting to have some proper quality time with her.'

Sam announced that he was stepping away from his on-air duties in December while taking paternity leave. (Pictured with partner Rebecca with Sam and daughter Margot)

In an interview with New Idea magazine last month, Sam also praised Sunrise for being so supportive, saying he was 'so grateful' for the 'opportunity' to take time off for his family.

'I have worried about being one of those parents who are too busy with work to fully experience all the milestones with my child,' he explained.

'I absolutely love my job, but I am often away from home. I'm already noticing what I miss in Margot's development,' Sam admitted.

Sam will be replaced by Sunrise presenter Katie Brown during his time away.

Sam and Rebecca welcomed Margot in September 2022, two years after they started dating.

Announcing the joyous news at the time, Sam wrote: 'This is a love I never even knew existed. I'm overwhelmed and still processing it all right now. My girls. Wow.'
Adam Driver and his wife Joanne Tucker welcomed a baby daughter earlier this year, as the Oscar-nominated actor recently publicly announced the new addition to the family.

Driver, 40, announced that he and Tucker, 41, had a new baby during a rehearsal session ahead of his Saturday Night Live hosting stint over the weekend, sources told Page Six.

Driver, who plays Enzo Ferrari in the forthcoming biopic Ferrari, made the reveal as he went over his opening monologue, the outlet reported.

The San Diego native said, 'Last year, I asked for a baby girl, and I got it, which is exhausting - so this year, I wish for Ambien!'

The Marriage Story actor and his spouse previously welcomed a son in 2016.

Adam Driver, 40, and his wife Joanne Tucker, 41, welcomed a baby daughter earlier this year, as the Oscar-nominated actor recently publicly announced the new addition to the family. Pictured in October in NYC

Driver followed his previous pattern in confirming the news, as he previously did so while hosting SNL in January of 2020.

Driver, who has portrayed the role of Kylo Ren in the Star Wars universe, said at the time: 'I'm a husband. And a father. It's in that order though. I've been very clear with my son about that, he's second in everything.'

Tucker sported what appeared to be a baby bump in February in New York City on a shopping outing.

Sources close to Driver and his spouse told Page Six in November of 2018 that relatives of Driver and Tucker had spoken of the pregnancy on their Instagram accounts, which were set to private.

Tucker's sister posted images from a joint baby shower calling them 'new moms' in a post that had accidentally been set to public, insiders told the outlet.

Driver and Tucker took their son on a trip to Italy in March of 2021, the outlet reported.

While Driver and Tucker have not spoken publicly about their children, Driver did reference being a parent in a February 2017 interview with W magazine.

The actor said that at one time, he doubted he'd 'love anything more' than his dog, adding, 'Like, I have a kid, maybe - and be like, but the dog!'

Driver said that he and Tucker had a new child during a rehearsal session ahead of his Saturday Night Live hosting stint over the weekend, sources told Page Six

The Marriage Story actor said, 'Last year, I asked for a baby girl, and I got it, which is exhausting - so this year, I wish for Ambien!'

Driver and Tucker initially crossed paths while studying at The Juilliard School and tied the knot in June of 2013.

Tucker is also an actress, as she's been seen alongside her spouse in the 2019 film The Report as well as a 2016 episode of the HBO series Girls.

She's also been seen in films such as 2020's Give or Take, 2016's Zero Days and 2014's Listen Up Philip.
The Jonas Brothers had quite the surprise for fans at their last North American concet this year: Jack Black.

The JoBros completed th North American leg of their Five Albums, One Night world tour at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday night - which came amid Joe Jonas' divorce drama with ex Sophie Turner.

The brothers had a special surprise for the fans, with Jack Black arriving to play his hit song Peaches from The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Black, 54, rose up from the stage wearing his green Bowser suit to play Paches for the adoring crowd.

The Jonas Brothers Instagram captured Black's arrival on video, which they captioned, 'The one The only @jackblack #THETOUR'

The Jonas Brothers had quite the surprise for fans at their last North American concet this year: Jack Black

Black, 54, rose up from the stage wearing his green Bowser suit to play Paches for the adoring crowd

The video begins with Black - clad in his green Bowser suit - as he told the Barclays Center crowd, 'This song goes out to my one and only true love: Princess Peach.'

He added, 'And also, to my good friends The Jonas Brothers,' before breaking into the song, with many in the Barclays Center singing along.

The song proved to be quite the hit, reaching #56 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts

Just days after the performance, Peaches was nominated for Best Original Song from a Motion Picture.

It will be going up against three songs from the mega-hit Barbie (What Was I Made For? by Billie Eilish, Dance The Night by Dua Lipa and I'm Just Ken by Ryan Gosling) plus Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa's Addicted to Romance from She Came To Me and Lenny Kravitz's Road to Freedom from Rustin.

Peaches will also be eligible for the Best Original Song category at the Academy Awards as well, with the nominations to be announced January 23.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie took in a massive $574.9 million domestic (the second highest tally of 2023 behind Barbie's $636.2 million) and $1.36 billion worldwide.

The film followed brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) who must save Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) from Bowser's (Black) clutches.

The video begins with Black - clad in his green Bowser suit - as he told the Barclays Center crowd, 'This song goes out to my one and only true love: Princess Peach'

He added, 'And also, to my good friends The Jonas Brothers,' before breaking into the song, with many in the Barclays Center singing along.

The song proved to be quite the hit, reaching #56 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts

Just days after the performance, Peaches was nominated for Best Original Song from a Motion Picture.

The film followed brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) who must save Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) from Bowser's (Black) clutches

After a few months off for the holidays, the Jonas Brothers will return to the road with the international leg of their tour.

They will perform in India, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Germany, France, England and many more as the tour spans until June 2024.

The group also recently announced their 20th anniversary tour that will kick off in 2025.

Black will return to voice Po in the upcoming animated sequel Kung Fu Panda 4, in theaters March 29, and he also voices Claptrap in the Borderlands movie based on the wildly popular video game, in theaters August 9.
Kylie Jenner supported boyfriend Timothee Chalamet at the LA premiere of his film Wonka on Sunday evening.

But she also enjoyed some quality time with her mother, Kris Jenner.

The reality star, 26, Instagrammed a cute selfie she took with her mother as they struck puckered-up lips for the camera.

'Mommy nights are the best nights,' she captioned the post on Monday, along with a heart emoji. Adorably, Kylie's mother commented on the post: 'I love you my precious girl.'

Kylie, looking glam with her hair all done up and in a sexy black look, followed it up with a string of solo selfies and video of her sexy outfit.

Kylie Jenner supported boyfriend Timothee Chalamet at the LA premiere of his film Wonka on Sunday evening

She panned the camera down to her svelte waist as she sat in her car before gently shaking her ringlets for the camera.

Kylie looked gorgeous with a dashing of blush, dazzling diamond earrings, and a matte tint of lipstick.

Her mother displayed her edgy side with glossy sunglasses, a sleek burgundy coat, and flawless coat of makeup.

The duo may have been en route to the Los Angeles premiere of Timothee's movie Wonka. Kylie skipped the red carpet but was spotted sneaking into the theater with Kris ahead of the screening.

Kylie and Timothee, 27, were first romantically linked in April after reportedly hitting it off at a Paris fashion event months earlier.

They hard launched their relationship by putting on a cozy display at Beyonce's concert in September  which was also attended by her ex-boyfriend Travis Scott.

A source told PEOPLE last week that Timothee is in 'awe' of his new girlfriend and 'everything she is accomplishing.'

A source also told the publication the actor 'especially thinks she is an amazing mom.'

Jenner followed up the selfie with a series of glam snaps

She showed off her svelte waist in a video showcasing her outfit

The beauty looked gorgeous with her hair styled into loose ringlets and a flawless coat of makeup

She may have been arriving to boyfriend Timothee Chalamet's Wonka premiere

Chalamet pictured at the Los Angeles premiere of Wonka on Sunday

Kylie skipped the red carpet but was spotted sneaking into the theater with Kris ahead of the Wonka screening

Jenner adorably commented, 'I love you my precious girl'

Kylie shares two kids - daughter Stormi, five, and son Aire, almost two - with ex Travis Scott.

The source went on to add that the reality star is 'incredibly happy' with Timothee and calls him her 'boyfriend.'

'He is very supportive of her career and she of his,' the insider went on. 'They both try to attend important events for each other.'

The source also divulged that the Kardashian/Jenner clan 'loves him' and that he is 'very good for Kylie.'

'Since dating him, she seems very content, relaxed and focused.'
Kim Kardashian is going all out to get into the holiday spirit  and she isn't letting Los Angeles' relatively warm temperatures keep her from having a white Christmas.

The 43-year-old reality icon shared a short clip to her Instagram Stories on Monday revealing that she had had several stunning pine trees that looked as if they were dusted with snow installed in the grand hallway of her mansion in Hidden Hills.

The trees looked majestic in the corridor, but they still managed to appear small thanks to the hallway's towering, arched ceiling.

Kim managed to hold on to the $60 million mansion  which features a striking interior of mostly whites and beiges  after negotiating a buyout with her ex-husband Kanye West during their contentious divorce.

In her video, Kim's fans were treated to some lovely New Ageinspired piano music that evoked a relaxed holiday scene.

Kim Kardashian is going all out to get into the holiday spirit  and she isn't letting Los Angeles ' relatively warm temperatures keep her from having a white Christmas

The 43-year-old reality icon shared a clip to her Instagram Stories on Monday revealing that she had had several pine trees that looked as if they were dusted with snow installed in the grand hallway of her mansion in Hidden Hills; seen November 11 in West Hollywood

In the video, the camera opens on the white trees and leisurely turns the corner to reveal the long hallway, which is decorated with trees.

There appeared to be more than a dozen trees in the hallway, though it wasn't clear if other areas of the house also had the displays.

As the video continued, the person stepped down the hallway, revealing even more trees that were hidden behind taller ones.

It wasn't obvious from the clip if the trees were well-made fakes, or if Kim had installed live trees in the home and frosted them to make them appear snowy.

However, their wasn't the tell-tale sign of fallen needles at the base, suggesting that they were plastic trees.

As the videographer got halfway down the hall, they turned the camera to the left to reveal a living roomstyle area in Kim's mansion, which featured a striking segmented sofa made of flowing, geometric designs.

Behind it was the home's beige grand piano, at which sat a man playing the relaxing music.

Kim let the wintry decorations speak for themselves and didn't offer any comment.

The video of her stunning home was shared after insiders close to the Kardashians star told DailyMail.com last month that she 'broke down' after her oldest daughter North West, 10, confessed that she was tired of living in the enormous mansion and constantly being surrounded by security guards and nurses.

Instead, she said she wanted to spend more time with her father, Kanye West, who favors a much more simple living situation, despite also being immensely wealthy.

In the video, the camera opens on the white trees and leisurely turns the corner to reveal the long hallway, which is decorated with trees

There appeared to be more than a dozen trees in the hallway, though it wasn't clear if other areas of the house also had the displays

It wasn't obvious from the clip if the trees were well-made fakes, or if Kim had installed live trees in the home and frosted them to make them appear snowy

As the videographer got halfway down the hall, they turned the camera to the left to reveal a living roomstyle area in Kim's mansion in which a man was playing a relaxing New Agestyle piece appropriate for the holiday season

Earlier on Monday, Kim shared a family photo featuring both her four children and some of her sister Kourtney Kardashians kids, including Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick's son Mason, 13, who has rarely appeared in recent posts

Earlier on Monday, Kim shared a family photo featuring both her four children and some of her sister Kourtney Kardashians kids.

She embraced North, Saint, eight, Chicago, five, and Psalm, four, while Kourtney's former partner Scott Disick was joined by their oldest son Mason, 13, and their daughter Penelope, 10, though their youngest son Reign, eight, wasn't pictured.

Kourtney also welcomed a son named Rocky with her husband Travis Barker last month.

Fans were shocked when Kim posted the photo, as Mason has lately stayed out of the spotlight compared to his siblings and famous cousins.
Marty Sheargold is returning to the public eye after taking a leave of absence from his Triple M breakfast show.

Earlier this year, the radio host, 52, officially announced an 'extended break' from work following an alleged incident at the AFL Grand Final.

It was claimed Sheargold was ejected by security due to a number of offensive comments he allegedly made to other guests at a corporate event.

Neither Sheargold or Triple M's parent company Southern Cross Austereo have confirmed whether the radio star will return to his breakfast show in 2024.

However, he will be returning to his roots in stand up as he stars alongside comedians Mick Molloy, Lawrence Mooney, and Sam Pang for a special event called The Comedians at the Geelong Arts Centre in February.

Marty Sheargold is returning to the public eye after taking a leave of absence from his Triple M breakfast show following an alleged incident at the AFL Grand Final. Pictured

According to a promo, the all-star show will be 'No holds barred, good old fashioned stand-up comedy.'

'Radio, television, film, podcasts, theyve done it all and now, they bring all the laughs to the stage.'

In November, Sheargold's show scored a ratings jump in his absence, enjoying a 7.2 percent audience share, up 1.4 percent from the previous survey.

The Marty Sheargold Show previously rated 5.8, placing it in eighth spot in the Melbourne breakfast radio market.

Sheargold's producer Loren Barry was in Sydney in October as one of the hosts of the ACRA Awards.

However, Sheargold will be returning to his roots in stand up as he stars alongside comedians Mick Molloy, Lawrence Mooney, and Sam Pang for a special event called The Comedians at the Geelong Arts Centre in February. All pictured

In November, Sheargold's show scored a ratings jump in his absence, enjoying a 7.2 percent audience share, up 1.4 percent from the previous survey

She told The Herald Sun that Sheargold would be back, assuring the show's listeners that 'everything is fine'.

'He is just taking some time, he is just spending some time with his family, but we are all good,' Barry said.

'Everything is fine. We will be back.'

She also shone a light on the gruelling life behind the microphone, stating 'working in breakfast radio you just get really tired. It is a very tiring job'.

Marty also stars in the ABC sitcom Fisk, which was picked up by Netflix and has taken off in the UK and US.

SCA told the Daily Mail that they 'look forward to Marty returning in 2024.'
Elle Fanning looked stylish as ever while leaving a taping of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York on Monday.

The Maleficent star, 25, wore a maxi crochet dress in different shades of beige, and a chic oversized cream coat for the outing.

The actress  who is nominated for a Golden Globe for her work on The Great  opted for gentle makeup, and wore her blonde tresses parted in the middle and cascading down in a straight style.

She paired the casually stylish ensemble with nude heel sandals, and was pictured singing autographs for fans outside of the building.

The star  who was spotted holding hands with Rolling Stone CEO Gus Wenner last month  has been busy making appearances in New York as she promotes her upcoming Broadway debut in Appropriate.

Elle Fanning looked stylish as ever while leaving a taping of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York on Monday

Earlier last week she was pictured at the LIVE with Kelly and Mark studio in New York City.

While in conversation with the talk show hosts, Fanning spoke about how the cast and crew have already taught her so much.

She explained how they made sure she knew about all of the little theater etiquette things as they rehearsed and ahead of opening night.

She also talked about how she is adapting well to living in New York City despite being a self-dubbed California girl at heart.

'I still don't drive,' she admitted was why she became quickly accommodated to walking everywhere.

'I need to get on that,' the Emmy nominee laughed. '[But] I have my license.'

For her Broadway debut, she will be performing alongside Natalie Gold, Alyssa Emily Marvin, Sarah Paulson and Corey Stoll.

Appropriate, which was written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins as he makes his Broadway debut as well, is a darkly comic family drama.

The Maleficent star, 25, wore a maxi crochet dress in different shades of beige, and a chic oversized cream coat

The actress opted for gentle makeup, and wore her blonde tresses parted in the middle and cascading down in a straight style

She paired the casually stylish ensemble with nude heel sandals

She was pictured singing autographs for fans outside of the building

The star has been busy making appearances in New York as she promotes her upcoming Broadway debut in Appropriate; Elle pictured with co-star Sarah Paulson in November

The story follows the Lafayettes as they return to their late patriarch's Arkansas home to deal with the remains of his estate.

Toni, played by Paulson, is the eldest daughter, who wants to remember and honor their late father.

Bo, played by Stoll, is her younger brother, who hopes to recoup the money he spent while caring for their ailing father.

Their estranged brother, Franz, also makes his appearance, which throws all of the siblings' plans into disarray.

And while closing out the estate, they discover some disturbing artifacts that force them to confront their family's past.

Appropriate will officially open on December 18 at Second Stage's Hayes Theater.

Meanwhile on Monday morning, Elle took to Instagram to express her gratitude, after she was nominated for a Golden Globe (Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series  Musical or Comedy) for her role in The Great.

'I am deeply honored to be nominated this year for a Golden Globe alongside such talented artists.'

'Season 3 of The Great was the most fulfilling experience I have had playing a character. Saying goodbye to Catherine has been difficult, but getting to celebrate her in this way is the marzipan on top of the cake!!

On Monday morning, Elle took to Instagram to express her gratitude, after she was nominated for a Golden Globe (Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series  Musical or Comedy) for her role in The Great

The Great - which stars Elle and Nicholas Hoult - was canceled after three seasons in August, amid the SAG-AFTRA strike; she is pictured in a still from the show

'None of this would be possible without Tony McNamara! I am still trying to figure out how to repay him for gifting me with such a beautiful wild world to play inside of.'

'Each craftsman, crew member, and cast mate gave their heart and soul to this show and I truly believe all their love was poured onto everyones TV screen! Thank you Golden Globes for this GREAT recognition!!!!!!! Now its party time.'

The Great - which stars Elle and Nicholas Hoult - was canceled after three seasons in August, amid the SAG-AFTRA strike.

The show, which first premiered in 2020, was set in 18th century Russia during the time of Catherine the Great (played by Fanning) with Hoult playing her husband Peter III of Russia.
Isla Fisher is one of Australia's most successful actresses.

And on Monday, the Aussie star,47, unleashed her kinky side as she posed on her bed in black high heels.

The Wedding Crashers star shared a photo to Instagram of herself lying down on the bed in tiny shorts and a blazer.

Isla wore her long locks loose and stretched her body out as she posed and smiled for the camera.

'Wear high heels to bed,' she captioned the image.

Isla Fisher unleashed her kinky side on Monday as she encouraged fans to 'wear high heels to bed'

It comes after Isla recently revealed she had to give up one big habit to make it big in Hollywood.

The Great Gatsby star, 47, said she grew up with 'a filthy gutter tone' which helped her fit in at home.

But since making it big in the US, the movie star, who is married to comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, said she had to give up swearing, reported Confidential on Sunday.

'I am working on my swearing,' Isla told the publication, adding that the behaviour is 'frowned upon in Hollywood'.

'It is not given the gravitas that it is in Australia where you can get, kind of in macho circles, taken seriously with a bit of a swear word, or at least around my brothers when I was younger.'

It comes after Isla recently revealed she had to give up one big habit to make it big in Hollywood

Isla went on to say she successfully gave up swearing until she started playing her character Mary in Wolf Like Me, which is now filming season 3 in South Australia.

'My character Mary swears all the time  I have so much dialogue and basically I was just swearing all day, every day. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it  that is why I have a filthy gutter tone.'

Isla and Sacha were originally living between Los Angeles and the UK with their three young children until they decided to relocate to Sydney in 2020.

Watch seasons 1 and 2 of Wolf Like Me available now only on Stan.

The Great Gatsby star, 47, said she grew up with 'a filthy gutter tone' which helped her fit in at home. But since making it big in the US, the movie star said she had to give up swearing
Jacob Elordi revealed on Tuesday that he felt like he did not fit in at the Catholic boys school he went to until he discovered his passion for performing.

The Euphoria star, 26, told Variety that this uneasy feeling was immediately erased the moment he stepped into a drama class and did a play readthrough.

'When I was 15, I was at an all-boys Catholic school and I was deeply unsettled and didn't know why,' he began.

'But then in theatre class, I read Waiting for Godot. I didn't understand it, but something changed. Everything that I believed in just went out the window.'

The Brisbane-born star added that upon doing the script readthrough he immediately knew he was destined to be an actor.

Jacob Elordi (pictured) revealed on Tuesday that he felt like he did not fit in at the Catholic boys school he went to until he discovered his passion for performing

'Acting, performance and story became my church. I worked 24 hours a day, devouring everything I could.'

He added that after spending years honing his craft he now feels much more confident as both a performer and an individual.

'My whole thing was about losing myself in the performance. But now I'm bringing Jacob Elordi to a performance, which is such a heady, trippy thing.

The Euphoria star, 26, told Variety that this uneasy feeling was immediately erased the moment he stepped into a drama class and did a play readthrough. Pictured: Elordi as Elvis Presley in the 2023 movie Priscilla

'I've been in the process of trying to shake it as it grows bigger and louder. But strangely enough, I'm in a place now where I feel free,' he said.

The Australian born actor began his career in 2018 by appearing in the Aussie movies Swinging Safari and The Very Excellent Mr Dundee.

He relocated to Los Angeles several years later after being cast in the popular US teen drama Euphoria.

Elordi plays Elvis Presley alongside Cailee Spaeny in Sofia Coppola's recent blockbuster called Priscilla, based on Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me.

The Brisbane-born star added that upon doing the script readthrough he immediately knew he wanted to be an actor. Pictured: Elordi with his Priscilla co-star Cailee Spaeny
Susan Lucci will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards airing this Friday on CBS.

'It's big! It feels thrilling of course and I'm really honored,' the legendary soap star - turning 77 next week - gushed on GMA Monday.

'You know you hear people saying, "I'm so humbled." I am so humbled! By that, I mean, you know, I hope I've achieved enough!'

Susan famously portrayed the 'sexy, sassy, beautiful, woman you love to hate' Erica Kane on the ABC soap opera All My Children from 1970 until its 2011 cancellation.

Lucci had a difficult time singling out which of the many men her diva character married (and remarried) a record 11 times throughout the course of the series she liked best.

Susan Lucci will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards airing this Friday on CBS (pictured Monday)

The legendary soap star - turning 77 next week - gushed on GMA Monday: 'It's big! It feels thrilling of course and I'm really honored. You know you hear people saying, "I'm so humbled." I am so humbled! By that, I mean, you know, I hope I've achieved enough!'

'This is very hard!' the New York native said before giving shout outs to Jack Montgomery, Dimitri Marick, Tom Cudahay, and Mike Roy.

In real life, Susan mothered two children - daughter Liza Huber and son Andreas Huber - during her 52-year marriage to Austrian-born chef Helmut Huber, who sadly passed away last year.

'I got married young. I was really lucky,' Lucci said of wedded bliss.

'I mean, my instincts told me that this man was going to be great and I fell more in love with him the longer we were married. He just was spectacular.'

The American Heart Association spokesperson was nominated for the outstanding lead actress in a drama series Emmy for nearly every year beginning in 1978, but she didn't win Emmy gold until 1999.

According to People - the Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented by The Young and the Restless alum Shemar Moore, who famously shouted 'the streak is over' when he handed Susan the trophy back in 1999.

Lucci's last major acting gig was portraying the airheaded Genevieve Delatour for four seasons of Lifetime series Devious Maids spanning 2013-2016.

The Marymount College grad also starred in the 1999 Broadway production of Annie Get Your Gun and she finished sixth in the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars alongside partner Tony Dovolani.

Susan recently underwent her second heart surgery in four years, telling People in March: 'I'm doing really well. I always keep an eye on myself, what's going on. It is so far so good!'

Susan famously portrayed the 'sexy, sassy, beautiful, woman you love to hate' Erica Kane on the ABC soap opera All My Children from 1970 until its 2011 cancellation

Lucci had a difficult time singling out which of the many men her diva character married (and remarried) a record 11 times throughout the course of the series she liked best

'This is very hard!' the New York native said before giving shout outs to Jack Montgomery, Dimitri Marick, Tom Cudahay, and Mike Roy

In real life, Susan mothered two children - daughter Liza Huber and son Andreas Huber - during her 52-year marriage to Austrian-born chef Helmut Huber (L, pictured in 2021), who sadly passed away last year

Lucci said of wedded bliss: 'I mean, my instincts told me that this man was going to be great and I fell more in love with him the longer we were married. He just was spectacular.'

The American Heart Association spokesperson was nominated for the outstanding lead actress in a drama series Emmy for nearly every year beginning in 1978, but she didn't win Emmy gold until 1999

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented by The Young and the Restless alum Shemar Moore (pictured), who famously shouted 'the streak is over' when he handed Susan the trophy back in 1999
John Cena was joined by his stylish wife Shay Shariatzadeh at the Los Angeles premiere of The Iron Claw on Monday, held at the DGA Theater Complex.

The loved-up pair posed for a number of snaps, and at one point the WWE legend, 46, planted a sweet kiss on Shay's, 34, cheek in front of the shutterbugs.

The professional wrestler and actor looked dapper for the occasion, wearing a baby blue pinstripe suit, and a checkered tie.

Meanwhile Shay  who exchanged vows with Cena for the second time last year in Vancouver  looked incredible in a form-fitting black dress with a sizzling thigh-high leg slit.

She paired the ensemble with a silver and black purse, and matching silver and black heels.

John Cena was joined by his stylish wife Shay Shariatzadeh at the Los Angeles premiere of The Iron Claw on Monday, held at the DGA Theater Complex

The loved-up pair posed for a number of snaps, and at one point the WWE legend, 46, planted a sweet kiss on Shay's, 34, cheek in front of the shutterbugs

She wore her raven tresses in a high ponytail, and further spruced up her look with a chunky silver necklace.

The star-studded event was also attended by leading men Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White, who both looked sharp in suits for the occasion.

Cena was also pictured posing with Efron, 36, as well as Kevin Von Erich, whom Efron portrays in the film.

The Iron Claw is a drama based on the Von Erich family, who created a dynasty that made a huge impact on wrestling in their heyday in the 1980s until tragedy struck, again, and again.

The Von Erich Brothers are portrayed by Efron, Allen, Harris Dickinson, and Stanley Simons.

Previously, John and Shay were first romantically linked when they were spotted on a dinner date in March 2019.

The couple originally met on the set of Cena's 2019 film Playing with Fire, which was filmed in Canada, where Shariatzadeh is from.

The lovebirds tied the knot in a private ceremony in October 2020 at an attorney's office in Tampa, Florida.

The pair keep their relationship mostly out of the limelight.

In June they were seen walking around Hyde Park with John's mother Carol during a London visit.

The professional wrestler and actor looked dapper for the occasion, wearing a baby blue pinstripe suit, and a checkered tie

Meanwhile Shay  who exchanged vows with Cena for the second time last year in Vancouver  looked incredible in a form-fitting black dress with a sizzling thigh-high leg slit

The couple originally met on the set of Cena's 2019 film Playing with Fire, which was filmed in Canada, where Shariatzadeh is from

Cena was pictured posing with Efron, 36, as well as Kevin Von Erich, whom Efron portrays in the film

The actor shook hands with the retired professional wrestler as Efron watched on

The Iron Claw is a drama based on the Von Erich family, who created a dynasty that made a huge impact on wrestling in their heyday in the 1960s until tragedy struck

And in May the pair were seen holding hands while on a date in New York City.

Career wise, Cena is enjoying his longest run with WWE since 2015 after returning to programming this year.

This comes after he confirmed at the start of September that he would be back with the company for an initial two-month period after actor strikes caused the majority of Hollywood production to be put on pause.

Cena, in recent years, has transitioned from his iconic wrestling career into Hollywood, making his mark in films such as 'Fast & Furious' and 'Daddy's Home.'

While he continues to maintain a presence in the wrestling world, his association with the film industry has propelled him to greater recognition beyond the WWE.
Adam Sandler reunited with old friend Rob Schneider on the red carpet of 2023 Night for Too Many Stars in New York City.

The 57-year-old Sandler and 60-year-old Schneider hit the red carpet at the annual event, benefiting the non-profit organization NEXT for AUTISM, at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan.

The outing comes weeks after Sandler revealed on The Jennifer Hudson Show that his teenage daughters Sadie and Sunny hate seeing their dad kiss co-stars.

Sandler stepped out in a typically casual look, donning a Hawaiian shirt under a baby blue hoodie under a black hooded puffer coat.

The comedian completed his look with a pair of tan khakis and a pair of pristine white sneakers.

Adam Sandler reunited with old friend Rob Schneider on the red carpet of 2023 Night for Too Many Stars in New York City.

Sandler stepped out in a typically casual look, donning a Hawaiian shirt under a baby blue hoodie under a black hooded puffer coat.

His friend Schneider stepped out in a black-on-black suit with black-framed glasses and a black bowler hat.

The comedian also accessorized with a black bracelet on his right wrist for the benefit.

Both Sandler and Schneider made their debuts on NBC's long-running comedy series Saturday Night Live in 1990 as both writers and performers.

Schneider became a popular figure on the show with his character Richard Laymer, an office worker who would interact with his co-workers by the copy machine.

Sandler became well known for various songs he'd sing on Weekend Update like The Thanksgiving Song and The Channukah Song.

Schneider left SNL in 1994 while Sandler left in 1995, with both turning their attention to movies.

Sandler frequently brought along Schneider in his movie projects like The Waterboy, Big Daddy, Mr. Deeds, 50 First Dates, The Longest Yard and more.

Schneider currently voices The Principal in Sandler's latest film, the Netflix animated comedy Leo, which debuted in November.

His friend Schneider stepped out in a black-on-black suit with black-framed glasses and a black bowler hat

Another one of Sandler's frequent collaborators, Chris Rock, also attended the event in Manhattan.

He opted for a dark blue shirt over a black coat and black pants for the annual celebration.

Rachel Bloom stepped out in a strapless black minidress with a veiled black skirt and black pumps for the outing.

Jon Stewart also attended the bash, donning a grey shirt under a black suit coat and black pants.

Paul Rudd opted for a dark blue long-sleeved shirt under a black coat with black pants and brown shoes.

Steve Buscemi stepped out in a black shirt, black coat, black pants and a black and blue scarf.

Jim Gaffigan opted for a black sweater with matching black pants and black shoes for the event.

Ryan Hammond and Kylie Kelce also posed on the red carpet with Ryan wearing a black top and a red skirt under a long black overcoat and Kylie wearing a green top and black pants under a black overcoat.

Another one of Sandler's frequent collaborators, Chris Rock, also attended the event in Manhattan

He opted for a dark blue shirt over a black coat and black pants for the annual celebration

Rachel Bloom stepped out in a strapless black minidress with a veiled black skirt and black pumps for the outing.

Jon Stewart also attended the bash, donning a grey shirt under a black suit coat and black pants.

Paul Rudd opted for a dark blue long-sleeved shirt under a black coat with black pants and brown shoes

Steve Buscemi stepped out in a black shirt, black coat, black pants and a black and blue scarf

Jim Gaffigan opted for a black sweater with matching black pants and black shoes for the event

Ryan Hammond and Kylie Kelce also posed on the red carpet with Ryan wearing a black top and a red skirt under a long black overcoat and Kylie wearing a green top and black pants under a black overcoat

Harvel Keitel and Daphna Kastner also rocked all-black looks on the red carpet, even with similar black-framed glasses

John Oliver opted for a classic black suit for the occassion including slim black glasses

Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo also continued the all-black trend at the event on Monday

C.J. Wallace and Lil Cease also hit the red carpet in fashionable looks with Wallace opting for a white shirt, black pants and a brown overcoat while Cease had a blue shirt, black coat, grey pants and grey and blue sneakers.

Sarah Sherman opted for a black vest under a yellow top with black polka dots and black and white striped pants

Harvel Keitel and Daphna Kastner also rocked all-black looks on the red carpet, even with similar black-framed glasses.

John Oliver opted for a classic black suit for the occassion including slim black glasses.

Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo also continued the all-black trend at the event on Monday.

C.J. Wallace and Lil Cease also hit the red carpet in fashionable looks with Wallace opting for a white shirt, black pants and a brown overcoat while Cease had a blue shirt, black coat, grey pants and grey and blue sneakers.

Sarah Sherman opted for a black vest under a yellow top with black polka dots and black and white striped pants.
Hamish and Zoe Foster Blake faced a horrifying break-in at their Woollahra rental while they and their two children, Rudy and Sonny, slept.

Daniel Booth broke into the four-bedroom house being rented by the high-profile couple and stole their luxury car on December 20, 2021.

As the comedian, 42, and his wife, 43, slept, the thief, 33, illegally entered the kitchen of the $4,900-a-week rental and stole the keys to their Land Rover.

He also stole Ms Foster Blake's handbag, which contained the keys to her white Tesla, $1000 in cash, a very expensive designer wallet and her driver's licence.

Booth was arrested just hours later when Mr Blake activated the tracking device in the luxury Land Rover Defender and traced it to an address in Redfern.

Hamish, 42, (left) and Zoe Foster Blake, 43, (right) faced a horrifying break-in at their Woollahra rental while they and their two children, Rudy and Sonny, slept

Police arrived and arrested Booth, who had the car key and Ms Foster Blake's handbag in his possession.

On Tuesday, Booth appeared in Sydney Downing Centre District Court after pleading guilty to a raft of charges related to a crime spree which occurred at the time.

The court was told Booth got into Ms Foster Blake's Tesla without the beauty maven's permission but left it parked at the property with the key inside.

However, he did take the Land Rover, which is valued at more than $123,000 and contained thousands of dollars of camping and fishing equipment, as well as the tracking device Mr Blake activated.

Booth's arrest put an end to his lengthy crime spree, which began on the afternoon of December 3, 2021 when he stole a grey Volkswagen convertible as the owner watched.

Daniel Booth, 33, broke into the four-bedroom house being rented by the high-profile couple and stole their luxury car on December 20, 2021

The court was told Booth drove off with the car door and boot still open in his haste to flee the scene.

He then entered a cafe in Waterloo and snatched a pink and brown Guess handbag from a woman, who bravely chased him down as he jumped into the stolen Volkswagen.

She managed to wrestle her bag back and a bystander removed the key from the car, so Booth was forced to flee on foot.

In the early hours of December 14, Booth again snuck into a house and stole the keys to a grey Audi A3 and a Calvin Klein handbag.

He found debit cards in the stolen handbag and used them to his advantage, spending hundreds of dollars on cigarettes alone.

As the comedian and his wife slept, the thief illegally entered the kitchen of the $4,900-a-week rental and stole the keys to their Land Rover. Pictured with daughter Rudy

The stolen car was located in a carpark in Redfern, near where Booth was living at the time of his arrest.

He also admitted to groping a female Corrective Services officer while in custody before telling her: 'Sorry miss.'

The court was told Booth was serving the balance of a jail sentence handed down in 2018 for robbery with a serious weapon.

He had previously been released on parole in late 2021, but he went on to commit the Sydney-wide crime spree only weeks later.

He was taken back into custody on December 20 after stealing from the Blakes.

He also stole Ms Foster Blake's handbag, which contained the keys to her white Tesla , $1000 in cash, a very expensive designer wallet and her driver's licence

Crown prosecutor Maeve Curry noted the serial criminal had been complaining of 'paranoia and delusional thoughts' over the past 18 months.

She said the sentencing judge would have to balance 'the community's interest in protection and also in punishment being imposed' against the difficulty of 'his personal circumstances'.

Booth's Legal Aid lawyer Paul Townsend asked the court to give his client 'a glimpse of hope' by taking into account Booth's ongoing difficulties.

'I'm asking Your Honour not to impose a sentence that goes too far beyond the end of his parole in June [2024],' Mr Townsend said.

Judge Donna Woodburne will sentence Booth in February 2024.

Booth was arrested just hours later when Mr Blake activated the tracking device in the luxury Land Rover Defender and traced it to an address in Redfern

Booth will remain behind bars at least until he returns to court.

The court was told he would be sentenced for two primary offences of aggravated breaking and entering with the intention to commit a serious indictable offence.

The judge will also take into account three charges of taking and driving a car without the consent of the owner, entering a vehicle without the owner's consent, seven counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception, stealing an item worth less than $2000, and sexually touching another person without consent.

The sentencing will mark more than two years after Booth broke into the house of one of Australia's most recognisable families while they and their two children were fast asleep.

Mr and Ms Blake had been renting the home over Christmas in 2021 while renovating their $8.92m home in the waterfront suburb of Vaucluse.

Not long before they were robbed, the television host praised the Woollahra house on his social media accounts.

'It's a pretty good rental because they have so many spoons,' he said in a video shared online.

'They even put a massive one on the wall. 'So, must be nice. Must be very, very nice.'
Hannah Ferrier was left humiliated after she recently made an X-rated comment about Virgin Group founder Richard Branson in a private WhatsApp group chat.

The Below Deck star, 37, is currently relaxing on the British business magnate's Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady cruise to Tasmania after its launch on Sunday evening.

However, as the ship cast off from Melbourne, the reality television star promptly told all her friends she was relaxing on 'Richard's d**k'.

Despite quickly correcting herself to say 'deck', Hannah was embarrassed further when word got back to Richard about her unfortunate typo.

The catastrophe began when Hannah gushed to her friends over WhatsApp about Richard's newest venture into cruise liners.

Hannah Ferrier, 37, (pictured) was left humiliated after she recently made an X-rated comment about Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, 73, in a private WhatsApp group chat

'Actually finding the weather perfect! Currently sunning and reading on Richard's d**k,' she innocently wrote in a WhatsApp group chat.

Hannah quickly realised her raunchy mistake and immediately corrected herself with, 'DECK. RICHARD'S DECK. Omg,' alongside a series of laughing-crying emojis.

Despite the X-rated slip up, Richard, 73, took the typo in good humour when someone sent him a screenshot of Hannah's embarrassing moment.

The Below Deck star is currently relaxing on the British business magnate's Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady cruise to Tasmania after it's launch on Sunday evening. Pictured: Richard Branson

'Phew! Hannah is my wife's favourite on Below Deck. Thank god she corrected it. P.S. I hope she enjoys my deck!' he replied good naturedly.

The newest cruise ship to take Australia's shores by storm arrived in Sydney last Tuesday ahead of its maiden voyage Down Under.

Virgin Voyages' Resilient Lady made its grand entrance following a 44-day voyage from the Mediterranean, stopping at Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore and Bali along the way.

However, as the ship cast off from Melbourne, the reality television star promptly told all her friends she was relaxing on 'Richard's d**k'

Despite quickly correcting herself to say 'deck', Hannah was embarrassed further when word got back to Richard about her unfortunate typo

Holding up to 2,770 passengers, the massive ship is adults-only with no food buffet in sight among the 20-plus eateries on board, which range from world class and casual dining to late-night snacks.

British billionaire tycoon Sir Richard Branson hopes to disrupt the local $5billion industry by creating a luxury experience that feels more like a private yacht than a cruise ship.

The ship spent two nights docked in Circular Quay before setting sail for its new summer homeport in Melbourne ahead of her Aussie MerMaiden voyage to Tasmania this week.

Virgin Voyages is the first travel brand in the Virgin Group to enter Australia since Virgin Australia, then called Virgin Blue, was launched 23 years ago.
Suranne Jones has been hailed as 'phenomenal' after her returning to play Detective Inspector Amy Silva in the BBC thriller - Vigil.

The actress, 45, has been admired for her steamy chemistry with onscreen romantic interest Detective Sergeant Kirsten Longacre.

The first season of the show made a huge splash with more than 12 million viewers, making it one of the biggest shows of 2021.

People have described the show as 'thrilling' and 'incredible' after the second season hit screens.

But who is Vigil actress Suranne Jones? MailOnline take a look into the stellar actress' life.

Actress Suranne Jones has recently been hailed as 'phenomenal' for her portrayal of Detective Inspector Amy Silva in the BBC thriller - Vigil (pictured)

She first became a household name when she starred as Karen Phillips in Coronation Street in 2001 along Simon Gregson, who played Steve McDonald, her husband

Who is Suranne Jones?

Suranne is a British actress, who has starred in numerous hit shows including, Coronation Street, Doctor Foster, Gentleman Jack, Scott & Bailey and more.

She was born on August 27, 1978 in Chadderton, Greater Manchester, and described her childhood as 'happy and working class'.

Although her more academically minded brother, Gary, went to university, Suranne decided to pursue an acting career.

She attended Oldham Theatre Workshop and obtained a BTEC National diploma in Performing Arts.

But education wasn't always a positive experience for the powerhouse actress, as she previously revealed she had a tough time whilst studying at Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School in Middleton.

In an interview with The Guardian in 2005, she said: 'I was bullied at school and I let that get hold of me and withdrew into myself  I regret letting that happen.'

But, ultimately, the difficulties in her teens years served Suranne well and helped her to become the strong, body-confident woman her fans are so used to seeing on shows such as Doctor Foster.

Suranne told The Sun: 'Those schoolgirls didn't realise it but they did me a favour. If I hadn't been through that ordeal, I don't think I'd be what I am today.'

From a Catholic background, the actress was originally christened Sarah Anne, but when she came to join an actors' union the name was already taken.

Her father then mentioned how she should use her grandmother's name - Suranne - for her acting career.

The Manchester born actress has starred in numerous hit shows including Coronation Street , Doctor Foster, Gentleman Jack, Scott & Bailey and more (pictured in Doctor Foster)

She started out by training at Oldham Theatre Workshop and achieving a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts. Suranne also revealed that she was bullied during secondary school, however she believes her bullies did her 'a favour' as she wouldn't be who she is today without the ordeal (pictured left to right: Sophie Rundle and Suranne Jones in Gentleman Jack)

Who is Suranne married to?

Suranne married scriptwriter and former magazine editor Laurence Akers in 2014.

The pair first set eyes upon on another at the wedding of mutual friends - musician Steve White and Coronation Street co-star Sally Lindsay - a year prior.

They welcomed their son into the world in March 2016, but have kept any details about him tightly under wraps.

She divulged to Vogue in 2020 that her real legal name was Sarah Anne Akers.

The Gentleman Jack actress married her scriptwriter husband, Laurence Akers in 2014. The couple share one son together (pictured together in 2019)

In an interview with Vogue the actress divulged that her legal name was actually Sarah Anne Akers (pictured with Laurence in 2022)

What happened to Suranne's parents?

Suranne was born to mother Jenny and father Chris, however both have unfortunately passed away.

The actress lost her mother during the same year she welcomed her son into the world, in 2016.

Jenny passed away following a arduous battle with vascular dementia - a common type of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain - but the actress has expressed that her mother's memory lives on through the family.

She told The Mirror: 'There are different icons [in my life]. I had a lot of women in my family, my mum and her sisters, who were always very strong women in different ways, good Northern women.'

'My mum was very shy but with a real strength of character underneath, which I'm hoping to share with my son.'

She continued: 'She's not with us anymore, but I think of her often. I had a really good relationship with my mother.'

In discussion with The Guardian, The Gentleman Jack actor shared how she had to restructure her relationship with her mum as here dementia worsened.

She said: 'There's still a connection, only it's very different. And meanwhile your whole being is saying: "but this is my mum".

Suranne has tragically lost both of her parents, Jenny and Chris, (pictured). Jenny passed away from vascular dementia in 2016, while her father died from COVID in January 2021

Following the loss of her father, the actress said she was back on medication because she 'wasn't coping' (pictured, Suranne's parents on a beach in Cornwall)

'There was a good five years of that. And then you lose them for real and you have to grieve again.'

The Doctor Foster actress faced more tragedy when her father passed away after contracting COVID during the pandemic.

During an episode of Fearne Cotton's Happy Place in 2021, Suranne retold of when she received a phone call from her dad, saying that he couldn't breathe and was COVID positive.

Suranne told Fearne, 39: 'The pandemic hit, and my dad got sick. I got a call from my dad and he was grey and he couldn't breathe and he said that he'd done a COVID test and it was positive.

'So my work - Gentleman Jack - sent him a medic and the medic said he needed to go to hospital.

'He was there for three months in ICU. He didn't make it and then I got COVID myself at Christmas.'

Her father later passed away from COVID-19 in January 2021.

Suranne Jones divulged that she had been on medication following her father's death in August 2021.

Opening up about her mental health and medication on Fearne Cotton's podcast, the actress said: 'I think there's a huge taboo around it. I decided last night I should because it's important.'

The loving mother explained she had first started taking medication the year before the pandemic hit, but had stopped taking it as she 'felt really good'

But following her father's death, Suranne explained: 'I wasn't coping again so I had to go on medication.'

'I think it's important to say that I'm doing great and I'm still filming my job and professionally I've always been really strong and on point.

'But I'm on medication, and at some point I'll need to get off that.'

The actress confessed she felt it was important to confront the taboo surrounding mental health and medication (pictured in 2018)

Suranne also revealed that she also turned to medication after her mother's death in 2016.

Suranne elaborated that eventually her 14-hour working days took a toll, telling Fearne: 'I'm trying to control stuff. I'm trying to control the inevitable. Because I haven't yet grieved for my mother and I haven't given myself any time.'

It was then that Suranne suffered a 'big breakdown'.

'So after the first Gentleman Jack I had a really big breakdown and I was offered medication, and I took it.

'And I didn't want to. Kicking and screaming I took it, but I was so far gone by that point, because I'd had the death of my mother and then I'd gone on to do two huge shows and my husband did not know how to help me.'
Bobby Brazier and his dance partner Dianne Buswell had the case of the giggles on Monday evening as they headed home after the first day of rehearsals for the Strictly Come Dancing final.

The EastEnders star, 20, and the professional dancer, 34, spent the day hard at work practicing their routines in the hope of being crowned the winners.

As they made their way into their waiting car to whisk them home, Bobby's lock screen on his phone appeared to be of a photo of him and Dianne dancing together.

Inside the studio, the pair worked up a sweat as Dianne taught Bobby the new choreography.

The soap star could be seen twirling her around and picking her up for several elegant lifts.

Bobby Brazier and his dance partner Dianne Buswell had the case of the giggles on Monday evening as they headed home after the first day of rehearsals for the Strictly Come Dancing final

The EastEnders star, 20, and the professional dancer, 34, spent the day hard at work practicing their routines in the hope of being crowned the winners

As they made their way into their waiting car to whisk them home, Bobby's lock screen on his phone appeared to be of a photo of him and Dianne dancing together

Their dance appeared to be a slower and emotional number, with Bobby bending at one point to take Dianne's hand gently.

Despite the long day of practicing, Bobby and Dianne looked cheerful as they left the studios and even stopped to take a snap with a fan.

Bobby stood out in an eye-catching bright green padded jacket, paired with comfy black jogging bottoms and sliders.

While Dianne looked laidback in a grey sweater under her black coat, while wheeling a huge purple suitcase.

It comes after Bobby declared his love for Dianne on Strictly, after the pair landed in the dreaded dance off on Sunday.

They had to take to the dance floor for the second time to perform their Quickstep competing against Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe for the last spot in the final.

Bobby couldn't hold back his emotions as he embraced Dianne and whispered: 'I love you, so much'.

Though it wasn't easy to hear over the crowds applause, Dianne, who is in a relationship with YouTuber Joe Sugg, was quick to return the affection by telling the actor that she loved him too.

Inside the studio, the pair worked up a sweat as Dianne taught Bobby the new choreography

The soap star could be seen twirling the dancer around several times

Bobby also picked her up for several elegant and impressive lifts, showing off his strength

Their dance appeared to be a slower and emotional number

Bobby bent down to be at Dianne's height at one point to take her hand gently

The pair will perform three dances; one chosen by the judges, one chosen by the couple and a third 'showdance'

Despite the long day of practicing, Bobby and Dianne looked cheerful as they left the studios

The pair even graciously stopped to take a snap with a fan, pulling funny faces for the camera

Bobby stood out in an eye-catching bright green padded jacket, paired with comfy black jogging bottoms and sliders

While Dianne looked laidback in a grey sweater under her black coat, while wheeling a huge purple suitcase

The pair have previously dismissed their chemistry as purely platonic, however, despite the widespread speculation they're more than friends.

Speaking to the Mirror about the matter Dianne laughed and said: 'That happens every year, its just part of it,' before Bobby quipped, 'Especially when were both so good-looking.'

Bobby and Dianne were saved by the judges in the dance off and made their way into the 2023 Strictly final.

The pair will perform three dances; one chosen by the judges, one chosen by the couple and a third 'showdance'.

They will be competing against Coronation Street star Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola, as well as Bad Education actor Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin for the chance to lift the Glitterball Trophy.

Taking to Instagram after the results show, Dianne shared a gallery of selfies of the pair and gushed how 'proud' she is of Bobby.

She wrote: 'We are STRICTLY 2023 FINALISTS! We are so grateful and excited to be here yet so emotional to loose the wonderful @annabel_croft and @johannesradebe who were also so deserving of this place and who we love dearly.

'I cant believe the growth I have seen in Bobby not only in his dancing but also personally. He came to me a young 20 year old who had tones of energy and the biggest smile and a true passion to learn to dance.

It comes after Bobby declared his love for Dianne on Strictly, after the pair landed in the dreaded dance off on Sunday

They had to take to the dance floor for the second time to perform their Quickstep competing against Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe for the last spot in the final

Bobby couldn't hold back his emotions as he embraced Dianne and whispered: 'I love you, so much'

Though it wasn't easy to hear over the crowds applause, Dianne, who is in a relationship with YouTuber Joe Sugg, was quick to return the affection by telling the actor that she loved him too

The pair have previously dismissed their chemistry as purely platonic, however, despite the widespread speculation they're more than friends

Speaking to the Mirror about the matter Dianne laughed and said: 'That happens every year, its just part of it,' before Bobby quipped, 'Especially when were both so good-looking'

Bobby and Dianne were saved by the judges in the dance off and made their way into the 2023 Strictly final

They will be competing against Coronation Street star Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola, as well as Bad Education actor Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin for the chance to lift the Glitterball Trophy

'He seriously had no clue about what ballroom or Latin dancing was but he has embraced every part of this experience and is now the biggest strictly fan and a brilliant dancer it makes me so proud and so happy!'

She continued: 'This guy takes on notes that the judges give him that I give him to try get better at this art form because he respects it so much and as a professional to see your celeb just want to learn get better all whilst having the best time is music to our ears.

'Im extremely grateful to everybody who has got us here thank you for voting and supporting us we see you and appreciate you.

'We now have the chance to grace the strictly floor again in this incredible final and I couldnt be more excited! We want to make you smile feel the love and joy on Saturday night.

'Come on Bobby lets do it. Show the UK your improvement and how far you have come.'
Mel Greig shared a worrisome message with her followers on Tuesday, revealing she was taking a break from social media after a recent betrayal.

The former 2DayFM star, 41, who was at the centre of a royal prank in 2012 that ended in tragedy, shared the post to Instagram.

Currently suffering with 'delayed PTSD', Mel said she is now taking a break from social media because someone close to her has 'been beyond awful'.

Sharing a concerning message to her account, the public relations and media manager told her followers not to 'worry' about her.

'Mentally I need some time out. I've been going through a lot lately, mostly behind the scenes,' the initial image read.

Mel Greig, 41, (pictured) shared a worrisome message with her followers on Tuesday, revealing she was taking a break from social media after a recent betrayal

She continued: 'No one worry about me, I've got this and will be back in January with a job that fuels my soul.'

In the caption, Mel continued with her heartfelt message, saying she 'always promised to share my mental health journey'.

'Lately someone I trusted has caught me off guard and been beyond awful. Ill get through this but Im taking some social media time out.'

The former 2Da FM star was at the centre of a royal prank in 2012 that ended in tragedy

It comes just a week after Mel revealed she now suffers from 'delayed PTSD' 11 years after she was involved in the royal radio prank which ended in tragedy.

In 2012, the ex radio host and her former co-host Michael Christian were named in the suicide note of British nurse Jacintha Saldanha.

Now, over a decade after they impersonated the Queen and Prince Charles to prank the woman, Mel has revealed she suffered from a 'mental breakdown'.

Mel said she is now taking a break from social media because someone close to her has 'been beyond awful'

Sharing a concerning message to her account, the public relations and media manager told her followers not to 'worry' about her

'I thought everybody was trying to kill me. For three weeks I was so paranoid, I was hallucinating. I'd wake up and see people standing at the end of my bed,' she told 9Honey on Tuesday.

'I suppressed it and suppressed it, and then I had an absolute mental breakdown. I ended up in a mental health recovery house for a week, and I was diagnosed with delayed PTSD.'

Mel went on to say of her current mental health struggles: 'Back then, I didn't care if people did want to kill me, because I felt I deserved it. But now that I want to live, I'm reliving that trauma in a different way.'

The former radio host, who now works as a public relations and media manager after failing to find another job in radio, has been very open about her struggle with mental health since the tragic incident.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 46. In an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).
Morrissey whipped off his shirt as he gave an energetic performance in Sydney at the State Theatre on Tuesday night.

The 64-year-old pop star, full name Steven Patrick Morrissey, let loose as he stripped off while on stage as he played to adoring crowds.

Rising to fame as the frontman for '80s rockers The Smiths, the musician is currently on his '40 Years of Morrissey' tour.

He had been wearing a pink shirt and black jeans before taking the top off and showing off his physique.

The English songwriter was joined by his guitarists on stage as he belted out his greatest hits.

Morrissey whipped off his shirt as he gave an energetic performance in Sydney at the State Theatre on Tuesday night

The 64-year-old pop star, full name Steven Patrick Morrissey, let loose as he stripped off while on stage as he played to adoring crowds

It comes after last week Morrissey stopped a concert in Melbourne on Monday to complain to fans about his current Australian tour.

The star talked bitterly from the stage, telling fans of how disappointed he was after having to cancel a sold out gig in Perth, reported the Herald Sun.

At one point during the between song rant, Morrissey, who is known for his prickly public image, appeared to slam the Perth Concert Hall for the way they advertised the cancelled gig on their website.

The venue, which uses a consumer guide with each performer, including musical style, described Morrissey's show as 'nostalgia', a label that appeared to disappoint the showbiz veteran.

'Blah, blah blah; pop, blah blah blah; rock ... Morrissey, nostalgia,' he said, during the show, appearing to quote the Perth Concert Hall's web page.

Morrissey added: 'Every possible discouragement, every possible discouragement.'

Rising to fame as the frontman for '80s rockers The Smiths, the musician is currently on his '40 Years of Morrissey' tour.

Morrissey's promoters Live Nation Australia announced the cancellation of the Perth gig, on the day of the gig, telling ticket holders the show would not go ahead due to 'unforeseen logistical reasons'.

Rising to fame as the frontman for '80s rockers The Smiths, the musician is currently on his '40 Years of Morrissey' tour

He had been wearing a pink shirt and black jeans before taking the top off and showing off his physique

The songwriter was joined by his guitarists on stage for the show as he belted out his greatest hits

Morrissey has been a controversial figure throughout his long career, and has spoken out on a wide range of issues including animal rights, veganism, royalty and politics.

In 2020 he was slammed for appearing on an episode of The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon wearing a For Britain badge - a far right political party which even Nigel Farage has criticised as being made up of 'Nazis and racists'.

On Coronation Day, on his official website, Morrissey Central, he posted a picture of King Charles wearing a crown and a plaster over his mouth and a caption alongside read: 'What is fact is not fact, and what is true is not true.'

In the 1980s with The Smiths, Morrissey had string of hits including The Boy With The Thorn in His Side, Everyday is Like Sunday and Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now.

He has since gone solo and has carved a successful career and has an Ivor Novello award for Outstanding Contribution to British music.

It comes after last week Morrissey stopped a concert in Melbourne on Monday to complain to fans about his current Australian tour

The star talked bitterly from the stage, telling fans of how disappointed he was after having to cancel a sold out gig in Perth, reported the Herald Sun

At one point during the between song rant, Morrissey, who is known for his prickly public image, appeared to slam the Perth Concert Hall. Pictured: A poster for Morrissey's tour
Samantha Armytage was reunited with her beloved pooch Banjo on Tuesday after returning from her South American holiday.

The former Sunrise anchor, 46, recently jetted off to the continent with husband Richard Lavender for some much needed downtime.

And the couple have since returned, much to the excitement of their Labrador Retriever, with Samantha sharing the happy reunion to her Instagram page.

'Reunited with my little muchacho,' she wrote alongside a sweet image of herself petting the golden hound.

Next, she shared a heartwarming video of her fur baby wagging his tail as he laid beside her in the grass.

Samantha Armytage, 46, (right) was reunited with her beloved pooch Banjo, six, (left) on Tuesday after returning from her South American holiday

'Reunited with my little muchacho,' she wrote alongside a sweet image of herself petting the golden hound

'You happy to see Mummy?' she asked the elderly pooch as he whined and barked before jumping all over her in response.

Samantha is making sure her beloved dog Banjo lives an active lifestyle.

The TV presenter has been seen taking the six-year-old dog on a walk around her husband Richard's rural property in the Southern Highlands, NSW.

'You happy to see Mummy?' she asked the elderly pooch as he whined and barked before jumping all over her in response

Documenting the adventure on her Instagram Stories in July, Samantha shared a photo of Banjo panting and looking exhausted as he took a break on a rock.

'Sun salutations,' the Channel Seven star captioned the image, referring to a sequence of yoga moves that are traditionally performed at sunrise.

Samantha later shared another photo of herself eating breakfast at a cafe, while Banjo sat directly beneath the table hoping for a morsel of food.

'And then out for breakfast...' she captioned this image.

The former Sunrise anchor recently returned to Australia with husband Richard Lavender (left)
Netflix is celebrating the new year with a wide variety of hit movies and television shows for audiences who love action, drama, and comedy.

The streaming platform already confirmed via a blog post on December 10 that box-office hits Annabelle and Aquaman would be available for its users on January 1.

Audiences can also get ready to stream popular shows This is Us, How I Met Your Mother, and Prison Break, which will be available on Netflix starting February 5, June 3, and July 29, 2024.

X (formerly Twitter) users have begun questioning their Disney+ subscriptions since 10 of the 14 television shows coming to Netflix are already on that platform.

'Here's a question. WHAT'S THE POINT OF DISNEY+ THEN,' an X user wrote.

How I Met Your Mother will be one of the shows added thanks to a licensing deal made between Disney and Netflix earlier this month

Aquaman is the one of the upcoming DC films that will be released on Netflix next month after, joining the 12 other DC movies currently on the streaming platform

The television show list comes after Disney+ and Netflix struck a short-term content licensing deal earlier this month.

As part of the deal, Netflix received permission to add shows like How I Met Your Mother and Prison Break into their streaming platform next year for 18 months.

Disney+ will also receive the rights to stream all 19 seasons of Grey's Anatomy on their platform starting next year.

All seasons of How I Met Your Mother and Prison Break had already been available on Netflix in the past.

Another show that is part of the 18-month deal that had been on Netflix in the past is Lost.

Prison Break, a popular show that was removed by Netflix in 2022, will be returning along with several other shows that are available on Disney+

This is Us, an original NBC show, is currently available on Disney+ after ending its six-season run in 2022

Some fans on X are not seeing a need for the Disney+ subscription anymore, as others are happy that Netflix is bringing back shows they removed from their platform a long time ago.

'Bring back Netflix shows originally streamed in the early 2010s,' an X user wrote.

Some X users who have not discussed their subscriptions believe that other streaming platforms should shut down completely.

One person tweeted: 'There's really no need to have all of the streamers anymore since they all just licensing the same things out to each other over and over again.'

'Disney has a perfect opportunity to bring together Hulu content & Disney Plus content and instead they're giving it all to Netflix lmao,' another person wrote.

A few Twitter users noted that the show Archer is already on their Netflix and that the streaming platform may have made an error in their 2024 addition announcement.

Archer is currently on Netflix Canada but will not be released in the US until May 13, 2024.

Annabelle received negative reviews from critics, but was a box-office success after it was released in theaters worldwide in 2014

Social media has been a frenzy over the 2024 television show additions due to the shows already being available on Disney+

Many X users have been eager to start watching How I Met Your Mother and Prison Break again, while others have recommended Netflix streamers to check out This Is Us once it becomes available for its users on January 8.

One person mentioned that Aquaman is actually one of the many Justice League films that would be featured on Netflix after the streaming platform added 12 DC films last month.

Annabelle has also been added, much to the delight of X users from countries outside the US who have been requesting the hit horror film to be added onto the streaming platform since November.
Netflix has announced that a show hailed as 'the best it has produced' will return for a second season barely a month after its debut.

Described as 'Kill Bill meets Yentl' by co-creator Amber Noizum, Blue Eye Samurai follows a mixed race master of the sword named Mizu (Maya Erskine), as she leaves a bloody trail of revenge in her wake - and it only came out on November 3.

It did not take long for viewers to take to X to gush over the shiny new animated drama, with one writing: 'Blue Eye Samurai is one of the best shows I've watched on Netflix.'

And on December 12 the streaming giant had a big announcement for the already-numerous fans of Blue Eye Samurai.

They posted: 'Revenge does not rest. Blue Eye Samurai will return for Season 2.'

Netflix have announced that there will be a season 2 of animated thriller Blue Eye Samurai, barely a month after the show's debut

The first installment has earned a 100 per cent Rotten Tomatoes critics score. It follows mixed-race swordswoman Mizu (centre) on a journey to get revenge on her father

Netflix fans were delighted by the announcement of a second season of the eight-part series

Season 1's critical success is demonstrated by a 100 per cent critics' score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, and it has a 96 per cent 'audience score' to boot.

The show is set in 17th century Japan, where outsiders are a rare sight except in the occasional occurrence of illegal trading.

Mizu is in the pursuit of revenge for her white father who gave her blue eyes, making her a 'creature of shame'.

The protagonist is aware there were only four white men in the Japan at the time of her birth, and she is certain one must be the father she so-resents.

But her path is not an easy one as she has to hide both her gender and ocean blue eyes in her quest for vengeance.

Along her arduous and blood-stained journey, Mizu is accompanied by Ringo (Masa Oka) an excessively eager soba maker, Princess Akemi (Brenda Song), as well as an arrogant rival samurai named Taigen (Darren Barnet).

In a joint statement at the time the upcoming season was announced, creators, executive producers, and writers Noizumi and Michael Green said: 'We are thankful to our entire team and to our viewers from all over the world who have shown such passion for Mizu and her path of revenge.

'Mizu has a lot more blood to spill! We are deeply grateful to our incredible partners at Netflix for letting the journey continue.'

In a joint statement at the time the upcoming season was announced, creators, executive producers, and writers Amber Noizumi and Michael Green said: 'Mizu has a lot more blood to spill!'

The news also served as a reminder to those who are yet to watch the hugely successful first season

And there were huge swathes of commenters celebrating the news online as X users said: 'That's great news, [Season] 1 was so good...

'This is probably the best show Ive seen in the past few years...

'This makes me so happy. Season 1 was fantastic...

'Since revenge doesn't rest. I won't rest till this exciting series drops...

'Glad to see ya'll recognize greatness!'

There were also plenty of expressions of generic glee from calling the news 'just amazing', to people saying they were 'so excited', and others saying 'LET'S GOOO'.

It also served as a reminder to those who are yet to watch the hugely successful first season, as a final X user wrote: 'YES. Check it out whoever hasnt. One of my favourite adult animations ever.'

Additional information such as season 2's release date is yet to be announced.
Lauren Goodger has refused to rule out reuniting with her ex-boyfriend Charles Drury as she admitted she will 'always' love him.

The former TOWIE star, 37, responded to speculation she had rekindled her romance with Charles, 26, after they were seen out with their daughter Larose, two, in recent weeks.

Lauren and Charles were seen together last month in his first public outing since he was charged with assaulting her on the day of their baby daughter Lorena's funeral.

Despite insisting they are just 'good friends' and are co-parenting Larose, Lauren didn't rule out them rekindling things as she said she 'doesn't know what the future holds'.

She told new! magazine: 'We're not together, we're good friends and we're co-parenting for Larose, we're doing as much as we can together to keep her life normal and that is purely what it is.'

Lauren Goodger has refused to rule out reuniting with her ex-boyfriend Charles Drury as she admitted she will 'always' love him

When asked if they would get back together, she added: 'Not right now, I don't know what the future holds, I'll always love him.

'You've got to understand what I've been through - there's that trauma - so it's hard to break away from someone.'

Lauren said they still 'get on' and still have a lot of love for each other as she said she is trying to do things as a family for the sake of their daughter Larose.

Looking towards the future, Lauren said she also wants to have more children and get married, admitting she hopes to be a housewife.

Charles and Lauren had a tumultuous relationship and they had been on-and-off since the tragic death of their second daughter, Lorena in July 2022.

Earlier this year, it was reported Lauren had been 'begged' by her friends to 'not get back together with Charles after he reportedly spent the night at her house.

A source revealed to The Sun at the time: 'Lauren's friends have begged her not to get back together with her ex Charles Drury after they heard Charles had spent the night at her house this week.

'A few of them reached out to her and told her to stay away from him as they feel like he is bad news and will only bring her more heartache.

Despite insisting they are just 'good friends' and are co-parenting Larose, Lauren didn't rule out them rekindling things as she said she 'doesn't know what the future holds'

Lauren said they still 'get on' and still have a lot of love for each other as she said she is trying to do things as a family for the sake of their daughter Larose

'Lauren insisted that he just slept in the spare room and that they are working on co-parenting Larose, but those closest to her know she and Charles are growing closer. They feel it's only a matter of time before they are back together.'

A representative for Lauren told MailOnline: 'Lauren is focused on the welfare as a mother to her daughter- this puts co- parenting at the top of her priorities.'

Lauren's ex Charles was charged with inflicting actual bodily harm on Lauren on August 4, 2022, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

He is also charged with engaging in 'controlling or coercive behaviour' against Lauren between August 1, 2020 and August 5, 2022.

Charles pleaded not guilty to the charges during a brief preliminary hearing at the court in the east London borough of Redbridge.

While 'personally connected' to her, the indictment claims he 'engaged in behaviour towards Lauren Goodger that was controlling or coercive which had a serious effect' on her.

Lauren's ex Charles was charged with inflicting actual bodily harm on Lauren on August 4, 2022, Snaresbrook Crown Court recently heard. Charles pleaded not guilty to the charges

It alleges he 'caused Lauren Goodger to fear, on at least two occasions, that violence will be used against' her, 'at a time when he knew or ought to have known that the behaviour' would have a 'serious effect' on her.

The second charge states that he 'assaulted Lauren Goodger thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm' on August 4 2022. It was the day after the couple buried their daughter Lorena.

Charles appeared in court in July where he spoke only to confirm his name and enter his pleas.

Judge Oscar Del Fabbro adjourned the case ahead of a further pre-trial hearing at the same court on February 12, 2024, followed by a trial, listed for five days, starting on March 18, 2024. He released Charles on unconditional bail.
Victoria Ekanoye opened up about her breast cancer diagnosis on Loose Women on Tuesday.

The actress, who played Angie Appleton in Coronation Street, found a lump only as big as a frozen pea when she was breastfeeding her baby son, six months, in 2021.

The 42-year-old then underwent a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with ductal carcinoma, a type of breast cancer, in the same place.

Victoria is currently starring in the ITV's The Real Full Monty alongside Coleen Nolan, and she appeared on the Loose Women to discuss her cancer battle.

Speaking to Coleen, Ruth Langsford, Janet Street-Porter and Linda Robson, she confessed her son saved her life: 'I genuinely believe this, I think having Theo saved my life because if I weren't breastfeeding him I might not have found it.'

Coronation Street actress Victoria Ekanoye, 42, revealed on Loose Women on Tuesday she found a breast cancer lump while feeding her son Theo, six months, in 2021

The actress, who played Angie Appleton in the soap, found a lump only as big as a frozen pea when she was breastfeeding her baby son in 2021 and said 'he saved my life'

Recounting her diagnosis she explained: 'So my son Theo was six months old and I was breastfeeding him when I found a lump.

'You just assume that those changes are due to being pregnant, or from breastfeeding and I wanted that to be the case but I'm the fifth person in my family now to develop breast cancer and the ninth to develop some sort of cancer in three generations.'

'It took me two days, which is long for me to get help and frustratingly it took me three opinions to get my diagnosis.

'It frustrates me because someone else might just take that first opinion and run for the hills with glee.'

Probed by Coleen how she knew the first opinion was mistaken she said: 'I just knew my body. I have sickle cell so I have to be really body aware anyway and in that moment I was just constantly conscious of everything that was going on.'

After having her son, Victoria explained that she was on high alert with the changes that were happening in her body and she knew something was wrong.

'It just didn't feel right. It felt like a frozen pea or chickpea and I genuinely believe this, I think having Theo saved my life because if I weren't breastfeeding him I might not have found it.

'As [the breasts] fill with milk they get bigger and it pushed the lump to the surface and you could just see it, you didn't even have to go looking for it.'

Victoria is currently starring in the ITV 's The Real Full Monty alongside Coleen Nolan and she appeared on Loose Women ahead of the show's finale on Tuesday to discuss her cancer battle

'I genuinely believe this, I think having Theo saved my life because if I weren't breastfeeding him I might not have found it'

Victoria also opened up about her diagnosis: 'Frustratingly it took me three opinions to get my diagnosis. It frustrates me because someone else might just take that first opinion and run for the hills with glee'

Probed by Coleen how she knew the first opinion was mistaken she said: 'But I just knew my body. I have sickle cell so I have to be really body aware anyway and in that moment I was just constantly conscious of everything that was going on'

The star explained that as the milk filled up her breasts it pushed the lump to the surface and by the end she could see it without looking for it

Checking your breasts should be part of your monthly routine so you notice any unusual changes. Simply rub and feel from top to bottom, in semi-circles and in a circular motion around your breast tissue to identify any abnormalities

Updating the hosts on her cancer journey now, Victoria revealed she only has a very small number of tumor cells still circulating in her body.

'I haven't told you this yet but I am OK! They put me on medication rather than chemotherapy because chemotherapy was more life threatening due to my sickle cell.

'The side effects for that is that I am now in an induced menopause which is really fun with a toddler,' she joked.

'So I went and had an incredible, groundbreaking blood test to see if I had any circulating tumour cells left in my body from the breast cancer and I do, but it's a very small amount that can be treated. I'm hoping that it's not a case of having to need chemotherapy because of all the side effects of that.

'But the main thing for me is knowing now, because it's on a molecular level. It's not something you'd see on a scan, an ultrasound or a mammogram, it's nothing you can feel.'

Coleen asked: 'So you've got it way in advance?'

Victoria said: 'Yes, I'm waiting for results to come back because I've done another set of tests and when they come back, I'll know. I think it's the not knowing and that loss of control'

Coleen told Victoria: 'Can I just say as well, everyone on [The Real Full Monty] was amazing but Victoria, I have to say this because I don't think I say it enough, you're one of the most positive people but also one of the nicest souls I've ever met in my life.

'I say it to everyone I meet about you, you are so kind, you never had a bad word to say, you never complained.

'She got very ill during filming [The Real Full Monty] and was in hospital for nine days, and all she could think about was phoning us up and saying "I'm so sorry I've let you down, I'm going to come back" and she's never complained!'

Victoria stars in The Real Full Monty alongside Gemma Collins, Vanessa Bauer, Julia Bradbury, Pete Wicks, Ben Cohen, Paul Burrell and Ashley Cain as they raise awareness of life-saving cancer checks

Victoria played Angie Appleton in Coronation Street from 2017 to 2019
Ashley Walters has said the biggest regret of his life is when his children saw him being arrested after threatening a traffic warden back in 2002.

The Top Boy actor, 41, opened up about his life in a candid chat for the BBC's Louis Theroux Interviews where he spoke about his run ins with the law.

Ashley recalled how he once had a gun pulled on him while he was carrying his son Shayon, who is now 22, after he made a comment about someone copying his lyrics on the radio.

Following the incident, father-of-eight Ashley spent 1,300 on a pistol in order to 'protect himself'.

However in 2002, the actor was arrested when he lost his temper in a disagreement with a traffic warden and said: 'I'm going to shoot you.'

Ashley Walters has said the biggest regret of his life is when his children saw him being arrested

The TV star's the partner Natalie Williams and their children Shayon and China , now 21, saw him being handcuffed and taken away by police

The TV star's the partner Natalie Williams and their children Shayon and China, now 21, saw him being handcuffed and taken away by police.

Recalling the incident, he said: 'I wasn't actually going to shoot. I weren't willing to risk my liberty over shooting a traffic warden. But I mean, I made my comments, I said what I said.

'It was horrific. My biggest regret is that my kids were there. It was a big part of my life,' he admits. 'I didn't ever want to go back to prison.'

Ashley shares Shayon and Panerai, 19, and daughter China with his former partner Natalie Williams.

The Netflix star also has two young daughters Antonia and Ashleigh with another unnamed woman, while he raises Amiaya-Love and River and a stepson with his wife of seven years, actress Danielle Isaie.

Ashley, who ended up serving 18 months in prison, said he regretted following in his convict father's footsteps.

The actor, from Peckham in south East London, was raised by his mother Pamela while his father was in and out of prison.

He joined the So Solid Crew when he was 16 and established himself as Asher D.

The actor was arrested in 2002 when he lost his temper in a disagreement with a traffic warden and said: 'I'm going to shoot you'

Ashley, who ended up serving 18 months in prison, said he regretted following in his convict father's footsteps (Kano pictured as Sully and Ashley Walters as Dushane on the show)

Recalling his youth, he said: 'We live in a place where if young people are not fully occupied, then what are they doing? They're hanging around, maybe getting themselves into trouble.

'It was only when I got to maybe 16, I changed, as a kid. In those years is when I went out and I got in trouble, and joined So Solid.

'I wasn't rebelling against my mum, but it was rebelling against all of those things that she'd built up for me and how safe she kept me... I didn't grow up rich, but I had no reason to sell drugs or to be out on the street.

'But I was walking with some real gangsters at the time, so it was easy for me to become a target.'
Jamie Oliver's brutally honest two-word reply to Jake Humphrey has been revealed after a hilarious interview on Tuesday.

The chef, 48, had a very candid answer after former BT Sport host Jake bombarded him with over 50 messages about going on his High Performance podcast.

Jake, 45, revealed he had been desperately trying to get in contact with the celeb while appearing on Chris Moyles' Radio X show.

'I've reached out to Jamie Oliver about 50 times,' Jake said, before Dominic Byrne, Chris' co-host pointed out: 'Our next guest is Jamie Oliver.

Jake then excitedly replied: 'Oh my goodness. I've literally reached out to Jamie Oliver about 50 times.'

Jamie Oliver's brutally honest two-word reply to Jake Humphrey has been revealed after a hilarious interview on Tuesday

The chef, 48, had a very candid answer after former BT Sport host Jake (seen) bombarded him with over 50 messages about going on his High Performance podcast

Chris then cheekily joked: 'Unbelievable! In case you don't bump into each other, I'll record this and I'll play it to him.'

Jake went on to record: 'Jamie, can you please come on the High Performance Podcast and please, can you get Chris get you to say yes or no live on the radio so therefore it's contractually binding.

'We don't pay a fee, thanks.'

Next after Jake had left Chris asked Jamie with about the podcast and whether he would go on it.

They played him the message as they explained: 'The first one comes from a man called Jake Humphrey. Okay, and it goes like this...

The recording of Jake was then played as Jamie started laughing and brutally responded with two words saying: 'Absolutely not.'

Chris the burst out laughing and said: 'Okay, brilliant. Sorry Jake!'

Many reacted to the funny moment online as one said: 'Jamie Oliver completely mugging off Jake Humphrey is the feel good content I didn't know I needed.'

Jake, 45, revealed he had been desperately trying to get in contact with Jamie (seen) while appearing on Chris Moyles' Radio X show

'I've reached out to Jamie Oliver about 50 times,' Jake said, before Dominic Byrne, Chris' co-host pointed out: 'Our next guest is Jamie Oliver

The recording of Jake was then played as Jamie started laughing and brutally responded with two words saying: 'Absolutely not'

A second wrote: 'Not a fan of Oliver but he's just topped out there. Good lad.'

A third penned: 'It almost makes me forgive him for ruining school dinners.'

A fourth added: 'Never thought I'd say this but Jamie Oliver has gone up in my estimations.'

Another listener said: 'So turns out Jamie Oliver's best Christmas roast is Jake Humphrey.'

It comes after Jamie revealed his vow renewal ceremony meant more to him than his actual wedding day.

The chef married model Jools in 2000 and the couple share five children: Poppy, 21, Daisy, 20, Petal, 14, Buddy, 12, and River, seven.

In April, three months before their 23rd wedding anniversary, the couple jetted to the Maldives with their brood and renewed their vows on the beach.

Speaking about the ceremony on The Graham Norton Show, Jamie revealed: 'It was my wife's idea and I thought I'd go along with it.

'Saying the vows a second time around actually meant something more  you've earned it rather than just saying it, and I loved it. It was actually a very nice thing to do, very romantic, and I ended up enjoying it more than anyone else.'

For the special occasion, Jamie looked dapper in a blue blazer and matching trousers, teamed with a crisp white shirt and a lapel flower.

Jools, 48, looked elegant in an off-the-shoulder wedding dress, complete with a ruffled design and a thigh-high slit.

Jamie later shared snaps of the ceremony on Instagram, writing: 'Morning all, Me & @joolsoliver got married again!

'Yep After 23 years together, we thought it would be a special moment to celebrate renewing our wedding vows before the kids all start leaving the nest.

'It was really special, funny and romantic with the words in the ceremony making more sense having come this far together.

'It seems like a blink since the first wedding which we kept very privet apart from the paparazzi at the village church we thought it would be a happy and joyful moment to share with you all this Easter.

Many reacted to the funny moment online as one said: 'Jamie Oliver completely mugging off Jake Humphrey is the feel good content I didn't know I needed'

Chris then cheekily joked: 'Unbelievable! In case you don't bump into each other, I'll record this and I'll play it to him'

'We've always dreamed of going to the Maldives and it was just as you would have dreamed, simply amazing ! a massive thank you to all the team at @discoversoneva for blowing our minds and making this moment so special and memorable big love guys Jamie x'

Jamie appeared on the episode - which will air on Friday - to promote his new cookbook, 5 Ingredients Mediterranean, and revealed his wife was the driving force behind it.

'Part of my job is to listen very hard to the public and what they want is short shopping lists and delicious things quickly.

'I did 5 ingredients five years ago and Jules said I must do another. She nagged me for two years and eventually I gave in! She's always right!'
Liev Schreiber, 56, wrapped an arm around his new wife Taylor Neisen, 31, at the opening of the new Broadway show How To Dance In Ohio.

Taylor, an ex-beauty queen, could be seen modeling an outfit that emphasized her enviably svelte post-baby body just four months after giving birth.

She draped her lithe frame in a clinging black cocktail dress, lending the ensemble a dash of glitz with a gleaming gold medallion.

Sweeping her hair tightly back, she sharpened her winning features with makeup including a slick of deep red lipstick for her latest night on the town.

Meanwhile, the Ray Donovan heartthrob cut a classically elegant figure in a midnight blue suit over a matching shirt, leaving his top button beguilingly undone.

Liev Schreiber, 56, wrapped an arm around his new wife Taylor Neisen, 31, at the opening of the new Broadway show How To Dance In Ohio

Liev exuded silver fox magnetism at the Broadway opening, allowing a distinguished touch of grey scruff to creep across his rugged complexion.

How To Dance In Ohio is based on a Peabody-winning documentary about young autistic people in the run-up to a spring formal dance.

The musical started life under the helm of Harold Prince, the legendary Broadway director of such shows as Sweeney Todd and The Phantom Of The Opera.

However, Hal Prince died in 2019 and the current iteration of the show is directed by Sammi Cannold - who previously worked as an assistant director on Natasha, Pierre And The Great Comet Of 1812, a musical of War And Peace starring Josh Groban.

The opening night of How To Dance In Ohio proved to be a star-studded affair, rolling out the red carpet for none other than Paula Abdul.

Paula pulled out the stops for her latest public appearance, plumping for high camp glamour in a luxuriously frou-frou cherry red dress.

Her outfit featured a section of corsetry that emphasized her svelte physique, plus tiers of tulle frills around the skirt.

Clasping on an ornate necklace and balancing expertly on a towering pair of heels, Paula amplified the formal affect with a pair of opera gloves.

Taylor, an ex-beauty queen, could be seen modeling an outfit that emphasized her enviably svelte post-baby body just four months after giving birth

She draped her lithe frame in a clinging black cocktail dress, lending the ensemble a dash of glitz with a gleaming gold medallion

Taylor and Liev's outing comes four months after news broke in August that the couple had welcomed their daughter Hazel.

Just one month earlier, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed Liev and Taylor had tied the knot at a backyard ceremony in the Hamptons over Fourth Of July weekend.

Hazel is Taylor's firstborn but marks baby number three for Liev, who shares Sasha, 16, and Kai, 14, with his friendly ex Naomi Watts.

Liev broke the news of his daughter's arrival on Instagram in September, writing: 'So happy that Hazel Bee is finally here. She arrived early in the morning of August 27th and has been a dream every day since. Mom and baby are both super happy and healthy. Thanks to all for the love and support.'

Taylor was about eight months pregnant when she married Liev at a ceremony with just four guests, two of whom were Sasha and Kai.

'They didnt want a big fuss because Taylor is ready to give birth, but they wanted to bring the baby into the world as husband and wife,' a source explained.

Taylor and Liev first became romantically involved in 2017, five years after she was crowned Miss South Dakota and one year after his split from Naomi.

Liev and Naomi were together for 11 years before they broke up in 2016 - a development eclipsed by the much more publicly acrimonious divorce of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie around the same time.

The opening night of How To Dance In Ohio proved to be a star-studded affair, rolling out the red carpet for none other than Paula Abdul

Paula pulled out the stops for her latest public appearance, plumping for high camp glamour in a luxuriously frou-frou cherry red dress

Clasping on an ornate necklace and balancing expertly on a towering pair of heels, Paula amplified the formal affect with a pair of opera gloves

How To Dance In Ohio is based on a Peabody-winning documentary about young autistic people in the run-up to a spring formal dance

Meanwhile Liev and Naomi retained such an amicable co-parenting equation that they went into self-isolation together with Taylor during the coronavirus lockdowns, in order that Sasha and Kai could have both parents around.

Taylor and Liev then exchanged vows this summer at the sprawling Montauk mansion that he originally lived in with Naomi.

When the newlyweds announced the birth of their daughter on Instagram, Naomi ecstatically commented: 'We love baby Hazel!!'

Amid Liev's blossoming romance with Taylor, Naomi struck up a relationship with Billy Crudup, whom she eventually married this June.
Mama June Shannon has gained custody for one of late daughter Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell's children after her death at 29 as it has been revealed that the mother-of-two will be cremated.

The 44-year-old reality television star is currently in custody of Caldwell's 11-year-old daughter Kaitlyn according to TMZ on Tuesday.

Cardwell died on Saturday aged just 29 after a battle with stage 4 adrenal cancer.

She had two daughters with two different men and insiders for TMZ say that her younger child, eight-year-old Kylee, is now living with her biological father Michael.

The sources claim that the family already had a plan in place for Kylee to move in with her father and Cardwell's ex Michael in the event something would happen to her.

Mama June Shannon has gained custody for one of late daughter Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell 's children after her death at 29; she is seen at her wedding in February with daughters Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson (left) and Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird (right)

Cardwell had two daughters with two different men; 11-year-old Kaitlyn and eight-year-old Kylee

It has also been said that Shannon has a very close bond with Kaitlyn as she is the reality star's first grandchild thus all members in the family agree that is the best place for the child.

Insiders told TMZ that Shannon also plans to become Kaitlyn's legal guardian.

Even if the two children will be living at home the two are said to be close and will continue to see each other.

This comes amid news that Cardwell will be cremated and her ashes divided among family members following an open-casket funeral.

TMZ reports that a memorial service will be held for Cardwell this week, with her remains divided and plans to make 'special jewelry or crystals' with her ashes inside.

The funeral home will also fingerprint Cardwell with the family considering getting tattoos of her prints.

Sources told the publication Cardwell requested an open-casket funeral and waned fans to be able to attend as she was close with them.

Her family will also get a memorial bench in her honor.

Insiders for TMZ say that her younger child Kylee is now living with her biological father Michael (pictured right)

It was recently reported that Shannon's late daughter Cardwell will be cremated and her ashes divided among family members following an open-casket funeral

TMZ reports that a memorial service will be held for Cardwell this week, with her remains divided and plans to make 'special jewelry or crystals' with her ashes inside

This comes after it was revealed Cardwell secretly got married after finding out she had stage 4 cancer.

Cardwell, who was the daughter of the Here Comes Honey Boo Boo star, had previously revealed that she was battling adrenal cancer that progressed to stage 4.

Cardwell tied the knot with partner Eldridge Toney on March 4 in Wilkinson County, Georgia while undergoing chemotherapy, after previously expressing her desire to wed two months prior while she still felt well enough , reports TMZ.

Anna's sister Pumpkin's husband was the officiant of the ceremony with source revealing the wedding included close family and a camera crew recording footage for reality show, Mama June: From Not to Hot.

The mother of two girls, Kaitlyn, 11, and Kylee, eight, underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy in an attempt to beat her cancer - and had been determined to welcome a child with Toney before her diagnosis, enduring four miscarriages.

In 2021 she told the US Sun: 'We are trying to have a third child, and its been difficult. Ive gone through four miscarriages and a D&C.

"'It's been a long bumpy road for us trying to have baby number three.'

Her last miscarriage came two days before Christmas - the month before she was diagnosed with cancer - and she discovered that she wasn't making enough progesterone which was 'keeping the baby from getting enough nutrition.'

Mama June Shannon's daughter Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell secretly got married to partner Eldridge Toney after finding out she had stage 4 cancer , before her tragic death aged 29 on Saturday

Mama June , 44, announced her daughter's death in an Instagram post on Sunday

Mama June, 44, announced her daughter's death in an Instagram post on Sunday.

Two days before her somber announcement, the reality star had asked her fans and followers on social media to pray for her ailing daughter.

'With the breaking heart, we are announcing that @annamarie35 is no longer with us,' June began her heartbreaking post. 'She passed away in my home last night peacefully at 11:12 PM.'

'She gave one hell of a fight for 10 months she passed away with her family around her like she wont and we will will be updating yall with more information as we get it today [sic],' Shannon continued.

'We love yall and continued prayers and thoughts for our family [during] this difficult time,' she added.

Accompanying the caption was a photo of Mama June and her family, including Anna, who sported short hair amid her cancer treatments.

Anna was diagnosed with stage four adrenal cancer in January after complaining of stomach pain.

The Mayo Clinic reports adrenal carcinoma is a rare cancer that affects the adrenal glands in the kidneys. The adrenal glands produce hormones which deliver instructions to virtually every organ and tissue in the body.

The mother of two girls, Kaitlyn, 11, and Kylee, eight, underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy in an attempt to beat her cancer.

Over the summer, the From Not to Hot star revealed that Anna's cancer was terminal.

'We know it's terminal. She's stage 4. She's not gonna go into remission,' she wrote, adding: 'We've all accepted that, so I just tell people one day at a time 'cause you never know.'

On Friday she took to social media to ask her 758,000 Instagram followers for prayers.

'Yall we are asking for prayers for our family as we are going through this process,' the Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo alum wrote.

'We really appreciate yall for all the thoughts and prayers and we will update yall whenever we can,' she said, adding, 'just know that all of your thoughts and your prayers are very much appreciated during this time, she explained, adding the hashtags, '#mamajune #cancersucks #family #prayers.'

She didn't mention her daughter explicitly, but her followers knew immediately she was referring to Cardwell.

Cardwell tied the knot with partner Eldridge Toney on March 4 in Wilkinson County, Georgia while undergoing chemotherapy, after previously expressing her desire to wed two months prior while she still felt well enough , reports TMZ

Two days before her somber announcement, the reality star had asked her fans and followers on social media to pray for her ailing daughter

'Anna sending you many many many prayers. God bless you sweetheart. ,' one concerned fan wrote.

'Lord please have Anna in your hands and help her and her family In this time that they need you,' added another.

One follower empathized with June's struggle, writing, 'From a mom of a cancer warrior.. angel.. my sincere thoughts and prayers for you all.'

June's 23-year-old daughter, Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird reposted adding, 'Say a prayer for our family.'

Anna was diagnosed with stage four adrenal cancer in January after complaining of stomach pain

Cardwell's 18-year-old little sister Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson took to social media on Sunday to remember her as well.

Sharing with her 1.1 million followers, Thompson wrote, 'This is one post I wish I didnt have to make.'

She shared the same family portrait as her mom did along with a heartbreaking caption as she grieved the fresh loss.

'Last night we all surrounded Anna with love & let her know it was okay to go. Unfortunately around 11pm Anna took her last [breath],' she said.

The note continued, 'Anna was in so much pain last night but now as a family we all know she is at peace now. I really dont know what to say as my heart is completely broken.'

The college student voiced: 'Watching my 29 year old sister this last year battle this horrible disease hasnt been easy. Anna was a fighter & still is. Lord please wrap your arms around her 2 babies & our family as the next couple of days will make this all a reality.'

She went on to say that her bigger sister waited until she arrived home to transition.

'Im so glad that you waited til i was home to take your last breath! I wouldve loved for you to get to see me graduate college but i know you will forever cheer me on in heaven!' she said in the caption.

'We will all make sure your legacy lives on forever. And i promise to always make sure to celebrate our birthday like you never left! The sky looks a little bit different today. We will always love you Anna,' a heartbroken Honey Boo Boo added.

And finally, she said, 'You hit me hard with his one Anna but i know [you're] in a better place now and pain free forever!'

Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson took to social media on Sunday to remember her late sister Anna

Eventually, Anna's cancer spread to her liver, kidneys and lungs

The mother of two girls, Kaitlyn, 11, and Kylee, eight, underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy in an attempt to beat her cancer

Eventually, Anna's cancer spread to her liver, kidneys and lungs.

The average age of patients with adrenal cancer is 46, but it can occur in people of any age, even in children, according to the American Cancer Society.

Adrenocortical carcinomas start in the outer layer of the adrenal glands, which are next to the kidneys. The adrenal glands are small glands producing hormones.

Most growths that form in the adrenal glands are noncancerous.
Sydney Sweeney showcased her incredible style while stepping out in Midtown after promoting her upcoming romantic comedy, Anyone But You, on the Today show.

As she continues to spend her time in New York City encouraging fans to watch her her new film, the Euphoria actress, 26, oozed sophistication in a $798 pastel pink coat, from Kate Spade New York, and matching minidress.

The two-time Emmy nominee styled her chic ensemble with a pair of hoop earrings, white sunglasses and strappy, satin pumps.

Despite the chilly weather, the Madame Web star opted not to wear tights as she put her incredibly toned legs on full display.

Pretty in pretty: Sydney Sweeney showcased her incredible style while stepping out in Midtown after promoting her upcoming romantic comedy, Anyone But You, on the Today show

For the occasion, Sweeney wore her buttery blonde tresses in old Hollywood waves, which cascaded past her shoulders.

She opted for a gorgeous, soft glam makeup look, which consisted of a glossy nude lipstick, bronzer for a sun-kissed glow and blush.

Her latest sighting comes less than 24 hours after her costar, Glen Powell, denied they were dating.

While appearing on the Today Show, host Hoda Kotb, 59, asked: 'Is this like a little romance?'

In response to the question, the duo started giggling, before Powell replied: 'No, but we do love each other. And, honestly, this is one of the most spectacular humans I've ever met. She's really great.'

Hoda cooed at Glen's admission, and replied: 'Aw, well ya'll are so cute together.'

Rumors about Glen and Sydney's relationship began to stir at the beginning of the year during filming, and quickly gained traction after Glen quietly split with his model girlfriend Gigi Paris in April.

Sydney, who is engaged to Jonathan Davino, 40, shot down the rumors during a tell-all interview with Variety in August.

Glamorous: The Euphoria actress, 26, oozed sophistication in a structured pastel pink jacket and matching minidress

Cool girl: The two-time Emmy nominee styled her chic ensemble with a pair of hoop earrings, white sunglasses and strappy high heels

Just friends: Her latest sighting comes less than 24 hours after her costar, Glen Powell, denied they were dating

'It's a rom-com. That's what people want,' she said.

'Glen and I don't really care. We have so much fun together, and we respect each other so much; he's such a hard worker, and I'm a hard worker.

'We're excited for the press tour, and I literally just left ADR with him. We talk all the time like.'

Her comments came as a member of production working on the film claimed that a number of people on the set 'thought they were already a couple.'

'I knew him from Top Gun,' they said. 'But I just assumed they were a couple in real life. That's what it looked like to most of us. And to some of the extras as well.'

Anyone But You hits theaters on December 22.
The first posters for the highly anticipated film Madame Web was shared on Tuesday morning.

Dakota Johnson stars as the title superhero in the latest offering from Marvel.

The poster reads, 'Her web connects them all' as a spider web surrounds the star dressed in blood red with her hair down.

In one poster Dakota is alone and in the other she has her costars in her web.

The film is set to debut in movie theaters in February 2024.

Dakota's character starts off as a normal New York City paramedic called Cassandra Webb. After suffering a near-death experience, however, Cassandra finds herself inexplicably endowed with an ability to see into the future.

The first posters for the highly anticipated film Madame Web was shared on Tuesday morning. Dakota Johnson stars as the title superhero in the latest offering from Marvel. The poster reads, 'Her web connects them all' as a spider web surrounds the star dressed in blood red with her hair down

In one poster Dakota is alone and in the other she has her costars in her web. The film is set to debut in movie theaters in February 2024

The trailer has already made its debut.

As she begins to embrace her developing superpowers, she connects with three other woman she has been linked to by mysterious chance.

One of them is Sydney Sweeney's character Julia Carpenter, a bespectacled busty blonde whose own journey lands her in a superhero uniform.

The movie starts with Cassandra walking into a diner and being confronted by supervillain Zeke, played by Tahar Rahim.

Zeke, who has the same basic powers as Spider-Man and wears a uniform resembling a dark version of the hero, begins terrorizing the diner.

He and Cassandra are instantly locked in brutal combat - and matters soon take a turn for the worst when he grabs a table knife and drives it into her abdomen.

Flash to Cassandra outside the diner, as the audience realizes the whole fight scene has just been her glimpse into the future if she dares walk into the restaurant.

Cassandra decides against a course of action that ends with her getting stabbed, whispering: 'Let's try that again,' before opting for another route.

Good works: Johnson stars as the title superhero, who starts off as a normal New York City paramedic called Cassandra Webb

Euphoria bombshell: Sweeney turns on the charm as a burgeoning Spider-Woman in a blood-pumping new trailer for Madame Web

Screen siren: One of the supporting players is Sydney 's character Julia Carpenter, a bespectacled busty blonde whose journey lands her in a superhero uniform

The trailer then flashes back to Cassie's origin story as a jobbing EMT trying to rescue a man from a car wreck on a bridge.

In the course of her attempts, she horrifyingly winds up trapped in the car herself as it slides through the torn-up railing and plunges into the water below.

Sinking fast, apparently about to drown, Cassie is tormented by grisly visions including apparently of a dead baby.

There's Sydney: The movie starts with Cassandra walking into a diner and being confronted by supervillain Zeke, played by Tahar Rahim

Terror: Horror: Zeke, who has the same basic powers as Spider-Man and wears a uniform resembling a dark version of the hero, begins terrorizing the diner

Defender: He and Cassandra are instantly locked in brutal combat - and matters soon take a turn for the worst when he grabs a table knife and drives it into her abdomen

Zeke's entrance: Flash to Cassandra outside the diner, as the audience realizes the whole fight scene has just been her glimpse into the future if she dares walk into the restaurant

Redirect: Cassandra decides against a course of action that ends with her getting stabbed, whispering: 'Let's try that again,' before opting for another route

On the job: The trailer then flashes back to Cassie's origin story as a jobbing EMT trying to rescue a man from a car wreck on a bridge

Disaster: In the course of her attempts, she horrifyingly winds up trapped in the car herself as it slides through the torn-up railing and plunges into the water below

A stroke of luck arrives in the form of a male colleague played by Adam Scott, who fishes her out of the water and resuscitates her 'back to the land of the living.'

Cassie's life, however, only grows stranger and stranger as she heads to the doctor complaining of more visions that afflict her at work.

Once, before attending to a gruesome collision in the city, she had a vision of the whole scene playing out and thus already knew her patient 'was gonna die.'

Then an incident on the New York subway unites her with the three women who become her sidekicks for the rest of the film.

All three of them - Mattie Franklin (Celeste O'Connor), Anya Corazon (Isabela Merced), and Julia - are sitting on the same subway car as Cassie.

However Cassie in a flash has a vision of Zeke entering the carriage and strangling each of the defenseless women one by one.

Thinking fast, racing to prevent the vision from becoming reality, Cassie persuades the women to get off the subway before Zeke arrives.

Once they are all safe, Cassie takes Mattie, Anya and Julia into the woods to explain the bizarre set of circumstances that led to their coming together.

Saved: A stroke of luck arrives in the form of a male colleague played by Adam Scott, who fishes her out of the water and resuscitates her 'back to the land of the living'

Startling: Cassie's life, however, only grows stranger and stranger as she heads to the doctor complaining of more visions that afflict her at work

Impossible to save: Cassie's life, however, only grows stranger and stranger as she heads to the doctor complaining of more visions that afflict her at work

Bringing them together: Then an incident on the New York subway unites her with the three women who become her sidekicks for the rest of the film

Fab four: All three of them - Mattie Franklin (Celeste O'Connor) (left), Anya Corazon (Isabela Merced) (second from right), and Julia - meet Cassie in the subway

Menace: However Cassie in a flash has a vision of Zeke entering the carriage and strangling each of the defenseless women one by one

Misadventure: Thinking fast, racing to prevent the vision from becoming reality, Cassie persuades the women to get off the subway before Zeke arrives

Busty bombshell: Once they are all safe, Cassie takes Mattie, Anya and Julia into the woods to explain the bizarre set of circumstances that led to their coming together

'I can see the future,' says Cassie matter-of-factly, prompting Mattie to surprise her by throwing something at her before vamping: 'She didn't see that coming.'

It turns out that the four women and Zeke - the supernatural figures in the story - are interlinked by a strange spiderweb of personal history.

Cassie discovers that Zeke, aka Ezekiel Sims, 'was in the Amazon with my mom when she was researching spiders right before she died.'

Meanwhile Cassie lives in the same apartment building as Anya, once nearly flattened Mattie with her ambulance and also at one point encountered Julia in a hospital over the course of her duties as a paramedic.

They scarcely have time to marvel at the coincidences before being caught up in a battle to survive against Zeke's machinations.

Goofing around: 'I can see the future,' says Cassie matter-of-factly, prompting Mattie to surprise her by throwing something at her before vamping: 'She didn't see that coming'

Deadly connections: It turns out that the four women and Zeke - the supernatural figures in the story - are interlinked by a strange spiderweb of personal history

Dearly departed: Cassie discovers that Zeke, aka Ezekiel Sims, 'was in the Amazon with my mom when she was researching spiders right before she died'

Wow: Meanwhile Cassie lives in the same apartment building as Anya, once nearly flattened Mattie with her ambulance and also at one point encountered Julia in a hospital

On the go: They scarcely have time to marvel at the coincidences before being caught up in a battle to survive against Zeke's machinations

Destruction: Cassie's superpowers, it turns out, are not restricted to clairvoyance - with just one hand she manages to stop a massive piece of falling debris from crushing Julia

Sharp of mind: She will need all the superhuman abilities she can get, inasmuch as her mortal enemy Zeke appears also to be able to look forwards in time

Along for the ride: So Cassie hurtles through a dizzying array of action sequences, to the point Mattie accuses her of 'showing off' and she drily replies: 'Maybe a little'

Cassie's superpowers, it turns out, are not restricted to clairvoyance - with just one hand she manages to stop a massive piece of falling debris from crushing Julia.

She will need all the superhuman abilities she can get, inasmuch as her mortal enemy Zeke appears also to be able to look forwards in time.

So Cassie hurtles through a dizzying array of action sequences, to the point Mattie accuses her of 'showing off' and she drily replies: 'Maybe a little.'

The new movie, out February 16, was created for Sony's Spider-Man Universe, which is not to be confused with the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Spider-Man franchise.

Dakota and castmates include a brace of her fellow 'nepo babies,' Girls alum Zosia Mamet and American Horror Story star Emma Roberts.
Graham Norton - December 2020

Graham Norton seemingly kicked off the mass departure of BBC radio stars when he quit his Saturday morning slot.

The presenter began hosting his Radio 2 show in 2010, after Jonathan Ross left, but after a decade he left.

In a statement at the time, Graham said: 'Obviously I'm sad to be stepping away from my Radio 2 show.

'I'll miss being a part of the Wogan House family, as well as the listeners and their lives.

'I'd like to thank my producer Malcolm Prince and all the teams I've worked with for a great decade of radio.

'Happily with the chat show, Eurovision and Drag Race the BBC continues to be my perfect TV home.'

The chat show host then joined Virgin Radio UK in 2021 to host shows on Saturday and Sunday.

Paul O'Grady - August 2022

Paul O'Grady hosted a Sunday show for 14 years on BBC Radio 2, but quit in August of last year.

The host was unhappy about being asked to share duties with Rob Beckett, 37, which saw the comedian taking over for two three-month stints each year.

He told fans: 'And the reason I'm leaving because everybody's asked me this. It's because I wasn't really happy with the 13 weeks on/13 weeks off business.

'So, I did the honourable thing and I honoured my contract, gave my notice and now I'm off.'

Speaking to Metro in February, he admitted: 'I was disappointed because I'm a great believer in continuity.

'If you go off for 13 weeks and somebody else comes on, the listeners don't know when you're back on.'

He also questioned Radio 2's desire to appeal to younger audiences, saying: 'Radio 2 has changed, it's not what it was.

'They're trying to aim for a much younger audience, which doesn't make sense because you've got Radio 1. Radio 2 was always for an older audience'.

Paul went on to join Boom Radio for a Christmas Day special and had been due to join the station permanently in May - however he tragically died in March at the age of 67.

Steve Wright - September 2022

Steve Wright presented Steve Wright in the Afternoon on Radio 2 for 23 years, before the show came to an end last year.

While he remained on the network, hosting Sunday Love Songs, along with a new Serious Jockin' podcast, his afternoon show was replaced by a new show with Scott Mills.

Radio 2 fans deplored the decision with the BBC saying it was seeking to 'try something different'.

As he exited Wogan House in July, Steve told reporters it was 'nice of you to come over', adding: 'That's the way it goes... You know, sometimes people want you, sometimes they don't.

'Sometimes they want to make changes, give you another offer, and that's okay, I understand that, I really understand that.'

Craig Charles - June 2022

Craig Charles presented his show Craig Charles' House Party on Saturdays from 10pm to midnight since 2014.

But his Radio 2 show was axed last summer, sparking uproar from fans.

Craig said in the announcement from the BBC: 'Every party must come to an end and although I'm packing up my Trunk of Funk on Radio 2, I've loved bringing the party to its funky listeners each Saturday night.'

He continued with his how on BBC Radio 6 Music each weekday (1-4pm) and on The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show (Saturday nights, 6-9pm).

Vanessa Feltz - July 2022

Vanessa Feltz quit BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio London after nearly 20 years on air in July last year.

Breaking down on her early morning breakfast show as she announced the news to her listeners, the star, 61, said she would 'try not to cry'.

She said: 'I have something to tell you, and I know you already know that I love you - oh I knew I was going to cry but I'm going to try not too...'

'It has been an honour to share the early hours with you.'

However, Vanessa later claimed her exit was because she was a woman over the age of 60.

Speaking about Ken Bruce's departure in January on This Morning, she said: ''I can't speak for him but I imagine that it's a feeling of some sense of ageism at the BBC.'

She claimed that older presenters are 'not valued in the same way', adding: 'The music isn't as appealing 'cause they've changed it to appeal to a younger crowd they're so desperate to get.'

Ken Bruce - March 2023

Ken Bruce also jumped ship from the BBC after 45 years for commercial rival Greatest Hits Radio, declaring: 'I've done everything it is possible to do at Radio 2'.

At the time the Scottish broadcaster, 72, said 'the time is right' for him to move on from the weekday mid-morning show he's presented since 1986 - with just a two year gap between 1990 and 1992 - having first walked into the corporation in 1977.

In January, he informed his 9 million listeners he was leaving, but insisted he is not retiring, but heading into commercial radio and taking his much-loved PopMaster quiz with him.

But in September Ken revealed he decided to jump ship before he started to become bitter and entrenched, saying: It was a long time and I thought Im doing the same thing every day.'

His slot was then taken over by Vernon Kay, but lost 1.4 million listeners in its first three months without Ken.

Claudia Winkleman - March 2024

This month, Claudia Winkleman announced she will be quitting her Radio 2 show after 15 years on air, with Romesh Ranganathan set to take over.

The presenter, 51, shared the news with her listeners during her show admitting she wishes to spend more time with her children.

She shares Jake, 20, Matilda, 17, and Arthur, 11, with her film producer partner, Kris Thykier, 50, who she married in 2000.

Claudia joined BBC Radio 2 in 2008 to host comedy quiz series Hot Gossip before moving to Friday nights to host the Claudia Winkleman Arts Show.

In 2016, she began presenting Claudia On Sunday and moved to her Saturday morning slot in February 2021, replacing Graham Norton.

Claudia's final show will broadcast in March, after which she will be replaced by Romesh from April.

The media personality explained how it had been an 'absolute privilege' to host the show as she thanked her listeners.
Charlotte Crosby was rushed to hospital with suspected pneumonia this week after suffering with an illness for six weeks.

The former Geordie Shore star, 33, shared an update to her Instagram Story on Tuesday in which she revealed she had been 'struggling to shift' the 'unbearable chest infections.'

Posing for a photo in the mirror, Charlotte could be seen wearing a cosy tracksuit as she recovered after returning home.

She wrote: It's been a very long 5/6 weeks of on and off coughing/ chest infections. And the whole time I've been struggling I've been doing the very most work wise.

'Travelling up and down the country, trains, cars and almost planes. A couple of occasions even losing my entire voice at work. I've not been able to carry out some of the stuff I've had to.'

Charlotte Crosby, 33, was rushed to hospital with suspected pneumonia this week after suffering with an illness for six weeks (pictured two weeks ago)

The former Geordie Shore star shared an update to her Instagram Story on Tuesday in which she revealed she had been 'struggling to shift' the 'unbearable chest infections'

The TV personality continued: 'Only last week it just got so bad it was unbearable. Not even having 1 minute in between coughing fits!

'After 2 courses of antibiotics failed to shift anything I finally realised I had to slow the f*** down and get to hospital...

'So that's where I spent most of yesterday in and out of doctors and hospital! with suspected pneumonia.

'I've been able to come home now and rest at home with a new course of antibiotics. So this is where I shall be for the foreseeable.'

It comes after Charlotte broke down in tears during a live appearance This Morning when she revealed she wants more babies.

The former Geordie Shore star, who welcomed her first child with fiance Jake Ankers last October, explained how her daughter, Alba, made her 'feel reborn.'

Joining hosts Craig Doyle and Rochelle Humes on the programme, Charlotte discussed her recent engagement and future wedding plans.

The TV personality revealed she is willing to put off their big day for a while yet, admitting: 'I want more babies, that is my priority.'

It comes after Charlotte broke down in tears during a live appearance This Morning as she revealed she wants more babies

The TV personality who welcomed her first child with fiance Jake Ankers last October, explained how her daughter, Alba, made her 'feel reborn'

Charlotte added: 'I love being a mum it's the best thing that's ever happened to us because it has just changed my life. She had made us feel like I am born again.'

She got visibly emotional while explaining the impact that Alba has had on her life.

Through tears she continued: 'Maybe in 2026 or 2027. I want five kids first! But I will settle for three.'
Sandra Bullock cut a somber figure when she was spotted surfacing in Los Angeles on a chilly Monday.

She appeared to be headed to a professional commitment as she was seen in business attire while emerging from her car at the Warner Bros lot.

The star has not worked in a while and her last films were The Lost City and Bullet Train, which both came out in 2022.

The 59-year-old Academy Award winner wore an elegant black blazer that complemented her silky curtains of luxurious dark hair.

Warding off the California rays with a purple-tinted pair of butterfly sunglasses, she accentuated her unmistakable features with naturalistic makeup.

Her latest sighting comes four months after she heartbreakingly lost her longtime love Bryan Randall, who died at the age of 57.

Sandra Bullock cut a somber figure when she was spotted stepping out in Los Angeles of a chilly December Monday

The 59-year-old Academy Award winner wore an elegant black blazer that complemented her silky curtains of luxurious dark hair

Bryan succumbed on August 5 to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which he battled in secret for three years leading up to his death.

He and Sandra were seen out together for the final time in May 2020, sitting in a car together in Los Angeles with him at the wheel.

His family announced his death to People magazine shortly after it occurred, releasing a statement that confirmed his illness.

'It is with great sadness that we share that on Aug. 5, Bryan Randall passed away peacefully after a three-year battle with ALS,' they said.

'Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honor his request.'

Their statement added: 'We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors who navigated the landscape of this illness with us and to the astounding nurses who became our roommates, often sacrificing their own families to be with ours.'

They concluded: 'At this time we ask for privacy to grieve and to come to terms with the impossibility of saying goodbye to Bryan,' signing: 'His Loving Family.'

Bryan, a professional photographer, first became acquainted with Sandra in 2015 when he took the pictures for her son Louis' fifth birthday party.

Her latest sighting comes four months after she heartbreakingly lost her longtime love Bryan Randall, who died at the age of 57; pictured 2018

Sandra has two adopted children - Louis, 13, and Laila, 11, both of whom she adopted and raised alongside Bryan before his untimely death.

She generally refrained from discussing Bryan in public, but she did glowingly call him 'the love of my life' on Red Table Talk a couple of years ago.

'We share two beautiful children - three children, his older daughter,' Sandra explained to Jada Pinkett Smith. 'It's the best thing ever.'

Her romance with Bryan began a half-decade after the media frenzy surrounding the collapse of her marriage to reality star Jesse James.

Sandra found herself at the center of a scandal in early 2010, when a string of women emerged and said Jesse had cheated on her with them.

The adultery drama unfolded against the backdrop of Sandra's winning Oscar campaign for her movie The Blind Side.
Kanye West was branded a 'disgusting human being' by fans after the rapper wore a black Ku Klux Klan type hood in his latest attempt to shock just weeks after being slammed for antisemitic lyrics during a listening event in Miami on Tuesday.

The 46-year-old artist put on a fabric head covering featuring a point at the top at an overnight listening event with collaborator Ty Dolla Sign as they performed their controversial track Vultures which features vile lyrics about a Jewish woman.

Vultures features the 'offensive' lyrics: 'How am I anti-Semitic? I just f***ed a Jewish b****.'

This is not the first time that Kanye has worn a black hood reminiscent of a KKK one as he sported one at the beginning of his music video for BLKKK SKKKN HEAD in 2013.

The star was slammed as 'disgusting' and 'weird' for wearing the ensemble with daughter North, 10, onstage nearby, while his daughter Chicago, five and son Saint, eight were also present.

Kanye West was branded a 'disgusting human being' by fans after the rapper wore a black Ku Klux Klan type hood in his latest attempt to shock just weeks after being slammed for anti-Semitic lyrics during a listening event in Miami on Tuesday

This came during a listening event where 10-year-old daughter North joined him on stage

One fan wrote: 'Kanye wearing a KKK hood and Black people are sitting idly by. F*** him and his music bro.

Another typed: 'Just a remark that Kanye West is a[n] anti semite. He hates the Jews and wants them dead. He abuses women. He is a disgusting human being.'

Others expressed concern for North, writing: 'Kanye West wearing black KKK hat at his listening party with his daughter behind him' and 'North looks so uncomfortable with Kanye wearing a KKK mask.'

North performed a verse confirming that she is going to be in the upcoming album Vultures which is set to be released Friday.

The eldest-of-four looked like a natural performer as she donned a black leather jacket over a matching baggy jumpsuit.

She also sported two platinum necklaces featuring massive diamond-encrusted pendants.

Her hair was pulled back into braids as she mimed along to her verse on the project.

North was not the only one of Kanye's children in attendance as siblings Chicago and Saint were also there.

The star was slammed as 'disgusting' and 'weird' for wearing the ensemble with daughter North, 10, onstage nearby, while his daughter Chicago, five and son Saint, eight were also present

The 46-year-old artist put on a fabric head covering featuring a point at the top at an overnight listening event with collaborator Ty Dolla Sign in Miami early Tuesday morning

It remains unclear if Kim Kardashian was there but Kanye's new wife Bianca Censori was seen sweetly cradling Chicago.

This comes weeks after Kanye was slammed by Jewish organizations who branded him 'pathetic and sad' over vile lyrics about a Jewish woman in his latest song.

The lyrics prompted a furious backlash among some fans at the time and has now prompted condemnation from the American Jewish Committee among others.

'To fuel the flames of antisemitism and promote such bile to his millions of followers, especially at this fraught and dangerous time for the Jewish community, is unforgivable,' spokesman Richard Hirschhaut told TMZ.

This is not the first time that Kanye has worn a black hood reminiscent of a KKK one as he sported one at the beginning of his music video for BLKKK SKKKN HEAD in 2013

They performed their controversial track Vultures which features vile lyrics about a Jewish woman

The Runaway hitmaker was also joined on stage by daughter North who performed a verse

This confirms that she is going to be in the upcoming album Vultures which is set to be released Friday

The eldest-of-four looked like a natural performer as she donned a black leather jacket over a matching baggy jumpsuit. She also sported two platinum necklaces featuring massive diamond-encrusted pendants. Her hair was pulled back into braids as she mimed along to her verse on the project. North was not the only one of Kanye's children in attendance as siblings Chicago and Saint were also there.

The eldest-of-four looked like a natural performer as she donned a black leather jacket over a matching baggy jumpsuit

Her hair was pulled back into braids as she mimed along to her verse on the project

Kanye's wife Bianca Censori was seen sweetly cradling his daughter Chicago as they attended his Vultures album launch on Monday night

North, 10, and Saint, eight walked a little ahead of the others as they led the way

Bianca was seen doting on Chicago as she sweetly carried her through the busy crowds during the night out

He added that the West's choice is unsurprising however, given his previous antisemitic remarks.

But he said this latest scandal, 'seems particularly pathetic and sad.'

The Anti Defamation League also joined criticism, telling the outlet: 'At a time of rising antisemitism worldwide, its disgusting to see Kanye once again use his platform to spew Jew hatred.'

West has a documented history of antisemitism and last year lost out on a number of partnership deals after going on an explosive anti-Semitic rant.

The ex-husband of Kim Kardashian vowed to go 'death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE' in a string of sick posts online.

Shortly after the tweet, the Praise God rapper told Piers Morgan he only meant to take aim at certain specific Jews, who he felt exploited him.

When the talk show host contended the comments were 'as racist as anything you've been through,' the Gold Digger rapper retorted, 'that's why I said it. I fought fire with fire.'

In an interview with right wing talk show host Alex Jones in early December, Kanye praised Hitler for his 'redeeming qualities'.

Jewish organizations recently slammed Kanye over his new track 'Vultures' which features the lyrics, 'How am I anti-Semitic? I just f***ed a Jewish b****.'

The American Jewish Committee branded West 'particularly pathetic and sad' and described his lyrics as 'unforgivable'

The Anti Defamation League also joined criticism, telling the outlet: 'At a time of rising antisemitism worldwide, its disgusting to see Kanye once again use his platform to spew Jew hatred'

West debuted the song at Blu nightclub in Dubai over the weekend alongside collaborators Ty Dolla $ign and Lil Durk

He also maintained that the 'Holocaust is not what happened' and promoted the conspiracy theory that Black people are the real Jews.

West's rants saw him lose out on lucrative contracts with The Gap, Adidas and Balenciaga and more.

He was also dropped by his management team at Creative Artists Agency.

The 46-year-old has been in the Middle East recording new work with collaborators Ty Dolla $ign, Chris Brown, Bump J and others.

He performed 'Vultures' for the first time at Lil Durk's show in Blu Dubai alongside the rapper and Ty Dolla $ign.

West was joined in Dubai by wife Bianca Censori, with the two reunited following her trip home to Australia to see family.

Other video showed the couple and West's collaborators dancing to the track, which was released last Wednesday.

His decision to debut the song comes at a time when anti-Semitic attacks are on the rise amid the ongoing Israel Hamas conflict.

Racism against Jewish people and Muslims has soared in the wake of the October 7 attack.

The controversy is the latest development in West's well-documented history of antisemitism that became public last year after he posted a series of vile tweets taking aim at Jewish people

According to the Anti-Defamation League the number of anti-Semitic incidents increased fourfold.

The watchdog counted 312 anti-Semitic incidents between October 7-23, ranging from harassment to vandalism and physical assaults.

Meanwhile college campuses ands schools have seen a notable spike, according to the American Jewish Committee.

A record number of incidents were reported, with nearly 100 incidents occurring at US universities between October 7 and 30.

The soaring number of incidents has prompted the White House to introduce a series of measures to tackle the 'alarming' rise in both anti-Semitic and Islamophobic attacks.
Gethin Jones was spotted limping around Manchester on Tuesday while wearing a knee brace following a reconstructive surgery in February 2022.

The TV presenter, 45, revealed to his fans on Instagram last year that he had an ankle arthroscopy and lateral ligament reconstruction.

And it appears Gethin has had complications since the operation as he was spotted sporting the supportive wear.

He cut a causal figure in a black padded jacket and black jeans, while donning the piece of equipment over his attire on his left leg.

Gethin is a regular host on BBC's Morning Live which he presents four to five times a week.

Gethin Jones, 45, was spotted limping around Manchester on Tuesday while wearing a knee brace following a reconstructive surgery

The TV presenter revealed to his fans on Instagram last year that he had an ankle arthroscopy and lateral ligament reconstruction

BBC Morning Live has just revealed its confirmed presenting line-up and brand new time slot - which now overlaps with ITV's Lorraine and This Morning - in hope to built on its daily audience of roughly 1.1million.

Which means This Morning 'could face losing the daytime TV crown' as its rival competitors BBC Morning Live are aiming to dominate ratings.

The ITV breakfast show has won 18 National Television Award for Best Daytime Show and since Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield left the show, BBC could now be in with stealing the spotlight.

From January 2, Helen Skelton and Michelle Ackerley will become BBC Morning Live's permanent presents alternating alongside Gethin every Monday to Wednesday.

Gethin Jones will continue to present four to five shows a week.

Kym Marsh will present on Thursdays, while a host of brilliant guest presenters including Sara Cox, Kimberley Walsh, Gaby Roslin and Rav Wilding will co-host regularly.

BBC One are extended its running time from 45 minutes to 75 minutes, running from 9:30am to 10:45am every weekday.

ITV's Good Morning Britain runs from 6am, Lorraine picks up the show at 9am, This Morning then runs from 10am to 12:30pm and Loose Women airs for an hour at 12:30pm until 1:30pm.

And it appears Gethin has had complications since the operation as he was spotted sporting the supportive wear

He cut a causal figure in a black padded jacket and black jeans, while donning the piece of equipment over his attire on his left leg

Gethin appeared to be limping and struggling to walk across the street

This Morning 'could face losing the daytime TV crown' as its rival competitors BBC Morning Live aims to dominate ratings (presenters pictured on BBC Morning Live)

The ITV breakfast show has won 18 National Television Award for Best Daytime Show and since Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield left the show, BBC could now be in with stealing the spotlight (Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary pictured)

Gethin is a regular host on BBC's Morning Live which he presents four to five times a week

Gethin was previously engaged to Katherine Jenkins before the couple separated in December 2011 following a five-year relationship (pictured together in 2010)

Gethin's last known relationship was with German underwear model Katja Zwara

Gethin was famously engaged to fellow Welsh star Katherine Jenkins before the couple separated in December 2011 following a five-year relationship.

Speaking in 2014, mezzo-soprano Katherine claimed it was Gethin who initiated their split, shortly before she embarked on a world tour.

She: told Wales Online: 'At the end of 2011 when Gethin and I broke up, the reality of it was that about two weeks later I had to go on a UK tour where every night I'm singing songs of heartbreak and every day just trying to find the energy to cope let alone going on stage and understand his reason for doing it.

'Meanwhile everybody else is under the impression it was my decision, my ambition, I wanted to take over the world. It was so far from the truth.'

While Katherine has since married painter and filmmaker Andrew Levitas, with whom she raises two children, Gethin's last known relationship was with German underwear model Katja Zwara.

The couple separated in 2018 after a year of dating, with a source confirming to The Sun: 'Gethin and Katja remain pals but things just didn't quite work out in the end.

'They split last month and have gone their separate ways.'

Gethin also had a brief relationship with TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh before the couple amicably parted ways in 2014.
The second series of Vigil has come under fire from eagle-eyed viewers who have criticised the BBC drama for its portrayal of the 'British Air Force' after it returned to screens on Sunday.

The series follows multiple unexplained fatalities at a Scottish military facility, with actress Suranne Jones, 45, reprising her role as DCI Amy Silva and co-star Rose Leslie, 36, playing DS Kirsten Longacre, with their characters tasked with uncovering the cause.

The pair enter the closed ranks of the air force in Scotland and the Middle East, where they face the deadly warfare of tomorrow as they fight for their own uncertain future.

While the series features the 'Air Force' and does not claim to portray the Royal Air Force, some viewers were unhappy after spotting what they deemed to be inaccuracies.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one Royal Air Force veteran expressed their disappointment at the 'unforgivable inaccuracies' in the opening episode.

The second series of Vigil has come under fire from eagle-eyed viewers who have criticised the BBC drama for its portrayal of the 'British Air Force' (Suranne Jones, seen as Amy Silve, and Romola Garai, seen as Eliza Russell, on the show)

While the series features the 'Air Force' and does not claim to portray the Royal Air Force, some viewers were unhappy after spotting what they deemed to be inaccuracies (L-R: Rose Leslie as DI Kirsten Longacre and Suranne Jones as DCI Amy Silva)

In one scene, an officer is seen wearing the blue-grey beret of the RAF but they had on an undistinguished metal badge instead of the embroidered badge an RAF officer would wear.

The viewer wrote: 'Hopefully #Vigil will improve but as a Royal Air Force Veteran I resent the unforgivable inaccuracies, e.g. dropping Royal off the name incorrect cap badges, failures in dress code, just to list a few. It had the potential to be a gripping drama but so far its pants.'

Another viewer questioned a machine gun drone which seemingly had no source of ammunition: '#Vigil oh dear! Watched a few minutes; Drones with fixed position cameras, machine-gun drone with no source of ammo, Command aware of bandit drones but do not take cover / protect their high-status visitor, Air Marshal left like a fish out of water, mouth open & staring. Bye!'

Elsewhere, someone else called out the accuracy of the uniforms and rank insignia, writing: '#BBC on #Vigil proving that they can not only get naval uniforms and rank insignia wrong in series 1 they can also get it completely wrong for the RAF in series 2 as well! Perhaps it's done on purpose to show us it's supposed to be a comedy?'

While someone else thought the quality of the uniforms could be improved, noting that a Wing Commander character was wearing the incorrect beret badge.

They posted: 'I see #Vigil has skimped on the uniform budget. 3 minutes in and Im having OCD fits of the wing commanders decided non-officer beret badge.'

Meanwhile, another viewer with experience in the Royal Air Force insisted their Commanding Officer would not have stood for the way the officers were wearing their blue jackets.

'Great episode- BUT the blue jackets the Air Force Officers wore are NEVER, EVER WORN LIKE THAT! My CO used to shout - Its not a cardigan- zip it up or take it off"!', they shared.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one Royal Air Force veteran expressed their disappointment at the 'unforgivable inaccuracies' in the opening episode

And the choice of lavish cars used in the episode was criticised by another viewer: '#Vigil Is she driving a BMW X7 ? .... blimey. Join the Police Force. Is he driving a Range Rover? Join the RAF! I hope you enjoyed the careers' advice.'

While speaking at a Q&A event at the BFI in London ahead of the release of the second series of Vigil, creator Tom Edge and executive producer Jake Lushington addressed a question about the research that went into the production.

Tom said: 'On both seasons of the show we've been lucky to have really good experts, people who've done the roles and who've served, for instance, in some places in the Middle East as part of RAF joint ventures. We take that seriously.

'Sometimes, we get pushback, "Oh, you've got the buttons wrong", but we actually have to get the buttons wrong for the copyright.'

Jake added: 'If you really look at the insignias, it says British Air Force, rather than Royal Air Force.

'Because we are a drama, we fictionalise intentionally and sometimes people think that's a mistake but we've done that so the audience can have some point of difference from a documentary.

'But beyond that, we try and do as much research as possible and sometimes they won't be able to tell us things but we can ask if we're right or not.'

The first series of Vigil was the UKs most-watched new drama launch since Bodyguard in 2018, attracting over 13 million viewers. Series one won the International Emmy and secured a BAFTA nomination for Best Drama Series.

Suranne Jones has been branded phenomenal in her return to the role as Detective Chief Inspector Amy Silva for the second series (Suranne, left, pictured with Rose Leslie, right, as Kirsten Longacre in the show)

And Suranne Jones has been branded phenomenal in her return to the role as Detective Chief Inspector Amy Silva for the second series.

The Manchester-born actress has been praised for her chemistry with on-screen love interest Detective Sergeant Kirsten Longacre, with many dubbing her acting 'incredible' and the story 'thrilling'.

Season one was a cat-and-mouse thriller set aboard a Royal Navy nuclear submarine mired in espionage and murder, where Jones excelled as DCI Amy Silva, a detective-turned-action hero who battled evil submariners and her own sense of claustrophobia, and the gripping series won an International Emmy for Best Drama Series and was nominated for a BAFTA.

Now, there is no locked room element to the mystery, but instead DCI Silva and DS Longacre are transported to a Royal Air Force base in Scotland.

When a training exercise at the fictional Dundair air base to show off an attack drone to foreign buyers goes terribly wrong, several military personnel are killed.

Dougray Scott, Romola Garai and Alastair Mackenzie bring added star power as Air Force officers drawn in to the subsequent police investigation.

Viewers have been quick to brand Suranne a 'modern day Anne Lister' referring to her Gentleman Jack character.

'I watched the first brilliant episodes of Vigil season 2. Gosh I miss Suranne Jones,' said one.

'That episode of #Vigil was phenomenal!! Its so good to have Amy and Kirsten back. Ive missed Silvacre so much. Loving how theyre relationship has progressed Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie have amazing chemistry together'.

'Thought Vigil was pretty good. I can see the story developing nicely. Think its main strength though is the acting/partnership of Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie,' said another.

'This is so modern day Anne Lister. Honestly im screaming crying throwing up' said one.

'I thought #Vigil was very good...#BBC,' wrote another.
I'm A Celebrity quitters Jamie Lynn Spears and Grace Dent detail their emotional experiences in the Australian jungle during the Coming Out episode on Wednesday.

The former campmates will join the rest of the cast including Jungle King Sam Thompson, 31, in their first sit-down interviews since fleeing Australia.

Food critic Grace, 50, recalled her toughest moments and confessed: 'Leaving my campmates and the girls will be the greatest regret of my life.'

Her key takeaways from the experience were: 'Take risks, say yes, and the things that you think you can't do, you can.'

Meanwhile, Britney Spears' sister, 32, admitted: 'The first few days in camp were tough for me.'

I'm A Celebrity quitters Jamie Lynn Spears and Grace Dent detail their emotional experiences in the Aussie jungle during the Coming Out episode on Wednesday

Food critic Grace, 50, recalled her toughest moments and confessed: 'Leaving my campmates and the girls will be the greatest regret of my life.'

Speaking about her fellow campmates, she added: 'These wonderful humans just scooped me up and brought out a side of me that I just didn't think that I had.'

And it seemed as though her campmates left a lasting impression, as Jamie Lynn revealed: 'I think I wanna move to the UK, I'd like them to adopt me' adding: 'I've literally made life-long friends.'

Grace became the first contestant to quit the show this year amid mounting speculation about her ill appearance, with sources telling MailOnline being voted for another gruesome Bushtucker Trial 'pushed her over the edge.'

Jamie Lynn followed her exit citing 'medical issues', leaving the series in crisis after two stars opted to leave for the first time in the show's 21-year history.

Speaking about the pair returning for the show's reunion episode following their shock exits, a TV source told MailOnline: 'Jamie and Grace will be speaking for the first time since they quit life in the jungle.

'Viewers will finally get to hear first-hand the highs and lows experienced by both of the stars, who are yet to open about the reasons behind their shock departures.

'Grace goes into detail about the struggles she faced while Jamie hints that the love and admiration she has for her campmates will see her travel to the UK for a reunion.'

On Sunday evening, Sam was crowned King of the Jungle, beating heavyweight boxer Tony Bellew to the title.

The former campmates will join the rest of the cast including Jungle King Sam Thompson , 31, in their first sit-down interviews since fleeing Australia

Britney Spears' sister followed Grace's exit citing 'medical issues', leaving the series in crisis after two stars opted to leave for the first time in the show's 21-year history

A source told MailOnline: 'Grace goes into detail about the struggles she faced while Jamie hints that the love and admiration she has for her campmates will see her travel to the UK for a reunion'

The ITV final was watched by a peak audience of 7.6million and the series has reached over 25million viewers including across streaming platform ITVX.

Sam was congratulated by his co-stars including This Morning host Josie Gibson who presented him with the floral jungle crown.

The cast have since been enjoying their freedom and luxuries, sunbathing in Australia, with Sam singing JLS hits alongside Marvin Humes.

Celebrating the end of the series with a party, the celebrities were reportedly 'tame' and opted out of a late night in favour of catching up with loved ones at home.

Shortly after her return to the UK, Grace shared a post with her followers saying she was 'overwhelmingly sad' over having to leave the show earlier than she anticipated.

She explained that her 'wet' time in the jungle with no contact from friends and family left her in appreciation of 'normal life', which she now sees as 'beautiful.'

Grace added: 'I didn't go out as I planned or I wanted, but I did what I could, and I did it in a siren red gel manicure without chipping a nail. I didn't cry when I took off my bra to find a family of mealworms living in the right cup. At some level, this *must* be an achievement.'

Shortly after her return to the UK, Grace shared a post with her followers saying she was 'overwhelmingly sad' over having to leave the show earlier than anticipated

On Sunday evening, Sam was crowned King of the Jungle, beating heavyweight boxer Tony Bellew to the title

Meanwhile, Jamie, who jetted back to the US after leaving the camp, described starring in I'm A Celeb as an 'incredibly special time' saying her co-stars were some of the 'best people' she had ever met.

Jamie struggled from the get-go because she missed her children and the wet weather conditions also made her time in the jungle harder to cope with.

Although her reason for leaving has not been officially revealed, Jamie spent a lot of her time on the show in tears and said being away from her two daughters became overwhelming.

I'm A Celebrity... Coming Out will air on Wednesday 13th December, 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Oprah Winfrey covered up her newly slender figure in a purple sparkling coat on Tuesday.

The media mogul, 69, had on a pale lavender satin top and slacks underneath that looked perfect ahead of the holidays.

The former talk show queen was helping light up the Empire State Building in New York City with the cast of her movie The Color Purple.

The iconic structure will be bathed in purple lights in honor of the film.

Oprah, who starred in the original 1985 film based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize winning novel by the same name, is a producer on the new musical version which will open in theaters Christmas day.

This comes after the mogul debuted a much thinner frame in a skintight lilac dress at The Color Purple premiere held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 6 in Los Angeles.

Oprah Winfrey covered up her newly slender figure in a purple sparkling coat on Tuesday. The media mogul, 69, had on a pale lavender satin top and slacks underneath that looked perfect ahead of the holidays

This comes after the mogul debuted a much thinner frame in a skintight lilac dress at The Color Purple premiere held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 6 in LA

Her dark, shoulder length hair was styled in loose waves and the O Magazine publisher accessorized with dangling earrings and she wore round frameless glasses.

The 1619 Project producer wore the same slacks and top when she and The Color Purple star Danielle Brooks, 34, stopped by CBS Mornings for a chat about the film with Oprah's bestie Gayle King.

The interview began with a Zoom call Oprah made to Danielle letting her know she had won the part of Sofia, in the film.

The actress received a Tony nomination for her portrayal of the character of Broadway, but still had to go through a lengthy audition process with director Blitz Bazawule.

'In that moment, I knew I could feel it in every inch of my body my life was about to change,' the Orange is the New Black star admitted.

Oprah, who played Sofia in the 1987 film directed by Steven Spielberg said, 'I wanted to make the call myself because Sofia had been such an iconic part of me and The Color Purple has been such an amazing part of my life.'

Oprah earned an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the feisty woman who overcame brutality and racism.

Danielle, who showed off her curves in a purple slip dress over a long sleeve black body suit, received a Golden Globe nomination Monday for her performance. It is her first film for a major studio.

The media mogul, 69, was stunning in a sequined coat in shades of lavender, purple and yellow for a promotional event at the top of the Empire State Building in New York for The Color Purple

She was joined by The Color Purple director Blitz Bazawule, and stars Danielle Brooks, Taraji P Henson and Fantasia Barrino to pull a lever which will bathe The Empire State Building in purple lights in honor of the movie's red carpet premiere in New York

Oprah wore the same slacks and blouse when she and Danielle stopped by CBS Morning to discuss the film. Danielle stars as Sofia in the musical version of the film. Oprah originated the part in the 1987 movie directed by Steven Spielberg

Danielle received a Tony nomination for her portrayal of Sofia in the Broadway musical and was cast to play her in the film. Oprah received her first Oscar nomination for her work in the 1987 film

During the interview, Oprah revealed she was around for much of the filming but wanted to make sure she was around when Danielle had to perform in one of the films most emotional scenes.

'I made it my business to be there the day of the "you told Harpo to beat me scene" because that has been such a moment and it felt, literally, like passing the baton,' she explained.

At the Empire State Building Oprah and Danielle were joined by the director along with stars Taraji P Henson, who stars as Shug Avery and Fantasia Barrino, who took over the role on Broadway from April 2007 until January 2008.

The group received replicas of The Empire State Building to commemorate the day

Danielle, who showed off her curves in a purple slip dress over a long sleeve black body suit, received a Best Supporting Golden Globe nomination Monday for her performance. Fantasia, who bundled up in black, received a Best Actress nod from the Golden Globes

Oprah served as a producer on the film based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize winning novel with music from the Tony winning Broadway production

The Color Purple opens in theaters December 25

Taraji, 53, looked stylish in a mauve one shoulder sweater dress with a matching coat and boots. Her long, dark hair was styled in a high pony tail.

Fantasia, 39, displayed her shapely legs in a black mini-skirt, sheer stocking and black pumps under a black wool coat with a faux fur collar. Her hair was styled in a high bun.

Blitz, 41, looked handsome in a black suit and purple turtleneck shirt with a matching kufi cap.

All four received replicas of The Empire State Building to commemorate the day.
Adwoa Aboah looked effortlessly stylish as she was spotted leaving Emily Ratajkowski's apartment in New York City on Tuesday.

The Top Boy actress, 31, rocked low-waist distressed denim with a chunky red belt, and wore a pair of bright yellow trainers.

The model opted for a light aquamarine knit jumper teamed with a brown bomber jacket.

Adwoa displayed her sense of fashion as she carried a red bag from The Row, and accessorised with bracelets as well as an array of silver earrings and piercings.

The British-Ghanaian stunner kept her auburn tresses in dreadlocks braid with a sleek bun, while showcasing her fresh-faced natural looks with a final touch of cherry lipstick.

Adwoa Aboah looked effortlessly stylish as she was captured leaving Emily Ratajkowski's apartment in New York City on Tuesday

The Top Boy actress, 31, rocked low-waist distressed denim with a chunky red belt, and wore a pair of bright yellow trainers

She seemed relaxed while making her way out of the building, after she enjoyed Emily's company for a daily stroll over the weekend.

When not working, the actress and activist lives in a recently re-modeled Victorian era home in West London which was featured in the September issue of Architectural Digest.

She also stars in the Netflix series Top Boy, a gritty drama about two London drug dealers who apply their trade in an East London housing complex.

In the hit Netflix series, Adwoa plays Becks who is Jaq's love interest, played by Jasmine Jobson.

The pair were lauded for their role in season four, in which their characters were attacked by a homophobic group of teens while on a date one evening.

Top Boy fans praised the 'powerful' ending to the last ever series that landed on Netflix last week.

When not working, the actress and activist lives in a recently re-modeled Victorian era home in West London which was featured in the September issue of Architectural Digest (pictured in September at Perfect Magazine x Valentino LFW party)

In the gritty crime drama Top Boy Adwoa plays Becks who is Jaq's love interest, played by Jasmine Jobson (left); the pair were lauded for their role in season four, in which their characters were attacked by a homophobic group of teens while on a date one evening

The show originally aired in 2011 on Channel 4 before the station dropped it after two seasons.

Following interest from Candian rapper Drake, the show was revived by Netflix in 2018, with the rapper and his team serving as executive producers.

Set on the fictional east London estate of Summerhouse, Top Boy is a crime drama that takes an unflinching look at the raw, dangerous world of drug dealing and the lives of those who live in the ends.
Fred Sirieix weighs in on his jungle feud with Josie Gibson during the I'm A Celebrity... Coming Out show which airs Wednesday.

The First Dates star, 51, struggled to pass over the reins to the This Morning star, 38, after she was voted in by camp leader Nella Rose to become camp chef.

Since the duo have left the jungle, the pair have completely squashed any animosity following their cooking disputes.

But now in the Coming Out reunion show, Fred, as always, has detailed his truth thoughts to fiancee Fruitcake as they headed to the hotel upon his exit.

Speaking about their feud en route, he said: 'When you cook in camp, you have to cook fast because everyone is very hungry and you have to know when to cook the ingredients to get the best out of them.

Fred Sirieix, 51, weighs in on his jungle feud with Josie Gibson during the I'm A Celebrity ... Coming Out show which airs Wednesday

The First Dates star struggled to pass over the reins to the This Morning star after she was voted in by camp leader Nella Rose to become camp chef - which caused a lot of tension between the pair at dinner time

'I'm just watching a car crash in real time and the thing that makes it worse is she doesnt listen.'

Fred ordered his driver to stop off at McDonalds for a double sausage egg McMuffin with cheese, before arriving at the hotel.

Fred was greeted by everyone with open arms, giving Nella a big hug and he told Reggie, Josie's son, his mummy loved him before going to his hotel room.

Once inside, Fred was treated to spa bath overlooking the Gold Coast skyline in his hotel room and soon stripped off to have a relaxing bath.

After coming out of the jungle, Fred has said he is on the search to find Josie her man.

Speaking after he left the jungle on Sunday's show, becoming the third celebrity to lose the public's vote, Fred said: 'We talked a lot about Josie's love life and I am on the search for a man for her.'

As the host of the Channel 4 match-making show, First Dates, Fred makes a living out of pairing hopeful singles together and suggested single mother Josie should appear on the show.

He said: 'There are two ways to go. We can go for First Dates because we are going to be filming again.

But now in the Coming Out reunion show, Fred, as always, has detailed his truth thoughts to fiancee Fruitcake as they headed to the hotel upon his exit

Speaking about their feud en route, he said: ' When you cook in camp, you have to cook fast because everyone is very hungry and you have to know when to cook the ingredients to get the best out of them'

He added: 'I'm just watching a car crash in real time and the thing that makes it worse is she doesnt listen.'

Fred was greeted by everyone with open arms, giving Nella a big hug and he told Reggie, Josie's son, his mummy loved him before going to his hotel room

'But I think I need to fast forward this and I need to think about my friends, because she does not want to be with a celebrity, understandably.

'I am thinking about my friends and who I could match her with.'

Josie's last known relationship was with the father of her child, Terry Bond, whom she broke up with four months after five-year-old Reggie was born the pair had known each other since they were 17 and reconnected briefly during the pandemic.

Fred continued: 'She is very easygoing, her son is her priority, and she is very big with her work I know exactly the type of man she likes but I need to think who I am going to introduce her to.

'She is busy and she does not have time to waste because it is either Reggie or it is work but also, I had a long conversation with her, as a mum it was very difficult for her.

'There was this very strong New Zealand guy and she said, 'Oh you New Zealand guys are big and strong,' and I was thinking, she likes a man to be a man, not a skinny one like me, she likes a strong one.'

It comes after Fred spoke out on his dispute with Josie after viewers accused him of 'misogyny'.

The TV star became the third campmate to be voted off the show on Tuesday's episode after being embroiled in a 'sexism' row when the role of camp cook was passed on from him to Josie, with viewers claiming he was 'controlling' the This Morning host when she attempted to make dinner.

Josie has been put in the hands of professionals when it comes to finding love as her former I'm a Celebrity co-star and First Dates' Maitre'd Fred says he is on the search to find her a man

Speaking after he left the jungle on last night's show, becoming the third celebrity to lose the public's vote, Fred said: 'We talked a lot about Josie's love life and I am on the search for a man for her'

As the host of the Channel 4 match-making show, First Dates, Fred makes a living out of pairing hopeful singles together and suggested single mother Josie, 38, should appear on the show

The This Morning presenter - a single mum - previously revealed her sadness at jetting off to Australia leaving son Reggie (seen together)

Fred appeared to have put his feud with Josie behind him as he greeted her son Reggie with a warm hug after his elimination from I'm A Celebrity on Tuesday

While Fred had attempted to defend his in his post-show interview with Ant and Dec, he has now admitted he had to clear the air with his mother, who had scolded him over his 'unacceptable' behaviour.

Speaking on Wednesday's This Morning, he confessed: 'I spoke to my mum and she said 'Frederick' - she calls me that when she's upset - 'what did you do with Josie? Why are you telling her what to do?'

'I got a telling off from my mum she said it's unacceptable and she didn't want me to do it again... she was mad!'

Fred continued: 'In all fairness, the meals Josie cooked were good.

'She could cook the meal on the day but I was concerned with how she would use and recycle the bones, vegetables and peels so we could make stock and improve the day after.'

I'm A CelebrityGet Me Out Of Here! Coming Out Wednesday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX
Amber Turner turned up the heat as she posed in racy lingerie for a slew of sultry Instagram snaps on Tuesday.

The TOWIE sensation, 30, sent fans wild as she showed off her jaw-dropping physique and ample cleavage in the sizzling co-ord.

The actress posed up a storm in the mirror snaps capturing her show-stopping look, giving fans a glimpse of her photoshoot for Nikki Intimates Lingerie.

Amber proudly promoted the UK lingere brand, of which she is an ambassador and model, displaying her sun-kissed tan in the daring snaps.

The English bombshell sizzled in a nude and black lace lingerie set, with a busty bra and matching underwear as well as sexy sheer stockings attached to suspenders.

Amber Turner, 30, turned up the heat as she posed in racy lingerie for a slew of sultry Instagram snaps on Tuesday

The English bombshell sizzled in a nude and black lace lingerie set, teamed with sexy sheer stockings attached to suspenders from Nikki Intimates Lingerie

She accessorised with dainty bracelets, and rocked her long golden locks in an impeccable blow-dry - ready to dazzle for the camera.

The TOWIE favourite gave a sultry look as she posed for her latest post, flaunting a glamorous make-up palette including rouge lipstick and a dark smokey-eyes, contrasting her stunning blue eyes.

She penned: 'BTS at my @nikkiintimates Christmas shoot.'

Amber teased her brand-new partnership with Nikki Intimates last month, posing in the same lingerie set for a series of racy clips from her Instagram page.

Without revealing her upcoming collaboration, Amber teased fans in the caption and wrote: 'Can you guess who I'm shooting for?'

It comes after Amber admitted she was 'torn' about rekindling her romance with ex Dan Edgar in the series finale of The Only Way Is Essex.

The couple were one of the strongest in the reality series, but broke up amid rumours of Amber cheating a few months ago.

Amber has previously confessed she wishes she could turn back the clock and even told Dan's mum she'd 'marry him tomorrow.'

Amber teased her partnership with Nikki Intimates earlier in November, posing in the same lingerie set for a series of racy clips from her Instagram page

It comes after Amber admitted she was 'torn' about rekindling her romance with ex Dan Edgar in the series finale of TOWIE (Amber pictured with Dan in November 2022)

Both Amber and Dan have been faced with cheating rumours, yet Amber herself has never admitted any wrongdoing

Amber admitted: 'I feel really torn about what to do.''It is like I am protecting myself because I don't want to fully allow myself to get hurt and think I want to get back with him if he basically tells me to do one and that's me be heartbroken again.

'I don't know where Dan's head is at. I honestly feel so confused.'

When asked by Chloe Meadows whether she regrets breaking up with Dan, Amber replied 'I don't know,' admitting 'I am scared to think about that right now.'

It has been a rollercoaster ride for the couple who appeared to be settling down after they moved in together and bought their dog Oliver.

Both Amber and Dan have been faced with the brunt of cheating rumours, yet Amber herself has never admitted any wrongdoing.

Elsewhere in the episode Dan opened up about his unbreakable bond with Amber in a heart to heart with his ex-girlfriend.

He said: 'We have been in situations around each other that are not helping either of us. We have got ties we can't ignore, things that keep contact there.

'Obviously we care about each other, but so much has gone on and we have got to remember why we split up.

He continued: 'I have been more open with you than I have with anyone in my life. We are drawn to each other naturally because there is a lot of love there but we can't get caught up in how fun it can be.

'I care when you are upset but I can't ignore everything that happened. I really didn't want it to go this way. I want to be fine around you.'

He then confessed: 'I wish you felt like this four months ago

'There is a lot of love there still. There are things I don't show people but the relationship is done.

'We are both to blame at different points. We are going our separate ways.'
Cardi B's estranged husband Offset looked in great spirits amid his marital split as he enjoyed a cozy chat with glamorous model London Perry at Kanye West's album listening party in Miami on Tuesday.

Offset, 31, who shares two kids with Cardi B, 30, smiled as he greeted London - who boasts 15000 Instagram followers - onstage.

The pair smiled as they chatted to one another, with London looking stunning in a green and black leather jacket, worn over a white bodycon dress.

She accessorized with a Louis Vuitton handbag as she mingled at the soiree.

The pair were seen making their way through the crowds together at the star-studded event.

Cardi B's estranged husband Offset looked in great spirits amid his marital split as he enjoyed a cozy chat with glamorous model London Perry at Kanye West's album listening party in Miami on Tuesday

Offset, 31, who shares two kids with Cardi B, 30, smiled as he greeted London - who boasts 15000 Instagram followers - onstage

Cardi B confirmed that she had separated from Offset during an Instagram Live session that took place on Sunday night; seen in May

Cardi B confirmed that she had separated from Offset during an Instagram Live session that took place on Sunday night.

According to E! News, the rapper told her fans that she had 'been single for a minute now' and admitted that her hesitation to reveal the news was because she did not 'know how to tell the world.'

The performer - whose estranged husband was alleged to have cheated on her with Chrisean Rock - remained optimistic about her future, however, and told her fans that she was 'curious for a new life, for a new beginning.'

The Bodak Yellow rapper then stated that she was 'excited' about her new stage in life.

Eagle-eyed fans noticed that Cardi (born Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar) and 31-year-old Offset (born Kiari Kendrell Cephus) both unfollowed each other last week.

The rapper shared a cryptic Instagram story post where she revealed, 'You know sometimes you just outgrow relationships.'

She added in the next story post, 'I'm tired of protecting people's feelings... I GOTTA PUT MYSELF FIRST.'

Just days earlier she was seen at a Balenciaga party in West Hollywood, just hours after making her fashion runway debut at the brand's Fall 2024 Fashion Show.

Just an hour before Cardi's cryptic posts, Offset added one of his own, sharing a clip from the 1983 Al Pacino classic Scarface.

The title character is alone in a huge bathtub as the clip begins with him saying, 'Hey, f**k you, man! Who put this thing together? Me. That's who. Who do I trust? Me.'

While it's unclear if that was aimed at Cardi, he hasn't posted anything since his wife's IG story posts.

This certainly wouldn't be the first time the couple has been on the outs throughout their tumultuous relationship.

Eagle-eyed fans noticed that the Cardi (born Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar) and 31-year-old Offset (born Kiari Kendrell Cephus) both unfollowed each other earlier this month; seen in 2020

The news comes just a week after a rather cryptic Instagram story post where she revealed, 'You know sometimes you just outgrow relationships'

They reportedly started dating in January 2017, the same month they released a song together called Lick; pictured in September

The couple reportedly met at an 'industry event' in 2016, with Cardi B recalling in a November 2017 Twitter video, 'He was very consistent. He really wanted to talk to me.'

They reportedly started dating in January 2017, the same month they released a song together called Lick.

Cardi shared a photo of them on her Instagram during the Super Bowl, referring to the Migos rapper as, 'my friend you know what Im saying?'

Offset later revealed that the Super Bowl was their first real date, with the couple sharing a kissing Instagram snap on Valentine's Day 2017.

While Cardi refused to confirm she was even dating Offset that summer, she dropped some not-so-subtle marriage hints at the VMAs in late August 2017.

Less than a month later, the couple secretly married in Fulton County, Georgia, though it was not publicly revealed until June 2018.

Offset proposed to Cardi on stage in October 2017 - despite already being legally married - though in January 2018, rumors surfaced that not only had Offset cheated on Cardi, but he had made a sex tape with another woman.

Cardi defended her decision to stay with Offset in February 2018, stating, 'Its not right, what he f***ing didbut people dont know what I did, cause I aint no angel.'

Pregnancy rumors swirled just weeks later, with Cardi confirming she's expecting while performing on Saturday Night Live, with the couple welcoming their first child Kulture in June 2018.

After months of cheating rumors, Cardi revealed in December 2018 that she had split with Offset, even denying rumors their entire relationship was 'fake.'

Later that month, while Cardi was performing at Rolling Loud, Offset took over her set in an effort to win her back, with signs reading, 'Take Me Back Cardi.'

A month later they had reconciled, with the couple in attendance at the Grammy's where Cardi became the first solo female artist to win Best Rap Album.

Less than a month later, the couple secretly married in Fulton County, Georgia, though it was not publicly revealed until June 2018; seen in September

Cardi confirmed Offset had cheated on her in December 2019, though the couple seemed to be going strong into 2020, before Cardi surprisingly filed for divorce in September 2020.

They seemingly got back together just months later, with each giving each other expensive cars for their respective birthdays, before welcoming their second child Wave Set in September 2021.

While the couple has seemingly been going strong since, she admitted in September that she didn't think they'd actually get married.

They celebrated their six-year wedding anniversary this past September as well.
Timothee Chalamet embarks on a heart-stopping quest to overthrow an empire in a blood-pumping third trailer for Dune: Part Two.

His character Prince Paul is sure to set fans' hearts aflutter in the ad, which features his romance with Zendaya's Chani.

The movie was originally supposed to come out this year on October 20, but on account of various delays it is now slated for release next March.

A couple of postponements were enacted in order to work around the release dates of other movies, and the final delay came because of the Hollywood strikes.

Now, with the strikes over, the next Dune movie is slated to bow in theaters on March 1 - and a thunderous new trailer has dropped to keep the fans on tenterhooks.

Timothee Chalamet embarks on a heart-stopping quest to overthrow an empire in a blood-pumping third trailer for Dune: Part Two

His character Prince Paul is sure to set fans' hearts aflutter in the ad, which features his romance with Zendaya's Chani

The movie was originally supposed to come out this year on October 20, but on account of various delays it is now slated for release next March

A couple of postponements were enacted in order to work around the release dates of other movies, and the final delay came because of the Hollywood strikes

Now, with the strikes over, the next Dune movie is slated to bow in theaters on March 1 - and a thunderous new trailer has dropped to keep the fans on tenterhooks

Zendaya's Chani is a tribal fighter who in Part One is a siren from Paul's dreams but who is now his comrade in an armed struggle of resistance.

Paul has united with Chani's desert tribe in their mutual battle against the imperial regime that oppressed her people and killed his father Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac).

Over the course of the storyline, what starts off as an uneasy alliance between Paul and the tribe becomes a joint heroic uprising.

At the start of the trailer, Chani is attempting to help Paul cope with disturbing dreams give him hazy, incoherent glimpses of the future.

'It's been awhile since you've had one of those nightmares,' Chani worries, as Paul notes that he is only receiving 'fragments' of information and 'nothing's clear.'

Paul is far from his wealthy, verdant planet of Caladan and is training with Chani's tribe in their hostile desert climate of Arrakis.

Despite its forbidding appearance and the threat posed by the colossal worms that wreak havoc through the landscape, Arrakis turns out to be a goldmine.

The planet is lusted after for its massive quantities of 'spice,' a substance that does double duty as fuel for interstellar travel and a hallucinogen.

Zendaya's Chani is a tribal fighter who in Part One is a siren from Paul's dreams but who is now his comrade in an armed struggle of resistance

Paul has united with Chani's desert tribe in their mutual battle against the imperial regime that oppressed her people and killed his father Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac)

Over the course of the storyline, what starts off as an uneasy alliance between Paul and the tribe becomes a joint heroic uprising

At the start of the trailer, Chani is attempting to help Paul cope with disturbing dreams give him hazy, incoherent glimpses of the future

'It's been awhile since you've had one of those nightmares,' Chani worries, as Paul notes that he is only receiving 'fragments' of information and 'nothing's clear'

Paul is far from his wealthy, verdant planet of Caladan and is training with Chani's tribe in their hostile desert climate of Arrakis

Despite its forbidding appearance and the threat posed by the colossal worms that wreak havoc through the landscape, Arrakis turns out to be a goldmine

Paul and Chani wrap their arms around each other and indulge in a passionate kiss as the winds blow the sand picturesquely around them

Paul, now on Arrakis, has joined forces with Chani's people, the Fremen, led by a warrior called Stilgar (Javier Bardem), to rebel against the empire that rules them all.

Laying out the common ground he has with the Fremen, he says: 'You've been fighting the Harkonnens for decades. My family's been fighting them for centuries.'

'Your blood comes from dukes and great houses,' Chani says as they sit together in the desert. 'Here, we're equal. What we do, we do for the benefit of all.'

Paul turns on the charm and says: 'Well, I'd very much like to be equal to you,' to which Chani flirts back: 'Maybe I'll show you the way.'

The pair of them wrap their arms around each other and indulge in a passionate kiss as the winds blow the sand picturesquely around them.

As they prepare for their revolt, the romance between Paul and Chani flourishes - and he grapples with the burden of having prophetic visions.

Against the backdrop of his love affair, Paul is also being trained by Stilgar in the skills necessary to become a warrior in Arrakis' brutal environment.

Meanwhile the Emperor (Christopher Walken) is arraying his own forces against the rebels - including the House Harkonnen, the old rivals of Paul's family.

Paul, now on Arrakis, has joined forces with Chani's people, the Fremen, led by a warrior called Stilgar (Javier Bardem), to rebel against the empire that rules them all

Laying out the common ground he has with the Fremen, he says: 'You've been fighting the Harkonnens for decades

As they prepare for their revolt, the romance between Paul and Chani flourishes - and he grapples with the burden of having prophetic visions

Meanwhile the Emperor (Christopher Walken) is arraying his own forces against the rebels - including the House Harkonnen, the old rivals of Paul's family

'Deal with this prophet,' the Emperor says, leaving open the question of how - and setting up the arrival of a deadly new asset

The warrior who is to be unleashed on the rebellion is a man whom even the Emperor's daughter Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) describes as 'psychotic'

The bloodthirsty Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard) enlists the help of his terrifying nephew Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler)

'Deal with this prophet,' the Emperor says, leaving open the question of how - and setting up the arrival of a deadly new asset.

The warrior who is to be unleashed on the rebellion is a man whom even the Emperor's daughter Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) describes as 'psychotic.'

The bloodthirsty Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard) enlists the help of his terrifying nephew Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler).

A stone-cold warrior with a fully shaved head and gleaming, predatory eyes, Feyd-Rautha promises to be a formidable enemy to Paul.

Feyd-Rautha is known for his fearsome skill in duels, shown in the trailer when he fights in an arena resembling the Colosseum.

He is also apparently notorious for his bloodlust, indicated in the trailer through the classic touch of having him lick a knife.

The two sides - the empire and the rebels - fling themselves into all-out war against teach other, fighting massive battles on a grand scale.

Supernatural creatures enter the equation, including colossal sandworms opening their cavernous maws as they burst from underground.

A stone-cold warrior with a fully shaved head and gleaming, predatory eyes, Feyd-Rautha promises to be a formidable enemy to Paul

Feyd-Rautha is known for his fearsome skill in duels, shown in the trailer when he fights in an arena resembling the Colosseum

The two sides - the empire and the rebels - fling themselves into all-out war against teach other, fighting massive battles on a grand scale

Supernatural creatures enter the equation, including colossal sandworms opening their cavernous maws as they burst from underground

Princess Irulan (pictured) turns for guidance to the forbidding Gaius Helen Mohiam (Charlotte Rampling), who acts as Truthsayer to the Emperor

Dune: Part Two, like its prequel, is directed by the acclaimed Denis Villeneuve whose films include Sicario, Arrival and Blade Runner 2049

Throughout the spiraling conflict, the sizzling romance continues between the characters played by teen idols Timothee and Zendaya.

'My allegiance is to you. Do you believe me?' Paul asks Chani. 'I want you to know, I will love you as long as I breathe.'

Chani, meanwhile, issues an equally romantic proclamation to her paramour: 'You will never lose me as long as you stay who you are.'

The war also unfolds alongside some philosophical questions about the nature of prophecy and the capacity of people for free will.

Paul, with his dreams, says: 'I see possible futures all at once, and in so many futures our enemies prevail - but I do see a way. There is a narrow way through.'

The war also unfolds alongside some philosophical questions about the nature of prophecy and the capacity of people for free will

During another scene, however, Chani agitates against the idea of being bound by predetermined fate: 'This prophecy is how they enslave us!'

Princess Irulan turns for guidance to the forbidding Gaius Helen Mohiam (Charlotte Rampling), who acts as Truthsayer to the Emperor.

'This is a form of power that our world has not yet seen,' the Truthsayer tells a frightened-looking Princess Irulan: 'the ultimate power.'

Dune: Part Two, like its prequel, is directed by the acclaimed Denis Villeneuve whose films include Sicario, Arrival and Blade Runner 2049.

Frank Herbert's original novel has become a sci-fi classic and was previously adapted in the 1980s by David Lynch, whose widely derided movie featured such stars as Kyle MacLachlan, Patrick Stewart, Jose Ferrer, Brad Dourif and Sting.
Strictly stars Neil Jones and Tillie Amartey were spotted arriving at White City members' bar in west London on Tuesday after taking part in a photoshoot.

The Waterloo Road star, 20, is one of the first three stars confirmed for the Strictly Come Dancing special and has already kicked off rehearsing with Neil.

The festive episode of the BBC dancing show will air on Christmas Day and is a beloved tradition for many.

Tillie looked typically stylish in a faux fur coat and beige trousers, teamed with Nike trainers.

Meanwhile Neil, 41, bundled up in a black trench coat and chunky boots while chatting on the phone.

Strictly stars Neil Jones and Tillie Amartey were spotted arriving at White City members' bar in London on Tuesday after taking part in a photoshoot

The Waterloo Road star, 20, is one of the first three stars confirmed for the Strictly Come Dancing special and has already kicked off rehearsing with Neil

It comes after the result of the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special was leaked online - weeks before the festive show is due to air.

The festive episode of the BBC dancing show is set to be broadcast on Christmas Day itself and is a beloved tradition for many.

The special was filmed last night at Elstree Studios, with celebrity contestants Danny Cipriani, Keisha Buchanan, Tillie Amartey, Sally Nugent, Dan Snow and Jamie Borthwick all taking to the dance floor .

The show is pre-recorded so one couple has already lifted the Christmas trophy.

But fans keen for a surprise at 6pm on December 25 when the show is available to stream will be disappointed, as the result has already leaked online.

The infamous Strictly mole secured the result from an audience member, describing the leak as an 'early Christmas present'.

Some fans were left disappointed, with one commenting: 'Seriously, can you not leave it for a few days.'

Tillie looked typically stylish in a faux fur coat and beige trousers, teamed with Nike trainers

It comes after the result of the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special was leaked online - weeks before the festive show is due to air

The Strictly ballroom will be transformed into a winter wonderland in a magical blend of dance, glitter, and cheer as six brand-new celebrities will battle to be crowned Christmas champion.

All four judges from this year's season are set to return as Craig Revel Horwood , Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas will take to the panel.

Last year, Corrie's Alexandra Mardell won the festive show with pro Kai Widdrington after earning a perfect score with their fun Quickstep.

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day.
Natalie Zea is featured prominently in the teaser for season three of the hit show LaBrea, which will return in January.

On Tuesday the first preview of the next season made its debut and Zea was all over the video with her saying, 'I just want my family back.'

This comes after claims she has stepped back from the NBC show.

Last week TVLine claimed she won't appear as much in the third season for unknown reasons.

Meanwhile, the teaser reveals the show is finally including what fans have wanted all along: dinosaurs.

Natalie Zea is featured prominently in the teaser for season three of the hit show LaBrea, which will return in January. Seen at the Emmys in 2022

Last year the Texas native was all over season two of La Brea.

She told E! News that things were heating up on the time-travel series.

'You certainly see more of the romance than you saw before,' shared the Justified vet. 'I don't want to give any spoilers away, but we did have to employ an intimacy consultant this year.'

And her co-star Eoin Macken, who plays her husband Gavin Harris, added, 'It gets very spicy.'

Zea's character also has her former lover, Levi Delgado, hanging around; he is played by Latin heartthrob Nicholas Gonzalez.

There certainly is a love triangle on the show, and the first episode of season two hinted that Zea's Eve will be spending a lot more time with Nicholas' Levi.

On Tuesday the first preview of the next season made its debut and Zea was all over the video with her saying, 'I just want my family back'

The blonde beauty also spoke to Variety about season two.

The Dirty Sexy Money vet shared there will a bigger focus on the bonds her character has.

'Were able to explore personal relationships a lot more than we were able to do when we were busy trying to survive, which were still doing,' she noted.

This comes after TVLine claimed she has stepped back from the NBC show. Zea with Jack Martin

Meanwhile, the teaser reveals the show is finally including what fans have wanted all along: dinosaurs

La Brea returns on January 9 for the final season

And in mid September 2022 Natalie spoke with NBC's California Live.

She said she wants to be included in Justified redo which is filming in Florida. The bombshell played Wynona on the show from 2010 until 2015.

'Whatever they want me to do I will do it, just call me and I will come running,' said the blonde.

Olyphant is making a return to his Justified show with the follow up Justified: City Primeval.

The limited series stars the 53-year-old actor as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens.

It has been seven years since the original show - which also starred Zea, Walton Goggins, Margot Martindale and Jacob Pitts - went off the air.

It picked up eight years after the U.S. Marshall left Kentucky and headed for Miami. He is now balancing his work life and being a father to a 14-year-old girl.

Zea has joined Timothy Olyphant for the reboot Justified: City Primeval

According to Deadline, 'A chance encounter on a Florida highway sends him to Detroit and he crosses paths with Clement Mansell, aka The Oklahoma Wildman, a violent sociopath whos already slipped through the fingers of Detroits finest once and wants to do so again.'

The Gone in 60 Seconds star will executive produce in addition to being the male lead star in the limited series.

Justified had a total of six seasons, beginning in 2010 and ending in 2015.

The hit show landed eight Emmy nominations throughout the six seasons, including one for Timothy for best actor in a drama in 2011.
Viewers of The Real Full Monty: Jingle Balls were left in hysterics during the second and final episode of this year's series as Paul Burrell was left very flustered after catching a stripper's underwear.

Former royal butler Paul, 65, and the other stars taking part in the show were treated to a performance by male striptease dancers The Dreamboys as the celebrities themselves prepared to whip off their clothes in front of a large audience to raise awareness of life-saving cancer checks.

The group were sat close to the stage at the New Wimbledon Theatre in London as The Dreamboys walked on stage in an effort to inspire them for their performance.

And the group were left stupefied when the strippers took every last item of their clothing off and stood totally naked on stage, with a stunned Paul looking lost after a member of the troupe threw their underwear to him.

Viewers took to Twitter to express their amusement at Paul's reaction, while others said they were shocked to have seen someone strip totally naked on television.

Viewers of The Real Full Monty: Jingle Balls were in hysterics on Tuesday as Paul Burrell was left very flustered after catching a stripper's underwear (Paul pictured with co-star Gemma Collins)

Former royal butler Paul, 65, and the other stars taking part in the show were treated to a performance by male striptease dancers The Dreamboys (pictured)

One person wrote: 'I was not expecting that!!! Evidently neither was Paul Burrell!'

Someone else joked: 'Burrell was nearly needing the defibrillator.'

And another viewer posted: 'Paul was not letting go of them pants.'

The scenes came moments after Paul buried his head in his hands after his co-star Pete Wicks, 35, informed him his naked picture had been leaked.

Former The Only Way Is Essex cast member Pete told Paul: 'You know you're a proper celebrity now? You've gone viral, you're all over the internet.

'Someone's got a picture and it's gone everywhere.'

As Paul's mouth dropped open with shock, Pete told him: 'At least you look good!'

A doubtful Paul responded: 'That's not a good look,' as Pete showed him the picture on his phone.

The group were left stupefied when the strippers took every last item of their clothing off and stood totally naked on stage

A stunned Paul looked lost after a member of the troupe threw their underwear to him, with he co-stars supporting him in the moment

Viewers took to Twitter to express their amusement at Paul's reaction, while others said they were shocked to have seen someone strip totally naked on television

Paul joked: 'It looks like something on the butcher's counter at Sainsbury's.'

Referring to Paul wearing a red and white Santa hat in the photo, he said: 'It looks like Santa's coming to town,' to which Pete quipped: 'It looks like Santa needs to empty his sack! Going to leave a little present under the tree, are you mate?'

Earlier in the episode Paul broke down into tears as he discussed the ongoing cancer treatment he was having while filming for the show.

Paul proudly announced he was given the 'all clear' from doctors after his long battle with prostate cancer last month.

But at the time of filming for The Real Full Monty, he was still undergoing treatment, with his husband Graham Cooper praising him for his strength while battling the disease.

Paul told Graham on the show: 'You know how it's affected me and I've cried all the way through this, you know.

The scenes came moments after Paul buried his head in his hands after his co-star Pete Wicks, 35 (right), informed him his naked picture had been leaked

Paul joked: 'It looks like something on the butcher's counter at Sainsbury's,' as he looked at the picture on Pete's phone

(L-R) Paul, Coleen Nolan, Pete Wicks and Ben Cohen broke into fits of giggles as they saw the picture of Paul

'I want to be strong because when people see this they will see, you can get through this.'

Graham replied: 'You've always, always put on a brave face,' before tearfully adding: 'I'm so proud of you. You've been brilliant.'

Paul announced he had been given the all-clear by doctors last month during an appearance on Lorraine.

He said: 'Well I'm happy to tell you I saw my consultant last week and she gave me the all clear.

'My number came down from 10 to something like 0.06, so it's good news and I'll continue with the hormone therapy, which is a bit of a pain because I put on a little bit of weight, I'm getting more emotional than usual and hot sweats.'

Paul was diagnosed with the disease last summer.

Paul admitted taking part in I'm A Celebrity All Stars 'literally saved my life' thanks to health tests before heading off to film the show in South Africa which later revealed he had cancer.

Earlier in the episode Paul broke down into tears as he discussed the ongoing cancer treatment he was having while filming for the show

At the time of filming, Paul was still undergoing treatment, with his husband Graham Cooper (pictured) praising him for his strength while battling the disease

Alongside eight other celebrities, Paul was in Kruger National Park in north-eastern South Africa, one of Africas largest game reserves to film for the first ever I'm A Celebrity series featuring previous stars of the jungle.

But after coming home to the UK, Paul was told the heartbreaking news he had cancer as a result of the health checks he had taken before his trip.

This year's The Real Full Monty: Jingle Balls stars included Diversity dancer Ashley Banjo, TV presenter Julia Bradbury, actress Sherrie Hewson, reality star Gemma Collins, Dancing on Ice professional skater Vanessa Bauer, Coronation Street and and Death in Paradise star Victoria Ekanoye, former royal butler Paul Burrell, ex England rugby player Ben Cohen, former TOWIE star Pete Wicks and actor Nick Collier, better known as Ella Vaday from RuPauls Drag Race UK.

Presenting duo Ashley and Loose Woman Coleen Nolan put the troupe through their paces as they prepared to perform a teasing routine before stripping in front of a large audience to raise awareness of life-saving cancer checks.
Lauren Goodger has announced that she will return to the cast of The Only Way Is Essex after an 11-year absence.

The influencer, 37, told OK! that she plans to return to the reality show in February and has already started thinking about potential storylines.

Lauren was part of the original 2010 line-up for the show, which focused on her long-term relationship with Mark Wright, and left in 2012 after their break up in series six.

She returned briefly in 2015 for The Only Way Is Essexmas and, looking to the future, said she wants to 'meet up with Amy Childs and go for lunch with the kids!'

In the time Lauren was gone, she became a mother to Larose, two, and Lorena who sadly passed away just after birth.

Lauren Goodger, 37, has revealed that she will return to the cast of The Only Way Is Essex following an 11-year absence

Lauren was part of the original 2010 line-up for the show, which focused on her long-term relationship with Mark Wright, and left in 2012 after their break up (both pictured in 2011)

In the time Lauren was gone, she became a mother to Larose, two, and Lorena, who sadly passed away just after birth, with ex-boyfriend Charles Drury, who is eleven years younger

Lauren shared both children with her ex-boyfriend Charles Drury, who is eleven years her junior.

Charles was charged with inflicting actual bodily harm on Lauren on August 4, 2022, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

He is also charged with engaging in 'controlling or coercive behaviour' against Lauren between August 1, 2020 and August 5, 2022.

Charles pleaded not guilty to the charges during a brief preliminary hearing at the court in the east London borough of Redbridge.

Judge Oscar Del Fabbro adjourned the case ahead of a further pre-trial hearing at the same court on February 12, 2024, followed by a trial, listed for five days, starting on March 18, 2024.

The two were seen together in November for the first time since the alleged assault on the day of Lorena's funeral.

Meanwhile, Lauren and Mark were childhood sweethearts and dated for ten years after meeting as teenagers. They got engaged on the show in 2011 but split for good five months later.

Mark is now married to actress Michelle Keegan, and the two have been together for over ten years.

Lauren returned briefly in 2015 for The Only Way Is Essexmas and, looking to the future, said she wants to 'meet up with Amy Childs and go for lunch with the kids!'

In series two, Lauren had an iconic furious row with ex Mark Wright as she pushed him into a swimming pool

In series two, Lauren had a famous furious row with ex Mark Wright as she pushed him into a swimming pool.

The fiery argument between the exes occurred after Mark failed to invite Lauren to his pool party in case she made guests feel uncomfortable.

Mark said: 'This is why you don't come to my parties,' to which Lauren fired back: 'Shut up!' and pushes him into the swimming pool to the screams of fellow partygoers.

Fans will also remember Lauren for her explosive rows on the show, including ending her friendship with Jessica Wright at Mario Falcone's birthday party.

And even though both probably wanted to sort things out and move on, it wasn't meant to be as the claws came out and insults flew.

When Lauren's good friend Frankie Essex encouraged her to go and talk to Jess, she agreed, but then things started to go downhill very quickly before the girls finally called time on their friendship.

It came after the tanning entrepreneur accused Jess and her family of ruining their relationship with her brother Mark.

Lauren was reported to have claimed if it wasn't for his family, she would still have a future with Mark.

Jessica told Lauren: ' I introduced you into my friends when i was 15 and you've always had an issue with me. I'm not interested, stay away from my family.'

Lauren answered: 'Say sorry for once in your life and grow up.'

Frankie the tried to get involved and told them both: 'Come on, what are you doing, you've know each other for so many years.'

Fans will also remember Lauren for her explosive rows on the show, including ending her friendship with Jessica Wright at Mario Falcone's birthday party

Looking angry and indignant and close to tears, Jessica told Lauren before walking out: ' l love you and care for you and all you do is throw it in my face. I don't want to know anymore, don't want it in my life, I want to go home.'

After Mark, Lauren dated Jake McClean on-and-off from 2012 to 2016. In July 2022, Jake tragically passed away in a Turkey car crash. His then-girlfriend Yazmin Oukhellou was also in the car, but she survived.

From 2016 to 2018 Lauren found love again with serial jailbird Joey Morrison.

On Channel 5's In Therapy, Lauren said: 'This is the weirdest relationship ever, but it's exciting and I think that's why I like it.'

She began dating Charles in 2020, and split from him after the alleged assault. She now insists they are platonically co-parenting, but has refused to rule out reconciling with him.
Even with the reduced target it will still make almost 7,000 a month in 2024

It comes as the company sold a record number of units in November: 4,393

Ford is halving production of its fully electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck due to falling demand for EVs.

The company's Michigan plant will produce 1,600 a week - half its 3,200 capacity - from January. The price of the truck was cut by around $10,000 in the summer and can now be bought for between around $50,000 and just under $100,000.

The decision to limit production - revealed in a memo to dealers seen by Automotive News - comes despite Ford claiming the Lightning is selling faster than ever before.

CEO Jim Farley said earlier this month that in November the company sold 4,393, a record for a single month. That is also more than it sold in the entire third quarter, according to company filings.

Ford has sold only 20,365 Lightnings so far in 2023, but that is still up from 13,258 in 2022.

Ford will halve its production of the F-150 Lightning from 3,200 a week next year to 1,600, according to a recent memo shared with dealers and seen by Automotive News

Ford CEO Jim Farley, pictured during the F-150 Lightning's launch in 2022, said earlier this month that in November it sold 4,393 units, a record for a single month

Based on 1,600 units a week, DailyMail.com analysis shows the company will still be producing around 6,950 trucks a month - well above even its current record-breaking sales.

Ford may be taking into account the widely held theory about electric vehicle sales - that they will dip once the few people that want them have bought them.

The automaker's memo to dealers indicated the updated target was spurred by 'changing market demand'.

'There are early adopters, and the early adopters have adopted,' Joe McCabe, president and CEO of automotive consultancy AutoForecast Solutions, recently told DailyMail.com.

Various automakers have announced in the second half of the year that they are looking to reduce spending on EV projects.

Ford has sold only 20,365 Lightnings so far in 2023, but that is still up from 13,258 in 2022. Pictured is its production line at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan

An exterior view of the Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center where the automaker produces the F-150 Lightning

Thanks in part to billions in subsidies enacted by President Biden, automakers launched ambitious projects to capture the market. Recently, poor EV sales despite those subsidies have forced car makers to reconsider.

Ford is not the only automaker to be experiencing issues with meeting electric vehicle sales targets.

It was reported earlier this week that Tesla is slashing the price of some of its best-selling vehicles in a last-minute push to boost sales before the end of the year.

When asked about the specific number of F-150 Lightnings Ford was planning on making next year a spokesperson for the company declined to comment, but did say it was continuing to 'match production to customer demand'.
Electric vehicle maker Kinetic Green on Monday said it is looking to play big in the electric two and three-wheeler space as it rolled out its all-new e-scooter ZULU in the domestic market.

The Made-in-India Fame-II compliant high-speed electric scooter comes at an introductory price starting from Rs 94,990 (ex-showroom, Mumbai), the company said.

The Pune-based company also announced a new brand identity as part of its commitment to sustainable mobility plans.

The all-new Zulu will offer Battery as a Subscription plans and a fast-charging, long-life lithium-ion battery with oil-cooled immersion technology, the company said.

Kinetic Green aims big with the launch of all-new e-scooter ZULU, the company said.

This is a significant moment for the Kinetic Green family and the EV industry at large. With the launch of our e-scooter Zulu, Kinetic Green is excited to announce that we will be developing and bringing to our customers a range of two and three-wheelers in the coming years, said Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Founder and CEO of Kinetic Green.

We are indeed excited to re-begin the 2-wheeler journey in this new avatar! In addition, our rebranding marks a momentous milestone in our pursuit of innovative and sustainable mobility solutions for the masses, she added.

The battery subscription model ensures that the customer does not pay for the battery upfront, as the customer can subscribe for the battery on a pay as you use model, reducing the initial purchase cost of the scooter and eventually, can also own the battery at the end of the subscription term, the company said.

This structure results in a reduction of more than 35 per cent in acquisition cost and great savings on running costs as well, the company said, adding the system is fully integrated with a mobile app for a seamless user experience.

With a range of 104 km and a city speed of 60 kmph, ZULU is powered by a 2.27 kWh (kilo-watt hour) lithium-ion battery capacity and is equipped with a portable charger, facilitating convenient charging at home.

The e-scooter also comes with a range of features such as front and rear disc brakes, under-seat storage, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), a digital speedometer, front storage space, a front bag hook, an auto power-cut charger, a USB port and a boot light, among others, Kinetic Green said.
Following is the timeline of events in a case in which the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the government's decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution, which bestowed a special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and said steps should be taken to conduct the election to the Assembly in the Union Territory by September 30 next year.

December 20, 2018: President's Rule imposed while exercising powers under Article 356 of the Constitution in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Subsequently extended on July 3, 2019.

August 5, 2019: Centre abrogates the provisions of Article 370, bestowing a special status upon the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

August 6, 2019: First petition challenging the presidential order scrapping Article 370 filed by advocate M L Sharma, who was later joined by another lawyer from Jammu and Kashmir, Shakir Shabir.

August 10, 2019: National Conference (NC), a prominent political party from Jammu and Kashmir, files a petition contending that the changes brought in the status of the state had taken away the rights of its citizens without their mandate.

August 24, 2019: Press Council of India moves the Supreme Court supporting the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir administration's decision to impose restrictions on communications.

August 28, 2019: Supreme Court issues notices to the Centre, Jammu and Kashmir administration on a plea moved by Kashmir Times editor for the removal of the restrictions imposed on journalists.

August 28, 2019: A bench headed by then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi refers matter to five-judge Constitution bench.

September 19, 2019: Supreme Court sets up five-judge Constitution bench to hear pleas challenging abrogation of Article 370.

March 2, 2020: Supreme Court declines to refer to larger seven-judge bench batch of petitions challenging constitutional validity of Centre's decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370.

April 25, 2022: Supreme Court agrees to consider listing after summer vacation pleas challenging Centre's decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 after one of the petitioners seeks urgent hearing in view of delimitation exercise being carried out in Jammu and Kashmir.

July 11, 2023: Supreme Court says it will commence day-to-day hearing from August 2 on petitions challenging abrogation of Article 370.

August 2, 2023: Supreme Court commences hearing on petitions challenging abrogation of Article 370.

September 5, 2023: Court reserves verdict on 23 petitions in the matter after hearing those for 16 days.

December 11, 2023: Supreme Court upholds government's decision to abrogate Article 370, says steps should be taken to conduct election to Assembly in Union Territory by September 30 next year.
After Chhattisgarh, the BJP on Monday dropped a big surprise as it announced Mohan Yadav (58), a leader of Other Backward Classes (OBC) and a three-time party MLA, as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.

The suspense over the third winning State, Rajasthan, continued as its anticipated Chief Minister's name is expected to be announced by Tuesday afternoon, according to BJP sources.

Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister-designate and BJP leader Vishnu Deo Sai will take oath, along with his Cabinet colleagues, on Wednesday at a ceremony in Raipur in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.

Yadav is an MLA from Ujjain Dakshin who won the 2023 Assembly polls by a margin of over 13,000 votes. He was the Higher Education Minister in the outgoing Shivraj Singh Chouhan Government. Chouhan has submitted his resignation to the Governor after Yadav was elected as the leader of the State legislative party paving the way for him to take over as the next CM of Madhya Pradesh.

Yadav has staked the claim to form the Government and the oath ceremony will be decided by the party in a day.

Yadav met Governor Mangubhai Patel in the evening and handed over a letter of support claiming to form next Government. Yadav was accompanied by outgoing Chief Minister Chouhan, State party chief VD Sharma, and the three Central observers to the Raj Bhavan.

According to BJP leaders, Yadav was elected as the BJP's legislature party leader in Madhya Pradesh at a meeting in Bhopal in presence of central observers.

Chouhan proposed the name of Yadav, for the top post at a meeting of the newly-elected legislators held in the evening in Bhopal in the presence of party's central observers.

During the meeting, BJP observers, including Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, BJP OBC Morcha president K Laxman and national secretary Asha Lakra discussed the names with the victorious MLA-elects.

Former Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who was fielded from Madhya Pradesh in the recently held State legislative Assembly elections, will be the new Speaker. According to the BJP, outgoing Finance Minister and two time MLA Jagdish Devda from Mandsaur and outgoing Public Relation Minister MLA Rajendra Shukla from Rewa have been elected as Deputy Chief Ministers. Devda was elected from Malhagarh by nearly 60,000 votes and Shukla from Rewa by around 21,000 votes.

The appointments end suspense over the identity of two of three Chief Ministers for the States the BJP won on December 3 as tribal leader and former Union Minister Vishnu Deo Sai was named Chhattisgarh Chief Minister on Sunday.

I am a small worker of the party. I thank all of you, the State leadership and the central leadership. With your love and support, I will try to fulfil my responsibilities, Yadav said after being named as the Chief Minister-elect. .

Yadav, who was not seen as among contenders for the CM post, is considered to be close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and is a three-time MLA and a prominent leader of OBCs, who account for more than 48 per cent of the State's population. Yadav is seen as a vocal Hindutva leader. Yadav is the first leader to become Chief Minister from the temple town of Ujjain where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dedicated the newly-constructed Mahakal Lok corridor last year.

His appointment as the Chief Minister-elect comes 10 days after the saffron party swept the Madhya Pradesh Assembly election by winning 163 of 230 seats, successfully beating anti-incumbency.

Now, of the five States that voted in November, only Rajasthan is without a Chief Minister; the Congress, which won Telangana, has installed Revanth Reddy in the top post and, in Mizoram, the fledgling Zoram People's Movement claimed an impressive win and Lalduhoma is Chief Minister. The BJP will now pick the new Chief Minister for Rajasthan after meeting with newly elected MLAs on Tuesday.

The BJP had contested the election for the first time in 20 years without a chief ministerial face in the Hindi heartland. With this, the BJP has reposed its faith in OBC leaders for the fourth time since 2003 when Uma Bharti was made the chief minister. After Bharti, Madhya Pradesh saw two more OBC CMs from the BJP  Babulal Gaur and Chouhan.
The common people on the streets of Jammu and Kashmir were 'upbeat and jubilant' after the apex court delivered its long-awaited verdict on Monday, upholding the abrogation of Article 370 and setting the stage for conducting the maiden Assembly polls by September 2024.

The common people refrained from discussing the politics surrounding the abrogation of Article 370; instead, they were keen on witnessing the 'dance of democracy.

Senior Advocate Sheikh Shakeel called it a landmark judgement.

Speaking to The Pioneer, Sheikh Shakeel said, "The Apex Court has paved the way for restoring democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. The five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has also directed the Centre to restore the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir while setting the stage for long pending Assembly polls.

A senior representative of the deprived Valmiki society Gharu Bhatti and president of the West Pak refugees joint action committee Labha Ram Gandhi also welcomed the landmark judgement.

The Apex court has cleared all the hurdles allowing our children to realise their dreams and work hard. The successive Governments in the State deprived us of our basic fundamental rights. We were caged and living in inhuman conditions for a long period of 70 years. After the Abrogation of Article 370, we were given the voting rights. We were granted citizenship of Jammu and Kashmir and our children were granted permission to sit for competitive examinations. Now they have been admitted toadmittedly professional colleges and preparing for Administrative examinations. It is time to distribute sweets, he said.

The apex court has also directed the Centre to restore statehood status as soon as possible, Ashok Kumar, a local businessman running a provision store in the Nanak Nagar area of Jammu said.

However, the political parties reacted differently in both the Jammu and Kashmir regions. In Jammu, J&K Unit BJP chief Ravinder Raina hailed the Supreme Courts verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370, saying We honour and respect the judgment in letter and spirit.

Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad termed the Supreme Courts verdict on pleas challenging the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution sad and unfortunate, but said We have to accept it.

It (the court verdict) is sad and unfortunate, Azad told reporters.

The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said the people of the region are not happy with the verdict delivered by a five-judge bench of the apex court.

On the other hand, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said he is disappointed but not disheartened by the Supreme Court verdict.

In a broadcast on X, Omar apologised to the people of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh for failing to convince the apex court to restore Article 370.

Unfortunately, we could not convince the five judges, and for that I apologise to the people of J&K, Ladakh, and those in the country who wanted us to succeed, he said. Our efforts will not end here, the NC leader added. I am in Srinagar at my home and addressing you because the gate has been locked and I am not being allowed to meet anyone, Omar said.

PDP chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti urged people not to lose hope, even as her party suspended all its political activities for a week.

According to a statement issued by the PDP spokesman, the decision has been taken to stand in solidarity with the people of Jammu & Kashmir in the wake of the Supreme Court of Indias judgment of the issue of Article 370.

The party president Mehbooba was scheduled to address various workers' conventions as part of her ongoing public outreach programme and many such conventions were scheduled over the next few days. Many other political activities were also scheduled by the party. But to stand in solidarity with our people at this crucial juncture in the wake of the Supreme Courts verdict on the issue of Article 370, We have decided to cancel all our political activities for the next one week, the party chief spokesperson Syed Suhail Bukhari said in a statement.

Former president of J&K Congress GA Mir said the apex court should have given a time frame for the restoration of the statehood and ensured special safeguards for the jobs and land for the locals of the Union Territory.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah Monday hailed the Supreme Court's verdict upholding the Government's decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution as "historic" and said this gives a stamp of approval to the move as being "completely constitutional".

Taking to social media, the two top leaders instrumental in abrogating the provisions of Article 370 in 2019 said the top court's decision is not just a legal judgment, but a "beacon of hope" and testament to the collective resolve to build a stronger and more united India, besides bringing peace and normalcy to Jammu and Kashmir.

Modi said the Supreme Court verdict on the abrogation of Article 370 is "historic" and constitutionally upholds the decision taken by Parliament on August 5, 2019. "It is a resounding declaration of hope, progress and unity for our sisters and brothers in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The court, in its profound wisdom, has fortified the very essence of unity that we, as Indians, hold dear and cherish above all else," he said. "I want to assure the resilient people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh that our commitment to fulfilling your dreams remains unwavering," the Prime Minister added.

"We are determined to ensure that the fruits of progress not only reach you but also extend their benefits to the most vulnerable and marginalised sections of our society who suffered due to Article 370," he asserted.

The verdict is not just a legal judgment, it is a beacon of hope, a promise for a brighter future and a testament to the collective resolve to build a stronger, more united India, the Prime Minister said on the microblogging platform, using the hashtag "NayaJammuKashmir".

Shah, who moved the legislation in Parliament to abrogate Article 370 and turned the erstwhile State into two Union Territories  Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh  said Prime Minister Modi took a visionary decision five years ago that brought peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.

"I welcome the Supreme Court of India's verdict upholding the decision to abolish Article 370. On August 5, 2019, Modi took a visionary decision to abrogate Article 370. Since then peace and normalcy have returned to J&K," he said. Shah said growth and development have brought new meaning to life in the Valley, which was once torn apart by violence.

Shah said prosperity in the tourism and agriculture sectors has raised the income levels of the residents of both Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. "Today, the Supreme Court's verdict has proved that the decision to abrogate Article 370 was completely constitutional," he wrote on 'X' with the hashtag #NayaJammuKashmir.

Shah said after the abrogation of Article 370, the rights of the poor and deprived have been restored, and separatism and stone pelting are now things of the past. The entire region now echoes with melodious music and cultural tourism and the bonds of unity have strengthened, he said, adding Jammu and Kashmir's integrity with 'Bharat' stands reinforced.

"It is once again the Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh that always belonged to our nation and will continue to be so," the Minister said. Shah said under the leadership of Modi, the NDA Government is committed to establishing lasting peace in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and the all-round development of the region.

"Whether it is boosting the local economy with new incentives, building state-of-the-art educational infrastructure, or empowering the poor with welfare benefits, we will continue to exert all our might for the region," the Home Minister said.

Regarding the development, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Today the Supreme Court upheld Modi's decision to scrap Article 370 and 35A of the Constitution and the process followed for that." "This historic decision of the Supreme Court is going to make every Indian happy, he said on X.

By abrogating Article 370, Modi has not only written a new chapter but has also given new strength to the unity and integrity of India, Singh said.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the top court's verdict is yet another victory and a moment of celebration for all the "nationalist people" of the country who dreamt of "complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with Bharat" and for which they fought political and legal battles, and even sacrificed their lives. Thakur said that the Modi government withdrew the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019, to undo one of the many "historic blunders" committed by the Congress during the Nehruvian era.

The ruling BJP too hailed the Supreme Court's decision as "historic", and said that with the scraping of the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir, Modi has written a new chapter and given new strength to the unity and integrity of India.
In a tragic incident, three persons of a family, including two minor girls, were killed and seven others were injured when they were hit by a car while waiting for a bus in Auraiya on Agra-Lucknow Expressway, police said.

According to police, the deceased along with other family members were on their way to attend a marriage function.

Ten persons were waiting for a bus on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway when a speeding Hyundai Aura car hit them in the Airwa Katra police station area on Sunday evening, Circle Officer Ashok Kumar said.

One Raman Singh (40) of Nagla Pahadi village of the area, his niece Aaradhy (8) and his daughter Gungun (10) were killed in the accident. They were pronounced dead when they were rushed to a hospital. The seven injured  Kalpana (35), Alka (30), Rajesh (50), Aarti (25), Priyam (19), Ravi (18) and Suraj (10)  were taken to a hospital in an ambulance. Of the seven injured, Kalpana, Alka and Suraj are family members of Raman Singh, who died. They were referred to another hospital in Saifai, Kumar said.

He added that the driver of the car was detained and his vehicle was confiscated.

We will take action against the accused, the police officer said.

In another road mishap in Azamgarh, three persons were killed and as many injured after being hit by a car in the Bardah area, the police said on Monday.

Ankit Rai was coming from Jaunpur in his car on Sunday night when the accident took place.

Police said Rai lost control of his car near Bardah Chowk and it overturned, hitting some people standing at the roadside.

Dharmendra Saroj, Manish Saroj (26) and Dabbu (40) died on the spot after being hit by the uncontrolled car. Three persons  Arvind, Priyanshu and Manish Gautam  were injured. Gautams condition is said to be critical.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, two youths were feared drowned after they slipped into river Renuka while taking selfies from a rock in the Obra area of Sonbhadra district on Sunday, police said.

Police claimed that Mukesh (25), Ankit Kumar 16) and Ashutosh had gone to take a stroll near a newly-constructed bridge on the river Renuka.

During this they climbed on the top of a rock to take a selfie and slipped into the river, police said, adding that Ashutosh somehow managed to swim to safety, and Mukesh and Ankit went missing.

Efforts are being made to trace the two with the help of the divers.
With the aim to increase employment opportunities for the youth of Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government is organising Rozgar Melas in all districts of the state.

A Rozgar Mela was held at the Government Industrial Training Institute at Aliganj in Lucknow on Monday in which 48 companies from across the country took part to offer employment avenues to the skilled youth.

Consequently, 503 youths received job offers, along with perks, including a maximum salary of Rs 40,000.

The Rozgar Mela was inaugurated by MA Khan, Training Counseling and Placement Officer and Assistant Director, Regional Employment Office.

Expressing gratitude to all the participating companies, he encouraged the selected youth to work with dedication and diligence.

Prior to this, everyone observed a two-minute silence to pay tribute to the untimely demise of Joint Director Bhagwat Dayal.

The placement officer said that the Rozgar Mela organised by ITI and the Regional Employment Office in Lucknow invited companies. He said these companies extended job offers to 503 applicants, providing monthly salaries ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000, along with additional benefits such as attendance awards, free canteen facilities and free transportation.

He further mentioned that candidates who were unable to secure employment could participate in the Rozgar Diwas scheduled for December 21, 2023.
SAD to observe its Foundation Day on Dec 14 at Amritsar



Chandigarh: The 103rd foundation day of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will be observed on December 14 as per panthic maryada at Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Gurbaksh Singh ji at Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Akhand Path will be initiated on December 12 at 10.30 am and bhog of Sri Akhand Path will be held on December 14 at 10 am followed by kirtan and ardas. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal as well as the senior leadership will be encamped at Amritsar from December 12 to 14. They will also participate in sewa at Sri Darbar Sahib during this period.



Chandigarh MC conducts training session for officials for toilet grading



Chandigarh: Aiming to provide essential skills and knowledge to accurately complete the 'CT/PT Grading', Municipal Corporation Chandigarh (MCC) on Monday conducted a training session as part of the Clean Toilets campaign, with a specific focus on Toilet Grading. The designated Self-Help Group (SHG) team, comprised both Men and Women, and officials from the MCC and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), attended the session at the Municipal Corporation Office. In her address, Municipal Commissioner Anindita Mitra highlighted the importance of equipping the team with the necessary skills and knowledge. In collaboration with DAY-NULM's SHG team, MC Chandigarh will organize comprehensive training sessions before the grading exercise begins. These sessions will cover essential aspects of the grading process, ensuring that the team is well-versed in the evaluation criteria and capable of carrying out their responsibilities with precision and professionalism.



EVM Demonstration camp started in Chandigarh



Chandigarh: As per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India, an EVM Demonstration camp was started in areas of Daddu Majra and Mauli Jagran in Chandigarh on Monday. Under this camp drive, an EVM demonstration van will roam around the city to demonstrate about the EVM VVPAT machine and also be informed about the usefulness of the evms. During the Camp, Residents of Daddu Majra and Mauli Jagran were experienced/learned how it works and how one can cast his/her vote during the election. Residents enthusiastically participated in the camp and around 125 persons cast their vote as a demonstration using the EVM VVPAT machine.



Application for fifth National Water Award invited in Hry



Chandigarh: The Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti has initiated the process of inviting applications for the 5th National Water Award, 2023, on the National Award Portal. All applications for these awards will be received through the online National Award Portal at https://awards.gov.in/Home/Awardpedia. The applicants can visit this portal or the website of this department (www.jalshakti-dowr.gov.in). The deadline for submitting applications is December 15, 2023. An official spokesperson said that individuals engaged in commendable work in the field of water conservation and management, including any state, district, village panchayat, urban local body, school/college, institution (other than school/college), industry, civic society, water user association, or water conservation and management, are eligible to apply.



Dushyant Chautala inaugurates developmental projects in Hisar



Chandigarh: Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Monday spearheaded a series of development initiatives in Hisar, laying the foundation stones for projects worth approximately Rs. 280 crore. He also inaugurated several completed projects, including initiatives at Maharaja Agrasen International Airport. Chautala laid the foundation stone for the Air Traffic Control Room and Terminal Building. He directed officials to expedite the construction process, targeting completion within the next two to three months. Chautala laid the foundation stone for an additional building within the existing Public Works Rest Home complex. Envisioning this project transforming the rest house into the best in the state, he outlined facilities like a CM suite, VIP suites, officers' lounge, and 15 additional rooms. The expansion will also include a conference hall, a committee room, multipurpose hall, gym and yoga hall, office and cyber room, drawing and dining room, shops, and staff quarters. Additionally, a Nirman Sadan, housing offices of various Public Works Department branches, will be established within the complex.



Janata Darbar: Hry Home Minister redresses grievances of people



Chandigarh: Haryana Home and Health Minister Anil Vij on Monday ordered SIT to probe the cases related to fraudulent practices involving crores of rupees in the name of sending people abroad. Vij redressed grievances of people from various districts at his residence. A Kaithal resident alleged that an agent took Rs 22 lakh from him in installments to send his son to Canada, but neither sent the son nor returned the remaining amount. A Karnal woman claimed she paid an agent Rs 9 lakh to send her daughter to Canada for studies, but the agent kept her passport and documents without sending her daughter abroad. A Gurugram woman reported an assault case to the Minister and Vij directed the Gurugram Police Commissioner to investigate.



Hry Guv stresses collective efforts for achieving goal of a Viksit Bharat



Chandigarh: Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya on Monday emphasised the need for concerted and diligent efforts to achieve the Viksit Bharat vision set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the launch of the Viksit Bharat @ 2047 Ideas Portal. With 24 years remaining to realize this common goal, he stressed the importance of collaborative and dedicated work to accomplish the vision. Dattatreya was addressing the Vice Chancellors and Registrars of all State Universities during a seminar on the theme Vikshit Bharat @2047 held at Haryana Raj Bhavan, Chandigarh. He said, The objective of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, as outlined in the vision of creating New India, is an ambitious goal that mirrors the collective aspirations of the country's citizens and leadership. This vision entails a future where the nation successfully overcome its current challenges and achieve holistic socio-economic progress.
In a significant move to curb the persistent challenge of drug smuggling along the Punjab border, the Border Security Force (BSF) has submitted a comprehensive proposal to the Punjab Police advocating for the preventive detention of 75 individuals suspected of involvement in drug trafficking under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act, 1988.

The proposal, aimed at disrupting the illicit drug trade network that has plagued the region, specifically targeted 75 convicted or suspected smugglers operating in the bordering districts of Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, and Fazilka. These individuals are allegedly involved in trans-border smuggling, acting as couriers or running smuggling modules in the identified regions.

Sharing the information in the press briefing on Monday, BSF, Western Commands Special DG Yogesh Bahadur Khurania (IPS) shed light on the comprehensive efforts made by the BSF and other law enforcement agencies in the previous year. A database of suspected drug smugglers in border areas and hinterlands has been meticulously prepared, accompanied by vulnerability mapping to identify areas prone to illegal activities, he said.

The submission of the proposal aligns with Section 3 of the PIT-NDPS Act, which empowers the Centre and State Governments to detain individuals, including foreigners, to prevent their engagement in illicit drug trafficking.

The proposal emphasizes the necessity of preventive detention to curb the influence of suspected drug smugglers in the identified districts. The preventive measures aim to mitigate the potential threat posed by these individuals, thus fortifying the overall security apparatus in the region.

The recommendation was made to the state police a few months agoThey might be considering the names which we have given. The police shall take a call on the matter after due diligence, said Khurania.

The BSFs comprehensive strategy includes deploying additional troops, conducting vulnerability mapping, and creating a comprehensive database to identify areas prone to illegal activities. The collaboration with Punjab Police has already yielded positive results, contributing to the prevention of illegal activities along the extended operational jurisdiction of the BSF.

The BSF continues to adopt a holistic approach, combining legal measures with technological solutions, increased ground deployment, and cooperation with local law enforcement agencies. The proposal reflects the BSFs dedication to adapting to emerging challenges and ensuring the safety and well-being of the nation.

Drones as a Challenge

Khurania highlighted the challenge posed by the use of drones in drug smuggling activities. He informed that in the year 2023 alone, the BSF seized 95 drones, with a majority of these recoveries occurring in Punjab, and a few in the Sri Ganganagar area in Rajasthan. He also acknowledged that drones have become a preferred method for smuggling narcotics and weapons across the border. To counter this, the BSF is actively working on employing specialized equipment capable of detecting drones in the air, addressing a critical need in the ongoing efforts to secure the region.

Providing insights into the changing tactics employed by smugglers, Khurania noted a shift from larger drones, capable of carrying payloads of three-five kgs, to smaller drones carrying 400-500 grams of payload. This change in tactics, he suggested, could be driven by cost-effectiveness and the increased difficulty in detecting smaller drones. Accepting these challenges, the BSF continues to adapt its strategies to effectively counter the evolving landscape of smuggling activities.

Khurania emphasized that the BSF is actively exploring and implementing advanced technology to detect drones in the air. Currently, the detection of drones largely relies on visible means by BSF personnel on the border, the upcoming technological solutions aim to enhance capabilities and improve the overall effectiveness of border security.

The BSF's collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, including state police and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), has resulted in a coordinated effort to address drug smuggling challenges. The creation of a database and vulnerability mapping facilitates not only immediate responses to illegal activities but also comprehensive investigations to dismantle the networks involved in smuggling operations.

Extended Area of Operation

Addressing concerns about the extension of area of operation in Punjab, Khurania highlighted the positive outcomes achieved by deploying BSF personnel not only at the border but also in the hinterland. He maintained that the BSFs extended area of operation in Punjab, stretching from 15 to 50 kilometers, has yielded positive results in countering the persistent threat of drones and illegal activities. The increased troop deployment has played a pivotal role in fortifying the border and preventing illicit activities in the extended operational jurisdiction, he added.

With the ability to cover areas five-six kilometers deep into Indian territory, the BSF has successfully neutralized threats posed by drones that can bypass border fencing. The collaboration with Punjab Police in the extended operational jurisdiction has yielded tangible results, said Khurania, expressing satisfaction with the support received.

To bolster preventive measures against smuggling activities, the BSF is actively working with the Punjab Police to install CCTV cameras five to six kilometers inside the Indo-Pak border. This strategic placement aims to monitor key roads and crossroads, enabling authorities to track the movements of individuals involved in smuggling activities. The implementation of this initiative is anticipated to enhance surveillance capabilities and serve as a deterrent against illegal border crossings and smuggling.

Khurania acknowledged the crucial role played by farmers living near the border areas in Punjab. He commended them as the eyes and ears of the BSF, providing valuable information whenever they observe suspicious activities. The collaborative effort between the BSF and local communities exemplifies the importance of public cooperation in ensuring border security and thwarting illegal activities.

Seizures and Operational Achievements in 2023

Khurania, during the press conference, highlighted the operational achievements of the BSF in 2023. A total of 95 drones were seized, along with 755 kg of narcotic items, 15 assorted rifles, and 38 pistols. Additionally, 36 Pakistani nationals were apprehended, and nine Pakistani intruders were neutralized along the International Boundary (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC).
The governor lieutenant general (retd) Gurmit Singh and chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the launching ceremony of the Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Voice of Youth in virtual mode on Monday. In the programme the Prime Minister Narendra Modi also launched a portal for registering ideas on the Viksit Bharat @ 2027 campaign.

Addressing the chancellors, vice chancellors of different universities, teachers and students assembled in Raj Bhawan after the programme, the governor said that the manner in which PM Modi is putting effort for achieving the target; the desired result will be obtained before the year 2047. He said preparing capable youngsters is the biggest guarantee for making a powerful nation. The governor exhorted the teachers to provide a free environment to the students which instil confidence in them so that they can develop the courage for doing something new. He said that the interest of the world about the traditions and identity of the nation is increasing due to which the new generation needs to be taught about Yoga, Ayurveda, arts and culture.

The governor said that the idea of making our country developed has germinated under the leadership of PM Modi. He said that as everyone knows that the person who plants a sapling does not eat the fruit of the tree but it is the coming generations which enjoy its fruit and it is exactly what is being done by the PM. He exhorted the youngsters to take a pledge that they will give their best possible contribution in fulfilling the commitment of a developed India.

Panel discussions on four different subjects were organised on the occasion in which the VCs presented their view. In the first session discussion on prosperous and sound economy was held in which the VC of UPES Ram Sharma, the VC of ICFAI University R K Singh and others took part. In the second session discussion on the subject Innovations- Science and technology was held. The VC of UTU, Onkar Singh, the dean of IIT Roorkee Akshay Dwivedi, VC of Graphic Era hill university Sanjay Jasola and dean of NIT Srinagar Hariharan Muthuswami took part.

The VC of Doon university Surekha Dangwal, VC of Ayurved university AK Tripathu, Pro VC of HNB Garhwal university R C Bhat and VC of Uttaranchal university Dharmbuddhi participated in panel discussion on  India in world subject in third session,.

The fourth session was on the subject role of youth in Viksit Bharat @ 20247. In the session the Chancellor of UPES Sunil Rai, the chancellor of Swami Rama Himalayan university Vijay Dhasmana and VC of DIT university G Raghuram took part.

The Education minister Dhan Singh Rawat, other officers, faculty members and students attended the programme.
The counting of cash seized during Income Tax (I-T) raids on the properties linked to the Boudh Distillery Private Limited (BDPL), a liquor trader at Sudapada in Balangir district, has ended with a total reported amount of around Rs 305 crore.

With this, the total amount of recoveries from all country liquor manufacturing units in Odisha reached Rs 348 crore on Monday.

For the counting of this seized cash, said to be the highest-ever in a single action conducted by any probe agency in the country, about 25 counting machines and 50 bank staffs were engaged.

The BDPL is a subsidiary of the Baldeo Sahu Infra Private Limited, which has alleged connections with Jharkhand Congress Rajya Sabha member Dhiraj Sahu

The raids were first conducted on December 6 and the I-T officials stumbled upon huge amounts of cash stashed in the Sudpada distillery unit in Balangir district. The cash in 165 bags was taken to a nearby SBI branch for counting.

Later, huge amounts of cash were seized from the country liquor manufacturing unit at Dhanupali and the office of Baldeo Sahu and Group of Companies Ltd located in Sambalpur district. The cash was taken to the Sambalpur SBI branch in two vans.

While the counting at Titilagarh ended with Rs 11 crore, the value of notes seized from Baldeo Sahu & Sons was Rs 37.5 crore. The value of the total seized cash put together is believed to be around Rs 348 crore.

The I-T department is investigating to ascertain the source of such a huge amount and its owner. The two managers of Balangir brewery are currently being interrogated by I-T officials.

While an investigation is underway to find out the source and owner of the money, Income Tax DG Sanjay Bahadur, who was in Odisha during the raids, said the details regarding the raids would be shared by the I-T media cell in Delhi.
Siddharth se Buddha- an awakening- the theatrical showcased the saga of Siddharths journey from his birth eclipsed by a prophecy --- marking the completion of twenty years of Delhi Public School, Sector 40, Chandigarh.



DPS witnessed the curtain raiser of Siddharth se Buddha- an awakening on Monday. The lyrical odyssey was conceptualised, planned and directed by the Principal, Reema Dewan and is a one-of-a-kind school production with a repertoire of plays, songs and scintillating dances on opulent sets. More than four hundred students presented the show on Monday.



This showcased the saga of Siddharths journey from his birth eclipsed by a prophecy, childhood and education to his awakening, spanning different stages of his life from a sheltered, happy prince to the Enlightened One.



The show was staged in the presence of Pawan Kumar Bansal and Ambika Soni  former Members of Parliament and Senior Members of the DPS Chandigarh, Anup Soni and Amit Bansal - Directors of the school and other dignitaries.



The Principal emphasized that besides excellence in academics, the school has taken great strides in other fields too, adding that the schools focus is on the wholesome and holistic development of the students. She added that being a part of the mega-production has been a great learning experience for students who have not only rediscovered the wisdom of Buddha but also cemented their foundation for personal growth. The inaugural show will continue on 12th, 13th and 14th December.
A former Executive Engineer of Rural Works (RW) Division in Nabarangpur district and his wife have been convicted in a disproportionate assets (DA) case.

Simadri Nayak, retired Executive Engineer of RW Division at Umarkote, and his wife Laxmi Nayak have been convicted by a Special Vigilance court in Bhubaneswar for possessing disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 38,40,769.

The ex-Executive Engineer has been sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment (RI). Besides, the court slapped a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on him. Non-payment of the penalty amount would invite imprisonment for additional six months.

His wife has been sentenced to RI for one year. The court also imposed a penalty of Rs 2 lakh on her. She would undergo imprisonment for additional three months for nonpayment of the penalty amount.

Following the conviction of the retired Executive Engineer, the Vigilance department would now move the competent authority for stoppage of his pension, said an official.








Hazaribag police has arrested four Pakistan linked four cyber

criminals from the two different spots of the town areas. They are

transferring ever two minutes maximum amount of 50000 to the different

states on the direction of Pakistani handler. They did the cyber crime

of 1,63,000 from Punjab. This was opned in indication App.



Hazaribag Superintendent of Police Manoj Rattan Chothey said in press

conference in his meeting hall that we received the information from

the senior officer that a financial fraud was committed by the cyber

criminal of 1,63,000 and now they are active in Hazaribag.



After this information a team was formed under the leadership of sadar

inspector Lilit Kumar and Korrha office inchrge Nishi Chobey. Both the

officers arrested Nitish Kumar and Arvind Kumar. On the information of

both the youth, the police team was reached to Manto Lodge of Korrha

and Arrested Raja Raman Kaushik and Saif Reiaz alias Shibu.



They have confessed in front of police they have linked Pakistan

handler . we are doing the work on the direction of handler. They have

also confessed that every two minute we are transferring the maximum

50000 to the different state, as directed by the handler.



Arrested all four cyber criminals are between 19-25 years. Police has

recovered 10 mobile sets of different companies, 37 Debit cards of 37

different banks, 12 passbook of different banks cheque book, one

motorcycle and one SUV Jeep.



The SP said that this is the serious matter. We take the help of

different investigating agencies. He has not replied any questions. He

said that it is serious matter, the further investigation may be

effected.
On the first anniversary of his government, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said that acute financial crunch and monsoon disaster came as a major hurdle in fulfilling the poll guarantees but still the Congress government implemented three major promises.



Addressing a rally at Dharamshala Police Ground to mark one year of his government, he lashed out at the BJP for alleging that the government failed to implement the poll guarantees and said that three main guarantees, including restoration of old pension scheme, introducing English in the government schools and Rs 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi start-up scheme have been implemented, despite acute financial crunch. He added that three more guarantees would be fulfilled next year.

The present state government was focused towards changing the system and has taken many decisions in this regard, said the Chief Minister. "In one year, our government has laid the strong foundation for making Himachal self-reliant and by the year 2027, Himachal will become an ideal example of a self-reliant state. Our dedicated and continuous efforts would ensure that Himachal becomes one of the most prosperous states of India by the year 2032," He reiterated and added that the government's revenue has increased by Rs. 500 crore from the auction of liquor contracts.



Sukhu further said the government has initiated the process to give Rs 1,500 per month to women in the 18 to 60 years age bracket but natural disasters put spokes. "I am now declaring that the women in Lahaul and Spiti district would get Rs 1,500 per month and 2.37 lakh women in the state drawing Rs 1,100 pension per month would get Rs 1,500 from the next year," he added.



The chief minister had earlier on Himachal Day, which is observed on April 15, announced to provide Rs 1,500 to all the 9,000 women of Spiti above 18 years of age from June 2023. Taking potshots at the Centre and state BJP leaders for not giving adequate relief to the state during the worst ever natural disaster, Sukhu said that neither our demand to declare the calamity in the state as 'National Disaster' was fulfilled nor were we given a special relief package of Rs 12,000 crore.



Sukhu said that a plan has been chalked out to purchase cow dung at Rs 2 per kilo and the procurement price of milk would be increased from Rs 31 to Rs 37 per litre from January next year and 20,000 jobs would be given in one year. He said that every Himachali is today under a debt of Rs 1.02 lakh due to the previous BJP government's financial mismanagement. Sukhu added that his government would keep the foundation of self-sufficient Himachal Pradesh and also bring changes in the system.

Sukhu said that during the tenure of the previous BJP government, question paper leaks in the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) was a common phenomenon. To end corruption and in the interest of the youth, the government has decided to dissolve the SSC. He added that the previous BJP government took a huge loan of Rs. 14,000 crore in its last year to win the elections. The consequences of huge debt were passed on to the present government. Apart from dealing with the situation, the government also decided to inform the people about the poor economic condition of the state. For this, a committee was formed under the leadership of the Deputy Chief Minister and a white paper was brought on the state's finances.



The state government adopted 4,000 orphans as 'Children of the State', made the country's first law for their welfare and started 'Mukhyamantri Sukhashraya Yojana'. Under the scheme, the state government is providing proper assistance for the care and higher education till they attain the age of 27 years, Sh. Sukhu said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that the BJP leaders have become blind and cannot see development in the state. The government is stable and lasting which would complete its five-year term and no conspiracy to destabilise the government would succeed, he added.



Congress MP and party's Himachal Pradesh in-charge Rajiv Shukla lambasted the ruling BJP at the Centre for discrimination with the state. "Why discrimination with Himachal, which the prime minister claimed to be his second home...The Union government has not even given Rs 12 let go of Rs 12,000 crore special package as sought by the state government," said Shukla. Where was the PM when the people at his home (HP) were facing disaster? he asked taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that he would only be spotted during the elections.



Himachal Pradesh Congress chief and Mandi MP Pratibha Singh on her part said that after implementing the old pension scheme, the state government was moving towards providing Rs 1,500 to the women per month but the monsoon disaster struck and life went haywire in the state. "We would fulfil our promise," she asserted. Singh said, I am upset that despite meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Parliament Session and asking him to declare calamity in Himachal Pradesh as a national disaster on the pattern of Bhuj and Kedarnath disasters, he ignored my plea and did not even help us financially."



"We could not give pace to work in the past one year but keep faith in us that we would fulfil all the promises in the next four years and have started providing employment to the youth," she added.



The posters and banners highlighting the Congress government's achievements in the past one year adorned Dharamshala and the people clad in traditional costumes were seen dancing to the tunes of their folk music outside the venue.
To maintain honour and interest in Hindi among the employees, Hindi workshops are organized every quarter in NHDC and in the same sequence, a Hindi workshop was organized at NHDC Corporation Headquarters on Monday in which the employees of the Corporation Headquarters participated.

The workshop was started by a guest lecture of Assistant Director (Implementation) and Head of Office, Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs.

In the Hindi workshop, the guest scholar gave a concise lecture on the topic 'Official Language Policy', which the participants listened to with great interest and took advantage of. During the lecture, the participants asked questions related to filling the official language quarterly report, which were resolved by them. All the employees got a lot of support in increasing their knowledge related to the official language.

In the end, the guest lecturers expressed gratitude to NHDC. Senior Supervisor of NHDC, Swati Jain expressed her gratitude to the Managing Director, Chief General Manager (H.Ed.), Guest Lecturer, Deputy General Manager (H.Ed.), senior officers and participants. In this way the Hindi workshop was completed meaningfully and purposefully.
To combat cybercrime, Haryana Police has identified 50 hotspot areas across seven states in the country where cyber fraud cases are known to originate. To effectively tackle these cases, cyber teams have been deployed in these areas to not only control cyber fraud activities but also apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice, said Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur on Monday.



In a statement, DGP said that the maximum number of cyber fraud cases reported in Haryana originate from Rajasthan, with 21 identified hotspot areas in the state. Similar hotspots have been identified in other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Delhi, West Bengal, and Telangana. Kapur emphasized that cyber teams are regularly dispatched to these states to actively counter cyber fraud activities. Moving forward in the realm of cyber security, a collaborative effort is being undertaken by nodal officers of banks and the Cyber Helpline 1930 team. This collaboration aims to freeze cyber criminals' finances within the critical first hour of reported incidents, working closely with bank personnel to facilitate the process, he added.



Kapur urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid clicking on suspicious links on their phones. Additionally, people must not disclose personal information related to their bank accounts to anyone. Even a minor oversight can make individuals vulnerable to cyber fraud, he added.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday inaugurated the auditorium of a government school in the Civil Lines area and asserted that the infrastructure of state-run schools is no less than any top private institution.

Addressing the event, Kejriwal said many prominent people studied in government schools during the 15-20-year period after India gained Independence since there were few private schools.

Kejriwal reiterated that education is the focus of the AAP dispensation and said the infrastructure of government schools in Delhi underwent a transformation in the last eight years.

The infrastructure of government schools is no less than that of top private schools. The children have also grown in confidence and one can see that they are more confident than their counterparts in private schools, he said.

Money is needed if quality education is desired and many people dont have that. In the past eight years, we have changed this belief, he said.

The chief minister said the dropout rate from government schools was quite high earlier since studies did not happen but that issue has been addressed.

Before entering politics, when I worked with NGOs, I often witnessed that children in government schools were not receiving education properly and their parents would pull them out of school after a year or two and engage them in work. Now, there are nearly 18 lakh students studying in government schools, he said.

Kejriwal further said there has been a significant change in the education sector in the past eight years.

When I interact with children and their parents, I find that government schoolchildren have more self-confidence compared to those in private schools. Children in government schools must communicate confidently and this is the most important aspect, he said.

Addressing the gathering at the inauguration event, Education Minister Atishi said, When we go for the inauguration of any school building, we think that our schools have surpassed private institutions. After the inauguration of this auditorium, I think this has now surpassed big multiplexes too.

She further stated that no private school in Delhi has better facilities than the ASoSE in Raj Niwas.
The special operation group (SOG) and Chamoli police along with the Forest department arrested one man with the gallbladder of a bear. According to the police, a tip off was received on Sunday after which a native of Nepal currently living in Pursadi in Chamoli district, Gaman Singh was caught in Nandprayag. A bear gall bladder weighing 43 grammes was recovered from him. Officials said that the market price of the contraband in the illicit market is estimated to be about Rs three lakh. A case was registered against the accused under the Wildlife Protection Act and he was sent to jail, the police added.

It is pertinent to mention here that this is not the first instance of a wildlife criminal being apprehended by the authorities for poaching and wildlife smuggling of wildlife in the Nanda Devi biosphere reserve.
A miscommunication between the alleged shooters of Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi and their handlers over the escape plan from Rajasthans Jaipur after the killing led to their arrest. According to police, shooters Rohit Rathore and Nitin Fauji were supposed to get out of Jaipur immediately by boarding a truck after killing Gogamedi on December 5.

However, they could not because of a miscommunication between them and their handlers over the vehicles location, forcing the accused to come up with an alternative escape plan that involved using several vehicles and hiding at different locations, the officials said.

Rathore and Nitin Fauji were arrested in a joint operation of the Delhi Police Crime Branch and the Rajasthan Police from a hotel in Chandigarh, five days after the incident.

Delhi police official aware of the developments in the investigation, said that according to a plan, the duo were supposed to board a truck arranged by their handlers soon after killing Gogamedi.

The truck would have taken Rathore and Nitin Fauji to somewhere out of Jaipur but they could not find the vehicle, the official said and added that when they again contacted their handlers, they were told that they were at a location far away from the truck.

The official said Rathore and Nitin Fauji, then, stole a scooty to move and hid in a farm near the Jaipur-Ajmer bypass for at least an hour, waiting for a message from their handlers. They were in contact with their handlers on the Signal app, the official said on the condition of anonymity.

While at the field, they met with farmers, whom they told that they were students and had lost their way, the official said.

When they did not get any reply from their handlers, they made their own plan and hired a taxi for Didwana and further took a bus, a train and another taxi to move to Hisar, then Manali and finally reach Chandigarh, the official added.

The officials said the attackers were in contact with Virender Charan, who provided them arms through couriers on the direction of Rohit Godara, a close associate of the Lawrence-Goldy Brar criminal gang. Charan and Godara, both are suspected to be hiding in European countries, sources said.

Godara, was the one who claimed responsibility for Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedis killing in a Facebook post, saying the Karni Sena chief was backing his enemies.

The officials said Rathore and Nitin Fauji were promised passports and visas within 20 days of the incident to flee the country, but till then they had to remain in hiding.

Godara, a former LLB student who was earlier arrested in a case of rape in Rajasthan, believed that he went to jail because of Gogamedi.

Nitin Fauji, who quit the Indian Army after he was named in a kidnapping case in Haryana, wanted to settle abroad, the officials said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the Viksit Bharat @ 2047  Voice of Youth programme. Governor Mangubhai Patel participated in a local programme organised at Kushabhau Thackeray International Convention Center today. The programme was co-ordinated by NITI Aayog.

In the programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the youth regarding the resolve and vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. He said that this is the right time to make India a developed nation by the year 2047. One should work with the spirit that whatever work every individual and institution does is the work for the nation. He said that India starts with I which can be interpret as what can I do to make India developed? We will have to work with the spirit of performing our duties for the nation with devotion and honesty. The Prime Minister requested all educational institutions, academicians, students and every citizen of the country to come forward and contribute their best and inspire the society by becoming role models by their example.

In the local programme, Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education K. C. Gupta, Principal Secretary to the Governor D.P. Ahuja, Vice Chancellors of various universities, directors of national educational institutions, faculty members and students were present. Professors and students from universities across the state participated virtually in the programme as well.

After the inauguration, panel discussions of experts were organised with the participation of students on the topics of Innovation, Science and Technology, Thriving and Sustainable Economy and Utilization of Youth  Viksit Bharat@ 2047 in the local programme.

During the first session in the panel discussion, on Innovation, Science and Technology, Sunil Kumar, Professor Ajay Singh, Professor G. Dixit, Vardhaman Soni and Prachi Aggarwal described science and technology as the power of development and youth leadership as its basis. He suggested to include practical subjects in the courses, to connect industries in the form of workshops for the work experience of students of technical institutions, to provide a platform to solve the needs and problems of industries in educational institutions. In the field of medicine, a discussion was held on the possibilities of providing medical services to the patients through science and technology. Emphasis has been laid on incorporating Indian knowledge traditions with research in modern science.

In the panel discussion on the topic of Thriving and Sustainable Economy in the second session, Amarjeet Khalsa, Anirudh Chauhan, Pulkit Sharma, Pradeep Karamvelkar discussed the direction of infrastructure development, increase in working capabilities of Railways, continuous changes in technology in the manufacturing industry, additive manufacturing, importance of logistics and infrastructure and accelerating industry-based skill development efforts. It was said that real development is sustainable development. The present period is a golden period for self-employment and enterprises. There is no dearth of capital for a good idea.

In the panel discussion on the topic Utility of Youth  Viksit Bharat@ 2047 in the third session, Ashutosh Singh, Siddharth Aggarwal, Virendra Vyas discussed the need for the youth to have a sense of duty, pride in their knowledge, tradition and heritage, Viksit Bharat is not just prosperity but we should also go for advanced minds and positivity, development should be people-oriented and people-based. The true development of the country lies in community participation only.
Dr PC Rath was installed as President of the Cardiological Society of India for the year 2023-2024 at the Platinum Jubilee Annual Conference celebration of Cardiological Society of India held in Kolkata on December 9.

The meeting had special sessions on women and cardiovascular health, pollution and cardiovascular health and latest interventional techniques.

The cardiologists delivered a resounding message Monitoring Air Quality Index (AQI) is crucial to protecting your heart. The summit sounded alarm on the escalating mortality rates attributed to heart ailments linked to air pollution.

Explaining the insidious impact of air pollution on the cardiovascular system, cardiologists emphasised that finer particulate matter induces inflammation in the arteries, heart and blood vessels, catalysing various heart problems. Unlike its immediate impact on the respiratory system, air pollution silently takes a toll on the heart, often leading to lethal consequences. People must be vigilant about air quality and take preventive measures as cardiac issues stemming from air pollution continue to be a leading cause of premature deaths

The Cardiological Society of India was started 75 years ago by late Bharat Ratna Dr BC Roy, who was its first president and subsequently became Chief Minister of West Bengal.
President Droupadi Murmu highlighted the significance of hospitals embodying the spirit of selfless service and compassion towards humanity during her address at the 27th anniversary celebration of the Divine Heart Foundation in Lucknow on Monday.

She praised the Divine Heart Foundation for aligning its mission with the noble cause of serving humanity, emphasising the commendable ethos of humanitarian service.

Addressing the gathering, President Murmu urged healthcare professionals to raise awareness about heart health among the public.

She stressed that while hospitals can treat a hundred or even thousands of individuals, spreading awareness can benefit thousands more.

President Murmu expressed optimism that affordable medical facilities will be provided to citizens, contributing to the creation of a healthy and prosperous India.

President Droupadi Murmu paid homage to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, acknowledging the deep connection he shared with the people of Lucknow. She credited him for his exceptional leadership, both as a representative and as a prime minister.

Vajpayees profound impact on democracy and his invaluable contributions to the city of Lucknow were recognised and appreciated, she said.

President Murmu shared her observations about the cultural richness of Varanasi in the morning and the charm of Awadh in the evening.

Despite being from Odisha and lacking deep knowledge of Hindi, she appreciated the inclusive use of the term hum (we) by the local people, emphasising how this sense of belonging to a community contributes to fostering the Indian identity.

She commended the participants for their diverse backgrounds, including different religions, castes, regions, states and beliefs, while still upholding a unified Indian identity.

The programme commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by esteemed guests, including Governor Anandiben Patel, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak.
In a significant stride towards women empowerment and fostering opportunities for girls aspiring to join the armed forces, the Punjab Government is set to inaugurate a Centre for Training and Employment of Punjab Youth (C-PYTE) camp exclusively for girls at Kapurthala.

Apart from being the girls-only centre, it would entirely be managed and operated by women staff, ensuring a conducive and empowering environment for the trainees. This exclusive initiative aligns with the Chief Minister's vision of providing equal opportunities and breaking gender barriers.

The decision to establish a girls-only C-PYTE camp was formalized during the 33rd meeting of the Executive Board of C-PYTE, presided over by the state Employment Generation, Skill Development, and Training Minister Aman Arora.

The transformative move aimed at offering specialized training to young women, enabling them to pursue careers in the Armed Forces, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and Punjab Police.

Previously focused on training young men, the existing C-PYTE Camp at the Kanjla in Kapurthala district will transform a dedicated space for girls.

Arora emphasized the importance of breaking traditional gender norms and providing equal opportunities for girls to pursue careers that were traditionally dominated by men.

The girls-only C-PYTE camp will play a pivotal role in preparing young women for the challenges and rigours of joining the armed forces. Training modules will cover various aspects, including physical fitness, mental agility, and specific skills required for service in defense and law enforcement agencies.

Moreover, the C-PYTE camp will introduce specialized training programs such as Service Selection Board (SSB) training for youth who successfully clear the National Defence Academy (NDA) or Combined Defence Services (CDS) written exams, paving their way to becoming officers in the Armed Forces.

Arora also outlined additional training modules that will be incorporated into the C-PYTE curriculum, expanding the scope beyond traditional military training. The camp will offer training in Security and Firefighting, Armed Security Training, Driving, JCB/Poclain operation, and Drone operation. These diverse programs aim to equip the youth with a versatile skill set, enhancing their employability and contributing to their personal and professional growth.
In a resolute effort to annihilate the scourge of drugs from the state, Punjab Police executed a pivotal operation resulting in the arrest of 302 drug smugglers and suppliers across the border state. The crackdown carried out under the ambit of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, witnessed the registration of 221 First Information Reports (FIRs), including 34 commercial cases, in the past week.

Sharing the information during the press conference, the state Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill on Monday revealed that the intensive operation yielded a substantial haul, including 24.08 kilograms of heroin, 10 kilograms of opium, 1.57 quintals of poppy husk, and an astonishing 1.05 lakh tablets, capsules, injections, and vials of pharmaceutical opioids. The police also seized drug money amounting to Rs 20.72 lakh from the arrested individuals.

Highlighting the multifaceted approach adopted by the Punjab Government to combat the drug menace, IGP Gill emphasized the three-tiered strategy of Enforcement, Prevention, and Rehabilitation.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, during a recent review meeting, instructed all Commissioners of Police (CPs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to conduct public meetings in village councils (Panchayats) to gather crucial information on drug-related activities. These measures aim to enhance crime prevention and facilitate the eradication of drug abuse.

The police force has been actively engaged in awareness campaigns against drugs, organizing 175 events, including 13 significant gatherings, to educate the public about the adverse effects of narcotics.

Furthermore, the government is promoting awareness about Section 64A of the NDPS Act, offering rehabilitation opportunities to individuals caught with small quantities of drugs. IGP Gill clarified that this provision does not entail long-term legal consequences, allowing those affected to seek voluntary medical treatment for de-addiction.

To disrupt potential criminal networks, Chief Minister Mann had issued directions regarding the transfer of lower-ranking police officials who have remained in the same position for an extended period. District chiefs have been tasked with compiling lists of such officers. Additionally, CPs/SSPs and field officers are prohibited from bringing their subordinates with them during transfers, reducing the risk of collusion.

To target hardcore criminals, the Government has introduced categorizations for Proclaimed Offenders (POs), considering the severity of their crimes. Categories A, B, and C delineate punishments exceeding 10 years, more than seven years, and less than seven years, respectively.

IGP Gill also highlighted the success in curbing extortion calls, with 130 FIRs registered and 117 individuals arrested in connection with extortion activities. This crackdown has resulted in a notable reduction in extortion-related incidents across the state.

Simultaneously, the relentless pursuit of justice against drug-related crimes continues, with 10 more Proclaimed Offenders and absconders apprehended last week. The total number of arrests under the special drive initiated on July 5, 2022, has now reached 1186. As Punjab Police intensifies its efforts, Chief Minister Mann's vision of a drug-free state is steadily progressing towards fruition.
Unidentified miscreants looted more than Rs 10 lakh from an ATM at Hatasahi under the Lingaraj police limits in Bhubaneswar late on Sunday night.

According to reports, the looters broke the machine using gas cutter and decamped with the cash. Though some locals informed police regarding the suspicious activity of the robbers, the criminals left the place before the arrival of cops.

As per an official, cash had been loaded in the ATM on Saturday. The miscreants looted around Rs 1.60 lakh from the machine after spraying chemicals on CCTV cameras of the ATM.

Police started investigation into the matter while efforts were on by cops to identify and trace the looters by examining footage of CCTV cameras installed near the ATM kiosk.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday suggested that heads of academic institutions in the national Capital set up special cells on campuses to work on the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. More than 500 academics and students listened to Prime Minister Narendra Modis virtual address on the vision for Viksit Bharat @2047 at an event hosted by Raj Niwas.

Launching Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth -- an initiative that aims to provide a platform to youngsters for contributing ideas to the vision of a developed India by 2047 -- the prime minister said Indias youth power is both the agent of change and the beneficiary of change.

Saxena on Monday urged university faculties to motivate students for nation building and suggested that the heads of institutions set up special cells on their campuses to engage the students and monitor the progress, the Raj Niwas said in a statement. Vice-chancellors of central and state universities, along with directors of institutions in Delhi, participated in the programme.

After the prime ministers speech, a panel discussion and question-answer session were held with the vice-chancellors and the faculty members discussing the theme of Empowered Indians. The ideas expressed at the event will be taken up by the students. The event was streamed live to the campuses of all the institutions represented at Raj Niwas, the statement said.

A brainstorming session was also held in which the academics presented their ideas on the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. Saxena said that, as outlined by the prime minister in his address, all those present will have to work towards making India the most powerful economy in the world where every Indian is happy, content, healthy and empowered.

He said academia has a responsibility in the shaping of a new India and underlined its role in engaging with the youngsters and preparing them for the path ahead, it noted. It is important for the youngsters to join this movement and share their dream and vision on Viksit Bharat @2047, he said. The LG added that in the country of 140 crore people with 28 States and 08 Union Territories, subscribing to 08 different religions, speaking 122 languages and 1600 dialects, different culture and food habits, there was one identity that bound them all. This identity, the LG underlined was that of being an Indian - Bharatiya.

The dream of Viksit Bharat cannot be realised until all the people have employment and every deprived individual on the margins gets justice, Saxena added.

The LG requested the faculty and teachers to motivate all students of Colleges and Universities to be associated with the Maha Kumbh of nation building. He advised the Heads of the Institutions to establish special cells in their campuses, that could engage with students and monitor the progress of endeavours being undertaken.
The production of sugar and ethanol in Uttar Pradesh is likely to go down marginally this season as the Union government has banned the diversion of sugar and cane juice for the production of ethanol.

During the last cane crushing season which ended in May 2023, sugar production was over 104 lakh metric tons.

The Union government on December 7 had directed all sugar mills and distilleries not to use sugarcane juice for ethanol production. The government, in a notification, directed all sugar mills and distilleries not to use sugar cane juice/sugar syrup for ethanol in ESY (Ethanol Supply Year) 2023-24 with immediate effect.

Supply of ethanol for existing offers received by oil marketing companies from B-Heavy molasses will continue. The ESY runs from December to October.

According to experts, the step has been taken to ensure there is an adequate supply of sugar in the local market. Deficient rain in the major sugar-producing states of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh is likely to impact the production of sugar therefore the government is taking measures to ensure sufficient availability of sugar in the country.

Secretary general of UP Sugar Mills Association Deepak Gupta said, During the current 2023-24 season the production of both sugar and ethanol is estimated to lower than the last season as the government has restrained the mills from diverting sugar for the production of ethanol.

As much as 20 lakh metric tons of sugar was diverted to ethanol in Uttar Pradesh while in Maharashtra, it was 15.70 lakh tons.

UP is the countrys biggest ethanol producer. A sugar by-product, ethanol is used for a variety of purposes, ranging from mixing in fossil fuel to its usage in pharmaceutical and chemical industries. The state has about 85 operational ethanol distilleries, and their annual capacity is estimated at 2.45 billion litres.

During the last season, the distilleries in UP had supplied over two billion litres of ethanol. Ethanol produced in the state is exported to oil marketing company depots, both within and outside the state, for the Centre has mandated 10 per cent blending in fuel.

The total sugar produced by Uttar Pradesh in crushing season 2022-2023 was 107.29 lakh tons (which includes 3.05 lakh tons of khandsari (physically extracted sugar from liquid jaggery), as compared to 105.30 lakh tons by Maharashtra.

The area under cane cultivation in Uttar Pradesh was 28.53 lakh hectare (maximum in India) as compared to 14.87 lakh hectare in Maharashtra. Uttar Pradesh had surpassed Maharashtra in sugar production in the last season even as 118 sugar mills operated in UP during the period compared to 210 mills that were operational in Maharashtra. The sugarcane crushing season runs from October to June.

The current ethanol production capacity in India is 1,364 crore litres and it is sufficient to meet the fuel blending targets. The roadmap for ethanol blending in India 2020-25, is estimated to be 1,016 crore litres to achieve 20 per cent blending targets in ESY 2025-26. In line with the roadmap, oil marketing companies have achieved 10 per cent ethanol blending during 2021-22 and 12 per cent during 2022-23.
Two security personnel were injured on Monday when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Maoists exploded in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.

The blast took place in the Kistaram area when the security personnel were providing security to road construction work, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said.

The Central Reserve Police Forces 217th battalion, the 208th battalion of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and the district force were involved in the operation. When the team was cordoning off the area near Saltong, two personnel came in contact with the IED connection, triggering the blast.

The injured personnel were provided preliminary treatment and were shifted to a hospital.
A wanted criminal was injured in a brief encounter at 3.30 am on Monday in Bhopal, he was shot in the leg. The miscreant was wanted in a case in which he shot a catering businessman in Budhwara.

After the incident by uploading a video on social media, he had also threatened to kill the Dohra police station in-charge of Sehore district.

On Sunday, December 3, Naseem Banne Khan, along with Aamir alias Barf and two associates, entered the Taj tent house and shot Nawaz Riaz (30) in Budhwara, Bhopal. His associates attacked Nawaz with a sharp edged weapon. Bhopal Crime Branch had arrested Banne Khan from Indore Road Khajuri on Sunday.

The police were taking Banne Khan to Tekri for pistol recovery in the early hours of Monday. During this time he tried to run away. He snatched the police rifle and fired two rounds. In retaliatory firing he was hit by a bullet in his leg.

DCP Riyaz Iqbal said that the accused has been admitted to Hamidia Hospital. A policeman has also been injured.

Three teams from Talaiya police station and one from the crime branch were searching for Banne Khan. Continuous raids were being conducted on possible targets nearby including Bhopal. The police have already arrested three accused of his gang and sent them to jail.

Banne Khan was active on social media during his absconding. He posted a video in which he threatened to shoot the Doraha police station in-charge. Now the police are searching for the mastermind of the crime, Aamir alias Barf.

In the past 45 cases registered against Naseem, Sehore Police declared a reward of Rs 30,000 on accused Naseem and Bhopal Police has announced a reward of Rs 10,000. There are 45 cases registered against him like murder, attempt to murder, theft, robbery and attempted robbery, insolence etc. Naseem has already escaped from police custody. He has been committing criminal crimes in Sehore, Rajgarh and Bhopal.

After shooting the victim businessman, Banne Khan uploaded a status in which he wrote - 'The destination is death...enjoy the journey.' On the same day, another video was uploaded, in which it was written - 'Jabalpur to Gwalior.' This reel was made on a moving bike, in which he also showed a pistol on his waist.

Faraz Riaz, elder brother of injured Nawaz Riaz and complainant in the case, had told the police that there is an old dispute going on with Aamir alias Barf and his brother Johan regarding the shop.

Aamir is a habitual criminal, many serious crimes like murder, attempt to murder and smuggling of MDM are registered against him.
Governor Mangubhai Patel has said that the youth are the driving force of Viksit Bharat@2047 (Developed India@2047). He has asked the stakeholders of the education world to recognise the brilliance of the youth. Give the youth an opportunity to showcase their immense capabilities in various fields. Incorporate their ideas and suggestions towards nation building.

Governor Patel was addressing the state level programme organised at Kushabhau Thakre International Convention Centre. On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary Education K.C. Gupta and Principal Secretary to the Governor D.P. Ahuja were present.

Governor Mangubhai Patel said that the world is very big. India will have to be developed in all fields.

It is essential for the progress of the nation to reach the last link of the society, the deprived sections. He said that it is necessary to think about inclusive development in the society, in which people and communities left behind in the mainstream of development will have to be brought forward on priority. He said that the country is changing rapidly.

Women are increasingly participating in the development of the nation. Referring to the dialogue with women self-help groups, he said that women are scripting a new chapter of self-reliance and leadership.

Governor Mangubhai Patel called upon the youth to contribute the best of their intellectual and physical abilities in nation building. The role of their contribution in making India a world leader is most significant. He said that the country is today at an important turning point in history.

The country is moving towards the future with confidence in its capabilities. It is clearly visible that the 21st century will be India's century. What is needed is everyone's collective and united efforts. He gave information about the country's millitary power, economy, rural and urban development, poverty alleviation, education, health infrastructure, sustainable development and India's achievements at the global level.

Additional Chief Secretary Higher Education K.C. Gupta said in the welcome address that concept papers of various subjects are available on My Gov portal. The university should organise contemplation programmes on them for students. Motivate and encourage students for suggestions. Reward them also. The vote of thanks was expressed by the Registrar of Barkatullah.

Patel was greeted with shawl and shrifal. Professors, scholars and students from various universities of the state also participated in the programme through virtual medium.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday spoke to his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen and discussed the situation in Gaza, Lebanon and the safety of maritime traffic in the region.

The phone conversation came two days after Jaishankar spoke to Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh.

"Just spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister @elicoh1. Discussed the Gaza situation, Lebanon and safety of maritime traffic in the region. Will continue to remain in touch," the external affairs minister posted on X.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Tuesday hardened his stand against Pinarayi Vijayan over the Student Federation of India's (SFI) ongoing stir against him, reiterating that it was a "conspiracy" hatched by the Chief Minister while the protesters were acting as per his "instructions".

Just because the state government is led by the communists, Kerala does not become a totalitarian or a dictatorial state and "law shall prevail" there, he said. Khan was speaking to reporters in New Delhi a day after he accused the CM of 'conspiring' to hurt him physically. He noted that if anybody tries to overhaul the Governor, it is a cognizable offence and has to be dealt with under section 124 of IPC. The Governor said he has already sent messages to the Chief Secretary and the state DGP making it clear that mere hauling up was not enough.

"This conspiracy has been hatched by the Chief Minister. It is as per his instruction, these people are working," Khan charged. "Who's the Home Minister? The Chief Minister... Everything is being done as per his direction. It is he who has hatched this conspiracy and three days before these things happened, he made a public statement...," he said. He further said it is the start of the collapse of the Constitutional machinery in Kerala.

Recounting the dramatic protest against him on Monday, Khan said if it was not a high-end car, the windows would have shattered. He also justified stepping out of his vehicle when the black flag protest by SFI activists were going on. "... Should I stay inside and wait till they shatter my car's window and injure me?" he asked.

The Governor also sought to know what sections were invoked against KSU activists for throwing chappals against a bus in which the CM and the other ministers were travelling as part of the Nava Keralam programme. Meanwhile, SFI leadership on Tuesday made it clear that they would continue their agitation against Governor Khan and his alleged moves to saffronise the universities in the southern state.

SFI state secretary P M Arsho accused the Governor of initiating various steps to saffronise the state universities and said nominating people with RSS and BJP background to the senates of Kerala and Calicut universities was the last instance in this regard. He said they were protesting against the saffronisation of the universities by the Chancellor.

"Across the country we are seeing the RSS and the sangh parivar implementing their agenda and taking over the universities. We will continue our protest against filling up the universities with sangh parivar activists," he told reporters here. Ministers P Rajeev, A K Saseendran and V A Mohammed Riyas came out in support of SFI while hitting out at Khan. Riyas targetted the opposition Congress for coming down on the ruling party's youth outfit in this connection, saying they were preaching the politics of BJP inside and outside the Assembly.

"What the SFI has done is an act worthy of appreciation. But, instead the Congress and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan are playing the politics of BJP," he alleged. Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and Union Minister V Muraleedharan trained his guns on the CPI (M)-led government in the state over the Governor's charges, saying the incident reflects the state of law and order in the southern state.

The Kerala CM and the Communist Party Secretary has been issuing threats to the Governor during the last few weeks, he alleged. "The fact that the Governor is upholding the law and constitutional values besides taking a firm stand against the corruption and nepotism of the state government and the fact that the Supreme Court has upheld the view of the Governor has made the left party take up the issue to the streets," the union minister alleged.

Governor Khan continued his tirade against LDF government and Chief Minister Vijayan after his vehicle was allegedly hit by activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPI(M), while he was on his way to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to leave for Delhi on Monday evening. Eighteen SFI activists were later arrested in connection with that incident.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed National Conference leader Omar Abdullah's plea seeking divorce from his estranged wife, saying there was no merit in his appeal.

A bench of Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vikas Mahajan upheld an order of the trial court which had also refused to grant divorce to Abdullah.

The high court said there was no merit in the appeal filed by the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister challenging the trial court's 2016 verdict.

Abdullah has sought divorce from estranged wife Payal Abdullah on grounds that he was subjected to cruelty by her.

"We find no infirmity in the view taken by the family court that the allegations of cruelty were vague and unacceptable, that the appellant failed to prove any act which could be termed as an act of cruelty, be it physical or mental, towards him," the bench said while pronouncing the judgment.

On August 30, 2016, the trial court had dismissed Abdullah's plea seeking divorce.

The trial court had said Abdullah could not prove his claims of "cruelty" or "desertion" which were the grounds alleged by him for grant of decree of divorce.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday invoked a popular crime series to assail the Congress on the recovery of more than Rs 350 crore from premises linked to its MP Dhiraj Prasad Sahu.

The prime minister made the remarks in reaction to a post on X by the BJP in which it shared a video showing pictures of Sahu with senior Congress leaders, including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, and the piles of cash recovered during Income Tax raids on premises linked to the Jharkhand MP.

The BJP captioned the video "Congress presents the Money Heist!" while the series' popular title song plays in the background.

"In India, who needs 'Money Heist' fiction, when you have the Congress Party, whose heists are legendary for 70 years and counting," the prime minister said in his post.

The cash seizure in the Income Tax department's searches against Odisha-based Boudh Distillery Private Limited owned by the family of Sahu -- the Congress' Rajya Sabha MP -- has been calculated at Rs 351 crore and is the "highest-ever" haul in a single action by any probe agency in the country, official sources had said on Sunday.
Visibly tired and frustrated top United Nations officials urged climate talks to push harder for an end to fossil fuels. Time seems to be running out both in the talks in Dubai and for action that could keep warming at or below the internationally agreed-upon threshold.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres returned to the summit on Monday and said it was time to go into overdrive, to negotiate in good faith, and rise to the challenge. He said negotiators at the COP28 summit in particular must focus on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and climate justice.

He said the global stocktake  the part of talks that assesses where the world is at with its climate goals and how it can reach them  should phase out all fossil fuels in order to reach the goal of limiting the rise of global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) compared with pre-industrial times. That phase-out was, he said, a central aspect for the summit to be considered a success. We cant keep kicking the can down the road, Guterres said in brief remarks. We are out of road and almost out of time.

What is very clear is that the bar for success is high, said EU Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra.

And that is not because these Europeans say so, or because small islands say so, or Africa or Latin America say so. But because scientists tell us that we have no alternative if we want to keep future generations safe.

Delegates were still waiting on a new text on Monday afternoon.

Why hasnt the text arrived? Because it is difficult, said Dan Jorgensen, Denmarks minister of climate policy. Hopefully at this COP, we will also be able to make the political decisions making this transition real so that we can stay below 1.5 degrees. Just after 3 p.m., COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber walked out with an entourage and headed for an electric cart while speaking on the phone.

He was asked if delegates were getting close to a final text. He didnt respond, but smiled, waved and gave a thumbs up to an Associated Press journalist before being driven off.

Earlier on Monday, Emirati officials cancelled a hastily called news conference with al-Jaber, then cancelled another with another official in the early afternoon. They offered no explanation for the cancellations, which drew into question an earlier promise by al-Jaber to bring the COP to an end sharply at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

They were part of a series of cancellations by prominent negotiators.

Guterres brought back up the concept of a two-track phase-down of fossil fuels between wealthy nations acting faster and harder and giving more time and money to poorer countries.

Other negotiators, including Norways Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, have also floated the idea, but it hasnt been prominent in negotiating texts.

Activists responded with scepticism of the plan.

Nnimmo Bassey, a longtime Nigerian environmental activist, said that the ultimate goal should be for fossil fuels to be kept in the ground as Indigenous communities around the world have often borne the cost of oil exploration.

We cant keep on running the tap while pretending were mopping the floor, Bassey said. We have to turn off the taps.

The presidency of the conference  run by al-Jaber, whos CEO of the United Arab Emirates national oil company  recognises that for this to be viewed as a success, we need to find some agreement on fossil fuels, said Steven Guilbeault, Canadian environment minister and one of eight super-negotiators tasked with helping find common ground.

I think if we cant do that, people will see this as a failure, even though weve agreed on lots of other good things.

But Guilbeault said, Im confident we can finish tomorrow.

Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, told journalists Monday morning that the climate wolves remained at the worlds doors as negotiations reach their climax at the summit. We do not have a minute to lose in this crucial final stretch and none of us have had much sleep, Stiell said. One thing is for certain: I win, you lose is a recipe for collective failure, he said.

Negotiators from powerhouses United States and China were working together Monday morning.

But there were signs of trouble all around. Sticking points for the global stocktake are along familiar lines. Many countries, including small island states, European countries and Latin American nations, are calling for a phase-out of fossil fuels, responsible for most of the warming on Earth. But other nations want weaker language that will allow oil, gas and coal to keep burning in some way.

One of the major players in all this is India, which in 2021 torpedoed the idea of a phase-out of coal but then in 2022 proposed the idea of phasing out all fossil fuels, not just coal, which never got on the agenda in last years climate talks. Its now the centre point of discussion.

The worlds most populous nation, and No. 3 carbon dioxide emitter, is trying to be both ambitious yet keep the backbone of its economy, coal, said Vaibhav Chaturvedi of New Delhi-based Council on Energy, Environment and Water.

Alden Meyer, an analyst with climate think tank E3G, said Saudi Arabia was trying to mobilise the other members of the OPEC oil cartel to object to any inclusion of fossil fuels in the text  which he said would violate the terms of the Paris climate accord. This could be a very long week, he said.

Canadas Guilbeault said OPEC countries are being very unwilling to even contemplate even a conversation, and I think thats unhelpful.

Joseph Sikulu, a Pacific climate warrior who was protesting outside of Guterres briefing, said, we know that on the inside of the negotiations the high exploiting countries like the US, Saudi Arabia, Australia, are the ones who are blocking on the phase out of fossil fuels.

We need them to step aside ... so that we can get the results that are needed from these negotiations, Sikulu said. Norways Barth Eide said all countries want ambition, but some countries have their priorities one place and other countries another place. ... So this can still both end up as a very successful COP, and it can also be much less successful depending on where we find the final language. Commenting on the wait for a new text, Barth Eide said: I am much more concerned about having a good text than an early text. So if the hours delay means that it will be better, I think thats worth it.
Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Ambev (NYSE:ABEV  Free Report) from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report issued on Friday, Marketbeat reports.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on ABEV. TheStreet raised Ambev from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Citigroup assumed coverage on Ambev in a research note on Thursday, December 7th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Ambev in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. They issued a hold rating and a $2.86 price objective for the company. Finally, StockNews.com raised Ambev from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $3.30.

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Ambev Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:ABEV opened at $2.89 on Friday. Ambev has a 12-month low of $2.40 and a 12-month high of $3.23. The company has a market capitalization of $45.52 billion, a PE ratio of 16.06, a PEG ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 1.12. The business has a 50 day moving average of $2.66 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2.84. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03.

Ambev (NYSE:ABEV  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 31st. The company reported $0.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.04 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $4.16 billion during the quarter. Ambev had a return on equity of 17.95% and a net margin of 18.24%. As a group, analysts forecast that Ambev will post 0.18 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ambev

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Westwood Global Investments LLC lifted its stake in Ambev by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Westwood Global Investments LLC now owns 107,182,643 shares of the companys stock worth $276,531,000 after acquiring an additional 3,229,411 shares in the last quarter. Ruffer LLP lifted its stake in Ambev by 43.6% during the 1st quarter. Ruffer LLP now owns 61,508,434 shares of the companys stock worth $173,136,000 after acquiring an additional 18,665,224 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in Ambev by 8.1% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 58,604,106 shares of the companys stock worth $186,361,000 after acquiring an additional 4,368,652 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its stake in Ambev by 244.5% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 43,146,270 shares of the companys stock worth $108,297,000 after acquiring an additional 30,623,051 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ninety One UK Ltd raised its position in Ambev by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd now owns 41,739,872 shares of the companys stock valued at $132,733,000 after purchasing an additional 1,990,903 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.37% of the companys stock.

Ambev Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Ambev SA, through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, and sale of beer, draft beer, carbonated soft drinks, other non-alcoholic beverages, malt, and food products. It offers beer primarily under the Skol, Brahma, Antarctica, Brahva, Budweiser, Bud Light, Beck, Leffe and Hoegaarden, Bucanero, Cristal, Mayabe, Presidente, Presidente Light, Brahma Light, Bohemia, The One, Corona, Modelo Especial, Stella Artois, Quilmes Clasica, Pacena, Taquina, Huari, Becker, Cusquena, Michelob Ultra, Busch, Pilsen, Ouro Fino, Banks, Deputy, Patricia, Labatt Blue, Alexander Keith's, and Kokanee brands.

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of China Green Agriculture (NYSE:CGA  Get Free Report) in a research note issued on Sunday. The firm set a sell rating on the basic materials companys stock.

China Green Agriculture Stock Up 2.0 %

China Green Agriculture stock opened at $2.10 on Friday. China Green Agriculture has a twelve month low of $1.61 and a twelve month high of $5.08. The business has a fifty day moving average of $2.07 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2.40. The company has a quick ratio of 1.77, a current ratio of 2.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. The firm has a market cap of $28.10 million, a P/E ratio of -1.94 and a beta of 0.61.

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China Green Agriculture (NYSE:CGA  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 20th. The basic materials company reported ($0.13) EPS for the quarter. China Green Agriculture had a negative net margin of 12.22% and a negative return on equity of 10.86%. The business had revenue of $22.40 million for the quarter.

Institutional Trading of China Green Agriculture

About China Green Agriculture

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in shares of China Green Agriculture by 67.8% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 19,051 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $192,000 after buying an additional 7,700 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP purchased a new position in shares of China Green Agriculture during the 1st quarter valued at about $115,000. Finally, Susquehanna International Group LLP purchased a new position in shares of China Green Agriculture during the 1st quarter valued at about $175,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 0.74% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

China Green Agriculture, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, production, and sale of various fertilizers, agricultural products, and bitcoin in the People's Republic of China and the United States. The company operates through four segments: Jinong (Fertilizer Production); Gufeng (Fertilizer Production); Yuxing (Agricultural Products Production); and Antaeus (Bitcoin).

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Suvretta Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 281,188 shares of the business services providers stock, valued at approximately $27,703,000. Global Payments makes up approximately 1.5% of Suvretta Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest holding. Suvretta Capital Management LLC owned about 0.11% of Global Payments as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in GPN. Oak Thistle LLC purchased a new position in shares of Global Payments in the 2nd quarter valued at $1,528,000. Arizona State Retirement System increased its position in shares of Global Payments by 2.1% during the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 75,402 shares of the business services providers stock worth $7,429,000 after purchasing an additional 1,570 shares in the last quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Global Payments by 114.5% in the 2nd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 48,962 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $4,824,000 after purchasing an additional 26,131 shares during the last quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Global Payments by 12.2% in the 2nd quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 4,973 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $490,000 after purchasing an additional 541 shares during the period. Finally, Truist Financial Corp grew its stake in Global Payments by 37.3% during the 2nd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 954,370 shares of the business services providers stock worth $94,025,000 after buying an additional 259,216 shares during the last quarter. 85.23% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on GPN. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price target on shares of Global Payments from $135.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, August 17th. TD Cowen started coverage on Global Payments in a report on Friday, October 6th. They set an outperform rating and a $150.00 price target on the stock. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on Global Payments in a research report on Tuesday, December 5th. They issued a market perform rating and a $138.00 price target on the stock. Redburn Atlantic downgraded Global Payments from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and set a $105.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Finally, BTIG Research assumed coverage on Global Payments in a research note on Monday, November 20th. They set a buy rating and a $135.00 price target for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and twenty have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Global Payments presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $143.96.

Insider Buying and Selling at Global Payments

In other news, insider David Lawrence Green sold 17,920 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $112.53, for a total value of $2,016,537.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 77,411 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,711,059.83. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Global Payments Trading Up 2.1 %

Shares of GPN stock opened at $122.72 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $31.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.74, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. Global Payments Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $92.27 and a fifty-two week high of $129.70. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $112.86 and a 200-day simple moving average of $113.19.

Global Payments (NYSE:GPN  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 31st. The business services provider reported $2.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.55 by $0.20. Global Payments had a net margin of 9.23% and a return on equity of 11.28%. The firm had revenue of $2.48 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.23 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.37 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Global Payments Inc. will post 9.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Global Payments Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Investors of record on Friday, December 15th will be paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 14th. Global Paymentss payout ratio is currently 29.94%.

Global Payments Company Profile

(Free Report)

Global Payments Inc provides payment technology and software solutions for card, check, and digital-based payments in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Merchant Solutions, Issuer Solutions, and Consumer Solutions. The Merchant Solutions segment offers authorization, settlement and funding, customer support, chargeback resolution, terminal rental, sales and deployment, payment security, and consolidated billing and reporting services.

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Becker Capital Management Inc. raised its position in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSEARCA:EWU  Free Report) by 8.0% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 114,980 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 8,487 shares during the period. Becker Capital Management Inc. owned 0.13% of iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF worth $3,720,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its stake in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 91.9% during the 1st quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 971 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 465 shares during the last quarter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $32,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $51,000. US Bancorp DE boosted its stake in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF by 39.3% during the 2nd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,671 shares of the companys stock worth $54,000 after purchasing an additional 471 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SkyView Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF during the 1st quarter worth $81,000.

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iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of EWU opened at $32.56 on Tuesday. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF has a 52-week low of $30.00 and a 52-week high of $34.04. The firms fifty day moving average is $31.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $32.02. The stock has a market cap of $2.80 billion, a PE ratio of 13.02 and a beta of 0.83.

iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF Profile

The iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI United Kingdom index. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of British companies. It covers the top 85% of British companies by market cap. EWU was launched on Mar 12, 1996 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Berkshire Asset Management LLC PA cut its position in Ford Motor (NYSE:F  Free Report) by 7.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 24,022 shares of the auto manufacturers stock after selling 1,825 shares during the quarter. Berkshire Asset Management LLC PAs holdings in Ford Motor were worth $363,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in Ford Motor in the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. PFG Private Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Ford Motor by 178.1% in the 2nd quarter. PFG Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,805 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 1,156 shares during the period. Central Bank & Trust Co. bought a new stake in Ford Motor in the 2nd quarter valued at $30,000. 1832 Asset Management L.P. boosted its stake in Ford Motor by 349.4% in the 2nd quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 2,000 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 1,555 shares during the period. Finally, Milestone Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ford Motor during the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. 52.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider John Douglas Field bought 182,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, December 8th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $11.05 per share, with a total value of $2,011,100.00. Following the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 720,176 shares in the company, valued at $7,957,944.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.80% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on F. StockNews.com began coverage on Ford Motor in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. UBS Group began coverage on Ford Motor in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. They set a buy rating and a $15.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Ford Motor from $16.00 to $15.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. Barclays upgraded Ford Motor from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $14.00 target price for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and set a $12.00 price target on shares of Ford Motor in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $14.18.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Ford Motor

Ford Motor Price Performance

Shares of F opened at $11.08 on Tuesday. Ford Motor has a 12-month low of $9.63 and a 12-month high of $15.42. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $10.86 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $12.36. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12. The stock has a market cap of $44.33 billion, a PE ratio of 7.24, a PEG ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.64.

Ford Motor (NYSE:F  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The auto manufacturer reported $0.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.40 by ($0.01). Ford Motor had a return on equity of 21.01% and a net margin of 3.54%. The firm had revenue of $43.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $43.94 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.30 EPS. Ford Motors revenue for the quarter was up 17.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Ford Motor will post 1.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ford Motor Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 1st were issued a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, October 31st. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.42%. Ford Motors payout ratio is presently 39.22%.

Ford Motor Profile

(Free Report)

Ford Motor Company develops, delivers, and services a range of Ford trucks, commercial cars and vans, sport utility vehicles, and Lincoln luxury vehicles worldwide. It operates through Ford Blue, Ford Model e, and Ford Pro; Ford Next; and Ford Credit segments. The company sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, and accessories through distributors and dealers, as well as through dealerships to commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments.

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BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Get Free Report) was upgraded by analysts at BNP Paribas from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research report issued on Tuesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm presently has a $885.00 target price on the asset managers stock. BNP Paribas price objective would indicate a potential upside of 17.63% from the companys previous close.

BLK has been the topic of a number of other reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on BlackRock from $814.00 to $800.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on BlackRock from $719.00 to $793.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on BlackRock from $736.00 to $708.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 16th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on BlackRock from $836.00 to $897.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on BlackRock from $820.00 to $720.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $771.54.

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View Our Latest Analysis on BlackRock

BlackRock Stock Up 1.0 %

BLK stock opened at $752.39 on Tuesday. BlackRock has a twelve month low of $596.18 and a twelve month high of $781.77. The company has a quick ratio of 3.72, a current ratio of 3.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The stocks 50 day moving average is $673.38 and its 200-day moving average is $686.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $111.93 billion, a PE ratio of 21.10, a P/E/G ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.33.

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The asset manager reported $10.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.34 by $2.57. The company had revenue of $4.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.52 billion. BlackRock had a return on equity of 14.65% and a net margin of 30.66%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $9.55 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that BlackRock will post 36.85 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at BlackRock

In related news, CEO Laurence Fink sold 15,385 shares of BlackRock stock in a transaction on Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $652.03, for a total transaction of $10,031,481.55. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 435,260 shares of the companys stock, valued at $283,802,577.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.96% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On BlackRock

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its stake in BlackRock by 98,608.8% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 96,772,169 shares of the asset managers stock worth $66,883,117,000 after purchasing an additional 96,674,131 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of BlackRock by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,152,336 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $4,252,126,000 after acquiring an additional 138,455 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of BlackRock by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,369,035 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $2,178,048,000 after acquiring an additional 104,844 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of BlackRock by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,329,550 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $2,148,586,000 after acquiring an additional 35,161 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors lifted its stake in shares of BlackRock by 9.0% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 3,096,970 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $2,140,439,000 after acquiring an additional 255,249 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 77.01% of the companys stock.

BlackRock Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks.

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State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. reduced its stake in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 17,363,691 shares of the companys stock after selling 47,034 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for 8.0% of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.s investment portfolio, making the stock its largest position. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $8,143,224,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $107,000. Roundview Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 2,056 shares of the companys stock valued at $589,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $210,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 9.9% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 53,052 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,193,000 after purchasing an additional 4,774 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barometer Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $561,000. 81.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Eli Lilly and Company

In other Eli Lilly and Company news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $571.10, for a total transaction of $382,637.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 4,708 shares in the company, valued at $2,688,738.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Eli Lilly and Company news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $571.10, for a total transaction of $382,637.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 4,708 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,688,738.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $605.44, for a total value of $130,169,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 99,768,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $60,404,028,326.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.13% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $600.00 to $700.00 in a research report on Friday, October 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Wednesday, November 8th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $525.00 to $675.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 23rd. Argus upped their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $470.00 to $620.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, November 9th. They issued a hold rating and a $535.00 target price for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eighteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Eli Lilly and Company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $570.82.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on LLY

Eli Lilly and Company Trading Down 2.3 %

NYSE LLY opened at $584.25 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $586.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is $527.86. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52 week low of $309.20 and a 52 week high of $629.97. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59. The stock has a market cap of $554.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 105.84, a PEG ratio of 3.63 and a beta of 0.33.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.08) by $0.18. The business had revenue of $9.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.88 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.55% and a return on equity of 48.12%. Equities research analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 6.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. This is a positive change from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.89%. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is presently 81.88%.

About Eli Lilly and Company

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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Unifi (NYSE:UFI  Get Free Report) and Toray Industries (OTCMKTS:TRYIY  Get Free Report) are both industrial products companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership and profitability.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

68.5% of Unifi shares are owned by institutional investors. 12.9% of Unifi shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Risk and Volatility

Unifi has a beta of 0.79, meaning that its stock price is 21% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Toray Industries has a beta of 0.71, meaning that its stock price is 29% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Unifi 0 0 1 0 3.00 Toray Industries 0 1 0 0 2.00

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Unifi and Toray Industries, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Unifi and Toray Industries top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Unifi $623.53 million 0.18 -$46.34 million ($2.87) -2.19 Toray Industries $18.43 billion N/A $538.89 million $0.38 26.34

Toray Industries has higher revenue and earnings than Unifi. Unifi is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Toray Industries, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Unifi and Toray Industries net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Unifi -8.88% -14.39% -8.75% Toray Industries 1.72% 2.49% 1.27%

Summary

Toray Industries beats Unifi on 7 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Unifi

(Get Free Report)

Unifi, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells recycled and synthetic products in the United States, China, Brazil, and internationally. Its polyester products include partially oriented yarn, textured, solution and package dyed, twisted, beamed, and draw wound yarns in virgin or recycled varieties; and nylon products comprise virgin or recycled textured, solution dyed, and spandex covered yarns. The company also provides recycled solutions made from pre-consumer and post-consumer waste, such as plastic bottle flakes, and polyester polymer beads, and staple fiber. It offers recycled and synthetic products primarily to yarn manufacturers, knitters, and weavers that produce yarn and fabric for the apparel, hosiery, automotive, home furnishings, industrial, medical, and other end-use markets. The company sells its products through sales force and independent sales agents under the REPREVE brand. Unifi, Inc. was incorporated in 1969 and is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina.

About Toray Industries

(Get Free Report)

Toray Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, processes, and sells fibers and textiles, performance chemicals, carbon fiber composite materials, environment and engineering products, and life science products in Japan, China, North America, Europe, and internationally. The company offers filament yarns, staple fibers, and spun yarns, as well as woven and knitted fabrics of nylon, polyester, acrylics, and others; non-woven fabrics; ultra-fine fibers; and apparel products. It also provides nylon, ABS, PBT, PPS, and other resins and molded products; polyolefin foam products; polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, and other films; processed film products; raw materials for synthetic fibers and other plastics; fine chemicals; electronic and information materials; and graphic materials. In addition, the company offers carbon fibers, carbon fiber composite materials, and molded products; analysis, physical evaluation, research, and other services; and pharmaceuticals, medical devices, etc. Further, it provides engineering services; condominiums; industrial equipment and machinery; IT-related equipment; water treatment membranes and related equipment; and materials for housing, building, and civil engineering applications. The company was formerly known as Toyo Rayon Co., Ltd. and changed its name to Toray Industries, Inc. in 1970. The company was incorporated in 1926 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

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Grant Street Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 4.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,148 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the quarter. Grant Street Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $234,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado raised its position in Abbott Laboratories by 9.8% during the second quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 1,415,759 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $154,346,000 after purchasing an additional 126,547 shares during the period. Core Alternative Capital raised its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 27.0% during the 2nd quarter. Core Alternative Capital now owns 1,290 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $141,000 after buying an additional 274 shares during the period. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 315.5% during the first quarter. Fort Sheridan Advisors LLC now owns 12,182 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,234,000 after buying an additional 9,250 shares during the period. Freestone Capital Holdings LLC increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 12.8% during the first quarter. Freestone Capital Holdings LLC now owns 99,836 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $10,109,000 after acquiring an additional 11,303 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Harbour Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.5% in the first quarter. Harbour Investment Management LLC now owns 26,750 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,709,000 after acquiring an additional 138 shares during the period. 73.70% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently commented on ABT shares. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. TheStreet lowered Abbott Laboratories from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Citigroup reduced their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $130.00 to $122.00 in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $136.00 to $116.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 19th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $130.00 to $118.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 19th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $117.47.

Insider Buying and Selling at Abbott Laboratories

In other news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.05, for a total value of $4,702,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 6,725,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $632,515,969.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Abbott Laboratories Stock Up 1.6 %

Shares of Abbott Laboratories stock opened at $106.22 on Tuesday. Abbott Laboratories has a 1 year low of $89.67 and a 1 year high of $115.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.74 and a quick ratio of 1.23. The stock has a market cap of $184.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.13, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.70. The firms 50-day moving average is $97.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $102.35.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 18th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.10 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $10.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.82 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 12.92% and a return on equity of 20.15%. Abbott Laboratoriess revenue was down 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.15 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Investors of record on Friday, October 13th were given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.92%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 12th. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is currently 69.39%.

Abbott Laboratories Company Profile

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Meniere's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

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Grant Street Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in Visa Inc. (NYSE:V  Free Report) by 27.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,730 shares of the credit-card processors stock after acquiring an additional 375 shares during the period. Grant Street Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Visa were worth $411,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of V. Cibc World Market Inc. grew its position in shares of Visa by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 783,402 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $186,042,000 after acquiring an additional 14,022 shares during the period. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in Visa by 43.0% in the second quarter. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. now owns 3,398 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $807,000 after purchasing an additional 1,022 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC grew its holdings in Visa by 7.1% during the second quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 124,045 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $29,458,000 after purchasing an additional 8,217 shares during the period. Atomi Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Visa in the first quarter worth $677,000. Finally, CCLA Investment Management raised its stake in shares of Visa by 12.0% in the second quarter. CCLA Investment Management now owns 565,685 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $134,190,000 after buying an additional 60,585 shares during the period. 81.35% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Visa

In other Visa news, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 8,150 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $255.79, for a total value of $2,084,688.50. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 29,152 shares in the company, valued at $7,456,790.08. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Chairman Alfred F. Kelly, Jr. sold 40,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $236.14, for a total value of $9,445,600.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 139,854 shares in the company, valued at approximately $33,025,123.56. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 8,150 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $255.79, for a total transaction of $2,084,688.50. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 29,152 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,456,790.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 89,111 shares of company stock valued at $21,714,049 in the last three months. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Visa Price Performance

Shares of Visa stock opened at $256.48 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $470.81 billion, a PE ratio of 30.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.95. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $243.58 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $239.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 1.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. Visa Inc. has a 12-month low of $202.13 and a 12-month high of $257.63.

Visa (NYSE:V  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The credit-card processor reported $2.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.23 by $0.10. Visa had a return on equity of 50.13% and a net margin of 52.90%. The firm had revenue of $8.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.56 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.93 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Visa Inc. will post 9.9 EPS for the current year.

Visa Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 9th were issued a dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.81%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, November 8th. This is a boost from Visas previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. Visas payout ratio is 25.09%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Visa from $285.00 to $278.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 30th. HSBC started coverage on shares of Visa in a report on Friday, October 13th. They set a hold rating and a $266.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group initiated coverage on Visa in a research report on Friday, October 20th. They issued a buy rating and a $295.00 price target for the company. Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and set a $270.00 price objective on shares of Visa in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on Visa in a report on Tuesday, December 5th. They set an outperform rating and a $280.00 target price for the company. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $276.48.

View Our Latest Analysis on Visa

About Visa

(Free Report)

Visa Inc operates as a payments technology company in the United States and internationally. The company operates VisaNet, a transaction processing network that enables authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions. It also offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products; tap to pay, tokenization, click to pay; Visa Direct, a person-to-person digital payments apps; Visa B2B Connect, a multilateral business-to-business cross-border payments network; Visa Cross-Border Solutions, a cross-border consumer payments business; and Visa DPS that provides a range of value added services, including fraud mitigation, dispute management, data analytics, campaign management, a suite of digital solutions, and contact center services.

Further Reading

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Hawk Ridge Capital Management LP increased its position in Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS  Free Report) by 74.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,452,388 shares of the information technology services providers stock after acquiring an additional 618,400 shares during the period. Fidelity National Information Services comprises about 4.2% of Hawk Ridge Capital Management LPs investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest holding. Hawk Ridge Capital Management LP owned 0.25% of Fidelity National Information Services worth $79,446,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. EA Series Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Fidelity National Information Services during the 2nd quarter valued at about $230,000. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Fidelity National Information Services by 29.7% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 19,909 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,089,000 after acquiring an additional 4,558 shares during the last quarter. Cramer Rosenthal Mcglynn LLC bought a new stake in shares of Fidelity National Information Services during the 2nd quarter valued at $14,862,000. AMF Tjanstepension AB purchased a new stake in shares of Fidelity National Information Services in the 2nd quarter worth $6,911,000. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Fidelity National Information Services by 78.6% in the 1st quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 130,921 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $7,113,000 after purchasing an additional 57,623 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.67% of the companys stock.

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Fidelity National Information Services Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE FIS opened at $58.71 on Tuesday. Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $46.91 and a 1-year high of $79.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.76 and a quick ratio of 0.76. The businesss 50 day moving average is $53.58 and its two-hundred day moving average is $55.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $34.78 billion, a P/E ratio of -1.43, a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 0.90.

Fidelity National Information Services Announces Dividend

Fidelity National Information Services ( NYSE:FIS Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, November 7th. The information technology services provider reported $0.94 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.59 by ($0.65). Fidelity National Information Services had a negative net margin of 180.32% and a positive return on equity of 13.89%. As a group, research analysts expect that Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. will post 3.52 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 8th will be issued a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 7th. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.54%. Fidelity National Information Servicess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -5.08%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Ellen R. Alemany acquired 855 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 17th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $53.00 per share, with a total value of $45,315.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 4,598 shares in the company, valued at $243,694. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.56% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on Fidelity National Information Services from $71.00 to $67.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 8th. Barclays upgraded shares of Fidelity National Information Services from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price target for the stock from $62.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Thursday, October 19th. UBS Group restated a neutral rating and set a $58.00 price objective on shares of Fidelity National Information Services in a research report on Friday, October 20th. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Fidelity National Information Services from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, November 8th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Fidelity National Information Services in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $66.00.

View Our Latest Analysis on Fidelity National Information Services

Fidelity National Information Services Company Profile

(Free Report)

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc provides technology solutions for financial institutions and businesses worldwide. It operates through Banking Solutions, Merchant Solutions, and Capital Market Solutions segments. The Banking Solutions segment provides core processing and ancillary applications; mobile and online banking; fraud, risk management, and compliance; electronic funds transfer and network; card and retail payment; wealth and retirement; and item processing and output solutions.

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Hilltop Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM  Free Report) by 4.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 34,079 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 1,439 shares during the quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc.s holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $4,956,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of JPM. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 97,681.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 2,056,747,063 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $299,133,293,000 after purchasing an additional 2,054,643,659 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 126,243,947 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $18,360,920,000 after purchasing an additional 2,384,901 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 105,652.2% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 98,000,567 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $13,141,876,000 after purchasing an additional 97,907,897 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley boosted its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 15.9% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 59,049,256 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $7,918,506,000 after purchasing an additional 8,088,433 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 2.0% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 53,367,497 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $7,740,212,000 after purchasing an additional 1,057,041 shares in the last quarter. 68.94% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. Trading Up 0.4 %

JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock opened at $159.10 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $147.83 and a 200 day moving average of $147.34. The firm has a market capitalization of $459.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.50, a P/E/G ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 1.13. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 12-month low of $123.11 and a 12-month high of $159.38. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Increases Dividend

JPMorgan Chase & Co. ( NYSE:JPM Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Friday, October 13th. The financial services provider reported $4.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.95 by $0.38. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a net margin of 22.79% and a return on equity of 17.97%. The company had revenue of $40.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $39.63 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.12 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 24.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 16.62 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 6th were issued a dividend of $1.05 per share. This is a positive change from JPMorgan Chase & Co.s previous quarterly dividend of $1.00. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.64%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 25.07%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on JPM shares. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $176.00 to $169.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. Odeon Capital Group cut shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $140.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, November 2nd. Oppenheimer upped their target price on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $233.00 to $243.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. HSBC initiated coverage on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Thursday, September 7th. They set a hold rating and a $159.00 target price on the stock. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $167.00 to $171.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $168.80.

View Our Latest Research Report on JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Company Profile

(Free Report)

JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). The CCB segment offers deposit, investment and lending products, cash management, and payments and services to consumers and small businesses; mortgage origination and servicing activities; residential mortgages and home equity loans; and credit cards, auto loans, leases, and travel services.

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Hilltop Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Free Report) by 0.4% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 58,455 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 241 shares during the quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc.s holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $3,520,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of KO. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 103,297.9% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 57,734,303 shares of the companys stock worth $3,672,479,000 after acquiring an additional 57,678,466 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Coca-Cola during the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,937,315,000. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 15.7% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 79,101,856 shares of the companys stock worth $5,031,669,000 after acquiring an additional 10,722,435 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC lifted its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 164.7% during the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 14,430,093 shares of the companys stock worth $868,981,000 after acquiring an additional 8,979,379 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can bought a new stake in shares of Coca-Cola during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $429,854,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.96% of the companys stock.

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Coca-Cola Stock Up 0.7 %

Coca-Cola stock opened at $59.04 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.14. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $56.35 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $58.80. The company has a market cap of $255.25 billion, a PE ratio of 23.71, a PEG ratio of 3.54 and a beta of 0.58. The Coca-Cola Company has a fifty-two week low of $51.55 and a fifty-two week high of $64.99.

Coca-Cola Announces Dividend

Coca-Cola ( NYSE:KO Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 24th. The company reported $0.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $11.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.45 billion. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 42.44% and a net margin of 23.92%. Equities analysts anticipate that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.68 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Investors of record on Friday, December 1st will be issued a $0.46 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.12%. Coca-Colas payout ratio is 73.90%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have weighed in on KO. Citigroup decreased their target price on Coca-Cola from $74.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 11th. Bank of America decreased their target price on Coca-Cola from $74.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 17th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Coca-Cola in a research report on Monday, November 13th. They set a hold rating and a $64.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com lowered Coca-Cola from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, October 13th. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $59.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 12th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $66.20.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Coca-Cola

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Henrique Braun sold 52,696 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.97, for a total value of $3,002,091.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 26,272 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,496,715.84. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Coca-Cola news, SVP Beatriz R. Perez sold 20,534 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.12, for a total transaction of $1,152,368.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 143,383 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,046,653.96. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Henrique Braun sold 52,696 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.97, for a total value of $3,002,091.12. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 26,272 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,496,715.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 349,316 shares of company stock valued at $19,716,506. 1.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Coca-Cola Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores.

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Holocene Advisors LP acquired a new stake in Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 3,076,716 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock, valued at approximately $132,822,000. Holocene Advisors LP owned 0.15% of Uber Technologies at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Horizon Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Uber Technologies by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. Horizon Investments LLC now owns 10,529 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $455,000 after acquiring an additional 240 shares during the period. Ellevest Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Uber Technologies by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 16,832 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $727,000 after buying an additional 250 shares during the period. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in Uber Technologies by 66.5% in the 2nd quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 651 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 260 shares during the last quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC raised its holdings in Uber Technologies by 2.0% in the 2nd quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC now owns 13,254 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $572,000 after acquiring an additional 261 shares during the period. Finally, Krilogy Financial LLC lifted its position in Uber Technologies by 0.5% during the second quarter. Krilogy Financial LLC now owns 57,233 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $2,471,000 after acquiring an additional 262 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.07% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi sold 50,016 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total value of $2,500,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,266,227 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $63,311,350. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi sold 50,016 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total transaction of $2,500,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,266,227 shares of the companys stock, valued at $63,311,350. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Tony West sold 18,750 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.40, for a total transaction of $963,750.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 181,339 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,320,824.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 187,616 shares of company stock valued at $9,747,789. 3.84% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on UBER shares. Loop Capital increased their target price on Uber Technologies from $48.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, August 14th. Needham & Company LLC reissued a buy rating and set a $63.00 target price on shares of Uber Technologies in a report on Thursday, November 30th. KeyCorp upgraded shares of Uber Technologies from a sector weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $60.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 3rd. Roth Mkm boosted their price objective on shares of Uber Technologies from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 8th. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their price target on shares of Uber Technologies from $60.00 to $58.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 8th. Thirty investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Uber Technologies currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $57.03.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on UBER

Uber Technologies Price Performance

NYSE:UBER opened at $62.46 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market cap of $128.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 127.47 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $49.98 and a 200-day moving average price of $46.40. Uber Technologies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $23.90 and a 1-year high of $62.99.

Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 7th. The ride-sharing company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.13 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $9.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.47 billion. Uber Technologies had a return on equity of 11.74% and a net margin of 2.93%. Equities research analysts forecast that Uber Technologies, Inc. will post 0.37 EPS for the current year.

Uber Technologies Company Profile

(Free Report)

Uber Technologies, Inc develops and operates proprietary technology applications in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia excluding China and Southeast Asia. It operates through three segments: Mobility, Delivery, and Freight. The Mobility segment connects consumers with a range of transportation modalities, such as ridesharing, carsharing, micromobility, rentals, public transit, taxis, and other modalities; and offers riders in a variety of vehicle types, as well as financial partnerships products and advertising services.

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Hutner Capital Management Inc. decreased its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 2.1% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 103,945 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,215 shares during the quarter. Altria Group makes up 2.8% of Hutner Capital Management Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest holding. Hutner Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Altria Group were worth $4,709,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P bought a new position in Altria Group in the first quarter valued at about $25,000. Northwest Bank & Trust Co bought a new position in Altria Group in the second quarter valued at about $27,000. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in Altria Group in the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in Altria Group in the first quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. bought a new position in Altria Group in the first quarter valued at about $41,000. Institutional investors own 58.94% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on MO shares. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Altria Group from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, October 13th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Altria Group from $40.40 to $39.20 and set a sell rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Bank of America decreased their price objective on Altria Group from $49.00 to $47.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. StockNews.com raised Altria Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price objective on Altria Group from $46.50 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $47.53.

Altria Group Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of MO opened at $41.40 on Tuesday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $41.42 and its 200 day moving average is $43.27. The company has a market capitalization of $73.21 billion, a PE ratio of 8.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.66. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $39.06 and a 12-month high of $51.57.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.29 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $5.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.43 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 35.58% and a negative return on equity of 237.91%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.28 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.98 per share. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 20th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 79.84%.

Insider Activity at Altria Group

In other Altria Group news, Director Robert Matthews Davis bought 1,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 6th. The shares were bought at an average price of $40.50 per share, with a total value of $48,600.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 8,473 shares of the companys stock, valued at $343,156.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.07% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Altria Group Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco products and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; and on! oral nicotine pouches.

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Hantz Financial Services Inc. lessened its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF  Free Report) by 0.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 128,960 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 47 shares during the quarter. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF makes up about 11.3% of Hantz Financial Services Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 3rd biggest holding. Hantz Financial Services Inc. owned 0.05% of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF worth $35,487,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P lifted its position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 34.1% in the first quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 26,203 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $7,275,000 after buying an additional 6,665 shares during the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF during the first quarter valued at about $42,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 11.6% during the 1st quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 6,211 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,724,000 after purchasing an additional 644 shares in the last quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC increased its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 7,595 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,109,000 after buying an additional 272 shares during the period. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $33,422,000.

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iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Price Performance

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF stock opened at $294.44 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $75.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.14 and a beta of 1.08. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $278.38 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $275.25. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a 52-week low of $209.27 and a 52-week high of $294.53.

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Profile

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth.

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Steadfast Capital Management LP grew its stake in Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX  Free Report) by 27.6% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 2,084,954 shares of the medical equipment providers stock after purchasing an additional 451,029 shares during the period. Boston Scientific makes up about 3.0% of Steadfast Capital Management LPs portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest position. Steadfast Capital Management LPs holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $112,775,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Holocene Advisors LP raised its holdings in Boston Scientific by 39.4% in the 2nd quarter. Holocene Advisors LP now owns 6,071,767 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $328,422,000 after purchasing an additional 1,717,569 shares in the last quarter. Horizon Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 19.9% in the 2nd quarter. Horizon Investments LLC now owns 10,828 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $586,000 after acquiring an additional 1,796 shares in the last quarter. Investment Management Corp of Ontario bought a new position in shares of Boston Scientific in the 2nd quarter worth about $472,000. Iron Triangle Partners LP bought a new position in shares of Boston Scientific in the 2nd quarter worth about $45,976,000. Finally, Junto Capital Management LP increased its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 496.0% in the 2nd quarter. Junto Capital Management LP now owns 2,080,587 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $112,539,000 after acquiring an additional 1,731,478 shares in the last quarter. 89.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Boston Scientific Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE BSX opened at $55.27 on Tuesday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $52.74 and its 200-day moving average price is $52.58. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The company has a market cap of $80.96 billion, a PE ratio of 67.40, a PEG ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.78. Boston Scientific Co. has a 52-week low of $44.35 and a 52-week high of $56.22.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Boston Scientific ( NYSE:BSX Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 26th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $3.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.48 billion. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 8.93% and a return on equity of 15.46%. The firms revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.43 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Boston Scientific Co. will post 2.01 EPS for the current year.

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on shares of Boston Scientific from $60.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 27th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Boston Scientific in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and issued a $61.00 price target on shares of Boston Scientific in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Boston Scientific from $63.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Boston Scientific from $58.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $60.70.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on BSX

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Michael F. Mahoney sold 113,356 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.51, for a total value of $5,952,323.56. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,498,922 shares in the company, valued at $78,708,394.22. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CEO Michael F. Mahoney sold 113,356 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.51, for a total value of $5,952,323.56. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,498,922 shares in the company, valued at $78,708,394.22. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Joseph Michael Fitzgerald sold 15,867 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.00, for a total transaction of $872,685.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 197,992 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,889,560. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 266,273 shares of company stock worth $13,959,846 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock.

Boston Scientific Profile

(Free Report)

Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through MedSurg and Cardiovascular segments. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions; devices to treat various urological and pelvic conditions; implantable cardioverter and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators; pacemakers and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers; and remote patient management systems.

Further Reading

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Suvretta Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 685,233 shares of the casino operators stock, valued at approximately $39,744,000. Las Vegas Sands makes up about 2.1% of Suvretta Capital Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Suvretta Capital Management LLC owned 0.09% of Las Vegas Sands as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. MAI Capital Management grew its stake in Las Vegas Sands by 9.9% during the 1st quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 5,471 shares of the casino operators stock worth $314,000 after purchasing an additional 491 shares in the last quarter. EA Series Trust acquired a new stake in Las Vegas Sands in the second quarter valued at approximately $3,081,000. Mutual Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Las Vegas Sands in the second quarter worth approximately $323,000. Wedmont Private Capital acquired a new position in Las Vegas Sands during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $260,000. Finally, MUFG Securities EMEA plc increased its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 104.0% in the 2nd quarter. MUFG Securities EMEA plc now owns 1,930 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $112,000 after purchasing an additional 984 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 39.16% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Las Vegas Sands

In other news, major shareholder Miriam Adelson sold 12,253,628 shares of Las Vegas Sands stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.23, for a total value of $529,724,338.44. Following the sale, the insider now owns 41,134,164 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,778,229,909.72. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.91% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently commented on LVS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $71.00 to $64.00 in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. StockNews.com downgraded Las Vegas Sands from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $69.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 19th. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $68.00 to $64.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 13th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $69.68.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Las Vegas Sands

Las Vegas Sands Stock Up 2.6 %

Shares of NYSE:LVS opened at $47.61 on Tuesday. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a 1-year low of $43.77 and a 1-year high of $65.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.82, a current ratio of 1.50 and a quick ratio of 1.50. The stock has a market cap of $36.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 54.10, a P/E/G ratio of 3.57 and a beta of 1.13. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $47.01 and a 200 day moving average price of $52.25.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, October 18th. The casino operator reported $0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.55. The business had revenue of $2.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.72 billion. Las Vegas Sands had a net margin of 7.81% and a return on equity of 21.05%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 178.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.27) earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 1.91 EPS for the current year.

Las Vegas Sands announced that its board has authorized a share buyback plan on Wednesday, October 18th that allows the company to repurchase $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the casino operator to repurchase up to 5.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually an indication that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Las Vegas Sands Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 7th were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.68%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 6th. Las Vegas Sandss payout ratio is currently 90.91%.

About Las Vegas Sands

(Free Report)

Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the People's Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

Further Reading

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Harber Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 24.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 231,822 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 46,022 shares during the quarter. Charles Schwab comprises approximately 3.5% of Harber Asset Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 12th largest position. Harber Asset Management LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $13,140,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in SCHW. Hilltop Holdings Inc. boosted its position in Charles Schwab by 7.0% in the 2nd quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. now owns 19,633 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,113,000 after buying an additional 1,281 shares during the last quarter. Horizon Investments LLC lifted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 6.5% in the 2nd quarter. Horizon Investments LLC now owns 10,481 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $592,000 after purchasing an additional 643 shares during the period. Hyperion Capital Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 46.0% in the 2nd quarter. Hyperion Capital Advisors LP now owns 149,753 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $8,488,000 after purchasing an additional 47,192 shares during the period. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 33.3% in the 2nd quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC now owns 15,166 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $860,000 after purchasing an additional 3,791 shares during the period. Finally, Becker Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Becker Capital Management Inc. now owns 791,902 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $44,885,000 after purchasing an additional 12,500 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.61% of the companys stock.

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Charles Schwab Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:SCHW opened at $63.99 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $113.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $54.97 and a 200-day moving average price of $57.35. The company has a current ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12 month low of $45.00 and a 12 month high of $86.63.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.77 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $4.61 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.62 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 30.14% and a return on equity of 24.58%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 16.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.10 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.16 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 24th. Investors of record on Friday, November 10th were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 9th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is currently 33.33%.

Insider Activity at Charles Schwab

In related news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total transaction of $217,319.52. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 44,725 shares in the company, valued at $2,563,189.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total transaction of $217,319.52. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 44,725 shares in the company, valued at $2,563,189.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Carolyn Schwab-Pomerantz sold 12,208 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.28, for a total transaction of $748,106.24. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 1,722,400 shares in the company, valued at approximately $105,548,672. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 37,194 shares of company stock worth $2,163,280 over the last 90 days. 6.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SCHW has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on Charles Schwab from $66.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on Charles Schwab in a research note on Friday, December 1st. They set a sell rating and a $52.00 price objective on the stock. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Charles Schwab from $86.00 to $75.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Charles Schwab from $92.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on Charles Schwab from $55.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $68.85.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on SCHW

Charles Schwab Profile

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Fishy Rishi Sunak is a desperate man who is running out of time as the current unelected Conservative Party Prime Minister. Time is running out rapidly for Fishy Rishi and his self-imposed target for sending illegal boat migrants to Rwanda.

Every time the British government tries to solve the problem of illegal migrants crossing the English Channel to apply for asylum, it is thwarted by the ECHR, which rules over the UK. Despite a so-called Brexit, Britain is still essentially controlled by the European Convention of Human Rights. Britain thus has zero control over its borders.

The numbers show 50,546 asylum seekers were being housed in hotels in the UK at the end of June. This is around 10% more than the 45,775 living in hotels at the end of last year. It currently costs the British taxpayer 8 million per day to house the illegal migrants in 4-star hotels across the country.

Section 4.1b

Whilst illegal migration is one thing, the Tory government dare not mention the legal migration level under the Sunak regime  net migration was 672,000; most people arriving to the UK in the YE June 2023 were from Nigeria and India.

Britain paid Rwanda an additional 100 million in April, on top of 140 million it previously sent, as the bill for its contested plan to relocate asylum seekers to the East African country continues to rise. An incredible 240 million without a single illegal asylum seeker being sent there. Rwanda is probably receiving cash from the EU as well, many suspect because recently Rwandan government ministers said they would kill the deal if the UK leaves the ECHR. Only 1% of illegal migrants are sent back to where they came from.

Suella fell on her sword, will Fishy Rishi?
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. (Twitter)

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy reached out to the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on Tuesday, seeking support to his plans of executing two major projects in the Old City  turning the Musi riverfront into an employment and revenue-generating hub and completing the Metro Rail corridor besides extending the line to the Shamshabad airport.

Revanth Reddy was speaking at a high-level review meeting with a delegation of all newly elected MIM legislators headed by party senior leader and floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and ministers D. Sridhar Babu and D Rajanarasimha were present.

Incidentally, Revanth Reddy took the rare decision of appointing an IPS officer in Chief Ministers Office. The 2003-batch inspector general-rank official, Shahnawaz Qasim, was appointed as secretary to the Chief Minister and sources said he would handle minorities welfare among other issues.

By appointing Qasim, the Chief Minister also conveyed his neutrality towards officials of Bihar origin, some of whom he had criticised during the recent election campaign.

Revanth Reddys quick moves, appointing Akbaruddin Owaisi as pro-tem Speaker which forced the BJP to skip the swearing-in of their legislators, and holding a high level meeting with focus on Old City development, gained significance in the backdrop of the Congress losing the minority vote in the capital city and surrounding areas.

Extending an olive branch to the MIM is seen as part of his strategy to win over the minority vote in the city, sources said.

According to an official press release, Revanth Reddy stressed on the need for taking up activities that attract domestic as well as foreign tourists on a self-sustenance model. Commercial complexes, pathways, amusement parks and hawker zones should be developed under the public private partnership mode along the Musi riverfront, he said, adding that immediate steps should be taken to treat sewage and improve inflows into the river with the help of check dams so as to enable starting river cruises and launching water sports.
Defence Minister and BJP central observer for Rajasthan Rajnath Singh greets newly-elected Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma during BJP Legislature Party meeting, in Jaipur (PTI)

New Delhi: Putting all speculation to rest, the BJP on Tuesday named its first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma, a Brahmin, as the new chief minister of Rajasthan and gave him two deputies -- Diya Kumari, a Rajput, and Prem Chand Bairwa from the Scheduled Caste community. The party also named Vasudev Devnani, a prominent Sindhi face in the state, as the Speaker of the Assembly.

The new government is likely to take the oath on December 15, where the BJP top brass, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president J.P. Nadda, Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, among others, and chief ministers of the BJP-ruled states, are also expected to attend.

Ushering in new leaderships in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, which it won in the recently concluded Assembly polls, the BJP central leadership named "new faces" as the CMs in the three states and also appointed deputy chief ministers in a bid to achieve "right" caste balance.

Earlier this year, the desert state had organised a massive "Brahmin Mahapanchayat" that was attended by more than six lakh community members from across the nation. The CM-designate was one of the organising members of the event in Jaipur.

In tribal-dominated Chhattisgarh, the BJP has named a tribal, Vishnu Deo Sai, as the chief minister and in Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav, an OBC, and two deputies in both states. With this, the BJP top brass, sources said, is also aiming to contain factionalism, which is a major cause of worry for the central leadership in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The name of the 56-year-old MLA from Sanganer as the leader of the BJP legislature party was decided in Jaipur. The party's central observers -- Union minister Rajnath Singh, national general secretary Vinod Tawde, Rajya Sabha member Saroj Pandey, along with state incharge Arun Singh and election in-charge Pralhad Joshi -- were present.

At the legislature party meeting, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, who was herself considered to be in the running for the top post, proposed the name of the chief minister designate.

The BJP's chief minister-designate later met Rajasthan governor Kalraj Mishra and staked claim to forming the next government in the state.

BJP state president C.P. Joshi presented a letter to the governor, informing him that Mr Sharma has been elected as the leader of the BJP legislature party in the state, according to a Raj Bhawan statement.

Mr Sharma was accompanied by senior BJP leaders, including Mr Singh, Mr Joshi and Ms Raje. Ms Kumari and Mr Bairwa were also present.

In Rajasthan, the BJP won 115 seats, while the Congress got 69 seats. Elections were held for 199 of the 200 seats in the state. Polling in Karanpur was deferred due to the death of Congress candidate and sitting MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar. It will now be held on January 5.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. (Image: S. Surender Reddy)

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday ordered a complete revamp of the Telangana State Public Services Commission (TSPSC), saying "nothing short of a fully transparent conduct by the TSPSC" would be acceptable.

The Chief Minister also instructed TSPSC officials to study the systems and practices of the Union Public Service Commission, along with those of public service commissions in other states, and submit a report on best practices.

Revanth Reddy, who chaired a review meeting on TSPSCs functioning, the job notifications it issued, the examinations conducted and recruitments done so far, also made it clear that steps must be taken to ensure smooth conduct of such tasks by the TSPSC.

He also called for the preparation of guidelines for the appointment of TSPSC chairperson and members, as per Supreme Court guidelines, and that officials should ensure the availability of required technological inputs and staff for the TSPSC to discharge its duties effectively.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari, Chief Ministers principal secretary V. Seshadri, DGP Ravi Gupta, Additional DG C.V. Anand, TSPSC secretary Anita Ramachandran and senior officials.

Meanwhile, the resignation of TSPSC chairman N. Janardhan Reddy from his position has not been accepted by Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, it was learnt. The official had submitted his resignation from his position to the Governor at Raj Bhavan on Monday.

It is learnt that Dr Soundararajan was not inclined to accept the resignation and would be seeking legal opinion on the matter, particularly in the wake of the question paper leaks from TSPSC and fixing accountability for these leaks.

Even as the Governor is learnt to have made it clear that Janaradhan Reddys resignation was not accepted, a former MLA and a member of the TSPSC board, R. Satyanarayana, on Tuesday announced he was quitting his position.

In a statement, he said leaving the TSPSC was the right thing to do as the aspirations of the people were for a revamp of TSPSC. He also said since TSPSC is a body set up directly under Constitutional provisions, removal of anyone from the board would require an investigation by a Supreme Court judge to prove any charge levelled against a member.

Although no charges were framed or an investigation conducted against any TSPSC member, there is a clamour for removal of the members and in this context, he decided to resign.

Meanwhile, all TSPSC members  Prof. Sailu Chintha, Ramavath Dhan Singh, Prof. Bandi Linga Reddy, Kotla Aruna Kumari, Sumithra Anand Tanoba, Karam Ravinder Reddy, Dr A. Chandrashekar Rao, and Satyanarayana  met Revanth Reddy and offered to resign from their positions to pave the way for the reconstitution of the TSPSC board.

They are also expected to seek an appointment with the Governor and offer their resignations.
Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors increased its holdings in Eaton Co. plc (NYSE:ETN  Free Report) by 27.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,108 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 676 shares during the quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors holdings in Eaton were worth $625,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. 1832 Asset Management L.P. increased its position in Eaton by 25.0% during the 2nd quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 604,662 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $121,598,000 after buying an additional 120,746 shares in the last quarter. LMG Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in Eaton by 3.4% in the 2nd quarter. LMG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 9,080 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,826,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. grew its position in Eaton by 8.3% during the 2nd quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 20,976 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $4,218,000 after purchasing an additional 1,600 shares during the last quarter. Soltis Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Eaton by 12.9% in the second quarter. Soltis Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,721 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $346,000 after buying an additional 197 shares during the last quarter. Finally, J.Safra Asset Management Corp lifted its stake in shares of Eaton by 6.2% in the second quarter. J.Safra Asset Management Corp now owns 1,517 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $305,000 after buying an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. 81.02% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

ETN has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Eaton from $228.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Barclays boosted their target price on Eaton from $185.00 to $187.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 1st. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Eaton from $215.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Eaton from $235.00 to $238.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Eaton from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $230.00 price objective for the company in a report on Friday, October 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $219.23.

Insider Activity

In other Eaton news, insider Sternadt Paulo Ruiz sold 2,639 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, December 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $228.05, for a total transaction of $601,823.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 11,636 shares in the company, valued at $2,653,589.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock.

Eaton Price Performance

NYSE:ETN opened at $234.62 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $93.68 billion, a PE ratio of 31.41, a P/E/G ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $216.55 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $211.24. Eaton Co. plc has a 52 week low of $150.86 and a 52 week high of $240.44.

Eaton (NYSE:ETN  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 31st. The industrial products company reported $2.47 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.34 by $0.13. Eaton had a return on equity of 19.49% and a net margin of 13.24%. The company had revenue of $5.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.89 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.02 EPS. The firms revenue was up 10.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Eaton Co. plc will post 9.02 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eaton Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 6th were issued a dividend of $0.86 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 3rd. This represents a $3.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.47%. Eatons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.05%.

Eaton Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eaton Corporation plc operates as a power management company worldwide. The company's Electrical Americas and Electrical Global segment provides electrical components, industrial components, power distribution and assemblies, residential products, single and three phase power quality and connectivity products, wiring devices, circuit protection products, utility power distribution products, power reliability equipment, and services, as well as hazardous duty electrical equipment, emergency lighting, fire detection, explosion-proof instrumentation, and structural support systems.

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The parents of a Dungiven man, who was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries, have issued a fresh appeal for information on the killing of their son, 23 years after the murder.

Gary Moore was shot dead on December 6, 2000 in Monkstown, Newtownabbey.

Today, his parents, Marie and Nevin Moore, have appealed to the public to provide any information whatsoever to assist in a fresh police investigation and a further application to the Attorney General for a fresh inquest.

Mr Moore, 30, was shot dead while working on a building site in Monkstown.

The father-of-two was targeted by loyalist paramilitaries over two years after the Good Friday Agreement was passed in 1998. He had travelled from his hometown in Dungiven on the morning of December 6 to work on the building site in Newtownabbey. He was in a relationship and had two children at the time of the murder.

No one has ever been prosecuted or convicted for his murder.

Marie and Nevin Moore continue to seek justice and accountability for their sons death. They previously lodged two applications to two consecutive Attorney Generals for Northern Ireland, John Larkin in 2013 and Brenda King in 2020, for a fresh inquest into his death.

In the second 2020 application the couple confirmed that they were present during the first inquest despite being advised by their lawyer that they did not need to attend. They did attend but they were not represented by a lawyer and were unable to cross examine witnesses or make submissions. Their lawyer was Mr Johnny Sandhu who subsequently pleaded guilty and was sentenced for inciting loyalist paramilitaries to commit murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The 2020 application to the new Attorney General dealt with this undeclared conflict of interest by the then lawyer and the absence of next of kin legal representation before the original inquest.

The most recent application to the Attorney General also relied upon contradictory information provided by state agencies regarding the DNA evidence which was found on the gun used in the shooting. The weapon used to murder Gary Moore is believed to have also been used in the murder of Gavin Brett and the attempted murder of Paul Farrell.

In the month of the 23rd anniversary of Garys killing his parents now appeal again to the public to provide any information they can to either police or to their solicitor in order to open up new lines of enquiry.

We appeal to the public with all our hearts to come forward if they have any information which would be of assistance to us. Even 23 years later we cannot leave Gary to rest while his killer or killers remain free, said heartbroken Marie.

Solicitor for Mr and Mrs Moore, Patricia Coyle of Harte Coyle Collins, Solicitors and Advocates, Belfast, added: Gary Moores murder took place after the Good Friday Agreement. There is no legal bar regarding a potential prosecution of those responsible. His murder was sectarian. Our clients have serious concerns regarding the rigour of the original police investigation. They have been badly served by the entire criminal justice system to date.

My clients believe that members of the public may have information which would assist them and the police in their search for the truth. We ask that anyone with information in relation to the murder of Gary Moore on the 6th of December 2000 in Monkstown, Newtownabbey come forward and provide that information as soon as possible.
Marie and Ray Ferguson, the parents of Raychel Ferguson (9), who died as a result of Hospital Acquired Hyponatraemia have branded what they described as "the refusal" of nurses to answer questions about their daughter's death as "disgraceful".

The Ferguson's were referring to the conduct of nursing staff during the Attorney General-directed inquest second inquest into Raychel's death, which concluded on Monday (December 11, 2023).

Raychel died on June 10, 2001 at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children following an appendix operation carried out in Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry.

She was one of five children whose hospital treatment was examined in the long-running Hyponatraemia Inquiry.

Following the Inquest, Marie and Ray Ferguson said: "We would like to thank again the previous Attorney General, Mr John Larkin KC, for considering Raychels case and Directing a new Inquest. We remain very grateful to him.

"The Belfast Trust and the Department of Health were notably absent from Raychels Inquest. The Western Trust and the nurses may as well have been absent as they only used the Inquest to further the cover up, they began immediately upon Raychels avoidable death.

"The refusal of the nurses to answer questions about Raychels death while in their care remains disgraceful.

"We expect that the Nursing and Midwifery Council in their continuing investigations into the nurses will take a careful note of their behaviour.

"It is clear now from Raychels second Inquest that the Duty of Candour recommended by the Hyponatraemia Inquiry, is being ignored by the medical profession, the Trusts, and the Department of Health.

"We call upon the police to continue with their investigations surrounding the death of our daughter. It was said at the Raychels new Inquest that the police were investigating everyone about everything.

"The Western Trust and their legal advisors obtained secret expert evidence after Raychels death. They hid it from the first Inquest in 2003 and tried to hide it from the Public Inquiry, the police and us, because it did not serve their interests. The distress this caused, and its legal ramifications continue.

"Other families involved in Inquests over the last number of years, and currently with the various Trusts, should seek confirmation that they were and continue to be provided with all medical and expert evidence obtained by the Trusts and their legal advisors at public expense.

"The Office of the Lady Chief Justice, the public and our politicians should be concerned about the practice of medical Trusts and their legal advisors obtaining secret medical reports at public expense, especially in Inquest cases, then, deliberately hiding these reports from the courts when they are not favourable to them. As a family we see this as perverting the course of justice.

"Our main goal for this new Inquest was to have Raychels cause of death formalised properly. It was Hospital Acquired Hyponatraemia.

"We see this further success as another step towards Raychels Law and the establishment of a statutory Duty of Candour for the medical profession.

"As His Lordship, Mr Justice OHara said in his Report: Whilst public confidence in the Health Service is important, it must never be pursued without strict regard for the truth.

"The truth is all we ever wanted, and we should not have been involved in dragging the truth out of the medical profession and medical Trusts over 22 years.

"This Attorney General directed inquest has shown that when it comes to Raychels avoidable death, the Western Trust continue to struggle with, and have a very complicated relationship with the truth and the cover up they instigated."
The Recorder of Derry, Judge Neil Rafferty KC has formally asked the PSNI in the city to give him a comprehensive update on the seriousness of the drugs epidemic locally.

Judge Rafferty made the request to Constable Lisa Daly, one of the frontline officers in the detection of drugs in Derry.

After he'd sentenced two men for drugs offences, one of them for three years and the other for eighteen months, suspended for two years, Judge Rafferty spoke to Constable Daly.

He asked her "would it be possible for the PSNI in this city to provide me with details and statistics in relation to the drugs problem here. This is a formal request.

"One of the classic tropes of the stereotype portrayal of the judiciary is that they are out of touch. But in a sense a Crown Court judge is the person most in touch because we see the trends within our division. We read the relevant documents and reports. We know what's happening.

"The drugs issue in this city is one that concerns me most deeply at the moment and I would like the facts and figures put before me. I have read on many of the papers put before me of people being taken to Altnagelvin Hospital such is their state of unconsciousness because of drugs. Just how bad is the problem?

In reply Constable Daly said: "I have only been a police officer in this one city and I can say we have a serious problem and it is getting worse".

Last August three people died as a result of them taking from what the police then described as "a bad batch of pregabalin" and the same bad batch was also linked to five users suffering heart attacks.

During one of the drugs sentencing matters before him today, Judge Rafferty said he'd received and read a moving letter from the drug supplier's mother.

Addressing her directly Judge Rafferty said: "Regrettably the reality is there are other mothers in this city of other children who have been impacted by what your son has been selling for years.

"The clear message is that those who deal at a high level in the supply of drugs in this city will receive custodial sentences unless there are exceptional circumstances and I mean exceptional", he added.

The supplier, who has anonymity, was then jailed for three years.
WhatsApp messages sent by former Stormont ministers during the pandemic have been lost after government-issued electronic devices were wiped, the UK Covid Inquiry has been told.

Counsel to the inquiry, Clair Dobbin KC, said this included the devices of former first minister Baroness Arlene Foster and deputy first minister Michelle ONeill.

The barrister said that the inquirys legal team had expressed grave concern over the data loss.

The head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Jayne Brady has been asked to provide a witness statement to explain the circumstances.

WhatsApp messages sent by UK ministers have featured separately in evidence given to the inquiry as it examined decision making by the Government.

The inquiry held a preliminary hearing into the devolved Stormont administrations response to the pandemic on Tuesday.

Ms Dobbin said informal communications such as WhatsApp messages may be of a forensic value in preserving what individuals thought or knew at a given point in time.

She said that after the inquiry was established in 2021, the permanent secretaries of all devolved departments were contacted asking them to ensure no material of potential relevance to the inquiry was destroyed.

Ms Dobbin said the inquiry had sought at an early point information on informal communications, including WhatsApp messages, sent by former Stormont ministers or senior civil servants.

She said: In August 2023, The Executive Office (TEO) notified the inquiry team of a potential loss of data in relation to the Northern Ireland Civil Service supplied devices that were held by former Executive ministers and senior civil servants.

TEO informed the inquiry that the government-supplied devices of the former first minister Baroness Arlene Foster and the deputy first minister Michelle ONeill had been reset to factory settings.

It was said this was also the position in relation to other ministers and meant that no data was available from those devices.

Ms Dobbin said the inquirys legal team immediately expressed grave concern and sought the detail of what had happened.

She added: TEO informed the inquiry that it would ascertain the circumstances of what had happened in which the data loss arose.

This became a formal investigation.

Ms Dobbin said the TEO had provided a report to the inquiry last week and further information was being sought.

The barrister also said that efforts were continuing to recover some of the material which had been lost.

She said: That some devices have been reset does not mean that there isnt WhatsApp material, there is.

We will continue to work to secure that WhatsApp material.

Addressing inquiry chair Baroness Heather Hallett, Ms Dobbin said: The question of the wiping or resetting of devices itself remains at large but you will undoubtedly want to have time to consider the report by the TEO and the witness statement and you may also wish to consider the issue of the resetting of devices as part of your overall considerations about the use of informal communications.

You may want to hear evidence or understand more about the extent in which informal communication was used and the preservation of messaging.

You may wish to be able to judge the effect of wiping or resetting devices in light of material which is disclosed.

Ms Dobbin said the inquirys legal team had been demanding of what it had required of witnesses in Northern Ireland.

The inquiry team is aware that the absence of powersharing arrangements has added to pressures on departments and civil servants in responding to this inquiry, she said.

She added that the inquiry had to date received more than 35,000 documents of evidence from Stormont departments, including notes and minutes of Executive meetings and briefing papers.

A barrister representing the Northern Ireland Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group said his clients shared the inquirys concerns over the data loss.

Peter Wilcock KC also said he feared that an investigation carried out by TEO may be insufficiently independent and said the inquiry should consider whether an independent investigation was required.

He said: Whilst we acknowledge the efforts put into bottoming out this issue, we trust the inquiry will be equally cognisant of the desire of our clients to have a clear idea of the extent of which such potentially relevant information has been lost.

Nessa Fee KC, representing TEO, said the work of co-operating with the inquirys modules had been vast for a small jurisdiction.

She added: It goes without saying that there has been an absence of government in Northern Ireland since February 2022, the conditions in which the Executive Office and all the other departments are operating in response to this significant inquiry, most notably the financial conditions, are less than ideal.

She added: The Executive Office has worked hard to facilitate witnesses with access to the information and documentation they no longer have and that process has also been undertaken for both the former first and deputy first ministers.

Ms Fee told the inquiry that TEO had received a request for a statement from the head of the NI Civil Service Jayne Brady on the use of informal communications and added that work was under way in Stormont departments to retrieve available data from devices.
The Government should immediately stump up for a pay rise for Northern Ireland public sector workers  rather than making it dependent on Stormonts return, Sinn Fein has insisted.

Money to settle outstanding public sector pay demands in Northern Ireland is included in a 2.5 billion package the Government has offered in support of a restored powersharing administration in Belfast.

But Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton Harris has made clear to the local parties that the package will only be made available if devolution returns.

Pay awards made to other public sector workers in the UK this year have not been implemented in Northern Ireland due to the regions ongoing governance impasse and associated financial woes.

Representatives of the five main parties attended talks with Government officials at Hillsborough Castle on Tuesday to examine the finer detail of the financial offer tabled on Monday.

But party leaders have already said the package does not go far enough.

The offer also comes with an expectation that returning devolved ministers would seek to raise more revenue within Northern Ireland, with hiked rates bills one route by which that could be achieved.

The DUP criticised the Government proposals as not adequate on Tuesday, insisting London ministers did not appreciate the seriousness of the financial problems facing Northern Ireland.

The offer was made amid ongoing efforts by the Government to convince the DUP to end its blockade of the powersharing institutions.

Devolved government has not been functioning in Northern Ireland for nearly two years because of a DUP boycott in protest at post-Brexit trade agreements.

The DUP has been in negotiations with the Government to secure legislative assurances over Northern Irelands economic position in the UK.

Both sides insist that process remains ongoing, but speculation has been mounting in recent weeks that devolution may soon return, with the tabling of the financial package interpreted by many as a further step toward restoration.

The proposed measures in the Government package include funding for public sector pay rises this year, reform of the funding model for Northern Ireland  including the setting of a new fiscal floor, and increasing the period by which Stormont has to pay back a budget overspend.

As the politicians assessed the details of the offer in Hillsborough on Tuesday, public sector workers, one dressed as a Grinch, staged a protest at the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) in Belfast.

Emerging from the discussions inside Hillsborough Castle, Sinn Feins Conor Murphy called on the Government to immediately make available the lump sum to settle the public sector pay claim.

The fact is, if the British Government currently has money to pay public sector workers who are standing out here yesterday freezing (at a protest at Hillsborough Castle) and will be on strike again, why dont they pay them now? he said.

Why should workers have to wait for the DUP to decide if they are going to do powersharing or not do powersharing as to whether they will get a wage this year?

Mr Murphy has said it is very clear there is still no reason for the Northern Ireland Executive not to be in place, as he called on the DUP to end its boycott.

Asked if he felt Sinn Fein was not being listened to during the talks with the NIO, Mr Murphy added: This isnt a real negotiation, lets not be fooled by that.

This is a presentation of the NIO of some grand plan that theyve come up with that falls short of what is needed.

A real negotiation would be with a first and deputy first minister over to London to talk to a British Prime Minister, supported by other Executive ministers talking to the Treasury.

DUP MLA Gordon Lyons said he did not believe the Government grasp the gravity of the situation and where we are at in terms of our public finances.

He said there had to be a long-term solution to Northern Irelands funding crisis.

We dont want something which just gets us over the hump of this year or allows for pay increases to take place over one year, he said.

We want to ensure in the next number of years we have that certainty so were not back here again and public sector workers are having to go on strike again.

Regarding a potential return to Stormont before Christmas, he said: We have not and are not going to put any timelines on this.

We are very clear we want to see Stormont back on a sustainable footing. That means the political issues, the constitutional issues, the economic issues, need to be resolved.

I am hopeful that progress can be made, and be made quickly.

But he said his party returning to Stormont was not enough to bring financial stability to Northern Ireland.

The reality is we need to see that funding in place and that funding is not there, he said. That is what we are looking to resolve.

He added: Going back to Stormont in of itself does not resolve these issues.

Alliance MLA Andrew Muir said there was a risk the negotiations could drift over Christmas as he said public patience with the DUP has run out.

We also need a clear message from the DUP that they are going to go back into the Assembly and the Executive, he said.

That will give us a much stronger basis upon which to argue to the UK Government.

Ulster Unionist MLA Steve Aiken said the issue of revenue raising measures was more complex than introducing a major hike to rates bills.

Just a straightforward, were going to increase the rates by 15%, I dont think thats where we are, he said.

SDLP MLA Matthew OToole has said it would be inexcusable for negotiations around the Governments offer on a public-sector pay deal and the restoration of Northern Irelands institutions to drag on beyond Christmas.

I dont think public-sector workers or people who rely on our public services are going to wait any longer for more dither, more delay and more indecision, he said.
HIGHLIGHTS The iQOO Neo 9 handset has been spotted on the 3C certification website.

The Neo 9 smartphone is expected to come with 120W charging support.

It could feature a 6.78-inch OLED display.

iQOO has been sharing teasers of the upcoming iQOO Neo 9 series on the Chinese micro-blogging platform Weibo. Recently, the Neo 9 Pro model was spotted on Chinas 3C certification website with the model number V2339A. Now, the standard iQOO Neo 9 model has made its appearance on the 3C certification website.

On the 3C certification website, the iQOO Neo 9 handset carries the model number V2338A, reports MySmartPrice.

Also read: iQOO Neo 9 Pro key specs leaked: Processor, display & more revealed

Credit: MySmartPrice

The 3C listing revealed that the iQOO Neo 9 smartphone model is expected to come with 120W fast charging support.

Also read: iQOO Neo 9 Pro appears on 3C certification with 120W charging support, design officially teased

Credit: MySmartPrice

Unfortunately, it doesnt reveal anything else about the handset.

Previous rumours suggest that the upcoming iQOO Neo 9 series smartphone models are expected to feature a 6.78-inch OLED display with 1.5K resolution.

The iQOO Neo 9 series will likely feature a 50MP Sony IMX9820 primary camera with OIS support. The Neo 9 and Neo 9 Pro are anticipated to run on OriginOS 4-based Android 14. Additionally, the upcoming Neo 9 lineup will likely be equipped with a 5,000mAh battery.

The iQOO Neo 9 handset is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, whereas the Neo 9 Pro model is said to come equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC. Also, the Neo 9 Pro handset is rumoured to feature an in-display fingerprint scanner and an IR sensor.

The recently shared teasers by the company revealed the iQOO Neo 9 Pro smartphone in a red colour variant. The device will feature a dual-tone colour finish with a white vertical strip on the rear panel. It will house a dual-rear camera setup.

Note that these specifications are based on leaks and rumours. So, we suggest taking them with a pinch of salt.
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Samsung's strategic overhaul: New business control tower and development units unveiled

As part of its end-of-year organizational adjustments in 2023, Samsung Electronics has implemented a transformative move by establishing a business control tower within its Device Experience (DX) Division. The primary objective is to spearhead the exploration of new business opportunities, seeking diversified revenue sources and growth engines. This initiative aligns with the conglomerate's broader strategic vision, complementing the recently formed Future Business Planning Unit.

Recent reports from South Korean media outlets, Chosun Biz and Newspim, highlighted Samsung's organizational restructuring. The introduction of a dedicated "Business Development Unit" within the DX Division signifies a strategic focus on new business development. Led by Samsung Vice President Baek Jong-soo, who also heads the firm's New Business Task Force (TF), the BDU will work in tandem with similar units established for the existing major business sectors under the DX Division--Mobile Experience (MX), Visual Display (VD), and Digital Appliances (DA).

Industry analysts point to a challenging landscape in the industry amid a prolonged economic downturn. The DX Division is strategically positioned to address the demand slowdown by concentrating efforts on exploring new businesses capable of generating long-term revenues. This approach aims to counteract industry-wide lackluster performance, except for some high-end products like foldable smartphones.

The DX Division's Business Development Unit will actively collaborate with Samsung's recently established "Future Business Planning Unit." Formed in November, this unit is tasked with devising growth strategies and identifying potential merger and acquisition targets. Operating directly under the vice chairman, this unit extends beyond Samsung's core businesses of semiconductors, home appliances, and automotive applications.

The "Future Technology Secretariat," established in August 2023 under the DX Division to develop new technology and products, will be seamlessly integrated into the Future Business Planning Unit, which will be led by former Samsung SDI chairman Jun Young-hyun. This consolidation reflects Samsung's commitment to overall future-oriented planning and development.

Facing global investments by competitors in emerging areas such as AI, automotive electronics, robotics, and biotechnology, Samsung remains proactive in maintaining its competitiveness. Despite recent performance challenges, Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong consistently emphasizes the pivotal role of technology. The company has continued to reinforce its R&D investments, with a notable KRW13.8 trillion (US$10.46 billion) invested in the first half of 2023 alone. With an additional KRW7 trillion allocated in the third quarter, the annual scale of R&D investments in 2023 is expected to surpass the record set in 2022 at KRW24.9 trillion.
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COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  A construction site elevator plunged to the ground in Stockholm on Monday, seriously injuring five people, Swedish authorities said.

Oscar Davila, of the Greater Stockholm fire department, told Swedish public broadcaster SVT that there were five people inside the elevator and they are seriously injured. Further details about their injuries weren't immediately available.





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Rendering by Jackson Main Architecture [enlarge] The project secured its MUP this year before the city proposed zoning changes to discourage so much self-storage in industrial areas.





Crews from Demolition Man recently razed some old commercial and industrial buildings at 1115 N.W. 46th St., near the Ballard Fred Meyer. The corner, at 11th Avenue Northwest, sold in January to Premier Storage Investors of Memphis. The master use permit followed in April for a four-story, 100,000-square-foot project designed by Jackson Main Architecture.





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Bus Eireann has today announced details of its Christmas and New Year timetables for services in Louth.

With anticipated high demand, passengers are encouraged to plan their journeys in advance and check the updated timetables on the Bus Eireann website.

Bus Eireann services will operate to normal schedules until Saturday 23 December, marking one of the busiest travel weeks as passengers from across Ireland and beyond travel home for the festive season.

Passengers are advised to check their individual route on the Bus Eireann website here.

On Christmas Eve, 24 December, services will operate to a Sunday timetable with earlier final departures. Drogheda and Dundalk Town Bus Services and regional and rural services will operate to a Sunday timetable with last departures at approximately 9pm.

No services will operate on Christmas Day.

Bus Eireann services will operate based on Bank Holiday/Sunday service timetables for St Stephens Day, 26 December commencing around 9am. Passengers planning to travel are encouraged to check the timetable for their routes.

Starting from Wednesday 27 December services will operate to normal timetables to New Years Eve, Sunday 31 December. Services on New Years Day, Monday 1 January will operate to a Sunday schedule. A full normal timetable across Bus Eireann services will resume from Tuesday 2 January.

Stephen Kent, Chief Executive of Bus Eireann, said: "Bus Eireann has facilitated over 99 million passenger journeys in 2023, and we know that many of our customers will be using our services during the Christmas season  whether travelling home, visiting family and friends, shopping, or working over the festive period.

"Christmas and New Year is the busiest period for Bus Eireann services, and we are delighted to provide an extensive schedule up to and during the Christmas season to meet the travel needs of our customers.

"We advise those planning to travel over the festive period to plan their journeys in advance and check our website for up-to-date timetables and travel information.

"On behalf of Bus Eireann, I want to take this opportunity to thank our valued customers for choosing our services this past year and we extend our warm wishes for a safe and joyful holiday season to all, wherever you may travel."
Maybe Im among the nit-pickers, egoists, solo-runners, trouble-makers, the self-interested, or someone who causes a hindrance. Maybe not. Either way, I dont, as the fella says, give two shakes of a nanny goats tail.

The above words appeared in print elsewhere last week. They were chosen, seemingly, to categorise those who chose to question, while showing concern, the way in which the new county grounds project was advancing. Im among those.

I fill two roles. Ive been in one for the past 19 years, responsible for filling these pages each week. The other is representing my club, Dundalk Gaels, at County Board meetings.

I was rail-roaded into the latter at our annual general meeting of two years ago. No-one was interested in taking up the post.

Then my friend, PJ, came up with a bright idea: You do it, Joe, followed by the sweetener: Ill stand in whenever you cant go.

Come the following summer and I fall foul of Covid on the week of a meeting. I put in a request. Sorry, I cant make it tonight.

PJ and I, card-carriers at Pairc na nGael longer than most others, remain the best of friends.

The news about the new county grounds was all good throughout 2021  and there was no loss of enthusiasm, and, or hope throughout the first year of my County Board tenure.

The two-house draw had been hugely successful, work was going ahead at the Dundalk Inner-Relief Road site, and thered be a huge haul of money  14.8 million  coming in from an IIP scheme, which had mostly Chinese people paying upwards on 400,00 each for residency in this country.

There was nothing to dampen spirits in the first few months of this year. But then cracks began to appear. The four-man County Board committee overseeing the project were reporting to delegates that there was tension at the meetings with Croke Park officials, but nothing else.

It transpired that far from there being just tension, the Louth contingent were being constantly told, Dont go ahead with that project  Croke Park was unhappy with the financial plan that had been prepared for the project.

Letters to this affect were then sent to the County Board in June and July, but their content wasnt made known to delegates at the monthly meetings of those months. Its also said the June letter was revealed to the Boards management committee.

What obviously concerned Croke Park was that an estimate for the work had come in at 18m at the beginning of this year, but had risen to 29m within months and after the contract had been awarded. This was pared back to 25m, of which 7m was to come from Croke Park, according to the Louth plan.

Delegates were told at the July 10th meeting that the launch of the building would be taking place a week later, on the 17th. At that gathering, knowing of the sharp exchanges that had taken place at meetings of the County Board delegation and Croke Park officials, I asked if the launch could go ahead without a letter of approval from Croke Park, and was told in no uncertain manner, yes.

On the following Sunday, at a hastily-convened meeting of the Boards management committee, commonsense prevailed  the launch was called off.

The whole thing was going pear-shaped, and my concern was that if that happened, my club, and by extension all others, would be lumbered with a huge debt. It had happened before.

Back about two decades ago, a committee was set up to provide the county with a centre of excellence. It had County Board representation along with others, professionals among them, working on a strictly voluntary basis.

Nothing could be done without money, and in the early years of the committees existence, gathering enough of it to bring ambitious plans to fruition was a priority. In the end, 6.25m was raised through club contributions, donations, grants and Government backing.

With regard to the latter, the then-Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, paid a fleeting visit to where what we now know as the Darver Centre Of Excellence was being built, and after saying a few words, announced that the Government would be making 1m available.

The Celtic Tiger was fiercely wagging its tail at the time, and Seamus Kirk, a member of the Darver committee, was sitting in the Dail.

There was a debt of around 750,000 when the project  with its six pitches, a couple of them with surrounding fencing, including the astro pitch  was completed. The committee wanted to stay in place until the debt was cleared, and had a plan to raise money.

They had a countywide lotto in mind, and went to the County Board for approval. Thats a good idea, said the Board, but its us wholl run it. And they did  into the ground. Tickets went on sale for a few months and then the plug was pulled. More than that, the Darver committee was disbanded by the Board.

The debt hadnt gone away, and as a means of eliminating it, the Board imposed a levy on each club, 2,400 per year for 15 years. If it was the same for all, clubs will each have subscribed 36,000 by the end of the 15 years.

That, however, would be a pittance compared with what they might have had to pony up had the County Board been left in charge of the new county grounds project.

Four Croke Park officials are now in control, along with five nominated by the County Board, and with former GAA President, John Horan, as chairman, clubs are entitled to feel assured.

It was said at the November County Board meeting that Croke Park are fully behind the project. Theyre not  theyre front and central to the whole thing.

Play has been made of how Croke Park bailed out Cork and Mayo after the cost of projects at Pairc Chaoimh and McHale Park had gone way over budget. That money has to be paid back.

Understandably, the authorities did not want a repeat, and thats why theyve stepped in to oversee Meaths Pairc Taliteann development and the long-awaited provision of a Louth county grounds worthy of the name.
The Irish Civil War ended in 1923. Eighty years on, author and documentary-maker Tom Hurley wondered if there were many civilians and combatants left from across Ireland who had experienced the years 1919 to 1923, their prelude and their aftermath. What memories had they, what were their stories and how did they reflect on those turbulent times?

In early 2003, he recorded the experiences of 18 people, conducting two further interviews abroad in 2004. Tom spoke to a cross-section (Catholic, Protestant, Unionist and Nationalist) who were in their teens or early twenties during the civil war. The chronological approach he has taken to his book spans fifty years, beginning with the oldest interviewee's birth in 1899 and ending when the Free State became a republic in 1949.

Although none of the interviewees were natives of Co. Louth, some of them did have connections to the county which they discuss in the book. The names of those they mentioned may also ring a bell for some readers of this newspaper.

For example Patsy Holmes from Cork, aged 101, had been interned for a year in Ballykinar Internment Camp in Co. Down during the Anglo-Irish War. On being released in December 1921 he spoke about the great reception he and his comrades got when their train arrived in Dundalk on route to Dublin. There was a huge crowd turned out to greet them with many of them waving tricolours.

Another interview is Dan Keating, born in 1902, who hailed from Co. Kerry. Having taken the anti-treaty side during the civil war, he was arrested in 1922 and jailed in Portlaoise (Maryborough) Gaol. He discusses some of the men he met in the gaol: You had a grand crowd from Dundalk and Drogheda. The Lawlesses now, they were a law unto themselves, Johnny Greene, Cooney, Pat Fitzsimons and oh, some others from Dundalk. They were great.

Dubliner Jack Duff, aged 100, was also interviewed for the book. He joined the Free State Army in 1922 and was later posted to Dundalk. He remembered that after the civil war soldiers had to do an exam in Dundalk so as to remain on in the army. There was a man named Washington, who was a sergeant from the transport division, sitting next to him during the exam. As this man was just sitting there looking at his paper, the officer came down and asked him whether he was going to commence his examination. Washington replied No because he couldnt write. There are other stories concerning Co. Louth in the book also.

100 years after the Civil War ended, these 20 interviews recorded by Tom Hurley come together to create a unique oral account of the revolutionary period and the tensions that were brewing in the run-up and aftermath. Together, theirs are the Last Voices of the Irish Revolution.

Last Voices of the Irish Revolution by Tom Hurley is available in bookshops throughout the country and can also be ordered online. It is published by Gill Books.
St Vincents Secondary School Students Rachel Noonan and Ella Brown have been recognised in the final of this years Poetry Aloud competition, which challenges second-level students across the country to perform a prescribed poem from memory.

Organised by the National Library of Ireland (NLI) and Poetry Ireland, in partnership with UCC, this years competition drew 365 entries from 65 schools across the island. There were 22 finalists in this years competition from across 14 counties, from Antrim to Kerry.

The competition has been running since 2007 and has three categories: junior, intermediate, and senior. The prescribed poems for this year were Dolphin by Catherine Ann Cullen (junior); What Then? by William Butler Yeats (intermediate) and; In Memory of Eva Gore-Booth and Con Markiewicz by W.B. Yeats (senior).

The late poet Seamus Heaney was a supporter of the competition, citing the extraordinary way in which it seeks to celebrate the joy of speaking and listening to poetry, as well valuing the North-South dimension to the all-island event.

This years competition also had a special connection to poet WB Yeats, as December 2023 marks the centenary of the award of the Nobel Prize for Literature to the poet.

Speaking at the presentation, Dr Audrey Whitty, Director, of the National Library of Ireland said: The goal of Poetry Aloud is for students to learn to interact with poetry in a way that is beyond words on a page. It is also about getting involved and being part of an all-island event that seeks to celebrate the joy of speaking and listening to poetry.

Brid OSullivan from the NLIs Exhibitions, Learning and Programming Department commented: This competition has been a highlight in the National Librarys calendar since 2007. We are custodians of the manuscripts of many of Irelands greatest poets and it is inspiring to hear their works recited with such skill in the Poetry Aloud competition each year.

Liz Kelly, Director of Poetry Ireland remarked: We are thrilled to work with colleagues at the National Library of Ireland, UCC and schools all over Ireland to once again present our national poetry speaking project, Poetry Aloud.

It is a fun and dynamic way to enjoy and develop an understanding and love of poetry. Speaking poems in public, we believe, builds self-confidence and helps develop social and emotional maturity.

Through Poetry Aloud, in keeping with all of our work in education, we aim to create lifelong lovers of poetry and creative writing and to offer an opportunity for all types of students to succeed.
A CONVICTED sex offender, who acknowledged in a probation assessment that he "has an attraction to children", has been jailed for sexually abusing four siblings.

The 54-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been convicted of sexually abusing four siblings, two boy and two girls, when the children visited his family home in Donegal during their summer holidays.

The man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to eight sample charges in relation to a boy including oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault on dates between 1999 and 2005, from the time one of the boys was six years of age.

The convicted further pleaded guilty to six sample counts of sexual assaults in relation to the boy's older brother, when this child was between eight and almost 14-years-old.

The man also pleaded guilty to sexual assaulting the boys older sisters, involving one sexual assault of one sister when she was 19 and two counts in relation to the other girl, when she was 14 and 18 years old in 1993 and 1997.

The convicted man has previously been jailed for 12 years, after he pleaded guilty to 194 counts of sexual assault that were carried out between 1984 and 2009.

These current offences came to light when the first complainant made a statement to the gardai, and the other siblings came forward with their disclosures.

Mr Justice David Keane said he was immensely impressed by the obvious courage and resilience of the siblings, and said they had done themselves and their families great credit with the great dignity they have shown in their dealing with the justice process.

He said the offences represented a significant breach of trust, as the convicted man had effectively been in a position of a step-uncle. The convicted was the brother of the four childrens step-father.

One of the male victims said that the accused was liked by all who knew him but said he was scared, especially when he was alone with the accused.

Another victim, female, said it was very difficult on her family and that they are afraid to speak about what happened. She described having a mental block of speaking to [her] siblings.

I blame him from breaking up relationships in our family. I hope our family can move on together once this is over, the woman concluded.

Garnet Orange SC defending told the court that his client accepts that he cant continue to live in Donegal once released from prison.

Counsel accepted that the offences were very traumatic and appalling and that the two brothers had been abused on an ongoing basis.

Mr Orange said that his client acknowledges that he has an attraction to children and accepts that he can have no further direct or indirect contact with the victims in the case.
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HELIUM Arts, an award-winning Irish charity, offers free, specially designed art workshops for children and young people (ages 6-18) living with life-long physical health conditions.

I spoke with CEO Helene Hugel to get a sense of the work of the charity, and the difference it makes to the lives of children and families living with conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, spina bifida, and cystic fibrosis, among others.

In exciting news, St Peters Church on North Main Street is currently exhibiting work from Helium Arts Teenagers from December 7 to 22, with a special sharing day on Saturday, December 16. All are welcome to the showcase reflecting the creative journey taken by young people with artist Ashleigh Ellis.

How Helium Arts Developed

CEO Helene is a professional artist; originally she worked as a puppeteer and a clown, and visiting hospitals identified a need for the arts in such settings, and for young children living with life-long conditions. In Ireland, there are 160,000 children and teenagers living every day with the long-term effects of illness. Since 2010, more than 5,000 children and young people have discovered the world of Helium Arts, bringing positivity to their lives.

These children often have lower energy levels. They can be bed-ridden. They also have fewer opportunities to be social.

They can feel lonely and isolated and separated from their peers.

Because of various medical appointments and times spent in clinics, they can find it difficult to make friends, said Helene.

It is so important, she explains, to give them an opportunity to share and celebrate their talents, skills and voices  to experience the power of the arts first-hand.

Helium Arts artisit Chelsea Canavan and Heliun Arts CEO Helene Hugel with Participants Henrietta Longstaff, Galway, Tiernan Sheehan, Limerick, Ruth Cotter, Cork and Sophie Neville, Cork with their exhibition pieces for the Helium Arts Youth Showcase 2023. Picture: Eamon Ward

Their work is not in art therapy, it is solely about providing access to the arts for all children, as well as raising community awareness around inclusion and acceptance.

Access to the arts is one of the rights afforded all children in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). But Helene is quick to stress that this is not solely about rights; these children have a great deal to offer broader community.

One young person I spoke with recently put it so well. They highlighted how much life experience they have had, living with an illness up until the age of 17, having to be so strong and resilient. It is true. We need to hear these young peoples voices.

A Network of Friends

Helium Arts, perhaps most importantly, provides an opportunity for children to make friends, despite restrictions placed on their lives by poor health.

We run art workshops in Cork, Limerick and Galway for six weeks every Saturday and parents tell me that this is the first time their child has participated in anything without their parents, besides school where they are always accompanied by an SNA, said Helene.

These workshops give them an opportunity to be in the community with people like themselves. It is a starting point and they will often go on to make their own arrangements to see that friend again without our involvement.

The charity makes a point of running these workshops in community settings, the CEO says.

They avoid art spaces as they can be intimidating and opt for libraries and community centres to keep it close to home and more approachable.

An amazing aspect for parents is that there is always a medical professional in the room.

This is hugely important for families. Some parents arent able to leave their child unattended for a minute outside school. That can mean sharing a bed with them. This makes it hard for them to give attention to other children.

The opportunity to go off and have a coffee to do something nice with the childs sibling is really important.

Ruth Cotter, Fermoy, Cork and Sophie Neville, Doneraile Cork with their exhibition pieces for the Helium Arts Youth Showcase 2023. Picture: Eamon Ward

The CEO says the groups become more and more professional as the children get older.

Yes, I would definitely say there is an opportunity for the teenagers to work towards a career in a creative industry. The artists leading the workshops are professionals so there is great modelling going on.

The groups are organised by age to foster friendships, and along with weekly workshops the charity also organises art camps during the easter and summer. An online programme allows children in the country to access the resources too.

Hospital Settings

Another context in which young people may encounter the programme is in the outpatient clinics in hospitals. Here, the practitioners take a less structured approach and endeavour to appeal to all ages.

The children can be very anxious. The artists have various activities on offer like an opportunity to make stained glass with a variety of materials. Nurses say that the activities have a very calming, relaxing influence on the children.

Their presence in the outpatient clinic offers Helium Arts an opportunity to meet sick children from all strata of society and far beyond the city, the CEO explains.

It makes it more accessible. We are up in the outpatient clinic in CUH two or three times a week, so a lot of children come in contact with our work.

The CEO is grateful for funding from the Arts Council, Creative Ireland, the Arts Council, and Healthy Ireland among others. The charity employs 25 professional artists, alongside 60 volunteers.

Helium Arts is always looking for volunteers. The charity is beginning to do work in smaller towns and villages and they hope to expand into the future.

See https://helium.ie/
A CATHOLIC priest who works as a chaplain to Corks Polish community has said Christmas is a time to remember that Gods love extends to all people, regardless of who they are or from where they have come.

Father Kamil Bachara has been in Ireland since March 2018, working for over a year in Clonakilty before Bishop Fintan Gavin asked him to move closer to Cork city, to replace Fr Piotr Galus as co-ordinator of the chaplaincy to the Polish community in the diocese of Cork and Ross.

The Polish community in Cork and Ross numbered as many as 12,000 before the covid-19 pandemic saw some head home, but the numbers are still strong, and Fr Kamil works alongside Fr Rafal Zielonka in Mahon and Fr Bartlomiej Dziedzic in Bandon.

There are about 25 or 26 Polish chaplains on the island of Ireland, with approximately 15 Polish priests in non-diocesan orders.

The Polish chaplaincy is more about people and not about the territory, Fr Kamil told The Echo.

When the first Ukrainian refugees arrived here last year, Fr Kamil celebrated Easter Mass for them, but now the Ukrainian community has its own chaplain in Fr Roman Byletskyy in Fermoy, who says weekly Mass in Frankfield.

We have a good Ukrainian community here, and theres some activities for them organised by Ballincollig parish and we look after them as well.

Fr Kamil said his first job is to serve as a curate in the family of parishes of Ballincollig, Ballinora, Ovens, and Farran. Weve got five churches to cover and three parishes, and theres five priests and Im one of them.

He will have been four years in Ballincollig come February, arriving just before covid, and he says he was very lucky to have such supportive friends and neighbours who made him feel welcome in his new home in Westcourt.

He tries to get home to Poland twice a year, and was most recently home in July to baptise his new niece. His mother passed away in 2015, and his father lives on his own so he likes to visit him. His father and sister and brother-in-law visited him in 2019, travelling around Ireland with him and seeing West Cork, Kinsale, the Cliffs of Moher, and Knock Shrine.

Fr. Kamil Bachara, C.C., Ballincollig, and one of the chaplains to the Polish community in Cork, pictured at the Church of Christ Our Light, Ballincollig. Picture: Denis Minihane.

At 38, he is one of the youngest priests in a diocese where the average age for a priest is over 60, but his colleague Fr Ronan Sheehan is younger than him at 29.

This is not his first time working abroad. A few years after he was ordained, having first worked in a Polish parish, he was posted to Kazakhstan.

I spent nearly three years working there, and it was a great experience for me to see the same Catholic Church in completely different circumstances, because Kazakhstan in Asia is a huge country, but it is a Muslim country and Catholics are only one or 2% of the population. Not like here or in Poland where most people are Catholic or culturally Catholic.

Coming up to Christmas, which celebrates the birth of a refugee, The Echo asked Fr Kamil if he had any thoughts on those forced to flee war and oppression.

Christmas is a very important time for every Christian, it is about love, about God who is love, and who came to the world to teach us how to love each other, he said.

No matter who you are, where you are from, you are a person, you have a dignity, you are a human being and you deserve love and respect, and peace in your heart, Fr Kamil said.

In preparation for Christmas, I would pray for peace and for all those who look for peace, who are in the lack of peace.
A COMMUNITY activist who intends to run for a seat on Cork City Council next year has expressed concern that some city council tenants are living in properties with severe cases of mould.

William OBrien, who plans on running as an Independent candidate for the citys South Central ward in the next local elections, said issues of dampness and mould in local-authority-owned homes must be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

He said that World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that sufficient epidemiological evidence is available to show that the occupants of damp or mouldy buildings, both houses and public buildings, are at increased risk of respiratory symptoms, respiratory infections, and exacerbation of asthma.

Mr OBrien said in one instance recently, a city council tenant living in a property off Mount Sion Rd claimed that their mould-contaminated home was assessed by an engineer months ago, but no follow-up measures have yet been taken.

I have been told that a local authority engineer assessed this property months ago with no urgent follow-up action to solve the buildings mould problem, or administration follow-up to communicate on an interpersonal level with this distressed tenant who is looking out for [their] familys health, he said.

Unfortunately, this seems to be a recurring situation for many local authority tenants around our city.

Mr OBrien said he believes sufficient funds are not being invested into maintaining the city councils existing housing stock.

A lot of rent is paid by tenants to Cork City Council  and from what Ive seen there doesnt seem to be much going back into peoples homes."

There are some severe cases of mould around our city, and people are just left to live with it, he continued.

Mr OBrien, who has previously spoken out about the well-publicised instances of mould and other issues at council-owned flats on Noonans Rd, said that some council tenants are living in sick buildings.

People have said that about the water-damaged buildings people living in on Noonans Rd and other areas are in, theyre sick buildings."

Cork City Council was contacted for comment.

In relation to council-owned flats at Noonans Rd, St Finbarrs Rd, Dean St, and Fort St, a spokesperson for the city council told The Echo in recent days that the councils housing delivery and regeneration directorate is at feasibility assessment stage for the future redevelopment of the flat complexes and proposes to hold a public consultation event with regard to the future placemaking options early next year.

The city council spokesperson said while the long-term plans for the area are being advanced, the housing operations directorate will remain in contact with residents and attend to housing maintenance issues and concerns as appropriate.
BUS EIREANN has given details of its Christmas and new year timetables.

With Christmas the companys busiest time of year, it is encouraging passengers to plan their journeys in advance and check the updated timetables on the Bus Eireann website, www.buseireann.ie.

Bus Eireann services will operate to normal schedules until December 23, marking one of the busiest travel weeks as passengers from across Ireland and beyond travel home for the festive season.

On Christmas Eve, services will operate to a Sunday timetable, with earlier final departures, while city, town, commuter, and rural services will operate to a Sunday service, with last departures at about 9pm.

The last departure time for the route 40 Expressway eastbound from Cork on Christmas Eve will be at 8.40pm, with the last departure time for the route 40 Expressway westbound from Cork on Christmas Eve at 7pm.

There will be no Bus Eireann services operating on Christmas Day.

On St Stephens Day, services will operate based on Bank Holiday/ Sunday service timetables, commencing around 9am, and passengers planning to travel are encouraged to check the timetable for their routes.

Cork City will operate a full Sunday service, except for route 220, with services on route 220 commencing after 7am and operating as normal thereafter.

The first Expressway departure times for route 51 northbound from Cork on St Stephens morning will be 7.25am.

From December 27, services will operate to normal timetables through to New Years Eve.

New Year's Day services

Services on New Years Day will operate to a Sunday schedule, and a full normal timetable on Bus Eireann services will resume from January 2.

Bus Eireann chief executive Stephen Kent said that the Christmas and new year period is the busiest time of year for Bus Eireann services, and the company was delighted to provide an extensive schedule up to and during the Christmas season to meet the travel needs of its customers.

Bus Eireann has facilitated over 99m passenger journeys in 2023, and we know that many of our customers will be using our services during the Christmas season whether travelling home, visiting family and friends, shopping, or working over the festive period, said Mr Kent.

We advise those planning to travel over the festive period to plan their journeys in advance and check our website for up-to-date timetables and travel information.

See buseireann.ie for full timetable details.
CORK City Libraries launched a new initiative, Music and Memories boxes, recently at the Bon Secours Care Village on Mount Desert Lee Road.

The boxes contain 30 pictures of Cork from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, and among these images are a contribution from The Echos archives.

They also contain 15 music CDs from this era, four dementia friendly books, and a dementia friendly jigsaw puzzle, with the boxes serving as a memory toolkit.

Margaret O'Sullivan of Cork City Libraries says a few words to staff and residents at Mount Desert Care Village at the launch of Music and Memories on Friday. Picture: Cian O'Regan.

This pilot project, funded by the Cork City Council Innovation Fund, will see the boxes delivered to 10 nursing homes in Cork City, and activity co-ordinators in the nursing homes will use the books and pictures to encourage memories and conversation and connectivity.

Old pictures and photographs can improve memory function and prolong cognitive ability, helping to alleviate isolation and depression in Alzheimers and dementia sufferers.

Acting City Librarian, Patricia Looney, with Vincent Poland at the Music and Memories launch event held at Mount Desert Care Village on Friday. Picture: Cian O'Regan.

The CDs are specially selected to reflect the popular music and songs from this age groups era, as music and songs are often retained in memory long after other recollections have disappeared, and music therapy is widely accepted as a way for dementia sufferers to engage and connect socially.

A box of new items will be supplied to the nursing homes by Cork City Library LibraryLink service each month.
A WOMAN caught shoplifting 77 times has been described by the Probation Service as a medium risk of reoffending. The most recent incident occurred last month.

Judge Mary Dorgan referred to the report when sentencing Julianne OFarrell for her latest crimes and said: Hopefully, with counselling you may be able to put this offending behind you. You have an interest in integrating positively with the community and you need to link in with bereavement counselling.

What they [Probation Service] are saying is that despite all your offending and all your difficulties, they are prepared to give you a chance in the community.

Judge Dorgan said she would put the accused on a probation bond for 18 months on her latest four counts of stealing from shops.

When the judge adjourned the case last month for a probation report, she said of OFarrells offending: This has to stop.

Yesterday at the sentencing hearing, defence solicitor Shane Collins Daly said the 32-year-old understood that her offending could not continue.

Judge Dorgan said, in placing the accused on a probation bond, that there were three things in particular that the woman needed in her life: to get away from negative peers, have structure in her day, and get counselling.

Julianne OFarrell of Marble Hall Park, Douglas, Cork, pleaded guilty to carrying out thefts at Diesel on Oliver Plunkett St, Dunnes on Merchants Quay, at Boots at Douglas (all in October/November this year), and on May 18, 2021, at Phelans pharmacy.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis said the accused had a total of 232 previous convictions, including 73 for theft, before the four latest offences.

The judge said when she previously adjourned sentencing: What we are trying to do is help you. What we want you to do is stop the offending and get whatever help you need to stop the offending. I am anxious that some good will come out of this. Probation might be able to forward you to an organisation that can help you with your difficulties.
A MAN with severe addiction problems went to buy a multi-pack of cider, but when he saw the price had gone up and he could not afford to pay for it, he verbally abused staff, threw a bin against a glass door, and banged his head against it repeatedly, a court has heard.

Michael John Butler, aged 43, pleaded guilty to being drunk and a danger, engaging in threatening behaviour, and causing criminal damage to the store.

Diarmuid Kelleher, defence solicitor, said that as far as Butler was concerned he believed that he had enough money to pay for the cider, but the price had gone up, which left him short in paying for it, and he reacted very badly to the situation.

Garda Sean Hahessy said the incident occurred on January 5, 2022, at the Circle K garage on Lower Glanmire Rd, Cork.

The accused went to the premises and attempted to pay for 12 cans of Linden Village cider, but did not have enough money to pay for it, Gda Hahessy testified at Cork District Court.

When he was approached by staff, he became irate as he was unable to complete the purchase, and was verbally abusive to them.

He took one of the cans out of the packet and began to consume it in the premises.

The accused also threw a refuse bin at the door when he went outside and then struck the door several times with his head.

Michael John Butler, of Churchfield Terrace East, Churchfield, Cork, pleaded guilty as soon as the matter came before Cork District Court.

Sgt Davis said the accused had 165 previous convictions, including 41 for engaging in threatening behaviour and 44 for being drunk and a danger.

Mr Kelleher said that the defendants difficulties began when he was very young and suffered from addiction from when he was 11 years old.

The solicitor said that the accused wanted to apologise. He said he was doing well in prison and was in a much more stable position now.

Judge Mary Dorgan said she would sentence him on December 18, allowing time for staff at the store to prepare a victim-impact statement for the court.
More than 100 admitted patients are waiting for beds at hospitals in Cork today.

Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) show that 79 admitted patients are waiting for beds at Cork University Hospital.

The vast majority of these patients (66) are waiting in the hospital's emergency department while 13 are waiting in wards elsewhere in the hospital.

A further 13 admitted patients are waiting for beds at the Mercy University Hospital while nine patients are waiting for beds at Bantry General Hospital.

Nationally, 702 admitted patients are waiting for hospital beds with University Hospital Limerick (106), Cork University Hospital (79) and University Hospital Galway (52) the worst affected.

Last month, the INMO voiced serious concerns over the level of overcrowding at hospitals saying "the sheer volume of patients" who were admitted to hospitals without a bed in November were "far too high".

The INMO said that during November 11,493 patients, including 434 children, went without a bed in Irish hospitals.

Cork University Hospital was the second most overcrowded hospital with 1,159 admitted patients waiting for beds at the hospital over the month.
A Cork man accused of carrying out a daylight murder in Cork city centre was remanded in custody for four weeks for a book of evidence.

When the case against Aaron Babbington was called today at Cork District Court, Sergeant John Kelleher said, It was adjourned for a book of evidence. It is not ready. I am looking for an adjournment.

Defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said there was consent to a four-week adjournment with the accused remanded in custody.

Mr Buttimer said, By then I suspect the book should be ready.

Sgt Kelleher said that if the book was not actually completed, we should have major progress by then.

30-year-old Aaron Babbington was charged on December 5 with murdering a 32-year-old man in the centre of Cork city last June.

Detective Garda Pat Russell formally arrested Aaron Babbington and charged him at Cork District Court with the murder of Jason Butler on June 14 at Grand Parade, Cork, contrary to Common Law.

Mr Babbington, formerly of Churchfield Avenue, Churchfield, Cork, was asked he if had any reply after being charged and cautioned last week and he made no reply to the murder charge.

It was previously alleged that the late Mr Butler was slashed in the throat during the daylight incident on Grand Parade at around 7.30pm that Wednesday and died two days later.

The late Mr Butler was originally from Castleredmond in Midleton, County Cork.
Graham Dwyers appeal against his 2015 conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine OHara will be heard by the Supreme Court in the new year.

The appeal, which was granted earlier this year, centres on the admission of mobile phone call data records at his criminal trial.

The Supreme Court has fixed January 16 for the hearing of the appeal, which has been set down for one day.

The matter was briefly mentioned before Mr Justice Maurice Collins this morning.

The judge confirmed a timetable for the exchange of legal submissions in the case.

The judge also asked the DPP and Dwyer's legal team to see if the Irish Human Rights Equality Commission and Equality Commission (IHREC) wish to take part in the hearing.

"The court is not inviting IHREC to get involved, however if it does wish to participate it will need to get any submissions to the court and the parties as soon as possible," he said.

Remy Farrell SC for Dwyer and Sean Guerin SC for the DPP said they did not know if IHREC wished to get involved, but said they would both make inquiries regarding the commission's intensions.

Appeal dismissal

Earlier this year, the Court of Appeal dismissed Dwyers conviction appeal on all grounds, including in relation to the admissibility of the call data evidence.

The Court of Appeal agreed with the prosecution there was enough evidence to support the conviction, even if the disputed call data evidence had been excluded.

The limited call data evidence in dispute was, the Court of Appeal said, not very significant and was properly admitted into evidence.

There was other evidence to link Dwyer to two phones that formed part of the prosecution case, the appeal court also found.

There was also evidence to the same effect independent of the call data records that was as powerful and perhaps more compelling.

However following an application by Dwyer's legal team, the Supreme Court deemed it should consider his appeal.

It held that significant issues of general public importance arise as to the admissibility of the call data evidence retained and accessed under a 2011 Irish law that was struck down by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in 2014.

The court said it was also important to properly characterise the illegality involved, considering the data was obtained in compliance with the provisions of the 2011 Communications (Retention of Data) Act but where the act itself was subsequently found to be inconsistent with EU law.

The scope and application of legislation governing courts directions in conviction appeals will also be considered by the Supreme Court.

Call records

Dwyers lawyers submitted to the Supreme Court that the Court of Appeal misunderstood the CJEUs decision regarding the 2011 law and incorrectly considered that the trial judge had a discretion to admit the phone call records.

They also submitted that the matter would probably require legal questions to be referred to the CJEU.

Dwyers application was opposed by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). Dwyer was convicted of murder by a unanimous jury verdict in March 2015 and sentenced to life in prison. Ms OHara, a 36-year-old childcare worker, was last seen in August 2012 in a public park in Shanganagh, south Dublin.

Some of her remains were found on Killakee mountain just over a year later and she was identified from dental records.

Prior to his conviction appeal at the Court of Appeal, Dwyer took High Court civil proceedings that successfully challenged the 2011 Irish law under which the mobile phone metadata was retained and accessed by gardai investigating Ms OHaras death.

The civil proceedings progressed to the Supreme Court and the CJEU, meaning his separate conviction appeal was not heard by the Court of Appeal until late last year.

Dwyer denies murdering Ms OHara.

He also denies he bought and used a Nokia phone found in Vartry Reservoir in Co Wicklow in 2013.

His trial was told that phone was used to send Ms OHara messages, including one about stabbing, culminating in a text dated August 22, 2012  the last day she was seen  to go down to the shore and wait.
More than 360 redundancies are proposed at VMware, which is a large employer in Ballincollig, The Echo has learned.

A letter sent to staff at VMware yesterday informed the staff that 364 redundancies were proposed.

This comes after US-based global firm Broadcom Inc announced that it had completed its acquisition of VMware, Inc at the end of November, and employees received correspondence informing them of some organisational changes and possible redundancies.

The most recent letter, seen by The Echo, explains the company are proposing to make headcount reductions in order to simplify the organisation structure by introducing clear lines of accountability and streamlining processes.

We have provisionally identified that certain functions and positions will not be required as a result of the ability to take advantage of group resources and synergies.

The selection method that the company proposes to adopt to identify the employees who will be retained in the remaining positions will focus on performance and the importance of retaining the skills and expertise required to deliver its objectives in the new structure.

The list sent covers 1,064 employees, some of whom are understood to be based in VMwares small Dublin office, but with the majority understood to be working in the Ballincollig site.

According to current proposals the number of those working in HR, Legal, Marketing and Workplace would be reduced by 61, from 67 to just six, while Finance would lose 99 staff, reducing from 106 to just seven.

Those working in DMT, Global Sourcing & Operations, SaaS & Subscription Business would see their numbers drop from 98 to 40, a reduction of 58, while 23 of those employed in WW Sales would be made redundant, a drop from 100 staff to 77.

37 redundancies are proposed for the VPS, Environmental, Social & Governance group, taking it from 121 staff to 84, and 25 in IT, CIO, Cloud Infrastructure Business Group, Service Provider Edge BU, Security Products, Modern Apps & Management, End-User Computing BU, taking it from 100 to 75.

The least affected group is the 314 employee- strong Tech Support Engineers & Managers, which is to lose just 21 of its 314 staff.

Customer Support, Escalation Management & Support Account Services is proposed to lose 13 of 88, while finally, the letter lists all other roles in John Sabinos CXS Organisation as reducing from 65 to 38.

The letter says that consultation will take place on alternatives to the redundancies, ways in which we might reduce the redundancies, how we can mitigate the impact on employees through, for example, the support we offer to those made redundant, the proposed make-up of the pools from which we select employees, where applicable, selection criteria and method of selecting employees for redundancy."

The headcount reductions are expected to take effect between February 9, 2024 for those employees required to work through a transition period up to October 31, 2024.

In the event of a redundancy, it is proposed that employees will be paid six weeks per year of service (including partial years) based on On Target Earnings (OTE), basic salary plus either Annual Performance Bonus or commission under the Sales Incentive Plan which is inclusive of statutory redundancy, OR *8 weeks OTE, capped at two years OTE.

Local Green Party councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork City Colette Finn told The Echo she was really shocked by such a high percentage of staff set to lose their jobs.

She said: I was surprised at the level of redundancies, and at this time of year, coming up to Christmas, it must be an awful worry for people.

We just have to try and see if other jobs can be attracted into the area, Ballincollig is earmarked to grow so people need to be able to get employment there as well.

The Echo has contacted Broadcom for comment.
A not guilty plea was indicated today by a man protesting over LGBTQ+ reading material at Cork City Library who faces charges of possession of a knife and failing to appear in court.

Ross Lahives solicitor, Diarmuid Kelleher, had sought an adjournment to consider prosecution statements in the case and for consideration of whether the charges would be admitted or contested.

Now at Cork District Court, Mr Kelleher said a trial date would be required for the accused to contest the case.

Judge Mary Dorgan said at Courtroom 1 that the case should be listed at Courtroom 3 for the purpose of fixing a date for the hearing of the case.

The case was adjourned to February 6 when it will be further adjourned to a trial date at Cork District Court.

44-year-old Ross Lahive of Church Street, Shandon Street, Cork, is charged that on September 4 he failed to appear in Cork District Court and that August 26 at Bridewell garda station, Kyrls Street, Cork, he did have a knife in his possession, contrary to Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

Judge Mary Dorgan thanked Mr Lahive for coming to court as the brief mention of the matter concluded.

An online video shows Lord Mayor Cllr. Kieran McCarthy being confronted by Ross Lahive at North Main St carnival on Saturday morning, August 26, on a matter related to the library protest.

Mr Lahive asked Mr McCarthy if he knew who he was, and Mr McCarthy responded, "Yes, Ive been waiting for this".

The Lord Mayor then delivered a spirted performance of, Oh What a Beautiful Morning from the musical Oklahoma.
Shoplifting must be causing a considerable nuisance" to shopkeepers on an ongoing basis, a judge said as she jailed a repeat offender for seven months for her latest litany of crimes.

Judge Mary Dorgan jailed 36-year-old Noreen Foley of no fixed address for the offences at Cork District Court.

Shane Collins-Daly solicitor said that unfortunately the defendant had difficulties for many years where her addictions escalated to heroin and living in hostels and various kinds of temporary accommodations including hotels and guesthouses.

When stopped for thefts she made full admissions. She didnt have much of a recollection of these events because of intoxication to prescription tablets taken to excess and without prescriptions, Mr Collins-Daly said.

He said she had mental health issues and significant physical health problems.

Judge Dorgan said, I take into consideration that she pleaded. However, there is a really long list of thefts which must be causing considerable nuisance to shop owners on an ongoing basis.

Sergeant Gearoid Davis said Ms Foleys previous convictions included 40 for theft. And he gave an outline of her latest offences.

On September 19 at the Crawford bar on Anglesea Terrace, she stole a debit card from a member of staff and later used it to make purchases in Cork city.

On October 21 at Centra, Patrick Street, she was involved in shoplifting and similar crimes again on October 24 at Cummins Sports, North Main Street, at Euro Giant on North Main Street on the same date, and at Daybreak, North Main Street, on November 1.

On November 4 at the bus station in Parnell Place she was drunk and a danger and engaged in threatening behaviour.

She was shouting loudly and swearing at people waiting for buses. She was aggressive with gardai on arrest, Sgt Davis said.

There was further shoplifting on November 20 at Elverys Sports, Oliver Plunkett Street, on November 23 at Diesel, Oliver Plunkett Street, and on November 25 at JD Sports, Patrick Street.
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.

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber (C-L), president of the COP28 UNFCCC Climate Conference, and Majid Al-Suwaidi (C-R), director general of the COP28, attend a plenary session on day eleven of the conference as negotiations go into their final phase on Dec. 11, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Sean Gallup / Getty Images

As the United Nations COP28 climate talks entered the final stretch, the most recent draft of a climate deal left out the crucial phase out language regarding fossil fuels, the main demand expressed by many developing countries, particularly those vulnerable to climate change, as well as the European Union.

The draft deal is the precursor to a final round of negotiations over whether or how long fossil fuels will continue to be a part of the transition to a renewable energy future.

COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber encouraged those present at the summit to finalize a deal before the conference ends on Tuesday, reported Reuters.

You know what remains to be agreed. And you know that I want you to deliver the highest ambition on all items including on fossil fuel language, Al Jaber said.

Climate advocates are warning that the COP28 climate summit could end up being unsuccessful after the new draft of the core agreement removed the call to phase out the main driver of the climate crisis, according to CNN.

In a post on X, Al Gore warned that the climate summit is now on the verge of complete failure.

The world desperately needs to phase out fossil fuels as quickly as possible, but this obsequious draft reads as if OPEC dictated it word for word. It is even worse than many had feared.

The new draft of the text released today included voluntary measures like tripling worldwide renewables capacity by 2030, limiting power plant licensing and rapidly phasing down unabated coal, Politico reported.

Instead of phasing out fossil fuels, the draft offered eight options nations could voluntarily use to lower their emissions, including reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner so as to achieve net zero by, before, or around 2050, reported Reuters.

Small island nations, green groups and the EU were disappointed by the text of the new drafts omission of phasing out fossil fuels once and for all.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands did not come here to sign our death warrant, said the countrys Minister of Natural Resources and Commerce John Silk, as Politico reported.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called an agreement to phase out fossil fuels quickly enough to avoid disastrous climate change effects a main indicator of success for the climate conference.

Wopke Hoekstra, EU chief negotiator at the conference, referred to the draft as not adequate.

It is lengthy, were still looking into all the various elements. And yes, there are a couple of things in there. But overall, it is clearly insufficient, and not adequate to [address] the problem we are here to address, Wopke told reporters, as reported by Reuters.

A new draft of the agreement that the U.S. State Department said needs to be substantially strengthened is expected on Tuesday.




Aqua Bridge Group and Enertech launch Aqua Bridge Kuwait to boost local food systems and fisheries



United Arab Emirates-based Aqua Bridge Group, and Kuwait-based EnerTech, have announced the launch of Aqua Bridge Kuwait at COP28 in Dubai, UAE, which aims to decarbonise Kuwait's food supply chains, reduce reliance on imports and fortify its aquaculture and fisheries sectors.

This is in line with the state's national food security objectives, which seeks to build a sustainable agri-food system that is equipped to cope with global economic shocks and disruptions.

With more than 90% of Kuwait's food supply reliant on imports amid rising shipping costs, and much of the local food supply dependent on its fisheries, enhancing food systems capabilities presents a critical sustainable development challenge for the country of 4.4 million people.

Aqua Bridge Kuwait is primed to address this challenge head-on by leveraging Aqua Bridge Group's extensive international expertise in aquaculture projects, paired with EnerTech's innovative agricultural solutions.

The joint venture will focus on projects that not only strengthen local food production in Kuwait but also significantly reduce the carbon footprint of food supply chains, with a special emphasis on the burgeoning seafood industry.

Mohammad Tabish, CEO of Aqua Bridge Group, said "Aqua Bridge Kuwait is more than a joint venture; it is a commitment to sustainability and resilience. We are excited to join hands with EnerTech Holding to lead the development of the aquaculture sector in Kuwait, addressing global challenges in line with the critical climate dialogues hosted at COP28 on environmental stewardship."

Abdullah Al Mutairi, CEO of EnerTech, said, "Building a resilient food-water-energy resource nexus requires urgent and innovative action. To do this, we must develop solutions that bridge the interlinked challenges of climate change, population growth, and food insecurity.

"Our partnership with Aqua Bridge Group marks a vital step in building robust food systems by enhancing local food production in Kuwait, in line with the ambitions of Kuwait Vision 2040 to boost sustainable development efforts.

Al Mutairi added: "EnerTech's collaboration with Aqua Bridge aims to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of our food supply chains and systems, while meeting the increasing regional demand for a sustainable source of seafood."

- EnerTech
Dinero

Tenia redactado un decreto para llevarlo de urgencia al Consejo de Ministros del proximo martes. La Seguridad Social le habia advertido de que no se podrian actualizar las nominas ni pagar el 25 de enero
South Africas Ministry of Electricity has announced that it will start a procurement process to develop an additional 2.5 GW of nuclear capacity in the country. The government will publish a request for proposals (RFP) for the nuclear capacity by March 2024, following the National Energy Regulator of South Africas (Nersa) concurrence with a procurement determination published in 2020.

This announcement comes as South Africa is facing severe power outages and loadshedding. However, the commissioning of the first unit of the new nuclear project is not expected before 2032 or 2033.

South Africa is home to the only currently active nuclear plant on the African continent, the 1.9 GW Koeberg nuclear power plant, which produces about 5% of the countrys electricity (4.3% in 2022). The government is awaiting regulatory approval after applying for a 20-year life extension to Koeberg's operating licence, which expires in July 2024. In 2017, a 9.6 GW nuclear deal with Russia was cancelled due to a court challenge and the ambitious Nuclear New Build Programme was abandoned in 2018.
Peel Regional Sewage Treatment Strategy progresses to planning application

Manx Utilities planning application for the proposed waste water treatment works in Peel has been published by DEFA on the Planning Department portal.

The proposed works will provide modern waste water treatment facilities for Peel and will discharge treated effluent via the existing sea outfall.

The application follows on from the public display and consultation period held at the Centenary Centre and Commissioners offices for two weeks in August.

A number of public suggestions were proposed which have now been incorporated into the design, particularly planting around the site boundary.

Manx Utilities say that this scheme will provide significant environmental benefit, ending the discharge of raw sewage into Peel Bay.

The application can be viewed here entering reference number 23/01407/B.
Apple is attempting to avoid a fine and ongoing legal battle with the European Union. The company is allegedly offering its rivals access to its Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, used for tap-and-go payments, Reuters reports. The update follows the European Commission's May 2022 charge and ongoing probe into Apple's potential antitrust Apple Pay practices.

The Commission has been investigating Apple since 2020, with Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager previously stating there were "indications that Apple restricted third-party access to key technology necessary to develop rival mobile wallet solutions on Apple's devices."

While Apple's current proposal could get it out of a hefty fine and settle the case against it, it's not guaranteed to move forward. The Commission will likely confer with Apple's rivals and customers in the next month or so to determine if it should accept the offer. More than 2,500 banks across Europe use Apple Pay.

Apple also faces a lawsuit in the United States, brought in July 2022 by Iowa's Affinity Credit Union. Similarly, it accuses Apple of engaging in anti-competitive behavior by illegally restricting iOS users to Apple Pay for any contactless payments.

In September 2023, a US District Court Judge Jeffrey S. White of California ruled that the case would move forward, stating: "Plaintiffs have plausibly alleged that Apple Pay charges arbitrary and inflated fees to issuers, and that competition in the tap-and-pay iOS mobile wallet market would spur innovation and lead to lower prices." In his decision, White also explained that the plaintiffs properly demonstrated Apple's alleged and attempted monopolization.
Capture Ones eponymous photo-editing software suite is ending the free Express tier, effective on January 30. The popular Adobe Lightroom alternative will be fully pay-to-play, with a number of Pro tiers to choose from. The company says ending the free tier was necessary to focus on our main products.

Once January 30 hits, you wont be able to download or use Express from the website and license keys will expire. Additionally, any saved images and edits will go the way of the dodo, so get in there and finish up before next month. You can, however, quickly transfer images and edits from Express to Pro, which is something Capture One would very much like you to do.

To that end, Pro subscriptions range from $24 to $34 each month, depending on if you choose a desktop client or a combo pack that adds a smartphone app. You can also buy the desktop client outright for $300, but you wont get any updates or access to the smartphone app. Theres a 30-day free trial for those on the fence.

Capture One has become a crucial tool for digital photographers, as it allows you to connect an external camera and shoot images directly to the desktop software or app. The algorithm automatically applies edits as the photos come in. Capture One works with more than 500 cameras, including models by Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, Leicia and Sigma, among others.

The software also handles RAW conversion, color processing and general editing tasks, just like Lightroom. You can even share a live link of a shoot with colleagues, to allow for speedy and efficient collaborations. This is serious photo-editing software made primarily for professionals or those serious about the craft. Still, its sad to see the free version sail away into that color-corrected sunset. If the Pro versions cost has you wavering, the iPhone app by itself costs $5 each month.

This article contains affilate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.
If you've been thinking about hosting your own mini data center or need to stream 1,333 Netflix 4K programs at once, Google Fiber has the answer. The Alphabet-owned ISP will launch it's 20Gbps service with Wi-Fi 7 in select cities early next year for $250 a month (plus taxes and applicable fees)  not that ridiculous of a price for such ridiculous speed.

"Were starting in Kansas City, North Carolinas Triangle Region, Arizona, and Iowa," the company wrote. "As we continue to roll out Nokias 25G PON across our network, well open up invitations in new areas, so make sure youve let us know if you are interested in being the one of the first to have this in your home."

As with Google's other Fiber offerings, the 20Gbps speeds are symmetrical, so you'll see them whether you're uploading or downloading. Google notes that Wi-Fi 7, which offers peak wireless speeds of 40Gbps, is so bleeding-edge that it hasn't even been fully certified yet. The service is being offered through Google's GFiber Labs division, and is made possible by new Nokia 25G PONs (passive optical networks) installed as part of last-mile infrastructure upgrades.

While obviously expensive, the new plan allows for some interesting possibilities. For instance, Google promises multi-gig internet speeds on multiple floors of your house, for example, thanks to the custom Wi-Fi 7 router co-created with Actiontec. That could let plan buyers amortize the price across multiple users  20 people could have 1Gbps connections for $12.50 per month each, for instance.

The new plan offers four times the speed of AT&T's Elite 5Gbps fiber offering for the same $250 per month. However, Google Fiber's problem has never been the technology or value proposition, but the availability. The company's 5Gbps and 8Gbps plans only just got off the ground and are still only available in a few regions. While available in some major cities (San Franciso, Atlanta, San Antonio), Google Fiber is notably absent in key markets like New York City and Los Angeles.

The 20Gbps plan will start rolling out in the above-mentioned cities in the first quarter of 2024. Just be aware that you'll need the fastest Wi-Fi possible on your computer (currently Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 on select models) to even get a fraction of that maximum speed.

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Sonys 2023 Wrap-Up is now available. The recap, similar to those from music streaming services, reflects on your PS5 or PS4 gaming habits from the past year. The new version will sum up your most-played games, tally your total hours and assign an algorithmically generated gaming style. Since, from a business standpoint, these year-end rewinds also serve as crowdsourced social media marketing, Sony created easily shareable digital cards outlining your 2023 habits.

You can view your PlayStation 2023 Wrap-Up by visiting Sonys web portal and logging in with your account. It generates cards summarizing your top games, trophies earned, monthly gaming stats and your personalized style. (Mine was Thrill Seeker.) A button at the bottom of the UI will pop up the cards to share with friends or followers. Sony will also, uh, helpfully recommend games you havent yet bought that fit your personalized style.

The company says the recap is only available if youve played games on a PS5 or PS4 for at least 10 hours from January 1 to December 31. In addition, if you didnt consent to Full Data collection from PS5 settings or Additional Data from PS4 systems in certain regions (Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australasia, India and Russia), you wont be able to use the promotional feature. Sony is also throwing in a bonus unique avatar and a PlayStation Stars digital collectible of a Spider-Bot from the Marvels Spider-Man franchise as rewards.

Since annual digital recaps have transformed into a popular online tradition in recent years, you can likely expect similar rewinds from Xbox and Nintendo before long.
A Senate Finance Committee inquiry revealed on Tuesday that police departments can get access to private medical information from pharmacies, no warrant needed. While HIPAA may protect some access to personally identifiable health data, it doesn't stop cops, according to a letter from Senator Ron Wyden, Representative Pramila Jayapal and Representative Sara Jacobs to the Department of Health and Human Services. None of the major US pharmacies are doing anything about it either, the members of Congress say.

"All of the pharmacies surveyed stated that they do not require a warrant prior to sharing pharmacy records with law enforcement agents, unless there is a state law that dictates otherwise," the letter said. "Those pharmacies will turn medical records over in response to a mere subpoena, which often do not have to be reviewed or signed by a judge prior to being issued."

The committee reached out to Amazon, Cigna, CVS Health, The Kroger Company, Optum Rx, Rite Aid Corporation, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Walmart about their practices for sharing medical data with police. While Amazon, Cigna, Optum, Walmart and Walgreen said they have law enforcement requests reviewed by legal professionals before complying, CVS Health, The Kroger Company and Rite Aid Corporation said they ask in-store staff to process the request immediately.

Engadget asked the pharmacies mentioned in the letter for comment about the claims. CVS said its pharmacy staff are trained to handle these inquiries and its following all applicable laws around the issue. Walgreens said it has a process in place to assess law enforcement requests compliant with those laws, too, and Amazon said that although law enforcement requests are rare, it does notify patients and comply with court orders when applicable. The others either haven't responded or refuse to comment.

The pharmacies mostly blamed the current lack of legislative protections for patient data for their willingness to comply with cop requests. Most of them told the committee that current HIPAA law and other policies let them disclose medical records in response to certain legal requests. That's why the Senate Finance Committee is targeting HHS to strengthen these protections, especially since the 2023 Dobbs decision let states criminalize certain reproductive health decisions.

Under current HIPAA law, patients have the right to know who is accessing their health information. But individuals have to request the medical record disclosure data, instead of health care professionals being required to share it proactively. "Consequently, few people ever request such information, even though many would obviously be concerned to learn about disclosures of their private medical records to law enforcement agencies," the letter states. The letter also urges pharmacies to change their policies to require a warrant, and publish transparency reports about how data is shared.
COLUMBUS  More than 350 delegates from all 88 Ohio counties gathered Dec. 7-8, in Columbus, to establish the Ohio Farm Bureau Federations policy goals for the coming year, recognize county Farm Bureau and individual achievements and honor industry leaders.

Policy

New federal policy included considerations for the use of artificial intelligence within the agricultural industry, such as data privacy, security and ownership and regulatory parameters.

Delegates also supported new policy supporting regulation of community solar projects, including issues local governments can consider as they address siting ordinances and rules. Delegates expressed their support for prioritizing the use of non-agricultural land for wind and solar projects.

Policy to combat feral swine was added, which supports prohibitions on importing, releasing, maintaining or recreationally hunting feral swine.

Leadership

Bill Patterson, of Chesterland, was re-elected president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. Patterson has been on the state board since 2011 as District 4 trustee representing Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake and Trumbull counties.

Cy Prettyman, of New Bloomington, was re-elected first vice president of the organization. He joined OFBFs board of trustees in 2012. He will continue as the District 7 representative covering Crawford, Marion, Morrow and Richland counties.

Chris Weaver, of Lyons, has been elected treasurer of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. Weaver has been a member of OFBFs board of trustees for 10 years and represents members in his district that encompasses Defiance, Fulton, Henry and Williams counties.

Service awards

Three people who have left indelible marks on the agriculture industry and Farm Bureau were honored with the 2023 Distinguished Service Award. Candidates for the service awards were nominated by Farm Bureau volunteers, county organizations and state leaders.

This years recipients are: Bob Gibbs, of Holmes County; Virgil Strickler, of Franklin County; and Jerry Lahmers, of Tuscarawas County.

Gibbs has had a long career as a farmer, Farm Bureau leader and U.S. Congressman. His career in public service representing northeast Ohio included six years in the Ohio House, two years in the Ohio Senate and 12 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Gibbs family farm, Hidden Hollow Farms in Holmes County, led to his Farm Bureau involvement, where he served on the state board of trustees from 1985 to 2001 and then as state president. He is the only former Farm Bureau president in the country to be elected to Congress.

Strickler began his professional career as an agricultural lender before becoming the livestock and agricultural director of the Ohio State Fair in 1993. He took the role of Ohio State Fair general manager in 2004 and is retiring in February as the longest-serving general manager ever at the Ohio State Fair.

Strickler established the Youth Reserve Program, which is funded directly from winning bids at the Sale of Champions that exceed the cap for each species. The fund is used to reward junior fair exhibitors through scholarships and other programs. Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Expo Commission renamed the program for Strickler earlier this year. Stickler has been inducted into the Ohio Fair Managers Association Hall of Fame, as well as the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame, among many other industry honors. He was also recently inducted into the International Association of Fairs and Expositions Hall of Fame, in November.

Lahmers, a lifetime resident of Tuscarawas County, has had nearly 50 years of involvement with Farm Bureau and numerous other county and statewide boards and organizations.

He served at the county level as Tuscarawas County Farm Bureau president and public policy chairman and as a member of the membership committee. He also served three terms as a trustee on the Ohio Farm Bureau board of trustees, representing the interests of members in Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson and Tuscarawas counties.

The Lahmers family raises cow-calf pairs, operates a feedlot and raises grain, hay and pasture. Lahmers also was a veterinarian for 29 years.

Y Prize

Lahmers and his wife, Rita, also received the 2023 Yvonne Lesicko Perseverance Prize, known as the Y Prize, for their innovative work on farmer mental health initiatives.

The Lahmers spearheaded the creation of the Check Your Engine  Mental Health Project, which serves to better connect rural communities when addressing mental health concerns. The program was developed by Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson and Tuscarawas County Farm Bureaus, in collaboration with local organizations that focus specifically on mental wellness.

Lahmers spent his career serving farmers as a large animal veterinarian in Tuscarawas and surrounding counties and has been involved in Ohio Farm Bureau at all levels, including as a state trustee for the organization until 2022. Rita Lahmers is a retired teacher, who saw the impacts of stress through her students and was instrumental in getting various businesses and members of the community involved in the Check Your Engine project.

If a check engine light comes on the dash of a tractor or farm vehicle, its time to get it to the shop to diagnose the issue, whether it be a common solution that will take minutes to fix, or the machine could be on the brink of a total engine failure, Jerry Lahmer said. Either way, the check engine light lets us know something is wrong and it needs to be addressed.

The Y Prize is an award created by the Yvonne Lesicko Memorial Fund. The fund was created in 2020 to honor Yvonne Lesicko, former vice president of public policy for Ohio Farm Bureau. The fund, within the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, was established to support the causes and initiatives that were important to Lesicko.

Innovation Awards

Counties that received Innovation Awards were also honored at the annual meeting. The Ohio Farm Bureau Innovation Awards highlight county Farm Bureaus for their implementation of new and innovative programs within their communities.

Ashtabula  Mental Health Dinner Theater: Ashtabula County Farm Bureau created a three-act play depicting farmer stress that encouraged discussion about mental health issues while motivating attendees to take greater health and safety precautions.

Auglaize, Logan, Mercer and Shelby  Farm Bureau Agriculture Leadership Program: This program put a specific focus on agriculture issues in the four-county area, while providing participants opportunities for team building, goal setting, networking and sharing the value of Farm Bureau in the community.

Crawford Planting the Seed for the Future of Agriculture: This was an ag literacy and advocacy event from Crawford County Farm Bureau and Crawford County Cattlemen. A nationally known author and a social media influencer shared agriculture with multiple audiences and showed community members many ways to become advocates themselves.

Jackson-Vinton  Making Quality AssuranceFun!: Giving the mandatory Quality Assurance meeting for Junior Fair participants a turn on its head was the goal for Jackson-Vinton Farm Bureau. County board members led hands-on activities for 275 youth in attendance, and parents were required to attend, which generated new Farm Bureau memberships for the county.

Lucas  Policy and Pancakes. Lucas County hosted a farm-to-table breakfast at a local greenhouse, giving members and local officials time to build relationships while showcasing local agriculture and local foods to the guests in attendance.

Marion  Group Member Retention Activities: Marion County Farm Bureau created new activities that were focused on letting the group membership partners know how much they are appreciated while solidifying and building stronger relationships. Group member employees also learned more about the benefits offered to them through Farm Bureau.

Mercer  Western Ohio Ag in the Classroom Teacher Workshop: This workshop, built by Mercer County Farm Bureau, was completely focused on the needs of K through 4 teachers: What they need for their classrooms, the curriculum they have to work with for their age groups, and how they like to teach concepts and ideas about agriculture.

Ottawa  I Want to Be a Farmer, but I Dont Have a Tractor. This Ottawa County Farm Bureau program allowed youth to explore unconventional career opportunities in agriculture during a job fair at the county fair. The event reached 100 youth and their families.
Beef producers are being reminded that applications to the Scottish Suckler Beef Scheme must be in before the 31 December deadline.

The scheme, which provides 40m to support the production of beef calves, underpins the production of Scotland's iconic beef sector.

Any farmer or crofter producing beef calves can claim for any calf born between 1 January 2023 and 2 December 2023.

This is provided the calves are at least 75% beef genetics and have been kept on the holding of birth for at least 30 days.

Payments from the scheme are expected in early 2024.

The scheme budget of 40 million is split with 34 million for calves born on the mainland and 6 million for calves born on the islands.

The payment rates are determined by the number of eligible calves claimed. Last year, payment rates were 101.42 for mainland calves and 144.47 for island calves.

NFU Scotland president, Martin Kennedy said the scheme continued to be a vital element of support to maintain the beef suckler herd in Scotland.

The importance of the calf scheme cannot be underestimated," he said, "We will look to ensure any new conditionality measures for eligibility are proportional and pragmatic."

The Scottish government has confirmed that the scheme will be a feature of future support arrangements in Scotland.

However, new conditions will be introduced on eligibility from 2025 for the 2026 scheme.

Mr Kennedy said that one conditionality measure in the future would be around calving interval, a recommendation from the Suckler Beef Farmer-led Groups report from several years ago.

We have also been engaging with the policy reform stakeholder group emphasising a number of key points about the scheme," he said.

"Firstly, we believe the scheme must retain a minimum 40 million budget; it must retain the island uplift and be delivered in the same cyclical fashion.

"We are also strongly in favour of a split payment to ensure there is a just transition to the new scheme rules in 2025.

"We would support eligible claims having a base element for meeting existing eligibility criteria and a top up if the beef calfs dam meets the new calving interval criteria."
Adam Driver secretly welcomed his second child into the world earlier this year.

Adam Driver is now a father of two after his wife gave birth to a baby girl

Following a report by Page Six in February that the pair were due to give their son a sibling, the outlet has claimed the 'House of Gucci' star let slip his wife Joanne Tucker had given birth to a baby girl during his rehearsal for 'Saturday Night Live' this past weekend.

During his opening monologue take, he allegedly said: Last year, I asked for a baby girl, and I got it, which is exhausting.

So this year, I wish for Ambien!

The 40-year-old actor and his longtime spouse - whom he married in 2013 - managed to keep their son a secret from the world for two years.

However, Joannes sister inadvertently revealed the actress was a mum when she made her Instagram account public in 2018, which revealed pregnancy pictures from the pairs joint baby shower and a reference to her and Joanne as new moms.

Adam publicly confirmed he was a dad while hosting Saturday Night Live in 2020.

He joked during his opening monologue on the show: Im a husband. And a father. Its in that order though. Ive been very clear with my son about that, hes second in everything.

Adam has also made cryptic references to parenthood in interviews over the years.

The marine-turned-actor also told W magazine in 2017 he didnt think he could love anything more than his dog, except maybe his child.

He said: Like, I have a kid, maybe, and be like, (gestures dismissively.) But the dog!

Adam and Joanne met at The Juilliard School in the early 2000s and the actor has hailed his partner for helping him remain a normal person amid the Hollywood craziness.

He has said: Shell persuade me to go and see old friends, even if Im not really feeling like it.

Having a person like that in your life is far more important than a successful career.
Kanye West is said to have had a huge bust-up with his new wife Bianca Censori over her clothes choices.

Kanye West is said to have had a huge bust-up with his new wife Bianca Censori over her clothes choices

The 46-year-old rapper, who reportedly married the 28-year-old model in a suspected non-legally binding ceremony in January in Beverly Hills, often parades around with his partner with her dressed in bizarre outfits including head-to-toe black  sparking accusations he controls her.

Bianca has recently worn bizarre outfits recently including nude sheer tops and a silver string bodysuit teamed with oversized stuffed toys  and a source told DailyMail.com they fear her return to a wacky wardrobe style it is a reaction to her wearing what she wanted on a recent trip she took to Melbourne, Australia, alone.

The insider said seeing her choose her own clothes enraged Kanye, who allegedly prefers her to dress bizarrely in public.

They added: Bianca loved being the centre of attention (in Melbourne), and her friends thought that they got thought to her for a few weeks she seemed to be back to herself.

When she returned to Kanye for the party in Dubai, she was more herself than shes ever been with him, but this did not sit well with him.

She wore what she wanted and was seen talking to people, being flirty and having a good time.

This apparently caused a huge fight with them because he does not like his women to be themselves. He wants them to be sexy  but sexy with what he wants them to wear. The next time she is out she is naked with a stuffed animal.

It is like a child holding onto their stuffed animal or their blanket. They do it because the feel secure with it. It helps to relieve anxiety. But when a grown woman is naked in public carrying a stuffed animal this scares those who know her.

Instead of carrying a teddy bear, she should be holding onto her husbands hand. She is almost a puppet at this point in Kanyes play.

Comedian Kathy Griffin, 62, is among those who have recently accused Kanye controlling Bianca.

She said in a long TikTok video about she fears the model has no voice, adding: I see those photos when she is in those pantyhose and like not even a bandeau top, its really all about being see-through when I see this woman who has no voice, we have not heard a peep out of her.

Ive heard that she has a masters degree in architecture from a university in Australia, shes gorgeous and she seems to have no voice whatsoever.
Kanye West is being slammed as sick for wearing a black version of a KKK-style hood.

Kanye West is being slammed as sick for wearing a black version of a KKK-style hood

The controversy-mired rapper, 46, who has been ditched from his money-spinning brand deals over his anti-Semitic outbursts, wore the shock outfit to his Vultures album listening party on Monday. (11.12.23)

Dad-of-four Kanye initially showed up to the do, dubbed the Vultures Rave, with a garment covering his face but later changed into the dark pointy black hood as the title track for the album played.

In the song, Kanye addresses allegations of his past anti-Semitic behaviour, rapping: How Im anti-Semitic?, along with a stream of abuse.

His critics have since flooded social media to brand him sick and disgusting, with others saying he is an anti-Semite.

Others dismissed a theory Kanye was satirising white supremacy with his outfit.

More critics slated the face Kanyes daughter North, 10, who he had with his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, 43, was at the event and at one point joined him on stage.

His and Kims daughter Chicago, five, and son Saint, eight, were also in attendance and were spotted in the crowd with the rappers new wife, Bianca Censori, 28.

It appears Kanye and Kims youngest child, four-year-old son Psalm, did not attend the party.

In Kanyes 2013 music video for the song Black Skinhead he featured a cast wearing black hoods.

The album party was also attended by stars including Ty Dolla $ign, Playboi Carti, Offset, Lil Durk, Chris Brown and Kodak Black.

Kanye had partnerships including one with Adidas axed last year.

He suffered a furious backlash after he wrote on Twitter, now known as X, he was going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE.

Kanye added: You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.

On Instagram Kanye he posted a screenshot of a conversation with Sean Diddy Combs, 54, where he wrote: Ima use you as an example to show the Jewish people that told you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me. Kanye also caused a storm by including T-shirts with the slogan White Lives Matter in a Yeezy fashion show in Paris.
Tom Fletcher is working on a stage musical based on Paddington Bear.

Tom Fletcher is writing a musical based on Paddington Bear

The 38-year-old pop star is best known as a member of McFly but will now be writing the music and lyrics for the upcoming stage adaptation of Michael Bond's classic children's book series in honour of its 65th anniversary.

The 'Obviously' hitmaker - who has also written the stage shows 'Christmasaurus' and 'There's a Monster in Your Show' - will be joined by Olivier Award-winning playwright Jessica Swale and director Luke Sheppard on 'Paddington: The Musical', which is set to premiere in the UK in 2025.

The stage show is being produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Studiocanal and Eliza Lumley Productions on behalf of Universal Music UK.

Friedman and Lumley said: It is a privilege to be creating a new musical about this gorgeous and beloved little bear with such a wonderful team.

"The magic of Paddington is that, through his wide-eyed innocence, he sees the very best in humanity, reminding us that love and kindness can triumph if we open our hearts and minds to one another.

We cannot wait to bring Paddington, his antics, adventures and mishaps with the Brown family, and Michael Bonds other treasured characters to the stage. We hope to inspire audiences of all ages with fun, beauty, joy, and all that Paddington stands for.

The first adaptation of the 1958 book 'A Bear Called Paddington' was done by the BBC in 1976 and has since been adapted numerous times for film and television, whilst the character famously made an appearance with the late Queen Elizabeth during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

Studiocanal chief executive Anna Marsh added: "We could not be more delighted to see our beloved Paddington take to the stage shepherded by a talented and visionary team in Sonia and Eliza.

They have opened their hearts to show a deep understanding and passion for Paddington that will no doubt transpire on stage and ensure that his adventures, created by Michael Bond over 60 years ago, continue to charm audiences in such a new and innovative way."
Taylor Swift has donated $1 million (800,000) to help victims of the tornadoes in Tennessee.

Taylor Swift donates to help victims of the deadly tornadoes in Tennessee

The 33-year-old pop megastar - who recently became a billionaire and has been generous with donations in the past - pledged the huge sum to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to help those whose homes and livelihoods have been ravaged by the storms and tornadoes.

Several people in the state have been confirmed to have died and 50 were left injured as multiple tornadoes swept the state.

Taylor, 33, is from Pennsylvania originally but she moved to Nashville as a teen to pursue music.

The money will go towards food, temporary housing, the clean-up, and more.

Taylor donated $1 million to the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund in March 2020 after deadly tornadoes took lives and destroyed homes.

She said at the time: Nashville is my home and the fact that so many people have lost their homes and so much more in Middle Tennessee is devastating to me."

The Grammy winner has also donated to food poverty charities in cities on her 'Eras Tour'.

Taylor donated enough money to make 125,000 meals for food bank users in Tampa Bay, Florida.

The musician kicked off 'The Eras' trek in Glendale, Arizona, on March 17, and it was revealed that she made a surprise donation to the Arizona Food Bank Network as part of a commitment to make a positive impact in the communities during her tour.

Terri Shoemaker, Vice President of External Relations at the Arizona Food Bank Network, told Azcentral.com: "It's not every day that you get a call from someone who works in PR for Taylor Swift, so we were dubious at first, but happily, it turned out to be absolutely real.

"Donations like this from very high-profile people like Taylor Swift help denote that hunger is still a problem in the U.S. It's here and it's a problem across the country. The recognition of that is so important and so is just setting an example of how to support organisations in the community ... "
Zac Efron has thanked his parents for "sticking by [him]" on his quest for fame.

Zac Efron (second left) has thanked his mom Starla and dad David for their constant support

The 36-year-old actor became a teen idol after he was cast as Troy Bolton in the Disney Channel runaway hit 'High School Musical' in the mid-2000s and has gone on to achieve mega success in film but reflected upon receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk on Fame that he doesn't know how his parents managed to support him in his early years, especially when the odds of making it were stacked against him.

He told People: "My mom and dad, they're the reason I'm here today. They believed in me when I don't know how they did. It must've been difficult to drive me back and forth to auditions when I was 15, three hours from the Arroyo Grande out here, just to have such a small shot.

"They believed in me, and they stuck with me, by my side, through all of it. And I think they sacrificed a lot to support me throughout the years. So to have them here and to both be here in person is ... it makes me emotional, man. It's very special. It means the world to me!"

The 'Iron Claw' star worked with the late 'Friends' actor - who died in October aged 54 - on 2009 comedy '17 Again', and he admitted the experience "really pushed" as a performer.

Speaking at his star ceremony in Hollywood on Monday (11.12.23), Zac said: "I really also want to mention someone that's not here today, and that's Matthew Perry, who was so kind and generous with me when we worked on '17 Again.' "

He played a younger version of Matthew's character Mike O'Donnell, and he admitted his Walk of Fame ceremony made him think "a lot" about his late co-star.

He added: "It was so much fun and really did propel me and motivate me in so many ways.

"It really pushed me into the next chapter of my career. And for that, thank you so much Matthew, thinking about you a lot today."
Disha Salian Suicide Case: In the latest development, the Mumbai Police is set to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death of Disha Salian, the former manager of late Sushant Singh Rajput.

The decision comes after Additional Chief Secretary Home, Sujata Saunik, issued orders for the investigation. After which, the state government directed the Mumbai Police to launch a detailed inquiry.The SIT will be led by the Additional Commissioner of the North Region.

MAHA GOVT ORDERS SIT PROBE IN DISHA SALIAN DEATH CASE

The formation of the SIT comes after demands from several Shinde camp MLAs for a thorough investigation into the Disha Salian suicide case. The Bharatiya Janata Party had previously accused the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, led by Uddhav Thackeray, of suppressing information related to Disha Salian's death.

ABOUT DISHA SALIAN'S DEATH

Meanwhile, Disha Salian reportedly died after falling from a high-rise building in the Malad area of Mumbai on June 8, 2020. Her unfortunate death took place just days before Sushant Singh Rajput's tragic demise. Amidst the controversies surrounding her death, Disha's parents, Satish Salian and Vasanti Salian, had written to then President Ram Nath Kovind, urging action against Union Minister Narayan Rane, his MLA son Nitesh, and others.

The parents alleged also informed him about the false information that was being spread about their daughter's death, which led to the defamation of their family. In their plea for justice, Disha's parents also stated that if justice is not served, they would be left with no choice but to end their lives. They also requested for the removal of defamatory content from all media platforms related to their daughter's death.
Kinza Hashmi Recreates Jamal Kudu Steps: Sandeep Reddy Vanga's directorial Animal may have drawn polarising views from people, but there is one thing that has united the audience, and that is Bobby Deol's character from the film Abrar Haque.

Deol, who plays the antagonist in Animal, makes an entry dancing to the peppy track 'Jamal Kudu' during his wedding sequence while balancing an alcohol-filled glass on his head. The song has become a rage on social media, making the entire nation groove to it.

And now, hopping on to the viral trend, Pakistani actress Kinza Hashmi was also seen shaking a leg on the popular track, a video of which is now going viral on the internet. However, she is getting brutally trolled for the same.

Pak actress Kinza Hashmi recreates 'Jamal Kudu' dance steps

Well-known Pakistani actress Kinza Hashmi is quite active on social media. A video of the actress dancing to the Animal song 'Jamal Kudu' and recreating Bobby Deol's dance steps was shared by Diva Magazine Pakistan on Instagram.

Pakistani Actor Hania Aamir Shares New Pics Of Chilling With Badshah; Fans Say: Gian Peecha Chod De Shizuka Ka

In a casual outfit with open hair, Kinza can be seen balancing a glass on her head and grooving to the hit song. Her clip is now doing the rounds on the internet. While many were appreciating her enthusiasm, many trolled her and called her out for doing such an inappropriate dance.

Reacting to Kinza's video, one said, "Stop, Kinza. You ain't Lord Bobby," while another wrote, "Pakistan ke actors or inka obsession with Bollywood." A third user commented, "Bass copy he krna sakta hain ap... apna kuch na krna."

"Enlogo ki bollywood sey obsession nahi khatam hogi ajeeb," one wrote. Another added, "People are dying in palestine but these people are silent..and enjoying."

'Jamal Kudu' is a revamped version of the 50-year-old Iranian folk song 'Jamal Jamaloo', which is inspired by poetry by Bijan Smandar of the same name. The song is popular during Iranian weddings.

Talking about Kinza Hashmi, the 26-year-old Pakistani actress made her debut in Lollywood in 2014 with the Adhura Milan serial. Since then, she has appeared in several daily sopas like Gul-o-Gulzar, Uraan, Tum Se Kehna Tha, Mere Ban Jao, and so on.

Seema Haidars FIRST Karwa Chauth: Pakistani Bhabhi Touches Husband Sachin Meenas Feet. VIRAL VIDEO
Hania Aamir On Dating Badshah: Indian rapper Badshah and Pakistani actress Hania Aamir's dating rumours intensified after their pictures from Dubai went viral on social media. Now, the Pak actress has addressed the buzz surrounding their relationship during her appearance on the latest episode of Ahmed Ali Butt's podcast, "Excuse Me with Ahmad Ali Butt."

Badshah who has always heaped praise on the Pak actress recently met her in Dubai. The actress posted pictures from their fun outing on her Instagram and set the social media buzzing. Now the actress has opened up on her equation with the Indian rapper.

During the podcast, Ahmed Ali asked about Hania's Dubai trip with Badshah, which led to laughter and visible excitement from the actress. A video of the same has gone viral that shows her blushing at the mere mention of Badshah's name.

Responding to the question, Hania called Badshah a 'great guy'. Ali Butt goes on to mention that Badshah is a huge fan of hers and her work and how he always speaks very nice about her.

When asked if she is a fan of Badshah, Hania confirmed her admiration for his work and referred to him as a 'great guy and a good friend.' To test her knowledge of Badshah's songs, Ali Butt asked Hania to name two tracks, to which she promptly replied with Mercy, & Player.

The speculation surrounding Hania and Badshah's relationship intensified when fans raised the question during one of Badshah's Instagram live sessions. In response, Badshah expressed that Hania is a mood lifter for him. He went on to praise her, saying, "Bari mast bandi lagti hai mujhe, mood uplift ho jata hai ekdum se uski post dekh ke."

While neither Hania nor Badshah has confirmed or denied a romantic involvement, their camaraderie and mutual admiration continue to fuel curiosity among fans.
Fashion has become as important as performing for the majority of our Bollywood celebs. They are dedicated to their style, sustainability, and ethical behavior. Most celebrities understand that because they are public personalities, change generally starts with them. As a result, they were able to create their brand. Many Indian celebrities have taken on business responsibilities, introducing us to some incredible fashion brands. Let's have a look at the five celebs who launched their brand.

1) Salman Khan's Being Human Brand

When Salman Khan started his clothing brand 'Being Human' in 2007, he was perhaps the first superstar to do so. The actor wanted to give back to society so he formed the nonprofit Being Human Foundation in Mumbai, which served as the basis for the society. It sells fashionable, clothing for men and women, and a percentage of the proceeds are given to charity causes. The company offers its goods both online and at its national retail stores. Items include shorts, tees, t-shirts, and more, and every year on his birthday, 27th December, Salman Khan offers discounts to the customers on the clothing brand.

2) Alia Bhatt's Ed-A-Mamma

The Ed-A-Mamma is Mumbai Mumbai-based clothing brand that works for children and the environment. Alia Bhatt established Ed-a-Mamma, a charity organization in 2020. She thought that children would safeguard what they care about, so she set out to create a world that promotes appreciation for the natural world, and under this, she launched her clothing brand with the same name.

3) Rwdy By Vijay Deverakonda

Heartthrob and handsome Vijay Deverakona recently relaunched his very popular clothing 'Rwdy'. It is well known that the superstar has a high sense of fashion which is being followed by the youths of today and keeping that in mind, Vijay Deverakonda created Rwdy, a clothing brand that offers a broad choice of contemporary outfits that resonate with today's audiences.

4) Rheson by Sonam Kapoor and Rhea Kapoor

Sonam Kapoor and her sister Rhea Kapoor launched the Indian clothing company "Rheson" in 2017. Rheson offers elegant collections with various styles, patterns, and current shapes. This brand's textiles are all made from high-quality materials and carefully tailored to fit today's sophisticated women. The idea for the clothing brand comes from Sonam Kapoor, a well-known Indian actress.

5) House of Pataudi by Saif Ali Khan

In 2018, House of Pataudi, a clothing line, was introduced. It was the result of a collaboration between renowned Indian actor Saif Ali Khan and leading fashion e-commerce site Myntra. The House of Pataudi leverages its name to create a combination of current fashion senses with traditional Indian handicrafts. The famous Pataudi family has a strong effect on the brand's history and appearance. It seeks to offer a variety of apparel and accessories that blend classic and current styles.

6) Saaki - Samantha

Saaki, a clothing brand launched by Samantha Ruth Prabhu was founded in September 2020. It offers a wide range of ethnic and fusion wear clothing
Year-Ender 2023: Bollywood and controversies are like a match made in heaven! You cannot keep celebrities and controversy separate, and so 2023 was not different.

The year was filled with surprises and shocks, as Bollywood has been at the centre of several contentious issues, triggering discussions and debates among fans worldwide.

From Alia Bhatt's 'wipe off' that lipstick to Kriti Sanon and Om Raut's kiss in the temple, let's delve into some of the most significant Bollywood controversies that made huge headlines.

Kriti Sanon-Om Raut's temple kiss controversy

Actress Kriti Sanon and director Om Raut grabbed headlines this year when the filmmaker kissed Kriti on her cheeks at Tirupati Temple. They were at a holy pace to seek blessings ahead of their film's release, and the kiss was captured in a video. They received flak for this gesture on the holy premises, which was called inappropriate.

Year-Ender 2023: The Good Bad Mother To Celebrity, 6 High-Rated K-Dramas Of The Year That You Must Binge-Watch

Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Avneet Kaur's kissing scene in Tiku Weds Sheru

Tiku Weds Sheru, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Avneet Kaur, stirred massive outrage after the trailer showed a lip-lock scene between 49-year-old Nawazuddin Siddiqui and 21-year-old Avneet Kaur. Many pointed out the age difference between the actors.

Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor's 'wipe-off' lipstick controversy

Alia Bhatt's revelation that her husband-actor Ranbir Kapoor dislikes her wearing lipstick and would often ask her to "wipe it off" caused huge debate online, as many felt that Ranbir was controlling and called him toxic.

Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone relationship reevaluation on Koffee With Karan 8

B'town power couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone triggered controversy after Deepika revealed on Koffee With Karan 8 that they were in an open relationship during their dating period and seeing 'other people' as well. She said, "Even if we were technically allowed to see other people, we would just keep coming back to each other." The episode sparked controversy, and people called Deepika a red flag. There was also discussion on normalising cheating in relationships.

Year Ender 2023: The Railway Men, Kohrra, The Archies, Scoop- Binge-worthy Brilliance On Netflix

Adipurush cringe dialogues & more

Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, Saif Ali Khan, and Sunny Singh's fantasy film Adipursh, which was based on Hindu mythology and the Ramayana, faced intense backlash upon its theatrical release. The criticism varied from trolling Prabhas for his performance to disapproval of Kriti Sanon's portrayal of Maa Sita. Additionally, the film received negative feedback for its subpar visual effects and a modernised storyline that didn't sit well with the audience. Saif, who played Ravana, was compared to a Mughal invader, while dialogues were termed cringeworthy.
Zara Issues Apology: Fashion giant Zara received widespread criticism and accusations of insensitivity due to its recent advertising campaign, titled 'Atelier'. Now, in response to the backlash, the ad campaign has been pulled out from both its website and mobile application.

ZARA'S CONTROVERSIAL AD CAMPAIGN

The campaign featured mannequins with missing limbs and statues covered in white sheets, with model Kristen McMenamy posing in what appeared to be a rubble-filled environment. The images drew massive backlash on social media and netizens argued that the shoot resembled scenes from Israel-Hamas war.

As the controversy escalated, the hashtag "#BoycottZara" gained traction on X (formerly Twitter). Zara's Instagram posts were flooded with comments, with users expressing their displeasure and drawing parallels between the ad and distressing emerging images from Gaza.

ZARA ISSUES APOLOGY

Inditex Trent, Zara's parent company, defended the campaign, stating that the "Atelier" collection was conceptualized in July, and the photos were taken in September. However, on Monday, the campaign images were removed from Zara's online platforms. Although a link on the UK website directed users to the Zara Atelier collection, it displayed last year's items.

Zara also took to its social media platforms and issued a statement that read, "After listening to comments regarding the latest Zara Atelier Campaign "The Jacket", we would like to share the following with our customers:

The campaign, that was conceived in July and photographed in September, presents a series of images of unfinished sculptures in a sculptor's studio and was created with the sole purpose of showcasing craftmade garments in an artistic context.

Unfortunately, some customers felt offended by these images, which have now been removed, and saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created.

Zara regrets that misunderstanding and we reaffirm our deep respect towards everyone."

Meanwhile, videos of protesters outside Zara stores, spray-painting "Free Palestine" slogans on windows and staging marches inside the stores, carrying bundles of white clothes to mock the campaign's imagery went viral on social media.

Bu video Avrupa ulkelerinden birinde cekilmis

Oyle guzel protestolar varki

Bizimkilerde yarn indirim olsun kuyruklarda sac bas kavga ederler !

Zulme dur diyebilmek icin,herhangi bir dine yada rka sahip olmak gerekmiyor!

Insan olabilsek yeter aslnda #boycottzara #StrikeForGaza pic.twitter.com/FOR5zgkS2R  Davamz Turkiye (@davamturkiyem) December 12, 2023

American demonstrators block the entrances to Zara stores and chant, Shame on you, in reference to mocking the martyrs of Gaza and their shrouds

World Stands With Palestine #Boycott_zara #Zara #BoycottZara#_#_#_ pic.twitter.com/Ndae3xMYER  Arslan Javed (@RcArslan) December 12, 2023

Meanwhile, the Israel-Hamas war began after October 7 after Hamas attacked people in a music festival in Israel, killing around 1200 and taking several hostages.
Kantara Chapter 1 Release Date: "Kantara," a 2022 Kannada action thriller, is written and directed by Rishab Shetty and produced by Vijay Kiragandur for Hombale Films. The film features Rishab Shetty in a dual role, portraying a Kambala champion in conflict with Murali, an honest forest officer played by Kishore.

Who Is Geethu Mohandas? Meet The Director Behind Yash's Upcoming 'Toxic' Movie

The movie hit screens on September 30, 2022, receiving glowing reviews. It enjoyed significant commercial success, becoming the second highest-grossing Kannada film ever, following K.G.F: Chapter 2, which premiered in the same year. Additionally, in 2022, it ranked as the fourth-highest-grossing film across India.

After the triumph of Kantara, there were rumours about Rishabh Shetty producing a sequel to the film. Subsequently, it was later confirmed that Rishabh Shetty would craft a prequel titled Kantara: Chapter 1, set to hit screens in late 2024.

Recently, the makers of the film revealed the first look teaser of 'Kantara Chapter 1 (Prequel),' creating a buzz among eager audiences. The movie's official launch, marked by a traditional pooja, also took place on November 27 in Kundapura, Karnataka. Excitement abounds as shooting plans are in motion, with locations set in Sri Lanka and Udupi scheduled for the end of December or January.

Kantara Chapter 1 Release Date Revealed

In a recent interview, the film's producer, Vijay Kiragandur, expressed their intent to make Kantara 2 a more refined and dignified film. He also revealed plans for its release, aiming for either the last quarter of 2024 or the first quarter of 2025.

Rishab Shetty will both direct and star in this prequel, joined by many actors from the original installment. This pan-Indian project is set to scale up with a significant budget. While shooting is yet to commence, Ajaneesh Loknath returns as the music director for this anticipated movie.

This ambitious project will feature a diverse ensemble of talent, including artists from Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and even a few from the Hindi film industry. The casting journey involved an extensive mega audition process, with over 100 artists vying for roles, ultimately shortlisting 15 individuals for this monumental venture.

Redin Kingsley's Wife Sangeetha V's Recent Instagram Status: Nobody Meets You By Accident

The title teaser for 'Kantara Chapter 1' offers a glimpse into Rishab Shetty's character look, accompanied by captivating music. Reportedly set against the backdrop of 350 CE, the narrative will transport audiences into the realm of the Panjurli Daiva Origin, intricately woven within the expansive Kadamba dynasty, promising a new world and an enthralling cinematic experience.
Thalaivar 170 Title Announcement: Legendary actor Rajinikanth celebrates his 73rd birthday today on December 12th. Even at the age of 73, the Superstar continues to maintain a strong fan following around the world, a feat unmatched by any other star.

Superstar Rajinikanth possesses an unparalleled aura in Tamil Nadu, acknowledged by peers in the industry. Yet, he transcends mere acting; he embodies a symbol of Tamil Nadu, serving as a beacon of aspiration for countless dreamers in cinema. Rajinikanth's cinematic journey, evolving from portraying villainous roles in the beginning to reaching the pinnacle of heroism, reflects his versatile talent. While he has embraced diverse roles and portrayed complex characters, directors remain cautious, wary of deviating from his larger-than-life image.

Despite his remarkable transition from a bus conductor to a Kollywood icon, Rajinikanth remains unassuming and humble, retaining the affection of his fans. His enduring popularity stands as a testament, unaffected by the emergence of new stars in the industry.

Rajinikanth made his foray into the film industry in 1975 with his debut in 'Apoorva Raagangal.' As he celebrates 48 years in this remarkable journey, fans, actors, directors, political figures, and sportspersons commemorate the enduring success and legacy of this legendary actor on his birthday.

Thalaivar 170 Title Announcement Time

Rajinikanth, who recently appeared in 'Jailer,' marking his 169th film, has now shifted his attention to his 170th project. This new venture boasts an extensive ensemble cast, with none other than Amitabh Bachchan joining the ranks. Production for this highly anticipated project is currently underway, and both iconic actors successfully concluded their portions together during the Mumbai schedule on October 29th.

'Thalaivar 170' signifies the 170th addition to the illustrious filmography of superstar Rajinikanth. While the movie's title is still under wraps, production is in full swing. The anticipation mounts as the latest reports confirm that the much-awaited first look of Thalaivar170 is set to be unveiled today at 5 p.m., marking a momentous occasion as a special tribute to the iconic Superstar Rajinikanth on his birthday.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2023 / The first Entrepreneur Networking Event on Wall Street, hosted at the iconic Trump Building in New York on December 7th, was a resounding success, drawing over a hundred participants. This gathering provided a unique and valuable opportunity for Chinese and American entrepreneurs in New York to engage in impactful business discussions, share insights, and explore collaborative ventures.





Inaugural Entrepreneur Networking Event Triumphs at Trump Building on Wall Street





The event was collaboratively organized by Manhattan Primary Consulting Inc, Apexy Investments, and Milli Media. It brought together a diverse array of industry leaders, fostering an environment conducive to networking and partnership building.

In her opening speech, CEO Linda Yang of Manhattan Primary Consulting Inc. highlighted the event's core objective: to facilitate meaningful exchanges among local entrepreneurs, fostering precise business connections. Yang announced an exciting plan to make these events a monthly occurrence starting in 2024, demonstrating a commitment to sustained collaboration.

Founders Jun He of Apexy Investments and Eva Cai of Milli Media extended a warm welcome to attendees, expressing their anticipation for fruitful interactions and valuable insights gained from the event.

Representing the sponsor, Kevin Chin of HAO MU PTE. LTD. (Singapore) took the stage to introduce the company's partnership with Phenix Bio Inc. and its revolutionary products. Chin emphasized flagship products such as CUCA NMN+ for anti-aging, Empress Treasure for women seeking to maintain youthfulness and vigor, and Fit Trim for those focusing on metabolism and weight management. Chin passionately conveyed Phenix Bio Inc.'s belief that "health is wealth" and underscored the importance of making conscious choices to lead healthier lives through high-quality health supplements. The success of the inaugural Entrepreneur Networking Event not only provided a conducive environment for collaboration but also set a precedent for future gatherings, showcasing their pivotal role in fostering robust business relationships and promoting healthier lifestyles.

Contact Information

Muse Chan

millimedia.ny@gmail.com

SOURCE: Milli Media

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 11, 2023) - West Oak Gold Corp. (CSE: WO) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated November 27, 2023, it has filed an updated version of the offering document related to the LIFE Offering (as defined below) component of the non-brokered private placement financing (the "Offering") of up to 6,410,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price per Unit of C$0.05 for aggregate gross proceeds of up to approximately C$320,500. Each Unit shall consist of one common share in the capital of the Company and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall be exercisable to acquire one additional common share in the capital of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.05 for a term of three years from the date of issuance thereof.

Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), up to 3,206,250 Units issuable pursuant to the Offering (the "LIFE Offering") will be offered for sale to purchasers resident in each of the provinces of Canada (other than Quebec) and/or other qualifying jurisdictions pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106. The updated offering document related to the LIFE Offering can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.westoakgold.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

The securities of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there by any sale of the securities referenced in this press release, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About West Oak

West Oak is focused on gold exploration in Canada. It is currently actively exploring the Hedge Hog gold project located 15km north of the town of Wells in the Caribou Mining Division of central British Columbia. Investors are encouraged to review West Oak's prospectus and the technical report for the Hedge Hog Property available at www.sedarplus.ca. Management and the board of directors of West Oak currently consists of Paul John (Chief Executive Officer and director), Paul Reynolds (director), Kevin Dodds (director) and Robert Doyle (Chief Financial Officer).

On behalf of the board of directors of the Company

"Paul John"

Paul John

Chief Executive Officer and Director

West Oak Gold Corp.

Website: www.westoakgold.com

T: 778-874-6619

E: paul.j48@telus.net

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information or statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to the terms and completion of the Offering, the technical, financial, and business prospects of the Company, its assets and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking information or statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking information or 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 information or statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, the ability to achieve its goals, expected costs and timelines to achieve the Company's goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, and that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information or statements reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties included in in documents filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking information or statements include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Company to complete the Offering on the terms described herein, including obtaining the requisite regulatory and stock exchange approvals, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, failure to compete effectively with competitors, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to comply with applicable laws, including environmental laws, risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by law.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for

dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190607
Plusgrade and AirAsia introduce "ZoneUp", allowing passengers to bid for upgrades on AirAsia flights.

The program offers upgrades to premium amenities like AirAsia Premium Flatbeds, Quiet Zone Seats, and Hot Seats with extra legroom.

The collaboration reflects a commitment to enhancing travel experiences in the Asia-Pacific region giving travelers more choice and flexibility.

MONTREAL, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Plusgrade , the leading provider of ancillary revenue solutions for the global travel industry, and AirAsia , Asia's leading low-cost carrier, are proud to announce the launch of "Zone Up". This program allows passengers to enhance their travel experience by bidding for upgrades on eligible AirAsia flights, further strengthening the partnership established with the multi-year, multi-product collaboration announcement in February.

Starting this month, the AirAsia "ZoneUp" program will be available on all AirAsia Malaysia (AK) and AirAsia X (D7) flights. The program allows passengers who booked standard tickets to bid for premium upgrades, including the acclaimed AirAsia Premium Flatbeds, Quiet Zone seats, and Hot seats with extra legroom. This collaboration with Plusgrade enables AirAsia to provide more travelers with access to enhanced comfort and seating options, all while enjoying significant savings.

"We're thrilled to be bringing our signature and leading upgrade program to AirAsia, underscoring our shared commitment to innovation and creating memorable travel experiences," said Ken Harris, Founder and CEO of Plusgrade. "Together we are creating added value for travelers while unlocking the full potential of ancillary revenue growth for AirAsia."

Travel in the APAC region has witnessed significant growth in recent years, with passengers increasingly looking for ways to enhance their travel experience. The AirAsia ZoneUp program caters to this growing demand by offering passengers a chance to elevate their journeys, creating lasting memories while enjoying significant savings.This new feature reflects AirAsia's unwavering commitment to enhancing customer experiences, ensuring greater choice, and adding substantial value to travelers.

"AirAsia has always been committed to continuous improvement of customer experience across every touchpoint for our guests," said Ms Karen Chan, Group Chief Commercial Officer at AirAsia. "The AirAsia ZoneUp program is a testament to our dedication to provide value and choice to our guests. We are excited to partner with Plusgrade to make premium upgrades more accessible and affordable in ASEAN and beyond."

This partnership exemplifies Plusgrade's mission to bring innovative products to travel partners worldwide. By combining AirAsia's loyal customer base with Plusgrade's expertise in ancillary revenue optimization, the ZoneUp program is poised to redefine travel experiences for passengers across the APAC region.

For more information about the AirAsia ZoneUp program, please visit https://upgrade.plusgrade.com/offer/AirAsia.

About Plusgrade

Plusgrade powers the global travel industry with its portfolio of leading ancillary revenue solutions. Over 200 airline, hospitality, cruise, passenger rail, and financial services companies trust Plusgrade to create new, meaningful revenue streams through incredible customer experiences. As an ancillary revenue powerhouse, Plusgrade has generated billions of dollars in new revenue opportunities across its platform for its partners, while creating enhanced travel experiences for millions of their passengers and guests. Plusgrade was founded in 2009 with headquarters in Montreal and has offices around the world.

About AirAsia

AirAsia is the World's Best Low Cost Airline, flying to more than 130 destinations in the region and beyond. Founded in 2001, the airline has flown close to a billion passengers. With the resume of travel worldwide, AirAsia has gradually reinstated flights for many of its popular routes whilst launching new ones. AirAsia's vision and mission have always been to serve the underserved. Throughout its two decades of service, the airline has connected people and places, and has largely been credited for democratising affordable air travel in the region with its now famous tagline 'Now Everyone Can Fly'.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2296069/Plusgrade_Plusgrade_and_AirAsia_Launch__ZoneUp__Upgrade_Program_.jpg

MEDIA CONTACT: Carrie Mumford, Director, Brand & Communications, Plusgrade, pr@plusgrade.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/plusgrade-and-airasia-launch-zoneup-upgrade-program-expanding-ancillary-revenue-solutions-in-apac-302010523.html
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2023 / SAP:

Feature by Alexandra van der Ploeg

In my role at SAP, I have seen firsthand the multifaceted challenges climate change brings, especially to youth. By 2050, we are looking at a world where over 1 billion people could be displaced due to environmental upheavals, with nearly 2 billion children facing increased health risks from intense heat.

These are not just numbers: futures are at stake, particularly for young people whose education and opportunities are being disrupted right before our eyes. This stark reality drives home the need for inclusive and equitable strategies in our climate action plans.

Youth are at the frontline of these environmental challenges. Their futures depend on how effectively we can address the impacts of climate change. It is a call to action for all of us across various sectors to unite and empower the voices of these young people, harnessing their potential to create innovative solutions.

At SAP, we've embraced a four-pronged approach specifically designed to support and empower youth in their journey to a sustainable and just world: rally, represent, reskill, and resource.

Sharing these insights at the RewirEd Summit during COP28, where education is a focal point, reminds me of the critical need to intertwine education funding with our climate goals, addressing the immediate and future climate challenges.

At the core of our mission for climate justice is rallying the energy and passion of the younger generation. I sincerely believe that climate action among young people is a key component of climate justice, and we need to promote that in various ways.

That is why we support Green Rising, an initiative led by UNICEF and Generation Unlimited along with partners that supports children and youth-led grassroots climate action for a faster and fairer transition to a low-carbon economy. The aim is to directly engage 10 million youth, particularly girls, to take action by 2025 through volunteering, green skills, jobs, entrepreneurship, and advocacy. Our 2023 collaboration with Goodwall and Accenture has already launched digital challenges like ClimateAction, DigitalCleanUp, and GoingZero with 15,000 active youth participants.

However, I'm keenly aware that passion alone is not enough. The journey from raising awareness to finding real change requires more than just enthusiasm; it demands skill and knowledge. This realization bridges us to the next critical phase of our mission.

Green Rising also recognizes the importance of equipping youth with the tools they need to make a lasting impact.

The reskilling effort at the heart of Green Rising is about transforming energy and concern into potent, informed action. As we confront the reality of "eco-anxiety" affecting 57% of global youth, we understand that empowerment comes from giving these young minds the ability to turn their worries into wisdom and their fears into a force for good. By fostering climate literacy and developing green skills, we are not just creating activists; we're nurturing future leaders, problem solvers, and innovators who will shape a sustainable world in areas like biodiversity, air quality, water conservation, and waste management.

I'm fortunate to see how our dedication to reskilling is making a real impact. We are charting a clear course in initiating and nurturing programs that significantly boost young people's employability and entrepreneurial capabilities.

For instance, through accessible online resources like open.sap.com, learning.sap.com, and collaborations with our colleagues from SAP University Alliances, we are empowering individuals with the necessary insights to contribute positively to climate action. Efforts extend globally. With UNICEF's Generation Unlimited, we have empowered more than 7.6 million young people in India, Turkey, and Vietnam with vital digital and life skills.

Looking ahead, Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA), co-created with young people from the continent, will reach 1 million youths in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and the Philippines by 2025, offering opportunities for learning and reskilling. Additionally, the SAP Educate to Employ initiative is shaping future careers, training 100 young talents in each pilot country annually, with 25 stepping into internships or roles within the SAP ecosystem.

These are steps toward nurturing a generation ready to lead the charge in sustainability and innovation.

In my experience attending conferences, I have often noticed a missing crucial element: the direct input of the young people we're talking about. It is one thing to teach and upskill them with the crucial knowledge, but it's another to truly empower them to be part of the conversation. It is about going beyond just training and providing youth with real platforms to contribute their fresh skills and innovative ideas to the global climate conversation.

This is what drives our approach to representation, with long-time partners and organizations such as We Are Family Foundation and ChangemakerXChange in programs like Youth To The Table.

I truly believe that this is the real game-changer. Ultimately, it is something quite simple yet often overlooked: genuinely including young people in the conversations and decision-making that shape their future.

This approach is encapsulated in the phrase "Nothing about us without us." It's about flipping the script, moving from merely discussing climate issues about young people to actively collaborating with them. They are not just on the sidelines, they are in the room where decisions are made.

For instance, we are bringing 50 young leaders from across the globe to the COP28 conference to get their innovative opinions and learn from their solutions. We have done it in the past and will continue in the future at global forums like the World Economic Forum and the United Nations General Assembly. Watching young leaders confidently take the stage and influence global conversations is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do - it's about empowering them to shape the world they will live in.

A mere 0.76% of grants from major climate foundations currently support youth-led climate initiatives. This means while rallying, reskilling, and giving them a voice is crucial, it is not enough. To combat climate change, we must funnel more resources toward the projects and innovations led by youth, especially in the most affected communities. This means not just talking about, but investing in their ideas through project grants, mentorship programs like Climate Hacks, and corporate pro-bono consulting programs that connect experts with social and climate enterprises to amplify their impact and turn youthful enthusiasm and innovation into tangible, world-changing solutions.

As I reflect, I'm reminded of the unique and impactful role corporations can play in driving long-term social change. Leading these efforts at SAP has been a responsibility and a privilege, offering a front-row seat to the transformative power of education.

Seeing young people full of potential and eagerness to make a difference has been a constant reminder of why our work matters. Every digital challenge we launch, every skill we teach, and every voice we amplify is not just a tick on a corporate checklist. It's about lighting up a path for these young leaders who will one day take the reins in creating a sustainable and just world.

The conversations I have, the stories I hear, and the evident enthusiasm and determination among youth leave a lasting impression on me. They remind me that our commitment to empowering young people goes beyond the boardrooms and conferences. It is a reminder of the potential for corporations to contribute meaningfully to a sustainable, equitable, and bright future for all. It's about nurturing a future we all share.

Alexandra van der Ploeg is head of Global Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from SAP on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: SAP

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/sap

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: SAP

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Press Release

Nokia 5G Core SaaS and Network as Code platform to be used by Telia Finland in new Sirius Program

Telia and Nokia have signed a memorandum of understanding to create together a 5G Standalone application innovation program called Sirius that includes 5G Standalone corridors among highways and seaways across national borders in Europe





Nokia 5G Standalone Core in a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) delivery model and Nokia's Network as Code platform to give Sirius Program and Telia Finland greater business agility and faster time to value for monetizing innovative 5G network services.





12 December 2023

Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced that its 5G Standalone Core SaaS has been selected by Telia Finland as part of a European Union-funded innovation program to give the operator a fully automated and scalable software model for delivering greater business agility and faster time to value in rolling out and monetizing 5G network services.

Telia Finland, working in close collaboration with Nokia, aims to create an innovative 5G Standalone Core stack and to be the first operator in Finland to open its network to application developers for creating new software applications for industries such as transportation. Telia Finland is using European Union funding to help with the creation of 5G SA corridors among highways and seaways for the innovation program, Sirius.

The two companies also signed a memorandum of understanding that will see Sirius utilize Nokia's Network as Code platform with developer portal (platform) for enabling the creation of software applications for new enterprise, industrial, and consumer use cases. It will also help the operator monetize this 5G network in new and innovative ways beyond connectivity in a SaaS first model.

Nokia Core SaaS moves operators and enterprises away from the legacy practice of deploying customized software run on private infrastructure. Using Nokia Core SaaS through a subscription avoids both up front capital expenditure and the need to perform on-site software maintenance and updates.

Supporting the 5G SA innovation program Sirius, Nokia's platform will provide application developers with tools such as Software Development Kits (SDK) and Network Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which will give access to exposed functionality within Telia's network and enable developers to build new use cases and capabilities for their customers.

The platform was launched in September, building on close collaboration with developers and operators.

Fran Heeran, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Core Networks, Cloud and Network Services, at Nokia said: "We are delighted to deepen Nokia's partnership with Telia Finland through our innovative telecom SaaS offerings. Nokia offers a complete, cloud native 5G Core solution which provides Telia with a more agile and customer-centric pathway for operating its network and rapidly delivering new 5G services."

Shkumbin Hamiti, Head of Network Monetization Platform, Cloud and Network Services, at Nokia, said: "Network as Code is a strategic focus of Nokia for driving new business models and unlocking all the potential that networks can deliver. We have already done a lot of work with Telia in the realm of telco APIs, so this agreement we are announcing today allows us to accelerate this work and jointly empower developers to create new and enhanced software applications through Telia's network."

Jari Collin, CTO at Telia Finland, said: "We are excited to announce Program Sirius today with Nokia. Telco SaaS and telco APIs are important catalysts for creating new services and experiences for our customers, and giving Telia new opportunities for extracting value from programmable persona of 5G network assets and enabling new value creation."

Resources and additional information

Web page: Nokia Core SaaS webpage

Web page: Nokia 5G Core webpage

Web page: Nokia Telecom SaaS webpage

Web page: Nokia Network as Code

About Nokia

At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today - and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

Media Inquiries

Nokia Communications, Corporate

Email: Press.Services@nokia.com
Special occasions, change in consumer preferences, and popularity of flexible rental options are expected to drive the growth of the global luxury car rental market.

PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Luxury Car Rental Market by Rental Type (Business, and Leisure), Booking Mode Type (Online, and Offline), and End-User (Self-driven, and Chauffeur-driven): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the global luxury car rental market size was valued at $30,274.1 million in 2022 and is projected to reach $70,388.8 million by 2032, registering a CAGR of 9.4% from 2023 to 2032.

(We are providing luxury car rental industry report as per your research requirement, including the Latest Industry Insight's Evolution, Potential and Russia-Ukraine War Impact Analysis)

119 - Tables

55 - Charts

305 - Pages

Download Sample Pages - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/12625

Prime determinants of growth

The growth of the luxury car rental market is intricately tied to key determinants across its segmented landscape. In the business rental type, the escalating demand is propelled by the corporate sector's increasing need for transportation solutions, particularly for executive travel and high-profile events. Simultaneously, the leisure rental type thrives on the desire for recreational pursuits, with consumers seeking exclusive experiences and stylish transportation for special occasions. The growth in the online booking mode type is driven by the influence of digital trends, providing tech-savvy consumers with seamless, real-time booking experiences. Meanwhile, the offline booking mode type sustains growth by preserving a classic touch and delivering personalized assistance.

The self-driven end-user segment flourishes as individuals seek the thrill of the driver's seat, while the chauffeur-driven segment capitalizes on the demand for stress-free, professional chauffeur services, appealing to those who prioritize comfort and convenience. These prime determinants collectively fuel the expansion of the luxury car rental market, creating a dynamic landscape that caters to diverse consumer preferences and lifestyle choices.

Report Coverage and Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $30.3 billion Market Size in 2032 $70.4 billion CAGR 9.4 % No. of Pages in Report 305 Segments covered Rental Type, Booking Mode Type, End-User, and Region. Drivers Special Occasions to Drive Sales in the Luxury Car Rental Market Change in Consumer Preferences is Expected to Increase the Sales of Luxury Car Rentals The Popularity of Flexible Rental Options to Increase the Demand for Luxury Car Rentals Opportunities Expanding Tourism Industry to Create Lucrative Opportunities in the Market Corporate Partnerships and Events to Drive the Success of Luxury Car Rental Market Restraints Competition from Various Other Segments to limit the Luxury Car Rental Sales High Operating Costs is a Challenge in Luxury Car Rental Market

The leisure luxury car rental segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on rental type, the leisure luxury car rental segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than half of the global luxury car rental market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Meanwhile, the business segment is projected to hold a suitable CAGR of 7.7% during the forecast period.

The online segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on booking mode type, the online segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for around three-fifths of the global luxury car rental market and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.0% during the forecast period. Meanwhile, the offline segment is projected to hold a suitable CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period.

The end-user segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on end-user, the self-driven segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than three-fifths of the global luxury car rental market, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period. Meanwhile, the chauffeur-driven segment is projected to hold a suitable CAGR of 12.6% during the forecast period.

North America to maintain its dominance by 2032

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global luxury car rental market revenue. However, Asia-Pacific is projected to hold a suitable CAGR of 12.2% during the forecast period.

Procure Complete Research Report (PDF with Qualitative and Quotative Data, Insights, Statistics, Tables, Charts, Figures) - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/luxury-car-rental-market/purchase-options

Leading Market Players: -

Auto Europe

Avis Prestige

Budget Rent A Car System, Inc.

Enterprise Holdings Inc.

Europcar

Hertz Dream Collection

Paddock Rent a Car

Red Fox Luxury Lifestyle Ltd.

Sixt Luxury Cars

Thrifty Car Rental

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global luxury car rental market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

Similar Reports We Have on Automotive Industry:

Car Rental Market Research Report 2023-2032

Truck Rental and Leasing Market Research Report 2023-2032

Bike Rental Market Research Report 2023-2032

Tourism Vehicle Rental Market Research Report 2023-2032

Boat Rental Market Research Report 2023-2032

About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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Press Release

Nokia and Deutsche Telekom begin deployment of multi-vendor Open RAN network in Germany

New deal will see companies partner to deploy a commercial Open RAN network in Germany; realization of MoU signed at MWC 2023

Deal marks a significant return for Nokia into Deutsche Telekom's network

Nokia to provide high-performance Open RAN compliant AirScale solution; Fujitsu will partner with Nokia in the deal with open-fronthaul compliant Radio Units.

Deal highlights the maturity and performance of Nokia's O-RAN CU/DU; Confirms Nokia's industry leadership through its anyRAN approach which offers mobile operators more choice in building 5G networks

12 December 2023

Espoo, Finland - Nokia and Deutsche Telekom AG (DT) today announced that they have begun to deploy a multi-vendor Open RAN network with Fujitsu in Germany. The technology is fully integrated into DT's live commercial network and the initial cluster will provide 2G, 4G, and 5G commercial services to customers in the Neubrandenburg area of Northern Germany. The deal marks a significant return for Nokia into DT's commercial network and is the realization of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both companies at MWC 2023. Nokia will replace the incumbent vendor in the deal. The project is already underway and will be extended from Q1 2024 onwards.

Nokia will deploy its commercial Open RAN compliant, high-performance, energy efficient 5G AirScale baseband solution in DT's commercial network including Fujitsu Radio Units. Nokia's O-RAN solution will ensure DT has full feature, service, and performance parity with classic purpose-built RAN. Both companies have also agreed to explore O-RAN technology around Cloud RAN, 3rd party CaaS, RIC, SMO, and energy efficiency.

This is another example of Nokia's anyRAN approach, which aims to build future-ready radio access networks together with an ecosystem of industry partners to unlock collaborative advantage. Nokia anyRAN is designed to give mobile operators and enterprises more flexibility in building their networks. For Open RAN, Nokia develops the required Open Fronthaul features on top of its high-performance RAN software, ensuring co-existence and feature performance parity with purpose-built RAN. Nokia baseband solutions can be combined with both Nokia and third-party radios. For operators, this ensures a smooth evolution path towards hybrid, Cloud RAN, and O-RAN deployments.

Claudia Nemat, Board Member of Deutsche Telekom AG for Technology and Innovation commented: "Open RAN is crucial to Deutsche Telekom's strategy to promote greater supplier diversity and accelerate customer-oriented innovation in the radio access network. Our commercial deployment with Nokia and Fujitsu is an important step to prepare multi-vendor Open RAN as the technology of choice for future networks."

Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, said: "We are proud to partner with Deutsche Telekom, the largest mobile network operator in Europe, to start deploying a commercial multi-vendor Open RAN network in Germany with Fujitsu. Together, we are making Open RAN a commercial reality. Nokia's industry-leading radio access portfolio and baseband software ensures that multi-supplier O-RAN systems can be deployed without any compromises in terms of performance, energy efficiency, or security. Together with our ecosystem of partners, we are providing more choice and a higher performance in Open RAN solutions to our customers than they will see from other RAN suppliers. This is another step highlighting Nokia's commitment to Open RAN."

Resources

Webpage: Nokia AirScale Cloud RAN

Webpage: Nokia anyRAN

Webpage: Nokia AirScale Baseband

Whitepaper: Cloud RAN: A Guide to Acceleration Options

Executive Summary: Nokia Cloud RAN and Open RAN Solution Roadmap

Blog: In-Line architecture: bringing efficiency and performance to Cloud RAN

Blog: The collaborative advantage: Nokia and partners delivering best-in-class Cloud RAN solutions

About Nokia

At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today - and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

Media inquiries

Nokia Communications, Corporate

Email: Press.Services@nokia.com
The government grant is awarded by Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO).

The grant will be used to accelerate the development of the company's therapeutic vaccine targeting chronic Hepatitis B.

The non-dilutive financing builds upon the award-winning 30 million seed financing raised in 2022 and the first VLAIO grant of 2.5 million to advance the innovative vaccine platform.

Leuven, Belgium, December 12, 2023 - AstriVax is pleased to announce that it has been selected for funding by Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO). The company has received a grant of 3 million to advance its innovative technology in clinical development for one of the lead indications, chronic Hepatitis B.

Hanne Callewaert, Ph.D., CEO of AstriVax, said: "I am honored that VLAIO recognizes the potential of our candidate vaccine targeting chronic Hepatitis B. This therapeutic vaccination strategy may play a key role in the steps towards functional cure for those patients that suffer from a chronic Hepatitis infection. Our vaccine targets a huge unmet medical need with yearly over 800.000 people dying from the consequences of being chronically infected with Hepatitis B. With the support from VLAIO, we can further optimize the therapeutic potential of our vaccine platform technology in the globally recognized innovation ecosystem of Flanders."

AstriVax has been awarded a VLAIO research and development project grant, a type of funding companies can use for projects based on innovative ideas of strategic importance. Combined with the award-winning 30 million in seed capital AstriVax raised in 2022 and the first VLAIO grant awarded on the vaccine platform itself, this VLAIO grant brings the company significantly closer to making a lasting impact in the Hepatitis B field. The combination of private investment and non-dilutive government support also underscores the confidence in the company's potential to revolutionize therapeutic vaccine development.

Media Contact

Hanne Callewaert, Ph.D., CEO of AstriVax, info@astrivax.com .

About AstriVax

Founded in 2022, AstriVax NV aims to address global challenges in vaccinology with its innovative plug-and-play vaccine platform. The company develops novel prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines that are easy to produce, have reduced cold chain requirements, and offer broad and long-lasting protection against various infectious diseases. AstriVax is supported by well-known investors V-Bio Ventures, Fund+, Flanders Future TechFund managed by PMV, Thuja Capital, Ackermans & van Haaren, OMX Europe Venture Fund (Merieux Equity Partners and Korys), BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity, and the KU Leuven Gemma Frisius Fund.

AstriVax is located in the BioHub in Leuven. For more information, please visit www.astrivax.com .

About VLAIO

Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Unemployment from the UK and economic sentiment from Germany are the major economic reports due on Tuesday, headlining a light day for the European economic news. At 2.00 am ET, the Office for National Statistics releases UK unemployment data for October. The jobless rate is forecast to remain unchanged at 4.2 percent in three months to October. In the meantime, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's wholesale prices for November. Prices had decreased 4.2 percent annually in October. Also, Statistics Norway releases GDP data for October. GDP is expected to grow 0.1 percent on month after shrinking 2.3 percent in September. At 5.00 am ET, Germany's ZEW economic confidence survey results are due. The economic sentiment index is seen at 8.8 in December compared to 9.8 in November. 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.
Regulatory News:

Sensorion (FR0012596468 ALSEN) a pioneering clinical-stage biotechnology company which specializes in the development of novel therapies to restore, treat and prevent within the field of hearing loss disorders, today announcesthe appointment of Bernd Schmidt, a senior leader with extensive experience in Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC), as Chief Technical Officer, effective as of today.

Bernd Schmidt previously worked at Quell Therapeutics where he served as Vice President Product Delivery. He brings over 20 years of industry experience in the pharmaceutical sector, covering a broad range of innovative medicines at different stages in development and post launch. Prior to his role at Quell Therapeutics, Bernd served as MPD Leader at GSK Stevenage with overall accountability for the CMC development, governance and end to end supply chain of a portfolio of medicines (small molecules and cell gene therapies) covering preclinical to late-phase development as well as commercial supply, including interactions with regulatory bodies.

Bernd holds a postgraduate degree in Chemical Engineering (MSc+) from the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen, Germany, and is a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.

Nawal Ouzren, Chief Executive Officer of Sensorion, said: "I am thrilled to welcome Bernd Schmidt to Sensorion as our new CTO. Bernd is a highly qualified leader with new insights and world-class expertise in his field. With his leadership, I am convinced he will play a key role in the accelerated development of our unique gene therapy platform and CMC capabilities. I would like to congratulate Bernd in his new role and welcome in our team."

Bernd Schmidt, Chief Technical Officer of Sensorion, commented: "I am looking forward to joining a company with such a pioneering and visionary approach in the complex gene therapy field. I am fully committed to driving Sensorion's technical operations and development of its transformative therapies for hearing disorders, a significant global unmet medical need."

Following David Lawrence's retirement from Sensorion, his CFO successor will be announced in due course. Sensorion wishes David well in his retirement and thanks him for his contribution.

About Sensorion

Sensorion is a pioneering clinical-stage biotech company, which specializes in the development of novel therapies to restore, treat and prevent 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. SENS-501 (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 2022 full year financial report published on March 30, 2023, 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/20231211370385/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations

Noemie Djokovic, Investor Relations and Communications Associate

ir.contact@sensorion-pharma.com

International Media Relations

Ulysse Communication

Pierre-Louis Germain 00 33 (0)6 64 79 97 51

plgermain@ulysse-communication.com

Bruno Arabian 00 00(0)6 87 88 47 26

barabian@ulysse-communication.com
OSLO, Norway, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vianode, an advanced battery materials company providing sustainable anode graphite solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Stefan Bergold as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Bergold will lead Vianode's commercialisation focused on developing long-term customer partnerships in North America and Europe.

Bergold will join Vianode in February 2024 from the position as general manager of Europe for Farasis Energy (Gan Zhou) Co., Ltd., an advanced lithium-ion battery supplier, and from the position as board director of SIRO Clean Energy Technology San. Tic. A.S, a lithium-ion battery start-up. He holds a PhD in electrical engineering and has over 15 years of experience as a sales and engineering executive in companies such as Siemens, AVL and AKASOL.

"Stefan's deep battery value chain knowledge and global sales experience will be key in realising Vianode's ambition of supplying high-performance anode graphite solutions with industry-leading sustainability metrics to 3 million EVs per year by 2030," says Burkhard Straube, CEO of Vianode. "In addition to a proven track record of executing large off-take agreements within the battery and EV industry, he has been actively engaged in scaling early-phase companies to achieve global success."

Vianode's ambition is to decarbonise battery and EV value chains and create long-term value for stakeholders and society through industrial-scale supply of low-emission anode graphite solutions. The company plans a phased development of production in North America and Europe after completing the USD 200 million customer qualification plant at Herya, Norway, in 2024.

"Vianode brings a highly attractive value proposition to battery and EV manufacturers in North America and Europe based on a unique offering of tailored synthetic anode graphite solutions with resource-efficient and low-emission production. I share the commitment to decarbonise global transport through the battery and EV value chains and look forward to joining a strong and committed Vianode team," says Stefan Bergold.

For further information, please contact:

Hans Iver Odenrud

Tel +47 958 16 230

Email hio@capientco.com

About Vianode

Vianode is an advanced battery materials company providing sustainable anode graphite solutions for the battery and EV value chains in North America and Europe. Vianode's breakthrough solution enables tailored high-performance synthetic anode graphite and a holistic sustainability offering including a 90% reduction in CO2 footprint. The company is currently preparing to start its customer qualification plant at Herya, Norway, before executing its multi-billion dollar phased investment program for large-scale plants in North America and Europe. The long-term ambition is to supply advanced battery materials to 3 million EVs per year by 2030. Vianode is owned by the world-leading industrial and financial companies Elkem, Hydro and Altor.

The following files are available for download:

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BOSTON, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Driver monitoring systems (DMS) have gained considerable momentum, driven by the escalating SAE autonomous driving levels and regulatory frameworks in key regions like the USA, Europe, China, Japan, and others. While DMS is not a novel concept, traditional DMS techniques typically rely on passive data sourced from advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), such as driving duration and lane-keeping. Although these conventional passive technologies offer simplicity and easy integration into vehicles, they are prone to generating false positives.

In contrast, emerging regulations, such as the advanced driver distraction warning (ADDW) mandated by the European Commission (EU), necessitate the incorporation of active monitoring to observe drivers' eye movements. This article aims to provide an overview of regulations across major regions, elucidating their impact on the adoption of DMS components. This article shares some of the research from the brand new IDTechEx market research report, "In-Cabin Sensing 2024-2034: Technologies, Opportunities and Markets".

Europe

Europe is among the regions with clearly defined regulations mandating the installation of vision-based Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS). Established in 2019 by the EU General Safety Regulation (GSR), all motor vehicles falling under categories M and N are required to be equipped with Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning (DDAW) systems. This regulation applies to new types of vehicles from July 6, 2022, and to all new vehicles from July 7, 2024. Specifically, DDAW must identify driving and/or steering patterns indicative of a driver experiencing reduced alertness due to fatigue. It is designed to interact with and alert the driver through the vehicle's human-machine interface, primarily utilizing passive sensing technologies like steering patterns.

As regulations become more stringent, the EU introduced additional requirements. According to the second set of documents, all new types of vehicles must incorporate an Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) system. This requirement is effective from mid-2024 for motor vehicles falling under categories M and N for new types and from July 7, 2026, for all new vehicles. In contrast to DDAW, which primarily monitors steering patterns, the ADDW system focuses on observing driver eye movements and issues warnings when distractions are detected.

Beyond the GSR, the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) mandates the inclusion of a direct DMS for a five-star rating. While both Euro NCAP and GSR necessitate DMS installation, Euro NCAP demands more detailed information to detect specific types of distractions, including short multiple distractions. In contrast, the GSR concentrates solely on the detection of prolonged distractions.

USA

The United States has implemented several driver monitoring systems (DMS) regulations. In 2020, the SAFE (Stay Aware for Everyone) Act was introduced during the 116th Congress, directing the Secretary of Transportation to explore the use of DMS to mitigate or eliminate distractions for motor vehicle drivers.

Beyond regulatory mandates, IDTechEx has observed various initiatives from automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) aimed at integrating DMS and occupant monitoring systems (OMS). Notably, in the U.S., a coalition of automakers has voluntarily committed to incorporating rear-seat reminder systems in virtually every new car sold in the country by the 2025 model year, as indicated by two industry lobbying groups.

Additionally, in 2019, the U.S. Congress put forth the Hot Cars Act (Helping Overcome Trauma for Children Alone in Rear Seats). This proposed legislation aims to mandate rear-seat occupant monitoring to prevent incidents of children being inadvertently left in hot vehicles.

China

China has issued several documents aimed at enhancing product safety management for autonomous driving functions. In 2020, the country introduced performance requirements and test methods for driver attention monitoring systems, encompassing experiments such as eye closure, yawning, head position, and cell phone usage. Subsequently, in October 2020, China officially released the recommended national standard GB/T 41797-2022, titled "Driver Attention Monitoring System (DAMS) Performance Requirements and Test Methods," which took effect in May 2023. This standard outlines five types of distracting behaviors and associated alert conditions. DAMS is required to incorporate, at a minimum, monitoring for the first three behavior types (eye closure, abnormal head posture, and answering phone calls). If DAMS includes monitoring for the last two behavior types (yawning and smoking), it must also satisfy the corresponding requirements.

Japan

Released in May 2023, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) have jointly been advancing a series of validation tests to achieve automated driving mobility services since FY2021. One of the safety requirements is driver condition monitoring, where autonomous vehicles are required to monitor to see if the driver is ready to take over driving from the system and issue an alarm as necessary.

Summary

Given the regulatory requirements, IDTechEx anticipates that major automotive companies will expedite the integration of Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS), presenting significant opportunities across the entire supply chain. This includes tier-one suppliers, software solution providers, and component suppliers such as infrared cameras, time-of-flight cameras, radar, and others. With a clearly defined timeline in place, IDTechEx envisions rapid market growth in the field of in-cabin sensing, encompassing DMS, OMS (Occupant Monitoring Systems), and more. The projected annual market size is estimated to reach approximately US$8.6 billion by 2034. For a comprehensive understanding of the regulations, sensor technologies, and market adoption, IDTechEx offers detailed insights in their latest research report titled "In-Cabin Sensing 2024-2034: Technologies, Opportunities and Markets".

To find out more about this report, including downloadable sample pages, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/InCabinSensing.

For the full portfolio of research available from IDTechEx, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research.

Upcoming free-to-attend Webinar

Smart Interiors: Navigating In-Cabin Sensing Technologies for Autos

Yulin Wang, Senior Technology Analyst at IDTechEx and author of this article, will be presenting a free-to-attend webinar on the topic on Thursday 11 January 2024 - Smart Interiors: Navigating In-Cabin Sensing Technologies for Autos.

This webinar will include:

An overview of the regulations in Europe, China, the USA, and Japan, and how the regulations affect the adoption rate of in-cabin sensing technologies

An analysis of different in-cabin sensing technologies

Commercial use cases and overview of players, including tier ones and tier twos

Market opportunities and market forecast overview

Click here to find out more and register your place on one of our three sessions. If you are unable to make the date, please register anyway to receive the links to the on-demand recording (available for a limited time) and webinar slides as soon as they are available.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

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Lucy Rogers

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press@IDTechEx.com

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The full breadth of contextualized operations data now powers a manufacturing AI Copilot that can both suggest and implement corrective action on the shop floor.

Aegis Software, a global provider of Manufacturing Operations Management Software (MOM/MES), and Arch Systems, the leading provider of data and analytics for manufacturing operations, announce a groundbreaking partnership toward digitizing continuous improvement of factory operations.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212485008/en/

Aegis Software Arch Systems Partner to Digitize Continuous Improvement in Manufacturing (Graphic: Business Wire)

Manufacturing excellence relies on proactively identifying issues and implementing corrective action. Effective identification requires analytics fueled by maximum breadth and depth of data. Corrective actions rely on revealing insights within those analytics, and then ensuring action is taken on the shop floor. How quickly a manufacturer moves from issue identification to action, and the effectiveness of those actions, is what separates the world-class from the rest.

Aegis and Arch have partnered to deliver an unprecedented AI Copilot to guide manufacturers toward the right actions and, if desired, implement those actions automatically via FactoryLogix on the shop floor. This expedites the cycle of continuous improvement beyond what is possible with even the best process experts alone.

By augmenting Arch data sources with the contextualized product design and human operator interaction data provided by Aegis' FactoryLogix, the Arch Insight Engine becomes even more powerful in suggesting targeted operational and process improvements. The results of those actions are then available for both Arch and Aegis systems to assess the efficacy of the corrective action. This represents an unprecedented application of AI for manufacturing that leverages a greater scope of data than previously possible, while also being able to reach into the physical process and cause improvement.

Of the partnership, Andrew Scheuermann, CEO of Arch Systems, said, "ArchFX customers today achieve unprecedented levels of understanding and actionable intelligence to improve their factories. This partnership will enable our mutual customers to more fully detect and align patterns and trends in their data, leading to specific actions for improvement. Manufacturers are eagerly anticipating the introduction of a complete AI Copilot that drives intelligent actions holistically for their organizations. This represents a crucial step toward that as it integrates intelligent actions derived from previously collected MES data with analytics and AI systems. This is just the start of the novel value this approach can offer."

Aegis Software CEO, Jason Spera said, "Our technology concept is clear: to power autonomously improving operations, a unique and fundamental aspect of Industry 4.0. This partnership satisfies a need we've heard from the market as digitalization has become more prevalent in manufacturing. That is---'how do I better leverage all this data I have from my process to make my operation more successful?' This solution brings to market an AI Copilot able to go beyond data and analytics to actually drive operational improvement-either via factory operators or directly via MES."

About Aegis Software

Aegis Software delivers a comprehensive and flexible end-to-end manufacturing execution system (MES) platform giving manufacturers the speed, control, and visibility they require. Aegis has international sales and support offices in Germany, UK, and China, and partners with more than 37 manufacturing equipment suppliers. Since its inception, Aegis has been helping more than 2,200 factories across the military, aerospace, electronics, medical, and automotive industries, drive rapid and continuous innovation with the highest quality while reducing operational costs. Learn more by visiting https://www.aiscorp.com. Speed, Control and Visibility for Manufacturing.

Note: FactoryLogix is a registered trademark of Aegis Industrial Software. All other company and product names contained herein are trademarks of the respective holders.

About Arch Systems

Arch has built the largest collaboration of industry domain experts working hand-in-hand with data scientists to constantly map new signals from the noisy data, adding them to the ever-growing library of actionable insights. These insights are changing how manufacturers tackle their most complex problems, allowing them to simplify and align actions from the shop floor and the top floor. The ArchFX Platform provides the machine connectivity, data management, and advanced insights needed to achieve digital transformation across the manufacturing organization.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212485008/en/

Contacts:

Aegis Software Company:

Debbie Geiger

Vice President, Global Marketing

+1 215-773-3571

dgeiger@aiscorp.com

Arch Systems Company:

Jennifer Davis

Vice President, Communications Marketing

+1 855-537-7461

jdavis@archsys.io
Leading French asset manager will use Premialab technology for risk management and portfolio strategy

LONDON, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Premialab, a leading provider of data, analytics, and risk solutions, today announced that Longchamp Asset Management had selected its technology to deliver portfolio management and risk solutions.

Premialab helps its clients manage their systematic and multi-asset portfolios, leveraging a unique data set provided by the world's largest 18 investment banks. Premialab tools streamline asset allocation and strategy selection, and maximise portfolio returns, while efficiently controlling risk. Co-founder and CEO Adrien Geliot said the company was delighted to welcome Longchamp to Premialab's rapidly expanding European business.

"Longchamp is an exceptional firm and a specialist in Quantitative Investment Strategies - QIS - which is the heart of the Premialab business," he said. "Our products draw together the collective intelligence of over 5,000 liquid systematic strategies to deliver the only independent benchmarking and analysis toolset for these strategies available in the world today. I am delighted to work with Longchamp to deliver our atomic-level solutions to their outstanding team."

Longchamp Managing Director, Head of Solutions and Fund Structuring Remi Genlot said Premialab was a natural fit within the firm's business model. "QIS is one of Longchamp's main areas of expertise - we trade with all major QIS providers on an open architecture basis; we use QIS in our discretionary funds and mandates; and we provide fund wrapped solutions to banks and their clients," he said. "Premialab is an invaluable partner to help understand and manage risk on a lookthrough basis, aggregated across counterparties, delivered in real-time within state-of-the-art report frameworks."

Premialab Co-founder and COO Pierre Trecourt said momentum was building rapidly in the systematic trading sector as a growing range of firms use these strategies for liquid, real-time expression. "We sit at the centre of the systematic trading world as the only firm that can aggregate and make sense of its massive, expanding universe of data."

Premialab's multi-asset, multi-region platform processes 5 million data points every day on 5,000+ investible systematic strategies, with clients AUM representing an estimated USD$5 trillion. The Premialab platform and Premialab Pure Factors together offer cross-asset quantitative strategy selection, and due diligence on strategies available across global markets. The platform also delivers faster, more detailed risk management and reporting, including regulatory reporting. Premialab has offices in Paris, London, New York, Hong Kong and Sydney.

About Premialab

Premialab is the leading independent platform that collaborates with leading investment banks and institutional investors globally, providing data, analytics, and risk solutions for systematic, factor, and multi-asset strategies. With offices in Paris, London, New York, Hong Kong, and Sydney, the company has forged strong partnerships with the top 18 investment banks, asset managers, pension funds, and insurance companies globally.

About Longchamp

Founded in 2013, Longchamp AM built its investment management expertise around a long-term investment approach and a philosophy of alignment of interests with its investors. Its managers are personally invested in their funds and thus offer conviction-based portfolio management.

Longchamp AM is a unique investment management company. Through its history and its team, it is at the crossroads of investment management and capital market activities. It combines independence, agility, and an experienced team, with specialists from the world of asset management as well as financial engineering and investment banking.

Longchamp AM sets itself up both as a content creator but also as a financial engineering company which likes to develop solutions dedicated to solving specific, complex issues.

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CANBERRA, Australia, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seeing Machines Limited, the advanced computer vision technology company that designs AI-powered operator monitoring systems to improve transport safety, is pleased to announce it has been awarded a 2023 Prince Michael International Road Safety Award, one of the highest accolades in the field of transport safety.

The Company was recognised for its innovative, class-leading occupant monitoring technology that detects distracted behaviour or drowsiness behind the wheel, thereby keeping people safe and reducing road-related fatalities.

Established in 1987, the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards originally recognised those who had improved road safety throughout Britain. The Awards now highlight outstanding achievement and innovation across the world. For over thirty years His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent has played a leading role in supporting improved road safety both in the United Kingdom and globally, pushing road safety up the policy agenda.

Backed by over 20 years of data-driven research and by 14+ billion km of real-life driving data, Seeing Machines develops, sells and licenses its mission-critical, camera-based technology that scans the driver's head, eye and body movements to detect distracted behaviour or drowsiness. The Company, a market leader, is partnered with some of the world's leading vehicle automotive manufacturers and tier one suppliers across the automotive and aviation sectors.

Driven by fast approaching transport safety regulatory deadlines around the world, with every vehicle on European roads soon to require technology to mitigate risks associated with fatigue and distraction, the demand for Seeing Machines' sophisticated driver monitoring systems continues to grow.

Paul McGlone, CEO of Seeing Machines, commented: "It is a real honour for Seeing Machines to have been presented with this prestigious International Road Safety Award. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent is passionate about road safety and his efforts alone have played a significant role in raising awareness and visibility of this important topic around the world. At Seeing Machines, our work is guided by our long-term mission of eventually achieving zero transport fatalities. There is still a long way to go, but with our safety technology now present in over 1.3 million cars and awareness about road safety greater than it has ever been, there is no doubt we are moving in the right direction. This award is testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone at Seeing Machines, along with our partners and customers, all of whom I'd like to thank."

Congratulating Seeing Machines HRH Prince Michael of Kent, said: "I was impressed not just by the technology itself but by the Company's ethos and ambition to: 'get everyone home safely."

Seeing Machines' award will be presented by His Royal Highness at a ceremony in London, attended by the British road safety minister and leading international road safety professionals.

About Seeing Machines (AIM: SEE), a global company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Australia, is an industry leader in vision-based monitoring technology that enable machines to see, understand and assist people. Seeing Machines is revolutionizing global transport safety. Its technology portfolio of AI algorithms, embedded processing and optics, power products that need to deliver reliable real-time understanding of vehicle operators. The technology spans the critical measurement of where a driver is looking, through to classification of their cognitive state as it applies to accident risk. Reliable "driver state" measurement is the end-goal of Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) technology. Seeing Machines develops DMS technology to drive safety for Automotive, Commercial Fleet, Off-road and Aviation. The company has offices in Australia, USA, Europe and Asia, and supplies technology solutions and services to industry leaders in each market vertical.

www.seeingmachines.com

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DDA and Compass FT unveil the world's first index that dynamically adjusts Bitcoin exposure based on macroeconomic factors

This investment strategy is based on DDA research findings, offering investors comprehensive exposure to Bitcoin dependent on macroeconomic conditions

This index marks the first step of DDA in launching smart beta strategies in an ETP format, incorporating principles from traditional asset management

FRANKFURT, Germany, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Deutsche Digital Assets (DDA), a German digital asset manager, has partnered with Compass Financial Technologies, the leading Swiss-based, BMR-registered independent index provider, to introduce a revolutionary Bitcoin investment strategy with the launch of the DDA Bitcoin Macro Allocation Index (DDAMACRO Index). This index dynamically adjusts exposure between Bitcoin and USD in response to key macroeconomic factors and notably, stands as the world's first index leveraging macroeconomic indicators to regulate Bitcoin exposure.

In October 2022, DDA released a notable research paper on Crypto Assets and the Macroeconomy revealing that 4 major economic factors, on average, explain 83% of Bitcoin's long-term price movements, establishing Bitcoin as a macroeconomic asset. Leveraging the findings of this research, DDA and Compass FT present an index solution designed to provide investors with comprehensive exposure to Bitcoin, based on macroeconomic factors as indicated by their explanatory power at a given time. In instances where these factors do not align, the divested portion is strategically allocated to USD.

Marc des Ligneris, who is in charge of quantitative strategies at Deutsche Digital Assets, emphasizes the strategy's potential, stating, "This strategy exploits the fact that, until now, every crypto winter has been at least partially explained by major macroeconomic factors. As long as this is the case, this strategy should perform well. We believe it can help passive investors to better manage their risk over the long run."

"We are thrilled to partner with Deutsche Digital Assets for the first time and accompany them on releasing this unprecedented, innovative solution," says Guillaume le Fur, CEO of Compass Financial Technologies. "This new index integrates relevant, key macroeconomic factors, enabling investors to skillfully manage their exposure to Bitcoin amidst diverse market conditions."

This strategic initiative represents the first in a forthcoming series of smart beta strategies, designed to diversify from conventional passive strategies with the objective to make these available to investors through traditional structures such as an ETP.

For more information on the DDA Bitcoin Macro Allocation Index, please visit the Compass FT website www.compassft.com or contact the DDA Quantitative Solutions team directly under contact@deutschedigitalassets.com.

About Deutsche Digital Assets -- www.deutschedigitalassets.com

Established in 2017, Deutsche Digital Assets GmbH.

Press Contact:

Syuzanna Avanesyan

press@deutschedigitalassets.com

www.deutschedigitalassets.com

About Compass Financial Technologies SA -- www.compassft.com

Compass Financial Technologies SA is an independent Swiss-based company focused on the design, calculation, and administration of market benchmarks and tailor-made quantitative investment strategies.

Founded in 2017, Compass has locations in Lausanne, Paris, and New York. For more than 20 years, the team at Compass has been developing recognized benchmarks ranging from simple vanilla indices to complex index strategies based on quantitative models and market intelligence. Compass calculates nearly 1,500 indices for institutional clients, from investment banks and pension funds to asset managers related to all asset classes. Compass Financial Technologies (France) is a registered Benchmarks Administrator by the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) under the EU Benchmarks Regulations (EU BMR).

Contact:

media@compass-ft.com

Disclaimer:

The material and information contained in this article is for informational purposes only.

Deutsche Digital Assets GmbH, its affiliates, and subsidiaries are not soliciting any action based upon such material. This article is neither investment advice nor a recommendation or solicitation to buy any securities.

Performance is unpredictable. Past performance is hence not an indication of any future performance.

You agree to do your own research and due diligence before making any investment decision with respect to securities or investment opportunities discussed herein.

Our articles and reports include forward-looking statements, estimates, projections, and opinions. These may prove to be substantially inaccurate and are inherently subject to significant risks and uncertainties beyond Deutsche Digital Assets GmbH's control.

We believe all information contained herein is accurate, reliable and has been obtained from public sources. However, such information is presented "as is" without warranty of any kind.
Rubicon Capital Advisors, through its asset management business ("Rubicon AM"), is pleased to announce the acquisition of a further 15.5% equity interest in Erapid Charger Company Limited, trading as "EasyGo", bringing Rubicon AM's overall investment in EasyGo to over 50%.

EasyGo is Ireland's fastest-growing and largest privately owned Electric Vehicle ("EV") charge point solutions provider. Its charging network provides access to over 4,000 charging points in 1,500 locations across Ireland and Northern Ireland, accessible via the EasyGo app which currently has over 58,000 registered subscribers.

In October, EasyGo announced a 30m capital raise from Aviva Investors, which will be used to continue the roll-out of fast chargers in Ireland along with adding 60 new jobs.

Chris Kelly, co-founder and CEO of EasyGo, said: "We are pleased to have Rubicon as a trusted partner and appreciate their strategic assistance and financing expertise which has helped the business achieve significant growth in the last three years."

Conor Kelly, CEO of Rubicon, said: "Rubicon intends to be a material contributor in helping Ireland meet its 2030 climate targets. With EV adoption rates growing exponentially, it remains vital that we have EV infrastructure to support this, which is only viable through the combined power of private investment and the Irish government's prioritisation of the sector."

About Rubicon Capital Advisors

Rubicon is one of the world's leading investment banking firms focused solely on the sustainable infrastructure sector. Since its inception in 2011, Rubicon has closed on over 150 essential infrastructure, energy transition, digital utilities assets located across Europe, the Americas and Asia with a combined enterprise value of over 85 billion.

In 2021, Rubicon AM was launched which comprises both equity and credit focused strategies. Since then, the platform has acquired three Spanish essential infrastructure companies and separately launched its inaugural credit fund alongside an Asian anchor investor. Rubicon AM's investment in EasyGo is part of the growth equity strategy, which looks to support developing businesses through both capital investment and strategic leadership. The platform expects to make further investments in the coming months.

Rubicon is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and its U.S. affiliate is a member of FINRA and SIPC and registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC.

Learn more at: www.rubiconcapitaladvisors.com or on LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212919268/en/

Contacts:

For additional inquiries, contact:

Aeneas Griffin

P| +353 19060666

E| info@rubiconcapitaladvisors.com
WEDEL, Germany, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- medac is breaking new ground and cooperating with Scienta Lab, an innovative AI company based in France. Thanks to its unique and proprietary AI technology, Scienta Lab leverages multimodal data to support a better understanding of immuno-inflammatory diseases and their variability at the patient level. With this collaboration, medac aims at gaining a better understanding of patients' daily therapy routine.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is also being intensively discussed in rheumatology. medac has already underlined its commitment to new ideas and digital solutions by initiating the Ekipa Challenge "Innovate Rheumatology". As part of this challenge, the company deepened the contact with Scienta Lab, a French company with expertise in AI and immunology. Both companies have now concluded a cooperation agreement.

The aim is to gain more information about patients' everyday therapy lives

In the context of this collaboration, Scienta Lab will apply its proprietary technology on real world data to extract medical concepts and identify new patterns. This research work will give medac the opportunity to gain more insights into the everyday therapy of patients with rheumatological diseases.

"We are very pleased about the opportunity to find out more about the therapy situation of our patients with rheumatological diseases" explained Heiner Will, Managing Director at medac GmbH. "With the new insights, we hope to better understand the patients' situation so that we can better respond to their needs." continued Will.

"We are pleased to collaborate with medac, an independent group developing medicinal treatments. This partnership demonstrates the commitment of medac to support a personalized therapy journey in rheumatology thanks to innovative solutions. Since its creation, Scienta Lab has been focused on pioneering the AI-powered Precision Immunology revolution, and we are pleased to join forces with medac in the pursuit of this goal." explained Camille Bouget, CEO & co-founder of Scienta Lab.

About Scienta Lab

Scienta Lab is a deeptech company harnessing artificial intelligence to pioneer AI-powered Precision Immunology. With its unique and proprietary technology based on a foundation model, Scienta Lab leverages multimodal data to support a better understanding of immuno-inflammatory diseases physiopathology and variability at the patient level. Scienta Lab research activities, led in partnership with top-tier academic institutions, are regularly featured in medical journals and international congresses. For more information, visit https://www.scientalab.com.

medac Communications

Tel.: +49 (0)4103 - 8006 9111

Fax +49 (0)4103 - 8006 8934

Email: press@medac.de

medac Gesellschaft fur klinische Spezialpraparat mbH

Theaterstrae 6

D - 2288 Wedel

www.medac.de

medac Gesellschaft fur klinische Spezialpraparate mbH

medac is a privately-owned German pharmaceutical company with sites in Wedel and Tornesch. medac's medicinal products are used worldwide to help doctors and patients manage acute and chronic diseases in the fields of oncology and haematology, urology, and autoimmune diseases. medac also develops and distributes specialist diagnostic systems. Since 1970, medac has been committed to its approach of uniting therapeutic and diagnostic products under one roof.

Further information on the company and its products can be found online at www.medac.de.

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Edison Investment Research Limited

Edison issues update on Baillie Gifford China Growth Trust (BGCG): China's recovery well worth the wait



12-Dec-2023 / 09:20 GMT/BST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





London, UK, 12 December 2023

Edison issues update on Baillie Gifford China Growth Trust (BGCG): China's recovery well worth the wait

Baillie Gifford China Growth Trust (BGCG) invests in China, focusing on innovative, rapidly growing companies best positioned to benefit from China's still favourable long-term economic outlook and the structural trends that should drive equity markets for years to come. Key portfolio themes include e-commerce, food delivery, domestic brands, semiconductors, robotics and automation, and renewable energy. The trust's relaunch in September 2020 coincided with a series of challenges for the Chinese economy, investor confidence and the growth companies BGCG favours, so performance has lagged the benchmark. However, the operational performance of most of BGCG's holdings is strong, their prospects are very positive, and the trust's managers believe that it is only a matter of time until confidence returns and share prices more accurately reflect these robust fundamentals.

BGCG's performance since its relaunch has been disappointing. It has declined by 44.0% in NAV terms and 58.2% on a share price basis over the three years to the end of November 2023, compared to the benchmark MSCI China All Share Index's 29.2% fall. Near-term returns have also been poor. However, due to its long-term investment focus, BGCG's managers ask to be judged on performance over five years or more and, on this basis, it is still very early days for the trust. Investors may be reassured by the Chinese authorities' renewed commitment to prosperity and the private sector and by an apparent warming in relations between China and the US.



Click here to view the full report.

All reports published by Edison are available to download free of charge from its website

www.edisongroup.com

About Edison: Edison is a leading research and investor relations consultancy, connecting listed companies to the widest pool of global investors. By focusing on the volume and quality of investors reached - across institutions, family offices, wealth managers and retail investors - Edison can create and gauge intent to purchase, even in the darkest pools of capital, and then make introductions via non-deal roadshows, events or virtual meetings.

Having been the first company in-market 17 years ago, Edison has more than 100 employees and covers every economic sector. Headquartered in London, Edison also has offices in New York, Sydney and Wellington.

Edison is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority .

Edison is not an adviser or broker-dealer and does not provide investment advice. Edison's reports are not solicitations to buy or sell any securities.

For more information, please contact Edison:

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Learn more at www.edisongroup.com and connect with Edison on:

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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.




Accenture (NYSE:ACN) has entered into an agreement to acquire management consultancy Vocatus, which uses behavioral economics modeling to develop pricing strategies and sales concepts for business-to-business and business-to-consumer models. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212352726/en/

Accenture has entered into an agreement to acquire management consultancy Vocatus, which uses behavioral economics modeling to develop pricing strategies and sales concepts for business-to-business and business-to-consumer models. (Graphic: Business Wire)

With the acquisition of Vocatus, Accenture expands its offerings for clients in Europe with greater modeling capabilities for identifying price levels and sales optimization, differentiating from competitors and communicating with customers using behavioral economics effects to predict decision-making and align incentive systems.

Headquartered in Munich, Vocatus and its more than 50 experts will join Accenture's Corporate Strategy, Growth and Pricing division. For nearly 25 years, the company has been supporting businesses in sectors like financial services, media and telecommunications. Vocatus developed a proprietary, comprehensive method in-house, called GRIPS, to identify purchasing behavior and buyer types for specific markets. The method has been verified in over 500 qualitative and quantitative studies for clients across 30 countries since 2008.

"Vocatus brings a differentiated approach to behavior-based pricing that will help our clients gain a competitive edge and improve their market position. The acquisition complements our offerings in implementing growth and efficiency strategies with a view toward pricing and sales optimization," said Johannes Trenka, Accenture's strategy, growth and pricing lead in Europe.

Christina Raab, market unit lead of Accenture in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, added: "Business and customer needs and requirements are prone to change especially in volatile times. With their in-depth knowledge, Vocatus will expand our pricing strategies and modeling, support our clients in modernizing their sales operation and ultimately help boost profitability. Together, we can help companies build resilience and remain competitive for the long term, reinventing their business models in order to keep pace with disruption."

Prof. Florian Bauer, member of the executive board of Vocatus, explained: "Accenture's scale and global presence open up exciting new perspectives for our team members and clients. Together, we can take behavioral pricing and selling to a new level in a number of industries and offer companies holistic solutions for strategic pricing, as well as tactical price execution."

This acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "likely," "anticipates," "aspires," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "positioned," "outlook," "goal," "target" and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance nor promises that goals or targets will be met, and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks include, without limitation, risks that: Accenture and Vocatus will not be able to close the transaction in the time period anticipated, or at all, which is dependent on the parties' ability to satisfy certain closing conditions; the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for Accenture; Accenture's results of operations have been, and may in the future be, adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic and political conditions and the effects of these conditions on the company's clients' businesses and levels of business activity; Accenture's business depends on generating and maintaining client demand for the company's services and solutions including through the adaptation and expansion of its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings, and a significant reduction in such demand or an inability to respond to the evolving technological environment could materially affect the company's results of operations; if Accenture is unable to match people and their skills with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the company's business, the utilization rate of the company's professionals and the company's results of operations may be materially adversely affected; Accenture faces legal, reputational and financial risks from any failure to protect client and/or company data from security incidents or cyberattacks; the markets in which Accenture operates are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to compete effectively; Accenture's ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; if Accenture does not successfully manage and develop its relationships with key ecosystem partners or fails to anticipate and establish new alliances in new technologies, the company's results of operations could be adversely affected; Accenture's profitability could materially suffer if the company is unable to obtain favorable pricing for its services and solutions, if the company is unable to remain competitive, if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful or if it experiences delivery inefficiencies or fail to satisfy certain agreed-upon targets or specific service levels; changes in Accenture's level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in tax laws or in their interpretation or enforcement, could have a material adverse effect on the company's effective tax rate, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition; Accenture's results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; changes to accounting standards or in the estimates and assumptions Accenture makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; as a result of Accenture's geographically diverse operations and strategy to continue to grow in key markets around the world, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; Accenture might not be successful at acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; Accenture's business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; Accenture's global operations expose the company to numerous and sometimes conflicting legal and regulatory requirements; Accenture's work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; if Accenture is unable to protect or enforce its intellectual property rights or if Accenture's services or solutions infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company loses its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others, its business could be adversely affected; Accenture may be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the "Risk Factors" heading in Accenture plc's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accenture's expectations.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world's leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services creating tangible value at speed and scale. We are a talent- and innovation-led company with approximately 733,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Technology is at the core of change today, and we are one of the world's leaders in helping drive that change, with strong ecosystem relationships. We combine our strength in technology and leadership in cloud, data and AI with unmatched industry experience, functional expertise and global delivery capability. We are uniquely able to deliver tangible outcomes because of our broad range of services, solutions and assets across Strategy Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Song. These capabilities, together with our culture of shared success and commitment to creating 360 value, enable us to help our clients reinvent and build trusted, lasting relationships. We measure our success by the 360 value we create for our clients, each other, our shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Copyright 2023 Accenture. All rights reserved. Accenture and its logo are registered trademarks of Accenture.

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Contacts:

Enxhi Myslymi

Accenture

+1 703 947 3595

enxhi.myslymi@accenture.com

Thomas Wittek

Accenture

+49 152 52507486 (mobile)

thomas.wittek@accenture.com
VANCOUVER, British Columbia and MADRID, Spain, Dec. 12, 2023) one of the world's leading digital payment companies, and RevoluPAY, a wholly owned subsidiary of RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.),), announce the launch of Visa Direct, a new solution that allows RevoluPAY customers to send and receive money instantly from person to person through RevoluSEND. Consumers can use this solution, which is already operational, throughout the European Economic Area thanks to Visa's global network and RevoluPAY's technology and license.



This innovative solution arrives amidst a growing trend among consumers favoring digital payments and demanding new methods for seamless money transfers. Notably, 42% of Spaniards have embraced mobile payments at least once, according to Visa's data). In this dynamic landscape Visa remains at the forefront of innovation, dedicated to enhancing accessibility and efficiency in emerging payment methods and channels, facilitating new money movement flows that connect and empower consumers.

To leverage Visa Direct, RevoluPAY clients using the RevoluSEND, can seamlessly access the new functionality for transferring funds to a card or account directly within the application. To initiate a transfer, users simply need to complete a form with the Visa card or account numbers of the intended recipient and confirm the transaction! In doing so, Visa Direct enables the client to send and receive money, such as sending gifts, splitting expenses, or assisting relatives located outside of Spain, through real-time technology that facilitates an efficient and secure payment experience.

"The consumer demands increasingly faster solutions for sending and receiving money that are easy and secure to use. Visa Direct is an example that at Visa, we are at the forefront of developing the most innovative technology in the sector, aiming to facilitate the movement of money between people and, above all, provide consumers with different forms that adapt to their day-to-day needs. Therefore, we are very proud to continue expanding this solution in Spain hand in hand with a disruptive partner like RevoluPAY," stated Eduardo Prieto, General Manager of Visa in Spain.

Gavin McMillan, CEO of RevoluGROUP, said, "Our alliance with Visa goes beyond being merely a partnership; it is a commitment to continue providing secure, innovative, and nearly real-time payment solutions to our customers and white label partners. It also underscores our strength in the market and dedication to maximizing value for shareholders, achieving key objectives, and demonstrating the impact of our actions through results."

RevoluPAY is an Affiliate Partner of Visa and joins 100 other financial institutions in Europe that already have this platform, which, among its many use cases, enables fast and secure business-to-consumer and government-to-government payments: business/government to small business, government-to-consumer and consumer-to-consumer payments directly to billions of recipients around the world.

About Visa

Visa) is a global leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and public administrations in more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payment network, empowering individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. We believe that economies embracing inclusivity worldwide empower everyone, and we consider access a fundamental factor for the future of money movement. More information at Visa.es

For more information

APPLE TREE

T. +34 913 19 05 15

Lucia Lopez

ll@appletree.agency

About RevoluPAY

The Company's flagship Neobanking technology is RevoluPAY, the Appleand Androidmultinational payment app. Conceived entirely in-house, RevoluPAY features proprietary, sector-specific technology of which the resulting source code is the Company's intellectual property. RevoluPAY's built-in features include Remittance Payments, Forex, Retail and Hospitality payments, Real Estate Payments, pay-as-you-go phone top-ups, Gift Cards & Online Credits, Utility Bill payments, Leisure payments, Travel Payments, etc. RevoluPAY is aimed at the worldwide multi-billion dollar Open Banking sector and + $630 billionfamily remittance market. RevoluPAY is operated by the European wholly owned subsidiary RevoluPAY EP S.L located in Barcelona. RevoluPAY is a licensed United States MSB, Canadian FINTRAC, and European PSD2 payment institution 6900under E.U. Directive 2015/2366 with EU Passporting. RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. controls five wholly owned subsidiarieson four continents.

About RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.

RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. is a multi-asset, multidivisional, publicly traded Canadian Company deploying advanced technologies in; Banking, Mobile Apps, Money Remittance, Cross-Border Forex Payments, Mobile Phone Top-Ups, EGaming, Healthcare Payments, Esports, Invoice factoring, Online Travel, Vacation Resort, Blockchain Systems, and Fintech app sectors. Click hereto read more.

For further information on RevoluGROUP Canada Inc..

RevoluGROUP Canada, Inc.

"Gavin McMillan"

______________________

Gavin McMillan

CEO and Director

For further information, contact:

RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.

Telephone:

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The French biotechnology company Samabrivahas successfully completed a Series-A round of financing to secure an investment of nearly 4 million. Its innovative plant-based bioproduction process has the potential to transform production of high value molecules* such as natural active molecules (secondary metabolites) and recombinant proteins for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors.

Several specialist biotech business angels have joined this round of funding. Alongside their financial investment, they will bring a wealth of knowledge to help transform Samabriva into a leading CDMO. The immediate focus will be on the production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) using confined and controlled plant-based expression systems.

With lead investors like Noshaq and Investsud Tech now on board, this financing round will accelerate Samabriva's growth. The company will be able to develop its first industrial production site in the Liege region of Belgium, taking advantage of the exceptional biotech ecosystem there, while maintaining the research center in France. This will complement the support already received from Service public de Wallonie (SPW) in Belgium and Banque publique d'investissement (BPI) in France. The funding will increase the speed with which Samabriva's technology is deployed and ensure the transformation of the company into a fully-fledged CDMO.

Marina Guillet, CEO of Samabriva - "We're delighted that leading biotech investors have seen the incredible potential of Samabriva. With their support for our expansion in the rapidly growing API market, we'll be ideally placed to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical sector."

Eric Brandt, Investment manager at Noshaq "Samabriva is at the cutting edge of plant-based biotechnology. This makes it an exciting investment opportunity. The sustainability, stability and consistency that come from growing plants in a bioreactor are increasingly hard to resist for biopharma companies. We're delighted to help Samabriva meet that need."

Pascal Lizin, Chairman of Samabriva "Building our first production site in Belgium is a major step forward for Samabriva. Not only will the investment transform our API production capability but it will also accelerate the company's international business development. The funding will also enable us to expand our R&D center in Amiens, France which is dedicated to the development of new production processes for high value products. This will contribute to tackling the ongoing challenges in the global pharmaceutical industry, addressing critical public health issues."

About Samabriva

We're a plant-based biotechnology company which has successfully developed a proprietary bioproduction platform that is already being used by the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industry. For companies that need affordable production of high-value molecules our innovative, flexible system is a game-changing solution.

Samabriva's platform combines the advantages of plant-based systems (low cost, safe, serum- and animal-free) with traditional bioproduction in large-scale bioreactors. This delivers continuous, reliable and environmentally sustainable manufacture of a wide range of high value molecules all year round, in any location.

The manufacture of secondary metabolites currently lacks local scalable and sustainable production processes. Currently, secondary metabolites are mainly produced by growing plants in fields. However, extracting these compounds produces very small amounts from each plant. For example, one gram of vinblastine for chemotherapy treatment requires half a ton of dry leaves from the Madagascar periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus, making the process costly and environmentally unsustainable.

The manufacture of recombinant proteins currently lacks cost effective and contaminant free production processes. Recombinant proteins are typically produced in bacterial (Escherichia coli) or more commonly in mammalian (typically Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO)) cell cultures. These bioproduction systems are complex and costly. Mammalian cell cultures often use animal-derived media that require extensive purification of the final product to avoid any risk of virus or prion transmission.

The increasing demand for these high value molecules* is driving the need to produce them at scale in a more controlled and environmentally sustainable way.

Find out more at samabriva.com.

About Noshaq

Noshaq is an investment fund and project developer with a portfolio of more than 450 companies. Noshaq is the reference financial partner for the creation and development of SMEs in the Liege region (Belgium). Over the years, Noshaq has developed a variety of financing vehicles, which are fully in line with market needs and trends, as well as its strategy. All services offered by Noshaq are always designed to reflect the needs and requirements of the client investor. The goal is to boost the growth of the companies we invest in.

noshaq.be

About Investsud Tech

Investsud Tech is a specialized VC fund investing in seed and early-stage startups. Its portfolio of companies features some of the leading young technological companies in Wallonia. The fund belongs to the INVESTSUD Group, which is a private equity firm located in Wallonia, Belgium, dedicated to supporting small and medium-sized family companies, with equity or quasi-equity funds.

investsud.be

Notes:

*The global botanical and plant-derivative drug market is growing rapidly (at an estimated CAGR of 8.58% between 2018 and 20261) while the recombinant protein market is expected to grow even faster (at a CAGR of 11.2% between 2021 and 20262

Global botanical and plant derivative drug market forecast 2018-2026; Marker Research Report https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/recombinant-protein-market

Recombinant protein market growth, trends, covid-19 impact, and forecasts (2022 2027) Mordor Intelligence.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231211523001/en/

Contacts:

Marina Hop, Viveo

marina.hop@viveo.io

+44 (0) 7712019091
Combination demonstrated clinically meaningful benefit in r/r FL patients with 96% overall response rate and 85% complete response rate

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE: ADCT) today announced initial results from an investigator-initiated Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) in combination with rituximab demonstrated a high response rate in patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) follicular lymphoma (FL). The data from the single-institution study conducted at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine were reported during an oral presentation yesterday at the 65th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition by the study's lead investigator, Juan Pablo Alderuccio, MD, associate professor of medicine and hematologist at Sylvester.



"In this first-ever study evaluating the combination of ZYNLONTA and rituximab in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, the overall response rate was 96% and complete response rate was 85%, with a significant number of patients achieving an early response," said Mohamed Zaki, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of ADC Therapeutics. "We believe the high early response rates highlight the exciting potential of ZYNLONTA to be used in combination with an established therapy to improve the treatment paradigm for patients with high-risk follicular lymphoma, including those with POD24, high disease burden and/or advanced disease, whose disease progresses after first-line therapy."

The trial is designed to evaluate the combination in patients with r/r FL treated with =1 line of systemic therapy presenting GELF criteria or POD24 at enrollment. The primary endpoint of the study is complete response (CR) by week 12 PET/CT based on Lugano 2014 criteria. As of the data cutoff date of November 26, 2023, 33 patients were enrolled out of a targeted 39 patients.

Patients were a median age of 68 years (range 47 to 89) and median lines of prior therapy were 1 (range 1-6). R-CHOP was the most common first-line therapy (n=18; 54.5%) followed by bendamustine with rituximab (n=8; 24.2%) and single-agent rituximab (n=6; 18.2%).

The initial results are based on an analysis of 27 patients evaluable for efficacy and 32 patients evaluable for toxicity. Highlights of the data presented at ASH include:

Best overall response rate of 96.3% and CR rate of 85.2%

After a median follow-up of 9.7 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was not reached, and the 12-month PFS was 92.3%

Majority of adverse events (AEs) were grade 1. Grade 3 AEs included neutropenia (n=2; 6.2%), and one case each (3.1%) of hyperglycemia, increased ALT, fatigue, dyspnea and skin infection. Neutropenia was the only grade 4 AE (n=1; 3.1%).



"The relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma patients enrolled in this trial represent a high-risk population in need of a safe and durable treatment option that improves outcomes," said Dr. Alderuccio. "We are very encouraged by the high response rate produced by ZYNLONTA combined with rituximab in patients with a high disease burden and look forward to expanding the trial."

Based on the initial results, the investigators are planning a multicenter clinical trial aiming to expand the current cohort and decrease the length of therapy to six cycles. The trial is expected to be launched in the first quarter of 2024.

About ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl)

ZYNLONTA is a CD19-directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC). Once bound to a CD19-expressing cell, ZYNLONTA is internalized by the cell, where enzymes release a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) payload. The potent payload binds to DNA minor groove with little distortion, remaining less visible to DNA repair mechanisms. This ultimately results in cell cycle arrest and tumor cell death.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

ZYNLONTA is also being evaluated as a therapeutic option in combination studies in other B-cell malignancies and earlier lines of therapy.

About ADC Therapeutics

ADC Therapeutics (NYSE: ADCT) is a commercial-stage global leader and pioneer in the field of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). The Company is advancing its proprietary ADC technology to transform the treatment paradigm for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

ADC Therapeutics' CD19-directed ADC ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) received accelerated approval by the FDA and conditional approval from the European Commission for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. ZYNLONTA is also in development in combination with other agents and in earlier lines of therapy. In addition to ZYNLONTA, ADC Therapeutics has multiple ADCs in ongoing clinical and preclinical development.

ADC Therapeutics is based in Lausanneand follow the Company on LinkedIn.

ZYNLONTA is a registered trademark of ADC Therapeutics SA.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "would", "expect", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "seem", "seek", "future", "continue", or "appear" or the negative of these terms or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those described. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: uncertainties related to the impact of IIT data in r/r follicular lymphoma presented at the 65th ASH Annual Meeting and future clinical trials and results in the same patient population, the success of the Company's updated corporate strategy including operating efficiencies, capital deployment and portfolio prioritization; the Company's ability to achieve the decrease in total operating expenses for 2023 and 2024, the expected cash runway into the middle of 2025, the effectiveness of the new commercial go-to-market strategy, competition from new technologies, the Company's ability to continue to commercialize ZYNLONTA in the United States and future revenue from the same; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi) ability to successfully commercialize ZYNLONTA in the European Economic Area and market acceptance, adequate reimbursement coverage, and future revenue from the same; approval by the NMPA of the BLA for ZYNLONTA in China submitted by Overland ADCT BioPharma and future revenue from the same, our strategic partners', including Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, ability to obtain regulatory approval for ZYNLONTA in foreign jurisdictions, and the timing and amount of future revenue and payments to us from such partnerships; the Company's ability to market its products in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; the Company's expectations regarding the impact of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; the timing and results of the Company's or its partners' research projects or clinical trials including LOTIS 5 and 7, ADCT 901, 601 and 602, the impact, if any, from discontinuation of the LOTIS-9 study, actions by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities with respect to the Company's products or product candidates, the timing and outcome of regulatory submissions for the Company's products or product candidates; the ability to complete clinical trials on expected timelines, if at all; projected revenue and expenses; the Company's indebtedness, including Healthcare Royalty Management and Blue Owl and Oaktree facilities, and the restrictions imposed on the Company's activities by such indebtedness, the ability to repay such indebtedness and the significant cash required to service such indebtedness; and the Company's ability to obtain financial and other resources for its research, development, clinical, and commercial activities. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements is contained in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F and in the Company's other periodic reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, achievements or prospects to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or prospects expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this document. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, except as required by law.

CONTACTS:

Investors

Eugenia Litz

ADC Therapeutics

Eugenia.Litz@adctherapeutics.com

+44 7879 627205

+1 908-723-2350

Media

Nicole Riley

ADC Therapeutics

Nicole.Riley@adctherapeutics.com

+1 862-926-9040
PureHealth Holding PJSC (Public Joint Stock Company under conversion), confirms the final offer price for its shares has been set at AED 3.26, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately AED 3.62 billion following strong demand from local retail and professional investors.

Total gross demand for the Offering amounted to over AED 265 billion.

Offering attracted tremendous interest amongst the investor community with the Professional Subscribers Offering oversubscribed by 54 times.

The Retail demand saw an impressive oversubscription of 483 times.

Trading on ADX is set to commence on 20thDecember 2023 with a market capitalization at the time of listing, estimated at AED 36.2 billion.

ABU DHABI, UAE, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PureHealth Holding PJSC (Public Joint Stock Company under incorporation; the "Company"), today announces the successful completion of the subscription process for its initial public Offering ("IPO" or the "Offering") on the First Market of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange ("ADX"). The Company confirmed the fixed price for the Offering which has been set at AED 3.26 per ordinary share (the "Final Offer Price") with an Offering size of 1.11 billion ordinary shares ("Offer Shares"), equivalent to 10 percent of its total issued share capital. The Offering witnessed significant demand from investors within the UAE and the region, resulting in multiple oversubscriptions. The total gross demand for the Offering surpassed over AED 265 billion.

The Professional Subscribers tranche attracted demand of AED 186 billion reflecting an oversubscription level of 54 times. Meanwhile, the Retail offering witnessed tremendous appetite from investors, accumulating demand in excess of AED 78 billion, marking an oversubscription level of 483 times.

Commenting on the announcement, Farhan Malik, Founder and Managing Director of PureHealth, said: "There has been overwhelming demand for our IPO. This is a resounding endorsement of the market's confidence in our achievements, the management's execution capability, and our vision for growth. The IPO unlocks PureHealth's credentials in transforming healthcare systems, underscoring our commitment to shaping the future of healthcare through continuous innovation and an unwavering pursuit of excellence, where we take Pure Health from Abu Dhabi to the World.'

The Offering will generate gross proceeds of AED 3.62 billion for the Company. On listing, the Company's market capitalization is expected to reach AED 36.2 billion.

The Constitutive General Assembly Meeting for conversion to PJSC is on 15 December 2023. Listing and trading commencement of PureHealth's shares on ADX are expected to take place on 20 December 2023, subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals in the UAE. The shares will trade under the symbol "PureHealth" and ISIN "AEE01362P238." At listing, provided that the offering shares are fully subscribed, the Founders will retain a 90% stake in the Company. First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC acted as Lead Manager and Lead Receiving Bank. International Securities LLC was appointed as the Lead Placement Agent.

About PureHealth

By advancing the science of longevity, PureHealth is introducing the healthcare of the future from the UAE to the rest of the world. PureHealth is the largest integrated healthcare platform in the Middle East, with an ecosystem that challenges lifespans and reimagines health spans. With 25+ hospitals, 100+ clinics, multiple diagnostic centers, health insurance solutions, pharmacies, health tech, procurement, investments and more, its groundbreaking innovations are at the forefront of healthcare, as the company is on a mission to unlock time for humankind.

PureHealth's network of healthcare facilities across Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates comprises:

SEHA - Abu Dhabi Health Services Company - One of the largest healthcare networks of hospitals and clinics in the UAE

- One of the largest healthcare networks of hospitals and clinics in the UAE Daman - The National Health Insurance Company, the UAE's leading health insurer

- The National Health Insurance Company, the UAE's leading health insurer The Medical Office - Overseeing Sheikh Khalifa Hospitals and healthcare facilities established under the initiatives of H.H. the President of the UAE

- Overseeing Sheikh Khalifa Hospitals and healthcare facilities established under the initiatives of H.H. the President of the UAE Rafed - The UAE's largest healthcare Group Purchasing Organization

- The UAE's largest healthcare Group Purchasing Organization PureLab - Managing and operating the largest network of laboratories in the region

- Managing and operating the largest network of laboratories in the region Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center - Specialist healthcare center focused on cell therapy and regenerative medicine

- Specialist healthcare center focused on cell therapy and regenerative medicine One Health - Sales, service support, and engineering network that provides end-to-end medical solutions

provides end-to-end medical solutions The Life Corner - Abu Dhabi's first holistic pharmacy, serving the health and wellness establishment

- Abu Dhabi's first holistic pharmacy, serving the health and wellness establishment Ardent - The fourth largest privately held acute care hospital operator in the USA

To learn more, please visit www.purehealth.ae

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The big data and business analytics market has grown due to a surge in the adoption of big data analytics software by multiple organizations. In addition, increase in the need to gain insights for business planning fuels the growth of the market.

NEW CASTLE, Del., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Big Data and Business Analytics Market by Component (Hardware, Software, and Service), Application (Customer Analytics, Supply Chain Analytics, Marketing Analytics, Pricing Analytics, Spatial Analytics, Workforce Analytics, Risk & Credit Analytics, and Transportation Analytics), and Industry Vertical (BFSI, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Government, Energy & Utilities, Transportation, Retail & E-Commerce, IT & Telecom, Education and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033". According to the report, the global big data and business analytics market was valued at $225.3 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $665.7 billion by 2033, registering a CAGR of 11.62% from 2024 to 2033.

Prime determinants of growth

The big data and business analytics market is expected to witness notable growth owing to surge in adoption of big data analytics software by multiple organizations, increase in demand for cloud-based big data analytics software among SMEs, and numerous benefits provided by big data and business analytics solutions. Moreover, emerging trends such as social media analytics and increase in need to gain insights for business planning are expected to provide lucrative opportunities for the growth of the market during the forecast period. On the contrary, high implementation cost and lack of skilled workforce limit the growth of the big data and business analytics market.

Download Sample Pages: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/6268

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2024-2033 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $225.3 Billion Market Size in 2033 $665.7 Billion CAGR 11.62 % No. of Pages in Report 540 Segments Covered Application, Component, Industry Vertical and Region. Drivers Surge in adoption of big data analytics software by multiple organizations Increase in demand for cloud-based big data analytics software among SMEs Numerous benefits provided by big data and business analytics solutions Opportunities Emerging trends such as social media analytics Increase in need to gain insights for business planning Restraints High implementation cost Lack of skilled workforce

Buy this Complete Report (540 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) at:

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/big-data-and-business-analytics-market/purchase-options

Covid-19 Scenario

The big data and business analytics market has witnessed significant growth in the past few years; however, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the market was projected to witness a slight downfall in 2020. This was attributed to the implementation of lockdowns by governments in the majority of the countries and the shutdown of travel across the world to prevent the transmission of the virus. The big data and business analytics market is projected to prosper in the upcoming years after the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, various IT & telecom, e-commerce, and retail companies are seeking cost-effective solutions to boost their productivity to attract consumers toward cloud-based solutions and to increase their financial benefits. Furthermore, increase in efforts of governments along with rise in investments in smart city projects by a number of developing economies is expected to provide lucrative opportunities for the expansion of the global market, as the use of business analytics is increasing in smart cities majorly to support real-time operational control; improve decision-making; increase service quality as well as efficiency; and improve engagement of government with businesses, citizens, and other stakeholders.

The customer analytics segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on application, the customer analytics segment held the highest market share in 2023, accounting for nearly one-third of the big data and business analytics market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to market players focusing on customer analytics to get better insights into consumer demand and preferences. However, risk and credit analytics segment is projected to attain the highest CAGR of 14.0% from 2024 to 2033 due to an increase in demand for risk analytics due to various government policies and the rise in competition among industries.

The service segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on component, the service segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing to half of the big data and business analytics market revenue, owing to growth in the data services from end users. However, the software segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 12.92% from 2024 to 2033 as most organizations have started adopting big data and business analytics software to manage the massive volume of data being generated for meaningful insights and better-informed decisions.

The BFSI segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on industry vertical, the BFSI segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing for more than one-fourth of the travel insurance market revenue, owing to growth in the digital transformation in banking services. However, the retail and e-commerce segment is projected to attain the highest CAGR of 14.06% from 2024 to 2033. The retail industry is adopting big data analytics in their processes to improve sales, customer service, and product offerings, which is fueling the growth of the market.

North America region to maintain its dominance by 2033

Based on region, the North America segment held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2023, accounting for half of the big data and business analytics market revenue. The presence of key players and technological advancements in the region propel the growth of the market.

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Leading Market Players: -

AMAZON WEB SERVICES, INC.

FAIR ISAAC CORPORATION

HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP

IBM CORPORATION

MICROSOFT CORPORATION

ORACLE CORPORATION

SAP SE

SAS INSTITUTE INC.

TIBCO SOFTWARE INC.

TERADATA CORPORATION

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the big data and business analytics market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different countries. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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AMR introduces its online premium subscription-based library Avenue, designed specifically to offer cost-effective, one-stop solution for enterprises, investors, and universities. With Avenue, subscribers can avail an entire repository of reports on more than 2,000 niche industries and more than 12,000 company profiles. Moreover, users can get an online access to quantitative and qualitative data in PDF and Excel formats along with analyst support, customization, and updated versions of reports.

Get an access to the library of reports at any time from any device and anywhere. For more details, follow the link: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access

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Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports Insights" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies, and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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With Mitsubishi Corporation's partnership, Terviva marks a key milestone in the advancement of a pongamia tree-based business platform that sinks carbon, improves small-holder livelihoods, and creates a new source for biofuel and food.

ALAMEDA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Terviva, an agriculture innovation company, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a partnership agreement with Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), one of the world's most influential businesses. In conjunction with this partnership agreement, MC has also provided financing to Terviva.

Terviva works with local communities to harvest beans from the pongamia tree to produce oil and protein-rich meal. Pongamia is a subtropical legume tree with unique qualities that make it particularly suited to a climate-changing world. Terviva seeks to create transparent and equitable supply chains of pongamia trees in subtropical regions of the world, using reforestation, agroforestry and orchard models. Pongamia is an environmentally sustainable tree crop that adds nitrogen to the soil, stores carbon, requires little to no fertilizer or pesticides, and does not require tilling. Native bees and other pollinators thrive on the pongamia tree's flowers, thereby supporting local biodiversity. From one acre, Terviva's pongamia trees can potentially provide the same amount of oil from four acres of U.S. soybeans.

The MC - Terviva partnership is rooted in the companies' shared target for a decarbonized future throughout the world. Through this partnership, Terviva and MC will bring crude pongamia oil to the liquid fuels market as a first-of-its-kind of biofuel feedstock. Crude pongamia oil is a second-generation feedstock with a low carbon intensity score produced through a sustainable and transparent supply chain. As a feedstock, it has the capacity to be seamlessly converted into biodiesel, renewable diesel, or sustainable aviation fuel. The oil is ISCC Plus & EU Certified and the wild harvest supply chain and crush production meet RED II and global sustainability criteria. Combined, these accolades make Terviva's crude pongamia oil among the most sustainable feedstocks, with a similar carbon intensity to used cooking oil. Together, MC and Terviva will put their robust networks and expertise to work for this climate-resilient tree.

"Addressing climate change and reducing GHG emissions with the aim of contributing to achieve a decarbonized circular society are our high-priority initiatives. The pongamia tree can be a transformational crop to realize a carbon-neutral and sustainable society. With its strong intellectual property and existing operations, Terviva has exceptional potential to be a business that significantly benefits the environment and local communities who engage in the supply chain of pongamia. We are excited to collaborate with Terviva to establish a supply chain for next-generation fuels and grow together with local communities, while reducing its environmental footprint," stated MC.

"MC is an influential partner that has the long-term vision to make a super-tree like pongamia truly scalable and impactful," said Naveen Sikka, founder and CEO of Terviva. "With MC by our side, Terviva can focus on what we do best: creating elite cultivars to get higher yields and superior products from the pongamia tree, supporting local communities where the tree grows, and applying our patented processes to making the oils and meal into ultra-high quality biofuel feedstocks, animal feeds and ultimately food."

ABOUT MITSUBISHI CORPORATION

MC engages in a wide range of businesses spanning multiple industries and is overseen by its Industry DX Group, Next-Generation Energy Business Group and 10 industry-specific business groups: Natural Gas, Industrial Materials, Chemicals, Mineral Resources, Industrial Infrastructure, Automotive & Mobility, Food Industry, Consumer Industry, Power Solution, and Urban Development.

ABOUT TERVIVA

Terviva is a regenerative agriculture innovation company partnering with smallholders and farmers to grow pongamia, a climate-resilient tree which helps to reforest land and revitalize communities. After more than a decade of innovation, the company has created an equitable and transparent supply chain from which it harvests and transforms pongamia beans into bioenergy and sustainable food ingredients called Ponova. Learn more at terviva.com.

For press inquiries:

Teal Minisofer

teal@zerotrillion.com

+1 (647) 916-7101

Contact Information

Teal Minisofer

teal@zerotrillion.com

SOURCE: Terviva

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Objective is to Refine 2024 Drill Targets

RENO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Athena Gold Corporation (OTCQB:AHNR)(CSE:ATHA) ("Athena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has contracted with Zonge International, Inc. to perform an IP/Resistivity (the "Survey") at its 100% owned Crow Springs Project ("Project") located approximately 21 miles northwest of Tonopah, Nevada.

The Crow Springs Project was internally generated, and Athena staked 10 unpatented claims with the BLM in 2022 and leased an additional key claim CS-124 at that time. The CS-124 claim is strategically positioned based on mapped surface potassic alteration, geochemistry, and past drilling. Reference Athena Press Release dated May 26, 2022. Additional claims were staked in 2023 and the project now comprises 31 unpatented claims.

The project is in west central Nevada within the Walker Lane structural belt and is a porphyry Cu- Mo-Au system with the size potential to develop a world class resource. Porphyry-related alteration, geochemistry, magnetics, and past drilling indicate a porphyry system of over 4.5 square miles in surface area.

Porphyry copper mineralization at Crow Springs District is related to strong potassic alteration that is locally developed in coarse quartz monzonite porphyry and aplitic-textured monzonite. Surface rock geochemistry indicates that moderate to strong Cu-Mo-Au mineralization is exposed at shallow levels and is amenable to reverse circulation drilling to depths of less than 1,500 feet.

A district-scale airborne magnetics radiometric survey was flown in 2021 (see Figure 1) and indicates that classic porphyry potassic alteration is associated with an untested magnetic anomaly controlled by Athena. The untested magnetic anomaly indicates a possible porphyry copper-gold target of significant size. The planned IP-Resistivity survey is designed to further refine and delineate Cu-Mo-Au drill targets within or adjacent to the magnetic anomaly.

Athena holds claims over one of the two major magnetic highs thought to be related to potassium feldspar-magnetite-Cu-Mo-Au mineral potential. The other magnetic high is controlled by EMX Royalty Corp ("EMX"), which holds 132 claims in the Crow Springs district.

Figure 1. Map depicting prior Magnetic survey over Athena claim blocks together with proposed IP lines.

John Power, Athena's President & CEO commented, "We remain focused on our flagship Excelsior Springs Gold Project but are excited to advance our porphyry copper molybdenum gold target in a Tier One jurisdiction to diversify our portfolio and build accretive value for our shareholders. Nevada has had numerous recent success stories whereby modern exploration techniques have been applied at historic mining districts. A favorable IP survey will confirm our 2024 drill targets."

"The Crow Springs District has been known as a top tier concealed porphyry target since the early exploration by Homestake Mining in the early 1960s but has received only minimal modern exploration and as such the potential for discovery of copper-molybdenum mineralization is high and we look forward to the advancement of our project and the entire Crow Springs District," added Power.

Details of Proposed IP Survey

Zonge International will acquire IP/Resistivity data on the Crow Springs survey on the two lines specified by Athena as depicted on Figure 1.. The IP/Resistivity data will be acquired using a dipole-length of 200 meters, in the 9- spread dipole-dipole configuration, providing continuous coverage from n=1 to n=7. The survey is designed to penetrate a target depth of 1,200 feet or more to determine the possibility of a porphyry target at depth.

Crow Springs History and Location

Crow Springs, a porphyry Cu-Mo-Au in quartz monzonite porphyry stock is located along the eastern margin of the Tertiary Walker Lane structural province in the southern Royston Hills, northern Esmeralda Co., Nevada.

Wide-spaced core drilling by Homestake in 1963 indicates pervasive propylitic alteration (clay-pyrite-carbonate) surrounding magnetic high centers of potassic alteration that have not been drill tested.

Figure 2. An outcrop of leached quartz stockwork breccia rock recently collected provides compelling evidence of a potentially mineralized porphyry system at depth. This rock sample was collected just north of the proposed south IP line and overlies the magnetic high anomaly.

Figure 3. Locations of porphyry copper and related occurrences in Nevada of Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous age. (Source: Porphyry Copper and Related Occurrences in Nevada - NBMG Wendt & Albino 1991)

In addition, fifteen miles east-northeast of Crow Springs, lies the Hall Molybdenum Mine, which formerly produced 53 million pounds of Mo. It is a porphyry Mo-Cu deposit hosted in 69 million years old quartz monzonite that has been intruded by a granite porphyry.

Allegiant Gold's Eastside project, which hosts a large and open resource of 1.4 million ounces of gold with excellent potential for expansion of that resource lies within 3 miles to the west.

Qualified Person

John Hiner, SME Registered Member and Washington State Licensed Geologist is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis of this press release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Hiner is not independent of the Company.

About Athena Gold Corporation

Athena is engaged in the business of exploring its flagship Excelsior Springs Project and the acquisition of additional mineral properties of merit.

For further information about Athena Gold Corporation and our Excelsior Springs Gold Project, please visit www.athenagoldcorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

John Power

Chief Executive Officer and President

Contact:

Phone: John Power

1 (707)-291-6198

Email: info@athenagoldcorp.com

Jason Libenson

President and CCO

Castlewood Capital Corporation

1 (647)-534-9884

Email: jason@castlewoodcapital.ca

Cautionary Statement to U.S. Investors

This press release references NI 43-101, which differs from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") permits mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can legally extract or produce. Pursuant to SEC Industry Guide 7 under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a "final" or "bankable" feasibility study is required to report reserves. Currently Athena has not delineated "reserves" on any of its properties. Athena cannot be certain that any deposits at its properties will ever be confirmed or converted into SEC Industry Guide 7 or any successor rule or regulation compliant "reserves". Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all the historic Buster Mine or Western Slope gold zones will ever be confirmed or converted into reserves or that it can be economically or legally extracted.

The SEC has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These amendments became effective February 25, 2019, with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021, and historical property disclosure requirements for mining registrants that were included in SEC Industry Guide 7, which was rescinded from and after such date and replaced with disclosure requirements known as S-K 1300.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding future exploration plans and the completion of a phase 2 drill program at the Project, future results from exploration, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of the Company's projects in a timely manner, QAQC procedures at the Project were followed, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the exploration and development of the Company's projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the inability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing required to conduct its business and affairs, as currently contemplated, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and other factors and risks that are discussed in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC and disclosed in the final long form prospectus of the Company dated August 31, 2021.

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 press release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise.

SOURCE: Athena Gold Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Leverages Grow API for user retention and card graduation

Santa Monica, California--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - Grow Credit, the developer behind the Grow API and its innovative payment, retention, and turndown product suites, announces a partnership with Ugami, a financial rewards experience for gamers that successfully launched a debit card in 2023 and plans to release a credit card to a waitlist of 265,000 gamers in 2024.

The Ugami Debit Card, a robust and reliable next-generation financial solution, is a first-of-its-kind financial product built for the gaming community. The integration of Grow API's "Grow to Go" product enables Ugami users to seamlessly build credit with a free membership option and secured and unsecured credit memberships while enabling consumers to boost their scores by an average of 48pts*.

Joe Bayen, CEO at Grow Credit, shared, "We are thrilled to support Ugami's financial inclusion and education efforts. Ugami is integrating a solution demonstrating that they care for their customers' financial future and well-being, and we are proud to support their effort."

Additionally, the integration of "Grow to Go" is the ideal segue behind Ugami's effort to eventually provide a broader suite of financial products to its customer base.

Based on data produced by Grow's data science team, 28%* of Grow users reach prime status in just 12 months, enabling banks and Fintechs to embed an effective credit builder solution.

Hector Hulian, CEO at Ugami, added, "Partnering with a mission-aligned solution provider such as Grow made a lot of sense as we are relentlessly working to create a safe and secure banking product where gamers can manage their finances, have fun, and now build credit."

Grow Credit recently announced its Series A funding round led by USAA and Fintech app Dovly's integration of Grow API's "Pay with Grow" solution." The financial inclusion platform is poised to announce additional major partnerships as more Fintechs, financial institutions, insurance, and subscription companies embrace Grow's innovative payment, retention, and turndown solutions.

*Data is based on 10,391 active on-time users' monthly FICO scores, cohorted and anonymized through May 2023. Excludes accounts past due or suspended at the time of the analysis. Individual results will vary

About Grow Credit:

Grow Credit's innovative credit-building service lowers the barrier of entry for millions of Americans who need to establish and build credit. Combining a small-dollar loan with a virtual debit MasterCard, the service manages subscription payments, such as Netflix, and reports loan balances to the credit bureaus. The MasterCard is issued through Sutton Bank and is exclusively designed to pay subscription payments. Grow Credit is based in Santa Monica and was founded in 2018 by financial industry veterans. The company is also proud to be recognized as one of the top 30 fintech apps on the App Store. For more information, visit GrowCredit.com.

About Ugami

Ugami, Inc. is a financial technology company with a mission of changing the way gamers experience debit card and credit card rewards programs. The Ugami team is formed by passionate technology entrepreneurs, finance professionals, and gamers who are committed to building an innovative and robust financial solution. Lead investors include Harlem Capital Partners and ULU Ventures, with participation from Ignia Partners, FJ Labs, Origins Fund, and Top Corner Capital. Banking Services provided by Blue Ridge Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. To learn more about Ugami visit https://www.ugami.com.

MEDIA CONTACT

Contact Person: Kat Schoberle

Company: Grow Credit

Email: Press@growcredit.com

Website: https://growapi.growcredit.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190550
BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Germany's wholesale prices continued to decline in November mainly due the high base of comparison, data from Destatis revealed on Tuesday. Wholesale prices decreased 3.6 percent on a yearly basis in November but slower than the 4.2 percent decline seen in October. Wholesale prices have been falling since last April. Destatis said the main reason for the current decline is a base effect due to the high price increases in the previous year due to the war in Ukraine. Prices of petroleum products plunged 13.9 percent from a year ago. Lower annual wholesale prices were also recorded for grain, unmanufactured tobacco, seeds and animal feeds. By contrast, wholesale prices for fruit, vegetables and potatoes increased 14.8 percent. Month-on-month, wholesale prices fell 0.2 percent in November, which was slower than October's 0.7 percent decline. 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.
CHARM Therapeutics, a 3D deep learning biotechnology company discovering and developing transformational medicines, today announced the promotion of Sarah Skerratt, Ph.D., to Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), and the appointment of Laura Hare as Chief People Officer and Head of Business Operations.

"These leadership updates mark a transformative phase for CHARM. Sarah's promotion to CSO is a testament to her exceptional contribution to our pipeline, and we're excited to welcome Laura, whose experience will be pivotal in our next growth phase," said Laksh Aithani, co-founder and CEO of CHARM Therapeutics.

Dr. Sarah Skerratt's promotion to CSO comes as CHARM's pipeline achieves significant progress under her leadership and expertise. Bringing over 20 years of experience in drug discovery, Skerratt is a leader with a strong record of delivery from the exploratory phase to the clinic across several therapeutic areas. Her extensive tenure includes senior positions at Merck Sharp Dohme, Vertex, Convergence/Biogen and Pfizer Inc., solidifying her reputation in drug discovery and development. She is an organic chemist by training, holding a Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham and having completed postdoctoral studies at Stanford University as a visiting Fulbright Scholar.

Laura Hare joins CHARM from F-star Therapeutics, where she was instrumental as Senior Vice President of Corporate Operations and People and led the organisation through multiple transformations from early drug discovery to its successful acquisition by invoX Pharma. With 20 years of experience in scale-up and high-growth companies across both tech and biotech, her experience will be critical in leading CHARM's rapid growth and nurturing a thriving workplace culture. Hare's expertise in corporate operations and human resources is expected to play a significant role in CHARM's strategy and operational management as the company continues to expand.

About CHARM Therapeutics

CHARM Therapeutics is discovering and developing small molecule medicines against difficult-to-drug targets with its proprietary 3D deep learning-enabled platform, DragonFold. Powered by the first high throughput protein-ligand co-folding algorithm and a world-class team of scientists and engineers, CHARM seeks to deliver innovative approaches to create life-changing therapies for patients.

Cambridge and London-based CHARM has raised $70 million to date and is building an interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial team, combining leaders from the fields of AI and biotechnology. It is supported by high quality international investors including OrbiMed, F-Prime Capital, General Catalyst, Khosla Ventures, Bristol Myers Squibb, NVIDIA and grep -vc. For more information, please visit: www.charmtx.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212488642/en/

Contacts:

Laksh Aithani, Chief Executive Officer

CHARM Therapeutics

Phone: +44 7933 185425

Email: laksh@charmtx.com

Consilium Strategic Communications

Amber Fennell, Jessica Hodgson, Chris Gardner

Phone: +44 (0)20 3709 5700

Email: charm@consilium-comms.com

Lauren Arnold

MacDougall Advisors

Phone: 781-235-3060

Email: larnold@macdougall.bio
Spire Global, Inc. (NYSE: SPIR) ("Spire" or "the Company"), a global provider of space-based data, analytics and space services, has been awarded a multi-million euro contract by EUMETSAT, Europe's meteorological satellite agency, to provide radio occultation (RO) data. The contract is for an initial period of two years, from 2024-2026, with three optional, one-year extensions.

The award follows a successful pilot program, which demonstrated the benefits of Spire's RO data for weather forecasting accuracy and value. The Company's RO data provides information about the vertical profiles of pressure, humidity and temperature across all points of the globe, including in the most remote regions and open oceans.

Spire will provide the data in near-real time, and it will be distributed to the EUMETSAT user community globally for use in weather forecast modeling.

"As extreme weather events become more frequent, our work with EUMETSAT shows a shared commitment to using space-based data to confront the impacts of climate change," said Theresa Condor, Chief Operating Officer at Spire. "We're proud to work with the agency to improve weather forecasting and protect human life and property."

"It was important to EUMETSAT that the terms of this contract allow us to redistribute the data globally, in line with the World Meteorological Organization's principle of free and open data exchange," said EUMETSAT Director-General Phil Evans. "In this way, EUMETSAT is reinforcing the value of this type of commercial arrangement, with the benefits felt by the citizens of our member states, and other communities globally, through more data for weather forecasting models."

Spire offers a vast portfolio of current weather data, historical weather data, and weather forecast solutions. Most recently, the Company launched a high-resolution weather forecast tailor-made for utilities and commodity traders.

About Spire Global, Inc.

Spire (NYSE: SPIR) is a global provider of space-based data, analytics and space services, offering unique datasets and powerful insights about Earth so that organizations can make decisions with confidence in a rapidly changing world. Spire builds, owns, and operates a fully deployed satellite constellation that observes the Earth in real time using radio frequency technology. The data acquired by Spire's satellites provides global weather intelligence, ship and plane movements, and spoofing and jamming detection to better predict how their patterns impact economies, global security, business operations and the environment. Spire also offers Space as a Service solutions that empower customers to leverage its established infrastructure to put their business in space. Spire has nine offices across the U.S., Canada, UK, Luxembourg, Germany and Singapore. To learn more, visit spire.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212963177/en/

Contacts:

For Media:

Kristina Spychalski

Head of Communications

Kristina.Spychalski@spire.com

For Investors:

Benjamin Hackman

Head of Investor Relations

Benjamin.Hackman@spire.com
- Strong 2023 Rebound Hampered by Israel-Hamas Conflict in Q4

- Europe & Central Asia to Lead International Travel Volume in 2024

- China To Fuel Growth in 2024, With East Asia & Pacific Region Leading Outbound & Inbound YoY Increase



LONDON, Dec. 12, 2023predicts that international travel trips will exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2024, marking a 3% increase from 2019 and surpassing 2 billion for the second time ever. Outbound travel recovery from China has been slow in 2023 and is expected to take another 12-18 months to return to pre-pandemic levels. Kaleido expects China to drive growth in 2024, with Asia-Pacific markets leading outbound (39%) and inbound (69%) y-o-y increase.

Meanwhile, France, the host nation of the 2024 Olympic Games, will drive inbound arrivals and will account for around 11% of all 2024 international inbound trips.

The new research, International Travel Trends & Forecasts 2024, found that there will be continued international growth, leading to 2.8 billion trips by the end of 2028. Kaleido foresees robust growth in emerging and established travel markets over the next 5 years, boosted by major sporting events in North America and Latin America in 2026.

Strong Growth in 2023, Driven by Europe & Central Asia Region

Despite geopolitical challenges such as a weakened economic outlook and the conflict in Ukraine, international travel's recovery remained positive in 2023, surpassing 1.7 billion travel trips - an increase of 32% from 2022. Europe & Central Asia continued to be the primary driver of this growth, contributing to over 50% of the total international trips in 2023. However, the Q4 2023 international travel numbers have been significantly impacted by the recent Israel-Hamas conflict. Kaleido foresees neighbouring Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon being affected despite their impressive inbound and outbound tourism rebound in the first three quarters of 2023.

Dawnn Dinsey, Research Analyst at Kaleido Intelligence, said: "According to Kaleido's estimates, inbound arrivals to Israel are expected to rise by 22% in 2023 compared to 2020, followed by a predicted sharp decline of over 40% in 2024. Ongoing travel cancellations to neighbouring countries will further hinder travel growth for the entire Middle East region."

Kaleido Global International Travel Survey 2023: Key Findings

Leisure is the primary reason for international travel amongst respondents, led by India and the US.

Short-haul journeys are preferred by travel respondents for upcoming international travel.

Europe emerged as the most popular travel destination for respondents, whether for business reasons or leisure, in the next 12 months.



Access Kaleido's International Tourism Trends & Forecasts 2024report for in-depth insights into key travel trends and market development, in addition to the latest forecasts until 2028.

About Kaleido Intelligence

Kaleido Intelligenceis a specialist consulting and market research firm with a proven track record of delivering telecom research at the highest level. Kaleido Intelligence is the leading research company addressing mobile roaming and connectivity services in its entirety, covering industry-leading market insights, data forecasts, historical viewpoints, competitive intelligence and operator market surveys.

Research is led by expert industry analysts, each with significant experience delivering market research and insights that matter.

Contact Details:

Phone: +44 20 3983 9843

Email: info@kaleidointelligence.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a41277a-519c-4198-b818-c9192aac1ab8


MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will hold a series of discussions with U.S. President Joe Biden and with some key officials at the White House Tuesday.



Announcing this, NSC Coordinator For Strategic Communications John Kirby said, 'It's a chance for the President to get an update from President Zelenskyy about how things are going on the battlefront, but also to make it very clear to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people that we're going to continue to support them, particularly at this very difficult time.'



Addressing the media aboard Air Force One en route Philadelphia, he said that as winter approaches, the Russian Armed Forces have increased missile and drone attacks against Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. Washington expects that the attacks will continue, particularly against energy infrastructure, mainly in the East.



Kirby said President Biden will brief Tuesday about the negotiations on Capitol Hill about his supplemental request for funding Ukraine.



'He'll continue to make clear his case for why additional funding for Ukraine and Israel are vital to our own national security interests at this time.'



Biden is scheduled to hold a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart at 4:15 PM ET following their meeting.



Republicans defeated a foreign aid Bill for Ukraine in the Senate last week in protest against the package's lack of changes to border and immigration policy.



Out of the $110 billion foreign assistance package for Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, $61 billion was earmarked for Ukraine.



On Monday, the Ukrainian President addressed the National Defense University in Washington.



Zelenskyy said that Russia's fight against Ukraine is really a fight against a free and united Europe.



Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking for allies who are susceptible to his ideology, even in America, according to the Ukrainian leader. 'His weapon against you right now is propaganda and disinformation.'



Zelenskyy said that Putin's aim isn't just the takeover and destruction of Ukraine. He will wage a global war on freedom.



Delivering introductory remarks at the event, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Washington's commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression is unshakable.



The United States has committed more than $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine so far, and led a coalition of some 50 countries, who have contributed more than $37 billion in security assistance to the war-ravaged nation.



Austin claimed that the capabilities from the coalition are making a crucial difference on the battlefield. Ukraine has taken back more than half of the territory grabbed by Russia since February 2022.



The Russian military had been badly weakened, according to the U.S. Defense chief.



Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Aclara Resources Inc. ("Aclara" or the "Company") (TSX:ARA) is pleased to announce the maiden mineral resource estimate ("MRE") for its regolith-hosted ion adsorption clay project located in the State of Goias, Brazil, known as the Carina Module (the "Project").

Highlights

The initial inferred mineral resource for the Project is estimated at 168 Mt with a grade of 1,510 ppm total rare earth oxide ("TREO") and 477 ppm desorbable rare earth oxide ("DREO" 1 )

) The average net smelter return ("NSR" 2 ) value of the resource is US$32.3/t when using a cut-off value of US$7.4/t

) value of the resource is US$32.3/t when using a cut-off value of US$7.4/t The deposit contains significant quantities of dysprosium (Dy), terbium (Tb), neodymium (Nd) and praseodymium (Pr), which are the rare earth elements critical to the production of permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines

Recovery of rare earths from the Project is fully compatible with the technology patented and successfully demonstrated on a pilot scale by Aclara in Chile, designed to minimize both cost and environmental footprint

The near-surface location of the deposit results in a very low strip ratio (<0.4) providing a positive backdrop for a low-cost mining operation

The 168Mt of inferred mineral resources at the Carina Module complements the 27.5 Mt of measured and indicated mineral resources, and 1.7 Mt of inferred mineral resources at Aclara's Penco Module in Chile

Next Steps

Production of samples by processing the Project's ionic clays at Aclara's pilot plant in Chile during December 2023 and January 2024

Completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") in January 2024

Pursuit of additional resources through the completion of a reverse circulation ("RC") drilling campaign, which is already underway and scheduled to be completed in Q2 2024

Aclara CEO, Ramon Barua, commented:

"The combination of its large size and attractive grades makes the Carina Module an outstanding deposit of ionic clays and significantly increases Aclara's total resource base. The fact that we can apply our patented metallurgical recovery process, which combines competitive costs with superior environmental qualities, provides a promising backdrop for the upcoming Preliminary Economic Assessment. We are excited by the possibility of becoming a significantly larger supplier of magnetic rare earths, especially dysprosium, given how critical these elements are in our planet's fight against climate change."

1 DREO: Desorbable Rare Earth Oxide is the recoverable fraction of the total contained rare earths (TREO) using the Penco Module's ammonium sulfate based metallurgical process.

2 NSR Cut-off: The NSR Cut-off used is based on the marginal costs of the Project. Using a marginal cut-off to discriminate between waste and plant feed (ore) ensures that the net revenue value of the rare earth concentrate produced is equal to the cost of producing it. Since this strategy is applied only to material contained by the "optimal" pit, which contains material that must be mined out, it will maximize cash flow over the life of the operation.

Mineral Resource Statement

The mineral resource has been estimated using the results obtained from 201 auger drill holes (1,630 m) and 1,418 samples. At a 7.4 US$/t NSR cut-off the mineral resource stands at 168 million tonnes ("Mt") in the inferred mineral resources category, @ 1,510 ppm TREO containing an average Dy and Tb grade of 42.1 ppm and 6.9 ppm, respectively. The mineral resource is reported in accordance with the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

Table 1. Carina Module Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective November 3, 2023) *

Geological Domain Mass (t) Total Grade (ppm) Oxides Content (t) Oxides TREO NdPr Dy Tb TREO NdPr Dy Tb Upper Pedolith 10.8 900 121.5 12.0 1.9 9,693 1,309 129 21 Lower Pedolith 28.0 1,274 193.1 22.3 3.6 35,683 5,410 624 100 Upper Saprolite 122.5 1,669 347.0 49.9 8.2 204,462 42,515 6,113 1,011 Lower Saprolite 6.0 597 89.9 31.3 4.7 3,565 537 187 28 Sap Rock 0.8 557 76.3 29.5 4.8 450 62 24 4 Total 168.1 1,510 296.5 42.1 6.9 253,853 49,832 7,077 1,163

*Notes: CIM (2014) definitions were followed for mineral resources Mineral resources are estimated above a net smelter return (NSR) value of 7.4 US$/t Mineral resources are estimated using average long term metal prices and metallurgical recoveries as outlined in the paragraph discussing Cut-off Determination and Selection Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability Totals may not add or multiply accurately due to rounding

Cut-off Determination & Selection

The MRE is pit-constrained using GEOVIA Whittle 2022 software, with an overall slope angle of 25 and a mining cost of US$2.13/t. The MRE is reported at an NSR marginal cut-off cost of US$7.4/t based on processing costs, plus royalties and general and administrative cost estimates. The NSR calculation uses recoveries that are based on preliminary metallurgical test work performed by the AGS Laboratory in La Serena, Chile3.

Selling prices for rare earth oxides : The price estimates in US$/kg used for pit optimization are La2O3 = 0.68, CeO2 = 0.69, Pr6O11 = 144.18, Nd2O3 = 150.75, Sm2O3 = 2.39, Eu2O3 = 27.45, Gd2O3 = 71.55, Tb4O7 = 1,789.25, Dy2O3 = 477.25, Ho2O3 = 137.25, Er2O3 = 59.10, Tm2O3= 0.0, Yb2O3 = 19.85, Lu2O3 =834.75, Y2O3 = 2.86.

: The price estimates in US$/kg used for pit optimization are La2O3 = 0.68, CeO2 = 0.69, Pr6O11 = 144.18, Nd2O3 = 150.75, Sm2O3 = 2.39, Eu2O3 = 27.45, Gd2O3 = 71.55, Tb4O7 = 1,789.25, Dy2O3 = 477.25, Ho2O3 = 137.25, Er2O3 = 59.10, Tm2O3= 0.0, Yb2O3 = 19.85, Lu2O3 =834.75, Y2O3 = 2.86. Metallurgical recoveries : Obtained from the 1,432 drilling sample analyses performed by AGS Laboratory in La Serena, Chile, tested under conditions that carry out desorption at a pH of 4.0, plus a synthetic lixiviant solution designed to emulate the predicted concentrations of recycled salts generated in the closed-circuit process.

: Obtained from the 1,432 drilling sample analyses performed by AGS Laboratory in La Serena, Chile, tested under conditions that carry out desorption at a pH of 4.0, plus a synthetic lixiviant solution designed to emulate the predicted concentrations of recycled salts generated in the closed-circuit process. Plant efficiency : Variable by element, ranging from 90.5 to 99.1% with an approximate average of 94%.

: Variable by element, ranging from 90.5 to 99.1% with an approximate average of 94%. Carbonate transportation and selling cost = US$0.032/kg of carbonates.

= US$0.032/kg of carbonates. Carbonate purity= 92.7%

3 NSR values were estimated based on metallurgical tests using the process parameters developed for the Penco Module in Chile (see news release dated 9 November 2022 titled "Aclara Confirms Successful Completion Of Its Process Flowsheet At Lab Scale". No QA/QC program was applied to this initial metallurgical test campaign and, as such, the results should be considered speculative in nature, and have not been reported in the mineral resources. Table 2 below shows the recoveries associated with the four magnetic rare earth elements (NdPr, Dy and Tb) and TREO together with the associated net smelter return per lithology. Chart 1 shows the NSR Cut-off (US$/t) against tonnage (Mt) and DREO grade (ppm). Table 2: Carina Module - Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective November 3, 2023) - Including Recoveries and NSR Values by Lithology Geological Domain Mass (t) Total Grade (ppm) Oxides Content (t) Oxides Recoveries (%) NSR ($/t) TREO NdPr Dy Tb TREO NdPr Dy Tb TREO - Ce NdPr Dy Tb Upper Pedolith 10.8 900 121.5 12.0 1.9 9,693 1,309 129 21 62% 73% 45% 54% 15.7 Lower Pedolith 28.0 1,274 193.1 22.3 3.6 35,683 5,410 624 100 60% 64% 44% 51% 23.8 Upper Saprolite 122.5 1,669 347.0 49.9 8.2 204,462 42,515 6,113 1,011 54% 39% 47% 49% 36.6 Lower Saprolite 6.0 597 89.9 31.3 4.7 3,565 537 187 28 45% 36% 49% 54% 17.1 Sap Rock 0.8 557 76.3 29.5 4.8 450 62 24 4 42% 29% 50% 51% 14.8 Total 168.1 1,510 296.5 42.1 6.9 253,853 49,832 7,077 1,163 43% 43% 47% 49% 32.3 Chart 1: Carina Module grade tonnage curve All technical and economic parameters will be subject to further consideration during the preparation of the PEA, which is expected to be issued in January 2024. Aclara's Projects Resources Table 3: Carina Module - Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective November 3, 2023) & Penco Module Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective October 13, 2022) Geological Domain Mass (t) Total Grade (ppm) Oxides Content (t) Oxides Recoveries (%) Desorbable Grade (ppm) Oxides TREO NdPr Dy Tb TREO NdPr Dy Tb TREO - Ce NdPr Dy Tb DREO NdPr Dy Tb Carina Module Inferred Resources 168.1 1,510 296.5 42.1 6.9 253,853 49,832 7,077 1,163 43% 43% 47% 49% 477 127.1 19.6 3.4 Penco Module* Measured and Indicated Resources 27.5 2,292 446.5 66.6 9.4 63,030 12,278 1,831 258 31% 17% 41% 37% 496 77.0 27.1 3.7 Inferred Resources 1.7 1,999 350.0 71.6 10.0 3,385 593 122 17 29% 15% 34% 34% 419 53.3 24.7 3.4 *Note: For additional information about the Penco Module mineral resource estimate please refer to the news release issued on December 1, 2022 named "Aclara Provides an Update on the Mineral Resource Estimate at the Penco Module Project". Aclara's Low Cost and Environmentally Friendly Production Process Aclara's extraction process presents several attributes that are favourable from a cost and environmental perspective. Notably, this process refrains from employing energy intensive techniques such as blasting, crushing, or milling. REE rich clays will be extracted using mechanical excavation as opposed to explosives and will benefit from an average strip ratio of less than 0.4. Furthermore, it obviates the generation of tailings, thereby negating the need for a tailings storage facility. The patented extraction process maximizes the recirculation of water within the process. The ionic clay feedstock demonstrates susceptibility to leaching via a common fertilizer (ammonium sulphate), and concurrently, it does not engender the concentration of radionuclides. All these attributes result in a low cost, low carbon footprint mining operation that is positioned very favourably when compared to other rare earths producers. Auger Drilling Campaign Summary A total of 201 auger holes over a combined length of 1,630 metres were drilled between February and August 2023 and form the basis of the initial MRE covering approximately 1,400 hectares within the Project area. The average drill hole spacing across the mineralized area was 200 metres, with an area in the north east of the resource drilled to 100 metre centres for the purposes of confirming variogram parameters in this area.

Figure 1: Plan view showing the lithology and current drill collar locations. The green trace lines indicate the location of the cross-sections A-A' and B-B' displayed in Figures 2 and 3, respectively. The blue contour indicates the boundary of the mineralized area representing the inferred resource. Figure 2 below shows the cross-section A-A' indicated in Figure 1, which exhibits the association between the regolith and select auger drill holes displaying DREO in ppm. The image shows that the mineralized horizons (LP and US) found at the Project are controlled by the development and conservation of favourable regolith horizons at certain topographic levels where continuity is exhibited. The Upper Saprolite is the principal mineralized geological domain and hosts 73% of the declared resource.

Figure 2. Regolith profile interpretation in cross-section A-A' cutting across the north-eastern portion of the mineralised zone as shown in Figure 1. Reverse Circulation Drilling Campaign The average drill depth of the MRE is 8.1 metres, which did not consistently reach the bottom limits of the lower Pedolith and Saprolite. Over 70% of the auger drillholes indicated a high anomalous exchangeable fraction in the last interval, which suggested that the deposit remained open at depth. As a result, a 9,090-metre RC drilling campaign has been planned, which will reach the bottom limit of the saprolite zone and may result in the discovery of additional inferred mineral resources at depth of the deposit. The Company is currently executing the initial phase of the RC drilling campaign, which includes 1,500-metres within 56 drill holes. As of the date of this news release, 47 holes had been completed measuring a total of 1,275 metres. The remaining 7,590 metres of the RC campaign will commence at end of Q1 2024 after receiving the suppression permits necessary to enter the remaining areas of the Project. The complete set of results of the RC drilling campaign are expected by the end of Q2 2024. Figure 3 below shows the cross-section B-B' as indicated in Figure 1, which presents preliminary evidence of the extension of saprolite development at depth from the current RC drilling campaign. The interval of saprolite interceptions of the RCCAR23013 and RCCAR23013 holes highlight new areas that were not previously reached by the auger drill holes.

Figure 3. Regolith profile interpretation in cross-section B-B' cutting across the southern portion of the mineralized zone as shown in Figure 1. Geology & Geological Interpretation The dominant lithologies of the Project are pink porphyritic biotite granite composed of quartz, oligoclase, microcline, and annite as essential minerals. Leucogranite is the secondary lithology, characterized by quartz, albite, and microcline. The contact of the biotite granite and leucogranite is given by faults trending from NE to SW. This fault event created a fracture zone where hydrothermal alteration is exhibited, giving rise to greisenized granites and gresisens. According to alteration and stratigraphic position, the regolith column in the Project area was subdivided into upper Pedolith (UP), lower Pedolith (LP), upper Saprolite (US), lower Saprolite (LS) and Saprock (SapRock), as graphically depicted in Figure 4 below.

Figure 4: Idealized regolith profile showing the geological domains recognized in the Project area and forming the basis for the present resource estimate.

Sampling, Assay & QA/QC Protocols

The 201 auger drill holes were sampled at intervals of 0.5 metres to 2 metres, for a total of 1,418 samples. The analytical batches included 233 QA/QC samples. All samples were sent for total REE analysis (REY T)4 to the ALS Laboratory in Lima, Peru, and desorption (REY D)5 analysis to AGS Laboratory in La Serena, Chile. The methodology for collecting the auger drill samples was designed following recommendations by expert mining industry groups GeoAnsata and GE21.

The quality of the assay data for the rare earth elements dysprosium (Dy), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr) and terbium (Tb) was statistically evaluated by GE21 based on QA/QC samples (analysis of certified reference materials, field duplicates and sample split duplicates, fine and coarse blanks) and via the execution of twin holes. GE21 is a Brazilian based engineering consultancy with considerable experience in resource modelling and estimation. They consider the assay results to be of sufficient precision and accuracy to support the estimation of the mineral resources.

4 The total REE analysis (REY T) is determined through a lithium metaborates digestion of the whole ore sample and ICP/MS readings.

5 The desorption analysis (REY D) is based on the metallurgical test protocol developed by Aclara where whole ore leaching takes place in an ammonium sulfate environment at a pH of 3, where the ionic exchange occurs.

Estimation Methodology & Reporting of Mineral Resources

High-grade capping supported by statistical analysis was completed on 2 metre composites and applied to the Project resource estimate.

The MRE was completed using the LEAPFROG EGDE software to generate a block model consisting of parent blocks measuring 50 metres x 50 metres x 4 metres with sub-blocks of 12.5 metre x 12.5 metre x 2 metre dimensions.

Variography was performed for each of the five geological domains in the Project zone, for three groups of elements: Heavy Rare Earth elements plus yttrium (Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y), Light Rare Earth elements minus cerium (La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu), and cerium (Ce), which showed a poor correlation with the other two groups.

Grade interpolation for each of the 15 rare earth elements was performed via Ordinary Kriging into the parent blocks using hard boundaries. Estimation was conducted using a strategy to control geometry and number of samples in the interpolation.

Block estimation was validated visually, by global bias analysis and by trend analysis.

In-situ bulk density was assumed to have a value of 1.8 t/m3 for the pedolith profile, based on similar projects in the region.

The MRE is classified as inferred mineral resources. The classification was based on level of confidence in the data, geological continuity, and geostatistical parameters appropriate to deposit type.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release, including the information related to geology, drilling, and mineralization, has been reviewed and approved by Geologist Fabio Xavier (MAIG #5179) and Mining Engineer Porfirio Rodriguez (FAIG #3708), associated with GE21. GE21 is a specialized, independent mineral consulting company.

Mr. Rodriguez has more than 40 years of experience in the field of mineral resource and reserve estimate. Mr. Rodriguez is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (FAIG) and is a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101.

The MRE has been prepared by Fabio Xavier. Mr. Xavier is a Member of Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) and is a Qualified Person (QP) as defined under NI 43-101. He is responsible for the MRE and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information related to the MRE contained in this news release.

Messrs. Rodriguez and Xavier visited the Project from August 16 to August 18, 2023, during the execution of the auger drilling campaign, conducted by the GE21 team under the coordination of Geologist Andre Costa (FAIG#7967). The visit was supported by Aclara's Exploration Manager, Luiz Jorge Frutuoso Junior.

Mr. Frutuoso is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and Fellow of Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) and is a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. Relevant geological information, database and analysis of the QA/QC relating to the Project were provided by Mr. Frutuoso.

A technical report for the Project, to be prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, will be filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com within 45 days of this news release.

About Aclara

Aclara Resources Inc. (TSX: ARA) is a development-stage company that focuses on heavy rare earth mineral resources hosted in Ion-Adsorption Clay deposits. Its primary project is known as the Penco Module and is located in the BioBio Region of southern Chile. The Company is also evaluating a second module, the Carina Module, located in the State of Goias in central Brazil.

Presently, Aclara has a strong focus on the development, construction, and future operation of the Penco Module, with the primary objective of establishing a processing plant designed to produce heavy rare earths concentrate.

Aclara's extraction process offers several environmentally attractive features. It does not involve blasting, crushing, or milling. Additionally, it does not generate tailings, eliminating the need for a tailings storage facility. The Company utilizes 100% recycled water and minimizes water consumption through high levels of water recirculation. The ionic clay feedstock is amenable to leaching with a fertilizer, and harmful radionuclides are not concentrated.

Simultaneously, alongside the development of the Penco Module, the Company intends to identify and evaluate further opportunities, such as the Carina Module, for increasing production of heavy rare earth elements. This will involve intensive greenfield exploration programs and the development of additional project "modules" within the Company's concessions in Brazil, Chile and Peru.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events, including statements with regard to: mineral continuity, grade, methodology, production timing and upside at the Penco Module and Carina Module, the Company's exploration plan, drilling campaigns and activities in Brazil and the expectations of the Company's management as to the results of such exploration works and drilling activities; timing, cost and scope in respect of the exploration activities in Brazil, the results and interpretations of its maiden MRE relating to the Carina Module, the timing and issuance of a Preliminary Economic Assessment relating to the Carina Module, and the contemplated development of greenfield targets and expected reduction in permitting risk. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to risks related to operating in a foreign jurisdiction, including political and economic problems in Chile and Brazil; risks related to changes to mining laws and regulations and the termination or non-renewal of mining rights by governmental authorities; risks related to failure to comply with the law or obtain necessary permits and licenses or renew them; compliance with environmental regulations can be costly; actual production, capital and operating costs may be different than those anticipated; the Company may be not able to successfully complete the development, construction and start-up of mines and new development projects; risks related to mining operations; and dependence on the Penco Module and/or the Carina Module. Aclara cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. For a detailed discussion of the foregoing factors, among others, please refer to the risk factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated as of March 28, 2023, filed on the Company's SEDAR+ profile. Actual results and timing could differ materially from those projected herein. Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the forward-looking information contained in this news release is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws.

For further information, please contact:

Bonzi Yokomizo Baptista

Brazil General Manager

investorrelations@aclara-re.com

Aclara Resources has engaged Reflex Media to provide marketing services in connection with a digital marketing campaign aimed at increasing the knowledge and awareness of the Company to new audiences.

Table 4: Carina Module - Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective November 3, 2023)- By the Total Rare Earth Oxides at 7.4 US$/t NSR cut-off*

Domain Mass La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu Y TREO Mt ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm UP 10.8 112.8 523.3 26.9 94.6 16.7 0.8 10.9 1.9 12.0 2.5 8.3 1.4 10.3 1.5 76.1 900 LP 28.0 171.8 647.3 42.5 150.7 27.0 1.6 20.4 3.6 22.3 4.7 15.1 2.4 17.4 2.5 144.7 1,274 US 122.5 319.0 433.6 76.8 270.2 56.3 2.5 49.0 8.3 49.9 10.0 30.8 4.8 32.6 4.6 320.6 1,669 LS 6.0 61.2 106.9 18.9 71.1 23.4 0.2 23.4 4.7 31.4 6.4 21.3 3.6 26.0 3.9 195.0 597 SapRock 0.8 47.2 101.8 15.7 60.6 22.0 0.1 23.1 4.8 29.5 6.2 19.5 3.1 23.8 3.3 196.5 557 Total 168.1 270.8 461.8 65.5 231.0 47.6 2.1 40.8 6.9 42.1 8.5 26.3 4.1 28.4 4.1 270.6 1,510

Table 5: Carina Module - Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective November 3, 2023)- By the Recoverable Grades at 7.4 US$/t NSR cut-off*

Domain Mass La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu Y TREO-Ce Mt % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % UP 10.8 63.9 7.4 73.7 73.0 64.1 73.9 56.7 53.8 44.8 35.3 30.8 26.0 23.4 24.6 37.8 62.1 LP 28.0 60.5 5.8 65.3 63.6 58.3 60.1 49.9 51.4 44.3 36.2 32.8 29.0 26.8 27.8 41.3 59.5 US 122.5 36.5 3.3 38.3 39.7 41.7 38.3 38.4 48.9 46.7 42.4 41.4 39.4 37.8 42.7 50.9 53.7 LS 6.0 30.7 3.9 35.1 36.8 43.3 48.9 41.1 54.4 49.5 43.2 41.5 39.0 39.7 45.1 50.4 44.7 SapRock 0.8 22.3 2.6 27.0 29.5 33.0 61.0 38.3 51.3 49.6 39.6 38.1 35.8 30.6 42.0 54.2 42.0 Total 168.1 39.7 4.2 42.1 43.1 43.8 41.9 39.8 49.4 46.5 41.7 40.4 38.0 36.4 40.8 49.8 43.5

Table 6: Carina Module - Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective November 3, 2023) - By the Desorbable Rare Earth Oxides at 7.4 NSR cut-off US$/t*

Domain Mass La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu Y DREO Mt ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm UP 10.8 72.0 38.9 19.8 69.1 10.7 0.6 6.2 1.0 5.4 0.9 2.5 0.4 2.4 0.4 28.8 259.1 LP 28.0 103.9 37.3 27.7 95.8 15.7 0.9 10.2 1.8 9.9 1.7 5.0 0.7 4.7 0.7 59.8 375.7 US 122.5 116.4 14.3 29.4 107.2 23.5 0.9 18.8 4.0 23.3 4.2 12.8 1.9 12.3 2.0 163.1 534.2 LS 6.0 18.8 4.2 6.6 26.1 10.1 0.1 9.6 2.5 15.5 2.8 8.9 1.4 10.3 1.7 98.3 217.0 SapRock 0.8 10.5 2.7 4.2 17.9 7.3 0.1 8.9 2.5 14.7 2.5 7.4 1.1 7.3 1.4 106.6 194.9 Total 168.1 107.5 19.3 27.6 99.5 20.8 0.9 16.2 3.4 19.6 3.5 10.6 1.6 10.3 1.7 134.7 477.2

*Notes:

1. UP = Upper Pedolith; LP = Lower Pedolith; US = Upper Saprolite; LS = Lower Saprolite.

2. TREY = Total Rare Earth Elements (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) plus Yttrium.

3. LREE = Light Rare Earth Elements (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu).

4. HREE = Heavy Rare Earth Elements (Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu).

5. TREO = Total Rare Earth Oxides (La2O3, CeO2, Pr6O11, Nd2O3, Sm2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Tb4O7, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, Lu2O3) + Yttrium (Y2O3).

6. Totals may not balance due to rounding of figures.

7. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves, as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant factors.

8. Mineral resources were classified as Inferred.

9. Mineral resources are reported with effective date November 3, 2023.10. Responsible QP Fabio Xavier (MAIG #5179)

11. Mineral resources are classified in accordance with the CIM (2014) Standards and Definitions of Mineral Resources.

12. Blocks estimated by Ordinary Kriging at support of 50m x 50m x 4m with sub-blocks 12.5m x 12.5 x 2m.

13. Mineral resources were estimated using TREO grades. Desorbable grades of REE were estimated based on the metallurgical recoveries resulting from using the Penco Module's ammonium sulphate based metallurgical process.

14. NSR (Net Smelter Return) were calculated based on desorbable grades to support the RPEEE definition. NSR value are not part of mineral resource declaration.

15. The results are presented in-situ and undiluted, are constrained within optimized open pit shells, and are considered to have reasonable prospects of economic viability, using the following parameters:

Pit slope angle: 25. Price: 0.032US$/kg of concentrate. Costs: Mining: 2,13US$/t mined; Process: 7.23 US$/t processed; Royalties: 2% of revenue; Discount: 7.00US$/t processed. Metallurgical Recoveries calculated from the estimate of head and desorbable grades: UP: 28.72%; LP: 29.38%; US: 31.74%; LS: 36.01%; SapRock: 34.45%. NSR cut-off value = US$7.4/t.

SOURCE: Aclara Resources Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Revolutionising Nurse Call Systems with Cutting Edge Integrated Technology

Navenio, a global leader in the delivery of Real-Time Location Services (RTLS) for hospitals and health systems, announced today a new partnership with Pavion. Pavion is the world's largest distributor of the Rauland Responder an intelligent nurse call system employed by more than 4,000 hospitals in 40 countries to improve communication flow, increase accuracy and decrease response time, errors and wasted effort. The partnership is based on Navenio's ability to integrate infrastructure-free non-invasive technology seamlessly into the nurse call system and other critical clinical and workflow systems in a hospital environment. The first installation for the partnership will take place at a federal hospital and research organisation with almost 700 beds located outside of Washington DC.

In the past, nurse call systems utilised beacon-based hardware requiring a large capital outlay for the hospital. Navenio's proprietary real-time location technology requires nominal investment in both time and resources. The platform leverages smartphones and the fusion of multiple unique technologies creating a highly scalable indoor location service with an artificial intelligence tasking engine delivering immediate actionable insight. With Navenio's hands-free RTLS system, a nurse, located near the site of a call, can rapidly enter a patient's room, and address any need immediately as the system automatically turns off the patient's call signal. The system also records data on how quickly patient requests are being addressed, supporting key metrics associated with patient satisfaction.

"We are thrilled to begin our US roll-out with such a prestigious research and hospital organisation and a partner like Pavion," said Connie Moser, chief executive officer of Navenio. "The nurse call technology is a great example of where workforce efficiency can really improve the nurse and patient experience without invasive technology."

Navenio has the capacity to expand the functionality of not only the nurse call system but also other processes required to optimise workforce efficiency such as housekeeping, environmental services, food service and pharmacy services.

Said Robin Nishiyama, director of sales at Pavion: "We are thrilled to have access to Navenio and are looking forward to sharing this innovative technology with other hospital partners. The accuracy of their solution, down to room level is just incredible and, combined with lower costs and relatively simple implementation, very compelling compared to other options."

About Navenio

Launched in 2015 from proprietary technology developed at the University of Oxford, the Navenio team has grown to more than 60 people with a global footprint encompassing the UK and US. Navenio's Real Time Location Service is smartphone-based, and through the fusion of four unique technologies creates a highly scalable indoor location service leveraging an artificial intelligence tasking engine delivering immediate actionable insight. Privacy and security are inherent within the Navenio technology, and the company is Cyber Essentials Plus certified, GDPR, HIPAA and NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit compliant. Navenio was given a strong commendation in KPMG's British Tech Pioneers 2020 Program and has been named as part of the DIT100 and Tech Nation's Upscale 6.0 this year, as well as winning both commercial and academic awards. For more information visit https://navenio.com/

About Pavion

Pavion connects and protects by providing fire, security, and communication integration solutions to customers in 55+ U.S. locations and 22 countries. The company brings industry-leading experience to clients in the enterprise, healthcare, education, government, data centre, and retail industries. Its mission is to bring clarity and transformation to safety, security and communication through integral technology and radical service. Learn more at http://www.pavion.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212647337/en/

Contacts:

Roseanna Lane

rlane@thecommsco.com

+447770239888
Nobel Laureates, Captains of Industry, Former Heads of State and Civil Society Leaders Unite, Calling for Unconditional Release of Ethnic Armenians Illegally Held in Azerbaijan

Failure to release most prominent prisoners demonstrates political retribution by Baku; Calls for sanctions against the Aliyev regime mounting in the US Congress and the European Parliament

Letter signed by former presidents Mary Robinson, Ernesto Zedillo, Nobel Prize Winners Leymah Gbowee and Oscar Arias, Elisha Wiesel, Chairman of the Board of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Marc Benioff, publisher Ariana Huffington, and other global figures highlights concerns for detained leaders from Nagorno-Karabakh, including Armenian humanitarian Ruben Vardanyan.

BRUSSELS, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nobel Prize laureates, business leaders, former heads of state, and humanitarians are among the more than 100 global figures who have signed a letter calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the "Armenian Prisoners," which includes eight Armenian political prisoners, who are former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh's government illegally detained following Azerbaijan's invasion and seizure of the region in September. More than a dozen other prisoners of war arrested during the conflict also remain in custody.

The collective plea echoes growing concerns over conditions and treatment of these imprisoned individuals, including prominent Armenian businessman and humanitarian, Ruben Vardanyan. Their arrest follows a campaign of ethnic cleansing by the Azerbaijani forces. While the December 7th release of 32 Armenian prisoners of war is a welcome first step, all of the others must be released. The failure of Baku to release the remaining eight political prisoners raises deep concerns over the motives by the Aliyev regime of their continued detention.

"The human rights abuses witnessed in the wake of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict demand urgent attention and action," said Noubar Afeyan, another signatory as well as the co-founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative. "President Aliyev chooses political retribution over justice. We believe in the inherent dignity and rights of every individual and call on the international community to join us in condemning this injustice."

Afeyan has long collaborated on global and regional economic development and humanitarian projects with Vardanyan, who has become a symbol of the broader struggle for political freedom and human dignity in the region. His unjust imprisonment has galvanized some of the world's most respected voices to champion his cause and that of others unjustly detained.

"We call on President Aliyev to fulfill his obligations to international rules and law, ensuring those unjustly imprisoned can return safely to their families," said Paul Polman, Vice Chair of the United Nations Global Compact and former CEO of Unilever. "All individuals in Nagorno-Karabakh have a right to experience a life of peace and security, including the freedom to move without hindrance or the looming specter of inhuman treatment. Given Azerbaijan's bid to host COP 29 in 2024, I sincerely hope the United Nations will only agree if Baku releases all these prisoners."

Polman is one of the letter's signatories, alongside former heads of state, such as Ernesto Zedillo, former President of Mexico; Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland; Oscar Arias, former President of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and Elisha Wiesel, Chairman of the Board of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity and son of the late Elie Wiesel, former Co-Chair of Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity. Other prominent signatories represent a wide range of sectors, including Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin, Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce; Ariana Huffington, founder of Thrive and The Huffington Post; and Serj Tankian, renowned musician and lead vocalist of System of a Down.

"The unjust detention of Ruben Vardanyan and so many others being held in Baku violates their basic human rights," said Mary Robinson, Former UN High Commissioner of Human Rights. "For the government of Azerbaijan to be respected in the global community, it is critical they respect the rule of law, especially in light of the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh. They must release these detainees immediately."

Their unified plea serves as a powerful reminder that global political leaders are closely monitoring developments in Azerbaijan and calling for the release of the detainees. As asserted in the letter issued today, the detention of Armenian prisoners is a clear violation of international norms, including the Third Geneva Convention.

In recent weeks, members of the European Parliament and European Council have pursued a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the release of all illegally held detainees arising from the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh. In October, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling on Azerbaijan to release and commit to a broad amnesty for all the inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh who have been arrested since September 19, including former officials from the region. The European Parliament has also called for sanctions against the individuals in the Azerbaijani Government responsible for multiple ceasefire violations and violations of human rights in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as investigations into the abuses committed by Azerbaijani forces that could constitute war crimes.

Similarly, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced a resolution calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release all prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians currently detained in the years-long attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh. The resolution also calls on President Biden to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act on Azerbaijani Government officials responsible for the illegal detention, torture, and extrajudicial killing of Armenian prisoners of war, civilian detainees, hostages, political prisoners, and others detained persons.

A full list of signatories and a copy of the letter are available at: www.FreeArmenianPrisoners.com

For questions about the letter or how to support this effort, or to request an interview, contact: contact@freearmenianprisoners.com

CONTACT:

Nia Jackson

Edelman Global Advisory

+1 202 983 0478

nia.jackson@edelmanega.com

Anahit Akopian

H/Advisors

+33 7 87 38 79 80

anahit.akopian@havas.com

Free Armenian Prisoners

contact@freearmenianprisoners.com

www.FreeArmenianPrisoners.com

FreeArmenianPrisoners @RubenVardanyan

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CHANGZHOU, China, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) now in session in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Trina Solar has called for technological innovation and collaboration with global partners to support the worldwide transition to clean energy. The company has also stressed the importance of green, low-carbon and sustainable development.

Trina Solar, as a green energy producer, assiduously puts its green development philosophy into practice and is committed to its mission of "Solar energy for all". With its state-of-the-art 210mm technology platform paired with n-type i-TOPCon Advanced technology, Trina Solar leads the PV industry in the era of 700W+.

The company's products are used in many settings, including solar grazing, agrivoltaic farming, fishery PV projects, coal mining subsidence areas and deserts. By the third quarter of this year Trina Solar had shipped 170GW of PV modules worldwide, thereby supporting the transition toward environmental sustainability.

TUV Rheinland has awarded Trina Solar with LCA and product carbon footprint certifications for the whole line-up of 210mm Vertex modules, demonstrating their ability for full-cycle low-carbon management. Trina Solar pioneered environmental product declaration and carbon footprint certification for n-type modules in the industry and partnered with other manufacturers to develop low-carbon silicon materials, thus greatly reducing carbon emissions. Trina Solar is building a zero-carbon new energy industrial park inQinghai province, that integrates power supply, power grid, load and energy storage. It's Yiwu site in Zhejiang province is the first factory in the PV industry to be awarded zero carbon status.

Trina Solar collaborates with global partners, including those in the Middle East, to support local green transition. The company has close ties with the UAE and the Middle East as a whole. Trina Solar supplied 800MW of Vertex modules for the 2GW AI Dhafra Solar PV project in Abu Dhabi, one of the world's largest single-site solar power plants. In October Trina Solar signed a memorandum of understanding for project collaboration in the UAE to build vertically integrated capacity that spans the entire industrial chain. This project will significantly promote the new energy industry in UAE.

Trina Solar is committed to leading the way in smart PV and energy storage solutions and facilitating the transformation of new power systems for a net-zero future. Trina Solar and the World Wildlife Fund, WWF, jointly call for actions to give one more hour for Earth with clean energy. The company was included in Reuters' Top 100 Innovators in Global Energy Transition 2022 and has been named a Decarbonisation Leader by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China.

Trina Solar is working toward globalizing its production capacity, service provision, operations management and risk control systems. We look forward to collaborating with all global stakeholders to build a new energy system and achieve shared growth through discussion and joint innovation.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/at-cop28-trina-solar-promotes-green-low-carbon-and-sustainable-development-through-innovation-and-collaboration-302012079.html
Alpha Serve strengthens its position as a leader in BI Connectors with its latest integration for QuickBooks

Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - Alpha Serve, a software development company specializing in developing Business Intelligence applications, has announced its latest achievement in expanding its market presence with the launch of the Power BI Connector for QuickBooks.



Alpha Serve's apps enable seamless integration between various business software platforms and leading visualization tools such as Power BI and Tableau. The connectors are currently available for Jira, ServiceNow, Monday.com, Zendesk, Shopify, and now QuickBooks.

The newly introduced Power BI Connector for QuickBooks is now available on the QuickBooks App Store, solidifying Alpha Serve's status as an official QuickBooks App Developer. This strategic move reflects Alpha Serve's commitment to providing comprehensive BI integration solutions across diverse platforms, further establishing its reputation as a trusted name in the BI Connectors space.

About Alpha Serve Connectors:

Alpha Serve's BI Connectors are no-code solutions designed to bridge data sources and visualization tools, offering companies flexibility and control in analyzing their data. These connectors allow users to connect any data source to their chosen BI software, facilitating seamless data transfer and analysis.



Key features of Alpha Serve BI Connectors include streamlined data export, flexible data manipulation, simple export of custom fields, no limitations on exported data, configurable scheduling for data refreshes, user-friendly interfaces, robust filtering options, and secure data sharing with permission settings and access management.

Anton Storozhuk, CEO at Alpha Serve, expressed the company's mission, saying, "At Alpha Serve, our mission is to empower businesses with the flexibility and control they need in their data analytics journey. The launch of the Power BI Connector for QuickBooks is a testament to our commitment to providing seamless integration across diverse platforms. We believe in simplifying the data analysis process, allowing users to focus on deriving meaningful insights rather than dealing with complex data preparation."



Looking ahead, Alpha Serve continues its trajectory of innovation with the upcoming release of the Tableau Connector for QuickBooks. The company has a roadmap outlining plans to extend its connectors to additional marketplaces, offering users even more options for seamless data integration.

With a distinctive position in the BI connector landscape, Alpha Serve remains dedicated to fostering innovation, building trust, and showcasing its expertise. The company empowers users to concentrate on data analysis, simplifying the often complex processes of data export and preparation.

About Alpha Serve:

Alpha Serve is a leading company specializing in the development of no-code Business Intelligence (BI) Connectors. Renowned for its expertise, Alpha Serve has achieved remarkable success with its top-rated BI Connectors on major B2B marketplaces. As an Atlassian Platinum Marketplace Partner, the company's BI Connectors for Jira have received acclaim, highlighting a commitment to excellence. Further certifications as a ServiceNow Build Partner and a presence on platforms like Zendesk, Monday.com, and Shopify underscore Alpha Serve's versatility. With an unwavering dedication to innovation and seamless integrations, Alpha Serve continues to redefine the landscape of BI solutions for businesses across diverse platforms.



Contact Information:

Anton Storozhuk

Chief Executive Officer, Alpha Serve

Email: a.storozhuk@alpha-serve.com

Phone: +13024871758

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190670
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - LUKURE, known for its distinct approach to luxury fashion, has introduced its latest collection, merging Italian craftsmanship with the essence of New York. Founded in 2012 on Madison Avenue, near the Met, LUKURE has established itself as a brand emphasizing the value of experiential retail.

Photo credit: Fadil Berisha Photography (feat. Portofino Crystal Sandals in Nero)

Arianit Berdufi, the founder of LUKURE, focuses on the significance of traditional craftsmanship in modern fashion. "Our approach is to offer an experience that reflects both the artistry of Italian craftsmanship and the practicality of modern design," he states.

The brand's latest offerings, including the Soft Loafer and Kate Lace-up, demonstrate the meticulous 'anticatura' technique, highlighting the brand's dedication to craftsmanship. "We aim to preserve the heritage of handcrafted techniques in the digital and automated production era," adds Berdufi.

In 2023, LUKURE reported a notable increase in customers seeking sustainable luxury options. The brand's use of kangaroo leather and deerskin, sourced responsibly from controlled wild populations, underscores its commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. "Our focus is on ensuring sustainability in our production processes and materials," comments Berdufi.

Expanding its range, LUKURE has introduced the Limited Edition Crystal Collection, inspired by the Italian coastline. This development and their recent participation in NYFW highlight LUKURE's evolving presence in the fashion industry.

Explore the new collection from LUKURE, where Italian craftsmanship meets New York style, at https://www.lukure.com/ and their official Instagram (@lukureofficial).

About LUKURE

Established in 2012 by Arianit Berdufi, LUKURE is a brand offering a range of shoes and accessories. The brand is distinguished by its focus on Italian craftsmanship, commitment to sustainability, and incorporation of modern design elements. LUKURE has been recognized for blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, redefining the luxury footwear experience.

Contact Information:

Contact Name: Arianit Berdufi, Founder

Organization: LUKURE

Website: www.lukure.com

Email Address: ab@lukure.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190662
Bulat Utemuratov named Philanthropist of the Year 2023 by the Kazakhstan Growth Forum, in recognition of social projects

Continued focus on autism, recently opening 13 th Asyl Miras Autism Center in Semey

Other notable projects include opening new school Kosshy city, with plans for two more schools in Almaty region and construction of Kyzylorda airport terminal underway

Humanitarian relief program includes donations to Turkey earthquake victims and families of Kostenko mine disaster in Kazakhstan

ALMATY, Kazakhstan, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation has completed another successful year with Bulat Utemuratov, the organization's founder, recently named Philanthropist of the Year 2023 by the Kazakhstan Growth Forum.

The award is in recognition of the Foundation's social projects, having provided $150 million for healthcare, education, infrastructure and cultural projects in Kazakhstan. The results were unveiled at a charity event in Almaty where independent members of the Kazakhstan Growth Forum's Expert Council selected winners across 13 categories.

The key initiative of the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation has been its work in the field of autism, and most recently the Foundation, with the assistance of the Akimat of the Abay region, opened its 13th Asyl Miras Autism Center in Semey, Kazakhstan.

The new center will employ 15 specialists and educate up to 300 children a year, with classes aligned with the "Autism. One World for All" six intervention programs. It will provide tailored support for each child, with each three-month cycle of work based on their specific needs following diagnosis. Seven classrooms at the center are fully equipped with furniture, inventory and teaching aids.

The Foundation's "Asyl Miras" autism centers have been operating for nine years, educating 16,000 children throughout Kazakhstan free of charge. They adopt cutting-edge practices and partner with recognized experts including the Kasari Lab at the University of California, the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta, and the international organization Autism Speaks.

Other notable projects of the Foundation in 2023 include the construction and opening of a new school in the city of Kosshy for 3,000 pupils, along with commencing construction of an 8,500 square meter community center. In 2024, the Foundation plans to commission two more schools in the Almaty region, in the cities of Issyk and Shelek. The Foundation continues to support the construction of a new airport terminal in Kyzylorda, to be completed in the spring of 2024.

Humanitarian relief is another focus, and during 2023 the Foundation donated $5 million to victims of the earthquake in Turkey, along with $1 million to support families of victims of the Kostenko mine disaster in Kazakhstan's Karaganda region. The Foundation also provides regular assistance to Kazakhstanis affected by natural disasters under its "Aid Card" program.

In addition, Bulat Utemuratov supports cultural projects such as the Batyrkhan Shukenov Foundation and the Kulanshi Gallery of Contemporary Art.

Almaz Sharman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation, commented: "In the last decade, the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation has had a significant impact on several areas, including infrastructure, healthcare, education, and cultural initiatives. Notably, its dedication to supporting individuals with autism has been remarkable. The journey began with the establishment of the inaugural autism center in Almaty, which has since expanded into a successful network. The positive changes in children's lives and social abilities have been inspiring, greatly assisting their integration into society and helping them adapt to challenges. These initiatives underscore Kazakhstan's dedication to fostering a fair and inclusive society."

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bulat-utemuratov-foundation-marks-another-successful-year-with-prestigious-philanthropy-award-302012567.html
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. ("Quartz Mountain" or the "Company") (TSXV:QZM)(OTC PINK:QZMRF) announces that it has completed 1,445 metres of core drilling in two holes at the Prodigy Au-Ag-Mo-Cu epithermal target on its Maestro Property, located 15 kilometres north of Houston, BC. The Prodigy epithermal deposit target is hosted within an extensive porphyry type mineral system. It is located approximately one kilometre north of the Lone Pine Molybdenum Deposit which hosts Measured and Indicated Resources, at a 0.04% Mo cut-off, of 110 million tonnes grading 0.08% Mo (NI-43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, P & E Mining Consultants Inc., January 21, 2011). The Lone Pine Deposit is not on the Maestro Property. The 2,140 hectare Maestro Property completely surrounds the Lone Pine Deposit to cover the potential epithermal precious metal systems occurring outboard of that porphyry Mo-Cu deposit. The geological setting at Maestro is thought by Management to have some similarities to that of the Blackwater-Davidson project of Artemis Gold Inc. near Vanderhoof. Details of the two completed NQ core holes are:

Zone Hole E NAD83 N NAD83 Elev m Length m Incline0 Azimuth0 Prodigy PR-23-01 646200.00 6044300.00 842.00 633.00 -73 180 Prodigy PR-23-02 646390.00 6044175.00 839.00 812.50 -70 280

The drill program was diligently and safely completed by Apex Diamond Drilling Ltd. from nearby Smithers.

Some 482 core samples have now been received by ALS Global in Vancouver for analyses. Results from the two holes will be released once they are received and compiled, likely early in the new year.

Qualified Person

Farshad Shirmohammad, M.Sc., P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, who is not independent of Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd., has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.

About Quartz Mountain

Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. (TSXV:QZM),(OTC PINK:QZMRF) is a restructured mineral exploration company in Vancouver, Canada. It is focused on acquiring, exploring, developing, and transacting high-value gold, silver, and copper projects. The Company holds 100% of the Maestro Epithermal Gold-Silver-Molybdenum-Copper Property and 100% of the Jake Porphyry Copper-Gold-Silver Property, both located in BC. Projects are selected under Quartz Mountain's key acquisition principles: easy access to infrastructure, high potential for major resources and future significant transaction potential.

Quartz Mountain is associated with Hunter Dickinson Inc. (HDI), a company with over 35-years of successfully discovering, developing, and transacting mineral projects in Canada and internationally. Former HDI projects in BC included, Mount Milligan, Kemess South, and Gibraltar - all of which are porphyry deposits with current or former producing mines. Other well known projects with HDI involvement include Sisson and Prosperity in Canada, Pebble and Florence in the United States, and Xietongmen in China.

Quartz Mountain is committed to the advancement of critical and essential mining assets while following responsible mineral development principles, including a mandate to employ best practice approaches in the engagement and involvement of local communities, and meeting rigorous environmental standards.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Robert Dickinson

Chairman

For further details, contact Robert Dickinson at:

T: (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114.

E: info@quartzmountainresources.com

W: www.quartzmountainresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking-statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking-statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward-looking statements include the following: the Company's projects will obtain all required environmental and other permits, and all land use and other licenses, studies and exploration of the Company's projects will continue to be positive, and no geological or technical problems will occur. Though the Company believes the expectations expressed in its forward-looking-statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to future events and third party discretion such as regulatory personnel. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include variations in market prices, continuity of mineralization and exploration success, and potential environmental issues or liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining activities, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and tenure and delays due to third party opposition, changes in and the effect of government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and exploration and development of properties located within Aboriginal groups asserted territories that may affect or be perceived to affect asserted aboriginal rights and title, and which may cause permitting delays or opposition by Aboriginal groups, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions as well as the effect of COVID 19. 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. For more information on the Company, and the risks and uncertainties connected with its business, investors should review the Company's home jurisdiction filings as www.sedarplus.ca and its 20F filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

SOURCE: Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
BMW Group Veteran and University of Michigan Professor Bring Decades of Expertise in Automotive Electronic Systems and Battery Modeling and Control to Chip-on-Cell Technology Pioneer

EDINBURGH, Scotland, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dukosi Ltd, the technology company revolutionizing the performance, safety and sustainability of battery systems, today announced former BMW executive Stefan Juraschek and Dr Anna Stefanopoulou, William Clay Ford Professor of Technology in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, will join Bob Galyen on the Dukosi Technical Advisory Board (TAB). Stefan Juraschek brings decades of experience leading research and development (R&D) in automotive electric/electronic products and processes at the global automotive brand. Dr Stefanopoulou who is a renowned researcher in the field of electrochemical processes brings a wealth of knowledge in battery modeling and control to improve safety in battery systems used in electric mobility and energy storage applications. Dukosi also announced Joel Sylvester, Founder and CTO of Dukosi, will become Chair of the Technical Advisory Board.

"We are excited to welcome Stefan and Anna to the Dukosi Technical Advisory Board," said Mark Pinto, CEO of Dukosi. "Anna's deep understanding of battery chemistries and modeling will help build our product roadmap of cell monitoring solutions that provide unparalleled safety as the industry moves toward higher energy density batteries. Stefan's extensive experience driving R&D programs at BMW Group broadens the TAB's expertise with automotive know-how gained from his more than 30 years' tenure in the development programs at the German multinational manufacturer of luxury vehicles. Not only are they both well-known and respected by peers in industry and research, both share Dukosi's commitment to enabling an electric future and building a circular and sustainable battery value chain."

Stefan Juraschek is an automotive industry veteran with more than three decades of experience in managing electric and electronic systems design and development for several vehicle programs at BMW Group. Over the course of his career at BMW, he has been responsible for managing the development of BEV and hybrid electric powertrains and the associated components, Electric/Electronic architectures, software development and system integration and test. He has held multiple vice president (VP) roles, including VP R&D Driving Dynamics, VP R&D Powertrain where he was also responsible for cell, battery and BMS development, and most recently VP R&D Electric/Electronic.

Dr Anna G Stefanopoulou is the William Clay Ford Professor of Technology and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan. Dr Stefanopoulou is a celebrated researcher in the field of battery modeling and control with focus in electrochemical processes and improving safety in battery systems. She received Masters degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Michigan. Dr Stefanopoulou has been recognized as a Fellow of three different societies; the ASME (2008), IEEE (2009), and SAE (2018). She has co-authored a book, has 20 US patents, and more than 250 publications (5 of which have received awards) on estimation and control of internal combustion engines and electrochemical processes such as fuel cells and batteries.

About Dukosi

Dukosi develops revolutionary technologies that dramatically improve the performance, safety, and efficiency of battery systems, and enable a more sustainable battery value chain. The company provides a unique cell monitoring platform based on chip-on-cell technology and C-SynQ communications protocol for electric vehicles (EV), industrial transportation and stationary battery energy storage markets. Headquartered in Edinburgh, UK, Dukosi has a global footprint with locations in USA, Asia and Europe.

For more information, please visit www.dukosi.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dukosi-expands-technical-advisory-board-with-appointment-of-stefan-juraschek-and-dr-anna-stefanopoulou-as-advisors-302012439.html
Netherlands-based patients treated with the latest generation of Vivasure's next-generation system in the ELITE Study

Vivasure Medical, a company pioneering novel fully absorbable technology for percutaneous vessel closure, today announced the first patient treated with PerQseal Elite, the latest generation of the company's fully absorbable large-hole closure system. The first successful implants were completed by Prof. Nicolas Van Mieghem, M.D. Ph.D., at Erasmus University Hospital in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as part of the company's ELITE Study-a prospective, multi-center, single-arm clinical study evaluating the safety and efficacy of PerQseal Elite.

PerQseal Elite leverages the legacy PerQseal system's excellent safety profile and ease of use. The PerQseal Elite system was designed to allow for faster delivery, improved performance in calcium, and treatment of large-hole venous procedures, such as transcatheter mitral valve repair and replacement. PerQseal is the first sutureless, fully absorbable synthetic implant for large-bore vessel punctures. It's placed from inside the vessel, making deployment simpler and more controlled than conventional closure techniques.

"Fast and precise vessel closure is a crucial, final component of large-bore arterial access procedures. Clinicians must act quickly to mitigate the risks of unnecessary and potentially life-threatening bleeding," said Professor Van Mieghem, principal investigator of the ELITE Study. "The new anchoring system in the PerQseal Elite system holds immense promise for helping with acute performance, and I look forward to continuing the work to evaluate its performance for patients."

Large-hole arterial access is required for clinicians to perform percutaneous cardiovascular procedures, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), thoracic and abdominal endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR and EVAR), and the use of a cardiac assist device (CAD). The current approach to large-diameter arterial closure is a surgical repair or the use of suture- or collagen-based closure devices. Both can result in major vascular complications, such as vessel distortion at the closure site, which may lead to stenosis, thrombus formation or abrupt closure.

"We're looking forward to gathering data about the latest generation of the PerQseal system as we continue to innovate and add to our product pipeline," said Andrew Glass, Chief Executive Officer of Vivasure Medical. "We're grateful to Professor Van Mieghem for his support in conducting the ELITE Study as we continue making progress toward our goal to enable safe and effective advanced structural and percutaneous cardiovascular therapies."

The ELITE Study will enroll up to 120 patients in up to 12 European investigational sites. Completion of the study is expected in 2024. The company continues to enroll patients for its Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical study for PerQseal and PerQseal+ in the United States.

About Vivasure Medical

Based in Galway, Ireland, Vivasure is focused on the development of advanced polymer implants and delivery systems, primarily focused on minimally invasive vessel closure in cardiology, interventional radiology and vascular surgery. Vivasure operates a fully integrated R&D and ISO 13485 certified manufacturing facility and is backed by leading international medtech investors. For more information, please visit www.vivasuremedical.com.

The PerQseal is not available for sale in the United States.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212611041/en/

Contacts:

Jenna Kane

Health+Commerce

jennakane@healthandcommerce.com

480.388.9587
Using Data from PitchBook, COMPLY Outlines the Evolution of Private Equity Deal Activity Involving Investment Advisers and Broker-Dealers, Assessing the Impact of Dynamic Regulatory and Tech Environment on Industry Investment Trends

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- COMPLY, the global market leader of compliance software, consulting and education resources for the financial services sector, today published a comprehensive report on the use of private investments by private equity firms, investment advisers and broker-dealers in a time of emerging regulation and technologies. The report was created in collaboration with PitchBook, the leading resource for comprehensive data, research and insights spanning the global capital markets.

"Regulatory-Driven M&A: Why New Rules Means New Deals for Financial Firms" is a deep-dive into recent private equity deals and M&A activity involving advisory firms and broker-dealers, which assesses whether current deal strategy may be a result of increasing regulations and rulemaking. According to data featured in the report, Private Equity deal activity with investment adviser and broker-dealer participation surged to $61.8 billion across 210 deals in 2022. The same year, SEC-registered firms contended with new compliance requirements from the SEC's Marketing Rule.

The report, which outlines market trends, as well as the impact of both regulatory and technological evolution, provides analysis regarding the growth of Regtech solutions and details expectations for the years to come.

Report highlights include:

Private equity deal activity with investment adviser and broker-dealer participation

Evolution of investment adviser and broker-dealer M&A activity and deal trends

Impact of broadening regulatory regimes and advancing technology

Analysis of recent trends and challenges, evaluating cryptocurrency as a case study for the evolving landscape

Growth of Regtech adoption within the financial industry

Q&A with COMPLY Chief Regulatory Officer John Gebauer

"Given recent regulatory trends, firms will continue to be faced with increasing compliance costs in the coming years. For much of the past few years, consolidation has been an effective strategy to spread the burden across a larger base. Today, regulatory technology solutions offer an alternative strategy and firms must take action, assessing how to best position themselves to proactively adapt with this regulatory evolution," said John Gebauer, COMPLY's Chief Regulatory Officer. "Our new report provides detailed, data-supported insights about the dynamics of the industry as well as the resulting impact on M&A activity. From my point of view, it's clear that as we all broach the next chapter of regulatory oversight, the foundational technology used by firms will become increasingly paramount in achieving the heightened levels of compliance required by regulatory bodies."

The report is now available for download.

COMPLY will also host a webinar on December 12 from 2-3 p.m. Eastern, featuring COMPLY Chief Regulatory Officer John Gebauer and PitchBook Representative Annemarie Donegan. The webinar will cover the report's findings, assessing how regulatory trends have impacted private equity deals and M&A strategy. Following the live airing, the webinar will be available on demand. Registration is open now.

About COMPLY

As a global market leader in regulatory compliance solutions, COMPLY combines the power of regulatory technology, services and education to empower Chief Compliance Officers (CCOs) and compliance professionals to easily navigate the regulatory landscape. COMPLY enables firms to scale their growth, while remaining vigilant in their compliance efforts by providing solutions designed to manage the burden of complex compliance tasks. Our deep bench of industry expertise - which includes expansive knowledge in technology enablement and regulatory compliance protocols and processes from our product portfolio offerings ComplySci, RIA in a Box and NRS - supports more than 7,000 clients, including investment management firms, private equity firms, hedge funds, broker-dealers, registered investment advisers and other financial service sector participants.

COMPLY continually supports clients in their work to proactively address core compliance challenges - minimizing risk, addressing critical priorities and meeting new demands as the industry evolves and the firm scales.

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DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Solitario Resources Corp. ("Solitario") (NYSE American:XPL)(TSX:SLR), a gold and zinc exploration company with projects in North and South America, today reported that the U.S. Forest Service published its environmental assessment and draft decision of a Finding Of No Significant Impacts ("FONSI") on Solitario's proposed Golden Crest drilling program in South Dakota. This important decision moves the permitting process forward towards the final steps in acquiring drilling approval.

Chris Herald, President and CEO of Solitario stated, "We are pleased that the U.S. Forest Service, after careful analysis, including consideration of all stakeholder comments, reached the decision that our proposed drilling program does not result in significant impacts on the environment. Our proposed drilling program was carefully planned with all drilling activities situated on previously disturbed areas of past timber harvesting. Several additional administrative steps remain before final permit decisions will be forthcoming, however, we consider this decision to be the most important milestone before final approval."

About Solitario

Solitario is a natural resource exploration company focused on high-quality Tier-1 gold and zinc projects. The Company is traded on the NYSE American ("XPL") and on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("SLR"). In addition to its South Dakota property holdings, Solitario holds a 50% joint venture interest (Teck Resources 50%) in the high-grade Lik zinc deposit in Alaska and a 39% joint venture interest (Nexa Resources holds the remaining 61% interest) on the high-grade Florida Canyon zinc project in Peru. Solitario is carried to production through its joint venture arrangement with Nexa. Solitario's Management and Directors hold approximately 9.3% (excluding options) of the Company's 79.1 million shares outstanding. Solitario's cash balance and marketable securities stand at approximately US$10.0 million. Additional information about Solitario is available online at www.solitarioresources.com.

Solitario has a long history of committed Environmental, Social and Responsible Governance ("ESG") of its business. We realize ESG issues are also important to investors, employees, and all stakeholders, including communities in which we work. We pledge to operate our business in a manner that supports environmental and social initiatives and responsible corporate governance. Importantly, we select joint venture partners that not only value the importance of ESG issues in the conduct of their business on our joint venture projects but are leaders in the industry in this important segment of our business.

For More Information Please Contact:

Christopher E. Herald

President & CEO

(303) 534-1030, Ext. 14

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (and the equivalent under Canadian securities laws), that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. They are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and address activities, events or developments that Solitario expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, and are based on current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's expectation of the projected timing and outcome of engineering studies; expectations regarding the receipt of all necessary permits and approvals to implement an exploration plan, if any, at any of its mineral properties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, risks relating to risks that Solitario's and its joint venture partners' exploration and property advancement efforts will not be successful; risks relating to fluctuations in the price of zinc, gold, lead and silver; the inherently hazardous nature of mining-related activities; uncertainties concerning reserve and resource estimates; availability of outside contractors, and other activities; uncertainties relating to obtaining approvals and permits from governmental regulatory authorities; the possibility that environmental laws and regulations will change over time and become even more restrictive; and availability and timing of capital for financing the Company's exploration and development activities, including uncertainty of being able to raise capital on favorable terms or at all; risks relating to the impacts of Covid-19 or similar variants; as well as those factors discussed in Solitario's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") including Solitario's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other SEC filings (and Canadian filings) including, without limitation, its latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The Company does not intend to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Solitario Zinc Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Mark-Bowes-Cavanagh has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Britannia's growing global consumer compliance and regulatory business





Mr. Bowes-Cavanagh will continue in his role as Chief Technical Officer of Britannia and Managing Director of Britannia's subsidiary, Advanced Development and Safety Laboratories





Mr. Bowes-Cavanagh is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of commercial and technical experience in the consumer products testing, inspection, and compliance sector

Toronto, Ontario and London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - Britannia Life Sciences Inc. (CSE: BLAB) (FSE: L020) ("Britannia" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Bowes-Cavanagh as Chief Executive Officer of its Global Consumer Products Division. In this additional role, Mr. Bowes-Cavanagh will lead the integration and continued growth across Britannia's expanding consumer businesses.

Mr. Bowes-Cavanagh joined Britannia in 2020 as part of its acquisition of Advanced Development and Safety Laboratories Inc. ("ADSL"), a company which Mr. Bowes-Cavanagh founded in 2008. Mr. Bowes-Cavanagh will continue to lead ADSL, which will remain a core component of Britannia's consumer products business.

"Mark is a proven leader who has a track record of success in the consumer products sector. He has guided ADSL through a period of significant growth and expansion since its acquisition by Britannia," said Peter Shippen, CEO of Britannia Life Sciences. "Britannia is well positioned to accelerate its growth trajectory within the consumer products regulatory and compliance business, and I have confidence in Mark's ability to lead the business through this exciting next stage in our development."

"I am excited to be taking on an expanded role as CEO of Britannia's consumer products business as we continue to grow in this sector organically and through acquisition," said Mr. Bowes-Cavanagh. "I look forward to continuing to execute on our vision to become a leading global provider of formulation, testing and compliance services to the consumer products industry."

Consumer Products Growth Strategy

As CEO of the Global Consumer Products Division, Mr. Bowes-Cavanagh will be responsible for implementing Britannia's growth strategy across its consumer products business. Britannia's strategy includes both organic and through acquisition and expansion initiatives, and includes:

Integration and Cross-Selling: Britannia believes that there are significant opportunities to accelerate organic revenue growth through better integration of its marketing functions and cross-selling of its complementary service offerings across its consumer products businesses. Providing a broader range of services to existing customers allows Britannia to grow revenue with no incremental customer acquisition cost, while building deeper and more sustainable relationships with our customers.

Technology-Driven Margin Expansion: Britannia is focused on continuous improvement of its proprietary technology and deploying exciting new data-driven insights to improve customer outcomes. This investment in and adoption of new technologies has proven to increase efficiencies and materially increases margins, allowing Britannia to produce significantly higher net margins.

Accretive Acquisitions: Britannia continues to pursue the scaling of its business and broadening of its services by evaluating acquisitions and partnership opportunities with companies in a variety of global markets. This allows Britannia to diversify its client base while better serving existing customers as they move into new geographies. In addition to improving service levels for customers, Britannia's ability to improve the margins of acquired companies through technology-led efficiencies will result in these acquisitions being highly accretive.

US Expansion: Britannia also expects to continue building the global footprint of its consumer business by establishing de novo labs in selected geographic markets. The United States is perhaps the largest potential opportunity globally for cosmetics regulation as the recently enacted Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) establishes a new compliance framework on the cosmetics industry, including the requirement for U.S. manufacturers, packagers, and distributors to appoint a "responsible person". Through the establishment of a US office, Britannia is leveraging the services it currently provides in the UK and Europe, including "responsible person" and other regulatory services, to meet and exceed the US regulations being adopted later this year.

About Britannia Life Sciences Inc.

Britannia Life Sciences Inc. is a company focused on introducing cutting-edge technologies into the traditional laboratory and regulatory platforms to power data-driven insights to improve the outcomes of its customers. Britannia provides services to the consumer products sector included an integrated suite of services to assist companies along their product development journey. Britannia's services, including product formulations, safety assessments, analytical and microbiological testing, global compliance, and consumer evaluations are offered to companies ranging from multinationals to startups particularly in the cosmetics, food, and wellness industries. Britannia also provides geochemical testing and analysis to the natural resources industry through its subsidiary Britannia Mining Solutions. Britannia Mining Solutions operates a geochemical laboratory in the United States and is beginning the rollout of 12 PhotonAssay machines starting in Q4 2023. Britannia's head office is located at 120 Adelaide Street West, Suite 2400, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 1T1.

For inquiries or more information on Britannia's growing suite of product development, analytical testing, regulatory and compliance solutions across a range of industries, please visit https://britannia.life or contact:

Peter Shippen, CEO

Tel: +1 416 930 7711 or +44 738 744 7441

Email: peter@britannia.life

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190668
New data unveils top Generative AI sites, rankings of the most popular social media platforms, and most targeted industries by threat actors

Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), the leading connectivity cloud company, today published its fourth annual Year in Review, exploring global Internet insights and security trends, accompanied by a deeper dive on the most popular Internet services in 2023.

The Internet is one of, if not, the most ubiquitous aspect of modern life. Cloudflare's Year in Review revealed that in 2023 alone, there was a 25% increase in global traffic, with no signs of slowing. This growth underscores the dependency on Internet services to facilitate and underpin vital systems and tasks such as supporting global digital economies, enabling the operations of healthcare networks, maintaining business continuity for enterprises, and ultimately connecting people with their communities.

Some of the biggest highlights of 2023 include:

Most Popular Internet Service: Google came in first for the second year in a row, followed by Facebook (#2), Apple (#3), and TikTok (#4).

Google came in first for the second year in a row, followed by Facebook (#2), Apple (#3), and TikTok (#4). Most Popular Social Media Platform: Facebook came in first, beating out 2022 leader TikTok (#2), followed up by Instagram (#3) and Twitter/X (#4).

Facebook came in first, beating out 2022 leader TikTok (#2), followed up by Instagram (#3) and Twitter/X (#4). Most Popular Generative AI Service: OpenAI came in first for this emerging category, followed by Character AI (#2), Quillbot (#3), and Hugging Face (#4).

OpenAI came in first for this emerging category, followed by Character AI (#2), Quillbot (#3), and Hugging Face (#4). Most Targeted Industry: Threat actors most commonly launched attacks on Financial organizations, globally.

Threat actors most commonly launched attacks on Financial organizations, globally. Most Common Cyberthreats: Deceptive links and extortion attempts found in malicious email messages were the top two most leveraged attack types.

Deceptive links and extortion attempts found in malicious email messages were the top two most leveraged attack types. Internet Outages Observed: There were more than 180 Internet outages around the world in 2023 compared to over 150 in 2022 with many due to government-directed regional and national shutdowns of Internet connectivity.

"We all depend on the Internet, and Cloudflare's global network one of the largest in the world has evolved into a pillar of the critical infrastructure the digital world relies on," said Matthew Prince, CEO and co-founder at Cloudflare. "Our unique role on the Internet allows us to see the ebbs and flows of online popularity and emerging technology trends in real-time such as the boom in AI and accelerated global use of Starlink. It is our responsibility to be transparent and share the data and perspectives from reports like our Year in Review to help keep the online world more informed, resilient, and secure."

This data comes from Cloudflare Radar, a free tool that lets anyone view global trends and insights across the Internet. Radar is powered by data from Cloudflare's global network (one of the world's largest, spanning 300+ cities in 100+ countries), and aggregated and anonymized data from Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 public DNS Resolver, widely used as a fast and private way to browse the Internet.

To learn more about Cloudflare's Year in Review, please check out the resources below:

Blog: Cloudflare 2023 Year in Review

Blog: From Google to Generative AI: Ranking top Internet services in 2023

2023 Year in Review Microsite

About Cloudflare

Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET) is the leading connectivity cloud company. It empowers organizations to make their employees, applications and networks faster and more secure everywhere, while reducing complexity and cost. Cloudflare's connectivity cloud delivers the most full-featured, unified platform of cloud-native products and developer tools, so any organization can gain the control they need to work, develop, and accelerate their business.

Powered by one of the world's largest and most interconnected networks, Cloudflare blocks billions of threats online for its customers every day. It is trusted by millions of organizations from the largest brands to entrepreneurs and small businesses to nonprofits, humanitarian groups, and governments across the globe.

Learn more about Cloudflare's connectivity cloud at cloudflare.com/connectivity-cloud. Learn more about the latest Internet trends and insights at https://radar.cloudflare.com.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "explore," "plan," "anticipate," "could," "intend," "target," "project," "contemplate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," or "continue," or the negative of these words, or other similar terms or expressions that concern Cloudflare's expectations, strategy, plans, or intentions. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements expressed or implied in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Cloudflare's products and technology, Cloudflare's technological development, future operations, growth, initiatives, or strategies, and comments made by Cloudflare's CEO. Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks detailed in Cloudflare's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Cloudflare's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 2, 2023, as well as other filings that Cloudflare may make from time to time with the SEC.

The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. Cloudflare undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. Cloudflare may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in Cloudflare's forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on Cloudflare's forward-looking statements.

2023 Cloudflare, Inc. All rights reserved. Cloudflare, the Cloudflare logo, and other Cloudflare marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Cloudflare, Inc. in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. All other marks and names referenced herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212958958/en/

Contacts:

Cloudflare, Inc.

Daniella Vallurupalli

Vice President, Head of Global Communications

press@cloudflare.com
A US-based patch management vendor is expanding into crucial EU regions and opening a data center in Frankfurt to ensure stringent GDPR compliance.

HOUSTON, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Action1 Corporation, a provider of the #1 risk-based patch management platform designed for distributed enterprise networks, today announced its expansion into the European market. This move follows a significant year-over-year growth in North America from 2022 to 2023. As a part of its expansion, Action1 established a data center in Germany, Frankfurt.

In light of the growing challenge for European companies to proactively address vulnerabilities and thwart ransomware threats, Action1's entrance into the European market is timely. Statista reports that organizations take up to 290 days to patch vulnerabilities, leaving a window of opportunity for cyberattacks. The European Council has identified ransomware as a significant EU cyber threat, with 60% of affected organizations considering ransom payments.

Action1 is set to introduce its modern cloud-native platform to European organizations, enabling them to effectively identify, prioritize, remediate vulnerabilities, and improve their security posture.

Key Highlights:

Local Presence. The company is establishing a presence in the UK, France, and the DACH region, aiming to be closer to its European clients and their needs.

The company is establishing a presence in the UK, France, and the DACH region, aiming to be closer to its European clients and their needs. European Data Center. In line with Action1's commitment to data privacy, the company has established a facility in Frankfurt, Germany, to help ensure that customers handling sensitive data meet the stringent GDPR standards and ensure data residency and sovereignty.

In line with Action1's commitment to data privacy, the company has established a facility in Frankfurt, Germany, to help ensure that customers handling sensitive data meet the stringent GDPR standards and ensure data residency and sovereignty. Enhanced Support. European customers will benefit from personalized support, available 24/7 in their time zones.

"We are excited to bring our proven expertise in vulnerability remediation to European organizations and assist them in staying ahead of emerging threats," says Mike Walters, President and co-founder of Action1. "In the future, we plan to strengthen our presence within the EU market by expanding further, hiring additional personnel, and growing our partner network."

About Action1 Corporation

Action1 is the #1 risk-based patch management platform for distributed networks trusted by thousands of global enterprises. Action1 helps to discover, prioritize, and remediate vulnerabilities in a single solution to prevent security breaches and ransomware attacks. It automates patching of third-party software and operating systems, ensuring continuous patch compliance and remediation of security vulnerabilities.

The company was founded by cybersecurity veterans Alex Vovk and Mike Walters, who previously founded Netwrix, which TA Associates acquired.

Learn more at www.action1.com .

Media contact: press@action1.com .

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DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a day of active discussions at the Shaping the Future of Shipping: Delivering a Net Zero World summit on 10 December, a course was set to deliver on the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) net zero strategy. The industry initiative brought together over 60 organisations to discuss tangible solutions to meet the ambitious net zero targets by or around 2050.

Over 300 leaders, that included over 30 nationalities from across the world, from the entire energy-maritime value chain convened, to work together to deliver a robust regulatory outcome at the IMO negotiations in March 2024 at MEPC81. The summit built on the discussions that have taken place throughout COP28, to determine ambitious solutions to advance infrastructure, fuel availability and financing.

Emanuele Grimaldi, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping, opened the summit saying:

"Decarbonisation is bigger than any one industry or government but what is clear is that to be successful in meeting our climate targets the world will need shipping. We know that there are always announcements and noise here at COP meetings, but beyond the razmataz there are detailed negotiations and talks. This is what today was about."

Melina Travlos, President, Union of Greek Shipowners and Chair, Neptune Shipping Lines, said in the keynote address:

"Today at this summit we are called to meaningfully address the challenges ahead and look to seize the opportunity. And it is a unique opportunity, not only to shape a sustainable future for shipping, but also to play a defining role in helping the whole global economy accelerate towards net zero Collaboration, determination, and commitment from all of us are key to successfully bringing effective decarbonisation within our grasp."

Arsenio Dominguez, International Maritime Organization Secretary General Elect, said during the Summit:

"Yes, we have the IMO Strategy, it was a great achievement last July. But it is what comes next, what are we going to start doing to make that a reality? At IMO we haven't stopped. We are already carrying out the impact assessment on the fleet and on States in order to provide the necessary information for the marine environment protection committee meetings that will take place next year and that will lead us to those measures that will be adopted by 2025, implemented in 2027 and that will make these objectives of the strategy a reality, both technical and economic measures."

Anders Hammer Strmman, Lead Author Transport 6th Assessment Report, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, delivered an informative presentation that stressed the urgency of the issue to decarbonise. He concluded:

"There is hope. The options are available and the time for action is now. At the same time our synthesis report of most of this year provided a warning. The current pace and the scale of climate action are insufficient to tackle climate change. And as you shape the future of shipping remember that our choices will reverberate for hundreds even thousands of years.

The summit was structured to ensure that delegates had an opportunity to provide their insights and experiences, to better understand the challenges and to identify how to address the climate crisis. This was done in the context of the IMO's revised greenhouse gas strategy, updated climate science and increasingly dynamic energy and industrial transition policies.

Capt. Abdulkareem AlMessabi, Chairman, Emirates Shipping Association, said during his address to the delegates:

"It is the organisations that are sitting in this room today that hold the key in the future of shipping, and it is imperative that we tackle this head on from all angles by innovating and by developing and scaling next generation fuels, engines and vessels and the ability to carry new fuels like hydrogen, ammonia".

Addressing the delegates H.E. Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs, the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure said:

"The IMO 2023 strategy stands as a testament to our shared ambition outlining a course toward a greener and more sustainable maritime future. This strategy is not just a document it reflects our collective resolve to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and guide industry towards a more environmentally path. While the IMO 2023 GHG strategy sets a high bar, the time has come to translate this aspiration into a concrete action. Aspiring to change is no longer enough."

The summit was part of the COP28 presidency programme and hosted under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. The event was organised by a coalition of leading maritime industry bodies and coordinated by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), in partnership with the Emirates Shipping Association.

Notes to editors

To view the summit please click here.

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NALPES, FL / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Industrial Nanotech Inc. (OTC PINK:INTK) today announced that Stuart Burchill, the group's founding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer has decided to step down from his roles effective December 12, 2023, for health reasons. Craig Fischer will take over effective immediately as CEO of the Company and its subsidiaries, Syneffex, TalkingPaint, and Anaconda Insulation. Mr. Fischer will be joined by Jaime (Jay) Cruz, the former President of the Company, as CTO and Director of Operations. Mr Burchill will assist the Company in a technical capacity as a Consultant.

The Company also announced that 29.5 billion shares of the former CEO's common stock is will be retired and returned to treasury.

In addition. The company announce that the previously announced 1/2000 reverse split will not be executed by the Company.

Craig Fischer brings 30 years of experience and success working with public companies as an investor, shareholder, advisor, and is the former CEO of a public company

Jaime Cruz is a Six Sigma Black Belt and a Certified Lean Continous Improvement Trainer, and is a recognized leader in taking companies to their revenue and profitably potential implementing organizational discipline and integrity implementing policies and procedures that instill a culture of efficiency and a focus on continuous improvement. Mr Cruz is also recognized worldwide as scientist and leader in iCoatings and Energy Efficiency Industry. , having developed, the product that won the Million Cool Roof Challenge with team Indonesia on 2022.

Mr. Cruz was also invited as a guest speaker at UPI University, at their Global Warming mitigation meeting: "Collaborative Action on Climate Change Education." This program is organized in collaboration with the Architecture Study Program, University of Education Indonesia sponsored by BeCool Indonesia through a grant from the Climateworks Foundation, USA.

Safe Harbor Statement

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release includes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the impact of competitive products, the ability to meet customer demand, the ability to manage growth, acquisitions of technology, equipment, or human resources, the effect of economic and business conditions, and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel. The Company is not obligated to revise/update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

Contact: invest@industrial-nanotech.com

SOURCE: Industrial Nanotech Inc.

via PRISM Mediawire, LLC

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Legendary Skateboarder Tony Hawk, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Human Rights Activist Fallu Sowe, and Social Justice Artist Omaid Sharifi were honored by Philanthropist & Fashion Designer Diane von Furstenberg and Vital Voices President & CEO Alyse Nelson for their work in advancing gender equality.

New York, N.Y., Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To mark the 75th Anniversary of International Human Rights Day, this week Vital Voices Global Partnership proudly honored male allies who have shown remarkable courage and commitment to advocating for women's rights.

Philanthropist and Fashion Designer Diane von Furstenberg and Vital Voices Co-founder, President & CEO Alyse Nelson hosted the 10th Annual Voices of Solidarity Awards on Monday evening at the historic IAC building in New York City - just one day after the 75th Annual Human Rights Day. They honored Legendary Skateboarder Tony Hawk, U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Artist & Activist Omaid Sharifi, and Human Rights Activist Fallu Sowe.

Tony Hawk was recognized for championing girls in sports, particularly through his foundation, Skatepark Project, and working with Skateistan in Afghanistan.

Rep. Jimmy Gomez of California's 34th District was honored for championing equality for caregivers in U.S. national policies and for leading by example in creating the first-ever U.S. Congressional Dads' Caucus.

Omaid Sharifi, a pioneering artist and activist, was honored for his worldwide efforts to call attention to the oppression of Middle Eastern women and girls through his group, ArtLords, a global grassroots movement founded in Afghanistan to promote peace, women's rights, and social transformation through street art.

Fallu Sowe, a fearless human rights activist from The Gambia, was recognized for his work in providing critical care services to survivors of gender-based violence.



"For the last decade, it's been hugely encouraging to count more and more remarkable men as partners in this work. Men's voices are absolutely critical if we want to accelerate the pace of change - and prove that nothing is impossible," said Vital Voices Co-founder, President & CEO, Alyse Nelson.

"This year's honorees are incredible examples of solidarity in action. Each in their own way, they've decided to join the fight for gender equality - a fight that women have been leading for decades, especially the women leaders of Vital Voices," said Founder and Co-Chairwoman, DVF and Vital Voices Board Member, Diane Von Furstenberg.

Presenting the awards to this year's honorees were President & CEO of Equimundo Dr. Gary Barker, Ph.D., Zainab Husseini of Afghanistan's Skateistan, Vital Voices Board Chair Kate James, and Tunisian Human Rights Activist, Entrepreneur & Vital Voices Board Member Amira Yahyaoui.



Photo highlights of the event can be found here .

For more information about the event, contact: media@vitalvoices.org.

###

About Vital Voices Global Partnership

Now celebrating 26 years, Vital Voices Global Partnership has directly invested in more than 20,000 women leaders across 185 countries and territories since its inception in 1997. Driven by the universal truth that women are the key to progress in their communities and nations cannot move forward without women in leadership positions, Vital Voices has provided early support for leaders who went on to become Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, U.S. Youth Poet Laureates, prime ministers, award-winning innovators, pioneering human rights defenders and breakthrough social entrepreneurs, including Amanda Gorman and Malala Yousafzai. To advance and expand this work, in 2022 Vital Voices opened the doors to the world's first global embassy for women, the Vital Voices Global Headquarters for Women's Leadership. It is a first-of-its-kind space that allows for convening, innovation, planning, and action-all in the pursuit of serving women leaders who are taking on the world's greatest challenges.

Find Vital Voices Online:

Facebook: facebook.com/vitalvoices

Twitter: @vitalvoices

Instagram: @vitalvoices

LinkedIn: Vital Voices Global Partnership

Attachments


(3rd from Right) Fenglin Group Deputy General Manager Mr Pan Taishen and (2nd from Right) AcroMeta Executive Chairman Mr Levin Lee Keng Weng at the signing ceremony





Representatives from AcroMeta, LSI and Fenglin Group present at the event held at the German Centre Singapore

SINGAPORE, Dec 12, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - ACROMETA Group Limited ("ACROMETA", or the "Company" and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"), an established specialist engineering service provider in the field of controlled environments serving mainly the healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, research and academia sectors, today announced that its 70% owned subsidiary Life Science Incubator Holdings Pte Ltd ("LSI") signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement ("Agreement") with its partner Fenglin Healthcare Industry Development (Group) Co. Ltd. ("Fenglin Group").The Agreement follows an earlier MOU signed in November 2023 to further deepen their collaboration for the co-working laboratory space business in the People's Republic of China.The signing ceremony, which was held at the German Center Singapore, was part of a corporate access event which featured a presentation on the co-working laboratory space business, followed by a tour of the facilities for a first-hand look at the laboratory that is fully fitted with state-of-the-art equipment.China-incorporated Fenglin Group, the administrative arm of the Shanghai Xuhui government in charge of Life Sciences, aims to establish an integrated ecosystem of local and international stakeholders in Shanghai's Xuhui District to accelerate biopharmaceutical innovation and development.Fenglin Group will promote the co-working laboratory space with a focus on overseas biomedical science startups and SMEs planning to develop their business in China. On its part, LSI will use its existing business networks to recommend to Fenglin Group, Singapore and other overseas biomedical sciences companies that intend to have a business foothold in China and need co-working laboratory space.Mr Levin Lee Keng Weng, ACROMETA's Executive Chairman, said,"We extend a warm welcome to all our honoured guests, including the top Management of Fenglin Group. LSI and Fenglin will work closely together to fulfil the goals of our strategic cooperation in the co-working laboratory business.China's life sciences industry is an important part of China's 'Made in China 2025' strategy and its rapid growth has seen the birth of thousands of start- ups and SMEs in biotech, agritech, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices doing research and development to bring innovative products into the market. Our co-working laboratory space business will enable them to conduct their R&D without incurring high CAPEX to build the facilities."About ACROMETA Group Limited (SGX Stock Code:43F)ACROMETA (Previously known as ACROMEC Limited) is an established specialist engineering services provider with more than 25 years of experience in the field of controlled environments.The Group has, over the years, acquired expertise in the design and construction of facilities requiring controlled environments such as laboratories, medical and sterile facilities, and cleanrooms.ACROMETA's business is divided into three main business segments: (i) Engineering, procurement, and construction services, specialising in architectural, and mechanical, electrical, and process works within controlled environments; (ii) Maintenance and repair services of facilities and equipment of controlled environments and their supporting infrastructure. (iii) Co-Working Laboratory business; currently operates 6,500 square feet of co-working laboratory space at The German Centre in Singapore, serving SMEs and startups.The Group mainly serves the healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, research and academia, and electronics sectors. ACROMETA's customers include hospitals and medical centres, government agencies, research and development companies or agencies, research and development units of multinational corporations, tertiary educational institutions, pharmaceutical companies, semiconductor manufacturing companies, and multinational engineering companies.The Company has been listed on the Catalist Board of the Singapore Exchange since 2016. For more information, please visit www.acrometa.com.Media and Analysts Contact:ACROMETA Group LimitedMs. Cheah Lai MinChief Financial OfficerTel: +65 6415 0574Email: laimin.cheah@acrometa.comWaterbrooks Consultants Pte LtdMr. Wayne KooTel: +65 6958 8008 / +65 9338 8166Email: wayne.koo@waterbrooks.com.sgEmail: query@waterbrooks.com.sgThis media release has been reviewed by the Company's Sponsor, Evolve Capital Advisory Private Limited (the "Sponsor"). It has not been examined or approved by the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the "Exchange"), and the Exchange assumes no responsibility for the contents of this document, including the correctness of any of the statements or opinions made or reports contained in this document.The contact person for the Sponsor is Mr. Jerry Chua, 138 Robinson Road, #13-02 Oxley Tower, Singapore 068906, jerrychua@evolvecapitalasia.com.Source: AcroMeta Group LimitedCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Boldyn Networks and Roma Capitale have signed the agreement to build Roma5G, the city's first advanced 5G infrastructure, open to all mobile network operators

Project includes coverage of all metro lines, installation of more than 2200 small-cells, public Wi-Fi with 850 access points in 100 squares, installation of 1800 IOT sensors, and 2000 5G CCTV cameras for an increasingly safe city

New 5G infrastructure will be able to provide full connectivity in all of Rome's busiest locations, increase public safety, and enable smart services

Boldyn Networks will be working with all industry players for the benefit of all citizens and visitors to Rome

Project represents the importance of the Italian market for the expansion of Boldyn's presence in Europe

ROME, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boldyn Networks (Boldyn), one of the world's largest neutral host providers, today announced it signed a concession agreement with Roma Capitale, the city's municipality, to implement Roma5G. The ambitious project involves the construction, management, operation, and maintenance of a 5G and Wi-Fi infrastructure across Rome. It supports the Mayor's vision of making Rome a connected, digital, and sustainable smart city at the forefront of European cities.

Rome, a city of roughly three million citizens, will be technologically ready to host some 32 million visitors expected for the Jubilee 2025 celebrations. This is on top of the ~15 million tourists the city welcomes each year, who expect full connectivity to capture and share their special moments in real time.

The Roma5G project will be launched in the coming weeks. It will have a focus on safety and environmental sustainability, based on a small cell system that provides reduced energy consumption and low electromagnetic emissions.

It includes:

The coverage of all metro lines (A, B, C) and in particular 83 stations and 68 km of tunnels, in all frequency bands for 4G and 5G services.

The development of the passive infrastructure. Including 2200 signal propagation points for underlay coverage in 5G in the city, based on small cells, open to accommodate all MNOs.

The development of a free Wi-Fi network for the City of Rome with about 850 points of presence distributed in 100 squares (and adjacent streets) with high density of tourist flows.

The supply, installation, and management of about 1,800 IoT sensors and 2,000 high-resolution 5G cameras for the development of smart city solutions and land management/control.

The project, which provides for a 25-year concession, will integrate seamlessly with the aesthetics of the city and existing installed equipment.

There will be many benefits from the implementation of the project, including full connectivity in all the city's busiest locations, the increase in public safety through video surveillance systems and the enablement of a wide portfolio of digital services provided by the municipality (including free Wi-Fi, environmental monitoring sensors at major traffic points and others).

A high-capacity, high-availability, low-latency network is essential to implement smart services effectively and securely for the public and for the private sector. This project will be key to propel Rome towards becoming a true smart city.

Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome, said: "We are proud to be able to kick off one of the most strategically relevant projects for the future of our city. The collaboration with Boldyn Networks will allow the creation of a next-gen technological network 5G and Wi-Fi to enable the most advanced digital services. Thanks to this project, Rome will become one of the most advanced smart cities in Europe. We will also enable the city to achieve a reduction in electromagnetic emissions, leveraging a neutral technology open to all mobile operators."

"We are honoured to bring Boldyn Network's neutral host expertise to this important and cutting-edge project, implementing Roma Capitale's vision for a leading Smart City. The Roma5G project opens possibilities, working with the mobile operators, to benefit all Rome's citizens and visitors for years to come", said Andrew McGrath, Group Chief Commercial Officer of Boldyn Networks. "The Roma5G project represents the importance of the Italian market for the expansion of Boldyn in Europe."

Boldyn Networks is already behind advanced shared networks solutions in some of the world's major cities such as New York, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Hong Kong. The company is committed to bridging the digital divide through continued collaboration with industry partners and a special focus on public-private partnerships. In this context the Roma5G project joins the LinkNYC project, where Boldyn is enabling the largest public free outdoor Wi-Fi network in the United States; a long-term partnership with Transport for London as a central pillar of the city's 4G/5G underground connectivity and emergency services; and a 20-year partnership with Sunderland City Council to build a 5G advanced wireless infrastructure, creating the UK's most advanced smart city. This includes an extensive public Wi-Fi network, the development of one of the country's first 5G universities, and other use cases like smart sensors for safer roads.

-END-

About Boldyn Networks

Boldyn Networks is one of the world's largest neutral host providers, delivering the advanced shared network infrastructure needed for a smart, inclusive, and sustainable future. It brings together the combined scale and expertise of six* companies with a single purpose: to unlock the power of an interconnected future. From interconnected transit, venues and enterprises to smart cities and next-generation networks, Boldyn Networks enables new possibilities in the way people live, work and play. Our portfolio is harnessing fibre, advancing 4G/LTE, accelerating 5G, preparing for 6G-and looking beyond to the next breakthroughs, and global operations span the US, the UK, Ireland, Italy and Hong Kong. Boldyn Networks. Reimagine tomorrow. Transform today.

*Including BAI Communications in the Northern Hemisphere, Mobilitie, Signal Point Systems, Transit Wireless, Vilicom and ZenFi Networks.

www.boldyn.com . LinkedIn: Boldyn Networks

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Mandi Tomazic's patient-centered approach builds on Bux Pain Management's goal of providing its patients with innovative and holistic care

LEXINGTON, KY / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Nurse practitioner Mandi Tomazic has joined Bux Pain Management, a leading provider of patient-centered pain management solutions to those living in Lexington, Cynthiana, Maysville, and Danville, Kentucky.

Mandi Tomazic is a highly skilled and compassionate board-certified family nurse practitioner. She brings a wealth of expertise to Bux Pain Management, holding a Master's degree in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Her unique background allows her to approach patient care with a holistic perspective, focusing not only on the physical symptoms but also addressing the psychological and social needs of each individual under her care.

"I'm thrilled to leverage my passion and expertise for individualized care at Bux Pain Management. I believe that pain management is not only about treating the symptoms, but also about addressing the underlying causes and improving the quality of life of the patients," said Mandi Tomazic. "Joining the Bux Pain Management practice aligns perfectly with my philosophy of care, which focuses on the whole patient, health promotion, and disease prevention, rather than just disease treatment."

With a diverse background in primary, urgent, and emergency medicine, Mandi brings a broad range of experience to practice. This varied experience enables her to integrate a balance of physical, psychological, and social considerations, allowing her to think innovatively and craft individualized treatment regimens that contribute to overall wellness.

Dr. Anjum Bux, esteemed owner of Bux Pain Management, expresses his enthusiasm for Mandi joining the team. "We are delighted to welcome Mandi Tomazic to Bux Pain Management. As our practice continues to grow and evolve, Mandi's commitment to patient-centered care will undoubtedly enhance our ability to provide comprehensive and effective pain management solutions to our patients."

Bux Pain Management is known for its emphasis on nonsurgical and minimally invasive treatments for chronic pain, providing patients with innovative and compassionate care that aims to improve their quality of life. Mandi's addition signifies the practice's dedication to expanding its team with professionals who share a commitment to excellence in patient care.

Mandi has already started seeing patients in Lexington, Cynthiana, Maysville, and Danville, Kentucky locations and is looking forward to continuing to establish relationships built on trust and quality care. Her passion for delivering patient-centered services aligns seamlessly with the core values of Bux Pain Management.

For more information about Bux Pain Management and the comprehensive pain management services they offer, please visit www.buxpainmanagement.com or contact their office at +1 859-695-2111 to schedule an appointment.

About Bux Pain Management:

Bux Pain Management is a trusted provider of patient-centered pain management solutions in Lexington, Cynthiana, Maysville, and Danville, Kentucky. Led by Dr. Anjum Bux, the practice is committed to offering nonsurgical, minimally invasive treatments for chronic pain, with a focus on improving the overall well-being of its patients.

Contact Information:

Mashal Thariani

Marketing Manager

mashal@mashmarketing.digital

SOURCE: Bux Pain Management

View the original press release on accesswire.com
DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As per the latest report published by Kings Research, the global Wearable Healthcare Devices Market size was recorded at USD 26.85 billion in 2022 and is estimated to grow to USD 146.89 billion by 2030, registering a robust CAGR of 27.40% over the forecast period of 2023-2030. The use of wearable devices in the healthcare industry has seen significant growth due to technological advancements and the growing interest among individuals to actively track and manage their health. In response to these trends, players in the healthcare sector are making substantial investments in the creation of innovative wearables such as Fitbit, biosensors, and hearing aids, to meet the increasing demand for personalized health monitoring.

Wearable healthcare devices are becoming increasingly prevalent as individuals seek to proactively manage their health and gain immediate insights into their well-being. These devices, which are worn on the body, employ sensors and advanced technology to monitor vital signs, track activity levels, and collect a variety of health-related data. Their ability to provide continuous monitoring and early detection of health problems presents a promising opportunity for revolutionizing healthcare. Whether it's for personal health management or assisting medical professionals, wearable healthcare devices offer customized suggestions for various applications such as business writing and academic assignments.

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Trending Now: DuPont Teams Up with STMicroelectronics (ST) to Pioneer a Smart Wearable Concept for Biosignal Monitoring

In November 2023, DuPont revealed a collaboration between DuPont Liveo Healthcare Solutions and STMicroelectronics, a semiconductor technology leader. Together, they aim to create an innovative smart wearable for remote biosignal monitoring.

Liveo research teams, committed to innovation, partner globally with suppliers and manufacturers, crafting solutions for diverse medical applications. One outcome of this collaboration is the DuPont Liveo Smart Biosensing Patch prototype, which features multifunctional microsensors and control electronics in a flexible DuPont-designed patch for seamless patient-doctor data sharing.

Competitive Landscape

Major companies operating in the wearable healthcare devices market are prioritizing partnerships in order to stay ahead of the competition. For instance, in January 2023, Masimo and Royal Philips extended their collaboration to leverage the advanced health-tracking features of the Masimo W1 watch for improved patient monitoring in home telehealth. Through the integration of the W1 watch with Philips's enterprise patient monitoring ecosystem, the companies aim to boost telehealth and telemonitoring capabilities.

Prominent players in the global wearable healthcare devices market include:

Apple Inc

Alphabet Inc

Xiaomi

Sony Corporation

Samsung Electronics Co

Huawei Technologies Co

OMRON Healthcare, Inc.

Koninklijke Philips N.V

Amazon.com, Inc.

Withings

Medtronic

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The global Wearable Healthcare Devices Market is segmented as:

By Product

Trackers

Smartwatches

Smart Clothing

Hearables

Others

Launch of Innovative Tracking Products to Track Activities to Aid Market Growth

On the basis of product, the trackers segment accounted for the largest share of the global wearable healthcare devices market in 2022. The growth of the segment is mainly attributable to the launch of innovative wrist-worn products such as the Fitbit Ace 3 Next Generation Activity and Sleep Tracker for kids in March 2021. These innovative wrist-worn devices not only provide a fun way to engage in physical fitness but also include features such as heart rate monitoring, skin temperature tracking, and step counting. As a result, this is anticipated to significantly contribute to segment expansion.

Furthermore, major players in the industry such as Samsung and Apple have created mobile applications that seamlessly connect with wearable medical devices, enabling users to digitally document and access their health information. These intuitive applications are motivating individuals to actively participate in consistent health monitoring, which, in turn, is facilitating the growth of the segment.

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By Application

Remote Patient Monitoring

Home Healthcare

Sports and Fitness

Demand for Home Healthcare Solutions to Surge Due to Growing Elderly Population

In terms of application, the home healthcare segment led the wearable healthcare devices market in 2022 as a result of the increasing elderly population. The growing geriatric population is leading to an increase in the occurrence of diseases that commonly affect this age group, resulting in a greater demand for healthcare solutions. Additionally, there is a growing requirement to discover cost-effective strategies for managing healthcare expenses.

In response to these challenges, businesses are actively exploring inventive approaches and solutions that can streamline resources and reduce costs while still delivering high-quality care. By tackling these issues and taking advantage of market opportunities, companies can position themselves for success, thereby supporting the overall growth of the market.

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Growing Adoption of Wearable Healthcare Devices to Promote Better Patient Outcomes

The adoption of wearable medical devices enables healthcare providers to offer personalized and proactive healthcare solutions that promote better patient outcomes. These devices enable continuous monitoring of vital health parameters, facilitating early detection of potential health issues and allowing for appropriate intervention and treatment. Furthermore, wearable devices offer individuals the ability to take charge of their health data and actively engage in managing their own healthcare.

The increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses and the growing number of deaths present substantial obstacles for individuals and government entities alike. As a result, healthcare providers are embracing personalized care methods that encompass ongoing and virtual patient monitoring.

North America to Lead Global Wearable Healthcare Devices Market Due to Well-developed Healthcare Infrastructure

North America led the wearable healthcare devices market for wearable devices in 2022 and is anticipated to experience significant growth through the projection period. This growth can be attributed to its well-developed healthcare infrastructure and early acceptance of technology, which has facilitated the widespread adoption of wearable devices. Furthermore, the region's favorable regulatory environment and significant investments in research and development have greatly contributed to North America's dominant position in this market. The region's strong focus on innovation and commitment to enhancing healthcare outcomes through wearable devices have also solidified its role as a major player in the global wearable healthcare devices industry.

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Major Points from TOC:

Chapter 1 Introduction of the Global Wearable Healthcare Devices Market

1.1 Market Definition

1.2 Market Segmentation

1.3 Research Timelines

1.4 Limitations

1.5 Assumptions

Chapter 2 Executive Summary

Chapter 3 Research Methodology

3.1 Data Collection

3.1.1 Secondary Sources

3.1.2 Primary Sources

3.1.3 Research Flow

3.2 Subject Matter Expert Advice

3.3 Quality Check

3.4 Final Review

3.5 Bottom-Up Approach

3.6 Top-down Approach

Chapter 4 Global Wearable Healthcare Devices Market Outlook

4.1 Market Evolution

4.2 Overview

4.3 Market Dynamics

4.3.1 Drivers

4.3.2 Restraints

4.3.3 Opportunities

4.3.4 Challenges

4.4 Pricing Analysis

4.5 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.6 Value Chain Analysis

4.7 Macroeconomic Analysis

Chapter 5 Impact of Russia-Ukraine War

Chapter 6 Global Wearable Healthcare Devices Market, By Type

Chapter 7 Global Wearable Healthcare Devices Market, By Product

Chapter 8 Global Wearable Healthcare Devices Market, By Grade

Chapter 9 Global Wearable Healthcare Devices Market, By Application

Chapter 10 Global Wearable Healthcare Devices Market, By Distribution Channel

Chapter 11 Global Wearable Healthcare Devices Market, By Geography

Chapter 12 North America

Chapter 13 Europe

Chapter 14 Asia Pacific

Chapter 15Middle East & Africa

Chapter 16 Latin America

Chapter 17 Global Wearable Healthcare Devices Market Competitive Landscape

Chapter 18 Company Profiles

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About Us:

Kings Research stands as a renowned global market research firm. With a collaborative approach, we work closely with industry leaders, conducting thorough assessments of trends and developments. Our primary objective is to provide decision-makers with tailored research reports that align with their unique business objectives. Through our comprehensive research studies, we strive to empower leaders to make informed decisions.

Our team comprises individuals with diverse backgrounds and a wealth of knowledge in various industries. At Kings Research, we offer a comprehensive range of services aimed at assisting you in formulating efficient strategies to achieve your desired outcomes. Our objective is to significantly enhance your long-term progress through these tailored solutions.

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Increase in the adoption of laboratory centrifuge, numerous advances in laboratory centrifuges, increase in demand of blood component, and rise in awareness regarding diagnosis of disease in developing countries drive the growth of the global laboratory centrifuge market.

PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Laboratory Centrifuge Market by Product (Equipment and Accessories), Model (Benchtop Centrifuges and Floor-Standing Centrifuges), Rotor Design (Swinging Bucket Rotors, Fixed Angle Rotors, and Vertical Rotors), Application (Diagnostic, Microbiology, Cellomics, Proteomics, Genomics, Blood Component Separation, and Others), and End User (Hospitals & Clinical Laboratories, Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Companies, and Academic & Research Institutes): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032" According to the report, the global laboratory centrifuge industry generated $1.9 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to generate $2.9 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 4.1% from 2023 to 2032.

Request Sample of the Report on Laboratory Centrifuge Market Forecast 2032-

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Prime determinants of growth

Rise in prevalence of chronic and infectious diseases, technological advancement in laboratory centrifuge products, and rise in demand of blood components drive the growth of the global laboratory centrifuge market. However, the high cost of laboratory centrifuge is hampering the laboratory centrifuge market growth. On the contrary, the rise in launch of technologically advanced laboratory centrifuge and the increase in R&D activities are expected to offer remunerative opportunities for the expansion of the laboratory centrifuge market during the forecast period.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $1.9 billion Market Size in 2032 $2.9 billion CAGR 4.1 % No. of Pages in Report 380 Segments covered Product, Model, Rotor Design, Application, End User, and Region Drivers Rise in prevalence of chronic disease Rise in demand of blood component Technological advancements in laboratory centrifuge Opportunities Rise in R&D activities Restraints High cost of laboratory centrifuge

Economic Downturn Analysis: Impact of Recession in 2023 on the Laboratory Centrifuge Market

Startups and smaller businesses in the laboratory centrifuge sector, which often rely on loans or investments to fund their operations and expansion, may face challenges in obtaining affordable financing. This can hinder their ability to invest in R&D, product innovation, and market expansion.

However, the long-term potential for laboratory centrifuge market growth remains insignificant due to rise in prevalence of disease, increase in R&D activities, and surge in launch of laboratory centrifuge.

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The equipment segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on product, the equipment segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than three-fourths of the global laboratory centrifuge market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to the higher cost of laboratory centrifuge equipment and high adoption of laboratory centrifuge equipment. The accessories segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 5.2% from 2023 to 2032, owing to an increase in usage of accessories in research which further increases the demand of accessories of laboratory centrifuge.

The benchtop centrifuges segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on model, the benchtop centrifuges segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global laboratory centrifuge market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to high adoption of benchtop centrifuges and higher availability of benchtop centrifuges. The same segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 4.2% from 2023 to 2032 due to a rise in preference for benchtop centrifuges from lab technician and increase in R&D labs which prefer benchtop centrifuges.

The fixed angle rotors segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on rotor design, the fixed angle rotors segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly half of the global laboratory centrifuge market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to high adoption of fixed-angle rotors. In addition, the advantages of fixed-angle rotors are that they have a more compact design and are suitable for high-speed applications in smaller centrifuges.

The swinging bucket rotors segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 4.6% from 2023 to 2032 due to a rise in technological advancement in swinging bucket rotors and various advantages such as the swinging motion of the buckets helps to distribute the sample evenly along the sides of the tubes, resulting in more uniform pelleting.

The diagnostic segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on application, the diagnostic segment held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the global laboratory centrifuge market revenue, owing to wide applications of laboratory centrifuge technologies in diagnostic and quicker results offered by laboratory centrifuges while performing test. The blood component separation segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 5.7% from 2023 to 2032 and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period, owing to a rise in use of laboratory centrifuge in blood component separation and increase in demand of blood component.

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The hospitals & clinical laboratories segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on end user, the hospitals & clinical laboratories companies segment held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than half of the global laboratory centrifuge market revenue, owing to high adoption of laboratory centrifuges in hospitals & clinical laboratories and increase in awareness regarding diagnosis of diseases. The academic & research institutes segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 5.0% from 2023 to 2032 and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period, owing to increase in number of academic & research institutes which further uses laboratory centrifuge and surge in R&D activities in which laboratory centrifuge are used.

North America to maintain its dominance by 2032

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the global laboratory centrifuge market revenue, owing to robust healthcare infrastructure, presence of key players, and rise in healthcare expenditure. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 5.2% from 2023 to 2032 and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period, owing to a rise in prevalence of chronic infectious disease, unmet medical demands, and rise in R&D activities.

Leading Market Players: -

Agilent Technologies Inc.

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Danaher Corporation

Eppendorf SE

Kubota Corporation

Lepu Medical Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd.

NuAire, Inc.

QIAGEN N.V.

Sartorius AG

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global laboratory centrifuge market. These players have adopted different strategies such as adopted acquisition and product launch to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

Comprehensive Healthcare Industry Research Studies:

Europe In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Market- Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032

Coronary Stents Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032

Precision Medicine Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032

Viral Vector and Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032

About Allied Market Research:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. 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 domains. AMR offers its services across 11 industry verticals including Life Sciences, Consumer Goods, Materials & Chemicals, Construction & Manufacturing, Food & Beverages, Energy & Power, Semiconductor & Electronics, Automotive & Transportation, ICT & Media, Aerospace & Defense, and BFSI.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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Salsify receives highest possible scores in 12 criteria including product data enrichment and quality, syndication, API architecture and back-end extensibility, innovation and roadmap

BOSTON, Dec. 12, 2023, the Product Experience Management (PXM) platform empowering brand manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to win on the digital shelf, today announced it has been positioned as a "Leader" in The Forrester Wave: Product Information Management, Q4 2023 written by Principal Analyst Chuck Gahun. According to The Forrester Wave, "Salsify delivers on the promise of better product performance on commerce touchpoints. Salsify's vision centers on mastering multichannel data management, automation, and AI."



The report states, "Salsify's platform helps businesses reduce time to market with new products and excels at supplier data onboarding, enrichment of product information with up-to-date channel requirements, highly customizable workflows, product information visualization of below-the-fold content and ease of implementation. Reference customers spoke highly about Salsify, with one large B2C retail reference customer sharing, 'Since we transitioned to the Salsify PIM, our e-commerce business through Shopify has grown rapidly in the last 2 years. [Salsify is] one of the best partners I've had from a vendor standpoint and always interested in my opinion.' Salsify is a good fit for large enterprises looking to accurately activate their products on a multitude of global digital shelves."

Salsify received the highest possible scores in The Forrester Wave in the criteria of Supplier Onboarding Portal, Product Data Modeling and Search, Product Data Enrichment and Quality, Product Information Visualization, Workflows, Users & Rules, Syndication, API Architecture and Back-end Extensibility, Practitioner and Developer Support Community, Innovation, Roadmap, Adoption, and Partner Ecosystem.

"Winning the digital shelf poses complex operational and commercial challenges," said Rob Gonzalez, co-founder & CMO of Salsify. "Salsify's PXM platform provides the data centralization, connection, and automation needed to get products to market efficiently and in compliance with ever-changing downstream endpoints. Unlike legacy solutions on the market which focus on an outdated view of storing one version of product data in a PIM, almost like a glorified database, Salsify's PXM is designed for the new data management challenges imposed by the omnichannel world of the digital shelf, allowing for differentiated product experiences that are optimized for different channels and shoppers. It's why we are the digital shelf technology of choice for thousands of innovative brands worldwide, including Coca-Cola, Mars, and L'Oreal."

Salsify's unified PXM platform is natively built for an omnichannel world, giving businesses the ability to centralize and manage channel-specific requirements, the power to efficiently activate product content across the digital shelf, and the ability to manage the flow of data and work across teams. Unlike the fragmented solutions cobbled together primarily through acquisitions or third party partnerships, Salsify's capabilities are purpose-built, together, to enable maximum efficiency across all routes to market and continuous optimization for growth.

Read the complete "The Forrester Wave: Product Information Management, Q4 2023" report here .

About Salsify

Salsify helps thousands of brand manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in over 140 countries collaborate to win on the digital shelf. The company's Product Experience Management (PXM) platform enables organizations to centralize all of their product content, connect to the commerce ecosystem, and automate business processes in order to deliver the best possible product experiences across every selling destination.

Learn how the world's largest brands, including Mars, L'Oreal, Coca-Cola, Bosch, and ASICS, as well as retailers and distributors such as DoorDash, E.Leclerc, Carrefour, Metro, and Intermarche use Salsify every day to drive efficiency, power growth, and lead the digital shelf. For more information, please visit: www.salsify.com .

Media Contact:

Carolyn Adams, BlueRun PR

carolyn@bluerunpr.com
CHICAGO, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $0.4 billion in 2023 and is poised to reach $0.9 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 15.2% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The growth of this market is majorly driven by the high risk of growing awarrness and diagnosis of sleep apnea among patients and healthcare professionals. Furthermore, the poor compliance associated with CPAP is expected to drive the growth of the sleep apnea oral appliances market.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances Market"

150 - Tables

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Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $0.4 Billion Estimated Value by 2028 $0.9 Billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 15.2% Market Size Available for 2021-2028 Forecast Period 2023-2028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Product, Purchase Type, Gender, Age group, Distribution Channel and End User Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Poor compliance associated with CPAP Key Market Drivers Large pool of undiagnosed sleep apnea patients

The mandibular advancement devices segment is expected to account for the largest share in 2022.

Mandibular advamcement devices force the lower jaw forward and downwards slightly, which keeps the airway open. The device helps treat OSA by offering maximum anterior tongue space along with the retention of teeth movement. This segment is expected to dominate the global sleep apnea oral appliances market during the forecast period, driven by a rising patient preference for non-CPAP solutions due comfort and ease of use.

The fertility clinics segment held the largest market share in the sleep apnea oral appliances market.

By end user, the global sleep apnea oral appliances market is broadly segmented into home care settings/individuals, hospitals, and dental clinics. The large share of this segment can be attributed to factors such as the increasing number of sleep centers globally, the rise of number of sleep care devices for homecare settings offered by leading players.

North America dominates the global sleep apnea oral appliances market.

Based on the region, the sleep apnea oral appliances market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. The North American market is driven by high prevalence and diagnosis of sleep apnea in the region. Europe is the second-largest market for the sleep apnea oral appliances market due to the growing aging population in the region. Asia Pacific will observe high growth during the forecast period with its growing healthcare expenditure with improving accessibility to sleep clinics and treatment for sleep apnea in the region's countries.

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Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

1. Large pool of undiagnosed sleep apnea patients

Restraints:

1. Associated risks of oral appliances for obstructive sleep apnea treatment

Opportunities:

1. Poor compliance associated with CPAP

Challenge:

1. Expenses associated with customization of oral appliances

Key Market Players of Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances Industry:

Major players in the sleep apnea oral appliances market include SonmoMed (Australia), resMed (US), Whole You, Inc. (US), ProSomnus Sleep Technologies (US), and Vivos Therapeutics, Inc. (US).

Breakdown of supply-side primary interviews, by company type, designation, and region:

By Company Type: Tier 1 (40%), Tier 2 (50%), and Tier 3 (10%)

By Designation: C-level (48%), Director-level (37%), and Others (15%)

By Region: North America (56%), Europe (20%), Asia- Pacific (17%), and Rest of the World (7%)

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Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances Market Recent Developments:

In 2023, Vivos Therapeutics, Inc. (US) DNA appliance was granted 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (or FDA) as a Class II medical device in December 2022 for the treatment of snoring and mild to moderate OSA in adults.

In 2022, ResMed (US) acquired the German-based clinical, financial, and operational solutions provider MEDIFOX DAN (Germany) to drive leadership in out-of-hospital software solutions.

In 2021, SomoMed (Australia) conducted SomSUMMIT '21, which aimed to enhance research, education, and awareness of oral appliance therapy as a primary solution to successful OSA treatment.

Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances Market - Key Benefits of Buying the Report:

The report will help the market leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall sleep apnea oral appliance market and the subsegments. This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to position their businesses better and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. The report also helps stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provides them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

Analysis of key drivers (large pool of undiagnosed sleep apnea patients, growing awareness of effects of untreated sleep apnea, growing usage of oral appliance), restraints (high prices of customized oral appliances, alternative therapies and medications, risks associated with oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea), opportunities (growing demand for home sleep apnea tests, increasing focus on telemedicine, mHealth, and AI, poor compliance associated with CPAP), and challenges (complex referral pathways and long waiting periods) influencing the growth of the sleep apnea oral appliance market.

Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product & service launches in the sleep apnea oral appliance market.

Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets - the report analyses the sleep apnea oral appliance market across varied regions.

Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products & services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the sleep apnea oral appliance market

Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies and service offerings of leading players like SomnoMed (Australia), ResMed (US), and ProSomnus Sleep Technologies (US), among others in the sleep apnea oral appliance market strategies.

Related Reports:

Sleep Apnea Devices Market - Global Forecasts to 2028

Respiratory Care Devices Market - Global Forecasts to 2028

Pulse Oximeter Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

Patient Monitoring Devices Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

Home Healthcare Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

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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.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

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.

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Arizona Design-Build Firm Recognized in Six Global, National and Local Awards

CHANDLER, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / DBSI, a leader in retail transformation for the banking and healthcare industries, proudly announces a year of multiple recognitions that include finalist in the global Digital Signage Awards, Top 100 Chandler Companies, AZ Big 100, BCX Customer Experience Excellence Award, TCR Market Leader Award, and earning Certified Environmentally Responsible Contractor status. These honors highlight the firm's commitment to excellence in design-build, digital signage, banking equipment, customer service, and experiential marketing services.









"Being recognized across such diverse categories - from digital signage to environmental responsibility - highlights our commitment to simplifying the transformation process for our clients by having all the experts under one roof. It's a proud moment to showcase that we're not just meeting, but exceeding industry standards," says Jared Jones, VP of Growth, DBSI. "These awards are the icing on top to celebrate our team's efforts, and we look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of retail transformation."

DBSI's expertise in crafting leading customer-facing solutions was recognized globally as it was named a finalist in the 2024 Digital Signage Awards. This honor was for its transformative work with Amerant Bank, where DBSI reimagined a flagship branch to seamlessly blend advanced technology with a stunning, eye-catching design.

Closer to home, DBSI secured 44th place among the Top 100 Chandler Companies, a Chandler Chamber of Commerce initiative honoring businesses that drive the city's prosperity and local community. The complete list of ranked companies can be viewed in the 2023 edition of Chandler's Top 100 magazine.

Furthering its impact on Arizona's business landscape, AZ Big Media announced in December that DBSI was named in the 2024 AZ Big 100 editorial section of Arizona Commercial Real Estate (AZRE) magazine. This annually updated list features the 50 people and 50 companies that are shaping Arizona's business landscape in 2024. The inclusion in the AZ Big 100, one of the year's most-read features, recognizes DBSI's contributions in its Arizona backyard and beyond.

The 2023 Bank Customer Experience (BCX) Summit's BCX Awards, co-located with the Interactive Customer Experience (ICX) Summit, recognized DBSI in the Customer Experience Excellence Award for its work in creating an innovative mico-branch strategy with America's Credit Union. This strategy, detailed in America's CU case study, underscores DBSI's capability to deliver rapid, efficient, and impactful customer experiences through innovative micro-branch design.

Further adding to its achievements, DBSI was honored with the TCR Market Leader Award, recognizing its 25 years of proficiency in banking equipment solutions. In addition, DBSI earned its Certified Environmentally Responsible Contractor (CERC) Certification as part of its commitment to sustainable operating procedures.

In 2024, DBSI will showcase new updates to its Ideation Center, an experience center and innovations showroom located in its Chandler, Arizona, headquarters (more details are to follow).

For more information or to inquire about partnering with DBSI for your project, visit dbsi-inc.com or contact info@dbsi-inc.com.

Contact Information

Stephanie Holland

PR & Content Strategist

pr@dbsi-inc.com

480-320-0718

Related Files

DBSI Celebrates 25 Years of Leadership in Retail Transformation with Multiple Award Wins in 2023.pdf

SOURCE: DBSI

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DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aramco, one of the world's leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, today signed definitive agreements to acquire a 40% equity stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan Ltd. ("GO").

GO, a diversified downstream fuels, lubricants and convenience stores operator, is one of the largest retail and storage companies in Pakistan. The transaction is subject to certain customary conditions, including regulatory approvals.

The planned acquisition is Aramco's first entry into the Pakistani fuels retail market, advancing the Company's strategy to strengthen its downstream value chain internationally.

This transaction would enable Aramco to secure additional outlets for its refined products and further provide new market opportunities for Valvoline-branded lubricants, following Aramco's acquisition of the Valvoline Inc. global products business in February 2023.

Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, Aramco Downstream President, said: "Our second planned retail acquisition this year aligns with Aramco's downstream expansion strategy, with a clear path ahead for growing an integrated refining, marketing, lubricants, trading and chemicals portfolio worldwide. GO has a significant storage capacity, high-quality assets and growth potential, which will help launch the Aramco brand in Pakistan."

About Aramco

Aramco is a global integrated energy and chemicals company. We are driven by our core belief that energy is opportunity. From producing approximately one in every eight barrels of the world's oil supply to developing new energy technologies, our global team is dedicated to creating impact in all that we do. We focus on making our resources more dependable, more sustainable and more useful. This helps promote stability and long-term growth around the world. www.aramco.com

Disclaimer

The press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements relating to historical or current facts included in the press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give the Company's current expectations and projections relating to its capital expenditures and investments, major projects, upstream and downstream performance, including relative to peers. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim," "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "can have," "likely," "should," "could," and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the Company's control that could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the expected results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements, including the following factors: international crude oil supply and demand and the price at which it sells crude oil; the impact of pandemics or infectious diseases on business and economic conditions and on supply and demand for crude oil, gas and refined and petrochemical products; competitive pressure; climate change concerns and impacts; weather; cyclicity of gas, oil, refining and petrochemical sectors; terrorism and armed conflict; adverse economic or political developments; operational risks and hazards in the oil and gas, refining and petrochemicals industries; any significant deviation or changes in existing economic and operating conditions that could affect the estimated quantity and value of the Company's proved reserves; losses from risks related to insufficient insurance; the Company's ability to deliver on current and future projects; comparability amongst periods; the Company's ability to realize benefits from recent and future acquisitions, including with respect to SABIC; risks related to operating in several countries; the Company's dependence on its senior management and key personnel; the reliability and security of the Company's IT systems; litigation to which the Company is or may be subject; risks related to oil, gas, environmental, health and safety and other regulations that impact the industries in which the Company operates; risks related to international operations, including sanctions and trade restrictions, anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws and other laws and regulations; risks stemming from requirements to obtain, maintain, and renew governmental licenses, permits, and approvals; risks stemming from existing and potential laws, regulations, and other requirements or expectations relating to environmental protection, health and safety laws and regulations, and sale and use of chemicals and plastics; potential changes in equalization compensation received in connection with domestic sales of hydrocarbons; potential impact on tax rates if the Company does not separate its downstream business in a timeframe set by the Government of Saudi Arabia; risks related to Government-directed projects and other Government requirements, including those related to Government-set maximum level of crude oil production and target Maximum Sustainable Capacity (MSC); as well as the importance of the hydrocarbon industry to the Government; political and social instability and unrest and actual or potential armed conflicts in the regions in which the Company operates and other areas; interest and exchange rate fluctuations; risks arising should the Government eliminate or change the pegging of SAR to the U.S. dollar; and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the forward looking statements in this press release, as set forth in the Company's latest periodic reports filed with the Saudi Stock Exchange. For additional information on the potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted please see the Company's latest periodic reports filed with the Saudi Stock Exchange. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Company's present and future business strategies and the environment in which it will operate in the future. The information contained in the press release, including but not limited to forward-looking statements, applies only as of the date of this press release and is not intended to give any assurances as to future results. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to the press release, including any financial data or forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law or regulation. No person should construe the press release as financial, tax or investment advice. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements.

@aramco

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Regulatory News:

Pernod Ricard (Paris:RI), today proudly introduces ??The Chuan Pure Malt Whisky. Leading the way in a new category, this first-ever product of The Chuan celebrates the vision of Pernod Ricard to create a prestige malt whisky made in China. As from today, Pernod Ricard China will gradually start distributing the new product across the country through selective channels.

"The inauguration of The Chuan Distillery is the culmination of a pioneering adventure. We have blended the natural beauty of the Emeishan landscape in China with the skill and craftsmanship of our distillers to produce a whisky to be proud of. It will shape a new and unique experience for whisky enthusiasts for many years to come," said Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard.

"We are proud to put China on the world map of whisky by presenting this exceptional malt whisky of The Chuan," expressed Jerome Cottin-Bizonne, CEO of Pernod Ricard China, "As a leading international spirits group, we are committed to proactively responding to the burgeoning enthusiasm and diversified demands of Chinese consumers.

In addition to introducing The Chuan pure malt whisky to the market, Pernod Ricard also announces today the opening of the The Chuan Malt Whisky Distillery Experience Centre, on the grounds of the Emeishan distillery, which will provide visitors with a holistic tour experience, including an immersive introduction, a detailed demonstration of The Chuan whisky craftsmanship, tasting, gift shopping, and fine dining, featuring Sichuan fusion cuisine and local ingredients that complement the sophistication of the whisky.

Designed by award-winning China-based architectural studio Neri&Hu, the distillery is built with a timeless architecture that strikes a balance with the landscape and artistry embedded in whisky-making. The site also holds a permanent art installation "Fractal Structure Infinite Shan Shui" by Zhan Wang, one of China's most celebrated contemporary artists.

In line with Pernod Ricard's 2030 Sustainability Responsibility strategy, the site is making every effort to reduce carbon emissions by sourcing 100% renewable electricity, and to optimise and help preserve natural resources at every step. Moreover, with an investment of one billon RMB, Pernod Ricard will continue contributing to the high-quality development of Sichuan by underpinning local agriculture, whisky-making industry and tourism.

By its name and nature, The Chuan embodies the rich and layered terroir and local craftsmanship. In the unique terroir of Emei Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the year-round precipitation coupled with summer heat creates the exceptional environment for whisky making that increases the intensity of flavours with more evaporation. Chinese ingredients have been fused into high-standard whisky making, such as the use of both European and Chinese barley and the unique mastery of three types of oak from three continents that defines its complexity. Bourbon casks from America lead the elegant vanilla and fruity aroma, then the pronounced sweet notes from sherry casks of Spain, creating a rich and full-bodied whisky. Finally, the proprietary ?? Chinese Single Oak casks imbue The Chuan whisky with a long finish of sandalwood and mandarin peel on the palate. The timber is logged from northeast China's famed and protected Changbai Mountain in extremely few quantities and crafted into casks.

ENDS

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is a worldwide leader in the spirits and wine industry, blending traditional craftsmanship, state-of-the-art brand-building, and global distribution technologies. Our prestigious portfolio of premium to luxury brands includes Absolut vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine's, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur and Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagnes. Our mission is to ensure the long-term development of our brands with full respect for people and the environment, while empowering our employees around the world to be ambassadors of our purposeful, inclusive and responsible culture of authentic conviviality. Pernod Ricard's consolidated sales amounted to 12,137 million in fiscal year FY23.

Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code:FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices.

About Pernod Ricard China

In China, Pernod Ricard leads the way among all international spirits and wines groups with a strong distribution network across the country. Key brands such as Martell cognac, Chivas Regal and Royal Salute Scotch whiskies were introduced into the country over three decades ago. Since then, they have grown to become China's leading portfolio of imported spirits, along with other brands that joined Pernod Ricard in the past two decades. In China, Pernod Ricard owns one distillery and one winery THE CHUAN Malt Whisky Distillery in Emeishan, Sichuan Province and Helan Mountain Winery located on East Foothill of Helan Mountain in Ningxia.

Pernod Ricard maintains its strong commitment to contributing to China's sustainable development. As a responsible industry leader, the company has developed since many years responsible drinking campaigns and programmes to inform consumers and employees about the importance of enjoying the products responsibly. In recognition of its positive contribution, Pernod Ricard has received a significant number of awards in China.

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Arrow Benefits Group Celebrates Community Accolade Encouraging Diversity

PETALUMA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Arrow Benefits Group Senior Benefits Advisor Rosario Avila has been honored with the North Bay Business Journal's Diversity in Business Award. Avila is recognized as an outstanding diverse leader, working to empower the community in the North Bay. The award celebrates individuals whose contributions build community and a positive work environment where all people are represented and supported.

Avila has been involved in several local organizations such as Sonoma Family Meal, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, LatinX Hub, and Los Cien. In her role as the leader of Arrow's Spanish Language Division - Alianza - Avila brings her passion for community to the workplace. "I'm very humbled by this award," says Avila. "As the youngest child of immigrants, I saw firsthand how thoughtful communication among different people helps to limit misunderstandings. I'm so proud that Arrow understands this and works to ensure our clients receive culturally sensitive information." To learn about Avila and Arrow's diversity work, please visit https://www.arrowbenefitsgroup.com/spanish-language-division/ or call 707-799-9274.

Translating for a population and its language is more than just converting information; it takes a deeper understanding, re-interpretation, and communication of words and ideas. Avila understands this concept exceptionally well. She helped Arrow build its Spanish Division, Alianza, to do exactly that, allowing an entire diverse community to make the best use of its benefits and reduce financial losses for its clients - the program had been a win-win for employees and employers alike.

Avila's efforts to ensure equitable access to information have been recognized in the past. She has been nationally recognized as an Employee Benefits Advisor of the Year and received an Excellence in Advising Award. Avila was honored with the North Bay Business Journal Latino Business Leadership award in 2018.

"One of Arrow's goals is to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where our employees can grow, thrive, and be supported," says Joe Genovese, Arrow's CEO and Managing Principal. "This award is a great achievement for Rosario and the Arrow team at large."

About Arrow Benefits

For more than 30 years, Arrow has been a true partner to employers by delivering employee benefits expertise, service excellence, and strategic consulting designed to meet the unique needs of its clients. In 2019, Arrow Benefits Group co-founded Patriot Growth Insurance Services (PGIS), which is now one of the largest benefits consulting and brokerage networks in the country. Patriot and Arrow are aligned with TRUE Network of Advisors, a national collaboration of independent agencies and brokerages. Learn more at https://www.arrowbenefitsgroup.com/ or call 707-992-3780.

Be Social with Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrow-benefits-insurance-services/

Contact Information

Jenny Kaplan

JKPR

kaplan@jkaplanpr.com

415-342-2209

SOURCE: Arrow Benefits Group

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Intelligent Document Revolution

MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / DealPulse, Inc., a Maker5 Venture Studio company, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Matterhorn Transactions, Inc., the acclaimed provider of deal analytics to attorneys and financial professionals across the U.S., U.K., and Canada. Maker5's venture studio is a core component of its law firm innovation advisory and software development services business.





DealPulse, Inc.

www.dealpulse.law





Matterhorn Transactions, co-founded by a team including Mark Gerson, John Cooper, and Logan Beirne in collaboration with Goldman Sachs in 2011, initially developed its document analytics platform to quantify competitive market deal terms for Goldman. Working with attorneys at Kirkland & Ellis and Debevoise & Plimpton, the Matterhorn team built a system covering over 1,000 legal data points per deal, which LexisNexis then distributed as its MarketTracker product.

Today, Matterhorn powers components of Wolters Kluwer's popular M&A analytics suite, multiple digital publications for LexisNexis UK, and Law Street Media's deal articles. Additionally, Matterhorn provides bespoke content services for Wilson Sonsini, and has implemented its deal analytics platform at Holland & Knight to enable their attorneys to analyze private client deals as an internal proprietary "what's market" tool.

DealPulse applies AI-powered technology to enable firms to build structured data sets from their internal documents behind their own firewalls, eliminating concerns about sharing client data with third party cloud solutions. From customized league tables used for business development to comprehensive trend reports, attorneys harness the data DealPulse provides to increase competitiveness and profitability. For years, only a select few of the AmLaw 20 law firms could boast a comprehensive deal database that gave them a competitive edge in negotiating market terms. DealPulse enables law firms across the AmLaw 200 to offer this value proposition to their clients.

"This union will bring together the technology and attorneys to enable clients to know precisely the frequency, form, and language of transaction terms with their own proprietary deal databases," said Sanjay Kamlani, CEO of Maker5, "Under Logan's brilliant leadership, Matterhorn has worked with leading firms to build a multinational business processing both public documents as well as attorneys' client documents securely behind each firm's firewall."

Logan Beirne, co-founder and CEO of Matterhorn, as well as bestselling author and co-founder of Artusi Music, has been named CEO of DealPulse. Beirne said, "DealPulse's advanced AI capabilities will revolutionize how firms access their internal documents. What once cost us millions to process manually can now be accomplished for a small fraction of the cost and time. With this acquisition, our long-time clients will be able to harness the cutting-edge technology DealPulse offers."

"As the founder of Maker5 and co-founder of Pangea3, the Sequoia Capital portfolio company acquired by Thomson Reuters and more recently by EY Law, Sanjay has always had an eye for talent and pioneering legal industry market solutions," Mark Gerson continued. "We will see tremendous results as he works with Logan, an accomplished entrepreneur whose leadership has been pivotal to our success."

Contact Information

Logan Beirne

CEO

lbeirne@matterhorndata.com

2035453388

SOURCE: Maker5

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Regulatory News:

ACTICOR BIOTECH (FR0014005OJ5 ALACT) (Paris:ALACT), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing glenzocimab, an innovative drug for the treatment of cardiovascular emergencies, today discloses the total number of voting rights and shares as of November 30, 2023 (pursuant to Article L. 233-8 II of the French Commercial Code and Article 223-16 of the General Regulation of the French Financial Markets Authority).

Listing Place: Euronext Growth Paris

ISIN Code: FR0014005OJ5

Web site: acticor-biotech.com

Date Number of shares making

up the share capital Theoretical number of

voting rights (1) Number of voting

rights excluding

shares stripped of

voting rights (2) November 30, 2023 13.189.141 13.189.141 13.126.847

(1) In accordance with Article 223-111 of the AMF's General Regulation, this number of shares is calculated based on all shares carrying the right to vote, including those stripped of voting rights.

(2) The actual voting rights correspond to the total number of voting rights that can be exercised in a general meeting. They are calculated on the basis of the total number of voting rights attached to the total number of shares minus the shares without voting rights.

About ACTICOR BIOTECH

Acticor Biotech is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, a spin-off from INSERM (the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research), which is aiming to develop an innovative treatment for cardiovascular emergencies, including ischemic stroke.

The positive results of the phase 1b/2a study, ACTIMIS, confirmed the safety profile of glenzocimab and showed a reduction in mortality and intracerebral hemorrhage in the glenzocimab-treated group of stroke patients. The efficacy of glenzocimab is now being analyzed in an international Phase 2/3 study, ACTISAVE, with clinical results expected in Q2 2024.

In July 2022, Acticor Biotech was granted "PRIME" status by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for glenzocimab in the treatment of stroke. This designation will allow the company to strengthen its interactions and obtain early dialogues with regulatory authorities.

Acticor Biotech is supported by a panel of European and international investors (Mediolanum farmaceutici, Karista, Go Capital, Newton Biocapital, CMS Medical Venture Investment (HK) Limited, A&B (HK) Limited, Anaxago, and the Armesa foundation). Acticor Biotech is listed on Euronext Growth Paris since November 2021 (ISIN: FR0014005OJ5 ALACT).

For more information, visit: www.acticor-biotech.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212284539/en/

Contacts:

ACTICOR BIOTECH

Gilles AVENARD, MD

CEO and Founder

gilles.avenard@acticor-biotech.com

T.: +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13



Sophie BINAY, PhD

General Manager and CSO

Sophie.binay@acticor-biotech.com

T.: +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13

NewCap

Mathilde BOHIN Quentin MASSE

Investor Relations

acticor@newcap.eu

T.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 95

NewCap

Arthur ROUILLE

Media Relations

acticor@newcap.eu

T.: +33 (0)1 44 71 00 15
The event will highlight positive efficacy and good safety results from 111 patients with acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) treated with MaaT013 in the Early Access Program which have been presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting

Virtual KOL event will be held on Monday, December 18, 2023, at 6.00 pm CET/ 12.00 pm EST

Regulatory News:

MaaT Pharma (EURONEXT: MAAT the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company and a leader in the development of Microbiome Ecosystem TherapiesTM (MET) dedicated to enhancing survival of patients with cancer, announced that it will host a virtual KOL (Key Opinion Leader) event on data presented during the 2023 ASH annual meeting including efficacy and safety results for its lead drug candidate, MaaT013, currently in development for acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGvHD) and details on MaaT033, developed as an adjuvant therapy to improve patients' survival following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), on Monday, December 18, 2023, at 6:00 pm CET (12:00 pm EST).

The event will feature presentations from the Company's CEO and co-founder, Herve Affagard as well as the following KOLs:

Mohamad Mohty, M.D. , Ph.D., Professor of Hematology at Sorbonne University, and head of the Clinical Hematology and Cellular Therapy Department at Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France will comment on the positive data on MaaT013 presented for the Early Access Program; and

, Professor of Hematology at Sorbonne University, and head of the Clinical Hematology and Cellular Therapy Department at Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France will comment on the positive data on MaaT013 presented for the Early Access Program; and Florent Malard, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Hematology at the Saint-Antoine Hospital and Sorbonne University, Principal investigator of Phase 2b trial evaluating MaaT033 in patients receiving allo-HSCT, will provide detailed information on the ongoing trial.

Virtual KOL Event Details

Date time: Monday, December 18, 2023, at 6:00 pm CET (12:00 pm EST).

Monday, December 18, 2023, at 6:00 pm CET (12:00 pm EST). Registration link to access the event: https://app.livestorm.co/newcap-1/maat-pharma-presentation?type=detailed

https://app.livestorm.co/newcap-1/maat-pharma-presentation?type=detailed A replay will be made available on the Company's website for at least 90 days.

About MaaT Pharma

MaaT Pharma, a clinical stage biotechnology company, has established a complete approach to restoring patient-microbiome symbiosis in oncology. Committed to treating cancer and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a serious complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, MaaT Pharma launched, in March 2022, an open-label, single arm, phase 3 clinical trial in patients with acute GvHD (aGvHD), following the achievement of its proof of concept in a phase 2 trial. Its powerful discovery and analysis platform, gutPrint, enables the identification of novel disease targets, evaluation of drug candidates, and identification of biomarkers for microbiome-related conditions. The company's Microbiome Ecosystem Therapies are produced through a standardized cGMP manufacturing and quality control process to safely deliver the full diversity of the microbiome, in liquid and oral formulations. MaaT Pharma benefits from the commitment of world-leading scientists and established relationships with regulators to support the integration of the use of microbiome therapies in clinical practice. MaaT Pharma is listed on Euronext Paris (ticker: MAAT).

Forward-looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the Company's control. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by, or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim", "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "will," "can have," "likely," "should," "would," "could" and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that could cause the Company's actual results or performance to be materially different from the expected results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212457321/en/

Contacts:

MaaT Pharma Investor Relations

Guilhaume DEBROAS, Ph.D.

Head of Investor Relations

+33 6 16 48 92 50

invest@maat-pharma.com



MaaT Pharma Media Relations

Pauline RICHAUD

Senior PR Corporate Communications Manager

+33 6 14 06 45 92

media@maat-pharma.com



Trophic Communications

Jacob VERGHESE or

Priscillia PERRIN

+49 151 7441 6179

maat@trophic.eu
Paradise Mobile is a new mobile operator which aims to provide Bermuda with agile and innovative communication experiences.

Thales' mobile connectivity solutions were chosen by the brand-new operator to enable remote activation of its customers' eSIM (embedded SIM) equipped handsets.

Visitors to Bermuda and the region will soon be able to pre-download the eSIM profile on their device and get immediate connectivity upon their arrival, thanks to Thales remote eSIM connection to Paradise Mobile's network.

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Paradise Mobile , a new mobile operator based in Bermuda, has chosen Thales' connectivity services to deliver the smoothest experience possible for users connecting to its new ultrafast network. Thales's cloud-based connectivity management solution will give Paradise Mobile's customers the freedom to instantly and remotely activate and update subscriptions for smartphones and other devices fitted with an eSIM , anytime and anywhere.

Launched recently, Paradise Mobile's network is built on the simple promise of 'fast, reliable mobile that just works'. In addition to setting new standards in convenience for subscribers, Paradise Mobile intends to introduce the network speeds and capacity necessary to attract hi-tech enterprises to Bermuda. In the longer term, Paradise Mobile intends to expand throughout the Caribbean and accelerate its development in order to handle the exponential increase of eSIM activation worldwide (expected to reach 2.4 billion[1] active eSIM subscriptions for smartphones by 2025).

With Thales' cloud-based solutions - eSIM management services and Over-The-Air platforms - Paradise Mobile is ideally positioned to handle the rapidly growing range of eSIM-enabled devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables. Thales' 'software as a service' (SaaS) based solutions can readily accompany the operator's expansion, as the cloud platform addresses any activation or update needs remotely, automatically adjusting the computing resources. As a result, Paradise Mobile' users will benefit from prompt eSIM activation and smooth remote subscription updates thanks to Thales' highly scalable solutions.

Cesar Cabarcos, Head of Partnerships and Roaming for Paradise Mobile said: "Thales is providing the industry-leading technology that will deliver on our promise of a fantastic user experience for everyone. The Thales platforms are also a key ingredient in our plans to create the world's fastest commercial mobile network and help turn Bermuda into the Silicon Valley of the Caribbean."

Thierry Clamou, VP Sales Latin America and the Caribbean for Thales said: "The rapid proliferation of eSIM-enabled devices is redefining the mobile landscape. We are therefore delighted to announce this new partnership, which puts Paradise Mobile at the forefront of a new era in user convenience. With our platforms, subscribers can connect their eSIM-enabled device to a network for the first time instantly anytime and anywhere."

[1] eSIM: State of the consumer market and the road ahead' GSMA Intelligence, March 2021 https://data.gsmaintelligence.com/research/research/research-2021/esim-state-of-the-consumer-market-and-the-road-ahead

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies within three domains: Defence & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Digital Identity & Security. It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive.

The Group invests close to 4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key areas such as quantum technologies, Far Edge computing, 6G and cybersecurity.

Thales has 77,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2022, the Group generated sales of 17.6 billion.

About Paradise:

Paradise Mobile is an emerging leader in the telecom industry, known for its customer-centric approach and innovative solutions. Aimed at offering a hassle-free mobile experience, Paradise Mobile is continuously evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of its customers.

PRESS CONTACT

Thales, Media Relations

Digital Identity and Security

Vanessa Viala

+33 (0)6 07 34 00 34

vanessa.viala@thalesgroup.com

Thales LATAM Media Relations

Jacqueline Takemasa

jacqueline.takemasa@thalesgroup.com

Paradise Mobile Media Relations:

Mikaela Pearman

pr@paradisemobile.com

441 537 1889

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/paradise-mobile-relies-on-thales-to-deliver-seamless-connectivity-in-the-caribbean-region-302012992.html
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, December 12

For immediate release

12 December 2023

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announces that it has today purchased 104,650 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 844.00 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 25,930,232; 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 199,061,071.

The figure of 199,061,071 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
The Brazilian company that is a reference in ESG is among the participants in the debate on topics such as climate, biodiversity and social justice

SAO PAULO, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), more than 40% of the planet's population is "highly vulnerable" to climate change. And no matter where you fit in, this issue impacts your life in some way, whether it's disrupting a vacation trip due to the extreme heat, or the price of food at the market due to devastating unseasonal rains. This is one of the issues discussed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The premise is that the 196 countries that signed the Paris Agreement will discuss forms of cooperation between the developed countries (with their development based on high GHG emissions) and the developing countries (those who are expected to suffer the most from climate change and with the least resources for adaptation). These guidelines are extensively discussed in Article 6 (Market Mechanisms) and Article 9 (Climate Finance) and are key to optimizing mitigation efforts, as well as ensuring that developing countries can address the challenges of climate change and realize sustainable economic transitions.

"This issue has been discussed since the ECO92 (or Rio92) event and, with the signing of an agreement at COP21 in 2015 in Paris, the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda were initiated. But it was only in 2020, when we entered what the UN itself calls the 'Decade of Action', that we began to see a robust market movement, due to the entry into this decade and other reasons, for actions to reduce and mitigate climate change", says Giovanna Cappellano, environmental engineer and ESG coordinator at Sabara Group.

Specialized in technology and solutions for the water treatment and food and beverage industries, the Sabara Group has a structured ESG department and is always attentive to decisions that impact the world. The company is present at COP28, in Dubai, seeking to contribute to the discussions and follow the development of the decisions of the main world leaders, companies and civil society on effective solutions against climate change and appreciation of nature.

"This is a crucial moment as we consider the future of our planet and its communities. Integrating social justice into discussions on climate, biodiversity and economic development is not only a wise choice, but an essential commitment", adds Giovanna. "In Brazil, a developing country where millions of people depend directly and indirectly on biodiversity, environmental services, market mechanisms and financing that reward and foster the development of the real bioeconomy are, in my view, the best way to tackle climate change in the long term".

Investment in the country's bioeconomic development must have a major impact not only on biodiversity, with the restoration and regeneration of degraded areas and the consequent increase in the volume of carbon sequestered and stored in the soil but must also involve the people and communities that will be most affected by climate change.

"By protecting biodiversity, ecosystems are restored, we promote social justice, and we build a solid path to a resilient and sustainable future, in which everyone, without exception, reaps the fruits of this vital interdependence", concludes the Sabara Group's ESG coordinator.

Success Story

Grupo Sabara promotes ESG even before the acronym existed, now so popular. It has been working together for more than 20 years and has achieved the achievement of the goal of reducing GHG emissions by 2030, which was 42%, reaching 46% of the reductions in 2022, thanks to the work done specifically with investment in clean energy sources.

The first Brazilian company and the first chemical industry in Latin America to approve an emissions reduction target in the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the Sabara Group has improved its actions, while accumulating exponential growth in revenue: 323.7 million reais in 2022.

Through its business unit Concepta Ingredients (which supplies inputs to the food, nutraceutical, and other industries), it contributes to the generation of income for local communities and the indirect conservation of natural vegetation areas, totaling 548 thousand hectares distributed among the Brazilian biomes Amazon, Cerrado, Caatinga and Atlantic Forest.

In addition, the company's CEO, Ulisses Sabara, was recognized as a Local SDG Pioneer during the UN Global Compact Leaders Conference in 2016 and, in 2020, made a commitment to be an official spokesperson for SDG 15, by joining Lideres com ImPacto. The actions mentioned above feature prominently in SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

About Sabara Group

The Sabara Group, with over 65 years of history, is genuinely Brazilian and recognized for its capacity for innovation and adaptation. For three generations, the Group has overcome challenges and stood out in its markets. Its commitment to the well-being of people around the world goes beyond offering innovative products and services. Its activities take future generations into account, focusing on solutions that guarantee sustainability. Through its various branches of activity, the Sabara Group operates throughout the country and has a presence in countries in South America, North America and Europe. It specializes in developing high-performance technologies, solutions and raw materials for the water treatment markets in sanitation and industry, animal nutrition and health, and the food and beverage industries. The development of its products relies on 100% national knowledge and technology, a factor that contributes to Brazil becoming a benchmark in product research for a sustainable world.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cop-28-sabara-group-participates-at-the-world-event-on-climate-change-302012944.html
Redde Northgate Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, December 12

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

12 December 2023

REDDE NORTHGATE PLC

("Redde Northgate" or the "Group" or the "Company")

Transaction in Own Shares

Redde Northgate plc (LSE:REDD) announces that on 12 December 2023 it purchased the following number of its own shares to be held in treasury:

Class of shares : Ordinary shares of 50p ("shares") Number of shares purchased : 50,000 Weighted average purchase price paid : 366 pence per share Highest purchase price paid : 366 pence per share Lowest purchase price paid : 366 pence per share

Following the above transaction, the Company's issued share capital consists of 246,091,423 ordinary shares of 50p each, of which 17,040,071 ordinary shares are held in treasury, and 1,000,000 preference shares of 50p each which do not carry any rights to vote. Therefore the total number of voting rights in the Company is 229,051,352 which may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as incorporated into UK domestic law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the Company's buyback programme.

Schedule of Purchase - Individual Transaction (as at 12 December 2023)

Number of shares

purchased Transaction price

(GB pence per share) Time of transaction Transaction reference number Venue 50000 366.00 10:03:25 00068129170TRLO0 LSE

Notes

This announcement is made in accordance with the requirements of Listing Rule 12.4.6.

For further information contact:

Buchanan

David Rydell/Jamie Hooper/Hannah Ratcliff +44 (0) 207 466 5000

Notes to Editors:

Redde Northgate is the leading integrated mobility solutions platform providing services across the vehicle lifecycle. The Company offers integrated mobility solutions to businesses, fleet operators, insurers, OEMs and other customers across seven key areas: vehicle rental, vehicle data, accident management, vehicle repairs, fleet management, service and maintenance, vehicle ancillary services and vehicle sales.

The Company's core purpose is to keep its customers mobile, whether through meeting their regular mobility needs or by servicing and supporting them when unforeseen events occur. With its considerable scale and reach, Redde Northgate's mission is to offer a market-leading customer proposition and drive enhanced returns for shareholders by creating value through sustainable compounding growth. The Group aims to achieve this through the delivery of its strategic framework of Focus, Drive and Broaden.

Redde Northgate services its customers through a network and diversified fleet of over 120,000 owned and leased vehicles, supporting over 600,000 managed vehicles, with more than 170 workshop, body shop and rental locations across the UK, Ireland and Spain and a specialist team of over 6,000 automotive services professionals.

Further information please visit the Company's website:
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Hack The Box has been recognized as a leader in The Forrester Wave: Cybersecurity Skills And Training Platforms, Q4 2023. Hack The Box received the highest possible scores in seven criteria: Skills Assessment and Verification, Gamification, Competition and Recognition, Learner Experience and Adoption, Curriculum Management, Vision, Pricing Flexibility and Transparency, and Community.

A year of remarkable growth

This recognition follows a momentous year for Hack The Box-a successful $55 million Series B funding, surpassing 2 million platform members worldwide, and an expanded product offering that introduced new defensive security solutions, complementing its prowess in offensive methods since 2017.

Offering hands-on, captivating learning experiences that mirror real-world threat scenarios and incorporate the latest attack techniques, Hack The Box continues to set new benchmarks in cybersecurity expertise.

Forrester's report cites Hack The Box's approach, stating the company "is reflected in its differentiated vision of creating and connecting cyber-ready humans, offering hours of free content from which thousands of its two-million community members got their start with offensive security techniques."

The independent research firm has recognized Hack The Box with the highest scores possible, defined as superior capabilities relative to others in the evaluation, in criteria for several of our key areas:

Community

Gamification, competition, and recognition

Learner Experience and Adoption

Skills Assessment

Haris Pylarinos, Founder and CEO at Hack The Box, celebrates: "This recognition further validates for us our commitment to providing unique solutions and spearheading a new era in upskilling. As the global skills shortage hits record highs of 4 million, our platform plays a crucial role in addressing this challenge."

"The landscape of cybersecurity training has evolved. Traditional methods no longer suffice against the rising tide of sophisticated attacks. Security professionals seek engaging, gamified training-where we lead."

"Our core mission has always been cultivating a 'hacker mindset,' fostering out-of-the-box thinking and enabling organizations and individuals to adopt this unique perspective through Hack The Box."

Moving beyond upskilling

Haris Pylarinos, Founder and CEO at Hack The Box, continues, "Hack The Box doesn't just provide a comprehensive platform for individuals, businesses, government institutions, and universities to enhance their offensive and defensive security skills. It also acts as a pathway to cybersecurity job opportunities, directly addressing the industry's serious talent shortage."

"Across the globe, customers have acclaimed our platform as an invaluable tool that remarkably contributes to their wider objectives, delivering substantial returns on their investment."

"We're thrilled by Forrester's recognition and remain committed to delivering even more distinctive solutions throughout 2024 and beyond."

ENDS

About Hack The Box

Hack The Box is a leading gamified cybersecurity upskilling, certification, and talent assessment platform enabling individuals, businesses, government institutions, and universities to sharpen their offensive and defensive security expertise. Launched in 2017, Hack The Box brings together the largest global cybersecurity community of more than 2m platform members and is on a mission to create and connect cyber-ready humans and organizations through highly engaging hacking experiences that cultivate out-of-the-box thinking. Offering a fully guided and exploratory skills development environment, Hack The Box is the ideal solution for cybersecurity professionals and organizations to continuously enhance their cyber-attack readiness by improving their red, blue, and purple team capabilities. Rapidly growing its international footprint and reach, Hack The Box is headquartered in the UK, with additional offices in Greece and the US.

For more information, please visit hackthebox.com

For press inquiries, please contact: pr@hackthebox.com

SOURCE: Hack The Box



View the original press release on accesswire.com
Leading companies including Ramp, Vital, and Whatnot pick Chalk's data platform to power risk, recommendation, and healthcare decisions

Chalk, the data platform for machine learning, announced today that it has raised $10 million in seed funding led by General Catalyst, Unusual Ventures, and Xfund. Chalk's computation layer and LLM toolchain enable world-class teams to orchestrate data for real-time decisions. The capital will be used to accelerate development of Chalk's platform, reach new customers, and grow its engineering and go-to-market teams.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212959060/en/

Chalk co-founders Elliot Marx (left), Andrew Moreland (center), and Marc Freed-Finnegan (right) are building a platform that empowers developers to deploy production-grade AI. (Photo: Business Wire)

Chalk's data platform provides critical building blocks for real-time machine learning-a compute engine, an LLM toolchain, a feature store, integrated monitoring, and branches for data science experimentation. Incumbent technologies like Apache Spark and Databricks Runtime were designed for large, long-running jobs, not live traffic. However, fintech, e-commerce, healthcare, insurance, and other mission critical applications require real-time decisions that incorporate fresh data.

Existing tools are cumbersome-data teams are forced to pull pre-computed warehouse data into production which leads to stale answers and split pipelines between training and inference. By contrast, Chalk enables developers to dynamically fetch data from APIs, microservices, and transactional databases. Already, Chalk is trusted by teams like Melio, Mission Lane, Pipe, Ramp, Vital, Whatnot, and others to support their most critical decisions.

Ramp, the ultimate platform for modern finance teams, selected Chalk to power core lending and fraud models. "Chalk has become a critical component of our Risk Intelligence Platform. It expanded Ramp's capabilities with online machine learning and enabled us to scale safely by powering our transaction fraud model and credit underwriting process," said Ryan Delgado who leads Ramp's Data Platform.

Vital, a leading AI-driven digital health company, selected Chalk to power critical patient decisions. "Emergency room decisions can mean life or death for patients. Chalk powers these most critical predictions for us. We evaluated a wide range of technical solutions and Chalk stood out for having the very best developer experience at the most competitive cost," said Te Riu Warren, Vital CTO.

Co-Founders Andrew Moreland and Elliot Marx met at Stanford and have been working together ever since. After Stanford, Moreland went to Palantir and Marx worked at Affirm where he built the early data platform to support their buy-now-pay-later decisions. They then started Haven Money which Credit Karma acquired to power its banking products. At Credit Karma, they wound up building the same type of machine learning platform yet again.

"We deeply understand the pain points and workflows that make machine learning challenging, and we've applied those lessons here at Chalk," said Marx. Moreland continued, "Existing tools in this space have painful and cumbersome developer experiences. Instead of relying on dated technologies like Spark, we built Chalk from the ground up to provide a seamless experience our users love."

Marc Freed-Finnegan, Chalk's Co-Founder CEO, helped launch the first version of Google Wallet and started Index which Stripe acquired as its in-store payment solution- it's now called Stripe Terminal. "We're lucky to have the backing of many long-term partners here at Chalk. At my last company, Eric Schmidt led our Series A and General Catalyst led our Series B-they both joined us here as investors. At Andy and Elliot's last company, Unusual Ventures led their Seed and joined us again here. Their expertise was essential to us in the past and has been invaluable at Chalk."

"Backing Chalk was an easy decision for us," said Max Rimpel, Partner at General Catalyst. "The opportunity to build a modern data platform that can be applied to many different industries is enormous and we see the benefits of backing experienced founders--especially ones we've backed before. We share a common vision to reshape the landscape of machine learning and data science, and believe Chalk's team is well-equipped to achieve this. General Catalyst looks forward to supporting the team as they continue to grow."

About Chalk

Chalk is a data platform that powers machine learning and generative AI. Chalk's best-in-class developer experience enables data teams to declare features and their dependencies with idiomatic Python in online, streaming, and batch environments. Chalk compiles these definitions into parallel pipelines that run on a Rust-based engine. These pipelines use the exact same source code to serve temporally-consistent training sets to data scientists and live feature values to models. This re-use ensures that feature values from online and offline contexts match and dramatically cuts development time. With Chalk, engineers, data scientists, and analysts can focus on their unique products while Chalk seamlessly handles data infrastructure.

To learn more about Chalk, visit www.chalk.ai.

About General Catalyst

General Catalyst is a venture capital firm that invests in powerful, positive change that endures for our entrepreneurs, our investors, our people, and society. We support founders with a long-term view who challenge the status quo, partnering with them from seed to growth stage and beyond to build companies that withstand the test of time. With offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, New York City, London, and Boston, the firm has helped support the growth of businesses such as: Airbnb, Deliveroo, Guild, Gusto, Hubspot, Illumio, Lemonade, Livongo, Oscar, Samsara, Snap, Stripe, and Warby Parker. For more: www.generalcatalyst.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212959060/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts

Chalk

Alexandra Kane

alexandra@chalk.ai




TOKYO, Dec 13, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Group CEO: Koichiro Tanaka), which develops industrial precious metals products as one of the core companies of TANAKA Precious Metals, announced that it has contributed to Global Vascular Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kenta Bito; COO: Shunto Maegawa), a medical venture company developing a medical device for the treatment of lower limb ischemia that serves as a stent delivery system for lower limb atherosclerosis. This equity infusion represents a direct investment into a company by DMC (Diamond Medino Capital) 1st Fund Investment Limited Partnership - a medical venture capital fund that TANAKA formally committed to supporting in November 2022.About Global Vascular Co., Ltd.Global Vascular Co., Ltd. is a medical venture company established in 2022. It is headed by Kenta Bito and Shunto Maegawa, who have been engaged in biomaterials research since 2013 as part of the Hasebe Research Group led by Terumitsu Hasebe, a professor at the Tokai University School of Medicine. Global Vascular Co., Ltd. has pioneered the development of a stent delivery system specifically for the treatment of atherosclerosis in the below-knee region. It is currently attracting worldwide attention as a new treatment method in the growing market for lower limb stents, where there are high hurdles for stent development due to high recurrence rates after treatment.Background and Aim of InvestmentThe "Stent Delivery System for Lower Limb Atherosclerosis," the development business of Global Vascular Co., Ltd., is the culmination of the innovative stent design technology and high-performance surface modification technology pioneered by Mr. Hasebe, a world-class researcher in the development of endovascular treatment devices. TANAKA believes that this contribution will deepen the connection between the development framework lead by Mr. Hasebo and the medical venture ecosystem, in the advancement of endovascular treatment devices.Representatives Mr. Bito and Mr. Maegawa are the co-developers of the basic technology, as well as the researchers and managers who are expected to become leaders in the lower limb stent market in the future.Through this contribution, TANAKA aims to broaden its presence in the medical sector by innovating new products and technologies while accumulating knowledge in the stent industry and forming business alliances for the future.Overview of Global Vascular Co., Ltd.Representatives: Kenta Bito, Shunto MaegawaFounded: December 12, 2022Capital: 282 million yen (including capital reserve)Head office: Ichigaya Science and Technology Innovation Center Building 2F, 3-8 Ichigayatamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0843Business Description: Design and development of medical equipment, research, consulting, etc.Investor: Diamond Medino Capital Inc.About TANAKA Precious MetalsSince its foundation in 1885, TANAKA Precious Metals has built a portfolio of products to support a diversified range of business uses focused on precious metals. TANAKA is a leader in Japan regarding the volumes of precious metals handled. Over the course of many years, TANAKA has not only manufactured and sold precious metal products for industry but also provided precious metals in such forms as jewelry and assets. As precious metals specialists, all Group companies in Japan and around the world collaborate and cooperate on manufacturing, sales, and technology development to offer a full range of products and services. With 5,355 employees, the group's consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, was 680 billion yen.Global industrial business websitehttps://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/Product inquiriesTANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K.https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-on-industrial-products/Press inquiriesTANAKA Holdings Co., Ltd.https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-for-media/Press Release: https://www.acnnewswire.com/docs/files/20231212EN.pdfSource: Tanaka Holdings Co., Ltd.Copyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Target amount approximately 3.68M

Subscription Price per New Share: 3.75 euros

Subscription ratio: 1 new share for 5 existing shares

Theoretical value of the Preferential Subscription Right: 0.01 euros

Subscription period: from 21 December 2023 to 9 January 2024 inclusive

Regulatory News:

Xilam Animation (Paris:XIL), Academy Award-nominated French animation studio,announces the launch of a cash capital increase of 3,683,621.25 million, with shareholders' preferential subscription rights, by issuing 982,299 New Shares at a unit price of 3.75 without any discount or premium on the closing price on 12 December 2023 (3.75) and a discount of 12.83% to the volume-weighted average of the 20 trading sessions prior to the setting of the issue price (4.302) by the CEO, with a subscription ratio of 1 New Share for 5 Existing Shares (the "Capital Increase

After redeeming a EuroPP of 15M in July 2023, the Company's debt is now mainly self-liquidating and therefore secured by production in progress. The money raised through this capital increase will enable the Company to optimise its financial structure by adjusting its balance sheet and thereby improving its debt ratio in a context of rising debt costs and tighter lending conditions.

For information, Marc du Pontavice, a direct and indirect shareholder through MDP Audiovisuel (421 603 473 RCS Creteil) and Xilam Group (539 985 788 RCS Creteil) (Marc du Pontavice, MDP Audiovisuel and Xilam Group, together, the "Concert"), expressed its intention to guarantee the Capital Increase up to 75% of its planned amount, in the event that the Company's other shareholders do not subscribe for the Capital Increase. Subscriptions to this capital increase will be allocated among the members of the Concert in proportion to their holding in Xilam's share capital.

After completing the capital increase, the Concert, which currently holds between 30% to 50% of the Company's share capital, may increase its holding in share capital by at least 1% of the Company's total share capital in less than twelve consecutive months, which entails filing a draft mandatory takeover bid in accordance with Article 234-5 of the AMF General Regulation.

In addition, following the capital increase, MDP Audiovisuel, whose individual holding of theoretical voting rights currently stands between 30% to 50% of the Company's total voting rights, could increase its holding of theoretical voting rights by at least 1% of the total number of the Company's theoretical voting rights in less than twelve consecutive months and exceed the threshold of 30% of the Company's share capital, thus triggering the obligation to file a mandatory takeover bid in accordance with Articles 234-2 and 234-5 of the Autorite des marches financiers ("AMF") General Regulation.

In a decision dated 12 December 2023, the AMF, granted the Concert a waiver from the obligation to file a draft mandatory takeover bid due to the thresholds crossed as a result of its subscription for the capital increase, pursuant to the provisions of Articles 234-5, 234-9, 6 and 234-10 of the AMF's General Regulation (Decision No. 223C2030).

The capital increase can only proceed, if no appeal against the waiver granted by AMF is filed within the statutory deadlines.

The Company is not aware of the intentions of its other shareholders.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE NEW SHARE ISSUE

Registered share capital before the transaction

Before the share issue, Xilam's share capital comprised 4,911,500 shares, fully subscribed and paid-up, each with a nominal value of 10 cents.

Share and Preferential subscription right s codes

Name: Xilam

ISIN Code for the shares: FR0004034072

Symbol: XIL

ISIN Code for the Rights: FR001400MDR2

Place of listing: Euronext Paris

Sector (LEI) Code: 969500LYUDIOTB1DEZ38

Nature of the operation

The capital increase proposed by Xilam will involve issuing New Shares which will retain the preferential subscription rights (the "Rights

The operation will involve issuing 982,299 New Shares at a unit price of 3.75 based on 1 New Share for every 5 existing shares held (5 Right will entitle the holder to subscribe for 1 New Share), i.e., gross proceeds from the issue of 3,683,621.25 million.

Extension option

Not applicable

Legal framework of the offer

On 12 December 2023, pursuant to the delegation of powers granted to him by the Board of Directors on 4 December 2023, acting in accordance with the fifteenth resolution of the Combined General Meeting of Shareholders of 23 June 2022, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company decided to implement the delegation of powers granted to him, subject to the condition precedent that no appeal against the exemption obtained from the AMF is filed within the statutory deadline, and set the terms and conditions of the capital increase by issuing new ordinary shares with preferential subscription rights, in accordance with the terms and conditions set out below.

Subscription price

The subscription price has been set at 3.75 per New Share, i.e. a nominal value of 0.10 and a share premium of 3.65, without any discount or premium on the closing price on 12 December 2023 (3.75).

Subscription period

From 21 December 2023 to 9 January 2024 inclusive, on the Euronext market, segment B, in Paris.

Rights listing period

From 19/12/2023 to 05/01/2024 inclusive

Subscription on an irreducible basis

Subscription of New Shares is reserved by preference for holders of existing shares registered in the securities accounts at the end of the day prior to the start of the subscription period and for transferees of Rights.

Holders of Rights will be able to subscribe on an irreducible basis, at the rate of 1 New Share for every 5 existing shares held, i.e. 5 Rights, which will enable them to subscribe for 1 New Share; this does not include fractions.

The Rights can only be exercised up to the number required to subscribe for a whole number of New Shares. Shareholders or transferees of Rights who do not hold enough existing shares or Rights to obtain a whole number of New Shares under the irrevocable subscription basis, must take responsibility for buying or selling the necessary number of Rights to achieve the multiple equal to a whole number of New Shares.

For information purposes, it is specified that as of 12 December 2023, the Company holds 112,121 of its own shares.

Subscription on a reducible basis

Shareholders will have a preferential right to subscribe for the New Shares on a reducible basis, which will be exercised in proportion to their rights and up to the limit of their requests.

At the same time as filing their irreducible subscriptions, shareholders or Rights transferees may subscribe for their desired number of New Shares on a reducible basis, in addition to the number of New Shares resulting from exercising their Rights on an irreducible basis.

Any New Shares not absorbed by the Rights on an irreducible basis shall be distributed and allocated to subscribers on a reducible basis. Orders for subscriptions on a reducible basis will be accepted up to the amount of their request and in proportion to the number of existing shares whose rights have been used to support their subscription. However, no fraction of New Shares may be allocated on this basis.

In the event that the same subscriber submits several separate subscriptions, the number of New Shares to which they are entitled on a reducible basis will only be calculated on all their Rights if they expressly make a special request to this effect in writing, no later than the end of the subscription period. This request must be sent with one of the subscriptions and give all the necessary information to consolidate the rights, by specifying the number of subscriptions submitted as well as the authorised brokers with whom such subscriptions have been filed.

Subscriptions from separate subscribers may not be consolidated to obtain New Shares on a reducible basis.

A notice published in a legal gazette in the location of the company's registered office and by Euronext will, if applicable, publish the distribution table for subscriptions on a reducible basis.

Exercising of the preferential subscription rights ("Rights")

To exercise their Rights, holders must file their request to their authorised financial broker at any time during the subscription period, i.e. between 21 December 2023 and 9 January 2024 inclusive and pay the corresponding subscription price.

Each subscription must be accompanied by the cash payment of the subscription price. Subscriptions which have not been fully paid up shall be automatically cancelled, without the need to send formal notice.

The Rights must be exercised by its beneficiaries before the end of the subscription period, otherwise it will lapse.

Rights will be tradeable from 19 December 2023 to 5 January 2024 inclusive, under the same conditions as the existing shares.

Transferors of Rights shall relinquish them in favour of the transferee who shall be purely and simply substituted in all the rights and obligations of the holders of the existing shares for exercising the Rights.

Rights not exercised by the end of the subscription period will automatically lapse.

Listing of preferential subscription rights

At the close of trading preceding the opening date of the subscription period, Xilam shareholders will receive 1 Right for each share held (i.e. a total of 4,911,500 Rights issued). Any shareholder holding 5 Rights (or multiples thereof) may subscribe for 1 New Share (and multiples thereof) at a unit price of 3.75.

The Rights will be listed and traded on Euronext market, Compartiment B, under ISIN code FR001400MDR2 from 19 December 2023 to 5 January 2024 inclusive. If these rights are not subscribed for or transferred at the end of the subscription period, they shall lapse and their value shall be nil.

Theoretical value of the preferential subscription rights

0.01 per Right (based on the closing price of Xilam shares on 12 December 2023, i.e. 3.75 euros). The theoretical value of the ex-right share is therefore 3.74 euros. The subscription price of 3.75 euros per share represents a face value premium of 0.27% to the theoretical value of the ex-right share.

Preferential subscription rights detached from treasury stock held by the Company.

Under Article L. 225-206 of the French Commercial Code, Xilam cannot subscribe for its own shares. Rights detached from treasury stock held by the Company on 19 December 2023 will be sold on the market before the end of their trading period in accordance with Article L. 225-210 of the French Commercial Code.

Limiting the amount of the capital increase

In the event that either the subscriptions on an irreducible or reducible basis do not absorb the entire issue, the Board of Directors may limit the amount of the issue to the subscriptions received, in accordance with Article L.225-134 of the French Commercial Code, provided that this reaches at least 75% of the amount set for the issue.

Custodian companies - Subscription payments

Subscriptions for New Shares and subscribers' payment transfers, including for securities, which are registered in the administered nominative or bearer form, will be received up to and including the end of the subscription period by their authorised broker acting in their name and on their behalf.

Subscribers' subscriptions and payments for which shares are registered in the purely nominative form, will be collected without charge by Uptevia.

New Shares must be fully paid up at the time of subscription, by a cash payment for the entire nominative value and the issue premium, it being specified that the issue premium shall be recorded as a liability on the balance sheet in a special 'Issue Premium' account, which concerns the rights of existing and new shareholders.

Uptevia will pool the money paid in for the subscriptions and draw up the deposit certificate that records the completion of the capital increase.

Any subscriptions made without payment will be automatically cancelled, without the need to send formal notice to perform.

Investment restrictions

In some countries, selling New Shares and preferential subscription rights may be subject to specific regulations.

Guarantee

The offer will not be subject to a performance guarantee within the meaning of Article L. 225-145 of the French Commercial Code. Trading in the shares will only begin once settlement and delivery have been completed and the custodian's deposit certificate has been issued.

Subscription commitments

Marc du Pontavice, who holds directly and through MDP Audiovisuel (421 603 473 RCS Creteil) and Xilam Group (539 985 788 RCS Creteil) the majority of Xilam Animation's voting rights, has expressed his intention to guarantee 75% of the Capital Increase, in the event that the Company's other shareholders do not participate in this operation. Subscriptions to this capital increase will be allocated among the members of the Concert in proportion to their shareholding in Xilam Animation.

The Company is not aware of the intentions of its other shareholders.

Settlement and delivery of the New Shares

According to the indicative timetable for the issue, the settlement date for the New Shares is set for 15 January 2024.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW SHARES

Dividend rights: The new shares, which will be subject to all the provisions of the Articles of Association, will carry dividend rights from the date of issue and will be treated in the same way as the Company's existing shares. According to the indicative timetable for the capital increase, the new shares are expected to be registered in the securities accounts on 15 January 2024.

Currency of the new share issue: The new shares will be issued in euros.

Listing of the new shares: A request will be made for the new shares to be admitted to trading on Euronext Compartiment B in Paris on 15 January 2024. The listing may nevertheless only occur after the custodian has issued the deposit certificate. They will be immediately treated like the Company's existing shares already traded on the Euronext Compartiment B market in Paris and can be traded as from that date, on the same listing line as these shares under the same ISIN code FR0004034072 symbol: XIL.

USE OF PROCEEDS FROM THE ISSUE

Following the repayment of a 15m EuroPP in July 2023, the Company's debt is currently mainly self-liquidating and therefore backed by ongoing production. The funds raised through this capital increase are intended to enable the Company to optimise its financial structure by rebalancing its balance sheet, thereby improving its debt-to-equity ratio against a backdrop of rising debt costs and tighter lending conditions. The funds will be used mainly to finance the production of original programmes under a proprietary business model.

DILUTION

Impact of the issue on consolidated equity per share

Share of equity per share (in euros) Non-diluted* basis Before issuing the new shares from this capital increase 14.48 After issuing 982,299 new shares from this capital increase 12.80 After issuing 736,725 new shares from this capital increase should the offer being reduced to 75%. 13.17 *: based on a consolidated equity of 71.13m at 30/06/2023

Impact of the issue on the shareholder's situation

Shareholder interest (%) Non-diluted basis Before issuing the new shares from this capital increase 1.00% After issuing 982,299 new shares from this capital increase 0.83% After issuing 736,725 new shares from this capital increase, should the offer be reduced to 75%. 0.87%

There are no financial instruments giving future access to the Company's capital.

SHAREHOLDER STRUCTURE BEFORE AND AFTER THE TRANSACTION

Xilam Animation shareholding structure at 12 December 2023 Shareholders Number of shares %l Number of theorical voting rights Number of exercisable voting rights(1) MDP Audiovisuel 1,319,092 26.86% 2,608,684 38.31% 2,608,684 38.95% Xilam Group 498,745 10.15% 997,490 14.65% 997,490 14.90% Marc du Pontavice 1 0.00% 2 0.00% 2 0.00% Total of Concert 1,817,838 37.01% 3,606,176 52.96% 3,606,176 53.85% Treasury shares 112,121 2.28% 112,121 1.65% 0.00% Other registered 126,125 2.57% 235,192 3.45% 235,192 3.51% Free float 2,855,416 58.14% 2,889,085 41.94% 2,889,085 42.64% Total 4,911,500 100.00% 6,808,905 100% 6,730,453 100.00%

(1) In accordance with AMF Position-Recommendation 2021-02, the total number of voting rights that may be exercised at General Meetings is calculated on the basis of all shares to which voting rights may be exercised and does not include shares to which voting rights have been suspended.

Assuming that the Concert alone subscribes to 75% of the Capital Increase Shareholders Number of shares Number of theorical voting rights Number of exercisable voting rights (1) MDP Audiovisuel 1,853,688 32.82% 3,143,280 41.66% 3,143,280 42.29% Xilam Group 700,874 12.41% 1,199,619 15.90% 1,199,619 16.14% Marc du Pontavice 1 0.00% 2 0.00% 2 0.00% Total of Concert 2,554,563 45.23% 4,342,901 57.56% 4,342,901 58.42% Treasury shares 112,121 1.99% 112,121 1.49% 0.00% Other registered 126,125 2.23% 235,192 3.12% 235,192 3.16% Free float 2 855 416 50.55% 2 855 416 37.84% 2 855 416 38.41% Total 5,648,225 100.00% 7,545,631 100% 7,433,510 100.00%

(1) In accordance with AMF Position-Recommendation 2021-02, the total number of voting rights that may be exercised at General Meetings is calculated on the basis of all shares to which voting rights may be exercised and does not include shares to which voting rights have been suspended.

Assuming a 100% subscription to the Capital Increase by all shareholders in proportion to their holdings Shareholders Number of shares Number of theorical voting rights Number of exercisable voting rights (1) MDP Audiovisuel 1.582.910 26.86% 2.872.502 36.87% 2.872.502 37.41% Xilam Group 598.493 10.15% 1.097.238 14.08% 1.097.238 14.29% Marc du Pontavice 1 0.00% 2 0.00% 2 0.00% Total du Concert 2.181.404 37.01% 3.969.742 50.95% 3.969.742 51.70% Treasury shares 112,121 1.90% 112,121 1.44% 0.00% Other registered 151.350 2.57% 260.417 3.34% 260.417 3.39% Free float 3 448 924 58.52% 3 448 924 44.27% 3 482,924 44.91% Total 5.893.799 100.00% 7.679,093 100.00% 7.791,204 100%

(1) In accordance with AMF Position-Recommendation 2021-02, the total number of voting rights that may be exercised at General Meetings is calculated on the basis of all shares to which voting rights may be exercised and does not include shares to which voting rights have been suspended.

SUBSCRIPTION TERMS FOR SHAREHOLDERS

You have preferential subscription rights ("Rights") attached to your Xilam shares, which give you priority in subscribing for new shares by applying the ratio of 1 new share for 5 Rights (one existing share gives entitlement to 1 Right).

If you hold an enough existing shares to be able to subscribe for a whole number of new shares using your Rights (e.g., if you have 5 Xilam shares, you have priority to subscribe for 1 new share).

If you do not hold enough existing shares to obtain a whole number of new shares, you may then buy or sell the necessary number of Rights to obtain the correct ratio enabling you to acquire a whole number of new shares (1 new share for 5 Rights).

Each subscription must be accompanied by the cash payment of the subscription price.

INDICATIVE TIMETABLE FOR THE OPERATION

4 December 2023 Board of Directors Meeting which agreed on the principle of launching a capital increase retaining preferential subscription rights and which sub-delegated the authority to implement this operation to the Chief Executive Officer. 12 December 2023 Decision of the AMF granting a waiver from the obligation to file a Takeover Bid since this operation will result in the Concert crossing the threshold. 12 December 2023 After the end of trading The Chief Executive Officer takes the decision on the launch the operation and its definitive terms and conditions. Dissemination of Xilam's press release describing the main features of the capital increase. 15 December 2023 Euronext publishes the notice of issuance 15 December 2023 BALO publishes the notice to shareholders 19 December 2023 Rights detached (before the start of trading) Rights admitted and trading begins 21 December 2023 Start of the subscription period Start of the Rights exercise period 5 January 2024 Trading on the Rights ends 9 January 2024 End of the subscription period 11 January 2024 Xilam releases the press release on the results of the subscriptions Euronext Paris issues the notice of admitting the New Shares, specifying the final amount of the Capital Increase and the distribution table for the reducible subscriptions. 15 January 2024 New shares issued Settlement and delivery of the operation The New Shares are admitted to trading

WARNING

Under the provisions of Article 1 paragraph 5 of the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017, this issue will not give rise to a Prospectus subject to the approval of the Autorite des Marches Financiers, as the issue represents less than 20% of the number of shares of the same class already admitted to trading on the regulated market.

A notice to shareholders relating to this operation will be published on 15 December 2023 in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales et Obligatoires (BALO).

Risk factors

The main risk factors relating to the issue are set out below:

the market for preferential subscription rights may offer only limited liquidity and be subject to high volatility,

shareholders who do not exercise their preferential rights will see their interest in the Company's capital diluted,

the market price of the Company's shares may fluctuate and fall below the subscription price of the shares issued on exercising the preferential subscription rights,

the volatility and liquidity of the Company's shares may fluctuate significantly,

If the market price of the Company's shares falls, the preferential subscription rights may lose their value.

In the event of an appeal against the decision by the AMF to waive the requirement to file a public offer, the transaction would lapse.

Before making an investment decision, investors are invited to consider the risks described in Section 2.9 "Risks to which the Group is exposed" of the 2022 Annual Financial Report.

It should also be noted that, in a press release dated 26 October 2023 (XILAM -Group Prospects Update) the Company updated its outlook by anticipating a decline in its 2024 sales and suspending its 80m sales target for 2026.

OPERATION PARTNER

EuroLand Corporate Advisor for the operation

About Xilam

As a major player in the animation industry, Xilam is an integrated studio founded in 1999 that creates, produces and distributes original programmes in more than 190 countries for children and adults, broadcast on television, and on SVoD (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon) and AVoD (YouTube, Facebook) platforms. With a global reputation for creativity and innovation, coupled with cutting-edge editorial and commercial expertise, the company has cemented its position as a key player in a fast-growing market. Every year, Xilam builds on soaring successes and capitalises on flagship franchises (Oggy and the Cockroaches, Zig Sharko, Chicky) as well as new brands (Oggy Oggy, Mr. Magoo, Karate Sheep), which are strengthening and expanding a substantial catalogue of more than 2,800 episodes and three feature films, including the Oscar-nominated I Lost My Body. Xilam has unique CGI skills and employs more than 600 people, including 400 artists, across its studios in Paris, Lyon and Angouleme in France and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Xilam was ranked France's leading animation studio for the 2018-2022 period in a report by the French national centre for cinema and animation (CNC).

For more information, visit https://xilam.com/

Name: Xilam ISIN Code: FR0004034072 Symbol: XIL Number of ordinary shares comprising the share capital: 4,911,500 Shares

Warning

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 1 paragraph 5 of the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 (the "Prospectus Regulation"), this issue will not give rise to a prospectus subject to the approval of the Autorite des Marches Financiers, the latter representing less than 20% of the number of shares of the same class of Xilam, already admitted to trading on the regulated market. No communication or information relating to this operation or to Xilam may be disseminated to the public in any country in which it is necessary to comply with any registration or approval requirement. No steps have been taken (or will be taken) in any country where such steps would be required. The purchase of Xilam shares may be subject to specific legal or regulatory restrictions in certain countries. Xilam assumes no liability for any violation of these restrictions by any person.

This press release does not therefore constitute a prospectus within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation. With regard to the Member States of the European Economic Area other than France (the "Member States"), no action has been taken or will be taken to permit a public offering of securities requiring the publication of a prospectus in any of these Member States. Consequently, the securities may not be offered and will not be offered in any Member State (other than France), except in accordance with the exemptions provided for in Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, or in other cases not requiring Xilam to publish a prospectus under the Prospectus Regulation and/or the regulations applicable in those Member States. This press release does not constitute a public offering of securities in the United Kingdom. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities or a solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States or any other country (other than France). Securities may not be offered, subscribed for or sold in the United States except pursuant to registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or pursuant to an exemption from such registration. Xilam's shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act and Xilam does not intend to make any public offering of its marketable securities in the United States.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212460484/en/

Contacts:

Marc du Pontavice Chairman and CEO

Cecile Haimet CFO

Tel: +33 (0)1 40 18 72

Image Sept PR agency

xilam@image7.fr

Karine Allouis (Media Relations) Tel: +33 (0)1 53 70 74 81

Laurent Poinsot (Investor Relations- Tel +33 (0)1 53 70 74 77
EQS-Ad-hoc: Samara Asset Group p.l.c. / Key word(s): Strategic Company Decision/Acquisition

Samara Asset Group p.l.c. enters into a purchase agreement for the acquisition of various fund



12-Dec-2023 / 20:30 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Public Disclosure under MAR Article 17 Samara Asset Group p.l.c. enters into a purchase agreement for the acquisition of various fund shares and Limited Partnership interests with a net asset value of approx. EUR 121.4 million in total

Partial payment for those fund stakes to be funded in kind through a share issue Sliema, Malta, 12 December 2023. Samara Asset Group p.l.c. (ISIN: MT0001770107; Ticker: SRAG:GR) ("Samara") announces that today it has signed a purchase agreement with Apeiron Investment Group Limited (C 51843) ("AIG") pursuant to which Samara shall acquire shares / Limited Partnership interests in four venture capital funds (the "Stakes"), with underlying holdings in approx. 115 companies, predominantly in Europe and the US, across the Crypto, Fintech, Deep Tech and Life Sciences sectors. The combined net asset value of the Stakes, which is also the purchase price, amounts to approx. EUR 121.4 million. This transaction strengthens Samara's balance sheet and Samara's positioning as a holding company in crypto, tech and life sciences. The transaction is planned to be carried out in two steps, as described below. As a first step Samara will acquire Stakes in one of the funds ("Assets") from AIG with a net asset value (and hence purchase price) of approx. EUR 47.6 million. The consideration payable by Samara for this first step of the transaction consists of (a) a cash component in the amount of approx. EUR 10.0 million and (b) a share component whereby Samara will transfer (i) approx. 1.2 million shares in Northern Data AG (a German company, ISIN: DE000A0SMU87), and (ii) approx. 4.8 million ordinary shares in Samara (i.e. treasury shares) to AIG. This step of the transaction is expected to close today. In the second step, Samara will acquire the Stakes in the other three funds from AIG (the "Further Assets") with an aggregate net asset value (and hence purchase price) of approx. EUR 73.8 million. The consideration payable by Samara for the Further Assets will be settled by the transfer and/or issue of approx. 48.0 million ordinary shares in Samara at an issue price of approx. EUR 1.54/share (being the volume weighted average trading price of Samara's shares for the 20 trading days ended on 11 December 2023). The purchase agreement provides for a price adjustment in due course in the event that the aggregate net asset value of the Assets and the Further Assets set out in the FY23 audited accounts of the underlying funds differs from the aggregate valuation originally attributed to them in the purchase agreement. The consideration for the Further Assets will be funded through an issue of shares in Samara to AIG. Samara will hold an extraordinary general meeting ("EGM") towards the end of January 2024 for the purpose of seeking shareholder approval of, inter alia, all relevant resolutions needed to enable Samara to issue ordinary shares to AIG for the purposes of the transaction. Closing of this step of the transaction is subject to the said shareholder approval. Samara expects to publish the EGM notice and all other ancillary documents soon. Media Contact: Samara Asset Group p.l.c. 66/67, Beatrice, Amery Street, Sliema, SLM 1707, Malta https://samara-ag.com/ E-mail: info@samara-ag.com



End of Inside Information

Information and Explanation of the Issuer to this announcement:





12-Dec-2023 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


New grant will be delivered by UNHCR, reaching over 20,000 children with quality education. ECW calls on donors to scale-up funding for Sudan regional refugee response.

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its regional response to the Sudan refugee crisis, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) announced today US$2 million in new grant funding in Egypt. The 12-month grant will be delivered by UNHCR, providing life-saving access to education for children fleeing the war in Sudan.

The war in Sudan has generated a vast humanitarian crisis. In all over 6.5 million people are estimated to be displaced both within Sudan and across the region, according to UNHCR. The UN considers this the largest child displacement crisis in the world today, with over 3 million children fleeing widespread violence. There are concerning reports of women and girls being abducted, forced marriage, recruitment of child soldiers, and other grave violations of human rights.

Since April 2023, over 300,000 people have fled to Egypt from Sudan, including 16,000 school-aged children. Prior to the recent conflict in Sudan, Egypt hosted 59,000 refugees from Sudan. The Government of Egypt has granted access to the public education system for Sudanese refugees. However, many refugees are attending community schools that make use of the Sudanese curriculum but are largely unregulated. The concentration of refugees in specific areas, coupled with the limited number of schools and over-stretched classrooms capacities, has created further challenges for the Egyptian education authorities in meeting the demand for education.

"The brutal war in Sudan must stop. Children are dying, girls and boys are being denied their human rights and their human dignity. We must act now as a global community to address this complex humanitarian crisis by ensuring children and adolescents have access to safe and protective learning environments, mental health and psychosocial services, and other holistic education opportunities. We are calling on world leaders to substantially increase funding for education in response to this devastating crisis," said Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait, the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises.

The new grant will reach more than 20,000 children and adolescents, with a focus on increasing access and continuity of education for newly arrived refugee learners, enhancing the quality of learning, ensuring equity, social cohesion and well-being, and strengthening the capacity of the national education system.

ECW has provided US$8 million to date in response to the regional crisis, with First Emergency Response grants also announced in the Central Africa Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. To provide life-saving access to children impacted by the war in Sudan and other protracted crises across the globe, ECW is calling on donors, the private sector and philanthropic foundations to mobilize US$1.5 billion in support of the Fund's 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, which will reach 20 million children and adolescents over the next three years.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Investment to boost pioneering space technologies has been announced by the UK Space Agency, with the first wave of recipients unveiled.

The space experts will collaborate with global organisations to advance space capabilities through new tech innovation, thanks to the International Bilateral Fund (IBF). It will become the agency's first fund wholly dedicated to international relationship building to advance the UK's space goals.

With the involvement of 32 partnerships, the fund will enable organisations in the UK to connect with countries including the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, India, Singapore and South Africa to boost space research and new tech investment.

What type of space projects will receive the funding?

Some projects will focus on enhancing relationships to unlock future economic opportunities for the UK, while others will study science missions and technologies with strong commercial potential.

UK-based Vertical Future is leading one project that will see it join forces with Axiom Space, Saber Astronautics, Cambridge University and the University of Adelaide to kick-start the development of a revolutionary autonomous controlled environment for plant growth to support space missions.

The bilateral partnerships will not only bolster UK space sector capabilities by utilising global expertise, but they will ensure the UK, along with its world-leading scientists, will continue to play a key role in developing a diverse, collaborative global space sector that benefits the world for future generations.

Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: "Working with other space agencies and organisations across the globe through our International Bilateral Fund allows us to draw on skills that enhance our homegrown expertise and capabilities, drive up investment in the UK, and support world-class science and discovery.

"Projects such as these highlight the many ways in which we can collaborate with the global space community to help humanity push the boundaries of space innovation and unlock commercial opportunities that will benefit our economy now and in the future."

Lizzie Kerr, Director of UKspace, said: "UKspace welcomes the announcement of the first projects funded under the UK Space Agency's International Bilateral Fund. International collaboration underpins the success of the UK's space sector - and this new programme is an important new route to unlock new international partnerships, benefitting companies overseas and here in the UK."

The list of projects, each receiving up to 75,000, includes:

University of Surrey, University of Southampton, University of Portsmouth, Surrey Satellite Technology and Twin Paradox Labs x Office for Space Technology and Industry [OSTIn] (Singapore) for understanding satellite collaborations on air pollution monitoring and atmospheric weather forecasting

Strathclyde University x University of Arizona and MIT (USA), University of Waterloo and Columbiad Launch Services Inc (Canada) for AI involving space safety and sustainability

Rolls-Royce x BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC (USA), for international collaboration on industrial research into novel space nuclear technology development

Frontier Space Technologies Ltd x The Exploration Company (Germany) for in-orbit biopharma research and development

Seraphim Space Camp Accelerator Ltd x Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd, Temasek Holdings, OSTIn, Enterprise Singapore and SG Innovate (Singapore) for Seraphim Space Accelerator's expansion into Asia

Telespazio UK x Symbios Communications, National Physical Laboratory (Australia) for developing a new quality assurance platform for Earth Observation (EO) data

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, Assimila, RALSpace x CSIRO Space and Astronomy and Smartsat CRC (Australia) for creation of an integrated ground-to-space national water quality monitoring system

Assimila Biosecurity Ltd x Cervantes Agritech Pty Ltd and CABI (Australia) for using Earth Observation (EO), climate and weather data to predict and manage biosecurity risks

The Open University x Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona and Ball Aerospace and Technologies (USA) to use UK detector technology for future NASA high-resolution imaging of the Moon and Mars

If you work in the space-based green tech sector, we welcome your opinion and conversation surrounding this fresh funding. Investment and collaboration are the key drivers to innovations to protect the planet against the challenges it currently faces and we are excited to see the fruits of this fund's labour.

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 the original press release on accesswire.com
Toronto, Ontario and New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - Micromem Technologies Inc. (CSE: MRM) (OTCQB: MMTIF) ("Micromem") ("the Company") is pleased to provide a current update on the ongoing discussions with Chevron regarding the automated tracer technology.

Our Chief Financial Officer met with the Chevron team in their offices on December 4th. It was agreed that Chevron and Micromem will execute a current joint development agreement in Q1 2024. This updated version will replace the original agreement signed in 2014. Additionally, Chevron will prepare a license agreement for execution by Micromem for access to Chevron's patent that it holds with respect to tracer technology.

It is anticipated that a group call to discuss the tracer technology plan that Micromem is developing for Romgaz will be scheduled for Q1 2024; the participants on the call would include representatives from Micromem and its technology partner, Entanglement Technologies, Chevron and representatives from Romgaz and the University of Ploiesti. The proposed group call is intended to map out the timetable of development tasks to be completed in 2024 as our project with Romgaz continues to move forward.

About Micromem.

Micromem Technologies Inc. and its subsidiaries, a publicly traded (OTCQB: MMTIF) (CSE: MRM), company analyzes specific industry sectors to create intelligent game-changing applications that address unmet market needs. By leveraging its expertise and experience with sophisticated sensor applications, the Company successfully powers the development and implementation of innovative solutions for oil & gas, utilities, automotive, healthcare, government, information technology, manufacturing and other industries. Visit www.micromeminc.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. In particular, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include: our inability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms; risk that our products and services will not gain widespread market acceptance; continued consumer adoption of digital technology; inability to compete with others who provide comparable products; the failure of our technology; the infringement of our technology with proprietary rights of third parties; inability to respond to consumer and technological demands; inability to replace significant customers; seasonal nature of our business; and other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. When used in this document, the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "plan," "should," "intend," "may," "will," "would," "potential," and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements.

The CSE or any other securities regulatory authority has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release that has been prepared by management.

###

Listing: NASD OTC-QB - Symbol: MMTIF

CSE - Symbol: MRM

Shares issued: 512,945,319

SEC File No: 0-26005

Investor Contact: info@micromeminc.com; Tel. 416-364-2023 Subscribe to receive News Releases by Email on our website's home page. www.micromeminc.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190748
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - US Critical Metals Corp. (CSE: USCM) (OTCQB: USCMF) (FSE: 0IU0) ("USCM" or the "Company") announces that it has granted an aggregate of 500,000 stock options ("Options") to a consultant of the Company pursuant to the Company's stock option plan. The Options vest on the date of grant and entitle the holder to purchase common shares of the Company at a price of $0.15 for a period of five years from the date of grant. The Options bear a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance in accordance with CSE policy.

About US Critical Metals Corp.

USCM is focused on mining projects that will further secure the US supply of critical metals and rare earth elements, which are essential to fueling the new age economy. Pursuant to option agreements with private Canadian and American companies, USCM's assets consist of four agreements, together providing USCM with the right to acquire interests in five discovery focused projects in the US. These projects include the Clayton Ridge Lithium Project located in Nevada, the Sheep Creek Rare Earth Project located in Montana, the Haynes Cobalt Project located in Idaho, the Lemhi Pass Rare Earth Project located in Idaho and the Long Canyon Uranium Project located in Idaho. A significant percentage of the world's critical metal and rare earth supply comes from nations with interests that are contrary to those of the US. USCM intends to explore and develop mineral resources with near- and long-term strategic value to the advancement of US interests.

For further information please contact:

Darren Collins

Chief Executive Officer and Director

US Critical Metals Corp.

Telephone: 1-786 633-1756

www.uscmcorp.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain information that may be deemed "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information includes statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may include, without limitation, results of operations, and the expected financial performance of the Company.

Although the Company believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by its nature, forward-looking information involves assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, level of activity, 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 information.

Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions; the COVID-19 pandemic; adverse industry events; the receipt of required regulatory approvals and the timing of such approvals; that the Company maintains good relationships with the communities in which it operates or proposes to operate, future legislative and regulatory developments in the mining sector; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mining industry and markets in Canada and generally; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies; competition; the risk that any of the assumptions prove not to be valid or reliable, which could result in delays, or cessation in planned work, risks associated with the interpretation of data, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, as well as other assumptions risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company, including as set forth in the Company's public disclosure documents filed on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca.

The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of USCM 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 USCM may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190731
San Diego, California--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - Direct Communication Solutions, Inc. (OTCQX: DCSX) (CSE: DCSI) (FSE: 7QU0) ("DCS" or the "Company"), a leading provider of information technology solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT) market, is pleased to announce that all resolutions at the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Stockholders received majority approval.





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The successful passage of these resolutions reflects the continued support and confidence of our valued shareholders in DCS's strategic direction. Full detailed results, as outlined in materials dated December 11, 2023, can be referenced on Sedar.com.

The Company's CEO and Director, Chris Bursey, will be providing important updates on the business of the Company, including a review of recent 2023 achievements as well as an outlook for 2024.

Date: December 22, 2023

Time: 1PM PST

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81856438509?pwd=a3QzekJIa1NrY1psZm01ZjlWZE5oUT09

Agenda: 2023 end of year update and outlook for 2024

HAVE QUESTIONS? There will be an allotted time following the live presentation for a Q&A session. Questions submitted beforehand in the registration form linked above or by email at: cbursey@dcsbusiness.com, will be addressed in priority. Management will review unaddressed questions and respond to accordingly following the Q&A session.

Amidst these corporate updates, the company also announced the resignation of Director David Diamond from the board. "Working with Mr. Diamond as a board member has been an honor and privilege" said Chris Bursey, CEO of DCS. "His experience and leadership have been instrumental in the success of the company. His departure, while a loss to the board, comes with the utmost sincere appreciation for his contributions that have shaped the company's achievements. The company expresses its gratitude for Mr. Diamond's service and wishes him well in his future endeavours.

We seek Safe Harbor.

About Direct Communication Services Inc.

DCSI is a technology solutions integrator focusing on connecting the Internet of Things. We provide real solutions that solve real problems. Our software applications and scalable cloud services collect and assess business-critical data from all types of assets. DCSI is headquartered in San Diego, California and is publicly traded on the OTCQX ("DCSX"), Canadian Securities Exchange ("DCSI") and Frankfurt Stock Exchange ("7QU0"). For more information, visit www.dcsbusiness.com. DCSI and the DCSI logo are among the trademarks of DCSI in the United States. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

Contact

Chris Bursey, CEO

cbursey@dcsbusiness.com

858-525-2483

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements reflecting management's current views of future events and operations. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions, subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially. DCS believes that these potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Company's dependence on third-party manufacturers, suppliers, technologies, and infrastructure; risks related to intellectual property; industry risks, including competition, online security, government regulation, and global economic conditions; and the Company's financial position and need for additional funding. Statements in this release should be evaluated in light of these factors. These risk factors and other important factors that could affect our business and financial results are discussed in our Management's Discussion and Analysis, periodic reports, and other public filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and posted with the OTC Disclosure and News Service. DCS undertakes no duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190738
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / CNH's pioneering agricultural mechanisation academy in Somalia has successfully produced its first group of graduates.

The achievement is a significant step forward for the country's agriculture, following decades of setbacks and severely challenging circumstances.

Forty young men and women celebrated their graduation on 8 October 2023 at a gala event held in Mogadishu, the Somalian capital. The event was attended by a host of local and international dignitaries.

The Academy for Sustainable Agri-Mechanization Training was established following a ground-breaking partnership between Case IH (a brand of CNH), its dealership Gaalooge Farming & Livestock Cooperative, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Graduates received diploma certificates, a set of tools, personal protective equipment and reference materials for their new vocation. Gaalooge also committed to providing apprenticeships and internships for new graduates. A private company, Gaalooge is the only Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) tractor and implement dealer in Somalia, with Case IH its primary partner for sales and support of tractors. The company is focused on developing skills and training in operating, servicing, repairing and maintaining machinery in a country still largely dependent on draft animals and muscle power for farm work.

The Academy provides social education and technical vocational skills to enable project beneficiaries and trainees to ultimately contribute to improved livelihoods and community development. They also provide relevant training to those from Somalia's Bay, Bakool, and Lower Shabelle regions and beyond.

The Academy's specialised training is part of a broader initiative by the Gaalooge Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) School aimed at improving the skills of rural agricultural communities, with special emphasis on women and families. The Gaalooge TVET School is jointly supported by UNIDO Somalia and Case IH, and is designed to create economic opportunities and jobs in the agriculture and agro-industrial sectors in the country's South West State and Banaadir region.

This graduation is a testament to the success of the academy and to CNH's commitment to educating and supporting local communities. CNH looks forward to continuing to unlock the potential of farmers around the globe.

This graduation is a testament to the success of the academy and to CNH's commitment to educating and supporting local communities

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 the original press release on accesswire.com
Frontline plc (the "Company") advises that the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders of the Company was held on 12 December 2023 at 09:00 a.m. at Soteriou Tofini Street 4, Ayios Athanasios, 4102 Limassol, Cyprus. The audited consolidated financial statements for the Company for the year ended 31 December 2022 were presented to the Meeting.

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.
Statewide System Initiative aims to prepare graduates for in-demand careers and boost Oklahoma economy

Tulsa, Oklahoma--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - Oklahoma's leader in advanced technology education has unveiled a new initiative to expand STEM education access and enhance workforce development across the state: OSU Polytech.





OSU President Kayse Shrum announces the launch of OSU Polytech, Dec. 12, 2023, at OSU-Tulsa. The OSU Polytech initiative will align academic programs across the entire OSU System with industry needs and expand innovative curriculum in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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The OSU Polytech initiative will align academic programs with industry needs; expand innovative curriculum in science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and weave emerging AI technology into programming.



The initiative will offer students across the state greater access to flexible learning opportunities and real-world learning experiences at Oklahoma State University's Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Okmulgee institutions, which have faithfully served the state for a combined 164 years.

By expanding access to workforce development education in high-demand fields across all academic levels, from certificate to doctoral, the state's largest university system aims to provide flexible education options, increasing value for both students and employers.

The announcement was made Tuesday morning at the Helmerich Research Center on the OSU-Tulsa campus, where OSU President Kayse Shrum was joined on stage by featured speakers OSU/A&M Regent Chair Joe Hall, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief David Hill.

The event, which was sponsored by Explorer Pipeline, featured STEM demonstrations from OSUIT, OSU-OKC and OSU-Tulsa - including VR training modules, fiber splicing, a robotic arm and examples of how engineers work in the energy sector.

The event also included a workforce development panel featuring:

Chuck Hoskin Jr. | Cherokee Nation Principal Chief

Dr. Paula Marshall | CEO, The Bama Companies

Leigh Anne Strahler | President and COO, PSO

Bailey Siegfried | VP, Culture, Communication and HR, NORDAM

Ryan Plotkin | President and CEO, M-D Building Products

"OSU is the state's undisputed leader in advanced technology education. This new OSU Polytech initiative is reflective of our land-grant mission to serve the state, our longstanding tradition of service through our Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Okmulgee institutions, and our commitment to a student-focused approach to higher education. As the state's largest university system, OSU is uniquely positioned to ensure that Oklahoma is open for business in the fast-moving areas of science and technology," Dr. Shrum said.

"Working collaboratively with industry and communities across the state, we aim to cultivate ideal graduates capable of meeting the state's emerging workforce needs and addressing society's most pressing challenges. This systemwide effort is an opportunity for us to better position our academic campuses to deliver on that promise and expand STEM education access and excellence statewide."

OSU has delivered technology-based education for over six decades at its Okmulgee institution - OSUIT - which boasts an employment rate of nearly 90% for its graduates and a median pay range for alumni between $50,000 and $55,000. College Values Online named OSUIT the No. 2 Most Affordable College for STEM in 2023.

OSU-Tulsa offers engineering degrees at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels, and OSU-OKC has certificate and degree programs in information technology, manufacturing and fire protection.

The initial focus will be expanding OSUIT's footprint in the Tulsa area, with plans to expand to Oklahoma City and other parts of the state. The existing academic structures of the institutions - including OSU-Tulsa, OSU-OKC and OSUIT - will remain unchanged, and each institution will maintain its respective accreditation.

To ensure OSU Polytech aligns with job market demands, the transformative vision for OSU Polytech was developed in collaboration with industry representatives from across the state and will include ongoing input from industry leaders to maximize system efficiency and shape programming to meet the needs of students and the Oklahoma economy.

OSU will launch an industry leadership advisory council to support OSU Polytech in gathering market intelligence to determine what industry-aligned academic certificate and degree programs should be priority development areas.

The council will have six committees that represent the following key industry sectors for Oklahoma:

Aerospace and Aviation

Advanced Manufacturing

Energy and Power

Health Care and Life Sciences

Information Technology and Telecommunications

Supply Chain and Operations

Additionally, the plan calls for the creation of internal committees to address seamless credit transfer from campus to campus and improve academic program alignment across campuses.

"As regents, we support programs that benefit our students and help our state," Hall said. "OSU Polytech builds on the successes of OSUIT's industry-driven approach. It enables partnering between businesses, industries, public and private organizations, and multiple governments for a single purpose - workforce development. With strong partnerships, we can provide companies with a capable workforce from day one. As regents, we believe OSU Polytech will benefit our students, citizens, industries and the state."

"There is a gap that needs to be filled in Oklahoma's workforce," said Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell. "For Oklahoma to be open for business, we must prioritize science and technology. OSU is a proven leader in advanced technology education, and OSU Polytech will empower our workforce to meet industry demands and grow the state economy."

OSU Senior Vice President for System Affairs Kyle Wray said the latest steps are in line with the comprehensive We Are Land-Grant strategic plan the university released in the fall of 2022 - a plan Wray said is deeply rooted in the university's land-grant mission to serve the public good and advance STEM education and workforce development in Oklahoma.

"We are here to serve Oklahomans at every stage of their educational journey, whether they are high school students, traditional college students, or non-traditional adult learners," Wray said.

"Oklahoma has untapped economic and human potential. We need a tremendous amount of human talent to power our state's economy, yet we face a shortage of highly skilled workers to help our businesses grow and compete in a technologically driven global economy. We've seen headlines about Oklahoma losing opportunities to bring high-tech companies and large scale manufacturers to the state because of a shortage of high tech workers. As a land-grant institution, OSU has an obligation to help lead the state's response to these workforce challenges."

Hoskin and Hill expressed excitement about increased collaboration with OSU, which has been a faithful partner on major initiatives, such as the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation and the creation and accreditation for Muskogee Nation colleges.

"I love Oklahoma State University," Hoskin said. "I mean that from the bottom of my heart, because when OSU says that they want to be your partner, they mean it. When they talk about respecting stakeholders and respecting people in the community and respecting tribal nations, they mean it. Those aren't just words - they put those words into action."

"These types of initiatives are the way of the future, and it's up to us to seek out partnerships with institutions like Oklahoma State to make sure our students have what they need to pursue these types of careers and keep our economy strong," Hill said. "I'm so thrilled to be here today and celebrate together because that's how we become greater in this state - working together, working in collaboration and combining our resources."

INFO BOX: Upcoming OSU Polytech areas of focus

Innovative STEM-based curriculum

Industry-aligned academic programs - Developing new workforce-responsive degree programs, ideally with hybrid and applied components

Flexible learning opportunities - Developing new workforce-responsive online degree and certificate programs at all levels

Real-world learning experience - Establishing new advanced technology learning partnerships that include student internships at partner companies as part of their degree programs

VIDEO AND PHOTOS: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zTDDGOgVvBqT-sB__Yx_TKCjjspAKLHS?usp=drive_link.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405-744-5540 | mack.burke_iv@okstate.edu.

Oklahoma State University is a premier land-grant university that prepares students for success. Through teaching, research and Extension, OSU engages communities and empowers servant-leaders to meet society's most pressing challenges. OSU is the largest university system in Oklahoma and has more than 34,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 25,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and more than 125 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 280,000 students to serve the state of Oklahoma, the nation and the world.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190754
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - Golden Spike Resources Corp. (CSE: GLDS) (OTCQB: GSPRF) (FSE: L5Y) ("Golden Spike" or the "Company") Further to its announcement on December 6, 2023, the Company has issued 562,500 common shares (each, a "Share") at $0.08 per Share as settlement of indebtedness totaling CAD$45,000 (the "Transaction").

The Company determined to satisfy this outstanding indebtedness with Shares to preserve its cash for operations. All Shares issued pursuant to the Transaction will be subject to a four-month and one-day hold period expiring on April 13, 2024.

About Golden Spike

Golden Spike Resources Corp. (CSE: GLDS), (OTCQB: GSPRF), (FSE: L5Y) is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on identifying, acquiring and unlocking value in mineral opportunities in Canada and other low-risk jurisdictions. The Company currently holds 100% interest in the 3,425-hectare Gregory River Property in Newfoundland, strategically centered over an approximate 11-kilometer-long stretch of the Gregory River VMS-belt, a north-northeast trending corridor of very prospective ground with potential to host Cyprus-type polymetallic VMS deposits. In addition, the Property hosts a cluster of historically explored, high-grade, copper gold vein structures.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Keith Anderson, President and CEO

Golden Spike Resources Corp.

830 - 1100 Melville St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 4A6

+1 (604) 786-7774

info@goldenspikeresources.com ; www.goldenspikeresources.com

"Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" occur.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190773
Shiftconnector Smart Search Accelerates Plant Floor Search Capabilities with AI

BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Global software developer eschbach, provider of the Shiftconnector enterprise software platform for process manufacturing, received this year's Best of Industry Award in the Artificial Intelligence category. eschbach's AI team was recognized last Thursday evening in Wurzburg, Germany for their Shiftconnector Smart Search module by about 20,000 readers of MaschinenMarkt. Providing relevant knowledge that is user-friendly, Smart Search has become a powerful assistant in 24/7 plant manufacturing operations.

"Capturing and managing knowledge is domain-specific, which is why our Smart Search is specifically designed with our customers in mind. Managing data and information in a 24/7 shift operation is a challenge. With a smart application, information can be managed to help provide greater efficiency and safety in manufacturing. AI also makes it possible to collect tacit knowledge to make the experience of employees available for future generations," explains Andreas Eschbach, CEO and founder of eschbach.

The Shiftconnector Smart Search feature, developed by eschbach over five years, utilizes state-of-the-art AI-based natural language processing (NLP) to provide process manufacturers with new search capabilities. The eschbach AI team, led by AI/NLP Team Lead Dr. Christian Matt, worked closely with one of its major customers to conceptualize and design a search function that could easily find relevant answers based on its plant operations. The team also collaborated with Prof. Dr. Bela Gipp of Gottingen University (Germany) and his team of leading researchers in natural language processing, such as Anastasia Zhukova. The cooperation is supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

"The success following initial implementations is impressive. Smart Search has been well received in production facilities and is an integral part of daily operations. Where users previously spent several hours searching online documentation, sometimes without results, Smart Search now shows process-relevant results in a matter of seconds," explains Matt. "Statistics also show that the knowledge accumulated in Shiftconnector over the years is no longer lost but is repeatedly picked up by users. Before implementation, only information not older than a month was used. This means that employees in shift operations, from plant operators to plant managers, benefit from the AI-supported and innovative plant process management solution."

"Truly user-centered, this application demonstrates the value of bringing customers into the design process from the onset to help drive and ensure satisfactory outcomes," said Eschbach. "With close to 20 years of experience in developing solutions for the process industry and almost 70,000 users, we understand the challenges of the process industry. We welcome suggestions from our users to provide solutions that will help them win in an increasingly competitive environment," he added. eschbach's dedication to customer-centric software development, along with their commitment to harnessing the power of AI technology, has positioned the company as a leader in the process manufacturing industry.

The new Smart Search function makes production plants more reliable and productive by recording knowledge for shift teams and making it easy to search for information. As we move forward into Industry 5.0 where the human element is the focus in plant operations, using AI is a leap forward in gaining the information necessary to drive process efficiency, mitigate risk, and ensure regulatory compliance.

About eschbach and Shiftconnector

Headquartered in Bad Saeckingen, Germany, and Boston, MA, in the U.S., eschbach develops software for plant process management. Shiftconnector provides a new level of digital team communication and collaboration that ensures safety and improves plant effectiveness. The award-winning solution is trusted worldwide by leading manufacturing companies such as Bayer, DuPont, BASF, and Roche. For more information visit www.eschbach.com.

Media Contact:

Dawn Fontaine

Ripple Effect Communications

Email: Dawn@rippleeffectpr.com

Tel: 617-536-8887

SOURCE: eschbach

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Aria co-founders: Clement Carrier and Vincent Folny

Aria, a Paris, France-based provider of a B2B deferred payment infrastructure for the platform economy, raised 15M in funding.

The round was led by 13books Capital with participation from Adevinta Ventures, Ankaa Ventures, Otium Capital and angel investors including Laurent Ritter (Purple), Mark Ransford and Guillaume Princen (former Stripe exec).

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach.

Co-founded in 2019 by Clement Carrier and Vincent Folny, Aria enables marketplaces, transactional SaaS & ERPs companies to offer instant payments to their providers while maintaining cash flow until their customer has paid. The company integrates directly into the platforms systems enabling instant direct payments to suppliers across Europe and allowing buyers up to 90 days to pay for services and goods.

Aria will offer businesses a check out experience akin to B2C users and underlying this the embedded payment infrastructure will cover funding, KYC/KYB, debtor risk analysis, anti-fraud analysis, credit insurance and debt recovery. A detailed dashboard will provide a clear overview of their payments landscape.

Over the last 12 months, on the back of growth in France and their UK launch, Aria has now processed over 0.5 Bn in payments for over 30k businesses and freelancers with invoices ranging from 500 to 20,000. The company is also supported by a 150m facility from several investors including M&G Investments to advance payments. Aria has partnered with Europes largest freelance platforms and marketplaces such as Malt, Brigad and Jump which are now being funded across Europe.

FinSMEs

12/12/2023
Ozgecan Ustgul

Myth.AI, a Turkish tech startup providing an AI-driven pattern design tool, raised $1.3M in Seed funding.

Backers included Birkan Kul of Getir.com, Emre Kozlu and the founder of Turkish textiles firm Faik Ulutas.

The company intends to use the funds to help drive operations in the UK and explore new markets.

Led by Ozgecan Ustgul, CEO and Founder, Myth.AI is an artificial intelligence-based state of the art pattern design tool that brings together designers and businesses. Thanks to its technology, green and digital transformation is provided to all sectors and meets the requirements of the 4.0 industry. Customers have pattern design by choosing designers & enterprises or professional model.

Myth.AIs key features within existing fashion and textiles markets include:

Streamlines the creation of fabric patterns, textures, and motifs from visual or text prompts.

Reduces the risk of unsellable inventory, minimises waste, and accelerates the design process from days to seconds.

Aids designers in choosing fabric samples by simulating their look and feel in virtual environments.

Reduces the need for physical samples and physical prototypes and fittings, reducing material waste.

Enables digital experimentation with materials and patterns, allowing more informed decisions before physical garment production.

Enhances inclusivity and personalisation in fashion by designs to individual customer preferences.

Brands such as Ratti (Italy), Telater (Spain), Sun Textile, Elyaf Textile, Gama Textile, Zorlu Textile, Halmer Fabric (Turkey) are already deploying the technology, along with Vitra.

FinSMEs

12/12/2023
On December 11th, an important play of the "New Era, New Huiban (opera troupes from Anhui), New Outlook" High-quality Plays Exhibition, the original musical drama "One Day" from Anhui Province, took place at the Beijing China Pingju Opera Theater. The musical drama "One Day" is based on one of the most thrilling events in the history of the Communist Party of China. In the play, underground operatives such as Yan Xianghui, Li Zhenrong, and Wu Di infiltrate critical enemy departments and cleverly maneuver with intelligence officer Xu Liancheng. At the crucial moment when the traitor Li Ming is about to betray important information of the Party, they fearlessly and decisively handle the situation, timely resolving the risks. The story showcases the early Party intelligence operatives who, in the era of the White Terror, use their bravery and wisdom to save the overall situation. Selected for the National Art Fund's large-scale stage play and creation funding projects, "One Day" presents the delicate emotions of the characters and the profound themes in an artistic manner through the form of a musical drama, receiving widespread acclaim from the audience. "It was exhilarating and extremely satisfying to watch! The play effectively presents the story and tension. The music throughout the play is smooth, and the pace of the stage transitions is fast. Especially impressive are the performances of the actors in their interactions. The overall quality of the play is very high," commented Zhu Yalin, a first-class director at the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater. He believes that Anhui is a province rich in culture and needs specific support for theatrical productions. "In recent years, Anhui has produced a number of excellent musical and dance dramas, showcasing the artistic style of Anhui in the new era through artistic forms that are embraced by young people." The "New Era, New Huiban, New Outlook" High-quality Plays Exhibition is co-organized by the Publicity Department of the Anhui Provincial Party Committee, the Anhui Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Anhui Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles. From November 29th to January 17th 2024, eight provincial theatrical troupes will present 12 outstanding productions, including Anhui Opera, Huangmei Opera, Huaibei Bangzi Opera, drama, musical drama, and dance drama, in Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and some cities within the province, totaling 21 wonderful performances. The diverse genres and rich repertoire highlight the achievements of Anhui's cultural and artistic development, showcasing the unique charm of Anhui's cultural heritage. Source: anhuinews.com
Samabriva, an Amiens, France-based biotechnology company, completed a nearly 4m Series-A financing.

The round was led by Noshaq and Investsud. This will complement the support already received from Service public de Wallonie (SPW) in Belgium and Banque publique dinvestissement (BPI) in France.

The funding will increase the speed with which Samabrivas technology is deployed and ensure the transformation of the company into a fully-fledged CDMO.

Led by CEO Marina Guillet, Samabriva is a plant-based biotechnology company providing a platform that combines the advantages of plant-based systems (low cost, safe, serum- and animal-free) with traditional bioproduction in large-scale bioreactors. This delivers continuous, reliable and environmentally sustainable manufacture of a wide range of high value molecules all year round, in any location. Its innovative plant-based bioproduction process has the potential to transform production of high value molecules  such as natural active molecules (secondary metabolites) and recombinant proteins  for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors.

FinSMEs

12/12/2023
Veteran lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar will be felicitated with the Padmapani Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival.

Akhtar, the co-writer of Hindi cinema classics such as Zanjeer, Deewaar, Sholay, Don, Kaala Patthar and Mr India, will be honoured for his contribution to the Indian film industry on the opening day of the festivals ninth edition, a press release said.

The award ceremony will take place at Rukmini Auditorium in MGM University campus of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on January 3, 2024.

Akhtar recently said lyrics today dont work the way they did earlier because they are not rooted in a films story and its emotions.

The 78-year-old has written some immortal lyrics for songs such as Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum for Silsila (1981), Ek Ladki Ko Dekha for 1942: A Love Story (1994), and Jashn-e-Bahara for Jodhaa Akbar (2008) to name a few.

It is not that writers cant write good songs, its that they are not getting an opportunity to write good songs. There are a number of reasons why songs have become forgettable. One, the tempo and beat has become very high. Two, most songs are in the background today, there is no lip-sync anymore, Akhtar told PTI.

In the recently released book called Talking Life: Javed Akthar in Conversation with Nasreen Munni Kabir, veteran lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar finally addressed the allegations that two of his classics, Zanjeer and Sholay, both starring Amitabh Bachchan, were inspired by western films. The latter, directed by Ramesh Sippy, according to numerous reports, was inspired by the western classic Once Upon A Time In The West.

Akhtar, in the book, has been quoted saying, As I have said, we (Salim and Javed) were influenced by Sergio Leone. But Sholay was not based on his epic film. Critics also said Zanjeer was based on Dirty Harry. He argued Dirty Harry was released in December 1971 and Zanjeer in May 1973, so they couldnt have ripped off the screenplay in those days.

With added inputs from agencies
Bollywood star Alia Bhatt recently graced the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia. In a video thats going viral on social media, she could be seen in an interaction with Hollywood star Andrew Garfield. A user quickly wrote- An X user wrote, Aww the way they were smiling. After watching it started manifesting them in a Hollywood movie (sic).

alia bhatt & andrew garfield my heart pic.twitter.com/zVLdp36FHe  (@softiealiaa) December 9, 2023

At the event, Alia Bhatt spoke about her love for films, while also sharing the cheat code to acting that she often turns to.

Bhatt, noting that she is inclined toward characters that require a change in dialect, revealed that she always used to imitate and pick up sounds from people.

The actress added that she chose films like Udta Punjab and RRR for her inclination towards changing her dialect, whether it is a different accent or when she had to learn a different language.

So, I take it upon myself as a challenge and I enjoy doing it. There is a lot of prep work but I feel it makes half of the job much easier where you can just give a completely new face to a character and that will not be anything like you, she said.

So, like Oh wow! What a great actor because shes not like that, the Gangubai Kathiawadi actress said, adding that its actually like a cheat code, which takes new lengths in ones performance.

Sharing her acting mantra, she also recited a popular line from her blockbuster film Gangubai Kathiawadi.
Australia is tightening its visa rules to fix what it calls a broken system.

The new rules, which will affect students and workers, could see its migrant intake cut by half.

But what do we know about these new rules? And will it have an impact on Indians?

Lets take a closer look:

What do we know about the new rules?

The changes were unveiled on Monday by home affairs minister Clare ONeil.

BBC quoted ONeil as saying that the previous regime had left the system in tatters.

The development comes after an evaluation of the immigration system earlier this year discovered it was badly broken and required major reform.

The new policies will require international students to get higher rankings on English tests.

As per The Print, a student seeking a graduate visa will need to achieve a 6.5 on the International English Language Tests System.

Students earlier needed 6.0.

Meanwhile, those applying for a student visa will need to get 6.0  they earlier needed 5.5.

A students second visa application to prolong his or her stay would also undergo more scrutiny.

Students will have to demonstrate that studying further down under would give a boost to their academic ambitions or their careers.

As per The Guardian, the home affairs department said it will ensure that all international students are genuinely in Australia to study, including by tightening requirements and by strengthening the quality assurance of education providers.

Australia has around 650,000 foreign students  many of whom are on theirs second visa, as per the outlet, as per BBC.

As per Scroll, Australia will also reduce the duration of graduate visas  which currently let students remain in the country for eight years.

ONeil called this the longest in the world and said the government was trying to stop students from becoming permanently temporary.

The points system for permanent migration will also be changed to favour those who would better impact Australia.

The country is also making it easier for specialists or essential workers  like those in the tech sector or healthcare  to get permanent residency.

As per The Print, the visa applications of those earning at least $135,000 will be fast-tracked.

The Guardian quoted ONeil as saying that all temporary skilled workers will have a pathway to permanent residency.

She said the policies will bring to Australia more of the type of labour it needs. It will also reduce the chances of exploitation for those who live, work and study in the country, as per BBC.

Why is Australia doing this?

Australia, like many other countries in the West, is struggling with immigration.

The decision comes after net immigration was expected to have peaked at a record 510,000 in 2022-23.

Official data showed it was forecast to fall to about a quarter of a million in 2024-25 and 2025-26, roughly in line with pre-COVID levels.

ONeil said the increase in net overseas migration in 2022-23 was mostly driven by international students.

Our strategy will bring migration numbers back to normal, ONeil said during a media briefing.

But its not just about numbers. Its not just about this moment and the experience of migration our country is having at this time. This is about Australias future.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over the weekend said Australias migration numbers needed to be wound back to a sustainable level, adding that the system is broken.

What we need to do is to make sure that we identify the skills we need, identify the regions where we need additional workforce, and tailor our migration system so that it benefits those people who come to Australia, but more importantly as well, so that it benefits our national interests, Albanese said as per The Guardian.

ONeil said the governments targeted reforms were already putting downward pressure on net overseas migration and will further contribute to an expected decline in migrant numbers.

Shares of IDP Education (IEL.AX), which provides placement and education services to international students, were down more than three per cent in afternoon trade.

Australia boosted its annual migration numbers last year to help businesses recruit staff to fill shortages after the COVID-19 pandemic brought strict border controls, and kept foreign students and workers out for nearly two years.

But the sudden influx of foreign workers and students has exacerbated pressure on an already tight rental market, with homelessness on the rise in the country.

A survey done for the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on Monday said 62 per cent of Australian voters said the countrys migration intake was too high.

But BBC quoted the Business Council of Australia as saying migrants are a convenient scapegoat for successive governments not investing in affordable housing.

Long reliant on immigration to supply what is now one of the tightest labour markets in the world, Australias Labor government has pushed to speed up the entry of highly skilled workers and smooth their path to permanent residency.

A new specialist visa for highly skilled workers will be set up with the processing time set at one week, helping businesses recruit top migrants amid tough competition with other developed economies.

The Opposition has accused the government of acting far too slowly.

The horse has bolted when it comes to migration and the government not only cannot catch it but cannot find it, Opposition migration spokesman Dan Tehan was quoted as saying by BBC.

Will it hurt Indians?

Australia is a favoured destination for Indian students looking to give their careers a leg up.

The Print quoted data from the Australian High Commission as saying that 95,791 Indian students were studying in Australia in the January-April 2023 period.

The Hindu quoted sources as saying that the new rules will not impact Indian graduate students  thanks to the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA).

The ECTA was signed in April 2022 and came into force in December 2022.

Commitments agreed between India and Australia under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) will be upheld under the new Migration Strategy. This means that Indian graduates will continue to be eligible to stay on a Temporary Graduate Visa for two years for a bachelor degree, three years for the completion of a Masters Degree and four years for a completion of a PhD, a source was quoted as saying.

As per the outlet, Australia had as part of ECTA allowed students to say in the country for up to 18 months after finishing their diploma or trade qualifications.

Australia similarly allowed students to stay for two and three years after finishing their Bachelors Degrees and Masters Degrees.

Those holding doctorates, meanwhile, are allowed to stay for at up to four years.

Sources said these assurances would remain though more rigorous scrutiny of seemingly spurious cases is expected.

The Government will continue to welcome high-quality students seeking out educational opportunities in Australia. I see no reason why Indian student numbers shouldnt continue to grow, the source added.

The Print quoted Australias High Commissioner to India Philip Green as confirming as much.

Commitments agreed between India and Australia under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) will be upheld under the new migration strategy, Green said.

This means that Indian graduates will continue to be eligible to stay on a temporary graduate visa for two years for a Bachelors Degree, three years for the completion of a Masters Degree and four years for completion of a PhD, he added.

With inputs from agencies
Tuesday, being one of the most productive day of the week, is an important day.

On the international front, the crucial COP28 climate summit is nearing its end, Xi Jinping is visiting Vietnam, Joe Biden will be hosting Ukrainian counterpart Volodymr Zelenskyy, and former Pakistan PM Imran Khan will be indicted again.

Coming back to domestic news, the suspense over Rajasthans next CM could end today, ED has issued fresh summons to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Adani Ports board meeting is held today, and Dalai Lama is visiting Sikkim after a gap of 13 years.

Heres an overview of what is likely to unfold over the day.

Xi Jinpings visit to Vietnam

China and Vietnam have a border in common, as well as close economic ties and ruling communist parties, but Chinese president Xi Jinpings two-day trip will be his first visit to the country in six years.

After an official welcome at the presidential palace on Tuesday, Xi will hold talks with Nguyen Phu Trong, the leader of Vietnams ruling communist party.

On Wednesday, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the mausoleum of revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, before Xi meets Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President Vo Van Thuong.

BJP to announce the name of Rajasthans next CM

To end the long-suspense over the chief minister of Rajasthan, the saffron party has called a legislature meeting today to pick a leader for the top job.

Mahant Balaknath and Kirodi Lal Meena, who were being considered for the CM post, have opted out of the race.

Two-time CM Vasundhara Raje, whom many newly elected MLAs continue to meet at her residence, continues to be a formidable leader for the post.

Last day of the COP28 summit 2023

The COP28 summit is headed into its endgame on Tuesday.

The talks in Dubai have highlighted deep international divisions over the future role of oil, gas and coal that are complicating efforts by nearly 200 countries to hash out an agreement before the summits scheduled end on 12 December.

Biden to host Zelenskyy

US president Joe Biden will host his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Tuesday amid stalled discussions on a Kyiv aid deal in Congress.

This will be Zelenskyys third visit to Washington since Russia launched its ongoing war against Ukraine in February 2022.

ED summons Hemant Soren

The Enforcement Directorate has issued fresh summons to Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren for questioning in a money-laundering case linked to an alleged land scam today.

Notably, this is the sixth notice issued to Soren, but he never deposed as he filed a petition before the Supreme Court and later the Jharkhand High Court seeking protection from the ED action.

Imran Khan, Qureshi to be indicted in cipher case

Jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi would be indicted again today in the cipher case for allegedly leaking a diplomatic cable.

A Supreme Court hearing

The top court will examine plea if asking an accused to share location with investigators through mobile phone as bail condition violates the fundamental right to privacy.

For those unversed, in a landmark decision, a nine-judge Constitutions bench on 24 August 2017 unanimously declared that the right of privacy was a fundamental right under the Constitution.

Lanka T10 set to kick off

The first season of the popular T10 will be played starting today to 23 December 2023.

Apart from the Mens T10, Colombo, there are also plans to host the first-ever Womens T10, which will run parallel along with the Lanka T10, featuring some of the best women players in the world.

Dalai Lamas visit to Sikkim

Tibetan spiritual leader the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, arrived in Gangtok on Monday morning for a three-day visit to Sikkim after a gap of 13 years.

He will impart teachings on the Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas during his stay in the Himalayan state.

Adani Ports board meeting

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone will hold a board meeting today to consider a proposal to raise funds through the issue of non-convertible debentures and issue or renew preference shares on private placement or preferential basis.

Consumer inflation & industrial production data to be released

Consumer Price Index Data for November 2023 will be released today. The report is expected to bring more evidence of cooling inflation.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation will release the industrial production data for October will also be released later in the day.
Hamas is Israels Enemy No 1. After the 7 October attacks, the Jewish nation has vowed to eliminate the Palestinian militant group. Now Israels defence minister Yoav Gallant says its army has encircled the last Hamas strongholds in northern Gaza. On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the terror operatives to surrender.

More than two months into the war, reports suggest that Israel is fighting an enemy it created and Netanyahu had a role to play.

Its no secret that Hamas receives funds from some Arab nations and other organisations. Qatar has been a sympathiser, providing refuge to its leaders and sending millions of dollars every month to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. This money helped the Hamas government in the enclave.

Whats shocking though is that Netanyahu was not only in the know-how of the payments but also encouraged them, according to a report by The New York Times (NYT). This was until September, a month before the terror attacks.

A report by Israeli investigative organisation Shomrin and CNN says that concerns about the cash flow were raised by officials of the Israeli government but that did not change Netanyahus stance.

We take a look at how and when these payments we made to Hamas and why the Israeli prime minister backed them.

What do we know about Qatari payments to Hamas?

It was in 2018 that Qatar started sending monthly funds to Gaza after negotiations with Israel. The money  $15 million  was delivered in suitcases by Qataris and it passed through Israeli territory, reports CNN. Israeli intelligence officers were the ones who escorted Qatari officials to Gaza.

The money was used for public salaries and medical purposes, claimed Hamas. The payments started after the Palestinian Authority (PA), which rules in the West Bank, decided to cut the salaries of government employees in Gaza, an Israeli government source told the publication.

Also read: The Business of Terror: Who funds Hamas, how does it get weapons?

How was Netanyahu involved?

In a Cabinet meeting in August 2018, Israel had okayed the deal with Qatar to send funds to Hamas. This was during Netanyahus previous tenure as prime minister.

He was reportedly criticised by collation partners, who accused him of being soft on Hamas. He is said to have defended the plan, saying the deal was made by consulting security experts to return calm to Israeli villages in the south and to prevent a humanitarian disaster in Gaza, according to the CNN report.

He believed that the money would help in maintaining peace in Gaza, which could encourage Hamas to focus on governing instead of fighting.

Why did Israel support the payments to Hamas?

The Qatari payments have been discussed in the Israeli media widely. Israel was hoping that the money would keep Hamas in check.

According to the NYT report, Netanyahu told Israeli journalist Dan Margalit in December 2012 that it was important to keep Hamas strong, as a counterweight to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. He believed that having two strong rivals would lessen the pressure on him to negotiate toward a Palestinian state.

Shlomo Brom, a retired general and former deputy to Israels national security adviser, told NYT that an empowered Hamas helped Netanyahu avoid negotiating over a Palestinian state. One effective way to prevent a two-state solution is to divide between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, he said.

Netanyahus critics say that the payments were part of a strategy of buying quiet from Hamas and also propping it up the weaken the PA, which is internationally recognised.

Israeli politicians and military and intelligence officers were largely on board with the decision to allow payments to Hamas, say reports. This is because they believed that Hamas was not interested or capable of carrying out a large-scale attack. However, the 7 October strikes proved that their thinking was flawed.

Did Hamas use the money for the attacks?

In September, weeks before the attacks, Mossad chief David Barnea met Qatari officials in Doha and was asked if Israel wanted the payments to continue. Since the Netanyahu government had decided to continue the policy, he said yes, reports NYT.

According to Israeli intelligence officials, the Qatari money played a role in the success of the terror attacks. They believe Hamas could have diverted some of the funds toward its military operations, the report says.

Apart from the money that Israel was aware of, Qatar reportedly also used other channels to secretly fund the Palestinian groups military wing.

What has Netanyahu said?

Netanyahu has denied accusations that he allowed Qatar to strengthen Hamas to keep Palestinians divided. Its a big lie that I wanted to build [up] Hamas. Ridiculous, he said in an interview with BILD and Axel Springer, the parent company of POLITICO. You dont go to war three times with Hamas or do major military operations if you want to build up Hamas.

Multiple Israeli governments enabled money to go to Gaza for humanitarian reasons, not to strengthen Hamas, an official in Netanyahus office said in a statement, quoted by NYT. Prime Minister Netanyahu acted to weaken Hamas significantly. He led three powerful military operations against Hamas which killed thousands of terrorists and senior Hamas commanders, he added.

How has Israel reacted to the reports?

Netanyahu has been severely criticised for the policy that funded Hamas. Many believe that the payments made Hamas stronger and the attacks worse, reports CNN.

Major General Amos Gilad, a former senior Israeli defence ministry official, was quoted as saying that while the plan was backed by the PM, it was not supported by the Israeli intelligence community. He said that he had opposed the decision to allow money to reach Hamas, saying the cash flow over the years was a dramatic, tragic mistake.

The Israeli population has been criticising the PM since the attack with many believing that he failed to prevent it. A poll released last month revealed that only 27 per cent of Israelis believe that Netanyahu is the right person to run the government.

The poll conducted by the Lazar Research Institute for the Israeli daily Maariv found that 49 per cent of Israelis believed that Benny Gantz, leader of the National Unity Party, is the best figure to lead the countrys government.

What has Qatar said?

Qatar has close ties with Hamas and the West, including the United States. It played a crucial role in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which allowed for the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners amid the ongoing war.

The Qatar government has denied accusations of funding Hamass military wing. Any attempt to cast a shadow of uncertainty about the civilian and humanitarian nature of Qatars contributions and their positive impact is baseless, a Qatari official was quoted as saying by NYT.

With inputs from agencies
The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has banned all types of protests inside the campus.

Putting up wall posters and staging dharnas within 100 metres of the academic buildings can lead to a fine of up to Rs 20,000 or expulsion, according to a manual.

The new rule came into effect after the JNU Executive Council approved a Chief Proctor Office (CPO) manual containing the discipline and conduct rules on 24 November.

The JNU Students Union has strongly opposed the regulations, calling them an effort to suppress the vibrant campus culture.

However, responding to the opposition, Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit told PTI that the rules and regulations against misconduct have been in place at the varsity since long and the manual was made legally sound by getting it approved by the EC.

Lets take a closer look at the matter.

JNU bans protests on campus

According to the revised CPO manual, the Delhi-based university has barred protests within 100 metres of academic buildings as well where classes are conducted.

The academic buildings of different schools house offices of chairpersons, deans and other important office-bearers, apart from classrooms and labs.

According to PTI, the manual said, if a student is found involved in a hunger strike, dharna, group bargaining and any other form of protest within 100-metre radius of any academic and administrative complex or is found blocking entrance or exit of any of these complexes, he or she will be either imposed a fine of Rs 20,000, evicted from hostel for two months or be rusticated and declared out of bounds for up to two months.

All forms of coercion such as gheraos, sit-ins or any variation of the same which disrupt the normal academic and administrative functioning of the university or any act inciting violence will be punished as well, it added.

The move comes after an anti-national slogan was scribbled on the universitys School of Languages building wall. The administration had later announced to set up a committee to look into the repeated nature of such incidents on the campus.

Notably, previously protests within 100 metres of the administrative blocks, which house the offices of the Vice-Chancellor, registrar, and proctors, among others, was prohibited as per a High Court order.

JNU has prohibited printing, circulating or pasting posters or pamphlets carrying any kind of derogatory religious, communal, casteist or anti-national remarks.

The heavy fine

Any act to incite intolerance towards a religion, caste, or community or an activity which is deemed anti-national will be imposed with a fine of Rs 10,000, as per PTI.

A student who has received five or more punishments during the duration of their study shall be expelled from the university, the manual noted.

In case a student is found guilty of being involved in any of the prohibited activities and is given a punishment, he or she will not be allowed to register for the semester and they would not be given a no-dues certificate until the imposed fine is cleared.

The administration will also send a copy of the punishment to the parents or guardian of the student besides uploading it on the official website.

If a student fails to appear before the proctorial enquiry, the committee will assume that the complaint was filed with a malafide intention and the student may be asked to perform community service in JNU.

Any false allegation against any student by the complainant can also lead to rustication from the university.

Furthermore, the university now will not allow cross-examination between defendant and complainant or the witness, which use to be an important rule of the proctorial enquiry earlier.

The Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandits or the competent authoritys decision will be the final call, in case any dispute arises with regard to the interpretation of any of these rules, the manual said.

Students oppose the rule

The JNU Students Union (JNUSU) is calling for the immediate revocation of the manual. It says that considering diverse perspectives, decisions affecting the entire student community should be made collectively.

The stringent measures outlined in the manual are aimed at stifling the vibrant campus culture that has defined JNU for decades. The JNUSU demands that the university administration immediately revoke the manual of the office of the Chief Proctor Manual, the students union said, as per PTI.

Such excessive regulations are intended to discourage open discussions, dissent, and intellectual exploration, which are fundamental to the spirit of our university, the students union said, according to Scroll.in, adding, The JNU chief proctor manual lacks clarity on several crucial aspects, leaving room for misinterpretation and arbitrary implementation. Such ambiguous rules can lead to unfair and discriminatory practices, jeopardizing the rights of individual students.

According to Swarajya magazine, earlier, the administration faced opposition for penalising two students in August for alleged misbehaviour with a hostel warden. They were intially fined Rs 10,000 each, which was later withdrawn.

VC Pandit told PTI, This is old not new. Passed unanimously by the EC last month as the manual had to be made legally sound. The fines are on indiscipline of drinking, drugs and misbehavior in hostels and towards women. The proctors office since 1969 has been taking action, imposing fines and rustications.

Similar move in Lucknow college

In July 2022, the Lucknow University imposed a ban on all protests, dharma and processions on campus. The authorities, according to Hindustan Times, said the decision was initiated due to the proposed visit by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) team.

The university also issued a list of dos and dont, while seeking cooperation from students, teachers and staff.

In December 2022, Jai Narain Misra Postgraduate College in Lucknow had banned students from protesting on campus, reported The Times of India.

Principal Meeta Shah issued an order citing the implementation of Section 144 in the city until 10 January this year by the office of the joint commissioner of police (law and order) to maintain law and order.

The prohibition on protests came in the wake of a recent demonstration on the college campus where students were advocating for student union elections.

LUACTA president Manoj Pandey said that the decision was made in response to the demands for student union elections.
The mystery around the US militarys X-37B plane continues.

On Monday, SpaceX announced that the X-37Bs seventh mission into orbit was being delayed by at least a day.

The X-37B has flown six missions since 2010.

Its previous flight lasted well over two years before the vehicle return landed in November 2022.

The US defence department discloses few details about its operation, which is carried out as part of the militarys National Security Space Launch program.

But what do we know about X-37B?

Lets take a closer look:

What do we know?

According to Secure World, the X-37B began in 1999 as a NASA initiative.

It was shifted to Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in 2004.

It then became a classified project and was given to the US Air Force.

The programme is run by the Air Forces Rapid Capabilities Office.

Its mission control is the Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado.

As per Boeing.com, the X-37B is among the worlds newest and most advanced re-entry craft. The unmanned spacecraft is designed to work in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO).

As per Space.com, the vehicle is similar to NASAs famous space shuttle. It is 8.8 meters long and 2.9 metre tall.

That puts it at one fourth the size of the space shuttle, as per the Boeing website,

With a wingspan of less than 4.6 metres, it weights around 5,000 kilograms. Its payload bay is 2.1 metres by 1.2 metres.

It can operate from anywhere between 177 kilometres to 805 kilometres. It launches vertically via a rocket and then cruises back to the Earth and lands on a runway.

The Pentagon is thought to have two X-37Bs, as per Geekwire.com.

Both have been built by Boeing.

As per CBS, the X-37Bs have spent more than a decade in space thus far.

Its first five missions were powered by the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rockets. The sixth mission used the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

X-37Bs space voyages:

OTV-1: April 2010  Dec 2010 (224 days).

OTV-2: March 2011 to June 2012 (468 days).

OTV-3: December 2012 to October 2014 (674 days).

OTV-4: May 2015 to May 2017 (718 days).

OTV-5: September 2017 to October 2019 (780 days).

OTV-6: May 2020 to November 2022 (908 days).

As per Washington Post, SpaceX was awarded the $130 million launch contract in 2018.

As per the Space Force website, the sixth mission was the first to use a service module.

The space force called it a ring attached to the rear of the vehicle expanding the number of experiments that can be hosted during a mission.

The X-37Bs come with an extendable solar array that allows them to fly for an extremely long time.

This current mission will be the first to use the powerful SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

The Falcon Heavy comprises three reusable rocket cores strapped together.

As per New Scientist, the Falcon Heavy is around three times more powerful than the Atlas V and Falcon 9 rockets.

The Falcon Heavy is capable of lofting the vehicle far higher in orbit than ever before.

What is it doing in space?

Thats the mystery.

A factsheet from the US Air Force states, The primary objectives of the X-37B are twofold: reusable spacecraft technologies for Americas future in space and operating experiments which can be returned to, and examined, on Earth.

Secure World in a fact sheet states that the X-37B has near-zero feasibility as an orbital weapons system for attacking targets on the ground.

It says the X-37B is likely used for testing reusable space launch vehicle technologies (such as guidance and thermal protection) and on-orbit testing of new sensor technologies and satellite hardware for risk reduction.

As per NPR, a slew of experiments have been conducted aboard the X-37B including trying to transform solar power into microwave energy, testing the sturdiness of materials in space and the long-term effects of space radiation on seeds.

According to CNET, its previous mission also left behind a satellite for US Air Force Academy cadets to get hands-on experience as space operators.

The X-37B continues to push the boundaries of experimentation, enabled by an elite government and industry team behind the scenes, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Fritschen, the X-37B program director for the Air Force Departments Rapid Capabilities Office was quoted as saying by NPR after the sixth mission.

The ability to conduct on-orbit experiments and bring them home safely for in-depth analysis on the ground has proven valuable for the Department of the Air Force and scientific community.

Like the other missions before it, not much is known about the objectives of its latest flight.

The Space Force website states, The NASA experiment onboard will expose plant seeds to the harsh radiation environment of long-duration spaceflight. Known as Seeds-2, the experiment will build upon the successes of prior experiments, paving the way for future crewed space missions.

The Space Force in a statement said the X-37B in this mission would find itself operating in new orbital regimes.

The Washington Post quoted the Pentagon as saying the mission has a wide range of test and experimentation objectives.

These tests include operating the reusable spaceplane in new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies.

Experts say the mystery surrounding the X-37B is strange.

The US government is in this weird place where they brag publicly about how amazing it is and cutting edge, but will not provide any info about it, Brian Weeden, the director of program planning at the Secure World Foundation think-tank told the Washington Post.

Its doing something that the Pentagon feels is very important, Weeden added.

It has been a remarkable test bed and experimentation vehicle for many years, General David Thompson, the Space Forces vice chief of space operations was quoted as saying by the newspaper. I would tell you, youre only beginning to see some of the exciting things that we have planned for the X-37.

Mission halted due to ground side issue

The flight was called off for the night about 25 minutes before the start of a targeted launch window set to open at 8:14 pm EST as the rocket stood poised for lift-off from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

In a message posted on the social media platform X, Elon Musks California-based rocket venture said the countdown was halted due to a ground side issue, adding that the vehicle and payload remain healthy. SpaceX did not elaborate.

The company did not immediately say when it would try again. The missions next launch opportunity is Tuesday night, SpaceX said.

The original plan to send the spacecraft to orbit late on Sunday was scrubbed due to poor weather conditions at the Cape.

With inputs from agencies
The BJP has chosen Bhajanlal Sharma as Rajasthan chief minister.

The choice of Sharma by the BJP legislature put an end to days of speculation about whom the party would pick.

The BJP ousted the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan in the recently held Assembly polls winning 115 seats out of the 199 seats available.

The Congress, meanwhile, was reduced to just 69 seats.

The BJP had appointed observers led by defence minister Rajnath Singh to hold a meeting with elected legislators in Rajasthan to declare the CM candidate.

But what do we know about Sharma? Why was he chosen? And whom were the other names doing the rounds?

Lets take a closer look:

Who is he?

Sharma, an upper caste leader, is a first-time MLA.

The 56-year-old won the Sanganer seat in the recently held Assembly polls.

He netted an impressive 145,162 votes against the Congress Pushpendra Bhardwaj 97,081 votes.

As per Moneycontrol, Sharma hails from Bharatpur.

Sharma, who is a postgraduate, declared that he has assets worth Rs 1.5 crore in his Election Commission affidavit.

His father is named Kishan Swaroop Sharma.

This comprises Rs 43.6 lakh in movable assets and Rs 1 crore as immovable assets.

Sharma, who has links to the RSS and ABVP, is the senior most general secretary of Rajasthan BJP.

He has held the post four times.

Sharma is considered to be the BJPs man in Rajasthan and is said to maintain a low profile, as per Moneycontrol.

As per Hindustan Times, he is considered close to BJP party chief JP Nadda.

He completed postgraduate from Jaipurs Rajasthan University in 1993.

He has a Masters Degree in politics.

As per Indian Express, Sharma has one criminal case lodged against him.

Why did the party pick Sharma? What other names were doing rounds?

As per Business Today, Sharmas choice indicates that the party was looking beyond ex-chief minister Vasundhara Raje and that it wanted a changing of the guard.

NDTV quoted sources as saying that the BJP could be considering generational change as a factor when picking CMs as well as looking ahead to the 2024 polls.

The BJP, like the other states that went to the polls, did not choose a CM face in Rajasthan.

The BJP has already sprung surprises by choosing Vishnu Deo Sai and Mohan Yadav as chief ministers of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

The choice indicates that this is the end of the road for Raje  who some thought was the front-runner in Rajasthan  who won from the Jhalrapatan seat by a margin of 53,193 votes.

As per Business Today, Raje in recent days met with a number of MLAs in what was seen as a show of support.

Raje even travelled to Delhi to meet central leadership.

Ironically, it was Raje herself who proposed Sharmas name for chief minister.

Another name that was being considered for chief minister was that of Vidhyadhar Nagar MLA Diya Kumari.

Kumari on Tuesday was named deputy chief minister of Rajasthan alongside Dudu MLA Premchand Bairwa.

The Vidhyadhar Nagar MLA is a member of the erstwhile Jaipur royal family.

Her father is the former Jaipur royal Sawai Bhawani Singh.

Singh earned plaudits in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war as a lieutenant colonel and the commanding officer of the Para Commandos of the 10th Parachute Regiment.

Kumari, who received 1,58,516 votes in the recently held Assembly polls, beat the Congress Sitaram Agrawal by a margin of 71,368 votes.

The Rajsamand MP was earlier elected as an MLA from Sawai Madhopur in 2013.

She was elected to the Lok Sabha in the 2019 parliamentary polls.

She is associated with several NGOs and organisations, including the Eye Bank Society of Rajasthan and Rays, an NGO working for HIV+ children.

She is the patron of the NGO.

Some were saying that BJP MLA Baba Balaknath  a priest turned politician  was also being considered for the top post.

Balaknath, an MP from Alwar, prevailed in the hotly-contested Tijara seat.

Balaknath defeated the Congress Imran Khan who got 1,04,036 votes by a margin of 6,173 votes.

The seat witnessed the second-highest polling percentage at 86.11.

Balaknath, 39, who belongs to the same Nath sect as Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, emerged as a strong leader after his victory in Tijara  a seat the BJP had won only once between the first election in 1951 and 2018.

Balaknath on Saturday had asked the public to ignore discussions about his name being brought up for the post of chief minister.

He said needs to gain experience under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ignore the discussions going on in the media and social media that came out after the election results. Now, I have to gain experience under the guidance of Prime Minister, Balaknath said on X.

The Election Commission had served a notice to Balaknath over his statement where he compared the Assembly elections to an India-Pakistan match.

Balaknath later claimed he was encouraging people to turn out in maximum numbers to increase the voting percentage.

The Muslims here are being dominated. There are Muslims of extremist mindset here. They have dominated everyone here

They are the same extremists who are dominating the whole Muslim community and going against their will. The situation today in Tijara is bad because of them.

Their thought process is anti-national and is aimed at stopping the countrys development the people of Tijara will answer them, Balaknath had told PTI ahead of voting.

The names of Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Arjun Meghwal and Ashwini Vaishnaw were also among the probables for chief minister.

Shekhawat, the Union Jal Shakti minister, is the BJPs Rajput face in Rajasthan, as per Hindustan Times.

Shekhawat first gained the spotlight by defeating then Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlots son Vaibhav in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

He is said to be close to the RSS and top party leadership.

He earlier denied being in the race for the chief ministers post.

I am not in any kind of race. I only do the work my leadership and the organisation gives me to do. I have no aspiration or desire other than this, the 56-year-old told PTI.

Meghawal, meanwhile, is the Minister of State (independent charge) of Law and Justice.

The ex-bureaucrat and among the BJPs Dalit faces in the state is said to enjoy Modis confidence, as per Hindustan Times.

The 69-year-old three time MP is said to be a good administrator and keep a low profile.

Vaishnaw is the Union Railway Minister as well as the IT minister.

The bureaucrat-entrepreneur-turned-politician took charge of the railways in July 2021.

The former IAS officer of the 1994-batch previously held leadership roles across major global companies such as General Electric and Siemens.

Vaishnaw did his MBA from the Wharton School, Pennsylvania University, and his M Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur.

Elections for 199 out of 200 seats was held on 25 November and the result was declared on 3 December.

The election for Karanpur seat of Sriganganagar could not be held due to death of Congress candidate.

With inputs from agencies
The BJP has done it again.

On Tuesday, the saffron party picked first-time MLA Bhajanlal Sharma as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

The surprise choice was announced after BJP MLAs met and elected the 56-year-old legislator from Sanganer as the leader of its legislature party. He is at present a Rajasthan BJP general secretary.

Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa will be the deputy chief ministers and Vasudev Devnani the speaker of the state Assembly.

This comes on the heels of the BJP springing a surprise by choosing Vishnu Deo Sai and Mohan Yadav as the chief ministers of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

Meanwhile, big names like Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Singh Chouhan have been left by the wayside.

But why has the BJP picked new faces in the Hindi heartland?

Lets take a closer look:

Chhattisgarh

As per a piece in the Economic Times, while many have been surprised by the BJPs choices, the picks line up with the BJPs 2024 game plan to balance caste and class dynamics.

The pick of Sai  a tribal leader in Chhattisgarh  for example, reveals the BJPs intent to appeal to tribal voters both in the state and its neighbours of Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Odisha.

A piece in NDTV pointed out that while the party could have picked an OBC CM its dominant showing in tribal-dominated seats paved the way for its pick.

The piece also argued that Sai was chosen with an eye to prepare a cross-border campaign platform ahead of 2024.

It noted that Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand have a tribal population of around 22 and 26 per cent respectively.

Meanwhile, tribal communities comprise around 23 per cent in President Droupadi Murmus home state of Odisha.

Picking Mr Sai as the Chief Minister in Chhattisgarh allows the BJP to project itself as a tribal-friendly face in these states before the 2024 polls. These four combined have 75 Lok Sabha seats, of which 20 are reserved for tribal communities that, in dozens more, are a key vote base, the piece noted.

Madhya Pradesh

As per Economic Times, the BJP chose Mohan Yadav in Madhya Pradesh with an eye on wooing Yadav voters in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar  states crucial to the partys 2024 ambitions.

The BJPs delicate balancing act also involves appointing deputy chief ministers from different communities, including a Dalit and a Brahmin, the piece noted.

The NDTV article also argued that Yadav being chosen is an indication of the BJP paying attention to the two crucial states that will send 120 MPs to the Lok Sabha.

Essentially, if the BJP were to sweep these two states (and assuming it continues to dominate the Hindi heartland), there is realistically little the Opposition can do to prevent a third term for Mr Modi, the piece argued.

A piece in Hindu Business Line stated that history seems to have repeated itself as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah once again did not pick the leader of a prominent caste in a state to become chief minister.

This started with Devendra Fadnavis, who was asked to become for the first time Mahrastra CM in October of 2014, ignoring Maratha claimants from within the party. Around the same time, the strategy was successfully repeated in Haryana with Manohar Lal Khattar, a non-Jat leader, asked to spearhead the state, the state argued.

The outlet quoted sources as saying that the BJP via its choice is also trying to convey that it will not brook factionalism ahead of the 2024 polls.

Rajasthan

The Economic Times piece pointed out Bhajanlal Sharma, the partys choice in Rajasthan is close to the RSS  the BJPs ideological fountainhead  as well as its national chief JP Nadda.

While the BJPs practice of choosing leaders based on caste and community affiliations is not novel, the current selections indicate a strategic move towards a broader regional spread of different communities and castes. These decisions, which impact the composition of leadership in three crucial states, underscore the partys meticulous planning to consolidate support ahead of the 2024 elections, the piece noted.

The piece also argued that the BJP is attempting to send a message that everyone in the party has an equal shot at rising through the ranks.

The move is likely to strengthen the party cadre with the belief that any party worker will be elevated based on performance, the Economic Times piece concluded.

The NDTV piece also said Sharmas selection in Rajasthan allows the BJP to avoid the dreaded curse of anti-incumbency

He is a (brand) new face and fits the bill as an upper caste leader. And, as with the other two states, it seems he was picked with a weather eye on next years election, the piece argued.

With inputs from agencies
A 29-year-old Yemeni man, who lived with a 3-cm-long bullet in his head for nearly 18 years, had last week got the metal removed at a private hospital in Karnatakas Bengaluru.

However, the bullet had left the man, a father of two, deaf

The bullet was lodged deep inside the Yemeni mans left temporal bone and he used to regularly witness chronic headaches and persistent ear discharges.

The man told ToI he got severely injured on his head by a bullet that was fired during clashes between two warring groups when he was 10-year-old.

He further said he was bleeding profusely and was rushed to a hospital where the healthcare officials only cleaned the wound and did not bother to remove the bullet.

The bullet had pierced through the ear and the entrance of the ear narrowed leading to puss discharge.

The metal was partly exposed in the ear passage, while its inner end was lodged in the bone, which did not allow the wound to heal.

The constant accumulation of puss led to repeated ear infections which resulted in frequent headaches which the man often complained of.

The man grew up in a village in Yemen and has six brothers and three sisters. His father was a farmer and mother a homemaker.

The family had a farm close to their house and the man used to help his father with watering and manuring the plants. He would also run errands.

Daunting surgery

The man had come to Bengaluru with much hope after some of his friends suggested him to visit the city and get himself treated in Aster hospital.

Though he has returned to Yemen and is said to be doing well now, doctors at the hospital found the surgery daunting.

The bullet was lodged inside his ear, deep inside the temporal bone in the left side and very close to the vital vascular structures, which made surgery challenging. Because of the proximity of the surgical site to the vital vascular structures, the patient was at risk of major bleeding when the bullet was removed, the report quoted Dr Rohit Udaya Prasad, lead consultant, ENT and cochlear implant surgery at Aster RV as saying.

To find out the exact location of blood vessels and bullet, the surgical team opted for CT angiography instead of an MRI.

We used a basic two-dimensional X-ray with which we found out the exact location of the bullet, Dr Prasad said.

We went about it meticulously and managed to dislodge the bullet from its surrounding attachments and mobilise it quickly. The surgery was uneventful and the patient didnt have any major bleeding, he further said.

The doctor even said the surgical team was prepared for any eventuality.

The procedure has relieved his pain and has even partially restored his hearing. Also, before leaving India for Yemen, the man left behind the bullet to avoid detention at the airport.
FBI Director Christopher Wray visited the NIA headquarters in India on Tuesday, and emphasised the need to take the partnership between the US and India to the next level to deal with constantly-evolving challenges and threats of terrorism, an official said.

The discussions delved into the recent attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco, as well as the investigation of various cyber-terror and cyber-crime incidents.

The visit symbolises a significant stride towards enhancing the cooperation and shared commitment between the national agencies of the US and India in the global fight against terrorism.

Dinkar Gupta, Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), highlighted the growing nexus between terrorist groups and organised criminal syndicates, extending its reach to the United States.

The meeting involved comprehensive discussions on issues such as the activities of terrorist-organized criminal networks.

The meeting comes close on the heels of Washingtons allegations about an Indian link to a foiled plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

India has already constituted a probe team to investigate the allegations.

Wray said both the agencies have a lot in common and the similarities are far greater than the differences.

On the nexus between terror actors and organised crime syndicates, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director said a blending of lines between terrorists and criminals was now visible in the cyberspace as well.

Terror incidents like 9/11 and the Mumbai attacks have changed the way in which nations respond to terror threats, he observed, emphasising on the need to take the partnership and cooperation between the FBI and the NIA to the next level to deal with the constantly evolving challenges and threats of terrorism.

During the meeting, the NIA DG pointed out that threats in the cyber domain were increasing.

Digital space was also being effectively exploited by terrorists and extremists for propagating radical views and recruitment, he said, adding that NIA was also seeing use of cryptocurrency for terrorist financing.

Wray said increasingly, cybercrimes are being committed to fund terrorism.

This evolution of the cyber-threat needs a joint response towards investigation of cyber-threat cases, he stressed.

The difficulties encountered by law enforcement agencies across the world in obtaining data from encryption apps also came up for discussion during the meeting.

The two sides noted that with the advent of newer technologies at a fast pace, tracing, tracking and investigating crypto transactions is turning out to be a huge challenge, the official said.

The official said both the agencies recognised the challenges posed by organised crime networks, terror related crimes, cyber enabled terror attacks, ransomware threats, economic crimes and transnational terror crimes.

Wray also remarked that newer challenges mean that there are new opportunities for law enforcement agencies to cooperate in newer ways.

He thanked the NIA for the enduring cooperation between the two agencies, and looked forward to exploration of new opportunities to collaborate further.

Wray also informed the NIA that the FBI was aggressively investigating the attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco.

The Consulate General of India in San Francisco was attacked on March 19 by a group of assailants who committed criminal trespass, damaged public property, and attacked officials of the consulate. They also attempted to set the Consulate building on fire by sprinkling inflammable substances early in the morning.

Subsequently on July 2 at midnight, a few unidentified attackers attempted to set the consulate building on fire.

The DG NIA thanked the FBI for being a very significant partner in the training and capacity building of Indian police officers.

Both agencies agreed to explore increasing its future interactions and collaborative initiatives on the training track, the official said.

With inputs from PTI
Following the historic completion of its Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, ISRO is ramping up its preparations to send Indian humans to the Moon for the first time by 2040.

ISRO head S Somanath announced the selection of four test pilots from the Indian Air Force as Astronaut-Designates for the mission.

Looking ahead, ISRO plans to launch a crew of 2 to 3 Indian astronauts into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for up to three days before safely returning them to a predefined site in Indian waters with the Gaganyaan programme, he revealed in an exclusive article for Manorama Yearbook 2024, which was released last week.

They are now completing mission-specific training at the Astronaut Training Facility (ATF) in Bengaluru, according to Somanath, who is also Secretary of Space and Chairman of the Space Commission.

Gaganyaan, the first manned space mission, will require the development of crucial technologies such as a human-rated (capable of safely transporting humans) launch vehicle (HLVM3), an Orbital Module consisting of a Crew Module (CM) and Service Module (SM), and life support systems.

The manned mission will be preceded by two similar uncrewed missions (G1 & G2), as well as Integrated Air Drop Test, Pad Abort Test, and Test Vehicle flights.

CM is a habitable space with an Earth-like environment in space for the crew and is designed for safe re-entry. Safety measures also include a Crew Escape System (CES) for emergencies, a statement issued by Malayala Manorama said.

The first development flight of Test Vehicle (TV-D1) was launched on October 21, 2023, and it successfully demonstrated in-flight abort of the Crew Escape System, followed by Crew Module separation and its safe recovery from the Bay of Bengal by the Indian Navy.

The success of this test flight was crucial for subsequent unmanned missions and the ultimate human space mission, expected to be launched in 2025, Somanath said.

Aditya L1, which is Indias maiden solar exploratory mission, is also an important mission of the ISRO, he noted.

It will study the sun from the unique vantage point of Lagrange Point 1, showcasing the countrys prowess in both lunar and solar research.

Launched on September 2, Aditya L1 is poised for a five-year mission.

The spacecraft is on its intended path towards Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1(L1), approximately 1.5 million km from Earth, where it will be inserted into a Halo orbit in January 2024, he explained.

On the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, he termed it as a historic achievement, leading to the declaration of August 23 (landing near the lunar south pole) as National Space Day in India by the Prime Minister.

In the mission life of 14 earth days, it yielded valuable lunar data, discovering aluminium, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium, sulphur, manganese, silicon, and oxygen in lunar soil.

Referring to some ambitious ongoing and upcoming missions, he said these include Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) programme, X-ray astronomy mission XPOSAT (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite), Space Docking Experiment, and LOX-Methane engine.

Together, these transformative initiatives define a new space saga in Indias pursuit of space exploration, fostering scientific progress and an ever-expanding cosmic horizon.

Elaborating, he said SSLV, a three-stage launch vehicle, can launch 500 kg satellite into 500 km planar orbit, and can accommodate multiple satellites.

It has launch-on-demand feasibility, minimal launch infrastructure requirements and low cost. With two flights in the recent past, SSLV is at the stage of transition from developmental flights to operational flights.

Somanath further said the Prime Minister has set ambitious goals such as commissioning Bharatiya Antariksha Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035, and embarking on interplanetary exploration, featuring a Venus Orbiter Mission and a Mars Lander, to further solidify Indias presence on the global space stage.

Exuding confidence that Indias space programme will reach new heights in the coming years, he said, with every mission launched and every discovery made, ISRO reaffirms its position on the global stage as a force to reckon with, instilling national pride and expanding Indias technological feat.
Three updated criminal law bills, which will replace the Indian Evidence Act, the CrPc, and the IPC, were introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The three legislation that the Lok Sabha had approved during the monsoon session of parliament were withdrawn by the Home Minister.

The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023, and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023 are the three modified criminal law legislation that Amit Shah has introduced in the Lok Sabha.

According to Amit Shah, some revisions needed to be made, thus the legislation were withdrawn and three new ones were submitted. He stated that when the measures were reviewed by the Standing Committee, it was decided to introduce them again rather than make formal revisions.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a Congress politician, recommended that the measures be examined in further detail.

Members would have time to review the legislation once they were reviewed by the Standing Committee, according to Amit Shah. He stated that he will respond to the legislation on Friday and that the debate would be resumed on Thursday.

The Indian Evidence Act of 1872, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) of 1973, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860 will all be superseded by the three legislation.

The IPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act are intended to be replaced, respectively, by the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill 2023.

On August 11, the prior legislation were presented in the lower house of parliament and referred to the Standing Committee.

(With agency inputs)
Reacting to the startling increase in drug-related activity on Instagram, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday that the well-known social media site has become a drug market.

In the state legislative council here during the current winter session, Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, stated that drugs were also being sold through the dark netan encrypted portion of the Internet inaccessible through search engines.

Instagram has emerged as the drug marketplace where orders are being placed, payments are made through GPay and UPI and deliveries are being done, he stated.

Fadnavis stated that decisive action is being taken in this regard in response to questions posed by lawmakers Mahadev Jankar, Sachin Ahir, Anil Parab, and others.

In order to stop the drug trade, he added, courier companies have been urged to carefully examine packages, and surprise technologically advanced checks are being carried out at courier offices.

Ahir brought up the case of drug trafficker Lalit Patil and the dismissal of Sanjiv Thakur from the Sassoon Hospital deanship in Pune.

Fadnavis promised that after a comprehensive investigation, the right steps would be taken.

Patil emerged as the kingpin of a drug racket that was recently busted by the Sakinaka police in Mumbai in a two-month-long operation, which included the seizure of mephedrone worth about Rs 300 crore and a raid at a drug manufacturing unit in Nashik.

The case took a new turn after Patil, who was in Punes Yerawada prison over his role in another drug case but was admitted to government-run Sassoon Hospital in that city, escaped on October 2 while being taken for X-ray imaging. He was arrested in Karnataka two weeks later.

Fadnavis also said the government has initiated action against 172 Nigerians involved in drug-related offenses. A detention centre has been established for Nigerian nationals engaged in such offences, he said.

The deputy CM further said 2,369 suspicious paan shops located in the vicinity of schools and colleges in Mumbai have been removed.

The government has also seized 38,000 e-cigarettes and crackdown on hookah parlours is underway, he said.

Leader of opposition in the council Ambadas Danve of the Shiv Sena (UBT) raised the issue of illegal drug units operating in industries and factories which were shut.

Fadnavis acknowledged Danves information and said such closed industries were under a thorough scrutiny.

Manufacturing of MD drug involves the use of various chemicals, the deputy CM added.

His statements came in the backdrop of seizure of mephedrone worth Rs 325 crore in adjoining Raigad district in the past four days, a police official said on Monday.

Following the seizure of mephedrone worth Rs 107.3 crore on Friday (December 8), follow up action led to confiscation of another 174.5 kilograms of the synthetic stimulant drug worth Rs 218 crore, the official said.

Fridays raid was held in a factory in Khopolis Dheku village, leading to the arrest of three persons.

Replying to a query from Danve, the home minister said in the lower house on Tuesday that drug kingpin Patil had spent seven months in the hospital after being arrested.

From 2020 onwards, whenever he was arrested, he was admitted to the hospital. Looking at his list of health issues, one might assume he couldnt even walk. Nevertheless, he escaped from the hospital, Fadnavis said.

He assured strict action against Thakur, the ousted dean of Sassoon Hospital from where Patil had escaped.

(with inputs from PTI)
National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday kicked up a row after he angrily said let Jammu and Kashmir go to hell when he was quizzed about the Supreme Courts verdict on the abrogation of Article 370.

#WATCH | Delhi: National Conference Chief Farooq Abdullah says, Let Jammu and Kashmir go to hellThey betrayed people. They want to win peoples hearts. Howd you win that if youd do such things to push people farther away? pic.twitter.com/uVX8P3dmcO  ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2023

Abdullah retort to the reporters question on the top courts verdict seemed to be borne out of frustration.

Let Jammu and Kashmir go to hell, he said, adding, They betrayed people. They want to win peoples hearts. Howd you win that if youd do such things to push people farther away?

Reacting to the development, the BJP said that Abdullahs statement has exposed the true face of the Opposition.

Coming out in defence of Jawahar Lal Nehru after the BJP blamed the countrys first prime minister for decades of violence and instability in Jammu and Kashmir and the special constitutional privileges for the erstwhile state under Article 370, the NC stalwart claimed that the former was in the US when the special provision was brought.

He claimed that the then Union Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and saffron ideologue and Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mukherjee were involved in the process of according special constitutional privileges to the erstwhile state.

I dont know why they (BJP) have so much venom against (Pandit Jawaharlal) Nehru. Nehru is not the one responsible (for providing special status to J-K under Article 370). When this article (370) was brought, Sardar Patel was here (in Parliament) and Pandit Nehru was in America. When the cabinet meeting (on the imposition of the special constitutional provision) took place, Syama Prasad Mukherjee was also party to it. It was at this meeting that the decision was taken, Abdullah said.

Abdullah said he was hopeful that the Supreme Court would direct the Centre to conduct immediate elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

The apex court, while upholding the revocation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir in a landmark ruling on Monday, set a deadline of September next year for the Centre to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and hold elections there.

We want immediate elections to take place in Kashmir but the Supreme Court gave them time till September. Wheres the justice? he said.

With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lauded the Supreme Court verdict on the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35(A) and cited it as a reliable method to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of the country. He also pointed out that the last four years in Jammu and Kashmir have been marked with renewed faith in grassroots democracy and development, where dignity replaced disillusionment and disappointment.

In an opinion piece which appeared in several newspapers on Tuesday following the Supreme Court upholding the validity of the Centre abrogating Article 370, PM Modi underscored how as a BJP member associated with the issue for many decades he had developed a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved.

The prime minister in his opinion piece said that he was confident that that people of Jammu and Kashmir wanted development and wanted to contribute to the development of India based on their strengths and skills.

They also want a better quality of life for their children, free from violence and uncertainty, he wrote, adding his government gave primacy to three pillars of understanding citizens concerns, building trust through supportive actions, and prioritising development, development and more development.

PM Modi reiterated that with its verdict on Monday, the top court had strengthened the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat and had reminded the country that what defines the people are bonds of unity and a shared commitment to good governance.

Today, every child in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is born with a clean canvas, where he or she can paint a future full of vibrant aspirations. Today, the dreams of the people are no longer prisoners of the past but about possibilities for the future, he said.

Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakhs breathtaking landscapes, serene valleys, and majestic mountains have captivated the hearts of poets, artists and adventurers for generations. It is a place where the sublime meets the extraordinary, where the Himalayas reach for the sky, and where the pristine waters of its lakes and rivers mirror the heavens. But, for the last seven decades, these places have witnessed the worst form of violence and instability, something which the wonderful people never deserved, he wrote.

Unfortunately, due to centuries of colonisation, most notably economic and mental subjugation, we became a confused society of sorts. Rather than taking a clear position on very basic things, we allowed duality, leading to confusion. Sadly, Jammu and Kashmir became a big victim of such a mind-set. At the time of independence, we had a choice of making a fresh start for national integration. Instead, we decided to continue with the confused society approach even if it meant ignoring the long-term national interests, he said taking a rather obvious swipe at the Congress government which had been in power for several years post-Independence.

The Supreme Court in its recent judgement had observed that the decision taken on 5 August, 2019, by the then BJP government at the Centre was done with the aim of enhancing constitutional integration and not disintegration. The Court also recognised that Article 370 was not permanent in nature in the Union Territory.

The Prime Minister emphasised that he had always wanted to work to alleviate the sufferings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It was always my firm belief that what had happened in Jammu and Kashmir was a great betrayal- to our nation and to the people living there. It was also my strong desire to do whatever I can to remove this blot, this injustice done to the people, he wrote.

In very basic words- Articles 370 and 35 (A) were like major obstacles. It seemed like an unbreakable wall and the sufferers were the poor and downtrodden. Articles 370 and 35(A) ensured that the people of Jammu and Kashmir never got the rights and development that the rest of their fellow Indians got. Due to these Articles, a distance was created between people belonging to the same nation. Due to this distance, many people from our nation who wanted to work to solve the problems of Jammu and Kashmir were unable to do so even if they clearly felt the pain of the people there, he wrote.

In order to further strengthen Jammu and Kashmirs development journey, we decided that our ministers would frequently go there and interact with people directly. These frequent visits also played a crucial role in building goodwill in Jammu and Kashmir. From May 2014 to March 2019, over 150 ministerial visits took place. This is a record in itself. The special package of 2015 was a significant step in addressing the developmental needs of Jammu and Kashmir. It contained initiatives for infrastructure development, job creation, tourism promotion and support to the handicraft industry.

PM Modi elaborated that the historical day of 5 August is etched in the hearts and minds of every Indian. Our Parliament approved the decision to abrogate Article 370. Since then, much has changed in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The judicial court verdict came in December 2023 but seeing the wave of development across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, the peoples court has given a resounding thumbs up to the Parliaments decision of abolishing Articles 370 and 35(A) for four years now, he wrote.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai on Tuesday shared a video alleging that Iyyappa devotees were beaten up inside the Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy temple by the staff of the state governments Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) for questioning the long waiting time in the queue and the special treatment meted out to a select few for darshan.

A government which has no faith in Hindu Dharma has no business to be in Hindu Temples. The Iyyappa devotees who have kept 42 days of Vrath, with all devotion, wanted to pray to Ranganatha Swamy after their return from Sabarimala. The Iyyappa devotees questioned the long wait in the queue and special treatment to a select few. They were assaulted near the sanctum sanctorum & which resulted in bloodshed inside the Temple premises, Annamalai posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The BJP leader condemned the incident and asserted that this is the reason his party wants the Hindu temple administration to be moved out of the HR & CE department.

This arrogance of the HR&CE department is one of the many reasons why Tamil Nadu BJP has been wanting them out of temple administration, he said. He also announced immediate protests against the HR & CE department.

Tamil Nadu BJPs Trichy district unit will today hold a protest outside the Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple against the TN HR&CE department, demanding the strictest action against those spoiling the sanctity of the Temple, Annamalai said.

But, the HR&CE department which administers over 30,000 Hindu temples across the state issued a clarification saying that a few devotees behaved in an unruly manner inside the Gayathri Mandapam of the Srirangam Temple and they assaulted the security personnel when they questioned the devotees for hitting the hundi and raising slogans. This led to a scuffle between the two groups.

Following the incident, the temple was shut for darshan. According to local priests, special pujas need to be carried out as blood was spilt inside the temple premises and the sanctum sanctorum.
As a record number of Jews are attacked in US institutions, including in schools and universities, Kamala Harris introduced a task force to combat Islamophobia, arguably to protect aggressors of violence, instead of the victims. President Biden visited Israel last month in a show of support to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Yet, in the face of the barbaric attacks on October 7 by Hamas, US policy seems to be at odds with itself, with the Secretary of State urging Israel to put a premium on civilian protection.

While lobbying is, sadly, a legitimate part of the US government functioning, influence operations within the establishment have caused much concern, and may be attributed at least some role in the confused stances on ongoing global issues. Google and Meta have warned the US establishment of Chinas attempt at influence, according to a CFR report late last year. Over the last 3 years, the US has arrested Naval officers and professors, and even a CIA agent on charges of spying for China. The ties between the CDC and universities in China and their American funding, as well as state-enforced/monitored speech especially on X (formerly Twitter) has disappeared into non-news in the ever-accelerating information-disinformation cycles. COVID-19, however, opened a window into how deep Chinas influence went in administering American citizens.

Despite overwhelming evidence to the effect that Chinese laboratories in Wuhan were responsible for the initial leak of the virus, any individual stating the same or journalists digging into the story were immediately hounded and had their voices shut down on social media. Mainstream news channels like MSNBC and CNN amplified all that the CDC and Anthony Fauci said, even if it was contradictory to what they had previously said. Vaccine efficacy was constantly downgraded after questions were raised by common citizens on social media, and doctors who had cited alternative medicine such as Ivermectin were ridiculed until proven correct. In a report from February this year, the authors stated, Chinas lobbying efforts in the U.S. Congress represent a particularly insidious form of influence, aimed at shaping federal policymaking for the furtherance of the CCPs interests and goals.

In view of the recent spurt of videos on TikTok portraying Osama bin Laden as a misunderstood leader, the platform was forced to remove hundreds of videos discussing the slain terrorists Letter to America, over two decades after the incidents of 9/11. The idea was to indoctrinate youngsters, who form a very high proportion of TikToks audience, with pro-Hamas propaganda, since bin Laden justifies the attacks on American civilians as revenge, allowed by the Quran. TikTok has spent more than USD 2.1 million this year to lobby in the United States of America and continue to hold sway over its malleable young audiences, even as US lawmakers debated over banning the platform as India had done in 2020.

As pro-Palestine propaganda rages across influencer-friendly social media platforms with well-meaning audiences repeating that mush of what Hamas terrorists recorded themselves doing on October 7 this year was Israeli propaganda on Instagram, TikTok and similarly one-way content delivering mechanisms, some of it is effectively countered on X. This has forced the hands of mainstream publications as well as of common citizens to tone down pro-terrorist radicalism. Yet, the US State Department as well as government bureaucracies continue to function schizophrenically in the face of another West Asian destabilization. Reuters states that Qatars influence campaign in Washington since 2017 has pushed an additional USD 24 million into elite American hands to influence policies that affect the common American. In September this year, Richard Olson, the State Departments special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan from the Obama administration pleaded guilty to improperly aiding Qatari interests in the US. Despite his treasonous activity of influencing Congress about weapons sales to foreign nations, the judge presiding over the case believed his act did not warrant jail time.

A four-star Marine General, John R Allen, formerly head of the Brookings Institute, a think-tank holding sway over US policymaking, was also forced to resign last year, and was under FBI probe for aiding Qatar. Considering the opaque handling of such matters in the US, the matter was dropped by the Department of Justice earlier this year. He is said to have influenced US decisions to support Qatar over the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in regional trade rivalry. While the general denied these charges, his trip to Qatar was facilitated by the formerly mentioned Richard Olson, and a now jailed businessman Imaad Zuberi. Zuberi was jailed for foreign lobbying and obstruction of justice, among other charges.

Even as some heaved a sigh of relief as University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned after she refused to acknowledge that calling for the genocide of Jews was harassment, the Presidents of Harvard and MIT who also reiterated that remain in their positions. There is some amount of public pressure on them; however, the system that place such individuals at the top of a power pyramid indoctrinating some of the brightest minds on the planet needs reexamination. The Qatari government has been the largest foreign funder of US universities and it is highly unlikely that this does not influence education in the top universities of the US. Cornell University, which has seen some of the largest amounts of Arab donations, saw a professor Russell Rickford say that the Hamas attacks on civilians in Israel were exhilarating and energising, before withdrawing his statement in an apparent apology. As Jewish students were seen crying and having to be barricaded in university libraries last month, pro-Palestine protests disrupted learning at these elite institutions. China, a country purportedly a threat to the US, is also one of the largest donors to American education and lobbies its government incessantly.

Does foreign funding have nothing to do with unquestioning support of causes by minds young and old, recruited into government and associated agencies? Is it reasonable to believe that policymaking that affects the common American is in charge of an elite largely inculpable for allying with foreign powers at the cost of the nation itself, and likely its staunchest allies? As recent arrests show, they undoubtedly do. Yet, it remains to be seen if the great democracy is willing to investigate the rot in its cash-for-service mechanism in all its institutions proclaimed to be functioning for American citizenry.

The author is a columnist at several Indian publications such as NDTV, FirstPost and CNN-News18 and also hosts a podcast on geopolitics and culture. She writes about international relations, public policy and history. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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The unexpected welcome received by the thousands of families arriving at the Torkham and Chaman border crossing points between Pakistan and Afghanistan has protected the world from another tragedy that could have had epic proportions. It was in October that Pakistan announced that it would deport hundreds of thousands of unregistered foreign nationals which would affect not just Afghan refugees, but also Uyghurs from China and Rohingyas from Myanmar.

While Pakistan is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 protocols which premise non refoulement, this forcible repatriation will mean that millions of people living in refuge in Pakistan will be displaced again, losing whatever little they built up, and be forced back to a country still impacted by the conflict that had driven them away.

Elsewhere in Central Asia, thousands of ethnic Armenians are also now fleeing Azerbaijan and seeking refuge in Armenia. This after the Azeri military secured complete control over the once autonomous region of Nagorno Karabakh, situated near Azerbaijans border with Armenia. It is estimated that 100,000 people would have sought refuge over this month, most except those who are elderly, infirm or have no relations whatsoever left in Armenia.

The spectre of being forced out as refugees also looms large for over two million Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip. While for now both Egypt and Jordan have refused to accept Palestinians and their borders remain closed. The bombings continue to kill besieged and starving populations in an open air prison. There is of course a section of people who think this is unjust and disproportionate retribution for what should only be seen as terrorist act of the Hamas on 7 October this year. With the Israeli attacks not showing any signs of ending, it is quite likely that the coming months will see hundreds of thousands seeking refuge.

So as conflict continues to create refugees and is likely to create more in the near future, there is growing discomfort with welcoming refugees that can be seen in the Global South. There are multiple factors behind the growing hostility to refuges and people seeking refugee beyond borders. Foremost are economic concerns, and in the Global South there are some justification for this feeling. In Pakistan, for instance, where over 12.5 million people fell below poverty line in the past one year and now nearly 40 per cent of the countrys population is struggling to get its basic needs met, it will need a brave government, ready to risk its future to continue to host refugees. Ethiopia which hosts over 700,000 refugees from Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia and Eretria also faces a similar challenge. United Nations Development programme estimates that 68.7 per cent of the population in Ethiopia is multidimensionally poor while an additional 18.4 percent is classified as vulnerable to multidimensional poverty.

While it is also true that refugees, provided the legal regime allows them, have been known to eke out livelihoods and seek self-enterprise, without any access of state support, we need to recognise that the existing image of the refugee and migrant does not evoke much empathy. While we may blame populist and chauvinistic sentiments that have been aggravated by an aggressive media that continues to portray refugees in negative light, we also need to recognize that the international community, and especially the Global North has always failed to support the countries of the Global South who have been bearing the brunt of the refugee crisis. UNHCR data shows 75 per cent of refugees and people seeking refuge across borders are hosted by low and middle income countries, with the Least Developed Countries providing asylum to 20 per cent of the total.

As far as possible, refugees too prefer to move to neighbouring countries. Ability to move quickly to survive, familiarity with language and culture, aided by porous borders and lax detection mechanisms mean that refugees have better chances of being undetected and survive persecution and peril. For the working classes, costs of long journeys are also difficult to afford. Global data tells us that 69 per cent of refugees take refuge in neighbouring countries and thus on the face of it, the refugee crisis can be understood to be a Global South matter. An overwhelming number of refugees are from the Global South and hosted by countries in the Global South.

However, we must never forget the complicity of countries in the Global North in creating and abetting the refugee crisis, either directly or through the proxy wars. This is mostly overlooked in dominant global approaches to support and protect and address the refugee crisis. This selective silence and opposition on acknowledging, and ensuring reparations is criminal for the millions of refugees of our world today. Absolved of all responsibility for damage, for instance, the erstwhile occupiers of Afghanistan bear almost no accountability to millions of people who have sought refuge out of Afghanistan to save their lives from the crossfires, or for that matter direct assaults. Even the current attacks in Gaza and the ongoing push of settler colonialists in the West Bank, which is threatening to create a new dimension to the Palestine refugee crisis, would not have been possible without the enabling of countries led by US.

While we cannot and should not seek to compare relative status of different refugees, the conspicuously racist behaviour of many European governments and administrations to Afghan refugees needs to be highlighted. Many were not only forced to return to Kabul but later reportedly asked to move to make way for Ukranian refugees arriving into Europe. This was also true about Germany and across the world in the manner in which Australia treats refugees from the Global South.

Given the racist attitudes that the Global North continue to display against refugees, and especially refugees from the Global South in particular, their role in creating the global refugee crisis, and how the Global South continues to bear the overwhelmingly larger burden of hosting refugees, we need to apply the principle of common but differentiated responsibility to the Global Refugee Crisis. The Global North must be made to provide both financial reparations for past failure and financial support for the ongoing and future role that the Global South plays and will continue to play in providing refuge to people seeking it.

Sandeep Chachra is Executive Director of Actionaid Association and managing editor of Agrarian South an international journal of political economy. Iyce Malhotra is an accomplished Project Lead at ActionAid Association, bringing a wealth of expertise in project coordination, budgeting, and policy advice. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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As the US and the West are stuck in the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars, apart from the ongoing energy crisis and cuts, President Putin (on December 6) dashed to Abu Dhabi and Riyadh to meet and deliberate with UAE President Sheikh Zayed al-Nahyan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), then quickly back to Moscow to meet Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi (on December 7) overtly to discuss the deteriorating situation in Gaza. Putin is not too fond of travelling abroad let alone the current ICC warrant against him. Hence this visit acquires a special strategic significance both in terms of symbolism and substance. A grand welcome also awaited him.

In the last few years apart from his extended neighbourhood in Central Asia he only preferred to visit close friends  PM Narendra Modi, President Xi Jinping and Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Besides, his key focus turned eastwards which is a natural extension of his Eurasian policy. Middle East in that context acquires a greater significance as the local perceptions about the decreased US commitment to the region has gained greater traction. The two wars have also proved that Putin has friends in the region and is willing to do a tango with them. It was evident in the reaction to the Russian war in Ukraine when even as they may not have approved it they refused to subscribe to any sanctions against Moscow.

In fact UAE has become a major trade and transit conduit and a partner for the Russians with over a million Russians visiting the Emirate and many rich oligarchical Russians preferring the safe environs in the region. The bilateral trade with the UAE has surpassed $9billion (highest ever). Dirham became an intermediate currency. SCO and BRICS are becoming new plurilateral preferences for the regional majors.

Russia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran among themselves control and tend to stabilize the crude oil supplies for the world and add to their coffers more revenue and Petro dollars, even as the US and others including their consumer markets may think otherwise. Only recently the OPEC+ had decided to continue with the cuts in production and supplies. As there were certain glitches which may have engineered Putins flash visit. Geo-politics of oil has been a potent tool in the international discourse ever since the 1970s. The Russia-Ukraine war further proved it. Moreover, the ongoing Israel-Hamas war has the potential to destabilise the already stressed global markets.

Meanwhile, MBS, who had detailed discussions with President Putin, claimed, We share many interests and many files that we are working on together for the benefit of Russia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the Middle East and the world as well, and that the advancing coordination between Riyadh and Moscow has already helped remove tensions in the Middle East. OPEC+ was the mainstay of their partnership, which was well outlined by Kremlin Spokesman Peskov. We talked again about cooperation in OPEC+, in which both parties agree that our countries bear a great responsibility for interaction in order to maintain the international energy market at the proper level, in a stable, predictable state, he said.

Russia has also been trying to regain the lost Soviet space in the region. Their intervention in Syria in 2015 not only propped up the Assad regime but gave them a strategic foothold and bases in the Mediterranean as well. Iran has been an important partner in that despite intra-regional differences. In recent times Iran has been accused of supplying drones and other military equipment to Moscow. Putin said that the relations between the two are at their best level and will become wider, deeper and more dynamic.

Like Russia, in the context of regional issues, Raisi also placed the onus on the West and its unilateralism, stating, What has caused the suffering of humanity is unilateralism and the unjust world order, one of the manifestations of which can be seen in Gaza today. What is more unfortunate is that these crimes are supported by the United States and Western countries or it is faced with the silence and indifference of international organisations claiming human rights and shows their inefficiency, he further added, while calling Israel an illegitimate child of America. Iran calls itself a part of the Axis of Honour, as opposed to being called a part of the Axis of Evil by the US.

The Gaza war also has a special interest because Russia like Qatar and Turkey have good and trusting relationships with Hamas especially its political wing and they wield good influence with them which has helped several Russian-origin Israelis being released by Hamas out of the 240 hostages taken on October 7 and remain a major negotiating leverage. Speaking at the Doha Forum (on December 10) Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterated similar sentiments both in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war as well as the Gaza war and Palestinian issue.

Both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have excellent rapport with Moscow. Last year, they helped in the release of American and Ukrainian prisoners captured by Russia in the war and some captives in Moscow on the charges of spying. This shows that there is great trust that has been further enriched during this visit by Putin. This is likely to continue as, incidentally, Putin has announced his candidature to rerun for the presidency in 2024, and there is really no doubt that he will win.

In the recent years there is a significant change in the policies of major powers especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE who are not only diversifying their energy resources and relations but also expanding their geo-strategic space especially into Asia in which China, India ,Japan and South Korea (major buyers of hydrocarbons), through their Act East policy, are important and this also applies to Russia in a big way. In the geo political sense their quest to join SCO and BRICS is helping in depolarising the given global order (or disorder) as they have chosen to pick the cherries themselves. Likewise, these middle powers at least in the regional sense are also rather adroitly wading through the super power contested dynamic and carving a strategic space for themselves.

While the Israel-Hamas war may have arguably taken away and distracted the heat from the US excessive indulgence in the Ukraine war, the general consensus is that a designed or by default conflagration of the war could create an uncontrollable crisis which neither West Asian nor the other world powers want. They would like to see the conflict contained, which Lavrov and many other Arab leaders including Qatari PM also reiterated at the 21st Doha forum.

Hence, Russian influence with the Iranians and correspondingly with Hezbollah and others may have been raised with Putin apart from discussing the Day After scenario for diffusing the Israeli-Palestine crisis with some forward movement on talks and two-state solution. Of course, US being on board is a prerequisite for that. Beleaguered Secretary Blinkens multiple visits to the region in the last two months also aim at the situation hereafter. However, these high-level interactions by President Putin have placed him in a favourable position in the region along with China as the influence of Washington is deemed to be declining.

The author is the former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta and is currently a Distinguished Fellow with Vivekananda International Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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The migration journey of vultures from a premier tiger-land, in northern Madhya Pradesh, to the faraway countries presents a hard to believe story. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is conducting an interesting research on the migration journey of vultures from Panna Tiger Reserve to South East Asia and central China.

The Panna Tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh is known for its tiger population. The general tendency among the visitors is to obtain more and more information about tigers and see the king of the jungle in the wild. Very few guests show interest in scavenger birds of the protected area. The Panna Tiger Reserve boasts of having 722 vultures (2021 data) and it serves as habitat to the biggest population of vultures in Madhya Pradesh.

The issue of declining population of vultures, due to widespread use of drugs such as diclofenac, became grave in the 90s. Many studies were conducted on the impact of drugs on the life of vultures. The situation now appears to be under some control after the Government of India imposed a ban on diclofenac for veterinary use in 2008.

The ongoing study of the WII aims to document the migration routes, breeding and roosting sites of the vultures. For this GPS trackers have been fixed on birds.

WIIs senior scientist Ramesh Krishnamurthy, says, We fixed up GPS Tags with GSM network on vultures and had this idea that they migrate to nearby areas. But, the result of the trackers has surprised us and the vultures fly to faraway places for summer migration and breeding.

Over two dozen vultures were captured at Panna Tiger Reserve in 2022. Even for catching the vultures a special operation was conducted by attracting them through bait. Under the project, thirteen Indian vultures, two red headed vultures, eight Himalayan griffons and two Eurasian Griffons were captured and their biological tests were conducted by an experienced team of veterinary doctors. Trackers were fixed and the birds were released.

The data obtained through GPS tracking devices made the wildlife scientist jump with joy. The data related to the movement of Himalayan and Eurasian Griffons were surprising. The migration pathways and the major stop-over sites of these vultures were spread across 10 countries. However, many vulture species were found to be resident and were migrating to nearby locations to Panna reserve in the summer.

The migration journey of tagged Eurasian and Himalayan Griffons remains a major find of the research. One tagged Eurasian Griffon took over 2,700 km of journey and passed through Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to finally reach Kyrgyzstan. A Himalayan Griffon was moving from Panna Tiger Reserve to central China for summer migration. Another tagged Eurasian Griffon was using a different route, via Nepal, to reach Central China. The long journey of the vultures was never recorded and this is the first ever such study in India.

This is a new finding and the outcome of the research was shared recently at the 34th annual research seminar of the WII in Dehradun. Project fellow Dibyendu Biswas shared a paper titled Ranging pattern through GPS-tracking of resident and migratory vultures of Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh in the seminar.

One of the Himalayan Griffons tagged in February 2022 started its migration from Tien Shan mountain region and has recently reached Rajaji Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand. The voyage of the tagged vultures getting documented will help wildlife scientists in making better conservation plans.

Krishnamurthy says, The information is now a part of Integrated Landscape Management of Greater Panna Landscape, and we hope to continue with applied research in the landscape and for long-term conservation of vultures in India.

The long migration journey of the vultures from Panna Tiger Reserve demands responsible approach from different countries. A joint effort should be made for effective conservation of this bird species.

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This weekend, the world witnessed it, how China rides roughshod over its neighbours. A big white ship that belongs to Chinas coast guard was seen targeting a vessel from the Philippines which wasnt even a military ship. It belonged to the Bureau of Fisheries, irrespective of this China went after it.

Manila says, it wasnt just one ship, China targeted another vessel with water cannons. Both ships were damaged. One of them completely broke down. It had to be towed away. These run-ins are dramatic and dangerous, but not new, China and the Philippines have a long history of it.

But now, theyve become more frequent. And Manila says, the latest incident is an escalation.

We choose to maintain our moral high ground, you know, if they are going to choose that kind of barbaric attack to prevent the Philippine coast guard or the armed forces of the Philippines in completing our resupply operation, then let them be so, said commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine coast guard spokesman.

So thats the position Manila has taken. Despite constant provocations, they wont respond with force. China is testing their patience. Its a dangerous game to play given that the South China Sea, where the collision happened, is a volatile region, and also highly militarised.

This region is tense with multiple players and many moving parts. The South China Sea is disputed. Six countries and regions have overlapping claims. There is China and the Philippines plus Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. All of them have competing claims. And Chinas claims are the most expansive. China says it owns almost the entire South China Sea.

The Chinese have deployed ships there and attack rivals with water cannons, the idea is to assert dominance. To enforce control over disputed waters. And China has amassed a large fleet for this mission. Do you know how many ships Beijing uses to intimidate Manila? Around 400 vessels. Theyve deployed 400 ships for bullying. These ships chase Philppino vessels and come close to their territorial waters. Basically, theyre meant to provoke and threaten. And what kind of ships are these?

Some belong to Chinas navy and coast guard. The rest are controlled by Chinese militia. Also called little blue men. They operate a number of ships. We dont have the exact figures but experts say there are hundreds of such ships. They look like commercial vessels. But theyre controlled by Chinese militia and funded by Beijing.

They support the Chinese military acting as enforcers, they patrol the disputed areas, and ensure Chinas control on the region. These days theyre seen at the Second Thomas Shoal, a part of the disputed South China Sea. Also there is a marooned and rusty ship called the Sierra Madre. This ship belongs to the Philippines. It was marooned in 1999. But Manila still keeps a handful of marines here.

Why is that? Why deploy soldiers to a ghost ship? Because this shipwreck is like a symbol. An outpost for the philippines. It represents Manilas claims in these waters. So they dont want to abandon it. It serves as a military base of sorts. Manila keeps a detachment of marines here, to monitor Chinese vessels.

But like most remote deployments these marines need supplies to survive like food and other essentials. These supplies are sent by ships and increasingly, such missions have become tricky because China blocks or targets supply ships. Reports say: Around the shipwreck, there are about 100 Chinese ships, when they see a Philippine ship, they threaten it, and fire water cannons. And thats exactly what happened over the weekend.

The collision happened near the Second Thomas Shoal. The world can see who the aggressor is, they are the Chinese coast guard. But Beijing is blaming Manila.

Despite warnings from the Chinese maritime police vessels, the philippine vessels insisted on intruding into the lagoon of Renai reef (also known as Second Thomas Shoal) and collided with the Chinese maritime police vessels on the scene in a dangerous manner, said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning.

Manila has refused to use force so far but China is not showing any restraint. It is resorting to aggressive tactics, raising the threat of another conflict, one that the world cannot afford, one that china, most certainly, cannot afford.

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On Monday, the Indian Supreme Court had the important issue of Kashmir and Article 370 on its docket. The case was made up of around 23 petitions that dealt with a lot of complicated questions, but the most important was the Article 370 abrogation. The five-judge bench unanimously upheld the abrogation as constitutional, which means it did not violate Indian laws or the Constitution.

Background

Article 370 gave special powers to Jammu and Kashmir like which laws would apply there, and so on. But in 2019, the Union government abrogated it. Also, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was split up into two union territories. namelyJammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Two basic facts

However, some critics say this move was unconstitutional, which is why they approached the apex court And on Monday, the court gave the verdict upholding the move as legal meaning that the abrogation of Article 370 and the division of the state into two Union Territories were all valid. And this verdict was based on two basic facts: First, Article 370 was temporary that wasnt meant to last forever. And second, Jammu and Kashmir does not have sovereignty of its own. Yes, it had a special arrangement but that arrangement did not mean any sort of sovereignty. Hence abrogation of Article 370 was constitutional as per the court.

Reactions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the verdict calling it a declaration of hope and progress but the political parties in Kashmir have expressed disappointment. Most of them said that the fight for statehood and special powers will continue.

Kashmir since 2019

But lets not dwell on the politics and look at Kashmirs journey since 2019the good and the bad .

First, the economy, in 2019, Jammu and Kashmirs economic output was Rs 1 lakh crore which is more than Rs 2 lakh 27 thousand crore today which is more than double. The economic survey is predicting another bump stating that the output will double again in five years.

Around 18 million tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir in 2022. It was an all-time high. But it looks like this year will be even better as the footfall is expected to be 22 million by the end of 2023.

Foreign investments are also trickling in. Earlier this year, the UAEs Emaar group, who are the makers of Burj Khalifa, struck a deal. They will be investing around Rs 500 crore in Kashmir. The plan is for a shopping mall near Srinagar. It could generate up to 10 thousand jobs. So the economy is doing well.

Second, Security, which has always been a big issue in Kashmir. Well, the numbers from the Home Ministry are positive. A comparison between 2016 to 2019 and from 2019 to 2022 shows terror attacks are down by 32 per cent. Civilian deaths are down by 14 per cent, and deaths of security officers have fallen by 52 per cent. Even stone pelting is down. More than 600 pelting incidents were reported in the first half of 2019 but by 2021, the number has fallen to 76.

So the overall security has improved though it is yet not perfect. Targeted killings have emerged as a problem, Kashmiri Hindus and non-Kashmiris have been targeted.

The question of elections also remains an issue as Jammu and Kashmirs last legislative polls were in 2014 and it has been nearly a decade. There is talk of an election next year, but no dates have been set, which is why the Supreme Court waded in. SC has issued a directive to the Election Commission asking them to hold elections by the end of September 2024, the bench has directed the Union government to restore J&Ks statehood soon. And that was the promise made in 2019 that the post-abrogation period would be used to do important works on security, economy and the politics. But after that the statehood would be restored. So the top court wants the government to follow through.

Now, this judgment will be talked about in the future, lawyers will quote it, political parties will campaign on it, but its important to remember one thing that this verdict isnt the end but just a part of Kashmirs long and rich history. The end of which would be a prosperous and safe Kashmirthe one that was promised in 1947, and again, in 2019.

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The Khalistan plot is thickening, weve heard allegations and seen indictments but now, there is a secret memo. The Secret memo has been published by a US news outlet called the Intercept, And who wrote it? Well, according to them, the Indian government.

The secret memo was allegedly issued in April 2023. It was signed by Vinay Kwatra, Indias foreign secretary, and it was sent to Indian diplomatic missions across North America. And what was the message? The intercept says a crackdown on Khalistani elements.

The pro-Khalistan organisations have become obviously more extremeTheir strategy has gradually shifted from narrative building to street protestsConcrete measures shall be adopted to hold the suspects accountable, stated the memo allegedly.

The memo goes on as it says India ordered a sophisticated crackdown scheme. It doesnt mention assassination or bodily harm but it does say crackdown. Just one problem though, it has been rubbished by the Indian government.

The external affairs ministry has released a statement saying, Such reports are fake and completely fabricated. So there is no such memo, this is part of a sustained disinformation campaign against India. The outlet in question is known for propagating fake narratives peddled by Pakistani intelligence. The posts of the authors confirm this linkage. Thats a strong statement. Unusually strong for the MEA. Theyve not just questioned the report but have also questioned the publication and its authors.

India says the intercept propagates Pakistani narratives, so what do we make of this latest saga? Well, the timing is important, earlier on Monday, the FBI chief Christopher Wray landed in India. Hes already met the chief of Indias Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Hes also got meetings lined up tomorrow.

Now, theres a lot on his agenda, like cybercrimes, intelligence sharing, and narcotics, but one issue will likely top all of it. The issue of Khalistan.

Last month, the US accused an Indian national of an assassination plot. They also said an Indian government official was involved. The target was apparently Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who is a Khalistani with two hobbies: On weekdays, he organises referendums for a Sikh state, and on weekends, he threatens to blow up the Indian parliament.

And, who is shielding him? The United States government. In that context, this so-called memo is important. It will make the FBI chiefs visit a bit more complicated, but beyond that, what are the implications? Well, it seems like New Delhi has drawn red lines. Just look at the reactions to Canada, the intercept and the US. Canada gave no evidence. So New Delhi lashed out. The US took the judicial route with an indictment, so New Delhi began its own probe.

What about the intercept? They published an unconfirmed memo that doesnt even mention assassination. Then tied the whole thing to Hardeep Nijjar and Pannun. So once again, New Delhi lashed out. What does that tell you? Cooperation is fine, wild allegations are not.

But frankly, this is just the start. More publications will likely follow the intercept. Its been a trend in American policy. Washington begins, the US media carries it on. So New Delhi should be ready for that. And its not just the American media, politicians too are taking a tougher stand, like democratic senator Ben Cardin. He chairs one of the most powerful Congressional committees  the one on foreign affairs.

Cardin included India in his recent hearings. And guess what the hearing was about? Targeting of dissidents abroad. Usually, China and Saudi Arabia or Russia and North Korea are discussed in such hearings. But this time the committee also discussed India.

Just to clarify. These Khalistanis are not critics. Its not like they are criticising Indias net-zero climate target. They want to break India up. They are bona fide separatists who are involved in violent crimes and attacks against India. Some of them have been designated terrorists.

Clearly, some US politicians dont understand that and neither does the US media. So India should brace for such so-called leaks and memos. Think of it as an unofficial pressure campaign.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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In a groundbreaking move, Apple has reportedly diverted its product development focus for the iPad to Vietnam, signalling a significant shift in the Southeast Asian nations role as an alternative manufacturing hub outside of China, according to a report by Nikkei Asia.

Nikkei reports sources familiar have said that Apple is collaborating with Chinas BYD, a key iPad assembler, to relocate New Product Introduction (NPI) resources to Vietnam.

NPI involves the collaborative design and development of new products with suppliers to ensure the feasibility of blueprints. This marks the first time that Apple has transferred NPI resources to Vietnam for a core device.

The engineering verification process for test production of a new iPad model is set to commence around mid-February next year. The model is expected to hit the market in the second half of the following year. Its worth noting that BYD was the initial Apple supplier to assist in relocating iPad assembly to Vietnam in 2022, as reported by Nikkei.

This particular shift of NPI engineering resources is concentrated on entry-level iPad models rather than the premium iPad Pro. NPI entails substantial resources from both the tech company and its suppliers, including engineers and investments in lab equipment for testing new features and functions.

While the majority of Apples NPI activities have historically taken place in China, recent geopolitical uncertainties have compelled the company to reconsider its approach. Additionally, Apple plans to extend some NPI processes for the iPhone to India, as previously reported by Nikkei Asia.

As the worlds leading tablet manufacturer, Apple currently commands a market share of 36.6% in the first three quarters of 2023, according to IDC data. Counterpoint Research estimates that approximately 10 per cent of all iPads were manufactured in Vietnam this year, with the majority still produced in China.

Vietnam has emerged as a crucial tech manufacturing hub for Apple, with the company urging suppliers to establish new capacity for nearly all its products, excluding the iPhone.

This move positions non-China hubs, including Vietnam, as genuine alternative manufacturing bases. Industry executives and experts assert that Vietnam consistently plays a crucial and strategic role in manufacturing, potentially evolving into one of the next global manufacturing centers.

Ivan Lam, a tech analyst at Counterpoint Research, emphasized Vietnams pivotal role, stating, Apples recent supply chain mapping has demonstrated the capability of its production site in Vietnam to manufacture the iPad and scale up production. Lam added that, given the maturation of production conditions and the reduced difficulty level of iPad manufacturing in Vietnam, its only a matter of time before this becomes a reality, with an initial focus on non-pro models.

Although several analysts acknowledge the emergence of India and Vietnam as pivotal manufacturing ecosystems, they also emphasise that despite US-China tensions, Apple will continue to collaborate closely with Chinese suppliers during its supply chain transition.

(With inputs from agencies)
In what could turn out to be a major development for the global EV industry if it becomes true. Huawei apparently met Audi and Mercedes, exploring a possible joint venture or partnership for its EVs, as per a Reuters report.

The meeting was held behind closed doors and was set up to explore the possibility of the German automakers acquiring small stakes in Huaweis smart car software and components firm.

The move by Huawei aims to expand its partnerships beyond Chinese brands and, in part, mitigate the impact of US sanctions imposed since 2019. The company hopes that having foreign investors will help safeguard its business against potential geopolitical tensions.

Huawei recently announced its intention to spin off its Intelligent Automotive Solution (IAS) business unit, which focuses on becoming a leading supplier of software and components for smart electric vehicles (EVs).

Reuters quotes industry sources, estimating the units value to be between $28 billion and $35 billion, if it goes through in the next year and a half.

During Huaweis preliminary talks Mercedes, the German automaker reportedly offered to buy a 3% to 5% stake. However, Mercedes may not be that keen and has been showing little interest, and plans to to retain control over its own software and to uphold its premium brand positioning, Reuters reported, quoting internal sources.

Audis level of interest in Huaweis offer is yet to be determined, but sources suggest a potential partnership between Audi and Huawei to develop autonomous driving technologies for Audi vehicles in the Chinese market from 2025.

As global automakers increasingly seek partnerships in China, Huaweis move aligns with the trend of collaboration between international car manufacturers and Chinese companies to develop advanced features for the tech-savvy Chinese consumer base.

While several Chinese EV manufacturers have relied on their proprietary software, Huawei has engaged in partnerships with both smaller electric car makers and established automakers. Changan Automobile has already expressed its intention to invest in Huaweis smart car business, potentially owning up to 40% after the spin-off.

Huaweis efforts to secure investments and partnerships in the automotive sector reflect the challenges posed by US sanctions, hindering its position as a primary supplier of intelligent solutions for European, US, and Japanese companies.

(With inputs from agencies)
El Salvador is planning to launch bitcoin bonds in the first quarter of 2024, with the proceeds earmarked for the development of a groundbreaking Bitcoin City powered by a volcanic energy source.

The National Bitcoin Office, responsible for overseeing cryptocurrency-related initiatives, shared that the Volcano Bond had secured regulatory approval from the Digital Assets Commission (CNAD), paving the way for the bond issuance in early 2024.

This move comes on the heels of El Salvadors decision in 2021 to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender, alongside the US dollar, under the leadership of President Nayib Bukele. The integration of Bitcoin into the countrys financial system aimed to streamline and reduce the cost of remittances for Salvadorans, as well as extend financial services to the approximately 70 per cent of the population without access to traditional banking.

Despite these efforts, a May 2021 poll by the Central American University revealed that 71 per cent of respondents believed that cryptocurrency adoption had not positively impacted their familys economic situation.

President Bukele had previously unveiled plans in 2021 to create a Bitcoin City in the eastern region of El Salvador, which was envisioned to harness thermal energy generated by a volcano. The ambitious project was slated to be funded in part by issuing at least $1 billion in volcano bonds.

The Salvadoran government, headed by Bukele, confirmed its acquisition of 2,381 bitcoins, with the latest purchase of 80 bitcoins occurring in July 2022. Furthermore, Bukele declared a daily acquisition of one bitcoin starting from November 17, 2022; however, the government has not disclosed whether this target has been met.

(With inputs from agencies)
In a significant development, a federal jury in California has ruled that Googles mobile app store, the Play store, holds a monopoly in the market for program distribution and payments on its Android software.

The decision is a setback for Google in its high-stakes antitrust battle with Epic Games Inc. The jury found that Google willfully wields a monopoly through anticompetitive conduct in the operation of its Play store.

The verdict, reached after less than four hours of deliberation following a month-long trial in San Francisco, raises concerns for Googles app store revenue, potentially jeopardizing billions of dollars.

US District Judge James Donato, overseeing the trial, will determine whether Google must allow alternative payment and app distribution methods outside its own app store in light of the ruling that Google Play policies are unlawful.

Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, initiated a legal challenge against Google three years ago, alleging that the tech giant monopolized the Android app distribution market through exclusive deals with rivals and using its resources to stifle competition.

Google argued that its partnerships were aimed at helping Android-based phones better compete with Apples iPhone in the smartphone market.

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic, celebrated the ruling on social network X. The trial featured testimony from both Sweeney and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, along with high-ranking executives from Google and antitrust law experts.

Confidential internal emails and presentations from Google were presented as evidence, providing insight into the companys efforts to develop Google Play and its Android mobile operating system business.

Notably, Epic was the sole party challenging Alphabet at trial, as the company had recently reached settlements with consumers, state attorneys general, and Match Group Inc., who had all raised concerns about Google Play policies.

This ruling comes two years after Epic largely lost a similar antitrust challenge against Apple over its app store.

During the trial, Alphabet counterclaimed against Epic, alleging breach of contract and bad faith for attempting to establish its own app store in 2020 as a workaround to the Google Play billing system. However, the judge ordered the jury to skip ruling on Googles counterclaims after Epic executives admitted to attempting to bypass the Play store.

The outcome of this case may have far-reaching implications for the broader landscape of app store competition and antitrust scrutiny in the technology industry. Legal experts and analysts, however, claim that Google is bound to appeal the ruling.

(With inputs from agencies)
In a recent discussion on the Spaces platform on X with controversial figure Alex Jones, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk declared his readiness to serve time in prison if any arm of the US government, such as the FBI, attempted to censor content on X, Musks social media platform.

Musk, describing himself as a law-abiding citizen with a corporate empire that adheres to numerous rules and regulations, emphasized his commitment to resisting potential unlawful demands from government agencies.

If I think a government agency is breaking the law in their demands on the platform, I would be prepared to go to prison personally, Musk stated during the Spaces discussion.



He specifically mentioned the FBI and expressed concerns about illegal censorship similar to the agencys actions regarding the Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020.

Over the weekend, Musk reversed Xs previous stance and reinstated Alex Jones on the X platform, despite opposition. Musk had refused clemency earlier, citing Jones exploitation of child deaths for viewership.

Jones had previously been found guilty of promoting the idea that the mass shooting incident at Sandy Hook was a false flag operation, which resulted in a $1.4 billion damages order. After the trial, Jones acknowledged the shooting had indeed occurred.

Musks decision to bring back Jones to the platform follows concerns about major advertisers, including Disney and Walmart, pulling their ads due to worries about appearing next to neo-Nazi posts.

Musk, facing the potential financial impact of these boycotts, has expressed concerns about X facing bankruptcy, and declared that if X is forced to go bankrupt and shut down, it will be the fault of the advertisers.

Jones, after returning to X, speculated about government plots to assassinate former President Donald Trump. They already have the plans, the blueprints ready. I guarantee you theyre trying to poison him right now, he said of Trump, on Spaces.

He then went on to warn Musk of meeting the same fate. If they gun down Elon Musk, that only makes him bigger, Jones said. They dont want to turn us into martyrs, they either poison you or they come to a murder-suicidekill your wife, kill youthats a known deep state tactic.

Musk, acknowledging the risks of challenging the powers that be, expressed a lack of fear of death. Some people are afraid to die, but I am not, he said.

(With inputs from agencies)
A US District Judge, Robert Pitman, has upheld Texas ban on the use of the Chinese-owned short video app TikTok by state employees, including those working in public universities, on state-owned devices or networks.

The decision comes after the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University filed a lawsuit in July, asserting that the TikTok ban in Texas was impeding faculty research related to the platform.

Judge Pitman rejected the lawsuit, stating that the Texas ban was motivated by legitimate data protection concerns. He deemed the restriction on access to TikTok as reasonable in light of the states worries about data security.

In his ruling, Pitman clarified that public university faculty and all public employees are free to use TikTok on their personal devices, as long as those devices do not access state networks.

This decision contrasts with a recent case in Montana, where a US judge blocked the states attempt to ban all TikTok use starting January 1. The judge in Montana ruled that the ban violated the Constitution and exceeded the states power.

TikTok had previously sued Montana in May, arguing that the state ban infringed upon the First Amendment free speech rights of both the company and its users.

The issue of TikTok bans extends beyond Texas and Montana, with more than 30 states and federal agencies in the US, including the White House, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department, prohibiting TikTok use on government devices.

A federal ban on TikTok for government devices, mandated by Congress in December 2022, includes exceptions for national security, law enforcement, or security research activities.

TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, has faced scrutiny globally due to concerns over its ties to the Chinese government and the handling of user data worldwide. Despite having over 150 million users in the United States, TikTok denies any improper use of US data. The ongoing legal battles underscore the complex challenges surrounding the popular social media platforms operations in the country.

(With inputs from agencies)
Ahead of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky meeting with US President Joe Biden to demand greater military support, the Kremlin declared on Tuesday that any additional US aid to Kyiv will be a fiasco.

It is important for everyone to understand: the tens of billions of dollars pumped into Ukraine did not help it gain success on the battlefield, AFP quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

The tens of billions of dollars that Ukraine wants to be pumped with are also headed for the same fiasco, Peskov added.

President Biden is all set to host Zelensky at the White House Tuesday as discussions on a Ukraine aid deal remain stalled in Congress.

The visit, which the White House announced on Sunday, is Zelenskys third visit to Washington since the war in Ukraine began. He last visited in September.

Zelenskys visit comes at a critical moment in congressional negotiations for emergency aid to Ukraine. Congress appears no closer to a deal tying immigration and border policy changes to the emergency aid package that will provide funding for Ukraine and Israel before lawmakers leave town for the holidays.

The Ukrainian president was also invited to speak at an all-senators meeting Tuesday morning by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a Senate leadership aide said. House Speaker Mike Johnson will meet with Zelensky too, his office said in a statement.

The White House meeting is meant to underscore the United States unshakeable commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russias brutal invasion, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

As Russia ramps up its missile and drone strikes against Ukraine, the leaders will discuss Ukraines urgent needs and the vital importance of the United States continued support at this critical moment, she said.

The pair will discuss further defense cooperation in a series of meetings Tuesday, the office of the Ukrainian presidency said in a statement Sunday.

With inputs from agencies
Three months after Hanoi strengthened its diplomatic relations with the United States, communist-ruled China and Vietnam, who are at odds over claims in the South China Sea, decided on Tuesday to strengthen their ties and create a community with a shared future.

During Chinese President Xi Jinpings first visit to Hanoi in six years, 37 agreements were announced between the two nations, covering telecommunications, railroads, and diplomatic relations.

The agreements represent a success of Vietnams Bamboo diplomacy as China and the US compete for influence in the strategically important country, but analysts and diplomats caution that the improved relations may be more symbolic than substantive.

According to a joint statement provided to media on Tuesday, Vietnam decided to support the initiative of building a community of shared future for human kind after hearing from sources that China had been pressing for it. It is anticipated that the unified statement will be formally signed on Wednesday.

According to officials and diplomats, the phrase shared future was discussed by the ambassadors of both nations for several months, after Hanoi initially refused to adopt it.

Though common destiny is the literal translation from the Chinese, common futurea less demanding translationis used in English and Vietnamese.

Notwithstanding their strong economic links, the neighbours have a millennium-long history of hostility stemming from disagreements over boundaries in the South China Sea.

However, they did sign two cooperation agreements, one of which called for the establishment of a hotline to address fisheries issues and the other for cooperative patrols in the Tonkin Gulf in the South China Sea, suggesting a potential de-escalation.

The elevated status coincided with the announcement of 36 cooperation arrangements, according to a list of documents seen by Reuters, and the joint declaration on diplomatic ties, in addition to raising relations to a level Beijing may regard above those with the United States.

According to a Vietnamese source, that fell short of the 45 originally suggested, and there were missed agreements on vital minerals and rare earths on which Xi had urged more cooperation in an opinion piece published on Tuesday in a Vietnamese state newspaper.

Two memoranda of agreement on the development of cross-border rail were included in the deals; one of them mentioned developing aid.

High ranking officials from both nations had advocated for the expansion of a train line that connects the ports of Haiphong in northern Vietnam and Kunming in southern China. The route passes through areas of Vietnam that are abundant in rare earth elements.

Chinas ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo said earlier this week Beijing was ready to offer grants to develop rail connections, though the volume and terms of possible loans are unclear.

Although Beijing intends to further integrate the countrys north with its southern supply chain networks, where Chinese enterprises are transferring some operations, Vietnam may export more to China if its transportation linkages are improved, especially with regard to agricultural products.

More robust rail systems would expedite the import of Chinese components for Vietnamese assembly, thereby broadening Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Because the officials of Vietnam frequently struggle with broad anti-Chinese sentiment, the Hanoi metro is currently the only project in the country to receive funding from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), although not being officially branded as such.

China-sponsored infrastructure projects in Vietnam are referred to as two corridors, one belt initiatives, and the two nations decided to work together to develop them.

A number of agreements to collaborate on telecommunications and the digital economy were inked by the two nations, and it is anticipated that Xis visit will accelerate plans for the so-called Digital Silk Road.

Although officials had stated that the enhanced telecom collaboration might involve digital infrastructure like 5G networks and underwater optical fibre cables, the specifics of the agreements remain unknown.

(With agency inputs)
Dr Vinay Raniga, a British Indian doctor renowned for establishing an educational charity focused on dental training, has been selected as the parliamentary candidate by the Conservative Party to contest from Oxford in the next UK general election, expected in 2024.

The 30-year-old dental surgeon, based in the Oxford West and Abingdon constituency in south-east England, shared the news on social media, expressing his commitment to building upon his contributions to the National Health Service (NHS).

Emphasising the honor and responsibility of public service, Dr Raniga has commenced his campaign efforts. In a recent post, he stated, Having served my NHS patients diligently, its now time to advocate for Oxford West & Abingdon.

Reflecting on the trust placed in him by local residents, Dr. Raniga expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent the community where he lives, works, and studied.

The Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, where he earned his Master of Public Policy (MPP), congratulated him on his candidacy.

The school highlighted Dr Ranigas belief in community cohesion and his policy interests in healthcare and empowering individuals through entrepreneurial opportunities.

A graduate of Barts and the London School of Dentistry, Raniga trained as a junior head and neck surgeon at Northwick Park Hospital in London and went on to found Dentify  an educational company which has trained several dentists in clinical governance, situational judgement and leadership.

It is when undertaking a gap year in India a few years ago, volunteering and learning about his heritage, that Raniga says he found himself in something of a crisis. He was torn between going down a more traditional route into politics by studying subjects like Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE), and going into dentistry. After seeking advice from a range of people, he made his decision.

He won a Political Leadership Scholarship at the institution, which supports outstanding candidates who want to run for office within five years of graduating and Raniga is following that path.

With inputs from PTI
China, a close ally of Pakistan, does not seem happy with the Supreme Court of Indias verdict on upholding the Indian governments decision of abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Reacting to the courts judgement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, This is a dispute left from the past between India and Pakistan and it should be properly addressed through peaceful means, according to the UN charter, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and relevant bilateral agreements.

She further said relevant parties need to settle the dispute through dialogue and consultations and safeguard peace and stability in the region.

Indias apex court, on Monday, unanimously upheld the central governments decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 bestowing special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The court also directed restoration of statehood at the earliest as well as holding elections to the assembly by 30 September, 2024.

On the Kashmir issue, Chinas position is consistent and clear, Ning said, replying to a question by a Pakistani journalist seeking Chinas reaction on the issue.

Pakistan too has reacted to verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370, saying Indias Supreme Court has no legal value.

Islamabad also asserted that the international law does not recognise New Delhis unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August, 2019.
Three months after Hanoi strengthened its diplomatic relations with the United States, longtime rivals China and Vietnam announced on Tuesday that they wished to strengthen their relationship and create a community with a shared future. The two countries remain at odds over claims in the South China Sea.

In what can be considered a victory of Vietnams Bamboo diplomacy as both China and the United States compete for influence, Chinese President Xi Jinping inked 37 cooperation deals with Hanoi on his first visit to the country as Chinas leader in six years.

According to a joint statement provided to media, Vietnam consented to support the initiative of building of a shared future community for human kind in response to pressure from China.

According to officials and diplomats, the phrase shared future was discussed by the ambassadors of both nations for several months, after Hanoi initially refused to adopt it.

Though common destiny is the literal translation from the Chinese, common futurea less demanding translationis used in English and Vietnamese.

Regarding the terms interpretation, a diplomat stationed in the capital of Vietnam said, One declaration, many translations.

However, Le Hong Hiep, a researcher in Vietnamese strategic and political issues at Singapores IseasYusof Ishak Institute, noted that the improvement in diplomatic ties would just be symbolic.

Vietnams mistrust of China runs deep, and from the Vietnamese peoples viewpoint, there is little to no shared destiny between the two countries, as long as China continues to claim most of the South China Sea, he said.

Despite their existing close ties on the economic front, the neighbours have been at odds over boundaries in the South China Sea and have a millennia-long history of conflict.

In a sign of possible de-escalation, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding for joint patrols in the Tonkin Gulf in the South China Sea, according to one of the agreements.

Reporters who witnessed the signed paperwork said that the improved status came with the signing of 37 cooperation arrangements, in addition to raising ties to a level Beijing may consider superior to those with the United States.

However, one Vietnamese official claimed that was less than the 45 transactions that had originally been planned.

A memorandum of agreement on cross-border rail development was one of the deals.

High ranking officials from both nations had advocated for the expansion of a train line that connects the ports of Haiphong in northern Vietnam and Kunming in southern China. The route passes through areas of Vietnam that are abundant in rare earth elements.

(With agency inputs)
Polands parliament backed Donald Tusk to become prime minister on Monday, ending eight years of nationalist rule and putting the country on track for a thawing of relations with the European Union.

Poland has seen tens of billions of euros of European Union funds frozen due to a dispute with Brussels over democratic standards, but Tusk, a former European Council president, has vowed to mend relations and unblock the cash.

Tusk got the votes of 248 lawmakers while 201 voted against him.

I will be indebted to all those who trusted in this new, wonderful Poland, to all those who trusted us and decided to make this historic change, he told the chamber after the vote.

Earlier in the day former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki of the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party lost a vote of confidence.

His party came first in the October 15 election and got the first shot at forming a government, but it lacked necessary majority and all other parties had ruled out working with it.

PiS has cast itself as a defender of Polands sovereignty and identity that has also improved living standards for millions by boosting social benefits and the minimum wage.

Critics, however, say PiS undermined judicial independence, turned state-owned media into a propaganda outlet and fomented prejudice against minorities such as immigrants and the LGBT community.

In a sign of the deep personal animosity PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski feels towards Tusk, he stormed onto the podium following the vote and told the new prime minister  I know one thing, you are a German agent!

During the election campaign PiS regularly painted Tusk as Berlins stooge.

Tusk will give a speech to parliament on Tuesday laying out his governments plans and will then face a vote of confidence.

CHALLENGES

While the mood among Tusk supporters in parliament and beyond was jubilant, events elsewhere in Warsaw highlighted the challenges he will face in unblocking the frozen EU cash.

Polands Constitutional Tribunal ruled on Monday that judicial reform legislation which Poland needed to pass in order to access the funds was unconstitutional.

It reached the same conclusion about penalties imposed by the European Unions top court before it reaches a final ruling, known as interim measures.

While Tusk is seen in Brussels as a leader who can set the blocs largest eastern member back on a pro-EU course, officials have said that no funds will be released without judicial reforms.

Analysts say this task could be complicated not only by the presence of judges appointed under an overhaul implemented by PiS which critics say politicised the courts, but also by the veto power of President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally.

Nevertheless, congratulations poured in from abroad, including from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Your experience and strong commitment to our European values will be precious in forging a stronger Europe, for the benefit of the Polish people, she wrote on social media platform X.

RECORD TURNOUT

Polands October election saw a record turnout of 74% with people in some locations queueing for hours to vote.

They didnt give up in these lines, they just stayed there until midnight and they still wanted to be part of this change, parliament speaker Szymon Holownia told reporters.

Dear members of parliament  the power that we showed on October 15 is in our hands.

There has been huge interest in the parliaments workings since the election and subscriptions to its YouTube channel have rocketed.

Certain sessions have attracted well over a million viewers on the platform and one Warsaw cinema showed Mondays session on the big screen, attracting so much interest that around 2,000 people were on a waiting list for tickets.

Some observers have also attributed the surge in interest in part to the appointment of Holownia as speaker. His wise-cracking while running debates has charmed many who first got to know him as a host of a prime-time talent show.
Finlands prime minister announced on Tuesday that the country will reopen two border crossings with Russia. In November, Helsinki closed the border, blaming Moscow for a migrant influx.

The government has today decided to keep the eastern border closed except for two border crossing points, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said.

On Thursday, Helsinki will open the border crossings at Vaalimaa and Niirala in the southeast.

Orpo stated that in order to determine whether there is a change for the better, the limits have been loosened.

We will close these border crossings if the phenomenon persists, he said.

Following an influx of migrants in mid-November, Finland closed four of its eight border crossings with Russia, before restricting passage only to the northernmost crossing. That too was closed by the end of November.

The Nordic nation, which borders Russia by 1,340 kilometres (830 miles), has experienced about 1,000 undocumented arrivals through its eastern border crossings since August.

Regarding the surge, Orpo stated, This is an organised activity, not a genuine emergency.

At the time, Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, refuted claims that Russia was acting intentionally.

According to Finnish officials, theres a chance that this rise in migration will continue.

The prime minister stated, Its possible that Russia will carry out its operation.

About fifty guards were stationed by Frontex, the EU border agency, to monitor Finlands border with Russia in December.

Following the invasion of Ukraine, Finlands relations with its eastern neighbour deteriorated.

After Finland reversed its decades-long policy of military non-alignment and joined NATO in April, Moscow threatened to take countermeasures.

(With agency inputs)
The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday aquitted Nawaz Sharif, former Pakistan prime minister, of charges in the Al-Azizia Steel Mill corruption case.

This decision eliminates a significant legal obstacle for Sharif as he prepares to lead his party in the upcoming elections.

In 2018, Sharif received a seven-year jail sentence and a substantial fine from an anti-corruption court, which accused him of involvement in the steel mill established by his father in Saudi Arabia in 2001.

Despite his previous acquittals in the Avenfield and Flagship corruption cases, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) challenged the Al-Azizia case, leading to an appeal in the Islamabad High Court.

During the hearing, Sharifs lawyer argued that no evidence had been presented against him, emphasising the lack of clear proof of ownership in the case. The Chief Justice questioned the NAB prosecutor about the evidence and rejected their request to send the case for re-trial.

Ultimately, the court granted Sharifs appeal on merit, resulting in his acquittal in the Al-Azizia corruption case.

Sharif, who returned to Pakistan in October to lead his party in the upcoming elections, has faced legal challenges since being disqualified by the Supreme Court in 2017.

Despite his ongoing disqualification from holding public office, recent amendments to the Elections Act, 2017, limit lawmakers disqualification to five years, retroactively benefiting Sharifs eligibility.

With inputs from PTI
Heavy urban combat raged Monday in Gazas bloodiest-ever conflict, with almost 18,200 Palestinians and 104 Israeli troops killed amid a humanitarian catastrophe.

The conflict was precipitated by Hamass October 7 bombings in southern Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and saw hundreds of captives hauled back to Gaza.

It has warned that until Israel accepts its demands and releases additional Palestinian inmates, the remaining 137 hostages would perish.

Brutal combat in Gaza resumed, with Islamic Jihad terrorists claiming responsibility for blowing up a home in the southern Gazan city of Khan Yunis where Israeli forces were looking for a tunnel shaft.

Rockets launched from Gaza struck the Tel Aviv suburb of Holon, hurting a civilian and left a crater on a residential street.

A volcanic-like cloud of grey smoke rose from an explosion in downtown Gaza, according to live AFPTV footage, while AFP journalists reported explosions that jolted many metropolitan areas.

Although Israel has advised residents to take sanctuary in the far south, the army has continued to strike targets across the region.

Umm Mohammed al-Jabri lost seven children in an air attack on Rafah, near Egypt, after evacuating Gaza City.

I have four children left, said Jabri, 56. Last night they bombed the house we were in and destroyed it. They said Rafah would be a safe place. There is no safe place.

The last death toll from the Hamas-run health ministry was 18,205, mostly women and children.

Physical, sexual abuse

In an Israeli psychiatric ward, doctors treating ex-hostages said many were drugged by Hamas to keep them docile in captivity, and suffered psychological and sexual abuse.

One was told his wife was dead when she was still alive back in Israel, and others were held in total darkness for more than four days, said Renana Eitan, director of the psychiatric division of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre-Ichilov.

The physical, the sexual, the mental, the psychological abuse of these hostages that came back is just terrible, she told AFP. We have to rewrite the textbook.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on Hamas to surrender now, with his government claiming thousands of militants have been killed during the war, now in its third month.

The army said 500 militants have been arrested over the past month.

Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble by the offensive, and the UN estimates 1.9 million of its 2.4 million people have been displaced. Roughly half are children.

Amid growing pressure over the humanitarian conditions, Israel announced it would be screening aid to Gaza at two additional checkpoints, which would allow more assistance to enter the ravaged strip.

The EUs top diplomat Josep Borrell said in a speech that the apocalyptic destruction was proportionally even greater than that experienced by Germany in World War II.

Health services have been devastated, with only 14 of Gazas 36 hospitals functioning at any capacity, according to UN humanitarian agency OCHA.

Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah was inundated with victims Monday, including dozens of screaming children, after Israeli strikes on the nearby Al-Maghazi refugee camp.

Elsewhere, as basic supplies run out and sanitary conditions deteriorate, women and girls spoke of using scraps of cloth for menstrual periods.

I cut up my kids clothes or any piece of cloth I find, said 25-year-old Hala Ataya in Rafah.

Unable to obtain gas or even firewood for cooking, Gazans brought decades-old brass stoves to a workshop for repair.

People have gone back to the old times, owner Ibrahim Shouman said.

In Al-Rimal, thousands of Palestinians had set up camp at a UN agency headquarters after nearby homes and shops were destroyed by Israeli strikes.

An AFP correspondent said both the Islamic and adjacent Al-Azhar universities had been reduced to rubble, as had the police station.

There is no water. There is no electricity, no bread, no milk for the children, and no diapers, said Rami al-Dahduh, 23, a tailor.

UN meeting

The UN General Assembly will meet Tuesday to discuss the humanitarian crisis, after the United States last week vetoed a Security Council resolution for a ceasefire.

A group of Security Council ambassadors travelled to Egypt to meet Gazan victims on an informal trip.

I just met a young mother who lost a kid and has another little girl who is wounded, Ecuadors envoy Jose de la Gasca told AFP. I dont ever want to see again what I have just seen.

In the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Lebanon, a general strike in solidarity with Gaza saw shops, schools and government offices closed.

Elsewhere in the region, the war has encouraged Iran-backed groups to target US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria, with fresh attacks reported Monday.

Israeli bombardment killed an official in south Lebanon, the National News Agency said, amid near-daily cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israeli strikes late Sunday near Damascus killed four people linked to Hezbollah, a Britain-based war monitor said.
German federal prosecutors announced on Tuesday that they have charged 27 people who were allegedly part of a far-right terror group and detained last year with organising an attempt to overthrow the government and attack parliament.

Adherents of the Reichsbuerger (Citizens of the Reich) do not acknowledge the legitimacy of modern-day Germany. While some support the German empire under monarchy, others are supporters of Nazi ideologies and think the German people are occupying the country militarily.

The Vereinte Patrioten had intended to abduct German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and impose a government based on the German Reichs 1871 constitution.

Prosecutors claim that the group, which was founded in the middle of January 2022, set out to trigger civil war-like conditions in Germany by means of violence with the intention of toppling the nations government and parliamentary democracy.

Prosecutors claim that the organisation also planned targeted explosive strikes with the intention of causing a multi-week nationwide blackout of power to isolate the populace from media and TV coverage.

Prosecutors have charged five alleged members who were detained in 2017 with high treason, and they have been on trial since May.

The idea was to storm the German Capitol, seize legislators, and have the chancellor put to death. A former far-right member of Parliament would lead a national purge, while a prince descending from German nobility would assume power as the new head of state.

The electricity network would be compromised in order to support the coup. There were already satellite phones purchased for off-grid communication.

The accused are strongly suspected of membership of a terrorist organisation as well as preparation of a treasonous undertaking, prosecutors said in a statement on the so-called Reichsbuerger (Citizens of the Reich).

(With agency inputs)
The number of US children and teens killed by gunfire rose 50 per cent in just two years, according to Pew Research Centers 2023 analysis, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In 2019, there were 1,732 gun deaths among US children and teens under 18. By 2021, that figure had increased to 2,590.

The gun death rate among children and teens  a measure that adjusts for changes in the nations population  rose 46 per cent during that span.

Both the number and rate of children and teens killed by gunfire in 2021 were the highest since at least 1999, the earliest year for which this information is available in the CDCs mortality database.

The surge in firearm-related fatalities among children and adolescents mirrors a broader recent uptick in overall gun deaths across the American population.

In 2021, the recorded gun deaths reached an unprecedented 48,830, marking a 23 per cent increase from the 2019 tally of 39,707, which predates the onset of the pandemic.

The comprehensive figure for gun deaths among children and teens in 2021 encompasses various categories such as homicides, suicides, accidents, and other instances where firearms are cited as the primary cause of death on official certificates. This statistic excludes deaths where firearms are noted as a contributing, but not the underlying, cause.

Homicide emerged as the predominant category for gun deaths among children and teens in 2021, constituting 60 per cent of the total for that year. Suicides followed at 32 per cent, with accidents accounting for 5 per cent. In contrast, suicides held the majority share of gun deaths among US adults in 2021, comprising 55 per cent.

In addition to tracking fatal incidents, the CDC provides estimates of nonfatal gun-related injuries sustained by children and teens. In the latest available data from 2020, over 11,000 emergency-room visits were attributed to gunshot injuries in individuals under the age of 18a significantly higher figure compared to recent years.

However, its important to note that obtaining an exact count is challenging as the CDCs estimate relies on a sample of US hospitals rather than a comprehensive dataset, introducing a substantial margin of error.

In the US, some groups of children and teens are far more likely than others to die by gunfire. Boys, for example, accounted for 83 per cent of all gun deaths among children and teens in 2021. Girls accounted for 17 per cent.

Older children and teens are much more likely than younger kids to be killed in gun-related incidents. Those ages 12 to 17 accounted for 86 per cent of all gun deaths among children and teens in 2021, while those 6 to 11 accounted for 7 per cent of the total, as did those 5 and under. Still, there were 179 gun deaths among children ages 6 to 11 and 184 among those 5 and under in 2021.

For all three age groups, homicide was the leading type of gun death in 2021. But suicides accounted for a significant share (36 per cent) of gun deaths among those ages 12 to 17, while accidents accounted for a sizable share (34 per cent) of gun deaths among those 5 and under.

With inputs from agencies
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza claimed Israeli forces raided a hospital in the Palestinian territorys north on Tuesday.

Israeli occupation forces are storming Kamal Adwan hospital after besieging and bombing it for days, ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a statement.

The Israeli military did not reply immediately to an AFP request for comment.

According to Qudra, the forces were collecting up men in the hospital courtyard, including medical personnel.

We fear their arrest and the arrest of the medical teams or their killing, the health ministry spokesman added, calling for international intervention.

The United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA said two mothers were killed when the maternity department of Kamal Adwan hospital was reportedly hit Monday.

The hospital remains surrounded by Israeli troops and tanks, and fighting with armed groups has been reported in its vicinity for three consecutive days, OCHA said.

It said the hospital was currently accommodating 65 patients, including 12 children in the intensive care unit and six newborns in incubators.

About 3,000 internally displaced persons remain trapped in the facility and are awaiting evacuation with extreme shortages of water, food and power reported, it added.

Other medical institutions in Gaza, notably Al-Shifa, the territorys main hospital, have also been raided by Israeli forces.

According to the UN, there is presently just one hospital in northern Gaza that can admit patients.

Only 13 of the territorys 36 hospitals are operational, providing inadequate treatment while housing thousands of displaced people.

According to the health ministry, more than 18,200 Gazans have been killed and almost 50,000 have been injured since the conflict between Israel and Hamas started more than two months ago.

According to Israeli sources, about 1,200 people were murdered in an unprecedented onslaught on southern Israel by Hamas terrorists on October 7, which provoked the blistering military response on Gaza.

The majority of war casualties in Israel and Gaza have been civilians.
US President Joe Biden reiterated his support for Israel, saying that he is a Zionist who will continue to provide military assistance to the Jewish nation.

Bidens comment came as he hosted a Hanukkah event in the White House on Monday. The US will continue to provide military assistance to Israel until they get rid of Hamas, but we have to be careful  they have to be careful. The whole worlds public opinion can shift overnight, we cant let that happen.

As I said after the [Oct.7] attack, my commitment to the safety of the Jewish people, and the security of Israel, its right to exist as an independent Jewish state, is unshakeable, the president added.

Biden said that Jews would not be safe anywhere if it werent for Israel.

The warmth and connection I feel to the Jewish community is unquestionable. Biden said adding, I ran into trouble and criticism when I said a few years ago that you dont have to be Jewish to be a Zionist, and I am a Zionist.

Earlier on Monday, a group of protestors staged a demonstration outside the White House as nearly 20 women describing themselves as Jewish elders chained their bodies to the fence guarding the White House. Wearing black T-shirts that read Not In Our Name, the women chanted Biden, Biden, pick a side! Cease-fire not genocide! while reading the names of those killed in Gaza, along with their ages.

He said assistance to Israel would continue until Hamas was routed out but warned that public opinion could shift in grave ways for Israels security.

We have to be careful, Biden said. They have to be careful. The whole worlds public opinion can shift overnight. We cant let that happen.

Biden said the United States would continue to work to free hostages still held in Gaza, speed humanitarian aid to Palestinians and emphasize to our Israeli friends we need to protect civilian life.

Biden has weathered intense criticism for his support for Israels response to Hamas October 7 cross-border attack, when the militants killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostage, according to Israeli tallies. About 100 hostages have since been freed.

With inputs from agencies
As the United Nations reported that relief supplies to desperate Palestinians have mostly dried up due to the severity of combat in the Israel-Hamas war, which is currently in its third month, Israeli tanks and aeroplanes launched attacks on southern Gaza on Tuesday.

Residents of Khan Younis, the biggest city in southern Gaza that Israel troops overran last week, reported that tank shelling was now concentrated on the city centre. According to one, tanks were in operation on Tuesday morning near the street that leads to the residence of Yahya Al-Sinwar, the Gaza-based commander of Hamas.

The 193-member U.N. General Assembly was getting ready to vote on a resolution urging a ceasefire at the UN. Diplomats stated that passing was anticipated. A similar request was vetoed by the US in the 15-member Security Council.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in Jerusalem that Israel has gotten complete support for its ground invasion of Gaza and for thwarting international efforts to end the war after engaging in a intensive dialogue with US President Joe Biden.

Although it has also urged its ally to take extra steps to prevent injury to civilians, Washington has supported Israels argument that a truce would only help Hamas.

Since October 7, Israels campaign to drive out Hamas from Gaza has resulted in at least 18,205 Palestinian deaths and close to 50,000 injuries, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Untold numbers of dead remain under the debris or out of paramedics reach.

Tawfik Abu Breika, an elderly Palestinian, claimed that his residential block in Khan Younis was struck unexpectedly by an Israeli air strike on Tuesday that had brought down several buildings and caused casualties.

Health officials in Rafah, which borders Egypt, further south, reported that an Israeli airstrike on homes overnight claimed the lives of 22, including children. Under the debris, civil emergency personnel were looking for other victims.

Residents reported that this months shelling of Rafah, where the Israeli army ordered residents to flee for their lives, was some of the worst in recent memory.

Israel launched the attack on Gaza in retaliation for a cross-border raid on October 7 by Hamas militants that claimed 1,200 lives and kidnapped 240 more in southern Israel. During the November truce, more than a hundred captives were released.

Since the ground invasion started in late October, 105 Israeli soldiers have lost their lives in Gaza.

(With agency inputs)
A large number of Israelis grew skeptical of the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine even before Hamas launched its all-out offensive against the Jewish country in October, a survey by Pew Research has found.

According to the survey, conducted between March and April 2023, only 35 per cent of Israelis think a way can be found for Israel and an independent Palestinian state to coexist peacefully.

The optimism about the two-state solution simmered down among Arab and Jewish Israelis alike. Even so, the views of Arabs living in Israel have shifted more than their Jewish counterparts.

The survey found Arab Israelis are now 33 points less likely than they were in 2013 to see the possibility of the existence of Israel and an independent Palestinian state as opposed to Jewish Israelis are 14 points to see that possibility.

Divisions among political alignments

Views on the two-state solution differ among people based on their political affiliations. For example, 73 per cent of Israelis on the political left believe that a way can be found for the two states to co-exist peacefully as compared to 53 per cent of those in the center and 14 per cent of those on the right who do not.

Meanwhile, people who do not support the Israeli coalition government are more likely to think that the two-state solution is possible than those who support the governing coalition to believe a way can be found to coexist peacefully.

Iran, Israel has only one thing in common

The only thing Iran and Israel share is that both do not believe in a two-state solution, Irans foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Monday via translation at an international forum in Doha.

During the forum, Amirabdollahian reiterated Irans proposal that a referendum be held to determine the fate of Palestine, with only descendants of those who lived there prior to 1948 being permitted to vote.

With inputs from Reuters
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday spoke to his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen and discussed the situation in Gaza, Lebanon and safety of maritime traffic in the region.

Taking to X, Jaishankar wrote, Just spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister @elicoh1. Discussed the Gaza situation, Lebanon and safety of maritime traffic in the region. Will continue to remain in touch.

Jaishankar had also spoken to Cohen in November when he reaffirmed Indias commitment to countering terrorism, observance of international humanitarian law and a two-state solution.

Spoke this afternoon with FM Eli Choen of Israel. Appreciated his sharing the Israeli assessment of the current situation. Reiterated our firm commitment to countering terrorism, observance of international humanitarian law and for a two-state solution, Jaishankar had posted from his official handle on X.

The conflict in Gaza escalated after the 7 October attack by Hamas, where about 2,500 terrorists breached the border into Israel from the Gaza Strip, leading to casualties and the seizure of hostages.

Israel has characterised its Gaza offensive as targeting Hamas infrastructure with the goal of eliminating the entire terror group while making efforts to minimise civilian casualties.

The discussion centred on the prevailing situation in Gaza and the significance of finding a solution that ensures regional stability and peace.

Reiterating Indias firm stance against terrorism, Jaishankar underscored the nations unwavering commitment to countering the menace. He also emphasised the necessity of observing international humanitarian law, ensuring that civilian lives are protected in conflict zones.

The region is reeling under a humanitarian crisis and rights groups have urged for more aid than what is currently reaching the civilians there, according to reports.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first global leaders to condemn the terror attacks and express solidarity with Israel.

With inputs from agencies
The Kremlin on Tuesday criticised what it deemed as US interference in the case of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny, whose whereabouts remain unknown according to his allies.

A day prior, the United States expressed deep concern over Navalnys team reporting a lack of access to him for almost a week and speculations that he was removed from the prison where he has been held for months.

We are talking about a prisoner who was found guilty by the law and is serving the prison sentence he received. Any interference, including from the US, is unacceptable, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

On Monday, the US called for Navalnys immediate release, asserting that he should never have been jailed in the first place.

Navalnys team claimed that the politician, serving a 19-year sentence, missed several court hearings, and his lawyers were informed of his removal from the prison.

Today, Alexei was again not taken to court via video link, his exiled spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said on social media Tuesday.

An employee of the IK-6 (prison colony) stated that Alexey left the colony but apparently nobody knows where he was taken, she said.

It was the seventh day Navalnys allies said they had no contact with him.

A court this summer prolonged Navalnys sentence to 19 years and also ruled that he be moved to a harsher  special regime  prison.

Navalnys allies linked his disappearance and possible transfer to a harsher prison with President Vladimir Putins announcement that he plans to extend his long rule by running for a fifth presidential term in March.

Russias huge prison system often takes weeks  or longer  to move prisoners between far-flung facilities by rail.

With inputs from AFP
North Koreas constitution says it protects freedom of speech, but in reality, one misplaced word can cost you your life, according to defectors who have created a community in South Korea.

Kim Hee-young, one of the many North Korean Defector claims to have learned the risk the hard way while growing.

One day at her house, a friend of her father was talking about his experience working as a logger in Russia. Speaking to her father and another friend, he said that North Korean money was as worthless as toilet paper in other countries.

Soon after the friends left, she heard the wail of a siren and saw police entering the building where the man was living.

The following day, she found out that the entire family including his children  around the same age as her  had disappeared.

Everything, not only them but also all their belongings, vanished into thin air, she said.

Kim is one of several North Korean escapees who shared their personal stories of how the dictatorial regime suppresses free speech in video messages displayed at the North Korean Human Rights Museum, which opened in central Seoul last month.

As per reports, the inaugural exhibition, The Echo Never Stops, highlighted how the regime in Pyongyang uses prohibited language to shape the way people speak and think.

Witnesses said the regime also uses language suppression as a means of dividing people so that they trust no one but their supreme leader.

In a video, Kim Bo-gyeong said she still remembers the day her father was dragged off by North Korean security officials for simply saying he had a tough life while drinking with his friends.

At just 5, too young to understand why her father was being arrested, she told a woman living in the same village that she could not stop thinking about it.

Kim said the lady then exaggerated what she had said and spread a rumour that the young girl was seeking to take revenge on those who took her father.

Due to the accusations, she was later questioned by authorities.

The accusations could be about factual criticism or outright lies. That means anyone could be sent to a political prison camp or executed at any time based on flimsy evidence. In such an environment, people live in constant fear, said Kim Su-jin, a museum staff member.

I think what is happening in North Korea is a typical example of controlling peoples thoughts by controlling their words.

At the museum, run by the Database Centre for North Korean Human Rights, a Seoul-based NGO, visitors can see the words and expressions that were spoken and forever altered the lives of ordinary North Koreans.

Verified by witnesses, they include legitimate criticisms of the regime and well-intended personal opinions about how the country should be run: I do not want to defend a country that cannot even feed its own military, I miss my parents in China and We should urgently reform our [economic] system are among the examples.

Visitors can also see the human rights groups research materials relevant to the theme and art created by North Korean defectors.

The project of establishing a museum dedicated to North Koreas human rights issues began in 2017.

After years of delays due to budget problems, it started to gain momentum under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

A high-ranking official at the Ministry of Unification said that it has been in talks with human rights groups to expand the size of the museum in future.
An anti-ship cruise missile launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen hit a commercial tanker vessel bearing a Norway flag, causing a fire and damage but no casualties, the US military said in a statement.

The attack on the tanker STRINDA took place about 60 nautical miles (111km) north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at about 2100 GMT, a US official said.

A second U.S. official said the STRINDA was able to move under its own power in the hours after the attack.

There were no US ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but the (US Navy destroyer) USS MASON responded to the M/T STRINDAs mayday call and is currently rendering assistance, the US militarys Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, said in a statement posted on social media platform X.

The chemical tanker is Norway flagged, and its Norwegian owner, Mowinckel Chemical Tankers, and manager Hansa Tankers could not be immediately reached for comment outside office hours.

The Iran-aligned Houthis have waded into the Israel-Hamas conflict  which has spread around the Middle East since October 7  attacking vessels in vital shipping lanes and firing drones and missiles at Israel itself.

On Saturday, the Houthis said they would target all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their nationality, and warned international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports.

The STRINDA had loaded vegetable oil and biofuels in Malaysia and was headed for Venice, Italy, data from ship tracking firm Kpler showed. It was not immediately clear whether the STRINDA had any ties to Israel.

The group, which rules much of Yemen, says its attacks are a show of support for the Palestinians and has vowed they will continue until Israel stops its offensive on the Gaza Strip  more than 1,000 miles from the Houthi seat of power in Sanaa.

The Houthis are one of several groups in the Iran-aligned Axis of Resistance that have been taking aim at Israeli and U.S. targets since their Palestinian ally Hamas attacked Israel.

During the first week of December, three commercial vessels came under attack in international waters, prompting a U.S. Navy destroyer to intervene.

The Houthis also seized last month a British-owned cargo ship that had links with an Israeli company.

The United States and Britain have condemned the attacks on shipping, blaming Iran for its role in supporting the Houthis. Tehran says its allies make their decisions independently.

Saudi Arabia has asked the United States to show restraint in responding to the attacks.
The Israeli military Tuesday said more than a tenth of its troops killed in Gaza were the result of friendly fire, while multiple other soldier deaths were also accidental.

To date there have been 105 deaths since the ground operations, 20 of which were accidents, a military spokesperson told AFP.

Thirteen were the result of friendly fire, while the others were killed in incidents involving weaponry, machinery, trampling, or firing irregularities, the spokesperson said.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday resumed the hearing of a long-pending presidential reference seeking to reopen former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhuttos death penalty of 1979.

A nine-member larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, took up the case for hearing.

Bhutto was given the death penalty after he was convicted of abetment in a murder case in 1979 following which he was hanged to death.

The countrys top court upheld the conviction, a move that many believed was done under the coercion exercised by the then-military dictator Gen Ziaul Haq who had toppled Bhuttos government in 1977.

In 2011, the cash-strapped countrys former President Former President Asif Ali Zardari sent a formal request to the court for an opinion on revisiting the death sentence given to Bhutto under the Supreme Courts advisory jurisdiction.

The case was last heard by an 11-judge panel, headed by then chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, in Jan 2012.

Bhuttos grandson and former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto Zardari even requested to broadcast the court proceedings live.

Bhutto is revered as a symbol of resistance to undemocratic forces in Pakistan and a champion of the underdog.

With inputs from PTI
During a U.N. meeting in Geneva on Tuesday, the Palestinian foreign minister denounced the international failure to uphold the rights of Palestinians and accused Israel of using famine as a weapon of war against almost a million people in Gaza.

Half of Gazas 2.3 million residents, according to the U.N. World Food Programme, are starving as a result of Israels military incursion into the southern portion of the Gaza Strip, which was carried out in retaliation for the deadly cross-border raid by Hamas militants in October.

Israel has stated that it permits aid to enter Gaza through the Rafah gate and has hinted at the possibility of the Kerem Shalom crossing reopening shortly to facilitate relief supplies.

As we speak, at least 1 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, half of them children, are starving, not because of a natural disaster or because of lack of generous assistance waiting at the border, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki told a U.N. event to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

No, they are starving because of Israels deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war against the people it occupied, he said.

Rather than insisting on respecting the Palestinian peoples basic right to eat and drink water, we are living through this dystopian reality that excludes Palestinians from the basic, most basic rights afforded to all human beings, he said, describing it as an utter international failure to protect Palestinians.

Israel claims that among the steps it is doing to safeguard civilians in its efforts to eliminate Hamas terrorists who killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 240is ordering residents to relocate to regions it deems safer.

In a speech to the same U.N. meeting, Israels envoy Meirav Eilon Shahar did not directly address the starving charge.

Shortly later, she and the mother of American-Israeli captive Hersh Goldberg Polin addressed reporters, criticising al-Malikis speech for omitting any mention of Hamas and its lethal attacks on Israel.

Nothing about Oct. 7, nothing about the atrocities that were committed by Hamas, she said.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israels counterattack has resulted in at least 18,205 deaths and nearly 50,000 injuries. Thousands more deaths remain unaccounted for, either beneath the debris or outside the ambulances reach.

(With agency inputs)
A comprehensive examination of the brain tissue from the Maine mass shooting accused, Robert Card, who fatally shot 18 people, is underway to identify any injuries linked to his military service.

Card, a 40-year-old US Army Reserve member, attacked Lewiston, Maine, prompting concerns about the impact of his repeated exposure to explosions during cadet training.

The state medical examiner aims to explore if a brain injury contributed to Cards abnormal behavior preceding the tragic incident.

According to Pentagon, during summer training at West Point, New York, Card exhibited paranoid behavior, leading to a two-week psychiatric hospitalization.

Family and friends reported instances of him hearing voices and harboring unfounded beliefs.

Colleagues, troubled by his conduct, limited his access to weapons upon his release, with at least one reservist expressing concerns about a potential mass shooting.

While on the run, fears persisted that Card might commit another mass killing, but he was later found to have taken his own life.

The medical examiners spokesperson highlighted the examination of brain tissue in Massachusetts as a thorough measure, considering Cards military background and actions.

The Pentagon, acknowledging the Armys involvement in studying blast overpressure and the brain, emphasised a commitment to understanding and addressing potential effects on soldiers, adjusting protocols pending research outcomes.
The Philippines foreign ministry said on Tuesday it has summoned Chinas ambassador to Manila to protest back-to-back harassments in the South China Sea at the weekend, as longstanding geopolitical tensions continue in the strategic waterway.

Manila has asked China to direct its vessels to cease and desist from what it said were illegal actions and dangerous manoeuvres against Philippine vessels, and stop interfering in legitimate Philippine activities, the ministry said in a statement.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro verbally delivered the protest against the Chinese manoeuvres that led to a collision, and against use of water cannons against Philippine vessels sending supplies to troops stationed in an ageing warship at the Second Thomas Shoal.

The actions of the Chinese vessels within the Philippine exclusive economic zone are illegal and violate the freedom of navigation, the ministry said.

It also protested Chinas use of water cannons against three fisheries bureau vessels on their way to send oil and groceries to fishermen near the Scarborough shoal.

The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to request for comment.

The two neighbours traded accusations on Sunday, and the Philippines called Chinas actions a serious escalation.

Chinas foreign ministry protested over what it said was a collision on Sunday, but the Philippines said Chinese coastguard and maritime militia repeatedly fired water cannons at its resupply boats, causing serious engine damage to one, and deliberately ramming another.

The United States, the Philippines treaty ally, and the United Kingdom, both expressed support for the Philippines and condemned the actions of China, which claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce.

The Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, have competing claims. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said Chinas claims had no legal basis.
The speaker of Polands parliament expelled a far-right legislator after he extinguished Hanukkah candles in the chamber using a fire extinguisher, sparking anger.

Video footage appeared on the website of private broadcaster TVN24, displaying Grzegorz Braun of the Confederation using the extinguisher and then crossing the parliament lobby to where the candles were. This caused a white cloud to form, prompting security personnel to evacuate the area.

People in the area were seen on television with extinguisher powder all over them.

Then, Grzegorz Braun stood at the chamber platform and called Hanukkah satanic, declaring that he was bringing normalcy back.

Asked just after the incident if he was ashamed, Braun replied: Those who take part in acts of Satanic worship should be ashamed.

Speaker Szymon Holownia declared he would report his acts to the prosecutors and barred him from the meeting.

After shaking hands with fellow far-right members, Braun departed the chamber.

There will be no tolerance for racism, xenophobia, antisemitism as long as I am the speaker of parliament, Holownia told reporters.

In a message shared on social media platform X, Polands Catholic archbishop, Cardinal Grzegorz Rys, expressed his shame over Brauns behaviour.

(I) apologise to the entire Jewish community in Poland, he wrote.

(With agency inputs)
President William Ruto announced on Tuesday that starting in January, visitors from all over the world will not need a visa to enter Kenya.

According to Ruto, his government has created a digital platform that guarantees every guest will obtain an electronic travel authorization ahead of time, negating the need for them to apply for a visa.

It shall no longer be necessary for any person from any corner of the globe to carry the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya, he said in a speech in the capital Nairobi at an event to mark 60 years of independence from Britain.

Ruto has long advocated for visa-free travel within the African continent.

At a conference in the Republic of Congo in October he said people from African countries would not require a visa to visit Kenya by the end of 2023.

The tourism industry plays a vital role in Kenyas economy, offering beach holidays along its Indian Ocean coastline and wildlife safaris inland.

Kenya has a simple message to humanity: Welcome Home! he said.

(with inputs from Reuters)
On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began a brief visit to Washington, saying in a speech at a defence university that although Russia is battling in Ukraine, its real target is freedom in America and throughout the world. He also made a personal plea to Congress to end the impasse and authorise sustained funding for Ukraine.

His visit to Washington, which will include discussions with President Barack Obama and members of Congress on Tuesday, is part of the Biden administrations last-ditch effort to urge legislators to support a supplementary financing measure, as officials warn that funds for Ukraine are running short. However, the tone on Capitol Hill was gloomy ahead of Zelenskyys arrival, with top Senate negotiators saying they were running out of time to reach an agreement on US-Mexico border security proposals that Republicans have requested be included in the package.

President Joe Biden has requested $61.4 billion in wartime assistance for Ukraine as part of a $110 billion proposal that includes cash for Israel and other national security goals. However, the proposal is mired in a controversy about US immigration policy and border security. The United States has already supplied Ukraine with $111 billion to resist Russias 2022 invasion.

If theres anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill, its just (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his sick clique, Zelenskyy told an audience of military leaders and students at the National Defense University. Ukrainians havent given up and wont give up. We know what to do. And you can count on Ukraine. And we hope just as much to be able to count on you.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who introduced the Ukrainian president, said Americas commitment to Ukraine is unshakeable and supporting the war is critical to ensuring the security of the U.S. and its allies.

Americas commitments must be honored. Americas security must be defended. And Americas word must be kept, Austin said.

He said Zelenskyy is living proof that a single persons leadership can help rally an embattled democracy and inspire the free world and change the course of history.

With Congress in its final week before leaving for the holidays, questions remain as to whether Republicans will be able to come to an agreement on any rounds of future funding for Ukraine or Israel without White House concessions on border security as illegal crossings surge. But any border package also runs the risk of alienating some Democrats.

Sen. James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican who is leading the GOP negotiations, said large disagreements remain in the negotiations and predicted there would be no breakthrough by the end of the week.

Lankford said in recent days he was left out of talks between Senate Democrats and the White House, adding, It was just a frustrating weekend.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who is involved in the talks, said he hoped Zelenskyys visit would encourage Republicans to compromise from their policy demands. He acknowledged that Congress approving the funding this year seems like an uphill climb, but not impossible.

This is Zelenskyys third visit to Washington since the war began, and he appeared at NDU wearing his trademark Army green long-sleeve shirt  emblazoned with IM UKRAINIAN. His lobbying task, however, has gotten increasingly difficult, from the heros welcome he received in the Capitol last year to the bitterly divided Congress this year.

He noted that 82 years ago on this day the U.S. went to combat in Europe, as then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the declaration of war against Germany. Now, he said, though the U.S. has no troops on the ground in Ukraine, it is supplying critically needed weapons and equipment.

Every one of you here understands what it means for a soldier to wait for ammunition, waiting for weeks, months without knowing if support will come at all, he told the university audience. When the free world hesitates, thats when dictatorships celebrate.

Zelenskyy also met Monday with Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund. In a statement, Georgieva said timely and predictable financing for Ukraine is critical to sustaining the countrys economic gains and its plans to implement financial reforms and maintain financial stability.

According to the Defense Department, there is about $4.8 billion remaining in presidential drawdown authority, which pulls weapons from existing U.S. stockpiles and sends them quickly to the war front, and about $1.1 billion left in funding to replenish the U.S. military stockpiles.

John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesman, told reporters Monday that Zelenskyys visit comes at a critical time.

This is exactly the right time to be having President Zelenskyy in town to have these discussions, because of whats going on in Ukraine, the increased activity were seeing by the Russian armed forces as winter approaches, but also whats going on on Capitol Hill, said Kirby.

He said Biden will make clear to Zelenskyy when they meet that the White House is standing firm on the supplemental budget request. White House spokesman Andrew Bates said top Office of Management and Budget, National Security Council and White House legislative affairs officials have continued to press the case for the funding.
A suicide bombing in a Pakistani army base has killed at least 23 people on Tuesday, an official said. The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The early-morning attack targeted a base in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border, according to a local official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Many of them were killed while they were sleeping and in civilian clothes so we are still determining if they are all military personnel, the official added.

A new group affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban called Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan said that the assault began at around 2:30 am with a martyrdom attack by one fighter before others stormed the compound.

In an exchange of fire between the security forces and the attackers that followed the attack, at least four security personnel were killed and 16 injured, police said.

During the gunfight, the police gunned down two terrorists, according to a report by ARY news.

Following the attack, fresh contingents of police were rushed to the site, according to the police.

An emergency was declared in district hospitals while all schools and colleges were closed due to the attack.

WIth inputs from agencies
A pregnant Texas woman whose foetus has a deadly condition left the state to get an abortion abroad after the state Supreme Court dismissed her unusual appeal to one of the most draconian abortion prohibitions in the country on Monday.

Kate Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two, had spent over a week in court in Texas seeking permission to terminate her pregnancy, but her attorney claimed she couldnt wait any longer and left the state. Her baby had trisomy 18, a disorder with a poor survival probability, and her complaint claimed that extending the pregnancy jeopardised both her health and her capacity to have future children.

The abortion law in Texas offers restricted exceptions when the mothers life is in jeopardy, but not for foetal abnormalities. Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton stated that Cox had not demonstrated that any of her pregnancy problems were life-threatening.

Her health is on the line. Shes been in and out of the emergency room and she couldnt wait any longer, said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which was representing Cox.

The organisation has not revealed where Cox went. She would have been 20 weeks and six days pregnant on Monday.

The state Supreme Court released its verdict, ruling against Cox, only hours after her attorneys said she had departed Texas. It occurred three days after the court temporarily suspended a lower courts order allowing Cox to have an abortion.

No one disputes that Ms. Coxs pregnancy has been extremely complicated. Any parents would be devastated to learn of their unborn childs trisomy 18 diagnosis, the court wrote. Some difficulties in pregnancy, however, even serious ones, do not pose the heightened risks to the mother the exception encompasses.

Cox, who lives in the Dallas area, was believed to be the first woman in the U.S. to ask a court for permission for an abortion since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year. Her lawsuit quickly became a high-profile test of bans in Texas and a dozen other GOP-controlled states, where abortion is prohibited at nearly all stages of pregnancy.

Days after Cox filed her lawsuit, a pregnant woman in Kentucky also asked a court to allow an abortion. There has been no ruling yet in that case.

In Texas, Paxton mounted an aggressive defense to try to prevent Cox from having an abortion. He sent three Houston hospitals letters warning of legal consequences  both criminal and civil  if they allowed Coxs physician to provide the procedure. He also argued that Cox had not demonstrated that her life was at imminent risk, including noting that she was sent home after her multiple visits to emergency rooms.

Cox had cesarean surgeries during her first two pregnancies. Her lawsuit argued that inducing labor would carry a risk of a uterine rupture because of her prior C-sections, and that another one at full term would would endanger her ability to carry another child. But Paxton contended those arguments still fell short.

Rather, the only question is whether Ms. Coxs condition meets the exception, regardless of how long the child is expected to live, Paxtons office told the court in a filing over the weekend.

Dr. Leilah Zahedi-Spung, a maternal fetal medicine specialist in Colorado and a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, said when lethal fetal anomalies are diagnosed theres only risk to that pregnant person and no benefit unfortunately for that innocent child.

You are putting your body through risks without any benefit because prolonging the pregnancy doesnt change the survival rate, Zahedi-Spung said.

Doctors told Cox that her fetus has a condition known as trisomy 18, which is when a baby has an extra copy of chromosome 18. The diagnosis has a very high likelihood of miscarriage or stillbirth, and low survival rate. Doctors told Cox that inducing labor or carrying the baby to term could jeopardize her ability to have another child.

Trisomy 18 occurs in approximately 1 in 2,500 diagnosed pregnancies, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. There is no live birth in about 70% of pregnancies involving the diagnosis that proceed past 12 weeks gestational age, according to a legal filing that the two groups submitted to the court.

The termination of pregnancies because of fetal anomalies or other often-fatal medical problems is seldom discussed in national debates over abortion. There are no recent statistics on the frequency of terminations for fetal anomalies in the U.S. but experts say its a small percentage of total procedures.

It has long been at the forefront of strict abortion laws in the U.S., and even now, there are ongoing efforts to make it harder for pregnant women to leave Texas for states where the procedure is legal. This year, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the bans do not apply to helping women get abortions out of state.

Under Texas bans, doctors who provide an abortion can face criminal charges that carry punishments of up to life in prison. They could also face lawsuits from private citizens, who are empowered to sue a person who helps a woman obtain an abortion, such as the doctors staff. The laws do not threaten the mother with any legal consequences.

Dr. Christina Bourne, medical director for abortion provider Trust Women, which operates clinics in Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kansas, said that whether someones life is at risk can be subjective.

Doctors are now operating in a confusing atmosphere, Bourne said,

If you are a pregnant person in a legally restrictive state, I am concerned about your health outcomes, she said.
Under fire for her comments she made to the Congress about antisemitism on campus, Harvard President Claudine Gay wont resign despite the mounting pressure after Harvard board publicly announced their support for her and more than 500 faculty members came to her defence in several open letters.

In a post on X, Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, who has donated millions to Harvard and has been very vocal against Gay, also confirmed the development.

From a source I trust: Claudine Gay will not resign and the governing boards decided not to terminate her as president of @Harvard, he wrote.

In another post, Ackman said, I have been told now by two reporters that one of the factors that made it challenging for the @Harvard board to fire Gay was that they were concerned it would look like they were kowtowing to me.

I have been told now by two reporters that one of the factors that made it challenging for the @Harvard board to fire Gay was that they were concerned it would look like they were kowtowing to me. https://t.co/QrgFHUVEJh  Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) December 12, 2023

An open letter in support of Professor Gay, signed by over 500 current faculty members, urged the universitys board not to remove her from her position. Additionally, the 13-member Harvard Alumni Association Executive Committee has unanimously expressed support, as reported by universitys paper The Harvard Crimson.

Professor Gay faced significant backlash after her testimony to Congress on 5 December during a hearing addressing antisemitism on campus.

In response to a pointed question from New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, she suggested that calling for a genocide of Jews might violate the schools code of conduct, depending on the context.

The Harvard president, alongside former University of Pennsylvania President Elizabeth Magill and MIT President Sally Kornbluth, participated in the hearing and faced criticism for their remarks. Magill has since resigned.

Professor Gay has apologised for her statements, acknowledging that she became caught up in a combative exchange about policies and procedures during the hearing. She expressed regret for not emphasising her commitment to opposing calls for violence against the Jewish community at Harvard.

What I should have had the presence of mind to do in that moment was return to my guiding truth, which is that calls for violence against our Jewish community  threats to our Jewish students  have no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged, she added.

With inputs from agencies
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday will strive to avoid a potential setback for his recent initiative to relocate migrants to Rwanda, a move that has caused divisions within his ruling Conservative party.

Sunaks response to a unanimous Supreme Court ruling last month, which deemed the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda illegal under international law, is embodied in the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

The bill aims to address the courts concerns through legislation, forming part of the governments broader effort to curtail both regular and irregular immigration, a critical issue likely to feature prominently in the upcoming election.

However, Sunaks attempt to declare Rwanda as a safe destination, despite reservations from human rights monitors, and to eliminate legal challenges to deportation orders has ignited significant internal strife within the Conservative party. This internal conflict mirrors the disagreements seen during the debates over the form Brexit should take.

While hardline right-wing members argue that the proposals lack sufficient toughness, more liberal Tories worry that amendments down the line could lead the UK to violate international law.

The parliamentary debate is scheduled to commence around 12:30 GMT, with a vote anticipated at 19:00 GMT. The focus will be on votes against and abstentions, marking a pivotal test of Sunaks leadership.

A defeat would not only be unprecedented at such an early stage in the parliamentary process since 1986 but also a blow to Sunaks authority, just over a year since assuming leadership of the Tory party. In response to the potential defeat, opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer suggested that Sunak should call for a general election, but he expressed confidence that the bill would pass.

Despite trailing behind the Labour party in polls, Sunak has prioritized controlling immigration as a key policy. In an effort to placate opponents, he hosted a breakfast meeting at Downing Street on Tuesday to persuade potential rebels to support the bill or risk its failure at the outset.

Take back control was a rallying cry for Brexit supporters like Sunak during the 2016 referendum. However, governing UK borders after leaving the European Union has proven to be a more challenging reality for Tory governments. The UK-Rwanda deportation plan, initially announced by Sunaks predecessor Boris Johnson last year, was intended as a response to the rising numbers of migrants crossing the Channel from France in small boats.

The UK-Rwanda deportation plan was first announced by Sunaks successor Boris Johnson last year as a way of dealing with increasing numbers of migrants crossing the Channel from France in small boats.

Starmer called the policy, which has already seen the UK pay Rwanda some 240 million ($300 million), a perfect example of the cultural stain that runs through the modern Conservative Party.

Not a single person has been sent and even if we did send people, we would pay for their hotels and upkeep.

And wed have to resettle refugees from Rwanda in exchange. Thats the deal that they are voting on today, AFP quoted Starmer as saying.

Net migration  the difference between the number of people arriving and those leaving  stood at a record 750,000 last year.

Sunaks government has since announced plans including higher minimum salaries for economic migrants, and restrictions on accompanying family to cut numbers, prompting widespread criticism.

But it also wants to cut asylum applications due to a backlog of cases from small boats crossings, blaming them for adding pressure and an estimated 8 million-a-day cost on public services.

With inputs from agencies
The UN General Assembly is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a non-binding resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, a demand that the Security Council has so far failed to make.

The United States, one of the Security Councils only five permanent members, used its veto on Friday to reject a draft text asking for a cease-fire, the latest hint of deadlock.

The Council waited more than a month after the commencement of the war between Israel and Hamas terrorists to speak with one weak voice, calling for humanitarian pauses in the combat in mid-November after four rejected texts.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that a complete breakdown of public order is on the horizon in the beleaguered Gaza Strip.

Many countries and human rights organizations deplored last Fridays Security Council failure, and Guterres on Sunday described the Councils authority and credibility as undermined.

Israeli air and land attacks continue to pummel Gaza, more than two months after the bloody and unprecedented attack perpetrated by Hamas fighters on Israeli soil on October 7.

Some 1,200 Israelis were killed in the initial attack, while the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says 18,205 Palestinians have died in Israels bombardment since.

The UN itself is mourning the death of more than 100 of its own aid workers since the onset of war.

There are those who cannot see reality as they should see it, Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour said on Friday after the US veto.

But eventually they will cave in under the massive pressure of humanity from one corner of the globe to the other corner.

Catastrophic

In order to build pressure, Arab countries called for the new special session of the General Assembly for Tuesday afternoon, just after a visit to the Rafah border point by more than a dozen Security Council ambassadors.

The draft text, seen by AFP, largely reproduces the resolution blocked in the Council on Friday by the United States.

Expressing concern at the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, it demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, calls for the protection of civilians, humanitarian access, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

But like the text adopted by the Assembly at the end of October  which called for an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities  it does not condemn Hamas, an absence systematically criticized by Israel and the United States.

The previous resolution received 120 votes in favor, 14 against (including Israel and the United States) and 45 abstentions.

With calls for a ceasefire multiplying, it is safe to assume that the majority will be greater this time, Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group told AFP.

This may bring the Assembly closer to the 140 or so countries (out of 193 member states) that have repeatedly denounced the invasion of Ukraine, a result that the United States had seen as proof of Russias isolation.

But even with overwhelming support for a non-binding text, nobody imagines that the General Assembly can persuade Israel to cease fire, just as it cannot order Putin to quit Ukraine. The goal is to make the US increasingly nervous, Gowan said.

Although the Security Council is at the heart of our work in peace and security, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general, messages from the General Assembly are also very important.
A recently declassified US intelligence report indicates that the war in Ukraine has resulted in significant losses for Russia, with approximately 315,000 troops dead or injuredequivalent to nearly 90 per cent of its initial personnel when the war began.

Furthermore, the report highlights that Russias military modernisation has been set back by 18 years due to losses in both personnel and armored vehicles to the Ukrainian military.

According to the Reuters report, the Russian embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russian defense ministry and Kremlin officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

The source spoke as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made a last-ditch plea to US lawmakers on Capitol Hill to keep US military aid flowing to Ukraine, first meeting behind closed doors with US senators.

The source said the recently declassified US intelligence report assessed that Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 with 360,000 personnel.

Since then, the report found, 315,000 Russian troops, or about 87 per cent of the total with which it started the war, have been killed or injured, the source said.

The source said those losses are the reason Russia has been forced to loosen recruitment standards and draft convicts and older civilians to deploy in Ukraine.

The scale of losses has forced Russia to take extraordinary measures to sustain its ability to fight. Russia declared a partial mobilisation of 300,000 personnel in late 2022, and has relaxed standards to allow recruitment of convicts and older civilians, the assessment said, according to the source.

The Russian army has been left with 1,300 armored vehicles on the battlefield and is having to bolster those forces with T62 tanks produced in the 1970s, the source said.

With inputs from Reuters
Federal prosecutors requested the United States Supreme Court on Monday to rule promptly on whether former President Donald Trump has immunity from prosecution so that his trial on charges of conspiracy to disrupt the 2020 election may proceed as planned.

This case presents a fundamental question at the heart of our democracy: whether a former President is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office, Special Counsel Jack Smith said in a filing to the nations highest court.

Smith asked the Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, including three justices nominated by Trump, for an expedited ruling.

The United States recognizes that this is an extraordinary request, the special counsel said. This is an extraordinary case.

It is of paramount public importance that respondents claims of immunity be resolved as expeditiously as possible  and, if respondent is not immune, that he receive a fair and speedy trial on these charges, Smith said.

The Supreme Court stated that it will expedite consideration of Smiths motion to hear the case and urged Trumps attorneys to explain their views on the special counsels request by December 20.

The historic trial of the former Republican president is set to commence in Washington on March 4, 2024.

Trumps attorneys have repeatedly pushed to postpone the trial until after the November 2024 election, claiming that a former president has absolute immunity and cannot be punished for activities taken while in office.

On December 1, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who will preside over the first criminal prosecution of a former president, rejected the immunity claim.

Whatever immunities a sitting President may enjoy, the United States has only one Chief Executive at a time, and that position does not confer a lifelong get-out-of-jail-free pass, Chutkan said.

Defendants four-year service as Commander in Chief did not bestow on him the divine right of kings to evade the criminal accountability that governs his fellow citizens, she added.

Lawyers for Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, have appealed Chutkans ruling to a federal appeals court.

Smith is asking the Supreme Court to bypass the appeals court and take up the case itself on an emergency basis.

No person is above the law

In his filing, Smith said a cornerstone of our constitutional order is that no person is above the law.

The force of that principle is at its zenith where, as here, a grand jury has accused a former President of committing federal crimes to subvert the peaceful transfer of power to his lawfully elected successor, the special counsel said.

Nothing could be more vital to our democracy than that a President who abuses the electoral system to remain in office is held accountable for criminal conduct.

A Trump spokesperson denounced Smiths move, saying in a statement there is no reason to rush this sham to trial except to injure President Trump.

Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor, told AFP Smiths request is a rare procedure but he makes compelling arguments.

Smith essentially contends that the future of the US as a functioning democracy is at stake, Tobias said.

Trump was indicted in August for seeking to upend the results of the November 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden in a concerted effort that led to the violent January 6, 2021 attack by his supporters on the US Capitol.

The former president is accused of seeking to disenfranchise American voters with his false claims he won the election.

Smith also asked the Supreme Court to decide whether Trumps prosecution violates constitutional protections against double jeopardy  being tried twice for the same crime.

Trump was impeached by the Democratic-majority House of Representatives for incitement of insurrection following the attack on the Capitol but was acquitted by the Senate.

The nine Supreme Court justices are to hold their next conference on whether to accept new cases on January 5. The current court term is scheduled to end in June.
In the course of history, the phrase Do you want a smack?! has echoed through many households, coupled with the notion of awaiting a paternal reprimand. This perceived efficacy of violence in shaping childrens behavior, however, is at odds with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which deems physical punishment a violation of childrens rights and has led 65 countries to ban it.

In Australia, however, it remains legally acceptable for parents to employ reasonable force for disciplinary purposes, making children the only group legally subject to physical punishment. Despite this, a recent research by the Queensland University of Technology reveals that one in four Australians believes physical punishment is essential for proper child-rearing, with half of parents, spanning various age groups, admitting to smacking their kids.

The evolving attitudes of newer generations of parents, however, indicate a gradual shift away from physical punishment. Recognizing this trend is crucial, considering that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and 65 countries have already prohibited such practices.

What is Physical Punishment?

Physical or corporal punishment involves using physical force to induce pain, excluding injury, as a means of disciplining a child for misbehavior. Distinguished from more severe physical abuse, this form of discipline includes actions like smacking, pinching, slapping, or using implements such as a wooden spoon, cane, or belt.

Contrary to the belief that smacking improves behavior, research indicates it is ineffective and associated with adverse outcomes, including increased child aggression, internalized problems, strained parent-child relationships, and compromised mental health.

Assessing the Landscape in Australia

Queensland University of Technologys groundbreaking study, encompassing over 8,500 Australians aged 16 to 65, provides a comprehensive examination of the state of smacking and physical punishment in Australia. With a sample representative of the national population, the findings reflect the collective sentiments and experiences of Australians.

The data shows that 62.5% of Australians aged 16 to 65 experienced four or more instances of smacking or physical punishment during their childhood. Notably, men (66.3%) were slightly more likely to be physically punished than women (59.1%). While younger individuals reported slightly lower rates (58.4%), indicating a modest decline over time, the prevalence remains unacceptably high.

Generational Shifts and Changing Attitudes

A critical aspect of the findings is the generational shift in parenting practices. Older parents, retrospectively reporting their disciplinary methods, indicated higher usage of physical punishment, with 64.2% of parents over 65 admitting to its use compared to 14.4% of parents under 24. This suggests a positive trend, with younger generations showing a substantial decrease in the use of physical punishment.

Despite this progress, 26.4% of Australians still believe physical punishment is necessary for proper child-rearing. The shift is evident, however, as only 14.8% of individuals under 24 share this belief compared to 37.9% of those over 65.

Socioeconomic factors also play a role, with disadvantaged individuals 2.3 times more likely to view physical punishment as necessary. Moreover, there is a clear intergenerational transmission of this belief, as parents who experienced physical discipline in their childhood are more likely to endorse and use it with their own children.

Advocating for Change

The data emphasizes the need for legal reform. With societal attitudes evolving, there is an opportunity for change. Younger generations, less inclined to view physical punishment as necessary, pave the way for legal reforms that align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Encouragingly, numerous evidence-based parenting programs, including the Triple P Positive Parenting Programme, Tuning Into Kids, Parents Under Pressure, and Parent Child Interaction Therapy, offer non-violent strategies for effective parenting. As Australia capitalizes on these societal shifts, there is a chance to break the cycle of violence and provide more children with a nurturing, violence-free childhood.

(with inputs from PTI)
China is trying to get to Taiwan any which way possible: now, they have allegedly tried to bribe a Taiwan army pilot to steal a US-made Chinook heavy-lift helicopter, but the accused Colonel has been arrested.

The deal was worth $15 million.

As per reports, the lieutenant colonel surnamed Hsieh, was approached by Chinese officers who asked him to fly a CH-47F Chinook helicopter to a Chinese aircraft carrier in the Taiwan Strait.

They offered Hsieh to evacuate his family to Thailand in the event of a cross-strait conflict.

Initially, Hsieh declined the offer, but accepted when he was offered half the cost of the helicopter, a whooping $15 million.

The defection to China was uncovered by investigators in April and Hsieh and others involved were arrested subsequently.

Earlier this year, the High Prosecutors Office announced it was investigating a lieutenant colonel surnamed Hsieh of the 601st Aviation Brigade and a businessman also surnamed Hsieh for allegedly leaking defense secrets to Chinese spies.

Meanwhile, a report in a Chinese magazine, CT WANT, said Hsieh was recruited by a Chinese spy group headed by retaired military officer Chen Yu-hsin, bought air tickets for him and invited him to Bangkok, Thailand.

Upon reaching Thailand, Hsieh reportedly met a man surnamed Wang, who claimed to be a Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) senior general, and a man surnamed Wu, who claimed to be a Guangzhou Military Region commander.

Chen, Wang, and Wu allegedly promised Hseih that they would help his wife and children obtain Thai Elite Visas and also claimed that once war broke out in the Taiwan Strait, he and his family would be given priority to evacuate Taiwan as Thai overseas Chinese and would be given a monthly salary of about 200,000 Chinese yuan.

He was also allegedly instructed that when PLAs Air Force (PLAAF) military aircraft conducting exercises neared Taiwans contiguous zone, he was to fly a Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter at low altitude along the coastline. It was estimated that it would only take him about five minutes to land on a PLAN vessel.

The plan did not fructify as the law enforcement officials received intelligence in advance and arrested Hsieh and collaborators.

Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng told reporters that Beijings attempts to lure Taiwanese has had a considerable impact.

The minister also said the military has bolstered its response measures against various espionage methods employed by China.

With inputs from agencies
Chinas President Xi Jinping begins a two-day visit to Vietnam on Tuesday to build a community with shared future, three months after US President Joe Biden travelled to Hanoi as the major powers vie for influence in the Southeast Asian nation.

The trip, Xis first in six years, has been months in planning and was even briefly considered to take place days before Bidens visit, according to officials.

It aims to boost relations between the two Communist-ruled countries which have very close economic ties but are at odds over boundaries in the South China Sea and have a millennia-long history of frequent conflict.

The visit has been delayed also because of prolonged discussions over how to phrase the countries enhanced bilateral relations, which Beijing wants to be framed as shared destiny, a reference that Hanoi has resisted but is expected to have eventually accepted, according to officials and diplomats.

In an opinion article published on the newspaper of the Vietnamese Communist party ahead of his visit, Xi said a community with a shared future between the two countries would carry strategic significance.

Beyond the symbolism of elevating ties to a notch that Beijing may see as being above the US-Vietnam relationship, the upgraded status comes with the signature of dozens of cooperation documents, according to Chinas ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo, as reported by Vietnamese state newspaper Tuoi Tre before the visit.

Among the expected deals are Chinese investments to upgrade rail links between the two neighbours, which would include grants, although the volume of aid is not clear and neither is the amount and terms of possible loans.

Both countries have expressed interest in boosting transport connections. Vietnam is willing to export more to China, especially farm products, and Beijing wants to integrate northern Vietnam further into its southern supply chain networks.

Many Chinese companies have moved part of their operations to Vietnam at a faster pace this year than before the pandemic to be closer to Western clients in Vietnam, lower risks from U.S.-China trade tensions and reduce exposure to Chinas weakened economy.

Strengthened rail connections would facilitate import of components from China for assembling in Vietnam, effectively expanding Chinas new silk road, which Beijing calls the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Xi said in his op-ed that work should accelerate on infrastructure-building cooperation.

China has also pushed to include Vietnam in its Digital Silk Road, which may entail investments for new undersea optical fibre cables, the 5G network and other telecoms infrastructure.

The only project so far that has received BRI loans in Vietnam is the Hanoi metro, although Vietnam prefers not to openly label it as a BRI project, in a sign of how sensitive it is to show too close ties with Beijing.

Easier trade and stronger cooperation in several sectors including renewable energy, rare earths and tourism are also among the possible agreements.

Xi said the two countries should broaden cooperation in connectivity, reform of state owned enterprises, green energy and critical minerals.
Yemens Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for an attack on a Norwegian-flagged tanker, the Strinda, on Tuesday.

The Iran-backed group claimed the missile strike was part of its military campaign against Israel.

Norwegian shipowner J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi said the overnight strike on the Strinda caused a fire that the crew  all Indian nationals  were able to extinguish and that no one was hurt.

The Houthi rebels alleged that the ship, supposedly carrying oil bound for Israel, was targeted as part of their military operation. However, the shipowner denied this claim, stating that the vessel, en route from Malaysia to Italy with feedstock for biofuel, was not heading to Israel but towards a safe port.

This incident is the latest in a series of drone and missile strikes by the Houthi rebels, coinciding with the Israel-Palestinian conflict in Gaza.

The attack occurred as the tanker passed through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, a crucial route to the Suez Canal and Israels southern port of Eilat.

US and French warships patrolling the Red Sea have shot down Huthi missiles and drones several times since the militants began the attacks.

A French frigate shot down two drones over the weekend using surface-to-air missiles, a military source told AFP, asking not to be named.

The USS Mason shot down an air drone last week when the unmanned vehicle was near the ship, US officials said. Its intended target was unknown.

A British warship is also part of the effort to protect shipping.

With inputs from AFP
Though many Republicans are likely to view him with scepticism, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met US senators on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to make a final pitch to maintain military support while he fights Russia.

Arriving for a closed-door discussion with U.S. senators, Zelenskiy was greeted with prolonged ovation while sporting an olive-drab pair of trousers and a black top. The leading Democrat in the chamber, Chuck Schumer, and the leading Republican, Mitch McConnell, were with him.

With tens of thousands of dead Ukrainians, a massive budget deficit, and Russian advances in the east, Zelenskiy is pleading with Washington for much-needed military and humanitarian assistance as winter approaches.

On Tuesday, the second day of Zelenskiys visit to Washington, he is scheduled to have a private meeting with Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson.

After there, Zelenskiy will go to the White House to meet with President Joe Biden for a press conference scheduled for 4:15 p.m. local time (2115 GMT).

On December 4, the White House informed Congress that after the year ends, funding for the government to continue supplying Ukraine with weaponry will cease. after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Congress has approved more than $110 billion for the country; however, after Republicans seized the House from Democrats in January, no fresh funding has been approved.

Some Republicans are against further aid to Ukraine and are pressing for reform, especially those closest to former President Donald Trump.

Republican Senator Johnson has stated that Congress needs more information regarding the administrations goals in Ukraine. His fellow Republicans have stated that any more aid must come with modifications to immigration laws, which are a highly contentious topic in American politics.

Johnson stated on Tuesday that he was awaiting word from the White House. He informed Hugh Hewitt, a conservative radio presenter, that there is no return volley. Additionally, he insisted that the Democratic president participate directly in the bills talks, calling it far, far overdue.

Zelenskiy told an audience of US military personnel on Monday, If theres anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill, its just (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his sick clique.

According to Adrienne Watson, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, recently disclosed U.S. information indicates that Russia seems to believe that a military deadlock through the winter will drain Western support for Ukraine and ultimately give Russia the upper hand.

She continued, Ukraine is succeeding in halting Russian forces, but Putin is ordering his troops ahead despite significant losses in men and equipment since October.

With just three days left before Congress adjourns for the year on Friday, Republicans in the House of Representatives have so far resisted passing a spending package bill that includes $61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine without enacting hotly debated reforms to immigration laws in the United States.

Senate Republicans said they were losing hope that they could work with Democrats to get an immigration agreement.

With his statement that history is going to judge harshly those who turn their back on freedoms cause, Biden has put the situation in clear terms.

Biden and others warn that if an unrestrained Putin invades a European ally protected by NATOs mutual defence guarantees, eventually American forces may have to confront Russia.

With the support of billions of dollars in U.S. military hardware, humanitarian supplies, and intelligence, Ukraine successfully repelled Russias initial effort to take over the nation. However, in a significant counteroffensive attempt this year, Kyiv was unable to breach Russian defensive lines, and Russia is now on the attack in the east.

It is anticipated that the war and immigration issues would become hot button topics leading up to the 2024 U.S. presidential and legislative elections. Biden and Trump

(With agency inputs)
Google is working on a new feature called Private Space, allowing you to hide apps on your phone, according to a report from Android Police. Currently, Android lacks native support for securing your sensitive apps, but the upcoming Private Space feature aims to change that.

In the recent Android 14 QPR2 Beta 2 release, a new settings page for Private Space was highlighted, confirming its capability to hide apps from others. To enable this feature, go to Settings  Security & Privacy  Private Space.

During setup, Private Space creates a new Android profile, similar to a work profile, and notifications from apps in this private profile are concealed when the profile is locked.

The private profile can be secured with the primary users existing PIN/pattern/password, biometrics, or a new set of credentials. Signing in to a Google Account is required to install new apps on the private profile from its instance of the Google Play Store.

As of now, apps in the private profile can be accessed from the bottom of the app drawer. Google is testing the ability to access Private Space by searching private space in the launchers search bar, though this feature may not be fully functional yet.

This new feature, expected to debut with Android 15, offers a native alternative to Samsungs Secure Folder. Additionally, Android is expected to incorporate built-in phishing protection, enhancing overall security.

Source
China urged the Philippines on Monday to halt its provocative acts at sea, stop defaming China and refrain from further compromising peace and stability in the South China Sea region. "I need to stress that Ren'ai Reef is part of China's Nansha Islands, and China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Islands, including Ren'ai Reef, and their adjacent waters. This is a fact that has been established in the long course of history and is in compliance with international laws including the Charter of the United Nations," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday at a news conference in Beijing. She said that China will continue to do what is necessary in accordance with domestic and international laws to resolutely respond to provocative moves that infringe on China's sovereignty, and firmly safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The spokeswoman made the remarks while commenting on the Philippines' accusations against China after an encounter between Chinese and Philippine vessels near Ren'ai Reef on Sunday. According to Mao, four Philippine vessels intruded into the waters near Ren'ai Reef on Sunday in an attempt to transport construction materials to the illegally grounded warship at the reef. The Philippine ships repeatedly tried to sail into lagoons surrounding the reef, disregarding warnings from China Coast Guard vessels and made dangerous maneuvers to ram into the coast guard ships. The Philippine side's acts have seriously violated China's sovereignty and endangered the safety of Chinese ships and personnel, the spokeswoman said. "In response, the China Coast Guard took necessary enforcement measures that were professional, restrained, justified and legitimate. The Foreign Ministry has lodged solemn representations and expresses strong protest to the Philippines," she noted. The Philippines is fully responsible for the several incidents that have occurred recently in the waters off Ren'ai Reef, Mao said. "The root cause is that the Philippines broke its promise and refused to tow away the illegally grounded warship, and attempted to make large-scale reinforcement to the ship so that it could permanently occupy the reef," the spokeswoman said. China firmly opposes the Philippines' attempt to occupy Ren'ai Reef and has expressed its solemn position to the Philippines, Mao said. "However, the Philippine side, in disregard of China's goodwill, good faith and restraint, broke its promise and kept stirring up trouble by infringing on China's sovereignty and making provocative moves in the waters off Ren'ai Reef. It has also been spreading disinformation to hype up the incidents," she said. "This gravely violates international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and seriously infringes on China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests." Huang Xilian, China's ambassador to the Philippines, met on Monday with Theresa Lazaro, undersecretary for bilateral relations and ASEAN affairs at the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, and strongly protested the Philippines' recent infringements and provocations in waters surrounding Huangyan Island and Ren'ai Reef. Chen Xiangmiao, a senior researcher at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said that facing repeated provocations by the Philippines, the Chinese Coast Guard has adopted a relatively restrained and defensive approach, mainly to prevent further escalation of the situation. "China wants to avoid disrupting the stable situation and positive trends in the South China Sea, and prevent further escalation of maritime disputes between China and the Philippines," he said, adding that the Philippines and external parties such as the United States should not interpret China's restraint as a sign of weakness. The People's Liberation Army Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Chinese military, said in an editorial published on Monday that China has indisputable sovereignty over islands and reefs in the South China Sea and their adjacent waters, as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters. "It must be pointed out that the Philippines' actions cannot be separated from the instigation and encouragement of external forces. Over the years, thanks to the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea has been generally stable," the article said. "However, in order to engage in 'major power competition', certain hegemonic countries have tried every means to stir up trouble, create division and incite confrontation in the region, and even openly endorsed the Philippines' illegal infringement and provocative actions." The PLA is always on high alert to safeguard national sovereignty and peace and stability in the South China Sea, according to the editorial.
felicilin at 12-12-2023 09:34 PM (4 weeks ago) (f)

Unidentified gunmen have ambushed a convoy of Daewoo E&C Nigeria Limited workers, killed four soldiers in the escort team and two of the company drivers.

Unidentified gunmen have ambushed a convoy of Daewoo E&C Nigeria Limited workers, killed four soldiers in the escort team and two of the company drivers.

The convoy was attacked Tuesday around Ahoada axis along the East-West road in Rivers State.



The gunmen also abducted two expatriates, Korean workers who were among the team being escorted to work in the Abua area of River State.



It was gathered that the incident, which occurred at about 9.30 am, caused fear along the East-West road as travelled were left stranded for hours.



Read Also: 500-level student of OAU dies in auto accident



A source privy to the development said the suspected kidnappers ambushed the team of expatriates being escorted by troops of 5 Battalion along the road Ahoada/Obua.



The source said: During the attack, the assailants opened fire on the convoy killing 4 soldiers and 2 civilians drivers and subsequently abducted two Koreans in the process.



Details are still sketchy, but efforts are ongoing to get more details from the units. Further details will be forwarded as soon as possible.



However, the 6 Division of Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, has confirmed the killing of its four personnel, noting that the act was carried out by suspected militants.



The Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Major Jonah Danjuma, in a statement in Port Harcourt that the militants killed four of its men, and two drivers and abducted two foreigners.



Danjuma disclosed that the military has commenced efforts to track down the culprits, noting that efforts are also on to secure unconditional freedom for the two abducted workers.



He said: The convoy was attacked Tuesday around Ahoada axis along the East-West road in Rivers State.The gunmen also abducted two expatriates, Korean workers who were among the team being escorted to work in the Abua area of River State.It was gathered that the incident, which occurred at about 9.30 am, caused fear along the East-West road as travelled were left stranded for hours.Read Also: 500-level student of OAU dies in auto accidentA source privy to the development said the suspected kidnappers ambushed the team of expatriates being escorted by troops of 5 Battalion along the road Ahoada/Obua.The source said:However, the 6 Division of Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, has confirmed the killing of its four personnel, noting that the act was carried out by suspected militants.The Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Major Jonah Danjuma, in a statement in Port Harcourt that the militants killed four of its men, and two drivers and abducted two foreigners.Danjuma disclosed that the military has commenced efforts to track down the culprits, noting that efforts are also on to secure unconditional freedom for the two abducted workers.He said: Quote Troops of 5 Battalion on routine escort duty for an oil servicing company at Enweh West manifold, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State were attacked by suspected militants at Emesu junction, along Amungboro -Emuphan road. Unfortunately, 4 soldiers were killed in action, with 2 other oil workers unaccounted for.



The suspects allegedly escaped through the Emesu waterside, using the Orashi River. Troops are currently combing the general area to fish out the perpetrators of this dastardly act. Additionally, efforts are ongoing to ensure that the unaccounted oil workers are found.



The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army/ Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation DELTA Safe, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, while acknowledging the supreme sacrifice paid by the gallant soldiers, strongly condemned this unwarranted attack.



He reassured that efforts are ongoing to track down these criminals to pay for their crimes. Consequently, members of the general public are kindly requested to provide credible and actionable intelligence that could lead to the arrest of these criminals.

Post Reply Posted: at 12-12-2023 09:34 PM (4 weeks ago) | Addicted Hero
Palestinian children wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip are brought to the hospital in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023.
Discipline Handed Down for US Intelligence 'Discord Leaks'

By Jeff Seldin December 11, 2023

The U.S. Air Force took disciplinary action against 15 airmen, charging that a lack of supervision and a failure to take action contributed to the so-called 'Discord intelligence leaks' that rattled the U.S. intelligence community.

A 21-year-old Air National Guardsman, Jack Teixeira, was arrested this past April, shortly after the leaks were discovered, and is facing multiple charges for removing documents from a secured work environment, and then posting the information or photos for a small group on Discord, a social media platform popular with gamers.

At the time, a top Pentagon official said the leaks, which revealed information about Russia's war in Ukraine and about U.S. allies, posed "a very serious risk" to national security.

In a statement Monday, the Air Force said the commander of Teixeira's Air National Guard unit, the 102nd Intelligence Wing, was relieved of command.

Another 14 individuals where subjected to non-judicial punishment under the U.S. Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The Air Force defended the actions, saying officials in Teixeira's unit could have and should have taken action that could have mitigated the improper disclosure of intelligence.

"Individuals in Teixeira's unit failed to take proper action after becoming aware of his intelligence-seeking activities,' the Air Force said, citing a report by its inspector general.

"Leadership was not vigilant in inspecting the conduct of all persons who were placed under their command," the Air Force said.

The statement also said the intelligence leaks were further enabled by "inconsistent guidance for reporting security incidents" and "ineffective processes for administering disciplinary actions."

"However, the investigation did not find evidence that members of Teixeira's supervisory chain were aware of his alleged unauthorized disclosures," the Air Force said.

According to the Air Force inspector general, evidence indicated that members of the 102nd Intelligence Wing had information on at least four incidents involving questionable activity by Teixeira, and that a smaller number of individuals "had a more complete picture" of Teixeira's activities but "failed to report the full details of these security concerns/incidents."

"Had any of these members come forward, security officials would likely have facilitated restricting systems/facility access and alerted the appropriate authorities, reducing the length and depth of the unauthorized and unlawful disclosures by several months," the report said.

The inspector general's report further found that a routine background check flagged concerns about Teixeira, but that the military granted him top secret clearance anyway.

Additionally, the report found those concerns were never shared with Teixeira's unit.

"The details learned in background checks are not routinely shared with a member's unit," it said. "Had the unit been made aware of potential security concerns identified during the clearance adjudication process, they may have acted more quickly."

The Pentagon Monday said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been made aware of the Air Force's findings and actions, adding Austin is confident officials are "taking the necessary steps."

This past July, the Pentagon released the results of its own review into the leaks, calling for a tightening of existing security measures. But it rejected the need for any sweeping overhaul.

"There was no single point of failure," a senior defense official said at the time, speaking to reporters about the review's findings on the condition of anonymity.

"What we see here is we have a growing ecosystem of classified facilities and a body of personnel who are cleared," the official said. "Within that we have opportunities to clarify policy ... they are not the clearest documents always."

Still, Defense Department officials have taken steps to reduce the number of people with access to classified information.

According to a 2017 report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, approximately 4 million people have U.S. security clearances, with 1.3 million cleared to access top secret information.

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Brave Partner, new US Army exercise, concludes

By Capt. Maria Salcido December 10, 2023

SKOPJE, North Macedonia -- Soldiers from 2nd Cavalry Regiment, with support from other U.S. units and the host nation's military, achieved rapid deployment to the training area and conducted live-fire scenarios with Stryker armored vehicles Dec. 1-10, 2023, at Krivolak Training Area, North Macedonia.

The Army of the Republic of North Macedonia hosted Brave Partner, while U.S. Army Europe and Africa led the "short notice action planning" exercise to reinforce military readiness and interoperability in a realistic training environment and to ensure U.S. forces are ready to respond quickly to support stability in the Balkans.

"The most important thing is the demonstration of the relationship between the United States and North Macedonia," said Angela Aggeler, U.S. Ambassador to North Macedonia. "Exercises like this one, bringing in beautiful equipment like this  state of the art  really demonstrates to both of our countries, and frankly to the world and our NATO allies, how strong this relationship is, and we are there to support each other."

The ambassador visited KTA, meeting with the Minister of Defense of the Republic of North Macedonia, Slavjanka Petrovska, and general officers from both nations' armies to observe Brave Partner live-fire training on Dec. 7.

However, before live-fire training could take place, 2nd Squadron had to successfully complete expeditionary deployment training. Maj. Luke King, the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment operations officer, explained how important it was to exercise the processes of getting the soldiers and equipment to the mission, and then to set the conditions for day and night squad live-fire.

"Exercising those systems and validating those processes to make sure that we can deliver combat-ready troops to the training area, or to whatever mission we have, that was the first part," said King. "They've gone through squad blank iterations and then squad live-fire iterations both day and night. And the goodness there is that it gives Soldiers confidence in their weapons systems."

He explained that the exercise gave company and squad leaders the ability to synchronize fire and maneuver with all their available weapons systems. He then explained the Stryker's advantages, to include weapons systems that can be mounted to the vehicle.

The Stryker has several configurations, including an infantry carrier vehicle with a mounted remotely controlled weapons station capable of mounting a .50 caliber machine gun or a MK19 grenade launcher. They can fire 120 mm mortars from the back of the vehicle instead of setting up mortars from the ground, which King explained is a unique and awesome capability. Soldiers can fire those weapons and search and traverse from inside the vehicle with a screen that provides imagery.

"Then, the Dragoon has the 30 mm cannon, which we all love, and then a 7.62 coax as well, so you're not just limited to that one weapons system," said King. "Also, all fired from inside the vehicle, protecting the gunner."

In addition to weapons used with the Strykers, each squad had a variety of weapons they fired while dismounted from their vehicles, including the M240 machine gun and the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. They used their designated marksman to provide precision fire from a distance with the M110 A1 rifle, and they provided indirect fire with the M320 grenade launchers.

King said that 2CR gained in readiness and lethality due to Brave Partner. They'd conducted expeditionary deployments two previous times within the last several months, so they were confident and quick moving into North Macedonia.

"I can't emphasize enough how awesome of a training area Krivolak is," said King. "It was just powerful to feel the full might of every headquarters at echelons above us all the way up to USAREUR-AF align the stars for us to get here so quickly. Whatever we asked for, we got. And we got it in a very rapid fashion, and it's exactly what we wanted. So, it built a lot of our confidence."

Sgt. Joshua Briggs, a 2CR infantryman and squad leader, adamantly agreed with King's praise of KTA and the diverse terrain.

"The terrain out here is very difficult to traverse," said Briggs. "It's hilly and rocky. It allows for more intense and realistic training, like where these soldiers might operate in the future."

Briggs said wet and muddy conditions give Soldiers a chance to train while it's more difficult to keep steady footing, or to avoid the weapons' exposure to the elements. The training value is higher because they can still effectively prepare and solve objectives in such conditions, simulating actual combat.

Another 2CR soldier, Pfc. Alexander Dudzenski, said Brave Partner was his first live-fire exercise. He enjoyed training despite the harsh environment and weather, learning something new with every range iteration and seeing the host nation soldiers build a working relationship with U.S. Soldiers.

"I never thought in my life that I'd be able to come and see these countries," said Dudzenski. "I think it's cooler to do it somewhere I've never been before, and seeing people from different militaries watching us, I find fascinating."

Briggs agreed, saying it's always a privilege to work with NATO partners, especially when it's the first time for him in a country, where his squad can share new ideas to refine and improve their craft.

"Host nation soldiers have been extremely polite and helpful," Briggs said. "They'll ask us questions. It allows us to explain our profession as well as our craft and take pride in our work and see how other people see it."

King agreed that 2CR learned much from working with the host nation.

"The Army of the Republic of North Macedonia has been very accommodating," said King. "Understanding how they conduct training and telling them how we conduct our own training in preparation for their army to receive their Strykers has been very useful because we also learn from them. Some of the questions they ask force us to be a bit more introspective. We're not only helping them, but we're helping ourselves too."

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24h Recap: December 10th 2023, 09:30

IDF Press Release

War Against Hamas

10.12.23

IDF

IDF operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip continue:

armed terrorist cells planning to attack IDF troops were identified and eliminated; a Hamas military communications site, underground tunnel shafts and weapons were struck

X Over the past day, IDF ground, aerial and naval forces continued to strike terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, striking over 250 terror targets. In recent hours, IDF troops located and destroyed weapons stocks, carried out targeted raids on military sites, destroyed underground terror tunnel shafts and thwarted armed terrorist cells planning to attack IDF troops.

X Overnight, an IDF fighter jet directed by ground troops struck a Hamas military communications site located adjacent to a mosque in the southern Gaza Strip. Following the strike, the troops conducted a targeted raid on the site.

X Over the past day, IDF troops fired with precise munitions and struck underground tunnel shafts in Khan Yunis. In addition, a drone assisted IDF troops in identifying an armed terrorist cell that planned to attack additional IDF troops forces in the area. The terrorist cell was eliminated.





X During IDF activity in Shejaiya, IDF troops conducted a targeted raid on a Hamas military command center, and located numerous weapons used by the terrorist organization, including AK-47 rifles, grenades, anti-tank missile launchers, ammunition and additional military equipment.





X Overnight, the IAF struck terror infrastructure in which terrorists operated and underground tunnel shafts in Khan Yunis.

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Philippines, China accuse each other of ship ramming

Sunday saw an apparent escalation between China and the Philippines over Manila's resupply mission to the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

By RFA Staff 2023.12.10 -- Beijing and Manila traded accusations on Sunday morning with each side claiming its ships were harassed and rammed by the other.

A Philippine spokesman said Philippine civilian supply vessels on a routine resupply and rotation mission to the BRP Sierra Madre - the old landing ship that Manila deliberately grounded on the Second Thomas Shoal to serve as an outpost in 1999 - were "harassed, blocked, and executed dangerous maneuvers on" by the Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels.

Jay Tarriela, the Philippine coast guard's spokesperson, posted on the social media site X a statement by the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, the part of the South China Sea under Manila's jurisdiction, saying that the resupply boat Unaizah Mae 1 (UM1) was rammed by the Chinese coast guard ship CCG 21556.

The Chinese coast guard earlier issued a statement saying that at 06:39 a.m. the UM1 "ignored CCG repeated stern warnings, violated the COLREGs (Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea), swerved in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, and deliberately collided into the CCG boat 21556, resulting in scratches, for which the Philippines is fully responsible."

Ship ramming is generally considered an act of violence and could cause serious damage to vessels, as well as injuries to the crew on board.

There have been instances of ship ramming in the South China Sea but no state has ever officially sanctioned this dangerous tactic.

The previous time Manila accused Chinese vessels of ramming its ships was on Oct. 22, also in the waters off the Second Thomas Shoal, known by Filipinos as Ayungin Shoal and by the Chinese as Ren'ai Jiao. China denied it.

The Philippines afterwards summoned the Chinese ambassador and filed a diplomatic protest against China's action.

The United States also expressed concern, issuing a warning that Washington is obligated to defend the Philippines under a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under armed attack, including "those of its coast guard  anywhere in the South China Sea."

Cat and mouse

Manila and Beijing have been playing cat and mouse around the Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippines is making regular resupply missions to the troops stationed on the Sierra Madre and the Chinese coast guard has been trying to prevent them.

The statement from the Philippine National Task Force said that on Sunday morning "CCG vessel 5204 deployed a water cannon against the Philippine supply vessels causing severe damage to M/L [motor launch] Kalavaan's engines, disabling the vessel and seriously endangering the lives of its crew."

It also showed photos of the Kalavaan being water cannoned and then towed to port.

"We condemn, once again, China's latest unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvers against a legitimate and routine Philippine rotation and resupply mission," the statement said.

"The Philippines will not be deterred from exercising our legal rights," it added.

On Saturday, Manila accused the Chinese coast guard of deploying water cannons, a floating barrier and painful sound blasts against boats ferrying supplies to Filipino fishermen in disputed waters near another shoal in the South China Sea.

Vessels from Manila's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources were targeted by water cannon "at least eight times" as they attempted to deliver food and fuel to more than 30 Filipino fishing boats near Scarborough Shoal, said a statement by the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.

The China Coast Guard responded by saying it had used "control measures in accordance with the law" against the Philippine boats as they "intruded" into the waters adjacent to the island.

Analysts say that Manila has embarked on a tactic of "assertive transparency" in reporting incidents in disputed waters.

"Although the term was coined this year, the practice of assertive transparency has been used ever since people dealt with gray zone tactics," said Alexander Vuving, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii.

Gray zone activities are not explicit acts of war but can be harmful to a nation's security.

"For example, during the 2014 oil rig crisis between China and Vietnam, Hanoi ferried international journalists to the site of the oil rig confrontation so they could shed maximum light on the 'gray zone'."

"This was assertive transparency in practice, although nobody used that term to describe the practice in 2014," the political analyst told RFA.

"This practice has proven to be effective," said Vuving, adding "The other key was perseverance."

Jason Gutierrez in Manila contributed to this article.

Edited by Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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U.S., Japan Ships Complete Bilateral Exercise in Gulf of Aden

US Navy

10 December 2023

From Carrier Strike Group Two (CSG-2)

GULF OF ADEN -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Murasame-class destroyer FS Akebono (DD 108) conducted bilateral exercise in the Gulf of Aden, Nov. 25.

Meeting at sea, the ships practiced a range of surface warfare events, including visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS), helicopter deck landing qualifications (DLQ), divisional tactics (DIVTACs), and personnel exchanges.

"Mason and Akebono sailing together demonstrated our shared resolve to maintain freedom of the high seas and open sea lines of communication," said Cmdr. Justin B. Smith, Mason's commanding officer. "Our combined presence sends a strong message to those who would challenge us as we continue to support global security."

Rendezvousing with partners and allies at sea allows the U.S. Navy to operate closely with other navies and in ways shore exercises do not allow. It further provides the crews with real-world situations and hands-on training to practice everyday watchstanding and communication skills with foreign navies.

An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, attached to the "Swamp Foxes" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74, deployed aboard Mason, performed DLQs on the Japanese destroyer. The personnel exchange included the cross-decking crewmembers between Mason and Akebono via a small boat, where they toured each other's ship, interacted with one another, and ate lunch with the crew, increasing cultural understanding.

"We enjoyed meaningful conversation and are all looking forward to working with the crew of Akebono again in the future," said Lt. Mitchell Kempisty, Mason's Operations Officer, who visited Akebono.

The DIVTACs included coordinated tactical maneuvering at close quarters, meant to hone communication skills and techniques for the ships operating with one another. Mason's VBSS team briefed Akebono's team on boarding procedures, tactical movements, and lessons learned from operational experiences, which will assist both countries in improving international maritime security in the region.

Mason departed its homeport of Mayport, Florida, on Oct. 13 for a scheduled deployment. As a part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKECSG), Mason is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East.

The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses approximately 2.5 million square miles of water space and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Strait of Bab al-Mandeb.

For more information about Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, head to Facebook (/CSGTWO & /TheCVN69); Instagram (@CarrierStrikeGroupTwo & @TheCVN69); LinkedIn (Carrier-Strike-Group-TWO).

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21st Theater Sustainment Command Supports First Port Operation in Portugal

By Sgt. Andrew Jo December 11, 2023

SETUBAL, Portugal -- The 21st Theater Sustainment Command supported the first-ever U.S. Army operation at the Port of Setubal, Portugal on December 7, 2023. The port operation was a collaboration between the 21st TSC, 598th Transportation Brigade (Surface Deployment and Distribution Command), U.S. Mission to Portugal, and the Portuguese military and port authority.

"The strategic importance behind getting this port in Portugal is, it is the furthest west that we've ever operated coming in or out of Europe," said Col. Robert Kellam, commander, 598th Transportation Brigade. "We were able to effectively connect the furthest point in eastern Estonia to the furthest west port in Portugal and connect all the transportation nodes from here to there. So strategically, this is a momentous occasion for the 21st TSC and I think for EUCOM [United States European Command] as well."

The mission was a year-long project and a "proof of concept" that enhances the capabilities of the 21st TSC, United States Army Europe and Africa, and Army Sustainment as a whole, across the European Theater.

"We have a long-standing relationship in many areas, the military-to-military relationship being one of the most important," said Doug Koneff, deputy chief of mission, U.S. Mission to Portugal. "We want to continue working together, as we have been for a long time, to improve our interoperability and improve our capabilities, and this exercise that's going on right now is such a great example of that."

The United States and Portugal have a long-standing partnership rooted in shared history. Both countries were a part of the 12 founding signatories of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and have continued to build upon that partnership.

"We have a very strong defense cooperation relationship that spans decades and decades, so exercises like this go very far to really prove what we already knew," said U.S. Air Force Col. Jennifer Whetstone, Defense Attache, U.S. Mission to Portugal. "We already know that we have a strong relationship, but we are continually striving to improve our interoperability and strengthen the alliance as a whole."

The mission validated the port through the redeployment of equipment belonging to the 1st Brigade Combat Team "Bastogne", 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Approximately 500 pieces of equipment were craned onto the vessel Ocean Grand to be shipped back to their home station of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

"We initially moved all of our equipment into Poland with the help of the 21st TSC and then eventually on to Estonia, and now we're standing in Portugal, having moved our equipment from Estonia to Portugal," said Maj. Christopher Cummings, executive officer, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). "So, it's a lot of long, difficult, and complex movements and is a fairly historic opportunity for us to test out a new port, similar to what our brigade has done on its first return to Europe since World War II."

With the success of the initial mission, the intent is to continue to build and strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Portugal.

"Honestly, it's like we've done this many, many times," said Kellam. "The coordination and relationships that we've established here, I think is going to be lasting and it's been really amazing and very impressive."

-30-

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December 11, 2023

By Joseph Clark , DOD News

DOD Officials Highlight Climate and Energy Security Issues at International Conference

Senior Pentagon officials underscored the Defense Department's role as a global leader in managing the impacts of climate change on resilience, peace and stability during the 28th Conference of the Parties, or COP28, being held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The DOD delegation to the annual United Nations climate change conference includes the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Environment and Installations and DOD Chief Sustainability Officer Brendan Owens; Assistant Secretary of the Navy for EE&I and Navy CSO Meredith Berger; Assistant Secretary of the Army for EE&I and Army CSO Rachel Jacobsen; Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for EE&I and Air Force CSO Dr. Ravi Chaudhary; Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arctic and Global Resilience Iris A. Ferguson; and Daniel Parnes, performing the duties of DOD deputy CSO.

More than 70,000 people from more than 190 countries are attending COP28, according to the U.N. In addition to government officials, the conference hosts a variety of stakeholders, including leaders from the private sector, academic institutions and non-governmental organizations.

It was the second year in a row that leaders from the Defense Department are among the U.S. delegation, highlighting DOD's key role in the U.S. whole-of-government approach to addressing the climate crisis.

"Climate change is altering the global landscape and, with it, the department's mission," said Owens. "It impacts our military readinessincluding warfighter training, mission execution, tactical planning, acquisition and sustainment of platforms and installations, and national and global security."

In 2021, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III signed the Department of Defense Climate Risk Analysis, which outlined ways in which climate change is shaping the strategic, operational and tactical environments for the Defense Department. The DCRA noted that "there are many ways for the department to integrate climate considerations into international partner engagements, including supporting interagency diplomacy...and sharing best practices." COP28 provides an opportunity for the department to showcase its leadership on climate and energy resilience to the international community and to discuss opportunities for collaboration with allies and partners.

"Climate change is a threat to global peace and security. This has been recognized for decades, but never before has the need to act been more urgent," said Jacobson.

"The Army is focused on solutions," she said. "We use 'Engineering with Nature' to bolster infrastructure resilience, and we are working with partners to develop alternative and resilient energy systems. We do this to maintain readiness and to ensure we can train and deploy under all conditions. The Army remains committed to working across DOD and the entire U.S. government to combat the climate crisis by driving adaptation and strengthening resilience at home and abroad."

Berger said that climate change is impacting mission assurance and readiness in the Department of the Navy. "Climate change creates a more volatile world, and a more volatile world calls on the United States Navy and Marine Corps. For our naval forces, climate change is increasing our mission set and reducing our ability to respond to that increased demand," said Assistant Secretary Berger. "For us, climate readiness is mission readiness. We are increasing our resilience and reducing our contribution to the threat so that we create every advantage for our sailors and Marines, contribute to the U.S. whole-of-government approach and remain a reliable partner of choice."

The Navy and Marine Corps are targeting investments to enhance installation resilience, mitigating the vulnerabilities of energy, water and facility control systems, while investing in energy storage and microgrids that can enable rapid recovery from severe weather or cyber threats. The Defense Department is making ships and tactical vehicles more efficient building better warfighters and investing in nature-based solutions to protect infrastructure and people.

By participating in COP28, officials said the U.S. serves as an example to other nations.

"If we are committed to supporting a more secure world, we must commit to making it a world worth securing," said Chaudhary.

The Defense Department's participation in the conference adds to a long list of actions it has taken to effectively respond to the changing climate and mitigate further risk to the environment. These steps include improving the energy efficiency of operational platforms, adapting military facilities to improve mission resilience and investing in applied research to ensure the military maintains its edge.

"We can no longer afford to move at the speed of government, we must move at the speed of the climate threat, and that means now," Chaudhary said.

Chaudhary highlighted multiple Air Force initiatives aligned with both mission and mitigating climate impact, including the new blended wing-body aircraft and a clean energy microreactor slated to become operational in Alaska by 2027.

Officials said the conference was an opportunity for the Defense Department to continue to lead as the international community gathered to address climate change.

"The DOD was excited to lend its voice to the conversations at COP28," Ferguson said.

"We came to listen, learn and tell a compelling story about one of the world's largest organizations navigating climate risk and the energy transition," she said. "In our dozens of conversations in Dubai across the public and private sectors and civil society, it was clear that people were excited to see DOD at COP28 and to explore opportunities to partner with us on shared climate and energy priorities."

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December 11, 2023

By Joseph Clark , DOD News

DOD Officials Underscore 'Ironclad' Commitment to Philippines After China's Unsafe Maneuvers

Defense officials remain in close consultation with counterparts from the Philippines following the latest unsafe operational behavior by Chinese military vessels against Philippine vessels operating lawfully in the South China Sea over the weekend, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said today.

Ryder underscored the United States' "ironclad" commitment to upholding its obligations under its mutual defense treaty with the Philippines and urged "all nations to work together in the region to ensure that ships and aircraft can sail wherever international law allows."

"We're going to continue to consult very closely with our Philippine allies and our partners in the region," he told reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon.

Chinese vessels carried out unsafe maneuvers against Philippine vessels operating outside the Scarborough Reef on Saturday and again near the Second Thomas Shoal on Sunday.

During the encounters, the Chinese vessels employed water cannons and forced a collision which caused damage to Philippine vessels undertaking official supply missions.

Chinese military ships operating near the Scarborough Reef also used acoustic devices to incapacitate Filipino crew members.

"By impeding the safe operations of Philippine vessels carrying provisions to Filipino service members stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, the PRC interfered in lawful Philippine maritime operations and in Philippine vessels' exercise of high seas freedom of navigation," State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement on Sunday. "Obstructing supply lines to this longstanding outpost and interfering with lawful Philippines maritime operations undermines regional stability."

The latest maneuvers are a continuation of the Chinese military's increasingly provocative and risky behavior in the region.

Defense officials have also noted a steep rise in risky and aggressive intercepts by China's military of U.S. aircraft operating in international airspace in accordance with international law.

According to the most recent China Military Power Report, the U.S. has documented more than 180 coercive and risky air intercepts against U.S. aircraft in the region between 2021 and 2023.

That is more risky intercepts in the past two years than in the past decade, according to the report.

"It's just hugely irresponsible and unsafe when you're putting seamen at risk at sea, operating in international waters and completely within their rights," Ryder said of China's behavior over the weekend.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met last month with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. as part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Jakarta, Indonesia.

During their discussion, the secretaries applauded the "historic momentum" in the alliance, "which has upheld peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region for over seventy years," according to a joint summary of the meeting.

The secretaries also discussed recent provocations by China during the meeting.

"Secretary Austin reiterated President Biden's message that the U.S. defense commitment to the Philippines is ironclad and emphasized that the United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone," according to the meeting summary.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spoke with Philippines Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr., by phone today following China's latest provocations against the Philippine vessels.

During the discussion, the two leaders discussed the regional security environment as well as the two countries' mutual strategic security interests and opportunities for increased military cooperation, according to a summary of the phone call.

The two leaders also agreed to remain in close consultation, according to the summary.

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Gulf of Guinea: Council launches an EU Security and Defence Initiative

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

11 December 2023

The Council today adopted a decision launching the EU security and defence initiative in support of West African countries of the Gulf of Guinea, for an initial duration of two years. It also approved the operation and mission plans for the civilian and the military pillars of the initiative, respectively.

With the launch of this Security and Defence Initiative, the EU is stepping up support to tackle the spillover of insecurity from the Sahel to the West African coastal states. As part of a wider response pulling together prevention, socio economic development and humanitarian assistance, this initiative will provide a tailor-made support, in line with the needs expressed by our partners. It shows the EU's commitment with the countries willing to work with us.

- Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

This initiative is part of the EU's integrated approach to the region and will contribute to support Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin in tackling instability and insecurity challenges. It will do so by reinforcing the capabilities of the security and defence forces of the four West African countries to contain and respond to the pressure exerted by terrorist armed groups in their northern regions.

Furthermore, it will promote the rule of law and good governance in security sectors and trust-building between civil society and security and defence forces.

With this initiative, which was elaborated in close coordination with Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin, the EU proposes a tailored support based on the needs identified and formulated by the four countries themselves.

Following an innovative, flexible and modular set up, the initiative will combine military and civilian security and defence expertise (provindig short-term training teams or visiting experts) in complementarity with European Peace Facility assistance measures, such as the recently adopted ones to support the Beninese Armed Forces (11.75 million) and the Ghana Armed Forces (8.25 million).

Background

On 3 August 2023, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/1599 establishing the European Union Security and Defence Initiative in the Republic of Ghana and the Republic of Benin.

On 25 September 2023, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/2066, amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/1599, establishing the EU Security and Defence Initiative also in the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire and the Republic of Togo.

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Foreign Affairs Council: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell upon arrival

European External Action Service (EEAS)

11.12.2023

Brussels

EEAS Press Team

Check against delivery!

Good morning,

Yesterday, we had a dinner with the leader of the Belarusian opposition, Sviatlana [Tsikhanouskaya].

[Now] I am going to have first a meeting with the Armenian Foreign Minister [Ararat Mirzoyan], because you know that after we have the Eastern Partnership meeting at the Ministerial level . So many things are happening in the whole region, it is important to continue to pay attention to them and, in particular, to Armenia, that has been in a very difficult situation and still is. So, I will start my day with the Armenian Foreign Minister.

There are three main items today on the agenda - there are many others, but I do not think we are going to have time for all of them.

First, Ukraine. Second, Gaza. Third, Sahel.

On Ukraine, we will present the state of play on the security commitments that I have to present to the European Council later this week, after the [EEAS Deputy] Secretary General for [Common] Security and Defence [Policy] Charles Fries went to Kyiv for consultation with the Ukrainians. Ministers will have to discuss how to proceed on the proposals to increase our support.

As you know, Russia has increased their attacks. Kyiv has suffered, a couple of days ago, the biggest air attack by drones since the beginning of the war. So, the attacks against the Ukrainian cities continue but at the same time, the casualties of the Russian Army continue growing. That is the moment to put all our capacity to support Ukraine. The European Council will discuss it and the Foreign Ministers have to give me guidance to present to the European Council the proposal on security commitments, which is mainly to increase the European Peace Facility capacities, and to coordinate the bilateral agreements between Member States and Ukraine, and what we do at the European Union level.

Then, we will go to the situation in Gaza. You know that the European Union members of the [UN] Security Council voted in favour of the proposal of the Secretary-General [Antonio Guterres], that was a good idea. Many of them co-sponsored the proposal from [the United Arab] Emirates. Unhappily, the United States vetoed this proposal so, it is not a call approved by the Security Council for a ceasefire. Everybody expects in the United Nations and now, this will go to the General Assembly.

But in the meantime, the bombing continues with an extraordinary intensity. We have been saying in the G7 meetings and others that Israel should not use the same tactics in the south that they have been using in the north of Gaza. But it is the same, if not even worse.

The number of civilian casualties - innocent civilian casualties - continues increasing. The United Nations has described the situation, and we need [for] the Member States [to] agree on some kind of request for - if a ceasefire is not possible, because it has not been approved by the Security Council - a series of pauses in order to make the humanitarian situation less awful. Thousands of people are being pushed against the border with Egypt and all the prospects are really, really bleak in Gaza.

The Ministers will discuss which is going to be our answer. I presented a position paper to discuss what to do in Gaza once the attacks finish, [and] what to do with Gazan people. People continue saying that they should not be expelled from their land. But it is difficult to continue saying that when people are escaping from bombing and looking for shelters, but there are no more shelters in Gaza.

There is no secure place in Gaza, that is what the United Nations say.

During the lunch, we will discuss about the Sahel. I have a preliminary paper, and on that Member States have still different positions. I think that we have to look at a country-by-country case, because the Sahel as a region, as a unit where we could work together with all the Sahel countries - the G5 [Sahel], the Alliance for Sahel - all that has been going on. Now, we have to look case by case and especially try to avoid the spill over of the terrorist activities into the Gulf of Guinea.

On the agenda is also economic security, which is a very important issue from the point of view of external relations, but I am afraid we will not have time to discuss it.

Tomorrow in the European Parliament, there will be a debate about economic security. I will attend this debate and I will do the debate that should have been done at the Foreign Affairs Council, during the European Parliament meeting.

I think that is all.

Q&A

On the Eastern Partnership Ministerial.

On the Ministerial of the Eastern Partnership, I mentioned that so many things happened in this part of the world. The Belarusian seat will be empty. We continue to try to do our best to isolate Lukashenko's regime and support the Belarusian opposition. I hear that they are going to hold elections in Belarus. I wonder what kind of elections they will do. But we have the whole Eastern Partnership in a difficult situation - Belarus, Ukraine, then the Caucasus. The good news is Georgia advancing towards [EU] membership, but the situation in Armenia requires our strong support. We will see how we can increase it and how we can continue having the Eastern Partnership on our agenda, because it is our Eastern border, and our Eastern border is the place in the world where more hotspots are growing.

How worried are you about the blocking position of Hungary and how do you think the issue can be solved?

This is something for the European Council to discuss. You know that [the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor] Orban has been travelling around the world, visiting President [of France, Emmanuel] Macron, even going to Argentina. Yes, it is something that, certainly, will be very high in the discussions, on the agenda. But I hope that the European unity will not be broken, because this is not the moment to weaken our support to Ukraine. Just the contrary, this is the moment to increase it.

Germany wants to offset its national aid against European aid. What do you think of that idea?

We have to review the way we manage our European level support. Until now, we have been financing - let's say destocking. The already existing capacities have been transferred to Ukraine and we have been trying to compensate economically for the cost, partially.

Some Member States believe that this has to be addressed more to building new capacities, not just destocking what has already been in the barracks of the army. I think they are right. In any case, destocking has a limit because when the destock is finished, you will have to look for other solutions. So, yes, I am very much interested in taking into account the concerns of Germany, and others, who want to review the way in which we manage, and we support financially Ukraine from a European perspective. But I think it would be very much important to continue doing that from a European level, not just country by country. Someone has to coordinate.

The European Peace Facility has done a good job. It has stimulated a lot of resources for Ukraine. It is more than 26 billion of military support, and we have to look for a way in which all Member States could be on board, taking advantage of the mechanism and solving the problem that has been detected.

Mr High Representative, you just mentioned that Georgia is a country advancing to become a member of this organisation, but this week we are waiting for candidate status. So, expectations? And finally, this week will be successful for Georgia?

Georgia is doing well. Until now, all the analysis and proposals from the [European] Commission have been very positive. And I encourage Georgia to continue in this path.

Thank you.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-250651

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Philippines: Statement by the Spokesperson on provocative actions in the South China Sea

European External Action Service (EEAS)

11.12.2023

EEAS Press Team

The European Union is increasingly concerned by the provocative and dangerous behaviour of the Chinese Coast Guard and Maritime Militia against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea on 9 and 10 December.

The pattern of unjustified, threatening actions that have taken place in recent months undermine regional security and deepen distrust, affecting the broader international community.

The European Union calls on all countries to observe the UN Charter, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other relevant international rules and regulations for the safety of life at sea, in particular the prohibition of the use of force or coercion, and the freedom of navigation.

Disputes between countries in the South China Sea must be resolved through peaceful means in accordance with and on the basis of the UN Charter and the UNCLOS, including the Arbitration Award of 2016.



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China vows to take 'resolute measures' amid Philippine scheme to seize Ren'ai Reef

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Dec 11, 2023 09:20 PM

China will continue to take resolute measures to deal with any acts of infringement and provocation and firmly safeguard its own territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in accordance with domestic and international laws, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a regular press conference on Monday after one cargo vessel, one official vessel and two coast guard ships of the Philippines, without permission from the Chinese government, intruded into adjacent waters of Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef) in China's Nansha Islands on Sunday in an attempt to send construction materials to the illegally grounded warship at the reef.

In disregard of the warnings of the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, a Philippine vessel went headlong towards Ren'ai Reef's lagoon and dangerously rammed a CCG ship on the scene. This gravely violated China's sovereignty and jeopardized the safety of the Chinese ships and personnel, Mao said.

Video clips obtained by the Global Times taken from the Chinese side show the moment when the Philippine vessel Unaiza May 1 made an unprofessional and dangerous turn, then intentionally rammed into the CCG ship 21556, resulting in a minor collision.

Mao stressed that Ren'ai Reef is part of China's Nansha Qundao, and China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Reef, and their adjacent waters.

The responsibility for the recent emergencies in waters of Ren'ai Reef lies completely with the Philippines. The root cause is that the Philippines has broken its promise and refused to tow away the illegally grounded warship at the reef and attempted to reinforce it on a large scale in an attempt to permanently occupy Ren'ai Reef, the spokesperson said.

China firmly opposes the Philippines' attempt to occupy Ren'ai Reef and has made clear its solemn position to the Philippine side at various levels and through multiple channels, demanding that the Philippines will not send construction materials to the illegally grounded warship for large-scale repair and reinforcement and putting forward proposals for properly managing the situation, Mao said.

However, the Philippine side, in disregard of China's goodwill, good faith and restraint, broke its promise and kept stirring up trouble by infringing on China's sovereignty and making provocative moves in waters of Ren'ai Reef. It has also been spreading disinformation to hype up the incidents. This gravely violates international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and seriously infringes on China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian on Monday met with Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro and lodged solemn representations and strong protests over the Philippines' recent infringement and provocations in waters off Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island) and Ren'ai Reef.

Huangyan Island and Ren'ai Reef are inherent Chinese territories, Huang stressed, urging the Philippines to stop its maritime infringement and provocations, meet China halfway in returning to the right track of resolving differences through talks and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea together.

Chen Xiangmiao, director of the world navy research center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times that China has exercised overall restraint, but its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights must be defended.

No one should have any doubt about China's full determination and the CCG's capabilities in maritime law enforcement, Chen said.

Mao also slammed the US for inciting and supporting the Philippines' provocations in the South China Sea to achieve Washington's own selfish geopolitical interests, which seriously harmed regional peace and stability.

No third party has the right to interfere in the China-Philippines maritime dispute, which is an issue between the two countries, Mao said.

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Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari December 11th, 20:15

IDF Press Release

Press Briefing

11.12.23

IDF

Good evening. IDF soldiers are intensifying their combat in the main Hamas strongholds in the Gaza Strip. Today, the Chief of the General Staff and the Head of the Israel Security Agency (ISA) conducted a situational assessment in the heart of Khan Yunis along with the Commanding Officer of the Southern Command and the Commanders of the 98th Division. The 98th Division is operating in the Khan Yunis area, where Hamas terrorist infrastructure is located, dismantling this infrastructure both underground and above ground. The Chief of the General Staff reinforced the achievements of the soldiers in the northern Gaza Strip and in the south and emphasized to the commanders in the field how to continue and greaten the achievement with a focus on the underground in places where Hamas hides and comes from to fight IDF soldiers.

IDF soldiers will continue to locate all Hamas strongholds, especially in the Khan Yunis area, and apply military pressure until they dismantle Hamas' infrastructure there. Since the fighting resumed, the IDF and ISA have arrested about 140 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists across the Strip. In total, more than 500 terrorists have been arrested just in the last month. More than half of them were taken for further investigation in Israel. We interrogate the terrorists in the field and they tell us about the hiding places of additional terrorists and provide significant intelligence information for the generation of new targets for the continuation of the fighting.

This field investigation is happening in real-time as terrorists surrender. We arrest those who need to be arrested and release those who are not terrorists, removing them from the area southward to areas where civilians can stay. During the day, there were exchanges of fire in the north. Shots were fired towards the community of Ma'alot and the IDF responded with very strong and focused fire towards terror targets in Lebanon. The message is clear - Lebanon, the state of Lebanon, the terrorist organization, terrorist organizations will pay a very heavy price in Lebanon for any attack on civilian communities. We will strike with force and determination and will not allow this firing to continue towards civilians. This is how we will continue to operate in the north and will exact a price from terrorist organizations, especially the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which bears responsibility for this.

On the Home Front, I call on the public to continue to follow the updated guidelines - they save lives. In the last two months, the reservists have been mobilized in full force and glory in an inspiring way. Reservists play a crucial part in the war. We are working together with the authorities to assist in recognizing and easing the burden on reservists and their families as much as possible. We are working to ensure that reservists will have the best conditions as part of the preparations for the start of the academic year. The reservists and their families are at the center of our minds, the IDF owes them a lot, thanks to them we continue to operate determinedly in the war.

Today, we announced seven IDF fallen soldiers, among them six reservists who fought bravely to defend our home. May their memory be a blessing.

In addition, this evening, we remember that it is our duty to bring back all the hostages, both male and female, held in Gaza. The way we conduct the ground operation, even tonight it is important for you to know, is in a way that its purpose is to locate and bring efforts to bring the hostages home. We are conducting operations around the clock in order to achieve this goal and will continue to do so.

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Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah welcomes the Hon'ble Supreme Court's ruling to uphold the decision to abolish Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

On 5th of August 2019, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji took a visionary decision to abrogate Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir

Today, the Supreme Court's verdict has proved that the decision to abrogate Article 370 was completely constitutional

After the abrogation of Article 370 the rights of the poor and deprived have been restored, and separatism and stone pelting are now things of the past

Under the leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji our government is committed to establishing lasting peace in J&K and Ladakh and the all-around development of the region

Prosperity in the tourism and agriculture sectors has raised the income levels of the residents of both Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh

Posted On: 11 DEC 2023 2:50PM by PIB Delhi

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah welcomes the Hon'ble Supreme Court's ruling to uphold the decision to abolish Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir.

In his post on X platform, Shri Amit Shah said that "I welcome the Honorable Supreme Court of India's verdict upholding the decision to abolish Article 370. On the 5th of August 2019, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji took a visionary decision to abrogate Article 370. After abrogation of Article 370 peace and normalcy have returned to J&K. Growth and development have brought new meaning to human life in the valley once torn by violence. Prosperity in the tourism and agriculture sectors has raised the income levels of the residents of both Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Today, the Supreme Court's verdict has proved that the decision to abrogate Article 370 was completely constitutional."

Union Home Minister further said that "After the abrogation of Article 370 the rights of the poor and deprived have been restored, and separatism and stone pelting are now things of the past. The entire region now echoes with melodious music and cultural tourism. The bonds of unity have strengthened, and integrity with Bharat stands reinforced. It is once again the Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh that always belonged to our nation and will continue to be so. Under the leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji our government is committed to establishing lasting peace in J&K and Ladakh and the all-around development of the region. Whether it is boosting the local economy with new incentives, building state-of-the-art educational infrastructure, or empowering the poor with welfare benefits, we will continue to exert all our might for the region."

RK/AY/ASH/RR



(Release ID: 1984951)

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US support main cause of continued aggression on Gaza: Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 11, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has said that the United States' all-out support for Israel is the main reason behind the continued aggression of the regime against Palestinians in Gaza.

The top Iranian diplomat made the comment on Monday as he hosted Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous.

The Syrian official said on his part that the unity of the resistance front foiled American and Israeli plans for the forced displacement of Gazans and destroy their region.

Amirabdollahian and Arnous discussed relations between Iran and Syria as well.

The top Iranian diplomat described Arnous' visit to Tehran as important in pursuing the implementation of agreements reached between the two countries to expand ties.

The Syrian PM also expressed satisfaction over his trip to Iran, and described his talks with Iranian officials as constructive.

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Iran warns region could explode at any time if Gaza attacks continue

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 11, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has said that the Gaza war has already expanded in West Asia, warning that the region would explode at any time if Israeli attacks against the Palestinian territory are not stopped immediately.

"The scope of the war in the region has expanded, and if the attacks on Gaza are not stopped immediately, there is the possibility that the region explodes at any time, with all parties losing control", Amirabdollahian told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as the two discussed the Gaza war on the phone on Monday night.

"Unfortunately, the American side does not understand the danger of the further expansion of the war. The life of its ally, [Benjamin] Netanyahu, is only in the continuation of war and genocide. The situation in the region will not remain like this," the Iranian foreign minister further said in reference to the Israeli prime minister's move to press ahead with the Gaza war despite growing international calls to stop the bloodshed of the Palestinians there.

"The security of the region is important for all of us", Amirabdollahian said, adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran have held numerous negotiations with regional countries on that issue.

He also expressed dissatisfaction with the recent US veto of a UN Security Council resolution on a ceasefire in Gaza, and called on China to play an active role to help stop the war, considering Beijing's previous constructive efforts in promoting peace and stability in the region.

The Chinese FM expressed regret over the US veto of the resolution, stating that his country attaches importance to reaching a ceasefire and immediately sending humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

The two officials discussed relations between Tehran and Beijing as well, with both expressing satisfaction over the development of the bilateral ties.

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'US veto of Gaza truce resolution permission to continue genocide'

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 11, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has expressed regret over a recent US veto of a UN Security Council resolution on a ceasefire in Gaza, describing the veto as permission to continue genocide against people in the besieged Palestinian territory.

The top Iranian diplomat discussed the Gaza war with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the phone on Monday, three days after the US vetoed the resolution at the latest Security Council's meeting since the Israeli regime waged its war on Gaza on October 7.

Amirabdollahian reiterated calls for an immediate stop to Israel's war crimes against Gazans and sending humanitarian assistance to the besieged enclave.

Lavrov, on his part, emphasized the need for continued efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, send more humanitarian aid to the territory, and to form an independent Palestinian state.

The two foreign ministers also discussed relations between their countries as well as a last week meeting between President Ebrahim Raisi and his Russian counterpart Vladmir Putin in Moscow.

Lavrov called the meeting very important. Amirabdollahian stressed the importance of continued negotiations between top Iranian and Russian officials.

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Hezbollah launches multiple strikes against Israeli positions

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 11, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has carried out several rocket strikes against Israeli military positions in the occupied territories.

The Zionist regime's Channel 12 reported on Tuesday that several rockets were fired from southern Lebanon towards the occupied Shebaa Farms.

Hezbollah also said in statement that its resistance fighters had targeted a gathering place of the occupying Israeli forces near the al-Samaqah region.

Earlier today, Zionist sources said that sirens had sounded off in various areas of al-Jalil in northern occupied Palestine after Hezbollah attacks. Reports suggested that two missiles had hit their targets and eight others were intercepted.

Recently, the Al-Akhbar newspaper reported that the Lebanese resistance movement has adopted specific tactics that have overwhelmed the Israeli forces.

The Israeli military has been attacking the Lebanese territory since October 7, when it launched a devastating war on Gaza, prompting Hezbollah to respond.

The movement has vowed to keep up its operations until the Israeli regime stops its onslaught against the Palestinian territory.

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Gaza war taking toll on Israeli Haifa Port

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 11, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- As the Israeli regime continues aggression against the Gaza Strip, the regime's economy is being hit hard, including the transit of commodities at Haifa Port in northern occupied territories that are witnessing stumbling blocks.

According to Rai al-Youm newspaper, the Jordan government announced publically the halt of using Haifa Port to export Jordanian goods to European and US markets.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply of Jordan Yousef Shamali made the remark in a meeting with representatives of the Chamber of Industry and Trade in Irbid City in northern Jordan.

Jordan plans to export its commodities to the United States via the Port of Aqaba located in northwestern of the Arab country.

The shift indicates that the level of economic exchanges between Jordan and the Israeli regime is experiencing a severe decline as a result of the regime's relentless war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

An informed source told Rai al-Youm that the process of exporting Jordan's commodities from Haifa Port, which was preferred by the United States and Jordanian exporters were pushed to use this Israeli port as a precondition, has been halted in practice.

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US veto of Gaza resolution shows UNSC inability to fulfill duties: Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 11, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has criticized the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for its failure to help stop the Gaza war in the wake of a recent US veto of a ceasefire resolution, saying that the veto is a sign of a deadlock at the Council.

"The Security Council has failed to fulfill its duty to ensure international peace and security and prevent war and has done nothing at this critical stage. The US veto shows an impasse in the UNSC and its inability to do its duty," the spokesman said on Monday at his weekly press briefing in Tehran.

Iran believes that the UNSC should have a more democratic structure and should act in a more effective way when it comes to ensuring international peace and security, Kanaani added.

He described as regrettable the US veto of the resolution that was submitted on Friday by the UAE following a move by UN Chief Antonio Guterres to invoke the rarely used Article 99 of the United Nations Charter and his call on the Security Council to unite in averting a "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza.

Kanaani once again expressed Iran's gratitude over the "responsible act" by the UN chief to raise the attention of the Security Council to the Gaza war and criticized the US government for refusing to heed the call by Guterres and the international community for a stop to Israel's brutal attacks on Gaza.

The American government showed that it is against the international community and has no fear of being the sole supporter of the Israeli regime, the spokesman said.

He added that the US veto indicated that Washington has not only voted down the stop of the war but it has also voted for "the continuation of barbarism against the innocent Palestinian nation."

Palestine's "No" to US plans

About the future of war in Gaza, the spokesman said the certain sides including the Untied States, which are the Zionist regime's accomplices to the brutal attacks on Gaza, are after political ways to achieve what they couldn't reach in war; meanwhile, the Palestinian nation will say "No" to them.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has declared over and over that the Palestinian nation is the only party eligible to decide for their fate, he said adding that those who try to draw up plans for the Palestinian people from outside the land will not be successful.

As he stressed, Iran does not put forth any ideas about the Palestinians' fate but has proposed a democratic solution which has been registered in the UN.

"Others don't have the right to impose their unilateral demands on the Palestinian nation."

Iranian president' visit to Turkiye

Speaking about the called-off visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Turkiye, the spokesman said that the visit was canceled after the two sides agreed on the issue and due to the present situation in Palestine.

Also, the visit of the Iranian delegation to Turkey did not take place because of not issuing visa for the Iranian foreign minister in due time, he added.

Iran rejects JCPOA 2

Kanaani also said the idea of reaching a JCPOA 2 is put forward by those who did not adhere to their obligations under the original JCPOA, aka the Iran nuclear agreement, and are now seeking to justify their non-commitment by proposing "deviant ideas".

"Iran does not see the need for another JCPOA," he asserted. "Iran is the one that has honored its commitments under the JCPOA, and those who have not honored their commitments do not have the right to talk about deviant issues, including JCPOA 2."

MKO terror group's trial

On Iran's holding of the trial of the terrorist cult Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO), the spokesman said the trial will begin on Tuesday with legal preparations having been made by the country's judiciary.

"This will be another step in Iran's legal actions and the extradition of those whose hands are covered in the blood of thousands of Iranian people and officials," he said.

"The Iranian nation expects the Iranian administration and judiciary to punish the criminals for their deeds, and the judiciary will take the necessary measures in this regard."

Judicial cooperation between Iran and Iraq

Commenting on the recent judicial cooperation between Iran and Iraq, Kanaani said such bilateral cooperation is among the most important forms of cooperation between the two neighbors and requires mutual consultations and collaborations.

"The judicial and criminal pursuit of the criminals who committed the assassination of Martyr Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis at the Baghdad airport is one of the aspects of this judicial cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad," he added.

Iranian military advisors in Syria

On the presence of Iranian military advisors in Syria, the spokesman said that they are in the Arab country in response to an official request by the Syrian government.

Their presence is legal and part of Iran's main principles to fight terrorism and help regional countries, he added.

Kanaani called US air and missile attacks on Syrian soil as an act of aggression, demanding the international community react to the violation of Syria's national sovereignty and security. He also warned against attacks on Iranian positions and interests, saying that those attacks have not gone and will not go unanswered.

Iran's diplomatic efforts for truce in Gaza

On Iran's diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing a ceasefire in Gaza, the spokesman said that the issue is a top priority that the Islamic Republic has been pursuing since the onset of the war on October 7, stressing that crimes against Palestinians in Gaza should be stopped.

Other issues, including the forced displacement of Gazans and sending further humanitarian aid to the people there, are among other priorities of the Islamic Republic, Kanaani noted.

On Tuesday, the Iranian diplomat said that the UN General Assembly will meet on a new resolution on Gaza following the Security Council's failure to pass its own resolution on a ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian territory. He expressed hope that the new efforts would lead to a ceasefire in the Gaza war.

Iran cooperation with Armenia, Azerbaijan

About Tehran's diplomatic efforts to relieve tensions in Caucasus region, the spokesman said the Islamic Republic welcomes the Armenia-Azerbaijan joint statement on bilateral cooperation in various issues including release of POWs.

Iran sees the joint statement as a positive step towards achieving mutual agreement between the two countries, Kanaani stressed.

Recent visit of President Raisi to Russia

The recent travel of Iranian President Raisi to Russia made the prime minister of the Zionist regime angry.

Iran does not pay attention to the remarks made by certain sides about Tehran's bilateral ties with the friendly countries, according to the spokesman.

He added that such remarks will not affect Iran's efforts to enhance relations with its partners.

As he underlined, Iran and Russia have witnessed the growing cooperation in line with serving mutual interests. Tehran and Moscow experienced over $5 billion of trade exchange in 2022, according to official statistics.

Talks on Caspian Sea

On the issue related to the Caspian Sea, Iran does what is based on techniques and laws.

"Within the framework of fundamental attitudes, we will pursue this issue in line with Iran's interests."

'Iran has clear expectations from Iraq'

Offering explanations about a recent trip to Iraq by Iran's Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Kanaani said Iran's expectations from its Arab neighbor are clear.

"What military institutions and mechanisms are doing is within the framework of the assigned duties," he said. "Efforts are ongoing in this direction, and we hope to reach the level expected by both sides."

He also talked about the Iran-Russia cooperation regarding the new nuclear reactor and the parliament's passing of an agreement on cooperation with Russia, saying the agreement had been signed by the two sides and it has now been ratified by the parliament and gone through its legal process.

Asked about the cooperation between the two countries in the field of peaceful nuclear energy, he said it is part of the bilateral cooperation agreement. "I don't have more details about this," he added.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman, speaking about the trial of a Swedish citizen in Iran, said the charges against the individual and the crimes committed by them are clear and have been already announced.

He added, "The details have been conveyed to the respective government. The case will go through its judicial process, and naturally, the judiciary will perform its inherent duties."

Yemen's response to Israeli regime's invasion of Palestine

Regarding the actions of the Yemeni army against the United States in the region, Kanaani said that Iran has repeatedly announced that lack of serious measures against the Zionist regime's crimes will cause reactions in the region in support of the oppressed Palestinians.

Kanaani also stated that some in the region take actions based on their decision, and Iran supports the actions of countries and governments in support of Palestine; these actions are within the framework of interests that these groups have.

Doha Forum

Regarding the possibility of Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian's attendance in the Doha Forum, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman stated that Amirabdollahian will not partake in the forum.

Regarding the embargo on Israeli goods, Kanaani mentioned that the Iranian Foreign Ministry has provided a list of companies. The list has been reviewed by the office of the deputy of economic diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and handed over to the ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade.

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Israeli regime releases most of Gaza detainees amid widespread criticism

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 11, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The Israeli regime has released most of the dozens of Palestinians it detained in northern Gaza a few days ago amid social media reactions ridiculing the Israeli military's initial account that the detainees were Hamas members, not civilians.

"We are informed that most of these people have been released after being investigated by Unit 504", Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Sunday, adding that most of the detainees are civilians who have no connection with what it called terrorism.

The newspaper also said that some of the Palestinians are still in detention.

The Israeli military detained some 200 Palestinians taking shelter at a school in the Jabalia refugee camp, alleging that they were Hamas members. The regime at the weekend also released photos and videos of those arrested being stripped and putting down their weapons as they surrendered to Israeli forces.

The photos and footage drew backlash from social media users refuting the Israeli allegations and ridiculing its account that the detainees were members of the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas.

One of the videos receiving those reactions, and also branded as fabricated, shows a detainee who had been handed an unloaded gun, coming from behind other detainees to hand over his weapon to Israeli forces while wearing only an underdress.

In the face of widespread criticism of the footage and photos, the Israeli military has tried to defend its move to detain the civilians, saying that its forces took off their clothes to make sure that they were not armed, then investigated them and allowed the detainees to wear their clothes again.

The Israeli military's spokesman Daniel Hagari has also said that the photos and videos do not belong to the military. That's while Israel's National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi has reacted and said publishing the photos of the Palestinian detainees being undressed was not good for Israel's image.

On Sunday, Hamas also denied that its fighters had surrendered to the Israeli regime, noting that people in the photos "were defenseless civilians after they were detained and weapons were placed next to them."

"Hamas heroes don't surrender and the (Israeli) occupation lies will not deceive anyone," Hamas member Izzat al-Rishq said in a statement, calling the photos "part of a ridiculous story, which the occupation has been fabricating for declaring an alleged victory over the resistance."

The resistance movement launched an unprecedented operation, called Al-Aqsa Storm, against Israeli positions from the Gaza Strip on October 7. Since then, Israel has been attacking Gaza from air and sea, killing more than 17,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

Hamas says the regime is killing civilians to compensate for its October 7 defeat.

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US wooing allies to expand naval task force in Red Sea: Report

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 11, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The United States is reportedly pitching allies on expanding a multinational naval task force in the region to contain the spread of the Zionist regime's war on the Gaza Strip.

According to the Washington Post, the US is attempting to address an alarming rise in attacks on commercial vessels traveling near Yemen.

The Biden administration plans to expand Combined Task Force 153, a military unit focused on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the Post quoted a senior administration official as saying.

The task force is part of the Combined Maritime Forces, a group with 39 member nations that is headquartered in Bahrain.

On Sunday, Yemen's Defense Ministry announced that it had prevented a ship bound for the occupation entity, in line with the Arab country's previous warning to prohibit all ships moving toward Israel.

"A proper interaction was done with a ship that did not pay attention to our warning," the ministry said in a statement, according to the Al-Mayadeen news network.

It came after the Yemeni Armed Forces announced the introduction of a new "actionable decision" in support of Gaza, under which the Yemeni military vowed to prevent ships bound for the Zionist regime regardless of their nationality.

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Iran: US stands alone against International community

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 11 December 2023 / 11:52

Iran Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman says United States standing against international community's demand for ceasefire in Gaza.

Tehran (ISNA) - In reaction to United States veto on United Nations Security Council draft resolution on humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani says recent developments shows that there is a deadlock in UNSC and this council is incapable of doing it's innate duties.

Speaking in weekly press conference on Monday in Tehran, Kan'ani refers to Israeli genocide in Gaza and said: "During 67 days of Zionists attacks on Gaza, killing machine of this regime have martyred about 18000 people".

Condemning US veto on UNSC resolution, Kan'ani states that "US stands alone against international community demand for ceasefire in Gaza and has voted to continue the brutality and barbarism of the Zionists against the Palestinian people."

The resolution presented by the United Arab Emirates. Thirteen countries vote in favor, the US vetoed and the UK abstained.

"UNSC situation is worrisome and this council has shown that it can not execute it's responsibility at critical times. We believe that UNSC should have been more responsible and it's member more democratic". Iran top diplomat added.

End Item



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Genocide in Gaza ongoing, IOF targets more residential buildings

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 11 December 2023 / 11:29

The Israeli occupation continues with its genocidal aggression from air, land, and sea throughout the Gaza Strip, committing massacres against civilians, on the 66th day.

Tehran (ISNA) - Following the attack carried out by the Israeli occupation against a residential square in al-Maghazi, located in the central Gaza Strip, 22 Palestinians were martyred according to reports by Al Mayadeen's correspondent in the Strip.

It has bee reported that the Israeli occupation warplanes targeted residential buildings in the area between Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah in the middle of the Gaza Strip, inclusive, indicating that casualties had arrived at the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

Moreover, the correspondent stressed occupation fighter jets had also bombed a house in the Tal Al Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah city.

The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip has reported that the tragic toll in Gaza reaches 17,997 martyrs and 42,229 injuries due to the ongoing Israeli aggression, which has persisted for 66 days.

End Item







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Yemeni threats disrupt about 85% of Eilat port's profits

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 11 December 2023 / 11:07

The Director General of the Port of Eilat discusses the losses incurred by the port, attributing them to threats from Yemen that aim to obstruct ships from reaching "Israel" through the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea.

Tehran (ISNA)- The Director General of the Port of Eilat, Gideon Golber, confirmed, according to Suptnik reports which cited Israeli Channel 13, that Yemen's threat of Israeli-bound ships had "disrupted 80% to 85% of the port's profits."

In this context, Channel 13 further reported, in a report, that "the volume of imports coming from the East to Israel is estimated at approximately 350 billion shekels, equivalent to 95 billion dollars annually."

The channel added, "Changing the maritime navigation route will raise the prices of imported products by an estimated 3%, which would increase the financial burden on the Israelis by about ten and a half billion shekels, or about 3 billion dollars."

Moreover, the Israeli Army Radio quoted Golber as saying that the Yemeni threat to the Red Sea maritime routes "led to the loss of the port by about 14,000 cars from the middle of last month until today."

The port director further explained that "Israel fears that the closure of Bab al-Mandab to the movement of merchant vessels to Israel through the Red Sea to the port of Eilat or through the Suez Canal would prolong the travel of cargo vessels from the East to Israel about five weeks, as cargo vessels would have to circumvent the African continent at Cape of Good Hope through the Strait of Gibraltar to the Mediterranean."

The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on Saturday the introduction of a new actionable decision in support of Gaza, which will see the prohibition of all ships bound to the occupation entity, regardless of their nationality, from passing through the Arabian and Red Seas until food and medicine sufficient to the needs of the population enter the besieged Strip.

In a statement, Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree declared that this prohibition is "effective immediately," noting that Sanaa, "out of its commitment to the safety of maritime navigation, warns all ships and companies against dealing with Israeli ports."

"The Yemeni Armed Forces emphasize their full commitment to the continuity of global trade movement through the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea for all ships and all countries, except those ships associated with Israel or those that will transport goods" to the occupation entity.

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Steel Knight 23.2: 2nd Bn., 5th Marines reinforces embassy

US Marine Corps News

11 Dec 2023 | Cpl. Earik Barton 1st Marine Division

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES -- U.S. Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, demonstrated their proficiency and flexibility during a simulated embassy reinforcement Nov. 29 as part of Exercise Steel Knight 23.2.

The embassy reinforcement at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, served as the cornerstone event for 5th Marines' mission rehearsal exercise to certify the regiment to deploy as Marine Rotational Force - Darwin in 2024.

"The embassy reinforcement for Steel Knight is the culmination of a large amount of coordination throughout I Marine Expeditionary Force," said Capt. Austin Dickey, company commander of Fox Co., 2nd Bn., 5th Marines.

Steel Knight 23.2 has components of I MEF deployed across a large geographic space, from Southwest Arizona through most of California, with various locations simulating islands spread across the Pacific. This dispersion causes friction inherent to the tyranny of distance that forces the MEF to adapt and grow as a fighting force.

"You're going to see communication issues," explained Dickey. "That is something we have been presented an opportunity to learn with - the various waveforms and learning how to get (communications) up at far distances - and then once we have those waveforms up, actually coordinating and communicating to different agencies."

At the beginning of Steel Knight, the Marines and Sailors of the battalion, as well as the regimental headquarters, relocated to Yuma, Arizona, where they set up a combat operations center and continued to plan and train. When the order came to conduct the embassy reinforcement, Fox Co. boarded MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and flew to the simulated embassy at Camp Pendleton, ready to respond to the unknown situation they would find on the ground.

"I was proud with what the company did, short notice with the timeline, short notice with the order drop," explained Dickey. "I'm proud of the Marines, going through rehearsals, going through the order brief, really being locked on with the pre-combat checks, pre-combat inspections. Fox Co. always has something to learn but we are in a pretty good place, and we are ready today to go perform the missions that the Marine Corps and the United States needs us to."

The company had been at the embassy for a little more than an hour when explosions detonated in a market street at Camp Pendleton's Infantry Immersion Trainer, where the simulated embassy was located. As fog machines filled the air with smoke, role-players acted as civilian casualties. Additional Marines and medical personnel arrived on scene with tourniquets and stretchers to provide lifesaving aid before transporting the wounded to a casualty collection point for further medical care.

"It gave me a lot of confidence to see our corpsmen, our Sailors, brothers and sisters helping us out, training and ready to respond to a situation like that," recalled Dickey. "Friction is going to come up, the plan is going to change. I saw the Marines and Sailors handle that unanticipated event well."

The company ensured all remaining civilians were properly processed and evacuated. The Marines departed the following day after successfully completing their mission of reinforcing the simulated embassy during a crisis.

"We're doing this now in training," said Dickey. "We could be called on tomorrow to do this in the South Pacific, and that's going to be a whole different problem set that Steel Knight has given us a repetition at, and we are that much more prepared for it."

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Pakistan Rejects the Indian Supreme Court's Verdict on Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Pakistan categorically rejects the judgement announced by the Supreme Court of India on the status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally-recognized dispute, which remains on the agenda of the UN Security Council for over seven decades. The final disposition of Jammu and Kashmir is to be made in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and as per aspirations of the Kashmiri people. India has no right to make unilateral decisions on the status of this disputed territory against the will of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.

Pakistan does not acknowledge the supremacy of the Indian Constitution over Jammu and Kashmir. Any process, subservient to the Indian Constitution, carries no legal significance.

India cannot abdicate its international obligations on the pretext of domestic legislations and judicial verdicts. Its plans to annex IIOJK are bound to fail.

The judicial endorsement of India's unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019 is a travesty of justice, based on distorted historical and legal arguments.

The Indian Supreme Court's verdict fails to recognize the internationally-recognized disputed nature of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. It further fails to cater to the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, who have already rejected India's illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019. The judgement is yet another manifestation of the pliant judiciary under India's ruling dispensation.

Restoration of statehood, conduct of State Assembly elections or similar steps cannot serve as a substitute to the grant of the right to self-determination to the Kashmiri people.

The judgement cannot distract the international community's attention from the gross and systematic human rights violations being perpetrated in IIOJK.

India's unilateral and illegal measures since 5 August 2019 have been aimed at changing the demographic structure and political landscape of the IIOJK, in flagrant violation of international law and the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, especially Resolution 122 (1957). They remain a matter of grave concern for Pakistan as their ultimate goal is to convert the Kashmiris into a disempowered community in their own land. These measures must be rescinded to create an environment for peace and dialogue.

Pakistan will continue to extend its full political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of IIOJK for realization of their inalienable right to self-determination.

11 December 2023

225/2023

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China protests to Philippines after intrusion in South China Sea

People's Daily Online

(CGTN) 22:31, December 11, 2023

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it has lodged solemn representations with the Philippines over its vessels' intrusion into Chinese territory and expressed strong protestations.

Speaking at a daily press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Philippine vessels ignored warnings and collided with China Coast Guard vessels on Sunday after they illegally intruded into the waters adjacent to the Ren'ai Jiao in China's Nansha Qundao.

"Actions of the Philippine side seriously violate China's sovereignty and endanger the safety of Chinese ships and personnel," Mao told reporters. "The Chinese Coast Guard has taken necessary measures against the Philippine vessels in accordance with domestic and international laws and the operations were professional, restrained, reasonable and legal."

On Sunday, China's Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian also held a meeting with Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro to protest Philippines' recent provocations near Ren'ai Jiao and Huangyan Dao.

The ambassador reaffirmed that Ren'ai Jiao and Huangyan Dao are China's inherent territories and China has indisputable sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao (the South China Sea Islands) and their adjacent waters, and has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters.

"China urges the Philippines to stop its maritime infringement and provocative acts, meet China halfway and return to the right track that properly handle maritime issues through dialogue and consultation and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea," said Ambassador Huang.

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UN General Assembly to convene special session on Gaza

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 16:36, December 11, 2023

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is set to convene an emergency special session on Gaza on Tuesday, said Monica Grayley, the UNGA president's spokesperson.

"President of the UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis, has just informed member states that he will convene the 45th plenary meeting of the tenth Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 12," the spokesperson said on Sunday.

Egypt and Mauritania formally requested a meeting, citing the UN General Assembly Resolution 377 "Uniting for Peace" in their letter to the UNGA president.

The letter highlighted the urgency of holding such a meeting after a Security Council draft resolution on Gaza ceasefire was vetoed by the United States.

The "Uniting for Peace" resolution gives the Assembly power to take up matters of international peace and security when the Security Council is unable to act due to unanimity among its five permanent members who have the veto power.

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Israeli troops continue to advance into southern Gaza

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:40, December 11, 2023

JERUSALEM, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli forces continued to push into Khan Younis, the largest city in the southern Gaza Strip, on Sunday, where thousands of people were taking refuge after fleeing the deadly bombardments in other parts of the enclave.

Ground, aerial and naval forces struck more than 250 locations in Gaza over the past day, according to a statement released by the army.

Israel continued to intensify its firepower in Gaza, including the deployment of artillery into the densely populated 365 square km enclave, in which vast areas have been leveled by the Israeli bombardments. "For the first time since the beginning of ground operations, the Artillery Corps is operating inside the Gaza Strip," the army said.

In a video statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "dozens" of Hamas fighters have surrendered in recent days. "They are laying down their weapons and handing themselves over to our heroic fighters," Netanyahu said.

He urged other militants to follow suit. "It is over. Don't die for Sinwar (Hamas leader in Gaza). Surrender -- now," he said.

Meanwhile, Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for Al-Qassam, the armed wing of Hamas, said "Israel's repeated declarations of aiming to eliminate resistance are mere rhetoric ... it will not succeed on the ground."

He said that since the resumption of hostilities ten days ago after a temporary humanitarian ceasefire, Al-Qassam fighters have completely or partially destroyed 180 Israeli military vehicles, including armored carriers, tanks, and bulldozers.

He also announced carrying out multiple operations that "resulted in a significant number of casualties and injuries within the ranks of the Israeli occupation."

Also on Sunday, Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin talked over the phone about the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Netanyahu's office said.

Netanyahu requested that Russia apply pressure on the Red Cross regarding visits and essential medicines for hostages held in Gaza.

The executive board of the World Health Organization adopted a resolution addressing the deteriorating health crisis in Gaza, urging for prompt and unrestricted humanitarian access.

The resolution, proposed by Afghanistan, Morocco, Qatar and Yemen, expressed "grave concern at the catastrophic humanitarian situation" in Gaza. It urged protection for all civilians and aid workers. It also warned of "long-lasting impacts" of attacks on medical personnel and "the large-scale destruction of health facilities including hospitals and ambulances."

The Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday that the death toll from the Israeli attack in Gaza had risen to at least 17,997, and the injuries to 49,500.

According to Israeli figures, about 1,200 people in Israel were killed during the Hamas surprise attack on Oct. 7 that triggered the conflict. The Israeli soldiers killed in the ground offensive in Gaza reached 97 and another 559 have been wounded, according to the figures released by the Israeli army on Sunday.

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UN chief says won't give up on pushing for humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:38, December 11, 2023

DOHA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pledged on Sunday not to give up on pushing for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, despite "the preeminent forum for peaceful resolution of international disputes is paralyzed by geostrategic divisions."

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 21st Doha Forum in Qatar, Guterres stated, "I urged the Security Council to press to avert a humanitarian catastrophe and I reiterated my appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared."

"Regrettably the Security Council failed to do it but that does not make it less necessary. So, I can promise I will not give up," he said.

On Friday, the United States vetoed a draft resolution in the UN Security Council aimed at promoting a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Many countries expressed disappointment and regret over the decision.

The annual Doha Forum focuses on topics including regional and international situations, and global challenges, among others. Themed "Building Shared Futures," this year's two-day forum features discussions on issues such as the Israel-Hamas conflict, geopolitics, energy security, sustainable development, and the digital economy.

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Countries express disappointment over U.S. veto of Gaza ceasefire resolution

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:25, December 11, 2023

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution on Friday that would have demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza due to a veto cast by the United States. Many countries expressed disappointment and regret over the U.S. veto of the Gaza-related draft.

On Friday morning, at the urging of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Security Council held an emergency meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli situation. In the afternoon, the Security Council voted on a draft resolution drafted by the United Arab Emirates and backed by about 100 countries, calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. There were 13 votes in favor, with Britain abstaining. The United States voted against it.

The draft failed to pass because the United States, a permanent member of the council, exercised its veto power. U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Robert Wood said after the vote that the draft resolution was "divorced from reality."

"We express great disappointment and regret that the draft has been vetoed by the U.S.," said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN.

Zhang said that two months of fighting had already caused an unprecedented amount of death and destruction. "An immediate ceasefire is the overriding prerequisite."

Riyad H. Mansour, permanent observer of Palestine to the UN, pointed out that it is beyond regrettable and disastrous that the Council was prevented from upholding its responsibility.

Mohamed Abushahab, deputy permanent representative of the United Arab Emirates to the UN, expressed his deep disappointment with its outcome. However, he noted that this disappointing outcome will not deter his country from continuing to implore Council members to act and bring the violence in Gaza to an end.

Dmitry Polyanskiy, first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the UN, said that "today will become one of the darkest days in the Middle East" as the United States has once again blocked calls for a ceasefire.

Nicolas de Riviere, permanent representative of France to the UN, said that he voted in favor of the draft resolution, adding that France will continue to commit to fully mobilizing the Council on all aspects of the crisis, whether it is security, humanitarian or political.

Ishikane Kimihiro, permanent representative of Japan to the UN, said his delegation voted in favor of the draft as the loss of all civilian life, whether Palestinian or Israeli, is tragic. He also expressed regret that the text had failed to be adopted.

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Palestinians slam U.S. veto of UN Security Council resolution for ceasefire in Gaza

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:14, December 11, 2023

RAMALLAH/GAZA, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Authority and Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) slammed on Saturday the U.S. veto on a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The resolution failed to pass at a Security Council emergency meeting held late Friday after the United States cast a veto and Britain abstained, while the other 13 UNSC members voted in favor of the proposal handed in by the UAE and backed by more than 90 UN member states.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced on Saturday the U.S. position as "aggressive and immoral, and a blatant violation of all humanitarian values and principles," while thanking those member states that favor the resolution for "siding with justice, peace and human ethics."

In a statement, he said the move made the United States complicit with "war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Jerusalem."

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said in a statement on Saturday that the veto was "a disgrace and a new license for the occupying state to continue killing, destroying and displacing."

The veto "reveals the lie of concern for the lives of civilians, and that what happened is an insult to the free people of the world and a violation of the values of truth, justice, freedom, human rights, and all countries calling for human rights," he noted.

Shtayyeh called on UN members to continue their efforts to stop the Israeli "aggression" and bring in food, medicine and fuel aid and restore the lifeline to the Gaza Strip that has been cut off for more than two months.

The Gaza-ruling Palestinian faction, Hamas, which Israel has announced at war with, described the U.S. administration as an "accomplice in the killing of the Palestinian people, through its political and military support for Israel."

The movement thanked the countries that voted in favor of the draft resolution, calling on the international community to take serious and concrete steps to "stop the occupation's massacres" in Gaza.

This comes as the Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Saturday that more than 70 Palestinians were killed in Gaza in Israeli attacks during the last hours.

The ministry said in a brief statement that the aforementioned number of dead, along with more than 160 injured, were transferred to Al-Aqsa Hospital in the central Gaza Strip.

Since Oct. 7, Israel has been launching massive airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza in response to the Hamas surprise attack on Israel that killed around 1,200 and in which over 200 were taken hostage.

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Statement of the DFA Spokesperson on the 09 December 2023 Bajo de Masinloc Incident and 10 December 2023 Ayungin Shoal Incident

Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs

PASAY 11 December 2023 -- The Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to pursue its mandate of protecting and upholding the Philippine legal maritime entitlements in the West Philippine Sea, and is utilizing all forms of diplomatic actions available.

We note that this is the fourth time this year - with the two incidents happening just over the weekend - that water cannons have been used against PH vessels. More alarmingly, this is the third incident where dangerous maneuvers by Chinese vessels have resulted in a collision since the 22 October 2023 RORE mission.

Our Philippine Embassy in Beijing has made a demarche to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday. The demarche included in the agenda the incidents in the Bajo de Masinloc last Saturday, and in the Ayungin Shoal yesterday. The Department of Foreign Affairs also lodged a protest through the maritime communication mechanism yesterday, while the RORE mission was underway. The Chinese Ambassador has also been summoned.

Bajo de Masinloc is an integral part of the Philippine territory and over which the Philippines has sovereignty and jurisdiction. China's actions on 9 December, the dousing of PH vessels using water cannons are serious actions aimed at preventing Philippine authorities from undertaking legitimate activities around the area. These actions violate the Philippines' sovereignty and jurisdiction and are a threat to peace, good order, and security.

We reiterate that the resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal on 10 December is a legitimate exercise of the PH given that the feature is part of our exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The Philippines has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over it. As a low-tide elevation, Ayungin Shoal can neither be the subject of a sovereignty claim nor is it capable of appropriation under international law.

China's purported exercise of maritime law enforcement powers, interference with Philippine rotation and resupply missions, harassment and intimidation of Filipino fisherfolk, or any other activity that infringes upon the Philippines' sovereignty and jurisdiction in Bajo de Masinloc, and the Philippines' sovereign rights and jurisdiction in Ayungin Shoal, are violations of international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Department will not tire of conveying these positions on Bajo de Masinloc and on Ayungin Shoal to the Chinese side, inspired by our steadfast uniformed personnel on the BRP Sierra Madre and the services that are committed to their support and sustenance.

Philippine activities in both features are legitimate and undertaken pursuant to UNCLOS, the constitution of the oceans. Our policies remain anchored on the 2016 Arbitral Award and on our commitments as a state party to UNCLOS. It is regrettable that yesterday, the 10th of December, is also the 41st Anniversary of UNCLOS, and the day was commemorated with such violations of the convention.

Once again, we thank the international community for their continued expression of support to the Philippines and the defense of the rules-based international order.

We will continue to call on China to be a responsible member of the international community and abide by its commitments, desist from undertaking actions that violate Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, and undermine the mutual trust and confidence that should underpin bilateral relations. END

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Iran: Netanyahu can only survive through continuation of war, genocide

Iran Press TV

Monday, 11 December 2023 10:15 PM

Iran's foreign minister has once again warned about the spillover of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza to the rest of the region, saying the regime's prime minister can only survive through continued war and genocide.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the comment in a Monday phone call with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during which the two sides discussed bilateral and regional issues, especially the ongoing situation in the occupied Palestinians territories.

During the conversation, Iran's top diplomat criticized the United States' recent vetoing of a United Nations Security Council resolution, which demanded an immediate end to Israel's genocide in the besieged Gaza Strip.

More than 18,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed during the war that Israel launched on October 7 following an operation staged by Gaza's resistance groups, dubbed Operation al-Aqsa Storm.

The US cast its veto against the resolution on Friday in line with its unbridled military and political support for Israel's brutal aggression, which has seen Washington providing the regime with more than 10,000 tons of military equipment since the beginning of its onslaught on Gaza.

The Israeli aggression has also been followed by a regional drive in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon to target US and Israeli interests in the region.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Amir-Abdollahian said the war has already spread across the region, adding, "If [Israel's] attacks on Gaza do not stop immediately, the region may see an explosion at any moment and all [involved] sides may lose control."

"Unfortunately, the American side does not correctly understand the risk of further spillover of the war," Iran's top diplomat said, adding, "The survival of [Benjamin] Netanyahu, as a White House ally, is only possible through continuation of war and genocide."

Amir-Abdollahian warned that the situation in the region would not remain the same if Israel's military aggression on Gaza continued.

The Iranian foreign minister, meanwhile, lauded China's constructive efforts aimed at establishing peace and stability in the region.

For his part, the Chinese foreign minister lamented the US' vetoing of the Gaza ceasefire resolution at the Security Council, saying, "Establishment of ceasefire and immediate transfer of humanitarian aid [to Gaza] is of importance to China."

Wang also hoped that the forthcoming meeting of the UN General Assembly would offer an opportunity for establishment of ceasefire in the region.

Besides its incessant and indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza, Israel has cut off the flow of basic supplies such as water, electricity, medicines, and fuel into one of the world's most densely-populated territories that houses over two million Palestinians.

"US veto of Security Council resolution license for Gaza genocide"

Also on Monday, Amir-Abdollahian spoke on the phone with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov concerning bilateral and regional issues, including the latest developments related to Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where the Israeli regime has been ramping up its attacks against Palestinians.

The Iranian minister said by blocking the Security Council's resolution, the US has actually granted the Israeli regime a license to continue its genocide in Gaza.

He reiterated the necessity of putting an immediate end to Israel's war crimes and transfer of humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian territory.

Lavrov, for his part, laid emphasis on the need for the continuation of international efforts to achieve ceasefire across the occupied Palestinian territories, increase delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and facilitate establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

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Israel used US-made white phosphorus bombs in Lebanon: Report

Iran Press TV

Monday, 11 December 2023 6:04 PM

Israel used US-supplied internationally banned white phosphorus munitions in an October attack in southern Lebanon, according to a Washington Post investigation.

"A journalist working for The Post found remnants of three 155-millimeter artillery rounds fired into Dheira, near the Lebanese border with Israel, which wounded at least nine civilians and incinerated at least four homes, residents said," the newspaper said.

Lot production codes found on the shells match the nomenclature used by the US military to categorize domestically produced munitions, which show they were made by ammunition depots in Louisiana and Arkansas in 1989 and 1992, the report said.

The light green color and other markings - like "WP" printed on one of the shells - are consistent with white phosphorous rounds, according to arms experts cited by the publication.

Photos and videos verified by international rights groups and reviewed by The Post show the characteristic ribbons of white phosphorus smoke falling over Dheira on October 16.

Israeli forces continued to shell the town with white phosphorus munitions for hours, residents said, trapping them in their homes until they could escape around 7 a.m. the next morning. Residents now refer to the attack as the "black night."

The US origin of the shells was verified by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Shortly after the October attack, Human Rights Watch said it had verified footage taken in Lebanon and Gaza showing multiple uses of artillery-fired white phosphorus over the Gaza City port and two rural locations along Lebanon's border.

The same manufacturing codes also appear on white phosphorus shells lined up next to Israeli artillery by the city of Sderot, near the Gaza Strip, in an October 9 photo.

The Crisis Evidence Lab at Amnesty International said they corroborated the authenticity of videos and photos depicting the utilization of white phosphorus smoke artillery shells in Dhayra on October 16.

The rounds, which eject felt wedges saturated with white phosphorous can stick to the skin, causing potentially fatal burns and respiratory damage, and its use near civilian areas could be prohibited under international humanitarian law.

Tirana Hassan, the executive director of HRW, said US Congress "should take reports of Israel's use of white phosphorus seriously enough to reassess US military aid to Israel."

The weapons are part of billions of dollars in annual US military assistance to Israel.

Israel has killed nearly 18,000 people, a huge number of whom children, in Gaza since October 7.

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Neither Israel nor US will be able to obliterate Hamas: Iran foreign minister

Iran Press TV

Monday, 11 December 2023 5:07 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has warned Israel and the US that they would never be able to realize their goal of wiping out Hamas even if they spend a decade to fight the Palestinian resistance movement.

"Neither Israel nor the US, even if they spend another 10 years in Gaza, will be able to obliterate Hamas," Amir-Abdollahian said while addressing the Doha Forum in Qatar via video conference on Monday.

Amir-Abdollahian added that it was wrong to assume that the Hamas military operation, which started on October 7, triggered the Israeli onslaught on Gaza as it was rather the continuation of the Zionists' 75-year aggression against Palestinians.

It is clear that the fighting has already been expanded to the Lebanese and Yemeni fronts, he emphasized, referring to operations conducted by the Yemeni military and the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement in retaliation for the Israeli massacre in Gaza.

Israel waged the war on Gaza after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in retaliation for the regime's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

According to the Gaza's health ministry, the death toll of the Palestinians who have been killed since the start of Israel's brutal aggression has risen to 18,205, mostly women and children, while more than 49,645 have been wounded.

Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble in Gaza, which is under "complete siege" by Israel.

Elsewhere in his address, Amir-Abdollahian once again reiterated Iran's opposition to the so-called two-state solution to the Palestinian issue, saying it would not help solve the conflict.

"Israel has occupied the Palestinian land and we believe that a two-state solution will not help resolve the Palestinian issue. In the Palestinian land, only a Palestinian government should be formed based on a referendum," Amir-Abdollahian said, noting that such a referendum should be held with the participation of the original inhabitants of Palestine, including the Jews.

The top Iranian diplomat also slammed the US move to veto a UN resolution calling for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Washington's use of the veto power in support of Israel's continued crimes in Gaza proves the US' unwavering, full support for the regime, Amir-Abdollahian pointed out.

On Friday, the US used its veto in the United Nations Security Council to block a draft resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Thirteen Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution, put forward by the United Arab Emirates, while the United Kingdom abstained.

The General Assembly, where the US has no veto power, overwhelmingly supported a humanitarian ceasefire. On October 26, the assembly approved the ceasefire with 120 votes in favor and only 14 against the non-binding resolution.

In a post on his X account on Sunday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi criticized the US as "the main supporter of the massacre of innocent Gazan women & children," referring to Washington's veto of the UNSC ceasefire resolution

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Al-Qassam Brigades targets southern Tel Aviv in response to 'Israeli massacres' in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Monday, 11 December 2023 3:23 PM

The military wing of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says it has targeted southern Tel Aviv with missiles in response to the Israeli regime's fierce bombardment of the besiege Gaza Strip.

The al-Qassam Brigades announced in a brief statement on Monday that the resistance forces had fired missiles at southern neighborhoods of Tel Aviv and the city of Holon "in response to the Israeli massacres against civilians in Gaza."

Israeli media confirmed the retaliatory strikes by Hamas and said, "A series of 10 missiles were launched towards central Israel, one of which landed in Holon, causing major damage."

Reports said a settler was injured as a result of a missile falling in Holon and significant damage was inflicted on a number of cars.

Israeli media also claimed that "seven missiles" were intercepted in an attack on the illegal settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip and Sderot, located in the south of the Israeli-occupied territories.

Fierce clashes in Khan Yunis

In another statement, the al-Qassam Brigades announced that two Israeli Merkava tanks were targeted with Yassin 105 anti-tank munitions in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis on Monday as the resistance forces engaged in fierce clashes with the occupation army.

The statement added that an unspecified number of Israeli soldiers were killed or wounded after the Brigades targeted a special Zionist force holed up in a building in Beit Lahia, in the far north of the impoverished besieged strip.

Media reports also said "violent" clashes took place with Israel's special forces in the west of the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip.

The al-Qassam Brigades said the resistance forces managed, in the last 48 hours to destroy 44 Israeli military vehicles "completely or partially" on the entire fighting fronts in the Gaza Strip.

Israel waged the devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory's Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity over its intensified violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli aggression has so far killed some 18,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and wounded more than 49,000 others.

The Tel Aviv regime has imposed a "complete siege" on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

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Iran: US veto of UN resolution on Gaza ceasefire a vote for continuation of Israeli savagery; UNSC at dead-end

Iran Press TV

Monday, 11 December 2023 10:58 AM

Iran says the United States' move to veto a UN resolution calling for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza was in fact a vote for the continuation of the Israeli regime's brutality against the Palestinian people.

Nasser Kan'ani made the remarks in his weekly press conference in Tehran on Monday after the US used its veto in the United Nations Security Council on Friday to block a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

"The US government showed that it stands alone in the face of the international community and does not shy away from being alone in supporting the Zionist regime," he said.

By vetoing the UN resolution, he added, the US showed that it did not just cast a negative vote to stop Israel's war in Gaza, but also voted for the continuation of barbarism against the oppressed Palestinian nation.

He hailed the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's "responsible action" regarding the situation in Gaza which drew the Security Council's attention to the issue and called on the council to take a swift move to maintain international peace and security.

Kan'ani emphasized that the US resisted the world and the UN chief's demand for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza by defying the resolution and once again showed its full complicity in the Israeli regime's crimes.

He reiterated Iran's strong condemnation of the US move and said, "The American government is not part of the solution to the Gaza war, but is part of the continuation of the genocide against the people of Gaza."

Thirteen Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution, put forward by the United Arab Emirates, while the United Kingdom abstained.

The General Assembly, where the US has no veto power, overwhelmingly supported a humanitarian ceasefire. On October 26, the assembly approved the ceasefire with 120 votes in favor and only 14 against the non-binding resolution.

Kan'ani further said that the Security Council is not able to fulfill its duty to ensure global peace and security and stop the war and failed to take a measure at the current sensitive juncture.

He added that the US vetoing of the resolution proves that the Security Council has reached an impasse and is incapable of fulfilling its duty.

The spokesman emphasized that Iran has repeatedly announced that the Palestinian people are the only party that has the right and can decide on their own fate.

'Israel a threat to humanity'

Earlier, Kan'ani said in a post on his X account that the Israeli crimes and recent remarks of Israeli officials exposed the inhumane and racist nature of the Tel Aviv regime, laying it ever more "bare" before the world.

He recounted "the actions of the Zionist regime's military in stripping and 'publishing images of naked civilian Palestinian captives,' the deputy mayor of the Occupied al-Quds calling on Tel Aviv authorities to 'bury Palestinian prisoners alive,' the Israeli regime's minister of war describing Palestinians as 'human animals,' and the regime's minister of heritage offering to drop a nuclear bomb on Gaza."

Kan'ani said the apartheid regime of Israel is a threat to humanity and global peace and security.

Israel waged the war on Gaza after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Since the start of the brutal aggression, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 17,997 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 49,229 others.

Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble in Gaza, which is under "complete siege" by Israel.



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Over 100 Israeli troopers killed in Gaza ground offensive: Military

Iran Press TV

Monday, 11 December 2023 9:09 AM

The Israeli military says more than a hundred soldiers have been killed since the beginning of the regime's ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, more than two months after Israel waged a war on the besieged territory.

The army announced in a statement on Monday the deaths of four soldiers, noting that three of them were killed during fighting in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday.

The statement added that the latest fatalities brought the toll of slain Israeli troops in the ground offensive against fighters from the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement to 101.

The figure comes a day after the Israeli army said 425 soldiers were killed since the start of the Gaza conflict in early October.

According to the military release, 1,593 other troops were also injured, including 559 soldiers who were wounded in the Gaza ground invasion.

Israeli daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth also reported on Saturday that more than 5,000 soldiers had been injured in Gaza since the latest conflict began, with more than 2,000 officially recognized by the regime's ministry of military affairs as disabled.

Meanwhile, the Hebrew-language Haaretz newspaper has examined the data released by the hospitals, where wounded Israeli soldiers have been treated, and found an "unexplained gap between the data reported by the military and that from the hospitals."

The hospitals' data shows the number of wounded soldiers to be twice as high as the army's numbers, and the paper reported that is likely an undercount.

Israel waged the devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory's Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity over its intensified violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli aggression has so far killed at least 17,997 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and wounded 49,229 others.

The Tel Aviv regime has imposed a "complete siege" on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

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US support for Israel 'driving force' in Gaza genocide: Iran parliament speaker

Iran Press TV

Monday, 11 December 2023 9:06 AM

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf says the United States' military, media and diplomatic support for Israel is the driving force and the root cause of the regime's genocide in Gaza.

"We are still witnessing that the Zionist regime continues to kill the innocent people of Gaza and destroy its vital civilian infrastructures with the full cooperation of the United States as its main partner in crime," Qalibaf said while addressing an open session of the parliament on Monday.

On Friday, the US used its veto in the United Nations Security Council to block a draft resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Thirteen other Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution, put forward by the United Arab Emirates, while the United Kingdom abstained.

Slamming "US stubbornness" at the Security Council, Qalibaf said Muslims and freedom seekers of the world expect their governments not to enable such "unjust structures" to allow the Israeli regime to continue its genocidal crimes.

He also said the people of Gaza have proved that they were the "real winners" of the events that unfolded on October 7, when the Palestinian resistance movements launched a surprise operation into the occupied territories.

Nothing can undo the crushing defeat and restore the lost dignity of the Tel Aviv regime, he asserted.

The top Iranian parliamentarian maintained that Israel is now much more hated in the world than in the past, and its fake grandeur has been shattered even in front of its friends.

As announced by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Palestinian issue will be solved soon and the Palestinian sovereignty will be established across the territory, he added.

Israel waged the devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory's Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity over its intensified violence against Palestinians.

The health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip on Sunday said the death toll from the Israeli war on Gaza had risen to at least 17,997, most of them women and children. There were an additional 49,229 wounded.

Tel Aviv has also cut off one of the most densely populated places in the world from basic supplies, such as water, electricity, and fuel. Shortage of medical supplies and food has left 2.3 million Palestinians at risk of starvation.

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WHO warns 'catastrophic' health situation in Gaza almost impossible to improve

Iran Press TV

Monday, 11 December 2023 7:14 AM

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip is having a "catastrophic" impact on the healthcare sector of the besieged Palestinian territory, where medics are facing an "impossible" job.

"The impact of the conflict on health is catastrophic" and health workers are doing an impossible job in unimaginable conditions, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a WHO executive board special session in the Swiss city of Geneva on Sunday.

He said that the WHO has verified more than 449 attacks on healthcare facilities in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank since October 7, when Israel launched a destructive aggression against Gaza.

During Sunday's meeting, the WHO's 34-member board adopted a resolution by consensus on access to life-saving aid for Gaza.

The document, proposed by Afghanistan, Qatar, Yemen, and Morocco, seeks the passage of medical personnel and supplies into Gaza and requires the WHO to document violence against healthcare workers as well as patients and secure funding to rebuild hospitals.

"I must be frank with you: these tasks are almost impossible in the current circumstances," Tedros said.

"Resupplying health facilities has become extremely difficult and is deeply compromised by the security situation on the ground and inadequate resupply from outside Gaza."

He added that medical needs in Gaza had surged and the risk of disease had grown, yet the health system had been reduced to a third of its pre-war capacity.

"Gaza's health system is on its knees and collapsing," he said, noting that only 14 out of 36 Gaza hospitals are functioning and that 1,400 hospital beds out of an original 3,500 are still available.

The WHO chief further applauded the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' recent invocation of Article 99 of the UN Charter to push for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, saying it was "the only way to truly protect and promote the health of the people of Gaza."

He, however, expressed deep regret that the UN Security Council could not adopt a resolution on an urgent Gaza truce after the US vetoed the resolution.

Addressing the WHO meeting via video, Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila deplored the critical shortages of medicines in Gaza, saying, "The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated."

Israel waged the brutal war on Gaza after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 17,997 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 49,229 others.

Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under the rubble in Gaza, which is under "complete siege" by Israel.

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Yemeni forces block Israel-bound ship in Red Sea, force it to turn back

Iran Press TV

Monday, 11 December 2023 6:31 AM

The Yemeni Armed Forces have blocked the passage of a merchant vessel bound for the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories as it was sailing in the Red Sea, after declaring a decision to block the passage of all ships heading toward Israeli ports in support of the Gaza Strip.

Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network, citing a statement released by Yemen's Defense Ministry, reported on Sunday that "a proper interaction was carried out with the ship, but it did not pay heed to our warnings."

The statement added that the vessel was subsequently "blocked from passing through and was forced to turn back."

On Saturday, spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces Brigadier General Yahya Saree warned that if Gaza does not receive the food and medicines it needs, all the ships passing through Yemen's territorial waters towards the occupied territories would turn into a "legitimate target."

He emphasized that all ships from around the world can continue their commercial activity, except those related to the Israeli regime or destined for the ports of the occupied territories.

Yemeni threats disrupt about 85% of Eilat port's profits: Director

Meanwhile, Director General of the Israeli Port of Eilat, Gideon Golber, said warnings by Yemeni Armed Forces that they will target all Israel-bound ships in the Red Sea have drastically slashed the port's profits.

Russia's Sputnik news agency, citing a report published by Israeli Channel 13 television channel, reported that the threats have disrupted between 80% and 85% of the port's revenues.

Channel 13 further reported that the change in maritime navigation route will raise the prices of imported products by an estimated 3%, which would increase the financial burden on Israelis by about ten and a half billion shekels, or about $3 billion.

Moreover, the Israeli Army Radio quoted Golber as saying that the Yemeni threats have rendered the Port of Eilat unable to import nearly about 14,000 cars since mid-November.

Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine's struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory's Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.

The relentless Israeli military campaign against Gaza has killed at least 17,997 people, most of them women and children, in Gaza since. More than 49,229 people have been wounded as well.

On December 4, the Yemeni army targeted two Israeli ships in the Red Sea as they were attempting to cross the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Reports have shown that Israeli shipping companies have already decided to reroute their vessels in fear of attacks by Yemeni forces.

Yemeni forces have also launched missile and drone attacks on targets in the Israeli-occupied territories of Palestine after the occupying regime's aggression on Gaza.

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Hezbollah ramps up strikes against Israeli targets in show of support for Gaza

Iran Press TV

Monday, 11 December 2023 12:04 AM

Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement says it has ramped up strikes against Israeli targets in support of Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip who are under a ferocious genocidal war waged by the occupying regime.

Through several consecutive statements carried by Lebanon's al-Manar television network on Sunday the movement said it had hit many such targets on the country's border with the occupied territories.

The first strike hit the Jal al-Allam site, using "appropriate weapons" and "achieving a direct hit," the movement said.

A simultaneous "aerial attack with assault drones" hit a newly-established command headquarters of the Israeli army south of the Ya'ara Barracks, Hezbollah added.

The Israeli army confirmed that its forces have taken fire from Lebanon, which has left several of its soldiers injured.

Hezbollah then staged a strike with Burkan missiles targeting Zibdine and Ruwaisat al-Alam sites on the Kfar Shuba hills and in Lebanon's occupied Shebaa Farms. At the same time, the movement hit "a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers" between Zibdine and al-Ramtha sites in Shebaa Farms.

Subsequently, three simultaneous attacks by the movement hit "a fortified military structure" at the al-Abbad site, a gathering of Israeli forces at the Hounin Castle, and the Birkat Risha site, Hezbollah said, adding that the strikes caused direct hits and losses among the occupation army's ranks.

The movement said its new attacks took place "in support of the resilient Palestinian people in Gaza and in solidarity with their courageous and honorable resistance."

The Israeli military has been carrying out attacks against the Lebanese territory since October 7, when it launched its war of genocide on Gaza, prompting a firefight with Hezbollah.

The movement has vowed to keep up its retaliatory operations as long as the regime continues its onslaught against the besieged Palestinian territory.

So far, the Israeli military aggression has claimed the lives of around 18,000 people across Gaza.

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Philippine military chief says Chinese ship 'rammed' his boat in disputed waters

Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. was traveling with a military resupply convoy when the incident occurred.

Jeoffrey Maitem and Jojo Rinoza for BenarNews 2023.12.11 -- The chief of the Philippine armed forces was aboard a small wooden-hulled boat when, he said, a Chinese ship hit it during a series of weekend incidents that Manila was calling a "serious escalation" of tensions in disputed waters.

Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said he was on the Unaizah Mae 1, one of three Philippine boats allegedly blasted by Chinese water cannon and piercing sounds during a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine military outpost at Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal in the South China Sea.

"It was rammed. The Chinese coast guard were shadowing us from the start, and they got as close as 500 meters, 200 meters, then 100 meters," Brawner told DZBB, a Tagalog-language radio station, on Monday.

"When dawn broke, we clearly saw that the Chinese militia [ship] tried to cut our path. Their maneuver was very dangerous."

Also on Monday, Philippine officials presented images and videos of the incident.

"This is a serious escalation on the part of the agents of the People's Republic of China," Jonathan Malaya, spokesman for the National Security Council spokesman, said during a news conference.

In Beijing, meanwhile, a spokeswoman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters that a Philippine boat had traveled "headlong" into a Chinese ship.

Brawner said he slept aboard the Unaizah Mae 1 and oversaw "legitimate radio challenges" to Chinese boats in the area, adding that two China Coast Guard ships and three Chinese maritime militia ships were following the small Philippine boat. About 40 Chinese ships in all were stationed in the waters in and around Ayungin Shoal, he said.

"They started shadowing us on Saturday and it continued at 4 a.m. the following day, and until we - the Unaizah Mae - reached BRP Sierra Madre at 8 a.m.," he said.

Brawner said he was "very angry" about the harassment of the resupply mission.

"The Chinese were not told that I was aboard Unaizah Mae 1, so maybe that's why it happened and they did not change tactics," Brawner said during the radio interview.

"While their aggressive actions have increased, our directive to our troops is to practice maximum tolerance. That's why we were just trying to evade them."

The latest incident forced government officials to order a civilian "Christmas convoy" that had been set up to deliver holiday supplies to troops and fishermen in disputed waters to return to shore, according to ATIN ITO, the group organizing the effort.

The BRP Sierra Madre is a rusted World War II-era navy ship that Manila grounded deliberately to mark its territorial claim at Ayungin Shoal, a reef in the contested Spratly Islands that lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

Manila also accused the Chinese coast guard of firing water cannon and painful sound blasts against boats that were ferrying supplies to Filipino fishermen near Scarborough Shoal, another disputed area, over the weekend.

Dueling protests

On Monday, Manila's foreign affairs department said it had filed a formal protest to Beijing and summoned China's envoy, while the Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning, announced that Beijing had lodged its own protest over the incident.

"[A] Philippine vessel went headlong towards Ren'ai Jiao's lagoon and dangerously rammed a CCG ship on the scene," Mao Ning said, using an acronym for the China Coast Guard. "This gravely violated China's sovereignty and jeopardized the safety of the Chinese ships and personnel."

Ren'ai Jiao is the Chinese name for Second Thomas Shoal.

"The root cause is that the Philippines has broken its promise and refused to tow away the illegally grounded warship at the reef and attempted to reinforce it on a large scale in an attempt to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao," she said.

In response to the tensions in the waterway over the weekend, the United States, the European Union and Japan all issued statements condemning what they described as "dangerous actions" by the Chinese ships.

When a reporter asked her about a U.S. statement calling on China to stop "dangerous and destabilizing" actions in the South China Sea, Mao Ning said her nation would take the necessary steps to ensure territorial sovereignty.

"[T]he U.S. has been fanning disputes, misrepresenting facts, stoking confrontation and undermining regional peace and stability," she said during the foreign ministry's daily news briefing in Beijing.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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US, allies denounce China's 'dangerous actions' in South China Sea

US, EU and Japan expressed concerns over 'dangerous maneuvers' against Philippine vessels at the weekend.

By RFA Staff 2023.12.11 -- The United States, European Union and Japan have all spoken against what they call "dangerous actions" by China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels in the South China Sea over the weekend.

Beijing and Manila traded accusations of harassment and ramming on Sunday as the Philippine Coast Guard conducted a resupply mission to a military outpost at Second Thomas Shoal.

A day earlier, Manila accused the Chinese coast guard of deploying water cannons and painful sound blasts against boats ferrying supplies to Filipino fishermen near Scarborough shoal.

The U.S. State Department said in a statement Sunday that China's actions "reflect not only reckless disregard for the safety and livelihoods of Filipinos, but also for international law."

"As reflected in an international tribunal's legally binding decision issued in July 2016, the PRC has no lawful maritime claims to the waters around Second Thomas Shoal, and Filipinos are entitled to traditional fishing rights around Scarborough Reef," said the statement, referring to China by its official name the People's Republic of China (PRC).

"... the United States calls upon the PRC to abide by the ruling and desist from its dangerous and destabilizing conduct," it added.

The State Department once again reaffirmed "that Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft - including those of its Coast Guard - anywhere in the South China Sea."

Japan, which also has maritime disputes with China, said it was gravely concerned about "repeated dangerous actions by CCG vessels against Philippine vessels."

"Japan stands with the Philippines in support of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific," the Japanese ambassador to Manila wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Japan opposes actions that undermine the peace and stability in the South China Sea."

The E.U. meanwhile called for both sides to observe the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, dispute settlement mechanism and said that the 2016 Tribunal Award, which Manila won, is "a valuable framework for peaceful resolution."

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the relationship between China and the Philippines Maritime disputes are issues between China and the Philippines, and no third party has the right to intervene.

"In recent times, in order to realize its own geopolitical interests, the United States has encouraged, supported and cooperated with the Philippines' violations and provocations in the South China Sea," said the spokesperson. "China will continue to take necessary measures in accordance with domestic and international laws to firmly safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."

Diplomatic protest

The China Coast Guard accused Philippine vessels of intruding into the waters adjacent to the reefs and said it had used "control measures in accordance with the law" against the trespassing ships.

It also blamed a Philippine supply boat for "deliberately colliding into" a CCG vessel.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila on Monday said it has lodged a fresh diplomatic protest against China's actions and summoned the Chinese ambassador to complain about the latest incidents.

More than 250 such diplomatic protests have been filed by the Philippines against China since last year, nearly half of them since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office, according to RFA's calculations.

On Sunday Marcos said that the latest bout of maritime aggression against Philippine boats in the South China Sea has steeled Manila's resolve to defend its waters.

"The aggression and provocations perpetrated by the China Coast Guard and their Chinese Maritime Militia against our vessels and personnel over the weekend have only further steeled our determination to defend and protect our nation's sovereignty," Marcos wrote on X.

The features known to Filipinos as Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) and Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) are "an integral part of our archipelago," he said.

"The illegal presence in our waters and dangerous actions against our citizens is an outright and blatant violation of international law and the rules-based international order," the president added.

Meanwhile, a civilian "Christmas convoy" that planned to deliver holiday cheer and supplies to Philippine troops and fishermen in disputed parts of the sea was ordered back to shore after four Chinese vessels started shadowing its lead ship, said ATIN ITO, the group organizing the effort.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn.

Updated to add a response from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Prime Minister Hun Manet travels to Hanoi for 2-day official visit

The visit comes days after he was named to a top post in the Cambodian People's Party.

By RFA Khmer 2023.12.11 -- Prime Minister Hun Manet arrived in Hanoi on Monday to start a two-day official visit, one of his first foreign trips since taking over as head of Cambodia's government in August.

He met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hun Manet and Pham Minh Chinh signed a cooperation agreement between the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and another agreement in the areas of science, technology and innovation, the ministry said in a statement.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to visit Hanoi this week, according to Reuters.

Hun Manet traveled to Beijing in October to attend China's Belt and Road Initiative conference. In September, he addressed the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

On Sunday, the 46-year-old was named vice president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party, or CPP - a move that allows him to meet with his Vietnamese counterparts on an equal level, according to Men Nath, a Norway-based representative of the Cambodia Watchdog Council.

"If he went to Vietnam just as a permanent member of the party, it would not be insufficient," he said.

Border issues and immigration

Cambodia's National Assembly officially selected Hun Manet as prime minister on Aug. 22. The formality took place about a month after the CPP swept a general election in which the country's only viable opposition party wasn't allowed to compete.

Just a few days later, longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen announced at a July 26 news conference that he would step down as prime minister and would begin a transition to Hun Manet, his eldest son.

After driving the Khmer Rouge from power in 1979, Vietnam administered Cambodia for more than a decade, appointing Hun Sen prime minister in 1985 and maintaining tens of thousands of troops on the ground.

Over the years, Hun Sen's opponents have often attempted to paint him as a tool of the Vietnamese. He remains the head of the CPP.

Unresolved border issues between Cambodia and Vietnam, former French colonies from the 1860s to 1954, have regularly inflamed nationalist sentiment. The disputed border has sparked incidents in the past, with the construction by Vietnam of military posts in contested areas quickly challenged by Cambodian authorities in Phnom Penh.

Cambodian activists also cite the fact that nearly 1.3-million ethnic Khmer people live in a part of Vietnam that was once southeastern Cambodia. They have faced serious restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and movement.

RFA was unable to reach foreign ministry spokesman An Sokhoeun or government spokesman Pen Bona for comment on Hun Manet's visit.

Translated by Sum Sok Ry. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Afghan Returnees Face Harsh Winter Of Discontent

By Michael Scollon, RFE/RL's Radio Azadi December 11, 2023

Zabet Qasim's forced return to Afghanistan after five years living in Pakistan is hardly a happy homecoming.

The head of a household of 14, Qasim at the age of 62 must rebuild his family's life in a country whose hardships and insecurity they thought they had left behind.

"Since we arrived, we cannot buy wood or anything else," Qasim told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on December 7, a few weeks into his unceremonious return to his native village of Khulazai in Afghanistan's northern Parwan Province. "Winter has arrived. Our children are all sick from the cold."

With Afghanistan suffering from natural disaster after natural disaster, unemployment and poverty at record levels, and the country already in what has been described by aids agencies as a state of "forever emergency," the expected arrival of more than 1 million refugees like Qasim is amplifying the din of human misery and threatening to overwhelm aid efforts.

This week the number of Afghan returnees expelled from Pakistan will exceed 500,000 people, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) told RFE/RL on December 7, and that number is expected to double -- at the least.

In recent weeks, Pakistan has taken steps to expel 1.7 million undocumented Afghans as part of its policy announced in October to repatriate "illegal foreigners" living on its soil. The situation has led to chaotic scenes at the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings as returnees are funneled back into Afghanistan, where international aid groups are already struggling to provide humanitarian assistance to millions of people displaced by insecurity and a recent spate of earthquakes and perennial drought.

"This is population movement on a massive scale and the country is simply not in a position to safely manage these returns," NRC advocacy manager in Afghanistan Becky Roby said in written comments. "The humanitarian response is already overwhelmed and underfunded."

The dire humanitarian situation and continued human rights concerns in Afghanistan led the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to issue a joint statement on December 8 calling for Pakistan to maintain a "protection space for Afghans in need of safety."

"People arriving at the border are exhausted and require urgent assistance as well as psychosocial support," the statement said. "Arrivals back to Afghanistan are adding to the worsening humanitarian crisis, as winter temperatures start to dip to minus 4 degrees Celsius in some locations. Many Afghan returnees are vulnerable, including women and children, who could lose their lives in a harsh winter if left without adequate shelter."

Multiple international organizations have answered the IOM's call to deliver critical care to Afghans at the border, many of whom are arriving with little more than the clothes on their backs. But the provision of shelter, health care, essential household items, cash, and transportation and food to prepare them for re-entry into Afghanistan is just the first step.

Once inside Afghanistan, a whole new crop of challenges awaits.

"The hurried nature of their departure from Pakistan has also meant that many of those returning to Afghanistan have extremely high needs and vulnerabilities and few safety nets," the NRC's Roby said. "This means that many families are left living in temporary overcrowded transit shelters with few resources to survive the harsh winter, let alone rebuild their lives."

Many staying at large resettlement camps set up along Afghanistan's long border with Pakistan have said they face formidable hurdles to returning to their home regions, leaving them with no place to go.

Some returnees say they appealed to their extended families for help but were told they were unable to accommodate them. The prospect for some of returning to areas they left due to extreme poverty, insecurity, or the threat of retribution by the Taliban after the extremist group returned to power in August 2021 is also a powerful deterrent.

Oftentimes, "home" is no longer home at all.

"Many of the people returning have not lived in Afghanistan for decades and therefore often have little or no connection with their original homes," Roby said. "In many cases their children were born in Pakistan and don't speak the language. In some cases, they fled the country because their original homes were destroyed in fighting."

Like Qasim, 35-year-old Mirzai made it back to his native Parwan Province. And like Qasim, he has found it difficult to resettle.

"We don't have flour or wood to burn, we don't have anything to live on," Mirzai told Radio Azadi last week. "This house belongs to my brother. I don't have the money to build two rooms for me. There is no work. I'm sitting idle. I borrow money from friends and relatives."

Adding to the complications is that western Afghanistan is still reeling from multiple earthquakes in October that killed around 1,500 people and displaced tens of thousands of others, a situation that had already strained humanitarian aid efforts.

"Our fear for the longer term is that these people returning from Pakistan are going to end up living as internally displaced people across the country," Roby said. "There are already more than 6 million internally displaced people living in squalid temporary settlements through the country and few options available for sustainable solutions to their displacement."

Aid groups like the World Food Program, which is on the ground on both sides of the Pakistani-Afghan border alongside other UN agencies and NGOs, has said that more than $26.3 million in emergency funds is needed to support an expected 1 million new arrivals through the winter.

"These families arrive at the worst of times and face a bleak future in a country where one-third of people do not know where their next meal will come from," WFP Afghanistan Country Director Hsiao-Wei Lee said on December 1. "Leaving behind their homes and livelihoods, they return to start over in a country that gives them few economic opportunities and where many struggle to survive."

Afghan returnees who spoke to Radio Azadi are already considering their next moves, including to other countries. But with Pakistan -- which for decades has been a refuge for Afghans escaping war, political turmoil, and poverty -- out of the equation, there are no real options.

Some said they were even considering moving to Iran, which like Pakistan is currently embarking on an effort to deport over 2 million undocumented Afghans. Tehran has expelled hundreds of thousands of Afghans in recent months, according to Taliban officials.

The situation currently faced by millions of Afghan migrants has factored into the NRC's calls for the international community to work together "to ensure Afghans are not forced to leave hosting countries until it is safe and sustainable for them to return to Afghanistan."

In its joint statement on December 8, the UNHCR reiterated that its "non-return advisory for Afghanistan" put in place after the Taliban seized power in 2021 is still in effect, "and continues to call for a bar on the forced returns of Afghan nationals to a country still impacted by recurrent conflict, instability, and climate-induced disasters."

Afghans like Qasim who have already been forced into an Afghan homecoming are slowly coming to terms with their new reality, however.

"We have nothing to turn to but God," he told Radio Azadi. "No one has taken care of us yet."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-returnees- face-harsh-winter-of-discontent/32725956.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Female-Led Afghan Refugee Families Reluctant To Return To Afghanistan Amid Fresh UN Warning

By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi December 11, 2023

Afghan widows and divorced women who head their families and live in Pakistan say they are reluctant to return to Afghanistan because of fears of persecution by the country's Taliban rulers, who have enacted a series of measures severely restricting women's rights and freedoms.

The women are among the 1.7 million "undocumented foreigners" Islamabad is trying to expel. Since it first announced the deportations in October, nearly half a million Afghans have crossed into the war-ravaged country.

Speaking to RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, Afghan women who are the breadwinners for their families warned that returning to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan will endanger their lives.

"We will be eliminated if we return to Afghanistan," said Mehnaz Hijran, who served as a prison guard at Afghanistan's notorious Pul-e Charkhi prison.

Hijran says she left Afghanistan because of relentless threats after the collapse of the pro-Western Afghan republic she served.

"We know that death is the only fate that awaits former soldiers in Afghanistan," she told Radio Azadi.

"Most of the former women soldiers who returned to Afghanistan because of the Taliban's amnesty were either disappeared or killed," she added.

Another woman who requested anonymity says her husband, an airport guard, was killed by the Taliban during its takeover of the Afghan capital, Kabul, on August 15, 2021, as international troops withdrew from the country.

She says her family of four children is under relentless pressure from the Pakistani authorities.

"These days, we try to hide in one house or another because we fear a raid by the Pakistani police," she told Radio Azadi.

A woman who was recently deported to Afghanistan says they are trying to survive in hiding.

"We went into exile to protect our lives. But we have returned to uncertainty back in Afghanistan," she told Radio Azadi.

Compounding fears of what those being expelled by Pakistan face, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) warned of the extreme winter conditions and lack of facilities in Afghanistan.

"Many Afghan returnees are vulnerable, including women and children, who could lose their lives in a harsh winter if left without adequate shelter," the UNHCR said in a report released on December 8.

"People arriving at the border are exhausted and require urgent assistance as well as psychosocial support," the report added.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/women-afghan- refugees-pakistan/32725894.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Wider Europe Briefing: A Crucial Week In Brussels

By Rikard Jozwiak December 11, 2023

The Briefing: A Week Of Historic Decisions Or A Week Of Kicking The Can Down The Road?

What You Need To Know: This week is crunch time in Brussels. Starting already on December 11, EU foreign ministers meet to take stock of support for Ukraine and to consider more Russia sanctions. The following day, the bloc's Europe ministers gather and could -- if the stars are all aligned -- agree on a historic enlargement decision.

Most likely, though, nothing will be resolved before European leaders come to Brussels for their annual pre-Christmas summit on December 14-15. EU officials are already warning that as the agenda is so packed, the summit is likely to extend into the weekend. The key decision will be whether to give Moldova, Ukraine -- and possibly Bosnia-Herzegovina -- the green light to start EU accession talks.

But there are also other issues to tackle before the winter holidays: most urgently, a new proposed package of sanctions on Russia and financial support and arms deliveries for Ukraine. And at the center of all of these decisions -- which mostly means standing in the way of them -- is Hungary.

As always when it comes to the EU, a lot of knots can be untied with the help of money. This year might be no different. Even before the Brussels summit, the European Commission could approve the release of between 10 billion euros ($10.8 billion) and 13 billion euros ($14 billion) of funds for Hungary that previously have been blocked by Brussels due to concerns about the state of the country's rule of law.

Some Hungarian judicial reforms undertaken in recent weeks might be enough to see some of the cash flowing soon and thus soften any enlargement objections Budapest might have.

Most of the money, however, will be spread out over a seven-year period. While this is certainly a lot, there is still another 9 billion euros that remains frozen and Budapest won't be getting its hands on it anytime soon, unless the country undertakes various other reforms in areas such as academic freedom, LGBT rights, and migration.

Deep Background: Will cash alone be enough to convince Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to sign off on the next proposed steps regarding enlargement?

In previous years, getting the money was enough, as the Hungarians -- after earlier objections -- ended up agreeing to Russia sanctions or Kyiv's advancement toward the EU.

This time around, though, things could be a little different. The Hungarian economy is growing again after a couple of years of contraction. And several diplomats I have spoken to -- who have knowledge of the process but who aren't authorized to speak on the record -- said they think that Hungarian resistance is now more ideological and certainly more personal.

On the first point, Orban supposedly feels that the sand is shifting, both in the EU and across the Atlantic, with dwindling support for Ukraine. The winners of recent elections in the Netherlands and Slovakia both support stopping weapons deliveries to Ukraine. And in the United States, similar sentiments are on the rise among some Congressional Republicans.

Back in Europe, for over a year now, farmers in EU countries bordering Ukraine have voiced complaints about Ukrainian agricultural goods that are flooding the market. Now truckers -- notably but not only in Poland -- are blocking substantial parts of the Ukrainian border, unhappy that Ukrainian haulers are being allowed to undercut their prices within the European Union.

On the second point regarding Hungarian objections, that is a reference to Orban's supposed intense dislike of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who has criticized the Hungarian prime minister publicly on numerous occasions.

While Hungary is the only EU member state openly questioning whether the EU is ready to accept Ukraine in the future, there is plenty of grumbling in the background. Other members also share concerns about the potential folly of bringing Kyiv in too quickly. There are fears of a Russian response but also misgivings about the enormous political and financial upheaval further enlargement would entail, not to mention the redistribution of funds to accommodate relatively poor new members. It may well be that Orban, sensing he is not alone in his beliefs on enlargement, will push others to air their true feelings.

There is also talk of Orban wanting to prevent a second term for Ursula von der Leyen as the European Commission's president. (In the build-up to the June European Parliament elections, Orban vilified her in an anti-Brussels billboard campaign.) While the Hungarian prime minister can't veto the selection of the commission's president -- the 27 EU heads of state decide via qualified majority -- he is already positioning himself as the de facto leader of a Euroskeptic movement that is growing within the bloc.

Drilling Down

How Will The Enlargement Decision Play Out?

In its annual enlargement report in November, the European Commission recommended that Ukraine and Moldova start EU accession talks and Georgia become an official EU candidate country.

For Bosnia-Herzegovina, it's a little more complicated. According to the draft of this week's European Commission summit conclusions, seen by RFE/RL, "The Council [of the European Union] recommends that the European Council decides [to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved.]" This reflects the fact that Bosnia has made only limited progress, fulfilling just two out of the 14 conditions set by Brussels.

Take Georgia and Moldova out of the equation for a moment. Unanimity is needed for member wannabes to move to the next step, and my understanding, from talking to EU officials and diplomats of various European countries, is that everyone is generally OK with Tbilisi getting candidate status and Moldova moving one step ahead by opening accession talks. But those countries' EU statuses could be at risk if they become "collateral damage" in the debate over Ukraine. Most EU countries -- at least publicly -- want Ukraine to start accession talks as well. Hungary is the key exception. To complicate matters further, the Baltic trio of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have all countered that if Ukraine fails, then everyone fails.

So, who will blink first? In a December 4 letter from Orban to the European Council President Charles Michel, the Hungarian premier appears unyielding, noting that "the commission's recent proposal related to the accession process of Ukraine marks the end of the European Union's enlargement policy as an objective and merit-based instrument. The European Council is now called upon to endorse this proposal, without previously having the opportunity to discuss it." The letter concludes by saying, "I respectfully urge you not to invite the European Council to decide on these matters in December as the obvious lack of consensus would inevitably lead to failure. The European Council must avoid this counterproductive scenario for the sake of unity, our most important asset."

So, where does Bosnia fit into all of this? Well, instead of vetoing Ukraine's next step, Hungary might prefer to horse trade. Hungary -- along with Croatia and Slovenia and, most vigorously of all, Austria -- have lobbied for Bosnia to start accession negotiations. Their main argument is what they call "a balanced approach" -- meaning that if you go ahead with the eastern countries, you should also embrace the EU hopefuls in the Western Balkans.

On December 13, just before the main EU summit, there is an EU-Western Balkans meeting in Brussels. With no steps forward expected from any of the other countries in the region, Bosnia is the only one that could get something. And Brussels is desperate not to be seen as neglecting these countries yet again -- especially as extra funding for the Western Balkans to the tune of 6 billion euros ($6.45 billion), as proposed in November by the European Commission, is still far from being agreed by all member states.

In terms of meeting the EU's targets, Kyiv and Chisinau have managed substantially more than Sarajevo -- a difference that their supporters are keen to highlight. Hungary and Austria, however, would like Ukraine's and Moldova's candidacies to be linked to Bosnia. Yet, being linked is something Ukraine's supporters fear, especially wary that for Budapest it could just be a delay tactic. Just look at North Macedonia and Albania, which are interlinked on their respective EU paths. Right now, Skopje can't move forward because it's unable to get the necessary two-thirds majority in parliament to change the constitution to mention Bulgarians as a founding people of its nation -- a key Bulgarian demand. This has meant Albania has had to wait as well. Bosnia could very well slow down Ukraine's path and some EU diplomats think that this is exactly what Budapest wants.

To make things even more complicated, the Netherlands has been vocal in Brussels over the last few days about Bosnia not deserving to start accession talks at all and has expressed its readiness to veto any such move.

In its enlargement report a month ago, the European Commission did note that it would report back by March on any progress made on outstanding issues in Bosnia, Moldova, and Ukraine. While March isn't directly mentioned in the European Commission's draft summit conclusions seen by RFE/RL, it's possible that may change and that a March date could be used again to buy time and to allow the member states, if they can't agree in December, to keep kicking the can down the road.

What Else Is On The Table?

The EU's 12th Russia sanctions package is likely to get green-lighted in the coming days, largely because it is fairly weak and doesn't touch Russian energy. While Hungary has so far vetoed the entire package, there is an expectation in Brussels that -- after plenty of horse-trading -- its objections will be lifted. This round of sanctions will likely be the last for a while. The EU has run out of ideas and energy to produce more, and it is becoming increasingly hard to achieve unanimity on new measures.

is likely to get green-lighted in the coming days, largely because it is fairly weak and doesn't touch Russian energy. While Hungary has so far vetoed the entire package, there is an expectation in Brussels that -- after plenty of horse-trading -- its objections will be lifted. This round of sanctions will likely be the last for a while. The EU has run out of ideas and energy to produce more, and it is becoming increasingly hard to achieve unanimity on new measures. Something that almost certainly won't fly is common EU funding to arm Ukraine. So far that has been done via the European Peace Facility (EPF), an off-budget mechanism that the bloc has used to channel 4.6 billion euros ($4.95 billion) worth of military equipment to Kyiv. But the 8th tranche, worth 500 million euros ($540 million), has been blocked by Budapest since the summer. First, Hungary said that Kyiv needed to remove the Hungarian bank OTP from a blacklist produced by Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption, where it was labelled an "international sponsor of war" as it continues to do business in Russia. While Ukraine complied, Budapest now wants assurances from Kyiv that OTP won't be re-listed again -- another potential deadlock that might not be resolved anytime soon.

Then there is the question of topping up the EPF by 20 billion euros for the next three years. That is also unlikely to be approved, especially as the German Constitutional Court recently ruled that the country's use of special funds to finance various subsidies violated its constitutional "debt brake." This ruling will have an impact on other member states. Right now, the EU is in the middle of its seven-year budget cycle (2021-2027), and while many countries in the bloc would like to increase the budget to finance anything from the bloc's green transition to the functioning of the Ukrainian government, it will be trickier when the EU's biggest cash cow (Germany) has new legal restraints on how it uses its money and is cutting its own domestic budget. Going forward, arms to Ukraine from EU member states will most likely be funded on a bilateral basis.

What about other funds for Ukraine? Earlier this year, the European Commission proposed 50 billion euros ($53.9 billion) for Ukraine for the period 2024-2027. Hungary is -- unsurprisingly -- against this, and, with Germany's new constraints, there might have to be some creativity. Instead of taking money from the EU budget and battling constant Budapest vetoes, 26 EU governments could loan Ukraine money on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Among EU officials and diplomats from member states, there is perhaps more annoyance with Hungary than ever before. There isn't a mechanism to kick a member out of the EU; a country must leave voluntarily, as the United Kingdom did after its 2016 referendum. But there is a way to suspend a member states' voting rights in the Council on the European Union, which can amend or veto European Commission proposals, by using the so-called Article 7 procedure.

The European Commission and the European Parliament have invoked these articles against Poland and Hungary before, but they have never been approved because to pass they need unanimity and Budapest and Warsaw have always had each other's backs. But with an impending government change in Poland, the procedure might be dropped against Warsaw. Will Budapest then be cornered? Or can it rely on its old ally Slovakia, which could take a more Euroskeptic course with Prime Minister Robert Fico back in power.

Looking Ahead

On December 12, the European Commission is presenting its "Defense Of Democracy" legislative proposal. The commission has said the measures are mostly to make the 2024 European Parliament elections more transparent, but there has been criticism from civil society groups of the EU's "foreign agents' law," where organizations operating in the bloc will have to declare any links or funding coming from non-EU countries. Foreign agents' laws in countries such as Russia have been used to crack down on media and NGOs, and Brussels has been outspoken about "foreign agents'" initiatives in member states such as Hungary and aspiring members such as Bosnia and Georgia.

Also on December 12, the European Commission is set to present its long-awaited proposal for how the EU could use some of the money generated from the sale of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine financially. It is estimated that up to 300 billion euros have been frozen since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The question now is how much of that money can be used for grants to finance the rebuilding of Ukraine. An estimated 3 billion euros a year would be available, although eurozone countries fear that it would diminish the appetite for nonmember states to keep savings in the European Union.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/wider-europe- jozwiak-eu-enlargement-ukraine-hungary-orban-bosnia -moldova-georgia/32725360.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Donald Tusk to Be Sworn In as Polish Prime Minister on Wednesday

Sputnik News

20231211

WARSAW (Sputnik) - Polish President Andrzej Duda will swear in opposition leader Donald Tusk as the country's prime minister on December 13 after the incumbent government failed to secure the parliament's support, Polish Presidential Chancellery Chief Grazyna Ignaczak-Bandych said on Monday.

Earlier in the day, the Polish lower house, Sejm, voted no confidence in Mateusz Morawiecki's government in a 266-190 vote. The parliament nominated former President of the European Council Donald Tusk for prime minister shortly later.

"At the invitation of Polish President Andrzej Duda and Sejm's approval, a meeting with Prime Minister Donald Tusk took place. It has been decided that after receiving the vote of confidence, the new government will be sworn in on Wednesday at 9 a.m. [08:00 GMT] at the presidential palace," Ignaczak-Bandych wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Tusk is now to propose its own set of the cabinet. Once Tusk's government is sworn in, he will have two weeks to deliver a keynote speech to the parliament, which will then consider passing a vote of confidence or no confidence in him.

If Tusk receives a vote of no confidence as well, the Polish president will be entitled to choose a new candidate for prime minister himself.

In the parliamentary elections held in October, the PiS party, which until recently was Poland's ruling, won 194 seats in the 460-member Sejm and claimed victory.

Opposition parties, on the other hand, won over 50% of seats combined and made a coalition agreement, selecting Tusk as their candidate.

 Sputnik

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Polish Parliament Passes Vote of No Confidence in Morawiecki's Government

Sputnik News

20231211

WARSAW (Sputnik) - The lower house of Poland's parliament, the Sejm, on Monday passed a vote of no confidence in the government of Mateusz Morawiecki.

The result was expected as the right-wing Law and Justice party (PiS) did not manage to receive enough seats in the October 15 parliamentary elections. President Andrzej Duda will most likely swear in opposition leader Donald Tusk as the country's prime minister.

In the elections, the PiS party won 194 seats in the 460-member Sejm and claimed victory, while the opposition alliance of pro-European Union parties got 298 seats, and appointed Tusk as its leader.

 Sputnik

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Israeli Troops Shelled Lebanon With US-Supplied White Phosphorus - Report

Sputnik News

20231211

Andrei Dergalin

The IDF purportedly shelled Lebanon with the toxic shells procured from the US at least once last month.

Israeli Defense Force (IDF) troops firing across the border at targets in Lebanon is far from uncommon, especially amid the ongoing escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, a recent report has claimed that Tel Aviv had no qualms about using white phosphorus ordnance in such attacks in October.

According to the Washington Post, remnants of three 155mm artillery shells fired at the village of Dahaira in southern Lebanon not far from the Lebanese-Israeli border were found by one of their journalists.

The three white phosphorus shells were reportedly fired by Israeli forces at Dahaira on October 16 during an attack that was later dubbed as the "black night" by the locals and which resulted in at least nine people being injured and at least four residences getting "incinerated."

The attack involved Israeli artillery lobbing white phosphorus munitions at Dheira in the evening and throughout the night, with the newspaper questioning this move since "smoke would have little practical use at night and there were no Israeli troops on the Lebanese side of the border to mask with smokescreens."

The ordnance in question was apparently the M825 smoke rounds that are generally used to set smokescreens or to mark targets. The shells were produced and supplied to Israel by the United States, though it was not immediately clear whether they were provided to the Israeli forces before or after the Gaza Strip crisis began on October 7.

Though such shells do have "legitimate use on the battlefield," their contents can inflict "potentially fatal burns and respiratory damage," and their use "near civilian areas could be prohibited under international humanitarian law," the newspaper noted.

 Sputnik

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Some 85% of Population Now Internally Displaced in Gaza Strip - UNRWA

Sputnik News

20231211

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - About 1.9 million people have been forced to leave their homes in the Gaza Strip, amounting to approximately 85% of the enclave's population, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said.

"As of 10 December, according to UNRWA, almost 1.9 million people in Gaza, or nearly 85 per cent of the population, were estimated to be internally displaced," UNRWA said in a report on Sunday.

The enclave saw a significant increase in some communicable diseases due to the difficult conditions at UNRWA shelters, according to the report.

"Due to the overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions at UNRWA shelters in the south, there have been significant increases in some communicable diseases and conditions such as diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, skin infections and hygiene-related conditions like lice," the report read.

On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing over 1,200 people and abducting some 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Thousands of people have reportedly been killed so far in Gaza as a result of the conflict.

On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The truce was extended several times and expired on December 1. Hamas is still holding over 100 people hostage. Israel moved its ground operation into the southern Gaza Strip.

 Sputnik

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China Rebuffs Philippines After Ship Collision in South China Sea

Sputnik News

20231211

Chinese media blamed the United States for "fueling the Philippines' audacity of provocations."

China's coast guard reprimanded the Philippines after a collision between Chinese and Philippine ships in the South China Sea.

The incident occurred Sunday with China accusing the Philippine ship of "intentionally ramming" their vessel as it transported supplies to a grounded warship the Philippines maintains on a reef to preserve their claim in the territory.

"Starting this year, the Philippines no longer informs the Chinese side and started to send building materials in an obvious attempt to repair its deteriorating warship and build some permanent facilities like generators, living quarters and even military fortifications," read a statement from analyst Chen Xiangmiao in the Chinese media.

Additionally, China blamed the United States for encouraging the "provocation" by the Philippines; the USS Gabrielle Giffords warship passed through waters near the reef last week.

The US claims a desire to ensure the South China Sea, which facilitates more than $3 trillion in commercial activity, remains open to global trade but hasn't explained how sending warships to the region accomplishes that.

China has previously blamed the United States for generating tensions in Taiwan and the South China Sea, once rhetorically asking if the Asian power should send their combat ships to the Gulf of Mexico as a "show of strength."

The attempt to balkanize China by backing Taiwan as a separate entity reflects the strategy used by the United States after socialist revolutions also prevailed in Korea and Vietnam.

Recently, the United States sent drone ships near China for the first time amidst a strengthening of forces in the Pacific Ocean. Recent military spending in the United States has highlighted China as an "unprecedented threat" as the Asian country solidifies its status as the world's largest economic power by purchasing power parity.

 Sputnik

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FACT SHEET: U.S. Department of the Treasury Actions to Prevent and Disrupt Corruption

U.S. Department of the Treasury

December 11, 2023

WASHINGTON  Since the release of the U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption two years ago, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has redoubled its efforts to address the illicit finance and national security threats posed by corruption. Among its many corrosive effects, corruption siphons essential resources away from communities, weakens democracy and governance, erodes economic development, disadvantages law-abiding citizens and businesses, and exacerbates challenges like crime and migration. In recognition of International Anti-Corruption Day, Treasury is highlighting its recent and ongoing efforts to address this urgent challenge.

PREVENTING THE LAUNDERING OF CORRUPT PROCEEDS

Core to Treasury's mission is safeguarding the integrity of the U.S. financial system, including from corruption and other illicit finance threats. Corrupt actors continue to exploit vulnerabilities in the U.S. financial systems to hide, launder, store, and move illicit proceeds. In line with the U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption, Treasury has enhanced its efforts over the past two years to address these vulnerabilities.

Enhancing Corporate Transparency

The Department has prioritized efforts to implement the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) to prevent corrupt and other actors from laundering illicit funds through anonymous companies in the United States. This effort will equip law enforcement and other partners with the information they need to disrupt financial anonymity that enables crimes such as corruption, drug trafficking, and terrorism. As Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen has noted, "Unmasking shell corporations is the single most significant thing we can do to make our financial system inhospitable to corrupt actors."

Enacted by Congress in 2021, the CTA requires many companies formed or operating in the United States to report information about their beneficial owners to Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), which will store this sensitive information in a secure, confidential database.

In September 2022, FinCEN issued the final beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting rule, which describes who must file a BOI report, what information must be reported, and when a report is due. Starting on January 1, 2024, many domestic and foreign companies doing business in the United States will be required to report their BOI to FinCEN, marking a major milestone in the United States' efforts to combat corruption and strengthen its anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime.

Treasury is also working to finalize a rule in the near term to establish parameters around access to and protection of BOI, in line with the requirements laid out in statute.

FinCEN is engaging in a comprehensive outreach and education campaign to establish awareness and simplify reporting requirements. These efforts include continually issuing guidance available at www.fincen.gov/boi, multimedia resources, webinars and events, and a widespread public awareness campaign incorporating key stakeholder engagement. The campaign will continue into 2024 and beyond as FinCEN looks to drive compliance and educate key stakeholders.

Safeguarding the Residential Real Estate Sector

Treasury has advanced its efforts to prevent corrupt and other illicit actors from misusing anonymous, non-financed (i.e., all-cash) purchases of residential real estate to launder or hide the proceeds of crime. Since 2016, FinCEN has leveraged its Residential Real Estate Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) program to collect information about certain residential real estate transactions in the United States. In December 2021, Treasury issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) to solicit public feedback on how to address the risks associated with this sector. Building on this information and public feedback, Treasury aims to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in early 2024 that will be an important step toward bringing greater transparency to this sector.

Treasury is also considering next steps with regard to addressing the illicit finance risks associated with the U.S. commercial real estate sector.

Addressing Risks in the Investment Adviser Sector

Treasury is working to address the risks associated with investment advisers. Investment advisers are not subject to consistent or comprehensive AML/CFT obligations in the United States, creating the risk that corrupt officials and other illicit actors may invest ill-gotten gains in the U.S. financial system through hedge funds, private equity firms, and other investment services. In line with the U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption, Treasury is re-examining the 2015 NPRM regarding this sector, and aims to issue in the first quarter of 2024 an updated NPRM that would propose applying AML/CFT requirements pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, including suspicious activity reporting obligations, to certain investment advisers.

Bolstering Private Sector Efforts to Combat Corruption

Treasury has prioritized efforts to help financial institutions and the private sector better identify, disrupt, and report financial activity relating to corruption and kleptocracy, especially involving Russian elites, oligarchs, and their proxies. Over the past two years, FinCEN has published extensive guidance, advisories, alerts, and analysis to strengthen these private sector efforts. These materials provide financial institutions with typologies and potential indicators to help them identify and address suspicious transactions. Notable FinCEN publications include:

HOLDING CORRUPT ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE

Financial Sanctions

Treasury continues to use its financial sanctions authorities to hold accountable those involved in corruption and related issues. Since the release of the U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption, Treasury has designated more than 300 individuals and entities for these issues across more than 30 countries, leveraging more than a dozen different sanctions authorities.

These designations have targeted corrupt activity relating to, among other issues, bribery, extortion, abuse of office, and the misuse of public funds for private gain. More than 40% of these designations have also related to kleptocracy issues. Treasury has also targeted instances of corruption linked to the activities of transnational criminal organizations and terrorist groups.

In the coming year, the Treasury Department will prioritizeamong other targetsthe designation of financial facilitators and private enablers of public corruption, including through Global Magnitsky sanctions.

Combatting Russian Corruption, Kleptocracy, and Malign Influence

In response to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Treasury Department has taken considerable steps to disrupt Russian corruption, kleptocracy, and illicit finance. This work includes efforts Treasury has taken with the multilateral Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) Task Force, private sector stakeholders, and other international partners to identify and freeze assets linked to Russian corruption.

As of March 2023, REPO Task Force members had blocked or frozen more than $58 billion worth of sanctioned Russians' assets in financial accounts and economic resources; seized or frozen luxury real estate and other luxury assets owned, held, or controlled by sanctioned Russians; and seized, frozen, or detained yachts and other vessels owned, held, or controlled by sanctioned Russians, and conducted asset tracing activities to identify, locate, freeze, and seize yachts, aircraft, and other property located around the globe. REPO members have also taken steps to collectively investigate and counter Russian sanctions evasion, including attempts to hide or obfuscate assets, illicit cryptocurrency and money laundering schemes, illicit Russian defense procurement, and sanctioned Russians' use of financial facilitators.

STRENGTHENING GLOBAL ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS

Enhancing International Standards to Combat Illicit Finance

Treasury continues to work at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to enhance international standards relating to countering corruption, money laundering, and illicit finance. Over the past two years, Treasury has contributed to the FATF's efforts to revise international standards on the transparency and beneficial ownership of legal persons and legal arrangements to prevent and mitigate the misuse of corporate structures, trusts, and other mechanisms for criminal purposes. Likewise, Treasury, in partnership with the Department of Justice, has supported the FATF's revisions to the international standards on asset recovery to improve the recovery of criminal and corrupt proceeds.

In April 2022, Secretary Yellen, in cooperation with other FATF Ministers, encouraged the FATF to enhance its focus on countering corruption, including by undertaking three projects aimed at bolstering global anti-corruption efforts. First, the FATF completed a study that assessed corrupt and criminal actors' misuse of Citizenship- and Residency-by-Investment programs, often known as "golden passports," to hide their illicit activities through new identity documents. Second, the FATF developed a technical assessment tool to better evaluate countries' efforts to implement the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). Third, the FATF is evaluating members' compliance with the international standards relating to certain designated non-financial businesses and professions, such as accountants and lawyers, whose function as gatekeepers to the financial system make them vulnerable to facilitating corruption.

Elevating Foreign Engagement on Anti-Corruption

Over the past two years, the Treasury Department has increased its focus on corruption issues in bilateral and regional engagements. Treasury has helped foreign countries identify and address deficiencies in their AML/CFT regimes, shared information pertaining to corruption typologies and trends, promoted awareness of the risks posed by these issues, and bolstered cooperation on joint anti-corruption investigations and enforcement actions. These issues have featured in engagements with dozens of countries over the past two years.

Treasury has also centered anti-corruption issues in regional engagements with foreign governments and the private sector. For example, corruption issues have been a focus of several regional dialogues that Treasury has hosted with foreign governments and financial institutions, including in Europe, Central America, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Caribbean.

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The DRC must assume MONUSCO's responsibilities to protect civilians: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on the DRC.

11 December 2023

Thank you, President. Let me begin by thanking SRSG Keita and Ms Lusamba for briefing us today. I welcome the participation of the representatives of the DRC and Rwanda at this meeting. President, the United Kingdom reiterates its full support for the work carried out by MONUSCO and SRSG Keita in challenging circumstances. I would like to make three points in response to what we have heard today.

First, the UK commends the Government of the DRC and MONUSCO for their collaboration on the Force disengagement plan, which includes, where appropriate, the transfer of tasks to the UN Country Team and other international partners. We welcome the Government's commitment to a gradual, responsive, responsible and sustainable withdrawal process.

Second, with the departure of MONUSCO, the DRC must assume its responsibilities to protect the civilian population. We urge the Government to step up preparations in this regard, and we encourage MONUSCO to continue its capacity-building efforts with the government to ensure a smooth transition. Intensifying violence, changing movements of regional forces on the ground, soaring numbers of victims of conflict-related sexual violence, particularly in IDP camps in eastern DRC, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation highlight the urgency of getting this process right.

Third, we continue to urge restraint and dialogue from all parties given the very real risk of miscalculation and the horrendous cost of further escalation. In particular, we urge all parties to recommit to the Nairobi and Luanda regional peacebuilding processes which are the best roadmaps towards a peaceful DRC. We commend the contribution of the East African Community and the East African Community Regional Force.

Dialogue, not violence, is the way to achieve lasting peace. We urge all parties and countries in the region to fulfil commitments to revitalise these political processes and deliver tangible action to address shared security challenges, improve humanitarian access and reduce violence.

Finally, President, we look forward to peaceful, credible and inclusive elections on 20 December, which will provide a chance to anchor democracy in the DRC. The UK looks forward to working with the new Government.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

11 December 2023

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

All right, good afternoon.

** Secretary-General's Travel

This morning, the Secretary-General, who is in Dubai, at the COP [Conference of Parties], spoke to your colleagues. He said that while the conference is scheduled to wrap up tomorrow, there are still large gaps that need to be bridged.

"Now is the time for maximum ambition and maximum flexibility," he said, urging ministers, urging negotiators to move beyond arbitrary red lines, entrenched positions and blocking tactics.

"It is time to seek compromise for solutions  without compromising on the science or compromising on the need for the highest ambition," he said. His remarks were shared with you.

And today he has also been meeting with various delegations, regional groups and members of civil society. And you will have seen that yesterday he spoke at the Doha Forum, where he said we need a serious effort to bring global structures up to date, rooted in equality and solidarity and based on UN Charter and international law.

He added that the Security Council is paralysed by geostrategic divisions which undermine its authority and credibility.

The Secretary-General noted that even though the Council failed to declare a ceasefire in Gaza last week, this is still necessary  and he promised that he would not give up in his efforts.

** Gaza

On Gaza, also Martin Griffiths, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, said today at the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview in Doha that the situation in Gaza is bad and getting worse, while adding that the truce that was achieved last week was of great importance.

He said that the efforts by humanitarian workers will be all the more important during the military operations happening in southern Gaza now.

By last night, 100 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies had entered from Egypt into Gaza, the same volume as in most days since the resumption of hostilities on 1 December. This is well below the daily average of about 500 truckloads, including fuel and, of course, humanitarian and commercial, with the vast majority being commercial, that entered every working day prior to 7 October.

Over the weekend, a daily average of 150,000 litres of fuel entered from Egypt, up from a daily average of 67,000 litres in the previous three days.

The increased amounts are the bare minimum needed to prevent the collapse of critical services, including hospitals and ambulances, water and sanitation infrastructures and shelters for internally displaced people. Additionally, on Sunday, nearly 45 tons of commercial cooking gas also entered from Egypt, the first such delivery since the resumption of hostilities.

Multiple health facilities and personnel were attacked across the Gaza Strip over the weekend. They include Al-Yemen Al-Saeed Hospital and Al Awda Hospital in Jabalia camp.

Also, I just want to flag that in a statement yesterday on the International Human Rights Day, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lynn Hastings, stressed that human rights have been under assault in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. She said that violations perpetrated on both populations will bring neither peace nor security, as she reiterated the call for a humanitarian ceasefire.

** Lebanon

Moving north to the Blue Line, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, our peacekeeping force  UNIFIL  said that it is actively working to de-escalate tensions, restore stability and protect civilians.

The peacekeepers there are telling us there were intense exchanges of fire across the Blue Line over the weekend and, therefore, are calling again on all concerned to cease hostilities and avoid further escalation.

According to the peacekeepers, residential housing was damaged, and civilians were reported to have been injured in southern Lebanon over the weekend. There are also reports of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) personnel injured in northern Israel during the exchanges of fire.

On Saturday, UNIFIL reported that a watchtower inside one of its positions in the proximity of Ibel Qameh in southern Lebanon was hit by shelling, causing damage to the structure. Fortunately, no peacekeepers were injured. The origin of that shelling is under investigation.

** Sudan

Turning to Sudan. I can tell you that the Secretary-General is horrified by an attack in the country yesterday on a convoy of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which was trying to evacuate more than 100 civilians from Khartoum to Wad Madani, which is located to the south of the capital.

The Secretary-General extends his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a swift recovery to those who were injured.

The Secretary-General stresses that the protection of all civilians is paramount and that humanitarian workers must never be a target.

Just to note that the humanitarian convoy, including three ICRC vehicles and three buses, was due to evacuate the civilians from Khartoum when it came under attack upon entering the evacuation area.

** Convention against Corruption

In a video message for the tenth session of the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption, which took place today in Atlanta, Georgia, the Secretary-General notes that corruption not only robs resources, but it also robs people of hope.

Corruption undermines development, subverts social cohesion and aggravates inequalities and fuels distrust in institutions.

Mr. [Antonio] Guterres called on all Parties to use the opportunity to strengthen international cooperation to prevent, detect and prosecute corruption  in partnership with civil society and the private sector.

** Security Council

This morning, the Security Council was briefed by Bintou Keita, the Head of our Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). She said that we are at an important turning point in relations between the UN and the DRC, but, she added, with nine days to go before presidential elections, this is also an important moment for the country itself.

We have shared with you Ms. Keita's remarks, and she will be speaking to you at the Security Council stakeout at the end of consultations.

And this afternoon, at 3:00 p.m., Council members will reconvene to hold a meeting on threats to international peace and security. The Deputy High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Adedeji Ebo, is expected to brief Council members.

** Mali

Earlier today in Bamako, in Mali, our peacekeeping colleagues held a ceremony to mark the conclusion of MINUSMA, the Peacekeeping Mission in Mali, following our UN Peacekeeping Mission's 10 years of service to the people of Mali.

Speaking at the event, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the Mission, El Ghassim Wane, thanked the thousands of peacekeepers, past and present, who have served with courage and commitment. He expressed gratitude for the international support provided throughout the lifespan of the Mission  including the many operational partners as well as Member States who contributed troops and police over the years.

While acknowledging the obstacles faced by the Mission and its limitations, Mr. Wane highlighted some of its successes, including supporting the 2015 Peace and Reconciliation Agreement and ensuring respect for the ceasefire and also underscored peacekeepers' role in protecting civilians from violent extremist groups throughout the northern part of the country.

He also mentioned the Mission's work to facilitate the return of State authority in central Mali by rehabilitating infrastructure to provide basic services and livelihoods for communities as well as support to build the capacity of national security forces.

The Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, Atul Khare, was at the ceremony and is currently in Mali. He thanked the Malian people for their support. He also paid tribute to the 311 peacekeeping personnel who gave their lives in the cause of peace, including 174 of those who died in hostile acts.

Meanwhile, MINUSMA has now closed 10 bases, including its Mopti camp, which was transferred to Malian authorities on Friday. Overall, 10,754 peacekeeping personnel out of 13,871 have now departed Mali, and the remainder will leave by the end of December, except for those involved in the liquidation process, which will begin in 2024, on the first day of the year, 1 January.

** South Sudan

A quick update across the continent from South Sudan, where the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that more than half of the country's population is going hungry, and an estimated 1.6 million children are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition through June of next year.

The Office says that this year's humanitarian appeal to help 7.4 million people is just half funded, with about $1 billion received to date. Meanwhile, humanitarians have been forced to halve rations and reduce support due to the funding cuts.

In a joint statement, the UN Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator, Reena Ghelani, and the acting Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Marie-Helene Verney, said the world cannot turn a blind eye to the extreme levels of food insecurity and malnutrition we're now seeing in South Sudan.

** West Africa and the Sahel

Over the weekend, the head of our Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Santos Simao, concluded a working visit to Abuja, in Nigeria. He took part in yesterday's Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States]. In his remarks, Mr. Simao stressed the importance of continued dialogue and engagement with transition countries for a return to constitutional order. More information on the interweb.

** Global Humanitarian Overview

Also, this morning, on behalf of 1,900 humanitarian organizations, we released its global humanitarian appeal for 2024  calling for more than $46 billion to help more than 180 million people worldwide with life-saving assistance and protection. Events marking the release of the Global Humanitarian Overview were held in Doha, were held in Geneva and Addis Ababa.

The Secretary-General sent a pre-recorded video message. He said that 2023 saw human suffering on an epic and heart-breaking scale. But, he added, the women and men of the humanitarian community are staying and delivering in some of the world's most dangerous places. This year, they overcame enormous barriers to reach 128 million people with food, shelter, medicine, sanitation services and protection.

And, he said, they did so with a fraction of the support they need  just one third of the $57 billion we had required. This, the Secretary-General said, represents the worst funding shortfall for humanitarian operations in years, and he called on donors to turn the tide.

Speaking in Doha, Martin Griffiths called on donors to dig deeper, citing a "severe and ominous funding crisis". About 300 million people around the world still need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2024  as armed conflicts, the climate emergency and collapsing economies continue to drive hunger, displacement and disease.

** Guatemala

And over the weekend, you saw we issued a statement expressing the Secretary-General's alarm at recent developments in Guatemala, where the Public Prosecutor's Office has taken steps to annul the general elections, which had been certified by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal at the end of August. Mr. Guterres reiterates his call for the respect of the will ofthe Guatemalan voters and for a smooth transition of power next month. He trusts that the results of the election as certified by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal will be respected.

** Human Rights

And earlier today in Geneva, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, opened a high-level event commemorating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

After a moment of silence in honour of the victims of human rights violations all over the world, Mr. Turk said that the event was a call to hope and a call to action. A call to overcome polarization at a time of so little solidarity and so much divisive and short-sighted vision. And a call to work together, with courage and principles, to resolve the huge challenges we face, he added. The event continues tomorrow and can be followed online.

** Briefings

And a programming note: Tomorrow, at 9 a.m., the Somalia Security Conference will kick off in Conference Room 2. Following the event, at around 4 p.m., in this very room, the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, will hold a hybrid press briefing.

** Mountain Day

We don't have money today, but I thought I would still give you a quiz. Today is a very important international day. If I said to you Sound of Music, what day do you think it is? [...] Exactly, it is [International Mountain Day]. And you are lucky; I am not going to sing "Climb Ev'ry Mountain". Edie, I really, really wanted to. Yeah.

** Questions and Answers

Question : Steph, with both the Secretary-General and Martin Griffiths in Doha, can you tell us what they're doing in regard to improving humanitarian aid to Gaza? Are they planning to travel elsewhere in the region, including possibly to Israel?

Spokesman : Well, for the Secretary-General, no. There's no further travel plans. He was in Doha on Sunday, and he got to Dubai late Sunday night. So, he was just there... got there Saturday night, left Sunday night. Mr. Griffiths, I'm not aware of any travel plans for him, but I will, we will check for you.

Question : Are either of them trying to spur greater humanitarian aid and access?

Spokesman : That's what we're all trying to do, right? And that's what Mr. Griffiths is trying to do. Philippe Lazzarini, the Head of UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency), Cindy McCain, Head of WFP (World Food Programme), and others, we're all pushing in that same direction.

Question : And on a completely different topic, the lawyers for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and other human rights activists have expressed concern that nobody knows his whereabouts. He's apparently been taken from the prison he's been in. Does the Secretary-General have any concern?

Spokesman : We've just seen the press reports a few minutes ago. Obviously, we'll be looking into these reports, and I hope his whereabouts can be clarified. Amelie, then Dezhi.

Question : Thanks, Steph. On Gaza, after the failure of the Security Council on Friday, the General Assembly is taking over tomorrow  probably voting on the kind of the same text that was rejected on Friday, calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. So, how does the Secretary-General feel? I mean, is it enough to compensate the failure of the Security Council?

Spokesman : The short answer is that different legislative bodies in this organization have different responsibilities on certain issues. The Security Council is at the heart of our work in peace and security, and I think the Secretary-General expressed his opinion about what happened very clearly in Doha. The General Assembly, of course, has much broader representation. So, I think messages from them are also very important. Dezhi?

Question : Let me first start with a question with the SG's trip in Doha. Any updates on any negotiations with the hostage release?

Spokesman : I mean, I think updates are only, would become apparent when the hostages are released, and we continue to work and call for their immediate and unconditional release.

Question : We saw the Secretary-General's reaction on the draft resolution being vetoed in the Security Council. How much disappointment does, can you describe for the Secretary-General on this veto by one country in the Security Council?

Spokesman : I mean, I would just, I really, I'm not going to expand more on what he said, and I encourage you to look at, you know, you look at the video, as well. I think his feelings are fairly clear.

Question : Do you think that 13, I think 13 members of the Security Council ambassadors, they were now in... they are now in Rafah Crossing. Does that compensate what happened on Friday? And what do you think this, this can make a difference on the humanitarian situation?

Spokesman : Listen, I think every effort can hopefully make a difference, and it's good that people are trying. I would add that, that the trip by a number of delegations is not one organized by the Secretariat, as far as I gather. But, you know, what happens in the Security Council Chamber, around that horseshoe, decisions taken  that's what matters.

Question : But what, what does it, what does the Security-General feel that the country that vetoed the draft resolution is not presenting in Rafah Border Crossing?

Spokesman : It's not for me to comment where the US... A, I don't know who exactly is on that delegation. It's not for me to provide colour commentary on which Member States and their diplomats wherever around the world. Celhia, then Ms. Saloomey, then Yvonne, then Serife.

Question : Thank you, Steph. This morning, I heard... I don't know if it's true, that some of the Permanent Representatives have been invited to Gaza. Do you know if it's true? And if it's true, who was part of the trip?

Spokesman : I do not speak...

Correspondent : Invited by an Arab country.

Spokesman : No. I do not speak for any permanent representative. I don't, what I'm saying... I think my answer to Dezhi is that United Nations is not, the Secretariat is not involved in organizing the travels that we've seen in the media of some delegations to Rafah.

Question : No, but do you know if it's true?

Spokesman : There are a lot of things that may be true. I'm not a fact-checker for delegations. Ms. Saloomey, then Ms. Murray.

Question : One Gaza, one Afghanistan. On Gaza, I didn't hear an update on Kerem Shalom last week. We were under the impression that that was going to be open, that Israel had approved opening Kerem Shalom? What's going...?

Spokesman : It opens up as an inspection point, not as a transit point. Where we are, what we want to see is, what we want to see, which would make work easier, in the sense  I mean, easier is probably not the right word, but would make everybody's effort more efficient  is to have Kerem Shalom as an actual point of entry into Gaza.

Question : And so that hasn't happened? Have you given up on it?

Spokesman : It's not a point of entry.

Question : Right, okay. And on Afghanistan, any comment from... there was an Arria meeting held at a mission on the situation for women. This all seems very behind closed doors. I don't think there's been a briefing on the assessment on the situation of when in Afghanistan...

Spokesman : There was an Arria-formula briefing. It's now... the Secretary-General's special coordinator, independent, provided the report. It is now up to Security Council to decide what to do next.

Question : Does the... would the Secretary-General like to see an open briefing on this to bring the issue into light? I mean, as opposed to behind closed doors.

Spokesman : I think we have done a lot on bringing this issue to light, and, I think, the more transparency, the better. But obviously, the Council, as always, is the master of its own fate. Serife. Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Yeah. At least I recognized your Gaelic heritage.

Question : Sorry. So, so, yeah, just a couple of questions. The last week you described the implication of Article 99 as a dramatic constitutional move, but it failed, didn't it? So where does the Secretary-General go from here? Are there further dramatic constitutional moves he could pull?

Spokesman : The Charter is pretty clear. So, he will continue his efforts. I think the result of the Council meeting was very clear for all to see. He will continue to advocate what he's been advocating for.

Question : But the Secretary-General would have known that this would have been the outcome. I mean, he's not...?

Spokesman : Listen, I don't think anyone can, one could predict or think of what the outcome of a vote will be. No one knows where the actual numbers are until the end.

Question : All right. And then comment, please, on COP28, the EU delegation under Eamon Ryan, the Irish minister, suggesting now that they're going to walk away if the draft text is not changed by the end of today. Could the Secretary-General comment on where we are with that?

Spokesman : I think the Secretary-General commented this morning, right? He laid out his call for flexibility, for maximum ambition, for avoiding red lines, for avoiding blocking tactics, for pushing for the transition, for phasing out of fossil fuels in an equitable manner. I think his position is staked out. I think we will leave it to you to do the compare and contrast with the draft that has come out. But I think one could argue that sometimes the Secretary-General may not be as clear as you would like him to be on a number of issues; I think, on climate and where he wants Member States to go, he has been very clear.

Question : One last question before you move on, please. I keep asking you this, but I don't get an answer about the UN investigation into the death of the Irish peacekeeper, Sean Rooney; his anniversary is coming up in a few days. Could I please see the findings of the UN investigation?

Spokesman : As soon as I have something to share with you, I will. Serife?

Question : Thank you, Steph. The Washington Post reported today that Israel used US-supplied white phosphorus in Lebanon on 16 October and, actually, Anadolu's images were used by Amnesty International to document Israel's use of white phosphorus in Gaza as well. And the US National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, also said that they have seen the reports, and certainly we are concerned about that. What is your reaction to these? Thank you.

Spokesman : We don't have, I don't have any hard information to confirm that. We're obviously very concerned about any use of these types of incendiary munitions, especially in populated areas. But we will see if I have anything more to share with you on that. [He later added that white phosphorus can cause atrocious burn injuries, even when it is not specifically used as a weapon. Under international humanitarian law, a party must take constant care to spare civilians in any military operation.] Okay. Frank?

Question : I have a question about Lynn Hastings, her visa being cancelled by the Israeli ambassador. Does that mean that she cannot travel there past the end of December? And is there any kind of explanation that they have given you?

Spokesman : Her visa  let's be clear, her visa was not renewed. It wasn't cancelled. It was not renewed. We'd asked for it to be renewed. We obviously stated our disappointment very clearly, and I said  I think I went into that last week very clearly  she will be leaving the country in the next few days. We don't... you know, if a visa is expired for any UN official anywhere, then that person leaves. That's just the way we operate. But it is very disappointing indeed that someone who has done such great work is not able to continue.

Question : Well, I understand that the Secretary-General expressed his support for her, but will there be somebody named as her replacement?

Spokesman : Yeah, I mean, there will be an acting humanitarian coordinator as soon as she no longer fills... she fulfils her function, and then she will, someone will succeed her in due time. I don't have my phone with me. So, if anybody on the screen wants to ask a question, wave. Okay. Abdelhamid and then Jordan.

Question : Thank you, Steph, my question was asked by Ms. Serife. So, my second question, the SG said that Gaza is a graveyard of children. Would he now revise his statement and say...?

Spokesman : Sorry, Abdelhamid, if you could just disconnect and reconnect, because I can barely hear you. There's a lot of friction. Let me go to Jordan, and I will come back to you. It's just a problem with your microphone. Okay. Jordan?

Question : I have two questions. One on the team composed by the SG on artificial intelligence. Does anyone of the team have military experience, if you know?

Spokesman : What I know is that their names are fully, their names were made public, their biography, so you could look for yourself. I don't know, and I'm not sure what, what you mean by military experience; if people have done military service or if I... just look at their biographies. Your second question?

Question : Because what we received from you is the name of their, and their title in their national countries, but there is no CVs for them, and what I mean by "military experience"...?

Spokesman : Jordan, hold on. Jordan, hold on. Abdelhamid, I need you to mute yourself because I... it's disturbing everything. Thank you. Go ahead, Jordan. We'll see if we can get you biographies, but just about everything is on the interweb. Yes?

Question : Yeah. I meant by "military experience" that if someone was actually working in the military to be able... So, if, for example, the United Nations is being asked to help identify or to clarify some videos during wartime before, then they will have experience to...

Spokesman : No. The nature of the board is an advisory board to come up with a report on the issues related to artificial intelligence. They're not there to provide verification for us in different cases.

Question : My second question, if I may, is about Ms. Lynn Hastings. If she is the Resident Coordinator for the State of Palestine, why do you need a visa from Israelis? Not, not from, for example, the Palestinian?

Spokesman : She's... her title is the Resident Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Question : What that means?

Spokesman : That's what it means.

Correspondent : Okay, so yes.

Spokesman : Go ahead.

Question : Stephane, please, listen to me. Just give me one just clarification. Can she, for example, work from other countries?

Spokesman : She will not be working remotely. She will... there will be an interim humanitarian coordinator and resident coordinator once she leaves, and then she will be succeeded.

Question : So, in case if, if because she's in the occupied territory, then the visa has to be issued by the occupying power. That's what you mean, right?

Spokesman : What I mean is what I've said. I think we'll leave it at that. Abdelhamid, let's give it one more try.

Question : Yes. Can you hear me now?

Spokesman : No. No. No. Okay. All right. Let's... just if you could mute yourself, please. Thank you. Edie?

Question : Yes. Thank you, Steph. Did you get an answer to my query from last week on whether the artificial intelligence panel's report is going just to the Secretary-General, whether it's going to be made public?

Spokesman : It will be public. It's going to go to the SG, I think, towards the end of December, and then it will be made public mid-January. Dezhi?

Question : Yes. In the beginning of this conflict, I remembered that one of the Reuters cameramen was killed in Lebanon. Now both Reuters and CNN conducted their own investigations, suggesting that Israeli military operation actually was responsible for the death of that cameraman.

Spokesman : Well, I understand from the press reports that the Israeli authorities said they're continuing to investigate. I think it is critical that there be a full investigation and there'd be accountability for the death of one of your colleagues.

Question : Now seems the investigation is finished, isn't it?

Spokesman : That's, that's what I know. We'll see if I can get any more. Okay. Thank you.

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Gaza humanitarian crisis deepens as fighting rages on across the Strip

11 December 2023 - UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths reiterated deep concerns for the people of Gaza on Monday, amid reports of intense fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza City and Jabalia in the north of the Strip, and in Khan Younis in the south, while Israeli bombardment of the enclave has continued.

Speaking in Doha at the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview, Mr. Griffiths said that the situation was "getting worse", while efforts to secure "moments of peace" remained of the "greatest importance".

According to the latest update on the emergency from UN relief coordination office (OCHA), tens of thousands of people "in desperate need of food, water, shelter, health and protection" who recently fled to Rafah in the south, had waited for hours around aid distribution centres.

OCHA's latest update on the violence - which began on 7 October after Hamas militants rampaged through communities in southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 240 hostage, prompting reprisal bombardment - also indicated that the lack of adequate sanitation had led to "widespread" open-air defecation, increasing fears of disease spread.

According to the Gazan health authorities, about 18,000 people have now been killed in Gaza since the fighting began; about 70 per cent are said to be women and children; and more than 49,000 people are reportedly injured.

'Creative diplomacy' needed

Mr. Griffiths thanked Qatar for its "creative diplomacy" as part of efforts to "bring moments of peace" to the embattled enclave.

He stressed that "the intensification of the military operation that we have been hearing about in the south of Gaza and the threats to neighbouring countries" make those efforts "all the more important".

Still, there seemed to be no end in sight to the hostilities triggered by Hamas' deadly terror attacks in Israel, where "the killings, sexual violence and kidnappings by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on 7 October traumatized an entire nation" according to a statement on Sunday from the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lynn Hastings.

Israel's retaliation for the attacks has led to a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza where some 1.9 million people, the vast majority of the population, have been displaced, aid operations are severely impeded by the fighting and only a bare minimum of fuel and relief items have been coming in.

Aid operations compromised

OCHA reiterated that the UN's ability to receive incoming aid had been "significantly impaired over the past few days", due to a shortage of trucks within Gaza, telecommunications blackouts and aid workers being prevented by the fighting from getting to the Rafah crossing through which a trickle of relief items is entering from Egypt.

Over the weekend 150,000 litres of fuel per day on average entered from Egypt, OCHA said. This is higher than the previous daily average of 67,000 litres but still represented "the bare minimum needed to prevent the collapse of critical services" including hospitals and ambulances, water and sanitation as well as shelters for the displaced.

Sunday also saw the arrival of some 45 tonnes of cooking gas from Egypt, "the first such delivery since the resumption of hostilities" after a seven-day ceasefire ended on 1 December, OCHA said.

Ms. Hastings, the top UN aid official for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said on Sunday that "Israel has the obligation as the occupying power to ensure that sufficient hygiene and public health standards as well as the provision of food and medical care are available to the population under occupation."

Attacks on health continue

According to OCHA, multiple health facilities and personnel were attacked across the Gaza Strip over the weekend, notably in Jabalia in the north, where two medical staff were reportedly killed while on duty inside the besieged Al Awda Hospital during clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups.

On Saturday, a World Health Organization (WHO)-led UN and Palestine Red Crescent Society convoy delivered medical supplies to Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza City and evacuated 19 critically injured patients. OCHA said that the convoy was "delayed by Israeli forces at a checkpoint in Wadi Gaza" for "extensive screenings" and that one of the evacuated patients died during the trip southwards while a paramedic was detained for four hours, "during which he was interrogated and reportedly beaten and intimidated".

Humanitarian access to the north of the Strip where hundreds of thousands of civilians are still sheltering remains "severely constrained", OCHA said.

No health without peace

In Khan Younis in the south, an ambulance near the European Hospital came under fire, reportedly by Israeli forces on Saturday, OCHA said, and two paramedics were injured. On Sunday the area around the hospital was repeatedly bombarded for the third consecutive day according to OCHA, depriving dozens of injured people from access to treatment.

Quoting Gaza's health authorities, OCHA said that since 7 October, at least 286 health workers have been killed and 57 ambulances have been hit and damaged.

Meeting in a special session on Sunday, WHO's Executive Board adopted a resolution on aid access to Gaza and respect for international humanitarian law, hailed by the agency's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as a "starting point" and a "platform on which to build", as he reiterated that "without peace, there is no health".

Detainees 'stripped and beaten'

OCHA also highlighted that over the weekend in the north of the enclave Israeli forces "reportedly detained hundreds of men and boys staying in public spaces, schools serving as shelters for internally displaced persons as well as private homes".

"Reportedly, detainees were stripped to their underwear, handcuffed, and ordered to sit on their knees in open areas, subjected to beatings, harassment, harsh weather and denial of basic necessities", OCHA said, while images of them were circulated on social media.

OCHA added that according to the Israeli military, those suspected of links to Hamas were transferred to Israel for interrogation, while others were released.

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We can't turn a blind eye on South Sudan

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Joint statement by Reena Ghelani, UN Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator,

and Marie Helene Verney, Acting Humanitarian Coordinator

(Juba, 11 December 2023) The world needs to pay attention to the situation in South Sudan, where more than half of the population is going hungry. Climate change, conflict and economic hardship are pushing millions of people further into food insecurity. An estimated 1.6 million children (6 - 59 months) are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition from July 2023 to June 2024. At the same time, humanitarians are forced to halve rations and reduce their support due to funding cuts.

Extreme levels of food insecurity and malnutrition make South Sudan one of the worst food insecurity emergencies in the world. Already, about 25,000 people - including many of the refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan - are experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC 5), and the number could rise to nearly 80,000 in the next coming months unless urgent support is provided. A total of 7.1 million people (56% of the population) is experiencing high levels of food insecurity (IPC3+), the highest percentage in the world.

Reena Ghelani, the UN Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator was in South Sudan this week to meet with Government officials, communities affected by the crisis and partners supporting the response. She stated: "We can't let people starve on our watch. I've seen how women and young people can produce their own food and become self-sufficient when provided with the right support. We must invest in sustainable and long-term solutions to build a famine-free future in South Sudan."

During her mission, Reena Ghelani visited Bentiu, Unity State, one of the regions most affected by flooding with the highest prevalence of malnutrition. Despite the dire situation, resilience building projects using climate-smart agriculture have helped communities generate income and improve their lives.

Marie Helene Verney, the acting Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan called for sustained support: "South Sudan is on the frontline of climate change. Last year, one million people were affected by floods, many were forced to move elsewhere in the country, others have had to find new sources of livelihoods, often requiring a rapid change in centuries-old customs. South Sudan needs urgent access to climate funds for its people to find long-term solutions and adapt to the crisis."

The people of South Sudan are facing the cumulative and compounding effects of multiple inter-connected crises: insecurity and conflict - including the spillover effects of the crisis in Sudan, climate shocks such as flooding and localized drought-like conditions, and an economic crisis driven by currency depreciation and rising commodities prices.

In 2023, UN and partners received only 55% of the funding required to support those most in need, against about 75% in the previous years. The World Food Programme has been forced to prioritize resources to assist only the most severely food insecure households, and even then families are only receiving half rations. As needs continue to outpace resources and with a deficit in coverage and development of basic social services, it's critical that the Government of South Sudan commit to improving social systems and infrastructure that supports communities to find their way out of food insecurity.

Humanitarian actors have estimated that 9 million people would need support in 2024. Of those, humanitarians plan to target 6 million people with life-saving support and require US$1.8 billion. Early funding is crucial to help people build resilience ahead of the lean season.

11 December 2023

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Global Humanitarian Overview 2024: UN launches $46 billion appeal for 2024 as global humanitarian outlook remains bleak

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

 Conflicts, climate emergencies and collapsing economies are wreaking havoc in communities around the world. Nearly 181 million people in 72 countries are targeted to receive humanitarian aid and protection next year.

 128 million people received life-saving assistance in 2023, but a growing funding gap meant that support was cut back and millions of people were not reached.

 Response plans for 2024 are ultraprioritized on the most urgent needs, and budgets have been tightened.

(Geneva, 11 December 2023): On behalf of more than 1,900 humanitarian partners worldwide, the United Nations today launched its global appeal for 2024, calling for US$46.4 billion to help 180.5 million people with life-saving assistance and protection.

Armed conflicts, the climate emergency and collapsing economies are taking a devastating toll on the most vulnerable communities on all continents, resulting in catastrophic hunger, massive displacement and disease outbreaks.

One child in every five lives in, or has fled from, conflict zones in 2023. Some 258 million people face acute hunger. One in 73 people worldwide is displaced - a doubling in 10 years. And disease outbreaks are causing preventable deaths in all corners of the world.

"Humanitarians are saving lives, fighting hunger, protecting children, pushing back epidemics, and providing shelter and sanitation in many of the world's most inhumane contexts. But the necessary support from the international community is not keeping pace with the needs," said Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.

"We thank all donors for their contributions, which amount to $20 billion so far this year - but that is just a third of what was needed. If we cannot provide more help in 2024, people will pay for it with their lives."

Funding shortfalls in 2023 meant that humanitarian organizations reached less than two thirds of the people they aimed to assist.

The consequences are tragic: In Afghanistan, 10 million people lost access to food assistance between May and November. In Myanmar, more than half a million people were left in inadequate living conditions. In Yemen, more than 80 per cent of people targeted for assistance do not have proper water and sanitation. And in Nigeria, only 2 per cent of the women expecting sexual and reproductive health services and gender-based violence prevention received it.

Aid organizations have addressed this needs-and-resources gap in their 2024 response plans, which will have a more disciplined focus on the most urgent needs and will target fewer people: nearly 181 million next year compared to 245 million at the end of 2023. Organizations are also appealing for less money: $46.4 billion for 2024 compared to $56.7 billion at the end of the 2023 global appeal. However, the ambition to reach all people in need has not changed, and the call to donors to dig deep and fully fund all the response plans is as urgent as ever.

On the occasion of today's launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview 2024, three successive high-level events will take place, starting in Doha, Qatar, followed by Geneva, Switzerland, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Note to Editors

The Global Humanitarian Overview is a comprehensive assessment of global humanitarian needs, and it provides a snapshot of current and future trends in humanitarian action for large-scale resource mobilization.

The five largest country appeals reflect the number of people in need and the depth of their need. The appeal for Syria requests $4.4 billion, Ukraine $3.1 billion, Afghanistan $3 billion, Ethiopia $2.9 billion and Yemen $2.8 billion.

The top five regional appeals, covering the crisis-affected countries' neighbours, are the Syria Regional Appeal at $5.5 billion, the Venezuela Joint Refugee and Migrant Plan at $1.6 billion, the South Sudan Regional Appeal at $1.5 billion, the Sudan Regional Appeal at $1.3 billion and the Ukraine Regional Appeal at $1 billion.

11 December 2023

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Mr. Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator - Global Humanitarian Overview 2024 - Doha Launch "Putting People First: Humanitarian Diplomacy in a Challenging World" 11 December 2023

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

As delivered

Allow me to start with an unscripted part of my remarks, and that is to say thank you, honorable Prime Minister [H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani of Qatar], to what you and your Government do daily to seek for peace, provide for humanitarian assistance, to understand the relationship between the two, as I have direct experience of in the case of Gaza. It is not a coincidence that this is the first ever Global Humanitarian Overview presented outside Geneva by one of my successors than to be here in [Doha]. We are hugely in your debt due to your creative diplomacy, your humanitarian diplomacy, your political diplomacy, the generosity that goes with it. So thank you very much indeed. And thank you for being here with us today. It's a great honor for us. Thank you.

I was also going to start with remarks on Gaza [...] - that the situation is bad and getting worse, that the efforts of Gaza, to bring moments of peace, which were successfully achieved last week were of the greatest importance and will be still of the greatest importance. And the very fact of the destruction [and] the intensification of the military operation that we have been hearing about in the south of Gaza and the threats to neighboring countries only makes the prospects and the priorities and the importance and the creativity, your efforts, all the more important. We are relying on you, and we know that you can be relied upon. Thank you very much.

But Gaza is an example, we've heard from the Secretary-General, why 2023 has been yet another incredibly challenging year. And as we approach 2024, almost 300 million people around the world are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection - 300 million people, I think that's equivalent to the third largest, third most populous country in the world, 300 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance around the world.

And we all know the causes. There are no secrets.

New and resurgent conflicts around the world with deep and long-lasting consequences, almost none of which are resolved and become what we call intractable. This year, we have seen the eruption of yet more brutal conflicts. There's been one after the other. In Sudan in April and, as I've just referred to in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory in October - these two massive geostrategically important, humanitarianly vital conflicts have joined the myriad other unresolved conflicts that have kept millions of people in the state of prolonged need and that we wouldn't be discussing where we here a year ago. Ukraine, remember that? In Syria, remember that? In Yemen - I remember that - to name only a few.

The global climate emergency as well, we are now in the last day, I think, of the [UN Climate Change Conference] COP[28], and I'm very, very proud to be sitting in the same space as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International [Affairs] of Somalia, [Mr. Abshir Omar Jama]. The global climate emergency has continued to spiral out of control. And I was asking him just before we started, what is your impression of the COP? And he wisely said, it's far too complicated to put into a few words - as is climate, as is climate. It leaves a trail of destruction in the path that we are involved in. 2023 has been the hottest year on record. We have seen multiple concurrent climate disasters, from Topical Cyclone Freddy in southern Africa to wildfires in Europe, and the other devastation wrought by storm Daniel in Libya. And we were lucky, were we not, to escape famine in the Horn of Africa, which we worry about so much. And persistent, unequal economic pressures continue to overlap with conflict. I am told, and I have quoted this elsewhere, that more children now are displaced by climate than by conflict, which is a terrible comment, a terrible comment on human behavior.

Persistent unequal economic pressures, climate disasters, disease outbreaks and other factors - all of these are significant drivers of operational need for humanitarian agencies, all of which are here represented today and will be speaking today.

The result is that across the world more, than more people are displaced than at any time since the beginning of this century: One in every 73 people around the world, a ratio that has been doubled in more than 10 years. Nearly one in five children around the world is either living in or fleeing from conflict. One in five children - can you imagine looking around our distinguished audience today, imagine children of so many people here - one in five, living in conflict. 258 million people, just to keep the numbers going, are facing acute food insecurity or worse, and as disease outbreaks continue to cause significant loss of life, the deadly cholera outbreaks in 29 countries, I was reading last night about the cholera outbreaks in Sudan, fueled by overstretched health systems. My colleague Tedros [Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization] has been very vociferous and rightly so on this - shortages of vaccines and lack of access to clean water and sanitation.

There are more than four horsemen of the apocalypse now - there are many and we have seen them every day.

In the face of these immense challenges, the humanitarian community, once again, as the Secretary-General said, showed its mettle, providing some form of assistance this year to [128] million people worldwide - a heroic effort thanks to the generosity of many people here today.

Thank you for the generosity of humanitarian funding. These efforts did save lives. They did make a decisive difference in many crises. In Somalia, if I may, for instance, the efforts of local communities - and you emphasized the need to listen to local communities - the scale up of humanitarian assistance plus, thank God, the arrival of rains, meant the famine was averted, the dog did not bark. And I was one of those who was pessimistic on the matter, but this is a tenuous game. The success in averting of famine in this year could easily be derailed if there is no improvement in the underlying drivers of the crisis in the Horn of Africa and Somalia.

Across the humanitarian community, we persisted in efforts to make humanitarian action more efficient, more effective and accountable to those we serve. This year, for example, I launched the so-called Flagship Initiative, a three-year pilot project in four countries that aims to empower affected people and make them the center, the prime center, of our programming effort to empower them and devolve more direction and decision making to the local level. Not an easy task, one that will be a challenge to all of us, particularly in the large humanitarian agencies, and we will see this challenge during the course of this year. We have expanded our use of faster, more dignified, more cost effective, anticipatory responses to predictable crises. I'm grateful for Germany for also championing anticipatory action.

But these efforts have taken place against the backdrop of a severe and ominous funding crisis, which we've all heard of. In 2023, we have so far received, as of now, just over one third of the $57 billion required, making this the worst funding shortfall, as we have heard from the Secretary-General, in years.

For the first time since 2010, we will have received less funding than in the previous year. It has always gone up - it's flattened. It's flattened, not, I should add, because of Ukraine because the gender the generosity of the major donors has protected the aid for other parts of the world. It's flattened because the needs have also grown.

But we fear for the worst for next year. The result is that many people, around 38 percent of those targeted through our emergency-specific plans in countries, did not get the humanitarian assistance we aim to provide. Throughout the year, humanitarian agencies had to make increasingly painful decisions, including cutting life-saving food, water and health programming. I believe WFP [World Food Programme] has said that every one per cent cut was 400,000 more people in serious food insecurity. And we would like, we would hope, not to continue this trend into next year.

In preparing this Global Humanitarian Overview for 2024, we are trying to do our part to meet these particular needs, this particular gap, to ensure that the people we reach in the places that we need the most in 2024 are properly served.

We have worked hard with robust, evidence-based appeals anchored in comprehensive analysis of needs, with an even more disciplined focus on the most urgent on life saving, focusing down, boundary setting, looking at life-saving needs as the overwhelming priority.

The result is that we will be targeting fewer people in 2024 than in 2023, and we are appealing for less money. This is the first time that this has happened in recent years. And it's not because there is no need, it is because we have had to prioritize urgent life-saving need as our core business. We've had to make the assumptions to make money efficiently spent, the use of cash, for example.

Therefore, on behalf of more than 1,900 humanitarian partners around the world, in this great process that produces country-based Humanitarian Response Plans, what our ask for 2024 is $46 billion. That's a lot of money, but a lot less than the $57 billion that we asked for in 2023, and I congratulate and I know exactly the difficulties that many agencies have gone through in countries with those Governments to reduce those numbers.

In return, of course, we're appealing for donors to do their part, to dig to dig deeper and to fully fund these robust, these more rigorous and these more prioritized plans.

We're issuing a wider call to action. Humanitarian assistance cannot be the entire solution - everyone needs to be part of this process. It is not something that you hand the baton on from one community to the next: It is one we share from the outset. It is time that we make a reality in the field, not in high-level panels, in the field with development and other financial investments in fragile settings and marginalized communities. I was most struck, recently in a meeting that we all attended in Brussels the other day on Afghanistan, how much time was devoted to the issue of economic issues in Afghanistan. It was a surprise, I think, to me and to many others and not to say there are many, not many other, perhaps even more important issues in Afghanistan, but looking at it economics, making ourselves and the humanitarian community economically literate has become essential.

It is time to redouble our efforts to look at the root causes of humanitarian need: Conflict, climate change and economic dynamics. It is just time to look at ways to back durable solutions. Robert Piper[, Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement] is one very much involved in that. We must all be part of the process of looking at ways that for people.

I am one of those, many of you in the room among them, who have gone to IDP [internally displaced people] camps where people have been staying for 10 or more years. I was in Myanmar in August, and a woman there who spent the last 12 years in that IDP camp for which she could not escape, not allowed to escape, has still not been able to find the basics of life, certification for three children that she had borne, resilience help. Ten years, 11 years, in an IDP camp is a failure of our system.

More than ever, it's time to put everyday people, the Minister has [also] spoken, particularly the most vulnerable and those affected by crisis, at the center of our discourse, diplomacy, hence the title, and decision making. And diplomacy also brings us, I think, to the kind of approach that Qatar applies to crisis: It applies private diplomacy, it applies generosity, it applies leverage, and it applies partnership.

This year, we've yet again seen the critical role played by humanitarian diplomacy in overcoming certain barriers. When Security Council authorization lapsed for cross-border UN assistance into north-west Syria, diplomatic outreach, enabled bilateral understandings to ensure aid could continue. I think it's still fragile - I was receiving a message this morning that it's still fragile, we should keep a very close eye on it. The renewal of the Bab Al-Hawa crossing is our immediate aim - without it, we will be operating at a minimum. But we did get that agreement through diplomacy.

Urgent diplomatic efforts, of course, continue nonstop - here we are in the capital of those efforts - in relation to the tragic situation in Gaza. And as the Doha Forum is discussing this year, we're facing an increasingly multipolar, fragmented, competitive and unstable world - an angry world, an angry world. It's a world in which we're seeing the multiplication of State and non-State actors, with 175 million people, estimated now believed to be living under the control of armed groups. It's a world that is increasingly globalized, increasingly interconnected, in which a crisis in one place affects millions of people in other places and precisely provides the challenges to multilateral action and stability.

And my answer to that is that in these challenging times, more vigorous diplomatic action is required in support of swift humanitarian response, and that the interventions that have become not optional, not nice to have, but imperative. This needs to happen much more frequently.

We, as a community, need to engage in much more diligently and with dynamic creativity with the other parts of the international communities to reach the people in communities whose lives have been so quickly turned upside down.

Look at Sudan. Look at how the humanitarian situation is unrolling, unspooling, in front of us in the context of so little, in the context of little diplomatic progress. We have to engage with that, we have to make our voice heard, and we have to make our contribution that we can make without being politicized. This is why my office, the clunkily named UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, with our colleagues in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, are putting humanitarian diplomacy at the center of our strategy for the coming years, drawing on the wealth of expertise in that committee, the links, the networks, the knowledge, the experience, the influence that they have, but they, we cannot do it alone.

If we are to overcome increasingly complex challenges to humanitarian action, which we will see in 2024 - and we will be having a bad report at the end of this year unless a miracle happens - then it's all of us. Just as in Gaza, it's all of us, need to come together to play our part.

After all, honorable Prime Minister, absent solutions, the most important role the international community can play in crises is to do everything possible to save lives, to reconfirm humanity, to reconfirm that we are, at our core, humane and thoughtful and generous.

Thank you very much.

11 December 2023

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UN launches 2024 global humanitarian appeal: $7.6 billion required to support 32.3 million people in dire need across West and Central Africa

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

 West and Central Africa is the stage for some of the world's most complex, tangled, and protracted humanitarian crises. Some 32.3 million people in the region are targeted to receive humanitarian aid and protection next year.

 Eight countries in the region have humanitarian response plans for 2024: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

 By the end of 2023, around 22 million people in the region will have received life-saving assistance, but a lack of funds means millions more vulnerable people could not be reached.

 Humanitarian needs have increased relative to 2023, but the humanitarian community has taken the decision to target those most in need.

Dakar, 11 December 2023 - On behalf of more than 1,900 humanitarian partners worldwide, the United Nations (UN) today launched its global appeal for 2024, and calls in particular for USD 7.6 billion for West and Central Africa, to help 32.3 million people with life-saving assistance and protection.

The impacts of brutal violence, political instability, climate change, chronic poverty, and fraying social fabric are resulting in catastrophic hunger, massive displacement and disease outbreaks, and render daily survival extremely challenging for 63.2 million vulnerable women, children and men across this region.

Protection remains one of the most pressing needs. Every day, from northern Mali to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, across the Central Sahel region and the Lake Chad Basin, families are atacked by non-state armed groups or caught in the crossfire of warring parties and intercommunal violence. Fearing for their lives, they have no choice but to flee their homes. There are currently more than 15 million people in West and Central Africa who have been forcibly displaced, of whom over 80 per cent are displaced within their own country's borders.

Tens of millions do not know where their next meal will come from, and nearly 1 million people were affected by flooding during 2023. The consequences in terms of health, education and resilience are dire.

"This year, close to one thousand aid organisations working across West and Central Africa have worked around the clock to identify the most pressing humanitarian needs, and together, we have designed robust plans to save as many lives as possible," said Charles Bernimolin, the Regional Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "However, because of funding shortfalls, growing insecurity, and other access challenges, aid workers in the region are increasingly struggling to provide the protection and assistance required."

Funding shortfalls in 2023 meant that, globally, humanitarian organizations reached less than two thirds of the people they aimed to assist. The effects of this and other challenges know no borders. Escalating violence in the Central Sahel, for example, is spilling over towards the south, and pushing people mainly from Burkina Faso, to seek refuge in the coastal countries of the Gulf of Guinea, namely Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Togo.

"Humanitarians are saving lives, fighting hunger, protecting children, pushing back epidemics, and providing shelter and sanitation in many of the world's most inhumane contexts. But the necessary support from the international community is not keeping pace with the needs," said Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. He warns that "If we cannot provide more help in 2024, people will pay for it with their lives."

Aid organisations have decided that their 2024 plans will be more narrowly focused on those in most urgent need of assistance. However, the ambition to reach all those identified as being in urgent need has not changed, and the call todonors to dig deep and fully fund all the response plans is as urgent as ever.

Notes to Editors

The Global Humanitarian Overview is a comprehensive assessment of global humanitarian needs, and it provides a snapshot of current and future trends in humanitarian action for large-scale resource mobilization.

In West and Central Africa, the number of people in need targeted under each country's 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan and the associated financial requirements are as follows:

 Burkina Faso: 3.8 million people targeted, US $935 million  Cameroon: 2.3 million people targeted, US $376 million  Central African Republic: 1.9 million people targeted, US $393.5 million  Chad: 4.6 million people targeted, US $1.18 billion  Democratic Republic of the Congo: 8.7 million people targeted, US $2.6 billion  Mali: 3.9 million people targeted, US $676.5 million  Niger: 2.7 million people targeted, US $604 million  Nigeria: 4.4 million people targeted, US $860 million

11 December 2023

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Statement by the Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan on the attack on an ICRC convoy

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

(Nairobi, 11 December 2023) -- The Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan Clementine Nkweta-Salami has expressed deep alarm and shock at the news of an attack on an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) convoy in Khartoum on 10 December. "I am horrified by this reckless attack on an ICRC convoy, which tragically claimed the lives of two people and injured seven more, including three from ICRC. The convoy was clearly marked with the Red Cross emblem - a universal symbol for neutrality and protection. My thoughts are with the families and colleagues affected" the Humanitarian Coordinator said.

The humanitarian convoy, including three ICRC vehicles and three buses, was due to evacuate over a hundred vulnerable civilians from Khartoum to Wad Madani when it came under attack upon entering the evacuation area.

"I have consistently urged the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces, and all parties to Sudan's conflict to respect the principles of international humanitarian law and ensure the safety of civilians and medical personnel, to immediately halt attacks on civilian infrastructure and medical facilities and to allow unrestricted humanitarian access to provide critical aid and medical assistance to affected populations. Civilians, humanitarian aid workers and medical personnel are #NotATarget," she emphasized. "It is incumbent upon the parties engaged in conflict to ensure the safe evacuation of civilians from areas of active combat. This entails an obligation to provide and facilitate unimpeded passage for those seeking to leave conflict zones" she added.

Since fighting broke out on April 15 over 12,000 people have been killed, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). Of those, at least 20 aid workers have been killed and 36 injured. Since 15 April, the World Health Organization has verified 60 attacks on the health care system resulting in 34 deaths and 38 injuries.

The Humanitarian Coordinator concluded: "The conflict in Sudan continues to inflict harm on civilians. The situation is catastrophic. The suffering of the Sudanese needs to come to an end once and for all. I call on the parties, yet again, to pursue the path of peace for the sake of the future of the country".

For further information, please contact:

Sofie Karlsson, karlsson2@un.org, +249 912 17 44 56



11 December 2023

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UNRWA Situation Report #49 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem Information is valid as of 10 December 2023 at 22:30 (local time)

UNRWA

11 Dec 2023

All information is valid as of 10 December 2023 at 22:30

Days 65 of Hostilities

Key Points

The Gaza Strip

As of 10 December, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities is 134.

Since 7 October, up to 1.9 million people (or over 85 per cent of the population) have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, some multiple times. Families are very vulnerable as they are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety.

As of 9 December, nearly 1.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) were sheltering in 154 UNRWA installations across all five governorates of the Gaza Strip, including in the North and Gaza City.

More than 1.1 million IDPs were sheltering in 97 UNRWA facilities in the Middle, Khan Younis and Rafah areas.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, between 7 October and 10 December afternoon, about 18,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, about 70 per cent of whom are reported to be women and children, and over 49,229 have reportedly been injured. Overall Situation

The Gaza Strip

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, between 7 October and 10 December afternoon, about 18,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, about 70 per cent of whom are reported to be women and children, and over 49,229 have reportedly been injured.

The West Bank

According to OCHA, 265 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli Security Forces (ISF) in the West Bank, including 69 children. In addition, eight Palestinians, including one child, have been killed by Israeli settlers.

Humanitarian Access, Protection of Civilians

The Gaza Strip

UNRWA is verifying reports of incidents that affected at least two UNRWA shelters on 10 December: one at a health centre in Jabalia, where there were allegations of forced evacuation, shooting at displaced people as they fled, and firing of munitions at the health centre, resulting in IDP casualties; and a second in Gaza City, where there were reports of forced evacuation, arrest and firing of weapons at the school resulting in casualties. 146 incidents impacting UNRWA premises have been reported since the beginning of the hostilities, including some premises hit multiple times. 41 UNRWA installations have been directly hit and 60 installations sustained collateral damage. UNRWA has also received reports of the military use of its facilities on at least five occasions.

UNRWA estimates that in total at least 284 internally displaced people (IDPs) sheltering in UNRWA shelters have been killed, and at least a further 976 injured since the start of the hostilities. UNRWA is verifying the number of casualties caused by incidents that impacted its installations, and notes that these figures do not include some reported casualties where the number of injuries could not be determined.

UNRWA Response

The Gaza Strip

UNRWA Shelters

In total, nearly 1.3 million displaced people are now sheltering in 154 UNRWA installations. The average number of IDPs in UNRWA shelters located in middle and southern areas is 11,647, more than four times their capacity.

Health

Eight (out of 22) UNRWA health centers are still operational in the Middle and Southern areas, recording 9,487 patients visits on 10 December, including Palestine Refugees and non-refugees.

Midwives are providing care for post-natal and high-risk pregnant women at the eight operational health centers. There are an estimated 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, with more than 180 giving birth every day. A total of 203 post-natal and high-risk pregnancy cases were attended to at health centres.

UNRWA continued to provide health care to IDPs at shelters through 97 medical teams. 323 health workers attended to a total of 12,515 patients. Each team is composed of 1-2 doctors and a nurse.

On 10 December, the medical teams responded to 1,085 mental health cases, including individual consultations, awareness sessions and support for gender-based violence cases.

Psychosocial support (PSS)

UNRWA teams provided psychosocial first aid and other specialized protection services to IDPs. Since 7 October, 99,223 IDPs people have been reached.

On 9 December, psychosocial support (PSS) efforts continued to be delivered in UNRWA shelters by a team of 284 school counselors. In the reporting period, a total of 39,275 PSS sessions were provided, benefiting approximately 365,576 IDPs. Additionally, support was extended to 2,878 UNRWA staff members through a combination of in-person session and remote communication.

Food Security

UNRWA continued to distribute flour outside of shelters in Southern governorates. A total of 74,922 families have been reached so far.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

On 10 December, UNRWA continued to operate nine water wells pumping about 10,000 cubic meters to provide potable and domestic water. Potable water trucking operations to the shelters in Rafah and Khan Younis areas continue.

Shelters in Rafah and the Middle areas continued to receive potable water through tankers from the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility.

Overcrowding continues to put a stress on IDP shelter sanitation services. There remains a clear shortage of compactors and vehicles. Solid waste management services continue in Rafah, Khan Younis and Middle Area camps with approximately 60 loadings transferred to temporary dumping sites.

Quote from Samah Shallah, a mother of six from Gaza

"We left our home in a hurry; there was shelling everywhere. We could not carry anything with us. We left home under fire. [...] We reached UNRWA school in Deir El-Balah, which became a shelter. A few days after, I was in labor and an ambulance took me to the hospital, where I delivered my baby, Sama. [...] Instead of celebrating my newborn, I search for a place to wash it privately. When food is available, I feed it to my children. They still wear the summer clothes we left with. I see them shivering from the cold at night, and I can't do anything for them except hold them as tightly as I can to give them a little warmth."

#HearTheirVoices

ENDs -

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UNRWA

11 Dec 2023

1. Key points

The Gaza Strip

As of 9 December, an additional UNRWA colleague has been killed in a strike in on the Middle Area, bringing the total number of colleagues killed since the beginning of the hostilities to 134.

Since 7 October, up to 1.9 million people (or over 85 per cent of the population) have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, some multiple times. Families are very vulnerable as they are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety.

As of 9 December, nearly 1.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) were sheltering in 154 UNRWA installations across all five governorates of the Gaza Strip, including in the North and Gaza City.
Secretary-General's opening remarks at press encounter at COP28

United Nations Secretary-General

11 December 2023





Good morning.

We are in a race against time.

As I said at the opening of COP28, our planet is minutes to midnight for the 1.5 degree limit.

And the clock keeps ticking.

COP28 is scheduled to wrap up tomorrow, but there are still large gaps that need to be bridged.

Now is the time for maximum ambition and maximum flexibility.

Ministers and negotiators must move beyond arbitrary red lines, entrenched positions and blocking tactics.

It is time to go into overdrive to negotiate in good faith and rise to the challenge set by COP President Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.

It is time to seek compromise for solutions - without compromising on the science or compromising on the need for the highest ambition.

In our fractured and divided world, COP28 can show that multilateralism remains our best hope to tackle global challenges.

Specifically, I ask Parties to ensure maximum ambition on two fronts:

First, ambition on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Second, ambition on delivering climate justice.

The Global Stocktake must offer a clear plan for a tripling of renewables, a doubling of energy efficiency and a single-minded focus on tackling the root cause of the climate crisis - fossil fuel

production and consumption.

Of course, transformation won't happen overnight.

Decarbonization will create millions of decent new jobs, but governments must also ensure support, training and social protection for those who may be negatively impacted.

At the same time, the needs of developing countries highly dependent on the production of fossil fuels must also be addressed.

But it is essential that the Global Stocktake recognizes the need to phase out all fossil fuels on a timeframe consistent with the 1.5 degree limit -- and to accelerate a just, equitable and orderly energy transition for all.

A transition that takes into account the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in light of national circumstances - not to reduce ambition but to combine ambition and equity.

That is the reason I proposed the Climate Solidarity Pact - in which big emitters make extra efforts to cut emissions and wealthier countries support emerging economies to be able to do so.

The timelines and targets might be different for countries at different levels of development, but they all must be consistent with achieving global net zero by 2050 and preserving the 1.5 degree goal.

Second, it is time for more ambition on climate justice.

COP28 began with two encouraging steps: agreement to operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund, and replenishment of the Green Climate Fund.

It is a start, but much more is needed.

Many developing countries are drowning in debt, have no fiscal space, and are churning in climate chaos.

We need all commitments made by developed countries on finance and adaptation to be met -- fully and transparently.

We need increased capital and reform of the business model of multilateral development banks to massively increase direct support - and to leverage far more private finance at reasonable costs for developing countries climate action efforts.

And we need far more adaptation ambition.

COP28 must send clear signals that governments have grasped the scale of the adaptation challenge, and that it is a priority not just for developing countries, but the entire world.

I welcome the emerging consensus for a new framework on adaptation with a set of measurable targets to propel action.

But a framework without the means of implementation is like a car without wheels.

The doubling of adaptation finance to $40 billion dollars by 2025 must be an initial step towards allocating at least half of all climate finance towards adaptation.

Looking ahead, the next two years are vital.

First, to establish a new and meaningful global climate finance goal beyond 2025, reflecting the scale and urgency of the climate challenge.

Second, for governments to prepare and present new national climate action plans - or Nationally Determined Contributions - that are economy-wide, cover all greenhouse gases and are fully aligned with the 1.5 degree temperature limit.

Governments must leave Dubai with a clear understanding of what is required between now and [COP30] in Brazil.

So as we approach the finish line for COP28, my main message is clear:

We must conclude COP28 with an ambitious outcome that demonstrates decisive action and a credible plan to keep 1.5 alive and protect those on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

We can't keep kicking the can down the road. We are out of road - and almost out of time.

Thank you.



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USS Bulkeley Arrives in Piraeus, Greece

US Navy

11 December 2023

From USS Bulkeley Public Affairs

PIRAEUS, Greece -- USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), a part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG), arrived in Piraeus, Greece, for a regularly scheduled port visit December 8, 2023.

The port call to Piraeus demonstrates the strong camaraderie between the U.S. Navy and the Hellenic Navy.

"Bulkeley's visit to Piraeus, Greece, follows a persistent presence in the Eastern Mediterranean", said CDR. Richard D. Slye, Commanding Officer, USS Bulkeley. "I can think of no better opportunity than to experience the culture and deep history of this amazing city."

"For almost all of us, it is our first time in this beautiful country of Greece," said Fire Controlman 1st Class Shamus Leach. "This port visit is much needed and we are extremely thankful."

The last U.S. Navy vessel to visit Piraeus was the USS Normandy, on December 3, 2023. The USS Gerald R. Ford ported in Piraeus on July 27, 2023.

The GRFCSG has spent a significant amount of its maiden deployment steaming with the Hellenic Navy.

Bulkeley is a part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG). The GRFCSG is comprised of Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2, the Information Warfare Commander, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60).

The ships of DESRON-2 within the GRFCSG are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).

The squadrons of CVW-8 embarked aboard Gerald R. Ford are the "Tridents" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, the "Spartans" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, the "Bear Aces" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW 124), the "Ragin' Bulls" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37, the "Blacklions" of (VFA-213), the "Golden Warriors" of (VFA-87), the "Tomcatters" of (VFA-31), the "Gray Wolves" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, and the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

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SECNAV Delivers Remarks at the Keel Plate Unveiling Ceremony for the future USS J. William Middendorf (DDG 138)

US Navy

Speech by Carlos Del Toro

Presented on 11 December 2023

Date Published 11 December 2023

Naval War College, Newport, RI

Good afternoon, everyone. It is an honor to join you here at the Naval War College.

Thank you, Ambassador Middendorf, for joining us today, and for your decades of public service to our Nationincluding your time at the helm of our Department as the 62nd Secretary of the Navy. It is wonderful to see you again and it's an honor to be here for this event.

I cannot thank you enough for your contributions to our nation, our Navy, and the world. You've lived a truly incredible life.

Rear Admiral Garvin, thank you for hosting us this afternoon here at the Naval War College.

Dr. Ballard, thank you for your presence today as well as for your decades of service, both in uniform as a Naval officer, your many contributions to our collective understanding of the ocean, and your numerous discoveries of sunken shipsincluding RMS Titanic, USS Yorktown, Bismarck, and PT-109.

I hope the future USNS Robert Ballard (T-AGS-67) will have as much successand contribute as much to our Navy's missionas you have.

Admiral Foggo, Master Chief Stevens, it's an honor to have you with us. Thank you for your service to our country and our Navy.

I would like to thank Commander Tom Callender and General Dynamics for joining us for this event. Commander Callender, thank you for your leadership and for helping ensure this event happened, as well as for your decades of service in our Navy as a submariner. It is great to see you again.

In the past two and a half years as the Secretary of the Navy, I have been lucky enough to announce the names for a myriad of new ships, as well as attend numerous commissionings, keel-layings, and christenings.

The ships we're building across the country are a key piece of our department's ability to deter our adversaries, support our allies and partners, and, if necessary, fight and win our nation's wars.

Our ships, aircraft, submarines, and people are operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week at, above, and below the ocean's surface, as well as in space and cyberspace.

A ready, combat-credible, forward-deployed fleet remains the most potent, flexible, and versatile instrument of military power. It ensures that the seas remain free and open, allowing for the peaceful flow of goods, ideas, and people.

With this in mind, in September, I called for a new approach to maritime statecrafta return to a national, whole of government effort to build comprehensive U.S. and maritime power.

To that end, we have made significant strides and established new initiatives in the past yearincluding the Marine Innovation Unit, the Navy's Disruptive Capabilities Office, our department's Science and Technology Board, and five weeks ago, the Government Shipbuilder Council.

Four different cabinet departmentsDefense, Transportation, Homeland Security, and Commercecame together to form the G-S-C because we recognize that we need a whole-of-government effort to rebuild our nation's comprehensive maritime power.

We recognize agility in ship production and design requires developing new, digital tools for our workforce to improve efficiency and capacity.

The future of shipbuilding, maintenance, and repair looks much different than it did when I retired from the Navy twenty years agoadvances in modelling, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence will allow us to reduce costs, optimize systems, and improve collaboration.

We continue to develop high-paying, high-skilled "new-collar" jobs that restore America's manufacturing prowess by combining traditionally blue-collar trades with cutting-edge manufacturing technologies of today.

It's hard to believe that fifty years ago Ambassador Middendorf was championing the Aegis Weapons System as the Secretary of the Navytoday, our Aegis-equipped Arleigh Burke-class destroyers remain the workhorse of our force.

Ambassador Middendorf also championed the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine. Today, we're working to continue that legacyindeed, of our nearly 100 ships under contract and over 50 in construction, many of them can trace their lineage back to the systems and platforms he played a large role in shepherding through Congress.

Our number one acquisition priority, USS Columbia, represents the future of our ballistic missile and strategic deterrence force.

We're building Ford-class carriers, Virginia-class submarines, Constellation-class frigates, San Antonio-class LPDs, and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

This year, we commissioned the first Flight III destroyer, USS Jack H. Lucas, which represents the most technologically advanced surface combatant ever built.

When commissioned, USS J. William Middendorf will become part of that storied line of shipsshe will be the most capable surface combatant ever built.

As we stand at the precipice of this decisive decadehearkening back to your many years of exemplary servicethe Navy stands ready to defend our nation and our allies, and to uphold the values of freedom and democracy that our nation represents.

Today, our shipsespecially the Ford and Eisenhower Strike Groups, and their surface escortshave proven indispensable to our national strategy and defending American interests around the world.

Just recently, our destroyers, USS Thomas Hudner, and USS Carney, shot down missiles and armed drones launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen, and prevented a potential pirate attack on a commercial vessel.

The Navy's role is not just about deterring aggression; it is also about protecting American interests around the world.

But we can't do it alone.

During my time in office, we've also announced the AUKUS trilateral security agreementa landmark partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United Statesto share resources and build nuclear-powered, conventionally-armed submarines for Australia.

This historic agreement reflects our shared commitment to upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific, deterring aggression, and safeguarding our collective security.

However, it is more than that, too. It's a model for how we're expanding naval diplomacy to the procurement and technology development spheresand driving significant investment in our defense industrial base.

Mutually respectful cooperation with our allies and partners is at the heart of the Biden administration's National Defense Strategyin stark contrast to our adversaries, who seek to leverage economic and military power to coerce their neighbors.

In fact, our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, Caribbean, and Latin America continue to work with us to develop and field a hybrid fleet.

We're operating and actively preparing the Navy for the futurelaying the groundwork for the hybrid fleet.

We've proved that our Navy can procure and develop off-the-shelf technology quickly, effectively, and efficiently to free our more capable traditional naval forceslike the future USS J. William Middendorfto conduct more strategic missionsand so we can rapidly deploy manned platforms when keyed by indications from our unmanned force.

During UNITAS 64, we operated seven separate robotic systems on, under, and above the seas, wholly integrated into the exercise's command and control, and they executed missions alongside ourand our allies and partners'traditional forces.

This summer we deployed four unmanned ships to Japan for the first timeand they participated in Large Scale Exercise and Integrated Battle Problem, also alongside traditional forces. Next year, they'll again participate in RIMPAC.

Our future hybrid fleet is already arrivingand is changing how we utilize our forces today.

And today, we face a geo-political landscape more akin to the era during which Ambassador Middendorf served.

For the first time in 30 years, we face a nation with capabilities that approach our own. For the first time in over 100 years, we face intense peacetime competition with a global maritime power.

The People's Republic of China remains our pacing challengeover the next, decisive, decade of strategic competition, we and our military must tackle the challenges facing us.

Our reliance on the maritime domain is going to accelerate even further in the coming decades, and we still have so much to learn about the oceans our economy, lives, and national security depend upon.

We look forward to welcoming the future USS J. William Middendorf into our fleet, and are excited for its future crew to represent our nation on a global scale, just as her namesake did throughout his life.

May God continue to bless our country with fair winds and following seas. Thank you.

For more information about Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, head to Facebook (/CSGTWO & /TheCVN69); Instagram (@CarrierStrikeGroupTwo & @TheCVN69); LinkedIn (Carrier-Strike-Group-TWO).

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Israel Says No Intention of Staying in Gaza Permanently

By VOA News December 11, 2023

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday Israel had no intention of staying permanently in the Gaza Strip as Israeli forces and Hamas fighters engaged in heavy fighting in both the north and south of the Palestinian enclave.

"Israel will take any measures in order to destroy Hamas, but we have no intention to stay permanently in the Gaza Strip. We only take care of our security and the security of our citizens alongside the border with Gaza," Gallant told reporters.

He would not give any timeframe for the war's conclusion and said Israeli military activity could continue for months.

Israeli forces and Hamas fighters engaged in heavy fighting Monday in and around Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, while battles were ongoing outside Gaza City in the north.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters late Sunday that Israeli forces are now focused on fighting in Jabaliya and Shajaiye, two neighborhoods in northern Gaza, as well as in Khan Younis, Gaza's second largest city.

Hagari said the Israeli military now controls the Palestine Square area in Gaza City, home to municipal offices and the headquarters for Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's leader in Gaza, but have yet to find him.

Israeli officials have described him as the "mastermind" behind the October 7 Hamas shock attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and allowed the militants to capture 240 hostages, 140 or so of whom they are still holding. They believe Sinwar is hiding in southern Gaza, with Hagari saying that capturing or killing him is one of Israel's goals in the war.

The Hamas-run health ministry says that nearly 18,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in the Israeli air and ground offensive in the last seven weeks.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters on Monday that Israel, like any country that receives U.S. weapons, must comply with the laws of war.

Asked to comment on images of men in Gaza who were stripped to their underwear, Miller said, "We found those images deeply disturbing and are seeking more information about both the nature of the images and, of course, why they're public in the first place."

"We always have been clear with Israel about the [necessity] of acting in full compliance with international humanitarian law, and that does require that it protect civilians, and treat detained individuals humanely and with dignity," he said.

Also Monday, an Israeli spokesperson, Eylon Levy, denied that Israel intended to push Palestinians over the border into Egypt, after Jordan accused Israel on Sunday of seeking "to empty Gaza of its people."

Jordan's foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, said Sunday that Israel was implementing a policy of pushing Palestinians out of Gaza in a manner that fits the "legal definition of genocide."

Levy described the accusation as "outrageous and false" and said that Israel was only defending itself against the "monsters" who carried out the October attack.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said aid distribution in Gaza has largely stopped, except in the Rafah area near the Egyptian border, with the intense fighting and restrictions on access to main roads inhibiting humanitarian operations.

The fighting has pushed an estimated 1.9 million people from their homes in Gaza, with many seeking shelter in the south in overcrowded facilities amid warnings of poor sanitary conditions and the threat of an increase in communicable diseases.

The U.N. humanitarian agency said tens of thousands of people have arrived in Rafah during the past week. During that same time, Israel has expanded its war against Hamas militants further south, including its operations in Khan Younis.

A delegation of U.N. Security Council ambassadors traveled Monday to the Egypt-Gaza border to meet with U.N. aid officials and humanitarian organizations involved in aid deliveries.

Meanwhile, France, Germany and Italy called Monday for new European Union sanctions against Hamas.

The foreign ministers of the three countries said in a letter to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell that the sanctions would show a strong commitment to combating Hamas' infrastructure and financial support.

The ministers did not detail specific sanctions to pursue, but said they should enable targeting Hamas members, groups affiliated with the militants and Hamas supporters.

The European Union, the United States and other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.

The U.N. General Assembly will hold an emergency meeting Tuesday to vote on a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the U.N., told The Associated Press that it's similar to a Security Council resolution the U.S. vetoed Friday.

Miller was asked during Monday's briefing about the veto of the U.N. resolution.

"We've made clear that while we support humanitarian pauses, we think a cease-fire that would allow the leadership of Hamas, that plotted and planned October 7, to continue to carry on in Gaza and plan future attacks, that's unacceptable," he said. "While we have disagreements, ultimately that American leadership is critical, both in this conflict and to broader issues in the region."

United Nations correspondent Margaret Besheer and State Department Bureau Chief Nike Ching contributed to this report. Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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Taliban: Iran Deports Almost 350,000 Afghans Within 3 Months

By Ayaz Gul December 11, 2023

In the last three months, Iran and Pakistan have forced around 850,000 undocumented Afghan nationals to return to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, officials reported Sunday.

The crackdown on Afghans illegally residing in the neighboring countries is ongoing, despite warnings by the United Nations that a harsh winter and an uncertain future await returnees in their crisis-ridden, impoverished nation.

Abdul Rahman Rashid, the Taliban minister of refugees and repatriation, told the local TOLO news channel Monday that Iran had deported "approximately 345,000" Afghans since the last week of September.

Without giving further details, Rashid said the Taliban administration had provided each returning family with cash grants and other urgent assistance.

Iranian authorities have pledged to deport Afghans illegally residing in their country.

Officials in Pakistan have reported that almost 490,000 individuals have returned to Afghanistan since the government ordered a crackdown on all illegal foreigners, including an estimated 1.7 million Afghan nationals two months ago.

Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti claimed at a news conference in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, over the weekend that "more than 90%" of undocumented Afghans had returned or doing so "voluntarily."

U.N. refugee agencies have reported a gradual decrease in the number of returnees from Pakistan in recent days but anticipate an additional 280,000 individuals are expected to return to Afghanistan from the neighboring country by July 2024.

The World Health Organization cautioned last week that "the vulnerability of returnees will intensify during the harsh winter, leading to a greater demand for lifesaving healthcare services as the situation evolves.

The Pakistani government has justified its deportation campaign, saying it is in line with the country's immigration laws, and breachers of such regulations around the world face the same fate.

Pakistan has repeatedly clarified that the crackdown is not targeting nearly 2.3 million documented Afghans, including 1.4 million refugees.

Following a four-month delay, Islamabad last month extended the legal status of 1.4 Afghan refugees until the end of the year, bringing at least temporary relief to the refugee community. However, Pakistani officials have rejected the U.N. pleas to cease deporting Afghans who lack proper documentation.

The Taliban have established makeshift camps on the Afghan side of the border, where returnees can stay while they wait to be transported to their native cities across Afghanistan. The de facto authorities have urged neighboring countries not to mistreat and force Afghan nationals out.

Pakistani authorities defended their crackdown, saying Pakistani anti-state militants sheltering in Afghanistan have intensified cross-border terrorist attacks since the Taliban regained control of the country two years ago.

Islamabad claims some illegal Afghan nationals have also facilitated the deadly wave of terror by carrying out more than a dozen suicide bombings in Pakistan this year.

Taliban authorities maintain they are not allowing anyone to use their soil against Pakistan or any other country and condemned the deportations of Afghans as an "inhuman act."

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Former UK General Says Britain 'Betrays' Afghan Soldier Allies

By VOA News December 11, 2023

Afghan special forces trained and funded by Britain and who worked side-by-side with British troops in Afghanistan in the fight against the Taliban are now facing the possibility of being deported from Pakistan, where the Afghan troops and their families fled, according to a BBC report.

The 200 special forces would likely be targeted for revenge by the Taliban if they were to return to Afghanistan.

Pakistan says it is ready to deport any Afghans who do not possess the proper papers for residency.

Failing to relocate the Afghans who worked with the British in Afghanistan "is a disgrace," Gen. Sir Richard Barrons told the BBC Newsnight. "It reflects that either we're duplicitous as a nation or incompetent. . . Neither are acceptable."

In addition, 32 former Afghan politicians now living in Pakistan who worked with Britain and the U.S. have also not received the proper paperwork that would enable them to travel and live abroad.

Most members of both groups - the troops and the politicians - have filled out the paperwork to relocate to Britain through the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Program.

Many have been rejected, while others are still waiting to learn their status more than a year later, the BBC reported.

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Leaders of Guyana, Venezuela Set to Meet Amid Border Dispute

By VOA News December 11, 2023

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will meet Thursday with his Guyanese counterpart Mohamed Irfaan Ali amid growing tensions over the jurisdiction of the oil-rich Essequibo region.

The meeting, set to take place on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, was announced following Maduro's talks with prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and president pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States or CELAC, Ralph Gonsalves, as well as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday.

Ali, who agreed to the meeting despite his parliament unanimously telling him not to, said that "Guyana's land boundary is not up for discussion."

Disputes over the Essequibo region are longstanding, though the recent discovery of offshore oil and gas has caused tensions on the issue to flare.

Earlier this month, Venezuela held a referendum in which voters rejected the International Court of Justice's jurisdiction over the region and supported the creation of a new Venezuelan state.

Ali has stated that he will use this meeting not to hold negotiations, but rather to insist that the case be heard by the ICJ as originally planned.

Several South American countries released a joint statement in support of dialogue between the two countries, as well as Gonsalves, the head of CELAC, who said there is "the urgent need to de-escalate the conflict and institute an appropriate dialogue."

The United States, which earlier held joint flight drills with Guyana, has maintained its position of support for the country.

"We reaffirm the United States' unwavering support for Guyana's sovereignty," the press office of the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia said.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.

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US Imposes Visa Restrictions on 100s of Guatemalan Lawmakers, Other Leaders

By VOA News December 11, 2023

The United States announced new visa restrictions Monday for nearly 300 Guatemalan lawmakers, other leaders and their families, accusing them of "undermining democracy and the rule of law" in the country.

The restrictions, which were imposed on 100 members of Guatemala's Congress, as well as private sector leaders and their family members, come as the country is facing criticism for alleged attempts to block President-elect Bernardo Arevalo from taking office.

Arevalo won a run-off election with his Seed Movement party in August in a landslide victory. Since then, Guatemalan authorities have arrested members of his party and repeatedly requested to lift Arevalo's immunity so they can investigate him directly.

"These brazen measures follow a long list of other anti-democratic actions," U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. "The Guatemalan people have spoken. Their voices must be respected."

Guatemalan prosecutors last week said that the runoff election results contained irregularities and were therefore void.

Groups including the Organization of American States and the European Union, which sent observers to monitor the election, confirmed the vote's adherence to democratic standards. They backed Arevalo in condemning the prosecutors' claims as an attempt to block him from power.

In addition to U.S. visa restrictions, the EU is also considering implementing sanctions on those who played a part in questioning the results of the election, according to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.

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Vietnam Wary of Chinese Pressure on Infrastructure Program, Experts Say

By Ha Nguyen December 11, 2023

Although Vietnam has been cautious about accepting Chinese money through Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Hanoi will be facing pressure to take grants offered under the scheme when President Xi Jinping visits Hanoi this week as the Southeast Asian country seeks to balance its relationships with China and the United States.

The initiative, introduced by Xi in 2013, is seen as a long-term strategy by China to enhance its influence in the world by providing its support and financial aid.

Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, occupies a central position on China's BRI map. According to an assessment of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations research center, Southeast Asia is where the land "Belt" and the sea "Road" of the massive initiative converge.

While some countries in the region welcome BRI funds, Vietnam is cautious, according to analysts.

"Vietnam said it supported China's Belt and Road Initiative, with Vietnamese leaders regularly attending BRI forums organized by China," Le Hong Hiep of the Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute told VOA Vietnamese in a phone interview late last month. "However, in practice, Vietnam does not actively participate in projects within the framework of the BRI or receive investment funding under the initiative's scheme."

While Chinese Ambassador to Hanoi Xiong Bo said in November 2021 that a series of large Vietnamese projects had been included in the BRI, Hanoi has not publicly announced any projects under the Chinese initiative.

"This shows Vietnam's careful mentality and attitude in taking loans through official channels from China," said Hiep, a political analyst on Vietnamese and Southeast Asian issues.

Similarly, Murray Hiebert, an author and a senior associate of the Southeast Asia Program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that "Vietnam's praise for the BRI is primarily diplomatic posture to soothe China. Hanoi has no real interest in the BRI for infrastructure, although it accepts real estate and manufacturing investment from Chinese companies."

Vietnam's caution toward China's BRI projects stems from the disagreement between the two countries on island sovereignty, according to experts. The neighboring communist countries, although ideologically united, are in conflict over territorial waters.

Vietnam has repeatedly accused China of violating its sovereignty by sending ships into its exclusive economic zone and militarizing what Vietnam calls the East Sea, known by others as the South China Sea.

"Vietnam does not want to be beholden to China on critical infrastructure at a time that they have serious differences in the South China Sea," Hiebert said.

Bad experiences with Chinese-contracted projects in the past is another reason for Vietnam to eye BRI warily, according to experts.

The Cat Linh-Ha Dong railway saw its cost balloon to $868 million from the initial estimate of $552.8 million. Stretching 13 kilometers, Hanoi's first metro line was delayed for almost a decade because of prolonged implementation by a Chinese contractor, sparking outrage in Vietnam.

"The learned lesson made Vietnam cautious about Chinese loans, either under BRI or not," said Hiep. "Chinese loans often come with the obligation of using Chinese contractors and equipment," and Vietnam doesn't want a repeat of the metro experience.

Warning about China's BRI initiative, Pham Sy Thanh, director of the China Economic Research Program under Vietnam's National Economics University, said that about 70% of BRI projects involve Chinese contractors or workers, according to state media.

Hanoi refused Beijing's loan to build the Van Don-Mong Cai high-speed rail route and did not let Chinese technology giant Huawei participate in developing Vietnam's 5G telecommunications infrastructure. Vietnam cited national security concerns for its decision to turn down Chinese investment.

While BRI has helped bring roads, rails and infrastructure to many poor countries, it has also left some of those countries saddled with debt.

Italy has become the first country to announce it will leave the BRI. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in 2019 called the decision to join the BRI a "serious mistake" and said that the economic promises of the deal had never materialized.

Meanwhile, China continues to press Vietnam on BRI participation.

Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and met with Xi on October 20. Xi urged Vietnam to "move more quickly to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative."

When visiting Hanoi this week, Xi is expected to urge Vietnam to embrace BRI, according to experts.

Xi arrives in Vietnam on Tuesday for a two-day visit. Xiong, Beijing's ambassador, said China was ready to offer Vietnam grants to boost the railway between Kunming and the Vietnamese port city of Haiphong and other transport links from southern China to Hanoi, according to the official Vietnamese state paper Tuoi Tre.

"I would not be surprised if Vietnam accepts one or two small projects that affect China's economy more than they affect Vietnam's," said Hiebert.

The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry did not respond to VOA's request for comment on the possibility of receiving grants from China. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh last month expressed support for the Kunming-Haiphong rail upgrade.

The distrust that most Vietnamese people feel toward China also comes from historical experiences, as reflected in ASEAN's State of Southeast Asia survey. It found that two-thirds of Vietnamese respondents did not trust China's Global Security Initiative.

But infrastructure development cooperation with China, according to Hiep, is "a way for Vietnam to balance relations with Beijing in the context that Vietnam has just upgraded ties with the U.S. and its allies."

Vietnam made an unprecedented two-step upgrade with the U.S. to put Washington on par with Beijing as comprehensive strategic partners when U.S. President Joe Biden visited in September. Vietnam also elevated South Korea last year and Japan last month to be its top partners.

"Vietnam will now feel that Biden has Hanoi's back if something goes wrong with a China-funded project in Vietnam," said Hiebert.

Improving relations with the U.S. and its allies is also part of an effort by Vietnam to diversify relations and reduce influence from Beijing, according to Hiebert.

"Vietnam does not want to fall into the orbit of any superpower," he said.

However, while Vietnam's imports from China still account for about one-third of the country's total imports, reducing dependence on Beijing is "not simple," according to Hiep.

"But upgrading relations with other countries and signing different FTAs [free trade agreements], in my opinion, is a necessary step to be able to create more favorable conditions in reducing dependence, in terms of trade with China in [the] long run," he said.

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Democratic Republic of Congo Prepares to Hold Elections

By Mariama Diallo December 11, 2023

Campaigning for the top job in the Democratic Republic of Congo is in full swing, a little more than a week before the country is due to hold presidential elections.

Incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi, who's seeking a second term, launched his campaign bid by urging thousands of supporters to renew their trust in him.

Other candidates competing for the same job include a Nobel Peace Prize winner, Denis Mukwege; a rival who came in second place in the 2018 presidential elections, Martin Fayulu; and the former governor of copper-rich Katanga region, Moise Katumbi.

Dany Ayida, a senior resident director for the National Democratic Institute in the DRC, says some in the opposition are already forming alliances.

"The candidates were 26 at the beginning of the campaign... we know 3 or 4 candidates decided to join Moise Katumbi. We know discussions are going on between Mukwege and Fayulu. We don't know if they'll keep their candidacies or join effort to have a common candidate," he told VOA.

Ayida, who spoke with VOA from the DRC capital of Kinshasa, says the independent national electoral commission - known by its French acronym CENI - is doing its best to ensure the elections take place on December 20th but challenges related to disseminating voting materials and insecurity in some parts of the country remain.

CENI recently announced there was a fire at one of their locations that affected voting materials, including voting machines.

"Now this is a challenge. We don't know if they've been replaced yet or if CENI is going to buy some new materials. Apart from that, some candidates also in terms of accessing some regions, some territories like in the eastern Congo, this is a challenge," Ayida says.

DRC is Africa's second largest country. Its eastern part is home to at least 100 different rebel groups and has been plagued by violence.

Recent escalations have pushed the number of people displaced within Congo to nearly seven million, according to the International Organization for Migration.

A force assembled by the East African Community was deployed in the area last year to help defeat some of the rebel groups, including the M23, a pro-Tutsi militia. But President Tshisekedi has repeatedly criticized the force for being ineffective and has asked them to withdraw.

Aimable Ndarishize is from South Kivu province but has been a refugee in Kenya the past two years.

"I agree with the government, but the government shouldn't just ask these types of forces to leave for the sake of kicking them out," Ndarishize told VOA. "The government should also put in place measures to deal with the issue."

He says it almost doesn't matter who wins the election but notes that given DRC's rich supply of natural resources, he would prefer someone who would develop his country. Plus, he'd like to return.

"It's best I go home [one day] and I would prefer that ... whoever wins, whether it's a second term for Tshisekedi, or it's Katumbi or someone else, the priority should be securing the country," he says..

A feeling echoed by Eric Bagirubwira, a civil society member who spoke with VOA from Goma. He says he is not impressed with Tshisekedi's first term, which is why he's supporting a different candidate.

"He promised the whole DRC population that his first combat will be the restoration of peace especially in the Eastern DRC but so far, security remains a dream in this part. Secondly, talking about infrastructures, you can try to move around different corners of this country, you can see that these days there are no roads," Bagirubwira says.

But even if one can find roads 90 percent of the time, they are not in good condition, he says. And as a former teacher he'd like to see a little more focus and investment in the education sector.

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Statement from NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson Welcoming the Ceasefire in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

December 11, 2023

The United States welcomes the 72-hour ceasefire committed to by the parties to the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This development is a follow-up to the confidence building measures secured during Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Avril Haines' travel November 19-20 to the DRC and Rwanda, and her subsequent engagements with Presidents Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

Today, starting at noon Central Africa Standard Time (GMT+2), armed forces and non-state armed groups ceased fighting to facilitate the withdrawal of forces occupying the locality of Mushaki and the RP1030 road (Kirolwire-Kitchanga).

The DRC and Rwanda have expressed support for the U.S. proposal of a 72-hour ceasefire to advance the implementation of the confidence building measures to protect civilians and de-escalate tensions in eastern DRC.

The U.S. Government will use its intelligence and diplomatic resources to monitor the activities by armed forces and non-state armed groups during the ceasefire. In addition, the United States supports the resumption of the Nairobi and Luanda processes, which seek to address the current and historic factors perpetuating this longstanding crisis.



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Press Gaggle by Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates and NSC Coordinator For Strategic Communications John Kirby En Route Philadelphia, PA

December 11, 2023

Aboard Air Force One

En Route Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

11:17 A.M. EST

MR. BATES: We're en route to Philadelphia, where the President will build on his decades-long commitment on behalf of firefighters. President Biden will deliver remarks at the announcement event for the city of Philadelphia receiving a $22.4 million SAFER Grant award.

The President has fought for firefighters and prioritized issues affecting them throughout his career. His remarks today will underscore his unwavering support for the firefighting community and pay tribute to those killed during the tragic Fairmount rowhouse fire in 2022.

Last night, Mike Bresnan, the leader of IAFF Local 22, who is joining us today, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that these funds mean President Biden, quote, "kept his word" to deliver funds that will allow them to re-establish the firehouse that could have responded the most rapidly to the tragic Fairmount fire.

Also, today marks a milestone for our implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act, as the Department of Commerce announced its first preliminary agreement with BAEs  BAE Systems, Incorporated, for a CHIPS Incentive award of approximately $35 million.

Today's announcement is the first step of many to come.

Over the coming year, Commerce is going to award billions more to make sure semiconductors are made in America, to invest in research and development capabilities, to keep us at the forefront of new technologies, to strengthen our national security, and keep bringing good-paying manufacturing jobs back to America.

And with that, I'll turn it over to Mr. Kirby.

MR. KIRBY: Thanks, Andrew. So, tomorrow, as you know, the President is welcoming President Zelenskyy to the White House for a series of discussions. And I believe President Zelenskyy will be doing some  (coughs)  excuse me  some other meetings in town with some key officials.

We're looking forward to this visit. It's a chance for the President to get an update from President Zelenskyy about how things are going on the battlefront, but also to make it very clear to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people that we're going to continue to support them, particularly at this very difficult time.

As winter approaches, we're seeing now increased missile and drone attacks by the Russian Armed Forces against civilian infrastructure. We expect that that will continue, particularly against energy infrastructure and as the Russian forces continue to try to take offensive action against the Ukrainians all along that front, but particularly in the East.

And obviously, the other  the other bit of context here is, of course, the  the negotiations on Capitol Hill about funding the President's supplemental request. I think you'll hear more from the President tomorrow in  in that context, but he'll continue to make clear his  his case for why additional funding for Ukraine and Israel are vital to our own national security interests at this time.

And he'll  he'll keep urging the negotiations forward and urging compromise, where  with the goal of getting these  all these national security issues fully funded as  as we need. They're all urgent. They're all  they're all important.

Now, just quickly, yesterday marked Human Rights Day, the start of Human Rights Week and the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And obviously, we remain committed to working together towards a freer and more just world for everybody.

On Friday, the United States took action to promote accountability for human rights abuses and violations by imposing visa restrictions and sanctions on 37 individuals and 13 countries. We're obviously going to do  continue to take these sorts of actions to hold people properly accountable for the way they treat each other and their own population and the population of other  of other nations.

So, with that, I'll take some.

Q John, can you talk about the decision to invite President Zelenskyy at this moment? Did President Zelenskyy request to come to D.C. to lobby for the supplemental? Did President Biden invite him? What are you hoping that this  this visit kind of makes a difference in this at this moment?

MR. KIRBY: This was an invitation by President Biden. And, again, I think it comes at a critical time. This is exactly the right time to be having President Zelenskyy in town to have these discussions.

Because of what's going on in Ukraine, the increased activity we're seeing by the Russian Armed Forces as winter approaches, but also what's going on on Capitol Hill and the argument that the President is going to be making with all of you tomorrow about the need to fund this supplemental.

Q Kirby, what will 

MR. KIRBY: But he came at the President's invitation.

Q What will the President tell Zelenskyy about the supplemental aid? I mean, he can't really promise that it's coming for sure, right?

MR. KIRBY: I think, without getting ahead of the President, I can assure you that  that he will make it clear to President Zelenskyy that we're standing firm on this supplemental request. We absolutely need to get additional funding to support Ukraine going forward.

Now, and he'll also talk to him about the approach that him and his team has taken on Capitol Hill, but I don't want to get further afield than that.

Q Will we have a new weapons package? I know you just had one last week. Will you have another one to announce, do you think?

MR. KIRBY: Well, again, I don't want to get too far ahead of the President. But as you know, Steve, we don't have too many more weeks left in this year to be able to provide security assistance. So, I would fully expect that you're going to see us announce additional security assistance before the end of the month.

Q Kirby, there's the new reporting that Israel used U.S.-supplied white phosphorus munitions in an October attack in southern Lebanon. Some rights groups are saying that it should be investigated as a war crime. Does the U.S. have any comment on that?

MR. KIRBY: We've seen the reports. Certainly concerned about that. We'll be asking questions to try to learn a little bit more.

I do think it's important to remind that white ph-  phosphorus does have a legitimate military utility in terms of illumination and producing smoke to conceal movements.

And obviously, anytime that we provide items like white phosphorus to another military, it is with the full expectation that it will be used in keeping with those legitimate purposes and  and in keeping with the law of armed conflict.

But we've seen these reports. They're  they're fresh. Just don't have any more on it right now.

Q Just to follow up. Obviously, that is something that occurred in Lebanon. Is the U.S. concerned about this conflict spiraling out and involving more countries and more fronts beyond where it is right now?

MR. KIRBY: We absolutely don't want to see this conflict spill over into Lebanon. We don't want to see a second front. We don't want to see it escalate and widen.

And so, it is also in the context of that that we're  we're concerned about these reports.

Q John 

Q Are you all 

Q  and so, the UAE and other nations are really pushing for another ceasefire in  in the war right now. Can you kind of tell us a little bit about what the U.S. is doing at this point to communicate to Israel what you're interested in as far as seeing another temporary pause?

MR. KIRBY: Well, so, big dif-  you know, a difference between a ceasefire and humanitarian pause. We still don't support a general ceasefire here. That leaves Hamas in control of Gaza. But we absolutely do support additional humanitarian pauses.

And we are in active  and when I say "active," I mean daily conversations with our partners in the region, from the Arab states as well as in Israel  about the likelihood of getting humanitarian pauses back in place.

Don't have any progress to report today, but it is an active issue of discussion and conversation with our  with our partners. We think it's still valuable.

Now, I will say that even  even absent a humanitarian pause  and, again, we want to get one back because we want to get those hostages out  we are still working with the Israelis to get humanitarian assistance in. And there was a big backlog of trucks over the weekend that are  that have started to flow in now.

It looks like Kerem Shalom will be  will be available for additional humanitarian assistance convoys in the near future. That's a good thing.

So, even without the pause, we haven't let up off  off the gas in terms of the humanitarian assistance.

Q Is the White House in touch with Alexei Navalny's team? And are you all concerned about his disappearance?

MR. KIRBY: We're deeply concerned about these reports that he's now been gone for, allegedly, a week and neither his representatives or his family know where he is. He should be released immediately. He should never have been jailed in the first place.

And we're going to work with our  with our embassy in Moscow to see how much more we can find out.

Q Kirby, just one more. Can you confirm that Jake Sullivan is traveling to Israel this week to meet with officials there?

MR. KIRBY: I don't have anything on Jake's calendar to  to speak to today. But  but, you know, if  if and when we get to a point where we can talk about it, we will.

Q Taiwan 

Q Could you 

MR. KIRBY: One thing I'd say, though: There's a  look, you have seen repeated visits by senior offic-  officials from the administration to the region since October 7th. I would fully expect that you're going to continue to see that.

Q John, on China. Taiwan has arrested two service members for trying to share sensitive U.S. helicopter tools with China. Is that something that concerns you? What are you doing to prevent China from getting access to sensitive technology like this?

MR. KIRBY: I haven't seen those report, so let me take that question and get back to you. Obviously, we take our operational security and classified information, the capabilities our mili-  military systems very, very seriously.

But I'll have to take  I'll have to take that question.

Q Have you had time to re-  have you had time to review the Section 702 legislation that was introduced?

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, so, there's two things moving forward here on Capitol Hill which are important to watch this week. There's one bill proposed by the House Intelligence Committee which fully reauthorizes 702. We think that's important. 702 is critical to our national security. Going after Zawahiri, the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack  all of those were  our response was aided by access to 702 information. So, there's some reforms in the House Intelligence Committee proposal that we think will be difficult to get to, but  but, in general, it reauthorizes it.

There's another one in the House Judiciary Committee that basically guts it and would really be damaging to our national security.

And so, we urge members of Congress, if you're going to move forward this week, move forward on the one proposed by the House Intelligence Committee.

Q On the F-16 that crashed into the Yellow Sea 

MR. KIRBY: Yeah.

Q  near South Korea. Any update on that for us?

MR. KIRBY: I don't know much more than you do. I mean, the Pentagon has already spoken to this. Apparently, the pilot ejected and is in reportedly good condition. That's a good thing.

I don't know what the cause of the mishap was.

Q Can I 

Q I think the ground is coming up pretty soon. So, Andrew, if we (inaudible)  a couple questions for you, too. Thank you.

Q Thank you, John.

MR. KIRBY: You guys done with me? (Laughter.)

Q See you soon.

Q Thanks, John.

Q Andrew, any comment on things moving forward with a potential impeachment inquiry of the President? And, also, does the White House believe that the President's son, Hunter, should testify this week?

MR. BATES: I am not going to weigh in on that process except to say that President Biden is laser-  laser-focused on the issues that matter most to American families. You see him today getting ready to deliver for firefighters in Philadelphia.

Like I mentioned, we're making an historic announcement in advanced manufacturing to keep bringing jobs back from overseas. He's focused on what matters to American families, not Marjorie Taylor Greene's conspiracy theories about his own family.

Q Senator Murphy indicated that the White House will be stepping up its engagement this week on the supplemental, specifically on border policy. Any updates on what the White House is going to be doing this week?

MR. BATES: Last week, you heard the President make the case to Congress and the country on the urgent need to support Ukraine in its fight against Putin. He has repeatedly conveyed that message to congressional leaders personally. Our Legislative Affairs Office, OMB, NSC  they are in close touch with lawmakers from both parties, and  and we'll continue to do that.

Like we have said, like you heard from Director Young, from Secretary Blinken yesterday: Our own national security is at stake in Ukraine. Putin has indicated that if he is successful there, he has designs on other Eastern European countries who are members of NATO and who we are obligated to defend. And like the President has been exp-  explicit about, we would defend them. So, it would be infinitely more expensive in every way not to act on this supplemental.

Q Does the White House see Trump's "dictator" comments as a threat to national security? And what are you doing to prevent, you know, the U.S. from getting a dictator?

MR. BATES: Now, I'm going to follow the Hatch Act and avoid commenting on the 2024 election.

But I want to be very clear: President Biden has been working to protect American democracy and to unite people of all political views against these unprecedented threats we've seen to our democracy in recent years, since before January 6th. And those warnings are bipartisan.

You've heard a number of Republican congressional leaders weigh in similarly. You've heard members of the McCain family echo the President's warnings. You  you've heard  you've heard Jay Michael Luttig, a retired judge, echo the President's warnings.

And I want to say: It is wrong to suspend the Constitution and abuse federal power to persecute critics and trample the First Amendment. It is wrong to override the will of the voters, as upheld by over 80 federal judges and the Trump administration's top election security official. It is wrong to engage in violent rhetoric and spread dangerous conspiracy theories that have cost brave police officers their lives.

Q Thanks, Bates. We're heading to Philadelphia. Do you have a comment on the University of Pennsylvania president resigning after her congressional testimony?

MR. BATES: I'm not going to weigh in on personnel matters directly. You saw our response last week to the hearing. We were full-throated. The President believes strongly that this is a moment to put your foot down and to ensure we have moral clarity. He has done that consistently. He always will.

I  I saw that she issued a statement withdrawing those comments. That was the right thing to do. I've seen others have done the same. That was the right thing to do.

Q The President has a relationship with the University of Pennsylvania. Did he talk to anybody in school leadership about the incident  the board of trustees, the school president  about what happened there?

MR. BATES: I don't have any private conversations to read out to you.

But, again, genocide is an obscenity. And it is the responsibility of every leader any time it is raised to speak out in very clear terms that that is an attack on the dignity of every single American and we have to reject it.

Q Andrew, is he going to say something similar tonight at the Hanukkah reception?

MR. BATES: I  I am not going to preview the President's remarks. But, as you mentioned, that is an important event. It's something that he takes very seriously on a personal level. And I know we put out some details for all of you about who will be joining us, including Holocaust survivors. But I  I'm not going to get ahead of his  his remarks here.

Q Thank you.

Q How do you guys define success for President Zelenskyy's meeting with Speaker Johnson?

MR. BATES: President Zelenskyy, like you were hearing Mr. Kirby underline, is the most effective advocate for Ukraine. He is someone who is respected across the country and in both parties in Congress, and no one can better articulate why we  we need to continue the very successful efforts that we have led in the world.

Remember that the President has led a coalition across the world, united in defending our values: democracy, sovereignty. I know there are a lot of congressional Republicans who talk about sovereignty.

We should also keep in mind that if congressional Republicans want to be serious about joining President Biden in countering Iran, there is no better way to do so than to vote for this supplemental. Iran has been critical to Putin's war effort. And they also are assisting Hamas; they sponsor Hamas.

So, we need to keep that context in mind this week.

Q Thank you, Andrew.

Q Thank you.

Q Do you know how many visits he has made to Pennsylvania in the last year or so?

MR. BATES: We can try to get that for you. I don't know offhand.

Q Okay. Thanks. Appreciate it.

11:33 A.M. EST

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Security Council condemns violence in South Sudan, Abyei

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:57, December 12, 2023

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Monday strongly condemned the violence in Warrap State of South Sudan and in southern Abyei, which has claimed dozens of lives since November.

In a press statement, the members of the Security Council noted with grave concern the continued presence of some forces as well as armed elements of the local communities in Abyei, a territory contested by Sudan and South Sudan, and reiterated that Abyei should be fully demilitarized without delay.

They echoed the calls of the UN secretary-general's special representative for South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, stressing the need for the transitional government of South Sudan to investigate the killings and attacks on civilians in Warrap and in Abyei. They called on the transitional government of South Sudan to contain the violence and defuse tension between the affected communities.

The council members underscored the important role the UN peacekeeping force in Abyei should play in the protection of civilians, in supporting community dialogue and reconciliation, and in helping achieve peace, security and stability in Abyei and the broader region.

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Missile Launched from Yemen Hits Tanker

By VOA News December 12, 2023

A missile fired from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen struck a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Bab al-Mandab Strait on Tuesday.

The U.S. Central Command said in a statement that the attack caused a fire on board the tanker STRINDA, but that there were no reported casualties.

CENTCOM said the missile was assessed to be an anti-ship cruise missile that struck the vessel as it passed through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which links the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

There were no U.S. ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, CENTCOM said. The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Mason responded to the incident and provided assistance to the STRINDA.

The attack is the latest by the Iran-backed Houthi militants in or near the Red Sea, in addition to the launching of drones and missiles targeting Israel.

The Houthis said Saturday they would target any ships heading to Israel through the vital shipping lanes that pass by Yemen.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press and Reuters

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Operation Iron Swords - Day 66 - 11 December 2023

A group of American Jews wrote messages on missiles targeting the Gaza Strip during their visit to an Israeli military site in an area adjacent to the Strip. The Turkish Anatolia news agency said that it monitored the visit of the Americans, wearing civilian clothes, to the Nahal Oz military site, where Israeli artillery units bombing Gaza are gathered. Members of the group wrote phrases on artillery shells, some of which incited the bombing of Gaza, and others disparaged the lives of Palestinian civilians. In an interview with Anadolu, a member of the group - who refused to reveal his identity - said that they were Jews who came from the United States to visit Israel. He added that he wrote the name of his region in the United States on one of the shells, while another wrote, With our best regards on another shell.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed that the photos of dozens of defenseless civilian detainees in Gaza, almost naked, are extremely disturbing, explaining the need to investigate for more information about their nature. The US State Department spokesman referred to photos of Palestinians who were taken in their underwear for interrogation, saying: They are very disturbing to us, and we are looking for more information about the nature of these photos, and why they became public in the first place.

The Hamas movement said in comments on the Israeli armys claims that the photos depict members of the Palestinian resistance, she said, Al-Qassam heroes do not surrender, and the lies of the occupation do not deceive anyone.

Strategic Communications Coordinator at the White House National Security Council, John Kirby, expressed Washington's concern about information related to Israel's use of American white phosphorus munitions in Lebanon. Speaking to reporters on board US President Joe Bidens plane, which took off from Washington to Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Kirby said: We have seen these reports. We are definitely concerned about it. We will ask questions [about this] to try to find out more [about what is happening]. The Strategic Communications Coordinator stated that the munition containing white phosphorus has a legitimate military purpose. However, he noted that in all cases the United States expects these munitions to be used for legitimate purposes. In accordance with the laws of armed conflict.

Earlier, The Washington Post reported that Israel used white phosphorus munitions supplied by the United States during the attacks on southern Lebanon in October. This conclusion was reached based on the analysis of ammunition fragments and photographs from the scene taken by press reporters. According to WashPo, the US-based newspaper got its hands on shell fragments found in al-Dhayrah, southern Lebanon, namely the remanent of three 155mm artillery rounds that injured at least nine civilians. A Washington Post journalist said production codes found on the shells match those by the US military to categorize domestically-produced munitions. One of the shells clearly has "WP" printed on it, which is consistent with white phosphorus rounds, arms experts said.

White phosphorus bombs are conventional incendiary weapons, but Protocol III of the "United Nations Inhuman Weapons Convention" of 1980 prohibits their use against civilians and civilian objects, as well as during attacks on military targets in civilian areas, and human rights organizations demand that phosphorus bombs be classified as chemical weapons.

Amnesty International underlines the incident should be investigated as a war crime. Although the Israeli occupation claims it was using the munition as a smokescreen, white phosphorus fell onto several homes and ignited wildfires, as well as wounded civilians, with black chemicals still being on the ground 40 days after the fact. Residents have reported that these chemicals combusted when they kicked them, which again proves that it is white phosphorus.

Operational Update

Al-Qassam Brigades bombed the city of Tel Aviv and its suburbs with batches of missiles, in the continuation of the war in Gaza for the 66th day. The Israeli army said that it had detected the launching of a large batch of missiles towards the Tel Aviv area and the coastal plain.

For its part, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said that it was engaged in violent clashes from point zero with special forces and an armored force west of the Jabalia camp. Al-Qassam also stated that it targeted a special force that barricaded itself in a residential building in the Beit Lahia project in the northern Gaza Strip with TPG shells, confirming that the forces members were killed or wounded.

In the south of the Gaza Strip, Al-Qassam said that it bombed with mortar shells Israeli forces penetrating the Al-Mahatta area in the city of Khan Yunis, and also targeted two Merkava tanks with Al-Yassin 105 shells North of the city of Khan Yunis. At the same time, the Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement, said that they bombed with heavy-caliber mortar shells crowds of occupation soldiers in the Juhr al-Dik area, east of the central region of the Gaza Strip, as well as in the Netzarim axis, south of Gaza City. In the Shujaiya axis, the Al-Quds Brigades confirmed the killing and wounding of all individuals in an Israeli military vehicle that the fighters blew up.

"Gift from Heaven": about 7 tons of logistical support were dropped from the air using the C-130 "Samshon" plane of the 103 squadron, for hundreds of fighters of the commando formation who are currently fighting in the Khan Yunis sector. This is the first operational airdrop since the Second Lebanon War. The dropping of the equipment was carried out using a "piloted navigation system" - an advanced operational system that enables the dropping of equipment that maneuvers itself to the ground forces through the ability to precisely navigate to the target.

Regarding the Israeli airdrop, which occurred for the first time since the 2006 Lebanon War, the military expert , Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi, said - in his military analysis for Al Jazeera - that the occupation needed the 11th day since the start of the Khan Yunis battle to cross the depth of the city (6 kilometers); That is, he needed to cover one kilometer every two days. It is likely that the landing took place in the Gush Katif area, a former Israeli settlement that was evacuated during the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, noting that it is an agricultural and empty area.

He pointed out that resorting to this step shows the occupation's lack of safety in using the roads, noting that dropping munitions can be dropped in the place they are needed because the air drop point is linked to the speed and direction of the wind, while paratroopers are dropped at a greater distance if there is wind.

The military and strategic expert said that the resistance taking place in the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip is an epic battle, although the clashes are on its borders, while the battle to the south is more painful and fierce. Al-Duwairi explained that there are heavy losses of lives and Israeli military equipment in the outer shell of Jabalia camp, even though deep inside it there is a police station and health and educational institutions for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees ( UNRWA ).

The clashes were concentrated in the areas of Abu Sharar, Abu Sharkh, Al-Faluja, Sheikh Zayed, Barkat Abu Rashid, and the Six Martyrs junction. All of these areas surround Jabalia camp - the largest of the eight refugee camps in the Gaza Strip - and Israeli forces are stationed there. Major General Al-Duwairi pointed out that helicopters transport the wounded of the occupation army to Beersheba and Tel Aviv because most of their injuries are fatal, "so they are racing against time to deliver the wounded to the main hospitals."

He explained that fighting from zero distance indicates that casualties range from moderate to serious or fatal, revealing that more than 50% of casualties are severe and fatal, and that the ratio of casualties between defenders and attackers in this case is 1 to 8. Major General Al-Duwairi confirmed that the intense fighting between the resistance and the occupation began today (December 10) after Israeli vehicles entered urban and residential areas.

He reiterated that the occupation had entered several areas in the northern Gaza Strip, but was unable to control them, which explains the intensity of the clashes there after the end of the temporary truce, after the Israeli army lost momentum. Regarding the announcement by Abu Ubaida, spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades - the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), of the destruction of 180 Israeli vehicles since the beginning of this month, Al-Duwairi said that the toll may have reached 204 vehicles, attributing this to the fact that the word may have been recorded before todays events.

As for the south, the military expert repeated his prediction that the fighting in Khan Yunis would be more harmful and more painful, even though the area appears to be suitable ground for armored vehicles, but it serves the defenders equally, as it is a wide area. He pointed out that Khan Yunis is considered the stronghold in the southern region because it is the largest in area, and the elite of other resistance factions are located there, such as the Al-Quds Brigades, the military arm of the " Islamic Jihad Movement ."

Al-Duwairi touched on the Qassam scenes that were broadcast of the battles of Khan Yunis, and said that the people of Mecca know best about its paths, referring to the accuracy of monitoring of resistance fighters and the inability of the occupation forces to avoid being targeted by anti-personnel missiles. He added that the fighters in the ranks of the resistance are from the generation after the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, and most of them are between 18 and 27 years old and have physical fitness, build, and presence of mind. It is noteworthy that the Al-Qassam Brigades announced the complete or partial destruction of 44 enemy military vehicles on all fronts of the fighting during the last 48 hours, confirming the killing of 40 Israeli soldiers and the death and injury of dozens of others in bombings and clashes during the same period.

Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi, revealed the reasons for the difference in the size of the gatherings in the areas where Israeli vehicles are stationed in the northern Gaza Strip, and it was likely that the landing was The Israeli paratrooper in Khan Yunis in the south occurred in the area of ??the former Gush Katif settlement.

Al-Duwairi stated that the size of the concentration of Israeli vehicles in external parties such as Beit Lahia and eastern Beit Hanoun is large because these areas are considered almost safe compared to the Jabalia camp. He added that this heavy presence came after a bloody battle and systematic destruction in the region following the bombing of the fire belts, renewing the talk about the necessity of distinguishing between progress and control. He pointed out that resistance operations in these areas have a heavy price for the occupation forces because the latter have become relaxed and lax, as happened in the bombing of tents in Juhr al-Dik, east of the central region.

As for the stationing of vehicles in small numbers, as is the case in the Al-Faluga area in Jabalia camp, he explained that the deeper the occupation army went; The number has become smaller, because there are no spaces that allow for crowding, and these areas are considered an arena for clashes. He added that the number of these vehicles is between 3 and 5, and they are considered to be in a state of combat advance, where clashes occur and they are forced to stop and retreat and then search for any suitable area, pointing out that the bulldozers rely at this stage on creating dirt berms behind which the vehicles can hide, stressing that all of this is " Part of battle management.

He concluded that the presence of mechanisms in small numbers means that they are in a short state of anticipation and waiting to carry out operations and other missions, or that they have been disabled and destroyed by the resistance, or are awaiting an unknown fate.

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper summarized: In its issue issued on the 66th day of the war on Gaza, the Israeli newspaper presented scenarios for a ground incursion into the Strip, with the main title The post-war fighting, indicating that the Israeli army is racing against time to complete its military operations before the American time for the ceasefire runs out.

This title carries within it messages that the military leadership seeks to pass on to the Israeli public, summarizing that ground incursions into the Gaza Strip will not achieve its goals of undermining the movement. The Islamic Resistance (Hamas) and its military and political strength. It also boils down to the fact that the military operations did not contribute to the liberation of Israeli detainees held by the Palestinian factions, which obliges the army to remain in a state of fighting on the Gaza front during the year 2024.

These messages reflect the Israeli narrative that is taking shape at the political level, which is still promoting the continuation of ground incursions without specifying the nature of the achievements that have been achieved, while repeating the statements of the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that the army needs more time to complete military operations.

These messages reviewed by the newspaper are consistent with the estimates of many Israeli analysts of military and security affairs, who unanimously agreed that the Israeli army is racing against time in search of framing an image of victory, despite the military leaderships admissions that achieving the goals of the war takes a long time, not weeks.

Estimates indicate that the army will be in a permanent state of combat, and in 2024 it will continue military operations on the southern front, military alert, and the widespread deployment of forces on the northern front, while all battalions affiliated with the reserve forces will be required to continue military reserve service during the next year for at least one month.

The Israeli army's preparations include allocating additional budgets in 2024 to finance the continued service of reserve forces in all sectors, while amending the conscription law will be discussed to increase the duration of compulsory military service to 3 years, after there was previously a tendency to shorten it.

In reference to the continuation of the state of fighting on the Gaza front during the year 2024, the military and security affairs correspondent for the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth wrote: Yossi Yehoshua, in an article entitled The phase of eliminating armed cells in the Gaza Strip will require more service for the reserve forces and an extension of the period of compulsory military service, which requires recruiting additional budgets for the Ministry of Security.

As the ground maneuver deepens into the most problematic and difficult areas of the Gaza Strip, the military correspondent says, The danger to the forces increases, and the families anxiety increases. The war is long and bloody, but it is also an existential necessity. Yehoshua adds, Everyone is looking at the final result that will be achieved, and for this reason the Israeli army asks to give him all the time and allow him to carry out the full mission to undermine Hamas according to plans.

Yhoshua explained that the harsh blow that Israel received on the 7th of last October made the army realize that it must insist on continuing the current military campaign to remove the threats facing Israel, whether from Gaza or Lebanon, as army leaders say, We want deterrence for many years to keep wars at bay.

The military correspondent estimated that the ground incursion would need several additional weeks, and pointed out that the Israeli army had made it clear that the campaign in the second phase would require at least another month to achieve the goals.

Yhoshua believes that the Israeli armys insistence on continuing ground operations, no matter how long it takes, reflects his fear of the scenario of the possibility of returning to the point of war and confrontation after a year, in the event that a severe blow is not directed at Hamas, which has dealt an unprecedented blow to the occupation army, which is present. In a state of "strategic humiliation" After his failure to prevent the battle of "Al-Aqsa Flood".

He pointed out that the expected scenarios are that the year 2024 will be a year of fighting of a different kind, while the Israeli army plans to build something similar to a security fence inside the territory of the Gaza Strip, which will require a lot of resources, budgets, manpower, and technological and engineering means.

For his part, military analyst Amos Harel wrote an article in the newspaper Haaretz: Titled Hamas is eroding, and the Israeli army wonders how to market victory?, indicating that Israel cannot eliminate Hamas, and that ground operations in the Gaza Strip will not lead to undermining the movements military strength.

Harel believes that the Israeli army, which is well aware that the countdown to ending the war on Gaza has begun, is wondering how to market the image of victory. To the Israeli public after the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the maintenance of the state of fighting on the Gaza front.

The military analyst considered that the images of battles and the ground incursion of Israeli forces into the Gaza Strip may indicate the beginning of a change in the security reality, with the army announcing that it was close to consolidating its control over Jabalia and Shujaiya, stressing that without the return of the Israeli detainees or the killing of the Hamas leadership, it will be It is difficult to explain to the Israeli public the reduction in fighting in the future.

Commenting on the statements of the Israeli military leadership that there are signs of failure among Hamas, Harel said, The most cautious and realistic definition is signs of erosion, not collapse. As is the case with the Israeli army, Hamas has been fighting forcefully for more than two months, under difficult circumstances.

In contrast to the Israeli army, Harel adds, Hamas achieved a major military achievement to its credit at the beginning of the war with the surprise attack it launched last October 7. He concludes, In order to achieve any achievement, it will be necessary to decide whether to expand the ground operation in the south to areas where the Israeli army has not been active before.

In a new report by The Economist, Israel has been recently trying to paint the impression that the Palestinian Resistance group Hamas is falling apart and Gaza is coming under IOF control, especially after the release of footage on social media that has caused worldwide outrage, showing Palestinian men stripped to their underwear and being searched by the IDF. On top of that, the IDF raised the Israeli flag in Gaza and lit candles in several battlefield locations for Hannukah. However, this is not the "victory picture" that Israelis are awaiting from the leadership. After the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, Israeli generals claimed that months are required with soldiers on the ground to destroy Hamas, and two months in, they are still predicting the same. According to The Economist, "success looks unlikely" for Israel.

Three days ago, the US vetoed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, "diplomatically" shielding its ally. The US deputy representative at the UN, Robert Wood, called the resolution "divorced from reality" and "would have not moved the needle forward on the ground." The Economist believes that the veto highlighted how reliant "Israel" has become on the US for diplomatic support. In addition, it cannot afford to lose its main source of weaponry - the US.

Even if the US demands an end to the war in the beginning of 2024, neither peace nor acceptable living conditions are likely to be regained. The report adds that even after the war comes to an end, the IOF will most likely continue a low-intensity campaign dependent on mobile ground forces. With that being said, Hamas will still have control over Gaza.

The Chief of Staff and the head of the Shin Bet conducted an assessment of the situation in the Gaza Strip with the commander of the Southern Command, the commander of the 98th division and the 9th Commando. "There is great pressure here, I think that this surrender, the people who come out and raise their hands is also a breaking of the spirit, it also accelerates the achievements, in the end we want to move forward quickly", said the Chief of Staff, Ra'el Herzi Halevi, "We are deepening Both the achievement in the north of the Gaza Strip, the entrance in the south of the Gaza Strip, and deepening into the ground - all these places, all these deepenings, are very important for the sake of the achievement.

The main method is really the combination - also of the army, engineering armor together here on the ground, your connection to the intelligence, the Shin Bet and the IDF, and really the physical presence here I meet it with all my strength is very, very important, all the time to try the intelligence that is available, Needles, to translate the best into action, and of course the connection to the Air Force which is very significant.

"I am happy to meet here in the streets of Khan Yunis both our coordinators and our fighters who work together with you," shared the head of the Shin Bet, "I think that what was presented here about the connection of intelligence and fire at very, very fast rates, also things that we decipher and arrive here, And things that really come at the speed of light or sound, more correctly, also save lives, also bring shafts, also bring commanders and thus break the enemy.

"It seems to me that this is a war of shafts, it seems to me that what is special about this war is that it should also be broad, in order to collapse the operational and governmental infrastructures, but also very, very focused in order to reach our citizens and take them out, it seems to me that there is no force that can stand against this combination."

In light of an intelligence warning about a planned attack by the terrorist organization Hamas on the protected area of ??fighters from the battle team of the Jerusalem Brigade, the fighters evacuated the protected area and went on alert for a terrorist attack. At the same time, attacks were carried out on combat targets of the brigade fire complex in cooperation with the Air Force.

After the end of the truce, IDF fighters in cooperation with the Shin Bet arrested about 140 Hamas and PIJ operatives throughout the Gaza Strip. The activists were detained during battles in recent days by IDF fighters, some of them voluntarily surrendered and were taken with the field investigators of Unit 504 in the Intelligence Division and the Shin Bet coordinators for further investigation.

In total, in the last month, more than 350 operatives of the terrorist organization Hamas were arrested by IDF and Shin Bet fighters. In addition to them, more than 120 operatives of the terrorist organization GAP were arrested. In total, more than 500 operatives from the terrorist organizations throughout the Gaza Strip were arrested and taken for further investigation in Israeli territory.

Some of the terrorist operators were caught hiding in civilian buildings, schools and shelters. The investigations yield intelligence that helps the security of the fighting forces and the detection of terrorists and other operatives of terrorist organizations.

IAF fighter jets attacked a military site of the Hezbollah terrorist organization. The attack was carried out in response to launches from Lebanon, towards the settlements of the Western Galilee earlier today. In addition, in the last few hours, a number of launches from Lebanese territory towards IDF positions in the north of the country have been detected. IDF forces attacked the sources of the shooting.

CIA Director William Burns warned Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad al-Sudani of dire consequences. Washington will confront Baghdad if it does not take measures to stop attacks on American bases. Associated Press reported: An Iraqi official said that Burns' warning comes amid increasing attacks on American targets in Iraq. The agency indicated that American forces in Iraq and Syria have been attacked at least 84 times since October 7.

An American official told the Associated Press: US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also told Al-Sudani during a phone conversation that Washington expects the Iraqi government to take action to prevent attacks on American targets. Earlier, the Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah said: Lebanese Naim Qassem said that the attacks on American bases in Iraq and Syria are very important to stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

On December 8, the "Shafaq News" website reported that the American embassy in the Green Zone in central Baghdad, where Iraqi government bodies and foreign diplomatic missions are stationed, was subjected to a missile attack. According to the website, several missiles were launched on the grounds of the American embassy, explosions were heard, and sirens sounded in the diplomatic mission building.

Agence France-Presse reported: Three missiles fired by militants fell in the embassy area, and no one was injured as a result of the attack. The US embassy, in a comment to the agency, called on the Iraqi authorities to ensure the protection of diplomatic personnel and military installations of the Western coalition against what it described as terrorists.

All maps are lies. But it is impossible to comprehend the war in Gaza without reference to maps, otherwise the entire conflict is reduced to an endless series of meaningless acts of random violence and the suffering of civilians. Evidently, different mappers have different ideas of how to depict the war in Gaza, notably those that seek to depict Israeli progress in the ground campaign. Part of the problem is latency. The news that forms the basis of the maps takes time to filter out to mappers, and the cartographers take time in crafting their maps, and it takes time to curate them. Thes processes are uneven among mappers, so their maps may differ in detail. Probably there is some ideological bias, or at least thematic apperception, which is understandable in wartime. It may come as no surprise that al-Jazeera maps depict rather less Israeli territorial progress than other sources. Finally, the remains the epistemological question of just exactly what are the colored in areas depicting. Naively, this might be understood as areas of Israeli control, that are no longer contested by the HAMAS. Or possibly these are areas of Israeli presence, in many of which the possibility of an RPG-wielding HAMAS militant popping out of a tunnel unexpectedly remains a live possibility. With the "zero-range" combat characterized by small unit tactics on both sides, maps may be prey to a fallacy of misplaced concreteness.

Bystanders

Axis of Resistance

According to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the concept of the two-state solution in Palestine will not help the Palestinian cause, since Palestine is currently occupied by Zionists. Speaking to an online Doha Forum, the foreign minister argued that the US' use of its veto power at the UN Security Council to allow atrocities in Gaza to continue indicates that Washington completely supports the Israeli occupation and apartheid.

He recalled Iran's diplomatic suggestion for resolving the issue, emphasizing Iran's position regarding Palestine is that there should exist one state and one state only; while the Jewish population can either choose to live under this government like the rest of the citizens or travel to another country.

Iranian parliament Mojtaba Zonnouri told Sputnik in early November that "Muslim countries must come to an agreement and take practical action ... There are two options for action. According to the first option, most Arab countries favor the creation of two independent states  Palestine and Israel. Iran does not accept this scenario. Iran has the simplest and most democratic proposal ... We accept any type of one state and government formed by democratic elections."

Amir-Abdollahian emphasized the urgent need for swift and effective actions by the international community and relevant international institutions to halt the war crimes being committed by Israel against the people in Gaza.

More than 450,000 workers lost their job opportunities inside Palestine (the West Bank and Gaza) during the war, which raised the unemployment rate by 16 points to 41% in Palestinian society, which already suffers from extreme poverty.

Allied for Democracy

As part of leaks published by Israeli media about what took place in the meeting, Netanyahu added, I think that you also do not want us to reveal our cards to this enemy, nor to reveal to him how we work and how we are committed with our souls and hearts to returning the kidnapped. Netanyahu said, during a closed meeting of the war council with a number of recently released Israeli detainees, in the presence of a delegation of the families of detainees who remained inthe Gaza Strip, he did not want the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to know what is managed in the meeting.

An Israeli writer saw that in these difficult days in which the citizens of Israel find it difficult to imagine the future and live in a state of extreme uncertainty, there is There is a need for leadership in Israel that speaks to the people. Writer Yair Golan said in an article published in the newspaper Maariv: The Israeli newspaper entitled Netanyahu has no idea how to get out of the abyss for which he is responsible. It is in these days, when the world of thousands of citizens has been destroyed and hundreds of thousands are homeless, isolated from their daily routine, and without any hope of returning to their normal lives, that there is a need for leadership in Israel that speaks to the people.

The writer saw that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no idea how to deal with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and returning the residents of the Gaza envelope to their normal lives, and also has no vision of dealing with Hezbollahand protecting and securing the population of northern Israel.

He added that Netanyahu has no idea how to get out of the abyss, except for meaningless statements regarding the elimination of Hamas, and that his government has no policy or military strategy to continue the war. He said that it must be said explicitly that a prime minister who puts his personal fate before the future of the country cannot lead Israel at this time, adding that without widespread and continuous popular pressure, he will have no intention of resigning or announcing new elections.

The Israeli writer points out that it is possible to build hope, but it is fundamentally related to leadership and honesty in decision-making. Hope cannot grow in the bed of corruption and extreme nationalism of the current government, and according to him, Netanyahu must resign now.

Since the start of the war on Gaza on October 7, Israel had closed the crossings and prevented the entry of more than 190,000 Palestinian workers. The Israeli Economic and Social Cabinet (Government Council), led by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, voted against the return of Palestinian workers to work in Israel, and submitted a recommendation to the expanded political and security cabinet not to allow the entry of any Palestinian into the Israeli labor market. At its subsequent meeting, the majority of ministers in the Political Security Cabinet opposed the return of the workers, and no vote was taken on the decision. Although the Israeli National Security Council confirmed the immediate need for 28,000 workers, 9,500 of whom are in the agricultural sector.

There is talk about the Israeli market's need for 130,000 workers, especially in the construction and agricultural sectors, and that their return will be conditional on strict measures, the most important of which are that they must hold work permits, that the worker must be over 40 years old, and that he be married and have children.

Despite all the pressure, especially the American ones, on the Israeli government and Benjamin Netanyahuwho, along with one of his advisors and the Minister of Labor in his government, supported the return of the workers. The Israeli extreme right undermined and thwarted all these calls. Shin Bet (Internal Security) was cautious about the approval with the need to tighten permit procedures, while the Israeli police feared the infiltration of the perpetrators of terror operations. Minister Gideon Saar, a member of the Economic Cabinet, said, Bringing in workers from Maadin residents is a bet on the lives of Israelis, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir The introduction of workers from areas of the Palestinian Authority that incite terrorism to work in Israel is a continuation of the concepts of October 7, and the army also refused the return of the workers. ir Barkat, the Israeli Minister of Economy, and Minister Smotrich and others said, It is not possible to bring in workers from a hostile population segment and bring them among us.

Those who propose the return of Palestinian workers, in addition to American pressure, justify the need of the Israeli labor market for Palestinian workers, and to reduce the amount of unemployment in the West Bank, the rise of which will lead to a deterioration of the security situation, in addition to the slowdown of the Israeli economy, which is confirmed by those close to Netanyahu.

Quarrels and tensions occurred between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Minister of Transportation and Labor Party leader, Merav Michaeli, during a meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the Knesset. Michaeli, a member of the Knesset and a minister from the Labor Party, protested against Netanyahus statement in which he said that the number of Israeli deaths as a result of the Oslo Accords Since 1993, it has been the same number of deaths in the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7th, amounting to 1,200 people.

Michaeli rejected the comparison, but committee chairman Yuli Edelstein interrupted her and rebuked her for her interruption and ongoing argument with Netanyahu. Michaeli, who announced last week that she would retire from political life before the upcoming Knesset elections, criticized the government's policy and vision since the day after the war on Gaza.

Addressing Netanyahu, she said, You have never presented an alternative to the Palestinian state. Without a political vision, the Gulf countries will not come to rehabilitate and preserve Gaza in the medium term.

Netanyahu responded by saying that the Oslo Accords were Israels big mistake... Both parts of Palestinian society (the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza) originally want to destroy Israel... one part says so openly, and another part does so through education and the International Criminal Court. He stressed, The idea is for the UAE and Saudi Arabia to participate in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip the day after the war. Netanyahu again claimed that the Palestinian Authority will not be able to govern Gaza under any circumstances... Security responsibility will remain with the State of Israel.

According to Ryan Cooper from The American Prospect, the dire situation in Gaza is becoming increasingly desperate due to the intense bombardment of Israeli occupation forces (IOF). Cooper argues that the war on Gaza is presenting an existential problem for the Israelis since they are not only dragging themselves into regional conflicts but alienating their allies since the whole world is watching them ethnically cleanse Gaza.

Cooper notes that the major risk is firstly a regional conflict since American and European officials have reportedly told the HuffPost that the Israelis are considering using US aid to attack Lebanon and "push Hezbollah far from the Israeli border." Not only is the IDF actively involved in bombing south Lebanon, but they have also escalated attacks on Syria's international airports in Damascus and Aleppo. Israelis also launched attacks on several areas in southern Syria. In addition, Yemen has recently decided to prohibit any ship from reaching Israeli ports via the Arabian and Red seas if Gaza's needs for food and medicine are not met.

Butcher's Bill / Oasis of Martyrs

Palestinian armed group Hamas launched thousands of missiles at Israel and deployed its militants to infiltrate Jewish settlements near the countrys border with Gaza on 07 October 2023. The 1,200 Israelis killed on the first day would be the equivalent of 36,000 Americans killed in an attack, as a proportion to Israels population of 9.3 million people (compared to 332 million in the USA). Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated: Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in one day". PM Netanyahu stated "On October 7th, Hamas murdered 1,400 Israelis. Maybe more. This is in a country of fewer than 10 million people. This would be equivalent to over 50,000 Americans murdered in a single day. Thats twenty 9/11s. That is why October 7th is another day that will live in infamy."

It is the second largest loss inflicted on the Israeli forces after the 1973 war, as the Palestinian resistance killed more than 1,200, wounded more than 5,132 others, and captured more than 250, most of them military personnel, some of whom were high-ranking officers in the army.

The HAMAS Ministry of Health in the besieged sector announced that the number of victims of the Israeli operation its beginning had risen to about 18,205 martyrs. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The number wounded was 49,645 [down from the 56,400 with varying injuries the previous day]. The Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza had said many days earlier that the number of missing people had risen to more than 7,500 [double the 3,750 previously reported], including 1,800 children still under the rubble, including 4,700 children and women.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health explained that the death toll in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has risen to 465, including 257 martyrs since last October 7.

Israel revised down the death toll from the October Hamas attacks in southern Israel from 1,400 to 1,200. IDF had said previously it was holding 1,500 bodies of terrorists, a total that now would increas to about 1,700.

Of the 101 IDF soldiers killed in Gaza, 60 have been active duty, compared to 41 reservists. A high proportion, 23 of them, have been officers (including a battalion commander, at least four company commanders, and at least 13 platoon commanders and company 2ICs). The army acknowledged the killing of 7 soldiers, including 5 officers, during the fighting in the Gaza Strip, bringing the number of its deaths since the start of the ground operation to about 110. This brings the total number of dead officers and soldiers whose names the Israeli army allowed to be published to 433 since the Palestinian resistance launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7th.

At least 10,157 Israelis were injured. Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that 5,000 soldiers had been wounded since the beginning of the war on October 7, and that the Ministry of Defense had recognized 2,000 soldiers as disabled so far. The Hebrew newspaper Haaretz revealed that the army rarely referred to casualties when talking about the deaths of soldiers during battles. According to the same newspaper, this policy differs from what was prevalent in previous wars and military campaigns, during which the army also published the number of its wounded, in addition to publishing other details.

Yedioth Ahronoth said that the Israeli Ministry of Defense rehabilitation department receives 60 injured people daily, most of whom are in serious condition, in addition to at least 100 being blinded, and 7% suffering from psychological symptoms.

The military and strategic expert, Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi, stated 09 December 2023 that the numbers provided by the Israeli newspaper about the losses of the occupation army are not correct, and they are greater than that. He pointed to Israeli sources that talk about 3,000 dead and 11,000 wounded, which are the numbers closest to the truth, the adds.

Al Jazeera TV General Al-Duwairi said that a Hebrew newspapers announcement of these numbers confirms that the reality is much greater than this. Because Yedioth Ahronoth will be concerned about Israeli morale in the end, meaning it will not provide everything. He added, "Given that the number of vehicles destroyed by the resistance - according to its announcements - reached 500, between a tank and a troop carrier, the first carrying 10 personnel and the second 12 personnel, this means an average of 11 personnel per vehicle."

While losses in symmetrical battles are estimated at one dead to every three wounded, Al-Duwairi believes that the losses in the current battles will be much greater because they are all battles that take place from zero distance, meaning they are deadly battles and even the casualties in them are very serious.

Lebanons Health Ministry released its first official casualty numbers in fighting, saying 77 people were killed and 251 wounded since the start of the war on Gaza.

Hostages

Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy told reporters that Hamas still held 137 captives. The resistance released 10 Israeli detainees, 4 Thais and 2 Russian women, who were released outside the agreement. Over the course of 6 days, Israel has received 102 detainees, women and children, including 78 Israelis, in exchange for the release of 234 Palestinian prisoners, women and children.

Eylon Levy, the Israeli government spokesperson, told reporters 01 December 2023:

Hamas still holds 137 hostages from the October attacks, in addition to four others who went missing before the war

The hostages include two children aged four and 10 months, who, Hamas now claims, are dead

117 male hostages are still kept in Gaza, including the two children, as well as 20 females

126 hostages are Israelis, and 11 others are foreign nationals

Foreign nationals are eight Thais, one Nepalese, one Tanzanian and one French Mexican citizen

Ten of the remaining hostages are 75 and older. There are seven missing people since the October 7 attack

Hamas has released 110 hostages so far  86 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals.

The Al-Qassam Brigades announced the death of an Israeli woman and her two children who were detained by them as a result of a previous Israeli bombing of Gaza. The Israeli army confirmed the deaths of five hostages held in Gaza, saying their families had been informed, and the body of one of them returned to Israel. In recent days, the IDF and Israel police notified the families of the hostages Eliyahu Margalit, Maya Goren, Ronen Engel and Arye Zalmanovitz about their deaths, army spokesman Daniel Hagari said. He also said troops had brought back the body of a fifth person that he identified as Ofir Tsarfati. Hagari said Gaza militants were still holding 136 hostages, among them 17 women and children.

Before the release of the sixth batch of Israelis detained in Gaza, Israeli government spokesman Elon Levy said that 161 Israelis are still detained in the Strip [al-Jazeera reported "more than 100 prisoners" remain with the resistance]. Levy added that Israel has prepared a list of 50 Palestinian detainees to be released if Hamas continues to release detainees. At least 76, and possibly more than 80, hostages had been released by Hamas over six days of a cease-fire. During the pause, Hamas fighters released 60 Israeli women and children. In return, Israel released 180 security detainees from its prisons, all of them women and minors under the age of 19. Hamas also separately released 19 foreign hostages, most of them Thai farm workers, under separate agreements parallel to the truce agreement.

Thirty children held by Gazan terrorists have been released as part of a four-day ceasefire deal with Hamas that began Friday, but 10 still remain in the Strip. The terror group has said it planned to release 20 more hostages as part of a two-day extension to the deal. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the Biden administration believes eight or nine more Americans are still being held but the U.S. does not have "solid information on each and every one of them." Perhaps 100 are Israeli civilians. Some of the rest are soldiers, seized when Hamas raided military bases in Israel. They may end up being held the longest. The Israeli military had not specified how many soldiers were captured, nor their ranks.

By one account

236 confirmed abducted civilians and IDF soldiers.

18 of the abductees are elderly people aged 75 and older.

121 of the abductees have foreign citizenship (including dual citizenship).

Conflicting estimates were provided regarding the number of Thai nationals still in captivity. The Wall Street Journal reported 25 November 2023 that Hamas is interested in releasing 23 Thai citizens during the four days of the ceasefire, mediated by Iran. On the other hand, the Thai Foreign Ministry claimed 20 more citizens who are held captive by Hamas, and that four of the ten who were released were not included in the number initially estimated.

According to some estimates, Hamas was initially holding nearly 210 of the 240 hostages, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad was holding the remaining 30. About 40 Israelis remained missing. More than 40 hostages taken from Israel into Gaza on October 7th are not currently in the custody of Hamas, the group responsible for the attack, according to a CNN report based on a diplomatic source briefed on the negotiations, CNN's prior reports had indicated that an estimated 40 to 50 hostages were held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad or other unidentified groups or individuals.

Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said on Hamas telegram account that 23 bodies of the 60 missing Israel hostages were trapped under the rubble. It seems that we will never be able to reach them due to the continued brutal aggression of the occupation against Gaza, he said.

The the Palestinian Prisoners' Club announced that the Israeli occupation forces arrested at least 15 citizens from several governorates in the West Bank, from yesterday evening, Friday, until dawn today. This brings the number of arrests in the occupied West Bank since October 7 to 3,700 detainees. Israel said that, since the beginning of the war, about 2,100 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the IOS Division and the Bekaa and Emekim Brigade, about 1,100 of them are affiliated with Hamas.

During the Loyalty of the Free prisoner exchange deal between the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas and the Israeli occupation in 2011, under which 1,027 prisoners were liberated in exchange for the release of soldier Gilad Shalit, the occupation refused to release a list of about 40 prisoners and classified them as dangerous. Throughout their detention, these forty remained outside the scope of negotiations, and the occupation insisted on not releasing them under any circumstances. But Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, which began on October 7, in which the resistance captured about 250 Israelis, restored hope to the prisoners and their families, and made the idea of liberation from captivity closer to being achieved, even for those with high sentences. Among them, the names of the three senior prisoners, Abbas Al-Sayyid, Ahmed Saadat, and Ibrahim Hamed, stand out.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 11 December 2023 - Day 656

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A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that over the last week, the Donetsk Oblast town of Avdiivka has continued to be the scene of the most intense combat on the front. As reflected in official Ukrainian public-release data, on some days approaching 40 per cent of all combat engagements have likely taken place in this small sector.

The Russian offensives have continued to be characterised by largely dismounted infantry assaults, often by Shtorm-Z penal units.

Ukrainian units have likely conducted successful local counterattacks, denying Russian forces full control of the village of Stepove. It is here that Russia is attempting one part of a pincer movement to envelop Avdiivka and its heavily defended industrial zone.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of December 11, there were 73x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 10x missile strikes and 46x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private residential buildings as well as other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Around 15x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy (Chernihiv oblast), Znob-Novhorods'ke, Popivka, Porokhon', (Sumy oblast), Okhrimivka, Vovchans'k, Budarky, Pletenivka (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: Ukrainian defense forces repelled 8x attacks in the vicinities of Spirne and Vesele (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 13x attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka and Pivnichne (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Markove, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.

Avdiivka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 36x attacks in the area east of Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, south of Sjeverne, south of Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces were making unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Stepove, Avdiivka, Karlivka, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defense forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Mar'inka, Krasnohorivka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces launched 12x failed attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders. The settlements of Heorhiivka, Kostyantynivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast) were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.

Shakhtars'ke axis: the adversary conducted no offensives. Around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.

Zaporizhzhia axis: Ukrainian defense forces repelled 3x Russian attacks north of Pryyutne and west of Novopokrovka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Levadne, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), and Nikopol' (Dnipropetrovs'k oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire.

Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the settlement of Antonivka (Kherson oblast) and the city of Kherson.

Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold their ground on the left bank of the Dnipro River (Kherson oblast) and inflict fire on the Russian enemy.

During the day of December 11, Ukrainian Air Force launched 2x strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment of the Russian invaders.

Ukrainian missile troops hit 2x strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x ammunition depot, 1x command post, and 1x artillery system of the Russian occupiers.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by helicopters and artillery repelled four attacks of assault groups of AFU 14th, 21st mechanised, 57th mechanised infantry brigades close to Petropavlovka, Sinkovka, Terny (Kharkov region).

The Zapad Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on clusters of AFU manpower and hardware close to Berestovoye, Ivanovka (Kharkov region), Novoegorovka (Lugansk People's Republic). The enemy lost up to 30 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported repelled one attack launched by the AFU 63rd Mechanised Brigade near Chervonaya Dibrova (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, air strikes and artillery fire struck the personnel and hardware of the 67th Mechanised Brigade close to Serebryansky forestry. ?? Up to 175 Ukrainian troops, one tank, one infantry fighting vehicle, and two motor vehicles have been neutralised.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled 18 enemy attacks and inflicted fire damage on AFU manpower and hardware near Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 200 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, helicopters, and artillery inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 58th mechanised infantry and 79th air assault brigades near Novomikhailovka and Ugledar (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 80 Ukrainian troops and three motor vehicles. ?? In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery warfare radar were eliminated.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces repelled four attacks of the 117th, 118th mechanised brigades near Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, air strikes and artillery fire struck AFU personnel and hardware close to Rabotino and Uspenovka (Zaporozhye region). ?? The enemy lost up to 45 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one D-30 howitzer, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station.

In Kherson direction, as a result of actions of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation, the AFU lost up to 40 Ukrainian troops and four motor vehicles.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged two ammunition depots close to Chernobayevka (Kherson region), as well as manpower and hardware in 107 areas during the day.

24 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted by Russian air defence units close to Svatovo, Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic), Shevchenko (Donetsk People's Republic), Nesteryanka, Rovnoye (Zaporozhye region), Alyoshki, Korsunka (Kherson region).

In total, 550 airplanes and 257 helicopters, 9,632 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 13,979 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,188 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,297 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,192 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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USEUCOM, USAFRICOM and Space Force activate U.S. Space Forces in Europe and Africa as new service component command

By U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs , United States Africa Command Ramstein Airbase, Germany Dec 10, 2023

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - December 8, 2023 -- U.S. European Command, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Space Force officially activated the U.S. Space Forces Europe and Africa (SPACEFOREUR-AF) component command at a ceremony in Ramstein, Germany, on Dec. 8, 2023.

SPACEFOREUR-AF is the newest service component under EUCOM and AFRICOM with their permanent headquarters at Ramstein Air Base. EUCOM and AFRICOM are the latest combatant commands to establish a space component, following in the footsteps of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Central Command.

"For Germany, the U.S. are the most important partner in developing and expanding space capabilities. The activation of the U.S. Space Forces Europe and Africa component at Ramstein Air Base emphasizes both the fast-growing military significance of the space domain and the importance of Germany as a reliable ally and base for the U.S. Armed Forces." said Boris Pistorius, the German Defense Minister "I am confident that this important step will strengthen our already excellent bilateral military partnership in space and accelerate our practical cooperation on this topic of strategic relevance."

"The activation of SPACEFOREUR-AF highlights our dedication to strengthening collaborative space capabilities across the African continent," stated U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander for AFRICOM. "Our emphasis extends beyond protecting our space assets; we are equally devoted to fostering partnerships and augmenting the command's capacity to deliver space-related benefits in support of shared missions with African partners."

SPACEFOREUR-AF will be staffed by approximately 30 service members and commanded by U.S. Space Force Col. Max Lantz. The command will play a significant role in supporting EUCOM's growing need for space-based capabilities such as satellite navigation, communications and integration with NATO Allies and partners.

RAMSTEIN, Germany "The activation of SPACEFOREUR-AF is a testament to our commitment to strengthening the joint space capabilities in this region," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven Basham, deputy commander for EUCOM. "Our focus is not only on protecting our space assets but also on enabling and enhancing the command's ability to provide space effects in support of our missions alongside Allies and partners."

The ceremony also featured remarks from the Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force, Gen. Chance Saltzman, who emphasized that SPACEFOREUR-AF's activation marks a pivotal step in advancing U.S. commitment to space security and cooperation and ensures the continued protection and resilience of U.S. and Allied space assets.

"Today, we will integrate our Space Forces at the component level -- something that will provide a cadre of space experts who can work with the Joint Force, our Allies, and partners to integrate space activities into our shared operations, activities, and investments," Saltzman said. "The joint force's missions increasingly rely on space and the Space Force is committed to ensuring that the force has the space resources it needs to succeed."

SPACEFOREUR-AF's presence in Europe and Africa will enhance both EUCOM and AFRICOM's ability to promote security and regional stability, while also building strong and strategic relationships within the realm of space.

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Homeland Missile Defense System Conducts Successful Intercept Of Target

23-NEWS-0006

December 11, 2023

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with U.S. Northern Command, the U.S. Space Force Space Launch Delta 30, and the U.S. Space Command Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, conducted a successful intercept today of an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) by an upgraded Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI). The test demonstrated the ability of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) capability to engage threats faster.

The test employed an upgraded GBI with a Capability Enhanced-II Block 1 Exo-Atmospheric Kill Vehicle. This test was also the first test of a three-stage GBI operating in two-stage mode, which means the third stage was commanded not to ignite and allowed earlier release of the kill vehicle, providing closer range engagements.

The primary objective of the test was to demonstrate the ability of GMD to engage a target in the expanded engagement space made possible by the GBI in two-stage mode.

This test was also the first integrated GMD flight test using sensor data from the Army Navy/ Transportable Radar Surveillance Model-2 Forward Based Mode with and Sea-Based X-Band radar with upgrades.

This new capability, known as a 2-/3-Stage selectable GBI, will be deployed in the next GMD capability delivery to the Warfighter. This capability gives the Warfighter greater flexibility in executing the defense of the homeland while significantly expanding the battlespace for successful threat engagement.

"This successful intercept utilizing the 2-/3-Stage selectable Ground Based Interceptor capability in 2-stage mode provides the Warfighter with increased battlespace that supports additional shot opportunities to negate an incoming threat missile," said MDA Director Lieutenant General Heath Collins. "The Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system is vitally important to the defense of our homeland, and this test demonstrates that we continue to provide enhanced capabilities for our existing Ground Based Interceptor fleet while we rapidly design and deliver the leap-ahead technology of the Next Generation Interceptor."

"Today's test highlights U.S. Northern Command's close coordination and collaboration with the Missile Defense Agency and demonstrates our continued commitment to countering ballistic missile threats to the homeland," said Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command. "The Ground-Based Interceptor is an important effector in a globally-integrated system that connects sensors to decision makers to provide the nation's senior leaders with options and time. Today's test bolsters strategic stability in a dynamic security environment."

The GMD element of the Missile Defense System defends the U.S. homeland against ballistic missile threats from rogue Nations such as North Korea and Iran. It provides the Commander, USNORTHCOM the capability to engage and destroy intermediate- and long-range ballistic missile threats to the U.S. homeland. Though the United States maintains the right to defend itself against attacks from any source, GMD is neither intended for, nor capable of, defeating large and sophisticated ICBM, air-, or sea-launched ballistic missile threats from Russia and the People's Republic of China. The United States relies on strategic deterrence to address those threats.

The mission of the Missile Defense Agency is to develop and deploy a layered Missile Defense System to defend the United States, its deployed forces, allies and friends from limited ballistic missile attacks of all ranges in all phases of flight.

Additional information about all elements of the ballistic missile defense system can be found at www.mda.mil.

Please direct all media related queries to Mark Wright at 571-231-8212, Mark.Wright@mda.mil or Heather Cavaliere at 256-503-7802, Heather.Cavaliere@mda.mil.

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Xi's Vietnam visit to inject vitality into ties, consolidate mutual trust

Global Times

By Li Aixin in Hanoi Published: Dec 11, 2023 09:06 PM

At the year-end of 2023, China's head-of-state diplomacy turns the spotlight on Vietnam. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, will pay a state visit to Vietnam from December 12 to 13, a trip which is expected to chart course for future growth of bilateral relations, inject vitality into sound bilateral political mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Xi's visit is at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and State President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Vo Van Thuong.

On Monday, Vietnam+ published an article entitled "Chinese top leader's Vietnam visit to create new momentum for bilateral ties," commenting that "the visit will make a prominent landmark and be an important highlight on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.''

For a country's top leader, the destination of state visits at the beginning or the end of a year has strategic considerations and implications, Shen Yi, a professor at Fudan University, told the Global Times.

Shen said Vietnam being the destination of Xi's visit at the 2023 year-end conveys a clear message: China attaches great significance to neighboring countries, and to those who have responded goodwill toward China's principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in relation to its neighbors.

Mutual visits

In November 2015, Xi visited Vietnam for the first time as the head of state and top leader of the CPC. When he met Nguyen Phu Trong, Xi's opening remark was, this is a promise between the two of us, and also my commitment, to have the mutual visits of the general secretaries of our two countries within a year.

Two years later, when Xi landed in Vietnam the second time in November 2017, the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries had realized mutual visits within a single year twice in three years. And that was Xi's first overseas trip on the heels of the landmark 19th CPC National Congress.

On October 31, 2022, Xi welcomed Nguyen Phu Trong for his official visit to China, which was the first foreign leader's visit to China right after the conclusion of the 20th CPC National Congress.

Then comes the latest visit, starting on Tuesday, which will be the third time for Xi and Nguyen Phu Trong to realize mutual visits in about a year.

As Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on December 1 during his visit in Hanoi, the two parties and two countries have seen close high-level exchanges and frequent contacts like visiting relatives, which fully demonstrates the high level and special nature of China-Vietnam relations.

Special ties

"Vietnam-China relations have many advantages that are difficult for any other country to have," Viet Hoang, senior lecturer at International Law Faculty, Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, told the Global Times.

Hoang said as neighbors with land and sea borders, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries are easier to develop than with other countries that aren't as geographically close; More importantly, it is difficult to find any bilateral relationship that, in addition to the official channels of the state and the people, has a stable, powerful and effective exchange channel like the exchange channel between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of China.

Hoang also noted that the two countries share many similarities, creating favorable conditions for cultural exchange activities such as tourism and study abroad programs between their respective peoples.

"I believe President Xi's visit will boost more people-to-people exchanges between China and Vietnam," a Chinese tourist, who was visiting Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature, which is also translated as Temple of Confucius), told the Global Times on Monday.

In Hanoi, Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam is one of the historical sites with the most Chinese characteristics. It was Vietnam's first national university from 1076 to 1779, where students learned Chinese. It now houses the statues of Confucius and his disciples.

The tourist shared his new discovery with the Global Times. He took out a 100,000 VND (Vietnamese DONG) banknote, and said, look, the temple of literature is printed on the back side of the banknote, adding "this is a proof our bond has a long history and that the bond is still close."

"It's big news here!" A Vietnamese told Global Times in Hanoi on Monday when asked if she knew Chinese leader will embark on a visit to Vietnam. She said she is looking forward to more cooperation with China and to more Chinese people coming to Vietnam. In her eyes, more cooperation means mutual prosperity and better life.

US distorted angle

As the visit approaches, some US media activated their distorted analysis. The VOA wrote on December 8 that the visit comes as "Hanoi-US Relations Warm." On the same day, The Diplomat commented, "The trip comes on the heels of the Vietnamese government's significant diplomatic upgrades with the US and Japan."

They refer to US President Joe Biden's visit in Vietnam in September which lifted Washington to Hanoi's comprehensive strategic partner.

The narrative suggests as if China had little interaction with Vietnam in the past, and only rushes to the Southeast Asian country after US visit, turning a blind eye to the frequent contacts between China and Vietnam like visiting relatives in recent years and regular mutual visits since the normalization of ties between the two, Shen told Global Times.

China has been seriously developing ties with Vietnam for the long term, unlike the US, which aims to use Hanoi to gain its selfish profits when needed, and sets it aside when not. This is the biggest difference between China-Vietnam ties and US-Vietnam relations, Shen added.

China-Vietnam ties eye mutually beneficial cooperation, not the third party, experts said.

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China and Vietnam are both socialist countries on a path of reform and transformation in keeping with our respective national realities. Strengthening unity and friendship and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries serves the common interests of both sides, and contributes to peace, stability and prosperity of the region and beyond.

Mao added that a shared path and a shared future is the hallmark of China-Vietnam relations. An elevated bilateral relationship is a natural result in accordance with the overwhelming trend.

Nguyen Tang Nghi, vice dean in act at faculty of international relations, College of Social Sciences & Humanities, Vietnam National University of Ho Chi Minh City, told the Global Times that the strong and manifold relationship between Vietnam and China has been cultivated and developed by generations of leaders from both countries. Vietnam has no reason to form alliances with third parties to counter China, nor does it have any reason to allow other countries to use Vietnam as a tool to confront China.

The prosperity and stability of the Vietnam-China relationship not only hold special significance for the people of both countries, but also have an impact on the security, political, and economic landscape of East Asia, Nguyen Tang Nghi said.

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Officials, experts refute Western media's slander concerning successful District Council Election in Hong Kong

Global Times

Election marks general completion of reshaping of HKSAR's governance structure, conducive for long-term stability: experts

By Chen Qingqing and Bai Yunyi in Hong Kong Published: Dec 11, 2023 10:03 PM

Central government authorities extended warm congratulations on Monday to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for the successful completion of the 7th District Council (DC) Election, another important milestone unveiling a new chapter for local governance.

While the city has been immersed in a joyful sentiment of moving forward, in a sharp contrast to the chaotic and dangerous DC election in 2019, some Western media outlets continued exaggerating the "record-low" turnout, which was rebuked by political figures and experts.

Early Monday morning, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council (HKMAO), the liaison office of the central government in Hong Kong, the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the central government in Hong Kong, and the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong extended their warm congratulations to the 176 district councilors from district committees and 88 local district councilors elected during the 7th DC Election.

A total of 1.19 million Hong Kong residents cast their votes on Sunday, equal to an accumulative turnout of 27.54 percent, according to official data. The voting process concluded at midnight on Sunday.

This was the first DC election to be held since electoral reform introduced the principle that only patriots should administer Hong Kong.

The HKMAO said the new DC system effectively prevents anti-China disruptors in Hong Kong from entering the DC, and completely ends the attempts of anti-China disruptors in the city and the external forces behind them, such as the US and the West, to seize the governance of the HKSAR through elections.

Under the new system, the DC can effectively play an active role as an "advisory and assisting administration" under the direct leadership and coordination of the SAR government, thereby opening up the "last mile" of regional governance in the SAR, strengthening administrative leadership, improving governance efficiency, responding to public concerns and promoting good governance.

The restructured DC is also "the last piece of the puzzle" for the HKSAR government to implement the principle of only patriots administering the city, HKSAR CE John Lee said on Sunday after casting his vote.

"We have confidence that the new district council in the HKSAR will perform its duties in accordance with the law and that the newly elected district councilors can serve as a good bridge between the HKSAR government and the people of Hong Kong, helping the government improve the grassroots governance system and improve the efficiency of grassroots governance," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Chan Chi Ho, a district councilor elected to the Tseung Kwan O North DC, told the Global Times that the DC election four years ago was actually a struggle between the patriotic camp and anti-China forces destabilizing Hong Kong, which was highly political.

During this election, all candidates must be patriots. There was no debate over political stances during the election, so candidates could focus on comparisons in community services, political platforms and abilities, Chan said.

"This is more helpful for community construction and residents' welfare."

Many residents are actually concerned about the facilities in the communities where they live. For example, adding zebra crossings, extending the time of pedestrian crossing lights, and adding seats on some walking trails. "Those are all very important to people's livelihood, and it is worth pushing the government to optimize them," Chan said.

However, some Western media such as the BBC, Voice of America and the Financial Times focused on the low turnout of this year's election, calling it a "birdcage" election as there were no candidates from the opposition camp.

The spokesperson of the Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong expressed strong dissatisfaction on Monday with the malicious slander and smear campaign of the DC election by officials from the UK, the EU and the consulates general of certain countries in Hong Kong, noting it grossly interfered in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs.

Some Western countries, whose own democratic systems are riddled with holes, attempt to interfere in the DC election in the HKSAR in the name of democracy. This seriously violates the principle of international law of non-interference in internal affairs and the basic norms of international relations, and seriously interferes with the normal and orderly development of democracy in Hong Kong, the spokesperson said.

"The campaign atmosphere in local elections has never been hot," Lau Siu-kai, a consultant from the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies who is also a senior policy advisor, told the Global Times on Monday.

This time, the anti-China and disruptive elements in Hong Kong failed to "enter the gate" to run for election. After their supporters boycotted the election, the turnout rate of 27 percent under such negative circumstances could not be seen as low, Lau said.

When talking about whether this turnout means that "the patriotic and Hong Kong camp does not form the majority of society in Hong Kong," Lau said that this is a short-term phenomenon.

The power will have the opportunity to expand its support through political connection work and tangible achievements in HKSAR governance. It is believed that the turnout will continue to rise in the future, he said.

Tam Yiu-chung, a vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, told the Global Times on Monday that the turnout in this year's DC election was "in line with expectations."

On Sunday evening, the computer systems at polling stations in several constituencies experienced malfunctions, causing some voters to be temporarily unable to vote. They later changed to manual distribution of votes, and the voting time was extended by one and a half hours to midnight. However, observers generally say that this "episode" will not have much impact on the election results or turnout.

The most important significance of this DC election is to further consolidate the paradigm of "patriots administering Hong Kong," marking the general completion of the reshaping of Hong Kong's governance structure, which will create favorable conditions for the city's long-term peace and stability, experts said.

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Implementing principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong," opening new chapter in district governance: Liaison office of central gov't in HKSAR

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:46, December 11, 2023

HONG KONG, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday extended congratulations to the newly elected District Council councillors.

The HKSAR's Seventh District Council Ordinary Election was successfully held Sunday, with 88 geographical constituency councillors and 176 district committees constituency councillors elected, who will form the new term District Councils of the HKSAR together with the appointed and ex-officio members.

The office said it believes that the new term District Councils will live up to the support of all sectors of society and the expectations of voters, return to the positioning that District Councils are not organs of political power as stipulated in the HKSAR Basic Law, build a bridge of communication between the HKSAR government and the public, and open up the "last mile" for the HKSAR to improve its governance system and enhance its governance capacity and effectiveness.

A spokesperson for the office said this is a fair, just, open and high-quality election with wide participation of the society. The HKSAR government organized elections in strict accordance with the law, actively and orderly carried out various electoral affairs, and fully demonstrated the new style of governance of "being able to take responsibility and act well."

The majority of voters fulfilled their civic duties in accordance with the law, especially when encountering an electronic poll register system failure and the voting waiting time was extended, they were still patient and active in voting, expressing their firm support for the new District Council system, and their expectations for building a better community and achieving good governance, the spokesperson said.

The 399 candidates have diverse backgrounds, including young talents from the post-90s generation, senior professional elites, local people with roots in the community for decades of service, and new immigrants and ethnic minority business people who regard Hong Kong as their new home.

They come from all walks of life and they all share the great enthusiasm and professionalism of loving the country and Hong Kong, and serving the public.

The spokesperson pointed out that this election has completely excluded anti-China rioters from the HKSAR governance system, effectively implemented the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong," and opened a new chapter in district governance of the HKSAR.

As the "final work" of the four important elections after the improvement of the electoral system in the HKSAR, this election once again demonstrated the election culture of healthy competition, rationality, pragmatism, and being constructive, and effectively drove Hong Kong out of the quagmire of politicization and the corrupt culture of tainted elections, and once again proved that the improved electoral system in Hong Kong is a good system.

The office is full of expectations that the new term District Councils will devote themselves to providing services at the grassroots level, collecting and reflecting public opinion, promoting and implementing the government's policy initiatives, and enhancing the capacity for district governance.

The office is also fully confident about the developing democracy with Hong Kong characteristics under the new electoral system and realizing good governance under "one country, two systems."

It is believed that a Hong Kong that enjoys a clean political system, social stability, economic development, improvement of people's livelihood and peace of mind will usher in a new golden period of development, and Hong Kong's successful practice of "one country, two systems" will surely sail forward.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on December 11, 2023

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2023-12-11 19:55

CCTV: On December 10, the Philippines sent vessels to intrude into waters of Ren'ai Jiao in China's Nansha Qundao in an attempt to send construction materials to the illegally grounded warship there. The mission was blocked by China Coast Guard. Afterwards, the Philippine President and the Philippine National Security Council blamed China. Do you have any comment?

Mao Ning: On December 10, one cargo vessel, one official vessel and two coast guard ships of the Philippines, without permission from the Chinese government, intruded into adjacent waters ofaRen'ai Jiao in China's Nansha Qundao in an attempt to send construction materials to the illegally grounded warship at the reef. In disregard of the warnings of the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, a Philippine vessel went headlong towards Ren'ai Jiao's lagoon and dangerously rammed a CCG ship on the scene. Thisagravely violated China's sovereignty and jeopardized the safety of the Chinese ships and personnel. The CCG took necessary enforcement measures against the Philippine ship in accordance with domestic and international law, which were professional, restrained, justified and legitimate. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has lodged serious dAmarche in strong protest to the Philippine side.a

I need to stress that Ren'ai Jiao is part of China's Nansha Qundao. China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao, and their adjacent waters. This was established in the long course of history and is consistent with international law including the UN Charter. It is against the principles of international law and legally untenable for the Philippines to cite the "award" of the South China Sea arbitration, which is illegal, null and void, to claim that Ren'ai Jiao falls within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and deny China's sovereignty over it.

The responsibility for the recent emergencies in waters of Ren'ai Jiao lies completely with the Philippines. The root cause is that the Philippines has broken its promise and refused to tow away the illegally grounded warship at the reef and attempted to reinforce it on a large scale in an attempt to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao. China firmly opposes the Philippines' attempt to occupy Ren'ai Jiao and has made clear its solemn position to the Philippine side at various levels and through multiple channels, demanding that the Philippines will not send construction materials to the illegally grounded warship for large-scale repair and reinforcement and putting forward proposals for properly managing the situation. However, the Philippine side, in disregard of China's goodwill, good faith and restraint, broke its promise and kept stirring up trouble by infringing on China's sovereignty and making provocative moves in waters of Ren'ai Jiao. It has also been spreading disinformation to hype up the incidents. This gravely violates international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and seriously infringes on China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

We once again urge the Philippines to stop infringing on China's sovereignty and making provocative moves, stop groundlessly attacking and smearing China, and avoid undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea. We will continue to do what is necessary in accordance with domestic and international laws to resolutely respond to provocative moves that infringe on China's sovereignty and defend our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

NHK: Hong Kong held its first district council election guided by the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" on Sunday. What's your comment?

Mao Ning: The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council has already made remarks on the Council Ordinary Election of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), which you may refer to.

The election was the first of its kind since the restructuring of the district council system in Hong Kong. The election was well-organized, orderly, fair and just, which demonstrates a new prospect of good governance under the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong". We are fully confident that the new district councils will perform their duties in accordance with the law and believe that the newly elected district council members will serve as a bridge between the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong people and help the former improve the system of community-level governance and improve its effectiveness.

CCTV: Yesterday marks the Human Rights Day. Can you introduce China's achievements on protecting and promoting human rights? We also noted that a handful of Western countries have been attacking China under the pretext of human rights. What's China's comment?a

Mao Ning: On December 10, 1948, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a significant document in the history of human civilization. In 1950, the UNGA designated December 10 as Human Rights Day.aa

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Right, China held an International Symposium in Beijing. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the symposium and delivered a keynote speech, in which he elaborated on the important views of President Xi Jinping on human rights, China's human rights development path, and China's position and propositions on global human rights governance. The Beijing Declaration was issued at the symposium and received warm response.

China holds a people-centered human rights philosophy and believes that a happy life for the people is the most important human right. We have built a moderately prosperous society in all respects, won the largest battle against poverty in human history and put in place the world's largest education, social security, and healthcare systems. We have been working to improve the living environment for our people, develop the whole-process people's democracy, advance the rule of law for human rights and safeguard social equity and justice. China has found a path towards better human rights that follows the trend of the times and fits our national realities and made historic progress in our human rights cause.

Promoting and protecting human rights is the common cause of mankind. No country in the world is in the position to act as a "preacher" on human rights. The most authoritative comment on a country's human rights conditions comes from its people. Countries' right to independently choosing human rights development paths needs to be respected. Certain countries, while ignoring their own serious human rights issues, have been interfering other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of human rights. Such attempts reveal their double standards and hypocrisy. China will stay committed to advancing and protecting human rights, upholding the common values of humanity and engaging in human rights dialogue and cooperation based on equality and mutual respect. China will continue to work with all sides to protect human rights through security, support human rights through development and advance human rights through cooperation in a joint effort to promote the global human rights cause.

Reuters: The Philippines on Monday has called actions of Chinese vessels against their boats in the South China Sea over the weekend a serious escalation. The Philippines has also this morning said that they are undeterred in protecting their sovereignty. Have the incidents between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea damaged bilateral ties and would diplomacy be of any use in improving the situation?

Mao Ning: I have shared the facts and truth about what has happened. I would like to stress that the responsibility for the recent emergencies in waters of Ren'ai Jiao lies with the Philippines. The root cause is that the Philippines has broken its promise and refused to tow away the illegally grounded warship at the reef and tried to reinforce it in an attempt to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao. In light of the Philippines' repeated provocations and infringement at Ren'ai Jiao and its waters, China has been committed to enhancing communication with the Philippines with sincerity and good will to properly handle the situation. We have also put forward proposals on managing and controlling the situation at Ren'ai Jiao. The ball is now with the Philippine side. We hope the Philippines will face up to the root cause of the issue, stop making provocations and creating trouble, and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

China News Service: It was reported that the UN Security Council on December 8 voted on a resolution drafted by the UAE calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, but it was not adopted due to US veto. What is your comment?

Mao Ning: Over the past two months since the outbreak of this round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Gaza has seen close to 20,000 civilians die from the fights and over one million people displaced. Ceasefire and end of hostilities is currently the top priority and reflects extensive international aspiration.

Close to 100 countries, including China, co-sponsored the draft resolution tabled by the UAE representing Arab countries. We regret and are disappointed at the US vetoathe only veto on the Security Council draft resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Connivance at the conflict means heavier civilian casualties and worse humanitarian catastrophe, and will sow more seeds of hatred.

On issues of war and peace, life and death, major countries with influence need to play a constructive role in helping end the fight, make utmost efforts to avoid civilian casualties, and stand on the side of peace and the side of life.

Dragon TV: According to reports, the EU Delegation in China issued a statement on December 10, reiterating concern over China's severe human rights situation and urging China to "respect, protect and fulfil human rights for all, including Uyghurs, Tibetans and persons belonging to ethnic minorities across China". It also mentions the death penalty and "pro-democracy" activists. What's China's comment?a

Mao Ning: The EU statement contains groundless accusation on China's human rights conditions, spreads disinformation, tarnishes China's image and gravely violates China's internal affairs. China deplores and firmly opposes this and has made solemn dAmarches to the EU.

China holds a people-centered approach and has scored historic achievements in protecting human rights. Xinjiang and Xizang have long enjoyed booming economy, harmonious and stable society, and effective protection and promotion of cultural heritage. The rights and freedoms of all ethnic groups, including the freedom of religious belief and the freedom to use and develop their ethnic groups' spoken and written languages, are fully protected. Facts have long disproved the so-called "genocide" and "forced labor" as egregious lies. The human rights conditions there are at their historical best, as recognized by the international community.

While pointing fingers at developing countries' human rights conditions over the years, the EU is in fact experiencing worrying human rights conditions in itself. Recent years have seen in European countries infringement of the rights of refugees and migrants, rising exclusivism and racism, negligence over economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development, and selective application and double standards on issues such as freedom of press and forced labor. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights pointed out that some EU countries are backsliding on fundamental human rights commitments.a

China strongly urges the EU to recognize China's progress in the human rights cause, put down arrogance and bias, abandon the hypocritical double standards, take concrete action to improve its own human rights conditions, stop using human rights as a pretext to interfere in China's internal affairs and judicial sovereignty, and stop politicizing, instrumentalizing and weaponizing human rights issues.

China Daily: On December 8, the US Department of State issued a human rights report related to Xinjiang, saying that the Chinese authorities have committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and members of other ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang and announcing sanctions on two Chinese officials. On the same day, the US Department of the Treasury added them to the Specially Designated Nationals List. The US Department of Homeland Security has also added three Chinese companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity list under domestic law. Do you have any comment on this?

Mao Ning: The US has made up and spread the false narrative on Xinjiang and imposed illegal sanctions on Chinese companies and officials citing the so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang. This has seriously undermined the interests of relevant Chinese companies and individuals, seriously interfered in China's internal affairs and seriously breached the basic norms governing international relations. We are firmly against and strongly condemn that.

What Xinjiang has achieved in its development is there for all to see and China's Xinjiang policy is widely supported by the people. The US has no right and is in no position to point fingers at the human rights situation in Xinjiang. The so-called "genocide" and "forced labor" are nothing but the biggest lie of the century spread by the US with the aim to contain and suppress China and has long been exposed in front of facts and truths. The US, under its own domestic law, has included Chinese entities and personnel into its sanction list in an attempt to disrupt Xinjiang's prosperity and stability and hold back China's development, which fully lays bare its malicious intention of using issues related to Xinjiang to contain China.aa

The US is fraught with domestic human rights issues and it has a quite notorious international human rights record. If the US truly cared about human rights, it needs to earnestly address its domestic problems such as racial discrimination, gun violence and drug abuse. The last thing it should do is to veto the Security Council resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire, the only country that has done so, while the humanitarian disaster in Gaza deteriorates by the hour.

We urge the US to stop smearing China, cancel the illegal unilateral sanctions on Chinese personnel and companies, and stop implementing wrongful acts such as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. China will take resolute counter measures to protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens and companies.

AFP: The foreign ministry of the Philippines summoned the Chinese Ambassador over the recent collision in the South China Sea to lodge a protest with China. What's your response?

Mao Ning: The responsibility of the incident completely lies with the Philippines. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has lodged dAmarches in strong protest to the Philippine side.

Antara: On Gaza, what's the next step that China will take after the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza?

Mao Ning: As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza drags on, the top priority is to realize a ceasefire. Though the Security Council resolution draft has been vetoed, the international community should not stop promoting ceasefire, protecting civilians, and easing the humanitarian crisis and the UN Security Council should not stop upholding justice and shouldering its responsibilities. China stands ready to work with the international community to pool all efforts on the common goal of ceasing hostilities in Gaza and work relentlessly to realize the goal.

Reuters: Viet Nam media has reported citing the Chinese ambassador to Viet Nam that China is ready to offer grants to Viet Nam to upgrade a railway link from Guangxi to Hanoi and also to speed up plans to develop other railway systems connecting both China and Viet Nam. Are there more details on this development? And whether this topic is going to be a top discussion when President Xi Jinping visits Viet Nam this week?

Mao Ning: China and Vietnam enjoy a long-standing friendship and deepening practical cooperation. China is Viet Nam's largest trading partner, and Viet Nam is China's largest trading partner in ASEAN and the fourth largest trading partner in the world. In the field of connectivity, China and Viet Nam have carried out a lot of practical cooperation, such as the Hanoi light rail Line 2 constructed by Chinese enterprises, which is the first urban light rail project in Viet Nam and has made travel more convenient for Hanoi citizens. Cooperation between China and Viet Nam has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples. Both countries are willing to further expand bilateral cooperation. During General Secretary and President Xi's upcoming visit to Viet Nam this time, the leaders will exchange views on deepening bilateral cooperation. Please stay tuned and check back for more information on this visit later.

AFP: Also on the Philippines, the US has called for Beijing to halt what it called its "dangerous and destabilizing" actions in the South China Sea. What's China's response?

Mao Ning: I'd like to stress that maritime disputes between China and the Philippines are issues between China and the Philippines. Any third party is not in the position of interfering in the issues. On the one hand, the US, out of selfish geopolitical calculations, has for some time been conniving at, emboldening and supporting the Philippines' infringement and provocation in the South China Sea. Yet on the other, the US has been fanning disputes, misrepresenting facts, stoking confrontation and undermining regional peace and stability. China will continue to take necessary steps in accordance with domestic and international laws to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Macau Monthly: In a recent interview, Viet Nam's ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai said that General Secretary and President Xi Jinping will elevate China's comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Viet Nam to a new level. Do you have any comment?a

Mao Ning: China and Viet Nam are both socialist countries on a path of reform and transformation in keeping with our respective national realities. Strengthening solidarity and friendship and deepening mutually-beneficial cooperation serves the shared interests of both sides and contributes to peace, stability and prosperity of the region and beyond. China and Viet Nam both attach high importance to the upcoming state visit by General Secretary and President Xi Jinping. A shared path and a shared future is the hallmark of China-Viet Nam relations. An elevated bilateral relationship is a natural result in accordance with the overwhelming trend. Standing at a new historical point, the two sides will be guided by the high-level common understandings, carry forward our traditional friendship, hold dear our shared cause and mission, and make new progress in growing our comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

AFP: I got a question on the Belt and Road Initiative and the country of Papua New Guinea. Its Prime Minister James Marape has promised to tread carefully with Belt and Road funding from China. He told AFP on Monday that he will not be "reckless" with foreign loans. Do you have any reaction to these comments?

Mao Ning: Papua New Guinea is the first Pacific Island country to sign an MOU on Belt and Road cooperation and Belt and Road cooperation plans with China. It has played a leading role and set an example in the Belt and Road cooperation between China and Pacific Island countries. China stands ready to continue working with Papua New Guinea to synergize the development strategies, expand practical cooperation in various fields under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative on the basis of mutual respect and equal-footed consultation, and pursue common development.

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Uyghurs mark 2 years since 'genocide' finding

A former Trump administration official tells the event U.S. businesses are complicit in 'white washing' Beijing.

By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2023.12.11 -- Uyghur activists and U.S. lawmakers on Monday marked two years since an independent tribunal in London handed down a decision that China's government was committing genocide against Uyghurs.

The Uyghur Tribunal on Dec. 9, 2021, declared that it was "satisfied" that Beijing had pursued a "deliberate, systematic and concerted policy with the object of so-called 'optimizing' the population" of Uyghurs in the far-western Xinjiang province in order to reduce birth rates.

It implicated Chinese President Xi Jinping in the policies, which it said were also intended to erase Uyghur culture and assimilate the mostly Muslim ethnic minority through internment and forced relocation.

At the commemoration, which was held in the Speaker Nancy Pelosi Caucus Room of the House of Representatives, the Uyghur activists spoke of the dual need to recognize the severity of what is occuring in Xinjiang but also to pursue tangible actions to stop it continuing.

"By holding this event, we want to highlight the importance of commemorating the victims of the Uyghur genocide and honor the survivors," said Omer Kanat, executive chairman of the World Uyghur Congress and director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project.

"But we must act without delay on real action, for accountability, deterrence and a practical humanitarian response," he said.

Call for action

Rep. Young Kim, a Republican from California, said she had family members who defected from North to South Korea and so understood the pain of many of the Uyghurs in attendance worried about family in Xinjiang who "face genocide in modern-day concentration camps."

Kim said recognizing the genocide was only the start of the responsibilities of people in free countries, and said Congress had to act through bills like the Uyghur Policy Act, which has failed to pass in past congressional session but now has dozens of co-sponsors.

Among other things, she said, the bill would introduce a Uyghur language program at the Foreign Service Institute, which teaches American diplomats, so that the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and each American Consulate in China would have available Uyghur speakers.

Others said action was not the sole responsibility of government.

Kelley Currie, who served as U.S. ambassador-at-large for global women's issues and the deputy U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration, said she was dismayed by the hurried "white washing" of Beijing by American business in recent months.

On its final day in power, the Trump administration, too, declared that China is committing a "genocide" against Uyghurs. President Joe Biden's decision to carry on that assessment contributed to strained relations between Beijing and Washington over the past three years.

But the recent thaw in ties had made for a strange spectacle, she said.

Business as usual

America's CEOs "filled the room in San Francisco last month, giving Xi Jinping standing ovations" after a speech he delivered at a high-profile dinner, Currie said, describing their appeals for increased American engagement with a "genocidal regime" as "morally bankrupt."

The worst culprit, she said, was the financial services industry, "who were the first ones to race back to China" and "grovel" with Chinese officials in order to protect their assets after the recent thaw in ties.

That stood in stark contrast with the finding that genocide of Uyghurs is taking place at the hands of China's government, Currie noted.

"It's time for all of us to demand an end to business as usual," she said. "It's time that our actions become commensurate with our words."

Edited by Malcolm Foster

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Xi Touts 'Community of Common Destiny' But Hanoi Lukewarm, Experts Say

By Thuc Pham December 11, 2023

Vietnam appears to be showing signs that it remains lukewarm to Xi Jinping's "community of common destiny" initiative, an attitude experts and longtime observers expect Hanoi will maintain during the Chinese leader's visit this week.

In the latest example of Hanoi's attitude, when Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong visited China in October, and when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Hanoi on December 1, China's official state news agency Xinhua quoted Chinese leaders as saying Vietnam should cooperate with China to build a "community of shared destiny." The Vietnamese state-run press did not mention that at all.

As Vietnam appears to maintain a distance from China, some researchers and observers say Hanoi remains uncertain about what the common destiny might be.

"The most important issue is what exactly the 'community of common destiny' is," said Hoang Viet, a lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Law.

"It remains a vague concept. Secondly, Vietnam has stated clearly ... it does not take sides. Vietnam has to think hard about the 'community of common destiny,' because participating in it may be viewed as taking sides or may make other countries think that Vietnam is taking sides."

Xi first proposed the concept of a community of common destiny in late 2012, based on a millennia-old Chinese vision of a world where people would live in perfect harmony and would be as dear to one another as family, according to a report from China's Xinhua.

The report described Xi's vision of a world where "our future lies in the hands of all countries a equally a and all nations should pursue dialogue rather than confrontation with one another, and forge partnerships instead of alliances."

But according to Nadege Rolland, a distinguished fellow of China studies at the National Bureau of Asian Research, Chinese leader Hu Jintao used the term in his October 2007 report to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party "to describe the special relationship between the mainland and Taiwan, implying that two politically different entities could have reasonably good relations despite their dissimilarities."

According to Rolland, Xi first used the term at the April 2013 Boao Forum as he underlined to the mostly Asian participants the need for common development.

Rolland wrote that the concept is inclusive, applies mostly to Asia and China's neighbors, and has twin objectives of "common development" and "common security," that reflect Xi's view that "development is the foundation for security, and security is a condition for development.'"

She also wrote that because there's no institutional structure, "the community resembles an informal network. ... Yet it is impossible not to notice that China is the biggest and most powerful participant in the community and provides leadership."

Parade of visits

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced Xi's December 12-13 visit to Vietnam on December 7, just weeks after Vietnam elevated its ties with the United States and Japan to comprehensive strategic partnerships, placing them on par with China in its diplomatic engagement. China views Japan and the U.S. as its rivals.

VOA sent requests for comments to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi, but there was no immediate response.

Alexander Vuving, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, said in an interview with VOA Vietnamese in October that Xi was expected to push Vietnam to join China's "community of common destiny" to try to build a coalition to counter Washington.

"If Vietnam agrees to join China's 'community of common destiny,' this would be touted as an upgrade of the current 'comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation' between China and Vietnam," Vuving said in an email to VOA Vietnamese, adding that this "would be interpreted by China that Beijing is always closer, or ahead of, or above Washington in relations with Vietnam."

Speaking to VOA Vietnamese from Hanoi this week, Nguyen Hong Quan, a former deputy director of the Institute of Defense Strategy under the Defense Ministry, also expected that Xi will officially invite Vietnam to join the community of common destiny.

Quan said he expected Vietnam to respond with a focus on pushing for the two countries to improve the effectiveness of several cooperation mechanisms, especially in trade, defense and security.

Nguyen Nhu Phong, a former Public Security Ministry colonel who is the former editor-in-chief of PetroTimes, expressed his skepticism about China's community of common destiny.

"From ancient times until now, China was and is a major power, but their behaviors are very mean," with words and actions that don't match, Phong said. "I don't trust them,"

Phong cited recent news on China's release of a new national map in August claiming sovereignty over parts of neighboring countries including Vietnam, India and Russia, and angering them.

"China disregards the law, and a country that disregards the law and uses all sorts of tricks should not be trusted," Phong said. "Now, they are talking about 'a community with a common destiny.' And then, they will use it to blur the lines. And then, they can manipulate others to follow them. That is a deadly trap."

Phong's words resonate with the views expressed by many Vietnamese people on social media. Posters are saying that due to historical issues and current territorial and maritime disputes, they do not want their country to bond with China and that the two countries should only cooperate for mutual benefits in trade and economic affairs.

Vuving said Xi's visit "will be a big test of Hanoi's 'bamboo' diplomacy and its ability to deal with China."

Bamboo diplomacy, which has been pursued by party chief Nguyen Phu Trong, is Vietnam's foreign policy, focusing on developing balanced relations with major powers and diversifying relationships with other countries.

"Vietnam can leverage the newly elevated ties with the U.S. to extract some concessions from China. But Vietnam can also hold onto the 'bamboo' and bend to Chinese pressure," Vuving told VOA Vietnamese via email. "The future trajectory of China-Vietnam relations will depend on whether or not Vietnam will be able to resist the Chinese push."

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China News Outlet Closure Reflects Political Sensitivities Over Beijing, Leadership Says

By Liam Scott December 11, 2023

Depending on who is asked, the now-defunct China Project news outlet is either an agent of Beijing, an anti-Chinese media brand, or the victim of a bad business model.

The allegations leveled at the English-language news website over its seven years of operation reflect what analysts say is a shift in the media environment in favor of China hawks, which also makes covering the country all the more challenging.

The mixture of a massive state-led economy, poor human rights record, authoritarian government and the threat of war over Taiwan has fostered an environment in Washington where being "tough on China" is the default.

But some analysts say the more confrontational political climate and China's heavy restrictions on reporters inside its borders means risking losing out on a more complete understanding of the country and its people.

In the case of China Project, which announced its closure last month, its senior leadership say accusations from both sides weakened the site's ability to keep going, as investors pulled out and one former employee filed a whistleblower complaint with Congress that alleges links to Beijing.

"It's just so tough to tell the truth about China, both in Beijing and in Washington," the site's last editor in chief, Jeremy Goldkorn, told VOA.

Jonathan Hassid, a political science professor at Iowa State University, says the China Project's shutdown may underscore the tense relations between Washington and Beijing.

"It shows the closure of the middle path between being pro-China and anti-China a that there's a way to evaluate China on its own merits without necessarily thinking about it in comparison with the United States," Hassid told VOA.

Based in New York and founded in 2016, the website and its flagship podcast Sinica have for years been at the center of discussion about China.

The China Project covered an array of topics from the economy and defense to human rights, culture and history. One long-standing column covered the Chinese government's human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Another focused on LGBTQ+ life in China.

But on November 6, Goldkorn, who is based in Nashville, Tennessee, announced its closure.

The immediate cause a abruptly losing key funding a underscores the precarity of being a start-up news outlet in a struggling media industry, Goldkorn and outgoing CEO Bob Guterma said.

But in the longer term, both said, would-be investors and advertisers were wary of potential repercussions that could accompany being involved with an outlet that is critical of Beijing and has been banned in China since 2018.

The Chinese state-run Global Times has referred to the China Project as a "West-backed anti-China organization."

"Investors would say to us, point blank, 'I love what you're doing. I believe it's really important, and I can see that you have meaningful traction. There's just no way that I or my company or my family can get involved in this because of the political tensions'," Guterma told VOA. "If they have business interests in China, it's just a hard non-starter."

In another case, Goldkorn said sponsors worried about their involvement with the China Project's conferences, which were another source of revenue for the company.

At the company's NEXTChina Conference in early November, which took place just days before the shutdown was announced, one of the event's sponsors requested to have their name left off all marketing materials over political concerns in China, Goldkorn said.

The China Project's closure can be viewed as a casualty of rockier relations between Washington and Beijing, according to a staffer on the U.S. House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party.

"It's concerning to see the middle and the more moderate perspectives hollowed out like this, but it's a microcosm of increased tensions that we're seeing between Washington and Beijing," said the staffer. They requested anonymity because their employer did not authorize them to talk to the media on this topic.

To Hassid, of Iowa State University, "that space has disappeared as relations in both China and the U.S. have hardened."

Accusations from the United States and China of working for the other country's government also took a toll on the China Project, Goldkorn and Guterma said.

In October 2022, the start-up news site Semafor reported on allegations made by Shannon Van Sant a a journalist who in 2020 briefly worked as the business editor at what was then called SupChina a in a complaint filed with Congress.

Semafor itself came under fire earlier this year for partnering with the Center for China and Globalization think tank, which is known to have close links to the Chinese Community Party. Semafor said it structures its agreements to protect independence.

In Van Sant's 480-page disclosure, which is not publicly available but was reviewed by VOA, she alleged the outlet was acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese Community Party, or CCP.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio and Representative Chris Smith, who sit on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, called for the company to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

The China Project denied Van Sant's allegations as false and unsubstantiated and characterized van Sant as "a disgruntled former employee."

Van Sant's lawyer Andrew Bakaj maintained Van Sant was fired because "she was 'not in alignment' in advancing the 'narrative' the organization wanted to propagate about topics and issues related to China."

"The declaration previously reported on by other media outlets and ostensibly referred to by Mr. Guterma is merely one exhibit a one data point a evidencing her concern that SupChina was acting as an agent of the People's Republic of China," Bakaj, chief legal counsel with Whistleblower Aid, said in a statement to VOA, referring to the site's original name.

Filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission indicate the China Project had been struggling financially for some time.

"My joke when I publicly speak about allegations of us being backed by either government is that if you looked at our bank account, you'd quickly come to believe that no serious government could possibly be backing us," said Guterma, who is based in Charlottesville, Virginia.

One media investor who is familiar with the China Project said he thinks politics played a minor role in the company's closure. The investor requested anonymity to speak freely.

"Their business failure was not about press freedom. It was primarily about just having a poorly structured business that was not attractive to any professional investors," he said, adding that he does not believe that the outlet is an agent of the Chinese government.

Despite the China Project's denials of ties to Beijing, the allegations left their mark.

Multiple government agencies launched informal inquiries into the China Project, Guterma said. Bakaj, Van Sant's lawyer, said that the fact that investigations took place "vindicates Ms. Van Sant."

Guterma declined to name which government agencies undertook the investigations.

"The Van Sant complaint did more damage to us than it should have because of the political climate," Guterma said. "When you combine that with the China-hawk need for a scapegoat, especially at that specific point in time in U.S.-China relations, it did a lot of damage to us."

Policy on China is a rare bipartisan issue in the United States, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle coming together in opposition to Beijing's economic might and human rights abuses.

Some analysts told VOA that this mentality has created an environment in which not being exclusively anti-China all the time risks leading to accusations of being soft on China.

The perceived need to choose sides, Guterma said, creates a penalty for platforms like the China Project that try to hold multiple ideas at once a for instance, stories that criticize a or humanize a China.

Washington's growing anti-China consensus is one that may have harmful consequences for the world's understanding of China, the House committee staffer said.

"When people default to being anti-China automatically, I think that removes the potential for discourse and dialogue that could benefit both sides," the staffer said.

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N Korea warns of 'destruction' from US-S Korea drills

There is a possibility that the move could be aimed at the audience within the North, said an analyst.

By Lee Jeong-Ho for RFA 2023.12.11 -- North Korea has issued a fresh warning against the United States and South Korea, claiming that the duo's joint military drills would ultimately lead to "destruction" of the Korean peninsula.

Such a move is widely viewed as Pyongyang's attempt to lay the groundwork for advancing in nuclear capabilities, but one analyst notes that it could also be aimed at the domestic audience for "internal cohesion."

Calling the South a "puppet" and a "mad dog," the North's state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper said Monday that Seoul has been "obsessed with provoking an invasion war" by issuing "belligerent statements" over the past weeks.

"Observing the war exercises conducted in just over a month, the extent of the puppet's war frenzy becomes self-evident," the paper added, claiming that Seoul's joint drills with the U.S. as a "reckless" action, destined to lead to "destruction."

The statement comes as a series of joint military exercises had been conducted by the U.S. and South Korea last month. Although Washington and Seoul assert that the drills are defensive in nature, Pyongyang has denounced the exercises as "invasion practices," perceiving them as a significant threat to the security of its regime.

Shortly after the report, the South promptly refuted the claim.

South Korea's unification ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam emphasized during a briefing on Monday that it was North Korea that bears responsibility for escalating tensions in the Korean Peninsula.

Koo expressed Seoul's official regret, saying that it sees the report as an "unilateral criticism."

The North's claim is widely viewed as its attempt to lay a groundwork for rationalizing its nuclear development amid its inability to match the allies' conventional capability.

An analyst also weighed that North Korea may be communicating predominantly towards its internal audience in rationalizing its leader Kim Jong Un's policy line of advancing his nation's nuclear capability.

"Currently, North Korea is in a period of summarizing its overall, annual national achievements," said Cheon Seong-whun, a former security strategy secretary for South Korea's presidential office. "By highlighting what-it-claims as a threat posed by the allies' security coordination, North Korea is justifying Kim Jong Un's policy to enhance nuclear capabilities."

Cheon also noted that the move may also help bolster North Korea's internal unity, signaling that the policy of enhancing nuclear capabilities will continue in the coming years.

"Both the South Korean and U.S. governments should avoid excessively escalating the situation," the pundit warned. "Efforts are needed to manage the situation stably."

North Korea has recently set up Guard Posts armed with weapons along its border with the South, with some viewing it as part of Pyongyang's strategy to put pressure on Seoul, which may lead to further provocative actions at the frontline.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan.

Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Iran: Council sanctions 6 persons and 5 entities under the framework for restrictive measures in view of Iran's military support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine

European Council / Council of the European Union

Council of the EU

Press release

11 December 2023

The Council today imposed restrictive measures against 6 persons and 5 entities involved in Iran's development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) used in Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

These are the first listings under the newly established framework for restrictive measures in view of Iran's military support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. They complement the previous four rounds of listings on Iranian drones already adopted under other sanctions regimes.

The new listings include the company Shakad Sanat Asmari, its CEO, deputy CEO and chief scientist; other companies manufacturing components for UAVs, namely Baharestan Kish Company and its managing director, Saad Sazeh Faraz Sharif and its CEO, as well as Sarmad Electronic Sepahan Company, offering aerospace engineering services, and companies helping Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF) improve the UAV programme (Kimia Part Sivan Company).

Those targeted will be subject to an asset freeze and travel ban to the European Union. Additionally, the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies listed is prohibited.

The relevant legal acts, including the names of the listed individuals and entities, have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Background

In its conclusions of 12 December 2022, the Council strongly condemned and considered unacceptable any type of military support by Iran, including deliveries of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to Russia's illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. The weapons provided by Iran are being used indiscriminately by Russia against Ukraine's civilian population and infrastructure, causing horrendous destruction and human suffering.

This UAV programme is run by the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which are both under EU restrictive measures in relation to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and includes the procurement, development, production and transfer of UAVs, notably to Russia. It is based on State-owned as well as private companies and benefits from domestic research capabilities.

On 20 July 2023, the Council established a new framework for restrictive measures in view of Iran's military support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which prohibits the export from the European Union to Iran of components used in the construction and production of UAVs, and provides for travel restrictions and asset freeze measures to be imposed against persons responsible for, supporting or involved in Iran's UAV's programme.

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Iran pursuing different track on JCPOA talks: Nuclear chief

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 11, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has stated that negotiations aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal have been pursued differently since last year.

Mohammad Eslami said on Monday that the administration of US President Joe Biden claimed it intended to return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and initiated negotiations accordingly.

He added that the Islamic Republic, under both the previous and incumbent governments, negotiated with parties to the nuclear deal, but it has been pursuing these talks in a different manner since last year.

"They raised everything they could about the Safeguards issues and several locations previously closed as 'PMD' (Possible Military Dimensions)," Eslami said.

"They said they wanted to inspect these sites, yet these are not (nuclear) sites and are not related to the Atomic Energy Organization. They were fabricated by Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) and the spying services of the Zionist regime," he added.

Eslami further explained that these matters were brought up in the Supreme National Security Council, leading to a decision for IAEA inspectors to examine the disputed sites, he said. The inspectors conducted their investigations, and Iran subsequently provided a report to the IAEA, he added.

"But they intended to keep the issues alive and use them as a lever of pressure against Iran," the official pointed out.

However, Eslami, emphasized that questions surrounding two of the sites were resolved and the UN nuclear watchdog declared it had no further questions about them.

Highlighting Iran's commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Eslami maintained that the country's nuclear activities are conducted within the framework of a 2020 parliamentary law, dubbed the Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions.

The law mandates the Iranian government to counter the effects of sanctions imposed on the country after the United States unilaterally abandoned the nuclear deal in 2018, while taking steps to further advance the nuclear program.

"We are a member of the NPT, and this treaty has been ratified by the Iranian parliament. Therefore, we are committed to its implementation, and our nuclear activities are carried out within the framework of these laws," Eslami said.

"The agency also regularly conducts its inspections," he added.

4353**2050

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Iran successfully tests new armed drone system

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Dec 11, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian armed forces have successfully tested a new system for operation and launch of armed drones.

Commander of Iranian Army's air defense unit in south of the country said on Monday that the Rasul drone system had been successfully tested during drills held earlier in the day.

"This powerful system will officially join the country's defense cycle as of today," said Brigadier General Reza Kalhori.

The announcement came a day after Iranian armed forces received a batch Majid missiles that are compatible with drones used in the Rasul system.

Military experts say that Rasul, a system which is based on Karrar drones, will boost Iran's strategic depth beyond its borders.

2050*4261

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Iraqi PM warns U.S. against unilateral response to rocket attack on embassy

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:20, December 11, 2023

BAGHDAD, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani has reiterated his government's commitment to protecting diplomatic missions while reminding the United States not to respond unilaterally to an unclaimed rock attack on the U.S. embassy without Iraq's approval.

He made the remarks in a phone call from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday night on security issues, including a rocket attack near the U.S. embassy earlier in the day, said a statement by the Iraqi prime minister's media office.

Al-Sudani stressed the government's commitment to protecting diplomatic missions in Iraq, personnel of the international coalition mission, and their facilities, "warning at the same time against direct response without the approval of the Iraqi government," the statement said.

Austin, for his part, welcomed the Iraqi government's condemnation and measures to pursue the perpetrators, stressing that such actions threaten the internal security of Iraq, according to the statement.

In the early hours of Friday, a barrage of rockets hit the vicinity of the U.S. embassy located in the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad.

Later, al-Sudani condemned the targeting of diplomatic missions as "unacceptable under any circumstances," and gave the order to hunt down those responsible.

U.S. military bases in Iraq and Syria have recently become the targets of attacks by armed Shiite militias as part of retaliatory measures for the U.S. support of Israel in its ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The repeated attacks by Iraqi militias prompted the U.S. forces to conduct airstrikes on positions of the Iraqi paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces that killed more than a dozen fighters and wounded others.

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Secretary Blinken's Call with Israeli Minister Gantz

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

December 11, 2023

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Israeli War Cabinet member Minister Benny Gantz. Secretary Blinken and Minister Gantz discussed ongoing efforts to facilitate the safe return of all remaining hostages, further increase levels of humanitarian assistance, and prevent the conflict from expanding. Secretary Blinken stressed the urgent need for affirmative steps to de-escalate tensions in the West Bank and reiterated that Israel must take all possible measures to avoid civilian harm. Secretary Blinken emphasized that the United States remains committed to advancing tangible steps towards the realization of a Palestinian state.



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Ethnic Karenni forces control capital, key township in Myanmar's Kayah state

One month into 'Operation 1111,' resistance fighters hold 80% of Loikaw city.

By RFA Burmese 2023.12.11 -- One month since launching an offensive against Myanmar's military in Kayah state, ethnic Karenni joint forces are in control of the regional capital Loikaw and the strategic township of Moebye, the Karenni Army said Monday.

On Nov. 11, the Karenni Army, or KA, Karenni National Defense Force, or KNDF, and anti-junta People's Defense Force paramilitaries initiated "Operation 1111," named for the starting date of the campaign, along the shared border between northern Myanmar's Shan and Kayah states.

Speaking to RFA Burmese on Monday, Col. Phone Naing, the KA's adjutant general, said the joint forces had captured "all of Moebye township" except for an area where the junta's Battalion 422 is based, and "80% of Loikaw city."

"We are carrying out attacks very cautiously to avoid civilian casualties and damage," he said. "We will first remove all the junta troops, then we will set up an administrative mechanism there."

On Sunday, the joint Karenni forces captured the Kayah State Police Headquarters under the Home Affairs Ministry, which a KA spokesperson said had allowed resistance fighters to "demolish one of the pillars of the junta" in Loikaw. Details related to the number of casualties and arrest of junta forces were not immediately available.

Banya Khun Aung, the deputy secretary of the Interim Executive Council of Karenni State, or IEC, said that while the military's administrative mechanism had effectively ground to a halt in Loikaw and Moebye, the Karenni resistance forces have yet to replace it.

"As we are not entirely in control of Loikaw, we have not set up our own administrative system," he said, noting that people cannot move freely due to restrictions on area roads. "The same rules are being exercised in Moebye. The existing Karenni forces are overseeing security there as it is not ready to begin a transition to the people's administrative system."

In addition to its Regional Control Command, the junta's Infantry Battalions 261, 250 and 54, Field Artillery Regiments 356 and 362, No. 7 Military Hospital and Supply and Transport Company 722 are stationed in Loikaw.

The Regional Control Command in Loikaw is responsible for measures of defense, security, military missions and control of militarily important areas on behalf of Eastern Command, according to the military sources.

Strategic Kayah city

Political commentator Than Soe Naing told RFA that Loikaw is key to controlling and supplying other towns in Kayah state, and that both sides are determined to control the city.

"If Loikaw can be captured, it will be the very first liberated area of Kayah state for the KNDF," he said. "The city is almost under control. However, it cannot be said that it has been fully controlled as the main camp is still in the hands of the junta, and they are still using Loikaw airport for reinforcements and other military supplies."

Both sides have suffered casualties during Operation 1111, according to the KNDF, which did not provide specific numbers. The group said that 32 junta soldiers had surrendered to Karenni forces during a clash at Loikaw University on Nov. 14 and that 204 people were evacuated from the fighting, including Loikaw University staff and their family members.

Separately, the Karenni Humanitarian Aid Initiative, or KHAI, reported that at least 82 civilians were killed by the junta between the start of Operation 1111 and Dec. 8, including 39 men, 18 women, 12 minors, two novice monks, and 11 people who could not be identified. Among them, 43 were killed in artillery attacks, 24 in airstrikes, and 15 by small arms fire.

KHAI said that the junta carried out 353 airstrikes on Loikaw in the 20 days from Nov. 11-30.

Displaced desperate for aid

A resident of Loikaw told RFA that while fighting in the city has not intensified since Dec. 2, the junta had blocked all roads in and out of the city, creating a shortage of food and medicine.

"If the situation worsens, the need for medical doctors and medical supplies will soar," said the resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal. "We are carrying out as much rescue work as we can. However, our rescue vehicle was shot up as we returned to Loikaw after taking a person injured by artillery shelling for treatment."

Sources in Loikaw said that around 10,000 people are trapped there without the means to flee.

A member of KHAI, who also declined to be named, said that those displaced by fighting in Kayah state are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

"All the residents of Kayah state have turned into [internally displaced persons], and the need for emergency response is high," he said. "We call on humanitarian agencies to assist. Not even emergency supplies cannot be provided in the country, so more assistance is needed to evacuate [the displaced] through border crossings and other relief measures."

Attempts by RFA to contact junta Deputy Information Minister Major-General Zaw Min Tun for comment on the situation in Loikaw and Moebye, as well as numbers of civilian casualties, went unanswered Monday.

Operation 1111 is the second major offensive launched by ethnic armies against the military.

On Oct. 27, the "Three Brotherhood" Alliance of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Arakan Army and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army launched "Operation 1027" in Shan state. Rebels say they have made notable gains against the military in several key cities and claim to have captured more than 170 military outposts since the start of the campaign.

Translated by AungNaing and Htin Aung Kyaw. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Artillery hits children playing, killing girl in western Myanmar

Weekend junta attacks in Rakhine killed one and injured eight, according to resistance groups.

By RFA Burmese 2023.12.11 -- Heavy shelling killed a child and injured five others in western Myanmar, locals told Radio Free Asia on Monday.

An artillery blast landed in a home in Rakhine state's Minbya township on Sunday night where five children were playing together. A thirteen-year-old named Sabel died as a result. Four other children were injured, along with a woman who was in the house, Minbya residents said.

Sabel died instantly, and the injured victims were sent to the hospital, said a resident of Okkar Pyan neighborhood, where the attack occurred.

"A heavy weapon dropped on Soe Tint's house. His daughter was hit in the head and died on the spot," he told RFA, asking to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. "Children playing together were also injured, and were sent to the hospital as an emergency case."

Locals claimed the shelling was done by the junta's Minbya-based battalion 380, but RFA has not been able to independently verify this.

Attacks in Minbya city and surrounding villages have resulted in a total of one death and eight injuries on Sunday, according to the Three Brotherhood Alliance's statement.The alliance is composed of four ethnic armed resistance groups, including the Arakan Army.

In addition to one death and five injuries in Minbya, a drone attack by junta forces injured a 12-year-old child and damaged a house in Sittwe township's War Bo village on Sunday, the statement said. Two heavy explosives dropped by the junta in Ponnagyun township's Pa Day Thar village destroyed houses and injured residents the same day, it added.

RFA called Rakhine state's junta spokesperson Hla Thein to learn more about civilian casualties, but he did not respond by the time of publication.

Since fighting resumed in Rakhine state on Nov. 13, clashes and attacks have killed 19 civilians and injured 60 others, according to data compiled by RFA.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Meeting on developing core communities in the Russian Arctic

Vladimir Putin held a videoconference meeting on the development of core communities in the Russian Arctic.

December 11, 2023

18:30

Arkhangelsk

The meeting was attended by Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Northwestern Federal District Alexander Gutsan and Arkhangelsk Region Governor Alexander Tsybulsky. Taking part via videoconference were: Presidential Aide Maxim Oreshkin, Minister of Healthcare Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Transport Vitaly Savelyev, Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov, Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Irek Fayzullin, Minister for the Development of the Far East and Arctic Alexei Chekunkov, Director General of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev, the heads of the republics of Karelia, Komi and Sakha (Yakutia), of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Murmansk Region, the Nenets Autonomous Area, the Chukotka Autonomous Area and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.

Today, we will focus on developing the Arctic, primarily, we will discuss the quality of life, the current look and future of our northern cities and communities, both the new ones, built in the 20th century, and cities with centuries-old history. Without a doubt, all of them symbolise the tremendous will and the enormous role, one might even say the audacity, the efforts, and courage of many generations of our ancestors and, of course, people of our time who have been and are still developing the North. Today, millions of people live and work here, start families, raise children, and make huge contributions to the development of our country.

As you are aware, during the Eastern Economic Forum in September, we concluded the review of master plans for the cities and communities in the Russian Far East. In total, we have analysed socioeconomic development programmes for 22 cities and outlined specific steps. Work on these programmes is underway.

The experience we gained from that work should form the basis for creating similar projects for other regions, primarily for Russia's Arctic which, as I have said many times, holds special, strategic importance for us. I would like to emphasise once again that this is a region with enormous economic capacity. The strengthening of the energy potential of our country, the expansion of logistics capabilities, and ensuring national security and defence are largely associated with this region. For this reason, it is an indisputable priority to ensure the further comprehensive development and improvement of these territories.

I discussed this matter with the Government and instructed it to draw up a list of core cities in the Russian Arctic for which we must draft corresponding programmes and development plans. This list includes 16 localities and metropolitan agglomerations. Today, we must discuss this list in detail.

At the same time, I would like to note that a master plan has already been approved for the Arctic city of Anadyr which is part of the Far Eastern Federal District. To reiterate, the approaches used in drafting this plan and master plans for other cities in the Russian Far East can serve as a good foundation in our future work.

Importantly, the master plan must be based on a workable urban economic development model which should underlie spatial solutions and plans for building the necessary infrastructure and housing.

Major investment projects, such as the centre for building large-capacity marine facilities by NOVATEK, where unique plants for liquefied natural gas production are being assembled, are underway in the Russian Arctic.

Our goal is to lay the groundwork for expanding the service economy in addition to major industrial and energy projects of that kind. We aim to create a foundation for strong small and medium-sized businesses to promote diversified urban economies. This is important to provide people with choices on the job market and ample opportunities for reaching their full potential. This is also important if we want to avoid challenges posed by company towns, where reliance on a single enterprise has led to problems that have not been fully resolved to this day.

Without a doubt, people working in such urban economies should have access to the benefits of city life and modern housing.

Russia's Arctic zone is almost a third of our country. Nine regions are either fully or partially located there, and about 2.5 million, or a bit more than 2.4 million people live there.

I will repeat that our main goal is to achieve a tangible improvement in the quality of life. Hence, we must enhance the efficiency of regional healthcare, education, transport, and housing and utilities systems and create conditions for further investment, growth in tourism and the creation of qualified jobs. All these measures are key to increasing the population in these Arctic territories.

I will say that work on each of these areas has already started under national projects and several federal and regional programmes. I would like to ask you to consider this and avoid overlapping existing measures with the master plans that are being drafted. On the contrary, it is important to see that they supplement and strengthen each other.

I would like to note that our measures in Arctic cities have already increased the amount of new housing. Last year, this figure grew by 36 percent.

Similar to the Far Eastern mortgage programme, we have offered Arctic mortgage rates as low as two percent annually, which helps people buy housing on better, more attractive terms.

I just spoke to some people, again via videoconference, who were some of the first to use this mechanism. I saw that these are primarily young people, young families, of course. As I understand it, they have different professions. Naturally, everyone wants to use this instrument, the two percent mortgage. They also had some ideas, some proposals, and I will talk about them separately, but I would like to listen to you first.

Now I would like to emphasise that the labour market and the incomes of people are growing due to investors that see good business prospects in the Arctic cities. But, of course, there are still problems, outstanding issues, and not a small number of them.

Large-scale development of many Arctic cities has been done a long time ago, and most of them now need a complete overhaul rather than minor renovations. Residential, social, sports, and cultural facilities, as well as roads and utilities lines must be renovated, and a comfortable urban environment that meets the latest urban planning standards must be created.

Relocating people from dilapidated housing and upgrading the housing and utilities infrastructure are among the key priorities. Arkhangelsk Region Governor Alexander Tsybulsky and I discussed this matter and he told me - unfortunately, it slipped my mind - there were buildings in Arkhangelsk that are practically falling over, but for reasons unknown, have not made it to the list of structurally unsafe housing. Well, the reasons are clear, because until January 1, 2017, all structurally deficient buildings were listed to address the problems. They were not put in this category. The houses are falling over, so I would like Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, who is also Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities, to consider this issue a top priority. Overall, it is important to increase the pace of relocating residents from structurally unsafe residential buildings and providing people with decent housing conditions.

To reiterate, it is important to keep in mind the harsh climate when choosing construction materials and processes for the construction of residential buildings and industrial and public facilities in this region. Higher global temperatures and the thawing of the permafrost should be taken into account early in the process when capital structures are being designed in order to avoid damage to buildings standing on unstable thawing ground.

Certainly, all construction projects must meet strict environmental requirements and ensure the conservation of the unique and diverse Arctic wilderness.

Developing tourism is one of the primary, systemic tasks. Tourism in the Arctic has enormous potential. To tap it, we need to improve the hospitality industry, to come up with exciting tourist routes and services and, as I mentioned earlier, to develop urban and rural communities.

Today, we will discuss other issues involved in forming the Arctic cities and communities' economic base.

Let us get to work. Our next speaker is Alexei Chekunkov, Minister for the Development of the Far East and Arctic.

<...>

Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, thank you for your substantive work, ideas, and constructive proposals. The Government has been instructed to finalise master plans for core Arctic localities by July 1, 2024. Please be mindful of the issues that we discussed and the proposals made by the regional leaders, such as cost per square metre. Why cheat ourselves? If we set a lower figure, we will simply do less, or we will need to look for more money or break discipline. Why do that? Let's base our plans on objective circumstances or plan according to what we have and can do.

Importantly, the deadline I mentioned - July 1, 2024 - when the master plans must be completed, needs to be met so that the regional authorities and businesses can start working on these goals next year.

We know that much, primarily the living standards and the well-being of our people, depends on whether these goals are fulfilled.

To reiterate, Arctic is a territory of vast economic opportunity. It might seem unnecessary to repeat it, but I will say it again so that we are clear about what constitutes the subject of our discussion today and why we are doing this.

In order for the region to rise to its full potential, it is, without a doubt, necessary to invest more in the social sphere as well. I cannot disagree with Mr Siluanov: the Finance Ministry has it right in this regard. If we provide easy terms to businesses, then, of course, we should also work with our colleagues from private business so they can respond accordingly to what the public authorities are doing, so that particular projects that are good for business are implemented, and people can lead a decent life here. We need to address this together.

I am talking not only about expanding the industrial base and global transport, tourism, and so on, but, as the Finance Minister said, making sure that businesses also react accordingly and help the state implement social projects.

I very much hope that entrepreneurs, our companies, and development institutions will join them not only in investment projects but also in creating the necessary conditions for people to live here, in this challenging land. In this sense, I rely on public-private partnerships and their projects.

The requisite financial tools and mechanisms have been created and are readily available. By the way, I would like our colleagues from the regions to help businesses in this upcoming work, because it is not just us that should expect to get something from them, even as we offer them preferential benefits. As you are aware, they are facing thousands of challenges. We should help them integrate into regional life and help them carry out the projects at hand.

I would like to return to the conversation I had with the people who were the first to receive this preferential 2 percent Arctic mortgage. As I said, they offered some proposals. They touched on what I consider to be important issues.

Here is what I would like to emphasise. I think it would be right and fair to extend this programme to the participants in the special military operation. No doubt, this is our sacred duty. We are sitting here, resolving complicated and important problems, but we are still in a warm and safe place, while they are on the frontline, in dirt, under bullets and shells. We must never forget this. We must always keep them and their family members in the focus of our attention, especially when resolving issues like this.

In addition, I think they were right - and I agree with this as well - to delete the requirement for a service record in the Arctic regions, for medical workers who want to apply for a preferential mortgage rate. I support this initiative and would also like to ask the Government to give this opportunity not only to medical workers but also to the teaching staff. I think this would be appropriate. We will not be able to create the needed environment for people without supporting teachers by lifting employment and service history restrictions.

I certainly agree that it is necessary to summarise information and create a registry of the best regional practices on developing Arctic cities. This is indeed an effective solution on organising the transport system, the social infrastructure, and public spaces in the broadest sense of this word in these Nordic conditions.

In conclusion, I would like to draw the attention of the regional governors whose cities are taking part in drafting master plans, to the need to discuss them with the public at large, to consider as much as possible the opinions of the local people and their proposals on specific measures under these programmes.

I would like to thank all of you once again for your work, for conducting it the way you did. I hope we will be moving to the set goals quickly but at the necessary pace. In practical terms, we will implement them on a broader scale, in part, considering the remarks made by the regional governors.

Thank you very much. All the best to you.

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Meeting with Arctic mortgage recipients

Vladimir Putin held a videoconference meeting with participants in the Arctic Mortgage programme.

December 11, 2023

17:10

Arkhangelsk

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends, good afternoon. I am happy to see you.

Today Arkhangelsk will host a meeting on the socioeconomic development of the region and Arctic cities. I see that here on the screen, opposite me, are the people and families who were the first to receive preferential mortgages that were intended for the Arctic regions.

Before the meeting with my colleagues, I would like to ask you about and hear your opinion on how this instrument works, what else can we do to make it less difficult and more effective, what is the quality of the housing provided, and how well is the social and transport infrastructure being developed: I mean how you get to the places where you live, how you get there.

I would like to hear your opinion about the availability of the number of shops and kindergartens, how quickly and in what manner you can get to healthcare facilities, and everything else that is necessary for a normal and comfortable life.

Please, who would like to and has something to say on this matter? I am simply asking you to help me in the work that my colleagues and I will have to do in discussing these issues.

Please.

<...>

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Ceremony for raising naval flags on nuclear-powered submarines Emperor Alexander III and Krasnoyarsk

At the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, the President took part in the ceremony to raise naval flags on nuclear-powered submarines Emperor Alexander III and Krasnoyarsk.

December 11, 2023

15:50

Severodvinsk

The nuclear-powered submarine Emperor Alexander III is the third serial-produced ship of the upgraded Borei-A project, which belongs to the fourth generation of nuclear ships. This submarine is equipped with modern systems of missile and torpedo weapons, navigation, radioelectronic and hydroacoustic weapons.

The Krasnoyarsk is the second multi-purpose nuclear-powered submarine of the upgraded Yasen-M project, which also belongs to the fourth generation of nuclear ships. Improvements were made to the submarine's element base of radioelectronic weapons systems, and its equipment and materials were upgraded.

Vladimir Putin then boarded frigate Admiral Kasatonov, where he inspected the ship's weapons systems. As a memento of his visit, the President signed the distinguished visitors' book.

The Project 22350 first serial-produced frigate Admiral of the Fleet Kasatonov was built at Severnaya Verf shipyard (the Northern Shipyard) in St Petersburg and is part of the Northern Fleet.

* * *

Speech at ceremony for raising naval flags on nuclear submarine cruisers, Emperor Alexander III and Krasnoyarsk

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrade officers,

I would like to greet you on this momentous day as the naval flags are being hoisted on the nuclear submarines Emperor Alexander III and Krasnoyarsk. These formidable missile carriers, unmatched in their class, start their service as part of our Navy.

We are consistently equipping the Navy with cutting-edge equipment and weaponry and, importantly, expanding the serial production: Emperor Alexander III is the seventh Borei-class strategic missile carrier, while the Krasnoyarsk cruiser is the fourth Yasen-class multi-purpose nuclear-powered submarine.

Notably, naming the Borei-class ballistic missile submarines after outstanding Russian military commanders and statesmen is a tradition. The nuclear cruisers Yury Dolgoruky, Alexander Nevsky, Vladimir Monomakh, Knyaz Vladimir, Knyaz Oleg, and Generalissimus Suvorov, and now Emperor Alexander III, will reliably safeguard Russia's security for many years to come, fulfilling missions related to strategic deterrence.

Each of the above vessels is armed with Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The multi-purpose Yasen-M-class nuclear-powered submarines possess formidable weaponry as well. They are equipped with precision long-range missiles and can strike surface and coastal targets alike.

Soon, the ballistic missile submarines Emperor Alexander III and Krasnoyarsk will begin their service as part of the Pacific Fleet to guard the eastern borders of our Fatherland.

Efforts to enhance Russia's naval power will, without a doubt, continue. In the coming years, as part of the state armament programme, the legendary Sevmash shipyard alone will launch and transfer three more Borei-A-class strategic missile carriers to the Navy.

Five Yasen-M-class submarines are currently under construction, with the construction of the nuclear cruiser Arkhangelsk to be completed soon.

We will undoubtedly deliver on all our plans for the construction of submarine and surface ships. We will strengthen the combat readiness of the Russian Navy quantitatively, and enhance our naval power in the Arctic, the Far East, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Caspian Sea which are crucial strategic regions in the world oceans.

I would like to congratulate the naval forces and the Sevmash shipbuilders on today's important event. I express my gratitude to the employees of the enterprise for their professionalism and dedication. I wish successful service to the crews of the ballistic missile submarines in the interests of our people and our country.

(The ceremony for raising naval flags on the nuclear-powered submarines Emperor Alexander III and Krasnoyarsk takes place.)

Congratulations to all of you on this occasion! Best of luck in your service to Russia.

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Navalny Transferred To New Facility, Whereabouts Unknown, Aide Says

By RFE/RL's Russian Service December 11, 2023

Almost a week after being held incommunicado, imprisoned Russian opposition politician and Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny has been transferred to an unspecified site, according to one of his aides.

Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's press secretary, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on December 11 that one of Navalny's lawyers was informed at the IK-6 penal colony in the Vladimir region that his client "is no longer on their list of inmates."

"They refuse to say where [Navalny] was transferred to," Yarmysh added in the post.

Earlier in the day, Yarmysh said Navalny has been held incommunicado for almost a week, while his lawyers have not been allowed to meet with him in the penal colony.

Navalny is serving a total of 19 years in prison on extremism and other charges that he rejects as politically motivated.

His transfer to a harsher "special regime" facility was seen as a possibility when he had his sentence increased to 19 years in August after being found guilty of creating an extremist organization.

The move comes just days after Navalny's team launched a billboard campaign asking Russians to vote against President Vladimir Putin, who on December 8 said he would run in a March 17 presidential election.

Navalny's Anticorruption Foundation (FBK) paid for the billboards putting the messages "Russia" and "Happy New Year" on them. A QR code was also printed on the signs, and they led to a website titled Russia Without Putin, which encouraged voters not to cast ballots for Putin. Less than a day later, billboards with QR codes were outlawed.

Yarmysh, and another of Navalny's associates, Ruslan Shavetdinov, said earlier that Navalny felt extremely unwell in his cell in late November and early December after prison guards deprived him of food and fresh air, keeping him in solitary confinement and limiting his walks outside the cell.

Navalny's current isolation from the outside world coincided with a campaign his team launched on December 7 against Putin. That day, the Russian parliament's upper chamber, the Federation Council, set March 17, 2024, as the date for a presidential election.

The White House expressed concerns over reports about Navalny being kept incommunicado for nearly a week.

"We are deeply concerned about these reports," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on December 11 aboard Air Force One. "He should be released immediately."

Putin, who has led the country as a prime minister or president since 1999, is eligible to take part in two more presidential elections due to constitutional amendments introduced in 2020. He is expected to easily win the poll.

Navalny's previous sentence was handed down in 2021 after he arrived in Moscow from Germany, where he had been recovering from a poisoning attack he blamed on the Kremlin, which the Kremlin denied.

He was Russia's loudest opposition voice and galvanized huge anti-government rallies before he was jailed.

Three of Navalny's former lawyers -- Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin, and Aleksei Lipster -- were taken into custody in October and charged with taking part an extremist group's activities because of their association with Navalny and his anti-corruption foundation.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-navalny-prison-moved- incommunicado/32725465.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Whereabouts of Jailed Russian Opposition Leader Navalny Unknown

By VOA News December 11, 2023

The whereabouts of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny are currently unknown, with his allies saying he is no longer at the penal colony where he had been imprisoned since last year.

Russian officials have not said where Navalny was taken, and there has been no comment from the Kremlin.

Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said Monday had been due to make a court appearance via video link but did not. She said the prison cited problems with the electricity. The spokeswoman said the last time his lawyers and allies had heard from him was six days ago.

Navalny was sentenced to 19 years in prison in August on charges of extremist activity. He was serving his sentence in a maximum-security prison, Penal Colony No. 6, in the town of Melekhovo in the Vladimir region more than 225 kilometers east of Moscow.

According to the Associated Press, Navalny had been expected to be transferred to a "special security" penal colony with the strictest security level in the Russian prison system. Transferring inmates from one prison to another in Russia can take weeks, with inmates having to take trains across the vast country, with limited to no information given about their well-being or location.

The United States has expressed concern over the situation, with White House national security spokesman John Kirby saying, "He should be released immediately. He should never have been jailed in the first place."

Navalny is considered Russian President Vladimir Putin's strongest rival. He was arrested in January 2021 after returning from Germany, where he received treatment for nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin. Moscow has denied involvement.

Navalny has campaigned against corruption and faced a number of charges that he denies.

Some have speculated Navalny's disappearance was strategically timed, as it is the beginning of a campaign period for a presidential election.

"0% coincidence and 100% direct manual political control from the Kremlin,"

Navalny aide Leonid Volkov posted on X, formerly Twitter, in regard to the timing. "It is no secret to Putin who his main opponent is in these 'elections'. And he wants to make sure that Navalny's voice is not heard."

Navalny's disappearance also comes as some have grown concerned over his health.

Recently, "He felt dizzy and lay down on the floor. Prison officials rushed to him, unfolded the bed, put Alexei on it and gave him an IV drip. We don't know what caused it, but given that he's being deprived of food, kept in a cell without ventilation and has been offered minimal outdoor time, it looks like fainting out of hunger," Navalny spokeswoman Yarmysh said.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.

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KMT's Hou pledges to spend NT$10 billion raising servicemen's salaries

ROC Central News Agency

12/11/2023 07:41 PM

Taipei, Dec. 11 (CNA) Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih () on Monday pledged to allocate NT$10 billion (US$317.34 million) to raise the starting salary for voluntary servicemen as an incentive for people to serve in the nation's armed forces.

The money will be spent on increasing the salary of military personnel by NT$10,000 per month, in particularly those serving on the frontline and in combat units, that currently facing a shortage of personnel, Hou said during a press event to outline his national defense and foreign affairs policy.

Hou also said that another main reason for the reluctance of Taiwanese youth to serve in the military is that most Taiwanese respect military personnel far less than in other countries.

That is why once he wins the 2024 presidency race, he pledged to make Sept. 3 Armed Forces Day a public holiday with one day-off and rename it "Showing Respect to the Armed Forces Day," so service personnel in Taiwan can receive the respect they deserve, the New Taipei mayor said.

In outlining an overall defense strategy, Hou reiterated his 3Ds strategy namely, "deterrence, dialogue and de-escalation" in the face of growing cross-strait tensions over the past eight years during the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) because of a lack of official communication channels with Beijing.

Hou said Taiwan has to be prepared for war, and use its strength to safeguard peace and stability across the strait.

However, at the same time, he called for the re-establishment of dialogue with China based on the principles of equality, goodwill and dignity, to gradually decrease hostility, reduce the risk of conflict across the Taiwan Strait and avoid war.

The KMT candidate said the current DPP administration lacks a comprehensive national security strategy blueprint that all government branches and the people of Taiwan can understand and follow.

He pledged to release such a blueprint within 10 months of assuming the presidency on May 20.

Meanwhile, in terms of foreign policy, Hou criticized the DPP government for losing nine diplomatic allies to China since taking power in May 2016. The country now only has 13 states worldwide as diplomatic allies.

Taiwan has also been unable to attend the World Health Assembly and International Civil Aviation Organization meetings as an observer, a privilege the former KMT government enjoyed due to warmer relations with China, Hou added.

He said the DPP's New Southbound Policy which aims to enhance trade and exchanges with 18 countries in Southeast and South Asia, as well as Australia and New Zealand, in a bid to reduce Taiwan's dependence on China, is not working as claimed by the ruling party.

Hou proposed that instead of focusing on ASEAN, India, Australia and New Zealand, his administration will expand its focus to the greater Indo-Pacific region.

Another goal during his presidency will be for Taiwan to push for swift accession to the Japan-led Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, Hou said.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/AW

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Exclusive: Taiwan Willing to Donate to Disaster Fund, Environment Minister Says

By Chermaine Lee December 11, 2023

Taiwan has been blocked from participating in the COP28 climate summit, but a representative it sent to Dubai spoke with VOA on the sidelines of the talks in an exclusive interview. Environment Minister Shieu Fuh-Sheng tells VOA that Taiwan is willing to contribute to a new climate damage fund approved at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai aimed at compensating vulnerable countries in the Global South for damages they've experienced.

Taiwan may be small with a population of 23.9 million, but its per capita emissions are among the highest in the world, surpassing giant emitters a such as China, Japan and the European Union. Fossil fuels still account for more than 80% of Taiwan's energy mix, and most of it is imported.

With the United Arab Emirates a a developing country under the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) categorization a pledging $100 million to the loss and damage fund, developed economies are under pressure to follow suit. Taiwan, with a GDP like Sweden's, feels responsible, Shieu said.

"We are going to fulfill our [climate] responsibilities. If we are included in the conversations, I believe Taiwan is willing to make its contributions to [the loss and damage fund]," Shieu told VOA News.

He adds that Taiwan already provides climate finance, including $1 million to one of its few remaining diplomatic allies, the Marshall Islands, for climate adaptation. It also donated $500,000 to Hawaii for relief efforts after the devastating wildfires in Maui.

"So Taiwan has been making its [climate] contributions through such a channel, and if we can join the official negotiations, we can make a bigger contribution," Shieu said.

The self-ruled island has been excluded from all COP28 climate negotiations, as it is not recognized by the UNFCCC as a member state.

Many government officials, including Shieu, have been barred from entering the venue's Blue Zone, where all climate negotiations including the loss and damage fund, mitigation, adaptation and fossil fuel phase-out are taking place.

During the COP28 climate summit, 11 of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, including Belize and the Marshall Islands, pushed to include Taiwan in the U.N. climate framework. China lodged a protest Saturday calling the move "unacceptable" and citing its claims that the democratically ruled island is part of its territory.

Climate justice

Taiwan's Shieu said that climate change and sovereignty should be separate issues.

"It's such a shame [that we aren't invited to the negotiations] because climate change isn't an issue that can be solved single-handedly. It affects everyone in the planet, and it relies on everyone to reduce emissions. ... It's also a loss for the international community in terms of mitigation and adaptation."

Excluding certain territories like Taiwan and Puerto Rico is in the way of achieving climate justice, according to Isatis Cintron, climate scientist and director of Climate Trace.

"We cannot talk about full climate justice if we are excluding people from the [negotiation] table," Cintron told VOA News.

Such exclusion also prevents Taiwan from officially fulfilling its climate responsibilities, according to Chia-Wei Chao, research director of TCAN think tank from Taiwan.

"Taiwan is one of the biggest emitters [per capita] and it bears the related climate responsibilities," Chao told VOA News. Chao added that Taiwan should also expand its current climate finance to its allies. "Taiwan is definitely in the donor position in climate finance."

Under the "Taiwan Can Help" campaign, Shieu said the island can help in technology for adaptation including early warning systems and disaster prevention, among others.

Sidelined

Climate loss and damage is included in the negotiation text of discussion over the phase out or phase down of fossil fuels, rendering mitigation at the heart of loss and damage. Taiwan isn't one of the signatories in the Paris Agreement that seeks to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The island signed its own green plan, named Climate Change Response Act, into law earlier this year, promising to turn into net-zero in 2050. However, not being recognized by the U.N. means the monitoring process of Taiwan turning into net zero can be complicated, Chao said.

"Does Taiwan's NDC [national determined contributions a countries' green pledges at COP] suit what's needed to achieve the Paris Agreement? How do we make sure Taiwan's execution of its green goals is proportional to its climate responsibilities? We aren't able to make formal consultations because Taiwan is not included in the negotiation," he explained.

The island's famed semiconductor-making industry a the world's largest a used less than 10% of renewable energy in 2021 and is projected to double its energy consumption by 2030, a report from Greenpeace revealed earlier this year. At the same time though, TSMC, the biggest Taiwanese semiconductor producer, moved up its target to switch to 100% renewable energy from 2050 to 2040.

"Semiconductor production is a very important part of Taiwan's energy transition ... but Taiwan cannot join in the conversations to set rules for greening industries, it can only comply in a passive manner," said Chao.

This article was prepared with the support of a COP28 Climate Justice Fellowship by Climate Tracker.

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December 11, 2023

Speech

Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Introducing President Zelenskyy of Ukraine

As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III National Defense University, WASHINGTON

Good afternoon, everybody.

Thanks for being here.

Lieutenant General Plehn, thanks for that kind introduction, and for all that you do for this outstanding institution of higher learning.

And thanks to you and the whole team at National Defense University for hosting all of us todayaand, I should add, on pretty short notice.

It's great to see General C.Q. Brown and other Department leaders here today.

Mister President, welcome back to Washington.

[Applause]

It is an honor to have you with us today, and we're especially moved to have you here at NDU.

We've got a lot of students and future leaders in the audience.

And we also have some proud students from Ukraine. Where are you?

[Applause]

And they're going to all remember this day for a long time.

Mister President, I think you know that NDU's mission is to educate our joint warfighters and other defense leaders in the type of rigorous critical thinking that we need in this time of testing.

And I think that the entire NDU faculty will tell you this: So long as free people seek to defend their rights and their sovereignty, students here will study the example of Ukraine.

[Applause]

This is an institution that teaches leadership.

And Mister President, you are living proof that a single person's leadership can help rally an embattled democracy, and inspire the free world, and change the course of history.

[Applause]

We are here today for a simple reason.

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched an unprovoked, all-out invasion of Ukraine.

And over nearly two years of atrocity and aggression, Putin has continued to wage his reckless and lawless war of choice.

Mister President, Ukraine's fight for freedom is one of the great causes of our time.

And the United States is proud to stand with you.

And make no mistake.

America's commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression is unshakeable.

[Applause]

Ukraine matters profoundly to America's security, and to the trajectory of global security in the 21st century.

That's why the United States has committed more than $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine's brave defenders.

And together with President Zelenskyy and his team, we have rallied a historic coalition of some 50 allies and partners.

And our friends and allies have contributed more than $37 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.

And the capabilities from our coalition are making a crucial difference on the battlefield.

Ukraine has taken back more than half of the territory grabbed by Russia since February 2022.

[Applause]

And the Russian military has been badly weakened.

You know, Putin tried to demoralize the Ukrainian people.

Instead, Putin demoralized the Russian military.

So together with our allies and partners, we are determined to help Ukraine consolidate and extend its battlefield gains, and to build a future force that can ward off Russian aggression in the years ahead.

Ladies and gentlemen, Dr. King once said that, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

We are living in just such a time.

And we must all decide on where we stand.

So we are determined to help Ukraine fight to defend its territory and its citizens.

We are determined to deter Russia from any further aggressionaincluding against our NATO allies.

And we are determined to show the world that America will not flinch in our defense of freedom.

[Applause]

If we do not stand up to the Kremlin's aggression today, if we do not deter other would-be aggressors, we will only invite more aggression, more bloodshed, and more chaos.

America will be more secure if we stand up to Putin's increasingly aggressive Russia.

America will be more secure if we stand up for our bedrock values.

And America will be more secure if we make it clear to would-be aggressors worldwide that they do not get to decide which countries live or which countries die.

Now, despite his crimes and despite his isolation, Putin still believes that he can outlast Ukraine, and that he can outlast America.

But he is wrong.

Mister President, ladies and gentlemen, America's commitments must be honored.

America's security must be defended.

And America's word must be kept.

[Applause]

Mister President, we last saw each other a few weeks ago on my most recent trip to Kyiv.

And in your capital city, I saw firsthand the determination of Ukraine's outstanding troops, and the resilience of the Ukrainian people.

And on this visit to America's capital, I hope that you will meet a similar spirit of fortitude and resolve.

So Mister President, thank you so much for being here with us today.

And the floor is yours.

[Applause]

https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3613532/

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December 11, 2023

By David Vergun , DOD News

U.S. Support for Ukraine 'Unshakable,' Says Austin

America's commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression is unshakable, said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III.

Austin delivered introductory remarks prior to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address at the National Defense University today in Washington.

"Ukraine's fight for freedom is one of the great causes of our time. And the United States is proud to stand with you. And, make no mistake about it, Ukraine matters profoundly to America's security and to the trajectory of global security in the 21st century," Austin said.

That's why the United States has committed more than $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine's brave defenders and has rallied a historic coalition of some 50 allies and partners, who have contributed more than $37 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, he added.

"The capabilities from our coalition are making a crucial difference on the battlefield. Ukraine has taken back more than half of the territory grabbed by Russia since February 2022," the secretary said.

The Russian military had been badly weakened. Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to demoralize the Ukrainian people. Instead, he demoralized the Russian military, Austin said.

America and the coalition are determined to help Ukraine fight to defend its territory and its citizens and to extend its battlefield gains, he said.

"If we do not stand up to the Kremlin's aggression today, if we do not deter other would-be aggressors, we will only invite more aggression, more bloodshed and more chaos," Austin said.

Zelenskyy said that Russia's fight against Ukraine is really a fight against a free and united Europe.

Putin is looking for allies who are susceptible to his ideology, even in America, the president said. "His weapon against you right now is propaganda and disinformation."

Zelenskyy said that Putin's aim isn't just the takeover and destruction of Ukraine. He will wage a global war on freedom.

"Ukrainians haven't given up and won't give up. We know what to do. And you can count on Ukraine. And we hope just as much to be able to count on you," he said.

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Zelensky's visit 'might not be able to break deadlock' in US Congress over aid

Global Times

By Yang Sheng Published: Dec 11, 2023 10:08 PM

Although US President Joe Biden has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit the US, a move that is believed to help the Biden administration break the deadlock in Congress over aid to allow Ukraine to keep up its fight with Russia, analysts said serious partisan struggles between Democrats and Republicans, as well as the ongoing conflict in Gaza, could make it very difficult for Zelensky to get what he wants during this trip.

Ukraine's setback in the war would affect Biden in the 2024 election, and this is a key element that is making Republicans determined to add problems to the latest Ukraine aid deal in Congress, and if the US significantly reduces the amount of aid, more and more NATO members, especially those in Europe, will have a pretext to reduce their aid as well, and this would make the situation increasingly favorable to Russia. But before the US presidential election, which will be concluded late next year, it's still hard to see an end to the conflict.

Trying to break the deadlock

Zelensky's visit to the US this time, which the White House announced Sunday, is his third to Washington since the war in Ukraine began, and comes at a critical moment in congressional negotiations for emergency aid to Ukraine. Congress appears no closer to a deal tying immigration and border policy changes to the emergency aid package that will provide funding for Ukraine and Israel before lawmakers leave town for the holidays, CNN reported.

Apart from meeting with Biden, Zelensky will also meet with some congressional leaders on Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer of the Democrats and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of the Republicans invited Zelensky to speak to senators Tuesday morning, according to a Senate leadership aide. House Speaker Mike Johnson of the Republicans will also meet with Zelensky, according to the speaker's spokesman Raj Shah, the Washington Post reported on Sunday.

Chinese experts said that if Ukrainian forces lose a large amount of support from the US in terms of weapons and money, it will be very difficult for Kiev to keep up its fight, and the reason why Biden has invited Zelensky to visit Washington at this time is that the US president finds himself unable to convince congress members to cooperate on the aid deal, and wants Zelensky to help him, while Zelensky is also helping himself.

In this case, Biden and Zelensky share the same goal, because if Zelensky fails to get aid, leading to more failures on the battlefield, it would be a humiliation for the Biden administration. However, Republicans, who have a key role in passing the aid deal, do not share the same goal as Zelensky, as they and their voters believe that Americans have more important issues to deal with, and Ukraine is getting too much money from the US. Republicans want to see the Biden administration and Democrats lose in 2024, which is why Zelensky is unlikely to convince Republicans, said analysts.

According to the Pew Research Center, a new poll that the institute conducted from November 27 to December 3, covering 5,203 Americans, showed that 31 percent of Americans say "the US is providing too much assistance to Ukraine" in its fight against Russia, while 29 percent say that "the US is providing the right amount of support," and only 18 percent say "the US is not providing enough."

This means about 60 percent Americans believe that there should be no more aid to Ukraine, which has given Republicans confidence to block the deal in Congress, experts noted.

The Washington Post said in its report on Sunday that "the key hurdle for more Ukraine funding is in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives," where Zelensky has not yet been invited to speak with House Republicans.

Cui Heng, an assistant research fellow from the Center for Russian Studies of East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday that "this is the most difficult moment for Ukraine since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis. The difficulty is not about defending against attacks from Russia, but about preventing being 'abandoned' by the US-led West."

Change in the battlefield

As Zelensky and Biden battled problems over the aid deal, Russia released some information about its victories on the battlefield. RT reported on Sunday that "Russian forces have unfurled the country's flag on the outskirts of Maryinka," a key town in Donetsk, and a major Ukrainian stronghold.

Reuters reported on December 2 that Ukraine's control over Maryinka remained uncertain, "with unofficial reports suggesting Russian forces had registered some gains."

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Monday that "Russia is surely getting the advantage in the battlefield. Russia would be able to expand its advantage if Ukraine is unable to get more aid from the West to pay for its hard fight with Russia."

US aid is crucial to Ukraine, because Washington's decision will affect other Western countries, and if the US aid is significantly reduced or stopped, other Western countries will definitely reduce their aid as well, and this will be a major setback for Kiev, but good news for Moscow, Song noted.

In the next stage, observing what European countries will do is key, Cui said. Although many European countries have promised that they will maintain their support for Ukraine, they all have to deal with domestic pressures, and if Republicans cut the US' aid successfully, more and more European right-wing conservative forces will follow, Cui noted.

In the first quarter of 2024, there might not be any significant change in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as only the Russian and US presidential elections will have an impact on the ongoing conflict, experts said.

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Britain and Norway will support Ukraine in building coastal and maritime defence

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 11/12/2023

- Britain, Norway and several other nations will assist in the strengthening of Ukraine's security along their coastlines and to the sea. Ukraine will receive the support they need to build their own maritime capabilities, says defence minister BjArn Arild Gram (Sp)

Today the British and the Norwegian minister of defence announced a maritime collaboration with Ukraine.

-I would like to thank Great Britain for taking the initiative in developing this coalition, and for hosting the launch of AMaritime Capability CoalitionA here in London today. The defence of Ukraine is of vital importance to Euro-Atlantic safety, states defence minister BjArn Arild Gram (Sp)

Allied and partner nations have been in dialog on how we can organize military support for Ukraine in the future, and different coalitions have been established in order to aid Ukraine.

-The goal is to further develop the work that allies and partners are doing to support Ukraine, both in the short and long term. Norway, Britain and several other nations will now begin with developing a lasting maritime defence for Ukraine. This is a long-term project and the support will demand a lot of hard work in many years to come, states the defence minister.

As a maritime nation Norway can contribute maritime expertise, new technological solutions and innovations.

- We must assist Ukraine in opening trade routes and ensuring free passage in the Black Sea. Our goal is to enhance Ukraine's naval defence and improve its ability to operate along its own coast. Norway has conducted training for Ukrainian soldiers in small boat operations and will be able to build upon this support when concrete plans for further development are finalized, says the Minister of Defence.

Norway joins the leadership of the newly formed coalition where several countries are expected to participate. Various capability coalitions have been established, specializing in different capacities such as air defence and maritime operations. The objective is to further develop the collaborative efforts of allies and partners in supporting Ukraine, both in the short and long term.

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Krisjanis Karins: "Ukraine needs a joint military, financial and political support from the European Union"

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

11.12.2023

On 11 December 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Krisjanis Karins, took part in the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in Brussels, which focused in its agenda on the EU's further support to Ukraine in fighting against the Russian aggression and on developments in Israel and the Middle East as well as holding a discussion on the Sahel region in Africa.

The Council began with an informal exchange of views with the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, to whom Krisjanis Karins reaffirmed Latvia's continued support. The discussion on Ukraine takes place at a crucial moment. The Minister noted that the EU must take decisions on the EU's strategic financial and military assistance to Ukraine and on the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. This is a matter of the EU's credibility because Ukraine is waging not only its own, but also our war, the Foreign Minister underlined.

Commenting on current developments in the Middle East, Krisjanis Karins called for the focus to be placed on a two-state solution, clearly asserting that the issue should become the central priority on the EU agenda, at which all our efforts should be directed. A two-state solution would create security for Israel and reduce the grounds for radicalisation, the Latvian Foreign Minister said.

In a discussion on the Sahel, the Foreign Minister urged the Council to reflect on how to maintain a meaningful EU influence given the increasing spread in the region of the narrative cultivated by Russia.

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Kiev Loses Up to 200 Soldiers in Donetsk Direction in Past Day - MoD

Sputnik News

20231211

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine has lost up to 200 soldiers both killed and injured in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

Over the given period, the Russian armed forces have repulsed 18 attacks by Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk direction, four attacks in the Kupyansk direction and another four in the Zaporozhye direction.

"The enemy lost up to 200 military personnel killed and wounded, two armored combat vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers [in the Donetsk direction," the ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine has also lost up to 175 soldiers in the Krasny Lyman direction in the past day, the statement read.

A Sputnik

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UK to Transfer 2 Sandown-Class Minehunter Ships to Ukraine

Sputnik News

20231211

UK Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps will confirm the transfer of the vessels to Ukraine later in the day, the statement read. He is also scheduled to confirm further details of UK military support to Ukraine.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The UK government announced on Monday the transfer of two Sandown-class minehunter ships to the Ukrainian armed forces as part of a new maritime coalition with Norway designed to provide further support to Kiev.

"Two Royal Navy minehunter ships are being transferred from the Royal Navy to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in a move to strengthen Ukraine's ability to operate at sea," the UK government said in a statement.

The transfer of the minehunter ships will come as London is launching its new Maritime Capability Coalition with Oslo, the UK government added.

"The new Maritime Capability Coalition will build the support that the UK, Norway, and others are providing to Ukraine. This will be long term to help Ukraine transform its navy, making it more compatible with western allies, more interoperable with NATO, and bolstering security in the Black Sea," the statement read.

Western countries, including the United Kingdom and Norway, ramped up their military support for Ukraine after Russia launched a special military operation there on February 24, 2022. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned against further escalation leading to NATO's direct involvement in the conflict.

A Sputnik

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We are proud to support Ukraine's right to self-defence for as long as it takes: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by UK Political Coordinator Fergus Eckersley at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

11 December 2023

Thank you, Mr. President and thank you to Mr. Ebo and Ms. Wright for their briefings.

Colleagues, this is the seventh time this year Russia has called for a debate in the Security Council meeting on the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine. They have once again invited a Western briefer to support them.

It's obvious what they're trying to do.

These debates are clear evidence of a campaign to try to influence public opinion in the West, to undermine political support for Ukraine. A campaign driven by the Kremlin, to serve the Kremlin's interest alone.

This campaign is intended to help Russia to subjugate Ukraine and annex its territory, without Ukraine having the means to defend itself.

But it is manifestly not in the interest of anyone else around this table, to allow Russia, through violence, to violate and undermine the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that underpin the international order and that provides stability to our world.

That is why we're proud to support Ukraine's right to self-defence, and that is why we will continue to supply Ukraine with the military assistance it needs for as long as it takes.

This is all the more important when Russia is itself sourcing weapons from Iran and DPRK in violation of Security Council resolutions and using them to target civilians and Ukraine's critical national infrastructure.

Colleagues, the Russian Government is not only sending enormous volumes of weapons to Ukraine. It is also sacrificing the lives of more and more of its own citizens to prolong an invasion that is based on lies.

A conveyor belt of Russian mothers and fathers, sons and daughters being sent to their deaths.

Since Russia's invasion began, over 300 thousand Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded, many times more than in the ten years of Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. President Putin now plans to conscript another 170 thousand, as cannon fodder for his government's war.

It is hard to see how it is in the interests of the Russian people that the Russian Government prolongs its aggression. It is certainly not in the interests of this Council that Russia succeeds.

Let us not forget that for Russia, this is a war of choice. For Ukraine, it is a war of survival.

We must therefore continue to give Ukraine all the support it needs to defend its sovereign territory. We must demonstrate our resolve to protect and uphold the UN Charter. And we must ensure that Ukraine secures a just and lasting peace.

I thank you.

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Freedom must always prevail when challenged - speech by the President of Ukraine at the National Defense University of the United States

President of Ukraine

11 December 2023 - 22:23

Thank you very much!

It's a great honor to be here.

General Plehn - Mr. President of the National Defence University, thank you for your kind words.

I want to start by saying thank you, Secretary Austin. A huge man, a big friend of Ukraine. Thank you for your personal leadership during this time for supporting Ukraine and defending all the free world.

Chairman Brown, thank you for your vision and support.

And special thanks to you, Secretary Del Toro and Secretary Wormuth, for all your invaluable support to the Ukrainian Navy and Army. Thank you very much.

It's a real honor for me to be and speak here at this University, known for its years of dedication to fine-tuning the defense of freedom. The world not just knows the names of those who've studied and taught here; it really feels the impact of the choices they've made or the guidance they've given as mentors. And if you look at it that way, Ukraine definitely deserves to be here - represented by our brave warriors, our people, and I believe, as equals. Ukraine has left its mark on the world - that's something you can feel. It's probably felt most strongly now in Moscow. And it's going to keep being felt there even more so, until we tackle this enemy of freedom.

Ladies and gentlemen!

In many speeches and lectures given in places like this University, or similar ones, people often talk about "after the collapse of the Berlin Wall". As soon as you hear that, you get what they're talking about - the time period, the emotions, the leadership involved. And most importantly, it's about how freedom spread like ripples in a pond through Central Europe, then Eastern Europe, and across the world.

The world really did change after that wall came down, starting a new era. They said it would be a time when freedom, human rights, democracy, and market economy would lead the way globally. And that wasn't just talk. Nations that had been under the thumb for so long and could only dream of freedom started walking that path.

But, the ones who used to suppress freedom, they didn't give up their dreams either.

Since 1989, freedom's enemies got stronger, trying to turn their annoyance at freedom's success into a comeback. They channeled funds into terrorism. Stirred up trouble. Spread hate and stoked the fires of local conflicts, trying to turn them into full-blown wars or at least freeze them like incurable tumors, stifling the freedom of nations. They brought back the nuclear scare. Every decade piled on more problems, and not one year in the last thirty-plus years was safe for freedom. 2022 turned out to be the year when one of the biggest enemies of freedom, with its all out, unjust, and unprovoked war, tried to smash everything built up since the Berlin Wall fell.

Russia's war on Ukraine isn't just about some old-fashioned dictatorship trying to settle scores, real or imagined. It's not just Moscow trying to split Europe again. It's Putin attacking that big shift that happened back in 1989.

He's fighting Ukraine, but really, he's up against all of free, united Europe. He's wrecking everyday life in Ukrainian cities, but his real target is the freedom people enjoy from Warsaw to Chicago to Yokohama. He's trying to make democratic countries lose hope, pushing the idea that dictatorships with a bit of market economy are winning this global face-off. This isn't just about competing systems - Russia's still got the means to mess with democracies worldwide. Putin's got buddies in this - each one a threat to any free nation, to regional or global order, to human rights and democracy, be it HAMAS, Iran, North Korea or others. No accidents here - they're all linked by their hate for freedom. Putin's crafting his own ideology, and at its core is complete disregard for human life, for freedom, and for respecting any kind of borders - between countries, between people, even between truth and lies. He's spreading this ideology, looking for allies even here in America. His weapon against you right now is propaganda and disinformation, but if he sees a chance, he'll go further. Now, he's shifting Russia's economy and society onto what he calls "war tracks". Sadly, he's had time to do this. But the direction of these "war tracks" is clear - I'm sure you see it.

Russia is set on more than just Ukraine's land, resources, or people. It won't be satisfied with just a part of Ukraine, or even all of it. Ukraine is just a stepping stone for Russia, a way to act like that old empire that died in 1989, and to challenge the lead of freedom wherever the Russian tsar likes. Putin must lose - so that everyone else, who sees Russia's war on Ukraine as his personal lecture at the so-called "University of Aggression", gets the message loud and clear. Putin must lose!

And now, I want to share three points about Ukraine's impact... The impact I started talking about at the beginning of my speech.

First point.

No matter what some tsars might want, anywhere in the free world you won't hear phrases like: "after the collapse of Europe" or: "after freedom in Europe has fallen". Because you'll never hear: "after the fall of Ukraine". We're going to stop Russia right at the start of its global war against freedom. Right where the first front line is - on our land, in our skies, at our sea. Ukraine is the first front. But we've got to make sure - and we can make sure! - it doesn't come to having a second or third front against freedom somewhere in the Baltic countries or another part of the world. When there's a chance to defend one country's freedom to avoid fighting in other lands - that's what should be done. The current generation of free nations should learn from past battles in Europe. The destruction spread by dictatorships is too greedy, and it needs to be stopped right at the start.

I wanted to remind everyone that exactly on this day, December 11th, 82 years ago, the United States - with soldiers, officers, and generals - America's sons and daughters, just like those present here now - had to join the continental war in Europe. Now, it's without American boots on European ground defending freedom against Russia's aggression. American Bradleys and HIMARS, 155-caliber artillery and ATACMS, Patriots, and F-16s can get the job done in Europe, exactly how global freedom needs it. The whole world is watching us, observing what destiny other free nations could face - to live freely or to be subjugated. Ukrainians haven't given up and won't give up. We know what to do. You can count on Ukraine, and we hope, just as much, to be able to count on you.

So, my second point is this.

There are two key things - confidence and security. They're crucial for internal stability in countries and for international peace.

There's no human community where evil hasn't tried to take over at some point. Crime and terrorism are threats to any society. Aggressiveness and disrespect for freedom are, unfortunately, found in many parts of the world, and often hatred rules the streets and hearts. And there's no defense against this, except for these two things - the confidence of those who believe in freedom and the security guaranteed by the defenders of freedom when they come together, cooperate, and uphold rules that are mandatory for everyone.

Together, we must uphold the rule of law, our institutions and alliances that protect democracy and ensure security, including NATO, so that nowhere in the world, not even in the darkest corner of the planet, is there a temptation to think some other order can dominate the world - other than freedom. America and all free nations need to be confident in themselves, in their strength, in their leadership, so that dictatorships doubt themselves and their power to undermine freedom. When the free world hesitates, that's when dictatorships celebrate, and their most dangerous ambitions ripen.

Every one of you here understands what it means for a soldier to wait for munition. Waiting for weeks, months, without knowing if support will come at all... Every one of you with command experience knows what it means when instead of moving forward you're just watching, waiting for ammo or equipment - while your enemy is satisfied and preparing for assaults. Any of you with a son or daughter in a combat zone just wouldn't get it, if they were told that protecting lives could wait because there's a little more debating. Let me be frank with you, friends. If there's anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill, it's just Putin and his sick clique. They see the dreams come true when they see the delays and scandals. They see freedom falling when the support of freedom fighters goes down. People like Putin shouldn't even hope to conquer freedom. And we can show our children and grandchildren what real confidence is, as was shown to us... To us when in Berlin the great words were spoken: "Tear down this wall". We need no-less confidence now than President Reagan had then.

I believe this is our common goals - that the security established after 1989 is fully restored and preserved; that freedom, as then, proves that, "when its boundaries expand in one country, freedom for all people expands"; and that next year, in 2024, the aggression of the current enemy of the free world begins to collapse, just like that wall. And we can make it real.

So, moving on to the third point, ladies and gentlemen.

Our actual achievements are something to talk about. Alongside with our partners, we've already accomplished more than anyone expected when Russia started this war. Ukraine is in a battle against a nuclear state and one of the biggest armies... But! Despite everything, we have already regained 50 percent of territory that Russia captured at the beginning of this war. God bless our warriors! We're doing this under conditions where, unfortunately, the air superiority still remains with Russia. We're building our air shield, including systems like the American "Patriot" which protect our cities from missile attacks. The Ukrainian economy has grown more than five percent this year. It's not just a miracle; it's the result of the courage of our warriors, our entire nation, and the crucial support from America, from other global democracies, from our partners. When cities are safe, freedom boosts the economy. We're working with President Biden, and I am very thankful to him, so that Ukraine and the US can produce weapons together - necessary for protecting freedom. This will make Ukraine a beacon of confidence and security for all of Europe - for our now joint allies and partners. Ukraine won in the Black Sea. Now, the Russian Black Sea fleet is partially destroyed or hiding in remote bays. Thanks to this, we've resumed our maritime exports, including food exports, protecting dozens of nations in Africa and Asia from hunger and chaos. Next year, Ukraine will clear more shipping lanes. And by now it is not a secret that Ukraine's response to Russian barbarism can shake the ground in the heart of Moscow - it's a proof of our true strength. Plus, Ukraine is reforming its state institutions, even in wartime we're fixing the system, to start negotiations with the EU about joining. We keep our promises. We make more strength.

Right now, amid fierce battles, our soldiers are holding positions on the front and preparing for further actions. We haven't let Russia score any victories this year. Yes, Putin tries to create new problems. But our tactic isn't just about waiting for what Russia will do; not just about adapting to the problems Putin creates; it's about effectively solving problems - solving! - that's the key to victory.

Tomorrow, in meetings with President Biden and in Congress, I'll talk about what results we can achieve next year based on our achievements this year.

By pushing Putin back, we'll strip his aggression of its meaning. Then he will no longer be able to deceive Russia, as if he personally and his war have a future. Expanding our capabilities in the sky, especially air defense on the front, will remove Russia's air advantage. That's solving one of our major problems. Almost no one believed we would win at sea, but now it's a fact. We have to win the sky too. "Patriots" and electronic warfare, and drones, and jets - all this will help our forces move on the ground as needed. And itEs crucial that politicians don't even try to betray the soldiers because, just like weapons are needed for their defense, freedom always requires unity.

I'm confident that freedom can be stronger than any of its enemies. I believe we can be just as effective in defending freedom now as the free world was in 1989. I'm as confident today as I was on February 24th, when I told world leaders - Ukraine will fight, Ukraine will stand. I'm confident that freedom must always prevail when challenged.

I thank you, America, for your support! And I believe that one day at this University, not only those who studied Russia can give lectures, but also Ukrainians who defeated Russia.

Thank you for your attention!

C NNN!

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President in an interview with Latin American media: We are interested in Argentina playing one of the key roles in the implementation of the Peace Formula

President of Ukraine

11 December 2023 - 09:56

Argentina can contribute to the unification of Latin America around Ukraine and play a leading role in the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with Latin American media in Buenos Aires.

"We are interested in Argentina playing a key role in the Peace Formula as a highly desirable representative from Latin America. We need support from all continents. Here we see a great nation with this desire and capabilities," he said.

"Second. I am very interested in uniting Latin America around Ukraine. For us, this is uniting around the truth. I am interested in the Ukraine - Latin America summit. And here I would like Javier Milei to help us in activating and organizing such a platform," Volodymyr Zelenskyy added.

The Head of State noted that specific agreements would take time for the teams of both countries to work out all the issues. However, he noted that during the conversation with President of Argentina Javier Milei on the occasion of the inauguration, he had received a positive signal on the topics in which Ukraine is interested.

"We are powerful today in the military, security, and digitalization sectors. And I said that we are ready to cooperate in this direction, share our experience, and take yours. We are absolutely open about this, because the security issue is number one today," Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated.

He also believes that Ukraine and Argentina can cooperate in other areas, including energy, to increase trade between the two countries.

The President noted that Russia has always been directly or indirectly involved in the conflicts that are breaking out in different parts of the world, which is why the security issue is so important, including for Latin American countries.

"We must be on the same side here. We all want peace and security to prevail," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Answering the question why he chose Argentina as the first country to visit among Latin American countries, the Head of State noted that the invitation to the inauguration of President Javier Milei and his position on Russia's aggression against Ukraine contributed to that decision.

"His position is very clear on condemning Russian aggression and supporting Ukraine. It is not ambiguous, without any extra content. It is just a very specific position. Therefore, of course, I wanted to thank him on our behalf and discuss the Peace Formula and other points where we can cooperate," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

He noted that Argentina is one of the largest countries in the region that has an impact on Latin America as a whole: it is viewed as a leader.

"I see the people of Argentina supporting the people of Ukraine today. And we hope that more Latin American countries will join us in the future. You are important to us," the President of Ukraine said.

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Until we win this war, I ask all Ukrainians in Latin America to unite - Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with representatives of the Ukrainian community in Argentina

President of Ukraine

11 December 2023 - 02:06

During his working visit to Argentina, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with representatives of the Ukrainian community in the country.

The Head of State noted the warm attitude to Ukraine in Argentina and thanked the new President of the Argentine Republic Javier Milei for clear signals of support for our state.

"I believe that the position of the new President of Argentina and his team will remain unchanged. Today, it is based on support for Ukraine, our sovereignty and territorial integrity, and support for freedom," he said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope that such a clear position of Argentina would influence the overall political support for Ukraine in the region, which would affect, among other things, the support for Ukrainian resolutions at the UN.

"It is important that such a powerful voice of Latin America as the voice of Argentina, the voice of Paraguay, Uruguay, Ecuador - that they are all on our side. And I am glad that it is so," the President noted.

According to him, the Ukrainian side has received confirmation from Argentina that it will join the implementation of the Peace Formula, including participation in the fourth meeting of national security advisors to be held in January.

"The second thing we are working on is organizing the Ukraine - Latin America summit. We aim to unite the voices of Latin America in support of Ukraine and our clear stance towards seeking a just peace and condemning Russian aggression. Today, we heard support from the President of Argentina. We will consider how and when to organize all this," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Head of State also thanked the Ukrainian community in Argentina for preserving love for Ukraine, Ukrainian identity and culture for decades.

At the same time, the President noted that in the context of a full-scale Russian war, Ukraine needs to consolidate and maintain political support from the world's states.

"We need unity. Here we have representatives from Uruguay and Paraguay. We need to ensure that our communities in Latin America are united. The presence of our nation in one or another country is essential, and as an integral part of society, it always has an impact on state policy," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"So I want to ask you to find additional tools to unite Ukrainians in Latin America until we end the war victoriously," he added.

The Head of State called on the representatives of the Ukrainian community to establish economic and business ties both among themselves and with Ukraine.

"I am very glad to be here with you today. Thank you for your support and your work. I know that you have been providing financial, humanitarian, and medical assistance. I know that some of you have hosted families and children, and some have helped with medications for the wounded. For all of this, I am deeply grateful," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The meeting included representatives from various Ukrainian organizations such as: the Ukrainian Central Representation in the Argentine Republic, Ukrainian Plast in Argentina, Union of Ukrainian Women in Argentina, Association of Ukrainian-Argentinian University Graduates, Taras Shevchenko Foundation, Argentine-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ukrainian Society "Revival," Organization of Ukrainian Women "Revival," Ukrainian Cultural Society "Enlightenment" in the Argentine Republic, Women's Union "Enlightenment," Association of Ukrainian Youth, Ukrainian Society "August 27," Ukrainian communities in the cities of OberA and Colonia, Ukrainian community of the city of Apostoles, Ukrainian-Argentinian Club (Apostoles), and representatives of the clergy.

The date of the beginning of the Ukrainian immigration movement to Argentina is considered to be August 27, 1897. Today, according to various estimates, between 350 and 500 thousand ethnic Ukrainians live in Argentina.

Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, the Ukrainian community in Argentina has been actively involved in collecting and delivering humanitarian aid to Ukraine, organizing rallies, picketing the Russian embassy in Buenos Aires and concerts of Russian artists in the country, and participating in thematic roundtables, conferences and discussions on Ukraine-related topics.

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The peoples of Ukraine and Argentina above all value freedom, their identity, and strive to live with dignity - address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

11 December 2023 - 01:27

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today was full of meetings and negotiations in Argentina. Furthermore, other Latin American countries have heard Ukraine's voice here today.

I represented Ukraine at the inauguration of the new President of Argentina. I also held my first talks with Javier.

Today, on the squares and streets here, many people chanted the word "freedom" - libertad - and this is what unites us - Ukraine and Argentina, our peoples who value freedom, their identity and strive to live with dignity above all else. Javier wants strength for his country, and I felt that he wants honesty in international relations. I thanked him for supporting Ukraine and invited to work with us to restore peace. We discussed bilateral cooperation between our countries, which could contribute to economic strength and jobs for our people. It was a good, cordial meeting. I genuinely wish Argentina sound decision-making and sustained growth: may poverty decrease and strength increase. May freedom continually flourish.

Here, in Buenos Aires, I also held talks with three other leaders from the region: Paraguay, Uruguay, and Ecuador. We discussed our international work and cooperation with them.

On the sidelines of the inauguration, I spoke with Hungarian Prime Minister OrbAn. It was a highly straightforward conversation, focused on our European affairs.

Today, I also spoke with French President Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen - two phone calls. We talked about joint work at the EU level and about joint defense of Europe. I am grateful for their support.

I met with our community in Argentina - those whose roots here date back decades. I am grateful for the preservation of our culture, our identity, our language. Thank you for maintaining ties with Ukraine despite the distance, despite any adversity.

Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, I will be in Washington with my team - we have meetings and negotiations scheduled. President Biden, Congress. Important matters. Every day, every hour we utilize to give more to Ukraine, to our people - more opportunities, more protection, more strength.

I thank everyone who helps! I thank everyone who fights and works for the interests of our country, our society, our freedom and our victory!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Ukraine Says Russian Missile Attacks Target Kyiv

By VOA News December 11, 2023

Ukraine's military said Monday that Russia attacked Kyiv with eight ballistic missiles overnight in the latest wave of aerial assaults targeting the Ukrainian capital.

The Ukrainian air force said air defenses shot down all eight of the missiles.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said four people received medical treatment after debris from one of the downed missiles fell in the eastern part of the city. He also reported missile debris being found at a warehouse, but said there was no damage at the site.

The Ukrainian military said Russia also launched 18 drones from Russia-occupied Crimea, and that Ukrainian air defense shot down all 18 of them over parts of southern Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House Tuesday as the U.S. administration pushes for Congress to approve additional aid to Ukraine.

The visit is intended "to underscore the United States' unshakeable commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia's brutal invasion," the White House said in a statement Sunday.

Zelenskyy's office confirmed that he had accepted Biden's invitation. He also has been invited to speak to a meeting of all senators.

Biden has asked Congress for a $110 billion package of wartime funding for Ukraine ($61.4 billion) and Israel, along with other national security priorities. But on Wednesday, Republicans in the U.S. Senate blocked the legislation, saying major U.S. border security changes were needed.

Some Republicans are asking for the immediate deportation of illegal migrants, stripping them of a chance to seek U.S. asylum. They have also called for greatly scaling back Biden administration programs that have allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter the U.S. lawfully.

With U.S. Congress about to go on holiday recess in less than a week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed grave concern about U.S. aid not reaching Ukraine in time as winter looms.

Speaking Sunday on ABC's "This Week," Blinken said the United States is running out of money for Ukraine's war against Russia. He called on Congress to act on supplemental funding for Ukraine.

"We need to see the supplemental budget request go through as quickly as possible," Blinken said in the interview. He stressed that Ukraine has done an "extraordinary job" fighting Russian aggression, taking 50% of its territory back over the past year.

Blinken also pointed out that 90% of the money that goes to Ukraine's assistance is invested in the U.S. "In terms of the production of materials and munitions and weapons that go to the Ukrainians, it's right here, in America," he said.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Sunday that the West was trying to exhaust Russia in Ukraine and that any peace talks would have to be initiated by Kyiv.

"It is up to the Ukrainians to recognize how deep they are in the hole where the Americans put them," Lavrov said of the war.

When asked what the chances were of diplomacy bringing about a cease-fire or peace, he said, "You'll have to call Mr. Zelenskyy because a year-and-a-half ago he signed a decree prohibiting any negotiations with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin."

Hungarian blockade

Meanwhile, Hungarian truckers planned to block Hungary's main border crossing with Ukraine on Monday in protest of Ukrainian carriers bringing cheaper products into the European Union country and hurting local trade.

Truckers from Ukraine have been exempted from permits for crossing into the EU since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Haulers across eastern Europe have demanded restrictions on the number of Ukrainian trucks entering the bloc.

"We have asked the EU ... to review its agreement signed with Ukraine and consider the interests of EU carriers, among them those [of] Hungary," Tivadar Arvay, general secretary of the Hungarian Road Transport Association, told state news agency MTI.

Polish trucks at the Polish-Ukrainian border have been backed up for kilometers (miles) as Polish truckers block roads to three border crossings.

Ukraine has managed to bypass the Polish truckers' blockade by transporting the first batch of buses to Poland by rail, Ukrainian state railways Ukrzaliznytsia said Sunday.

Ukrainian authorities say about 3,500 trucks were blocked on the Polish side of the Polish-Ukrainian border as of Sunday morning. So far, authorities have not been able to reach an agreement with the protesters, who, like their Hungarian counterparts, are also seeking to stop Ukrainian truckers from having permit-free access to the European Union.

Some information for this article was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Ukraine's Zelenskyy Addresses US Military Officers in Washington

By VOA News December 11, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a standing ovation at the National Defense University in Washington Monday after he addressed U.S. military officers, kicking off a visit to Washington aimed at persuading Congress to provide more military aid to Ukraine before funding runs out.

In his speech, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of defeating Russia in Ukraine because he said, if Russia wins in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not stop there.

"His [Putin's] weapon against you right now is propaganda and disinformation. But if he sees a chance, he'll go further," he said. "Now he's shifting Russia's economy and society onto what he calls 'war tracks.'"

Zelenskyy said freedom must prevail when challenged and thanked Americans for the support.

"The whole world is watching us. ... Ukraine hasn't given up and won't give up. We know what to do, and you can count on Ukraine. And we hope, just as much to be able to count on you," he said.

The Ukrainian president said that, so far, Ukrainian forces have taken back 50% of the territory they lost to Russia, and he pointed to the perseverance of Ukrainian "warriors" on the battleground.

"Right now, amid fierce battles, our soldiers are holding positions on the front and preparing for further actions, and we haven't let Russia score any victory this year." But he stressed "we have to win in the sky."

In his remarks at the National Defense University, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin maintained that U.S. support in Ukraine is unshakeable and warned, "If we do not stand up [to] the Kremlin's aggression today, if we do not deter other would-be aggressors, we will only invite more aggression, more bloodshed and more chaos."

"Now despite his crimes, and despite his isolation, Putin still believes that he can outlast Ukraine, and that he can outlast America. But he is wrong," Austin said.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Kristalina Georgieva will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on Monday, an IMF spokesperson said, as the fund's executive board prepared to release more funds from the country's $15.6 billion loan program.

The IMF last month announced a staff-level agreement with Ukraine on updated economic and financial policies, paving the way for a $900 million disbursement once it is finalized by the board.

At the time, the IMF said the Ukrainian economy continued to show "remarkable resilience" despite Russia's invasion in February 2022, with recent developments pointing to a stronger-than-expected economic recovery in 2023 and continued growth in 2024.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy is expected to go to Capitol Hill and to meet with Biden at the White House.

Biden has asked Congress for a $110 billion package of wartime funding for Ukraine and Israel, along with other national security priorities. Ukraine would get over $61 billion of the money.

But Republicans in the U.S. Senate have balked at the legislation, saying major U.S. border security changes are needed.

Some Republicans are asking for the immediate deportation of illegal migrants, stripping them of a chance to seek U.S. asylum. They have also called for greatly scaling back Biden administration programs that have allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter the U.S. lawfully.

The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion for its fight against Russia's 2022 invasion.

Zelenskyy's visit is intended "to underscore the United States' unshakeable commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia's brutal invasion," the White House said in a statement Sunday.

The stakes are especially high for Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during television interviews Sunday, given that "we are running out of funding" for the Ukrainians.

He also pointed out that 90% of the money that goes to Ukraine's assistance is invested in the U.S.

"In terms of the production of materials and munitions and weapons that go to the Ukrainians, it's right here, in America," he said.

Russian submarines

Putin inspected two nuclear submarines, the Krasnoyarsk and Emperor Alexander III, at the Sevmash shipbuilding yard at the arctic port of Severodvinsk, in a televised ceremony Monday.

The Emperor Alexander III is part of Russia's new Borei (Arctic Wind) class of nuclear submarines, the first new generation Russia has launched since the Cold War.

Last month, the defense ministry said the vessel had successfully tested a nuclear-capable Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile.

Security analysts say nuclear arms have assumed a greater importance in Putin's thinking and rhetoric since the start of the Ukraine conflict, where his conventional forces are locked in a grinding war of attrition with no end in sight.

Polish protests

Meanwhile, a month-long blockade by protesting Polish truck drivers has been partially lifted at one border crossing between Ukraine and Poland, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Facebook Monday.

So far, 15 trucks had passed into Ukraine through the Yahodyn-Dorohusk crossing while 25 trucks were being cleared to head the other way toward Poland, said Kubrakov.

Blockades continued to stop traffic on three other crossings.

Polish truckers have been pushing to stop Ukrainian drivers from getting permit-free access to the EU, accusing their Ukrainian counterparts of using their permit-free access to undercut prices.

They said the protest had not ended and they were just waiting temporarily for details of a reported local order against one stoppage.

The Polish protest, which started in early November, has blocked four main land routes between the two neighbors, pushed up prices of fuel and some food items in Ukraine and delayed drone deliveries to Ukrainian troops fighting invading Russian forces.

Ukraine's customs service said Monday 1,000 trucks were waiting to get into Ukraine from Poland and 100 trucks would go in the opposite direction.

Also, Slovak truckers resumed a partial blockade of the country's sole freight road crossing with Ukraine Monday afternoon, the Ukrainian border service said, while Hungarian haulers are also blocking crossings to Ukraine to protest Ukrainian truckers' EU permit-free access to Hungary.

VOA's Carla Babb contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Lithuania's Foreign Minister Landsbergis: "Today we stand at an important crossroads - the time has come to test the limits of as long as it takes"

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2023.12.12

On 11 December in Brussels, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis is attending the Foreign Affairs Council to discuss Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the situation in Israel and the region, and the Sahel region.

Ahead of the EU ministerial meeting, which is attended by the Ukrainian head of diplomacy, Landsbergis said:

a Today, we will be gathering to discuss Ukraine and test the limits of as long as it takes. We've been promising Ukraine for almost two years to support Ukraine and mentioning this phrase. Many of us have asked what it means. Does it mean the Ukrainian victory? Does it mean any other strategic goal? Apparently, as long as it takes is as long as we can agree. And if we cannot, that will have huge repercussions, first of all, in Ukraine, but not just there. I am glad that we will be able to discuss the situation with Eastern partners later today because every country in the Eastern Partnership will be affected by the outcome of the war in Ukraine.

It is one of the more critical crossroads of our conversation about Ukraine, where we must make strategic decisions.

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Fuzzy Panda Research released a report on Monday, June 26, 2023, accusing Xponential Fitness, a global fitness brand franchisor, of concealing the struggles faced by many of their brands and franchisees. The report states that more than half of XPOF studios fail to generate positive financial returns. Contrary to the CEO's claims that no stores have closed, the report reveals that 30 stores have been permanently shut down. Additionally, Xponential allegedly manipulates financial metrics by excluding underperforming stores from certain calculations, as mentioned in the report.

According to the report, Anthony Geisler, the founder and CEO of Xponential Fitness, has a lengthy history of engaging in unlawful business practices such as misappropriating marketing funds, violating labor laws, and imposing undisclosed fees on franchisees. Fuzzy Panda conducted interviews with former business partners, employees, and franchisees of Geisler, one of whom anonymously described him as a "crook" involved in numerous scams.

As a consequence of this revelation, Xponential's stock price experienced a significant decline of more than 37% on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, inflicting substantial losses on investors.

Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diversified Royalty Corp. (TSX: DIV and DIV.DB.A) (the Corporation or DIV) is pleased to announce developments at two of its royalty partners, Sutton Group Realty Services Ltd. (Sutton) and Oxford Learning Centres, Inc. (Oxford Learning Centres).



Sutton

On December 11, 2023, Ross McCredie (McCredie), through a newly formed holding company (AcquisitionCo), completed the acquisition of all the shares of Sutton. Following the acquisition, McCredie became the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sutton.

McCredie is an experienced residential real estate entrepreneur and executive in Canada and in the United States with a successful 20-year track record of founding and operating real estate firms:

McCredie is the principal of McCredie Investments, a boutique investment and advisory firm focused on cutting edge real estate technology.

In 2020, McCredie founded RealWealth, an early-stage wealth management platform for real estate and tangible assets.

In 2016, Ross was the Chief Global Strategist of Pacific Union and the Chief Executive Officer of its subsidiary, The Mark Company.

In 2011, Ross co-founded Dundee 360, a global real estate investment company specializing in development, sales/marketing and asset management.

In 2004, McCredie founded Sothebys International Realty Canada, grew it to 30 markets across Canada with over 900 realtors generating over $25 billion in real estate sales in its first ten years.



McCredies acquisition of Sutton is expected to enhance the competitive position of Sutton in the Canadian real estate brokerage industry. McCredie expects to increase the support services and provide opportunities for Sutton franchisees to generate incremental revenue and expand the number of Sutton agents across Canada.

Sutton is a residential real estate firm in the business of franchising and licensing Sutton franchises in Canada. DIVs subsidiary, SGRS Royalties Limited Partnership (SGRS LP), owns the Sutton trademarks and certain related intellectual property rights (collectively, the Sutton Rights). SGRS LP acquired the Sutton Rights from Sutton in June 2015. Sutton licenses the Sutton Rights from SGRS LP for use in the Sutton business in accordance with the terms of the license and royalty agreement between Sutton and SGRS LP.

Sean Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of DIV, stated, I have known Ross for over 20 years. He brings an entrepreneurial spirit as well as extensive residential real estate services experience to Sutton. We look forward to working with Ross and Suttons management team to continue to grow the franchise across Canada.

Ross McCredie, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sutton, stated, Im excited to complete the acquisition of Sutton. Sutton is an iconic brand in the Canadian real estate industry. I look forward to revitalizing the brand, providing value to its existing franchisees and building Sutton into a market leader in Canada. We look forward working with DIV for years to come.

Oxford Learning Centres

On December 4, 2023, Oxford Learning Centres announced the hiring of Joshua Cadoch (Cadoch) as its new President.

Cadoch is a dynamic business executive with over thirteen years of experience in the education and franchising sectors. Cadoch began his career as a tutor and course instructor. After operating a successful tutoring business for four years, he decided to venture into the world of franchising. In 2014, he joined Kumon North America Inc. (Kumon), a large multinational education franchise, where he took on key roles in both franchise operations and marketing. In his most recent position, he held the role of Assistant Vice President of Canadian Field Operations and served as a member of the North American Executive Team.

Sean Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of DIV, stated, The hiring of Joshua as President of Oxford Learning Centres will bolster its management team and help the business expand across Canada and into select markets in the US.

Nick Whitehead, founder of Oxford Learning Centres, stated, We are excited to have Joshua join Oxford Learning Centres as a key executive. His experience in the learning and franchise industry will help drive the growth of Oxford Learning Centres for years to come.

About Diversified Royalty Corp.

DIV is a multi-royalty corporation, engaged in the business of acquiring top-line royalties from well-managed multi-location businesses and franchisors in North America. DIVs objective is to acquire predictable, growing royalty streams from a diverse group of multi-location businesses and franchisors.

DIV currently owns the Mr. Lube + Tires, AIR MILES, Sutton, Mr. Mikes, Nurse Next Door, Oxford Learning Centres, Stratus Building Solutions and BarBurrito trademarks. Mr. Lube + Tires is the leading quick lube service business in Canada, with locations across Canada. AIR MILES is Canadas largest coalition loyalty program. Sutton is among the leading residential real estate brokerage franchisor businesses in Canada. Mr. Mikes operates casual steakhouse restaurants primarily in western Canadian communities. Nurse Next Door is a home care providers with locations across Canada and the United States as well as in Australia. Oxford Learning Centres is one of Canadas leading franchisee supplemental education services. Stratus Building Solutions is a leading commercial cleaning service franchise company providing comprehensive environmentally friendly janitorial, building cleaning, and office cleaning services primarily in the United States. BarBurrito is the largest quick service Mexican restaurant food chain in Canada.

DIVs objective is to increase cash flow per share by making accretive royalty purchases and through the growth of purchased royalties. DIV intends to continue to pay a predictable and stable monthly dividend to shareholders and increase the dividend over time, in each case as cash flow per share allows.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The use of any of the words anticipate, continue, estimate, expect, intend, may, will, project, should, believe, confident, plan and intend and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information contains these identifying words. Specifically, forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements made in relation to: DIVs expectation that the recent change of ownership to Sutton will enhance the competitive position of Sutton in the Canadian real estate brokerage industry; Suttons expectation to increase the support services and provide opportunities for Sutton franchisees to generate incremental revenue and expand the number of Sutton agents across Canada; DIVs plans to work with McCredie and Suttons management team to continue to grow the franchise across Canada; Suttons plans to revitalize the brand, provide value to its existing franchisees and build Sutton into a market leader in Canada; DIVs expectation that the hiring of Cadoch as President of Oxford Learning Centres will bolster its management team and help the business expand across Canada and into select markets in the US; Oxford Learning Centres expectation that Cadochs experience in the learning and development industry will help drive the growth of Oxford Learning Centres for years to come; DIVs objective to continue to pay predictable and stably monthly dividends to shareholders and increase the dividend over time; and, DIVs corporate objectives. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events, performance, or achievements of DIV to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking information. DIV believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this news release are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In particular, risks and uncertainties include: competition in the real estate brokerage industry; the expected benefits of the acquisition being realized; DIVs royalty partners may be unsuccessful in implementing their corporate objectives; DIV may not be able to make monthly dividend payments to the holders of its common shares; dividends are not guaranteed and may be reduced, suspended or terminated at any time; or DIV may not achieve any of its corporate objectives. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that forward-looking information included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance, and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. More information about the risks and uncertainties affecting DIVs business and the businesses of its royalty partners can be found in the Risk Factors section of its Annual Information Form dated March 9, 2023 and in DIVs managements discussion and analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, copies of which are available under DIVs profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

In formulating the forward-looking information contained herein, management has assumed that the expected benefits of the acquisition will be realized; DIV will generate sufficient cash flows from its royalties to service its debt and pay dividends to shareholders; lenders will provide any necessary waivers required in order to allow DIV to continue to pay dividends; lenders will provide any other necessary covenant waivers to DIV and its royalty partners; the performance of DIVs royalty partners will be consistent with DIVs and its royalty partners respective expectations; recent positive trends for certain of DIVs royalty partners (including their respective franchisees) will continue and not regress; AIR MILES will be successful in attracting more new loyalty partners going forward; government mandated COVID-19 restrictions will not be re-imposed; the businesses of DIVs respective royalty partners will not suffer any material adverse effect; and the business and economic conditions affecting DIV and its royalty partners will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to general industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and regulations. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect.

All of the forward-looking information in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that it will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, DIV. The forward-looking information in this news release is made as of the date of this news release and DIV assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law.

THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR THE ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Additional Information

Additional information relating to the Corporation and other public filings, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

Contact:

Sean Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer

Diversified Royalty Corp.

(236) 521-8470

Greg Gutmanis, Chief Financial Officer and VP Acquisitions

Diversified Royalty Corp.

(236) 521-8471
Eagan, MN, Dec. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As 2023 draws to a close, GovDocs invites professionals to join a panel of employment law experts for a thought-provoking discussion of key developments from the past year and a preview of what employment law updates in 2024 may entail.

Join GovDocs on Tuesday, Dec. 12, for A Look Back, A Look Ahead: 2023 Employment Law Trends, and learn more about the latest employment law developments that may impact businesses in the new year.

Topics include:

 NLRB decisions and related developments

 Restrictive covenants/non-competes

 Proposed changes to FLSA minimum salary test

 Impact of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard on private employers

 2024 predictions in employment law

Meet the Panel:

 Jana Bjorklund, GovDocs Senior Counsel, Employment Law

 Kevin Mosher, Partner, Thompson Coe and Founder of myHRgenius

 Dan Prokott, Partner, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP

This free webinar is open to all professionals interested in understanding the nuances of employment law. Dont miss this opportunity to look ahead for 2024 employment law updates. The webinar will also be recorded and available online to view after the event date to those who registered. To reserve a spot, register at govdocs.com.

About GovDocs

GovDocs simplifies employment law compliance for large employers in the U.S. and Canada. The GovDocs software program integrates three solutions in one convenient place to help master the employment laws impacting businesses. Whether businesses manage labor law posters, minimum wage or paid leave programs, their products cut through research time, provide proactive insights into the ever changing landscape of employment laws and reduce the risk of noncompliance. The company is headquartered in Eagan, Minn.

Have fewer than 30 locations?

The GovDocs Poster Store simplifies posting compliance for employers with less than 30 locations across all industries, offering a variety of posting products to meet their labor law compliance needs.

GovDocs Employment Law News is intended for market awareness only, it is not to be used for legal advice or counsel.





Media Contact:

Company Name: GovDocs

Contact Person: Patrick Schaber

Phone: (888) 273-3274

Address: 1305 Corporate Center Dr Suite 400

City: Eagan

State: MN

Postal Code: 55121

Country: United States

Website: https://www.govdocs.com/




Pune, India, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global organic tea market is set to gain momentum from the rising popularity of retail organic food and beverages on account of their easy consumption and wide availability. The report further states that the organic tea market size was USD 820.8 million in 2019. It is projected to reach USD 1,918.7 million by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 11.2% during the forecast period.

The organic tea market is experiencing a steep ascent, driven by a global shift towards healthier and more sustainable lifestyles. As consumers become increasingly conscious of the environmental and health impacts of their choices, organic tea has emerged as a popular choice. This article explores the key findings from recent market research reports, shedding light on the trends, drivers, and challenges shaping the organic tea market.

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https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/organic-tea-market-100804

Leading Players Featured in the Research Report:

Companies leading the Organic Tea Market are Associated British Foods plc (London, U.K.), Unilever plc (London, U.K.), Tata Consumer Products Limited (Mumbai, India), The Bigelow Tea Company (Connecticut, U.S.), The Republic of Tea, Inc. (California, U.S.), The Stash Tea Company (Oregon, U.S.), Tazo Tea Company (Washington, U.S.), Shangri La Tea Company (Nevada, U.S.), Newmans Own, Inc. (Connecticut, U.S.), Organic India Pvt. Ltd. (Lucknow, India)

Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Attributes Details Forecast Period 2020-2027 Forecast CAGR 11.2% 2027 Value Projection USD 1,918.7 Million Organic Tea Market Size in 2019 USD 820.8 Million Historical Data 2016-2018 No. of Pages 185 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Type

By Form

By Distribution Channel

By Region Regions Covered North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa Organic Tea Market Growth Drivers High Demand for Nutrient-rich Food & Beverages to Bolster Growth

Browse Summary of this Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/organic-tea-market-100804

COVID-19 Pandemic: Urgent Need to Enhance Immune Systems to Aid Growth

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a huge toll on the entire food system worldwide. The supply chain of organic tea was disrupted owing to nationwide lockdown and social distancing measures. However, the rising concerns of people regarding their health and immune systems are expected to propel the demand for numerous nutritional beverages across the globe. It is likely to impact the market positively.

Segment:

Black Tea Segment to Hold 77.76% Share in 2019

Based on type, the black tea segment generated 77.76% in terms of the organic tea market share in 2019. This growth is attributable to its possession of several health benefits. This tea has antioxidants.

What Does This Report Contain?

This report includes in-depth information associated with change in material usage, new product launches, and technological advancements. It provides market dynamics based on various factors, such as opportunities, challenges, drivers, hindrances, and dynamics. At the same time, it will deliver a complete insight from the supply side respondents related to market share, distribution, and size.

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Key Trends:

Consumers are increasingly drawn to unique and high-quality tea experiences. This has led to a surge in demand for specialty and artisanal organic teas, including rare blends, single-origin teas, and handcrafted varieties. The market is witnessing a shift towards loose leaf tea, driven by consumers' desire for a more authentic and customizable tea-drinking experience. Loose leaf teas are often perceived as offering superior flavor and aroma compared to traditional tea bags. To cater to diverse consumer palates, organic tea producers are innovating with a wide range of flavors and blends. Herbal infusions, exotic fruit blends, and unique spice combinations are gaining popularity, offering consumers a delightful and personalized tea experience.

The convenience of online shopping has contributed to the growth of the organic tea market. E-commerce platforms provide a convenient avenue for consumers to explore and purchase a diverse range of organic tea products from around the world.

Drivers & Restraints:

High Demand for Nutrient-rich Food & Beverages to Bolster Growth

People nowadays are inclining rapidly toward nutrient-rich food & beverages for maintaining their overall health and wellness. They are looking for products that contain more functional ingredients to reduce the occurrences of lifestyle-related health disorders, such as obesity, cardiovascular conditions, and diabetes. Also, the increasing demand for ready-to-drink functional beverages from millennials would accelerate the organic tea market growth in the near future. However, organic tea is expensive because of its limited production. It may obstruct growth.

Regional Insights:

Increasing Awareness of Health Benefits to Spur Growth in North America

Geographically, North America procured USD 262.6 million in terms of revenue in 2019. It is set to lead the market throughout the forthcoming years on account of the rising awareness programs to educate people about the health benefits of organic tea.

Asia Pacific, on the other hand, would grow steadily backed by the rising production of organic tea, especially in China. Coupled with this, the surging discretionary incomes of people would aid growth in this region. In Europe, the rising demand for premium specialty teas with authentic and unique flavors would propel growth.

Challenges:

Limited Supply and Price Volatility: Meeting the growing demand for organic tea presents challenges related to the limited supply of organic-certified tea leaves. Additionally, the potential for price volatility due to various factors, including weather conditions and geopolitical issues, is a concern for both producers and consumers.

Educating Consumers: Despite the increasing popularity of organic tea, there is a need for ongoing consumer education. Providing information about the benefits of organic cultivation, the certification process, and the positive impact on the environment can enhance consumer understanding and confidence.

Speak to Analyst:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/organic-tea-market-100804

Major Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Emerging Trends

Key Insights Overview of the Parent/Related Markets Industry SWOT Analysis Supply Chain Analysis Recent Industry Developments - Policies, Partnerships, New Form Launches, and Mergers & Acquisitions Market Analysis and Insights (in Relation with COVID-19) Impact of COVID-19 on the Market Supply Chain Challenges due to the Pandemic Potential Opportunities to Support Sales during the Calamity

Global Organic Tea Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2016-2027 Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast By Type Black Tea Green Tea Others By Form Tea Bags Loose Leaves Loose Powder Ready-to-drink By Distribution Channel Supermarket/Hypermarket Specialty Stores Convenience Stores Online Retail By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa



To Be Continued!

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Competitive Landscape:

Key Players Focus on Introducing Innovative Products to Compete with Their Rivals

The market for organic tea has a moderately consolidated structure. It is majorly dominated by a handful of multinational organizations. They are presently focusing on new product launches, acquisitions, and partnership strategies to compete with their rivals in the market. Below are the two latest industry developments:

December 2020: BanLabs unveiled a new line of organic green tea named the Care Tea basket. It is free from artificial preservatives and flavors. It has 5 packs of some innovative flavors that have been launched in India for the first time.

Read Related Insights:

Green Tea Market to Hit USD 23.66 Billion by 2027 | Rising Awareness about the Health Benefits of Green Tea to Drive Market Growth

Bubble Tea Market to Worth USD 4.08 Billion by 2030 | With a CAGR of 7.51%

About Us:

Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

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Pune, India, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global paper straw market size was valued at USD 1.45 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 1.51 billion in 2023 to USD 2.23 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.75% during the forecast period. The rise can be credited to the surging product demand on account of a government ban on single-use plastics.

This information is provided by Fortune Business Insights in its research report, titled Paper Straw Market, 2023-2030.

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https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/paper-straw-market-107149

List of Key Players Profiled in the Paper Straw Market:

Hoffmaster Group Inc. (U.S.)

Transcend Packaging (U.K.)

Duni Group (BioPak) (Sweden)

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (Japan)

Focus Technology Co., Ltd. (China)

Fueling Technology (China)

Footprint (U.S.)

Charta Global (U.S.)

Canada Brown Eco Products Ltd (Canada)

Huhtamaki Oyj (Finland)

Report Coverage:

The report gives an analysis of the prominent factors impelling business expansion over the forecast period. It further delves into the significant trends propelling the industry landscape throughout the projected period. Additional insights include the key steps taken by major market participants to strengthen their industry foothold.

Drivers and Restraints:

Market Share Affected Due to Ban on Single-use Plastic Products

The paper straw market growth can be attributed to increasing government regulations and policies to ban single-use plastic products. This is on account of increasing product demand and the growing number of applications in the food service sector.

However, the industry expansion is likely to be hampered owing to the negative impact on the manufacturing process and quality.

COVID-19 Impact:

Industry Growth Affected Due to Decline in Product Demand

The coronavirus pandemic led to supply chain disruptions and the shutdown of manufacturing units. Besides, social distancing norms led to a halt on restaurant and hotel businesses. This led to a decline in product sales. However, the easing of restrictions led to the revival of product demand over the estimated period.

Segments:

By Material

Virgin Paper

Recycled Paper

By Product

Printed

Non-printed

By Application

Foodservice

Household

By Geography

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

the Middle East & Africa

South America

Get a Quote Now:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/get-a-quote/paper-straw-market-107149

Regional Insights

North America is anticipated to become the primary region driving growth in the paper straw market due to significant expansion projected in the forecast period. This surge is primarily linked to the extensive use of drinking straws within the food service sector and stringent regulations imposed on single-use plastics.

In Europe, substantial growth is expected to persist across the study duration. Notably, countries such as Italy, France, and Germany stand out as some of the largest consumers of straws within the region, contributing to this market's growth.

Top Trends in the Global Paper Straw Market :

Shift from Plastic to Paper: Increased awareness about environmental concerns has led to a shift from plastic straws to eco-friendly paper alternatives, driven by stricter regulations and consumer preferences for sustainable products.

Increased awareness about environmental concerns has led to a shift from plastic straws to eco-friendly paper alternatives, driven by stricter regulations and consumer preferences for sustainable products. Rising Demand in Food Service Industry: Growing adoption of paper straws in the food service sector, including restaurants, cafes, and bars, as establishments seek sustainable options and cater to environmentally conscious customers.

Growing adoption of paper straws in the food service sector, including restaurants, cafes, and bars, as establishments seek sustainable options and cater to environmentally conscious customers. Innovations in Design and Durability: Continuous innovation in paper straw design, focusing on durability, functionality, and usability, to match or surpass the performance of plastic straws and meet consumer expectations.

Continuous innovation in paper straw design, focusing on durability, functionality, and usability, to match or surpass the performance of plastic straws and meet consumer expectations. Expansion in Emerging Markets: Penetration into emerging markets due to increased awareness about environmental impact, prompting greater adoption of paper straws as a responsible choice.

Penetration into emerging markets due to increased awareness about environmental impact, prompting greater adoption of paper straws as a responsible choice. Collaborations and Partnerships: Collaborative efforts among industry players, including partnerships between manufacturers, distributors, and businesses, to enhance production capabilities and distribution networks for paper straw products.

Collaborative efforts among industry players, including partnerships between manufacturers, distributors, and businesses, to enhance production capabilities and distribution networks for paper straw products. Customization and Branding: Customization options for paper straws to meet specific branding requirements of businesses, allowing for personalized designs, colors, and packaging, enhancing brand recognition.

Customization options for paper straws to meet specific branding requirements of businesses, allowing for personalized designs, colors, and packaging, enhancing brand recognition. Technological Advancements: Adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies and materials to improve the quality, strength, and cost-effectiveness of paper straws, making them more competitive with traditional plastic alternatives.

Competitive Landscape:

Leading Companies Develop New Products to Propel Business Expansion

Major paper straw companies are focused on the adoption of various strategic initiatives such as acquisitions, the formation of alliances, mergers, and others. Many companies are also entering into collaborations and partnership agreements to strengthen their position in the market. Additional initiatives include an increase in research activities.

Detailed Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope: Defined parameters of the study. Market Segmentation: Categorization of the market. Research Methodology: Approach used for data collection. Definitions and Assumptions: Clarifications and presumptions made in the study.

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers: Factors propelling market growth. Market Restraints: Factors hindering market growth. Market Opportunities: Potential avenues for market expansion. Market Trends: Emerging trends shaping the market.

Key Insights Overview of the Drinking Straw Markets Regulatory Landscape: Examination of regulations impacting the industry. Industry SWOT Analysis: Evaluation of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Recent Industry Developments: Policies, partnerships, new product launches, mergers, and acquisitions. Impact of COVID on the Paper Straw Market: Impact assessment of COVID-19 on the market. Supply chain challenges due to COVID-19. Potential opportunities arising from COVID-19.

Global Paper Straw Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast (2019-2030) Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast: By Material (Value): Virgin Paper Recycled Paper By Product (Value): Printed Non-Printed By Application (Value): Foodservice Household By Region (Value): North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa



TOC Continued...!

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Key Industry Development:

September 2021  Nestle rolled out a sustainable paper straw for Milo drink. In collaboration with IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the initiative is centered on promoting sustainability.

Read Related Insights:

Webcomics Market to Hit USD 11.12 Billion by 2028 | Industry to Generate 6.1% CAGR during (2021-2028)

Office Furniture Market to Worth USD 80.62 Billion by 2029 | With a 7.48% CAGR

Cashmere Clothing Market to Hit USD 4.44 Billion by 2030 | with a CAGR 4.2%

About Us:

Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

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Pune, India, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global salon services market size was valued at USD 215.65 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach a valuation of USD 230.64 billion in 2023. The market is expected to reach USD 383.88 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 7.55% during the forecast period. Salon services refer to activities such as shaping, polishing, cutting the nails, eyebrow threading, skin treatment, and hair cutting. Hairdressing parlors have been utilizing sustainable and scented hair shampoos & massaging oils to enhance the consumer experience. A broad portfolio of services by the market players is set to propel market growth. Fortune Business Insights shares this information in its report titled Salon Services Market, 2023-2030.

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https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/salon-service-market-104608

Leading Players Featured in the Research Report:

Great Clips, Inc. (U.S.)

Regis Corporation (U.S.)

Dessange International (France)

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (U.S.)

The Lounge Hair Salon (Thailand)

Seva Beauty (U.S.)

Drybar (U.S.)

Skin Rich (U.K.)

The Leading Salons of the World, LLC. (U.S.)

Snip-its (U.S.)

Report Scope & Segmentation:

Attributes Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast CAGR 7.55% 2030 Value Projection USD 383.88 Billion Market Size in 2022 USD 215.65 Billion Historical Data 2019-2021 No. of Pages 195 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Service Type

By Region

By End-User Regions Covered North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa Salon Services Market Growth Drivers Rising Number of Barber Shops & Beauty Parlors to Favor Market Expansion Increasing Popularity of Online Appointment Booking Platforms to Strengthen Salon Services Businesses

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/salon-service-market-104608

Segments:

Hair Care to Lead Owing to Demand for Natural and Organic Hair Care Products

On the basis of service type, the market is divided into hair care, nail care, and skin care. The hair care segment dominates due to demand for natural and organic hair care products and growth in the levels of consumer spending on hair cutting & dressing services. The skin care segment is also estimated to have good growth due to consumer inclination toward specialized skincare salon treatments.

Women Segment Led Due to Rising Prevalence of Feminine Products and Services Offered

On the basis of end-users, the market is categorized into women and men. The women segment dominates due to the rising prevalence of feminine products and services offered across salons. Men's segment is also set to grow owing to the growing popularity of beard shaping, eyebrow threading, and body waxing services.

Geographically, the market is studied across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Report Coverage:

The report provides a detailed analysis of the top segments and the latest trends in the market. It comprehensively discusses the driving and restraining factors and the impact of COVID-19 on the market. Additionally, it examines the regional developments and the strategies undertaken by the market's key players.

Competitive Landscape:

Schwarzkopf Professional Launched Personalized Hair-Care Recommendations, SalonLab

Global beauty parlors and barber shops have been putting their efforts into expanding their geographical footprint to increase their service revenues. In addition, numerous industry participants employ management software to offer an enhanced salon experience to their clients. In October 2022, Schwarzkopf Professional launched personalized hair-care recommendations based on the hair types of customers. This recommendation is done by using the companys in-salon hair consultation device called SalonLab.

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Drivers and Restraints:

Increasing Count of Barber Shops and Beauty Salons to Progress Market Growth

Increasing count of barber shops and beauty salons is anticipated to drive the salon services market growth. The number of barber shops, beauty parlors, and manicurist clinics has been increasing and expansion of hospitality establishments offering premium-quality services will favor industry expansion. Establishment of new salons is increasing the consumer demand for services worldwide due to increasing preferences toward eco-friendly cosmetics and sustainably made and vegan cosmetic items. Increasing popularity for online appointments on various platforms is also strengthening the market growth.

However, intense competition from unorganized players to restrain the market growth.

Regional Insights:

Owing to Increasing Levels of Consumer Spending, Europe Led the Market Share

Europe held the largest salon services market share due to increasing consumer spending on beauty products and services. The Global Wellness Institute Organization (GWI) stated that the expenditure by Europeans on personal care products & services in 2020 was USD 273.6 billion.

North America to have the second-largest share in the market for salon services due to rising popularity of facial, massage & nail treatment-related services in the U.S. At a macro level, focus toward using premium-based and vegan cosmetic items in the U.S. and Canada will further create attractive business opportunities.

Asia Pacific is expected to witness significant growth due to the rising number of hair and nail salons and beauty parlors in India and China.

COVID-19 Impact

Maintenance of an Infection-free and Sanitized Environment to Build Greater Customer Confidence Post-pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of barber shops and hairdressing, which impacted revenues in 2020 and 2021. Governments refrained the individuals from visiting salons by following social distancing norms. From a service standpoint, lack of availability of the staff personnel across salons challenged the industry participants amid the peak COVID-19 crisis. Numerous players operating in the beauty salon services industry have been maintaining the environment sanitized and infection-free to build greater customer confidence.

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Detailed Table of Contents:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Overview of the Parent/Related Market Industry SWOT Analysis Supply Chain and Regulatory Analysis Qualitative Analysis (in relation to COVID-19) Impact of COVID-19 Supply Chain Challenges due to COVID-19 Potential Opportunities due to COVID-19

Global Salon Services Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Service Type Hair Care Nail Care Skin Care Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-user Women Men Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa



TOC Continued!

Key Industry Developments:

November 2022- Reliance Retail announced its plans to enter the salon business by acquiring Natural Salon & Spa, which has over 650 salons in India. It will help Reliance brand in competing with major players of the market.

Read Related Insights:

Hair Care Market to Worth USD 147.49 Billion by 2030 | With a Striking 5.8% CAGR

Hair Styling Tools Market Projected to Reach $39.63 Billion by 2027 | At a CAGR of 3.7%

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Pune, India, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global cranes market size is projected to exhibit tremendous growth by reaching USD 49.64 billion by 2028 and registering a CAGR of 4.5% between 2021 and 2028. The soaring investments in infrastructure and construction sectors due to swift urbanization and industrialization are anticipated to bolster the growth of the market in the coming years. Fortune Business Insights has presented this information in its report titled Cranes Market, 2021-2028. The market size stood at USD 34.95 billion in 2020.

According to our analysis, the growth of crane rental services is also anticipated to boost the growth of the market as the rental options decrease service costs, and therefore help customers to acquire advanced equipment when needed.

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Report Scope & Segmentation

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 CAGR 4.5 % 2020 Value Projection USD 34.95 billion Base Year 2020 Cranes Market Share in 2028 USD 49.64 billion Historical Data for 2017 to 2019 No. of Pages 120 Segments covered By Type, End-User, and Region Cranes Market Growth Drivers Increasing Investments in Construction and Infrastructure Sector to Swell Market Accelerated Rental Services to Spur the Market Growth

Report Coverage-

It highlights the latest industry developments and key market trends.

It advises strategies to overcome the challenges and restraints to market growth.

It incorporates Porters Five Forces Analysis.

It showcases the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the market.

It describes about the consumption rates and patterns associated with the market.

Industry Developments:

August 2021: Two Potain tower cranes by Manitowoc have successfully conquered the development site working spaces of the Haverly Apartments in downtown Phoenix.

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Competitive Landscape-

Key Players Adopt Ingenious Strategies to Garner Growth

The market is primarily dominated by players such as Terex Corporation, SANY Group, Liebherr Group, Manitowoc Company Inc., Komatsu Ltd., among others. The top players emphasize technological developments to deliver tailored products. They adopt ingenious growth strategies including technological advancements, new product launches, patents, collaborations, partnerships, and others, to bolster their market positions. For instance, since receiving the second delivery of Manitowocs compact and versatile all-terrain crane, Grove GMK5200-1, John Sutch Cranes has started raising awareness on cancer, beginning July 2021. The company has been using the same crane specially wrapped to raise funds for cancer charity.

List of Key Players in the Global Cranes Market:

SANY GROUP (China)

Konecranes (Finland)

Manitowoc Company, Inc. (U.S.)

Tadano Ltd (Japan)

Komatsu Ltd (Japan)

Terex Corporation (U.S.)

Liebherr Group (Germany)

Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe NV (The Netherlands)

Demag Cranes & Components GmbH (Germany)

Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co., Ltd (China)

XCMG Group (China)

Caterpillar (U.S.)

GORBEL INC. (U.S.)

Street Crane Company Limited (U.K.)

PALFINGER AG (Austria)

ZPMC (China)

Certex (U.K.)

Cargotec (Finland)

BUCKNER HEAVYLIFT CRANES, LLC (U.S.)

Pelloby Ltd. (U.K.)

Segmentation-

On the basis of product type, the market is trifurcated into marine, fixed, and mining. On the basis of end-user, the market is fragmented into oil & gas industry, mining, construction, industrial, and others. Geographically, the market is classified into Latin America, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.

Regional Insights-

Soaring Infrastructure Projects to Fuel Growth in Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific is projected to experience the fastest-growth in the global cranes market share. The soaring infrastructure projects and construction activities across developing nations such as China and India are anticipated to fuel the markets growth. China is anticipated to be the leading growth region in the market for Asia Pacific due to the increasing investments in real estate sector for residential and commercial infrastructures.

North America is expected to witness considerable growth in the global market due to the growth of the mining industry in the U.S.

Europe is anticipated to gain substantial growth in the coming years due to the rising number of construction projects. The transport up-gradation is also gaining traction and is likely to aid the market growth in the forthcoming years.

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Drivers & Restraints-

Escalating Investments in Residential & Commercial Buildings Construction to Boost Market Growth

The rapid urbanization is resulting in a huge demand to seamlessly transfer weights above 500 tons across Latin American and Asian countries. Moreover, several private and government sectors are investing heavily in commercial & residential buildings construction and public infrastructure. These factors are anticipated to collectively bolster the global cranes market growth. Additionally, the rising focus of governments of major economies on green building development is anticipated to offer lucrative opportunities for the market.

The rising use of cranes for overall transportation process across automotive, mining, oil & gas, and others is likely to complement the markets growth.

Lastly, the growth of crane rental services is anticipated to boost the growth of the market. The rental options decrease service costs, and therefore help customers to acquire advanced equipment when needed. Moreover, the growing shift of rental companies to become premium service providers is likely to benefit the market.

However, the lack of safety measures and the high investment costs are likely to restrain the markets growth.

Major Table of Contents:

Introduction Definition, By Segment Research Approach Sources

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Macro and Micro Economic Indicators Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Trends Impact of COVID-19 Short-term Impact Long-term Impact

Competition Landscape Business Strategies Adopted by Key Players Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Players Porters Five Force Analysis Global Cranes Market Share Analysis, 2020

Key Market Insights and Strategic Recommendations

Profiles of Key Players (Would be provided for 10 players only) Overview Key Management Headquarters etc. Offerings/Business Segments Key Details (Key details are subjected to data availability in public domain and/or on paid databases) Employee Size Key Financials Past and Current Revenue Gross Margin Geographical Share Business Segment Share Recent Developments

Primary Interview Responses

Annexure / Appendix

To be Continue

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Pune, India, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Industrial Gases Market has witnessed significant growth in recent years, driven by increasing demand from various end-use industries such as oil and gas, chemicals, petrochemicals, food and beverage, and power. Industrial gases, including oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen, are essential for a wide range of applications in these industries. The market size was valued at USD 88.05 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 148.16 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period

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Industry Developments:

Echo Energy Plc won two new contracts for selling industrial gases at considerable premiums. Both contracts have a timeline of 12 months and the company will begin selling gases from May 2021.

Report Highlights:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2021-2028 Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 CAGR 7.2% 2028 Value Projection USD 148.16 billion Base Year 2019 Market Size in 2022 USD 88.05 billion Historical Data for 2017-2019 No. of Pages 280 Segments covered By Service, Technology, and Region Growth Drivers Increasing Demand from Healthcare Sector to Add Impetus to Market Surging Investments in Electronics and Metallurgy Industries to Boost Growth

Drivers & Restraints-

Increasing Application of Industrial Gases in the Oil & Gas Industry

The oil and gas industry is a major consumer of industrial gases, using them for various applications such as drilling, well lifting, pipe inerting, leak testing, and maintenance. The increasing global demand for crude oil and the need for refining have contributed to the growth of the industrial gases market. The expansion of the oil and gas industry is expected to further drive the demand for these gases, leading to market growth.

Growing Urbanization and Industrialization

The rapid urbanization and industrialization in emerging and developed nations have played a significant role in shaping the industrial gases market. Countries like China, India, and Vietnam have witnessed a steep increase in urbanization rates, which has led to the establishment of new manufacturing and processing industries. This has created a favorable environment for the growth of the industrial gases market. Additionally, the expansion of the application sector in various industries has contributed to the demand for these gases Click here to get the short-term and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on this Market.

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Increasing Investment in Manufacturing and Processing Industries



Public and private funding for exploring new horizons in industries such as metallurgy, food and beverage, and mining has fueled the growth of the industrial gases market. Developing nations, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, have attracted significant foreign direct investment (FDI) in these industries. For example, countries like China and India have emerged as leading economies in the region, attracting new investment opportunities. This investment has contributed to the growth of the industrial gases market.

Significant Growth in the Food and Beverage and Healthcare Industries

The food and beverage industry, particularly in Europe, has experienced substantial growth, leading to an increased demand for industrial gases. Germany, for instance, is the fourth-largest food and beverages industry and the third-largest exporter of these products. The healthcare sector has also witnessed significant expansion globally, with increased investment in the medical industry. This has driven the demand for gases used in various healthcare applications, further fueling the industrial gases market.

Segment:

Oxygen Segment to Continue Dominance on Account of Its Rising Demand from Pharmaceutical Industries

Based on segmentation by gas type, the oxygen segment earned 28.9% industrial gases market share in 2019. This is attributable to the extensive usage of oxygen and its high demand from various sectors such as pulp and paper, chemical, pharmaceutical, and petroleum. However, the carbon dioxide segment will also showcase notable growth on account of its significant applications as a raw material in products such as meat, fruits and vegetables, poultry, and others.

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Oxygen Segments Earned 28.4% Share in 2020: Fortune Business Insights

Based on the gas type, the market is divided into oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, argon, and others. Out of these, the oxygen segment generated 28.4% in terms of the industrial gases market share in 2020. This growth is attributable to the increasing usage in a wide range of industries, such as petroleum, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, chemicals, and healthcare.

Competitive Landscape-

Linde Earning Maximum Share Attributable to a Rise in Industrial Investment

The global market is dominated by Linde on account of its high investments in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Besides this, the company is also investing massively on improving the economic scenario. It is also delivering its products to the rising number of manufacturing and metal processing industries, along with food & beverage, chemical, and oil & gas industries. The other players are engaging in merger and acquisition, joint ventures, contracts and agreements, different collaborative strategies, and others to gain a competitive edge in the market.

Report Coverage-

The report involved four notable activities in projecting the current size of the industrial gases industry. Exhaustive secondary research was conducted to gather data about the parent and peer markets. Our next step included primary research to authenticate these sizing, assumptions, and findings with numerous industry experts. We have also used bottom-up and top-down approaches to calculate the market size.





Regional Insights-

Increasing Urbanization and Industrialization to Help Asia Pacific Grow Significantly

Geographically, Asia Pacific held USD 28.31 billion in terms of revenue in 2020. This growth is attributable to the increasing industrialization and urbanization. Besides, the surging usage of industrial gases in the power, oil & gas, and healthcare industries is set to drive growth. Europe, on the other hand, is anticipated to grow because of the expansion of the food & beverage industry. Additionally, the high demand from the pharmaceutical industry would spur growth in this region.

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Competitive Landscape-

Key Participants Focus on Gaining New Contracts to Supply Their In-house Products

The market contains numerous renowned companies that are persistently striving to gain a competitive edge. Most of them are focusing on bagging new contracts from reputed organizations for providing their in-house industrial gases. Below is the two

April 2020: Air Liquide signed 11 new agreements with its industrial merchant customers. It would supply hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen for 10 years to its customers. This way, the company will be able to compete in the market.

June 2019  Exxon Mobil Asia Pacific Pvt. Ltd. and Linde engaged in multi-billion agreements to expand their geographical reach in Singapore. This project includes the construction, development, and operation of four additional gasifiers, an air separation plant with a capacity of 1200 metric ton per day (TPD), and sulfur recovery plants along with the processing units for downstream gas belonging to Linde.

Manufacturers Operating in the global market:

Air Liquide (France)

Air Products (United States)

Linde (Ireland)

Matheson Tri-Gas (United States)

Messer Group (Germany)

Gulf Cryo (Kuwait)

BASF (United States)

Southern Company Gas (United States)

Universal Industrial Gases (United States)

Ellenbarrie Industrial Gases Ltd (India)

Bhuruka gases ltd (India)

Concorde-Corodex Group (UAE)

Dubai Industrial Gases (UAE)

Bristol Gases (UAE)





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Success of UKs Investing in Women Code emulated in the Netherlands

Dutch entrepreneurial climate for women set to improve thanks to alliance of 65 influential parties



Inspired by the successful Investing in Women Code in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands today will launch Code-V, an alliance spanning the government, the financial industry and the advocacy sector.

Alle 65 parties involved are committed to promoting equal opportunities in entrepreneurship by means of data-driven insights, interventions and investments.

Equal opportunities for female entrepreneurs will bring significant benefits in areas like job growth, innovation, sustainability, greater financial resilience  plus growth of the Dutch economy by an estimated 139 billion euros, as research carried out by ABN AMRO and McKinsey shows.

The United Kingdoms code has already led to significantly larger financing flows to female entrepreneurs and an annualised 37% increase in the number of organisations led by women.

The parties supporting Code-V span the public and private sector. They range from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate to big banks and advocacy organisations. Outgoing Minister Micky Adriaansens: "The number of new female entrepreneurs lags behind. Female entrepreneurship is indispensable for our economy. We need a mix of people to do the right things. With Code-V, we are taking a nice step."

Global approach

Worldwide, the Netherlands is the fourth country to launch an alliance to improve the entrepreneurial climate for women. The main source of inspiration is the successful Investing in Women Code in the United Kingdom, which has already led to a significant increase in financing flows to female entrepreneurs. Building on the British success, the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), part of the World Bank, has launched the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code to close the financing and data gap for female entrepreneurs in developing countries.

Despite their potential to add value to the economy and create jobs, female entrepreneurs in developing countries often have trouble getting the financing they need to achieve their goals, says Wendy Teleki, who heads the We-Fi Secretariat. We-Fi is working closely with its implementation partners to test the We Finance Code in 24 countries. Our aim is to bring about systemic changes in the financial sector and get more financing to women. The launch of Code-V gives me hope, and we look forward to working side by side with the Netherlands on this critical mission."

Alliance broadly supported in the Netherlands

The World Banks WeFi-initiative and the UKs Investing in Women Code have been great inspirations for the Dutch working group, says initiator Chantal Korteweg, ABN AMROs Director Social Impact & Inclusive Banking. "In the Netherlands, were often proud of our competitive economy, but theres still a great deal of untapped potential. Research shows that women run up against more and different obstacles than entrepreneurs in general. Moreover, the gap is already present when starting a business is still just an idea. And it widens with each further step in the entrepreneurs journey.

Im incredibly grateful that both the World Bank and the initiators of the Investing in Women Code in the United Kingdom were prepared to share their experiences. Thanks to their input and backing, on the date of the launch Code-V had the support of no less than 59 organisations.

About Code-V

Code-V is a Dutch alliance aimed at accelerating female entrepreneurship by eliminating obstacles and giving female entrepreneurs better access to financing and essential knowledge. The initiative also aims to raise public awareness of the financial inequality between female and male entrepreneurs, thereby helping to end this inequality and create equal opportunities. Code-Vs long-term goal is a more diverse and inclusive business ecosystem that fosters innovation and boosts the female employment rate. The efforts of the alliance will also contribute to economic growth by supporting female entrepreneurs in scaling up their businesses and expanding them internationally. This calls for systemic changes and sustained collaboration between public and private sectors for an agreed period of three to seven years.

Code-V will be signed by the following 45 parties:

ABN AMRO, Arches Capital, Brabant Start-up Community (including BOM, Braventure, Brabant Startup Fonds (BSF), REWIN, Midpoint Brabant, Brainport Development, Agrifood Capital), Borski Fund, Business Angels Connect, FundsUp, Geldvoorelkaar, Great Stuff Ventures, Horizon, ING, InnovationQuarter, Invesdor, Invest-NL, Investormatch, Joanna Invests, Karmijn Kapitaal, LIOF, Lumo Labs, Nationaal Groenfonds, Newion, NOM, Oost NL, PIN Voorschot, Pymwymic, Qredits, Rabobank, ROM InWest, ROM Utrecht Region, SET Venture, Shaping Impact Group, SheCredit, SHIFT Invest, StartGreen Capital, The Angel Initiative, TIIN Capital, TP24, Venturerock, Voordegroei, 4impact.

Code-V is officially supported by the following 10 parties:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, Ministry of Finance, MKB Nederland, the Dutch Banking Association (NVB), Nederlandse Vereniging van Participatiemaatschappijen (NVP), Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO), Stichting MKB financiering, VNO-NCW and Business Angels Netwerken Nederland.

Code-V is also made possible by support from the following 10 parties:

Deloitte, Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship (ECE), Female Ventures, FEM-START, Greenberg Traurig, Masters of Scale, Radboud University, Techleap.nl, VU Amsterdam and WOMEN Inc.,

END OF PRESS RELEASE

About ABN AMRO

ABN AMRO is a Dutch bank for consumer, business and private banking clients, offering a full range of financial products and solutions. Our focus is on Northwest Europe and we pursue a great ambition: to be the best bank in the Netherlands. ABN AMROs purpose of Banking for better, for generations to come guides the execution of our strategy, which is based on three pillars: Supporting our clients transition to sustainability; Reinventing the customer experience; and Building a future-proof bank. Headquartered in Amsterdam, we serve around six million clients.
Nedap (AMS:NEDAP) , a global leader in security solutions, today announces the launch of a SaaS access control system which brings convenience and security together in one solution. Access AtWork meets the needs of companies looking to replace their outdated on-premises systems with modern and easy-to-use software that provides better insights with less effort and smaller investment.

Complementary solutions in access control for organisations of all sizes

With 46 years of experience in access control, Nedap introduced the worlds first web-based on-premises solutionAEOSin 2000. AEOS is currently used by over 25% of Europes top brands, particularly those organisations in critical infrastructure. The launch of Access AtWork signifies a shift in Nedaps history of tackling the most complex security projects, now also opening doors for small to medium-size enterprises wanting to unburden their IT teams while managing physical access across multiple sites. Access AtWork is the perfect addition to our portfolio, said Daniel Nijkamp, Proposition Lead of Access AtWork. With both AEOS and Access AtWork in our portfolio we are even better positioned to help organisations solve their access management challenges, no matter their size, complexity, or preference in software delivery.

When convenience and security come together

Access AtWork has a unique authorization model that enables administrators to manage access based on hierarchical teams and zones, concludes Daniel Nijkamp. The combination of this smart authorisation engine with a highly intuitive interface makes it really easy for multiple administrators to manage access across different sites without the need for expert training.





In addition, this solution is GDPR compliant and offers top notch security measures, including redundant and secure hosting of data in certified datacentres within the European Union. As organisations evolve and expand, Access AtWork adapts effortlessly, and the subscription-based model reduces upfront costs, provides predictable fees, automated updates, and lowers maintenance requirements.

Access AtWork is available now. Learn more about it here .



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India, Pune, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Heat Exchanger Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Shell & Tube, Plate & Frame, Air Coolers, Cooling Towers, Others), By Application (Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Power Generation, HVAC, Automobile, Pharmaceuticals, Food & Beverages, Others), and Regional Forecast

Industry Development



Alfa Laval announced its gasket plate heat exchanger developed for use in several applications. It is the worlds most advanced gasket plate exchanger due to its performance and flexibility.

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Report Highlights:

Drivers and Restraints

Rising Focus on Decarbonization in the Cooling & Heating Sector

The cooling and heating sector accounts for approximately 28% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. To mitigate the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduce primary energy demand, there is a growing focus on decarbonization in this sector. Transitioning to modern and affordable thermal energy systems, coupled with energy efficiency measures, can significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Heat exchangers play a vital role in this transition by enabling a shift from fossil fuels to renewable resources, thereby reducing primary energy consumption and mitigating pollution.

Growing Renewable Resources for Power Generation

The adoption of renewable resources, such as wind and solar, for power generation is on the rise. Fossil fuels, which contribute to GHG emissions and environmental pollution, are being gradually replaced by cleaner and more sustainable alternatives. Heat exchangers are integral components in wind turbines and solar collectors, facilitating the transfer of solar energy or heat absorbed by these systems. Governments worldwide are also promoting renewable energy installations, further driving the demand for heat exchangers.

Rapid Growth of the Industrial Sector in Emerging Economies

The industrial sector, particularly in emerging economies, has witnessed rapid growth, driving the demand for heat exchangers. Industries such as food and beverages, oil and gas, and power generation rely on heat exchangers for processes like pasteurization, heat recovery, and temperature management. The expansion of these industries, fueled by increasing power demand and energy requirements, is expected to boost the heat exchanger market. Emerging economies like China, India, and Brazil are experiencing significant industrial growth, contributing to market expansion.





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Segments

Shell & Tube Segment to Dominate Owing to its Increasing Adoption

By type, the market is segmented into shell & tube, plate & frame, air coolers, cooling towers, and others. The shell & tube segment is expected to dominate owing to its rising adoption.

Chemicals Segment to Dominate Attributable to Rapidly Developing Chemical Industry

Based on application, the market is segregated into chemicals, oil & gas, power generation, HVAC, automobile, pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, and others. The chemicals segment is expected to dominate due to the rapidly developing chemical industry.

Regionally, the market is clubbed into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Report Coverage

The report provides a detailed analysis of the top segments and the latest trends in the market. It comprehensively discusses the driving and restraining factors and the impact of COVID-19 on the market. Additionally, it examines the regional developments and the strategies undertaken by the market's key players.





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Regional Insights

Growing Living Standards to Foster Market Growth in Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific is projected to dominate the heat exchanger market share due to growing living standards. The market in Asia Pacific stood at USD 5.30 billion in 2021 and is expected to gain a huge portion of the global market share in the coming years. Furthermore, the rapid expansion of chemical industries is expected to enhance the demand for the equipment in the region.

In Europe, the presence of established automotive, industrial, and manufacturing sectors is expected to foster the demand for the product. Further, emission regulations for commercial and residential buildings are likely to boost the industrys growth.

In North America, the strong adoption of hybrid and light vehicles is expected to foster product demand. Moreover, the increasing focus on lower carbon-intensive processes may drive industrial growth.

Competitive Landscape

Major Players Announce Novel Products to Bolster Brand Image

The prominent companies operating in the market announce novel products to enhance their brand image. For example, Vacuum Process Engineering (VPE) signed a contract with General Electric in March 2022 to develop a 14 MW fuel gas performance Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger (PCHE). It shall be a part of the companys advanced 7HA.02 gas turbine technology. It shall provide the South Korean national grid with steam for district heating for over 100,000 South Korean citizens. This strategy may allow manufacturers to enhance their brand image and foster sales.





Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/heat-exchangers-market-100919





List of Key Players Profiled in the Report

Alfa Laval (Sweden)

Kelvion Holding Gmbh (Germany)

GEA Group (Germany)

Danfoss (Denmark)

SWEP International AB (Sweden)

Thermax Limited (India)

API Heat Transfer (U.S.)

Tranter, Inc. (U.S.)

Mersen (France)

Linde Engineering (U.K.)

Air Products (U.S.)

HISAKA WORKS, LTD. (Thailand)

Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Key Emerging Trends Latest Technological Advancement Regulatory Landscape Industry SWOT Analysis Porters Five Forces Analysis

Qualitative Analysis  Impact of COVID-19 Impact of COVID-19 on Heat Exchanger Market Steps Taken by the Government to Overcome the Impact Key Developments in the Industry in Response to COVID-19 Potential Opportunities and Challenges due to COVID-19 Outbreak

Global Heat Exchanger Market Analysis (USD Billion), Insights and Forecast, 2018-2029 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Type Shell & Tube Plate & Frame Air Coolers Cooling Towers Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Application Chemicals Oil & Gas Power Generation HVAC Automobile Pharmaceuticals Food & Beverage Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa







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TOKYO, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading semiconductor test equipment supplier Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857) today announced that its newly launched ACS Real-Time Data Infrastructure (RTDI) has been accepted by multiple major data analytics companies as part of an industry-wide collaboration to accelerate data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) decision-making within a single, integrated platform.



Advantest formed ACS in 2020 with the mission of enabling an open solution ecosystem data platform. ACS RTDI is a real-time data infrastructure that securely collects, analyzes, stores and monitors semiconductor test data to empower customers to automate the process of converting insights into actionable test decisions within milliseconds. This helps customers and partners reduce test time, optimize quality and reliability and enhance smart packaging.

Advantests ACS RTDI platform turbocharges decision-making on test floor, while freeing test engineers from the tedium of having to search for needles in data haystacks, said G. Dan Hutcheson, vice chair and senior fellow, TechInsights. It lowers test cost with real-time test vector optimization while lowering packaging cost by shifting left systematic final test failures to probe.

In the semiconductor test industry, it has historically taken multiple iterations to drive higher yields, improve quality and reliability, and achieve higher throughput and smart packaging. The current file-based approach is performed offline, taking days or even weeks to identify and resolve any issues, said Michael Chang, vice president and general manager of ACS at Advantest. We are pleased to be working with industry-leading data analytics partners to enable their cutting-edge applications into our RTDI platform. These partnerships enable customers to take advantage of new levels of data integrity and security across different test nodes and benefit from proven infrastructure solutions that will enable them to achieve new levels of operational efficiency.

The ACS RTDI platform integrates data sources across the entire IC manufacturing supply chain while employing low-latency edge computing and analytics in a secure True Zero Trust environment. This innovative infrastructure minimizes the need for human intervention, streamlining overall data utilization across multiple insertions and supporting customers databases. Because cyber security remains a top concern among customers, the ACS RTDI platform was architected to be reliable and safe, ensuring hassle-free OS revisions, which protects data from unauthorized access or loss by leveraging True Zero Trust. Overall, the new ACS ecosystem will enable customers to boost quality, yield, and operational efficiencies, and to accelerate product development and new product introductions for years to come.

Partner Endorsements

PDF Solutions

"We are excited to collaborate with Advantest ACS on the launch of the ACS RTDI platform, said Said Akar, GM, Exensio Analytics at PDF Solutions. This platform strengthens the joint cloud-to-edge architecture, while utilizing Exensio advanced analytics applications to address semiconductor industry use cases targeting quality, test time and yield.

proteanTecs

We see immense value in collaborating with Advantest to bring deep data edge analytics to semiconductor test, said Uzi Baruch, chief strategy officer, proteanTecs. Available in the ACS Solution Store, our proteanTecs Edge applications enable mutual customers to discover insights and take action around key metrics, including latent defect detection, power reduction, performance tuning, and 2.5/3D interconnect monitoring.

Synopsys

Our close collaboration with Advantest will provide mutual customers with efficient access to Synopsys ACS RTDI-compatible analytics applications, said Steve Pateras, vice president of marketing, Hardware Analytics and Test at Synopsys. The availability of Synopsys Silicon.da real-time production analytics applications enables the ACS ecosystem to improve key chip production metrics such as quality, yield and throughput, while also improving key silicon operational metrics such as chip power and performance.

About Advantest Corporation

Advantest (TSE: 6857) is the leading manufacturer of automatic test and measurement equipment used in the design and production of semiconductors for applications including 5G communications, the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, high-performance computing (HPC), including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and more. Its leading-edge systems and products are integrated into the most advanced semiconductor production lines in the world. The company also conducts R&D to address emerging testing challenges and applications; develops advanced test-interface solutions for wafer sort and final test; produces scanning electron microscopes essential to photomask manufacturing; and offers system-level test solutions and other test-related accessories. Founded in Tokyo in 1954, Advantest is a global company with facilities around the world and an international commitment to sustainable practices and social responsibility. More information is available at www.advantest.com.

ADVANTEST CORPORATION

3061 Zanker Road

San Jose, CA 95134, USA

Julie DiBene

Julie.DiBene@advantest.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1d7c9ed-00f4-4d66-ad83-42fb60ddfc7a
Dublin, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Drug Eluting Stent Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Coating Type (Polymer-based Coatings (Non-biodegradable, Biodegradable)), Polymer-free Coatings, By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global drug eluting stent market size is expected to reach USD 13.65 billion by 2030, advancing at a CAGR of 8.4%

An aging population and the increasing prevalence of risk factors such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), complex lesions, diabetes, obesity, and others are expected to drive the demand for drug eluting stents over the forecast period.

Additionally, ongoing technological advancements in stent design, including improvements in coatings and drug delivery mechanisms, are enhancing the safety and efficacy of these devices, making them more appealing to patients and healthcare professionals.



The increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases globally has fueled market demand. According to the World Health Federation report in 2022, over half a billion people globally continue to be affected by cardiovascular diseases, with CVD contributing to approximately 20.5 million deaths in 2021, accounting for nearly a third of all deaths globally.

Conditions like coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease are becoming increasingly common, leading to a surge in demand for effective treatment options such as DES. These stents, equipped with drug-coated surfaces, offer patients a minimally invasive solution, effectively preventing restenosis and leading to improved patient outcomes.



The market for drug eluting stents was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with disruptions in the supply chain of medical devices. Since the focus of all major manufacturers was to fight the COVID-19 battle, the revenues of other segments were highly impacted. All notable competitors in the market for coronary stents announced a decline in revenue for their interventional cardiology portfolios, which include coronary stent devices in 2020, owing mostly to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 100 Forecast Period 2022 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $7.2 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $13.65 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.4% Regions Covered Global

Drug Eluting Stent Market Report Highlights

Based on coating, the polymer-based coating segment held the dominant revenue share of 82.9% in 2022. This share can be attributed to its extensive usage in stent development, proven efficacy in drug delivery, and versatility in accommodating various therapeutic agents, making it a preferred choice for manufacturers and healthcare professionals alike. Additionally, continuous advancements in polymer-based coating technology have further solidified its leading position in the market

Based on application, the market for drug eluting stents has been categorized into coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease, with the former accounting for 85.9% of the revenue share in 2022. The growth can be attributed to the high prevalence of coronary artery disease globally, leading to a substantial demand for effective treatment options such as drug eluting stents

The North American region held the largest revenue share of 43.08% in 2022 and is expected to dominate the market through the forecast period. North America has a well-developed and advanced healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals. Additionally, the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the region has driven the demand for effective treatment options such as drug eluting stents

Competitive Landscape

Abbott Laboratories

Boston Scientific Corporation

Terumo Corporation

Medtronic

Biosensors International

Cook Medical

B. Braun

Biotronik

Lepu Medical Technology

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope

1.1. Information Procurement

1.2. Information Or Data Analysis

1.3. Market Scope & Segment Definition

1.4. Market Model

1.4.1. Market Study, By Company Market Share

1.4.2. Regional Analysis



Chapter 2. Executive Summary

2.1. Market Snapshot

2.2. Segment Snapshot

2.3. Competitive Landscape Snapshot



Chapter 3. Market Variables, Trends, & Scope

3.1. Market Segmentation and Scope

3.2. Market Lineage Outlook

3.2.1. Parent Market Outlook

3.2.2. Related/Ancillary Market Outlook

3.3. Market Trends and Outlook

3.4. Market Dynamics

3.4.1. Increasing Prevalence of Cardiovascular Diseases

3.4.2. Technological Advancements in Stent Design

3.4.3. Growing Geriatric Population

3.5. Market Restraint Analysis

3.5.1. High Cost of Drug Eluting Stents

3.6. Penetration And Growth Prospect Mapping 2022

3.7. Business Environment Analysis

3.7.1. SWOT Analysis; By Factor (Political & Legal, Economic and Technological)

3.7.2. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

3.8. COVID-19 Impact Analysis



Chapter 4. Drug Eluting Stent Market: Coating Type Segment Analysis

4.1. Drug Eluting Stent: Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

4.2. Polymer-Based Coating

4.2.1. Polymer-Based Coating Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)

4.2.1.1. Non-Biodegradable Polymers

4.2.1.2. Biodegradable Polymers

4.3. Polymer-free Coating

4.3.1. Polymer-Free Coating Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)

4.3.1.1. Micro Porous Surface

4.3.1.2. Micro Structured Surface

4.3.1.3. Slotted Tubular Surface

4.3.1.4. Nanoporous Surface



Chapter 5. Drug Eluting Stent Market: Application Segment Analysis

5.1. Drug Eluting Stent: Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

5.2. Coronary Artery Disease

5.2.1. Coronary Artery Disease Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)

5.3. Peripheral Artery Disease

5.3.1. Peripheral Artery Disease Market, 2018 - 2030 (USD Billion)



Chapter 6. Drug Eluting Stent Market: Regional Analysis

6.1. Drug Eluting Stent Market Share, By Region, 2022 & 2030



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/twczoj

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
Paris, December 7, 2023

A new Star in the second

MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi selection

Erth restaurant, awarded one MICHELIN Star, joins the three restaurants recognized with a Star in last years inaugural Guide.





Two restaurants receive a Bib Gourmand, bringing the total to six.





A total of 46 restaurants are selected in The MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2024, covering 21 different types of cuisine.





The MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2024 is pleased to present its second edition of recommended restaurants in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

This selection impressed the Guides famously anonymous inspectors as it perfectly illustrates the ambition and passion chefs have for this thrilling destination. Abu Dhabis exponential growth is accompanied by increasing numbers of new openings. The diversity of the culinary scene is impressive, with 21 different types of cuisine. Food and travel lovers are sure to find varied and delicious restaurants, with professionals who know how to surprise and please them.

Our inspectors continue to be impressed by the dynamism of Abu Dhabi and the sheer variety of cuisines on offer. Our newest recipient of a MICHELIN Star, Erth restaurant, sums up the city so well, as it offers a truly unique experience inspired by the beauty and traditions of the region, explains Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of The MICHELIN Guides.

All the distinctions bestowed by the MICHELIN Guide are annual, and can be maintained or not, depending on the evolution of the establishment from one year to the next. Last year, three restaurants were recognized with one MICHELIN Star for their high-quality cooking, and four establishments received a Bib Gourmand distinction for their good food at moderate prices. For the 2024 edition of the MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi, all these restaurants hang on to their distinction.

Erth joins Abu Dhabi Starred family

Erth joins three restaurants recognized with one MICHELIN Star for their high-quality cooking.

Erth, meaning legacy, sits in the shadow of the historic Qasr Al Hosn and is a beautifully designed property inspired by the local region. The food is equally memorable, as the kitchen adds its own modern twists to the refined Emirati dishes.

It joins the three restaurants awarded MICHELIN Stars in last years inaugural guide: Talea by Antonio Guida, Hakkasan and 99 Sushi Bar.

Two Establishments Awarded a Bib Gourmand

Six establishments now boast a Bib Gourmand, with two newly awarded this year.

Oii is a warm and welcoming brasserie with a menu brimming with sunny, fresh

and satisfying Mediterranean dishes, skillfully prepared and attractively presented. The prices are more than competitive and it is run by a charming team.

Al Mrzab. The fact that customers will probably have to wait for a table testifies to the popularity of this traditional restaurant. It may always be busy, but the kitchen takes obvious care when preparing the traditional and good value Emirati and Kuwaiti dishes.

These two restaurants join the four who were awarded a Bib Gourmand in last years inaugural edition of the guide: Almayass, Beirut Sur Mer, Otoro and tazal.

A total of nine eateries were added to The MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi this year: Erth, Rays Grill, Yadoos House, Mate, Jose by Pizarro, terra, Kopitiam by Chandys, Al Farah and Les Dangereux. The cuisines range from Spanish to Malaysian, Argentinean to Emirati.

The MICHELIN Guide Special Awards

For the second edition of The MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi, our inspectors pinpointed three worthy recipients of the MICHELIN Special Awards.

Service Award: Chandran Thanggaraja, Restaurant Kopitiam by Chandys

Chandran is one of the owners of this simple little restaurant that prides itself on its authentic, Malaysian cuisine. What makes dining here special  other than the great cooking  is the service. Everyone is genuinely welcoming and friendly; they know the dishes well and are happy to make recommendations. Nothing is too much trouble, which is down to Chandran; he is very hands-on, has his eye on everything and ensures that dining here is enjoyed by all.

Opening of the Year Award: Restaurant Les Dangereux

It is hard not to notice this spacious restaurant at the western end of Mamsha Al Saadiyat. But it is not only the good looks that impress  the delectable dishes are equally memorable. Its early days for this restaurant  owned by James Soo Young Kim  but The MICHELIN Inspectors are looking forward to discovering how this restaurant evolves and this is why they have chosen it as their Opening of The Year for Abu Dhabi 2024.

Young Chef Award: Rigers Cuka, Restaurant Oii

Our inspectors thoroughly enjoyed their visits to Oii. The responsibilities of running a kitchen and a front of house team are normally split between two people but here they are managed by just one: Chef-Manager Rigers Cuka. Our Young Chef award this year recognizes not just a chef with a great talent for cooking, but one with managerial skills well beyond his years.

The MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2024 at a glance:

Total Restaurants 46 1 MICHELIN Star

(High quality cooking, worth a stop) 4 Bib Gourmand

(Good quality, good value cooking) 6 MICHELIN-recommended 36 Cuisine types reflected in selection 21 Cuisine types reflected in Starred restaurants 4 Cuisine types reflected in Bib Gourmands 4 Notable wine lists 6 Restaurants in MICHELIN Hotels 5

The restaurants join the MICHELIN Guide selection of hotels, which features the most unique and exciting places to stay in Abu Dhabi and throughout the world.

Each hotel in the selection has been chosen by MICHELIN Guide experts for its extraordinary style, service, and personality  with options for all budgets  and each can be booked directly through the MICHELIN Guide website and app. The selection for Abu Dhabi features the countrys most spectacular hotels, including modern marvels like the Park Hyatt, Rosewood, Andaz Capital Gate, W, and EDITION, and also the more tradition-minded Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, one of UAE's only palace-style hotels.

The MICHELIN Guide, which is a benchmark in the world of gastronomy, is now setting a new standard for hotels. Its possible to visit the MICHELIN Guide website www.guide.michelin.com or download the mobile app free of charge on smartphones (iOS and Android) to discover all the MICHELIN Guide selections and book unforgettable hotels and restaurants.





Scan me





THE MICHELIN GUIDE ABU DHABI 2024 Restaurant Selection



One MICHELIN Star

Restaurant Name Type of Cuisine Erth Emirati 99 Sushi Bar Japanese Contemporary Hakkasan Chinese Talea by Antonio Guida Italian

Bib Gourmand

Restaurant Name Type of Cuisine Al Mrzab Emirati Almayass Lebanese Beirut Sur Mer Lebanese Otoro Japanese Contemporary Oii Mediterranean Cuisine tazal Mediterranean Cuisine

RECOMMENDED

Restaurant Name Type of Cuisine Al Farah Middle Eastern Butcher & Still Meats and Grills Byblos Sur Mer Lebanese Cafe Milano Italian Catch by St. Regis Seafood Cipriani Italian Coya Peruvian Dai Pai Dong Chinese Finz Seafood Fouquet's French Grand Beirut Lebanese Jose by Pizarro Spanish Kopitiam by Chandy's Malaysian Les Dangereux Creative Li Beirut Lebanese Li Jiang Asian LPM French Martabaan by Hemant Oberoi Indian Mate Argentinian Mazi Greek Meylas Emirati Mijana Lebanese Moksh Indian Namak Indian NIRI Japanese Contemporary Oak Room Steakhouse Paradiso Mediterranean Cuisine Punjab Grill Indian Ray's Grill Meats and Grills Silk & Spice Thai Tean Mediterranean Cuisine terra Mediterranean Cuisine VaKaVa Latin American Villa Toscana Italian Yadoo's House Emirati Zuma Japanese Contemporary

About Michelin

Michelins ambition is to sustainably improve its customers mobility. The leader in the mobility sector, Michelin designs, manufactures, and distributes the tires best suited to their clients requirements and uses as well as services and solutions to improve transport efficacy. Michelin also offers its customers unique experiences when traveling. Michelin is also rolling out high-tech materials for multiple uses. Based in Clermont-Ferrand, Michelin is present in 175 countries, employs 132,000 people and operates 67 production facilities that, together, produced approximately 200 million tires in 2022 ( www.michelin.es ).

MICHELIN GROUP MEDIA RELATIONS

+33 (0) 1 45 66 22 22

7 days a week

www.MICHELIN.com @MICHELINPress

112, Avenue Kleber, 75016 Paris







THANKS TO OUR DESTINATION PARTNER FOR SUPPORTING THE MICHELIN GUIDE CEREMONY ABU DHABI 2024









THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS FOR SUPPORTING THE MICHELIN GUIDE CEREMONY ABU DHABI 2024













Attachments
Dublin, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "FLUAD QUADRIVALENT Drug Insight and Market Forecast - 2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



This report provides comprehensive insights about FLUAD QUADRIVALENT for seasonal influenza in the six major markets. A detailed picture of the FLUAD QUADRIVALENT for seasonal influenza in the 6MM, i.e., the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom for the study period 2019 -2032 is provided in this report along with a detailed description of the FLUAD QUADRIVALENT for seasonal influenza.

The report provides insights about mechanism of action, dosage and administration, as well as research and development including regulatory milestones, along with other developmental activities. Further, it also consists of future market assessments inclusive of the FLUAD QUADRIVALENT market forecast analysis for seasonal influenza in the 6MM, SWOT, analysts' views, comprehensive overview of market competitors, and brief about other emerging therapies in seasonal influenza.



Drug Summary



FLUAD QUADRIVALENT (influenza vaccine, adjuvanted), a sterile injectable emulsion for intramuscular use, is a quadrivalent, inactivated influenza vaccine prepared from a virus propagated in the allantoic cavity of embryonated hens' eggs inoculated with a specific type of influenza virus. FLUAD QUADRIVALENT is prepared by combining the four virus antigens with the MF59C.1 adjuvant.

After combining, FLUAD QUADRIVALENT is a sterile, milky-white injectable emulsion supplied in single-dose prefilled syringes containing 0.5 mL dose. Each 0.5 mL dose contains 15 mcg of hemagglutinin from each of the four recommended influenza strains and MF59C.1 adjuvant (9.75 mg squalene, 1.175 mg of polysorbate 80, 1.175 mg of sorbitan trioleate, and 0.66 mg of sodium citrate dihydrate and 0.04 mg of citric acid monohydrate) at pH 6.9-7.7.



FLUAD QUADRIVALENT Analytical Perspective

In-depth FLUAD QUADRIVALENT Market Assessment



This report provides a detailed market assessment of FLUAD QUADRIVALENT for seasonal influenza in the six major markets, i.e., the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom. This segment of the report provides forecasted sales data from 2023 to 2032.



FLUAD QUADRIVALENT Clinical Assessment



The report provides the clinical trials information of FLUAD QUADRIVALENT for seasonal influenza covering trial interventions, trial conditions, trial status, start and completion dates.



Report Highlights

In the coming years, the market scenario for seasonal influenza is set to change due to the extensive research and incremental healthcare spending across the world; which would expand the size of the market to enable the drug manufacturers to penetrate more into the market.

The companies are developing therapies that focus on novel approaches to treat/improve the disease condition, assess challenges, and seek opportunities that could influence FLUAD QUADRIVALENT dominance.

Other emerging products for seasonal influenza are expected to give tough market competition to FLUAD QUADRIVALENT and launch of late-stage emerging therapies in the near future will significantly impact the market.

A detailed description of regulatory milestones, and developmental activities, provide the current development scenario of FLUAD QUADRIVALENT in seasonal influenza.

This in-depth analysis of the forecasted sales data of FLUAD QUADRIVALENT from 2023 to 2032 will support the clients in the decision-making process regarding their therapeutic portfolio by identifying the overall scenario of the FLUAD QUADRIVALENT in seasonal influenza.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Report Introduction



2. FLUAD QUADRIVALENT Overview in seasonal influenza

2.1. Product Detail

2.2. Clinical Development

2.2.1. Clinical studies

2.2.2. Clinical trials information

2.2.3. Safety and efficacy

2.3. Regulatory Milestone

2.4. Other Developmental Activities

2.5. Product Profile



3. Competitive Landscape (Marketed Therapies)



4. Competitive Landscape (Late-stage Emerging Therapies)



5. FLUAD QUADRIVALENT Market Assessment

5.1. Market Outlook of FLUAD QUADRIVALENT in seasonal influenza

5.2. 6MM Analysis

5.2.1. Market Size of FLUAD QUADRIVALENT in the 6MM for seasonal influenza

5.3. Country-wise Market Analysis

5.3.1. Market Size of FLUAD QUADRIVALENT in the United States for seasonal influenza

5.3.2. Market Size of FLUAD QUADRIVALENT in Germany for seasonal influenza

5.3.3. Market Size of FLUAD QUADRIVALENT in France for seasonal influenza

5.3.4. Market Size of FLUAD QUADRIVALENT in Italy for seasonal influenza

5.3.5. Market Size of FLUAD QUADRIVALENT in Spain for seasonal influenza

5.3.6. Market Size of FLUAD QUADRIVALENT in the United Kingdom for seasonal influenza



6. SWOT Analysis



7. Analysts' Views



8. Appendix



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2wpbgg

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.
New York, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a recent report by Market.us, the Global Patient Portal Market size is expected to be worth around USD 21.9 Billion by 2033 from USD 3.5 Billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 20.1% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2033.

The patient portal is a secure online platform used by clinics, hospitals, patients, and doctors for communication between healthcare providers and themselves. Patients can easily authorize access to their health information with this platform acting as an electronic health record and providing seamless interaction. Users need to create an account on this portal and set a password to protect their data against unintended access by third parties.

The global patient portals market has witnessed exponential growth due to increasing incidences of chronic illnesses, the proliferation of big data and health IT tools, an influx of government initiatives, and an escalation in hospital enrolments. Yet market expansion also faces obstacles like limited awareness about these software solutions in emerging nations as well as concerns regarding data privacy issues.

Market.us has identified key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market, which will help clients improve their strategies to stay ahead of their competitors. - View a PDF sample report @ https://market.us/report/patient-portal-market/request-sample/



Key Takeaway

Market Size & Growth: Patient Portal Market size is expected to be worth around USD 21.9 Billion by 2033 from USD 3.5 Billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 20.1% .

Patient Portal Market size is expected to be worth around by 2033 from in 2023, growing at a CAGR of . Type Analysis: In 2023, the Integrated portal accounted for 59% of the total revenue.

In 2023, the Integrated portal accounted for of the total revenue. Delivery Mode Analysis: The markets largest share was held by the web-based segment, which held 66.3% in 2023.

The markets largest share was held by the web-based segment, which held in 2023. End-Use Analysis: In 2023, the providers segment was dominant by 52.8% and will continue to grow rapidly over the forecast period.

In 2023, the providers segment was dominant by and will continue to grow rapidly over the forecast period. Regional Analysis: North America was the dominant market, with 42.6% and holding a USD 1.5 Billion value for the Patient Portal market in 2023.

North America was the dominant market, with and holding a value for the Patient Portal market in 2023. Drivers of Growth: The market's expansion can be attributed to factors such as the rising incidence of chronic diseases, the adoption of big data analytics and health IT tools, and strategic initiatives taken by governments.

The market's expansion can be attributed to factors such as the rising incidence of chronic diseases, the adoption of big data analytics and health IT tools, and strategic initiatives taken by governments. Challenges: Limited awareness in emerging nations and concerns over data privacy pose impediments to market growth.

Factors affecting the growth of the Patient Portal industry

Various factors influence the growth of the patient portal market are;

Prevalence of Chronic Diseases: With more and more people suffering from chronic diseases, patient portals have become essential tools for managing and monitoring their health.

With more and more people suffering from chronic diseases, patient portals have become essential tools for managing and monitoring their health. Adopting Big Data and Health IT Tools: As big data analytics and health IT tools gain more widespread adoption, their increasing acceptance bolsters both patient portal capabilities and appeal.

As big data analytics and health IT tools gain more widespread adoption, their increasing acceptance bolsters both patient portal capabilities and appeal. Government Initiatives: Implementation of strategic initiatives undertaken by governments aimed at strengthening healthcare infrastructure and services is also instrumental in expanding patient portal usage.

Implementation of strategic initiatives undertaken by governments aimed at strengthening healthcare infrastructure and services is also instrumental in expanding patient portal usage. Rising Hospitals and Clinics: With more hospitals and clinics adopting patient portals for improved communication and information access, market growth can only accelerate further.

Competitive Landscape

Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc.

athenahealth, Inc.

Epic Systems Corporation

McKesson Corporation

Cerner Corporation

GE Healthcare

Medfusion Inc.

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems

Greenway Health, LLC

To understand how our report can make a difference to your business strategy, Inquire about a brochure at https://market.us/report/patient-portal-market/#inquiry



Regional Analysis

North America claimed 42.6% market share with a USD 1.5 billion market value for Patient Portal sector sales in 2023. This success can be attributed to advances in healthcare IT; specifically, the successful integration of this technology into healthcare systems like Canada and the United States thus expanding market potential.

The United States, home to over 130 million citizens living with at least one chronic condition, faces an immense health challenge; chronic illnesses are responsible for approximately 70% of annual deaths. Given their wide prevalence, managing multiple comorbidities becomes an overwhelming task requiring patient portal systems as North America shifts from volume-based reimbursement models toward value-based reimbursement models.

Scope of the Report

Report Attributes Details Market Value (2023) USD 3.5 Billion Forecast Revenue 2033 USD 21.9 Billion CAGR (2024 to 2033) 20.1 North America Revenue Share 42.6% Base Year 2023 Historic Period 2018 to 2022 Forecast Year 2024 to 2033

Market Drivers

Technological advancements enable seamless integration of IT solutions into healthcare systems - particularly successful in North America including Canada and the US, propelling this market by improving accessibility, communication, and overall efficiency when managing patient data.

Market Restraints

An important trend driving the Patient Portal Market is its industry-wide shift away from volume-based to value-based reimbursement models. As healthcare systems prioritize quality over quantity of services provided, patient portal systems become increasingly influential as an essential means for coordinated care delivery, patient engagement, and outcome measurement-aligning perfectly with today's evolving reimbursement landscape.

Market Opportunities

Chronic conditions affect over 130 million Americans, providing the Patient Portal Market with an enormous opportunity. Chronic conditions contribute significantly to healthcare challenges and costs; patient portals provide tools that aid better management, monitoring, and communication - thus creating an ideal setting for the growth and expansion of Patient Portal usage.

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Report Segmentation of the Patient Portal Market

Type Analysis

In 2023, integrated portals contributed 59% of total revenue. Their success lies in offering comprehensive solutions that were not only cost-effective and time-efficient but also included multiple functionalities. Integrative portals offer a convenient approach, facilitating the creation of customized systems that effectively connect patient information with healthcare provider needs. Future advancements can be anticipated with research initiatives focused on creating pre-integrated Electronic Health Record (EHR) peripherals as a driving force for change. EMR/EHRs with integrated patient portals as modular components offer flexible options for integration into any existing healthcare IT system.

Delivery Mode Analysis

In 2023, web-based software had the highest market share at 66.3%. Web-based solutions offer several advantages over traditional solutions, including quicker implementation time, no hardware investments required for implementation, and automatic updates with low initial investments. They can even be installed directly onto user sites by third parties for management - unlike traditional solutions which must be managed internally before deployment by providers who typically charge annual or monthly usage fees.

End-User Analysis

In 2023, providers held a 52.8% market share, and its growth is anticipated to accelerate over time. According to ONC research, more than 90% of hospitals provide access to patient medical records with 72% offering users the ability to download or transmit all available records - fuelling this significant expansion by patient portal adoption among healthcare providers.

Recent Developments in the Patient Portal Market

June 2023: Allscripts acquired HealthGrid, a cloud-based patient engagement platform, to enhance its patient portal offerings and improve data exchange capabilities.

Allscripts acquired HealthGrid, a cloud-based patient engagement platform, to enhance its patient portal offerings and improve data exchange capabilities. August 2023: athenahealth released a new patient portal API that allows third-party developers to integrate with its platform, expanding functionality and customization options.

athenahealth released a new patient portal API that allows third-party developers to integrate with its platform, expanding functionality and customization options. September 2023: Epic announced a partnership with Apple to integrate the Apple Watch with its patient portal, allowing patients to track their health data and receive notifications about appointments and medication refills.

Epic announced a partnership with Apple to integrate the Apple Watch with its patient portal, allowing patients to track their health data and receive notifications about appointments and medication refills. November 2023: McKesson acquired RelayHealth, a patient engagement platform, to strengthen its patient portal offerings and expand its reach in the market.

McKesson acquired RelayHealth, a patient engagement platform, to strengthen its patient portal offerings and expand its reach in the market. December 2023: Cerner partnered with IBM to integrate the Watson AI platform into its patient portal, allowing for personalized patient engagement and recommendations.

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Delivery Mode

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Providers

Payers

Others

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US

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Rest of APAC

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Rest of Latin America

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. (NYSE: FSM) (TSX: FVI) is pleased to provide an update on its exploration programs at the Seguela Mine in Cote dIvoire, the recently acquired Diamba Sud Gold Project in Senegal, and the San Jose Mine in Mexico.



Exploration program highlights

Badior prospect, Seguela Mine, Cote dIvoire:



SGRD1683: 17.3 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 6.3 meters from 67 meters, including

49.5 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 1.4 meters from 67 meters SGRC1682: 16.7 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 5.6 meters from 65 meters, including

121.0 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 0.7 meters from 70 meters, and

13.0 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 2.1 meters from 83 meters SGRD1689: 10.7 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 2.1 meters from 159 meters, including

29.6 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 0.7 meters from 161 meters

Ancien deposit, Seguela Mine, Cote dIvoire:



SGRD1657: 27.1 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 7.7 meters from 239 meters, including

138.5 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 1.4 meters from 241 meters SGRC1661: 14.8 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 2.1 meters from 339 meters, and

22.9 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 15.4 meters from 347 meters, including

88.0 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 3.5 meters from 357 meters SGRD1663: 6.0 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 19.6 meters from 346 meters, including

13.0 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 1.4 meters from 352meters, and

16.4 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 1.4 meters from 358 meters, and

36.4 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 1.4 meters from 362 meters SGRD1664: 2.2 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 15.4 meters from 361 meters, including

11.3 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 0.7 meters from 368 meters, and

10.2 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 0.7 meters from 370 meters

Sunbird deposit, Seguela Mine, Cote dIvoire:



SGRD1695: 5.0 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 14.7 meters from 341 meters, including

27.7 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 2.1 meters from 347 meters SGRC1698: 4.9 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 8.4 meters from 200 meters SGRD1696: 4.9 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 3.5 meters from 235 meters, including

16.9 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 0.7 meters from 236 meters, and

6.2 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 1.4 meters from 263 meters

Paul Weedon, Senior Vice President of Exploration at Fortuna, commented, With the successful commissioning and ramp-up of the Seguela Mine, the exploration focus has been directed towards the regional potential, featuring the emerging Badior prospect. Recent results include drill hole SGRC1683 intersecting 17.3 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 6.3 meters. In addition, the exploration teams are building the foundation for potential long term underground mining at the Ancien and Sunbird deposits, encouraged by results such as drill hole SGRD1661 intersecting 22.9 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 15.4 meters at Ancien.



Diamba Sud Gold Project, Senegal:



DSR503: 7.5 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 16.2 meters from 75 meters DSDD129: 9.9 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 11.7 meters from 12 meters DSR491: 3.9 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 26.1 meters from 66 meters, and

5.8 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 13.5 meters from 104 meters DSR490: 3.1 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 29.7 meters from 7 meters DSR506: 3.0 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 23.4 meters from 36 meters, and

6.7 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 8.1 meters from 71 meters DSDD131: 9.1 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 5.6 meters from 96.4 meters

Mr. Weedon continued, Exploration drilling at the recently acquired Diamba Sud Gold Project has returned very encouraging results from the initial confirmatory drilling at Area A, with results such as drill hole DSR490 intersecting 3.1 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 29.7 meters from 7 meters, while hole DSR487 highlights the potential to increase the overall footprint of the Area A prospect with an interval of 2.3 g/t Au over an interval of 15.3 meters, extending beyond the historic mine design limit. With the team on the ground operating well after the conclusion of the Diamba Sud acquisition, I am very happy with the progress as we look forward to advancing the project in 2024.

Yessi vein, San Jose Mine, Mexico:



SJOM-1357: 204 g/t Ag Eq over an estimated true width of 7.1 meters from 167.30 meters SJOM-1366A: 153 g/t Ag Eq over an estimated true width of 1.5 meters from 573.45 meters, and

258 g/t Ag Eq over an estimated true width of 1.0 meters from 636.40 meters SJO-1417: 858 g/t Ag Eq over an estimated true width of 0.5 meters from 579.55 meters SJOM-1418: 185 g/t Ag Eq over an estimated true width of 0.8 meters from 406.00 meters SJOM-1428: 545 g/t Ag Eq over an estimated true width of 17.0 meters from 342.75 meters SJO-1430: 1,431 g/t Ag Eq over an estimated true width of 1.1 meters from 593.50 meters, and

250 g/t Ag Eq over an estimated true width of 4.0 meters from 668.85 meters



SJO-1431: 195 g/t Ag Eq over an estimated true width of 5.2 meters from 601.30 meters

Mr. Weedon also highlighted the continuing work at the San Jose Mine where drilling to define the recently discovered Yessi vein has provided further insights into the regional structural controls with encouraging results, including 1,431 g/t Ag Eq over an estimated true width of 1.1 meters and a further 250 g/t Ag Eq over an estimated true width of 4 meters from SJO-1430, and 545 g/t Ag Eq over an estimated true width of 17.0 meters from SJOM-1428. The structural complexity of the Yessi vein helps validate the wider regional structural understanding and highlights opportunities for additional near-mine exploration targets.

Seguela Mine, Cote dIvoire

Drilling for increased geologic confidence and understanding of key high-grade controls at the Badior prospect was recently concluded, with 8 holes drilled totalling 1,691 meters (refer to Figure 1). Drilling has broadly outlined a gently northerly plunging high-grade lode which remains open at depth, with drill hole SGRD1689 intersecting 10.7 g/t Au over 2.1 meters from 159 meters downhole. The interpreted northerly plunge is unusual for mineralization at Seguela which typically demonstrates a shallow to moderate southerly plunge, and which may represent a new or antithetic structural control. Further work is planned for 2024.

Figure 1: Badior long-section showing select recent results (looking west)





At Ancien, 9 holes for a total of 3,258 meters were completed (refer to Figure 2). This short program was designed to improve the understanding of the structural controls on the high-grade lodes hosting multiple intervals such as those intersected in drill holes SGRD1661 and SGRD1663. This increased geological confidence and understanding will help support an evaluation of the underground mining potential at Ancien, where the deposit remains open at depth. Further work is planned for 2024.

Figure 2: Ancien long-section showing select recent results (looking west)





At Sunbird, a comprehensive infill drilling program consisting of 47 holes totaling 11,075 meters, was completed in August 2023 (refer to Fortuna news release dated August 8, 2023 ). The infill drilling was followed by a program to continue testing the extent of mineralization. Results were received for 8 holes totalling 2,100 meters completed in the southern section of the deposit (refer to Figure 3). This short program was designed to improve the understanding of the structural controls projected a further 200 meters down-plunge from the last drilling sections with encouraging results including SGRD1695 intersecting 5.0 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 14.7 meters from 341 meters downhole. This increased geological confidence and understanding will help support an evaluation of the underground mining potential at Sunbird, where the deposit remains open at depth. Further work is planned for 2024.

Refer to Appendix 1 for full details of the Seguela drill holes and assay results.



Figure 3: Sunbird long-section showing select recent results (looking west)





Diamba Sud Gold Project, Senegal



At Diamba Sud, a 10,945-meter, three-drill rig drilling program started on October 8, 2023, with 34 holes completed for 4,976 total meters drilled to date. The objectives of the program are as follows:

Selected confirmatory drilling of Area A, Area D, and Karakara to improve resource confidence

Drilling to test for extensions to the existing historic resource in support of project development and advancing further studies in 2024

Advancing prospective areas such as Gamba Gamba North, Southern Arc, Western Splay,

Area A North, and others

Area A North, and others Improved understanding of key geological controls including controlling structures, favorable lithologies, alteration and secondary enrichment zones

The Area A prospect is structurally complex with interpreted supergene mineralization overlaying primary mineralization preferentially hosted in a broad sedimentary package, which has been intersected by steeper mineralized structures and folding. Mineralization remains open along strike and at depth, as demonstrated by drill hole DSR490 intersecting 1.3 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 7.2 meters from 176 meters, and an additional 1.0 g/t Au over an estimated true width of 18.9 meters from 188 meters, extending mineralization beyond the historic pit design (refer to Figures 4 - 6).

This program will continue for the remainder of 2023 with additional drilling programs, including regional exploration and target generation budgeted for 2024.

Refer to Appendix 2 for full details of the Diamba Sud Gold Project drill holes and assay results.



Figure 4: Diamba Sud Gold Project location plan







Figure 5: Area A drilling location plan







Figure 6: Area A cross section A - A; refer to Figure 5 for location





Figure 7: Area A cross section B - B; refer to Figure 5 for location





San Jose Mine, Mexico



Drilling of the recently discovered Yessi vein (refer to Fortuna news release filed on SEDAR+ on September 5, 2023) has continued with the objective of defining the structural relationship between the Yessi vein and the various systems at the San Jose Mine with 13 additional holes completed for a total of 7,444 meters.

Initially interpreted as an approximately north-south trending vein, recent drilling has highlighted the likelihood of the Yessi vein forming a north-northwest orientated link structure between the Victoria Mineralized Zone and an as yet undefined structure further eastwards, an interpretation supported by regional geophysical data. Drilling has been re-orientated to better target this revised orientation, with drilling continuing.

Mineralization remains open along strike to the southeast, whereas to the northwest the Yessi vein intersects the Victoria Mineralized Zone.

Refer to Appendix 3 for full details of the Yessi vein drill holes and assay results.



Figure 8: Plan view of the Yessi vein, San Jose Mine. Refer Figure 9 for the long-section view (A-A).





Figure 9: Long section view (A-A) of the Yessi vein, San Jose Mine





Quality Assurance & Quality Control (QA - QC)



Seguela Mine, Cote dIvoire and Diamba Sud Gold Project, Senegal



All drilling data completed by the Company utilized the following procedures and methodologies. All drilling was carried out under the supervision of the Companys personnel.

All RC drilling used a 5.25-inch face sampling pneumatic hammer with samples collected into 60-liter plastic bags. Samples were kept dry by maintaining enough air pressure to exclude groundwater inflow. If water ingress exceeded the air pressure, RC drilling was stopped, and drilling converted to diamond core tails. Once collected, RC samples were riffle split through a three-tier splitter to yield a

12.5% representative sample for submission to the analytical laboratory. The residual 87.5% samples were stored at the drill site until assay results were received and validated. Coarse reject samples for all mineralized samples corresponding to significant intervals are retained and stored on-site at the

Company-controlled core yard.

All diamond drilling (DD) drill holes at Seguela were drilled with HQ sized diamond drill bits, whereas DD holes at Diamba Sud started with HQ sized diameter, before reducing to NQ diameter diamond drill bits on intersecting fresh rock. The core was logged, marked up for sampling using standard lengths of one meter or to a geological boundary. Samples were then cut into equal halves using a diamond saw. One half of the core was left in the original core box and stored in a secure location at the Company core yard at the project site. The other half was sampled, catalogued, and placed into sealed bags and securely stored at the site until shipment.

All Seguela RC and DD core samples were shipped to ALS Laboratories preparation laboratory in Yamoussoukro for preparation and then, via commercial courier, to ALSs facility in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso for finishing. All Diamba Sud RC and DD samples were transported to ALSs preparation laboratory in Kedougou, before also being transported via commercial courier, to ALSs facility in Ouagadougou. Routine gold analysis using a 50-gram charge and fire assay with an atomic absorption finish was completed for all samples. Quality control procedures included the systematic insertion of blanks, duplicates, and sample standards into the sample stream. In addition, the ALS laboratory inserted its own quality control samples.

San Jose Mine, Mexico



All diamond drilling (DD) drill holes at San Jose were drilled with either NQ sized diameter (drilled from underground) or HQ sized diamond drill bits reducing to NQ sized diameter with greater depth. Following detailed geological and geotechnical logging, all diamond drill core samples are split on-site by diamond sawing. One half of the core is submitted to the internal laboratory located in the CMC facilities. The CMC laboratory has been accredited by the Standard Council of Canada (ISO 17025: 2017) for preparation, drying, gravimetry, fire assay, Inductively Coupled Plasma and Atomic Absorption processes. The remaining half core is retained on-site for verification and reference purposes. Following preparation, the samples are assayed for gold and silver by standard fire assay methods and for silver and base metals by Inductively Coupled Plasma and as well as three acid digestion at the same internal laboratory. The QA - QC program includes the blind insertion of certified reference standards and assay blanks at a frequency of approximately 1 per 20 normal samples as well as the inclusion of duplicate samples for verification of sampling and assay precision levels.

Qualified Person

Paul Weedon, Senior Vice President of Exploration for Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 being a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (Membership #6001). Mr. Weedon has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Weedon has verified the data disclosed, including the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information or opinions contained herein by reviewing geochemical and geological databases and reviewing diamond drill core. There were no limitations to the verification process.

About Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.

Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. is a Canadian precious metals mining company with five operating mines in Argentina, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Mexico, and Peru. Sustainability is integral to all our operations and relationships. We produce gold and silver and generate shared value over the long-term for our stakeholders through efficient production, environmental protection, and social responsibility. For more information, please visit our website .

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Jorge A. Ganoza

President, CEO, and Director

Fortuna Silver Mines Inc.

Investor Relations:

Carlos Baca | info@fortunasilver.com | www.fortunasilver.com | X | LinkedIn | YouTube

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements which constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, Forward-looking Statements). All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are Forward-looking Statements and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the Forward-looking Statements. The Forward-looking Statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements about the potential to increase the overall footprint of the Area A prospect and the Companys plans for the Diamba Sud Gold Project in 2024; statements regarding potential long term underground development at Ancien and at Sunbird at the Seguela Mine; the Companys plans to conduct further work at Ancien and at Sunbird during 2024; the Companys objectives for the current drilling program at the Diamba Sud Gold Project and expectations regarding additional drilling programs budgeted for 2024; the Companys business strategy, plans and outlook; the merit of the Companys mines and mineral properties; mineral resource and reserve estimates; timelines; the future financial or operating performance of the Company; expenditures; approvals and other matters. Often, but not always, these Forward-looking Statements can be identified by the use of words such as estimated, potential, open, future, assumed, projected, used, detailed, has been, gain, planned, reflecting, will, containing, remaining, to be, or statements that events, could or should occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations. Forward-looking Statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-looking Statements. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; changes in prices for silver, gold and other metals; the timing and success of the Companys proposed exploration programs; technological and operational hazards in Fortunas mining and mine development activities; risks inherent in mineral exploration; fluctuations in prices for energy, labour, materials, supplies and services; fluctuations in currencies; uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral reserves, mineral resources, and metal recoveries; the possibility that the ruling in favor of Compania Minera Cuzcatlan S.A. de C.V. to reinstate the environmental impact authorization at the San Jose Mine will be successfully appealed; the Companys ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner; governmental and other approvals; political unrest or instability in countries where Fortuna is active; labor relations issues; as well as those factors discussed under Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2022. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-looking Statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking Statements contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management, including but not limited to expectations regarding the results from the exploration programs conducted at the Seguela Mine, the San Jose Mine, and the Diamba Sud Gold Project; expected trends in mineral prices and currency exchange rates; the accuracy of the Companys information derived from its exploration programs at the Companys mineral properties; current mineral resource and reserve estimates; the presence and continuity of mineralization at the Companys properties; that the Companys activities will be in accordance with the Companys public statements and stated goals; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that all required approvals will be obtained; that there will be no significant disruptions affecting operations and such other assumptions as set out herein. Forward-looking Statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any Forward-looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that Forward-looking Statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on Forward-looking Statements.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Reserves and Resources

Reserve and resource estimates included in this news release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for public disclosure by a Canadian company of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Unless otherwise indicated, all mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates contained in the technical disclosure have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and mineral reserve and resource information included in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies.

Appendix 1: Seguela Mine, Cote dIvoire



Hole ID Easting

(WGS84_29N) Northing

(WGS84_29N) Elevation

(m) EOH

Depth

(m) UTM

Azimuth Dip Depth

From

(m) Depth

To

(m) Drilled

Width

(m) ETW

(m) Au

(ppm) Hole

Type Area SGRD1656 743307 888573 352 225.7 277 -60 180 182 2 1.4 5.54 RCD Ancien incl 180 181 1 0.7 10.30 RCD Ancien SGRD1657 743346 888518 349 276.1 277 -60 228 231 3 2.1 2.76 RCD Ancien 239 250 11 7.7 27.06 RCD Ancien incl 241 243 2 1.4 138.45 RCD Ancien SGRD1658 743366 888467 348 348 277 -55 268 269 1 0.7 5.47 RCD Ancien SGRD1659 743335 888395 354 336.3 277 -55 270 274 4 2.8 2.99 RCD Ancien 306 322 16 11.2 1.14 RCD Ancien SGRD1661 743409 888381 351 440.4 277 -55 339 342 3 2.1 14.76 RCD Ancien incl 339 340 1 0.7 37.80 RCD Ancien 347 369 22 15.4 22.90 RCD Ancien incl 353 354 1 0.7 23.50 RCD Ancien incl 357 362 5 3.5 87.96 RCD Ancien SGRD1663 888361 743405 356 400.4 277 -55 346 374 28 19.6 5.98 RCD Ancien incl 352 354 2 1.4 12.95 RCD Ancien and 358 360 2 1.4 16.38 RCD Ancien and 362 364 2 1.4 36.35 RCD Ancien SGRD1664 743402.76 888335 371.24 400.2 2.77 -55 361 383 22 15.4 2.23 RCD Ancien incl 368 369 1 0.7 11.25 RCD Ancien and 370 371 1 0.7 10.15 RCD Ancien SGRD1665 743419 888307 370 430.8 277 -55 NSI RCD Ancien SGRD1666 743368 888286 358 400.5 277 -55 362 370 8 5.6 1.60 RCD Ancien SGRC1682 743089 901800 396 140 270 -55 65 73 8 5.6 16.70 RC Badior incl 70 71 1 0.7 121.00 RC Badior 77 79 2 1.4 13.45 RC Badior incl 77 78 1 0.7 24.20 RC Badior 83 86 3 2.1 13.01 RC Badior incl 85 86 1 0.7 33.00 RC Badior SGRC1683 743095 901850 389 130 270 -55 59 63 4 2.8 1.66 RC Badior 67 76 9 6.3 17.32 RC Badior incl 67 69 2 1.4 49.50 RC Badior and 71 72 1 0.7 44.60 RC Badior 86 92 6 4.2 2.28 RC Badior SGRC1685 743130 901950 385 190 270 -55 75 79 4 2.8 2.46 RC Badior SGRD1686 743128 901851 386 192.1 268 142 144 2 1.4 4.86 RCD Badior 189 192.1 3.1 2.2 1.79 RCD Badior SGRD1687 743165 901950 383 270 270 -55 NSI RCD Badior SGRD1688 743161 902003 391 268 268 -51 NSI RCD Badior SGRD1689 743128 902003 393 190.7 270 -55 159 162 3 2.1 10.71 RCD Badior incl 161 162 1 0.7 29.60 RCD Badior SGRD1690 743133 902003 396 310.3 268 -52 NSI RCD Badior SGRC1691 742887 893798 431 60 90 -60 NSI RC Sunbird SGRC1692 742861 893797 432 110 90 -60 NSI RC Sunbird SGRD1693 742584 892987 518 420.5 90 371 381 10 7.0 2.88 RCD Sunbird 395 397 2 1.4 5.57 RCD Sunbird incl 395 396 1 0.7 10.10 RCD Sunbird SGRD1694 742510 892710 539 134 0 0.0 RCD Sunbird SGRD1695 742532 892511 538 375.1 90 -60 341 362 21 14.7 4.99 RCD Sunbird incl 347 350 3 2.1 27.70 RCD Sunbird SGRD1696 742573 892512 547 310.3 90 -60 235 240 5 3.5 4.91 RCD Sunbird incl 236 237 1 0.7 16.90 RCD Sunbird 263 265 2 1.4 6.17 RCD Sunbird 280 285 5 3.5 2.82 RCD Sunbird incl 284 285 1 0.7 12.70 RCD Sunbird SGRD1697 742534 892461 544 390 90 -60 NSI RCD Sunbird SGRD1698 742577 892460 520 300.4 90 -60 200 212 12 8.4 4.87 RCD Sunbird incl 200 201 1 0.7 14.15 RCD Sunbird and 203 204 1 0.7 24.50 RCD Sunbird 218 236 18 12.6 1.54 RCD Sunbird 242 253 11 7.7 0.98 RCD Sunbird

Notes:

EOH: End of hole NSI: No significant intercepts ETW: Estimated true width Depths and widths reported to nearest significant decimal place

Appendix 2: Diamba Sud Gold Project, Senegal



Hole ID Easting

(WGS84_29N) Northing

(WGS84_29N) Elevation

(m) EOH

Depth

(m) UTM

Azimuth Dip Depth

From

(m) Depth

To

(m) Drilled

Width

(m) ETW

(m) Au

(ppm) Hole

Type Area DSDD129 233200 1429609 186 246 90 -60 12 25 13 11.7 9.91 DD Area A incl 16 18 2 1.8 43.45 DD Area A 90 92.7 2.7 2.4 5.56 DD Area A incl 92 92.7 0.7 0.6 11.80 DD Area A 122 135 13 11.7 0.90 DD Area A 161 168 7 6.3 0.74 DD Area A 188 193 5 4.5 1.57 DD Area A DSDD130 233151 1429612 186 219 90 -60 63 76 13 11.7 2.62 DD Area A incl 69 70 1 0.9 10.35 DD Area A 83 94 11 9.9 0.57 DD Area A 155 187 32 28.8 1.02 DD Area A 191 197 6 5.4 4.81 DD Area A incl 193 194 1 0.9 19.80 DD Area A DSDD131 233283 1429607 184 162 90 -60 24 29 5 4.5 1.08 DD Area A 96.4 102.6 6.2 5.6 9.07 DD Area A incl 96.4 98 1.6 1.4 14.35 DD Area A 113 123.5 10.5 9.5 1.98 DD Area A DSDD132 233161 1429583 185 210 90 -60 80 87.8 7.8 7.0 2.12 DD Area A 147 157 10 9.0 0.71 DD Area A DSDD133 233241 1429555 184 174 90 -60 89.5 95 5.5 5.0 8.67 DD Area A incl 90 92 2 1.8 16.46 DD Area A 103 107.8 4.8 4.3 2.92 DD Area A 111 112 1 0.9 21.50 DD Area A 116 124 8 7.2 2.90 DD Area A incl 117 118.4 1.4 1.3 11.72 DD Area A 144 147 3 2.7 2.25 DD Area A DSDD134 233210 1429554 184 189 90 -60 9 16 7 6.3 5.83 DD Area A incl 11 13 2 1.8 11.75 DD Area A 28 29.8 1.8 1.6 3.20 DD Area A 40 52 12 10.8 1.36 DD Area A 57 61 4 3.6 1.92 DD Area A 106 117 11 9.9 2.08 DD Area A incl 106.6 107.5 0.9 0.8 13.30 DD Area A 125 132.5 7.5 6.8 1.24 DD Area A DSDD135 233184 1429510 184 200 90 -60 86 93.8 7.8 7.0 1.33 DD Area A 106 107.65 1.65 1.5 5.21 DD Area A 119 126 7 6.3 3.14 DD Area A 183.7 189.05 5.35 4.8 1.14 DD Area A DSDD136 233301 1429551 182 131 90 -60 54 62 8 7.2 0.83 DD Area A 105.15 111 5.85 5.3 4.61 DD Area A incl 106 107 1 0.9 19.10 DD Area A DSR486 233252 1429610 186 162 90 -60 9 13 4 3.6 1.31 RC Area A 100 109 9 8.1 0.80 RC Area A 122 142 20 18.0 1.65 RC Area A DSR487 233313 1429609 182 132 90 -60 3 11 8 7.2 5.18 RC Area A incl 3 4 1 0.9 11.80 RC Area A 97 114 17 15.3 2.26 RC Area A DSR488 233301 1429580 182 138 90 -60 109 117 8 7.2 1.22 RC Area A 122 126 4 3.6 2.09 RC Area A DSR489 233247 1429582 185 156 90 -60 4 13 9 8.1 1.84 RC Area A 47 50 3 2.7 19.78 RC Area A 110 112 2 1.8 3.53 RC Area A 118 125 7 6.3 1.37 RC Area A 130 132 2 1.8 2.79 RC Area A DSR490 233191 1429585 185 210 90 -60 7 40 33 29.7 3.09 RC Area A 62 68 6 5.4 2.84 RC Area A incl 63 64 1 0.9 11.50 RC Area A 116 138 22 19.8 1.83 RC Area A incl 117 118 1 0.9 11.05 RC Area A 160 171 11 9.9 1.08 RC Area A 176 184 8 7.2 1.27 RC Area A 188 209 21 18.9 1.00 RC Area A DSR491 233301 1429510 180 144 90 -60 66 95 29 26.1 3.89 RC Area A incl 68 69 1 0.9 22.30 RC Area A and 77 78 1 0.9 21.90 RC Area A 104 119 15 13.5 5.79 RC Area A incl 114 117 3 2.7 17.52 RC Area A DSR492 233245 1429511 181 162 90 -60 113 126 13 11.7 3.36 RC Area A 145 158 13 11.7 0.89 RC Area A DSR493 233281 1429438 180 120 90 -60 80 83 3 2.7 3.15 RC Area A DSR494 233216 1429436 176 162 90 -60 140 144 4 3.6 1.41 RC Area A DSR495 233170 1429412 175 123 90 -60 NSI RC Area A DSR496 233189 1429385 177 191 90 -60 116 120 4 3.6 2.47 RC Area A 128 138 10 9.0 4.08 RC Area A incl 132 133 1 0.9 22.60 RC Area A DSR497 233213 1429359 175 144 90 -60 NSI RC Area A DSR498 233239 1429385 174 150 90 -60 NSI RC Area A DSR499 233336 1429612 177 100 90 -60 22 25 3 2.7 3.21 RC Area A DSR500 233357 1429581 179 120 90 -60 110 115 5 4.5 1.11 RC Area A DSR501 233328 1429559 177 114 90 -60 NSI RC Area A DSR502 233313 1429534 178 126 90 -60 NSI RC Area A DSR503 233312 1429482 178 100 90 -60 75 93 18 16.2 7.51 RC Area A incl 76 78 2 1.8 19.63 RC Area A and 79 80 1 0.9 10.95 RC Area A and 84 85 1 0.9 10.15 RC Area A and 88 89 1 0.9 12.50 RC Area A DSR504 233272 1429512 182 140 90 -60 75 77 2 1.8 2.79 RCD Area A 128 131.5 3.5 3.2 2.29 RCD Area A DSR505 233309 1429437 175 90 90 -60 NSI RC Area A DSR506 233181 1429554 184 193 90 -60 21 23 2 1.8 3.13 RCD Area A 36 62 26 23.4 2.96 RCD Area A 71 80 9 8.1 6.65 RCD Area A incl 71 72 1 0.9 13.15 RCD Area A and 75 76 1 0.9 12.60 RCD Area A and 78 79 1 0.9 14.40 RCD Area A 147 149 2 1.8 2.52 RCD Area A 171 177 6 5.4 2.11 RCD Area A incl 174 175 1 0.9 10.30 RCD Area A DSR507 233116 1429538 184 168 90 -60 53 64 11 9.9 1.41 RC Area A 109 129 20 18.0 1.45 RC Area A incl 127 128 1 0.9 10.75 RC Area A DSR508 233078 1429554 185 120 90 -60 NSI RC Area A DSR509 233044 1429554 184 102 90 -60 15 33 18 16.2 0.54 RC Area A DSR510 233082 1429577 183 78 90 -60 NSI RC Area A

Notes:

EOH: End of hole NSI: No significant intercepts ETW: Estimated true width Depths and widths reported to nearest significant figure

Appendix 3: Yessi vein, San Jose Mine, Mexico



Hole ID Easting

(NAD27_14N) Northing

(NAD27_14N) Elevation

(m) EOH

Depth

(m) UTM

Azimuth Dip Depth

From

(m) Depth

To

(m) Drilled

Width

(m) ETW

(m) Au

(ppm) Ag

(ppm) Ag

Eq

(ppm) Hole Type SJOM-1348 745297 1847651 1236 308 84 -39 256.32 307.65 55.68 33.3 0.72 90 147 DD SJOM-1357 745297 1847650 1236 267 92 -26 167.30 190.18 22.88 7.1 1.80 60 204 DD SJOM-1366A 745297 1847650 1236 868 95 -28 464.10 465.70 1.60 0.2 1.58 195 321 DD 573.45 592.50 10.45 1.5 0.78 91 153 DD 599.35 601.90 2.55 0.4 0.75 102 162 DD 606.55 609.75 3.20 0.4 0.70 96 152 DD 636.40 643.45 7.05 1.0 1.22 161 258 DD SJOM-1399 745298 1847649 1237 479 104 -8 131.85 135.60 3.75 0.9 1.22 130 227 DD SJOM-1404 745298 1847649 1237 433 109 -8 NSI SJOM-1408 745298 1847649 1236 540 106 -23 355.35 360.30 1.95 0.3 0.80 74 138 DD 390.50 395.30 4.40 0.7 1.11 131 219 DD 396.95 400.35 2.75 0.4 1.05 128 212 DD 415.75 420.05 3.65 0.2 1.39 175 286 DD 426.70 430.00 3.30 0.5 1.50 208 328 DD 471.25 472.3 1.05 0.2 2.40 275 467 DD SJO-1417 746050 1847647 1543 689 239 -51 579.55 580.35 0.80 0.5 4.61 489 858 DD 600.35 601.40 1.05 0.6 1.40 140 252 DD SJOM-1418 745298 1847649 1236 674 107 -30 406.00 407.50 1.50 0.8 1.13 95 185 DD SJO-1420 746046 1847637 1543 796 237 -61 NSI SJOM-1422 745297 1847651 1236 456 91 -15 222.85 225.70 2.85 1.1 0.57 61 106 DD SJO-1430 745885 1847912 1538 789 190 -61 532.10 533.75 1.65 0.9 0.61 84 133 DD 593.50 595.65 2.15 1.1 8.26 770 1431 DD 605.60 608.90 3.30 1.7 0.70 90 146 DD 668.85 676.75 7.90 4.0 1.25 150 250 DD 679.95 680.55 0.6 0.3 2.11 170 339 DD SJOM-1428 745298 1847649 1236 479 114 -10 342.75 400.00 57.25 17.0 2.48 347 545 DD Incl 367.55 368.86 1.31 0.4 6.26 620 1121 DD and 382.95 384.00 1.05 0.3 1.98 307 465 DD and 384.73 386.30 1.57 0.5 11.27 1344 2246 DD and 391.85 393.37 1.52 0.5 11.07 1137 2023 DD and 393.37 394.50 1.13 0.3 2.50 314 514 DD and 394.50 395.33 0.83 0.2 9.42 774 1528 DD and 398.42 400.00 1.58 0.5 32.00 5905 8465 DD SJO-1431 745885 1847912 1538 667 220 -45 554.20 554.50 0.30 0.3 5.38 576 1006 DD 601.30 607.85 6.55 5.2 1.02 114 195 DD incl 602.85 603.15 0.30 0.2 7.16 838 1411 DD and 603.45 603.75 0.30 0.2 1.18 146 240 DD and 605.55 606.05 0.50 0.4 1.45 147 263 DD and 606.05 606.40 0.35 0.3 1.29 136 239 DD

Notes:
TALLINN, Estonia, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The MOU, signed by Tonu Esko, Vice Rector for Development at the University of Tartu, and Aleksandr Ragel, CEO of Leil Storage, outlines the shared objectives and scope of collaboration between the two organizations. The University of Tartu and Leil Storage are committed to enhancing their research and innovation capacities by jointly developing and implementing research projects, exchanging scientific and technical information and personnel, and exploring opportunities for the commercialization of their research outcomes.



Tonu Esko, Vice Rector for Development at the University of Tartu, expressed his enthusiasm for the new partnership, highlighting its importance: Collaboration between academia and the private sector is crucial for creating innovative solutions to complex challenges. With the global data volume expanding exponentially, its environmental impact is a growing concern. Our joint effort will focus on developing more sustainable data storage methods, aiming to reduce the environmental footprint not just for the University of Tartu, but for all entities managing large data sets.

Aleksandr Ragel, CEO of Leil Storage, echoed these sentiments, saying, We are excited to join forces with the University of Tartu, a recognized leader in research and innovation. This partnership will accelerate our efforts to develop green data storage solutions that are both environmentally sustainable and technologically advanced.

The scope of collaboration under this MOU encompasses a wide range of activities, including contracted research and development projects, joint workshops, seminars and conferences, as well as the joint publication of research papers and reports. Additionally, the partnership will foster student internships and projects, the transfer of technology and know-how, and the exploration of intellectual property protection and commercialization opportunities.

Key areas of focus for cooperation include efficient organization of data in the file system, coding for error and erasure correction, coding for load balancing, data compression, and signal processing.

The University of Tartu and Leil Storage are excited to embark on this journey of technological innovation and look forward to pushing the boundaries of data storage solutions through their collaborative efforts.

University of Tartu

Henry Narits

Head of Marketing and Communication

Institute of Computer Science

University of Tartu

henry.narits@ut.ee

+372 533 00 980

Leil Storage

Margarita Zahharova

Partnerships Manager

press@leil.io

+372 5564 9274

About the University of Tartu:

The University of Tartu, located in Estonia, is a renowned public university known for its excellence in research and education. With a rich history spanning centuries, the university is committed to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and innovation.

About Leil Storage:

Leil Storage is a private company specializing in large-scale green data storage solutions. Headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia, Leil Storage is at the forefront of developing environmentally sustainable and technologically advanced data storage solutions for the modern world.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1ec1bbc4-40aa-45a3-a4dd-2081f3062e10
Dublin, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Enzymatic DNA Synthesis Market: Analysis By Product Type (DNA Library Synthesis and Custom DNA Synthesis), By Technology (PCR, CRISPR, SOLA and Others), By Application, By End User, By Region, Size, Trends and Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global enzymatic DNA synthesis market was valued at US$253.42 million in 2022, and is expected to be worth US$2.11 billion in 2028.

Several trends are expected to shape the production and demand for enzymatic DNA synthesis. Automation of the workflow is likely to become more prevalent, enhancing efficiency and reducing the need for manual labor. Continued research and development efforts are anticipated to lead to the development of more efficient enzymes and technologies, further improving the precision and scalability of the process. Furthermore, enzymatic DNA synthesis is likely to find integration with other molecular biology techniques, such as CRISPR/Cas9, for applications in gene editing and genome engineering. The enzymatic DNA synthesis market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 42.43% over the years 2023-2028.

Market Segmentation Analysis:

By Product Type: The DNA Library Synthesis sector held the highest share in the market in 2022. Library Synthesis is a product and service offering that is particularly important in the field of genomics, functional genomics, and proteomics research. As genomic research continues to advance, the need for high-quality DNA libraries has increased. Researchers require well-constructed libraries to conduct experiments and uncover valuable insights, which is driving the growth of the segment. Furthermore, studying the function of genes and their role in various cellular processes is essential for understanding diseases and developing therapies. DNA libraries support functional genomics research.

The DNA Library Synthesis sector held the highest share in the market in 2022. Library Synthesis is a product and service offering that is particularly important in the field of genomics, functional genomics, and proteomics research. As genomic research continues to advance, the need for high-quality DNA libraries has increased. Researchers require well-constructed libraries to conduct experiments and uncover valuable insights, which is driving the growth of the segment. Furthermore, studying the function of genes and their role in various cellular processes is essential for understanding diseases and developing therapies. DNA libraries support functional genomics research. By Technology : The PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) segment dominated the market in 2022. PCR is pivotal in DNA synthesis, particularly for amplifying specific DNA sequences through cycles of denaturation, annealing, and extension, ensuring exponential DNA amplification. Its applications span genotyping, DNA sequencing, and molecular diagnostics, driven by speed, accuracy, and versatility. PCR is indispensable for tasks such as identifying genetic mutations, detecting infectious agents, and conducting gene expression analysis. High demand persists due to its vital role in biological research, applied sciences, and clinical diagnostics, making it a preferred choice among researchers and clinicians for its efficiency and reliability.

: The PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) segment dominated the market in 2022. PCR is pivotal in DNA synthesis, particularly for amplifying specific DNA sequences through cycles of denaturation, annealing, and extension, ensuring exponential DNA amplification. Its applications span genotyping, DNA sequencing, and molecular diagnostics, driven by speed, accuracy, and versatility. PCR is indispensable for tasks such as identifying genetic mutations, detecting infectious agents, and conducting gene expression analysis. High demand persists due to its vital role in biological research, applied sciences, and clinical diagnostics, making it a preferred choice among researchers and clinicians for its efficiency and reliability. By Application : The Synthetic biology segment dominated the market in 2022. This segment's adoption is driven by the need for creating synthetic genes, pathways, and organisms for biotechnological, medical, and industrial purposes. Factors such as the increasing demand for genetically modified organisms (GMOs), biofuels, and the development of novel biopharmaceuticals are propelling the growth of enzymatic DNA synthesis in the field of synthetic biology.

: The Synthetic biology segment dominated the market in 2022. This segment's adoption is driven by the need for creating synthetic genes, pathways, and organisms for biotechnological, medical, and industrial purposes. Factors such as the increasing demand for genetically modified organisms (GMOs), biofuels, and the development of novel biopharmaceuticals are propelling the growth of enzymatic DNA synthesis in the field of synthetic biology. By End User: The Academic and research institutes segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecasted period. The adoption of enzymatic DNA synthesis in this segment is likely to be driven by the continuous quest for scientific knowledge and the need to develop innovative solutions. Funding from government agencies and academic grants further supports the demand for DNA synthesis technologies in academic and research settings.

The Academic and research institutes segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecasted period. The adoption of enzymatic DNA synthesis in this segment is likely to be driven by the continuous quest for scientific knowledge and the need to develop innovative solutions. Funding from government agencies and academic grants further supports the demand for DNA synthesis technologies in academic and research settings. By Region: North America accounted for the largest share in the global enzymatic DNA synthesis market in 2022. This region boasts a rich ecosystem comprising a multitude of pharmaceutical and biotechnology giants, esteemed academic institutions, and cutting-edge research centers, all of which collectively propel the demand for DNA synthesis. At the forefront of biotech research, North America leads the world with significant investments in research and development (R&D), resulting in a substantial appetite for DNA synthesis products. Furthermore, the region's robust healthcare infrastructure adds to this demand, especially in the realms of diagnostics and personalized medicine, both of which heavily rely on enzymatic DNA synthesis.

The Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing market. The region has witnessed a remarkable expansion of its biotechnology and life sciences sector. Countries like China, India, Japan, and South Korea have been making substantial investments in research and development, particularly in the fields of genomics, personalized medicine, and genetic research. This surge in scientific activity has naturally led to an increased demand for enzymatic DNA synthesis techniques, which are critical for precisely assembling DNA strands in these cutting-edge areas of research. Moreover, the Asia-Pacific region is home to numerous prestigious academic and research institutions that have been actively engaged in genetic and molecular biology research. These institutions are driving the demand for DNA synthesis as their researchers work on a wide array of projects, spanning from disease diagnostics to advancements in agriculture and environmental studies.

Market Dynamics:

Growth Drivers: The market has been growing over the past few years, due to factors such as rising prevalence of genetic disorders, advancements in enzymes and technologies, customization and precision, synthetic biology applications and increasing demand for DNA. Recognized genetic disorders like Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, cancer, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anemia are just a fraction of the 10,000 known rare diseases, impacting around 400 million people globally. While some disorders show symptoms at birth, others emerge gradually. The global burden of genetic diseases is growing. Enzymatic DNA synthesis, widely used in synthetic biology, genetic engineering, and therapeutic antibody research, proves valuable. Coupled with enzymatic assays, it enhances diagnostic capabilities, providing crucial insights into susceptibility to genetic disorders. This facilitates informed decisions on diagnosis and treatment, acknowledging the rising need for early detection and driving the enzymatic DNA synthesis market.

Challenges: However, some challenges are also impeding the growth of the market such as stringent government regulations and guidelines and high costs and complex procedures. This powerful technology holds the potential for transformative advancements in healthcare, agriculture, and biotechnology. However, it comes with inherent risks, including the potential creation of harmful pathogens or unethical misuse. Consequently, government authorities require DNA synthesis facilities and researchers to obtain licenses and register with relevant regulatory bodies. Additionally, oversight entities may mandate regular reporting of DNA synthesis activities, including details like synthesized DNA sequences, the purpose of synthesis, and quantities produced. While these measures aim to mitigate risks, they may, to some extent, hinder market growth.

Trends: The market is projected to grow at a fast pace during the forecast period, due to various latest trends such as emerging fields, CRISPR-Cas9 integration and cell-free synthetic biology. CRISPR-Cas9 Integration is emerging as a groundbreaking trend in the enzymatic synthesis market, revolutionizing the way DNA is manipulated. This technology, originally developed for gene editing, is now being harnessed to enhance enzymatic synthesis processes. One of the key advantages of integrating CRISPR-Cas9 into enzymatic synthesis is its precision. Cas9, guided by a specific RNA sequence, can precisely target and cut DNA at desired locations, allowing for the insertion, deletion, or modification of genetic material with high accuracy. This precision is invaluable in creating customized enzymes for various applications, such as pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and biotechnology.

Competitive Landscape:

The enzymatic DNA synthesis market exhibits consolidation, marked by fierce competition among leading players striving to expand their market share globally. The sector experiences an influx of startups, each presenting innovative solutions to address DNA construction challenges. Companies in the DNA synthesis sector can be evaluated based on key metrics such as cost, throughput, turnaround time, quality, and accessibility. Cost, often the primary customer consideration, has the potential to shift buyers from in-house DNA production to outsourcing. As the utility of synthetic DNA grows, throughput becomes crucial, necessitating customers to split orders among suppliers, introducing complexity and error risks.

The key players of the global enzymatic DNA synthesis market are:

Telesis Bio Inc.

Twist Bioscience Corporation

GenScript Biotech Corp.

Evonetix

Ansa Biotechnologies, Inc.

Camena Bio

Molecular Assemblies

DNA Script

Touchlight

Kern Systems

Technological advancements play a pivotal role in shaping the competitive landscape, with companies dedicating efforts to research and develop novel enzymes and processes. The focus is on improving the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of DNA synthesis. This dynamic environment underscores the industry's commitment to staying at the forefront of scientific and technological progress, fostering a continual drive for innovation and excellence. In April 2022, DNA Script introduced a program catering to customers using its SYNTAX System. Through this initiative, organizations gain early access to the most recent developments in their EDS technology.



Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 157 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $0.25 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $2.11 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 42.4% Regions Covered Global





Key Topics Covered:





1. Executive Summary

2. Introduction

3. Global Market Analysis

4. Regional Market Analysis

5. Impact of Covid-19

6. Market Dynamics

6.1 Growth Drivers

6.1.1 Rising Prevalence of Genetic Disorders

6.1.2 Advancements in Enzymes and Technologies

6.1.3 Customization and Precision

6.1.4 Growing Applications in Synthetic Biology

6.1.5 Increasing Demand for DNA

6.2 Challenges

6.2.1 Stringent Government Regulations and Guidelines

6.2.2 High Costs and Complex Procedures

6.3 Market Trends

6.3.1 Emerging Fields

6.3.2 CRISPR-Cas9 Integration

6.3.3 Cell-Free Synthetic Biology

7. Competitive Landscape

7.1 Global Enzymatic DNA Synthesis Market Players: Competitive landscape

7.2 Global Enzymatic DNA Synthesis Market Players: Recent Funding Rounds

8. Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/y10u3f

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
TransUnion study also reveals 4.5% increase in suspected fraud rate in Canada from the same period in 2022.



Key Findings:

80% of Canadians surveyed are concerned about falling victim to online fraud during the 2023 holiday season.

70% are concerned about sharing personal information.

Phishing (44%), smishing (37%) and vishing (35%) were the top three reported fraud schemes among those who said they were targeted with fraud over the last three months.

More than 1 in 5 Canadians (22%) worry about sharing personal information due to government surveillance concerns.

TORONTO, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A recent survey conducted by TransUnion reveals that almost half (47%) of Canadians report they were targeted by online, email, phone call or text messaging fraud in the last three months*, of which 8% fell victim. A separate TransUnion study on 2023 Holiday E-commerce Fraud** indicates that the rate of potential fraud for e-commerce transactions where consumers are located in Canada over the Cyber Five holiday shopping period increased by 4.5% compared to the same period in 2022, yet was 66.5% lower than during the rest of 2023 (Jan. 1  Nov. 22, 2023). The five-day holiday shopping period (referred to as the Cyber Five), spans the Thursday before Black Friday to Cyber Monday.

While many Canadians are still managing economic pressures and are tightening their spend, TransUnion data indicates that e-commerce transactions (purchases, logins and account openings) originating from Canada were strong over the 2023 Cyber Five period with a 17.2% increase in the volume of transactions, compared to the five-year average from 2018-2022 over the same period. This is despite 80% of Canadians who expressed concern about falling victim to online fraud during the holiday season in general.***

The good news is that Canadian e-commerce activity appeared to be strong over the early holiday period, despite the economic headwinds faced by consumers, said Patrick Boudreau, head of identity management and fraud systems at TransUnion Canada. However, since the holiday shopping season attracts an increase in consumers looking for online deals and to buy gifts for loved ones, it also attracts fraudsters looking to take advantage for financial gain. If fraud guards are lowered to help minimise consumer friction and maximise sales, fraudsters can take advantage, which can potentially lead to an uptick in chargebacks, returns and customer disputes down the road.

Suspected fraud rates decline 66.5% during Cyber Five: According to TransUnions 2023 holiday fraud analysis, the rate of suspected fraudulent e-commerce transactions originating from Canada dropped to 1.21% during the Cyber Five shopping period, indicating that around 1 in every 100 transactions were potentially fraudulent over the five-day period. This compares to a higher rate of suspected e-commerce fraud for the rest of 2023 leading up to the Cyber Five period of 3.16%, meaning more than 3 in every 10- transactions were suspected as being fraudulent.

Fraudsters pursuing ever more sophisticated and diverse scams targeting consumers: In Q4 2023, almost half (47%) of Canadians reported being targeted by some online, e-mail, phone call or text message fraud in the last three months. Gen Zs (59%) and Millennials (53%) said they were targeted more frequently than other generations, likely because theyre engaging in more digital transactions and are likely more exposed to increased cyber threats.

Top three fraudulent schemes identified by those who said they were targeted by fraud:

Phishing (44%): Fraudulent emails, websites, social posts, QR codes, etc. meant to steal data.

Smishing (36%): Fraudulent text messages meant to trick you into revealing data.

Vishing (35%): Fraudulent phone calls meant to trick you into revealing data.



Other fraud schemes included:

Money/gift card scam: 21%

Third-party seller scams on legitimate online retail websites: 18%

Identity theft: 14%

Stolen credit card or fraudulent charges: 12%

Account taken over (online account used without permission, including unauthorized stolen funds from bank accounts): 11%

Unemployment fraud: 9%

Money mule scam (solicited transfer or move illegally acquired money on behalf of someone else): 8%



Canadians unsure of necessary actions to take when targeted by fraud scams: Of all surveyed Canadians who said they havent taken any actions in the last 60 days in response to cyber security concerns, nearly half (48%) said they haven't done so because they were unsure what actions to take.

Privacy concerns top of mind: Privacy remains a top concern for Canadians, with 70% indicating concern with sharing personal information. Reasons for concerns with sharing personal information included identity theft (79%), invasion of privacy (67%), unsolicited marketing communications (44%) and government surveillance (22%).

Canadians monitor their credit reports to protect against fraud:

Overall, 88% of Canadians believe monitoring their credit report is important. Around four in ten (41%) of Canadians check their credit scores at least monthly (Gen Z at 65%). Among those who said they monitor their credit report, 36% said they do so to protect against fraud.

The insidious aspect of these threats is fraudsters are playing the long game, often seeking to extract information on consumers they can use to build identities to gain access to credit, said Boudreau. Given the prevalence of fraudulent scams targeting Canadians, and the reality that fraudsters are ever more sophisticated and constantly evolving to attempt to overcome digital security measures, it's critical Canadians take steps to protect themselves.

*The most recent Consumer Pulse study includes a survey of 974 Canadian consumers conducted between Oct. 3-13, 2023.

**The 2023 Holiday E-Commerce Fraud analysis studies e-commerce transactions where the consumer or suspected fraudster was located in Canada when conducting a transaction the Thursday before Black Friday to Cyber Monday. The rate or percentage of suspected digital fraud attempts reflect those which TransUnion customers either denied in real time due to fraudulent indicators or determined were fraudulent after reviewing  compared to all transactions it assessed for fraud.

***Canadians who responded as being extremely, very, moderately or slightly concerned about being victimized by digital fraud this holiday season.

About TransUnion (NYSE: TRU)

TransUnion is a global information and insights company with over 13,000 associates operating in more than 30 countries, including Canada, where were the credit bureau of choice for most of Canadas largest banks. We make trust possible by ensuring each person is reliably represented in the marketplace. We do this by providing an actionable view of consumers, stewarded with care.

Through our acquisitions and technology investments we have developed innovative solutions that extend beyond our strong foundation in core credit into areas such as marketing, fraud, risk and advanced analytics. As a result, consumers and businesses can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good  and it leads to economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for millions of people around the world.

For more information visit: www.transunion.ca

Contact:Alex Wilcox

E-mail:Alex.Wilcox@ketchum.com

Telephone: +1 705-878-6815
MONACO, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eneti Inc. (NYSE: NETI) (Eneti) and Cadeler A/S (OSE: CADLR) (Cadeler), two offshore wind turbine and foundation installation companies, remind shareholders that the expiration date for the share exchange offer (the Share Exchange Offer) to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of the common stock of Eneti has been extended to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time on December 14, 2023.



Shareholders that have previously tendered their shares do not need to take any action in response to the extension of the Share Exchange Offer.

If you would like to tender your shares or require assistance, please contact D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent for the Share Exchange Offer, at +1 (800) 967-4607 (Toll Free), +1 (212) 2695550 (US/Canada), or by e-mail at: NETI@dfking.com.

Assuming that the conditions to the Share Exchange Offer are satisfied or waived, Cadeler expects that settlement will be completed on or about December 19, 2023.

About Cadeler A/S

Cadeler A/S is a key supplier within the offshore wind industry for installation services and marine and engineering operations with a strong focus on safety and the environment. Cadelers experience as provider of high-quality offshore wind support services, combined with innovative vessel designs, positions the company to deliver premium services to the industry. Cadeler facilitates the global energy transition towards a future built on renewable energy. Cadeler is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: CADLR).

About Eneti Inc.

Eneti Inc. is a leading provider of installation and maintenance vessels to the offshore wind sector and has invested in the next generation of wind turbine installation vessels. Eneti Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: NETI).

For further information, please contact:

Point of contact for investors:

Mikkel Gleerup, CEO

+45 3246 3102

mikkel.gleerup@cadeler.com

Point of contact for media:

Karen Roiy, Head of Marketing & Communication

+45 6020 8706

karen.roiy@cadeler.com

Contact details for Eneti

James Doyle, Head of Corporate Development & Investor Relations

Tel: +1 646-432-1678

Investor.Relations@Eneti-inc.com

Additional Information and Where to Find It

Important Additional Information Will be Filed with the SEC

Cadeler A/S (Cadeler) commenced an offer to exchange all of the issued and outstanding shares of Eneti Inc. ( Eneti ) for shares or American Depositary Shares (ADSs) representing shares in Cadeler on November 7, 2023. This communication is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares, nor is it a substitute for any offer materials that Cadeler or Eneti have filed or will file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). Cadeler has filed or will file with the SEC (1) a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO, (2) a Registration Statement on Form F-4 that includes an offering prospectus with respect to the exchange offer, and (3) a Registration Statement on Form F-6, and Eneti has filed or will file with the SEC a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, in each case with respect to the exchange offer. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, THE EXCHANGE OFFER MATERIALS (INCLUDING THE OFFER TO EXCHANGE, A RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTAIN OTHER EXCHANGE OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT, IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY EACH OF CADELER AND ENETI WITH THE SEC, OR APPROVED BY THE DANISH FSA, IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION (INCLUDING THE EXCHANGE OFFER) OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY AS THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CADELER, ENETI, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS THAT HOLDERS OF THE COMPANYS SECURITIES SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING EXCHANGING THEIR SECURITIES. Investors and stockholders will be able to obtain the registration statement/prospectus, the exchange offer materials (including the offer to exchange, a related letter of transmittal and certain other exchange offer documents), the solicitation/recommendation statement and other documents filed with the SEC by Cadeler and Eneti at no cost to them through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov . In addition, investors and stockholders may obtain copies of any document filed with the SEC by Cadeler free of charge from Cadelers website at www.cadeler.com and copies of any document filed with the SEC by Eneti free of charge from Enetis website at www.eneti-inc.com . The contents of this communication should not be construed as financial, legal, business, investment, tax or other professional advice. Each recipient should consult with its own professional advisors for any such matter and advice.

Important Notice

This communication and the prospectus referred to above do not constitute a prospectus as defined by Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1129 of 14 June 2017 (the EU/EEA Prospectus Regulation) and no public takeover offer is made pursuant to the Directive 2004/25/EC of 21 April 2004 on takeover bids in connection with the exchange offer referred to above. A prospectus pursuant to the EU/EEA Prospectus Regulation is expected to be published by Cadeler following completion of the Offer Period set out herein for the purpose of admission to trading of the new Cadeler Shares underlying the Cadeler ADSs to the Oslo Stock Exchange. This communication does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the Offer and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the proposed transaction.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for, exchange or buy or an invitation to purchase, exchange or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote in any jurisdiction pursuant to the proposed transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction, in each case in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act and applicable European or UK, as appropriate, regulations. Subject to certain exceptions to be approved by the relevant regulators or certain facts to be ascertained, the public offer will not be made directly or indirectly, in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction, or by use of the mails or by any means or instrumentality (including without limitation, facsimile transmission, telephone and the internet) of interstate or foreign commerce, or any facility of a national securities exchange, of any such jurisdiction.

This communication is addressed to and directed only at, persons who are outside the United Kingdom or, in the United Kingdom, at authorised or exempt persons within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 or persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the Order), persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order or persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated pursuant to the Order, (all such persons together being referred to as, Relevant Persons). This communication is directed only at Relevant Persons. Other persons should not act or rely on this communication or any of its contents. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with such persons. Solicitations resulting from this communication will only be responded to if the person concerned is a Relevant Person.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws (including Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Act) with respect to the proposed transaction between Eneti and Cadeler, including statements regarding the benefits of the transaction, the anticipated timing of the transaction, the products and services offered by Eneti and Cadeler and the markets in which they operate, and Enetis and Cadelers projected future financial and operating results. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by terminology such as believe, may, will, potentially, estimate, continue, anticipate, intend, could, would, should, project, target, plan, expect, or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. The absence of these words, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations, beliefs, estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable as and when made by Eneti and its management, and Cadeler and its management, as the case may be. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties. Neither Eneti nor Cadeler undertake any obligation to update any such statements in light of any future event or circumstance, or to conform such statements to actual results. Past performance should not be relied upon, and is not, a guarantee of future performance.

Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including but not limited to: (i) the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of Enetis and Cadelers securities, (ii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the transaction, including the acceptance of the proposed exchange offer by the requisite number of Eneti shareholders and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals, (iii) general domestic and international political conditions or hostilities, including the war between Russia and Ukraine; (iv) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement, (v) the effects of public health threats, pandemics and epidemics, and the adverse impact thereof on Enetis or Cadelers business, financial condition and results of operations, (vi) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on Enetis or Cadelers business relationships, performance, and business generally, (vii) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans of Eneti or Cadeler and potential difficulties in Enetis or Cadelers employee retention as a result of the proposed transaction, (viii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Eneti or Cadeler related to the business combination agreement or the proposed transaction or as a result of the operation of their respective businesses, (ix) the risk that Cadeler is unable to list the ADSs to be offered as consideration, or the underlying shares in Cadeler, on the New York Stock Exchange or the Oslo Stock Exchange, as applicable, (x) volatility in the price of the combined companys securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive markets in which the combined company plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting such business and changes in the combined capital structure, (xi) factors affecting the duration of contracts, the actual amount of downtime and the respective backlogs of Eneti and Cadeler, (xii) factors that reduce applicable dayrates or contract profitability, operating hazards inherent to offshore operations and delays, (xiii) dependency on third parties in relation to, for example, technical, maintenance and other commercial services, (xiv) risks associated with operations outside the US, actions by regulatory authorities, credit rating agencies, customers, joint venture partners, contractors, lenders and other third parties, legislation and regulations affecting the combined companys operations, compliance with regulatory requirements, violations of anti-corruption laws, shipyard risk and timing, hurricanes and other weather conditions, and the future price of energy commodities, (xv) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations (including with respect to synergies and financial and operational metrics, such as EBITDA and free cash flow) after the completion of the proposed transaction, and to identify and realize additional opportunities, (xvi) the failure to realize anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, (xvii) risks related to the ability to correctly estimate operating expenses and expenses associated with the business combination, (xviii) risks related to the ability to project future cash utilization and reserves needed for contingent future liabilities and business operations, (xix) the potential impact of announcement or consummation of the proposed transaction on relationships with third parties, (xx) changes in law or regulations affecting Eneti, Cadeler or the combined company, (xxi) international, national or local economic, social or political conditions that could adversely affect the companies and their business, (xxii) dependency on Eneti and Cadelers customers, (xxiii) volatility in demand, increased competition or reduction in contract values, (xxiv) the risk that technological progress might render the technologies used by each of Cadeler and Eneti obsolete, (xxv) conditions in the credit markets that may negatively affect the companies and their business, (xxvi) risks deriving from the restrictive covenants and conditions relevant to Eneti and Cadelers financing and their respective ability to obtain future financing, including for remaining installations on ordered newbuild vessels, (xxvii) risks associated with assumptions that parties make in connection with the parties critical accounting estimates and other judgements, (xxviii) the risk that Eneti and Cadeler have a limited number of vessels and are vulnerable in the event of a loss of revenue relating to any such vessel(s), (xxix) risks relating to delays in, or increases in the cost of, already ordered newbuild vessels and the risk of a failure to obtain contracts for such newbuild vessels and (xxx) risks associated with changes in exchange rates including the USD/NOK and USD/EUR rates. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and the factors identified are not set out in any particular order. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Eneti, Cadeler or the combined company will be those that the companies have anticipated.

These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond Enetis or Cadelers control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements or from our historical experience and our present expectations or projects. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that affect the parties businesses, including those described in Enetis Annual Report on Form 20-F, Current Reports on Form 6-K and other documents filed from time to time by Eneti with the SEC and those described in Cadelers annual reports, relevant reports and other documents published from time to time by Cadeler. Eneti and Cadeler wish to caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. This communication and related materials speak only as of the date hereof and except as required by law, Eneti and Cadeler are not undertaking any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Inside information

This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to MAR article 17 and Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This stock exchange announcement was published by Mikkel Gleerup at Cadeler A/S on 8 December 2023 at 08:50 (CET).
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Pacific Mining Corp (CSE: USGD / OTCQX: USGDF / FWB: 1QC) (American Pacific or the Company) is pleased to report the results from the 2023 Phase II rock and grab sampling program at the recently acquired Danny Boy claims and western portion of the Tuscarora Project (the Project). Of the 218 samples collected, forty (40) exceeded one (1) gram per ton (g/t) gold (Au) with the highest value of 100.84 g/t Au. The Danny Boy claims (Danny Boy) were acquired through the acquisition of Clearview Gold Inc. in 2023 (see May 2, 2023 news release). Danny Boy is located immediately west and continuous to American Pacifics Tuscarora Project (collectively, the Tuscarora District) located in Elko County, Nevada.



Highlights:

218 samples were collected during the fall 2023 exploration program, with the highest value assaying 100.84 g/t Au (2.94 oz/ton)

Two assays reported greater than 850 g/t silver (Ag) with a high value of 1305 g/t Ag (38.07 oz/ton)

Forty samples from the campaign assayed greater than 1 g/t Au, with 22 returning greater than 3 g/t Au

Anomalous samples were collected from a variety of different rock types and textures, including veins and silica flooded volcanic rocks, indicating multiple mineralizing events and styles

See Table 1 and Figures 1-2 for more details.

The acquisition of Danny Boy in 2023 completed the consolidation of the Tuscarora District, stated Warwick Smith, CEO of American Pacific. American Pacific has systematically assembled the largest land package in the recent history of the district (6,365 acres). Gold values from past Danny Boy surface sampling have yielded up to 24 g/t Au, so the consistent multi-gram gold assays and significant silver values exceeded our expectations and drill targets are emerging from our field programs.





Figure 1: 2023 American Pacific and historical sampling at Danny Boy and western part of Tuscarora

Tuscarora was the site of historical production (see Technical Summary section below) and this latest phase of rock sampling provides further evidence of significant grade, while highlighting the remaining potential within the now consolidated Tuscarora District.

The Tuscarora District is not just about the high-grade epithermal veins. The underlying carbonate rocks encompassing the Carlin and Independence Trends, host 150 million ounces of gold to the east and west of Tuscarora under a thrust sheet and in proximity to the largest heat engine ever seen in northeast Nevada, commented Eric Saderholm, Managing Director of Exploration. These CRD, skarn and Carlin-style mineralized trends have immense potential to dwarf anything in the near-surface epithermal environment.

Table 1: 2023 Danny Boy Sampling Results with Gold Values Greater than 3 g/t

Sample_ID Easting Northing Au g/t Au opt Ag g/t Ag opt JC23082224 559983 4572390 4.676 0.1364 5 0.146 JC23083007 559982 4572393 6.15 0.146 8 0.238 JC23083030 560035 4572152 24.1 0.703 135 3.951 JC23083031 560036 4572138 4.606 0.1343 140 4.083 JC23083033 560039 4572130 12.02 0.351 159 4.632 JC23083046 560001 4572109 3.909 0.114 11 0.309 JC23090602 558287 4571652 3.114 0.0908 5 0.146 JC23090604 558310 4571656 4.913 0.1433 7 0.192 JC23090606 558326 4571661 5.13 0.15 16 0.475 JC23090613 558375 4571632 3.825 0.1116 5 0.146 JC23090614 558374 4571634 3.851 0.1123 5 0.146 JC23090615 558380 4571630 3.086 0.09 8 0.226 JC23090616 558379 4571627 4.459 0.1301 7 0.206 JC23090618 558383 4571626 4.007 0.1169 5 0.146 JC23090620 558381 4571624 3.415 0.0996 10 0.295 JC23092506 562825 4572641 100.84 2.941 81 2.363 JC23092531 562786 4572713 41.06 1.198 1305 38.071 JC23092543 562763 4572706 6.52 0.19 87 2.549 JC23092545 562793 4572726 22.27 0.65 852 24.856 ES0111-001 559962 4572455 8.78 19 ES0111-002 559962 4572455 5.14 16 ES0111-006 558469 4571606 5.74 5



In addition to the significant results from surface sampling, previous drilling at Tuscarora has returned high-grades, including 2.48 g/t Au over 13.72 metres (m), including 12.13 g/t over 1.52 m at the South Navajo Target; and 6.89 g/t Au and 29 g/t Ag over 1.52 m at the within broader low-grade intervals at the Modoc Target (see November 22, 2022 news release). A number of the target areas have seen limited to no drilling (e.g. the Grand Prize Target) and the Company believes that further systematic exploration work will further refine existing targets and define new targets to pursue in subsequent campaigns.





Figure 2: Total land package with surface geochemistry and primary target areas

Next Steps

American Pacific believes additional soil and rock chip sampling along with CSAMT and gravity survey coverage would result in a number of high priority drill targets and the Company is exploring potential joint venture opportunities to advance exploration work more aggressively in 2024 to ensure the Project is progressed with the type of budget and program that is warranted given the property scale, grade profile and emerging target areas. Additional target concepts are being evaluated at Danny Boy in the deeper Paleozoic sedimentary rocks which host world-class deposits along the nearby Carlin and Independence Trends. The geologic setting at Danny Boy is highly conducive for high-grade skarn and CRD development in the carbonate rock sequence and has never been contemplated or tested as the historical focus has been on the prolific epithermal vein systems.

Technical Summary

The Tuscarora District is located in Elko County on the east flanks of the 40-million-year-old Mt Blitzen caldera/volcanic complex. The age of the mineralization is roughly equivalent to that found along the prolific Carlin, Cortez and Independence Trends in northern and central Nevada. The nature of the mineralization is typical of this geologic setting and is comprised of high-level epithermal gold, gold/ silver, electrum and silver veins. Host rocks consist of welded tuff, volcaniclastic sediments, andesite flows and domes. The district was discovered through placer mining in the late 1860s and underground mining began in 1870 with three mills being erected. Mining terminated in 1915 and the district has had sporadic exploration efforts since 1980.

QA/QC

Two certified assay labs were used during the 2023 sampling campaign, Paragon and ALS Global. Two hundred and six samples in the JC series were delivered by APM personnel to Paragon Laboratories in Sparks, Nevada. The entire sample was crushed and prepared using code PREP PKGB and received analysis for Au and Ag using code Au-AA Ag GR with a fire assay for Au and an AA finish and fire assay with a gravimetric finish for Ag. Additionally, 50AR-MS was run for a 50 element ICP on these samples.

Twelve samples in the ES series were delivered by APM personnel to ALS Global Laboratories in Elko, Nevada. The code Au-AA26 with a fire assay and AA finish was used for Au analyses and code Ag-GRA21 with a fire assay and gravimetric finish for Ag analyses.

Qualified Persons

Technical aspects of this press release have been reviewed and approved by Eric Saderholm, P.Geo., the designated Qualified Persons (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About American Pacific Mining Corp.

American Pacific Mining Corp. is a precious and base metals explorer and developer focused on opportunities in the Western United States. The Company has two flagship assets: the Palmer Project, a Volcanic Massive Sulfide (VMS) project in Alaska, under joint-venture partnership with Dowa Metals & Mining, owner of Japans largest zinc smelter; and the Madison Project, a past-producing copper-gold project in Montana partnered with Kennecott Exploration, a division of the Rio Tinto Group. For the Madison transaction, American Pacific was selected as a finalist in both 2021 and 2022 for Deal of the Year at the S&P Global Platts Global Metals Awards, an annual program that recognizes exemplary accomplishments in 16 performance categories. Also, in American Pacifics asset portfolio are high-grade, precious metals projects located in key mining districts of Nevada, USA: the Ziggurat Gold project, partnered with Centerra Gold; and the Tuscarora District project. The Companys mission is to grow by the drill bit and by acquisition.

On Behalf of the Board of American Pacific Mining Corp.

Warwick Smith

CEO & Director

Corporate Office: Suite 910  510 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 3A8 Canada

Investor Relations Contact:

Kristina Pillon, High Tide Consulting Corp.,

604.908.1695 / Kristina@americanpacific.ca

Media Relations Contact:

Adam Bello, Primoris Group Inc.,

416.489.0092 / media@primorisgroup.com

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Images accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c54348f5-97cf-47ba-b5a9-341c4a98adb7

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/622eb3ac-d891-4004-9eee-ece272a08ae6
An Emerging Markets Sponsored Commentary



ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Its been a minute since we last covered Medical/A.I. company MedBright AI Investments Inc. (the Company or MedBright) (CSE:MBAI, OTCQB:MBAIF, FSE:1V7).

Its not because they havent been making significant moves.

In our last editorial we noted the Companys transformation to MedBright from Vinergy, a name change that made and makes sense to us given their business model. We strongly encourage you to catch-up in this dynamic, fast-moving Company by reviewing that piece.

It was important for us that newly minted MedBright make a few early moves, that they take steps as the newly named entity to signal to the market that a) the name change was more than just superficial, and b) that they were executing on a pretty exciting business plan.

It appears they have.

First, they announced that the Company along with The Ken Sperling Lecture Series, will be supporting and participating in medical economics lectures at Yale University School of Medicine.

Not sure how many times weve heard emergent technology companies, small cap companies, mention their lectures at Yale. If it feels like name-dropping it is and is absolutely valid. Companies dont just lecture at Yale. Companies with credibility, relationships, something important do.

Much of the credit goes to MedBright AI Investment Chair, Michael Dalsin, who just happens to have his own significant relationship with Yale.

Similarly, the Company continues to attach highly qualified names. In recent days, MedBright announced the election of two new board members to the Board of Directors, Dr. Jaime Gerber and Dr. Konita Wilks. Gerber will serve as Chairman of the Board.

Both have incredible resumes. Gerber is a Professor at the Yale School of Medicine and Wilks is the CEO of Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, a 355-bed general acute care hospital that employs nearly 5500 persons and has a $900-million dollar annual operating budget.

Again, these arent the type of names you see sprinkled into small cap pressers. These are accomplished professionals who know the space and by association we can draw an inference that they see merit in the MedBright business model. With Medbrights valuable technology, the next steps are to focus on acquiring as many customers as possible.

And lets not step over the fact that MedBright seems to be intent on transparency, with a highly credible Independent Board in place already and what well call an eagerness to keep the investing public informed.

To that end, the Company again looks more blue-chip from our vantage, dropping a recent press release which rolls-out the details on MedMatrix, an industry leading AI-powered data analytics platform, developed and operated by Healthcare Accretion AI, one of MedBrights most significant investments.

It is available for review on the company's website at www.medbright.ai/investors

At the Emerging Markets Report we are cautious and enthusiastic fans of Artificial Intelligence. We believe that it will be one of the most impactful technology drivers in almost every aspect of our lives. Like you, weve seen deal after deal, story after story add A.I. to their business models, or worse yet, to their business names in an effort to join the gold rush and cash-in.

It would be shocking to us if we could find another company like MedBright that has already invested in technology of this order and perhaps more importantly, in better minds to help officiate the opportunity.

About MedBright AI Investments Inc.

MedBright AI is a capital allocator focused on investing in healthcare technology companies. The team at Medbright prides themselves on unparalleled access to opportunities, as well as structuring unique and advantageous investments. Medbright's mission is to construct a portfolio of synergistic investments to generate superior returns for shareholders. MedBright will focus on significant near-term and midterm high-quality opportunities with strong return potentials while maintaining commitment to governance.

About The Emerging Markets Report:

The Emerging Markets Report is owned and operated by Emerging Markets Consulting (EMC), a syndicate of investor relations consultants representing years of experience. Our network consists of stockbrokers, investment bankers, fund managers, and institutions that actively seek opportunities in the micro and small-cap equity markets.

For more informative reports such as this, please sign up at:

https://emergingmarketsconsulting.com/

Must Read OTC Markets/SEC policy on stock promotion and investor protection

Section 17(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 requires that any person that uses the mails to publish, give publicity to, or circulate any publication or communication that describes a security in return for consideration received or to be received directly or indirectly from an issuer, underwriter, or dealer, must fully disclose the type of consideration (i.e. cash, free trading stock, restricted stock, stock options, stock warrants) and the specific amount of the consideration. In connection therewith, EMC has received the following compensation and/or has an agreement to receive in the future certain compensation, as described below.

EMC has been paid $90,000 by MedBright AI Investments Inc. EMC does not independently verify any of the content linked-to from this editorial. | Please read our full disclaimer.
BEDFORD, N.H., Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evergreen Management Group (EMG), an Associa company and leading provider of community management services throughout New Hampshire, northern Massachusetts and the Vermont Upper Valley, partnered with The Salvation Army for the 24th consecutive year to ensure that families in need did not go hungry this past Thanksgiving. Every year since 1979, the company has adopted three local families to provide a full holiday feast. EMG team members donated food items and cash used to purchase items like turkeys, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, rolls, and roasting pans. In addition, each family received a gift card from a local grocery store to purchase any necessary last-minute items.

Often referred to as the "Army Behind the Army," volunteers play a crucial role in The Salvation Army's ability to support the entire community. They help The Salvation Army care for homeless and needy families while serving 30 million people through a myriad of social services. These include assistance with disaster response, social services, casework and counseling, senior centers, youth services, and Veterans programs. Today, The Salvation Army is active in virtually every corner of the world and serves in 133 countries, offering a message of healing and hope to all those in need. For more information, please visit https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/.

About Associa

With more than 275 branch offices across North America, Associa is building the future of community for more than 6.5 million residents worldwide. Our 14,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise, and trailblazing innovation. For more than 44 years, Associa has brought positive impact and meaningful value to communities. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com.

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Attachment
Technology, in-licensed from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), capable of inserting DNA sequences of any size into any programmed genomic location



Potential to create curative cell and integrative gene therapies

Backed by leading biotech investors Andreessen Horowitz, ARCH, GV, Longwood, Polaris and others



WATERTOWN, Mass., Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tome Biosciences, Inc., the programmable genomic integration company, has launched to usher in a new era of genomic medicines based on programmable genomic integration (PGI). PGI enables the insertion of any DNA sequence, of any size, into any programmed genomic location. The Company has raised $213 million in Series A and B funding from investors: Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) Bio + Health, ARCH Venture Partners, GV, Longwood Fund, Polaris Partners, Bruker Corporation, FUJIFILM Corporation, Alexandria Venture Investments and others.

PGI represents the maturation of editing technologies, breaking current barriers in genomic medicines discovery, said Rahul Kakkar, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer. PGI is revolutionary in that we can finally reprogram the human genome with an elegance and efficiency previously unimaginable. For patients with rare monogenic diseases, PGI allows for potentially curative treatments with a single drug per disease regardless of genetic heterogeneity, and for patients with more common disorders, PGI allows for the creation of cell therapies at the speed of biologics discovery with a complexity that enables the potential for broad use across human medicine.

PGI combines the site-specificity of CRISPR/Cas9 with enzymes capable of inserting or writing sequences of DNA, including entire genes, without the need for double-strand DNA breaks. Tomes most advanced PGI technology, called integrase-mediated PGI (I-PGI), utilizes proprietary integrases and is based on groundbreaking PASTE technology first discovered by Tomes Co-Founders, Omar Abudayyeh, PhD, and Jonathan Gootenberg, PhD, while at MIT as investigators.

Just as a word processor is capable of pasting text anywhere in a document, I-PGI can insert large DNA sequences anywhere in the genome with unprecedented precision. Thus far, I-PGI has demonstrated insertions of more than 30kb of genetic code with site-specificity in multiple different dividing and non-dividing cell types, and can be multiplexed to enable complex cell engineering that will underpin the future development of cell therapies. Tome has an exclusive license to the core PASTE technology, which includes granted US patent numbers 11,572,556, 11,827,881 and 11,834,658.

The ability to control where we insert DNA sequences is a game-changer. It means the field can now move away from random integration and utilize any natural promoter in the human genome, enabling us to orchestrate the tissue location, timing and amount of gene expression, commented John Finn, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer.

The Company initially plans to develop integrative gene therapies for monogenic liver diseases and cell therapies for autoimmune diseases.

Dan Lynch, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tome and Executive Venture Partner at GV added, Tome has assembled a truly remarkable team to bring PGI to the many patients who could benefit from this technology. I have seen the incredible progress this team is capable of and look forward to working alongside them as we create new classes of breakthrough cell and integrative gene therapies.

Executive Team:

Rahul Kakkar, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer. Rahul has over a decade in pharma and biotech leadership, including CEO of Pandion Therapeutics (acquired by Merck for $1.85B) and Founder, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of Corvidia Therapeutics (acquired by Novo Nordisk for $2.1B).

Matt Barrows, Chief Technology Officer. Matt has over 20 years of senior leadership in CMC, including leading the manufacturing scale-up of Modernas COVID vaccine.

John Finn, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer. John has over 20 years of gene therapy experience, with a focus on genome editing and delivery technologies. He was an early employee at Intellia Therapeutics where he led CRISPR/Cas9 editing for in vivo liver programs.

Edward Freedman, JD, Chief Operating Officer. Edward has over 20 years of financial, legal and operational leadership expertise, including serving as the COO for Pandion Therapeutics (acquired by Merck for $1.85B).

Diane Wong, Chief, People & Culture. Diane has over 15 years of HR leadership experience from both entrepreneurial and established biopharmaceutical organizations, including serving as VP of Human Resources for Constellation Pharmaceuticals (acquired by MorphoSys for $1.7B) and HR Business Partner at Novartis.



Board of Directors:

Dan Lynch, GV (chair)

Jorge Conde, a16z Bio + Health

Alan Crane, Polaris

Jay Markowitz, MD, ARCH Venture Partners

Rahul Kakkar, MD, President and CEO

Omar Abudayyeh, PhD, Co-Founder, Lead Investigator at Brigham and Women's Hospital; Jonathan Gootenberg, PhD, Co-Founder, Lead Investigator at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

About Tome

Tome Biosciences, Inc., is the programmable genomic integration (PGI) company. Our technologies allow us to insert any genetic sequence of any size at any location in the genome with site-specific precision. We are writing the final chapter in genomic medicines, delivering cures to patients through cell and integrative gene therapies. Follow us on X @Tome_Bio and on LinkedIn. www.tome.bio.

PASTE, PGI, and I-PGI are brand names and technology of Tome Biosciences, Inc.

Contacts:

For media:

CG Life

CGL.TomeBio@cglife.com

For investors:

Michelle Avery, PhD, VP, Corporate Affairs

investors@tome.bio
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prosper Gold Corp. ("Prosper Gold" or the "Company") (TSXV:PGX) outlines plan for its upcoming diamond drilling program commencing in the first week of January 2024 at the Golden Sidewalk Project, Red Lake Mining District, Ontario. Up to 2,500 m of drilling will be completed at the Skinner Target Area.



Figure 1 - IP geophysics and proposed drill holes at Skinner Target Area.

Skinner  The Skinner Target Area is a 2.5- by 1.5-kilometre area of coincident high IP chargeability and resistivity under glaciofluvial cover with numerous WNW-trending shear zones with anomalous down-ice gold grain-in-till samples (Figure 1). Preliminary drilling in this area in November of 2022 intersected broad shear zones exhibiting silica-biotite-ankerite alteration and abundant sulphide mineralization which was locally gold-bearing (see the Company's Jan. 9, 2023 news release for details).

Despite glaciofluvial cover in this area till sampling in 2021 by the Company achieved results up to 1,014 gold grains (97% pristine) in sample GST-21-223 and 735 gold grains (95% pristine) in sample GST-21-317 (see the Companys May 17, 2022 news release for details). Based on geological observations from the field and from the 2022 drilling, the Company believes the area has high-potential for higher-grade gold mineralization, particularly proximal to the contact between Narrow Lake Assemblage volcanics and the Trout Lake Batholith several hundred metres to the west of the 2022 drilling where hornfelsed volcanics are more conducive to brittle fracture. The Company will drill several discrete targets associated with favourable geophysical signatures, highly anomalous till samples and/or historically defined mineralized shear zones.

About the Golden Sidewalk

The Golden Sidewalk is a 100% owned, district-scale gold exploration project covering over 160 square kilometres of contiguous mineral claims and mining leases in the western Birch-Uchi Greenstone Belt, approximately 60 km east of Red Lake, Ontario and 60 km northeast of Kinross Golds Dixie Project, acquired from Great Bear Resources in 2022. The vehicle-accessible project straddles 12 kilometres of the Balmer Assemblage  Narrow Lake Assemblage unconformity, a regional-scale feature that has been the Red Lake exploration guide, but which has seen limited exploration in the project area. The Golden Corridor lies immediately north of the unconformity and is characterized as a highly prospective trend of coincident favourable magnetic and resistivity lineaments supported by highly anomalous gold-in-till samples covering 7.0 by 0.5 kilometres. An additional highly prospective target area was defined in 2021, termed the Skinner North Target Area, where 2022 channel sampling results include 9.69 gpt gold over 3.0 metres and 13.13 gpt gold over 1.8 metres and till samples containing up to 1,014 gold grains, was drilled for the first time in November of 2022. Historical drilling by previous operators at the Bathurst Mine, Joe Vein, KT vein, Dunkin and Vihonen prospects reported high-grade gold intercepts which have yet to be followed up by Prosper Gold.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed by Rory Ritchie, P.Geo., Vice-President of Exploration for Prosper Gold and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

For a detailed overview of Prosper Gold please visit www.ProsperGoldCorp.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Per:  Peter Bernier 

Peter Bernier

President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Peter Bernier

President & CEO

Prosper Gold Corp.

Cell: (250) 316-6644

Email: Pete@ProsperGoldCorp.com

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements about the planned exploration of the Golden Sidewalk project, are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mineral exploration; fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers, directors or promoters with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume and the additional risks identified the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a87eca45-33a2-4e2b-81bd-d0bff8217a70
CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG | OTC: PAANF | FRA: SS60) ("Pan American or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from the first diamond drill hole of the 2023 program on the Big Mack Lithium Project (Property), located approximately 80 kilometers north of the town of Kenora, ON. The drilling campaign is being carried out by Fullforce Diamond Drilling Ltd. (Full Force) under the geological guidance of Axiom Exploration Group Ltd. (Axiom).



Drill hole BM23-001 was testing the interior section of the Big Mack Pegmatite (Figure 3) and returned assay values of 1.13% Li 2 O over 27.98 m. (Table 1), confirming previous exploration conducted on the Big Mack Pegmatite which indicated that concentrations of lithium mineralization were present in this area. The Company plans to drill approximately 5,000 meters as part of the current exploration program, which is designed to delineate the Big Mack and Elven Zone Pegmatites, test the down dip extensions of these pegmatites and explore the Sprinkler Zone and other exploration targets identified from the geophysics and surface sampling program undertaken by the Company in the summer of 2023. Over 3,300 meters across 28 collar locations having been drilled to date, with 601 samples having been submitted for analysis at the time of this news release.

Jason Latkowcer, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are encouraged by the first drill results received as part of our ongoing program, and are looking forward to receiving further results in the coming weeks. What we have seen to date further reinforces our belief in the potential of the Property and we look forward to testing the surrounding targets identified in the detailed UAV magnetics survey and surface sampling program that we previously carried out. Our team of geologists is currently conducting a detailed analysis of the data collected to date during the drilling process. We expect this information will provide valuable insights into the geological conditions present at the Property and allow us to further refine our approach to exploration.

Table 1: 2023 Big Mack Drill Hole (BM23-001) Assay Highlights Table





Table 2: Attributes for Drill Hole BM23-001









Figure 1: Core photo of hole BM23-001 (17.25m to 34.48m) highlighting Li 2 O% values in high grade intercepts from 23 -25 m (red) and 27  29.6 m (blue).





Figure 2: 2023 completed drill holes on the Big Mack and Eleven Zones showing pegmatite intercepts - assays pending (with the exception of BM23-001).

Table 3: Completed 2023 drill hole attributes





Sample Quality Assurance / Quality Control

A thorough chain-of-custody and QA/QC program is being carried out on the ongoing 2023 drill program. Samples are taken across all pegmatite intervals with shoulder samples into the host rock on either side of the dykes. Sample lengths are ranging from 0.3 m  1.5 m, dependant on internal zoning of the dykes, mineralization, and lithology contacts. Core to be sampled is cut in half onsite, with half being sent for analysis and the other half remaining in the box for future reference and re-sampling, if needed.

A malfunction of downhole location survey equipment could cause inaccurate dip and azimuth tracking due to drillhole deviation, which would affect the planned drillhole spacing and required density for the resource estimation. To ensure accuracy, downhole surveys are performed every 30 meters of drilling, with survey tests repeated in the event of results that are outside planned drillhole drift. Additional downhole survey tools are kept on-site in the event of malfunction during drilling.

The Companys implemented QA/QC procedures include the insertion of certified standard control samples,  cut duplicates, and blanks. This is being used to test for natural variability / sampling bias / testing the lab for homogeneity during sample preparation processes within the lab, as well as testing the precision and any possible contamination from the lab, and ensure proper calibration of lab equipment.

Sample analyses are being conducted by ALS Canada LTD (ALS), an independent lab. Samples are shipped to the Winnipeg, Manitoba prep lab, and then shipped by ALS to the geochemistry analysis lab in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Drill core samples are subject to sodium peroxide fusion analyses using ICP-MS for Trace element values on total digestion and ICP-AES on samples with values greater than 25,000 ppm Li. ALS follows the quality management and operational guidelines set out in the international standards ISO/IEC 17025  General Requirement for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories and ISO 9001  Quality Management Systems.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Lynde Guillaume, P.Geo. (Senior Geologist, Axiom), who is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Ms. Guillaume is independent of the Company.

The data disclosed within this news release was verified by Lynde Guillaume, P.Geo. Data verification involved review of assay data, downhole drillhole surveys, and geologic logs of the pegmatite intersections. All current drillhole data was then compiled in a 3D Leapfrog model to ensure accuracy of drillhole traces and the sampled pegmatite intersections.

About the Property

The Property is located 2 km east of all-weather Snook Lake Road, about 80 km north of Kenora, ON. The property is proximal (~1.3 km) to Avalons Separation Rapids, Big Whopper deposit which hosts a measured and indicated resource. The Property is within an Ontario registered mining lease, with over 30 years of exploration history. The Property lies within the traditional land use area of the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations of Whitedog, Ontario: an Aboriginal community located approximately 35 km southwest of the property.

The Property hosts four known Li-bearing pegmatites including the Big Mack pegmatite, Eleven Zone, Sprinkler Zone, and 6095 pegmatite which are thought to be related to the Separation Rapids Pluton. They are interpreted as zoned Complex Type, Petalite Subtype LCT Pegmatites. The Big Mack pegmatite represents the largest petalite-bearing mass on the Property and is exposed over an 80 by 225 m area. Historic drilling campaigns (1998, 1999, 2001) intersected mineralization extending along a strike length of ~150 meters and to a depth of 75 meters. The mineralization at the Property remains open at depth and along strike.

About Pan American Energy Corp.

Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG) (OTC PINK: PAANF) (FSE: SS60) is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties containing battery metals in North America.

The Company executed an option agreement in Canada with Magabra Resources, providing for the right to acquire up to a 90% interest in the drill-ready Big Mack Lithium Project, 80 km north of Kenora, Ontario. The Company has also entered a property option agreement with Horizon Lithium LLC providing for the right to acquire a 100% interest in the Horizon Lithium Project, located within Esmeralda County  Tonopah Lithium Belt, Nevada, USA.



To register for investor updates, please visit https://panam-energy.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors



Jason Latkowcer

CEO & Director

Contact

Phone : (587) 885-5970

Email: info@panam-energy.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words could, intend, expect, believe, will, projected, estimated and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Companys current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the Companys exploration plans at the Property, including the nature and type of the Companys planned exploration activities, the timing of such exploration activities and the aim and objectives of the Companys exploration efforts, including that the results of the drilling undertaken on the Property will provide valuable insights into the geological conditions present at the Property and allow the Company to further refine its approach to the exploration of the Property and enhance its understanding of the exploration area; and the timing of the Companys receipt of further drilling results.

Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, including, in respect of the forward-looking information included in this press release, assumptions regarding the Companys ability to execute on its exploration plans at the Property, including that it will be successful in carrying out such exploration activities on the anticipated timeline and that such exploration activities will yield the expected information and the desired outcomes, including that the results of the drilling undertaken on the Property will provide valuable insights into the geological conditions present at the Property and allow the Company to further refine its approach to the exploration of the Property and enhance its understanding of the exploration area; and that the Company will receive further results from its drilling activities on the timeline expected.

Although forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions of the Companys management, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among other things, the risk that exploration at the Property does not proceed in the manner and on the timeline currently contemplated, or at all; risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to receiving requisite permits and approvals, changes in project parameters or delays as plans continue to be redefined, that mineral exploration is inherently uncertain and that the results of mineral exploration may not be indicative of the actual geology or mineralization of a project; that mineral exploration may be unsuccessful or fail to achieve the results anticipated by the Company;; and that mineral exploration activities are often unsuccessful. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/99bdadfb-e53b-424b-81ad-db52f9f502ba

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/57296c03-fc5a-4333-9f77-42f913c639d9

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bec504b2-92ef-4b50-9d2e-d220b485554c

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/92a830fd-b9e6-4d06-8293-5914eaf5235e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f9a5cb98-90b4-4606-be36-6e9fcf508e48
Visiongain has published a new report: Offshore Wind Power Market Report 2024-2034: Forecasts by Location (Shallow Water, Transitional Water, Deep Water), by Component (Turbines, Electrical Infrastructure, Substructure, Others) AND Regional and Leading National Market Analysis PLUS Analysis of Leading Companies AND COVID-19 Impact and Recovery Pattern Analysis.

The offshore wind power market is expected to surpass US$46 billion in 2023. The market is projected to reach a market value of US$113.58 billion by 2034.

Favourable Policies to Open New Avenues for the Industry

According to projections made by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IREA), Asia will dominate the world of wind power by 2050 and account for more than 60% of all offshore wind capacity developed worldwide. By 2030, the Asian offshore wind market is expected to have deployed up to 100 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity, according to the Global Wind Energy Council.

Following the Fukushima accident in 2011, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Taipei, China is continuing their shift away from nuclear power and are instead focusing on the offshore wind potential along their extensive Pacific coastlines. Japan has set a goal for itself to install 10 GWs of offshore wind power by 2030.

High Capital Cost Associated With Offshore Wind Power

The high capital cost associated with offshore wind power is a significant challenge that the industry faces. Building and installing offshore wind turbines involve complex engineering and construction processes. The infrastructure required, such as foundations, substructures, and transmission cables, is more expensive than their onshore counterparts. Working in a marine environment also adds complexity and cost to the installation process. Offshore wind turbines require robust foundations to withstand the harsh marine conditions. The design and installation of these foundations, often in deep water, can be expensive. Monopile, jacket, and floating foundations are among the options, each with its own associated costs.

Download Exclusive Sample of Report

https://www.visiongain.com/report/offshore-wind-power-market-2024/#download_sampe_div

How will this Report Benefit you?

Visiongains 271-page report provides 92 tables and 136 charts/graphs. Our new study is suitable for anyone requiring commercial, in-depth analyses for the global offshore wind power market, along with detailed segment analysis in the market. Our new study will help you evaluate the overall global and regional market for offshore wind power. Get financial analysis of the overall market and different segments including location, component, leading nations, and company size and capture higher market share. We believe that there are strong opportunities in this fast-growing offshore wind power market. See how to use the existing and upcoming opportunities in this market to gain revenue benefits in the near future. Moreover, the report will help you to improve your strategic decision-making, allowing you to frame growth strategies, reinforce the analysis of other market players, and maximise the productivity of the company.

Increasing Government Initiatives To Reduce Carbon Emissions

The United States introduced the Net-Zero Government Initiative at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) in 2022, calling on other nations to follow suit and attain net-zero emissions from their national government activities by the year 2050 at the latest. 18 countries have joined the United States in this new initiative, according to a statement made by U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality Brenda Mallory during a COP27 session with partner governments.

Growing Renewable Energy Industry

Renewable energy technologies like solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and bioenergy continue to evolve and improve, making them more efficient, affordable, and accessible. Technological advancements allow for better energy capture, storage, and distribution, making renewable sources increasingly competitive with fossil fuels. The costs of renewable energy generation have been decreasing steadily over the years. Solar and wind energy, in particular, have become more economically viable compared to traditional fossil fuels in many regions. As costs continue to fall, more consumers and industries are likely to adopt renewable energy solutions.

Get Detailed ToC

https://www.visiongain.com/report/offshore-wind-power-market-2024/

Competitive Landscape

Offshore wind power market is competitive in nature. Large number of well-established and small scale companies are operating in this industry. Some leading companies engaged in this industry are General Electric Company, Vestas, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, ABB, Goldwind, Doosan Enerbility, Nordex SE, Nexans, Shanghai Electric, and RENOVA, Inc.. Companies are adopting different strategies such as advancement in turbines, merger & acquisitions, partnership, collaboration, and investment in order to stay competitive in the industry.

In November 2023, Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group unveiled that the worlds first offshore renewable energy project, which combines floating wind power and deep-sea aquaculture, has been completed in China. The project is developed by Longyuan Power Group, with Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group, a subsidiary of Shanghai Electric, providing the power generation equipment and towers of the offshore wind turbines.





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Avoid missing out by staying informed  order our report now.

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Visiongain is one of the fastest growing and most innovative independent market intelligence providers around, the company publishes hundreds of market research reports which it adds to its extensive portfolio each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis across 18 industries worldwide. The reports, which cover 10-year forecasts, are hundreds of pages long, with in-depth market analysis and valuable competitive intelligence data. Visiongain works across a range of vertical markets with a lot of synergies. These markets include automotive, aviation, chemicals, cyber, defence, energy, food & drink, materials, packaging, pharmaceutical and utilities sectors. Our customised and syndicated market research reports offer a bespoke piece of market intelligence customised to your very own business needs.

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Singapore, Singapore, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Established in 2020, Coinstore, the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange, is celebrating its 3rd anniversary by launching a series trading competitions with over 30k USDT prize pool and a series community airdrops, listing carnival and CS Lives. Many enthusiasts are joining in to mark the day.

Over the past 3 years, the crypto industry has changed dramatically.Through peaks and valleys, Coinstore has always been insisting on its belief in the industry, with actions and capabilities.

A journey of Coinstore through 3 years

Within the span of three years,Coinstore has served over 700 project teams and listed over 750 trading pairs. With over 5 millions registered users and over 150k highest daily active users, Coinstore has covered 175 countries and regions. Continuously evolving and expanding,Coinstorehas established a strong presence in emerging markets, with Indonesia, India, and Nigeria at its core.

Coinstore always focuses on talent and compliance development.Talent training and construction is an important part of enterprise development. Coinstore understands this well, therefore, Coinstore has established 13 international operation centers in different countries and has become a large organization with over 200 international employees.

Compliance and regulation is the business foundation of Coinstore. Coinstore got MSB license in the US and Digital Asset Prop Trading license in Dubai. Meanwhile,Coinstore has built operatation with local regulatory authorities in major target markets to help them understand blockchain technology and cryptocurrency,and build relevant regulatory frameworks.

Long-termism Philosophy

In the fast-paced crypto industry, Coinstore emphasizes the importance of long-termismbusiness philosophy. Coinstore strives not only to be an exchange but to build an entire ecosystem, adapting to industry trends while maintaining a long-term perspective.

Coinstore creates easy-to-use and powerful tools to empower users, allowing everyone to integrate into the future financial system safely, conveniently and efficiently.Prioritize users first, focus on product innovation and continuously improve the product becomes Coinstores aim.

After three years of endeavor,Coinstore has continuously expanded the business and established a complete trading ecosystem, forming a product matrix with spot trading, futures trading, Lauchpad, OTC, earn, wallet, and Web3 product as the core.

Coinstore launched its Launchpad program to list secure and highly qualified projects for users.To date, Launchpad projects have seen an average oversubscription rate of 357% this year, with the best-performing project, SOIT, yielding an astounding 26.7x ATH (All-Time High) investment return. As of November, projects launched on Launchpad have seen an average value increase of 1173%,with over 15,000participants,and 25 projects listed. High quality projects such as SOIT, CNT, INVT and MSHIB, bringing high returns for users.The wealth creation effect brought by launchpad has caused Coinstores growth in the bear market significantly.





Striding Forward, Starward Bound

Even in the most depressed market, Coinstore remains confident and faithful to the crypto industry.In this age of exploration, some are destined to shoulder the burden. Coinstore shoulders the mission of evangelism, actively disseminates industry knowledge and contributes to society.

As a Web3 participant,you should learn more of the technological revolution and business model innovation of the industry, so as to attract more people to join the industry and make contributions to the industry development. Therefore,Coinstore published Cryptalk and CS Connect events.To date,Coinstore held more than 30 Cryptalk, 15 CS Connect and 15 Expo conferences. The events build bridges between inside and outside the industry. It attracted active participation around the world and received a warm welcome.

To future, beat the challenges

Some people say, "We are making history." Its been an honor to become the witnesses of history. Through peaks and valleys, ups and downs, Coinstore has always been faithful to the industry. Although Coinstore has achieved some phaseful results, it will stick to the original intention and insist on "user first" service philosophy.

Faced with multiple difficulties and challenges , Coinstore will break through the bottlenecks,and get stronger.

As we stand at the close of 2023 and celebrate Coinstore's third anniversary, we look forward to a promising 2024. Looking forward to the next 3 years of Coinstore.



About Coinstore

Founded in 2020, Coinstore is a world-leading crypto asset trading platform that strongly focuses on emerging high-growth markets.Trusted by more than 5 million users and 175 countries ,Coinstore provides a series of products,including spot trading,futures trading, Launchpad,earn and wallet. Coinstore aims to be the first crypto asset entrance for millions of users and becomes to the Top1 exchange in emerging markets by 2025.

Coinstore Media Contact

Pei Shan, Marketing Executive | peishan@coinstore.com

Jennifer Lu, Brand Ambassador | Marketing@coinstore.com

Disclaimer : There is no offer to sell, no solicitation of an offer to buy, and no recommendation of any security or any other product or service in this article. This is not investment advice. Please do your own research.
RUNAWAY BAY, Jamaica, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rose Hill (or the Company), a premium psilocybin cultivator, supplier processor, and exporter in Jamaica, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with ACS Laboratory, an award-winning testing facility. ACS Laboratory is ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited, DEA licensed and CLIA licensed.



Combining Rose Hills mastery of psilocybin finished products with ACS Laboratorys expertise, this collaboration aims to set a new industry standard for accurate, consistent, and proficient potency and purity testing, covering pesticides, mycotoxins, residual solvents, heavy metals, and microbiology panels.

Rose Hills products will now include QR codes linked to ACS Laboratorys Certificates of Analysis (COA), verifying the test results that all formulas are clean and safe to consume. This first of its kind initiative pioneers the application of rigorous testing of psilocybin as a traditional consumer packaged good (CPG), establishing standards that set a critical precedent in a largely unregulated field. Transparent test results also allow licensed retailers and practitioners to make informed choices and confidently select high-quality psilocybin for their clients and patients.





Domenic Suppa, co-founder and chief operations officer of Rose Hill, emphasizes, "The collaboration with ACS Laboratory signifies our dedication to advancing the psychedelic industry through rigorous research and a commitment to the highest quality standards. Our partnership seeks to establish unparalleled testing methodologies, ensuring safe and therapeutically beneficial psilocybin products."

Rose Hill has been a trailblazer in producing top-tier, multi-strain psilocybin genetics and innovative cultivation solutions since its establishment in 2015. The Company has consistently led research efforts while supplying premier biomass to esteemed research institutions. Notably, Rose Hill achieved a significant milestone by obtaining Health Canada's approval for the first legal export of psilocybin from Jamaica to Canada. This certification allowed Rose Hill to provide exclusive, proprietary psilocybin biomass to a distinguished Canadian researcher and a leading provider of psychedelic-assisted therapies. Today, it allows Rose Hill to harness ACS Laboratorys testing methodologies to launch forthcoming studies in 2024.

ACS Laboratorys ability to quantify psilocybin, psilocin, and eight other active compounds in the mushrooms creates an opportunity to understand more about the therapeutic benefits of these complex fungi.

Roger Brown, president of ACS Laboratory, said, "The partnership between ACS Laboratory and Rose Hill reflects a shared dedication to responsible growth in the psilocybin market. Our joint mission is to conduct meticulous and reliable testing, upholding the industry's highest quality and safety standards. Our commitment to advancing psychedelic research is evident through our pivotal role in facilitating legal and innovative developments in therapeutic psilocybin use."

For more information, visit https://rosehill.life/ and https://www.acslab.com/ .

About Rose Hill

Rose Hill is a leading innovator in the cultivation and supply of premium psilocybin products and biomass. Dedicated to fostering a sustainable and ethical approach to cultivation, Rose Hill sets industry norms to standards to deliver safe and top-quality products to research partners and brands. Renowned as the foremost psilocybin producer in Jamaica, Rose Hill holds the distinction of being the world's inaugural legal exporter of these transformative compounds.

About ACS Laboratory

ACS Laboratory is an award-winning testing facility serving the cannabis, hemp, mushroom and kratom industries with consistent, precise results. The team has earned 82 Emerald Test Badges for accurate results, more than any other lab in the USA. Exceeding regulatory requirements, ACS is ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited, DEA licensed, CLIA licensed and hemp-testing compliant in all 50 states (including Puerto Rico), and 17 countries. The facility is also a Florida Department of Health Certified Marijuana Testing Laboratory. Beyond compliance, ACS is committed to innovation, continuously developing protocols to support clients as they expand into new product types and verticals. ACS Laboratory operates a 20,000 sq. ft. facility, making it the largest in the Eastern USA. Explore ACS blog for the latest botanical science and laboratory testing information. Visit www.acslab.com for a complete list of testing services and capabilities.

Media Contacts:

Francesca DeMauro

917.880.9771

rosehill@kcsa.com

Duree & Company

954.723.9350

acslab@dureeandcompany.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d4389aaa-130d-4f15-b3a5-e2548e2f3c19
MARKHAM, Ontario, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xperigo, the automotive industrys leading Contact Centre provider of customer experience management services, including Roadside Assistance, was awarded Canadas Most Admired Corporate Cultures award for a 3rd consecutive time.



Being recognized by Waterstone's Board of Governors as one of Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures is a huge honour for Xperigo, says Dan Turner, President and CEO at Xperigo. Having received this prestigious reward for the 3rd consecutive time demonstrates that Xperigo team members are invested in ensuring we create a successful organization built on teamwork, respect, and trust. The 3-peat is now complete, but when it comes to elevating our corporate culture even higher, the Xperigo team is far from done.

Now in its 20th year, Waterstone recognized best-in-class Canadian organizations for having cultures that have helped them enhance performance and sustain a competitive advantage. The process focuses on:

Vision and Leadership

Recruitment and Hiring for Culture

People Development and Talent Management

Cultural Alignment and Measurement

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB)

Corporate Social Responsibility

Organizational Performance



Ensuring a positive and motivated culture is not only extremely important to employee retention, but is crucial to long-term success in customer satisfaction, says Amy Gaba, Vice President, Talent and Culture. With a 91% participation rate contributing to an incredible 90% of our employees indicating Culture directly impacted my performance.

Key results of Xperigos recent Waterstone survey highlighted that Team Members felt:

92% - Felt Customer Service was important at Xperigo

90% - Believed Xperigo Team Members take ownership of results

90% - Described Xperigo as growing



Xperigo has invested in its remote work environment and introduced a hybrid-flex model that provides Team Members flexibility and positive work/life balance. Team Members have access to a robust Rewards and Recognition program that includes more than 35 different aspects, including Competitive Pay, Quarterly Incentive Bonus, Group Benefits (Health, vision, dental), Wellness Benefits (Vacation time, reimbursement programs), Pension Plan, Virtual Healthcare, On-demand pay, French Language Premium, and Advancement Opportunities.

The 2023 Canadas Most Admired award recipients exemplify how culture drives performance, especially in the face of economic uncertainty and other recruitment and retention challenges, says Marty Parker, President and CEO of Waterstone Human Capital and Chair of the Canadas Most Admired program. This years winners are leveraging culture to drive growth and success in todays highly competitive talent market through the acquisition, retention, and optimization of high-performance leaders, teams, and corporate cultures.

This years winning leaders and organizations actively craft culture in alignment with their purpose and values every day, and help drive culture as competitive advantage, says Parker. On behalf of Waterstone Human Capital and our partners, we look forward to celebrating this years winners and the impact culture is having on their success.

This recognition follows the recent announcement of Xperigo being named 2023 Best Workplaces in Professional Services BY Great Place to Work and the recipient of Shell Mobilitys Supplier Award for exceptional achievement in delivering Shell Mobility priorities through culture.

With Team Members coast to coast and Contact Centre locations in Markham, Ontario, and Moncton, New Brunswick, Xperigo is honoured to be recognized. To learn more about Xperigo Contact Centre services and current career opportunities, visit www.xperigo.com.

About Xperigo

Xperigo provides premium, end-to-end customer experience management services, including roadside assistance, contact centre services, telematics, and e-call services to more than 43 North American automotive brands.

For over 30 years, Xperigo has continued to work closely with our clients as a valued strategic partner providing world-class solutions tailored to our Clients, transforming negative events into positive brand experiences.

Xperigo has developed a highly integrated service delivery platform that provides real-time access to a suite of automotive mobility services. These services include Next Generation Roadside Assistance, Customer Experience Management, Connected Car Services, Telematics Solutions, EV Charging Network Services, Emergency 911 Services, Mobile Self-Serve Solutions, Data Analysis & Insights, Concierge, and Professional Services.

For more information, please visit www.xperigo.com.

About Waterstone Human Capital

At Waterstone, we inspire organizations to build high performance teams and cultures. We are a leading cultural talent management professional services firm working with entrepreneurial-minded, high-growth organizations that see culture as their single greatest asset. We support organizations in unleashing the power of their corporate culture to drive growth and performance through: our best-in-class executive search and recruitment practice; and the Waterstone Culture Institute, a proven resource for organizations looking for culture transformation, culture measurement and advisory, leadership assessment, and leadership and team development services. Waterstone is also the founder of the Canadas Most Admired Awards programs. These national programs annually recognize best-in-class Canadian organizations, CEOs, and Chief People and Culture Officers for fostering cultures that enhance performance and help sustain a competitive advantage.

For more information, please visit waterstonehc.com or canadasmostadmired.com

For media inquiries:

Robyn Levy, Program Manager  Most Admired Awards, Waterstone Human Capital

rlevy@waterstonehc.com 416-408-4545 x 244

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4d6c166c-56cc-4bda-a8f3-2220ddd69eb4
New York, N.Y., Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To mark the 75th Anniversary of International Human Rights Day, this week Vital Voices Global Partnership proudly honored male allies who have shown remarkable courage and commitment to advocating for womens rights.

Philanthropist and Fashion Designer Diane von Furstenberg and Vital Voices Co-founder, President & CEO Alyse Nelson hosted the 10th Annual Voices of Solidarity Awards on Monday evening at the historic IAC building in New York City  just one day after the 75th Annual Human Rights Day. They honored Legendary Skateboarder Tony Hawk, U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Artist & Activist Omaid Sharifi, and Human Rights Activist Fallu Sowe.

Tony Hawk was recognized for championing girls in sports, particularly through his foundation, Skatepark Project, and working with Skateistan in Afghanistan.

Rep. Jimmy Gomez of Californias 34th District was honored for championing equality for caregivers in U.S. national policies and for leading by example in creating the first-ever U.S. Congressional Dads Caucus.

Omaid Sharifi, a pioneering artist and activist, was honored for his worldwide efforts to call attention to the oppression of Middle Eastern women and girls through his group, ArtLords, a global grassroots movement founded in Afghanistan to promote peace, womens rights, and social transformation through street art.

Fallu Sowe, a fearless human rights activist from The Gambia, was recognized for his work in providing critical care services to survivors of gender-based violence.



For the last decade, its been hugely encouraging to count more and more remarkable men as partners in this work. Mens voices are absolutely critical if we want to accelerate the pace of change  and prove that nothing is impossible, said Vital Voices Co-founder, President & CEO, Alyse Nelson.

This years honorees are incredible examples of solidarity in action. Each in their own way, they've decided to join the fight for gender equality  a fight that women have been leading for decades, especially the women leaders of Vital Voices, said Founder and Co-Chairwoman, DVF and Vital Voices Board Member, Diane Von Furstenberg.

Presenting the awards to this years honorees were President & CEO of Equimundo Dr. Gary Barker, Ph.D., Zainab Husseini of Afghanistans Skateistan, Vital Voices Board Chair Kate James, and Tunisian Human Rights Activist, Entrepreneur & Vital Voices Board Member Amira Yahyaoui.



Photo highlights of the event can be found here .

For more information about the event, contact: media@vitalvoices.org.

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About Vital Voices Global Partnership

Now celebrating 26 years, Vital Voices Global Partnership has directly invested in more than 20,000 women leaders across 185 countries and territories since its inception in 1997. Driven by the universal truth that women are the key to progress in their communities and nations cannot move forward without women in leadership positions, Vital Voices has provided early support for leaders who went on to become Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, U.S. Youth Poet Laureates, prime ministers, award-winning innovators, pioneering human rights defenders and breakthrough social entrepreneurs, including Amanda Gorman and Malala Yousafzai. To advance and expand this work, in 2022 Vital Voices opened the doors to the worlds first global embassy for women, the Vital Voices Global Headquarters for Womens Leadership. It is a first-of-its-kind space that allows for convening, innovation, planning, and actionall in the pursuit of serving women leaders who are taking on the worlds greatest challenges.

Find Vital Voices Online:

Facebook: facebook.com/vitalvoices

Twitter: @vitalvoices

Instagram: @vitalvoices

LinkedIn: Vital Voices Global Partnership

Attachments
OAKVILLE, Ontario and CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Terrestrial Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) at the Net Zero Nuclear Summit, on the sidelines of COP 28. The agreement was signed by His Excellency (H.E.) Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC and Simon Irish, Chief Executive Officer of Terrestrial Energy.



Terrestrial Energy is a leading technology company, and developer of a nuclear plant capable of suppling both high-temperature heat and electricity. The companys use of its Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR), a Generation IV reactor technology, enables the plants dual role capability and transformative commercial potential. It can supply secure, reliable, emissions-free, and low-cost energy (both electricity and heat) to industry across a wide range of industrial processes such as hydrogen, ammonia, aluminum and steel production.

The MoU is part of the recently launched ENEC ADVANCE Program, which will evaluate the latest advancements in nuclear energy technologies to strengthen the UAEs position as a leading nation in delivering climate action by accelerating the global clean energy transition to Net Zero.

ENEC and Terrestrial Energy will collaborate to focus on the potential of IMSR plant for electricity generation and for large-scale industrial heat applications. These uses include the IMSR plants role in decarbonizing energy-intensive and hard-to-abate industrial sectors. The parties will also consider frameworks for development and deployment of the IMSR plant in target industrial applications in the UAE and other markets.

H.E. Mohamed Al Hammadi commented: We are committed to exploring the latest technologies in advanced reactors as we continue to rapidly decarbonize the power sector through clean electricity from nuclear energy. The development of the Barakah Plant in the UAE has provided a catalyst for exploration of new technologies in the nuclear sector as we innovate to tackle climate change. At COP28, 22 countries have recognized the critical need for more nuclear, advocating for a tripling of global nuclear energy capacity by 2050 to achieve net zero. Through new solutions like Generation IV reactors and Small Modular Reactors, we can get closer to delivering the significant volumes of clean electrons and molecules needed to ensure that we sustainably power our heavy industries whilst preventing millions of tons of carbon emissions. We look forward to close collaboration with Terrestrial Energy as we identify the potential deployment of IMSR technology in the UAE and overseas.

Simon Irish CEO, Terrestrial Energy said: The UAE is an energy pioneer and a nuclear energy pioneer. We are pleased to partner with ENEC as the UAE leads the international community at the annual COP conference, and with its Net Zero Nuclear initiative, the first of its kind for a COP event. Our IMSR, a Generation IV reactor technology, has immense potential to support industrial growth and decarbonization. Its unique capabilities are most relevant to the decarbonization of hard-to-abate industrial sectors, essential to meet COP28 goals. Terrestrial Energys prioritization of national and international regulatory requirements supports the aims of our MOU as does the IMSRs use of nuclear fuel at standard enrichment levels, which has long-established international acceptance. We look forward to working with ENEC to accelerate development and deployment of the IMSR plant in target industrial applications and commercial markets.

As a cornerstone of the global nuclear energy landscape, ENECs Barakah Plant distinguishes itself with its four APR-1400 units, positioning it among the most advanced gigawatt nuclear energy installations worldwide and a major contributor to the UAEs progress towards achieving Net Zero by 2050. The expertise and clean electricity generated by the Barakah Plant are the driving forces behind innovation in transitioning to new clean solutions and R&D.

In April 2023, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), following a systematic and multi-year review against Canadian regulatory requirements, concluded that there were no fundamental barriers to licensing the IMSR plant for commercial use. This was the first regulatory review of a commercial nuclear plant using molten salt reactor technology and the first advanced, high-temperature fission technology to complete a review of this type.

In June 2022, the U.S. NRC and the CNSC completed a joint agency review of IMSR technology, a first for Generation IV reactor technology, providing clear evidence that international regulatory cooperation and harmonization are achievable. In August 2022, Terrestrial Energy in collaboration with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories completed an assessment of techniques to safeguard nuclear materials effectively and securely during IMSR plant operation, a requirement that is essential for commercialization. Safeguards is an international regulatory framework verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under international treaty arrangements, which ensures the security and control of nuclear materials.

The conventional nuclear power plant fuel used by the IMSR  Standard Assay Low Enriched Uranium  is the only fuel available and transportable today for civilian reactor use and has international regulatory acceptance. Its use supports an early deployment path for IMSR plants across multiple markets. In August 2023, Terrestrial Energy signed a manufacturing and supply contract with Springfields Fuels Limited, a subsidiary of Westinghouse, for the design and construction of an IMSR fuel pilot plant. Springfields' reactor fuel manufacturing site in Preston, United Kingdom has extensive existing infrastructure available today to support the fuel supply for IMSR development, and scalable to support a fleet of IMSR plants operating in the 2030s.

Terrestrial Energy is proud to be a signatory to the international pledge, led by ENEC and the World Nuclear Association, to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050. It is also a signatory to the UN Global Compact.

About the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) is part of ADQ, one of the regions largest holding companies with a broad portfolio of major enterprises spanning key sectors of Abu Dhabis diversified economy. Established by decree in December 2009 by the late His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ENEC represents all aspects of the United Arab Emirates Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program.

ENECs flagship Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is generating safe, clean and reliable 24/7 electricity for the United Arab Emirates, supporting the Nations social and economic growth and tackling climate change. As a result, the Barakah Plant is a sustainable powerhouse for the Nation, spearheading the United Arab Emirates Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative by leading the largest decarbonization effort in the UAE and Arab World. ENEC is exploring further opportunities through its R&D Roadmap, including advanced nuclear technologies such as Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology and clean hydrogen generation, as well as in related industries, such as space exploration, agriculture and medicine.

About Terrestrial Energy

Terrestrial Energy is a developer of Generation IV nuclear plants that use its proprietary Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) technology. IMSR technology captures the full transformative operating benefits of molten salt reactor technology in a plant design that represents true innovation in cost reduction, versatility and functionality of nuclear energy supply. IMSR plants will supply zero-carbon, reliable, dispatchable, low-cost high-temperature industrial heat and electricity for a dual-use energy role relevant to many industrial applications, such as chemical synthesis and desalination. In so doing, they extend the application of nuclear energy far beyond electric power markets. IMSR plants have the potential to make substantial contributions to industrial competitiveness, energy security, and economic growth. Their deployment will support rapid global decarbonization of the primary energy system by displacing fossil fuel combustion across a broad spectrum. Terrestrial Energy uses an innovative design, and proven and demonstrated molten salt reactor technology, which offers a unique set of operating characteristics that deliver high and compelling commercial potential. Terrestrial Energy is engaged with regulators, suppliers and industrial partners to build, license and commission the first IMSR power plants in the early 2030s.

Website: www.terrestrialenergy.com

E-mail: info@terrestrialenergy.com
TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ashley, the #1 furniture and mattress retailer in North America, today announced the launch of its new leather collection, now available to shop online and in stores nationwide. To officially introduce the collection, Ashley made its inaugural debut at the 2023 Miami Art Week last week in Miami Beach, Florida within the annual SCOPE Art Show, marking the first-ever furniture retailer exhibit within the leading art fair. Ashley partnered with international collage artist, Clare Celeste, to create an immersive exhibit highlighting the delicate balance between nature and nurture while showcasing its new product line.

The Ashley exhibit showcased the retailer's Emilia sofa, a new modular design from the Ashley collection, as the singular centerpiece of the exhibit - a powerful statement, bringing intentionality to the space and creating an environment that exhibits the sofa as the artwork. The warm brown Caramel leather tone of the Emilia sofa beautifully complemented Clares vibrant flora and fauna artwork, and Ashleys branded orange accents added a captivating pop of color to the overall composition.

Clare Celeste is an American artist based in Berlin who brings thousands of hand-cut images of flora and fauna together into lush and intricate compositions that span from works on paper to immersive installations. Clare was born in 1982 in Bangkok, Thailand and has been assimilating to different cultures and environments her entire life  having lived in Brazil, the US, Italy, Honduras, Argentina, and Germany. Clares collages reflect her many impressions of nature and allow for her to pull together naturalist imagery from across the globe and create a cohesive visual story.

Home brings people together, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to have teamed up with Ashley, a new type of collaboration for me, as it allowed me to reunite with my own family, says Clare Celeste. Being based in Berlin full time, I had not seen my mother in six months and my sister in just over a year. This partnership with Ashley was more than an art exhibit for me, it was a reunion and ultimate coming home."

Attendees of the SCOPE Art Show got an exclusive first look at Ashleys new leather collection and could scan QR codes to shop online in real-time. Guests were also encouraged to capture photos with the immersive art experience highlighting the balance of nature and nurture in your home.

Miami Art Week is a pioneering force in the art world and a must-visit for those interested in immersive, cutting-edge experiences, said Ashley Vice President of Marketing Strategy, Kelly Davis. We wanted to develop a uniquely innovative shopping experience to launch our new leather collection by integrating our furniture, for the very first time, into an iconic art exhibit. As we develop more live, experiential opportunities in 2024, we will continue to aim for unique and memorable shopping experiences.

Ashleys new collection offers 10 new groups of top-grain and genuine leather products available in an array of styles, colors, and finishes, so customers can add their perfect luxury leather look to any space. From small studios to large family rooms, Ashleys wide assortment of leather chairs, sofas, love seats, and modular sectionals are designed to meet your style and space needs, with prices starting at $599.99. With its unique look, low-maintenance requirements, and wide range of designs, leather is an ideal choice for even the most active and pet-friendly homes. New offerings from Ashley include additions from the Amiata, Belziani, Carianna, Emilia, Genoa, and Lombardia collections.

Ashley is filling a void in the leather category, offering quality products built with premium materials and superior durability, with affordability at the forefront, said Ashley Senior Vice President of Marketing and Ecommerce, Nick Lezin. Our pieces provide luxurious looks at competitive prices, offering the perfect blend of aesthetics and durability so our customers can enjoy the best of both worlds. As we like to say at Ashley - everythings better in leather!

To learn more about Ashleys new leather offerings and shop the collection, visit https://www.ashleyfurniture.com/c/furniture/living-room/leather-seating/.

*Genuine leather typically covers inside areas such as the back, seat and arm cushions; skillfully matched faux leather covers the remaining areas.

About Ashley

Ashley is committed to being your trusted partner and style leader for the home. This commitment has made Ashley the #1 furniture and mattress store in North America and one of the worlds best-selling home furnishing brands with more than 1,125 locations in 67 countries. Start designing your dream home today. Visit Ashley online at www.ashley.com and connect on social media through Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, or see our design-focused boards on Pinterest.

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Attachments
Dublin, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Luxury Travel Market Trends and Analysis by Passenger Flows, Destinations, Challenges, Opportunities and Case Studies, 2023 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report provides an analysis of the luxury travel industry including insights in luxury travelers, market trends, consumer trends, destinations, sector deals, challenges and opportunities.

There is a clear trend in the luxury travel sector where luxury travelers, high-net worth individuals, and ultra high-net-worth individuals are becoming more mindful when it comes to travel.

This insightful report offers an exclusive peek into the world of luxury travel, spotlighting its premier players, their innovative responses to the COVID-19 threat, and strategies to captivate the most discerning travelers.

The report unveils the strategies and adaptations of luxury travel leaders, dissecting how they navigated the challenging landscape presented by the pandemic. It showcases their resilience and innovation in safeguarding the luxury travel experience.

Furthermore, the report delves into the profiles of key luxury travelers that companies aspire to attract, unveiling their preferences, desires, and expectations. By gaining insights into the minds of these elite travelers, companies can tailor their offerings to meet and exceed their exacting standards.

Key Topics Covered:

Snapshot

Key Market Trends

Luxury Travel Holidays

Key Destinations

Mergers and Acquisitions

Challenges and Opportunities

Appendix

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

Marriott

Kempinski

Scott Dunn

Abercrombie & Kent

Emirates

Singapore Airlines

Belmond

Space X

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/shedqs

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.
Dublin, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "United States Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market, Competition, Forecast and Opportunities, 2018-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



United States Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market has valued at USD 3.47 Billion in 2022 and is anticipated to project steady growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 7.92% through 2028.

While the most common type of device is the glucose meter, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems have gained popularity due to their ability to provide real-time, continuous sugar level readings around the clock. CGM systems offer a comprehensive and detailed view of blood sugar fluctuations, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their diabetes management and overall well-being.





Growing Diabetes Prevalence:

Diabetes prevalence in the US is increasing, driving demand for blood glucose monitoring devices.

10.5% of the population (34.2 million Americans) had diabetes in 2018.

Awareness of diabetes management importance boosts device demand.

Advancements in technology lead to user-friendly glucose monitoring devices.

The market is projected to reach $10.5 billion by 2025.

Availability of insurance coverage and non-invasive monitoring tech contribute to growth.

Increasing Geriatric Population:

The rising elderly population in the US increases the need for blood glucose monitoring devices.

Elderly individuals are more susceptible to diabetes, especially type 2.

Nearly 26.8% of adults aged 65+ have diabetes.

Geriatric awareness of diabetes management and non-invasive devices drive demand.

Demand for accessible, reliable solutions for diabetes management is pressing.

New Product Launches:

Launching new products significantly impacts the demand for blood glucose monitoring devices.

Technological innovations lead to compact, user-friendly, and accurate devices.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems (CGMS) offer real-time monitoring and enhance user experience.

Increased awareness through marketing efforts drives device adoption.

New products and awareness contribute to better diabetes management.

Growing Advancements in Technologies:

Advancements in technology, like AI and IoT, drive demand for monitoring devices.

Advanced devices offer continuous monitoring, real-time data sharing, and personalized insights.

Integration of glucose data with other health information promotes comprehensive diabetes management.

Telemedicine and digital health platforms improve accessibility and quality of diabetes care.

Digitalization in healthcare shapes the future of diabetes management.

Key Market Challenges:

Large inaccuracies in devices decrease consumer trust and demand.

Inaccurate results can lead to improper diabetes management and health complications.

Stringent regulatory scrutiny, including FDA oversight, affects consumer confidence.

Manufacturers must focus on enhancing device accuracy to regain trust.

Intense Competition Among Competitors:

The competitive landscape is marked by intense rivalry, with multiple market players.

Price wars, product feature improvements, and innovation drive competition.

Confusion among consumers and aggressive marketing can reduce overall demand.

Balanced competition that fosters sustainable growth and customer satisfaction is needed.

Key Market Trends:

Growing adoption of smartwatch-based applications revolutionizes diabetes management.

Smartwatches offer convenience and real-time data monitoring.

Integration of blood glucose monitoring in smartwatches drives adoption.

The trend empowers individuals for proactive and personalized diabetes management.

Emergence of Needle-Free Devices:

Needle-free devices eliminate discomfort and inconvenience, driving demand.

Easier and pain-free monitoring enhances patient safety.

Needle-free devices align with the preference for non-invasive healthcare tech.

Increased prevalence of diabetes necessitates efficient monitoring solutions.

Segmental Insights:

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) devices are transforming the market with convenience and technology.

CGMs provide real-time glucose readings, enhancing patient empowerment and control.

Integration with smartphone apps further improves user experience.

Type 2 Diabetes dominates the market due to its increasing prevalence.

Blood glucose monitoring devices enable effective management of Type 2 Diabetes.

The emphasis on preventive healthcare and awareness drives demand.

The Western region of the US leads in diabetes management due to a high prevalence, awareness, and presence of key market players.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 84 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $3.47 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $5.43 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.9% Regions Covered United States

Competitive Landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the United States Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market.

Abbott Laboratories Inc

Medtronic plc

Roche Diagnostics Corporation

DexCom, Inc.

B. Braun Medical Inc.

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC

Insulet Corporation

Nipro Medical Corporation

Terumo Medical Corporation

Report Scope:



United States Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market, By Product:

Self-Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices

United States Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market, By Application:

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes

United States Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market, By End User:

Home Care Setting

Hospital & Clinics

Others

United States Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Market, By Region:

Northeast Region

Midwest Region

West Region

South Region

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vo35j6

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
Visiongain has published a new report entitled Bioprocess Validation Market Report 2023-2033: Forecasts by Test Type (Extractable/Leachable Testing, Microbiological Testing, Integrity Testing, Physiochemical Testing, Compatibility Testing, Others), by Component (Filters Elements, Media Containers and Bags, Freezing and Thawing Process Bags, Bioreactors, Transfer Systems, Others), by Modality (Filters Elements, Media Containers and Bags, Freezing and Thawing Process Bags, Bioreactors, Transfer Systems, Others), by End-users (Filters Elements, Media Containers and Bags, Freezing and Thawing Process Bags, Bioreactors, Transfer Systems, Others) AND Regional and Leading National Market Analysis PLUS Analysis of Leading Companies AND COVID-19 Impact and Recovery Pattern Analysis.

The bioprocess validation market is estimated at US$498.5 million in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.8% during the forecast period 2023-2033.

Drug manufacturers encounter numerous challenges as they navigate the landscape of bioprocessing innovation. The increasing demand for therapeutics that are targeted, efficacious, and cost-effective has heightened the challenges faced by drug manufacturers in the market.

The growing and ageing patient populations are fueling innovation in the industry, as more complex biologics, biosimilars, and cell and gene therapies are being developed. There is a growing trend towards increased interest in continuous bioprocessing and flexible facilities.

It is imperative for pharmaceutical companies to identify effective drugs and produce them using manufacturing processes that adhere to regulatory standards. There has been a persistent trend in both the United States and Europe to impose increasingly stringent regulations and implement novel criteria for the verification of regulatory compliance. In the Asian region, specifically in China, there has been an increased emphasis on the implementation and validation of advanced extractable and leachable (E&L) testing methodologies, compared to previous periods. The rise in both interest and adoption of single-use systems in the field of biologics processing has led to this phenomenon.

In light of the continuous development of safety and quality standards by international regulatory entities, it is imperative for pharmaceutical companies to establish their ability to effectively manage and maintain control over their manufacturing processes. During audits, it is imperative to have easily accessible validation plans that provide support for scale-up or scale-out processes, as well as well-documented evidence of successful process validation. These documents hold significant importance, particularly in the context of advancing towards Phase III or the commercial production phase. Product lifecycle management (PLCM) inherently encompasses this aspect.

Numerous novel or enhanced bioprocessing methodologies, employed by pharmaceutical manufacturers, entail the utilisation of complex solvents or formulation recipes. In the context of cell and gene therapies, it is worth noting that liposomal carriers pose challenges in terms of sterilisation through sterilising grade filtration. Alternatively, individuals may experience difficulties that are intensified when subjected to high levels of cognitive load. The utilisation of conventional sterilising grade filters may necessitate the implementation of multiple filtration stages. In order to ensure the reliability and consistency of their products, pharmaceutical companies must address these obstacles by effectively showcasing the ability to replicate and maintain control over the manufacturing process across varying scales, ranging from small to large.

The primary responsibility for bioprocess validation lies with the primary drug manufacturer, but suppliers can also contribute by assisting and augmenting the primary manufacturers. This can be done through small-scale process or membrane validation, utilising either the drug product or drug substance. By establishing a collaborative partnership with the primary drug manufacturer, it is possible to enhance the development of a comprehensive validation control strategy (CS), thereby enabling drug manufacturers to more effectively manage their product lifecycle management strategy.

Download Exclusive Sample of Report

https://www.visiongain.com/report/bioprocess-validation-market-2023/#download_sampe_div

How has COVID-19 had a Significant Impact on the Bioprocess Validation Market?

The bioprocess validation market has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The significant disruptions in manufacturing and supply-chain operations experienced by companies can be attributed to precautionary lockdowns and other government-imposed restrictions implemented worldwide. The demand for bioprocess validation experienced a notable surge amidst the pandemic due to the necessity of validation throughout all stages of pharmaceutical development for the purpose of monitoring and ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and safety. The surge in COVID-19 cases, characterised by its rapid and unregulated escalation, has prompted a corresponding expansion in the production of biosimilars, combination molecules, and novel vaccines and medications. Consequently, there has been a heightened need for substantial bioprocess validation. Presently, in light of the abatement of the pandemic, the market has experienced a decline in momentum. Therefore, it is anticipated that the market will exhibit consistent growth throughout the projected timeframe of the research.

The market's expansion is attributed to the significant demand for bioprocess validation services, alongside the implementation of rigorous safety and quality regulations pertaining to product certifications and testing in sectors beyond biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries. Additionally, the increasing trend of outsourcing bioprocess validation, combined with the growth in research and development expenditure, contributes to this market growth.

How will this Report Benefit you?

Visiongains 315-page report provides 113 tables and 169 charts/graphs. Our new study is suitable for anyone requiring commercial, in-depth analyses for the bioprocess validation market, along with detailed segment analysis in the market. Our new study will help you evaluate the overall global and regional market for Bioprocess Validation. Get financial analysis of the overall market and different segments including test type, component, modality and end-users capture higher market share. We believe that there are strong opportunities in this fast-growing bioprocess validation market. See how to use the existing and upcoming opportunities in this market to gain revenue benefits in the near future. Moreover, the report will help you to improve your strategic decision-making, allowing you to frame growth strategies, reinforce the analysis of other market players, and maximise the productivity of the company.

What are the Current Market Drivers?

Increasing Demand for Biopharmaceuticals

Biologics continued to experience increasing demand as a result of their indispensable efficacy and specificity in the treatment of chronic and complex diseases. It is anticipated that the vigorous R&D efforts aimed at developing innovative therapeutics, along with a growing elderly population with a heightened need for advanced drugs and treatments will further catalyze the growth of the biopharmaceutical industry. Biologics success reflects their efficacy in treating major chronic diseases, especially some autoimmune diseases and cancer. Ageing population will be more susceptible to such diseases and is one of the key factors driving the growth of the global biological drugs market. In most of the developed world, the share of elderly population is almost touching a quarter of the population. This is leading to a situation where contributors to healthcare systems are becoming fewer and consumption is increasing. This is creating tremendous pressure on healthcare budgets across the globe. In such a scenario, governments are relying on biologics which overall put lesser burden on healthcare budgets. Since their efficacy is on the higher side, drug consumption is typically lesser, which compensates for their higher cost. Further, biologics enable development of precision medicines, which again promises to improve health outcomes among the patient population.

Over the forecast period, we anticipate rise of more divestitures and out licensing deals from large biopharmaceutical companies. After 3 years of very active deal-making, several large biopharmaceutical companies now have very significant early-stage pipelines and are struggling to find the R&D capacity and capital to move those programs forward.

Increasing Demand for Outsourcing Bioprocess Validation

Biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies that manufacture bio-products and validate bioprocesses have an enormous demand for testing services. The outsourcing of biopharmaceutical drug and therapeutics manufacturing services drives market growth. Furthermore, the expansion of the healthcare sector and the procurement of essential raw materials by market leaders also contribute to the expansion of the industry.

Furthermore, the market is bolstered by the proliferation of CDMOs that offer drug development and manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sectors. As predicted, the segment will amass a substantial market share and establish its dominance in the near future.

Get Detailed ToC

https://www.visiongain.com/report/bioprocess-validation-market-2023/

Where are the Market Opportunities?

Growth Opportunities in Emerging Economies

The burgeoning rate of biopharmaceutical production in developing nations presents a significant prospect for enterprises that specialise in the validation of bioprocesses. The economies in question are experiencing an increase in demand for biopharmaceuticals due to various factors such as population growth and enhanced healthcare availability. Consequently, there is a pressing requirement for rigorous validation procedures. Providers of bioprocess validation services have the opportunity to meet this demand by offering extensive validation solutions that guarantee the safety, effectiveness, and quality of biopharmaceutical products.

In addition, the current endeavours in achieving regulatory harmonisation offer a distinct and advantageous prospect for professionals specialising in bioprocess validation. Numerous developing economies are actively endeavouring to harmonise their regulatory frameworks with international standards, with the aim of bolstering their credibility within the global pharmaceutical market. Biopharmaceutical manufacturers in these regions stand to benefit greatly by partnering with companies that possess the ability to effectively navigate and provide assistance in adhering to the dynamic and ever-changing regulatory landscape.

The emergence of biopharmaceutical manufacturing in developing economies has presented a new avenue of opportunity, driven by significant technological advancements. The implementation of automation, analytics, and real-time monitoring systems requires the implementation of sophisticated validation procedures to guarantee smooth integration and adherence to regulatory standards. Service providers specialising in bioprocess validation, who possess extensive knowledge in validating these advanced technologies, can significantly contribute to the technological advancement of the biopharmaceutical sector in these specific regions.

Companies offering efficient bioprocess validation services find emerging economies to be a favourable environment due to their potential for cost-effective solutions. Service providers can gain a competitive advantage by meeting the need for cost-effective validation solutions while maintaining high quality standards. This approach is in line with the cost-conscious tendencies observed among numerous biopharmaceutical manufacturers in these economies. It aims to establish a mutually advantageous partnership that facilitates growth within the sector.

In addition, the increasing prevalence of outsourcing in the field of biopharmaceutical manufacturing offers a strategic advantage for professionals specialising in bioprocess validation. The demand for dependable and specialised service providers is on the rise as companies in emerging economies progressively delegate their manufacturing and validation procedures to external entities. By providing extensive validation services, companies have the opportunity to establish themselves as reliable partners, enabling biopharmaceutical manufacturers to concentrate on their fundamental areas of expertise while guaranteeing adherence to regulatory requirements.

Harmonized Bioanalytical Testing Opens New Opportunities

With the advancement of harmonised bioanalytical testing, particularly in the realm of sensitivity analysis, it is anticipated that there will be a corresponding rise in the demand for enhanced scientific rigour in assay procedures. The implementation of harmonised bioanalytical testing is anticipated to enhance the progress of drug development through the facilitation of consistent assay performance and the validation of results across Contract Research Organisations (CROs) conducting global trials in various geographical regions. This application is particularly pertinent for populations affected by rare diseases and for products related to cell and gene therapy. However, the benefits of harmonised bioanalytical testing extend to a wide range of drug development endeavours.

Furthermore, the implementation of ICH M10 not only facilitates the synchronisation of procedures, templates, and internal training programmes, but also empowers Contract Research Organisations (CROs) to enhance their knowledge and understanding. This is achieved through the conduction of comprehensive gap analyses of existing methodologies and engaging in meaningful discussions with their sponsor partners regarding potential modifications.

Smaller biotechnology companies, which face greater limitations in terms of internal resources in comparison to larger pharmaceutical companies, can leverage the concentration of updated ICH M10 knowledge and capabilities within Contract Research Organisations (CROs) to reduce the extent of their internal efforts in updating study protocols, methods, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

The development of the ICH M10 guidelines aimed to address the inherent challenges faced by biopharmaceutical companies when operating in diverse countries and regulatory agencies. These challenges encompass issues related to data reproducibility and scientific validity, with the ultimate goal of expediting the process of bringing their drug(s) to the market.

The ICH M10 guideline enhances existing guidelines through the revision of standard operating procedures (SOPs), validation templates (which now include additional experiments and comparisons that must be conducted), reporting criteria, selectivity prerequisites for participants in clinical trials, and stability testing.

Competitive Landscape

The major players operating in the bioprocess validation market are Almac Group, Charles River Laboratories, CMIC HOLDINGS Co., Ltd., Cobetter Filtration Equipment Co., Ltd., Cytovance Biologics, Cytiva, DOC S.r.l., Eurofins Scientific, Lonza Group, Meissner Filtration Products, Inc., Merck KGaA, Sartorius AG, SGS SA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. These major players operating in this market have adopted various strategies comprising M&A, investment in R&D, collaborations, partnerships, regional business expansion, and new product launch.

Recent Developments

On 15 th November 2023, Cytiva introduced the innovative Cytiva Protein Select technology, designed to streamline and accelerate recombinant protein purification. The self-cleaving traceless tag and complementary affinity chromatography resin standardizes purification for any protein, rendering it unnecessary to use specific affinity binding partners for each protein.

November 2023, Cytiva introduced the innovative Cytiva Protein Select technology, designed to streamline and accelerate recombinant protein purification. The self-cleaving traceless tag and complementary affinity chromatography resin standardizes purification for any protein, rendering it unnecessary to use specific affinity binding partners for each protein. On 28 th September 2023, Sartorius and UK-based start-up SPARTA Biodiscovery agreed to partner on SPARTAs analysis platform, which helps speed up the development, manufacture, and quality control of nanoparticles for biopharmaceutical drugs. Nanoparticles are small polymer or lipid capsules that act as carriers to deliver active agents to the target cells. As part of the cooperation, Sartorius will invest up to 3.5 million British pounds in a minority shareholding in SPARTA Biodiscovery through its corporate investment unit Sartorius Ventures.

September 2023, Sartorius and UK-based start-up SPARTA Biodiscovery agreed to partner on SPARTAs analysis platform, which helps speed up the development, manufacture, and quality control of nanoparticles for biopharmaceutical drugs. Nanoparticles are small polymer or lipid capsules that act as carriers to deliver active agents to the target cells. As part of the cooperation, Sartorius will invest up to 3.5 million British pounds in a minority shareholding in SPARTA Biodiscovery through its corporate investment unit Sartorius Ventures. On 5 th June 2023, Waters Corporation and Sartorius announced a new collaboration to develop integrated analytical solutions for downstream biomanufacturing, expanding their joint agreement that began with upstream bioprocessing analytics. Software and hardware integrations between the Waters PATROL UltraPerformance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) Process Analysis System and the Sartorius Resolute BioSMB multi-column chromatography platform will give bioprocess engineers access to more comprehensive analytical data for downstream batch and continuous manufacturing, improving yields while reducing waste and driving down biomanufacturing costs.

June 2023, Waters Corporation and Sartorius announced a new collaboration to develop integrated analytical solutions for downstream biomanufacturing, expanding their joint agreement that began with upstream bioprocessing analytics. Software and hardware integrations between the Waters PATROL UltraPerformance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) Process Analysis System and the Sartorius Resolute BioSMB multi-column chromatography platform will give bioprocess engineers access to more comprehensive analytical data for downstream batch and continuous manufacturing, improving yields while reducing waste and driving down biomanufacturing costs. On 1st May 2023, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. launched Accugenix Next Generation Sequencing for Bacterial Identification and Fungal Identification (Accugenix NGS). Accugenix NGS simultaneously sequences millions of individual DNA fragments from a sample and provides key information to pharmaceutical and personal care manufacturers regarding microbial control.

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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new poll by The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports found one-in-five voters who cast mail-in ballots during the 2020 presidential election admit to participating in at least one kind of voter fraud.

When asked, During the 2020 election, did you fill out a ballot, in part or in full, on behalf of a friend or family member, such as a spouse or child?, 21% of respondents who said they voted by mail answered yes. (Filling out a ballot for someone else is illegal in all states, although many states allow people to assist others with voting.)

Additionally, 17% of mail-in voters said they voted in a state where you were no longer a permanent resident. Seventeen percent of mail-in voters also admitted to signing a ballot or ballot envelope on behalf of a friend or family member. (Both voting in a state where you are no longer a permanent resident and forging a signature on a ballot or ballot envelope are fraudulent activities that invalidate votes, when caught by election officials.)

According to election data, more than 43 percent of 2020 voters cast ballots by mail, the highest percentage in U.S. history.

Further, 10% of all respondents  not just those who said they voted by mail  claimed that they know a friend, family member, co-worker, or other acquaintance who has admitted  that he or she cast a mail-in ballot in 2020 in a state other than his or her state of permanent residence.

Eight percent of all respondents said a friend, family member, or organization, such as a political party offered them pay or a reward for agreeing to vote in the 2020 election.

Taken together, the results of these survey questions appear to show that voter fraud was widespread in the 2020 election, especially among those who cast mail-in ballots.

The poll of 1,085 likely voters was conducted from November 30 to December 6, 2023. Among those surveyed in the poll, 33% were Republicans, 36% were Democrats, and 31% were other; 32% were 18-39 years old, 46% were 40-64 years old, and 22% were 65 or older.

The following statements from policy experts at The Heartland Institute  a free-market think tank  may be used for attribution. If youd like to interview a Heartland Institute expert on this topic or other topics, please contact Justin Haskins, the director of Heartlands Socialism Research Center and primary author of the Heartland/Rasmussen survey, at jhaskins@heartland.org, or contact Vice President and Director of Communications Jim Lakely at jlakely@heartland.org. You can also call/text Jim at 312-731-9364.

The results of this survey are nothing short of stunning. For the past three years, Americans have repeatedly been told that the 2020 election was the most secure in history. But if this polls findings are reflective of reality, the exact opposite is true. This conclusion isnt based on conspiracy theories or suspect evidence, but rather from the responses made directly by the voters themselves.

A democratic republic cannot survive if election laws allow voters to commit fraud easily, and thats exactly what occurred during the 2020 election. Although some progress has been made in more than a dozen states since the conclusion of the 2020 election, much more work is needed in most regions of the United States. If Americas election laws do not improve soon, voters and politicians will continue to question the truthfulness and fairness of all future elections.

Justin Haskins

Director, Socialism Research Center

The Heartland Institute

jhaskins@heartland.org

The 2020 election was unlike any other in history as tens of millions of Americans voted by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, many experts warned that massive mail-in voting could result in widespread voter fraud. Unfortunately, these concerns were prophetic, as the results of this poll clearly show that a large number of voters did indeed fraudulently cast ballots in the 2020 election.

The past few presidential elections have been razor-thin, and signs point to 2024 being another closely contested election. It is paramount that the American people have the utmost confidence that all elections are free and fair, and bereft of voter fraud as much as possible. Therefore, states should ensure their voter rolls are up-to-date and accurate, encourage in-person voting, and implement commonsense measures to reduce the potential for mail-in voting fraud.

Chris Talgo

Editorial Director, Research Fellow

The Heartland Institute

ctalgo@heartland.org



The results of this poll should be eye-opening to anyone that claims to care about the legitimacy of our democratic institutions. Since the 2020 elections, anyone who questioned the security of widespread mail-in balloting was dismissed as a conspiracy theorist. Now, those people are 100 percent vindicated in their concerns.

The only question that remains is whether these stunning admissions by voters will result in reforms to our country's election laws.

Donald Kendal

Deputy Director, Socialism Research Center

The Heartland Institute

dkendal@heartland.org



This survey emphatically suggests that the 2020 presidential election results were contaminated by widespread voter fraud, despite the mainstream medias constant attempts to gaslight the American public into believing the opposite. Of the 30 percent of Americans claiming they voted by mail in this survey, at least one in every five engaged in one or more kinds of voter fraud.

While many mightperhaps rightfullyattempt to use these results in an effort to vindicate Donald Trumps claims of voter fraud and subsequently relitigate the 2020 election, it is more important to look forward than backward. With the 2024 elections right around the corner, it is imperative that state officials do everything in their power to shore up the integrity of their voting processes. Eliminating or vastly restricting mail-in voting would be a good place to start.

Jack McPherrin

Research Editor, Research Fellow

The Heartland Institute

jmcpherrin@heartland.org

These survey results show the importance of implementing forward-looking fixes to election rules and procedures that currently allow and encourage fraud. Regardless of what ones views are on the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, Americans deserve an election system that is undeniably transparent and immune from mischief. These survey results conclusively illustrate that election fraud is a rampant and pervasive problem that undermines our democracy.

James Taylor

President

The Heartland Institute

jtaylor@heartland.org



Anyone who believed that the 2020 election was the most secure in American history trusted a corrupt Deep State more than their eyes and common sense. Yet this narrative continues to dominate corporate media coverage. Our election systems are broken in this country. If we do not fix them  including harsh punishments who break the law, as many admitted to in this survey  it will be impossible to trust any election moving forward. If you dont protect the integrity of the election process and every single ballot, the franchise means nothing and we no longer live in a society governed by the actual will of the people.

Jim Lakely

Vice President and Director of Communications

The Heartland Institute

jlakely@heartland.org

The Heartland Institute is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems.

Survey of 1,085 National Likely Voters

November 30  December 6, 2023

Conducted by Rasmussen Reports and the Heartland Institute

1. If your state banned mail-in balloting in next years presidential election, would you choose to vote in-person or would you choose not to vote at all?

94% you would vote in person

2% you wouldnt vote

4% not sure

2. We are now going to ask you several questions about voting in the 2020 Presidential election. Your responses will remain anonymous, so please answer honestly. Who did you vote for in the 2020 Presidential election?

45% Donald Trump

46% Joe Biden

4% some other candidate

3% didnt vote

1% not sure

3. Did you vote with an absentee or mail-in ballot in the 2020 election?

30% yes

68% no

2% not sure

Answered by respondents who voted by absentee or mail-in ballot:

4. During the 2020 election, did a friend or family member fill out your ballot, in part or in full, on your behalf?

19% yes

79% no

2% not sure

5. During the 2020 election, did you fill out a ballot, in part or in full, on behalf of a friend or family member, such as a spouse or child?

21% yes

78% no

0% not sure

6. During the 2020 election, did you cast a mail-in ballot in a state where you were no longer a permanent resident?

17% yes

82% no

1% not sure

7. During the 2020 election, did you sign a ballot or ballot envelope on behalf of a friend or family member, with or without his or her permission?

17% yes

81% no

1% not sure

Answered by all respondents:

8. During the 2020 election, did a friend, family member, or organization, such as a political party, offer to pay or reward you for voting?

8% yes

91%no

1% not sure

9. Do you know a friend, family member, co-worker, or other acquaintance who has admitted to you that he or she cast a mail-in ballot in 2020 in a state other than his or her state of permanent residence?

10% yes

86% no

3% not sure

10. Do you know a friend, family member, co-worker, or other acquaintance who has admitted to you that he or she filled out a ballot on behalf of another person?

11% yes

87% no

2% not sure



NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence

###

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Dublin, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "China Life Insurance Market Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The China life insurance market is expected to witness value of $700 billion by 2028

There has been a rapid increase in sudden cardiac deaths in the country. Moreover, the increasing awareness about the importance of life insurance among consumers and the benefits of different life insurance plans are further boosting the China life insurance market.







A life insurance policy is a contract where the insurer agrees to pay a specific sum to the beneficiary when the insured person dies or after a particular period, in return for the policyholder's premium payments. The policyholder must pay premiums for the policy's lifetime, and in exchange, the life insurance provider provides complete life cover. In the case of a tragic event, life insurance provides a lump sum payment known as the death benefit.



Increasing government initiatives are expected to drive the life insurance market in China. The State Council has launched a new private pension scheme in China, allowing people to voluntarily contribute to pension accounts and invest their pension funds in reliable financial products such as life insurance and health insurance. As China's population ages faster than expected and the birth rate declines, the national pension fund is facing mounting pressure.

The new scheme aims to address issues in the country's current pension system. People will have more options for accumulating wealth, maintaining financial stability, and accessing a lucrative new market for banks and financial organizations. This will significantly boost the market for private players dealing in different financial products, including life insurance. Life insurance not only provides support to consumers after they retire, but it also acts as protection for their families in case of any unfortunate situations.



The life insurance market is experiencing substantial competition as more businesses compete for consumers' attention and business. The expansion of digital channels, the globalization of insurance markets, and the growing importance of the consumer have all contributed to this development. Insurers are launching fresh, innovative products to meet the changing demands and preferences of their clients.

For instance, some insurers now offer coverage for new risks such as identity theft or cyberattacks. Insurers are also investing in customer service and assistance to enhance the client experience. This may involve providing professional guidance and improving the claims procedure. Insurance companies differentiate themselves from competitors by developing strong, recognizable brands that connect with consumers. This may require investments in marketing and advertising initiatives that highlight the company's unique selling propositions.



Rapidly Increasing Aging Population is Fueling the Market Growth



The aging population in China is increasing rapidly, significantly increasing pressure on older people to buy life insurance for the betterment of their family members after they are gone. According to data from the 2020 census, around 264 million people in China are already 60 or older, making up about 18.70% of the country's total population, an increase from 13.3% in the 2010 census.

According to projections, this geriatric population will reach 300 million by 2025 and more than 400 million by 2033. The size of the above 60 population, which would make up about one-third of China's population, would have a considerable influence on the administration of social welfare services and public safety.



Growing Number of Insurance Companies Will Drive Market Growth



The market is experiencing an increase in the number of insurance providers. The number may rise further in the coming years as China's insurance regulatory body raised the cap on FDI investments in the insurance sector from 51% to 100%.

A change in insurance legislation will increase the number of market participants, strengthen the market, encourage Chinese and foreign-owned financial institutions to become more competitive, and help China access global knowledge and expertise.

The promotion of the Chinese insurance industry, the enhancement of the shareholding composition of associated financial institutions, the regulation of shareholder behavior, and the formation of a sound and diversified market system will all greatly benefit from China's continued opening up and the creation of a fair market environment.



Increasing Financial Literacy is Boosting Market Growth



According to the report 'Consumer Financial Literacy Survey and Analysis Report (2021)' published by the People's Bank of China (PBOC), Chinese consumers scored 66.81 overall for financial literacy in 2021, up 2.04 points from 2019.

Moreover, according to the survey, Chinese consumers know more about fundamental economic concepts such as credit, insurance, loans, deposits, and annualized return calculation. Thus, with the increase in financial literacy in the country, it will further accelerate the growth of the life insurance market owing to better market knowledge among people.



Emergence of Online Distribution Channel



In China's life insurance industry, the growth of online distribution channels has been a significant trend. Online distribution channels refer to the process of providing insurance products and services to consumers directly through digital channels like websites and mobile applications.

In the past, agents or brokers were primarily responsible for selling life insurance policies. They would visit clients in person to discuss the policies and help with the application process. The growing use of mobile devices and high-speed internet, however, has led to a rise in the number of consumers who choose to browse and buy insurance products online.



For customers, online distribution channels offer convenience and flexibility. Customers can research and purchase insurance products at any time and from anywhere, without the need to schedule appointments with agents or brokers. Customers can also purchase insurance through online channels, which gives them more transparency and control over the process and enables them to compare options and pricing and come to wise judgments.

Online distribution platforms are especially well-suited for selling plain, easy-to-understand life insurance products like term insurance that don't need a lot of modification or explanation. While employing online tools and calculators to assist customers in comprehending these products, some insurers are also leveraging digital channels to market more complex products like permanent life insurance and annuities.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 74 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $500 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $700 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.0% Regions Covered China

Competitive Landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in China life insurance market.

HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited

Ping An Life Insurance Co of China, Ltd

New China Life Insurance Company Ltd.

Manulife-Sinochem Life Insurance Co Ltd

Taiping Life Insurance Co Ltd

Sino Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

Taikang Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co Ltd

China Reinsurance (Group) Corporation

Sino-German Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd.

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Increasing aging population

Rise in financial literacy

Growing number of insurance companies

Market Trends & Developments

Rising awareness through online channels

Easy availability

Rising government initiatives

Increasing demand of life insurance as pension schemes

Presence of various life insurance schemes

Challenges

Rising insurance rates

Decreasing number of working professionals

Voice of Customer Analysis (B2C Model Analysis)

Sample Size Determination

Respondent Demographics

By Gender

By Age

By Occupation

Brand Awareness

Factors Influencing Purchase Decision

Sources of Information

Impact of COVID-19 on China Life Insurance Market

Impact Assessment Model

Key Segments Impacted

Key Regions Impacted

Key Mode of Purchase Impacted

Report Scope



China Life Insurance Market, by Premium Type:

Regular

Single

China Life Insurance Market, by Type of Coverage:

Individual

Group

China Life Insurance Market, by Term of Coverage:

Term

Whole

China Life Insurance Market, by Mode of Purchase:

Insurance Agents/Brokers

Insurance Companies

Others

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8wa7p7

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
SOCIETE GENERALE: Number of shares composing current share capital and Total number of voting rights as of 30/11/2023



Regulated Information

Paris, 12 December 2023

Information about the total number of voting rights and shares pursuant to Article L.233-8 II of the French Commercial Code and Article 223-16 of the AMF General Regulations.

Date Number of shares composing current share capital Total number of

voting rights 30 November 2023 802,979,942



Gross: 877,109,589





Press contact:

Jean-Baptiste Froville_+33 1 58 98 68 00_ jean-baptiste.froville@socgen.com

Fanny Rouby_+33 1 57 29 11 12_ fanny.rouby@socgen.com

Societe Generale

Societe Generale is a top tier European Bank with 117,000 employees serving 25 million clients in more than 60 countries across the world. We have been supporting the development of our economies for nearly 160 years, providing our corporate, institutional, and individual clients with a wide array of value-added advisory and financial solutions. Our long-lasting and trusted relationships with the clients, our cutting-edge expertise, our unique innovation, our ESG capabilities and leading franchises are part of our DNA and serve our most essential objective - to deliver sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders.



The Group runs three complementary sets of businesses, embedding ESG offerings for all its clients:

French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance , with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital Bank BoursoBank.

, with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital Bank BoursoBank. Global Banking and Investor Solutions , a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in Equity Derivatives, Structured Finance and ESG.

, a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in Equity Derivatives, Structured Finance and ESG. International Retail, Mobility & Leasing Services, comprising well-established universal banks (in Czech Republic, Romania and several African countries), Ayvens (the new ALD I LeasePlan brand), a global player in sustainable mobility, as well as specialized financing activities.





Committed to building together with its clients a better and sustainable future, Societe Generale aims to be a leading partner in the environmental transition and sustainability overall. The Group is included in the principal socially responsible investment indices: DJSI (Europe), FTSE4Good (Global and Europe), Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index, Euronext Vigeo (Europe and Eurozone), STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes, and the MSCI Low Carbon Leaders Index (World and Europe).

In case of doubt regarding the authenticity of this press release, please go to the end of the Group News page on societegenerale.com website where official Press Releases sent by Societe Generale can be certified using blockchain technology. A link will allow you to check the documents legitimacy directly on the web page.

For more information, you can follow us on Twitter/X @societegenerale or visit our website societegenerale.com .

Attachment
NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd. (NYSE: TNP) announced today that the Founder and CEO, Dr. Nikolas Tsakos, will be interviewed on the Watch List with Nicole Petallides, Lead Anchor at the Schwab Network, live today at 2:20 pm EST.

To watch the interview live, please follow this link: https://schwabnetwork.com/

Following the interview Dr. Nikolas Tsakos along with executives of other NYSE listed companies and dignitaries will ring the Closing bell celebrating the Greek American Issuer Day hosted by the NYSE in the context of the 25th Annual Capital Link Invest in Greece Forum, held yesterday, December 11th 2023, at the Metropolitan Club In New York City.

ABOUT TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION

TEN, founded in 1993 and celebrating this year 30 years as a public company, is one of the first and most established public shipping companies in the world. TENs diversified energy fleet currently consists of 68 double-hull vessels, including four dual-fuel LNG powered aframax vessels, two DP2 shuttle tankers, two scrubber-fitted suezmax vessels and two scrubber-fitted MR product tankers under construction, constituting a mix of crude tankers, product tankers and LNG carriers, totaling 8.4 million dwt.

ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted by such forward-looking statements. TEN undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Company

Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd.

George Saroglou

President

+30210 94 07 710

gsaroglou@tenn.gr

Investor Relations / Media

Capital Link, Inc.

Nicolas Bornozis

Markella Kara

+212 661 7566

ten@capitallink.com




Chamblee, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chamblee, Georgia -

Chamblee, Georgia based Mighty Estates, LLC is reaching out to share information about how members of the community can avoid the stress of foreclosure. Mighty Estates specializes in providing tailored, win-win solutions for homeowners across Metro-Atlanta who are facing challenges such as foreclosures, burdensome properties, and probate. Learn more: Sell My Atlanta House Fast.

As Mighty Estates explains, foreclosure is a legal process where a lender attempts to repossess a property because the homeowner has failed to make their mortgage payments. Foreclosures are complex and stressful procedures, and they can be made worse by not knowing the steps involved in seeing them through. These are things like receiving a notice of default, going through a pre-foreclosure period, and eventually facing a foreclosure auction or eviction. Knowledge of the process can be helpful for homeowners as it will allow them to prepare for a potential worst case scenario while exploring alternative solutions to avoid foreclosure.

According to the company, one of the first steps is to attempt to resolve the issue by communicating with the lenders. Communication is key, and ignoring the issue can make matters worse. By communicating effectively with a lender, homeowners can seek assistance and explore available options to resolve the situation. More often than not, lenders will be willing to work with homeowners on alternatives like a modification, repayment plan, or even a short sale.

Homeowners can also get in touch with one of the many organizations and agencies that specialize in preventing foreclosure, and gain valuable professional advice and guidance. This can also help them form financial recovery strategies. Even if other options are not viable and foreclosure is inevitable, homeowners should do their best to minimize its impact on their financial future. This may include creating a budget, exploring financial assistance programs, or seeking employment opportunities that can help improve their overall financial situation.

If homeowners should decide to sell their house, they will have various avenues to explore; however, most options will be incompatible with a looming deadline. This is where Mighty Estates comes in. The company understands that time is of the essence, and their team stands ready to help homeowners navigate the selling process smoothly and efficiently. The company buys houses in the Atlanta area and will make a fair cash offer soon after a client gets in touch. Mighty Estates positions themselves as Atlanta residents trusted partner when it comes to selling their homes quickly and efficiently. Learn more: Atlanta Sell Now.

Mighty Estates hard work on behalf of their clients has earned them great praise. In a recent review, a client writes, Brandon has been amazing. We have been working with Brandon for a little over a year. He has been patient and has walked us all the way through our process. He has been honest. If he didnt know the answer to something, he would find out. We are so grateful for Mighty Estates. Thank you again for all you have done.

Another review says, This has been an incredible experience. Brandon was understanding and completely thorough throughout this process. We happily made it all work with ample time from closing to moving onto a new living arrangement. I highly recommend their services. All around transparent, formal, and compassionate in his profession. Thank you. And 5 Stars from the Orosco family. Thanks again, Mighty Estates LLC.

Mighty Estates, LLC is a family-owned business led by Brandon Barnes, a fact that lends a personal touch to every service the team offers. The company considers it their mission to help homeowners find the best solutions to their unique situations. Their friendly and experienced team is dedicated to getting to know their clients needs and walking them through each step of the journey, providing assistance and actionable insight with a caring approach.

Those who want to learn more about Mighty Estates, LLC and the full range of services the company provides can visit their website for more information. Mighty Estates encourages interested parties to directly get in touch with Brandon Barnes for any questions or concerns. Learn how the company can help sellers here: Sell My House Fast In Atlanta.

###

For more information about Mighty Estates, LLC, contact the company here:



Mighty Estates, LLC

Brandon Barnes

(770) 799-8760

info@atlsellnow.com

1954 Airport Rd #133, Chamblee, 30341
Linthicum, MD, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NFM Lending is proud to announce it was named a Top Workplace by The Baltimore Sun. NFM Lending has received this honor for twelve consecutive years. The publication held the Top Workplaces awards ceremony on December 7, 2023, at the Grand Lodge of Maryland in Hunt Valley, MD.

Out of 155 Baltimore-area businesses, NFM Lending ranked #10 for companies with 150-399 employees. Each year, the Baltimore Sun distributes a survey to employees of Baltimore area workplaces. The survey analyzes job satisfaction and engagement of employees along with the values and organizational health of the company.

"We are immensely honored to be recognized as a 'Top Workplace' by the Baltimore Sun, said NFM President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Tyson. This accolade is a testament to the exceptional dedication and talent of our incredible team at the NFM Family of Lenders. Our success is a direct result of the hard work and commitment of each employee, who consistently contributes to our vibrant and positive workplace culture. We take great pride in fostering an environment where innovation, collaboration, and excellence thrive. This achievement is a reflection of our collective efforts, and we remain committed to maintaining a workplace that empowers and inspires every member of our NFM family."

NFM Lending prides itself on its exceptional culture. The company fills the employees work environment with encouragement and teamwork, building a positive workplace that rewards commitment and performance. Management encourages employees to voice their questions and concerns, which are addressed promptly and appropriately. In addition, managers often surprise staff members for their birthdays, and the company holds contests, holiday celebrations, and other initiatives to encourage collaboration and show employees their appreciation.

NFM Lending is consistently recognized for its exceptional company culture. These awards include Top Workplace USA by Top Workplaces and Energage, Top Mortgage Employer by National Mortgage Professional Magazine; Top Workplace by the Washington Post; and Best Mortgage Companies to Work For by National Mortgage News. NFM Lending is proud of these accomplishments and its teams work to make it a Top Workplace.

About NFM Lending

NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 49 states and Washington, D.C. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, BluPrint Home Loans, Elevate Home Loans, and Element Home Loans. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.

Media Contact:

Gene DiPaula

888-233-0092
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) announced today that the companys Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division joined elected officials and community leaders Tuesday to dedicate the 20th and 21st houses shipyard volunteers have constructed in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg since 2002.



The ribbon cutting welcomed the families to their new homes, which were partly built by Habitat for Humanity using 3D printing technology. NNS is an industry leader in additive manufacturing, using 3D printing technology in the shipyard to support both aircraft carrier and submarine production.

NNS President Jennifer Boykin and NNS Vice President of Engineering and Design Dave Bolcar presented the house keys to the families. They were also gifted custom doorknockers and house address signs created by NNS using 3D printing, in a nod to the historic construction of the homes.

Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://hii.com/news/hii-dedicates-20th-and-21st-habitat-for-humanity-homes/.

Like the ships we build for the Navy, these houses were constructed with pride and an appreciation for those who will call them home, Boykin said. Theres something special about giving back to our neighbors here in our companys hometown. We are committed to the city of Newport News and the revitalization of the Southeast community. I know these two wonderful families will be positive anchors for the future of this neighborhood.

She also recognized one of the first NNS Habitat for Humanity volunteers, Matt McQuade, an outside machinist at the shipyard for 32 years until his passing last year.

He lent his craftsmanship, love and service to help shape the Habitat homes we supported, so it was an honor to build these two homes in his memory, Boykin shared.

This is the first time NNS has sponsored two homes at once. BayPort Credit Union is also a partner on the 20th home.

Having the support of HII, not just financially but also in the time invested by shipbuilders at the Newport News Shipbuilding division, meant the world to us on this historic project, said Janet V. Green, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg. We know our new homeowners will be able to enjoy these homes as places of fellowship and security for their families and will create new memories in them for years to come.

The three-bedroom, 1,200-square-foot homes are in the Southeast community of Newport News, on land donated by the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

The families are purchasing the homes from Habitat with a 30-year, no-interest mortgage, which illustrates Habitats objective to give families a hand up rather than a hand out. The payments are cycled back into the community so more homes can be built for qualifying families.

Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg is a non-profit organization serving the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson and Williamsburg and the counties of Charles City, James City, New Kent and York. For more information, visit www.HabitatPGW.org.

About HII

HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HIIs mission is to deliver the worlds most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.

As the nations largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HIIs workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:

HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/

HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII

HII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII

HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII

Contact:



Todd Corillo

Todd.T.Corillo@hii-co.com

(757) 688-3220

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/40d5c96c-334b-4c2c-8dc7-fa18acae209c
ATLANTA, GA, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Americold Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: COLD), through its joint venture RSA Cold Chain in Dubai, today announced plans to build and operate a new $35 million, state-of-the-art cold storage facility with 40,000 pallet positions, in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) in the Port of Jebel Ali in Dubai. This investment builds on the strategic collaboration between Americold and DP World, the leading provider of worldwide smart end-to-end supply chain logistics with a global port infrastructure.

The new facility will offer multi-temperature capabilities and connect to DP Worlds best-in-class logistics solutions. Earlier this year, RSA Cold Chain entered into a long-term land lease agreement with DP World to support this development. Construction will start early 2024 and is expected to be completed by Q1 of 2025.

The addition of critical temperature-controlled infrastructure and value-added services will enable a next generation cold chain offering in the Port of Jebel Ali in Dubai, said George Chappelle, CEO of Americold. Americold is committed to investing in new and innovative long-term solutions that optimize the cold chain from production to consumption and support our mission of helping our customers feed the world. This partnership with DP World provides unique synergies that create significant value for both local and global customers. Were excited to bring this vision to life in Dubai with the first of many developments in the region.

As a global leader in end-to-end supply chain solutions, DP World is always looking for ways to innovate and expand its logistics capabilities. We are delighted to partner with Americold and RSA to provide our customers with best-in-class temperature-controlled solutions for perishable goods, strengthening the resilience of the F&B industry in the UAE and the Middle East, said Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World, GCC.

In March 2023, Americold announced a strategic investment into RSA Cold Chain in Dubai. The investment provided a scalable, investable operating platform for market entry and expansion in the Middle East and India. Construction is already under way to double the capacity of the current RSA facility in Dubai South. This, combined with the new development at the DP World port, will more than triple current capacity in the Dubai market to more than 70,000 pallet positions.

Collaboration between Americold and DP World began in 2021 and was formalized in November of 2022 with the signing of a Global Partnership Agreement. The planned development in Jebel Ali will be the first-of-its-kind to combine Americolds global temperature-controlled infrastructure with DP Worlds port infrastructure and end-to-end logistics solutions. This strategic combination will result in unprecedented optimization of temperature sensitive food flows in and out of the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

This new multi-temp, multi-purpose facility will set the stage for future collaborative developments with DP World in the GCC that will further enhance the value proposition for Americolds global customers that do business in this key global region.

For Americold media enquiries, please contact:

mediarelations@americold.com



About Americold

Americold is a global leader in temperature-controlled logistics real estate and value-added services. Focused on the ownership, operation, acquisition and development of temperature-controlled warehouses, Americold owns and/or operates 243 temperature-controlled warehouses, with approximately 1.5 billion refrigerated cubic feet of storage, in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and South America. Americolds facilities are an integral component of the supply chain connecting food producers, processors, distributors, and retailers to consumers.

For DP World media inquiries, please contact:

Jack Rigby

Senior Manager Communications

jack.rigby@edpworld.ae



About DP World

Trade is the lifeblood of the global economy, creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for people around the world. DP World exists to make the worlds trade flow better, changing whats possible for the customers and communities we serve globally.

With a dedicated, diverse, and professional team of more than 106,500 employees from 158 nationalities, spanning 73 countries on six continents, DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain thats fit for the future.

Were rapidly transforming and integrating our businesses  Ports and Terminals, Marine Services, Logistics and Technology  and uniting our global infrastructure with local expertise to create stronger, more efficient end-to-end supply chain solutions that can change the way the world trades.

What's more, we're reshaping the future by investing in innovation. From intelligent delivery systems to automated warehouse stacking, were at the cutting edge of disruptive technology, pushing the sector towards better ways to trade, minimizing disruptions from the factory floor to the customers door.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES



TORONTO, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (TSX: IVN; OTCQX: IVPAF) (Ivanhoe Mines or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has engaged BMO Capital Markets as sole agent in connection with a proposed offering of 41,667,000 Class A common shares (the Common Shares), on a private placement basis (the Offering) at a price of C$12.00 per Common Share (the Offering Price) for aggregate gross proceeds of C$500 million (approximately US$370 million). The Company expects to grant BMO Capital Markets an option, exercisable at the Offering Price up until 48 hours prior to the closing of the Offering, to place up to an additional 15% of the number of Common Shares purchased pursuant to the Offering. The Offering is expected to close on or about December 18, 2023 and is subject to Ivanhoe Mines receiving all necessary regulatory approvals, including approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund exploration, working capital, and for general corporate purposes.



The Offering will be conducted in reliance upon certain prospectus and private placement exemptions. The securities issuable to Canadian purchasers under the private placement will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day after the closing date. The Common Shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the shares in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Pursuant to the investor rights agreements between the Company and CITIC Metal Africa Investments Limited (CITIC) and Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd. (Zijin), respectively, each of CITIC and Zijin will have the right to acquire Common shares at the Offering Price to maintain their pro rata equity interest in the Company. Any Common Shares issued to CITIC or Zijin on exercise of their respective anti-dilution rights under their investor rights agreements will be in addition to those issued as part of the Offering.

About Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal projects in Southern Africa; the expansion of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC, the construction of the tier-one Platreef palladium-nickel-platinum-rhodium-copper-gold project in South Africa; and the restart of the historic ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC.

Ivanhoe Mines also is exploring for new copper discoveries across its circa 2,400km2 of 80-100% owned exploration licenses, as well as on the 247km2 of newly acquired joint venture licenses, in the Western Foreland located adjacent to the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC.

Information Contact



Investors



Vancouver: Matthew Keevil +1 604 558 1034

London: Tommy Horton +44 7866 913 207

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this news release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as may, would, could, will, intend, expect, believe, plan, anticipate, estimate, scheduled, forecast, predict and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. These statements reflect the companys current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this news release.

Such statements include without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated aggregate gross proceeds, pricing and timing of closing of the Offering and the anticipated use of proceeds of the Offering, statements regarding receipt of Toronto Stock Exchange approval in respect of the Offering and statements in respect of the exercise of the CITIC and Zijin anti-dilution rights.

Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under Risk Factors and elsewhere in the companys MD&A for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, and its Annual Information Form, as well as the inability to obtain regulatory approvals in a timely manner; the potential for unknown or unexpected events to cause contractual conditions to not be satisfied; unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.
Bath Township, Mich., Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Norm Fasteners, a subsidiary of Norm Holding based in Izmir, Turkey, has been a pioneering force in the manufacturing sector since its inception in 1973. Today Norm and its partners proudly announce a significant milestone in its strategic expansion plans  the establishment of their first U.S. manufacturing facility for Norm Fasteners in Bath Township in the Lansing, Michigan Region. This facility represents a significant leap in the company's growth trajectory and underscores its commitment to innovation, reliability, and customer satisfaction.

Norm Fasteners, a division of Norm Group, has emerged as a leading manufacturer of high-quality fasteners, catering to diverse industries such as automotive, construction, agriculture, and more. With a steadfast dedication to excellence, Norm Fasteners has earned a distinguished reputation as a trusted partner worldwide in the fastening industry.

In 2018, Norm Fasteners initiated a transformative phase by establishing warehousing and a sales office in Lansing, Michigan. This strategic move laid the foundation for the company's ambitious long-term vision  the construction of a large-scale fastener manufacturing facility in the United States. Collaborating closely with the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) and Dymaxion, the Developer partner for the project, Norm Fasteners has successfully realized this vision, marking a pivotal moment in its growth story.

Norm Fasteners Co. is looking forward to working with the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), local organizations and Bath Township officials on our plans. We appreciate the opportunity to land our first manufacturing investment outside our home country, in Bath Charter Township in Michigan. We are grateful to see that our goals are being recognized and supported by the local and state communities. We are committed to sustainability and eager to become an important player in Michigans EV supply chain, said Koray GURBUZ, USA Business Unit Director of Norm Fasteners Co.

The Bath Township Board of Trustees voted overwhelmingly to partner with Norm Fasteners to bring new jobs and opportunity to Bath Township residents. Those who live in Bath know best why an international corporation would choose our region and township to build their first American manufacturing facility  attractive development potential, balanced landscapes with natural beauty, efficient government services and infrastructure and a strong sense of community. We welcome our new neighbors and thank LEAP and the MEDC for their leadership and support in bringing this opportunity to Bath,  said Bath Charter Township, Supervisor, Ryan Fewins-Bliss.

Our LEAP team worked this project for nearly seven years along with the support of many local partners, to make sure we won the competition against multiple southern states and another country. Norm Fasteners is an important partner to our EV supply chain as we are building North Americas electric car and battery capital. I want to especially thank the incredible leadership of both the MEDC and Bath Township along with the many partners along this journey including Lansing Mayor Schor, Lansing Community College, Capital Area Michigan Works!, Michigan State University and Dymaxion, the longstanding development partner to Norm, said Bob Trezise president and CEO of LEAP.

We are thrilled to be welcoming Norm Fasteners first U.S. manufacturing facility to Michigan as we continue to secure our position as the leader in future mobility and electrification, said Quentin Messer, Jr., CEO of the MEDC and President and Chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund. We are grateful to Governor Whitmer, legislators from both parties, the MSF board and our partners at LEAP and Bath Charter Township for their continued support for our programs that help make announcements like todays possible. We will continue working to win projects, invest in places and support our people as we encourage businesses of all sizes to make it in Michigan.

Dymaxion is scheduled to commence construction on the new 365,000-square-foot facility in the spring of 2024, with an anticipated completion date in the fall of 2025. Norm's facility encompasses pivotal processes, including the annealing and heat treatment of raw materials, cold forging, secondary operations, as well as plating, coating, and the meticulous sorting and packaging of the final product. This holistic approach is designed to guarantee the production and delivery of top-notch fasteners that consistently adhere to the stringent quality standards set by Norm Fasteners.

Norm Fasteners' commitment to the Lansing region extends beyond its manufacturing capabilities. The facility represents a substantial $77 million investment over the next three years in Bath Township, fostering economic growth and creating 200 new jobs for the local community. The average hourly wage of $31.40, coupled with comprehensive benefits, reflects Norm Fasteners' dedication to providing stable and rewarding employment opportunities.

"We are thrilled with this major step toward making Norm's US manufacturing a reality. Having known Norm's leadership for 20 years, we are happy to assist them with their business goals while bringing a reputable and responsible firm to the region we call home," said Jeff Deehan, principal of Dymaxion Development.

Moreover, the expansion announcement by Norm Group resonates seamlessly with our overarching vision to foster supplier diversification for the Lansing region and bolster Michigan's standing as a pivotal hub for the future of electric vehicles (EV). Positioned at the forefront of the evolving automotive landscape, Norm Fasteners is dedicated to propelling innovation and fostering growth at the core of Michigan, solidifying our commitment to shaping the future of the industry.

"We are thrilled to announce Norm Fasteners' selection of Bath Township as the cornerstone for their U.S. expansion," said John Fuentes, County Administrator / Controller, Clinton County. "This strategic decision demonstrates Clinton County's attractiveness to new business investment and will contribute significantly to our county's economic advancement and community prosperity.

Learn more about the company at normfasteners.com/en/

Attachment
Comet Lithium Liberty property located less than 700 meters from known mineralization.

ROUYN-NORANDA, QC, Dec. 11, 2023 /CNW/ - Comet Lithium Corp. (TSXV: CLIC) (FSE: 8QY) ("Comet Lithium" or the "Corporation") congratulates Winsome Resources Limited ("Winsome") on the maiden Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") at its wholly-owned Adina Property ("Adina"), located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec and directly adjacent to Comet Lithium's Liberty property (the "Liberty Property").

The MRE at Adina has established it as one of the largest lithium pegmatite mineral resource in the Americas, returning 59 million tonnes at 1.12% Lithium Oxide ("Li 2 O") of Inferred Resources, at a cut-off grade of 0.6% Li 2 O, for a total of 1.62 million tonnes contained lithium carbonate equivalent(1). The MRE is based on 27,600 meters of drilling at an approximate spacing of 100m x 100m. As reported by Winsome, it has 5 drill rigs now operating at Adina with over 25,000 meters of additional infill and extensional drilling awaiting assay and targeting a MRE upgrade in H1 2024. Winsome further confirms being well-funded to undertake over 50,000 meters of infill and step out drilling in 2024 at Adina. Additionally, as reported by Winsome, the resource and geological modelling has outlined significant potential for growth at Adina Main and Footwall Zones, which remain open to the east and west along strike, up-dip to the north, and at depth. Recent results have resulted in an increase in the strike length of mineralisation defined by systematic drilling to 1,340 meters as well as confirming the continuity of mineralisation between Adina Main and Adina East.

Comet Lithium's Liberty Property is directly adjacent to the Adina property with Winsome drill collars located less than ~660 meters away from the property boundary. Additionally, Winsome has identified pegmatite targets located less than 50 meters away from the Adina-Liberty claim border. As previously announced, Comet Lithium has completed Phase 1 of the planned ground geophysical gravity survey and has now initiated Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the gravity survey on its Liberty Property. Comet Lithium expects to complete these two additional phases of the gravity survey by mid-December. The gravity survey will assist in optimizing pegmatite drill targets across the Liberty Property for the anticipated inaugural drill program.

"The release of the MRE on Adina by Winsome is a remarkable achievement, as it establishes the Trieste formation as a top tier camp to focus on lithium exploration. The MRE release, combined with Rio Tinto's recent Iceberg(2), Azimut's Galinee(3) and Loyal Lithium's Trieste(4) discoveries underpins the significant potential of the Trieste formation" commented Mr. Vincent Metcalfe, Executive Chairman of Comet Lithium. "We are very excited to continue our systematic exploration efforts at Liberty and anticipate completing the gravity survey by mid-December."

(1) Source: Winsome press release dated December 11, 2023 entitled "Globally significant maiden Mineral Resource of 59Mt at 100% owned Adina Lithium Project". (2) Source: Midland Exploration's press release dated November 2, 2023 referring to Rio Tinto and Midland Partnership - Iceberg Showing - November 2 2023. (3) Source: Azimut Exploration's press release dated November 29, 2023 entitled "Azimut and SOQUEM Expand Lithium Drilling Discovery at Galinee". (4) Source: Loyal Lithium Limited's press release dated November 1, 2023 entitled "Thick Intercepts of Spodumene Bearing Pegmatite at Trieste".

Qualified Person

Vincent Cardin-Tremblay, P. Geo (ogq #1386, PGO #3347), registered in the Provinces of Quebec, and Ontario is Vice President Exploration to Comet Lithium, is a qualified person under National Instrument 43?101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). He has reviewed the technical contents of this news release and has approved the disclosure of the technical information contained herein.

Comet Lithium is a dynamic lithium-focused exploration company active in the prolific James Bay District of Quebec. Comet Lithium's flagship asset is its 100%-owned Liberty Property contiguous to Winsome Resources' Adina deposit, a growing high-grade discovery. Comet Lithium is advancing Liberty to first-ever drilling.

Cautionary Note regarding the MRE

The MRE has been classified by Winsome as Inferred resources and reported in accordance with the JORC Code, 2012 edition (the "JORC Code"). The JORC Code has been accepted for current disclosure rules in Canada under NI 43-101. The meaning of mineral resources under the JORC Code differs from that of the CIM Definition Standards. There are no technical report supporting the MRE as this is not required under JORC Code. Readers must be aware that the technical information relating to MRE has been obtained from a press release of Winsome dated December 11, 2023 (the "Winsome Press Release") and such information has not been verified by the Corporation's Qualified Person but is believed to be reasonably reliable. While Comet has determined that the MRE is relevant to the Liberty Property given that the Liberty Property and Adina property are adjacent to each other and Liberty Property is on strike with Andina's mineralized pegmatites in addition that Winsome has identified pegmatite targets located less than 50 meters away from the Adina-Liberty claim border. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on the MRE as it is not indicative of the mineralization of the Liberty Property and the MRE does not mean or imply that economic deposits exist on the Liberty Property. Please refer to the Winsome's press release dated December 11, 2023, for more details on the MRE.

Readers are also cautioned that mineral resources are not economic mineral reserves and that the economic viability of resources that are not mineral reserves has not been demonstrated. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by geology, environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues. Under NI 43-101, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies or economic studies except for a Preliminary Economic Assessment as defined under NI 43-101. Readers are cautioned not to assume that further work on the stated resources will lead to mineral reserves on Winsome's Adina property that can be mined economically. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information may include, among others, statements regarding the future plans, costs, objectives or performance of Comet Lithium, or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In this news release, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate" and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, including the potential of the Trieste formation, the conduct of further exploration programs, in particular the completion of the Phase 2 and Phase 3 gravity survey, the results therefor, the identification of drill targets and future drill program and other exploration programs on the Liberty Property, or if it does so, what benefits Comet Lithium will derive from the Liberty Property and any such exploration programs. Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or management's good-faith belief with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond Comet Lithium's control. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to the risks relating to the capital market conditions, risk that the Corporation might not be able to obtain the capital resources necessary to complete a drill program or any exploration program on the Liberty Property, as well those risks, uncertainties and assumptions described under "Financial Instruments" and "Risk and Uncertainties in Comet Lithium's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Comet Lithium does not intend, nor does it undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information contained in this news release to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except if required by applicable laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the release.

SOURCE Comet Lithium Corp.
VANCOUVER, Dec. 11, 2023 - NexGen Energy Ltd. ("NexGen" or the "Company") (TSX: NXE) (NYSE: NXE) (ASX: NXG) announced today that it has updated its at-the-market equity program (the "ATM Program") to offer and sell up to C$500 million of common shares from treasury ("Common Shares").

Sales of Common Shares, if any, will be made pursuant to the terms of an equity distribution agreement dated December 11, 2023 (the "Sales Agreement") among the Company, Virtu ITG Canada Corp., as Canadian agent, and Virtu Americas, LLC, as U.S. agent (together, the "Agents"), on the TSX and/or the NYSE, and/or any other marketplace for the Common Shares in Canada or the United States or as otherwise agreed between the Agents and the Company. The volume and timing of sales under the ATM Program, if any, will be determined in the Company's sole discretion, and at the market price prevailing at the time of each sale, and, as a result, sale prices may vary.

The ATM Program is being made pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated December 11, 2023 (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's final short form base shelf prospectus filed in all provinces and territories of Canada dated December 8, 2023 (the "Base Shelf Prospectus"), and pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated December 11, 2023 (the "U.S. Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's U.S. base prospectus (the "U.S. Base Prospectus") included in its registration statement on Form F-10 (the "Registration Statement") (File No. 333-275839) filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on December 8, 2023 (collectively, the Prospectus Supplement, Base Shelf Prospectus, U.S. Prospectus Supplement, the U.S. Base Prospectus and Registration Statement, the "Offering Documents").

As outlined in the Offering Documents, the Company intends to use the net proceeds from the ATM Program, if any, to fund the continued development and further exploration of its mineral properties, and for general corporate purposes.

The ATM Program will be effective until the earlier of the sale of all of the Common Shares issuable pursuant to the ATM Program and January 8, 2026, unless terminated prior to such date by the Company or the Agents. Concurrent with the entering into of the Sales Agreement, the Company's previously announced at-the-market equity distribution agreement dated January 6, 2023 was terminated.

Potential investors should read the Offering Documents, Sales Agreement and other documents the Company has filed for more complete information about the Company and the ATM Program.

About NexGen

NexGen is a British Columbia corporation focused on the development of the Rook I Project located in the southwestern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada, into production.

Copies of Offering Documents

The Prospectus Supplement, the Base Shelf Prospectus and the Sales Agreement are available at www.sedarplus.ca and the U.S. Prospectus Supplement, the U.S. Base Prospectus and the Registration Statement are available at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Agents will send copies of the Prospectus Supplement and the Base Shelf Prospectus or the U.S. Prospectus Supplement and the U.S. Base Prospectus, as applicable, upon request by contacting:

Virtu Americas LLC

Attn Capital Markets

1633 Broadway | New York, NY 10019

ATM@Virtu.Com

Virtu ITG Canada

Attn Capital Markets

222 Bay Street | Suite 1720 | Toronto, ON M5K 1B7

ATMCanada@Virtu.com

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Common Shares, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Forward-Looking Information

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable United States securities laws and regulations and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, the 2021 Arrow Deposit, Rook I Project and estimates of uranium production, grade and long-term average uranium prices, anticipated effects of completed drill results on the Rook I Project, planned work programs, completion of further site investigations and engineering work to support basic engineering of the Project and expected outcomes. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Statements relating to "mineral resources" are deemed to be forward-looking information, as they involve the implied assessment that, based on certain estimates and assumptions, the mineral resources described can be profitably produced in the future.

Forward-looking information and statements are based on the then current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about NexGen's business and the industry and markets in which it operates. Forward-looking information and statements are made based upon numerous assumptions, including among others, that the mineral reserve and resources estimates and the key assumptions and parameters on which such estimates are based are as set out in this news release and the technical report for the property, the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the price and market supply of uranium, the cost of planned exploration activities, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment, supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct NexGen's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate in the future.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performances and achievements of NexGen to differ materially from any projections of results, performances and achievements of NexGen expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others, the existence of negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of the availability of additional financing, the risk that pending assay results will not confirm previously announced preliminary results, conclusions of economic valuations, the risk that actual results of exploration activities will be different than anticipated, the cost of labour, equipment or materials will increase more than expected, that the future price of uranium will decline or otherwise not rise to an economic level, the appeal of alternate sources of energy to uranium-produced energy, that the Canadian dollar will strengthen against the U.S. dollar, that mineral resources and reserves are not as estimated, that actual costs or actual results of reclamation activities are greater than expected, that changes in project parameters and plans continue to be refined and may result in increased costs, of unexpected variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates or other risks generally associated with mining, unanticipated delays in obtaining governmental, regulatory or First Nations approvals, risks related to First Nations title and consultation, reliance upon key management and other personnel, deficiencies in the Company's title to its properties, uninsurable risks, failure to manage conflicts of interest, failure to obtain or maintain required permits and licences, risks related to changes in laws, regulations, policy and public perception, as well as those factors or other risks as more fully described in NexGen's Annual Information Form dated February 24, 2023 filed with the securities commissions of all of the provinces of Canada except Quebec and in NexGen's 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and Edgar at www.sec.gov.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or statements or implied by forward-looking information or statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nexgen-updates-at-the-market-equity-program-302011886.html

SOURCE NexGen Energy Ltd.
/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - Foran Mining Corp. (TSX: FOM) (OTCQX: FMCXF) ("Foran" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful completion of its previously announced C$200 million financing which consisted of: (a) a brokered private placement (the "Brokered Offering") comprised of the sale of (i) 36,594,000 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") at an issue price of C$4.10 per Common Share, for gross proceeds of C$150,035,400; and (ii) 1,563,000 Common Shares with each such Common Share to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "FT Shares") at an issue price of C$6.40 per FT Share, for gross proceeds of C$10,003,200, and (b) a non-brokered private placement (the "Non-Brokered Offering", and together with the Brokered Offering, the "Offerings") consisting of the sale of 9,756,000 Common Shares at an issue price of C$4.10 per Common Share, for gross proceeds of C$39,999,600. The aggregate gross proceeds of the Offerings were $200,038,200.

The net proceeds of the Offerings will be used for exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects in Saskatchewan, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The Company will use an amount equal to the gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Shares, pursuant to the provisions in the Income Tax Act (Canada), to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" as both terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's mineral projects located in Saskatchewan, on or before December 31, 2024, and to renounce all the Qualifying Expenditures in favour of the subscribers of the FT Shares with an effective date not later than December 31, 2023.

The Brokered Offering was co-led by BMO Capital Markets who acted as sole bookrunner together with Eight Capital and National Bank Financial Inc. as co-lead agents, acting on behalf of a syndicate of agents which included PI Financial Corp., CIBC World Markets Inc., Cormark Securities Inc., Scotia Capital Inc. and Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc. (collectively, the "Agents").

The securities being offered have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable U.S. state securities laws or in compliance with an exemption therefrom. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States.

The securities issued pursuant to the Offerings shall be subject to a four-month plus one day hold period from the date hereof in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The Offerings remain subject to the final approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Related Party Transaction

An entity controlled by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited ("Fairfax"), an insider to the Company, participated in the Offerings, acquiring an aggregate of 2,439,000 Common Shares. The insider participation in the Offering constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), for which the Company was exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) thereof, as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to the insider under the Offerings nor the consideration paid by the insider exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization, in each case as determined under MI 61?101. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days before closing of the Offerings as the details of the insider participation were not known at that time.

Early Warning Disclosure

Immediately prior to the acquisition of the Common Shares pursuant to the Brokered Offering, Fairfax beneficially owned 43,777,778 Common Shares, representing 17.0% of the Common Shares, and 27,777,778 non-voting shares of the Company (the "Non-Voting Shares", together with the Common Shares, the "Shares") representing 100% of the Non-Voting Shares and, together with the Common Shares owned by Fairfax, 25.1% of the issued and outstanding Shares (in each case, on both a non-diluted and partially diluted basis). As a result of the acquisition of the Common Shares, Fairfax beneficially owns 46,216,778 Common Shares, representing 15.2% of the Common Shares, and 27,777,778 Non-Voting Shares, representing 100% of the Non-Voting Shares and, together with the Common Shares owned by Fairfax, 22.3% of the issued and outstanding Shares (in each case, on both a non-diluted and partially diluted basis).

This press release and Fairfax's corresponding early warning report (the "Early Warning Report") which is expected to be filed on SEDAR in the near term, constitutes the required disclosure pursuant to section 5.2 of National Instrument 62-104 Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids ("NI 62-104"). The requirement to file an early warning report was triggered because the acquisition by Fairfax of Common Shares as part of the Brokered Offering and the completion of the Brokered Offering decreased Fairfax's beneficial ownership of the Common Shares by greater than 2% as compared to the early warning report filed by Fairfax in connection with its earlier exercise of warrants to acquire Common Shares. The Common Shares acquired in connection with the Brokered Offering are being acquired by Fairfax for investment purposes and in the future, it may discuss with management and/or the board of directors of the Company any of the transactions listed in clauses (a) to (k) of item 5 of Form F1 of National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues and it may further purchase, hold, vote, trade, dispose or otherwise deal in the securities of the Company, in such manner as it deems advisable to benefit from changes in market prices of the Company's securities, publicly disclosed changes in the operations of the Company, its business strategy or prospects or from a material transaction of the Company, and it will also consider the availability of funds, evaluation of alternative investments and other factors.

The Early Warning Report that will be filed on SEDAR in respect of the Brokered Offering will satisfy the requirement of section 5.2 of NI 62-104 to have the Early Warning Report filed by an acquiror, in this case by Fairfax, with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the jurisdictions in which the Company is a reporting issuer and which contains the information with respect to the foregoing matters and the information required by section 3.1 of National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, which includes the information required by Form 62-103F1 - Required Disclosure under the Early Warning Requirements.

A copy of the Early Warning Report filed by Fairfax in connection with the Brokered Offering will be available under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com".

Ontario Teachers' Plan Transaction Update

Following the closing of the Offerings, the Company does not intend to proceed with the non-binding proposed transaction with Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board that was previously announced by the Company in its press release on August 8, 2022.

About Foran Mining

Foran Mining is a copper-zinc-gold-silver exploration and development company, committed to supporting a greener future, empowering communities and creating circular economies which create value for all our stakeholders, while also safeguarding the environment. The McIlvenna Bay Project is located entirely within the documented traditional territory of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. The Company also owns the Bigstone Project, a resource-development stage deposit located 25km southwest of its McIlvenna Bay project.

McIlvenna Bay is a copper-zinc-gold-silver rich VHMS deposit intended to be the centre of a new mining camp in a prolific district that has already been producing for 100 years. McIlvenna Bay sits just 65km West of Flin Flon, Manitoba and is part of the world class Flin Flon Greenstone Belt that extends from Snow Lake, Manitoba, through Flin Flon to Foran's ground in eastern Saskatchewan, a distance of over 225km.

McIlvenna Bay is the largest undeveloped VHMS deposit in the region. The Company announced the results from its Feasibility Study on February 28, 2022, outlining that current mineral reserves would potentially support an 18-year mine life producing an average of 65 million pounds of copper equivalent annually. The Company filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report for the McIlvenna Bay Feasibility Study on April 14, 2022 and its NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Bigstone Deposit resource estimate on February 11, 2022. Investors are encouraged to consult the full text of these technical reports which may be found on the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca.

The Company's head office is located at 409 Granville Street, Suite 904, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6C 1T2. Common Shares of the Company are listed for trading on the TSX under the symbol "FOM" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "FMCXF".

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, as defined under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or to the future performance of Foran Mining Corp. and reflect management's expectations and assumptions as of the date hereof or as of the date of such forward looking statement.

All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "potentially", "intends", "likely", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date specified in such statement.

Inherent in forward-looking statements are known and unknown risks, estimates, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors include management's belief or expectations relating to the following and, in certain cases, management's response with regard to the following: risk factors relating to the inability of the Company to apply the use of proceeds from the Offerings as anticipated; the use of the gross proceeds of the sale of the FT Shares to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures"; the renouncement of the Qualifying Expenditures in favour of the subscribers of the FT Shares; risks related to obtaining permits and other regulatory approvals with respect to the Company's mineral properties; the status and progression of credit facility discussions; unlocking the untapped value of the Company's properties; delivery of superior or any investment returns; scale, scope and location of future exploration and drilling activities; the potential for the Company's land package to be transformational, the focus of the Company's future drill programs; the incorporation of geotechnical and hydrogeological information into the overall project design; the long-term investment horizon of shareholders; the growth of the Company from developer to producer; the certainty of funding; the future of the Company; de-risking McIlvenna Bay; delivering on the Company's Net Positive Business strategy; ownership and reliance on the Company's mineral projects; the Company's history of losses and potential inability to generate sufficient revenue to be profitable or to generate positive cash flow on a sustained basis; the Company's statements about the expected life of mine, productive capacity and other technical estimates on its projects, and the Company's reliance on technical experts with respect thereto; the Company's exposure to risks related to mineral resources exploration and development; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, infectious diseases and other health crises on the Company; global financial volatility and its impact on the Company; the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict; government, securities, and stock exchange regulation and policy; legal proceedings which may have a material adverse impact on the Company's operations and financial condition; capital market conditions and their effect on the securities of the Company; insurance and uninsurable risks; environmental, health and safety regulation and policy; mining hazards and risks; title rights to the Company's projects; indigenous peoples' title and other legal claims; mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; uncertainties and risks relating to the Feasibility Studies; fluctuations in commodity prices, including metals; competition; expertise and proficiency of management; limited operating history; the availability of future financing; dilutive effects; the impact of global climate change and natural disasters; inadequate infrastructure; relationships with local communities; reputational damage; the Company's reliance on financial instruments; future acquisitions; management conflicts of interest; security breaches of the Company's information systems; and the additional risks identified in our Annual Information Form dated March 23, 2023 and other securities filings with Canadian securities regulators available at www.sedarplus.ca.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. Although the Company has attempted 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, described or intended. Readers are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements and should note that the assumptions and risk factors discussed above do not contain an exhaustive list of the factors or assumptions that may affect the forward-looking statements, and that the assumptions underlying such statements may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the Company's securities filings and this news release. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Foran Mining Corp.
From 1951 to 1987, the Dallas County district attorney's office was the domain of Henry Wade, a legendary prosecutor who personally never lost a case  and who rarely missed an opportunity to seek the maximum punishment for criminals. But in impoverished, predominantly African-American South Dallas, Wade's hardball tactics created resentment and distrust."Affluent people, people accepted by society, loved law enforcement. All of the other people who were economically disadvantaged, they didn't trust it  and I think rightly so," says Watkins. So in 2002, Watkins ran for D.A. Despite having no name recognition outside of South Dallas, Watkins came within 10,000 votes of winning. Four years later, he tried again and won, in the process becoming Texas's first elected African-American district attorney.Watkins had a lot to prove. More than 200 of the 267 attorneys Watkins began managing had actively campaigned for his opponent because they didn't think Watkins had enough trial experience. At the same time, he believed he had a mandate to rectify past injustices. In February 2007, a mere one month after taking office, Watkins found himself face to face with a momentous decision.The occasion was a court hearing for James Giles, who had spent 10 years in prison for a rape that subsequent DNA testing showed he did not commit. Giles was released. Afterwards, attorneys Barry Scheck and Jeff Blackburn  nonprofit leaders who work to free the wrongfully convicted from prison  presented Watkins with an unprecedented proposal. They volunteered to help Watkins' office review the files of more than 350 inmates, some dating back to as early as 1970, where physical evidence existed that could either confirm the inmate's guilt or establish his innocence.A riskier step for a novice D.A. would be hard to imagine. Watkins agreed to it. That spring, he went to the Dallas County court of commissioners and won $450,000 to create a conviction-integrity unit to reinvestigate old cases. Since then, the unit has reviewed more than 180 case files, of which 21 have been flagged for DNA testing or further investigation. So far, a total of 19 Dallas County prisoners have been exonerated or freed. What Watkins has shown is that there's as much justice in clearing the names of the innocent as there is in putting the guilty behind bars."It's difficult," says Watkins. "I still walk around the office gently because I know there are a lot of people who still don't want me here." But, he says, every time justice is done, we "restore credibility that law enforcement can work for everyone."
Verstappen still happy to tolerate F1 show

Max Verstappen insists he is "still happy" to be a Formula 1 driver, even though his patience seemed to be wearing thin at the tail-end of 2023.

Max Verstappen, Las Vegas GP 2023

 Red Bull

On paper and on the track, the Red Bull driver utterly dominated the sport this year, easily cruising to his third consecutive drivers' title.

But at Las Vegas in particular, Verstappen seemed to lose his cool with the overt 'show' aspects of the event, warning that a further escalation in the years to come could see him decide to retire after his 2028 contract expires.

The 26-year-old admits he's not even a fan of street circuits.

Personally, I'd ideally like to race on all the great tracks in the world, Verstappen is quoted as saying by Kronen Zeitung newspaper.

But unfortunately that is not possible in Formula 1 - and I understand that too, said the Dutchman.

But it's the ramping up of the artificial 'show'-elements of events like Las Vegas that Verstappen has a bigger problem with.

A little bit of show is important, he admits. "But I love emotions. When I was a little kid, it was the emotions that made me fall in love with sport, not the show around them.

For a real racer, the show shouldn't matter.

After Las Vegas, where he ramped up his criticisms of Formula 1 to fever pitch, Max's father Jos said he had spoken to his son about moderating some of his opinions.

Max now says: "I understand that the fans also need to be entertained. But it's also important that we show them what our sport really is about.

Because so many people are only coming now because they want to have a party or see a DJ.

However, he smiled when he admitted that he's prepared to tolerate the show versus sport ratio - for now.
2 Partner to launch Africas first lithium processing plant in Ghana

Business Desk Report Business News Dec - 12 - 2023 , 06:11

ReElement Technologies Corporation, a subsidiary of American Resources Corporation, has partnered with TECHGULF Ghana Limited, a prominent technology firm, to introduce Africas inaugural lithium processing plant in Ghana.

The project is expected to be a catalyst for economic development in Ghana, and foster job creation, technology transfer and sustainable practices.

The construction of the lithium processing plant and training facility is slated to commence next year, with an anticipated completion date in early 2025.

The initiative was unveiled when the partners paid a courtesy call on the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in Accra.

A release jointly issued in Accra by the partners said the move signals a significant leap forward in Africa's quest for sustainable energy solutions and economic development driven by the growing lithium industry.

It said the joint venture aims to construct an advanced training facility for lithium processing in Takoradi, emphasising skill development and knowledge transfer to empower local talent in the burgeoning lithium industry through the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT).

The facility, it said, will play a pivotal role in enhancing Ghana's technological capabilities and fostering innovation in the region.

Dr Bawumia, the release said, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that we are delighted to witness the collaboration between ReElement Technologies Corporation and TECHGULF Ghana in establishing Africa's first battery-grade lithium processing plant.

This initiative aligns seamlessly with Ghana's commitment to sustainable development and positions the country as a key player in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle sector."

Commenting on the partnership, the Chief Executive Officer of TECHGUL, Franklin Asare, said by combining strengths with ReElement Technologies Corporation, he is confident in their ability to contribute to the sustainable growth of the lithium processing industry in Africa."
2023 Graphic Business /Access Bank SME Fair ends in Accra

Graphic Business Business News Dec - 12 - 2023 , 02:56

This years Graphic Business-Access Bank SME Fair has been held in Accra.

Organised by Graphic Business, the authoritative niche business newspaper of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL), and Access Bank, the multinational universal bank which supports SMEs, the two-day fair on the theme: Running sustainable business in a challenging economic landscape.

Over 150 exhibitors and merchants displayed their products and services at the fair which started three years ago to support small and medium enterprise (SME) development.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of GCGL, Ato Afful, charged the entrepreneurs to change the narrative about indigenous Ghanaian businesses in the country by tapping into the experiences of the partnership between the two companies to sustain their businesses.

In spite of challenges, Mr Afful urged the SMEs to come to the edge with their businesses.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Managing Director of Access Bank, Olumide Olatunji, said since the fair was launched three years ago, Access Bank had been intentional and consistent in promoting the cause of SMEs.

As a result of the partnership, he said over 170,000 SMEs had been equipped with digital and vital soft skills to impact their businesses.

He added that the bank had also provided working capital support in excess of GH300 million to boost SMEs' capital base and aid their expansion.

As a go-to bank for SMEs, we remain committed to fostering the sustainable growth of SMEs in Ghana, the Access Bank MD said.
Bayport Savings and Loans gets ISO27001 certification

Business Desk Report Business News Dec - 10 - 2023 , 08:19

Bayport Savings and Loans PLC has implemented an Information Security Management System (ISMS) to comply with the Cyber and Information Security Directive issued by the Bank of Ghana in 2018.

The organization has successfully obtained ISO27001 certification for its information security management system, awarded by Certi-Trust, a global certification body specializing in information security, cybersecurity, and privacy protection.

ISO27001 is among the world's most respected standards for information security management systems. It outlines the requirements an ISMS must meet to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data owned or handled by an organization.

Conforming to ISO27001 indicates that an organization has established a system to manage risks related to data security, adhering to best practices and principles of this international standard.

This certification underscores Bayport Savings and Loans PLC's dedication and capability to manage information securely, providing reliable and trustworthy services to its customers, partners, and stakeholders.

It also enhances the company's reputation and competitiveness in the market, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations, the company said in a statement.

As a member of Bayport Management Limited (BML), a leading emerging market financial services provider, Bayport Savings and Loans PLC offers a comprehensive product suite across sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

Established in 2003, Bayport Savings and Loans Plc now boasts a client base of approximately 180,153 active borrowers.
Collaborate with stakeholders to improve Guided Trade Initiative under AfCFTA  Govt urged

Business Desk Report Business News Dec - 05 - 2023 , 12:03

The West African Regional Director of CUTS International, Appiah Kusi Adomako, has advised government to collaborate with stakeholders to improve the implementation of the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The GTI is a solution-oriented approach that aims to facilitate trade between interested state parties by connecting businesses and products for export and import.

Its purpose is to enable the start of trading under the preferences of the AfCFTA Agreement among a group of State Parties that have met the minimum requirements for meaningful commercial trade.

It is evident that knowledge and awareness of the implementation of the GTI is relatively low among Ghanaian private sector companies.

Hence, government should collaborate with key stakeholders to intensify awareness creation, capacity building training and prioritize improving the general trade facilitation framework, he said.

Public Private Dialogue

Mr Adomako was speaking at a Public Private Dialogue (PPD) organised by CUTS International Accra with support from the GIZ-implemented Programme Support to the AfCFTA under the Trade Hub Ghana in Accra.

Since its inception, several initiatives have been launched to promote the implementation of the AfCFTA. One of such initiatives is the GTI launched in October 2022 by the AfCFTA Secretariat in collaboration with member states.

The overarching objective of the Guided Trade Initiative is to ensure that AfCFTA is truly operational and the gains from the initiative improve implementation in order to achieve increased inter-regional and intra-Africa trade Mr Adomako said.

He disclosed in his presentation that Ghana emerged as a leader in the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) developed by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, showcasing 14 companies actively engaged in 40 trades, according to Appiah Adomako, the West Africa Regional Director of CUTS International.

Notable among the companies are Kasapreko and Ghanndour Cosmetics.

Beyond Ghanas leadership, other nations also make significant strides in the GTI landscape. Kenya boasts 27 companies with over 50 trades, while Egypt showcases 7 companies involved in 20 trades.

Additionally, Mauritius, Rwanda, and Cameroon demonstrate noteworthy participation with 25, 8, and 4 potential trades, respectively.

Ghana has solidified its commitment to the AfCFTA by actively participating in the GTI since its inauguration in October 2022. Out of 29 nations that submitted tariff offers, Ghana stands among the eight committed participants, including Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Tunisia, Mr Adomako said.

He said the GTI does not only test the environmental, legal, and trade policy basis for AfCFTA but also serves as a beacon, demonstrating the functionality of the AfCFTA agreement.

He added that the participation of nations like Ghana which is the host of the AfCFTA Secretariat, sends a powerful political message, particularly to those yet to submit their tariff concessions.

Moreover, the GTI instills confidence across the continent, emphasizing the achievability of trading under the AfCFTA, he said.
Ghana Oil and Gas Awards at 10 -Industry players urged to form stronger ties

Business Desk Report Business News Dec - 10 - 2023 , 07:41

Deputy Minister of Energy, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has urged players in the oil and gas industry to form stronger ties and collaborations, as the country transitions into a low carbon economy.

He said due to climate change and its implications, the world was putting in place measures and strategies to transition from fossil fuels to cleaner energy.

He noted that this notwithstanding, the realities were that Ghana, had to explore its natural resources in a context to serve the countrys development and energy security needs.

It is therefore important that we work together to ensure that this is achieved. Our transition to a low carbon economy must necessarily take place as we also tap into our oil and gas resources.

We need strategies to find a balance between exploitation of the oil and gas resources and the transition agenda, he said at the 10th edition of the Ghana Oil and Gas Awards.

He said the government was putting in places measures to make natural gas a transition fuel.

Oil and gas will continue to feature prominently in Ghanas energy discourse for some years to come, he added.

Mr Mercer commended Xodus Communication for organizing the awards, noting that awards like this promote the industry and provides the platform for celebration of successes and milestones.

He said it also creates the opportunity to strategise for progress and affords all industry players to forge stronger ties and alliances to advance the objectives of the industry.

Awards

The 10th edition of the Ghana Oil and Gas Awards which brought together players in the industry was to celebrate companies and individuals who have distinguished themselves in the industry under the year under review.

The awards which is organised Xodus Communication, brought together players in the upstream and downstream petroleum sector, stakeholders, and policy makers.

In his opening remarks, the Events Director of Xodus Communication, Richard Abbey Jnr, said the Ghana Olufemi Babajide h Oil and Gas Awards seeks to celebrate outstanding achievers in the industry.

He said the awards recognises the achievements from local and international companies involved in Ghana oil and gas sector and also rewards individuals who have played a defining role in moving the industry forward.

Winners List 2023



1. HALL OF FAME 2023

Juwel Energy- BDC of the Year

2. HALL OF FAME 2023

Total Energies  Lubricant Product of the Year

3. HALL OF FAME 2023

Goil PLC  OMC of the Year

4. HALL OF FAME 2023

Tema Tank Farm  Depot of the Year

5. Indigenous Oil Company of the Year  Upstream 2023

Harlequin Oil and Gas Limited

6. Best Growing Oil & Gas company of the year  Downstream 2023

Kodson Plus Company Limited

7. Exploration (Drilling and Well Completion Excellence) 2023

Eni Ghana Exploration and Production Limited

8. Unsung Hero of The Year 2023

Timothy Akook - Petrosol Ghana Ltd

9. Promising Oil & Gas Company of the Year 2023

JP Trustees Limited

10. Marketing Campaign of the Year 2023

Totalenergies Marketing Ghana PLC

11. Oil and Gas Service Company of The Year (Bunkering) 2023

AI Energy Group

12. Oil and Gas Service Company of The Year (Lifting) 2023

Jonmoore International Limited

13. Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility  Downstream 2023

Engen Ghana Limited

14. Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility - Upstream 2023

Ghana National Gas Limited Company

15. Engineering and Construction Company of the Year  Upstream 2023

TechnipFMC Ghana Limited

16. Excellence in Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality  Downstream 2023

Tema Tank Farm Ltd.

17. Excellence in Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality  Upstream 2023

Eni Ghana Exploration and Production Limited

18. Oil and Gas Logistics Company of the Year 2023

Jonmoore International Limited

19. Oil and Gas Personality of the Year 2023

Mr Osei-Prempeh - Goil PLC

20. Bulk Distributing Company of the Year 2023

Blueocean Investment Limited

21. Brand of the Year 2023

Goil PLC

22. Emerging Brand of the Year 2023

JP Trustees Limited

23. Service Station of The Year 2023



Puma Energy Distributions Ghana Limited

24. Haulage Company of the Year 2023

JK Horgle Transport & CO Ltd

25. Oil Marketing Company of the Year 2023



Totalenergies Marketing Ghana PLC



26. Entrepreneur of the Year 2023

Mr. Kodime Agbemador -Kodson Plus Company Limited

27. CEO of the Year - Upstream 2023

Dr. Ben K. D. Asante - Ghana National Gas limited Company

28. CEO of the Year  Downstream 2023

Olufemi Babajide -Totalenergies Marketing Ghana PLC



29. Special Recognition

Outstanding Achiever of the Decade- Bunkering



Mrs. Abigail Asolange Harlley (AI Energy Group)



30. Special Recognition

Outstanding Achiever of the Decade  Petroleum Haulage

J.K Ahiadome  (J.K. Ahiadome Transport & Company Limited)

31. Special Recognition

Outstanding Achiever of the Decade  Oil and Gas Logistics

Mr. MacDonald Vasnani (Consolidated Shipping Agency Limited)

32. Special Recognition

Outstanding Achiever of the Decade  Midstream Engineering

Mr. Charles Addo (Meridian Group)

33. Special Recognition

Chief Executive Officer of the Decade

Mr. John Osei- Wusu (Juwel Energy)

34. Special Recognition

Lifetime Achievement Award 2023

Dr. Kwaku Frimpong (Frimps Oil)

35. Special Recognition

Industry Leadership Excellence Award 2023

Mr. Agyeman Duah (AOMC)

36. Special Recognition

Outstanding Achiever of the Decade  Oil Marketing (Downstream)

Michael Bozumbil (Petrosol Ghana Limited)

37. Special Recognition

Entrepreneur of the Decade

Mr. Joseph K. Horgle (J.K. Horgle Transport Limited)

38. Special Recognition

Outstanding Achiever of the Year  Energy Policy Initiative

Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh
Kingdom Exim Group donates GH350,000 in support of 39th Farmers' Day

Kweku Zurek Business News Dec - 12 - 2023 , 10:03

Kingdom Exim Group, a prominent agro-commodities trading firm, has once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting and appreciating hardworking farmers in Ghana.

The support, in the form of cash donations, T-shirts, and other farm inputs, was presented to the National headquarters of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), selected Regional Coordinating Councils, and MMDAs participating in awarding farmers for their selflessness and dedication to feeding the Ghanaian populace.

Beneficiaries of the Group's generous gesture include the National Best Crop Farmer, Bono East Regional Coordinating Council, Techiman North, Techiman Municipal Assembly, Wenchi Municipal Assembly, Nkoranza Municipal Assembly, Jaman North Assembly, Jaman South Municipal Assembly, and the Tema Metropolitan Assembly.

Addressing the media on behalf of the CEO of the Group of companies, Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Peter Mensah, urged all industry players to come forward and show love to Ghana's gallant farmers. He highlighted how dealing honestly with Ghanaian farmers has contributed to the growth of the Kingdom Exim Group.

The Deputy Minister of MOFA, Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo, who also serves as a Member of Parliament for the people of Amansie West, commended the Kingdom Exim Group for its support and called on all captains of industries to emulate the patriotic example set by the Group.

Political leaders of the respective Regional Coordinating Councils and MMDAs expressed their appreciation after receiving benevolent support from the Group.

It is worth mentioning that the company not only made both cash and kind presentations but also actively participated in all the National and Regional MMDAs centers' celebrations of the 2023 edition of the Farmers' Day Celebration.

Product relaunch

During this years Farmers' Day Celebration, Bigstars Animal Feed Limited, a subsidiary of the Kingdom Exim Group, launched its newly improved products, namely the 5% layer concentrate and 20% layer concentrate. The ribbon-cutting for the product launch was carried out by the Regional Minister and the Mo Manhene.

Speaking at the Farmers' Day Celebration in the Bono East Region, Mr. Blaboe highlighted the various contributions made by Kingdom Exim Group and its subsidiary, Big Stars Animal Feed Limited, towards the growth of the agricultural sector in Ghana over the years.

Addressing the Bono East Regional Minister, Hon. Kwasi Adu-Gyan, the Mo Manhene, Nana Kwaku Dankwa III, and other dignitaries during the celebration, Mr. Blaboe recounted that "Big Stars Animal Feed Limited has been providing quality animal feeds over the years and has built a strong reputation in the animal feed industry. We have achieved this by always providing quality products (mashes and concentrates) to our esteemed customers. Our concentrates are highly patronised in the Ashanti, Bono East, Bono, Ahafo, and Northern regions."

He noted that "the concentrate feeds constitute about 40% of the feed market and are heavily enjoyed by many imported products.

According to him, Big Stars concentrates are locally manufactured under strict nutritional formulation, certified and approved by the FDA and GSA, saying "the relaunch and rebranding of our products are aimed at reducing the cost of production of poultry and livestock and providing them with the requisite nutrition for optimum growth and development."

"Our products have been formulated to meet industry standards and quality and to compete greatly with foreign brands," he added.
New platform to boost climate finance in Ghana

Emmanuel Bruce Business News Dec - 11 - 2023 , 04:16

The Ghana Microfinance Institutions Network together with GIZ has launched the Climate Finance Knowledge Hub to provide microfinance companies and climate smart enterprises with a comprehensive e-learning platform that provides specialized training certification and technical expertise in climate finance.

The hub is also expected to create an extensive online directory that connects users to a global network of recognised climate and green finance groups and companies, enabling collaboration.

The platform would also facilitate access to climate funds and simplify the process of securing financing options for green projects.

Speaking at the launch in Accra, the Head of GIZs Ghana Private and Financial Sector Support Programme, Dr Christian Jahn, said the platform would serve as a catalyst for change for microfinance institutions and climate-smart businesses across Ghana.

With its comprehensive e-learning platform, the hub provides an avenue for MSMEs and financial service providers to acquire knowledge in climate mitigation and climate adaptation measures so that they can have the confidence to invest in climate smart businesses by adopting measures that will help protect the environment.

This hub will place the power of climate-smart financial solutions in the hands of businesses and institutions, offering a comprehensive and user-friendly experience, he stated.

He said the impact of this initiative was expected to be profound, noting that the knowledge to be acquired through this learning platform had the potential to offer financial institutions a grounded capacity to effectively conduct detailed value chain analysis and risk assessment of MSMEs businesses to make strategic and data-driven decisions when approving credit facilities for climate-smart businesses.

To this end, he said the hub could be touted as a sure pillar in the promotion of sustainable financial practices to driving climate innovation forward.

As we launch of GHAMFINs Climate Finance Knowledge Hub, we are reminded of a well- known German saying: "Viele kleine Leute, die in vielen kleinen Orten viele kleine Dinge tun, konnen das Gesicht der Welt verandern.

This German proverb reminds us that many small people, in many small places, doing many small things can change the face of the world, he said.

DBG committed to sustainability

In a keynote address at the launch, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Development Bank Ghana, Michael Mensah-Baah, said the bank was committed to sustainability.

He said the bank was aware that to create economic resilience and accelerate social mobility, it must champion the importance of sustainability in an economic transformation.

As a result, he said DBG was supporting the government in meeting Ghanas Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent by 2030; increasing the share of renewable energy in the national energy mix to 20 per cent by 2030; and enhancing education, public awareness, and institutional capacity to support climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

At DBG, sustainability is a core pillar of our operations. We have embraced the principles of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, aiming to promote long-term economic growth while minimizing negative impacts on the environment and society.

DBG has taken significant steps in embedding sustainability into its practices, from partnering with the UN Global Compact to scaling climate finance through green taxonomy and providing technical support to businesses in identifying green opportunities, he stated.
Shoring-up foreign exchange reserves: Exporters pushed to repatriate proceeds

Elizabeth Nyaadu Adu Business News Dec - 12 - 2023 , 05:00

Bank of Ghana is reaching out to exporters in the country to repatriate their export proceeds to Ghana to help shore-up the depleting foreign exchange reserves.

The move, the central bank believes, will also help to maintain a balanced external account, prevent trade imbalances, and contribute to currency stability to drive the countrys developmental agenda.

The call comes at a time when the countrys foreign exchange reserves has fast depleted, raising concerns about how the situation can turn around to ensure continuous funding for imports of critical commodities.

For instance, at the end of August 2023, Gross International Reserves (excluding encumbered assets and petroleum funds) stood at US$2.1 billion equivalent to 1.0-month import cover, compared with US$1.5 billion (0.6 month of import cover) recorded at the end of December 2022 according the quarter three Monetary Policy Committee report.

Gross reserves, broadly defined to include encumbered assets and petroleum funds, as at the end of August 2023, also stood at US$5.1 billion.

With the situation getting dire, the government is feverishly awaiting the second tranche of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout release of $600 million and the syndicated cocoa loan of $800 million to boost its reserves.

Justification

Justifying the call by the BoG, Chief Manager, Foreign Global Transfer and Remittance at the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Eric Hammond, shared some statistics to back the position of the central bank, saying evidence had proven that about 90 per cent of commodities consumed in the country were imported yet the proceeds did not come back into the economy.

Ghana is targeting US$25 billion from export by the year 2029 and of what benefit is this target if we are not repatriating export proceeds to drive the developmental agenda of the country, he said at the 10th sensitisation workshop on BoGs Letter of Commitment (LoC) requirement for the repatriation of export proceeds today (December 7) in Accra.

We pay for them from proceeds from export exchange. If we dont do something about repatriation of foreign exchange earnings, we will not be able to build up our reserves to support our local economies and get the needed foreign exchange to embark on our socio-economic development by way of infrastructure of the country, he said.

Mr Hammond explained that when a country exports goods or services, it earns revenue in foreign currencies where the repatriation of these export proceeds involves bringing these foreign currencies back into the country.

He said as exporters exchange foreign currencies for the domestic currency, it increases the demand for the national currency in the foreign exchange market.

This heightened demand, he said, can lead to a stronger exchange rate for the Ghana cedi which in turn benefits the country by making imports cheaper and exports more competitive, fostering a positive trade balance.

Furthermore, the accumulated foreign exchange reserves, he said, can serve as a buffer against economic shocks and provide stability in the face of international financial fluctuations.

Export trade

The Head of the Shippers Services and Trade Facilitation Department at GSA, Monica Josiah, said export trade played a pivotal role in shaping economies, and the contribution of exporters in Ghana was notable in that.

She explained that key among the benefits of export trade was the generation of foreign exchange revenue, an essential determinant of the strength of a countrys currency.

Indeed, all the developed countries and superpowers today rely on export trade and the conscientious repatriation of the proceeds to build their nation. Therefore, the direct correlation between the repatriation of export proceeds and national development cannot be discounted, she said.

It is essential to state that all these interventions will have a minimal effect on our much needed national development if deliberate policies are not implemented to ensure that proceeds from export of Ghanas resources are repatriated, Mrs Josiah said.

She said since 2019, GSA has created platforms in various regions of Ghana for BoG officials to provide information and sensitise exporters on LoC.

Loc

The LoC is a web-based export document that is generated by exporters from the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) portal to accompany all exports from Ghana.

The Central Bank since July 2016 incorporated the LoC into the electronic export monitoring platform to track export proceeds.

Since its inception, the BoG LoC requirement has generated tremendous interest, mainly due to the sanctions associated with its non-conformity.

Engagement with diverse key stakeholders have contributed the non-conformity to the lack of awareness of the requirement on the part of exporters and the unprofessional conduct of some shipments of other exporters on their blind side.

The workshop organised by the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) in collaboration with BoG brought together relevant stakeholders in the export value chain to discuss and understand the benefits of LoCs as well as address the concerns of exporters.
Everyone deserves dignity, freedom and justice

Daily Graphic Editorials Dec - 12 - 2023 , 09:50

December 10 each year is observed as Human Rights Day globally, and the theme for this year is, Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All, which incidentally resonates with the national motto  Freedom and Justice.

The day was established 75 years ago, when the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

Thus, this year's Human Rights Day presents the opportunity for the world to take stock of the UDHR, 75 years after its adoption.

The UDHR is a milestone document which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin; property, birth or other status.

In the decades after the adoption of the UDHR in 1948, human rights have become more recognised and more guaranteed across the globe.

They have since served as the foundation for an expanding system of human rights protection which focuses also on vulnerable groups such as persons with disability, indigenous peoples and migrants today.

However, the promise of the UDHR, of dignity and equality in rights, has been under sustained assault in recent years.

As the world faces new and ongoing challenges  pandemics, conflicts, exploding inequalities, a morally bankrupt global financial system, racism, climate change  the values and rights enshrined in the UDHR provide guideposts for our collective actions that do not leave anyone behind.

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until death.

They apply regardless of where one hails from, what one believes in or how one chooses to live his or her life.

These rights can never be taken away, although they can sometimes be restricted  for example, if a person breaks the law, or in the interest of national security or public good.

These basic rights are based on shared values such as dignity, fairness, equality, respect and independence, and are defined and protected by law.

Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and to education, and many more which are very important for the preservation of life, humanity and humanness.

These are the checks that ensure we continue to live as human beings, as we all have animalistic tendencies that we need to deliberately subdue at all times to maintain the distinction between us and animals in the wild.

All the basic human rights find expression in the 1992 Constitution, specifically in Chapter Five under Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms and every citizen needs to acquaint him or herself with this provision, to ensure that our human rights are never trampled upon.

Much as the issue of human rights has often been abused, even when common sense is needed in some instances, just because people want to have their way, we must guard the sanctity of humanity, by making sure our basic rights as humans are not abused by others.

It is the duty of every country to promote and protect the fundamental human rights and freedoms of its individuals regardless of their political, economic and cultural background.

We, therefore, urge all stakeholders to create an environment that enables individuals to speak against human rights abuses.

Ghana as a nation needs to do more to protect the rights of the poor, vulnerable and marginalised, including women and children, older persons and persons living with disability.

Some other rights enshrined in the UDHR are the business operations and environmental rights which companies and organisations must respect.

The corporate responsibility to respect human rights requires companies to put in place human rights due diligence in order to identify, address and mitigate human rights impacts that may occur in their businesses.

It is important for companies to establish an effective and efficient remedy that apologises, restitutes and compensates for the abuse of the human rights of people through their operations.

We owe it to ourselves to ensure everyone is treated with dignity and freedom that do not impinge on others freedoms and champion justice for all.

We should always bear in mind that ones freedom ends where anothers begins.
Countdown to choice

Amoako Emmanuella Ofosua Kwatia Opinion Dec - 12 - 2023 , 11:46

As the calendar inches closer to December 7, 2024, the nation finds itself at a crossroads of political significance.

The forthcoming ballot not only decides the next chapter in Ghanas political story but also sparks reflections on a voting history deeply entrenched in the dynamic interplay between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Amid the familiar electoral plot, there is a growing anticipation of the possibility of a third force emerging to challenge the established order.

Hence, Ghanaians are faced with the imperative decision to choose who to run the administration of the country.

The voting trend in Ghana from 1992 to 2020 has constantly and consistently alternated between NPP and NDCthe winning presidential candidates i.e. Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, John Dramani Mahama and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, have all been from NPP or NDC.

It is quite clear that these political parties know the affairs of the state like the back of their palms.

Under their regimes, Ghana has witnessed different levels of democratic leadership, development, resource management, corruption and economic hardship.

Contributions

Looking at the voting trend, the power struggle has always been between NPP and NDC.

These political parties have undisputedly made significant contributions to Ghanas progression in terms of democracy and development.

Their political ideologies have brought the country this far.

In 31 years of handing over governmental rule to these political factions, some of their outstanding impacts range from introducing the country to a deep-rooted democratic rule, the national health insurance scheme, improvement in the transport system, the famous E-blocks for schools, the telecommunication and registration towers, the Cape Coast stadium, free SHS, improved water system, roads, rehabilitated railways, and so on.

Minority Parties

Notwithstanding the existence and influence of the legendary parties, some individuals felt the need to change the narrative; perhaps that is how the minority parties evolved.

It may seem that these parties have no voice, but they do well to share their opinions on government policies and even suggest alternatives.

Unfortunately, minorities are not given enough media visibility to share in detail their policies with the citizenry.

They are mostly heard of during the election year, unlike the NPP and NDC who discuss their policies daily with the people.

Third force

Recently, the topic of the potential emergence of a third political force in the 2024 election has popped up.

The declaration of Alan Kyerematens independent candidacy and the anonymous billboard pictures of the new force have sparked several conversations as to whether a third force would be able to survive and compete with the longstanding NPP and NDC.

Analysing Ghanas political history, it would be difficult for a third force to claim power unless they manage to change the mindset of the people and convince them to vote in their favour.

There is a popular saying that life is full of surprises and so one can never tell what the future holds for them.

The choices ahead and the collective ballots will determine the countrys path to stagnant or progressive development.

Will Ghana sculpt its future or mould it from the echoes of its past?

Food for thought!

The writer is a second-year LLB student,

University of Professional Studies, Accra.
Israeli-Hamas conflict: Impact

Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako Opinion Dec - 12 - 2023 , 11:22

For some time now, there has been a relatively peaceful atmosphere in the Middle East, especially between Israelis and Palestinians.

Suddenly, Hamas broke into the defence of Israel and killed about 1000 Israelis. Israel is retaliating.

The attack by the Hamas was horrific, wicked and merciless.

It has been considered as a terrorist attack.

It is an act of international terrorism.

The occupation and treatment metered out to Palestinians are unbearable and inhuman to a greater extent, and the international community is aware of that.

The various demonstrations going on around the globe against Israels military action in Gaza City should achieve equitable relations with demonstrations against international terrorism.

It is an opportunity for the international community from September 11 to date to evaluate the damage caused by international terrorism and evolve mechanisms and methods to reduce its activities.

Threats

According to Ban Ki-moon, a former UN Secretary-General, terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.

For him, the UN Counter terrorist strategy adopted unanimously by the General Assembly in 2006, must be implemented in full and without delay.

Member states must work to implement the strategy nationally, bilaterally, and multilaterally, including through their regional organisation.

Collective action can even be stronger through ultimate agreement on a comprehensive convention against terrorism (Ban Ki-moon, New York, 2008).

The complexity of the problem does not warrant the horrific attack of Hamas that killed about 1400 Israelis.

We must amplify international condemnation of a massacre that has been retaliated tenfold, but we must equally blow the trumpet of a terrorist attack that sparked the current conflict.

A fair approach to the solution of the problem can end the conflict as it stands now.

But a one-sided condemnation will not resolve the conflict.

The international community should come out with a balanced sympathetic realisation of the pains inflicted on Israelis and Palestinians.

Responsibilities

Hamas has the responsibility to protect the lives of civilians in Gaza by heeding the request of Israel to release hostages as a condition for a possible ceasefire.

If Hamas sees itself as the governing body in Gaza in charge of Palestinians, then it should have known better that retaliation was going to be on a mass scale.

A governing body should be engaging Israel in a peaceful negotiation on matters relating to occupied territories.

If the action of Hamas is linked with other Islamic terrorist groups to annihilate the state of Israel, then they are engrossed in a mistaken philosophy.

Terrorist acts

The October 7 attacks were terrorist acts.

The international community will not endorse any act of terrorism against humanity.

International terrorism has defied the peace and stability in our world.

There is no great ignorance concerning our safety as individuals, states and groups in our community of nations.

The world is witnessing the transformation of terrorism into an international system, transnationalism and the globalisation of social and criminal structures.

Terrorism has thrown our world into universal chaos.

October 7 has created global tension and has affected international relations, sparking arguments in the spheres of international cooperation.

Terrorists are engaged in new organisational and managerial schemes to dictate the pace of the development of our world.

That has brought about new management principles that have undermined the earlier social constructions in many countries, especially Africa.

It has also changed the habitual power codes.

In Africa, the activities of terrorist groups have changed the contours of democracy.

The world must break through the battle against terrorism, or we fail.

The fatal consequence of terrorism globally is clear, and we need concerted international efforts to reduce them.

The expectation of Hamas and other terrorist groups should be to end terrorist activities in the various corners of the globe.

They must rather seek a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The current humanitarian situation in Gaza is irreplaceable agony.

The writer is an initiator at the International Forum on Status of Refugees in the world.

Senior Lecturer, Russian section,

University of Ghana.
Tiny plastic pieces infiltrating food chain: Need for attention

Mustapha Bature Sallama Opinion Dec - 12 - 2023 , 11:38

Plastics do not vanish when we dump them, instead, they break into small pieces that invade our environment.

These tiny plastic particles are now everywhere; from the air we breathe to the waters surrounding.

Research has shown that each year, an average person unknowingly consumes nearly 10,000 tiny plastic particles.

These little plastic bits have a big impact on aquatic life, causing issues in tissues, messing with hormones, and even making it harder for small aquatic creatures to reproduce.

Microplastics are those tiny plastic pieces, usually less than 5 millimetres wide.

They can be primary (intentionally made small, like microbeads in cosmetics) or secondary (resulting from larger plastic breaking down).

The plastic revolution that started after World War II now has us producing over 400 million tons of plastic every year worldwide.

Shockingly, a 2021 study from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) suggests that this could reach a mind-boggling 1.1 billion tons per year by 2050.

Microplastics

Microplastics quietly infiltrate ecosystems, contaminate food and even enter our bodies.

They are in water, seafood, clothing, toothpaste and even the air we breathe, posing a global crisis.

They have been found in surprising places within the human body, including the lungs, urine and even the brain.

They can penetrate cell membranes and the blood-brain barrier, raising health concerns.

However, research on the effects of microplastic exposure is limited, especially in Africa and Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), where the issue often goes unnoticed.

In a recent interview, Francis Nuamah shared findings from his study at the Centre for Coastal Management, Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience, Ghana.

He investigated microplastics in the Gulf of Guinea, specifically their levels in sediments, fish gills, and guts collected off Ghana's coast.

What did he find?

Microplastics, those tiny bits of plastic, had gathered in the sediments and the bodies of two species of fish he used for the study. Shockingly, nearly all kinds of microplastics were found in sediment samples from various locations.

rancis, currently pursuing a PhD program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto, Canada, emphasised that microplastics act as carriers for various chemicals, including additives and plasticisers used in their production.

The researcher revealed that microplastics can adsorb environmental chemicals such as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and transfer them to organisms when ingested.

He explained, As solid particles with small sizes, they can penetrate cell barriers, causing abrasions and releasing chemicals into tissues.

Plastics have become an integral part of our lives and I can't fathom telling someone to entirely avoid them.

However, as individuals, we can take action by managing our plastic consumption, particularly by practising the 3Rs: Reuse, Recycle and Reject.

Study

A study by Luigi Montano and colleagues found microplastics in human semen.

The study identified various types of chemicals, including polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene and acrylic.

These findings suggest that ingestion and inhalation are potential ways that environmental microplastics enter our bodies, possibly affecting our ability to reproduce.

Researchers must keep studying the impacts of microplastics, while regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency should set up strict rules to monitor and reduce microplastic pollution.

Everyone from industries to individuals must limit plastic use and follow the 3Rs to protect our ecosystems and future generations.

It's time for urgent action.

The writer is a Medical/Science Journalist.

EO Hijama Healing Cupping Therapy Center Kumasi.
Let us not criminalise people for who/what they are; let us criminalize people for what they do! - Cardinal Peter Kodwo Turkson

Cardinal Peter Kodwo Turkson Opinion Dec - 12 - 2023 , 12:44

Let us not criminalise people for who/what they are; let us criminalize people for what they do!

The Hardtalk Interview:

Dear Readers, it has been brought to my attention that the response I gave to a question on homosexuality during a BBC Hardtalk Interview has upset very many in Ghana and probably elsewhere too.

I am sorry about that! I did not intend to ruffle any feathers anywhere. I only wanted to state a truth of the teaching of the Catholic Church and a truth of Justice, namely that: people may not be criminalised or victimised for who they are.

Rather, people may be criminalised and punished for what they do: their actions!

At the said BBC Hardtalk interview, I responded to a question about the criminalisation of Homosexuality, referring to an answer I gave once to the media in Slovenia in response to a similar question. My response was, and this is what I repeated at the BBC Hardtalk, that LGBT and Gay people may not be criminalised; but neither should that lifestyle and its practice be imposed on cultures which are not yet ready for it.

When the interviewer went on, quoting a bill before the Parliament of Ghana, the attitudes of some countries in Africa towards homosexual people and what the Ghana Bishops Conference had written, denouncing a Western imposition of a foreign lifestyle and calling it a despicable act, I thought that something that was implicit in the position of the Bishops should be made explicit, namely, the distinction between a tendency and an act. It is the latter that was called despicable. I thought, therefore, that there was the need for some education, first to properly understand the phenomenon and its diverse manifestations in people; and secondly, to distinguish between the phenomenon/tendency and its manifestation in homosexual acts. While the later can be legislated and thus, condemned or criminalised by a community or a State, the former, the phenomenon/tendency, may not be criminalised: there are no acts/deeds to criminalise! So, my answer at the BBC interview made two points: first, that homosexuality, as a tendency/condition may not be criminalised, and, secondly, that homosexuality may not be imposed. This second point, from what I gather, is acceptable to people in Ghana and elsewhere, because not to impose something means allowing and recognizing the freedom of people to deal with their affairs. It is the first point that some find irksome; but in that I was repeating what the Catholic Church teaches! Homosexual Non-Criminalisation and Catholic Church Teaching: I am aware that Bishop Matthew Gyamfi, the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, and Bishop Joseph Osei Bonsu of the Diocese of Konongo-Mampong have made an effort to explain the Catholic Churchs teaching on non-criminalisation of homosexuals, referring to Scriptures and Church documents; and I am grateful to them both. In what follows, I shall briefly revisit those Church Teachings to show: a) how the Church makes a distinction between the homosexual tendency or phenomenon and homosexual actions or behaviour, and b) while the Church does not criminalise the existence of the homosexual tendency in people, the Church considers homosexual deeds and actions as morally reprehensible. In the 1975 Document of the Churchs Office for the Teaching of the true Faith, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which Bishop Osei-Bonsu also quotes, the Church took note of the distinction commonly drawn between the homosexual condition or tendency and individual homosexual actions. The Church considered the latter (actions) to be intrinsically disordered; and while she stressed the duty of trying to understand the homosexual condition, she advised that culpability for homosexual acts should only be judged with prudence. Read also

Catholic Church condemns homosexual acts, not homosexuals  Catholic Bishops Conference

Homosexual marriage not in Ghana's interest - Catholic Bishops reiterate support for anti-LGBTQ+ bill

Catholic priests involved in sexual misconduct should be castrated- Bridget Otoo
Male dominance in sale of underwear shorts at Kariakoo Market in Tanzania

Lydia Ezit Life Dec - 11 - 2023 , 20:49

Female underwear shorts are one of the top-selling items in Kariakoo, one of Dar Es Salaam's popular markets in Tanzania.



Traders, speaking to The Mirror, revealed that these shorts are in high demand due to Tanzanian women's habit of changing their undergarments frequently.

The main traders of this item are men who have developed a persuasive way to cater to their clients, mainly females, offering choices in colour, size, quality and brand.

Visit

During a visit to the Kariakoo market last Friday, it became evident that the sale of female underwear shorts was a prominent aspect of the market's busy trade.

Johnny Roster, a female underwear seller said he wished he had started the business earlier

Nomination

This reporter was in Tanzania because of her nomination for the prestigious 2023 OFAB Africa Media Awards in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, held last weekend.

A 29-year-old trader, Johnny Roster, who has been selling female underwear shorts for two years, said, "the selling of underwear shorts allows me to handle transactions every day. I sell approximately 10 pieces or more on a daily basis, making substantial sales. If I had discovered this business earlier, I would have started it much earlier."

Another seller, named Afaafa, explained that while the Kariakoo market offered a wide range of goodsfrom electrical supplies to furniture and foodthe sale of female underwear shorts stood out as a bestseller.

Male-dominated

Aside the retail industry, The Mirror observed that the market was also dominated by men who displayed all types of wares.

When asked why men seemed to have taken over the market, Abdul, a spice seller stated that because women dont like doing difficult stuff. The women dont like to sell in the market so we are here for them.

It is common to find male traders displaying all kinds of wares

The female underwear shorts business is so popular that some people told The Mirror that they were putting together some capital to enable them to invest in their sale.

For instance, a belt seller, Jonas Martius, said he started his belt business with an amount of 15,000 shillings and noted that he should have traded in the female underwear business because the belts were not selling fast.

So l am building capital out of this to buy bulk female underwear shorts and add to my belt business. Sometimes, by the time they sell about 10 pieces of female underwear shorts, l have not sold even a single belt, he stated.

Makola Market

Similar to Accra's Makola market in Ghana, the Kariakoo market draws customers from neighbouring countries in East and Central Africa, including Kenya, Rwanda and Cameroun.

A trader and resident of Dar Es Salaam, who gave his name as Mwaga, told The Mirror that the appeal for visitors from these neighbouring nations was the strategic location of the market.

This location facilitates significant volumes of imports and exports. The proximity to the port significantly lowers the cost of goods and services," she explained.





The Kariakoo market is heavily congested

Origin of Kariakoo



Traders, who spoke with The Mirror, explained the origin of the name 'Kariakoo,' indicating its derivation from a corruption of the British term "Carrier Corps," formerly stationed in the area as a labour corps. These traders emphasised the market's substantial contribution to Dar Es Salaam's economy.

The Mirror further observed a busy scene within the market, marked by heavy congestion with a spill of both hawkers and sellers onto the roads and nearby streets.

The market was described by some traders as being subdivided into distinct zones, catering to specific items such as clothing, foodstuff and electronics.

They said the main market had suffered a fire outbreak a year ago, contributing to the current congestion as traders congregated in this space.

One thing The Mirror noted was the remarkable patience and tolerance displayed by the traders, who were not rushing to sell their goods.

They often declined offers if the bargaining wasn't in their favour. When questioned about this nature of trading, the traders responded with hearty laughter, "That's Tanzanian folks for you  we are never in a hurry."
Establish scholarship schemes for girls  Kasser-Tee

Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Education Dec - 12 - 2023 , 08:10

A lecturer at the University of Ghana (UG) School of Law, Clara Kowlaga Beeri Kasser-Tee, has called on relevant stakeholders to consider the establishment of different scholarship schemes to assist the girl-child to realise her potential in different forms.

After secondary school, there are many girls who are unable to pursue higher education simply because their parents cannot afford the cost of higher education, she stressed.

She said one way that had proven to be sustainable and effective in helping people to realise their potential or pursue their dreams was through the provision of scholarship to people who had the potential but not the finances to realise their dreams.

Golden jubilee

Mrs Kasser-Tee, also an old student, was speaking as the guest speaker during the golden jubilee anniversary celebration of the Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School (BOGISS).

It was on the theme: Girl-child education, a critical tool for national development.

As part of the event, the old students handed over a mechanised borehole to improve access to water in the school.

Additionally, the parents association (PA) also handed over the renovated Home Economics block at a cost of GH601,592.60, which was destroyed by a rainstorm last year and some metal tables and chairs at a cost of GH80,000 among others.

She said, while we continue to make the call for the education of the girl-child, we must begin to consider avenues that help the girl-child to come out of her shell to achieve her aspirations in life.

Theme

Touching on the theme, she stated that education provided the nation with tremendous human resources in so many ways, be it in the arts, sciences, vocational skills or any other human endeavour.

The students

Without a trained and educated mind, we will have physical structures but not live lives that are easier, happy and dignifying she noted, adding education in all of its different forms is therefore a must for all.

She added that no parent had an excuse not to educate their child any longer, be it a girl or boy and that stakeholders must enforce the obligation on parents to educate their children towards societal development.

She said undoubtedly, women formed half of the society and therefore the nation could not develop at a reasonable pace and achieve the desired progress without the benefit of the talents and potential of half of its population.

She lauded the management of BOGISS for their efforts over the years as the school had provided access to education to many girls who were currently contributing to the growth of many sectors of the economy.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Dr Eric Nkansah, said the government through the GES was implementing a number of reforms to improve education outcomes under the education strategic plan spanning 2018-2030.

He entreated the students to be studious and committed to excellence in their studies as it was the surest way to achieve their academic aspirations and further urged all stakeholders to come together to champion the cause of girls education in the country.

The headmistress of BOGISS, Patience Agoteba Anaba, in an address, expressed gratitude to the government and the alumni for their unrelenting support to the growth and development of the school since its establishment.

That notwithstanding, she appealed for more infrastructural projects to meet the growing student population to enable the institution to return to a single-track system to enhance teaching and learning.

She equally paid glowing tribute to her predecessors, both teaching and non-teaching staff for their efforts over the years to sustain the enviable reputation of the school as the pioneer girls SHS in the region.

Challenges

The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, said in a country where females constituted the greater segment of the population, it was only fair to give them their rightful place in the scheme of things.

He noted that government was not oblivious of the several challenges confronting the educational sector and added that, government is working assiduously with partners to address some of the challenges.
MOBA 1978 donates to alma mater

Francisca Eshun Education Dec - 11 - 2023 , 08:16

The 1978-year group of the Mfantsipim Old Boys Association has donated furniture to the school.

The items included 100 metal bunk beds and 200 mono desks.

The President of the year group, Captain Samuel Hanson Amissah Thompson, noted that the presentation was in celebration of their 50 years of their entering form one at the school.

He said the gesture was to give back to the school to complement its furniture needs, adding that they appreciated what the school did for them.

"The training we had in Mfantsipim School has helped us greatly and the gesture is to give back to the school, he said.

He indicated that the 100 metal bunk beds would serve 200 students, and the 200 mono desks would go to improve the fireworks situation in the school to promote effective learning.

The president encouraged more year groups to continue to give back to the school saying, "if in life you are reaping the benefits of what Mfantsipim did for you, it is good to remember to give back to the school to help Mfantsipim maintain its name and its position as the premier school in Ghana.

He also advised the students to study hard to get better grades to be able to achieve life aspirations.

The Headmaster of the school, Rev Ebenezer Aidoo, thanked the year group for the gesture saying it was timely.

"We will be able to have the students seated comfortably in the classrooms as we look forward to the government to provide more," he added.

He also appealed to the government to fulfill its promise of completing a new dormitory and classroom blocks, a dining hall and assembly hall for the school to further promote a conducive environment for teaching and learning.
Drivers mate gets four years in jail for robbing iPhone 7

GNA Dec - 12 - 2023 , 06:56

A Circuit Court at Gbetsile near Tema has sentenced a drivers mate, Ibrahim Abu, to four years imprisonment with hard labour for crossing one Samuel Aquah with a motorcycle and robbing him of an iPhone 7.

The court, presided over by Mrs. Eleanor Kakra Banes Botchway, sentenced the accused after he had pleaded guilty to the charges.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Maxwell Ayeh said the complainant, Aquah, is a Machine Operator at a steel company in Tema and resides at Saki Bediako near Tema Community 25, while the accused, Abu, a 19-year-old drivers mate, resides in Asemsoba, Ashaiman.

The prosecution told the court that for some time now, police have been inundated with reports of phones being snatched from unsuspecting victims in vehicular traffic and on foot at Kpone Barrier by thieves on motorcycles.

He said on November 25, 2023, at about 18:50 hours, Aquah, who was near a spot at Kpone Barrier, got a call.

The Prosecution said in course of receiving it on his iPhone 7 Plus valued at Gh1,650.00, Abu and his accomplice, Roland Kobby riding a motorbike managed to snatch the phone from the complainant and jumped unto a motorbike, but the complainant suddenly grabbed the accused.

Inspector Ayeh said the complainant raised an alarm, which attracted the attention of some people who were at the scene and assisted the complainant to arrest Abu and recover the iPhone from him, but Kobby the accomplice managed to escape.

Mr Ayeh said the accused was handed over to the Police with the exhibit and during investigations, the accused confessed to the crime and mentioned Kobby as an accomplice.

He said after investigation the accused then was charged with the offence and put before court.
20,000 Youth jobs initiative unveiled

Biiya Mukusah Ali Dec - 11 - 2023 , 09:10

A new intervention to facilitate the employment of 20,000 young people as a practical step towards a reduction in youth unemployment has been unveiled in Sunyani, the Bono regional capital.

The Business and Employment Assistance Programme (BEAP), a flagship initiative of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), will nurture young entrepreneurs and empower them to generate employment opportunities for the large pool of unemployed youth in the country.

It is expected to provide opportunity for 10,000 employers in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector with the aim to revive MSMEs affected by the global pandemic to re-hire at least two employees they have laid off, employ new ones and provide essential skills for enhanced productivity.

Targeted to benefit young people between 16 and 35 years in all sectors, it is also expected to cushion the impact of the economic difficulties on the countrys most economically active population.

An amount of GH120 million allocated to the initiative will be distributed among beneficiary MSMEs, with each expected to engage a maximum of five employees.

Each employee will receive a monthly allowance of GH500 as a top-up to their regular wages for a year as a way of offering crucial support for businesses to recover and expand.

The MSMEs will also be connected to the YEA Job Centres and applicants looking for work experience and job opportunities, with recruitment assistance to support beneficiary businesses with the selection of the employees.

It will also provide pre-employment and work readiness training to beneficiaries to enhance their skills and development.

BEAP will provide up to GH500 monthly support to businesses for every employee they engage.

The salary support is expected to last up to 12 months.

Overall, the programme is to strengthen Ghana's economic resilience by safeguarding jobs, enhancing employment and promoting business stability.

Launch

The launch of the programme yesterday brought together hundreds of people mainly the youth, representatives of the Ghana Employers Association, the Ghana Startup Network and the Association of Small Scale Industries, all partners of the initiative.

Others are the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ghana European Centre and the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs.

The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who launched the initiative, said it was one of the several programmes being implemented to respond to the economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said it would also respond to the risks of mass layoffs during economic crises, particularly by MSMEs.

Qualification

Under the programme, the jobs to be supported must be based and performed in the country.

Beneficiary MSMEs are expected to have up to five active salary support (per Business Registration Number) at a time in order to benefit from the programme.

Recruitment update

Dr Bawumia said the government had recruited 2.1 million people in the public sector in the last seven years and facilitated 9,075 recruitments in the private sector.

What I can say in all humility is that what the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been able to do in terms of recruiting people in public and private sector and growing of the economy have not been done by any other government since independence".

However, we still have large amount of youth unemployment.

That is the reality we face because our population is about 31 million, but if you look at the demographics of this population, you will see that 73 per cent of the population is below 35 years, Dr Bawumia said.

The Vice-President said the YEA over the years had implemented several sustainable employment initiatives as part of efforts to mitigate the unemployment menace.

The BEAP by the YEA, he said, was a testament of the agencys commitment to the cause of providing sustainable employment for Ghanaian youth.

Vice-President Bawumia stressed that YEA had over the years implemented several initiatives and programmes as part of efforts to mitigate the youth unemployment menace, including engaging 21,000 youth under the Community Police Assistants and Community Health Workers modules.

Again, 2,000 youth had been engaged under the Youth in ICT module in collaboration with the Ghana Digital Centres Ltd.

He stated that a partnership with the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme had resulted in the training of 15,000 Ghanaian youth in business skills, corporate compliances,and financial sustainability practices.

Another partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture will engage 20,000 youth under Phase Two of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme, Dr Bawumia stated.

He said the beneficiaries under the module would be certified after their training and provided with the requisite tools and equipment to set up enterprises on their own.

Recovery programmes

Dr Bawumia indicated that the government had implemented several programmes after the COVID-19 pandemic to help businesses to recover from the challenges of the pandemic.

He said BEAP was to help businesses that could not recover in spite of the initiatives to fully recover.

Dr Bawumia said the government was aware of challenges facing businesses and expressed the governments commitment to create the enabling environment to boost their growth.

For his part, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, commended YEA for coming up with the initiative in support of businesses and to offer opportunities for the unemployed.

He advised the public to take advantage of the initiative and other programmes to revive their businesses and create decent job opportunities for the unemployed.

The Chief Executive Officer of YEA, Kofi Baah Agyepong, said the programme had come at the right time to deal with rising unemployment.
Armed Forces hands over residential plots to personnel

Emmanuel Bonney Dec - 12 - 2023 , 08:24

The Ghana Armed Forces last Friday started handing over lands to personnel who were unable to possess plots allocated to them through it and the 21st Century Lands Acquisition Scheme at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region.

The event was attended by the Military High Command, GAF personnel and beneficiaries of the plots.

At the event, some of the beneficiaries were presented with their indentures.

The 101.56 acres of land have been demarcated to have commercial, recreational, clinic, school infrastructure and places of worship.

As of last Friday, a total of 100 plots had been demarcated.

Concern

The Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, said when he assumed office, one of the major concerns the GAF had "was this problem of service personnel not being able to access land which they had paid for, and it had taken several years to acquire and possess the lands.

He said it was, therefore, his joy to be part of the solution.

He expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Chief of Gomoa Fetteh for agreeing to allocate the land to the GAF to settle personnel who were unable to possess their plots allocated to them through the Ghana Armed Forces and 21st Century Lands Acquisition Scheme.

"We want to thank you for your generosity and magnanimity," he said.

The CDS explained that the GAF in its quest to assist personnel deal with one of the most difficult problems confronting both service and retired personnel decided to arrange a land scheme in conjunction with 21st Century Company to provide residential plots to personnel at Millennium City in 1998.

"Unfortunately, due to unanticipated problems and occurrences, out of the 1,256 plots that were allocated to the GAF, only 138 were physically possessed," he said.

He said as many as 1,118 plots belonging to 1,104 personnel remained outstanding and unpossessed.

Present and past

"This includes both serving and retired staff aside from those who had been called to glory, unfortunately. "

As a high command, he said "we owe it a duty to ensure personnel receive their lands since the acquisition was done through deduction at source."

Vice Admiral Amoama said the efforts put in was what had given birth to the land at Gomoa Fetteh, and that following the inauguration of the project, the first 100 personnel would be allocated their plots with the rest following suit.

Acquisition

The Chief of Gomoa Fetteh, Nana Abor Atta II, said the acquisition of the land started under his predecessor, Nana Abor Yamoah II, and that it also included the Police and Immigration.

He said Nana Yamoah got to a point until he passed away and so decided to continue with the work that he started.

He said he gave the police 100 acres of land which was currently under development, promising to give out more parcels if the establishments needed it.

The military, he said, also came and that the parties had been in discussion until the handing over of the plots last Friday.

Nana Att II dismissed allegations from the chiefs and people of Senya that the land belonged to them, stating that they could not produce any documents to prove their claim.

Welfare

The Chief of Staff of the GAF, Major Gen. Nicholas Peter-Andoh, said on assumption of office, the CDS set out not only to strengthen the capacity of the armed forces to deliver on their constitutional mandate but also took steps to ensure that the welfare of personnel was attended to.
Asogli Power, Ghana-Chinese Chamber of Commerce support flood victims

Benjamin Xornam Glover Dec - 12 - 2023 , 08:36

The Ghana-Chinese Enterprise Chamber of Commerce and Sunon Asogli Power have donated relief items to victims of the recent floods in the lower Volta dam basin.

The support from the two firms to the flood victims in North, South and Central Tongu Districts, Anloga, Ketu South, as well as the Keta Municipality, was to alleviate their plight.

The Ghana-Chinese Chamber of Commerce donated GH 500,000 and some relief items, while the China Jianxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Limited also donated GH 50,000 to support the affected communities.

The items included 160 pieces of student mattresses, 90 bags of 25-kilogramme rice, 160 pieces of pillows, 20 boxes of cooking oil and six boxes of stationery.

A presentation ceremony took place at Sogakope to hand over the items to the beneficiaries.

Present at the event were the Economic and Commercial Counsellor, Chinese Embassy, Li Yaohong, the MP for the South Tongu Constituency, K. Mensah Woyome; the MP for the Central Tongu Constituency, Hottordze Alexander Roosevelt, and the MP for the Keta Constituency, Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe.

Crisis

The President of the Ghana-Chinese Enterprise Chamber of Commerce, Yan Qun, who is also the Chairman of the Sunon Asogli Power, speaking at a ceremony to hand over the items yesterday, said in times of crisis, people needed to come together as a community, not only to offer their sympathies but also to provide tangible support to those affected.

He said the Ghana-Chinese Enterprise Chamber of Commerce was taking proactive steps to assist flood victims, particularly children and to contribute to the ongoing relief efforts.

"It is sad to witness that children of these communities could not go to school when the disaster occurred and were also prone to several diseases accompanied by the flood.

It is our fervent hope that this donation would be channelled to the support of the education of the children in the affected communities," he said.

Mutual friends

The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State and a Director of the Sunon Asogli Power, Togbe Afede XIV, commended the Ghana-Chinese Enterprise Chamber of Commerce for rallying support for the victims.

He said China had been a friend of Ghana since independence and had been involved in various aspects of Ghana's development.

He noted that although the flood water had receded, the consequences still lingered on, including the loss of businesses, agricultural lands, negative impact on school and academic work, displacement, among others.

The MP for the Ketu South Constituency, as well as the Public Relations Officer of the Tongu Chiefs Union, Abla Dzifa Gomashie and Togbe Ayensu Kokotako II respectively, expressed appreciation to the chamber for the gesture.

Tour

Earlier, members of the Ghana-Chinese Enterprise Chamber of Commerce and officials of the Sunon Asogli Power toured the Richard Novati Catholic Hospital and the Camboni Technical Institute in Sogakope, which were both impacted by the floods.

At the Richard Novati Catholic Hospital, the Medical Director, Dr Aaron Nii Tettey Oku, said although the facility started partial operations on December 1, 2023, some equipment had been damaged.

He said technicians were assessing the extent of damage, while the Catholic Relief Services had also made some funds available for the renovation of some residential facilities for staff.
Bethel Presby Church donates to La General Hospital

Yaa Kuffour Senyah Dec - 12 - 2023 , 06:30

The La Bethel Presbyterian Church has donated items to the La General Hospital to support the operations of the facility.

The gesture was part of the churchs social responsibility and activities to climax its 170th anniversary celebrations.

The items donated included a knee rover, a stretcher, crutches, toiletries, detergents, brooms, beverages and sanitiser, among others.

The Presiding Minister in charge of the La Bethel Presbyterian Church, George Tsakle, who presented the items on behalf of the church, indicated that the donation to the facility was long overdue.

He explained that the church was responsible for the spiritual well-being of society while the hospital was also responsible for the physical well-being.

Thus, it was important that they worked in close collaboration to ensure that individuals in society were well taken care of, hence the motive for the donation to the hospital.

Mr Tsakle further stated that the gesture was embarked on as part of the churchs activities to mark its 170th anniversary on the theme: Christ in you the hope of glory; Celebrating Gods goodness.

He expressed the hope that the items donated would go a long way to help in the daily operations of the facility.

Commendation

The Deputy Director of Nursing Services at La General Hospital, Veronica Momo Blabi, commended the church for its benevolent act.

She explained that the hospital had started offering a 24-hour service to ensure effective care to its clients.

She, therefore, said the items would help ensure that high sanitary standards were promoted at all times in the hospital while the other equipment would help reduce the strain on the few in the hospital.

So the items donated by the church are commendable as they would actively help our operations to ensure that the patients are well catered for, Ms Blabi added.

Although the permanent structures of the La General Hospital were pulled down to pave way for their reconstruction, the staff were re-located into a smaller place to operate.
Catholic Church condemns homosexual acts, not homosexuals  Catholic Bishops Conference

Juliet Akyaa Safo Dec - 12 - 2023 , 07:40

The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference has explained that the Catholic Church does not condemn people for being homosexuals but rather condemns the homosexual acts they perform.

It said homosexuals must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity.

The conference made several references to the Bible which condemned the practice of homosexuality and said it stood by the teachings of the Bible.

For the church to choose someone of the same sex for ones sexual activity or for marriage is to annul the rich symbolism and meaning, not to mention the goals of Gods sexual design, it said.

These were contained in a communique dated December 11, 2023, and signed by the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi. It was on the theme, The Catholic Church and the State on Homosexuality.

The conference reiterated that the teachings of the Catholic Church made a distinction between the homosexual condition or tendency and individual homosexual actions.

It said the church taught its members that the intrinsic dignity of each person must always be respected in word, in action and in law.

It added that according to Pope Francis, the homosexual person needed to be respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration, and every sign of unjust discrimination is to be carefully avoided, particularly any form of aggression or violence.

For this reason, it is not right to inflict physical or other types of violence on homosexuals just because they are homosexuals.

Their being homosexuals does not mean that they should be treated like criminals.

The church insists that homosexuals, also created in the image of God, must enjoy the fundamental human rights that all human beings enjoy, it said.

Nevertheless, it said the churchs understanding of human rights was that the rights of homosexuals as persons did not include the right of a man to marry a man or of a woman to marry a woman.

The communique said it was morally wrong and went against Gods purpose for marriage.

The long-held teaching of the Roman Catholic Church has been that while homosexual people are to be loved and respected and not be discriminated against, homosexual acts are intrinsically immoral and must be condemned.

It is for this reason that the church does not approve of unions between people of the same sex.

However, following the example of Jesus himself who came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (cf. Luke 5:32 [NRSV]), the church in its pastoral care is solicitous about the salvation of all Gods children and endeavours to show them Gods love and mercy, it said.

Criminalised

The communique further said homosexuals must therefore not be criminalised, maltreated or attacked for being homosexuals as it was neither a sin nor a crime, but rather the acts they performed were sinful and should be condemned.

Thus, we can say that while it is not right to criminalise homosexuals just for being homosexuals, the State is within its right to criminalise the acts of homosexuals in the interest of the nation.

In this connection, we can state that the draft bill on Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values 2021 currently in Parliament is in the right direction, as it seeks to enact laws against criminal homosexual acts.

It said the bill aimed to provide for proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values, proscribe LGBTQ+ and related activities, and provide for the protection of children, persons who were victims or accused of LGBTTQQIAAP+ and related activities, and other persons.

We commend our lawmakers for the effort and time spent on this bill.

It is our hope that, when passed into law, it will indeed promote proper human sexual rights and authentic Ghanaian family values which are under threat from homosexual acts.

It is also the hope of the church that the bill will impose punitive measures that are commensurate with the crimes committed, it stated.
Commemoration of World Human Rights Day: Advocates call for increased press freedom, protection of rights

Emelia Ennin & Diana Mensah Dec - 12 - 2023 , 06:12

The World Human Rights Day has been commemorated in Accra with a call for improvement in press freedom and the protection of the rights of the poor, vulnerable and marginalised in the country.

Promotion of freedom of speech, they said, would, among others, improve the nation's rankings on the press freedom index.

The advocates included the Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Joseph Whittal; the UN Resident Coordinator, Charles Abani, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Telecoms, Dr Ken Ashigbey.

December 10 each year is set aside for the commemoration of the day. However, the country celebrated the event in Accra yesterday, December 11, 2023.

This year's edition marked the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a landmark document that sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected.

Although the global theme was Freedom, equality and justice for all, the local theme was The 75th anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights: Implications for human rights protection in Ghana.

As part of activities to mark the day, the CHRAJ, with support from the UN, organised a roundtable discussion in Accra that was attended by key stakeholders and human rights advocates to access the countrys human rights record and make projections for the future.

More room for improvement

Mr Whittal said the country had made some remarkable gains in human rights protection and promotion yet there remains significant room for improvement.

He said much needed to be done to protect the rights of the poor, the vulnerable and marginalised, including women and children, older persons, persons living with and affected by HIV/TB and persons with disability.

Participants in the event

The commissioner also said that journalists in the country must feel free to practise their trade without fear of being attacked or harmed, adding that both public and private business owners did their businesses legally while respecting the rights of all persons who would be affected by their operations.

Robust legal regime

The Deputy Attorney-General and Deputy Minister of Justice, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, said the country had over the years adopted robust legal regimes and institutional frameworks to address some challenges that hindered the enjoyment of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

He urged companies to respect the rights of humans not only by desisting from causing or contributing to adverse human rights impact, but human rights abuses as well.

The corporate responsibility to respect human rights requires companies to put in place human rights due diligence in order to identify, address and mitigate its impact that may occur in their businesses, the deputy minister added.

He further said that a steering committee had been established to develop a national action plan of business and human rights in the country.

Responsibility

The UN Resident Coordinator, Charles Abani, said it was the duty of every country to promote and protect the fundamental human rights and freedoms of its individuals, regardless of their political, economic and cultural background.

He commended Ghana for the steps taken to abolish the death penalty and witches camps and expressed the hope that the rights of all individuals would be protected.

Mr Abani urged stakeholders to create an ecosystem that would enable individuals to speak against human rights abuses.

For his part, Dr Ashigbey said it was the role of the private sector to support and encourage open dialogue, respect diversity of opinions and protect journalists and media workers from unwarranted threats and attacks.
Foundation donates to Akropong School for the Blind

Daily Graphic Dec - 12 - 2023 , 07:54

A non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Ghana and South Africa, the Ben Kofi Quashie Foundation (BKQ), has presented assorted food items worth hundreds of cedis and an undisclosed sum to the Akropong School for the Blind at Akropong in the Eastern Region.

The items donated were 20 bags of 25kg rice, 10 gallons of 25 litre vegetable cooking oil, 20 boxes of tomato paste, 5 sacks of 50kg sugar, 10 buckets of 10kg margarine, 10 bags of Sankofa flour, 10 bags of 180kg maize, 6 bags of 100kg beans and 5 bags of 150kg gari and some cash donation.

Presenting the items, the Co-Founder of the foundation, Nonkazimulo Quashie, said the BKQ Foundation was established with a clear mission in mind - to make a positive impact on the lives of less fortunate people, and especially on the lives of individuals facing various challenges in society.

Foundation

It was against this background that the foundation decided to extend its support to the Akropong School for the Blind with food items based on its most pressing needs and to make the celebration of this years Christmas, a memorable one.

According to Mrs Quashie, while our support may only scratch the surface, it is our hope that it will provide some relief and comfort to the students and staff.

We believe that no child should go hungry, and with this donation, we aim to contribute to their well-being and nurture their development.

She urged the school administration to put the food items to good use for the benefit of the students.

She encouraged the students to study and work hard to reach their potential, assuring them of the foundations continuous support to help them achieve their dreams.

Institutions

Mrs Quashie appealed to other institutions and individuals to offer their support to the school and other deprived schools in the country to make life worth living for these unfortunate young ones.

Receiving the items, the Headmistress of the school, Veronica Dery, thanked the BKQ Foundation for its support and called on well-meaning Ghanaians and institutions to come to the aid of the school stressing that the needs of the school were numerous and one institution could not do it all.

The Boys and Girls Prefects of the school, Richard Odameng and Suzzie Borley Kortey thanked the BKQ Foundation for thinking about their welfare and coming to their aid.
Ho Cancer Registry inaugurated

Alberto Mario Noretti Dec - 12 - 2023 , 08:30

A long-awaited Cancer Registry has been inaugurated at a ceremony at the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH).

The inauguration of the facility took place last week Wednesday on the theme: Empowering Tomorrow  Uniting against cancer through data and awareness.

The Head of Oncology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Osei Bonsu, said that knowing the exact numbers of people diagnosed with cancer was crucial to addressing the cases with the best treatment modalities.

That, he said, made the cancer registry with computers and software data on the cases very important.

Dr Bonsu pointed out that cancer treatment was expensive, for which reason it was important to carry out thorough screening of the cases, to decide on the less expensive approach to addressing the problem.

He said that called for a multi-disciplinary team from the various directorates of the health sector to implement smoothly.

Dr Bonsu said all cancer cases required prompt attention and so sensitisation on cancer among members of the public must be sustained.

The Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Divine Bosson, who was the guest of honour at the launch hailed the Ho Cancer Registry as a beacon of hope, a platform that signified progress, and a vital instrument in the fight against cancer.

It serves as a repository of invaluable data, a treasure of information that will guide our strategies, shape our policies, and enhance our understanding of cancer prevalence, patterns, and treatment within our region, he added.

Mr Bosson observed that lifestyles were changing tremendously, resulting in the high incidence and prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with cancer as one of the critical NCDs.

The Ho Cancer Registry, he said, symbolised the resilience and commitment of various stakeholders to combat the disease.

Donation

The launch coincided with the donation of two laptop computers, with various accessories, and a photo-copier worth GH40,000 to the registry by the Dr Robert Mitchell Memorial Foundation (RoMMeF), a Ghanaian non-governmental organisation committed to the welfare of children with cancer.

The acting Executive Secretary of the foundation, Emmanuel Kwesi Madugu, said the Ho Cancer Registry was not a mere bureaucratic milestone but also a pivotal step in the journey to understand, address, and ultimately conquer the challenges posed by cancer in the society.

This registry will serve as a compass guiding our efforts to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and support services, he added.
Make teacher training on learning difficulties in children mandatory  Africa Dyslexia

Emmanuel Bonney & Rhoda Amponsah Dec - 12 - 2023 , 07:09

The Executive Director of the Africa Dyslexia Organisation, Rosalin Abigail Kyere-Nartey, has called for the mandatory training of teachers in areas of learning difficulties in children.

She mentioned some of the difficulties to include dyslexia, a learning disorder characterised by difficulty in reading, dyscalculia which is a challenge with understanding numbers/figures and dysgraphia  difficulties in writing.

She said there were reported incidents of some children being humiliated in class because of their learning challenges by teachers who were ignorant about the condition.

The mandatory training of teachers, therefore, would ensure that teachers adopted the right approach and strategy to teach children with learning challenges.

She said, for instance, every school should have at least three specialised teachers who would support all children with learning challenges.

Forum

Ms Kyere-Nartey made the call at the 2023 Dyslexia Education Stakeholders Forum in Accra yesterday.

The forum was on the theme: "Rethinking in inclusivity in Education, Addressing the Needs of Dyslexic Students".

Attended by decision-makers, educators, policy-makers, parents and students, the forum was aimed at heightening awareness and also addressing the challenges faced by individuals, especially with dyslexia.

Curriculum

Ms Kyere-Nartey said training teachers in learning difficulties in areas such as dyslexia should be made part of the curriculum of their training.

"For those already out of school on the field working, we can still make it mandatory for them.

"If we have everybody to take even the introduction to learning difficulties, then we can get teachers who would be passionate about this.

"We are ready to partner with the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service and the National Teaching Council.

It is something that is not difficult, just make it mandatory and then we upload it online," she stated.

Change, strength

The Africa Dyslexia Organisation Executive Director said it was on time for conversations inclusive education, as statistics had indicated that one in five children had dyslexia, explaining that when teachers became aware of the information being shared about learning challenges, it would result in attitude and mindset change.

The Executive Director said contrary to the belief that dyslexics were not good academically, they were talented and had a creative mindset.

"Words like you are lazy, you are dumb, you are stupid and you can never amount to anything kill our dreams.

So ask yourself, do you want to be somebody who kills dreams or you want to be someone who ignites dreams," she asked.

She said the forum should be a beacon of hope, inspiration and change for the country and that together "we can reach every corner of our educational landscape, fostering an environment where no learner is left behind".

"Remember, every child is a star and every child can learn," she emphasised.

Broader awareness

The Project Coordinator at the British Council, Rachel Ntow, said while physical disabilities often received the most attention within inclusive education initiatives, the need for a broader awareness and action remained crucial.

"Recognising this gap, the British Council and Africa Dyslexia Organisation have joined forces to pioneer a much-needed initiative aimed at amplifying the voices and needs of all individuals seeking access to equitable learning opportunities, regardless of their abilities.

"This partnership seeks to illuminate the importance of a holistic approach to inclusive education, one that extends beyond physical barriers and embraces the diverse spectrum of neurodiversity and learning styles," she said.

By working together, she said the two agencies hoped to pave the way for a more inclusive and accessible educational landscape.

The Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Education, Sheilla Naa Boamah, described the forum as significant, saying it would serve as an important guide for policymakers.
New Force spokesperson granted GH20,000 bail

Daily Graphic Dec - 12 - 2023 , 09:16

The Kaneshie District Court in Accra yesterday granted bail in the sum of GH20,000 with two sureties to Shalimar Abbiusi, a Belgian and spokesperson for The New Force, a new political group that has started advertising itself with billboards and social media messages.

This was after she pleaded not guilty to obtaining a student permit by false declaration.

She was granted bail following a bail application by her lawyer, Francis-Xavier Sosu, in court yesterday.

Abbiusi is to reappear on Tuesday, December 19, this year at the court presided over by Nana Abena Asor Owusu Amenyo.

Meanwhile, scores of people believed to be supporters of The New Force political group thronged the court premises with placards in support of the accused person.

Brief facts

Narrating the facts of the case, prosecution led by Assistant Commissioner of Immigration (CI), Adolf Aboagye Asenso, said the accused person was arrested upon an invitation by the Head of the National Enforcement Section of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) concerning her immigration status in the country.

The prosecutor said the GISs attention was drawn to the activities of the accused on social media.

He added that Abbiusi was found in some short video in circulation introducing the emergence of a new political grouping described as The New Force.

The prosecution said the accused person introduced herself as a spokesperson for the group.

CI Asenso told the court that investigations revealed that the accused person first came to Ghana on September 4, 2017, through the Kotoka International Airport and had since been a regular visitor to the country until 2018 when she became a resident following her supposed admission to the Ghana University College.

The prosecutor said checks from the college revealed that she had never been a student.

He added that documents purportedly issued by the college to support her application for a residence permit were allegedly forged.
No plans to sell govt shares in Vodafone  Minister

Nana Konadu Agyeman Dec - 12 - 2023 , 07:27

The government has no plans of selling its 30 per cent shareholding in the Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited which now operates as Vodafone Ghana, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has told Parliament.

She said Vodafone Ghana, which owned 70 per cent in the entity it acquired from the state, transferred its stake to the Telecel Group in February 2013.

Question

The minister disclosed that when she responded to a question by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, who asked whether the government had any plans of selling its shares in Vodafone Ghana.

The MP also sought to know whether the consent of the minority shareholder  the government of Ghana  was sought in the sale of the 70 per cent to the Telecel Group.

Responding, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful told the House that under the shareholders agreement, the consent of the minority shareholder was not required for Vodafone Ghana to transfer or sell its shareholding in Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited.

Consequent is not required under the terms of the shareholders agreement, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful, who is also the MP for Ablekuma West, retorted.

Appearing unhappy with the response, Mr Dafeamekpor described the ministers answer as surprising because in Company Law such disclosure of shares transfer was one of the key requirements.

He, therefore, pressed the MP if she could tell the House the amount or value for the sale of the 70 per cent shares that Vodafone Ghana received in transferring its shares to the Telecel Group.

In answering, the minister stopped short of disclosing the amount on the grounds that such request for value of shares was not sought.

Mr Speaker, the question was specific whether the government has any plans of selling its shares in Vodafone Ghana Limited and the answer has also been specific that the government has no such plans.

If the honourable member requires further information, I suggest that he files a substantive question to which I will come and respond.

I do not have that information on top of my head, she said.

Make agreement available

Intervening, the NDC MP for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, accused the minister of actually blocking the initial sale of the 70 per cent.

He said the National Communications Authority, the regulator of the telecommunications industry, acting under the authority of the minister, blocked the initial sale.

And so if subsequently that same entity that blocked the sale came back again and now they have been handed 70 per cent, it could not be on the blind side without the consent of the minority shareholders, he said.

Mr George, therefore, joined the call for the minister to provide the House with copies of the 70 per cent agreement.

Whats value of sale?

The former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, who was also a former Minister of Communications, recalled how the Vodafone Ghanas sales and purchase agreement was laid before the House in 2008.

He said per the shareholder agreement, Vodafone Ghana had 70 per cent shareholding while the government of Ghana had 30 per cent.

He said while the minister, in her answer, told the House that Vodafone Ghana had sold off its share of 70 per cent to Telecel Group, she was unable to tell the House the amount or value of the 70 per cent.

Mr Speaker, my difficulty is to value the 70 per cent in any sale or purchase agreement, you must have valued the 100 per cent before you can sell off 70 per cent and leave 30 per cent.

As the Minister of Communication, Mr Iddrisu said, the minister represented the government of Ghanas interest of 30 per cent and, therefore, questioned why she did not have knowledge of the value of 70 per cent transferred.
Northern College of Science and Technology best in BECE in N/Region

Dawuni Emma Dec - 12 - 2023 , 06:54

The Northern College of Science and Technology, formerly 7As (College of Science and Technology (COSTECH), was declared the best junior high school (JHS) for securing 45 distinctions in the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Northern Region.

The students acquired between aggregate six and 10 enabling them to gain admission to their first choice schools across the country.

Significant stride

In an interview with the Founder of the school, Nathanial Adams Jnr, he expressed his satisfaction with the excellent performance of the students in the examination.

He said the school had made significant strides in delivering top-notch academic training for students in the region over the years, making it an institution of choice in the area.

Mr Adams said since its inception, the school had produced more than 250 students with excellent results in the BECE that had made them gain admission into grade A SHSs.

Many of them are pursuing their education in science-related courses, including Medicine and Engineering in universities in the country and abroad, he added.

Courses

Mr Adams mentioned courses pursued in the school to include Mathematics, English Language, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Career Technologies, Religious and Moral Education, French and Dagbani.

The private school, which was established some 10 years ago, is a three phase project which will eventually establish a university in Yendi.

Mr Adams commended the management, teachers and staff, including parents for their hard work over the years, and said the school was opened to all citizens in the country.
Police receive 200 motorbikes for visibility

Emelia Ennin Abbey Dec - 12 - 2023 , 06:35

The Ghana Police Service has received 200 motorbikes from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to aid the service in its visibility operations and execution of its general duties across the country.

It is part of the ECGs promise to support the Police Administration with 1,000 motorbikes to be presented in batches.

Keys to the motorbikes that come with helmets were handed over to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare at the police headquarters in Accra yesterday during a brief ceremony that attracted members of the Police Management Board and some senior officials of ECG.

Support

Before handing over the keys, the Board Chairman of ECG, Keli Gadzekpo, said the support was also part of efforts to acknowledge and reward the hard work of police officers that protected ECG officials in their operations across the country.

Our workers suffer quite frequent attacks on their persons as they conduct their duties, going from house to house and so forth, he said.

There have been a number of attacks on ECG officials on revenue mobilisation operation duties, change of ECG power metering for domestic and institutional use, among others.

Mr Gadzekpo noted that the action was to aid the police in enforcing their visibility operations, especially as we approached the festive period.

He said enhanced police visibility would deter crime and announced that ECG would challenge itself to increase the donation from the initial plan of supporting the police with 200 motorbikes to 1,000 motorbikes.

The ECG board chairman encouraged other institutions to find out the needs of the Ghana Police Service and support them.

The Managing Director (MD) of the ECG, Samuel Dubik Masubir Mahama, commended the police service for supporting the ECG over the years and said the company would continue to work with the police.

Partnership

Dr Dampare expressed appreciation on behalf of the Police Administration for the support.

He noted that the government and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had been very supportive of the service.

The IGP said the government had provided resources which had improved the performance of the police service.

The support from the ECG, he said, was complementary to that of the government.

He said the support was a demonstration of a new dawn of partnership between the two institutions that were classified as emergency service providers.

In the past, we have been working separately without much collaboration and partnership and it is our hope that this journey that we have begun will take us to a level that we will continue to work together to make Ghana more peaceful, orderly and secure, he said.
Provide barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities  Dr Naami

Diana Mensah Dec - 12 - 2023 , 07:21

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) have called on the government, other duty bearers and corporate organisations to provide a barrier-free environment to ensure they are able to contribute to national development.

Access barriers, they said, affected their socio-economic, political participation and the psychological well-being and prevented them from fully realising their potential.

The Head of the Department of Social Work of the University of Ghana, Dr Augustina Naami, who made the call, said breaking down the barriers would pave the way for a more inclusive society and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 11.

Most of our facilities, especially washrooms are narrowed with steps and the inside are small for people like me.

So we crawl in to have access to the facilities which have health implications.

Provision of ramps would help PWDs move about freely and ensure the country achieves the Sustainable Development Goal 11, she said.

Dr Naami, herself a person with mobility disability, urged the government to tackle the root cause of the challenges PWDs faced in the country, stating Lets PWDs be part of the decision making arena and lets their voices be heard as they are the experts who better understand their issues and can help develop interventions that can help address these barriers.

Ceremony

The University of Ghanas Head of Department of Social Work made the call when she installed and inaugurated eight wheelchair ramps at some entrances of the Ghana Society of the Socially Disadvantaged at Kaneshie.

They included six bathroom door ramps, two toilet ramps, ramp for the store where the students sell their products and a concrete cover over a gutter in the middle of the school, which had split metal covers.

To support Dr Naamis goal, the Church of Pentecost, Madina District, also donated bags of water, detergents, bar soaps, toilet rolls and books to the centre.

Rationale

The ramps, Dr Naami explained, were to help physically challenged individuals have easy access to some facilities in the school, saying the execution of the project is a dream come true and is my goal to donate five ramps every year.

it is a collective responsibility to ensure a barrier free environment for persons with disabilities.

We need all hands on desk to achieve the goal of improving access, inclusion and safety for persons with disability, she said.

Appreciation

The Board Chairperson of the centre, Muriel Robertson, expressed appreciation to the team for building the ramp from their own resources in support of others who were also incapacitated.

She gave the assurance that they would take good care of the facility to ensure it lasted longer to serve the purpose for which it was built.

More Support

A student, Derrick Arthur, on behalf of his colleagues, expressed appreciation to the donors for allowing them to enjoy independence and the ability to take part in social activities of the school.

He urged the community not to shun people who were physically challenged, but rather support them since they were capable of contributing significantly to the development of the community and the nation at large.

The absence of ramps at the entrance made it difficult and unfriendly for us to access some of the facilities here.

To get access, we had to leave our wheelchairs outside and crawl in and out of the facility even after bathing and it is very devastating, he added.
Suspend lithium agreement  Civil society

Timothy Ngnenbe & Josephine Ansah Dec - 12 - 2023 , 08:00

Think tanks, civil society organisations and religious leaders are mounting pressure on the government to drop the lithium mining lease granted Barari DV Ghana Ltd.

While the government maintains that the countrys first lithium deal has improved terms compared to the existing regimes for gold and other minerals, the think tanks and religious leaders are calling on Parliament not to ratify the licence because it is not rewarding enough to the country.

Barely a week ago, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and a former Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo, raised concerns that the terms of the agreement were a rip-off for the country.

At a meeting hosted by IEA in Accra yesterday, the religious leaders and some statesmen said the lithium mining lease must be done away with and a new framework that gives the country good control of lithium resources instituted.

The religious leaders included the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), Rev. Dr Cyril Fayose; the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Most Rev. Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo; international Evangelist and President of Worldwide Miracle Outreach, Dr Lawrence Tetteh; the Founder of City of God Church, Apostle Dr John Kpikpi, and the Office of the National Chief Imam, represented by Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu.

Also at the meeting was a member of the Council of State, Sam Okudzeto, who also supported the IEAs call for the lithium mining lease to be put on hold.

They resolved to mobilise other stakeholders to mount pressure on the government until the lithium agreement was dropped.

As one of the approaches to the issue, they also agreed to petition the President, political parties, the National House of Chiefs and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to make their positions known.

In separate statements, the religious leaders said the time had come for all Ghanaians to rise up and fight for the common goal of reversing what they described as colonial arrangements that had denied the country the full benefit the natural resource endowment.

National interest

Justice Akuffo said although the government had maintained that the lithium deal was better compared with existing mining frameworks, it was unacceptably negligible.

She stressed that the time had come for the government to adopt a natural resource management approach that gave the state more control of the benefits of its mineral resources.

Times have changed and we should always ask ourselves the critical question about whether the old ways of doing things is always the best.

Things do not always have to be done the same way.

We have done the same things and have been at the doorsteps of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for 17 times, she stated.

She called on Members of Parliament to do something about the agreement by ensuring that it is not ratified.

Discard royalty system

Mr Okudzeto said the idea of paying royalties to the country for the exploitation of mineral resources was a colonial relic that must be discarded.

The constitution says that the mineral resources are for us, why should someone pay us royalties?

Why should someone come and take our lithium and say he is paying us royalty?

The 10 per cent royalties to be paid to the state under this lithium lease is an extension of the colonial mentality, he said.

The statesman and legal practitioner urged Parliament to put the countrys interest above other considerations by making sure that the agreement was not ratified because it is not in the interest of Ghana.

He called on all groups and well-meaning Ghanaians to be united in demanding that the mining lease be dropped.

Our strength comes from our unity.

If the mosques, churches, TUC and others can stand together, we can influence change, Mr Okudzeto said.

Collective effort

Rev. Dr Tetteh called on all faith-based organisations and voices which mattered to speak out and act with one accord to ensure that the lithium deal was dropped.

As a nation, we have allowed ourselves to be cheated for far too long and it is about time we stood up and saved our resources.

We need to wake up and come together in a massive united form and fight this deal, he stressed.

For his part, Rev. Dr Fayose said it was surprising that an agreement of such importance had been signed and sealed already without thorough engagement with critical stakeholders.

It is a clear sign of the collapse of institutions.

We have a real problem if Parliament passes this deal.

We cannot, as a nation, sit down and allow this lithium resource to also go down the drain.

Ghanaians should have the bigger share of the lithium we have, he said.

Posterity

In support of the call for the lithium deal to be halted, Sheikh Armiyawo said the fact that the country had bad deals for gold, manganese, bauxite and other minerals did not mean that the status quo should remain.

The mineral resources of our country do not belong to us alone.

It belongs to the children unborn.

Those who negotiate it must do it in our interest.

Let us stop the contract, go into it and ensure that it is done in a manner that benefits Ghana, he added.

Dr Kpikpi also said the prudent thing to do going forward was for a new framework to be created for the country to own the 100 per cent of the exploitation of minerals and determine what to give companies that helped to mine the resource.

We should throw away this agreement and let the lithium rest where it is until we develop the capacity to harness it ourselves and exploit it to our advantage, he said.

In a related development, a pressure group, Mass Action for Sustainable Development in Africa (MASDA), also called on Parliament to throw out the lithium mining deal.

At a press briefing held in Accra yesterday, the not-for-profit organisation called on Parliament to act in the national interest by pulling the brakes on the lease agreement for better arrangements to be made for the management of the countrys lithium.

The Executive Director of MAZDA, Atik Mohammed, who addressed the press, said the group would petition Parliament to act in the interest of Ghanaians because the deal was "unacceptable and not fit for purpose."

"It is the future of the republic and we must take steps to avert the tragedy that befell the country in the mining of gold and related minerals.

He said Article 268(1) of the 1992 Constitution provided an opportunity for Parliament to pause the agreement as steps were taken to rectify discrepancies.

Background

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, signed the first-ever lease for the exploitation of lithium in the country on October 19, this year.

This followed Cabinet's approval of the Green Minerals Policy, which makes it mandatory for prospective holders of leases for lithium and other green minerals to establish a refinery for processing the resource.

Since the granting of the lithium mining lease, some CSOs, individuals and institutions have criticised the deal, describing it as bad for the country.

There have also been calls to grant mining leases through a tender process.

Mr Jinapor, however, defended the governments position at a state-organised press conference last Thursday.

He was supported by the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, and that of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng.
Prof. Attafuah calls for strong public private partnership to accelerate countrys digital transformation

Joshua Bediako Koomson Dec - 12 - 2023 , 12:12

The Executive Secretary of the NIA, Prof Ken Agyemang Attafuah, has called for a strong public private partnership (PPP) to help identify key bottlenecks that needs to be removed to further accelerate the countrys digital transformation.

He noted the PPP could form the cornerstone of a successful move to digitisation and was an effective strategy for bringing together the resources and technical expertise needed to deliver on digital transformation goals.

I am confident that PPPs can improve digitalisation of the economy through collaborations that combine innovative efforts from the private sector, forward- thinking policies from governments, support from academia and encouragement from civil society actors and organisations, Prof Attafuah stated.

Made in Ghana Summit

He made this call at the second edition of the Made in Ghana summit which took place in Accra last Friday (December 8).

The event which was organised by Entrepreneur Foundation of Ghana (EFG) on the theme The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Sustainable Digital Transformation.

It brought together influential public and private sector chief executives, captain of industries, policymakers and entrepreneurs as well as some members of the diplomatic corps.

Among issues discussed were the government's digitalisation, industrialisation and business development agenda.

PPP

He said collaborative efforts between NIA and its technical partners, Identity Management Systems II Limited (IMS II), best exemplified the centrality of the role of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in fostering digital transformation and taking societies beyond new frontiers of growth and development.

Prof Attafuah said one of the key advantages of the partnership was the synergy of strengths.

The NIA, as a governmental body, brings to the table the overarching vision of a unified and secure national identification system, an appropriate and effective legal and regulatory framework, public trust, public sector organisational competence and social mobilization and stakeholder engagement skills.

On the other hand, the private partner, Margins Group , contributes cutting-edge technologies, specialised knowledge, and the agility needed to implement solutions that meet the evolving needs of our dynamic society, Prof Attafuah stated.

He said the Ghana Card, a product of such collaboration, stood as a symbol of efficiency, security, and inclusivity.

Through the strategic combination of public resources and private innovation, and the intelligent allocation of risks, he said both the NIA and the IMS II had been able to implement a robust and future-ready identity management system.

This system, supported by a robust identification and verification platform, not only meets the highest international standards but also addresses the unique and evolving identification challenges and aspirations of the Ghanaian people, he stated.

Access to affordable handsets

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Dr Ken Ashigbey, said an area that should critically be looked at was how the public and the private sector could both work together to ensure the country achieved the right taxation levels for the telecommunications and technology industry to ensure that more Ghanaians have access to affordable handsets to connect to the rest of the world.

Citing Rwanda as an example, he said through a partnership between the private and the public sector, the citizens were being given free smart phones.

Dr Ashigbey said Ghana had made very good progress in the digital transformation journey but more could be done on both the side of government as well as the part of industry and academia.

Effective public-private partnerships offer opportunities we should not ignore on our journey to sustainable digital transformation as a country.

We can do it, we should do it. None of the parties should wait. Let use opportunities including this conference to build bridges for collaboration between government, the private sector, the third sector and academia, the CEO stated.
The Zenith Bank Christmas 'light-up' in Accra

Graphic.com.gh Dec - 12 - 2023 , 18:34

As the pacesetter of what has become a national initiative to beautify the citys landscape during the festive period, Zenith Bank Ghana on Friday, December 8, 2023, officially launched the 2023 Christmas festivities with a light-up ceremony and carols night at its head office in Accra.

The ceremony provided Zenith Bank Ghana with yet another opportunity to stand out through the beautification of Accras cityscape with focus on its head office and parts of the airport enclave.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Ghana, Henry Onwuzurigbo speaking at the ceremony asked that in the glow of the lights, "let us reflect on the resilience that defines us as a bank and as individuals for we have not only weathered the storm but illuminated the path for more growth and success."

He explained that the year 2023 has been a very remarkable year for Zenith Bank Ghana with the achievement of "feats never seen or recorded in the history of our banks financial performance."

"We made our best unaudited pre-tax profit ever with a growth of 82% - from GH403 million in September 2022 to GH735 million in September 2023."

"Also, our total assets grew to GH12.03 billion, a 14.57% increase from the GH10.5 billion recorded during the comparable period of the third quarter of 2022."

Onwuzurigbo said when the bank thought customers' business with the bank would decrease, the bank instead saw an increase in total deposits by 22%, which amounted to GH10.2 million, from the previous year's figure of GH8.4 million.

"We recently moved our Achimota branch to a new and more friendly business location, and are on the verge of expanding our business locations to other jurisdictions within the first quarter of 2024," he added.

He said with that performance so far, the bank was determined, motivated, and confident to exceed the 2023 end-of-year financial targets.

"Let the lights of the cityscape here on the Independence Avenue and at the Big Six Roundabout, its median as well as at the Terminal 3 Roundabout in the airport enclave be a reminder of the bright future we continue to build together as a bank and as a nation.

"As we look forward to the future, rest assured that our focus on innovation, customer satisfaction, financial stability will continue to guide us.

The MD extended his appreciation to customers, the Board, management and staff of the Bank as well as the media personnel present for their support for the Banks operations. He also acknowledged the splendid performances by staff of the Bank in the various carol groups on Friday night.
Midwife wins top prize at Health Service Awards

Kester Aburam Korankye Health Dec - 12 - 2023 , 08:42

A senior Midwifery Officer at the Tokurano Health Centre in the Krachi East District in the Oti Region, Egbeegbe Anagbonu, has been awarded the best health worker at the Ghana Health Service (GHS) Excellence Awards.

The awards ceremony, held in Accra last week, recognised 66 facilities and individuals for their outstanding contribution to healthcare delivery in the country.

The awards comprised 18 General Staff Awards, 14 Leadership Excellence Awards, 18 Institutional Awards and 15 Special Awards for development partners and Organisations that contribute to healthcare delivery in the country.

Present at the ceremony were the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, and the Deputy Minister of Health, Tina Mensah.

Mrs Akufo-Addo commended the countrys healthcare workers for their commitment and dedication to healthcare delivery.

She noted the exceptional sacrifices that were made by health workers across the country over the years, especially throughout the covid-19 pandemic.

The First Lady lauded the idea to recognise the hard work of health workers and stressed the need to acknowledge their efforts through award schemes.

Awards

The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said the awards were an integral part of the staff welfare and performance management system, designed to recognise and celebrate outstanding performance at both individual and institutional levels.

The awards, he said, sought to instil patriotism and professionalism among dedicated health workers as well as to promote a culture of achievement and retain health professionals in deprived areas.

Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the awards were also aimed at enhancing customer care and promoting patient satisfaction which aligned with the tenets of the Network of Practice, a GHS flagship programme that strives to maximise performance in the pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

He explained that an awards scheme for healthcare providers became more relevant during the wake of the covid-19 pandemic when health workers emerged as unsung heroes with their unwavering commitment and resilience despite challenging circumstances.

Structure

The awards scheme was structured such that the competition started at the district level and moved to the regional level.

Winners at the district and regional levels competed at the national level for the grand awards.

In all, 1,779 honours were distributed across district, regional and national levels which cut across all levels of healthcare as well as all categories of health staff.
CPP turmoil: NEC members support national chair

Donald Ato Dapatem Politics Dec - 12 - 2023 , 09:10

Some members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) have called on the leadership to haul those behind the formation of the Interim Council to steer the affairs of the party before the disciplinary committee.

They called on all party members to uphold the sanctity of its constitution and reject any attempt to deviate from the established rules and regulations that safeguard the partys principles.

Addressing the media at the partys headquarters yesterday, the Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the party, Koo Mensah Frempong, speaking as the spokesperson of the NEC members of the party, called for calm among the rank and file.

At a NEC meeting in Kumasi on December 5, 2023, some leading members of the party including National Organiser, Moses Yirimambo; National Youth Organiser, Osei Kofi Acquah; National Womens Organiser, Aisha Sulley Futa, and General Secretary, Nana Yaa Jantuah, among others, decided to step down.

The National Chairperson and Leader, Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong Kumankuma and her three deputies resigned.

Stance

Mr Frempong noted that the Nana Kumankumas firm stance against resigning was explicitly stated during the NEC meeting and meticulously recorded in the meeting's minutes.

Therefore, any claims suggesting her removal are baseless and hold no legitimacy within our party's framework.

Moreover, the CPP constitution does not acknowledge or endorse anybody akin to an "Interim Council."

However, at the press conference Mr Frempong, who was surrounded by about 20 other NEC members, indicated that the Kumasi NEC meeting was conclusive without any decision to remove the chairperson.

He added that with the current development, the only recognised entity empowered to speak on behalf of the CPP was the national chairperson and leader per our constitution because the general secretary and some of the executives have now resigned from their positions.

I call upon all members of the Convention People's Party to maintain faith and trust in Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong Kumankuma's leadership, he added.

Vacancy

Mr Frempong said Nana Kumankuma remained dedicated to the party's activities and had provided clear directives for the reorganisation and upcoming internal elections leading to the 2024 general elections.

In light of recent vacancies resulting from voluntary resignations, the national chairperson and leader will, in collaboration with the Council of Elders according to article 67 and 68 of the party constitution, initiate the process of filling these vacant positions through the Central Committee, ensuring the appointment of qualified members per our constitution, he added.

Caution

In their inaugural statement, the Interim Council noted that the National Chairperson and the leader was also removed from office after the voluntary resignation of the eight national executive members.

They claim that the NEC meeting in Kumasi sealed the deal and ordered the formation of the Interim Council which had Kwame Nkrumah Botsio as its chairman.

They cautioned the former leaders and leading members to respect the unanimous decision of the National Executive Committee and desist from making statements and utterances that put the name of the party into disrepute.

The Interim Council has been legitimately established by the NEC which is the second highest decision-making body after the National Delegates Congress, and the council is an entirely legitimate body created by NEC to steer the affairs of the party in the short-term, the statement said.
Creating an Office of Special Prosecutor was an 'act of futility' - Alban Bagbin

Daniel Kenu & Nana Konadu Agyeman Politics Dec - 12 - 2023 , 19:20

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has reiterated his stance that creating the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) was an act in futility.

He said ahead of the passage of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017, (Act 959) by Parliament he disagreed with the House.

He said he despite warning that the passage of Act 959 would not help curb corruption, the House went ahead to pass the act.

In his view, what was needed to nip corruption in the bud was for the government to fund the office of the Attorney-General (A-G) and not the creation of the OSP.

As for the law you passed on the Special Prosecutor, I did tell you that it was an act in futility. You were not going to achieve anything from that but you went ahead to pass it, he said.

Bill consideration

Speaking during the consideration of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021 in Parliament on Tuesday [Dec 12, 2023], Mr Bagbin said I disagreed with you but I was alone."

Well, I am very clear in mind that, that authority is embedded in the powers of the Attorney-General constitutionally, he stated.

Mr Bagbin was the Second Deputy Speaker of the Seventh Parliament when the OSP Act was passed in 2017.

During the consideration of the bill, the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, expressed his opposition to a further proposed amendment for the abhorrence of sexual intercourse with an animal to be stated categorically in the new bill.

He said such offence was catered for in Criminal Offences Act, a reason there was no need for such provision to be repeated in the new legislation.

However, the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, disagreed with the Chairman.

He said in Act 29 of the Criminal Offences Act, there was a provision that criminalised the offence of corruption but the House, in the OSP Act, incorporated the offence of corruption.

So, once it enhances the existing law, this House, by practice, has enacted positions that go to the fight against corruption, he said and prayed that the offence of sexual intercourse with animals should be part of the new bill.

Separation of powers

The counter-argument prompted the Speaker to reiterate his long-held opposition to the creation of the OSP.

He categorically called for the separation of the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Justice to bolster the fight against corruption.

You separate the two - the Attorney-General and the Minister of Justice; the Minister of Justice is a political appointee and the Attorney-General is a technical person and he is only ranked with conditions of service to that of Minister of State.

It does not mean they have to be incorporated into the Constitution, he stated.
Dr Duffuor pledges support for NDC, Mahama

Daily Graphic Politics Dec - 11 - 2023 , 08:01

A former presidential aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Kwabena Duffuor, has pledged his support and that of his entire team to the party and its flag bearer, former President John Dramani Mahama for the 2024 general election.

Dr Duffuor made the pledge when he led senior members of his campaign team for the May 2023 NDC flag bearer election to call on Mr Mahama at his residence in Accra.

The visit was in response to a call for unity and close collaboration of all members of the party made by Mr Mahama during a visit he recently paid to Dr Duffuor.

Team

Dr Duffuors team included a former Minister of Information and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma South, Fritz Baffour; a former NDC National Organiser, Yaw Boateng Gyan; a former Eastern Regional Minister and Deputy Minister for Employment and Social Welfare, Antwi-Boisiako Sekyere and a former Press Secretary at the Castle, Osu, Humphrey Abbey Quaye.

The rest are former Lecturer and researcher, NDC Party School, Kofi Kukubor; Spokesperson for Dr Duffuor, Antonio Edem Asinyo and Kwabena Duffuor Jnr, a former NDC parliamentary aspirant and Chairman, Finance Committee of the NDC National Youth Working Committee.

Meeting

Speaking at the meeting, held in a frank, open and very cordial atmosphere, Dr Duffuor pledged his personal, team and entire followings total support to the party and President Mahama as leader and NDC flag bearer for the 2024 general election.

He stated that the NDC was bigger than any individual and that members of the NDC needed to work together to save the country as the people were looking up to the NDC to rescue the nation from its current woes and total collapse.

President Mahama, for his part, reiterated his call to all members of the party to close their ranks and work hard for the NDCs victory, as well as prepare for the daunting task of governance that lies ahead due to the depths the current government has plunged the countrys economy and governance.

Present to meet Dr Duffuor and his team were senior members and national executives of the NDC including a member of the NDC Council of Elders, Alhaji Hudu Yahaya; NDC National Vice Chairman, Prof. Joshua Alabi, NDC General Secretary, a former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah and Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Spokesperson for John Dramani Mahama.

The group also had the privilege of interacting with former First Lady, Lordina Mahama, as well as an interaction with the former Minority Leader and MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrissu.
Mahama's 24-hour economy to address brain drain  Opong-Fosu

Daily Graphic Politics Dec - 11 - 2023 , 09:05

A former Minister of State, Akwasi Opong-Fosu, has said the transformational agenda of former President John Dramani Mahama, including the 24-hour Economy proposed initiative, was a game-changer aimed at addressing increased productivity and job creation.

He said the proposed initiative would help address the current lack of job opportunities in the country that had resulted in an unprecedented brain drain.

Mr Opong-Fosu made the remarks when the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) Wing of the University of Ghana (UG) called on him at his office in Accra.

The meeting was to provide a platform for the executive members to express their appreciation for the former minister's continued support of TEIN activities and also discussed their aspirations.



Discussions

It also highlighted the importance of involving young voices in policy discussions and decision-making processes.

The discussion delved into various topics, including the challenges faced by students in accessing quality education, the need for youth empowerment programmes and the role of government in fostering job creation and sustainable development.

He said students, who are the major stakeholders, as well as important resources to propagate the vision will not be left out of the town hall meetings that President Mahama was currently undertaking.

Mr Opong-Fosu pledged his support to offer guidance to the TEIN UG executives and encouraged them to remain focused, resilient and dedicated to their chosen paths.

He commended the students for their dedication to public service and encouraged them to continue pursuing their dreams, emphasising the importance of young voices in shaping policies and driving change.

The former Minister of State shared his insights, drawing from his experiences as a student leader and in public service and provided valuable advice on how the TEIN executives could make a meaningful difference in their chosen fields.

He emphasised the importance of collaboration between the government and young leaders, recognising the potential for transformative change when diverse voices come together.

Gratitude

President of the TEIN UG, Paul Amoldago, on behalf of the executives, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage in a discussion that will shape their future endeavours.

He presented their aspirations, focusing on key areas such as education, youth empowerment, job creation and sustainable development and articulated their desire to actively contribute to the progress and development of their communities.

The TEIN UG presented a plaque to Mr Opong-Fosu to demonstrate their appreciation for supporting their programmes such as handing over ceremonies, orientations and TEIN regional communicators conferences.
John Mahama: Former president and NDC flagbearer vows strong anti-corruption crusade

Kweku Zurek Politics Dec - 12 - 2023 , 08:11

In a recent Facebook post, the former President and current Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama stressed his commitment to waging a robust fight against corruption if elected at the 2024 polls.

The statement, made over the weekend on the occasion of this year's Anti-Corruption Day, underscored Mr. Mahama's determination to save resources for reinvestment in the nation's economy.

During a session at the Ghana CEO Network Business Coalition last Thursday, the former President reiterated his stance on combating corruption, emphasizing that the fight would extend across various sectors.

The sweeping approach is set to target not only past government officials but also officials of the incumbent administration, civil and public servants, businesses, government suppliers, and other entities found to be in violation of the law.

Corruption, described as a societal canker, is a focal point for the former President, who expressed unwavering determination to combat it at all levels.

The commitment was renewed on Anti-Corruption Day, marking another occasion for the leader to underscore his dedication to addressing corruption head-on.

The former President's approach to the issue aligns with principles of transparency, accountability, and good governance. He emphasized that individuals entrusted with public responsibilities must be prepared to be held accountable to the people.

Read the entire post below;
Kennedy Agyapong's supporters urge him to run as Independent candidate

GraphicOnline Politics Dec - 12 - 2023 , 14:41

Supporters of Mr. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a defeated presidential aspirant in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) primary, have launched the "Ghana Needs PHD 2024" campaign. The campaign aims to garner public support for his independent candidacy in the 2024 Presidential elections.

The group, known as "Ghana Needs Patriotism, Honesty, and Dedication (PHD)," has extended a warm invitation to like-minded individuals to endorse Mr. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong for the presidency.

Despite the recent setback at the NPP primary, the supporters believe that backing Mr. Agyapong as an independent candidate is crucial for Ghana's progress.

Speaking at a press conference held at Abossey Okai, a suburb in Accra today (December 12, 2023), the National Coordinator of Ghana Needs PHD, Mrs. Cynthia Ocran, emphasized that Kennedy Ohene Agyapong's track record, coupled with his commitment to fostering growth, innovation, and social welfare, aligns seamlessly with the aspirations of the nation.

She explained that the PHD 2024 campaign will prioritize; educating and informing the general public about the need to support Kennedy Ohene Agyapong's independent candidacy, engage and encourage new members to join the campaign and create a wider support base for Mr. Agyapong's bid.

She said the group has appointed representatives across the 16 regions and 275 constituencies, including roles such as President, Vice President, Chairman, Secretaries, Women Organisers, Organisers, and Youth Organisers.

These representatives will spearhead the campaign in their respective areas to ensure a massive win in the 2024 elections.

Mrs. Ocran added that operations are underway to invite Kennedy Ohene Agyapong to stand as an independent candidate. The group eagerly anticipates discussing their vision further with the public and exploring avenues for collective effort to contribute to the advancement of Ghana.

The PRO of the group, Mr. Baffour Asare, opined that the Assin Central lawmaker embodies patriotism, honesty, and discipline and is indispensable for steering Ghana towards progress.

Further, he pointed out that the group is poised to amplify their support through; grassroots mobilization, public engagement initiatives and diverse forms of assistance.

On his part, the Deputy Organizer for the group, Kaakyireba Kwabena Asante stated that the group will petition the former presidential aspirant for the New Patriotic Party to contest as an independent candidate.

He believes that Mr. Agyapong is the right person who has Ghana at heart and the only person to lead Ghana to the promised land.

"Ghana needs you now more than ever, so heed to our call and contest in the forthcoming General elections," he urged.
The sword of my fight against corruption will cut across - Mahama

Zadok Kwame Gyesi Politics Dec - 12 - 2023 , 12:43

Former President John Dramani Mahama has indicated his readiness to punish public officials in past governments and in his future government should they be found guilty of corruption.

"The sword of my fight against corruption will cut across  against past government officials, officials of the incumbent administration, civil and public servants, businesses, government suppliers, etc. if they fall foul of the law," he stated.

In a social media post, former President Mahama who is also contesting the 2024 presidential election said "Corruption is a canker that eats away at society. I am steadfast and resolute in my determination to fight corruption at all levels. Today is another opportunity to reaffirm my commitment to fighting and tackling corruption head-on."

The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) said he believes in transparency, accountability, and good governance and that "persons assigned to the public trust must be prepared to be accountable to the people."
The one thing thats clear as talk of housing Guam inmates at the Saipan prison facility start is that detainees awaiting trial wont be sent up north, according to Department of Corrections Director Fred Bordallo.

Detainees awaiting their day in court now make up the majority of the record-high prison population on Guam, but Bordallo said it would be too complex to try and navigate court hearings with detainees on another island.

Inmates that have already been sentenced but are still awaiting judgement on other charges, and will need to show up for court, will be another challenge, he said.

We cant be taking them back and forth, he said.

Bordallo and other officials from Guam made the trip up to Saipan last Wednesday to tour the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Department of Corrections, part of very preliminary discussions to relieve some of the pressure on Guams overcrowded prison system.

CNMI DOC Commissioner Anthony Torres, CNMI Gov. Arnold Palacios, and members of the Commonwealth Legislature all made the appearance to discuss the possibility of moving Guam inmates to Saipan.

Guams Bordallo said he was very impressed by the facilities up north, which boast tight security, opportunities to learn farming and ranching, a workshop for trades education, and possibly soon a galley where inmates can take to culinary exploits.

And, importantly, there was a lot of room up there.

The Adult Correctional Facility in Mangilao was originally built to house just 300 people, but has lately been absorbing upwards of 600 prisoners, PDN files show, even more than a number of extensions and temporary units allow for.

Commissioner Torres from the CNMI DOC has had a chance to tour Guams facilities, Bordallo said, and understands the need for the transfer.

Its too soon to tell when the transfer program might get off the ground, if it does at all, according to Bordallo, as there are a lot of moving parts to the discussion.

Among the chief concerns as talks move forward is ensuring that the rights of Guam inmates arent violated by the transfer process.

We certainly want to (ensure) that when that is in play, that it was done in a way where we didnt violate their rights, he told the Pacific Daily News.

There may be some legal wrangling to do, Bordallo said, and Adelup attorney Jeffrey Moots made the trip up to Saipan last week to that end.

Guam law does already provide for a Transfer Review Committee to be empaneled when a local prisoner is to be moved to another jurisdiction, the DOC director noted. Prisoners who dont want to be moved have an avenue to appeal their transfer.

Inmates likewise have to be allowed to have access to the same programs they were enrolled in on Guam when they get movedso there will be no ripping someone out of their General Education Diploma courses, for example.

The CNMI also is not a member of the Western Corrections Compact, as Guam is, and there may need to be some legal adjustments up in the commonwealth to ensure the transfer of inmates is by the book, he said.

Benefits for CNMI

But the deal could be a benefit for the Saipan prison system, which has the capacity for 500 inmates but is housing around 200 people.

Corrections in the CNMI, will receive a payment for housing our inmates, Bordallo said, though its too early to say what the cost will be.

That money could be used to the benefit of the prison system in Saipan.

But public opinion in Saipan will have to be courted.

A dozen inmates from Guam have already been transferred to stateside prisons, but most of them have a history of being violent and problematic, according to Bordallo. He acknowledged that the CNMI community may not want to be receiving those types of prisoners.

Its a fear, of course, its genuine fear of that. And thats why we said, nothing really moves unless the CNMI, the community there, the leadership there, (find it) acceptable, he said.

He said more community input will be needed as the negotiations move forward.
Dr. Annette David, who has worked in tobacco control over 30 years, said Guams youth has the highest rate of e-cigarette use in the world.

David shared the alarming statistic during a public hearing on several bills introduced to curb tobacco use among the islands youth on Tuesday.

Sen. Sabina Perez has said Bills 186, 187, 194 and 185 recognize the need in strengthening tobacco control law by closing loopholes thus reducing access to tobacco and nicotine products, particularly to youth, and to direct more resources to education, prevention, cessation, and compliance.

Dr. David clarified with senators that numbers cited in the bills about 1 in 4 in high school and middle school students using e-cigarettes was from data collected in 2017.

Within two years data collected in 2019 showed those numbers increasing to 1 in 3 for both middle school and high school students or 35 percent of high school and middles students using e-cigarettes.

These are among the highest rates among youth in the world. Not just in the country, they are the highest in the U.S., but they are among the highest in the world, she said.

She said it was important to head off the generational epidemic of nicotine addiction and future health harms.

David said the five As of tobacco prevention are needed to help decrease the alarming numbers. The first is availability meaning the need to reduce the supply of products. The second is access which means restricting the ability of obtaining the products. The third is affordability which can be addressed by raising taxes on the products to make it unaffordable for young people. The fourth is acceptability which meant denormalization of smoking, chewing and other forms of tobacco use. The fifth is attractiveness which would prohibit advertising or any promotion and other means of glamorizing smoking or other forms of tobacco use.

She also recommended to senators to rewrite language in the bills so that the definition of e-cigarettes is broadly defined so that it will encompass current and future devices and not limit the definition to nicotine containing products. She said products that are marketed as nicotine free have been found to have measurable amounts of nicotine after they were tested in a laboratory.

David also recommended including e-cigarettes in existing regulations that require putting advertising or warning labels on the products and include them in smoke free and taxation laws.

Inspections

Theresa Arriola, director of Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, said she was in favor of fees and penalties going towards her agency and to the Department of Revenue and Taxation. She said her agency and Rev and Tax are tasked with doing retail inspections for compliance with tobacco laws. She said consistent funding from the local government will help the agencies conduct these inspections and the funding is long overdue.

An annual inspection of tobacco retailers on Guam shows a slight decline in the compliance rate of the legal selling of tobacco and electronic nicotine products.

The two agencies conducted the island-wide annual tobacco retailer compliance inspections.

This monitoring activity is mandated by the federal governments Public Law 102-321, the Synar Amendment, which requires states and territories that receive Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant funds to establish and enforce the minimum legal age for purchasing and using tobacco products.

Arriola said inspections this year showed an increase in violations. She said e-cigarettes are often manufactured by the same mother companies as tobacco products.

They are addictive, she said.

Smuggling

Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency Director Ike Peredo said as more regulations are implemented the instances of trying to circumvent and smuggle tobacco products into Guam exist. He said one of the highest legal commodities that customs seizes worldwide are tobacco products. People who try to smuggle tobacco products illegally are trying to avoid regulation and taxation, he said.

Its a very profitable market, he said.

Peredo asked senators to help further enhance the local customs agency to help in efforts to curb the illegal importation of tobacco into Guam.

Raise taxes

Deputy Attorney General Fred Nishihara said increasing fees and rates wouldnt be enough to hire additional personnel to address the problem. He told local lawmakers that an increase in the tax would provide a steady stream of funding. The funding could be used to hire additional inspectors for Customs and Quarantine or personnel at Behavioral Health and Rev and Tax to conduct additional compliance inspections.

Nishihara said the attorney generals office lacks attorneys and paralegals that would be able to enforce additional regulations and increased fines for violations of tobacco laws. He said businesses who oppose the fines could send the case to litigation which the AGs office doesnt have the resources to prioritize. Nishihara said the attorney general has made criminal cases the top priority for the office.

Young children using

Guam Youth Congress Speaker Lily Vinch said her mother who teaches at a local elementary school shared with her that students are being sent weekly to school counselors after being caught using e-cigarettes in the bathroom or at recess. She said students who cant read chapter books are using these nicotine delivering devices which are highly addictive.

She said that e-cigarettes are deteriorating the health of Guams youth and the future of Guam. The measures preventing youth tobacco use on Guam is a step in the right direction, she said.
Gabina VOA is designed to be an infotainment youth radio show broadcasting to Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Amharic language. The show brings varied perspectives on issues concerning young people in the Horn of Africa region. Gabina in the Amharic language is a front-row taxi ride.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said partnering with the military could allow Guam more housing options with the use of federal land.

Leon Guerrero shared during the Guam Green Growth Biannual meeting Monday that in her discussions with U.S. Department of Defense officials, theyve recognized the impact of the increased military personnel has on the island.

The governor said costs in Guams housing and rental market continues to increase.

Their suggestion was that you can use federal lands and invite developers to develop housing and that this opportunity would be both for military and civilians, Leon Guerrero said.

Shes looking at creating a housing commission to include private and public sector officials as well as the military.

They realize what their impact is in the housing industry in terms of cost, she said.

The military is very willing to work up a partnership with agencies like the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority or with the private sector to move forward, Leon Guerrero said.

The military plans to transfer as many as 5,000 Marines from Okinawa and elsewhere to Marine Corps Camp Blaz, currently under construction in Dededo, as part of a larger realignment of U.S. military forces in the Asia-Pacific region.

With more Marines headed for Guam, the housing allowance for military personnel, which allows service members to pay more in rent than civilians who are competing for the same apartment, is putting increased pressure on a competitive housing situation.

Housing allowances for military personnel stationed on Guam start at more than $2,000 a month and go up to nearly $3,000, depending on rank, according to the Defense Travel Management Office figures.

Many Guam residents do not have that same buying power and can be priced out of rental units that are marketed to the military.
A whopping $3.2 billion in military project and construction spending for Guam was earmarked by Congress in the upcoming national defense budget.

For comparison, the size of Guams entire economy was put at $6.123 billion in 2021, the last year for which data is available.

Over $290 million for new military housing, meant to reduce the impact that service members and dependents are having on the housing market, is included in the budget, according to a news release from Del. Jim Moylans office.

We will reduce the militarys utilization of the limited local inventory, which does adversely impact the cost of rentals for island residents, Moylan said in a statement.

The defense budget will still have to go up for a vote before the House, which is expected by the end of the week, but House leadership intends to vote without any additional changes to the budget, Moylans office stated.

Expected federal dollars coming to Guam in fiscal year 2024 are a significant increase from previous years of the military buildup. The projected amount is more than double the $1.5 billion in Guam military spending for fiscal 2023, and nearly double the $1.7 billion Moylan was anticipating back in July, according to Pacific Daily News files.

Continuing military construction projects alone make up about $2.2 billion in the pending fiscal 2024 defense budgetmore than twice the projection of $1 billion worth of construction per year that military officials gave the Legislature in May of 2022.

Since then, Typhoon Mawar has caused billions of dollars worth of damage to military installations on Guam, including about $4 billion to Andersen Air Force Base alone, the PDN has reported.

The amount of construction activity heading to Guam will certainly create an economic resurgence for our island. This will create many new jobs, establish new service agreements along with sub-contracts, increase spending in local establishments throughout the island, enhance training opportunities for our community, and of course will result in a surge with our tax base, Moylan said.

An extension of waiver of H-2B visa worker limits for the island is likewise included in the budget and will keep construction booming.

Included in construction spending for fiscal 2024 are:

Over $1.6 billion of projects at Andersen, Naval Base Guam, and Joint Region Marianas

$166 million for communication upgrades at JRM

$411 million for JRM projects for the Air Force

$27 million to construct an Air Force Reserves Aerial Port Facility

$6.9 million to complete the Army National Guards Readiness Center

Other spending areas include $545 million to fully fund the Guam Missile Defense systemwhich is $147 million more than what the White House asked forand $169 million for the Defense of Guam procurement.

The delegate said that his team had worked diligently over the months to secure the huge increase in the defense budget. They coordinated with offices in both the House and Senate, as well as military and local government offices.

This now sets our direction for 2024, which will be a focus on improving Guams public infrastructure and resilience. The groundwork has started, but once the 2024 NDAA is enacted, we can start placing the language for the next one, he said.
Senators are hoping to curb youth tobacco use on island through four bills that will be discussed at a public hearing Tuesday.

The hearing will start at 1:30 p.m. at the Guam Congress Building.

Sen. Sabina Perez, who introduced the measures, said the harm of use and addiction to tobacco and nicotine is longer lasting in youth especially with brain development still in progress.

According to the State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup Epi Profile, the use of electronic nicotine delivery devices or vaping is high amongst Guam youth, with one in four or 26.5% of high school students and nearly one in four or 23.5% of middle school students reporting current use. The senator said those statistics are alarming.

Some studies have shown that teens experience an enhanced response to tobacco and nicotine exposure that makes them more vulnerable to addiction, which can impair their cognitive development. Furthermore addiction at a young age can be more difficult to overcome. Prevention is absolutely necessary, Perez said.

She said tobacco-related diseases are the major cause of death in Guam today.

Tobacco control policies are closely associated with reductions in smoking prevalence and smokeless tobacco use. It is critical that a holistic approach from curbing access to tobacco and nicotine products to our youth to increasing awareness and promoting wellness and a positive lifestyle, Perez said.

She said Bills 186, 187, 194 and 185 recognize that we must be better stewards to the younger generation by strengthening tobacco control law by closing loopholes thus reducing access to tobacco and nicotine products, particularly to our youth, and to direct more resources to education, prevention, cessation, and compliance.

Training

Bill 194-37 will require any business that sells tobacco and nicotine products to complete training before they are issued a license.

According to the bill, updating the statutes, which are nearly two decades old, will help protect Guams youth.

The training and certification requirement proposed by Bill 194 will promote compliance with tobacco control laws and regulations.

The bill also increases fines and suspensions for those who are caught selling products without a license. Under the current statute the fine for the first violation is $250. The bill will raise the fine to $5,000.

A second violation under current law comes with a fine of $500, but under the bill the fine will rise to $10,000 and the person will not be eligible for a license for two years after the date of assessment of a fine.

A third violation now will cost $1,000. The bill proposes a $20,000 fine.

Any person in violation of the section will need to obtain certification from the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center or Department of Public Health.

Penalties for those selling products to those under 21 will increase for the first violation from $1,000 to $5,000 and the license will be suspended for 90 days, the bill states.

A second violation will go from $2,000 to $10,000 and the license will be suspended for 180 days.

According to the Department of Revenue and Taxation as of September 2023 there are 347 active retail tobacco business licenses and eight active wholesale tobacco business licenses. Between 2018 and 2019, one third-time offender paid a $5,050 penalty and had their tobacco license suspended.

Funding

Another bill, Bill 186-37, will update the use of tobacco fees and penalties so that more funding will be given to tobacco and nicotine education and prevention programs.

According to the bill, the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center in collaboration with the Department of Revenue and Taxation found that 106 tobacco sales-related infractions were committed by 329 licensed vendors between 2018 and 2022.

Violations consisted of sales to those under 21 years of age and failing to post 21+ Only Sales signages for public view, the bill states.

Bill 186-37 would give 20% of fees and penalties to the Better Public Service Fund for Rev and Taxs Compliance Branch to assist with compliance of tobacco laws. Public Healths Bureau of Non-Communicable Disease would receive 30% to provide tobacco and nicotine education and prevention services and 50% would go to the Youth Tobacco Education and Prevention Fund.

The money from the fund will go to Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center for tobacco and drug compliance monitoring, prevention and education programs.

Vending machines

Bill 187-37 will make it illegal to sell tobacco or vape products through vending machines on Guam. According to the bill, the last tobacco vending machine licensed through Rev and Tax was issued in 2015 and expired in 2018.

Local law still allows licensing for vending machines, but the bill will take the language out and make it illegal to sell tobacco, vape devices, vape related products or nicotine products through a vending machine.

Advertising

Bill 195-37 seeks to restrict the advertising of tobacco products or e-cigarettes by limiting where they can be displayed.

According to the bill, indirect advertising for all types of tobacco products is still prevalent inside retail stores, on store windows, and in store parking lots.

The bill would prohibit the advertising or marketing of tobacco products or e-cigarettes through various media including TV, radio and print and within six feet of a point-of-sale. A point-of-sale means a physical place within a retail establishment where a transaction is made between the establishment and the customer for goods or services, the bill states.
Florida, Texas and Alabama rank among the top 10 states for cybercrime financial losses, with Americans across the country collectively losing more than $281 million to internet scams nationwide, according to the FBIs 2022 Internet Crimes Report.

Just in time for the holiday season, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Dena J. King is cautioning people about the potential surge in fraudulent online activities targeting shoppers, particularly older adults, who were the most targeted group, reporting $3.1 billion in losses to financial fraud last year.

December is the month of giving, but its also the time of year when cybercriminals try to take advantage of consumers, quickly turning a joyous season into a living nightmare, King said in a news release. Whether shopping online for a gift, choosing a charity for a donation, or applying for seasonal work to earn extra money, it is imperative for everyone to stay vigilant against online scams and identity theft schemes. Its important for all of us to do all we can to protect our hard-earned money and our personal information from financial predators.

To help arm consumers against fraud, King identified the most prevalent scams consumers are likely to face during the holiday season.

Fake online stores

Be wary of fraudulent or imitative websites offering steep discounts on popular items like electronics, jewelry and clothing. Pay close attention to social media advertisements that may direct you to fake storefronts or product listings, particularly those promising luxury or rare items at low prices. These schemes could result in compromised credit card details or payment for goods that are never delivered.

Missed delivery or nondelivery notification

During the holiday rush of online shopping, be vigilant about fraudulent delivery notifications via email or text. Before clicking any links for supposedly missed deliveries, verify the domain to ensure its from a legitimate couriers website. Be cautious with any delivery site requesting personal or payment details to release a package.

Gift card scams

Credit card fraudsters often lure shoppers with counterfeit gift cards or by accepting gift cards as payment for nonexistent goods and services. Be wary of offers for commercial gift cards at significant discounts, which often result in cards with no value. Always buy gift cards directly from established retailers.

Fake charities

Stay alert for scams masquerading as charitable causes or crowdfunding campaigns. To ensure your donations are legitimate, perform due diligence. Verify the charity with the Better Business Bureau, scrutinize the URL and website for inconsistencies like misspellings and lack of contact details. Research the background of any crowdfunding organizers before contributing.

Phishing emails or texts

Cybercriminals often send phishing emails or texts with malicious links. Be cautious of messages claiming issues with your bank or credit card accounts, which may ask you to click a link and enter personal details. Similarly, ignore emails offering free gifts or claiming youve won a prize. If in doubt, avoid using email links. Instead, visit the official website directly to access your account.

Scams targeting older adults

Older adults are particularly vulnerable of becoming victims of online fraud, and according to the FBI, its important to be aware that financial fraud targeting seniors can take on a more personal tone. Some examples include:

Lottery phone scams: Scammers deceive seniors into believing they must pay a substantial fee or taxes upfront to collect supposed lottery winnings.

Grandparent scams: Fraudsters manipulate seniors by falsely claiming their grandchildren are in urgent financial distress  such as needing money for rent, car repairs or bail.

Romance scams: Perpetrators seduce victims online, feigning romantic interest, and then deceive them into sending money for a supposed visit to the U.S. or other fabricated reasons.

Tech support scams: Individuals are deceived by hoaxers into paying for fictitious computer issues.

IRS imposter scams: Grifters pose as IRS agents to falsely claim that individuals owe back taxes.

Sham business opportunities: Scams that entice individuals to invest in nonexistent or unprofitable ventures.

To safeguard against financial scams, King advises that consumers keep personal information private and remain skeptical of any request to pay fees for prizes or sweepstakes. Also, she says, resist clicking on pop-up ads and be wary of aggressive sales tactics.

And remember if an offer appears overly amazing  its probably a scam.

If you believe you are the victim of an online scam, file a report with the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov or contact local law enforcement. To report elder fraud, call the elder fraud hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
The Texas Supreme Court ruled against a woman requesting to terminate her nonviable pregnancy, which doctors said threatened her health and future fertility.

Kate Cox, a North Texas resident and mother of two, already traveled out of state for an abortion before the court announced its decision. But the ruling could set a precedent for future cases.

This ruling should enrage every Texan to their core, Molly Duane, Coxs lawyer and senior staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a news release. Kates case is proof that (medical) exceptions dont work, and its dangerous to be pregnant in any state with an abortion ban.

Coxs fetus was diagnosed with trisomy 18, a chromosomal disorder that almost always results in death before or soon after birth. Continuing the pregnancy placed Cox at risk of health complications, some of which could affect her fertility, according to her lawsuit requesting a medical exception to Texas near-total abortion ban.

It is not a matter of if I will have to say goodbye, but when, Cox is quoted in the lawsuit. I desperately want the chance to try for another baby and want to access the medical care now that gives me the best chance at another baby.

In a Dec. 7 emergency hearing, a district court judge granted Coxs request. Within hours, Attorney General Ken Paxton released a letter threatening prosecution for hospitals, doctors, or anyone else involved in Coxs procedure.

Paxton petitioned the Texas Supreme Court the next day to intervene in the case. It halted the district courts order that night.

The Center for Reproductive Rights announced on Dec. 11 that Cox left Texas to receive an abortion in an undisclosed state because she couldnt wait any longer. The Texas Supreme Court published its decision later that day.

The courts opinion called Coxs lethal fetal anomaly a tragic diagnosis but said her doctor did not attest that it is the life-threatening physical condition required for a medical exception.

Some difficulties in pregnancy, however, even serious ones, do not pose the heightened risks to the mother the exception encompasses, the court wrote.

The decision brief also said it is up to doctors, not judges, to decide if a woman can receive an abortion.

A pregnant woman does not need a court order to have a lifesaving abortion in Texas, the court wrote. Our ruling today does not block a life-saving abortion in this very case if a physician determines that one is needed under the appropriate legal standard, using reasonable medical judgment.

But doctors in Texas are terrified to perform abortions under current policy, lawyer Molly Duane said. If a doctor is found to have performed an unlawful procedure in the state, they can lose their medical license, be sentenced to up to 99 years in prison and face fines of at least $100,000.

Duane argued in front of the Texas Supreme Court last month in Zurawski v. State of Texas, another case regarding medical exceptions to Texas abortion law. She represented a group of physicians and patients who claimed the legislations exceptions are unclear, resulting in people being denied necessary care.

The plaintiffs requested the court uphold a district courts August order that protects doctors from prosecution if they perform abortions in a variety of scenarios. This includes when a pregnancy carries a health risk, worsens a medical condition or when the fetus is unlikely to survive after birth.

The Texas Supreme Courts decision in Coxs case that courts cannot go further by entering into the medical-judgment arena suggests it may deliver a similar ruling in Zurawski v. State of Texas. The court said the Texas Medical Board can do more to provide guidance on any confusion around Texas abortion law.

No one in Texas is taking responsibility for the human suffering abortion bans are causing: not the courts, not the medical board, and certainly not the Attorney General, Duane said in a news release. We are still awaiting a decision in Zurawski v. Texas, but in the meantime, doctors still dont know what the exception means, and the Texas Medical Board remains silent.
As part of agreements, guaranteeing the participation of indigenous peoples in decision-making spaces related to conservation, promoting the organization of communities to make the most of opportunities derived from sustainable development, and implementing climate action proposals for indigenous peoples, such as the Amazon Indigenous REDD+ Proposal, stood out.

Likewise, protected natural areas and conservation will be promoted as part of indigenous territorial governance strategies in the region, in accordance with the expectations for well-being and protection of indigenous peoples' territories, in addition to raising awareness among the population about the risk posed by illicit activities, deforestation, and the degradation of Amazonian ecosystems.

Among other institutional commitments those that stood out were: promoting programs and projects related to the development of indigenous peoples and their collective rights, fostering the articulation of protection mechanisms in favor of environmental defenders and indigenous rights defenders that protect not only communal territories but also protected areas, as well as promoting the articulation of sustainable economic activities of communities with fair trade and the commercialization of their products for special markets.

Sernanp specified that these commitments are based on the RIA axes: community monitoring, indigenous economy, governance/financial sustainability, and rescue of indigenous peoples' ancestral knowledge under transversal gender approaches, as well as defense and protection of environmental defenders' rights.

Parallel event

The government agency also affirmed that this declaration was the outcome of the parallel event called "Protected areas and indigenous peoples," organized by Sernanp and Anecap, at which the conservation and co-management experiences with indigenous populations in the field of protected areas were made known.

#Peru impulsa promesa por la naturaleza y bienestar para la accion climatica en #cop28.??????

?Compromisos fueron asumidos por organizaciones indigenas de la region durante evento Areas protegidas y pueblos indigenas organizado por #Sernanp y Anecap.

?? https://t.co/XzKgdihohc pic.twitter.com/VwM11qDq0g




Haiti - FLASH : At least 19 bandits mortally injured in the dismantling of the Ti-Rach gang in Tiburon





On the night of Saturday 9 to Sunday 10 December 2023, units of the Haitian National Police carried out a muscular operation in the territory of "Nan Woch" (3rd communal section of Tiburon) in the city of Les Cayes (South) a muscular operation in the territory of the "Ti-Rach" gang led by a man called "Ti Ofis".



During intense exchanges of fire between the Haitian National Police (PNH) and heavily armed individuals. The Police fatally injured at least 17 members of the gang, including five women (partial assessment) according to Me Wadson Azor, the new Government Commissioner of the city of Coteaux in office since December 1, 2023. The leader of the injured gang and his second, were lynched by the population as they tried to flee



The police seized three assault rifles (AK47, Uzi, etc.), an M4, a 12 caliber weapon and other homemade weapons.



Three women (Ronise Jean, Evensia Jean and Denise Sainvil), suspected of being complicit with the Tiburon gang, were also arrested.



This gang specialized in kidnapping, rape, armed robbery, looting and burning of houses...



After this violent and bloody dismantling of the "T-Rach" gang which sowed terror in the area, hundreds of jubilant residents took to the streets to demonstrate their joy at this victory.



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Security : The Bahamas are preparing to deploy troops to Haiti





The Bahamas, a CARICOM country, has confirmed its intention to participate in the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS) in Haiti approved by the United Nations Security Council https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40642-haiti-flash-the-security-council-approves-the-intervention-of-a-multinational-force-in-haiti.html .



As part of this decision, Commodore Raymond King, Chief of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF), said "The individuals who will participate in security operations or infantry operations are individuals who have received special training [...] there are certain criteria that we must respect when making our selections" adding that the agents have also worked with the anti-gang unit of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and we have contacted our counterparts in South America to send agents participate in "train the trainer" programs to ensure they are in a "heightened state of readiness."



"We have benefited from a number of infantry tactics and military mission training exercises conducted by the United States Special Operations Command in the North. For people who have been trained, other criteria must be met according to the UN in terms of age, years of service, medical and physical conditions"



He reminded the media that the objective a year ago was to fight against criminal gangs in Haiti and that the initial training was therefore strictly focused on the optics of infantry in an urban environment, however, he clarified "We received warning from the Prime Minister [Phillip Daviis] that we will deploy to Haiti, but we have not yet received explicit instructions in terms of role or functions" but he indicated that the RBDF would send three platoons of 50 people in Haiti, with officers "These people were selected from all the main branches of the RBDF intelligence, administration, operations, planning, communications."



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Brazil : Visa Application Reception Center, closed

Due to the insecurity situation in the Tabarre area, the Visa Application Reception Center for Brazil (CAVB) remained closed on Monday December 11, 2023. A new date will be shared shortly to facilitate those who will be impacted by This measure.



CARICOM : Negotiations are stalling

Nothing has changed according to actors participating in the discussions of the Haitian negotiations under the mediation of CARICOM to try to find a political agreement. According to sources close to the negotiations, opposition parties continue to demand a two-headed Executive without PM Henry, an idea rejected by parties close to power who opt for a Union Government and an expansion of the HCT.



Gold-Cup 2024, draw

Monday, December 11, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Haiti time, Concacaf carried out the draw for the Group phase of the first edition of the 2024 Women's Gold Cup. Our Grenadieres will join Group B alongside Brazil, Panama and of Colombia if they win the play-off match against Puerto Rico on February 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41141-haiti-road-w-gold-cup-haiti-will-have-to-play-its-play-off-match-against-the-porto-rrico.html . In the event of a victory, our Grenadieres will play against Brazil on February 21, then they will face Panama on the 24th and Colombia on February 27.



The Magistrates standing announce a truce

The Collectif des Magistrats Debout d'Haiti (COMADH) announces a truce in their work stoppage, launched on November 20, 2023, to demand better working conditions https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41031-haiti-justice-the-judicial-system-paralyzed-throughout-the-country.html This strike lifting follows talks between the strikers and the Ministry of Justice. It is effective from Monday December 11, 2023 to January 5, 2024. In the meantime, COMADH calls on the Ministry to respect its promises to standing magistrates.



Armed clashes in Tabarre

Since December 8, 2023, armed clashes have broken out in the commune of Tabarre, particularly in the districts of HT Monquette, Truitier, Tapage and Dumornay. These clashes caused the displacement of approximately 317 households comprising 1,240 individuals. Nearly half (48%) took refuge in the Jean Marie Vincent accommodation site which was created following the attacks of July 2023 and which now accommodates a total of 1,523 people.



Crisis : words from Brian Nichols

Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs said, "The United States welcomes the return of the CARICOM Eminent Persons Group to Haiti. We continue to support efforts to reach consensus on a political path forward and encourage all stakeholders to use this visit to advance constructive dialogue in the interests of the Haitian people."



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By William Schwartz | Published on 2023/12/11

In the past twenty episodes of "Dae Jo Yeong" I'm skipping over, the title character has integrated into the military to the point that the show isn't really about him anymore, having instead moved on to a power struggle between the military and civil spheres of Goguryeo society. As part of this struggle, General Yang (played by Im Dong-jin) has been hauled into the palace for conspiring against state legitimacy, as defined by the royal family. General Yeon (played by Ahn Hong-jin) had previously escaped to the Tang Dynasty in China to escape such political prosecution.

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"Dae Jo Yeong" has a very credulous interpretation of military officials. General Yang's arrest is protested by civilians who seem ready to die for his freedom- it's worth noting that as a war hero against the Tang Dynasty, the popularity of his standing isn't all that surprising. General Yeon's position is more dubious. He had to abuse the trust of a close subordinate to escape, and by the end of this episode, has been bullied by the Tang Dynasty into acknowledging Goguryeo as a vassal state of China.

For history this old we only know the broad strokes. Most of what happens in "Dae Jo Yeong" is dramatic license, some of it more obvious than others. But the drama's willingness to treat both generals as fundamentally honorable figures, especially when contrasted against their civil equivalents, works mainly as a statement on how South Korean culture views honor or duty. Or, well, it did twenty years ago anyway.

While "Dae Jo Young" is not without romance, the show is by and large a serious epic with a heavy emphasis on costumes and close-ups contrasting fundamentally noble generals with more sinister politicking. Amusingly enough, General Yang himself admits to having come up with a plan to undermine Goguryeo. As we can see, the sheer paranoia of the internal conflict is unsustainable, if only because the Tang Dynasty is paying attention and willing to exploit the advantage.

The choice of heroes isn't a surprising one- soldiers in more classical eras of Korean history are known to repel invaders. Bureaucrats are more likely to invite them in. But in this drama, generals have to navigate politics if only as a means of temporary survival in the hopes that the situation might somehow improve. Far off now from any kind of formal battle, a careful tactical stage is now being set.

Written by William Schwartz

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"Dae Jo Yeong" is directed by Jeong Yeong-cheol, Kim Jong-seon, Yoon Seong-sik, written by Jang Yeong-cheol, and features Choi Soo-jong, Jung Bo-suk, Lee Deok-hwa, Park Ye-jin, Hong Soo-hyun, Kim Jin-tae. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2006/09/16~2007/12/23, Sat, Sun 21:40 on KBS.
Published on 2023/12/11 | Source

Actors Ji Sung and Jeon Mi-do meet in a criminal investigation thriller.

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SBS TV's "Connection" is a story that reveals the whole story of a friendship that has been changed over 20 years based on the death of a friend of Jang Jae-kyeong (Ji Sung), an ace detective in a drug squad who is forcibly addicted to drugs. Jae-kyeong is a chief inspector of the drug squad at Anhyeon Police Station who is respected. He keeps his motto, "There is no weakness when it comes to success without connection".

Jeon Mi-do plays Oh Yoon-jin, a reporter for the Social Affairs Department of the Anhyeon Economic Daily. She is very assertive and outspoken. Regardless of her status, she will not hesitate to attack anyone with old-fashioned remarks. She has been fired unfairly from her previous job, making it difficult for her to return to work or be transferred. After returning to Ahnhyeon City, she becomes a cheap reporter under the motto "Friendship is money".

It will be written by Lee Hyun-II ("Diary of a Prosecutor", 2019-2020) and director Kim Moon-kyo ("Trolley", 2022-2023). It aims to broadcast next year.
Published on 2023/12/11 | Source

Actor Song Kang's unexpected charm is being conveyed.

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Song Kang shows his trend with SBS Friday-Saturday drama "My Demon" and Netflix series "Sweet Home - Season 2". Both works are ranked at the top of the Netflix Top 10 series rankings in Korea as well as overseas countries such as Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, and Taiwan, and the overall popularity rankings in the performers category announced by FUNdex, the official platform of Good Data Corporation, while Song Kang's personal SNS followers have shown a steady rise, proving global popularity.

In "My Demon" and "Sweet Home - Season 2", Song Kang plays a truly 'genre-destroying' role, from sweet romance comedy to intense creativity. First, in "My Demon", he paints the small screen pink every time as Jung Goo-won, the devil of a deadly and perfect existence. The relationship with Do Do-hee (Kim You-jung), a demonic chaebol heiress, begins when a tattoo accidentally transfers to Do-hee, becoming her bodyguard to protect it, and through the process of getting married, it shows that their relationship gradually gets closer. Here, Song Kang is interested in drawing the romance of the two characters, who are like the wheels of fate, by further enhancing the charm of Goo-won, including deep melodramatic eyes, facial expressions, hilarious comic action, and colorful visuals.

On the other hand, in "Sweet Home - Season 2", Cha Hyeon-soo's accumulated emotional lines from season 1 leads to immersion. Song Kang heads to the Bamseom Special Disaster Base on his own to find clues to solving the monster situation and to end the situation, but eventually chooses the lonely life of a specially infected person, with relentless action and various emotional performances. In particular, Hyeon-soo's feelings in the interview, which he never revealed even though he seeks for Eun-yoo (Go Min-si), "I think it's because he knows that he is not the first person Eun-yoo is anxiously looking for. Knowing her, I think he might have been disappointed when he saw himself, kept his secret, and repaid his grace", he completed Cha Hyeon-soo with an in-depth interpretation and research of the character. These efforts stimulate tears by fully conveying to viewers Hyun-soo's heart that sacrifices and is dedicated to protecting 'people' even in an impoverished world where the distinction between humans and monsters and good and evil has become ambiguous.

Song Kang drew the public's attention by breathing life into the characters with different charms and personalities, saving the powerful 'Homme Fatal Demon' whom he wants to embrace and Hyeon-soo, who is full of affection. In addition, expectations are high for Song Kang's next move, which is filling up a variety of filmography with constant challenges such as romance, creativity, and human genres presented with "Nevertheless", "Navillera", and "Love Alarm".

"My Demon", starring Song Kang, airs every Friday and Saturday at 10 PM, and "Sweet Home - Season 2" is only streaming in more than 190 countries around the world on Netflix.
#NotasMinam | La ministra Ruiz y el titular de Medio Ambiente y Seguridad Energetica de #Italia, Gilberto Pichetto, ratifican su compromiso de aportar al cumplimiento del #AcuerdoDeParis y no dejar atras el objetivo de evitar superar el incremento de la temperatura en 1.5 C. pic.twitter.com/x5T7G72POK
Last updated 12/12/2023 at 11:19am

Havre Police Department

A written or verbal warning was issued after a Sixth Street caller reported Monday at 12:29 p.m. that a strange woman was trying to get through a neighbor's gate.

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Elizabeth Ann Belcourt of Box Elder, 60, was arrested on a Justice or City court warrant after a vehicle stop on 16th Avenue Monday at 2:23 p.m.

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A Boulevard Avenue caller reported at 2:41 p.m. Monday that suspicious items left on a family member's doorstep.

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A written or verbal warning was issued after a 16th Avenue caller asked for assistance Monday at 3:34 p.m. removing a female trespasser....
Jarmo Ainasoja , the director of risk management and business continuity at Posti, on Monday said in a press release that although the strikes will affect mail and parcel deliveries, they should not have an impact on the delivery of cards, letters and parcels for Christmas.

POLITICAL STRIKES by the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) and its member unions are expected to cause a range of disruptions in Finland on Thursday, 14 December.

Because it is a short-term disruption, we estimate that Postis services can be normalised quickly after the work stoppages, he said.

The strikes will also affect the rail services of VR, tram and metro services in Helsinki, intercity public transport services in Tampere and Turku, and the operations of Turku Airport.

Helsingin Sanomat on Sunday reported that the Finnish Transport Workers Union (AKT) is planning a strike that would severely disrupt bus services in large cities across Finland on Thursday. Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) has estimated that simultaneous strikes in rail and road transport would effectively result in the cancellation of all public transport services in the capital region.

The strikes will stop electricity generation for a day at power plants in, for example, Espoo, Jarvenpaa, Naantali, Pietarsaari, Suomenoja and Tampere. Jukka Ruusunen, the managing director of Fingrid, on Friday stated to Helsingin Sanomat that the strike is likely remove about 100 megawatts of electricity from the market, adding that the drop in production should not have a major impact on electricity prices.

The Finnish Industrial Union has reported that about 40,000 of its members will be participating in strikes at 457 sites across the country, including paper mills and other large production facilities. The stoppages will also impact the production facilities of Fazer and Valio, and the logistics centres of Kesko, Lidl and S Group.

Also affected will be food services in some schools and kindergartens, cleaning services in public facilities, waste and property management services, and physical activities in localities across Finland.

Alongside SAK, the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK), Trade Union Pro and Union of Professional Engineers have announced work stoppages for Thursday.

The industrial actions are an attempt to compel the government to call off a number of social security cuts and working life reforms, including increasing local bargaining, restricting the right to strike and slashing earnings-related unemployment security.

The Finnish government has been adamant.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) has rejected the demand of trade unions to open the proposals for genuine negotiations and described the announced industrial actions as unreasonable in the economic situation. The government, he stressed, will continue moving forward with the reforms.

Minister of Employment Arto Satonen (NCP) similarly rejected the idea of a negotiation about the reforms.

SAK has brought up unemployment security, industrial peace laws and local bargaining. All of these reforms are important for the economy and employment in Finland. You can propose changes to the details, but interest groups cant have a veto right, he remarked on X on

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
A PORTRAIT of the King created by children at six Henley area schools has been gifted to the town.

The artwork is made up of colourful drawings by pupils at Valley Road, Badgemore, Sacred Heart, Trinity and Shiplake primaries and Rupert House and St Marys prep schools, which together form Charles IIIs silhouette.

The background is made up of a patchwork of black and white designs chosen by the children to represent their schools.

The project to mark the Kings coronation in May was devised by Education Henley, an initiative set up in January to encourage collaboration between local schools.

The framed portrait was officially presented to the town council by some year five and six pupils at the town hall.

It was received by Mayor Kellie Hinton and will be allocated a space to be hung.

The Mayor said: Its beautiful. How could we not hang it up? Its our first picture of the King and I think its fantastic.

I can look at it when were in our meetings and see something new every time. Its amazing what you can all do together. It would have been amazing for any school to come and present this artwork but its the fact that its collaborative, right? Its a great example of the schools coming together.

She explained to the children that the council was still displaying the late Queens portrait in the council chamber as it had not yet been given the Kings official portrait.

The children were accompanied by headteachers Tim Coulson (Valley Road), Rachel Sanders (Sacred Heart), Tim Hoskins (Badgemore) and Nick Armitage (Rupert House).

Mr Armitage said: It shows how much artistic talent there is at this age in Henley.

He said the project showed the benefits of the schools working together in the same way as Education Henleys Great School Run, which took place for a second year in May and involved 300 children.

For us, its about all the opportunities for doing things together and the opportunities that it creates, said Mr Armitage.

Each school has been given a copy of the portrait.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), announced today that nationwide health data exchange governed by the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common AgreementSM (TEFCA) is now operational. ONC has led a multi-year, public-private process alongside its Recognized Coordinating Entity, The Sequoia Project, Inc., to implement TEFCA, which was envisioned by the 21st Century Cures Act. As a result, patients will have increased access to their records, and health care providers and plans can improve their secure exchange of electronic health information.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm, National Coordinator Micky Tripathi, and other federal leaders celebrated the occasion at a signing event at HHS headquarters.

After over a decade of very hard work, today marks another major milestone in our march towards a 21st century digital health care system, said Secretary Becerra. TEFCA allows patients, providers, public health professionals, health insurers, and other health care stakeholders to safely and securely share information critical to the health of our country and all of our people.

The following organizations were officially designated Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs) today after completing the rigorous TEFCA onboarding process.

eHealth Exchange

Epic Nexus

Health Gorilla

KONZA

MedAllies

These designated QHINs can immediately begin supporting the exchange of data under the Common Agreements policies and technical requirements. QHINs are the pillars of TEFCA network-to-network exchange, providing shared services and governance to securely route queries, responses, and messages across networks for eligible participants including patients, providers, hospitals, health systems, payers, and public health agencies.

In February 2023 we announced that TEFCA would be operational by the end of the calendar year, and we are delighted to achieve this goal said Micky Tripathi, Ph.D., national coordinator for health information technology. This would not have happened without tremendous stakeholder support, considerable investment of resources and expertise by the QHINs, and the hard work of the RCE and ONC staffs.

Designating these first QHINs is just the beginning, said Mariann Yeager, CEO of The Sequoia Project and RCE lead. Now, we hope to see the rapid expansion of TEFCA exchange as these pioneering networks roll-out the benefits of TEFCA to their customers and members, while additional QHINs continue to onboard.

Common Agreement Version 2.0, which is anticipated to include enhancements and updates to require support for Health Level Seven (HL7) Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) based transactions, is actively under development and scheduled to be adopted by the QHINs within the first quarter of 2024.

Attendees at the 2023 ONC Annual Meeting in Washington, DC on December 14, 2023, will have the chance to hear two plenary sessions providing TEFCA updates. Learn more at oncannualmeeting.com.
Days ago, Google announced its new Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) model amidst much fanfare, and a heavily edited video that made it seem more multimodal capable than it was. Mistral AI is also releasing beta versions for Mistral 7B and Mixtral 8x7B models, which will be available in three sizes (Mistral AI)

A French AI start-up, Mistral, has taken exactly the opposite approach. It quietly put out a post on X, formerly Twitter, to share a download link for its latest model (which it turns out, is incredibly capable), followed by an official post detailing the features of the curiously named Mixtral 8x7B to the world. This model is open-source, which should worry some of its AI peers.

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Its been a somewhat intriguing week for the Paris-based Mistral, which also saw the start-up raise $415 million, or around 385 million, in Series A funding. This, according to estimates, puts the valuation of the company in the vicinity of $2 billion. The funding will provide a springboard for Mistrals commercial progression, which begins with Mixtral 8x7B.

Also Read: Google Gemini is a big step forward for AI models

This model follows the Mixtral 7B released in September. That was just the beginning. In the benchmark comparison numbers shared by Mistral AI, the Mixtral 8x7B is significantly superior to its immediate rivals, including Metas Llama 2 family and OpenAIs GPT 3.5. In the MMLU, or Massive Multitask Language Understanding benchmark, Mixtral 8x7B scores 70.6%, followed by GPT 3.5 (70%) and Llama 2 (69.9%). At the launch of the troika of Gemini models, Google claimed it was the first to achieve the 90% mark on this test, making it the first AI model to do so.

It is largely a similar theme for the rest of the benchmarks too, with Mixtral 8x7B taking the lead with the ARC Challenge (or Abstract and Reasoning Corpus; this is a common sense reasoning test) MBPP or Mostly Basic Pylon Problems (this includes programming problems to be solved) and the GSM-8K in which the AI models must solve diverse grade school math word problems. While Llama 2 scored the most in the WinoGrade large-scale dataset problem benchmark and GPT-3.5 won the MT Bench test with multi-turn questions, Mistrals model wasnt far behind in either.

Mixtrals context size is 32,000 tokens per query, which is similar to GPT-3.5. Last month, Google-backed Anthropic released the Claude 2.1 large language model (LLM) that analyse as many as 1,50,000 words in a single prompt, roughly translating to an ability to handle as many as 200,000 tokens in a query.

Also Read: While OpenAI sorts its chaos, rival Anthropics Claude chatbot is evolving

Using the TruthfulQA/BBQ/BOLD tests for calculation of a habit of hallucination and bias, the French start-up says the Mixtral 8x7B is more truthful (73.9% over 50.2% of Metas Llama 2) and has more positive sentiment with responses. Mistral said Mixtral 8x7B has mastered French, German, Spanish, Italian, and English.

The fact that such a powerful and capable AI model is available open-source to developers, must worry the likes of OpenAI, Microsoft, Meta and Google.

We release Mixtral 8x7B Instruct alongside Mixtral 8x7B. This model has been optimised through supervised fine-tuning and direct preference optimisation (DPO) for careful instruction following. On MT-Bench, it reaches a score of 8.30, making it the best open-source model, with a performance comparable to GPT3.5, said Mistral AI in a statement.

The open-source position isnt one that Mistral AI is likely to change anytime soon. Since the creation of Mistral AI in May, we have been pursuing a clear trajectory: that of creating a European champion with a global vocation in generative artificial intelligence, based on an open, responsible and decentralised approach to technology, Arthur Mensch, co-founder and CEO of Mistral AI, said in the statement, announcing the latest round of funding.

Also Read: Is decentralising Artificial Intelligence the way forward?

Mistral AI is also releasing beta versions for Mistral 7B and Mixtral 8x7B models, which will be available in three sizes depending on the use case and available computing power  the Mistral-tiny (based on Mistral 7B), Mistral-small (based on the new Mixtral 8x7B ) and Mistral-medium.

We have worked on consolidating the most effective alignment techniques (efficient fine-tuning, direct preference optimisation) to create easy-to-control and pleasant-to-use models. We pre-train models on data extracted from the open Web and perform instruction fine-tuning from annotations, the company said.

Mistral-tiny and Mistral-small are free downloads for developers. In contrast, Mistral-medium can only be accessed via paid API, or application programming interface, which other companies or developers will use to plug.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has participated in the EU Eastern Partnership ministerial meeting in Brussels.

The EU Eastern Partnership (EaP) ministerial meeting brought together EU foreign ministers and their counterparts from five of the six Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine), under the chairmanship of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell. EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi also participated in the meeting.

The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on the Eastern Partnership, take stock of its achievements and identify concrete recommendations for the future of the policy. At the meeting, ministers addressed (1) how the Eastern Partnership can continue to ensure that the needs of member states and partner countries are met, (2) what should be the key priorities of joint work in 2024, (3) how to accelerate the delivery of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership and (4) how to increase cooperation with regions such as Central Asia and the Western Balkans and synergies with other regional policies such as the Black Sea Synergy. The EU, Member States and partners will step up their efforts to implement the Eastern Partnerships agenda for recovery, resilience and reform, as well as tackling challenges related to the ongoing consequences of the Russian war against Ukraine for the entire region. Ministers discussed areas of cooperation, including connectivity, transport, energy, green and digital transition, and human rights, civil society, rule of law, and security matters. Ministers expressed support for concrete deliverables for 2024, notably in the area of regional roaming, road safety and transport. Ministers were addressed by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, the Council of the EU said in a press release.
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New Delhi [India], December 12: Sheikh Abdullah: The Caged Lion of Kashmir is as much a biography of one Kashmiri as that of an entire generation of leaders who shaped the politics and institutions of twentieth-century South Asia.

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A Fourth Estate BookHardback | Non-Fiction | History | 384 pp | INR 799Available wherever books are sold | Releasing on 21 December 2023

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Kashmiri leader Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah (1905-82) is one of the best-known and most controversial political figures of twentieth-century South Asia. A fierce Kashmiri nationalist, Abdullah is best remembered for opposing the Dogra monarchy's exploitative economic and political system; securing Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India in 1947; passing revolutionary land reforms as Prime Minister of J&K; and later for championing the cause of Kashmiri self-determination--as a consequence of which he was imprisoned for two decades--before coming to terms with the Indian government in 1975. He has been alternatively celebrated as a patriot and reviled as a traitor in Kashmir, in India and in Pakistan.

In this richly researched and elegantly crafted biography, renowned historian Chitralekha Zutshi transcends these labels by placing Abdullah's life in the context of critical global developments in the twentieth century. She deftly illustrates how his political trajectory--forged in the inequities of the princely state system and burnished in the flames of anti-colonial nationalism, Islamic universalism, socialism, communism, secularism, communalism, federalism and the Cold War--embodies the becoming of India itself. Based on new archival sources as well as oral histories, this book is as much a biography of one Kashmiri as that of an entire generation of leaders who shaped the politics and institutions of twentieth-century South Asia.

This is the second book in the Indian Lives series, edited and curated by Ramachandra Guha.

Chitralekha Zutshi says, "Writing a biography of Sheikh Abdullah was a challenging task. This is not only because he is a controversial political figure, but also because unlike most twentieth-century South Asian leaders, he did not leave behind a sizeable body of writing. Other than his letters, an occasional essay, some speeches and his autobiography, painting this portrait required that I draw on a much larger collection of sources. These included oral histories, press reports, government documents, visual materials, and the private papers of a slew of individuals who were associated with Abdullah. Thus, I crafted the narrative not from his perspective alone, but from the viewpoint of those around him, who shaped his political life in significant ways. I hope this biography allows readers to appreciate Abdullah's complexities as a nationalist, a political leader, a revolutionary, a prisoner and a head of state in the context of his engagement with his advisors, well-wishers, critics and interlocutors, as well as the broader canvas of the intellectual and socio-political currents of the global twentieth century."

Ramachandra Guha says, "I am truly delighted that Chitralekha Zutshi's biography of Sheikh Abdullah is the second volume to appear in the Indian Lives series. Many years of research are here brought together in a finely crafted work of scholarship, that provides an authoritative and richly readable account of Sheikh Abdullah's life and legacy. While focusing on Abdullah, Zutshi brings to bear her training as a social and political historian, such that through this story of this complex and controversial individual we learn an enormous amount about the contested histories of Kashmir, India, and Pakistan. This superb book should find a wide audience among those interested in history, biography, politics, and narrative non-fiction in general."

Udayan Mitra, Executive Publisher, HarperCollins says, "The second book in the prestigious Indian Lives series, edited by Ramachandra Guha, focuses on the life of a defining twentieth century personality: Sheikh Abdullah. Drawing on a wide variety of sources and bringing to light some previously little-known facts, Chitralekha Zutshi presents a compelling portrait of one of the most interesting and controversial figures of our time. We at HarperCollins are very proud to bring this new biography - which will enhance our understanding both of Kashmir and of modern India - to readers."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chitralekha Zutshi is Class of 1962 Professor of History at William & Mary, Virginia, where she specializes in the history of South Asia and the Indian Ocean World. Her areas of expertise include nationalism, regional and religious identities, and traditions of historical thought and writing, with a particular focus on Kashmir. Her previous books include Languages of Belonging: Islam, Regional Identity, and the Making of Kashmir (2003-04); Kashmir's Contested Pasts: Narratives, Sacred Geographies, and the Historical Imagination (2014); Kashmir: History, Politics, Representation (2018); and Kashmir: Oxford India Short Introductions (2019).

ABOUT INDIAN LIVES SERIES

India is not the most important nor the most powerful country in the world. However, it has strong claims to being the most interesting. This modern nation is heir to a rich civilizational history, with the rise and fall of mighty empires juxtaposed with the rise and renewal of great religious traditions. The past two centuries have witnessed an epic struggle against colonial rule as well as the construction of the world's largest democracy--in the inhospitable soil of the world's most hierarchical society. This history, ancient and modern, has featured many extraordinary individuals active in a variety of fields: politics, spirituality, social reform, science, literature, art, music, film, sport and more.

HarperCollins is very proud to publish Indian Lives, a great new series of biographies where leading writers and scholars will focus on the life and legacy of important figures from India's history. The series is curated and edited by Ramachandra Guha and will feature biographies of extraordinary individuals who may be separated in time sometimes by centuries but whose impact on shaping the India we live in is indisputable.

ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS INDIA

HarperCollins is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, having begun publishing in India in 1992. HarperCollins India publishes some of the finest writers from the Indian Subcontinent and around the world, publishing approximately 200 new books every year, with a print and digital catalogue of more than 2,000 titles across 10 imprints. Its authors have won almost every major literary award including the Man Booker Prize, JCB Prize, DSC Prize, New India Foundation Award, Atta Galatta Prize, Shakti Bhatt Prize, Gourmand Cookbook Award, Publishing Next Award, Tata Literature Live! Award, Gaja Capital Business Book Prize, BICW Award, Sushila Devi Award, Sahitya Akademi Award and Crossword Book Award. HarperCollins India also represents some of the finest publishers in the world including Harvard University Press, Gallup Press, Oneworld, Bonnier Zaffre, Usborne, Dover and Lonely Planet. HarperCollins India has won the Publisher of the Year Award four times at Tata Literature Live! in 2022, 2021, 2018 and 2016, and at Publishing Next in 2021 & 2015. HarperCollins India is a subsidiary of HarperCollins Publishers.

30 YEARS OF PUBLISHING IN INDIA

At HarperCollins, we believe in telling the best stories and in finding the widest possible readership for our books in every format possible. We started publishing 30 years ago in India and a great deal has changed since then, but what has remained constant is the passion with which our authors write their books, the love with which readers receive them, and the sheer joy and excitement that we as publishers feel in being a part of the publishing process.

Over the years, we've had the pleasure of publishing some of the finest writing from the subcontinent and from around the world, and some of the biggest bestsellers in Indian publishing history. Our books and authors have won a phenomenal range of awards, and we ourselves have been named Publisher of the Year several times. But nothing has meant more to us than the fact that millions of people read the books we publish, and somewhere, a book of ours might be making a difference to someone.

As we step into our fourth decade, we go back to that one word - a word which has been a driving force for us all these years:

Read.

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(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
After the internal management changes at Narayana Murthy's company, Infosys shares tumbled overnight, raising concerns for shareholders of the top IT firm. The shares struggled despite the spike in Nifty and Sensex over the last week. Infosys shares dropped over 3 percent after the CFO's surprise exit from the firm.

Infosys shares opened at one per cent less than the previous day after the company's chief financial officer, Nilanjan Roy resigned from the post, saying that he wants to focus on his personal aspirations.

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IT companies continue to suffer due to recent changes in the top brass, and Roy's resignation led to a significant drop in Infosys shares. Soon after the CFO announced his exit, Infosys shares dropped three per cent overnight.

The markets opened on December 12 with Infosys trading at 1,478.90 apiece, with the shares further dropping at 1 pm, trading at 1,473.90 apiece. However, the firm reassured all the shareholders after Roy's exit that the transition would be smooth.

Brokerage firm Morgan Stanley said that this sudden change in top management of one of India's most valued companies could have a major impact on the sentiments of the shareholders.

Meanwhile, many investors are looking at the dip in shares as a stock-buying opportunity. According to past trends, it is likely that the share prices will recover soon. The dip in the shares of Infosys came as a surprise as Sensex crossed the 70,000 points mark on December 11, mostly due to a spike in share prices of IT companies.

Sensex crosses 70,000 points mark

Creating history on the stock market, the BSE Sensex crossed 70,000 points on December 11. This is the first time that the index has touched 70k, with the gains majorly credited to firms like ITC, Mahindra and Mahindra, and Larson and Toubro.

Infosys is considered to be the fifth most valued company in India, with an overall revenue of over 1.49 lakh crore.
BSE Sensex created history a few days ago by crossing the 70,000 mark on the Indian stock market, leading to a highly profitable week for most investors. After hitting a high of 70,057pts on December 11, it fell slightly, ending Monday at 69,988, up 0.15% from the previous close, on Friday. Sensex created history this week by hitting the 70,000 mark on Monday (ANI Photo)

The index, which was launched on January 2, 1986, consists of 30 stocks that are representative of the Indian stock market. It is seen as an important indicator of the country's India's financial health.

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While Sensex cannot be held as an indicator of the economy, it sure is a great indicator of the progress of industries and investor sentiment in the country. What is notable is that Sensex hit its all-time high just after the results of assembly elections were announced in five states.

Here we take a look at the performance of S&P BSE Sensex on several days of major political, economic, or financial significance.

The boom of Sensex in 2023

The year 2023 has been robust for Indian markets despite global fissures such as the wars in Ukraine and West Asia. Sensex has seen a jump of around 12,400pts since in the eight months since the end of March, when it was 57,5271pts. In late November, the broader Nifty 50 also touched 20K for the first time.

2021-2022: The post-Covid spike

On January 21, 2021, Sensex opens at 50,096.57 points, the first time it touches the 50,000 mark. Within eight months, on September 23, 2021, it hits 60,000 points closing at 60,048.47. This is the fastest the index has gained 10,000 points and is widely attributed to the impact of the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines.

2020: Covid lockdown

The Covid lockdown across India saw a major downfall of the stock market, with a 13 percent tumble on a single day, when the Centre announced the long-drawn lockdown. It is considered the steepest intraday fall of Sensex till this date.

2019: Modi's government's return to power

On May 23, 2019, just three days before the Modi government was set to return to power, exit poll predictions led to a massive spike of 3.8 percent in Sensex, touching the 40,000 mark for the first time in June.

2016: Demonetisation

On November 9, the day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces the demonetisation of high-value notes, Sensex intraday returns fall 1.23%. A bear-run by between November 11 and November 21 sees the index losing 6.6% in value.

2014: Narendra Modi becomes prime minister

When NDA won the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, the pro-business image of Narendra Modi drove up the markets by 8 percent towards the end of May, when he became the prime minister.

2009: Congress win leads to best-ever day for Sensex

The UPA-led by Congress secured its second term in 2009. Markets rallied 17.34% on May 18, 2009, in what still remains the single best day ever for Sensex.

2008: Great Recession

After the Great Recession hit multiple countries across the globe in 2008, Indian markets along with the global bourses came crashing down in what was one of the worst days for the global financial markets. Indian financial markets were left paralyzed after a fall of over 37 per cent.

2006: Sensex touches 10k points

The S&P BSE Sensex touches 10,000 points on January 2, 2006, but later pares gains ending the day at 9980.42. It finally closes above 10K in February, taking a little more than 244 months for it to touch 10,000 points since the day of its inception.

1992: Harshad Mehta scam

After the Harshad Mehta scam unfolded in front of the nation, Sensex fell over 34 percent between Dec 1992 and July 1993. Not surprisingly, the 1992-93 fiscal is the worst in history of Indian markets - ending with a 46.7 percent dip.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday assured the assembly that strict action will be taken against the culprits, who allegedly assaulted a woman, paraded her naked and tied to an electric pole in a village in this district, after her son eloped with a girl who was to get engaged with someone else. Belagavi woman assault case: Karnataka govt assures strict action

While assuring protection to the young "lovers" and the victim's family, he also stressed the need for change in the mindset of society, for such "inhuman" incidents not to repeat.

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Also Read - Karnataka woman paraded naked, tied to electric pole after son elopes with girl

On coming to know about their 18-year-old daughter eloping with the woman's son (aged 24), about 20 of her family members damaged the man's house at around 12.30 am on Monday in New Vantamuri village. They are then said to have dragged his 55-year-old mother, who was alone at home, outside, paraded her naked and tied her to an electricity pole.

"On getting to know about the incident, police immediately rushed to the spot, rescued the woman and took her to hospital. Also, seven people have been arrested in connection with the case and necessary legal action is being taken against them," Parameshwara said, detailing the incident in the assembly.

Stating that efforts are to find the young couple, so that they don't take any extreme step on hearing about this incident, he said, "such incidents should not happen, it is shameful for society."

"Youngsters falling in love and marrying is by and large accepted by society these days, amid some incidents of honour killings....society has to change. Only police taking strong steps wont help, but police will do whatever they can...we will give protection to the young couple and the family, government will not neglect the case in any way," he added.

Parameshwara on Monday visited the victim at the hospital and the village where the incident took place.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, BJP MLA Sunil Kumar said a civilised society which regards women highly, cannot accept such incidents, and such things had not taken place in Karnataka in the recent past.

Stating that such incidents also leads to a question whether there is fear of law and police in the state, the legislator, while appreciating the police for arresting seven people in connection with this case, said, "If there was fear of police, such an incident wouldn't have taken place. Such atrocities and cruelty against women, when we are celebrating 75-years of independence, cannot be tolerated."

Kumar urged the Home Minister to give free treatment to the affected woman, protection to her family, and that the government should ensure that the young couple are protected, and they don't take any extreme step.

"The government should ensure that such incidents don't repeat, and if required, the government should not hesitate to take bulldozer action against the accused (properties), like done in Uttar Pradesh," he added.

Another BJP legislator Shashikala Jolle and Congress MLA Ashok Pattan, too stating that the incident is shameful for society, urged the Home Minister to ensure strict punishment for the culprits and they don't get bail.
One of the prominent auto rickshaw unions in Bengaluru, Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union (ARDU) has taken an exit from Namma Yatri, the ONDC backed raid hailing app, reported Money Control. Namma Yatri will reportedly continue to operate as many auto drivers are still part of the app which was touted to be a breather for commuters who face regular auto woes in Bengaluru. Bengaluru's Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union take an exit from Namma Yatri: Report

Also Read - Bengaluru auto drivers earn 189 crore through Namma Yatri app

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According to the report, Namma Yatri failed to oblige many demands of ARDU even though the union played a key role while boarding auto drivers for the app during its launch. Speaking to the publication, a union leader said, From the beginning, ARDU was part of Namma Yatri. A total of 10,000 drivers joined the app even before its launch and another 50,000 drivers launched post its launch. They are now underestimating our efforts and the union is being ignored.

The Namma Yatri was believed to be an alternative to the aggregators like Ola, Uber and Rapido, which collect commission for every ride. The USP of the app is that drivers get all the money from the customer for the ride without any commissions. However, Namma Yatri recently started charging a subscription fee for drivers where they can pay 25 a day and 3.50 per ride (free after 10 rides in a day). This was reportedly to fuel the operations of the app because it doesnt collect any money from drivers or customers for the rides. Namma Yatri is owned by the fin tech company Juspay Technologies Pvt Ltd.

Till October this year, Bengalurus auto-hailing app Namma Yatri has generated earnings of 189 crore for its drivers ever since it was launched, according to ONDC. Namma Yatri also claimed that it helped auto drivers save almost 19 crore through their zero-commission model
BJP MLAs staged a protest against Karnataka Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan on Monday for his reported statement that only the Congress can make a Muslim the speaker of an assembly. BJP MLAs protest against Karnataka Minister's Muslim speaker remark

Minister Khan, who is also the chief whip of the Congress in the assembly, had allegedly made this statement while campaigning for the Telangana Assembly elections last month.

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Also Read - Belagavi woman assault case: Karnataka govt assures strict action and protection to victim's family

BJP MLAs raised slogans against Minister Khan during the assembly session, which resumed here on Monday.

R Ashok, Leader of the Opposition in the state, alleged that the Minister made these remarks with the blessings of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

"When Siddaramaiah can announce 10,000 crore for the uplift of Mullas, how can his follower respect the speaker's chair?" Ashok asked.

In a video that has gone viral in the run-up to the Telangana assembly, Khan can be seen allegedly telling a gathering that the Congress had fielded 17 Muslim candidates in Karnataka's assembly polls this May, with five out of the nine winners holding influential positions.

UT Khader, a Congress MLA from Mangaluru, is the first Muslim Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday said that he fully supports discussion on issues facing North Karnataka in the Legislative Assembly. Karnatak deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar (File Photo)

Speaking to reporters at the Belagavi airport, he said, "The government is ready to respond to any issues raised by either the ruling party members or the Opposition party members. We offer our full support for issues pertaining to the drought situation in North Karnataka. North Karnataka, Kitturu Karnataka, Old Mysuru Region are all integral parts of Karnataka and we are always open to discussing their issues."

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ALSO READ | Stamp Duty Bill passed in Belagavi Karnataka Assembly Winter Session

Asked about a bandh call given with regards to the division of Belagavi district, he said, "We will certainly think about it but only when if a proposal is put forward in the House."

Asked about his stance on the removal of Savarkar's photograph from the House, he said, "What was inside the two Houses belonged to the Speaker and the Chairperson".

ALSO READ | Minister's Muslim Speaker comment rocks Karnataka Assembly

Replying to a reporter's query on whether the BJP was wasting the House's time, he said he is not in favour of talking about other parties. (ANI)
Bengaluru is likely to get another Vande Bharat Express soon as the railway board is planning to run a service between Karnatakas capital and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. This service has been in public demand for a long time as many people travel frequently between two cities. Vande Bharat Express likely to be started between Bengaluru-Coimbatore. Details

Also Read - Bengaluru - Dharwad Vande Bharat Express to be extended till Belagavi

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BJP leader and Coimbatore South MLA Vanathi Srinivasan said that the official announcement will come soon as Indian Railways is seriously considering starting a Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and Coimbatore.

The timings of this Vande Bharat Express are yet to be announced and currently there is only one express train between Bengaluru and Coimbatore. Uday Express is currently operating in the morning with a travel time of roughly 7 hours. If Vande Bharat Express is announced between these two cities, timings are going to play an important role as the semi high speed train will be an expensive affair for regular commuters.

If launched, this will be the second Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and neighboring Tamil Nadu as there is already one such train that travels between Chennai, Bengaluru and Mysuru. In November last year, PM Narendra Modi launched this Vande Bharat train, the first such train in south India.

Bengaluru currently has Vande Bharat Trains to Dharwad, Belagavi, Hubballi, Chennai, Mysuru and Hyderabad. Recently, the Bengaluru  Dharwad Vande Bharat Express was extended till Belagavi in north Karnataka, announced the Railway Ministry. This is expected to speed up and enhance the commute between the capital city and north Karnataka region. The Vande Bharat Express will reportedly take 7 hours 45 minutes to reach Belagavi from Bengaluru and it will be the fastest existing train to travel between the two cities of Karnataka.
Madhya Pradesh's outgoing chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said that he accepts the Bharatiya Janata Partys decision to replace him with Mohan Yadav for the chief ministerial post in the state. Madhya Pradesh outgoing CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan(x/officeofshivraj)

The BJP on Monday picked the three-time MLA from Ujjain South assembly seat for the Madhya Pradesh chief minister post.

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"I am confident that under the leadership of CM Mohan Yadav, the BJP govt will complete the ongoing projects in the state...In terms of progress and development, Madhya Pradesh will achieve new heights. I will keep supporting him, Shivraj Chouhan said.

Counting on his accomplishments since he was at the helm for 18 years, he said the state saw significant progress.

Shivraj Singh Chauhan dismissed questions about contesting Lok Sabha elections as imaginary, saying that he would abide by the party's decision. He said he is committed to a larger mission.

He said he didn't feel any injustice on the party's part as it entrusted him with the top job for 18 years.

"Where is injustice? The BJP kept an ordinary worker as chief minister for 18 years, no one sees the other side. BJP gave me everything, now the time has come to reciprocate and give back to the party. Why can't this be the thinking? he said.

When Shivraj Singh Chouhan was questioned about his recent statement of not going to Delhi, he said, 'The context that day was that the rest are in Delhi, will you go to Delhi. One thing I say with great humility is that I would rather die than go and ask for something for myself. That's not my job. That's why I had said that I will not go to Delhi, Shivraj said.

Earlier today, Shivraj met emotional women supporters, some of whom were visibly moved to tears.

The BJP retained power in MP in the November 17 assembly polls by winning 163 seats in the 230-member assembly, while the Congress finished a distant second with 66.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is aggressively investigating the attacks on the Indian consulate in San Francisco on March 19 and July 2 this year, chief of the premier US agency Christopher Wray told the director general of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Dinkar Gupta, during a high-level meeting in Delhi on Tuesday. National Investigation Agency (NIA) director general Dinkar Gupta presents a memento to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Christopher A Wray during a meeting, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI)

Gupta told the FBI delegation led by Wray, which visited the NIA headquarters, that the nexus of terrorists and gangsters was spreading to the US as well.

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Christopher A Wray, FBI director, leading a high-level FBI delegation, visited the NIA headquarters on Tuesday and held extensive discussions with NIA DG Dinkar Gupta and senior officials...During the meeting, candid and wide-ranging discussions were held on a host of issues, including the acts and activities of terrorist-organised criminal networks, ongoing investigations in the US in the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco, investigation of cyber terror and cybercrimes of various kinds, an NIA spokesperson said in a statement.

Wray also informed the NIA that the FBI was aggressively investigating the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco, the statement added.

On July 2, Indias consulate in San Francisco came under an attack from Khalistan supporters who tried to set the diplomatic facility on fire. The attack came following the killing of separatist Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Earlier, on March 19, a group of pro-Khalistan protesters attacked and damaged the Indian consulate in San Francisco. Raising pro-Khalistan slogans, the protesters broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the local police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the consulate premises. Two consulate personnel soon removed these flags.

A team of the NIA visited San Fransisco in August to collect evidence, including CCTV footage, and exchange information regarding the attacks with local law enforcement agencies there.

The FBI chief is in India to meet top security and intelligence officials to discuss various topics of mutual cooperation, sharing information, cybercrimes, extradition, etc. He met Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Praveen Sood on Monday.

The visit, though planned in May itself, came against the backdrop of activities of pro-Khalistan elements operating from the US and Canadian soil and an indictment filed by US prosecutors in a federal court in Manhattan last month, which alleged an Indian government employee who described himself as a senior field officer responsible for intelligence had ordered the assassination of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Officials familiar with the developments said the Khalistan issue and extradition of fugitives has been discussed in detail by both the CBI and NIA in their separate meetings with the FBI.

During Tuesdays meeting, Gupta highlighted the active nexus between the terrorist outfits and terrorist elements with members of organised criminal syndicates, which was spreading to the US as well, the NIA spokesperson said.

Wray underscored that both the agencies have a lot in common and the similarities are far greater than the differences.

On the nexus between terror actors and organised crime syndicates, Wray said a blending of lines between terrorists and criminals was now visible in the cyberspace as well, the NIA added.

Speaking about the impact of the 9/11 attacks in the US and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Wray said during the meeting that these terror attacks have changed the way in which nations respond to terror threats.

During the meeting, Gupta pointed out that threats in the cyber domain were increasing. He said the NIA was also seeing the use of cryptocurrency for terrorist financing, according to the spokesperson.

The issue of obtaining data from encrypted apps was also taken up during the meeting. The difficulties encountered by the law enforcement agencies across the world in obtaining data from encryption apps also came up for discussion during the meeting, the spokesperson said.

US principal deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer, who visited New Delhi earlier this month, had informed his Indian interlocutors of the importance of holding accountable anyone found responsible for allegedly plotting to kill Pannun on American soil.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar told Parliament last week that India has set up an inquiry committee to look into inputs provided by the US in connection with the alleged plot to kill the Khalistani leader because the matter has a bearing on national security. The US inputs were of concern to India because they related to the nexus of organised crime, trafficking and other matters, he said.
BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The EU has presented details on what its possible support to Armenia through the European Peace facility could look like.

On November 29, the EU said it will further explore non-lethal support to the Armenian military via the European Peace Facility.

Asked to elaborate on what the possible support could imply, the EU Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano told Armenpress correspondent Lilit Gasparyan in Brussels that the support could be in the form of a field hospital, protective equipment, and increased capacity to combat cyberattacks and disinformation.

Stano said the support is discussed by EU Member States, taking into account the needs and requests of Armenia.

The exact modalities of the non-lethal assistance are under discussions by the member states taking of course into account the needs and request from Armenian partners. Anything that is not used to fight. It can be a field hospital, it can be protective equipment but it can be also increasing capacities to fight cyber attacks, disinformation, the spectrum is very wide and it is up to the member states to decide what the EU will eventually decide reflecting of course what Armenia defines as the most pressing needs," Stano said.
The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh high court has quashed the preventive detention order of Kashmir journalist Asif Sultan, who has been in jail for the past five years, and ordered for his release. After being granted bail by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in 2022, he was immediately arrested under the Public Safety Act, which allows jailing an individual without trial for up to two years (iStock)

Sultan was arrested in August 2018 from his residence in Batamaloo in connection with a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and is the third journalist from the Valley to get relief from the court in the past one month.

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After being granted bail by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in 2022, he was immediately arrested under the Public Safety Act, which allows jailing an individual without trial for up to two years.

The court noted that Sultan was not offered the FIR and statements recorded under section 161 of the CrPC, on the basis of which he was detained.

The detention record does not indicate that copies of first information reports, statements recorded under Section 161 of the Cr PC and other material collected in connection with investigation of the case was ever supplied to the detenu, on the basis which impugned detention order has been passed, said the order by justice Vinod Chatterji Koul pronounced last week.

Sultan was an assistant editor with the now defunct monthly newsmagazine Kashmir Narrator and was arrested in connection with a long form report about slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

During detention, he was awarded the annual John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award by the National Press Club of America in 2019.

In 2018, he was booked under the UAPA and relevant sections of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).

On November 22, Kashmir journalist and editor of The Kashmir Walla magazine Fahad Shah released after being granted bail the J&K high court, after 21 months of being incarcerated in a case under UAPA.

Earlier, the HC had quashed the PSA detention order of Kashmir journalist Sajad Gul under Public Safety Act.
The heterogeneous society of Jammu, comprising displaced Kashmiri Pandits, Dogras, Valmiki community, Gujjars and refugees from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and West Pakistan largely expressed relief after the Supreme Courts verdict on Article 370. The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the abrogation of Article 370 as constitutional. (HT FIle)

Barring celebrations by the Valmiki community and a few right-wing parties, such as Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena, there were no mega celebrations across the region.

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Though the common people carried on with their normal lives, they did appreciate the apex court for upholding the Centres decision to abrogate Article 370 and 35A.

Gharu Bhatti, a member of the Valmiki community said, The community is happy. We were scared that the SC might reverse the decision. There is no court above SC and it has put this ghost into a bottle and thrown into an ocean, once and for all. Members of the community hoisted Tri-colours and distributed sweets to mark their happiness.

Anita Jamwal, 40, who has formed an all woman self-help group of 2,000 in Reasi, said, Article 370 was grossly discriminatory against women. The girls from J&K, who married outside the state, used to lose their rights to parental property and citizienship. Now we have equal rights.

Sreshat Bhanotra, a bank manager, and his staff celebrated the verdict at their office at Gangyal.

The abrogation should not have been challenged as it was done by the Parliament. To me, challenging it before the apex court amounted to treason, he said.

Sumit Hakhu, a migrant Kashmiri Pandit, said, Article 370 was provisional and Kashmir-centric parties used it as a tool to blackmail the Centre. Previous governments didnt dare to touch it because of the blackmail politics.

However, he said that the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the Centre has not initiated earnest efforts for the rehabilitation of the Pandit community in Kashmir.

A Gujjar from a silent village of Dhadkai in Doda, lodged his dissent

Dhadkais sarpanch Mohammad Hanief, said, We want Article 370 and 35-A back with restoration of our statehood and early assembly elections.

Hanief disagreed with BJP governments unilateral actions of August 5, 2019.

President of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Arun Gupta hailed the SC verdict, but said the people should get their due share of the locals in jobs, industrial sector and every sphere.
New Delhi [India], December 12 (ANI): Congress MP Manish Tewari on Tuesday gave an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the situation of imprisoned retired Indian Navy personnel in Qatar. HT Image

Eight Indian nationals have been imprisoned in Qatar since October 2022 and were accused of allegedly spying on a submarine programme. The retired naval personnel were sentenced to death by a Qatar court on charges that have not yet been made public officially.

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In a letter to the Secretary-General Lok Sabha, Congress leader Manish Tewari said, "I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the house for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance."

"This House do suspend Zero Hour, Question Hour, and other businesses of the day to have a discussion regarding the retired Indian Navy personnel imprisoned in Qatar. Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Ragesh were sentenced by the Qatari court on October 26, 2023," Tiwari said in the letter.

I have been constantly raising this matter since August 2022, both inside and outside the House but the response of the government has been no response for 14 months.

"In the meantime, the 08 Naval Personnel (Retd) have ostensibly been brutally tortured, self-incriminating confessions extracted and sentenced to death in a Kangaroo Trail in a couple of perfunctory hearings. The government has not even called in the Qatari ambassador to protest the matter strongly. There is no visible protest by the Indian government," he added in the letter.

Despite the purported acceptance of their appeal, crucial details such as charges, the court rationale, and the judgement of the copy of the Court of First Instance remain undisclosed.

"I therefore urge the government to inform the House of the situation about our Navy personnel in Qatar and the steps taken to bring them back to India. I hereby request permission to raise this matter," Tiwari added in the letter.

The eight former Indian Navy personnel were detained in Qatar for over a year. They were sentenced to death by Qatar's Court of First Instance in October 2023. Since then the personnel have been granted permission to appeal the sentence in the Court of Appeals.

New Delhi had been granted consular access to the eight Indians and has been working to secure their release. The Indian nationals had their first trial in late March. (ANI)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Christopher A Wray visited the Delhi Police headquarters and met Commissioner Sanjay Arora and other senior officials on Tuesday. FBI director Christopher A Wray meets commissioner Sanjay Arora at the Delhi Police headquarters on Tuesday.

Accompanied by a US delegation, Wray discussed various issues related to terrorism, cyber frauds and fake call centres, the officials said.

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Wray, who reached India on Monday, is on a three-day visit to India, met CBI chief Praveen Sood on Monday to discuss key issues such as the extradition of suspects wanted by India and cyber-enabled financial crimes, with the US officials visit coming against the backdrop of an alleged plot to kill a pro-Khalistan leader on American soil.

The FBI director is also expected to hold separate meetings with the heads of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing, and National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval.
A day after students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) raised objections over the new chief proctors office (CPO) manual released by the varsity, vice-chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit on Tuesday reiterated that all rules mentioned in the manual were already in place, and that the university has not increased slabs of fine in any case. JNU vice-chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit rejected reports that a new JNU manual has restricted protests on the University campus. (HT Photo)

Under the new manual released last month, students can be penalised 20,000 for staging a dharna, holding a hunger strike, and protesting around the residence of a university official or within the 100-meter radius of any academic and administrative complex. Both students and teachers raised concerns over diminishing democratic space on the campus.

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In an interview with HT, Pandit said that the university has not banned protests on campus as freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed in the Constitution of India. She said the proctors manual has been in place since 1969, and the university has not changed it.

Edited excerpts:

Why has JNU come up with a new manual? Are the fines mentioned in it being introduced to clamp down on protests or prevent indiscipline?

Ever since I took charge as the vice-chancellor of JNU in February 2022, these rules have been in place. In fact, they have been in place for over 10 years. These rules were not made by the university. The Delhi high court in the past gave certain orders including banning protests within 100 meters of the administrative block. These rules were introduced over the years. There were four ongoing cases in the Delhi court recently, and the court asked the university to put the rules in writing and a legalised manner. Therefore, this manual was prepared by the CPO which is responsible for maintaining rules, regulations, and discipline in the university.

Read Here | JNU open for shelter: JNUSU defies registrars warning

Why didnt the authorities raise this earlier?

The proctor manual has been in place since 1969. However, it was not available in the public domain. Now, we have put it in the public domain to ensure transparency, because we work in a very democratic way. There were fines and rustications even at the time when I was a student at JNU. So, there is nothing new in this.

Wasnt the new manual shared with teachers or students before it was released?

The manual was passed by the executive council of the university, which also has representatives from the faculty. The administration circulated the manual among all EC members on November 1, and it was unanimously passed by the council during a meeting on November 24. Nobody raised objections over anything because there was nothing new in it, and no slabs were raised. We only put it in a legal language and got it passed legally. Till today, no single letter has been received by the administration or VC office from students or staff asking to withdraw the manual.

Does this mean the university will impose these fines on students if they participate in protests on campus?

No, I have never imposed a fine on any student just because he or she participated in a protest on campus. The students even protested at my house over some water issue at a hostel. But I did not impose a fine on anyone for it. I have forgiven fines imposed by the last regime on many students between 2016 and 2022 and closed their cases considering their futures.

Read Here: ABVP writes to JNU administration over 'anti-Bharat' slogans on campus

JNU has not put a blanket ban on protests as long as students dont flout rules. Freedom of speech and expression is the right guaranteed to everyone by the Indian Constitution and JNU will not go against it.

On what basis will these fines be imposed?

We only impose fines on those caught drinking and consuming drugs at the campus, found guilty of misbehaving with women, delivering hate speech, or involved in gross misbehavior with university officials, not allowing them to perform their duty, and discrimination against any community. There is also a due process for imposing fines.

When you say drinking, do you mean drinking publicly?

Yes. It is not allowed on campus. It is part of the university rules they have signed up for.

The manual also mentions that a fine of 6,000 would be imposed for partying on campus without permission from the administration. Does this mean students cannot party?

Of course, they can but they should maintain discipline. There have been freshers parties on campus when drugs and alcohol were consumed. There was violence reported at a birthday party at a hostel a few months ago. So, we are only asking them to take permission because they should take responsibility. We are not against parties. But they cannot be allowed without permission. It is our duty to maintain discipline and ensure the safety of students.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said technology has made it much easier to achieve the goal of ease of doing business and ease of living. He said technology helped in containing corruption and a medium had been found to bring about a change in peoples lives. Yogi said technology has to be used quite judiciously. U.P. chief minister Yogi Adityanath speaking at the second convocation of IIIT Lucknow on December 12. (HT photo)

He talked about UPs trillion-dollar economy goal and importance of digital infrastructure. Speaking at the second convocation of IIIT Lucknow here, the CM highlighted the institutes potential contributions to data centres, e-education, and digital healthcare.

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Congratulating graduates, he urged them to play a vital role in state and national development, envisioning them as future leaders.

Guv stresses holistic education

Governor Anandiben Patel in her address underlined the importance of holistic education in fourth Industrial Revolution. Key points include the institutes commitment to multidisciplinary education, skill development, extracurricular activities, mental health support and global exposure, she said.

The governor praised IIIT Lucknows alignment with the National Education Policy 2020, highlighted its role in fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and commended its industry collaborations. Board of governors of IIIT Lucknow Vishad Padmanabh Mafatlal and director, IIIT Lucknow, Arun Mohan Sherry, also addressed the gathering.
MUMBAI: The Eknath Shinde government on Tuesday said the state government has set up a committee of three senior officials to investigate the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations (BMC) finances over the last 25 years, a move that is seen to target the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde (ANI)

The government will table a white paper on BMCs finances during the assemblys Budget session in February-March next year, Maharashtra minister Uday Samant said in the state assembly on Tuesday during his response to the discussion on supplementary demands related to the urban development department.

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The Shiv Sena came to power in the BMC in 1985 and has held the reins of the corporation ever since. In the last elections held in 2017, well before the party split into two factions, one led by Eknath Shinde and the other, by Thackeray, the Shiv Sena and BJP finished neck-and-neck, winning 84 and 82 seats, respectively.

Samant, who is the acting urban development minister, said the probe will be conducted by the additional chief secretary of planning deparment, principal secretary of urban development department and director of audit team of finance deparment.

The committee will probe the alleged financial irregularities over the last 25 years in BMC and submit a report to the government. I assure the people of Maharashtra that a white paper based on the report will be tabled in the state legislature during the budget session, Samant said.

Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Yogesh Sagar and several other Mumbai MLAs had demanded an audit during the debate.

The probe is seen as an effort to needle Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena. In June this year, the government also constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe alleged corruption in nine departments of BMC. In a report, the Comptroller and Accountant General had red-flagged various contracts allotted by the civic which has an annual budget of over 52,619 crore.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab said that they are not opposed to the BMC probe but want the state government to order audits for other municipal corporations run by the ruling parties.

Parab also questioned the attempt to pin the blame for the BMC problems on Thackeray-led Sena.

The Shiv Sena and BJP were together for 25 years in BMC except for the last five years. Everyone responsible for the so-called corruption and irregularities should be punished. The probe should be conducted for other municipal corporations including Nagpur, Pune, Thane and not only Mumbai just because it was under Shiv Sena. This is just a misuse of the power and an attempt to defame us, he said.
Kalyan HT Image

The Mahatma Phule police has arrested the lover of the woman who was found murdered in a lodge room in Kalyan on Sunday within 12 hours. The man murdered her for rejecting his proposal to get into a committed relationship, the police said

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A 32 year old womans body was found in a Trupti lodge of Kalyan on Sunday morning. She was identified as Jyoti Jainmal, a resident of Kolsewadi, Kalyan. She had checked into the lodge with a man identified as Bhupendra Giri on Saturday afternoon.

According to officials, on Sunday, the hotel staff was suspicious when the room was not opened for a long time. They opened the door with the spare key and found the woman in an unconscious state. The Mahatma Phule police rushed to the spot and after confirming that she was dead, they sent the body for post-mortem.

Police officials said Bhupendra Giri had left the room on Saturday night and bumped into a hotel staffer. He told them that he is going out to take a night walk. Mahatma Phule police station, senior police inspector, Shailesh Salvi said,  We first contacted her father to identify her, He confirmed her identity and told the police he had tried to that call her several times, but a man named GIri answered the call. We started searching for him and nabbed him from his native Osmanabad on Monday.

The accused told the police that they both got married eight years ago and lived together in Kolsewadi. A year ago, she began living with another man. The accused said on Saturday he tried to convince her to come back with him, but when she refused he smothered her to death and fled from the spot. But the womans parents dont know about any such marriage, said a police official. Jyoti worked as a beautician in Kolsewadi while her parents lived in Ghatkopar.
Prominent face of the Maratha quota agitation Manoj Jarange-Patil admitted to hospital after his health started to decline following a public assembly. Patil is known for spearheading the protest demanding reservation for the Maratha community in Maharashtra. Activist Manoj Jarange-Patil hospitalised

The activist was touring parts of Maharashtra to raise awareness about his demand for reservation for the Maratha community.

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He earlier targeted Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadanvis and claimed some people close to him speak against the Marashtas and appealed to him to restrain them.

"This is my last request you can say. They (leaders in Maharashtra) should see that there should be no disgruntlement among people. There are five-seven people who speak about Maratha (community) and are close to Devendra Fadnavis," he said.

He further gave a deadline to the state government to provide reservations by December 24, or they (government) will face consequences. He, however, expressed confidence in chief minister Eknath Shinde.

"We now understand that you (Fadnavis) talk sweetly, but don't do our work. We have faith that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will give us a reservation. If they (government) don't give it, we will fight against them also after December 24," he said.
Bhiwandi HT Image

The Narpoli police in Bhiwandi have registered an offence against one of the organizers of BJP programme Vikasit Bharat Yatra for allegedly showcasing the Indian flag upside down, violating the flag code.

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An image of the Indian tricolor was placed on the platform in reverse order during the BJPs Vikasit Bharat Yatra programme held at Kalher in Bhiwandi taluka on December 9. Due to this, Bhiwandi Panchayat Samiti block Development Officer Pradeep Ghorpade lodged a complaint with the Narpoli police station and registered a case against the organiser for disrespecting the national flag by wrongly displaying the Indian flag.

Ghorpade said, The contract for organising BJPs Vikasit Bharat Yatra and Prime Minister Modis interaction program at Kalher on December 9 was given to Alankar Patil of Gurudatta Enterprises. However, he displayed the national flag in a reverse order, with green on top and saffron at the bottom. None of the officials even noticed nor corrected it at the time of the event. Therefore, for this negligence, I reached the police station on Monday to file an FIR in the matter.

Former minister Jitendra Awhad also pointed out this act after he came to know about it. He said, The image of the tricolor on the LED screen installed for Modis dialogue program was also reverted. Although all the government agencies including the Union Minister. Guardian Minister of Thane district and other district officials were present at the programme, no leader or officer noticed the reverted image of the tricolor. This is unfortunate.

Narpoli police have registered a case on the organizer Alankar Patil under Section 2 of Insult to National Honor Act 1971, (the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India or any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both).
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. On December 11, in Brussels, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan participated in the EU Eastern Partnership Ministerial meeting.

The foreign ministry released the transcript of the FM's remarks which are presented below:

Excellencies,

ladies and gentlemen

dear colleagues,

I am very pleased for this opportunity to meet and openly discuss the recent developments in the EaP region and share our ideas on the future of this format. Given the diverse challenges the Eastern Partnership region has been facing for the last couple of years, including the shake of the security architecture and humanitarian issues, the consistency of the EaP Ministerial meetings is quite welcoming.

Since EaP was launched, it has aimed to strengthen the ties of the partners with the EU and EU Member states based on common values, deepening economic and political cooperation and support for the reform agenda.

The Eastern Partnership has contributed to the democratic transition of my country, which made a clear decision to take an irreversible path of democratization and reforms. Despite all the challenges we had during the recent couple of years the democratization process and implementation of the ambitious reform agenda did not stop in Armenia for a single moment. And Armenia is resolute in continuing this journey with the substantial support of the European Union. The most recent manifestation of our determination is the ratification of the Rome Statute by Armenia. By joining the ICC Armenia contributed to the strengthening of the international legal order while at the same time reclaiming its sovereign right of taking decisions based on its national interests.

My government warmly welcomes the European Commissions decision to recommend the European Council to open accession talks with Moldova and Ukraine and to grant candidate status to Georgia. This decision is welcomed not only by the Government of Armenia but also people of Armenia, who also have European aspirations.

We think that this new development should not be the cause for further weakening of their interest in EaP, but rather it should serve to transform the welcome progress of the trio into an additional bridge for those partners who have the firm intention and resolve to come closer to the European Union.

We are not only committed to continuing this path, but even coming closer to the European Union to the extent the EU will deem it possible.

Dear colleagues,

As you are well aware Armenia is currently facing enormous challenges. The efforts of my government and all the competent authorities are focused on addressing the humanitarian situation of the forcibly displaced Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, who, within a week, had to abandon their houses and run as a result of use of force.

In this regard, we are grateful to the EU and its member States for humanitarian assistance to Armenia in response to the mass influx of people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Distinguished colleagues,

ladies and gentlemen,

The Government of Armenia has political will for building sustainable and lasting peace in the region. We are ready to move forward to that end on the basis of the principles adopted in Granada by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia, President Michel of the European Council, President Macron of France and Chancellor Scholz of Germany. The same principles about mutual recognition of territorial integrity, mutual recognition of borders, opening of communications, transport infrastructures, that were previously acknowledged during the trilateral meetings of leaders in Brussels.

On numerous occasions, we have demonstrated our willingness and determination to establish long-lasting peace and stability in our region through the normalization of relations with our neighbors, where all countries will live with open borders and be connected by active economic, political and cultural ties. My government has recently presented our vision for the future named "The Crossroads of Peace" as a part of the peace agenda. At the core of this project is the development of regional communications by means of renovating, building, and operating roads, railways, pipelines, cables, and electricity lines. Moreover, the joint statement recently adopted with Azerbaijan regarding the exchange of detainees and Armenias agreement on the COP29 is yet another demonstration of our determination to reach peace and stability in the South Caucasus. We do hope that after this positive impulse Azerbaijan will adhere to the peace process.

Dear colleagues,

We believe that this format and initiatives we are engaged in should serve the ultimate goal of bringing us closer to our partners and neighbors. We feel the need to reiterate that all of the EaP partner states should adhere to the same values and principles, as without respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, without a secure and peaceful environment any endeavor is doomed to failure.

Thank you.
Navi Mumbai HT Image

Two cases of suicides of teenage boys were reported in the early hours of Monday in Navi Mumbai.

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In the first case, a 15-year-old was found dead in his room in Nerul on Sunday night wherein he had left a suicide note stating that he disliked studies. Meanwhile a 14-year-old from Karave village in Seawoods was stressed out after his fathers death following which he took the extreme step.

The 14-year-old, a class IX student, was alone at home on Sunday night as his parents and sister had gone out. He locked himself in the house and hanged himself. He had left a note stating that he disliked studies and was not able to study well. Hence he decided to end the life, assistant police inspector Sagar Jadhav from Nerul police station said.

The 15-year-old, a class X student, was stressed out due to family expectations from him. He had lost his father to illness last year and since then his family and others had been constantly reminding him that he is the only son to his mother and only brother to his sister and he needs to now take care of the family. On Sunday night after everyone went to sleep, he messaged his sister that he was unable to meet their expectations and hence had decided to end his life, police sub inspector Sandeep Parkhe from NRI Coastal Police Station said.

On Monday morning after the family woke up, they found him missing and then saw the message as well. The family rushed to NRI Coastal police station. We traced the location of the boy and found it to be in our jurisdiction. We started searching for him and found his scooty and a pair of chappals near Karave lake. We informed the Fire Brigade and their team then fished out his body in the lake by around 10 am, senior police inspector Pramod Toradmal from NRI Coastal police station said.

In both the cases, accidental death report has been registered with respective police stations and the further investigations are on.
Thane HT Image

The Kasarvadavli police on Monday arrested two people including a witness for the alleged murder of a 48-year-old real estate agent, who was attacked with sharp weapons in Ovala in Thane on Saturday evening, over a financial transaction, the police said.

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According to police sources, the two arrested accused were identified as Bhushan Patil, who witnessed the brutal murder, and Nitin Patil, also a real estate businessman, and the absconding accused has been identified as Pankaj Thakkar, who managed the Mulund office of both the accused.

Satish Eknath Patil, a real estate agent from Vartak Nagar, was in a car with Bhushan Patil, also a real estate businessman, at Vihang Valley Circle in Ovala in Thane west when the murder took place on Saturday. Around 5.30 pm, two unidentified people knocked on the window of the car, and attacked with sharp weapons before escaping. Satish Patil suffered grevious injuries on the head, hand, chest, and neck, while Bhushan suffered minor injuries. A passerby found two people injured and alerted the local police and both were sent to a nearby hospital where Satish was declared dead during the treatment while Bhushan received first aid. Bhushan later lodged the formal complaint.

Police sources said that during investigations, they learned that the deceased Satish Patil had given some money to accused Bhushan Patil and he was persistently demanding that Bhushan return the money in the last few days.

Sunil Patil, senior police inspector, Kasarvadavli police station, Prima facie, we learned that a financial transaction was carried out between them. The investigations also revealed that the accused Bhushans sister was in constant touch with the deceased for the last two years. Further investigations are on. Both accused will produced in court on Tuesday. 

Police sources said a case was registered under 302 (punishment of murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon or means), 34 (common Intention), and the relevant section Maharashtra Police Act. Further investigation is on. 
The Civil Lines police on Monday arrested a notorious criminal and recovered an illegal firearm, car and some foreign currency notes from his possession. The accused has two criminal cases registered against him for murder, fraud etc, said police. Further investigations revealed that he shot dead an aged man in the Muthiganj area seven years back. (FOR REPRESENTATION)

Station House Officer (SHO) of Civil Lines police station Brajesh Kumar Singh said the police team received a tip-off about the presence of a notorious criminal near Sangam Palace. The police team reached the spot and nabbed the suspect identified as Rahul Kesarwani of Lukarganj locality. An illegal revolver, five .32 calibre cartridges, a car, five currency notes of Nepal of different denominations, and a currency note of Thailand were recovered from his possession.

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Further investigations revealed that he shot dead an aged man in the Muthiganj area seven years back. Moreover, he had a fraud case and other sections registered at Nawabganj police station in 2016. Rahul was involved in fraud and other illegal activities and is being questioned further in this connection, SHO added.

Police to take remand of man accused of killing wifes sister

PRAYAGRAJ A man accused of killing his sister-in-law (wifes sister) confessed to his crime in his statement given to police. The accused had surrendered before the court on Sunday. Police will now take his custody and remand him for further investigations and questioning.

As per reports, a resident of Dalapur Musha village Ramchandra Binds 19-year-old daughter Reena Bind was found murdered on December 2 only a day before her marriage.

An FIR was lodged against Reenas brother-in-law Tarachand on the complaint of Reenas kin. Police launched a hunt for Tarachand but he surrendered before the court with the help of his lawyer. The court sent Tarachand to jail under judicial custody. On Monday Sarai Inayat police took his statement. Police officials said Tarachand had confessed to having killed his sister-in-law. Now he will be taken into custody for recovery of the weapon used in the crime, officials added.

Investigations had revealed that the accused was in an affair with his sister-in-law and killed her when her parents fixed her marriage to another person.

Cops trace lost girl within two hours

PRAYAGRAJ With the help of CCTV surveillance and public help, Daraganj police reunited a girl child with her family within two hours after she went missing. The parents of the girl thanked the cops for their efforts and the immediate action they took to trace their child.

As per reports, Surendra Dwivedi of Chitrakoot district had come to Alopibhag in Daraganj with his family to attend a wedding of his relative.

At noon, Surendras eight-year-old daughter went out to buy chips from a nearby shop. The family was worried when the girl did not return home. The family approached Daraganj police after all attempts to find the girl went futile.

SHO of Daraganj police station Brijkishor Gautam constituted three teams which took help of ICCC and CCTV cameras installed under operation Drishti and Trinetra. Within two hours, police teams traced the girl near Dashashwamedh Ghat. The girl informed police that she had gone to buy chips but lost her way back home.

Sub-inspector Vikas Yadav, SI Ramesh Kumar, head constable Nihaluddin Khan, constables Anil Kumar, Sunil Verma, woman constable Jyoti Rani, Reena Patel, Suchi Tiwari and others were in the police team.
Under the aegis of Nazareth Hospital Society, the 48th Hospital Day celebrations under the guidance of its director, Rev Fr Vipin DSouza and administrator Rev Fr Isidore DSouza was held recently on the hospital premises. Several cultural items including dance and folk dance along with dance drama and skits were presented. (HT Photo)

The chief guest of the function was justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal while the guest of honour was Rev Msgr Reginald DSouza, Vicar General, Diocese of Allahabad. The function was presided over by Most Rev Louis Mascarenhas, Bishop, Roman Catholic Diocese of Allahabad and chairman of Nazareth Hospital Society.

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The function started with a prayer dance. This was followed by the lamp-lighting ceremony by the chief guest, guest of honour, director Nazareth Hospital and other special invitees.

The welcome address was delivered by Rev Fr Vipin DSouza. He also highlighted the growth and achievements of Nazareth Hospital.

The Nazareth Hospital staff along with nursing interns and students of Nazareth School of Nursing presented several cultural items including dance and folk dance along with dance drama and skits.

The chief guest in his address exhorted members of the Nazareth family to achieve greater levels of excellence in providing dedicated, committed and compassionate health services to the sick and hospitalised patients. He acknowledged that Nazareth Hospital is widely known for its working ethos, charitable nature and providing selfless and holistic health services to the needy and has earned the faith of people of Allahabad and its neighbouring districts.

In his address, Most Rev Bishop Louis Mascarenhas also highlighted the achievements of Nazareth Hospital in the past and also spoke about his vision of further upgradation and development of scope of services of the hospital.

The Nightingale Award for outstanding nursing care services was jointly presented to Jamvanti and Nikhat Fatima by the chief guest.
Several young entrepreneurs hailing from Bihar, who have made their mark at the national and international level, would be showcasing their ventures during the two-day Bihar Business Connect-2023, the global investors meet due to begin in state capital Patna from Wednesday. Prashant Kumar, who currently heads artificial intelligence for global growth markets at Accenture, is the author of the book Made in Future.

More than 600 investors from 16 countries, of which 200 are from Bihar, would participate in the event, said additional chief secretary (industries) Sandeep Poundrik.

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The ACS said MoU worth 31,000 crore would be signed during the two-day meet to be attended by entrepreneurs from the US, Taiwan, Japan, Germany, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, the Netherlands and Hungary.

Among the big Indian business groups participating are Adani group, Britannia, Micromax Biofuels, Tiger Analytics, Godrej, besides textile groups like Oswal and Rupa.

The summit will highlight the states strategic advantage across key sectors such as textiles, food processing, IT and bio-fuel, among others, Poundrik said.

He said the government was focussing on building plug and play infrastructure to attract investors.

Among the 200-odd entrepreneurs hailing from Bihar and attending the meet, there are some big names as well.

US-based Mahesh Kumar is the founder and CEO of Tiger Analytics, a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics, which employs more than 4,000 technologists and consultants based in the US, Canada, the UK, India, Singapore, and Australia.

We are excited about this strategic collaboration with the Government of Bihar. Our recently established AI centre of excellence in Patna reinforces our commitment to solving tough tech challenges by offering AI-driven solutions. Leveraging our expertise in AI and analytics, we look forward to building transformative solutions for the state government. We are confident that this partnership will yield mutually beneficial outcomes as we embark on key initiatives together, said Kumar.

Prashant Kumar, a leading digital marketing futurist in Asia-Pacific, who authored the best-seller Made in Future, is also one of the attendees. Kumar, who hails from Saharsa, is the founder of Entropia, an agency specialising in building digital experiences for brands. In 2021, Entropia was acquired by Accenture, where Kumar is currently heading artificial intelligence for global growth markets. An alumnus of Sainik School Tilaiya and St. Stephens, Kumar says he is keen on exploring possibilities in his home state.

Dheeraj Pandey, CEO of DevRev Inc USA, a software major, is one of the speakers at the event on Day One.

An alumnus of St. Michaels High School in Patna and IIT-Kanpur, Pandey is focused on using artificial intelligence (AI) and design to automate software and customer engineering workflows. Previously, he co-founded Nutanix Inc. in 2009 and served as its chief executive officer and as the chairman of its board of directors until December 2020.

Also attending the meet is Hasmukh Ranjan hailing from Patna, who is currently chief information officer at US-based Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), a company with great ambitions in AI.

The last investors meet was organised by the Bihar government in Delhi in 2022, when chief minister Nitish Kumar headed an NDA government.

Since then, Ambuja Cements Ltd, part of Swiss building material major Holcim group (earlier LafargeHolcim), has announced to set up its unit at Barh at an estimated cost of 1,200 crore.

Dubai-based Lulu Group International has also announced to invest in food processing unit and a shopping mall in state.
Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday skipped the sixth summon sent by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) and instead went to Dumka, where he attended his pre-scheduled event. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren (in the car) passes by the ED office in Ranchi on Tuesday, the day he was summoned by the agency to appear before it for questioning. (ANI)

While Soren was asked to appear before the agency at its zonal office on airport road in Ranchi at 11 am, he drove past the office en route to the airport around 2 pm, and flew to Dumka where he addressed his governments Sarkar Aapke Dwar programme.

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The CM would stay in Dumka overnight and would proceed to Jamtara on Wednesday to attend another event, an official said.

Soon after the CM left for Dumka, a staff member from the chief ministers office reached the ED office and submitted a letter on behalf of Soren, people aware of the matter said.

The CMO and ED officials did not disclose the contents of the letter.

Manoj Pandey, spokesperson of Sorens party JMM, , said, I am not aware of the reason quoted by the chief minister. It must be as per the legal advice.

Rajesh Thakur, state unit president of Congress, questioned the timing of the summons.

The agencies are well aware that the CM is busy with Sarakar Aapke Dwar programme. What is the hurry to call him within two days of issuing the summons. This is being done just to create fear but they wont succeed, said Thakur, whose party is a constituent of the ruling alliance in Jharkhand.

The federal agency had reportedly served the sixth summons to Soren on Sunday, asking him to appear before it for questioning on Tuesday in connection with an ongoing money laundering probe related to fraudulent sale-purchase of land in the state capital.
Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar joined this week's host Kal Penn on the latest episode of The Daily Show. There, she talked about her latest release The Archies and even praised the Indian paparazzi. (Also read: The Archies review: Suhana Khan leads an impressive star cast in Zoya Akhtar's delectable musical) Zoya Akhtar and Kal Penn during their chat on The Daily Show.

The interview began with Kal and Zoya revisiting the time they met for dinner at her home and how her dog almost killed himself. She said that her dog jumped on Kals brie and choked on the food. He had to be flung around so that the cheese lodged in his throat could be removed. The audience cracked up at her description of the incident.

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The sweet paparazzi

Then, Kal talked about the weird requests that Indian paparazzi makes whenever he visits the country, such as asking him to lie down. Zoya, however, said that they are very sweet. She recalled how once she fell down in front of the paparazzi and asked them not to publish the photos anywhere. They agreed not to do it.

Zoya also spoke about her film The Archies. When asked what made her take on the project, she simply said that Netflix approached her with it. But in a more serious answer, she said, "Archie was one of the few things that everybody read and it was our portal to [the United States]."

Zoya's best 3

Kal also asked her about the scene between Reggie and Dilton that is a hit with many of those who watched the movie. Zoya talked about the decriminalization of homosexuality in India recently and how that has brought along a healthy change.

Kal then asked her to choose three actors she would like to work with again and she named Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Ranveer Singh.

The Archies, a coming-of-age musical, follows the lives of Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Reggie, Ethel and Dilton as it takes audiences to the fictional hilly town of Riverdale. The film explores friendship, freedom love, heartbreak and rebellion. It is currently streaming on Netflix.

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Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell star in Anyone But You, which is all set to release in US theatres on December 22. The cast and crew of the film were present at the film's world premiere at New York City's AMC Lincoln Square on Monday. Here are 7 things about the romantic comedy that you should know before catching it in theatres soon. (Also read: Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell star in enemies-lovers rom-com Anyone But You | Watch Trailer) A still from the trailer of Anyone But You.

Plot details

 Did you know that Anyone But You is loosely based on William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing? The synopsis of Anyone but You reads: A modernization of Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing. When college arch-nemeses reunite years after graduation for a destination wedding, they pretend to be a couple for their own personal reasons. But through pretending, they actually fall in love.

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Who directed Anyone But You?

 Anyone But You is directed by Will Gluck, who is one filmmaker to trust when it comes to rom-coms. The director has dabbled in the romantic comedy genre in his previous films, which include Friends with Benefits, starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis; and Easy A, starring Emma Stone and Penn Badgley.

Glen and Sydney on those romance rumours

 Filming for Anyone But You started last year in Spring in Australia, around the same time Glen broke up with longtime girlfriend Gigi Paris. Meanwhile, pictures from the set grabbed media headlines, where rumours hit that Glen and Sydney were engaged in an offscreen romance. Many also noticed that Gigi has unfollowed Sydney on Instagram around this time. Talking about these rumours, Sydney had told Variety, "Its a rom-com. Thats what people want! Glen and I dont really care. We have so much fun together, and we respect each other so much; hes such a hard worker, and Im a hard worker."

Recently, Glen addressed the rumours in an interview with Men's Health and said, "When all that stuff happened, you know, publicly, it felt disorienting and unfair. But what Im realising is thats just a part of this gig now."

The cast of Anyone But You

 Apart from Glen and Sydney, Anyone But You has an ensemble cast that includes Dermot Mulroney, Rachel Griffiths, Alexandra Shipp, Michelle Hurd, Bryan Brown, Darren Barnet and Hadley Robinson.

Enemies to lovers

 The first look of the anticipated film was shown during CinemaCon 2023 earlier this year. "This movie's about two people that hate each other. Sydney plays a character [who is] a real nightmare," Glen said at the event. Meanwhile, Sydney said, What better place to put a nightmare and an a**hole than on the other side of the world in the most romantic setting imaginable?

Guess who was present at the shoot!

 Did you know that former US President Barack Obama caught sight of the filming of Anyone But You? The stars gushed about the unexpected moment to ET in an interview. "I'm flying in a helicopter above Sydney Opera House and I'm dressed in a tuxedo. I get to jump out of a helicopter and run up to the girl and confess my love for her and it was just one of those moments. During that scene, Barack Obama is also watching us shoot that entire scene. So it was just loaded," said Glen. Meanwhile, Sydney said: "To do that scene at the Sydney Opera House, it was like presidential approval," Powell says. "It felt like paparazzi, no, it's presidential detail that was hovering above the Sydney Opera House while we're shooting that scene."

R-rated romance

 Despite being a rom-com, Anyone But You is R-rated, as Screen Rant reported earlier this year. According to the report, the film contains a lot of nudity from both the lead characters.

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Kourtney Kardashian, founder of the wellness brand Poosh, recently offered relationship advice on handling ghosting. Amid concerns about her own relationship, the 44-year-old reality TV star's brand shared a post on Instagram Stories, featuring a silhouetted image of a couple kissing against the sea. The text advised, "This is what NOT to do if you get ghosted," directing followers to an article on the Poosh website. FILE PHOTO: Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian arrive at the In America: An Anthology of Fashion themed Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York, U.S., May 2, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo(REUTERS)

One key tip from the article highlighted the misconception that being ghosted reflects solely on the person who experienced it. It emphasized that ghosting is often more a reflection of the individual who chose to ghost.

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While Kourtney has been active on social media promoting her brands Poosh and Lemme since giving birth to her baby boy in November, she has notably refrained from sharing photos of herself or her son. Her husband, Travis Barker, has been visible on social media, recently spending time with N8NOFACE. The punk rocker shared photos of them together, expressing gratitude for Travis' support and advice.

Concerns about Travis being controlling in the relationship surfaced, especially after he revealed the couple had named their son Rocky Thirteen Barker based on his interests. Some fans raised red flags on Reddit, pointing to Travis' influence on the baby's name and the couple's dramatic Italian wedding in May 2022.

Kourtney, despite Travis' public appearances, has maintained a low profile over a month after giving birth. Fans speculated that she might be keeping away from the public eye due to health concerns, considering her challenging pregnancy journey, an urgent family matter that led to the cancellation of Travis' tour, and a surgical procedure she underwent to save her unborn child's life.

Throughout this period, Kourtney expressed gratitude for her doctors and Travis, who rushed to her side, emphasizing his support as her rock during challenging times.
Superstar Rajinikanth turns a year older on December 12. He might show signs of aging in real life but on-screen, he will always be the unbeatable Superstar Rajini for his fans. After all, who else can put a naysayer in their place with a simple punch dialogue, En vazhi, thani vazhi! (My way is my own) Many 90s kids have even grown up breaking sunglasses in hope of putting them on like Rajini someday. Bollywood superstars arent far behind when it comes to praising the star, we can see why! (Also Read: Jailer: Nelson reveals he was warned against showing Rajinikanth with grey hair in blockbuster film, admits it shook him) Rajinikanth celebrates his birthday on December 12

Rajini sir is irreplaceable: Aamir Khan

What many might not remember is that Aamir Khan was approached for the lead role in Shankars 2.0, the sequel of Robo. The actor however turned down the role, not because of the script, but because he thought no one else could play Vaseegaran and Chitti. Talking to ETC Bollywood in 2017, he said, Rajini sir felt back then that he wasnt healthy enough to shoot for the film and suggested that Shankar rope me in. But, when I closed my eyes I could only see Rajini sir in the role, hes irreplaceable. Ive read the script, the film will be a super hit. But I didnt think anyone but him could do it. It was not a tough decision to turn it down because I am his fan.

Rajinikanth is like family: Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh spoke about Rajini at IFFI 2019 in Goa; they had acted together in the 1991 film Hum. Opening up about their equation, he said, I think of Rajinikanth ji as a member of my family. We stay in touch and often talk. Sometimes he asks me for advice and vice versa. Amitabh also joked that neither of them follow the advice given. Sometimes I tell him not to do something but he goes ahead and does it. But thank you Rajini for being with me. Youre an incredible source of inspiration. Such a humble being, he came from such humble beginnings. He inspires us every day, he added.

I would say whatever I wanted to him: Hrithik Roshan

The 1986 film Bhagwaan Dada saw Rajinikanth share the screen with Hrithik, who was a child actor back then. Talking to a news channel in 2017, Hrithik once said, I used to say whatever I want to him as if he was my friend while shooting for Bhagwaan Dada. He was very gracious back then because he forgave a lot of things I did or said. I remember vividly how whenever I would make a mistake and the director (my grandfather) would cut the shot, Rajini sir would apologise so I dont feel bad. I remember that now with so much love in my heart because he kept my confidence.

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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Chief of Staff of the Prime Ministers Office Arayik Harutyunyan has held a meeting with Ambassador of Iran to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani.

Chief of Staff Harutyunyan and Ambassador Sobhani discussed issues pertaining to the continual development and strengthening of the Armenia-Iran relations, Harutyunyans office said in a readout.

A number of agenda items of the Armenian-Iranian relations were addressed.

Issues related to the implementation of joint projects in the economy, trade-economic ties, infrastructure development, healthcare, education, science, culture and other directions were discussed. Both sides emphasized the importance of fully utilizing the existing potential in bilateral relations.
The Madras High Court has slammed actor Mansoor Ali Khan for seeking 1 crore each in compensation from Trisha, Chiranjeevi and Khushbu Sundar. The actor alleged that the trio had made defamatory statements against him in public without verifying his statement on Trisha. The plea came up for hearing on Monday and the actor was pulled up. (Also Read: Trisha responds to Mansoor Ali Khans cryptic apology: To err is human, to forgive is divine) Mansoor Ali Khan called out by Madras High Court for his defamation case on Trisha

Trisha should move the suit, says court

Justice N Sathish Kumar wondered why Mansoor was the one filing defamation suits instead of Trisha. Did he tender the unconditional apology only to escape arrest? Actually, Trisha should have moved the suit for damage. On what basis has he moved it? the court questioned him, requesting his counsel to advise him on how to act responsibly in public. The judge also directed Trisha, Chiranjeevi and Khushbu to respond to the suit.

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Mansoor claims innocenceagain

Mansoor claimed that he hasnt uttered anything wrong against any person personally. His petition read that he was merely commenting on the negative shades he had played in the past and how certain scenes he had done are no longer the norm. He reinstated that no personal comments were made against Trisha or any women in his statement. The judge however criticised Mansoor for constantly landing himself in controversies.

Case adjourned to later this month

Mansoors legal counsel submitted footage of the actors uncut interview where he made the alleged statement. The court adjourned the case to December 22, asking Trisha, Chiranjeevi and Khushbu to present their statements.

Mansoor landed himself in hot soup when he expressed disappointment in an interview that he did not have any exploitative scenes with Trisha in Leo. Since then, he has been criticised for his statement not just by fans. Trisha vowed never to work with the actor again, while Chiranjeevi and Khushbu called him out on social media.

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Vijay Kiragandur of Hombale Films spilled some key details about Prashanth Neels upcoming Prabhas, Shruti Haasan, Prithviraj Sukumaran-starrer Salaar: Part 1 - Ceasefire. Talking to Bollywood Hungama, the producer made some interesting revelations about the film. Prabhas in a still from Salaar

Salaar is not Ugramm

In 2014, Prashanth helmed a film titled Ugramm which starred Srimurali and Tilak Shekar in the lead roles. The film told the story of a man who tries to protect a girl from goons looking to kill her. Given that Salaar features two friends, much like Ugramm, many assumed the film was a remake. However, Vijay put those doubts at ease, stating, Prashanth made both Ugramm and KGF. Hes aware of how to make something different each time around. So, theres no truth to the rumours of Salaar being a remake.

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Astrology determined the films release

Salaar couldve hit screens for Pongal in January next year, but Vijay believes the market will be cluttered with Telugu and Tamil releases then. He also opened up on how the date December 22 was selected, despite Dunki and Aquaman hitting screens on December 21. We announced a date based on our beliefs, he told the portal, adding, We have been planning release dates according to astrology for a decade now and will continue to do so.

About Salaar

Set in the fictional city of Khansaar, the film tells the story of a man called Varadharaj Mannar, played by Prithviraj, who is poised to overtake control of the city from his father. But when enemies plan a coup to overthrow him and his empire, he takes the help of a childhood friend, Deva/Salaar, played by Prabhas, to gain back control of the city. Jagapathi Babu plays Raja Mannar while Shruti plays Salaars love interest, Aadhya. The films trailer was recently released and met with good response.

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Actor Giorgia Andriani recently broke up with her longtime boyfriend and actor-producer Arbaaz Khan. The couple, once in the spotlight for their relationship, decided to part ways due to what Andriani describes as too many differences. It took us a long time to make this decision, but we eventually decided to part ways mutually, she states, adding, We had a distinct point of view about our future plans and lives in general. Giorgia Andriani and Arbaaz Khan relationship

Contrary to speculation, she emphasises that Khans ex Malaika Arora was not a factor in their breakup, asserting, There was no interference from her side, ever. She was not the reason behind us parting ways.

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The Karoline Kamakshi actor went on to elaborate on the intricacies that led to their mutual decision. What I value in a relationship is having similar interests, but sadly we didnt share any mutual interests, which was not favorable for our relationship, the 34-year-old continues, For example, I am a whimsical person and I like to travel on a whim. If Im free and I decide I want to go somewhere, I go. It didnt feel right when he didnt want the same things. Arbaaz loves to sit and watch movies and documentaries. I am very different, I cant sit.

Despite parting ways romantically, she made it clear that they remain very good friends and will continue to be. After the breakup, people are bitter and they dont have much to say to each other, but in our case, thats not what it is. We still crack jokes, and I am still very fond of him. So yes, we are still in touch.

On the professional side, I have something interesting coming January, but I cant reveal that yet, ends Andriani, who will soon make her South Indian debut with Martin.
Actor Jatin Khurana started shooting for his next release in 2020. A year later, after multiple waves of the pandemic, they were able to complete the movie, but the film is yet to release, and he hopes that 2024 will bring good news to the team. Jatin Khurana will be seen playing UP-based businessman in his next feature film (Instagram)

For an actor, getting a film and shooting it is a big task. But its an even bigger task to release the film as that part is beyond his control. We can just work hard and put in maximum effort, but eventually it rests on how a film is released, as a wrong step can doom the entire effort, says the Ye Stupid Pyaar (2011) and Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan (2015) actor.

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The actor says that for nearly two years they are in post-production and chalking out a release plan. In Tauba Tera Jalwa, we have a good set of actors including Amisha Patel, Angela Krislinzki, Rajesh Sharma and Neeraj Sood. So, the team is planning to bring the film to theatres early next year, says Khurana.

He admits that he has worked on limited films but is in no hurry. In my debut film and upcoming film, I play the lead role. In Jai Jawan..., which was a biopic on former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, I played freedom fighter Chandrashekar Azad and won an award in Prayagraj on the same. So, my focus is on strong and meaningful roles in good projects. No point doing small roles in 10 projects and going unnoticed, he says.

Khurana says that he prefers preparing himself in the free period. I try to keep adding new skills including working out, doing martial arts, dance and acting classes. To run my livelihood, I also dabble in real estate which in turn helped me play a Western Uttar Pradesh-based businessman where the entire film has been shot.

Currently settled in Delhi, he now plans to shift to Mumbai. I keep travelling for auditions and work but now plan to stay there more. I will soon be acting in a music album and am reading the script of a film, he says.
Sharmistha Mukherjee, the daughter of former president Pranab Mukherjee, touched upon his assessment of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Sharmishtha said Mukherjee was opposed to the proposed ordinance a copy of which was torn by Rahul Gandhi at a press conference in September 2013, but he felt that it should be discussed in the Parliament. Former president Pranab Mukherjee during the Iftar party hosted by the Congress president Rahul Gandhi on June 13, 2018.(PTI file)

At the launch of her book "Pranab My Father: A Daughter Remembers" on Monday, Sharmistha Mukherjee said, I was the one to break the news (about tearing of the ordinance) to him. He (Pranab Mukherjee) was so angry.

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"Anyone would agree that the trashing of the ordinance by Rahul Gandhi was extremely arrogant and politically immature. Principally my father was also against the ordinance, but he said who is Rahul Gandhi to do that? He was not even part of the Cabinet', the late president's daughter said at the event.

In April 2013, the Supreme Court held that MPs and MLAs convicted with a minimum two-year sentence would be immediately disqualified from the house without getting three months to appeal, as was the case until then. Months later that year, the ruling Congress government in the Centre pushed an ordinance that sought to overturn the rule that disqualifies convicted MPs and MLAs. Gandhi openly came out against his party's decision and called the move a "complete nonsense". He said the ordinance should be "torn and thrown out", and then in a stunning move at the press conference, he tore a piece of paper.

Sharmistha also said Mukherjee felt that Rahul Gandhi lacked the killer instinct and also had a distance from the party.

Pranab My Father: A Daughter Remembers

The book, that has references taken from Mukherjee's diaries, was launched on the occasion of his birth anniversary. The event also saw the attendance of Congress leader P Chidambaram and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Goel, news agency PTI reported.

On Pranab Mukherjee and Indira Gandhi

Sharmistha said her father would say that his stint with former prime minister Indira Gandhi was the "golden period" of his political life. I personally and as a Congress supporter think we should also understand the context and conditions, which led to the imposition of Emergency. It was Indira ji who later also announced free and fair elections. And the Congress was wiped out, the former Congress spokesperson said.

Babas loyalty towards Mrs Indira Gandhi was always very clear. He stood by her in thick and thin, post Emergency. As old bonds were falling away. New bonds were created. If there is one political personality towards whom my father had personal loyalty it was Indira Gandhi. He always said it was a golden period for the party. She was duly impressed with him. Indira ji gave him a lot of opportunities, Sharmistha said.

On Pranab Mukherjee and PM Modi

Sharmistha also said her father, as the President of the country, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi worked as a team.

It is my fathers interpretation of the Constitutional role and limitations of the position of The President of India. He did not interfere in governance/executive. He told Mr Modi that I wont interfere. They made efforts to work as a team, she said.

On Pranab Mukherjee's RSS office visit

During a conversation over the book with former bureaucrat Pavan K Varma, she also recalled her opposition to her father attending a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh event.

"I fought with Baba for three to four days over his decision. One day he said that it's not me who is giving legitimacy but it's the country. Baba felt that democracy is all about dialogue. It is about having a conversation with the opposition," she added.

There was this circulation in Congress-Left circles that him going to the RSS headquarters was providing legitimacy to the RSS. He said, whom am I to give legitimacy to the RSS?' He had the ability to hear the other side of the argument, thats why he was called a consensus builder, Sharmistha said.

Reacting to the criticism of the book, she said that none of the senior leaders have spoken over the book with only Prithviraj Chavan saying he cannot comment on it since he hasn't read it.

Noting that only Chidambaram turned up among Congress leaders, Sharmishtha said that she was pained.

"This reaction to a certain excerpt of the book shows that they should introspect and see whether they are actually upholding the values, actually practising what they are preaching," Sharmistha said.

Sharmistha, who has quit politics, also clarified that she has not tried to tweak her father's views about anyone.

On trust deficit between Pranab Mukherjee' and Rajiv Gandhi

Varma also asked her about the "trust deficit" between her father and Rajiv Gandhi, who succeeded his mother following her assassination. Sharmistha said there were "stories planted" by certain people that her father was not in favour of Rajiv Gandhi becoming the prime minister.

"As per Baba's notes, it was actually a planted story...to create misunderstanding between Rajiv Gandhi and Baba. The main reason behind the trust deficit was Baba's staunch personality and his non-subservient attitude. Baba said Rajiv was correct in not taking me in his Cabinet since I am a tough nut," she said.

On dropping Pranab Mukherjee from CWC

Varma then touched upon Mukherjee being dropped from the Congress Working Committee in January 1986 and his expulsion from the Congress a few months later in the same year.

Sharmistha recalled that her father was depressed and also formed the Rashtriya Samajwadi Congress but later returned to the Congress.

She then talked about how her father got upset about not being included in the PV Narasimha Rao cabinet since he considered the latter a friend but was offered the Planning Commission chairman's post.

Sharmistha also spoke about the working relationship between her father and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"There was exemplary courtesy shown by Dr Manmohan Singh... and there was a strong mutual respect between the two of them. They knew how to handle the differences," she added.

Mukherjee held key portfolios during the Congress rule. He held charges of defence, external affairs and finance.

(With inputs from PTI)
Two endangered Siberian tigers have arrived at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in West Bengals Darjeeling years after the last such big cat died in India at the Nainital Zoo in November 2011 due to age-related problems. Lara and Akamas were flown from Cyprus as a part of an animal exchange programme. (HT PHOTO)

The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, the highest altitude in India, hosted a Siberian tiger until 2007. Lara and Akamas arrived there on Sunday night in two special ambulances from the Kolkata airport. They were flown from Cyprus as a part of an animal exchange programme.

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They are healthy and have been kept in quarantine in separate enclosures and would be shifted to another enclosure for public view after a month, said Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park director Basavraj Holeyachi.

As a part of the animal exchange programme, we sent a pair of Red Pandas to Cypruss Pafos Zoo. The Darjeeling Zoo is internationally recognised for its conservation and breeding programme for the Red Panda. The zoo has 25 Red Pandas, said Holeyachi.

The first ex-situ snow leopard conservation breeding programme started at the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in 1986. The Red Panda project began four years later.

Kunal, 18, and another Siberian tiger Mahesh were sent to Nainital in March 1997 from Darjeeling. Mahesh died in 2001.

In 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimated that there were around 265 to 486 Siberian tigers in eastern Russia. The species were also found in China and possibly North Korea.
A day after picking a relatively unknown former state minister, Mohan Yadav, as the next chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sprung an even bigger surprise by anointing first-time legislator Bhajan Lal Sharma for the top post in Rajasthan. With most of his political grounding in Bharatpur, two senior leaders said that Sharma sought a ticket for the 2023 polls from his local assembly constituency, but was asked to contest from the BJP bastion of Sanganer in Jaipur instead. (ANI)

Yet, like in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh (where former party president Vishnu Deo Sai has ascended to the top position), Sharma may be little-known outside the state, but has steadily climbed the ladder of the BJP organisation  from an active ABVP member in college to Bharatpur district president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha to a village sarpanch to three-time organisational secretary of the state BJP to now being named Rajasthan chief minister.

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Born into a family of farmers in Atari village in Bharatpur, the 56-year-old Sharma studied in government schools in his home tehsil of Nadbai before completing his BA at the Maharani Shri Jaya government college in 1989. In 1993, he finished a Masters in Political Science from Rajasthan University in Jaipur.

Read Here: Who is Bhajan Lal Sharma, BJP's pick for Rajasthan chief minister? Check wealth, education details

It was during his college years that he joined the ABVP, the student wing of the BJP, serving on multiple posts including as co-convenor for Bharatpur district. By 1991, he was the secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. He courted arrest in 1990 when the ABVP had organised a march to Kashmir that was eventually stopped in Udhampur, a senior BJP leader said, asking not to be named.

In 1994, at the age of 27, Sharma became the sarpanch of Atari village -- a post he held twice. Since then, he has been known for his organisational skills, and he has held multiple positions within the party, from mandal adhyaksh, to three-time state organisational secretary. He held that post until the 2023 elections, a second senior BJP leader said.

With most of his political grounding in Bharatpur, two senior leaders said that Sharma sought a ticket for the 2023 polls from his local assembly constituency, but was asked to contest from the BJP bastion of Sanganer in Jaipur instead.

This is a seat the party has held since 2003, and only lost twice since 1980.

Sharma is close to the RSS, and the Sangh invested in his election, and ensured his win, the second BJP leader said.

Read Here | Ashok Gehlot congratulates Bhajan Lal Sharma: Hope while working as CM

This however, is not the first time Sharma fought the assembly elections. In 2003, he contested from Nadbai on a Samajik Nyay Manch ticket, and finished fifth. The SNM was a political party formed under the leadership of Lokendra Kalvi, the president of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, and fought on the plank of social justice for economically backward upper castes.

A party leader said that he was expelled for sometime but later accommodated.

Uttarakhand BJP leader Neha Joshi, who spent time in Rajasthan during the assembly elections, described Sharma as a doer. He was the organisational secretary in Jaipur and handled affairs in the BJP office. When the party asked him to contest from Sanganer, much of the work in the party office became so much difficult because he would manage everything, she said.

Sharmas announcement brought a wave of celebrations in Bharatpur, where supporters thronged his family.

It is unbelievable for me that my son has become a chief minister. He has worked hard for many years and this has given him an opportunity. He always respects people and has been involved in social work for a long time, said Sharmas mother, Gomti Devi.

Read Here: Rajasthan CM-elect Bhajan Lal Sharma thanks 'probable' Vasundhara Raje in first reaction

Kishan Swarop, his father, a farmer by occupation, said: I am proud of him and the sense of pride he has brought to Bharatpur.

Senior BJP leaders in Rajasthan said that while Sharma was a new face who embodied a generational shift in the sense that he was a first-time MLA whose work behind the scenes in the organisation had held him in good stead. From the partys point of view, he has repeatedly been organisational secretary, no matter who the party president is. He has deep experience and will take the state and everyone forward, Bhagirath Choudhary, member of Parliament from Ajmer, said.

PP Choudhary, the member of Parliament from Pali, said: He is someone who is connected to the ground, and knows every nook and corner of the state. We congratulate Prime Minister Modi and his vision for picking someone who knows each and every small worker of the party.
In another possible incident of rift within the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday slammed the Left Democratic Front (LDF)-led Kerala government after its student wing allegedly attacked state governor Arif Mohammed Khan's vehicle. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor (ANI)

In a post on X, Tharoor slammed the Vijayan government saying that the police under the Communist rule have been complicit in the ruling party's worst excesses.

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"Disgraceful behaviour by SFI goons in blocking @KeralaGovernor Shri Arif Mohd Khan Sahib's car yesterday and assaulting his vehicle. His fury is entirely understandable," he said.

"The police under Communist rule have been agents of lawlessness, complicit in the ruling party's worst excesses. They allowed an assault on the Governor while allowing the manhandling of peaceful student demonstrators against the CM. Shameful," the Thiruvananthapuram MP added.

Governor Khan on Monday accused chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan of 'conspiring' to hurt him physically. He alleged that the activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPI(M), held a black flag protest and hit his car while he was on his way to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to leave for Delhi.

Khan said, "Police have been prevented from acting against these rowdies, criminals. This was the fifth incident. The rods on which they had the black flags, were using those rods to hit the car. There are so many scratches on the car."

"Everything is being done under his direction (Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan). It is he who has hatched this conspiracy. These people are working on the instructions of the Chief Minister. I do not try to scare anybody, there is no question I shall be scared of anything," he added.

Meanwhile, the state police have taken 17 SFI workers into custody with seven workers being arrested for allegedly hitting the Governor's vehicle. The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The LDF also known as Left Front (Kerala) is an alliance of left-wing political parties in the state. Though the Congress is opposed to the LDF in Kerala, it is a partner of INDI alliance.
NEW DELHI: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is aggressively investigating the attacks on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on March 19 and July 2 this year, chief of premier US agency Christopher Wray told the National Investigation Agency (NIA) director general Dinkar Gupta during a high-level meeting on Tuesday in Delhi. FBI director Christopher Wray met NIA chief Dinkar Gupta at the federal agencys headquarters (X/NIA_India)

Gupta told the delegation led by Wray, which visited NIA headquarters on Tuesday, that the nexus of terrorists and gangsters was spreading to the US as well.

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Christopher A Wray, Director FBI, leading a high-level FBI delegation, visited the NIA headquarters on Tuesday and held extensive discussions with NIA DG, Dinkar Gupta, and senior officials...During the meeting, candid and wide-ranging discussions were held on a host of issues, including the acts and activities of Terrorist-Organised Criminal Networks, ongoing investigations in the US in the attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, investigation of cyber-terror and cyber-crimes of various kinds, a NIA spokesperson said in a statement.

Mr. Wray also informed the NIA that the FBI was aggressively investigating the attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, the spokesperson added.

The consulate was attacked by pro-Khalistan supporters on July 2 who tried to set the diplomatic facility on fire following the killing of separatist Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Earlier, on March 19, a group of pro-Khalistan protesters attacked and damaged the Indian consulate in San Francisco. Raising slogans, the protesters broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the local police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the consulate premises. Two consulate personnel soon removed these flags.

A team of NIA had visited San Fransisco in August to collect evidence including the CCTV footage and exchange information regarding the attacks with local law enforcement agencies there.

The FBI chief is on a three-day visit to the country to meet top security and intelligence officials for discussions on strengthening mutual cooperation, sharing information, cybercrimes, extraditions etc. He met Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Praveen Sood on Monday.

The visit, although planned in May, comes against the backdrop of activities of pro-Khalistan elements operating from the US and Canadian soil and an indictment filed by US prosecutors in a federal court in Manhattan last month, which alleged an Indian government employee who described himself as a senior field officer responsible for intelligence, ordered the assassination of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

At Tuesdays meeting, the NIA spokesperson said Gupta also highlighted the active nexus between the terrorist outfits and terrorist elements with members of organised criminal syndicates, which was spreading to the US as well.

Wray underscored that both agencies have a lot in common and the similarities are far greater than the differences.

On the nexus between terror actors and organised crime syndicates, Wray said that a blending of lines between terrorists and criminals was now visible in the cyberspace as well, NIA added.

On the impact of 9/11 attacks in the US and 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Wray underlined that these terror attacks have changed the way in which nations respond to terror threats and stressed the need to take the partnership and cooperation between the two agencies to the next level to deal with the constantly evolving challenges and threats of terrorism.

During the meeting, Gupta also pointed out that threats in the cyber domain were increasing. Digital space was also being effectively exploited by terrorists and extremists for propagating radical views and recruitment. He further added that NIA was seeing the use of cryptocurrency for terrorist financing, according to the spokesperson.

Wray and NIA top brass also further discussed the use of cybercrimes to fund terrorism. This evolution of the cyber-threat needs a joint response towards investigation of cyber-threat cases, Wray stressed, according to the NIA statement.

The issue of obtaining data from encrypted apps was also taken up during the meeting. The difficulties encountered by the law enforcement agencies across the world in obtaining data from encryption Apps also came up for discussion during the meeting.

Both the agencies recognised the challenges posed by organised crime networks, terror related crimes, cyber enabled terror attacks, ransomware threats, economic crimes and transnational terror crimes. Wray also remarked that newer challenges mean that there are new opportunities for law enforcement agencies (LEA) to cooperate in newer ways. He thanked the NIA for the enduring cooperation between the two agencies, and looked forward to exploration of new opportunities to collaborate further, the spokesperson added.

Gupta thanked the FBI for being a very significant partner in the training and capacity building of Indian police officers.

Both agencies agreed to explore increasing their interactions and collaborative initiatives on the training track.

Director Wrays visit signifies a step towards deepening the cooperation and shared commitment between the national agencies of US and India to combat terror in all its manifestations around the globe, NIA said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for a global framework for responsible development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that would enable evidence-based delivery of public services and warned of AI being abused through deepfakes, data theft, and by terrorists. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit on Tuesday. (PTI)

Inaugurating the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit on Tuesday, Modi called on the attending diplomats, ministers, and industry participants to proceed with a lot of caution and safety.

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To make any system sustainable, it must be made transformative, transparent and trusted. Undoubtedly, AI is transformative but it is on us to make it as transparent as possible... Making it transparent and free from bias would be a good start. We must convince people across the world that AI is for their benefit and for their future, and that no one will be left behind, Modi said.

The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Hiroshi Yoshida, first minister for policy coordination in the Japanese minister of internal affairs. Japan is the outgoing chair of GPAI.

Read Here | Along with AI, value emotional intelligence too: President Droupadi Murmu

The GPAI is a forum of 28 nations and the European Union that is working together to understand the challenges and opportunities of AI, and to promote responsible evolution of AI. India became the Chair of the GPAI for 2024. China is not a member of the GPAI.

Modi stressed that such global framework needs to be formulated and enacted within a specified time frame. Just like we have treaties and protocols for international affairs, we need to prepare a global framework for AI at a global level... We must not lose a single second... we must complete the global framework within this year. AI is not just a new technology but has become a worldwide movement. Thus, we must all work together, he said.

Modi stressed on the need for development and regulation of AI to be inclusive so that its results are more equitable. We must make AI all-inclusive and adopt all ideas. The more inclusive AI development is, the more inclusive its results will be, he said. He stressed on the need for participation from Global South.

In the last century, because of unequal access to technology, existing inequalities in the world were exacerbated. We must avoid this now. ... AI development should depend on human values, democratic values, he said.

While AI increases our efficiency, it is up to us to keep space for emotions. It is up to us to maintain our ethics, Modi said.

Editorial: A law to keep AI under check

Modi, Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and the junior IT minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, all stressed on how AI could be used to help in agriculture, personalised education and health. Vaishnaw said that he hoped that there would a consensus on how AI should be regulated at the end of the summit.

Modi also said that AI could be used to provide information in local languages to enhance inclusion given the linguistic diversity in India. Can dead languages be revived using AI? he asked. He asked if AI could be used to fill missing volumes that deal with Vedic mathematics.

Modi drew attention to the vast troves of data central and state governments have that can be used to formulate evidence-based policies. He stressed on the need for a risk and harms-based approach to AI regulation where risks and harms could be categorised as red, yellow and green.

Addressing the issue of deepfakes and artificially generated content, Modi said, We must ponder on how to increase the credibility of AI-generated information. He said that we need to work on a software watermark to know when some information in AI-generated.

The whole world is witnessing the challenge of deepfakes. Cybersecurity, data theft and use of AI tools by terrorist groups are also big challenges. If terrorist groups have AI tools, it will be a threat to global security. We need to have a discussion and come to consensus so that misuse of AI can be prevented, he said.

Modi said that as the industry tests and trains AI models, there needs to be standardisation around how and to what extent models are tested before they are publicly deployed.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. On December 11-12, in Geneva, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahan Kostanyan participated in the Human Rights 75 High-Level Event dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UN member states presented their pledges and commitments in human rights and a number of related areas, the foreign ministry said in a press release.

In his remarks Deputy Foreign Minister underscored Armenia`s unwavering commitment to genocide prevention and reiterated the readiness to spare no effort towards strengthening international mechanisms and responses aimed at preventing gross violations of human rights.

The head of the Armenian delegation also noted about steps to be taken towards fulfillment of human rights obligations and the introduction of a national accountability mechanism.

Armenia reaffirmed its commitment to support the addressing of needs and the protection of fundamental rights of forcibly displaced people as a consequence of the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The efforts to overcome extreme poverty and the adoption of the law on equal rights were highlighted as future-oriented commitments.
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) ordered Air India to compensate 2 lakh to four passengers for a 2003 flight delay. The consumers commission said the airline neglected its duty during cancellations or prolonged delays, failing to provide required services like hospitality, food, accommodation, and transport as per established protocols. Air India (REUTERS)

Airlines is duty bound to take care of such stranded passengers, many of whom miss the connecting flights, especially when these connecting flights are by the same carrier, as is the present case, NCDRC said in its order dated December 6.

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It said in instances of flight cancellations or significant delays, passengers are entitled to necessary services like hospitality, food, accommodation, and transport as per established airline protocols.

Declaring Air India guilty of failing to fulfill these obligations, the commission increased the compensation to Rs. 1.75 lakhs (total for all four complainants) and granted a litigation cost of Rs. 25,000 to be paid by Air India to the complainants.

What is the case?

On December 13, 2003, the complainants purchased four individual air tickets for a journey from Thiruvananthapuram to Chennai, Chennai to Kolkata, and subsequently Kolkata to Dibrugarh, intending to return.

The Thiruvananthapuram-Chennai flight faced delays, got diverted through Coimbatore, and arrived late at Chennai, causing the complainants to miss their connecting flight.

Despite the airline's assurance of a 6am flight from Bangalore to Kolkata, alternative arrangements were unexpectedly made at midnight, they alleged.

The passengers also complained of poor food provided at the accommodation arranged by the airline. Additionally, the connecting flight from Delhi to Dibrugarh didn't reach Kolkata, resulting in a prolonged ordeal without facilities. Eventually, the flight to Dibrugarh was cancelled, causing significant distress to the complainants.

They reached Dibrugarh a day late.

Despite the airline offering free tickets, the aggrieved complainants filed a case before the district forum.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi took a dig at union home minister Amit Shah over his remarks on India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru saying that the minister does not know history and "keeps rewriting" it. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi(ANI)

While talking to the reporters outside the parliament on Tuesday, Gandhi said, "Pandit Nehru dedicated his life for this country. He was in jail for years, Amit Shah ji does not know history. I don't expect that he would know history as he keeps rewriting it."

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The Congress MP from Wayanad further reiterated the demand for the caste-based census and accused the government of not discussing the same. He said that the whole matter was about distracting the nation from the persisting issues like caste census and in whose hands the country's money is going.

"This is all about distraction, the basic issue is of caste census and participation, in whose hands is the money of the country going. They (BJP) don't want to discuss this issue, they are afraid of it and run away from it," Gandhi told reporters.

He said the Congress will take forward this issue and ensure that poor people get their rights.

We will take this issue forward and make sure that the poor get what they deserve," he added.

When asked about the BJP's pick for Chhattisgarh chief minister, Gandhi pointed out that even their CM was an OBC. Even our Chief Minister in Chhattisgarh was from the OBC, now they too have announced an OBC Chief Minister. But the question is what percentage of them are in the structure? He further said that even PM Modi is from the OBC category but the union government is run by 90 people and only three out of them are from the OBC category and their offices are in a corner.

My question is about the participation of OBCs, Dalits and tribals in the institutional system. They talk about Jawaharlal Nehru and others to distract us from this issue, he said.

While replying to debate in the Rajya Sabha on the two bills-- The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2023 and The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill 2023 on Monday, union home minister had reaffirmed that Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) is part of India and that no one can snatch the region from us.

He had blamed Pt Nehru for the Kashmir problem, saying that Jammu and Kashmir suffered due to two "blunders" by Nehru - announcing a ceasefire and taking the Kashmir issue to the United Nations- for the sufferings of the people of the region.
Bengaluru The BJP staged a day-long protest in the assembly, demanding removal of housing, wakf, and minority welfare minister Zameer Ahmed Khan over controversial remarks made during the recent election campaign in Telangana. (HT Archives)

Amidst the day-long protest from the combined Opposition, the Karnataka legislative assembly on Monday passed five bills, including the Karnataka Stamps (Amendment) Bill. Four of the bills were adopted without any discussion.

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Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) legislators staged a protest in the House, demanding the removal of minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan over remarks related to the Speakers chair. Despite the oppositions refusal to return to their seats, Speaker UT Khader proceeded with the agenda of considering bills.

The Karnataka Stamps (Amendment) Bill, which proposes an increase in the stamp duty rate on various documents, was adopted. The bill aims to align the stamp duty rate in Karnataka with other states and improve the financial status.

The GST Bill, designed to replace an ordinance, incorporates changes due to amendments in the Central GST (Amendment) Act 2023. The Karnataka Compulsory Service by Candidates Completed Medical Courses (Amendment) Bill, adopted by the House, seeks to exempt MBBS graduates from compulsory rural service upon their selection for central or state Government jobs. The Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill aims to comply with the Karnataka high courts directive on population limits for wards of taluk and zilla panchayats, ensuring timely elections. The Karavali Development Board Bill, 2023 aims at formulating an annual plan for the development of Karnatakas coastal area, a pre-poll promise of the ruling Congress.

The BJP staged a day-long protest in the assembly, demanding removal of housing, wakf, and minority welfare minister Zameer Ahmed Khan over controversial remarks made during the recent election campaign in Telangana.

While campaigning in Telangana, Zameer said BJP MLAs now show respect to the Muslim Speaker in Karnataka assembly due to the Congress fielding 17 Muslim candidates in the elections. He specifically mentioned UT Khader, saying, No one (from the Muslim community) in the history of Karnataka had become the Speaker of the assembly. Congress party made UT Khader the assembly Speaker. Today the best-of-the-best BJP leaders stand before Khader saying Sahab Namaskar. Who made him? Its Congress, Khan told a gathering.

The protest intensified when Khan rose to respond during the Question Hour, with opposition leaders demanding his dismissal, accusing him of disrespecting the Speakers chair. Leader of the Opposition R Ashok, along with other BJP legislators, initiated the protest immediately after Khan began to address a query during the Question Hour. Ashok called for Zameers removal from the Cabinet, leading to a demonstration by BJP and JD(S) legislators who entered the well of the House.

He (Zameer) has brought disrepute to the Speakers chair, BJPs C N Ashwath Narayan said. Ashok said the minister was not worthy to be an MLA.

Speaker Khader adjourned the assembly to hold talks with leaders from both parties, aiming to restore order. However, the protest continued even after the resumption of proceedings. Chief minister Siddaramaiah defended Zameer and accused the BJP of obstructing the House to divert attention from other issues, including the central governments failure to provide drought relief funds. He has not used any unconstitutional words If the issue was of vital importance, why didnt the BJP legislators raise it when the session convened last week? he asked.

Later in the day, the CMs office released a statement saying the BJP MLAs are staging protests and obstructing the proceedings of the assembly only to divert peoples attention from their partys internal conflicts and the central governments failure to provide drought relief. The main purpose of conducting a session of the legislative assembly once a year in Suvarna Soudha, Belagavi is to discuss and find solutions to the pressing issues of the people of North Karnataka. By not allowing such discussions, the BJP legislators are acting as traitors of the people of North Karnataka, read the statement.
The Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) efforts to effect a generational shift by introducing three new faces as chief ministers in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh this week also meticulously balanced caste considerations as part of its heartland political strategy ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Lok Sabha has 47 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes, a community that the party has aggressively courted over the past year, in much the same way it wooed Dalits ahead of the 2019 elections (HT Photo)

The party picked new faces in all three heartland states where it won impressive victories earlier this year but was careful to cater to major caste groups by appointing deputy chief ministers. This, analysts said, could help the party hold on to the rainbow Hindu coalition across castes that it built on its way to its second term in 2019.

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The partys impressive victories in these states had given way to frenzied speculation about the top jobs. This week, as the veil of suspense lifted from the BJPs internal deliberations, it revealed a delicately crafted social engineering strategy that attempted to reach out to key communities  tribals, backwards, upper-castes and Dalits. This is a region where the party was already strong in 2019, having won 62 out of the 65 seats in the three provinces. But the renewed push could help the party beyond the heartland, and deepen its support base in these communities in next summers general elections.

Read Here | Tracking the rise: From ABVP activists to CMs, BJP's picks have come far

In Chhattisgarh, a state where the Congress squandered a landslide mandate from five years ago, the party picked a senior tribal leader, Vishnu Deo Sai, to be CM. Tribespeople had backed the party in large numbers  of the 29 reserved seats for Scheduled Tribes, the BJP won 17, up from the three it won in 2018. Tribals account for around a third of the states population, and Sai is from the Kanwar tribe, the second largest grouping after the Gonds.

After the Congress pushed the OBC narrative, the BJP wants to ensure that the tribals know that they are a party that represents them with the Lok Sabha elections, and other state elections like Jharkhand in mind. This is the second biggest appointment after the nomination of Droupadi Murmu as President of India, a senior BJP leader had said. The Lok Sabha has 47 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes, a community that the party has aggressively courted over the past year, in much the same way it wooed Dalits ahead of the 2019 elections.

Two other deputy chief ministers are also likely to be named, said people aware of developments. One of them is likely to be senior leader and state unit chief Arun Sao, who hails from the dominant other backward classes (OBC) group, Sahus  a bellwether community that supported the Congress in 2018 only to swing back to the BJP this time.

The caste contours were equally visible in the partys choices for Madhya Pradesh. Though it chose to replace four-time chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the BJP picked another prominent OBC leader, Mohan Yadav, as his replacement. With his appointment, the party ensured that its grip over OBCs  who not only form the largest chunk of the electorate in Madhya Pradesh but also the spine of the BJPs national electoral coalition  remains intact.

Opinion: Mandate for the BJPs politics of aspirations

Further, by choosing a nominee from the Yadav community (which is dominant in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar but not to the same extent in Madhya Pradesh), the BJP opened the doors towards making inroads into the community in the neighbouring states.

Its choice of deputy CMs  Dalit face and senior minister Jagdish Devda and Brahmin face and outgoing public relations minister Rajendra Shukla  showed that the party was equally aware of its other key constituents. In its incumbency defying victory last week, the party won 26 of the 35 seats reserved for scheduled castes, up from 18 in 2018.

BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said, The decision of nominating chief minister and deputy chief ministers has been taken by considering many things like representation of region, ability to achieve goals, leadership quality, future aspects and others not only caste. It is wrong to say that the party gave preference to only one caste factor.

And when the announcement in Rajasthan came on Tuesday, it closed the circle on its caste strategy by focussing on its strongest vote bank  upper castes. First-time lawmaker Bhajan Lal Sharma was named the CM. But the party, which seemed to move past two-time CM Vasundhara Raje, was conscious to nominate another member of the royal family, Diya Kumari, as deputy CM in an outreach to the dominant Rajput community. And, in a state where the party won 22 of the 34 seats reserved for scheduled castes, the other deputy CM came from the community, in the form of senior leader Prem Chand Bairwa.
Bengaluru Chief minister Siddaramaiah hit out at former chief minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy for predicting Congress governments collapse after Lok Sabha polls. (PTI)

Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) are in illusion about his governments fall, as he hit out at former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy for predicting its collapse.

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BJP and JD(S) are struggling like fish out of water; they are in a state of illusion, what to do? Siddaramaiah told reporters in Belagavi responding to a question on Kumaraswamys statement that the government will collapse.

Kumaraswamy on Sunday alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka may collapse after the next years Lok Sabha elections, adding that a senior minister of the party had engaged in discussions with BJP leaders at the national level to switch parties with at least 50 MLAs.

The Congress government is tottering with internal revolts, and nobody knows when it will collapse, said the JD(S) leader, who had become chief minister for the second time in a coalition with the Congress in 2018.

A minister has approached leaders at the Centre with a request to join them after the Lok Sabha polls. Seeking a grace period of six months, he intends to align with them, bringing along 50 or 60 MLAs, Kumaraswamy told reporters in Hassan.

The JD(S) refrained from disclosing the identity of the minister. He emphasised that such a significant move could only be made by an influential figure. He also suggested that the political landscape in Karnataka might witness developments similar to those seen in Maharashtra.

Regarding minister Priyank Kharge insisting on removing the life-size portrait of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar from the assembly chamber at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here, Siddaramaiah said, it is a matter concerning the Speaker. The unveiling of Savarkars portrait in December, 2022 by the previous BJP government, along with several national icons, had drawn criticism from the then opposition -- Congress -- which had alleged that it was a unilateral decision, keeping them in the dark.

Stating that the government is ready to respond to all issues raised by the Opposition, the chief minister said there is no question of any delay or wasting time on the part of his government.

Discussion has happened regarding the drought situation in the state and we will be replying to it . From tomorrow, issues related to the north Karnataka region will be discussed and we will reply to it, he added.

On the alleged lack of coordination among BJP leaders in the assembly, Siddaramaiah said there is no chance of any coordination between them as there are two to three groups in the opposition party.

There has never been coordination among BJP leaders, as they had come to power through Operation Lotus and subsequently they lost in assembly polls in May, as people rejected them, he said.

Siddaramaiah said he has told Panchamasali Lingayat community leaders and seers that he will talk to them in Bengaluru, after the conclusion of the assembly session, regarding their demands, including 2A category reservation among backward classes.

(With PTI inputs)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday picked Bhajan Lal Sharma as the new Rajasthan chief minister a day after the party implemented a generational shift in Madhya Pradesh. A first-time lawmaker from Sanganer, Sharma is the general secretary of the BJP in the state. Bhajan Lal Sharma. (X)

Sharma was picked a day after the BJP named three-time lawmaker Mohan Yadav, 58, as the chief minister, replacing Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who ruled the central Indian state for 16 of the last 18 years over four terms.

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In Chhattisgarh, the third heartland state where the BJP stormed to power on December 1, the party named experienced tribal leader Vishnu Deo Sai as the chief minister.

Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bhairwa were named Sharmas deputy at the BJPs legislature party which met in Jaipur in the presence of central observers including Union minister Rajnath Singh. Former minister Vasudev Devnani was nominated for the assembly speakers post.

The party fought the latest round of elections without projecting chief ministerial faces for the first time in nearly two decades and focussed on collective leadership.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was on Tuesday expected to pick the new Rajasthan chief minister a day after the party implemented a generational shift in Madhya Pradesh. It named three-time lawmaker Mohan Yadav, 58, as the chief minister, replacing Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who ruled the central Indian state for 16 of the last 18 years over four terms. BJP chief JP Nadda with former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje. (ANI/File)

In Chhattisgarh, the third heartland state where the BJP stormed to power on December 1, the party named experienced tribal leader Vishnu Deo Sai as the chief minister.

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The BJPs legislature party meeting in Rajasthan was scheduled for 4pm to pick the new chief minister in the presence of central observers including Union minister Rajnath Singh.

BJP lawmakers have been meeting former chief minister Vasundhara Raje Raje amid speculation about the contenders for the states top elected post. BJP leader Rajendra Rathore on Monday said there is no tradition of showing strength in the party and that lawmakers meet senior leaders to exchange wishes.

In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP also picked two deputy chief ministers, Jagdish Devda, and Rajendra Shukla. Former Union agriculture minister, Narendra Singh Tomar, who won the polls from Dimni in Morena district and resigned from the Lok Sabha last week, was named as the new speaker of the assembly.

Yadav is among the other backward class faces in the state unit, representing the key swing region of Malwa-Nimar, where the BJP won 47 of 66 seats. His elevation is seen as a major shift in the BJP in a state where Chouhan was once seen as the face of the party with a focus on farmers and welfare outreach.

A strong votary of hardline Hindu politics, Yadav has headed the state wrestling association since 2009 and is also the vice-president of the state Olympics association. Yadav has courted controversy with his remarks on Mughal rulers, suggesting they were invaders who should not be referred to as great.

With the appointment of the two deputies, the BJP attempted to balance representation to four important regions  Malwa-Nimar, Vindhya, and Gwalior-Chambal  and three key castes. Devda is the Dalit face of the party while Shukla is a Brahmin and Tomar a Rajput.

Before the legislature party meeting on Monday, the observers met Chouhan at his official residence for over an hour and then attended the BJPs core group meeting at the party office in Bhopal. HT reported Yadav was called to Delhi on December 6 for a meeting with BJP chief JP Nadda and asked to prepare for a big responsibility.

The BJP fought the latest round of elections without projecting chief ministerial faces for the first time in nearly two decades. It focussed on collective leadership.

The consolidation of the tribal vote was among the key reasons behind Sais elevation in Chhattisgarh, where the BJP won 54 of the 90 seats and wrested power from the Congress. Of the 29 reserved seats for scheduled tribes, the BJP won 17, up from the three it won in 2018.

Tribals account for over 30% of the states population. Sai is from the Kanwar tribe, the second largest grouping after the Gonds.
New Delhi FBI director Christopher Wray met CBI chief Praveen Sood on Monday to discuss key issues such as extradition of suspects wanted by India and cyber-enabled financial crimes, with the US officials visit coming against the backdrop of an alleged plot to kill a pro-Khalistan leader on American soil. FBI director Christopher Wray with CBI chief Praveen Sood during a meeting in New Delhi (HT Photo)

The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is expected to hold separate meetings with the heads of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau and Research & Analysis Wing, and National Security adviser Ajit Doval, and visit the Delhi Police headquarters during his three-day visit. People familiar with the matter said the two officials discussed multiple issues, including the extradition of suspects wanted by India, faster responses to Indias judicial requests seeking information in cases, cyber-enabled financial crimes, and enhancing cooperation to counter terrorism and organised crimes.

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Wray visited the CBI headquarters on Monday afternoon and also interacted with other senior officers of the agency. The meeting focused on strengthening exchange of information on criminal matters, for improved coordination in combating transnational crimes and sharing of expertise in investigation of technology enabled crimes. Both agencies recognized the challenges posed by organized crime networks, cyber enabled financial crimes, ransomware threats, economic crimes and transnational crimes. The need to expedite sharing of evidence and for closer assistance in bringing criminals & fugitives to face justice was deliberated. It was also discussed to exchange best practices of FBI Academy, Quantico and CBI Academy, Ghaziabad, CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

Director Wrays visit signifies a step towards deepening cooperation and shared commitment to combat crime in all its manifestations in the spirit of international police cooperation. Both agencies agreed to look forward to future interactions and collaborative initiatives, the spokesperson said.

The people cited above said on condition of anonymity that Wrays meetings with Indian officials are expected to focus on topics under four broad pillars  homeland security, training and capacity building, extradition of persons wanted by India, and the activities of pro-Khalistan operatives in the US.

Within the context of homeland security, the issue of Indian nationals attempting to illegally enter the US through the countrys southern border and the deportation of individuals detained during such attempts are expected to figure in the interactions, the people said.

Against the backdrop of growing cooperation between India and the US on security-related issues, there has also been an increase in training and capacity building, the people said. This includes more cooperation in matters such as exercises and training of personnel, one of the people said.

The extradition from the US of suspects wanted by India is expected to figure in several of Wrays meetings in New Delhi, the people said. As reported by HT, the extradition of 2008 Mumbai attacks co-conspirator Tahawwur Rana from the US is expected to be one of key topics that NIA chief Dinkar Gupta will take up with Wray.

A US court ordered the extradition of the Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman to India in May, but Rana was given time to file a motion against the judgement. Rana is accused of conspiring with David Coleman Headley in the planning of the Mumbai attacks, during which 166 people were killed by a 10-member team of terrorists from Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

The activities of pro-Khalistan elements and an indictment filed by US prosecutors in a federal court in Manhattan last month, which alleged an Indian government employee who described himself as a senior field officer responsible for intelligence had ordered the assassination of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, are also expected to figure in Wrays meetings, the people said.

US principal deputy national security advisor Jonathan Finer, who visited New Delhi earlier this month, had informed his Indian interlocutors of the importance of holding accountable anyone found responsible for allegedly plotting to kill Pannun on American soil.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar told Parliament last week that India has set up an inquiry committee to look into inputs provided by the US in connection with the alleged plot to kill the Khalistani leader because the matter has a bearing on national security. The US inputs were of concern to India because they related to the nexus of organised crime, trafficking and other matters, he said.

Unlike CIA, there is no Indian organisation that can be described as a counterpart to FBI, and this one of the reasons why the FBI chief is meeting people from several Indian organisations, the person cited above said.

Issues of mutual cooperation, sharing of information in critical cases, joint operations, mutual legal assistance treaty and extraditions, including those of Tahawwur Rana and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, will be part of the discussions, an official told HT on Sunday.
The challenges of Chennai floods and devastation impact analysis of cyclones are becoming a major human survival and environmental challenges caused by climate change, systemic failure and above all the common political culture of blame game in state politics. The crisis is far deeper than any single party or government can be held responsible and when we are talking about the crisis, we are mostly evaluating the response(s) and rehabilitation works of the party and government in power. Any government faced with a challenge of addressing the crisis under circumstances of 40 cm of rainfall inundating the city within 48 hours is unlikely to swim through the crisis without a barrage of critical questions, public scrutiny and perform to the satisfaction of all. It takes enormous political maturity for the critics of the government and opposition parties to rise to the occasion and join the government in relief and rehabilitation works. There is an equal responsibility of the government to accommodate and address the concerns of the opposition. But the overriding urge for political competition among political parties has been the norm and culture of politics in Tamil Nadu even under the dire circumstance of natural calamities like the one recently witnessed in Chennai caused by the cyclone Michaung. People wade through a flooded street after heavy rains in Chennai on December 6. (AFP)

There are changing and unchanging characteristics to the Chennai floods, battering of the cyclones, deriding role of opposition parties, predicament of the ruling party, publicity shows of cinema stars, dedicated social workers, argumentative civil society, opening of all places of worship for food and shelter, kitchen bureaucracy and ultimately the response of the government of Tamil Nadu with a monetary compensation of a certain amount to appease all. The attention is then diverted towards increasing the ceiling of the stipulated amount as a debate among the political parties and deliberations about the appropriate mechanism for distribution of this announced compensation. There are no distinctions between festivals and disasters. The monetary compensations are incentives to preserve our systemic failure and protect the corrupt party-political and administrative system than collectively addressing the challenges of urban planning, environmental justice, development issues and climate change. There are only two changes that are visible every time a major cyclone or rainfall strikes the Chennai city  the name of the cyclone and the political party in power. The rest are all the same and unchanging. What is the way out of this crisis?

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This is not the time to compare and contrast the performances of different parties in power and governments in order to contain this crisis as a battle of partisan narratives and focus this occasion for trading charges of corruption and ineptness of the government. The crises caused by the neglect, corruption and indifference of the entire system for several decades cannot be located within a single party or the government in power. We need to undertake a collective responsibility including the civil society in Tamil Nadu. It is important to address this challenge in a more holistic way with an understanding of the problem of climate change as a global phenomenon yet we must recognise the problems, hurdles and opportunities within the government and administration in Tamil Nadu. This can only be undertaken with meaningful exchanges, co-operation and understanding between the state and central government in New Delhi because of the fact that this is not an isolated crisis for Chennai alone. The climate change and sea level rise are also serious concerns for other major cities like Mumbai and Kolkata and several other mega cities in the Indian Ocean and Pacific islands. A part of the solution lies in addressing this challenge collectively in a more organised communication and sharing responses between state governments and the Union government as well as through regional and global initiatives to advocate and enforce norms and regulatory mechanisms with strong compliance systems.

It is time for reality check about the city planning and urban development of Chennai and evaluate the threats and challenges in terms of natural calamities and climate change issues. We need to work at two levels simultaneously from the ground in terms of policy focus and structural shifts and with the national and global governments in terms of policy framework, technical assistance, structural cooperation and financial planning including the borrowings from the World Bank with long-term technical and financial commitments. The challenge is both local and global. The solutions have to come from local, national and global governments and international organisations. Every crisis presents an opportunity.

We need to study the global experiments not only about disaster management in circumstances like tsunami, earthquakes and floods but also conversion of the crises to constructive solutions. We are discussing about managing the water bodies and river systems with ethical commitment and accountability in public administration. The contract culture within our political system from the panchayats to Parliament needs to be reviewed. The government should also engage the experts, technocrats, development planners, environmentalists, irrigation and structural engineers to convert a part of the city into a safe zone with time plan as a micro model project and precursor for the subsequent conversion of the affected parts of the rest of city and other adjoining areas with permanent and lasting solutions. Tamil Nadu has the capacity of human, technical and required knowledge-base to address this mega challenge. Great cities were not built in a day. It requires time and determination to pursue the details. We need to understand that politicians by profession all over the world are not trained to think beyond the ballot box and the next elections while the bureaucracy is always busy fence sitting with service books. This government has the time and opportunity to make a difference. A small beginning with micro model zone project in a designated waterlog area within Great Chennai can go a long way as the wisdom dictates that to remove a mountain we must first carry the small stones away.

(Prof. Ramu Manivannan is a scholar-academic-social activist in areas of education, human rights and sustainable development through an initiative Multiversity. He is currently the Visiting Professor at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, Colorado, USA.)
A government hospital staff in Chennai has been suspended after handing over a still born baby in a cardboard carton to parents. The hospital has said that a three-member enquiry committee has been formed to investigate the incident.

The baby was still born after Cyclone Michaung struck the city on December 4 causing widespread destruction and marooning several neighbourhoods for at least four days.

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The Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital on Monday said that 20-year-old Sowmy delivered a preterm baby on December 6 as a still born in her house and brought her to the hospital around 5pm. A pediatrician confirmed the babys death, and the mother is currently under treatment.

On December 10, the babys body was handed over to her father Mansoor in a carton.

This is against the rules, the hospital said in a statement on December 11.

Tamil Nadu health minister M Subramanian directed for one staff member in the mortuary to be suspended.

The father, a daily wage worker, told the media earlier that the hospital staff had demanded a bribe of 2,500 for his baby to be cremated which he couldnt afford.

He had also struggled to avail an ambulance amidst the floods to take his wife to the hospital.

A three-member enquiry committee has been formed to investigate the incident, the hospital said.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The Ministerial Meeting of the Landlocked Developing Countries will take place on December 14-15 in Yerevan, Armenia.

The meeting will be one of the biggest events held in Armenia jointly with the UN.

The ministerial event is an official themed meeting ahead of the Third United Nations Conference on the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) to be held in 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda.

The Yerevan meeting will be attended by over 30 foreign delegations, including the foreign ministers of Botswana and Nepal, the transport ministers of Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Lesotho, the tourism minister of Malawi, the deputy foreign ministers of Georgia and Paraguay, and deputy transport ministers of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

Representatives of international organizations will also attend the meeting, particularly the UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) Rabab Fatima, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Tatiana Molcean, TRACECA Secretary General Aset Assavbayev and the deputy director general of WTO.

The secretaries-general of the World Customs Organization and the Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), as well as UN officials, will deliver speeches via video.
A staff member of Chennais Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital has been suspended after a stillborn child was handed over to the parents in a cardboard carton. The baby was born as the city was grappling with the destruction caused by cyclone Michaung. HT Image

On December 6, 20-year-old Sowmy delivered a stillborn baby in her house and brought her to the hospital around 5pm. A paediatrician confirmed the babys death. On December 10, the babys body was handed over to her father, Mansoor, in a cardboard carton. The father, a daily wage worker, told the media that hospital staff demanded a bribe of 2,500 for his baby to be cremated, which he couldnt afford.

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A three-member enquiry committee has also been formed to investigate the incident, it added.

The hospital, however, later apologised for the act, saying: This is against the rules. A three-member enquiry committee has also been formed to investigate the incident, it added.
In the days after December 3, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bested 18 years of anti-incumbency to win 163 seats in Madhya Pradesh, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan did not stop touring the state. Publicly, he said that he was not a claimant for the top post, and that there was no post greater than brother or uncle to the people of the state. Yet, he continued travelling. There was an aabhaar karyakram(gratitude programme) in Bhopal; rallies in Raghogarh and Sheopur; and days spent in Chhindwara, the Kamal Nath bastion. Chouhan was focussed on his next goal, he said everywhere: Mission 29, or the mission to win all 29 seats in the 2024 elections. Yet, when the BJP legislators met on December 11, it became clear that Chouhan, among Madhya Pradeshs tallest political leaders over the past two decades, would not be the man to lead that mission. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at Dussehra Ground, in Chhindwara district, on December 6. (PTI)

After the BJP legislative meeting, held in the presence of central observers led by Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Chouhan met governor Mangubhai Patel to tender his resignation and bring down the curtain on almost 18 years in power.

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Chouhan, an OBC from the Kirar community, was born in Sehore, the district adjacent to Bhopal, and won his first assembly election from Budhni, which went on to become his stronghold in 1990. By the next year, he was the Vidisha member of Parliament, and was re-elected in 1996, 1998, and 1999, seemingly fireproof from the political churn around him. But in 2003, even as the BJP won Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan contested the state elections unsuccessfully against incumbent chief minister Digvijaya Singh. He won the Lok Sabha elections in 2004, and then made the next big move in his career in 2005, when he became the Madhya Pradesh CM in November.

Over the years in office, Chouhan grew from strength to strength, cementing himself as one of the partys tallest leaders in the Hindi heartland. He was many things: First, the self-effacing chief minister, and the man who shunned the limelight to focus on administration. Then, as time passed, Chouhan embraced the limelight, and became focussed on urban infrastructure in the capital Bhopal, or in Indore, which was declared Indias cleanest city year after year. He was, at the same time, the farmers chief minister  in February 2023, he said there were alternatives to everything but no alternatives to foodgrain, fruit and vegetables. Over time, he became a man of the people, comfortable both in an administrative meeting and a raucous public rally, where he paced the stage, microphone in hand, often speaking to women of the state, a constituency he assiduously nurtured. From Shivraj Singh Chouhan, he became Madhya Pradeshs mama (uncle to some, brother to others).

Though the BJP narrowly lost the assembly elections to the Congress in 2018, Chouhan was back as chief minister in March 2020 after Jyotiraditya Scindia left the Congress with 22 legislators.

Battling nearly 18 years of BJP anti-incumbency, Chouhan headed into the 2023 elections with a mountain to climb. The BJP did not declare a chief ministerial face, but Chouhan reached out to voters through a relentless mass outreach, and a welfare web that included the popular Laadli Behna scheme which promises 1,250 per month to women beneficiaries.

During the campaign, Chouhan seemed to pre-empt the doubt on his continuation as chief minister, asking crowds at rallies if he should continue or not.

In the BJP, the choice of the organisation is supreme and it was Chouhan who proposed the name of Mohan Yadav as the new chief minister in the legislative meeting on Monday. But his hard work, and non-stop rallies helped the BJP popularise its schemes. There is no replacement for Chouhan in Madhya Pradesh because he has become a mass leader, and is popular in the state, especially among women voters, said Hitesh Bajpayee, BJP spokesperson.

Senior BJP leaders, however, said it was clear in the last few years that Chouhans hold over Madhya Pradesh had ended, and that the victory was more a result of teamwork and the pull of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chouhan may now be accommodated at the Centre, they suggested, though his future appears uncertain for now.

There is no doubt that Chouhan is a popular figure in Madhya Pradesh, a senior BJP leader said. It is possible that with several ministers resigning in recent days from the Union cabinet to fight elections, he may be accommodated at the Centre.
India is going through a phase of history when it is going to take a quantum jump like several other nations, and every individual and institution in the country should move with a resolution that their efforts and actions will be for Viksit Bharat (developed India), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses at the launch of Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Voice of Youth, via video conferencing, in New Delhi on Monday (ANI/PIB)

Modi was virtually speaking at the launch of the Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth programme and was addressing vice-chancellors of universities, heads of institutes and faculty members in workshops organised at Raj Bhavans across the country.

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Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth seeks to transform India into a developed nation by 2047, the 100th year of its independence. In a statement, the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said Modis vision is to actively involve the younger generation in the formulation of national plans, priorities and goals for the country.

In his address, Modi said that in the life of any nation, history provides a time period when the country can make exponential strides in its development journey. For India, this Amrit Kaal is ongoing and this is the period in the history of India when the country is going to take a quantum leap, he said.

The Prime Minister cited examples of many nearby countries that took such a quantum jump in a set time frame and turned into developed nations. For India, this is the right time, he said, adding: We have to take advantage of every moment of this immortal time. We must not lose even a single moment.

He referred to the struggle for freedom as a source of motivation. He said endeavors such as the Satyagraha, non-cooperation and swadeshi movements, and social and educational reforms introduced during that time were geared towards freedom.

This period saw universities like Kashi, Lucknow, Visva-Bharati, Gujarat Vidyapith, Nagpur University, Annamalai, Andhra and University of Kerala strengthen the consciousness of the nation. An entire generation of youngsters came into being whose every effort was directed towards the goal of independence, he said.

Today, every institution and every individual should move with a resolution that every effort and act will be for Viksit Bharat. The aim of your goals, your resolutions should be only one  developed India, he added.

The Prime Minister emphasised that teachers and universities should find ways to make India a developed country at a faster pace, and also identify specific sectors for improvement towards becoming a developed nation.

Underlining the need to channel the energy of the students and youngsters in every university towards achieving the common goal of Viksit Bharat, the Prime Minister suggested running special campaigns in every college and university.

The exam date has also been declared for us as citizens of the country. We have 25 years of Amrit Kaal in front of us. We have to work 24 hours a day for the goal of Viksit Bharat. This is the environment we have to create as a family, he said.

India is going to be a leader in terms of the working-age population for the coming 25-30 years, and is being recognised by the world, Modi said. Youth power is both the agent of change and also the beneficiaries of change, he said.

The next 25 years, Modi added, are going to be decisive for the careers of the youngsters in colleges and universities. The government wants to connect every youth of the country with the action plan of a developed India, he said. He concluded his address by urging the youth to send in their suggestions for making India a developed nation.
NCP MP Supriya Sule extended good wishes to her father and party president Sharad Pawar on his 83rd birthday on Tuesday and expressed confidence that he will overcome all difficulties and succeed in this time of struggle. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MPs Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule (ANI)

The Sharad Pawar-founded Nationalist Congress Party split earlier this year after his nephew Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-BJP government in the state as deputy chief minister. In a post on X, Sule said her father hit the streets in Nashik on Monday to raise the issue of onion farmers.

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Sule said she is doing the same in Parliament by discharging her role as the Lok Sabha member from Baramati.

On Monday, farmers in Nashik staged a protest against the Centre's decision to ban the export of onions till March 31, 2024. Extending good wishes to her father, Sule said, We are all confident that you will overcome the struggles in these trying times. We will fight and win."

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray also met Sharad Pawar in Nagpur on the occasion of his birthday.

Sharad Pawar has served as the chief minister of Maharashtra and Union minister.
Several developing countries have raised objections to the draft text on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) released on Sunday, with India insisting that the difference in adaptation and mitigation strategies be clearly laid out in the targets that at present are prescriptive and mitigation oriented. A second iteration of the adaptation text was released on Monday evening which was not very different from the first. Activists attend a protest at the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Monday. (REUTERS)

Indian officials said that financial flows for adaptation and mitigation can get muddled if the text is adopted in its current form, while also objecting to terms like maladaptation and transformational adaptation, an Indian official said requesting anonymity.

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Most targets are mitigation centric. This can muddle financial flows to adaptation and mitigation. All the targets including the one on attaining climate-resilient food and agricultural production and supply; strengthening resilience against climate-related health impacts are mitigation oriented. Terms like maladaptation and transformational adaptation are also not acceptable to us, the official said.

While mitigation requires measures to address the underlying problem by slowing or stopping the rise in emissions, adaptation is needed to withstand and minimize the impacts of the climate crisis.

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), maladaptation is any changes in natural or human systems that inadvertently increase vulnerability to climatic stimuli; an adaptation that does not succeed in reducing vulnerability but increases it instead.

Experts said that these terms in the draft text indicate that developed countries want to curtail climate finance, adding that the classification of maladaptation is subjective.

Why is there no mal-mitigation? Is all mitigation good? What about mitigation that puts the burden on the poor? However, there is no such category for mitigation. But there is one for adaptation. It is therefore clearly linked to the fact that developed countries want as many ways to curtail finance as possible. Classification of what is maladaptation and what is not, is virtually impossible. And where it is done is extremely subjective, and sometimes downright wrong, said an Indian observer who did not wish to be named.

Developing countries have also raised the issue of common by differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC) being of critical consideration.

According to a report by the Third World Network on Monday, China, on behalf of Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC), during a heads of delegation meeting on GGA on Sunday said that CBDR-RC should be in the text without any other alternative option and emphasised that strengthening adaptation action must be based on means of implementation and climate finance from developed countries.

It emphasised that the developed countries should provide financial resources to assist adaptation action in developing countries in line with their obligations under the Convention and Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement (PA).

The US, on the other hand, echoed the call of the Environment Integrity Group (of Switzerland and others) in mainstreaming adaptation into development as an overarching element.

The US also called for targets that are globally relevant and lasting, and sought balance on finance in the text. It also said that discussions on finance for the New Collective Quantified Goal (for the post-2025 period) should not be prejudged.

But what may be sticking point with developing nations, the US has said it will not support any references to CBDR in the text, preferring the no text option in this regard.

HT reported on Sunday that a first draft text on the Global Goal on Adaptation, that is expected to be negotiated at COP28, was released on Sunday morning which captured the long-term adaptation efforts that countries are supposed to make towards reducing vulnerability of countries and communities from extreme climate impacts.

In India, public finance covers most of the adaptation-based activities through flagship programmes, schemes etc. Around 40 ministries have adaptation relevant budgetary provisions. The total adaptation relevant expenditure was 5.6% of the GDP in 2021-2022, growing from a share of 3.7% in 2015-16, the communication said. India also informed in its national communication that the large gap to fulfil adaptation needs cannot be met only through government resources.

The text lists out at least seven adaptation targets that countries need to take by 2030. These include attaining climate-resilient food and agricultural production and supply; strengthening resilience against climate-related health impacts, promoting climate-resilient health services, and reducing climate-related morbidity; increasing the resilience of infrastructure and human settlements to climate change impacts to ensure basic and continuous essential services for all and substantially reducing poverty and livelihood vulnerability in areas with high climate risk.
The Delhi high court on Tuesday directed Centre to allow the mother of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, who has been sentenced to death in Yemen for murdering a Yemeni man, to travel to the West Asian country to save her daughter from the gallows. Nimisha Priya has been sentenced to death in Yemen for murdering a Yemeni man. (File)

The court asked Centre to relax the travel ban imposed on September 26, 2017, for Priyas mother to visit the country along with Samuel Jerome, an Indian man working as the chief executive officer (CEO) of an airline in Sanaa, for negotiating with the victims family to pay blood money.

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Priya was sentenced to death by a trial court in Sanaa in 2020 and her sentence was upheld by the appeal court in 2022. In November 2023, the Yemen Supreme Court dismissed her appeal but kept the option of paying blood money open.

The travel ban to Yemen was imposed by way of a notification in view of the fragile political and security situation in the country. Indians since then have been permitted to travel to that country only for special and essential reasons or with prior permission from the MEA. The ban continues to remain in force.

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on December 1 had advised Priyas family to reconsider their decision to visit Yemen in view of the ministrys inability to arrange facilities for the family due to the absence of official ties of the Indian government with the government in Sanaa. There are no formal relationships established with the current dispensation in Sanaa. You will also be aware that in the last few months, regional developments have become more challenging and safety of travel consequently a greater concern, the letter written by MEA official Tanuj Shankar to Priyas mother Premakumari had stated.

Taking note of Jeromes willingness to travel with Kumari to help her in negotiating with the authorities concerned, the court directed her mother to file an affidavit indicating the date of her travel and return and stating that she is travelling at own personal risk and responsibility without any liability of the government of India or any state government concerned.

In view of the affidavit this court is inclined to direct the union of India to relax the notification dated September 26, 2017 for the petitioner on the petitioner filing an affidavit to the effect that she will be travelling to Yemen with Mr Samuel Jerome for the purpose of negotiating for the release of her daughter at her own personal risk and responsibility without any liability of the government of India or any state government concerned. The date of travel and the date of returning of the petitioner are also stated in the affidavit, justice Subramonium Prasad said in the order.

Center, appearing through advocate Pavan Narang, had submitted that India neither had any diplomatic ties in Yemen nor any diplomatic presence as it had closed its embassy in Sanaa over the conflict and this could lead to a situation where India would not be able to take responsibility for their safety.

Prema Kumari, appearing through advocate Subhash Chandran, said her daughter could be saved from the gallows by paying blood money to the victims family. The mother said she wanted to explore that option in a desperate measure to save her daughter. Chandran added that the mother was willing to go with Jerome at her own risk without any liability of the government
The Delhi high court on Tuesday refused to set aside a demand raised by the Income Tax (IT) department from news portal NewsClick for allegedly receiving predetermined foreign remittances from the Justice and Education Fund (JEF), observing that the portal has a lot to answer for in terms of its financial dealings. Delhi high court refuses to stay a demand raised by the Income Tax (IT) department from news portal NewsClick for allegedly receiving predetermined foreign remittances from JEF. (PTI)

The court said that the portal, in its appeal pending before the Commissioner of IT (appeals), failed to make out a prima facie case in its favour, and the demand was raised after the assessing officer (AO) determined that the transaction between the petitioner and the foreign entity was a form of reverse engineering.

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The IT department, on December 30, 2022, issued an assessment order against NewsClick, holding that funds received from the foreign entities in the form of remittances towards services were a modus operandi to introduce unexplained funds into the portal, which, it alleged, was acting in the nature of an agent of Judicial Educational Fund (JEF).

Read Here: NewsClick founder conspired to sabotage 2019 polls, siphoned off funds, states FIR

Agreement shows that the party receiving the services is to give 90% of the budget even before the start of quarter, and the same is not directly linked with the quality of services to be delivered. In the service industry, such types of agreements are not seen generally. The practice of receiving predetermined advances is against commercial prudence and the established practices in the field of services claimed to be discharged by the company, the AO had said in an order. The portal was converted from limited liability partnership (LLP) to a private limited company only for the purpose of receiving foreign funding, the AOs order added.

The portal challenged the December 30 order before the Commissioner of IT (appeals), and approached the Delhi high court against the commissioners February 20 and November 3 orders refusing to stay the demand during the pendency of the appeal.

This court is of the view that the petitioner has not been able to make out a prima facie case in its favour. To put it mildly, the petitioner has a lot to answer in the appeal. The petitioners plea of financial stringency based on its balance sheet also inspires no confidence as, according to the assessing officer, the accounts have not been properly maintained, a bench of acting chief justice Manmohan and justice Mini Pushkarna said in the November 29 order, which was made public on Tuesday.

NewsClick case: ED issues summons to Neville Roy Singham

NewsClick, appearing through senior advocate Devdatt Kamat, had argued that the portals service agreement with JEF, the content supplied, and receipts through proper banking channels, were duly disclosed in its IT returns, and the legitimacy the business activity were undisputed. It also argued that the services agreement executed between the parties clearly mentioned the itemised prices of deliverables, and that proprietary rights of the articles, videos and short scripts were to exclusively belong to JEF.

On October 3, 2023, Delhi Police arrested NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha and the companys human resources head Amit Chakraborty for allegedly receiving money for pro-China propaganda under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) after raiding about 30 locations in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Mumbai and Ghaziabad. Both are in judicial custody till December 22, 2023. Police also questioning 46 people, including journalists and freelance, writers.

The Delhi Polices economic offences wing (EOW) also registered an FIR against the news portal for allegedly violating foreign direct investment norms under Sections 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust), 420 (punishment for cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 120B of the IPC in August 2020. EOWs case formed the basis of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registering a complaint against the portal for allegedly overvaluing shares and diverting funds.

In a statement dated October 4, NewsClick had said, The Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police has not been able to file a charge sheet against Newsclick for offences under the Indian Penal Code. The Income Tax Department has not been able to defend its actions before the Courts of law. We strongly condemn these actions of a Government that refuses to respect journalistic independence, and treats criticism as sedition or anti-national propaganda.
The Delhi high court on Tuesday upheld a family courts order rejecting former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullahs plea for divorce from his estranged wife, Payal, saying there was no infirmity in the judgment and that the allegations of cruelty he levelled were vague and unacceptable. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah. (PTI)

...we find no infirmity with the view taken by the family court that the allegations of cruelty were vague and unacceptable and the appellant failed to prove any act which can be termed cruelty either physical or mental. Consequently, we find no merit in the appeal, the same is accordingly dismissed, a bench of justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vikas Mahajan said.

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Abdullah moved the high court against the family courts August 2016 order dismissing his divorce plea. He pleaded their marriage had irretrievably broken down and wanted to get re-married.

The family court said Abdullah failed to prove irretrievable breakdown and the claims of cruelty or desertion.

In his plea, Abdullah said that they got married in 1994 but they had not had a conjugal relationship since 2007. In September 2023, the high court directed Abdullah to pay 1.5 lakh to Payal monthly as interim maintenance and 60,000 each for the education of their two sons every month.
The Delhi high court on Tuesday rejected former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullahs plea seeking divorce from his estranged wife Payal Abdullah. Omar Abdullah (HT File)

The court was of the view that there is no infirmity in the order passed by the family court and the allegations of cruelty that were levelled were vague.

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No infirmity in the order of the family court. Allegations of cruelty were vague. We find no merit in the appeal & the appeal is dismissed, a bench of justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and justice Vikas Mahajan.

Abdullah has sought divorce from estranged wife Payal Abdullah on the grounds that he was subjected to cruelty by her.

On August 30, 2016, the trial court had dismissed Abdullah's plea seeking divorce.

The trial court had said Abdullah could not prove his claims of "cruelty" or "desertion" which were the grounds alleged by him for the granting of a decree of divorce.

Earlier, the Delhi high court had directed the National Conference leader to pay 1.5 lakh to Payal every month as interim maintenance. It also directed him to pay 60,000 each for the education of his two sons every month.

The courts order came on petitions by Payal and the couples sons against 2018 lower court orders granting them interim maintenance of 75,000 and 25,000, respectively, till the boys attained the age of majority.

Omar Abdullah had submitted before the high court that he was discharging his duty of maintaining the children and his wife was consistently misrepresenting her actual financial position.

The court, in its order, had observed that attainment of majority by a son should not absolve a father of his responsibilities of maintaining his children and ensuring their proper education, and that the mother cannot be the only one bearing the burden of expenses for raising and educating them.

The court clarified the period of compensation shall commence from the date when the children were enrolled in their law college, and shall subsist till their graduation from there.

This court is pained to note that in such acrimonious proceedings, the parents tend to make their children their pawns, sidelining their happiness in order to vindicate themselves, remarked Justice Prasad.

The court, however, rejected Payal Abdullahs request to increase, at this stage, the maintenance amount for the purpose of payment of rent of her present dwelling.

The learned Family Court has rightly observed in the impugned order that the property owned by the wife, which is located at Westend, New Delhi, is lying vacant. It is not only at the disposal of Payal Abdullah for her to take up residence there, but is also available to her for fetching rent out of it, the court said.

Noting that the maintenance plea by the petitioners was filed in the year 2016, the court asked the family court to dispose it of as expeditiously as possible, preferably within 12 months.
Mumbai Police on Tuesday formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death of Disha Salian, the ex-manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, an official said. Disha Salian

Speaking in Nagpur, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said instructions have been given to the police department.

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"In the last session of the state legislature, a demand was raised in the Assembly (for setting up an SIT). The government had stated that evidence will be examined and instructions will be given to the police department. Accordingly, instructions have been given to them," Fadnavis, who handles the Home portfolio, told reporters when asked if the SIT has been formed in the Salian case.

In Mumbai, the police official said Malvani police station senior inspector Chimaji Adhav will investigate the case and the investigation will be supervised by Deputy Commissioner of Police Ajay Bansal.

Salian (28) was found dead on June 8, 2020, days before Rajput (34) was found hanging in his flat in suburban Bandra in Mumbai. According to police, Salian allegedly committed suicide by jumping from a high-rise building in Malad. Her father Satish Salian had written to police stating that he didn't suspect any foul play in his daughter's death. He had also expressed "complete satisfaction" with the probe by Mumbai Police. Reacting to the formation of the SIT, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the party cannot be cowed down with such pressure tactics.

Taking a dig at the BJP, Raut said they can hand over the investigation to American and Russian spy agencies, the CIA and KGB, respectively. We do not pay heed to such pressure tactics. Set up an SIT or hand over the probe to the CIA or KGB. The Central and state governments are a factory to malign their political opponents, Raut said. "The time of the current dispensation is spent only on setting up SITs against opposition leaders," he alleged and claimed Maharashtra will see a change of government in 2024. The death of Salian was at the centre of political allegations in the state with the BJP, then in the opposition, accusing the erstwhile Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government of hushing up the matter.

The announcement to set up an SIT was made by Fadnavis in the winter session of the state legislature last year. Some leaders had alleged that Salian was murdered and sought to drag the name of MLA Aaditya Thackeray, the son of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, into the case. Notably, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar last week said several leaders had been demanding for long that an SIT be formed. His colleague Prasad Lad had said an SIT would clear all doubts (about Salian's case). Earlier in the day, Uddhav Thackeray told reporters in Nagpur that he didn't have any official information about the formation of the SIT in the Salian case. "If anything official comes out, then that day we will reveal the information we have about them. If they level false allegations against us, then we will bring out the true information against them," the Sena (UBT) leader said without naming anyone.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve told reporters that the announcement for SIT was made last year as well and that Salian's death was investigated on earlier occasions also. "I demand that an SIT probe also be initiated into Judge Loya's death. If you want to probe Disha Salian's death, you can do it....Politics is being done," Danve told reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan premises in Nagpur where the winter session of the state legislature is currently underway.
Azerbaijan has established a "single investigative team" in connection with the capture of the former Armenian leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh.

December 12, 2023, 13:46 Azerbaijan sets up single investigative team in connection with former Karabakh leaders arrest

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 12, ARTSAKHPRESS: A single investigative team has been established in the General Prosecutor's Office regarding separatists detained in the Garabagh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] region of Azerbaijan, said Chief Prosecutor Kamran Aliyev, APA reports.

Aliyev's wording, however, is not very clear. Do they mean only the former leaders of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)? Or all the Armenian captives? And there are hundreds of them.

But considering that this investigative team was set up after the arrest of the former Armenian leaders of Artsakh, it is probably about them.

"The people of Azerbaijan will be fully informed about the course of this investigation and its results. We will provide it. After the investigation, the case will be sent to court," promised the chief prosecutor of Azerbaijan.
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday asked his Mizoram counterpart Lalduhoma to extend his support to solve the ongoing crisis in the state but not to interfere, in what he insisted, was the states internal matter. Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh said a state should never interfere in affairs of another state (X/@NBirenSingh)

A state never interferes in the internal matters of others. For instance, when there was the Meitei issue in Assam, the request was made to Himantaji (Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma) to look into the matter as it was an internal matter, Biren Singh said in his speech at the 84th Nupi Lal day at GP Womens College hall in Imphal. On December 12, Manipur paid rich tributes to women freedom fighters who took part in the first and second Nupi Lal (womens war) against the Britishers

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Biren Singh pointed to a reported statement by Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma that asked the Manipur police not to harass his people in Manipurs Moreh. The Mizos in Mizoram and the Kukis in Manipur come from same ethnicity of Zo-Chin people who live between the hills of Manipur to the Chin state of Myanmar.

Singh said: He may not know what actually happened on the ground at Moreh. People living in Moreh are citizens of Manipur whether they are Kuki, Naga, Meitei, Meitei-Pangal or whoever.

The Manipur chief minister added that he was only trying to clarify the misunderstanding. So please lend support in solving the internal situation.

If he (Mizoram chief minister) interferes, it will be beyond his rights, he added. So I would like to make a humble appeal to extend support in restoring peace in my state.

Singh added that he had been in touch with other chief ministers in the region on the situation in Manipur.

Manipur has been roiled by ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and the Kukis since May 3. The clashes have left at least 182 dead (excluding the 13 who died on Monday) and around 50,000 homeless. The largest single-day toll in the state before December 4 was reported on June 14, when nine people were shot dead in different areas of Kangpokpi district.
Jaipur: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) picked Bhajan Lal Sharma, the first-time MLA from the Sanganer assembly constituency, as the chief minister of Rajasthan, a key state where it returned to power with a thumping majority in the recently concluded elections. Jaipur: Defence minister and BJP central observer for Rajasthan's Rajnath Singh, Rajasthan BJP president CP Joshi, former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje and newly elected Rajasthan chief minister-designate Bhajan Lal Sharma being garlanded during BJP Legislature Party meeting.(PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party has also named Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa as the deputy chief ministers of Rajasthan.

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Vasudev Devnani will be the new Rajasthan Assembly Speaker.

"Bhajanlal Sharma has been elected as the leader of the Rajasthan BJP Legislature Party. There will be two Deputy CMs- Diya Singh and Dr. Prem Chand Bairwa. Vasudev Devnani to be the Speaker," said BJP central observer for Rajasthan, Rajnath Singh.

Sharma said his government will meet the expectations of the people of Rajasthan.

"I would like to assure you that all the MLAs of Rajasthan will definitely meet the expectations that the people have with us, with the BJP. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, we will ensure holistic development of Rajasthan in all areas," he added.

Former CM Vasundhara Raje, who was the frontrunner for the post, proposed Sharma's name before the MLAs and the central observers.

Bhajan Lal Sharma is considered close to the RSS and BJP chief JP Nadda. Before becoming MLA, he served as the general secretary for the Bharatiya Janata Party four times.

In recently concluded Rajasthan assembly elections, he defeated the Congress candidate Pushpendra Bhardwaj with a margin of over 48000 votes.

After Vishnu Deo Sai for Chhattisgarh and Mohan Yadav for Madhya Pradesh, Bhajan Lal Sharma is the third surprising choice for the chief ministerial post by the BJP. The party ignored obvious choices like Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Vasundhara Raje and Raman Singh and entrusted largely unknown faces with running the governments and spearheading its designs for the upcoming 2024 general elections.

All the three chief ministerial choices reflect the BJP's attempt to balance respective caste equations while warding off possible anti-incumbency.

Also read: Who is Bhajan Lal Sharma, BJP's pick for Rajasthan chief minister?

Earlier today, three BJP observers, led by defence minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Jaipur to oversee the legislature party meeting, where the chief minister-elect was picked.

The central team included Vinod Tawde and Sarok Pandey and union minister Pralhad Joshi, the BJP incharge for Rajasthan. The team was welcomed by CP Joshi and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje.

The two-time former CM Raje was one of the probables for the chief ministerial post. The names of MP-turned-MLA Balaknath, Raje, Kirori Lal Meena and Diya Kumari had been doing the rounds in political circles.

The BJP won 115 seats out of the 199 that went to polls in Rajasthan.

With inputs from ANI
A fresh political slugfest broke out in Kerala after the Student Federation of India's (SFI) protest against the governor, with Arif Mohammed Khan accusing chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan of conspiring to hurt him physically. Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan addresses the media in New Delhi on Tuesday, (PTI)

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor slammed the Left Democratic Front government in the state over the alleged assault on the car of Arif Mohammed Khan by activists of the SFI, saying the police under the Communist rule has been complicit in the ruling party's worst excesses.

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Khan was on his way to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to leave for Delhi on Monday evening. Eighteen SFI activists were later arrested in connection with that incident.

Top updates on row over SFI protest against Kerala governor:
The Rajasthan Police has started investigating the role of a 28-year-old woman in the murder of Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi, chief of Hindu right-wing group Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena (SRRKS), officers aware of the matter said, adding that the person is an acquaintance of the key conspirator in the murder that has fuelled protests across the desert state. Protest against the murder of Karni Sena chief Gogamedi, in Jaipur on Wednesday. (ANI)

According to the police officers cited above, the woman, Charanjeet Singh (alias Chinnu), who lives in Dubai, is in a relationship with Rohit Godara, an associate of imprisoned criminal Lawrence Bishnoi who claimed responsibility for Gogamedis murder.

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The womans father, Anand Pal Singh, was a Rajput leader who was shot dead during an encounter with the Rajasthan Police in 2017, said investigators.

It was unclear if Anand Pal was actively associated with the SRRKS.

A senior member of the Rajasthan Polices 11-member special investigation team formed to crack the Gogamedi murder case said the SRRKS chiefs relations with Chinnu soured after her fathers death.

Gogamedi led the statewide protests against Anand Pals police encounter. But his family and supporters always believed Gogamedi collected funds in the SRRKSs name and later sidelined them, said the member cited above.

Two years after her fathers death, Chinnu settled in Dubai and Godara moved to Canada. According to our intelligence inputs, Godara regularly visits Dubai and stays at Chinnus place there. So, we cant rule out Chinnus involvement in the murder, the officer said, asking not to be named.

However, Chinnu, in a video released on social networking sites refuted the allegations.

I cant even think about the murder of Sukhdev Singh kakosa (uncle), she said in the video.

The officer added that police are also probing the role of a woman who is associated with imprisoned gangster Kala Jatheri.

The woman was associated with Anand Pal Singh from 2013. After he died, she joined Jatheri and allegedly served as a link between Godara and other gangs involved in dealing with arms and extortion in Haryana, Punjab and Delhi. Jatheri is very close to Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar, said the officer.

The two assailants who gunned down Gogamedi at his Jaipur residence last week are Jaipur-based Rohit Rathore and Haryana-based Nitin Fauji.

Rathore, during the interrogation, said they got the logistics to carry out the murder after getting a green signal from both Godara and Chinnu, the officer said.
The Delhi high court on Tuesday directed the Union government to allow Prema Kumari to travel to Yemen to negotiate, by paying so-called blood money, the release of her daughter, nurse Nimisha Priya who is on death row for murdering a Yemeni man. Delhi high court (Representative Photo)

India imposed a travel ban to Yemen on September 26, 2017, citing the fragile situation in that country.

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Priya was sentenced to death by the trial court in Sanaa, Yemen in 2020 for murdering a Yemeni man and her sentence was upheld by the appeal court in 2022. In November 2023, the Yemen Supreme Court dismissed her appeal . But Yemeni law recognizes the concept of blood money -- where the family of the victim can choose to accept a payment from the accused in lieu of the punishment.

Kumari will be accompanied by Samuel Jerome,an Indian working as a CEO of an airline in Sanaa.

On December 1, the ministry of external affairs advised Kumari to reconsider her decision to visit Yemen because the two countries do not have a diplomatic relationship. The 2017 travel ban was imposed by way of a notification in view of the fragile political and security situation in the country. Indians are only permitted to travel to that country only for special and essential reasons or with prior permission from the MEA. The ban continues to remain in force.

The ministrys response to Kumaris request came after it was asked to respond to her by the Delhi High Court last month.

Taking note of Jeromes willingness to travel with Kumari to help her negotiate the payment of blood money, the court directed the latter to file an affidavit indicating the date of her travel and return, stating that she is traveling at own personal risk and responsibility without any liability of the government of India or any concerned state government.

In view of the affidavit this court is inclined to direct the Union of India to relax the notification dated September 26, 2017 for the petitioner on the petitioner filing an affidavit to the effect that she will be traveling to Yemen with Mr Samuel Jerome for the purpose of negotiating for the release of her daughter at her own personal risk and responsibility without any liability of the government of India or any concerned state government. The date of travel and the date of returning of the petitioner are also stated in the affidavit, justice Subramonium Prasad said in the order.

The Union government, appearing through advocate Pavan Narang submitted that India neither has any diplomatic ties with Yemen nor any diplomatic presence as it has closed its embassy in Sanaa and would not be able to take responsibility for their safety.
Jaipur: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday selected first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma as the new chief minister of Rajasthan, days after the party scored a landslide victory in the state. MP-turned-MLA Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa have been selected as the deputy chief ministers of Rajasthan to balance caste equations for next year's general elections. Sharma, a relatively unknown name outside Rajasthan BJP, wasted no time in thanking stalwart Vasundhara Raje, a two-time chief minister herself. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma exchanges greetings with party National Vice President Vasundhara Raje.

Vasundhara Raje was among the frontrunners for the Rajasthan CM post, along with Diya Kumari, Balak Nath and Kirodi Lal Meena. However, since the BJP announced lesser known names as CM designates in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, it was speculated the party would go for a surprise pick in Rajasthan as well.

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Since December 3, when the results were announced, Raje had held a few meetings with MLAs at her residence and even went to the national capital to meet with the party leadership. However, the party chose Sharma over her and the other frontrunners.

At the Rajasthan legislature party meeting today, it was Raje who proposed the name of Bhajan Lal Sharma for the chief ministerial post. Sharma remembered the gesture when he thanked the BJP leadership for selecting him.

Also read: First-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma to be new Rajasthan chief minister; Diya Kumari, Prem Chand Bairwa to be deputy CMs

"I would like to thank PM Modi, BJP president JP Nadda, Union home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh. I would also thank former CM Vasundhara Raje for proposing my name (as new BJP legislature party leader)," he said.

Kirodi Lal Meena said he also forwarded his name.

""I am very happy. He will take the state ahead. His name was proposed by Vasundhara ji and I forwarded the name...I am not in line for a minister post," he said.

Bhajan Lal Sharma's brother-in-law Pramod Sharma expressed his happiness at his selection.

"You can see that the BJP has given such a huge responsibility to an ordinary worker, this is beyond imagination. This is what the BJP does - elevate ordinary workers to big posts. He will carry out his responsibility very well. We had not expected this but PM Modi gives such surprises," he said.

Also read: Who is Bhajan Lal Sharma, BJP's pick for Rajasthan chief minister? Check wealth, education details

Rajasthan BJP president CP Joshi said: "He has been serving the party delicately for a very long time... It is a very joyful moment that Bhajan Lal Sharma's name has been announced for the CM post of Rajasthan".

Sharma, 56, is an MLA from Rajasthan's Sanganer. He won the recent elections by over 48000 votes. He belongs to Bharatpur district.

Sharma, who is at present the BJP's state general secretary, holds a master's degree in political science.
NEW DELHI: China on Tuesday called for the Kashmir issue to be resolved through dialogue and consultations between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Supreme Court endorsing the governments August 2019 decision to scrap the regions special status. The Supreme Court upheld the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, in its verdict on 11 December. (HT Photo/Waseem Andrabi)

The reaction from Chinas foreign ministry came a day after the countrys traditional ally, Pakistan, rejected the verdict given by Indias top court on Monday. Pakistans caretaker foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said the ruling was the product of a pliant judiciary.

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Also Read: Supreme Court upholds scrapping of Article 370, says it culminated process of J&K integration

A five-judge Constitution bench on Monday unanimously endorsed the August 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu & Kashmir, calling the move the culmination of the process of integration of the erstwhile state into the Union of India.

Asked about the courts judgment at a regular foreign ministry media briefing in Beijing, spokesperson Mao Ning said: Chinas position on the Kashmir issue is consistent and clear-cut. The Kashmir issue, left from the past, needs to be resolved peacefully and appropriately in accordance with the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions and relevant bilateral agreement.

Also Read: Top court verdict historic, upholds sovereignty and integrity of India, writes PM Modi

She added: Parties concerned need to settle the dispute through dialogue and consultation so as to maintain regional peace and stability.

A statement issued by Pakistans foreign ministry on Monday contended Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised dispute, which remains on the agenda of the UN Security Council, and the final disposition of the matter is to be made in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and as per aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Also Read: Article 370 verdict disapproves of back-door amendments

The statement claimed that India has no right to make unilateral decisions on the status of this disputed territory against the will of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.

There was no immediate response from Indian officials to the statements from the foreign ministries of China and Pakistan. India has said in the past that Jammu and Kashmir, which was divided into two union territories after the abrogation of the regions special status, is an integral part of the country and other nations have no say in the matter.

The Pakistan foreign ministry statement also contended that Islamabad does not acknowledge the supremacy of the Indian Constitution over Jammu and Kashmir, and that any process subservient to the Indian Constitution carries no legal significance.

With India-Pakistan ties currently in a deep freeze and relations between India and China at their lowest ebb in six decades because of the dragging military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the pronouncements by Beijing and Islamabad are unlikely to impact Indias relations with both countries.
NEW DELHI: India has joined the United Nations Race to Resilience, a global campaign to mainstream the idea of climate resilience in cities across India during the recently concluded COP28 event in Dubai. The Climate Centre for Cities (C-Cube) at the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), an autonomous institution under the ministry of housing and urban affairs, will spearhead this initiative. Race to Resilience is a global platform to bring together non-state actors, to increase the resilience of the most vulnerable to the climate crisis by 2030 (Photo:climatechampions.unfccc.int)

Race to Resilience is a global platform to bring together non-state actors, investors, businesses, cities, regions, and civil society to increase the resilience of the most vulnerable to the climate crisis by 2030.

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In existence since 2020, the C-Cube has developed and implemented the ClimateSmart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF), a first-of-its-kind city assessment framework on climate-relevant parameters for Indian cities. Currently, the third round of the assessment is in progress for 220 cities across India. Under the CSAF framework, C-Cube has developed and delivered 26 training modules to improve aspects of urban planning, green cover, and biodiversity; energy and green buildings; mobility and air quality; water management and waste management.

NIUA director Debolina Kundu said: Urban India is growing rapidly, and it is estimated that 40% of Indias population will be residing in the urban areas by 2030. It is crucial, that urban growth is aligned towards reducing GHG emissions intensity and strengthening capacities of the cities to bounce back better from climate-related extreme events and disaster risks.

She said India joining the global campaign will act as a strategic partnership that underscores the commitment to address unique challenges posed by climate change and help foster sustainable development, build resilience, and enable cities to withstand environmental, social, and economic shocks.
Pragati Bhavan, the erstwhile official bungalow of Bharat Rashtra Samithi president and former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is most likely to cease to be the camp office of the chief minister under the new Congress government, people familiar with the matter said. Hyderabad, Dec 11 (ANI): Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy chairs a review meeting to assess the ongoing initiatives and future plans of the state Agriculture Department, in Hyderabad on Monday. (ANI Photo) (Mohammad Aleemudin)

The sprawling building, built on a nine-acre land at Begumpet in the heart of the city, which was renamed as Jyothiba Phule Praja Bhavan within hours of the formation of new government, would be restricted to new chief minister A Revanth Reddy and his cabinet colleagues meeting people, taking representations from them and if necessary, hold official meetings and press conferences.

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An official in the chief ministers office privy to the development said Revanth Reddy is contemplating shifting his camp office from Praja Bhavan to Marri Channa Reddy Human Resources Development Institute (MCRHRD), which is closer to his residence at Jubilee Hills. The institute is presently being utilised as a training centre for bureaucrats, technocrats and other top officials.

On Sunday, the chief minister made a surprising visit to the MCRHRD Institute and inspected all the buildings. In all probability, the Vivekananda Block of the Institute might be used as the camp office of the chief minister, the official said.

Spread over 30 acres, the two-floored building and its sprawling premises is a little deeper from the main road; as such, it hardly causes any inconvenience to the people. It has all the facilities including huge parking space for officials. So, it would be safe and secure for the chief ministers camp office to hold meetings, the official said.

In any case, Revanth Reddy prefers to go to the Secretariat regularly to attend his normal duties regularly, unlike KCR who hardly visited the secretariat complex despite constructing such a massive structure on the banks of Hussainsagar.

The official said Revanth Reddy also doesnt want to use the official residence of the chief minister at Pragati Bhavan (now Jyothiba Phule Praja Bhavan), which has been constructed like a fortress in 2016 at a cost of nearly 50 crore.

Pragati Bhavan was built after demolishing 10 IAS Officers quarters and 24 peon quarters at the officers colony. It is the collection of five buildings- the residence, the chief ministers office, Janahitha (meeting hall), the old CM residence, and the camp office.

Meanwhile, the new chief minister has also started focussing on restructuring the administration. So far, he has not yet disturbed the top bureaucracy, including the chief secretary, director general of police, commissioners of police and the superintendents of police in districts.

He has brought in only two people -- senior IPS officer B Shivadhar Reddy and IAS officer V Seshadri as the Telangana intelligence chief and secretary to the chief minister, respectively, within hours of taking charge as the chief minister. But he is working on making an overhaul of administration in the next couple of days, people familiar with the matter said.

On Sunday, the Revanth Reddy government disbanded as many as 54 corporations and other organisations, removing their chairpersons with immediate effect. All of them were appointed during the BRS government.

Along with the chairpersons, services of all their personal staff engaged on contract, outsourcing and hire basis were also terminated. Regular employees from various departments, who were drafted into these corporations, were repatriated to their parent departments, an order issued by chief secretary Santhi Kumari said.
Mysuru HT Image

A farmer was injured in an attack by a leopard in Periyapatna taluk of Karnatakas Mysuru on Sunday while he was working in his agriculture field, forest department officials said.

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The 45-year-old injured farmer from Kellur village has been admitted to Periyapatna taluk government hospital but he is out of danger, a senior official said.

The leopard attacked the farmer, Rajesh, when he was working in his agriculture field alone, Mysuru circle chief conservator of forests (CCF) Malathi Priya said. The farmer sustained injuries in an ear and head in the leopard attack. He is currently undergoing treatment at Periyapatna taluk government hospital but is out of danger, Priya said.

The CCF said the forest department would bear the hospitalisation expenditure and provide suitable compensation to the farmer.

Soon after the attack, villagers staged a protest, asking the forest department to catch the leopard before attacks more people. Forest officers rushed to the spot and promised to take steps to catch the leopard.

Priya also said an operation is going on in Nanjanagudu taluk, , where a tiger was spotted in CCTV footage. We expect to capture it soon.

The forest officers launched an operation to capture the tiger on November 30 after residents of Kadakola on the outskirts of Mysuru spotted a tiger at night. The tigers movement was recorded on CCTV cameras on the TVS factory premises in Kadakola.

Priya said, The operation is going on in Chikkakanya, Doddakanya Bathahalli, and Sinduvalli villages in Nanjanagudu taluk. The department is using elephants, drones, and trap cameras. She said the big cat has not attacked any humans or cattle so far. However, we launched the operation to catch it to prevent a possible attack.

The Mysuru district has witnessed an escalation in human-wildlife conflicts in recent months, causing concern among villagers residing beside forests and wildlife sanctuaries. On November 24, a tiger killed a 52-year-old woman in Ballurhundi village in Nanjanagudu taluk, triggering a protest by villagers to catch the tiger. Later, it was captured and shifted to the animal rehabilitation centre of Mysuru Zoo in Koorgalli.
Channel Nine host Tom Steinfort has taken to Instagram to announce he and his wife, Claudia Jukic, have welcomed their second baby girl.

The 60 Minutes presenter and former Today Show host shared a few sweet snaps of the pair's second daughter, writing, "Welcome little Lotte  mama was amazing, sister is smitten, and dada is increasingly outnumbered by his gorgeous girl gang."

Channel Nine host Tom Steinfort has announced he and his wife have welcomed their second baby. Photo: Instagram/tomsteinfort

In one snap, the couple's eldest daughter, Frederikke, two, holds her baby sister. In another, the family is caught in a sweet candid moment.

The pair's friends and followers shared well wishes for the family of four, with former MAFS star Domenica Calarco writing, "Such beautiful news! Congratulations beautiful people."

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"Well done family," Today Extra host David Campbell added.

"Congratulations!! Girl gangs are the best," Nine's Belinda Russell wrote.

"Congrats on the girl gang!" Shelly Horton said.

"Perfect. The very best Christmas gift," one user wrote.

"Awww welcome baby Lotte and congratulations to all! The pic of Freddie holding her sister is everything," another said.

SHOP:

"The protector of the most beautiful trio," a third wrote.

Tom and Claudia are believed to have met in 2017, with the former Today host announcing their engagement a year later in Dubrovnik, Croatia. They married in 2019 in Hvar, Croatia.

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KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been making false promises to voters in the states northern districts to regain the Lok Sabha seats Trinamool Congress lost in 2019, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari said on Tuesday, his partys counter to Mamata Banerjees sharp attacks on the BJP during her her week-long tour of the region. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee at a programme at Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri (PTI/CMO)

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) government systematically neglects north Bengal because people in this region voted for BJP in all recent polls. The budget allocation for north Bengal in 2020-21 was 759 crore but only 268 crore was released. In the next two financial years, the government released 170 crore and 308 crore against allocations of 759 crore and 800 crore respectively. Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition in the assembly, said.

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Adhikari landed in Siliguri hours after the chief minister announced at a government event 47 new projects, including a cancer hospital at Matigara. Adhikari asked people not to fall for the announcements.

This chief minister neglects north Bengal but tells lies when it comes to elections. She sees north Bengal only as her holiday destination. Local state guest houses have been turned into palaces to ensure her comfort, Adhikari added.

BJP won seven of the regions eight Lok Sabha seats in 2019 and 30 of 54 assembly seats in 2021.

Adhikaris attacks on Banerjee come against the backdrop of reports that Mamata Banerjee will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 20 to demand release of central funds for projects such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). These were suspended following allegations of mismanagement and corruption.

Three Hindu organisations have invited both Banerjee and PM Modi to a mass chanting of Bhagavat Gita at Brigade Parade Grounds on December 24. There is no formal word if the two leaders will accept the invite.

In speeches during her north Bengal tour, Mamata Banerjee has been sharply critical of the central government and repeatedly accused the BJP of misleading people.

The Centre has stopped funds for rural employment projects, village roads and health schemes. They replaced our cess and sales tax with GST (goods and services tax) but they are not giving our share of it. What crime has Bengal done? They (Centre) are not giving our share of funds for schemes that help backward classes and minorities, she said.

BJP government is promising free ration now. Unlike them, we dont give free rations only when elections are imminent. They (BJP) make a lot of false promises. Did Indians receive 15 lakh in their bank accounts? Banerjee said.

Indias employment rate has reduced by 40% but in Bengal, it has increased by 40%. Politics is here forever but there should not be any negativity in politics. We should always think positively and all problems will be solved. Bengal will lead India. What we are doing today will be followed by others tomorrow, Banerjee said, focusing on her social welfare schemes.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday approved the release of 338 crore to Gujarat and 633 crore to Himachal Pradesh as financial assistance for damages caused by natural calamities. Ministry of Home Affairs(HT File)

The Union Home Minister's Office said in a post on X that Gujarat was severely affected by Cyclone Biparjoy and, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Centre and the state made advanced preparations before it, achieving a zero-casualty rate during the natural calamity.

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In the aftermath of the extremely severe cyclone, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) immediately deputed the Inter-Ministerial Central Team to assess the damages, without waiting for a memorandum from the state government.

"The MHA has approved the financial assistance of 338.24 crore to Gujarat today," the Home Minister's Office said.

The Centre had earlier released the first instalment of its share, amounting to 584 crore, to the State Disaster Response Force.

The Home Minister's Office said in another post that the ministry also approved an additional financial assistance of 633.73 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund for Himachal Pradesh.

The hill state was severely affected by floods, cloudbursts and landslides during this year's southwest monsoon.

Pursuing Prime Minister Modi's approach of providing swift relief to the affected, an Inter-Ministerial Central Team for assessment of the damages was deputed without waiting for the state government's memorandum.

An amount of 200 crore was released in advance from the National Disaster Response Fund on August 21 to help the state government in managing the immediate relief operations.

The Centre had earlier released both instalments of its share to the State Disaster Response Force, totalling 360.80 crore, the Home Minister's Office said.
The Opposition on Tuesday attacked the government in the Rajya Sabha for bringing a bill that it said would compromise the functioning of the Election Commission of India, pave the way for the appointment of yes-men as the countrys topmost election officials and bulldoze the independence of the commission. The bill has replaced the CJI in the selection panel with a cabinet minister. (ANI)

The Opposition flagged its concerns during a discussion on the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha by voice vote. The Opposition also argued that the bill was against the Supreme Courts March direction that a panel consisting of the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India and the leader of the Opposition should select the three top officials.

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The bill has replaced the CJI in the selection panel with a cabinet minister.

Initiating the discussion on the bill, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said it would bulldoze the independence and fearlessness of election commission even as he questioned the governments intent and warned against disastrous consequences.

Read Here | 'Pawn Election Commissioner': Congress's 'bulldozer' attack as govt passes EC bill in Rajya Sabha

The framers of the Constitution wanted the election process to be fair, independent and without the governments interference...Parliament is the fountainhead of democracy. It must adhere to the tenets of democracy, he said.

Some members demanded that the bill, which replaces the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991, be referred to the houses select committee for wider consultations. However, the amendments demanding this were defeated by a voice vote.

There are no checks and balances in the selection committee and the government has taken full control of it, Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha said.

Read Here: Ex-CECs believe Bill to appoint top poll officials downgrades status of Election Commission

By replacing CJI with a minister, the control of the selection committee has come in the hands of the government. Now the government has two votes in the panel. It can take all decisions with the majority of 2:1. Now a yes man or a party man can become an election commissioner, Chadha said, opposing the bill as a mockery of democracy.

The government, however, dismissed the Oppositions charges stressing that the functioning of the ECI would remain impartial and transparent, and the bill was brought as the 1991 law had a major shortcoming --- it did not regulate the appointment of the top election officials.

DMKs T Siva opposed the bill calling it undemocratic, unjustifiable and unacceptable, while Trinamool MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said it suffered from unreasonableness and arbitrariness.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday picked three-time lawmaker Mohan Yadav as the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, implementing a generational shift in the heartland state that delivered the party the biggest victory in the recently concluded round of assembly elections. BJP leader Mohan Yadav being felicitated by outgoing chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Bhopal on Monday. (ANI)

Yadav, the 58-year-old former state education minister, replaces Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who ruled the state for 16 of the last 18 years over four terms. The BJP legislative party also picked two deputy CMs, two-time lawmaker and outgoing finance minister Jagdish Devda, and outgoing public relations minister Rajendra Shukla.

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Former Union agriculture minister, Narendra Singh Tomar, who won the polls from Dimni in Morena district and resigned from the Lok Sabha last week, was named as the new speaker of the legislative assembly.

I am a small worker of the party. Many thanks to the state leadership and central leadership of the party for their love and support. I will fulfil my responsibility completely, said Yadav, the legislator from Ujjain South.

This is the first time since 1967 that Madhya Pradesh will have a deputy CM, and the first time that a BJP government has made an appointment to the position in the state. The announcement is the second for the three states that the BJP won in the recent clutch of assembly elections, and came a day after the party named tribal leader Vishu Deo Sai as the CM for Chhattisgarh. Only the decision for Rajasthan is pending, and is likely to come on Tuesday.

Yadav is among the most senior other backward classes (OBC) faces in the state unit, and also represents the key swing region of Malwa-Nimar, where the BJP won 47 of 66 seats. His elevation is seen as a major shift in the BJP in a state where Chouhan was once seen as the face of the party with a focus on farmers and welfare outreach.

Hearty congratulations to my hardworking friend Mohan Yadav on being nominated as the CM of Madhya Pradesh  I am confident that under the able guidance of respected PM Shri Narendra Modi, you will take Madhya Pradesh to new heights of progress and development, Chouhan posted on X.

A strong votary of hardline Hindu politics, Yadav has headed the state wrestling association since 2009 and is also the vice-president of the state Olympics association. Yadav, who joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in 1983, has also courted controversy with his remarks on Mughal rulers, suggesting that they were invaders who should not be referred to as great.

With the appointment of the two deputies, the BJP attempted to balance representation to four important regions  Malwa-Nimar, Vindhya, and Gwalior-Chambal  and three key castes. Devda is the Dalit face of the party while Shukla is a Brahmin and Tomar a Rajput. The region unrepresented is Mahakoushal, the home region of Congress state unit chief Kamal Nath.

Yadav, who represents the Ujjain South assembly seat, was elected as the legislative party leader unanimously at a meeting of lawmakers at the state BJP office in Bhopal in presence of observers, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, BJP OBC unit president K Laxman, and BJP national secretary Asha Lakra.

Chouhan proposed Yadavs name in the presence of Tomar, former Union culture minister Prahlad Patel, national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and state BJP president VD Sharma, and it was accepted at a brief meeting.

Before the legislative party meeting, the observers met Chouhan at his official residence for over an hour and then attended the BJPs core group meeting at the party office in Bhopal. At about 4pm, the legislative party meeting was called, party leaders said.

Soon after the meeting, Chouhan met governor Mangubhai C Patel and tendered his resignation. Later, Yadav met Patel and staked claim to form the government. Yadav  who was sitting in the fifth row when a group photograph of the lawmakers was being taken minutes before the announcement  is likely to take charge on December 14 in Bhopal.

According to a senior party leader, Yadav was called to Delhi on December 6 for a short meeting with BJP chief JP Nadda. MP in-charge and Union minister Bhupender Yadav was present at the meeting. He was asked to get ready for a big responsibility. Yadav was expecting responsibility in the organisation only, the leader said, requesting anonymity.

Yadavs wife Seema Yadav said his hard work had paid off. There is no limit to our happiness. He has been working hard for the past 40 years and finally he achieved the zenith of state politics, she said.

Prahlad Patel also congratulated Yadav and said the organisation had taken the best decision.

The Congress wished Yadav the best. We hope that he will work without any biases for the development of MP, said media in-charge KK Mishra.

These were the first elections in nearly two decades where the BJP chose to not project a chief ministerial face and instead focus on collective leadership under the PM, who held 14 rallies, and Union home minister Amit Shah, who handled the election management.
The Muslim Students Organisation of India (MSO) has described the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the abrogation of Article 370 for Jammu and Kashmir as balanced. Indian paramilitary troopers patrol along a road in Srinagar. (AFP)

The Islamic student's body also expressed hope for the restoration of the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible so that the local people will get a chance to run the government as per their wish.

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However, the body has urged the central government to make efforts for maintaining peace and harmony in the valley, reducing the presence of the military and providing employment and education opportunities for the youth.

It further said that the expectations of the people can be fulfilled by the establishment of new universities, one Jawahar Navodaya School and ITI in every tehsil.

In an appeal to the Kashmiri youth, the MSO said that they should now play a crucial role in building a better future and keep themselves away from the ideology of "Political Islam".

In a press release, the MSO said that the Kashmiris didn't get much benefit from Article 370, but rather the political parties used it for their own sake. The valley has been continuously suffering from Pakistan sponsored terrorism for the last several decades.

The Supreme Court earlier upheld the government's decision to abrogate Article 370, which bestowed a special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and said steps should be taken to conduct the election to the Union Territory's Assembly by September 30 next year.

Jammu and Kashmir's Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said that the top court's judgment would boost the efforts of the centre and union territory administration to take Jammu and Kashmir to new heights of development and provide justice to the deprived sections.
After the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday selected Bhajan Lal Sharma as the new chief minister of Rajasthan, his family expressed happiness and joy. Bhajan Lal's father Krishnalal Sharma(ANI)

Speaking about his son's selection to the top post, father Krishnalal Sharma said, It is a great thing...It has been done by God's grace.

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Bhajan Lal's mother Gomti Sharma shed tears of joy as she spoke about her son's selection to the post of CM. It feels good. It has happened by God's will...I had never thought this would happen, she said.

Bhajan Lal Sharma, first-time MLA from the Sanganer assembly constituency in Rajasthan, is a voter from Rajasthan's Bharatpur constituency. He is considered close to the party's president JP Nadda.

Sharma, who has served as the general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party, defeated Congress candidate Pushpendra Bhardwaj with a margin of over 48000 votes in the 2023 assembly polls.

READ | Who is Bhajan Lal Sharma, BJP's pick for Rajasthan chief minister? Check wealth, education details

In his first reaction after being elected as the chief minister of Rajasthan, Bhajan Lal Sharma said, I would like to thank PM Modi, BJP president JP Nadda, Union home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh. I would also thank former CM Vasundhara Raje for proposing my name (as new BJP legislature party leader).

Apart from Bhajan Lal, the BJP also announced two deputy chief ministers of the state on Tuesday. The party named Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa as deputy chief ministers and Vasudev Devnani as the speaker of the state assembly.

After the meeting at the BJP office, the chief minister-designate, Sharma, proceeded to meet Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra to formally stake claim to form the next government in the state.

The BJP secured 115 seats in Rajasthan, surpassing the Congress, which obtained 69 seats.

(With inputs from agencies)
The new Congress government in Telangana led by chief minister A Revanth Reddy is facing a major challenge in overcoming the financial crisis in the power sector while seeking to implement free electricity supply up to 200 units to domestic consumers, one of the six guarantees promised by the party during the just-concluded elections. HT Image

Within a day of taking over as the chief minister on Friday, Revanth Reddy held a quick review meeting on power sector to understand how much it would cost the state government to implement the Gruha Jyothy scheme  aimed at supplying 200 units of power per month free of cost to domestic consumers, while ensuring continuous free power supply to agriculture sector.

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According to official figures, there are in all 174.03 power connections in the state of which, 125.56 lakh connections, accounting for 72.15% of the total consumers, belong to the domestic sector. If all the domestic consumers are not charged up to 200 units of power per month, the total burden on the state would be anywhere around 4,800 crore, M Venugopala Rao, an expert in the electricity sector, who regularly appears before the Electricity Regulatory Commission to argue on behalf of consumers.

However, it is not immediately known whether the government wants to restrict the Gruha Jyothy scheme to only those consumers who do not utilise more than 200 units of power per month or it is applicable for all the domestic consumers up to 200 units and billing will be done only for above 200 units of consumption.

Unless the government comes out with a policy decision, we cannot assess the exact burden on the power utilities. This additional burden has to be reimbursed by the state government every year, Rao said.

This is easier said than done. During the powerpoint presentation made by the electricity department before the chief minister on Friday, the power distribution companies have already been facing a huge financial burden due to mounting debts to the tune of around 81,000 crore, including dues from the state government in the form of subsidy and dues to be paid to the power generating units.

An official from the power sector department said on condition of anonymity that the dues from the state government to Telangana state northern power distribution company ltd (TSNPDCL) and Telangana state southern power distribution company (TSSPDCL) were to the extent of 28,140 crore and from the central government around 721 crore.

At the time of formation of Telangana, the dues from the state government to these two power utilities was around 1,268 crore. But they went up steeply year after year due to various lift irrigation schemes, the biggest being Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project (KLIP) and Mission Bhagiratha (supplying drinking water to every household). Even municipalities and municipal corporations, Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board, have not been paying power bills regularly to the Discoms, the official quoted said.

During the last annual revenue requirement (ARR) report submitted to the regulatory commission for 2023-24, the Discoms proposed to recover around 12,515 crore from power consumers in the name of True-Up charges, but the state government did not approve of the same, obviously keeping in view the assembly elections.

The government told the regulatory commission that it would adjust this amount to the Discoms in instalments in the next five years. Now, the only option before the Discoms to overcome the losses is to increase the power tariff for high-end consumers in the industrial and commercial sector to cross-subsidise the domestic and agriculture power consumers, energy expert Rao said.

He, however, said even for this cross-subsidisation, the upper limit is only 20 percent. The Discoms cannot charge in excess of 20 percent on high-end consumers to offset the losses caused due to free power supply to domestic and agriculture power consumers. So, the government has to allocate more funds to bear this additional subsidy, Rao added.
Chandigarh: Highlighting internal contradictions within the Opposition's INDIA alliance, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Tuesday said his party will contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats in the border state, as he has received no instructions from the high command about fighting the 2024 general elections in any alliance. The Aam Aadmi Party, which wrested Punjab from the Congress in 2022, had shared similar sentiments in September. Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (File)

The Congress had won eight Lok Sabha seats in Punjab in 2019, whereas the Aam Aadmi Party won only a single seat. However, the political equations in the state changed with the AAP scoring a landslide victory in Punjab and Congress stalwart Amarinder Singh joining the Bharatiya Janata Party.

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Asked if the Congress would contest the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab in alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party, he said, Till now, there is a message from the party high command that you make preparations for contesting all 13 seats."

I want to say that the high command which means (Congress president Mallikarjun) Kharge sahib, if any message comes then it will come to me being the PPCC president. Such a message that you fight elections jointly or enter any alliance has not been given till now, Warring told PTI.

INDIA alliance is scheduled to meet later this month to discuss the contentious seat sharing agreements in states. The parties will deliberate on what shape the alliance would take in states where its constituents are bitter political rivals.

The AAP and the Congress are political rivals in Delhi and Punjab. AAP wrested power from the Congress in both these states and contributed significantly in the latter's drubbing in 2014 with its anti-corruption campaigns against the then UPA government at the Centre.

The Aam Aadmi Party has also been giving similar indications. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal recently said their party would win all 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

In September, Punjab AAP leader and state minister Anmol Gagan Mann had said her party would not contest elections in alliance with the Congress.

"This (AAP joining the opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc) is the party leadership's call at the national level. But we will never forge any alliance with the Congress in Punjab. Things could be very different at the national level as all the parties have come together to save the country from the BJP. However, at the state level, the AAP will not go with the Congress. We will not tolerate any seat sharing with the Congress in Punjab, she had said.
More than 17,000 Bangladeshi immigrants who entered India and settled in Assam between January 1966 and March 25, 1971 were granted citizenship, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday, while stating that furnishing figures of illegal immigration across the country was not possible as their detection, detention and deportation was a complex process. HT Image

The affidavit came in response to a set of queries by a five-judge Constitution bench on December 7 while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Section 6A of Citizenship Act. This provision was introduced in December 1985  as part of the Assam Accord  to provide citizenship benefits to people from Bangladesh who entered India between January 1, 966 and March 25, 1971, and were ordinarily residing in Assam.

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The bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, while posting the matter for hearing on December 12, had directed the Centre to provide details on the number of foreigners detected during this period and those who actually benefited under this provision. The bench, also comprising justices Surya Kant, MM Sundresh, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, had expanded the scope of information further by seeking data on inflow of illegal immigrants after March 25, 1971 till date. It also sought information on steps taken to curb this problem by fencing the international border with Bangladesh.

The response filed by Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Monday informed the court that during the relevant period (January 1966 to March 25, 1971) a total of 32,381 people were detected as foreigners by foreigner tribunals, and 17,861 got citizenship after getting registered with FRRO as on October 31 this year.

On the illegal immigrant count across the country, the affidavit said, Since entry of such foreign nationals into the country is clandestine and surreptitious, it is not possible to collect accurate data of such illegal migrants living in various parts of the country. The response added: The detection, detention and deportation of such illegally staying foreign nationals is a complex, ongoing process.

On border fencing, the Centre told the court that of the 4096.7km border with Bangladesh in five states, the feasible area for fencing about 3,922km , of which over 81% fencing is complete.

In West Bengal, the Union home secretary said that Centre is facing challenges in tackling illegal immigration as out of the 2,216.7 km border, about 78% fencing has been done. The Centre cited the complex land acquisition policy in the state as a contributing factor to the delay.

West Bengal follows a far slower, more complex Direct Land Purchase Policy even for national security projects, said the affidavit. Due to non-cooperation from state regarding resolving various issues of land acquisition, considerable delays have occurred in acquiring necessary land, thereby impeding timely completion of fencing in WB along Indo-Bangla border which is a vital national security project, the affidavit said.

The affidavit also mentioned the status of existing foreigner tribunals (FTs) and cases pending before them. There are 100 FTs where 97,714 cases are pending as on October 31 while 8461 appeals against the tribunal orders are pending before the Gauhati high court, it said.

Last week, while hearing the matter, the court observed, We cannot allow for an unlimited influx [of illegal immigrants]. The infrastructure, education, public hospitals here are limited...Irrespective of what happens on Section 6A, this is a constitutional court, and we want to know what is being done to address the problem of illegal immigration.
Jaipur: Rajasthan's new deputy chief minister-elect Diya Kumari on Tuesday reacted to the speculation that she was ignored for the chief minister's post due to her alleged conflict with former CM Vasundhara Raje, saying she didn't want to comment on such things. The MP-turned-MLA, who was being counted among the frontrunners for the chief ministerial post, however, said she received the blessings of Vasundhara Raje. Diya Kumari addresses the media after BJP Legislature Party meeting, in Jaipur.(PTI)

Both Raje and Kumari belong to erstwhile royal families of Rajasthan. Kumari, who won her first assembly election in 2013, is fast emerging as a towering BJP leader in Rajasthan.

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Raje, Kumari, Kirodi Lal Meena, Balak Nath and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore's names were among the reported frontrunners for the coveted post. However, like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the BJP sprung a surprise as it selected first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma as the new chief minister of the state.

Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa have been selected as the two deputy chief ministers.

"I don't comment on such things. All of us have worked together. She was there too, I received her blessings too," Kumari said when a journalist asked about speculation of a strife with Vasundhara Raje.

"PM Narendra Modi cares for women and policies have been framed by keeping them in focus. Today, trust has been shown in me. So, I would like to thank PM Modi, the party's national president, Home Minister, Defence Minister, state president, all incharges and everyone else for considering me eligible for this and giving me this responsibility...I am grateful and happy to have received this opportunity. We will work together," she added.

Also read: Who is Bhajan Lal Sharma, BJP's pick for Rajasthan chief minister? Check wealth, education details

Prem Chand Bairwa said: "It can happen only in BJP where an ordinary party worker is given such a responsibility. I will work for the upliftment of Dalits and all other sections of the society."

The party announced the name of Vasudev Devnani as the Rajasthan Assembly speaker designate.

"I express gratitude to the central and state leaderships that expressed faith in me and gave me a new responsibility. I will shoulder this to the best of my abilities under the guidance of all senior leaders. Together, we will take forward the idea and tradition of Rajasthan," he said.

Also read: Rajasthan CM-elect Bhajan Lal Sharma thanks 'probable' Vasundhara Raje in first reaction

Bhajan Lal Sharma, meanwhile, thanked Raje for proposing his name before the legislative party of the BJP.

With their appointment, the BJP seeks to corner Brahmin, Rajput and Dalit votes for the upcoming 2024 general elections.

Who is Diya Kumari?

Diya Kumari is a second-time MLA from Rajasthan's Vidhyadhar Nagar. She is a member of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur. She was an MLA from Sawai Madhopur in 2013. In 2019, she was elected as a Member of Parliament from Rajasthan's Rajsamand.

She is the daughter of late Sawai Bhawani Singh and Padmini Devi.
An Australian-led team has declared an elusive stingray-like creature, not seen in a generation, is now extinct.

The only known specimen of a Java Stingaree was bought from a fish monger in Indonesia in 1862 and then preserved.

Charles Darwin University PhD student Julia Constance worked with international researchers to examine whether any other individuals had been purchased from markets, and how the destruction of its coastal habitat would have impacted the species.

With much of its Java Sea habitat now industrialised, the Java Stingaree has been declared extinct. Source: Edda Ael, Museum fur Naturkunde Berlin/Getty

Intensive and generally unregulated fishing is likely the major threat resulting in the depletion of the Java Stingaree population, with coastal fish catches in the Java Sea already declining by the 1870s, Constance said.

The northern coast of Java, particularly Jakarta Bay where the species was known to occur, is also heavily industrialised, with extensive, long-term habitat loss and degradation.

Countless other fish may also be extinct

Proving an animal is extinct is a painstakingly slow process. Many species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as critically endangered or extinct in the wild that havent been sighted for years are likely extinct.

With at least 120 marine fish listed as critically endangered, the universitys Dr Peter Kyne described the extinction of the Java Stingaree as a warning sign to protect the worlds marine creatures.

We must think about appropriate management strategies like protecting habitat and reducing overfishing while also securing the livelihoods of people reliant on fish resources, he said.

In the Australian state of Tasmania, the stingray-like maugean skate is believed to be on the verge of extinction due to runoff from salmon farms in its Macquarie Harbour home.

Tasmania's maugean skate could be extinct in less than a decade. Source: Jane Rucker/IMAS

Freshwater fish under threat

In its 2023 Red List of threatened species, the IUCN placed a particular focus on fish, revealing that a quarter of freshwater species are now threatened with extinction.

Story continues

Co-chair of the IUCNs freshwater fish specialist group, Kathy Hughes, warned these species must be protected for the billions of people who rely on them.

Ensuring freshwater ecosystems are well managed, remain free-flowing with sufficient water, and good water quality is essential to stop species declines and maintain food security, livelihoods and economies in a climate resilient world, she said.

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Parliament Winter Session 2023 Highlights: Significant bills and decisions have been made in the first few days of the winter session 2023 of the Parliament, with two historic bills regarding Jammu and Kashmir passed in Rajya Sabha on Day 6 of the winter session, on December 11. Parliament Winter Sessions LIVE updates: Check out major highlights from Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha sessions.

The Rajya Sabha passed unanimously the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 on Day 6 of the winter session, shortly after the Supreme Court upheld the judgment of the abrogation of Article 370, in favour of taking away the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Supreme Court in its verdict on Article 370 rejected the petitioners' case and upheld the Presidential order passed regarding the same. The five-judge bench also asked the Election Commission to hold polls in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024.

Meanwhile, suspended Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra has decided to move the Supreme Court to challenge her suspension regarding the cash for query case, involving businessman Darshan Hiranandani. Moitra was suspended from the Parliament on grounds of unethical conduct after she was accused of taking bribes from Hiranandani in exchange for posing questions in Parliament.
NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday underscored Indias claim over Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and said 24 seats were reserved in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly for representatives from the region as he blamed Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the delay in the integration of the erstwhile state with the rest of the country. Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the Winter Session of the Parliament, in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI)

Shahs comments came during his reply to the debate on two bills related to Jammu and Kashmir in the Rajya Sabha. The Jammu and Kashmir reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2023 were later passed by the Upper House with a voice vote.

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PoK is ours and no one can snatch it from us... he said, adding that full statehood will be given to J&K at an appropriate time.

The Opposition walked out of the proceedings before the amendments to the bills were put to vote.

The J&K reservation bill seeks to provide reservation in jobs and admission in professional institutions to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other socially and educationally backward classes. The amendments seek to reword Section 2 of the Reservation Act to change the nomenclature of weak and under privileged classes (social castes) to other backward classes and make consequential amendments.

The J&K reorganisation bill provides for the reorganisation of the erstwhile state of J&K into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir (with an elected legislature) and Ladakh (without an elected legislature). It seeks to increase the number of seats to 90 from 83 in J&K assembly  a number fixed by the delimitation commission earlier this year. It also reserves seven seats for scheduled castes, nine for scheduled tribes, two for Kashmiri migrants and one for displaced people from PoK. In addition, 24 seats are reserved for PoK.

Shah hailed the Supreme Courts verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370 that bestowed special status to J&K, and lashed out at the Congress for not supporting the 2019 move. If you (Congress) still want to stick to this (stand), PM (Narendra Modi) will become the PM for the third time.

The Supreme Court verdict is a historic decision and I welcome it. Now there will be only one Constitution, one flag and one PM, Shah said.

He also quoted Nehrus own statements to buttress his claims that taking the Kashmir issue to the United Nations (UN) was an ill-conceived move. Everyone knows that J&Ks accession to India was delayed as one person was given this task and that gave Pakistan an opportunity to attack Kashmir.Had ceasefire not happened, there would have been no PoK, he said.

Shah said Nehru admitted that more thought should have gone into the idea of a ceasefire. He also read out a quote from Sam Manekshaw, the then director of military operations, on the delay in sending out troops to stop the Kabali invaders who were on a rampage.

I want to give a reference to Sam Manekshaw. He said at one place that when the Pakistanis were attacking Kashmir, then he was busy in discussions (dont want to name the person). Sam Manekshaw was present at a meeting in which Sardar Patel told Nehru, Do you want Kashmir or not? Then the decision to send the army was taken, Shah said.

While parties such as the Congress, the Trinamool Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) are opposed to repealing the special status, the Union government defends the move to read down Article 370 as constitutional, pointing out that the grant of special status was not a part of the standard Instrument of Accession Agreement signed in 1947 by the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir as well as by rulers of more than 500 other princely states and it was a temporary article in the Indian Constitution.

Reiterating the stand, Shah said, I want to ask the followers of Nehru...Why did he prefix the word temporary....

The minister also cited a quote where he said Nehru accepted his mistake of taking the Kashmir issue to the UN, and said, After the experience of United Nations, I have come to the conclusions that no satisfactory results can be expected from there. I considered the ceasefire decision a good one, but we could not deal with this matter well. We should have had more thoughts on the ceasefire and taken it late. Though, these are the mistakes of the past. This quote is of Jawaharlal Nehru. Unko toh manoge ya nahi manoge ki unhone galti ki. Accept this...(Nehru himself is accepting that he did a mistake).

The home minister, who had piloted the bill for the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, blamed it for fostering separatism and terrorism. States like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar have larger Muslim populations than Kashmir. It wasnt a border issue either Gujarat shares a border with Pakistan. Why did separatism flourish in J&K? It was because Article 370 played a role in enabling and encouraging secession and that in turn promoted terrorism, he said.

Underlining the changes that have been ushered in on the ground in the UT post 2019, Shah said the Union government has not only tackled terrorism, but has also dismantled the ecosystem that fostered it. We have done the work of finishing the ecosystem of terrorism. 32 terrorism finance cases have been registered by SIT and 51 terrorism finance cases were registered by SIG. 229 arrests have been made in terror finance cases. Properties worth 150 crores have been seized and SIA has frozen 134 bank accounts with 100 crores in them, he said.

Provisions such as not giving jobs to individuals whose family members are accused of stone pelting or other terror acts, he said, has helped bring down instances of stone pelting and the resultant casualties.

He said the Union government will not shy away from owning responsibility for the decision to abrogate Article 370. If its a wrong decision...neither Modi, the cabinet or the party will run away from it. We take responsibility and own it, but also be ready to give an answer to the country because history spares none, he said.

Speaking about the Opposition MPs walkout, RJD MP Manoj Jha said, I just said that there is no elected MP from Kashmir but he took it to somewhere else...The kind of speech the HM gave today lacked dignity... So our LoP Mallikarjun Kharge decided that we should walk out of the Parliament.
Sharmistha Mukherjee's recent book, "Pranab, My Father: A Daughter's Reflections," published by Rupa Publications India, explores the personal diary of Pranab Mukherjee, former president and lifelong Congressman. In the book, Sharmistha Mukherjee candidly critiques several Congress leaders, including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. Notably, she mentioned in a discussion with Pavan K Varma, ex- Rajya Sabha member, that the book's contentious nature led to Congress members skipping the launch event on Pranab Mukherjees 88th birth anniversary, with only P. Chidambaram in attendance. Written by his daughter Sharmishtha Mukherjee and titled Pranab, My Father, the book draws on his diaries and conversations with his daughter. (HT)

Ingrained Loyalty and Indira Gandhi's Influence

Sharmistha Mukherjee's discourse during the launch of "Pranab, My Father: A Daughter Remembers" offered an intimate portrayal of her father's political trajectory. She illuminated pivotal moments, emphasizing Pranab Mukherjee's meticulous groundwork and his rapid ascent within the Congress hierarchy, attributing it to his dedication and competence.

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"What impressed her was Baba's meticulous homework... within a very few years, he kind of moved from one ministry to another, from Deputy minister to state minister to independent charge," reflected Sharmistha, acknowledging her father's diligence that caught the attention of Indira Gandhi during crucial junctures.

The enduring bond between Pranab and Indira Gandhi was a cornerstone, with Mukherjee's unwavering loyalty being a defining characteristic. "There is no question of my leaving Congress or Indiraji... If I leave her at her bad time, I will not only be able to ever face the public but I will never be able to face myself," quoted Sharmistha, echoing her father's unwavering commitment to Indira Gandhi during her challenging periods.

Insights into Historical Junctures

Reflecting on the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination, Sharmistha recounted her father's conviction amid the whirlwind of uncertainty. "A prime minister was assassinated, creating a whirlwind of uncertainty," noted Pranab Mukherjee, emphasizing the necessity of avoiding internal party conflicts and preserving stability by swiftly supporting Rajiv Gandhi's assumption of the Prime Minister's role.

"Regarding his various key positions like Defense Minister, Finance Minister, External Minister, and more, it's definitely not a consolation prize," remarked Sharmistha Mukherjee, reflecting on her father Pranab Mukherjee's illustrious career. "He deserved every position he got because he worked for it, he earned it," she emphasized.

Recalling an unexpected appointment as Defense Minister, Sharmistha highlighted her father's surprise and initial unfamiliarity with the role. Yet, the appointment as Defense Minister seemed like a compliment, as he was told by Sonia Gandhi, Other than you, nobody can clear the mess at the Defense Ministry.

Complex Relationships and Political Dynamics

The conversation unraveled nuanced relationships within the political spectrum. Sharmistha detailed Pranab Mukherjee's interactions with leaders like Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi. "There was exemplary courtesy shown to my father by Dr. Singh," she emphasized, reflecting on the unexpected mutual respect between the two.

Regarding Rahul Gandhi, Mukherjee's diary entries revealed disappointment and concern. "Anybody would agree that it was an extremely immature and arrogant act. He has the arrogance of his congress predecessors but not their political acumen," remarked Sharmistha, citing her father's thoughts on Rahul's actions referring to the time Gandhi tore the ordinance in 2013.

Reflecting on the incident where Rahul Gandhi's office mixed up appointment times, Sharmistha said that Pranab Mukherjee commented, If he mixes AM and PM, how is he supposed to run the PM?

Trust Deficits and Presidential Candidature

Delving into the intricacies of Pranab Mukherjee's dynamics with Sonia Gandhi, Sharmistha highlighted a perceived trust deficit. "Having a mind of his own, combined with a lethal combination of political knowledge... those kinds of people will never toe the line kindly," she stated, pointing to a possible reason for the nuances in their relationship.

Exploring complexities within the Congress hierarchy, Sharmistha hinted at potential reasons behind her father's exclusion from certain roles. She speculated on Sonia Gandhi's preference for Dr Manmohan Singh over Pranab Mukherjee for the Prime Ministerial role, suggesting, "She perhaps thought that Baba is going to challenge her authority some way or the other."

Sharmistha expressed uncertainty about her father being Sonia Gandhi's first choice for the Congress party's presidential candidate, hinting at attempts to sabotage his candidacy and the mystery surrounding Mamata Banerjee's initial opposition, adding layers to the intrigue.

Pranab Mukherjee's Interactions with Narendra Modi

Sharmistha illuminated her father's intriguing relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite ideological differences. She highlighted how Modi touched Mukherjees feet and sought his blessings. Pranab Mukherjee's commitment to the constitutional role of the President, stating, "Governance is the job of the Prime Minister; I am not going to interfere in that."

She recounted an instance where Modi sought her father's guidance and received a clear stance on non-interference. Reflecting on her father's decision to address an RSS event despite opposition from within the Congress, Sharmistha initially shared her apprehensions, echoing the party's concerns about giving legitimacy to the RSS. However, she highlighted her father's unwavering belief in parliamentary democracy and dialogue, stating, "My father stood by his belief that democracy is all about having conversation with your opposition." She recounted how he used the RSS platform to advocate Congress ideology, earning admiration even while seemingly "trolling" the RSS.
Protests have not been banned on the JNU campus and are allowed at designated areas, an official clarified on Tuesday, a day after the institute faced flak over its series of stringent measures against staging strikes or dharnas within its boundaries. Jawaharlal Nehru University(HT File)

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in a revised Chief Proctor Office (CPO) manual has stated that putting up wall posters, and staging dharnas within 100 metres of the institute's academic buildings can lead to a fine of up to 20,000 or expulsion, while any "anti-national" act will attract a 10,000 fine.

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The 20,000 fine for holding protests at prohibited areas of the campus is an old rule and not a new one approved unanimously by the university's executive council (EC) last month, the official said on the condition of anonymity.

"We have not changed anything. These rules were already there in place. We have just introduced a few other regulations to ensure no disruption is caused to the academic process. Students still have the democratic right to protest at designated places," the official told PTI.

The JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) on Monday had shared the Chief Proctor Office manual released in November and it has outlined 28 types of misconducts, including a fine of 10,000 for anti-national slogans, restriction on putting wall posters, staging dharnas within 100 metres of the academic buildings, among other punishable acts that could lead to a fine of up to 20,000 or expulsion from the university.

"The stringent measures outlined in the manual are aimed at stifling the vibrant campus culture that has defined JNU for decades. The JNUSU demands that the university administration immediately revoke the new manual of the office of the Chief Proctor Manual," the students' union had said.

Vice-Chancellor Santishree Pandit said the rules and regulations against misconduct have been in place at the varsity since long and the manual was made legally sound by getting it approved by the EC.

"This is old not new. Passed unanimously by the EC last month as the manual had to be made legally sound. The fines are on indiscipline of drinking, drugs and misbehavior in hostels and towards women. The proctor's office since 1969 has been taking action, imposing fines and rustications," she said.

Student bodies at the university have condemned the move saying that it snatches away the democratic right of students to register dissent.

Following the EC's nod to the manual, JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh was fined 10,000 for "forcibly pushing open the locked door of the Teflas Students' Union Office" on March 2 and given a warning not to repeat such an act.

According to the revised manual, if a student receives five or more punishments during the duration of their study, they can be expelled from the university and will not be allowed to register for the semester until the fine is paid.

Among the changes in the revised manual is a ban on protesting within 100 metres of academic buildings of different schools which houses offices of chairperson, deans and other important office bearers.

Earlier, the restriction was on protesting within the 100 metres of the administrative block, which houses the office of the vice-chancellor, registrar and proctors, according to high court orders.
Rajasthan CM Announcement LIVE Updates: After setting the suspense in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday announced Bhajan Lal Sharma as new chief minister face of Rajasthan. BJP leaders meet Rajasthan governor to stake calim for government formation.

The unexpected selection was announced after BJP MLAs gathered and elected the 56-year-old MLA from Sanganer as the leader of its legislature party.

According to senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh, who led a team of three central observers, Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa will serve as deputy chief ministers, and Vasudev Devnani will be the speaker of the state assembly.

During the meeting, the name of the CM-designate was proposed by former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, who was herself considered a contender for the top post.

Who is Bhajan Lal Sharma?

 First-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma won the Sanganer constituency with a margin of 48,081 votes.

 He belongs to Rajasthans eastern district Bharatpur.

 He is considered to be enjoying strong backing from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-backed.

 Sharma is at present the BJP's state general secretary,

 He holds a master's degree in political science.
Opposition and treasury benches on Monday engaged in a heated verbal duel in Rajya Sabha after a controversial remark by a DMK member during a discussion on Jammu and Kashmir bills, following which Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expunged it and reminded the MPs of the responsibility that came with the freedom of speech. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar conducts proceedings in the House(PTI)

Disapproving of M Mohamed Abdulla's remarks, Dhankhar told the DMK member, who also described the abrogation of Article 370 as an attack on federalism, that the freedom of speech in the Upper House "is not unqualified" in reference to the Supreme Court judgement on the matter.

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"Can we quote anything in this House? Can we go to the extent of it being seditious, challenging our integrity, going against our Constitution? Going against the judgement of the Supreme Court this day? That will not be acceptable," he said during the proceedings.

The DMK MP was speaking during a discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Opposing the two bills moved by Home Minister Amit Shah for consideration and passage by the House, Abdulla had invoked rationalist and Dravidian movement founder Periyar to support his points and asked the government to take steps to address several issues in Jammu and Kashmir.

To this, Dhankhar remarked, "Can the House subscribe to this? Can you observe silence on this?"

Observing that Abdulla was "abusing the platform", Dhankhar expunged the remarks and said he had gone too far. He also asked the Opposition members why they were silent on such an issue.

Although Abdulla insisted he was "wrongly understood" by the Chair, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman intervened and asked the Congress party members who are in alliance with the DMK if "they go along with that".

"How could this House be hearing this? Congress should stand up and say," she said.

Dhankhar said, "In this House, the House of Elders, the Upper House can we countenance someone talking such kind of language? Determination on the basis of race, that goes against the very essence of the Constitution."

The Chairman further said, "We all have taken oaths of the Constitution. How can we countenance such kind of misdemeanour by a member? This is not freedom of speech. This goes much beyond that.

"Every word the member has spoken cannot be accepted. It cannot be countenanced by anyone who believes in the legislation, who believes in our Constitution. I am expunging those parts."

Dhankhar said, "We have freedom of speech here. That freedom comes with great responsibility. That message goes to the entire world."

As the opposition and treasury benches exchanged heated words, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said if the views of a member were not in consonance with the law of the land and business rules of the House, then the Chairman can expunge those remarks, but asserted that he won't accept it simply because "the treasury benchers shout and say it is unconstitutional".

Leader of the House Piyush Goyal asked Congress members if they agreed with what Abdulla said.

Senior Congress leader K C Venugopal asked the Chairman to go through records and verify in what context Periyar had made the remarks, which was quoted by the DMK member.

Dhankar retorted, "Can we quote anything in this House? Can we go to the extent of it being seditious, challenging our integrity, going against our Constitution?"

Shah then intervened amid shouting from both sides and said it is for the chair to decide if the remarks by Abdulla are to be kept in the records or not.

"I have a question - is Congress supporting the assertion made by the member... Are you supporting this statement of Abdulla?" Shah asked.

In response, Kharge said Abdulla had only quoted Periyar and whether supporting it or against it can be a matter of discussion but "it is very undemocratic to stop someone from speaking in the house".

Congress member Jairam Ramesh asserted that his party does not support the statement.

DMK party leader Tiruchi Siva accused the ruling members of creating hype and trying to give a different colour to "a very ordinary statement" made by Abdulla.

He asserted that DMK has always vouched for the integrity of India and stood up whenever the country faced external challenges.

Earlier, Abdulla had also said the abrogation of Article 370 was an attack on federalism and said it was unconstitutional to downgrade federal democratic states into a less representative form such as a Union Territory.

In response, treasury benches asked if the member was "nullifying" the Supreme Court judgement passed in the morning.

Dhankhar interjected and said the member needs to be "alive to the fact that in a historic judgement today the honourable Supreme Court has sustained what the Parliament has done.

"And therefore to speak against the judgement, which is the law of the land, is not appropriate. Your assertion was 100 per cent to the contrary," he said directing that the objectionable statements be expunged.

"All of us must keep in mind that when the judiciary has taken a view on a particular issue comprehensively, decisively, we need to abide by it," Dhankhar said.

Vivek Tankha (Congress), V Vijaysai Reddy (YSRCP), Syed Naseer Hussain (Congress), Sasmit Patra (BJD), K R Suresh Reddy (BRS) and Manoj Jha (RJD) also took part in the discussion.

During the discussion, independent member Kartikeya Sharma supported the bill and urged other members to welcome the draft laws.

BJP's Rakesh Sinha stated that the opposition has not accepted the abrogation of Article 370 and still believes in the existence of Babri Masjid.

IUML member Abdul Wahab said that his party is neutral on the bill.

BJP member Anil Jain said after abrogation of Article 370, the law and order situation has improved which boosted tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.

CPI member Sandosh Kumar P opposed the bill and demanded the setting up of a truth and reconciliation commission

BJP member Sumer Singh Solanki said the legislation will provide rights to displaced Kashmiris. BJP member Krishan Lal Panwar also supported the bill.

Shiv Sena (UBT) member Priyanka Chaturvedi welcomed the Supreme Court judgement on the abrogation of Article 370.

She reminded the government of its promise to restore peace in the valley, conduct assembly elections and bring back Kashmiri Pandits. TMC(M) MP G K Vasan supported the bill saying it is the need of the hour.
A controversial bill regulating the appointment and conditions of service of Indias top election officials was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, reaffirming the executives grip on the Election Commission of India (ECI) months before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and sparking protests from the Opposition. Parliamentarians in the Rajya Sabha during the Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi. (PTI)

The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, comes months after the Supreme Court laid down a temporary selection procedure that included the Chief Justice of India (CJI) as a member of the selection panel, along with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. The new bill replaces CJI with a Cabinet minister, effectively giving the government a 2-1 majority in the panel.

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Before the top courts March 2 verdict, CEC and ECs used to be appointed by the Prime Minister and the council of ministers, under the seal of the President. The court, in its order, had called for a law on how the CECs and ECs should be picked, saying no such mechanism existed at the time.

While the courts formula appeared to loosen the hold of the executive in the process, the government, while bringing the new bill, argued that framing laws was the responsibility of the legislature, drawing attention to Article 50 that deals with the separation of powers between the legislature, executive, and judiciary.

The functioning of ECI was and will remain impartial and transparent, and the government is committed to ensuring that. We are committed to ensuring that all institutions of the country work in an impartial way, said minister of state for law and justice Arjun Ram Meghwal in his reply to the discussion on the bill.

But the Opposition  which staged a walkout before the voice vote passing the bill  criticised the proposed law, alleging that its undemocratic provisions will destroy one of countrys last remaining independent institutions.

The bill  introduced in the Upper House on August 10, the penultimate day of the monsoon session  was moved on Tuesday with some amendments.

Earlier, clause 6 laid down that the cabinet secretary would head the search committee but now it is under the law minister with two secretaries as its members, Meghwal said. Another amendment to clause 15 related to protecting the top election officials from legal proceedings while discharging their official duties, Meghwal said.

The salary and status of the election officials will be the same as a Supreme Court judge, he said. There was some concern that an earlier version of the bill equated the status of CECs and ECs with that of a cabinet secretary, which might have led to the perception that their status was lowered.

Under Article 324(2) of the Constitution, the President is empowered to appoint CEC and ECs. This provision further stipulates that the President, who acts on the aid and advice of the Prime Minister and the council of ministers, will make the appointments subject to the provisions of any law made on that behalf by Parliament.

However, with no such law having been framed till now, CEC and ECs used to be appointed by the PM and the council of ministers, under the seal of the President, through the 1991 Transaction of Business Act, which the top court had noted, lacked objective standards regarding the selection and qualification of the CEC and ECs.

On March 2, a five-judge Constitution bench said that CEC and ECs will be chosen by a panel comprising the PM, LoP (or the leader of the single largest Opposition party in Parliament) and CJI, till Parliament passed a law on appointments. The court noted that the making of a law for such appointment was a constitutional imperative and an unavoidable necessity, but since Parliament had failed to do so, there was a vacuum that needed to be filled through the intervention of the highest court. But on August 10, the central government moved the new bill, which, with amendments, was passed on Tuesday.

A vacancy will arise in the poll body early next year when election commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey demits office on February 14 on attaining the age of 65. His retirement will come just days before the likely announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls scheduled by ECI. In the past two occasions, ECI had announced parliamentary polls in March.

During the debate in the Upper House, the Opposition said the bill would bulldoze the independence and fearlessness of ECI.

The bills intent is malicious and the result is disastrous. Our democracy is above the ruling regime. The Constitution cannot be subjugated, bulldozed, or trampled upon by the government. We are defenders of the Constitution, and we will continue to do so, said Congress leader Randeep Surjewala.

The government, however, dismissed the Oppositions allegations, and said the bill was in line with the directions of the top court.

There was a shortcoming in the 1991 law, so the SC said bring a new law. And till the time the law is not there, SC put in place a stopgap arrangement...the selection committee that the Opposition is talking about. They were talking about bulldozing the Constitution. The bill is in consonance with Article 324 and Article 50. No one is above the Constitution, Meghwal said.

Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said Parliament was the supreme body when it came to making laws and reflections made by SC were not binding on it. He said there could be no interference either by the executive or the judiciary.

Meghwal attacked the Congress in his speech. Why is PM in the panel, the Opposition asked. What kind of argument is this? The citizens of the country have chosen the PM. Does the PM have no role in the executives functioning? Also, no one spoke about the leader of the Oppositions role in the selection panel, he asked.

Amar Patnaik of the Biju Janata Dal supported the bill and argued that the independence of CEC was maintained and there is no affront to the independence and interference in the election process.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha alleged that the bill was a bulldozer with which the government has finished the Election Commissions impartiality.
Chhattisgarh chief minister-elect Vishnu Deo Sai will take oath along with his council of ministers, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Raipur on Wednesday, an official statement issued by the state public relations department said on Monday. Chhattisgarh governor Biswabhusan Harichandan with CM-designate Vishnu Deo Sai in Raipur on Sunday. (PTI)

The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Science College Ground at 2pm, and will also be attended by Union ministers Amit Shah and Mansukh Mandaviya, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda, and chief ministers of other states among others.

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PM Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, BJP national president JP Nadda, Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya, partys state incharge Om Mathur and CMs of other states will be present in the swearing in ceremony, the statement said.

The BJP won 54 out of 90 seats in the two-phased assembly elections last month.

Sai (59) was declared as the BJPs first tribal chief minister on Sunday.

In his first comments after his appointment, Sai said: As chief minister, I will try to fulfil Modis guarantees (BJPs pre-poll promises) through my government. Sanctioning 18 lakh (1.8 million) houses to beneficiaries of the housing scheme will be the first thing to be done.

He added: I will work for Sabka Vishwas with all honesty and the promises made to the people of Chhattisgarh under Modi Ki Guarantee will be fulfilled.
A group photo taken at the BJP office here ahead of Tuesdays legislature party meeting showed Bhajan Lal Sharma in the very last row. An hour or so later, he had jumped places to front and centre stage. Rajasthan Chief Minister-designate Bhajan Lal Sharma(ANI)

The three central observers sent by the Bharatiya Janata Party from Delhi proposed his name as the leader of the legislature party in Rajasthan, the state it wrested from the Congress in the recent assembly elections.

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And the 54-year-old first-time MLA, who represents Jaipurs Sanganer in the assembly became the chief minister-designate.

Sharma is one of the general secretaries in the state BJP and has kept a low profile.

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Considered a hardcore RSS man, Sharma was actively involved in the agitation for the Ram temple in Ayodhya at the site where the Babri mosque stood. In 1992, he spent time in jail for this.

That was around the beginning of his political career. He has also been a village sarpanch twice, starting at the age of 27.

Over the past three decades, Sharma has held various posts in the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and in the party organisation.

He went to school in the Bharatpur districts Atari village and Nadbai town.

Later, he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), and also took up social causes in Nabadi and Bharatpur.

Sharma actively participated in the 1990 ABVP protest in which thousands of students from across the country gathered in Jammu to march towards Srinagar.

The authorities stopped them, and Sharma was among the several who courted arrest in Udhampur, protesting against attacks on Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.

Sharma then moved on to the BJYM, the BJPs youth wing. He was BJYMs district president thrice before becoming the parent partys Bharatpur district secretary and its district president.

Leaving Bharatpur for the BJPs Rajasthan headquarter, Sharma became the partys state vice president, and is now a general secretary in the state BJP.

Sharma holds a masters' degree in political science and runs an agriculture supplies business.

The BJP won 115 of the 199 seats on which polling took place in the November assembly elections in Rajasthan. The BJP also won the elections in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
 The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to suggest within a month the modalities to implement suggestions by the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) on the support to be provided to a child slapped by fellow classmates on instructions of their teacher who made communal remarks at a school in Muzaffarnagar. A bench of justices AS Oka and Sandeep Mehta asked the state government to interact with TISS officials and file an affidavit by January 17 (ANI)

A bench of justices AS Oka and Sandeep Mehta asked the state government to interact with TISS officials and file an affidavit by January 17 containing details of how the state intends to report the comprehensive ground report prepared by the institute.

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The institute was involved by the court following the inability of the state government to provide counselling to the child, who suffered mental trauma after the incident in August this year.

The bench said, We have gone through the very exhaustive report prepared by TISS. We direct the state to file a report containing details of the manner in which the state intends to implement the report. The matter has been posted for hearing in mid-January.

The directions were passed while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Tushar Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, who highlighted the incident seeking an effective probe and guidelines to take action against the erring teacher and prevent such incidents from recurring.

The TISS report was presented to the court by the UP government through its additional advocate general (AAG) Garima Prasad. She flagged a concern raised in the report about the possibility of the child being left out due to socioeconomic differences as he is currently studying at Sharden Public school, rated as a top school in Muzaffarnagar and which is situated nearly 28 kilometres from the village where the child resides. The AAG said that the state has prepared a list of 6 government schools and 5 private schools located closer to the place of his residence.

The bench said, One important thing is the child has settled in the school and is happy in that school. Not of the opinion of changing the school mid-way, the bench further stated, We have to be very careful. You may convey this to the father of the child. At present, it would not be right to disturb him. It can be for the next academic year.

Advocate Shadan Farasat, who appeared for the petitioner and who also filed an application on behalf of the victims father in the case, informed the court that the child is comfortable in the new school. Since the court had asked the state to fund the fees of the student, he said, He has just settled down in the new school. Who is to be blamed for the months he lost going to school? This is the best school in town.

The bench said, The child should be in the best possible school. TISS also says the child is comfortable. The state said that the education department had deposited the entire fees for this academic year at the current school.

The video of the incident that took place at Neha Public School, an unrecognised private school in Muzaffarnagar, went viral where the accused teacher Tripta Tyagi was was seen telling children to hit their classmate hard and saying at one point, Maine toh declare kar diya, jitne bhi Mohammedan bachche hain, inke wahan chale jao (I have declared  all these Muslim children, go to anyones area)

On being confronted over the incident, the teacher justified her action by saying it was important to control students. She was initially charged under Section 323 (causing hurt) and Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) under the IPC but following sharp criticism from court, the investigation of the case came to be monitored by the inspector general, Meerut range, and new sections under IPC and the Juvenile Justice Act were added.

The teacher was to be prosecuted under two newly added offences - Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code dealing with outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Child) Act dealing with causing cruelty to a child.

In September, the court observed that if the allegations in the incident were correct, it must shock the conscience of the state government as it amounted to the states failure in ensuring the childs fundamental right to get compulsory and quality education under the RTE Act. The court also wished to know how the RTE Act is being implemented in the state. The court said after it has dealt with the TISS report, it will deal with other issues raised in the petition at a later stage.
An Australia Post driver has been accused of pure laziness after failing to deliver a package while a man was at home.

In the 27-second clip captured on a security camera, the delivery driver can be seen buzzing the doorbell, empty-handed. Before the residents had a chance to answer the door, the driver had already walked off back to his van.

The package was not left at the front door, instead taken to the local post office. Steve, the man who captured the footage, said that its not only created more work for him by having to pick it up at the local post office, but also for Australia Post staff.

How is this attempted delivery, Steve asks on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The postie was accused of 'pure laziness' following his delivery act. Source: Twitter

'Frustrated' customer's rant about postie's act

In the frustrated post, the man explains he was home when the driver arrived at the front door in Bayswater, Victoria. He said there was no package in his hands and now this has created more work for your staff and for us having to pick it up". "Pure laziness. Unacceptable!

Yahoo understands that due to the 13kg weight of the package, the driver had left it in the van and waited in the driveway for an answer at the door.

"Australia Post delivers millions of parcels to Australians across the country every week, and the vast majority reach their destination safely and on time," a spokesperson said after investigating the incident.

"We have strict protocols in place for delivery drivers. Our usual process was not followed on this occasion, and we apologise to the customer. In instances where customers have concerns about their delivery, we encourage them to contact us on 13 POST (13 7678) so we can investigate."

Postie accused of sleeping on the job

Its not the first time that an Australia Post delivery driver has been accused of being lazy. Last month, one postie was caught seemingly snoozing on the job in a comfy hammock.

Story continues

The worker chose his sleeping station under a pergola in a public park in Banora Point in NSW's Northern Rivers and used his Australia Post bicycle to ostensibly provide a bit of privacy during his nap. After spotting the man, a local approached him to ask if "he was ok" before realising the worker was in fact sleeping.

An Australia Post worker seemingly asleep in a NSW park. Source: Facebook

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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A Sikh couple from India killed in a shooting spree at their residence in the Canadian province of Ontario last month were possibly attacked in a case of mistaken identity, provincial police have said. According to the local police, more than 30 shots were fired by the accused. They are yet to make any arrests and ascertain the motive behind the crime.

On November 20, 57-year-old Jagtar Singh was killed, and his wife and daughter critically injured after armed assailants stormed into their rented residence in Caledon town and opened fire.

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While Singhs wife, Harbhajan Kaur (55), succumbed to injuries during treatment two weeks later, the couples daughter continues to remain critical. The couples son was not at home at the time of the incident.

According to the local police, more than 30 shots were fired by the accused. They are yet to make any arrests and ascertain the motive behind the crime.

Officers are investigating all aspects of this homicide, including whether or not the victims of this crime were intended targets or not, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detective inspector Brian McDermott said.

It is still too early to make any firm determinations on that aspect, he added.

Police said the couple from India were visiting and living with their two children who are studying in Canada. The children had sponsored their parents visit.

In a release last month, the Caledon detachment of OPP said: It is believed that multiple suspects are involved.

Police also said they are working to establish whether a vehicle fire in the area on the day of the murder was linked to the incident. In several gang fights in recent years, the culprits often set the vehicles used during the crime ablaze before fleeing the scene, they said.

An online fund-raiser for the family, initiated by their friend Paramvir Singh, said the daughter was deeply traumatised and severely wounded and has not spoken a word since the incident has happened.

Doctors are unsure if she will ever be able to speak again, it said. Police are saying that this is an act of mistaken identity and killers misidentified the victims for someone else, it added.
The newly-formed Congress-led Telangana government on Monday has ordered a comprehensive probe into the alleged sinking of pillars of Medigadda barrage of Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project built on Godavari river, a government statement said. Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy during a meeting in Hyderabad on Monday. (ANI)

A decision to this effect was taken during a high-level official meeting convened by state irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy at Jal Soudha Bhavan in Hyderabad on Monday evening.

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According to an official statement from the irrigation ministry, Reddy asked the authorities to order an in-depth probe into the sinking of pillars of Medigadda barrage due to alleged faulty design and fix the responsibility on the officials in-charge of the same.

We will examine all aspects of the Kaleshwaram project. Action will be taken against the officials and engineers responsible for the lapses, Reddy said while asking the authorities to prepare for personal inspection of the damaged portions of the Medigadda barrage.

The minister said the irrigation projects were being constructed with the public funds and so, there should be transparency in every aspect.

We have to be responsible and accountable to every rupee that we are spending, he said. Reddy said the Telangana government will fight for the rightful share of Krishna water for Telangana. We will pursue with the (matter) with the central government for achieving national project status for Palamuru Ranga Reddy project, he said. The minister also called for prioritising completion of pending irrigation projects wherein more area will be brought into cultivation at a lesser cost and completed on a fast track basis.

He also asked the authorities to examine the revival of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Pranahita-Chevella project, which was ignored by the previous government.
A Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it does not deny that the issue of illegal immigration is serious while reserving orders on a bunch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act. A constitution bench of the Supreme Court reserves order on petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Section 6A of Citizenship Act. (ANI)

The five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud said that the court will confine itself only to the validity of Section 6A after the Centre, represented through solicitor general (SG) Tushar Mehta, objected to a wrong remark made during the arguments claiming Assam was once a part of Myanmar. The issue of influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar is pending before another bench of the top court.

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The bench, also comprising justices Surya Kant, MM Sundresh, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said, We have already made it clear. We will confine ourselves to the validity of Section 6A. This provision was introduced in 1985 by Parliament, extending citizenship to migrants from Bangladesh who settled in Assam after coming into the country between January 1, 1966 and March 25, 1971.

The petitions, filed by Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha and All Assam Ahom Sabha, among others, argued that singling out Assam was discriminatory as it violated the cultural, social, and political rights of indigenous citizens of one state at a time when the problem of illegal immigration was common to other states bordering Bangladesh.

Read Here: SC expands the scope of Assam immigrants case

On Monday, the Centre filed an affidavit producing figures of persons granted citizenship under Section 6A, and those detected as foreigners who came in during the specified period (January 1966 to March 25, 1971). The response filed by Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla said that a total of 32,381 persons were detected as foreigners by foreigner tribunals and 17,861 of them citizenship after getting registered with FRRO as on October 31 this year.

Referring to these figures, senior advocate Kamal Nayan Chaudhary, appearing for one of the petitioners, said: The Centre is trying to suggest this is a trivial issue as it concerns only 17,000-odd persons being given citizenship. This is not trivial, and the Centre must indicate what it has done to contain this problem.

The court had also sought information on the inflow of illegal immigrants who came in after the cut-off period of March 25, 1971, but the Centre said that an accurate figure could not be given since entry of such foreign nationals into the country is clandestine and surreptitious. It further said that the detection, detention and deportation of foreign nationals staying illegally in India was a complex, ongoing process.

During Tuesdays hearing, Mehta referred to a remark by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who was appearing for Jamait UIema-I-Hind, that referred to Assam as once being part of Myanmar.

Read Here | Need to give govts leeway to ensure peace in strife-torn states: Supreme Court

Sibal, in his submissions last week, said, If you look at the history of Assam, youll realise that its impossible to figure out who came when. Assam originally was a part of Myanmar and it was way back in 1824 after the British conquered a part of it that a treaty was entered into, by which Assam was handed over to the British.

Objecting to this, Mehta said, It seems my senior friend has read the wrong book of history. Assam was never a part of Myanmar.... I dont think this has any relevance for the purpose of deciding the validity of Section 6A. He further stated, This submission has some relevance when we deal with the matter at some other level. The issue of influx from Myanmar (referring to Rohingya migrants) is separately pending before this court.

Sibal, who was present in court, responded that there was a British book that had recording this historical fact, and pointed told Mehta, who also appeared for Assam, to check up this fact on the Assam governments official website. The part in the website he referred to says, The rule of the Ahom dynasty ended with the Burmese invasion of Assam and the subsequent annexation by the British East India Company following the Treaty of Yandaboo in 1826. The British emperor took charge of the state and thus begun the colonial era of Assam.

The arguments against Section 6A were led by senior advocates Shyam Divan, KN Chaudhary, and Vijay Hansaria. They submitted that Parliament, while enacting Section 6A, amended the Constitution. It was argued that Article 6 of the Constitution provided that migrants who came from Pakistan after July 19, 1948 were permitted to become citizens if they filed an application before the appropriate authority before the commencement of the Constitution in January 1950. The petitioners argued that Section 6A changed the cut-off to January 1966 as migrants from Bangladesh as on March 25, 1971 were citizens of East Pakistan.

They further submitted that, with the settling of illegal immigrants in Assam, the demography of the state underwent a change, and the migrants now hold a dominant position in 32 out of 126 assembly constituencies.

The Centre and Assam government maintained that Section 6A served its purpose, and it was passed in a peculiar situation following the Assam Accord of 1985 to quell violent protests in the state.
On Friday, speaking at the national conference of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the students wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological parent of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Union Home Minister Amit Shah described himself as an organic product of ABVP much to the audiences delight. Amit Shahs successor as party president JP Nadda was an ABVP national secretary while key strategist and education minister Dharmendra Pradhan was national secretary (HT Photo)

The new chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, both surprise choices, announced on December 11 and 12 respectively, Mohan Yadav and Bhajan Lal Sharma can, if they so desire, also describe themselves thus. The key appointments only highlight what has been acknowledged for some time in Delhis power circles -- the ABVP is becoming a recurring theme in the generational transformation in the BJP.

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In some ways, this continues a trend that started some time back.

Read Here: Who is Bhajan Lal Sharma, BJP's pick for Rajasthan chief minister?

Shahs successor as party president JP Nadda was an ABVP national secretary while key strategist and education minister Dharmendra Pradhan was national secretary. Incidentally, both their spouses are also former office-bearers of ABVP.

The Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal was in the Mumbai unit of the ABVP while the Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Shekhawat was the state secretary of the ABVP in Rajasthan. Earth sciences minister Kiren Rijiju was talent spotted during one of ABVPs North-East campaign.

Selected for the top job in Rajasthan on Tuesday, Bhajan Lal Sharma served in the Bharatpur unit of the ABVP from 1990 to 1996. Commenting on the role the organisation played in his development, Sharma posted earlier this week: The ABVP experience and ideals have helped nurture millions of workers like me.

Established in 1949, the students body had more patriotic objectives rather than how to achieve electoral success. Even during the first NDA government, there were prominent ABVP school recruits such as Pramod Mahajan, Gopinath Munde and Ananth Kumar, although not as many as there are now.

Read Here: Mohan Yadav to be new Madhya Pradesh chief minister, Jagdish Devda & Rajendra Shukla named deputy CMs

To be sure, student organisations were a small source of talent spotting even for the Congress party. Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot are just some of the top leaders who trace their origin to the National Students Union of India (NSUI).

But the ABVP promotes talent aggressively, one of its leaders said.I come from a Jharkhand village that saw the first road being built by Prime Minister AB Vajpayee in 2002, said ABVPs general secretary Yagyavalkya Shukla. You can make out from my journey from that village to being an office bearer, what kind of organisation ABVP is.

Its something that even the NSUI acknowledges. Its national secretary Lokesh Chugh said: The reason why we see so many chief ministers from ABVP is clear. They have people who have dedicated their student life to do this work, for many years. Even we have people like that. But the fortnight that was also saw the success of a third man who started his political life in the ABVP -- the Congresss Revanth Reddy, named chief minister of Telangana last week, was a member of ABVP in his college days.
NEW DELHI: US President Joe Biden is not expected to travel to India in January to participate in the Republic Day celebrations and the Indian side is looking at revised dates for a Quad Summit that was planned to be held next month, people familiar with the developments said on Tuesday. US President Joe Biden steps off Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on December 11 (AFP)

The people cited above said on condition of anonymity that it is now clear Biden would not travel to India next month, prompting the Indian side to scout for new dates for the Quad Summit to be hosted by New Delhi. As recently as last month, diplomats of Quad states said the option of holding the summit on January 27 was still on the table.

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The Indian side now proposes to hold the Quad Summit later in 2024, the people said. We are looking for revised dates as the dates currently under consideration do not work with all the Quad partners, one of the people said.

The development will also put the Indian side in the uncomfortable position of having to look for a leader to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations with a little more than six weeks to go for the event.

A number of factors are believed to be behind the US administrations decision not to take up the Republic Day invitation, including Bidens focus on his re-election bid in the face of a resurgent campaign by former president Donald Trump, the State of the Union address expected in late January or early February, and a string of geopolitical crises, especially the Israel-Hamas conflict.

While there has been no official word from the Indian government on Biden being invited to be chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, US ambassador Eric Garcetti told reporters in September that an invitation had been extended to President Biden by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the two leaders held a bilateral meeting on the margins of the G20 Summit.

The invitation to a foreign leader to be chief guest at the Republic Day is a signal honour reserved for Indias closest allies and partners. There were no chief guests at the celebrations in 2021 and 2022 because of disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the chief guest this year.

While the leaders of Australia and Japan have pressing domestic engagements in late January, both countries had agreed to join a proposed Quad Summit on January 27, provided Biden went ahead with his visit to New Delhi, the people said.

A Quad Summit over the weekend following Republic Day was being considered because Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be busy with Australia Day on January 26, while his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida will be tied up with a session of the Diet or Japans Parliament. The Diet session is expected to begin on either January 15 or January 22, and the convention is that the premier cannot be absent during proceedings.

Australia and Japan had shown flexibility about the holding of the Quad Summit in January because both India and the US are set to go into general elections, which will sharply reduce the window for such a meeting, the people said. Officials of all four Quad states were also working on a list of deliverables in areas such as critical and emerging technologies, climate change, maritime security, health security and critical minerals.
Former Telangana chief minister Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday appealed to the people not to visit him at the hospital citing concerns regarding the risk of infection and the safety of other patients. In a video clip shared by PTI, Rao is heard saying, "I request all of you to go back to your places safely. I request people not to come to see me for the next 10 days. Hundreds of patients are undergoing treatment in this hospital. Their safety is also important for us." Former Telangana chief minister Chandrashekar Rao(PTI)

The BRS leader assured the people that he would meet them once he got better.

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Chandrashekar Rao is expected to recover in six to eight weeks, the hospital authorities have said.

Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy and some of his other cabinet colleagues including TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, actor Chiranjeevi, and actor Prakash Raj were among the prominent people who called on Rao at the hospital.

Chandrashekar Rao, the former chief minister, was hospitalized at Yashoda Hospital in Hyderabad after a fall at his Erravalli farmhouse. His son and Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader, KT Rama Rao, confirmed that KCR suffered a fracture due to the incident. Subsequently, Chandrashekar Rao also underwent hip replacement surgery.

"Kalvakuntla Chandrashekhar Rao Garu had a slip and fall in his bathroom at his Residence and was subsequently brought to Yashoda Hospital for further care. On evaluation, including CT scans he was found to have left hip fracture. He would require left hip replacement for the same and the usual course of recovery for such cases is expected to be six to eight weeks," the hospital said in a statement earlier.

After learning about the leader's condition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X, Distressed to know that former Telangana CM KCR Garu has suffered an injury. I pray for his speedy recovery and good health.

(With inputs from agencies)
A weapon supplier, who allegedly provided pistols and 100,000 to the shooters involved in Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedis killing, was arrested on Monday, said police. Eight accused have now been arrested in the case. Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena chief Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi was killed last week. (ANI)

Gangster Rohit Godara linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang took responsibility for the murder on social media post after Gogamedi was shot dead in his living room last week. He said Gogamedi was backing his enemies.

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Police said Rohit Singh Rathore and Nitin Fouji entered Gogamedi premises with the help of his neighbour Naveen Shekhawat and shot both after 15 minutes of conversation.

Gogamedi was shot nine times in his chest, head, and back. CCTV footage of the incident show Fouji returning to fire more bullets at Gogamedi.

Police commissioner Biju George Joseph identified weapons dealer as Puja Saini alias Puja Batra. She and her husband Mahendra Kumar Meghwal alias Sameer also supplied weapons many times to the Lawrence Bishnoi-gang. We also seized an AK-47 rifle from their place that might have been used in the killing of gangster Raju Thehat [in December 2022].

Additional police commissioner Kailash Bishnoi cited inputs that Fouji stayed in the Pratapnagar area for a few days before the incident. After searching the area, we tracked these weapon peddlers and arrested Puja from her flat in Jaipurs Jagatpura while her husband is absconding.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday lashed out at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by accusing the Marxist veteran of 'conspiring' to hurt him physically. Khan's scathing accusation came after his vehicle was allegedly hit by activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPI(M), while he was on his way to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to leave for Delhi. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan(ANI)

A visibly furious Governor got out of his car and told the media that it was CM Vijayan who 'conspired' to send people to hurt him physically. "Is it possible that if a CM programme is going on, cars with protesters will be allowed there? Will they (police) allow anybody to come near the car of the CM? Here cars of the protesters were standing there and police pushed them into their cars and they ran away.

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"So, it is the CM, I am saying it clearly, who is conspiring and sending these people to hurt me physically. The 'goondas' have taken charge of the roads of Thiruvananthapuram," Khan alleged.

He further contended that if the CM disagrees with him on something, that does not mean the Marxist veteran should "hatch conspiracies" to hurt him physically. Khan also claimed that the constitutional machinery appeared to be collapsing in the state. He told reporters that the protesters not only waved black flags at him, they also hit his vehicle from both sides.

"Then I got down from my car. Then why did they run away? They were all sitting in a car, which means the police knew. But what will the poor police do when the CM is directing them?" Khan said.

According to a Raj Bhavan source, black flags were waved at Khan at three places and out of them at two his car was hit by the protesters. Police, on the other hand, said that the Governor's vehicle was blocked by the SFI activists only at one place and seven people of the student outfit have been arrested.

In the other two incidents, only black flags were waved and in connection with that around 10-12 SFI activists have been taken into custody. Cases under the relevant provisions of the IPC are being registered against them.

Meanwhile, the Congress, the UDF opposition led by it and the BJP too accused CM Vijayan of being behind the alleged attack on the Governor. They also alleged a breakdown of law and order in the state.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan said such allegations against a CM was a first in the history of the state and questioned whether attempt to murder cases would be registered against the SFI activists who blocked the Governor's vehicle. Satheesan also took a dig at the CM by asking who should "rescue" the SFI activists who jumped in front of the Governor's vehicle and waved black flags at him.

Vijayan has been repeatedly stating that the Youth Congress and Kerala Student Union (KSU) activists, who had allegedly jumped in front of the bus in which he and his cabinet were travelling, were "rescued" by DYFI and CPI(M) workers by forcibly pushing them out of the way.

The CM's "rescue" remark had first come after Youth Congress and KSU activists were allegedly beaten up by DYFI and CPI(M) workers for waving black flags at his cavalcade in Kannur. He has subsequently reiterated it several times. Satheesan also accused the CM of having 'double standards'.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief and MP K Sudhakaran said it was a "black day" for the state and that the law and order has broken down as the Governor was allegedly "attacked" in the middle of the road. He alleged that the SFI's actions were with the knowledge of the CM.

The KPCC chief further alleged that the police team accompanying the Governor "rescued and released" the SFI activists instead of protecting Khan. He sought immediate and strict action against the police officers allegedly involved in it. Sudhakaran also called the protesting SFI activists as 'chavers' or suicide squads, a term that was used by the Left front for the Youth Congress and KSU workers who waved black flags at the CM.

BJP state chief K Surendran too spoke along similar lines when he said the alleged "attack" on the Governor was with the CM's knowledge. He alleged that the CPI(M) was aggrieved by the recent Supreme Court verdict quashing re-appointment of the Kannur University VC and berating the state government for its interference. So, the Left party resorted to the "primitive" move of "attacking" the Governor, Surendran alleged.

He further claimed that the incident occurred with the connivance of the police which indicates a breakdown of law and order in the state and added that BJP cannot stand by and watch the Governor getting "attacked". This is the second consecutive day when SFI activists waved black flags at the Governor.

The black flags were waved at the Governor near Vazhuthacaud in the state capital when Khan was on his way to an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry on Sunday. Eighteen activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) were arrested in connection with that incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a jibe at the Congress over the Income Tax raids on companies tied to Rajya Sabha MP Dhiraj Sahu saying that the partys heists are legendary for 70 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (File)

Who needs Money Heist fiction, when you have the Congress Party, whose heists are legendary for 70 years and counting! Modi said sharing a video on X posted by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that portrayed Sahu meeting Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and his predecessor Rahul Gandhi.

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Money Heist, a popular Spanish television series, revolves around a group of robbers executing intricate heists on various institutions.

The IT raids on companies linked ot Sahu ended on Sunday after a three-day operation, recovering 353 crores. According to the State Bank of India (SBI), the cash-counting machines malfunctioned due to the sheer volume of cash and posed challenges as 176 bags of cash were delivered to the SBI branch.

This cash haul, the countrys highest-ever in a single agency action, will be deposited at an SBI branch in Balangir, Odisha. The IT department alleges the entire seized currency is unreported earnings from country liquor sales.

The Congress has also sought clarification from the Rajya Sabha member following the recovery.

During a discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation and Reservation Bill on Tuesday, Union home minister Amit Shah said, So much cash was recovered from an MP in Jharkhand that the bank cashier says that we too have never seen this. He added, Five days have passed, and twenty-seven machines have been used to count the cash, but this person has not been suspended yet.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju said, The Congress party and corruption are two synonymous words. The ongoing IT raids against Dhiraj Sahu and all other corrupt activities happening around the country by the Congress and its alliance are getting exposed, so the Congress party is very upset with the agencies and the PM. The Congress party cant escape from their wrong deeds, they have to pay a price.

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The art of optimising compact spaces has become a cornerstone of modern living and as urban landscapes grow denser, the need for innovative solutions to maximise functionality in small homes has never been more pressing. This pursuit demands a delicate balance of form and function, where every square inch serves a purpose. Small space, big style: Tips to maximise functionality in compact homes (Photo by Charlotte May on Pexels)

Within this paradigm, architects and designers are compelled to reimagine spatial configurations, harnessing ingenious techniques to ensure that no area remains underutilised. Check out these creative strategies that breathe life into diminutive spaces, transforming them into havens of comfort, efficiency and style -

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Flexibility in Design

Flexibility is key in maximising functionality in compact homes. Consider movable partitions, sliding doors and transformable furniture arrangements. This adaptability allows residents to configure their living spaces in response to changing requirements, ensuring the home remains versatile and accommodating over time.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Ar Vivek Bhole, Founder and Principal Architect at Vivek Bhole Architects, shared, Modular design elements, such as sliding walls or adaptable furniture pieces, allow for the reconfiguration of spaces according to specific needs. This approach adds an extra layer of adaptability and utility to compact living environments.

Open Plan layouts

Removing physical barriers within a compact home can significantly impact the space. Consider an open-concept layout where living, dining, and kitchen areas seamlessly merge. This fosters an inviting atmosphere and provides a sense of continuity.

Bringing her expertise to the same, Ar Sonali Bhagwati, President and Principal Architect at Design Plus Architecture (DPA), suggested, Eliminating unnecessary walls allows for a more open and functional living experience. Consistent colour palettes and flooring maintain a cohesive feel while introducing eclectism in the furniture and decor. Further, incorporating smart home technology for climate control and lighting enhances comfort and efficiency in open-concept living spaces.

Optimal Use of Natural Light

Natural light visually expands any space, enhancing the functionality of interiors. Thoughtfully placed windows and reflective surfaces are key considerations of compact spaces.

Ar Sumit Dhawan, Founder and Principal Architect at Cityspace 82 Architects, asserted, Choosing light-coloured curtains or blinds not only allows an abundance of natural light to filter through but also imparts an airy, open feel to the space. Strategically placed mirrors can further enhance this effect by creating an illusion of depth, adding a sense of expansiveness to the room. Skylights or atriums are effective in spaces with limited access to natural light, providing a direct connection to the outdoors. He further adds, Consider motorised blinds or curtains to control the intensity of light and maintain privacy as needed.

Strategic Storage Solutions

Effective storage is essential in well-designed compact homes. It is crucial to utilise vertical space with tall shelving units, especially in kitchens. Concealed storage options can create a clean, clutter-free environment while maximising functionality.

Hardesh Chawla, Principal of Essentia Environments, explained, Customised built-in solutions can be tailored to the specific dimensions of a space, making them invaluable in compact homes. Consider integrated seating with hidden storage, or custom-built shelving units that utilise every available inch. These purposeful installations optimise space while contributing to a seamless, uncluttered aesthetic.

Maximising functionality in compact spaces is a response to the shifting dynamics of urban living, where creativity meets the necessity to redefine the boundaries of functionality and style. As we navigate an increasingly urbanised world, the art of maximising small spaces will continue to shape the way we dwell, offering a glimpse into the limitless potential that lies within even the most confined dimensions.
A tradie boss who taped his young apprentice's legs to a crane and slapped him while he hung upside down at a Christmas party has been slapped with a whopping $60,000 fine for what a judge described as a "campaign of terror" against his young worker.

Steve Yousif, 29, owner of Jaden Commercial Windows in Tullamarine, in Melbourne's north-west, was sentenced on Monday over the shocking December 2020 incident. His victim and former employee Ilyas Elkharraz, who was 23 at the time, said it left him with "horrific psychological and physical injuries".

Elkharraz said not only was he strung from a crane, prodded, slapped and humiliated, he also regularly faced verbal abuse and was threatened by Yousif between April 2019 and May 2021, which left him with anxiety, stress, depression and suicidal thoughts as a result of the incessant bullying.

Bullying left victim with lasting phycological and physical damage

Elkharraz said Yousif stopped him from attending TAFE, degraded and belittled him and on one occasion even "grabbed him by the neck" and pushed him to the ground.

A judge described the actions of the employer as a 'campaign of terror against two vulnerable workers'. Source: 7News

Declining to attend his sentencing in person, Yousif, who logged on virtually to the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, pleaded guilty to failing to provide his employees with a working environment that was safe and without risk to their health.

Boss wasn't remorseful, argued magistrate

Handing down the fine, Magistrate Andrew Sim slammed Yousif's behaviour as a "targeted ... campaign of terror against two vulnerable workers", referring to Elkharraz as well as another victim.

"You victimised, humiliated and threatened both victims," Magistrate Sim said, A Current Affair reported.

At the time, Elkharraz told ACA the ordeal left him feeling like a "piece of meat about to get cut".

Story continues

"I got nightmares from it," he said. "It's like I was a cow, hanging upside down."

Yousif was also accused of abusing a second young worker, leaving him in fear during his shifts.

Ilyas Elkharraz said the ordeal has left him with lasting physical and psychological injuries. Source: ACA

While the Melbourne employer did present glowing character references in court, Magistrate Sim said he was not satisfied Yousif was at all remorseful for his "atrocious" behaviour, instead, he argued that he felt "anguish about being caught" instead.

His lawyer Joseph D'Abaco earlier stated that his client had been a young and inexperienced boss at the time of the offending. "He was driven to make Melbourne Glass a successful operation  he pushed himself and others to the limit," he told the court.

"He now realises his conduct was wrong and has no place in the modern workplace."

Yousif was fined $60,000 and ordered to pay WorkSafe's $6000 legal fees.

Elkharraz's solicitor John Karantzis said the punishment sent a big message to all employers.

with ACA Newswire

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To the Japanese, the bow is something they do every day. Children bow to their teacher and say "ohayou gozaimasu," or "good morning," at the start of every school day. It would be unthinkable for a business meeting to commence without formal bows. Shop staff and train conductors, hotel employees, janitors and deliverymen will all bow to their customers. Even passing a colleague in a corridor will inevitably elicit eye contact and a deep nod. Tomihiro Tanaka, president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, bow at the beginning of a press conference in Tokyo on November 7. (JIJI Press / AFP)

(Also Read | 7 practical ways to stick to your New Year resolutions in 2024)

It is a greeting, it is polite. But a bow to a Japanese person imparts much more information, with each variety having a nuance that communicates a slightly different meaning.

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"Bowing is a key part of greetings in Japan," said Kiyomoto Ogasawara, the heir to the 32nd headmastership of the Ogasawara-ryu school of "reiho," or etiquette.

"Bowing signifies trust and peace by showing vulnerability, as we avert our eyes and expose the head," explained Ogasawara, whose family has served as instructors to generations of shoguns since the school was established more than 830 years ago.

Archery and etiquette

Alongside "reiho," Ogasawara-ryu masters teach the disciplines of archery and mounted archery, an important military skill as well as a religious ritual at Shinto shrines since ancient times.

And while etiquette and archery may not appear to be compatible skills, Ogasawara said incorporating proper etiquette into a person's daily life is required to attain the strong legs and perfect posture needed to have both hands free to fire a bow from a galloping horse.

And that is why historically warriors and the elite in society were taught that posture and etiquette are of such importance.

It is widely believed that bowing became the accepted greeting as far back as the Asuka period, between 593 AD and 710 AD Buddhism was arriving in Japan from mainland Asia and there were shifts in the nascent nation's artistic, social and political mores.

In the Buddhist faith, bowing was  and remains  an important gesture of respect and piety and it was soon adopted to indicate similar reverence for the elite in Japan's strictly hierarchical society.

And while the samurai no longer rule Japan, the bow has endured as the mark of respect. And failing to perform an adequate bow can still be perceived as a slight, particularly among older, more traditional Japanese.

Today, the bow is the time-honored greeting in Japan, but is also used to communicate farewell, the start or end of a class, meeting or ceremony and to express gratitude. The bow is also used as an apology, to accompany a request or show sympathy or appreciation. It is deployed when a person is worshiping or at the outset of formal ceremony and is a critical element of martial arts.

From informal to deeply formal

There are three main types of bow in the Japanese business world, but each starts from the same position: Straight back, legs straight and firmly planted to avoid slouching. The bow should then be performed in time with one's breathing. Bending forward from the waist should take one inhalation of breath. That position is then sustained for the time it takes to exhale and then the person performing the bow then inhales again as he or she returns to an upright position.

The "eshaku" bow is a relatively casual greeting, exchanged between people of the same status or when formalities are not as important, and only requires leaning forward to an angle of 15 degrees for a few seconds.

The "keirei" bow is the most common variant in the Japanese business world and requires the person to lean at an angle of 30 degrees and look at the ground about 1 meter in front of their toes.

A "keirei" bow is used to greet clients, join a meeting or during interactions with superiors.

The "saikeirei" indicates the greatest respect to the recipient and requires a bow from the waist of as much as 70 degrees and sustained for several seconds to emphasize respect and sincerity.

The "saikeirei" is deployed to greet a very important person, such as a member of the Imperial family, to express deep regret or ask for a significant favor.

Men performing these bows are expected to keep their arms rigid alongside their legs, while women often place one hand atop the other in front of the abdomen.

Bows performed in the seated position are known as "zarei" and usually take place on traditional tatami mat floors during traditional occasions, such as the tea ceremony or martial arts tournaments.

All seated bows start from the "seiza" seated posture, with the legs tucked directly below and with the toes pointing straight behind. The person sits on their calves with the elbows pointed slightly out and with the palms of the hands on the top of the thighs.

This position can be uncomfortable for non-Japanese, especially if it has to be sustained for a long time, but Japanese will appreciate good posture.

The "saikeirei" bow starts at the "seiza" position and requires the person to lean forward until the chest is on the lap. Simultaneously, the hands slide forward along the thighs until they are on the tatami floor in front of the knees.

The final position will see the person's face around 5 centimeters from the floor and the palms of the hands making a triangle on the floor.

The "futsurei" is a less formal variety of the same bow and only requires the person to dip their body until their head is around 30 centimeters from the floor. The "senrei" is even more relaxed and only requires the person to bow about 30 degrees from the waist and have the tips of their fingers on the tatami.

A bow to save one's life

Another, far more rare bow, is the "dogeza," which requires the person to get on their hands and knees and place their face on the ground  and was in the past used when a person was begging for their life after somehow offending a powerful superior.

Matthew Strecher, a professor of Japanese literature at Sophia University in Tokyo, was given lessons in etiquette when he first arrived in Japan in the 1980s, with emphasis being placed on a proper bow "not just ducking my head briefly," he said.

"Some latitude is given to foreign people when they try to bow and I think Japanese are even quite amused as they watch us try to get it right, but I do think they appreciate the effort," he said. "In the same way, they do not appreciate it when we flout expectations and make no effort at what is quite a special moment."

After more than three decades in Japan, Strecher said he knows when a less formal nod to a colleague in passing is adequate and occasions when a greater expression of gratitude or respect is required.

An appropriate farewell

"If I am saying goodbye, then it is important to bow properly because failing to do that would not be appreciated, and in a business setting we are expected to do the right thing because it is about ensuring the harmony of the workplace," he added.

Kiyomoto Ogasawara said younger generations of Japanese do not grasp the exact meaning of Japan's most important form of unspoken communication.

"Actually, the subtle meanings of different bows are less known nowadays, even in Japan," he admitted. "While they were traditionally learned in the home, I believe that anyone can grasp these nuances, with some studying," he told DW.

"Bowing reflects our cultural identity, so it is vital for understanding our roots and sharing them with others," he added.

"It is part of our culture, influenced by many factors, such as our history and environment. Recognizing and using different forms of bowing is very valuable."
Bethlehem is normally at its busiest at Christmas but this year war has scared away tourists and pilgrims from the in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, leaving hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops deserted. A woman arranges an installation of a scene of the nativity of Christ withith a figure "symbolising baby Jesus lying in his manger amid rubble", in reference to Gaza, inside the the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, a few weeks before Christmas. Palestinian town of Bethlehem faces worst Christmas ever as Israel war scares away tourists and pilgrims (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)

With global headlines dominated since Oct. 7 by news of the Hamas attacks in southern Israel, followed by Israel's military assault on Gaza and a rise in violence in the West Bank, business owners in Bethlehem said no one was coming.

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"We have no guests. Not one," said Joey Canavati, owner of the Alexander Hotel, whose family has lived and worked in Bethlehem for four generations.

"This is the worst Christmas ever. Bethlehem is shut down for Christmas. No Christmas tree, no joy, no Christmas spirit," he said.

Located just south of Jerusalem, Bethlehem is heavily reliant for income and jobs on visitors from all over the world who come to see the Church of the Nativity, believed by Christians to stand on the site where Jesus was born.

Canavati said that before Oct. 7, his hotel was fully booked for Christmas, to the point that he was looking for rooms elsewhere in the town to help out people he could not fit in.

Since the war started, everyone cancelled, including bookings for next year. "All we get on the email is cancellation after cancellation after cancellation," said Canavati.

He took Reuters TV on a tour of the hotel, opening doors to empty rooms and showing the silent dining room.

"We had at least 120 people having dinner here every night and it was packed. The noise, the people. Empty. No Christmas breakfast, no Christmas dinner, no Christmas buffet," he said.

SURGE IN ATTACKS

Since the 1967 war between Israel and neighbouring Arab countries, Israel has occupied the West Bank, which Palestinians want as the core of a future independent state.

Israel has built Jewish settlements, deemed illegal by most countries, across the territory. Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties to the land. Several of its ministers live in settlements and favour their expansion.

Since Oct. 7, the West Bank has experienced a rise in attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinians, which were already at a 15-year high this year before the Hamas attack.

Bethlehem's Manger Square, a large paved space in front of the Church of the Nativity that usually serves as a focal point for Christmas celebrations, was quiet and almost empty, as were nearby streets where most souvenir shops were shuttered.

Rony Tabash, who sells crucifixes, statuettes of the Virgin Mary and other religious trinkets in his family's store, was tidying shelves and merchandise to pass the time.

"We are almost two months without any pilgrim, any tourist," he said, adding that he was keeping the store open as a way to stave off hopelessness.

"We want to feel that everything will be back, like to normal life," he said.

Ala'a Salameh, owner of falafel restaurant Afteem, said his business was operating at 10% or 15% of capacity, catering for local Palestinian families rather than the usual influx of foreign visitors.

He said he was keeping the restaurant open because his staff needed the work.

"I have workers, so from where I can give them money to take and to feed their families, their kids?" he said.

We are praying for peace. For peace. You know, Bethlehem is the city where peace was born, so it should be the messenger for peace to be spread all over the world.
Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India that manufactures the Covishield vaccine, has closed a deal to buy Londons most expensive house of the year worth approximately 1446 crore, according to a report in Financial Times. Adar Poonawalla, chief executive officer of Serum Institute of India (SII). (HT Photo)

He has agreed to pay the amount for a 25,000 square foot Mayfair mansion. Aberconway House is a 1920s home near Hyde Park which will change hands after a sale was agreed by Dominika Kulczyk, daughter of the late businessman Jan Kulczyk, who was Polands richest man, the report said.

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The property will be acquired by Serum Life Sciences, a UK subsidiary of the Poonawalla familys Serum Institute of India, Financial Times quoted people familiar with the transaction as saying.

The house is a red-brick structure and is named for Henry Duncan McLaren, Baron Aberconway, an industrialist who built the Grosvenor Square mansion, the report said.

It is a company guest house which is useful for hosting events and donors tech partners and it has helped Serum Group in accessing global opportunities that were not possible to do from India, sources confirmed to CNBC.

Also read: Niraj Bajaj buys triplex at Walkeshwar for 252.50 cr

With its staggering price of 138 million, this deal will make Aberconway House the second-most expensive home ever sold in London. The most expensive deal was transacted in January 2020 with 2-8a Rutland Gate was sold for a record-breaking 210 million.

The FT report quoted agents as saying that the next largest sale of 2023 was the 113mn purchase of Hanover Lodge. Essar Group billionaire Ravi Ruias family office had bought the mansion in Regents Park, which had been linked to Russian property investor Andrey Goncharenko, the report said.
With the Ram Mandirs consecration ceremony in Ayodhya fast approaching, the once sleepy town is experiencing a real estate boom. Real estate brokers say that with several investors from across the country and even overseas chasing fewer land parcels, land prices have hit the roofin some cases four to 10 times the prices prevalent only four to five years ago. Representative image of the Ram Mandir being constructed in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (File Photo)(HT File Photo)

The Ayodhya airport, which will be Uttar Pradeshs fifth international one after the airports in Lucknow, Varanasi, Noida (under construction) and Kushinagar, is also expected to be inaugurated soon. The first phase of the airport terminal building spans 8000 sq metre area. At present, the entire airport covers 336.59 acres and is being developed at a cost of 250 crore.

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Also read: Ayodhya's Ram Temple consecration on this date; 6,000 invitations being sent out

Real estate market in Ayodhya

Several townships and private hotels are expected to come up in the city, land for which has been sanctioned by the government. These land parcels are located around Chaudah Kosi Parikrama, Ring Road, and the Lucknow-Gorakhpur Highway. The Ayodhya Development Authority is planning to come up with a housing scheme by the end of this month. This will be a plotted scheme spread across 80 acres of land.

Almost 95 percent land has been acquired. This will be located along the Lucknow-Gorakhpur highway, Satyendra Singh, secretary, Ayodhya Development Authority, told Hindustan Times Digital. In the span of three years after the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the date for the consecration ceremony of Ayodhya's Ram Temple has been scheduled for January 22, 2024.

Also read: Ayodhya airport will be ready by December end, PM Modi to inaugurate it: Scindia

The construction kicked off on August 5, 2020, after Modi laid down the foundation stone of the temple. As the date of consecration ceremony approaches, real estate prices have skyrocketed after massive infrastructure development in the town. Ayodhya has topped Uttar Pradeshs revenue collection for November in terms of collection from land registration, according to some media reports.

Between April and November this year, as many as 30,000 sale deeds were registered in Ayodhya, 80 percent of which were from land transactions. The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HOABL), a Mumbai-based real estate developer plans to launch a 25-acre plotted development project in Ayodhya after the inauguration of the temple. The project is located almost 15 minutes from the upcoming temple.

The real estate boom has attracted investors from across the country and non-resident Indians as well, said brokers. According to Parasuram Mishra, a broker at Shri Balaji Ayodhya Property, prices of land within a radius of 5-10 km of the temple have increased much more. The rates range from 2000 per sq ft to as high as 18,000 per sq ft. Commercial plots start at around 4000 per sq ft depending on the location. Different plot sizes are available in these areas. The prices were almost one-fourth before the 2019 Supreme Court judgment that paved the way for the construction of the temple.

Today, the demand is much more than supply as limited land is available. Land prices have hit the roof making it unaffordable in some pockets, he said. To cite an example, the price of 1350 sq ft of land (one biswa in local parlance) that was available for around a few lakhs is now going for more than 60 lakh, he added.

Developers may launch projects after the event.

While several developers have bought land, many would wait for the event and only after getting a sense of the number of footfalls may take a decision regarding launching the product mix, explains Shobhit Mohan Dass, president, Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (Credai), UP Chapter.

Besides hotels, one could witness senior living and service apartment formats come up in the city months after the event. Everything will depend on the footfalls and the demand post the launch, he said, adding most of these projects are expected to come up along the highway. Agrees Shobhik Goyyal, vice president, Credai, Uttar Pradesh Chapter. Land prices have gone up by 10 times compared to 2019 in some pockets in the run-up to the event. While developers have evinced interest to buy land, some are waiting for infrastructure to develop. They may take a decision post the launch after they get a sense of footfalls that the temple town receives, he said.

Lakhs of visitors are expected to visit the temple city for the ceremony and post the event. Several developers are investing in hotels and residential projects hoping that the population in the city will increase by 2031. They are anticipating that several senior citizens may purchase second homes in the city.

Retirees or NRIs, who may wish to spend a few months at the birthplace of Ram, will be among top property buyers in the town. Ayodhya has the potential to emerge as an ideal market for second homes or retirement homes. Several developers have launched projects in holy cities such as Haridwar-Rishikesh, Puri, Madurai and Rameswaram.

Goyyals company has already bought a 18-acre land parcel in Ayodhya along the highway and is contemplating launching both studios and 2 BHK units in the area but will take a call on the configuration after a year of the inauguration. By then we will get a sense of what the consumers/homebuyers requirements are, he told HT Digital.

Manoj Gaur, chairman of CREDAI National, is of the view that the government should bring in residential schemes at competitive prices. Lands with clean titles should be made available for private developers so that more developers come forward to buy land. Currently, land records are a challenge. In some areas commercial plot schemes have been floated at exorbitant rates, he said.
An 11-year-old girl who lived in a cramped room with her grandparents got her dream of having her own space fulfilled when people from her local community joined hands to help her. As per reports, Xinyi, from Zhejiang province in eastern China, used to study on the streets due to lack of space in her four-metre-square home. However, thanks to her local community, she doesnt have to squeeze into the tiny room with her grandparents anymore. She can now stay in a nine square metres furnished room for free until she turns 18. Members of the local community of an 11-year-old girl found an amazing solution to help her get a room of her own (Representational image). (Unsplash/@uns__nstudio)

Xinyis grandfather, who works as a cleaner, told some members of the local community how his room is too small to even place a table for his granddaughter, reports South China Morning Post (SCMP). He added that he kept a desk outside their room where she studied. However, during rainy days, she had to lie on a bunk bed inside the room to continue her studies.

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Hearing the little ones plights, a few members of the neighbourhood found a room opposite the familys accommodation. The space was previously used by elders of the community to sit and read newspapers. People came together to clean the room and furnish it with a bed, chair, bookcase, and other practical items.

While talking about the girls reaction to her new room, her grandfather told SCMP, She often tells us that she appreciates those warmhearted people and will repay their generosity. He added that with her own room, she is inspired to do better in life.
For a few days now, social media has been buzzing with an array of posts centred around MS Dhonis jersey number. While many are drawing connections between the number 7 and various things, some are just posting pictures that resemble the number 7 with the caption Thala for a reason. A few are even counting letters in their names and movie titles that add up to the number 7. Now, brands have joined the trend, sharing their own takes on the Thala for a reason trend. The trend is about MS Dhoni's jersey number. (Instagram/@aalimhakim and @youtubeindia)

Heres what the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) posted:

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Google shared an image with a laptop in the background with seven tabs opened on its browser, with Dhoni being searched on all of them. In front of the screen is a paper that highlights a query related to the number 7. It reads, What is special about number 7.

Comment = 7 letters. Thala for a reason, wrote YouTube while sharing a picture on Instagram.

Dominos also shared a post on the trend. They wrote, 1 pizza has 6 slices. 1+6 = 7. Thala for a reason, and shared a picture.

Reliance Jio shared a witty tweet on the trend.

Heres how Swiggy and Swiggy Instamart joined the trend.

Myntra posted a picture of a hair dryer and captioned it, Thala for a reason.

Prime Video did some maths in their post on the trend. Surprisingly, Prime equals 7.

Check out Blinkits creativity here:

Dhoni on his jersey number

At an event, MS Dhoni shared why he chose number 7 as his jersey number. A lot of people initially thought that 7 is a lucky number for me and all of that. But I chose the number for a very simple reason. I was born on the 7th of July. So its the 7th day of the 7th month, that was the reason, Dhoni told fans during a virtual interaction held by India Cements.

Rather than getting to all the different things as to what number is a good number and all, I thought I will use my date of birth as the number. Then whenever people kept asking me, I kept adding to the answer. 81 was the year, 8-1 is again 7, 7 is a very neutral number. People actually kept telling me, I started absorbing it and I started telling it to others in the same way, he further said.
A 750,000 (approximately 6.7 crore) diamond ring went missing from its owner's hotel room at the Ritz in Paris and was later located in an unlikely location. As per reports, a Malaysian businesswoman told Paris police that her ring had vanished from the table in her hotel room while she went shopping. She feared a hotel employee had taken it. The woman filed a complaint with Paris police after her ring went missing. (Unsplash)

Soon after her complaint was filed, the police and the hotel staff started to search the costly ring, and it was finally located in a vacuum cleaner bag. (Also Read: Taylor Swift's $12,000 Diamond ring goes missing at the 2023 VMAs)

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"Thanks to the careful search work of security agents, the ring was found. Our client is happy with this news. We would like to thank the Ritz Paris employees who were involved in this research and who work every day with integrity and professionalism," Ritz told Le Parisien. The hotel further emphasised that the ring's disappearance was not the result of theft, despite the guest's initial concerns.

The guest's lawyers, Robin Binsard and Rebecca Childs, also said to Le Parisien, We thank the police and the hotel teams who carried out the necessary investigations in record time.

Ritz Paris also tried to compensate the woman with three nights' worth of stay at the hotel, however, she declined.
A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle at a police station's main gate in northwest Pakistan early Tuesday, killing at least 23 officers and wounding 32 others, and causing a part of the building to collapse upon impact, officials said, in one of the deadliest attacks in recent months. Police officers examine damages on the site of a bombing at a police station on the outskirts of Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023(AP)

Some militants also opened fire and a shootout ensued for hours between them and security forces before three attackers were gunned down, local police officer Kamal Khan said.

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The death toll from the attack was likely to rise as some of the officers were in critical condition, authorities said. The bodies of the 22 security forces killed were transferred to a hospital, Mohammad Adnan, a senior police official told reporters.

Police launched a search operation in the surrounding area to apprehend the militants who got away, officials said.

The attack happened in Dera Ismail Khan, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, Khan said. The province is a former stronghold of the militant Pakistani Taliban group, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP.

The newly formed militant group Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, or TJP  believed to be an offshoot of the TTP  claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying it targeted the officers who were at the police station. The statement also claimed that 20 officers were killed. However, this couldn't be independently verified.

A larger number of security forces from across the country have had a constant presence lately at the Daraban police station where they were conducting intelligence-based operations against militants in the area with help from local police, said Khan

Pakistan's caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti denounced the onslaught in a statement and conveyed his condolences to those who were martyred. He couldn't immediately confirm the number of officers killed in the attack which he called an act of terrorism.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a rise in violence with several deadly incursions this year. In January, at least 101 people were killed, mostly police officers, when a suicide bomber disguised as a policeman attacked a mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

The Pakistani Taliban have stepped up attacks on security forces since 2022. Authorities say the insurgents have become emboldened while living openly in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover of that country in 2021.

The TTP, though a separate group, is closely allied with the Afghan Taliban.

Dera Ismail Khan is located near South Waziristan, a former sanctuary for militants. Pakistans army carried out multiple operations against militants there after some attacked an army-run school, killing more than 150 people, mostly school children, in 2014.

(This is a developing story. Kindly check back for more updates)
Russian forces in southern Ukraine have "advanced considerably" around the village of Novopokrovka in the Zaporizhzhia region, Moscow's occupational authorities said Tuesday. Kakhovka Reservoir, outside Zaporizhzhia, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP)

Moscow's offensive has dragged on for another winter since the start of the military operation in February 2022, but the front has barely moved in eastern and southern Ukraine this winter.

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"Our units have advanced significantly forward northeast of Novopokrovka," the Moscow-installed head of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia region, Yevgeny Balitsky, said on Telegram.

ALSO READ| Will continue to assist, but: Biden warns Israel of changing public opinion amid war against Hamas

Novopokrovka lies some 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Robotyne -- which Kyiv said it recaptured in the summer but has since struggled to hold on to.

Balitsky said Russian forces are "not only holding the line but are gradually moving forward."

Kyiv's army Tuesday reported Russian attacks all along the frontline, including in the south.

"In the Zaporizhzhia area, the defence forces repelled three enemy attacks in the areas north of Pryutne and west of Novopokrovka of the Zaporizhzhia region," it said in its daily report.

The gains would further put strain on Ukraine's control of Robotyne, with Russian forces controlling territory to the west, south and east of the village.

Kyiv's recapture of Robotyne, a tiny southern village, in August was touted as a success of its counter-offensive. The Ukrainian push to regain territory lost to Moscow has since been slower than expected.

Russia has controlled large swathes of the Zaporizhzhia region since the start of its offensive launched last year.

But the main regional centre of Zaporizhzhia remains under Ukrainian control.
Al Jazeera TV network accused Israel's army of targeting a residential house in Palestinian Gaza strip belonging to one of its journalists, Anas al-Sharif, resulting in his father's death. Israel has been carrying out simultaneous air raids across Gaza over the last few days, resulting in an increase in the death toll (Reuters)(REUTERS)

The targeting came after threats to al-Sharif since November, the Qatari-based network said.

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"We call on the international community to take urgent measures to stop the occupation armys massacres of journalists and civilians in Gaza," it said.

According to Al Jazeera, the father of Anas al-Sharif was killed while he was inside his family home in northern Gaza's Jabalia refugee camp. This comes after Israel continues to carry out air raids in northern and southern Gaza, resulting in increased deaths in Palestine.

After al-Sharif broke out the news of his father's death on social media, the Al Jazeera Media Network issued a statement, condemning the bombing and alleging that Israeli forces are targeting their journalists.

The statement said, The Network expresses its deepest condolences to our colleague Anas and his family. Al Jazeera urges the international community and humanitarian organisations to urgently intervene and halt the Israeli occupation forces brutal targeting of both journalists and civilians in the Gaza Strip.

According to the international news agency, al-Sharif is the fourth Al Jazeera journalist to lose family members in Gaza since Israel launched attacks against militant group Hamas on October 7.

The journalist's other family members had reportedly evacuated the area before the air strikes, but his father was not able to do so due to health reasons.

Israel-Hamas war: What has happened so far

After both Israel and Gaza civilians welcomed the three-day long truce and ceasefire, attacks and air raids continued across Gaza, leading to the death toll in Palestine rising to 18,200 on Monday.

Israel continues to push forward with its offensive in Gaza, as the war-torn area sees more and more people shift into shelters and refugee camps. Further, Israel launched air attacks in southern and central Gaza on Monday, leading to deaths of more women and children.

(With Reuters inputs)
Coles self-service checkouts where customers scan their own groceries from an unmanned conveyor belt are becoming more common across the country, but many shoppers feel they're paying more for less service.

One woman shared how unimpressed she was after a Coles staff member allegedly "got her in trouble" for scanning her groceries "wrong".

The Western Australian shopper said she left her six items in the trolley and used the hand-held scanner instead of unloading them onto the conveyor belt and scanning before placing back into her trolley, but was told such a method was "not allowed".

"The Coles staff member standing there told me I must place all items on the conveyor belt. I said 'nah this way is easier than getting them out and putting them back'," the disgruntled shopper explained. "[The employee] said it's not allowed because then 'we can't watch you properly'."

Some Coles hybrid self-service checkouts have the option to use a hand scanner so you do not need to unload groceries from your trolley. Source: Getty/Supplied

The Perth customer had argued that having such a small amount of items meant it made no sense to remove them from her trolley and reasoned that since Coles can check receipts they'd be able to see if she was stealing, no matter how she used the scanners. "They want us to scan our own stuff but also want to tell me how to do it? Yeah, nah Coles," she said.

After sharing the gripe online on Monday, the post attracted more than 1,440 comments, with many critical of the apparent directive and bemoaning an increase in security measures being rolled out at Coles' self-serve checkout areas. However the company has since told Yahoo News Australia the way people scan their groceries in this instance is completely up to "personal preference".

Do you have a story about your local supermarket? Contact reporter Laura Koefoed at laura.koefoed@yahooinc.com

Story continues

Is there really a self-serve rulebook we need to follow?

After all the speculation online, Coles did not endorse the actions of the apparently overzealous worker, saying customers were free to scan their items any way they liked.

"Ultimately, there is no right or wrong way to use self-checkouts  it all comes down to personal preference," a spokesperson said.

"Our dedicated team are always eager to help our customers, and they endeavour to offer tips and tricks to make the process as easy as possible".

Coles explained that some of the self-service checkouts now have hand-held scanners which are designed to make it easier to scan heavy items. "But customers are more than welcome to use this for all their shopping if they prefer!" the spokesperson confirmed.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Canada, Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday backed urgent international efforts towards a "sustainable ceasefire" in Gaza in a coordinated show of concern shortly after the U.S. warned Israel of declining support over its military campaign. People search through the rubble of damaged buildings following an Israeli air strike on Palestinian houses, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip(REUTERS)

"We are alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza. The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians," the three prime ministers said in a joint statement.

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A ceasefire cannot be one-sided and Hamas must release all hostages and stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields, they added.

Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden said Israel was losing support over its "indiscriminate" bombing of Gaza and that Benjamin Netanyahu should change his hard-line government, exposing a new rift with the Israeli prime minister.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa that he had "a very long conversation" with Netanyahu on Tuesday about Canada's position on the Gaza conflict and commitment towards a two-state solution for the region.

Trudeau has consistently said Israel has the right to defend itself after the deadly rampage by Hamas in southern Israel on Oct. 7, but as the death toll in its retaliatory action in Gaza has mounted, he has gradually hardened his tone.

Last month, he said the "killing of women, of children, of babies" in the Palestinian enclave must stop - comments that were rebuked by Netanyahu on social media.
The Kremlin criticised "interference" by the United States in the case of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, whose allies claimed that they do not know where he is. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that he was unaware of the whereabouts of Alexei Navalny who has been moved from a penal colony to an undisclosed location. Alexei Navalny Missing: Jailed Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny is seen on a screen via a video link from his penal colony.(AFP)

"We are talking about a prisoner who was found guilty by the law and is serving the prison sentence he received. Any interference, including from the US, is unacceptable," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said after White House national security spokesman John Kirby called for the immediate release of Russian leader saying "he should never have been jailed in the first place".

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Alexei Navalny's location inside the prison system remains unknown. He did not show up at a court hearing by video link, his spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said as per news agency Reuters. Alexei Navalny had been removed from the penal colony where he had been imprisoned since 2022, his allies said, adding that they were preparing for his expected transfer to a "special regime" colony after he was sentenced in August to an additional 19 years in prison. He had already been serving a 11-1/2 term.

Alexei Navalny's spokesperson said that staff at the IK-6 facility in Melekhovo had told his lawyer waiting outside that the opposition leader was no longer among its inmates.

"Today Alexei was again not brought to court to appear by video link, but now nobody is talking nonsense about an 'electricity accident'. An employee of penal colony-6 stated that Alexei had 'left their colony, but that he allegedly did not know where he had been transferred to," she claimed.

Alexei Navalny's disappearance comes at the start of the campaign period for a presidential election in March. Vladimir Putin is expected to win another six-year term in the polls.
US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to change his hardline government and that Israel cannot say no in the future to a Palestinian state, ramping up pressure on the Israelis. US President Joe Biden (AFP)

Biden's remarks at a fundraising event for his 2024 re-election campaign was a further sign of growing U.S. concern at Israel's bombing in Gaza in which thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed.

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"They're starting to lose that support," Biden said, referring to the international community's alarm at the bombing.

ALSO READ| Nearly fifth of Gaza's buildings destroyed, damaged in ongoing war with Israel

The sharp comments came as Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, prepares to travel to Israel for talks with the Israeli war cabinet.

Netanyahu on Wednesday said Israel enjoys U.S. support for its goal of destroying Hamas and recovering hostages held by the Palestinian militants, but the allies differ about what might follow the Gaza war.

Biden specifically mentioned Israel's far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is Israel's national security minister, and said "this is the most conservative government in Israel's history."

"He (Netanyahu) has to change this government. This government in Israel is making it very difficult," Biden said.

He also said that ultimately Israel "can't say no" to a Palestinian state, which Israeli hardliners oppose.

Biden said "we have an opportunity to begin to unite the region ... and they still want to do it. But we have to make sure that Bibi understands that he's got to make some moves to strengthen... You cannot say no Palestinian state... That's going to be the hard part.

Sullivan said on Tuesday that during his visit to Israel he will discuss with Israeli officials their timetable for the war in Gaza.

"The subject of how they are seeing the timetable of this war will certainly be on the agenda for my meetings," said Sullivan, who is expected to travel later this week.

Biden has expressed strong support for Israel's military operation against Hamas militants in Gaza but he and his team have expressed growing concern about the death of Palestinian civilians.

Biden plans to meet on Wednesday at the White House with family members of Americans taken hostage by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel in which 1,200 people were killed, a White House official said.

Sullivan blamed Hamas for the breakdown of an Israeli-Hamas truce from Nov. 24 to Dec. 1 because the militants refused to release more hostages.

"Hamas to this day continues to hold women, elderly people, civilians in significant numbers. And yet still, it's saying: 'Hey, how about everybody just stops.' So we believe that Israel has the right to defend itself," he said.
China pledged to boost demand and upgrade its industry at an economic meeting. Top leaders including President Xi Jinping using technology innovation should lead the nations industrial development as they called for the development of several strategic emerging sectors, state media reported. China is facing insufficient effective domestic demand, overcapacity in certain industries, weak expectations and rather many hidden risks, according to the report. Xi Jinping on China's economy: China's president Xi Jinping is seen. (Reuters)

The complexity, severity and uncertainty of external environment is rising, it added.

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The ruling Communist Party called for greater confidence in the worlds second largest economy, saying its overall improving trend was unchanged. Chinas post-pandemic recovery has been hampered by weak global demand, record high youth unemployment and property crisis.

China's leaders also pledged to meet builders reasonable financing needs, ensure employment for key groups of people, and maintain reasonable, ample liquidity, Bloomberg reported.

The measures sound rather traditional and nothing much was very creative, Jacqueline Rong, chief China economist at BNP Paribas SA said, adding, Investors reaction to this might be rather plain because it takes an indication of a vastly stronger-than-expected pro-growth policy to trigger very excited response.

The Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from Monday to Tuesday. Xi Jinping made an speech at the event, which was attended by all seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee, as per state media. The final day of the conference overlapped with Xi Jinpings visit to Vietnam, marking the first time the Chinese leader traveled abroad during the annual economic conference.
Finland's government said on Tuesday it will reopen two crossings on its long border with Russia on Thursday after closing all eight roads between the two countries in late November to prevent an influx of asylum seekers. A Finnish Border Guard speaks to migrants at the international border crossing at Salla, northern Finland.(AFP File)

"Without dismantling the restrictions, we cannot verify whether a change for the better is taking place. If the phenomenon continues, we will close these border crossing points," Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told a press conference.

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Finland last month shut the Russian border until Dec. 13 to block a rising number of refugees from arriving in the Nordic nation in what the government and its allies said was an orchestrated move by Moscow.

Some 900 asylum seekers from nations including Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen entered Finland via Russia in November, an increase from less than one per day previously, according to the Finnish Border Guard.

The arrivals stopped when Finland shut the border.

Helsinki has said Russia was funnelling people to the border in retaliation for its decision to increase defence cooperation with the United States, including Finland's decision to join NATO, a charge the Kremlin denies.

In a letter published on Monday, the Council of Europe said it was "concerned about the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants" following the temporary border closure, and asked Finland to ensure it remained possible to seek protection.

The Council of Europe in its letter acknowledged "concerns about the potential instrumentalisation" of migrants by Russia, but said obligations must still be met.
George Santos is actively negotiating with prosecutors to resolve the criminal charges against him, the ousted Republican congressmans lawyer told a federal judge one day after the government said plea talks were under way. George Santos(Bloomberg)

Id like to put my efforts toward that resolution, defense attorney Joseph Murray told US District Judge Joanna Seybert at a hearing Tuesday in Central Islip, New York. He asked the judge to keep a Sept. 9 trial date on the calendar for now.

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Prosecutors on Monday disclosed in a letter to Seybert that plea talks were underway and asked her to hold the trial as early as May if no agreement was reached. At Tuesdays hearing the judge said she wasnt inclined to speed things up, citing a full docket of cases and trials delayed by the pandemic.

ALSO READ| Three small earthquakes shake buildings in Mexico City

At this point it looks like September is going to be the earliest, she said. And we dont have the issue of the defendant having to go to Washington on a regular basis.

Santos, 35, was expelled from Congress on Dec. 1 after the House Ethics Committee found substantial evidence he broke the law. He was first charged in May, accused of stealing public funds and lying on federal disclosure forms. In October prosecutors filed a revised indictment with additional fraud charges.

The judge did note that September is a long way off and said she might later consider adjusting the trial schedule. Santos is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 23.

Murray complained that the government had swamped him with evidence, saying he has received more than a million pages already. Seybert suggested the defense hire another lawyer to help him.

Asked for comment as he left the Long Island courthouse, Santos shook his head.

Im not talking to the press, he said, and wish you guys would take a break from saying my name.
Pakistan on Monday said India's Supreme Court verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370 has "no legal value", asserting that the international law does not recognise New Delhi's "unilateral and illegal actions" of August 5, 2019. Paramilitary soldiers patrol in Srinagar after Supreme Court upheld the abrogation of the Jammu and Kashmir special status in its verdict. (Photo By Waseem Andrabi /Hindustan Times)--

The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld the Centre government's decision of August 2019 to abrogate Article 370, which bestowed a special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

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"International law doesn't recognise India's unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019. The judicial endorsement by the Indian Supreme Court has no legal value. Kashmiris have an inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant UN SC resolutions," caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Jilani said India has "no right to make unilateral decisions on the status of this disputed territory" against the will of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.

"Pakistan categorically rejects the judgement announced by the Supreme Court of India on the status of" Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

He said that the judicial endorsement of Indias "unilateral and illegal actions" was "a travesty of justice".

He said that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally-recognised dispute, which remains on the agenda of the UN Security Council for over seven decades. "The final disposition of Jammu and Kashmir is to be made in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and as per aspirations of the Kashmiri people, he said.

"Pakistan does not acknowledge the supremacy of the Indian Constitution over Jammu and Kashmir. Any process, subservient to the Indian Constitution, carries no legal significance. India cannot abdicate its international obligations on the pretext of domestic legislations and judicial verdicts, he said.

Relations between India and Pakistan have often been strained over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. However, their ties nose-dived after India abrogated Article 370 as Pakistan expelled the Indian envoy and downgraded the trade ties.

India has time and again said that Kashmir is an internal matter, and added it desires normal, friendly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, violence and hostility.

Gilani alleged that Indias "unilateral and illegal measures" since 5 August 2019 have been aimed at changing the demographic structure and political landscape of Kashmir.

"They remain a matter of grave concern for Pakistan as their ultimate goal is to convert the Kashmiris into a disempowered community in their own land. These measures must be rescinded to create an environment for peace and dialogue, he said.

The minister said Pakistan will continue to extend its full political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Kashmir for the realisation of their inalienable right to self-determination.

"We will soon call a meeting of all stakeholders and determine our future course of action, he said.

To a question, he said that Pakistan would like to maintain peace on the LoC after this decision.

When asked about the threat of increase in militancy in Kashmir, he said Kashmiris never accepted Indian rule. Ultimately their reaction would be like that of the people of Gaza, he said.

He said there was no change on the issue of not holding talks with India. No dialogue is going on with India and no such thing is hidden from my eyes, he said.

He said Pakistans stance is very strong for any international court but India always takes refuge in the procedures and rejects international jurisdiction of courts.

Earlier, former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president Shehbaz Sharif criticised the apex court's verdict, calling it a "biased decision."

"The Indian Supreme Court has violated the international laws by giving a decision against the resolutions of the United Nations. The Indian Supreme Court has betrayed the sacrifice of millions of Kashmiris," said Sharif, who served as the prime minister from April 2022 to August 2023.

With this "biased decision", Kashmir's "freedom movement" will become stronger, he said, adding that there will be "no abatement in the Kashmiri struggle."

Under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, PML-N will raise the voice of the right of Kashmiris at all levels, he added.

Pakistan Peoples Party chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that once again it has been proved that India does not follow international laws and UN resolutions.

"Indian parliament and courts cannot rewrite international agreements," he said.
US is with Israel as Tel Aviv aims to destroy Hamas and recover hostages held in Gaza, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said while pointing out that the allies differ about what might follow the Gaza war. Reiterating his past refusal on return of the Western-backed Palestinian Authority under President Mahmoud Abbas to Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu said that Gaza "will be neither Hamas-stan nor 'Fatah-stan'". Fatah is Mahmoud Abbas's faction. Israel-Hamas War: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen. (AFP)

"I would like to clarify my position: I will not allow Israel to repeat the mistake of Oslo," he said. The 1993 Oslo Accords established limited Palestinian autonomy in the West Bank and Gaza.

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Following Israeli premier's remarks, secretary general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization Hussein Al-Sheikh said, "Benjamin Netanyahu's statement equating the Oslo Accords with what happened on Oct. 7 confirms his war against all Palestinians. We say to Netanyahu that Oslo died under the treads of his tanks, sweeping through our cities, villages, and camps from Jenin to Rafah."

The Palestinian foreign minister also accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war condemning "international failure" to respect Palestinians' rights at a UN meeting in Geneva. Israel has said that it allows aid into Gaza via the Rafah crossing and has signalled that the Kerem Shalom crossing could soon reopen.

"As we speak, at least 1 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, half of them children, are starving, not because of a natural disaster or because of lack of generous assistance waiting at the border," Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki said, adding, No, they are starving because of Israel's deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war against the people it occupied. Rather than insisting on respecting the Palestinian people's basic right to eat and drink water, we are living through this dystopian reality that excludes Palestinians from the basic, most basic rights afforded to all human beings.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Tuesday that Israel and the United States will never be able to wipe out Hamas and that Israel could only secure the liberation of its hostages in Gaza with a political solution to the conflict. Israel-Hamas War: An Israeli military vehicle advances near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel.(AFP)

In a speech at the United Nations in Geneva in which he described the Islamist group as a "freedom movement, Amirabdollahian said: "Israel and the United States will never be able to eliminate Hamas."

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He added that Israel, which has vowed to wipe out Tehran-backed Hamas, could not have the hostages taken by Hamas during a deadly rampage on Oct. 7 freed through war. He said only a political solution could achieve this.

Amirabdollahian was speaking at a meeting alongside his counterparts from other Middle Eastern countries.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appealed last month to Muslim states with political ties with Israel to at least cut them for "a limited time". He had previously called for an Islamic oil and food embargo on Israel.
Israel said Monday that more humanitarian aid will enter Gaza as it announced an additional checkpoint for examining relief supplies before dispatching them to the Palestinian territory through the Rafah gateway. Representational picture(Bloomberg)

International aid organisations have struggled to get supplies to desperate Gazans under Israeli bombardment, with only the Rafah crossing in Egypt open.

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No new direct crossings will be opened, Israel stressed on Monday, but the Kerem Shalom crossing will be used to carry out checks before sending the trucks through Rafah.

ALSO READ| Myanmar overtakes Afghanistan as world's biggest opium producer: UN

"This is being done to improve the volume of security screenings of aid entering Gaza via the Rafah Crossing and will enable us to double the amount of humanitarian aid entering Gaza," the army said on X, formerly Twitter.

Similar checks are already being carried out at the Nitzana border post.

UN humanitarian agency OCHA said Sunday that around 100 trucks per day were bringing humanitarian supplies from Egypt into Gaza since a week-long truce ended on December 1, compared with a daily average of 500 before the war.

The additional checkpoint will screen "trucks containing water, food, medical supplies and shelter equipment", according to a joint statement from the Israeli army and COGAT, the defence ministry body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs.

It emphasised that "no supplies will be entering the Gaza Strip from Israel", only via Egypt.

The UN General Assembly will meet Tuesday to discuss the humanitarian crisis, after the United States last week vetoed a Security Council resolution for a ceasefire.

Heavy urban battles raged Monday in the bloodiest-ever war in Gaza, with more than 18,200 Palestinians and 104 Israeli soldiers reported dead.

Israel's assault on Gaza was triggered after Hamas, which rules the territory, launched a bloody attack on southern Israel on October 7 that left 1,200 people dead, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials.
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

This article first appeared in our partner site, Independent Arabia

Sixteen years after its launch, the Great Green Wall, a huge project designed to promote peace and revive the arid African Sahara, is facing the risk of collapse due to terrorist threats, the absence of political leadership as well as the lack of sufficient funding.

The project began during a tumultuous period for the African continent. It is a bold initiative to combat desertification through the creation of a 5000-mile wall of trees, passing through 11 countries: Chad, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Senegal.

The United Nations describes the project, led by the African Union, as a green wall to promote peace and restore nature in Africas Sahel region. This project, which comes at a time when an unprecedented drought is ravaging the continent, was expected to provide 10 million job opportunities by 2030.

Slow progress amid setbacks

Creating a great green wall that would enable the continent to combat the desertification affecting vast areas of it, was not novel idea. In fact, Thomas Sankara, Marxist revolutionary and former President of Burkina Faso, was the first to propose it after China established its Great Green Wall in 1978, a vast ecological project to restore nature in the Gobi desert.

Over a decade after its launch, officials in Africas Great Green Wall project have made some changes along the way. They have abandoned the idea of relying solely on afforestation, and have instead committed to the establishment of agricultural and green areas.

Issa Garba, an environmental activist from Niger, believes that the lack of security in the African Sahel region actually constitutes an obstacle to the implementation of this huge project; however, it has to be acknowledged that the absence of political plans in the 11 countries through which this wall passes is also a problem.

Garba added in an exclusive interview with Independent Arabia, The Sahel countries have not allocated any spending in their budgets for this project. They are only waiting on funding from abroad, whether from the European Union, the African Union, or others.

Story continues

The activist stressed that this project will persist despite its faltering and setbacks. However, completing it within the 2030 deadline remains an unattainable goal.

Despite the growing voices calling for scrapping the project amid the existing stagnation, the number of countries who have embraced the project has now increased to over 20, and to give it momentum, the African countries involved in the project and their international partners have committed around 16 billion euros as of 2021.

Experts agree that the lack of security in the African Sahel region where terrorists in the attacks still constitute one of the biggest challenges hindering the implementation of the Great Green Wall project on the ground. However, they warn that work must resume urgently on the project to counter the threat posed by climate change.

Financial and security challenges

The tension looming over the African coast after a series of military coups that have increased security vulnerability in the region is not the only reason behind the delay in the realisation of the Great Green Wall project.

Ethiopia is one of the countries that have made the most remarkable progress in this field after it managed to revive two million hectares of land, creating more than 218,000 jobs in the process, according to official statistics. In 2019, it succeeded in planting 240 million trees in a single day. Niger has also had some success despite security threats and economic challenges. It has restored 800,000 hectares of land and made it suitable for agricultural use.

Ali Yahya, an analyst and international relations consultant, stated The most significant threats facing humanity are environmental and climate-related, such as desertification, leading to the deterioration of arable land in some countries by more than 30 times the historical average, as seen in Algeria. Addressing these challenges requires cooperation and unity from everyone."

Yahya highlighted how "one of the most promising projects in the world to combat desertification is the Chinese Green Wall, which achieved significant success all along the Kubuqi Desert, and inspired the African continent to replicate the project from Djibouti in the east to Senegal in the west to hold back the southward expansion of the desert.

Yahya added, "But despite the efforts made by many African countries to contribute to the success of the project, such as Ethiopia, Eritrea and others, in aiming to restore 100 million hectares of agricultural land by 2030, many of the desired goals have not been achieved due to several reasons. This includes inadequate funding, with at least 30 billion dollars (24 billion) required to sustain the project."

He also pointed out that "the political, economic and security challenges faced by some of the countries through which the wall passes, the spread of terrorist groups, and social challenges related to the lack of environmental awareness in local communities supposed to be key contributors to the projects success, have all hindered its progress."

Reviewed by Tooba Ali and Celine Assaf
US president Joe Biden said that Israel is starting to lose support due to indiscriminate bombing in Gaza amid Hamas war. The comments come after Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted again that US is with Israel as Tel Aviv aims to destroy Hamas and recover hostages held in Gaza. US president Joe Biden is seen. (Reuters)

"They're starting to lose that support," Joe Biden told a campaign fundraising event in Washington as per news agency Reuters. The US president also said that Benjamin Netanyahu needs to change his hardline government.

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Benjamin Netanyahu also pointed out that the US and Israel differ about what might follow the Gaza war as Tel Aviv will not back return of the Western-backed Palestinian Authority under President Mahmoud Abbas to Gaza. Gaza "will be neither Hamas-stan nor 'Fatah-stan'", he said, adding, I would like to clarify my position: I will not allow Israel to repeat the mistake of Oslo.

Earlier, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that he will discuss with Israeli officials their timetable for the war in Gaza.

"The subject of how they are seeing the timetable of this war will certainly be on the agenda for my meetings," Jake Sullivan, who is expected to visit Israel soon, said.

Jake Sullivan also blamed Hamas for the breakdown in an Israeli-Hamas truce saying, Hamas to this day continues to hold women, elderly people, civilians in significant numbers. And yet still, it's saying, Hey, how about everybody just stops. So we believe that Israel has the right to defend itself.

Joe Biden also plans to meet family members of Americans taken hostage by Hamas during its October 7 attack in southern Israel at the White House.
Ukraine's biggest mobile network operator Kyivstar said that it was the victim of a powerful hacker attack which temporarily knocked out its cellular and internet signal. The company is owned by Amsterdam-listed mobile telecoms operator Veon. Ukraine's Kyivstar Hacked: Ukraine's Kyivstar has been hacked. (Representational)

We are working to repair the outage and cooperating with law enforcement bodies, the company said. Meanwhile, the co-founder of Monobank, a major Ukrainian payment system, saidthat his company was currently suffering a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack but everything was "under control".

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"The most important thing is that the personal data of users has not been compromised," Kyivstar said in its statement. It also promised to compensate customers for loss of access to services but did not say who it believed to be responsible.

Ukrainian state bodies and companies have often accused Russia, which is at war with Ukraine, of orchestrating cyber attacks.
The Kremlin said Tuesday that any further US aid to Kyiv will be a "fiasco", ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meeting US leader Joe Biden to press for more military assistance. President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky(File/ AP)

"It is important for everyone to understand: the tens of billions of dollars pumped into Ukraine did not help it gain success on the battlefield," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The tens of billions of dollars that Ukraine wants to be pumped with are also headed for the same fiasco.
Officials from more than 20 countries including Israel but no Arab states will convene in Paris on Wednesday to define a strategy on how to curb financing of Hamas and its activities online, three diplomats said. Hamas terrorist cadre in Gaza(File Photo)

France has been pushing with Germany and Italy for the European Union to create a specific sanctions regime against the Palestinian Islamist group after its deadly attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7.

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French diplomats have said they want a broader strategy encompassing as many countries as possible, to damage the group's ability to finance itself and disseminate propaganda on social media networks.

ALSO READ| South Korea's request to Russia on North Korea: Sanction Pyongyang

The one-day conference of foreign ministry political directors will begin with a presentation by Israel on the "state of Hamas' threat" before turning to sessions on curbing financing, according to an agenda seen by Reuters.

Presentations will be made by Israel, France, the United States - which will outline current sanctions on Hamas - and an independent organisation that focuses on terrorism financing.

Hamas uses a global financing network to funnel support from charities and friendly nations, passing cash through Gaza tunnels or using cryptocurrencies to bypass international sanctions, according to experts and officials.

"It's odd that there won't be any Arab countries," said one diplomat, whose country has been invited. Two other diplomats also confirmed the absence of Arab countries and Turkey.

SECRET NETWORK

Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organisation by the European Union and the U.S., has established a secret network of companies managing $500 million of investments in companies from Turkey to Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Treasury has said.

Israel, whose forces have been pounding Gaza for weeks to try to eliminate Hamas in retaliation for the Oct. 7 attack, has long accused Iran's clerical rulers of stoking violence by supplying arms to Hamas.

Tehran says it gives moral and financial support to the group. Qatar has paid hundreds of millions of dollars to Hamas-run Gaza since 2014, officials say.

The final session of Wednesday's conference focuses on fighting "terrorist contents online" and how to mobilise tools to counter Hamas social media activity.

"The idea is to use the systems that were put in place against Daesh," said one European diplomat, referring to Islamic State. "But there are real problems on deciding what is hate speech when both sides are putting out false narratives and accusing each other of everything."
The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday acquitted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia Steel mill corruption case as he eyes a record fourth term as premier in the next elections. Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif (Reuters Photo)

Sharif, 73, was sentenced to seven years in jail and imposed a heavy fine by an anti-corruption court in December 2018 after he failed to convince the court that he had nothing to do with the steel mill set up by his father in 2001 in Saudi Arabia.

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ALSO READ| Ukraine's biggest mobile operator suffers huge hacker attack: What we know

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday acquitted Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference.

He was already acquitted in the Avenfield case in which he was convicted in July 2018 and sentenced to ten years in Jail. He also got relief in the Flagship corruption case in which he was declared innocent by the court in 2018 but the acquittal was challenged in the IHC by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Sharif was living in exile in Saudi Arabia at the time the mill was set up after the former military ruler Pervez Musharraf toppled his government in 1999 and bundled out of the country the former first family. Sharifs son Hussain Nawaz was the administrative head of the mill.

Sharif, the only Pakistani politician who became the prime minister of the coup-prone country for a record three times, returned to the country in October to lead his party in general elections scheduled in February 2024.
Russia and Iran will speed up work on a "major new interstate agreement", the Russian foreign ministry said on Tuesday. An Iranian flag flutters.(Reuters)

It did not detail the scope of the agreement, which comes amid growing political, trade and military ties between Moscow and Tehran that the United States views with concern.

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In a statement, Russia said the two countries' foreign ministers agreed in a phone call on Monday to speed up work on the agreement, which was at "a high stage of readiness".

Last week President Vladimir Putin held five hours of talks in the Kremlin with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

Read more: Israel announces additional checkpoint to screen aid to Gaza

Like North Korea, whose leader Kim Jong Un met Putin in Russia's far east in September, Iran is an avowed enemy of the United States and can provide Moscow with military hardware for its war in Ukraine, where Russia has made extensive use of Iranian drones.

The Kremlin last month said Russia and Iran were developing their relations, "including in the field of military-technical cooperation", but declined to comment on a suggestion by the White House that Iran may be considering providing Russia with ballistic missiles.

Iran is the main backer of Israel's enemy Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone with Putin on Sunday and voiced "robust disapproval" of Russia's "dangerous" cooperation with Iran.

Iranian authorities have said military cooperation with Russia is expanding day by day. Iran said last month it had finalised arrangements for Russia to provide it with Su-35 fighter jets, Mi-28 attack helicopters and Yak-130 pilot training aircraft.
Russia on Tuesday sentenced a left-wing academic critical of the Kremlin's offensive in Ukraine to a 600,000 ruble (6,180 euros) fine, in a rare lighter punishment during Moscow's massive crackdown on dissent. Representational picture(AP)

A court in the northern Komi Republic handed the fine to 65-year-old Boris Kagarlitsky, who was arrested in July and charged with "publicly calling for terrorism."

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Kagarlitsky is a well-known sociologist who wrote extensively on Russian society and leftist political history.

ALSO READ| Poland's new PM vows: Will mobilise West to help Ukraine

He was teaching at the Moscow Higher School of Economics, a university once seen as a bastion of liberal values.

His lawyer Sergei Yerokhov told state news agency RIA Novosti that he believed it was the only non-prison sentence for this charge in Russia in recent years.

"We will probably not appeal. In the current circumstances, we believe this is a successful solution to the case," Yerokhov was quoted as saying.

Kagarlitsky was arrested after a comment he made on social media calling a Ukrainian attack on Moscow's Crimea bridge "more or less understandable."

He also predicted more "new unpleasant things, even more serious ones" on Russian territory.

Russian authorities declared Kagarlitsky a foreign agent in 2022, a status with Soviet-era overtones that makes it harder for critics to operate.

Kagarlitsky was a political prisoner between 1982 and 1983, according to a recently deleted profile on his university's website.

Russia has banned criticism of its Ukraine campaign and has punished thousands of citizens for speaking out against the military campaign.
Russia should help impose new sanctions against North Korea over its recent launch of a spy satellite and enforce existing bans on the isolated country's labour exports, a senior South Korean official said on Tuesday. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un.(AFP)

South Korea's unification minister Kim Yung-ho, in charge of inter-Korean ties, said last month's satellite launch violated U.N. Security Council resolutions banning North Korea's use of ballistic technology, but Russia has been "extremely passive" in further sanctioning Pyongyang.

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There are "clear signs" of military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, and Seoul is also looking into whether Russia has accepted more North Korean workers in defiance of U.N. resolutions, Kim said.

"As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia has responsibility to faithfully implement its sanctions resolutions," he told a news conference.

South Korea's intelligence agency said last month the North had received Russian aid for the satellite launch, which was its third attempt after two failed tries.

Following leader Kim Jong Un's rare trip to Russia in September, North Korea has sent hundreds of construction and other workers to the Russian Far East to earn foreign currency, South Korea's Donga Ilbo newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing unidentified government officials.

Minister Kim also urged China to play a better role in sanctioning North Korea over its weapons development, and complying with international norms not to forcibly repatriate North Korean defectors.

South Korean activists said last week that up to 600 North Koreans have "vanished" after being deported by China in October, in what could be the largest such mass repatriation in years.

Kim also said the increasing public appearances and levels of protocol for Kim Ju Ae, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, could be aimed at laying groundwork for a future succession.

Since her debut in November 2022, she has appeared in state media 19 times, mostly accompanying her father at military events, he said.

"The possibility of her becoming a successor cannot be ruled out," Kim said. By putting her on the public stage early, they might be trying to show their resolve for a fourth generation hereditary succession.
His country's future at stake, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used inspirational words, optimistic resolve and a nod to Christmas in appealing Tuesday to leaders in Congress for U.S. aid for his fighters in the war with Russia. US President Joe Biden, right, and Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine's president, shake hands while meeting in the Oval Office of the White House. (Bloomberg)

But after hours of talks on Capitol Hill, additional American support appeared in grave doubt as Zelensky arrived at the White House to huddle with President Joe Biden. The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his grinding invasion more than 21 months ago, but Republicans are insisting on linking any more money to strict U.S.-Mexico border security changes that Democrats decry.

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The White House is warning that if new money isn't provided by year's end it will have swift consequences for Ukraine's capacity to hold its territory, let alone take back land captured by Russia.

Meeting with Zelensky in the Oval Office, Biden said, Mr. President, I call on Congress to do the right thing, to stand with Ukraine, and to stand up for freedom. He added, Congress needs to pass the supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for the holiday recess. before they give Putin the greatest Christmas gift they could possibly give him.

Zelensky made his own case during his brief White House appearance with Biden and his private meetings with congressional leaders  that Ukrainian forces have fought fiercely to push back the Russian invasion with the help of American and other Western allies and it's no time for Ukraine's friends to step back.

The fight we're in is a fight for freedom," Zelenskyy repeatedly said in the meetings on Capitol Hill, according to lawmakers.

Meanwhile, more than 130 senior lawmakers from across Europe signed a letter urging U.S. lawmakers to continue their support for Ukraine.

Flanked by Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Zelenskyy entered a private meeting with senators with a public bipartisan show of support and to some applause. But more than an hour later few senators' minds appeared changed.

Zelensky also visited the House leaders, including privately with new Speaker Mike Johnson, whose hard-right Republicans have been the most resistance to any deal. Johnson insisted afterward: "We do want to do the right thing here.

Zelensky sought to impress on the senators that Ukraine could win the war against Russia, telling them he was drafting men in their 30s and 40s in a show of strength for the battle. In his trademark olive drab, he stood before a portrait of George Washington, history hanging behind him.

To the House Democrats, he showcased his country's embrace of the West by pointing to the Christmas season, telling them it was the first year Ukraine would celebrate on Dec. 25 rather than the day Russians mark the holiday.

McConnell said Zelensky was inspirational and determined" in the Senate meeting.

But Republican senators exited the meeting unmoved from their position. Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said the emergency funding wouldnt gain GOP support unless it includes real, meaningful border reform.

Biden has been calling for a $110 billion U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs.

He has expressed a willingness to engage with the Republicans as migrant crossings have hit record highs along the U.S.-Mexico border, but Democrats in his own party oppose proposals for expedited deportations and strict asylum standards as a return to Trump-era hostility towards migrants. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas headed to Capitol Hill to meet with negotiators as they try to reach a border deal,

One chief Republican negotiator, Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, said there was nothing Zelenskyy could say during his visit with the senators to sway the outcome.

Hey, pay attention to us, but not your own country? No, Lankford told reporters.

Ahead of Zelenskys high-stakes meetings, the White House late Monday pointed to newly declassified intelligence that shows Ukraine has inflicted heavy losses on Russia in recent fighting along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis  including 13,000 casualties and over 220 combat vehicle losses. The Ukrainian holdout in the countrys partly-occupied east has been the center of some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks.

U.S. intelligence officials have determined that the Russians think if they can achieve a military deadlock through the winter it will drain Western support for Ukraine and ultimately give Russia the advantage, despite the fact that Russians have sustained heavy losses and have been slowed by persistent shortages of trained personnel, munitions and equipment.

Russia has lost 87% of the military personnel it had before the Ukraine war, including contracted and other ground forces, naval infantry and airborne troops, according to a person familiar with a recently declassified intelligence analysis and granted anonymity to discuss it.

Additionally, of the 3,500 Russian tanks before the invasion, some 2,200 have been lost on the battlefield, the person said.

The result is forcing Russia to rely on Soviet-era weaponry and has set back efforts to modernize its ground forces, the person said the analysis shows.

It's Zelensky's third visit to Washington since the war broke out in February 2022, including a quick trip just a few months ago as aid was being considered. But his surprise arrival days before Christmas last December drew thunderous applause in Congress, his daring first wartime trip out of Ukraine.

At the time, lawmakers sported the blue-and-yellow colors of Ukraine, and Zelenskyy delivered a speech that drew on the parallels to World War II as he thanked Americans for their support.

But 2023 brought a new power center of hard-right Republicans, many aligned with Donald Trump, the former president who is now the GOP front-runner in the 2024 race for the White House.

Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Zelenskyy might be able to take on the stalemate by showing the stakes of potential Russian expansion toward NATO, and making his case on moral clarity and why is Ukraine important.

Zelensky kicked off the quick visit to Washington on Monday, warning in a speech at a defense university that Russia may be fighting in Ukraine but its real target is freedom in America and around the world. During his meeting with Biden, he also sought to assure Congressand the American publicthat Ukraine was worth the substantial cost to the United States.

Ukraine can win," said Zelenskyy. People need to be confident that freedom is secure.

Of the new $110 billion national security package, $61.4 billion would go toward Ukraine  with about half to the U.S. Defense Department to replenish weaponry it is supplying, and the other half for humanitarian assistance and to help the Ukrainian government function with emergency responders, public works and other operations.

The package includes another nearly $14 billion for Israel as it fights Hamas and $14 billion for U.S. border security. Additional funds would go for national security needs in the Asia-Pacific region.

Biden also announced Tuesday that he had approved an additional $200 million military aid package for Ukraine. Including that latest package, the U.S. now has about $4.4 billion remaining in weapons it can provide from department stockpiles.

Border security talks have focused on making it more difficult for migrants to claim asylum and releasing fewer of them temporarily into the U.S. while they await proceedings to determine if they can remain permanently.

As border talks drag, Bidens budget director said last week that the U.S. will run out of funding to send weapons and assistance to Ukraine by the end of the year.
A declassified U.S. intelligence report assessed that the Ukraine war has cost Russia 315,000 dead and injured troops, or nearly 80 percent of the personnel it had when the conflict began, a source familiar with the intelligence said on Tuesday. Russia-Ukraine War: Ukrainian soldiers practice on a tank during military training in Ukraine.(AP)

The report also assessed that Moscow's losses in personnel and armored vehicles to Ukraine's military have set back Russias military modernization by 18 years, the source said.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with U.S. lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to make a last-ditch plea to keep military support flowing as he battles Russia, though he is likely to face a skeptical reception from many Republicans.

Wearing a black shirt and olive drab trousers, Zelenskiy was met with sustained applause as he arrived for a closed-door meeting with U.S. senators. He was accompanied by Chuck Schumer, the chamber's top Democrat, and Mitch McConnell, the top Republican.

Heading into winter, with tens of thousands of Ukrainians dead, a yawning budget deficit and Russian advances in the east, Zelenskiy is asking Washington to provide badly needed military and humanitarian aid.

Zelenskiy, on the second day of his trip to Washington, is due to meet privately on Tuesday with House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson.

Zelenskiy will then head to the White House, where he and President Joe Biden will hold a news conference at 4:15 p.m. local time (2115 GMT).

The White House told Congress on Dec. 4 the government will no longer have funding to provide more weapons for Ukraine after the end of the year. Congress has approved more than $110 billion for Ukraine since Russia's February 2022 invasion but no new funds since Republicans took over the House from Democrats in January.

Some Republicans, particularly those with the closest ties to former President Donald Trump, oppose more Ukraine aid, and are asking about the war aims and how U.S. money is being spent.

Johnson, a Republican, has said lawmakers need more detail on the administration's objectives in Ukraine. His fellow Republicans have said any further aid must be paired with changes to immigration policy -- an exceptionally divisive issue in U.S. politics.

Johnson said on Tuesday he was waiting for the White House to respond. "There's no return volley," he told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. He also demanded the Democratic president get directly involved in negotiations on the bill, saying that was "far, far overdue."

"If there's anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill, it's just (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his sick clique," Zelenskiy said at a speech in Washington on Monday to a U.S. military audience.
Described as weather forecasting for ocean water quality, the CSIRO has developed a world-first system to protect Australias fish stocks.

The project has been trialled around the Spencer Gulf west of Adelaide, in an aquaculture hub which the state government estimates is worth $238 million a year. Now scientists plan to roll out the system to other parts of the country.

AquaWatch uses satellite data combined with artificial intelligence as well as water sensors to provide scientists near-real-time water quality monitoring and forecasts. While some monitoring does already occur, it has traditionally been time-consuming and labour-intensive according to aquaculture experts.

A satellite map shows phytoplankton blooming across the Spencer Gulf. Source: Jacques Descloitres

The CSIRO plans to use the system to help local seafood farms predict marine event blooms from phytoplankton  a microalgae. With Australias weather becoming more severe and intense because of climate change, the tools could warn farmers of pollution events triggered by storms so they have time to prepare.

Are there environmental benefits to the forecasting system?

While the CSIRO's announcement focused on the commercial benefits of the technology, Australian satellite agency SmartSat, a project partner, has noted the importance of water as a "significant public resource" that is diminishing.

"In Australia, we live on the driest continent on earth and it is very important for us to ensure the quality of our rivers, our lakes and our dams, and of course our coastal areas are monitored, managed and safeguarded," SmartSat CEO Professor Andy Koronios said.

Dr Nagur Cherukuru, a senior scientist at CSIRO, told Yahoo News Australia the technology could also be used to monitor other natural water environments. This could include other parts of South Australia, or even Tasmanias Macquarie Harbour where poor water quality from salmon farms is known to be harming native species like the endangered maugean skate.

The sensors (left) will help protect Australia's fish farming industry (right). Source: CSIRO

More exciting Aussie inventions

Story continues

How satellites and monitors are combined to predict threats to fish

The pilot program began in March and it has allowed researchers to understand how far and how quickly the water quality is changing using a two-pronged approach.

AquaWatch is able to monitor water quality in space and time, and help predict both immediate threats and those that will likely take decades to evolve.

We have harmful algal bloom detectors targeted at specific wavelengths, Cherukuru said. Another way is to use satellite sensors. Satellites have very advanced machine learning based remote sensing that can be trained, and you can detect a large spatial area to see which areas are impacted by phytoplankton."

Although there have been few costs in acquiring satellite data from NASA, the biggest investment for the CSIRO was in creating computer modelling to understand local ocean systems and creating water sensors.

The project was a collaboration between CSIRO, SmartSat and the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI).

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Harvard University's governing board has announced that it will support president Claudine Gay and won't ask her to step down. The decision has been made public a day after its meeting to weigh in the backlash following her remarks at last week's congressional hearing. Harvard University President Claudine Gay testifies before a House Education and The Workforce Committee hearing titled "Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism" on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 5, 2023. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno(REUTERS)

The Harvard Corporation, the university's governing body, in a statement reaffirmed its support for Harvard President Claudine Gay's continued leadership.

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"Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing," the 11-member board wrote.

Its decision was first reported by the Harvard Crimson, which stated, that even though the board has given Gay some immediate job security it has raised new questions about the integrity of her scholarly work. This has put a question mark on whether her tenure will be safe in the long term. While the Corporation said it did not believe that the allegations of antisemitism amount to misconduct, it announced that Gay agreed to amend two publications.

Harvard Crimson reports, board's statement on Tuesday suggests the academic dishonesty allegations might prove more perilous to the future of Gays presidency.

Harvard Board has been under tremendous pressure from donors, alumni and congressmen who want Claudine Gay to take responsibility for the growing concerns of antisemitism on its campus. Today's decision comes in defiance of a majoritarian view that the university needs to change its stand on free speech amid antisemitism instances.

Board's decision to support Gay comes after over 500 Harvard faculty members rallied behind Dr. Gay, signing a petition urging resistance against political pressures conflicting with the institution's commitment to academic freedom.

Jewish communities have said universities are tolerating antisemitism even as the Pro-Palestinian groups have accused the schools of being neutral or antagonistic towards their cause.
In a CNN poll conducted by SSRS, former President Donald Trump emerges with a significant advantage over President Joe Biden in two crucial battleground states, Georgia and Michigan. Voters express negative views of Biden's performance and policies, favoring Trump in hypothetical matchups. FILE - President Donald Trump speaks after stepping off Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, March 24, 2019, in Washington. Federal prosecutors and lawyers for Donald Trump have signaled their desire to invoke the 2016 election in the former president's trial on charges of scheming to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)(AP)

Georgia's narrow preference for Trump

Despite Biden's narrow win in Georgia during the 2020 election, the recent poll indicates a preference shift. In a two-way hypothetical matchup, Trump leads with 49% against Biden's 44%. Trump's strength extends from voters who did not participate in 2020, favoring him by 26 points in Georgia.

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Michigan favors Trump with a wider margin

In Michigan, where Biden secured a wider victory in 2020, Trump leads with 50% against Biden's 40%. Trump's support includes voters who did not cast ballots in 2020, giving him a 40-point advantage. These numbers suggest potential challenges for both candidates.

Challenges for Biden

Biden faces hurdles in voters' perceptions of his job performance and policies. In both states, only 35% in Michigan and 39% in Georgia approve of Biden's job performance. Majorities believe his policies worsened economic conditions (54% in Georgia, 56% in Michigan), reflecting dissatisfaction within his base.

Doubts about Biden's attributes

Voters, especially younger ones, express doubts about Biden's attributes. Over 60% in both states don't see him aligning with their vision of an ideal president concerning policy positions, understanding problems, stamina, and sharpness.

GOP primaries reflect Trump's dominance

Trump leads GOP primary polls in both states, with 58% in Michigan and 55% in Georgia considering him their first choice. DeSantis and Haley compete for a distant second, emphasizing Trump's current dominance within the Republican Party.

Differing views on legal challenges

In Georgia, 52% approve of charges against Trump in the Fulton County case, and 47% believe, if true, they should disqualify him. In Michigan, 46% say criminal charges should disqualify Trump. GOP primary voters largely see these charges as irrelevant to Trump's fitness.

2024 general election scenarios

In hypothetical general election matchups, Trump leads against Biden, especially when two third-party candidates are considered. Younger voters show reluctance towards Biden, favoring Trump in these scenarios.

Voters lean towards Democrats on abortion

Regarding key issues, voters in both states align with Democrats on abortion, while the GOP has an advantage on immigration. Trust in the election process varies, with most expressing confidence that votes will be accurately cast.

Partisan enthusiasm and candidate satisfaction

Enthusiasm for the 2024 election varies. About 61% in Georgia and 57% in Michigan describe themselves as extremely motivated. Satisfaction with candidate choices is higher in Georgia (62%) than Michigan (53%). Republican-aligned voters are likelier to express satisfaction.

The CNN polls conducted by SSRS involved random samples of registered voters, reflecting potential shifts in political dynamics. The margin of sampling error is around 3.3 to 3.4 percentage points.
Harvard President Claudine Gay seems to be digging in her heels and won't resign despite the mounting pressure. The reports come in after the Harvard board publicly announced their support for her. 700 faculty members also came to her defence in several open letters. Harvard President Claudine Gay, left, speaks as University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill listens during a hearing of the House Committee on Education on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023 in Washington. (AP)

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, who has donated millions to Harvard, has been very vocal against Gay. In his recent post he claimed, I have been told now by two reporters that one of the factors that made it challenging for the @Harvard board to fire Gay was that they were concerned it would look like they were kowtowing to me.

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Earlier, Ackman had written an open letter to Harvard's board on Sunday claiming Gay had quelched speech she disfavors while defending and thereby amplifying vile and threatening hate speech. The petition urging her removal has been signed by 1,100 alumni.

But the Harvard Alumni Association Executive Committee on Monday asked the Harvard Corporation to back Gay, the Harvard Crimson reported. Nearly 700 faculty members signed a petition supporting Gay as of Monday afternoon while Black alumni and allies said on social media that they had gathered nearly 800 signatures on another petition supporting the president.

Donors, prominent alumni and members of Congress have called for her to resign as her fellow Ivy League leader at University of Pennsylvania, who also testified to Congress last week, did on Saturday. Meanwhile many faculty and other alumni have rushed to defend Gay and asked the governing body to do the same. Gay had assumed the universitys top job in July and is Harvards first Black president.

On Friday, 74 members of Congress, in a letter to the boards of all three schools, called for leadership changes. Magill and the University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees Chair Scott Bok resigned from their posts on Saturday. The Executive Committee of the MIT Corporation said in a statement after Kornbluth's testimony that she still had its full support.
A Michigan teenager is facing charges in connection with the suicide of a Texas child during an online game nearly a year ago. The incident, which began unfolding in January, prompted an investigation by the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable's Office. A Michigan teenager is facing charges in connection with the suicide of a Texas child during an online game nearly a year ago.

Responding to a call about a suicide, authorities entered a home approximately 30 miles north of Houston, discovering the child dead while still wearing a gaming headset and seemingly online at the time of their death. Months of investigation, including interviews with members of an online gaming group across the U.S., led to charges against a juvenile male residing over 1,000 miles away in Allen Park, Michigan.

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The accused faces charges of harassment causing death and aiding suicide. The Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable's Office emphasized the seriousness of cyberbullying investigations, stating, "The Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constables Office takes investigations regarding cyberbullying seriously and will continue to investigate these cases to the fullest extent."

Details of the case reveal that the Texas teenager died by suicide after being encouraged to do so by the Allen Park teen on a social platform commonly used by online gamers. The Allen Park teen, charged with a felony of aiding suicide and a misdemeanor for harassment causing death, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court on December 7.

This tragic event emphasizes the critical role of parental involvement in a child's online activities. Lt. Ken Washington, a public information officer, highlighted the importance of recognizing the impact of words and actions in virtual spaces, urging parents to be more engaged. Psychologist Dr. Mike Bishop emphasized that consistent gaming can alter brain chemistry, linking self-worth to an alternate universe, and stressed the need for parental awareness.

As the legal process unfolds, the case serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding online interactions, cyberbullying, and the responsibility of parents to navigate and understand their children's activities in the digital realm.
A pregnant Texas woman whose fetus has a fatal condition left the state to get an abortion elsewhere before the state Supreme Court on Monday rejected her unprecedented challenge of one of the most restrictive bans in the U.S. FILE PHOTO: A few abortion rights demonstrators remain in the crowd after hours of public comments and discussion as Dentons city council meets to vote on a resolution seeking to make enforcing Texas trigger law on abortion a low priority for its police force, in Denton, Texas, U.S., June 28, 2022. REUTERS/Shelby Tauber/File Photo(REUTERS)

Kate Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two, had spent nearly a week seeking court permission in Texas to end her pregnancy, but her attorneys said she could not wait any longer and left the state. Her baby has a condition known as trisomy 18, which has low survival rates, and her lawsuit argued that continuing the pregnancy jeopardised both her health and ability to have more children.

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Texas abortion ban makes narrow exceptions when the life of the mother is in danger but not for fetal anomalies. Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton argued that Cox had not shown that any of the complications in her pregnancy rose to the level of threatening her life.

Her health is on the line. Shes been in and out of the emergency room and she couldnt wait any longer, said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which was representing Cox.

The organization did not disclose where Cox went. On Monday, she would have been 20 weeks and six days pregnant.

Hours after Cox's attorneys announced she had left Texas, the state Supreme Court issued its decision that ruled against Cox. It came three days after the court temporarily halted a lower judge's ruling that gave Cox permission to get an abortion.

"No one disputes that Ms. Coxs pregnancy has been extremely complicated. Any parents would be devastated to learn of their unborn childs trisomy 18 diagnosis," the court wrote. Some difficulties in pregnancy, however, even serious ones, do not pose the heightened risks to the mother the exception encompasses.

Cox, who lives in the Dallas area, was believed to be the first woman in the U.S. to ask a court for permission for an abortion since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year. Her lawsuit quickly became a high-profile test of bans in Texas and a dozen other GOP-controlled states, where abortion is prohibited at nearly all stages of pregnancy.

Days after Cox filed her lawsuit, a pregnant woman in Kentucky also asked a court to allow an abortion. There has been no ruling yet in that case.

In Texas, Paxton mounted an aggressive defense to try to prevent Cox from having an abortion. He sent three Houston hospitals letters warning of legal consequences  both criminal and civil  if they allowed Cox's physician to provide the procedure. He also argued that Cox had not demonstrated that her life was at imminent risk, including noting that she was sent home after her multiple visits to emergency rooms.

Cox had cesarean surgeries during her first two pregnancies. Her lawsuit argued that inducing labor would carry a risk of a uterine rupture because of her prior C-sections, and that another one at full term would would endanger her ability to carry another child. But Paxton contended those arguments still fell short.

Rather, the only question is whether Ms. Coxs condition meets the exception, regardless of how long the child is expected to live, Paxton's office told the court in a filing over the weekend.

Dr. Leilah Zahedi-Spung, a maternal fetal medicine specialist in Colorado and a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, said when lethal fetal anomalies are diagnosed theres only risk to that pregnant person and no benefit unfortunately for that innocent child.

You are putting your body through risks without any benefit because prolonging the pregnancy doesnt change the survival rate, Zahedi-Spung said.

Doctors told Cox that her fetus has a condition known as trisomy 18, which is when a baby has an extra copy of chromosome 18. The diagnosis has a very high likelihood of miscarriage or stillbirth, and low survival rate. Doctors told Cox that inducing labor or carrying the baby to term could jeopardize her ability to have another child.

Trisomy 18 occurs in approximately 1 in 2,500 diagnosed pregnancies, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. There is no live birth in about 70% of pregnancies involving the diagnosis that proceed past 12 weeks gestational age, according to a legal filing that the two groups submitted to the court.

The termination of pregnancies because of fetal anomalies or other often-fatal medical problems is seldom discussed in national debates over abortion. There are no recent statistics on the frequency of terminations for fetal anomalies in the U.S. but experts say its a small percentage of total procedures.

Texas has long been at the forefront of strict abortion laws in the U.S., and even now, there are ongoing efforts to make it harder for pregnant women to leave Texas for states where the procedure is legal. This year, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the bans do not apply to helping women get abortions out of state.

Under Texas bans, doctors who provide an abortion can face criminal charges that carry punishments of up to life in prison. They could also face lawsuits from private citizens, who are empowered to sue a person who helps a woman obtain an abortion, such as the doctors staff. The laws do not threaten the mother with any legal consequences.

Dr. Christina Bourne, medical director for abortion provider Trust Women, which provides abortion care in Wichita, Kansas, and also has a clinic in Oklahoma City, said that whether someones life is at risk can be subjective.

Doctors are now operating in a confusing atmosphere, Bourne said,

If you are a pregnant person in a legally restrictive state, I am concerned about your health outcomes, she said.

___

Stengle reported from Dallas.
Russia is watching US president Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting very attentively, the Kremlin said while remaining largely lukewarm about the outcome of the Ukrainian president's visit to Washington. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "tens of billions of dollars" already provided by Washington to Kyiv had failed to turn the tide of war. Russia-Ukraine War: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.(AFP)

Further aid would similarly fail to do so, he said.

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Zelensky's authority was being undermined by failures in war so far, he asserted.

"It is important for everyone to understand: the tens of billions of dollars pumped into Ukraine did not help it gain success on the battlefield," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said as per news agency Reuters, adding, "The tens of billions of dollars that Ukraine wants to be pumped with are also headed for the same fiasco."

Volodymyr Zelensky will arrive on Capitol Hill as the Russian invasion grinds into a third year while US funding hangs in balance. The visit comes as Joe Biden's request for an additional USD 110 billion aid package for Ukraine and Israel is at serious risk of collapse in the US Congress. Republicans have insisted on strict US-Mexico border security changes.

The White House has said that the time was right for Zelensky's trip to Washington as Joe Biden pushes lawmakers to approve the aid package. The Ukrainian leader will privately meet senators and new US House Speaker Mike Johnson, Associated Press reported. He will then talk with Joe Biden at the White House .

The White House also pointed to newly declassified intelligence that shows Ukraine has inflicted heavy losses on Russia in recent fighting along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis ahead of the meeting.

Russia is determined to press forward with its offensive despite its losses. It is more critical now than ever that we maintain our support for Ukraine so they can continue to hold the line and regain their territory, White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.
The whole world's public opinion can shift overnight, US President Joe Biden said warning Israel to be careful amid its offensive against Hamas while pressuring to limit civilian casualties in Gaza. Biden also vowed to continue providing military assistance to Israel until they get rid of Hamas." US President Joe Biden speaks during a Hanukkah reception(AFP)

Speaking at the Jewish festival of Hanukkah in the White House, Biden remarked while he doesn't always agree with Israel's leaders and governmental policies, but said "Were there no Israel, there would not be a Jew in the world who is safe.

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We continue to provide military assistance until they get rid of Hamas but we have to be careful," Biden said of US support for the warThe whole world, public opinion can shift overnight. We can't let that happen," he said. The US President's remarks came as his administration pressed for a fresh Israel air package.

Israel is conducting airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza aimed at eliminating Hamas after it attacked and killed 1,200 people across the border and saw about 240 taken hostage.

Meanwhile, the US has also expressed concern about reports that Israel used US-supplied white phosphorus munitions in an attack carried out in southern Lebanon in October. Top US official John Kirby said the White House will be asking questions about it. He added that the US provides material like white phosphorus to another military expecting that it will be used for legitimate purposes.

Israel, however, said the war against Hamas will only end after it achieves the goal. Addressing a press conference, Israel's defence minister Yoav Gallant said that he takes into consideration everything the US asks and says and takes them seriously. "We will find a way to help the Americans help us," he said.
Yemen's Houthis said on Tuesday they hit a Norwegian commercial tanker with a missile in their latest protest against Israel's bombardment of Gaza, underlining the risks of a conflict that has shaken the Middle East. A Houthi militant (Representational picture)(REUTERS FILE)

The Iran-aligned group attacked the tanker, the STRINDA, because it was delivering crude oil to an Israeli terminal and after its crew ignored all warnings, Houthi military spokesperson Yehia Sarea said in a statement.

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But the tanker's owner, Norway's Mowinckel Chemical Tankers, said the vessel was headed to Italy with a cargo of biofuel feedstock, not crude oil. But it did acknowledge a tentative Israeli port call scheduled for January, details it had not offered in the immediate hours after the attack in the Red Sea.

ALSO READ| Nearly fifth of Gaza's buildings destroyed, damaged in ongoing war with Israel

"Upon the recommendation of our security advisors, it was decided to withhold this information until the vessel and her crew were in safe waters," the company said in a statement.

The U.S. Navy destroyer Mason responded to the STRINDA's distress calls and assisted the crew, which was grappling with a fire, the U.S. military said. The U.S. military said the STRINDA was struck by a land-based cruise missile fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen.

The Houthis have waded into the Israel-Hamas conflict - which has spread around the region since Oct. 7 - attacking vessels in vital shipping lanes and firing drones and missiles at Israel more than 1,000 miles from their seat of power in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.

On Saturday, they said they would target all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their nationality, and warned international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports.

GAZA WAR RIPPLES THROUGH REGION

The Gaza conflict has already spread to other parts of the region, with Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah trading fire and Iranian-backed militias attacking bases of U.S. forces in Iraq.

French frigate FREMM Languedoc intercepted and destroyed a drone that was threatening the STRINDA in a complex aerial attack originating from Yemen, the French defence ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

It said the attack had taken place in the evening of Monday Dec. 11 and had caused a fire on board the tanker, which was sailing under the Norwegian flag.

The STRINDA had loaded vegetable oil and biofuels in Malaysia and was headed for Venice, data from shiptracking firm Kpler showed. Italian energy firm Eni confirmed the ship was carrying 15 thousand tons of residues and waste from vegetable oil processing destined for Eni's biorefineries in Italy.

Houthi officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli government.

The Houthi spokesman said the group would continue blocking ships heading to Israeli ports until Israel allows the entry of food and medical aid into the Gaza Strip.

US SHIP RESPONDS TO STRINDA

Norway's deputy foreign minister Eivind Vad Petersson said the attack was unacceptable.

"Norway condemns in the strongest possible terms all attacks on civilian shipping," he said in a statement.

The attack took place about 60 nautical miles (111 km) north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at about 2100 GMT, a U.S. official told Reuters. A second U.S. official said the STRINDA was able to move under its own power in the hours after the attack.

"There were no U.S. ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but the (U.S. Navy destroyer) USS MASON responded to the M/T STRINDA's mayday call," the U.S. military's Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, said in a statement posted on social media platform X.

The attack caused damage but no casualties, the U.S. military said in a statement.

The Houthi spokesman said that the group had managed to obstruct the passage of several ships in recent days, acting in support of the Palestinians.

The Houthis are one of several groups in the Iran-aligned "Axis of Resistance" that have been taking aim at Israeli and U.S. targets since their Palestinian ally Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. Israel has responded by besieging Gaza with the stated aim of destroying Hamas.

During the first week of December, three commercial vessels came under attack in international waters, prompting a U.S. Navy destroyer to intervene.

Last month the Houthis also seized a British-owned cargo ship that had links with an Israeli company.

The United States and Britain have condemned the attacks on shipping, blaming Iran for its role in supporting the Houthis. Tehran says its allies make their decisions independently.

Saudi Arabia has asked the United States to show restraint in responding to the attacks.
Two terrifying dingo incidents on Kgari, formerly Fraser Island, are being investigated after one child was bitten and another narrowly escaped after being chased.

The first incident on Sunday at about 3pm on Wathumba Beach involved a five-year-old girl who was bitten on the thigh and received lacerations and bruising.

According to the Department of Environment and Science (DES), witnesses said the girl ran from a large group of people near the sand flats and a dingo ran at "full speed towards her and nipped her on the thigh".

An adult got to the girl, waved their hat to ward off the dingo, and then other adults intervened so the dingo moved on. The bite to the child's thigh was treated by a doctor camping on the island.

Rangers are attempting to identify the dingo in both K'gari incidents to find out if it was the same on both occasions. Source: Getty

Second child chased as rangers warned families

On Monday, rangers were patrolling the beach at Wathumba and advising people to be "Dingo Safe". They noticed a seven-year-old boy wandering away from his family who had been warned of the dangers.

A dingo then began walking toward the boy, who became scared and ran. Seeing this, the rangers and the parents ran to get to the boy as the dingo "ran at speed" and then lunged, "attempting to bite" the child, but did not make contact.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is investigating both incidents. QPWS rangers are attempting to identify the dingo and determine if the same animal was involved.

There have been several reports of tourists ignoring warnings and interacting with dingoes on K'gari with one Gold Coast influencer even patting and interacting with the animals on camera. Earlier this year a 10-year-old boy was attacked and dragged under water by a dingo and a woman in her 20s was hospitalised after a pack of dingoes attacked her while on a jog on K'gari.

Story continues

Rangers say tourists often ignore warnings despite this dingo, and others loitering around the area this year. Source: Department of Environment and Science

Visitors urged to heed warnings and advice from rangers

The DES has urged visitors of Kgari to "keep children under constant supervision" following the two incidents this week. Below are the full set of rules to follow to be "dingo safe" at all times:

Always stay close (within arms reach) of children and young teenagers

Always walk in groups

Camp in fenced areas where possible

Do not run. Running or jogging can trigger a negative dingo interaction

Never feed dingoes

Lock up food stores and iceboxes (even on a boat)

Never store food or food containers in tents, and

Secure all rubbish, fish and bait.

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What is something that happens to most people, especially around the holidays, that is uncomfortable and totally preventable? If you guessed awkward family conversations, youre not wrong! But today, we are going to talk about bloating. Yes, bloating.

Bloating is the unsexy distension of your stomach (or maybe even fingers, face and feet) that happens for a few reasons, and can often be confused with actual weight gain. Bloating is a pesky symptom that can stem from eating certain foods and drinks, habits, hormones, dehydration, lack of exercise and more. Lets explore why we get bloated, and what we can do about it!

Reasons we bloat

There are several reasons why we cant quite get that top button done up on our pants after lunchtime. One reason that might be causing you to bloat is chewing gum. Who knew!? Chewing gum increases the amount of air that we are swallowing in between chomps, which causes our stomachs to puff up with air. Another surprising cause of bloating is drinking out of a straw. Chances are, you are intaking a lot of air before the liquid hits your mouth, introducing increased air in the esophagus and eventually the stomach. Any eating or drinking habit that increases the amount of air that youre swallowing could in turn cause bloating.

Similarly, fizzy and bubbly drinks can also increase that bloated feeling in your stomach. Have you ever sipped on a LaCroix and could not stop burping ,and it left you feeling very full? Thats a result of those little air bubbles wreaking havoc on your stomach.

A major food-related culprit of bloating is raw veggies. Most people will snack on the raw veggie platter at a party because it feels like the healthier choice, only to lie in bed with horrible stomach pain afterwards. Raw veggies are extremely difficult to digest due to their fibrous barriers that break down during the cooking process, making them softer, more palatable and easier on the stomach. Raw broccoli, kale, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and celery are amongst the most likely to give you that gaseous bloating feeling that can cause a lot of discomfort. Other foods that commonly cause a bloated belly include dairy products, gluten/grain products such as breads, pastas and baked goods, and sugary foods such as cakes, cookies and brownies. Lentils, beans and edamame are common bloat-causing foods, as well as corn and chickpeas. While these are the common foods that cause bloating, every individual is different when it comes to what triggers intestinal discomfort for them.

What we can do about bloat

There are a couple of small habits that you can implement to help prevent feeling bloated this holiday season. First on the list is hydration. Drinking enough water helps you maintain nutritional balance, improves bowel movements and helps flush out any excess inflammatory-causing molecules quicker. Drinking plenty of water (but not the bubbly kind) will also help to debloat you if the damage is already done! Going for a simple 30-minute walk after you eat is key to improving digestion by allowing food to move through the gastrointestinal system easily and improving lymphatic drainage to promote circulation in the body. Steering clear of foods and drinks that you know will cause you stomach pain and distention is also a disciplined choice when heading to parties this holiday season. Do you love margaritas, but they leave you feeling swollen and puffy? Look for a mocktail version or drink a glass of water, enjoy one cocktail, and drink another glass of water before you decide to refill your drink glass. Does the bread table make your mouth water, but you know it will destroy your night later? Be selective and wise in your choices, and your sensitive tummy will thank you later. Stretching and light movement before bed or in the morning can also improve bloating caused by constipation. Increasing your fiber intake, as well as taking a nightly magnesium supplement, can contribute to more regular relief from constipation or backed-up bowels.

Finally, sometimes bloating is due to hormones, medications and stress. While it is important to be self-aware of what foods and habits can create issues with bloating, it is also important to understand that sometimes bloat just happens due to changes within our bodies. If the problem persists for more than a few weeks, dont hesitate to reach out to your doctor.
Short-term rentals have become a contentious issue in municipalities everywhere, and the village of Aurora is no exception.

The village has proposed a local law regulating the rentals, popularized by companies like Airbnb and Vrbo, due to what the law describes as their negative impact on the housing market. Short-term rentals also "negatively impact village life with inadequate parking, improper trash disposal, increased traffic, excessive noise, over-occupancy and unsafe conditions," the draft of the law says.

The law, which passed Cayuga County's General Municipal Law committee last week, will be the subject of a public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, at the Aurora Fire Department.

Major Jim Orman told The Citizen the village proposed the law because New York state hasn't regulated short-term rentals even as their popularity rose over the last decade, particularly during COVID-19.

"They're leaving it up to the smaller towns," he said.

Short-term rentals have become popular largely because of their convenience, offering property owners a new source of income and tenants a cheaper form of lodging than hotels.

But with renters coming and going, municipalities lose full-time residents, Aurora's proposed law says. Short-term rentals therefore "jeopardize basic village functionality," the law continues, by "limiting the number of residents available to serve as emergency and public safety workers, attend area schools, share municipal costs, participate in village government, enhance the local economy, and support community organizations. The regulation of (short-term rentals) will protect the availability of the residential housing stock crucial to Auroras neighborhood character and village functionality."

The local law would address the village's objections to short-term rentals by creating a permitting system for them. Two-year renewable and one-year non-renewable temporary permits would be available, and no individual or entity would be able to hold more than one permit at a time. Hosted short-term rentals would require proof of the host's local residency, and be limited to one group of guests at a time in a one-, two-family or accessory unit. Unhosted short-term rentals would number no more than 10, and would be available to one-family units only, among other requirements.

"Owners will have to bring their properties up to code," Orman added. "If we don't make them, we're on the hook."

But a local proponent of short-term rentals, the Finger Lakes Vacation Rental Alliance, told The Citizen that objections like Aurora's are often based on misconceptions.

"Renting has been going on for years," said the alliance's Lindsay Bolton. "When you start a short-term rental, you're now in the hospitality industry. There is a learning curve."

While short-term rental demand spiked during the pandemic, Bolton continued, it has since plateaued as vacationers return to traditional travel abroad and cruises. Squashing another stigma, she said the majority of people looking for short-term rentals are multigenerational families, not bachelorette parties, looking to stay together in one location. Most property owners have similar motives.

"The majority of these renters are wanting to keep the house in the family," Bolton said. "Others, who have second homes, rent it out to take care of taxes."

Orman said Aurora will have a few options after the Dec. 20 public hearing. Depending on the feedback, the village board could vote on the law as soon as that night, or adjourn and weigh its options. He said the village wants to maintain transparency and find a balance on the topic. That includes a series of answers to frequently asked questions about the law the village has posted on its website.

Regardless, Orman continued, he's confident the village will pass its short-term rental law ahead of next summer's rush.
citizenM, the award-winning hotel and lifestyle brand that revolutionized the hotel industry with its 'affordable luxury' mantra, has opened the doors of its first hotel in Italy: citizenM Rome Isola Tiberina. The hotel marks the brand's 33rd in the portfolio, a sign of citizenM's continued commitment to global expansion.

For its debut in Italy, the innovative brand chose the Eternal City, with a prime location on the Lungotevere de' Cenci, just a few steps from the buzzing neighborhood of Trastevere, and close to cultural sites including the Jewish ghetto, Pantheon and the Colosseum. Located at the historical and cultural crossroads of imperial Rome and the creative hub featuring industrial lofts and poster art, the site was chosen to appeal to a new generation of modern travelers, who, when traveling for work or leisure, are looking for a place to stay where they can sleep and work while enjoying contemporary art, designer furniture, and 24/7 food and drinks.

The building which houses the new hotel was designed and built in the late 1950s by architect Eugenio Montuori, and occupies a total area of about 7,000 square meters spread over five floors. Purchased in 2020 through a fund managed by independent asset management company Colliers Global Investors Italy, the site was carefully renovated to transform from a commercial-use building into a modern and accessible hotel that combines the city's heritage with the brand's unique style.

The renovations preserved the large windows that characterize citizenM hotels around the world, offering guests a vantage point over the city and Tiber Island. In the weeks leading up to the opening, citizenM Rome Isola Tiberina was home to a temporary exhibition of portraits - a continuation of the brand's citizens of the world series - which transformed the building into an open-air museum. This initiative signified the brand officially greeting the city, by celebrating the creativity, openness, and cosmopolitan spirit of its community, represented through the six citizens of Rome whose ingenuity and talent are breaking the mold of their respective professional fields.

Emphasizing citizenM's commitment to sustainability, citizenM Rome Isola Tiberina has been constructed adhering to elevated environmental standards, encompassing energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction, and is working towards securing LEED Gold certification. This initiative aligns with citizenM's broader environmental ethos - 100% of citizenM hotels either hold green building certifications or are on the path to achieving them.

With the opening of citizenM Roma Isola Tiberina, the hotel and lifestyle brand brings to Italy a revolutionary approach to hospitality, based on the concept of luxury at an affordable price. citizenM's philosophy of "affordable luxury" is best experienced in the guest rooms, which showcases their commitment to high-tech amenities, ultimate comfort, eye-catching art and more. The 162 rooms are smartly furnished with "everything modern travelers need, and nothing they don't." All guestroom features are designed to be the very best: the beds are XL king-size wall-to-wall with an extra comfy mattress and luxury bedding. An HD widescreen TV offers streaming options via free super-fast Wi-Fi, so that guests can enjoy their own content. A powerful rain shower with full-size shower gel and shampoo (as well as giant fluffy towels) will soothe all long- and short-haul travelers. The room ambiance is fully controlled by an iPad - the blinds, climate, the TV, even the lights with changeable colors - or via the award-winning citizenM app.

The hotel also offers all the essential amenities for modern travelers: breakfast served from 6 to 11 a.m., free, super-fast Wi-Fi, and a bookable societyM meeting room, perfect for business travelers.

Enter the front door and guests will be welcomed directly into the large Living Room space, furnished in the iconic "curated chaos" style that distinguishes citizenM hotels around the world: a colorful and eclectic collection art, books, local artifacts and comfortable designer furniture pieces that create a welcoming space full of nooks and crannies for working, lounging, reading and relaxing. The canteenM bar, open 24/7 daily, offers a place for refreshment at any time of the day, from breakfast to a midnight snack. Finally, the spacious rooftop terrace offers guests stunning views of the Eternal City.

The rooms and common areas feature designer interiors, clean lines, modern furnishings by Vitra, and the bright colors typical of citizenM. Both the interiors and exteriors were designed by concrete, citizenM's longtime Amsterdam-based collaborator, in collaboration with local architecture firm ARTELIA.

Fundamental to the brand is a commitment to art, which comes to life through collaborations with both emerging and established artists for each of its new hotels. For the new hotel in Rome, the brand commissioned UNO, an artist based in Rome since 2000, and known for his street art murals. UNO created a striking artwork titled Guarda in Alto, 2023 - a tribute to the city of Rome. The 402-square meter ceiling of the ground floor, starting from the outside covered terrace and extending into the Living Room, was hand-painted with more than 80 different colors.

Inside, an art wall curated in collaboration with Italian, Amsterdam-based Elisa Medde, features works from Italian artists Piero Percoco and Camillo Pasquarelli. The works by Percoco, known for his vivid use of color and documentary-style photography, take a satirical look at aspects of modern life in Southern Italy, while Pasquarelli's photographs depict some of Rome's top bars and capture the essence of the city. For the in-room artwork, works were sourced from Padua-based photographer Andrea Tonnellotto, who is known for his use of Polaroids.

At the heart of citizenM's top-notch service and signature personality is its hotel staff - the ambassadors. Typically hired from outside of the hospitality industry, ambassadors are chosen first for their attitude (not skills), and put through a six-week immersion course to learn all about citizenM's unique culture. They all embody today's modern citizen: curious, well-traveled and open-minded, and are also citizenM's walking concierges who know lots of things about their city, and readily provide tips about the best places to visit.

Hotel website
Wilson, a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in the cruise industry, is set to spearhead the development of Aman's first luxury superyacht. This ambitious project is a collaboration with Cruise Saudi, slated for launch in 2027. As the leader of this venture, Wilson will collaborate with Aman's Chairman and CEO, Vlad Doronin, to ensure the superyacht reflects the brand's renowned attention to detail and exceptional care, hallmarks of Aman's hotels.

Wilson, expressing his enthusiasm, stated, "Aman has been at the forefront of ultra-luxury hospitality for over 35 years. It's an honor to join the company and lead 'Aman at Sea.' This groundbreaking initiative extends Aman's visionary approach to the high seas, promising to redefine luxury waterborne voyages and mark the brand's first venture into the world's oceans."

With a rich background that includes a stint as vice president of customer experience and innovation at Hilton, and various leadership roles at Princess Cruises and Cunard Line, Wilson brings invaluable expertise in product development and the cruise industry. His insight is expected to be crucial in driving Aman's expansion and shaping an unparalleled luxury yacht experience.

The inaugural 'Aman at Sea' superyacht, a product of the collaboration with Cruise Saudi, is envisioned to be a 183-meter marvel, crafted in partnership with SINOT Yacht Architecture & Design. This vessel will feature 50 luxury suites, blending Aman's eastern heritage and design philosophy with cutting-edge architectural innovation.
Remington Hospitality, a leading hotel management company, has welcomed Shazmah Hakim as Chief Legal Officer. Hakim, who brings over two decades of experience, has a background steeped in hospitality, operations, and law and a proven track record of success. In her new role, Hakim will help guide Remington into its next phase of growth and ensure efficient and effective legal processes are developed and implemented to support company initiatives.

As Chief Legal Officer, Hakim will oversee all efforts across the legal department. She will be entrusted with providing expert legal counsel to senior management, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations, and representing the company's interests in legal proceedings and negotiations.At Remington Hospitality, Hakim will continue to foster trust and collaboration within the legal department and across the organization as a whole, contributing to the company's ongoing success. "There is nothing more fulfilling and energizing than working with a company during a time of growth," says Hakim. "I am excited to begin this journey with the Remington Hospitality team. My vision is for the law department to be a strong and trusted partner in facilitating this next chapter for Remington while protecting its interests."Hakim began her hospitality law career at Marriott International where she played a pivotal role in overseeing all operating hotels in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Middle East, and Africa, contributing to the company's global expansion. Hakim then joined Kingdom Hotels Limited in Dubai where she served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel and guided the company through its expansion into emerging markets before returning to Marriott to fulfill a similar role. In this leadership position, she heavily supported the company's global loyalty, marketing, branding, sales, and consumer initiatives. Hakim attended Scripps College in Claremont, California, New York University, and The George Washington University Law School, developing her rich knowledge in international relations and law.
QUO today announces the launch of operations in Europe with the appointment of David Anderson as CEO Europe and partner in the Group. With new regional headquarters in central London, David will lead the expansion of the respected strategic branding and creative agency into this dynamic market.

As well as leading QUOs European operation, Davids team will also coordinate the agencys global sales and marketing functions as well as provide targeted support for QUOs expanding network of clients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East region.

David brings over 25 years of client-side branding, commercial, and marketing expertise. A proven track record in both public and major private corporations, he has served on several global executive committees and boards and ran a successful independent consultancy. With an honours degree in Aeronautical Engineering, he started his career at British Airways before holding leadership positions with IHG Hotels & Resorts, Hilton International, Virgin Australia, Fitness First Group and ODEON Cinemas Group where he was Chief Commercial Officer for Europe.

David Keen, Group CEO & Founder of QUO, said: The opening of a European headquarters for QUO is a watershed moment. Weve grown from humble beginnings in Bangkok to become a leading global branding agency. David is the partner I have always looked for to take to the next level our vision to drive innovation and substantive change through the realisation of brands with culture at their core in every industry we touch.

QUOs CEO Europe David Anderson said: Im thrilled to be joining QUO at this exciting moment in their growth. Ive known David since my time in Singapore and have always admired his values, and the mix of science and intuition that QUO brings to their work. I cant think of a better partner to work with. For years, as a client, my teams have had to bring to life brand strategies and concepts off the page, take them to market and support operations in their delivery. Im looking forward to bringing that real-life empathy and pragmatism to QUOs work with their clients.

To learn more about QUO, please visit www.quo-global.com.

About QUO

QUO is a strategy-led, creative branding agency. The agency employs 120 team members spanning over a dozen nationalities from five continents. Founded in Bangkok in 1996, the company has grown to become a specialist in tourism, hospitality, healthcare and advocacy. QUO operates offices in Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, London, Singapore, Amsterdam and Riyadh (coming Q1 2024). For more information on QUO, visit www.quo-global.com.
With millions poised to begin the Christmas getaway in the coming days, new data from TravelTech leaders HBX Group has revealed the United States will be the most popular destination for international travel this year. Led by cities including New York and Las Vegas, as well as the family-friendly sights of Orlando, the diversity of the country has proved irresistible to travellers for the second-year running looking to escape for the festive season.

Spain, which has seen bookings rise by 18% when compared to 2022, takes second place in the annual rankings, with Thailand (up 7%), Mexico and France rounding out the top five international travel destinations for Christmas 2023. Italy (up 6%) comes in at sixth, with the United Kingdom at seven, followed by Brazil (up 32%), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia.

There is simply so much to see in the United States. From the stunning architecture, festive lights, gastronomy and culture of New York to the year-round sunshine and theme parks of Orlando, the country caters to every kind of trip. That versatility sees the destination top our rankings this year. A late surge in bookings for festive breaks in our home nation, Spain, saw the country maintain its second-place spot, followed by the ever-popular Thailand, Mexico and France. Carlos Munoz, Chief Commercial Officer, HBX Group

In terms of city destinations, Paris can expect the most guests over the festive period, with the illuminated decorations around the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Elysees set to be a big draw. Shopping on Regent Street sees London take the second spot for international travellers, followed by New York, Dubai and Bangkok.



Luxury Travel

HBX Groups data also reveals a move toward luxury travel for the 2023 festive season, with bookings at five-star hotels around the world up by ten per cent when compared to 2022.

Munoz added: HBX Group are seeing a notable rise in consumer demand for luxury travel, with travellers in many markets seeking more premium experiences than ever before. Travellers want to make the most of every day and they do not want to compromise.

Within HBX Groups country portfolio, Mexico, Thailand and the UAE have the largest concentration of five-star hotels. Meanwhile, Dubai continues to maintain its status as one of the largest luxury destinations, followed by Cancun, Punta Cana and Bali.

About the Data: Data reflects booking across HBX Groups channels for travel between December 22-31, 2023, compared to bookings made for travel between December 23-January 1, 2022.

About HBX Group

HBX Group is a leading B2B ecosystem player in the TravelTech space, connecting and empowering businesses in the ever-evolving world of travel. We drive growth for our clients & partners while removing friction from the end-to-end travel experience. Our cloud-based technology platforms offer fast and reliable access to a unique portfolio of travel products & services, while rich data and intelligence seamlessly connect supply and demand worldwide. We have over 3,000 experts worldwide, including specialists on the ground who provide insights and support to boost trading even further, especially in the most hard-to-reach segments. This unique blend of technology, data and passionate people serves as a catalyst for all businesses aiming to unlock their full potential in the travel arena. Learn more about HBX Group at www.hbxgroup.com
Teague is joined by Lodging Magazine's 2023 Person Of The Year, Jay Shah, to discuss the recent headlines surrounding the Hersha acquisition. The pair dive into the details behind the $1.4 billon, all-cash transaction and how it became a full circle moment for Jay as he recalls the early days when his parents purchased their first two motels in Philadelphia. Tune in to see what's next for Hersha, the Shah family, and the future generation of hospitality leaders.

Related Related Press Release Hersha Hospitality Trust to be Acquired by KSL Capital Partners
Green Key Global, the leading sustainability certification organization for the hotel and lodging industry in North America, is proud to announce its partnership with BWH Hotels as a preferred supplier of certification for hotel operations' environmental sustainability practices in the United States and Canada.

The partnership will enable BWH Hotels properties to take their sustainability efforts to new heights and implement a standardized sustainability program across the United States and Canada. By partnering with Green Key Global, BWH Hotels can assure guests that they're staying in a hotel that takes environmental sustainability seriously.

BWH Hotels have already demonstrated a commitment to sustainability efforts as a brand and across their portfolio of hotels. Partnering with Green Key Global will help strengthen their efforts and provide credible recognition for their sustainability practices. Rebecca Bartlett Jones, Director of Green Key Global

As part of the partnership, BWH Hotels in the U.S. and Canada will have access to Green Key Global's comprehensive sustainability certification program. The program is designed to help hotels improve their environmental performance and reduce their carbon footprint while also improving guest comfort and satisfaction.

We are delighted to partner with Green Key Global to further establish sustainability standards across our properties. Green Key Global is a trusted and recognized organization, and we believe this partnership will enable us to strengthen our commitment to sustainability and provide our guests with an environmentally responsible hotel experience. Michael Morton, Vice President of brand Management, BWH Hotels

About Green Key Global

Green Key Global is a leading international environmental certification body that offers standardized programs and resources, designed specifically for the hotel and meetings industries. Affordable programs, including the Green Key Eco-Rating and the Green Key Meetings Programs, help our members leverage organizational corporate social responsibility activities and support sustainable initiatives across their properties and brands to benefit the environment and improve fiscal performance and community relations. With over 20 participating countries and a notable mix of branded and independent members, Green Key Global is truly the hotel and lodging industry's sustainable certification program of choice.
QUO is a collective of creatives with global hospitality expertise. We understand that a great brand isnt just a logo, a catchy name or a neatly arranged collection of words. Its something that starts from within. Something that comes from the soul. We have been using this knowledge to create and inspire some of the hospitality industrys most memorable brands for more than two decades. Our branding model blends insightful industry knowledge, strategic thinking and creative flair, delivering fully developed brands that dont just look and sound great, but have real, relatable soul. From our Bangkok headquarters and global offices in Ho Chi Minh, Singapore, New Delhi, the Maldives and Amsterdam, we provide branding services that uncover the soul of every organisation we work with.For more information on QUO, visit www.quo-global.com
Crafting a Distinctive Identity: The Role of Branding Within the Travel and Hospitality Technology Industry

Branding plays a crucial role in niche verticals by helping businesses establish a strong and distinct identity within their specific market segment. According to a study conducted by Forbes, 82% of consumers are more likely to trust a brand that is tailored to their specific needs and interests. This highlights the importance of creating a brand that resonates with the target audience, as it can significantly impact consumer trust and loyalty.

In addition to building trust, targeted branding also has a direct impact on the bottom line. Research by McKinsey & Company reveals that companies with strong and relevant brands outperform their competitors by 73% in terms of revenue growth. This demonstrates that investing in targeted branding can lead to tangible business results and a competitive advantage in niche verticals. And no industry is more unique or niche than the travel and hospitality space.

Branding is a multifaceted concept that is interpreted in a wide variety of ways. It encompasses elements such as messaging, positioning, content, color palettes, and more, all of which contribute to creating a strong, recognizable identity. However, when it comes to targeting a specific vertical, the importance of specialized branding becomes much more evident. In order to effectively appeal to a particular niche, it is crucial to tailor your efforts to appeal to that specific audience.

There has been a growing demand for innovative solutions that cater to the emerging needs of travelers and hoteliers. This has led to an influx of providers focused on specific markets, such as luxury travel, eco-tourism, corporate travel, and boutique hotels, and a new emphasis on competitive differentiation.

With so many players offering similar products and services, a well-crafted brand strategy can communicate the company's values, mission, and unique selling points, creating a lasting impression on potential clients. It can also build trust and credibility, which are essential in an industry where customers rely on technology solutions to enhance their travel experiences.

In addition to differentiation, branding helps travel and hospitality technology companies build recognition and recall among their target audience and increase the chances of customers choosing their products or services over others. By consistently delivering on their brand promise and providing exceptional customer experiences, these companies can create a positive association in the minds of consumers. This can lead to increased customer loyalty and repeat business, as customers are more likely to trust and prefer a brand they are familiar with.

By understanding the unique needs and preferences of a specific market segment, businesses can tailor their branding strategies to effectively communicate their value proposition and differentiate themselves from competitors. This not only helps in building brand recognition and loyalty but also drives customer engagement and ultimately leads to long-term success. In today's highly competitive landscape, where everyone has so many options to choose from, relevant branding is the key to unlocking success in niche verticals like hospitality and travel.

Oh, and one more thing. When it comes to creating a memorable and lasting impression - keep it simple.

About Alan Young

Alan E. Young is the Co-Founder and President of Puzzle Partner, the leading marketing agency focused exclusively on the complex B2B initiatives of technology innovators across industries, including hospitality and travel. He is also the Tourism and Hospitality Program Professor at Georgian College. Previously, Alan has held executive-level positions with start-up companies such as Newtrade Technologies, (acquired by Expedia), Hotel Booking Solutions (acquired by IBS Software) and TrustYou. Alan is past Chair of The Board of Directors of The OpenTravel Alliance and been very involved with other industry associations most notably AHLA, HEDNA, and HTNG. With over two decades of experience in the travel and hospitality technology world, Alan specializes in helping innovative companies achieve winning performance and dramatic growth.

About Puzzle Partner

Puzzle Partner is a leading branded content agency that collaborates closely with an exclusive selection of the most innovative companies in the travel and hospitality sector. For over 10 years, we've helped brands harness the power of PR, storytelling, and authority content to engage audiences, build awareness, foster trusting relationships, and drive action. Uniquely situated in the marketplace, we bring together a dedicated team of bright strategists, imaginative thinkers, and proficient content creators, all backed by extensive domain expertise and an elite network.
Rendering of the Pullman Zagreb Hotel

Accor, in cooperation with MPPD as the management partner, will introduce one of its premium brands to the country's capital. Pullman Zagreb is set to welcome its first guests in Q3 of 2024.

The new hotel, loacted in the Novi Zagreb district, will be managed by Accor in collaboration with MPPD who is also a partner of Movenpick Zagreb and upcoming Movenpick Split. MPPD, one of the fastest growing hospitality companies in Croatia, is planning further hotel development projects in the near future.

 We are thrilled to collaborate with our partners on making this remarkable property a valuable part of an ambitious project in the capital of Croatia. Pullman Zagreb is a prime example of a vibrant urban hotel that perfectly matches our brand's character. We are confident that it will make a mark on the local hospitality landscape and provide extraordinary experiences to travellers coming to Zagreb from all corners of the world  stated Dilek Sezer, Senior Development Director - Accor South Eastern Europe.

Pullman Zagreb will have 193 rooms and feature a variety of amenities, such as an elegant restaurant, a chic lobby bar, state-of-the-art conference facilities, and a serene wellness centre. The striking building with a steel and glass facade and a spacious terrace will provide guests with an impressive and comfortable urban retreat.

The hotel is part of the larger City Island development, one of the most significant investments in Croatia, stretching across 80,000 sqm of land. When completed, the City Island will accommodate over 15,000 employees and encompass 250,000 sqm of overall space (of which more than half is office space). The project is rapidly becoming a thriving hub of business and commerce in the booming southern district of Zagreb.

 Our collaboration with Accor gives us immense confidence in the success of Pullman Zagreb. This partnership presents a fantastic opportunity to combine our local expertise with Accor's international standards. We are certain that this exceptional hotel, nestled within the ambitious City Island development, will set new benchmarks for hospitality experiences in Croatia  commented Janko Vrgoc, MPPD partner.

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The strategic location of Pullman Zagreb positions the hotel as an integral part of the burgeoning business centre within Novi Zagreb, a district south of the Sava River and the historical city centre. This dynamic area houses the Zagreb Fair facilities and the famous Museum of Contemporary Art. It also serves as a base for Croatian businesses and the regional headquarters of international corporations. The hotel's proximity to two shopping malls and the United States embassy adds further appeal to the locale.

With excellent connectivity, guests can easily access Zagreb's historical centre and its iconic landmarks. Moreover, the Zagreb Airport, the largest in Croatia, is a mere 12-minute drive away, making Pullman Zagreb a true gateway to the captivating capital city and beyond.

Besides being a major commercial and financial centre, Zagreb is also developing into a famed tourist destination in Croatia. The city attracts many tourists from Austria, Germany, and Italy who come to explore historical monuments, museums, and art galleries. People in Zagreb have a rich, artistic life including music, theatre and dance. From a youngster's point of view, the city offers a happening nightlife, plenty of bars, restaurants and cafes, and lots of cinemas theatres that screen Hollywood films.

Today, it is the only city in Croatia with a population of over one million. Yet, as the city advances into the new millennium, it has retained its old charisma and welcoming attitude towards foreign visitors.
A long-conflicted relationship is making strides, according to the Cayuga Nation and Seneca County, who recently announced "a new era of cooperation and mutual respect" in a joint press release.

The county has acknowledged Clint Halftown as the nation's federally recognized leader, the release said, marking "a significant step toward acknowledging the sovereignty of the Cayuga Nation" and "an important breakthrough in the preservation and protection of the Cayuga peoples' cultural heritage and ancestral lands, ending over 40 years of conflict."

The Cayuga Nation is optimistic that recognition is the first step towards a productive future relationship with Seneca County and the Seneca County Board of Supervisors, Halftown said.

Michael Enslow, the board's chair, said in the release that the county and nation now have "a special opportunity" to seek common goals.

"We both seek economic stability for our community and wish to move past the conflicts that have plagued the county and the nation for many years," he said. "(We're) hopeful progress will be made."

Seneca County Manager Kyle Lovell added that this "turning point" in its relationship with the nation lays "the foundation for a more inclusive and cooperative partnership."

The Seneca County Board of Supervisors did not respond to a request for comment by The Citizen.

Lauren Maltese, the nation's communications manager, told The Citizen the recognition of its sovereignty goes beyond legal matters.

The nation now hopes to provide more economic opportunities for its people, Maltese said, and to bring back some of the Cayugas who have been scattered across more than 30 states.

"The goal is to move forward, to have diplomacy and dialogue," she said.

Issues at the heart of the decades-long conflict have included the county's ability to foreclose on nation properties for nonpayment of taxes, as well as the nation's efforts to reclaim its 64,015-acre reservation in Cayuga and Seneca counties. A 2005 application to have some of that land placed into federal trust was approved earlier this year.

More recently, Seneca County has also been the site of conflicts between Halftown's council and the Cayuga Council of Chiefs, which does not recognize him as their leader.

The conflicts have included the demolition of residential and community structures affiliated with the Council of Chiefs in Seneca County. Protests by Halftown's opponents in February 2020 led to violence between them and the Cayuga Nation's police force, prompting the county to investigate under protest from the nation.

In November, Halftown's council filed suit against the U.S. and the Department of Justice, seeking to prevent any federal recognition of a leadership dispute in the nation.

Cayuga Nation files suit against U.S. over leadership dispute The Cayuga Nation has filed a complaint in federal court against the U.S. and its Department
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Watching a potential winter storm. Cloudy with periods of snow after midnight. Low 27F. Winds ESE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 100%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

Mostly cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 33F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Watching a potential winter storm. Cloudy. Snow likely late. Low 27F. Winds ESE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.
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The Triplex Cinema Announces 'Bernstein on Film' Speaker Series

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.  Triplex Cinema, Inc., announced that, in conjunction with "Maestro", Bradley Cooper's new Netflix film about Leonard Bernstein, which opens at the Triplex on Dec. 15, the Triplex will begin the "Bernstein on Film" series revolving around Bernstein's life and film work.

The series will include three additional films featuring Bernstein's music, to be shown in repertory, as well as speakers offering personal insights about the films and the artist.

The first talk, following the 1 pm screening of "Maestro" on Dec. 17, will feature Nina Bernstein Simmons, the younger daughter of Bernstein, in an intimate conversation with Stephen Wadsworth, a longtime collaborator of Bernstein, with whom he wrote the opera "A Quiet Place."

The additional films to be shown are "On the Waterfront," "West Side Story" and "On the Town."

Deborah Reinisch, a professor of film directing, production and film history and an award-winning producer and director, will speak about the Bernstein's movie scores on Dec. 20, at the 2pm showing of "West Side Story," and the 7:00 pm showing of "On the Waterfront."

On Dec. 21, at the 2:00 pm showing of "On the Town," Julianne Boyd, founder and former Artistic Director of the Barrington Stage Company, will speak about the film and the differences between it and the stage production. Barrington Stage produced "On the Town" in 2013 and took the play to Broadway in 2014.

"What a thrill and honor it is for the Triplex to kick off its reopening with a series of films dedicated to Leonard Bernstein, someone with so many associations to our corner of Massachusetts, and with such distinguished speakers with ties to the Berkshires offering their insights into the man and the films. The 'Bernstein on Film' series represents the first of what we hope will be the Triplex's to patrons not just to watch films but also to dig into what a movie is about, what a particular individual may have contributed to it, how it fits into the culture and whether it offers new or unique insights or perspectives," Nicki Wilson, president of the Board of Triplex Cinema, Inc., said. "With 'Bernstein on Film' people can see how Bernstein's life and talent elevated the movies he was associated with and learn what he was like as a collaborator, an artist and a human being. This is how we hope to make coming to the Triplex both fun and rewarding."
City

 Angela L. Craig, 33, 3 Abrio Drive, Moravia, was charged Dec. 8 with second-degree criminal contempt and endangering the welfare of a child.

 Nathan L. Jamison, 43, 370 Dorwin Ave., Syracuse, was charged Dec. 8 with second-degree obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest.

 Makylie M. Dimarco, 19, 95 Washington St., upper, Auburn, was charged Dec. 9 with fourth-degree criminal mischief.

 Travis M. Swift, 41, transient, Auburn, was charged Dec. 9 with second-degree criminal trespass.

 Jason P. Colon, 43, transient, Auburn, was charged Dec. 10 with third-degree assault and second-degree menacing.

 Kaya J. Frazier, 22, 15 John St., Inn at the Fingerlakes, Room 220, Auburn, was charged Dec. 11 with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

 Marrissa L. Kelsey, 20, 61 Perry St., Auburn, was charged Dec. 11 with third-degree unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

 Amber R. Vivenzio, 33, 9046 Jackson St., Weedsport, was charged Dec. 11 with fourth-degree criminal mischief.

County

 John A. Capron, 49, 719 Maroney Road, Victory, was charged Dec. 8 with fourth-degree criminal mischief.

 Felix J. Hosmerserrano, 20, 6867 Church St., Red Creek, was charged Dec. 11 with endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree criminal mischief.

State

 Damien M. Anthony, 19, Port Byron, was charged Dec. 8 with two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment and two counts of third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle.

 John A. Capron, 49, Red Creek, was charged Dec. 9 with second-degree criminal contempt.

 Brittany M. Tarry, 34, Auburn, was charged Dec. 10 with first-degree driving while intoxicated.

The records page: Police blotter, restaurant inspections and more Visit the records page of auburnpub.com to see The Citizen's latest police blotter, restaurant inspections, property transfers and building permits.
Lanesborough, Pittsfield Awarded IT Grants

BOSTON  The Healey-Driscoll administration announced that $5 million in grants have been awarded to municipalities to upgrade and improve their information and technology systems through the Community Compact program.

Lanesborough was awarded $70,000 for the implementation of a records management system, and Pittsfield was awarded $50,000 for website enhancements.

This funding comes from one of four Community Compact grant programs being run this fiscal year and will benefit 68 municipalities and school districts, including 13 first-time recipients.

The 52 grants being awarded total more than $4.95 million and will go toward improving cybersecurity and e-permitting, centralizing financial systems, implementing records management systems and infrastructure needed for hybrid meetings .

"The Community Compact program is an important tool for our administration to partner with cities and towns to advance best practices and meet the IT needs of the state's 351 cities and towns," said Governor Maura Healey. "These technology grants being announced today will help municipalities modernize their systems and better serve the people of Massachusetts."

Since Fiscal Year 2016, the Commonwealth has offered grants to municipalities focused on driving innovation and transformation through investments in technology. The Community Compact IT Grant program has provided 425 grants supporting over 300 municipalities/school districts projects totaling $24.2 million.

This year's grants will support everything from cybersecurity, e-permitting and disaster recovery to GIS mapping tools, the purchase of hybrid meeting equipment and infrastructure, wireless networks, software enhancements, websites and records management.

The Information and Technology grant program is a competitive program focused on driving innovation and transformation at the local level via investments in technology. The goal is to make government more efficient, save taxpayer money, and make it easier for residents to interact and transact with their local government. Under this program, grants of up to $200,000 can be awarded to support the implementation of innovative IT projects by funding related one-time capital needs such as technology infrastructure or software. The FY24 program opened for applications on September 11, 2023 and closed on October 13, 2023.

"The Community Compact IT grant program is one example of how our administration is using its capital budget to support municipalities. The high-level of interest we saw in this program underscores the important work this funding will drive to ensure cities and towns can operate as efficiently as possible and be responsive to the needs of their residents," said Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew J. Gorzkowicz.
MassDOT Secures Funds for Enhanced Boston-Albany Passenger Rail

BOSTON  The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has announced that up to $500,000 has been awarded to the Rail and Transit Division through the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development Program (Corridor ID) to support planning for additional train service connecting Boston and Albany, New York through Springfield.

This corridor would provide up to eight daily round-trip passenger trains on an existing alignment owned by CSX Transportation. Currently, the only passenger service on this corridor is Amtrak's once-daily long-distance Lake Shore Limited. Development of this corridor is part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration's vision to expand and enhance West-East passenger rail service in Massachusetts.

"We are proud to secure this funding to support our administration's efforts to expand passenger rail service across Massachusetts and make West-East Rail a reality. We said from the start that we were going to compete for every federal funding opportunity to bring home dollars to support the infrastructure needs of our communities  and we are delivering on that promise," said Governor Maura Healey. "We're grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for making this funding available and for the strong partnership of our federal delegation and state Legislature."

The Corridor ID Program is a comprehensive intercity passenger rail planning and development program that will help guide intercity passenger rail development throughout the country and creates a pipeline of intercity passenger rail projects ready for implementation and funding through FRA's Federal-State Partnership-National Network Program.

In addition, the FRA Program has awarded up to $500,000 to three corridors sponsored by Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut, which will also improve rail service in Massachusetts. These include the Downeaster Corridor, Vermonter Corridor, and Hartford Line Corridor.

The funding awarded to MassDOT's Rail and Transit Division for the Boston-Albany corridor builds on $108 million that Massachusetts secured from the FRA in September of this year, for corridor infrastructure projects planned under the "Connecting the Commonwealth: Early Actions for the Inland Route Project" which will result in new, twice daily roundtrip Amtrak service between Boston and New Haven, CT via Springfield.

"We applaud the Biden Administration and the FRA for their unwavering commitment to delivering world-class passenger rail that will better connect our communities and bring long-term economic benefits for Massachusetts," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "Enhanced service between Boston and Albany via Springfield provides more transportation options between these two key markets and will support economic development in communities along the route."

In 2022, MassDOT announced that the Biden Administration had awarded almost $1.8 million to the state through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program for preliminary engineering and environmental review for investments to improve rail infrastructure, enhance safety and operational flexibility, and increase train capacity in Western Massachusetts near Springfield Union Station.?MassDOT is providing a 50 percent match for funds awarded through CRISI.?These investments will support the Amtrak Springfield Line, the CSX Boston Albany Line, and small segments of the former Armory Branch and Knowledge Corridor.

MassDOT continues to seek additional financial resources to grow its passenger rail program. Requests for passenger rail funding are part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration's whole of government strategy to compete for federal money that includes more than $2 billion dollars in still pending federal funding applications to advance

infrastructure projects that further equity, competitiveness, workforce development and climate resiliency in communities across Massachusetts.
The Cayuga Nation has filed a federal lawsuit over New York's use of reservation land for a section of the Thruway in Cayuga County.

The Cayuga lawsuit, which was filed on Monday, would require the state to seek federal approval for the portion of the Thruway on its land. The nearly 2-mile stretch of Interstate 90 passes through the northernmost point of the nation's reservation in the town of Montezuma.

In its legal challenge, the Cayuga Nation argues the state's continued operation of the Thruway violates the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua recognizing its 64,015-acre reservation. The lawsuit also notes that the state did not receive approval from the Department of the Interior to extend the Thruway through Cayuga land  a violation of the Right-of-Way Act, a 1948 federal law.

"The Nation, by bringing this matter to court, seeks to extract just compensation the nation and its citizens are owed for the state's unlawful incursions," said Clint Halftown, the Cayuga Nation's federal representative.

The Cayuga Nation is asking for an injunction that would require state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli to "segregate and hold in escrow all future toll monies collected on the Thruway that are fairly attributable to the portion of the Thruway" that passes through the reservation.

Gov. Kathy Hochul's does not comment on pending litigation. Hochul is one of the defendants in the case, along with state Attorney General Letitia James, state Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez, DiNapoli and the New York State Thruway Authority.

The Cayugas' legal challenge is similar to a Seneca Nation lawsuit that also accuses the state of failing to get federal approval to construct a portion of the Thruway in western New York. One difference in that case is the state paid $75,500 in 1954 for the land used to build the stretch of I-90 through the Senecas' Cattaraugus territory.

The state sought to dismiss the Seneca lawsuit earlier this year, but a federal court allowed the case to continue.
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Denzel Washingtons casting as the ancient Carthaginian general Hannibal has sparked controversy in Tunisia, where the military commander was born.

It was announced last month that Washington will reunite with director Antoine Fuqua for the Netflix historical epic. Washington won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Fuquas 2001 crime thriller Training Day.

However, according to reports by the Tunisian news website Kapitalis, the casting news ignited a debate in the country that reached the Tunisian parliament.

On Thursday 30 November, the countrys Minister of Cultural Affairs, Hayet Guettat Guermazi, announced that her department was seeking assurances from Netflix that parts of the movie would be filmed in Tunisia.

In response, MP Yassine Mami questioned why the country had not been informed about the content of the upcoming film, including Washingtons casting. There is a risk of falsifying history, he reportedly stated. We need to take position on this subject. This is about defending Tunisian identity and listening to the reactions of civil society.

Guermazi responded by pointing out that the content of the Netflix film is beyond the governments purview. Its fiction; its their right. Hannibal is a historical figure, even if were all proud that hes Tunisian  What could we do? she said. What matters to me is that they shoot even one sequence in Tunisia and mention it. We want Tunisia to become a platform for foreign films again.

Denzel Washington arrives at the Academy Awards in 2022 (Invision)

A Change.org petition signed by over 1,400 signatories described Washingtons casting as racist. Netflix is intending to air a documentary about Tunisian-Carthaginian Hannibal, the military genius of Carthaginian origin claiming he is non-indigenous (Tunisian, North African, Punic, Phoenician, Easterner), the petition states. This is a false and racist information in an attempt to support the racist Afrocentric movement.

Hannibal was born in Carthage, near modern-day Tunis, in 247 BC. He is considered to be one of historys greatest military leaders. He is well known for going to war against the Roman Empire in 218 BC, leading his troops and African war elephants across the Alps so that he could attack Rome from the north.

He spent spent years fighting in Europe, but never captured Rome. He was eventually forced back to north Africa.

Hannibals skin colour is not a matter of historical record. Historians largely agree that he was of Phoenician descent, likely with roots in the modern-day region of Lebanon and Syria, but he lived at a time when cultures mixed frequently.
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The BBC is being forced to restructure its operations in India after it was investigated over the countrys foreign investment rules.

The broadcaster announced on Tuesday that four members of its India staff will launch a new external company to provide its coverage in six local languages, as commissioned by the BBC.

The new company will be called Collective Newsroom, and will produce six Indian language services as well as digital coverage of India and the BBC India YouTube channel in English for audiences globally, the broadcaster said in a press release.

Activity for BBC Monitoring and the BBCs English language newsgathering operation for global output will remain with the BBC, it said.

The BBCs Indian language services are currently provided by BBC World Service India, which is wholly owned by the BBC. Yet under new regulatory requirements introduced in 2020, foreign funding for digital news companies based in India was capped at 26 per cent.

In earlier regulatory filings, BBC World Service India reported that it had received a letter from the Indian government in late March, relating to alleged non-compliance with the countrys foreign investment regulations.

The company sought a year to meet with the rules, and shared its restructuring proposal with the authorities, reported The Economic Times.

The restructuring comes almost 10 months after Indias income tax officials raided BBC India offices in Delhi and Mumbai, leading to further investigation by Indias financial crimes agency, the Directorate of Enforcement.

What the government described as surveys came just weeks after the BBC aired a documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots that angered the Indian government. It featured an assessment from the UK government of the time that said prime minister Narendra Modi was directly responsible for the circumstances leading up to violence in which more than 1,000 people  many of them Muslims  were killed.

Last year Indias Supreme Court cleared Mr Modi of wrongdoing over the riots, with previous investigations finding there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him over allegations that he ordered police to step aside and let the riots play out.

The BBC has defended its production and said it adheres to the highest editorial standards. It also said that it was cooperating with government agencies in the investigations into its tax affairs.
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A Japanese court has found three ex-soldiers guilty of sexually assaulting a female colleague, a landmark ruling marking victory in a case that had caused a public outcry.

The 2021 sexual assault case of Rina Gonoi, 24, forced her to leave the army after her complaints against the attackers were dismissed. She went public with her accusations with a YouTube video in 2022, drawing international headlines.

The three former soldiers, aged between 29 and 31  Shutaro Shibuya, Akito Sekine, and Yusuke Kimezawa  appeared in the district court in Fukushima for the final hearing but seemed to show little expression as the judge handed out the guilty verdict.

The judge sentenced each of the former Japanese army soldiers to two years in prison but suspended the sentences for four years, meaning they wont actually serve time in jail.

I think it was good for Japans society that the court handed down a guilty verdict and accepted the claims that Ive made from the very beginning, Ms Gonoi told reporters outside the Fukushima court.

[The verdict] shows that its not OK to do things for a laugh, that such acts are an actual crime, she said, pausing mid-sentence to retain her composure.

The defendants denied that their acts amounted to sexual assault.

Ms Gonoi said in her complaint that she had been a target of sexual misconduct since she joined the Self-Defense Forces in 2020 and was first assigned to a Fukushima unit.

Her male superiors repeatedly asked about her breast size, hugged her, and made inappropriate physical contact, such as trying judo techniques on her, Ms Gonoi had said.

In August 2021, her three male colleagues pinned Ms Gonoi to a bed and spread her legs open, forcibly pressing their crotches against her as other male colleagues watched and laughed.

She reported the sexual assault case to her superiors but she said her complaints were dismissed and she was asked to produce witnesses.

Subsequently, the three men were referred to the prosecutor after the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) police unit raised the issue of indecent assault. However, the case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence and Ms Gonoi eventually decided to quit the military.

She then released a YouTube video in 2022 that went viral and sparked a petition that collected 100,000 signatures, calling on the defence ministry to investigate her case.

It was a rare move in a conservative society where speaking out against sexual violence has remained largely taboo and many such incidents go unreported.

The defence ministry later issued an apology to her and launched a rare investigation. It announced that five men connected to the incident had been dismissed and four others punished.

A wider inquiry on harassment in the military and military-linked entities found more than 1400 other complaints of harassment across the ministry, reported Reuters.

While her battle gained her international recognition it also made her a victim of a barrage of online threats and abuse.

Ms Gonoi said she has been attacked on social media for coming forward and also received death threats but said she did so because she wanted to prevent similar problems for other women service members.

She was on the list of 100 emerging women leaders of Time magazine following the incident, while the BBC included her among its 100 most influential women globally.

Ms Gonoi has separately filed a damage suit against the three defendants, two other perpetrators and the government, saying she felt their earlier apologies were insincere. She is seeking 5.5m yen (30,140) from the perpetrators and 2m yen from the government, saying it failed to prevent the assaults, properly investigate, or respond appropriately.

This marks the first significant judgment on sexual assault in Japan since June, when the nation overhauled its sex crime laws. The revisions involved redefining rape and elevating the age of consent.

The definition of rape was broadened to include non-consensual sexual intercourse from forcible sexual intercourse. The legal age of consent was raised to 16 from 13.
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A battle over the future of fossil fuels has pushed the Cop28 climate summit into overtime  thanks to a stand-off between nations who want a dramatic phase-out of the burning of oil, gas and coal and those that dont.

There were fraught talks late into the night on Tuesday with the summit having been due to officially end in the morning, to pull together a new draft deal that all nations could agree on  with the wording of a previous draft having been panned by a number of delegates.

Calling time on the fossil-fuel era has emerged as the central fight of the Dubai negotiations  as nations scramble to keep the goal of limiting average global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels within reach, and with 2023 set to be the hottest year humans have ever experienced.

Mondays draft had removed the words phase out and phase down from the options for delegates to agree upon, calling instead for reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner while framing such cuts in output as optional. A number of nations, including Saudi Arabia, have objected to language such as phase out and phase down.

The Monday draft sparked a fierce reaction from some of the nations most vulnerable to the impact of the climate crisis, saying they had not come to sign our death certificate while a representative for the EU called the draft unacceptable and warned that the bloc could walk away from discussions. The US said that the wording of the draft text, including about fossil fuels, needed to be substantially strengthened and a number of other nations, the UK among them, called the text disappointing and that it needed to go further.

Activists protest on Monday evening inside the Cop28 venue after a draft of the final agreement dropped a call to phase out fossil fuels (Reuters)

On Tuesday evening, the US climate envoy, John Kerry, said that the next draft would contain stronger language than Mondays effort. A Cop28 spokesperson said that the president of the summit, Sultan al-Jaber, was determined to deliver a version of the text that has the support of all as consultations continued.

Sir Alok Sharma, who was president of Cop26 in Glasgow, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that the stakes were too high not to push as hard as possible to get a deal: There is still an opportunity to get a historic outcome, the presidency and other countries should not give up. We are literally fighting for the future of our childrens lives.

There is widespread consensus that the first mention of fossil fuels in a global climate agreement is a step forward, but many nations want much more.

On Tuesday morning, the summit director general, Majid al-Suwaidi, has given a press conference to defend the United Arab Emirates presidency. Were facing the most demanding Cop agenda of all time, and what we are seeing right now is everybody working through that agenda. All Cops are challenging, but in this Cop, were trying to do something that has never been done before, Mr Suwaidi said. Something historic. We are trying to agree on a comprehensive plan to close the gaps between where the world is and where it needs to be to keep 1.5C within reach.

A Cop28 delegate yawns as negotiations continued into the early hours of Tuesday (Reuters)

He conceded many issues remained open, and that lots of parties felt that Mondays text didnt fully address their concerns.

We expected that. In fact, we wanted the text to spark conversations. And thats whats happened, he added.

Cop28 now joins the long list of climate summits since 2004 that have not finished on time. Cop27 in Egypt finished nearly 36 hours after the deadline last year, while the summit in Madrid in 2019 was the longest ever, going two days over.

As 11am came and went, the anger over Mondays draft had not subsided.

We did not come here to sign our death warrant. We came here to fight for 1.5C and for the only way to achieve that: a fossil fuel phase-out  We will not go silently to our watery graves, said John M Silk, the Marshall Islands minister of natural resources and commerce. There were also protests inside the venue.

There was also anger from climate groups as Britains climate minister, Graham Stuart, left the summit during Tuesdays negotiations to fly thousands of miles back to parliament for a crunch vote on his governments controversial plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda.

A spokesperson for prime minister Rishi Sunak said that Mr Stuart would return to Dubai after the vote, a round-trip of more than 6,000 miles.

As world leaders are locked in intense negotiations to discuss the existential threat posed by climate disaster, the departure of Mr Stuart is yet a further slap in the face to countries urging major polluters like the UK to act, said Hannah Bond, co-director of policy advocacy at ActionAid UK. In a shocking betrayal of trust as COP wraps up, the prime minister seems happier to fight the culture wars and not climate change"

But there was more optimism around about the likelihood of a deal later in the day. "I feel much more encouraged than yesterday," said the Canadian environment minister, Steven Guilbeault, on Tuesday evening.
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Its 6.45am, and the first rays are filtering through the morning smog, the sign of another scorching day in Dubai.

Tina Stege, climate envoy for the Marshall Islands, is on the metro headed for the Cop28 climate summit, and in desperate need of a cup of tea. Last night she left Expo City, where the two-week event is being held, after 9pm.

Its a lot of late nights and early mornings, she told The Independent.

Tina Stege in discussion with members of the Marshall Islands team including Minister John M Silk, the head of delegation (Louise Boyle/The Independent)

Stege is one of thousands of representatives and negotiators from 196 countries who speak for their national interests at the annual conference under one overarching goal: limiting the global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius, or well below 2C, beyond which scientists say Earth faces irreversible tipping points.

Stege grew up in Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands, and attended Princeton University where she studied the legacy of nuclear testing by the United States on her homeland. After working in the Marshall Islands foreign affairs ministry and at a series of NGOs, she was appointed as climate envoy in 2018, representing the countrys interests from New York.

Now at Cop28, her first commitment at 8am is a closed-door coordination with the Alliance of Small Island States, and she heads inside with a tea, finally, in hand.

AOSIS (Ay-Oh-Sis, per one of the climate worlds many, many acronyms) is a group of countries from the Caribbean, Pacific and South China Sea who negotiate together to give them more clout because, as their website explains, they are small, remote, vulnerable.

While no nation is immune to the worsening climate crisis, the Marshall Islands faces urgent, existential threats.

Halfway between Hawaii and Australia in the Pacific, the nation of coral atolls is only 7 feet (2 metres) above sea level at its highest point. Around 60,000 Marshallese live in an area equivalent in size to Washington DC, surrounded by 77,000 square miles of ocean territory.

The projected one-metre sea level rise in the coming decades would permanently flood 40 per cent of buildings in Majuro and see some islands disappear beneath the water, according to a 2021 World Bank study.

High-tide flooding and debris covering the road to the airport in the Marshall Islands capital Majuro in December 2021 (Photo by CHEWY LIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Even greater sea level rise - not out of the question if governments fail to rein in global heating - threatens the countrys very survival.

The Marshall Islands has done little to cause these impacts since it is responsible for only a minuscule amount of total global carbon emissions.

The injustice of this predicament led the country to form the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) ahead of the 2015 Paris negotiations, and is one of the strongest voices demanding the lower target - often chanted as 1.5 to stay live.

Their demand that developed, rich countries work harder, and faster, to cut the fossil fuel reliance that is causing them so much harm, is what Stege, and the rest of the 40-strong Marshallese delegation, are battling for at Cop28.

Below 2C does not cut it, Stege told The Independent. Those on the frontlines will not be able to adapt.

All our future will hold is loss and damage, past 1.5C. This is why we continue to fight, and never give up, she said.

At the Dubai summit, the Marshall Islands demand to phase out fossil fuels gathered pace with more than 100 countries joining the call for this outcome.

While negotiations are fraught and the final agreement remains far from consensus, there was for the first time a real possibility that the world will call time on the fossil fuel era. And for Stege, the responsibility she feels when in these meetings is deeply personal.

Much of her family remains in the Marshall Islands. My mom, dad, brother, and his kids, she explained between meetings. We grow up with an extended family and a lot of cousins who are like brothers and sisters are still there. But other relatives have moved to the US. (A government pact allows unrestricted migration by the Marshallese in exchange for America using the islands as a Pacific military base.)

Its estimated that one-third of Marshallese have left to seek jobs and escape climate impacts, not only sea level rise but increased droughts, heatwaves and saltwater intrusion in the past five years, according to research.

Climate Envoy for the Marshall Islands Tina Stege speaks with US special climate envoy, John Kerry, at Cop26 in Glasgow in 2021 (AFP via Getty Images)

When Stege returns to the Marshall Islands with her children, she notices that beaches where she played growing up have vanished. Water wells, used for cooking and washing, are now brackish. My brother lives on land where its very low and when the tides are really high, the water comes right up, she says.

After an hour of the AOSIS meeting, the doors open, and delegates peel off in different directions. Stege makes a beeline for a quiet corner. She has been constantly texting with other countries delegations, to shore up support for the fossil fuel phase-out demand.

In between official events, she has seized the opportunity for a bi-lat with the Netherlands - negotiator-speak for a meeting between representatives of two countries. (The Netherlands is a HAC member.)

I have always called him Jaime, Stege said. For the longest time, I didnt know he was a Royal Highness.

Minutes later, the low-key Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Netherlands climate envoy, greets Stege warmly. For the next 20 minutes, she explains their key issues and then he updates her on the Dutch strategy to address fossil fuel subsidies (plans potentially in jeopardy after the recent election victory of right-wing populist Geert Wilders).

Steges next meeting is across the sprawling venue, and requires speed-walking under the baking sun. Despite confessing a bad sense of direction, she makes it to the French pavilion with few wrong turns.

Tina Stege and a colleague make their way across the vast Cop28 venue (The Independent/Louise Boyle)

Inside the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA) have gathered - a group of two dozen countries and states, which pledged to end their domestic oil and gas production and are among the most strident on phasing out fossil fuels.

The discussion centers around new members - Spain, Kenya and Samoa - who will be announced at a press conference later in the day. The alliance is also joined by former US vice president and longtime climate activist, Al Gore, who offers words of encouragement.

Despite fossil fuels being the root cause of the climate crisis, mention of them first appeared in a final Cop agreement two years ago in Glasgow (and then, only coal).

A swift lunch of shakshuka follows while Stege talks strategy with an advisor and makes phone calls to check up on a colleague who has been briefly hospitalised in Dubai.

Then its on to the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion, where the Marshall Islands are launching their National Adaptation Plan after five years of work.

Some of Marshall Islands delegation take a group picture in coordinating outfits after launching their National Adaptation Plan at Cop28 (Louise Boyle/The Independent)

The delegation has dressed in matching shirts and dresses along with traditional amimono, handwoven handicrafts from shells and coconut fronds, as a sign of unity.

The plan is titled Papjelmae in the Marshallese language, which loosely translates as preparing for the future. It is a sobering look at what the coming decades will hold there.

We call it our national adaptation plan, but it is really our survival plan, says John M. Silk, Minister of Natural Resources and Commerce, and head of delegation.

The plan requires billions of dollars in the coming years to build seawalls, protect freshwater supplies, relocate residents and elevate the land.

Hundreds of people across the islands, which each have a unique identity, were interviewed for the plan about what matters most to them - fears over loss of livelihoods, education, freedoms, and opportunity.

A page from the Marshall Islands National Adaptation Plan shows the threat of sea level rise to the capital (The Marshall Islands National Adaptation Plan)

The resounding message was that forced migration would be intolerable, and that people want to remain in the Marshall Islands.

I dont want to leave my country, Mannley Compass, one of the youth delegates, said.

In the late afternoon, Stege is on the move again to one of the large plenary halls where Cop28s most high-profile events take place, for the BOGA announcement.

With ten minutes to spare, she and a few colleagues take advantage of refreshments on offer - chocolate-covered dates, petit fours (and more tea).

Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UNFCCC which oversees Cops, waves to Stege as he races past, quickly followed by Selwin Hart, Barbados former climate negotiator and special adviser on climate action to Secretary General Antonio Guterres who calls that he will see her at the Powering Past Coal Alliance event, where both have been scheduled to speak. She replies that she will be asking the countries to go further than powering past coal.

Tina Stege organizes a meeting with Maisa Rojas, Chiles environment minister, as Eamon Ryan, Irelands environment minister, speaks to another member of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance at Cop28 (Louise Boyle/The Independent)

At the BOGA event, Stege joins representatives from Denmark, Ireland, Chile, Samoa and Spain on stage.

When asked by a journalist if Cop28 will be a success without a final agreement calling for fossil fuel phase out, they give a resounding no.

As everyone moves off, Stege grabs a moment with Chiles environment minister Maisa Rojas to coordinate another bi-lat.

Rojas plays a key role in Cop28 as one of a ministerial pairing (with Australia) who have responsibility for finding consensus among countries over tricky issues when the clock ticks down to a final agreement.

Outside, the evening has cooled and Stege makes it to the UK pavillion for the coal event with five minutes to spare - giving her just enough time to glance over remarks on her tablet.

While the Marshall Islands has no coal power, it has joined the group in support of those that are working towards ridding their economies of the dirtiest of fossil fuels.

At the event, she listens as David Turk, deputy to US climate envoy John Kerry, speaks on the US decision to join the alliance. Then its Steges turn.

We support the PPCA in saying no new coal she says. But we also say no new oil and no new gas.

At 8pm, she regroups with Hart to return to the main negotiations on the other side of the venue which are expected to go late into the night. Its a long walk, she tells him.

Before leaving, she recalled a moment at the beginning of Cop28 which managed to stop her in her tracks.

On my very first day, I was walking to a meeting room and passed this gallery of photos from across the world. I passed, and thought wait a minute and I went back. It was my Bubu Tejja, who I just spent time with over the summer. She was right there.

The photo of Theresa de Brun, Tina Steges great aunt, and her grandchildren on display inside the Cop28 venue. The image bears witness to the scale of the erosion caused by sea level rise on the remote outer island of Likiep in the Marshall Islands (Tina Stege)

Stege had seen a photo of Theresa de Brun, her great-aunt, who she refers to as bubu, or grandma, in Marshallese which is part of an exhibition inside the Cop venue, Loss and Damage in Focus. It features Ms de Brun in her wheelchair with her arms around her grandchildren on the remote outer island of Likiep.

The Marshallese woman has seen a lot of changes happen to her island over the past 86 years, the caption reads.

Shes noticed that the climate has been getting dryer and hotter. Because of a nine month dry spell, her grandchildren experience more hunger than she did due to less food being produced.

She also recalls the backside of her house being covered by trees, preventing her from seeing the lagoon. Today, she sits in her wheelchair with her grandchildren and gone are all the trees and beaches that have eroded away. Instead, all thats left is her seawall, which protects her land from further erosion, and a perfectly clear view across the lagoon.

The final day of Cop28 negiotations stretches into the early morning  but while the days are long, Stege is all too aware of how short the coming years will be.
A state Court of Appeals decision could change who will represent Cayuga County and central New York after the 2024 elections.

New York's highest court ordered the state Independent Redistricting Commission to submit new congressional district maps to the state Legislature by Feb. 28. The legislature has the final say on whether to approve the maps.

The ruling has national and statewide ramifications. Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, so a Democratic-friendly map in New York could threaten their slim advantage.

In central New York, the districts could look vastly different.

The existing 22nd Congressional District is comprised of Onondaga, Madison and Oneida counties, along with a small portion of Oswego County. Cayuga County is in the 24th district, which extends from western New York to the North Country.

When the redistricting commission failed to reach consensus on congressional maps before the 2022 elections, it submitted competing proposals  one from Democratic commissioners and one from GOP members.

The Democratic plan called splitting Cayuga County into two districts  the city of Auburn and the southern half of the county would be in a Democratic-friendly district that included Syracuse and Onondaga County, the cities of Utica (Oneida County) and Ithaca (Tompkins County). The northern half of the county would be in a district that stretched north to Oswego County and south to the Pennsylvania line.

Republican commissioners proposed keeping Cayuga whole in one district with all of Onondaga, Madison and Wayne counties, plus parts of Chenango, Cortland, Oneida and Tompkins counties. Unlike the Democratic proposal for central New York, the cities of Ithaca and Utica would not be in that map.

Neither of those proposals were adopted. The state Legislature drew its own maps, which were tossed in favor of the court-ordered maps that are in place today. But the commission's maps do offer hints at what a new congressional map could look like.

The existing map splits Cayuga County from other central New York counties, namely Onondaga. U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney represents Cayuga County and the other 11 counties in the 24th district. The district is one of the safest Republican seats in the state.

The 22nd district was slated to be a critical battleground for both parties in 2024. U.S. Rep. Brandon Williams, a Republican, won the seat in 2022  one of the GOP success stories in New York that year. But Democrats have a voter enrollment advantage in NY-22 and Williams is viewed as vulnerable.

Four Democrats  Jake Addington, Clemmie Harris, Sarah Klee Hood and state Sen. John Mannion  are vying for the party's nomination to challenge Williams. Klee Hood, D-DeWitt, and Mannion, D-Geddes, are viewed as the top contenders.

It's possible that the Syracuse area will remain a key battleground. The question is what other areas will be included in the central New York district. Will it stretch to Utica, like NY-22? Or will the map extend to different areas, such as Auburn, Ithaca or Oswego?

The Democratic-led state Legislature will have the urge to make a map that helps their party in November 2024. But the map also must be solid enough that it survives a legal challenge. Republicans are already planning to fight a gerrymandered map, making it likely the courts will have to weigh in again on New York's redistricting plan.
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A 12-year-old Indian climate activist says she was briefly detained and then kicked out of Cop28 after she stormed the plenary stage in protest.

Licypriya Kangujam, a prominent child climate activist from Manipur who has been dubbed Indias Greta Thunberg, disrupted a speech at the UN talks in Dubai on Monday holding a sign above her head that read: End fossil fuels. Save our planet and our future.

Once on stage, Kangujam began delivering a speech calling on countries to commit to phasing out fossil fuels.

Videos of the protest show the young activist shouting act now as she is approached by security. Some delegates burst into applause as she was being taken away by security.

Kangujam is accredited by the UN to attend the Dubai talks as an official climate activist, wearing a yellow badge. Late on Monday she shared a video of her protest and said she was detained for 30 minutes afterwards, as well as being told that she would be stripped of her accreditation.

Activists have been highly critical of the way protests have been managed at this years talks, hosted by a country with strict laws against unauthorised public assembly. Demonstrations have been limited to an increasingly small number of designated protest sites at the summit venue and must go through a lengthy approvals process.

My only crime [was] asking to phase out fossil fuels, the top cause of climate crisis today, wrote Kangujam on X, formerly known as Twitter.  Now they kicked me out of Cop28.

Kangujam has been a climate activist since she was seven years old and was awarded a World Childrens Peace Prize by the Australia-based founders of the Global Peace Index in 2019.

In her brief speech from the stage on Monday, she shouted: Governments must work together to phase out coal, oil and gas  the top cause of the climate crisis today. Your action today will decide our future tomorrow. We are already the victim of climate change.

Security officers escort indigenous climate activist from India, Licypriya Kangujam,12, as she protests at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28 (EPA)

I dont want my future generations to face the same consequences again. Sacrificing the lives of the millions of innocent children for the failures of our leaders is unacceptable at any cost.

Cop28 director-general ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi praised Kangujam for her passion and courage, encouraging the audience to give the young climate activist another round of applause.

Licypriya Kangujam has received a World Children Peace Prize as well as an India Peace Prize (REUTERS)

Kangujam s protest came as countries on Monday received a new draft text of Cop28s final deal, sparking a backlash after it emerged that references to a phase-out of fossil fuels had been removed.

Calling time on fossil fuels has been the key demand of around 100 countries, including major powers like the US and EU member states, as well as from developing countries that are especially vulnerable to the climate crisis.

Calls to phase out or phase down fossil fuels had been included as options in an earlier draft agreement, but the phrases have now both been deleted.

The talks are scheduled to conclude on Tuesday morning, but UN climate talks have rarely finished on time.
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The UK climate minister Graham Stuart has left the Cop28 climate negotiations at a critical moment to fly thousands of miles back to parliament for a crunch vote on the government's controversial plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that Mr Stuart would return to Dubai after the vote, a round-trip of more than 6,000 miles.

Mr Stuart was the ministerial head of delegation at the Dubai summit, where nations are in a stand off over the future of fossil fuels. Climate groups called the decision a slap in the face as countries try and agree a final deal.

Richard Benyon, the minister of state for overseas territories, is currently the leading presence on the ground, a representative at the UK delegation offices inside the Dubai Expo venue told The Independent.

In the wake of the news, Mr Benyonposted on social media that Britain is at the heart of negotiations giving real leadership as the negotiations reach their final vital stage.

Asked about the carbon emissions from the flights Mr Stuart would take, the prime minister's spokesman said: "This government is not anti-flying. We don't lecture the public to that regard. The most important thing is the outcomes of Cop, which minister Stuart is obviously leading for the UK on.

"Ministers have a number of roles, the negotiations continue and he will return to Cop."

A government spokesperson said that would still be full official representation on the ground at the summit, including by Lord Benyon. Minister Stuart will continue to be the lead UK minister for negotiations and remains in constant contact with the UK lead climate negotiator and Lord Benyon, with any final decisions agreed with him, they added.

Climate advocates slammed the decision to send Mr Stuart back to the UK.

As world leaders are locked in intense negotiations to discuss the existential threat posed by climate disaster, the departure of Minister Stuart is yet a further slap in the face to countries urging major polluters like the UK to act, said Hannah Bond, co-director of policy advocacy at ActionAid UK. In a shocking betrayal of trust as COP wraps up, the Prime Minister seems happier to fight the culture wars and not climate change"

Ed Miliband, Labour shadow secretary of state for energy security and net zero said this is the latest episode in Mr Sunak tanking Britains reputation on the world stage and that it is a sad truth that many countries simply wont even notice that his minister has disappeared.

Graham Stuart flying home in the middle of negotiations tells you everything you need to know about the Tories, he added.

Calling time on the fossil-fuel era, the root cause of the climate crisis, has emerged as the central fight of the Dubai negotiations  as nations scramble to keep the goal of limiting average global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels within reach and with 2023 set to be the hottest year humans have ever experienced.

The latest draft text put out on Monday had removed the words phase out and phase down of fossil fuels from the options for delegates to agree upon, calling instead for reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner while framing such cuts in output as optional

That sparked a fierce reaction from some of the nations most vulnerable to the impact of the climate crisis, saying they had not come to sign our death certificate while a representative for the EU called the draft unacceptable and warned that the bloc could walk away from discussions. The US said that the wording of the draft text, including about fossil fuels, needed to be substantially strengthened.

The UK has also hit at at the latest draft, with a government spokesperson saying: This draft is disappointing and does not go far enough. The UK position is clear - there must be a phase out of unabated fossil fuels to meet our climate goals.

"The UK is working with all parties and will continue to push for an ambitious outcome at COP28 that keeps 1.5 degrees in reach.

Climate groups have questioned the UKs committment to the climate, pointing to plans for a new round of oil and gas licences in the North Sea. Mr Sunak attended Cop28 briefly in the opening days of the summit, but was criticised for staying for less time talking to other leaders than he spent on the private jet that took him to Dubai and back.

Chiara Liguori, Oxfams senior climate change policy advisor, said: There can be no more tragic outcome for UK climate diplomacy than this  flying home from talks to avert a climate catastrophe at the most critical moment in an attempt to salvage a cruel and impractical policy, said.

Claire Coutinho, the secretary of state for energy security and net zero, also attended for at the beginning of the talks, but Mr Stuart has been in charge for the crunch negotiations over the summit agreement.
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Fast fashion giant Zara is facing boycott calls after its latest campaign featured mannequins with missing limbs surrounded by rubble, which has been compared to the horrifying images emerging from war-torn Gaza.

The hashtag #BoycottZara began trending on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday 11 December, after social media users called the brand out over its latest fashion campaign , The Jacket, featuring supermodel Kristen McMenamy.

Some X users noted the similarities between the devastating images coming out of Gaza, where nearly 18,000 people have been killed amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

In one photograph, McMenamy can be seen carrying a mannequin draped in white cloth. In other pictures, the American model was photographed posing amid rubble, inside wooden boxes, surrounded by statues  some of which are missing limbs.

The tone-deaf photo shoots has been criticised for its comparisons with victims from the war, who are typically wrapped in a plain white cloth, as is Islamic tradition.

Inditex, the parent company of Zara, has not commented on the criticism, whileThe Independent did not receive a response to a request for comment.

A source close to Zara told iNews that the campaign was planned in advance: Perhaps this was very bad timing.

Side-by-side comparison shots were widely shared on the micro-blogging platform, with several people condemning the retailer for its insensitive campaign as the war in Gaza enters its third month.

Using death and destruction as a backdrop for fashion is beyond sinister, its complicity and should outrage us as consumers, Palestinian artist Hazem Harb commented on Instagram.

Indonesian actor and fashion designer Zaskia Sungkar, who has over 31 million Instagram followers, wrote: Goodbye Zara.

Journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin commented: And the award for most tone deaf brand of the year goes to Zara.

Another tweet read: Zara brand has mocked the plight of the oppressed Palestinians and their martyrs in their advertising campaign. Let us all boycott this hypocritical and insensitive Zara brand.

The calls to boycott Zara over its tone-deaf fashion campaign reportedly began on Sunday (9 December) after the images were posted online.

According to an iNews report, activists spray-painted pro-Palestine slogans on some Zara stores in Montreal, Canada.

A source close to Zara told the newspaper the campaign was planned in advance: Perhaps this was very bad timing.

The clothing brand describes its contentious new campaign as a limited edition collection from the house celebrating our commitment to craftsmanship and passion for artistic expression.

Amid the latest controversy, some social media users resurfaced comments made by Zara executive Vanessa Perilman sent to Palestinian model Qaher Harhash on Instagram two years ago.

Harhash, a pro-Palestine advocate, shared screenshots of messages exchanged between him and Perilman in the wake of the bloody, 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas in 2021.

Perilman and Zara were called out online when she sent Harhash the following message: Maybe if your people were educated then they wouldnt blow up the hospitals and schools that Israel helped to pay for in Gaza.

Israelis dont teach children to hate nor throw stones at soldiers as your people do.

At the time, Inditex, the company that controls Zara, distanced itself from Perilmans remarks, adding that it does not accept any lack of respect to any culture, religion, country, race or belief.

"Zara is a diverse company and we shall never tolerate discrimination of any kind," the $120bn company added. "We condemn these comments that do not reflect our core values of respect for one another, and we regret the offense that they have caused."

The Independent has contacted representatives for Zara for comment.
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With the holiday season in full swing, typically comes the time when companies celebrate the work their employees have put in throughout the year with a holiday party.

One woman, named Neomi, took to TikTok to film her husband getting ready for this party despite her not being invited. Count ya mf days.. what kind of job excludes the wives, her videos caption asked.

The TikTok featured Neomis husband dressed up in an all-black outfit and putting on cologne while she suspiciously looked at him with text across the screen that read, Whats so important about this holiday work party (no spouses).

After the clip was viewed over five million times, many people turned to the comments section to express their anger for Neomi with claims that her husband might have made up the no-spouse rule because he has a work wife, which is essentially a close platonic female friend.

I understand a lunch but an actual party?! I need to find out if theres a work wife now, one commenter wrote.

Another commenter suggested that Neomi should show up to the party unannounced just to see if her husband was actually telling the truth. Show up to his holiday work party unannounced lemme know if you need a ride, they wrote.

Some even explained that their spouses declined invitations to their work parties if spouses could not be invited. My husband when theres a work party- why would I want to go hang out with them after spending all week with them, one person wrote in the comments.

Our holiday party has the same rule and I declined the invite, my man and I are gonna go out together instead:) another comment read.

Other commenters attempted to defend her husband by pointing out that their jobs stopped allowing spouses to the holiday party because of the extra food and drinks involved. One commenter explained that their company stopped because fights would break out between the real spouse and the work spouse.

Neomi went on to post an update to her video shortly after posting the first one. She explained in the TikToks caption that she gave her husband a curfew to come back from the party by 11 pm. He did not arrive until after 2 am, so she changed the security code on their door and made him sleep in his car.

The second video was viewed over one million times with many people again commenting that she did the right thing. I wouldve left his stuff OUTSIDE waiting for him, one comment read.

Another commenter agreed, writing, Hell, no no to the no no no bags would be packed.

Others talked about their own experiences having spouses go to a work party with a no-spouse rule. My ex did this too. His work wife is now expecting their 2nd child, one person commented.

My fiance went to his & texted me the whole time and came home as soon as it was over. then came home and took me out to dinner. you deserve better!! another comment read.
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Weight loss from Eli Lillys Zepbound drug can reportedly be reversed if users stop treatment, according to a new study.

In a study published in the journal JAMA, patients on the drug who struggled with non-diabetic obesity were reported to have 14 per cent weight regain nearly a year after switching to a placebo after an eight-month treatment of Zepbound. Those who werent given the placebo reportedly experienced an additional 5.5 per cent weight reduction throughout the 52 weeks in which data was collected.

Before the study rocked Wall Street, analysts argued that Zepbound could potentially be the best-selling drug of all time.

After the news broke, Eli Lilly shares fell to less than 2 per cent in morning trading on 11 December, indicating a lack of faith amongst shareholders in the company.

Lillys tirzepatide has been sold to consumers and patients under the brand name Zepbound for weight loss and shares an active ingredient with their type 2 diabetes drug Mounjaro.

Eli Lilly published some of the trial results in July, with results showing that users on GLP-1 drugs would likely have to continue their therapy long-term. At the time, Goldman Sachs analysts said, We await additional longer-term data to assess the effects of tirzepatide and other incretin-based therapies after multiple years of continuous therapy.

With the entire treatment period consisting of 88 weeks, those who continued to use tirzepatide showed 25.3 per cent weight loss. Meanwhile, patients who switched to a placebo after 56 weeks had an overall weight reduction of 9.9 per cent throughout the entire study period.

Those involved in the study reportedly told patients to eat around 500 calories and exercise at least 150 minutes a week. Only about 17 per cent of patients who continued with Zepbound maintained at least 80 per cent of their original weight.

In an interview with CNN, lead study author Dr. Louis Aronne - an obesity medicine specialist and professor of metabolic research at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City - explained the findings to the outlet. She said, If you look at the magnitude of the weight gain, they gain back about half the weight they had originally lost over a one-year period of time.

Like its weight loss drug counterparts Ozempic and Wegovy from Novo Nordisk, tirzepatide is one of many obesity and weight loss treatments that target the GLP-1 hormone that tells your mind that your body is full after eating.

In March, officials from Novo Nordisk revealed that patients choosing to discontinue treating obesity or type 2 diabetes with these weight loss drugs reportedly are at risk of regaining their initial body weight in five years. In a study funded by Novo Nordisk released last April, patients reportedly regained two-thirds of the weight they lost after just one year of stopping the drug treatment.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markles Archewell Foundation has spiralled into the red as it suffered a donations plunge of nearly 10m in a year.

The couples charity  named after their four-year-old son Archie and established in 2020 after the pairs so-called Megxit resignation as senior members of the royal family  also handed its executive director James Holt, considered one of Harrys right-hand men, a massive 280 per cent pay rise.

An income tax return filed in the US has revealed that in 2022 donations had dipped to just over 1.6m  and astonishing plunge of 8.7m on the 10.3m it was gifted in 2021. The Sussexes released their charitys annual report and a glitzy promotional film showing their good works this year, but it was marred by the loss in donations.

Meghan and Harry at the Invictus Games, his event for injured veterans (Getty)

It can also be revealed the foundations 2021 profit of 7.1m has evaporated due to a lack of donations.

Harry and Meghans foundation, which employed five people, recorded a loss of 536,357 due to the huge shortfall in donations. Revenue was recorded at 1.6m, while costs were 2.13m.

Harry, 39, and his ex-actor wife, 42, did not take a salary but its executive director Mr Holt was paid 181,255-a-year, including a 15,904 bonus.

The sum was a huge pay rise of around 133,000, up from Mr Holts starting salary of 47,641 the previous year.

In 2022, there were only two major donors giving around 795,210 each to the charity.

The year before, an unidentified donor gave them 7.8m but there was no repeat of that staggering generosity in 2022.

Harry, Meghan and Archie  whose name inspired the Archewell Foundation (Getty)

Despite last years loss, it appears the foundation  described as a non-profit organisation  still holds around 6.6m in cash and assets.

Archewell said it was not unusual for high-profile foundations to receive a significant influx of funding in its first year to be used over several years as part of a financial plan to build its philanthropic work.

It added: It is most fiscally responsible not to continue to raise large sums of money with millions still in reserve.

In 2022, (The Archewell Foundation) focused on building out original programming that successfully launched in 2023.

The Archewell Foundation is grateful for such a successful year and looks forward to continued growth in 2024.

On Tuesday (12 December), Archewell released a 28-page impact statement highlighting the various causes it supports as well as its latest income tax filing.

Along with the finances, the Sussexes, who also have a two-year-old daughter named Lilibet, unveiled a one-minute Archewell clip showing people and causes their foundation has helped throughout the year.

It came hours after Princess Catherine, 41, shared a clip with her three children  Princes George, 10, and Louis, five, as well as eight-year-old Princess Charlotte  at a baby bank in Windsor. Hers saw the royal being helped by her trio of kids to sort through presents for children in need.

Princess Catherine was seen in her video meeting youngsters at a baby bank (Getty)

Footage from Meghans visit to the Fisher House Foundation in Los Angeles was included in the Archewell video, showing her hugging people and volunteering at a pop-up baby boutique she staged for expectant mothers experiencing homelessness. It also featured her calling a young entrepreneur alongside Harry.

The slick clip was soundtracked to the song Happy Place by Glaswegian brother duo SAINT PHNX, with the video featuring the lyrics from the tune: Over the hills and far away, looking out for a better day, when it seems like theres no escape, take me to my happy place.

Archewells impact report highlighted projects aimed at helping resettled Afghan women in the US develop stronger social ties to their communities as well as combatting misinformation online.

Its latest financial reports were also released a day after a judge ordered Harry to pay the Mail on Sunday publisher, Associated Newspapers Limited, 48,000 in legal costs as part of their ongoing libel battle.

The penalty was imposed after Harry tried to dismiss part of ANLs defence linked to a February 2022 article about his clash with the Home Office over its decision to remove his automatic police protection after he stepped down from the senior working royal duties. ANL argued the piece expressed an honest opinion and did not cause serious harm to Harrys reputation.

The duke had battled to have the honest opinion defence thrown out, but in a judgement on Friday, High Court judge Mr Justice Nicklin decided it could be included, and the case should go to trial.

He ruled the publisher had a real prospect of arguing its case and, as a result, Harry was ordered to pay the newspapers costs of 48,447 by 29 December.
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The Duke of Sussex has been ordered to pay the Mail on Sunday more than 48,000 in legal costs after he lost an attempt to strike out part of the papers defence in a libel case.

Prince Harry is suing the newspapers publisher, Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), over an article about his legal battle with the Home Office concerning his security arrangements in the UK.

Now, a judge has ordered the prince to pay 48,447 after his failed challenge. His case to have part of ANLs defence removed was heard in March.

Last week, High Court judge Mr Justice Nicklin ruled that ANL can proceed with the honest opinion defence in the libel case, with Harry suing the news group over a February 2022 article about the governments decision to strip him off taxpayer-funded security after relocating to the US.

Mr Justice Nicklin argued that ANL had a real prospect of arguing its position and that the case should go to trial. Harry must pay the newspaper by 29 December, the judge ordered.

Lawyers for Harry argued that the original article was libellous, calling it an attack on his honesty and integrity.

The story was titled: How Prince Harry tried to keep his legal fight with the government over bodyguards a secret  then  just minutes after the story broke  his PR machine tried to put positive spin on the dispute.

His counsel said the news article suggested Harry had lied and tried to keep details of his legal battle to reinstate his police protection secret from the public.

ANL countered his claim, with their lawyers arguing it expressed an honest opinion and did not cause serious harm to Harrys reputation.

Prince Harry leaves the High Court in June (AP)

In written submissions, Harrys lawyer Justin Rushbrooke KC argued that the newspapers defence should be thrown out because it rests upon two provably false premises relating to a press statement released by Harry when he made the legal challenge.

Harry is challenging the Royalty and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) decision not to grant him automatic police protection in the UK since stepping down as a senior member of the British royal family, and moving to California with his family.

His statement read: The duke first offered to pay personally for UK police protection for himself and his family in January of 2020 at Sandringham.

That offer was dismissed. He remains willing to cover the cost of security, as not to impose on the British taxpayer.

However, Ravec in February 2022 said his offer of private funding notably was not advanced to the department, in a document prepared for a preliminary hearing of the security claim.

The Mail on Sunday described this as a crushing rebuttal to Harrys initial public statement that implied he had always been willing to foot the bill while adding that the press statement issued on behalf of the duke confused the media and misinformed the public.

At the hearing in March, Mr Rushbrooke KC said it wasabsolutely obvious that Harrys statement makes no claim that the claimant [the duke] made an offer to Ravec or the Home Office or that his judicial review proceedings were to challenge a refusal to accept it.

Meanwhile, Andrew Caldecott KC, for ANL, said the attempt to dismiss its honest opinion defence without trial was wholly without merit, adding that Harrys case against his client is built on sand.

The claimant was responsible for press statements that said he would pay for security when he had never expressed any willingness to pay until after the judicial review.

A hearing, dealing with the consequences of Mr Justice Nicklins summary judgment decision, had been listed for Tuesday. But Mr Justice Nicklin said, in his written order, that hearing would not now take place.

He delivered the ruling on the dukes summary judgment application a day after the High Court finished hearing Harrys claim that the February 2020 decision of the Ravec  which comes under the departments remit  to change the degree of his personal protection was unlawful and unfair.

A different judges decision in that case is expected at a later date.
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Thousands of people sang the traditional Mexican birthday song Las mananitas at Mexico City's Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe Tuesday to honor the virgin on the 492th anniversary of her apparition in 1531.

Authorities estimated that over five million faithful visited the Basilica during the days leading up to the annual celebration of the countrys patroness.

Many had walked from distant villages, others had ridden bicycles or buses to reach the Basilica's enormous patio, where a sea of tents held pilgrims who had slept overnight to greet the virgin in the morning.

The journey was not without dangers and risks. Mexico City prosecutors said Tuesday that three pilgrims, who were among a group on motorcycles, had been run over and killed on a highway leading from Mexico City east toward the city of Puebla.

Ten others were injured when a pickup truck ran into the group late Monday. The driver was arrested at the scene. Such groups of pilgrims walking or riding to or from the Basilica are a common sight on highways in December, when they sometimes occupy a lane or two of roadways.

The cold temperature, long walks and the wait to see the virgin's cloak inside the Basilica did not discourage the pilgrims, many of whom walked the last mile or so carrying flowers or large paintings of the virgin.

According to church tradition, in 1531 the dark-skinned virgin appeared to the Indigenous peasant Juan Diego and her image was imprinted on his cloak, which is on display inside the church. Juan Diego was made a saint in 2002 by Saint John Paul II.

Traditionally, those who have asked for help from the Virgin of Guadalupe with life problems come in a sign of appreciation, sometimes traveling the last stretch to the Basilica barefoot or on their knees.

Sara Pena Montano, 46, was one of a group of 80 people from the southern state of Morelos who came to the Basilica and waited all night to greet her in the morning.

Pena Montano, a homemaker, had been praying to the virgin for her son Silverio, 29, who was detained in the United States for crossing the border illegally. He was later released.

I came to greet her on this day, which is very important for all Mexicans, said Pena Montano. My heart was beating hard from so much emotion. I was very excited to arrive.

Evelyn Pilon, 20, came from Chiconcuac, a town on the outskirts of Mexico City famous for its knit goods and artisanry. She and her companion carried an image of the virgin carved from animal bone.

We walked all night without stopping until now, said Pilon, who is praying for the health of her baby son. I felt a lot of emotion when I arrived, because I was reminded of my baby. I couldn't bring him because he is very sick.

The pilgrimage also attracted people from around the world.

I came to pray for my people and I came here to see the Mexican faithful who came here by foot, said Elizabeth Kuszka, 66, of Phoenix, Arizona. "Its just amazing.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
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Indias top court on Monday upheld a 2019 decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modis government to strip disputed Jammu and Kashmirs special status as a semi-autonomous region with a separate constitution and inherited protections on land and jobs.

The five-judge constitutional bench of the Supreme Court ruled that the region's special status had been a temporary provision and that removing it in 2019 was constitutionally valid.

The unprecedented move also divided the region into two federal territories, Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir, both ruled directly by the central government without a legislature of their own. As a result, the Muslim-majority region is now run by unelected government officials and has lost its flag, criminal code and constitution.

But Chief Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud said the government has promised to restore Jammu-Kashmir's statehood and should do so as soon as possible. Ladakh, however, will remain a federal territory.

He also ordered the country's election commission to hold local legislative polls in the region by next Sept. 30.

The ruling is expected to boost the electoral prospects of Modis governing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party in national polls next year. The 2019 move resonated in much of India, where the Modi government was cheered by supporters for fulfilling a long-held Hindu nationalist pledge to scrap the Muslim-majority regions special status.

But the judgment will disappoint many in Kashmir, including the regions main pro-India Kashmiri politicians who had petitioned the Supreme Court to reverse the deeply unpopular decision, which was imposed under an unprecedented security and communication clampdown that lasted many months.

The court's hearings began in August and included extensive arguments and discussions on the moves constitutional validity.
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A woman whose fetus was unlikely to survive called more than a dozen abortion clinics before finding one that would take her, only to be put on weekslong waiting lists. A teen waited seven weeks for an abortion because it took her mother that long to get her an appointment. Others seeking the procedure faced waits because they struggled to travel hundreds of miles for care.

Such obstacles have grown more common since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, doctors and researchers say, causing delays that can lead to abortions that are more complex, costly and in some cases riskier  especially as pregnancies get further along.

About half of U.S. states now have laws that ban or restrict access to abortion. Because of that, many clinics don't offer the procedure, which has increased demand for appointments at the remaining providers.

At various points since Roe, waits in several states stretched for two or three weeks, and some clinics had no available appointments, according to results of a periodic survey spearheaded by Middlebury College economics professor Caitlin Myers and recently provided to The Associated Press. Doctors and researchers say even as wait times have lessened, people still encounter other challenges, like planning and paying for travel, taking time off work and finding child care.

All of those things can contribute to delays, and then it kind of becomes like this vicious circle, said Dr. Daniel Grossman, an OB-GYN at the University of California, San Francisco, who co-authored a research report earlier this year that compiled anecdotes from health care providers after Roe was overturned.

People may miss the window for medication abortions, which are not generally offered past 10 to 11 weeks gestation. A dwindling number of clinics provide abortions as people move through the second trimester, which begins at 13 or 14 weeks. Costs for the procedure change, too, from up to $800 in the first trimester to $2,000 or more in the second trimester.

While abortion is safe at all points in pregnancy, with an overall complication rate of 2%, it does get more complicated as the pregnancy continues, said Dr. Colleen McNicholas, chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region. It does carry additional risks.

Rising demand pushes up waits

At least 66 clinics in 15 states stopped providing abortions in the 100 days after Roe was overturned, according to an analysis last year by the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights.

The necessity for people to travel out of state is at the root of abortion delays.

Clinics run by Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, which operates in Colorado, New Mexico and southern Nevada, saw out-of-state patients more than double after Roe. And Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region's health center in Fairview Heights, Illinois, saw a 715% increase in patients from outside of Illinois or Missouri in the year after Roe.

We know that abortion bans have caused a ripple effect and increased wait times even in states where access is protected, McNicholas said.

The ongoing Myers Abortion Appointment Availability Survey called more than 700 facilities across the United States. Its latest survey, conducted in September, found that 11 states had median appointment wait times of more than five business days and four states had waits of at least eight business days, not counting weekends or holidays. The longest wait was in Iowa: 12 business days.

A year earlier, the survey found Iowa had a median wait of 13 business days, and six other states had waits between 12 and 15 business days.

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains told the AP that wait times peaked at 28 days shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court decision, though it later fell. Before June 2022, waits in the region's Planned Parenthood clinics averaged 17 days, reflecting restrictions in Texas that were put into place in 2021.

In the report from Grossmans team, a health care worker described how it took one mom seven weeks to get an appointment for her pregnant teen, who was about 17 weeks along by then. Another patient described in the report was also that far along by the time she got an abortion after struggling for six weeks to find an appointment. She drove 10 hours to a different state for care.

The latest statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are from 2021 and show that about 7% of abortions took place at 14 weeks or later.

While theres no way to know definitively whether delays have pushed more abortions into the second trimester, several providers said theyve seen the number rise in their own clinics. The St. Louis region's Planned Parenthood, for instance, tracked a 35% increase in the number of patients getting abortions at 14 weeks or later at the Southern Illinois health center in the year after the Supreme Court decision.

Dr. Rebecca Cohen, an OB-GYN at a hospital-affiliated clinic in Colorado, said her team has cared for an increasing number of patients seeking abortions later in pregnancy, some of whom have experienced several weeks of delays" trying to find care.

Jillaine St.Michel struggled to find somewhere to have an abortion late last year after learning that her 20-week fetus had multiple genetic and developmental problems and probably wouldnt survive. She lives in Idaho, which has a ban on abortions, so St.Michel and her husband called about 15 out-of-state clinics, finally getting on a three-week waiting list in Denver and a two-week waiting list in Seattle.

St.Michel, 37, said she worried about passing abortion time limits: Colorado allows abortion at all stages of pregnancy, while Washington state allows the procedure up to viability, the point a fetus may survive outside the womb. Some babies can survive with medical help at 22 or 23 weeks.

A chance cancellation opened up a spot in Seattle four days after she called to get on the list. Still, she said, we absolutely felt the time crunch."

Dealing with a deluge

Clinics have taken numerous steps to reduce waits, such as adding more telehealth appointments for medication abortions, staying open longer and adding more staff. That's generally brought appointment wait times down and also helped people obtain other types of reproductive care at the clinics in a timely fashion.

If someones sexually active and they dont want to become pregnant, we want to get them on birth control, said Adrienne Mansanares, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. If they are experiencing symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection  we want to get them treated.

But streamlining appointments is only part of the answer to reducing abortion delays, providers said. Individual issues like child care problems, canceled flights and financial concerns can be tough to overcome  even when clinics try to help by connecting patients to abortion funds, for instance.

This is especially difficult as travel distances grow longer. Research by Myers and colleagues found the average driving distance to the nearest clinic rose substantially in some states after Roe. From March 2022 to September 2023, it shot up from 34 to 160 miles in Alabama and from 43 to 499 miles in Texas.

The clinic where St.Michel, a chiropractor, had an abortion is about 500 miles from her home. She and her husband quickly came up with about $4,000 for airplane tickets, a rental car, three nights of lodging and the procedure, since the clinic was out of network for her insurance. The couple decided not to turn to an abortion fund because they thought others needed it more, instead taking it out of their savings.

Hoping to help other families, she joined a lawsuit filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights, an organization of lawyers and advocates that supports abortion rights. The suit asks state courts in Idaho and Tennessee to place holds on abortion laws.

I personally can't imagine that most people would be able to make this work, said St.Michel, who is pregnant again. This is not how we should have to seek health care.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
In a win for Democrats, New York's highest court has ordered new congressional district maps for the 2024 election.

The state Court of Appeals, by a 4-3 vote, directed the state Independent Redistricting Commission to submit new maps to the state Legislature by Feb. 28, 2024. The commission consists of 10 members, with four Democrats, four Republicans and two unaffiliated with the major parties.

"We are holding the IRC and legislature to what the constitution demands and will do so as often as necessary to secure compliance with its mandate," Chief Judge Rowan Wilson wrote in his opinion. "That said, we trust that the members of the IRC will act as the constitution requires without further need for judicial intervention."

The decision shakes up the 2024 congressional races in New York, where several seats were expected to be battlegrounds that could decide whether Democrats or Republicans win control of the House.

The fight over New York's congressional district maps began in 2022 when the redistricting commission failed to reach an agreement. Democratic and Republican members were divided, which resulted in competing proposals being submitted to the state Legislature for review. Legislators rejected the maps.

When the commission failed to submit a second proposal for consideration, the Democratic-controlled state Legislature took over the process and drew congressional districts favorable for Democrats.

But those maps faced a legal challenge from Republicans  a lawsuit that led to a court-appointed special master redrawing the congressional district maps for 2022.

However, the legal fight wasn't over. The plaintiffs in the latest redistricting fight argued that the state Independent Redistricting Commission violated the constitution by not submitting a second set of maps in 2022. A state appellate court agreed in July and ordered the commission to redraw House district maps for 2024.

Ultimately, the case was decided by the state Court of Appeals under Wilson, who was nominated by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. By a slim margin, the court ruled that the commission violated the constitution by not producing a second proposal nearly two years ago.

U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, called the ruling "a win for democracy and particularly the people of New York." House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, an upstate New York, blasted the decision in a statement that also ripped Democrats for politicizing the state's highest court.

Ken Jenkins, who chairs the state Independent Redistricting Commission, said they are pleased with the decision and "look forward to getting back to work with our colleagues as soon as possible to ensure that New York's voters receive the benefit of the historic redistricting reforms they voted for in 2014."
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Watch as MPs vote on Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks emergency Rwanda legislation on Tuesday, 12 December.

The prime minister saw off a Tory revolt, as there stood significant division on both sides of the Conservative Party over the bill.

Some on the right of the party want a tougher law, while those towards the left have warned against the bill breaching international law in the future.

Mr Sunak met with potential rebels over breakfast this morning, attempting to convince them to back the legislation.

Last month, the Supreme Court struck the original policy down as unlawful, concluding there was a real risk that genuine refugees sent to Rwanda could be returned to their home country, where they would face ill-treatment.

The government says the new bill addresses the courts concerns, and makes it clear that Rwanda is a safe country for asylum seekers.
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An Afghan interpreter who risked his life serving alongside the British army was deported back to Afghanistan from Pakistan after the UK wrongly refused to grant him sanctuary.

The interpreter was told twice that he would not be able to come to the UK, despite being described by a Ministry of Defence police officer as an enthusiastic supporter of the UK mission in Afghanistan and putting his life in grave danger, almost every day during his time working in Helmand province for the British.

Now, after a year and a half of limbo, the UK has finally admitted that they made the wrong decision and have approved his application to relocate to Britain. But the decision came five days after he was booted out of Pakistan  where he had fled with his family to escape the fundamentalist regime  and sent back to Afghanistan.

He has since managed to get himself back to Pakistan, without UK government help, and faces another long wait to be transferred to Britain. His wife and children are in the safe third country but the authorities previously threatened to deport them as well, court papers say.

His case is the latest example to highlight the UKs beleaguered resettlement scheme, which has been beset by issues since it was launched. So far, the UK has approved over 11,000 people under the scheme, but has been criticised for delays in bringing people to safety.

Jamie Bell, solicitor for Duncan Lewis, said: After serving the British Military and working as an interpreter in Helmand province, our client expected for his case to dealt with fairly and quickly to protect him from serious risks in Afghanistan. Instead, he received two incorrect decisions and was inexplicably forced to wait for one and a half years.

The delay in the case and lack of status directly led to his deportation to Afghanistan. It was only the swift intervention of the courts that persuaded the government to finally make the right decision.

The Afghan interpreter was described as an enthusiastic supporter of the UK mission in Afghanistan (Supplied/ The Independent)

Major General Charlie Herbert said many others who worked for the British army are at risk in Pakistan. He added: We knew this was a very distinct risk and the media have been warning the government about the risk of this. It is particularly cruel, almost abhorrent, that they have decided to grant him eligibility no sooner than hes been deported back to Afghanistan.

He continued: There are many who are still left in Islamabad  some of whom have been there for well over 16 months now  with no indication of when they are going to be moved to the UK and who are concerned that they too will be deported.

Labours shadow armed forces minister Luke Pollard said that the governments treatment of Afghans has been a shameful saga of failure. He added: The government failed to deal with the backlog of Arap applications, left Afghans in limbo, and their incompetence has now allowed people to be deported back to Afghanistan  potentially putting their lives at risk.

The MoD said that it takes time to review applications for help and this depends on the complexity of the case, checks that need to be conducted and the volume of reviews.

The father had worked for the British army as an interpreter in Helmand province during the war. In May 2021, he applied to the MoDs Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme, designed to help those who served alongside British forces.

He was initially refused help under the scheme because he had been dismissed from service. According to legal papers filed to court, the interpreter said his dismissal was a result of an argument with a Gurkha sergeant.

He reapplied to the scheme in August 2021 after the MoD amended their policy to allow Afghans who had been dismissed for minor reasons to qualify due to the nature of the risk they were under in the Taliban regime.

In witness statements submitted to court, the father was described as a very good interpreter, professional and fun to be around by a British former commissioned officer. They said: He put his life in grave danger, almost every day, not knowing that the future would turn out the way that it has.

An officer in the MoD police also wrote in his defence, saying the interpreters service not only to the British government but the Ministry of Defence and military should be commended.

Afghan interpreter who risked life to serve Britain deported back to Taliban after UK error

The police officer described one incident where the interpreter had removed him from a heightened confrontation with an Afghan army sergeant that could have gotten him shot. Another British colleague wrote saying he had a friendly and helpful demeanour and presented as an enthusiastic supporter of the UK mission in Afghanistan.

Despite clear evidence that he was employed by the British army, the interpreter was again rejected for relocation to the UK in March 2022, with the reason given that he had not been employed by a UK government department.

He lodged a request for a review but no decision had been made by the end of November of this year, when the Pakistan authorities deported him back to the Taliban.

The MoD decided five days after the deportation that the interpreter was in fact eligible for the Arap scheme all along. They made the decision one day after lawyers issued urgent judicial review proceedings and the case was listed for a court hearing.

The UK government has started to evacuate Afghans who worked with the British army from Pakistan to the UK after the Pakistan government announced a crackdown on undocumented refugees.

Thousands of Afghans eligible for sanctuary in Britain were left in limbo in Pakistan after Rishi Sunak decided they should not be housed in hotels in the UK and the MoD stopped chartering flights.

The policy was challenged in the High Court and ministers were forced to U-turn, with flights now back up and running.

Defence minister James Heappey told The Independent that the Pakistan government was supporting the UK in its effort to move the Afghans to Britain.

He told MPs on Monday that there was one case of an Afghan Arap applicant who had been deported from Pakistan before their appeal was heard. He added: Im not sure there is anything we can do to mitigate against that. Pakistan is after all a sovereign country and has every right to say who can and cannot be in the country.

The British High Commission in Islamabad has handed out assurance letters to Afghans to provide to Pakistan authorities in case of arrest. However, these are only given to those who have already been formally promised relocation under the Arap scheme  and there is no protection for those who are waiting for a decision.

A MoD spokesperson said: We are honouring our commitment to those brave Afghans that supported the UK mission in Afghanistan. So far, we have brought around 24,600 people to safety from Afghanistan, including thousands of Afghans eligible for our Afghan resettlement schemes.

While Arap eligibility decisions are taken on a case-by-case basis, the time it takes to complete a review of each case depends on various factors, including the complexity of the case, checks that need to be conducted, and the volume of reviews received by the MoD. Individuals will only be found eligible if they meet the criteria outlined in the published policy.
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An asylum seeker has died onboard the Bibby Stockholm, the controversial barge used by the government to house migrants.

The person died in a suspected suicide on the boat in Portland port, Dorset, and was found on Tuesday morning.

A few hundred asylum seekers have been living on the three-storey barge since October after it was finally given the all clear, two months after it was evacuated following the discovery of Legionella bacteria in the water supply.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said that they received a report of a sudden death of a resident on the Bibby Stockholm at 6:22am on Tuesday morning. Home secretary James Cleverly told the House of Commons that the death would be investigated fully.

He said that the thoughts of the whole House, like mine, are with those affected.

Refugee charity Care4Calais initally confirmed the news of the death and MP for South Dorset, Richard Drax, has said that the person had taken his own life.

The Independent understands that there are currently no plans to move asylum seekers off the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Charity CEO Steve Smith added: Our thoughts are with the person who has lost their life, their family and their friends. It is also with all those stuck on board the Bibby Stockholm who will be experiencing a deep feeling of grief and worry today.

The barge is being used to house asylum seekers while their claims are processed (PA)

He criticised the conditions on board the barge, adding: The UK government must take responsibility for this human tragedy. They have wilfully ignored the trauma they are inflicting on people who are sent to the Bibby Stockholm, and the hundreds being accommodated in former military barracks.

They are being separated from the rest of society and we have witnessed a serious deterioration of peoples mental health. We have regularly been reporting suicidal intentions amongst residents and no action is taken. This can no longer continue.

Dorset Police said: Officers are conducting enquiries into the circumstances of the incident. The coroners office has been notified of the death.

Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, called for an independent review to be carried out into the death so that lessons can be learned. He said what had happened was an appalling loss of life but tragically not surprising.

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said the union warned this summer that the Bibby Stockholm plan was a cruel and dangerous policy. He called on ministers to end this barbaric practice immediately.

Further details of the incident are yet to be confirmed and the persons age and country of origin are not yet known.

Asylum seekers living on the barge have previously said that they are in various forms of serious mental distress. One migrant described the conditions as like being in prison.

Tributes have been paid to the asylum seeker (PA)

Those living onboard cannot come and go easily. Buses run from 9 to 5 to shuttle migrants to the gates so they can leave, but these do not run 24/7.

A vehicle for the barges security team has only recently been provided to facilitate trips to and from the Port gate between 11pm and 7am. All those boarding the barge also have to go through an airport-style scanner.

The Home Office have said that around 500 asylum seekers would be able to live on the barge at maximum capacity, though a fire prevention report released under FOI suggested that 425 was the maximum.

The government planned to house migrants in dual occupancy rooms, with a small number of bedrooms on the barge containing four or six beds.

A nurse is onsite from 9 to 5, five days a week, and a GP is onsite one day a week.

People walk on to the Bibby Stockholm migrant accommodation barge following the death of an asylum seeker on board. (PA)

Ann Salter, from charity Freedom from Torture, said that the cramped and dangerous conditions on the Bibby can be profoundly retraumatising for those whove survived torture and persecution, in addition to traumatic experiences theyve suffered en route to the UK.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer reacted to the reports saying his thoughts were with the individual who has lost his or her life, and the family and friends of that individual who will be absolutely grieving as we speak.

The news comes as prime minister Rishi Sunak faces a crunch vote on his plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda on Tuesday evening.

The Rwanda bill would seek to block the vast majority of legal challenges from asylum seekers that the government wants to deport. Under the terms of the bill, asylum seekers would not be able to ask the courts to consider whether Rwanda is a safe country, but would only be allowed to argue against their deportation if there were significant individual circumstances that meant they should not be sent to the east-African country.

Police were called to reports of a "sudden death" of a man living on the vessel early on Tuesday morning. (PA)

A Home Office spokesperson said: Our thoughts and condolences are with those affected by the death of a resident on the Bibby Stockholm.

The welfare of all those in our care is of the utmost importance. Any death in asylum accommodation is a tragic event, and will be subject to investigation by the police and coroner.

Prime ministers official spokesman said: There has been and continues to be support available for those on the Bibby Stockholm.

Everyone has a medical assessment, people with emotional trauma are monitored for further support.

Any vulnerabilities are recognised and supported, there are trained staff available. Support will continue in light of this tragic incident.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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An asylum seeker thought to have taken his own life on board the Bibby Stockholm barge was heard screaming, shouting and punching walls before being found dead, it has been claimed.

The body of the man, yet to be identified, was discovered on the vessel early on Tuesday morning, Dorset Police have said.

At lunchtime, flowers were laid at the gated entrance to Portland Port, where the three-storey vessel, a temporary home to around 350 migrants, is docked.

The boat was controversially reopened for asylum seekers by the Home Office in October.

But local groups, such as the Portland Global Friendship Group, which provides activities on land for the men, have long raised concerns over the conditions onboard.

Heather, from the Portland Global Friendship Group, next to flowers laid in memory of the man who died on the Bibby Stockholm vessel (The Independent)

Speaking to The Independent at the gates to the harbour, Heather, from the friendship group, said the mans death was so predictable.

She said: I got a call at 6.44am from one of the men on board saying that something really weird had happened and that there were police on the ship.

It soon emerged that a man had killed himself.

She added: The guys have been telling me that the man was screaming, shouting and punching walls all night and the security officers were telling him to shut up.

Its just typical of everything weve been hearing. I feel like it could have been a cry for help. Some of the men make best with what they have got, but others are lost souls.

It was all just so predictable.

The docked vessel has been at the centre of controversy ever since it arrived at the south coast port. A week after opening to asylum seekers, it was closed after the discovery of Legionella bacteria in the water supply.

The men share bedroom accommodation and have access to an onsite gym. They are allowed to leave via an hourly double-decker bus service which takes them to Portland or the nearby town of Weymouth, from 9am to 5pm.

Portland councillor Giovanna Lewis told The Independent that the men on board were stunned and shocked by the death.

Councillor Lewis said: The message is loud and clear. These men should never be housed on a secluded boat off the coast, they are vulnerable and mentally damaged people who need our care.

A Home Office spokesperson said: The welfare of all those in our care is of the utmost importance, and we take our responsibility for their wellbeing incredibly seriously.

The vessel is operated by a company called Corporate Travel Management, which the Home Office say outsource security to a firm called Landry & Kling.

A spokesperson from Landry & Kling said: The welfare of those onboard the Bibby Stockholm is our primary concern and we are working with all appropriate agencies to support the investigation. Our thoughts are with those affected by the death of a resident today.

The prime ministers official spokesman said on the incident: There has been and continues to be support available to those on the Bibby, as it is indeed available [to those] in other forms of accommodation.

Everyone has a medical assessment, including for emotional trauma.

They are monitored for further support, any vulnerabilities are recognised and supported, there are trained staff available.

So, all of that support will continue in light of this tragic incident.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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Nine people were taken to hospital after a cloud of chlorine gas spread through a gym in west London.

Seventy people fled Gold Gym in Hanwell, west London at 8.30pm on Monday before firefighters arrived to cordon off the entire high street.

People were seen wrapped in silver foil outside the gym as firefighters in hazmat suits worked to clean up the chemical spillage inside a plant room.

Nine people were treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital for further treatment.

London Fire Brigade said unsafe chemical fumes were most likely caused by a mixture of chemicals which produced a chlorine gas.

Firefighters moved into help ventilate the gym after high readings of chlorine gas were detected in a sweep of the building. A Gold Gym spokesman said: Everybodys fine.

NHS signs of Chlorine gas poisoning Blurred vision

Burning sensation in the nose, throat, lungs, and eyes

Coughing

Coughing up white to pink-tinged fluid that may be delayed by a few hours

Chest tightness

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath (These may appear immediately if high concentrations are inhaled or they may be delayed if low concentrations are inhaled.)

Eye tearing

Frostbite if exposed to liquified chlorine

Nausea

Rapid and shallow breathing

Respiratory failure

Skin pain, redness, blisters

Vomiting

Wheezing

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: Most cleaning chemicals are either acid or alkali based  and if they were to be mixed, there is a very real risk that there will be a chemical reaction.

This reaction can often release a harmful, irritable or even toxic gas which can have an incredibly strong smell and have a harmful effect on anyone breathing in these gases, especially the young and the elderly.

Inhaling this gas can cause breathing difficulties as well as choking and irritation of the airway. The gas can also cause eyes to water and, in stronger concentrations, can cause loss of consciousness.
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A homeless man whose sleeping bag was soaked by a security guard working for McDonalds says he has been left traumatised by the incident, claiming: I couldve died.

Aaron McCarthy, 25, was sitting outside a Nationwide bank next to the fast food chain on Victoria Street in London when a security guard asked him to move.

The 25-year-old stayed put, prompting the staff member to kick Mr McCarthys belongings and splash water all over the ground, where his sleeping bag was.

The incident sparked outrage after one person shared a clip on the incident on social media and said: Do you think it is acceptable for your staff to soak the sleeping bags of homeless people in the middle of winter (or any other time of the year)?

Onlookers described the incident as disgusting and bang out of order.

The security guard could be seen splashing more water onto the ground directly next to the mans possessions (Damon Evans/screengrab)

Mr McCarthy, who has no place to stay for Christmas, said he had been unable to sleep since the incident.

He told MailOnline: It made me feel like I was no one, nothing. What happened has really affected my mental health.

There was no reason for that security guard to throw water on my sleeping bag.

Talking to The Sun, he added: I couldnt even sleep that night because my stuff was soaked. Some of it is still damp now. That water had bleach in it. It was cold water and its winter. I couldve died.

Mr McGarthy, originally from Limerick, says he has lived on the streets of London since leaving his adopted mothers home when he was 17.

The Irishman detailed his mental health struggles including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), post-traumatic distress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorders which have led him to a life on the streets.

Rough sleepers lay in their makeshift beds outside closed shops, at daybreak on Oxford Street in London on August 2, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

He also spoke out about his tough upbringing.

McDonalds has since apologised, saying they were shocked and saddened by the incident. The staff member, employed through a third party, has been sacked, they added.

Mr McCarthy said McDonalds had also bought him new bedding.

Homeless charity Crisis told the BBC it condemned the actions of the security guard. CEO Matt Downie said: Its appalling to see people mistreated like that.

The Met Office issued a weather warning in London on Saturday as gusts of 40mph struck the capital and temperatures plummeted to single-digits.

The shocking incident comes as the number of rough sleepers in the capital has reached record highs.

There were more than 4,000 people found to be sleeping rough in London between July and September, multi-agency figures show  the highest quarterly total outside a pandemic since records began, after a 12 per cent increase in a year.
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Sir Keir Starmer has lashed out at Rishi Sunaks Conservatives, claiming they behave like Donald Trump.

The Labour leader launched a blistering attack on the Tories to mark the fourth anniversary of his own partys electoral wipeout under Jeremy Corbyn.

In a pitch to disaffected Conservative voters, he laid out the complete overhaul Labour has undergone since 2019. And he said the Tories under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and now Rishi Sunak have moved in the opposite direction.

Sir Keir said Britain has always been a practical nation in the past, even under Tory governments.

But these arent Churchillian tourists anymore, if anything they behave more and more like Donald Trump, he added.

The Labour leader said: They look at the politics of America, and they want to bring it here. Its all woke, woke, woke, wedge, wedge wedge, divide, divide, divide.

People cant afford Christmas.

Sir Keir Starmer during a speech in Milton Keynes (PA)

Sir Keir also attacked the Conservatives record on the NHS and crime, saying crimes are going unsolved and people do not know if ambulances will come when called.

And he vowed Labour would no longer indulge in performance art policies such as the Rwanda scheme, but would indulge in the mundane stuff, the bureaucratic stuff.

Its not about wave machines, or armoured jet skis, or schemes like your wonder you know will never work, its about doing the basics better, Sir Keir said.

In a speech from Milton Keynes, the Labour leader appealed directly to Conservative voters, saying: Only a change of government can bring change to our country.

Sir Keir also used a Q&A after the speech to confirm the party would scrap Mr Sunaks flagship Rwanda deportation policy.

He said it is costing a fortune, will not work and is against our values. But he opened the door to the party considering a similar scheme, where asylum claims could be processed elsewhere, with successful asylum seekers able to return to the UK.

Sir Keir said: "There are various schemes, as you know, around the world where individuals are processed, usually en route to their country of destination, elsewhere.

"The Rwanda scheme isnt one of those. This is a straight deportation scheme in relation to people whove already arrived.

"Other countries around the world do have schemes where they divert people on the way and process them elsewhere. Thats a different kind of scheme.

"And look, Ill look at any scheme that might work."

Elsewhere in the speech, Sir Keir defended his time serving under predecessor Mr Corbyn. We did lose our way, we lost our way into that 2019 election four years ago today, he said.

But he went further and appeared to criticise the leadership of other former leaders including Ed Miliband and ex-prime minister Gordon Brown.

Asked about his claim that Labour had taken a leave of absence from our job description, not just under Jeremy Corbyn, but for a while, Sir Keir insisted he was not critiquing any particular individual.

But said it is a reflection of the fact that we have lost four elections in a row, including under Mr Brown in 2010.

Tory chairman Greg Holden said: Once again Sir Keir Starmer showed he is only interested in short-term political positioning, not taking long-term decisions in the national interest.
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The rejection of Rishi Sunaks latest Rwanda bill will plunge his premiership into turmoil.

The prime minister has denied that tonights result amounts to a vote of confidence in his leadership - but senior Tories have said otherwise.

Of his five key pledges to the nation, the promise to stop the boats has taken up the most political capital.

And MPs who support the Rwanda plan - which would see asylum seekers who arrive in the UK via irregular routes such as small boat crossings - believe it is a necessary deterrent.

After it was struck down as unlawful by the Supreme Court, Mr Sunak published new planned legislation, entitled the Safety of Rwanda Bill, which would deem Rwanda safe in British law.

It will be voted on in the House of Commons this evening and faces being the first bill defeated at its second reading since Margaret Thatchers 1986 Shops Bill - which would have ended the regulation of Sunday shopping in England and Wales.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces another long and difficult day, as he bids to see of a major rebellion (PA Wire)

Who is opposing the bill?

The so-called five families groups of backbench Tory MPs pose the biggest threat to the bills passage.

The European Research Group (ERG), New Conservatives, Conservative Growth Group, Common Sense Group, and Northern Research Group have commissioned a star chamber of lawyers to determine whether it goes far enough to ensure flights to Rwanda get off the ground.

The groups fear that in its current form, the bill would see the policy undermined by a stream of individual court appeals against deportation flights.

The ERG, which commissioned the star chamber, said the group only provides a partial and incomplete solution and called on Mr Sunak to pull the bill.

Mr Sunak met with a group of Tory MPs from the right of the party on Tuesday morning to convince them over breakfast to vote for the bill (PA)

Mr Sunak met for breakfast with a group of Tory MPs from the right of the party on Tuesday morning in a desperate bid to convince them to vote for the bill.

Do they have the numbers?

If 29 Tory MPs vote against the bill it will fail, so yes - many more MPs than that have expressed their concerns.

But the right-wing groups have not publicly pledged to vote it down, with many planning to let it go through its second reading before trying to introduce amendments later.

Abstentions could also see the law chucked out if 57 Conservative MPs decide to vote neither for or against the bill.

What happens if Mr Sunak loses?

The PMs ability to govern would be shot and he could either quit, contest a Tory leadership challenge or go to the country by calling a general election.

If Mr Sunak quits or choses to fight a leadership contest, challengers would likely include former immigration ministers Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick. Others courting votes on the right of the party could include business secretary Kemi Badenoch and leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt.

Most Tory MPs are resigned to Mr Sunak leading the party into the next election, which is expected at some point next year. Yet another change of leader would see the fourth prime minister installed since Boris Johnson won the last election in 2019. The clamour for a general election would be immense.

Some in the party, including senior MP Charles Walker, believe Mr Sunak would have to go to the country, adding that the prospect of a third Tory leadership contest in this parliament leaves me cold.

If Mr Sunak goes straight to the country, he could fight the election on his promise to take tough action to stop the boats, using illegal immigration to draw a dividing line with the Labour Party. A win would give a strong democratic mandate to the Rwanda plan, which did not form part of the last Conservative manifesto.

But with his party 20 points behind in the polls, a general election is likely to be a situation Mr Sunak will want to avoid.

Can he defuse the rebellion?

It is unlikely. If the bill passes its second reading tonight with the support of would-be right wing rebels, they will quickly turn their energy to seeking amendments.

But any major changes pose two risks for the PM.

One is that the Rwandan government has been clear with the UK that if the bill goes any further in disregarding international laws, it will pull out.

Any amendments could also see the 100-strong One Nation group turn their backs on the bill, which would see it fall at a future vote.

What if the bill gets through the commons?

The bill would still face many hurdles, even if MPs approve it tonight. It will face rounds of discussion and debate, as well as a tricky passage through the Lords.

And the Labour party has confirmed it will scrap the Rwandan deportation policy, meaning that if it fails to turn Tory fortunes around, it would have a limited time in force anyway.
 Close Rishi Sunak wins Rwanda vote despite Tory rebellion

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Rishi Sunak has been hit by a fresh headache on his flagship Rwanda bill, as senior Conservatives on the left said they would join right-wing rebels in pushing for changes ahead of an expected second vote in January.

The embattled PM had believed he could count on Tory MPs in the moderate One Nation wing, as he fights to appease their rivals on the right who are demanding tougher deportation legislation.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk suggested the government would not cede to right-wingers by toughening up the bill, despite their threats to vote it down.

But, as No 10 prepares for crunch talks with the right-wingers over Christmas, senior Tory moderates told The Independent they were considering how to amend the bill to soften it.

Earlier, Sir Keir Starmer mocked Tory MPs who criticised Rishi Sunak in the press in PMQs.

The Labour leader goaded the Tory benches, saying: Come on, come on. Who was it who said hes a really bad politician? Hands up.

Meanwhile, Mark Drakeford announced he was standing down as Welsh Labour leader, triggering a contest to find his successor.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E hits Chinese market, starting at 239,800 yuan

On December 10th, the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E officially hit the market in China, featuring a lineup of 5 trim levels with prices ranging from 239,800 yuan to 359,800 yuan. Built on the performance legacy of the Mustang, the 2024 Mustang Mach-E undergoes a comprehensive upgrade in its powertrain, offering extended range and quicker acceleration. All variants come standard with the BlueCruise 1.2, Ford's hands-free highway driving feature.

Ford Mustang Mach-E; photo credit: Changan Ford

Chery's iCAR to begin presale of iCAR 03 SUV on Dec. 18

Chery's new energy vehicle sub-brand, iCAR, is set to commence pre-sales for its all-new compact SUV, the iCAR 03, on December 18. Earlier, during the Auto Guangzhou 2023, the pre-sale prices for both the two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive variants of the iCAR 03 were unveiled, ranging from 140,000 yuan to 190,000 yuan.

Baidu, Geely-backed Ji Yue said to introduce second model in 2024

Ji Yue, the automotive robot (Robocar) brand jointly backed by Geely and Baidu, will launch its second model next year, according to a local media outlet. Internally codenamed "Venus," the new model is likely to be positioned as an all-electric coupe.

GAC AION's self-built battery factory starts operation

On December 12, GAC AION's Yinpai Intelligent Battery Eco-factory celebrated its official construction completion and commencement of operations, coinciding with the release of the P58 Microcrystal Super Power Battery ("the P58 Battery"), which represents the breakthrough on the Magazine Battery 2.0, according to GAC AION's press release.

AVATR 12 commences delivery nationwide

On December 10, AVATR announced the nationwide delivery launch of the AVATR 12, arriving gradually in 40 cities across 19 provinces in China.

Changan NEVO Q05 hits market, starting at 119,900 yuan

Changan NEVO officially put its inaugural plug-in hybrid electric SUV, the Q05, onto the market on December 12, with a price range of 119,900 yuan to 149,900 yuan.

iMotion announces global stock offering for Hong Kong listing

On December 12, Chinese autonomous driving solution provider iMotion Automotive Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. ("iMotion") announced its plans for a global offering of 22.116 million shares, including 2.2116 million shares for sale in Hong Kong and 19.9044 million shares internationally.

Changan Automobile's Zhu Huarong assumes chairman of AVATR Technology

AVATR Technology, the premium new energy vehicle company jointly backed by Changan Automobile, Huawei, and CATL, announced on December 12 that Changan Automobile's Party Secretary and Chairman, Zhu Huarong, assumes the role of Chairman at AVATR Technology.

New-generation Dongfeng Aeolus Shine hits Saudi Arabian market

Dongfeng Motor announced on December 11 the launch of the all-new Dongfeng Aeolus Shine in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with sales initiated across all Dongfeng showrooms in the region.

Sunwoda EVB's Yiwu base rolls off first cell, battery pack

On December 9, the first battery cell and battery pack produced at Sunwoda Electric Vehicle Battery Co., Ltd. ("Sunwoda EVB")'s power battery manufacturing base in Yiwu city rolled off the production line, marking the official commencement of rapid development and operation for Sunwoda's Yiwu facility.

Brose, HASCO ink agreement for extended cooperation on joint venture

On December 11, Germany-headquartered family-owned automotive supplier Brose Group and the Chinese auto parts provider HASCO jointly hosted the signing ceremony for the extension of the joint-venture agreement of Shanghai Brose Automotive Components Co., Ltd., according to Brose' press release.

GWM, BMW's joint venture Spotlight Automotive to qualify for complete vehicle production

In the latest announcement from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology ("MIIT") regarding the 378th batch of the "List of Road Motor Vehicle Manufacturers and Products," two notable additions have caught the eye: "Spotlight Automotive Ltd." and "NIO Automotive Technology (Anhui) Co., Ltd." Both are marked as "newly established pure electric passenger vehicle manufacturing enterprises."

This inclusion signifies that these companies have sailed through relevant regulatory assessments and, pending the public notice period, are set to obtain the necessary production qualifications.

Newlink NaaS, FLEETIN, GAC Energy team up on EV charging service network development

Chinese charging service provider Newlink NaaS ("NAAS") recently joined hands with its strategic partner, FLEETIN, to collaborate with GAC Energy, a subsidiary of GAC Group. The partnership aims to enhance the accessibility of charging services for GAC Energy platform users by enabling the exchange and sharing of data resources between charging stations, further optimizing the charging service network for both parties.

China raises technology requirements for new energy vehicles to qualify for purchase tax reduction and exemption

In a joint announcement issued recently by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology ("MIIT"), Ministry of Finance, and State Administration of Taxation, significant changes to the technical requirements for tax reductions on new energy vehicles (NEVs) have been outlined. Effective January 1, 2024, vehicle models applying for inclusion in the "Catalog of NEV Models Eligible for Vehicle Purchase Tax Reduction and Exemption" issued by the MIIT must adhere to the specified technical requirements for NEV products.
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A wounded Rishi Sunak has secured victory in a crunch vote on his flagship Rwanda policy  but his political future remains under threat ahead of a new year showdown on the issue.

The prime minister faces another battle with his MPs within weeks after parliament backed his emergency legislation by 313 votes to 269.

As he fought to keep his controversial deportation scheme alive, Mr Sunak even flew a minister back from the Cop28 climate change conference in Dubai to vote.

But he now faces a struggle to pass the bill at its next hurdle after Tory rebels, many of whom abstained instead of voting it down, warned they could not support it without significant changes.

In another extraordinary day at Westminster:

 Mr Sunak tried to woo rebels over bacon sarnies in No 10

 Home secretary James Cleverly said the new legislation was very much pushing at the edge of the envelope of international law

 Behind closed doors, the prime minister promised Tory MPs he was willing to tighten the legislation, those who attended a breakfast summit said

 Rebels expressed frustration at the lack of a clear commitment to amend the bill

 Former Tory leader Lord Hague urged his party to pull themselves together before the vote, warning there was no guarantee it would ever return to government if it loses the next general election

In a moment of high drama just minutes before the vote, five groups of Tory MPs on the right of the party announced they would not support the bill.

However, they announced they would mainly abstain at this stage and try to amend the bill.

But they put the prime minister on notice that they could vote to kill the plan if it is not hardened enough.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Mark Francois, the chair of the European Research Group (ERG), said: We reserve the right to vote against it at third reading, that is collectively what we have decided.

In response, Mr Sunak said: The British people should decide who gets to come to this country  not criminal gangs or foreign courts. Thats what this bill delivers.

In a move that risks riling the rebels, Mr Cleverly tweeted after the vote: Parliament has spoken.

Former party leader Iain Duncan Smith said he had backed the government but indicated he reserved the right to vote against the plan at its third reading.

Asked if he could pull his support, he told Sky News: I want to see the government listen and engage  so well see where it goes.

Lists released by parliament suggested that no Tory MP voted against the bill. But high-profile names were among 38 Tory abstentions including former home secretary Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister who quit in protest at the plan last week.

Before the vote, Labour had said that defeat, the first time a government would have lost on the second reading of a bill since the mid-1980s, should lead to a general election.

Just 57 Tory MPs abstaining, or 29 voting against, the bill would have been enough to defeat the government.

But Mr Sunak now faces an uphill battle to get his legislation through its next Commons stage.

MPs traditionally allow bills to pass at second reading to allow them to be amended or improved, before casting their final judgement at the third reading of the bill.

Even before the latest vote, Tory MPs warned they could sink the legislation.

Former minister David Jones, deputy chairman of the ERG, said: We believe we have the numbers, if necessary, to stop the bill progressing.

To add to his woes, Mr Sunak is now under pressure from two warring sides of his party. MPs on the right are threatening to vote against the bill if he does not amend it, while those on the more moderate wing threatening to pull their support if he does.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has called on MPs to back the plans (PA Wire)

Sir Bob Neill, the Tory MP and chairman of the Commons justice committee, said his support would go if that happened because for me it goes as close to the wind as one can constitutionally do. To go any further would be unconservative, and then I would not support it, he added.

One former cabinet minister who supported Mr Sunaks leadership campaign warned that it is hard to see how these issues [between the warring factions] get resolved before the next crucial Commons vote. Asked how it would end for his party leader, he added: Badly.

Amid the infighting, another Tory grandee, Sir Edward Leigh, warned Tory MPs: A house divided is a house that is going to be destroyed.

And a former minister, Jackie Doyle-Price, accused her party of stupid rows that would benefit only the Labour Party.

Mr Sunak spent all day trying to head off a major Commons rebellion over his plan.

He pleaded with Tory MPs to back the bill and tried to woo rebels over bacon sarnies at a breakfast meeting in Downing Street, as well as during one-to-one meetings.

In a social media post, Mr Sunak publicly appealed to his MPs to support him, saying: To stop the boats, we need to back this bill.

As he tried to persuade MPs in the Commons, Mr Cleverly said: The actions that we are taking, whilst novel, whilst very much pushing at the edge of the envelope, are within the framework of international law.

Novel actions: home secretary James Cleverly (Reuters)

Mr Sunak was forced to bring forward the emergency legislation after the UK Supreme Court ruled his plans unlawful.

The prime minister has pinned his hopes on a new treaty with Rwanda, which is designed to guarantee refugees are not wrongly sent back to countries they have fled, and the new legislation.

But he suffered a shock blow last week when the immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who would have taken the bill through parliament, resigned, warning it did not go far enough and would not work.

Others on the Tory right have also called for it to go further and override the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), to ensure it cannot be blocked by judges in Strasbourg.

Jonathan Gullis, a member of the New Conservatives grouping who attended the breakfast summit, said he had grave concerns the legislation would mean we will end up being bogged down with individual claims that mean that well see very few people put on the plane to Rwanda.

One MP who attended the breakfast expressed frustration at the prime ministers approach, saying: I would love to know what he means by tightening the bill.

Earlier, Downing Street had rejected calls to pull the bill from Tory rebels, who warned it needs major surgery or replacement.

Delaying the vote would have raised uncomfortable parallels with ousted former Tory leader Theresa May who pulled her meaningful vote Brexit legislation as she struggled to get it through the Commons.

Before the vote, Mr Jenrick was understood to be planning to vote against the legislation unless the government committed to amending it.

He pushed for the ability to overrule European Court of Human Rights injunctions in a speech to the Commons, telling MPs: This bill could be so much better. Lets make it better.

A No 10 source said the government would continue to listen to and engage with colleagues across the party on the bill as it goes through parliament.

Former cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke warned Rishi Sunak that the bill risked the government failing to deliver on our promise to stop the boats for a third time.

The bill allows ministers to disapply the Human Rights Act but does not go as far as overriding the ECHR, a key demand from hardliners.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer dismissed the Rwanda plan as a gimmick and piece of political performance art and accused the Conservative Party of behaving more like Donald Trump than Winston Churchill in its obsession over the scheme.
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On Tuesday, university leadership at Harvard affirmed its support for college president Dr Claudine Gay, who has come under fire for how she handled a high-profile congressional hearing over campus antisemitism amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing, the Harvard Corporation said in a statement on Tuesday.

In this tumultuous and difficult time, we unanimously stand in support of President Gay, the university leadership body added. At Harvard, we champion open discourse and academic freedom, and we are united in our strong belief that calls for violence against our students and disruptions of the classroom experience will not be tolerated. 

President Gays position may be secure for now, but if high-profile investor Bill Ackman has his way, that wont be for long.

The hedge fund billionaire and Harvard alumnus has been one of the nations most vocal critics of how university leaders are responding to cultural tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war, and his campaign has already made serious waves on campus.

He helped make a national scandal out of a controversial letter from Harvard students that blamed Israeli policy towards Palestinians for setting the stage for the 7 October Hamas attacks, fueling calls to blacklist the student-activists involved.

His public pressure, particularly on his X feed, where legislators and activists mingle and share the chatter, probably helped lead to the resignation of M Elizabeth Magill, the University of Pennsylvania president, who announced her resignation on Saturday.

And his commentary helped raise the House Education and Workforce Committee hearing on antisemitism last week into the centre of the political discussion, after the presidents of Harvard, Penn, and MIT all gave awkward, legalistic answers when asked about how their bullying policies would handle hypothetical calls for Jewish genocide. (The leaders all condemned antisemitism and calls for violence during the hearing.)

Its not surprise then, that by Sunday, the investor felt like he held all the cards in his hands.

Lets make a deal, he wrote on X in a message to MIT. If you promptly terminate President [Sally] Kornbluth, I promise I wont write you a letter.

Congress grills university leaders over antisemitism

The hedge funder manager is known for making big bets  he made billions during the pandemic in credit hedges  but will his continued campaign the force out the presidents of Americas Ivy League schools pay off?

Some have celebrated Ackmans pressure campaign, while others, including some faculty and students at the universities on his radar, have expressed dismay about the considerable influence he and other well-connected outsiders are exerting over educational institutions.

Mr Ackman hasnt been alone in his efforts, and fellow travellers have sounded a similar valedictory note in recent days.

One down. Two to go, US Rep Elise Stefanik, the Harvard graduate whose questioning of university presidents at the committee hearing went viral, wrote on X over the weekend. This is only the very beginning of addressing the pervasive rot of antisemitism that has destroyed the most prestigious higher education institutions in America. This forced resignation of the President of @Penn is the bare minimum of what is required.

More than 70, mostly Republican, members of Congress have joined in calls for all the university presidents who testified to get the axe.

Chris Rufo, a conservative activist who spearheaded a right-wing campaign against critical race theory in elementary schools, has celebrated Mr Ackmans effort because it boosts his contention that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts on campus mean the death to merit, accomplishment, and the American spirit.

Bill Ackman is a man of strength and courage. Hes demonstrated the power of speaking the truth while so many of our elites remain silent, Mr Rufo wrote on X on Sunday. Through his actions, he exposes them for what they are: cowards. Abolish DEI  now, and forever.

Mr Ackman, in turn, has promoted an article from Mr Rufo that claims Claudine Gay, the president of Harvard, plagiarised parts of her thesis.

The article alleges four instances of supposed plagiarism, though two include Ms Gay noting the source material of her claims.

In its statement, the Harvard Corporation said President Gay was aware of the allegations and asked for an independent review of her work, which concluded there were a few instances of inadequate citation, but nothing violating Harvards research standards. President Gay has requested corrections in two articles, the statement added.

Mr Ackman has also suggested in recent days that Ms Gay, a former professor at Harvard and Stanford and a former dean of social science at Harvard  and who is the first Black president of Harvard in the institutions nearly 400-year history  was chosen because of her race.

Taken together, Mr Ackmans high-profile actions and alliance with right-wing figures has alarmed some on campus.

On Monday, as university administrators met at Harvard, over 650 faculty members signed a letter of support in favour of President Gay.

The critical work of defending a culture of free inquiry in our diverse community cannot proceed if we let its shape be dictated by outside forces, one faculty letter reads.

The suggestion that she would not stand boldly against manifestations of antisemitism and any suggestion that her selection as president was the result of a process that elevated an unqualified person based on considerations of race and gender are specious and politically motivated, reads another letter, from Black faculty at Harvard.

On the campus on the University of Pennsylvania, where Mr Ackmans influence has already been felt, students voiced a mix of approval over their presidents resignation and concern over free speech implications.

We were really excited to see that there was some accountability being taken, student and vice-president of Penns Jewish Heritage Programs Joe Hochberg told The Daily Pennsylvanian student paper. Time and time again, [President] [Magill] was just letting us down and not doing enough or doing completely the wrong thing.

I am alarmed at the implications for free speech and academic freedom as the far right uses this resignation as licence to start policing calls for peace, ceasefire, and Palestinian rights, student Lily Brenner, a member of the progressive Jewish group Penn Chavurah, said in an interview with the paper.

On the opinion pages, the editorial board of the Pennsylvanian noted that many of the figures leading the charge against Penn, such as Rep Stefanik, have not been physically here.

They have not stepped on campus and engaged with students, faculty, and the Penn community at large the way that we have and we continue to do everyday, an editorial from Sunday reads.

Other commentators, like the progressive writer Peter Beinart, have warned that the kind of potential rules about campus speech that may result from this moment of outside pressure regarding antisemitism could end up silencing Jewish leaders themselves.

In a Saturday post on X, Mr Beinart argued that a potential Penn business school resolution that would punish those using hate speech or celebrating murder or genocide could be used to keep prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel off campus because of a November speech about the war in which the Israeli leader invoked the Biblical story of Amalek, a rival nation to Israel, whom God commands King Saul to wipe out, including killing men, women, children, and animals.

Curious what @BillAckman will say when people use these prohibitions on calling for genocide to try to ban Bibi from speaking at Penn because of his comments about Amalek, Mr Beinart wrote.

MIT, the final part of the Ivy trio under the spotlight, has continued to express its confidence in President Kornbluth.

The MIT Corporation chose Sally to be our president for her excellent academic leadership, her judgment, her integrity, her moral compass, and her ability to unite our community around MITs core values, university leaders wrote last week after the hearing. She has done excellent work in leading our community, including in addressing antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate, all of which we reject utterly at MIT. She has our full and unreserved support.

Its clear the fight is far from over.
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Emergency crews in New York City responded to a partial building collapse in the Bronx on Monday afternoon after the corner of a residential building fell to the street.

Around 3.40pm local time, a section of the six-storey building, located 1915 Billingsley Terrace in the west of the borough, fell to the sidewalk, exposing several apartments.

Footage from the scene showed immense damage to the lower floors of the building, with entire apartments angled down toward the street. The majority of the building appears to remain intact.

Fire fighters were reportedly working by hand to search the rubble. K-9 units have also been deployed to assist with the search.

FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh wrote on X that there have been no reports of injuries but that members of the FDNY were searching for any people trapped. Ms Kavanaugh said authorities were deeply concerned that civilians may have been trapped during the collapse.

We hope and pray that everyone escaped but until we know for certain, our @fdny members will continue their search, she wrote on Monday evening.

Speaking to CBS News, earlier Ms Kavanaugh said: We will presume, with an occupied building, that there could be someone there until we eliminate that possibility.

Per the Pix11 outlet, she added: We have our firefighters literally working by hand to uncover that pile. We have our dogs searching on the pile to help us find hits, and we have EMS and paramedics standing at the ready to pull anybody out.

We dont know for sure anybody is under there, but we always operate under the assumption in an occupied building like this one that there could be until we eliminate that possibility.

Ms Kavanagh said that the cause of the collapse was not currently known, but that it would be part of the investigation into the incident.

Weve done a basic check and we do not have any active work permits, no outstanding violations related to the integrity of the building. Right now, we dont know why this would have happened. Obviously, that is under active investigation as we do our rescue operations, she said.

Representatives from the New York Department of Buildings are on the scene and will go in after the search to determine the stability of the structure.

The building has had 178 violations in the last two years, 103 of which are open, according to New York City Housing Preservation and Development website.

All utilities in the building have been shut off.

Shortly after the collapse, the NYPD issued an alert to locals asking them to avoid the area.
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A Utah man has been jailed for a year for filming himself torturing and crushing guinea pigs and posting the videos on YouTube.

Samuel Webster, 20, of Farmington, Utah, pleaded guilty to animal torture via crushing and posting clips of his actions online in October 2021.

According to court documents, Webster purchased four male guinea pigs from a pet supply store in Farmington, Utah before purposefully subjecting the animals to serious injury.

He posted a total of 23 videos to YouTube, including some that were allegedly titled Guinea Pig Torture and Torture is Fun, and commented on his own videos about wanting to kill and torture guinea pigs.

In one instance he hit a guinea pig and then sexually abused it, later posting the footage on YouTube and titling the video Porn.

Webster further admitted that the guinea pigs were obtained in interstate commerce for the purpose of creating and distributing YouTube videos around the world that he made of himself torturing and killing the animal.

He pleaded guilty to distribution of animal crush video and animal crushing in August.

Crushing, in this case, is defined as an animal being intentionally crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury, and is obscene.

On Tuesday Webster was sentenced to 12 months and one day behind bars with three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,500.

The animal torture committed by Mr. Webster was not only illegal but inhumane and cruel, said US Attorney Trina A Higgins of the District of Utah.

Torture of any kind to an animal is unacceptable. Our office will work with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute all crimes of this nature.

Animals deserve to be treated humanely which is why the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act was passed in 2019, said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI.

Evidence shows that intentional animal cruelty can also be a precursor to other violent crimes.

We are grateful for the publics assistance reporting this horrific abuse so law enforcement could put a stop to it and have Mr. Webster face the consequences."

The FBI Salt Lake Field Office investigated the case with valuable assistance by the Woods Cross Police Department. The United States Attorneys Office of the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
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Harvard president Claudine Gay has survived calls for her removal, following a row over her appearance at a congressional hearing on antisemitism last week.

The universitys highest governing body released a statement on Tuesday throwing their unanimous support behind the college president, calling her the right leader to help our community heal.

It comes after Ms Gay, University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill and MIT president Sally Kornbluth all appeared in front of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce last week to testify about their colleges responses to alleged incidents of antisemitism on campuses since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

All three university presidents have faced backlash for what critics described as their inaction over alleged antisemitism on campus following the 7 October surprise attack by Hamas on Israel  which saw 1,400 Israelis killed.

The three then roused further controversy when, during the congressional hearing, they failed to explicitly say that calling for the genocide of Jews would violate their colleges harassment and bullying codes.

Instead, they took the stance that it depends on the context  something all three presidents later apologised for.

Ever since, pressure has been mounting on all three to be ousted from the helm of their colleges with a bipartisan group of lawmakers sending a letter to the governing boards of Harvard, UPenn, and MIT calling for their removal.

Ms Magill became the first of the presidents to resign over the weekend, announcing her departure and apologising for her remarks after UPenn alum and Wall Street CEO Ross Stevens threatened to strip the university of a $100m donation if she did not step down.

But Ms Gay and Ms Kornbluth have so far survived attempts to oust them from their roles, with Harvards governing board deciding to keep Ms Gay as the universitys president following closed-door board discussions, the Harvard Crimson reported.

The university announced the decision in a statement on Tuesday morning.

As members of the Harvard Corporation, we today reaffirm our support for President Gays continued leadership of Harvard University, the statement, signed by all of the board members other than Ms Gay, said.

Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing.

Harvard University president Claudine Gay is set to learn her fate today (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The New York Times had previously reported that she was set to survive the scandal, while Harvard alum and billionaire hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman also posted on X that he had heard  citing a source I trust  that Ms Gay would not resign and that the governing board had decided not to terminate her as president.

He added that he had also been told by two reporters that one of the factors that made it challenging for the @Harvard board to fire Gay was that they were concerned it would look like they were kowtowing to me.

Mr Ackman has been one of the most vocal critics demanding that Ms Gay resign in disgrace over the antisemitism hearing row.

As a result of President Gays failure to enforce Harvards own rules, Jewish students, faculty and others are fearful for their own safety as even the physical abuse of students remains unpunished, Mr Ackman wrote in an open letter to Harvards governing board on Sunday.

Knowing what we know now, would Harvard consider Claudine Gay for the position? The answer is definitively No. With this simple thought experiment, the boards decision on President Gay could not be more straightforward, he wrote.

Mr Ackman has in fact been one of Ms Gays loudest critics since she became Harvards first Black president in July.

He previously questioned the 53-year-olds academic integrity and values, posting content on social media that implies she was hired to fulfil diversity metrics.

He has also previously promoted an article from Chris Rufo, a conservative activist who spearheaded a right-wing campaign against critical race theory in elementary schools, that claims Ms Gay plagiarised parts of her thesis.

Pressure had also been mounting for Ms Gays removal from others since the congressional hearing.

A letter expressing no confidence in Ms Gay, signed by Harvard students, staff and alumni, had gained support in the last week.

The letter urged Ms Gay to resign or be relieved of her position. It is not appropriate for Claudine Gay to serve as President of Harvard, as she does not represent our collective values or the Harvard that we have come to know, the letter said.

Bill Ackman has been one of Ms Gays loudest critics (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

While some had celebrated the pressure campaign from the likes of Mr Ackman, others, including some faculty and students at the universities on his radar, had expressed dismay about the considerable influence he and other well-connected outsiders were exerting over educational institutions, and had given their support to Ms Gay.

In recent days, more than 700 Harvard faculty members signed various letters calling on the administration not to remove Ms Gay as president because defending a culture of free inquiry in our diverse community cannot proceed if we let its shape be dictated by outside forces.

We, the undersigned faculty, urge you in the strongest possible terms to defend the independence of the university and to resist political pressures that are at odds with Harvards commitment to academic freedom, including calls for the removal of President Claudine Gay, one of the letters read.

Professor Ryan Enos, who signed one of the letters, told The Boston Globe that there is agreement [among faculty] that its wrong to have politicians and alumni pressuring who should be the president of the university.

Ms Gays support has come from a diverse range of faculty, according to The New York Times, including Jewish professors and Arab American and Muslim faculty members.

The Executive Committee of Harvard Universitys Alumni Association also announced its unreserved support for Ms Gay on Monday.

President Gay is the right leader to guide the University during this challenging time, the committee wrote in a letter to school officials.

She is thoughtful. She is kind. She is resolutely dedicated to the growth and wellbeing of our very diverse community. We recognize that there was disappointment in her testimony this past week. President Gay has pointed this out and apologized for any pain her testimony causeda powerful demonstration of her integrity, determination, and courage.

The scandal began almost immediately after the Hamas attacks on Israel, when a group of 33 Harvard student organisations, led by the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee, released a now-deleted statement on social media arguing that Israels apartheid regime had created the impetus for the war.

Ms Gay (left) and UPenn president Liz Magill at the congressional hearing last week (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The letter, published on the same day as the 7 October attacks, prompted furious backlash, with Harvard professors and alumni calling on the universitys leadership to condemn the letter as well as Hamas.

Mr Ackman also called for the signators of the letter to be blacklisted from top Wall Street firms  a move he came under fire for after a truck appeared near the Harvard campus, circling the university and displaying photos of Harvard students and organisations allegedly linked to the original statement.

Ms Gay issued a statement three days after the letter was published condemning the attacks and distancing the universitys leadership from the letter.

Meanwhile, in a speech at Harvards Jewish student organisation in late October, she announced that she had assembled an advisory group of faculty, staff, alumni, and religious leaders from the Jewish community who will help us to think expansively and concretely about all the ways that antisemitism shows up on our campus and in our campus culture.

While Ms Gay has seemingly done enough to keep her job for now, questions still remain as to what her fate will be in the future.
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An adviser to Harvard president Claudine Gay has pushed back on accusations that she plagiarised his work.

Chris Rufo, a conservative activist who spearheaded a right-wing campaign against critical race theory in elementary schools, has accused Ms Gay of plagiarising multiple sections of her 1997 PhD thesis on the success of Black politicians.

Mr Rufo claimed that Ms Gays thesis, titled Taking Charge: Black Electoral Success and the Redefinition of American Politics, contained verbatim language of academics she had cited in her work, as well as a few trivial synonym substitutions, without providing quotation marks.

The conservative blogger posted sections of her dissertation online, and alleged three instances of supposed plagiarism, in an apparent breach of Harvards anti-plagiarism policy, which states that its not enough to change a few words here and there and leave the rest; instead, you must completely restate the ideas in the passage in your own words.

Among them, Mr Rufo said the 53-year-old had plagiarised the entire appendix in her dissertation directly from Gary Kings book, A Solution to the Ecological Inference Problem, arguing that Ms Gay does not explicitly acknowledge that Appendix B is entirely grounded in Kings concepts, instead passing it off as her own original work.

He also pointed to entire phrases and sentences directly from Kings book, without any citations or quotation marks.

In total, Gay borrows material from King in at least half a dozen paragraphsall in violation of Harvards standard on academic integrity, Mr Rufo claimed.

Claudine Gay was accused of plagiarising multiple sections of her 1997 PhD thesis (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Mr King, who was Ms Gays thesis adviser and runs Harvards Institute for Quantitative Social Science, hit back at Mr Rufos claims, calling them absurd in an interview with The Daily Beast on Monday.

Theres not a conceivable case that this is plagiarism, he said. Mr King also added that Ms Gays work underwent extensive review and never provoked even a suggestion of plagiarism. Her dissertation and every draft I read of it met the highest academic standards, he insisted.

Mr Rufo also laid out another two instances of alleged plagiarism in Ms Gays dissertation, including claims that she had swiped an entire paragraph nearly verbatim from Lawrence Bobo and Franklin Gilliams paper, Race, Sociopolitical Participation, and Black Empowerment, while passing it off as her own paraphrase and language.

While Ms Gays work does contain some verbatim phrases used by Mr Bobo and Mr Gilliam that Mr Rufo argued should have been in quotation marks, she does cite them by name in her thesis.

Mr Bobo told The Daily Beast that he remains unconcerned about these claims as our work was explicitly acknowledged.

Bill Ackman promoted claims of plagiarism (Patrick McMullan via Getty Image)

The third instance of plagiarism, Mr Rufo argued, is verbatim material from political scientist Carol Swain.

Dr Swain criticised Ms Gay on Twitter, writing: She would not be the first one. The practice among some academics white and black has been to use my work and never cite me.

Despite complaints from Dr Swain and Mr Rufo, Ms Gays thesis does contain an in-text citation of Dr Swains work.

Mr Rufo has argued that Harvard should conduct a full investigation into Claudine Gays academic integrity, and suggested that any student caught doing the same thing would be punished up to and including expulsion.

The same standard should apply to the university president, he wrote.

Ms Gay came under fire recently after she attended a Congressional hearing in which she and two other university presidents failed to explicitly say that calling for the genocide of Jews would violate their colleges harassment and bullying codes.

Instead, they took the stance that it depends on the context  something all three presidents later apologised for, with UPenn president Liz Magill resigning from her role.

Despite calls for Ms Gays removal as president from Harvard alum and faculty, the Universitys highest governing body ruled on Tuesday that she would remain in the role.

Harvard alum and billionaire hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman had spearheaded calls for her removal, along with lawmakers, and previously claimed one of the factors that made it challenging for the @Harvard board to fire Gay was that they were concerned it would look like they were kowtowing to me.

Mr Ackman has been one of Ms Gays loudest critics since she became Harvards first Black president in July.

He previously questioned the 53-year-olds academic integrity and values, posting content on social media that implies she was hired to fulfil diversity metrics.

He has also previously promoted Mr Rufos claims of plagiarism.

The Independent has contacted Claudine Gay for comment.
 Close Related video: Jonathan Majors court date

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Marvel star Jonathan Majors was handed a guilty verdict in his trial for assaulting his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari on Monday afternoon.

Jurors deliberated for a total of roughly five hours before convicting Majors on two charges - one misdemeanour count of assault and one harassment violation.

In a statement after the verdict, Majors legal team issued a statement saying he looks forward to clearing his name.

Last week, Judge Michael Gaffey permitted the release of a wealth of evidence, including text messages, photographs, footage, a recording of the actor calling himself a great man and the 911 call from the night of the alleged attack.

The texts show Majors dissuading Jabbari from going to the hospital following a separate alleged altercation in 2022, saying it could lead to an investigation even if you do lie and they suspect something.

Majors was supported throughout the trial by his current girlfriend Meagan Good.

Hours after the guilty verdict was announced, Marvel said it was dropping Majors from its lineup.
 Close SAMANTHA WOLL UPDATE

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A suspect has finally been arrested and charged with the murder of well-loved synagogue leader Samantha Woll almost two months after she was brutally stabbed to death at her home.

On Wednesday, 28-year-old Michael Jackson-Bolanos was charged with felony murder, home invasion and lying to police.

Local prosecutor Kym Worthy said at a press conference that the suspect had no prior connection to the victim and that the killing was not believed to be a hate crime.

Jackson-Bolanos maintained his innocence and entered a not-guilty plea on Wednesday.

At his arraignment, new details were revealed about Wolls murder  and the evidence allegedly linking Mr Jackson-Bolanos to the crime scene.

Woll was stabbed eight times in the attack at her home in Lafayette Park on 21 October, prosecutors said. The attack began inside her home before she stumbled outside and collapsed in the street.

Prosecutors described her murder as a crime of opportunity when Mr Jackson-Bolanos was allegedly prowling the neighbourhood stealing from cars and came across her open front door.

Wolls blood has allegedly been found on a jacket that the suspect was wearing on the night of the murder, the court heard.
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Donald Trump faces four criminal indictments in three separate jurisdictions. Nearly 100 felony criminal charges are leveled against the former president, who remains the odds-on favourite to win the 2024 Republican primary.

As his legal battles grow more complex by the day, a serious question has emerged: Whether Mr Trump will win the nomination and campaign for the general election as a convicted criminal.

That possibility, in turn, raises another, simpler question: Will the 45th President of the United States go to prison?

Between his 91 felony counts, Mr Trump faces a total of roughly seven centuries in total jail time, spread between dozens of various charges of differing seriousness. Obviously, Mr Trump is not going to be sealed inside a federal penitentiary for all eternity, but the increasingly wide range of actions for which he is now being prosecuted is slowly chipping away at the likelihood that he will evade the inside of a cell forever.

Here, we take a look at the four prosecutions Mr Trump currently faces, and how each affects his chances of campaigning behind bars next year:

1. The New York case - maximum of 136 years

The first indictment to drop against the former president, this one also deals with conduct committed the furthest in the past. Donald Trump is accused of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a felony under New York state law.

Each count carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

However, such sentences are only doled out with mitigating circumstances, like previous felony convictions or based on the seriousness of the crime. Mr Trumps accusation is largely victimless, and as such a judge is not likely to sentence him to anything more than fines or, at the most, probation and community service were he to be convicted by a jury.

The trial for the case is set for 25 March.

Former President Donald Trump is escorted to a courtroom (AP)

2. The documents case - maximum of 450 years

After exploding into the public eye last year with an FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago, the allegations spelled out in this indictment have earned Mr Trump serious criticism from his former deputies, like Attorney General Bill Barr. The president is accused of mishandling classified information in an egregious manner, including in one instance supposedly showing classified materials to guests at his Bedminster resort.

Hes also accused of obstructing justice and making false statements; the ex-president faces a max of 10 years in prison per count of willfully retaining secrets and 20 years per count of obstructing justice.

While the latter comes with a higher maximum sentence, its the former that Mr Trump truly should be worried about. Convictions of willful and/or reckless retention of classified information frequently result in prison sentences of several years or more. Mr Trump faces more than 30 of those charges.

The trial in this case is set for 20 May.

Former U.S. President Trump appears on classified document charges after a federal indictment at Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Courthouse, alongside his aide Walt Nauta and attorneys Chris Kise and Todd Blanche in Miami, Florida, U.S., June 13, 2023 in a courtroom sketch (REUTERS)

3. The federal elections case - maximum of 55 years

The Department of Justices most recent indictment charging Mr Trump with crimes was related to the 2020 election, and the months-long effort by his team to change the results.

There are two basic parts of this case that should concern the ex-president; the possibility that he will be convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiring against Americans right to vote in free elections, and the possibility that he will be convicted of directly attempting to block the certification of the election via summoning a mob to attack the Capitol.

The former is almost assuredly less of an uphill battle for prosecutors, given how much evidence for the Trump campaigns election manipulation efforts is now public. The real battle in this regard will be for prosecutors to prove that the Trump teams efforts went beyond legal challenges to the election results.

The latter is a bit harder to prove. Mr Trump and his allies have fiercely denied since the attack itself that the mob of Trump supporters who attacked the Capitol and left lawmakers hiding in fear for their lives was directed by the president himself. The president will likely point to his (belated) video message cheering on the rioters enthusiasm and urging them to go home, hours after the attack began, as evidence that this was not the case.

Should he be convicted of either, however, he faces steep maximum prison sentences for each count, in particular the obstruction of proceeding charges which carry 20-year maximum terms.

The trial in this case is set for 4 March.

Donald Trump claimed he witnessed filth and decay in Washington DC after his arraignment on 3 August (Getty Images)

4. The Georgia case - maximum of 76.5 years

The most recent indictment to drop, Fulton Countys case against Mr Trump in Georgia is unique in that it also involves the only charges to carry minimum prison terms.

While Mr Trump is also accused of a host of minor to moderately serious felonies in the state, its his charge of violating Georgias RICO statute that should have him the most worried. It carries a minimum prison term of five years, with a maximum of 20 behind bars.

A RICO charge will undoubtedly be the hardest for prosecutor Fani Willis and her team to prove, as it involves fewer allegations (and less evidence) of specific illegality and instead relies on the prosecution convincing a judge and jury that the overall effort by Mr Trump to change the election results in Georgia pushed over the boundary into becoming a fully criminal enterprise.

Should that fail, however, Mr Trump also faces 12 other felony counts, all of which carry the potential for incarceration.

Former President Donald Trump is shown in a police booking mugshot released by the Fulton County Sheriffs Office (via REUTERS)

How likely is a Trump jail term?

Its hard to say, but one thing is clear: The situation is looking worse for Mr Trump every day.

Legal experts who have looked at the Justice Departments prosecution related to the election challenges have almost uniformly remarked on the strength of the DoJs case, and the apparent effort by the agency to narrow down the case to a point where it can proceed through the courts before the 2024 general election.

The question also remains as to how long Mr Trump can maintain costly legal defences in all four cases, given how many millions of dollars four high-profile criminal defence trials are likely to add up to.

In the end, its quite possible that the answer to the question of whether Mr Trump will ever see the inside of a cell comes down to not whether he will be convicted, but whether jailing a former president is even feasible. Should he win the general election next year, an entirely new layer of complexity is added to the mix.

The one surety of the multiple prosecutions is this: Donald Trump, regardless of the outcome of his several trials, has already pushed American democracy far into the bounds of the unknown and the unprecedented. Whatever happens from here is an example of the worlds most powerful democracy making it up as it goes along.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- In the latest announcement from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology ("MIIT") regarding the 378th batch of the "List of Road Motor Vehicle Manufacturers and Products," two notable additions have caught the eye: "Spotlight Automotive Ltd." and "NIO Automotive Technology (Anhui) Co., Ltd." Both are marked as "newly established pure electric passenger vehicle manufacturing enterprises."

This inclusion signifies that these companies have sailed through relevant regulatory assessments and, pending the public notice period, are set to obtain the necessary production qualifications.

An aerial view of the Spotlight Automotive Project; photo credit: Spotlight

Spotlight Automotive Ltd. ("Spotlight") is a joint venture between Great Wall Motor and BMW Holding B.V., with each party holding a 50% stake. The company's focus lies on producing MINI-branded electric vehicles at the factory in Zhangjiagang city, Jiangsu province.

Public records indicate that the Spotlight Automotive production facility project was officially inaugurated in Zhangjiagang on November 29, 2019, with a designed annual production capacity of 160,000 vehicles. According to the plan, Spotlight's products will be distributed through the sales and service networks of both the BMW Group and Great Wall Motor, based on brand segmentation.

In October of this year, the domestically produced, all-new MINI pure electric vehicles came off the assembly line at Spotlights factory. Scheduled for global market release in 2024, the initial batch of SOP models will be earmarked for export.

The Zhangjiagang plant is poised to become a primary production hub for the next-generation MINI full-electric vehicle models, manufacturing not only the all-new MINI COOPER but also a compact crossover.

The vehicle recently rolling off the production line is the high-spec SE version of the new-generation MINI COOPER, featuring a front-mounted single motor with a maximum power of 160kW and a peak torque of 330 Nm, respectively. The vehicle boasts a 54.2 kWh battery pack that enables a WLTP-rated range of 402 km. Additionally, it supports 11 kW AC slow charging and 95 kW DC fast charging.
 Close Young Thug criticises Andre 3000

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The hotly-anticipated trial of the rapper Young Thug is back under way in a courtroom in Atlanta, Georgia, after being derailed when a codefendant was stabbed in jail.

In May 2022, Young Thug, real name Jeffery Williams, was arrested and charged in a sprawling RICO indictment along with 27 other defendants.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis  who is using the same law to prosecute Donald Trump in his Georgia election interference case  accused the suspects of being part of a criminal street gang named YSL or Young Slime Life.

According to prosecutors, the gang is responsible for multiple violent crimes, including murders, shootings, carjackings and racketeering. Young Thug denies the accusations and insists YSL is simply his record label  Young Stoner Life.

The trial has been undoubtedly rocky. Shannon Stillwell, a YSL co-defendant, was stabbed multiple times in jail by a fellow inmate in December. The incident led to the trials postponement until 2 January.

When the trial resumed on Tuesday, Young Thug instantly sparked speculation online around what he was wearing under his shirt.
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Former EU leader Donald Tusk has vowed to chase away evil after being elected as Polands prime minister.

The new administration has been formed nearly two months after a national election and eight years of conservative rule.

I want to thank Polish women and men, he said. Thank you, Poland. This is a wonderful day, not for me, but for all those who have deeply believed over these years that things will get even better.

The former European Council president pledged to fix everything together.

From tomorrow, we will be able to right the wrongs so that everyone, without exception, can feel at home.

In the parliamentary election held in October, three opposition parties, committed to reinstating democratic standards, collectively garnered more than 54 per cent of the votes. It was a coalition of parties ranging from left-wing to moderate-conservative.

Although the parties ran independently, they pledged to collaborate under Mr Tusks leadership to rejuvenate democratic standards and enhance relations with allies.

In Mondays vote, Mr Tusk secured support with a tally of 248-201 in the 460-seat lower house of parliament.

Mr Tusk will address parliament on Tuesday and is expected to be sworn in as the prime minister by president Andrzej Duda on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day on Monday, the former government led by Mateusz Morawiecki lost a confidence vote. The administration of the right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) party was marred by multiple conflicts with the EU, notably on issues such as judicial independence, the rule of law, and minority rights.

These disputes also resulted in the freezing of billions in funds from the bloc.

Mr Tusk now aims to strengthen Polands alignment with European allies and rekindle support for Ukraine. His Civic Coalition (KO) party, along with Third Way and the New Left, ran on separate tickets but shared a commitment to restoring ties with Europe.
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Britain is sending two Royal Navy minehunter ships to Ukraine to boost its Black Sea capabilities in the face of Russias aggressive invasion, officials said.

UK defence secretary Grant Shapps said the aid is part of the collaborative effort between Britain and Norway to bolster the Ukrainian Navy. Strong maritime forces are critical to fight Russias aggression and facilitate grain and steel shipments through the Black Sea, Mr Shapps said.

UK is also sending amphibious armoured vehicles and coastal raiding boats to the nation under siege.

Its not just those couple of ships, but were launching something called the Maritime Coalition, which is a British-led...but international plan to ensure that not only can they be-mine that part of the sea, but Ukraine can build a navy for the future, Mr Shapps told the BBC.

The Maritime Capability Coalition set up with Norway will help bolster Ukraines maritime training, equipment, and infrastructure.

"Securing the seas is the only way to defeat a tyrant like Putin, to guarantee the long-term independence and prosperity for Ukraine and for the whole of Europe," Mr Shapps said.

Mr Shapps and Norwegian defence minister Bjorn Arild Gram confirmed the formation of a maritime capability coalition during a news conference in London, saying other nations were expected to join soon, making it a "truly global affair."

British officials said this new coalition will work with Ukraine to expand its forces in the Black Sea, develop a Ukrainian Marine Corps and enhance the use of river patrol craft to defend inland and coastal waterways.

Last week, British foreign secretary David Cameron lauded the success of Ukraines naval forces against Russias massive Black Sea Fleet as a reason for continued military support from the US and other democracies to the Kyiv government at a time the Russian invasion has crossed 22nd month.

"Ukraine doesnt even really have a navy, but they have managed to sink about a fifth of the Russian Black Sea Fleet," Mr Cameron said at the Aspen Security Forum in Washington. "Well, that is  a remarkable thing."

At a time the US is struggling to gather unanimous support for Ukraine and Israel aid amid political dispute in Congress, the European commitment to the besieged nation against the invasion from Russia is seen as firm.
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Frances education minister has said he will never accept school pupils refusing to look at art amid a row over a teacher showing her pupils a painting of nude women.

Gabriel Attal, the minister for national education and youth, told parliament that the role of the French school is to train republicans following the incident at a school near Paris.

Pupils at the Jacques-Cartier school refused to look at Diana and Actaeon, a Renaissance-era painting portraying a mythical scene from Roman poet Ovids Metamorphoses, which is housed in the Louvre.

They also accused the teacher in question of making racist and Islamophobic remarks, which she denied.

Her colleagues walked out as a result of the row although all lessons had resumed by Tuesday, following days of disruption.

Tensions at the school were said to have been running high since the start of term. Officials said parents had complained about punishments handed out for unsatisfactory work and poor behaviour.

Mr Attal visited the school and said that disciplinary proceedings had been opened against three students who caused this situation.

The role of the French school is to train republicans, he told French politicians. I will never accept that at the Republic school we refuse to look at a painting.

Sophie Venetitay, from the Snes-FSU teachers union, told the AFP news agency that several first-year high school students, aged 11 and 12, said they were offended by the work by 17th-Century Italian painter Giuseppe Cesari.

She said some students had averted their gaze, felt offended and said they were shocked.

According to local media reports, a parent wrote to the school the day after the incident, claiming that his son had been prevented from expressing himself later in a class discussion.

Ms Venetitay said staff felt they had been left feeling unsupported and working in a degraded climate, adding the incident reminded her of the brutal killing of Samuel Paty.

Mr Paty was stabbed then beheaded near his secondary school in the Paris suburb of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine in October 2020 after showing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in a class.
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Vladimir Putin will try to hide jailed Alexei Navalny as long as possible during his protracted election campaign, allies of the imprisoned Russian opposition leader, lawyer and anti-corruption activist have said.

Mr Navalny, who is serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges, has not been seen since last Tuesday.

Prison officers at IK-6, a high-security penal colony roughly 140 miles east of Moscow where Mr Navalny was moved in June this year, told his lawyers that he had left their colony when they tried to visit him last week. The officers added that they did not know where Mr Navalny had been transferred.

The 47-year-old has since missed two court appearances via videolink. Prison officials said his first absence, on Monday, was due to electricity problems, a reason his spokesperson Kira Yarmysh described as nonsense. His second absence was today (Tuesday); no reason for this absence was provided.

Mr Navalnys disappearance has coincided with an announcement by the Russian president last Friday that he would run for a fifth term next year. The Russian Election Commission issued a statement a day before setting the date for the vote for 17 March.

Vladimir Putin met with constitutional court judges in Moscow on Tuesday (Pool/AFP/Getty)

Mr Navalnys allies have now accused the Kremlin of deliberately isolating Alexei for as long as possible until the election next year.

Ms Yarmysh told the Associated Press: I guess this was made deliberately to isolate Alexei during this period of time so he wouldnt be able to influence all these things in any way, because everyone understands  and Putin, of course, understands  that Alexei is his main rival, even despite the fact that he is not on the ballot.

She added: They will try to hide him as long as possible.

After the announcement by the Russian Election Commission on Thursday, a statement from prison by Mr Navalny urged Russians to vote for anyone but Putin. It was unclear if it was a pre-written statement dated from before he was last seen.

The statement read: For Putin, the 2024 elections are a referendum to approve his actions, to approve the war.

Lets disrupt his plans and make it happen so that no one on 17 March is interested in the rigged result, but that all of Russia saw and understood: the will of the majority is that Putin must leave.

That same day, two of his lawyers, who had also been jailed on bogus charges, had their pretrial detention extended to 13 March. The Kremlin did not provide any reason why.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when asked about Mr Navalnys disappearance, said he had neither a desire nor an opportunity to track down inmates (RIA Novosti/AFP/Getty)

Prison officials are legally obliged to notify Mr Navalnys relatives or lawyers within 10 days of his arrival at a new facility.

But in the meantime, Ms Yarmysh said they are having to look for him in every colony of [the] special regime in Russia.

There are about 30 of them all over Russia, she said. So we have no idea in which one we will find him.

She said the Kremlin, by way of circumventing the legal obligation, can also transfer a prisoner for weeks or even for months, and no one will know where he is.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, when asked about the whereabouts of Mr Navalny said they have neither a desire nor an opportunity to track down inmates.

We have neither the intention nor the ability to monitor the fate of prisoners and the process of their stay in the relevant institutions, he told reporters.

Mr Navalny, 47, has been behind bars since January 2021, when he was arrested upon his return from Germany where he had received treatment for poisoning with a nerve agent that Navalny blamed on the Kremlin. Moscow has denied it.

The opposition leader, who campaigned against official corruption and organised major anti-government protests, has rejected all charges against him as a politically motivated vendetta.
 Close Kyiv suffers largest ever drone attack by Russia leaving five wounded

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A Russian strike on a hotel in Kharkiv has injured 13 people as it has been claimed Vladimir Putins exhausted troops have been hitting their own towns.

Two Russian missiles struck a hotel late on Wednesday in the centre of Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv Governor Oleh Synehubov wrote on Telegram. Kharkivs prosecutors office said that among the 13 wounded is a 35-year-old man who was seriously injured and two Turkish journalists covering the war.

Meanwhile, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has claimed Russian forces have been accidentally bombing territories in their own country, or in occupied Ukraine. In its latest intelligence update, the MoD said the likelihood of these accidents had increased due to inadequate training and crew fatigue.

It comes as Ukrainian shelling injured three people in the Russian region of Belgorod late on Monday and air defences downed 10 RM-70 Vampir rockets, Russian officials and the defence ministry said.

Belgorod has come under repeated attack from Ukrainian forces in recent weeks. A missile and drone attack late last month killed 25 civilians, including five children.
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Russias real target is freedom in America and Europe despite a continuing war in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky said in a candid speech at a defence university in Washington on Monday.

The Ukrainian president kick-started his visit to the US to ask for more aid to fight off the Russian invasion of his country.

Mr Zelensky said Russias war on Ukraine is not just about some old-fashioned dictatorship trying to settle scores, real or imagined.

Hes fighting Ukraine, but really, hes up against all of free, united Europe. Hes wrecking everyday life in Ukrainian cities, but his real target is the freedom people enjoy from Warsaw to Chicago to Yokohama, the war-time president said in a speech at the National Defence University.

He said Russia had means to meddle with democracies worldwide. Putins got buddies in this  each one a threat to any free nation, to regional or global order, to human rights and democracy, be it Hamas, Iran, North Korea, or others. No accidents here, theyre all linked by their hate for freedom.

The Ukrainian president also asked the US and its allies to be confident in offering Ukraine support at a time the country is seeing fatigue and dwindling backing from its western partners.

America and all free nations need to be confident in themselves, in their strength, in their leadership, so that dictatorships doubt themselves and their power to undermine freedom. When the free world hesitates, thats when dictatorships celebrate, and their most dangerous ambitions ripen, he said.

Mr Zelensky targeted the Russian president by his name in a rare departure from blaming the Kremlin and Moscow for the ongoing war. If theres anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill, its just Putin and his sick clique. They see their dreams come true when they see the delays and scandals. They see freedom falling when the support of freedom fighters goes down. People like Putin shouldnt even hope to conquer freedom, he said.

Ukrainians havent given up and wont give up. We know what to do. And you can count on Ukraine. And we hope just as much to be able to count on you," he told the audience of military leaders and students.

This is Mr Zelenskys third visit to Washington since the war began, and he appeared at NDU wearing his trademark Army green long-sleeve shirt emblazoned with "Im Ukrainian."

However, the times have changed significantly in a span of a year. Compared to the heros welcome he received in the Capitol last year, the Ukrainian leader is back to urge a divided Congress for support.

Mr Zelensky will attend meetings at the White House and with the Congress on Tuesday to make a personal push among lawmakers for a supplemental funding bill at a time officials have said the US is running out of money needed for Ukraine.

Mood at the Capitol Hill ahead of Mr Zelenskys visit was grim as leading Senate negotiators said they were essentially out of time to strike a deal on the US-Mexico border security policies that Republicans have insisted be included in the package.

Defence secretary Lloyd Austin, who introduced the Ukrainian president, said Americas commitment to Ukraine is unshakeable and supporting the war is critical to ensuring the security of the US and its allies.

"Americas commitments must be honoured. Americas security must be defended. And Americas word must be kept," he said.

He said Zelensky is "living proof that a single persons leadership can help rally an embattled democracy and inspire the free world and change the course of history".

The Congress has now entered its final week before breaking for Christmas and leaving very little time on hands for a mutual agreement with the Republicans for any rounds of future funding for Ukraine and Israel.
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Israels ground offensive in Gaza relaunched with devastating consequences after a brief ceasefire, as hundreds of thousands are being forced to evacuate further south still, despite reports of heavy shelling.

As Israeli tanks and warplanes pummel the besieged strip, starvation has become an equally deadly threat as the UN reported difficulty in distributing food and aid due to the intensity of attacks.

The open-air prison - home to some 2.3 million Palestinians- has been hit with thousands of Israeli air strikes since Hamas attack on 7 October, destroying refugee camps, hospitals and UN-protected schools in the relentless assault on the enclave. Israel says more than 1,400 people were killed in the Hamas attacks and around 200 more were taken hostage.

A seven-day ceasefire at the end of November saw hostages and prisoners released and exchanged while Gazans were given fleeting reprieve from attacks. But by 1 December, the onslaught of strikes resumed. Within 7 hours, more than 60 people had been killed.

Thousands of airstrikes have battered Gaza since 7 October (AP)

In recent days, Israel has ordered increasing areas of southern Gaza to evacuate- after hundreds of thousands fled to the south following Israels order on 13 October.

It comes as UN officials say 1.9 million people - 85 percent of Gazas population - are displaced by the war and describe the conditions in the southern areas as hellish.

On 4 December, Israel released a map of southern Gaza divided into blocks. Dozens of blocks in Khan Younis, where the local population has swelled to as much as 1.2 million according to local authorities, were marked for evacuation.

In a post on X, the civilians from the highlighted blocks were invited to move to well-known IDP shelters further west and south.

View more

Displaced civilians were also fleeing to the desolate area of Al Mawasi on Gazas southern Mediterranean coast, which Israel has said is safe.

The former Bedouin village lacks shelter, food and other necessities, according to refugee organisations.

There are no bathrooms. We cannot even wash if we want to pray, displaced Palestinian Enas Mosleh told Al Jazeera television. It is a completely remote area.

Another Palestinian who fled to Al Mawasi, Ibrahim Mahram, said five families were sharing a tent.

We suffered from the war of cannons and escaped it to arrive at the war of starvation, he told the network.

We divide one tomato between all of us.

When did the ground offensive begin?

The Israeli military announced on 27 October it was widening its offensive in Gaza, after weeks of battering the strip with ceaseless air strikes. In the morning it released grainy footage of aerial and naval strikes as well as videos of tanks and infantry driving through the enclave on the 26 October.

On the night of 28 October, Israel launched its heaviest-ever bombing campaign on Gaza. Last evening, the ground shook in Gaza, the defence minister, Yoav Gallant, said of the bloody night. We attacked above ground and underground. The instructions to the forces are clear. The campaign will continue until further notice.

In a press conference on 29 October, Netanyahu declared holy war on Hamas as he quoted the Hebrew Bible: You must remember what Amalek has done to you- a reference to one of Israels staunch enemies in the Old Testament.

Israeli army carried out a "targeted raid" in northern Gaza with tanks and infantry on 26 October (Israeli Army/AFP via Getty Image)

It comes as at least 18,205 people have been killed in Gaza, including almost 7,729 children, the Palestinian authorities say. At least 49,645 people are said to have been injured.

Entire neighbourhoods have been destroyed, particularly in Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, and Ash Shujaiyeh, Gaza City, the area between Gaza and Ash Shati Refugee Camp, and Abbassan Kabeera.

On average, UNRWA shelters located in the middle and southern areas are currently sheltering nine times the number of IDPs (internally displaced persons) as was planned for, the UN said.

During a visit to Rafah, Chinas representative to the UN Zhang Jun  when asked by reporters if he had a message to nations which opposed a ceasefire in Gaza  said simply: Enough is enough.

Palestinians gather gather to receive flour rations for their families outside a warehouse of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Rafah (AFP via Getty Images)

The south has been hit by heavy shelling, despite Palestinians being told to evacuate there (AP)

The UN added that only 13 out of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip are partially functional and able to admit new patients, although services are limited, while only one of these hospitals is in the north.

The two major hospitals in southern Gaza are operating at three times above their bed capacity, while facing critical shortages of basic supplies and fuel.

Palestines West Bank has also been subjected to attacks as aggression from Israeli troops, air strikes and settlers have escalated since 7 October.

According to the UN, 265 Palestinians, including 69 children, have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Of those killed in the West Bank, 255 have been killed by Israeli forces, eight by Israeli settlers and another two either by forces or settlers.

The UN added that this two-month toll represents more than half of all Palestinians killed in the West Bank this year.
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A top Israeli official has warned that the the countrys war on Hamas in Gaza could go on for months despite a rising civilian death toll and increasing international pressure for a ceasefire.

The defence minister, Yoav Gallant, has claimed that Hamas are still organised militarily despite weeks of aerial bombardment and ground operations and that it would take time to achieve the stated aim of destroying the group.

More than 18,200 Palestinians have been killed in the past two months, according to health ministry officials in Hamas-run Gaza.

Israel launched the campaign after Hamas militants stormed across its southern border on 7 October, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping about 240 others.

While around 100 of the hostages were freed during a week-long truce last month, more than a hundred still remain.

Israeli soldiers work on tanks while gathered on at the border with Gaza (AFP via Getty Images)

After a months-long campaign in northern Gaza, which began at the end of October, Mr Gallant said that the Hamas outfit there was on the verge of being dismantled.

He said half of the groups battalion commanders had been killed and many of its tunnels, command centres and other facilities had been wiped out.

The Israeli military said they had arrested about 140 Hamas and GOP activists throughout the Gaza Strip during the previous 24 hours, adding that the total over those detained over the past month exceeded 500.

But the defence minister, one of only three members of Israels war cabinet convened after 7 October, suggested the task of destroying the Hamas movement in the south could drag on.

He said the current phase of the conflict, which involves heavy ground fighting backed up by aerial bombardment, could run for weeks while further military activity could continue for months. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain security control over Gaza indefinitely.

Aid groups and international think tanks have argued that it will be near impossible to destroy Hamas without decimating what remains of Gaza.

Destroying Hamas, even its military capability  Israeli leaders chief war aim  will be a tall order without decimating what remains of Gaza, said the Crisis Group, an international think tank, in a report over the weekend that also called for an immediate cease-fire.

Israeli strikes targeted Gazas main southern city of Khan Younis overnight, as well as Rafah by the Egyptian border, into where tens of thousands of Palestinians have evacuated.

smoke billows following Israeli bombardment on a position along the border between the southern Gaza Strip (AFP via Getty Images)

Nearly two million people have been displaced as a result of the Israeli bombardment and subsequent invasion, according to the United Nations, and all of them have fled southward upon instruction by the Israeli military,

The health care system and humanitarian aid operations have collapsed in large parts of Gaza, and aid workers have warned of starvation and the spread of disease among displaced people in overcrowded shelters and tent camps. A blockade on Gaza imposed at the same time that Israel started its military operation has led to shortages of food, fuel, water and medical supplies.

The UN human rights chief Volker Turk described the situation in Gaza as extremely precarious on Tuesday, saying the enclave found itself on the verge of being "well beyond breakdown."

Residents and aid agencies say that means no place is now safe for residents in the territory

The Gaza health ministry spokesman, Ashraf Al-Qidra, said Israeli forces had raided Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza on Tuesday and detained the hospital director, Dr. Ahmed Al-Kahlout, along with all medical staff, including female teams.

They were being interrogated within the emergency department, he said. Israel's military had yest to make a comment on the claims by Tuesday afternoon.

World leaders will take part in a non-binding vote on a ceasefire resolution at the 193-member UN General Assembly scheduled for later on Tuesday, it is expected to pass.

The US stopped a ceasefire resolution at the UN Security Council last week, using their veto power. Thirteen of the 15 nations on the council backed the resolution, the UK abstained.
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Elon Musk has asked the Supreme Court to undo a settlement agreement that required a company lawyer to review and approve all his Tesla-related tweets.

The Tesla CEO and his company struck a settlement agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2018 after he was charged with civil securities fraud by the SEC for tweets in which he said he had funding secured to take Tesla private for $420 per share, and that investor support for such a deal was confirmed.

The settlement was then amended in April 2019 to require a Twitter sitter to approve any tweet Mr Musk published regarding Tesla.

But Mr Musks lawyers are now asking for the agreement to be undone, arguing that he was coerced into agreeing with unconstitutional conditions.

The settlement restricts Mr Musks speech even when truthful and accurate, his lawyers wrote. It extends to speech not covered by the securities laws and with no relation to the conduct underlying the SECs civil action against Mr Musk. And it chills Mr Musks speech through the never-ending threat of contempt, fines, or even imprisonment for otherwise protected speech if not pre-approved to the SECs or a courts satisfaction.

Elon Musk has asked the Supreme Court to undo a settlement agreement (AP)

Following Mr Musks tweets in 2018, trading in Tesla was halted and shares remained volatile for weeks.

Teslas investors also sued the company and Mr Musk over his tweets and their impact on the stock price.

In February, Mr Musk and Tesla were found not liable in a class action securities fraud trial stemming from his tweets in a San Francisco federal court.

The shareholders who filed the class action lawsuit filed for an appeal to the 9th Circuit.

Mr Musks legal troubles took place before he purchased Twitter in 2022 and renamed it X this year.

Since then, he has proclaimed himself a free speech absolutist, tweeting: Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated.

Since taking over, Mr Musk has also reversed a ban that kept former president Donald Trump off Twitter after a pro-Trump mob attacked the US Capitol on January 6 2021 as Congress was poised to certify Joe Bidens election victory.

He also reinstated the Twitter account of right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who falsely claimed the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, X Corp, Mr Musks firm that owns X, launched a lawsuit against the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) after the group published research criticising the platform for an increase in hate speech under Mr Musks leadership.

The Independent has contacted the SEC, Tesla and Mr Musk for comment.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif.Circus of Books West will host a book signing at 8 p.m. this Friday for Red Hot X, a brand new art book of nude male fine art photography shot around the world and starring a cast of gorgeous redhead men.

In celebration of Red Hot's 10-year anniversary, celebrated photographer Thomas Knights embarked on his biggest Red Hot project to date with Red Hot X.

Red Hot began shooting the nude redhead male to fight against the taboo of ginger pubic hair and to defy the erasure of male redhead sexuality in the media. Across an array of calendars, art books and exhibitions, they have put the parts of redheads that were often ridiculed on a pedestal, and have shown that ginger hair in all its forms, is beautiful and desirable.

Red Hot X is their first book in more than seven years and is billed as the first and only ginger male nude art book in the world. It is photographed in three acts filled with models in outrageous settings and storylines, cast from their biggest global model search of all time.

Each act is shot somewhere new; featuring glamorous locations, a voyeuristic aesthetic and a cast of new characters. Act I in the Algarve, transports readers to a twisted world of crime, unadulterated hedonism, and titillating danger. Act II from the UK explores a secret society, and Act III is shot in Palm Springs, Calif., with its one-of-a-kind aesthetic.

Red Hot X is a hardback coffee table book spanning 144 pages. Including an extra Act IV dedicated to the best nude images from the last 10 years, there are more than 50 nude redhead models in the book.

A portion of the sales will go to The Elton John AIDS Foundation whose mission is to prevent infections, fight stigma and provide treatment with love, compassion and dignity for the most vulnerable groups affected by HIV around the world.

Circus of Books West is located at 8861 Santa Monica Blvd.
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Fortnite maker Epic Games has won an antitrust lawsuit over tech giant Google alleging that the Play app store operated as an illegal monopoly.

The lawsuit, filed about three years ago, alleged that Alphabets Google was attempting to quash competitors and charge high fees of up to 30 per cent to app developers.

It also accused Google of illegally tying together its Play Store and billing service, forcing developers to use both to have their apps featured in the store.

Epic Games lawyer Gary Bornstein earlier told jurors that Google systematically blocks alternative app stores on its Play store.

Following deliberation for over three hours, the nine-member jury ruled in favour of Epic Games in the month-long trial which is the latest in the nearly three year legal battle.

The latest ruling, if upheld, can give developers more control over how the apps they develop are distributed, and give them more share of the profits from in-app purchases.

Victory over Google! After 4 weeks of detailed court testimony, the California jury found against the Google Play monopoly on all counts, Tim Sweeney, chief of Epic Games, wrote on X.

The verdict proves that Googles app store practices are illegal and they abuse their monopoly to extract exorbitant fees, stifle competition and reduce innovation, Epic Games said in a statement on its website.

Google said it would appeal the courts decision.

We will continue to defend the Android business model and remain deeply committed to our users, partners, and the broader Android ecosystem, Wilson White, vice president of government affairs and public policy at Google, told Reuters.

Google lawyers argued that the company competed intensely on price, quality, and security against Apples App Store, which it claimed is more popular in the US.

This is not the behavior of a monopolist, a lawyer for Google, Jonathan Kravis told jurors.

Epic Games said in a blog post that the latest verdict was a win for all app developers and consumers around the world, and proved that Googles app store practices are illegal and they abuse their monopoly to extract exorbitant fees, stifle competition and reduce innovation.

Epic had earlier launched a similar lawsuit against Apple in 2020 but a US judge ruled in favour of Apple.

The evidence presented in the latest case demonstrates the urgent need for legislation and regulations that address Apple and Google strangleholds over smartphones, Epic said in a statement.

It remains to be seen what appropriate remedies Judge James Donato will decide for the case in January.
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Netflix is back for most users after thousands across the world, including in the US and UK, experienced an outage of the streaming platform on Monday.

Error reports from users began emerging on Monday evening, beginning to spike around 5:52 pm ET.

Reports reached a peak of about 17,000 reports at about 6:22 pm ET, according to the Outage tracking website Downdetector.com.

The reports were from users tuning in to the platform via devices such as Roku smart TVs, Sony PlayStation, and Xbox from cities across the globe, including the US and the UK.

Images shared by users on social media suggest the app was getting stuck in a loop, checking users network connection, and verifying their broadband connection speed.

Without revealing much details, Netflix told Reuters in an email statement that it was facing unexpected technical issues for some users.

The streaming giant appears to have resolved the issue, updating its status page to a green checkmark suggesting the service is back up and working.

We are not currently experiencing an interruption to our streaming service, the Netflix status page notes, acknowledging that in rare instances it does experience a service outage.

Earlier this year the platforms livestream of a special reunion episode of the hit dating show Love Is Blind was full of drama starting one hour late.

When viewers tuned into Netflix at the slotted time of the special show, they were met with a loading screen playing lo-fi music with the words, Were having trouble playing this title right now.

Fans had to wait a whole hour for the reunion to begin.

When the show finally began  about 75 minutes late for some users  it was revealed the special episode was no longer live.

Netflix apologised to everyone who stayed up late, woke up early, gave up their Sunday afternoon for the technical snag.

The streaming giant later noted that the technical issue was inadvertently introduced when its engineering team tried to make some changes to improve the streaming platforms performance.
Croatias mouth-watering melange of culinary influences  a jumble of Hungarian, Italian, Slavic, Turkish and Austrian, among others  has created one of the most exciting cuisines in Europe. Each region has its own specialities, making a foodie tour of Croatia one of the most pleasurable ways of spending a summer holiday.

Start in the heart-shaped Istrian peninsula in the north Adriatic, a land of award-winning olive oils, superb wines and pungent truffles. While theres a hint of Italy on the plate, the Istrians have come up with their own pasta called fuzi, which is served with all sorts of deeply flavoured sauces including beef ragout and, of course, truffles. Spend a morning with a truffle farmer and his hunting dog and youll soon see how much the truffle is valued here. Try thin slices of air-dried ham called prsut during wine tastings in some of Istrias top-classes wineries producing delicate white malvazija and robust teran reds. Seafood lovers can combine visits to gorgeous Rovinj with giant bowls of mussels from the Lim Channel.

Truffle is the name of the game for any foodie visiting the Istrian peninsula (Source: CNTB / Ivo Biocina)

As you make your way down the Adriatic coast, stop by the island of Krk and try some of its scrumptious langoustines and dry white zlahtina wine. The neighbouring island of Cres has some of Croatias most succulent lamb, although the nearby island of Pag offers strong competition  plus a moreish sheeps milk cheese called paski sir. Drop into Zadar, the oldest continuously inhabited city in Croatia, for a shot of its sweet yet subtle maraschino brandy made with local maraska cherries. Its one of many liqueurs and brandies youll find all over Croatia, made from everything from plums and honey to herbs and walnuts.

Head to the island of Pag for delicious sheeps milk cheese (Source: CNTB / Ivo Biocina)

When you reach Dalmatia, you wont be able to resist a dish of pasticada, slow-cooked and wonderfully rich beef served usually with gnocchi. Seafood lovers will be spoilt for choice: feast on freshly grilled fish served at a waterside restaurant, once youve whetted your appetite with a plate of salted anchovies or squid-ink risotto.

With more than 130 indigenous grape varieties in Croatia, youll have excellent wines to choose from. Take a tour of Hvars wineries and youll be presented with a gift from God  the literal translation of the dry white bogdanusa wine. Lovers of red wine can follow the wine routes of the plavac and plavac mali grapes, which happen to be in some of the most scenic parts of the country. Explore the wineries of the beautiful island of Korcula home to exquisite white posip and grk wines  before taking a quick ferry ride across to the Peljesac peninsula, whose hillsides are smothered with plavac mali and dingac red grapes. While youre in Peljesac, visit the historic village of Mali Ston, where some of Europes finest oysters and mussels are produced. Eating freshly shucked oysters by the waters edge while gazing at Dalmatias mountains and drinking local wine is one of the true pleasures of a Croatian holiday.

The eastern inland region of Slavonia is Croatias biggest wine producer (Source: CNTB / Ivo Biocina)

Its not just the coast that has Croatias culinary highlights. The eastern inland region of Slavonia is the countrys biggest wine producer, with countless acres of vineyards producing white grasevina wines and reds including merlot and cabernet sauvignon. These full-bodied reds are more than a match for the paprika-laden cuisine of Slavonia, where spicy kulen sausage and paprika fish stews echo the flavours of neighbouring Hungary. And will leave you hungry for more flavours of Croatia.

To find out more about Croatias endless treasures and to start planning your trip, click here.
Croatia has been blessed with an extraordinary natural beauty. For a small country, it manages to pack incredibly diverse landscapes within its eight national parks, 12 nature parks, nature reserves and geoparks. Then there are the 1,000 or so islands dotted around the Adriatic, making Croatia one of the most appealing countries for an island-hopping tour.

The mighty Dinaric Alps snake their way throughout the entire length of the country, while inland and coastal regions abound with sparkling rivers, waterfalls, lakes, wetlands, canyons and caves. The wildlife is just as enchanting, with more than 400 bird species and protected animals including lynx and brown bears.

Croatias first national park is also one of its most spectacular. Plitvice Lakes National Park is a wondrous collection of more than 90 lakes and countless waterfalls plunging into clear rivers, all within a vibrant limestone landscape. Venture into the remote upper lakes and you might see signs of lynx lurking in the forests.

Plitvice Lakes National Park is a stunning collection of 16 named lakes and countless waterfalls (Source: CNTB / Luka Esenko)

A rival for Plitvices waterfalls is Krka National Park, whose Krka River produces magnificent cascades including the so-called Necklaces near Roski waterfall. If you follow the Krka to its source, youll find one of the most vivid sights in Croatia. Nicknamed the Eye of the Earth, the source dazzles you with its deep shades of turquoise and blue. To add to the bewitching setting, it sits near the foot of Croatias highest peak, the 1,831m Dinara.

Carry on following the route of the Dinaric Alps for more drama, including the thick forests of Risnjak National Park near the Slovenian border and the stark beauty of the Velebit Mountains that make up both Paklenica and Northern Velebit National Parks. Hike to the peaks of Ucka Nature Park on the eastern side of the Istrian peninsula and youll get fabulous views of the islands of the Kvarner Gulf, including Krk and Cres, where youll also find a rare colony of griffon vultures. Hanging off the bottom of Cres is the fragrant island of Losinj, home to a colony of bottlenose dolphins.

Expect stunning views from the village of Lubenice on Cres (Source: CNTB / Ivo Biocina)

In complete contrast to the soaring peaks of the Dinaric Alps, parts of inland Croatia have some of the lushest landscapes, particularly in the wetlands of Kopacki Rit and Lonjsko Polje Nature Parks. Here in these serene watery wonderlands, life slows down to suit the flow of the rivers and canals that slice through the wetlands. Birdwatchers are in heaven as they follow the wooden walkways and footpaths through the marshes, catching sight of some of Croatias 400 bird species. Youll also be close to the Unesco biosphere nicknamed the Amazon of Europe, where the Danube, Drava and Mura rivers converge.

Head to the islands of Dalmatia and youll find more natural wonders scattered around the Adriatic. The heavily indented coastlines of Hvar, Brac and Korcula harbour hundreds of attractive little swimming coves backed by pine-covered cliffs. Just outside Vela Luka in Korcula is Vela Spila, an atmospheric archaeological cave site that is believed to date from the Stone Age.

Explore the inland saltwater lakes and views from Mount Montokuc on the island of Mljet (Source: CTB / Aleksandar Gospic)

Carry on further south to the island of Mljet, whose entire western end is taken up by the Mljet National Park. Once youve explored its inland saltwater lakes and hiked to the top of Mount Montokuc for sublime views, make your way to the islands southern coast to Odysseus Cave. This huge limestone cave is where the mythical Greek hero was said to take shelter. Its beauty, like those of Croatias other natural wonders, will leave you just as captivated.

To find out more about Croatias endless treasures and to start planning your trip, click here
Speckled with more than 1,000 islands, Croatias glittering Adriatic coast promises  and delivers  long, lazy days in the sultry sunshine. As this deeply indented coastline meanders from the Istrian peninsula in the north to Dalmatias southernmost point before it hits the Montenegrin border, it weaves in and around for about 1,100 miles. Just think of all those beaches squeezed into countless bays and coves, and creeping into river estuaries and inland seas.

The choice is extraordinary, as is the sheer variety of landscapes. Pebbly beaches backed by fragrant pines, long stretches of sand wedged between rocky cliffs, intimate rocky coves, beaches cleverly carved out of concrete platforms, watering holes under waterfalls  youll find all of this in Croatia, sometimes even on the same island.

In this land of mainly pebbly and rocky beaches, lovers of sandy beaches also have plenty to enjoy. The tiny island of Rab in the Kvarner Gulf is only 14 miles long, but it manages to contain about 30 sandy beaches. Just to the south is the beautiful mediaeval town of Nin, whose long sandy beaches come with the vivid backdrop of the Velebit Mountains soaring in the distance.

Sakarun, Dugi Island (CTB/Aleksandar Gospic)

On the island of Korcula, home of the exquisite Venetian-style Korcula Town, youll find several sandy beaches along its eastern stretch near the charming fishing village of Lumbarda. Carry on southwards to the lush green island of Mljet and its eastern end, where the sands of Saplunara beach are cooled by the fragrant shade of pine trees.

Once you reach the Elaphiti Islands  a popular place for a day trip from nearby Dubrovnik  youll want to take the footpath on the car-free island of Lopud and flop on the sands of Sunj beach. If youre doing an epic road trip along the Dalmatian coast, its very tempting to stop at the Neretva Delta between the small towns of Ploce and Opuzen. The first thing youll spot here will be keen kiteboarders whizzing along the sands of Delta Beach. Its just one of many places to enjoy exhilarating watersports. Croatias most famous beach, Zlatni Rat, the distinctively V-shaped spit of white pebbles on the southern coast of Brac, also happens to be one of the best places to go windsurfing.

Brac is just next door to Hvar, Croatias sunniest island and where you can kick back in the chic beach bars of Hvar Town and take in spectacular sunsets. If you want even more of a party atmosphere, join the revellers in the open-air beachfront clubs at Zrce beach on the otherwise peaceful island of Pag. But its not just adults who want an adrenaline rush. Take the kids to one of the large aqua parks dotted around Istria, especially Aquapark Istralandia near Novigrad and Aquapark Aquacolors near Porec.

With an undulating coastline and so many islands, its not hard to find a secluded spot. Croatias two biggest islands, neighbouring Krk and Cres, have so many appealing places where you can unwind, including Sveti Nikola on Krk and Lubenice on Cres. Among the dozens of islands that make up the Zadar archipelago is Dugi Otok, whose Telascica Nature Park at its southern end is packed with laid-back beaches, many of which are accessible only by boat.

A Croatian summer holiday spent swimming in the clear waters of the Adriatic, feasting on freshly grilled fish in a waterside restaurant, feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin  it all sounds like a dream. Time to make it a reality.

To find out more about Croatias endless treasures and to start planning your trip, click here
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Nine years to the day after German rail operator Deutsche Bahn scrapped the Paris-Berlin sleeper train, a revived overnight service rolled into Gare de lEst in the French capital.

On board was the French transport minister, Clement Beaune, who told The Independent: It was long, but its nice because you can sleep, you can work a bit, you can talk with friends and have a drink. So its a really nice experience.

The first train was about half an hour late, due to a fire alarm along the journey  reportedly triggered by a faulty microwave.

But a large crowd was waiting on platform 8 to greet Europes flagship intercity sleeper train  operated by OBB (Austrian railways) as part of its expanding Nightjet network.

Proponents of rail are jubilant at the symbolic reunion  part of a growing number of new and restored sleeper trains.

Mark Smith, the international rail guru known as The Man in Seat 61, said: The Paris-Berlin Nightjet restores a key link between east and west.

After Deutsche Bahn axed the overnight link in December 2014, RZD (Russian Railways) took over the route for a time. Services ended abruptly in March 2020 due to the Covid crisis.

Around 10 flights per day link Berlin and Paris, typically taking one hour and 45 minutes, and costing as little as 40 (34) on easyJet.

The overnight train offers seats starting at 35, couchettes from 55 and private compartments from 165.

Environmentalists say a level playing field is needed, with aviation properly taxed for its impact on the environment.

Mark Smith believes the benefits of sleeper travel are underestimated: A 12-hour overnight journey while you sleep is far more time-effective than a seven-hour high-speed daytime journey  or even, perhaps, five daytime hours of airports and flight.

The French transport minister said the restored link is essential to accelerating a switch from air to rail.

Mr Beaune said: To persuade people, you have to get this level playing field in terms of tax and we are working on it.

But you also have to offer opportunities and more lines  thats why we reopen these night lines in France, in Europe.

We have to demonstrate this is attractive, this is affordable, this is available. So this is our work, our job as government.

The last international night train between the UK and Continental Europe was the London-Paris sleeper, which was carried on a cross-Channel ferry. It ended in 1980.

British travellers will be able to use the new Paris-Berlin service with a 10-minute walk between Gare du Nord, where Eurostar arrives from London, and Gare de lEst, from where the overnight trip to the German capital departs.

Plans for sleeper trains from British cities to France and beyond were included in the original planning for the Channel Tunnel, but were dropped because of the rise of budget airlines.
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Before budget airlines took off in Europe, many people made long intercity journeys by overnight train. As the likes of easyJet and Ryanair expanded, though, many of the sleeper connections were cut  including the German Railways link from Berlin to Paris.

But now the two most important capitals in continental Europe are once again linked  thanks to a new Austrian Railways Nightjet service.

For decades, Paris Gare de lEst was the departure point for the most celebrated international train in the world. LExpress dOrient departed daily from Paris via Vienna and Belgrade to Istanbul.

The Orient-Express was subject to death by a thousand cuts, ending its term as Europes premier train in 2009, by which stage it was a mere overnight link between Strasbourg and Vienna.

A combination of accelerated day trains  for example, a new line halving the four-hour journey between Paris and Strasbourg  and low-cost flying seemed to be driving the international sleeper train to extinction. In 2014 German Railways axed the Paris-Berlin link and the following year ended its overnight operations altogether.

Yet Tuesday 12 December may come to be celebrated as the day the railway fought back. Nine years to the day after the last German Railways overnight express to Berlin left Gare de lEst, the revived overnight sleeper train from the German capital arrived in Paris.

How significant is this?

Railway people  and environmentalists across Europe  are jubilant at what they believe is a highly significant move. The German and French capitals are once again connected by an overnight train, signalling an important step in rebuilding a pan-European network of sleeper trains.

Mark Smith, the international rail guru known as The Man in Seat 61, said: The Paris-Berlin Nightjet restores a key link between east and west and its going to be popular  its already sold out for Friday and various other dates.

Austrian Railways believes the European overnight train has a future, and is steadily turning the clock back to before the budget airline revolution that began almost three decades ago.

The answer lies in keeping the cost of the rail operation low and the quality high. That is what the last company to run between Berlin and Paris, Russian Railways, sought to do.

Whats the Russian connection?

After German Railways abandoned its City Night Line service in 2014, Russian Railways took over. It ran the intercity link as an extension of its train from Moscow to Berlin right up until March 2020, when the frontiers of Europe clattered shut due to the Covid pandemic.

The ending of the link had jeopardised the very long-standing link between Moscow and Paris; previously, sleeping carriages from the Russian capital were attached to the train from Berlin.

When this prestige route ended, Russian Railways decided to run its own trains on the route, to the delight of rail travellers between Berlin and Paris.

Nicky Gardner, co-editor of Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide, recalls: This Russian train was well used by Berliners. Summer loadings were good, winter ones less so. But it was fun. I used it several times, as it was the perfect overnight route to London via Paris.

Excellent Polish restaurant car with a quirky menu (eg kangaroo steak with South African wine). By early 2020, it was just once-weekly and the last train ran in mid-March 2020, when it was stopped on account of the pandemic.

Russian Railways will not be back for some time. But meanwhile the new incumbent, Austrian Railways, will find out this winter whether slow travel between Berlin and Paris has a future.

Whats the attraction of an overnight train?

Climate-conscious travellers are turning to rail for increasingly long distances, says Mark Smith. Theyre rediscovering what some of us have never forgotten: a 12-hour overnight journey while you sleep is far more time-effective than a seven-hour high-speed daytime journey  or even, perhaps, five daytime hours of airports and flight.

If you have a long journey to make  and Berlin to Paris is 550 miles  then an overnight sleeper train is probably the most civilised way to do it. You can have dinner before you leave, then step aboard and into a six-person compartment with couchettes. These are basically camp beds that fold down, three on each side, rather like a very high-density youth hostel dorm.

If you subscribe to the belief of the great Parisian philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre that hell is other people you might not enjoy the experience. A mini cabin for solo travellers is available at a higher price. Either way, you save on a nights accommodation and hopefully arrive well rested and ready for a day in the French capital.

How do costs compare?

Flying is cheaper. Comparing prices two weeks ahead, I saw I could pay 80 for a couchette berth in a compartment for six on the Nightjet. I could have taken my pick from a dozen flights from Berlin to Paris, starting at 65 for a trip of less than two hours.

People who value frequency on journeys wont be spoilt for choice  theres no Berlin-Paris service on day two of the new operation, because the carriages will be going in the opposite direction.

Since the sleeper train slipped away, many overnight bus services have sprung up that are quicker and much cheaper between Berlin and Paris, though you dont get a bed on board.

Where else in Europe are sleeper trains thriving?

A new venture this year, called simply European Sleeper, runs through the night from Brussels and Amsterdam to Berlin, and it is being extended to Prague. Croatian Railways runs a sleeper from Stuttgart in Germany to the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana. And Polish State Railway is extending its Warsaw-Vienna sleeper Chopin to Salzburg and Munich.

Mostly, though, sleeper trains run within a single, large country.

France has a few between Paris and the south, including a new service to a town called Aurillac which few people know much about nor care to visit. This is an example of local politicians having some sway in connecting their locations with the capital.

A fair few trains run the length of Italy. In Scandinavia, Sweden, Finland and Norway have their own versions of Arctic expresses. In the UK, you can choose from London to Penzance via Plymouth or from the English capital to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen and Fort William.

Why are there no sleeper trains from London to Berlin or Manchester to Paris?

From 1936 to 1980 an overnight train linked London with Paris. It was loaded on a ferry at Dover and emerged at Dunkirk to continue through the night to the French capital.

When Eurostar passenger trains through the Channel Tunnel were first conceived, the idea was that there would be trains from Scotland and Manchester direct to Paris. But that was kiboshed by the budget airlines  the flights are so cheap and the trains would have been very expensive. So even though the trains were built, they never ran.

One reason trains through the night will not be on the departure boards any time soon is that safety rules for the Channel Tunnel are extremely strict  so the sleeping carriages on the new Berlin to Paris train would not be allowed to run from Berlin to London.
There were loud shouts of aye after Rishi Sunaks Safety of Rwanda Bill passed its second reading on Tuesday, 12 December, in the House of Commons.

The prime ministers new planned legislation would deem Rwanda safe in British law after the original bill was struck down as unlawful by the Supreme Court.

MPs approved the Safety of Rwanda Bill at its second reading by 313 votes to 269, majority 44.

Mr Sunaks win came after five separate groups of right-wing Conservative MPs decided they could not support the Safety of Rwanda Bill at its second reading.
Members of Rishi Sunaks cabinet arrive at Downing Street ahead of the Rwanda vote later today (12 December).

MPs including Victoria Atkins, James Cleverly, Grant Shapps, and David Cameron met with the Prime Minster as he tries to avoid defeat on his Rwanda bill.

The updated bill will be voted on in the House of Commons today, after being struck down as unlawful by the Supreme Court.

There stands significant division within the Conservative Party over the bill. And if 29 Tory MPs vote against it then the bill will fail.
Sir Chris Bryant laid out five reasons he believed were why MPs should vote against Rishi Sunak's Rwanda bill during a debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 12 December.

The Labour MP for Rhondda described the emergency legislation as "laughable" and said it "seeks to reverse a finding of fact by the highest court in the land."

The prime minister published new planned legislation, entitled the Safety of Rwanda Bill, which would deem Rwanda safe in British law after the original bill was struck down as unlawful by the Supreme Court.

A vote on the bill was scheduled for 7pm on Tuesday.
NASHVILLETennessee state Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain, pre-filed a bill for the 2024 legislative session that establishes an age verification requirement for adult websites.

Referred to as the Protect Tennessee Minors Act, the bill is a copycat of age verification bills introduced throughout much of conservative America and adopted by several state legislatures.

Rep. Hazlewoods bill introduces criminal charges for adult website operators who do not comply with the age verification requirement.

According to local reports, Hazlewoods billcoded as House Bill (HB) 1614adopts a Class C felony charge publishable with prison time.

The Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, the chief law enforcement agency for the state, will be responsible for enforcing the law and promulgating regulations related to it.

In a statement to a local ABC affiliate, Hazlewood said she received input from constituents in her legislative jurisdiction, House District 27. There is no indication she has or will receive input from technology sectors like the age verification software industry or the online adult industry.

Exposing children to pornography is a form of child sexual abuse and exploitation that can severely damage a childs intellectual development and emotional well-being, said Hazlewood.

This legislation will apply the same safeguards and restrictions to the online world that we already have in place in the physical world. ... The standard should be the same, she said.

Rep. Hazlewoods idea isnt original. Lawmakers in other Republican-controlled state legislatures, namely Ohio and Indiana, also want to attach severe penalties on age verification proposals.

The bill would require users to submit a government identification issued in the United States.

Official bill language has yet to be released since HB 1614 is a pre-file for the 2024 session.
Aerial footage captures the devastation caused by a tornado that hit a Tennessee neighbourhood.

Metro Nashville Police Department flew over the damage on Nesbitt Lane where three people are confirmed dead. (10 December).

The video shows homes completely devastated, with power lines and poles damaged and strewn on the ground amongst debris.

Multiple tornadoes barrelled through the state on Saturday 9 December, leaving at least six people dead and causing extensive damage.

More than 80,000 people in Tennessee were left without power as of Saturday evening, according to an outage tracking website.
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The House of Representatives has a mountain of work that it needs to complete. After buying itself some time by passing a laddered continuing resolution wherein half of the spending bills expire in January and the other in February, the House is still not on track to pass spending bills. The package it passed to aid Israel was little more than a right-wing gimmick that would have stripped funding from the IRS, something it knew Democrats in the Senate would never agree to passing.

But instead of focusing on the business of governing, the House will go down another boodoggle and begin the process of opening up an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. This is, of course, a continuation of the boondoggle attempt to impeach the sitting president that began during former speaker Kevin McCarthys tenure, which in and of itself was an attempt to appeal to the most extreme factions in the House Republican conference.

On Tuesday, the House Rules Committee will hold a hearing on the resolution to begin the impeachment inquiry. But the fact remains that the House Republican conference so far has not definitively made the case to the American public that any of Mr Bidens actions have amounted to the level of a crime worthy of impeachment.

That matters because, despite what proponents will say, impeachment is and always will be a political act. The public needs to at least believe that the president committed a crime.

When then-House speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the first impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump, more than half of Americans did not support impeaching the 45th president but that quickly changed and from October 2019 onward; a plurality supported impeaching him for his attempt to have Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky investigate Mr Bidens son Hunter in exchange for aid to Ukraine. After the January 6 riot, either a plurality or majority of Americans said Mr Trump deserved to be convicted during his second impeachment.

Conversely, when the American public doesnt think that an impeachment is legitimate, the party that leads the impeachment suffers consequences. In the 1998 midterm, Republicans actually lost seats in the House after the failed impeachment trial of Bill Clinton and Republicans in the Senate lost as many seats as they won.

James Comer defends himself from mockery over $4000 Hunter Biden 'bombshell'

That should worry Republicans in swing districts as the impeachment inquiry goes forward. Friend of the Inside Washington newsletter Cami Mondeaux of The Washington Examiner reported on a poll from the Democratic polling outlet Public Policy Polling which showed that districts that voted for Mr Biden are less likely to back Republicans who support an impeachment inquiry.

That should worry Republicans, who only have an eight-seat majority, especially as Democrats and Republicans gear up for a knock-out brawl to flip New Yorks 3rd congressional district after disgraced former congressman George Santoss expulsion.

This is to say nothing about the limited appetite for an impeachment trial in the Senate, where two-thirds of senators would need to vote for a conviction to remove Mr Biden. Sen Mitt Romney (R-UT) told Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker on Sunday that he had not seen any evidence that Mr Biden  who was part of the presidential ticket that beat him when he ran for the White House in 2012  had committed crimes worthy of impeachment.

This is likely to say nothing of Sen Mitch McConnell, Mr Bidens longtime friend and ally, who would likely fear losing Republican Senate seats and preventing him from becoming majority leader one last time.

But so far, Republicans, led by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, have yet to convince Americans that Mr Biden deserves to be impeached. On Friday, Mr Comer went back and forth with CNNs Jake Tapper and nonsensically said that the Justice Department indicted Hunter Biden to protect him from a congressional investigation. Watch the clip here. It does not go well for Mr Comer.

Comer Humiliated on CNN After Claiming Hunter Biden Was Indicted to Protect Hunter Biden

The younger Mr Bidens indictment certainly does him no favours. But as of right now, House Republicans have not convinced enough Americans that Hunter Bidens wrongdoing amounted to any wrongdoing by the president.

At the same time, Mr Comer and Mr Johnson have few options. Members of their conference like Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) have champed at the bit to impeach Mr Biden, and Mr Johnson will already have hell to pay the moment that he winds up having to pass spending bills next year that will inevitably anger his conference.

Similarly, if the Senate miraculously strikes a deal on Ukraine funding in exchange for restricting legal immigration, it will be far more limited in scope compared to what the House wants and Mr Johnson could face a revolt. Remember, the House has not changed the single-member motion to vacate that doomed Mr McCarthy.

As of right now, Mr Johnson has elected to try and continue on his normal path of trying to please everyone in his conference and avoiding tough decisions, even if it leads to more pain for the GOP down the line.
Ireland invests close to 1bn annually in research and innovation

Ireland is doubling down on research, development and innovation (RDI), with a significant new investment announced last week by Enterprise Ireland.

But while the topic is high on the agenda in every business sector and is regularly discussed by industry, government and media commentators, we dont always talk about how RDI affects our everyday lives.

In fact, improving peoples lives and contributing to society in creating sustainable jobs is the ultimate goal of all the research being conducted in Irelands third level colleges.

There were more than 1,500 collaborations between Irish enterprise and universities

Researchers in our higher education institutions (HEIs), including more than 10,000 PhD candidates, work on exciting projects from cutting-edge medical devices to quantum computing initiatives.

This research activity is focused on new innovation and improving products, services and outcomes across healthcare, mobility, agriculture, food, sustainability and much more.

Not only that, but when researchers create spin-out businesses to commercialise their work, they end up creating jobs and developing businesses that operate out of Ireland and serve the world.

Global Irish success stories that started this way include InfiniLED, SoapBox Labs, Output Sports, Iona Technologies and many more.

This is why Ireland invests close to 1bn annually in HEI research and innovation under Impact 2030, Irelands research and innovation strategy.

And its why Enterprise Ireland launched the KT Boost programme last week  to bring firepower to Irelands research system and maximise the economic and social impact from the investment.

Designed to make the most of high performance research at university level, KT Boost will run over four years. Worth 33.4m, it will support innovation and technology transfer offices in HEIs to help them to drive research commercialisation and bring more Irish ingenuity to the world.

Launched by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney, KT Boost will deliver the resources needed to unlock the commercial potential of deep research in a speedy and appropriate way.

In 2022 there were more than 1,500 collaborative engagements between Irish enterprise and universities. This investment will also help to make sure existing industry engages with the research being done in at third level.

Enterprise Ireland strongly encourages industry and enterprise representatives to engage with innovation offices so they can harness research that is already under way to support their in-house innovation agenda.

On the ground, the KT Boost programme will fund recruitment, skillset development and training within innovation/technology transfer offices. It aims to ensure HEIs have the right people with the right skills to propel research commercialisation.

The specialists funded by the programme will support knowledge and technology transfer activities including intellectual property (IP) management and licensing, and spin-off creation.

The programme also aims to speed up and simplify transactions with innovation offices.

Ultimately, KT Boost is expected to accelerate the rate of high potential startups evolving from research or emerging from colleges. It will also increase the volume of IP licences and research agreements for these companies. 

The KT Boost Programme is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Union under two European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Regional Programmes.

Marina Donohoe is head of research and innovation at Enterprise Ireland
A CGI rendering of the proposed site for Diageo's new brewery in Littleconnell, Newbridge, Co Kildare. Photo: Diageo

An Bord Pleanala has given the green light to drinks giant Diageo to construct its planned 200m brewery for Newbridge, Co Kildare.

With the appeals board granting planning permission to the project, the new brewery in Littleconnell is to provide a major boost to the Kildare area, providing up to 1,000 jobs during the 20-month construction period and leading to the creation of a further 70 jobs when operational.

The new facility  which will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year  is to brew lagers and ales including Rockshore, Harp, Hop House 13, Smithwicks Kilkenny and Carlsberg.

In a statement, Diageo said it expects to begin construction work on the project in early 2024.

A Diageo spokeswoman said they welcome the decision by An Bord Pleanala to grant planning permission for Irelands first purpose-built, carbon-neutral brewery in Kildare.

This 200m investment by Diageo in Ireland will support the growth of our beer brands while meeting our targets to be net zero by 2030.

The benefits of this project are compelling and we expect to commence work in early 2024.

Kildare County Council had granted planning permission for the project back in March but the brewery plan was stalled after a man at the centre of RTE Investigates allegations concerning payoffs to objectors in the planning system, John Callaghan, appealed against the decision through his Sustainability 2050 entity.

A separate appeal by John Lynch, from Athy, Co Kildare, was also lodged with the board.

Mr Callaghan withdrew his appeal on November 23 and confirmed last week that no financial inducement was sought or offered in connection with the withdrawal of his appeal.

In an interview, Mr Callaghan said he never had a meeting with Diageo or anyone representing Diageo concerning the Sustainability 2050 appeal in connection with the brewery plan.

This was confirmed by a spokeswoman for Diageo, who said last week: We have not had contact of any kind with the individuals behind Sustainability 2050 either directly or indirectly.

The appeal remained live with the John Lynch appeal.

An Bord Pleanala has twice deferred a decision on the appeal due to the backlog in cases it is dealing with.

In September, Diageo warned that further delays would jeopardise the rationale for the 200m investment.

The appeals board granted planning permission for the Diageo proposal after concluding that it would not give rise to a risk of serious pollution given its regulation under licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Attaching 19 conditions to the planning permission, the appeals board also concluded that the scheme would not seriously injure the amenities of the area of or property in the vicinity and would not have a negative impact on archaeological or cultural heritage.

The appeals board also concluded that the proposal is in accordance with the planned industrial expansion of Newbridge Business and Technology Park and would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience.
Companies were finding it particularly difficult to identify candidates with IT and data skills. Photo: Stock image

Businesses in the IT sector expect to lay off more staff than they hire for the first time since 2020, according to the latest employment outlook survey from ManpowerGroup.

The survey of 420 employers revealed that hiring optimism in the tech sector has plummeted from 55pc two years ago.

It now stands at -8pc, as companies anticipate slower than expected growth, as well as continued business stagnation in 2024.

Companies in Dublin are generally more pessimistic about hiring prospects in the new year, according to the survey. Hiring optimism among tech companies in Dublin plunged from 53pc in 2021 down to -20pc. ManpowerGroup also found that employers are struggling to find candidates with the necessary skills at present. The number of respondents who flagged this as a challenge rose 11pc year-on-year.

Companies were finding it particularly difficult to identify candidates with IT and data skills.

Almost 70pc of tech firms said they were unable to find workers with these competencies.

Around 88pc of IT businesses in Dublin also said they were finding it difficult to locate the skills they need in available candidates.

A total of 35pc of companies based in the capital also flagged a lack of IT and data skills as a challenge currently.

This has contributed to a number of vacancies for specialist high-skilled tech roles, such as cloud architects, cyber security specialists, developers and data engineers.

ManpowerGroup Ireland managing director John Galvin said tech employers are still looking to fill these roles despite a wider tech downturn.

This talent shortage is being driven by demand for specialist skills rising faster than the economy can supply, but we know those with more generalist skills are encountering a much tighter labour market, he said.

He pointed to a number of companies now turning to contracting and interim hiring strategies to fill gaps while searching for permanent candidates.

ManpowerGroup also called on employers to introduce upskilling programmes in 2024 to end the ongoing talent shortage.

Irelands tech sector has entered a period of contraction following a period of significant overhiring, Mr Galvin added.

Tech companies, especially multinational software companies, have had to respond to slower than expected growth and reducing global demand.

This contributed to rounds of layoffs across the industry, including in the multinational tech giants, such as Meta, Microsoft and Google.

Most of these redundancies have been mid-level business support roles like HR and customer experience, hired in anticipation of massive growth which did not materialise in 2023, Mr Galvin added.

He called on companies to move towards a skills-based hiring approach rather than relying solely on industry experience.

The traditional approach of looking for ready-made candidates with a fixed level of industry experience is simply not a sustainable hiring practice any longer, he said.

Other industries remain more optimistic about increasing employee numbers next year.

This includes the communication services, transport and logistics and automotive sectors, the ManpowerGroup survey showed.
Company, which has outlets in Dublin and Kilkenny, owes its main debt to Revenue, process adviser says

Ice-cream chain Scrumdiddlys is seeking to restructure its debts using the Small Company Administrative Rescue Process (Scarp), a quicker and cheaper form of examinership.

Scrumdiddlys has five outlets, one in Kilkenny and the rest in Dublin, including the first shop it opened in Donabate in 2011 and its best-known store in Dun Laoghaire.

David OConnor, a partner in BDOs corporate recovery department, was appointed as process adviser on December 6. He will now work out a rescue plan for the company, which could mean writing down debts owed to Scrumdiddlys creditors, who will get to vote on the draft agreement.

According to its most recent accounts, for the financial year ending August 2022, Scrumdiddly Ice Cream Ltd had 597,230 debts falling due within one year and net liabilities of 220,375. A bank loan of 139,616 was also outstanding.

The company, whose directors are Jennifer Kane and Darren McCormack, has 35 employees.

Mr OConnor told the Irish Independent the companys main debt is with Revenue, after it used the warehousing facility during Covid. He said it was not clear yet whether Revenue would opt in or opt out of the Scarp process, although so far tax officials had not expressed any concerns to him.

Scrumdiddlys has an outstanding loan from AIB, which also dates back to the pandemic.

The position with trade creditors is not so bad, Mr OConnor said.

They had some difficulty coming out of Covid, when they expanded too quickly. They had concession stores in Penneys which did not work out. They had to pay for the fit-out, and in the end it cost them a lot more than they got in revenues.

The process adviser said that the directors are talking to a number of investors and he is hopeful that a new investment will emerge to make the Scarp process a success within the statutory 49-day period.

Two years ago it was reported that Biavest, an investment vehicle established by David McKernan and Hilliard Lombard, had invested in the ice-cream chain. However, as they do not appear in the current list of shareholders, it is thought Biavest no longer has a stake in the business.

The directors of Scrumdiddlys, who live in north Dublin, have said they initially launched the business to give Ms Kane a new focus as she recovered from breast cancer.

She had been diagnosed at the age of 31, at a time when she and Mr McCormack had three children under the age of six. Ms Kane had been a personal assistant to a surgeon in Beaumont Hospital, while her husband had run a kitchen-making business.

Scarp was introduced two years ago by the Department of Enterprise with a view to helping small firms struggling after the Covid lockdowns. A cheaper and quicker version of examinership, with almost no involvement by the courts, it gives financially distressed small companies breathing space from creditors while the process adviser works out a rescue plan.

The scheme is open to firms with no more than 50 employees, with a turnover not exceeding 12m, and a balance sheet not exceeding 6m. Only 50 Scarps have been completed so far, saving an estimated 560 jobs.
'Our whole year builds up to Christmas - it's our silage season'  Tipperary based pork and poultry business gear up for busiest period

The four brothers who run Crowes Farm, a Tipperary based pork and poultry producing business, start planning for the festive season in January. They explain how the market and customer buying patterns have changed for turkey and ham over the years, and how their firm has evolved to meet the different demands

TJ Crowe in the farm shop outside Dundrum, Co Tipperary

Margaret Donnelly Tue 12 Dec 2023 at 03:30

Christmas is the 'silage season' for companies such as Crowe's Farm, the Tipperary-based pig and poultry producers. But, according to TJ Crowe, one of three brothers running the family business, along with their mother Mary, it's not until the New Year you can relax.
Angus Woods: Now is the time to influence the next CAP  dont wait till its in place and then complain

Any attempt to damage ICBF will hurt the only EU-recognised organisation that can provide the scientific evidence to support continued funding for the Irish suckler herd

'If either an extension of SCEP or a new suckler environmental plan is ruled out due to lack of farmer buy-in, then watch how quickly the suckler herd shrinks without supports'. Photo: Roger Jones

Angus Woods Tue 12 Dec 2023 at 03:30

The CAP we are working under is scheduled to run until 2027, and already the first year of the five-year plan has elapsed. As soon as the European elections are over in June, the thorny subject of the next CAP budget will be discussed publicly in greater detail. 
Minister Eamon Ryan told farmers they could be the heroes of climate change policy. Photo: Don Moloney

Just a few weeks ago, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told farmers the smartest thing they can do around climate change is to make some of the changes that make sense and start to bring down emissions in the sector.

Everyone would clap them on the back and attention would be directed to other sectors, such as transport and energy, while farming would get a gold star for reducing its emissions by a couple of per cent.

Joining ACRES, a scheme that was going to be such a success for the Government that it was launched twice, is among the things one assumes the Taoiseach was suggesting farmers do.

And while the average payment would only be around 5,000, similar to what REPS paid 20 years previously, farmers enthusiasm was not in short supply.

Ag consultants and farming organisations warned that the scheme was confusing and complicated, and the window for training of consultants was limited.

That was followed by more concerns over the hugely time-consuming process.

In spite of all this, farmers signed up in their thousands. Everything pointed to the possibility of the scheme reaching its target of 50,000 farmers, who could really be the heroes of a transition to greener climate policies, as the Minister for the Environment

Eamon Ryan called them recently. As we revealed last week, the heroes are now being short-changed, with the Department admitting it cant pay farmers on time.

Some 18,000 will be waiting three months more than they should be for payment.

The situation is nothing short of a disgrace and blaming the numbers in the scheme is nothing short of absurd, given the length of time the Department had to prepare and the fact it opened the scheme up to a second tranche of applications just weeks ago.

The Government and the Department are happy to laud schemes such as ACRES as crucial income supports for farmers and yet, at the same time, see no issue standing over three-month delays to payments.

This attitude would be unacceptable if it were the income of civil servants or, indeed, social welfare recipients.

Thousands of farmers rely on payments from schemes such as ACRES to get bills paid in the run-up to Christmas, just like other Irish citizens who receive income from the State.

Farm organisations have to make a stand on this and take action.

A cursory look at the terms and conditions of the ACRES scheme shows that farmers can be hit with penalties of up to 20pc for the late submission of data.

Should similar rules not be put in place to keep the Department itself in line? Shouldnt farmers be compensated for their loss of income in the coming months?

If such rules were in place, I have no doubt late payments would suddenly become a thing of the past.
Lakeland Dairies has heaped pressure on other processors to boost their milk price after it increased its price by 2c/L for November supplies.

It will pay a base price of 36c/litre (3.6% butterfat and 3.3% protein) for November milk in the Republic of Ireland. The base price has increased by 2c/l. Qualifying farmers will also receive a 3c/l out-of-season payment.

In Northern Ireland, a base price of 29.25p/litre will be paid for milk supplied in November. The base price has increased by 2p/l plus the usual out-of-season payment of 3p/l.

A spokesperson for Lakeland said that after a challenging year in the dairy industry, there are signs of improving sentiment in the global dairy markets.

"The global supply and demand dynamic remains delicately poised as we come out of the peak production season in New Zealand and move halfway through the key dairy buying period of Q4 2023 and Q1 2024.

"Overall, however, the key signals are showing positivity. Lakeland Dairies will continue to monitor the markets closely in the time ahead, the spokesperson said.

IFA Dairy Chairman Stephen Arthur said processors must raise milk prices this month to reflect the full value of the Ornua PPI.

The PPI for November equates to a milk price of 37.2cpl, with an additional 2.9cpl equivalent derived from the Ornua Value Payment. The October milk price ranges between 33cpl and 35.5cpl.

There is a significant gap between what Ornua is delivering in terms of milk price, and what milk processors are paying out, he said.

He said the cost of production remains stubbornly high. Twinned with difficult weather conditions and reduced milk supply, farmers remain under significant financial pressure.

The Chairperson of ICMSAs Dairy Committee Noel Murphy has said milk processors need to wake up to the reality facing their farmer-suppliers by paying at least 37 cents per litre for milk supplied in November.

Mr Murphy went further by insisting that such a price rise must signal the beginning of a series of rises to be introduced in the coming months.

The only surprise with the October milk supply figure being down 12.1% is that the reduction wasnt greater. We anticipate November and December figures will be down even more as farmers - many of whom would normally milk over the winter - have taken the decision to dry off cows as it simply not economically viable to continue to milk them. Irish dairy farmers have experienced an extremely difficult year, and it is hugely frustrating that our milk processors, who have seen dairy product prices increase substantially since the start of September, have taken the decision to sit on these increases rather than pass them back to the farmers, who have been producing milk below the cost of production for months now, said Mr Murphy.
AMSTERDAMBiird, the innovative sex toy brand celebrated for its quirky and vibrant designs, has a hidden Jingle Bells-inspired vibration pattern featured in its bestselling G-Spot massager, Gii, in time for the holiday season.

Andrea Rey, co-founder of Biird said, "Embracing the cozy allure of winter, weve cranked up the holiday spirit with a twist thats bound to land you on Santas Naughty List. Research suggests that the festive season brings a surge in both orgasms and conceptions. To spread holiday cheer, were proud to unveil our hidden Jingle Bells vibe pattern that customers can now discover with our bestseller, Gii."

To activate Giis festive vibration mode, press this combination of buttons twice: Power, -, and +.

Designed for both external and internal stimulation, Gii is a G-spot massager that emits deep and rumbling vibrations. With its smooth curves, nine default vibration modes, and eight-strength settings, Gii promises to deliver.
92ac Bandon farm in prime locality with six-bed house for 1.7m

Fundamentals are sound on the site of a former flax mill but the place needs attention

The 91.6ac farm at Callatrim, Bandon is under offer at around 1.7m

Jim O'Brien Tue 12 Dec 2023 at 03:30

A 91.6ac residential holding at Callatrim, Bandon in Co Cork is causing quite a stir in the area. It is guided for sale at 1.7m and is under offer in the region of that price.
The new agri-food watchdog will have the power to do quite a bit in rooting out cartels, the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee heard last week.

The Agri Food Regulator will be signed off on in the Dail tomorrow and has a budget of 2.5m and 17 staff.

Chairperson of the Board An Rialalai Agraibhia (Agri Food Regulator), Joe Healy, told An Oireachtas Agriculture Committee he is confident the regulator will have the powers it needs to act independently to promote and enforce the principle of fairness and transparency in the agricultural and food supply chain.

When asked by Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice if he felt his board had the tools to root out a cartel in any part of the agricultural industry, Healy responded: We have the power to do quite a bit. We are a new office but as we are progressing our work and if we see a weakness in the legislation thats there, we can make representations to the minister to have the legislation strengthened.

Also speaking at the hearing was CEO designate, Niamh Lenehan, who clarified that the board has a budget of 2.5m for 2024.

We have sanction for up to 17 staff members and Im recruiting on a phased basis at the moment, looking at the skills we need, she said. Four members of staff are currently in place with the watchdogs office based in the Governments Backweston campus.

Mr Healy said that the regulator is something that the agricultural sector, and in particular small food suppliers including farmers, have wanted for a long time.

Senator Paul Daly asked Mr Healy if he thinks he will now be able to deliver on everything you looked for as former IFA president?.

Mr Healy said he is very confident in the work that the regulator has to do: In creating an awareness, bringing a lot more knowledge to the sector and empowering the suppliers on one side with the knowledge of what the marketplace situation is at any given time, for them to be empowered to do better bargaining.

We cant get involved in price making but youd hope the work we do in assembling and doing the research and giving that to the people on the ground that they are better empowered to do a better deal for themselves.

Fianna Fail TD Jackie Cahill asked Mr Healy if there is a role for the regulator in investigating discrepancies between UK and Irish beef prices.

Our role is to try and gather whatever information is associated with that problem, said Mr Healy. It is a huge problem at the moment...youre talking of about 300-400.

Theres a lot of information there in relation to the different excuses whether its the place on the top shelf or they are looking elsewhere to do trade deals.

In 2019, then IFA president Joe Healy said the EU Commission needs to be represented to explain why they are allowing the EU beef market to be totally undermined with imports which fail to meet EU standards.

If anyone needs to be investigated, it is the meat factories. The Competition Authority has previously raided the IFA offices and threatened us and other farmers on numerous occasions. The CCPC is not fit for purpose from a farmers point of view, he said.

In 2016, Mr Healy described the beef market and price chain as dysfunctional and the power of the retailers, with the collaboration of the factories, is forcing Irish beef prices into unsustainable loss levels.

During his election campaign of 2016, Healy criticised the Beef Forum, saying it had delivered little for farmers.
The strength in the beef trade comes despite continued strong supplies, with last week's kill understood to be over 37,000 once again.

Strong market demand for beef and lighter carcass weights has seen factories breach the 5.00/kg beef price ceiling as they bid to secure supplies before Christmas.

The sharp rise in beef prices in recent weeks will come as a boost to beef finishers after a period where Irish beef prices significantly lagged prices in the UK and Northern Ireland.

The strength in the beef trade comes despite continued strong supplies, with last week's kill understood to be over 37,000 once again.

However, multiple factory agents across the country told the Farming Independent that while there are good numbers of cattle in sheds fattening, the majority appear to be 30-50kg lighter than they would normally be at this time of year.

Bord Bia has said prime cattle are relatively scarce, considering strong demand from customers in the UK and Europe for in-spec steers and heifers in the run-up to Christmas.

Over the weekend, reports to the Farming Independent were that factory base prices had reached 5.00/kg for heifers, with bullocks on bases of up to 4.90/kg.

Speaking with factory agents across the country, beef was described as in demand by factories, and urgently in many cases.

Prices were said to be "fluid", with all sorts of inducements to close deals on the table  everything from "free travel" to flat prices on stock up to 36 months.

Among the flat prices reported were Angus at 5.40/kg and well-fleshed Friesians at 4.80-4.90/kg, with the proviso in this case that they did actually tick all the boxes in relation to quality assurance.

Cull cows continue to be made up of almost a third of factory kills. Department figures for the week ending December 3 show that of the 37,987 cattle slaughtered at the country's beef exporting plants, 11,596 (31pc) were cows, 34pc or 12,747 were steers, 10,350 (27pc) were heifers and 2,852 (8pc) were bulls.

Irish beef exports for the first seven months of the year have increased in value by 1.1% to 1.49 billion, with export volumes down 3.4% to 272,000 tonnes. The UK has been the standout market for Irish beef in 2023, with exports growing by 11.6% in value and 5.6% in volume terms to 113,000 tonnes.
The Cabinet has signed off on an extra 40m for the New Childrens Hospital (NCH) which is due to be one of the most expensive buildings in the world once completed.

The taxpayer has already footed a bill of 1.433bn for the hospital and this will now rise by 40m after approval from senior ministers.

The costly hospital is due to finally be finished in October of next year.

The extra money was requested back in November 2021, with a Government spokesperson saying Government was told the NCH could not be completed within the original sanctioned budget and would necessarily cost more as a function of the extended time to complete the project.

The extra funding will make sure the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) and the building of the hospital can continue and are not in breach of Public Financial Procedures.

The board cannot exceed the approved budget under fiscal rules and so the Government today had to sign off on extra funds.

The hospital has consistently drawn criticism due to its price tag and the project is now 92pc complete, TDs were told at the Public Accounts Committee in recent weeks.

It is on track as being one of the most expensive buildings in the world, putting it close to the construction costs of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai ($1.5bn) and Wembley Stadium (1.27bn).

Once open, the hospital will have 380 inpatient rooms including 20 that will be part of a new CAMHS unit, 60 critical care beds and 93 day beds.
The Irish divorce: Why the arrangement of celebrity couples like Jada Pinkett and Will Smith is not unusual to us


A nurse accused of multiple failures in patient care has denied all allegations of poor professional performance made against her at a fitness-to-practise inquiry.

Pravina Gapolin, who has been registered in Ireland since 2004 as a general nurse, was working at Tallaght University Hospital between June and July 2018 when issues arose around her competency.
Aoife Johnston (16) from Co Clare died in December last year in University Hospital Limerick.

A report found serious failings in the care of a teenager who died of meningitis after a 12-hour wait in an overcrowded hospital emergency department, the HSE has said.

It comes as a leading emergency consultant warned of the risk of even tougher conditions ahead compared to last winter when trolley numbers reached record levels.

An external review was carried out into the care of Aoife Johnston (16) from Shannon, Co Clare who died on December 19 last year, in University Hospital Limerick.

A spokesman for the HSE said it shared the review on the tragic death with Ms Johnstons family. We have apologised to them for the serious failings in the care we provided to their daughter which have been identified in the review.

The review has been referred to the coroner who has yet to make a determination in the case.

HSE chief Bernard Gloster is aware that University of Limerick Hospital Group has offered a sincere apology for the failings in the care.

He is willing to meet the family privately should they wish to do so, but it is a matter for the family to decide if and when they might like to do this.

The teenager presented to the emergency department at 5pm on Saturday, December 17 and the possibility of sepsis was considered when she was triaged two hours later.

But she waited 12 hours and although admitted to intensive care at that point, she died the following day.

The hospital group did not respond when asked what safety measures were put in place following the teenagers death and the national office of the HSE instead repeated its statement.

It comes as the number of patients on hospital trolleys soared to 747 yesterday, the highest level this winter so far.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) figures show University Hospital Limerick was the the worst impacted.

The hospital had 109 patients on trolleys, including 40 in the emergency department and another 69 on wards.

St Jamess Hospital had 50 patients on trolleys while the Mater Hospital, St Vincents Hospital, University Hospital Galway and Cork University Hospital were also impacted.

Asked to comment on the overall pressures on emergency departments, Professor Conor Deasy, president of the Irish Association of Emergency Medicine and an emergency consultant at Cork University Hospital, said overcrowding  which reached record levels last winter  could potentially be higher this winter.

The increase in patients over 75 attending his department this winter is particularly marked.

He said: In October there was a 34pc increase in over-75s attending, compared the the same month last year.

For every 21 people if this age group who spend a night in an emergency department there is an avoidable death.

There is still not enough patients being moved quickly enough out of hospital for home care, long-term care or rehabilitation, he added.

The recruitment freeze imposed by the HSE until the end of the year is having an impact while vacant jobs in administration also have a knock-on impact on the frontline.
A group of independent councillors have said they will boycott the Christmas holiday reception at the US ambassadors residence over the countrys stance on the Israel-Hamas war.

The gathering which is set to take place in the Phoenix Park today, will not be attended by the group of councillors as they highlight US complicity in the Israeli bombardment in Gaza and its vetoing of a United Nations proposal for a ceasefire, the group said in a statement.

The Independent group feel it is totally inappropriate to attend any type of celebration with the ambassador while the US remains complicit in the ongoing indiscriminate bombardment in Gaza, Cllr Cieran Perry said.

"The US not only continues to support Israel morally and militarily but has disgracefully vetoed a United Nations call for a ceasefire.

With the death toll at over 18,000 and rising, we must take every opportunity to highlight the continuing massacre of children, women and men, Clrr Perry added.

The group is made of up ten independent councillors; Cllr Christy Burke, Cllr Pat Dunne, Cllr Mannix Flynn, Cllr Vincent Jackson, Cllr John Lyons, Cllr Sophie Nicoullaud, Cllr Damian OFarrell, Cllr Cieran Perry, Cllr Noeleen Reilly and Cllr Nial Ring.

On Friday, the United States vetoed a proposed UN Security Council resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. While Britain abstained from the vote, the 13 other members voted in favour of the demand, which was brought forward by the United Arab Emirates.

In a statement, the group said it was unconscionable that anyone would be against a ceasefire in the area and that the councillors would continue to highlight the barbaric onslaught in Gaza.

"Its unconscionable that anyone would argue against a ceasefire in such a horrific situation knowing that the decision is a guarantee of further deaths of innocent children, women and men. Doctors without Borders has said the US veto of the UN resolution makes it complicit in the carnage in Gaza, the statement said.

The group said they have called on the US government to use their influence to intervene in the crisis.

Weve called on the American Government to intervene and use their influence with Israel to stop the indiscriminate slaughter in Gaza but theyve actually done the opposite with their vetoing of the UN call for a ceasefire. Its no time to celebrate with the ambassador, councillor and former Lord Mayor Christy Burke said.

As part of the statement, the 10 councillors have said they are calling for the immediate ceasefire and the release of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

It is expected that the UN General Assembly will today vote on an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Unlike the UN security council, no country has veto power in the General Assembly which has 193 members.
Tributes have been paid to an Irish man who has reportedly been killed while fighting in Ukraine in recent days.

The man, originally from Dublin, had previous military experience having served with the US forces in the Middle East.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said they were aware of the mans death and were providing consular assistance.

As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases, the spokesperson added.

Messages on social media platforms indicate that the Dubliner had joined the Ukrainian Army to offer his assistance before he tragically lost his life on Friday, December 8.

This absolutely breaks my heart. He was a great guy. Thank you for putting out the information. He will definitely be missed, one person has written on Facebook.

Another has added: That just hurt my soul. He was an awesome guy. My condolences and prayers to you and his family for peace and comfort during this difficult time.

As winter sets in, there have been increased missile and drone attacks by the Russian armed forces against civilian infrastructure and Ukrainian forces.

Kyiv failed to break through Russian defensive lines in a major counteroffensive push this year and Russia is now on the offensive in the east.

More than 10,000 civilians have died in conflict and its estimated that close to 200,000 soldiers have lost their lives on both sides.

More to follow..
A jab to protect adults against the very painful condition of shingles, causing a rash and blisters, might be on the way after the patient safety watchdog has been asked to do review on whether it be introduced here.

Shingles is linked to chickenpox, the highly contagious disease that leads to itchy, spotty rashes.

If caught at a young age, chickenpox is not usually serious, but the virus that causes it, varicella-zoster, remains in the body for life, hiding in the spinal-cord nerves.

It is kept in check by the immune system, but this weakens with age, potentially allowing the virus to reactivate and attack the body again.

Shingles sufferers get a blotchy, red rash that blisters. It usually appears on one side of the chest or abdomen but can be anywhere on the body.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) is now beginning a health technology assessment of vaccinating adults against shingles to see if it should be added to the list of vaccines offered to people such as the flu and Covid jabs.

Once completed, it will provide advice to the Minister of Health to support a decision on whether to include shingles vaccination in the adult immunisation schedule in Ireland.

It said the varicella zoster virus is a herpes virus associated with two distinct clinical syndromes  varicella, commonly known as chickenpox, and herpes zoster, commonly known as shingles.

"Primary infection results in chickenpox, after which the virus becomes latent (dormant) and may reactivate, often several decades later, as shingles. Shingles is usually recognised by a painful, blistering rash on the torso. Although pain can persist for much longer, the rash typically lasts for a period of seven to 10 days, with the resulting scabs resolving completely within two to four weeks.

The most common complication of shingles is post herpetic neuralgia. This is a chronic pain which lasts long after the initial rash and blisters have healed and which occurs in up to three in 10 people and the risk is higher in older patients.

The incidence and severity of shingles increases with increasing age, with most cases occurring in people over the age of 50 years. People who are immunocompromised are also at an increased risk of shingles and of serious complications. The HTA will examine potential vaccination strategies for both adults aged 50 years and older and for adults aged 18 years and older who are at increased risk of shingles.

Dr Conor Teljeur, HIQAs Chief Scientist, said: Shingles can impact anyone who has been infected with chickenpox during their life, leaving most of the general population vulnerable. Up to one in three people who have had chickenpox will go on to have shingles.

"Although the vaccine is currently recommended for certain risk groups, individuals must pay privately for vaccination. This HTA is will review the evidence for adding shingles vaccination to the adult immunisation schedule in Ireland.

"Hiqa's s review will examine the evidence on the clinical effectiveness and safety of shingles vaccines. The cost effectiveness and budget impact will be also be reviewed, along with the ethical, social and organisational implications of including the vaccine in the adult immunisation schedule.
BROOMFIELD, Colo.Eldorado Trading Company, an award-winning distributor of adult toys, lingerie, and party supplies, has coordinated its 15th annual Thanksgiving fundraising campaign to collect food and money donations for the Community Food Share, a local Colorado nonprofit that provides food to hundreds of local families and senior citizens in need. Eldorado employees contributed $1,647, which was matched by Eldorado CEO, Wanda Garland, for a total donation of $3,284.

One in 10 Coloradans worry about where their next meal will come from. Every dollar donated to the Community Food Share helps provide $5 worth of groceries. Eldorados donation will help to fill the Community Food Shares mobile pantry truck, which provides enough food to feed 200 families for a week.

The annual Community Food Share drive is a cherished Eldorado initiative. Wanda Garland shares, "The Community Food Share drive is one of my favorite Eldorado traditions because it provides the opportunity for us to serve our neighbors. Community partnership and education helps to bring awareness to the ongoing challenges of food insecurity."

For more information about the Community Food Share, visit communityfoodshare.org.

For more information about Eldorado, call (800) 525-0848 or visit eldorado.net.
The Equality Minister said he didnt envisage large numbers of Ukrainians arriving here in the weeks before the new regime kicks in

Cuts to welfare and accommodation for new Ukrainian refugees will result in a fall in the numbers arriving in Ireland and will not lead to an increase in homelessness, Equality Minister Roderic OGorman has said.

Mr OGorman was speaking after the Cabinet signed off on plans to put a 90-day limit on State accommodation for new arrivals from Ukraine from early next year and cut weekly welfare from 220 to 38.80.

The Green Party TD said there is no requirement for a contingency plan if Ukrainians cannot leave after 90 days. It's my belief that that's not going to become a major issue, he said at a press conference in his department today.

I don't believe we will be seeing Ukrainians staying after the 90 days because we've been making it very clear that our commitment now on the accommodation side is a 90-day commitment and doesnt go on for longer.

He added: I havent put in place a contingency plan because I dont believe the issue will arise.

Under the changes, that will take effect from late January or early February, new Ukrainian arrivals will be accommodated in reception centres for 90 days with meals and laundry and will be able to avail of integration supports. Social welfare will be paid at 38.80 per week for adults and 29.80 for children and they will be entitled to access medical cards and monthly child benefit.

Those who leave state-provided accommodation will be entitled to normal rates of social welfare including 220-aweek in jobseekers allowance. Mr OGorman said people who are medically vulnerable will be triaged out of accommodation.

He said it is already the case that people leave accommodation everyday including those who are asked to leave for anti-social reasons or because they are not contributing to the cost.

Mr OGorman said that the new regime represents a significant change in our offering.

He said there will be a communications campaign through embassies, NGOs and other networks to let people know there is a change in policy with a limit on accommodation and setting out the realities of the problems in the private rental market.

I think a consequence of the changes we're making will probably be lower numbers, I think that's likely, he said, adding later that he did not believe it will lead to an increase in the number of homeless people in Ireland."

Mr OGorman said the reductions in welfare will require legislative change either by Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys or Justice Minister Helen McEntee.

Mr OGorman said that he did not expect the several weeks it will take to implement the changes will lead to large numbers arriving before the new regime kicks in. Numbers have decreased somewhat since mid-October, he said. I can't predict and we can never absolutely predict but certainly the discussion of a change didn't prompt a spike.

Earlier, Finance Minister Michael McGrath said there will be exceptions for sick or vulnerable Ukrainian children and families from the new 90-day state accommodation limit.

"There will be cases where, due to exceptional circumstances, where somebody has medical needs or a child has additional needs, that the provision of state-supported accommodation may need to be extended for a longer period," Mr McGrath told reporters in Dublin this afternoon.

"It is important that we do have a degree of flexibility in that regard.

"Everybody knows that we are under real strain in relation to finding new accommodation, as people a continue to come here, and of course we have an increasing number of people seeking international protection as well," Mr McGrath continued.

"We have to get the balance right and we have to ensure that Ireland is not an outlier in relation to the overall offer and the overall package of supports that is available to people fleeing the war.

"People continue to be welcome here, but they need to understand that we are in a very challenging environment in relation to the provision of accommodation."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government intends to cut financial support for those fleeing the war in Ukraine that are in receipt of state accommodation from the end of January.

He said the measures would bring Ireland in line with other EU countries at a time of severe strain on the housing sector.

Speaking during Leaders' Questions in the Dail, Mr Varadkar said the Government would work with arrivals and NGOs to find other accommodation during that 90-day period, adding: "Many different possibilities arise, taking up employment where possible - which many Ukrainians have done and do provide their own accommodation, pledged accommodation and staying with people they know and networks."

He said if people move out of state accommodation after or before the 90-day window they will be assessed for social welfare like any Irish citizen, including eligibility for the rent allowance, but not social housing or the housing assistance payment.

He was responding as opposition TDs branded the cuts to social welfare payments as shameful.

While Sinn Fein has welcomed the changes, the partys leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Taoiseach that she was "very concerned" that the Government had no plans to house the arrivals for 90 days, to secure temporary accommodation, or for where the international-protection applicants would go once the 90-day window ended.

She said there was a "major embedded housing capacity problem" in Ireland and asked if the Ukrainians would have to find a home in a system that is "already at breaking point".

"People can't find rented accommodation for love nor money and when they do the rents are extortionate. Or will Ukrainian people be given a tent and told to take their chances on the streets?"

She said the decision to change the supports was taken at a time when the housing system is broken, overwhelmed and "creaking at the seams".

Mr Varadkar replied that the Government was "confident" it would be able to provide accommodation for the initial 90 days.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett described the changes as shameful saying the Government is essentially trying to deflect away from their own failure to deal with the housing and accommodations crisis and scapegoating people who are fleeing war.

Whats needed is for them to, as a matter of urgency, to radically change their approach in delivering housing, he said.

He said it is reasonable to say migrants should be supported in getting work but said the biggest problem they face is the lack of affordable childcare.

He said it is really unacceptable that vulnerable women and children may be made homeless as a result of having no housing after 90 days.

Labour TD Ged Nash said the decision to cut housing and welfare is an admission of failure.

Its a very, very dramatic fall and its going to have a serious impact especially on women and children, he said.

Mr Nash said he wants to see the full analysis done by the Government when new legislation is brought forward early in the next year.

This is a long war and a complex set of situations but also one that has compassion and humanity, this needs to be informed by those principles.

Sinn Fein TD Donnchadh O Laoghaire said the numbers of Ukrainians coming in to Ireland is putting massive pressure on the system.

"We agree with the Government that welfare payments should be brought down in line with the payments made to international protection applicants, he said.

"There needs to be a more uniform approach across the EU regarding what is provided in each State so that there isnt secondary movement from other States."
The search for a fisherman missing off the Co Louth coast since this morning has been stood down for the night.

The Irish Coast Guard Marine Rescue Coordination Centre Dublin continues to coordinate the search for the man who went missing after a fishing vessel got into difficulty around 8.45am on Tuesday morning.

This evening, Clogherhead Coast Guard Unit, Greenore Coast Guard, Clogherhead RNLI Lifeboat, Dublin Based CG Helicopter R116, Irish Lights Vessel Granuaile and several fishing vessels have suspended the search at sea due to darkness.

Coast Guard Units have also suspended their shoreline search due to darkness.

The search for the missing fisherman will recommence at first light tomorrow morning.

A second fisherman was rescued from the sea by a passing craft and was brought to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda, he was described as cold and shaken.

The search and rescue operation began in Clogherhead after the vessel issued a mayday call earlier this morning.

The vessel got into difficulty approximately one mile from Dunany Point in Dundalk bay.

More to follow..
The justice minister, her uncle and the 11m sale of Georgian country estate to the State

Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney pitched the sale of the Dowth Hall Estate in Meath to Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue before it was bought by the Department of Housing.

Mr Coveney was lobbied by Tony McEntee, the uncle of Justice Minister Helen McEntee who is chief executive of agri-technology firm Devenish, about the sale of the 552-acre site when it was put on the market earlier this year.

The Enterprise Ministers spokesperson confirmed he contacted Mr McConalogue about the sale, saying he had visited the site and believed it to be an excellent asset.

He had no part in the assessment, negotiation or purchase of the farm and property, he added.

After he was contacted by Fine Gael deputy leader Mr Coveney, Mr McConalogue discussed the proposal to buy the land and period properties with the Department of Agriculture secretary general Brendan Gleeson.

Consideration was given to whether the estate could be purchased by the department and used as a research farm.

However, it was ultimately decided the department did not need another research farm and the estate was unlikely to add value for money to the States agriculture portfolio.

But after the Department of Agriculture decided not to buy the estate, the Department of Housing moved in and decided the land could be turned into a national park for Co Meath.

Housing Minister Darragh OBrien and some of his officials were shown around the estate and were impressed by what was on offer.

The State eventually paid 11m for the site and accompanying listed buildings after a number of ministers, including Mr Coveney and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys were lobbied by Ms McEntees uncle who has also served as her director of elections in the past.

Speaking at a recent Fine Gael conference, Ms McEntee said the 552-acre estate, which is home to Netterville Manor and Dowth Hall and until recently was owned by Devenish, is not land in anyway connected to my family.

She described the decision to buy the land as a very positive development by the Office of Public Works (OPW), which is overseen by her Fine Gael colleague Patrick ODonovan.

Ms McEntee later revealed her uncle did inform her of the sale of the estate in her constituency, but (she) did not discuss it any further with him.

She said she made no representations about the land and was not involved in negotiations to buy the estate.

The Dowth Hall estate is to become a national park and will be managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the OPW and the National Monuments Service.

Mr McEntee was appointed as Devenish chief executive in March and lobbied Mr Coveney and Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys about the sale of the site not long after he took up the role.

Devenish suffered a significant financial setback in 2019 when the agri-tech groups Duncrue Street warehouse in Belfast burnt down.

The fire cost the company 3m in exceptional costs. However, after a couple of difficult years, the company returned to profit in 2021.
Graham Dale (45) is understood to have died last Friday, December 8, while fighting for the Ukrainian Army.

A Dublin man who previously fought with the US Marines during the Iraq war has been killed in conflict in Ukraine.

Graham Dale (45) is understood to have died last Friday, December 8, while fighting for the Ukrainian Army.

He was originally from Raheny in north Dublin but moved to the United States in 2000 and became a dual Irish-American citizen.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said they were aware of the death and were providing consular assistance.

As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases, the spokesperson added.

The details of how he was killed or in what part of the country his death occurred have not yet been released.

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Following the September 11 terror attacks he enlisted in the Marines and later served on a number of tours in Iraq.

His time in combat was detailed in the book The Green Marine: An Irishmans War in Iraq.

The book, written with journalist Neil Fetherstonhaugh, was based on a journal of his deployment in the country and published in 2009.

Mr Dale later relocated to Cedar Park, a suburb in Austin, Texas, where he worked as a computer network engineer.

Following the outbreak of the Ukraine-Russian war he travelled to Poland to provide humanitarian assistance to refugees fleeing the violence.

However, in an interview with a US television station in May 2022, the Marine veteran said he felt compelled to assist Ukrainian forces.

This is somewhere that Ive been to on vacation before. To me this is an attack on all of Europe, he said of the Russian offensive.

And I felt compelled with my current skillset and so forth that I could help in anyway I could, he added.

Tributes have been paid to the Dubliner with one friend, Christina Isaac, sharing her devastation of the news.

It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my dear friend, Graham Dale, she wrote on Facebook.

If you knew Graham, you might already be aware that, when the conflict in Ukraine began, he flew over to offer his assistance.

"He eventually joined the Ukrainian Army and tragically lost his life on Friday, December 8. Currently, I lack further details, but he left this earth exactly the way he wanted to. His remains are being transported back to his homeland in Ireland.

This absolutely breaks my heart. He was a great guy. Thank you for putting out the information. He will definitely be missed, another person wrote.

She also described him as a sweet and kind man who had a rough exterior as well as a huge heart.

In his book, Graham Dale detailed how he grew up in Raheny and secured a Green card before moving to Texas. He was volunteering with a Texan fire department when two planes hit the World Trade centre on 9/11.

That day was the catalyst," he told the Irish Independent in 2008.

"To know that firemen and innocent people had been murdered, kids orphaned. I'm a very reactive person. I take things personally. Even when I was a child, if one kid was hitting another kid I felt a moral duty to say 'stop that'. I really never subscribed to the idea that it's someone else's job to look after things."

Speaking about enlisting with the Marines, he said: They looked at me sideways. One of the guys asked me, 'are you lost?' but I found it surprisingly easy to sign up. Recruiting stations in America are like McDonald's, they seem to be on every corner."

He served in Iraq where, in 2005, his platoon was hit by a suicide bomber and one of his friends was killed. The experience left him with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

"When my friend got killed that was the hardest. It's still difficult. Things like that just don't happen every day, he later said of the incident.

A number of other Irish men have also been killed while fighting in the Ukraine war.

In April Finbar Cafferky (40s), from Achill Island, died while fighting in the east of the country. Mr Cafferky had previously fought with an arm of the Syrian Democratic Forces against ISIS.

He took part in the Shell to Sea protests against the Corrib Gas project and, in later years, worked in Copenhagen on a construction project.

The previous September Rory Mason (25), from County Meath, died while fighting with the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region.

In a statement after his death the Mason family said: "Rory was a private young man of drive, purpose and conviction.

Those who fought alongside Rory speak of a truly brave and courageous man who could have left at any time but chose not to".
COP28 Director-General Majid Al Suwaidi speaks during a press conference at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 12, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky.

The Cop28 presidency has launched an extraordinary defence of the roundly condemned draft agreement it published yesterday, saying they wanted it to spark conversation.

The text came after almost two weeks of non-stop conversation at the climate summit which is meant to finish today.

The presidency also said it was up to the 190-plus countries in the talks to now raise the ambition in the text.

Those remarks have prompted questions as to why the chair of the most critical talks in the global calendar chose to aim low and hope parties improve on it rather than aim high and work towards a compromise.

Ambassador Majid Al Swaidi, Cop28 director-general and right-hand man of Cop28 president, Sultan Al Jaber, made the remarks at the first press conference the host team held in two days.

Mr Al Swaidi said that Dr Al Jaber had stayed up until 4am overnight to meet all negotiating parties, although that was disputed by some who said they got no meeting.

He said the presidency was now working on a revised text which would contain all the elements we need for a comprehensive plan to 2030.

However, it is not clear when it will be delivered or what it will say about fossil fuels.

The first draft, delivered late yesterday afternoon, contained no reference to fossil fuel phase out which is the key demand of the majority of countries attending.

It said instead that countries could, not should, take actions, including the reduction in fossil fuel consumption and production.

We cant accept this  Eamon Ryan says proposed Cop28 agreement needs to be radically improved

Many other flaws in the wider text were pointed out by the EU, US and other major negotiating parties and the EU said it would walk away from the talks if was not radically improved.

Mr Al Swaidi rejected suggestions it would reflect as a failure on the presidency if no agreement was reach at Cop28.

This is a process of the [negotiating] parties, he said.

Its a question of how ambitious the parties truly are and where they want the balance to be.

While the presidency can guide, direct and encourage, the level of ambition is for the parties to agree.

He said the summit had already been a great success by agreeing on the Loss and Damage Fund to channel money from rich, carbon polluting countries to poor, climate-harmed countries.

He also talked up the 11 non-binding declarations signed by various countries and the 75 billion worth of pledges made to various funds.

He said getting an agreed text would always be the harder part.

Lots of parties felt it didnt address fully their concerns. We expected that, he said.

In fact, we wanted the text to spark conversation and thats what happened.

The text actually sparked outrage and dismay among the majority of countries, NGOs and academics attending or monitoring the summit.

Mary Robinson called it grossly insufficient, Al Gore said it was deeply offensive, Friends of the Earth called it incoherent and Environment minister Eamon Ryan, a lead negotiator for the EU, said it was not acceptable.
Feeding the homeless on Christmas Day: This year, well serve 5,000 takeaway meals and 550 sit-down meals at the RDS

A member of the Order of the Knights of Saint Columbanus since 1997, Adrian King from Naas, Co Kildare has long been a key part of the annual Christmas Day Dinner the organisation hosts for the poor and homeless of Dublin in the RDS

Adrian King says he is seeing more families needing a helping hand at Christmas. Photo: Frank McGrath

Adrian King Tue 12 Dec 2023 at 02:30

The Order of the Knights of Saint Columbanus was founded in 1915. We are a fraternal order of Catholic men who promote practical Christianity through our personal and group actions. In 1924, the Knights recognised the need to provide a warm, welcoming, festive dinner for the poor and homeless of Dublin on Christmas Day.
The Dail tried to have a grown-up debate on immigration last week. The Rural Independent Group used their once-every-five-weeks entitlement to table a private members motion to discuss an issue in the headlines following the Dublin riots.
HISTORY buffs from the Rebel county will be in their element with the launch if a digital online atlas of Cork which showcases an impressive 6,245 sites of Cork citys history, including buildings, streets, bridges and monuments, from AD 623 through to 1900.

The free online interactive map exploring the built heritage of Cork city allows users to search for a specific site in the city or simply browse.

The atlas includes descriptions of over 800 streets, with names in Irish and English, as well as historical variants. Users can also select and view features associated with specific time periods, from medieval times to the present day.

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The historical map depicts each individual house and plot during 1842, Ordnance Survey maps, a present day plan of the city, and historic maps showing Cork pre-Famine and at the turn of the 20th century.

The Digital Atlas of Cork is expected in particular to be a helpful resourceful history tool for students of all levels and their teachers, researchers and planners.

The interactive digital map is remarkable and a tremendous new resource for all the people of Cork. It no doubt will instil a sense of pride in local communities, through its use in schools and libraries. In particular, the research and further reading aspect of the atlas will be a terrific source for anyone with an interest in the history and development of Cork City, said Councillor Kieran McCarthy, Lord Mayor of Cork City.

I welcome this innovative project from the Royal Irish Academy, which will make the valuable research of the Irish Historic Towns Atlas available to a wider and more varied audience than heretofore.

A downloadable user guide is available to accompany the resource, aiding anyone to explore the Digital Atlas with further education and project work in mind.
Next stop Hollywood!

The 2023 Gala Screening Event for Cork Young Film-makers, held at Cork County Hall, celebrated a year long journey of film-making with young people from County Cork.

The gala focused on the premiere screening of new work by young film-makers created at workshops in Bandon, Cobh, Macroom, Mallow, and Midleton during the summer of 2023.

A highlight of the evening was the presence of renowned film-maker and visual artist, Claire Murphy, who is based in Cork.

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Claires exceptional work as a cinematographer and film-maker has earned her recognition at festivals worldwide. One of her outstanding films, To Be What We Are, was screened during the gala.

"I am truly inspired by the immense talent and creativity displayed by Cork's young film-makers. The outstanding support provided by Cork Young Film-makers, Cork Film Centre, and the various organisations involved is also to be commended," said Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank OFlynn.

Congratulations to each of the young film-makers who contributed to making this event a resounding success. I am sure you have a bright future ahead, he added.

The event celebrated the creativity of young people who made these short films as part of the Cork Young Film-makers countywide Youth Arts Programme, generously supported by Cork County Council, SECAD, CETB and Creative Ireland.
The ESB has confirmed that a study is to be carried out into the structural integrity of Buingea Bridge in the Carrigadrohid Scheme Reservoir.

Fine Gael TD for Cork North West Michael Creed has welcomed the commissioning of the study by the ESB. The bridge itself was once part of the local road network, linking Dooniskey with Carrigadrohid. The Cork to Macroom railway line ran underneath the bridge. Buingea Bridge is only accessible at times when the water levels in the reservoir are low. What remains of this structure is a much-loved local landmark for people who live nearby, and for the many people who travel the Macroom to Cork road regularly, he said.

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Deputy Creed revealed that he has been contacted by local people who expressed their concerns that the bridge was falling into serious disrepair. This bridge is located in the section of the Lee Valley which was flooded in 1956 as part of the Lee Hydroelectric Scheme. I was contacted in recent weeks by a number of local people expressing concern that the bridge was falling into serious disrepair and may collapse into the waters of the reservoir. I submitted a request to the ESB that this would be investigated.

Im happy to confirm that the ESB has taken the concerns of local people on board. They have agreed to commission a study on the current structural integrity of Buingea Bridge and say they will implement the recommendations of the report in due course. Undertaking remedial works will of course be challenging because the underlying ground conditions are impacted by changes in water levels in the reservoir, he added.
Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

For the better part of the past two years, one of WWEs most interesting battles wasnt in the ring, but rather the courtroom.

It appears that contest, however, has reached a resolution, with Wrestlenomics Brandon Thurston reporting that WWE has reached a settlement in the antitrust lawsuit that was filed against it by fellow wrestling promotion Major League Wrestling (MLW).

WWE and MLW have come to a settlement in the antitrust case against WWE. Lawyers for both companies filed today: "The Parties are in the process of completing the final settlement documents and expect to file the appropriate dismissal papers within the next thirty (30) days" pic.twitter.com/t3507vGJg4  Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) December 11, 2023

MLW first filed its lawsuit against WWE in January 2022, accusing the wrestling giant of anticompetitive practices and interfering in MLWs business operations. Among the allegations made by MLW were that WWE put pressure on third parties, including the streaming service Tubi TV and Vice TV, to end their business relationships with MLW, in addition to limiting the companys access to talent and media markets.

While a judge had dismissed MLWs initial lawsuit, which was filed in the Northern District of California, the company was granted the ability to refile an amended version of the lawsuit, which was accepted. Terms of the settlement have yet to be made public, but as the Wrestling Observer Newsletters Dave Meltzer noted, if they are significant, they would likely be disclosed in an SEC filing by WWEs parent company, TKO Group Holdings.

No terms were announced, if major as in other settlements TKO would likely announce them in the next few days in an SEC filing.  Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) December 11, 2023

Although WWEs competitive nature  particularly under Vince McMahon  has been somewhat legendary, MLWs lawsuit challenged the legality of some of those alleged practices. While one could argue that the existence of rival promotions such as All Elite Wrestling (AEW)  and to a lesser degree, MLW and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)  proves that WWE doesnt have an effective monopoly over the pro wrestling industry, if the company was interfering in MLWs business dealings as alleged, that obviously would have been a problem.

If nothing else, a potential trial might have provided the most insight into WWEs business operations  particularly as they relate to the competition  that weve ever seen. But if that day is going to come, it looks like its going to have to be from a lawsuit other than this one.

[Brandon Thurston on X]
The new library in Finglas is fully wheelchair accessible

Outdoor seating space at the new library in Finglas

A new chapter for Finglas as a new public library opens its doors

Christmas came early for Finglas this weekend as the community came together to mark the official opening of a new library.

The former An Post sorting office in Finglas was transformed earlier this year into a "calm and serene" library, described as a "game-changer" for the village.

The former sorting office on Seamus Ennis Road had not been in use for several years and was acquired by Dublin City Council in 2020.

Plans for a new library for the area had been in the pipeline since 2014.

Outdoor seating space at the new library in Finglas

Speaking about the launch this weekend, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Daithi de Roiste, said he was delighted to mark the official opening of the new public library for Finglas.

"Libraries are vital public spaces at the heart of their communities, he said.

"This new library is a modern, universally accessible community space, and I look forward to seeing the exciting new services that the library will deliver for the people of Finglas.

I am pleased to see that the project's approach has been to retain and upcycle an existing, vacant building instead of knocking it down and rebuilding, taking a low-energy approach and contributing to Dublin Citys sustainability objectives."

The new library will replace the existing service, which opened in 1980 and was located on the first floor of the Finglas Village Centre.

The building was retrofitted to maximise energy efficiency, and specific interventions were made to optimise daylight and space to provide visitors with a sense of well-being.

The new library will offer a range of collections and spaces to read, study, meet, and work, as well as providing internet access and free wi-fi in a fully accessible building equipped with public toilets.

The new library in Finglas is fully wheelchair accessible

"Delivering a new community library for the people of Finglas has been a long-standing ambition for the city," said Dublin City Council Chief Executive, Richard Shakespeare.

This project has delivered that ambition, providing much-needed, free, open, and universally accessible spaces for all.

Finglas is the first in a series of new and refurbished libraries that will be delivered by the City Council over the coming years."

Speaking in August, local councillor Mary Callaghan of the Social Democrats said: Itll be a complete game changer. This is bringing Finglas into the 21st century.
Christmas spirit has returned with a bang to one of Dublin city's most decorated establishments.

The Ginger Man in Dublin city centre is known for transforming into a winter wonderland every festive season but owner Stephen Mooney wants to make sure customers experience that wow-factor every year.

Two special new additions make it arguably one of the most decorated premises in the country.

The effort invested in transforming the space is immense, involving weeks of work and temporary closures to ensure patrons are greeted with a complete winter wonderland.

Stephen Mooney pictured with some of the new Christmas decorations at The Ginger Man pub on Fenian St

This enduring tradition, which began 33 years ago, is still going strong.

One of this year's special additions is a complete Christmas village.

"Being located at number 39-40 on Fenian Street, we're calling it 'Miracle on 39th Street,' owner Stephen Mooney told the Irish Independent.

"We installed the village as a way to support Focus Ireland, so when people visit, they can tap their card, and the funds automatically go to the charity," he said.

Christmas decorations at The Ginger Man

Mr Mooney shared with the Irish Independent that the Christmas village was initially installed at the National Children's Hospital on Harcourt Street.

The original owner, due to age, couldn't manage it anymore. Since a considerable amount of work goes into it, Mr Mooney made a donation to the hospital and took it out of their hands and put their own stamp on it.

"Our display is probably bigger than it once was, so we had to add our own bits and pieces to make it unique," he said.

"Christmas is such a big event, and every year we try to come up with new ideas, additions, and centrepieces.

"We didn't want people to walk in and say, 'Oh, I saw this last year,' so we aimed to be as different as possible."

Another new addition to the festive space is the design intended to transport visitors back in time.

Mr Mooney described a new part of their Christmas decorations focusing on an old-fashioned theme, reminiscent of a room from your grandparents' house in the 80s or 90s.

"We bought a fireplace, wallpapered a particular wall, and found pictures that people would remember from their grandmother's or parents' houses, common pictures from maybe the 80s or early 90s," he said.

The pub pays homage to a classic storybook image of Santa beside the fire, reading a story.

Christmas decorations at The Ginger Man

The groundwork for the decorations begins as early as before the arrival of Halloween.

The newly installed Christmas village took "the guts of three weeks," and The Ginger Man closed for three days to completely transform the space.

Mr Mooney explained that he didn't want visitors to walk in one day and see something being done; he wanted them to experience the impact of walking in and seeing it all at once.

"I think people just want to enjoy this Christmas," he said.

"There has been a lot of bad news, and I think people are just looking for a bit of normality.

"We didn't have a summer, and I think that had a huge effect this year. People just want to put themselves in good form."
The Women of Sheriff Street, an Exhibition by Tara Kearns

A Dublin artist from Sheriff Street is holding an exhibition this month, showcasing the women of her community.

Tara Kearns is an emerging talent from the north inner city. Her exhibition, running since November 29, will continue until December 15.

Titled The Women of Sheriff Street, the exhibition is a love letter to the women, both young and old, who grew up and lived in the area.

The artist received the Markievicz Award in 2022, a grant from the Arts Council. The grant aimed to create work reflecting on the role of women in Irish history.

I'm from a predominantly female family; I was raised by a strong single mother who has six sisters, Ms Kearns explained.

I've been surrounded by women my whole life, my entire family, so Im no stranger to strong women.

Some paintings from the exhibition depict Ms Kearns' family, including her aunt Teresa smoking a cigarette on her balcony.

Tara Kearns painting of her aunt Teresa

Shaped by her role as an activist and storyteller, Ms Kearns specializes in oil painting and portraiture.

She explores themes of identity, place, and memory, aiming to capture the essence of the subject matter.

I think I break a lot of rules when it comes to painting, I use paint straight from the tube, she said.

I shouldnt be doing that because its nearly 50 a tube of paint.

"One of my old art teachers said I fight with the canvas because Im very heavy-handed with my brushstrokes and I use a lot of paint, but I think thats where the vibrancy comes from.

Another part of her showcase is a blanket with pictures of women from the Sheriff Street community who have passed on.

I sat with my aunt Bernie and made this blanket; I lost about three fingers trying to sew, she joked.

Ms Kearns emphasised the importance of the blanket as it pays homage to the Womens Centre now known as the North Wall CDP, established on Sheriff Street in 1985.

The meeting place served as a safe space where women could get support and learn new skills such as sewing.

A lot of my aunties wouldve gone in there or worked in sewing factories, Ms Kearns said.

She also made a patchwork quilt using pieces of tea towels, curtains, and headscarves to create a sense of nostalgia.

I thought the blanket was poetic because the women of the area are a comfort, the mothers of the area are a comfort, they are the heart and soul of the area, she said.

Patchwork blanket by Tara Kearns

Theyre also a walking oxymoron because theyre tough as nails but the softest and warmest people you could ever meet.

So, what I did there was I made the blanket and I filled in images of all the women that had passed on each square of it.

Another element of the exhibition is a washing line mounted on the wall. She described the line as being essential to life back in the 80s with the flats when they all had to share washing lines.

As a Sheriff Street woman born and raised, the Dublin artist says she is keen to show off the people in her community as they are and lift certain stereotypes that are associated with the area.

I think Sheriff Street also gets a bad rap, so I wanted to do something to promote the area and promote the good down there, she said.

Especially the women because women are the heart and soul of the community.

While she acknowledged that attitudes within Dublin are slowly but surely changing around the area of Sheriff Street, Ms Kearns admitted that prejudice still exists.

Even for me when I was growing up, I used to tell people I was really from the back of the IFSC because geographically technically I was right, she said.

There was a certain shame that came with coming from down there.

Now I say it proudly, but it's because of all the work that's been going on the past couple of years to promote good to kind of counteract the stigma.

Even in a taxi home from a night out if I say Sheriff Street, some of them wont take me, but it's getting better.

Ms Kearns also praised the support of the community within Sheriff Street that has always been supportive of her work.

I have had a good few exhibitions, and every one of them in the community has come out, supported me, and left lovely little notes in the sign-in book, she said.

The community really rallies behind you, it doesnt matter if its arts, sports, just as long as youre from the area.

I think that sense of community comes from the stigma that we've all kind of grown up with.
A housing organisation is planning to build more than 2,900 new affordable homes across large-scale developments in Dublin.

The new developments, approved by Respond, will be in Charlestown (590 homes), Tallaght (502 homes), Clonburris (318 homes), and Donaghmede (397 homes) with the mixed-tenure schemes featuring a 50/50 split between cost rental and social homes.

The first homes are due to be completed by September 2024. Some 1,508 homes are already being constructed, bringing the number of homes the approved housing body currently has in construction to 4,414.

A total of 1,378 new cost rental homes will be delivered, increasing Responds cost rental housing stock to 1,896.

Last month Respond received 575 applications for 13 new cost-rental homes in Swords in just three days, highlighting the high demand for secure, affordable homes.

Niamh Randall, national spokesperson for the organisation ,said that this is a landmark moment not just for Respond but for the future of housing in Ireland.

These mixed tenure developments are a testament to our commitment to creating diverse, inclusive communities, she said.

By integrating social and cost rental homes, Respond aims to build vibrant neighbourhoods that will enhance the quality of life for all tenants and the wider community that benefits all tenants.

Respond has over 40 years of experience in building homes and communities and our staff have a wide range of expertise from architects, quantity surveyors, planners, construction and project managers to housing management and the delivery of services within communities.

We are only able to deliver on these homes with the partnership and support of Local Authorities, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Finance Agency and the Housing Agency.

Ms Randall said the initiative was a step towards alleviating the housing crisis in Ireland, providing secure, affordable housing options for thousands of individuals and families.

Responds commitment to quality housing management and community integration stands at the forefront of this project, ensuring that these new developments will be more than just houses  they will be homes in true, thriving communities, she said.

Working from an urban village placemaking approach, these large-scale developments will have Respond staff based on site.

She added: Our work in these communities will include tenant engagement and tailored support, developing and improving public spaces, fostering a sense of identity and community connection, and local business and stakeholder engagement.

These are lifetime homes and Respond has a long term commitment not only to the tenants but also to the wider communities around them.

This project will see the construction of a mix of social and cost rental homes across several key locations.

Heres the breakdown:

590 homes at Pipers Square, Charlestown, Finglas, Dublin (284 cost rental homes and 306 social homes) in partnership with Fingal County Council.

502 homes at Airton Road-Greenhills Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24, (289 cost rental and 213 social homes) in partnership with South Dublin County Council.

318 homes at Seven Mills, Clonburris, Dublin 24, (170 cost rental homes and 148 social homes) in partnership with South Dublin County Council.

397 homes at Clarehall Avenue, Hole in the Wall Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13, (153 cost rental homes and 244 social homes) in partnership with Dublin City Council.

Minister for Housing Darragh OBrien said: "We are delighted to support Respond in building 2,906 new homes across Dublin.

We share a commitment to addressing Ireland's housing needs through innovative, sustainable solutions. Respond's construction-led approach, particularly in these large-scale mixed-tenure developments, sets a new standard in housing provision in Ireland.

Their focus on creating not just homes but communities, resonates with our Housing for All plan which seeks a future where every citizen has access to quality, affordable housing.

The Government is committed to supporting and collaborating with organisations like Respond, who are at the forefront of tackling our housing challenges and making a tangible difference in the lives of thousands of people.
The Craic Den, which has a show on Virgin Media, will host comedians from Venezuela, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, USA, India, South Africa, Australia and Galway.

A Dublin club is set to host an international comedy night to celebrate the similarities and differences, between people all around the world.

The Craic Den, which has a show on Virgin Media, will host comedians from Venezuela, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, USA, India, South Africa, Australia and Galway.

The lineup includes Lesly Martinez who is currently grappling with the Irish citizenship process and bureaucratic hurdles, Nghia Mai who has been based in Ireland since 2018, and is the regular host of Comedians Without Borders in Sin e, and Malinda Perera, who started doing stand-up comedy in Austria when he went to do his masters degree in Business Informatics. In 2019, while he was a researcher at university, Malinda made a rapid career change by becoming a full-time comedian.

Others will include Eddie Mullarkey, Damo Clark, Jim Elliott. Tiny James, Madeleine Munford, and Neil Greene, along with Dhruv Gandhi, who defends Indian stereotypes passionately and Kat OHanlon who traded the US for rural Ireland.

Mr Mullarkey, who is known for his cheeky and seductive wit, has toured internationally and his last two solo shows received two full sell-out runs at the 2021 and 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festivals.

He believes that supporting comedians is vital at this time, especially during the cost of living crisis.

The scene is still really busy, so even with the cost-of-living crisis, people are still going to comedy shows. The scene is thriving, Eddie told the Irish Independent.

The cost of living, a comedy night out is really affordable. Its 15 for a weekend gig and thats a great offer.

You dont have to drink, its a great thing to enjoy being sober as well. If you want to drink, go ahead.

If you have a mate you dont want to listen to, bring them to a comedy gig. Or if youre on a date and youre not fully sure, you have your doubts, bring them to a gig.

Put them up front row and do a stress test of your date, youll see their true colours.

Theres so many great comedians and great clubs, but theyre not as visible as they should be. Were kind of inspired by the British comedy guide.

You click where you are, and it brings you to events in that location. Its one database, tourists and locals can find any live events you want to go to.

Comedians can find clubs and venues out there and connect with them way more easily. Its all about boosting the scene and connecting the scene together.

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Eddie has also been calling for more funding to be made available for stand-up artists. The Arts council funds comedy plays, but does not consider stand-up, sketch and improv as theatre.

Technically, comedy isnt seen as an art form by the Arts Council. Its ridiculous really. Theres so many theatre shows and art shows given a lot of funding, then comedy is left at the side, he said.

Irish comedy is like one of the best exports, theres so many great Irish comedians touring the world and its not seen as an art form. It makes no sense.

Were famous as a country for comedy but our own government doesnt recognise it as an art form.

Economically, comedy brings in a lot of money into the tourism industry. For them not to support it is bad for themselves, because itd bring them more money.

Government support or not, the scene is great. Theres loads of good clubs and festivals. I am blessed, I gig five or six nights a week, he added.

The show is on at 8:30pm on Wednesday with tickets priced at 12.
December 14, 2017, was an historic day for Irelands Deaf community. The Dail passed the Irish Sign Language Act, recognising ISL as the language of the Deaf community, but its significance went beyond the symbolic.

The State had a responsibility to provide ISL access to ensure Deaf people can participate more equally in society, and Micheal Kelliher and Bernadette OConnor  two members of Kerrys Deaf community  can easily provide examples of how their life changed.

A few years ago, there was a course that I wanted to attend, but it was with a small, private company, Micheal, a Lios Poil native and Tralee resident, says. This was before the ISL Act, so there was also the issue around whos going to pay for the interpreter? Under the Act, theres no question: yes, we have a duty to provide an interpreter.

Micheal was able to provide a submission in response to a Kerry County Council (KCC) project; he did so by video, in which he used ISL. Previously, a scuba-diving course he was interested in taking would have required him to pay for an interpreter, but because of a voucher system available for social, cultural, educational, and medical purposes, he did not have to pay more than his hearing peers did.

Tralee woman Bernadette used the voucher so an interpreter could work on this very interview, and shes a frequent voucher user. She was able to enjoy a film screening on the history of the Tralee-Fenit railway and could mill around the Tralee Food Festival more easily.

December 14 is National Irish Sign Language Day, and Bernadette explained that KCC will shine blue lights  blue is the Deaf communitys colour  on some of their buildings to mark the occasion. On Saturday, December 16, the Kerry Deaf Group will meet in Scruffys Bar, College Street, Killarney, from 8pm, and attendees are encourage to wear something blue. You can find out more via Bernadette or the group on Facebook.

The Deaf community still has a way to go. She explains, for example, that initial contact and registration for SouthDocs text-in service still has to take place through a representative body for Deaf people. She would prefer if this could be done more directly, rather than providing her details to an organisation she feels doesnt need to have them.

But this Thursday  and this weekend  is a time to celebrate, so lets all take time to acknowledge Irish Sign Language Day.
Megan, Caroline, Erin OSullivan with Garda Kathy Murphy at the Little Blue Hero Christmas Party at the Ballygarry House Hotel in Tralee on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Mark OSullivan.

Madeline, Christopher, Lorraine and Miles Foley pictured at the Little Blue Hero Christmas Party at the Ballygarry House Hotelin Tralee on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Mark OSullivan.

Adam and Grace Roche with their Star Wars friends at the Little Blue Hero Christmas Party at the Ballygarry House Hotel in Tralee on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Mark O'Sullivan.

Sponsors John Callanan (Lions Club Tralee) and Fiona Forde and Corinne Evans with Garda at the Little Blue Hero Christmas Party at the Ballygarry House Hotel in Tralee on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Mark OSullivan.

Alanna Foley with Chewbacca the Little Blue Hero Christmas Party at the Ballygarry House Hotel in Tralee on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Mark OSullivan.

Teresa and Francie Mahon with a Clonetrooper at the Little Blue Hero Christmas Party at the Ballygarry House Hotel in Tralee on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Mark OSullivan.

Chewbacca at the Little Blue Hero Christmas Party at the Ballygarry House Hotel in Tralee on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Mark OSullivan.

Garda Kathy Murphy, Ellie OSullivan, Frank OSullivan, Frankie OSullivan (Little Blue Hero) and Garda Trish Fitzpatrick pictured at the Little Boy Blue Hero Christmas Party at the Ballygarry House Hotel in Tralee on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Mark OSullivan.

Anna, Rebecca and Grace Roche pictured at the Little Blue Hero Christmas Party at the Ballygarry House Hotel in Tralee on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Mark OSullivan.

Adam Roche pictured with the one and only Chewbacca at the Little Blue Hero Christmas Party in the Ballygarry House Hotel in Tralee on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Mark OSullivan.

John, Sean and Tracey Kearney with Garda Kathy Murphy pictured at the Little Blue Hero Christmas Party at the Ballygarry House Hotel in Tralee on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Mark O'Sullivan.

Garda Elisa OSullivan, Margaret Mahon, Teresa and Francie Mahon and Garda Aoife Coffey at the Little Blue Hero Christmas Party pictured at the Ballygarry House Hotel in Tralee on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Mark O'Sullivan.

Garda Kathy Murphy, Killian Fitzgerald (Little Blue Hero) and Garda Trish Fitzpatrick at the Little Blue Hero Christmas Party at the Ballygarry House Hotel in Tralee on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Mark O'Sullivan.

Kerrys Little Blue Heroes enjoyed an afternoon that they will never forget this past Sunday afternoon as  thanks to the efforts of Garda Mary Gardiner and her colleague Trish Fitzpatrick  the very first Little Blue Heroes Christmas party was held at Ballygarry House Hotel.

The Little Blue Heroes Foundation, established in 2017, is a not-for-profit registered charity voluntarily led by Garda members, retired Garda members and civic minded people from communities. Its aim and vision is to support families of children with serious illnesses in Ireland while empowering the lives of children through positive community engagement.

Sundays party, which saw the children visited by not only Santa Clause but also iconic Star Wars characters such as Chewbacca and a Clone Trooper, was hailed as a huge success by Mary Gardiner who spoke to The Kerryman on Tuesday.

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"It was a huge success. They [the 'Little Blue Heroes charity] were having a national party this year up in Dublin but a lot of our kids, they wouldn't be able for the journey up there so myself and Garda Trish Fitzpatrick, we decided to have our own 'Little Blue Heroes' party here in Kerry and you can see for yourself in the photos, the result of it was fantastic, she said.

"It was so worth it and so fantastic to see the kids being able to just be kids and enjoy themselves...they are the best kids and you could see that they are so appreciative of anything they get. There was a DJ there too and there were able to just have a boogie and just be kids, Mary continued, adding one mother came up to me and told me that it's the first time that they've ever had a family photo with Santa Claus and that's what it's all about, it's about helping to create these memories for families."

As well as all this, Mary said that the kids and their families received something called Sarahs Gift which is a gift bag set up by the family of one of the Little Blue Heroes.

Sarahs family raise money every year to ensure that every 'Little Blue Hero' in the country receives this 'Sarah's Gift'. What's in it is, there's this beautiful ornament and there's vouchers for the family - a fuel voucher, a Tesco voucher, a One4All voucher - and every family in the country gets on every year, said Mary.

Finally, Mary acknowledged the help they received from all their sponsors which included Lee Strand, The Tralee Lions Club, SuperValu in Tralee, Adams of Tralee as well as Divanes.

"Padraig in Ballygarry, too. He is just an absolute gentleman. He gave us the room for the party. I went to him and told him what we were looking for and straight away, he offered us the room and he wouldn't take anything for it."

"We can't wait for next year already. It'll be bigger and better! Mary said.

See all the photos from the event in the photo gallery above.
Dr Jessica Garska and Dr Anita McKeown of SMARTlab Skelligs whose Future Focus21c's climate-change education solution, Muinin Catalyst Sustainable STEAM (MCSS) was commended at COP28.

There are celebrations in South Kerry this week at the news that a local project has been listed amongst the top educational projects at the COP28 summit in Dubai.

SMARTlab Skelligs  Future Focus21c's climate-change education solution, Muinin Catalyst Sustainable STEAM (MCSS), has been selected as one of the initial 100 outstanding educational solutions by the Learning Planet Institute. The group has been acknowledged for its online repository, Teacher for the Planet, which was launched at the the Global Climate Change Conference (COP28 UAE).

The Learning Planet explores, researches and shares new ways of learning and cooperating to meet the needs of the youth and the planet, and the repository, accessible at https://teachersfortheplanet.org/, will serve as a valuable resource for educators, policymakers, and climate advocates seeking effective solutions to integrate climate-change education with the curriculum.

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MCSS is described as an integrated-literacy approach to climate adaptation, building the confidence and competence of young people. It was co-designed through research with over 1,700 young people and their teachers, as well as industry and academic expertise.

The calibre of the solutions received for the Teachers for the Planet Programme was exceptionally high, and SMARTlab Skelligs  Future Focus21c was warmly congratulated on being selected as part of this prestigious group. SMARTlab Skelligs is a research lab based in Cahersiveen and aims to prove that international research projects can be developed in rural communities.

We are thrilled and delighted, said SMARTlab Skellig's Dr Anita McKeown, who moved to Cahersiveen to contribute to research development.

She said SMARTlab Skelligs  Future Focus21c is committed to addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change with innovative education solutions. She added that MCSS is poised to make a significant contribution to shaping the future of climate-change education.

Last year, MCSS was one of five projects co-funded by the Department of Education and Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. It received almost 300,000 in funding.

MCSS is working with 16 schools to include skill for the future in the Irish senior-cycle curriculum.
The Church of the Assumption and St Patrick in Rathangan has been closed since Sunday, December 10, to protect the public from falling debris

The Church of the Assumption and St Patrick in Rathangan was damaged during the recent storms. Photo: Google Maps

A church in Kildare remains closed after the building was damaged when the country was battered by storms at the weekend.

The Church of the Assumption and St Patrick in Rathangan has been closed since Sunday December 10 following storm damage to the church spire.

A church spokesperson explained the church still remained closed on Tuesday evening due to the danger of more debris falling from the church spire.

He added that the church will remain closed until it is safe to reopen to the public and the church will update when they can do further inspection on the spire.

Kildare along with a number of other counties across the country were under a Status Yellow Wind warning on Sunday as Storm Fergus caused havoc around Ireland.

A day prior, Storm Elin made landfall bringing strong winds to many counties.
Thats according to Limerick Sinn Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan as he appealed to the Government to enhance resources at UHL as a matter of urgency on Monday  while 109 patients were waiting on trolleys for beds; the highest figure in Ireland.

According to Deputy Quinlivan, the circumstances have been an issue since 2009, when the HSE initiated a reconfiguration process that included the closing of 24-hour A&E at Ennis and Nenagh general hospitals as well as St Johns Hospital in Limerick.

We went from four emergency departments to one, and the one emergency department wasnt enhanced fast enough, thats the key part of the problem, Maurice Quinlivan explained.

He warned that if nothing is done, the hospital will have to face another winter of horror.

Maurice Quinlivan TD said: University Hospital Limerick has consistently - not just this year, also last year - been the highest overcrowded hospital in the state.

Ive been out there myself with family members, its totally overcrowded, not fit for purpose, you just have too many people presenting into one hospital.

He added: If we dont get a grip in all of that stuff there, were going to be looking at another winter of horror, we are looking at a winter of horror already, because the average in the first days of December is nearly 100 people a day.

The politician continued that the hospital is so overcrowded that it is often forced to use an emergency protocol.

Maurice Quinlivan continued: University Hospital Limerick has been in crisis for years. We have a full capacity protocol thats an emergency protocol brought in by HSE and that would be designed for a possible airplane crash at Shannon Airport, or a possible crash on the motorway, multiple casualties coming at the same time. That is in operation in Limerick almost every single day, so that means that hospital procedures and operations are cancelled on a daily basis in ER because of the overcrowding, and everybody knows that delayed hospital appointments means that youre probably going to be sicker and need more care when that comes around.

He said the Government has not done enough.

We have a crisis, we have a ongoing crisis and the government plan is not going to get out of it. The government would talk about delivering a new sick bed unit that is very very welcome, but that would only deliver 48 beds because of those 96 beds, 48 would come out of existing beds.

What we have was called Nightingale beds so that would be the old tradition, of old wards where you have a number of beds together. Were phasing those out which is right thing to do to stop infections. University Hospital Limerick has been particularly affected over the last number of years, well before the pandemic, by infections and different viruses flying around the air because of too many people in the same ward. So were moving them into single ward units and the new wards we have delivered are actually top quality, and its a very good service, most people have a very good experience at University Hospital Limerick once they are in the hospital, but its getting through the bottleneck to get in to the hospital and unfortunately if you present at the emergency department it can be a horror fest.

Theres 20 thousand plus people on trolleys in Limerick already this year, these are people that are assessed to be in need of a hospital bed and that hospital bed doesnt actually exist.

According to Maurice Quinlivan, there is a number of measures that should be done to improve the dramatic situation at the hospital.

First, the TD talked about the need to retain staff and, at the same time, to hire new members: Well what we would suggest to do firstly is we would recruit the additional staff, but that before we start recruiting the additional staff we need to be sure that we have to maintain the staff that are actually there at the moment, because that is a massive problem of retention of staff for hospitals.

"A lot of nurses would tell you that there is a number of reasons as to why they are doing that, one is the huge pressure of the work they have at University Hospital Limerick.

He also called for an improved GP service and Shannondoc project, which provides urgent medical attention: What we need to do is look at all the stuff as to why we have a crisis at the hospital. So we need to look at the GP service in Limerick which doesnt function as well as it could do, we have an out of hours system called Shannondoc that doesnt always work properly.

The Limerick TD added that the solution lies in enhancing services outside the hospital: We also need to look at how we fund and look after people who are still kind of sick but dont need to be in a hospital but need some sort of care in a home setting.

So we need to have a massive increase in the number of community beds that we have outside of the hospital settings, and that would be looking at nursing homes, looking at when people are ready to go to their home but there might be a small adaptation needed in the house and Ive dealt with people, they can be waiting up to a year to get the grant. Theyre stuck in the hospital for a small grant that would only costs two, three, four thousand euro but to keep you in a hospital for over a year that can cost like tens of thousands, so we need to do all of that stuff.

And then we need to have a realistic approach of how we do [it], for instance you have people that are in the hospital just waiting for an MRI scan and they shouldnt be in the hospital waiting for an MRI scan, that should be done in the communities.

We built a number of primary care [facilities], particularly across Limerick, but we havent put in the additional services that we should have put in, and one of those would have been an extra proper MRI system there, where people wouldn't have to go to the hospital. The idea of what we are trying to do is to get as many people as possible who need care not to require going to the hospital.
Christmas season is well and truly upon us, and no matter what your interests are, there are plenty of Christmassy events taking place this week to get you into the spirit.

From concerts, exhibitions and even food, theres lots to do.

Heres our top pick of the things to do this week.

CHRISTMAS TOONS

Celebrate the magic of Christmas in this very special concert delivered by the brilliant Dave Flynn, Eddie Lee, Kieran Quinn, Sinead Conway and Ken McDonald (Tonto) at Hawks Well Theatre on Sunday, December 7. The event starts at 3.30pm and tickets are 6.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Join Aoife Anderson and guests for a night of magical music and festive treats, all in aid of North West STOP Suicide Prevention at Castle Dargan on Thursday, December 14. Tickets are 20 each and all proceeds from the tickets and the raffle on the night go to North West STOP Suicide Prevention.

LATE NIGHTS AT THE MODEL

The Models exciting series of late night gigs kicks off on Saturday, December 16. Up first are local legends Tara McGowan (Tara B) and John Graham (John G), who together form the electronic dance music DJ collective Toast. Toast presents a series of pop-up electronic music nights in Sligo, celebrating a wide range of contemporary and off kilter electronic music.

NEW VOICES SHOWCASE

Come and enjoy a rehearsed reading of short plays written by participants from Hawks Wells New Voices teenage playwriting programme at the theatre on Saturday, December 16 at 2pm. Over the course of eight weeks, seven teenagers have been honing their playwriting skills, developing their voice, and writing about all of the things that matter to them. This showcase features a selection of their work, performed by professional actors Bob Kelly, Nichola MacEvilly, Roger McCarrick, Sinead Sexton.

FAMILY FUN SANTA RUN

The Parents Association of Dromore West National School is hosting a Family Fun Santa Run at Dromore West NS on Saturday, December 16. The 5km run starts at 12pm. Participants can walk or run. More info on Eventbrite.

GLOBAL KITCHEN CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Sligo Global Kitchen brings communities together to share dishes from around the world. Come and join them for a festive celebration and enjoy a special Christmas menu with family and friends on Saturday, December 16 at The Model.

WE ARE HERE

As part of The Sunset Belongs To You project, Young Model presents We Are Here  an exhibition of their work completed in workshops led by artist Bryan Gerard Duffy. Participants explore the essence of portraiture, its history, and what it means today in this fast changing and diverse society, where technology holds precedence. The exhibition is open until March.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

A Christmas concert with John McNicholl and band takes place at Sooey Church today (Wednesday December 13). This event is a fundraiser for the upkeep of cemeteries. Tickets from local outlets (Gala shop Ballygawley and Bakers Butcher Riverstown) or by calling Thomas Walsh (0861025285).

SUNDANCE CHRISTMAS PARTY

The final SunDance party of the year takes place on Friday, December 15 at Andersons. DJ Leo and DJ Jovince will be coming to town. SunDance brings the sunny Caribbean to Sligo with regular events.

DEREK WARFIELD AND THE YOUNG WOLFE TONES

Enjoy a great night of Irish songs and music at The Garavogue Bar on Saturday, December 16 at Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones are back.
Some of the children whose portraits are on exhibition at The Model.

The Model has unveiled a newly commissioned series of portraits of 18 Sligo children by distinguished painters Mick ODea and Geraldine ONeill.

The portraits capture young people from diverse backgrounds living across County Sligo, and enable a hopeful glimpse into the Ireland of the future.

The paintings are now on view to the general public as part of a project titled The Sunset Belongs to You until Saturday 2nd March.

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The portraits are now part of The Niland Collection, where they have a meaningful presence alongside portraits of historic public figures, activists, artists and other changemakers.

The paintings demonstrate the importance, equality and potential of each child to lead the way with confidence and vision towards a bright democratic future for Ireland.

In commissioning the portraits, The Model sought to challenge the ingrained traditional structures of portraiture to question who is reflected in a public art collection, and who is overlooked.

Sligo communities who have been under-represented in the past, are now made visible within the public collection of their local museum.

Historically, it was only the rich and powerful who could be painted, but in this case, we are painting the future, says artist Geraldine ONeill.

ONeill painted each of her sitters over several months, finalising a portrait through a slow and immersive engagement.

Taking a different approach, Mick ODeas painted 12 portraits over the course of one week, in live sittings before an audience, during which he engaged the children and the public in a dialogue about portraiture.

Speaking about the portrait commission, Emer McGarry, Director of The Model said The Sunset Belongs to You is named after a painting by Jack Butler Yeats.

It is an inclusive reflection of contemporary society, in all its diversity and richness that will live on in Sligos municipal art collection as an historical document into the future.

The are both Royal Hibernian Academicians. Their portraits of public figures feature prominently in Irelands national art collections.

The exhibition is supported by the Community Foundation for Ireland and will continue until Saturday 2nd March 2024 at The Model. All openings and exhibitions at The Model are free and open to the public.
Wicklow County Council have granted permission for a suite of upgrades to the Arklow Coast Guard station that will provide a range of new facilities for the Coast Guard crew.

Submitted by the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, the approved application includes a new 39.37 sq.m single-storey flat roof extension to the rear and side of the existing station and the reconstruction of the failing existing stone boundary wall to the left-hand side of the station to include new pedestrian access from the front of the station via a new entrance gate.

The proposed extension will provide a new ambulant disabled toilet, shower, changing room, additional storage, and canteen facilities that can double as a meeting room.

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Approving the application, a Wicklow County Council planner noted: The proposed extension to the existing Coast Guard station comprises a wrap-around flat roof structure, which is to provide meeting, canteen, changing, toilet and shower facilities for the Coast Guard crew.

The extension is a single-storey storey rising to the eaves level of the existing building and does not encroach on neighbouring properties or provide any new or additional overlooking opportunities.

As presented, the proposed extension is considered acceptable.
Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore has called on the Department of Education to fast-track secondary school buildings for the Greystones and Kilcoole area as a matter of urgency.

Deputy Whitmore was speaking following a meeting with the Department regarding the expected shortfall in school places for September 2024. The Social Democrats TD has been raising the issue of secondary school place shortages with the Department since early October when it emerged there could be a potential shortfall of 100 school places in the Greystones and Kilcoole areas in September.

Last week, the Department issued reassurances that all children would be offered a place for 2024.

While I welcome commitments from the Department of Education that every school child will be offered a place and that they are working with the schools to identify potential capacity within existing school buildings, this will only amount to a very short-term solution.

What we need to see now is that three promised school builds for the area are completed as soon as possible. These include a new permanent building for Greystones Community College and school extensions for Temple Carraig and Colaiste Chraobh Abhann. These need to be delivered urgently to prevent this situation from arising again.

There is a glaring need for more school places in the Greystones and Kilcoole areas. This has been the case for several years and has been made obvious since October this year when we learned there would be a shortage of nearly 100 school places for the next academic year.

Following a meeting with the Department of Education this week, I am calling on them again to fast-track school buildings for Greystones and Kilcoole.

The Department of Education is currently analysing the school application and enrolment data provided by the different schools in the area. They are also looking at the capacity of the schools in the area to see if they can take more students in 2024.

I know that the uncertainly over the Christmas period will make for a difficult period for parents and students. I was advised that this analysis will be complete in January, and we will have an update then. I am going to stay on this issue, and I have requested a follow-up meeting with the Department of Education in January, where I will again press the need for a long-term solution and fast-tracking of school builds in the area.
Irish Rail and Bus Eireann have announced revised schedules for Wicklow commuters travelling on DART, train and bus services over the Christmas period.

Late-night DART services are in operation on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in the run-up to Christmas, with 12.30 a.m. and 1.30 a.m. services from Connolly Station, serving all stations to Greystones on December 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23.

Two late-night services from Connolly serving all stations to Greystones will operate on New Years Eve, departing at 1.30 a.m. and 2.30 a.m. Late-night services will have security personnel on board to ensure customer safety.

On Sunday, December 24, the Rosslare to Dublin service  which stops in Arklow, Rathdrum, Wicklow town, Kilcoole, Greystones and Bray  will operate a normal service.

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There will be no service on Christmas Day (Monday, December 25) or St. Stephens Day (Tuesday, December 25, while there will be a Saturday service on Wednesday 27, Thursday 28 and Friday 29, with additional services operating from Connolly to Gorey (20:05) and Gorey to Connolly (22:10).

A normal service will operate on Saturday, December 30 and New Year's Eve (Sunday, December 31), with a Sunday service in operation on New Year's Day (Monday, January 1).

If you are travelling, we recommend that you book your travel in advance, including holders of free travel passes or existing valid tickets, an Irish Rail spokesperson said.

Bicycles must be booked online prior to travel. Alcohol remains prohibited on all services.

For information on all other routes, customers should check times before travelling for alterations on our Journey Planner at irishrail.ie.

Bus Eireann services will operate normal schedules until Saturday, December 23, marking one of the busiest travel weeks as passengers from across Ireland and beyond travel home for the festive season.

On Christmas Eve, December 24, services will operate to a Sunday timetable with earlier final departures at approximately 9 p.m. No services will operate on Christmas Day.

Bus Eireann services will operate based on Bank Holiday/Sunday service timetables for St. Stephens Day, December 26 commencing around 9 a.m. Passengers planning to travel are encouraged to check the timetable for their routes.

From Wednesday, December 27, services will operate normal timetables to New Years Eve, Sunday, December 31. Services on New Years Day, Monday, January 1, will operate to a Sunday schedule. A full normal timetable across Bus Eireann services will resume from Tuesday, January 2.

Stephen Kent, Chief Executive of Bus Eireann, commented: Bus Eireann has facilitated over 99 million passenger journeys in 2023, and we know that many of our customers will be using our services during the Christmas season  whether travelling home, visiting family and friends, shopping, or working over the festive period.

Christmas and New Year is the busiest period for Bus Eireann services, and we are delighted to provide an extensive schedule up to and during the Christmas season to meet the travel needs of our customers.

We advise those planning to travel over the festive period to plan their journeys in advance and check our website for up-to-date timetables and travel information.

On behalf of Bus Eireann, I want to take this opportunity to thank our valued customers for choosing our services this past year, and we extend our warm wishes for a safe and joyful holiday season to all, wherever you may travel.
Councillors anxious about alarming coastal erosion have been told there are hopes the Office of Public Works (OPW) will begin tackling the issue across County Wicklows full 60km coastline, and not just in selected areas when prompted.

The Murrough in Wicklow town and North Beach in Greystones have been a key priority with both in severe levels of deterioration.

But councillors are now seeing other areas of the coast beginning to erode and raised serious concerns at the December meeting of Wicklow County Council (WCC).

WCCs Director of Services Breege Kilkenny provided updates on the most pressing issues, but when questioned by Arklow councillor Peir Leonard over Clogga Strand and Clogga Beach being added to the concern list, she revealed she hoped that the whole coastline would soon be examined.

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Cllr Leonard said: We have spoken before about Arklow north beach being added to the OPW for a feasibility study, but I would like Clogga Beach and Clogga Strand included.

I have had a lot of people onto me from Clogga Strand and there has been substantial erosion there as well. So maybe the team could go out and have a look at that now that we are on the roll of getting OPW funding and it would be great to get the whole county done.

In reply, Ms Kilkenny said: We are really hoping the OPW will take on their role more specifically for our 60 kilometres of coastline and not just on a piecemeal basis.

The reason why we made applications for those three different sets of beaches at the moment is thats the only thing at our disposal and each application has to be dealt with separately.

So we can add them, but it does actually add another administrative burden on. So, if it ends up being that nothing is going to happen we will of course add them, but we are really hoping that the OPW will take on the new role that they now have for our coastal protection and look at our entire coast of 60 kilometres and do it in a much more strategic fashion.

Regarding the works at the Murrough, Ms Kilkenny said: We have been working relentlessly with Irish Rail and it sometimes does take a little bit of effort to try and get them to move forward, but we have made space available for the storage of materials like rock armour, and Irish Rail will need to progress the planning process.

Sispar has also been requested to have another look at the erosion taking place in Greystones.

They normally do their laser surveys around March, so we have been in touch with them and we have asked them to expedite that because from our point of view, visually, there is a lot more erosion this year than we have even expected in previous years.

In particular, we are concerned in relation to the undermining of the public park and that is where we are bringing in Sispar, just in relation to that. They have taken on board what we have said and they are going to start doing that work very soon.

You have probably seen some of the stuff happening down at Greystones at present, but as soon as we get a report on that, I will make sure it is brought to the members, added Ms Kilkenny.
Councillors were updated on the status of the Codling Wind Park in a presentation held during Decembers monthly meeting of Wicklow County Council, including details of the Community Benefit Fund.

Codling Wind Park is a proposed offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea, approximately 13-22 kilometres off the County Wicklow coast, between Greystones and Wicklow town.

The 50/50 joint venture between Fred Olsen Seawind and EDF Renewables has been in development for almost 24 years.

The size of the offshore site is 125 square kilometres. When built it will contribute to 26 per cent of Irelands gigawatts of offshore wind, and will power over 1.5 million homes.

Pat Sammon, External Affairs Manager at Codling Wind Park, provided details on the community benefit fund, which commences once a commencement notice for construction is issued. An independent administrator will be appointed and a committee will then be formed to dispense the fund to appropriate causes.

We will be making an announcement early next year around the time of the lodging of the planning application on the fund, but it will be a significant fund, said Mr Sammon.

Its laid out in the Departments Community Benefit Fund handbook that they published in January of this year.

It says that the fund isnt to be considered compensation of any kind, rather it is the mechanism to share the benefits of offshore renewable energy with communities. So that is how we have approached this.

We are always keen to make sure that we say to people and to organisations in the area that it is a little off yet because we have to progress through the planning process before this ever comes into being, but it is significant and people should start to think about the projects that they would like to see progressed through it.

A Commercial Fisheries Fund announced earlier this year as part of the release of the sustainable fishers charter also makes available a fund of 500,000 for the offshore fishing community.

It is the first fisheries charter in Ireland, but I think also one of the first biodiversity charters, which really seeks to demonstrate how the project will ensure we protect biodiversity on the Codling Bank throughout the development of the project, added Mr Sean Leake.

Speaking about the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), Erlend Christiansen, Codling Wind Parks Offshore Licensing Manager, said: Its a government-run auction that you compete in to provide electricity. Lots of other projects would have competed in that and Codling were lucky to be successful. So the developments will continue on until 2025 and then its a final investment decision (FID), and then the construction is envisaged to begin in 2027 and that will last for maybe two or three years.

Sean Leake, Offshore EIA and Consent Manager for Codling Wind Park, advised that mitigating measures will be put in place, as the cable corridor will go through special areas of conservation. These include reducing the number of turbines.

He stated: We will be undertaking a survey in advance of construction to ensure we have correct mitigation in place. Things like the avoidance of reef features, but we have also reduced the number of turbines from 140 to around 75, which will be the maximum number of turbines, principally to reduce that potential ornithological impact.

The larger turbines have a maximum tip capacity of 314 metres and there are two options for the smaller turbines, either a 250-metre rotor diameter or 276-metre rotor diameter. The next phase of public engagement will take place early in the new year when an application will be submitted to An Bord Pleanala.
Niamh Britchfield about to set off on her trolley dash with Ewelina Sliwka, Lidl Store Manager, Mirwais Nawabzai, Izabela Wolk, Zilvinas Salavieju, Bobby Jenkins from the Lidl Store Team and Michael Nolan, Lidl Store Operations Manager. Photographer: Dermot Byrne.

Christmas came early for Niamh Britchfield as she got the opportunity to grab over 495 worth of goodies from Lidl Wicklow town as the winner of the annual trolley dash.

The Lidl Ireland Christmas trolley dash has raised more than 300,000 in support of their charity partner Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health.

Now in its tenth year, the fundraising initiative received widespread support from generous customers across Lidls 179 stores nationwide, with Lidl customers in County Wicklow raising more than 5,000 for Jigsaw.

Winning customers of the trolley dash fundraiser have been taking to the aisles at their local stores for the chance to bag their Christmas shopping and fill a trolley load of groceries and festive treats, just in time for Christmas.

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For two weeks in November, Trolley Dash tickets are sold in Lidl stores across Ireland for just 1 each, offering customers the chance to win a supermarket sweep style dash around their local nearest Lidl store. Since its launch in 2014, Lidls Trolley Dash has raised more than 2 million for local Irish charities and given away trolley loads of Christmas groceries to thousands of lucky winners.

Eimear OSullivan, Corporate Affairs Director, Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland said: Thanks to the continued support of our fantastic shoppers and employees across Ireland, we are delighted to have raised just over 312,000 for our charity partner Jigsaw through Trolley Dash this festive season.

We are extremely proud to partner with Jigsaw, who support young adults in Ireland with expert mental health advice and support, and this festive fundraiser is undoubtedly the highlight event in the calendar every year.
Rising tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have heightened the risk of a military confrontation that could draw in Burundi, the top UN official in Congo has warned the Security Council.
Six officers were killed and 25 others injured when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle outside a police station in north-west Pakistan on Tuesday, killing (AP)

Islamist militants rammed an explosive-laden truck into a police station in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least 24 people, two security officials said, the latest devastating attack in recent months claimed by a Pakistani Taliban group.
Israel said it had tightened its grip on Hamas strongholds across Gaza with heavy airstrikes and ground fighting, as its forces race to deliver a decisive blow to the militant group before international outrage over civilian deaths and a humanitarian collapse compels it to ease its attacks.
We hope to count on you, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says in aid plea to US congress

As US funding runs out, Ireland is among EU signatories on open letter pushing for further American military assistance in war

Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky meets with International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva at the IMF in Washington DC yesterday. Photo: Reuters

Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Michael Rose Tue 12 Dec 2023 at 03:30







Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky told a US military audience yesterday that he hoped he can still count on the United States and urged Congress not play into Russian president Vladimir Putins hands, as he started a critical visit to Washington to shore up security assistance.
Photo courtesy: UNI

New Delhi: The Adani Group has been maintaining its relationship with a contentious contracting firm controlled by a Taiwanese family, Bloomberg reported.

Regulatory filings that were not reported earlier reveal the details of how this relationship has developed amid a government inquiry and auditor scrutiny, it added.

The contracting firm in question, Howe Engineering Projects (India) Pvt Ltd., includes the core operations of PMC Projects Pvt Ltd., a business that the Indian government accused in 2014 of being used by billionaire Gautam Adani's empire to funnel funds overseas.

Adani vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and the investigation's findings were dismissed in 2017 by an adjudicating body.

In April 2016, the engineering business of PMC was integrated into Howe, as indicated by court documents.

Recent filings analysed by Bloomberg reveal that Howe has continued to serve as a contractor for Adani, contributing to major port and railway projects currently in development in India.

Deloitte's inability to definitively classify Howe as a related party prompted the auditor to reveal concerns about payments from Adani's ports company to the contracting firm in May.

Subsequently, the accounting giant resigned as the auditor for Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. in August, citing insufficient oversight over the broader conglomerate's accounts.

The ongoing involvement of Howe brings to attention the challenges faced by shareholders in understanding the financial flows through Adani companies, continuing nearly a year after fraud allegations by short seller Hindenburg Research.

The Bloomberg report stated that Hindenburg targeted PMC, alleging it was an Adani-related party used to suck money out of the Adani Groups publicly listed entities. Its report didnt mention Howe.

In an email, a spokesperson of the Adani conglomerate stated that Howe and PMC are separate and independently operated entities, are not considered related parties to Adani, and assured that all transactions adhere to legal compliance.

The commercial and business transactions undertaken by the Adani entities for project management services were entered into in the ordinary course of business at arms length basis, the statement said.

The stock market regulator is currently investigating the allegations made by Hindenburg Research against Adani.

Although the regulator has not disclosed its findings yet, it has stated that its inquiry will encompass various aspects, including the examination of potential related party transactions.
Mumbai: Yes Bank is planning to sell another portfolio worth a little over Rs 4,200 crore, ET reported.

This comes almost a year after divesting a distressed loan book valued at Rs 48,000 crore.

The private bank has issued notices to finance companies and asset reconstruction companies (ARC) as it seeks potential buyers for its corporate and retail loans, carrying an outstanding debt of Rs 4,233 crore, according to the report.

In the preceding year, Yes Bank executed the sale of a non-performing loan portfolio totaling Rs 48,000 crore to JC Flowers ARC, marking it as the largest secondary market trade in the distressed loan segment.

The current corporate loan portfolio comprises eight accounts amounting to Rs 3,091 crore, while the retail portfolio stands at Rs 1,142 crore.

While the previous sale to JC Flowers ARC involved a combination of cash and security receipts, this time around, Yes Bank is exclusively inviting cash offers.

Notable entities within the corporate portfolio include two UK-based companies, Prometheon Enterprises Ltd, UK, with a debt of Rs 1,496 crore, and Malvern Travels, UK, with a debt of Rs 537 crore, both affiliated with Cox and Kings, the bankrupt travel agency, the report said.

Another company on the list is Katerra India Pvt Ltd, with a debt of Rs 521 crore, which was recently admitted for corporate insolvency, with Yes Bank being the sole lender, it added.

Yes Bank is looking to sell loans from various companies, including Indrajit Power, which has an outstanding debt of Rs 353 crore, the report said.

The bank has also put up real estate developers like ATS Realworth Pvt Ltd, ATS Infrastructure, ATS Township, and Umritha Infrastructure for sale.

Expressions of interest (EoI) have been invited for these assets, and the bank has not set a reserve price or a bidding date for the corporate loan book.

Yes Bank has invited EoI for its retail portfolio of Rs 1,142 crore, encompassing personal loans, vehicle loans, credit cards, commercial vehicle loans, construction equipment, and healthcare/hospitality equipment loans, with a deadline of December 18.

The retail portfolio comprises a personal loan portfolio of Rs 380 crore, vehicle loan books totalling Rs 183 crore, a credit card portfolio amounting to Rs 118 crore, a commercial vehicle loan book of Rs 119 crore, construction equipment loans of Rs 102 crore, and healthcare/hospitality equipment loans of Rs 102 crore.

The retail portfolio includes women microfinance borrowers with loans of Rs 166 crore and business loans amounting to Rs 70 crore.

In a notice to Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs), the bank has said the initiation of this process to identify an anchor bidder. It plans to conduct a Swiss challenge auction upon finalizing an anchor bidder.

The gross non-performing assets (NPA) amounted to Rs 4,319 crore in September 2023, compared to Rs 27,419 crore the previous year.
Photo courtesy: twitter.com/JM_Scindia

New Delhi: To strengthen India's aerospace manufacturing and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday urged leaders of aerospace manufacturing companies to work together and share their needs from various government departments, an official release said.

This collaboration aims to support the expansion of supply chains for aerospace manufacturing in India, it said.

During the Advisory Group meeting of Aerospace Manufacturers and MROs, Minister Scindia also engaged in detailed discussions with MROs on their operational and taxation challenges.

Met the Advisory Group of Aerospace Manufacturers and MROs and deliberated upon taxation, as well as regulatory issues impacting the growth of the sectors.



Also, advised aerospace manufacturers to present a collaborative plan outlining their requirements from each department of pic.twitter.com/J6RQhtJn5f  Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) December 12, 2023

The Minister said he would relook at select taxation and regulatory issues and collectively work towards greater financial viability for MROs.

He further underlined the ministrys commitment towards establishing India as a global hub for aviation and creating a robust and globally competitive aviation ecosystem.

The meeting was attended by players like Airbus, Boeing, Safran, Max Aerospace, GMR MRO, Bharat Forge, Tata Advanced Systems, RTX, HAL, AIESL, Pratt & Wittney, Air Works, Taj Air, Bird Executive, Invest India and CII.

The meeting also was attended by Gen (Retd) Dr. V. K. Singh, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation & Road Transport and Highways, Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and other senior officials from DGCA, AAI, BCAS and MoCA.
Photo courtesy: UNI

Shimla/UNI: Two more council of ministers would be inducted in the nine members of cabinet of one year Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government.

According to sources, the governor is out of state, and if he returns today, the expansion is likely to be held after 2:30 pm on Tuesday.

Among those who are shortlisted are members of the legislative assembly from Ghumerwin of Bilaspur district, Rajesh Dharmani, who is four times a member of the assembly.

Another member would be Yadvinder Goma from Jaisinghpur, Kangra.

Dharmani would arrive in Shimla and Goma was also called by the Chief Minister to attend Cabinet expansion.

The state general administration is already preparing for the oath, which might be held around 1430 hrs.

Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Partap Shukla reported to be in New Delhi, likely to be returned by the afternoon.

Currently, including Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, there are nine ministers in the state cabinet, and expansion has been on the agenda for the last year.

The state could induct three more ministers into the 68-member legislature, as the number of ministers couldn't exceed 12.

Currently, there is an imbalance in the COMs as the minister is in the state government from Mandi, Kullu, and Lahaul Spiti districts, and out of ten MLAs from the biggest Kangra district, there is only one cabinet minister.

Among the current members of the COM are three ministers from Shimla, including Rohit Thakur from Jubbal and Kotkhai, Vikramaditya Singh from Rural Shimla, and Anirudh Singh from Kasumpti. Dr Dhani Ram Shandil from Solan, Harshvardhan Chauhan from Sirmour, Jagat Singh Negi from Kinnaur, and Chander Kumar from Kangra. Kuldeep Singh Pathania is a speaker from Chamba district.

Three seats on the Council of Ministers have been vacant for the past year. Sukhu was given the green signal for cabinet expansion recently during the completion of the one-year celebration.
Image Credit: Pixabay

In a gruesome incident, a paternal aunt strangled a 4-year-old boy to death at their house at Vannamada near Kozhinjampara in this district on Monday night.

Later, the accused attempted to commit suicide by cutting her wrist vein and was admitted to Thrissur Medical College with grievous injuries.

According to police, the deceased was identified as Ritvik, a pre-KG student of St. Francis English medium school at Karuvapara and the son of Madhusoodhanan and Athira residing at Vannamada.

Police said Deepthi (29), the wife of Madhusoodhanan's elder brother Balakrishnan, strangled the victim to death around 2200 hrs, when all the family members went out to a nearby hospital for the treatment of Madhusoodhanan's mother, Padmavathi.

Some of the family members returned home from the hospital and found that the door to the house was locked.

They forcibly opened the door and found that the child was lying in an unconscious state, and Deepthi was lying in a pool of blood around 2230 hrs.

The local residents rushed both of them to a nearby hospital at Nattukal, but doctors declared the child dead, and Deepthi was shifted to Thrissur Medical College after the first aid.

It is reported that Deepthi is having some mental health issues and is undergoing medical treatment.

Kozhinjapara police registered a case for unnatural death, and the investigation is ongoing.

(With UNI inputs)
Image tweeted by Bhajanlal Sharma

Jaipur/IBNS: Keeping up with its trend of fielding fresh faces for top jobs in the heartland states it won, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saved the biggest surprise for the last- Rajasthan as it picked a first-time MLA Bhajanlal Sharma as the chief minister of the state.

Bhajanlal Sharma, named the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan, is a first-time MLA from Sanganer. The MLA, who hails from Bharatpur, was not given a ticket from that seat as it wasn't considered winnable for upper castes.

Sharma will have "People's Princess" Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa as his deputy chief ministers.

The name of Sharma surprised many political analysts as against the very popular Vasundhara Raje, who held the top post on behalf of the party for three terms.

The 56-year-old, initially associated with the ABVP, the student wing of the party's ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has always kept a low profile.

A state general secretary of the party, he is seen as an organisation man, quite unlike Raje, who was often seen with the top leadership.

The selection of a Brahmin face for the chief minister post is seen as a safe choice in Rajasthan, where Rajputs and Jats are the dominant castes. However, picking a member from either community carries the risk of reverse polarisation next year-- a situation the BJP could not afford.

Vasundhara Raje was acceptable to both communities as she, an erstwhile royal, was a Rajput who married into a Jat family.

The BJP has been considering the caste and class arithmetic in a big way in the heartland states in the run-up to next year's general election.

However, there was speculation that Raje, the party's tallest leader in the state, would be benched. The pattern is similar to Madhya Pradesh, where four-time Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Chhattisgarh's former Chief Minister Raman Singh, were dropped.

Chhattisgarh's new Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai is a tribal leader and has been a state BJP chief, Union Minister of State, and BJP national working committee member.

The man replacing Shivraj Sing Chouhan, Mohan Yadav, is a three-time MLA, former minister of the state, and belongs to Other Backward Caste (OBC).

Like Shivraj Chauhan in Madhya Pradesh yesterday, Raje was the one to propose the name of the new Chief Minister at the legislature party meeting this afternoon. It was seconded by state leaders Kirori Meena, Madan Dilawar and Jawar Singh.
Photo Courtesy: wikipedia.org

Brasilia: Brazil's first lady Rosangela Lula da Silva's X handle was breached by hackers, who then exploited her account to disseminate explicit pornographic images, the Brazilian media reported.

Earlier in the day, various posts featuring offensive and pornographic content were reportedly published on the Brazilian president's wife's X account.

Rosangela Lula da Silva's account is currently not blocked, but not a single post is visible on her page.

The federal police will launch an investigation into the incident, CNN Brazil said.

The head of Brazil's Secretariat of Social Communication, Paulo Pimenta, told the broadcaster that both the social media platform and the federal police had already been informed of the incident.

The police confirmed to CNN Brazil it would look into the matter.

(UNI/Xinhua report)
Turkish President Erdogan signed the public dcree granting free education to students from Gaza. (Photo Courtesy: Xinhua/UNI)

Ankara: The Turkish government said on Tuesday that Post-Graduate and doctoral students from the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip will be exempted from paying tuition fees in the spring semester of the 2023-2024 academic year.

This was announced in a government decree published in the official gazette, which was signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

So far, all Palestinian students from Gaza who are attending public higher education institutions in Turkey will be exempt from paying tuition fees in the second semester of the 2023-2024 academic year.

The Turkish government in November already announced that it would cover the cost of those students from Gaza pursuing bachelor's and diploma degrees in the country in the 2023-2024 academic year's second semester.

Ankara has been sending health and aid supplies to Gaza since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out in the Palestinian enclave on Oct 7.

The conflict has so far killed over 18,000 Palestinians, while Israel lost some 1,200 lives, most of whom were killed in the Hamas surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7 which triggered the conflict.
Photo Courtesy: Taylor Swift Instagram page

Singing sensation Taylor Swift tried to help people in Tennessee who were ravaged by tornadoes by donating $1 million to the Tennessee Emergency Response Fund at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Hal Cato, CEO of the community foundation, confirmed Swifts contribution, reported USA Today.

Though shes often seen socializing on the East Coast, the megastar just named Time magazines Person of the Year has ties to Nashville, where she still lives and has her office, the American newspaper reported.

At least six people died in the US state of Tennessee as a result of a storm that hit the state on Saturday (December 9, 2023), with three casualties in Montgomery County and three in the city of Nashville in Davidson County, according to local authorities and police.

"Multiple power lines/poles down along Gallatin N/OHB area. Severe damage along Nesbitt Ln where there are at least 3 fatalities," the Nashville police earlier said on X.

The city's mayor had declared a state of emergency.

A state of emergency was also declared in the city of Clarksville in Montgomery County.
Photo Courtesy: Wallpaper Cave

At least three Pakistani security force members died after suspected terrorists rammed an explosive-laden car into a building in Dera Ismail Khan on Tuesday.

The incident left 16 people injured.

Daraban came under militant attack as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bears the brunt of surging terror incidents, reported Geo News.

Security forces reportedly gunned down three terrorists during the incident.

The outgoing year witnessed an alarming rise in terror-related incidents in the country in general and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in particular as at least 470 security personnel and civilians were killed in the province, so for, the Pakistani news channel reported.

According to statistics available with Geo News, 470 people were killed in 1,050 terror-related incidents in one year alone.
Photo Courtesy: Wallpaper Cave

A least 23 Pakistani soldiers died after terrorists attacked a security forces' post in Dera Ismail Khans Daraban area on Tuesday, media reports said.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), six terrorists attacked the security post in the early morning hours, reported Dawn News.

The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted which forced the terrorists to ram an explosive laden vehicle into the post, followed by a suicide bombing attack," ISPR said.

The resulting blasts led to the collapse of the building, causing multiple casualities; 23 brave soldiers embraced shahadat, while all six terrorists were effectively engaged and sent to hell,

According to reports, sanitisation operations are currently ongoing.

Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthens our resolve, the ISPR said.

Former Sindh governor Dr Ishratul Ibad described the attack as 'heinous'.

"Deeply saddened by the heinous attack in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Daraban School and Daraban Police Station." My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the fallen security men, and I wish for the injured to recover quickly," he said.

"Terrorist acts have no place in our society. These attacks can't shatter our nation's resolve against terrorism. Sending prayers for the brave souls to attain the greatest rank in Jannah. Aameen," he said.
Pepsi is unquestionably one of the world's most popular soft drinks. This 125-year-old beverage was created in 1898 in New Bern, North Carolina, by pharmacist Caleb D. Bradham.

What was Pepsi named initially?

Canva

The drink was once dubbed "Brad's Drink" after its creator. Bradham purchased the moniker "Pepsi Kola" from a local competitor and renamed it to Pepsi-Cola, according to PepsiCo's website.



When was the name changed to Pepsi?

In 1961, the drink's name was shortened to Pepsi. According to a Los Angeles Times story, the name Pepsi comes from the Greek word for indigestion or upset stomach, "dyspepsia." Pepsi was initially marketed as a medical drink that relieved dyspepsia.

Canva

Why was the name changed?



Jenny Danzi, senior director at Pepsi, explained the renaming of the drink to Food & Wine: "Bradham changed 'Brad's Drink,' his renowned non-alcoholic digestive made with a blend of kola nuts, sugar, water, caramel, lemon oil, nutmeg, and other ingredients, to 'Pepsi-Cola.'

He thought the drink was more than just a refreshment, that it helped digestion, and that its name came from the Greek term dyspepsia, which means "indigestion."

How have some other theories behind the name come up over time?

According to one idea, the name "Pepsi" was inspired by the digestive enzyme pepsin. Pepsin, on the other hand, was never used as an ingredient in Pepsi-Cola.

Pepsi is now primarily advertised as a refreshment soft drink to be used as a complement to meals and snacks. Pepsi is expected to be the second-most valuable soft drink product in the world by 2023.



In terms of sales, it trails Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola and Pepsi have battled for the same target audience since their inception. Their rivalry has been termed the "Cola Wars."

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
Turkey's Dogu Express, historically a commuter train from Ankara to Kars, has gained popularity among Turkish influencers, showcasing the stunning scenery of eastern Turkey.

Shutterstock

What's happening?

The 30-plus hours sleeper train ride, which was turned into a tourist route after popular demand in 2019, covers a distance of 1,310 kilometres (814 miles) and stops at various cities along the way. The train offers passengers a chance to explore off-the-beaten-path treasures and experience the diverse cultures of eastern Turkey. Despite its growing popularity, tickets for the Dogu Express are notoriously hard to come by, often selling out within minutes.



Where and when?

The sleeper train runs from bustling capital, Ankara, to the sometimes snowy wonderland of Kars. It runs three times a week from December to March only, and travels the same route with extended stops, allowing visits to places such as Karanlk Canyon and the small, mosaic-laden city of Erzincan.

Shutterstock

Why does it sell out fast?

Berry Romo, a travel influencer who has been living in Turkey for over a decade, notes that "the train was already quite popular among locals and Turkish travellers, but barely known among foreign tourists."

Turkish travel agencies usually buy large quantities of tickets to resell for tours they organize, ensuring their clients a place on the train, which is why, according to locals, tickets are gone so soon. Individual tickets can only be bought a month in advance, making them a coveted prize for the few who get them.

How much is the ticket?

Tickets for the touristic Dogu Express cost between 65 euros (2-person sleeper) and 80 euros (1-person sleeper) when booked directly through the Turkish Railways. Excursions (around 10 Euros per excursion) are not included in the price and can be booked separately once you are on the train.

Who should go for it?

Eastern Express in Turkey is one of the most scenic train routes in the world. The famed rail route is perfect during late autumn or winter if you want to experience cinematic views of nature under a blanket of snow. There are two train options for travelling on the same route: touristic and the non-touristic.

Netta Kalpan, a native Minnesotan who lived in the Black Sea coastal area of Trabzon and was used to harsh snowy winters, says she "didn't realize how big, flat, and cold Turkey could be" before taking the train. Yet, she describes the landscape as "stunning, mostly in its vastness."

"I kept trying to take videos out the windows" but felt "like I wasn't able to capture how it really felt to see it," she says.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.



Indiatimes is conducting crowd-sourced polls to gauge the frontrunners of the massive OTT universe. Right from the nitty-gritties to the major leagues, this final encore will pay a big tribute to shows and movies that struck a chord with our hearts in 2023. Have you started voting yet?

To check out all the categories, click here - Binge Polls 2023: Cast Your Votes For Favourite OTT Movie, Web Series, Actor, Actress And More!
Some companies have vowed to act now before irreversible environmental damage makes it impossible to fight against it. We have compiled a list of such companies and startups; take a look.



Representational Image

1) Jackery

Jackery is a climate tech startup that provides portable and rechargeable power stations and solar panels for outdoor and emergency use.

Their products offer clean, renewable energy solutions that reduce the reliance on traditional fossil fuel-powered generators. With a focus on sustainability and innovation, Jackery aims to enable people to live off-grid and reduce their carbon footprint while enjoying the great outdoors.



The company was founded in 2012 in Fremont, California and boasts an exponential 833% 5-year search growth.

2) The Wastelab

The Wasterlab is a women-owned, Dubai-based, impact-driven startup that aims to create an opportunity for every food scrap to become a solution rather than a burden on our society and environment.



The Waste Lab aims to build a community of individuals and businesses that understand and practice proper organic waste sorting at source and disposal, which, in turn, will be used to create healthy compost and other byproducts that benefit our local soil, local farms, local food and local jobs.



"We have understood that the only way, to regenerate and sustain nature's resources for the future, is by empowering individuals and businesses to make a positive impact and by building its very foundation: Soil," says one of the company's co-founders.

3) Sylvera

Founded in London, UK, in 2020, Sylvera is a climate tech startup that uses AI and satellite imagery to measure carbon emissions and help companies achieve their carbon reduction goals.

Their platform provides accurate, real-time data on carbon emissions and enables businesses to identify and track emissions from their supply chains. With Sylvera, companies can make more informed decisions about their carbon reduction strategies and contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change.

4) AMP Robotics

AMP Robotics is a tech startup that's created an AI-powered robotic system that can recycle waste. Their technology can reportedly identify recyclable materials with an accuracy rate of 99%. This year, AMP Robotics made it to the CNBC Disruptor 50 list.



The company is based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the US and was founded in the year 2014.

5) Nilus

Founded in 2018 and based in Argentina, Nilus is set on tackling food waste and helping underprivileged communities simultaneously. This startup has taken the fact that over a third of the food produced in the world is thrown out as motivation in creating their product.

Through its digital platform, Nilus can transfer surplus food from producers and retailers to low-income localities at a price 30-50% lower than its market value. Since its creation, Nilus has delivered food to over 90,000 people suffering from food insecurity throughout Argentina, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

6) ZeroAvia

Headquartered in Hollister, California, ZeroAvia offers a zero-emission hydrogen powertrain for airplanes. Their goal is to make aviation more sustainable by reducing costs and CO2 emissions. According to their website, a 100,000+ unit demand for their powertrain is expected over the next 10 years.

7) GreyParrot

An AI company, GreyParrot, offers waste analysis technology. Their computer vision-powered robotics systems are designed to identify, sort, and recover waste at scale. The startup has been backed by many leading accelerators and VC firms, including the Plug and Play Tech Center, Creative Destruction Lab, and Candy Ventures.



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Mitsotakis said they had also agreed with Erdogan to continue the meetings between them, expressing his willingness to visit Ankara in the spring , ahead of their meeting at the NATO summit in July.
Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike to join the ruling Party.

APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha, said the party is the one in power, hence Wike should join because he is needed.

He made the call while speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt after 27 state lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC on Monday.

Asked if the defection was part of plans for Wike to join APC, Okocha said: I dont think so.

Whatever their reason is, when they get to the bridge they will cross it.

Wike is a politician whose name shakes and echoes in the society; so nobody can think or say for him if he will defect to APC or not.

In 2023, he immensely aided the victory of APC in the state.

The best thing we are asking him to do is to come and join the APC because it is the government in power.

READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis: PDP Will Remain Standing  Ex-National Partys Spokesman Boasts

Meanwhile, member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Enemi Alabo has thrown more light into the reason for the defection.

While featuring yesterday on Channels Televisions Politics Today he cited internal divisions within the PDP as a primary reason for the defection.

Alabo claimed that there was a lack of clarity regarding the partys leadership, adding to the challenges faced by Rivers State PDP members, including the burning of the assembly chambers and intimidation.

He expressed frustration over his inability to establish communication with the partys secretariat.

We have a division in the PDP. We have cases in court concerning the secretariat of our party.

We desperately tried to reach the secretariat of our party, and we could not. As I speak to you, I cant tell you who the secretary of my party is, the lawmaker said.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, will on Wednesday, December 13, embark on a medical leave to follow-up on his health treatment.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

During his medical leave, Governor Akeredolu will prioritise his health and ensure a full recovery before resuming his official duties.

A formal letter regarding the medical leave and a notice formally transferring power in line with the Nigerian Constitution will be transmitted to the House of Assembly.

In the absence of Governor Akeredolu, the Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, will assume the responsibilities of the Governor in acting capacity.

READ ALSO: Politicians 2024 Ambition Ruining Ondo State  Ex-Speaker, Oloyeloogun

Governor Akeredolu expresses his gratitude for the unwavering support and affection of the people of Ondo State. He assures them that his administration remains committed to the path of progress and prosperity for the people.

As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a widely respected Nigerian, Governor Akeredolu has consistently delegated power to his deputy during his annual vacations.

This practice was observed on April 1, 2021, April 1, 2022, April 3, 2023, and July 10, 2023, when he embarked on previous vacations, the statement read.

Recall that on September 7, Akeredolu returned to Nigeria after a three-month medical leave in Germany.

However, since his return, the Governor has been working from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has expressed delight as 27 of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers moved to the APC, describing the defectors as real democrats.

The lawmakers who are said to be loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), held a plenary session at about 8 am on Monday where the decision was taken amid tight security.

According to the legislators, division within the PDP was their reason for jumping ship.

Speaking on the issue at a Monday press conference in Port Harcourt, he said: Today, we received 27 former members of the PDP into the APC, Rivers State. We commend the defectors. If the governor of the state has decided to give vent to four persons over 27, how does that go? We have gone pass the era of 16 being above 19.

Okocha, who is also the Rivers State representative on the board of Niger Delta Development Commission, added that: There is no government in Rivers State. This governement was built on the plank of continuity. Nothing is happening in the state. People are hungry. They are angry. There has to be checks and balances. There will be a check to the government now. We commend the defectors for this decision they have taken. They are real democrats.

READ ALSO: PDP May Become History If Northerner Gets 2027 Presidential Ticket  Bode George

The Labour Party (LP) on the other hand, clamoured for fresh elections to be conducted in Rivers State to fill vacancies allegedly created by the defection of the 27 legislators citing provisions of Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution.

In a statement, Rivers States LP Chairman, Hilda Dokubo, said the above provision of the constitution is very clear about the fate that must befall those legislators who betrayed the party that sponsored them.

Recalling that in 2022, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja sacked 16 Ebonyi House of Assembly members for defection based on Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution; 18 members of Cross River House of Assembly and two House of Representatives members; and the LP suffered the same fate in Ondo, she urged the Rivers State Speaker to declare the seats of the 27 lawmakers vacant, and the INEC, to organise fresh polls.

The Labour Party can also vividly recall that in 2012, our member representing Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency defected to another party. This case lingered until the Supreme Court in 2022 ordered him to immediately vacate his seat following his defection from the Labour Party. The Courts unanimous judgement held that the lawmaker who decamped from the Labour Party to another party was constitutionally unfit to retain his seat as a federal lawmaker in the House of Representatives, she added.
Homestead National Historical Park is hosting the Winter Festival of Prairie Cultures throughout December.

Park Ranger Amber Kirkendall said they had been researching different traditions.

We spent a lot of time researching the different traditions, she said. We really wanted to show a merriment of traditions. What are some things that could have been brought over with the homesteaders from the countries that they came from, but also what are some traditions that could have been married in from the United States.

Kirkendall said they learned in Europe there were a lot of tree top tables, but the floor to ceiling trees is an American tradition.

She noted that Germany was the first country to have a Christmas tree.

We found Germany was the first country to come up with a Christmas tree, she said. Weve used the traditional candy cane with no stripes. Tinsel was a tradition that carried on, but their tinsel was pounded silver where ours reflects modern advances. Weve also used the traditional glass bulbs, salt dough ornaments and candles.

Volunteers at Homestead put up nine different trees with decorations specific a country. Narratives were gathered from homesteaders and are on posters throughout the display.

Kirkendall said they tried to show the cultures of the homesteaders.

Not only did these cultures come on the promise of the Homestead Act, but they still remember their culture today in different ways, she said.

She noted that winter was typically harsh and difficult with the changes in the weather.

Winter traditions brought people together as a community. It brought them joy. While a lot of our displays are Christmas related, we also have Hannukah traditions represented.

She said she enjoys the uniqueness of each culture.

Several of the cultures celebrate holiday baking traditions, she said.

On Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. Paper Moon Pastries of Cortland will host an event at Homestead.

Kirkendall said there would four categories for the competition. Children seven and under, children 8-16 years of age, over 16 years of age and businesses. Each of the individual winners in each category will win a $25 gift certificate to Paper Moon Patries and they must be present to win. Businesses do not need to be present, but they will win a trophy. Entries need to be entered by 1:45 p.m.

Any food item can be entered.

The owner of Paper Moon Pastries will provide a workshop on different tips and tricks of baking gingerbread cookies beginning at 2 p.m. at the Education Center.

This is the first year that weve done the baking competition, she said. A volunteer noticed that the Palmer-Epard cabin looked a lot like a gingerbread house.

There are a lot of times that we might do something in our family and not realize that tradition has roots in that immigration history.
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, on Monday, disclosed that some traditional rulers have been found to be selling lands belonging to the State Government.

According to him, some of these traditional rulers are selling government reserve forests to some criminals who are now planting Indian hemp in the forest.

Abiodun said he had hoped these reports against the traditional rulers would be unfounded rumours but was shocked and disappointed to find out that the allegations were indeed true.

He, therefore, warned that his administration would take disciplinary action against any person found selling land in its forest reserves and plantation across the State.

While issuing the warning at the Statutory Meeting of the State Council of Obas, held at the Obas Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, he described the action of the people, including some Obas who sell government land, as unpatriotic.

His words: We will continue to seek your support in the area of lands. Sadly, cases have been reported to us here in Abeokuta about some of our monarchs who have taken it upon themselves to allocate government land, government forest reserves, and plantations to others. Theyve been allocating and selling government lands.

I have found this very difficult to believe. I consider this extremely unpatriotic that our monarchs will now begin to allocate such lands to others and worst still, in some of the areas, the land is being allocated to non-Ogun State indigenes.

Our Kabiyesis are colluding with people from outside Ogun State and giving our land to them in our plantations and they are coming there, deforesting them. They are destroying the plantation. They are planting Indian hemp there. I was completely heartbroken when I heard this news and when we actually verified it was true.

As a responsible state government, we will not have any choice but to take disciplinary action against any person found culpable of such an act; any person, be it Kabiyesi or any person.

Because, this land does not belong to me, it doesnt belong to you. It belongs to our collective patrimony; it is our collective property that we own as a state. It is our commonwealth, and we should endeavour to ensure that we do not engage in such acts like this capable of tarnishing the image of the royalty and the throne.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Cant Be Bad Like Some People Paint It  Presidency

Abiodun, who intimated the monarchs of his administrations efforts at bringing in more investors to the state, said the Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of the Ogun State Dry Port at Kajola would be signed between the state government and a private investor before the end of the year.

It means in Ogun State, we will now have a dry port that will now enable all of us, including our industries and manufacturers to ship their goods from anywhere in the world to Kajola. This Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between now and Christmas.

Last week, I met with the President of Benin Republic. He shared with me the fact that the government of Benin Republic has heard so much about our airport, sent delegates and determined as a government that they want to be the first customer to export from our airport.

They have decided that all their agro produce will be brought down from Benin Republic to our airport and will be exported to the rest of the world from our airport, he added,

Speaking on his administrations plan for the health sector, the governor noted that his government has decided to concession the 250-bed hospital in Abeokuta.

According to the Governor, the state does not have the capacity to run the hospital, hence the decision to allow others to handle its day-to-day activities.

We are going to be signing the Memorandum of Understanding on the 250-bed hospital right here in Abeokuta.

We realise that the state will not be able to run that hospital because as it is, our tertiary hospital, OOUTH, costs the state almost N300 million every month in salaries alone. We appreciate the fact that the state is not in a position to run that hospital the way it needs to be run.

From what we have seen and done, if that hospital is properly run, medical tourism will be attracted to that hospital.

So, the state has adopted a template that we will be the landlord owning that property and others should come and take the concession of that property and run it professionally.

Before the end of the year, we are also signing the Memorandum of Understanding with the Afrexim Bank and the medical group that has agreed to take over that hospital, complete it and operationalise it professionally, he noted.
Bamidele Oloyeloogun, the immediate past Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly has posited that individual ambitions prior to the States 2024 governorship election is what is fueling the State crisis.

Speaking on what the allegations and agitations has cost the State in a chat with Punch, he said: They should let peace reign. Let there be representation, everywhere, as supposed to be. We are lagging in all areas. A lot of things are happening in Abuja now that we are not part of because we dont have representatives there.

We are all human and nobody is perfect. There is no one who cannot fall sick. Let the deputy governor, pending the time that the governor will come back, let him continue to do his job actively as he is supposed to.

Now that we are praying for our governor to recover quickly is not the time that some people will be waging war against one another.

According to him, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress has a lot of work to do in the State along side the elders forum.

Everybody should leave his or her political ambition, ambition is ruining the state.

I told someone recently that you do not know if you will be alive tomorrow, you are making different plans ahead of 2024. Only God owns time and season and only God puts someone in a position.

READ ALSO: Akeredolu Brought Them Up, Yet Theyre Creating Problem For Him  Ajisafe Reacts To Signature Forgery Claim

I want to be this and I want to be that. About a year ago, nothing like this happened. Ondo State needs to come together. The stakeholders need to have a very good meeting. The party chairman should organise those leaders, who are forming different groups. Let the chairman of the party call the elders, and let them come together and discuss.

As they have gone to Abuja, may God not let us be dishonoured, if the President didnt interfere in the issue of the state, wont they settle it?

We can do the settlement ourselves, many states are having one issue or the other and they settled their things themselves. When was the last time the elders forum met in the State? The chairman of the party has a lot to do.

Ambition is like a man holding a cutlass and chasing two rats, if he is not careful, he will lose everything.

This time around, our party needs to come together and resolve issues and be one. Bring elders together and be one. Also, we should have the fear of God. If the meeting is monthly, we will get there and pray, things will be better. Theres a need for the chairman to do that, as a matter of urgency, the chairman of the party is the only one who can do that.

Mr Governor is the one that is doing it before but hes not around now. The chairman of the party has the authority to call anyone. He should not put sentiment into it. If not, it will end up in failure, Oloyeloogun stated.
Convener of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the political crisis rocking Rivers State.

Information Nigeria had reported that on Monday, 27 members of the Rivers House of Assembly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers who are said to be loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), held a plenary session at about 8 am where the decision was taken amid tight security.

According to the legislators, division within the PDP was their reason for jumping ship.

In a letter addressed to the President, Clark asked Tinubu to personally handle this matter.

His words: Mr. President, I want to seek your clarification, why is the Minister keeping structures and for what purpose.

I recall that in his days as a Governor, he had attacked the concept of godfatherism as totally unacceptable.

As a matter of fact, this made him to fall out with his predecessor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, the immediate past Minister of Transportation, whom we know was not even directly interfering in the affairs of the state.

So, what purpose are the structures supposed to serve when there is a governor in place?

This is a question that he owes you and all Nigerians.

If all governors who as a matter of right, insist on allowing their favoured candidates as successor, insist on controlling them, insist on controlling the State Assemblies, insist on controlling the structure which they left behind, what manner of confusion will we have in Nigeria?

READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis: PDP Will Remain Standing  Ex-National Partys Spokesman Boasts

To further put themselves against the Governor and possibly drag you and your political party, the APC, we are now receiving a breaking news that 27 Members of Rivers State House of Assembly (all of whom are PDP like the Governor) decamped to the APC. The question is what is going on?

In his state, at a relatively young age of 55 years, my son Wike had been a Minister of State, Minister in Federal Ministry of Education, before serving as Governor for 8 years and now Minister of FCT. So what does he need a structure for? This is very curious.

If strong politicians such as yourself and other former presidents never talk about controlling structures, so how can a minister be threatening a governor not to touch a structure he has left in place.

This is a bad precedent and if other Ministers in your government follow this trend, then it will be total confusion!

According to Clark, the Minister is focusing on the wrong problems.

As a member of your cabinet, you may need to call this minister to order to face the work in the quietness which is demanded of him.

He should focus on his office and know that he is just one among a cabinet of 48 persons, besides the Vice President and yourself.

The country has enough problems which your government must sit down to solve. The FCT itself is full of challenges all over and he has more than he can chew and therefore avoid these distractions, he added.

The elder statesman said a further degeneration of the political crisis in Rivers would spell chaos for the country because of the States importance to the stability of the Niger Delta and the overall national economy.
While C# fell short of Tiobes Programming Language of the Year honors for 2022, Tiobe expects the Microsoft-built object-oriented, type-safe language to snag the honor for 2023. Tiobe will announce the winning programming language in January.

Tiobe gives Programming Language of the Year honors to the language with the most growth year over year in its popularity index. At the end of 2022, it appeared C# would take the title. However, C++ overtook C# in the final month, growing by 4.62 percentage points.

This year we are a bit surer that C# is going to win. It gained +2.38% in one year, whereas its closest contenders Fortran and F# only gained +0.64% and +0.48% respectively, Tiobe said in its December bulletin. In fact, most of the top 20 languages lost popularity in 2023, whereas the gainers typically come from lower in the chart. Tiobe describes this as the long tale, where small languages reside.

Why the uptick for C#? Tiobe CEO Paul Jansen believes the language is attracting Java developers. I think that Java developers are moving to C# and Kotlin because these languages are more expressive and have no license issues.

Software quality services company Tiobe bases its monthly popularity index on a formula that assesses the number of skilled engineers worldwide, courses, and third-party vendors for each language, using search engines such as Bing, Google, and Yahoo.

The Tiobe top 10 for December 2023:

Python, with a rating of 13.86% C, 11.44% C++, 10.01% Java, 7.99% C#, 7.3% JavaScript, 2.9% PHP, 2.01% Visual Basic, 2.82% SQL, 1.61% Assembly, 1.11%

The rival Pypl Index of Language Popularity gauges language popularity based on how often language tutorials are searched on in Google.

The Pypl top 10 for December 2023:
Barbara Chase-Riboud, 80, in front of her sculpture titled Josephine Red/Red at the Hauser & Wirth art gallery in the SoHo section of Manhattan. The Philadelphia-born author and artist, who now lives in Paris, returned to the States to promote her New York show, "The Three Josephines." Read more

NEW YORK  As one of the few people alive who has talked to the late Josephine Baker, world-renowned author, artist, and native Philadelphian Barbara Chase-Riboud breathes rare air.

And shes quite aware of it. Almost 50 years later, Chase-Riboud, 84, is still blown away by that long-ago encounter, her excitement reverberating throughout Sohos Hauser & Wirth art gallery on a recent Tuesday morning as she explains her latest work, The Three Josephines, to a handful of art connoisseurs. Her voice cracks with age, yet the audience still strains to hear the gems she is dropping.

It becomes clear that Chase-Riboud, who sculpted The Three Josephines in honor of Baker, the early 20th-century dancer and French spy, lived a life just as remarkable as her muse. Chase-Riboud sailed to France in 1957 to study art, never to live in the United States again. As one of the worlds most accomplished artists, her work resides in modern art museums in London, Paris, New York, and Philadelphia (at the Museum of Art, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the Woodmere Art Museum).

The Three Josephines  two black, one red  are massively beautiful pieces. Shaped like hulking construction cranes. Their vibe, however, is divine, the effect of yards of silk extending from the top of the sculptures to their bases like a flowing toga covering a woman in the throes of a dramatic performance. One Josephine represents Baker as the hopeful young woman who lived on the same Paris street Chase-Riboud did, albeit decades apart. Another Josephine reminded Chase-Riboud of the 68-year-old Baker, who Chase-Riboud met at Bakers final performance. That Josephine was a goddess.

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The third in the grouping captures Bakers posthumous grandeur as one of five women  and the only Black woman  to be honored as a national hero of France in the Pantheon in Paris. She was the epitome of Blacks in Paris and [embodies] the history of Blacks in the States, Chase-Riboud said. These sculptures are my manifesto to her.

Well aware of the burden of being a Black woman in America, Chase-Riboud left the country more than a decade before Malcolm X and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were murdered. Her book, Sally Hemings: A Novel, which won the Franz Kafka Prize, fictionalized the relationship between Hemings and her enslaver Thomas Jefferson, shining a light on the consensual (and nonconsensual) couplings between the enslaved and enslavers. Chase-Riboud wrote six acclaimed books, including the 2022 memoir, I Always Knew, a story of her life abroad as told through 30 years of letters written to her mother, Vivian Mae Chase, who lived in Philadelphia until her death in 1991.

The Three Josephines follows two landmark museum exhibitions, Barbara Chase-Riboud Infinite Folds in Londons Serpentine Galleries as well as a joint show with Alberto Giacometti at New Yorks Museum of Modern Art.

When we meet at Hauser & Wirth, Chase-Riboud is wearing all black, peering through bangs that kiss the top of her nose like a mysterious French woman. Yes, she still loves making art. Yes, she loves her hometown. And she was all grace until I referred to her as an expat. Then it got real Philly, real fast.

Answers have been edited for clarity.

How did growing up in Philadelphia impact your art?

I began in Philadelphia. I was 7 years old when I started taking childrens art classes at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I saw a Degas painting of ballerina and thought it was the most beautiful thing Id ever seen. I wanted to make something like that. As a child I went to Rittenhouse Square and sat on the little bronze goat practically every day. I was as young as 3 years old. Now, 80 years later, Im still sitting on a piece of bronze.

As a Philly expat, what has been your impact on American art, and art worldwide?

First of all, never use the word expatriate with me. I dont recognize it. It has everything to do with opinion and nothing to do with reality. I dont consider myself an expatriate and I dont consider myself particularly American either. I do consider myself a citizen of the world. Philadelphia fits into my history, but I didnt expatriate myself from anything, and certainly not from Philadelphia.

So, is Philadelphia still special to you?

My mother spent the rest of her life in Philadelphia, so there will always be a strong connection to Philadelphia in the house I grew up in, a three-story home at the corner of 15th and Waverly. Shes buried at Eden Cemetery (the oldest Black-owned cemetery in the United States, located in Collingdale) like everyone else. We corresponded for 30 years and I told her everything, creating a bond so strong that I didnt realize it until I realized the 600 letters Id written her that I found after she died. I didnt save one letter [she wrote me]. But her voice is on every page in the book and she emerged as this extraordinary woman who impacted my life and my work. For that reason, Philadelphia will always be important to me.

Why didnt you come back?

My life took on another dimension. After Temple, I went to Yale. Then I went to Europe and that changed everything. I was from Philadelphia, but I was no longer of Philadelphia.

What, if anything, does your body of work say about freedom?

Thats a silly question. We arent talking about freedom. We arent talking about politics. We are talking about beauty and artistic expression. However, I love being an alien, a stranger, an immigrant; there is freedom in that that is extraordinary. I can be from anywhere. This is a freedom that very few people have as artists and I have. It hasnt been easy. But I have that.

The Three Josephines is on display at Hauser & Wirth, 134 Wooster St., Manhattan, through Dec. 23.
Blair Watts is escorted out of a courtroom Tuesday in the Montgomery County Courthouse. Watts' trial on first- and third-degree murder ended Tuesday, with attorneys offering conflicting theories of the case in their closing arguments. Read more

After nearly a week of testimony, a Montgomery County jury began deliberating Tuesday in the trial of a Limerick man who prosecutors say killed his business partner and buried her body in a shallow grave.

Blair Watts, 33, has been charged with first- and third-degree murder in the Jan. 3 death of Jennifer Brown, who was found by a passerby in a hastily-dug grave about two weeks after she had been reporting missing.

After about two hours of deliberations, the jurors requested to be sent home for the night, to start fresh Wednesday morning.

Brown and Watts had been friends for years, and Brown had agreed to invest in Birdies Kitchen, a restaurant Watts had planned to reopen. Financial records displayed in court showed that since August 2022, Brown had given Watts more than $23,000 for the venture.

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But Watts had spent nearly all of that money on himself, according to First Assistant District Attorney Ed McCann. In the weeks before Browns death, McCann said, she had begun to question Watts about the status of the business and how soon it would open. Those questions, McCann said, led Watts to kill Brown during a meeting at her home.

Shards of a hair clip Brown wore  the same one later found with her body  were discovered in the carpet of her home, prosecutors said. Cadaver dogs found evidence of a corpse in Browns kitchen, as well as in Watts red Jeep Grand Cherokee. Soil nearly identical to the kind Brown was buried in was also discovered in that Jeep.

Well never know exactly what happened in that living room, but we do know that Jennifer Brown would no longer be his meal ticket, McCann said in his closing argument. He killed this woman in a brutal way, put her in a shallow grave, and left her son without an advocate. Todays the day hes held accountable for all of that.

But Watts lawyer, Michael Coard, urged jurors to make their decision based on the law, not on sympathy for Brown, whom he described as a wonderful person.

Yes, be sympathetic. Yes, be emotional, Coard said. But dont let your sympathy and emotion overtake the oath you took.

He told the panel that the prosecution, in its case against Watts, was relying almost exclusively on circumstantial evidence. A county medical examiner ruled that the cause of Browns death was from unspecified means but said her body showed signs of asphyxiation. No one, Coard said, could definitively say that Watts killed Brown, nor even determine exactly how she died.

Is that proof beyond a reasonable doubt of first-degree murder? Coard asked. If this expert says ... unspecified means, if police say no sign of a struggle, if the only evidence of the crime scene was a broken hair clip, where is the evidence of first-degree murder?

But McCann sharply rebuked Coards theory of the case, saying there was an overwhelming web and weight of evidence against Watts.

Brown was not aware, prosecutors said, that Watts had lost the lease to the restaurants planned location on Dec. 28, 2022. In text messages to her, Watts had touted significant progress in getting the space ready, and had told her the business would open by the end of January. None of that was true, according to evidence presented during the trial.

Cell phone records retrieved by detectives showed that Watts had been in possession of Browns phone when someone transferred $17,000 from her CashApp account to Watts. He tried to use that money the next day to broker a new meeting with the owners of the building where he planned to open his restaurant, McCann said, adding that Browns body wasnt even cold yet.

Additional phone records revealed that Watts returned to Browns house hours after her death, something he never disclosed to police.

And, in what McCann said was perhaps the most damning evidence against Watts, investigators were able to use his phone to trace his movements on Jan. 5  two days after the slaying  to Browns burial site near a warehouse in Royersford. At the time, he said, Brown was still believed to be missing, and her body would not be discovered until days later.

There is an overwhelming weight of evidence proving he killed Jennifer Brown, McCann said.
Two South Jersey men took part in a multi-state dog-fighting ring and posted videos including footage of live fights and the killing of dogs on a messaging platform, authorities said Monday.

Tommy J. Watson, 43, of Clayton, and Johnnie Lee Nelson, 34, of Bridgeton, were charged with possessing and training a dog for dog-fighting ventures from August 2017 to March 2019, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger and U.S. Assistant Attorney General Todd S. Kim said in a statement.

Watson was also charged with engaging two pit bull-type dogs in dog fights in December 2018 and with one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

Watson surrendered Monday and was scheduled for a hearing, while Nelson was arrested Dec. 5 and appeared before a United States Magistrate judge, the statement said.

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The two, along with others, raised, trained, and transported pit bulls in order to have the dogs fight, authorities said. The dog-fighting ring, dubbed From Da Bottom Kennels, would post bloodline information of dogs owned by the kennel on a dog fighting website Peds online and would also post on the DMV Board, a Telegram-based online dog-fighting collective, authorities said.

On the DMV Board, Watson and others would stream live videos of dog fights, training videos, and even the killing of dogs they deemed to have underperformed, in some cases by hanging the dogs, authorities said.

Law enforcement officials were able to stop what they said was a planned dog fight on March 23, 2019, authorities said. Watson and Nelson, they said, had taken a dog named Rambo to a location in Upper Deerfield Township for the fight. They had makeshift veterinary equipment with them, including a skin stapler, authorities said.

Law enforcement officials also found two other dogs that had already fought hidden in a car, authorities said.
The deep-pocketed donor who started the successful effort to oust University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill and board chair Scott L Bok is now attempting to set the agenda for the university, some faculty said, as he is questioning its instruction, faculty hiring and political orientation.

In an email to trustees Tuesday morning titled Moving Forward, Marc Rowan, CEO of private equity firm Apollo Global Management in New York, attached a list of 18 questions, some with five parts. Among the questions, he asked whether the school should look at eliminating some academic departments  though he didnt name which  and examine criteria for qualification for membership in the faculty, citing a provision in the charter that allows trustees to set general policies around admission to the faculty.

He also asked: What are the Boards criteria for the instruction of students and recommendations for degrees in course and in faculty?

 READ MORE: What to know about the congressional investigation into antisemitism at Penn and other universities

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The letter begins by questioning the very mission of Penn, asking whether the process for evaluating whether the universitys actions are consistent with its mission?

Hearing about the four-page list of questions and cover letter drew immediate concern from some faculty, who already were worried that donors attempts to wrest control of Penns direction wouldnt end with Magills and Boks resignations this past weekend.

Its menacing, said Harun Kucuk, former director of Penns Middle East Center and associate professor of history and sociology of science. Theyll turn this into something other than a university.

Kucuk had not seen the letter. Neither had several other faculty contacted by the Inquirer.

Upon reading it, though, the Penn chapter of the American Association of University Professors sounded an alarm.

Today, unelected trustees with no academic expertise are evidently attempting a hostile takeover of the core academic functions of the University of Pennsylvania  functions related to curriculum, research, and the hiring and evaluation of faculty, the groups executive committee wrote. The questions being considered by the trustees represent an assault on the principle of academic freedom, which was first articulated a century ago to safeguard the educational mission of universities.

Below are the questions Rowan posted to the board:

 READ MORE: Penn leadership upheaval could have a chilling effect on college presidencies and university operations nationally

The board, through a spokesperson, did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Penn Provost John L. Jackson Jr. also did not respond.

Rowans spokesperson said the questions Rowan raises are areas that trustees have jurisdiction over in the schools charter.

Hes saying these are questions, the spokesperson said. Hes not trying to provide answers... In no way, is it what Marc wants... Ultimately, its what the trustees and the faculty want.

But faculty saw it differently.

We unambiguously reject Mr. Rowans view that the trustees are responsible for determining the University of Pennsylvanias academic policies, said Tulia G. Falleti, Eric A. Feldman and Vivian L. Gadsden, tri-chairs of the universitys faculty senate, who said they were speaking on their own behalf, not the entire faculty senate. Penns academic excellence builds upon 70 years of shared governance in which the faculty plays a central role in crafting policies that involve teaching, research, and all other aspects of the universitys intellectual life.

They wrote in a statement that shared governance ensures effective collaboration and mutual respect across the administration, faculty, staff, students, the Trustees, and the larger Penn community. Such institutional mechanisms, grounded in academic freedom, are critical to the open expression of ideas, and they both strengthen our process of knowledge creation and distinguish us as one of the foremost leaders in higher education in the U.S. and globally.

Rowan, who leads Whartons board of advisors and had given a $50 million gift to the business school in 2018, the largest single gift in its history, had been sending daily emails to the trustees for months as efforts to oust Magill and Bok intensified.

Tuesdays missive was viewed by some as the billionaires attempt to exert influence as board members contemplate their next steps in the leadership crisis. On Tuesday afternoon, they named J. Larry Jameson, executive vice president of Penns hospital system and its medical school dean, as interim president.

This letter is an example of once again the problems of parties who are external to the university functions seeking to control how the university and the faculty engage in the basic functions of the university, which is research and teaching and public speech, said Risa Lieberwitz, professor of labor and employment law at Cornell University and general counsel for the national AAUP.

 READ MORE: Penn donor who gave $50 million calls for university leaders to resign over embrace of antisemitism

Magill stepped down Saturday after renewed calls for her resignation in the wake of her congressional committee testimony last week. When asked if calls for the genocide of Jewish people was a violation of the schools code of conduct, she testified that it was a context-dependent decision. The presidents of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who testified alongside her, also used the word context when answering the question.

 READ MORE: Penn president Liz Magill got grilled by Congressional committee over the universitys response to antisemitism

But pressure to remove Magill began in October in the weeks after the Palestine Writes literature festival was held on campus, criticized by some for including speakers who had a history of making antisemitic remarks. Rowan in a letter urged donors to close their checkbooks until Magill and Bok stepped down. The controversy escalated after Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Bok, who has left the board altogether, not just its leadership position, in an opinion piece published on the Inquirers website Tuesday warned of undue influence from donors and the impact it could have.

Donors should not be able to decide campus policies or determine what is taught, and for sure there should not be a hidden quota system that ensures privileged children a coveted place at elite schools, he wrote.

Bok wrote that for nearly all 19 years that he served on the board, there seemed to be very broad, largely unspoken consensus on the roles of the various university constituencies: the board, donors, alumni, faculty, and administration.

Once I concluded that this longtime consensus had evaporated, I determined that I should step off the board and leave it to others to find a new path forward, he wrote.

In his email Tuesday, Rowan said to trustees that Penn has a culture problem that must be addressed.

While antisemitism has received the most attention, I believe this is just a symptom of a larger problem..., he wrote. A culture that allowed antisemitism to take root and be accepted inside UPenn, that has allowed for preferred versus free speech, and one that has distracted from UPenns core mission of scholarship, research, and academic excellence.

He said it was the boards failure that Magill did not succeed because it didnt address questions he identified as key based on the roles and responsibilities of trustees as dictated in UPenns Charter and the outcome of numerous conversations with Trustees, Faculty, academic leaders at other institutions, and elsewhere.

The board, which includes more than 40 members, should consider whether it needs to be smaller and have a formal process for removing members, he wrote.

What are the criteria for deciding when and how the University speaks out on national or international issues? Rowan asked.

He also asked about the universitys policies on free speech and code of conduct violations and the importance of viewpoint diversity in the hiring of faculty and administrators.

What is the Universitys policy on faculty and administrators promoting a particular viewpoint in their official capacity? he asked. Is academic discipline appropriate in the event if a professor or faculty member abuses their official position?

He also asks about the universitys policy on direct and indirect foreign donations from countries, an issue that has drawn the scrutiny of Republican lawmakers who have questioned Penns donations.

Is the University aware that its policies on foreign donations could jeopardize its tax-free status, potentially resulting in taxes on endowment gains, real estate taxes and other such levees? he asked. Further, has the University considered that its current political orientation has exposed UPenn to significant risk in the event of political realignment in Congress?

His questions about the universitys mission come less than a month after Penn put out its latest strategic plan under Magill that was the result of a widespread process involving faculty and administrators who spent a year setting the agenda.

If the trustees seriously address these questions [from Rowan], I would question whether they can be entrusted with steering the university or any university, Kucuk said.

Faculty must collectively resist, he said.

Liz Magill was ousted in a putsch and we need a counter-putsch, he said.

The AAUP-Penn executive committee said: Any attempts on the part of Penns trustees to close academic departments, constrain hiring, discipline faculty members for political reasons and without due process, censor facultys intramural or extramural speech, or impose new McCarthyite speech codes on faculty and students would constitute the most flagrant violations imaginable of the core principles of academic freedom and faculty governance.

Those principles are not negotiable.
Activists with the group Juntos rally for the Philadelphia School District to protect immigrant students from ICE in March. Read more

The Philadelphia school board adopted a sanctuary schools position Thursday, affirming its promise to protect immigrant students and families from inquiries by federal immigration authorities, as well as provide more training for staff and emotional support for immigrant students.

After months of talks with Juntos, the immigrant rights group that has pushed for sanctuary schools, the board approved a resolution that says, Federal immigration law enforcement activities at our schools, on our transportation routes, on our district property, or during school programs or activities significantly disrupts the welcoming environment and learning process for all students.

While the Philadelphia School District already has policies not to release any information about students if approached by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, many staffers are unaware of them. The resolution calls for the district to develop an emergency response plan to help ensure the safety and emotional well-being of students who may be impacted by federal immigration enforcement actions as well as relevant training for school staff, contractors, and volunteers within 100 days.

Community pressure helped spur the boards action. In March, immigrant students and community leaders demonstrated on the steps of the districts North Broad Street headquarters.

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Edgar Villegas, a recent graduate of the districts High School for Creative and Performing Arts and the child of immigrants, told the board he experienced immense stress and loneliness at school because of ICE fears. Now, students are not receiving the support they need.

By assuring immigrant students and their families feel unconditionally safe in our schools, we are ensuring that they are given the opportunity to thrive and reach their greatest potential, school board member Mallory Fix Lopez said.

Philadelphia is a sanctuary city, and while that means different things in different places, here it means local police dont help ICE in rounding up, arresting, and removing migrants.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia needs sanctuary schools, immigrant rights group demands

Leticia Egea-Hinton, the board vice president, said the resolution is a critical step.

Erika Guadalupe Nunez, executive director of Juntos, called the resolution a first step toward meaningfully safeguarding all families from immigration enforcement.

The district has an immigration toolkit guiding staff on how best to support immigrant students. But in a Juntos survey of 350 administrators and teachers, 75% said they had received no training regarding ICE, and 73% said they didnt know whom to notify if ICE asked about students.

ICE enforcement guidelines dissuade agents from making arrests at designated sensitive locations, which include hospitals, churches, and schools. The guidelines also include school-related outside activities and bus stops when children are present.

But activists say ICE violates its own policies by arresting teenagers as they walk to school or taking parents into custody immediately before or after they drop off their children. In 2020, a pregnant mother from Honduras was detained by ICE after she dropped off her child at Kirkbride Elementary in South Philadelphia, sparking widespread panic in the immigrant community.

In 2018, the city won a major federal court ruling that said the Trump administration could not withhold grants in an effort to force Philadelphia to actively assist federal authorities in identifying and turning over undocumented immigrants.

City police arrest people who they believe have committed crimes, regardless of immigration status, and a judge decides whether and when those people should be released. If ICE wants the city to keep a suspect in custody, it must present a signed judicial warrant, not merely an ICE-issued detainer.

But ICE says its detainers are valid legal documents and has repeatedly argued, so far unsuccessfully, that the city must comply.

The agency is now operating under new Biden administration guidelines that tell agents to focus on undocumented immigrants who pose risks to national security, border security, or public safety. The new guidance, however, doesnt bar ICE from detaining people who fall outside the priorities.

In response to a query about the school-board resolution, ICE officials responded that the sensitive-locations policy remains in effect, directing that actions at those places should generally be avoided.

The board passed the sanctuary schools resolution unanimously.

It also unanimously denied  again  an amended application for a new, all-boys charter school.

Plans for the Philadelphia Collegiate Charter School for Boys, a proposed K-12 school that would have opened this fall in Germantown, were cited as flawed in the areas of academics, operations, and community support. It was the second denial for Philadelphia Collegiate, whose operators were initially turned down by the board in March.
The outside of John H. Taggart Elementary School in South Philadelphia. The former principal of the school threatened to have an undocumented student's family deported when the boy asked for help after being bullied; the Philadelphia School District just signed of on a settlement in the case. Read more

When Leslie Hernandezs son experienced bullying at his Philadelphia public school, he asked his mother: Who will protect me?

Go to the principal, she told her son. The family, immigrants from El Salvador seeking asylum in the United States, were new to the city, but Hernandez believed her child would get help at Taggart Elementary, his school at Fourth and Porter Streets in South Philadelphia.

Instead, the principal asked the boy what his immigration status was.

 READ MORE: Back at another Philly school, the principal accused of threatening a student with deportation denies the allegations. Heres what to know.

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Then, the principal said if he did not behave, the principal would call ICE and deport all of his family, said Hernandez.

Eventually, Hernandez, with the help of advocates, sent a demand letter to the Philadelphia School District, who avoided litigation by entering into a settlement with Hernandez this month, agreeing to more training for staff, a mandated social-emotional curriculum for students district-wide, and an outside review of the districts harassment and discrimination policies.

Hernandez hopes that her fight keeps any other families from going through what hers has endured. But she still worries for her son  the effects of the bullying, and the principals threat, still linger.

His physical injuries disappeared and healed, Hernandez said through an interpreter, but he carries scars that I cant heal, that cant be healed.

Bullying and intimidation

Hernandezs son loved to learn: He was very excited for school, and he would even wake up early, she said.

Soon after they arrived in Philadelphia in 2021 from El Salvador, Hernandez enrolled her son, whose name The Inquirer is withholding due to safety concerns, in eighth grade at Taggart. Hernandez knew about the Philadelphia School Districts sanctuary schools policy, which promises to protect immigrant students and families from federal immigration authorities and provide robust training for staff and emotional support for immigrant students. Its existence made her feel comfortable sending her child to district schools.

That feeling was short-lived.

Her son spoke only Spanish but was placed in a traditional eighth grade class with inadequate English-language learner supports that meant he could not understand what was happening in class, Hernandez said. He quickly fell victim to bullying which began as teasing based on the boys inability to speak English, and on his perceived sexual orientation. Classmates made him take off his shoes and run around a track.

Her son was bullied to the point that he started going late to school so he wouldnt have to be in the schoolyard, Hernandez said. In February 2022, Hernandezs son asked her what to do, and she told him to go to the principal because shes responsible for the safety and security of all students, Hernandez said.

On Feb. 28, 2022, Taggart interim principal Charlotte Buonassisi called Hernandezs son and the student who bullied him into the school office. With two other adults present, Buonassisi chastised both students and asked are these two legal or illegal? Hernandez said. Then, if they continued with their bad attitude she would call the authorities and ICE so that they would deport not only them but their entire families, she said her son recalled.

Buonassisis actions violated the sanctuary schools policy and also federal educational privacy laws.

Hernandezs son went home from school that day terrified. Mom, can she deport us? Hernandez remembers the boy asking.

 READ MORE: In charged climate, Philly teachers learn how to keep immigrant students safe

She wrote a letter to school authorities asking for help.

This is not fair, there is insecurity in the streets and now our children who have the right to education do not feel protected in their place of study and now they are exposed to this kind of discrimination and intimidation, Hernandez wrote in Spanish.

Buonassisi took no action on the bullying, and the physical and verbal abuse escalated, Hernandez said  her son was scratched with a metal nail, and had pencils thrown at him. On March 22, 2022, he was pushed up against a wall and kicked repeatedly in the head. He was not treated by the school nurse, and Hernandez was not offered an interpreter to help understand what had happened. Hernandez asked to file a police report that day, but Buonassisi told her that was impossible because there was no Spanish speaker available to assist her, she said.

Ultimately, Hernandez had her son examined at a clinic and filed a police report.

Still scared

Even after Hernandez filed the police report and wrote a letter, no action was taken by the school or police. But soon after the March 22 incident, Hernandez connected with Juntos, the Latino advocacy group. Erika Guadalupe Nunez, Juntos executive director, contacted the district on Hernandezs behalf.

By the end of that month, Buonassisi had been removed permanently from Taggart School, according to an email from district staff. The districts office of Family and Community Engagement launched an investigation.

District staff suggested that Hernandezs son change schools, and though they requested a bilingual counselor for Hernandez and the alleged main aggressor, none was available. Hernandez rejected the notion that her son move schools, and instead, Taggart placed him in a special education classroom, despite the fact that he had no special education plan.

For the rest of the year, Hernandezs son learned little to nothing, according to documents.

Hernandez, in an interview, said that while her son is now in a different district school  he has since moved on to high school  the effects of what happened to him at Taggart are still with him. When a class has a substitute teacher, hes especially worried, because the worst of the bullying at Taggart happened when he had a sub.

My son is still scared to this day, said Hernandez. He is scared of being threatened for not having status, for speaking another language. My son is in a different school, but I cant say that hes happy.

Eventually, lawyers with the national civil rights nonprofit Advancement Project, the nonprofit legal action agency Public Justice, and two law firms sent the district a demand letter and negotiated the settlement.

Were just one of many cases

The legal settlement, finalized Dec. 4, awards Hernandez damages which she and lawyers declined to name. But the money is secondary to her, she said. She and her son want their distress to prevent other families from being treated the same way.

The agreement calls for a number of changes, including stressing to staff the availability and importance of in-person and virtual translation services for students and families who speak languages other than English; tweaks to the districts restorative justice guidelines and its Title IX and VI training; mandating social-emotional anti-bullying lessons for all students; and an outside review of the school systems discrimination and harassment policies.

I hope that the settlement helps, and that the district stays accountable to more responsibility, Hernandez said. When this happened, I felt abandoned. They didnt listen to me until Juntos was involved. This isnt an isolated case; were just one of the many cases.

Nunez, the Juntos executive director, said it was extremely disheartening that the incident happened years after the district passed a sanctuary schools resolution, and displays the lack of the commitment by the Philly School District to really ensure that schools are welcoming.

Hernandez came to the U.S. from a volatile situation in El Salvador, seeking asylum with ideas about what living with dignity would be like. The Taggart situation shifted her view, Nunez said.

The district only took action after the fact, Nunez said. How many families have to get hurt? How many children have to be traumatized? This is just really heartbreaking.

School district spokesperson Monique Braxton said the system has reached a mutual agreed upon resolution that reflects our emphasis on student well-being. She declined to say whether Buonassisi is permitted to work in other district schools.
A man was shot early Saturday morning in Casper, marking the city's third significant "shots fired" incident in just over a month.

The unidentified man sustained a "non-lethal gunshot wound" and was transported to Banner Wyoming Medical Center for treatment, the Casper Police Department announced in a statement Monday.

Last week, Casper Police Chief Keith McPheeters told the Star-Tribune that there has been "a substantial uptick in drive-by shootings."

Many of these incidents involve "related known groups retaliating against other known groups," McPheeters said.

"It's something we are aware of," McPheeters said. "...It's on the police department to apply pressure on these groups."

Members of the public are urged to never leave firearms in an unlocked car, McPheeters said. Police are "conscious" about the trafficking of unlawful weapons, which are often times used in crimes of this nature.

Dispatchers received the first of multiple calls just after 4 a.m. Saturday, the statement said. There were reports of shots fired on the 1700 block of Brigham Young Ave.

Officers responded to the address "where numerous individuals were inside and outside of the residence in various states of distress," the statement said.

Casper police and Natrona County Sheriff's Office deputies took control of the scene and cleared the residence, the statement said.

All involved people and witnesses were interviewed by law enforcement at the scene and later at the Hall of Justice, the statement said.

This incident is under investigation.

Anyone with information that may be related to the shots fired Saturday morning is encouraged to call the non-emergency dispatch line at 307-235-8278. Reports can also be made anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 307-577-8477 or online at crime-stoppers.com.

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in Wyoming, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Star-Tribune app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
In "Rustin," Colman Domingo portrays the civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, who was from Chester County, where a high school is named for him. Read more

Theres a reason you might not know the name Bayard Rustin. The civil rights leader, after whom a Chester County high school is named, was a close adviser to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the architect of the 1963 March on Washington. He was also gay.

A new Netflix biopic Rustin aims to give the civil rights leader his flowers after decades of history ignored his monumental contributions because of his sexuality. But theres another name that the film wants you to know, too: Ma Rustin.

Julia Rustin, or Ma, takes on a mythical role in the movie. Bayard Rustin, played with elegance and quick wit by West Philly-raised actor Colman Domingo, who was nominated for a Golden Globe award this week for his role here, recalls her wise sayings often.

In crafting his dialogue, screenwriters Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black made clear that Rustins principles came from his grandmother, who raised him as a Quaker in West Chester.

A nurse, Julia Rustin was a pillar in her community and a member of the NAACP, hosting civil rights thinkers like W.E.B. DuBois and Mary McLeod Bethune. Her home, which she shared with her husband, Janifer Rustin, was a gathering place for African Americans in their neighborhood and beyond.

They raised Bayard as their son, after their daughter Florence gave birth at 17. He grew up thinking she was his sister.

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Though much of the film centers on New York and Washington, Rustins West Chester background and Quaker upbringing are key talking points for the activist as he navigates homophobia and violent rhetoric from his fellow civil rights leaders. Its Mas words that he cites as guiding stars.

When I told Ma Rustin I preferred dancing with boys instead of girls, she said, What would you have me do with that? Then she said, I suppose thats what you need to do,  he says in the film.

That line stuck with Domingo, who is also gay.

What an answer. What do you want me to do with that? And then she moved on, Domingo told The Inquirer. She knew and loved him for all that he was.

Domingo learned of Bayard Rustin as a 19-year-old in the Black Student Union at Temple University, kick-starting a long-standing curiosity that led him to explore Rustins archives and study his life some 35 years before he landed the role.

He was one of the most brilliant, imaginative thinkers, and organizers this country has ever seen, said Domingo. Hes such an original human being.

The two men have much in common, from their Philadelphia-area roots to their love for theater. The actor listened to Rustins 1952 album Elizabethan Songs & Negro Spirituals and studied his writings, interviews, and biographies closely to prepare for the film.

Domingos nieces and nephews have attended local Quaker schools, and he appreciated the films commitment to crediting Quaker influences.

When hes not flirting, singing, or directing, Rustin is preaching about his commitment to pacifism. It was Rustin who persuaded King to embrace passive resistance, thanks in part to the Quaker beliefs his grandmother imparted. The film enshrines the Rustin familys impact as an originating force behind Kings famous stance on nonviolence.

In Rustin, Rustin uses that claim to fame to intrigue his fictional love interest, Elias Taylor, a married man about to inherit a congregation. (Its an impressive and effective pickup line.) The pair spends hours at a gay bar in New York and after they plan to meet there again, the bar is raided by police.

Theyre unscathed, but Taylor leaves deeply shaken over the possibility of being outed. Rustin concedes that he wasnt abiding by another Ma Rustin guideline  to only associate with those who have as much to lose as I did. Their affair doesnt last.

The March on Washington was a pivotal victory for Rustin, King, and the civil rights movement. Toward the end of the film, Rustin is not included when leaders of the top 10 organizations are invited to the White House  an intentional omission and a foreshadowing.

With a gracious smile, he says hed happily clean up instead. Ma Rustin taught me that no man is less valuable because he picks up trash to care for his own, he says in the film.

Julia Rustins lessons have been passed down through Bayard Rustins legacy. Now her name, too, will be immortalized for future generations, along with his.

Rustin is available to stream on Netflix.
The nations largest pharmacy chains have handed over Americans prescription records to police and government investigators without a warrant, a congressional investigation found, raising concerns about threats to medical privacy.

Though some of the chains require their lawyers to review law enforcement requests, three of the largest - CVS Health, Kroger and Rite Aid, with a combined 60,000 locations nationwide - said they allow pharmacy staff members to hand over customers' medical records in the store.

The policy was revealed in a letter sent late Monday to Xavier Becerra, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.).

The members began investigating the practice after the Supreme Court's decision last year in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ended the constitutional right to abortion.

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The revelation could shape the debate over Americans' expectations of privacy as Texas and other states move to criminalize abortion and drugs related to reproductive health.

Pharmacies' records hold some of the most intimate details of their customers' personal lives, including years-old medical conditions and the prescriptions they take for mental health and birth control.

Because the chains often share records across all locations, a pharmacy in one state can access a person's medical history from states with more-restrictive laws. Carly Zubrzycki, an associate professor at the University of Connecticut law school, wrote last year that this could link a person's out-of-state medical care via a "digital trail" back to their home state.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, regulates how health information is used and exchanged among "covered entities" such as hospitals and doctor's offices. But the law gives pharmacies leeway as to what legal standard they require before disclosing medical records to law enforcement.

In briefings, officials with America's eight biggest pharmacy giants - Walgreens Boots Alliance, CVS, Walmart, Rite Aid, Kroger, Cigna, Optum Rx and Amazon Pharmacy - told congressional investigators that they required only a subpoena, not a warrant, to share the records.

A subpoena can be issued by a government agency and, unlike a court order or warrant, does not require a judge's approval. To obtain a warrant, law enforcement must persuade a judge that the information is vital to investigate a crime.

Officials with CVS, Kroger and Rite Aid said they instruct their pharmacy staff members to process law enforcement requests on the spot, saying the staff members face "extreme pressure to immediately respond," the lawmakers' letter said.

The eight pharmacy giants told congressional investigators that they collectively received tens of thousands of legal demands every year, and that most were in connection with civil lawsuits. It's unclear how many were related to law enforcement demands, or how many requests were fulfilled.

Only one of the companies, Amazon, said it notified customers when law enforcement demanded its pharmacy records unless there was a legal prohibition, such as a "gag order," preventing it from doing so, the lawmakers said.

Americans can request the companies tell them if they've ever disclosed their data under a HIPAA "Accounting of Disclosure" rule, but very few people do. CVS, which has more than 40,000 pharmacists and 10,000 stores in the United States, said it received a "single-digit number" of such consumer requests last year, the letter states.

CVS, the country's largest pharmacy by prescription revenue, said in a statement that it is compliant with HIPAA and that its pharmacy teams are "trained on how to appropriately respond to lawful requests from regulatory agencies and law enforcement."

"We have suggested a warrant or judge-issued subpoena requirement be considered and we look forward to working cooperatively with Congress to strengthen patient privacy protections," company spokeswoman Amy Thibault said.

Most investigative requests come with a directive requiring the company to keep them confidential, she said; for those that don't, the company considers "on a case-by-case basis whether it's appropriate to notify the individual." The company intends to begin publishing a transparency report that will include information on third-party record requests starting in the first quarter of next year, she said.

HHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A Walgreens spokesman said the company's law enforcement process follows HIPAA and other applicable laws. A Walmart spokeswoman said the company takes its "customers' privacy seriously as well as our obligation to law enforcement."

The other companies, including Amazon, did not respond to requests for comment. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post, and interim Post CEO Patty Stonesifer is a member of Amazon's board.

Carmel Shachar, an assistant clinical professor at Harvard Law School who researches health law and policy, said that pharmacies hold a "ton of sensitive data" and that pharmacists are probably not trained to evaluate the merits or validity of a police request - or to turn an officer down.

"These need to go to someone who understands privacy law for review," she said. "It probably feels very nerve-racking to get a subpoena and tell the person who gave it to you, 'Oh, you'll have to wait.'"

The pharmacy data could be especially concerning for the nearly 1 in 3 women ages 15 to 44 who a Post analysis found live in states where abortion is fully or mostly banned.

In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has warned pharmacies they could face criminal charges for providing women with "abortion-inducing drugs." Kate Cox, a Dallas-area mother of two who sought an abortion after learning her fetus had a fatal genetic condition, left the state on Monday after the Texas Supreme Court blocked a lower-court ruling that would have allowed her to get the procedure.

Some states, such as Louisiana, Montana and Pennsylvania, offer additional protections for medical data disclosure, though federal law enforcement is not subject to their laws.

In their letter, the lawmakers called on HHS to strengthen HIPAA's rules and ensure pharmacies insist on a warrant, which would require law enforcement go to court to enforce such requests.

The lawmakers noted that the tech industry had adopted a similar change in the early 2010s, when Google, Microsoft and Yahoo began demanding to see warrants before providing data on customers' emails.

They also urged the companies to proactively notify customers and to publish regular transparency reports highlighting the volume of law enforcement requests.

Americans deserve to have their private medical information protected at the pharmacy counter, they wrote.
Julie Su, acting secretary of labor, is currently reviewing thousands of public comments on a proposal to update overtime rules before issuing a final rule. Read more

As a secretary at a Philadelphia-area school, Lynn works 12 months a year and makes about $45,000 annually.

Her hours are generally 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a 30-minute lunch break. But Lynn, who asked not to use her last name out of concern for her job, often ends up coming in early or taking work home with her so she can catch up on data entry when she wont be interrupted by phone calls.

Some weeks its five hours, sometimes its 10 hours of extra time, she said, but she doesnt get paid anything more than her base salary those weeks.

That could change, if a new overtime rule from the U.S. Department of Labor takes effect.

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Proposed in August, the rule would require that employers pay overtime to employees who make less than $1,059 per week, which comes out to about $55,000 annually. Currently, employers must pay overtime to any workers making less than $35,568 annually. The rule change would also automatically update the salary threshold every three years based on current earnings data.

Ive heard from workers again and again about working long hours for no extra pay, all while earning low salaries that dont come anywhere close to compensating them for their sacrifices, Acting Secretary Julie Su said when announcing the proposal.

The Labor Department is reviewing thousands of public comments on the proposal before issuing a final rule.

Lynn, the secretary, likes her job, she said. But it has become difficult to finish her work in a 40-hour week as other positions in her department were eliminated and the tasks of those jobs were distributed among those who remained.

Your work starts taking over because youre worried about not getting your job done, Lynn said.

If the overtime rule changes, she said, she would feel empowered to leave after an eight-hour workday even if some tasks were unfinished, or at least know she will get paid for the extra time it takes to complete them. She would take a day off and not check her email. Or, Lynn suggested, if her employer raised her salary above the proposed new threshold to keep her exempt from overtime, she wouldnt mind the extra hours so much.

If they hourly paid us, and we actually got paid for the hours we put in, they would realize how hard we work, Lynn said.

Dalila Bedoya is an educator who works with children of all ages across a dozen schools. Her job involves visiting families in person and helping them access resources needed to have a learning environment at home.

Typically Bedoya works from about 7:15 a.m. to 3 or 4 p.m. throughout the school year, making about $46,000 per year. But meeting with families often has to happen in the evening.

Bedoya has worked this job for nearly eight years. As a mother of two, aged 15 and 11, shes found it takes a lot of organization to get dinner on the table for them on nights when she has to meet with students families.

If the Labor Departments proposed rule goes into effect, Bedoya said, any time she gains will go to being a parent. If she does work overtime, she said, getting paid an extra amount for it will allow her to save for her childrens education or to take a family trip.

Lynn and Bedoya are both members of WorkMoney, a nonprofit organization that aims to help members save money by accessing discounts, reducing debt, and navigating government programs when theyre eligible. WorkMoney has been lobbying the Labor Department for the proposed rule change.

WorkMoney is a 501(c)(4) organization, which means it does not have to publicly disclose its donors. It launched in 2020 and worked the following year to influence moderate lawmakers to pass pieces of President Joe Bidens agenda.

In September, the nonprofit surveyed 1,652 members about the rule change and found that 83% favor or strongly favor the proposal. Support was similarly high among respondents who identified as Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, WorkMoney said.
PARIS  Paris is more than cafes, cobblestoned streets, and haute couture. Its long been a refuge for American women  especially women of color  to just be.

Recently, I went to Paris. When I first arrived, I was put off by the big-city feel. But a few days in, I began to marvel at Parisians ability to linger. The Metro is always packed, but once people get where they are going, they take the time to meander through museums and pause for hours over a single glass of wine. Ideas started to emerge. What if if I started that novel about a family of seers who lived in Philadelphia, and worked on it every morning? What if I learned to pour candles? What if I had time to explore these ideas as real possibilities?

You could if you moved to Paris, responded the Philadelphia women I met who now call Paris home.

Why? When the French say come as you are, they mean it. Natural beauty is appreciated. Ease is the norm. And, they say, in Paris, Americans are revered. (Of course that doesnt mean showing up slovenly.)

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America and France have been friendly since the Revolution. This is particularly important to Black women who  whether teacher or lawyer, artist or student  all agree: In Paris, we are American first. Here, we are not treated like second-class Americans, looked at through suspicious eyes, or looked over in so-called elite spaces. Our presence isnt questioned. Where we go, we belong. We arent expected to live out stereotypes, or think as a monolith, freeing us to figure out what we really want to do and to do it.

This is the spirit of Josephine Baker. This is what it means to just be. Thats intoxicating. Magical even. I wanted to know more, so I sought out Philadelphia women-turned-Parisians to share their stories about how Paris ignited their sense of freedom.

Answers have been edited for clarity.

Yamilett Suarez, 20

Yamilett Suarez elected to travel abroad for college to escape the violence in her Tioga neighborhood. She never thought shed end up in Paris.

I already spoke Spanish, said Suarez, an Afro-Latina and 2022 graduate of Little Flower High School. I wanted to learn a new language.

Now in her second year at the American University of Paris, Suarez is majoring in international studies and comparative politics. After she graduates from law school, she plans to return home and work as an immigration lawyer.

Its freeing.

In Philadelphia, I have to always be on. ... My guard is always up. Here, Im aware of what surrounds me, but I can let my guard down a bit. My walls dont have to be so high. Its still a big city, but the pace is much slower.

Im from North Philadelphia. Its a hard place to live. My mom is such a worried parent. She is worried all of the time. I inherited her panic and paranoia. I didnt trust anyone. I hardly went anywhere. I always had to be on the lookout because anything could happen at any moment. Nothing has happened to me or my family, but I see how [violence] has affected my friends.

Without it, without that constant threat, I feel like I can do anything. All of the doors are open for me.

I can focus on just being a teenage girl. The first night I was here I was sitting at a cafe with new friends. We sat for hours. Nobody was trying to kick us out. We could have sat there the whole night if we wanted. I felt comfortable. Without being worried all of the time about being safe, or political problems, I can focus on other stuff. Its freeing.

Sabreen Lateef, 26

Sabreen Lateefs first visit to Paris was a three-day graduation trip with her mom back in 2018. Since then, the Southwest Philly native and substitute teacher has vacationed in Paris every year, staying at Airbnbs and immersing herself in Black Parisian culture. She plans to move to Paris next year to go to law school and study sustainability law.

There is a magic in not knowing everything.

I viewed Paris through a very white lens. It was all about women wearing jeans, ballet flats, and walking around the city with baguettes. My first trip to Paris did not help. We stayed next to the Eiffel Tower and I only saw the glitzy part. When I came back and decided to stay a month I really made it a point to learn about the people here, the Black people here. There is a huge, diverse culture here.

There is so much magic here. Every day I get the opportunity to observe. I pick up on situational cues and learn through body language. There is a magic in not knowing everything, in not moving around so fast, and letting things wash over you. Everything here is an adventure. I had to learn a new transportation system, where to eat, and how to live. The fears I had about traveling as a woman, by myself, just went away.

Being African American is a unique experience here because Black people here are African or African Caribbean. They are Somali French or Guinea French or Jamaican French. So I really have to think about what it means to be a Black American. And then I have to explain we are more than just 90s hip-hop and no, we all dont know Obama. Being Black American isnt the dominant experience here. Its not the be-all, end-all. I have to listen and learn, adjust, and be more open.

My natural beauty is appreciated. I feel more desired here. Im a Black woman, but Im an American first. People want to teach me French. People want to serve me in their salons. Im not always having to justify that I belong. Black women are hyper-seen in America or we arent seen at all. They dont see our individuality. I feel like Im part of a monolith.

In Europe, all eyes are on me but people want to know my opinions. They want to know me. I can pave my own way. I dont have narratives associated with my identity here. I can create my own path.

Channel Andrews, 37

Channel Andrews married Abdoul Mbengue, a Senegalese Frenchman, seven years ago.They met while she was in France studying abroad.

Today, Andrews, originally from Southwest Philadelphia, has two sons, is an immigration lawyer, and teaches American law at Universite-Pantheon-Assas .

She has no intention of moving back to the States.

Paris gives me a sense of freedom that life can be fun, not daunting,

I romanticized Paris. It was a fantasy. A dream land. This beautiful place that was historic and timeless. Its a place where a woman could be and do anything. I also knew historically what it meant for Black artists. That was exciting to me.

Its a place where Black people can be free  especially creatively  and indulge in the luxuries of life without feeling guilty. Paris has the worlds best shopping, hotels, and restaurants. Its all here. When I do these things, people arent looking at me like I dont belong.

There are more professional opportunities in Paris. The French have a motto, Liberte, egalite, fraternite. That means Parisians are born and remain free and equal. The French government doesnt collect data and statistics on its people based on race in an attempt to treat everyone equally, irrespective of race and other identifying factors. While I dont think looking at people color blindly is the best approach to life, I will admit Ive been treated much better in France. Ive been promoted several times. I have been appreciated because of my skills and I know I wasnt promoted to fill a quota.

In Paris I have the opportunity to do what I want to do and what feels good. When I was an attorney in Philly I thought I had to do civil rights law. Here I dont feel like I need to. Paris gives me a sense of freedom that life can be fun, not daunting, heavy, or a burden.

Its an interesting phenomenon to experience, to be a Black person in the presence of other Black people and treated differently. But Im American first and foremost.

Lindsey Tramuta, 38

Paris-based writer Lindsey Tramuta grew up in Amblerand learned how French colonialism impacted Afro-Caribbeans and Caribbeans in Paris as a student of French literature and linguistics at Temple University.

That knowledge and her passion for womens rights inspired The New Parisienne: The Women & Ideas Shaping Paris, a coffee-table book packed with eye-catching portraits and deep profiles of some of the citys most inspirational women entrepreneurs, advocates, and politicians.

I didnt know what I could become in the U.S.

[Paris] is romanticized to the point where people think its a postcard. I was sick of seeing millions of articles that [claim] French women  who are [portrayed as] mostly white, heterosexual, thin, seductive, and concerned with superficial matters  do everything better. Paris is wonderful and exciting because its a real place. Its diversity is what makes it a real global city.

Paris was my first opportunity to have long conversations with people and push myself. That was the magic. I am here, engaging with people from all parts of the world learning about arts and culture and getting a sense of how people from other parts of the world think of America. Ive learned to think more critically about where I have come from. There is magic in that.

I love Philly. But, home? I dont feel as at home in the United States. Ive married a Frenchman. Im a French citizen. I dont think I can live in the States again for a variety of reasons, access to health care is one of them. But when anyone  especially New Yorkers  take a jab at Philly, Im like, lets fight it out.

I never thought I was fleeing, but it turned out when I came here, that is really what I was doing. I didnt know what I could become in the U.S. I didnt know I could be a writer. I have Tourettes syndrome. Being in a place where I dont have to be defined by limitations is freeing to me. I arrived with a clean slate. My mind was clear. I could be who I wanted to be.

Monique Wells, 62

When University of Pennsylvania graduate Monique Wells moved to Paris to work for the pharmaceutical company Rhone-Poulenc back in the early 1990s, she fell in love with the citys walkability, museums, and food.

In 1999, she and her husband launched Entree Into Black Paris, offering walking tours to travelers curious about the citys African American history. Her tour introduces visitors to the cafes where Richard Wright, James Baldwin, and Chester Himes composed their masterpieces, and demystifies the work of Black women artists like Philadelphia-born Barbara Chase-Riboud.

Just being is appreciated.

The beauty of Paris is its rich diaspora of brown people. There is an Afro-Caribbean population and a population of people directly from the continent and their experience, combined with those of us who are African American create a beautifully, broad view of the world.

The myth of a color-blind France took hold when Black soldiers who fought in World War I came to Paris, and in many ways Paris was. Paris has more nuanced views of Black people, as in once they figure out you are American they treat you like an American with all its perks. Thats where the possibility lies.

We started a tour company based on a walking tour we did in Italy. Our African American clients wanted to see Black Paris, so we created walks. Over the years more Black people  especially women  began to come here and our business grew.

Ive been here for 31 years and I still see its magic. Its the energy. Paris is a feminine city. Its steeped in art. Its steeped in history. Its steeped in an appreciation for life in a way that Americans can only dream about.

The whole approach to life is different here. Americans approach life like a sport. For us, its how big can you get? How much do you make? How much can you eat? How much can you buy? Thats America. Here art is appreciated. Doing nothing is appreciated. Just being is appreciated.
Jennifer Kehs holds up what she described as a chart showing academic decline in the Oxford Area School District during a Jan. 18 school board meeting. Read more

An Oxford Area School District board member who called for a district policy on homeless students to use the phrase illegal immigrants and blamed declining test scores on those people is drawing backlash and calls for her resignation.

As of early Tuesday evening, more than 18,000 people had signed an online petition featuring video of Jennifer Kehs remarks during a Jan. 18 school board meeting and demanding her immediate resignation. Alumni of the southern Chester County district condemned the comments in a letter they plan to present during a board meeting next week, and advocacy groups also voiced concern.

Such xenophobic and racist comments from board members of a public school are offensive and completely unacceptable, said Deborah Gordon Klehr, executive director of the Education Law Center, which advocates for children who are homeless and English learners, among other students. Statements blaming immigrant students for bad school outcomes are simply false and make families feel unwelcome and afraid to attend school.

Andrew Goretsky, regional director for the Anti-Defamation Leagues Philadelphia branch, said the group was deeply troubled by the anti-immigrant remarks that were made during this school board meeting. No human being is or should ever be referred to as illegal.

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Kehs, who was elected to the school board as a Republican in November, did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

During the January board meeting, Kehs began asking questions as the board took up a revision to a policy about homeless students.

These students that are being discussed, are they illegal immigrants? she said. The districts superintendent, David Woods, informed Kehs that the district  like others in Pennsylvania  is not allowed to ask about a students immigration status. Federal law and U.S. Supreme Court precedent prohibit public schools from denying enrollment based on whether a student is in the country legally or not.

Kehs continued, saying that we should call out, rather than calling homeless students, we should call them illegal immigrants, or include the two terms within this policy. We should say homeless students and illegal immigrants. Woods said he wouldnt recommend that.

I think its important we share with the community this policy will, in fact, include illegal immigrants, Kehs said. She then began talking about the districts academic standing, holding up what she said was a chart showing declining rankings.

If were going to have a policy around illegal immigrants, the other thing I was thinking is we can separate it completely from these homeless people. Sorry, homeless students, she said. I think we should really take into consideration what we put in a policy that applies to illegal immigrants, because those people may potentially continue on this downward trend, as we have people coming into our school district who dont speak any English, who have no schooling in America.

Another board member questioned Kehs conclusion. How do you know thats not coming from a cohort of socioeconomically disadvantaged students? Youre just making that assumption.

 READ MORE: Philly school board takes a sanctuary schools stance protecting immigrant students from ICE

The district enrolls about 3,300 students, 34% of whom are considered economically disadvantaged. More than 60% of students are white, and 32% are Hispanic. Just over 10% are English learners.

As Kehs asserted that the district was now going to be accepting I dont know how many numbers of illegal immigrants, board president Joseph Tighe interrupted: I dont know that were allowed to say that, again noting the prohibition on asking a students legal status.

If we are accepting those people, those will very much drive down numbers on our scores, Kehs said. She then questioned how the district could be sure it was educating immigrant children and not adults.

The district posted video of the meeting online a week later, which is when Shelley Meadowcroft saw it. A friend had reached out to her and said, Watch the whole thing, pay attention to the end, and tell me if youre upset or Im overthinking this, Meadowcroft said Tuesday. I watched it and started to shake in anger.

A former township supervisor who has a child in kindergarten in the district, Meadowcroft said she created the online petition because she felt the community should know what Kehs had said.

Often statements like this that are made in small communities at low-attended meetings get glazed over, and they shouldnt be, she said. The petition garnered wider attention after it hit TikTok last night and blew up  going from 3,000 signatures Monday night to nearly 9,500 when Meadowcroft woke up Tuesday.

Elizabeth Darling, a 2008 graduate of Oxford Area High School, helped organize a letter by alumni that objected to Kehs unfounded, racist claims and said that it was far easier to blame a marginalized group of people, and set the anger of the community at them, rather than address the real problems in the district. The letter cited an analysis commissioned by plaintiffs suing the state over school funding that identified Oxford as having a funding shortfall of more than $7,000 per student.

Darling, who now lives in Tennessee, said 250 alumni from different years had signed onto the letter. Kehs doesnt represent the views of Oxford, she said.

Kehs lives with her husband and five children in Upper Oxford Township, has a bachelors degree in chemistry from Penn State, and works full time in clinical research, according to the districts website.

Kehs said during her campaign that she was very much against critical race theory, according to a video posted by a group called Back2BasicsPA that supported Kehs and three other Republican board candidates.

In that video, Kehs objected to allowing people who have racial differences to go kind of at the head of the line and said that kids who are doing very well or work really hard, they should be the ones getting the scholarships or getting the rewards.
A suspect in a Tuesday morning stabbing inside SEPTAs 69th Street Transportation Center was arrested in Philadelphia, according to transit officials.

Police responded to the fare terminal for the eastbound Market-Frankford Line in Upper Darby about 9 a.m. after receiving reports that one man had stabbed another following a brief altercation.

The man was stabbed at least once in his torso and taken to a nearby hospital, according to SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch.

The mans identity and his condition were not immediately available, but Busch described the injury as serious, and said the man was undergoing surgery.

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SEPTA transit police apprehended the suspect shortly after 11:30 a.m. near the agencys 52nd Street Station, Busch said. He was placed in custody of the Upper Darby police; his identity had not been released.

Investigators believed the suspect initially fled Upper Darby on an eastbound Market-Frankford train, launching a multi-department search that included the Philadelphia police department.

After exiting the train, the suspect was tracked using both SEPTA and the citys surveillance cameras. Transit police apprehended him at a residence at 51st and Arch Streets, according to Busch.

The Market-Frankford Line was briefly operating with delays as SEPTA put all of its efforts into finding the suspect, Busch said.

The stabbing comes two weeks after SEPTA transit police shot a 48-year-old man who was suspected of attacking three people with a knife at a Center City subway station. The suspect was accused of slashing two people at the Walnut-Locust Station on Nov. 27 before stabbing a private security guard  hired to secure the transit system  in the neck. The suspect in the stabbings, Gregory Skane, died Sunday.

On Nov. 19, a 16-year-old girl fired a gun into a crowd of young people on the concourse at 15th and Market Streets. No one was struck, and the girl was expected to faces charges of aggravated assault and firearms violations.

SEPTA transit police officers, meanwhile, are in negotiations with SEPTA and are asking for a pay increase amid a staffing shortage and a rise in antisocial behaviors  such as smoking and turnstile jumping  but not violent crimes.

Leaders of the transit police union decided last month to put their plans for a strike on hold until Wednesday, at which point members will decide whether to strike after a formal analysis of the transit agencys latest contract offer.

Staff writer Rodrigo Torrejon contributed to this article.
The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF) has created Tacony Creek Park and Trail Maps in seven languages. Read more

Tacony Creek Park may have a 3.2-mile paved circuit trail that connects to over 370 miles of trails across the region. It may be home to over 100 species of birds and other wildlife. And it may be the only place in the city you can actually see Tacony Creek. But if you dont read English, navigating the 300-acre park may be difficult.

The Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF) recently released park maps in seven of the languages most widely spoken in the Lower Northeast neighborhoods near the park.

There are a lot of people who speak a lot of different languages around the park, said Julie Slavet, TTFs executive director. TTF created its user-friendly map in English and Spanish in 2016. We were pretty proud of it.

Last year, additional funding allowed Slavet to add maps written in Vietnamese, Mandarin, Haitian Creole, Arabic, and Khmer.

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And a Portuguese version is at the printer now. It will be done [later] this month, Slavet said.

About 15% of the citys residents are immigrants, making language access a growing concern. Last February, Philadelphia received its Welcoming City designation after a rigorous audit process to assess the citys commitment to immigrant inclusion and support.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia is now officially a Certified Welcoming city. Heres what it means for immigrant communities.

Mayor Jim Kenney has consistently maintained immigrants importance to the citys cultural diversity and economic growth. Executive directors Cathryn Miller-Wilson of HIAS Pennsylvania and Margaret OSullivan, of the Nationalities Service Center (NSC), recently cowrote an editorial urging Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker to continue that commitment and to put language accessibility high on her agenda.

For Philadelphia to be truly welcoming, we must have a language access plan that works for all languages, not simply the most popular. Not only is it federal law to accommodate these languages, it is also the right thing to do, Miller-Wilson and OSullivan wrote.

Slavet said she uses translation services to create multilingual documents, including the NSC program, which offers translation and interpretation services in more than 150 languages. According to Steven Larin, deputy director of NSC, the organization works primarily with governmental agencies, large nonprofits and legal services organizations.

Slavet said she also engages community members to proofread the materials to ensure accuracy. We want to make sure there were no big errors. Words have different meanings in different languages.

Tacony Creek Park is one of the citys five watershed parks and the major park for almost 200,000 residents in Olney, East Oak Lane, Lawncrest, Feltonville, Frankford, and Juniata Parka linguistically diverse set of communities.

The Lenape were the original stewards of the area they called Tookany or Tacony, their word for woods or hidden space. The creek starts in Montgomery County (where it is known as Tookany) and runs through the Northwest and Lower Northeast sections of Philadelphia (where it is called Tacony). Over time, the city encapsulated its numerous creeks, created a sewer system, leveled the valleys with fill, and replaced the open land with parks, streets, and rowhouses.

The creeks, now hidden, became forgotten and degraded. The park faces serious challenges, including limited maintenance and amenities.

The goal of TTF is to help make the 30-square mile watershed more visible in order to increase community stewardship to limit the pollutants the creek picks up as it flows into the Delaware River, the source of drinking water for half of Philadelphia.

This means getting more people into Tacony Creek Park.

 READ MORE: Once neglected and ignored, Tacony Creek Park is finally getting visitors thanks to Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership programs

When you greet people in their language, they feel much more welcome, said Slavet. People are very pleased to see the map in their language.

The free maps are available on the Tacony Creek Park website or people can call 215-744-1853 for a physical copy. Maps will also be available at TTFs weekly programs and events including Walk with Me, Run with Me, and Creek Care Days.
A privately funded truck flashing a message on Penn president Liz Magills testimony to Congress is parked at 36th and Walnut outside of Penns campus in Philadelphia on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. Read more

It is the context, of course.

No one in touch with the facts could plausibly regard former Penn president Liz Magill as an antisemite. Yet thats the false narrative let loose on the land in the wake of her forced resignation over a bungled answer to grilling by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.) during a congressional hearing last week.

Asked by Stefanik whether students calling for the genocide of Jews violate Penns code of conduct when it comes to bullying and harassment (and should therefore be disciplined), Magill replied that it was a context-dependent decision. She was referring to First Amendment law that protects hate speech unless it is intended to incite violence and is, in fact, likely to do so. Her legalistic answer was technically correct, but it failed to address the moral issue: Even if calling for the elimination of Jews is free speech, its an odious idea that, though legal, deserves condemnation.

 READ MORE: Liz Magills ouster at Penn will help the worst people take down free speech, higher ed | Will Bunch

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Magills response  which echoed responses from the presidents of Harvard and MIT during the hearing  was insensitive to the raw emotions on college campuses and in the larger community that have been stirred up by the Israel-Hamas war. But how could a rhetorical misstep result in the effective firing of a talented, sensitive, and open-minded university president who made clear the next day that she condemned any call for genocide against Jews?

The answer lies in the context of contemporary American culture, politics, and the state of affairs at the nations most prestigious universities.

University presidents at top-tier schools used to be primarily thought leaders, scholars who could offer sage advice about the problems facing the nation and the world. No more. Today the main charge is to raise money for their institutions. To do so, they have to watch their words, avoiding statements that might alienate potential donors.

Penns former president, Amy Gutmann, played the role well. A political scientist who wrote about deliberative democracy  in which political decisions stem from public discussion and debate  she largely set aside insightful political analysis during her presidency to be an ambassador for the university, boosting Penns endowment from $4 billion to $20.5 billion during her 18-year presidency. I worked briefly as a speechwriter for Gutmann when she first arrived at Penn in 2004, but we amicably parted ways when it was clear she could not afford to express strong opinions about contentious issues.

The controversy about Magill and the other college presidents also comes at a time when Americans are losing faith in institutions of all kinds  the government, organized religion, the news media, democracy itself. Institutions of higher education, particularly those regarded as elite, are easy targets of criticism by conservative lawmakers, including those whose constituencies consist of large numbers of the 70% of Americans who do not have a four-year college degree. In her interrogation of Magill and the other presidents, Stefanik pressed for terse, binary answers to a complex issue. Yes or no! she demanded as Magill tried to frame a nuanced response. This, too, fits with the tempo of the times.

We have little patience with complexity these days, whether thats in politics or the media. Political discourse has descended into name-calling and one-sentence explication of complicated problems. Even the best in the news media now frame stories as summaries, sound bites, bullet points, visuals that are here now and gone in two seconds.

We have little patience with complexity these days.

When it comes to the Middle East war, now the flash point of campus activism, the issues are not amenable to simplistic analysis with good guys and bad guys. It is possible, for instance, to condemn the murderous attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7 while also speaking up for the Palestinian people, just as its possible to condemn Israeli policy and the bombing of civilians in Gaza while also respecting Jewish people and the right of Israel to exist.

The issue of hate speech on college campuses is just as complex  a delicate dance between ensuring a safe environment for students while also honoring the First Amendment right to free speech and the importance of wide-open debate of ideas, even hateful ideas. This is whats being lost in the hyperbolic response to words spoken at a congressional hearing.

Huntly Collins is a retired journalist and college professor who covered Penn as The Inquirers higher education reporter in the 1980s.
A band of raiders never stops at just one scalp. Just minutes after the University of Pennsylvanias president Liz Magill pulled the plug on her stormy 17-month tenure, under intense pressure for her handling of antisemitism questions on Capitol Hill, her chief inquisitor  GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York  was back on the battlefield calling for more.

One down. Two to go, a clearly ebullient Stefanik posted on X/Twitter, urging on her dream of an academic Saturday Night Massacre that would also take down the two college leaders who testified last week along with Magill  MITs Sally Kornbluth and Claudine Gay of Harvard, which, in a controversy with more ironies than a Jane Austen novel, happens to be Stefaniks alma mater.

But what Stefanik promised on Saturday night, and what her allies are cheering on, goes well beyond a few high-profile resignations. She promised the current crisis  over what constitutes antisemitism on college campuses, and how administrators like Magill have been handling it  will lead to more congressional hearings on all facets of their institutions negligent perpetration of antisemitism including administrative, faculty, and overall leadership and governance.

This weekend, Magills resignation  urged on by some of Penns billionaire donors withholding massive donations, amid intense criticism from both political parties including the Biden White House  has been the lead national story everywhere. Its bumped back coverage of Israels intensifying strikes on Gaza that have killed hundreds every day while taking out top Palestinian scholars and journalists, as well as holy sites. And its drowned out the Biden administrations international pariah move of vetoing a U.N. cease-fire resolution backed by 13 out of 15 Security Council members. No wonder some folks prefer to keep the focus on a college campus 11,000 miles west of this carnage.

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Magills legalistic, bloodless, deer-in-the-headlights response to incessant probing by Stefanik and other lawmakers was not good  not just because she blew a chance to condemn the never-ending horror of antisemitism, but also because it was a weak defense of free speech on campus. Im not writing to express any regret over her departure. It seemed to me she governed Penn like a candle in the wind, wanting to defend academic freedom but then betraying those values, as when the university tried to ban a film presenting legitimate criticisms of Israels policies and then threatened to punish students for showing it anyway.

By ceding the high ground to demagogues like Stefanik, the fallout from this affair is more likely in the long run to hamper the fight against antisemitism than to bolster it, which is beyond unfortunate. Because no one can deny the scourge of antisemitism  especially not here in Pennsylvania, where a right-wing fanatic ginned up by immigration lies entered a Pittsburgh synagogue and murdered 11 Jews with the kind of AR-15 killing machine Stefanik and her Republican colleagues have no interest in holding hearings about, let alone outlawing.

And theres no doubt that antisemitic incidents are on the rise  such reports increased 35% from 2021 to 2022 and then have spiked exponentially this year, as tensions over the war in the Middle East have boiled over during contentious protests here at home. Since the Hamas terror attack on Oct. 7 triggered the fighting, Islamophobia has also risen dramatically. College administrators have a responsibility to come down on anyone committing acts of violence, threatening actual violence, or undertaking vandalism, but thats not really what the Stefanik-Magill showdown was about.

Stefaniks relentless questioning didnt focus on actions at Penn  like Octobers antisemitic graffiti on campus  but on words, and especially protesters use of the term intifada, which marchers see as a call for liberation but Israels staunchest defenders claim is an invitation to pogrom. No doubt the term is controversial and offensive to some, but Magill was actually right to insist theres a line between speech and action.

I agree with the tiny handful of commentators not joining the anti-Magill pile on. That includes the New York Times Michelle Goldberg, who wrote that Magill and her colleagues walked into a trap by allowing Stefanik to define common pro-Palestinian rhetoric as antisemitism and then demanding what Goldberg called egregious violations of free speech. And also New York Magazines Jonathan Chait, who wrote after Magills resignation that the college presidents were right to insist that schools regulate conduct but not words, stating that what Stefanik was demanding was the wholesale ban on rhetoric and ideas that Jews find threatening, regardless of context.

Shortly before Magills resignation, Jeremy C. Young, who directs the Freedom to Learn program at PEN America (full disclosure: Im a member), told me that the literary free expression group is deeply concerned that the outcry over antisemitism is already driving a bevy of legislative proposals with alarming implications for free speech. He cited proposed laws that would require universities to be neutral on controversial issues, proposals to force schools to embrace the strictest definition of antisemitism that includes opposing the idea of Zionism, and bans on the most aggressive pro-Palestinian groups like the one recently laid down in Florida by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Young stressed he isnt disagreeing that campus antisemitism is a problem or that college presidents have made a mess of things, but he noted those driving the controversy are attacking other topics  diversity initiatives, tenure for professors, and what universities are teaching students. He said antisemitism is being used as a pretext to take power over college decisions from neutral arbiters and hand it to politicians who want to enforce ideological control on campus. Silencing and chilling speech on campus cannot be the solution.

 READ MORE: Is Gaza becoming Joe Bidens Vietnam? | Will Bunch Newsletter

But thats exactly the hoped-for solution from the avatars of Americas new McCarthyism, who are seizing on young peoples pro-Palestinian activism, and a handful of the most despicable acts, to foment a new kind of Red Scare that has both the nations extreme right and the billionaire winners of our class wars in sight of their real goal. That would be to cripple our colleges and universities as incubators of critical thinking that might cause the next generation to question their authority.

Indeed, Stefanik makes for an ideal 21st-century Joe McCarthy, since she has no sense of decency. Its not just that her passion as an anti-antisemitism crusader was nowhere to be seen recently when her conservative allies were out in the schools banning books like The Diary of Anne Frank. Far worse, Stefanik, in 2022 campaign ads, seemed to be endorsing the racist great replacement theory that mass immigration is a liberal plot, using inflammatory rhetoric about a scheme to overthrow our current electorate and create a permanent liberal majority in Washington. Its exactly that idea that animated the madman who shot up Pittsburghs Tree of Life synagogue.

How much of this is about antisemitism, and how much of this is about something else  such as the fact that the college presidents who testified on Capitol Hill dont look like the 300 years of school leaders who came before them? Bill Ackman, billionaire hedge fund manager and deeply disgruntled Harvard alum and donor, said the quiet part out loud last week when he made the repulsive allegation in a tweet that his alma maters first Black president  a child of Haitian immigrants, an award-winning scholar  was only hired to satisfy diversity goals.

And the likes of Ackman, Stefanik, and their allies wont stop at reversing a half-century of diversity on campus  not when their bigger strategic goal of weakening the already tottering American way of higher education suddenly seems within reach. Last week, Sen. J.D. Vance, the billionaire-backed Ohioan, tweeted that if universities keep pushing racial hatred, euphemistically called DEI, we need to look at their funding. In the swirling vortex that led to Magills resignation, these calls for financial retribution will accelerate  and students will suffer.

We know this because its happened before. Todays campus unrest is a distinct echo of the Vietnam era, when students at many of the same universities now under attack also led massive protests against U.S. militarism, making their parents generation uneasy. In 1966, Ronald Reagan was elected governor of California by running against campus unrest, and he promised to impose tuition on its virtually free public universities, stating taxpayers should not subsidize intellectual curiosity. His philosophy inspired a generation of conservative lawmakers to privatize and devalue higher education, as tuition soared and student debt climbed to $1.75 trillion. Now, with public faith in universities at an all-time low, Reagans political heirs might finish the job.

The first step would be painfully familiar to anyone familiar with the anti-communist hysteria of the 1950s when McCarthyism reigned: a climate of fear and silence on college campuses. Here at Penn, the Wharton Schools Board of Advisors  the hedge fund-flavored panel that played an instrumental role in driving out Magill  has also proposed a new code that critics say goes too far in curbing campus free speech. Jonathan Friedman, PEN Americas director of free expression, blasted it as vague and patently wrongheaded and could chill an ocean of speech on campus.

In the current climate of fear and loathing, it wont be the last such proposal.

With Magills departure, those who want to fight back for free speech face an increasingly uphill struggle. Its easy for folks like the Biden White House to follow the path of least resistance and pretend that by slam-dunking Penns ex-president they are claiming the moral high ground, even as they sell Israel more tank shells like the one that was used to deliberately target and kill a Reuters journalist. Its a lot harder to defend free expression knowing that the worst people will even try to brand you as an antisemite, just as those who once called out McCarthyism were stigmatized as fellow travelers.

Instead of jumping on the Magill scrum, lets praise the courage of those defending our First Amendment rights. In a saga packed with irony, nothing would be more ironic than allowing a manipulated definition of antisemitism to shut down learning and inquiry, which are so central to the great Jewish traditions.

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President Joe Biden leaves Ladder 1 on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, after his announcement of the federal funding that will recommission the fire station closed 15 years ago and several fire companies in the city. Behind him are Mayor Jim Kenney (from left), Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel. Read more

President Joe Biden was back in Philadelphia Monday on an afternoon that in many ways previewed his 2024 campaign.

Three scenes from his visit  his ninth to the city this year  provided a snapshot of Bidens campaign strategy and some of his looming challenges as he readies for a likely rematch with former President Donald Trump next year.

Biden spoke to firefighters in Francisville, where he touted federal grant money that will help staff and equip the department. It was part of an ongoing attempt by the campaign to connect his administrations legislative achievements to tangible outcomes voters can support, particularly among working-class and union voters.

He also addressed a banquet room of prominent Philadelphia donors and well-known politicians, from whom he needs financial backing and for whom he framed the stakes of his campaign as an inflection point for American democracy.

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Its good to be almost home, Biden told about 100 donors at the Hilton on Penns Landing. The truth of the matter is, you guys in Philadelphia have been the backbone of my campaign since I started.

Outside the fundraiser, hundreds of protesters gathered with signs condemning Bidens refusal to back a cease-fire in Gaza, the latest outcry from a group dissatisfied with him, as he tries to hang onto the fragile coalition of voters that elected him in 2020.

As Bidens motorcade flew down Columbus Boulevard after the event, hundreds of protesters chanted: Cease-fire, now! and Well remember in November.

A visit to Ladder 1

Biden saluted the assembled firefighters at Ladder 1 as he entered the small brick firehouse at 16th and Parrish Streets.

He was there to announce a $22.4 million federal grant that will recommission several fire companies in the city  including a ladder truck that would have been first to respond to the 2022 Fairmount fire had it been in operation.

The fire, believed to have started when a 5-year-old ignited a Christmas tree, killed 12 people, including 9 children.

God only knows if wed been able to get there that much earlier and save lives, Biden told the group of firefighters and politicians. This neighborhood now has a ladder truck on call.

As Biden looks ahead to 2024, hes trying to hold on to union and working-class voters that have historically powered the Democratic Party but that Trump has threatened to siphon away since 2016.

Speakers touted Bidens support for firefighters over the years, and Biden took the opportunity to lean into his working-class upbringing. He told the group that where he grew up in Claymont, Del., all his friends became cops, firefighters, or priests. And here I am, he said to chuckles.

It was also a moment for Biden to show hed delivered on a promise. After the Fairmount blaze, the local union president Mike Bresnan called him and pleaded for federal money to get the truck and others back online.

A year after that call, Biden got to stand by while firefighters lifted a ladder onto the truck to symbolize its official return to service.

The grant will also bring two other companies back  Engine 6 in Fishtown and Ladder 11 in South Philadelphia  and fund 72 firefighters salaries and benefits for the next three years.

God made man, but he also made a few firefighters, Biden said. Being a firefighter isnt what you do, its ... who the hell you are, he said, punching each word for emphasis.

The head of the International Association of Fire Fighters union was the first major labor group to endorse him during the 2020 campaign, though it has yet to announce what it will do in 2024.

If we lose that we lose everything.

As donors nibbled on salads at the Hilton, Biden thanked them for their support and warned of the existential threat he said Trump posed to democracy.

Let me be clear, Donald Trump poses many threats in this country, from the right to choose, to civil rights, to voting rights, Americas standing in the world, Biden said, echoing his 2020 campaign theme. ... The greatest threat he poses is for our democracy, because if we lose that, we lose everything.

As polling has shown Biden trailing or running close with Trump in key swing states like Pennsylvania, hes amped up his direct criticisms of the former president, who has, for his part, outlined a radical second-term agenda.

Biden pointed to comments Trump has made about being a dictator on day one to shrink the size of the federal government.

He says hes not running to serve the people of America, he says hes running to get, quote, revenge and retribution, Biden said.

The full breadth of the Democratic Party has stood behind Biden even as public polling shows the majority of Americans want an option other than him or Trump. Mondays crowd demonstrated his strong party support in Philadelphia, where the room included Gov. Josh Shapiro and former Govs. Tom Wolf and Ed Rendell; Sen. Chris Coons (D., Delaware); and U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Madeleine Dean, both Pennsylvania Democrats.

The hosts  Ken Jarin, former State Sen. Connie Williams, philanthropist and attorney Leslie Anne Miller, and Rendell  are fundraising heavyweights in Philadelphia who helped power Bidens last campaign. His reelection bid is predicted to be one of the most expensive in history.

Biden noted that Philadelphia will in three years celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

I dont believe and I will not believe that after all this nation has been through,  I dont believe that on our 250th anniversary, this nation will turn to Donald Trump, he said. Folks, imagine, imagine that moment and ask, What do we want to be?

Protesters blast Biden

Outside the Hilton, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the cold on Columbus Boulevard and chanted loudly.

History will recall Biden did nothing at all, hundreds chanted.

The protesters  well over 300 by midafternoon  included parents, children, and students, many of whom said they had taken off work or school to condemn Biden and urge him once again to back a cease-fire.

As Biden and the White House have remained firm in opposition to a cease-fire, criticism from within the Democratic Party has grown louder.

The war in Gaza has divided Democrats, who polling shows are more enthusiastic about Bidens overall job performance than his handling of the war. The conflict has become the biggest foreign policy issue of the moment for the president.

The crowd on Monday greeted Biden with a disparaging nickname  Genocide Joe, describing him as complicit in Israels killing of more than 18,200 Palestinians, according to the latest update provided by the Gaza Health Ministry on Monday. The ministry maintains about 70% of those killed have been women and children.

As we speak, Israel drops American-made bombs purchased with our taxpayer dollars, Nada Abuasi, an organizer with the activist network Philly Palestine Coalition, told the crowd. Our hearts are heavy with loss  and we are disgusted with the gross complicity of Bidens administration.

Their message was clear: If the president did not dramatically shift his support for the Israeli military campaign in Gaza and call for a humanitarian cease-fire as the war enters its third month, he would lose their support in next years presidential race. Democratic voters have echoed that ultimatum in other swing states that helped elevate Biden in 2020, like Michigan, which is home to a large Arab American population.

Several speakers at the rally noted Philadelphias significance for Biden in the 2020 presidential election, and warned that his support would continue to dwindle as the humanitarian crisis intensifies.

Protest signs that bobbed overhead gestured back to Bidens campaign promises that year: Joe Biden campaigned on humanity and empathy, one read. Where is that now?
A former pastor on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation was convicted Monday of sexually abusing three children while staying at his home in Lame Deer.

Dean Alan Smith, 67, was found guilty by a jury following a six-day trial of aggravated sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact by force and two counts of abusive sexual contact by force and of a child.

Smith faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release. The jury acquitted Smith of one count of abusive sexual contact of a child, according to the Montana U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court set sentencing for April 10, 2024. Smith was remanded into custody pending further proceedings.

Pastor Dean Smith led a double life, one as a pastor and the other as a sexual abuser of young children, Laslovich said.

The jury ended their deliberations Friday deadlocked. Judge Watters gave them an additional day on Monday to deliberate.

We have four alleged victims, Watters said Friday. Weve had three-and-a-half days of testimony and a total of 49 jury instructions.  I think given the complexity of the case and the number of instructions they had to read and follow, and just the nature of the case, that additional deliberation is called for.

The government alleged in court that during his time on the reservation, Smith and his wife housed several foster children and temporarily hosted other children from the community.

Four girls disclosed being sexually abused by Smith between 2017 and 2020 when they were staying or living at Smiths home. The government alleged that Smith abused each of them, separately and in private, on multiple occasions. All of the victims were under age 12 at the time.

Smith came to Lame Deer in 2001 with his wife and stepchildren. They left Florida, where Smith said he was a church leader. The Northern Cheyenne Reservation covers about 445,000 acres and is home to roughly 4,400 people, according to the latest U.S. Census data.

Smith became pastor at Morning Star Baptist Church soon after the move despite, he said in court, having no seminary training. Over the next two decades, Smith, called Pastor Dean by many of those who testified, hosted prayer walks and family nights along with regular services through the church.

Smith also let the children of those who attended his church stay overnight at his house, located next to the church. Although some who stayed overnight were friends of his stepchildren, others came to his house when they had nowhere else to sleep. In 2017, after their own children had moved out, Smith and his wife applied to become foster parents. They had already known the first group of children they fostered for years, Smith said.

The U.S. Attorneys Office prosecuted the case following an FBI investigation.

I am thrilled the jury held Smith accountable for sexually abusing these victims and I hope holding him accountable will help the victims start the long road of healing from the trauma theyve suffered, Laslovich added. Obtaining justice is the hallmark of the work of both our office and our federal law enforcement partners and we have no greater responsibility than pursuing justice for victims of sexual abusers. Todays verdicts validate our continued unwavering pursuit of those abusers, for which all of us, as well as the victims in this case and their families are grateful.
WASHINGTON  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told America his country was fighting for our freedom and yours as he made an impassioned plea Tuesday for Congress to approve more assistance to fight Russias invasion.

But prospects for additional U.S. aid to Ukraine appeared seriously delayed, if not in grave doubt, despite his whirlwind diplomacy in Washington.

After hours of talks on Capitol Hill, Zelenskyy spent more hours at the White House meeting with President Joe Biden and his aides about a way forward. The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his grinding invasion more than 21 months ago, but Republicans are insisting on linking any more money to strict U.S.-Mexico border security changes that Democrats decry.

The White House is warning that if new money isnt provided by years end it will have swift consequences for Ukraines capacity to hold its territory, let alone take back land captured by Russia.

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As Zelenskyy wrapped up his two-day visit to Washington, it was unclear if he had been able to shake up the political stalemate over aid - though negotiations swiftly resumed at the Capitol and key Senate negotiators emerged saying they had made progress. He sought to make the case that supporting his countrys fight for its territorial integrity is about far more than Ukraine.

For nearly two years weve been in a full scale war  the biggest since World War II, fighting for freedom, Zelenskyy said. No matter what Putin tries he hasnt won any victories. Thanks to Ukraines success  success in defense  other European nations are safe from the Russian aggression.

Biden similarly warned that failure by the United States to provide Ukraine further aid would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and others on the world stage.

Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver on Ukraine, Biden said. We must, we must, we must prove him wrong.

Earlier, meeting with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, Biden called on Congress to do the right thing, to stand with Ukraine, and to stand up for freedom. He added, Congress needs to pass the supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for the holiday recess, before they give Putin the greatest Christmas gift they could possibly give him.

Zelenskyy made his own case in his private meetings with congressional leaders  that Ukrainian forces have fought fiercely to push back the Russian invasion with the help of American and other Western allies and its no time for Ukraines friends to step back.

The fight were in is a fight for freedom, Zelenskyy repeatedly said in the meetings on Capitol Hill, according to lawmakers.

Elsewhere, meanwhile, more than 130 senior lawmakers from across Europe signed a letter urging U.S. lawmakers to continue their support for Ukraine.

At the Capitol, flanked by Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Zelenskyy entered a private meeting with senators with a public bipartisan show of support and to some applause. But more than an hour later few senators minds appeared changed.

Zelenskyy also visited House leaders, including a private meeting with new Speaker Mike Johnson, whose hard-right Republicans have been the most resistant to any deal. Johnson insisted afterward, We do want to do the right thing here.

Zelenskyy sought to impress on the senators that Ukraine could win the war against Russia, telling them he was drafting men in their 30s and 40s in a show of strength for the battle. In his trademark olive drab, he stood before a portrait of George Washington, history hanging behind him.

To the House Democrats, he showcased his countrys embrace of the West by pointing to the Christmas season, telling them it was the first year Ukraine would celebrate on Dec. 25 rather than the day Russians mark the holiday.

McConnell said Zelenskyy was inspirational and determined in the Senate meeting.

But Republican senators seemed unmoved from their position. Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said the emergency funding wouldnt gain GOP support unless it includes real, meaningful border reform.

Biden pushed back that history will judge harshly those who turned their backs on freedoms cause. The president quoted a Kremlin-aligned television host celebrating Republicans recent blocking of aid as a job well done.

If youre being celebrated by Russian propagandists, it might be time to rethink what youre doing, he said.

Biden has been calling for a $110 billion U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs.

He has expressed a willingness to engage with the Republicans as migrant crossings have hit record highs along the U.S.-Mexico border, but Democrats in his own party oppose proposals for expedited deportations and strict asylum standards as a return to Trump-era hostility toward migrants.

Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas met for nearly two hours at the Capitol to help with talks. Key Senate negotiators Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona both left saying they made progress.

Ahead of Zelenskyys high-stakes meetings, the White House pointed to newly declassified intelligence that shows Ukraine has inflicted heavy losses on Russia in recent fighting along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis  including 13,000 casualties and over 220 combat vehicle losses. The Ukrainian holdout in the countrys partly-occupied east has been the center of some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks.

U.S. intelligence officials have determined that the Russians think if they can achieve a military deadlock through the winter it will drain Western support for Ukraine and ultimately give Russia the advantage, despite the fact that Russians have sustained heavy losses and have been slowed by persistent shortages of trained personnel, munitions and equipment.

Its Zelenskyys third visit to Washington since the war broke out in February 2022, including a quick trip just a few months ago as aid was being considered. His surprise arrival days before Christmas last December, his daring first wartime trip out of Ukraine, drew thunderous applause in Congress.

At the time, lawmakers sported the blue-and-yellow colors of Ukraine, and Zelenskyy delivered a speech that drew on the parallels to World War II as he thanked Americans for their support.

But 2023 brought a new power center of hard-right Republicans, many aligned with Donald Trump, the former president who is now the GOP front-runner in the 2024 race for the White House.

Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Zelenskyy might be able to take on the stalemate by showing the stakes of potential Russian expansion toward NATO, and making his case on moral clarity and why is Ukraine important.

Zelenskyy kicked off the quick visit to Washington on Monday, warning in a speech at a defense university that Russia may be fighting in Ukraine but its real target is freedom in America and around the world. During his meeting with Biden, he also sought to assure Congress  and the American public  that Ukraine was worth the substantial cost to the United States.

Ukraine can win, said Zelenskyy. People need to be confident that freedom is secure.

Of the new $110 billion national security package, $61.4 billion would go toward Ukraine  with about half to the U.S. Defense Department to replenish weaponry it is supplying, and the other half for other military intelligence and defense support, humanitarian assistance and to help the Ukrainian government function with emergency responders, public works and other operations.

The package includes another nearly $14 billion for Israel as it fights Hamas and $14 billion for U.S. border security. Additional funds would go for national security needs in the Asia-Pacific region.

Biden also announced Tuesday that he had approved an additional $200 million military aid package for Ukraine. Including that latest package, the U.S. now has about $4.4 billion remaining in weapons it can provide from department stockpiles.
The Philadelphia Board of Ethics has dropped its lawsuit against the super PAC that supported Jeff Browns unsuccessful run for mayor, ending a high-profile legal saga that shook up the election and contributed to Browns fifth-place finish in the Democratic primary.

The board announced Monday that it will instead focus on revising the campaign finance regulations that were at the center of the dispute.

 READ MORE: Inside the Board of Ethics case against the super PAC supporting mayoral candidate Jeff Brown

The ethics board is a city agency that enforces Philadelphias good government laws. In April, the board filed a lawsuit alleging that he had illegally coordinated with For A Better Philadelphia, an outside spending group, or super PAC, that spent millions to boost his candidacy but was required by law to operate independently from his campaign.

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Brown, a grocery store proprietor and first-time candidate, was once considered a frontrunner in the race. But because of the ethics board probe and other controversies, he fell out of contention by the May 16 primary, which was won by Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker.

The boards lawsuit, however, was still working its way through the courts. In September, Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Joshua Roberts dismissed the suit, saying it contradicted part of the boards own regulations, and the board announced weeks later announced it would appeal Roberts ruling to the Commonwealth Court.

But on Monday, the board reversed course.

While the Board disagrees with the courts reasoning and conclusions, the goals of meaningful contribution limits and transparency in City elections are best served by amending Regulation 1 to remove any doubt about the coordination rules, Shane Creamer, the boards executive director, said in a statement.

Neither Brown nor a lawyer for For A Better Philadelphia immediately responded to a request for comment.

The dispute centered on whether Brown was allowed to raise money for the super PAC and its related nonprofit in the months leading up to the launch of his campaign in late 2022.

Super PACs are allowed to raise money in unlimited amounts, unlike campaigns, which in Philadelphia are subject to contribution limits. Consequently, they are prohibited from coordinating with the candidates they seek to benefit, and the ethics board includes fundraising in its definition of prohibited coordination.

Neither Brown nor the super PAC denied that he raised money for the group. (More than $1 million came from Browns familys company.) Instead, For A Better Philadelphia argued in court that Brown was allowed to do so because he had not yet launched his mayoral campaign.

The group pointed to the ethics boards regulations, which define a candidate as an individual who files nomination papers or petitions for City elective office, or publicly announces his or her candidacy for City elective office, and noted that Brown had done neither of those things at the time that he solicited donations for the super PAC.

The ethics boards regulations state that there is illegal coordination between the candidate and super PAC if the candidate or the campaign has solicited funds for or directed funds to the super PAC within the 12 months before the election.

The board has contended that last phrase means there is a retroactive 12-month period before elections in which future candidates cannot work with the super PACs that eventually work to boost them, a position it has held since at least 2018, when it published an advisory opinion on the subject.

But Roberts sided with the super PACs interpretation and dismissed the boards case without a trial. At the time, Brown said the decision was a vindication for him.

From the very beginning, I said that this entire matter was a politically motivated sham, with the intent of affecting the results of the election, Brown said in September. The voters of Philadelphia should be outraged that an entity charged with safeguarding ethical conduct has incorrectly and inappropriately inserted itself in such a politically motivated manner.

Creamer said in Mondays announcement that the board is dropping its appeal of Roberts ruling to focus on clearing up the disputed language in advance of the next municipal election, which will take place in 2025 when district attorney and city controller races will be on the ballot.

Focusing on amendment rather than appeal allows the Board to provide certainty to the public in months (rather than years for an appeal), he said.
An example of the kind of home that would be included in a proposed historic district for the Wissahickon neighborhood. Read more

On the edge of Roxborough, along the ridge above where Main Street leads into Manayunk, sits a cozy Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood called Wissahickon.

Cradled by the southern tendril of Wissahickon Valley park, its a leafy community defined by an eclectic mix of 19th- and early 20th-century homes. Although some may think it is part of Roxborough, neighborhood leaders say it has an identity all its own.

There was, I think, a time where people lost track of this being its own neighborhood, said Joshua Castano, a historic preservationist who moved to Wissahickon in 2020.

Between 2010 and 2020, Census data show over 700 additional residents in the neighborhood. New development has occurred, too, mainly comprising large single-family homes. A proposal for an apartment building at 90 Rochelle Ave. also provoked intense backlash among some neighbors.

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Now Castano and the community group Wissahickon Interested Citizens Association (WICA) are leading an effort to create a historic district for the neighborhood to ensure it will maintain its character as it grows.

Earlier this autumn, Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. passed a one-year demolition moratorium to pave the way for that effort, ensuring that property owners couldnt knock down older homes while the historic district works its way through the approval process.

We have to look at smart development, Jones said in an October interview. There is so much history that gets blown away with demolition. So, lets hit pause.

Could preservation handicap housing growth?

If approved by the Historical Commission next year, a historic district would ensure the preservation of the neighborhoods venerable housing stock by making it hard for property owners to demolish older structures.

But some critics fear the district will stanch new development in a high-demand neighborhood. Philadelphias historic districts give the Historical Commission some oversight over non-historic buildings and, to a lesser extent, vacant lots in the protected area, which add regulatory hurdles, delays, and costs.

When you are creating a district, not just designating a building, the concern is it becomes another barrier to housing production, said Alex Armlovich, senior housing policy analyst with the Niskanen Center, a nonprofit think tank in Washington, D.C. Obviously, there are buildings worth preserving but its not free. There is a trade-off.

 READ MORE: How three Philly neighborhood groups took different paths to create historic districts

Castano says the proposed designation as a historic district is in no way motivated by antidevelopment sentiment. He notes that many of the neighborhoods large homes have already been carved into apartments and that the preservation campaign is meant to protect a unique Philadelphia neighborhood from heedless demolitions.

A historic district is not about freezing a neighborhood. Its about maintaining character, Castano said. The neighborhood is already very mixed. There is a lot of multifamily. Thats its strength and thats what should be maintained. Its just saying theres another set of priorities to help manage how change happens.

Pandemic-induced development interest

Like most of Northwest Philadelphias neighborhoods, parts of Wissahickon can feel almost suburban in some stretches  but in an early 20th-century way, with sidewalks, a train station, and snug yards that connect neighbors instead of push them apart.

These areas saw intense development interest during the pandemic because those who could afford to buy were often in search of more space and more outdoor access than South Philly or Center City provide.

These [Northwest Philadelphia neighborhoods] are like small towns in big cities, said Jones, whos been Council member for the area since 2008. That has changed because of the vitality of the real estate market. Single properties are being diced up, and multiunit structures are replacing [single-family homes] because higher density means more profit.

Earlier in his City Council career, Jones was skeptical of historic preservation and helped block a proposal for a historic district in the Overbrook Farms neighborhood. (The district eventually got enacted a decade later with his support.)

As development heated up in Philadelphia for the first time in almost half a century, he changed his tune and helped facilitate a historic district for Ridge Avenue in nearby Roxborough by enacting a yearlong demolition moratorium.

The original moratorium saved close to 300 properties, Jones said. Wissahickons moratorium may save another 180. Its so that we can have time to take a look at the highest and best use.

Castano is a longtime preservationist, and when he moved to Wissahickon, he was surprised to learn it didnt already have historic district status. The neighborhoods architectural legacy is largely intact and unchanged from when it was built between the 1880s and 1920s. The structures are generally in good condition.

This is exactly the kind of place that historic districts are meant for, Castano said. Its an intact historic streetscape, block after block. It should be conserved.

Castano pitched the idea to the Wissahickon Interested Citizens Association (WICA), the local neighborhood group, and quickly found takers.

The groups primary focus at the time was a five-story, 90-unit apartment building proposed near the Wissahickon Transportation Center. The proposal from the Westrum Development Co. required multiple approvals from the citys zoning board and faced fierce backlash. (It now appears to be on hold. CEO John Westerum told The Inquirer we are in a no comment zone right now.)

But that project was unusual for the neighborhood because there isnt much open land for new development. Instead, the new construction thats occurred is composed of large new single-family homes  some selling for almost a million dollars. These new buildings were a much greater influence on the proposed historic district than the apartments at 90 Rochelle (which doesnt fall within the district).

Neighborhood leaders point out that the community already has many of its older, larger homes carved into apartments anyway and that WICA is supportive of that long established trend.

These are huge and theyre perfect [for multifamily] because theyve already been converted into three to six apartments, said Caitlin Martin, a vice president at WICA. Thats affordable.

Critics of preservation fear increased regulation

There are no opponents to the historic district in Wissahickon yet, although that may be because its too early in the process. Before the proposal makes it to the full Historical Commission for consideration, affected property owners will receive a letter, which is often when community concerns arise.

If approved, the district designation would prevent the demolition of the buildings in the area that contribute to its historic interest (outside of extreme situations). Buildings within the district will have to conform to specific standards when they replace windows or make changes to a part of the structure that can be seen from the street.

Plans for buildings outside the period of historic interest are subject to review by the Historical Commission, which can delay or squash new housing projects if they are found to clash with the historic integrity of the property and its environment.

Critics such as Armlovich of the Niskanen Center worry historic districts will add another barrier to new development, which in combination with the tangled web of regulations across the region contributes to ever escalating housing costs. He argues that the commission shouldnt have jurisdiction over non-historic buildings or vacant lots because even adding a nonbinding review isnt free; it necessitates more billing time for expensive zoning attorneys, and every delay costs money.

He argues that new historic regulations should be paired with a relaxing of zoning regulations. Almost the entire neighborhood is zoned for attached single-family homes, and allowing more apartments by right would lower one barrier to development while a new one is erected.

If youre seeing teardowns to build new single-family mansions, you could combine an upzoning for a more generous multifamily district with the historic district, Armlovich said. Showing that youre not part of the trend [of hyperlocal anti-density legislation in Philadelphia] would go a long way.
A "For Rent" sign is displayed outside a building in Philadelphia in 2022. Like the for-sale housing market, the rental market has its seasonal ups and downs. In December, when demand for rentals is low, renters looking to sign an apartment lease can often find the best prices. Read more

Like the for-sale housing market, the rental market has its seasonal ups and downs.

More renters tend to move in the spring and summer, and fewer move in the fall and winter. The rents that landlords ask new apartment tenants to pay tend to fluctuate with renter demand.

If youre looking to have a little more leverage on pricing, now is definitely the time of the year for that, said Chris Salviati, senior housing economist at the rental search website Apartment List.

Renters searching for homes now are more likely to find prices that are a bit lower and perks such as a month or two of free rent or deals on parking.

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 READ MORE: What to look for before you sign a lease in Pennsylvania

Renting by season

Last year and this year, typical asking rents in Philadelphia hit their lowest levels around January, according to Apartment List. Prices peaked in the summer.

Asking rents across the country tend to fall from September through December and sometimes January, and then they start to rise, according to Apartment Lists rent estimates from 2018 through November 2023. Rents often fall the most in November.

In Philadelphia, the median asking rent last month  $1,236  was down just over 2% from peak prices in June and July, according to Apartment List. That means renters could have saved $27 per month or $324 per year paying the typical rent in November vs. in the peak months.

Asking rents this year didnt rise as high and havent fallen as fast as last year. Rents fell by nearly 6% during the markets last offseason.

So if renters are able to control the timing of their lease, they can save a few bucks. But because fewer renters move this time of year, fewer apartments are available for the ones who are searching.

You might not find quite as many options, but if you do find something that works well for you, you can often find a little bit of a deal, Salviati said.

 READ MORE: The Philly region is one of only four metros where buying a home is cheaper than renting, analysis says (From May)

Philadelphias median asking rent fell 0.5% in November, a little less than the national drop of about 1%. But the city is holding onto its reputation as affordable compared to other big cities. Of the countrys 100 largest cities, 68 had typical rents last month that were more expensive than in Philadelphia.

The typical asking rent in the city last month was about 8% lower than in the country as a whole. The median rent was $1,115 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,299 for two bedrooms.

Looking ahead to next years rental market

It has been a real roller-coaster over these last few years, Salviati said.

Asking rents rose rapidly across the country from 2021 into 2022, but prices dipped a bit this year, he said. Still, nothing that would be close to offsetting the price growth we saw in the preceding years.

Consumers have not been feeling confident about the economy over the last few months, although that trend reversed recently. The lack of confidence has held people back from forming new households and helped slow demand for new rentals, Salviati said. If next year, public sentiment catches up with positive economic signs, demand might bounce back.

 READ MORE: Over 1,600 new apartments planned for long-neglected industrial embankment in Kensington

At the same time, nationally, a near-record number of rental units are in the construction pipeline, and next year, the most new apartments are set to hit the market in decades, Salviati said. Philadelphia has had a burst of apartment development in recent years.

New supply explains why asking rents are down nationally compared to last year, and it should help keep asking rent growth in check. Salviati predicts around 2% growth nationally.
In a news release, the Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby Inc (ACIL) said this follows consultations with key strata management body the Strata Community Association (SCA) that led ACIL to conclude the industry is incapable of effectively self-regulating commissions in strata. It said the move is supported by a study commissioned by Steadfast with regards to the John Trowbridge Independent Review of Strata Insurance Practices. The findings exposed significant concerns on strata manager remuneration, ACIL said. It also said the move is also aligned with the recommendations from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Trowbridge congratulated the SCA on the release of the new guideline. This work is testament to the SCAs commitment to do so following release of my Phase 1 paper on disclosure last year and is a significant enhancement of the SCAs approach to self-regulation on behalf of its members, he said. The content of this Best Practice Guide follows closely the recommendations in my paper regarding transparent disclosure of strata managers own remuneration and that of brokers they use. It is explicit about three important principles for strata managers to apply, namely disclose, document, communicate.
The history of Pahaska Tepee will be the topic of Bob Richard's next Local Lore program at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming.

The free, illustrated presentation takes place Thursday, Dec. 21, at noon in the Centers Coe Auditorium.

Richard will share stories and photographs from throughout the history of Pahaska Tepee, the hunting lodge William F. Buffalo Bill Cody built just outside the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park at the turn of the 20th century. The talk includes photos and details about the buildings, the importance of Pahaska in tourism between Cody and the park, and the role of the Coe family in the lodges history.

Bob draws on the extensive photo collection of the Center of the Wests McCracken Research Library, his own personal collection, and the Coe familys personal archives for this program.

For more information on all upcoming Center of the West programs and events, visit centerofthewest.org/events.
This vision to build PCF Insurance was my own, and not many of my peers have been similarly blessed, Foy said. Perhaps they were CEO or president of their organization  and rightfully so, many are incredible leaders  but only a few can say that they were able to see their built-from-scratch dread come to fruition like I have. Ive been fortunate enough to have had great people invest in me and my vision for PCF Insurance, and are continuing to do so.
It can be hard to focus on training [seasonal workers] when theyre only going to be there for six weeks, but there are some onboarding elements that you can focus on that don't take a lot of time and energy but can help reduce the incidence of claims, whether it's in December or January.
A non-dependent adult child whose father died on the job does not have a right to bring a wrongful death claim against her late fathers employer, the Maryland Appellate Court has ruled.

The appeals court affirmed a circuit court that found that workers compensation is the exclusive remedy in a workplace death even though a non-dependent child gets no benefits under the workers compensation act.

Summer Ledford, the late employees 47-year old daughter, had argued that since the workers compensation statute allows benefits to dependents but not to non-dependents like her, the exclusive nature of the workers compensation act is inapplicable to her. Therefore, she maintained, she should be allowed to sue her fathers employer for negligence under the states wrongful death statute.

Her suit claimed that Jenway Contractings negligence caused her fathers death. She sought damages for pain and suffering, and loss of services, society, companionship, comfort, protection, attention, counsel, training, guidance, and education.

Jenway succeeded in having the case dismissed by a Baltimore circuit court on the basis that the suit was barred by the exclusive remedy provision of the workers compensation law. The employer noted that under the workers compensation law, the only times the exclusive remedy is not triggered is where the employer fails to procure workers compensation coverage or is found to have acted intentionally to cause a workplace injury or death.

The Baltimore circuit said that because her fathers fall to his death occurred in the course of his employment, the states workers compensation law applies. The fact that non-dependents are left out of workers compensation does not change the grand bargain of the system that protects employers from liability while guaranteeing benefits to injured workers, spouses and dependents, the circuit court ruled in dismissing Ledfords claim.

The appeals court has affirmed the circuit courts dismissal of Ledfords clam, citing the plain language of the workers compensation law in reaching the inescapable conclusion that, when a covered employee is injured or killed in the course of employment, workers compensation is the exclusive answer to questions of an employers liability and any recovery, regardless of whether an otherwise proper wrongful death plaintiff is entitled to benefits under workers compensation.

Its not perfect, its a compromise. Everyone loses something in a compromise, Jenways lawyer commented on the workers compensation system in oral arguments before the court.

The appeals court noted that while Maryland courts have never expressly held that the workers compensation acts exclusivity provision applies to non-dependents, the courts have unwaveringly held that, absent the two exceptions, an employers liability under the act is exclusive whenever a covered employee is injured or killed during the course of his or her employment.

The court cited two cases. First, it cited Knoche v. Cox, where the Maryland Supreme Court ruled that workers compensation exclusivity barred a wrongful death suit by the husband of a dental assistant killed at work by a bullet discharged from a weapon being handled by a patient in a nearby room.

The second case the court cited is Austin v. Thrifty Diversified Inc. in which the appeals court itself found that the parents of a welder who was killed at his place of employment could not bring a wrongful death action against their sons employer.

Topics Workers' Compensation Talent Maryland
A fuel tanker was struck by missile as it navigated the Red Sea, the latest in a string of incidents that have turned the area where the attack took place into the worlds riskiest waters.

The vessels owner said the ship  the Strinda  was heading to Italy whereas Houthi militants claimed it was bound for Israel. The attack, the latest in a string of incidents, took place in a maritime corridor handling about 12% of global trade, making it important to European economic interests.

Geir Belsnes, chief executive officer of the ships Norwegian owner, J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, said it was taking a cargo of feedstock to make biofuels in Italy. Houthi forces said earlier that they targeted the ship because it was going to Israel.

Attacks on Red Sea Shipping Menace 12% of Global Trade as War Risk Premiums Rise

An anti-ship cruise missile struck the vessel Monday as it passed through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait which separates East Africa from the Arabian peninsula, US Central Command said in a statement on X.

The Strinda, an oil and chemicals tanker sailing under the flag of Norway, reported damage and fire on board, but no casualties. The destroyer USS Mason responded to the vessels distress call, according to Centcom.

Oil futures initially rose on the news, before giving up their gains.

The Houthis have said they would attack ships that have links to  or are sailing toward  Israel, describing them as legitimate targets. Other Iran-backed militant groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria have been launching missiles toward Israel to pressure the Tel Aviv to halt its attack on the Gaza Strip, which is governed by Hamas. Hamas is designated a terror group by the US and European Union.

U.S. Central Command @CENTCOM

CENTCOM Statement on missile attack in the Bab-el-Mandeb

At around 4 p.m. EST on December 11, the Motor Tanker STRINDA was attacked by what is assessed to have been an Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) launched from a Houthi controlled area of Yemen while passing through the

Sent via Twitter Web App.

View original tweet.

Theres damage but we dont know how bad it is yet, Belsnes said, confirming the ships crew were uninjured and the vessel was able to carry on its voyage.

The Strinda was sailing from Malaysia and was bound for the Suez Canal from where most ships then enter the Mediterranean Sea.

The US has been in talks with its Gulf allies about potential military action against the Yemeni group in response to their increasingly brazen attacks on ships, Bloomberg reported last week, citing several people with knowledge of the discussions.

Deputy US National Security Adviser Jon Finer has said that the Biden administration has not ruled out the possibility of taking military action against the Houthis but the focus for now is on assembling a maritime coalition to secure the Red Sea.

Large amounts of energy, commodities and manufactured goods are transported through the Red Sea to on ships that use Egypts Suez Canal. Avoiding it adds thousands of miles as the vessels must instead sail around Africa.

Photograph: A picture taken during an organized tour by Yemens Houthi rebels on Nov. 22, 2023. Source: AFP/Getty Images

Related:

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Energy Oil Gas
Ukraines biggest mobile network operator said it hoped to restore operations by Wednesday after coming under what appeared to be the largest cyberattack since Russia launched its war on the country in February 2022.

Tuesdays attack on Kyivstar, which has more than half of Ukraines population as mobile subscribers, knocked out services, damaged IT infrastructure and put millions of people in danger of not receiving alerts of potential Russian air assaults.

It also disrupted the air raid alert systems themselves in parts of Kyiv.

The companys Chief Executive Officer Oleksandr Komarov said the attack was a result of the war with Russia.

War is also happening in cyberspace. Unfortunately, we have been hit as a result of this war, he told national television.

(The attack) significantly damaged (our) infrastructure, limited access, we could not counter it at the virtual level, so we shut down Kyivstar physically to limit the enemys access.

Komarov did not say which Russian body he believed to be responsible, but said personal data of users had not been compromised.

Russian hacktivist group Killnet claimed responsibility for the attack via a statement on the Telegram messaging app, but did not provide evidence.

A source close to Kyivstar said the Ukrainian military was not affected by the outage.

Ukraines SBU intelligence agency told Reuters one of the possibilities it was investigating was that of a cyber-attack conducted by Russian security services.

Russias foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kyivstar, which has 24.3 million mobile subscribers, as well as more than 1.1 million home internet subscribers, said late on Tuesday that fixed-line services were partially restored and it was working to restore other services by Wednesday.

This isnt the first attempt to breach the perimeter of the countrys telecom operator, but unfortunately, this attempt has been successful, Komarov told Forbes Ukraine.

State Actor

A source close to Ukraines cyber defense agency also said that Russia was suspected to be the source of the attack, but no specific group had been identified.

Its definitely a state actor, said the source, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue, adding that data cable interception showed a lot of Russian controlled traffic directed at these networks.

Theres no ransom. Its all destruction. So its not a financially motivated attack, said the source.

Komarov told Forbes Ukraine that Kyivstars working hypothesis was that the goal of the attack was destruction and disruption.

Perhaps it was aimed at disrupting the presidents visit to the United States, perhaps to aggravate energy blackouts, or impact the morale of Ukrainians, he said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was in Washington on Tuesday, pleading for more U.S. military support to fight Russia.

Ukrainian officials said air raid alert systems in more than 75 settlements in Kyiv region, which surrounds the capital, were affected by the cyberattack and they would announce aerial danger through loudspeakers until repair works done.

Millions of Ukrainians depend also on phone alerts to warn them of possible Russian air attacks.

In Kyiv, some people rushed to connect to other network providers and a small queue of customers formed at a store for Vodafone, Kyivstars largest competitor.

One man who bought a new SIM was 25-year-old PR consultant Dmytro. My connection has completely disappeared, my internet and my satellite navigation arent working, I cant move around the city, he said.

Kyivstar, owned by Amsterdam-listed mobile telecoms operator Veon VON.AS, said in a statement on Facebook it was cooperating with law enforcement bodies.

Veon said it was also investigating the attack and it could not yet quantify the financial impact.

Separately, the co-founder of Monobank, a major Ukrainian payment system, said in a social media post that his company was currently suffering a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, but that everything was under control. He subsequently said that attack had been fought off.

Representatives of PrivatBank and Oschadbank, two major Ukrainian financial institutions, told media outlet Hromadske that some of their ATMs and card terminals had been affected by the Kyivstar outage.

Ukrainian state bodies and companies have often accused Russia of orchestrating cyberattacks against them in the past.

At the wars outset, a cyberattack hit Viasat IncVSAT.O, disabling thousands of satellite internet modems across Europe and causing a huge loss in communications for Ukraine.

(Reporting by Max Hunder, Tom Balmforth, Stefaniia Bern and Oleksandr Kozhukhar in Kyiv, Yuliia Dysa in Gdansk, Jonathan Landay and Christopher Bing in Washington DC, James Pearson in London and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; editing by Andrew Heavens, Mark Potter, Alexandra Hudson, Alex Richardson and Lincoln Feast.)

Topics Cyber Ukraine
An Iowa bail bondsman has pled guilty to insurance fraud and identity theft.

David Mark Ellis of Spring Hill, Iowa, pled guilty in Polk County District Court to two counts of Identity Theft (Aggravated Misdemeanors) and one count of Insurance Fraud (Class D Felony).

The charges stem from a 2021 investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division that found Ellis, the owner of Always Affordable Bail Bonds in Des Moines, had misrepresented the facts surrounding a loss on an insurance claim so that he would receive funds to which he was not entitled.

Ellis utilized another individuals EBT card to obtain benefits which he was not entitled to receive, according to the investigation.

Following his guilty pleas, Ellis received suspended prison sentences to be served consecutively up to 9 years. Ellis also received 2 years of probation, and a fine of $2,735.00.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Wapello County Sheriffs Office, Ankeny Police Department, and the Warren County Sheriffs Office assisted the Iowa Insurance Divisions Fraud Bureau with the case. The case was prosecuted by the Polk County Attorneys Office.

Topics Fraud Iowa
Long before cryptocurrency and Sam Bankman-Fried, the biggest name in corporate fraud was Bernie Madoff.

Fifteen years after the FBI arrested Madoff on Dec. 11, 2008 for running a massive Ponzi scheme  and two years after his death in a federal prison  lawyers are still sifting through the fallout of his nearly $65 billion fraud.

More than $14.6 billion has been recovered for Madoffs victims so far by Irving Picard, the court-appointed trustee overseeing the liquidation of Madoffs firm, and his legal team. Picard has estimated that Madoffs fraud cost his customers $17.5 billion.

Another recovery came Friday, when Picard announced he was poised to distribute $45 million more to Madoff investors.

The case has been a windfall for Picard, 82, and his law firm, 1,000-lawyer Baker & Hostetler. Since Picards appointment 15 years ago, they have been awarded more than $1.5 billion in fees, court records show.

The fees through November 2022 have amounted to nearly 17% of Baker & Hostetlers revenues in that time, according to a Reuters analysis of court records and law firm data from the American Lawyer  an unusually large proportion from one case for a firm its size.

Picard and Baker & Hostetler declined to comment. Their latest request for fees to the U.S. bankruptcy court in Manhattan seeks $37.9 million for more than 68,000 hours of work by 190 lawyers and professionals from April through July.

Picard decided early on to bring cases against feeder funds that funneled investor money to Madoff, and net winners  investors who took more money out of Madoffs firm than they put in.

About half of his recoveries came from a 2010 settlement with the estate of Madoffs longtime friend Jeremy Picower, which forfeited $7.2 billion. In recent years, Picards attention has turned to recovering money that was transferred overseas.

Marc Litt, who helped convict Madoff as a Manhattan federal prosecutor and is now at law firm Wachtel Missry, called Picards recoveries a remarkable result. Usually, he said, victims money in a major fraud is spent in ways that cant be clawed back.

100 CASES TO GO

Picards and Baker & Hostetlers fees are paid by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, a nonprofit that Congress created in 1970 to assist investors with accounts at failed brokerage firms.

The fees come from assessments paid by SIPCs member broker-dealers, not from Picards recoveries, said Josephine Wang, SIPCs president and CEO.

Its not uncommon for law firms to reap massive fees from complex corporate collapses involving fraud. The lawyers that represented investors in Enron Corp received about $688 million in fees in 2008 for recovering $7.2 billion from its lenders, auditors and directors over seven years.

U.S. law firm Sullivan & Cromwell has already received a judges approval to collect more than $77 million in fees for its work since last year overseeing the bankruptcy estate of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, court records show.

Like the Madoff case, the FTX bankruptcy will likely stretch for years. The exchange collapsed in November 2022, and its CEO Bankman-Fried was convicted last month of stealing $8 billion from FTX customers.

Meanwhile, Picards work goes on. Wang said the trustee is still waging about 100 recovery lawsuits, down from 1,000 at the start of the Madoff liquidation.

Yes, the trustee and SIPC are working hard to bring a close to the liquidation, but that will happen only after the maximum recovery has been realized for customers, Wang said.

Photo: AP Photo/Stuart Ramson, File
Elon Musk must face a Twitter investor lawsuit that accuses him of fueling uncertainty about his proposed buyout in an effort to drive down the social media platforms stock price, a California federal judge ruled.

US District Judge Charles Breyer on Monday kept alive claims involving three of Musks statements last year about the deal being put on hold and the number of fake accounts on the platform. Musk did give an impression materially different from the state of affairs that existed, according to the ruling.

The San Francisco judge also tossed some claims that were based on other statements by Musk, saying the investors hadnt shown those statements were false or misleading.

Filed in October 2022, the case alleged that Musk harmed Twitter investors by manipulating the stock price through statements designed to throw doubt on whether the deal would close.

Musk was ultimately unsuccessful in his attempts to back out of the $44 billion buyout. He has since renamed the company X Corp.

Lawyers at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP representing Musk didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The case is Pampena v. Musk, 22-cv-05937, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco).

Photo: Elon Musk Photographer: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits
The Securities and Exchange Commission says Binance Holdings Ltd.s recent $4.3 billion settlement with the Justice Department and other US authorities bolsters its own case against the worlds biggest crypto exchange.

Despite not being part of the agreement, the SEC argued on Friday that the federal court in Washington hearing its case should weigh admissions by Binance and the firms former chief executive, Changpeng Zhao, in the Nov. 21 settlement. The firm and Zhao have asked the court to dismiss the SECs lawsuit.

Representatives for Binance and a defense lawyer for Zhao didnt immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.

Binances record settlement with the US government wrapped up yearslong investigations by Justice, multiple arms of the Treasury Department and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The agreement didnt include the SEC, which sued the exchange and Zhao in June for allegedly mishandling customer funds, misleading investors and regulators, and breaking securities rules.

The case is SEC v. Binance, 23-cv-01599, US District Court, District of Columbia (Washington, DC).

Photo: Changpeng Zhao, center, exits federal court in Seattle on Nov. 21. Photographer: Chloe Collyer/Bloomberg

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Residents of central Tennessee communities slammed by deadly tornadoes this weekend described tragic and terrifying scenes in which one mobile home landed on top of another, roofs were ripped from houses and an entire church collapsed during a string of powerful storms that killed six people.

Emergency workers and community members cleaned up Sunday from the severe weekend storms and tornadoes that also sent dozens more to the hospital while damaging buildings, turning over vehicles and knocking out power to tens of thousands.

Marco Tulio Gabriel Perez came to Nashville from Atlanta after hearing that his sister and 2-year-old nephew were killed in the tornado. He said two other children in the family survived with minor injuries.

Family members were crying as they looked through the rubble of the trailers on Sunday morning.

Regrettably, a tragedy happened here. Since its a tornado, it came through like you can see here. She lived in this trailer. The other trailer overturned on top of my deceased sister. She remained underneath, the other trailer went on top, Perez told The Associated Press in Spanish.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department identified the victims killed north of downtown as Joseph Dalton, 37; Floridema Gabriel Perez, 31; and her son, Anthony Elmer Mendez, 2. Dalton was inside his mobile home when the storm tossed it on top of Perezs residence. Two other children were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, the department said in a statement.

Officials elsewhere confirmed that three people, including a child, died after a tornado struck Montgomery County 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Nashville near the Kentucky state line on Saturday afternoon. They did not immediately provide names. About 60 people were treated for injuries at area medical facilities, including nine transferred in critical condition to a Nashville hospital, said Jimmie Edwards, Montgomery Countys director of emergency services.

Twenty-one total injuries were reported in Nashville, city officials said. A church north of downtown collapsed during the storm, resulting in 13 people being treated at hospitals, Nashville emergency officials said in a news release. They were later listed in stable condition.

The sanctuary and activities building at Community Baptist Church in Nashville were totally demolished, Donella Johnson, the wife of the churchs pastor, said in a Facebook video. Several members caught by the damage had emergency surgeries for broken hips and legs, she said.

The church website had publicized an appreciation banquet for the Johnsons for late Saturday afternoon.

Though we have experienced devastation beyond measure, we did not lose life, the pastor, the Rev. Vincent Johnson said. God took brick and wood and metal and it was mangled in a tornado  yet God preserved us.

At least six tornado tracks were reported Saturday in central Tennessee, according to the National Weather Service. Agency meteorologist Cory Mueller in Nashville said it was sending out tornado tracking teams on Sunday to attempt to confirm these potential tornadoes and calculate their severity.

Mueller said it wasnt uncommon for tornadoes to be generated during this time of year.

Joe Pitts, mayor of the Montgomery County city of Clarksville, said it could be a couple of weeks before power is restored to everyone. Residents of the city of about 166,000 spent Sunday helping one another dig out from the devastating storms, he said.

We know we have people who are suffering because of loss of life, loss of property, Pitts said. One thing I love about this city is that when someone has a need, we rally around that need.

At a news conference with Metropolitan Nashville leaders, Mayor Freddie OConnell said that over 20 structures had collapsed there as a result of Saturdays storm and that countless others have sustained significant damage.

Nashville Electric Service executive Teresa Broyles-Aplin said electric substations in north Nashville and in nearby Hendersonville suffered significant damage and that outages could last days in some areas.

She said it was possible that a widely distributed video showing a fireball in the Saturday evening sky could have been caused by Nashville Electric equipment.

That gives you a good idea of the extent of damage that were dealing with at some of these substations, she said.

Residents in the region are familiar with severe weather in late fall. Saturday`s storm came nearly two years to the day after the National Weather Service recorded 41 tornadoes through a handful of states, including 16 in Tennessee and eight in Kentucky. A total of 81 people died in Kentucky alone.

Ellen Schlavach and Robyn Robichaud said that a tree fell on their house in the Madison neighborhood of Nashville, and many of their neighbors homes were damaged worse. They had been out running errands on Saturday and had seen some warnings that a thunderstorm was coming. They realized things were serious after they got back home and received emergency alerts on their phones.

We very quickly realized that we had to gather up all the pets and hide in the bathroom, Schlavach said. The house was shaking. A tree fell on the house. Very loud. Very scary.

Greg Chance of Nashville said that he was watching the news on Saturday with his wife and daughter and knew there was bad weather coming. Within minutes, they went to their safe place at a spot in the kitchen where there were no windows nearby and sat on the floor.

And then the next thing we know, it just sounded like an explosion went off. You could hear stuff flying everywhere. It was crazy. Its crazy. It is terrifying, he said, emotion rising in his voice as he described the three of them holding onto each other.

He said he worked with Dalton, one of those killed in the storm, at a company that makes fasteners for construction. Chance said he couldnt sleep knowing that his coworker lost his life and left behind a son. He said the boy and his mother were taken to the hospital with injuries.

About 35,000 electricity customers were without power in Tennessee on Sunday evening, according to PowerOutage.us, down from more than 80,000 on Saturday night. School would be closed in Clarksville through Tuesday, officials said.

Recovery continued as areas east faced severe weather Sunday. Tornado warnings were posted in the afternoon in the Raleigh, North Carolina, area and points in counties toward the Virginia border. Some homes were damaged by storms in Garner, a suburb of Raleigh.

Top photo: The Sabbath Day Church of God in Christ in Nashville. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Windstorm Tennessee Kentucky
The funeral for slain Mercer County Deputy Paul Martin on Wednesday will be open to the public and also livestreamed for those unable to attend the service in Beulah.

Martin, 53, an 18-year veteran of the sheriff's office, was killed in the line of duty last Wednesday during an attempted traffic stop west of Hazen on state Highway 200.

His funeral begins at 1 p.m. this Wednesday at Beulah High School, at 204 Fifth St. NW in Beulah, a little under 80 miles northwest of Bismarck. Parking is limited and people are asked to park on the street. Doors will open to the public at 11:30 a.m. and will close at 12:45 p.m. Access will be through the northeast corner entrance, which is the entry into the school district office. For security purposes, no backpacks, large bags or purses will be allowed.

Chaplin Philip Nelson will officiate. A private family burial at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan will follow at a later date.

KFYR-TV News Director JR Havens said the services will be carried live on KFYR, KMOT, KUMV and KQCD. A livestream will be available at https://www.kfyrtv.com/livestream.

The incident

Martin died when his patrol vehicle, parked along Highway 200, was struck head-on by a Chevy Tahoe driven by 42-year-old Ian Cramer, of Bismarck, authorities said. Martin was standing behind the vehicle after deploying spike strips in an attempt to stop Cramer, who was fleeing from law enforcement, according to an affidavit.

Cramer, the son of U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., had allegedly taken the vehicle without permission after his mother had brought him to the Sanford Health emergency room in Bismarck. Kevin Cramer has said his adopted son was having mental health issues at the time.

Police said that Ian Cramer rammed the Tahoe into the overhead door of the emergency department's main ambulance bay, then fled to Hazen, about 70 miles to the northwest of Bismarck.

When confronted by police there he allegedly led law officers on a low-speed pursuit through the town before proceeding west on Highway 200 at speeds that reached nearly 100 mph, until he swerved and struck Martin's parked patrol vehicle, which then hit Martin.

The impact launched Martin roughly 100 feet into a ditch. He was taken to a Hazen medical center, where he was pronounced dead. Cramer tried to flee on foot but was taken into custody by Beulah Police Chief Frank Senn, the affidavit states.

Cramer is in custody at the McLean County Jail in Washburn on a $500,000 cash bond. He is charged with manslaughter, fleeing from police, preventing arrest, reckless endangerment and driving with a suspended license. Those charges together carry a maximum potential sentence of 25 years in prison.

During Cramer's initial court appearance last Friday, Mercer County State's Attorney Todd Schwarz said additional charges related to drug possession were forthcoming.

South Central District Judge Bobbi Weiler ordered Cramer to undergo a mental health evaluation before any additional court appearances are scheduled.

Honoring Martin

Martin is survived by his wife, Melinda (Hietala) Martin, three children, four grandchildren, his parents, three siblings, a cousin, and nephews and nieces, according to his obituary.

The Martin family requests memorials be made to Wreaths Across America, Turtle River State Park or Sakakawea State Park, according to Barbot Funeral Home, which is handling arrangements.

Gov. Doug Burgum has directed all government agencies to fly the U.S. and North Dakota flags at half-staff "to honor his memory, his bravery and his incredible legacy of service. He also encouraged North Dakotans to lower flags at their homes and businesses.
A bill introduced by a Democrat and trial attorney would take a step toward something that property insurers have longed for in recent years  actual cash value coverage on roofs, at least condominium roofs.

State Rep. Hillary Cassel, D-Dania Beach, this week pre-filed House Bill 655, which would establish a condominium windstorm pilot program just for the state-created Citizens Property Insurance Corp. The measure may have bipartisan support: A companion bill, Senate Bill 802, was filed by Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, a Republican from Doral.

The legislation would allow Citizens to offer actual cash value on condo roofs that are heavily damaged in a storm, instead of full replacement value. Replacement of roofs has proven to be a key cost driver for Florida property insurers in recent years. Cassel said her bill could be a partial solution to escalating premiums, premiums that have left a number of condo owners and associations without wind coverage.

Florida has taken tremendous steps in the past few years to increase condominium safety and association financial health, Cassel wrote on Facebook. But we owe it to our residents to find common sense solutions to help ease financial burdens.

The bills would require a majority vote of the condo association to participate in the pilot program.

The problem with ACV is that it may help reduce premiums, but it could still leave a condominium building without a roof, said Michael Carlson, president of the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida, which represents some of the largest property insurers in the state.

The downside is that the condo association may not have the funds to pay for what ACV wont cover, he said.

He gave this example: If a condo building sees its roof heavily damaged, the insurance may pay only $15,000 as actual cash value. But to fully repair or replace the surface may cost $30,000. That leaves the condominium owners having to pay $15,000 out of pocket. And thats on top of other costs that may be incurred from more-frequent building inspections and repairs, as well as reserve funding measures required by Florida condominium laws passed in the wake of the 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse.

Still, the measure could prove popular in the legislature and it could be expanded in committee to include other insurers, Carlson said.

Cassel could not be reached for comment Tuesday morning. The regular 2024 Florida legislative session is set to begin Jan. 9.

Topics Florida
Some patients of a Seattle, Washington-based cancer center received threatening emails following a data breach last month.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center officials said a Nov. 19 hack hit a portion of the health care systems clinical network, possibly leaking patient data.

This week, some former and current patients received threatening emails claiming names, Social Security numbers, medical history and other data of more than 800, 000 patients had been compromised, The Seattle Times reported.

Emails shared with the newspaper claimed the stolen data of recipients would be sold.

Christina VerHeul, the center`s associate vice president of communications, said she couldnt speculate how many people were affected but said an investigation is ongoing.

After last month`s hack, the center took its clinical network offline, notified federal law enforcement and brought in a forensic security firm to investigate, she said.

The center encouraged patients to keep a close eye on bank statements and credit reports.

The center directed those who received suspicious or threatening calls or emails to report them to the FBI, block senders and delete messages. If the message demands a ransom, do not pay it, the center instructed.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Cyber Washington
Source: Streetwise Reports

December 12, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Good news for folk holding positions in Emperor Metals Inc. The Canadian stock has announced rich new drilling analysis results at its Duquesne West Gold Project.

Emperor Metals Inc. (EMAUF:OTCMKTS; AUOZ:CSE) is a Canada-based exploration company focused on developing gold properties across the Canadian Shield. It is currently focused on developing the Duquesne West Gold project in Quebec.

The firm has also acquired 100% interest in Hemlo North Property and Pine Grove & Pic River Property. The Hemlo North Property comprises 12 mining claims in Ontario, with the Pine Grove & Pic River Property consisting of another 128 mining claims in the same province.

The Duquesne West Gold Property, where the latest results were gathered, is located 32 kilometers northwest of the city of Rouyn-Noranda and 10 kilometers east of the town of Duparquet. It lies within the Duparquet gold mining camp in the southern portion of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt.

The Catalyst: New Assays

On December 5, Emperor Metals Inc. announced additional assay results from its summer 2023 drilling campaign at the Duquesne West Gold Project.

The company reported that 14 diamond drill holes had been completed, representing a total of 8,579 meters. Two holes were found to be of particular interest:

DQ23-06 intersection (5.2 m of 2.1 g/t Au) was designed to extend mineralization 500 meters eastward along strike and down plunge of high-grade mineralization. It intersected mineralization predicted by the model, which will help to potentially increase the grade and add ounces laterally to the site's mineralized stopes model.

DQ23-09 intersection (13.2 Metres of 3.8 g/t Au (including 5.6 m of 7.5 g/t Au)) was designed to intersect near-surface mineralization to begin strategically drilling a potential development area for a Phase 1 open pit.

According to the company, "These partial results and the drill core visuals from our 2023 campaign suggest resource expansion within and outside the open pit concept."

Emperor Metals Ltd. CEO John Florek explains, "With the recent development of identifying the open pit potential on the property, holes DQ23-09 to 14 targeted the strategic vision to expand the Phase 1 open pit potential. DQ23-09 confirms that these high-grade lenses seen at depth are expressed at the surface and could make very attractive stockpiles for delivery to nearby mills."

"Only an estimated 30% of the core from historical drilling was sampled at the surface by previous operators," he continues, "who did not examine the additional lower-grade bulk tonnage material crucial to lowering the stripping ratio. As a result of recent work to locate and sample this material in the historical core library, more than 3,000 meters of additional sampling will be sent out for assays; sampling of historical core is ongoing."

He says, "The intercept at DQ23-06 is very significant since it expands the mineralization by an additional 0.55 km along strike and plunges in an area of virtually no drilling. This area has the potential to add significant ounces to this deposit. Our vision to develop a multimillion-ounce deposit with multiple mining scenarios on the property continues to progress. The proximity to multiple mills and infrastructure in a Tier 1 mining district makes this project highly valuable compared to any competitors."

Why This Sector: Safe, In-Ground Gold in Friendly Territory

Say what you will about Canada; the country remains one of the safest mining jurisdictions in the world. It's a safe place to be a miner, and open pit mining, such as that which Emperor Metals Inc. has planned for the Duquesne West Gold Project, is one of the safest types of mining.

As an article on Sciencing.com explains, "Open-pit mining is much safer than shaft mining. In underground mining, the threat of a cave-in or release of toxic gas is a constant concern. When shaft mining was the most common method of ore extraction, thousands died in cave-ins, gas events, and accidents involving equipment."

"In 1907 alone, more than 3,200 deaths related to mining occurred," the article continues, "Today, with safer mining processes, such as open-pit mining, safer equipment, and a general increase in safety awareness, mining deaths have fallen considerably."

In addition to being safe for miners, Canada is a safe jurisdiction for mine operators. It's adjacent to the U.S.A., with reasonably similar government and regulation regimes, and has been home to many different mining companies over the past couple of centuries.

Why This Company? Open Pit = Easy Access

Emperor Metals Inc. is sampling near-surface core from the historical core library that previous explorers did not assay. According to the company, up to 70% of this core has yet to be assayed.

So far, over 3,000 meters have been sampled and will be sent to the laboratory for analysis. Partial assays for these reported drill hole results continue to increase confidence in considering an open pit potential for the Duquesne West deposit.

Thus far, full laboratory results for drill holes DQ23-01, 03, 04, 05, and 09 have been received. DQ23-09 was rushed through the laboratory to advance the company's understanding of near-surface mineralization.

Approximately 65% of the assays have returned from the laboratory, with EmperorMetals Inc. still awaiting additional assay results. Fourteen diamond drill holes were completed this summer on the property, with the samples being analyzed at SGS Laboratories in Lakefield, ON.

Why Now? Struggled Earlier, Starting to Build Steam

On December 5, Technical Analyst Clive Maund lamented, "We haven't done too well with [Emperor Metals] because we bought it too early back in Summer, after which it continued even lower, but the good news is that it has turned the corner, and begun a bull market."

"By mid-October, we had broken even on our original purchase, and we were up significantly on the 2nd purchase, which was at a lower level, but in recent days, it has dropped back some."

"On the latest 6-month chart," Maund explains, "we can see that the picture now looks a lot more positive as the price has advanced sharply out of the Double Bottom shown that formed at a low level with the result that it has broken out of its earlier persistent bear market downtrend."

"With the Accumulation line strong, its earlier overbought condition having fully unwound (MACD), and its rising 50-day moving average having caught up to the price in readiness for it to cross the 200-day, everything is in place for it to go on to break out of its current rectangular consolidation pattern into another uptrend, and this looks most likely to happen when gold breaks out above its key resistance at $2100 to launch into a major uptrend."

"The reason that Emperor backed off yesterday towards the lower boundary of its trading range was gold's temporary setback following its failure to break above $2100 at the start of the week, but gold is expected to redouble its efforts and achieve this milestone in due course and in the meantime, we can, if so inclined, take advantage of Emperor's dip to the bottom of its trading range to buy it or add to positions."

According to Maund, "The 3-year chart shows a number of interesting technical points more clearly. One is the marked increase in volume since July, which is viewed as bullish as it shows a lot of rotation of stock from weaker to stronger hands, and because most of this volume has been upside volume as revealed by the strongly rising Accumulation line, it makes it even more bullish."

"The reason why the price has stopped here to mark out a trading range is that it is working off the resistance arising from the considerable volume of trading just above the current level during the 1st half of the year. Once it breaks above this resistance, suggested as highly probable by the strongly advancing Accumulation line, it should embark on a sizeable uptrend, and there is 'plenty of gas in the tank' for this as the MACD indicator has fully neutralized, showing that it is not overbought at all now."

"We, therefore, stay long," Maund advises, "and this is viewed as a good point to buy or add to positions, especially if it drops a little further to the bottom of the current trading range."

"Emperor has started trading on the US OTC market but on pitifully low volumes, although volumes should improve as the price rises, so if you do attempt to buy it on this market, be sure to set limit orders," he cautions.

Ownership and Share Structure

As of November 2023, Emperor Metals Inc. had 69,838,843 shares outstanding, alongside 21,466,292 warrants and 4,775,000 options, for a fully diluted base of 96,080,135.

According to Reuters, 13.52% of the company is held by management and insiders. Director Alex Horsley owns 5.53%, with 3.86 million shares. CEO, President, and Director John Florek owns 3.64%, with 2.54 million. CFO and Director Sean Mager owns 2.15%, with 1.50 million. Independent Directo and Chairman John Williamson owns 1.48%, with 1.04 million, and Director Ian Harris owns 0.72%, with 0.50 million

The rest is in retail.

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Source: Barry Dawes

December 12, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Barry Dawes of Martin Place Securities shares the long-term potential he sees in Tolu Minerals Ltd.

Tolu Minerals Ltd. (TOK:ASX) provides details on near-mine exploration targets Tolukuma is a major epithermal gold mineralization region

Strong vein continuity here indicates gold endowment of epithermal veins is around 100koz/100m strike Tolukuma structure has 2000m of vein extension target The saki-Salat system offers 3000m wide x 800m off mine target Kimono has 1000m vein system target in NE

Combined targets of 2-3moz targets identified around the mine

The longer-term potential is much larger.

Key Points

TOK targets combined 7.8-8.5m tonnes @ 8-11g/for 2-3moz

Current endowment is ~100koz/100m through 1.5moz over 1500m (past production + current resource)

Targets in vein systems extending the Tolukuma mine structure over an additional 2000m to SSE

Tolukuma vein itself extends >2000m SSE from the mine area



Miliahamba-Kunda structure runs parallel to Tolukuma vein



Gulbadi structure continues 3000m to Taula structures

Cross-vein structures have historically provided very high-grade ores

Off-mine targets at Saki-Yava-Soju-Salat are 3000m wide x 800m exposed strike

Kimono in NE has 1000m of vein system

Large scale full year sampling, and drilling program commencing in 2024

TOK has an existing 200ktpa mill to treat ores in 2024

Market cap A$58m on 116m shares @ AU$0.50

The Tolukuma Gold Mine produced ~1.0moz @15 grams per tonne (g/t) from high-grade epithermal veins on ML104 with a 4:1 silver:gold ratio.

The main veins were running NNW-SSE with a number of high gold content cross veins that included the Tinabar and the prolific Gulbadi structures.

Mining in the first decade had mine grades of >20g/t whilst later mining carried out without sufficient exploration or development fell to 6-8g/t to give the average of 15g/t.

The Tolukuma gold mine veins have so far shown strong continuity over about 1500m, and high grades have been noted in surface sampling and drilling that confirm the continuity of the veins to the south, and sub-parallel veins are also showing high grades at surface and in drilling.

The Tolukuma Gold Mine area has been prolific with this 1.5moz endowment but is only a very small proportion of the overall Tolukuma region structural system.

High grades have been continually encountered across the region and suggest this will become a major multi-million oz gold deposit.

The Saki system to the east is underexplored, but it also has high grades, and a small 128koz resource at 2.0g/t was defined by Frontier Resources prior to the sale of the tenements to Tolu Minerals in the IPO.

Frontier had also identified a Saki target of 0.6-1.0mt @ 5-9g/t for 100-300koz.



Tolukuma Gold Mine Area and nearby gold prospects

TOK had carried out 3D IP surveys that provided strong evidence of conductivity, indicating mineralization presence and continuing to depth.

The Tolukuma South vein and the Fundoot cross vein are important targets in the first ring. The Maliahamba Drive will be extended through Kunda down to Sisimonda (second ring). The Gulbadi vein structure continues to the large anomaly at Taula (third ring).

Tolu Minerals also has the Saki-Yava-Solju-Salat system, which has a 3000m wide surface expression with the same NNW-SSE orientation that is noted over 800m strike.

Frontier Resources had earlier identified 100-300koz at Saki at 5-9g/t.



Saki-Yava-Solu-Salat System of Gold Veining

The combined Tolukuma exploration target is 2-3moz, and success here would give consideration to increasing the size of the current 200ktpa mill over time.



Source: Tolu Minerals

2-3moz would make Tolu Minerals a very valuable company.

Heed the markets, not the commentators.

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Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions.

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WordPress Technology company WP Engine has announced 20 new job vacancies as the firm looks to further expand its Limerick office.

Founded in London in 2014, the firm offers solutions and apps for website management system, WordPress. The firm opened its Limerick office just two years later, before expanding into Poland via Krakow in 2019.

Since its inception, the firm has increased its customer growth from 3,000 to more than 18,000 across Europe.

Following the launch of its Limerick office, WP Engine's Irish base has grown from a team of 10 to more than 150 since 2016. Originally focused on technical WordPress support and product engineering, the team now encompasses almost all functions of the business in Limerick and across Ireland.

"Our office in Limerick is essential to our European strategy that seeks to build expertise across Europe in specialized products like Atlas that enable decoupled WordPress, and eCommerce," said Limerick site lead and Senior Director of Product at WP Engine, Haidee McMahon.

"Were delighted by the superb emerging talent that we can employ to support Irelands growth in the tech industry and more specifically WP Engines growth on a global scale."

Lead Recruiter for Europe at WP Engine, Darren O'Dwyer said Ireland boasted an "exceptional engineering prowess, especially within the realm of e-commerce."

We really are doubling down and building a team in Ireland, that is given a world-class working environment to thrive, and is focused on providing the best quality operations possible.

Vacancies at WP Engine Ireland include software engineering, pricing analysts, technical support roles and more, with all positions embracing both hybrid and remote working.
Pernod Ricard  the owner of Jameson Whiskey  has launched its first China-made whisky as the alcohol giant looks to tap rising local demand for premium liquor despite the countrys sluggish economic recovery.

The Chuan Pure Malt Whisky, made in the Paris-based firms Mount Emei distillery in Sichuan province, will commence sales this week, chief executive Alexandre Ricard told reporters during a tour of the facility.
A proposed deer cull would be a "significant step" towards the control of TB in bovine herds, Fianna Fail TD Jackie Cahill said.

Deer overpopulation is a "major contributing factor" in the increasing rates of TB in cattle, with deer "straying from their habitats, mixing with cattle, and spreading infection", Mr Cahill has stressed.

The Irish Deer Management Strategy Groups report on developing a sustainable deer management strategy for Ireland has been published in recent days.

The report includes a list of recommended actions addressing issues from hunter training and forest design to land use management and the venison market.

The report recommends in the short-term the setting up of deer management units in critical/hot spot areas initially, and to revise the deer open seasons order to align with the current dates in Northern Ireland.

'Considerable problem'

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said that the growing deer population is a "considerable problem, and I will be actioning the recommendations immediately in the new year".

"This will include the creation of a deer management agency, the establishment of local deer management units, and changes to the open seasons order," Mr McConalogue said.

For agriculture, our natural ecosystems, and in particular our forestry ambitions, it is important that we have sustainable management of our national wild deer population.

"However, the impact of deer proliferation extends far beyond this to road safety, animal health, public health, and not least the health and welfare of the deer themselves."

'Long overdue'

Jackie Cahill said that a deer cull proposal is "long overdue, and it is essential for a variety of reasons".

"One major issue many of us are familiar with, myself included, is the huge number of accidents that have occurred as a result of deer crossing on roads," Mr Cahill said.

"From a deer welfare point of view, their habitats are seriously overpopulated which is resulting in a lack of forage, and this is also driving them to travel outside of their habitats.

"Their population needs to be restored to optimal levels to ensure they have sufficient forage to flourish within their habitats."

'Strain and stress'

Irish Farmers' Association animal health chairman TJ Maher said that it is recognised that deer densities in Wicklow in particular, but also in parts of Tipperary, Galway, Waterford, and Donegal are "above a sustainable level and that the wild deer are highly damaging to their surrounding environment".

"The overpopulation of wild deer has impacted farming, forestry, biodiversity, not to mention the role of wild deer in circulating TB amongst the bovine herd," Mr Maher said.

"All of this has resulted in significant financial strain and stress for farmers and landowners."

Pat McCormack of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association also welcomed the Government's "long overdue" commitment to a deer cull and a "more proactive approach" to managing the deer population.

Mr McCormack said that for at least a decade, farmers have been expressing mounting concerns about both the surge in deer numbers and their geographic expansion out of traditional areas of habitat.

He has urged Minister McConalogue to begin the cull in January 2024.
Co Laois suckler beef and sheep farmer Francie Gorman has been elected as the new Irish Farmers Association (IFA) president.

Mr Gorman won with 16,699 votes, beating Co Limerick dairy farmer Martin Stapleton who got 13,210 votes, to secure the top IFA job.

941 branches met in recent weeks to allow members to vote for the next president and deputy president of IFA.

Alice Doyle from Co Wexford and Pat Murphy from Co Galway contested the deputy presidential election.

Ms Doyle was also announced on Tuesday as the successful candidate, with 16,502 votes compared to Mr Murphy's 12,968. She is the first woman to hold the role.

Issues affecting farmers

New IFA president Frankie Gorman farms 130 acres in Ballinakill and is married to Kay, with whom he has a son, Tom.

He is the current IFA South Leinster regional chairman.

He has had 25 years of involvement in the IFA, in roles of country secretary, farm business rep, county chair, and his current position with South Leinster.

He told a presidential debate in Cork previously: I know IFA inside out and Im acutely aware of all the issues that affect farmers in all sectors.

Its my ambition as president of IFA to ensure that we deliver on farm incomes for not just our own families but for our neighbours and friends in all sectors.

Mr Gorman said in his presidency, he is aiming to rebuild and strengthen the reputation of IFA as an organisation that influences policymaking, respects and responds to the concerns of all members, and most importantly, delivers for farmers income.

He has also committed to bringing forward a new communications plan to the association.

'Bulldozed'

Mr Gorman said he would fight to not allow policies that negatively impact on farm income to be bulldozed down on top of farmers.

Farm income is the key challenge, too many farmers are struggling financially, he said.

Recent policy changes that have a devastating effect on farm income  the nitrates derogation  have to be challenged and no policy should be put in place that negatively impacts on farm income.

He said farmers have to be rewarded for the environmental ambition that theyre expected to deliver.

Im proposing that we have a new environmental scheme with a payment of 15,000 open to all farmers, including organic farmers, Mr Gorman said.

He will take up office in January, replacing Tim Cullinan.

Mr Gorman's competitor Martin Stapleton, while falling short overall, won the majority of votes in every county in Munster, the dairy farmer stronghold. Mr Gorman took the lead in every other county.

Mr Stapleton himself is farming around 160 dairy cows on his enterprise in Oola, Co Limerick.

He is the current national treasurer and returning officer of the IFA, and previously held the role of farm business committee chairman.
Reach for the Stars: 1996-2006: Fame, Fallout and Pops Final Party, Michael Cragg

Taking the brilliant Meet Me in the Bathroom, an oral history about New York music in the early 00s, as inspiration, Cragg turns the spotlight on the Spice Girls, 5ive, Mis-teeq, Craig David, Atomic Kitten, and a host of similar turn-of-the-century pop acts that youve forgotten about in the couple of decades since.

The stories that result are ones of ridiculous excess and awful exploitation and abuse that one hopes would not even be contemplated nowadays.

Louis Walsh, who gives the book its most memorable blurb - no ones going to read this - is a quotable standout, but there are so many highlights, from the rise of Xenophobia to the curious case of Rachel Stevens Some Girls and the glorious persistence of Girls Aloud.

The Woman in Me, Britney Spears

The biggest memoir of the year is slight, coming in at less than 300 pages and the biggest revelations had been well-flagged on release, but theyre no less shocking on hearing Spears tell them.

Her former boyfriend Justin Timberlake reportedly put off a comeback in the wake of some of the confessions here, while the story of Spears long conservatorship is finally shown as the controlling abuse that it was.

I never said I wanted to be a role model, says Spears. And yet she is. Still.

The Creation Records Story: My Magpie Eyes Are Hungry for the Prize, David Cavanagh

First published in 2001, this tome has been reissued following the tragic death of the Dublin-born Cavanagh in 2018.

Its the definitive story of one of the defining record labels in music history, whose roster included My Bloody Valentine, Jesus and Mary Chain, and Primal Scream.

But this story mostly belongs to the volatile Alan McGee and Oasis, who overshadow all before and after them on Creation.

Told in chronological order, its an extensive read, featuring many indie landfill acts and cameos by the likes of Corks Five Go Down to the Sea.

McGee recalls: [Frontman Finbarr] Donnelly would lick my ears, trying to get the wax out. But they were good to have in the club if there was ever any threat of violence to any of us.

Thurston Moore's Sonic Life; Sly Stone's Thank You

Sonic Life, Thurston Moore

Sonic Youth guitarist Moore has been there, done that, and bought the bands t-shirt.

Sonic Life is like a snapshot of music history as Moore moves to New York just as Pattie Smith and her peers were making CBGBs their second home.

This is like a ticklist of bands you should have in your record collection. Its also the story of how the no-wave band Sonic Youth came to be.

Youth bassist Kim Gordon told her (eviscerating) side of the story in 2015s Girl in a Band, but her ex-husband refuses to divulge much of his personal life here. He lets the music do the talking.

Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin): A Memoir Sly Stone, with Ben Greenman

Certainly one of the book covers of the year, Stone has always stood out from the crowd.

That he has reached the stage of actually being able to tell his story is one that might surprise many - I spent years not regretting the drugs. They served a purpose, he writes - but after being hospitalised for a fourth time, in the past couple of years, he decided to kick the habit.

Before all that though, there was the music, told in an indelible, matter-of-fact way.

Jeff Tweedy's World Within a Song; Geezer Butler's Into the Void

World Within a Song: Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music, Jeff Tweedy

Anybody who caught Wilco on their tour this year, which included a stop at Cork Opera House for Sounds from a Safe Harbour, will have felt that frontman Tweedy had found a new lease of life, a creative bent.

Going for 30 years as a band, Tweedy has already released a couple of books, including a memoir, and this years World Within a Song, kind of like Bob Dylans The Philosophy of Modern Song, covers his personal relationship with a suite of sweet songs, such as Abbas Dancing Queen.

He writes that on its release, I was still too young to identify myself as anything.

Lou Reed: The King of New York, Will Hermes

There is no shortage of Lou Reed and Velvet Underground books out there, but Hermes effort is extensive and definitive, delving into Lewis Reeds school yearbook, charting his college life, and discovery of influential figures like the barfly poet Delmore Schwartz.

Hermes showcases the dividing line between Reed the person and Reed the poseur and pop star.

Along the way, there are the expected big names like David Bowie and Andy Warhol, while it also delves into his later years and marriage to the artist Laurie Anderson.

Its been just over 10 years since Lou Reed died. Hes still the king, though.

Into the Void: From Birth to Black Sabbath - and Beyond, Geezer Butler

Ozzy Osbourne and Tommy Iommi have already released autobiographies but Butlers is a welcome addition.

Born in working class, post-war Birmingham to parents who had moved over from Dublin (once a Catholic, always a Catholic), his was not a happy household.

Elvis and skiffle arrived and soon, so did Sabbath.

Butler was the bassist and chief lyricist in a band synonymous with 70s excess and this account doesnt disappoint, full of stories that will have you ready to throw your TV out the window.

As Butler writes, When youre in a rock and roll band for as long as I was, there tends to be a lot of drama.

Andy Spinoza's Manchester Unspun; Ed Gillett's Party Lines; Stuart Bailie's Seventy-Five Revolutions

Manchester Unspun: How a City Got High on Music, Andy Spinoza; Party Lines: Dance Music and the Making of Modern Britain, Ed Gillett

Are there any more tales left untold about the Hacienda and the Madchester scene of the turn of the 80s into the 90s?

Manchester has lived a couple of lives, and is going through another (high-rise) change at the moment; Spinozas Manchester Unspun is a personal and sociological look at how its fortunes changed, featuring encounters with all the expected characters like Tony Wilson and even Alex Ferguson.

Gilletts Party Lines, meanwhile, acts as social history, deeply researched and ensuring it is not whitewashed of black culture. He brings it up to, well, modern Britain, too, discussing plague raving during covid.

Terri Hooley: Seventy-Five Revolutions, Stuart Bailie.

The Belfast record store and label Good Vibrations has long had a special place reserved in Irish music lore - a film of the same name was released in 2012 - its owner Terri Hooley a vaunted figure for his role in helping the likes of the Undertones in a divided 1970s.

This is a photo book to mark Hooleys 75th birthday, but its so much more too.

As Bailie, a former assistant editor of the NME, told the Irish Examiner last month: Ive been taking photographs of Terri for 30 years. Why not do a photo-book? And then you go, no that would be a missed opportunity. There are so many stories there. I didnt want to do a huge book. Why dont we make it something really beautiful?

Five more music new books for your collection
The confidence of rank and file officers in the PSNIs intelligence-gathering operations was shaken by the attempted murder of a senior detective, the chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland has said.

Liam Kelly told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that some officers were questioning intelligence briefings about their own safety after the gun attack on Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was not picked up.

Mr Caldwell was shot a number of times in front of his son by dissident republicans at a sports complex in Omagh, Co Tyrone, in February.

That really detailed, pre-planned operation was not picked up whatsoever either by our internal intelligence or external intelligence services

The detective, who had investigated a number of high-profile murder cases, spent several weeks in intensive care.

Mr Kelly was answering questions from MPs about the impact on officers following a major PSNI data breach in August, when the personal details of almost 9,500 staff members were mistakenly released online.

Police later confirmed the details are in the hands of dissident republicans.

He said: One of the other unintended consequences about officer impact and officer confidence is their confidence in the intelligence system.

That was shaken originally this year by the abhorrent attack on Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell.

That really detailed, pre-planned operation was not picked up whatsoever either by our internal intelligence or external intelligence services.

He told MPs that there was a perception that the organisations traffic light threat assessment system is not a reality.

Liam Kelly, chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland (Peter Morrison/PA)

He said some officers were raising questions about their own security assessments because the intelligence system got it so wrong in the Caldwell case.

Mr Kelly said: That is why we see people are taking extraordinary lengths because they are not confident in the intelligence assessment the PSNI has given them is going to actually protect them in the long term.

Now this genie is out of the bottle the consequences of this going forward will have ramifications for years to come.
Cuts to welfare rates and time limits on stays in State accommodation for Ukrainian refugees will come into effect in late January, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.

In the Dail on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Varadkar confirmed Cabinet had signed off on proposals to cut Ukrainian refugee welfare rates from 220 a week to 38.80 a week, while they are staying in State accommodation. Ukrainian refugees with children will also be entitled to 29.80 per child, per week.

The proposals will require legislation to enact the changes, with plans to introduce the bill in early January.

The Taoiseach also confirmed new arrivals from Ukraine would only be permitted to access State-provided accommodation for 90 days, after which they must find their own accommodation.

He said while Ukrainians remain welcome in Ireland, the Government needed to bring its offering more into line with other EU member states.

However, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald questioned where Ukrainian refugees would be housed for the initial 90 days, and then after this period.

Taoiseach, what you havent set out for us is the plan for temporary accommodation for Ukrainian people coming, where will they be, where will they stay for the 90 days and then crucially, where do they go after 90 days? Ms McDonald asked.

In particular, the Sinn Fein leader questioned if they would be expected to go into the private rented sector, which she described as being at breaking point.

We are confident that we will be able to provide that State accommodation for those 90 initial days to get people coming from Ukraine a chance to establish themselves and a chance to find their own accommodation, own employment. Whatever they can manage to do, Mr Varadkar said in response.

He said people who move into State accommodation do not always stay there, citing those who leave for their own private accommodation, pledged accommodation or elsewhere in the EU.

Once Ukrainian refugees leave State accommodation, they will be entitled to claim a higher rate of welfare payment if they qualify.

Children will be permitted to enrol in schools and will be bussed to school if they are forced to move.
An immense stillness meets you amid the remains of the former school for 40 Palestinian children in the hamlet of Khirbet Zanuta, in the West Bank.

Among the strewn children's books and toys, the smashed panes of glass and bulldozed classrooms is a plaque in the centre of the wall.

It reads: 'Humanitarian Support to Palestinian at risk of forcible transfer in the West Bank. Funded by European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid.

The additional donors include Irish Aid, France's 'Centre De Crise' and the British Consulate-General in Jerusalem.

Yet the approximately 200 denizens of Zanuta were forcibly displaced after coming under unbearable pressure from Israeli settlers.

Life became particularly punishing about two years ago when radical Israeli settlers protected by soldiers began targeting the community after new settlements sprouted up and surrounded the Palestinians.

But after Hamas's terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, intimidation and violence accelerated, leaving them no choice but to break up the entire community.

The plaque on the wall in the school. Picture: Shona Murray

Fares Samamre returned to the site of where he once lived with his family, where his children went to school and where he eked out a living.

"They would arrive during the day or night; going after the livestock and sheep; beating up people; frightening the children", he recalled.

They'd fly their drone close to the sheep  the animals would be terrified and start running around into each other. Some pregnant sheep lost their young.

As farming is the main source of income, settlers went after shepherds, physically beating them when they were out in their fields.

They took their own animals to eat the crops before Palestinian harvests, says Yehuda Shaul, human rights activist from Ofek  an Israeli public policy group dedicated to providing self-determination for Israelis and Palestinians.

Fares added: "We had a flag on the school, and one day settlers ordered us to remove it  when they did they beat one of my neighbours with it."

"Soldiers would come with settlers at night  they forced us into our houses once and the settlers threw stun grenades.

"They told us 'if you stay here you will die'."

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said he was 'absolutely appalled by such an attack on childrens fundamental right to an education'. Picture: Shona Murray

All across the West Bank, international solidarity groups take turns to sit with Palestinians vulnerable to attack. Their presence can give them security, especially during olive harvest seasons which is particularly dangerous. None was ever present to protect Zanuta.

As Fares spoke to journalists, soldiers arrived telling him he had to leave.

Settler violence

Settler violence against Palestinian civilians has risen all across the West Bank and East Jerusalem. More than 255 Palestinian men, women and children have been killed by either settler or soldier violence since October 7, according to Israeli Human Rights NGO B'tselem. More than 16 entire communities have been forcibly transferred.

The EU and the US State Department are now considering sanctions against aggressive Israeli settlers targeting Palestinians in the West Bank.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said if the EU could not agree to the measure unanimously, Ireland, France and Belgium would act unilaterally.

As a teacher, Im absolutely appalled by such an attack on childrens fundamental right to an education. School goes to the heart of every community, he told the Irish Examiner.

When I travelled to the West Bank in September, I met a child who described to me an attack by settlers on their school while children were there. It terrified the young students and put them through a horrific trauma. To terrorise children is an abhorrent thing to do.

The school in the village of Khirbet Zanuta was supported by the West Bank Protection Committee, to which Ireland has provided 400,000 so far in 2023, according to Irish Aid. Mr Martin said the Government was attempting to have some of the money compensated.
Sludge and filth is pouring from household taps across Corks northside, it has been claimed as Uisce Eireann was criticised for persistent discolouration of the drinking water in parts of the city.

The claim was made by Workers' Party councillor Ted Tynan as several members of Cork City Council slated the utility for not resolving the discolouration problems.

They said they have received several repeat complaints in recent weeks from constituents about the issue, particularly in suburbs on the northside.

Mr Tynan said he visited several homes in the Mayfield area on Monday to investigate some of the complaints, and he told Monday's city council meeting that sludge and filth is coming from the taps.

Handing our resources over to Irish Water was a major mistake, he said.

The issue was discussed during a debate on a motion from Fianna Fail councillor John Sheehan calling on Uisce Eireann to improve its communications to householders affected by water outages.

But councillors said the utility had been under fire for weeks over persistent water discolouration problems affecting homes across the northside.

The Irish Examiner reported last week how householders have been posting photos and videos on social media for weeks showing brown water flowing from their taps.

It was reported on Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has an open investigation file in relation to the issue.

Brown water on the northside of Cork City

Uisce Eireann said the problems have occurred following a change in the pumping regime used to get the water from the new water treatment plant on the Lee Road uphill to the three reservoirs on the northside.

Water was being pumped through the ageing pipe network at a higher velocity, stripping deposits from the inside of the pipes.

But Sinn Fein councillor Mick Nugent said it was unbelievable this was happening in a modern city.

We should have a collective message coming out of here tonight that this is just not good enough, he said.

Independent councillor Ken OFlynn criticised Oireachtas members for not tackling the issue head on.

The silence is deafening from some northside TDs, he said.

Fine Gael councillor Joe Kavanagh said he knew of householders who had been buying bottled water for months because of the water quality issue.

Uisce Eireann dont seem to take a blind bit of notice of elected councillors, he said.

Fianna Fail councillor Tony Fitzgerald said it was a health and wellbeing issue now and needs to be addressed, while Labour councillor John Maher accused City Hall of washing its hands of the matter after confirming it was no longer responsible for operating and maintaining public drinking water infrastructure and supplies in the city.

Green Party councillor Dan Boyle, chair of the councils environment strategic policy committee, said he would invite Irish Water to address the committee in early January.
This year, St Stephen's Day swimmers in Co Waterford will take the plunge in support of a local teenager who is undergoing treatment for a brain tumour in Germany.

In 2014, when she was only five years old, Caroline Kenny was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.

Now 14, she will be spending Christmas away from home as she undergoes 30 sessions of proton therapy in Essen.

Proton therapy is a more targeted form of radiotherapy, and is only available in Essen or Manchester.

It was recommended by Caroline's team in Crumlin Children's Hospital after years of chemotherapy failed to shrink her tumour.

Chemo only managed to keep Caroline's tumour at bay, once treatment stopped, it started to grow again.

Despite her sickness, Caroline's Mum Breda says Caroline is "a wonderful child" who "always has a smile on her face".

No matter what treatment or procedure she has to face, she gets on with it and is always thankful to those who help her along the way.

"She lives for her grannies and grandads, her uncles, aunts, lots of cousins and her school friends.

"She has five wonderful sisters and her Daddy Pat, who she is mad about, Breda said.

When it was confirmed Caroline would be travelling to Essen for six weeks of treatment, Pat and Breda contacted the Gavin Glynn Foundation.

The Wicklow-based foundation aims to assist families with all the logistics and financial aspects of travelling overseas for specialist treatment not available in Ireland.

It was set up by John and Jayne Glynn in memory of their son, Gavin, who died in 2014, just aged four. To date, the foundation has helped over 230 families.

Caroline Kenny on her way to Essen, Germany, for initial assessment prior to treatment.

According to Breda, "nothing is too much trouble" at the Gavin Glynn Foundation.

No matter the time of day or night, John is always at the end of the phone to deal with any query or request you have.

"Caroline and I travelled to Essen again on December 6 to start Caroline's 30 sessions of treatment. John booked flights, transfers and a beautiful apartment for us close to the hospital.

We will forever be indebted to the Gavin Glynn Foundation, she said.

Breda and Caroline will spend about six weeks in Essen over the holidays while Caroline receives her treatment.

However, both are already "looking forward to returning home to Ireland towards the end of January and seeing everyone again".

Caroline, who also has no vision in her right eye, is a second year student at Blackwater Community School in Waterford.

Since she was diagnosed, she has received treatment in Temple Street, Crumlin, and the Mercy in Cork.

The Christmas Swim For Caroline will take place at 11am on December 26 at Clonea Strand in Dungarvan.

All funds raised will go directly to the Gavin Glynn Foundation, and donations can be made here.
A Limerick man who slammed the recently- sacked British home secretary Suella Bravermans claim that homelessness was a lifestyle choice died on a Cardiff Burger King doorstep weeks later.

Richard OBrien, 56, had been homeless in Britain and had publicly criticsed Ms Bravermans comments last month, saying that most people who were homeless had nowhere to go so they have to be on this pavement.

He was found dead on November 27 in Cardiff, after he became unwell during the night, and Welsh police are currently trying to trace his next of kin.

Weeks earlier, he publicly disagreed with the sacked home secretary, telling WalesOnline that being homeless was not a lifestyle choice.

I wouldnt agree with that [Ms Bravermans comments]. Im not saying people dont have places  some people do, and whether they want to choose to be on the pavement, thats up to them, he said.

But the fact is, there are people out here who havent got anywhere  and cant get anywhere, so they have no choice, they have to be on this pavement."

Messages for Mr OBrien, who was described as a really nice man who would make you giggle have now been left on an electric box near the doorway where he died.

Katie Dalton, director of Cymorth Cymru, the representative body for providers of homelessness, housing and support services in Wales, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, about how Mr OBrien seemed like a really lovely man.

She posted: I recently took him to hospital after seeing him struggling to walk.

He told me (with a wry smile) he had fallen the night before, while dancing in the rain.

We got talking about where he was from [Co Limerick] and his eyes lit up when he discovered I have loads of family there.

Before his death, Mr OBrien told WalesOnline he had been homeless on and off for 30 years, first in Bristol, then London, then Cardiff.

Mr OBrien said that he did not sleep in a tent out of fear that someone would set it on fire.

Every evening, he searched for cardboard to sleep on with blankets and a sleeping bag.

South Wales Police confirmed a man had died after an ambulance was called to Queen St in the early hours of November 27.

They said there were "no suspicious circumstances" and enquiries were being made to trace next of kin.

Mr OBrien was the third homeless person to die in the Welsh capital this year, according to the British Independent.

Public outrage erupted last month after Ms Braverman said she wanted to stop "the nuisance and distress" of people who were homeless pitching tents in public spaces as Britain defended proposed legislation to restrict charities from providing homeless people with tents.

Richard 'Paddy' O'Brien was found dead just days after telling his local paper: "This isn't a lifestyle choice." Picture: WalesOnline/Media Wales.

"We cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents occupied by people, many of them from abroad, living on the streets as a lifestyle choice," Ms Braverman wrote on social media.

"We cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents occupied by people, many of them from abroad, living on the streets as a lifestyle choice."

Una Byrne, head of advocacy and communications with Novas, an organisation which helps people who are homeless in Limerick and an approved housing body, sent condolences to Mr OBriens family.

It's particularly tragic for the family when somebody is experiencing something like homelessness and particularly when they're abroad and that happens. Our sincerest condolences to them.

She said that Ms Bravermans comments really underscored a true lack of understanding of the complexities of homelessness.

She added: So often it's rooted in systematic poverty and disadvantage that people experience from a really young age."
The latest feeder school information published by the Irish Examiner provides insight into the schools of origin for the thousands of college students in all of the country's publicly-funded third-level institutions, including University College Cork, Munster Technological University, and the University of Limerick.

This data also includes information on the number of students attending the two largest fee-paying colleges in the State: Griffith College (which has campuses in Cork, Dublin and Limerick) and Dublin Business School.

Below you can find all the information about how many students attended which colleges, broken down by county and by school.

Q&A: How was the list compiled and how is the data useful?

What can this list tell you?

The list includes all schools in the Republic of Ireland where more than 10 pupils sat the Leaving Cert in 2023. The information comes from the State Examinations Commission and a list of origin of full-time, first-year undergraduate students provided by each of the institutions listed.

Whats not included on this list?

How many students went on to further education (PLC courses) or apprenticeships

Where students from grind schools  which are run without State support  went to college. These include Bruce College Cork, Hewitt College, the Institute of Education and others.

How many students went to college in the UK or overseas.

Why cant I find a particular school on this list?

For one of these reasons:

It had less than 10 students sitting the Leaving Cert and, for data protection reasons, the SEC does not provide this information.

The school has closed.

It amalgamated with other local schools. Where a student attended a school that has since amalgamated, we have credited that student to the new school.

How is this data useful?

As it stands, this database is the only source of information for parents who want to know about the academic success of schools in their area.

Accuracy And Fairness

To ensure the greatest possible degree of accuracy and fairness, the Irish Examiner uses a standardised system to compile this list. There may be errors in some of the data provided by third-level institutions, but we are able to identify and correct the vast majority of these. However, there are a very small number of occasions where schools will record a slightly lower than accurate third-level progression.

The Irish Examiner regrets that it cannot enter into correspondence regarding the manner in which the data is compiled.
The destruction in the Gaza Strip has now reached such an intolerable level that it brings to mind the perspective in which warfare has taken place over the centuries.

During the classical and medieval eras, it was not uncommon for whole cities and regions to be laid waste, with entire populations slaughtered or sold into slavery.

One only has to think of Cato the Elders phrase delenda est Carthago demanding the total elimination of Carthage in the 2nd century BC. And so it was.

Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza on December 11. Doctors and nurses working at the hospital are working overtime to treat Palestinians injured in Israeli attacks. Picture: Abed Zagout/Anadolu via Getty Images

While all right-thinking people have condemned the brutality of the Hamas attack on 7 October and the kidnapping of innocent civilians, the deep and widespread sympathy for the Israeli people that this generated has to a great extent been dissipated by the actions of the Israeli state and military in the two months that have followed.

For Israel to maintain any degree of moral rectitude it must stop its cruel bombardment of the people of Gaza and declare a permanent ceasefire.

It should now be clear to every reasonable Israeli that a just and lasting peace can only be established by political means, not by military aggression and the killing of civilians.

The Israeli government should also know that the rules of war have advanced considerably from medieval times, even since the Second World War.

The Geneva Conventions (to which Israel has fully subscribed) prohibit the practice of collective punishment and the displacement of civilian populations.

The bombing of civilian areas is also forbidden unless a clear military objective has been identified and the denial of water and/or basic foodstuffs to a besieged population is a war crime.

The destruction of medical facilities clearly falls into the same category.

Many of these legal provisions were put in place specifically because of the horrors perpetrated by Nazi Germany and its policy of genocide against the Jewish people.

It is all the more ironic therefore that Israel should be using the most sophisticated weaponry  including the most advanced military aircraft and smart bombs that the US can supply  to destroy essential infrastructure and much of the housing stock throughout the Gaza Strip.

Israel cannot call itself a modern progressive state when its military tactics resemble those of a medieval warlord .

On the other hand, while the Hamas leadership has little regard for international law  and the organisation is rightly designated as terrorist by most Western countries  Hamas fighters are equipped only with hand-held weaponry and a stock of largely ineffective surface-to-surface rockets.

They have no anti-aircraft guns or armoured vehicles. The weapons available to Israel in this conflict provide it with an overwhelming advantage; but for Israel to think that it can destroy the Hamas ideology by military might alone is delusional.

Some day, Israel will have to declare victory and the current fighting in Gaza will come to an end.

When that happens, a political solution will have to be found to resolve the differences between the two peoples and to allow them to share the small homeland in which they both live.

The far right in the present Israeli government seems to think that most of the Gazan population can be forced to migrate to the Egyptian Sinai desert while Israeli settlers take over much of the current conflict zone.

This is never going to happen, not least because Egypt would veto any such transfer of population.

The Palestinian Authority in Ramallah could be asked to take over administration of the Strip but that too is unlikely as no Palestinian leader could be seen to be riding on the back of an Israeli victory.

Furthermore, the Palestinian Authority is already largely discredited for, inter alia, its inability to protect its own people on the West Bank from the attacks and land grabs orchestrated by Israeli settlers there since 7 October.

What has become abundantly clear is that the two-state solution envisioned by the Oslo Accords of 1993 has been severely compromised and may be impossible to revive. How then can an acceptable new peace process be put in place?

International conference

When military operations have ended, it is essential that an international conference be called involving all the world powers as well as the various parties directly involved in the conflict.

Such a conference is likely to be strongly resisted by Israel, as has always been the case in the past. It would therefore have to be organised and choreographed by Washington  the US alone has sufficient clout to persuade the Israelis to attend.

All options would have to be put on the table, including the fact that the Jewish and Arab populations of mandated Palestine (the territory created by the League of Nations mandate of 1923) are now roughly equal in size  at just over 7 million each  and deserve equal recognition.

A unitary state or a close-knit confederation of some sort should be one of the proposals tabled for consideration. It is clear that an outcome on this basis would not be easy to achieve but it would certainly be preferable to the destruction of one side by the other  which seems to be the unspoken intention of many on both sides at present.

The provision of international guarantees of indefinite duration for both communities would be an essential part of any such comprehensive solution.

Achieving a new format for reconciliation between Jews, Muslims, and Christians in the land they all share will no doubt take many years to bring to pass but the current situation is untenable.

A negotiated peace settlement with international oversight is the only possible route to overcoming the impasse that confronts us today.
The human catastrophe we are witnessing in Gaza cannot continue.

In just over two months, 18,000 Palestinians have been killed in the area, about 70% of whom are women and children.

Around 1.9m people  nearly 85% of the entire population  have been displaced by the ongoing military operations.

It is impossible to ignore the scenes and reports that are coming from Gaza on a daily basis.

Whole families being killed in bombardments, parents being torn apart from their children, unspeakable trauma being inflicted on generations.

Hamass abominable attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking over 240 hostages was utterly reprehensible.

Such inhumanity against civilians is impossible to comprehend.

I witnessed the devastation first hand when I visited Kibbutz Beeri  where nine-year-old Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand was cruelly taken hostage  last month. But the humanitarian situation in Gaza is now unconscionable and beyond comprehension.

This is not acceptable. Gazas civilian population cannot be allowed to suffer any further. They urgently need fuel, food, water, and medical supplies, on a sustained basis and at scale.

The conditions were already appalling when I raised concerns during my recent visit to the Middle East and have only deteriorated further amid the constant bombardment by the Israeli military.

As the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres and the commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, have stressed, there are over 1.3m displaced people registered in 154 UNRWA facilities across Gaza.

This has created overcrowded, undignified, and unhygienic conditions, in which more than 700 people use a single toilet, women give birth, and people nurse open wounds.

UNRWA staff are still operating health centres, managing shelters, distributing food, and supporting traumatised populations while putting their own lives on the line.

A total of 134 UN staff  their colleagues  have been killed in bombardments, mostly alongside their families.

At least 70% of UNRWA staff are displaced from their own homes and are among those lacking basic needs such as food, water and shelter. Others have nowhere to shelter, with hospitals having become battlefields.

These figures speak for themselves. This is not effective protection of civilians. This situation is utterly dire and inhumane, with large parts of Gaza destroyed and rendered uninhabitable, and the humanitarian system at severe risk of collapse.

As the needs in Gaza continue to increase, Ireland has allocated a further 9m to address the critical humanitarian need.

This brings Ireland's direct humanitarian aid to 22m since October.

Ireland has a long-standing commitment to supporting humanitarian aid and development projects in the occupied Palestinian territory. This is more important now than ever, and it will continue. We will always do what we can to help.

I have been in consistent contact with several regional partners since the 7 October attack, including during my visit to the region last month and my attendance at Cop28 in the UAE last week, and a key message from all was the importance of Irelands voice in shaping the response of the international community. Due to our consistent diplomatic commitment to the issue, Irelands voice on the conflict is a significant one.

Earlier this week, I attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels to meet with my counterparts. I called for a unified EU position for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, stressing that calls for humanitarian pauses are no longer sufficient. The situation in Gaza is far too grave.

I also sought agreement on sanctions against extreme violent settlers in the West Bank who are attacking and displacing Palestinian communities. I am very pleased that agreement has been reached to develop some proposals in this regard.

Ireland has also co-signed a letter alongside the leaders of Spain, Malta, and Belgium to EU Council president Charles Michel urging all EU leaders to call for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza that could lead to an end in hostilities.

Palestinians look at houses destroyed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah. Picture: Fatima Shbair/AP Photo

At the UN, Ireland co-sponsored and voted in support of the General Assembly Resolution which calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, and on all parties to protect civilians and respect International Humanitarian Law.

Ireland deeply regrets the failure of the Security Council last Friday to agree a similar resolution.

We have consistently said that the veto is an anachronism and has no place in the 21st century.

Fridays resolution had 13 of 15 votes in favour, and was co-sponsored by a total of 102 UN Member States, including Ireland, yet was not adopted.

It is now more important than ever that the international community respond with the utmost urgency. We must act now to ensure security for Israeli and Palestinians and a renewed political horizon.

Ireland will continue to take an assertive and principled stance at the UN and EU in terms of support for a two-State solution and in calling out actions and policies that take us further from this goal.

Micheal Martin is Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence.
A developer has unveiled plans for a major student apartment development on the site of a former convent in Cork.

Lyonshall Limited has applied for permission for a large-scale residential development at a site located at the former St Josephs Convent on Model Farm Road in Cork.
Lawyers played audio recordings of graphic and racist threats received by two women after Rudy Giuliani falsely accused them of fraud while pushing Donald Trumps baseless claims after the 2020 election.

The recordings were part of the opening statements in a federal case that will determine how much Mr Giuliani might have to pay the women in damages.

The former New York City mayor has already been found liable in the defamation lawsuit brought by Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea Shaye Moss, who endured threats and harassment after they became the target of a conspiracy theory spread by Mr Trump and his allies.

The womens lawyers estimated that reputational damages could reach 47 million dollars (37 million), and suggested emotional and punitive damages on top of that could be tens of millions.

Mr Giulianis lawyer said any award should be much less.

The recordings played by the lawyers included threats accusing the women of treason and threats to their lives.

Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani is expected to enter the witness box, according to his lawyer (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The women got hundreds of similar calls, text messages and emails, said attorney Von DuBose.

People also showed up at Ms Freemans home to pound on her door and at her mothers house to make citizens arrests, Mr DuBose said.

Mr Giuliani and his co-conspirators stole the lives Ms Moss and Ms Freeman by destroying their names, Mr DuBose said.

Ms Freeman and Ms Mosss lawyers also played recordings of Mr Giuliani falsely accusing them of sneaking in ballots in suitcases, counting ballots multiple times and tampering with voting machines.

None of that  none of that  was true, Mr DuBose said.

Mr Trump also repeated the conspiracy theories through his social media accounts, something lawyer Michael Gottlieb called the most powerful amplifier on earth.

The then-president also assailed Ms Freeman and Ms Moss in his speech on January 6 2021, around the same time people with flags and bullhorns came to Ms Freemans home.

She was not there, however, because she had fled her home after the FBI had told her it was not safe.

Mr DuBose said Ms Freeman eventually had to sell her house of 20 years.

Mr Gottlieb asked the jury to award substantial damages to send a message that in the United States of America, behaviour like Rudy Giulianis is not the inevitable result of politics. It is not acceptable and it will not be tolerated.

Mr Giulianis attorney, Joseph Sibley, said Ms Freeman and Ms Moss are good people who did not deserve the treatment they received.

Mr Trump, Mr Giuliani and others are accused of trying to illegally overturn the results of the election in the state (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

But he argued there was little evidence that Mr Giuliani was directly responsible for the threats and harassment directed their way, and the former mayor never encouraged it.

This is something other people did independent of Mr Giuliani, Mr Sibley said.

He argued that the amount of money they want in damages is the civil equivalent of the death penalty.

He said he would ask the jury to award an amount they believe is fair, but at a much lower level.

Mr Giuliani did not speak to reporters as he entered Washingtons federal courthouse  the same building where Mr Trump is set to stand trial in March on criminal charges accusing the former president of scheming to overturn his loss to President Joe Biden.

Mr Giuliani is expected to enter the witness box, his lawyer said, raising questions about whether his evidence could also put him in jeopardy in a separate criminal case in Georgia.

Mr Trump, Mr Giuliani and others are accused of trying to illegally overturn the results of the election in the state.

The legal and financial woes are mounting for Mr Giuliani, who was celebrated as Americas mayor in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack and became one of the most ardent promoters of Mr Trumps election lies.

In the Georgia civil lawsuit, Mr Giuliani is accused of making false statements to lawmakers during hearings in December 2020.

While showing a surveillance video from State Farm Arena in Atlanta, where ballots were counted in the days after the election, Mr Giuliani said election workers committed election fraud.

Mr Giuliani became one of the most ardent promoters of Mr Trumps election lies (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Specifically, he said, Ms Freeman and Ms Moss were quite obviously surreptitiously passing around USB ports as if theyre vials of heroin or cocaine and it was obvious they were engaged in surreptitious illegal activity.

The claims about the election workers were quickly debunked by Georgia officials, who found no improper counting of ballots.

Mr Giuliani conceded in July that he made public comments falsely claiming Ms Freeman and Ms Moss committed fraud while counting ballots at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

However, Mr Giuliani argued that the statements were protected by the First Amendment.

Giuliani has pleaded not guilty in the criminal case and maintains he had every right to raise questions about what he believed to be election fraud.

He was also sued in September by a former lawyer who alleged Mr Giuliani only paid a fraction of roughly 1.6 million dollars (1.2 million) in legal fees stemming from investigations into his efforts to keep Mr Trump in the White House.

The judge overseeing the election workers lawsuit has already ordered Mr Giuliani and his business entities to pay tens of thousands of dollars in attorneys fees.

Overseeing the defamation case is District Judge Beryl Howell, who is well-versed in handling matters related to Mr Trump, having served as chief judge of Washingtons federal court for the entirety of Mr Trumps presidency.

Ms Moss had worked for the Fulton County elections department since 2012 and supervised the absentee ballot operation during the 2020 election.

Ms Freeman was a temporary election worker, verifying signatures on absentee ballots and preparing them to be counted and processed.

In emotional testimony before the US House Committee that investigated the US Capitol attack, Ms Moss recounted receiving an onslaught of threatening and racist messages.

In an August decision holding Mr Giuliani liable in the case, Judge Howell said the adviser to Mr Trump gave only lip service to complying with his legal obligations and had failed to turn over information requested by the mother and daughter.

In October, the judge said that Mr Giuliani had flagrantly disregarded an order to provide documents concerning his personal and business assets.

She said that jurors deciding the amount of damages would be told they must infer that Mr Giuliani was intentionally trying to hide financial documents in the hopes of artificially deflating his net worth.
UAW files unfair labor practice charges against Hyundai, Honda and VW, accusing them of union busting

The UAW has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Honda, Hyundai and Volkswagen, the union said Monday.

The union alleges management at facilities for the companies have participated in illegal union-busting as workers organize to join the UAW.

The charges come roughly two weeks after the UAW said it was launching an unprecedented campaign to organize 13 nonunion automakers in the U.S.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/11/uaw-files-unfair-labor-practice-charges-against-hyundai-honda-vw.html
Hunger was worsening among Palestinians in the besieged Gaza strip, aid agencies said, as the United Nations General Assembly prepared to vote on Tuesday on an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the two-month-old conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Hundreds more civilians have died in Israel's assault on Gaza since the US on Friday vetoed a Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire.

Most of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been driven from their homes and residents say it is impossible to find refuge or food in the densely populated coastal enclave. The UN World Food Programme has said half of the population is starving.

"Hunger stalks everyone," UNRWA, the UN body responsible for Palestinian refugees, said on X.

Gazans said people forced to flee repeatedly were dying of hunger and cold as well as the bombardments, describing looting of aid trucks and sky high prices.

Israel says its instructions to people to move are among measures it is taking to protect civilians as it tries to root out Hamas militants who killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostage in an October 7 cross-border attack on Israel, according to Israeli tallies. About 100 hostages have since been freed.

Israeli troops are seen near the Gaza Strip border, in southern Israel, Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. The army is battling Palestinian militants across Gaza in the war ignited by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack into Israel. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Israel's retaliatory assault has killed 18,205 people and wounded nearly 50,000, according to the Gaza health ministry.

The 193-member General Assembly is likely on Tuesday to pass a draft resolution that mirrors the language of one that was blocked by the United States in the 15-member Security Council last week.

General Assembly resolutions are not binding but carry political weight and reflect global views.

Some diplomats and observers predict the vote will garner greater support than the assembly's October call for "an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce."

SCRUTINY ON US SUPPORT

The vote was due a day after 12 Security Council envoys visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza, the only place where limited humanitarian aid and fuel have entered. The United States did not send a representative on the trip.

US President Joe Biden, who has weathered intense criticism for his support of Israel's response to the October 7 attacks, on Monday told a White House celebration for the Jewish holiday of Hannukah that his commitment to Israel is "unshakeable."

"Folks, were there no Israel, there wouldn't be a Jew in the world that was safe," Biden said. He also alluded to his complex relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who he said is in a "tough spot."

Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. The army is battling Palestinian militants across Gaza in the war ignited by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack into Israel. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters on Monday that Israel was no exception to US policy that any country receiving its weapons must comply with the laws of war.

"We are monitoring everything that happens in this conflict," Miller said. "We are engaged in conversations with the Israeli government."

As the war has intensified, how and where Israel uses weapons from the US have come under more scrutiny, even though US officials say there are no plans to put conditions on military aid to Israel or to consider withholding some of it.

Washington found images circulating on social media showing Palestinian men detained in Gaza in their underwear "deeply disturbing" and asked Israel to clarify the circumstances around the photographs, Miller added. Israel has said the men were stripped to make sure they were not hiding explosives or weapons.

The White House also said on Monday it was concerned about reports Israel used U.S.-supplied white phosphorus munitions in an October attack in southern Lebanon and was seeking more information. The munitions, which can be legally used on battlefields to make smoke screens among other uses, can cause serious burns.

Israel said an allegation by Human Rights Watch that it uses white phosphorus munitions in Gaza and Lebanon was "unequivocally false".

Palestinians wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip are brought to a hospital in Rafah, Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

NEW AID SCREENING SYSTEM

UN officials say 1.9 million people - 85% of Gaza's population - are displaced and describe the conditions in the southern areas where they have concentrated as hellish.

To increase the amount of aid reaching Gaza, Israel said on Monday it would add shipment screening at the Kerem Shalom border crossing even though it was not opening the crossing itself.

Most trucks entered the strip at this crossing before the war. Two Egyptian security sources said inspections would begin on Tuesday under a new deal between Israel, Egypt and the United States.

After the collapse of a week-long ceasefire on December 1, Israel began a ground offensive in the south and has since pushed from the east into the heart of Khan Younis city.

On Monday, militants and residents said fighters were preventing Israeli tanks moving farther west and clashing with Israeli forces in northern Gaza, where Israel had said its mission was largely complete.

Palestinians wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip are brought to a hospital in Rafah, Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

Israel said dozens of Hamas fighters had surrendered and urged others to join them.

Residents reported exchanges of fire near the coastal road and Hamas media said fighters foiled an attempt by Israeli naval forces to make a landing of forces offshore.

Israeli bombing continued into the night on Monday, residents and health officials said. Medics said Israeli air strikes killed at least 15 people in separate strikes in the central and southern Gaza strip.

Another commercial tanker in the Gulf was struck by a land-based cruise missile launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen, the US military said. Iran-aligned Houthis have stepped up attacks on vessels in vital shipping lanes and firing drones and missiles at Israel itself since the war erupted on October 7.
Israeli forces have stormed a hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, a spokesman for the territorys Health Ministry has said.

Ashraf al-Qidra said the troops forced all the men at Kamal Adwan Hospital, including medics, to gather in the courtyard after entering the facility on Tuesday.

He called on the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Destruction in Rafah in the Gaza Strip after an Israeli strike (Hatem Ali/AP)

The army has said it is rounding up men in northern Gaza as it searches for Hamas fighters.

Photos and video circulated online have shown detainees stripped to their underwear, bound and blindfolded. Some who have been released say they were beaten and denied food and water.

The UN humanitarian office said the hospital has 65 patients, including 12 children in intensive care and six newborn babies in incubators.

Some 3,000 displaced people are sheltering there, all awaiting evacuation because of severe shortages of food, water and electricity.

Most of the population of northern Gaza fled weeks ago when Israel ordered a full evacuation.

Ground troops invaded in late October after a blistering three-week air campaign. Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields.

Tens of thousands of people remain in the north, where they have been almost entirely cut off from humanitarian aid for weeks. The health system in the north has largely collapsed.

Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Israel has said its offensive against Gazas Hamas rulers, sparked by their attack on October 7, could go on for weeks or months.

In a briefing with the Associated Press on Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant refused to commit to a firm timeline, but signalled that the current phase of heavy ground fighting and air strikes could stretch on for weeks and that further military activity could continue for months.

He said the next phase would be lower-intensity fighting against pockets of resistance and would require Israeli troops to maintain their freedom of operation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain security control over Gaza indefinitely.
A Japanese court has convicted three former soldiers in a sexual assault case that authorities had dropped until the victim, a former service member, came forward demanding a reinvestigation and prompting a military-wide harassment probe.

Fukushima District Court sentenced the former Japanese army soldiers to two years in prison but suspended the sentences for four years  meaning they will not actually serve time in jail.

Nevertheless, the ruling is a rare victory in a country that consistently ranks near the bottom in international gender equality surveys and where sexual misconduct complaints are often disregarded and victims tend to face criticisms for speaking up.

The case filed by Rina Gonoi in August 2021 was initially dropped.

Nine months later, she came forward and demanded the case be reinvestigated, saying the experience caused her to give up her military career.

Rina Gonoi, left, arrives at Fukushima District Court (Kyodo News/AP)

Ms Gonoi said she had been attacked on social media for coming forward, but that she did so because she wanted to prevent similar problems for other female service members.

She welcomed the court ruling, saying: Many victims still cannot speak up, but now we have this verdict, and I hope that more people come out and speak up.

Her revelation prompted a military-wide investigation into sexual harassment and other abuse allegations in September 2022, and prosecutors reopened her case.

The Fukushima court said on Tuesday that her three former supervisors  Shutaro Shibuya, Akito Sekine and Yusuke Kimezawa  had each pressed the lower part of their bodies against her during a party at an army training facility in August 2021, and it found them guilty of indecent assault.

Judge Takaaki Miura dismissed their arguments, saying they had obviously imitated sexual acts on her at a party where the guests were mostly men and intimidating.

By doing so, they denied her dignity and treated her like an object to spice up the gathering, the judge said, according to NHK television, calling their actions despicable and vicious.

The three defendants had pleaded not guilty, denying any intent of indecency even though they admitted pushing Ms Gonoi down on to a bed, NHK said.

The ruling showed that such act for a laugh is not permissible, its clearly a crime, Ms Gonoi said.

In response to Ms Gonois revelations, the Ground Self Defence Force in September 2022 acknowledged some of the misconduct and apologised, and then fired five servicemen, including the three defendants, while punishing four others.

The three defendants at that time offered a written apology, which Ms Gonoi later said lacked sincerity. The three men said during their criminal trial that they had apologised because the GSDF ordered them to do so, according to Kyodo News agency.

A panel of experts that investigated harassment cases in Japans military and the Defence Ministry said earlier this year that it had found widespread cover-ups and reluctance among supervisors to deal with the problems and recommended fundamental improvements.

Rina Gonoi has filed a damages claim against the three defendants, two other perpetrators and the government, saying she felt their earlier apologies were insincere (Kyodo News via AP)

Defence Minister Minoru Kihara told reporters earlier on Tuesday that such harassment cannot be tolerated as service members work together to strengthen Japans military capability.

Women comprise 8.7% of Japans military, which is the second lowest among the Group of Seven advanced nations. The figure compares with more than 17% in the United States, more than 16% in France and Canada, 13% in Germany, and 6% in Italy.

Ms Gonoi, who was inspired to join the army after surviving the massive earthquake and tsunami in her hometown in Miyagi prefecture in March 2011 as a child, was first assigned to a Fukushima unit in April 2020 but quickly became a target of sexual misconduct, she said.

Her male superiors repeatedly asked about her breast size, hugged her and made unnecessary physical contact, such as trying judo techniques on her, she said.

Ms Gonoi has separately filed a damages claim against the three defendants, two other perpetrators and the government, saying she felt their earlier apologies were insincere.

She is seeking 5.5 million yen (30,000) from the perpetrators and 2 million yen (10,000) from the government, saying it failed to prevent the assaults, properly investigate or respond appropriately.

Separately, an air force service member filed a lawsuit in February against the government seeking about 11.7 million yen (63,800) in damages, saying it had failed to protect her from verbal sexual harassment from a male colleague and covered up the problem for more than a decade.
All five people who were inside a construction site lift that crashed to the ground in Sweden have died, officials said on Tuesday.

Authorities had previously only reported that the occupants were seriously injured when the elevator plummeted 66ft (20m) in Sundbyberg, a northern suburb of the capital, Stockholm, on Monday.

The cause of the accident is still unclear and work at the site has been halted.

This is a serious incident that we are now investigating

Gunnar Jonasson, the senior prosecutor in charge, said there is an ongoing preliminary investigation, including by the National Accident Commission, on suspicion of work environment violations causing the death of another.

This is a serious incident that we are now investigating, he said.

He added that authorities are working to identify the victims and contact their relatives.

His brief statement gave no further details.

A spokesman for the lifts manufacturer told the Aftonbladet newspaper on Monday that that type has been used around the world for more than 20 years, and the company has never been involved in such an incident before.

Andersson Company Byggnads, the construction company that runs the site of the accident, said that all of those who died were employed by subcontractors, adding in a statement that as the main contractor, we have a primary responsibility for safety at the workplace.

Swedish broadcaster TV4 said that all construction elevators in Stockholm were stopped following the fatal accident.

Johan Lindholm, the national head of the Swedish Construction Workers Union, called 2023 the darkest year in a very long time.

Mr Lindholm said in a statement: Fatalities and accidents both can and must be prevented.
The loss of contact with Alexei Navalny at the prison colony where the opposition leader was being held likely signals a Kremlin effort to tighten his isolation while President Vladimir Putin runs for re-election over the next three months, Mr Navalnys spokeswoman has said.

Worries about Mr Navalny spread on Monday after officials at the facility east of Moscow said he was no longer on the inmate roster.

Mr Navalnys spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said his associates and lawyers have been unable to contact him for a week.

Alexei Navalnys allies believe that the opposition leader is being moved to increase his isolation in the run up to Russias March elections (AP Photo, File)

Prison officials said he has been moved from the colony where he has been serving a 19-year term on charges of extremism, but they did not say where he went.

Prison transfers in Russia are notoriously secretive, with authorities providing no information about the whereabouts of inmates until they reach another facility and are given permission to contact relatives or lawyers.

Ms Yarmysh told The Associated Press: We now have to look for him in every colony of special regime in Russia. And there are about 30 of them all over Russia.

So we have no idea in which one we will find him.

She noted that they can transfer a prisoner for weeks or even for months, and no one will know where he is.

Today, as on Friday, the lawyers tried to get to IK-6 and IK-7  two colonies in the Vladimir region where Alexey @navalny might be. They have just been informed simultaneously in both colonies that he is not there.



We still don't know where Alexey is.    (@Kira_Yarmysh) December 11, 2023

Russias Federal Penitentiary Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Mr Navalnys possible transfer and whereabouts.

Earlier this year, another prominent opposition figure, Andrei Pivovarov, also went missing during a prison transfer.

His transfer, from a detention centre in Russias southern region of Krasnodar to a penal colony in the northwestern region of Karelia, took roughly a month.

Once at a new facility, prison officials there are legally obliged to notify relatives or lawyers within 10 days, but Ms Yarmysh said they can hardly be expected to follow the rules in Mr Navalnys case.

She said the authorities will likely try to keep his location secret for as long as they can after Mr Putin declared his intention to run for president.

Mr Putin will seek another six-year term in the March 17 election, moving to extend his rule of over two decades.

They will try to hide him as long as possible, Ms Yarmysh said.

I guess this was made deliberately to isolate Alexei during this period of time so he wouldnt be able to influence all these things in any way, because everyone understands  and Putin, of course, understands  that Alexei is his main rival, even despite the fact that he is not on the ballot.

Hungary is seen as Vladimir Putins closest ally in Europe (Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

When asked where Mr Navalny is, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov snapped that we have neither a desire nor an opportunity to track down inmates.

Commenting on US expressions of concern about Mr Navalny, Mr Peskov said that he has been convicted and is serving his sentence.

He added: We consider any interference, including by the United States, inadmissible.

Mr Navalny, 47, has been behind bars since January 2021.

He was arrested upon his return from Germany where he had recuperated from nerve agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin.

Mr Navalny, who campaigned against official corruption and organised major anti-government protests, has rejected all charges against him as a politically motivated vendetta.

The opposition figure has been serving his sentence at the Penal Colony No 6, in the town of Melekhovo in the Vladimir region, about 230 kilometres (140 miles) east of Moscow.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced to 19 years for extremism, charges he rejects as a politically motivated vendetta (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

He was due to be transferred to a penal colony with an even higher level of security.

The loss of contact with Mr Navalny was particularly worrying, given that he recently fell ill, Ms Yarmysh said.

She said prison officials had given him an IV drip when he felt dizzy and he had to lie on the floor of his cell.

It looks like it might have been a faint from hunger because he isnt being fed properly and he doesnt have any ventilation in his cell and he doesnt have any like proper exercise time, Ms Yarmysh said.

While Mr Putins re-election is all but certain, given his overwhelming control over the countrys political scene and a widening crackdown on dissent, Mr Navalnys supporters and other critics hope to use the campaign to erode public support for the Kremlin leader and his military action in Ukraine.

I guess they decided that it would be smarter for them to send him as far away because hes still too loud and too present in the public field

Authorities could try to send Mr Navalny to a remote colony to further limit his influence, Ms Yarmysh said.

Since the start of his imprisonment, he has continued his scathing attacks on the Kremlin in comments his associates posted to social media.

I guess they decided that it would be smarter for them to send him as far away because hes still too loud and too present in the public field, Ms Yarmysh said.
The video that made Plestia Alaqad go viral was simple yet traumatic.

Early in Israels assault on Gaza, she was filming in a neighbours flat in Gaza City, showing how they had removed the glass from the windows and were sheltering in the interior.

But as she filmed, a series of strikes hit close to the building , filling the air outside with dust.

Alaqad did not flinch but her face became an open-mouthed mask of shock.

I was trying to explain things, but I think you can hear them now, she said.

The video has been liked more than 200,000 times.

Looking back at the video from an uncomfortable exile in Australia, Alaqad, 22, was as surprised as any viewer about her lack of reaction in that moment.

I understand why the video went viral, why people ask how I can be calm in a situation like that, whether Im used to these things, or traumatised. People wonder, because I wonder too, she said, speaking over Zoom.

Alaqads journey from using Instagram to teach outsiders about daily life in Gaza to war reporter happened fast.

Before the war she worked for a marketing agency and conducted media training, using Instagram to photograph everyday life in the territory, posting rows of colourful parasols at the beach or sharing selfies with her friends.

The goal, she says, was to teach her followers that there was more to Gaza than conflict and destruction.

After Hamas launched an unprecedented raid on Israeli towns and kibbutzim on 7 October, killing 1,200 people and taking hundreds hostage, Alaqad began getting calls to work as a reporter for British and French televisions channels, and her Instagram transformed into a personal account of the war.

Israeli security forces inspect a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Holon, central Israel. Picture: Ariel Schalit/AP Photo

Her feed rapidly filled with pictures of destroyed neighbourhoods and strangers sharing their food amid shortages. Alaqad recalls standing in a tent filled with corpses, or walking among the rubble trying to remember the buildings that once stood there.

No international journalists have so far been allowed into Gaza unless they embed with the Israeli military, and with Palestinian correspondents for large outlets often overwhelmed with breaking news, social media has often stepped in to fill the gap.

On the ground in Gaza, a small group of younger reporters have brought the war to the outside world, sharing their most intimate moments of loss and struggle with an audience of millions.

Bisan Owda, a 25-year-old filmmaker who covered the attacks on al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, has 3.1m Instagram followers on her English-language channel, while the 24-year-old photographer Motaz Azaiza, renowned for his eerie drone shots showing destroyed landscapes, has 15.8m.

Alaqads follower count grew from 4,000 before the war to 4.2m, and as it did so, she opened every message and email she received from viewers so that she could respond to their questions.

Instagram is a personal diary for me to connect with people, to show them whats happening, showing them Plestia the human, not only Plestia the journalist. Thats my job, she said.

Her personal touch found a niche that television news failed to capture, giving an intimate view of day-to-day life inside the enclave where more 1.8m people have been displaced and entire neighbourhoods destroyed. The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 18,200 people, and almost no family has been untouched by loss.

Sixty-three journalists and media workers have been killed in the war since 7 October, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The Al Jazeera bureau chief, Wael al-Dahdouh, lost his wife, son, daughter, and grandson in an Israeli airstrike on his home.

Moamen Al Sharafi, another reporter for the network, lost 22 family members in a single attack.

Many Palestinian reporters have kept working despite displacement, the deaths of family members and the ever present danger of injury and death.

For me, its important to build a relationship with people, in order for them to be interested and invested in whats happening, said Alaqad.

Im not just a journalist, Im not just someone covering the news. Im also living it.

Israeli soldiers take part in a ground operation in Gaza City's Shijaiyah neighbourhood. Picture: Moti Milrod, Haaretz/AP Photo

She often spent hours looking for somewhere to charge her phone or find enough internet coverage to upload her material.

These challenges only worsened after the electricity was cut completely and frequent communications blackouts.

I dont want people just to see us as news, she said.

Thats why Instagram in general is important to me. It means building a connection. Were not just news that you can switch off with the television when youre done for the day.

For Alaqad, a turning point was the death of Belal Jadallah, the renowned head of the nonprofit media group the Press House-Palestine, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his car.

Jadallah had been an inspirational figure for a generation of Palestinian reporters, and his death was a heavy blow.

She returned her flak jacket and helmet marked press to the Press House, fearful that they could make her a target, but said she felt naked without them.

After work, Alaqad would debate whether to sleep in the car or where she had been reporting  or to return to her family, who had also been repeatedly displaced.

I used to think, What if I get back to my family, and they are targeted or killed because I chose to be a journalist?

Then I thought, What if I dont go back to them and they get targeted, alone?

Alaqad said she often considered whether it would be better for them all to die together.

She added: Now that Im saying what I was thinking out loud, it sounds crazy. How was it normal to think like that?

After 45 days reporting on the destruction, Alaqad left Gaza amid growing fears for her family, but she was plagued by guilt about being able to leave the territory.

From exile in Melbourne, she has taken to staying up all night, watching events unfolding at home as she scrolls on her phone, trying to keep up with the news.

Owda and Azaiza have recently posted messages to their followers, saying they fear they are unlikely to survive the coming weeks as Israeli forces advance into southern Gaza.

A couple of days ago, I was the news, I was there covering the news. And now Im just refreshing, refreshing each page trying to know anything, trying to see if my friends are alive or dead.

Guardian
The success of the ongoing anti-regime resistance offensives against the Myanmar juntas military has made headlines, but according to Daw Zin Mar Aung, foreign minister of the civilian National Unity Government (NUG), this has yet to translate into an increase in international engagement with the anti-regime movement, particularly among Myanmars neighbors. In the following interview with The Irrawaddys English edition editors Kyaw Zwa Moe and Hpone Myat, she discusses the NUGs cooperation with ethnic armed organizations, her governments diplomatic efforts to isolate the junta and starve it of funds, the need to fill political vacuums in areas where the junta has been uprooted, and how an increase in foreign support could end the suffering of Myanmars people more quickly.

Myanmars armed revolt has become increasingly sophisticated nearly three years after the coup. It is fair to say Operation 1027 has turned the tide of the war. The offensive has exposed the weaknesses of the Myanmar military. To what extent is the NUG collaborating with the Brotherhood Alliance, which is conducting Operation 1027, as well as other ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) in the ongoing offensive?

Last year, we introduced our one-year plan at our press conferences. It is a package of measures showing how we will step up the fight against the regime militarily and politically, as well as by pushing for economic sanctions, organizing mass movements, and funding the resistance. When we started designing that one-year plan, we consulted with our partner EAOs, and explored potential for cooperation. Revolutionary groups have their respective plans and visions. We can say those visions have converged.

Operation 1027 has pushed the wave of military operations this year to its peak. It coincided with the final phase of our one-year plan. As everyone knows, fighting normally escalates in the dry season. So, the timing just fit. As we have explained our objectives to our partner EAOs, I can say we have a certain degree of cooperation. But I cant say how much we are cooperating on military operations. It is sensitive information.

What impression has the resistance offensive left on ministers and diplomats of foreign governments with which the NUG has been engaging?

They are surprised that the Brotherhood Alliance has joined the revolt, and they wondered if the NUG knew about their offensive in advance. Yes, we did. We just didnt talk about it. It is not our business. Leaders of the concerned EAOs will do their job. And, it is not a good idea to announce an operation in advance.

The international community was shocked. They didnt expect it. Because there was previously little harmony between EAOs and [pro-democracy] forces fighting the regime, the international community took it for granted that it would be impossible to destroy the military.

We have explained to the international community that armed revolt alone is not responsible for the juntas defeats. Besides the armed resistance, we are also making diplomatic efforts, organizing mass campaigns, and trying to cut off sources of revenue for the regime, and all these factors have led to the juntas defeats. After the Brotherhood Alliance actively and decisively participated in the revolt and the Arakan Army (AA) also opened a new front in Rakhine State, hundreds of junta outposts fell in a month. This has exposed the weakness of the regime. The international community was also shocked, and they are interested to see what will come next.

Few countries have given practical support for the revolt in Myanmar. As foreign minister, to what extent have you been able to convince them to accept the NUG as the legitimate government of Myanmar and collaborate with it?

We can say our revolt is very organic. It is a genuine movement of the public. We havent received heartfelt support from any country. They oppose [our revolt] in principle. We have faced challenging questions regarding the situation on the ground, our activities, and [the extent of our] cooperation with other stakeholders. Diplomats also complained when the Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) were formed. They didnt welcome the formation of the PDFs. They even criticized when the PDFs announced a defensive war. When I asked them if they had any other ideas about how we should stop the militarys violence, they had no answer. We established our diplomatic representation amid such criticisms and questions.

But soon we entered a new phase. After we announced a federal democratic charter when we were able to tell the world that we have a vision and a roadmap about what political path we would take for the future and after we outlined a military code of conduct, how we would establish the chain of command, how we would handle war crimes after we proved that we could do those tasks with commitment, they changed their tone. Though they are not very satisfied with [our actions], they said they could arrange to provide help in certain areas according to international norms. There is engagement. Diplomats also ask about the degree of trust we have built with the Brotherhood Alliance and other ethnic allies.

They also ask challenging questions reflecting their assumption that we will again fight with each other when the Myanmar military ceases to exist, and that the country will shatter. They have this impression because they still view Myanmars problems based on their experience of the past situation in Myanmar. Everything is new in this Spring Revolution. The ideas are new, approaches are new, and the way the funds are raised is new. Plus, there is serious and frank debate about federal democracy. This is a different landscape from previous revolutions. Despite those challenges, there have been political and military developments. Trust has also been built among the forces in spite of arguments. This has changed the international communitys impression of the revolt. In our view, we thought it would be very difficult for the Brotherhood Alliance to throw itself into the fighting. They did so because they have a certain degree of trust in us and the potential of the Spring Revolution, as well as in their capability and stance. This trust has triggered changes [in the fighting against the regime]. Following those changes, diplomats and the media have changed the tone of their descriptions of the situation in Myanmar. You might be aware that the Myanmar crisis received little attention from international media before Operation 1027. But since the launch of Operation 1027, it seems that diplomats from foreign countries including Japan have woken up to the situation in Myanmar. They have responded to the fact that Operation 1027 has accelerated the wave of the revolution.

What is the Biden administration doing for the democracy struggle in Myanmar? To what extent is it collaborating with the NUG? Is it just paying lip service?

It adopted the National Defense Authorization Act [which includes the Burma Act]. The amount of money it has spent annually from its national budget to assist Myanmar has not changed at all. It has allocated the same amount of funds before and after the coup. Secondly, not just the US, but many countries have been slow to review their foreign policies and approaches towards Myanmar. The context in Myanmar after the Feb. 1, 2021 coup is different from what it was before the coup. But they continue to exercise the same policies, and continue with the same budget and projects. For example, they are still spending money on projects like leadership and capacity building training and the like.

We have been fighting the regime on our own. And we have to deal with questions about the possibility of power vacuums in the areas under our control. Just fighting is not enough; we have to run the administration. For example, in Karenni [Kayah] State, the Karenni State Interim Executive Council is installing interim local governance. Such is also the case in Chin State. This is different from the past. So, when [the US] allocates funds for us we are not asking for military assistance I am sure they wouldnt give it to us even if we asked for it but, they can assist us under the heading of democracy and local governance. There is a need for them to correctly understand the latest developments on the ground. We have to persuade them to assist in those areas.

The US has imposed economic sanctions targeting the cash flow to the regime. Those sanctions are effective, and we appreciate that. The fact that the regime cant use US dollars to purchase weapons largely restricts their ability to fight. We dont expect military assistance from the US. We are advocating for effective use of the budget that they grant for Myanmar.

Do you mean the support from the USand the way it provides that supportis not effective for revolutionary forces including the NUG?

We could say it like that. It has been three years, and I say they are too slow in making decisions [to help] and providing effective help.

Will the revolution take longer if there is no effective assistance from them?

I am sure we could finish it more quickly if we received practical assistance. If we have friends that provide us with necessary assistance, that will speed up our work. It will be quicker if they can provide assistance to us in practical areas, and put political pressure [on the regime]. In that case, we would be able to stop the suffering of the people and the violence of the regime more quickly. Though people are showing resilience in the face of violence, it is hell for them. People will be able to escape that hell more quickly if assistance is provided early and in large quantities. Delaying the assistance will lengthen these conflicts, and cause greater suffering for the people.

But regional countries including China and India have not even shown verbal support for the NUG. And India has grown increasingly close to the regime. Many ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] countries are also close to the regime. How much have their positions changed over the past three years?

There is not much difference. They maintain the status quo. They denounced it when the military staged the coup [in 2021]. Today, they still say they do not accept the coup [but they have never taken any action]. They dare not publicly engage with groups that represent the Myanmar people. It seems that those countries will only engage with us as equals after we successfully complete the revolution. Only the US and EU have publicly expressed their support for usregional countries dare not publicly engage with us. There has been no progress.
The Arakan Army (AA) says it has seized a second strategic hilltop outpost in Paletwa Township, Chin State, after launching an offensive against the Myanmar military on Nov. 13.

AA forces took the Hnone Buu outpost at 11.45 pm on Sunday after weeks of fighting with junta troops that also saw the nearby Traunaing outpost fall on Dec. 4, the ethnic armed group said on Monday.

Paletwa lies on the border with the AAs stronghold of Rakhine State.

The enemy deployed massive artillery and air strikes to defend the base. However, we eventually seized it along with caches of weapons and ammunition and the dead bodies of junta troops including the tactical operation commander of Hnone Buu outpost, the AA in its statement.

Roads and internet connections have been cut off in Paletwa as the fighting rages. The town is also facing food shortages and high prices amid a lack of supplies, said a resident.

Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told a press conference in November that Traunaing and Hnone Buu are on a main route connecting Myanmar with India, while accusing the AA of undermining development in Rakhine State.

AA spokesperson U Khine Thu Kha said its forces had taken control of the strategic hilltop outposts because junta troops were using them to oppress Chin and Rakhine ethnic communities in Paletwa Township.

Clashes continue to break out across northern Rakhine State as the AA targets more junta outposts and bases. Pauktaw Township is still seeing heavy fighting.

Regime forces are responding with indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas.

In Ann Township, Tal Hpyar village was targeted by shells from the juntas Taw Hein hilltop outpost near Kazuu Kaing village tract at 6 pm on Monday. Another hilltop outpost in nearby Dalat Chaung village shelled AA positions around two hours later.
Access to food, money, information and even rice fields is becoming more perilous in Rakhine State due to severe restrictions on movement imposed by the junta last month, residents of Myanmars westernmost state say.

In some townships, residents have had to climb trees to access internet and telecom networks since the blockade on all roads and waterways in and out of the state was imposed on November 13 following renewed fighting between junta and Arakan Army troops.

Moreover, in some villages junta troops are opening fire on farmers trying to harvest rice, residents say.

Food, fuel and other basic necessities are in short supply, but without access to the internet residents of the state are unable to receive the cash transfers that would give them the money to pay for what little is left, they say.

The internet has been unavailable because telecom towers have run out of fuel (most run on diesel generators) or need repairs but cannot be accessed by maintenance staff due to restrictions on movement, sources said.

Internet services have been unavailable for more than a month in much of rural Kyauktaw, a resident of the township told The Irrawaddy on Monday. Telecom towers have run out of power, but staff from the town who repair them cannot travel to [fix them] due to the blockade. Mobile phone signals are so poor we have to leave our village to find a better signal to make calls, the resident said.

A resident of Minbya Township said internet connections have been on and off since early December and that some residents have to climb trees or hills to find a better signal. The resident said the best location for accessing the internet where he lives is on a riverbank near his village and that that mobile money agents have set up makeshift shops on the riverbank to process cash transfers.

A resident of Ponnagyun Township said there was no internet access at all in Ponnagyun and two other townships  Buthidaung and Rathedaung  recently and that residents of the townships ran out money after cash transfers ground to a halt.

Ponnagyun Town was already in distress after its central market was destroyed by a fire ignited by junta artillery shells in late November. Many residents fled the town [and] all mobile money agents have shut their shops, the township resident said, adding that in some rural areas money agents were charging people 6 to 8% for withdrawing money because internet connections were so poor.

Rakhine State, like every other state and region in Myanmar, has had chronic power outages as well as restrictions on fuel sales.

Rice may be next. Residents say that in some areas farmers face gunfire if they try to harvest their paddy fields. Junta troops fire randomly at paddy fields near their bases, making it impossible for farmers to harvest their rice, sources said. Moreover, sailors on the juntas warships do the same at fields along the shore, while villages are shelled nightly by juntas artillery units.

Junta troops recently incinerated Ye Yoe Pyin Village, which was located on a riverbank opposite Rakhines capital Sittwe. One resident of the village told The Irrawaddy that it had been completely reduced to ashes.

Even the rice fields near the village had become inaccessible. Some young people tried to harvest paddy fields nearby, but as soon as they got to the fields, sailors fired artillery shells, the resident said. We can do nothing.
The European Union has imposed sanctions on four more Myanmar junta officials and two of its arms suppliers, citing the grave situation in the country.

The fresh sanctions announced on Monday target a minister, two other members of the juntas State Administrative Council (SAC), and a commander responsible for airstrikes on civilians in Karenni (Kayah) State, the EU said.

Star Sapphire Group of Companies and Royal Shune Lei Co Ltd, which are accused of generating income for the junta and supplying its military with arms and other equipment, also face restrictive measures.

The fresh sanctions target retired Lieutenant General Nyo Saw, a ministerial advisor to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing who was appointed to the SAC in September.

Nyo Saw helps fund the regime as the militarys business chief and also chairs a committee overseeing imports of fuel from Russia, the regimes major arms supplier. He also protects the interests of Min Aung Hlaings family, who view him as a trusted aide.

Also sanctioned was Major General Hla Moe, the chief of Eastern Command who has overseen a sharp rise in airstrikes on civilians in Karenni State this year. Airstrikes in the eastern state have more than doubled the combined total in 2021 and 2022, causing civilian casualties to soar and internally displaced persons to surge from 200,000 in 2022 to 250,000 this year, the EU said.

The two other SAC members added to the sanctions list are Wunna Maung Lwin, the juntas former foreign affairs minister, and Hmu Htan. Both are also members of the militarys proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). The pair are directly responsible for the juntas repressive decisions and serious human rights violations, the EU said.

Those listed are subject to a travel ban and assets freeze within the EU.

The EU remains deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of violence in Myanmar and the evolution towards a protracted conflict with regional implications, Mondays announcement said.

It condemned the continuing grave human rights violations by the Myanmar armed forces, including torture, sexual and gender-based violence, the persecution of civil society actors, human rights defenders and journalists, and attacks on the civilian population, including ethnic and religious minorities.

The EU has now sanctioned a total of 103 individuals and 21 entities in Myanmar.
IMFGDP7% https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHc0Ljnai7I&ab_channel=  20231212 1212(IMF)1130002019GDP2.5%7%     https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2023/12/11/sp121123-cold-war-ii-preserving-economic-cooperation-amid-geoeconomic-fragmentation 

20

     2008  GDP  5   300020193  So are we at the beginning of Cold War II? The key driving force is similarthat is the ideological and economic rivalry between two superpowers. In the Cold War it was US and Soviet Union, now it is US and China.But the stage on which these forces are unleashed is fundamentally different along several dimensions. Since 2008, however, the pace of globalization has stagnatedthe so-called slowbalizationwith trade to GDP stabilizing as the forces that helped spur hyper-globalization naturally waned. Over the past 5 years, threats to the free flow of capital and goods have intensified as geopolitical risks have grown. Some measures, including tariffs or export restrictions, directly target trade and investment. Other behind-the-border measures indirectly affect trade flows, such as fiscal and financial support to specific domestic sectors and local content requirements. Around 3,000 trade restricting measures were imposed last yearnearly 3 times the number imposed in 2019. Multinational firms, in their earnings calls, are increasingly discussing issues such as re-shoring, near-shoring, friend-shoring, and deglobalization.

Cold War II? Preserving Economic Cooperation Amid Geoeconomic Fragmentation

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2023/12/11/sp121123-cold-war-ii-preserving-economic-cooperation-amid-geoeconomic-fragmentation

Plenary Speech by IMF First Managing Deputy Director Gita Gopinath

20th World Congress of the International Economic Association

Colombia

December 11, 2023

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Introduction

Good morning. It is an honor to speak at the 20th World Congress of the International Economic Association.

The overarching question of this congress is Are we at a turning point?

I believe we are. In fact, I will take this congress question a step further and ask: are we on the brink of Cold War II? The historian Niall Ferguson argues that we already are. If so, what would that mean for the global economy? And how can we preserve the gains from economic openness within a more fragmented world?

To answer these questions, I will first briefly trace the history of cross-border trade relations during the twentieth century. I will then examine the parallels and differences between the Cold War and today. I will describe the signs of fragmentation that we see in trade and investment data so far and discuss the potential economic costs should the fault lines deepen. Finally, I will offer three principles for protecting economic cooperation in a more fragmented world.

Pandemic, war, and growing tensions between the two largest economies of the worldthe US and Chinahave undoubtedly changed the playbook for global economic relations. The US calls for friend-shoring, the EU for de-risking, and China for self-reliance. National security concerns are shaping economic policy worldwide.

Meanwhile, the global rules-based system was not built to resolve national security-based trade conflicts. So, we have countries strategically competing with amorphous rules and without an effective referee.

There are benefits for countries of this playbook as they attempt to de-risk their supply chains and strengthen national security. But, if not properly managed, the costs could easily overwhelm these benefits, and potentially reverse nearly three decades of peace, integration, and growth that helped lift billions out of poverty.

With the weakest global growth prospects in decadesand with disproportionate scarring from the pandemic and war slowing income convergence between rich and poor nationswe can little afford another Cold War.

Some historical perspective

Lets start by looking at the history. This is not the first time that globalization has come under threat and geopolitical considerations have fragmented global trade and capital flows. [1]

There was an explosion of international trade during the long 19th century, a 125-year period beginning with the French Revolution in 1789. But WWI brought that golden era of globalization to an abrupt end with world trade collapsing as a share of income. The protracted economic hardship that followed the war paved the way for the rise of nationalist and authoritarian leaders that later plunged the world into WWII. After WWII, a fragmented bipolar world emerged with two superpowersthe US and USSRdivided by ideology, and political and economic structures. Poised precariously between them was a set of non-aligned countries.

This Cold War period, between late 1940s and late 1980s, was not a period of de-globalization as it was marked by rising global trade to GDP driven by the post-war recovery and the trade liberalization policies adopted by many countries in the Western bloc. However, it was a period of fragmentation as trade and investment flows were heavily shaped by geopolitical considerations. Trade between opposing blocs collapsed from around 10-15 percent to less than 5 percent of global trade during the Cold War.

With the end of the Cold War, trade between previously rival blocs expanded rapidly, reaching almost a quarter of world trade in the following decade. The end of the Cold War also coincided with the hyper-globalization period of the 1990s and 2000s: technological innovations, unilateral and multilateral trade liberalization, and geopolitical and institutional changes all coalesced to lift economic integration to levels not seen before.

Since 2008, however, the pace of globalization has stagnatedthe so-called slowbalizationwith trade to GDP stabilizing as the forces that helped spur hyper-globalization naturally waned. [2]

That brings us to the present day. Over the past 5 years, threats to the free flow of capital and goods have intensified as geopolitical risks have grown. Some measures, including tariffs or export restrictions, directly target trade and investment. Other behind-the-border measures indirectly affect trade flows, such as fiscal and financial support to specific domestic sectors and local content requirements.

Around 3,000 trade restricting measures were imposed last yearnearly 3 times the number imposed in 2019.

Multinational firms, in their earnings calls, are increasingly discussing issues such as re-shoring, near-shoring, friend-shoring, and deglobalization.

Cold War II?

So are we at the beginning of Cold War II? The key driving force is similarthat is the ideological and economic rivalry between two superpowers. In the Cold War it was US and Soviet Union, now it is US and China.[3] But the stage on which these forces are unleashed is fundamentally different along several dimensions.

To start, the degree of economic interdependence between countries now is higher, as economies have become much more integrated into the global marketplace and through complex global value chains. Global trade to GDP is now 60 percent compared to 24 percent during the Cold War. This will likely raise the costs of fragmentation.

There is also greater uncertainty on the bloc with which countries may choose to associate. Within-country swings in the ideology of the political leadership have increased compared to the Cold War era and make it difficult to pin down allegiances. This uncertainty can further raise costs.

On the other hand, the potentially non-aligned countries now have greater economic heft in terms of GDP, trade, and population. [4] For the current period, the analysis considers two hypothetical blocs based on countries voting patterns in the UN and include predominantly the US and Europe in the Western bloc and China and Russia in the Eastern bloc, with the rest of the countries considered non-aligned. In 1950, the Western and Eastern blocs together accounted for roughly 85 percent of global GDP. The two blocs that we hypothetically have today account for roughly 70 percent of GDP and only one-third of the worlds population. And they have to compete with non-aligned emerging players.

Given their increased economic integrationin 2022 more than half of global trade involved a non-aligned countrythey can serve as connectors between rivals. They can benefit directly from trade and investment diversion in a fractured global economy and cushion the negative effect of fragmentation on trade, therefore reducing its costs.

Growing fault lines: The facts about fragmentation

Lets next examine the facts about fragmentation. As you will see, there are signs of growing fault lines.

Like the period of the Cold War, we do not see meaningful deglobalization, as the share of global trade in world GDP remains relatively stable. But we are beginning to see signs of fragmentation with meaningful shifts in underlying bilateral trading relations.

While the growth of trade has slowed everywhere after the war in Ukraine, growth between blocs that are not politically aligned has slowed more. Specifically, trade growth within blocs has decreased to 1.7 percent from 2.2 percent pre-war. Trade between blocs has declined from 3 percent pre-war to around -1.9 percent. On net, this generates 3.8 percentage point faster growth in trade within blocs as opposed to between blocs.

Importantly, this pattern is not limited to just trade in strategic sectorswhich are most likely to be targeted by policymakers and potentially helps countries de-risk. It also appears in trade of non-strategic products.

There are also clear signs that global foreign direct investment (FDI) is segmenting along geopolitical lines. [5] Announced FDI projects between blocs declined more than those within blocs after the onset of the war in Ukraine, while FDI to non-aligned countries sharply increased. In fact, almost 40 percent of announced FDI projects were in those economies in 2023q3.

This occurred alongside the resurgence of trade tensions between the US and China, between whom direct links are being severed.

China is no longer the largest trading partner to the US, and its share of US imports has fallen by almost 10 percentage points in 5 years: from 22 percent in 2018 to 13 percent in the first half of 2023. The trade restrictions imposed since the onset of the US-China trade war in 2018 have effectively curbed Chinese imports of tariffed products. [6]

China is also no longer a prominent destination for outward US FDI, losing rank to emerging markets such as India, Mexico, and UAE in the number of announced FDI projects.

But there is suggestive evidence that direct links between US and China are simply being replaced by indirect links. Countries that have gained the most in US import sharessuch as Mexico and Vietnamhave also gained more in Chinas export shares. [7] The same countries are also larger recipients of Chinese FDI.

There is growing anecdotal evidence of a set of connector countries that are uniquely positioned to benefit from the US strategy of de-risking from China. This is due to factors such as their location, natural endowments, and free trade agreements with both sides.

For example, large electronics manufacturers have accelerated relocating production from China to Vietnam given US tariffs on Chinese goods. However, Vietnam sources most inputs from China, while most exports go to the US.

Meanwhile, Mexico eclipsed China as the biggest exporter of goods to the US in 2023. But many manufacturers opening plants in Mexico are Chinese companies, targeting the US market. According to the Mexican Association of private industrial parks, one in five new businesses in the next two years will be Chinese.

This anecdotal evidencealong with correlations in the datapoint to lengthening supply chains. This is supported by a recent BIS study, which examined data from more than 25,000 companies and found that supply chains have lengthened in the last two years, especially those involving Chinese suppliers, and US customers.

In sum, fragmentation is already a reality as geopolitical alignments shape trade and investment flows: a process that will likely continue. But despite efforts by the two biggest economies to cut ties, it is not yet clear how effective they will be in a deeply integrated and connected global economy.

The economic costs of fragmentation.

If fragmentation deepens, what would be the economic cost? And how will those costs be transmitted?

With trade being the main channel through which fragmentation could reshape the global economy, imposing restrictions on trade would diminish the efficiency gains from specialization, limit economies of scale due to smaller markets, and reduce competitive pressures.

The capacity of trade to incentivize within-industry reallocation and generate productivity gains would be stifled. Less trade would also imply less knowledge diffusion, a key benefit of integration, which could also be reduced by fragmentation of cross-border direct investment.

Fragmentation of capital flows would limit capital accumulationbecause of lower FDIand affect the allocation of capital, asset prices, and the international payment system, posing macro-financial stability risks and potentially leading to a more volatile economy.

The estimates of the economic costs of fragmentation vary widely and are highly uncertain. But recent and ongoing work at the IMF suggests that these costs could be large and weigh disproportionately on developing countries.

If the global economy were to fragment into two blocs based on UN voting on the 2022 Ukraine Resolution and trade between the two blocs were eliminated, global losses are estimated to be about 2.5 percent of GDP. But depending on economies ability to adjust, the losses could reach as high as 7 percent of GDP. At the country level, losses are especially large for lower income and emerging market economies. [8]

FDI fragmentation in a world divided into two blocs centered around the US and Chinawith some countries remaining non-alignedcould result in long term global losses of around 2 percent of GDP.

As in the case of trade, the losses are larger for less advanced regionswhich depend more on inflows from the opposing bloc. [9]

But a lot will depend on how exactly trade and investment fracture. If some economies remain non-aligned and continue engaging with all partners, they could benefit from the diversion of trade and investment.

Our simulations suggest that if only trade between a US-Europe bloc and a China-Russia bloc is disrupted, the remaining economies will see some gains, on average. [10]

Latin American countries are well placed to benefit in such a scenario. For example, Mexicos proximity with the United States could boost its manufacturing sector, while South Americas commodity exporters could gain market shares.

But if fragmentation worsens, even those who benefit from fragmentation in its mild forms could be left with a larger slice of a smaller pie in an extreme scenario. In short, everyone could lose.

Fragmentation would also inhibit our efforts to address other global challenges that demand international cooperation. The breadth of those challengesfrom climate change to AIis immense.

Recent IMF analysis shows that fragmentation of trade in minerals critical for the green transitionsuch as copper, nickel, cobalt, and lithiumwould make the energy transition more costly. Because these minerals are geographically concentrated and not easily substituted, disrupting their trade would lead to sharp swings in their prices, suppressing investment in renewables and EV production. [11]

What can policymakers do to prevent the worst-case economic scenarios in a full-blown Cold War II?

At this turning point, policymakers face difficult tradeoffs between minimizing the costs of fragmentation and maximizing security and resilience. Pragmatic approaches that preserve the benefits of free trade to the extent possible and safeguard solving global challengeswhile minimizing distortionsare needed.

The first best solution, of course, is to avoid fragmentation. But, for the time being, this may be difficult to achieve.

Absent the best-case scenario, we must work to avoid the worst-case scenario and protect economic cooperation in a more fragmented world. Three principles can help:

First, seek a multilateral approach at the very least for areas of common interest. For example, a green corridor agreement could guarantee the international flow of minerals critical for the clean energy transition.

Similar agreements for essential food commodities and medical supplies could ensure minimum cross-border flows in an increasingly shock-prone world. Such agreements would safeguard the global goals of averting climate change devastation, food insecurity and pandemic related humanitarian disaster. [12]

Second, if some reconfiguration of trade and FDI flows is deemed necessary to de-risk and diversify, a non-discriminatory plurilateral approach can help countries deepen integration, diversify, and mitigate resilience risks.

Policymakers should define broadly the set of partners and allies with which to deepen economic partnerships. Plurilateral agreements consistent with the WTOsuch as regional trade agreements and joint statement initiativeswhile clearly second best, could offer several benefits. These include economies of scale, greater market access, and diversified suppliers, among others. By updating the rules and keeping an open-door policy, such agreements allow new partners to join when they are willing and able to commit to the agreements rules and norms.

Recent examples of regional trade agreements (RTA) include the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Several joint statement initiatives are currently underway, including on e-commerce, investment facilitation, and services domestic regulation. In December 2021, 70 WTO members agreed on a WTO-based plurilateral agreement on domestic regulation of services.

Policymakers should target only a narrow set of products and technologies that warrant intervention on economic security grounds. Before deciding to bring production home, they must carefully consider whether there is truly a lack of suppliers from less risky regions and make an objective assessment of the social and economic costs of supply disruptions. This is especially the case for widely used technologies, such as semi-conductors.

Third, restrict unilateral policy actionssuch as industrial policiesto addressing externalities and market distortions and be time-bound. Limit their goal to correcting market failures while preserving market forces where they can allocate resources most efficiently.

It is critical to carefully evaluate industrial policies, both in terms of their effectiveness in achieving stated outcomes and associated economic costs, including cross-border spillovers.

Domestically, industrial policies may be hard to limit or roll back given their concentrated benefits and diffused costs.

Internationally, such policies may lead to retaliation, which would deepen fragmentation. According to recent IMF estimates, if China introduces a subsidy, the likelihood that the EU imposes a trade restricting measure within 12 months in response to the subsidy is 90 percent.

An inter-governmental dialogueor a consultation frameworkon industrial policies could help improve data and information sharing and identify the impact of policies, including their unintended consequences across borders. Over time, steady lines of communication could help develop international rules and norms on the appropriate use and design of industrial polices, making it easier for companies to adjust to the new environment.

On each of these three principles, we can look for blueprints from the last Cold War. Throughout that period, the US and Soviet Union made several agreements to avoid nuclear catastrophe. Both superpowers subscribed to the doctrine of mutually assured destruction, knowing that an attack by one would ultimately lead to total annihilation.

If we descend into Cold War II, knowing the costs, we may not see mutually assured economic destruction. But we could see an annihilation of the gains from open trade. Ultimately, policymakers must not lose sight of those gains. It is in theirand everyonesbest interest to advocate strongly for a multilateral rules-based trading system and the institutions that support it.

Of course, economic integration has not benefited everyoneacknowledging this is critical to understanding additional motivations behind global inward shifts, and domestic policies must adjust to broaden the benefits. But it has helped billions of people become wealthier, healthier, and better educatedsince the end of the Cold War, the size of the global economy roughly tripled, and nearly 1.5 billion people were lifted out of extreme poverty.

Conclusion

Let me conclude. While there are no signs of broad-based retreat from globalization, fault lines are emerging as geoeconomic fragmentation is increasingly a reality. If fragmentation deepens, we could find ourselves in a new Cold War.

The economic costs of Cold War II could be large. The world has become much more integrated, and we face an unprecedented breadth of common challenges that a fragmented world cannot tackle.

Yet, even in this new geopolitical reality, policymakers can seek solutions that minimize the costs of fragmentation. The focus should be on pragmatic approaches that preserve the benefits of free trade to the extent possible, safeguard solving global challenges, while achieving domestic goals of security and resilience.

Keeping open the lines of communication, as is being done by the US, China, and EU, can help prevent the worst outcomes from occurring. The non-aligned countries, which are mainly emerging and developing countries, can deploy their economic and diplomatic heft to keep the world integrated. After all, many emerging and developing countries face the biggest losses from a fragmented world, and while some benefit in the early stages of fragmentation, all lose in a full-blown Cold War.

As we consider this turning point question over the next few days, I encourage all of us to think about how we can help achieve these solutionsthrough our research and our collaboration. This will be critical to preserve what we have achieved and face the global challenges ahead.

Thank you.

References

Aiyar, Shekhar, Davide Malacrino, and Andrea Presbitero (2023a). Investing in Friends: The Role of Geopolitical Alignment in FDI Flows. CEPR Discussion Paper 18434.

Aiyar, Shekhar, Andrea Presbitero, and Michele Ruta (2023b). Geoeconomic Fragmentation: The Economic Risks From a Fractured World Economy. CEPR Press.

Alfaro, Laura, and Davin Chor (2023). Global Supply Chains: The Looming Great Reallocation. NBER Working Paper 31661, National Bureau of Economic Research.

Antras, Pol (2021). De-Globalisation? Global Value Chains in the Post-COVID-19 Age, (2021) ECB Forum: Central Banks in a Shifting World Conference Proceedings.

Attinasi, Maria Grazia, Lukas Boeckelmann, and Baptiste Meunier. 2023. Friend-Shoring Global Value Chains: A Model-Based Assessment. European Central Bank Economic Bulletin 2, European Central Bank, Frankfurt.

Bolhuis, Marijn, Jiaqian Chen, and Benjamin Kett. 2023. Fragmentation in Global Trade: Accounting for Commodities. IMF Working Papers 23. International Monetary Fund.

Bown, Chad (2022). Four Years Into the Trade War, are the US and China Decoupling. Working paper, Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Caldara, Dario and Matteo Iacoviello (2022). Measuring Geopolitical Risk. American Economic Review 112 (4), 11941225.

Campos, Rodolfo, Julia Estefania-Flores, Davide Furceri, and Jacopo Timini (2023). Geopolitical fragmentation and Trade. Journal of Comparative Economics (Forthcoming).

Dang, Alicia, Kala Krishna and Yingyan Zhao. 2023. Winners and Losers from the U.S.-China Trade War. NBER Working Papers 31922, National Bureau of Economic Research.

Fajgelbaum, Pablo, Pinelopi Goldberg, Patrick Kennedy, Amit Khandelwal, and Daria Taglioni. 2023. The US-China Trade War and Global Reallocations. American Economic Review: Insights (Forthcoming).

Ferguson, Niall. 2020. Cold War II. National Review Magazine, December 3, 2020.

Freund, Caroline, Aaditya Mattoo, Alen Mulabdic, Michele Ruta. 2023. Is US Trade Policy Reshaping Global Supply Chains? World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 10593.

Goes, Carlos, and Eddy Bekkers. 2022. The Impact of Geopolitical Conflicts on Trade, Growth, and Innovation. Staff Working Paper ERSD-2022-09, World Trade Organization, Geneva.

Gokmen, Gunes (2017). Clash of Civilizations and the Impact of Cultural Differences on Trade Journal of Development Economics, 127, 449-458.

International Monetary Fund. 2023a. Geoeconomic Fragmentation and Foreign Direct Investment. Chapter 4, World Economic Outlook, April.

International Monetary Fund. 2023b. Commodities and Fragmentation: Vulnerabilities and Risks. Chapter 3, World Economic Outlook, October.

Javorcik, B. Seata, Lucas, Kitzmueller, Helena Schweiger, and Muhammed Y?ld?r?m (2022). Economic Costs of Friend-shoring. EBRD Working Paper 274, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Qiu Han, Hyun Song Shin and Leanne Si Ying Zhang (2023). Mapping the realignment of global value chains. BIS Bulletin No 73, October 3, 2023.

[1] Deglobalization refers to the retrenchment of economic flows between countries. Typically measured as a reduction in the world trade (or investment) to GDP ratio, deglobalization could be driven by policy choices (such as the imposition of tariffs), secular trends (such as the structural transformation towards less-traded parts of the economy), and the waning of forces that helped spur the rapid integration of economies until the mid-2000s (such as the reduction in transport costs, the break-up of production processes across countries, technological advances, and the like). Fragmentation, on the other hand, refers to policy-induced redirection of trade and investment flows that may or may not be associated with a decline in world trade to GDP.

[2] See Antras (2021).

[3] During the Cold War, the world was divided into two blocs, a Western and Eastern bloc, and a set of non-aligned countries. The analysis uses the bloc definition based on Gokmen (2017). The Western bloc includes Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, San Marino, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States. The Eastern bloc includes Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Czech Rep., Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Dem. Rep., Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, North Korea, Poland, Romania, Russia (USSR), Slovakia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam. The remaining countries are considered non-aligned.

[4] For the current period, the analysis considers a hypothetical Western bloc, including US, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The hypothetical Eastern bloc comprises Belarus, China, Mali, Nicaragua, Russia, and Syria. The rest of the countries are considered non-aligned.

[5] See Aiyar et al. (2023a).

[6] See Fajgelbaum and Khandelwal (2022) for a survey of the literature, as well as Alfaro and Chor (2023), Bown (2022), Freund et al. (2023),.

[7][7] See also Alfaro and Chor (2023), Dang et al. (2023) and Freund et al. (2023).

[8] See Bolhuis, Chen and Kett (2023). A growing literature also points to large costs from trade fragmentation and the resulting reshaping of GVCs (see, among others, Aiyar et al. 2023b; Attinasi et al. 2023; Campos et al. 2023; Goes and Bekkers 2023, Javorcik et al. 2022).

[9] See Chapter 4 of the April 2023 World Economic Outlook.

[10] Aggregate global output changes would still be negative in this scenario, due to the inefficiencies associated with trade restrictions even if applied only to a subset of the world economies.

[11] See Chapter 3 of the October 2023 World Economic Outlook.

[12] The global community could learn from the exemption of humanitarian food purchases from export restrictions established at the twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference in 2022.
Clashes continue across northern Shan and Rakhine states amid China-brokered peace talks between Myanmars regime and the Brotherhood Alliance.

The regimes spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun said the juntas National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee had met representatives of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Arakan Army (AA), which form the Brotherhood Alliance.

China said on Monday that peace talks had yielded positive results but the Brotherhood Alliance has made no comment.

The alliance said on Tuesday that relentless attacks have continued against the regime since the launch of Operation 1027, named after its October 27 start date. It said attacks would continue until the alliances political and military aims are met and the dictatorship falls, which all citizens want.

The Brotherhood Alliance said it will continue to attack the major junta base at the 105-mile trade zone in Muse Township, northern Shan State, on Monday morning.

TNLA troops seized a junta outpost at Ei Nine village in Lashio Township, the capital of northern Shan State, on Monday. The TNLA also seized a junta outpost and police station in Namhsan Township on Monday.

The TNLA is attempting to overrun the large junta base at Sakham Thit Kone outside the seized town of Namkham on Monday.

Junta fighter jets and Y12 transport planes were used to defend the base while Nant Phat Kar junta base in neighboring Kutkai Township shelled TNLA troops, the group said.

The TNLA said it attacked the regimes Light Infantry Battalion 130 in Mantong Township on Monday.

Junta bases and aircraft bombarded villages in Nawnghkio, Lashio, Muse, Namhsan and Mantong townships on Monday, according to the Brotherhood Alliance.

The alliance said the MNDAA attacked junta outposts around Laukkai, the capital of the Kokang self-administered zone, on Monday. The MNDAA said it chased and attacked regime troops fleeing outposts.

Junta bases in Minbya, Ann, Mrauk U, Buthidaung, Rathedaung and Myebon fired shells on Tuesday morning. Gunboats and aircraft also bombarded targets across Rakhine State, according to the AA.

On Tuesday morning, a junta fighter jet attacked the area around the large Hnonebuu base in Paletwa Township, neighboring Chin State, which was occupied by the AA on Sunday after 27 days of attacks, according to the armed group.

Clashes continued in Pauktaw near the Rakhine State capital, Sittwe, on Monday, as the AA attacks regime forces in the town.

Myanmars junta has lost more than 300 bases, hundreds of soldiers and control of key trade routes during Operation 1027.
Since the onset of Operation 1027 and Operation 1111, two remarkable coordinated military offensives being waged against the Myanmar regime, many people may have been wondering whos who in the operations, which have so far captured over 300 regime bases and around 20 towns in just over six weeks.

Simply put, its a fight between the Myanmar military junta and anti-regime forces. However, on the ground, it involves sophisticated coordination among dozens of anti-regime groups, from established ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) to armed resistance armed groups, largely made up of young people, that sprung up after the 2021 coup.

To help readers make sense of this complex situation, The Irrawaddy lists below about 30 resistance groups, including 10 ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), that are actively participating in the operations.

The well-organized operations have inflicted significant defeats on the military regime, which has lost hundreds of troops and control of territory across northern Shan, Kachin, Rakhine, Chin and Karenni (Kayah) states and Magwe, Sagaing and Mandalay regions.

The lists below may not be complete, as the situation is fluid. Some groups operate under several names, and some are expanding their operations into different parts of the country.

Apart from the two operations, the Myanmar junta also faces escalating attacks from other resistance groups and EAOs in Karen and Mon states and Yangon, Tanintharyi and Bago regions, as well as in its nerve center, Naypyitaw.

Resistance groups and EAOs participating in Operation 1027



Main groups:

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the armed wing of the Myanmar National Truth and Justice Party (MNTJP) representing the ethnic Kokang people.

The MNDAA has existed since 1989 and is based in the Kokang region of northern Shan State. An estimated 5,000 MNDAA troops are taking part in the operation. The Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the armed wing of the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF).

The TNLA has existed since 1992 and is active in northern Shan State. An estimated 8,000 TNLA troops are taking part in the operation. The Arakan Army (AA), the armed wing of the United League of Arakan (ULA).

The AA was founded in 2009 and is based in Rakhine State. It is also active in Karen, Shan, Kachin and neighboring Chin states, and in Magwe and Sagaing regions.

The AA has deployed an estimated 3,000 troops for the operation in northern Shan State, apart from its other areas of operation. The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of Burma (CPB, founded in 1939).

The CPB founded the PLA following the 2021 military coup. The PLA is based in Sagaing Region and is also active in northern Shan. An estimated 500 troops are involved in the operation across northern Shan. The Bamar Peoples Liberation Army (BPLA), an anti-regime resistance group founded following the 2021 military coup.

The BPLA is active in Karen State and northern Shan.

An estimated 200 BPLA troops are involved in the operation across northern Shan. The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF), an anti-regime resistance group founded following the 2021 military coup.

The KNDF is active in Karenni State and southern Shan State. KNDF fighters are coordinating with the operation in northern Shan. Mandalay Peoples Defense Force (Mandalay PDF), one of the armed forces of the civilian National Unity Government (NUG).

Mandalay PDF was founded following the 2021 military coup and is active in upper Mandalay Region and northern Shan. An estimated 1,200 PDF fighters are involved in the operation in northern Shan State and upper Mandalay Region. Mogoke Peoples Defense Force Battalions (Mogoke PDF), under the civilian National Unity Government (NUG), was founded following the 2021 military coup. It is active in Mogoke Township, upper Mandalay Region. An estimated 400 Mogoke PDF fighters are taking part in the operation. The Burma National Revolutionary Army (BNRA).

The BNRA is a local resistance group founded following the 2021military coup and is active in Mandalay, Magwe and Sagaing regions. The BNRA is also fighting regime troops alongside other resistance groups in northern Shan State. The Danu Peoples Liberation Front (DPLF).

It was founded in 2022 and is active in Shan State. It is also involved in the operation in northern Shan. Secondary groups 11. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

The KIA was founded in 1961 and is active in Kachin and northern Shan states, and Sagaing Region. 12. The Chin National Defense Force (CNDF), the armed wing of the Chin National Organization (CNO).

The CNDF was founded after the 2021 military coup and is active in Chin State and neighboring Sagaing Region. 13. The Chin National Army (CNA), the armed wing of the Chin National Front (CNF).

The CNA was founded in 1988 and is active in Chin State and neighboring Magwe and Sagaing regions. 14. The Kuki National Army (KNA), the armed wing of the Kuki National Organization (KNO).

The KNA was founded in 1988 and is active in northeast India and Chin State as well as in Sagaing. 15. The All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF).

The ABSDF was founded in 1988 and is active in Kachin, Mon and Karen states and Sagaing, Magwe and Bago regions. 16. Myingyan District Peoples Defense Force (Myingyan District PDF). It is active in Mandalay Region. 17. Many other PDFs and local resistance groups across Magwe, Mandalay and Sagaing regions and Chin State. Resistance groups participating in Operation 1111 in Karenni State



1. The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF).

The KNDF was founded following the 2021 military coup. It has become a powerful armed group and is active in Karenni State and southern Shan State. An estimated 8,000 KNDF troops are involved in the operation in Karenni State. 2. The Karenni Army (KA), the armed wing of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP).

The KA was founded in 1957 and is active in Karenni State. An estimated 3,000 troops are participating in the operation in Karenni State. 3. The Karenni National Peoples Liberation Front (KNPLF).

The KNPLF is a communist, Karenni nationalist insurgent group.

It was founded in 1978 and is active in Karenni State. An estimated 600 of its troops are participating in the operation in Karenni State. 4. The Urban Revolutionary Front (URF).

The URF was founded following the 2021 military coup and is active in southern Shan State and Karenni State. 5. Demoso Peoples Defense Force (Demoso PDF).

Demoso PDF was founded following the 2021 military coup and is active in Karenni State. 6. Loikaw Peoples Defense Force (Loikaw PDF).

Loikaw PDF was founded following the 2021 military coup and is active in Karenni State. 7. Pekon Peoples Defense Force (Pekon PDF).

Pekon PDF was founded after the 2021 military coup and is active in Karenni State. 8. Mobye Peoples Defense Force (Mobye PDF).

Mobye PDF was founded in 2021 and is active in northern Shan State and Karenni State. 9. Hpruso Peoples Defense Force (Hpruso PDF).

Hpruso PDF was founded in 2021 and is active in Karenni State. 10. Hpasawng Peoples Defense Force (Hpasawng PDF). It was founded in 2021 and is active in Karenni State. 11. Several PDF groups under the NUG operating in military regions of southern Shan State and Karenni State.
While the international community is focusing on the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, another humanitarian crisis is taking place along Thailands western border as the clashes between Myanmars government and ethnic armed groups intensify.

If the ongoing conflict continues unabated, it could induce an influx of refugees to Myanmars neighbors. Countries that share a border with Myanmar are Thailand, China, India, Bangladesh and Laos. Among these neighbors, Thailands border is the longest.

Since the escalation of the recent armed conflict on Oct. 27, nearly half a million people have been internally displaced, according to the latest report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Since the military coup in February 2021, over 1.5 million people have been displaced.

Thailand will be on the receiving end as hundreds of thousands of families and villagers from Myanmar will seek refuge across the border.

Indeed, Thailand has been a sheltering place for Myanmar villagers. During the past three years, tens of thousands of Myanmar villagers have fled to find safe ground on Thai soil as the military government clashed with armed ethnic and anti-government militants. Once the fighting abates, 80 percent of Myanmar villagers would normally return to their homes. At the last count, there were around 9,000 displaced persons in Mae Hong Son province.

But the situation along the 2,401-km Thai-Myanmar border is complex. As most of the lengthy border is non-demarcated, human smuggling rings are proliferating through natural channels along the porous border.

The current crisis in Myanmar is the latest challenge for the government. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has been busy since he took office in early September.

In the beginning, the Srettha government seemed to focus on improving the living conditions of the Thai people and fixing economic problems.

Yet, the new government has been facing massive challenges in foreign policy. After just a few months in office, the Srettha government was confronted with a new crisisrescuing Thai workers held hostage by Hamas and repatriating an estimated 26,000 workers from Israel.

Meanwhile, the fighting between the Tatmadaw (Myanmars military) and the ethnic armed organizationsin particular with the Brotherhood Allianceescalated in various parts of Myanmar during the last week of October.

Some of the fighting has also occurred near the Thai-Myanmar border. The recent precarious situation in Myanmar has sounded alarm bells, prompting policymakers to map out effective policy responses.

At the end of November, Srettha appointed Chatchai Bangchuad as chief of the National Security Council (NSC). Chatchai, a bureaucrat who had been working at the NSC, has a long list of national security challenges that confront Thailand.

After taking office, the new NSC chief immediately launched a new mechanism, known as the Committee for Steering, Monitoring, Review, and Evaluation, to respond to developments in Myanmar. Security along the Thai-Myanmar border then became the governments top priority.

The government is also keeping a close eye on four western provincesKanchanaburi, Mae Hong Son, Tak and Ranongas these four stand to be affected the most by the fighting in Myanmar.

Policymakers now fear unpredictable effects if the Myanmar government intensifies air raids on key logistic centers belonging to the ethnic armed groups.

In response to the humanitarian crisis, the Thai government realized that all actions and progress must be aligned with the Five-Point Consensus proposed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in April 2021. Without ASEAN as the main mediator in the Myanmar conflict, it is feared there might be outside intervention.

The latest fighting in Myanmar warrants urgent discussions between Myanmar and its neighbors. On the sidelines of the 8th Lancang-Mekong Cooperations Foreign Ministers Meeting in Beijing last week, humanitarian assistance was at the top of the agenda during the talks between Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukaraand and his Myanmar counterpart, U Than Swe.

Both agreed to set up a task force to increase much-needed humanitarian assistance to Myanmar villagers affected by the fighting. After the meeting, Parnpree told reporters that the Myanmar government would send a working team to Thailand to discuss the details of the humanitarian effort at the Thai-Myanmar border.

He also reiterated that if the initial phase of implementation succeeds, other aid agencies may be invited to join the humanitarian work.

Parnprees move has indicated that it is high time for Thailand to be proactive in engaging all stakeholders to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. Indeed, the international community, especially ASEAN, has raised concerns about humanitarian issues facing Myanmar.

To put this into context, during Cambodias chairmanship of ASEAN in 2022, humanitarian assistance was discussed as part of ASEANs five-point consensus demand. Little progress was made. Nevertheless. Myanmar was adamant that only designated areas and selected hosts would be allowed to receive and manage external humanitarian assistance.

However, after several rounds of meetings, the military regime agreed to include an ASEAN-led relief agency called the Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management.

Therefore, in the coming months, there will be further dialogues with all stakeholders, including the participation of the Jakarta-based ASEAN Institute of Peace and Reconciliation, to discuss and draw up recommendations for sustainable relief operations along the Thai border and inside Myanmar.

At the moment, only a handful of foreign aid is permitted to enter Myanmar. At the scheduled ASEAN foreign ministerial retreat in Luang Prabang, Laos on Jan. 28-29, this humanitarian assistance scheme will top the agenda.

Meanwhile, the Thai government has prepared a total of 123 temporary shelters and safe zones along the Thai-Myanmar western border to accommodate up to 81,000 people who are expected to flee from Myanmar.

In terms of policy, the Thai government has used the National Security Policy and Plan (2023-2027) as its major playbook. The plan outlines the countrys comprehensive approaches to all security-related issues.

For Myanmar, the plan indicates that the Thai government will continue security cooperation along the border areas; promote Thai energy security; support the borders economic growth in all dimensions, including Thai investments in Myanmar; assist in the voluntary repatriation of Myanmar refugees in temporary shelters; and improve public health and human rights.

All things considered, the most important policy remains the countrys determination to maintain a good relationship with Myanmar and the ethnic armed organizations despite what is happening on the ground.

Kavi Chongkittavorn is a veteran journalist on regional affairs.

This article first appeared in The Bangkok Post.


Leading IoT company provides insight to attendees at Fort Lauderdale, Florida Event



Shelton, CT  December 12, 2023  TMC and Crossfire Media today announced Particle has signed on as a Gold sponsor for IoT Evolution Conference and Expo, part of the #TECHSUPERSHOW which is held February 13-15, 2024 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward Country Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. IoT Evolution is the leading event for education on the technologies, solutions and impact that the IoT will have on the enterprise, smart cities, healthcare and manufacturing. The Future of IoT is in intelligence. IoT Evolution Expo will show you how to implement the Thinking IoT to move your business and your customers into the new Connected World.

"As a leading IoT platform provider powering connected products at scale, Particle is thrilled to engage with the innovators driving the future of IoT at this year's IoT Evolution Expo," said Zach Supalla, CEO of Particle. "We look forward to sharing our decade of insights enabling IoT solutions and connecting with a community passionate about realizing the full potential of connected technology."

About Particle:

Particle is an integrated Internet of Things (IoT) platform that enables enterprises, small businesses, and inventors to quickly and securely deploy complete IoT solutions. Founded in 2012 under the name Spark, Particle has facilitated more than 5 million device connections worldwide for customers that include Philips, Renault, Heineken, Johnson Controls and Watsco. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Shenzhen, Waltham, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Boston.

Particle's full-stack IoT platform simplifies the process of designing, prototyping, scaling, and managing IoT solutions for enterprises and organizations. The platform includes cellular-enabled hardware modules, device management portal, connectivity services, integrated SIMs, deep integrations with major cloud providers, and full API and SDK documentation.

View keynotes, speakers, special events, exhibitors and the entire IoT Evolution Expo conference program here. Sign up for IoT Evolutions newsletter to receive updates on the event and industry news.

Registration for IoT Evolution Expo is now open. For more information, contact Scott Kargman. For media registration, contact Michelle Connolly. Companies interested in exhibiting, sponsorship or advertising packages should contact Dave Rodriguez at 203.852.6800 ext. 146 or Maureen Gambino 203-852-6800 x 109.

For the latest IoT Evolution Expo news, updates and information, follow the event on Twitter at @IoTEvolution.

About TMC

Through our news and solutions-focused editorial platforms, live events, webinars, and online advertising, TMC provides global buyers with valuable insights for making informed technology purchase decisions and successfully navigating markets.

In turn, leading technology vendors rely on TMC, TMCnet and our family of sites and events for exceptional branding, thought leadership, and lead generation opportunities.

Our live events, including the ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW, offer unparalleled visibility and sales prospects for all participants. With our customized lead generation programs, including a turnkey webinar program, we consistently deliver a steady stream of leads that translate into sales opportunities and database growth.

In addition, display advertising on respected news sites and newsletters generates millions of impressions, bolstering brand reputations.

TMC offers a comprehensive 360-degree marketing solution, with services such as event and road show management, as well as expertly crafted content creation including blogs, press releases, articles, and marketing collateral. These efforts contribute to SEO, branding, and overall marketing success.

To discover more about how TMC can assist you in achieving your marketing goals through our events and online advertising, please visit www.tmcnet.com. Stay connected with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X by following @tmcnet.

About Crossfire Media

Crossfire Media is an integrated marketing company with a core focus on future trends in technology. We service communities of interest with conferences, tradeshows, webinars and newsletters. Crossfire Media has a partnership with Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC) to produce events and websites related to disruptive technologies. Crossfire Media is a division of Crossfire Consulting, a full service Information Technology company based in New York.

Media and Analyst Contact:

Michelle Connolly

Senior Marketing Manager

203.852.6800 ext.262

[email protected]

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Edited by Alex Passett
1371138342::cfb49c8e-2422-11e5-99a3-d7f5c6e8b241

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.
On December 19, Dark Horse Comics will add a little extra chill to your holiday air with Four Gathered on Christmas Eve, a hardcover anthology of Victorian-inspired ghost stories. In this handsome collection, four highly-regarded comics creatorsEric Powell, Mike Mignola, Becky Cloonan, and James Harrenrevive the Victorian tradition of telling fireside ghost stories on Christmas Eve.

Each creator brings their unique vision to these fireside tales. Mike Mignola, known for his iconic Hellboy, presents a haunting 12-page story entitled "Night of the Jaberwok." This piece alone is worth the price of admission, steeped in Mignola's signature blend of folklore, shadowy gothic, and dark fantasy. Fans of Mignola's Hellboy will also be excited to know that this year marks the release of the Hellboy Winter Special: The Yule Cat, a one-shot inspired by the Yule Cat of Iceland legends, written and drawn by fan-favorite Matt Smith.

Eric Powell, the twisted genius behind The Goon and Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done?, lends his impressive talents to this anthology as both its editor and a contributor. Known for his ability to blend horror and humor, Powell's contributions include art and story for "The Gift of Major Courtenay," the story credits on a piece illustrated by James Harren, and an interstitial comic of the fireside chat between the four's imagined Victorian counterparts. It's one of the funniest (and most brutal) parts of the entire book.

Becky Cloonan (Batgirls, Wonder Woman: Afterworlds, Trial of the Amazons) and James Harren (Ultramega, Rumble), powerhouse talents in their own right, complete the quartet. Cloonan's storytelling powers and bold, expressive, high-contract art, and Harren's dynamic, meticulous drawing, expressive characters, and rich, atmospheric colors are a perfect compliment to Mignola and Powell.

Four Gathered on Christmas Eve is more than just a story collection; it's a homage to the rich tradition of ghostly tales that once filled the Christmas night air.

Dark Horse shared with Boing Boing an excerpt of Eric Powell's contribution, "The Gift of Major Courtenay." And Eric Powell was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about the making of the anthology and his work on it.

Boing Boing: Ghost stories have such a storied tradition, especially in Victorian literature. How did you approach a modern collection in this classic genre while maintaining its core elements?

Eric Powell: I can't speak for Mike and Becky, but for myself, I never really think about "modernizing" anything or trying to present it to a specific audience. I feel like you can only do what feels right to you, if your work is going to be any good. And I wanted to write and draw a very traditional ghost story. Mike and Becky did their own very unique takes on the genre, and the story I wrote for James to illustrate was my version of what I thought a cool James Harren take on a Victorian ghost story might be.

BB: Did you think of your art or writing style in a different way given the theme of this anthology? Were there any specific artistic influences you drew upon?

EP: Yeah, I took a much more formal approach to the language, of course. I was trying very much to do an M.R. James type story. Ghost stories rely on psychological horror. It's about what you don't know and can't see. So I tried to be atmospheric and creepy rather than in-your-face horror.

BB: Ghost stories and horror have various sub-genres and styles. How do you see your work fitting within the broader landscape of horror and supernatural storytelling?

EP: I'm not sure, I guest it depends on the project. You can't really compare things like The Goon, my kid's horror anthology Spook House, and my graphic novel, Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done? They're all very different but definitely horror based.

BB: In working on an anthology like this, was their communication about the stories between the contributors? Was there any idea exchange?

EP: I really only gave one instruction to everyone: Do a Victorian ghost story. And with this group, I really needed no more instruction than that. They knew exactly what I meant. And each put their own unique spin on it. I had total trust in what they would bring to the book. They didn't disappoint.



BB: For the book, you did Victorian-styled caricatures of you and the three other contributors. How much fun was that?

EP: It was a lot of fun to picture how we might look as Victorians disreputable Victorians. I tried to make myself the most disgusting of the bunch so no one would be offended by my interpretation of them. Becky refers to them as our D&D characters. I think it adds an extra layer to the book in a fun way.
Harvard President Claudine Gay is saying she did not commit plagiarism in her 1997 Ph.D. thesis, despite comparisons showing word-for-word similarities with other authors' papers.

From The New York Post:

In one example, taken from page 12 of Gay's dissertation, Rufo points out the now-Harvard president seemingly "lifts an entire paragraph" from a 1990 paper by Lawrence Bobo and Franklin Gilliam. Appearing in Bobo and Gilliam's original paper, published seven years before Gay wrote her thesis, is the phrase "blacks in high-black-empowerment areasas indicated by control of the mayor's officeare more active than either blacks living in low-empowerment areas or their white counterparts of comparable socioeconomic status." Then in Gay's paper she writes "African-Americans in 'high black-empowerment' areasas indicated by control of the mayor's office  are more active than either African-Americans in low empowerment areas or their white counterparts of comparable socioeconomic status."

Gay sent a statement to The Boston Globe, maintaining her innocence:

"I stand by the integrity of my scholarship. Throughout my career, I have worked to ensure my scholarship adheres to the highest academic standards." Professor Lawrence Bobo, Harvard College's dean of social science, is among those whom Gay is accused of plagiarizing. He said Monday, "I find myself unconcerned about these claims as our work was explicitly acknowledged." Professor Gary King, a leading Harvard political scientist and one of Gay's dissertation advisers whom she is also accused of plagiarizing, called the allegations, "false and absurd."

One wonders whether Harvard students are held to the same plagiarism standards as President Gay.

Gay is facing calls to resign following her testimony about Harvards antisemitism policy before Congress last week.

"At Harvard, does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Harvard's rules of bullying or harassment, yes, or no?" GOP Congresswoman Elise Stefanik asked her.

"It can be, depending on the context," Gay said.
Here's a fun idea for MAGA date night  go to the Capitol and beat up some cops. Remember, "Back the Blue" doesn't count when the Blue is backing the Constitution!

Romantic lovebugs Curtis Davis, 45, and Tonya Bishop, 48, of Snow Hill, North Carolina, were arrested today on charges of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings; and parading, picketing, and demonstrating in a Capitol building.

Whew! They sure know how to pack a lot of action into a date! And they were certainly dressed for the occasion. According to a press release from the Department of Justice, Davis wore a smart black beanie-style hat with a U.S. flag containing a thin blue line, sunglasses, a gray and tan coat, a blue/gray shirt depicting a skull containing a thin blue line, stars, and stripes, and a gray, long-sleeve shirt. Bishop sashayed through the riot in light-colored gloves, a black jacket with pink writing on the back, and a matching blue sweatshirt with stars and stripes, including a hood with white stars just like her beau. Aw! As they say in dating circles, "twinning is winning!"

Highlights from the winter's day date include:

Davis and Bishop entered the Capitol building, joining a conflict between rioters and law enforcement.

Davis was seen shoving and punching law enforcement officers in an effort to disperse rioters.

After moving away from the officers, Davis re-engaged and punched them again.

Davis was also captured aggressively yelling at officers and was physically restrained by Bishop.

Court documents indicate Davis threw punches at multiple officers, making contact with at least one MPD officer.

Davis stated he injured his knuckles during the confrontation.

Bishop was seen pushing police officers who were trying to disperse rioters from the Rotunda.

Body-worn camera footage showed Davis, Bishop, and other rioters attacking and trying to seize an MPD officer's baton.

Davis was seen shoving, punching, and seizing a police baton from an MPD officer.

Both Davis and Bishop forcibly resisted, impeded, and interfered with MPD officers.

Bishop resisted an MPD officer's attempt to move her and grabbed the officer's baton.

Open-source video showed Davis and Bishop at the sealed doors outside the Capitol.

Bishop was interviewed on the Capitol steps and on a law enforcement vehicle, encouraging others to stay inside.

Bishop stated, "this is our one chance" and expressed willingness to re-enter the building.

Remember, these fun-loving sweethearts might not have done anything illegal. As the Department of Justice points out on its website, "A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law." And as Marjorie Taylor Greene would say, they are probably FBI plants sent there by George Soros and the Lizard People to make the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers look bad.
A 30-year-old gentleman in New Hampshire was arrested today after he allegedly threatened to kill Vivek Ramaswamy in a text message.

The trigger-happy suspect, Tyler Anderson, threatened to "blow" the MAGA candidate's "brains out" after Ramaswamy's campaign sent him a message about an event today, according to Politico. He also said he was "going to kill everyone who attends."

From Politico:

He appeared in federal court in New Hampshire on Monday afternoon and is being held pending a detention hearing on Thursday. If convicted, Anderson could face up to five years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release, plus a fine of up to $250,000, according to federal prosecutors. Ramaswamy's campaign said in a statement that his security team "worked closely" with law enforcement in apprehending Anderson.

The Ramaswamy spokesperson also made a comment that was ridiculous in so many ways:

"We constantly hear about January 6 and 'violence' and 'extremism on the right' from the media, but the same media goes silent when the target is a Republican," they said, outrageously trying to compare the texted threat to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, forgetting that Politico and MSNBC (and many other outlets who reported on the story) are part of the media, and forgetting that former Vice President Mike Pence and approximately half of Congress are Republicans. The stable genii in MAGAland never cease to amaze me.
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Washington, D.C. (Special to Informed Comment)  In the midst of the post-October 7 war in Gaza, President Biden summarized basic administration markers and policy positions for dealing with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The presidents views, as presented in the November 19 Washington Post  some also before and since the nineteenth  include:

The Palestinian people deserve a state of their own.

The US goal should not be simply to end the conflict in Gaza but to break the cycle of unceasing violence, and build something stronger in Gaza and across the Middle East.

A two-state solution in the only way to ensure the long-term security of both the Israeli and Palestinian people, and the post-October crisis has made it more imperative than ever.

This is where the road to peace must lead, and this work must start now.

Gaza must never again be used as a platform for terrorism.

There must be no forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, no reoccupation, no siege or blockade, and no reduction in territory. Gaza and the West Bank should be reunited under a single government structure.

Extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank must stop. Those committing the violence must be held accountable; and the US is prepared to take its own steps against extremists attacking civilians in the West Bank.

The international community must commit resources, including security measures, to support the people of Gaza.

Enormous progress can come out of great tragedy and upheaval.

Now is when clear vision, big ideas and political courage are needed most.

* * *

Notwithstanding understandable skepticism as to the likelihood of their implementation given the history of the conflict, these principles and positions are imminently sensible and achievable. But it will take hard work and a concerted effort.

The results of US efforts to resolve the conflict have been decidedly mixed, especially in recent decades, and, unlike other potential actors outside the region, Washington does not have relations with key players such as Iran and has only limited contacts with groups such as Hamas and Hezbolllah. Still, the US also has at times had significant success in this area, most prominently the groundbreaking peace between Egypt and Israel. And it would be appropriate for it to again take the lead in realizing a durable peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

However, the effort must not be open-ended. If, after a reasonable time, perhaps six months or a year, it becomes clear that substantial progress toward the ultimate goal is unlikely to be achieved in this manner, then a different approach should be adopted, despite the preferences of one side or another.

This approach should be an international one, with the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council in the lead. All five have significant stakes in peace and stability in the region.

Russia has long been involved in the region. As the Soviet Union, it voted for the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine in 1947, and was the first state to recognize the Israeli state de jure three days after its Declaration of Independence on May 17, 1948.

Golda Meir served as Israels ambassador to the Soviet Union beginning in September 1948; and, despite worsening relations, the USSR remained mostly neutral in the Arab-Israeli dispute until 1954. It adopted a clear position of support for the Arab states against Israel beginning in 1955 and severed relations in June 1967 in protest of Israeli policy during the Six-Day War and immediately afterward.

Beginning in the mid-eighties, non-diplomatic contacts intensified, and the two sides resumed diplomatic relations in October 1991. The relationship substantially began to improve in 2000 with the election of Vladimir Putin, and in 2001, with the election of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who in 2003 described Putin as a true friend of Israel. Relations between Israel and Russia further improved after the Russian military intervention in Syria in September 2015.



Photo by Terry Mosley on Unsplash



Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have had a close relationship. They have met frequently, with Putin visiting Israel in January 2020 and attending events marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by the Soviet Army and International Holocaust Remembrance Day. (He also travelled to Bethlehem for talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.) More recently, Israeli-Russian relations have cooled somewhat in part due to Russias posture on Hamas October 7 attack on Israel and Israels response.

Russian is the third-most widely spoken first language in Israel after Hebrew and Arabic. Over 100,000 Israeli citizens live in Russia, while hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens live in Israel. Eight of the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 are Israelis of Russian background. Three have been released.

Like China, Russia has relations and maintains contacts with all the states and many of the groups in the area, including Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah. Many Palestinians have studied in the Soviet Union and Russia, and the Kremlin hosted a Hamas delegation at the end of October. It also has been a member of the Quartet on the Middle East formed in 2002 to help mediate the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The other members of the Quartet are the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union.

China is a relatively new player in this sphere, and its position in the region has been generally modest but growing. Beijing is taking more interest in the conflict, increasingly casting itself as eager for peace and capable of brokering a cease-fire after it established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In this period, China and Israel have developed increasingly close economic, military and technological links. China is Israels third largest trading partner globally and largest trading partner in East Asia.

In May, 2021 Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed the need for humanitarian aid, the lifting of the blockade of Gaza, and international support for a two-state solution that included a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as the capital.

Wangs comments were essentially a restatement of the four-point proposal made by President Xi Jinping in 2017, which built on the four-point plan for peace offered by Xi to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in 2013 and is consistent with Chinas stance toward the Israel-Palestine conflict since the early 1990s. The three versions endorse the international consensus that calls for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, condemns human rights violations and aggression on both sides, and calls for mediated negotiations.

Chinas role in orchestrating a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March 2023 raised its profile in the area. Several months later, during a visit by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Chinese leader and Abbas agreed to establish a strategic partnership, and Xi reiterated Beijings call for the creation of an independent Palestine on the basis of the 1967 borders and increased development and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. Xi also called for the Palestinian territory to become a full member of the United Nations, proposed a more authoritative and more influential international peace conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and said China was willing to play an active role in facilitating peace talks over the Palestinian issue,

France and Great Britain have both had a close relationship with the Middle East since the aftermath of World War I when the Ottoman empire collapsed and the League of Nations granted the French a Mandate for Syria and Lebanon, and the British a Mandate for Mesopotamia (later Iraq) and Palestine, later divided into Mandatory Palestine and the Emirate of Transjordan. More recently, both have been the object of large-scale immigration from the Middle East and the victims of terror emanating from region.

Both countries positions on the conflict closely align with those of the US.

* * *

The US will not be enthusiastic about sharing the lead with the other UN Security Council veto-wielding members, and Israeli opposition to this approach can be expected. However, in the face of rising influence in the region by China and Russia, Washington would be hard-pressed to avoid such an arrangement. Working together, and factoring in the Saudi Peace Initiative endorsed by the Arab League in 2002 and re-endorsed at the 2007 and at the 2017 Arab League summits, the Five would be in a strong position to coax and pressure both the Israelis and the Palestinians to make the tough decisions to reach peace. Neither side will be totally happy with the result, but they and the rest of the world would be better off for it.

Thus, the Five would be key players in resolving a conflict which began with the UNs deep involvement in Israels creation.
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Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) does not care about antisemitism. In the notorious congressional hearing in which she participated last week, she weaponized anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hatred in order to embarrass three university presidents with dishonest have you stopped beating your spouse? questions  pretending to do so in order to fight bigotry against Jews.

Stefanik implicitly characterized campus protests against the Israeli total war on Gaza and its reckless disregard for civilian life as a form of antisemitism, indeed as a call for genocide. Apparently the logic is that if Palestinians get their basic civil rights, then an Israeli ethnostate becomes difficult to maintain, and if Israel has to be a pluralist state rather than retaining solely sovereignty for Jews, that outbreak of equal rights equates to a genocide.

It is the same logic white nationalists use to argue that rights for African Americans equates to genocide against white people. That Stefanik is deploying Klan logic is no accident  see below.

Stefanik is supposedly a Roman Catholic. Here is what the head of her church said about brutalizing Israeli tactics in Gaza: This is what wars do. But here, we have gone beyond wars. This is not war. This is terrorism.

The Pope accused the Israeli army of terrorism against Palestinians. Would Stefanik let him come to the University of Pennsylvania and say that on campus? Or is she a cafeteria Catholic who likes the pro-life stance of the church regarding abortion but isnt pro-life when it comes to war on Palestinians?

We can further tell that Stefanik is a hypocrite because she did not bother to criticize Donald J. Trump for saying that the Nazis who chanted Jews will not replace us at Charlottesville in 2017 were very fine people. (She did, in her earlier incarnation as a somewhat normal person, herself condemn the white nationalists at Charlottesville. But she never protested Trumps characterization.)

When challenged on Trumps association with Kanye West and other genuine antisemites, Stefanik lamely excused him on the grounds that he had recognized Israels illegal occupation of Syrias Golan Heights. No wonder she cant understand, like, college. She thinks breaking international law is a sign someone isnt an antisemite.

It gets worse. In 2021, Stefanik began taking up the talking points of the Great Replacement Theory. It holds that wealthy Jewish businessmen are bringing in immigrants from the Global South to replace white workers, since the immigrants will work more cheaply. Stefanik perhaps did not utter the phrase, but she appealed to all the dog whistles of this odious theory.

Marianna Sotomayor noted last year at the Washington Post that Stefanik put out campaign ads saying, Radical Democrats are planning their most aggressive move yet: a PERMANENT ELECTION INSURRECTION . . . Their plan to grant amnesty to 11 MILLION illegal immigrants will overthrow our current electorate and create a permanent liberal majority in Washington. Guess who the radical Democrats might be, to which she refers? Could they possibly be people such as, oh, I dont know, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and other Jewish American legislators who have worked for immigration reform?

Anti-immigrant hatred wrapped up with bigotry toward Jewish Americans has been responsible for mass shootings at Buffalo, NY and at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. It is perhaps the single most dangerous ideology in the United States.

Stefanik is up to her ears in it.

Democracy Now! Peter Beinart on Who is Elise Stefanik?

I wrote earlier about the origins of the Great Replacement Theory:

The phrase, and the most extensive elaboration of the theory, originated with the French Nazi Rene Binet (1913-1957), who served during WW II in The Waffen Grenadier Brigade of the SS Charlemagne, which consisted of French collaborators. You dont get more fascist than that the Charlemagne Brigade were the last troops to defend Hitlers bunker before his suicide, and staged a failed, desperate fight against the Soviet armys advance into Berlin.

Binet fulminated after the war against the invasion of Europe by Negroes and Mongols, by which he meant Americans and Soviets. He saw Americans as an impure mestizo race (he was a biological racist). He also launched diatribes against unbridled capitalism and the ways in which Jews were using it to abet the replacement of civilized white Europeans.

So this supposedly far right American nationalist idea actually originated in hatred for Americans and a denigration of their supposed whiteness by the European Right, which did not see Russians as white either . . .

As defenders of illiberalism and implicitly of hatred of Jews, these useful idiots of the far right are symbolically still deployed around Hitlers bunker, defending it from the approaching Allies.

The fact is that Stefanik was not defending Jewish American students on US campuses but attempting to silence non-white and progressive students and ensure that their speech is criminalized.

During the intense Israeli bombardment of densely populated Gaza, which has killed over 17,000 people, 70% of them women and children, many American students have felt traumatized. The gory images coming out of Gaza and the grim determination on the part of Israeli and Biden administration officials to continue the carnage have shaken many in the younger generation. Some 46% of young people aged 18-29 disapprove or strongly disapprove of the Biden administrations handling of the Israeli-Hamas conflict, whereas only 19% strongly approve.

In addition, Palestinian American, Arab American and Muslim American students, along will many other students of color and progressives, including members of Jewish Voices for Peace, have demanded not only an immediate ceasefire but an end to Israels occupation of the Palestinian territories and freedom for the stateless, oppressed Palestinians. They have chanted, From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free and called for a new uprising (in Arabic, intifadah.

Students (and professors) invested in chauvinist Israeli nationalism have charged that protesting against the Israeli assault on Gaza, or in favor of basic human rights for Palestinians, are forms of anti-Jewish bigotry. That charge is patently ridiculous. The issue is not discrimination against a minority but critique of the 18th most powerful military in the world and its shameful, blatant disregard for International Humanitarian Law.

Stefaniks Democratic rival, Steven Holden, a veteran, replied to her stunt at Facebook, pointing out that she is implicitly assaulting the first amendment:

University Presidents should stop playing into the hands of wily sociopaths such as Stefanik, who is plotting to impose Trumpism and his promised dictatorship on all Americans, to take away a womans right to choose nationally, to ban Muslims, and to put the nail in the coffin of the Voting Rights Act. They should simply say that in this country we have a first amendment and we can criticize any government we like Argentinas, Chinas, Hungarys, or Israels. That isnt racism, that is responsible world citizenship, and the right of free citizens of a democracy.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Ximen Mining Corp. (TSXV:XIM) (FRA:1XMA) (OTCQB:XXMMF) (the "Company" or "Ximen") announces information from its eighth drill hole at the Amelia Gold project in Camp McKinney near Rock Creek in southern BC.

Photo of drill being moved to next drill site.

Ximen has now drilled eight holes to test the extension of the historic Cariboo-Amelia gold mine in Camp McKinney in the Greenwood Mining Division, BC. The Cariboo-Amelia mine was BC's first dividend paying gold mine. Over its 68-year history, the mine produced 81,602 ounces of gold and 32,439 ounces of silver from 112,254 tonnes milled (BC Minfile Records). The mine is situated within a 4-kilometer system of gold-quartz veins and historic workings.

View of 3D model of Cariboo mine (looking North) showing vein blocks and current drill holes.

Hole AM23-08 intersected the extension of the McKinney vein beneath the eastern end of the historic mine. Eight NQ-size drill holes have been completed for a total of 2,064 meters. The target vein was intersected in five holes (AM23-01, 3, 5, 7 and 8) between 30 and 45 meters below the lowest mine level and over a strike length of 150 meters.

The mineralized intercepts range in core length from 0.26 meters to 0.70 meters and contain pyrite, sphalerite, galena and chalcopyrite. Hole AM23-08 intersected the vein within a mineralized quartz stringer alteration zone. The vein consisted of "blue quartz" containing fine grained pyrite. The "blue quartz" is a local mine term for grey quartz that typically contains gold. Visible gold hasn't been observed, but this sulphide mineral assemblage is the same as that reported to occur in the vein where it was mined historically. Core samples will be sent for analysis once the geological logging and sampling is completed.

Hole From To Length (m) Mineralization AM23-01 218.02 218.63 0.61 Quartz Vein with Py, Sp, Gn, Cp AM23-03 230.80 231.06 0.26 Quartz Vein with Py, Sp, Gn, Cp AM23-05 214.55 215.25 0.70 Quartz Vein with Py, Sp, Cp AM23-07 194.60 194.81 0.21 Quartz Vein with Py, Sp, Gn AM23-07 195.71 195.99 0.28 Quartz Vein with Py, Po, Sp, Gn AM23-07 215.47 215.66 0.19 Quartz Vein with Py, Sp, Gn AM23-07 217.64 217.76 0.32 Quartz Vein with Py, Po, Sp, Gn AM23-08 198.60 198.95 0.35 Quartz Stringers, Py,Sp,Gn,Cp AM23-08 198.95 199.45 0.50 Quartz Vein with Py AM23-08 199.45 200.00 0.55 Quartz Stringers, Py,Sp,Gn,Cp

Abbreviations: Py: pyrite, Sp: sphalerite, Gn: galena, Cp: chalcopyrite

Note: Reported lengths are core lengths not true widths.

Core Photos:

Photo of vein intercept in hole AM23-08.

Close-up photo of sulphide mineralization intersected in hole AM23-08; galena, PbS (silvery grey) and sphalerite ZnS (brown). Width of view is about 20 cm.

Holes AM23-03, 04, 05 and 08 also intersected a second mineralized vein about 50 meters south of the main vein that is also mineralized with pathfinder minerals. Its extent has yet to be determined.

Holes AM23-02, 04 and 06 targeted the zone at greater depths but did not intersect the vein. It is likely that the vein has been displaced by faults similar to those which occur in the upper levels of the mine, where the vein is displaced a relatively short distance to the south by flat lying faults.

Overall, the results indicate there is potential for more tonnes to be mined below the lowest level of the mine workings and that there is potential for additional material in parallel zones.

Readers are cautioned that historical records referred to in this News Release have been examined but not verified by a Qualified Person. Further work is required to verify that historical records referred to in this News Release are accurate.

Dr. Mathew Ball, P.Geo., VP Exploration for Ximen Mining Corp. and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, approved the technical information contained in this News Release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Christopher R. Anderson"

Christopher R. Anderson,

President, CEO and Director

604 488-3900

Investor Relations:

604-488-3900,

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About Ximen Mining Corp.

Ximen Mining Corp. owns 100% interest in three of its precious metal projects located in southern BC. Ximen`s two Gold projects, The Amelia Gold Mine and The Brett Epithermal Gold Project. Ximen also owns the Treasure Mountain Silver Project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver Mine. Currently, the Treasure Mountain Silver Project is under an option agreement. The option partner is making annual staged cash and stocks payments as well as funding the development of the project. The company has also acquired control of the Kenville Gold mine near Nelson British Columbia which comes with surface and underground rights, buildings and equipment.

Ximen is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XIM, in the USA under the symbol XXMMF, and in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin Stock Exchanges in Germany under the symbol 1XMA and WKN with the number as A2JBKL.

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval and the exercise of the Option by Ximen. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the possibility that the TSX Venture Exchange may not accept the proposed transaction in a timely manner, if at all. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

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.
Step-Out Exploration Hole Intersects 17.3 Meters at 12.54 g/t Au/Eq

DENVER / Dec 11, 2023 / Business Wire / Gold Resource Corporation (NYSE American: GORO) (the Company, we, our, or GRC) is pleased to announce the results of one of its recent step-out exploration drill holes from its 150-hole, 34,000-meter, 2023 drill program at Don David Gold Mine (DDGM). Hole 523136 shows a width of 17.3 meters grading 12.54 g/t Au/Eq1, which includes 9.4 g/t Au and 263 g/t Ag (15.0 m true width). The exceptional width and grade appears to occur at the confluence of two veins (Sandy 1 and Sandy 2) that are part of the Gloria and Three sisters vein arrays in the upper portion of the Mine, located approximately 250 meters below surface. The program has been testing this previously unexplored area of the deposit in order to discover and delineate potentially high-grade resources that are more easily accessible. To date, the results have been very encouraging and will be incorporated into a 2023 year-end resource estimate update, that will be released in Q1 2024.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231211904675/en/

This result is one of the highest-grade and most consistently mineralized to date and continues to prove the significant potential of the developing new resources in the Gloria / Three Sisters vein system. In addition, these wider and higher grade veins are closer to the surface and will further improve their economic impact to our future mine plans, stated Allen Palmiere, President and CEO of the Company.

Drilling continues to identify significant ore-shoots within the newly defined inferred resource shells of veins in the Gloria / Three Sisters vein system, where positive results and recent geologic interpretation have defined a robust mineralized horizon between approximately 650 and 750 m ASL, where the Gloria and Three Sisters veins merge. This horizon appears to be extending upwards, highlighted by the recent results from Hole No. 523136, intersected at an elevation of 762 m ASL. The Gloria / Three Sisters vein system continues to remain open in all directions.

Year-to-date, more than 150 drill holes and 34,000 meters of core have been drilled as part of the 2023 underground drill program at the Arista mine. The program continues to successfully advance our exploration objectives of identifying new mineralization and defining and upgrading additional mineral resources. All new drill results are in the process of being incorporated into a 2023 year-end estimate update due for release in Q1 2024.

Note: Assays are by ALS, Vancouver, BC, Canada. The Company conducts a significant QA/QC program which includes the insertion of certified assay standards, blanks, and duplicates in the sample stream to ensure the assay lab results are within specified performance levels.

About GRC:

Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer with its operations centered on the Don David Gold Mine in Oaxaca, Mexico and its Back Forty gold-copper development Project in Michigan, USA. Under the direction of an experienced board and senior leadership team, the Companys focus is to unlock the significant exploration upside of its mine and surrounding large land package to the benefit of its existing infrastructure. For more information, please visit GRCs website, located at www.goldresourcecorp.com and read the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, for an understanding of the risk factors associated with its business.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. When used in this press release, the words plan, target, "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding the potential for additional mineral resources in future mine plans and plans for further exploration drilling in 2023. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to Gold Resource Corporation as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. Also, there can be no assurance that production will continue at any specific rate. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the possibility of lower than anticipated revenue or higher than anticipated costs at the Don David Gold Mine, volatility in commodity prices, and declines in general economic conditions. Additional risks related to the Company may be found in the periodic and current reports filed with the SEC by the Company, including the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which are available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov.

______________________

1 Gold equivalent (Au/Eq) g/t is calculated based on the gold grade plus silver grade converted to gold grade using an 84.38 ratio (determined by using current market spot price estimates of $2,025/ounce gold and $24/ounce silver metal prices).
Assays Confirm Near-Surface Lithium Find Along Spodumene Pegmatite Dike System at Leinster Lithium Project, Ireland

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - Global Battery Metals Ltd. (TSXV: GBML) (OTCQB: REZZF) (FSE: REZ) (the "Company" or "GBML" or "Global Battery Metals"), an international critical mineral exploration company focused on growth-oriented lithium and battery metal projects, is pleased to announce assay results from the initial Knockeen shallow trench sampling program of 1-2m depth completed in December 2023 at GBML's Leinster Lithium Project in Ireland.

Highlights:

Assay results (see Table 1) show lithium mineralization in all five trench samples collected at 1m intervals along the exposed spodumene pegmatite dike, grading as high as 2.55% Li 2 O (source: ALS Laboratories, Loughrea, Ireland).

Several grab samples taken from large pegmatite boulders unearthed in the trench at depths between 1-2m returned grades as high as 3.00% Li 2 O.

This trench pegmatite is interpreted to be the same pegmatite intersected at 30m depth in drill hole 23-1597-02 and at 60m depth in drill hole 23-1597-03.

Rock and trench profile soil assay results will be used for 2024 exploration planning on the prospect and at several other target areas on licence property.

This dike is just one of the spodumene bearing dikes intersected in the drilling which form a broadly NE-SW trending dike swarm of up to seven dikes in 24 separate intercepts in nine diamond cored drill holes.

Michael Murphy, CEO of Global Battery Metals, said: "We're thrilled to see 2.55% Li 2 O at just two metres depth. Successful exploration is about resource discovery paired with strong economics, and the implication of hitting high grades at near-surface levels can lead to lower drilling costs and increased efficiencies in exploration. In general, we know that samples from this area grade up to 3.5%, but the consistency that we continue to see is key to securing serious commercial partners. Still, just knowing that a pick and shovel can get us to 2.55% has me thinking about the district-scale opportunities ahead."

Sample ID Trenched Dike Samples - 1m Intervals Li ppm Li 2 O% AES62943 Metre 1- Dec 2023 3,090 0.67 AES62844 Metre 2 - Dec 2023 2,830 0.61 AES62945 Metre 3 - Dec 2023 11,850 2.55 AES62946 Metre 4 - Dec 2023 1,500 0.32 AES62947 Metre 5 - Dec 2023 4,270 0.92 Sample ID Grab Samples - Trenched Boulders Li ppm Li 2 O% AES62948 Grab 1 - Dec 2023 13,950 3.00 AES62949 Grab 2 - Dec 2023 10,100 2.17 AES62950 Grab 3 - Dec 2023 9,200 1.98

Table 1: Highlight results from Knockeen Lithium Pegmatite Trenching Program (December 2023)

* Li 2 O % = Li ppm % (x 2.153)

Trench Results

The current trench was designed to confirm a historical trenched spodumene occurrence intersected by a previous operator in the mid-1970s. The new trench lies 25m along trend and to the east of the old trench and forms a "T" shape by first cross cutting the pegmatite dike with a 25m N-S trench (23-1597-TR01) and then exposing the dike along five metres of its length to the west (23-1597-TR02) towards the historical trench occurrence (see Images 1 & 5).

The pegmatite intersected in the trench contained spodumene crystals along its exposed length and five chip samples across the width of the dike were collected at 1m intervals (see Images 1 & 2). Assays from these samples, AES62943 to AES62947, are shown in Table 1 and the detailed sample location data from the trench is shown in Image 2. The spodumene pegmatite dike comprises of the coarsely bladed white lithium mineral spodumene (see Image 3) along with variable amounts of quartz and feldspar. Three grab samples, AES62948 to AES62950, were also collected from large blocks of spodumene pegmatite lying immediately above the actual bedrock in the trench (see Image 4). A series of soil profile samples were also collected from along the length of the trench and over the exposed spodumene pegmatite. The results from these samples are pending and will provide valuable information on lithium dispersion within different parts of the overburden profile going forward.

All samples were analyzed and reported by ALS Laboratories in Ireland. Work on this small footprint of field area was undertaken in close association with the landowner and the Company will rehabilitate the trenched area back to the original field condition on completion.

The trenching has assisted greatly in the interpretation of the spodumene bearing pegmatite dikes encountered in the 2023 summer drilling program. The dikes both in the trench and the drilling dip north westwards at approximately 40 degrees. This trench pegmatite is interpreted to be the same pegmatite intersected at 30m depth in drill hole 23-1597-02 and at 60m depth in drill hole 23-1597-03. This gives a total down dip extension of at least 100m from surface. This dike is just one of the spodumene bearing dikes intersected in the drilling which form a broadly NE-SW trending dike swarm of up to seven dikes in 24 separate intercepts in nine diamond cored drill holes.

Image 1: Knockeen Lithium Pegmatite Shallow Trench

Pictured is a cross cut intersection (facing north) of the lithium pegmatite dike

Image 2: Knockeen Lithium Pegmatite Shallow Trench

Chip sampling and assay results

Image 3: Knockeen Lithium Pegmatite Shallow Trench

High grade spodumene pegmatite crystals within sample AES62945 (2.55% Li 2 O)

Image 4: Knockeen Lithium Pegmatite Shallow Trench

The spodumene pegmatite boulder unearthed from the shallow trench at Knockeen that yielded a 3.00% Li 2 O sample AES62949

Image 5: Knockeen Lithium Pegmatite Shallow Trench (Detail)

Location of historical trench and recent drilling

Geology & Structure

The property lies along part of a 135km long regional structural trend of known lithium-bearing pegmatite bedrock occurrences, situated along the south-eastern margin of the Leinster Granite Massif and centred on the Aclare and Moylisha occurrences which were discovered during 1960s and 1970s and are currently being explored by Blackstairs Lithium (under the Ganfeng - International Lithium joint venture).

This trend is focused along and within a broad regional NE-SW trending structural zone termed the East Carlow Deformation Zone ("ECDZ") which runs for over 135km along the SE flank of the Leinster Granite Massif between Dublin in the NE and north of New Ross to the SW. A recent detailed regional structural review and interpretation by the Company using remote sensing data and regional geophysical data sets confirmed that PLA 1597 lies within the key ECDZ structural zone.

The Knockeen target area lies directly within this zone as it passes through the northern margin of the Backstairs Granite Pluton whilst the southern part of the license is cross cut by a splay of the ECDZ which passes south westwards along the southern margin of the Backstairs Granite Pluton. This southerly splay has been termed the North Wexford Deformation Zone ("NWDZ") and provides a second highly prospective trend for the focus for ground exploration activities Several target areas have already been identified for detailed prospecting and mapping which will commence over the coming months.

About the Leinster Lithium Project

Located south of Dublin in the counties of Wicklow and South Carlow, the Leinster Lithium Project consists of 16 prospecting license areas covering approximately 525km situated along strike to nearby Blackstairs Lithium's Avalonia Project (297km joint venture between Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd. and International Lithium Corp.). All of GBML's license holdings are located within or along the important East Carlow Deformation Zone, which is interpreted to control the emplacement of an existing LCT pegmatite field at the Blackstairs Mountains.

With first phase drilling concluded at Knockeen, GBML has succeeded in identifying a new and structurally controlled LCT pegmatite system of significance, importantly recording 24 intervals of lithium bearing spodumene pegmatites intersected across nine holes drilled. The spodumene pegmatites range in width between 0.10m up to 0.63m (true width) with the highest values grading up to 2.57% Li 2 O. No drilling has ever been carried out at the Knockeen Prospect previously and intersecting lithium bearing pegmatites in all of the holes drilled so far is considered a major technical success for the Company. Prior surface exploration activities identified and confirmed expansive surface boulder trains of lithium pegmatite lithologies in a number of areas across the Company's property, with recent assay results of 66 rock samples analyzed by ALS Laboratories earlier this year returning Li 2 O% lithium contents ranging up to 3.75% Li 2 O / 17,410 ppm li.

Responsibility to the Environment

All mineral exploration activities in Ireland take place under the auspices of the GSRO, a division within the Government Department of the Environment, Communications & Climate Change. Exploration is governed under the framework of both Irish and EU legislation that has been implemented to ensure that the environment is protected during exploratory work. Prospecting license holders must comply with all of the relevant legislation. The Company is pleased to confirm that it adheres to the highest standards of good practice in relation to its ongoing exploration activities having completed a detailed GSRO "Appropriate Assessment" process prior to commencement which was reviewed, approved and signed off by the appropriate oversight authorities. GBML's Directors understand that social license is key to unlocking positive exploration outcomes by following low impact / low sound / low disturbance exploration program best practice for environmental sensitivity.

Competent Person

All scientific and technical information in this announcement has been prepared under the supervision of and reviewed and approved by EurGeol Vaughan Williams, M.Sc., P.Geo., (Principal of Aurum Exploration Services currently providing exploration services to GBML and to LRH Resources Limited), a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Quality Assurance/Quality Control ("QA/QC") of drill core samples and associated assay results are monitored by GBML through a QA/QC protocol which includes the insertion of blind standard reference materials, blanks, and duplicates at regular intervals. Core is drilled in HQ core diameter and each 3 metres of core recovered is orientated by the drilling contractor on completion of each run drilled. Drill core is laid out in strong core boxes and transported by Company geologists from the drill rig to GBML's secure logging facility. Drill core is then logged using an established logging procedure capturing detailed lithological data as well as measuring all structural elements using a Reflex IQ Logger for accurate orientation of all contacts and structures. The core is marked up for sampling and sawn on site using a diamond core saw. Half core samples are then bagged and secured using plastic cable ties and the samples are then securely transported to ALS Laboratory ("ALS") facilities in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. Samples are analyzed for lithium as well as multi- elemental trace elements using the specific LCT pegmatite analytical suite ME-MS89L offered by ALS. ALS also performs its own internal QA/QC procedures to assure the accuracy and integrity of results. GBML is unaware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein.

About Global Battery Metals Ltd.

GBML is an international mineral exploration and development company with a focus on lithium and other metals that comprise and support the rapid evolution to battery power. GBML currently maintains economic interests in three battery metal projects: (1) an option to acquire up to a 90% interest in the Leinster Lithium Property and drill program currently underway in Ireland; (2) a 100% interest in the drill-ready Lithium King Property in Utah; and (3) a 55% stake in Peru-based Lara Copper Property, which has over 10,000 metres of drilling. As previously disclosed, Minsur S.A., a Peruvian mining company, entered into an option agreement with GBML and Lara Exploration Ltd. to acquire the Lara copper property for staged payments of USD$5.75 million. GBML will retain a 0.75% net smelter royalty. GBML's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: GBML); Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: REZ); and are quoted on the OTC Markets (OTCQB: REZZF).

Global Battery Metals Ltd.

Michael Murphy BA, MBA, MSc., ICD

President & CEO

T: 604-649-2350

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

W: www.gbml.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operations and activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the Company's exploration plans at the Leinster Lithium Project. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions, and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete exploration work, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions, and the receipt of any required regulatory approvals. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Readers are urged to refer to the Company's reports for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects, publicly available at SEDAR+, the Canadian Securities Administrators' national system that all market participants use for filings and disclosure, at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.
VANCOUVER, BC, and HOUSTON, Dec. 11, 2023 /CNW/ - International Battery Metals Ltd. (the "Company" or "IBAT") (CSE: IBAT), is pleased to announce the appointment of Libor Michel to serve as Co-Chief Executive Officer, along with Garry Flowers, and Douglas Smith as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately.

Mr. Michel has decades of experience as a strategic advisor to companies in the energy and energy transition sectors, raising substantial capital and driving transformative acquisition transactions. Mr. Michel joins us after a successful investment banking career at Stifel and Jefferies in their Houston offices.

Mr. Flowers will continue to lead the day-to-day operations and oversee the construction, mobilization and operation of the Company's current and future production facilities. Mr. Michel's primary focus will be corporate development and capital markets activity funding the commercialization of the Company's industry leading technologies.

Mr. Smith joins the Company with over 30 years of experience working with high growth companies, including experience in oilfield services and seismic survey companies which geographically overlap with the worlds' lithium resources. Mr. Smith will be responsible for the accounting, audit, tax and financing plans as we mobilize the Company's production facilities.

"Libor has quickly become our trusted advisor. His joining me as Co-CEO will solidify our already strong management team and give us the firepower to move our Company to the next level. We already have a great working relationship, and I look forward to collaborating together to drive value for our shareholders. Doug walks in day 1 as a seasoned CFO, with great agility, and adding bench strength to our senior leadership team," said Mr. Flowers.

"Libor brings a critical skill set to IBAT. His deep experience in corporate finance and financial transactions will complement the strong operating experience of Garry Flowers and the groundbreaking scientific accomplishments of John Burba. In addition, Doug Smith's impressive experience as a CFO across multiple industries will give IBAT an executive team on which we can build an innovative, successful future in direct lithium extraction." said William Webster, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.

John Burba, our Founder and Director of Global Technology noted that, "Our Company has industry leading direct lithium extraction technology and we welcome Libor and Doug into the team to take us to full commercialization."

Mr. Michel commented, "I am thrilled at this opportunity, and I am humbled by the trust the Board and Garry have placed in me. I am excited at the prospect of helping drive results and growth of our Company for our shareholders, in a time of great change and opportunity in the lithium extraction industry."

Mr. Smith replaces Daniel H. Christie in his role of Interim CFO. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Christie for his contributions and wishes him the best in his return to retirement. Mr. Christie will continue to work with the Company until the end of the year in order to transition the role.

The Company is also pleased to advise that it has entered into a service agreement (the "Service Agreement") with Dennard Lascar Investor Relations ("Dennard Lascar").

Pursuant to the Service Agreement, Dennard Lascar will provide the Company with assistance in its ongoing investor relations' strategies structured towards shareholder communications and media relation services. Dennard Lascar will provide its services on a project-by-project basis utilizing a standard hourly fee structure coupled with its standard rates for press release distributions.

Dennard Lascar is an investor relations firm based out of Houston, Texas, and has served publicly traded companies since 1997 across a variety of industries including energy, retail, restaurants, banking, finance, insurance, transportation, and industrial. Dennard Lascar and its principals are arm's length from the Company and do not have any interest, direct or indirect, in the Company or its securities. Dennard Lascar's business address is located at 1800 West Loop South, Suite 200, Houston, Texas, 77027. Dennard Lascar's office can be reached at (713) 529-6600, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

About International Battery Metals Ltd.

The Company's direct lithium extraction technology is based on proprietary lithium extraction housed in patented extraction towers that are enclosed in a modular, shippable platform able to be loaded and brought into production within 10 days of arrival on a customer site. Utilizing the patented technology, the Company's focus has been on advanced extraction of lithium chloride from ground water salt brine deposits and returning the same water to the subsurface aquifer from which it is extracted. The Company's unique patented technology ensures faster delivery of lithium chloride while ensuring minimal environmental impact.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Garry Flowers"

"Libor Michel"

Garry Flowers, Co-CEO

Libor Michel, Co-CEO

Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain assumptions, estimates, and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

Forwardlooking and cautionary statements

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This release may contain statements within the meaning of safe harbour provisions as defined under securities laws and regulations.

This release may contain certain forward looking statements with respect to certain of the plans and objectives of the Company. The use of any of the words "will", "expected", "view", "believes" 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. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statement made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.

By their nature, forwardlooking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forwardlooking statements.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Pacific Mining Corp (CSE: USGD / OTCQX: USGDF / FWB: 1QC) (American Pacific or the Company) is pleased to report the results from the 2023 Phase II rock and grab sampling program at the recently acquired Danny Boy claims and western portion of the Tuscarora Project (the Project). Of the 218 samples collected, forty (40) exceeded one (1) gram per ton (g/t) gold (Au) with the highest value of 100.84 g/t Au. The Danny Boy claims (Danny Boy) were acquired through the acquisition of Clearview Gold Inc. in 2023 (see May 2, 2023 news release). Danny Boy is located immediately west and continuous to American Pacifics Tuscarora Project (collectively, the Tuscarora District) located in Elko County, Nevada.

Highlights:

218 samples were collected during the fall 2023 exploration program, with the highest value assaying 100.84 g/t Au (2.94 oz/ton)

Two assays reported greater than 850 g/t silver (Ag) with a high value of 1305 g/t Ag (38.07 oz/ton)

Forty samples from the campaign assayed greater than 1 g/t Au, with 22 returning greater than 3 g/t Au

Anomalous samples were collected from a variety of different rock types and textures, including veins and silica flooded volcanic rocks, indicating multiple mineralizing events and styles

See Table 1 and Figures 1-2 for more details.

The acquisition of Danny Boy in 2023 completed the consolidation of the Tuscarora District, stated Warwick Smith, CEO of American Pacific. American Pacific has systematically assembled the largest land package in the recent history of the district (6,365 acres). Gold values from past Danny Boy surface sampling have yielded up to 24 g/t Au, so the consistent multi-gram gold assays and significant silver values exceeded our expectations and drill targets are emerging from our field programs.

Figure 1: 2023 American Pacific and historical sampling at Danny Boy and western part of Tuscarora

Tuscarora was the site of historical production (see Technical Summary section below) and this latest phase of rock sampling provides further evidence of significant grade, while highlighting the remaining potential within the now consolidated Tuscarora District.

The Tuscarora District is not just about the high-grade epithermal veins. The underlying carbonate rocks encompassing the Carlin and Independence Trends, host 150 million ounces of gold to the east and west of Tuscarora under a thrust sheet and in proximity to the largest heat engine ever seen in northeast Nevada, commented Eric Saderholm, Managing Director of Exploration. These CRD, skarn and Carlin-style mineralized trends have immense potential to dwarf anything in the near-surface epithermal environment.

Table 1: 2023 Danny Boy Sampling Results with Gold Values Greater than 3 g/t

Sample_ID Easting Northing Au g/t Au opt Ag g/t Ag opt JC23082224 559983 4572390 4.676 0.1364 5 0.146 JC23083007 559982 4572393 6.15 0.146 8 0.238 JC23083030 560035 4572152 24.1 0.703 135 3.951 JC23083031 560036 4572138 4.606 0.1343 140 4.083 JC23083033 560039 4572130 12.02 0.351 159 4.632 JC23083046 560001 4572109 3.909 0.114 11 0.309 JC23090602 558287 4571652 3.114 0.0908 5 0.146 JC23090604 558310 4571656 4.913 0.1433 7 0.192 JC23090606 558326 4571661 5.13 0.15 16 0.475 JC23090613 558375 4571632 3.825 0.1116 5 0.146 JC23090614 558374 4571634 3.851 0.1123 5 0.146 JC23090615 558380 4571630 3.086 0.09 8 0.226 JC23090616 558379 4571627 4.459 0.1301 7 0.206 JC23090618 558383 4571626 4.007 0.1169 5 0.146 JC23090620 558381 4571624 3.415 0.0996 10 0.295 JC23092506 562825 4572641 100.84 2.941 81 2.363 JC23092531 562786 4572713 41.06 1.198 1305 38.071 JC23092543 562763 4572706 6.52 0.19 87 2.549 JC23092545 562793 4572726 22.27 0.65 852 24.856 ES0111-001 559962 4572455 8.78 19 ES0111-002 559962 4572455 5.14 16 ES0111-006 558469 4571606 5.74 5

In addition to the significant results from surface sampling, previous drilling at Tuscarora has returned high-grades, including 2.48 g/t Au over 13.72 metres (m), including 12.13 g/t over 1.52 m at the South Navajo Target; and 6.89 g/t Au and 29 g/t Ag over 1.52 m at the within broader low-grade intervals at the Modoc Target (see November 22, 2022 news release). A number of the target areas have seen limited to no drilling (e.g. the Grand Prize Target) and the Company believes that further systematic exploration work will further refine existing targets and define new targets to pursue in subsequent campaigns.

Figure 2: Total land package with surface geochemistry and primary target areas

Next Steps

American Pacific believes additional soil and rock chip sampling along with CSAMT and gravity survey coverage would result in a number of high priority drill targets and the Company is exploring potential joint venture opportunities to advance exploration work more aggressively in 2024 to ensure the Project is progressed with the type of budget and program that is warranted given the property scale, grade profile and emerging target areas. Additional target concepts are being evaluated at Danny Boy in the deeper Paleozoic sedimentary rocks which host world-class deposits along the nearby Carlin and Independence Trends. The geologic setting at Danny Boy is highly conducive for high-grade skarn and CRD development in the carbonate rock sequence and has never been contemplated or tested as the historical focus has been on the prolific epithermal vein systems.

Technical Summary

The Tuscarora District is located in Elko County on the east flanks of the 40-million-year-old Mt Blitzen caldera/volcanic complex. The age of the mineralization is roughly equivalent to that found along the prolific Carlin, Cortez and Independence Trends in northern and central Nevada. The nature of the mineralization is typical of this geologic setting and is comprised of high-level epithermal gold, gold/ silver, electrum and silver veins. Host rocks consist of welded tuff, volcaniclastic sediments, andesite flows and domes. The district was discovered through placer mining in the late 1860s and underground mining began in 1870 with three mills being erected. Mining terminated in 1915 and the district has had sporadic exploration efforts since 1980.

QA/QC

Two certified assay labs were used during the 2023 sampling campaign, Paragon and ALS Global. Two hundred and six samples in the JC series were delivered by APM personnel to Paragon Laboratories in Sparks, Nevada. The entire sample was crushed and prepared using code PREP PKGB and received analysis for Au and Ag using code Au-AA Ag GR with a fire assay for Au and an AA finish and fire assay with a gravimetric finish for Ag. Additionally, 50AR-MS was run for a 50 element ICP on these samples.

Twelve samples in the ES series were delivered by APM personnel to ALS Global Laboratories in Elko, Nevada. The code Au-AA26 with a fire assay and AA finish was used for Au analyses and code Ag-GRA21 with a fire assay and gravimetric finish for Ag analyses.

Qualified Persons

Technical aspects of this press release have been reviewed and approved by Eric Saderholm, P.Geo., the designated Qualified Persons (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About American Pacific Mining Corp.

American Pacific Mining Corp. is a precious and base metals explorer and developer focused on opportunities in the Western United States. The Company has two flagship assets: the Palmer Project, a Volcanic Massive Sulfide (VMS) project in Alaska, under joint-venture partnership with Dowa Metals & Mining, owner of Japans largest zinc smelter; and the Madison Project, a past-producing copper-gold project in Montana partnered with Kennecott Exploration, a division of the Rio Tinto Group. For the Madison transaction, American Pacific was selected as a finalist in both 2021 and 2022 for Deal of the Year at the S&P Global Platts Global Metals Awards, an annual program that recognizes exemplary accomplishments in 16 performance categories. Also, in American Pacifics asset portfolio are high-grade, precious metals projects located in key mining districts of Nevada, USA: the Ziggurat Gold project, partnered with Centerra Gold; and the Tuscarora District project. The Companys mission is to grow by the drill bit and by acquisition.

On Behalf of the Board of American Pacific Mining Corp.

Warwick Smith

CEO & Director

Corporate Office: Suite 910  510 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 3A8 Canada

Investor Relations Contact:

Kristina Pillon, High Tide Consulting Corp.,

604.908.1695 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Media Relations Contact:

Adam Bello, Primoris Group Inc.,

416.489.0092 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. ("Quartz Mountain" or the "Company") (TSXV:QZM)(OTC PINK:QZMRF) announces that it has completed 1,445 metres of core drilling in two holes at the Prodigy Au-Ag-Mo-Cu epithermal target on its Maestro Property, located 15 kilometres north of Houston, BC. The Prodigy epithermal deposit target is hosted within an extensive porphyry type mineral system. It is located approximately one kilometre north of the Lone Pine Molybdenum Deposit which hosts Measured and Indicated Resources, at a 0.04% Mo cut-off, of 110 million tonnes grading 0.08% Mo (NI-43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, P & E Mining Consultants Inc., January 21, 2011). The Lone Pine Deposit is not on the Maestro Property. The 2,140 hectare Maestro Property completely surrounds the Lone Pine Deposit to cover the potential epithermal precious metal systems occurring outboard of that porphyry Mo-Cu deposit. The geological setting at Maestro is thought by Management to have some similarities to that of the Blackwater-Davidson project of Artemis Gold Inc. near Vanderhoof. Details of the two completed NQ core holes are:

Zone Hole E NAD83 N NAD83 Elev m Length m Incline0 Azimuth0 Prodigy PR-23-01 646200.00 6044300.00 842.00 633.00 -73 180 Prodigy PR-23-02 646390.00 6044175.00 839.00 812.50 -70 280

The drill program was diligently and safely completed by Apex Diamond Drilling Ltd. from nearby Smithers.

Some 482 core samples have now been received by ALS Global in Vancouver for analyses. Results from the two holes will be released once they are received and compiled, likely early in the new year.

Qualified Person

Farshad Shirmohammad, M.Sc., P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, who is not independent of Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd., has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.

About Quartz Mountain

Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. (TSXV:QZM),(OTC PINK:QZMRF) is a restructured mineral exploration company in Vancouver, Canada. It is focused on acquiring, exploring, developing, and transacting high-value gold, silver, and copper projects. The Company holds 100% of the Maestro Epithermal Gold-Silver-Molybdenum-Copper Property and 100% of the Jake Porphyry Copper-Gold-Silver Property, both located in BC. Projects are selected under Quartz Mountain's key acquisition principles: easy access to infrastructure, high potential for major resources and future significant transaction potential.

Quartz Mountain is associated with Hunter Dickinson Inc. (HDI), a company with over 35-years of successfully discovering, developing, and transacting mineral projects in Canada and internationally. Former HDI projects in BC included, Mount Milligan, Kemess South, and Gibraltar - all of which are porphyry deposits with current or former producing mines. Other well known projects with HDI involvement include Sisson and Prosperity in Canada, Pebble and Florence in the United States, and Xietongmen in China.

Quartz Mountain is committed to the advancement of critical and essential mining assets while following responsible mineral development principles, including a mandate to employ best practice approaches in the engagement and involvement of local communities, and meeting rigorous environmental standards.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Robert Dickinson

Chairman

For further details, contact Robert Dickinson at:

T: (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114.

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

W: www.quartzmountainresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking-statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking-statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward-looking statements include the following: the Company's projects will obtain all required environmental and other permits, and all land use and other licenses, studies and exploration of the Company's projects will continue to be positive, and no geological or technical problems will occur. Though the Company believes the expectations expressed in its forward-looking-statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to future events and third party discretion such as regulatory personnel. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include variations in market prices, continuity of mineralization and exploration success, and potential environmental issues or liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining activities, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and tenure and delays due to third party opposition, changes in and the effect of government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and exploration and development of properties located within Aboriginal groups asserted territories that may affect or be perceived to affect asserted aboriginal rights and title, and which may cause permitting delays or opposition by Aboriginal groups, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions as well as the effect of COVID 19. 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. For more information on the Company, and the risks and uncertainties connected with its business, investors should review the Company's home jurisdiction filings as www.sedarplus.ca and its 20F filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Aclara Resources Inc. ("Aclara" or the "Company") (TSX:ARA) is pleased to announce the maiden mineral resource estimate ("MRE") for its regolith-hosted ion adsorption clay project located in the State of Goias, Brazil, known as the Carina Module (the "Project").

Highlights

The initial inferred mineral resource for the Project is estimated at 168 Mt with a grade of 1,510 ppm total rare earth oxide ("TREO") and 477 ppm desorbable rare earth oxide ("DREO" 1 )

) The average net smelter return ("NSR" 2 ) value of the resource is US$32.3/t when using a cut-off value of US$7.4/t

) value of the resource is US$32.3/t when using a cut-off value of US$7.4/t The deposit contains significant quantities of dysprosium (Dy), terbium (Tb), neodymium (Nd) and praseodymium (Pr), which are the rare earth elements critical to the production of permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines

Recovery of rare earths from the Project is fully compatible with the technology patented and successfully demonstrated on a pilot scale by Aclara in Chile, designed to minimize both cost and environmental footprint

The near-surface location of the deposit results in a very low strip ratio (<0.4) providing a positive backdrop for a low-cost mining operation

The 168Mt of inferred mineral resources at the Carina Module complements the 27.5 Mt of measured and indicated mineral resources, and 1.7 Mt of inferred mineral resources at Aclara's Penco Module in Chile

Next Steps

Production of samples by processing the Project's ionic clays at Aclara's pilot plant in Chile during December 2023 and January 2024

Completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") in January 2024

Pursuit of additional resources through the completion of a reverse circulation ("RC") drilling campaign, which is already underway and scheduled to be completed in Q2 2024

Aclara CEO, Ramon Barua, commented:

"The combination of its large size and attractive grades makes the Carina Module an outstanding deposit of ionic clays and significantly increases Aclara's total resource base. The fact that we can apply our patented metallurgical recovery process, which combines competitive costs with superior environmental qualities, provides a promising backdrop for the upcoming Preliminary Economic Assessment. We are excited by the possibility of becoming a significantly larger supplier of magnetic rare earths, especially dysprosium, given how critical these elements are in our planet's fight against climate change."

1 DREO: Desorbable Rare Earth Oxide is the recoverable fraction of the total contained rare earths (TREO) using the Penco Modules ammonium sulfate based metallurgical process.

2 NSR Cut-off: The NSR Cut-off used is based on the marginal costs of the Project. Using a marginal cut-off to discriminate between waste and plant feed (ore) ensures that the net revenue value of the rare earth concentrate produced is equal to the cost of producing it. Since this strategy is applied only to material contained by the "optimal" pit, which contains material that must be mined out, it will maximize cash flow over the life of the operation.

Mineral Resource Statement

The mineral resource has been estimated using the results obtained from 201 auger drill holes (1,630 m) and 1,418 samples. At a 7.4 US$/t NSR cut-off the mineral resource stands at 168 million tonnes ("Mt") in the inferred mineral resources category, @ 1,510 ppm TREO containing an average Dy and Tb grade of 42.1 ppm and 6.9 ppm, respectively. The mineral resource is reported in accordance with the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

Table 1. Carina Module Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective November 3, 2023) *

Geological Domain Mass (t) Total Grade (ppm) Oxides Content (t) Oxides TREO NdPr Dy Tb TREO NdPr Dy Tb Upper Pedolith 10.8 900 121.5 12.0 1.9 9,693 1,309 129 21 Lower Pedolith 28.0 1,274 193.1 22.3 3.6 35,683 5,410 624 100 Upper Saprolite 122.5 1,669 347.0 49.9 8.2 204,462 42,515 6,113 1,011 Lower Saprolite 6.0 597 89.9 31.3 4.7 3,565 537 187 28 Sap Rock 0.8 557 76.3 29.5 4.8 450 62 24 4 Total 168.1 1,510 296.5 42.1 6.9 253,853 49,832 7,077 1,163

*Notes: CIM (2014) definitions were followed for mineral resources Mineral resources are estimated above a net smelter return (NSR) value of 7.4 US$/t Mineral resources are estimated using average long term metal prices and metallurgical recoveries as outlined in the paragraph discussing Cut-off Determination and Selection Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability Totals may not add or multiply accurately due to rounding

Cut-off Determination & Selection

The MRE is pit-constrained using GEOVIA Whittle 2022 software, with an overall slope angle of 25 and a mining cost of US$2.13/t. The MRE is reported at an NSR marginal cut-off cost of US$7.4/t based on processing costs, plus royalties and general and administrative cost estimates. The NSR calculation uses recoveries that are based on preliminary metallurgical test work performed by the AGS Laboratory in La Serena, Chile3.

Selling prices for rare earth oxides : The price estimates in US$/kg used for pit optimization are La 2 O 3 = 0.68, CeO 2 = 0.69, Pr 6 O 11 = 144.18, Nd 2 O 3 = 150.75, Sm 2 O 3 = 2.39, Eu 2 O 3 = 27.45, Gd 2 O 3 = 71.55, Tb 4 O 7 = 1,789.25, Dy 2 O 3 = 477.25, Ho 2 O 3 = 137.25, Er 2 O 3 = 59.10, Tm 2 O 3 = 0.0, Yb 2 O 3 = 19.85, Lu 2 O 3 =834.75, Y 2 O 3 = 2.86.

: The price estimates in US$/kg used for pit optimization are La O = 0.68, CeO = 0.69, Pr O = 144.18, Nd O = 150.75, Sm O = 2.39, Eu O = 27.45, Gd O = 71.55, Tb O = 1,789.25, Dy O = 477.25, Ho O = 137.25, Er O = 59.10, Tm O = 0.0, Yb O = 19.85, Lu O =834.75, Y O = 2.86. Metallurgical recoveries : Obtained from the 1,432 drilling sample analyses performed by AGS Laboratory in La Serena, Chile, tested under conditions that carry out desorption at a pH of 4.0, plus a synthetic lixiviant solution designed to emulate the predicted concentrations of recycled salts generated in the closed-circuit process.

: Obtained from the 1,432 drilling sample analyses performed by AGS Laboratory in La Serena, Chile, tested under conditions that carry out desorption at a pH of 4.0, plus a synthetic lixiviant solution designed to emulate the predicted concentrations of recycled salts generated in the closed-circuit process. Plant efficiency : Variable by element, ranging from 90.5 to 99.1% with an approximate average of 94%.

: Variable by element, ranging from 90.5 to 99.1% with an approximate average of 94%. Carbonate transportation and selling cost = US$0.032/kg of carbonates.

= US$0.032/kg of carbonates. Carbonate purity= 92.7%

3 NSR values were estimated based on metallurgical tests using the process parameters developed for the Penco Module in Chile (see news release dated 9 November 2022 titled "Aclara Confirms Successful Completion Of Its Process Flowsheet At Lab Scale". No QA/QC program was applied to this initial metallurgical test campaign and, as such, the results should be considered speculative in nature, and have not been reported in the mineral resources. Table 2 below shows the recoveries associated with the four magnetic rare earth elements (NdPr, Dy and Tb) and TREO together with the associated net smelter return per lithology. Chart 1 shows the NSR Cut-off (US$/t) against tonnage (Mt) and DREO grade (ppm). Table 2: Carina Module - Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective November 3, 2023) - Including Recoveries and NSR Values by Lithology

Geological Domain Mass (t) Total Grade (ppm) Oxides Content (t) Oxides Recoveries (%) NSR ($/t) TREO NdPr Dy Tb TREO NdPr Dy Tb TREO - Ce NdPr Dy Tb Upper Pedolith 10.8 900 121.5 12.0 1.9 9,693 1,309 129 21 62% 73% 45% 54% 15.7 Lower Pedolith 28.0 1,274 193.1 22.3 3.6 35,683 5,410 624 100 60% 64% 44% 51% 23.8 Upper Saprolite 122.5 1,669 347.0 49.9 8.2 204,462 42,515 6,113 1,011 54% 39% 47% 49% 36.6 Lower Saprolite 6.0 597 89.9 31.3 4.7 3,565 537 187 28 45% 36% 49% 54% 17.1 Sap Rock 0.8 557 76.3 29.5 4.8 450 62 24 4 42% 29% 50% 51% 14.8 Total 168.1 1,510 296.5 42.1 6.9 253,853 49,832 7,077 1,163 43% 43% 47% 49% 32.3

Chart 1: Carina Module grade tonnage curve All technical and economic parameters will be subject to further consideration during the preparation of the PEA, which is expected to be issued in January 2024. Aclara's Projects Resources Table 3: Carina Module - Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective November 3, 2023) & Penco Module Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective October 13, 2022)

Geological Domain Mass (t) Total Grade (ppm) Oxides Content (t) Oxides Recoveries (%) Desorbable Grade (ppm) Oxides TREO NdPr Dy Tb TREO NdPr Dy Tb TREO - Ce NdPr Dy Tb DREO NdPr Dy Tb Carina Module Inferred Resources 168.1 1,510 296.5 42.1 6.9 253,853 49,832 7,077 1,163 43% 43% 47% 49% 477 127.1 19.6 3.4 Penco Module* Measured and Indicated Resources 27.5 2,292 446.5 66.6 9.4 63,030 12,278 1,831 258 31% 17% 41% 37% 496 77.0 27.1 3.7 Inferred Resources 1.7 1,999 350.0 71.6 10.0 3,385 593 122 17 29% 15% 34% 34% 419 53.3 24.7 3.4

*Note: For additional information about the Penco Module mineral resource estimate please refer to the news release issued on December 1, 2022 named "Aclara Provides an Update on the Mineral Resource Estimate at the Penco Module Project". Aclara's Low Cost and Environmentally Friendly Production Process Aclara's extraction process presents several attributes that are favourable from a cost and environmental perspective. Notably, this process refrains from employing energy intensive techniques such as blasting, crushing, or milling. REE rich clays will be extracted using mechanical excavation as opposed to explosives and will benefit from an average strip ratio of less than 0.4. Furthermore, it obviates the generation of tailings, thereby negating the need for a tailings storage facility. The patented extraction process maximizes the recirculation of water within the process. The ionic clay feedstock demonstrates susceptibility to leaching via a common fertilizer (ammonium sulphate), and concurrently, it does not engender the concentration of radionuclides. All these attributes result in a low cost, low carbon footprint mining operation that is positioned very favourably when compared to other rare earths producers. Auger Drilling Campaign Summary A total of 201 auger holes over a combined length of 1,630 metres were drilled between February and August 2023 and form the basis of the initial MRE covering approximately 1,400 hectares within the Project area. The average drill hole spacing across the mineralized area was 200 metres, with an area in the north east of the resource drilled to 100 metre centres for the purposes of confirming variogram parameters in this area. Figure 1: Plan view showing the lithology and current drill collar locations. The green trace lines indicate the location of the cross-sections A-A' and B-B' displayed in Figures 2 and 3, respectively. The blue contour indicates the boundary of the mineralized area representing the inferred resource.

Figure 2 below shows the cross-section A-A' indicated in Figure 1, which exhibits the association between the regolith and select auger drill holes displaying DREO in ppm. The image shows that the mineralized horizons (LP and US) found at the Project are controlled by the development and conservation of favourable regolith horizons at certain topographic levels where continuity is exhibited. The Upper Saprolite is the principal mineralized geological domain and hosts 73% of the declared resource. Figure 2. Regolith profile interpretation in cross-section A-A' cutting across the north-eastern portion of the mineralised zone as shown in Figure 1.

Reverse Circulation Drilling Campaign The average drill depth of the MRE is 8.1 metres, which did not consistently reach the bottom limits of the lower Pedolith and Saprolite. Over 70% of the auger drillholes indicated a high anomalous exchangeable fraction in the last interval, which suggested that the deposit remained open at depth. As a result, a 9,090-metre RC drilling campaign has been planned, which will reach the bottom limit of the saprolite zone and may result in the discovery of additional inferred mineral resources at depth of the deposit. The Company is currently executing the initial phase of the RC drilling campaign, which includes 1,500-metres within 56 drill holes. As of the date of this news release, 47 holes had been completed measuring a total of 1,275 metres. The remaining 7,590 metres of the RC campaign will commence at end of Q1 2024 after receiving the suppression permits necessary to enter the remaining areas of the Project. The complete set of results of the RC drilling campaign are expected by the end of Q2 2024. Figure 3 below shows the cross-section B-B' as indicated in Figure 1, which presents preliminary evidence of the extension of saprolite development at depth from the current RC drilling campaign. The interval of saprolite interceptions of the RCCAR23013 and RCCAR23013 holes highlight new areas that were not previously reached by the auger drill holes. Figure 3. Regolith profile interpretation in cross-section B-B' cutting across the southern portion of the mineralized zone as shown in Figure 1.

Geology & Geological Interpretation The dominant lithologies of the Project are pink porphyritic biotite granite composed of quartz, oligoclase, microcline, and annite as essential minerals. Leucogranite is the secondary lithology, characterized by quartz, albite, and microcline. The contact of the biotite granite and leucogranite is given by faults trending from NE to SW. This fault event created a fracture zone where hydrothermal alteration is exhibited, giving rise to greisenized granites and gresisens. According to alteration and stratigraphic position, the regolith column in the Project area was subdivided into upper Pedolith (UP), lower Pedolith (LP), upper Saprolite (US), lower Saprolite (LS) and Saprock (SapRock), as graphically depicted in Figure 4 below. Figure 4: Idealized regolith profile showing the geological domains recognized in the Project area and forming the basis for the present resource estimate.

Sampling, Assay & QA/QC Protocols

The 201 auger drill holes were sampled at intervals of 0.5 metres to 2 metres, for a total of 1,418 samples. The analytical batches included 233 QA/QC samples. All samples were sent for total REE analysis (REY T)4 to the ALS Laboratory in Lima, Peru, and desorption (REY D)5 analysis to AGS Laboratory in La Serena, Chile. The methodology for collecting the auger drill samples was designed following recommendations by expert mining industry groups GeoAnsata and GE21.

The quality of the assay data for the rare earth elements dysprosium (Dy), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr) and terbium (Tb) was statistically evaluated by GE21 based on QA/QC samples (analysis of certified reference materials, field duplicates and sample split duplicates, fine and coarse blanks) and via the execution of twin holes. GE21 is a Brazilian based engineering consultancy with considerable experience in resource modelling and estimation. They consider the assay results to be of sufficient precision and accuracy to support the estimation of the mineral resources.

4 The total REE analysis (REY T) is determined through a lithium metaborates digestion of the whole ore sample and ICP/MS readings.

5 The desorption analysis (REY D) is based on the metallurgical test protocol developed by Aclara where whole ore leaching takes place in an ammonium sulfate environment at a pH of 3, where the ionic exchange occurs.

Estimation Methodology & Reporting of Mineral Resources

High-grade capping supported by statistical analysis was completed on 2 metre composites and applied to the Project resource estimate.

The MRE was completed using the LEAPFROG EGDE software to generate a block model consisting of parent blocks measuring 50 metres x 50 metres x 4 metres with sub-blocks of 12.5 metre x 12.5 metre x 2 metre dimensions.

Variography was performed for each of the five geological domains in the Project zone, for three groups of elements: Heavy Rare Earth elements plus yttrium (Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y), Light Rare Earth elements minus cerium (La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu), and cerium (Ce), which showed a poor correlation with the other two groups.

Grade interpolation for each of the 15 rare earth elements was performed via Ordinary Kriging into the parent blocks using hard boundaries. Estimation was conducted using a strategy to control geometry and number of samples in the interpolation.

Block estimation was validated visually, by global bias analysis and by trend analysis.

In-situ bulk density was assumed to have a value of 1.8 t/m3 for the pedolith profile, based on similar projects in the region.

The MRE is classified as inferred mineral resources. The classification was based on level of confidence in the data, geological continuity, and geostatistical parameters appropriate to deposit type.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release, including the information related to geology, drilling, and mineralization, has been reviewed and approved by Geologist Fabio Xavier (MAIG #5179) and Mining Engineer Porfirio Rodriguez (FAIG #3708), associated with GE21. GE21 is a specialized, independent mineral consulting company.

Mr. Rodriguez has more than 40 years of experience in the field of mineral resource and reserve estimate. Mr. Rodriguez is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (FAIG) and is a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101.

The MRE has been prepared by Fabio Xavier. Mr. Xavier is a Member of Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) and is a Qualified Person (QP) as defined under NI 43-101. He is responsible for the MRE and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information related to the MRE contained in this news release.

Messrs. Rodriguez and Xavier visited the Project from August 16 to August 18, 2023, during the execution of the auger drilling campaign, conducted by the GE21 team under the coordination of Geologist Andre Costa (FAIG#7967). The visit was supported by Aclara's Exploration Manager, Luiz Jorge Frutuoso Junior.

Mr. Frutuoso is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and Fellow of Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) and is a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. Relevant geological information, database and analysis of the QA/QC relating to the Project were provided by Mr. Frutuoso.

A technical report for the Project, to be prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, will be filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com within 45 days of this news release.

About Aclara

Aclara Resources Inc. (TSX: ARA) is a development-stage company that focuses on heavy rare earth mineral resources hosted in Ion-Adsorption Clay deposits. Its primary project is known as the Penco Module and is located in the BioBio Region of southern Chile. The Company is also evaluating a second module, the Carina Module, located in the State of Goias in central Brazil.

Presently, Aclara has a strong focus on the development, construction, and future operation of the Penco Module, with the primary objective of establishing a processing plant designed to produce heavy rare earths concentrate.

Aclara's extraction process offers several environmentally attractive features. It does not involve blasting, crushing, or milling. Additionally, it does not generate tailings, eliminating the need for a tailings storage facility. The Company utilizes 100% recycled water and minimizes water consumption through high levels of water recirculation. The ionic clay feedstock is amenable to leaching with a fertilizer, and harmful radionuclides are not concentrated.

Simultaneously, alongside the development of the Penco Module, the Company intends to identify and evaluate further opportunities, such as the Carina Module, for increasing production of heavy rare earth elements. This will involve intensive greenfield exploration programs and the development of additional project "modules" within the Company's concessions in Brazil, Chile and Peru.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events, including statements with regard to: mineral continuity, grade, methodology, production timing and upside at the Penco Module and Carina Module, the Company's exploration plan, drilling campaigns and activities in Brazil and the expectations of the Company's management as to the results of such exploration works and drilling activities; timing, cost and scope in respect of the exploration activities in Brazil, the results and interpretations of its maiden MRE relating to the Carina Module, the timing and issuance of a Preliminary Economic Assessment relating to the Carina Module, and the contemplated development of greenfield targets and expected reduction in permitting risk. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to risks related to operating in a foreign jurisdiction, including political and economic problems in Chile and Brazil; risks related to changes to mining laws and regulations and the termination or non-renewal of mining rights by governmental authorities; risks related to failure to comply with the law or obtain necessary permits and licenses or renew them; compliance with environmental regulations can be costly; actual production, capital and operating costs may be different than those anticipated; the Company may be not able to successfully complete the development, construction and start-up of mines and new development projects; risks related to mining operations; and dependence on the Penco Module and/or the Carina Module. Aclara cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. For a detailed discussion of the foregoing factors, among others, please refer to the risk factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated as of March 28, 2023, filed on the Company's SEDAR+ profile. Actual results and timing could differ materially from those projected herein. Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the forward-looking information contained in this news release is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws.

For further information, please contact:

Bonzi Yokomizo Baptista

Brazil General Manager

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Aclara Resources has engaged Reflex Media to provide marketing services in connection with a digital marketing campaign aimed at increasing the knowledge and awareness of the Company to new audiences.

Table 4: Carina Module - Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective November 3, 2023)- By the Total Rare Earth Oxides at 7.4 US$/t NSR cut-off*

Domain Mass La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu Y TREO Mt ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm UP 10.8 112.8 523.3 26.9 94.6 16.7 0.8 10.9 1.9 12.0 2.5 8.3 1.4 10.3 1.5 76.1 900 LP 28.0 171.8 647.3 42.5 150.7 27.0 1.6 20.4 3.6 22.3 4.7 15.1 2.4 17.4 2.5 144.7 1,274 US 122.5 319.0 433.6 76.8 270.2 56.3 2.5 49.0 8.3 49.9 10.0 30.8 4.8 32.6 4.6 320.6 1,669 LS 6.0 61.2 106.9 18.9 71.1 23.4 0.2 23.4 4.7 31.4 6.4 21.3 3.6 26.0 3.9 195.0 597 SapRock 0.8 47.2 101.8 15.7 60.6 22.0 0.1 23.1 4.8 29.5 6.2 19.5 3.1 23.8 3.3 196.5 557 Total 168.1 270.8 461.8 65.5 231.0 47.6 2.1 40.8 6.9 42.1 8.5 26.3 4.1 28.4 4.1 270.6 1,510

Table 5: Carina Module - Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective November 3, 2023)- By the Recoverable Grades at 7.4 US$/t NSR cut-off*

Domain Mass La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu Y TREO-Ce Mt % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % UP 10.8 63.9 7.4 73.7 73.0 64.1 73.9 56.7 53.8 44.8 35.3 30.8 26.0 23.4 24.6 37.8 62.1 LP 28.0 60.5 5.8 65.3 63.6 58.3 60.1 49.9 51.4 44.3 36.2 32.8 29.0 26.8 27.8 41.3 59.5 US 122.5 36.5 3.3 38.3 39.7 41.7 38.3 38.4 48.9 46.7 42.4 41.4 39.4 37.8 42.7 50.9 53.7 LS 6.0 30.7 3.9 35.1 36.8 43.3 48.9 41.1 54.4 49.5 43.2 41.5 39.0 39.7 45.1 50.4 44.7 SapRock 0.8 22.3 2.6 27.0 29.5 33.0 61.0 38.3 51.3 49.6 39.6 38.1 35.8 30.6 42.0 54.2 42.0 Total 168.1 39.7 4.2 42.1 43.1 43.8 41.9 39.8 49.4 46.5 41.7 40.4 38.0 36.4 40.8 49.8 43.5

Table 6: Carina Module - Mineral Resource Estimate (Effective November 3, 2023) - By the Desorbable Rare Earth Oxides at 7.4 NSR cut-off US$/t*

Domain Mass La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu Y DREO Mt ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm UP 10.8 72.0 38.9 19.8 69.1 10.7 0.6 6.2 1.0 5.4 0.9 2.5 0.4 2.4 0.4 28.8 259.1 LP 28.0 103.9 37.3 27.7 95.8 15.7 0.9 10.2 1.8 9.9 1.7 5.0 0.7 4.7 0.7 59.8 375.7 US 122.5 116.4 14.3 29.4 107.2 23.5 0.9 18.8 4.0 23.3 4.2 12.8 1.9 12.3 2.0 163.1 534.2 LS 6.0 18.8 4.2 6.6 26.1 10.1 0.1 9.6 2.5 15.5 2.8 8.9 1.4 10.3 1.7 98.3 217.0 SapRock 0.8 10.5 2.7 4.2 17.9 7.3 0.1 8.9 2.5 14.7 2.5 7.4 1.1 7.3 1.4 106.6 194.9 Total 168.1 107.5 19.3 27.6 99.5 20.8 0.9 16.2 3.4 19.6 3.5 10.6 1.6 10.3 1.7 134.7 477.2

*Notes:

1. UP = Upper Pedolith; LP = Lower Pedolith; US = Upper Saprolite; LS = Lower Saprolite.

2. TREY = Total Rare Earth Elements (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) plus Yttrium.

3. LREE = Light Rare Earth Elements (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu).

4. HREE = Heavy Rare Earth Elements (Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu).

5. TREO = Total Rare Earth Oxides (La 2 O 3 , CeO 2 , Pr 6 O 11 , Nd 2 O 3 , Sm 2 O 3 , Eu 2 O 3 , Gd 2 O 3 , Tb 4 O 7 , Dy 2 O 3 , Ho 2 O 3 , Er 2 O 3 , Tm 2 O 3 , Yb 2 O 3 , Lu 2 O 3 ) + Yttrium (Y 2 O 3 ).

6. Totals may not balance due to rounding of figures.

7. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves, as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant factors.

8. Mineral resources were classified as Inferred.

9. Mineral resources are reported with effective date November 3, 2023.10. Responsible QP Fabio Xavier (MAIG #5179)

11. Mineral resources are classified in accordance with the CIM (2014) Standards and Definitions of Mineral Resources.

12. Blocks estimated by Ordinary Kriging at support of 50m x 50m x 4m with sub-blocks 12.5m x 12.5 x 2m.

13. Mineral resources were estimated using TREO grades. Desorbable grades of REE were estimated based on the metallurgical recoveries resulting from using the Penco Modules ammonium sulphate based metallurgical process.

14. NSR (Net Smelter Return) were calculated based on desorbable grades to support the RPEEE definition. NSR value are not part of mineral resource declaration.

15. The results are presented in-situ and undiluted, are constrained within optimized open pit shells, and are considered to have reasonable prospects of economic viability, using the following parameters:
I just love these simple yet utterly charming drawings by Dublin, Ireland-based artist, illustrator, and author Chris Judge. For his series "A Daily Cloud," Judge adds simple line drawings to photographs of clouds to create sweet and funny characters, like these two adorable dogs talking, a disgruntled "King Kat," this silly squiggly legged jellyfish-like creature, and the cutest winter bird.

Judge started creating A Daily Cloud in July 2020, at first just for fun and to bring some happiness into the world during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also began selling prints to raise money to give back to charities such as Aoibheann's Pink Tie that had supported his family when his daughter was undergoing treatment for leukemia during the first year of the pandemic.

Earlier this year he also published a book featuring his wonderful cloud drawings. Cloud Babies, written with New York Times best-selling author Eoin Colfer (who wrote the Artemis Fowl series), is based on his family's experience navigating childhood leukemia. The publisher, Candlewick, describes the book:

Six-year-old Erin's favorite game is spotting animals in the clouds with her mom and dadeverything from fluffy foxes and polar bears to little rabbits. Even when Erin falls very ill and has to spend a long time in the hospital, she still manages to find joy in spying "cloud babies" through the window with her new hospital friends. When the doctor tells Erin she can go home, she is so excited! But being back at school is not at all what she expectedso much has changed, and Erin must reconcile the safe realm she's just left with a world outside that has become unfamiliar. With Mom and Dad's love and wisdom, however, and with the help of her teacher and friends, Erin comes to see that by sharing her experience she can find happiness again in just being herself. Sensitively told and vibrantly brought to life, Cloud Babies brings recognition and comfort to children facing illness or hardship, as well as guidance to those who wish to offer support but may not know where to start.

Chris Judge's website includes this bio:

Since 2011 Chris has written and illustrated over 35 children's books, many of which are in collaboration with authors like Roddy Doyle, David O'Doherty and Eoin Colfer. His first book, The Lonely Beast won the Specsavers Irish Children's Book of the Year 2011 in the Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards.



Chris also creates large-scale artworks, most notably three large mosaics in collaboration with Triskill Design for Stanhope Street School in Dublin, Scoil Bhride in Kildare and Mountrath CS.

To see more of Judge's work, check out his author/illustrator Instagram page, website, or A Daily Cloud.
Vancouver, BC - TheNewswire - December 12, 2023 - Tribeca Resources Corporation (TSXV:TRBC) (OTC:TRRCF) (Tribeca Resources, the Company) is pleased to announce results from the first diamond hole of the Phase 2 drilling program at the Companys La Higuera Project (the Project) in the Coastal Iron Oxide Copper-Gold (IOCG) Belt of northern Chile. Drill hole GBY008 intersected a thick interval of copper-gold mineralization from the base of shallow gravel cover.

Highlights:

Drill hole GBY008 intersected an interval of 82 metres at 0.41% copper, 0.07 g/t gold. within 224m @ 0.31% copper, 0.06 g/t gold in IOCG-style mineralization from the base of gravel cover at 50m down hole depth

Two additional holes, GBY009 and GBY010, have been completed and are currently being logged and sampled

Drilling continues with a key objective of the programme being to test approximately 650 metres of additional strike length at the northern end of the 1km long mineralized Gaby copper-gold discovery

Drill hole GBY008 was a 50m step-back from the previously reported GBY001 and has confirmed the significant thickness of mineralization and provided important constraints for the geological model. In particular, the hole provided information on the potential geometry and distribution of the magnetite breccias that are the main hosts for the copper-gold mineralization.

The assay results from the current and upcoming holes in this 10-hole program of approximately 4,000 metres are planned to be released progressively as they are received, with drilling expected to continue until February 2024.

Tribeca Resources CEO, Dr Paul Gow commented: The first hole in this new drilling program intersected a zone of strong magnetite breccia hosting well developed copper-gold mineralization. The thickness and relatively shallow depth of the intersection in this hole underscores the significance of our recent IOCG discovery at Gaby.

We look forward to releasing further results from the program over the coming months as we test both strike extensions to the north and new geophysical targets.

Table 1. Summary of significant mineralized intersections in drill hole GBY008.

HoleID From (m) To (m) Downhole

Interval (m) Cu

(%) Au

(g/t) Co (ppm) CuEq

(%) GBY008 50 274 224 0.31 0.06 208 0.36 incl. 50 56 6 0.82 0.17 147 0.85 incl. 90 116 26 0.42 0.10 99 0.45 incl. 140 186 46 0.27 0.05 119 0.26 incl. 190 272 82 0.41 0.07 409 0.50

Note: Apart from the summary intersection (from 50-274m) and the interval from 50-56m, the grade intersections are calculated over intervals >0.2% Cu with maximum internal dilution of 10m @ 0.05% Cu and a minimum interval width of 10m. CuEq (%) grades have been calculated using recoveries from metallurgical test work undertaken in 2006 on drill core from the Project, which are 90% for copper, 65% for gold and 50% for cobalt. Metal prices utilised were US$3.50/lb copper, US$1,900/oz gold and US$15.88/lb cobalt.

Drill hole GBY008 discussion

Drill hole GBY008 was designed as a 50m step-back from drill hole GBY001 on Section 4270N (Figures 1 and 2) with the objective of testing the mineralised system to the east and providing constraints on the geometry of the mineralized breccias. The hole was terminated at 445.5m depth. The drill hole lifted more than expected and at depth is within 13m of GBY001. It intersected the same diorite body near the base of the hole as that seen in GBY001.

As previously reported in results from drill hole GBY001 (news release dated 30 January 2023), which intersected 268m @ 0.66% Cu and 0.14 g/t Au, the mineralization is dominated by veins and breccias comprising a magnetite-pyrite-chalcopyrite assemblage, commonly associated with combinations of quartz, actinolite, scapolite, albite, and epidote.

The mineralized interval, from the base of cover at 50m to 274m downhole depth, appears to be terminated or offset by a fault at 272-274m, which needs further investigation. The orientation of this fault is not currently known, but it may be a steep fault with horizontal displacement. Magnetite breccias are present below this fault but are less well mineralised (Figure 1). Several late dikes (<5m thick) were also intersected, which crosscut the breccia but are weakly mineralized suggesting a late-mineralization timing. These are not shown on Figure 1. This thick mineralised interval intersected by GBY008 provides significant encouragement as drilling continues to expand the known mineralized zone within this target.



Figure 1. Cross-section 4270N with the location of GBY008 shown. Drill hole GBY010, drilled back from the west, has been completed with logging and sampling in progress. The orientation of the faults as shown is unconstrained. The histogram bars showing copper grade in GBY001 have been top-cut at 2% Cu.

Figure 2. Location of drill hole GBY008 at the Gaby discovery.

Qualified Person

All scientific and technical information in this press release has been prepared by, or approved by, Dr. Paul Gow, who is the CEO of Tribeca Resources. He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (MAIG), a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (MAusIMM) and a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101. Dr. Gow has not verified any of the information regarding any of the properties or projects referred to herein other than the La Higuera IOCG Property. Mineralization on any other properties referred to herein is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the La Higuera IOCG Property.

About Tribeca Resources

Tribeca Resources is a copper exploration company focused on discovering and developing assets in the Coastal IOCG Belt of northern Chile. The Companys management team, whose members are significant shareholders of the Company, has world-leading expertise and a discovery history with iron oxide copper-gold deposits in the worlds great IOCG Belts of the Carajas district in Brazil and the Gawler and Cloncurry provinces of Australia.

Tribeca Resources objective is to provide the mineral resources for the next generation of copper mines in Chile. It is focused on building a portfolio of projects, with emphasis on mid to advanced-stage copper exploration and resource development projects. To this end, mineral targets are regularly assessed in pursuit of acquisition, strategic exploration and significant discovery.

Tribecas flagship property is the La Higuera IOCG project that comprises 4,147 hectares of granted mining and exploration licences and is located towards the southern end of the Chilean Coastal IOCG Belt in the Coquimbo Region of northern Chile. The 822 hectare Gaby concession area is held under a purchase option (5% Exploration Levy on expenditure incurred during the option period; a US$200,000 payment due in March 2024 and a US$1.8 million final payment due March 2025; with a 1% NSR Royalty granted to the owner), with the remainder of the concessions being outright owned (100%) by Tribeca Resources. Further information about the project can be found in the NI 43-101 Technical Report lodged by Tribeca on SEDAR on 24 October 2022.

On behalf of Tribeca Resources Corporation

Paul Gow Thomas Schmidt CEO and Director President and Director This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +1 604 685 9316 +1 604 685 9316

Cautionary Note

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange Inc.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This press release does not constitute or form a part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction in the United States, and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, as such term is defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act (Regulation S), except pursuant to an exemption from or in a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Company's current expectations. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the drilling program and its proposed length and timing, the ability of the Company to develop and define a suitable resource at the Project and the relationship between geophysical survey results and potential mineralization.

Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: new laws or regulations could adversely affect the business and results of operations of the Company and anticipated work on the Project.

There are several important factors that could cause the Companys actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: reliance on key management; changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities; unanticipated costs and expenses; fluctuations in commodity prices; and general market and industry conditions. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. 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.

The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. 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 in accordance with applicable laws.




VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - Foran Mining Corporation (TSX: FOM) (OTCQX: FMCXF) ("Foran" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful completion of its previously announced C$200 million financing which consisted of: (a) a brokered private placement (the "Brokered Offering") comprised of the sale of (i) 36,594,000 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") at an issue price of C$4.10 per Common Share, for gross proceeds of C$150,035,400; and (ii) 1,563,000 Common Shares with each such Common Share to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "FT Shares") at an issue price of C$6.40 per FT Share, for gross proceeds of C$10,003,200, and (b) a non-brokered private placement (the "Non-Brokered Offering", and together with the Brokered Offering, the "Offerings") consisting of the sale of 9,756,000 Common Shares at an issue price of C$4.10 per Common Share, for gross proceeds of C$39,999,600. The aggregate gross proceeds of the Offerings were $200,038,200.

The net proceeds of the Offerings will be used for exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects in Saskatchewan, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The Company will use an amount equal to the gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Shares, pursuant to the provisions in the Income Tax Act (Canada), to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" as both terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's mineral projects located in Saskatchewan, on or before December 31, 2024, and to renounce all the Qualifying Expenditures in favour of the subscribers of the FT Shares with an effective date not later than December 31, 2023.

The Brokered Offering was co-led by BMO Capital Markets who acted as sole bookrunner together with Eight Capital and National Bank Financial Inc. as co-lead agents, acting on behalf of a syndicate of agents which included PI Financial Corp., CIBC World Markets Inc., Cormark Securities Inc., Scotia Capital Inc. and Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc. (collectively, the "Agents").

The securities being offered have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable U.S. state securities laws or in compliance with an exemption therefrom. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States.

The securities issued pursuant to the Offerings shall be subject to a four-month plus one day hold period from the date hereof in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The Offerings remain subject to the final approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Related Party Transaction

An entity controlled by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited ("Fairfax"), an insider to the Company, participated in the Offerings, acquiring an aggregate of 2,439,000 Common Shares. The insider participation in the Offering constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), for which the Company was exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) thereof, as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to the insider under the Offerings nor the consideration paid by the insider exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization, in each case as determined under MI 61101. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days before closing of the Offerings as the details of the insider participation were not known at that time.

Early Warning Disclosure

Immediately prior to the acquisition of the Common Shares pursuant to the Brokered Offering, Fairfax beneficially owned 43,777,778 Common Shares, representing 17.0% of the Common Shares, and 27,777,778 non-voting shares of the Company (the "Non-Voting Shares", together with the Common Shares, the "Shares") representing 100% of the Non-Voting Shares and, together with the Common Shares owned by Fairfax, 25.1% of the issued and outstanding Shares (in each case, on both a non-diluted and partially diluted basis). As a result of the acquisition of the Common Shares, Fairfax beneficially owns 46,216,778 Common Shares, representing 15.2% of the Common Shares, and 27,777,778 Non-Voting Shares, representing 100% of the Non-Voting Shares and, together with the Common Shares owned by Fairfax, 22.3% of the issued and outstanding Shares (in each case, on both a non-diluted and partially diluted basis).

This press release and Fairfax's corresponding early warning report (the "Early Warning Report") which is expected to be filed on SEDAR in the near term, constitutes the required disclosure pursuant to section 5.2 of National Instrument 62-104 Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids ("NI 62-104"). The requirement to file an early warning report was triggered because the acquisition by Fairfax of Common Shares as part of the Brokered Offering and the completion of the Brokered Offering decreased Fairfax's beneficial ownership of the Common Shares by greater than 2% as compared to the early warning report filed by Fairfax in connection with its earlier exercise of warrants to acquire Common Shares. The Common Shares acquired in connection with the Brokered Offering are being acquired by Fairfax for investment purposes and in the future, it may discuss with management and/or the board of directors of the Company any of the transactions listed in clauses (a) to (k) of item 5 of Form F1 of National Instrument 62-103  The Early Warning System and Related Take-over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues and it may further purchase, hold, vote, trade, dispose or otherwise deal in the securities of the Company, in such manner as it deems advisable to benefit from changes in market prices of the Company's securities, publicly disclosed changes in the operations of the Company, its business strategy or prospects or from a material transaction of the Company, and it will also consider the availability of funds, evaluation of alternative investments and other factors.

The Early Warning Report that will be filed on SEDAR in respect of the Brokered Offering will satisfy the requirement of section 5.2 of NI 62-104 to have the Early Warning Report filed by an acquiror, in this case by Fairfax, with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the jurisdictions in which the Company is a reporting issuer and which contains the information with respect to the foregoing matters and the information required by section 3.1 of National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, which includes the information required by Form 62-103F1 - Required Disclosure under the Early Warning Requirements.

A copy of the Early Warning Report filed by Fairfax in connection with the Brokered Offering will be available under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com".

Ontario Teachers' Plan Transaction Update

Following the closing of the Offerings, the Company does not intend to proceed with the non-binding proposed transaction with Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board that was previously announced by the Company in its press release on August 8, 2022.

About Foran Mining

Foran Mining is a copper-zinc-gold-silver exploration and development company, committed to supporting a greener future, empowering communities and creating circular economies which create value for all our stakeholders, while also safeguarding the environment. The McIlvenna Bay Project is located entirely within the documented traditional territory of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. The Company also owns the Bigstone Project, a resource-development stage deposit located 25km southwest of its McIlvenna Bay project.

McIlvenna Bay is a copper-zinc-gold-silver rich VHMS deposit intended to be the centre of a new mining camp in a prolific district that has already been producing for 100 years. McIlvenna Bay sits just 65km West of Flin Flon, Manitoba and is part of the world class Flin Flon Greenstone Belt that extends from Snow Lake, Manitoba, through Flin Flon to Foran's ground in eastern Saskatchewan, a distance of over 225km.

McIlvenna Bay is the largest undeveloped VHMS deposit in the region. The Company announced the results from its Feasibility Study on February 28, 2022, outlining that current mineral reserves would potentially support an 18-year mine life producing an average of 65 million pounds of copper equivalent annually. The Company filed a NI 43-101 Technical Report for the McIlvenna Bay Feasibility Study on April 14, 2022 and its NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Bigstone Deposit resource estimate on February 11, 2022. Investors are encouraged to consult the full text of these technical reports which may be found on the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca.

The Company's head office is located at 409 Granville Street, Suite 904, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6C 1T2. Common Shares of the Company are listed for trading on the TSX under the symbol "FOM" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "FMCXF".

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, as defined under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or to the future performance of Foran Mining Corporation and reflect management's expectations and assumptions as of the date hereof or as of the date of such forward looking statement.

All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "potentially", "intends", "likely", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date specified in such statement.

Inherent in forward-looking statements are known and unknown risks, estimates, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors include management's belief or expectations relating to the following and, in certain cases, management's response with regard to the following: risk factors relating to the inability of the Company to apply the use of proceeds from the Offerings as anticipated; the use of the gross proceeds of the sale of the FT Shares to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures"; the renouncement of the Qualifying Expenditures in favour of the subscribers of the FT Shares; risks related to obtaining permits and other regulatory approvals with respect to the Company's mineral properties; the status and progression of credit facility discussions; unlocking the untapped value of the Company's properties; delivery of superior or any investment returns; scale, scope and location of future exploration and drilling activities; the potential for the Company's land package to be transformational, the focus of the Company's future drill programs; the incorporation of geotechnical and hydrogeological information into the overall project design; the long-term investment horizon of shareholders; the growth of the Company from developer to producer; the certainty of funding; the future of the Company; de-risking McIlvenna Bay; delivering on the Company's Net Positive Business strategy; ownership and reliance on the Company's mineral projects; the Company's history of losses and potential inability to generate sufficient revenue to be profitable or to generate positive cash flow on a sustained basis; the Company's statements about the expected life of mine, productive capacity and other technical estimates on its projects, and the Company's reliance on technical experts with respect thereto; the Company's exposure to risks related to mineral resources exploration and development; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, infectious diseases and other health crises on the Company; global financial volatility and its impact on the Company; the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict; government, securities, and stock exchange regulation and policy; legal proceedings which may have a material adverse impact on the Company's operations and financial condition; capital market conditions and their effect on the securities of the Company; insurance and uninsurable risks; environmental, health and safety regulation and policy; mining hazards and risks; title rights to the Company's projects; indigenous peoples' title and other legal claims; mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; uncertainties and risks relating to the Feasibility Studies; fluctuations in commodity prices, including metals; competition; expertise and proficiency of management; limited operating history; the availability of future financing; dilutive effects; the impact of global climate change and natural disasters; inadequate infrastructure; relationships with local communities; reputational damage; the Company's reliance on financial instruments; future acquisitions; management conflicts of interest; security breaches of the Company's information systems; and the additional risks identified in our Annual Information Form dated March 23, 2023 and other securities filings with Canadian securities regulators available at www.sedarplus.ca.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. Although the Company has attempted 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, described or intended. Readers are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements and should note that the assumptions and risk factors discussed above do not contain an exhaustive list of the factors or assumptions that may affect the forward-looking statements, and that the assumptions underlying such statements may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the Company's securities filings and this news release. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Ottawa, ON - TheNewswire - December 12, 2023 - Stria Lithium Inc. (TSX-V:SRA) (Stria or the Company) is pleased to announce the appointment of Larry Segerstrom as a new Director of the Company.

Mr. Segerstrom is a bilingual senior mining professional with more than 37 years of exploration, operations, and business experience.

His past management positions include COO of Paramount Gold and Silver Corp in Mexico, and Manager of Geology of the Grasberg Mining District for Freeport-McMoRan in Indonesia.

Mr. Segerstrom has been involved in several discoveries, including leading the teams that discovered and developed new resources of more than 750,000 ounces of gold and 60 million ounces of silver with Paramount Gold & Silver (PZG), and new ore reserves totalling 3.4 billion pounds of copper and 3.6 million ounces of gold with Freeport.

Larry Segerstrom stated: I have been watching the ecosystem being developed between federal, provincial and battery technology companies in Quebec and the energy independence it will bring to North America for our future. I look forward to working in Quebec as it is one of worlds most mining friendly jurisdictions. I have worked with management in the past in a successful venture and therefore look forward to assisting them in executing their strategy of unearthing early-stage lithium projects and partnering with skilled exploration and operational companies.

He holds a M.Sc. in Economic Geology from the University of Arizona, a M.B.A. in Global Management, and is a Qualified Person under Canadian National Instrument 43-101.

Jeff York, Chairman of Stria Lithium said today: Stria continues to expand and grow its portfolio of Lithium projects within Quebec as part of its overall strategy. We hope to replicate the model achieved at Pontax Central and to this end we needed to increase our geological expertise at a senior level. Mr. Segerstrom has had decades of experience reviewing and exploring projects and will be instrumental in us assessing properties going forward. Mr. Segerstrom will be a valued board member that will assist our culture of good governance and operational excellence in addition to his unique skills in discovering and developing resources.

Mr. Segerstrom will be replacing Mr. Harry Martyniuk who has stepped down from the board to continue with his many successful business operations. Mr. Martyniuks resignation is effective as of December 12, 2023. On behalf of the board and the whole team at Stria Lithium, I would like to thank Mr Martyniuk for his service and contributions over the past 3 years and wish him continued success in his business ventures, said Jeff York, Chairman of the board of directors of Stria Lithium.

About Stria Lithium

Stria Lithium (TSX-V: SRA) is an emerging resource exploration company developing Canadian lithium reserves to meet legislated demand for electric vehicles and their rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

Strias Central Pontax Lithium Project covers 36 square kilometres, including 8 kilometres of strike along the prospective Chambois Greenstone Belt. The region, known as the Canadian Lithium Triangle, is one of only a few known sources of lithium available for hard rock mining in North America.

Strias Pontax Central Project Joint Venture with Cygnus Metals now has a maiden JORC inferred resource Estimate (MRE) of 10.1Mt at 1.04% Li2O based on the central area of the known mineralisation.

This JORC estimate establishes Pontax Central as a serious player in the Canadian Lithium James Bay region. Cygnus Metals being an ASX issuer, they adhered to Australian JORC Code 2012 guidelines, meaning that such mineral resource estimate is not necessarily current in regard of the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 code.

Cygnus Metals is committed to fully funding and managing the current two-stage exploration and drilling program to a maximum of $10 million at Strias Pontax property and will also pay Stria up to $6 million in cash. In return, Cygnus may acquire up to a 70% interest in the property. Cygnus has fulfilled its stage 1 requirements within the agreement and has now earned its 51% interest in the property.

Strias other significant project, Pontax II covers 55 square kilometres, approximately 25 kilometres to the west-south-west of Pontax Central and is located adjacent to the Billy-Diamond paved highway. Stria has added to this project by recently acquiring 24 claims, for 1276.5 hectares that are strategically located northeast of Strias Pontax II claims.

Stria Lithium previously reported highly anomalous tantalum oxide grain counts in till samples up to 797 grains, the highest count ever recorded by the laboratory. The Pontax II grain counts stand at the 97.6 centile of the regional population with an average of 156 grains per sample as a comparative basis, a regional survey in the same area conducted by the Ministere de lEnergie et des Ressources Naturelles du Quebec, processed a total of 5950 tantalum oxide grains yielding an average count of 36 grains per samples. The conclusion being the grain counts are suggestive of the proximity of lithium bearing pegmatites.

Pontax II claims are in highly active prospective zones, situated to the west southwest of Stria/Cygnus lithium discovery and situated to the west of the Patriot Battery Metals (PMET.V) Pontax project, and south of Brunswick Exploration (BRW.V).

Strias Pontax properties are both situated close to an industrial powerline and a major paved highway, about 310 km north of the North American rail network that leads to the industrial heartland.

As momentum builds for the green energy revolution and the shift to electric vehicles, governments in Canada and the U.S. are aggressively supporting the North American lithium industry, presenting the industry and its investors with a rare, if not unprecedented, opportunity for growth and prosperity well into the next decade and beyond.

Stria is committed to exceeding the industrys environmental, social and governance standards. A critical part of that commitment is forging meaningful, enduring and mutually beneficial relationships with the James Bay Cree Nation (Eeyouch), and engaging openly and respectfully as neighbours and collaborators in this exciting project that has the potential to create lasting jobs and prosperity for Eeyou Istchee and its people.

Reference:

JORC Mineral Resource Estimate of Pontax Project, James Bay Quebec, Brian Wolfe; Duncan Grieve, August 14, 2023.

For more information about Stria Lithium and the Pontax Lithium project, please visit https://strialithium.com

Follow us on:

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Instagram@strialithium

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For more information on Stria Lithium Inc., please contact:

Dean Hanisch

CEO Stria Lithium

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+1(613) 612-6060

Investors Relations, Stria Lithium Inc.

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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 accuracy or adequacy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as plan, expect, project, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may or will occur. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information.

Forward-looking information is 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 anticipated in the forward-looking information. Please refer to the risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - Forum Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV: FMC) (OTCQB: FDCFF) ("Forum" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced "best efforts" private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of C$10,364,014, which includes the full exercise of the Agents' Option for gross proceeds of C$1,500,000. Under the Offering, the Company sold the following:

48,648,648 flow-through units of the Company to purchasers (each, a " FT Unit ") at a price of C$0.185 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of C$9,000,000 from the sale of FT Units; and

") at a price of C$0.185 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of C$9,000,000 from the sale of FT Units; and 11,366,787 units of the Company (each, a "Unit", and together with the FT Units, the "Offered Securities") at a price of C$0.12 per Unit for gross proceeds of C$1,364,014 from the sale of Units.

Under the Offering, Red Cloud Securities Inc. acted as lead agent and sole bookrunner on behalf of a syndicate of agents that included Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc. (collectively, the "Agents").

Each FT Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "FT Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). The FT Shares and Warrants comprising the FT Units will qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada). Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "Unit Share") and one-half of one Warrant. Each whole Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.185 at any time on or before December 12, 2025.

The Company intends to use the proceeds raised from the Offering for exploration of its Thelon Basin uranium project in Nunavut and for general working capital purposes. Proceeds from the sale of FT Units will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" as defined in subsection 66.1(6) of the Income Tax Act and "flow through critical mineral mining expenditures" as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act. Such proceeds will be renounced to the subscribers with an effective date not later than December 31, 2023, in the aggregate amount of not less than the total amount of gross proceeds raised from the issue of FT Units.

27,027,027 FT Units (the "LIFE Units") were sold pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"). The LIFE Units are immediately freely tradeable under applicable Canadian securities legislation for Canadian purchasers. The remaining 21,621,621 FT Units, as well as the 11,366,787 Units were distributed by way of the "accredited investor", "minimum amount investment" and other exemptions under NI 45-106 in certain provinces of Canada, and are subject to a four-month restricted period in Canada ending on April 13, 2024. The Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all required regulatory approvals including final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid to the Agents cash commissions totaling C$588,289 equal to 6.0% of the gross proceeds raised under the Offering. The Company also issued to the Agents 3,321,326 warrants of the Company (each, a "Compensation Warrant"). Each Compensation Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of C$0.12 at any time on or before December 12, 2025. No compensation was paid in respect of certain President's list purchasers and a strategic investor that has maintained its 9.9% interest in the Company through this Offering.

Insiders of the Company participated in the Offering for C$69,600, and such Units issued to insiders are subject to a four month hold period pursuant to applicable policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The issuance of Units to insiders is considered a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.5(a) and the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.7(1)(a) in respect of such insider participation as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves interested parties, does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the United StatesSecurities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, unless an exemption from such registration is available. This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities for sale, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements. "United States" and "U.S. person" have the respective meanings assigned in Regulation S under the U.S Securities Act.

About Forum Energy Metals

Forum Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV: FMC) (OTCQB: FDCFF) is focused on the discovery of high-grade unconformity-related uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan and the Thelon Basin, Nunavut. In addition, Forum holds a diversified energy metal portfolio of copper, nickel, and cobalt projects in Saskatchewan and Idaho.

For further information: https://www.forumenergymetals.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Richard J. Mazur, P.Geo.

President & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information contact:

Rick Mazur, P.Geo., President & CEO

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Tel: 604-630-1585

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Forum's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include but are not limited to: the use of proceeds of the Offering, completion of the Offering, the requisite approvals for the Offering, uncertainties related to the historical data, the work expenditure commitments; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund future exploration or development programs; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; changes commodity prices, litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or an inability to obtain permits required in connection with maintaining or advancing its exploration projects.
Iranian's president should be arrested when he lands in Switzerland this week and charged with crimes against humanity connected to a 1988 purge of dissidents, according to a legal complaint filed Monday.

The complaint asks Swiss federal public prosecutor Andreas Muller to ensure the arrest and prosecution of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi "over his participation in acts of genocide, torture, extrajudicial executions and other crimes against humanity".

Raisi is expected to come to Switzerland to participate in the United Nations Global Refugee Forum, which kicks off in Geneva on Wednesday.

The legal complaint against him, seen by AFP, was dated Monday. The prosecutor's office did not immediately confirm that it had been received.

It was filed by three alleged victims during Iran's crackdown on dissidents in the 1980s.

Rights groups have long campaigned for justice over alleged extrajudicial executions of thousands of mainly young people across Iranian prisons within a few months in the summer of 1988, just as the war with Iraq was ending.

Those killed were mainly supporters of the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran (MEK or PMOI), a group banned in Iran that had backed Baghdad during the conflict.

The petitioners behind Monday's complaint said they could personally identify Raisi as figuring on a commission that sent thousands of jailed opponents to their deaths during the crackdown.

He was serving as the deputy prosecutor general of Tehran at the time, and distinguished himself on the commission as being particularly eager to sentence prisoners to death, the complaint said.

The main petitioner, Reza Shemiriani, was arrested in 1981 and was one of fewer than 150 of the 5,000 prisoners detained in his cell bloc who survived the 1988 purge, according to the complaint.

Raisi had asked him what group he belonged to, and when he said MEK, "his death sentence was assured," the complaint said, adding that he still does not know why his life was spared.

Instead he remained in prison until 1991, facing daily torture, the complaint said.

The two other petitioners had also been in Iranian prisons in 1988, and said they recognised Raisi "as a member of the death commission," according to the complaint.
Iran's president should be arrested when he lands in Switzerland this week and charged with crimes against humanity connected to a 1988 purge of dissidents, according to a legal complaint filed Monday.

The complaint asks Swiss federal public prosecutor Andreas Muller to ensure the arrest and prosecution of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi "over his participation in acts of genocide, torture, extrajudicial executions and other crimes against humanity".

Raisi is expected in Switzerland to participate in the United Nations Global Refugee Forum, which begin in Geneva on Wednesday.

The legal complaint against him, seen by AFP, was dated Monday. The prosecutor's office did not immediately confirm that it had been received.

It was filed by three alleged victims from Iran's crackdown on dissidents in the 1980s.

Rights groups have long campaigned for justice over alleged extrajudicial executions of thousands of mainly young people across Iranian prisons within a few months in the summer of 1988, just as the war with Iraq was ending.

Those killed were mainly supporters of the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran, known by the abbreviations MEK or PMOI, a group considered a terrorist organisation by Iran that backed Baghdad during the conflict.

The petitioners behind Monday's complaint said they could personally identify Raisi as figuring on a commission that sent thousands of jailed opponents to their deaths during the crackdown.

He was serving as deputy prosecutor general of Tehran at the time, and was among the most eager on his commission to sentence prisoners to death, the complaint said.

The main petitioner, Reza Shemiriani, was arrested in 1981 and was one of fewer than 150 of the 5,000 prisoners detained in his cell bloc who survived the 1988 purge, according to the complaint.

Raisi had asked him what group he belonged to, and when he said MEK, "his death sentence was assured", the complaint said, adding that Shemiriani still did not know why his life was spared.

Instead he remained in prison until 1991, facing daily torture, the complaint said.

The two other petitioners had also been in Iranian prisons in 1988, and said they recognised Raisi "as a member of the death commission", according to the complaint.

- International campaign -

In parallel to the legal complaint, an international campaign is also underway expressing outrage at Raisi's participation in the UN refugee forum, and demanding his prosecution.

"Raisi was a key perpetrator of the 1988 massacre of thousands of political prisoners. His presence at the UN forum contradicts the fundamental values the UN stands for," said the petition.

So far it has gathered more than 200 signatures from dignitaries including Nobel laureates, judges, former ministers, parliamentarians, academics and UN rights experts.

"We firmly believe that the United Nations, as a bastion of human rights and justice, should not compromise its reputation by extending an invitation to an individual accused of grave human rights violations," it said, urging the UN to "promptly rescind its invitation to Raisi".

The signatories also said they supported "the call for Ebrahim Raisi to be investigated and prosecuted for his involvement in past and ongoing crimes under international law, including by states that exercise universal jurisdiction".
A legal complaint called Monday for Swiss authorities to arrest Iran's president during an expected visit and charge him with crimes against humanity connected to a 1988 purge of dissidents.

The complaint asks Swiss federal public prosecutor Andreas Muller to ensure the arrest and prosecution of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi "over his participation in acts of genocide, torture, extrajudicial executions and other crimes against humanity".

Raisi was expected to participate in the United Nations Global Refugee Forum, which begins in Geneva on Wednesday, but the UN said Monday evening that Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian would lead the Iranian delegation, an indication that Raisi might not show.

The legal complaint against him, seen by AFP, was dated Monday. The prosecutor's office did not immediately confirm that it had been received.

It was filed by three alleged victims from Iran's crackdown on dissidents in the 1980s.

Rights groups have long campaigned for justice over alleged extrajudicial executions of thousands of mainly young people across Iranian prisons within a few months in the summer of 1988, just as the war with Iraq was ending.

Those killed were mainly supporters of the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran, known by the abbreviations MEK or PMOI, a group considered a terrorist organisation by Iran that backed Baghdad during the conflict.

The petitioners behind Monday's complaint said they could personally identify Raisi as figuring on a commission that sent thousands of jailed opponents to their deaths during the crackdown.

He was serving as deputy prosecutor general of Tehran at the time, and was among the most eager on his commission to sentence prisoners to death, the complaint said.

The main petitioner, Reza Shemiriani, was arrested in 1981 and was one of fewer than 150 of the 5,000 prisoners detained in his cell bloc who survived the 1988 purge, according to the complaint.

Raisi had asked him what group he belonged to, and when he said MEK, "his death sentence was assured", the complaint said, adding that Shemiriani still did not know why his life was spared.

Instead he remained in prison until 1991, facing daily torture, the complaint said.

The two other petitioners had also been in Iranian prisons in 1988, and said they recognised Raisi "as a member of the death commission", according to the complaint.

- International campaign -

In parallel to the legal complaint, an international campaign is also underway expressing outrage at Raisi's participation in the UN refugee forum, and urging his prosecution for "involvement in past and ongoing crimes under international law".

"Raisi was a key perpetrator of the 1988 massacre of thousands of political prisoners. His presence at the UN forum contradicts the fundamental values the UN stands for," said the petition.

So far it has gathered more than 200 signatures from dignitaries including Nobel laureates, judges, former ministers, parliamentarians, academics and UN rights experts.

"We firmly believe that the United Nations, as a bastion of human rights and justice, should not compromise its reputation by extending an invitation to an individual accused of grave human rights violations," it said, urging the UN to "promptly rescind its invitation to Raisi".

When asked about the petition, forum host UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, told AFP that "Iran is a member state of the United Nations and therefore invited to the Global Refugee Forum".

"Iran has also been one of the largest refugee hosting countries for over 40 years," a spokesman said in an email, adding that "the Iranian delegation will be led by the foreign minister".
COP28 is drawing to a close in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), marked by the paradox of its president, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, who is both CEO of the national oil company and founder of the Emirati renewable energy giant. "There is no science that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is whats going to achieve 1.5C" [maximum increase in average global temperature set by the Paris Agreement at COP21 in 2015], he said on November 21 at an online conference organised by the NGO She Changes Climate.

However, the sixth report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published in March 2023, is clear: a "gradual phase-out" of fossil fuels is needed if we are to stay below the target 1.5C temperature rise. The experts add that this will require a reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions of at least 84% by 2050. In its report Net Zero by 2050, published two years ago, the International Energy Agency (IEA) was already calling for carbon neutrality to be achieved by mid-century, and for all investment in fossil fuel extraction to cease.

Any other trajectory would only exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe linked to climate change, which in 2022 alone resulted in the forced displacement of 23.7 million people and the premature death of hundreds of thousands more: almost 62,000 in Europe alone as a result of the intense summer heatwave. And yet the time frame for phasing out fossil fuels has never seemed so far away: in 2023, the record for global greenhouse gas emissions is about to be broken, with a figure of 38.6 billion tonnes calculated by the 120 scientists of the Global Carbon Project.

Governments deemed responsible

Whose responsibility is it to halt this descent into hell? Politically, it lies with governments: under the international climate negotiation process, they are responsible for reducing global emissions in line with their historical responsibility for the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

But "because climate negotiations were desperately slow, impacted communities along with climate NGOs began to sue states in courts, mostly wealthy states with high greenhouse gas emissions", explains Lucy Maxwell, co-director of the Climate Litigation Network run by Amsterdam-based NGO Urgenda. These NGOs read and use scientific publications.

In 2015, the first successful climate case brought by Urgenda against the Dutch government in The Hague was replete with IPCC data, validated one after the other by the Dutch government at successive COPs. The government was ordered to speed up the reduction of its emissions, on the grounds that it had not met its international commitments and that it must guarantee the fundamental rights of the Dutch people, in particular the right to life and the right to enjoy their property, which are threatened by climate change.

Inspired by the Dutch precedent, other successful actions against governments have followed: Friends of the Irish Environment against Ireland (judgment by the Irish Supreme Court in 2020), Notre Affaire a tous against the French government (judgment by the Paris Administrative Court in 2021), and recently Deutsche Umwelthilfe against Germany (judgment by the Berlin Administrative Court on November 30) and Klimaatzaak against the Belgian government (judgment by the Brussels Court of Appeal on November 30).

Fierce defence by oil companies

Meanwhile, the scientific literature is growing. The IPCC's reports are being relayed by other academic studies, including the famous Carbon Majors study in 2017. This points to the immense responsibility of fossil fuel producers in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly the oil giants in Saudi Arabia, the coal giants in China and the gas giants in Russia.

Alerted by these studies, and strengthened by their success against governments, European climate NGOs have filed climate lawsuits against the continent's major oil companies. So far, these have been less successful. Despite the victorious appeal by the Dutch NGO Milieudefensie, which in 2021 ordered the Anglo-Dutch company Shell to reduce its emissions 45% by 2030 compared with their 2019 level, these proceedings are dragging on.

"Fossil fuel companies invest a great deal in their legal defence," observes Justine Ripoll, head of campaigns at the association Notre affaire a tous, which filed a climate complaint against the French oil company TotalEnergies in January 2020. "Their strategy systematically consists of raising procedural points, which lengthens the time taken to investigate the case. What's more, the very existence of these companies is at stake in these appeals: they cannot suddenly reduce their fossil fuel production, which has until now been their raison d'etre. That's why they are defending themselves so fiercely."

Banks in the firing line

And the chain of responsibility is increasingly well documented. Based on data provided by the IPCC, the IEA, IJ Global and Bloomberg, two leading agencies in the field of energy and financial information, an international consortium of NGOs has been publishing the annual Banking on Climate Chaos report since 2016. That report lists the financing received by the world's largest fossil fuel extraction companies and projects. This data, supplemented by the Carbon Bombs study, originally published in May 2022 by German geographer Kjell Kuhne in the journal Energy Policy and enriched by financial analyses from French NGOs Data for Good and Eclaircies, was relayed at the end of October by an international consortium of media including Le Monde and The Guardian.

What does it tell us? That there are 422 major fossil fuel extraction sites in the world (coal, oil, gas), 294 of which are currently in operation and 128 of which are planned, each of which has a potential to emit more than a billion tonnes of carbon equivalent: these are the "carbon bombs". Together, they have an emission potential of more than 1,200 billion tonnes, compared with 500 billion tonnes, the maximum amount that humans can release according to the IPCC if we want to stay below the 1.5C global temperature rise threshold. China, Russia, the United States and the countries of the Persian Gulf are the countries with the highest concentration of "carbon bombs".

The data collected reveals that between 2016 and 2022, the international financial sector invested USD 1,800 billion (equivalent to a year's worth of Russia's gross domestic product) in these carbon bombs, the exploitation of which is exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe linked to climate change. The USD 160 billion granted to these projects in 2022 was mainly by Chinese, French, Japanese and US banks.

Climate NGOs have been quick to seize on this new information. In October 2022, Notre affaire a tous and two other French NGOs served formal notice on BNP Paribas to cease all financial support for new fossil fuel projects so that the Eurozone's second-largest bank comply with the objective of limiting global warming to 1.5C. To do so, it leant on France's "duty of vigilance" law, passed in 2017, which requires companies with more than 5,000 employees to implement measures to prevent human rights and environmental abuses. In November 2022, Milieudefensie published a ranking of the seven Dutch financial institutions most involved in fossil fuel extraction projects, urging them to divest. The NGO has announced that legal action will be taken in January 2024. The case is being brought by Roger Cox, the lawyer who drafted Urgenda's case against the Netherlands and Milieudefensie's case against Shell.

What new horizons?

"These cases are crucial because there is still a lot of money in the pipeline for these fossil fuel projects, despite scientific evidence of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of further dangerous climate change," says Lucy Maxwell. "We are trying to launch high-impact, strategic litigation," agrees Justine Ripoll. "Unlike TotalEnergies, BNP Paribas can more easily stop its involvement in the extraction of fossil fuels, without its entire business being called into question."

After the first generation of climate lawsuits against governments, the second generation against fossil fuel producers and the still nascent third generation against the banks that finance them, is there a new legal horizon? "It's clear that we're also looking elsewhere, for example at the agri-food sector, the companies responsible for deforestation, and intensive livestock farming with its methane emissions," continues Justine Ripoll. "But at this stage, the scientific data and information on these sectors lack transparency.
Epic Games mostly lost to Apple in its antitrust lawsuit against the tech giant, but it has prevailed in a similar action against Google: a jury found Google illegally exploited its monopoly of app distribution and in-app payments. Sean Hollister at The Verge:

After just a few hours of deliberation, the jury unanimously answered yes to every question put before them  that Google has monopoly power in the Android app distribution markets and in-app billing services markets, that Google did anticompetitive things in those markets, and that Epic was injured by that behavior. They decided Google has an illegal tie between its Google Play app store and its Google Play Billing payment services, too, and that its distribution agreement, Project Hug deals with game developers and deals with OEMs were all anticompetitive.

In addition to accusing Google of using its store to crush competition, Epic says it charged unreasonable fees of up to 30% to developers. Reuters describes it as a "stunning defeat for Google."

If the ruling holds, it has the potential to give developers more sway over how their apps are distributed and how they profit off them.  While the Play store represents a much smaller chunk of Google's revenue compared to its massively profitable search business, it is symbolically important as the central gatekeeper to billions of mobile phones and tablets.

Epic, which publishes a high-end game development engine and maintains a game-centric store of its own, released a statement describing the outcome as a "win for all developers."

Today's verdict is a win for all app developers and consumers around the world. It proves that Google's app store practices are illegal and they abuse their monopoly to extract exorbitant fees, stifle competition and reduce innovation. Over the course of the trial we saw evidence that Google was willing to pay billions of dollars to stifle alternative app stores by paying developers to abandon their own store efforts and direct distribution plans, and offering highly lucrative agreements with device manufacturers in exchange for excluding competing app stores. These deals were meant to cement Google's dominance as the only app store in town  and it worked. More than 95% of apps are distributed through the Play Store on Android.

Google plans to appeal the verdict, it says.

Though the outcome is very different to that in Epic Games v. Apple, consider that Google was accused of doing something very naughty indeed: deleting evidence.
Netflix clarified news regarding the "Goodbye Earth" release, which stars the controversial actor Yoo Ah In.

Following a report on the drama's possible premiere, the streaming giant updated the public about the status of the series.

Netflix Reacts to News About 'Goodbye Earth' Release Date

In a report, a representative from Netflix explained that the premiere of "Goodbye Earth" is still under discussion.

"The release schedule for 'Goodbye Earth' has not been determined. It is temporarily postponed."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Yoo Ah In Drug Scandal: Actor Reportedly Faked Pain to Get Propofol

Despite this, the streaming giant assured the public that they "will provide further information on the specific release schedule as soon as it is confirmed."

Prior to Netflix's response, a news portal stated that Yoo Ah In's drama was looking into releasing the series in April 2024.

Other than this, the actor's appearance in "Goodbye Earth" would be edited out as much as possible.

Supporting Actor Posts Heartbreaking Reaction to Postponement of 'Goodbye Earth'

It can be recalled that the Netflix original series wrapped up its filming in the first quarter of 2023 but got postponed due to the actor's involvement in illegal drugs.

Due to this, supporting actor Kim Young Woong took to social media to express his dismay regarding the situation involving the upcoming series.

In a heartbreaking Instagram post, the actor lamented about the sacrifices of everyone, from the staff to the actors, writers, and directors, which are "about to disappear" due to one incident.

"I have no intention of defending him. Of course, there must be a price for him to pay. However, it is upsetting that 'Goodbye Earth,' which was about to be born through the hard work and sacrifice of countless people, will not see the light of day."

Other than "Goodbye Earth," the upcoming K-drama "The Match," which also stars Yoo Ah In, experienced the same fate and was halted for the time being.

Besides the negative effect on his two upcoming dramas, Yoo Ah In voluntarily stepped down from his role in "Hellbound" season 2.

Netflix confirmed that Kim Sung Cheol would take over the actor's role as religious leader Jung Jin Su, set to make a comeback in the sequel.

On top of it, brands also cut ties with the actor after testing positive for five drugs, particularly propofol, cocaine, marijuana, ketamine, and zolpidem.

Yoo Ah In Expected to Appear on His First Formal Trial

Meanwhile, Yoo Ah In is still dealing with the drug charges against him and is set to appear in his first trial after being postponed.

Initially set in November, the actor's camp requested a reschedule to have ample time for them to prepare for the case.

Yoo Ah In is expected to appear in court on December 12 on charges regarding a violation of the Narcotics Act.

READ MORE: Yoo Ah In Appoints More Lawyers + Requests to Change First Trial Date

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
Yoo Ah In had a brief interaction with the media ahead of his first trial.

As the award-winning star faced a continued investigation regarding his involvement with illegal drug use, the "Chicago Typewriter" star arrived at the Seoul Central District Court on December 12 to participate in the ongoing proceedings.

Yoo Ah In, Once Again, Expresses Apology

Wearing an all-black suit, the actor and his acquaintance, Mr. Choi, also being questioned regarding the violation of the narcotics act, appeared in front of the media to express their thoughts about the probe.

READ MORE: Yoo Ah In Drug Scandal: Actor Reportedly Faked Pain to Get Propofol

In news obtained by a media outlet, Yoo Ah In said that he "will face it faithfully," referring to the court's decision.

Moreover, the actor also assured the public that he would "participate faithfully in the trial process," adding that he would give all the explanations as best he could.

Yoo Ah In also took the opportunity to apologize to colleagues, fans, and those who were negatively affected by his actions.

"I sincerely apologize once again to those who were greatly disappointed and suffered a lot of damage because of me."

As the trial was about to start, Yoo Ah In refused to answer the media's questions pertaining to admitting the charges.

The first trial was rescheduled from November to December 12 after Yoo Ah In's legal team asked the court for a few weeks of delay to properly sort things out on their end.

The "Seoul Vibe" star is under investigation for violating the Narcotics Control Act and was accused of habitually administering propofol 181 times from September 2020 to March 2022.

In addition to this, authorities also found out that the award-winning actor illegally prescribed and purchased 1,100 doses of sleeping pills 44 times using someone else's name between May 2021 and August 2022.

The police also suspected Yoo Ah In of instigating the destruction of evidence.

Yoo Ah In's Drama 'Goodbye Earth' Still on Pause

Amid the update regarding Yoo Ah In's drug case, his K-drama "Goodbye Earth" will reportedly air in April 2024.

A news outlet mentioned that officials are looking into releasing the series after being delayed due to the actor's controversy.

However, Netflix clarified the news, noting that "Goodbye Earth" is still under discussion.

"The release schedule for 'Goodbye Earth' has not been determined. It is temporarily postponed."

The upcoming series is just one of his projects that were put on hold due to the issue.

"The Match" will also star the actor who shared the same fate as "Goodbye Earth."

Meanwhile, the Netflix original series also stars Ahn Eun Jin as one of the main characters. It depicts the story of individuals who struggle to survive in a chaotic situation following the approaching doomsday.





IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Yoo Ah In Drops Out of 'Hellbound 2' + THIS 'Our Beloved Summer' Star Takes Over as Lead

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
"My Demon" star Song Kang shared his thoughts about the nickname he and his current onscreen partner Kim Yoo Jung earned.

Curious about what the heartthrob said? Then read on!

'Visual Couple' Song Kang & Kim Yoo Jung Grace ELLE Korea December 2023 Issue

Currently dominating the primetime and various media outlets, the new love team Song Kang and Kim Yoo Jung made their appearance in ELLE Korea's December 2023 issue.

Even ahead of "My Demon" premiere, these two stars were already making waves for their star power and insane visual chemistry. But it seems like their fame magnified when they teamed up for the K-drama.

Song Kang and Kim Yoo Jung portray the ruthless 200-year-old demon and fierce chaebol heiress, respectively, brought together due to unexpected circumstances.

"My Demon" currently airs and occupies the Friday and Saturday slots.

With 6 episodes already released, the drama is amassing explosive popularity among viewers.

ALSO READ: 'My Demon' Episode 6: Kim Yoo Jung Accepts Song Kang's Marriage Proposal - Did Love Finally Bloom?

In fact, its latest episode recorded its highest rating yet, and netizens enjoy how the romance and story unfold while appreciating the chemistry between the main protagonists.

Song Kang Gives All Credits to Kim Yoo Jung for Their New Title 'Visual Couple'

As they sat for an exclusive interview with ELLE Korea, Song Kang and Kim Yoo Jung addressed their new image as the incredible "Visual Couple," and shared their thoughts on how they felt about their new title.

The "Nevertheless" star sweetly and humbly stated that his co-star is the reason behind the success of their tandem.

"Yoo Jung is doing the heavy-lifting in that aspect. I think she makes us a visual couple."

Song Kang's reaction in giving Kim Yoo Jung all the credits had the public swooning as they praised the actor's response and the co-stars' natural chemistry on and off the lens.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Song Kang & Kim Yoo Jung Reveal Their Most Memorable Scenes in 'My Demon'

Due to their stunning visuals and unfiltered chemistry, fans have been shipping them, while some even wish they date for real.

He give credit to her on why they are called a Visual Couple...

While she thinks its really nice that people say they look alike..#KimYooJung #SongKang pic.twitter.com/UxskATwQlu December 9, 2023





Love how songkang gave whole credit to yoojung & said she makes us visual couple even tho he himself is participating as equally as yoojung in being visual couple  THEIR BOND IS IRREPLACEABLE #KimYooJung #SongKang #MyDemon pic.twitter.com/kJwFR8pOhb  AiSh TLG  (@MeeeAisha) December 9, 2023

To see more of their interview, you can watch them here!

Meanwhile, catch Kim Yoo Jung and Song Kang every week on SBS and Netflix at 10 p.m. (KST).

New "My Demon" episodes are released every Friday and Saturday.

The drama is expected to receive more love as the story progresses in the upcoming weeks.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Song Kang & Kim Yoo Jung's Chemistry Causes Viewers To Wish They Date FOR REAL

What can you say about Song Kang and Kim Yoo Jung dubbed as the visual couple? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
After enjoying the viewers' great reviews and high scores, "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" is put in hot water after a company raises concerns of plagiarism.

Following the release of its latest episode, the production unit of the show speaks up through a statement. Here's what they said. Keep on reading.

'The Story of Park's Marriage Contract' Embroiled For Plagiarism

On December 12, Lee Se Young and Bae In Hyuk's "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" made headlines after its production team was called out for plagiarism.

A hanbok (Korean traditional clothing) company called Hanbok Leesle raised their concerns after the newest episode was released. According to them, their hanbok designs were stolen.

Lee Se Young, who plays a fashion enthusiast in the show, presented the designs as her own, which left a bad taste in the public's eye.

YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS: Lee Se Young Couples With Sakaguchi Kentaro In New Romance Drama - More Details Inside!

"It's our collection at the Milan Fashion Week," Hwang Yi Seol, the CEO, stated. "We would have been happy if they had asked to officially use it in a scene that just passes by quickly."

READ MORE: Jo Jung Suk & Shin Se Kyung Display Time-Transcending Romance In 'Captivating The King'

Fans expressed their disappointment with the series, saying, "Even though they're just props, they should have asked for permission. It's a big mistake."

In addition, the CEO said that she would have let them use her designs free of charge had the drama team reached out to them, emphasizing the importance of proper communication.

'The Story of Park's Marriage Contract' Apologizes For Plagiarism Issue

In the late afternoon of December 12, Hwang Yi Seol updated the public, saying that the showrunners of "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" apologized to her.

In addition, an official statement was also released, asking for the company's forgiveness and understanding. They also said that they reached an amicable agreement to credit the source.

"The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" team also mentioned a communication error, clarifying that the design was unintentionally used. They ask for the public's understanding as well.

With that said, catch "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 p.m. KST on MBC TV.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'The Story of Park's Marriage Contract' Episode 5: Lee Se Young Finds Ways To Return To Joseon

Have you seen the drama yet? Share your thoughts on "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" in the comments below!

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
In Ontario, Canada, former chef Kenneth Law, 58, was charged with 14 counts of murder in Canada for "counseling or aiding" suicides. Apparently Law sold "suicide kits" containing a food additive that can be deadly if consumed in large amounts.

According to CBS News, Law "targeted vulnerable people online" and sent 1,200 orders to people across more than 40 countries:

In Britain, at least 272 people purchased products from Law's websites and 88 of them died, police there have said. Alerted by Interpol, several other countries have launched investigations, including New Zealand and Italy, where nine buyers have been identified and one victim has died.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 in the US or online chat here.
Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas, centre, prepares to light the first candle during the lighting of a menorah in Stuart Park last week. About 150 people attended the annual event, marking the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Chanukah.
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu is expected to table much-anticipated legislation to improve water quality in First Nations communities today. Hajdu rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A lawyer for Ibrahim Ali in his first-degree murder trial says police told him a person close to the proceeding brought a handgun into the Vancouver courtroom on Friday with "intent to kill." Media wait outside B.C. Supreme Court, in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A lawyer for Ibrahim Ali is seeking to appeal his client's first-degree murder conviction in the killing of a 13-year-old girl in a British Columbia park, citing 25 grounds including allegations about "third-party suspects" and bias by the court.; Media wait outside B.C. Supreme Court, in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A sand-swimming golden was located in South Africa after not being detected for a whopping 86 years. The adorable creature, called "De Winton's golden mole," was declared a "lost species" after having last been spotted way back in 1937, but a group of scientists from the Endangered Wildlife Trust, Stellenbosch University and the University of Pretoria, didn't give up hope that one day the it might be rediscovered. And they were rightin November 2023 they found one through a process of tracking environmental DNA. What a remarkable find!

The Conversation published an interesting and informative interview with a member of the mole-finding team, molecular biologist Dr. Samantha Mynhardt, which is definitely worth a read. In the piece she answers questions about how they found the mole, why they went looking in the first place, how many De Winton's golden moles still exist, and more. Here are a couple of excerpts from the interview:

How did this mole species stay 'lost' for so long?: De Winton's golden mole has been severely affected by diamond and mineral mining activities on the South African west coast and we suspect that the population has declined substantially over the past century. The species was last detected in 1937 at the small harbour town of Port Nolloth on the north-western coast of South Africa. For the next 86 years, it eluded scientists, probably because of difficulties in locating and trapping it and because a similar looking mole, Grant's golden mole (Eremitalpa granti), was still present in the area. How did you collect the mole's environmental DNA? We collected over 100 soil samples from the insides of their underground tunnels. Animals shed their DNA into their environment, typically in the form of skin cells, hair, excretions and secretions. This environmental DNA (eDNA) is so tiny it is invisible to the human eye. We later extracted the eDNA from the soil in the lab, and barcode-sequenced it. The DNA sequence matched a De Winton's reference sequence, which had been generated in 2010 from a museum specimen housed at the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History.

I'm so glad they have rediscovered this fine beastI hope their conservations efforts help create a more robust population, and that other lost species are soon found, as well!
In Marjorie Taylor Greene's divisive world, you can use batteries or read bibles, but never the twain shall meet. Or at least that's what she said at a town hall, as reported by Meidas Touch.

"I'm very concerned over it and completely against it," she said about a new $4 billion  $5 billion plant Hyundai is planning to build northwest of Atlanta that would employee at least 3,500 people.

"We're the Bible Belt. We don't want to be the Battery Belt," the Christian nationalist announced with a straight face. Easy for the rich Qongresswoman, who is worth $11 million, to say.

In other words, Greene suggests that battery plants have no place in the state because Georgia is already known for their bibles. And for some reason, the state can't be known for both. I guess some people, or at least Marge, just can't walk and chew gum at the same time.
Africa, often celebrated as a continent rich in natural resources, paradoxically carries the tag of being one of the worlds poorest regions. While the continent boasts an abundance of mineral wealth, it faces multifaceted challenges that have hindered its economic growth and development. Emmanuel Katto, Uganda based visionary businessman and an advocate of a sustainable resource management and wealth distribution, for African Mineral mines to transform Africa from a resource-rich to the richest continent on the globe.

African mineral wealth is undeniable, with vast reserves of precious metals, gemstones, and minerals that are in high demand globally. These resources, if harnessed responsibly and inclusively, hold the potential to drive Africas economic prosperity and social development. However, a range of challenges have stood in the way, from governance issues to insufficient infrastructure and technology, as well as economic disparities.

Emmanuel Katto recognizes that a sustainable solution to transform Africas fortunes begins with transparent and accountable governance. Many African nations have struggled with issues related to resource mismanagement, corruption, and a lack of effective regulatory frameworks. Katto advocates for a comprehensive approach that includes the establishment of transparent and accountable governance structures and the development of effective regulatory frameworks. By doing so, African nations can ensure that resource revenues are used to benefit their citizens, rather than enrich a select few.

Infrastructure development is another critical facet of Africas transformation. Insufficient infrastructure, such as transportation, energy, and telecommunications, has impeded the mining and processing of minerals. Emmanuel Katto emphasizes the importance of investing in infrastructure projects that facilitate the extraction and processing of mineral resources. By building the necessary infrastructure, African countries can unlock the true economic potential of their mineral wealth and create jobs and economic opportunities.

Moreover, technology plays a pivotal role in transforming Africa into the richest continent. Leveraging modern technologies can enhance the efficiency of resource extraction, processing, and value addition. Katto suggests investing in research and development to create innovative solutions that can increase the value of mineral exports and create new industries in Africa. These initiatives can lead to a higher share of revenues remaining within the continent, driving economic growth.

A critical challenge facing many African nations is the lack of capacity to manage and regulate their mineral resources effectively. Emmanuel Katto recommends enhancing the skills and knowledge of local professionals in the mining and mineral processing industries. By developing a skilled workforce, Africa can reduce its reliance on foreign experts and improve the efficiency of resource management.

Empowering local communities to participate in and benefit from mineral wealth is a cornerstone of Kattos vision. He advocates for community-based initiatives that ensure local populations have a stake in resource extraction and receive a fair share of the benefits. By involving communities in decision-making and revenue-sharing arrangements, Africa can address social and economic disparities and promote sustainable development.

In line with Kattos vision, strategic partnerships with international investors and organizations can facilitate the responsible extraction and processing of mineral resources. By collaborating with global players, African nations can access technical expertise, financing, and markets, leading to a win-win situation for all parties involved.

Emmanuel Katto also encourages diversification of the economy beyond mineral resources. While mineral wealth is an asset, overreliance on a single sector can lead to economic vulnerability. Katto proposes investing in other sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology, to create a well-rounded and resilient economy.

Emmanuel Kattos visionary approach to transforming Africa from a resource-rich to the richest continent is rooted in transparent governance, infrastructure development, technology utilization, capacity building, community empowerment, and diversification of the economy. By addressing these challenges and adopting a sustainable and inclusive approach to resource management, Africa has the potential to unlock its true economic potential and become a prosperous continent that benefits all of its citizens. Kattos message is clear: Africas mineral wealth is an asset, but its true value can only be realized through responsible and inclusive development.

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By Suzan Nanjala

Religious leaders and politicians in Teso have been urged to support retired Bishops and clergy when they are still alive. Minister of State for Transport and Works, Mr Musa Ecweru made the remarks during the burial of the retired Bishop Emeritus Thomas Edison Irigei at St. Philips Cathedral in Ngora District on Monday.

Mr Irigei who served as the first bishop of Kumi Diocese between 2001 and 2019 succumbed to hypertension and diabetes on December 5 at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital.

Mr Ecweru noted that religious leaders and politicians in Teso sub-region only acknowledge the goodness of someone after they have died.

He said most of the retired bishops and politicians have been neglected yet they diligently served the country.

Many of us here come to celebrate the life of the dead but dont remember to visit them after they have retired, but this should end today, he said.

Minister of Teso Affairs, Mr Kenneth Ongola encouraged Christians of Kumi Diocese to embrace unity.

Mr Ongola said Christians in the diocese are sowing seeds of disunity which is contrary to the teachings of the Bible.

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu who was the main celebrant assisted by Bishop Michael Esakan of Kumi Diocese and bishop Kosea Odongo, asked Christians to renew their faith.

Meanwhile, President Museveni in his remarks read by the State Minister for Mineral Development, Mr Sidronius Okaasai Opolot, called on the religious leaders to foster unity among Christians.

I remember the late was a peaceful and loving person, a good example to the Christians, Mr Museveni said.

The President asked the clergy and local leadership in Teso to mobilize locals to embrace government poverty alleviation programmes like the Parish Development Model.
By Noeline Nabukenya

Makerere University has started the search for a new chancellor to replace Prof Ezra Suruma who has served for the past eight years. Prof Suruma assumed office as the chancellor of Makerere University in January 2016 after being appointed by President Museveni on December 2, 2015.

According to a public notice issued by University Secretary Yusuf Kiranda on Monday, for one to qualify to enter the race, he or she must be a Ugandan citizen and not a serving member of any academic institution.

Must be between the minimum age of 55 and the maximum age of 75 at the time of nomination.Is not a serving chancellor, vice chancellor or staff of any academic institution and not a registered student of Uganda,the notice read in part.

The notice further requires the candi- date to have at least a bachelors degree from a recognised higher institution of learning with high integrity and good public relations.

The chancellor is appointed to the office for a term of four years, which may be renewed for one term. The outgoing chancellor took over office from Prof George Mondo Kagonyera, who served for two terms from October 23, 2007, to October 23, 2015.

He is the third non-Head of State Chancellor of Makerere University. The President is reserved with the powers to appoint the chancellor on the recommendation of the University Council as per Section 30 (1) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2001. The chancellor is the titular head of the university and presides at all assemblies,confers degrees, other academic titles and the distinctions of the institution. Makerere University has so far had five chancellors, the first being Apollo Milton Obote who served for two terms (1970-1975, 1981-1985).

Idi Amin also served as chancellor from 1971 to 1979, and President Museveni from 1986-2002. The first non-Head of State chancellor was Apolo Nsibambi who served between 2003 and 2007 before he was replaced by Prof Kagonyera.
By AFP

UK lawmakers on Tuesday voted in favour of the governments latest plans to send migrants to Rwanda, which has split Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks ruling Conservative party.

A knife-edge parliamentary vote after an afternoon of debate saw 313 MPs vote for the so-called Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, with 269 against.

The emergency bill, published only last week, is Sunaks answer to a damning unanimous Supreme Court ruling in November that deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda was illegal under international law.

It is part of wider government action to cut record levels of regular and irregular immigration, which is likely to be a key issue at next years election.

But the issue is by no means settled for Sunak, who has staked his reputation  and political future  on the plan.

By seeking to declare Rwanda safe despite concerns from human rights monitors, and removing legal challenges to deportation orders, he has triggered deep factional Tory infighting not seen since Brexit.

Hardline right-wingers say the proposals are not tough enough, while more liberal Tories are concerned they could see the UK break international law if they are amended down the line.

Minutes before the vote, MP Mark Francois told reporters that the so-called five families of right-wing Tory factions had met and decided not to support the bill as it stood.

We have decided collectively that we cannot support the bill tonight because of its many omissions We will not be supporting it, said Francois, chairman of the European Research Group of Tory MPs who advocated a hard Brexit.

The prime minister has been telling colleagues today he is prepared to entertain tightening the bill.

With that aim, at the committee stage we will aim to table amendments which would, we hope, if accepted, materially improve the bill and remove some of its weaknesses.

Francois said the group would introduce amendments in January, signalling more political wrangling for Sunak in the new year.
When human suffering makes its presence felt, many will opt not to face it head-on, telling themselves that its not their problem.

Thats certainly not the case for Bridget Parker and Liam Heffernan.

These two Kilkenny natives have been incredible humanitarians in South Africa over the years, stepping in when called upon to help those who needed it the most.

Last week, everything came full circle when four former inhabitants of an orphanage that the pair helped establish and run in Cape Town visited Kilkenny.

When these men needed humanity the most, at a time in their lives when it seemed like society was turning the other cheek, Bridget and Liam were amongst the few willing to help them.

Bridget lived in South Africa for approximately four decades, before moving back to Ireland.

During her time in the country, she set up a night shelter for those most in need in the townships around Cape Town.

People were dying in the doorways, she said.

Young people were left to fend for themselves, given no opportunities or no help, all while the government turned a blind eye.

Bridget explained that most of the humanitarian aid and services being provided in Cape Town came from overseas volunteers, and that people from Ireland were a vital part of this effort.

In the early 2000s, Bridgets path crossed with fellow Kilkenny native Liam Heffernan, who was in the country as part of the Niall Mellon Township Trust.

The Trust was set up with the aim of providing homes to impoverished communities in South Africas townships.

We used to go and build schools and extensions to schools, Liam explains.

Bridget came to visit us one day to see the work we were doing and thats where it all started.

Bridget befriended a woman called Mrs Juqu, her husband was a taxi driver who had abandoned her. She had three young kids at the time and was battling AIDS.

Unfortunately, she later passed away and the kids were left without parents and we were wondering what we could do to help them, so we said wed set up an orphanage.

Liam was involved with a union at the time, the Communication Workers Union, and most of the members of the union were happy to put away about twenty cents a week to help raise enough money to set up an orphanage.

It doesnt sound like much but when you multiply it by 18,000 it becomes a handsome sum of money, Liam said.

Eventually we raised approximately 50,000 from the union and had to use our own contacts to generate another 30,000.

Liam and his wife then went looking for a suitable property for the orphanage in and started looking around the almost exclusively white suburban enclave of Somerset West.

We travelled around there and we saw this house, it was ideal for our needs, ticked all the boxes, Liam said.

Myself and my wife started negotiations with the owner who was a Boer and was relocating back to Holland.

He thought we were going into the house, and had no idea about any of our plans to establish an orphanage there.

After securing the property, and after some initial protesting from locals that later died down, Liam knew he would need trusted people to help him run the orphanage.

This was especially true for times when he would not be there, and he extended the offer to Bridget and her late husband Dave.

Mrs Juqus three orphaned sons now had somewhere they could call their own, and people who cared for them, as did all of the others who came into the care of the orphanage over the years.

Liam said that the five lads that he was closest to went on to do very well for themselves.

One is a doctor, one is a trader in Botswana, one is a taxi driver, another is a chef and the youngest is an electrician.

Youd be proud to have them as your own sons. They are all so mannerly and polite, its an inspirational story.

For Liam and Bridget, seeing some of the lads make the journey back to them in Ireland last week was a moving event.

Their first port of call was to visit Bridget down in Glandore in Cork, where she lives now, before coming to Kilkenny to meet up with Liam.

We brought them on a tour of Kilkenny and down to a traditional music session in John Cleeres Bar, and they really enjoyed it.

Liam would like to thank all of those over the years who helped with the donations.

People often see us getting money and wonder where it went, but thats where it went. It was invested in these orphans who society had abandoned and that investment has more than paid off.

Kilkenny has well and truly left its mark on the townships of Cape Town, and it was worth every penny.
The Lingaun Valley Tourism workshop, hosted by Failte Ireland, saw an impressive turnout with over fifty-five enthusiastic members from the tourism and local communities of Kilkenny and Tipperary meeting at the Carraig Hotel last Thursday.

During her opening address, Justine Carey, Failte Ireland and Manager of the Irelands Ancient East brand destination, highlighted the cross-border Lingaun Valleys regions potential for a tourism transformation, based on the Irelands Ancient East brand focus and the Lingauns on prestige heritage sites.

Built more than 5,000 years ago by the first farmers, Knockroe Passage Tomb is part of a large collection of interconnected megalithic sites in the area, including the Kilmacoliver Stone Circle on Bawnfree Hill and the cairn on Sliabh na mBan. Other notable sites in the valley include the Killamery High Cross, which dates back to the 8th Century, Kilkieran High Crosses, Kilmacoliver Stone Circle, Carrigadoon Hillfort, Owning Portal Tomb, Lamogue Ogham Stone and the Ahenny High Crosses, which were commissioned in the 8th Century by Cerball mac Dunlaighe, the High King of Ossory at the celebrated site of the early Christian Kilclispeen Monastery.

Ms Carey told the meeting that this sustainable development could be facilitated by community-driven accommodations and attractions, working with private businesses.

The facilitators of the workshop, Bane Mullarkey, emphasised the significance of fostering sustainable tourism success through collaborative efforts from a mix of tourism providers. This collaboration results in a better experience for visitors.

The facilitators also underlined the role of communities in Irish tourism, from driving annual festivals to the relentless dedication of Tidy Towns committees.

The workshop delved into visitor research shared by Failte Ireland regarding visitor expectations and preferences. The pivotal role of overnight stays was highlighted, as an necessity to grow a sustainable visitor experience while maximising spending within the community.

Community networks are founded on a simple principle: tourism providers collaborating to endorse each others offerings to visitors. Theres unmatched power in personal recommendations - visitors value suggestions for other attractions from their hosts, be it a guided walking tour or recommendations for dining and accommodation.

This enriches the areas narrative, enhances visitor experiences, and bolsters sustainable community tourism networks, according to the Failte Ireland research.

The workshop included insights and case studies and examples showcasing successful collaborations around Ireland, such as the Burren Ecotourism and Geopark initiative in County Clare.

The speed networking part of event provided a platform for participants to engage and exchange thoughts on challenges and opportunities for increasing future visitor awareness and attraction for the Lingaun Valley.

Jimmy Walsh, PRO for the Lingaun Valley Tourism Group, welcomed the ideas aimed at attracting visitors while safeguarding the special natural environment. He reminded the group of the upcoming Solstice Festival at Knockroe on December 21 and encouraged attendance at what has become a wonderful and moving greeting of the sunrise on that day sacred to the ancients.

Declan Rice, CEO of Kilkenny Leader Partnership also emphasised the crucial importance of cooperation among all the stakeholders- national and in the Kilkenny and Tipperary region, toward as shared goal as being key to the progress of tourism Lingaun Valley.

For more information and to get involved in this community initiative see lingaunvalleytourism.ie
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Minister for Children and Integration Roderic OGorman has said that he does not expect homelessness to rise in Ireland amid plans to pare back state supports being offered to arriving Ukrainians.

The Government has agreed to cut financial support for Ukrainians who are given state accommodation from the end of January, and will also provide state accommodation only for a maximum of 90 days.

During that period, arrivals will be paid a 38.80 euro subsistence allowance and an additional 29.80 per child per week in recognition of the fact that accommodation has been provided, according to the Taoiseach.

Arrivals had been entitled to a jobseekers allowance of 220 euro per week.

Mr OGorman said that the proposal is similar to one proposed at Cabinet several weeks ago, but with a significant change in the form of the social welfare reduction.

He also said that a number of properties around the country are to be set up solely for use as reception centres, alongside vacancies in hotel and guesthouse properties.

Meals and laundry services, integration support and access to education for children will be provided in those reception centres.

There are no changes being made to the offerings to Ukrainians who are currently in Ireland, Mr OGorman said, adding that the Attorney General was confident that the proposal did not pose a legal concern over treating two groups of people differently.

The Government has stressed that these measures are being taken as there is severe constraint on housing supply, and Ireland continues to expect around 500 arrivals per week.

More than 101,200 people have arrived from Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, with 74,500 Ukrainians living in state accommodation, and 57,000 in fully serviced accommodation.

More than 16,000 are currently in employment, according to government figures.

Mr OGorman said that there would likely be lower numbers of Ukrainians arriving in Ireland as a result, and recognised that it was a significant change but it was being done in the face of a very real capacity constraint.

What was appropriate early in the war has to evolve and we have to keep in line with the approach adopted by other member states, he said.

He said there will be an information campaign to let Ukrainians know about the changes to the supports and setting out the realities of what the challenges of securing accommodation in the private market is right now.

People travelling to Ireland post this date will know very clearly it is a different situation.

Asked if people would be made homeless after the end of the 90-day period, Mr OGorman said: I fundamentally dont believe thats going to become an issue because whats happened in other EU member states is when a limitation has been introduced to the amount of time Ukrainians can stay in accommodation, it hasnt resulted in homelessness.

Ukrainians are an extremely mobile population, they have the right under the temporary protection directive to move to other EU member states, they have the right to move back to their own country as well.

So were not seeing, when other member states introduce changes like this, any sort of instances of homelessness there.

Mr OGorman said that there wasnt a contingency plan for if Ukrainian refugees cant find accommodation in Ireland because Ukrainians can leave the state, they can go to other EU member states, they are entitled to work, entitled to live under the provisions of the directive. And indeed, Ukrainians can and do travel home.

He said that children can still be registered at a local school but it was advised that families wait until they were settled.

He said that the reception centre in Stradbally would have winter pods that would have a living space, two small bedrooms and toilet facilities.

Mr OGorman said people who are medically vulnerable will be triaged out of the system but added the Government has to be clear that the ability to provide accommodation is time limited.

Asked if he felt supported by his government colleagues in housing the thousands of people arriving in Ireland, Mr OGorman said: I do.

Mr Varadkar said the Government would work with arrivals and NGOs to find other accommodation during that 90-day period, adding: Many different possibilities arise, taking up employment where possible  which many Ukrainians have done and do provide their own accommodation, pledged accommodation and staying with people they know and networks.

He said if people move out of state accommodation after or before the 90-day window they will be assessed for social welfare like any Irish citizen, including eligibility for the rent allowance, but not social housing or the housing assistance payment.

He said the move, which would see legislation enacted by the end of January, was to bring the Irish offering into line with other western European countries, some of which, he said, had not welcomed as many Ukrainians as Ireland on a proportionate basis.

Government figures indicate that Ireland now hosts 2.3% of all beneficiaries of temporary protection in the EU.

Speaking during Leaders Questions in the Dail, Mr Varadkar said he was proud that Ireland had welcomed 100,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine during the biggest movement of people thats happened in Europe since the Second World War.

But the situation is that accommodation is scarce and the numbers coming in remain very large and were making this change with that in mind, recognising that other European countries have acted similarly, to change what they offer over the course of two years. Were now following suit, he said.
Last Thursday, December 7th, widely disliked Florida Congressperson Matt Gaetz was at a Christmas party where he was to be presented with an award. The award was in recognition of Gaetz's alleged sex trafficking of a minor and was not actually intended to be complimentary.

Gaetz, thus far, has gotten away with a lot. We will see if his bid for Governor goes anyplace, it seems his fellow Congress people would be happy to see him depart for greener pastures.

But video of the event, posted by Cleveland Scene, shows that a Strongsville Republican's acknowledgement of Gaetz was really an insult rather than an actual "award" honoring him in some way. Cleveland Scene's Vince Grzegorek reports, "Gaetz was presented with a surprise award: for his dedication to using Venmo to allegedly have sex with underage girls. As the surprise attendee finished announcing the surprise award, Gaetz interjected  and security escorted the presenter from the stage and, presumably, the building. News recaps of the event failed to mention the incident, instead focusing on Gaetz's thoughts on Ohio's political landscape." The far-right MAGA congressman, although investigated, was never charged with anything. "The Department of Justice, earlier this year, announced it would not bring charges against Gaetz in connection with a lengthy sex-trafficking investigation centering on his friend, Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to multiple counts involving girls under the age of 18," Grzegorek notes. "Greenberg, in his plea, admitted he 'introduced the minor to other adult men, who engaged in commercial sex acts.' The Daily Beast unearthed Venmo transactions between Gaetz and Greenberg, as well as Gaetz and a 17-year-old girl." Raw Story
Alexey Navalny, a Russian opposition leader jailed on fraud charges and recently jailed some more on extremism charges, is missing from his prison colony, say his lawyers. He was seen to be unwell recently, and they were later told that they could not talk to him due to an electrical problem.

Lawyers have made several attempts to get access to two penal colonies where Navalny, who has suffered serious health issues, was believed to be, spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said on X on Monday. They were informed that the 47-year-old was not at either the IK-6 or IK-7 penal colonies, Yarmysh added.

"On Friday and throughout today, neither IK-6 nor IK-7 responded to them," Yarmysh posted, adding that Navalny had been missing for six days. Navalny was last imprisoned in the IK-6 penal colony east of Moscow.

The White House said it was "deeply concerned" about reports of Navalny's disappearance.
Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand:

Australia, Canada, and New Zealand mourn every Israeli and Palestinian innocent life which has been lost in this conflict and express our condolences to all families and communities affected by the violence.

The loss of innocent lives on both sides is a tragedy for their families, and wider communitites.

We unequivocally condemn Hamas' terror attacks on israel on October 7, the appalling loss of life, and the heinous acts of violence perpetrated in those attacks, including sexual violence. We condemn Hamas' unacceptable treatment of hostages and call for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages.

And politician that doesn't agree with the above is justifying murder, kidnapping and rape as legitimate tools to achieve political ends. Likewise anyone demanding an immediate ceasefire that doesn't include the release of remaining hostages is showing they don't care about them.

We recognise Israel's right to exist and right to defend itself. In defending itself, Israel must respect international humanitarian law. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected. We are alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in gaza. The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians.

All good also. They explicitly state Israel has a right to exist (something 85% of Palestinians oppose) and defend itself, but stress the response must be within international humanitarian law and there is a limit to how far they can go in defeating Hamas.

We want to see this pause resumed and support urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire. This cannot be one-sided. Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields, and lay down its arms.

An unconditional ceasefire rewards Hamas. Everyone wants a ceasefire, but it has to be more than just giving Hamas more time to rebuild their attack capability.

There is no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza.

Absolutely.

We support Palestinians' right to self-determination. We oppose the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, the re-occupation of Gaza, any reduction in territory, and any use of siege or blockade. We emphasize that Gaza must no longer be used as a platform for terrorism. We reaffirm that settlements are illegal under international law. Settlements and settler violence are serious obstacles to a negotiated two-state solution.

I also don't like the settlements. I would happily trade the settlements for peace.

We recommit ourselves to working with partners toward a just and enduring peace in the form of a two-state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians can live securely within internationally recognised borders.

The challenge is that only around 10% of Palestinians support a two-state solution.

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It boggles the mind to know that there are people out there eager to pay $99 for a digital image of Donald Trump cosplaying as a cowboy, a cyborg, a superhero, or Abraham Lincoln.

This is Trump's third series of digital trading cards. The previous two editions "sold out," whatever that means.

Here is Donald Trump's irresistible sales pitch:

Everyone, this is your favorite president Donald J. Trump, with some very exciting news.

My last two Trump digital Trading Card collections sold out in just hours. And now I'm back with my latest series called the "MugShot Edition." I wonder where that came from  the "MugShot Edition."

Forty-seven all-new stunning cards and here's the best part: I'm doing two important things for my Trump collectors. For the first time, we're creating a real physical Trump card. Purchase 47 digital cards and we'll mail you a beautiful trading card. It is an authentic piece of the suit I wore when I took that now famous mug shot, and it was a great suit, believe me a really good suit. It's all cut up and you're gonna get a piece of it. I'll be autographing, some of them. A true collector's item. This is something to give to your family to your kids, grandchildren.

With the purchase of 47 of the Trump digital trading cards, you will also be invited to join me for a gala dinner at my beautiful Mar a Lago, my home in Florida, you perhaps heard of it; become a pretty famous place. We just had our first dinner for my collectors and we had a lot of fun together. That was a great evening. It was a fantastic evening.

Some people call these cards pop art or modern art. I wish I looked as good as I do on those cards and I can tell you, they give me muscles where, believe me, I don't have them.

I wanted to keep my Trump digital trading cards at the same price $99 each so go to CollectTrumpCards.com. It's really easy to buy. They sold out incredibly fast the last time and I think the MugShot Edition will sell out even faster. So don't miss out  go to CollectTrump Cards.com. Go right now and collect your own exclusive piece of American history and we'll all have fun together. Have a good life.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Cloudy skies with a few snow showers this afternoon. High 24F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 30%..

Tonight

Watching a potential winter storm. Periods of snow along with gusty winds at times, especially this evening. Low 11F. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulating 5 to 8 inches.
In 2016, Pharrell Williams visited an NYU music class to critique student songs. When then-student Maggie Rogers had her turn, Williams sat and listened in stunned silence. When the song was over, he said, "I have zero, zero, zero notes for that. And I'll tell you why. It's because you're doing your own thing. It's singular. It's like when the Wu Tang Clan came out, like no one could really judge it. You either liked it or you didn't, but you couldn't compare it to anything else."

A year later, The Guardian described the encounter:

After insisting that it needs "a couple more hours mixing and mastering", Rogers plays Williams the result of her homework assignment  Alaska. The song, even to ears not as expert as Pharrell's, is immediately striking. Its expertly crafted layers  an elastic, melodic beat, syncopated taps and clicks, and the murmured sample of a spoken voice  sit for a moment before the melody announces itself. "I was walking through icy streams that took my breath away," she sings, the folk beginnings she outlined to Williams a few moments earlier immediately evident, " and I walked off you. And I walked off an old me." Williams's eyes widen, his mouth opens, and he glances over at her with an expression somewhere between confused and astounded. "I have zero, zero, zero notes for that," he says finally. "I've never heard anyone like you before, and I've never heard anyone that sounds like that." The video went viral, and a record deal soon followed.

The Guardian also describes how Maggie Rogers' career took off after this encounter

When she met Williams, Rogers had only just emerged from two-and-a-half years of creative stagnation. During that period, she didn't write a single song. "I just didn't really know who I was," she says, "so I didn't really know what I sounded like. And so I did a lot of writing, and I studied abroad and I fell in love, and like  I got to be like any other college student. It was kind of nice to just not know for a little while." It is lucky the creative drought ended when it did, a week before the masterclass, with Alaska tumbling out of her "in about 15 minutes". If it hadn't, the year that followed would have looked very different. In the past 10 months, Rogers has graduated from college, signed with a major label, released an EP, played her first festival, made her live TV debut on The Tonight Show, and toured the US and Europe. She's been in London for a few days to play two sold-out club shows at Omeara, and when she is done with this interview, she will fly to Amsterdam. It's been incredible, she says, but she's had to learn pretty fast how to put her foot down.

What a treat to watch this exchange. The rest, as they say, is historyMaggie Rogers has, since that fateful day, gone on to have a terrific career, creating two studio albums and four EPs, with plenty more to come.
Beazer Homes USA (NYSE:BZH  Get Free Report) issued an update on its first quarter 2024 earnings guidance on Monday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of 0.700-0.700 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of 1.140. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on BZH shares. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Beazer Homes USA in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Sidoti upgraded shares of Beazer Homes USA from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $36.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 23rd. Finally, Wedbush lowered Beazer Homes USA from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $32.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Beazer Homes USA has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $35.33.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on Beazer Homes USA

Beazer Homes USA Trading Up 0.3 %

NYSE:BZH traded up $0.08 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $29.44. The company had a trading volume of 116,647 shares, compared to its average volume of 371,349. The company has a market cap of $922.06 million, a P/E ratio of 5.70 and a beta of 2.26. The company has a current ratio of 14.19, a quick ratio of 2.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. The company has a 50-day moving average of $26.01 and a 200 day moving average of $26.72. Beazer Homes USA has a 1 year low of $12.29 and a 1 year high of $35.93.

Beazer Homes USA (NYSE:BZH  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 16th. The construction company reported $1.80 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.39 by $0.41. Beazer Homes USA had a return on equity of 14.89% and a net margin of 7.19%. The company had revenue of $645.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $627.29 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.82 earnings per share. Beazer Homes USAs quarterly revenue was down 22.0% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Beazer Homes USA will post 4.64 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Beazer Homes USA

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BZH. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new stake in shares of Beazer Homes USA during the 1st quarter worth approximately $169,000. UBS Group AG lifted its stake in shares of Beazer Homes USA by 47.0% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 15,160 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $147,000 after purchasing an additional 4,848 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Beazer Homes USA during the 4th quarter worth $129,000. State of Wyoming raised its stake in Beazer Homes USA by 2,421.5% during the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 7,842 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $100,000 after purchasing an additional 7,531 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC increased its holdings in Beazer Homes USA by 47.8% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,865 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $71,000 after buying an additional 926 shares during the period. 79.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Beazer Homes USA Company Profile

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Beazer Homes USA, Inc operates as a homebuilder in the United States. It designs, constructs, and sells single-family and multi-family homes under the Beazer Homes, Gatherings, and Choice Plans names. The company also sells its homes through commissioned new home sales counselors and independent brokers in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Indiana, Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

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BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (NYSE:BGT  Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Tuesday, December 5th, Zacks reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 15th will be paid a dividend of 0.12 per share by the investment management company on Wednesday, December 20th. This represents a $1.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 14th. This is an increase from BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trusts previous monthly dividend of $0.11.

BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust has decreased its dividend payment by an average of 2.7% annually over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 2 years.

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BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust Price Performance

Shares of BGT opened at $12.14 on Tuesday. BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust has a 1 year low of $10.75 and a 1 year high of $12.32. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $11.91 and a 200-day simple moving average of $11.80.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust

About BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BGT. Raymond James & Associates raised its holdings in shares of BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust by 48.1% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 32,000 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $408,000 after buying an additional 10,400 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its position in BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust by 10.9% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 28,705 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $366,000 after purchasing an additional 2,817 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC bought a new position in BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust in the 1st quarter valued at $149,000. UBS Group AG boosted its stake in BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust by 16.5% in the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 361,948 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $4,614,000 after purchasing an additional 51,296 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust during the first quarter worth $252,000.

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BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRoack Inc The fund is co-managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC and BlackRock Financial Management, Inc It invests in the fixed income markets across the globe while focusing on the United States. The fund invests in bonds of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust (NYSE:BBN  Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Tuesday, December 5th, Zacks reports. Investors of record on Friday, December 15th will be paid a dividend of 0.093 per share by the investment management company on Wednesday, December 20th. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.05%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 14th. This is a boost from BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trusts previous monthly dividend of $0.09.

BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust has decreased its dividend payment by an average of 1.1% annually over the last three years.

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BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust Stock Performance

BBN stock opened at $15.83 on Tuesday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $15.30 and its 200-day simple moving average is $15.83. BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust has a 52-week low of $14.33 and a 52-week high of $18.50.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust

About BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Comerica Bank bought a new position in shares of BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust in the third quarter valued at approximately $189,000. Harbour Investments Inc. lifted its position in BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust by 62.9% during the 3rd quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 2,850 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 1,100 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust by 8.2% during the third quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,470,839 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $52,618,000 after acquiring an additional 264,211 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its position in shares of BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 351,171 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $5,323,000 after purchasing an additional 10,165 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its stake in BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust by 7.5% during the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 308,532 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $4,677,000 after purchasing an additional 21,495 shares during the period.

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BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in taxable municipal securities, which include Build America Bonds.

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Carlisle Companies (NYSE:CSL  Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2030 earnings guidance on Monday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of 40.000- for the period. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Carlisle Companies from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $325.00 to $290.00 in a research report on Tuesday, September 26th. Oppenheimer reissued an outperform rating and set a $325.00 target price on shares of Carlisle Companies in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Zelman & Associates cut shares of Carlisle Companies from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Friday, August 18th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Carlisle Companies in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $307.14.

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Read Our Latest Stock Report on Carlisle Companies

Carlisle Companies Stock Performance

CSL stock traded up $0.52 during trading on Monday, hitting $295.62. 363,584 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 379,283. The company has a quick ratio of 3.73, a current ratio of 4.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. Carlisle Companies has a 52 week low of $203.65 and a 52 week high of $299.26. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $265.96 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $260.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.89.

Carlisle Companies (NYSE:CSL  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The conglomerate reported $4.68 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.57 by $0.11. Carlisle Companies had a net margin of 13.58% and a return on equity of 27.87%. The firm had revenue of $1.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.27 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $5.66 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 15.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Carlisle Companies will post 14.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Carlisle Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 15th were issued a dividend of $0.85 per share. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 14th. Carlisle Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 23.66%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Carlisle Companies

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new stake in Carlisle Companies in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Artemis Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Carlisle Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at about $42,000. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd acquired a new stake in Carlisle Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at about $103,000. State of Wyoming lifted its holdings in Carlisle Companies by 20.8% in the 2nd quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 470 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $121,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership acquired a new stake in Carlisle Companies in the 4th quarter valued at about $200,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.70% of the companys stock.

Carlisle Companies Company Profile

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Carlisle Companies Incorporated operates as a manufacturer of engineered products in the United States, Europe, Asia, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Carlisle Construction Materials, Carlisle Weatherproofing Technologies, Carlisle Interconnect Technologies, and Carlisle Fluid Technologies.

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Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2024 earnings guidance on Monday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 6.530-6.730 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 6.350. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Dell Technologies also updated its Q4 2024 guidance to 1.600-1.800 EPS.

Dell Technologies Trading Up 0.8 %

Shares of Dell Technologies stock traded up $0.54 on Monday, reaching $69.24. 3,828,286 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,511,277. Dell Technologies has a one year low of $35.96 and a one year high of $76.09. The company has a market capitalization of $50.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.13, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a 50-day moving average of $69.96 and a 200 day moving average of $61.40.

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Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 30th. The technology company reported $1.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.46 by $0.42. Dell Technologies had a negative return on equity of 146.30% and a net margin of 2.92%. The company had revenue of $22.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $23.01 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.01 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Dell Technologies will post 5.6 earnings per share for the current year.

Dell Technologies Dividend Announcement

Analyst Ratings Changes

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 2nd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 22nd. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.14%. Dell Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.88%.

DELL has been the topic of several recent research reports. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $70.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Credit Suisse Group raised their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $62.00 to $74.00 in a report on Friday, September 1st. Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, September 11th. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $70.00 to $76.00 in a report on Friday, October 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $68.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, September 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Dell Technologies currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $76.60.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Dell Technologies

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Dell Technologies

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DELL. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. bought a new stake in shares of Dell Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. KB Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Dell Technologies in the 2nd quarter valued at $32,000. Compass Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Dell Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its stake in shares of Dell Technologies by 263.8% in the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 713 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 517 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of Dell Technologies in the 2nd quarter valued at $43,000. 38.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Dell Technologies Company Profile

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Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG).

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Meritage Homes Co. (NYSE:MTH  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, November 16th, Zacks reports. Investors of record on Friday, December 15th will be given a dividend of 0.27 per share by the construction company on Friday, December 29th. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.69%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 14th.

Meritage Homes has a dividend payout ratio of 5.8% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Meritage Homes to earn $19.38 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.08 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 5.6%.

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Meritage Homes Price Performance

Meritage Homes stock opened at $155.58 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $5.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.19 and a beta of 1.73. The firms fifty day moving average is $129.45 and its 200 day moving average is $133.12. The company has a quick ratio of 1.82, a current ratio of 1.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. Meritage Homes has a 52-week low of $88.00 and a 52-week high of $158.32.

Insider Transactions at Meritage Homes

Meritage Homes ( NYSE:MTH Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 31st. The construction company reported $5.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.10 by $0.88. Meritage Homes had a net margin of 12.40% and a return on equity of 19.23%. The company had revenue of $1.61 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.56 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $7.10 earnings per share. Meritage Homess revenue was up 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Meritage Homes will post 19.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In other news, CEO Phillippe Lord sold 7,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.50, for a total value of $1,018,500.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 36,091 shares in the company, valued at $5,251,240.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 1.80% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Meritage Homes

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Hollencrest Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of Meritage Homes during the first quarter worth approximately $29,000. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new position in Meritage Homes during the 1st quarter valued at about $48,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio purchased a new position in Meritage Homes during the 2nd quarter valued at about $161,000. Covestor Ltd increased its position in Meritage Homes by 108.3% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,337 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $106,000 after purchasing an additional 695 shares during the period. Finally, Hilltop Holdings Inc. purchased a new position in Meritage Homes during the 2nd quarter valued at about $216,000. 99.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on MTH. StockNews.com upgraded Meritage Homes from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, December 5th. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded Meritage Homes from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Meritage Homes presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $136.33.

View Our Latest Research Report on MTH

About Meritage Homes

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Meritage Homes Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs and builds single-family attached and detached homes in the United States. The company operates through two segments, Homebuilding and Financial Services. It acquires and develops land; and constructs, markets, and sells homes for first-time and first move-up buyers in Texas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.

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Nomad Foods (NYSE:NOMD  Get Free Report) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Monday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 1.710-1.740 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 1.660. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have commented on NOMD. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Nomad Foods from $22.00 to $18.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 12th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Nomad Foods from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $21.20.

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Nomad Foods Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:NOMD traded down $0.19 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $16.33. 466,135 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 628,054. The stock has a market cap of $2.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.75 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a current ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. Nomad Foods has a twelve month low of $13.56 and a twelve month high of $19.76. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $15.23 and a 200-day moving average price of $16.61.

Nomad Foods (NYSE:NOMD  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The company reported $0.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.41 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $830.98 million during the quarter. Nomad Foods had a return on equity of 10.56% and a net margin of 6.79%. On average, research analysts forecast that Nomad Foods will post 1.73 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in NOMD. Quarry LP acquired a new position in Nomad Foods in the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Nomad Foods by 117.5% in the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,897 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,025 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in Nomad Foods by 2,753.7% in the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 4,623 shares of the companys stock valued at $81,000 after purchasing an additional 4,461 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming raised its stake in Nomad Foods by 18.0% in the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 9,221 shares of the companys stock valued at $159,000 after purchasing an additional 1,404 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Trust acquired a new position in Nomad Foods in the 4th quarter valued at about $191,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.44% of the companys stock.

Nomad Foods Company Profile

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Nomad Foods Limited manufactures, markets, and distributes a range of frozen food products in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, Sweden, Austria, Norway, Spain, Serbia, Croatia, Switzerland, and rest of Europe. The company offers frozen fish products, including fish fingers, coated fish, and natural fish; ready to cook vegetable products, such as peas and spinach; and frozen poultry and meat products comprising nuggets, grills, and burgers.

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The Buffalo AKG Art Museums nearly $200 million renovation and expansion transformed one of the jewels of Buffalo.

In the estimation of USA Today, it turned something old into something new, which is how the museum ended up vying for the honor of Best New Museum in the country.

'A welcoming place': Visitor, membership numbers soar at Buffalo AKG Art Museum Paid attendance has topped 115,000 and is on pace to reach 251,909, more than double 2018, the last full year of operation prior to closing for the expansion project, a museum official said.

These museums have been nominated by an expert panel as the best new venues on the scene, ranging from avant-garde art spaces to colorful childrens museums, and they represent the top openings of the past two years, the newspaper said in announcing the 10 competitors in the contest.

Voting is now open and ends at noon Dec. 25. Winners will be announced at noon Jan. 5.

Patrons can cast their votes once daily at 10best.usatoday.com.

In 'tipping point,' Buffalo's tourism market emerges from Niagara Falls' shadow Buffalo, the state's second-biggest city, is finally stepping out of Niagara Falls' shadow when it comes to attracting tourists, with "assets that are attractive to people in and of themselves," said Ed Healy, vice president of marketing at Visit Buffalo Niagara.

Although the museum opened its doors in 1905, the recent rebranding and expansion likely led to its consideration as a new museum, said Andrew Mayer, the marketing and media relations manager at Buffalo AKG.

The staff here is not only proud of the institution and the work that we do here, but we also know that the work that we do here can have a tremendous impact on the tourism and driving economic tourism to this area, he said. So, its an honor to be directing peoples eyes and attention nationally and internationally to Buffalo.

Other contenders for the honor include the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas; the Museum of Broadway in New York City; and the International African American Museum in Charleston, S.C.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the AKG was leading the contest.

If the idea of Western New York being home to a Best New Museum sounds familiar, it should. In 2020, the National Comedy Center in Jamestown received that honor from USA Today, and has used it in marketing the museum since.

Those who have visited the AKG since its summer reopening would attest to its newness. Bright and airy, adding the new installations  as part of the $195 million expansion, restoration and renovation project  to the existing mix of art exhibits, AKG qualifies as a transformative experience, many have said.

Paid attendance at the museum this year has topped 115,000 and is on pace to reach 251,909, more than double 2018, the last full year of operation prior to closing for the expansion project. With this exponential rise in numbers, it may become the highest attendance year since the museums 1977-78 season that drew 303,858 patrons. The holiday season is usually the busiest time of the year, Mayer said.

Patrick Kaler, president and CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, said the museum with its world-renowned collection has always been an exceptional asset in the Buffalo Niagara region. Being considered one of the best in any category will highlight that.

To be number one gets the attention of art and architecture enthusiasts and gives us a jumping point to tell the overall Buffalo story, Kaler said. Its going to start with Buffalo AKG, but then its going to bleed out to everything else that we have in our community to have a total destination experience in Buffalo and Erie County.
Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Monday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 6.050-6.080 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 6.110. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Philip Morris International Price Performance

NYSE:PM traded up $1.66 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $92.97. 4,269,888 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,249,276. Philip Morris International has a one year low of $87.23 and a one year high of $105.62. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $91.74 and a 200 day moving average price of $94.16. The company has a market cap of $144.33 billion, a PE ratio of 18.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.77.

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Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 19th. The company reported $1.67 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.62 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $9.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.21 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 9.62% and a negative return on equity of 129.48%. Philip Morris Internationals quarterly revenue was up 13.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.53 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Philip Morris International will post 6.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

Analyst Ratings Changes

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 21st will be paid a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 20th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.59%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is presently 100.97%.

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on PM shares. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $116.00 to $112.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 5th. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, November 16th. They set a neutral rating and a $95.00 price objective for the company. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 21st. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $113.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $109.27.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on PM

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.25, for a total transaction of $942,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 198,447 shares in the company, valued at $18,703,629.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Philip Morris International

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Studio Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 33.8% during the 4th quarter. Studio Investment Management LLC now owns 428 shares of the companys stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. boosted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 2.3% during the 2nd quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 5,166 shares of the companys stock worth $504,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. State of Wyoming boosted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 5.5% during the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 2,307 shares of the companys stock worth $233,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,640 shares of the companys stock worth $1,583,000 after buying an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Waverly Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Waverly Advisors LLC now owns 6,549 shares of the companys stock worth $663,000 after buying an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock.

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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WestRock (NYSE:WRK  Get Free Report) updated its first quarter 2024 earnings guidance on Monday. The company provided EPS guidance of 0.240-0.370 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of 0.390. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on WRK. Argus raised WestRock from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Truist Financial cut their target price on WestRock from $44.00 to $40.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 14th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on WestRock from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, November 10th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on WestRock in a research report on Sunday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, WestRock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $37.57.

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WestRock Stock Performance

WRK traded up $0.18 during trading on Monday, hitting $41.34. 2,602,711 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,626,849. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.60 billion, a P/E ratio of -6.41, a PEG ratio of 5.15 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $37.50 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $33.71. WestRock has a 1-year low of $26.84 and a 1-year high of $42.46.

WestRock (NYSE:WRK  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The basic materials company reported $0.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.75 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $5 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.11 billion. WestRock had a positive return on equity of 7.52% and a negative net margin of 8.12%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.43 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that WestRock will post 2.35 earnings per share for the current year.

WestRock Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, November 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 13th were issued a $0.3025 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 10th. This represents a $1.21 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.93%. This is a positive change from WestRocks previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. WestRocks payout ratio is presently -18.76%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of WRK. Public Sector Pension Investment Board boosted its stake in shares of WestRock by 12.3% in the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 27,261 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $976,000 after buying an additional 2,990 shares in the last quarter. Comerica Bank purchased a new stake in shares of WestRock in the third quarter valued at approximately $1,557,000. Creative Planning boosted its stake in shares of WestRock by 12.4% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 12,819 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $459,000 after buying an additional 1,414 shares in the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of WestRock by 48.9% in the third quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 2,455 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $87,000 after buying an additional 806 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Toroso Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of WestRock by 84.5% in the third quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 17,924 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $642,000 after buying an additional 8,210 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.51% of the companys stock.

About WestRock

(Get Free Report)

WestRock Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based paper and packaging solutions in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Corrugated Packaging, Consumer Packaging, Global Paper, and Distribution. The Corrugated Packaging segment produces containerboards, corrugated sheets, corrugated packaging, and preprinted linerboards to consumer and industrial products manufacturers, and corrugated box manufacturers.

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A U.S. diplomat on Monday decried an arms trade between North Korea and Russia as "not acceptable," vowing to explore an "array of tools" to tackle the security issue.

Yuri Kim, principal deputy assistant secretary at the State Department's Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, made the remarks at a forum in response to a question about Pyongyang's provision of ammunition to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine.

"We are concerned and we will look at the array of tools that are available to the U.S. government. I think we will also be working very closely as we have been with our EU partners, with NATO allies and with other allies like Korea, Japan, and other members of the G7 partnership to try and tackle this problem," she said.

"It is not acceptable for Russia and North Korea to be engaged in this kind of trade," she added.

Kim said that the U.S. is watching "very carefully" what Russia is doing not only with North Korea but also with Iran and China.

She also noted that despite Russia and China having a "special responsibility" to contribute to world security as permanent members of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC), they are "doing exactly the opposite at this point."

"We've never had a situation in which a permanent member of the UNSC is so frequently violating not just the U.N. Charter, but all the various Security Council resolutions that Russia itself voted, including Security Council resolutions that restrict and prohibit North Korea from engaging in ballistic missile tests, and from developing its nuclear weapons program," she said.

In October, the White House said that the North had delivered more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia.

The revelation came after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a Russian spaceport, in September, raising concerns about a possible arms deal between the two countries.

Hosted by the Korea Economic Institute of America, Monday's forum focused on public diplomacy, a foreign policy tool aimed at enhancing public support for a certain country through cultural and other people-to-people engagements.

Kim, a Korean American diplomat, characterized the current relationship between Seoul and Washington as one of "mutual respect and admiration," as she highlighted the transformation of global perceptions of South Korea backed by the global popularity of its culture and other elements.

"I am really proud that the relationship between the U.S. and Korea has never been stronger," she said.

During the forum, South Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Cho Hyun-dong voiced concerns about disinformation that undermines public diplomacy efforts.

"We all know that securing public support is crucial for foreign policy. Yet, the flow of disinformation makes this more complicated," he said. "We also know that foreign information manipulation is a grave transnational threat that undermines our democracy." (Yonhap)
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Overcast. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Watching a potential winter storm. Overcast. Low 26F. SSW winds shifting to ESE at 10 to 20 mph.
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High around 35F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

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Watching a potential winter storm. Mainly cloudy. Low 26F. SW winds shifting to ESE at 10 to 15 mph.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Watching a potential winter storm. Cloudy. Low 27F. N winds shifting to E at 10 to 15 mph.
A self-proclaimed Russian artist received anger of ReVeluvs after he was caught photoshopping Red Velvet Joy's "Hello" album jacket. Who is he?

On December 11, a ReVeluv took to X to call out an artist on Spotify with the name Yurii for allegedly plagiarizing Red Velvet Joy's special EP, "Hello," released in 2021.

Upon looking into it, the artist blatantly edited Joy's photos for his upcoming special album, "YURA:HELLO."

Who is Yurii? Russian Artist Caught Copying Red Velvet Joy's 'Hello' Concept Photos

When the X post circulated in K-pop, especially among ReVeluvs, it amassed over 637k views and 712 qrts. Netizens were weirded out by the fact that Yurii didn't even try to re-create Joy's look himself and shamelessly inserted his face into it.

His upcoming special EP's title "YURA:HELLO" was also speculated to be a reference to Joy's "HELLO" special EP, adding to the fans' anger.

Looking at Yurii's Spotify profile, he's a verified artist with about 96 monthly listeners.

Based on his information, he is a guy because he uses "he" and "his" to describe himself. He also defines himself as a "multifaceted idol," also known as Amorall or Romantikov.

Tell me this is a joke cus this level of plagiarism is actually so shameless? pic.twitter.com/kpWO4n1kph  Chevelle  (@Timeslipped_) December 11, 2023

He entered the music scene at the age of 19 and has been pursuing music that defies the conventional pop boundaries. He debuted in May 2023 with his first EP, "The Yurii," and he is set to make a return with his special EP, "YURA: HELLO."

ALSO READ: Red Velvet Joy Solo Debut: Details about Her Special Album

He also linked his social media platforms but clicking on his Instagram, you will be redirected to an account name "vlada," which has another Spotify link that will bring you to the song, "A**l Queen," by Ayesha Erotica.

His Twitter also had the same name, "vlada," with pronouns "she/her."

Lastly, his Wikipedia link will take you to LOONA's page.

Seeing this, ReVeluvs are convinced that Yurii being a Russian artist is fake, and the Spotify account is most likely created by either a troll or sasaeng fan.

ReVeluvs Take Action Against Yurii, Criticize for Using Joy's Photos

When ReVeluvs saw this, fans expressed their desire to take actions against the so-called artist, and invite other fans to help them report the account as deceptive content.

Although there are people who said that it is not a big deal since Yurii's not even popular and will probably not affect Joy that much, fans emphasized that it is illegal and this is a way to protect Joy in the future.

this is the email i wrote to support@spotify.com, feel free to elaborate. personally i think placing the pictures side by side works. @SpotifyCares do something about this. pic.twitter.com/4797BI5uKk  rain (@redfl4vour) December 11, 2023

"Absolutely shameless."

"Not the photoshop to Joy's face."

"Photoshop failed."

"I really hope her company does something about this because this is crazy."

"This is so? She didn't even try to recreate but straight up edited her face on Joy."

"This shxt isn't funny to be honest, just fxcking irritating."

READ MORE: Crush Squashes Breakup Speculations With Red Velvet Joy After He Did THIS

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dawson.
The Buffalo Common Council and the public will have to wait at least another week for the long-awaited findings of an investigation by the city comptroller of city employees on paid administrative leave.

And one city lawmaker says he is asking the New York State Comptrollers Office to do the audit that the Common Council initially asked Buffalo Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams to do.

Suspended Buffalo Fire Department clerk resigns after being paid to not work for 7 years Jill Repman, a suspended Buffalo Fire Department clerk, who was paid $600,000 over seven years while on suspension, resigned from her city job effective Nov. 30.

Fillmore Council Member Mitchell P. Nowakowski said Monday that he would ask state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapolis office to conduct the audit if Miller-Williams did not provide the detailed report by the start of the Council meeting on Tuesday.

I am asking for the state comptroller to give a risk assessment audit, Nowakowski said Tuesday.

Miller-Williams said she doesnt have a problem with any outside resources assisting in this review, regardless of where he wants to send it. I do not think that is necessary.

Council could go to state if audit of city employees on paid leave is not delivered Tuesday If the Buffalo Comptrollers Office does not file an audit by 2 p.m. Tuesday of all city employees currently on paid administrative leave, Common Council members say they will ask the State Comptrollers Office to intervene and conduct the audit.

We had a document last week that we were ready to push it. However, I checked in with corporation counsel to ensure that the document that I was pushing out was a legal document because I dont want us to incur a lawsuit or something. So, I merely asked if the law department would review it to see if there was any language I should redact or leave in, Miller-Williams said.

This was the most recent development in a monthslong back and forth between Council members and Miller-Williams office over an audit the Council requested on Sept. 19 in response to reports that a Buffalo Fire Department clerk was paid $600,000 over seven years while on suspension. Council members asked for the audit to be submitted by Nov. 14, but did not receive the information.

The requested audit was to determine how an employee on administrative leave for 7 years managed to be paid nearly $600,000 without triggering a hearing or an investigation.

Jill Repman continued to be paid by the city since 2016, when she was accused of tampering with the Fire Departments payroll in order to pad her own paychecks and was placed on administrative leave, according to a Sept. 14 story posted by Investigative Post.

Buffalo comptroller to pursue investigation, instead of audit, of employee on paid leave Buffalo City Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams said she intends to conduct an investigation, but not a full-blown audit, to determine how an employee on administrative leave for 7 years managed to be paid nearly $600,000 without triggering a hearing or an investigation.

The audit was to include an examination of the duration of employees leave, the reasons for being on leave, and the actions taken by relevant city entities to address these issues.

But Miller-Williams pursued an investigation instead of an audit, saying at the time she was precluded from immediately conducting an audit because there is already a list of audits being conducted by the Department of Audit and Control.

She described audits as an expansive, time-consuming and very labor-intensive process. However, an investigation can be tailored to pursue answers to very specific questions in order to correct a problem, she explained.

In a Sept. 28 letter to the Council, Miller-Williams outlined some initial findings of the investigation. Findings included that on July 6 of this year, 12 employees were identified as suspended with pay. As of Sept. 28, seven of them were still suspended with pay. All seven were members of the Buffalo Police Department. Also as of Sept. 28, the pay received by the seven accounted for about .023% of the citys total payroll for fiscal year 2023-24.

Then on Nov. 22, Nowakowski followed up with a letter to Miller-Williams asking for a comprehensive follow-up on the findings to ensure a thorough investigation and transparent communication.

Buffalo lawmakers call on city comptroller to audit employees on paid leave Buffalo city lawmakers appear to agree that the city comptroller's office should conduct an audit to determine how an employee on administrative leave for 7 years managed to be paid nearly $600,000 during that time without triggering a hearing or an investigation.

At a Dec. 5 Council meeting, a representative from Miller-Williams office said the detailed report was being finalized and would be submitted to the Council by Tuesday, with a presentation scheduled for the Councils Dec. 19 Civil Service Committee meeting.

Following revelations about Repman, Mayor Byron Brown announced in October steps to prevent suspended workers from getting paid for years and a new method for keeping track of its employees on paid leave.

Now every department that has an employee on leave on a biweekly basis will get a printout of the employee on leave. The department will have to attest to that employee being on leave. The citys Department of Human Resources will then certify all of those employees that are on leave from the individual departments, Brown said.

Additionally, a comprehensive report encompassing all employees on paid administrative leave and other leave categories will be sent to required city departments, including the Corporation Counsel, Management and Information Systems, Audit and Control and the Department of Human Resources.
If the Buffalo Comptrollers Office does not file an audit by 2 p.m. Tuesday of all city employees currently on paid administrative leave, Common Council members say they will ask the State Comptrollers Office to intervene and conduct the audit.

Council members had asked the report to be submitted by Nov. 14.

Suspended Buffalo Fire Department clerk resigns after being paid to not work for 7 years Jill Repman, a suspended Buffalo Fire Department clerk, who was paid $600,000 over seven years while on suspension, resigned from her city job effective Nov. 30.

The Councils Civil Service Committee was informed Dec. 5 by a representative from City Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams office that the report was forthcoming.

Were finalizing a report right now, and we hope to have it filed for next meeting and will be able to talk about it then, said Kevin Kaufman, chief auditor with the Comptrollers Office.

But as of Monday, the report had not been made public. And now one city lawmaker says he feels brazenly ignored.

The comptrollers staff did come to committee and stated they would have something filed and could be ready next week to talk about it, and I havent gotten any correspondence from (Miller-Williams), said Fillmore Council Mitchell P. Nowakowski, who sponsored the resolution requesting the audit, with a specific focus on cases of extended leave.

Procedurally, documents and official papers are to be filed with the City Clerks office by 2 p.m. the preceding Thursday before the Tuesday Council meeting. However, documents may be filed late, up to the start of the meeting, officials said.

In the past there have been items that were received just before the Council meeting, said City Clerk Tianna Marks.

Brown announces steps to prevent suspended workers from getting paid for years Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown's administration will roll out new policies and procedures to track city employees on paid leave.

For example, she said items regarding the budget or items that have a timeline or a deadline could be filed minutes before the meeting, although that is not encouraged.

The Council initially asked for the information on Sept. 19 after learning that Jill Repman had been paid more than $500,000 by the city since 2016, when she was accused of tampering with the Fire Departments payroll in order to pad her own paychecks and was placed on administrative leave, according to a Sept. 14 story posted online by Investigative Post.

Repman resigned on Nov. 30.

Miller-Williams outlined some initial findings in a Sept. 28 letter to the Council.

Then on Nov. 22, Nowakowski followed up with a letter to Miller-Williams asking for the update.

On Dec. 5, Kaufman said a report would be made public this week.
Two weeks after a judge lifted a legal injunction barring the opening of new recreational cannabis dispensaries in the state, Western New York will get its third legal pot store.

Premier Earth will open at 4:20 p.m. Wednesday at 1297 Hertel Ave. in a former post office.

It has been a great reception from the community, said Mark Schlueter, sales director and general manager. Everybody has been dealing with the sticker shops and the illegal stuff and weve been getting great feedback that its good to have something thats New York State certified here.

Owner and East Side native Joe Wojciechowski received his license back in April and leased the building in June, but the opening was put on hold by a lawsuit from a group of military veterans and medical dispensary operators who sued, saying they were unconstitutionally left out of the licensing application process.

We were all ready to open up. The facility was completely done and we had to just wait, Schlueter said. There was a lot of bills going out, a lot of lease payments and stuff like that and then not knowing where it would end up.

There are two other legal recreational dispensaries open in Western New York, on Main Street and in Depew.

Other dispensaries and licensees have been very welcoming, Schlueter said.

Theyve been a great help trying to get some final pieces in play, he said. Everybodys excited to work together. You would think it would be a very competitive market but everyones kind of open to helping each other through. Its refreshing.

The post office was built in the early 1920s, and Premier Earth has tried to incorporate period-accurate flourishes, including display cabinets from 1910 and a refurbished pharmacy cabinet from the 1860s.

Sometimes when you go into these newer shops, they have this kind of Apple Store feel to them and thats kind of what we wanted to steer away from, Schlueter said.

It has been a challenge getting started amid an industry that is just getting off the ground, but the state and the City of Buffalo have been very responsive, he said.

Everybody is kind of learning together, like the old saying, theyre building the plane as theyre flying it, he said. Sometimes when theres not an answer its because there is no answer.

So far, there are 32 adult-use dispensaries open in the state. They have sold a total of $132 million in cannabis product, according to the Office of Cannabis Management.

Weve been building this market with duct tape and baling wire, John Kagia, director of policy at the Office of Cannabis Management, said during a meeting Tuesday. Its been incredible to see how quickly this market is evolving around us.
PNN

Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], December 12: As India continues its ascent as a beacon of technological prowess in cloud adoption, CoRover.ai, in collaboration with Google Cloud as its technology partner, takes a monumental leap with the launch of BharatGPT, an Indigenous generative AI platform meticulously tailored for the Indians.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Class 12 Boy Suspended Over Objectionable Comments Against Holy Prophet Muhammad in Aligarh.

BharatGPT champions the linguistic diversity of the nation, supporting over 14 Indian languages across text, voice, and video interactions. Google Cloud as CoRover's Cloud service provider will help CoRover enhance and scale BharatGPT.

Ankush Sabharwal, CEO of CoRover, voiced, "Our intent with BharatGPT goes beyond technological innovation; it's about crafting a platform that encapsulates our rich cultural heritage and flourishes in a cloud-first world. BharatGPT, which is built on Google Cloud's fortified infrastructure, confidently addresses these challenges, carving a niche as a trusted AI mainstay that is grounded and reliable."

Also Read | Japan's Oldest Person Dies: Fusa Tatsumi, Passes at Age of 116 in Osaka Prefecture.

This initiative aligns perfectly with the ethos of "Make AI in India, Make AI work for India". The platform's expansive feature set encompasses custom knowledge base integration, ERP/CRM system collaboration, an integrated payment gateway, and much more.

Bikram Singh Bedi, Managing Director, Google Cloud India said, "We are thrilled to partner with CoRover to bring BharatGPT for the public sector in India. Technology truly has the potential to transform lives and our language and generative AI capabilities built into the platform will make access easy and democratize the use of the platform. This will help strengthen India's position as an AI first nation."

CoRover.ai has already served more than 1.25 Billion users and now with BharatGPT, becomes a human-centric conversational AI platform with contextual Generative AI (LLM) and faster Machine Learning. Its innovative design is set to revolutionize virtual assistant creation, bolstering the development of multilingual virtual assistants (VideoBot, VoiceBot, ChatBot) in a matter of minutes. Among its array of features viz. Aadhar-based KYC authentication, dialogue management using Classic NLP (NLU), sentiment analysis, and an adept word embedding technique with Gen AI (NLG) establish CoRover as a cutting-edge, resource-efficient AI solution.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Actors Adivi Sesh and Shruti Haasan will be seen together in a pan-India action drama, the makers on Tuesday announced. The untitled film is produced by Supriya Yarlagadda and presented by Annapurna Studios. The project marks the feature directorial debut of Shaneil Deo, who has previously served as the director of photography for several Telugu blockbusters such as Kshanam and Goodachari, both headlined by Sesh. Deo also directed the acclaimed coming-of-age short, Layla, which was officially selected for the 68th Cannes Film Festival. In a press statement, the makers said the film will be shot in Telugu and Hindi separately. Shruti Haasan Celebrates Diwali in Greece Amid Shooting for Her International Film the Eye!.

"Every frame, dialogue and scene of the film is being shot separately in Hindi as well as in Telugu. It is being treated differently according to the cultural nuances of each language," they said. Shruti Haasan: I Want to Share My Truth and Speak with Ease.

View Adivi Sesh and Shruti Haasan Unite for Pan-India Action Movie:

EXCLUSIVE: #AdiviSesh and #ShrutiHaasan join forces for a pan-India action drama! Check out exclusive details about the moviehttps://t.co/QVzGQLvsfZ  Pinkvilla South (@PinkvillaSouth) December 12, 2023

The upcoming feature marks Sesh's second Hindi movie outing after his 2022 acclaimed film Major, which featured him as the 2008 Mumbai terror attack martyr Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan. The film is co-produced by Suniel Narang, with Sesh and Deo sharing story and screenplay credits.
Chaibasa (Jharkhand), Dec 12 (PTI) A man allegedly having links with the banned People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) was shot dead by suspected members of proscribed CPI (Maoists) in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, police said on Tuesday.

Kamal Purty, who had served a jail term for having criminal antecedent, was killed by Maoists on Monday, West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Shekhar said in a statement.

Also Read | Can't Expect Him of Knowing History, Amit Shah Keeps On Rewriting History: Rahul Gandhi Accuses Union Minister of Avoiding Real Issues (Watch Video).

PLFI is a breakaway faction of outlawed CPI (Maoist).

The incident occurred in Raigada village under the Maoist-affected Gudri Police Station limits, he said.

Also Read | CBSE Date Sheet 2024 Released: Central Board of Secondary Education Announces Time Table of Class 10, 12 Board Exams, Check Schedule Here.

"We had information on Monday night that a man was shot dead by criminals in Gudri PS jurisdiction and tried to verify the incident from all our sources," the statement said.

The preliminary investigation revealed that an unidentified squad of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) killed the man, it stated.

The body was recovered on Tuesday and sent for post-mortem examination in Chakradharpur.

The investigation is underway, police said.

An attempt-to-murder case against Purty was pending at the Gudri Police Station.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], December 11 (ANI): The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed unanimously the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 with voice vote amending key laws in the Union Territory aimed at providing "rights to those who faced injustice".

The significant legislative move on the sixth day of the Parliament's Winter Session witnessed various Opposition leaders raising issues to reinstate the statehood of the erstwhile state and announce elections there.

Also Read | Bihar: Muzaffarpur Woman Becomes Pregnant Thrice Even After Undergoing Surgery for Family Planning in 2015.

Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 aimed at providing "rights to those who faced injustice" and were deprived of their rights in the Union Territory. Both the bills were passed last week by the Lok Sabha. The Bills were jointly discussed a few hours after the Supreme Court passed a judgement upholding the constitutional validity of the Executive Order abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution and scrapping statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on the two Jammu and Kashmir Bills, Union Minister Amit Shah said this is an important day as both these Bills will be passed and also because this will be written in golden letters in the history of Jammu and Kashmir and India.

Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: 23-Year-Old Unwed Woman Held for Throwing Her Newborn Girl Into Sion Hospital Dustbin, Killing Infant.

"Today, Supreme Court upheld the intention behind Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill, 2019, its constitutional validity and the process."

Shah said one of the Bills seeks to represent those who became refugees in their own country and also reserves one seat in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly for people who have been displaced from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Shah said several questions were raised even the day before yesterday. "In Lok Sabha, it was said that the Bill is pending and is being brought in haste. Supreme Court will do justice and we should wait for it. All these stands were not for justice but to halt the decisions taken by PM Modi."

"SC accepted that Article 370 was a temporary provision. If Article 370 was so fair, so needful, then why would Nehru ji use the word temporary in front of it? Those who say that Article 370 is permanent are insulting the intention of the Constituent Assembly and the Constitution...Supreme Court has said that the said Article 370 was a temporary provision, which means that this claim of the petitioner that Article 370 can never be removed, has been completely rejected by the Supreme Court...," Shah added.

The Minister said Supreme Court also accepted that it is not right to challenge the announcements of Governor's rule and President's rule."When the temporary provision was made, the question arose that if it is temporary then how will it be removed? So a provision was inserted inside Article 373 that the President can amend Section 370, ban it and can also take it completely out of the Constitution..."

The Home Minister said after the delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir to redraw assembly and parliamentary constituencies, there will be 43 assembly seats in Jammu region -- up from present 37 -- and 47 in Kashmir Valley, up from 46.

Shah said 24 seats have been reserved in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. "I am saying this again Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir is ours and no one can take it from us..."

Participating in the debate, Congress MP Rajani Ashokrao Patil said her party contributed a lot for Jammu and Kashmir development and that "it's because of Pandit Nehru that the Union Territory is part of India".

She also raised issue to reinstate the statehood of the erstwhile state and announce election there. "I want to remind Home Minister to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir. It has been four years since Article 370 was abrogated, and the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir has not been reinstated. I want to remind the Union Home Minister to announce elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Until Jammu and Kashmir gets back its statehood, the idea of India will not be achieved," Patil said.

IUML legislator Abdul Wahab said he is "supporting" as well as "opposing" the two bils.

Nationalist Congress Party MP Fauzia Khan raised issue of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, saying "militancy is that cancer that is eating away the beauty of Kashmir".

BJP MP Gulam Ali said that these bills will benefit the people of Kashmir and that the region is developing because of the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra. He thanked Home Minister Shah for the development in Kashmir, saying "militancy in Kashmir has come down."

The MP also thanked the Supreme Court for upholding the abrogation of Article 370.

Congress MP Syed Nasir Hussain said it is because of Nehru that Kashmir is now a part of India.

YSRCP MP V. Vijayasai Reddy supported both the Bills and expressed the support of the party and Jagan Mohan Reddy for the same.

Reddy said "it was Nehruvian pseudo-secularism that prevented the Kashmir issue from being resolved" and highlighted Article 370 as "another blunder, as well as not taking back Kashmir during the Second War with Pakistan." He took a dig at the Congress and pointed that the party could have "taken back Kashmir during the signing of the Shimla Declaration post the Bangladesh War."

Reddy said Home Minister Shah took the right steps to undo the wrong steps of the Congress government, and offered a suggestion, saying that 24 seats are not going for election in PoK, and that members should be nominated for these seats. He also requests an increase of cash relief given to migrants.

Dravina Munnetra Kazhagam MP Tiruchi Siva clarified in the House that "it doesn't need to be given other colour, we want to achieve rights of the states within the framework of the Indian Constitution."

Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also sought question pointing when the government will announce election in Jammu and Kashmir so that the "voice of the people there can be raised in the Assembly there".

The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 is aimed at amending the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004. The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 provided reservation in jobs and admission in professional institutions to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and other socially and educationally backward classes.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to amend the 2019 Act and provide representation in the Legislative Assembly to the Kashmiri Migrants and displaced persons from the PoK. It seeks to nominate two members from the Kashmiri migrant community and one person representing the displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the Legislative Assembly.

The amendment Bill proposes to increase the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly to 90 from 83.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to reserve seats for the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. It seeks to insert new sections 15A and 15B in the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 for the Lieutenant Governor to nominate not more than two members, one of whom shall be a woman, from the community of "Kashmiri Migrants" and one Member from "Displaced Persons from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir", to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir ) [India], December 11 (ANI): The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended all of its political activities for the next seven days.

The party said the decision has been taken to stand in solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the Supreme Court's verdict on Article 370.

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A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld the validity of the Union government's 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution, which conferred the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, while pointing out that Article 370 is a "temporary provision."

"The party president, Mehbooba Mufti, was scheduled to address various worker conventions as part of her ongoing public outreach programme, and many such conventions were scheduled over the next few days. Many other political activities were also scheduled by the party. But in order to stand in solidarity with our people at this crucial juncture in the wake of the Supreme Court of India's verdict on the issue of Article 370, we have decided to cancel all our political activities for the next seven days," Syed Suhail Bukhari, PDP Chief Spokesperson, said in a statement.

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The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Union Government's decision to abrogate Article 370 of the constitution which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and said that every decision taken by the Centre on behalf of a State can't be subject to a legal challenge.

A five-judge Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant delivered the verdict.

CJI Chandrachud reading out the judgement said that every decision taken by the Centre on behalf of a State under proclamation can't be subject to a legal challenge and it will lead to the administration of the State to a standstill.

Supreme Court said that it has held that Article 370 was a temporary provision. "The proclamation of Maharaja stated that the Constitution of India will supersede. With this, the para of Instrument of Accession ceases to exist.... Article 370 was an interim arrangement due to war conditions in the State. Textual reading also indicates that Article 370 is a temporary provision," the Court said.

The Court also noted that Article 370 was meant for the constitutional integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union and it was not for disintegration and the President can declare that Article 370 ceases to exist.

"Concurrence of the State government was not required to apply all provisions of the Constitution using Article 370(1)(d). So, the President of India taking the concurrence of the Union government was not malafide," the Court noted.

The Supreme Court also directed the Election Commission to hold Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections by September 30, 2024. The Supreme Court said in view of Centre's submission on restoration of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir, it directs that statehood shall be restored as soon as possible.(ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Sikkim (Gangtok) [India], December 12 (ANI): Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama will be giving one-day teaching on Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo's 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva (Laklen Sodunma) today at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok.

He will also be virtually laying the foundation stones of the Karmapa Park project at Rumtek and the Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo Statue project at Simmik Khamdong constituency.

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Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama reached Gangtok on Monday for a four-day visit. He was received by the Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay, other dignitaries and devotees at Libing Helipad.

Senior Sikkim state government officials and representatives from the Tibetan Parliament, Tibetan Settlement Office and Local Tibetan Assembly were also present to greet the revered spiritual leader.

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Following his reception at the helipad, monks from various monasteries of the state-orchestrated a traditional Buddhist ritual of dance and prayer known as 'Sherbang', amidst an atmosphere charged with spiritual energy.

The Tibetan spiritual leader is scheduled to give teachings from December 12 to 14 in Sikkim. This visit has heightened diplomatic discussions regarding the ongoing border tension between India and China.

He will leave for teachings in West Bengal's Salugara on December 14. He will give a general teaching followed by the Ceremony for the Generation of Bodhicitta (semkye) at Sed-Gyued Monastery.

Dalai Lama's secretary, Chimi Rigzin said, "His Holiness is going to Sikkim at the invitation of the State Government of Sikkim and CM Prem Singh Tamang and he will be there for two days during which he will give teachings at Paljor Stadium, which is a public teaching and the next day there is a state banquet for his holiness and then on the 14th morning he goes to Salugara and he will give a public teaching there."

"Sikkim is a very important state and, it was Sikkim that his holiness first came to India in 1956 to attend the 2500th anniversary of the Buddha Jayanti, so he has since then visited Sikkim quite a few times and he said he became quite sentimental when he goes to Sikkim whenever he goes there because when he first arrived in Sikkim in 1956, as I said earlier, he sort of felt very sentimental about it. Well, Sikkim is a state of government of India so China has no reason to be annoyed because China also recognises Sikkim as a state of India," Dalai Lama's secretary added.

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said it was an immense honour to host the Dalai Lama in Sikkim.

"It is an immense honor and a profound privilege to extend my warmest welcome to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at Libing Helipad, Gangtok. The presence of His Holiness brings a radiant light of wisdom, compassion, and peace to our land, enriching our hearts and minds with His profound teachings and exemplary guidance. May His Holiness's visit illuminate our spirits and inspire us all towards greater kindness, understanding, and harmony. We welcome, His Holiness, to the blessed land of Sikkim" Prem Singh Tamang said in his post on X. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Shimla, Dec 12 (PTI) The induction of two new ministers in the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has increased the representation of Brahmin and Schedule Caste communities, but it seems the Congress government has failed to give adequate representation to various regions in the state.

For instance, Shimla district with seven Congress MLAs still has lion's share in the cabinet -- three berths -- while Kangra district with 10 party MLAs has only two cabinet ministers.

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The Congress won 40 out of 68 assembly seats including 10 seats in Kangra, seven in Shimla, four each in Una, Solan, and Hamirpur, three in Sirmaur, two each in Chamba and Kullu, and one each in Mandi, Bilaspur, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts.

Kangra, the biggest district of the state with 15 assembly constituencies, is instrumental in formation of government in the hill state and discrimination with Kangra could create problems for the Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

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Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has declared Kangra district as tourist capital of the state with several projects worth crores of rupees in the pipeline.

After the cabinet expansion on Tuesday, Sukhu said that caste and region has been balanced in the cabinet expansion and Mandi parliamentary constituency would also get its due representation.

The one-year-old Himachal Pradesh Cabinet was expanded on Tuesday with the induction of Rajesh Dharmani and Yadvinder Goma as cabinet ministers.

The Shimla parliamentary constituency with five ministers has the biggest share in the cabinet while Hamirpur and Kangra constituencies have three and two ministers, respectively. From Mandi parliamentary constituency, tribal leader Jagat Singh Negi from Kinnaur (ST) seat is the lone minister in the state cabinet.

Caste wise, the cabinet consists of five ministers from the Rajput community, including the chief minister, two from Brahmin including deputy CM, two from scheduled castes, and one each from other backward classes and scheduled tribe.

The expansion would further strengthen the government or make the left out aspirants more vocal, only time will tell, said a veteran Congress leader.

Some Congress leaders have also been vocal against the government. Himachal Congress chief Pratibha Singh, wife of former CM Virbhadra Singh, has been raking the issue of lack of coordination between the organisation and the government.

Recently, she had expressed her displeasure for not being consulted on one-year celebration of the state government and asserted that the dedicated party workers, who were instrumental in the victory of the party in the assembly polls, should be rewarded.

In September, Congress MLA Rajinder Rana had also expressed concern over delay in recruitments in government jobs, and drawn the attention of chief minister over brewing discontent among the unemployed youth after Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission was scrapped.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Diversified group ITC's FMCG business expanded at a compounded annual growth rate of 14 per cent in the last three years while its Aashirvaad brand has become an Rs 8,000 crore product in terms of consumer spends, according to a company presentation.

ITC is "one of the fastest growing FMCG Businesses in India" with rapid scale in revenues, which is largely "driven by brands developed in-house", ITC in an investor presentation released on Tuesday.

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ITC's FMCG products are now "present in 3 of 4 households in India," it added.

Its foods business has a CAGR of 13 per cent over 10 years and 3-times growth in last 10 years.

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The Sunfeast brand has crossed over Rs 5,000 crore in terms of consumer spends, said ITC.

Moreover, its snacks brand Bingo, Yipee under which it sells instant noodles, Agarbatti brand Mangaldeep, stationery brand Classmate and its spice brand Sunrise have crossed Rs 1,000 crore of consumer spends.

The company measures annual consumer spend as the sum total of what the consumer spends on buying the goods of the company. It is the net sales turnover of the brands along with channel margins and taxes.

ITC said it is "strengthening Aashirvaad's presence in the Kitchen through adjacencies". Currently, it sells range of atta, ghee, salt, spices and instant mixes.

It is now "up-trading the consumers by creating newer vectors of value addition" with more products

The brand was started by ITC in May 2002 and now has become the number one in branded packaged atta across the country.

The company is operating with over 25 World-class Mother Brands in the FMCG segment and has a consumer spend of Rs 29,000 crore in FY 23.

ITC launched 300 products in the FMCG segment in the last three years.

Its total reach has extended to 7 million outlets and has a direct reach of 2.6 million households.

It is also scaling up MasterChef and incubating chocolates.

Over the personal wash, ITC said it's a Rs 24,000 crore industry, in which 3,000 brands are present.

Its brand Fiama is over-indexed on new age distribution channels. Its hygiene brand Savlon, which was acquired in 2015 has grown almost 10x in the last six years.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Zetifi focuses on businesses in rural areas with help of $500K from Grow-NY competition

An Australian technology company is looking to assist farmers and agricultural businesses in rural areas of Western New York that have issues with sparse or no Wi-Fi coverage.

Zetifi is offering a free trial of a vehicle-mounted connectivity device ZetiRover, which is meant to address Wi-Fi hurdles to help boost productivity and job creation in regions outside of metro areas.

There is a digital divide that limits access to Wi-Fi for people and businesses in some rural communities, despite numerous programs at the state and federal level to boost access to the wireless signal used to connect devices.

The trial, which is being made possible through an award of $500,000 in funding from Cornell Universitys Grow-NY Food & Agriculture competition in 2020, will help Zetifi gather coverage data and validate whether the device can provide benefits to U.S. customers. Five participants from throughout Upstate New York will be selected for this trial.

Zetifi hopes to select farmers with a desire to use the ZetiRover on their machinery or farm vehicles and agricultural services companies wishing to try it on their fleet vehicles to keep their staff connected in more places.

These trials serve as a crucial step in understanding the ZetiRovers performance in Upstate New Yorks unique conditions before planning a full-scale U.S. market launch, said Rob Lansdown, commercial manager at Zetifi.

The ZetiRover uses antennae and multicarrier technology to provide Wi-Fi connectivity in areas where cellular phone service would otherwise be unavailable or unreliable. For U.S. trials, the ZetiRover will be configured to bring in some coverage from AT&T and Verizon.

After taking second place in the Grow-NY Food & Agriculture competition, Zetifi established a satellite office and team in Rochester in 2021 as a base for commercial sales and product trials in upstate New York.

Since being founded in 2017, Zetifi has grown to a team of 20 employees focused in software development, network engineering, manufacturing, agriculture and business development.

To express interest or gather more information about the ZetiRover trial, submit a webform at zetifi.com/getconnected.

Niagara Falls salon takes third in pitch competition

The owner of Full Style Beauty in Niagara Falls took third place in a pitch competition hosted by the Enterprise Center at PathStone and Rochester Economic Development Corp.

Lauren Cary secured $1,000 for her cosmetology services, which encompass nail acrylics, natural hair care, eyebrow waxing and lash extensions. It was the first time Cary presented a pitch for her business. The event took place last month at the Exchange at Beverly Gray, 334 E. Utica St.

Im super proud of myself and am so thankful for this opportunity, Cary said.

The competition was the final piece of an eight-week training program designed to prepare entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds in the Buffalo and Rochester areas to create complete business plans and loan packages and reduce barriers to accessing capital for startup and expansion purposes.

Of the nine contenders, taking the top spot and $5,000 prize was Shannon Halligan, founder of Halligan Creative Arts Therapy, based in Rochester. Securing second place and $2,000 was Stacey Mrva, a metal sculptor from Springwater focusing on functional fine art through welding workshops.

ShearShare teams with J.C. Penney salons

ShearShare has partnered with J.C. Penney's salons and recently made its debut in 25 locations. The partnership will include all 629 salon sites in the coming years.

Stylists who work at a J.C. Penney salon will have access through company iPads to ShearShares platform, which connects salon, barbershop and spa owners with beauty and barbering professionals in need of affordable workspace.

ShearShare has more than 53,000 users on its platform, with a new fintech product on the horizon.

Talking coffee ...

Unapologetic Coffee, a graduate of the UB Cultivator program for Western New York startups, is planning to expand and potentially open a second location, thanks to the help of a $15,000 grant.

Business owners and twin sisters Alicia and Alisa Officer have plans to purchase more roasting and packaging machinery with the money they recently received from a General Motors WNY Scale Up Small Business grant.

The company, which has been in business for two years at Main Utica Square in Buffalo, also will target more wholesale customers such as Tops and other local retailers.

RocketCup Coffee Co., a mission-driven entity selling beans to businesses and direct to consumers, opened a cafe in the Village of Cattaraugus in October.

Tom Cullen, co-founder and director of the Laine Business Accelerator in Olean and director of the St. Bonaventure University Innovation Center, combined a love for coffee with his passion for community revitalization efforts in creating RocketCup.

A portion of profits from each sold bag of coffee  blends from Brazil, Colombia and Honduras  goes to projects that serve to reenergize and grow communities. Along with his two partners, MacKenzie Bush and Steve McClain, Cullen provides $1,000 grants for these community projects.

THE LATEST

Five Star Bank is cutting jobs in a reshuffling.

The state is facing a power crunch

More townhomes are in the works in Amherst.

Kistler Instruments plans to expand.

The flu is on the rise across Western New York.

Take a look inside the new Barcalo Living complex.

Attorney general says health insurers aren't helping mental health patients enough.

Delaware North turned to fans for tips on improving KeyBank Center food.

John Persons honored for community outreach at Tops.

SUNY Fredonia outlined its plan to cut costs  and programs.

More apartments are coming to Amherst.

Why Elmwood Taco and Sub workers staged a walkout.

H&M is closing a local store.

The state's crackdown on illegal cannabis shops targeted a Buffalo store.

Lockport seeing surge of health care projects as 'latest battleground of competition' in WNY.

ICYMI

Five reads from Buffalo Next:

1. How KSL Diagnostics took a troubled lab and made it grow.

2. Legal cannabis stores are rushing to open  and fearful of another legal halt.

3. Take a closer look at the Silo City development.

4. Why do grocery stores move stuff around? There's a lot of science that goes into it, but the bottom line is increasing sales.

5. The Buffalo Niagara job market is stuck. But it's not sick.

The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the regions economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435.

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Dubai [UAE], December 11 (ANI): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday proposed a deal at COP28 on phasing out fossil fuels, telling negotiators that "now is the time for maximum ambition and maximum flexibility," as UN climate talks in Dubai head into the home stretch, UN News reported.

As COP28 entered its final 48 hours, the UN chief delivered a clear message to government negotiators: "We must conclude the conference with an ambitious outcome that demonstrates decisive action and a credible plan to keep 1.5-degree goal alive, protecting those on the frontlines of the climate crisis."

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As COP28 entered its final 48 hours, the UN chief delivered a clear message to government negotiators: "We must conclude the conference with an ambitious outcome that demonstrates decisive action and a credible plan to keep 1.5-degree goal alive, protecting those on the frontlines of the climate crisis."

Negotiators are engaged in intense negotiations to hammer out a deal on key agenda items including the future of the use of fossil fuels, ramping up renewable energy, building resilience to climate change and ensuring financial support for vulnerable countries, according to UN News.

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Speaking to reporters today, Guterres warned of humanity's race against time as our planet is "minutes to midnight" for the 1.5 degree limit, referring to one of the keystone global warming targets set by the 2015 Paris Agreement. "And the clock keeps ticking."

And yet, with COP28 so close to the finish line, there is still a "gap that needs to be bridged, said the Secretary-General.

Against this backdrop, he noted that "now is the time for maximum ambition and maximum flexibility. Ministers and negotiators must move beyond arbitrary red lines, entrenched positions and blocking tactics," he said.

Urging countries to go into "overdrive to negotiate in good faith and rise to the challenge", the Secretary-General also cautioned that any "compromise for solutions", must not come at the cost of "compromising on the science or on the need for the highest ambition."

He underscored that in a "fractured and divided world, COP28 can show that multilateralism remains our best hope to tackle global challenges."

Speaking to reporters just ahead of the Secretary-General, UN climate chief Simon Stiell said negotiations on an outcome document have a chance to begin a new chapter that delivers for people and planet.

He underscored the importance of finance as "the bedrock to scale-up climate action on all fronts".

He stressed that the highest levels of ambition are possible on both, "but if we reduce on one, we reduce our ability to get either."

To reach a meaningful deal, the many "unnecessary tactical blockades" seen along the COP28 journey must be removed, and "incrementalism" must be rejected, according to the climate chief.

He reminded negotiators that the world is watching and "there is nowhere to hide."

"One thing is for certain: 'I win - you lose' is a recipe for collective failure. Ultimately it is 8 billion people's security that is at stake".

Following the landmark Paris COP, Dubai is the first time that a UN climate summit surveys progress towards achieving the goals agreed in 2015.

This so-named Global Stocktake is still being assessed and could pave the way to ambitious national climate action plans, or NDC's that countries are due to submit in 2025.

Guterres has called for countries to step up their efforts to ensure maximum ambition on two fronts, namely ambition on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and on delivering climate justice.

On Monday he stressed that the Global Stocktake must recognize the "need to phase out all fossil fuels on a time-frame consistent with the 1.5-degree limit - and to accelerate a just, equitable and orderly energy transition for all."

COP28, which stands for the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is taking place in Dubai, UAE, from November 30 to December 12 this year. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Brussels, Dec 12 (AP) The European Parliament on Tuesday remembered a young woman who died in police custody in Iran last year, during a ceremony at which she and an Iranian human rights group were officially awarded the EU's top human rights prize.

Parliament President Roberta Metsola deplored that even part of Mahsa Amini's family was not allowed to attend the event for the awarding of the Sakharov Prize at the EU legislature's plenary.

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They are under a travel ban imposed by the Iranian regime. Their treatment is another example of what the people of Iran face every day, Metsola said.

Amini, 22, died in September 2022, three days after she was arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating Iran's mandatory headscarf law. While authorities said she suffered a heart attack, Amini's supporters said she was beaten by police and died as a result of her injuries.

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The EU said her death triggered a women-led movement in Iran, and representatives of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran were in Strasbourg, France, to attend the solemn ceremony.

The 27-nation EU has imposed sanctions on Iranian officials and organizations  including ministers, military officers and Iran's morality police  for human rights abuses over the protests.

This year's Sakharov Prize serves as a tribute to all the brave and defiant women, men and young people in Iran who, despite coming under increasing pressure, are continue the push for change, Metsola said.

Amini's death triggered protests that spread across the country and rapidly escalated into calls for the overthrow of Iran's four-decade-old Islamic theocracy.

Authorities responded with a violent crackdown in which more than 500 people were killed and over 22,000 others were detained, according to rights groups. The demonstrations largely died down early this year, but there are still widespread signs of discontent. For several months, women could be seen openly flaunting the headscarf rule in Tehran and other cities, prompting a renewed crackdown over the summer.

The EU award, named for Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honour individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. Sakharov, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died in 1989. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Over 83.5 per cent of Indian goods worth USD 3.7 billion such as gasoline, iron and steel, electronics, and machinery will get a significant boost in Oman, once both sides reach a comprehensive free trade agreement, a report said on Tuesday.

According to the - India-OMAN CEPA: Gateway to Middle Eastern Markets and Beyond - report, prepared by think tank Global trade Reproach Initiative (GTRI), these goods at present face a 5 per cent import duty in Oman.

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India and Oman are negotiating a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA), under which the two countries could significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on the maximum number of goods agreed between them.

With the new trade agreement, these products, including major export items like motor gasoline (exports worth USD 1.7 billion), iron and steel products (exports worth USD 235 million), electronics (USD 135 million), machinery (USD 125 million), aluminium oxide (USD 126 million), textiles (USD 110 million), alumina calcined (USD 105 million), plastics (USD 64 million), boneless meat (USD 50 million), essential oils (USD 47 million), and motor cars (USD 28 million), will benefit from duty elimination, it said.

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However, it added that about 16.5 per cent of Indian exports to Oman, worth USD 800 million and goods that already have duty-free access, will not see additional benefits from the agreement.

These items include wheat (USD 45 million), basmati rice (USD 125 million), fruits, vegetables (USD 76 million), medicines (USD 76 million), fish (USD 13.7 million), tea, coffee (USD 17.7 million).

"The duty elimination will aid most Indian exports, but significant growth in the Omani market, a small, middle-income economy with a USD 25,000 per capita income, will also depend on product quality improvements," GTRI Co-Founder Ajay Srivastava said.

He said that India can hope to radically increase its exports post the free trade agreement, as currently over 80 per cent of its goods enter Oman at average 5 per cent import duties, and there are not many trade barriers.

Oman's import duty ranges from 0 to 100 per cent along with the existence of specific duties. 100 per cent duty is applicable on specific meats, wines and tobacco products.

India's merchandise imports from Oman were USD 7.9 billion in 2022-23. Key imports are petroleum products (USD 4.6 billion) and urea (USD 1.2 billion). These account for 73 per cent of imports.

Other key products are propylene and ethylene polymers (USD 383 million), pet coke (USD $265 million), gypsum (USD 115 million), chemicals (USD 417 million), iron and steel (USD 62 million), and unwrought aluminium (USD 95 million).

"These products will gain from FTA-led tariff elimination by India. Most are raw materials and input to industries and India has opened most such imports from other FTA partner countries," the report said.

On the services side, it said, in 2022, India's service exports to Oman were worth about USD 2.8 billion, while its imports were USD 0.2 billion.

"India could seek increased access to the Omani market for business services and computer and information services, which Oman regularly imports. India might also negotiate for priority visas for its professionals on short-term assignments in Oman. Oman has a weak services sector and may not press for much opening of Indian markets," Srivastava said.

To provide greater market access for its pharma products, India may request Oman for track approval for Indian pharma products that are already registered with the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), UK drug regulator MHRA and European Medicines Agency, it said.

India's free trade agreement with the UAE has a similar proposal. India has implemented a trade agreement with the UAE in May. Both Oman and UAE are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

India's GDP of about USD 3.5 trillion is significantly larger than Oman's GDP of USD 115 billion. This indicates that India's economy is far more extensive and diverse.

With a population of 1.4 billion compared to Oman's 5 million, India represents a vast consumer market for Oman.

"However, Oman's higher per capita income (USD 25,060) compared to India's (USD 2,370) could mean a demand for more diversified and possibly higher-value goods and services in Oman, which India could aim to supply," Srivastava said, adding Oman might use this FTA to diversify its economy, reducing dependence on oil and gas sectors, and to develop its human resources by gaining access to India's educational and technological expertise.

He added that the reduction in import duties under the CEPA will allow Indian products to enter the Omani market at competitive prices. India' diverse range of products, from pharmaceuticals and textiles to technology and agriculture, will gain a significant advantage, enhancing India's export potential.

Similarly, Oman's products, particularly in sectors like oil and gas, petrochemicals, and certain types of manufactured goods, will find a more receptive market in India. Reduced import duties mean these products can be offered at more competitive prices, potentially increasing Omani exports.

"Beyond the immediate economic benefits, the CEPA holds considerable strategic importance for India. It serves as a gateway for India to strengthen its footprint in Middle Eastern economies. This partnership with Oman can act as a catalyst, enhancing India's geopolitical presence and fostering deeper ties with other Middle Eastern countries," he added.

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Tel Aviv [Israel], December 12 (ANI/TPS): The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) reported that it successfully struck down six rockets out of a group that was launched by terrorists based in Lebanon at Israeli territory.

IDF forces then attacked the sources of the launches with artillery fire.

Also Read | Japan's Oldest Person Dies: Fusa Tatsumi, Passes at Age of 116 in Osaka Prefecture.

Meanwhile, the United States is concerned about reports that Israel used US-supplied white phosphorus munitions in an attack carried out in southern Lebanon in October, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said on Monday (local time).

Speaking to reporters while en route to Philadelphia, John Kirby said the US will be asking questions to get more details about it. He stressed that the US provides material like white phosphorus to another military with the full expectation that it will be used for legitimate purposes and in keeping with the law of armed conflict. (ANI/TPS)

Also Read | Joe Biden Unlikely to Visit India for Republic Day Celebrations As Chief Guest, No Quad Summit Soon.

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Caracas, Dec 12 (AP) The leaders of Guyana and Venezuela have expressed their intentions to cooperate as they prepare to meet this week to address an escalating dispute over a region rich in oil and minerals. But their diametrically different positions over the role the International Court of Justice should have in the disagreement appeared impossible to reconcile on Monday.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and other officials insist the world court cannot settle the century-old dispute. Guyana President Irfaan Ali said Sunday the tribunal is the appropriate venue to solve the matter.

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Guyana presented the case to the court in 2018, but Venezuela insists that was a violation of a 1960s agreement between the neighbouring South American countries.

In a letter Monday to Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which will host the high-level meeting on Thursday, Maduro said that imposing the International Court of Justice as an authority in seeking a solution to the dispute was a violation "of the principle of mutual consent already agreed upon between the parties."

Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: UNGA To Resume Emergency Session on Gaza After US Veto Blocks Ceasefire Resolution.

This threatens to cause a "deterioration of the situation," Maduro wrote.

The dispute over Essequibo, which represents two-thirds of Guyana and borders Venezuela, worsened after Venezuela's Dec. 3 referendum on claiming sovereignty over the region located near massive oil deposits.

Venezuela maintains Essequibo was within its boundaries during the Spanish colonial period, and rejects the border drawn by international arbitrators in 1899, when Guyana was under British rule. Venezuelan officials also argue that a 1966 agreement between their country, Britain and the colony of British Guiana effectively nullified the original arbitration.

Ali said he would travel in good faith to St. Vincent, an island in the eastern Caribbean. Guyana will not negotiate with Venezuela, he added, insisting the case be heard by the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands as planned.

"The world is behind us," he said.

In contrast, Venezuela on Friday unveiled what officials described as a new official map, which shows the Essequibo as part of their country.

Other leaders, including Brazilian President Inacio Lula da Silva, have also been invited to Thursday's talks.

Asked if Washington has committed any military aid, Ali said Sunday he signed a defense agreement with the United States to ensure that "major training programs and exercises" will continue.

"We don't want any conflict," he said. "We don't want any war."

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez announced the creation of a commission that would carry out "broadest consultations" on Venezuela's proposal for Thursday's meeting. The commission includes the attorney general, head of the National Assembly and defense minister.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil told reporters on Monday that "any decision must be mutual." In a video posted a day earlier on social media, he said he met with his counterpart in Guyana as well as with the presidents of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, better known for its acronym in Spanish, CELAC, and Caricom, a Caribbean trade bloc.

In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Gonsalves said in a statement over the weekend the two organizations believe there is an "urgent need to de-escalate the conflict" and introduce dialogue. He noted that Ali agreed to discuss the controversy with Maduro, despite Guyana's Parliament unanimously instructing him not to do it.

"Let us all resolve to make this historic gathering a successful one," Gonsalves said. "So much is at stake for our Caribbean and Latin American civilization." (AP)

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Waukegan (US), Dec 12 (AP) The man accused of killing seven people at a July Fourth parade in suburban Chicago last year fired his public defenders on Monday and said he plans to represent himself at trial, slated to start in February.

Robert Crimo III is charged with 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery for the shooting in Highland Park, Illinois. Dozens, including children, were injured.

Also Read | UK PM Rishi Sunak Fights To Save His Premiership As MPs Seek Revised Rwanda Immigration Bill.

Several times, Judge Victoria Rossetti asked if Crimo understood the possible penalties  including consecutive life sentences  if a jury finds him guilty. She suggested he reconsider his choice to represent himself.

Crimo  a 23-year-old man with straight dark hair past his shoulders, wearing a red jail uniform  answered that he understood.

Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: UNGA To Resume Emergency Session on Gaza After US Veto Blocks Ceasefire Resolution.

The judge asked Crimo if he had any legal education, and he said he had once been an observer in court. In response to the judge's questioning, Crimo said high school is the highest level of schooling he attained.

Rossetti explained that he would be responsible for all aspects of his defense, including filing motions, subpoenaing witnesses, and making opening and closing statements.

Crimo agreed.

You will be representing yourself," Rossetti finally said, before granting Crimo's request to schedule his trial as quickly as possible, in February 2024 rather than February 2025 as his original defense team had discussed with prosecutors.

Attorneys and Rossetti have repeatedly discussed the enormous amount of records and other material tied to the case, including about 10,000 pages of material the state's attorney's office has turned over to Crimo's defense.

Public defenders Greg Ticsay and Anton Trizna, who represented Crimo until Monday, declined to comment.

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart, whose office will be prosecuting the case, said in an emailed statement following Monday's court hearing that "prosecutors on this case have been working tirelessly since July 4, 2022, and will be ready for trial on the set date. Our victim specialists have been in constant communication with the victims and their families throughout the case and will continue to do so."

They declined to comment on the defendant's dismissal of legal representation.

Prosecutors have said Crimo admitted to the shooting when police arrested him following an hourslong search on July 4, 2022.

The attack left a toddler without parents, families mourning the loss of beloved grandparents and a synagogue grieving the death of a congregant who for decades had also worked on the staff.

Since 2016, thousands of Americans have been wounded in mass shootings, and tens of thousands by gun violence, with that number continuing to grow, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Beyond the colossal medical bills, mass shooting survivors and family members often contend with mental and physical wounds that endure.

Authorities last year said Crimo confessed to police that he unleashed a hail of bullets from a rooftop in Highland Park and then fled to the Madison, Wisconsin, area, where he contemplated shooting up another parade there.

The suspect turned back to Illinois, where he was later arrested, after deciding he was not prepared to pull off another attack in Wisconsin, Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesperson Christopher Covelli said in the days after the shooting.

Crimo III's father, Robert Crimo Jr., pleaded guilty last month to seven misdemeanors  one for every person who was killed  in a case that centered on how his son obtained a gun license.

In 2019, at age 19, Crimo III was too young to seek his own gun license, but he could apply with the sponsorship of a parent or guardian. His father agreed, even though just months earlier a relative reported to police that Crimo III had a collection of knives and had threatened to kill everyone.

After Illinois State Police approved the younger Crimo's gun permit, the teenager legally purchased five firearms, including the Smith & Wesson semi-automatic rifle authorities say he used from his rooftop perch to discharge more than 80 rounds on a Fourth of July parade below.

Despite occurring in a state with some of the nation's most restrictive gun laws, the case slipped though red flag laws designed to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous or disturbed people.

Crimo Jr. is serving a 60-day sentence in Lake County Jail, where his son is being held without bond. (AP)

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Washington, DC [US], December 12 (ANI): Several family members of US citizens believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas, weren't invited to the Hanukkah reception at the White House on Monday night, as per the father of a 19-year-old missing Israeli American, CNN reported.

The citizens had reportedly asked to attend the Hanukkah reception.

Also Read | US: Coffee House Sacks Three Employees for Denying Jewish Woman Access to Restroom, Making Anti-Semitic Remark in California; Video Surfaces.

Ruby Chen, whose son Itay is a reservist missing since Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel, said a number of the families of American hostages were in Washington, DC, this week and had reached out to the White House asking to attend the reception but were not invited.

A White House spokesperson declined to comment.

Also Read | US Building Collapse Videos: Six-Story Apartment Building Partially Collapses in New York's Bronx, Firefighters Search for Anyone Trapped in Debris.

The reception was held by US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden to celebrate the fifth night of Hanukkah. It featured some 800 guests, according to the White House, including Holocaust survivors, lawmakers and various Jewish leaders.

At the event, Biden talked about the work his administration has been doing to try to secure the release of the remaining hostages and get humanitarian aid into Gaza. He said he had spent "probably up to 20 hours" working with Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian counterparts on both fronts.

"There's a whole range of things going on now that are really very, very difficult," Biden said. "We've gotten more than 100 hostages out and we're not going to stop till we get every one of them home."

As per the White House, there are still seven American men and one woman unaccounted for since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war. Four Americans--a 4-year-old girl and three women--have been released.

After formal hostage negotiations that had been taking place in Doha, Qatar, fell apart, the Biden administration continues to be in close contact with their Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian counterparts about ways to get more hostages out, according to officials, as per CNN.

Since the beginning of the Israel Hamas war, families of the missing Americans have had opportunities to speak or meet with the president, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Vice President Kamala Harris.

But as CNN had previously reported, the seeming lack of progress on this front is fueling the families' anxiety. Some of the families have called on the White House to consider making a side deal with Hamas that focuses on just the American hostages and have even floated the idea of cutting the Israeli government out of initial negotiations altogether.

Multiple families told CNN that while they felt supported by the Biden administration's outreach and support so far, the Israeli government has, in stark contrast, been minimally engaged. (ANI)

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Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra said on Monday during a press conference that the bodies of 208 dead Palestinians were transferred to hospitals in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours, and 416 Palestinians were wounded in the Israeli raids, Xinhua news agency reported.
On the 8th day of Winter Session of the Parliament, Congress MP Manish Tewari gave an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss the situation of the retired Indian naval officers who have been sentenced to death in Qatar. The eight former Indian Navy veterans worked with Dahra Global, a defence services provider situated in Doha, and were arrested in August 2022 on alleged espionage charges. Tewari on Tuesday, December 12, submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss the steps that had been taken to bring the detained naval officers back to India. Parliament Winter Session 2023: After Passage of Landmark Jammu and Kashmir Bills in RS, More Important Businesses Lined Up in Both Houses Today.

Manish Tewari Gives Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha:

Winter Session of Parliament | Congress MP Manish Tewari gives Adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the situation of Navy personnel in Qatar and the steps taken to bring them back to India. pic.twitter.com/JqCt7PMKoN  ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2023

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He came, he saw, he tried to conquer. Instead, he got arrested: Craig Cobbs attempts to turn Leith, N.D., into a white-supremacist enclave have hit a wall now that hes in a local jail, accused of terrorizing townsfolk.

But theres a new, ironic twist to his thwarted takeover attempt. You might even call it a case of reverse racism.

The Los Angeles Times has previously cataloged Cobbs plot and the repeated stumbles hes faced -- first running afoul of local health rules, then discovering on a nationally syndicated talk show that a DNA test showed he was actually 14% sub-Saharan African.

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Then, over the weekend, Cobb, 62, was arrested after going on an ill-advised armed patrol of the town, population 16, with a fellow white supremacist, Kynan Dutton, 29.

Before their arrest, Cobb had texted the Bismarck Tribune about his motive: Because of the many violences and harassments against we and the children, we have commenced armed patrols of Leith.

Theres a little more to the story than that: Cobb, it seems, had felt the sting of his own brand of racial prejudice turned against him.

The local prosecutor says a fellow white supremacist had apparently targeted Cobb with racial graffiti after hed found out that Cobbs DNA results said he was part black.

The individual in question was interviewed, and when his interview answers werent matching up, he essentially admitted it, Grant County Assistant States Atty. Todd Schwarz told the Los Angeles Times. The one that tipped it off -- he painted on the house, BACK IN BLACK, and hes not an AC/DC fan.

Cobb and Dutton had a falling out with the other supremacist the day news of Cobbs DNA results broke, said Schwarz, who wouldnt identify the man but said he was not real mentally stable and left town the same day. Schwarz said the investigation into the graffiti incident is ongoing.

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Schwarz said he thought Cobb knew hed been targeted by his own man, so when Cobb went on his armed patrol four days later, he did so with a manufactured excuse of harassment.

That, in addition to Cobb and Duttons loose ties to the community -- ostensibly making them flight risks -- led Schwarz to ask the local judge to hold both men without bond, which the judge granted. They are charged with seven felony counts of terrorizing the town. Five of the counts are gun-related and carry a mandatory minimum of two years in prison, Schwarz said.

Ive got a small community that is absolutely justified in being in fear of this man and his escalation, Schwarz said. Of the graffiti incident, he added with a laugh, Back in black -- theres got to be some irony in it.

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The Nov. 26 fire that killed a Clarence woman and four of her dogs and caused $1 million in damage was sparked by a chimney failure in a home that lacked working smoke detectors, an Erie County Sheriffs Office fire investigator said Tuesday.

An investigation determined that an issue within the chimneys infrastructure allowed built-up heat from the fireplace to escape and caused the blaze that heavily damaged the home in the Spaulding Lake neighborhood, Detective Scott Kuhlmey told The Buffalo News.

It allows your gases and your embers and everything that would normally go up the chimney pipe and out the roof through the stack to go outside of the chimney pipe and get into the wall, he said.

Further, Kuhlmey said smoke alarms in the home did not activate at the time, though he declined to say whether anyone deliberately deactivated the devices prior to the fire.

Joan S. Wozer, 62, died in the fire at 4720 Spaulding Drive. She was a nurse at John R. Oishei Childrens Hospital and other facilities and was well known for her passion for breeding golden retrievers.

Three people  including Wozers husband, Greg  and another dog managed to escape.

It was the first of two fires within two weeks in the town that started in a chimney or fireplace, Clarence Fire Chief Brett Hanford said.

Hanford previously told The Buffalo News that, when he arrived at the Spaulding Drive home at 2:43 a.m., the first floor was fully engulfed, with fire billowing through bay windows, the front door and second-floor windows.

His company was joined by Clarence Center and Main-Transit firefighters just a few minutes after the 911 call.

The fire appeared to have originated in the rear right of the house, he said, because that area had the highest concentration of char.

Given the size of the home and volume of fire, Hanford quickly called for second and third alarms, which led to assistance from Harris Hill, Newstead, East Amherst and Swormville fire companies.

An unsuccessful rescue attempt was made for Joan Wozer, who was in a second-floor bedroom, by dousing the flames as a ladder was set up.

The $1 million in damage was split between $700,000 in structural damage and $300,000 in contents.

A town code enforcement officer deemed the home uninhabitable on the day of the fire.

The house is more than likely beyond repair, town spokesman Kevin Keenan said, but any decision on demolition is in the hands of Greg Wozer.

The Spaulding Drive home had a wood-burning fireplace, with a natural gas starter, and a clay-lined chimney, officials said.

Sheriffs fire investigators determined the family had set a fire in the fireplace on the afternoon of Nov. 25 and kept it going into the evening, Kuhlmey said.

At some point overnight, a failure in the chimney  in the flue or another component of the chimney structure  created a gap allowing heat that had built up to escape, Kuhlmey said.

Theres a lot of different components. Youve got the firebox that goes to your chimney pipe and theres different parts within that section, he said. So it was between the firebox and the chimney pipe.

This sparked the fire on the first floor that soon raged through the home and trapped Joan Wozer in her upstairs bedroom.

Based upon our investigation, we received information that smoke detectors did not activate, Kuhlmey said.

He declined to reveal why and for how long the home lacked working smoke detectors.

Hanford declined to comment on the status of the smoke detectors, deferring to the Sheriffs Office.

However, both men emphasized the value of having functioning smoke detectors in a home, checking them regularly and replacing their batteries twice a year.

Having an operable smoke alarm probably would have helped with learning about the fire earlier, Kuhlmey said.

Kuhlmey and Hanford pointed to a fire that started just after 2:30 a.m. Monday and caused $90,000 damage to a home, and its contents, at 10620 Clarence Center Road.

That fire began in the fireplace and extended to the wall around it, according to Hanford and the Amherst Central Fire Alarm Office.

In this case the home had working smoke alarms, which helped limit the damage to the structure and ensured no one was injured or killed in the fire.

They were awakened to the smoke detectors, things of that nature, so the whole family was able to evacuate the house, the fire chief said.

This is one of several safety tips Kuhlmey and Hanford offered for a season when fireplace and chimney fires become more common.

They urged homeowners to get their chimneys regularly inspected and cleaned and to use properly seasoned firewood  hardwoods such as maple or oak are best  to start fires in a wood-burning fireplace.

They also urged caution in waiting until a fires ashes and embers have completely cooled before removing and disposing of them.

News Staff Reporter Ben Tsujimoto contributed to this report.
On 11 December Argentinas Presidentheld his first cabinet meeting after his inauguration a day earlier.

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Consuelo Loera Perez, the mother of convicted Mexico drug lord and former Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, has died in the northern state of Sinaloa, as confirmed by a federal official on Monday.

While the official spoke anonymously, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador acknowledged her passing and offered his condolences to the family.

Lopez Obrador, known for his visits to the drug lord's hometown, emphasized the importance of respecting the passing of any human being in his daily briefing, AP reports.

"Any human being who dies deserves respect and consideration for their family," the Mexican President said.

Local media reported El Chapo's mother's death at a private hospital in Culiacan, Sinaloa, the home of the cartel her son led for two decades before his arrest in 2017.

The hospital declined to comment on the matter. Although the official cause of death is stated as "natural causes," there are reports linking it to respiratory complications following a COVID-19 infection in 2021.

READ NEXT: El Chapo Wife Emma Coronel Leaves California Prison

El Chapo Mother, Consuelo Loera:

Maria Consuelo Loera Perez, affectionately known as "La Tuna," was born in Badiraguato in 1929, according to MARCA. She will be mourned in her hometown before her body is transferred to Culiacan.

She gave birth to ex-Sinaloa Cartel boss El Chapo on April 4, 1957. Consuelo Loera had several other children, including Arturo, Bernarda, Miguel Angel, Aureliano, Armida, and Emilio.

Her grandchildren, notably 'Los Chapitos,' including Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez, have gained notoriety.

Ovidio was captured on September 15, 2023, and extradited to the United States.

El Chapo's Mother and Mexico President Manuel Lopez Obrador

During the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Consuelo Loera's handshake with Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador during a visit to her town sparked controversy, VICE noted.

El Chapo's mother had requested the president's help in obtaining a US visa to visit her son, who was serving a life sentence on drug charges.

Mexico President Manuel Lopez Obrador, in his Monday briefing, expressed his condolences and emphasized the importance of showing respect for any deceased individual and their family.

Despite needing a visa to visit her son in the US, Consuelo Loera always denied El Chapo's leadership in the Sinaloa Cartel.

Reports suggest she lived under tight security due to concerns about potential retaliation from rivals.

A video surfaced of Mexico's Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador telling her not to leave her house, promising his intervention in response to a letter from El Chapo's family requesting assistance in seeing him in prison.

This move drew criticism for not extending similar empathy to other sectors affected by violence in the country.

Armed men broke into Loera Perez's house in 2016 while El Chapo was imprisoned in Mexico.

Although El Chapo's mother remained unharmed, three nearby residents lost their lives, and the attackers stole vehicles and motorcycles while cutting telephone lines.

READ MORE: Argentina President Javier Milei Warns 'There Is No Alternative to a Shock Adjustment'

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Meet El Chapo's Mom - From FRONTLINE PBS
A conflict between Guyana and Venezuela over the vast swathe of land known as the Essequibo region, rich in oil and minerals, is causing their neighbors to be tense. However, the two sides have at least agreed to meet as the threat of war hangs over South America.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and Guyana's President Mohamed Irfaan Ali will be meeting in person, and this was revealed by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, with the rest of the world watching as a new war may happen after recent Venezuelan actions in claiming Essequibo territory that the international community has recognized as rightfully Guyana's.

The dispute has been going on for over a hundred years now. While Guyana is recognized as the true owner of the Essequibo region, Venezuela does not recognize it despite an 1899 resolution saying so. The Maduro-run country also does not recognize the UN's authority over the dispute.

Maduro has become obsessed with the Essequibo issue as of late, even campaigning for Venezuela to have the right to use its vast resources for itself as it is, as Maduro claims, rightful Venezuela territory. He even launched a referendum, which passed through, though many are questioning the true numbers as the vote had a very low turnout.

Venezuela stated that this meeting "is in order to preserve our aspiration to maintain Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace." Meanwhile, Guyana has stated that President Ali has agreed to the meeting but reiterated that "Guyana's land boundary is not up for discussion."

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines To Host Meeting Between Venezuela and Guyana Over Essequibo

Usually, a neutral third party would play mediator for two countries in conflict with one another. In this case, it will be the Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, which will hold the Venezuela-Guyana summit on December 14 local time.

READ MORE: Guyana Pirates Trial: Court Sentences 2 Pirates to Death Over Fishermen's Deaths

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves will be accompanying both Ali and Maduro in the meeting, with both Guyanese and Venezuelan governments confirming that it is indeed happening in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

According to VOA News, president pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States or CELAC, Ralph Gonsalves, as well as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, will also be attending the meeting.

CELAC and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are mediating the talks as many in Latin America and the Caribbean are pushing for talks between the two countries. Meanwhile, the US is backing Guyana and has already started flight drills with the country.

Fears in Guyana as Venezuela Might Invade

As for the reaction in Guyana, the entire country is on edge as its military continues to be on alert for a possible land grab from their Venezuelan neighbors. Essequibo is made up of many different indigenous peoples, and they are not too happy with Maduro's referendum as they do not identify themselves as Venezuelan but as Guyanese.

Brentnol Ashley, governor for the Barima-Waini region near the Guyana-Venezuela border, told The Guardian, "We are a diverse nation, but at the end of the day we are all one people: the Guyanese."

"We are not in need of Mr Maduro's ID cards! We already have one. We are Guyanese!" he added. "Even the Venezuelans who have sought refuge here stand with us on this. They do not want to suffer more of the hardship that sent them here in the first place."

Even in Guyana's capital, Georgetown, people are on edge as the possibility of an invasion from Venezuela, a country with a much superior military, looms.

READ MORE: Venezuelan Migrants Score Big Win as Joe Biden Grants Legal Status To 450,000 Asylum Seekers

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Could there be a conflict between Venezuela and Guyana over disputed Essequibo region?  FRANCE 24
Brooklyn federal prosecutors revealed on Monday that discussions are underway for former Representative George Santos to plead guilty to federal charges, according to Politico.

This development follows Santos' expulsion from the House just ten days ago.

"The parties are presently engaged in plea negotiations with the goal of resolving this matter without the need for a trial," said the court filing.

They expressed the intention to continue these negotiations over the next thirty days before convening for an additional court conference.

Santos, a former one-term Republican from New York, originally indicted in May and faced an updated indictment in October, is confronting a total of 23 federal charges. Among the allegations are identity theft, unauthorized credit card charges to donors, and submitting false campaign reports containing fictitious loans and contributions.

Despite maintaining his innocence, Santos labeled the federal charges a "witch hunt" after his initial arraignment.

"I'm going to take care of clearing my name," George Santos said following his initial arraignment.

However, the House Ethics Committee disclosed last month that there is "substantial evidence" supporting the federal charges and other accusations, such as misusing campaign funds for Botox treatments and extravagant trips to Atlantic City with his husband.

READ NEXT: George Santos Campaign Fund Scandal

George Santos Federal Charges

George Santos, a Republican representing parts of Queens and Long Island, faces multiple charges, including wire fraud, identity theft, and making false statements, per CNBC.

Congress expelled him in early December following a damning ethics report, further thinning the already slim Republican majority.

Santos is currently scheduled for trial in September, with prosecutors requesting an earlier start in May or June.

Samuel Miele, once a prominent campaign fundraiser for Santos, recently admitted guilt in a Long Island federal court, confessing to wire fraud charges stemming from his impersonation of a key aide to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Miele's fraudulent activities were centered around soliciting donations for Santos.

Furthermore, in October of the same year, Nancy Marks, the former campaign treasurer for Santos, also pleaded guilty in the same federal court. Marks faced charges related to multiple campaign finance felonies associated with her role in Santos' campaign.

George Santos Expulsion

In a historic move, Santos became the sixth lawmaker to be expelled from Congress after a House Ethics Committee report found he "sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit."

The House voted 311 to 114 to expel George Santos, who had previously stirred controversy for fabricating elements of his life story and resume, CNN reports.

The Ethics Committee's report also uncovered additional "uncharged and unlawful conduct" by Santos, prompting an immediate referral of these allegations to the Justice Department for further investigation.

George Santos, when asked about the possibility of going to jail, acknowledged concerns.

"I think everyone should be afraid of going to jail; it's not a pretty place, and I definitely want to work very hard to avoid that as much as possible," said ex-New York Rep. George Santos.

READ MORE: George Santos Net Worth

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WATCH: Former Rep. George Santos Negotiating Plea With Prosecutors, Filing Says - From Forbes Breaking News
The Mexican border city of Tijuana is considered one of Mexico's bloodiest cities, and a recent killing spree made sure the city earned that reputation as drug lords hunted down corrupt police officers whom they suspected of stealing their shipment of drugs.

Two of the corrupt police officers have been killed, according to the city's prosecutors. However, three other unrelated police officers were also killed in the killing spree. This suggested that a drug cartel launched the attack as retribution for stolen drugs and generalized it to just police officers and not specifically the ones who stole the shipment.

The Associated Press noted that this was a huge blow to the city as Tijuana already has the most homicides of any city in Mexico. The city has twice as many murders as the Mexican city that got second place on the list, Ciudad Juarez.

Prosecutors alleged that last month, a half-dozen local and state police officers in the city plotted to steal a large shipment of drugs from a warehouse where local drug lords were hiding them. These attacks on police officers may be the result of that plot.

However, the police officers targeted a warehouse belonging to one of the bloodiest cartels in Mexico, the Sinaloa Cartel, specifically the El Mayo faction, which is considered the most powerful crime organization in Tijuana.

Video Captured Tijuana Police Officers Stealing Cocaine From Mexico Drug Lords

That group of Tijuana police officers actually went through with their plot. Just last week, video of the officers' pickup truck pulling out of a warehouse with large plastic-wrapped bales of cocaine in its truck bed surfaced.

READ MORE: US Treasury Department Launches New Strike Force To Fight Fentanyl

Following the video, prosecutors in Tijuana confirmed that three state detectives were under investigation in the case, along with three members of the Tijuana municipal police. According to The Guardian, this led Alberto Capella, the former head of Tijuana's police force, to admit that the drugs appeared to have belonged to drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, who founded the Sinaloa Cartel alongside Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

Police also indicated that after the drug shipment was stolen, the cartel immediately knew who was behind it as a series of attacks occurred throughout the city, and all targeted law enforcement.

The first attack happened at the federal prosecutors' office in Tijuana, where at least 30 rounds were fired into the building. An hour later, one of the municipal police officers allegedly involved in the heist was killed in a street. Another attack happened on November 24, but nobody was killed. Days later, one of the detectives being investigated was gunned down, with the attackers fleeing via motorcycle.

Tijuana a Battleground for Various Drug Cartels in Mexico

According to ABC News, there are several drug cartels vying for dominance in Tijuana; chief among them are the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), as well as other groups such as remnants of the old Arellano Felix gang. Turf battles between these groups are largely to blame for all the murders happening in Mexico's deadliest city.

The violence dates back to 2017 when murders doubled in Tijuana, rising from 919 in 2016 to 1,782 in 2017. Now, the city averages 2,000 homicides every year.

READ MORE: Sinaloa Cartel Members Sanctioned by US Government Over Fentanyl as El Chapo's Sons Order Members To Quit Drug's Production

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: A Mexican Undercover Cop Reveals The HORRORS Of Cartel Violence, Surviving The War In Tijuana - The Connect: with Johnny Mitchell
To halt Donald Trump's usual "Delay-Delay-Delay" tactics, Special Counsel Jack Smith has asked the Supreme Court to step in on the ex-POTUS's immunity situation so that the election subversion trial scheduled for March will still be on track.

CNN noted that this was a rare step for the special counsel to skip a federal appeals court and go directly to the Supreme Court, as the issue of Trump's presidential immunity was fundamental to the case.

In this specific case, Smith's team asked the Supreme Court to review District Judge Tanya Chutkan's ruling that Trump is not immune from the federal election subversion prosecution case brought in Washington, DC, because Trump was acting in his capacity as a candidate for president and not in his duties as president.

Trump's attorneys, however, argued that their client's alleged actions over the 2020 election results were part of his official duties as president at that time. They plan to delay the case by bogging down the immunity issue with appeals, and with Smith going directly to the highest court in the land, he has thrown a wrench into their plans.

Smith's team also asked the Supreme Court whether Trump is protected by double jeopardy after the former president's attorneys asserted that because Trump was acquitted by the Senate during his impeachment trial, he cannot be criminally tried for the same alleged actions.

Supreme Court Agrees To Speed Up Consideration of Jack Smith's Request on Donald Trump's Immunity

"It is of imperative public importance that respondent's claims of immunity be resolved by this Court and that respondent's trial proceed as promptly as possible if his claim of immunity is rejected," Smith wrote in his request for the Supreme Court. "Respondent's claims are profoundly mistaken, as the district court held. But only this Court can definitively resolve them."

READ MORE: Donald Trump Fraud Trial: Judge Tells Ex-POTUS To Keep Quiet

The special counsel, who prosecuted war criminals at The Hague, asked for urgency. The Supreme Court agreed later Monday to speed up consideration of his request, according to CBS News. Because of this, the former president's legal team must now submit a response to the petition by 4 PM on December 20.

"A cornerstone of our constitutional order is that no person is above the law. The force of that principle is at its zenith where, as here, a grand jury has accused a former president of committing federal crimes to subvert the peaceful transfer of power to his lawfully elected successor," the special counsel wrote in his request. "Nothing could be more vital to our democracy than that a president who abuses the electoral system to remain in office is held accountable for criminal conduct."

Jack Smith Going Directly To Supreme Court Shows Urgency Is Needed in Immunity Case

The Trump campaign accused Jack Smith of trying "a Hail Mary by racing to the Supreme Court and attempting to bypass the appellate process" for the case, with a spokesperson adding, "There is absolutely no reason to rush this sham to trial except to injure President Trump and tens of millions of his supporters."

However, the BBC noted that because prosecutors rarely seek the top court's intervention before a lower appeals court rules on a matter, it just shows how urgent the situation is. Should Trump's usual "Delay Delay Delay" tactics work and the trial beyond the November 2024 election, it might mean that should Trump win the presidency again in 2024, he could pardon himself from all his crimes.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Does Not Have Immunity in 2020 Election Interference Case, Rules Federal Judge

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Supreme Court opts to expedite its consideration of special counsel's question about Trump case - CNN
The trial of former New York City Mayor and Former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani finally began as he faced a lawsuit from Georgia election workers over his false election claims after the former Time Magazine Man of the Year falsely accused them of fraud while pushing Donald Trump's baseless claims after the 2020 election.

Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea "Shaye" Moss suffered various kinds of harassment after Giuliani accused them of undermining the election and they filed the lawsuit because of that. They are suing for reputational damages could reach $47 million, and suggested emotional and punitive damages. This means that the former mayor could pay "tens of millions" more should he lose the case.

Giuliani, along with other Trump allies, as well as the former president himself, spread the conspiracy theory, resulting in the two women going into hiding after receiving so many threats. Some of those threats were recorded and its audio was played inside the courtroom on Monday.

Von DuBose, the attorney representing the two women, showed threats accusing the women of treason and threatening to hang them. He also explained that people would show up at Freeman's home to pound on her door and at her mother's house to make "citizen's arrests," according to Fox 29.

"Mr. Giuliani and his co-conspirators stole the lives of Ms. Moss and Ms. Freeman by destroying their names," DuBose told the jury before playing recordings of Giuliani falsely accusing the Georgia election workers of sneaking in ballots in suitcases, counting ballots multiple times, and tampering with voting machines. The lawyer then told the jury that none of Giuliani's accusations against his clients were true.

Trial in Lawsuit Vs. Rudy Giuliani To Only Determine If He Should Pay Damages

Much like Donald Trump's New York fraud trial, the judge has already issued a pretrial judgment and found that Rudy Giuliani did in fact defame the two Georgia election workers and that this trial would only be to determine damages.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Crimes: Special Counsel Jack Smith Goes Directly to Supreme Court To Question Ex-POTUS's Immunity

According to Politico, US District Court Judge Beryl Howell already found that Giuliani defamed Freeman and Moss and caused them emotional distress. She also found that Giuliani purposely hid evidence, including evidence about his net worth.

The only role that the jury has now is to determine what the former New York City mayor's punishment would be. They could also tie the harm that he has caused both women for additional "punitive" damages meant to deter others from acting similarly in the future.

Rudy Giuliani Repeats False Claim After Judge Rules That Claim To Be Defamatory

Despite the judge ruling that his claims against the two Georgia election workers were untrue and defamatory, Rudy Giuliani repeated those claims in court, insisting what he said about them was true.

"Everything I said about them is true," he reportedly told reporters. "Of course, I don't regret it, I told the truth. They were engaged in changing votes."

This immediately got a reaction from the plaintiffs as they asked the trial judge to tell Giuliani that statements such as those are out of bounds in court, with their filing stating. "Needless to say, were Defendant Giuliani to testify in a manner remotely resembling those comments, he would be in plain violation of the Court's prior orders in this case conclusively affirming, and reaffirming, that all elements of liability have been established, including that Defendant Giuliani's defamatory statements were false."

READ MORE: Donald Trump is Confused Why Co-Defendants Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, Kenneth Chesebro Pleaded Guilty

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Rudy Giuliani Embarrasses Himself in Court; Trump Backs Out of Testimony in NY: A Closer Look - Late Night with Seth Meyers
A North Tonawanda businessman who failed to pay state and federal taxes on millions of dollars in personal and business income has pleaded guilty to tax evasion, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced.

George Ward, 57, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he returns for sentencing March 28 before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr.

Prosecutors said Ward failed to file personal income tax returns between 2015 and 2020, which included "substantial" revenues from his fire protection and inspection business in Amherst. Prosecutors said he also did not pay income, Social Security and Medicare taxes withheld from his employees' pay.

Tax loss to the IRS totaled $953,793. Ward also did not pay $165,645 in New York State taxes.

Prosecutors said Ward misrepresented the status of his tax filings and his business to an IRS revenue officer. They noted that he also used a check cashing service to divert more than $2 million in checks from his business customers into a bank account held in his wife's name instead of depositing them in his business account.

 Dale Anderson
The fir will fly again in Bethlehem this weekend with the return of the weird and wonderful annual charity Christmas tree toss.

The 2023 Peter Kearns Memorial Christmas Tree Toss will see participants throw a Tannenbaum across the parking lot at Mikes More Miles Automotive, 1458 Stefko Blvd., at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16.

Proceeds will support Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley, which provides assistance to domestic abuse victims. Donations of $5 per throw are suggested.

The story of the tree toss supposedly began with a frustrated auto mechanic chucking the garages evergreen into the parking lot. It became a tradition in 2002 when Kearns, then owner of Meineke Car Care, challenged Mike DeCrosta of More Miles Automotive down the road to a friendly contest.

Join us at 11 a.m. on Saturday for the Christmas Tree Toss for Charity at More Miles Automotive as we raise money for Turning Point of Lehigh Valley!!!!! Posted by Lehigh Valley with Love on Monday, December 11, 2023

Over the years, it evolved into a spectacle with an annual showdown between police chiefs of Bethlehem and Bethlehem Township. There was a parade, bagpipes, and a goat (for reasons never fully explained). It took a hiatus with Kearns retirement in 2014 but returned in 2015  smaller but no less spirited. The toss was renamed in Kearns honor after he died in 2016.

Competitors on Saturday will go for distance. Smaller trees will be available for kids to throw, and there will be giveaways and refreshments throughout.

Donations can be made in person at the event, or submitted online at turningpointlv.org. Checks can be mailed payable to Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley care of More Miles Automotive, 1458 Stefko Blvd., Bethlehem, PA, 18017.

Read more: How to throw a Tannenbaum

13 1 / 13 2021 Christmas Tree Toss for Charity in Bethlehem

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Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com.
A Lehigh Valley man has been identified as the victim in a fatal crash Friday morning on the Pennsylvania Turnpikes Northeast Extension in Montgomery County.

Sean Terwilliger, 40, of Allentown, died when he was struck by a tractor-trailer while standing on the side of the highway, Pennsylvania State Police said in a news release Monday.

The victim had been a passenger in a utility truck that pulled over on the shoulder of the southbound lanes so the driver could could check a possible unsecured load, state police said in the news release.

Terwilliger, according to state police, had gotten out of the vehicle and was standing at its rear when the tractor-trailer traveling in the southbound lanes drifted into the shoulder and struck Terwilliger, killing him.

The driver of the tractor-trailer also sideswiped the utility truck before pulling over, state police said.

The release from state police did not specify if anyone else was hurt or if the tractor-trailer driver, a 31-year-old from Eaton Rapids, Michigan, will face any charges.

WFMZ Channel 69 News reported that Fridays crash forced the closure of the Northeast Extensions southbound lanes for several hours between the Quakertown and Lansdale exits.

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A New Jersey man has been convicted of killing a 17-year-old in Atlantic City as a result of an ongoing dispute between two families, authorities said.

Lewis Johnson, now 34, and his then-girlfriend Shaquana Lewis showed up at the residence on the 2000 block of Blaine Avenue on June 8, 2020 to confront the parents of her daughters boyfriend, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office said.

Johnson ran up the steps to the porch of a second-floor apartment, pistol-whipped the teen and shot him in the back and foot as he hung out with his foster brother, officials said.

Johnson ran down the steps and fired more shots and then drove back to Easton, Pennsylvania.

The teen  Curaan Williams died of his injuries the following day.

In addition to murder, Johnson was convicted of three weapons offenses.

He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 4. He faces up to life in prison.

Johnson and Lewis were arrested the next day in Wilson Borough, Pennsylvania.

Johnson tried to jump out a second story window before being arrested, but was hit with a Taser and taken into custody, Wilson Borough Chief Chris Meehan said at the time.

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by The Courier Post, the teens death followed a fight the previous night between the victims foster brother and the brothers former girlfriend.

Lewis left multiple threatening voice messages for the victims foster brother, authorities said.

Lewis pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter and is serving an eight-year sentence, according to state Department of Corrections records. She has been in state prison since June 27 and will be eligible for parole on May 6, 2027.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
Chabad Lubavitch of the Lehigh Valley hosted a Lighting of Unity public menorah lighting Monday at Bethlehem City Hall.

The lighting was at 5:30 p.m. at Payrow Plaza in front of city hall, according to an announcement from Chabad Lubavitch.

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah lasts from Dec. 7 through Dec. 15. The eight-day festival of lights is celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting -- adding a flame each night -- special prayers, dreidel playing, and fried foods, according to Chabad Lubavitch.

Scroll through the photos above for some views of the celebration.

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New Jersey students showed some improvement in the second year of post-pandemic standardized testing, but still remain below scores from 2019 in English with nearly half of students reading below grade level, new test results released by the state Department of Education on Wednesday showed.

Statewide, 51.3% of students met or exceeded expectations in English language arts on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment, the annual standardized test given to students in the spring. The remaining students tested below grade level. Thats below the pre-pandemic score of 57.6% of students reading at grade level in 2019. (Look up your districts average scores in the chart below.)

In math, the percent of students meeting or exceeding expectations rose to 37.6%, two percentage points better than last year. However, state education officials cautioned against comparing that score to 2019 numbers because the way the math test is administered has changed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning to the public Friday about Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever after three out of five cases died in California this year.

The epidemic of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever originated in Mexico, just south of the southern California border.

Heres what you need to know about this infectious disease.

What is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

According to the CDC, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a tick-borne bacterial infection associated with dogs in domestic and semi-domestic environments.

It is not spread from person to person, and when a person is bitten by a tick, usually said person cannot feel the tick bite while its occurring.

What are the symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, these are the most common symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever:

A non-itchy rash that usually starts on the hands, arms, feet, and legs and occurs 5 to 10 days after the bite. The rash consists of flat, pink spots.

Fever

Headache

Confusion

Decreased appetite

Chills

Sore throat

Stomachache

Nausea or vomiting

Diarrhea

Body aches

Sensitivity to light

If symptoms are left untreated, the illness can become serious enough that it can lead to death.

How is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever treated?

Treatment usually includes a round of antibiotics, usually doxycycline, until several days after the fever subsides.

How can I prevent myself from catching Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

The CDC has issued a travel advisory urging people to be cautious when traveling through Northern Mexico, where there is currently an outbreak of the disease.

The agency also said to be wary of ticks and be sure you are checking yourself, your child or your dog for them.

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Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
A former school bus driver pleaded guilty Tuesday in Buffalo City Court to one count of endangering the welfare of a child and was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge, according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office.

On April 20, prosecutors said, 68-year-old Michael Askew of Cheektowaga made a verbal threat toward a student while on a school bus in the 300 block of Roehrer Avenue on Buffalo's East Side. Askew was subsequently fired from his bus driving job.

Buffalo police, as part of their investigation into the threat incident, obtained a temporary extreme risk protection order, also known as a "red flag order."

During an April 25 search of his Woodbridge Avenue home, investigators found an illegal rifle with a pistol grip and detachable magazine. Three handguns, legally owned by Askew, were also seized under the temporary order. He was later indicted on two felony gun charges. Both counts were dismissed Tuesday as part of the plea agreement.

Also on Tuesday, a final order of protection was issued for the victim and two other students were on the bus during the incident.

- Harold McNeil
UPDATE: Phillipsburg school bus crash followed police pursuit from N.J. to Pa. and back

A crash involving a Phillipsburg School District bus with students on board shut down the eastbound lanes of Memorial Parkway (Route 22) near Morris Street Tuesday afternoon.

Phillipsburg Superintendent of Schools Greg Troxell said 22 students were on the bus at the time of the crash. He said he is unaware of any major injuries involving the students, who were first and second graders at the Phillipsburg Primary School.

It appeared that many of the students on the bus were sheltering in a nearby business as police were investigating the wreckage at 3:45 p.m.

The other vehicle involved was a Ford Focus.

The road reopened about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, the New Jersey Department of Transportation reported.

A school bus crash on Dec. 12, 2023 closed part of Memorial Parkway in Phillipsburg.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

In addition to local first responders, Pennsylvania State Police were also at the scene of the crash. The site of the crash is less than half a mile from the Route 22 toll bridge into Pennsylvania.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Phillipsburg Police Department and the Warren County Prosecutors Office.

Editors note: This article was updated with the timing of the roads reopening.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
A 22-year-old Easton man is being sought by authorities on charges he sexually assaulted a teenager in Washington Township, Warren County, the countys prosecutor said.

Michael Davenport faces two counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, the prosecutors office said in a news release on Tuesday afternoon.

Davenport is accused of using the social media app SnapChat to locate and engage the teen when he was 20 and she was 14. The prosecutor alleges the two then became involved in a sexual relationship.

Second-degree crimes carry a minimum five-year prison sentence in New Jersey. The minimum for third-degree crimes is three years imprisonment.

The prosecutors office asked that anyone with information on Davenports whereabouts contact the offices special victims unit at 908-475-6275 or Washington Township police 908-689-1630.
There is growing but cautious optimism among Francie Gorman supporters that the Laois man will be elected as the next President of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).

Francie Gorman had 55% of votes cast with a third of almost 1,000 branches counted by midday on Tuesday, December 12.

The IFA's live vote tracker showed at noon on Tuesday, that after the completion of counting of votes from 315 of 941 the mixed Ballinakill farmer had secured over 5,198 of the votes.

This was 10% ahead of the other candidate from Limerick, dairy farmer Martin Stapleton. He was who was sitting on just over 4,327 votes with 33% of votes accounted for.

Count staff in Dublin are wading through more than 20,000 postal votes and thousands more cast through the IFA branch structure around Ireland.

Mr Gorman's supporters believe the signs are good given the votes being secured in counties where dairy farming is strong. He has polled well in Leinster and has also had big returns in the West of Ireland and in the border counties.

The result may not be confirmed until late Tuesday, December 12.
Portlaoise hospital is urging the public healthcare workers to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and flu to protect others from infection.

Staff at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise have joined with their hospital counterparts in Tullamore and the Department of Public Health, HSE Dublin & Midlands in the appeal to support healthcare workers to protect themselves and the public.

Ahead of the busy Christmas period the HSE is calling on people who are eligible for a vaccine to prioritise it particularly if you are caring for vulnerable patients or family members.

A joint statement issued by the HSE said vaccines are safe and effective and they can be given at the same appointment. It it highlighted the importance given the threats from varying viruses including COVID-19 and flu, and rising levels of respiratory infection.

The HSE says dedicated vaccination clinics for healthcare workers are being hosted in the hospitals on an ongoing basis over the coming weeks. All healthcare workers can also avail of both vaccinations for free through their GP or local pharmacy.

Dr Mary Ward is a Consultant in Public Health Medicine for Dublin and Midlands.

Healthcare staff are up to 10 times more likely to get influenza compared to the general population, and each year the Winter Vaccinations campaign encourages them to get vaccinated to protect themselves, their patients and their families.

"The HSE is also urging the eligible cohorts in the wider community to avail of both winter vaccines, as they are the best protection against flu and COVID-19 this year

Louisea Burke, Director of Nursing, Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore and Oliva Lafferty, Director of Nursing Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise jointly supported the campaign:

Were encouraging all our hospital staff to get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines to protect themselves and the people they care for in their workplace, work colleagues and their loved ones at home. Over the coming weeks, we will be maintaining the focus on access to vaccination clinics for staff in our hospital where both vaccines will be on offer. It is safe and convenient to receive both vaccines at the same time, and I encourage all healthcare staff to avail of this opportunity.

Eileen Whelan is Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Dublin Midland Hospital Group.

We know that infection from these viruses can cause serious illness and death, particularly among vulnerable groups. We also know that if there are high levels of virus circulating in the community, then it puts an additional burden on all health services at what is already a busy time of the year. Im encouraging all healthcare workers to get their COVID-19 and flu vaccines without delay and ensure they are protected as soon as possible, she said.

The HSE says it only uses vaccines when they meet the required standards of safety and effectiveness and after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has licensed them.
Refugees from Ukraine began arriving at newly established accommodation on the Cosby Estate in Stradbally yesterday.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth confirmed the first Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) arrived at the site on Monday. The accommodation, at the site of the Electric Picnic Music and Arts festival, is designed to house up to 950 refugees.

The Department has begun utilising the emergency accommodation facility located at Stradbally in a limited capacity from 11th December. The facility will be used to accommodate new Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) arrivals into the country. A family group that includes a child under the age of two or anyone who is in a wheelchair will not be sent to this location, a Department spokesperson said.

It is anticipated that up to 100 BOTPs will be accommodated on the site by the end of the week. The Department are engaging with the relevant stakeholders, they added.

Electric Picnic festival tents had been used to accommodate refugees at the Stradbally site earlier this year leading to some criticism over conditions at the site. Those tents will no longer be used for refugees and the newly arrived Ukrainians are to be housed in heated cabins of different sizes.

The Department outlined details of the 'winter-ready' accommodation last month.

This winter-ready accommodation on Stradbally Estate consists of own-door, en-suite, heated and insulated cabins, enclosed within large marquee-type structures that are also heated, containing all ancillary facilities. The overall site will be surrounded by secure fencing, the Department said.

They confirmed the former tented accommodation, which was put into use within days of the Electric Picnic last September, was to be removed once the cabins were ready.

The Department also said statutory requirements including health and safety, fire, building regulations and other requirements were to be met by the service provider in Stradbally and stated that the safety of the refugees was paramount.

The Department is to manage the arrival of refugees for the duration of the 32 week contract.

The new accommodation is being run by a company called Pastures New Ltd which the Department says has experience in commercial hospitality and human welfare support to people living in direct provision. Pastures New Ltd also had the contract for the tented refugee accommodation at the Electric Picnic site in Stradbally.

It is envisaged that most of the people who arrive at the Stradbally site will only stay for a number of weeks. They will be assisted by support services while staying in the accommodation.

The facility will be staffed with a team to include the facilities manager, community manager, facilities management, welfare staff, food service staff, cleaners and a 24-hour presence for on-site security and medical staff, the Department said.
Ballinakill farmer Francie Gorman is set to take over as next President of the Irish Farmers Association in January after a resounding success in the IFA presidential election.

The beef, suckler and sheep farmer officially launched his campaign in Abbeyleix in September with the backing of many including former IFA President John Bryan and IFA County Chairpersons from across the country.

Speaking at the launch with his wife Kate and son Tom at his side, Mr Gorman said his priority is to ensure Ireland does not transfer its food production business to countries that produce food in a less sustainable fashion than we do just to keep people who are anti-farming in this country happy.

The message resonated with Irish farmers who backed the former Laois IFA chairman and current chairman of the IFAs South Leinster branch in their thousands. Mr Gorman won with 16,699 votes, beating Co Limerick dairy farmer Martin Stapleton who got 13,210 votes, to secure the top IFA job.

He won majorities in all the counties of Leinster, Connacht and Ulster. Mr Stapelton had majorities in Munster.

Mr Gorman will be second Laois man to serve as president of the IFA since the late Padraig Walse led the organisation of some 70,000 members between 20062010. More below picture of Francie and family.

Among the policy issues highlighted by Mr Gorman in his presidential campaign was the need for increased access to renewables and benefits for farmers, the elimination of bureaucracy and restrictions around forestry, the protection of agricultural reliefs, securing fixed prize contracts for tillage farmers, bringing about an end to further designations of Hill Areas and Land, an increased role for women and young farmers, and maximising milk, beef and lamb prices.

Mr Gorman takes over from Tim Cullinane in January 2024 when the IFA AGM will be held.
Ballinakill farmer Francie Gorman has given high praise to Laois people who helped him to the highest position in Irish farming.

Mr Gorman also pledged to be an IFA president for all farmers.

He will take up office at the IFA AGM in January, when he succeeds Tim Cullinan. He will be the 17th President of the IFA and the second from Laois.

He was given a big welcome home to Laois at the Abbeyleix Manor after the count concluded in Dublin.

READ Full text of speech delivered in Dublin after election as IFA president

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me begin by saying that I am extremely grateful for the responsibility that farmers have bestowed on me in electing me President of IFA.

Im very thankful for the support I have received in my own branch (Ballinakill), our members and the county executive in Laois led by our Chairman John Fitzpatrick  and supported by members across the country.

We have done an incredible job over the past three months.

A big shout out to Pat Hennessey, who chaired the campaign for me.

And above all, Anne Maria Aird  without whose input and sleepless nights - we wouldnt be here today.

I also want to acknowledge the role played by Henry Burns and Jer Bergin - two men who previously put forward their names for President. Their unselfish commitment to IFA exemplifies what this organisation should stand for.

My wife Kay and son Tom are here with me this evening.

I want to thank them for being at my side on every step of this journey.

Tom has asked me to remind everybody here that he has been my real campaign manager over the past three months.

This evening, I am a proud Laois man. I am proud of the people of Laois and their generosity in helping to get me get elected.

Its a responsibility that I will carry on my shoulders for the next four years and deliver on.

I wish to commiserate with Martin and congratulate him on a well fought campaign.

The dedication to IFA that you have demonstrated throughout your career was carried through in this election.

I want to acknowledge you, your family, friends and supporters for running a dignified and fair campaign.

I wish you, Siobhan and the kids all the very best for the future.

I also wish to congratulate Alice Doyle on winning the Deputy Presidential race and commiserate with Pat Murphy. I look forward to working with Alice over the next four years.

Everybody who puts their name up for election should be commended. Its easy to snipe from the sidelines, but it takes courage to put ones name forward, especially in an election such as this.

As I have repeated throughout my election campaign, I passionately believe in the Association and its ability to deliver in a positive way for farmers.

As your President, I am determined to make a positive impact and be a strong, proactive and ambitious voice for farmers.

I promise to lead IFA on the basis of Unity, Strength and Delivery.

We will only deliver for farmers if we tackle every issue in a unified manner with the determination that our forefathers demonstrated when they founded this organisation.

At the end of the day, its about putting money in farmers pockets. Its also about communicating the positive story that we as farmers have to tell and defending farming in the face of unfair criticism.

I want to thank the Returning Officer Brian Rushe and the count staff who have done a wonderful job today and in recent weeks.

I also want to acknowledge our outgoing President Tim Cullinane who, after taking office, found a country in lockdown.

Tim worked extremely hard to keep IFA relevant over the course of those two years and for the duration of his Presidency.

Todays election result has handed me a clear and strong mandate from IFA members who have spoken and elected me as President.

No farmer will be taken for granted under my presidency.

Let me be clear - I will be a President for all farmers.

I will lead this organisation in a unified manner.

And I stress  WE as members will be judged on the organisation that WE leave behind in four years time, and not the one we have today.

Stay going and Ill see you all in Abbeyleix.

Thank you.
The decade old plan to replace a vandalised, partly demolished estate in Portlaoise with modular social houses, has hit another hitch.

Radharc Darach is to be built on the site of the former Hepburn Court estate, in a plan going back to 2013.

Last March, Laois County Council described construction work as "imminent" with a plan for modular homes that would be built off site.

However the recent attempt by Cluid to tender for a builder to start work has been unsuccessful, with a second tender now opened.

"Cluid has advised that they will need to re-tender for this scheme with a view to commencing on site Q2 (April to June) 2024 as negotiations with initial tenderers were unsuccessful. In the meantime they are progressing enabling works, and hop to complete the diversion and demolition element before Christmas," the council state in their December management report.

Cluid estimates the estate to cost 15 million to construct.

Meanwhile a last wave of demolition that was expected to take place before Christmas, will not now happen until 2024.

Director of Services Angela McEvoy confirmed that to Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley at the December meeting of Laois County Council.

There is no date for demolition. Id say it will be in early January, she said.

The newly named Radharc Darach - meaning oak view in Irish - is to have 54 houses, including 46 two storey, two bedroom homes, and eight two bedroom bungalows.

The original Hepburn Court estate has an unfortunate history.

It was privately developed during the Celtic Tiger, snapped up by buyers, but within a few short years it had to be blocked off and partly demolished after rampant anti-social behaviour by some tenants including fires caused many others to leave.

It is 10 years since homes were blocked up and Laois County Council began the task of buying up each property from individual owners with the aim of redeveloping it as their own estate for tenants on the waiting list. In 2018 Compulsory Purchase Orders were approved by An Bord Pleanala to Laois County Council, for the forced purchase of the final three houses.

The estate was expected to be fully built with modular homes by the end of 2020, by the Director of housing Michael Rainey speaking in mid 2019.

The housing development takes in their own field behind which is also a target for anti-social activity like dumping and joyriding.

The site along with a field behind it and the demolished hall next door, was sold to Cluid housing agency who will own the new houses, to be rented to Laois County Council's tenants.
A recovering drug addict from Kildare who was involved in a domestic violence case against his mother has been placed on a peace bond.

The man appeared before Judge Desmond Zaidan at Naas District Court on Thursday, December 7.

At a previous court appearance, Judge Zaidan praised the mans mother for her 'heart of gold.'

The mother also told the court that her son had mental health difficulties, which were being amplified by his drug abuse. This sentiment was echoed by the mans solicitor, Joe Coonan.

The man was brought before the judge following a breach of a domestic violence order.

He admitted that he had become angry in his mothers home and had 'smashed up' plates and a door in the home.

On the latest date, the judge was told that the man is now sober and is seeking a place in a drug rehabilitation centre.

Judge Zaidan remarked that the man 'looks a lot healthier' than he did the last time he saw him.

Commenting on his situation, the man told the judge: "I dont have the willpower anymore (to do drugs). I just cant do it, its not worth it."

He also said that he was remorseful over what he had done and wished to apologise to this mother

Garda Sergeant Mary Meade also informed the judge that the man has not come to any garda attention since his last offence.

It was heard that he had three previous convictions, all for road traffic offences.

The judge called the mans mother into the courtroom, and said that he would place the man on a 12-month peace bond, which the mother approved of.

Judge Zaidan also warned the man that if he breaches the peace bond, he will send him to prison for a year.

He added: "Even if you are seen being drunk in public, you will be in breach of the order, so be careful."
Now-retired City of Tonawanda Police Detective David Ljiljanich still feels the physical effects of being shot multiple times in May 2020, said his wife, Monica Ljiljanich.

But his greatest wounds arent the visible ones.

'Senseless, deliberate chaos': Trial begins for man accused of murder, attempted murder of 6 police officers Matthew R. Gerwitz, 31, has been accused of killing Joseph A. Marasco and trying to kill six City of Tonawanda police officers in two shootings described by prosecutors as "senseless, deliberate chaos."

David Ljiljanich suffered post-traumatic stress disorder to the degree that he retired early, so as not to be a liability to his colleagues.

Monica Ljiljanich couldnt count how many times shes had to wake up her husband, now a fitful sleeper, and assure him he was safe, she said Monday in a downtown courtroom.

For all the difficulties Matthew R. Gerwitz caused so many families, she told the judge, she said she wanted Gerwitz to never get out of prison.

Jury convicts City of Tonawanda man of murder, attempted murder of six police officers The jury foreman read the 12 guilty counts against Matthew R. Gerwitz at about 4:20 p.m. after having deliberated since Tuesday morning.

Freedom is a gift he cannot be trusted with, she said.

Erie County Judge Sheila DiTullio sentenced Gerwitz  convicted of the attempted murder of David Ljiljanich and five other City of Tonawanda police officers, as well as for the murder of Joseph A. Marasco  to 65 years to life in prison.

After roughly seven hours of deliberations, a jury convicted Gerwitz, 31, in September of the two shootings, as well as weapons charges tied to firearms, including ghost guns he assembled himself.

DiTullio sentenced Gerwitz to 25 years to life for his second-degree murder conviction and 40 years to life for the attempted murder of six police officers. She ordered the sentences to run consecutively.

DiTullios sentences on the weapons charges  15 years for the two second-degree possession convictions and 2 to 7 years for each of the three third-degree convictions  will run concurrently to the other sentences.

Gerwitzs spree of violence began on May 26, 2020, when Joseph A. Marasco, 32, walked by Gerwitzs home on Morgan Street near Clinton Street. Gerwitz threatened him, Marascos friend testified on Sept. 15 when the trial opened. Marasco went back to the house and was yelling vulgarities at Gerwitz from outside when Gerwitz drove up and shot him.

As he was loaded into an ambulance, Marasco spoke to his mother on the phone, DiTullio said, citing a letter to the court from his sister.

He told her hed been shot. He cried out in pain. He was begging not to be allowed to die.

He was able to tell his mother he loved her one last time, DiTullio said.

Marasco, a gentle soul who is survived by a 9-year-old daughter, will not be forgotten, the judge said.

Tonawanda drive-by shooting victim, 'a big teddy bear,' has died Joseph Marasco was shot in the stomach while walking on a Tonawanda street with friends playing the smartphone video game Pokemon Go, according to an online fundraiser seeking

In the meantime, Gerwitz fled the area. But a few hours later as police were investigating outside, Gerwitz managed to sneak back to his home and then came down the stairs with an AR-style rifle and a box with three handguns.

He fired the rifle at police outside his home, and then at two other officers as he drove away from the scene.

DiTullio emphasized the problem of ghost guns, untraceable weapons able to be assembled at home from parts purchased online.

Ghost guns are a clear and present danger to Western New York and society as a whole, the judge said.

When it was his chance to speak, Gerwitz told the judge he had written a couple things down, but he didnt know if he could read it.

DiTullio reiterated a couple times that he had a right to speak and offered him the opportunity, if there was anything he wanted to say.

Gerwitz eventually said, Basically that Im sorry that this happened.

DiTullio also asked Gerwitz what he meant by the term he used for himself in an interview with police: soldier for the people.

I thought of myself more like a security person, Gerwitz said. Not a slaughterer.

So you were a protector of the people? the judge said.

Frank Bogulski, Gerwitzs defense attorney, told the judge his client had a tumultuous childhood, including exposure to domestic violence and drug use. He asked the judge to issue a sentence that would give his client a chance to get out of prison.

DiTullio said that Gerwitz rejected a plea offer before trial that came with a sentencing commitment of 25 years to life in prison. He also was convicted in 2016 of attempted assault and was barred by an order of protection from having contact with a woman and two children, she said.

I wish I could unravel difficult childhoods, the judge said. I dont have the power, but I wish I could.

The convictions on the homicide and shootings are being appealed, Bogulski said.

In a written statement, City of Tonawanda Police Capt. Kevin Ulmer said, The six responding police officers will never forget the night that Joseph Marascos life was selfishly taken. It has been a long-awaited, emotional 3 years, but justice has prevailed. We pray that this verdict, and this sentencing, will provided a sense of closure for Josephs friends and family, our officers and their families.
Just under 2 million in funding for advanced research projects has been awarded to two researchers at Maynooth University (MU).

Professors Mary Gilmartin and David Stifter were awarded the funds by the IRC Advanced Laureate programme to aid in their research, which explores migration and dialects in Old Irish.

The programme supports established research leaders who have a record of original and significant research contributions to carry forward groundbreaking discoveries at the frontiers of knowledge in their respective fields.

A total sixteen researchers across life sciences, the humanities, physical sciences and engineering, and the social sciences were selected for funding following rigorous review by international experts.

Each awardee will receive up to 1 million in funding over a period of up to four years.

'A FUNDAMENTAL FEATURE OF HUMAN LIFE'

Prof Mary Gilmartin and her team in the Department of Geography will explore migration as a fundamental feature of human life and one of the most pressing challenges faced by society.

Discussing her research, Prof Gilmartin said: "While humans have always migrated, our understanding of migration is contested and fraught.

"Migration is often represented as a security threat that needs to be managed because of its potential to create crises."

Prof Gilmartin continued: "Despite this, many communities, organisations, and individuals work across a range of areas to question the understanding of migration as a threat.

"Through acts of care, they undermine the separation that is created between migrants and others; they look to build solidarities as a basis for a better world.

"My research focuses on these already existing acts of care, and uses them to develop a new framework for understanding migration and migrants.

"It develops an innovative 'care-tography', or representation of existing practices of care, as a basis for imagining migration, and our societies, differently," she concluded.

The project led by Prof Gilmartin, 'MOBILISECARE' (Migration and care: mobilising care for a new understanding of migration) will receive funding of 993,809.

LINGUISTIC VARIATION

Profe David Stifter and his team in the Department of Early Irish (Sean-Ghaeilge) will explore whether regional variation or dialects were a feature of Old Irish which was spoken across the island of Ireland and neighbouring regions from the 7th to the 10th centuries AD.

He explained: "Old Irish is documented in a large body of texts, but, despite a good amount of language variation among them, the existing texts seem to show no regional or dialectal variation between them."

The project will examine the documented linguistic variation of Old Irish specifically in the search for variation according to geographical differences.

Prof Stifter added: "It will create the first deeply annotated, regionally diversified textual corpus of Old Irish to trace, analyse and document synchronic variation across the Gaelic regions."

A range of questions will be addressed in the project, 'DiAgnostic' (Tracing Diatopic Varation in a Corpus of Old Irish), including whether Old Irish is actually the proto-language of all later Gaelic languages and dialects, and how early medieval variation relates to modern dialect differences among the Gaelic languages.

The project will receive funding of 999,957.

Announcing the awards, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, noted the importance of funding for basic frontier research.

He said: "This funding will help push the boundaries of knowledge and research forward, it will help break new ground and enhance Irelands leadership internationally in solving key challenges of our time.

"Ireland is a small island on the edge of Europe and has maintained a reputation for excellent research and strong interconnectedness with the best of the global research community."

The Minister added: "The Irish Research Councils support for basic research across all disciplines and career stages is a key pillar in this regard and government is committed to maintaining and building on this support with the establishment of a unified research agency in 2024 in the form of Research Ireland.

"I wish each of the Advanced Laureate awardees well as they embark on their ambitious projects over the next four years," he concluded.

Congratulating Prof Gilmartin and Prof Stifter on their remarkable achievement, Vice-President for Research and Innovation at Maynooth University, Prof Rachel Msetfi, said: "We are very proud of our researchers, Prof Mary Gilmartin and Prof David Stifter, on achieving Advanced IRC Laureate funding, which rewards and nurtures the development of world-class researchers in this country and is an endorsement of innovative research that pushes the boundaries of our current knowledge."

The Director of the Irish Research Council, Peter Brown, also said: "I would like to congratulate the sixteen new Advanced Laureate awardees for 2023. This follows the funding of 48 'starting' and 'consolidator' Laureate awards in 2022.

"Taken together, the Laureate awards represent a very significant investment of some 40m in frontier basic research across the researcher career spectrum."

Mr Brown added: "Within the suite of advanced grant awards being announced today, resides the potential for significant leaps forward in solving key problems and developing new understandings on topics that resonate strongly in our society, and globally."
AN UNAUTHORISED meat processing plant in Co Louth and a bakery found with dead mice in their ingredient store in Co Cork were among a number of food businesses around the country issued with closure orders during the month of November.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) reported on Tuesday morning that ten enforcement orders were served on food businesses last month for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020.

Six closure orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on establishments in Kerry, Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork Louth and Sligo.

Three closure orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on two Limerick city-based takeaway restaurants and one in Co Meath, while one prohibition order was served to a bakery in Tipperary.

Some of the reasons for these enforcement orders in November include evidence that people were living and sleeping in the food preparation area; dead mice found in the ingredient storage area which is a part of the food production area; ongoing cockroach infestations; large food storage containers found to be covered in food debris, dirt and cobwebs; evidence of mould and mildew on a chip storage container and on the chip scoops, and evidence that food infested by rodent droppings was placed on the market.

Dr Pamela Byrne, chief executive of FSAI, emphasised the need for all food businesses to take responsibility and commit to their legal obligation to comply with food law, ensuring that there is a strong food safety culture in their business.

"Food law requires all food businesses to be notified to the relevant competent authority prior to operating. This requirement ensures that food businesses will be registered and/or approved with the appropriate inspection agency to ensure food safety and protect consumer health," Dr Byrne said.

"Every food business must have a food safety management system in place to protect consumers health and prevent instances, such as those seen in the Enforcement Orders in November. Each business must also have a positive food safety culture embedded within it. Failure to comply with basic food safety legal requirements is not only a potential risk to public health, but also a risk to the food businesss reputation if things go wrong," she continued.
Sinn Fein TD for Sligo Leitrim Martin Kenny has expressed concern about the number of patients on trolleys in hospitals nationally.

Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation's (INMO) latest figures show 747 patients, including 32 children, have been admitted to Irish hospitals without a bed, which indicates that a difficult period lies ahead for workers and patients in Sligo University Hospital."

Martin said that the Government needs to deliver more hospital capacity over the last three years in addition to the Government's decision to underfund health services in the 2023 budget.

"The INMO count of 54 patients inappropriately admitted to hospital without a bed yesterday in Sligo University Hospital is a stark warning of a tough Winter ahead for our local hospitals.



"Workers and patients in Sligo and Leitrim will face severely overcrowded hospitals, which will have no choice but to cancel planned appointments and surgeries to cope with surging winter demand," he said.

The Fianna Fail Health Minister announced 1,200 new beds three years ago, but 200 have yet to be delivered.

Martin said that Minister Donnelly has also announced 1,500 new beds on a number of occasions  but he failed to secure them in the Budget.



"The Government knows that these beds are needed, and needed urgently. They must be delivered quickly. But now we have a plan for new beds with no funding.



"People across the northwest are being badly let down by the Government's mismanagement of health services, particularly those who are spending their admission to A&E or a ward sitting on a chair or lying in a corridor on a trolley.



"Delivery of the much-needed elective centres is behind schedule. We have also learned recently that the urgently required surgical hubs won't be delivered until late next year.



"On top of this, the HSE is restricted by a recruitment embargo because of this Government's deliberate decision to underfund the health service," he said.
SERVICE COORDINATION RECEIVES 2023 TOP WORKPLACES AWARD





FREDERICK, Md., Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Service Coordination, Inc. (SCI), Maryland's leading non-profit organization providing case management services and advocacy for individuals with disabilities, medically complex needs, older adults, and others, has been honored as a Top Workplace in the prestigious Baltimore Sun Awards for 2023.

The Top Workplaces recognition is based on employee feedback gathered through a comprehensive third-party survey conducted by Energage LLC, a renowned employee engagement technology partner. The confidential survey assesses 15 key culture drivers crucial for organizational success, including alignment, execution, and connection.

"Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "That's something to be proud of. In today's market, leaders must ensure they're allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That's paramount."

Service Coordination not only secured a position in the top ten among large employers on the Top Workplaces list, but also earned recognition for excellence in three key categories: Purpose and Values, Work-Life Flexibility, and Nonprofit Organizations in the national rankings!

President and CEO of Service Coordination, John Dumas expressed gratitude for the recognition, saying, "People First is our promise, reflecting our commitment to the people we support and our team members. This recognition is so important because it captures our team members' voices and reinforces our work, putting the focus on people."

Dumas highlights Service Coordination's commitment to enhancing its Total Rewards program, which includes total compensation packages and competitive benefits as a contributor to cultivating a people-centered work culture, and the overall team member experience. "This strategic approach has bolstered the retention and engagement of team members, resulting in improved experiences for our team members and, by extension, their families."

"As we celebrate this success," Dumas added, "we will continue to inspire change and use this opportunity to share the work of our exceptional team within the region, motivating more people to join our transformative work that impacts communities across the state of Maryland."

Governor of Maryland, Wes Moore, congratulated Service Coordination on this significant achievement. "I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Service Coordination for being recognized as one of Maryland's Best Workplaces and one of Maryland's Best Non-Profits," said Governor Moore. "The commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for their employees and the individuals served is truly commendable. This achievement reflects the dedication and excellence that SCI consistently demonstrates in enhancing the lives of those with disabilities. This leadership sets a shining example for the entire community, and I am proud to acknowledge your outstanding contributions."

The keynote speaker at Service Coordination's 2023 Leadership Development Conference, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, also extended her congratulations. "SCI is not only one of Maryland's top employers ? they're one of the top organizations working to support the disability community," said Lieutenant Governor Miller. "Our state is stronger because of the work of their 800 team members across the state serving 15,000 Marylanders with disabilities and their families. I congratulate SCI on this well-deserved accomplishment."

About Service Coordination Inc.:

Service Coordination is a leading non-profit organization and community provider of services and advocacy for individuals with disabilities, medically complex needs, older adults, and others across Maryland. Service Coordination, Inc.'s mission is to provide quality case management services by helping people understand what their choices are and connecting them to resources in their communities in ways that respect their dignity and rights. The organization also provides companion care and aging life care management through Montcordia. For more information, visit us here.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Kandice Ferrell, Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Service Coordination

11 december 2023 at 16:34

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UTulsa's Hurricane Ventures announces investments in BPEndo, Titan Intake





TULSA, Okla., Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Tulsa and Hurricane Ventures have announced two new start-up investments, BPEndo and Titan Intake.

Hurricane Ventures aims to commercialize intellectual property, create new ventures and attain venture capital funding.

"We are excited by the continued momentum of Hurricane Ventures," said Chris Wright, director of UTulsa's Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Created in partnership with 46 Venture Capital, Hurricane Ventures is a funding catalyst for student, alumni, faculty and staff startups.

Leveraging university resources, Hurricane Ventures is seeding early-stage companies to drive real impact across the economy and further the mission of UTulsa's Collins College of Business. Launched in early 2023, Hurricane Ventures has raised $2 million ? well on its way to a $10 million goal ? to commercialize intellectual property, create new ventures and attain venture capital funding. The university aims to provide seed capital for 100 companies started by UTulsa affiliates.

In September, Hurricane Ventures announced its first start-up investments, SkinCheck and Airwise Solutions. The investments in BPEndo and Titan Intake were announced at a recent Friends of Finance meeting organized by Collins College of Business.

Dr. Jeffery Blonsky, who received his UTulsa degree in biological science in 1999, is a key partner in BPEndo. The company's Insufflation Retention Device (IRD) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in colonoscopy procedures. The BPEndo IRD was designed to improve the colonoscopy experience for patients, physicians and payors. The company has made substantial progress toward securing a global patent portfolio and recently received FDA clearance for the IRD.

"Having partners such as Hurricane Ventures is invaluable," said Dr. Robert Holbrook, founder and CEO. "The funding provided is instrumental in overcoming the obstacles founders face when bringing a new device to market. I am grateful for all their support."

Titan Intake, founded by Patrick Bruce, Rachel Brown and Jhonathan Vazquez, is revolutionizing health care with its patient referral software driven by artificial intelligence. The unique platform automates incoming referral data directly into electronic medical records, ensuring clinics immediately capture, process and communicate patient referrals.



"Hurricane Ventures' new fund is a game-changer for Tulsa's startup scene, particularly addressing a vital gap in early-stage financing. This funding will empower us to expand our reach to clinics across the nation, accelerate our growth and boost Tulsa's economy," said Bruce, who received his UTulsa degree in philosophy in 2013.

SOURCE The University of Tulsa

11 december 2023 at 17:46

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MTL Cannabis Corp. Announces Extension of Indebtedness and Warrant Repricing





PICKERING, ON, Dec. 11, 2023 /CNW/ - MTL Cannabis Corp. (CSE: MTLC) ("MTL" or the "Company") announces that as consideration for the extension of $4,166,666.33 in indebtedness owed to Gestion-R RB50 Inc. (the "Lender") otherwise due and payable on December 12, 2023 to a new maturity date of April 30, 2024, the Company has agreed to amend the exercise price and expiry date of 333,333 common share purchase warrants of the Company ("Warrants") held by such Lender.

The exercise price of the Warrants will be reduced from $1.20 per common share to $0.66 per share. Further, as required under the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Warrants will also be amended to include a clause where, if the closing price of the common shares for ten consecutive trading days exceeds $0.825 per Share (the "Accelerated Period"), the expiry date of the Warrants will be automatically accelerated without any further action on the part of the Company or the holder of the Warrants to a date that is 30 days following the end of the Accelerated Period.

About MTL Cannabis Corp.

MTL is the parent company of MTL Cannabis, a licensed producer operating from a 57,000 sq ft licensed indoor grow facility in Pointe Claire, Quebec; Abba Medix Corp., a licensed producer in Pickering, Ontario that operates a leading medical cannabis marketplace; IsoCanMed Inc., a licensed producer in Louiseville, Quebec growing best-in-class indoor cannabis, in its 64,000 sq. ft. production facility; and Canada House Clinics Inc., operating clinics across Canada that work directly with primary care teams to provide specialized cannabinoid therapy services to patients suffering from simple and complex medical conditions.

As a flower-first company built for the modern street, MTL Cannabis uses proprietary hydroponic growing methodologies supported by handcrafted techniques to produce products that are truly craft for the masses. MTL Cannabis focuses on craft quality cannabis products, including lines of dried flower, pre-rolls and hash marketed under the "MTL Cannabis", "Low Key by MTL" and "R'belle" brands for the Canadian market through nine distribution arrangements with various provincial cannabis distributors. MTL Cannabis has also developed several export channels for bulk and unbranded GACP quality cannabis.

It is MTL's goal for Abba Medix Corp. to become the leading distributor of medical cannabis in Canada and for Canada House Clinics to be the leading Canadian provider of medical cannabis clinic services.

For further information, please visit www.mtlcannabis.ca, www.isocanmed.com, www.abbamedix.com, www.canadahouse.ca, or the Company's public filings at www.sedarplus.ca.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information.

This press release contains forward- looking statements, including statements that relate to, among other things, the Company's clinic, production and technology businesses, its future plans, the Company's markets, objectives, goals, strategies, intentions, beliefs, expectations and estimates, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "likely", "possible", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "objective" and "continue" (or the negative thereof) and words and expressions of similar import. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Material assumptions used to develop forward-looking information in this news release include, the regulations related to cannabis use under the Cannabis Act (Canada); Company liquidity and capital resources, including the availability of additional capital resources to fund its activities and repay its outstanding indebtedness; level of competition; the ability to adapt products and services to the changing market; the ability to attract and retain key executives; the ability to execute strategic plans; continued integration of business unit, expansion activities at all our operating locations; and the leveraging of cash flow from operations to accelerate growth and further improve the Company's balance sheet. Additional information about material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and about material factors or assumptions applied in making forward-looking statements may be found in the Company's Listing Statement dated August 14, 2023 and its most recent annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis under "Risk and Uncertainties" as well as in other public disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE MTL Cannabis Corp.

11 december 2023 at 23:00

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La-Z-Boy Partners with Fivetran to Accelerate Data-Driven Decision Making





Fivetran today announced that its industry-leading data integration platform is being utilized by La-Z-Boy Incorporated, a global leader in residential furniture. La-Z-Boy, which has a number of different brands including Joybird and Hammary, is leveraging Fivetran to break down data silos and accelerate data-driven decision making across the organization.

La-Z-Boy Incorporated is one of the world's leading residential furniture producers. At nearly 100 years old, it is dedicated to bringing quality and comfort to people around the world, and providing the best customer experience. Central to this effort is data. La-Z-Boy has many stakeholders across the company that rely on data to drive the business forward. In order to do that, data from applications across the company must be centralized into one place. The company set out to modernize its data systems in early 2022. Fivetran was selected as an essential tool to help centralize La-Z-Boy's data and provide teams with faster, more efficient information and data access across the organization.

"Data is the common language that connects many teams and stakeholders across our company. Democratizing access to data is essential for us as an organization," said Selwyn Samuel, Director of Data Analytics & Enterprise Architecture at La-Z-Boy. "With Fivetran helping to power our modern data stack, we're able to centralize data faster and improve access across the company ? ultimately allowing us to accelerate data-driven decision making and better serve our customers."

La-Z-Boy has already seen positive returns since modernizing its data architecture with Fivetran. The company's supply chain team has democratized access to data, resulting in inventory optimization savings of more than $5 million and a 20% increase in shipping date accuracy. Also, the eCommerce team has improved sales order tracking capabilities, delivering a better shopping experience. More projects are underway to ensure all aspects of the business including marketing, merchandising, and demand planning are data-driven and efficient.

"Fivetran's robust data movement capabilities have streamlined the execution of our data strategy. This allows us to swiftly and efficiently empower our business stakeholders with data-driven insights at scale," said Carol Lee, Vice President and Chief Information Officer at La-Z-Boy.

"La-Z-Boy is a long-standing American brand that's beloved by consumers. Its excellent customer service relies on fast, reliable access to data," said Taylor Brown, COO at Fivetran. "Their trust in our platform is a result of the consistent operational efficiency and cost savings we deliver to our customers. We're proud to provide La-Z-Boy with a strong data foundation that will power their continued growth."

About Fivetran

Fivetran automates data movement out of, into and across cloud data platforms. We automate the most time-consuming parts of the ELT process from extracts to schema drift handling to transformations, so data engineers can focus on higher-impact projects with total pipeline peace of mind. With 99.9% uptime and self-healing pipelines, Fivetran enables hundreds of leading brands across the globe, including Autodesk, Conde Nast, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Morgan Stanley and Pitney Bowes, to accelerate data-driven decisions and drive business growth. Fivetran is headquartered in Oakland, California, with offices around the world. For more information, visit fivetran.com.

12 december 2023 at 06:05

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GE Aerospace and partners achieve new milestone, testing 10 different aircraft engine models with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel





10 different engine models made by GE Aerospace and its joint ventures tested with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) since 2016

Includes mix of component-, engine-, and aircraft-level tests

Testing supports industry efforts toward net zero CO 2 emissions by 2050

EVENDALE, Ohio, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GE Aerospace reached a new milestone for a more sustainable future of flight with the completion of testing on its 10th engine model using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) since 2016, confirming the company and its joint ventures have one of the most expansive programs for testing the alternative fuel in the industry.

For example, in 2018, GE90 engines powered the first commercial airliner flight with 100% SAF in both engines on the Boeing ecoDemonstrator, a 777 freighter in partnership with FedEx Express. Then in 2021, LEAP-1B engines* powered the first passenger experimental flight with 100% SAF in one of the two engines on a United Airlines Boeing 737-8. This year, LEAP-1B engines powered test flights on 100% SAF in both engines of the Boeing ecoDemonstrator Explorer, a 737-10 destined for United Airlines, as part of emissions testing with NASA. Most recently, in November, Emirates became the first airline to operate an Airbus A380 using 100% SAF in one of the four GP7200 engines**.

Additional engines tested at the component-, engine-, or aircraft-level using 100% SAF include F414, GE9X, LEAP-1A*, Passport, GEnx, HF120***, and CFM56* engines. The wide range of tests represents a mix of propulsion systems used for domestic and international commercial air travel, military aviation, and business and general aviation. These tests also evaluated a wide scope of factors, such as engine performance and the impact of 100% SAF on contrails and emissions.

GE Aerospace and its joint ventures power three out of every four commercial flights globally.

"These tests demonstrate that we are leading and prepared to support our customers to operate on Sustainable Aviation Fuel. We're proud of doing the hard work to better understand the impact of different emissions on the environment and using science to guide the technology we are developing to invent the future of flight," said Mohamed Ali, vice president of engineering for GE Aerospace.

To help qualify new 100% SAFs, GE Aerospace is going from engine system testing to engine component and sub-component level evaluations. This encompasses evaluating components exposed to and impacted by fuels, from the engine fuel system to the combustor where fuel is burned. Various SAF types produced from different pathways are being tested to assess whether there is any impact on engine operability, efficiency, durability, and emissions.

Industry net zero target

GE Aerospace's SAF testing efforts support the aviation industry's long-term goal of net zero CO 2 emissions by 2050.

In an interim step, governments gathered in November at the third ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3), setting a goal for aviation fuel in 2030 to be 5% less carbon intensive than conventional jet fuel used today. This follows an earlier statement by seven chief technology officers of major aviation manufacturers including GE Aerospace calling for supportive government policies that accelerate the availability and adoption of qualified SAF.

Meeting the long-term net-zero goal also requires the industry to deploy revolutionary technologies for increased engine fuel efficiency.

To address this challenge, GE Aerospace has multiple demonstrators underway, including the CFM RISE* (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) program in partnership with Safran Aircraft Engines and the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration project with NASA. The CFM RISE program targets more than 20 percent better fuel efficiency with 20 percent lower CO 2 emissions compared to the most efficient engines in service today. New open fan engine architecture and hybrid electric systems in development are being designed for compatibility with 100% SAF.

Additionally, GE Aerospace is an inaugural investor in the United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund to help increase the supply of SAF.

About SAF

All GE Aerospace and partner engines can operate on approved SAF blends today, which can be made from plant-based material, fats, oils and greases, alcohols, waste streams, captured CO 2 , and other alternative feedstocks. SAF blends have the same chemical composition as the jet fuel most commonly used today. The key difference is that instead of being made from fossil-based sources, SAF is made from partially or completely renewable sources. By using alternative feedstocks instead of fossil fuels, CO 2 emissions can be reduced over the fuel's life cycle.

Currently, SAF approved for use is a synthetic component blended with petroleum-based Jet A or Jet A-1 fuel up to 50%. An international task force led by one of GE Aerospace's experts is developing standardized industry specifications supporting adoption of 100% drop-in SAF, which does not require blending with conventional jet fuel. 100% SAF is not yet qualified by ASTM International, an organization that develops technical standards. Engine testing and demonstrations provide data to support development of 100% SAF standards.

GE Aerospace has been actively involved in assessing and qualifying SAF since 2006 and works closely with producers, regulators, and operators to help ensure that SAF can be widely adopted for use in aviation.

*CFM56 and LEAP engines are a product of CFM International, a 50-50 joint company between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines. RISE is a registered trademark of CFM.

**GP7200 engines are a product of Engine Alliance, a 50-50 joint company between GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney.

***HF120 engines are a product of GE Honda Aero Engines LLC, a 50/50 joint company between GE Aerospace and Honda Aero, Inc.

ABOUT GE AEROSPACE

GE Aerospace is a world-leading provider of jet engines, components and systems for commercial and military aircraft with a global service network to support these offerings. GE Aerospace and its joint ventures have an installed base of more than 40,000 commercial and 26,000 military aircraft engines, and the business is playing a vital role in shaping the future of flight.

SOURCE GE Aerospace

12 december 2023 at 07:00

News published onand distributed by:
"YOU DROVE IT HOW FAR?" -- MITSUBISHI OWNERS TOUT MORE THAN 300,000 MILES OF CONFIDENCE, RELIABILITY, AND VALUE





Two grandmothers proudly proclaim the confidence-inspiring value and reliability of their high-mileage Mitsubishi vehicles

Amy Butterworth, who bought her 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander brand new, and Letha Grubb , who recently purchased a pre-owned 2010 Mitsubishi Endeavor, both surpass 300,000 miles

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) constantly draws inspiration from the stories of its loyal customers. In the past two months, MMNA received notes from two proud owners of high-mileage Mitsubishi SUVs, sharing their satisfaction and pride with their vehicles. Meet Amy Butterworth and Letha Grubb, both grandmothers and owners of Mitsubishis that have recently surpassed 300,000 miles and continue to serve their owners faithfully.

Butterworth of Tennessee has owned her 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander from new. She claims the Outlander had just 13 miles on the odometer when she purchased it from Gossett Mitsubishi in Memphis, Tennessee. In an interview, Butterworth said, "I went looking for a new car back then, and I was looking for a Jeep Wrangler or something. I was just about ready to sign the papers, and I turned around and saw the Mitsubishi sitting there. I said, 'Wait, a minute what kinda car is that?' The salesperson told me what it was, and I said, 'Let me test drive that one.' So, I did and just fell in love with it."

Butterworth continued, "I wasn't expecting it to last this long, but it has. We replaced the radiator fan along the way, but other than that all I've had done was tires, and I've not had any problems."

In her 2005 Outlander, Butterworth has driven to Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma, commuted 60 miles to and from work each day, and has made food deliveries over the past three years. "Still looks good," Butterworth added. "Anybody could get one to go that long if they took care of it. That's what I did and look at it! I still get compliments on it all the time... I'd get in it and go anywhere in the United States today."

Grubb, a resident of Springfield, Missouri, is the owner of a 2010 Mitsubishi Endeavor, which she purchased two years ago with over 200,000 miles on it. Since then, she's added over 100,000 additional miles, frequently driving across Missouri to visit her family. "All we really needed to change on it were the thermostat, tires, and brakes. It still runs excellent today. I'm very impressed with it, especially now."

Grubb finished saying, "My son is a Mitsubishi owner. He had a Galant. Now, he has a Montero. It'd be hard to get him to get anything else. He's pretty smitten with that SUV. Based on his experience, we were confident that the Endeavor would serve well. This is my first Mitsubishi, and I'm pretty pleased with it. I have no doubt that it would get us from here to wherever we want to go."

While there's no assurance that every Mitsubishi vehicle will exceed 300,000 miles in service, the company stands behind its vehicles with a blend of outstanding warranties, all part of the Mitsubishi Motors Confidence promise. Every 2024 model-year vehicle includes a 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty, five-year/60,000-mile Limited Warranty, five-year/unlimited-mile Roadside Assistance program, and also adds a new two-year/30,000-mile Limited Maintenance Included program, which provides three oil changes, three tire rotations, and one cabin air filter for customers of 2024 model-year vehicles.1.2

The ownership experience with a Mitsubishi vehicle is an award-winning one too, as the company was named the top mass-market brand in J.D. Power's 2023 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study and in Reputation's 2023 Automotive Report. These awards support the brand's dealer partners' commitment to customer service, and, when coupled with the included maintenance and long warranty, showcase Mitsubishi Motors' desire to exceed all customers' expectations at every step of the ownership journey.

For more information on the full lineup of Mitsubishi vehicles, visit MitsubishiCars.com .

For more information on MMNA, visit media.mitsubishicars.com .

Disclaimers

All coverage terms are from the original in-service dates and are applicable only to the original owner of new, retailed models purchased from an authorized Mitsubishi dealer. Subsequent owners receive the balance of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty of 5 years/60,000 miles. See retailer for limited warranty and roadside assistance terms and conditions. Powertrain coverage terms are from original in-service date and applicable only to original owner. Subsequent owners receive balance of 5-year/60,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Roadside Assistance timed from date vehicle is first sold or put into use, whichever is earlier. Certain assistance and vehicle uses excluded. Limited Maintenance includes three oil and filter changes, three tire rotations, three multi-point inspections, and one cabin filter change within specified time/mileage windows. Not transferable to subsequent owner. Parts or services not redeemed within specified windows are forfeited. Certain restrictions apply. See retailer for complete details.

ABOUT MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC

Through a network of approximately 330 dealer partners across the United States, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is responsible for the sales, marketing and customer service of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in the U.S. In its recently announced Midterm Plan ? "Challenge 2025" ? MMNA's parent company Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has committed to accelerating its efforts toward a sustainable carbon-neutral future, setting goals of 40 percent reduction in vehicle CO2 emissions and 50 percent reduction in operational CO2 emissions by 2030. Additionally, MMC has set targets for global sales of electrified vehicles at 50 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2035, leveraging a blend of plug-in hybrids (PHEV), hybrids (HEV) and pure electrics (BEV).

MMNA has its headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, as well as corporate operations in California, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas, and Florida.

For more information on Mitsubishi vehicles, please visit media.mitsubishicars.com .

Contact

Jeremy Barnes

Senior Director, Communications and Events

[email protected]

Mobile: 714-296-1402

SOURCE Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

12 december 2023 at 07:07

News published onand distributed by:
Lancasters population grew by roughly 50% between 1980 and 2020.

Now some town leaders want to slow things down.

The Lancaster Town Board next week plans to consider a resolution to pause new commercial residential development in the town for one year.

The proposed law, sponsored by Council member and Supervisor-elect Robert Leary, would establish a one-year moratorium on applications, approvals and construction of commercial residential development, like apartment complexes, condominium buildings and townhome communities.

The mortarium is necessary, according to Learys resolution, because Lancaster has experienced significant and rapid growth and its zoning code does not adequately address commercial residential development.

The yearlong pause would give the town board time to make revisions and amendments to the zoning code to better accommodate this kind of development, according to the resolution.

If the moratorium is not passed, there is a potential that such uses could be located in unsuitable areas within the Town or on lots without adequate dimensional regulations in place, according to the proposed law. The temporary halt is also needed to address issues such as adequate water supply and sewer capacity, potential road improvements and the continued maintenance of green spaces.

Projects that have already received all approvals from the town will not be affected if the law passes.

Supervisor Ronald Ruffino Sr., whose term as leader of the town ends Dec. 31, said if this law passes, the town is sure to be met with lawsuits it will not win.

Developers have the right to develop the land they own, Ruffino said in an interview with The Buffalo News.

Not only would the town lose any lawsuits brought on by such a moratorium, it would also lose projects, Ruffino said. He believes the law will have a negative ripple effect on the town, as developers will move their projects to other municipalities.

Developers arent going to wait, he said.

Lancaster experienced slow growth for most of the 20th century, before its population shot up in the 1950s. According to Census data, the towns population was just over 30,000 in 1980, but had grown to more than 45,000 by 2020.

Ruffino said he will not vote in favor of the moratorium if it comes up for a vote during the Dec. 18 board meeting, his last as supervisor.

The resolution was originally scheduled for a vote on Monday, but it had to be tabled while the town waits on approval from Erie County, town attorney Thomas Fowler said. The county Department of Environment and Planning has 30 days to review the local law and render an opinion.

During a public hearing held Monday, several local business owners and developers, as well as a representative for the Lancaster Depew-Elma Chamber of Commerce, expressed their opposition to the proposed law, while a couple residents believe the action is necessary.

Leary did not respond to a Buffalo News reporters request for an interview about the proposed law.
Puma Extends Lynx Gold Trend to Over 4km at Williams Brook





New high-grade gold veins sampled at the Tiger Gold Zone (TGZ) returned 19.90 g/t gold and 14.50 g/t gold, confirming continuous high-grade gold mineralization over 1.5 km.



confirming continuous high-grade gold mineralization over 1.5 km. A new prospective area, the Cheetah Gold Zone ("CHGZ"), discovered 3km along strike from the Tiger Gold Zone, returned 6.69 g/t gold in initial trenching operations.



in initial trenching operations. The hydrothermal system with gold mineralization remains open to the NE with evidence of pervasive alteration at surface.

RIMOUSKI, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Puma Exploration Inc. (TSX-V: PUMA, OTCQB: PUMXF) (the "Company" or "Puma") is pleased to announce the surface results from its 2023 field exploration program at its 100%-owned Williams Brook Gold Project in Northern New Brunswick. A total of 1,135 samples were collected within 54 new trenches along the NE trending mineralized Gold Corridor that extends now for 4 km from the Lynx Gold Zone to the new Cheetah Gold Zone ("CHGZ"), which includes the Tiger Gold Zone (Figure 1).

Puma's president and CEO, Marcel Robillard, commented, "Our work at the Lynx Gold Zone since 2021 has returned impressive results with high-grade gold mineralization extending 750 m along strike to a depth of 200 m. We know that the system is open both laterally and at depth. We have always suspected a very large gold system at Williams Brook. These preliminary surface results from Tiger and now the new Cheetah zone confirm the potential to define other significant gold deposits along this 4 km corridor and beyond. We'll launch an inaugural drilling program at Tiger in early 2024, and we're excited to test this new cluster of gold-rich quartz veins. We expect the drill results of this campaign will increase our already significant gold inventory."

"Gold mineralization at the Williams Brook Project is hosted in quartz veins that occur in broad zones at the contact margin between different rock types and competencies. The higher-grade gold mineralization is structurally controlled and generally occurs near this contact. As with many gold systems, the source of the gold mineralization is a large, underlying magmatic system. The extensive limonite alteration that extends to over 100 metres in depth and 4 km in strike length shows evidence of a large system here. As we've successfully shown in the past, our first round of drilling at Tiger will target the bedding contact to intersect the high-grade quartz veins at depth and confirm the presence of additional gold chutes in the extension of the Lynx Gold Zone." noted Dominique Gagne, Puma's Chief Geologist.

Tiger Gold Zone

Surface exploration work this summer, along the Lynx Gold Trend, expanded the Tiger Gold Zone (TGZ), a gold showing identified last year located 350 m away from the LGZ, for continuous gold mineralization of more than 1.5km. Four (4) sizeable, mineralized quartz veins oriented WNW were discovered and returned significant High-Grade Gold results (see Table 1).

The Tiger Gold Zone area now spans 400 m by 180 m. Gold mineralization at the TGZ occurs in quartz veins with limonite alteration and disseminated chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, and malachite typical of the high-grade veins discovered at the Lynx Gold Zone. Also, as at the Lynz Gold zone, the veins occur to the contact between rocks of different competencies - volcanic and sediment units.

Figure 1. Gold zones along the Lynx Gold Trend (LGT)





Table 1. Grab samples* assay results highlights with grades above 1 g/t gold

Zone Type Sample X Y Lithology Alt. / Min Au-Best LGZ Stripping G237029 660343 5259477 Quartz vein lim 288.00 LGZ Stripping G237027 660341 5259474 Quartz vein lim 35.20 LGZ T23-09 G239616 660424 5259545 Quartz vein lim 26.00 TGZ T23-41 J026975 660913 5259829 Quartz vein lim 19.90 TGZ Stripping J026775 660862 5259929 Quartz vein lim 14.50 LGZ T23-02 G236936 660238 5259246 Quartz vein lim 13.20 LGZ T23-02 G236937 660237 5259247 Quartz vein ser, lim 12.45 CHGZ T23-37 G237236 662340 5261573 Quartz vein lim,ser 6.69 TGZ T21-07 G238377 660872 5259928 Quartz vein 4.58 TGZ T23-38 J026791 660902 5259940 Quartz vein lim 4.48 TGZ T23-41 J014980 660919 5259831 Quartz vein lim,ser 4.30 TGZ T23-38 J026793 660901 5259940 Quartz vein lim 4.00 LGZ T23-02 G236939 660235 5259245 Quartz vein ser, lim 3.98 TGZ T23-48 J028353 660966 5259908 Quartz vein lim 3.60 LGZ T23-02 G236941 660239 5259246 Quartz vein ser,lim 3.58 LGZ T23-09 G236962 660426 5259553 Quartz vein 3.46 LGZ T23-09 G239606 660426 5259549 Quartz vein lim,ser 3.13 LGZ Stripping G237030 660343 5259478 Quartz vein lim 2.78 TGZ T23-41 J026971 660916 5259829 Quartz vein lim 2.68 LGZ T23-09 G239605 660426 5259551 Quartz vein 2.64 LGZ T23-12 G236990 660393 5259406 Quartz vein lim,ser 2.53 TGZ Stripping J026776 660861 5259925 Quartz vein lim 2.53 TGZ T21-07 J026665 660874 5259930 Quartz vein lim 2.25 LGZ T23-12 G239629 660388 5259401 Quartz vein lim 1.94 TGZ T23-42 J028007 660829 5259910 Quartz vein lim 1.93 TGZ T23-38 J026792 660902 5259941 Quartz vein 1.76 LGZ T23-09 G239787 660465 5259531 Quartz vein lim 1.72 LGZ T23-09 G236959 660428 5259552 Quartz vein 1.72 TGZ T23-41 J026983 660918 5259831 Quartz vein lim 1.68 TGZ T23-46 J028312 661022 5260104 Quartz vein lim,ser,ma,ga ,cpy 1.63 LGZ T23-01 G236909 660252 5259166 Quartz vein py 1.59 LGZ T23-09 G239609 660425 5259548 Quartz vein lim,ser 1.49 TGZ Stripping J026753 660873 5259931 Sediment veinlets lim 1.37 LGZ T23-02 G236935 660237 5259251 Rhyolite veinlets lim 1.37 TGZ T23-50 J028357 660801 5259848 Quartz vein lim 1.26 LGZ T23-02 G236931 660243 5259248 Rhyolite veinlets lim 1.15 TGZ T23-41 J028277 660964 5259848 Quartz vein lim,ser 1.13 LGZ T23-02 G236940 660239 5259245 Quartz vein ser,lim 1.08

*The reader is cautioned that grab samples are selective by nature and may not represent the true metal content of the mineralized zone.

Image 1. Stripped quartz vein at the TGZ showing location of sample J026775





Image 2. Trench 23-41 showing location of sample J026975 at the Tiger Gold Zone





Image 3. Cheetah Gold Zone (CHGZ)





About the Williams Brook Gold Project

Puma's flagship Williams Brook Gold Project comprises four properties covering more than 49,000 ha in Northern New Brunswick?an established and mining-friendly jurisdiction near paved roads and with excellent infrastructure nearby. The land package is located near the Rocky Brook Millstream Fault ("RBMF"), a major regional structure formed during the Appalachian Orogeny and a significant control for gold deposition in the region.

Since 2021 and with less than C$12M of exploration investment. Puma has made multiple gold discoveries at the Williams Brook property and believes that the property hosts an extensive orogenic gold system. Puma's ongoing exploration programs are focused on building a gold camp in Northern New Brunswick, Canada.

Dr. Gregg Morrison, a leading expert on intrusion-related, porphyry and epithermal gold systems, stated: "I believe Williams Brook is part of the same family of gold systems as Fosterville and Sunday Creek in Australia and Valentine Lake in Newfoundland. These other deposits are known for their structure-controlled mineralization, metal zoning, free gold in bonanza shoots and kilometre scale depth extent. The similarities to these more comprehensively explored deposits gives real confidence to deeper drilling in the Lynx Zone and continued exploration around the feeder structures in the Williams Brook District.''

Figure 2. Main gold showings and occurrences at the Williams Brook Gold Project





Corporate Update

Market Stabilization and Liquidity Services

Puma contracts Red Cloud Securities Inc. ("Red Cloud") to provide liquidity services to the Company in compliance with the policies and guidelines of the TSX Venture Exchange and other applicable legislation. Red Cloud is a Toronto-based financial services company that helps mineral exploration and mining companies access capital markets and enhance their corporate profile. Red Cloud trades Puma shares on the TSX-V to maintain a reasonable market and improve the liquidity of Puma's common shares.

The Company pays Red Cloud $4,000 monthly, payable quarterly in advance. The term of engagement is ongoing and may be terminated by either party on 30 days' prior written notice. The Company and Red Cloud have an arm's length relationship, but Red Cloud and its clients may have an interest, directly or indirectly, in Puma's securities. The agreement is principally to maintain market stability and liquidity for the Company's common shares and is not a formal market-making agreement. There are no performance factors contained in the agreement between Red Cloud and the Company, and Red Cloud will not receive any shares or options from the Company as compensation for services it will render.

Promotional Services

The company agreed to a six-month sponsorship of RocksAndStocksNews ("R&S") for C$15,000 in May 2023. R&S, an online portal for precious metals and mining stocks, is a private entity based in Mexico owned and operated by Allan Laboucan. R&S provided distribution of Puma's news releases along with his personal comments and opinions on its YouTube Channel. The sponsorship paid in full at the beginning of the agreement expired on Nov. 9, 2023. R&S did not receive any shares or options as compensation. R&S and Puma are unrelated and unaffiliated entities. R&S did not provide any buying or selling recommendations on Puma, nor did they give any financial advice. Allan Laboucan is not currently a Puma shareholder.

Qualified Person

The technical information of this release was reviewed and approved by Dominique Gagne, P.Geo. a consultant of Puma and a qualified person as defined by the National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

On-Site Quality Assurance/Quality Control ("QA/QC") Measures

Drill core and surface samples are bagged, sealed and sent to ALS CHEMEX in Moncton, New Brunswick, where each sample is crushed and pulped before being fire-assayed (Au-ICP21). The remaining coarse reject portions of the samples remain in storage for further work or verification as needed. As part of its QA/QC program, the Company inserts external gold standards (low to high grade) and blanks every 20 samples in addition to standards, blanks, and duplicates. All samples over 10 g/t gold or with abundant visible gold are analyzed with a gravity finish (Au-GRA22). Check assays are routinely performed for samples with visible gold to ascertain the gold content of the mineralization zone.

About Puma Exploration

Puma Exploration is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company with precious metals projects in New Brunswick, near Canada's Famous Bathurst Mining Camp ("BMC"). Puma has a long history in Northern New Brunswick, having worked on regional projects for over 15 years. As a first mover, the Company quickly and strategically accumulated an impressive portfolio of prospective gold landholdings in the area. Puma's successful exploration methodology combines old prospecting methods with detailed trenching and up-to-date technology such as Artificial Intelligence ("AI") to facilitate an understanding of the geology and associated mineralized systems. Armed with geophysical surveys, geochemical data and consultants' expertise, Puma has developed a perfect low-cost exploration tool to discover gold at shallow depths and maximize drilling results.

The Company is also committed to deploying its DEAR strategy (Development. Exploration. Acquisition. and Royalties) to generate maximum value for shareholders with low share dilution.

Connect with us on Facebook / X/ LinkedIn.

Visit www.explorationpuma.com for more information or contact:

Marcel Robillard. President and CEO. (418) 750-8510;

[email protected]

Mia Boiridy. Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Development. (250) 575-3305;

[email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve several known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Puma to be materially different from actual future results and achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made, except as required by law. Puma undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. The quarterly and annual reports and the documents submitted to the securities administration describe these risks and uncertainties.

All figures accompanying with this announcement are available at:



https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/28576177-988f-4991-ae5d-b647d2772037

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bbcea592-4b62-4de4-9740-fc0daaefc5f3

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38ce4563-b4e2-4ebe-a7b3-1914fa388c0e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/af3d2bb9-3349-49b7-a419-0d447c8d33df

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/64c34bc4-93ed-4f05-9972-12b1058a469a

12 december 2023 at 08:00

News published onand distributed by:
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Offers Online Degree Programs Supported by Academic Partnerships





BELTON, Texas, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) today announced its plan to partner with Academic Partnerships (AP) to grow its online portfolio of undergraduate and graduate programs. Beginning in the Summer of 2024, UMHB will offer its high-quality online nursing and public health programs to students seeking flexible higher education.

The courses, offered by UMHB's Mayborn College of Health Sciences, are designed for working professionals to help prepare students for careers in the ever-changing environment of healthcare. The online degree programs include:

RN to BSN

Master of Science in Nursing ? Family Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing ? Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Master of Science in Nursing ? Nursing Education

Master of Public Health

"Through our partnership with Academic Partnerships, we look forward to making these critical programs more accessible as we prepare our future graduates for careers in healthcare," said Dr. Colin Wilborn, Executive Dean, Mayborn College of Health Sciences. I strongly believe the graduates of these programs will have a positive impact within their local community and beyond."

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's online nursing and public health programs provide a flexible learning experience with 100% online coursework. UMHB's curriculums use real-world experience and rigorous content that can be applied in the workplace right away. There are multiple start dates to choose from throughout the year to accommodate busy schedules.

Helping to support UMHB in making these programs more accessible is Academic Partnerships, a leading online facilitator. AP is a partner to more than 55 universities across the country, primarily regional public universities, helping those institutions expand access to high-quality, affordable, and workforce-relevant education.

Fernando Bleichmar, CEO of Academic Partnerships said, "We are excited to partner with the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor as they increase access to their critical healthcare programs. Together we have a shared mission of expanding access to high-quality education at an affordable cost. As we continue to face a nursing shortage across the country, we are grateful for partners like UMHB that are making it possible for nurses to continue their education in a flexible way."

The first cycle of classes begins May 6, 2024, with an application deadline of April 22, 2024. For more information or to apply for these programs or other University Online offerings, please visit https://onlinedegrees.umhb.edu

About UMHB

Located in Belton, the heart of Central Texas, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor was founded in 1845, making it the oldest continuously operating college in the state. Since its inception in 1845, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor has been known for producing educators, nurses, business leaders, and missionaries through its comprehensive undergraduate and graduate degrees. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Learn more at www.umhb.edu.

About Academic Partnerships

Academic Partnerships assists primarily regional public universities in increasing their access and impact by making their academic programs available to students online. Founded in 2007, AP's mission is to expand access to high-quality, affordable, and workforce-relevant education, especially for working and adult students. AP brings single-minded dedication to student success, an integrated set of services, and data-driven performance to our collaboration with university partners. For more information on innovative online learning solutions, please visit www.academicpartnerships.com.

SOURCE Academic Partnerships

12 december 2023 at 08:00

News published onand distributed by:
Huawei joins Green Digital Action at COP28





ITU, ISO, IEC, and partners speed up climate action with digital tech

DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei has joined hands with more than 40 leading tech companies and organizations to push for Green Digital Action (GDA) at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Climate Change Agreement (COP28), hosted by the UAE.

Huawei is a founding member of the initiative and, together with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), co-leads the action plan and launch of a peer-learning working group to strengthen industry and international collaboration on environmental sustainability standards.

The plan seeks to "create a roadmap that will guide future work and call on experts to contribute post-COP28 and to share best practices that are not yet standardized."

The working group will meet throughout the year 2024 until COP29 to accelerate the implementation of identified standards, share best practices, and address existing gaps.

Huawei pilots the GDA pillar on green standards, which represents an effort to bring sustainability to the forefront of digital practices.

In an outcome document published toward the end of COP28, the ITU said: "Driven by collaboration and consensus decisions, international standardization is a key avenue to make meaningful progress toward the future we want."

Key outcomes also include a joint statement by ITU, International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) on the importance of sustainability being built into technical standards development.

"The digital technology sector is giving us reason for hope with their clear commitments on climate action," said Tomas Lamanauskas, ITU Deputy Secretary-General and convener of GDA. He added that the ITU "will work with our tech partners to ensure follow-through on these commitments with the aim of expanding and strengthening them in the future."

GDA took place Dec 2-9 at COP28. Huawei was involved in five separate GDA events that showcased tech industry commitments and accelerate action.

The nearly year-long effort behind GDA involved over 40 partners, ranging from industry associations, UN agencies, to governments and the private sector.

For more information:

Please refer to ITU Deputy Secretary-General Tomas Lamanauskas' video interview with Ayla Xin Chang on the GDA: https://twitter.com/ITU/status/1732954651119489144

Please refer to GDA media assets at: https://trello.com/b/k3b2gKGj/green-digital-action-cop28

High-level Opening of the GDA on Dec 2, 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzgstB9ZwbM&list=PLBcZ22cUY9RIAVnrFNBEo7pnZfsTc2TLW&index=12

Session "Leveraging ICT's positive impacts on the climate" on Dec 2, 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgHpEwtKWcU

Session "Crowdsourcing AI Solutions for Climate Change" on Dec 2, 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDVRa1KYqic

Session "From commitment to action: Implementing standards for a sustainable future" on Dec 4, 2023:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUeHEBNHanc&list=PLIEHiMEN8AxwIxS-w8vga4E1vnaHfmOcj&index=5

About Huawei

Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. We have more than 207,000 employees, and we operate in more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world.

Our Vision and mission is to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. To this end, we will drive ubiquitous connectivity and promote equal access to networks; bring cloud and artificial intelligence to all four corners of the earth to provide superior computing power where you need it, when you need it; build digital platforms to help all industries and organizations become more agile, efficient, and dynamic; redefine user experience with AI, making it more personalized for people in all aspects of their life, whether they're at home, in the office, or on the go.

For more information, please visit Huawei online at:

www.huawei.com

https://e.huawei.com/ae/

or follow us on:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/Huawei

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/huawei-enterprise

http://www.twitter.com/Huawei

http://www.facebook.com/Huawei

http://www.youtube.com/Huawei

Middle East:

https://www.facebook.com/HuaweiTechME

https://twitter.com/Huawei_ME

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2298823/Huawei.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2293153/4451797/Huawei_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Huawei

12 december 2023 at 08:51

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Samsara Joins California Bureau of Automotive Repair's Continuous Testing Program Pilot to Streamline Smog Checks for Public Sector Fleets





Samsara Inc. ("Samsara") (NYSE: IOT), the pioneer of the Connected Operationstm Cloud, today announced that it has joined the California Bureau of Automotive Repair's (BAR) Continuous Testing Program (CTP) pilot, a program designed to help alleviate the effort of in-person smog testing for public sector fleets in California. As part of this program, emissions and diagnostic data from Samsara can now be integrated with the California BAR to automate the smog reporting process at scale, reduce downtime, and better manage compliance.

Government agencies that own or operate vehicles in California are subject to strict Smog Check Program requirements. These smog tests, historically manual and time-consuming, can lead to significant downtime and disrupt productivity at scale. Now, with data integrated from Samsara's platform, California's BAR can automate this process and obtain the information needed to grant eligible government vehicles a passing score on their smog check, without the hassle of an in-person inspection.

Samsara customer, the City of Ventura, is currently participating in the California BAR CTP pilot. The Public Works Department for the City of Ventura is responsible for the acquisition, maintenance, and repair of hundreds of city-owned vehicles and pieces of equipment. They also ensure the City promotes environmentally friendly practices and complies with Federal and State emissions regulations.

Jaime Aguayo, Fleet Supervisor for the City of Ventura explained, "We run in-house smog testing that requires 50% of our vehicles to be brought in, inspected, and pass smog in a calendar year. Now that information from Samsara will be shared directly with the BAR, we can reduce this downtime and run tests more effectively." Aguayo continued, "With Samsara, there's an ongoing feedback loop and constant evolution of how their technology can meet our needs - I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together."

Samsara serves government and education customers nationwide at both the state and local levels to digitize their operations. With a single platform across all departments and actionable insights from Samsara, public sector agencies can increase service transparency and sustainability, improve community safety, and make data-informed decisions.

"Samsara's inclusion in California's stringent BAR CTP pilot is a testament to how our platform is helping pave the way to a cleaner tomorrow," said Rhonda Eiffe, AVP of Public Sector at Samsara. "Smog tests are incredibly important to reduce carbon emissions and advance toward California's ambitious climate goals. With this integration, we are excited to streamline the smog testing and reporting process for public sector fleets across the state and enable them to operate more efficiently."

Samsara is one of five vendors currently certified to participate in the California BAR CTP pilot. This integration joins over 260 listed on the Samsara App Marketplace and is now available in open beta for eligible customers. To learn more, visit https://samsara.com/industries/state-local-government.

About Samsara

Samsara (NYSE: IOT) is the pioneer of the Connected Operationstm Cloud, which is a platform that enables organizations that depend on physical operations to harness Internet of Things (IoT) data to develop actionable insights and improve their operations. With tens of thousands of customers across North America and Europe, Samsara is a proud technology partner to the people who keep our global economy running, including the world's leading organizations across construction, transportation and warehousing, field services, manufacturing, retail, logistics, and public sector. The company's mission is to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy.

Samsara is a registered trademark of Samsara Inc. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

12 december 2023 at 09:05

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ImmunoScape Appoints Systems Immunology and Computational Biology Expert Dr. John Tsang to its Scientific Advisory Board





ImmunoScape, a biotechnology company focused on next-generation immunotherapies, today announced the appointment of John Tsang, Ph.D. to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Dr. Tsang joins a distinguished group of leading scientists in immunology and oncology who help to guide ImmunoScape's scientific strategy.

Dr. Tsang is currently Professor of Immunobiology and Biomedical Engineering at Yale University. He is the founding Director of the Yale Center for Systems and Engineering Immunology (CSEI), which serves as a home and cross-departmental center of research for systems, quantitative, and synthetic immunology at Yale. He is also the Yale lead and Executive Committee member of the recently announced Chan Zuckerberg Biohub New York, a landmark collaboration between Columbia, Rockefeller, and Yale Universities with long-term support from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to bioengineer immune cells for early disease detection and prevention. Prior to joining Yale, he was a tenured Senior Investigator in the National Institutes of Health's Intramural Research Program and led a laboratory focusing on systems and quantitative immunology at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) where he remains an Adjunct Investigator. Dr. Tsang was also the Co-Director of the Trans-NIH Center for Human Immunology (CHI) and led its research program in systems human immunology.

"Our team is thrilled that he has joined our Scientific Advisory Board, as his deep expertise across immunology and computational and systems biology will be invaluable as we continue to push the machine learning capabilities of our platform forward," said Choon-Peng Ng, co-founder and CEO, ImmunoScape. "Alongside the other distinguished advisory board members, Dr. Tsang will be able to directly advise our computational biology leaders, provide unique research perspectives, and guide our strategic scientific and technological direction."

Dr. Tsang's expertise directly aligns with ImmunoScape's goal to utilize its machine learning capabilities to build its TCR discovery pipeline as the company extends into the oncology field. ImmunoScape's discovery engine offers 360-degree views of lab-validated data from millions of T cells, which serves as the foundation for its machine learning platform. By identifying the characteristics of tumor-reactive TCRs across hundreds of solid tumor targets and multiple HLA alleles, ImmunoScape aims to leverage deep T-cell profiles, linking TCR sequence, phenotypes and antigen information to unlock the faster discovery of novel and efficacious TCR-based therapies across a variety of tumor indications. These capabilities were recently highlighted in new peer-reviewed research ImmunoScape published in Cell Reports.

Dr. Tsang has won multiple awards for his research, including several NIH/NIAID Merit Awards recognizing his scientific leadership in systems immunology, COVID-19, and human immunology research. His work on human immune variability, systems immunology, and prediction of vaccination responses was selected as a Top NIAID Research Advance of 2014. Tsang has served as an advisor on systems immunology and computational biology for numerous programs and organizations, including the Allen Institute, World Allergy Organization, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Dr. Tsang earned his Ph.D. in biophysics and systems biology from Harvard University and trained in computer engineering (BASc) and computer science (MMath) at the University of Waterloo, Canada.

"I am inspired by ImmunoScape's mission to harness the power of machine learning and deep immune profiling to accelerate discovery and eventually expand access to more effective therapeutics for cancer," said Dr. John Tsang. "I look forward to working closely with the team to further advance their powerful machine learning and discovery platform that could help transform the development of more effective, novel therapeutics for solid tumors."

The other members of the ImmunoScape SAB include Evan Newell, Ph.D., (chairman), Philip Greenberg, M.D., Paul Thomas, Ph.D., Patrick Reeves, Ph.D., Rachel Humphrey, M.D., and Adrian Woolfson, Ph.D.

To learn more about ImmunoScape, please visit https://immunoscape.com/.

About ImmunoScape

ImmunoScape is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of next-generation TCR cell therapies in the field of oncology. The company's proprietary Deep Immunomics technology and machine learning platforms enable highly sensitive, large-scale mining and immune profiling of T cells in cancer patient samples to identify novel, therapeutically relevant TCRs across multiple types of solid tumors. ImmunoScape has multiple discovery programs ongoing and will be progressing towards IND-enabling studies and entry into the clinic. For more information, please visit https://immunoscape.com/.

12 december 2023 at 09:05

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KLDiscovery Achieves Significant Milestone with Full Integration of All Back-Office and Operational Systems





KLDiscovery Inc. ("KLDiscovery" or the "Company"), a leading global provider of technology solutions for electronic discovery, information governance, and data management, announced today the successful completion of its comprehensive consolidation efforts across all back-office and operational systems.

Following a period of extensive mergers and acquisitions spanning from 2013 to 2020, KLDiscovery embarked on a strategic initiative to streamline and optimize all facets of its business systems. The goals were to ensure a seamless flow of information across the entire client experience, creating a highly automated, enriched, and transparent operational environment and to transform how the Company engages with its clients, from the point of onboarding through billing and project completion.

"Our overriding objectives are to make KLDiscovery the easiest company to work with in the global Discovery industry and be the gold standard for client service," said Chris Weiler, CEO of KLDiscovery. "In an industry rife with consolidation, many organizations prioritize growth over the crucial investments needed for seamless integration. This often results in fragmented operations, hindering progress, automation, and overall effectiveness. This, in turn, degrades the client experience. We firmly believe that growth without optimization is a missed opportunity, and our strategic investments in this critical area allow us to accomplish our goals and position us as the standard-bearers for operational excellence."

This journey began with the launch of the Company's proprietary business process automation platform. The system acts as the hub for all KLDiscovery's operations, facilitating the assignment of tasks to the appropriate resource(s) and tracking service requests through their workflow. Fully integrated with all the Company's business and fulfillment systems, this platform enables KLDiscovery to effectively manage global work queues and execute client requests with a high degree of speed and quality. The subsequent consolidation of dozens of disparate systems and processes into a singular global platform has also yielded significant automation improvements in billing, collections, and business intelligence.

Beyond enhancing operational efficiency, this initiative directly translates into an elevated client experience. These efforts culminated in Client Portal, KLDiscovery's groundbreaking business intelligence and portfolio management platform. Leveraging the Company's automated and integrated platform, clients can access real-time updates on work-in-progress, project expenditures, performance to budget, and other critical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

In an industry where many eDiscovery providers often fall short on integration efforts, KLDiscovery stands out as a beacon of operational excellence. The commitment to optimization and automation underscores the Company's dedication to setting a new standard for how businesses in the electronic discovery, information governance, and data management space should operate.

KLDiscovery invites you to learn more about the Company's differentiated services and software solutions at http://www.kldiscovery.com.

About KLDiscovery

KLDiscovery provides technology-enabled services and software to help law firms, corporations, and government agencies solve complex data challenges. With offices in 26 locations across 17 countries, KLDiscovery is a global leader in delivering best-in-class data management, information governance, and eDiscovery solutions to support the litigation, regulatory compliance, and internal investigation needs of clients. Serving organizations for over 30 years, KLDiscovery offers data collection and forensic investigation, early case assessment, data processing, application software and data hosting for web-based document reviews, and managed document review services. In addition, through its global Ontrack data management business, KLDiscovery delivers world-class data recovery, disaster recovery, email extraction and restoration, data destruction, and tape management. KLDiscovery has been recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in North America by both Inc. Magazine (Inc. 5000) and Deloitte (Deloitte's Technology Fast 500), and CEO Chris Weiler was a 2014 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Yeartm. Additionally, KLDiscovery is a Relativity Certified Partner and maintains ISO/IEC 27001 Certified data centers around the world. Visit www.kldiscovery.com to learn more.

12 december 2023 at 10:05

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BYD Highlights Leadership in Sustainable Solutions at COP28





BYD, the world's leading manufacturer in new energy vehicles (NEVs) and power batteries, showcased its impactful contributions to sustainable development at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, UAE, held from November 30 to December 12. This year's conference, themed "Unite, Act, Deliver", keeps focusing on fostering international collaboration to address urgent climate change challenges.

On December 8, Michael Shu, Managing Director of BYD Europe, attended the conference and delivered a compelling speech at the China Pavilion's side event, shedding light on green practices under China's Belt and Road Initiative. Drawing on BYD's extensive experience in actively contributing to the initiative, Michael Shu shared insights on fostering sustainable development for new energy technology companies along the Belt and Road.

Emphasizing BYD's integral role in shaping a sustainable future, Michael Shu stated, "A decade ago, in response to the Initiative, BYD embraced an open and collaborative approach, gradually expanding its presence along the route. Our transformative journey, evolving from global product and technology outreach to leading the shift towards green energy, vividly illustrates our unwavering commitment to cultivating economic growth and employment in the Belt and Road regions."

As a consistent champion of ecological innovation, BYD actively upholds climate commitments through green solutions and tangible actions. In a groundbreaking move last year, BYD became the world's first automaker to cease combustion engine vehicle production, spearheading a revolutionary shift in the industry. BYD's unique advantages in the new energy sector were further demonstrated by establishing the first Zero-Carbon Industrial Campus for a Chinese automotive brand at its global headquarters in Shenzhen. Recognition of BYD's Zero-Carbon Industrial Campus, SkyRail, and SkyShuttle among Shenzhen's top ten exemplary low-carbon initiatives at the China Pavilion's Shenzhen Session on December 5 underscores the company's leadership in sustainable practices.

During COP28, BYD also officially announced a collaboration with the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), targeting to jointly drive electric mobility and energy transformation processes across the 27 member countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. This strategic initiative reaffirmed BYD's commitment to propelling global green transformation.

Additionally, BYD's full electric products, including BYD HAN, BYD ATTO 3, and pure electric buses, provided carbon-free transportation services throughout the conference at Expo City Dubai, aligning with COP28's zero-carbon transportation goals.

Looking ahead, BYD remains steadfast in its vision to Cool the Earth by 1C, continuing to play a pivotal role as a global leader in new energy vehicles. The company will persist in employing forward-thinking strategies and innovative technologies to lead the global new energy vehicle industry, unwavering in its commitment to contributing even more to global sustainable economic development and environmental protection.

About BYD

BYD is a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Founded in 1995 as a rechargeable battery maker, BYD now boasts a diverse business scope covering automobiles, rail transit, new energy, and electronics, with over 30 industrial parks in China, the United States, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Hungary, and India. From energy generation and storage to its applications, BYD is dedicated to providing zero-emission energy solutions that reduce global reliance on fossil fuels. Its new energy vehicle footprint now covers 6 continents, over 70 countries and regions, and more than 400 cities. Listed in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, the company is known to be a Fortune Global 500 enterprise that furnishes innovations in pursuit of a greener world.

For more information, please visit www.bydglobal.com.

About BYD Auto

Founded in 2003, BYD Auto is the automotive subsidiary of BYD, a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Aiming to accelerate the green transition of the global transportation sector, BYD Auto focuses on developing pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company has mastered the core technologies of the entire industrial chain of new energy vehicles, such as batteries, electric motors, electronic controllers, and automotive-grade semiconductors. It has witnessed in recent years significant technological advancements, including the Blade Battery, DM-i Super Hybrid Technology, e Platform 3.0, CTB Technology, e4 Platform, BYD DiSus Intelligent Body Control System, and DMO super hybrid system. The company is the world's first carmaker to stop the production of fossil-fueled vehicles on EV shift and has remained top of new energy passenger vehicle sales in China for 10 years in a row.

12 december 2023 at 10:45

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Positive Results from Pivotal Study for Bryn Pharma's Investigational Epinephrine Nasal Spray Published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global





~ First study to demonstrate rapid and sustained absorption of NDS1C epinephrine nasal spray compared to epinephrine intramuscular autoinjector, while offering higher and more sustained therapeutic plasma levels ~

~ Study also found that NDS1C was safe and generally well-tolerated, showing the enhanced pharmacokinetic profile of NDS1C does not compromise pharmacodynamic parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure ~

~ If approved, NDS1C may offer patients at risk of anaphylaxis a novel and practical alternative to needle-based administration routes ~

LEBANON, N.J., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bryn Pharma, LLC, a privately held pharmaceutical company dedicated to finding a novel and convenient way for patients and caregivers to treat anaphylaxis, today announced data from the Company's pivotal clinical study for its investigational epinephrine nasal spray (ENS), NDS1C, have been published online by the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI): Global.

The results showed that NDS1C provides comparable rates of absorption, with overall higher and more sustained epinephrine plasma concentrations, compared to two intramuscular (IM) treatments (0.3 mg epinephrine autoinjector and 0.5 mg manual syringe).

The data support the ability of NDS1C to achieve a rate of absorption comparable to the 0.3 mg IM autoinjector, with a higher therapeutic level of epinephrine (i.e., >100 pg/mL) for essentially twice as long and with a similar safety profile.

"The results of this study are highly encouraging as an important alternative to the autoinjector in the real-world outpatient setting remains a significant unmet medical need. Recent treatment guideline updates discuss the potential need for alternative, safe, and effective epinephrine delivery devices to alleviate their symptoms quickly and efficiently," said Matt Greenhawt, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Section of Allergy and Immunology at Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. "Currently, challenges with needle-phobia, which can delay treatment and exacerbate symptoms requiring a second dose, and reluctance to carry a potentially bulky device with them, remain a key challenge in effectively managing anaphylaxis for patients and their families."

Pharmacokinetic parameters for NDS1C exceeded those of the 0.3mg intramuscular autoinjector with a rapid and higher Cmax, (intranasal 429.4, autoinjector 328.6), and greater systemic exposure (AUC0-360 intranasal 539,060g*min/mL than autoinjector 517,440g*min/mL).

Safety results from the study found that NDS1C was safe and generally well-tolerated with no new safety signals observed for the intranasal route of administration. Similar blood pressure and heart rate effects were observed for intranasal and autoinjector administration. The most common AEs were headache (Cohort 1) and mild vomiting (Cohort 2).

"The publication of our pivotal NDS1C data in JACI Global further validates our ambition to develop an epinephrine product that is comparable to the outpatient standard of care, the EpiPen autoinjector. We are pleased that the published results from our clinical development program are able to provide that peace of mind to the anaphylaxis community, in addition to supporting the potential of a needle-free, small, easy-to-use and affordable option," said Sandy Loreaux, chief executive officer at Bryn Pharma. "We are confident that, if approved, NDS1C will offer a novel, practical and convenient alternative to needle-based administration routes to help overcome some of the persisting barriers that cause patients and caregivers experiencing an anaphylactic attack to delay or avoid treatment."

Additional details can be found in the manuscript, which is available in the "Articles in Press" section of the JACI website, located at: https://www.jacionline.org. JACI is an official journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

Study Design

The pivotal study was an open-label, three-period, crossover study was conducted in 116 healthy adult volunteers to assess the bioavailability of a single intranasal dose of epinephrine, 13.2 mg compared to an intramuscular 0.3 mg autoinjector, and a 0.5 mg manual syringe. Patients achieving epinephrine concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 pg/mL at 10-, 20-, 30-, and 60-minutes post-dose were also evaluated.

About NDS1C

If approved, NDS1C will offer patients a novel delivery system for emergency epinephrine, an area that hasn't seen significant innovation in fifty years. In 1987, the FDA approved the first epinephrine autoinjector, which has since become the standard of care in outpatient settings. Today, Bryn is working to continue the path of innovation by advancing a development program focused on pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic and safety comparisons of NDS1C to the current standard of care treatment, the 0.3 mg IM autoinjector, in accordance with clinical practice guidelines. Bryn is dedicated to creating a novel and practical solution to help this community address these challenges and better manage their daily lives with severe allergies.

About Bryn Pharma

Bryn Pharma, established in 2017, is a privately held pharmaceutical company founded by patients for patients. Bryn is focused on positively disrupting the existing market for epinephrine autoinjectors by delivering an accessible, easy-to-use alternative that better meets the needs of patients. Bryn Pharma seeks to provide this growing population at risk for anaphylaxis with a novel and practical way to be prepared for a life-threatening allergic reaction. For more information visit www.brynpharma.com.

Media Contact:

Elixir Health Public Relations

Lindsay Rocco

+1 862-596-1304

[email protected]

SOURCE Bryn Pharma

12 december 2023 at 10:57

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General Datatech (GDT) is Great Place to Work Certifiedtm in US and India





DALLAS, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global IT solutions provider General Datatech (GDT) is proud to announce that both their U.S. and India offices are Great Place to Work Certifiedtm.

Great Place To Work Certification recognizes employers who create an outstanding employee experience. Ninety one percent of employees at GDT say it's a great place to work compared to 57% of employees at a typical U.S.-based company. GDT joins the ranks of other certified workplaces including Cisco, Accenture, American Express and Hulu.

"We believe that a strong culture is essential to driving innovation and delivering superior solutions to our customers," said CEO Shawn O'Grady. "This award speaks volumes about our dedication to the employee experience as it is the only official recognition determined by employees' real-time feedback of our culture."

GDT is one innovative, global team united in solving complex business solutions. Company-wide initiatives including an Innovation Council, a Women's LeadHERship Program, and a variety of Employee Resource Groups are designed to maximize inclusivity and human potential.

"We have been consciously working on our company culture and are thrilled to be certified as a Great Place to Work," said Chief People Officer Dave Arcemont. "This achievement is a testament to the exceptional efforts of our world-wide employees who contribute to our collaborative and welcoming workplace."

Five Dimensions of Company Culture

The Great Place to Work Trust Index Survey measures individual employee experiences on five dimensions of a high-trust company culture. Three of the dimensions? credibility, respect, and fairness?are connected to the actions of leaders and building trust. The other two dimensions? pride and a sense of belonging?measure the workplace experience of employees in relation to their colleagues and the wider organization. Together, the five dimensions create a workplace culture where employees feel empowered and encouraged to do their most meaningful work. High-trust cultures are shown in Great Place to Work research to outperform their competitors.

This globally recognized and research-backed verification of great employee experience provides employers with a recruiting advantage and helps job seekers identify which companies genuinely offer a great company culture.

About GDT

As a global IT solutions provider, GDT accelerates its clients' digitalization and business goals by transforming and modernizing platforms, networks, and cyber security through industry-leading infrastructure solutions, deep expertise, and flexible service delivery models.

GDT has a 30-year heritage and a global workforce, including its Indian Technology Center in Bangalore, which has grown by over 100 people this year alone. Partners consistently recognize GDT for expertise across its solution stack. GDT maintains over 450 certifications with the world's best-known technology providers. GDT's history, knowledge, and global reach provide the foundation for developing rich, sustainable services and solutions that push its people to the forefront of IT thought leadership and expertise.

For more information on GDT, please visit www.gdt.com .

SOURCE GDT

12 december 2023 at 11:00

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Connected Nation's Teens Teach Tech, powered by AT&T, program surpasses 12,000 adult learners nationwide in first year





LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 12,000 adults are marking the end of 2023 with a new set of digital skills ? courtesy of Teens Teach Tech, powered by AT&T, a Connected Nation (CN) program.

The success of this program speaks to the incredible need to expand digital literacy training programs in our country.

Teens Teach Tech, powered by AT&T, provides a platform for teenagers across the country to share their technology skills with adult learners to help bridge the Digital Divide. The incredible 10K+ milestone was commemorated during a press conference held yesterday in Louisville, Kentucky.

"We've chosen to mark this special moment at the Somali Community of Louisville because the organization has been a standard bearer of what Teens Teach Tech, powered by AT&T, can do for both the teens who are sharing their digital expertise and the adults who are learning new skills that can help improve their lives," said Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO, CN, during the press conference.

As of early December, 12,113 adult learners during 576 teen-led workshops in 17 states were trained through the Teens Teach Tech program. The Somali Community of Louisville was honored as Partner of the Year during the Louisville press conference for training nearly 1,000 adult learners.

"The success of this program speaks to the incredible need for expanding digital literacy training and learning programs in our country," said Emily Jordan, Vice President, Education Initiatives, CN. "When we launched this initiative last year, we hoped to empower teens to make an impact in their community and our teams have been so creative and innovative as they support older parents, caregivers and community members navigate our increasingly digital world."

Teens Teach Tech, powered by AT&T, was established as a new digital literacy and learning program by CN, a national nonprofit founded in Kentucky 22 years ago with a mission to close the Digital Divide across the US. The program is made possible through a contribution from AT&T.

The program provides funding and resources for local classes that focus on one of six courses, provided by AT&T. Those courses are internet basics, computer basics, cybersecurity, email basics, mobile device basics, and videoconferencing. This mentorship opportunity allows teens to provide community service while learning real-world problem solving, collaboration, and project development.

"These topics provide an entry point for adult learners who are struggling with modern technology," said Heather Gate, Executive Vice President, Digital Inclusion. "When we discuss ways to improve digital inequities or digital inclusion it is critical that we address how to train those who are being left behind."

To learn more about the incredible milestone, head to connectednation.org/celebrating-12-000-learners-trained. Feel free to use clips from the press conference, which begins at time code 25:00, for coverage.

To learn more about Teens Teach Tech, powered by AT&T, or to bring the program to your community, head to connectednation.org/teensteachtech.

About Connected Nation: The national nonprofit's mission is to improve lives by providing innovative solutions that expand access to and increase the adoption and use of broadband (high-speed internet) and its related technologies for all people. Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation. Learn more at connectednation.org.

SOURCE Connected Nation

12 december 2023 at 11:45

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ALBANY  New Yorks highest court ruled that the states congressional lines must be redrawn ahead of the 2024 elections, handing a victory to Democrats that could help swing control of U.S. Congress.

In a 4-3 decision issued Tuesday, the state Court of Appeals found that a ruling issued by the court in 2022 applied only to that years congressional elections.

Appellate court favors redrawing New York's congressional district lines A mid-level state appellate court ruled on Thursday that New Yorks congressional district lines must be redrawn ahead of the 2024 elections.

Congressional districts drawn by a court-appointed special master contributed to an unusually strong showing by Republicans in New York congressional races last year, a key to Republicans narrowly winning a majority in Congress.

Ahead of the 2024 elections, Republicans wanted the lines drawn last year to be set until the next federal census in 2030, and the next round of legislative redistricting.

But Democrats wanted congressional district lines redrawn by a bipartisan state commission, something a midlevel appeals court in July ordered to happen.

That bipartisan panel, created through a 2014 constitutional amendment, deadlocked 5-5 prior to the 2022 elections and was unable to draw district lines. That left the Democratic-controlled Legislature to draw lines as the Legislature had done for decades. But the Court of Appeals ruled in 2022 that the Legislature drew the congressional and Senate lines in an illegal way.

Because of the ruling Tuesday, the bipartisan commission will again be charged with drawing lines for the next decade. If it deadlocks again  as is likely  the Democratic-controlled Legislature would again attempt to draw those lines.

The courts opinion was written by Chief Judge Rowan Wilson, who is leading a new, liberal majority on the Court of Appeals.

This year, Wilson replaced former Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, who had been part of the 4-3 decision in 2022 that overturned congressional district lines drawn by Democrats.

Wilson was confirmed as chief judge this year after the Democratic-controlled State Senate rejected Gov. Kathy Hochuls first nominee for chief judge, Hector LaSalle, a centrist.

Democrats in the Senate expressed concern about LaSalles record on issues like criminal justice and union rights, but Republicans argued that LaSalles rejection was actually based on Democrats desire to reverse the Court of Appeals prior ruling on the redistricting case.

Todays decision by the Court of Appeals is disappointing to all New Yorkers who voted resoundingly to reject Democrats blatant attempts to gerrymander districts in their favor, said Republican State Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt of North Tonawanda.

Instead of respecting the will of the voters and the initial ruling by the Court of Appeals, Democrats doubled down and stacked the Court, weaponizing our judicial system in an effort to get the decision they wanted, Ortt said. This decision diminishes the voice of millions of New Yorkers who demanded fairness, transparency and accountability in the redistricting process and marks the beginning of an era of partisan decision-making in New Yorks highest court.

It's unclear whether the new lines will apply to special elections early next year to replace Rep. Brian Higgins, a Buffalo Democrat who plans to resign to lead Shea's Performing Arts Center, and former Rep. George Santos, a Long Island Republican who was expelled from Congress recently amid revelations of campaign finance violations and resume fabrication.

Erie County Democratic Chairman Jeremy Zellner, who holds huge sway over who the Democratic candidate will be to replace Higgins in the heavily Democratic 26th congressional district, did not return a request for comment.

But next November, a redrawing of the congressional map could also affect two Republican lawmakers who represent parts of Western New York: Rep. Nick Langworthy and Rep. Claudia Tenney.

Langworthy  who, as state Republican chairman, led the 2022 legal fight that resulted in the map rejected by the state's highest court on Tuesday  was less than impressed with the latest court ruling.

The court has demonstrated that it is not independent from political influence, Langworthy said.

Buffalo News Washington enterprise reporter Jerry Zremski contributed to this report.
DISCOVER RIVIERA NAYARIT: A PARADISE THAT FUSES NATURE AND LUXURY





RIVIERA NAYARIT, Mexico, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Located on Mexico's spectacular Pacific Coast, the Riviera Nayarit region has established itself as a must-visit tropical destination, attracting travelers in search of natural beauty, adventure, and luxury.

This paradisiacal corner offers more than 185 miles of spectacular beaches, picturesque towns, and exuberant landscapes. For a deeper understanding of the community's connection to the land, travelers may explore diverse ecotourism and nature excursions, or enjoy some adventure travel through diverse outdoor activities including surfing, diving, and hiking through the jungle. Gastronomy is also a key proponent of Riviera Nayarit. Here visitors will be able to explore the local flavors that bridge the gap between traditional dishes and innovative culinary techniques.

When seeking accommodations for one's trip, travelers can turn to Marriott International, a trusted source that provides a diverse portfolio of properties fit for one's needs and comforts.

Revamped Authentic Cultural Experiences

Recently undergoing a renovation, W Punta de Mita has brought its cultural connection to a higher level, becoming a truly modern oasis full of traditional ties and experiences. Boasting new beachfront suites that include private plunge pools and ocean views, the property's refresh brings it to a new height of luxury. To further connect itself in the region, the hotel was designed to reflect the influence of local artisans, which further immerses guests in the tradition of the Huichol Tribe and the bohemian surf culture.

Additionally, The St. Regis Punta Mita, an icon of luxury and hospitality in the Riviera Nayarit, experienced a major renovation inspired by sixteenth-century Mexican Haciendas. The hotel has adopted a distinctive Mexican-Mediterranean aesthetic, where guests are treated to a fusion of history, art, culture, and identity through this new, exclusive setting. The resort is the ideal choice for travelers seeking a world-class experience while indulging in authentic experiences such as cooking classes, where participants can learn to make fresh ceviche and Mexican guacamole, in addition to enjoying modern Mexican cuisine at Punta de Mita's only AAA Five Diamond Award restaurant, Carolina.

Unparalleled Family Experiences

Delta Hotels by Marriott Riviera Nayarit, An All-Inclusive Resort, located in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, is a wellness-inspired all-inclusive resort. Its Aqua Jungle & River experience allows visitors to immerse themselves in the surrounding lush jungle. With multiple jacuzzis, pools, and slides, it is ideal for both adults and families. At this hotel, guests will find rooms and suites with breathtaking mountain views, Mexican art-inspired design, and a renowned spa with an abundance of treatments for an unforgettable stay.

Families with little ones can indulge in a myriad of experiences, including the state-of-the-art waterpark. It features numerous cascading pools and jacuzzis, a lazy river, kids and adult-only areas, as well as a complete jungle lounging experience. Inspired by the Tolantongo caves, located in the Mexican state of Hidalgo, and where cascading thermal springs naturally form heated pools, this area allows guests to still experience the authentic nature of the region while staying the comforts of the resort.

Riviera Nayarit is a magical, enriching, and diverse destination that offers a unique combination of nature, exciting activities, culture, and luxury. With the renewed offerings of Marriott International hotels, this Mexican paradise is unforgettable and is waiting with open arms to welcome new visitors.

HR Pictures:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JlkyBXugOTGj28ha7AJ3ccIFfPveaH6L?usp=sharing

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marriott@brandmanagency.com

SOURCE Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin America

12 december 2023 at 12:05

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Calyxo Closes on $50 Million Equity Financing to Support Broad Launch of CVAC Kidney Stone Treatment





Calyxo, Inc., a medical device company developing next-generation treatment solutions for patients with kidney stones, has announced the closing of a $50 million Series D financing round led by Avidity Partners with significant participation from existing investors Questa Capital and CRG.

Calyxo is commercializing the CVAC Aspiration System which uses irrigation and aspiration to remove kidney stones with the goal of minimizing residual stone burden. The technology has already been used to successfully treat more than 1,300 patients in the U.S.

"We are excited about this round of funding which will further accelerate the company's momentum," said Calyxo's President & CEO Joe Catanese. "Despite the challenging market conditions, we received strong support from investors who believe in our team, our mission and the promise of our CVAC technology. Our kidney stone treatment innovations will improve care for patients and have the opportunity to transform the way this condition is treated. We will use this capital to build commercial traction while maintaining investment in product development and clinical studies."

"We are proud to invest in Calyxo and its groundbreaking technology," said Avidity Partners' Jacob Garfield. "Calyxo has an opportunity to alter the kidney stone treatment category and deliver a new generation of devices that can significantly improve care and comfort for millions of people afflicted by kidney stones. We look forward to working with the company's leadership team as it seeks to accomplish its mission to provide a disruptive solution for a long-standing medical challenge."

Garfield will also join Calyxo's Board of Directors.

Approximately 10% of people in the U.S. will have a kidney stone at some point in their lives, according to the American Urological Association. Kidney stone disease is a painful condition that brings with it significant healthcare costs (Current Urology Reports estimates $4.1 billion in annual direct treatment costs by 2030). The most commonly used kidney stone treatments today do not reliably remove all of the stone fragments created. According to clinical studies published in Urology and the Journal of Urology, residual fragments left behind are associated with a 20%-44% incidence of post-procedure problems including pain, infection, emergency department visits, hospitalization and need for retreatment.

"CVAC" is a registered trademark of Calyxo, Inc.

About Calyxo, Inc.

Calyxo, Inc. is an innovation-driven medical device company focused on improving care for patients with kidney stones by delivering paradigm-shifting solutions that enable urologists to safely, effectively and efficiently achieve unrivaled clinical outcomes. Learn more at calyxoinc.com.

About Avidity Partners

Avidity Partners is an investment management firm focused on public and multi-stage private investments in innovative companies within the healthcare industry, including the therapeutics, medical technology and healthcare technology sectors. The Firm uses its industry backgrounds along with scientific and capital markets expertise to provide flexible financing options designed to help entrepreneurs and companies pursue promising solutions for unmet medical needs. Avidity has offices in Dallas, TX and Greenwich, CT.

About Questa Capital

Questa Capital is a venture growth equity firm focusing on investments in expansion-stage healthcare companies. Questa seeks out disruptive, technology-enabled business models that help improve patient lives, streamline market inefficiencies, and provide better quality care. The firm partners with superior management teams to help build innovative market leaders in the healthcare technology, services and medical devices sectors. Questa is led by industry veterans in healthcare investment and operations who have invested in and advised more than 50 growth-stage companies. More information is available at questacapital.com.

About CRG

CRG is a premier healthcare investment firm that has committed more than $4 billion of assets across five funds to date. The firm seeks to invest between $20 - $300 million in companies across the healthcare spectrum, including: medical devices, biopharmaceuticals, tools & diagnostics, services and information technology. CRG provides growth capital in the form of long-term debt and equity to support innovative, commercial-stage healthcare companies that address large, unmet medical needs. The firm partners with public and private companies to provide flexible financing solutions and world-class support to achieve exceptional growth objectives with minimal dilution. CRG maintains offices in Boulder, New York and Houston. For more information, please visit crglp.com.

12 december 2023 at 12:25

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With Enhanced Support for Long-Form Video, Cloudinary Offers the Industry's Most Comprehensive Video API





Cloudinary, the image and video platform that powers many of the world's top brands, today announced several new Video API enhancements to speed up management, customization, and optimal delivery of long-form video experiences, such as lifestyle (how-to) videos, product demos, event recordings, and on-demand tutorials. With the new enhancements, including expanded support for advanced compression codecs enabling adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR), Cloudinary is the only video API offering robust programmatic and UI-based automations for both short- and long-form videos.

While brands understand the power of video when it comes to improved customer engagement and conversions, many continue to struggle to deliver video-rich experiences quickly and efficiently. Without intelligent automation, it can take several hours, even days, for developers to prepare a single video for use across a brand's digital channels, reducing critical engagement opportunities. Through its flexible API-based solution and AI-powered automation, Cloudinary eliminates these complex manual workflows, enabling developers to manage, customize, optimize, and deliver video to any channel or device within minutes.

New features and benefits include:

Fast delivery of long-form video. Users can now upload video files up to 100GB to Cloudinary and deliver them in minutes by leveraging on-the-fly video encoding and automatic bitrate, format, resolution selection based on device and network conditions - minimizing the need for advanced data preparation.

Users can now upload video files up to 100GB to Cloudinary and deliver them in minutes by leveraging on-the-fly video encoding and automatic bitrate, format, resolution selection based on device and network conditions - minimizing the need for advanced data preparation. Maximized performance. In addition to support for the HLS protocol, Cloudinary's Adaptive Bitrate Streaming (ABR) capability now supports CMAF and DASH protocols, as well as advanced codecs H.265 and VP9, to offer the most efficient video compression for streaming on desktop, mobile, and more.

In addition to support for the HLS protocol, Cloudinary's Adaptive Bitrate Streaming (ABR) capability now supports CMAF and DASH protocols, as well as advanced codecs H.265 and VP9, to offer the most efficient video compression for streaming on desktop, mobile, and more. Branded, customized viewing experiences . Cloudinary's HTML5-based video player can now be easily customized using an intuitive UI. This enables users to deliver branded, interactive video experiences by adjusting video content to meet brand standards, configuring auto-play or looping features, and even selecting between progressive download and ABR delivery methods.

. Cloudinary's HTML5-based video player can now be easily customized using an intuitive UI. This enables users to deliver branded, interactive video experiences by adjusting video content to meet brand standards, configuring auto-play or looping features, and even selecting between progressive download and ABR delivery methods. Faster scaling to mobile apps. New Video Player SDKs for iOS, Android, and Flutter come pre-built with ABR to help developers deliver consistent video experiences to mobile apps, while ensuring superior performance.

New Video Player SDKs for iOS, Android, and Flutter come pre-built with ABR to help developers deliver consistent video experiences to mobile apps, while ensuring superior performance. Out-of-the-box accessibility compliance. The Cloudinary Video Player includes chapters, auto-captioning and AI-based histograms to make it easy for screen readers or assistive technologies to provide structured access to content and improve SEO.

The Cloudinary Video Player includes chapters, auto-captioning and AI-based histograms to make it easy for screen readers or assistive technologies to provide structured access to content and improve SEO. Clear and actionable engagement insights faster. Updated analytics dashboard now offers time-series graphs for key engagement metrics such as views, watch rate, and more to identify trends that guide digital content strategies. Users can also export video engagement insights via API to their own business intelligence tools.

Updated analytics dashboard now offers time-series graphs for key engagement metrics such as views, watch rate, and more to identify trends that guide digital content strategies. Users can also export video engagement insights via API to their own business intelligence tools. AI-enabled optimizations for social media. Users can now leverage Cloudinary's existing AI features to generate eye-catching previews for long-form videos and use AI-based smart cropping to easily adapt aspect ratio to the requirements of each social media channel.

According to 2023 Comscore data*, Cloudinary's next-gen video platform is one of the five most popular tech properties for managing video content in the U.S. The report also highlights the largest 100 properties and platforms in the US**, dozens of which are Cloudinary customers, including Discovery and Mediavine. Cloudinary's unique combination of deep image and video expertise, track record of AI innovation, and commitment to delivering significant customer value in a rapidly evolving digital landscape are foundational to its latest video innovations.

Doximity, a leading digital platform for U.S. medical professionals, relies on Cloudinary to serve news-based video content to its app users. According to the platform's Director of Engineering, James Hicks, "The number and length of the videos hosted on our platform requires us to have an easy, quick, and reliable way to ensure each one looks and performs as intended in each user's feed across multiple devices and resolutions, which wouldn't be cost-effective to do manually. Cloudinary has been instrumental in helping us speed up all aspects of our video management, optimization, and delivery workflows."

"As video becomes more prevalent and more foundational to the customer experience, organizations must be able to easily manage and instantly deliver optimized videos of any length without significant manual intervention," said Nadav Soferman, co-founder and chief product officer at Cloudinary. "With support for longer-form videos, faster on-the-fly video transformations and optimizations, improved analytics and more, the Cloudinary Video API is now one of the most powerful platforms for delivering the engaging, fast and beautiful video-rich experiences that consumers love and increasingly expect."

To learn more about Cloudinary's AI-backed video capabilities and future updates, visit https://cloudinary.com/video_api, explore Cloudinary's Video Value calculator, and read today's blog post.

About Cloudinary

Cloudinary is the image and video technology platform that enables the world's most engaging brands to deliver transformative visual experiences at global scale. More than 1.5 million users and 10,000 customers, including Apartment Therapy, Bleacher Report, Bombas, Grubhub, NBC, Mediavine, Minted, Paul Smith and Peloton, rely on Cloudinary to bring their campaigns, apps and sites to life. With the world's most powerful image and video APIs backed by industry-leading artificial intelligence and patented technology, Cloudinary offers a single source of truth for brands to manage, transform, optimize, and deliver visual experiences at scale. As a result, the most engaging brands across all industries are seeing up to a 203% ROI using Cloudinary with benefits including faster time to market, higher user satisfaction and increased engagement and conversions. For more information, visit www.cloudinary.com.

*Source: Comscore Video Metrix Multi-Platform, Total Audience, Technology, Content, September 2023, US **Source: Comscore Video Metrix Multi-Platform, Total Audience, Top 100 Video Properties, Content, September 2023, US

12 december 2023 at 12:35

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A Yemeni Coast Guard boat sails near the Galaxy Leader commercial ship, seized by Yemen's Houthis last month, off the coast of al-Salif, Yemen, December 5, 2023. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah KHALED ABDULLAH / REUTERS

Yemen's Huthi rebels claimed responsibility on Tuesday, December 12 for a missile strike on a Norwegian-flagged tanker a day earlier off Yemen's coast in the Red Sea.

"The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a qualitative military operation against the Norwegian ship Strinda, which was loaded with oil" bound for Israel, military spokesman Yahya Saree said.

The assault on the oil and chemical tanker Strinda expands a campaign by the Iranian-backed rebels targeting ships close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into apparently now striking those that have no clear ties to Israel. That potentially imperils cargo and energy shipments coming through the Suez Canal and further widens the international impact of the Israel-Hamas war now raging in the Gaza Strip.

Read more Who are the Yemeni Houthis involved in the war between Hamas and Israel?

The US military's Central Command issued a statement Tuesday saying an anti-ship cruise missile "launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen" hit the Strinda.

"There were no US ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but the USS Mason responded... and is currently rendering assistance," Central Command said. The Mason is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that has been involved in several of the recent incidents off Yemen.

The private intelligence firms Ambrey and Dryad Global had earlier confirmed the attack happened near the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.

Geir Belsnes, the CEO of the Strinda's operator, J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, also confirmed the attack took place.

"All crew members are unhurt and safe," Belsnes said. "The vessel is now proceeding to a safe port."

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Israel-Hamas war: 'The conflict in Gaza is extending out to sea'

The Strinda was coming from Malaysia and was bound for the Suez Canal onward to Italy with its cargo of palm oil, Belsnes said.

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which provides warnings to sailors in the Middle East, earlier reported a fire aboard an unidentified vessel off Mokha, Yemen, with all the crew aboard being safe. The coordinates of that fire correspond to the last known location of the Strinda based off satellite tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press.

The Houthis have carried out a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and also launched drones and missiles targeting Israel. In recent days, they have threatened to attack any vessel they believe is either going to or coming from Israel, though there was no immediately apparent link between the Strinda and Israel.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Yemeni Houthis open new Red Sea front

Israels national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said over the weekend that Israel has called on its Western allies to address the threats from Yemen and would give them "some time" to organize a response. But he said if the threats persist, "we will act to remove this blockade."

Analysts suggest the Houthis hope to shore up waning popular support after years of civil war in Yemen between it and Saudi-backed forces.

France and the United States have stopped short of saying their ships were targeted in rebel attacks, but have said Houthi drones have headed toward their ships and were shot down in self-defense. Washington so far has declined to directly respond to the attacks, as has Israel, whose military continues to describe the ships as not having links to their country.
A new kind of human trafficking may have emerged in Nepal in the form of sending soldiers to the Russian-Ukrainian front. The rumor of young Nepalese citizens involved in this far off war had been circling for several months. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal officially confirmed the information in early December after at least six mercenaries were killed in Ukraine and another was captured. "The government of Nepal has asked the Russian government to immediately return their bodies and provide compensation to their families," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It also urged Russia to stop using Nepalese fighters. The information has had a particularly negative impact since Nepal sided with the Western powers after the attack on Ukraine.

Kathmandu has not provided any details on the number of Nepalese soldiers who have enlisted since the beginning of the war. However, Indian media have indicated that they were present in the Wagner Group. However, the prime minister mentioned that citizens were also serving in the Ukrainian army.

Since August, authorities have repeated that the Nepalese are forbidden from enlisting in foreign armies, except in India and the United Kingdom. According to the Katmandu Post, Nepal's ambassador to Russia, Milan Raj Tuladhar, mentioned a figure of 150 to 200 Nepalese citizens, including both young people and retired army veterans.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes 'The Fierce One' returns as Nepalese prime minister

They were allegedly lured by the promise of large amounts of money and the possibility of acquiring Russian citizenship, entering Russia via India or Dubai with tourist or student visas. Candidates reportedly paid agents up to $8,500 or $9,000 (approximately 8,370). "We are sending back at least one Nepalese citizen each day. They have all been brought to Russia to serve in the army," the ambassador told the Nepalese daily.

Sordid trafficking

On Wednesday, December 6, the police arrested 12 people suspected of helping organize these deployments. Nepal is a very poor and predominantly rural country that experiences a significant outflow of its workforce. Each year, hundreds of thousands of citizens flock to Gulf countries to look for work. Nepal relies in part on remittances, which account for a third of its gross domestic product. More than three million Nepalese citizens, 10% of the population, work abroad, not counting those in exile in India. This migration has led to a lucrative business and sordid trafficking. Recruitment agencies are abundant in the country, offering their services and presenting remunerative offers, which often turn out to be scams. Aspiring migrants are forced into debt to pay these intermediaries.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to the press after he met with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Director Kristalina Georgieva at IMF headquarters in Washington, DC, on December 11, 2023. ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an impassioned plea for continued US military support Monday, December 11, in a Washington speech, warning that failure to help his country defeat Russian invasion is fulfilling the Kremlin's "dreams" of wrecking democracy in Europe.

Addressing an audience of US officers at the National Defense University, Zelensky said Ukraine is fighting not just for its own existence but in defense of the freedoms that opened up across Europe in the wake of the Soviet collapse.

In a rebuke to Republicans in Congress who have turned against US funding for the Ukrainian war effort, Zelensky said politicians should not "betray the soldier"  and he said the drying up of US aid was being cheered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes White House warns Republicans that Ukraine faces diminishing funds

"If there's one inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill its just Putin and his sick clique," he said. "They see their dreams come true when they see delays." "You can count on Ukraine and we hope just as much to be able to count on you," Zelensky said. "Putin must lose."

The Ukrainian leader, who wore his trademark army-style green sweatshirt, emblazoned with the words "I'm Ukrainian," flew into Washington after a round of diplomacy this weekend in Argentina. He was due to meet Tuesday with President Joe Biden and congressional leaders from both parties, including Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the visit came at "a critical time" and that Biden would make it clear he was "standing firm" on his bid to get Ukraine the aid it needs to resupply its troops and expand efforts to drive back Russian forces.

Zelensky was also meeting the heads of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank as he seeks to shore up his embattled nation's economy in the midst of the all-out war. The IMF announced the release of a new $900 million tranche in an ongoing long-term loan.

Republicans sour on Ukraine

Throughout the bloody conflict, which has seen swaths of Ukraine destroyed and millions driven from their homes, Ukrainian forces have depended heavily on a US-led coalition of countries delivering tens of billions of dollars in ammunition, weaponry, and economic and social aid. Now the flow of US aid  described by Biden as part of an existential fight between the democratic world and Putin's aggressive autocracy  is on the verge of drying up.

Republican senators last week blocked a White House request for $106 billion in emergency aid primarily for Ukraine and Israel. Conservatives said they would refuse the package for the close foreign allies if Democrats and the White House did not also agree to far-ranging immigration reforms targeting security on the politically sensitive US-Mexican border.

More broadly, the Republican right wing, led by 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump, has dramatically soured against Ukraine's cause. "What's in America's best interest is to accept Ukraine is going to have to cede some territory to the Russians and we need to bring the war to a close," Senator JD Vance, a close Trump ally, said Sunday.

Column Article reserve a nos abonnes 'Putin and Netanyahu are betting on the Trump horse'

He dismissed as "preposterous" White House warnings that allowing Russia to win in Ukraine would put other eastern European countries, including NATO members, at risk. There should be no "blank check" for Ukraine, Vance said. "You need to articulate what the ambition is. What is $61 billion going to accomplish that $100 billion hasn't?"
SUSTAINABLE fashion meets sustainable motoring as Limerick designer Aoife McNamara has revealed her bespoke collection inspired by an electric vehicle (EV).

Aoife McNamara is a B-Corp designer and founder of Aoife Ireland, a sustainable fashion brand which aims to create beauty, not destroy it, by reconnecting the fashion industry to the natural world.

Aoife has spent the last few months designing and finalising two unique creations, which have been inspired by an electric vehicle.

Aoife has crafted garments which reflect both the style and sustainability of the electric vehicle - her inspiration was an EV by Toyota.

Her designs included a corset and skirt, and a dress. The designs feature red, grey, and yellow stitching to replicate the steering wheel and interior stitching, precision-cut lines and silhouettes, giving the garments a futuristic look and feel.

The boldness of the car is represented by the red, gold and charcoal colourways chosen, with the honeycomb design features of the car reflected in the corset.

Aoife also took inspiration from the cars innovative and sustainable touches, only using materials that were organic, recycled or repurposed  including an innovative SeaCell fibre used for the lining, created using naturally-sourced seaweed, recycled zips and buttons, and an upcycled material mixed blend on the back of the garments.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aoife Mc Namara (@aoifemcnamarax)

Aoife's brand values creativity and beauty, people and planet, quality over quantity.

After securing an Honours degree from Limerick School of Art & Design, and gaining industry experience in Paris and New York, Aoife was determined to create unique Irish garments that were at peace with the planet.
VIRTUAL wards, to help doctors treat patients in their own homes, have been set up by the Minister of Health, Stephen Donnelly.

The Acute Virtual Ward programme will be piloted in two hospitals: University Hospital Limerick (UHL) and St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin.

The programme will begin in early 2024 and will enable patients, who would previously have had to stay in hospital, to be monitored and treated for some illnesses in their own homes.

Expansion of virtual services and the effective utilisation of digital technology in healthcare needs to happen, as I believe it has huge potential, said Minister Donnelly.

The technology-enabled scheme also supports patients preferences for better integrated services, closer, or indeed in their own homes.

The pioneering hospital at home scheme is suitable for a range of different conditions, and is used in other countries for patients with heart disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), for example.

Patients receiving care under a virtual ward will also remain under the care of their doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.

Ward rounds involve a home visit, or video call. Patients will be given electronic gadgets, such as blood-pressure cuffs or thermometers, so that hospital staff can still collect data.

According to research, the virtual ward could potentially save over 8,000 bed days per year in each of the acute hospitals.

While the Minister has funded the opening of an additional 1,100 (net) acute hospital beds and a 25% increase in critical care capacity since he took office, he said the health service still has fewer beds than it needs.
A LIMERICK family who lost their 28-year-old father, son and brother have given back to the charity which helped bring him home after he passed away while abroad.

Kevin Hogan from Caherdavin died suddenly while on holiday with friends in Albufeira, Portugal on April 13 this year.

Upon learning the tragic and truly heartbreaking news, his family were left in limbo, wondering what to do in such an egregious crisis.

When we got the life-changing phone call, we stood in the kitchen numb and just hadnt a clue what to do, said Amanda Hogan, the late Kevin Hogans mother.

We found out about the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT) when someone mentioned them. We rang their helpline and that was it - they took over from there and got our Kevin home to us.

KBRT aims to alleviate the financial hardship of bereaved families repatriating the body of a loved one.

Being abundantly grateful for the Trusts assistance in bringing Kevin home to his family to be buried, the Hogans were awaiting an opportunity to meet the man who started KBRT - a bereaved father who lost his son, also named Kevin, in June 2013.

Kevin Bells father, Colin Bell, came down to Limerick to meet us in the Greenhills hotel. I really wanted to meet the man and present him with something in return, after all he has done for us.

We have similar stories to share, so it was nice to meet him finally.

The family raised 9,335 and Kevins 8-year-old daughter, Aoibhinn, presented Colin Bell with the cheque and he was truly delighted.
News / National

by Nkululeko Nkomo

ALERT: Weve received a report that Valentine Ziko, a student, was abducted from Chinhoyi University of Technology yesterday. During a violent police raid, a group of unknown men attacked and blindfolded him and bundled him into a car where they started assaulting him. They pic.twitter.com/AuehT8hdWI  Fadzayi Mahere (@advocatemahere) December 12, 2023

Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere took to X (formerly Twitter) to report the alleged abduction and torture of Valentine Ziko, a student at Chinhoyi University of Technology. According to Mahere, the harrowing ordeal unfolded during a violent police raid when a group of unidentified men attacked and blindfolded Ziko, forcibly taking him to an undisclosed location.The assailants, as described by Mahere, subjected Ziko to physical assault and cold-water torture while demanding information about the whereabouts of other named students. The student activist was reportedly beaten and coerced into unlocking his phone, where he faced interrogation about the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) and the Citizens Coalition for Change.Of particular interest to the assailants was the CCC's strategy following the forced removal of CCC Member of Parliament, Hon Kufahakutizwe, from the Mabvuku Tafara constituency. Ziko, however, maintained that he was unaware of any CCC plans, prompting his captors to release him. He was subsequently dropped off near a local bridge, where he received assistance.Fadzayi Mahere condemned the incident, emphasizing the need for all progressive citizens to denounce the hounding and torture of members of the Student Movement. In her tweet, Mahere asserted that advocating for improved student welfare, better learning conditions, and a more inclusive education delivery system is not a crime.
LEE Reeves and Pegleg Bennett were seen together in Limerick City over the weekend as the Limerick boxer received a visit from his fellow Survivor contestant.

As a birthday surprise for his daughter, whose favourite is Lee, Bennett flew himself and his daughter to Limerick to spend the weekend with Reeves and watch the latest episode of Survivor. What a weekend it was commented Reeves on Instagram.

The professional boxer was eliminated on episode 20 of the show which airs on BBC.

Reeves and the Pegleg became close friends throughout the filming of the show and have maintained close contact since.

Pegleg, Who is still in the running for the title of Sole Survivor, is a professional big wave surfer who was born with no ankle in his leg, leading to his parent to opt to amputate his foot, a decision that never slowed him down as he describes it as the best choice they could have made.

In 2016, he legally changed his name from Rick to his nickname, Pegleg.
CALLS have been made for for a new grant scheme to be put in place to assist elderly people who are living in unlit areas of County Limerick.

A formal motion was submitted by Abbeyfeale councillor Liam Galvin at the most-recent meeting of Limerick City and County Council.

The former Mayor believes it would not cost a lot of money to implement such a grant scheme. It will give [people] security, particularly those living alone, Mr Galvin said.

He added it would assist the elderly in the unlit rural areas greatly when they get home in the evening winter months, when it gets dark early, and it will help them when rooting through their bags trying to find their keys.

It was also suggested that it would be a welcome security measure to have a light on in the house when the residents are away as the greatest deterrent to crime is light.

Mr Galvin also stated that before the cost of living crisis, people could afford to leave their exterior lights on for when they came home but with current electricity costs, people are finding any way they can to cut down their electricity usage.

The motion was seconded by Cllr John Sheahan and received support from Cllr Kevin Sheahan who said there is an awful lot of common sense behind the motion.

It wouldnt be out of place for us to give the people of rural Ireland some bit of peace like those in the cities or towns are used to and thats light, he said

I would like to see a scheme, we need to discuss this now probably a bit and Mr Galvin has opened the door for a serious discussion on this.

Cllr Sheahan urged the council to establish what the cost of any scheme would be and what percentage the council could provide those in rural Limerick for the provision of security lighting.
Met Eireann is predicting a major weather u-turn in Ireland this week after two storms ravaged the country over the weekend.

Storm Elin on Saturday was followed by Storm Fergus on Sunday, bringing strong winds, rain and even a devastating tornado to Leitrim.

In a nice change, Met Eireann is predicting "less windy and drier" weather by midweek but it will be "remaining unsettled with rain or showers early on" this week. It also looks like wet weather will return for the weekend.

"Monday morning will be mainly dry with some sunny spells. Rain will develop in the west and southwest around noon and will spread eastwards through the afternoon and evening, becoming heavy at times. Staying dry though in much of the north and east until after dark. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees with freshening south to southeast winds," Met Eireann predicts.

"Early tonight [Monday], rain will continue to move northeastwards, mainly affecting Leinster and Ulster. It will clear to the northeast with clear spells and scattered showers following. Some of the showers will be heavy with a risk of hail and a slight chance of thunder, especially in parts of the west and south. Moderate to fresh south to southeast winds will become southerly and decrease mostly light, with some mist and fog forming. Lowest temperatures 3 to 7 degrees.

"The mist and fog will slowly clear tomorrow morning [Tuesday] and early afternoon, but it will remain mostly cloudy for the day. There'll be some scattered showers too, and a few will be heavy especially early on, but overall a good deal of dry weather. Highest temperatures of 8 to 10 degrees with light, variable breezes, becoming northwesterly later and freshening in coastal parts of the west.

"Tuesday night will start off mostly cloudy with some scattered showers. It will become mainly dry overnight. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in light to moderate northerly winds.

"Wednesday will be mainly dry with a fair amount of cloud and some sunny spells developing. Highest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees with light variable breezes. Wednesday night will start off cold and dry with clear spells and with frost in some eastern areas. Rain will develop in the west and will spread eastwards overnight. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees.

"On Thursday morning rain will clear quickly. The rest of the day will be mainly dry with some bright or sunny spells and a few showers. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees, with mostly light westerly winds. Thursday night will be mainly dry with lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees."

Looking to later in the week and the weekend, Met Eireann forecasters say: "Friday and Saturday will both be mild, breezy and mostly cloudy with a fair amount of dry weather and with patchy rain or drizzle at times. Highest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees with moderate to fresh southwest winds.

"At the moment it looks like rain will move in from the west on Sunday next," they concluded.
Googles mobile app store maintains a monopoly in the Android app distribution and payments market, a federal jury in California decided, dealing a blow to the technology giant in a high-stakes antitrust battle with Epic Games Inc.

Google Play willfully wields monopoly power through Alphabet Inc. unit Googles anticompetitive conduct, jurors found Monday after deliberating for less than four hours following a nearly monthlong trial in San Francisco. The ruling could potentially jeopardize billions of dollars of revenue generated by Googles app store.

US District Judge James Donato, who oversaw the trial, will decide whether Google must open the door for payment and app distribution methods outside its own app store following the verdict that Google Play policies are unlawful.

Also Read: Small OTT apps in a fix over Google Play Store policy

Epic Games sued Google three years ago, claiming the tech company monopolized the Android app distribution market for more than a decade by striking side deals with rivals and using its resources to thwart competition.

In its defense, Google contended that its partnerships help phones that run on the Android operating system better compete against smartphone market rival Apple Inc.s iPhone.

Epic, known for its popular Fortnite game, was the only stakeholder to challenge Alphabet at trial after the Mountain View, California-based company recently reached settlements with consumers, state attorneys general, and Match Group Inc., all of whom had targeted Google Play policies in complaints. Epic largely lost a similar antitrust challenge two years ago to Apple over its app store.

The case is In Re Google Play Store Antitrust Litigation, 21-md-02981, US District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco).

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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.
Corning Inc., a significant supplier to Apple and renowned for its Gorilla Glass technology, will invest 1,000 crore to set up a new manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu, as per an Economic Times report citing sources.

The company will collaborate with its Indian partner, Optiemus Infracom, for the new facility. While no specific timeline has been committed, sources said, adding that they estimate the construction phase to last approximately a year.

Situated on a 25-acre plot in Pillaipakkam near Sriperumbudur, the facility will employ around 300 individuals and is strategically poised for potential expansion, the report added. The development comes as Apple announced plans to shift the majority manufacture of its iPhones to India. Corning joins a host of other Apple suppliers who have bolstered their presence in the country.

Shifting States from Telangana?

Previously, the Telangana government had announced Corning Inc.'s investment plans in the state; however, sources told the paper that the company shifted its unit to Tamil Nadu due to the latter's "robust electronics ecosystem and proximity to other Apple suppliers". Tamil Nadu already hosts major Apple contract manufacturers such as Foxconn, Pegatron, and Tata Electronics.

The decision was finalised last week, they added. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is expected to be signed during the Global Investor Meet in January.

"While I choose not to delve into the specifics ... I can affirm that Tamil Nadu is diligently crafting an outstanding electronics ecosystem of international standards. Our strategic approach involves ascending the electronics value chain by enticing specialized manufacturers capable of catering to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Attracting these niche players forms a crucial component of our targeted initiatives to position Tamil Nadu as a global leader in electronics manufacturing, contributing to India's emergence as a prominent electronics hub," Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa told the paper.

Headquartered in New York, Corning Inc. is a Fortune 500 materials science company celebrated for inventing Gorilla Glass, a highly durable glass extensively used in mobile phones, tablets, and laptops.

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Infosys employees will now be required to work from the office at least three days a week, as per an Economic Times report. This mandatory directive comes after repeated calls from management to restore regular office routines saw low compliance, it added.

"Please start coming to the office at least 3 days a week. It will become mandatory very shortly," an email from top management of the Bengaluru-based company stated, as per the paper.

Also Read | Narayana Murthy now says he worked 85-90 hours: But is it really productive?

Infosys did not respond to queries, it added.

Return to Office Expected

Expressing dissatisfaction with the modest response to return-to-office appeals, the email emphasised that the three-year work-from-home arrangement post-Covid was sufficient. It further clarified that except for medical reasons, employees are expected to resume regular office attendance.

A source told the paper that the management has voiced discontent with the company's delivery units (DUs) going underutilised, prompting a call for immediate attendance at campuses housing offshore development centres (ODCs) for clients. They are however open to considering health-related requests from employees on a case-by-case basis, the source added.

Also Read: Narayana Murthy's 70-hour work week advice reaches Parliament, Govt tells MPs

Besides the mandatory attendance issue, Infosys in another email announced the reinstatement of charges for bus services, set at 150 per day with a monthly cap of 1,500, effective from January 3, next year. Similarly, health club facilities will incur a daily charge of 100, capped at 700 per month, starting January 1, 2024.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, eligible Infosys employees could work from home for nine days each month. This new directive, if implemented, will revive the attendance system prevalent before the pandemic-induced lockdown in early 2020.

Narayana Murthy on work hours

Earlier in October, Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy expressed concerns about India's work productivity, noting that it was one of the lowest in the world. He said that youngsters should work for a minimum of 70 hours per week if the country wanted to compete with emerging economies.

Also Read | Narayana Murthys 70-hour work week remark: 7 ways to design a rich" life on your terms

"Somehow our youth has the habit of taking not-so-desirable habits from the West, and then not helping the country. India's work productivity is one of the lowest in the world. Unless we improve our work productivity, unless we reduce corruption in the government at some level, because we have been reading I don't know the truth of it, unless we reduce the delays in our bureaucracy in taking this decision, we will not be able to compete with those countries that have made tremendous progress. So therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say, this is my country, Id like to work 70 hours a week," Narayana Murthy said.

The comment proved controversial, igniting widespread debate on social media. Then a few days later, Microsoft founder Bill Gates responded to a similar question with an opposite worldview, triggering a further round of social media hubbub. The US billionaire argued that "job is not everything" and backed a 3-day work week.

In an episode of Trevor Noahs What Now?", Gates said that AI wont replace humans but will free up labour. The purpose of life is not just to do jobs. So if you eventually get a society where you only have to work three days a week or something, that's probably OK," Gates added.

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The average store size in the U.S. is the smallest its been in at least 17 years, reflecting profound changes in the way Americans now shop.

The rise in e-commerce and a growing distaste for giant emporiums are softening demand for department stores and other big-box space. Restaurants and coffee shops, meanwhile, are gobbling up small storefronts as Americans spend more time dining out, ordering at drive-throughs or using food-delivery apps.

The end result: Retailers signed leases averaging 3,200 square feet during the first three quarters of 2023, the smallest size since data firm CoStar Group began tracking this metric in 2006.

A shopping center today looks very different than it did 10 years ago," said Brandon Svec, CoStars national director of U.S. retail analytics. The focus is much more on experience, much more on food and beverage."

Food and beverage companies signed nearly one-fifth of all retail leases this year, according to CoStar, with most targeting spaces 5,000-square-feet or smaller.

Despite these changes in retails landscape, overall demand for store space is robust. Nationwide, the rate of available retail space was 4.8% in the third quarter, the lowest level in the 18 years the data has been tracked by real-estate-services firm CBRE.

Rather than filling sprawling department stores with an array of merchandise, many retailers have started using data from online orders, social-media and foot-traffic analytics to customize smaller inventories to the local population. They have also bolstered store infrastructure to make it easier for customers to pick up and return items bought online.

This allows them to keep fewer items in stores and shrink their footprints to fit into the open-air shopping centers where customers are increasingly shopping.

The old days of stack em high and watch em fly are gone," said retail analyst Dana Telsey, who founded and runs Telsey Advisory Group.

Some global fashion retailers like Zara and H&M are going in the opposite direction. They are growing their store footprints, especially in London and other overseas markets. Luxury retailers in the U.S. are also signing leases for bigger space, offering more food and drink, and venturing beyond their traditional high-street addresses into new markets.

But many other companies that previously wouldnt have compromised on square footage are now happy to squeeze into smaller spaces, said Jeff Edison, chief executive of Phillips Edison, a real-state investment trust in the grocery-anchored shopping-center sector. Retailers are trying to get closer to customers who are moving to the suburbs, working from home a few days a week and want the convenience of drive-through and curbside pickup.

Location is a higher priority than the perfect size," he said. Thats a fairly significant change over the last 10 years."

Phillips Edison is 98% occupied, the highest level in the companys three-decade history, Edison said. The company also reports record-high retention rates as retailers are reluctant to let go of their leases.

As online shopping has grown, less store space is being used to sell basic retail commodities like socks and toothpaste. E-commerce now accounts for about 15% of all retail sales, up from just over 6% in 2014, according to the Commerce Department.

But companies selling in-person services and experiences such as nail salons, coffee shops and yoga studios continue to sign retail leases.

The cookie company Crumbl, which sells a rotating menu of six gourmet cookies for takeout, delivery and catering, has opened more than 900 stores across the U.S. since 2017, most smaller than 2,000 square feet. Inside are open-concept kitchens with up to six refrigerators, ovens, mixers and storage for ingredients, said Nathan Christensen, who works for the corporate offices area development team to locate future bakery sites.

You can see our employees cracking those eggs and mixing in the sugar and the butter and the flour," he said.

Traditional apparel and big-box retailers are also thinking small. Nordstrom and Target are among the chain stores leaning into smaller spaces as shoppers spend less time in enclosed malls.

Macys has also embraced the trend. It has opened a dozen small-format stores since 2020 and plans to add an additional 30 locations by the end of 2025, the company said. At 30,000 to 50,000 square feet, the stores are about one-fifth the size of Macys mall locations. Bloomingdales, a unit of Macys, has opened three small-format locations and plans to expand.

At the same time, Macys has closed 80 department stores since February 2020.

Other big-box retailers, such as Sears and Bon-Ton, have gone out of business in recent years, further depressing demand for large spaces, Svec said. Overall, more than 1,000 department stores closed across the U.S. between 2016 and 2020, according to real-estate research firm Green Street.

Landlords are subdividing or redeveloping this unused big-box space, and construction of new retail has been minimal over the last decade.

This check on supply has helped push retail vacancy to record-low levels, while rent continues to climb.

The rising cost of rent is a major reason some retailers are opting for smaller spaces. Crumbls locations dont have seating, which allows them to open in shopping centers smaller storefronts and tempt passing customers sweet tooths. But most important is the cost savings.

If we can get those rents down as low as possible by making our footprint smaller, its more profitable for our franchise partners," Christensen said.

Write to Kate King at kate.king@wsj.com
A day after an unexpected selection of the chief minister in Madhya Pradesh, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is reportedly preparing for another surprise, this time from Rajasthan. The saffron party will announce the next chief minister of Rajasthan on Tuesday. The CM designate will be announced after the legislature party meeting scheduled to take place at 4 pm.

Rajasthan CM Live Updates The saffron party's selection of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh chief ministers was in stark contrast to the experts' expectations. The same is likely to happen in Rajasthan as well, hinted BJP MP Kirodi Lal Meena on Tuesday.

The party's meeting will be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with senior leaders Vinod Tawde and Saroj Pande, appointed as party observers.

Ahead of the meeting, the registration of all newly elected MLAs of the BJP started at 1.30 pm, BJP state general secretary and MLA Bhajanlal Sharma told ANI.

Rajasthan CM announcement: Leading candidates in the race

Several prominent members are emerging for the CM post, including former CM Vasundhara Raje, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Aswhini Vaishnaw.

Vasundhara Raje



One of the leading candidates in the race is former CM Vasundhara Raje Scindia. She was one of the leading forces behind the BJP's victory in Rajasthan. The 70-year-old MLA from Jhalawat has been trying hard to move as many BJP MLAs as she can in her support. However, her selection looks quite difficult given the party's mood to select a fresh face as chief minister.

Arjun Ram Meghwal

Apart from Scindia, Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is another candidate in the race. The three-time parliamentarian has also served as a bureaucrat in the past. His hometown is Bikaner and he chose politics over his Indian Administrative Service job in 2009. In that year, he won the Lok Sabha election from Bikaner.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

The Rajput face of the party in Rajasthan, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also stands a chance to be selected as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan. One of the major milestones of his political career was the time when he defeated Ahok Gehlot's son, Vaibhav Gehlot, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Jodhpur. He is known to have close ties with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Ashwini Vaishnaw

Another popular name on the list is that of Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. He is a member of the Rajya Sabha from Odisha since 2019. Currently, he is managing the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Ministry of Communications.

CP Joshi

State president CP Joshi is also a top contender for the post. However, the state chief rejected the news of being in the CM race this time.
News / National

by Staff reporter

RUSSIA's giant fertiliser manufacturing company, Uralchem Group, is in the process of shipping 23 000 tonnes of humanitarian fertiliser to Zimbabwe to complement the country's efforts to boost food and nutrition security.The consignment would provide relief to farmers at a time when the Government has liberalised fertiliser imports as local manufacturers were struggling to meet demand due to increased agricultural productivity.Russia and Zimbabwe enjoy excellent bilateral and trade relations dating back to the pre-independence era.Moscow announced the donation of fertiliser during the Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg.President Mnangagwa then acknowledged the donation during an engagement on the sidelines of the summit saying it was "a true testimony of the friendship of the Russian Federation to the people of Zimbabwe"."This further reflects your personal commitment to supporting the transformation of our country's agriculture, food security and sovereignty," said President Mnangagwa.Yesterday, Uralchem Group head of special public relations projects, Mr Emin Bayramov, said the fertiliser was now on the way to Zimbabwe having been loaded in ports Riga, Latvia, and Ghent, Belgium.He said the fertiliser donation is part of the company's commitment to addressing global hunger through a partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)."Uralchem Group announces that a humanitarian shipment of over 23 000 tonnes of fertiliser for Zimbabwe has been fully loaded onto a vessel in the ports of Riga, Latvia, and Ghent, Belgium, and has started its journey to the port of Beira in Mozambique," said Mr Bayramov in a statement."From there the fertilisers will be transported to Zimbabwe by land. The shipment, comprising bulk loads of potash and NPKS fertiliser, is again facilitated by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), which has chartered a vessel to transport the consignment as part of UNCTAD-led efforts."He said Uralchem Group will cover the expenses on the shipment processes. Mr Bayramov said the country will be the fourth to receive fertiliser donation consignment in Africa."The delivery for Zimbabwe is the group's fourth donation in a series of humanitarian shipments of its fertiliser to Africa. To date, Uralchem Group has dispatched over 100 000 tonnes of fertilisers to the world's second most populous continent free of charge."Over 77 000 tonnes from this amount were shipped from ports and warehouses in the European Union in cooperation with WFP  to Malawi, Kenya and now to Zimbabwe," said Mr Bayramov.He said Uralchem Group is committed to donating approximately 300 000 tonnes of mineral fertilisers to developing nations to alleviate the unprecedented global food crisis and prevent crop losses in countries that face the risk of famine.Mr Bayramov said the initiative also supports the UN Sustainable Development Goal Number 2 of ending hunger, achieving food security and improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture. Uralchem JSC chief executive officer, Mr Dmitry Konyaev, said fertiliser is critical in ensuring global food security and his company is determined to see that farmers realise improved agricultural output through its use."Fertilisers are an integral part of the global food security system, which relies on the stability of food production. As one of the key suppliers of mineral fertilisers to international markets including Africa, and a company with a proud mission to create a world without hunger, we see our exceptional role in doing whatever we can to ensure food security in those parts of the world where people may face food shortages," said Mr Konyaev."We shall be looking forward to seeing Zimbabwean farmers getting our fertilisers, using it properly and eventually reaping a fruitful harvest."
In a cooling market for share buybacks, $10 billion commitments from both carmaker General Motors and aerospace-and-defense giant RTX stand out for their irreversibility as well as their headline value. The companies had better be right that they wont need the cash.

RTX and GM have both entered into blockbuster accelerated share repurchase agreements with banks in recent weeksan aggressive form of buyback that requires sending all the money out of the door at once. Thanks to these transactions, ASRs are on track for their second-best quarter since the start of the pandemic, according to data provider VerityData. Health-insurance provider Cigna is also planning an ASR next quarter as part of a $10 billion buyback program following the collapse of its anticipated tie-up with Humana, it said Sunday.

Buybacks make sense if companies have accumulated more cash than they pay out in regular dividends or can profitably invest, and if their shares are undervalued. While politicians worry about the tradeoff with investments, the valuation condition is the problem for shareholders. Big companies are typically more focused on return of capital than return on capital, says Ali Ragih, a senior analyst at Verity. They cut buybacks after the pandemic stock-market crash of 2020, for example, only to ramp them up as shares got more expensive.

That said, the latest ASRs look to be exceptions. Both RTX and GM shares were close to multiyear lows when the companies launched their programs in late October and late November, respectively, following runs of bad news.

GMs stock was trading at four times earnings, hit by a protracted strike and delays in its electric-vehicle and driverless-taxi programs. RTX, the company created from the 2020 merger of Raytheon and United Technologies, had been blown off course by a recall of Pratt & Whitney engines. Its market value declined by roughly $36 billion between disclosing the problem in July and its ASR announcement. By comparison, the company estimated the hit to its profit at $3.5 billion.

The bigger questions for GM and RTX might be around their financial resilience, particularly given the front-loaded ASR structure.

Companies more typically commit to buying back shares on the open market over an extended period, which gives them maneuverability if conditions change. ASRs instead involve contracts with investment banks, which typically undertake to sell the company a large chunk of stock upfront at a set price and then more shares later over the course of as long as a year.

The approach lends itself to news splashes and strong share-price reactions, as investors can be sure a meaningful number of shares will be immediately retired. GMs stock rose 10% on the day of its announcement, while RTXs was up 7%. The downside is that RTX and GM cant backtrack if conditions change and they end up needing cash.

GM should be fine as long as the economy doesnt tank. Its balance sheet is strong: Stripping out the $10 billion ASR, it would still have had $2.6 billion of net cash on its balance sheet at the end of the third quarter. But cash disappears quickly when carmakers run into problems, and GM will have less room to accelerate its technology bets if they show more promise next year than they have in 2023.

While defense contractors are less sensitive than automakers to macroeconomic conditions, RTX has more financial risk than GM, having funded its ASR by borrowing. Moodys and S&P both cut their debt-ratings outlooks for RTX to negative from stable following the buyback announcement.

A more technical question with ASRs is whether companies get the best value for buybacks by giving a bigger role to Wall Street. After the initial tranche of buybacks, the complex transactions are structured such that banks have incentives to maximize their own return rather than to buy as many shares as possible, says Michael Seigne, a U.K.-based buyback consultant to boards and companies. This effect might counteract the benefit of what looks like good market timing at GM and RTX.

While flexibility is usually an advantage of buybacks compared with dividends, it is the very inflexibility of ASRs that made them appeal to GM and RTX. If 2024 throws up nasty surprises, their executives will have nobody to blame but themselves.

Write to Stephen Wilmot at stephen.wilmot@wsj.com
Dixon Technologies (India) Ltd has big plans. Over the next six years, the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) company intends to achieve cumulative revenue of Rs48,000 crore from the governments IT hardware production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.

In this backdrop, Dixons latest announcement should help. The companys wholly owned subsidiary Padget Electronics Pvt. Ltd has been awarded a manufacturing contract by Lenovo for products such as laptops and notebooks under the PLI 2.0 scheme.

Dixons addition of Lenovo as a key anchor customer for manufacturing IT hardware products, along with its existing relationship with Acer, helps it now target nearly 25% of the Indian IT hardware market," Kotak Institutional Equities said in a report dated 12 December.

Revenue from Dixons mobile and EMS division, which includes its IT hardware business, grew by 59% year-on-year to Rs4,614 crore in H1FY24. Its contribution to the overall revenue pie increased sharply to 56% in H1 from 43% a year earlier.

In the September quarter (Q2FY24) earnings call, the management said it expects the mobile and EMS business to grow to 60-70% in FY25, outpacing peers.

Dixon is expected to benefit from the PLI scheme across five segmentsmobile phones, lighting, telecom and networking products, inverter controller boards for air conditioners, and IT hardware. Of these, Dixon is looking to invest Rs250 crore under PLI 2.0 for IT hardware.

But analysts have raised concerns on potential dilution in margin because of the rising share of the mobile and EMS division. That is because margins in the mobile and IT hardware businesses are lower compared to that in segments such as home appliances, lighting products, and consumer electronics.

Perhaps this could explain why Dixons shares closed flat on Tuesday, after surging 6% intraday to a 52-week high of Rs6,765 apiece.

Although margins in the mobile and EMS segment are low, increasing its business share in the overall pie will boost volumes, explained Akshay Mokashe, an analyst at Axis Securities. The rising share is also expected to enhance the companys operational efficiency.

As such, Dixons shares have risen 63% so far in 2023, suggesting investors are largely capturing a good part of the brighter picture. The stock trades at 64 times estimated earnings for FY25, which looks pricey.

Moving forward, investors should keep an eye on clientele addition and volume ramp up in the mobile and EMS segment, said Mokashe.
Extending their bullish streak into the second consecutive trading session, Dixon Technologies (India) shares witnessed a 6.1% surge, reaching a new all-time high of 6,765 apiece during Tuesday's intraday trade.

This surge followed the company's announcement on Monday that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Padget Electronics Private Limited, secured a manufacturing contract from Lenovo for IT hardware products, i.e., laptops and notebooks, under the Production Linked Incentive 2.0 Scheme (PLI"). The finalisation of this agreement is expected through the signing of a definitive agreement, according to the company's exchange filing.

Also Read: Sterling and Wilson share price hits 5% upper circuit on QIP launch

On November 30, Padget Electronics commenced smartphone production for Xiaomi at its newly inaugurated manufacturing facility in the Noida district of Uttar Pradesh. The plant has an annual capacity of 25 million units.

Dixon Technologies is a leading manufacturer of products for key consumer durable brands in India. It also provides solutions in reverse logistics.

The company's shares, which saw a decline of almost 29% in CY22, have shown a remarkable rebound in the current year. They have rallied 68% in CY23 so far, spiking from 3,927 to 6,605 apiece, and are up by 159% from their one-year low of 2,553.

Out of the past seven months, the stock closed five positively, with the most notable monthly performance in May, registering a remarkable gain of 33%.

Also Read: Navigating risks and opportunities in mid and small-cap stocks: Expert insights

According to analysts, the company will benefit in the long run from scaling up its existing verticals, new customer additions, and expansion into other verticals such as refrigerators, LED monitors, AC components, and other hardware products.

The Indian electronics and consumer durable industry, valued at around 4,00,000 crore, presents significant growth prospects. Dixon, a key player in the electronic outsourcing business, benefits from its leadership position, according to brokerage firm Sharekhan.

Also Read: REC, PFC, Rail Vikas Nigam among 14 PSU stocks that rallied between 100% and 250% in CY23

Expanded capacity in consumer electronics and home appliances, coupled with a PLI scheme license for mobile phones, is likely to drive revenue growth momentum. In contrast, the margin may expand due to economies of scale and automation in the lighting business, the brokerage added.

For the September quarter, the company's consolidated net profit surged by 48% year-on-year to 113 crore, while consolidated revenues for Q2FY24 increased by 27.82% to 4,943 crore compared to 3,867 crore in Q2FY23.

The operating profit also showed significant growth, reaching 199 crore, a 37.24% YoY increase, while the operating profit margin remained unchanged at 4%, both on a YoY and QoQ basis.

At 10:15 AM, the stock was trading with a gain of 3.63% at 6,605 apiece.

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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Infosys share price declined 0.85 per cent to close at 1,476 on Tuesday, December 12, a day after the company announced the resignation of Nilanjan Roy as the Chief Financial Officer of the company.

Subsequently, Infosys announced the appointment of Jayesh Sanghrajka as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Infosys share price opened at 1,475 against the previous close of 1,488.60 and fell 1.4 per cent to the intraday low of 1467.50.

"The board of directors took note of the resignation of Nilanjan Roy as Chief Financial Officer and key managerial personnel of the company with effect from March 31, 2024. Based on the recommendation of the nomination and remuneration committee and audit committee considered and approved the appointment of Jayesh Sanghrajka as Chief Financial Officer and key managerial personnel of the company effective April 1, 2024," the company said in its BSE filing on December 11.

I am delighted to announce that Jayesh will take over as Chief Financial Officer. As Deputy CFO, he has been leading multiple portfolios in the finance function for several years now and his depth of experience and knowledge will serve us well to take the function to greater heights. I would also like to express my deep appreciation for Nilanjan for ably leading the function over the last five years and wish him the very best for his future endeavours." said Salil Parekh, CEO & MD, Infosys.

Also Read: Infosys' ADRs fall over 3% as CFO Nilanjan Roy quits

Infosys share price has fallen nearly 5 per cent in the last one year, significantly underperforming the benchmark Sensex which has gained about 12 per cent and the BSE IT index which has jumped 17 per cent in the same period.

For Q2FY24, Infosys reported a 3.2 per cent year-on-year rise in its consolidated net profit (attributable to owners of the company) at 6,212 crore.

Infosys trimmed its revenue growth guidance to 1-2.5 per cent from 1-3.5 per cent, as per the company's filing.

Also Read: Stocks to Watch: Infosys, Sun Pharma, DLF, Dixon Tech, RVNL

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After an over 23 percent rise in the stock in 2023 YTD, domestic brokerage house Centrum Broking expects another over 46 percent increase in auto major Maruti Suzuki in the next 12 months.

The brokerage expects Maruti Suzukis outperformance to be driven by, (1) reshaping of a portfolio driven by SUVs, (2) visibility on EV entry in FY25, and (3) consolidation of SMG.

It has initiated coverage on the stock with a buy call and a target price of 15,082, implying a potential upside of as much as 45.8 percent from its current market price of 10,337.55.

Stock price trend

The stock has gained over 22 percent in the last 1 year and over 23 percent in 2023 YTD, giving positive returns in 8 of the 12 months so far. It rose the most in September, up 6 percent and shed the most in March, down 3.85 percent.

Meanwhile, the stock has lost around 2.5 percent in December so far after a 2 percent gain in November.

The stock hit its record high of 10,930 last week on December 7, 2023. It has now advanced over 28 percent from its 52-week low of 8,076.65, hit on December 26, 2022.

In the last 3 years, it has advanced 34 percent.

Auto sales

The largest passenger car manufacturer in India sold a total of 164,439 vehicles in November 2023, recording a growth of 3.4 percent from 159,044 units sold in November last year. Its total sales in the month include domestic sales of 136,667 units, sales to other OEMs of 4,822 units and exports of 22,950 units.

Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki reported total passenger vehicle (PV) sales of 134,158 units as compared to 132,395 units last year, a rise of 1.33 percent.

Investment rationale

Industry tailwinds: The 3rd largest automobile market, India, is on the cusp of unprecedented changes with multiple factors reshaping the industry landscape. More importantly, the share of the automobile industry to GDP has moved up from 2.8 percent in FY93 to 7 percent in FY23, led by solid recovery, informed the brokerage. It noted that banking on these changes and rising demand for EVs, the key players have committed new capex. However, the price gap between an electric and a conventional vehicle is still considerable which may act as a deterrent to first-time buyers.

Given the growing HNI population and demand skewed towards large-size vehicles (SUVs with added safety features), Centrum expects the PV segment to benefit. After the COVID-led demand disruption and shortage of semiconductors, the improved supplies and stability in regulatory norms are fueling growth for the PV segment. It expects Indias PV segment to clock a volume CAGR of 6 percent over FY24-26E.

New UVs' line-up, normalised supply chain to fuel growth: Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) successfully navigated a challenging three-year period marked by a weakened competitive position, loss of SUV market share, concerns about lagging in the electric vehicle (EV) segment, and margin pressures, said the brokerage. Through a customer-centric approach focusing on safety, comfort, and aesthetics, MSIL has experienced a positive turnaround. The brokerage attributed the company's recovery to factors such as aggressive SUV launches, growth in hybrid/CNG vehicles, resolution of supply chain issues, moderation in commodity prices, consolidation of Suzuki Motor Gujarat (SMG) with in-house manufacturing, and an upcoming hybrid EV launch in FY25.

With a premiumisation strategy and strong coordination with Toyota, MSIL is expected to regain lost market share in the coming years. Key demand drivers include the rising income of the middle class, consumer preference for affordable SUVs (e.g., Brezza, Grand Vitara, Jimny, Fronx, Invicto), a growing High Net Worth Individual (HNI) population estimated at 1.65 million by FY27, and an accelerated adoption of EVs. The company's focus on exports is also anticipated to contribute to sales growth. Overall, these positive trends, along with manufacturing strategy retooling, suggest that MSIL is poised to re-enter its golden era observed during FY13-18, explained the brokerage.

Multiple tailwinds for driving profitability: The brokerage also noted that recent trends indicate that MSIL may benefit from structural margin tailwinds led by, (1) a decline in precious metal/steel prices, (2) strong operating leverage led by fixed cost absorption, (3) richer product mix, (4) favorable FX, and (5) consolidation of SMG. Though these factors played well in MSILs 1HFY24 performance, with further price increase in Jan24 (3-4 percent), Centrum believes margin tailwinds may continue or even improve, driven by strong festive demand and rising ASP. It estimates FY23-26E revenue/EBITDA/PAT CAGR of 16 percent/25 percent/27 percent.

Valuation

With a renewed focus on fuel-efficient models such as CNG/hybrid and a strong line-up for SUVs despite short-term weakness in the hatchback segment, the brokerage expects MSIL is all set to recapture its lost market share. In the last two years, strategic actions taken by MSIL indicate that it has regained substantial market share in UV and such a trend would continue, it added. It also highlighted that MSIL is trading at a 23 percent discount to its 10-year average PE now.

Risks: Rising commodity prices and renewed competition in SUVs.

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decision.

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YES Bank share price jumped 5.08 per cent to close at 21.29 on BSE on Tuesday, December 12, amid reports that the lender has invited expressions of interest for the sale of NPAs worth 4,234 crore.

"YES Bank has invited expressions of interest (EoI) for the proposed sale of NPAs worth 4,234 crore," according to a report by The Hindu Businessline.

"The private sector lender has put on the block corporate NPAs worth 3,092 crore which includes fund-based outstanding of 3,073.66 crore and non-fund-based outstanding of 17.83 crore as of October 31, 2023," the report further added.

YES Bank share price opened at 20.46 against the previous close of 20.26 and jumped 7.7 per cent to touch its intraday high of 21.82.

YES Bank share price hit its 52-week high of 24.75 on December 14, 2022, and its 52-week low of 14.10 on October 23, 2023.

In about one and a half months, the stock has jumped 51 per cent. However, it is still 16 per cent below its 52-week high level.

Technical indicators are flashing positive signals for the stock and experts are of the view that the stock is buy-worthy at this juncture.

According to Shiju Koothupalakkal, Technical Research Analyst at Prabhudas Lilladher, YES Bank stock has recently indicated a higher bottom formation pattern on the daily chart taking support near 19, giving a breakout above 21.20 with decent volume participation to improve the bias.

"The next target would be near 24.50 of the previous peak level and with major support maintained near 19, one can carry on with the long position," said Koothupalakkal.

Also Read: IREDA share price hits all-time high, up 218% from its issue price

According to Jigar S. Patel, Senior Manager of Equity Research at Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers, recently, YES Bank share price took out its previous swing with huge volume and successfully sustained above it.

Patel observed that on the indicator front, daily DMI and RSI (relative strength index) hint at a bullish bias in the counter.

"One can buy the stock in the range of 2122 for a target of 26 and a stop loss of 19 on a daily close basis," said Patel.

View Full Image Yes Bank technical chart (Jigar Patel)

Also Read: Sterling and Wilson share price hits 5% upper circuit on QIP launch

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Bandhan Mutual Fund (formerly IDFC Mutual Fund) announced the launch of the Bandhan Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund. The scheme opened for public subscription on December 12, 2023, and will close on December 19, 2023. The scheme re-opens for ongoing subscription and redemption within five business days from the date of allotment of units.

What kind of mutual fund scheme is this?

This is an open-ended fund that tracks the Nifty Smallcap 250 Index comprised of stocks ranked 251-500 by market capitalization. The fund presents an opportunity to tap into potential multi-baggers and emerging businesses via passive investing.

Emphasizing why investors should consider investing in the Bandhan Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund, Vishal Kapoor, CEO, Bandhan AMC said, Poised to benefit from emerging themes across various sectors, small caps are well positioned to deliver outsized gains during bull markets. To benefit from this opportunity, smart investors could choose an index fund that tracks the small-cap universe, instead of chasing the best performing actively-managed small-cap funds. The one-year annualized returns of the index stood at 32.8% as of November 30, 2023, indicating strong performance, albeit higher volatility. Investors seeking to uncomplicate investing in the small-cap segment, while keeping the cost low, could consider investing in Bandhan Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund."

What is the main objective of investing in this fund?

The scheme aims to mirror the Nifty Smallcap 250 index by investing in securities of the Nifty Smallcap 250 Index with proportional weightage. It seeks to deliver returns before expenses that closely align with the total return of the Nifty Smallcap 250 Index while acknowledging the possibility of tracking errors. It's important to note that there is no guarantee or assurance that the scheme will achieve its objectives, and it does not promise any specific returns.

How may one invest in this scheme?

Investors can invest under the scheme with a minimum investment of 1000 per plan/option and in multiples of Re 1. There is no upper limit for investment.

Under normal circumstances, the asset allocation of the scheme will be as follows:

Instruments Indicative allocations (% of total assets) Risk Profile Minimum Maximum Securities belonging to the Nifty Smallcap 250 Index (including stock & index derivatives) 95% 100% Very High Debt & Money Market instruments 0% 5% Low to Moderate

Are there similar mutual funds in the market?

To date, other asset management companies (AMCs) have also launched similar funds in India. The following table illustrates the fund names along with their past three-year returns, thus, highlighting their efficacy in ones investment portfolio.

Name of the fund house Name of the fund Three-year returns (in %) Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund Motilal Oswal Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund 32.20 HDFC Mutual Fund HDFC Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund - Nippon India Mutual Fund Nippon India Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund 32.09 Edelweiss Mutual Fund Edelweiss Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund - ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund ICICI Prudential Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund - SBI Mutual Fund SBI Nifty Smallcap 250 Index Fund - Source: AMFI (As of December 12, 2023)

How will the scheme benchmark its performance?

The scheme shall be benchmarked to the Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI. Since the scheme is an index fund, the compositions of the benchmark are such that it is most suited for comparing the performance of the scheme.

Are there any entry or exit loads to this scheme?

This scheme involves no Entry Load", which means that investors do not have to pay anything to park their earnings in this scheme. The Exit Load" would also be Nil".

Who will manage this scheme?

Nemish Sheth has been chosen as the dedicated fund manager of the scheme.

Does the fund contain any inherent risk?

The scheme involves Very High Risk" as per the details mentioned in the Scheme Information Document and is best suited to investors willing to understand that their principal will be subject to very high risk only. However, investors should consult their financial advisors if they doubt whether the product is suitable for them.

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British oil giant BP asked U.S. energy regulators to intervene in an escalating dispute with a startup U.S. natural-gas exporter whose feud with customers has become one of the industrys nastiest battles in years.

BP in a Monday filing with the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission accused Venture Global LNG of skirting FERC disclosure rules while maintaining a veil of secrecy around its operations" to the detriment of long-term customers.

The administrative filing asked the regulator to force Venture Global to disclose documents related to its delay in delivering cargoes of liquefied natural gas to BP and other long-term buyers. Amid that delay, Venture Global has profited handsomely from shipping a steady stream of LNG cargoes to other buyers at higher prices, surpassing $14 billion in sales, during a longer-than-normal ramp-up for an LNG plant.

BP said in the filing that the reasons Venture Global has given for postponing selling cargoes to long-term customers are disingenuous and are not credible." The company wants FERC to force the release of documents about Venture Globals plant on Louisianas Gulf Coast that the company has asked to keep confidential.

BP already has a private arbitration claim against Venture Global, which it filed in December 2022, a spokesman previously told The Wall Street Journal.

Venture Globals conduct has shaken confidence in the trustworthiness of LNG suppliers at a critical time, and is harming the stability and growth of the LNG industry," BP said Monday.

In response, Venture Global spokeswoman Shaylyn Hynes said in a statement that the complaint had no merit and described it as an attempt to use a federal energy regulator to advance BPs own interests in a commercial dispute.

BPs repeated efforts to publicize that dispute show the weakness of its contractual position," she said, adding that Venture Global would be submitting a formal response to the complaint to FERC in due course.

Arlington, Va.-based Venture Global surprised many industry insiders by building one of the worlds largest gas exporters within a decade. It pulled that off, in part, thanks to early long-term supply contracts signed with BP, Shell and other big buyers.

The contracts helped Venture Global obtain financing for the construction of its first LNG terminal, known as Calcasieu Pass.

BP, Shell and others argue that Venture Global is reneging on these contracts while taking advantage of rallying natural-gas prices since Russias February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Venture Global has shipped more than 200 LNG cargoes since the start of March 2022 but has yet to start delivering chilled gas to BP and others under those early agreements.

Venture Globals chief executive officer, Michael Sabel, told the Journal last month that industry incumbents are bullying the company as it is shaking up the way business is done. We are so busy executing, and winning, and being successful," Sabel said in a late-November interview at Venture Globals second LNG plant near New Orleans.

JPMorgan Chase credit analysts in July estimated Venture Global was valued at around $90 billion at the time. Sabel and his partner are majority owners of the privately held company.

Venture Global has marketed itself as a faster, cheaper LNG supplier compared with rivals. Sabel said the company has been transparent with customers, and is working out technical issues at Calcasieu Pass. Until those are fixed, he said, the plant can continue to produce LNG but cannot reliably start fulfilling long-term contracts.

But the complaining customers say Venture Globals production volumes show the plant can, in fact, reliably operate. BP has called the companys actions a willful breach of our contract." A Shell spokesman said Venture Global is clearly capable of fulfilling its contractual commitments; they simply choose not to."

Spains Repsol, one of Venture Globals long-term customers, earlier this year asked U.S. Energy Department officials to reconsider FERCs approval of Calcasieu Pass. The DOE rejected the requests, saying in part it didnt have a basis to question FERCs decision-making.

Venture Global has said in recent months it might not be able to start delivering gas to long-term customers, including BP and Shell, until late 2024.

Write to Jenny Strasburg at jenny.strasburg@wsj.com and Benoit Morenne at benoit.morenne@wsj.com
The suspense over who will be the new chief minister of Rajasthan is likely to end Tuesday evening as the recently elected BJP MLAs are scheduled to meet today. This marks the conclusion of a period of uncertainty following the party's victory in the assembly elections.

Rajasthan CM announcement LIVE Updates

Rajasthan CM announcement: What we know so far

1) BJP state general secretary and MLA Bhajanlal Sharma on Monday said the meeting of the BJP Legislature Party has been called at 4 pm on Tuesday at the BJP state office and registration of all newly elected MLAs of the BJP will start at 1.30 pm.

2) The party has designated Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as an observer, and he will be joined by the two co-observers, National Vice President Saroj Pandey and National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, during the meeting.

3) Ex-chief minister Vasundhara Raje and Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Ashwini Vaishnaw are reportedly contenders for the Chief Minister's position in Rajasthan, one of the three states clinched by the BJP in the recent elections.

4) On Monday, MLAs were briefed about the upcoming legislature party meeting, during which the central leadership of the BJP will disclose its selection for the post, nine days after the announcement of results from the November 25 elections.

5) Several MLAs have called on former Raje in recent days in what was seen as a show of support, amid speculation over what the party will decide. She also met party leaders in Delhi.

6) However, the party leaders including Rajendra Rathore, who lost the elections, said there is no tradition of a show of strength in the BJP.

7) He said on Monday that MLAs go to meet senior leaders to exchange wishes and it should not be seen in that sense only and asserted that all BJP leaders in the state are united.

8) The BJP secured victory in 115 out of the 199 contested seats, with polling delayed in one constituency due to the demise of a candidate.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Should airplane mechanics be responsible for checking their own work?

The question is the subject of a long-simmering feud between workers and executives at major aircraft manufacturers. The debate has intensified as the aerospace industry deals with a series of costly manufacturing defects.

Workers say having a separate inspector sign off is critical for quality control in an industry with no margin for error. Union leaders at Spirit AeroSystems, a problem-plagued supplier to Boeing, say the company has put itself at greater risk of making mistakes by calling for self-inspections on certain tasks.

We have inspectors for a reason," said Cornell Beard, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers chapter representing workers at Spirits Wichita, Kan., factory. These are airplanes; if theres a problem, we dont get to pull over on a cloud and kick the tires."

Executives at aircraft makers and suppliers say self-inspections are used on a small percentage of tasks and that technological advances have reduced the need for separate inspectors.

Manufacturing snafus this year at Spirit stymied production of Boeings bestselling 737 MAX jet, delaying the companys turnaround. A Spirit spokesman said the latest problem of misdrilled holes on 737 fuselages didnt involve tasks in which mechanics checked their own work. The company says that self-inspections as a percentage of overall factory work are in the low single digits.

Our quality-management system adheres to an industrywide, international standard with many checks and inspections as part of a multilayered approach," the Spirit spokesman said in a statement.

Boeing has largely done away with self-inspections following years of opposition from its largest union. The airplane maker had expanded self-checks as part of an effort to streamline production. The IAM appealed to federal safety regulators, and last year the Federal Aviation Administration sided with the unions view that separate inspections were needed for many of the tasks for which Boeing had removed them.

You have to have a redundant system," said Jon Holden, president of an IAM chapter representing 33,000 Boeing workers in Washington state. Its important to have an experienced inspector, someone who can be a second set of eyes and make sure the work is done appropriately."

An FAA spokesman declined to comment on the situation.

A Boeing spokeswoman said self-inspections account for a small percentage of inspection methods and are conducted under appropriate oversight and controls and communicated to the FAA." She declined to discuss the companys reasoning for returning to a system of separate inspections.

Boeing a year ago also did away with self-inspections at its nonunion plant in North Charleston, S.C.

The company uses a range of techniques and tools to ensure work is free of defects, from X-ray and ultrasonic testing to laser scanning that ensures precise measurements, Boeings spokeswoman said.

Air travel for Americans has never been safer. U.S. airlines have carried about 10 million passengers over the past 14 years without a fatal crash. Strides in technology, along with stepped-up use and analysis of flight data and reports filed by pilots, mechanics and air-traffic controllers, have dramatically reduced accidents.

But the industry continues to grapple with costly and time-consuming quality issues hitting plane makers and airlines as they work to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

In addition to the fuselage issue, Boeing in April paused deliveries of some 737 jets because of incorrectly installed parts, for which Spirit was also the supplier.

A manufacturing flaw in engines made by Pratt & Whitney parent RTX is requiring airlines to ground more than 600 Airbus jets in 2024.

Manufacturers say self-inspections pose no quality risk given the multitude of layers, safety checks and oversight involved in building an airplane. Holden, the IAM president, said mistakes potentially missed because there is no separate inspection would eventually be detected before the plane is in flight. But dealing with a defect late in the manufacturing process causes costly delays, he said.

Union leaders say companies have pushed self-inspections as a shortsighted way to cut costs; some executives privately argue that the unions interest in having designated inspectors is in the additional jobs the practice creates, since the inspector positions are union jobs in represented plants.

Exacerbating the issue is a shortage of workers to build planes in an industry that lost legions of its most qualified mechanics amid the pandemic shutdown and the grounding of 737 MAX jets after a pair of fatal crashes.

Both sides of the self-inspection debate cite a high-tech wrench to make their point.

Bill Osborne, a former Boeing manufacturing executive, said modern tools have rendered many inspection jobs obsolete.

A common inspection practice, he said, involves an inspector using a manual wrench to ensure proper torque on a fixture.

The wrench would make a small noise when they reach the proper torque; then there is this guy who would listen for the click," said Osborne, who held executive posts in Boeings commercial unit before taking over as quality chief of the companys defense business. Thats kind of outdated now, when we have a digital wrench that can record the torque automatically and then over Wi-Fi send that data to a server and create a permanent record."

Additionally, Osborne said, mechanics who check their own work are trained and certified to do so.

The IAMs Holden said he is familiar with the wrench argument, but doesnt think the tool clears the way to do away with inspections.

If its a digital tool, you have to set the parameters, you need to make sure the wrench is set correctly," he said. There needs to be an inspector there to ensure its done right; it doesnt matter if its digital."

Such debates will play out more as manufacturing becomes more high-tech and increasingly involves artificial intelligence, said Bogdan Epureanu, a University of Michigan mechanical-engineering professor specializing in aerospace and automotive structures.

It wont be about how a human will check their own work or how can a machine check the work," he said. But about how can humans and machines work together to identify issues."

Write to Sharon Terlep at sharon.terlep@wsj.com
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE recent recalls of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators and councillors is fuelling voter apathy, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn) has said.Other election observers have generally described the polls held on Saturday as a farce after approximately 20% of registered voters participated in the by-elections occasioned by self-proclaimed CCC interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu who recalled several CCC MPs, senators and councillors who had won in the country's August 23 and 24 harmonised elections.In its preliminary report on the just ended elections, Zesn said voter turnout and morale were subdued."Zesn observers reported that there were low numbers of people who turned up to exercise their constitutional right to choose a representative of their choice in the National Assembly and local authority by-elections. Furthermore, most of the voters who were turning up to vote were largely females," Zesn said.The electoral watchdog expressed concern over voter apathy, describing it as voter protest."Recalls affect democratic essence and this has been evidenced by the decreasing numbers in voter turnout in by-elections held so far since the 2023 harmonised elections."Whereas section 67 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe states that every Zimbabwean has the right to vote', there seems to be fewer uptake on exercising this constitutional right to elect leaders by eligible voters in Zimbabwe during by-elections," the organisation said.Zesn said voter apathy diluted the value of democracy."Furthermore, lack of intra-party democracy, processes and laws or rules governing the selection of leaders and candidates could also be attributed as one of the reasons which led to low turnout as it affects voters' motivation and participation in electoral processes," the report said.It implored Parliament to amend section 129(k) of the Constitution, saying recalls affect the essence of democracy."The power to recall, if any, must reside in the people and not political parties as is the trend in the majority of democracies."There is a need to register and regulate political parties to address the issue of recalls as they bring into question the significance and relevance of elections," Zesn added.
US President Joe Biden on Monday recalled his decades-long relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while suggesting that the two have had their share of disagreements over the years and at present.

The prime minister is in a tough spot," Biden alluded to the complex relationship he has with Israel's PM Netanyahu. He was speaking at a White House reception for the Jewish Hanukkah festival.

Biden noted he inscribed on an old photograph of the two men, using a nickname for the Israeli leader. I wrote on the top of it, 'Bibi I love you but I don't agree with a damn thing you had to say.'"

It's about the same today. Israel is in a tough spot". I've had my differences with some Israeli leadership," the US President said as quoted by Reuters.

However, Biden did not elaborate on what differences between the two men remained. In recent weeks, they have included issues spanning the current war against Hamas and the treatment of Palestinians.

He has weathered intense criticism for his support for Israel's response to Hamas' October 7 cross-border attack, when the militants killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostage, according to Israeli tallies. About 100 hostages have since been freed.

Israel's retaliatory assault has killed 18,205 people and wounded nearly 50,000, according to the Gaza health ministry, drawing sharp rebukes within the United States.

Speaking to Jewish people celebrating the holidays at the White House, Biden said differences with Israeli leadership aside, his "commitment" to the independent Jewish state is unshakeable", Reuters reported.

Folks were there no Israel, there wouldn't be a Jew in the world that was safe. We have to be careful. They have to be careful. The whole world's public opinion can shift overnight. We can't let that happen," he added.

He said assistance to Israel would continue until Hamas was routed out but warned that public opinion could shift in grave ways for Israel's security.

Biden further said the United States would continue to work to free hostages still held in Gaza, speed humanitarian aid to Palestinians, and emphasize to our Israeli friends we need to protect civilian life."

(With Reuters inputs)

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The White House has expressed concern over the reports that Israel used US-supplied white phosphorus in attacks on Lebanon, adding that it was seeking more details about the allegations.

Speaking to reporters, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said the US will be asking questions to get more details about it and stressed that the country provides material like white phosphorus to another military with the full expectation that it will be used for legitimate purposes, keeping up with the law of armed conflict.

He said, "We've seen the reports. Certainly concerned about that. We'll be asking questions to try to learn a little bit more. I do think it's important to remind that white phosphorus does have a legitimate military utility in terms of illumination and producing smoke to conceal movements."

And obviously, anytime that we provide items like white phosphorus to another military, it is with the full expectation that it will be used in keeping with those legitimate purposes and in keeping with the law of armed conflict. But we've seen these reports. They're fresh. Just don't have any more on it right now," he added.

Kirby made remarks in response to The Washington Post report which claimed that US-supplied white phosphorus munitions were used in an October attack in southern Lebanon. Lebanon has accused Israel of repeatedly using the incendiary weapon in October, while the Washington Post on Monday said analysis of shell fragments from one attack showed the rounds were US-made.

The report further added that said nine civilians were injured in an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon using what appeared to be US-supplied white phosphorus. A journalist working for the newspaper found remnants of three artillery rounds with serial numbers showing they were made in the United States in 1989 and 1992, it said.

On 31 October, Lebanon said that Israel's use of the weapon in "repeated" attacks -- amid tensions following the October 7 attacks on Israel by the Hamas movement in Gaza -- had burned 40,000 olive trees.

What did Israel say on The Washington Post report

The Israel Defence Forces said that it "only uses legal weaponry." It said that the shells used by the IDF do not contain white phosphorus, which are legal as per international law, The Times of Israel reported. "The main smoke shells used by the IDF do not contain white phosphorus. Similar to many Western armies, the IDF also has smoke shells that contain white phosphorus, which are legal according to international law, and the choice to use them is influenced by operational considerations and availability compared to alternatives," the IDF said.

"These shells are intended for smokescreens, and not for an attack or ignition, and they are not legally defined as incendiary weapons," it added, The Times of Israel reported.

The IDF said that under its existing procedures, white phosphorus shells are not to be utilised in urban regions, "except in certain exceptional cases." It said, "These restrictions are in line with international law, and are even stricter than [the latter]," The Times of Israel reported.

Since October 7, tension has flared along the border between Lebanon and Israel amid exchanges of gunfire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. The tensions between two sides started amid Israel's counter-offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, followed by cross-border attack by terror group Hamas.

(With inputs from ANI, AFP)

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Northern Gaza has been destroyed! Incessant bombing and airstrikes by Benjamin Netanyahu's Israel have left nothing but rubble in place of Palestinian people's homes. According to reports, about one-third of Gaza is now destroyed, or un-inhabitable. As much as 40% of the housing in Gaza has been damaged or destroyed.

Here are top 10 updates on Israel-Hamas war,

1) Hunger was worsening among Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, aid agencies said, as the United Nations General Assembly prepared to vote on Tuesday on an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the two-month-old conflict between Israel and Hamas.

2) Most of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been driven from their homes and residents say it is impossible to find refuge or food in the densely populated coastal enclave. The UN World Food Programme has said half of the population is starving.

3) Some diplomats and observers predict the vote will garner greater support than the assembly's October call for an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce", Reuters reported.

4) The vote was due a day after 12 Security Council envoys visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza, the only place where limited humanitarian aid and fuel have entered. The United States did not send a representative on the trip.

5) The United States is concerned about reports that Israel used US-supplied white phosphorus munitions in an attack carried out in southern Lebanon in October, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said on Monday (local time), as per ANI reports.

6) John Kirby that the US provides material like white phosphorus to another military with the full expectation that it will be used for legitimate purposes and in keeping with the law of armed conflict.

7) Israel said it is prepared to fight for months or longer to defeat Gaza's Hamas rulers, as its ground offense intensifies with more airstrikes and artillery fire, according to AP reports.

8) Israel faces international outrage after its military offensive killed more than 17,700 Palestinians in Gaza, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory.

9) Israel said 97 of its soldiers have died in its ground offensive after Hamas raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 240 hostages.

10) The French, German, and Italian foreign ministers are pushing for the speedy adoption of new EU sanctions against Hamas for its atrocious and indiscriminate terror attacks" against Israel on October 7.

(With inputs from agencies)

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WASHINGTON : A looming election rematch next year between US President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump would be closely fought, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found, with both candidates saddled with profound vulnerabilities that could cost them the White House.

Biden, an 81-year-old Democrat, continues to be plagued by voters' doubts about the strength of the economy, as well as concerns about the security of the US-Mexico border and worries about crime.

Also Read | US President Joe Biden unlikely to travel to India for Republic Day celebrations in January

Republican former President Trump, 77, faces his own worries, including four criminal trials on a bevy of charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his handling of classified documents. A conviction prior to the Nov. 5, 2024, election could cost him significant support, the poll found.

The poll showed Trump with a marginal 2-point lead in a head-to-head matchup, 38% to 36%, with 26% of respondents saying they weren't sure or might vote for someone else.

The poll, conducted online Dec. 5-11, surveyed 4,411 US adults nationwide and had a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of about 2 percentage points.

Also Read | Trump calls Biden the 'destroyer' of democracy despite his own efforts to overturn 2020 election

Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination by a wide margin, the poll showed.

Overall, the poll showed deep apathy among many voters at a potential Biden-Trump rematch. About six in ten respondents said they were not satisfied with America's two-party system and want a third choice.

RFK JR Factor

They may have one, in the form of anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has launched an independent bid. The poll showed that Kennedy, part of the storied political family, could draw more support from Biden than Trump.

Trump's lead widened to a 5-point advantage when respondents were given an option to vote for Kennedy.

Some 16% of respondents picked Kennedy when given the option, while Trump had 36% support, compared to 31% for Biden.

Kennedy, whose uncle John F. Kennedy served as president and whose father, Robert, was a senator and attorney general, faces a challenge to amass enough signatures to get on the ballot on all 50 states. Last week, a super PAC fundraising committee backing Kennedy's bid said it would spend up to $15 million to get Kennedy on the ballot in 10 states as a starting measure.

Third-party candidates have affected the outcome of US elections even without winning. In 1992, a strong showing by Ross Perot helped put Democrats Bill Clinton in the White House and in 2000, some Democrats blamed Ralph Nader's bid for contributing to Al Gore's loss to Republican George W Bush.

The state-by-state Electoral College system used to pick presidents, and deep-seated partisan divides, mean that voters in just a handful of states will play a decisive role in the election's outcome.

In the seven states where the election was closest in 2020 -- Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina and Michigan -- Biden had a 4-point lead among Americans who said they were sure to vote.

Other polls have shown that some voters are concerned about Biden's advanced age. He would be the oldest president ever elected to a second term.

But his candidacy likely will be buttressed by the public's continued support of abortion rights, as well as his advocacy for gun control, climate-change measures and higher taxes on the ultra-rich, the new poll showed.

The survey also highlighted the significant risks to Trump's campaign as he faces a series of criminal trials next year. Some 31% of Republican respondents said they would not vote for Trump if he was convicted of a felony crime by a jury. He has denied any criminal wrongdoing.

Some 45% of respondents said Trump was the better candidate for handling the economy, compared to 33% who picked Biden.

Biden, however, had a similar advantage on the issue of abortion, with 44% of respondents saying he was the better candidate for abortion access, compared to 29% who picked Trump.

Some of Trump's strength also appeared tied to concerns by some voters about crime and immigration. Asked which candidate was better on the issues, 42% picked Trump on crime compared to 32% who selected Biden.

Fifty-four percent of respondents agreed with a statement that "immigration is making life harder for native-born Americans," with a similar share saying Trump was the better candidate for the issue.

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The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate Middleton, dropped their family Christmas card. And, it has sparked a buzz across social media. Featuring Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, the photo set against a grey backdrop has become the talk of the town, for reasons both festive and controversial.

The eldest, George, sported a sharp Polo Ralph Lauren shirt paired with black trousers. Charlotte went for a more relaxed vibe in jeans and plimsolls. But, it's not just the fashion choices that have caught the eye of netizens.

NBCUniversal's former hotshot, Mike Sington, didn't hold back his thoughts to his 1,20,000 followers. He quipped that the photo seemed like it was snapped in a shopping mall studio. His take went viral, racking up views and likes, and stirring a debate on the aesthetics of the royal photo.

Guardian columnist Zoe Williams chimed in, suggesting the Wales family tried to emulate a 'casual California cool' vibe, a style more associated with Harry and Meghan.

William is smiling like you owe him money," she wrote. Kate looks quite showbiz and sassy, like she might have a shot at her own show, if she could just sort out a more believable ensemble. George, self-possessed, does not smile while Louis has unwilling participant at the orthodontist energy. Charlotte, however, has smile enough for the whole lot of them."

Over at The Times, Fashion Director Karen Dacre was all praises for Charlotte. Dacre hailed her as a budding style icon, noting her standout appearance in the photo. The young royal's fashion sense, she noted, could give her a run for the title of a future fashion queen.

Relatability and an unmistakable breed of modern glamour is the message William and Kate will share with the world this December as they unveiled their annual card  and a fashionable new look  last night," she wrote.

'Where's William's Leg?'

The plot thickened with eagle-eyed observers questioning the photo's authenticity. Speculation ran wild on social media, with users puzzled over Prince William's seemingly missing left leg. Was it a Photoshop fail or just a trick of the eye? The debate raged on.
Last week, Commissioner Thierry Breton announced that a historic deal had been reached between the countries of the EU to enact a new law to regulate artificial intelligence (AI). With this, Europe will become the first geographical region to enact regulation that stipulates how AI development and use should take place.

While the finer details were still emerging at the time of writing, it seems that Europe will be adopting a two-part approach to regulation: General purpose AI models will be subject to transparency requirements, while the more powerful models, such as facial recognition and social scoring technologies as well as AI applications that manipulate human behaviour to circumvent their free will," will be subject to stronger restrictions.

Commending the agreement reached, EU President Ursula von der Leyen said that it had transposed European values into a new era. Despite assurances that this legislation would be the launch-pad needed by EU startups and researchers to lead the global race for AI dominance, there was real concern that the new law would end up significantly hampering innovation. While no one is opposed, conceptually, to a risk-based approach, the fact that the AI Act attempts to apply those ideas to this technology (the foundation models themselves) and not just how it is used has raised concerns that European AI models will end up lagging others.

Of greater concern is the fact that even after the new law is enacted, it will not come into effect for another 12 to 24 months. This is an extraordinarily long period, given the rapid pace of change in the field of Generative AI. Which leads us to the question of whether this ponderous legislative approach that has come to epitomize European data governanceis the right way to go when it comes to regulating AI.

In October this year, US President Joe Biden issued an executive order that offered a different way of thinking about AI regulation. While over 100 pages long, the document was organized across eight core principles: establishing new standards for AI safety and security; protecting privacy; advancing equity and civil rights; standing up for consumers, patients and students; supporting workers; promoting innovation and competition; advancing American leadership abroad; and ensuring responsible and effective government use of AI. This is the US approach to regulating this new and utterly disruptive technologyone that is as broad as it is deep, covering a broad range of horizontal regulatory concerns, while still going deep into the nuances of specific AI use-cases in different sectors.

It is also impossible to ignore the geopolitical implications of an AI augmented world. In discussions over the past week, I heard US policymakers talk about regulation of the space in terms of having a small yard with a high fence." In other words, the US is looking to ensure that critical choke-points for foundational technologies in the AI domain remain within its yard, and it will look to build regulatory fences that are so high that strategic competitors of the US will not be able to exploit American technologies to undermine its security interests. Given that much of the development of foundational models has taken place in the US, other countries would be wise to assess how such an approach by America would affect their own national interests.

These issues were at the forefront of many discussions at the Global Technology Summit 2023 that took place in New Delhi last week. Over the course of the three-day conference, I had an opportunity to listen to and participate in a number of panel and round-table discussions in which experts from around the world discussed how existing regulatory frameworks would have to reorient themselves in the light of new technologies and geopolitical risks to address the new futures that are before us.

As I listened in on these conversations from the sidelines, I was struck by the extent to which discussions around AI regulation are currently being led by countries of the Global North. I grew increasingly concerned by the fact that, given the way in which their anxieties and fears were being translated into regulations that would eventually define the way in which the rest of the world consumes this new technology, the interests of the Global South may end up being imperfectly represented.

The Global North and Global South think very differently about AI regulation. While countries of the Global North worry about the risks of this new technology, they do so from a place of privilegesitting, as they do, at the top of the economic food chain. For countries of the Global South, however, AI represents an opportunity to leapfrog over some traditional stages of development in ways that would improve productivity in general and enhance their efforts to pull their populations out of poverty.

We can therefore expect AI regulations created by the Global North to be firmly focused on mitigating risks and minimizing harms. Regulations put in place by the Global South, on the other hand, are likely to have a significantly different emphasis in that they will look to promote the use of AI for empowerment.

However, if countries of the Global South are not given a seat at the table as the Global North initiates AI regulation, the considerations of countries like India will not be adequately represented in the global AI discourse. We need to raise our voices so that they can be heard everywhere. Before it is too late.
When the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas ended on 1 December, 1.8 million Gazans had been displaced by the warabout 80% of Gazas population. Many fled to southern Gaza after Israel issued a warning about military operations in the north. Last week, Israel began a ground offensive into southern Gaza, disturbing what safety residents of Gaza had left and compounding a dire humanitarian crisis.

Many have blamed Israel for not following international law regarding the forced displacement of civilians. However, international law is part of the problem. Existing international law is not sufficient to protect civilians in Gaza from forced displacement during war. Where international law fails, the international community has the moral imperative to step in and assist displaced Gazans.

To see how international law falls short, lets start with Israels 13 October warning to residents of northern Gaza to flee to the south on just 24 hours notice. This warning was impossible for 1.1 million people to follow and was reported in some outlets as illegal. The legal requirement is that such warnings must be effective," which means only that a population receives them. The law of war does not require these warnings to actually be followedor that civilians practically be able to follow them. In short, the law of war is not sufficient to protect people living in combat zones.

Then theres the question of safe zones. Legally, both Israel and Hamas would have to agree to the establishment of safe zones. Even if Israel could create safe zones in areas it controls, no zone would be large or safe enough for 1.8 million displaced Gazan civilianswith some Hamas fighters surely lurking among them.

Nevertheless, this week, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) published an evacuation zone map on its Arabic-language website and on social media, dividing Gaza into 623 zones and air-dropped leaflets with QR codes linking to the map, asking civilians to share their location. The IDF is monitoring the map in real time and reported that civilian protection has improved.

However, the warnings may not meet the legal requirement of effectiveness. Despite the map, no evacuation zone in Gaza is consistently safe for civilians. Even for Gazans with the requisite technical tools to access the map, telephones and internet have been down or intermittent in Gaza since the war began. Moreover, the map is reportedly unclear and difficult to follow in the changing combat environment. The IDFs announcements reportedly change with little notice and are difficult to follow.

Then consider the problem of humanitarian aid, which Gazans desperately need. Israel is obligated to allow aid that is essential for the survival of the civilian population, including food and medical supplies. International law, however, does not require Israel to provide this aid.

As the government of Gaza, Hamas has primary legal responsibility to protect its civilian population. Israel must facilitate aid if Hamas is unable to do so. However, Israel is not obligated to assist when Hamas diverts humanitarian aid for its own military use, and may legally deny or restrict aid from entering.

In a densely populated urban combat environment, international law contains insufficient provisions to protect displaced civilians. International law involving population displacement in combat assumes civilians have somewhere to go when they flee, belligerent parties that will facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and impartial parties willing to provide it without interference from belligerents.

Where law fails, morality must prevail. States must step in and fulfil their obligation to promote solutions consistent with international law. The worldwide community must pressure Israel, Hamas and Egypt to allow more aid and safe zones for civilians in Gaza. States and international organizations must offer impartial humanitarian aid. If border crossings are challenging, the states might explore providing aid by sea. Israel and Hamas should also allow the most vulnerable civilians to leave Gaza for medical care or temporary residence, and states should facilitate temporary protection for them.

After Israels campaign in southern Gaza, nearly all Gazans will have been displaced by war, with many of their former homes in ruins. As Palestinians know all too well, temporary displacement will become permanent if not addressed, and the effects of displacement compound for generations. States and international organizations must step up to prevent more casualties from this brutal warand lay the groundwork for sustainable peace.

These are the authors personal views.

bloomberg
The judgement by a Constitution bench of the Supreme Court (SC) validating the scrapping of Article 370 of the Constitution is welcome, as is the response of leaders from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) that highlights their determination to build a better future, rather than squabble over the past, even if they did not agree with the 2019 decision of Indias government to remove the Article that granted a special status to J&K. All laws made by Parliament now stand applicable to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, as to other states and Union territories (UTs). One judge of the SC bench, Justice Sanjay Kaul, also recommended the setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as wounds require healing." A former chief minister of J&K promised to set up such a body if elected to office.

The SC ruling did not give blanket approval to all steps taken by the Centre to abrogate Article 370. While upholding the end move, it struck down an interim step that used Article 367 of the Constitution, meant for interpreting constitutional provisions, to amend J&Ks Constituent Assembly" into Legislative Assembly." This, however, did not hinder the use of Article 370 by the President to scrap the same Article. A troubling aspect of how the administration fulfilled the ruling partys electoral promise to withdraw J&Ks special status was that Parliament had exercised the J&K legislatures powers while the erstwhile state was under Presidents rule. This led many to wonder if the government could accord similar treatment to other states as wellsay, by placing a state under Presidents rule and bifurcating it, with one part converted into a UT upon the state legislatures approval obtained by Parliaments exercise of its legislative functions. The SC verdict makes it clear that Parliament can indeed exercise the full range of a state assemblys legislative powers while it is under central rule, but the result would be subject to judicial review. This does two things: It removes the fear of a Parliamentary majority securing unchecked power to do what it wants to our federal polity, and also strengthens the SCs role as the arbiter of our democracy. The SC gave its approval to the reorganization of J&K into a UT with an assembly, comprising Jammu and Kashmir, and a UT without an assembly, Ladakh, to be directly administered by the Centre. Further, it sought the reconstitution of J&K as a state and early conduct of elections. In this, the judicial verdict accepts the primacy of the democratic political process. Thats welcome too.

The SC did well to give weight to the overall import of Article 370 being in the Constitutions chapter on temporary, transitional and special provisions, and also the judicially determined absence of sovereignty for J&K, in reading down the requirement of approval by J&Ks Constituent Assembly for rescinding Article 370. After that bodys dissolution, the need of its approval could logically not have formed a permanent impediment to J&Ks full integration with the Indian Union. That said, there remains a political problem there, arising from a sordid saga of stolen elections, proxy battles by Pakistan, misguided patronage by New Delhi of unrepresentative and radicalized elements claiming to champion the will of the people, and the use of security forces to extract popular acquiescence, not to mention excesses by errant members of the security forces. Only a vibrant democratic engagement of and by Kashmiris can leave this past behind.
There are lots of ways to measure Chinas rise. It is the worlds second-biggest economy, its biggest manufacturer and its biggest creditor. In 2021 it passed another milestone. That year, for the first time, Chinese scientists published more papers than their counterparts in America or the European Union (see chart 1). It is not just the quantity that is improving. The Nature Index, run by the publishers of the journal of the same name, tracks contributions to the worlds best-regarded health and natural-sciences journals. Chinese researchers rank first in the natural sciences, and second overall.

Cause for celebration, no doubt, in Beijing. In Washington, though, the news may have been less welcome. America is increasingly dismayed by Chinas riseand especially its growing scientific and technological prowess. Under Donald Trump, the previous Republican president, and Joe Biden, the current Democratic one, it has imposed tariffs, rules and subsidies designed to hobble Chinas high-tech firms while boosting its own. China has retaliated, moving against some big American tech companies. Twenty years ago, politicians endorsed globalisation and free trade. Now decoupling", national security and friend-shoring" are the hot topics.

Conscious uncoupling

Academia is not immune. New rules and chilly politics in both countries are making it harder for researchers to collaborate. In August America agreed on a temporary, six-month extension for a landmark scientific co-operation agreement signed in 1979. Several American politicians want the deal scrapped entirely, claiming in an open letter that, by collaborating with Chinese researchers, America was fuelling its own destruction."

View Full Image Graphic: The Economist

The strains can be seen in the figures. In 2020 the number of papers jointly written by American and Chinese researchers fell for the first time. It fell again the following year, the most recent for which data are available, though it is still rising for some other countries, such as Britain. The number of visas America awards to Chinese students and academics is down as well, to around a third of its peak in 2015 (see chart 2). Scientifically as well as politically, the countries are drawing apart.

The Science and Technology Agreement, as the 1979 pact is called, was the first bilateral treaty signed between America and China after they re-established diplomatic relations. Several landmark studies have come under its umbrella. A long-running project following 285,000 Chinese women, begun in 1983, helped demonstrate that folic acid could prevent spina bifida, a rare birth defect. These days folic acid is added to flour, bread, cereal and other staple foods; pregnant women are encouraged to take more. Co-operation in influenza research helps anticipate which strains of flu are likely to be dominant each year, improving vaccines.

Even superpower rivals can agree that medical research is a good thing. But Chinas advances in other areas of science, such as computing, materials science and AI, have made American policymakers uneasy. Critics argue that science in China has benefited from American academic transparency and know-howbut that China has not always returned the favour. Doubters also point to Chinas policy of civil-military fusion", in which the fruits of civilian research are scrutinised for any useful military applications.

China retorts that Americas worries about national security have led to the unfair targeting of Chinese researchers at American universities. One frequent target of complaint is the Department of Justices China Initiative", which ran between 2018 and 2022 and was designed to investigate alleged instances of Chinese technological espionage. But cases seem to have been thin on the ground. The initiative investigated at least 150 academics of Chinese origin, but managed to secure only a handful of convictions. Some were for less offences such as grant fraud.

View Full Image Graphic: The Economist

Some of the investigations have become very public fiascos, as with the case of Gang Chen, a well regarded mechanical engineer of Chinese origin who is now at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr Chen was arrested in 2021. He spent a year on academic leave before all the charges against him were dropped. Other researchers have been sacked by their universities and found themselves on no-fly lists. Academics say the initiative led to an atmosphere of suspicion and mistrust.

China, meanwhile, has national-security concerns of its own, which can likewise impede co-operation. Rules introduced in recent years all but prohibit the export of many different kinds of data. Officials have banned the collection of genomic data by non-Chinese entities, for instance. Foreign social-science researchers are rarely given access to economic and social surveys without a friend in the government. The rules are vague, leaving even researchers keen to work with colleagues overseas unsure what they are allowed to share.

A cooling of ties will make life harder for both sides. Chinese academics will find it harder to get experience in American universities, which still dominate the world rankings in almost every subject. And because China is now a scientific power in its own right, with cutting-edge researchers in several fields, American science will suffer, too.

The benefits of collaboration are significant," and benefit American institutions slightly more than Chinese ones, says Jonathan Adams, who tracks academic information at Clarivate, a data provider. A study published in 2020 by Jenny Lee and John Haupt at the University of Arizona, found that, when papers co-written with Chinese scientists were excluded, the number of American publications in science and engineering fell slightly between 2014 and 2018.

Give me your brainy masses

Americas scientific pre-eminence has been built at least partly on its ability to attract the worlds best. Before the pandemic around 16% of graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at American universities were Chinese. The grad students of today often become the professors of tomorrow. Like Dr Chen, many Chinese students choose to stay in America after completing their degrees. That is something Americas leaders should be keen to encourage.

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 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Using artificial intelligence models to create new materials is not new. Researchers typically use existing materials that are stable and substitute elements in their molecular structure to create new ones.

For instance, computational approaches led by the Materials Project and other groups have helped develop 28,000 new materials till date.

But this is an expensive and time-consuming process, and researchers may find it difficult to develop radically different structures since they mostly work with existing materials.

Recently, though, Google unit DeepMind Technologies AI tool, called Graph Networks for Materials Exploration (GNoME), helped create 2.2 million crystals, of which 380,000 are stable materials.

This is significant progress, as it could help researchers develop greener technologies such as more efficient batteries for electric cars, photovoltaics, superconductors, and more efficient computing.

GNoME is a deep-learning tool that predicts the stability of new materials, thus increasing the speed and efficiency of discovery and allowing researchers to create materials faster and at scale. Google says its new discovery is equivalent to nearly 800 years worth of knowledge".

View Full Image Image courtesy of Google

GNoMEs predictions are accessible to scientists around the world. A team of researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, in partnership with DeepMind, has published a paper revealing how AI predictions can be leveraged for autonomous material synthesis. The lab uses machine-learning and robotic arms to create new materials.

Hows all this scaling up?

Other researchers have independently created 736 of GNoMEs new materials in their labs, according to Google. The AI tool has identified 52,000 new layered compounds similar to graphene, which can be used instead of silicon to make superconductors. Previously, about 1,000 such materials had been identified.

GNoME also found 528 potential lithium-ion conductors, 25 times more than a previous effort, which could be used to improve the performance of rechargeable batteries.

Google describes GNoME as a graph neural network (GNN) model, wherein the input data takes the form of a graph. The AI model was originally trained with data on crystal structures and their stability, openly available through the Materials Project.

Google continuously assessed the performance of its model using computational techniques known as Density Functional Theory (DFT)used in physics, chemistry and materials science to understand the structures of atomsto assess the stability of crystals. It also used a training process called active learning that boosted GNoMEs performance.

GNoME would generate predictions for the structures of novel, stable crystals, which were then tested using DFT. The resulting training data was then fed back into the training model.

Our research boosted the discovery rate of materials stability prediction from around 50% to 80% based on MatBench Discovery, an external benchmark set by previous state-of-the-art models," Google said in a blog.

We also managed to scale up the efficiency of our model by improving the discovery rate from under 10% to over 80%such efficiency increases could have significant impact on how much compute is required per discovery."

That said, the AI models do have limitations. Berkeley's A-Lab, for instance, failed to make 17 of the 58 materials it targeted. Some of the materials needed to be heated to higher temperatures or had to be ground better, which are standard steps in labs that are outside AIs current purview.

Experts also point out that the models, similar to other AI systems, do not explain how they arrived at their decision, which will not help if other researchers want to understand the process.

So can AI solve the mystery of life?

It was only in July 2022 that DeepMind Technologies released 3D-predicted structures of more than 200 million proteins found in plants, bacteria, animals and humans. Generated by DeepMinds AI system, AlphaFold, the structures are helping researchers enhance their understanding of how proteins fold.

This discovery was critical since proteins are the building blocks of human life, along with nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), lipids, and glycans, and folding allows a protein to adopt a functional shape or conformation.

If researchers can better predict how proteins fold, they will be able to better understand how cells function and how mis-folded proteins can cause diseasesknown as the protein-folding problem.

AlphaFold uses an AI system to predict a proteins 3D structure from its amino acid chain. Announced in 2020, DeepMind released and open-sourced AlphaFold2, and the multi-terabyte AlphaFold Protein Structure Database (AlphaFold DB, which the company likens to a google search for protein structures) in 2021.

A year later, DeepMind along with EMBLs European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) released predicted structures for more than 200 million proteins, covering almost every catalogued protein in science. One day, it might even help unlock the mysteries of how life itself works," reads a Google blog.

View Full Image Image courtesy of Google

The importance of reaching atomic accuracy

According to Google, 1.4 million users in at least 190 countries have accessed the AlphaFold database till date. Scientists around the world have used AlphaFolds predictions to help advance research on everything from accelerating new malaria vaccines and advancing cancer drug discovery to developing plastic-eating enzymes for tackling pollution.

The Centre for Enzyme Innovation at the University of Portsmouth is using the AI system to help develop faster enzymes to recycle single-use plastics, while the University of California has used the predictions to better understand the biology of the Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) virus.

AlphaFolds latest model can generate predictions for nearly all molecules in the Protein Data Bank, frequently reaching atomic accuracy".

Levinthals paradox, named after molecular biologist Cyrus Levinthal, notes that even as proteins could fold in seconds or even milliseconds, it would take longer than the age of the known universe (about 13.8 billion years) to calculate all possible configurations of a typical protein using brute force.

AI systems like AlphaFold and RoseTTAFold are leveraging advances in the application of AI to dramatically improve how drugs are discovered and developed. AlphaFold can do in seconds what used to take many months or years", according to Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute.
News / National

by Staff reporter

CITIZENS Coalition for Change (CCC) Members of Parliament (MP) are at a crossroads as pressure mounts on them to withdraw from the National Assembly following weekend's controversial by-elections.The remaining CCC MPs are at the centre of the political matrix with uncertainty hovering over them as self proclaimed secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu is recalling legislators.CCC, albeit given a temporary relief by the High Court which granted an interdict in its favour to stop Tshabangu from recalling elected officials, is under pressure from observers and critics to withdraw its legislators.Last week the opposition candidates were expelled from the race in the just ended by-elections with the court ruling that they could not run under the party as they had been recalled by Tshabangu.Political science lecturer at University of Zimbabwe Eldred Masungure said a knee jerk reaction should be avoided by institutionalising CCC."People should not privilege rage and emotions ahead of logic and rationality. What benefits will this gurwe reaction bring to the CCC, its voters and Zimbabwe generally? And, given ZANU-PF's shallow or non-existent sense of public shame, it will not in the least be bothered at all by the withdrawals."Neither will the toady SADC be catalysed to act, what with powerful ANC Secretary Generals Fikile Mbalule grovelling to ZANU-PF. Thinking strategically demands that the CCC go back to basics by abandoning hook, line and sinker that nebulous strategic ambiguity'-informed organisational model and institutionalising the CCC as a political formation. There is no other magic bullet," said Masunungure.In October, CCC ordered its MPs to disengage from the National Assembly in protest over recall of its members which they described as illegitimate.However, the protest could not deter Tshabangu from calling another batch of MPs before a court interdict.CCC MPs say they are awaiting the party's directive.Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya said the withdrawal should be backed by consensus of Zimbabweans to be effective."I'm not sure how solid CCC's current political objective is vis a vis being in Parliament. My observations are that Zanu-PF will push Sengezo Tshabangu for more recalls, because their insanity knows no bounds. A pull out that is not backed with country wide citizen solidarity achieves very little."Opposition is not CCC, but the general populace aggrieved by mutilation of constitutional democracy. So a pull out or not means nothing if two million voters remain quiet," said Ngwenya.
After the historic success of the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to send Indian astronauts for the first time to the Moon by 2040.

ISRO Chairman S Somanath said four pilots from the Indian Air Force have been selected for the mission, and they are undergoing training at the Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru.

Gaganyaan Mission

The Bengaluru-based space agency is planning to launch a crew of two to three Indian astronauts into Low Earth Orbit for up to three days and bring them back safely to a predefined site in Indian waters as part of the Gaganyaan programme, an article in Manorama Yearbook 2024 said citing the Isro chairman.

Looking ahead, ISRO aims to take the next step in space exploration with the Gaganyaan programme, planning to launch a crew of 2 to 3 Indian astronauts into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for up to three days before safely returning them to a predefined site in Indian waters," the article quoted Somanath as saying.

Ahead of the manned mission, the space agency is planning to send two identical un-crewed missions (G1 & G2) besides Integrated Air Drop Test, Pad Abort Test, and Test Vehicle flights.

ISRO is also developing critical technologies like a human-rated (capable of safely transporting humans) launch vehicle (HLVM3), an Orbital Module comprising a Crew Module (CM) and Service Module (SM), besides life support systems for the Gaganyaan mission.

The Crew Module is a habitable space with an Earth-like environment in space for the crew and is designed for safe re-entry. Safety measures also include a Crew Escape System (CES) for emergencies.

Gaganyaan Test Flight

ISRO launched the first development flight of Test Vehicle (TV-D1) on October 21, 2023. The test vehicle successfully demonstrated in-flight abort of the Crew Escape System, followed by Crew Module separation. The Crew Module was safely recovered from the Bay of Bengal by the Indian Navy.

The success of this test flight was crucial for subsequent unmanned missions and the ultimate human space mission, expected to be launched in 2025," Somanath said.

Other upcoming missions

Referring to some ambitious ongoing and upcoming missions, Somanath said ISRO is currently working on Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) programme, X-ray astronomy mission XPOSAT (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite), Space Docking Experiment, and LOX-Methane engine.

Together, these transformative initiatives define a new space saga in India's pursuit of space exploration, fostering scientific progress and an ever-expanding cosmic horizon."

Elaborating, he said SSLV, a three-stage launch vehicle, can launch a 500-kg satellite into 500-km planar orbit and can accommodate multiple satellites.

Bharatiya Antariksha Station

Somanath said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set ambitious goals such as commissioning Bharatiya Antariksha Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035, and embarking on interplanetary exploration, featuring a Venus Orbiter Mission and a Mars Lander, to further solidify India's presence on the global space stage.

Solar Exploratory Mission

The ISRO chairman further said Indias maiden solar exploratory mission Aditya L1 is also an important mission of the space organisation. The Aditya mission aims to study the sun from the unique vantage point of Lagrange Point 1, showcasing the countrys prowess in both lunar and solar research.

Launched on September 2, the spacecraft is on its intended path towards Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1(L1), approximately 1.5 million km from Earth, where it will be inserted into a Halo orbit in January 2024, the ISRO chairman added.

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Cruise travelers wanting to smoke pot or chew gummies are running into a problem: cruise lines trying to eradicate all types of cannabis products on board.

Cruise lines say they are simply following federal law, and that marijuana is illegal in many countries they sail to. They say that they also want to create a comfortable experience for nonusers.

The companies are warning passengers not to sail with cannabis products and ratcheting up efforts to identify people flouting their rules as their ships swell with travelers. Among the efforts, Carnival Cruise Line has started employing drug-sniffing dogs and is sending out multiple pre-cruise messages that warn against bringing on marijuana.

Passengers say they are scared and confused amid the crackdown. Some passengers have been kicked off ships in foreign ports or banned, while others say they have used the products openly with no repercussions.

Josh DeLucio and his wife take about three cruises each year. He says he manages multiple medical conditions that cause chronic pain in his legs.

He never vacations without what he calls his mobile pharmacy, replete with prescription medications and other treatments. Among them: a topical salve containing CBD and THC that he says decreases his leg pain. He says he doesnt enjoy the smell of marijuana or being around people using it recreationally, but says it helps him manage his pain occasionally.

My fear is being on the seas or in a foreign country and needing something," says DeLucio, who lives in Richmond, Ind.

After hearing about cases where passengers were kicked off cruises for having similar items, DeLucio said he is reconsidering whether to bring the products with him on future trips.

Besides limiting potential legal liability, cruise lines could benefit financially by prohibiting cannabis onboard. Alcohol is a major revenue-generator for ships, and cruises also limit how much booze passengers bring on board.

Inconsistent consequences

Major cruise lines include cannabis on the list of items that passengers are prohibited from bringing onboard ships, along with other drugs and weapons. Some cruise lines also prohibit hemp-derived cannabidiol, or CBD, products that dont produce a high. Congress legalized them at the federal level in 2018.

A Texas woman received a lifetime ban from sailing with Carnival after CBD gummies were found in her carry-on luggage during a pre-cruise security screening for a trip this summer. Erin Van Veldhuizen was barred from boarding the ship, and her family received a partial refund after the incident, says Daren Stabinski, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based lawyer representing her.

A 25-year-old TikTok influencer from Orlando, Fla., says he was asked to disembark in Jamaica from a seven-day Royal Caribbean cruise midway through the trip after he was caught on surveillance smoking marijuana on an upper deck of the ship. The man says he has a medical-marijuana card and had previously sailed with products containing THC without any issues.

His mother exited the ship with him so that he wasnt alone. Royal Caribbean didnt provide refunds or assistance in booking their travel home, he says.

I learned my lesson. I had to pay a lot of money just to exit a boat that we already paid a lot of money to be on," he says.

Royal Caribbean said in an email that marijuana, even in its medicinal form or for medicinal purposes, is prohibited on its ships.

Regular rule-breakers

On cruise forums and social media, travelers trade tips about how to sneak the substances onto boats. Some put CBD gummies in containers meant for chewable multivitamins.

Nettie Freeman, a nanny from Monroeville, Pa., says the smell of marijuana smoke triggers migraines for her. On a recent five-night cruise with Carnival, she and her husband enjoyed spending time on their balcony only on the first day because people in a neighboring cabin were smoking.

I think its selfish of them to think they should be able to smoke and have it affect everybody around them," she says. The extra cost of a cabin with a balcony felt like a waste since she hardly used it.

When a guest cannot enjoy their balcony because neighbors are smoking marijuana, this becomes a customer-service issue," Chris Chiames, chief communications officer for Carnival, said in an email.

He added that the legalization of marijuana and cannabis products at the state level in the U.S. has created confusion for passengers recently, particularly with so many people taking cruises for the first time.

Guests who bring on and smoke marijuana on board usually know they should not do so, and end up smoking in nonsmoking areas like their stateroom, which is a legitimate fire hazard on a cruise ship," Chiames said.

Legal questions

Similar to going through an airport, all checked and carry-on luggage is screened during the boarding process before a cruise. Bags are put through X-ray scanners to prevent contraband from being brought on board.

When passengers are caught with cannabis products, they are rarely charged with any crime in the U.S., defense lawyers say. Passengers can face more risks when caught with a prohibited substance abroad. Tourists have faced jail time or hefty fines for having marijuana in places including the Bahamas and Bermuda.

Defense lawyers say cruise lines may have motivations beyond legal concerns in banning cannabis.

Im convinced that the decision to take such a hard line on marijuana or CBD is because they are trying to drive alcohol sales," says Spencer Aronfeld, a Florida-based personal-injury attorney who handles cases related to cruise ships.

Multiple cruise lines have increased the cost of drink packages in recent years. The companies also enforce limits on how much alcohol passengers can bring on ships.

Chiames, the Carnival spokesman, dismissed the idea that these rules help boost cruise lines alcohol sales as nonsense. That sounds like something someone would say when theyre high," he said.

Sign up for the WSJ Travel newsletter for more tips and insights from the Journals travel team.

Write to Jacob Passy at jacob.passy@wsj.com
KfW, Germanys state-owned investment and development bank, is set to sign an agreement to provide 500 million (around 4,500 crore) in financial assistance for the expansion of the Bengaluru Metro. The funding, which includes loan and grants, will help the metros expansion plans as well as provide technical expertise to the metro project.

KfW, which is looking to expand its funding for green energy and sustainable mobility projects in India, is also financing metro projects in Mumbai and Nagpur among other cities.

KfWs India director Wolf Muth confirmed the development in an interview with Mint. Muth said that the funding would be used to construct new lines for the Bengaluru Metro, also called Namma Metro.

We bring in a lot of capacity and expertise with respect to environmental and social aspects. So, we have high standards and these are things which have to be adapted in the project execution," said Muth.

Queries mailed to the ministry of housing and urban affairs and the BMRCL, a special purpose vehicle tasked with implementing the metro project, went unanswered.

KfW, which has been active in India since 1958, has also provided funds to other metro projects in the country. In 2016, it provided a 500 million loan to the Indian government for the construction of a modern and sustainable metro system" in Nagpur.

Together with the building of two metro lines covering a combined length of 38 km, the KfW promotional funds will be used for flyovers, stations, rail, traction and telecommunication systems as well as rolling stock," the bank announced in a press release at the time.

Muth indicated that a similar process will be followed in the case of the Bengaluru Metro loan.

KfW also provided funding for the expansion of the Mumbai metro in 2020 through the provision of a 545 million loan. The credit package is made up of one development loan of 345 million and one promotional loan of 200 million. In addition, a financing agreement of 2.2 million was signed for accompanying technical support," KfW explained in a statement.

The funding for an expansion of the citys metro lines aimed to alleviate the intense pressure on Mumbais cities and suburban railway systems.

Funding for sustainable and pollution-reducing metro projects squarely with the new Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP) unveiled by India and Germany in 2022.

Germany committed to providing at least 10 billion in assistance to India for its green and sustainable development ambitions with KfW providing an estimated 1 billion annually for funding in India. The bank is also expected to provide funding for PM e-Bus Sewa scheme, which plans to put 10,000 electric buses on the streets of nearly 170 Indian cities. The scheme is expected to cost 57,613 crore, of which 20,000 crore will be provided by the central government.

Muth confirmed that conversations between KfW and the Indian government on the matter are ongoing.

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The Indonesian government executed its crackdown on social shopping" in the name of protecting local small businesses. TikTok ended up taking over a local champion.

The deal makes good sense for TikTok, in more ways than one. It gets a way back into its key e-commerce market in Southeast Asia. It also sends a shot across the bow of regulators in other countries that might be contemplating similar moves.

The viral short-video platform, owned by Chinas Bytedance, agreed to combine its nascent TikTok Shop operations in Indonesia with GoTos e-commerce subsidiary Tokopedia on Monday. TikTok gets a 75% stake in the new combination, which will run the shopping features of TikToks app in Indonesia. TikTok will invest more than $1.5 billion into the new venturea net $500 million for its stake and a promissory note for an additional $1 billion down the line.

The markets verdict on the deal, at least for GoTo, was harsh: GoTo shares tanked 20% in Jakarta on Monday, before recouping some losses Tuesday.

Indonesias largest internet company doesnt get any upfront cash, since the injection from TikTok will go into the joint venture rather than directly to GoTo. And GoTo will give up control of Tokopediaconsidered a probable long-term value driverin exchange for only a minority stake in the new venture. Meanwhile, TikToks e-commerce operations are unprofitable and much smaller than those of Tokopedia. Venugopal Garre, an analyst with Bernstein, reckons that TikTok Shop currently clocks in at just a third of Tokopedias gross merchandise value of $15 billion.

There was a risk of Tokopedia becoming unviable by itself, which may be one reason for the dealcompetition is fierce from Shopees owner, Sea, and Lazada. GoTo also has the limited ability to fund growth. In comparison, cash-rich TikTok has been spending aggressively on promotions and incentives. Before 2021, the share of TikTok in Indonesias GMV was close to zero, according to Redseer Strategy Consultants.

For TikTok, the deal has obvious advantages. It was forced to suspend Indonesian e-commerce operations in October after the government banned online shopping on social media. Having a local partner in GoTo will probably help TikTok navigate the local landscape.

Other nations considering similar regulations that target TikTok will likely take note. Vietnam has complained about TikTok breaking laws related to e-commerce, information security and other areas. But TikTok has the financial firepower to buy into local firms and consolidate the marketsidestepping regulations meant to constrain outsiders.

Indonesia is a key market for TikToks foray into online shopping. A Redseer report in June put the countrys e-commerce market at $77 billion of GMV. TikToks shopping function has been popular in Indonesia since its launch in 2021. The country accounts for roughly 38% of its monthly active users so far this year, according to data tracker Sensor Tower.

While the U.S. is an attractive market for TikTok, which has 150 million active users there, Southeast Asia will probably be the more important e-commerce market, at least at the beginning. Such livestreaming e-commerce has been very popular in China and the internet and cultural landscape in Southeast Asia may be more similar.

Regulatory protection for local businesses is a natural response when faced with strong competition from abroad. But it can backfire, too: especially when the outsider is cash-rich and willing to fight back.

Write to Megha Mandavia at megha.mandavia@wsj.com and Jacky Wong at jacky.wong@wsj.com
News / National

by Mandla Ndlovu

Days after the Mabvuku seat was stolen by the Gold Mafia, Hon Munya Kufahakutizwe has been arrested on flimsy charges in a desperate act of pathetic political persecution.



You murdered his mobilizer.

Youve harassed his volunteers.

Youre terrorizing his community.

You Fadzayi Mahere (@advocatemahere) December 12, 2023

More details to follow

Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Member of Parliament for Mabvuku-Tafara constituency, Febion Kufahakutizwi has been arrested on charges of assault and malicious damage to property.CCC Spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi took to X (formerly Twitter) to illuminate the circumstances surrounding Kufahakutizwi's arrest. In a stark and incisive post, Mkwananzi declared, "Hon. @KufaMunya of Mabvuku-tafara constituency is currently held at Harare Central Police station and will soon be taken to Rotten Row police station on trumped-up charges of assault and malicious damage to property."Mkwananzi did not divulge further details on the alleged incident, leaving a vacuum of information that fuels concerns about the transparency. The deliberate lack of information often serves as a breeding ground for speculation and conjecture.
Local veterinarians say they haven't seen any cases here but say it could happen, especially as we travel for the holidays.
Two witnesses from the night of the incident were asked to watch surveillance footage from outside Patten Towers and share what they remembered.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Chiredzi Town Council has tabled an ambitious 5 year development plan which will see the town intensely improve water supply and modernize all its infrastructure.This came out at a recent post 2023 election engagement meeting with the newly appointed substantive town secretary Wesley Kauma, the event was facilitated by Citizens in Action Southern Africa Zimbabwe (CIASA).The Chiredzi Town Council will in 2024 partner with the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) to augment water supply systems and ensure consistent supply of clean, safe and portable water.In a report CIASA said more than 30% of the issues raised by citizens during the budget consultation meetings have been incorporated into the 2024 budget.CIASA noted while there is room for improvement in the development of future budgets, the current prioritization of critical projects like access to water is a welcome development for the community of Chiredzi."During the meeting CIASA Projects Director Archbold Madida applauded Chiredzi Town Council for laying out such a progressive plan to increase access to clean, safe and portable water and Madida urged the local authority to ensure all programs are citizen driven, information is accessible on all projects, is inclusive and accessible in formats at all times," reads its report."At the same meeting the local authority assured the residents that water supply will be expanded to meet demand which has arisen due to population growth. The local authority emphasized that its main priority was to address the water challenges, which presents itself as one of the natural challenges the city is exposed to."it noted that in other projects shared with available stakeholders the local authority has set in motion plans to rehabilitate Tshovani bus terminus to improve hygiene and create a comfortable environment for vehicles and passengers."Chiredzi Town Council has proposed to spend US$96 000 to install 80 streetlights along Inyathi Road and other areas across town as part of its 2024 budget. The solar installation projects became part of the towns plan after residents voiced concerns over the inadequate lighting along Inyathi which is the main link road from Chiredzi Central Business District (CBD) to Tongaat Huletts Sugar Company," reads the report."CIASA has done extensive work on budget literacy amongst residents in Chiredzi and the post-election engagement meeting highlighted that fiscal transparency is important for community development."CIASA recommended to Chiredzi Town Council the creation of a e-platform which will be accessible to the residents where financial statements, budgets, full council minutes, expenditure tracking can be done online, a move that will help achieve fiscal transparency among many of our local authorities in Zimbabwe."CIASA strongly believes that such a move will help build healthier communities as active participation of residents in council projects is a key cog for the development of any community'" it said."CIASA also urged the Council to develop with the environment in mind. Chiredzi falls under the Argo-ecological region 5 and in the past the town has had serious droughts and very high temperatures. "CIASA urged the local authority to invest towards green engineering, employing smart and clean technologies that will lead to the realization of a modern live-able town, that uses resources sustainably and sparingly, minimize emissions to protect future generations.Madida expressed gratitude to Chiredzi Town Council for being responsive to citizens' calls while recommending citizens to continuously engage with the local authority beyond budget consultations. He noted that despite the current noble plans, Chiredzi has been rocked by corruption and looting scandals over the past years and he urged the local authority to exercise honest and transparency in its pursuit of building public institutions that are highly efficient and accountable.He said only a robust transparent and accountable management ecosystem will help bring sanity to the Low-veld town and make it realize its plans.
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There was a large and enthusiastic audience at the launch of the 2023 edition of County Longford Historical Societys Journal, Teathbha, in Longford Library on November 27.

This is the twenty-second edition of the journal and the first to be edited by Martin Morris. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO

The speakers at the event were County Librarian, Martina Needham; Cllr Colm Murray, Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council; Pat Donnelly, chairperson of the historical society; and Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Dr Paul Connell, who performed the launch. Martin Morris was unavoidably absent. Kitty Hughes acted as MC.

Bishop Connell, himself a distinguished historian, praised the journal and congratulated all involved in it. He also spoke about the importance of local history.

As always, Teathbha contains a remarkable variety of articles about Longfords history, written by established contributors and several new ones.

Subjects covered include Inchcleraun Island, the OFarrells in the medieval period, land and society in the barony of Moydow, the Montgomery family, marching bands, Padraic Colums poem A Drover, Ballinamuck 98s GAA Club and the interesting story of Francis McDonagh/Hanlon. There is a piece about a Longford emigrants life in New York and details of Longford holders of American passports in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Recent major centenaries feature, with articles on the arrival of the Civic Guard in Longford and the 1923 general election.

You can read about the first Longford man to referee an All-Ireland final, the descendants of Richard More-OFerrall, reminiscences of a man who helped save the 1946 harvest and an account of the first international conference on the Edgeworths role in education.

The journal is an ideal Christmas present. It is available at 12 per copy in many local outlets including OReilly Insurance Ltd and Donlons Newsagent, both on Dublin Street, and in Newsround, Ballymahon Street.
Primary Education graduate, Angela OMahony, from Cavan, who previously taught Irish in Cnoc Mhuire Granard, had double cause for celebration after achieving top of her class status at the annual Hibernia College conferring ceremony which was held at Dublins Convention Centre recently.

In addition to receiving her Masters qualification, Angela was honoured with the overall Student of the Year Award  presented by the College to the student in each cohort with the highest grade across the Primary programme.

Angela also received the INTO Vere Foster Medal  awarded by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) for Outstanding Performance in School Placement.

A teacher at Butlersbridge National School, Angela was one of over 1,190 graduates from all 26 counties to qualify in Primary and Post-Primary teaching, Inclusive and Special Education and Data Analytics at the ceremony which saw the largest ever number of teachers graduate in Ireland.

Congratulating her and other graduates, Dr Mary Kelly, Academic Dean at Hibernia College, said all teachers in attendance hold the key to transformative change in the world by shaping the minds and futures of the next generation, at a time when our country is so short of teachers.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: December 12 2023

Joshua Roston ran over 59-year-old Cemal Dagdeviren after stealing $22 worth of gas; defendant fled New York and was arrested in Pennsylvania.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Baldwin man was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the 2019 hit-and-run death of a gas station worker.

Joshua Roston, 38, was convicted by a jury on October 27, 2023, in a trial before Judge Meryl Berkowitz of Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony), two counts of Robbery in the First Degree (a B violent felony), Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a C felony), Robbery in the Third Degree (a D felony), Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting (a D felony), and three counts of Petit Larceny (an A misdemeanor).

Judge Berkowitz sentenced the defendant today to 25 years to life in prison.

This is one of the most senseless cases weve ever seen in this office. An innocent mans life ended over $22 worth of gasoline, said DA Donnelly. Cemal worked hard to support his family and was doing his job  attempting to stop Joshua Roston from driving off without paying  when he was viciously barreled over and dragged beneath Rostons SUV. At trial, Joshua Roston was defiant; brazenly and insultingly claiming on the witness stand that Cemal was the aggressor. We hope that todays sentence brings Cemals family some comfort and we continue to keep them in our thoughts.

DA Donnelly said that on January 14, 2019, at approximately 7:20 a.m., the defendant pulled up to the middle pump of the Pit Stop gas station located on Grand Avenue in North Baldwin and asked an attendant to fill the tank of his Black GMC sport utility vehicle.

After the attendant filled the tank with $22 worth of gas, the defendant then told the attendant that he was going to pay with a credit card inside the store instead of cash, but once in the store the defendant told the attendant that he did not want to use his card, but instead wanted to go to get money from an ATM.

During the exchange, 59-year-old Cemal Dagdeviren arrived for work and took over for the attendant, after which he told the defendant that there was an ATM across the street at another gas station.

Dagdeviren exited the store with Roston and they continued to have a discussion about paying for the gas and the location of an ATM. Instead of going to the ATM, once Dagdevirens back was turned for a brief moment, the defendant entered his SUV.

The defendant backed his SUV up slightly with Dagdeviren at the rear of the SUV, with the vehicle slightly touching Dagdeviren. Dagdeviren then walked around the front of the vehicle, knocked on the drivers side window and grabbed the windshield wiper of the SUV. At that point Dagdeviren was standing directly in front of the car looking through the windshield at the defendant.

At that moment, the defendant nudged forward slightly and then quickly accelerated the vehicle and ran over Dagdeviren. The defendant and his SUV then dragged Dagdevirens body for several feet, killing him. The SUV could be seen bouncing twice as the front and then rear tires drove over the body of Dagdeviren.

The defendant fled the scene and eventually turned himself in to police in Philadelphia on January 18, 2019.

The defendant was additionally convicted of stealing gasoline from two other Nassau County gas stations in April 2018 and December 2018.

The defendant was acquitted of one count of Murder in the Second Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the First Degree (a C felony).
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: December 12 2023

Wayne Chambers Faces Up to 25 Years to Life in Prison for Fatally Stabbing Stony Brook University Hospital Nurse Sandra McIntosh After She Got Off of Her Shift.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Wayne Chambers, 51, was found guilty of Murder in the Second Degree after a jury trial for the fatal stabbing of his former girlfriend, Sandra McIntosh, in 2021.

The domestic violence murder of Sandra McIntosh was a tragedy that should not have happened, said District Attorney Tierney. If you or anyone you know is a victim of domestic violence, I urge you to contact the Police Department or the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office to help us prevent tragedies like this one.

The evidence at trial established that on July 22, 2021, at approximately 7:43 p.m. Chambers picked up McIntosh after her nurses shift at Stony Brook University Hospital was over. He had dropped her off earlier and had been driving McIntoshs 2010 white Lexus RX350. Chambers had previously been in a relationship with McIntosh for approximately six years but had broken up months before the fatal stabbing. Chambers violently stabbed McIntosh, 46, of Medford, at least 25 times including in her neck and back, puncturing her heart and lung.

At about 8:03 p.m. a 911 caller reported seeing Chambers in the same vehicle driving erratically and then stopping the vehicle on Woodland Avenue in Holtsville. Witnesses saw Chambers outside the Lexus in a physical altercation with McIntosh.

In addition, they heard McIntosh screaming and when they came out saw Chambers physically assaulting McIntosh and attempting to drag her out of the woods by her hair. Once Chambers saw the witnesses, he fled and jumped into McIntoshs Lexus and sped away. McIntosh died within two hours of the fatal attack.

After the fatal incident, the Suffolk County Police Department was able to track Chambers to a location in the Bronx. It was there that McIntoshs 2010 white Lexus RX350 was found as a result. Red staining that appeared to be blood was observed on both the exterior and interior of the vehicle. The evidence at trial established that that the red staining not only tested presumptively positive for blood, but many of those stains contained mixtures of DNA between the decedent and this defendant.

Surveillance video evidence was recovered across the street from McIntoshs vehicle was found in the Bronx. This surveillance video captured the white SUV pulling up at approximately 10:39 p.m. on July 22, 2021. A man can be seen getting out of the drivers side of the vehicle and walking away with what appeared to be a cellular phone in his hand.

Members of the Suffolk County Police Department testified that they spoke with a female acquaintance of the defendant, whose residence was located approximately one block away from where McIntoshs vehicle was discovered. In sum and substance, she stated that Chambers went to her home in the Bronx on the evening of July 22, 2021. Upon arriving at her home, she observed that Chambers had a cut on one of his index fingers that was covered by a Band-Aid. She also observed a bloody spot on his green shirt.

Additionally, cell site data placed Chambers cell phone near the murder scene, immediately after the murder.

Chambers cell phone also connected to a cell site within a mile of where McIntoshs vehicle was discovered in the Bronx, coinciding with the surveillance video that captured the SUV being parked in the Bronx.

On July 30, 2021, members of the Suffolk County Police Departments Homicide Squad, Newburg City Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, and New York State Police located Chambers at a hotel in Newburg and placed him under arrest.

On December 7, 2023, Chambers was convicted after a jury trial, heard before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro of Murder in the Second Degree. Chambers is due back in court on January 9, 2023, for sentencing and faces up to 25 years to life in prison. He is being represented by Ian Fitzgerald, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Eric S. Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau and Michelle Chiuchiolo of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detectives Guido Cirenza and Brendan OHara of the Suffolk County Police Departments Homicide Squad.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: December 12 2023

KuCoin Required to Refund New York Users, Cease New York Operations, and Pay $5.3 Million Penalty.

New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured more than $22 million from KuCoin, one of the largest cryptocurrency trading platforms, for failing to register as a securities and commodities broker-dealer and for falsely representing itself as a crypto exchange. Todays consent order resolves Attorney General James lawsuit against KuCoin and requires the company to refund over 150,000 New York investors more than $16.7 million and pay more than $5.3 million to the state. KuCoin is also banned from trading securities and commodities in New York and is prohibited from making its platform available to New Yorkers. This consent order continues Attorney General James work to increase oversight and regulation of cryptocurrency companies and protect New York investors, which has recovered more than $500 million from predatory cryptocurrency platforms to date.

Unregistered offshore crypto platforms pose a risk to investors, consumers, and the broader economy, said Attorney General James. Crypto companies should understand that they must play by the same rules as other financial institutions, and my office will hold them accountable when they dont. This settlement will ensure every New Yorker who put their money into KuCoin can get it back and that KuCoin wont be able to put other New York investors at risk. I will continue to take action against any company that brazenly disregards the law and jeopardizes New Yorkers savings and investments.

KuCoin is a Seychelles-based cryptocurrency trading platform that allows investors to buy and sell cryptocurrency through its website and mobile app. An investigator from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) was able to create an account with KuCoin using a computer with a New York-based IP address to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, including popular tokens like ETH, LUNA, and UST. However, New York law requires securities and commodities brokers providing services in New York to register with the state, which KuCoin failed to do. By trading cryptocurrencies that are commodities and securities with its New York users, KuCoin violated state law. This included its own KuCoin Earn investment product, in which KuCoin pooled investors cryptocurrencies to generate income for its investors.

In addition, KuCoin claimed to be an exchange, but was not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a national securities exchange or appropriately designated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as is required under New York Law.

KuCoin is required to provide full refunds totaling $16,766,642 to 177,800 New York investors. Investors can receive their refund by withdrawing their assets directly from KuCoin over the next 90 days. After 90 days, eligible investors can file a claim to receive their cryptocurrency by emailing kucoinrefund@ag.ny.gov.

In addition, KuCoin must take steps to prevent New Yorkers from accessing their platform and is prohibited from creating any new accounts for New York customers. Existing New York customers will only be able to withdraw their crypto from the platform. KuCoin must also cooperate with U.S. law enforcement by timely responding to requests to freeze assets and information requests.

Todays announcement continues Attorney General James efforts to enforce New York laws in the cryptocurrency industry. In October, Attorney General James sued cryptocurrency companies Gemini, Genesis, and DCG for defrauding investors through DCG and Genesiss concealment of $1.1 billion in losses and Geminis repeated lies to investors. In June, Attorney General James recovered $1.7 million from crypto exchange Coinex for operating illegally. In May, Attorney General James announced sweeping cryptocurrency legislation that will increase regulations of the cryptocurrency industry to protect New York investors. In January, Attorney General James and a multistate coalition recovered $24 million from the cryptocurrency platform Nexo for operating illegally. Attorney General James also sued the former CEO of Celsius for defrauding investors and concealing the companys dire financial condition. In October 2021, Attorney General James directed unregistered crypto lending platforms to cease operations for not registering with the state. In September 2021, Attorney General James recovered $479.9 million from GTV Media for failing to register cryptocurrency sales. In February 2021, Attorney General James required Bitfinex and Tether to end all trading activity in New York and required iFinex and Tether and their related companies to pay $18.5 million in penalties.

Attorney General James urges New Yorkers who have been affected by deceptive conduct in virtual assets markets to report these issues to OAG. Attorney General James also encourages workers in the cryptocurrency industry who may have witnessed misconduct or fraud to file an online whistleblower complaint with her office, which can be done anonymously.

This matter is being handled by Assistant Attorney General John Ruth with assistance from Assistant Attorney General Shantelee Christie, Legal Assistants Charmaine Blake and Edward Jaffe, all from the Investor Protection Bureau, and Senior Detective Investigator Brian Metz of the Investigations Division. The Investor Protection Bureau is led by Bureau Chief Shamiso Maswoswe and Deputy Bureau Chief Kenneth Haim and is a part of the Division of Economic Justice which is overseen by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris DAngelo and First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
Music, Movies & Entertainment

By Chris Boyle Published: December 12 2023

Portman has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for for Best Actress the 2023 drama "May December," which she stars in with fellow actress Julianne Moore.

Natalie Portman, the acclaimed Hollywood actress and former Long Islander, has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award, yet another in a long List of accolades that she has earned throughout her esteemed career.

While born in Israel in 1981, Portman and her family soon afterward moved to the United States, eventually settling down on Long Island in 1990, where she attended a Jewish elementary school, the Solomon Schechter Day School of Nassau County; she would later go on to graduate from Syosset High School in 1999.

On December 11, Portman, 42, was announced as having been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for for Best Actress the 2023 drama "May December," which she stars in with fellow actress Julianne Moore.

This honor goes hand-in-hand with number of other accomplishments that Portman has acquired over the years, including being nominated in 2004 for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and winning a Golden Globe for the romantic drama "Closer." Later, she would go on to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the 2010 psychological thriller "Black Swan."

Other notable films that Portman has starred in over the years include "Leon: The Professional" (1994), the "Star Wars" Prequel trilogy (1999, 2002, 2005), "V for Vendetta" (2005), "The Other Boleyn Girl" (2008), and the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero films "Thor" (2011), "Thor: The Dark World" (2013), and "Thor: Love and Thunder" (2022), which established her as one of the highest-paid actresses in the world.

Portman also attended Harvard University from 1999 to 2003, graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology.
News / National

by Mandla Ndlovu

In a momentous and prophetic revelation, the founder and senior pastor of the Champions Royal Assembly, Prophet Joshua Iginla, has declared that Julius Sello Malema, the firebrand leader of South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), is destined to become the President of South Africa. The proclamation, delivered during a service at the megachurch's colossal 80,000-seat auditorium in Kubwa, Abuja, has since gained widespread attention after circulating on YouTube.During the service, Prophet Iginla shared the divine insight he received, conveying that God had shown him a vision of Julius Malema presiding over the affairs of South Africa. The renowned pastor, known for his prophecies and spiritual teachings, did not specify a timeline for when this prophecy would come to fruition.Prophet Iginla's foresight did not end with Malema's presidential destiny. He turned his attention to the imminent 2014 South African General Elections, offering a prophetic caution to the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC). According to the pastor, the ANC should brace itself for a diminishing of its political dominance as some of its power is foreseen to shift towards opposition parties.Watch the video below:
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: December 12 2023

All six defendants were issued Desk Appearance Tickets returnable on Thursday, December 28, 2023 to First District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead.

The Fifth Precinct reports the arrest of six (6) individuals during the Project 21 initiative, which targets the sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products to minors. The initiative was conducted on Monday, December 11, 2023 at 5:30 pm in Nassau County.

According to officers, the Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Unit, with the assistance of underage agents, arrested the following individuals as a result of this operation:

Akil Hossain, 21, of 1403 Rosser Avenue, Elmont, sold tobacco products to a minor at the Smoke Shop located at 727 Franklin Avenue, Franklin Square. He is charged with two counts of Unlawful Sale of Tobacco Products and Unlawfully Dealing with a Child 2 nd Degree. Additionally, the Town of Hempstead Building Code Enforcement issued summonses. He was arrested without incident.

Jose Sandoval, 26, of 1329 Commonwealth, Bronx, sold tobacco products to a minor at the LI Smokers Depot located at 700 Franklin Avenue, Franklin Square. He is charged with two counts of Unlawful Sale of Tobacco Products and Unlawfully Dealing with a Child 2 nd Degree. Additionally, the Town of Hempstead Building Code Enforcement issued multiple summonses and closed the business. He was arrested without incident.

Dheeraj K Dixit, 55, of 162 Hempstead Turnpike, West Hempstead sold tobacco products to a minor at the Best Smoke Shop located at 162 Hempstead Turnpike, West Hempstead. He is charged with two counts of Unlawful Sale of Tobacco Products and Unlawfully Dealing with a Child 2 nd Degree. Additionally, the Town of Hempstead Building Code Enforcement closed the business. He was arrested without incident.

Keerthik Puppanagirimanygsh, 28, of 1000 Brix Place, Uniondale sold tobacco products to a minor at the Smoke Depot located at 177 Hempstead Avenue, West Hempstead. He is charged with two counts of Unlawful Sale of Tobacco Products and Unlawfully Dealing with a Child 2 nd Degree. Additionally, the Town of Hempstead Building Code Enforcement issued summonses. He was arrested without incident.

Maria M Napoles Abad, 23, of 1132 Langdon Street, Franklin Square sold alcohol to a minor at the Kenia Deli located at 179 Franklin Avenue, Franklin Square. She is charged with Prohibited Sale of an Alcoholic Beverage and Unlawfully Dealing with a Child 1 st Degree. She was arrested without incident.

Miguel A Baez Rodriguez, 52, of 179 Franklin Avenue, Franklin Square manager of the Kenia Deli located at 179 Franklin Avenue, Franklin Square was additionally arrested. The Town of Hempstead Building Department uncovered the establishment to be in possession of illegal Gambling Devices. A total of three (3) gambling devices were seized along with US Currency. He is charged with three (3) counts of Possession of Gambling Devices. Additionally, the State Liquor Authority and the Town of Hempstead Code Enforcement issued summonses and closed the business. He was arrested without incident.

All six defendants were issued Desk Appearance Tickets returnable on Thursday, December 28, 2023 to First District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead.
The Iranian-backed Houthis struck a Norwegian-flagged tanker and launched drones at a French warship in the Red Sea. The Houthis have vowed to continue to attack all international ships that enter or leave Israeli ports.

On Dec. 11, the Houthis claimed credit for a qualitative military operation against the Norwegian ship Motor Tanker Strinda, which was loaded with oil and headed to the Israeli entity. It was targeted with a suitable naval missile.

U.S. Central Command confirmed the attack on the M/T Strinda, and stated that the guided-missile destroyer USS Mason assisted the Norwegian vessel after it was struck. CENTCOM said the attack was assessed to have been an Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen while passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb, the strait that links the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

One day prior, on Dec. 10, the Houthis launched two drones at the French Navy frigate Languedoc as it was patrolling in the Red Sea. The French Armies Ministry said that the drones came straight at the Languedoc, which shot down the aircraft.

The latest two attacks took place just one day after the Houthis vowed to attack all international ships that were entering or leaving Israeli ports.

The Yemeni Armed Forces [the Houthi military] announce that they will prevent the passage of ships heading to the Zionist entity [Israel] of any nationality, if they do not enter the Gaza Strip where they need food and medicine, and it will become a legitimate target for our armed forces, according to a statement released by Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree. Out of concern for the safety of maritime navigation, we warn all ships and companies against dealing with Israeli ports.

The Houthis, as part of Irans Axis of Resistance, as well as Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, have been targeting U.S. forces to drive America from the region, as well as to support Palestinian terror groups in Gaza.

The Houthis possess ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, and have used all three weapons systems against commercial vessels and U.S. warships since Hamas launched its deadly Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel.

The Houthis have a decade-long history of harassing and attacking commercial vessels operating in the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al Mandeb Strait, and the Red Sea, and have stepped up attacks on shipping and the U.S. military over the past month. The attacks include the hijacking of the Galaxy Leader, a drone attack on the CMA CGM Symi, an anti-ship ballistic missile attack on the USS Mason, a potential drone attack on the USS Carney, further attacks on the Unity Explorer, the Sophie II, and the USS Carney, and the destruction of a U.S. MQ-9 UAV.

The U.S. military has yet to respond to repeated attacks on U.S. warships and commercial vessels. The Biden administration fears an escalation of the conflict with the Houthis as well as Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. The militias in Iraq and Syria have launched more than 80 attacks on U.S. forces, while the U.S. has launched only five counter-strikes.

Also known as Ansar Allah, the Houthis have seized control of significant areas in northern Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa, since it launched its rebellion in 2014. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps increasingly co-opted the Houthi movement since its formation in the 1990s. The IRGC has provided the Houthis with weapons, training, and financial support. Iran uses its network of militias and terrorist groups in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon to put pressure on Israel as well as the United States.

The Houthis are estimated to have 100,000 fighters under arms. The official motto of the Houthis is: God is great, death to the U.S., death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory for Islam.

Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
(Sharecast News) - London stocks were set to rise at the open on Tuesday following a positive session in Asia, as investors mulled the latest UK jobs data.

The FTSE 100 was called to open 13 points higher at 7,558.

CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: "European equity markets got off to a slow start to the week yesterday, closing modestly higher with the FTSE100 underperforming due to concerns over weak demand out of China.

"US markets were also resilient with the S&P500 and Dow both eking out new highs for 2023, as investors looked cautiously towards this week's central bank meetings of the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and the Bank of England, and their respective outlooks for rate policy heading into 2024.

"Asia markets have continued in the positive vein of yesterday with that momentum set to continue into today's European open.

"With the Federal Reserve due to start its 2-day meeting later today, and the Bank of England set to decide on rates on Thursday, today's UK wages data and US CPI numbers could go some way to shaping how policymakers react when they deliver their guidance on monetary policy later this week."

Figures released earlier by the Office for National Statistics showed that the amount of people out of work remained unchanged, while wage growth cooled.

The unemployment rate was largely unchanged in the three months to October, at 4.2%. Also largely unchanged was the economic inactivity rate, at 20.9%.

In corporate news, AstraZeneca said it has agreed to buy Icosavax - a US-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company - for up to $1.1bn.

AstraZeneca said the deal will build on its expertise in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), strengthening its vaccines & immune therapies late-stage pipeline with Icosavax's lead investigational vaccine candidate, IVX-A12.

Elsewhere, GSK said it has submitted a regulatory application to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) to expand the use of its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for adults aged 50-59 at an elevated risk of the disease.

It followed Japan's prior approval of the vaccine for adults over 60, and was based on positive results from a phase three trial evaluating the vaccine's safety and immune response in the 50-59 age group, especially those with underlying medical conditions.

GSK said it aimed to be the first company to extend RSV vaccination to the younger age group, with updates on regulatory progress in the US and EU expected in early 2024.
Only 15 general practitioners in Luxembourg have had software installed allowing patients to pay only their contribution of medical bills

Despite subsidies being offered to software companies installing the direct payment systems in medical practices, only 3% of general practitioners have so far taken up the scheme

Despite subsidies being offered to software companies installing the direct payment systems in medical practices, only 3% of general practitioners have so far taken up the scheme  Photo credit: Shutterstock

Despite subsidies being offered to software companies installing the direct payment systems in medical practices, only 3% of general practitioners have so far taken up the scheme  Photo credit: Shutterstock

Just 15 of over 500 general practitioners in Luxembourg have allowed patients to only pay their personal contribution of a medical bill two months after the system was launched, the health and social security minister said on Tuesday.

That means just 3% of the 523 GPs registered in the Grand Duchy are equipped with the so-called direct payment system, Martine Deprez wrote in response to a parliamentary question by Pirate Party MP Sven Clement.

The direct payment system allows patients with health insurance covered by the Caisse National de Sante (CNS) to settle their medical bills with their GP by paying their contribution at source. This avoids having to claim back money from the CNS.

A consultation can cost as little as 10 when paid directly, for example, whereas using the old method the bill was around 60 and the patient would have to reclaim the difference, often waiting over a month for the reimbursement. Bank charges for transfers made under the direct payment scheme have also been waived to incentivise take up.

The reluctance from GPs could be partly caused by the cost of installing the software. The government has provided a subsidy of 625 to the software companies that install the system, but it is still expensive for medical practices to get the software up and running.

One doctor told Luxembourg Times that accounting is also made more complicated under the scheme. Only four of the seven GPs in the medical centre at which she practices have taken up the scheme.

Deprez told Clement that because the scheme is relatively new  it was launched at the end of September - no subsidies had yet been paid out to software companies. The direct payment system was not made compulsory following resistance from many GPs.

In her answer to Clement, Deprez also said that dentists should be able to have access to the direct payment system in the first trimester of 2024.
Final negotiations at COP28 are going into the night in Dubai, but theres suddenly more confidence negotiators are close to bridging divisions on the future of fossil fuels.

Officials milling around the Expo center, where the summit is being held, werent giving details, but were optimistic that a deal could be reached. A first draft agreement on Monday drew criticism from the US and European Union for not going far enough on the phase out of fossil fuels. Diplomats have been running between bilateral meetings as the host, the United Arab Emirates, tries to broker a new draft, expected within hours.

Also read:

Cop28 draft deal floats fossil fuel cuts, omits phasing out

On the other side, Saudi Arabia and some other major oil-producing nations have been opposing a phase down of fossil fuels because their economies depend on it. Tuesday was meant to the last day of COP28.

Walking out of the UNFCCC pavilion Norways Foreign Affairs Minister Espen Barth Eide said discussions are positively progressive.

Earlier this evening, the minister told Bloomberg News there are still major items to agree upon. There is serious work going on to make a text we can commit to, with stronger language on mitigation and adaptation, but its not done - there will be stronger language on adaptation and mitigation, but exactly what it is well have to see, he said.

Even if a deal is done in the next hour or so, it doesnt necessarily mean the COP28 will be able to wrap up tonight. A new text needs to be written, approved by lawyers and translated into five languages. Then theres a lot of bureaucracy on the plenary floor that needs to be agreed before negotiators can even start to talk about the crucial fossil fuel wording.

Luxembourg environment minister Serge Wilmes, who was on his second visit to Dubai for the summit, said in an RTL interview the first draft was not acceptable because it was not ambitious enough. It will be important to build bridges between countries with a heavy pollution past and those who suffer from the climate crisis, as well as current oil producers, he added.

The EU will stay until the end, Wilmes said, underlining that the unions delegations would not leave until an agreement was found. The minister himself was scheduled to leave on Tuesday.

The UK government has been under criticism at home today after Graham Stuart, the minister responsible for the COP, flew home. Instead, Richard Benyon, a minister in both the environment department and foreign office, was present at a key huddle of ministers with Kerry as talks neared to a close.

US climate envoy John Kerry struck an optimistic tone before heading into a meeting in the COP presidency office with ministers from Canada, Japan, Norway and other nations.

Were working very hard for that, he said, referring to a stronger deal.

Im confident that we are going to see a different text, he told Bloomberg News. But, you know, we are working on that. Im hopeful. I really am hopeful.

Just before going into the meeting, ministers gathered for an impromptu huddle. Kerry smiled as he spoke to the assembled negotiators, at one point slapping two on the back. Music from a nearby restaurant thrummed in the background.

Theres a sudden mood of optimism around Expo City. COP28 CEO Adnan Amin, a key lieutenant of the summits president, Sultan Al Jaber, just told reporters were on the cusp of a deal. Meanwhile, a big group of ministers is wating outside the presidency office for a briefing.

2023 Bloomberg L.P.

Additional reporting by Tracy Heindrichs
After switching from Lightning to USB-C and announcing support for RCS in Messages in 2024, Apple might have one more surprise for iPhone critics: On Tuesday, Reuters reported that Apple will allow other companies to access its Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology. Citing three people familiar with the matter, Apple is taking action to settle European Commission antitrust charges, as well as a possible monetary fine.

Apple uses NFC for its tap-and-go payment system, Apple Pay, but does not allow other companies access to the technology. The EC brought up antitrust charges, citing that Apples practice gave the company an unfair advantage. With access to NFC, other companies will be able to develop payment systems to compete with Apple.

According to Reuters, the EC is considering Apples offer to open access. It will be asking for feedback from rivals and customers to determine whether Apples offer is acceptable. The EC did not provide Reuters with an official comment on the matter.

Reuters did not state if Apples NFC policy change will apply only to the European Union. Since Apple is not facing similar antitrust charges in the U.S., the company could leave its current practice in place.

The change in NFC policy is just one of several changes that Apple has made due to policies in the EU. Most notably, Apple ditched its Lightning connector in its new iPhones this year and has promised to support RCS in 2024. There are also reports that it will allow third-party app stores in Europe, and Apple is currently fighting an EU antitrust charge involving Apple Music.
Manchester, VT (05254)

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Cloudy skies with afternoon snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%..

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Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 31F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
News / National

by Staff reporter

WITH his close business ally John Muyashavanhu now confirmed as the incoming Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor, George Guvamatanga as Finance permanent secretary  chief accounting officer of the ministry  and his son David Kudakwashe deputy Finance minister understudying his immediate boss Mthuli Ncube, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has now taken full control of the levers of Treasury.As part of his power consolidation strategy and shady financial engineering plans, Mnangagwa now fully controls the country's purse strings. The ministry of Finance is the national Treasury, while RBZ is government's banker.The ministry and RBZ control the country's financial architecture, banks and other financial services institutions, hence financial intermediation.With his loyalists in charge, Mnangagwa has free rein on fiscal and monetary policies, the financial system and its services, budget process and national revenue and expenditure, as well as assets and liabilities, public entities and state constitutions.His power was recently demonstrated during the recent budget presentation where Ncube revealed he was merely delivering his boss' spending plan.The controversial commandeering of state enterprises and public assets into the Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF) without following constitutional and legal processes also helped to demonstrate the President's octopus grip on public affairs.On Mnangagwa's watch, the government and his close allies are tightening their grip on CBZ Holdings, the country's largest financial services institution running the biggest bank.As first reported by The NewsHawks two years ago, the project is gathering momentum.On 3 September 2021, we exclusively reported that the government, bankers and investors, including local business tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei, are working on a plan to create the biggest financial services institution in Zimbabwe, with an asset base of over US$2.5 billion.Now the deal  which will change the financial landscape of the country  is in the process of being consummated.The core of the project will involve merging leading financial institutions, including CBZ Holdings, ZB Financial Holdings, First Mutual Holdings Limited (FMHL) and First Mutual Properties (FMP).The new institution  which will have a footprint on local and regional markets  will involve serious financial engineering and megabucks.It will have five major divisions: banking, insurance, investment, property and agriculture.Marc Holtzman His axis with Mnangagwa and CBZ BankThe merger and subsequent consolidation process were led by outgoing CBZ chairperson Marc Holtzman, an American international banker, who was appointed on 1 September 2019.In a notice to shareholders this week, CBZ announced the departure of Holtzman and chief executive Blessing Mudavanhu. Luxon Zembe is now acting chair, while Lawrence Nyazema is acting chief executive.The shock departures come as CBZ has assumed a controlling stake in ZB in a transaction that strategically positions it to increase capacity and dominate the market.As part of its growth and expansionary drive, CBZ has already concluded a 31.2% purchase in FMHL from the former majority shareholder, the National Social Security Authority (Nssa), which once held 65.5% shareholding.Apart from that, Mnangagwa's government also has plans to merge six financial institutions into three big ones in a consolidation process different from the CBZ, ZB, FMHL and FMP one.The other mergers being considered involve a merger of FBC, in which Nssa is the single largest shareholder, and National Building Society (NBS), a wholly-owned Nssa subsidiary.Although Mushayavanhu, Guvamatanga and the President's son are professionals in their own right who deserve to serve in public positions if they have relevant qualifications and experience, they were not appointed strictly on meritocracy, but mainly on patronage.To Mnangagwa, ethnicity, clansmanship and loyalty also matter a lot.Some enlightened and exposed Zimbabweans rightly frown upon ethnic politics, preferring the meritocracy model which has a proven track record of building prosperous nations such as Singapore, China and other southeast Asian economic tigers, for instance, but the reality is under Mnangagwa villagisation of government is now a political project and an undeclared public policy.In the process, Mnangagwa's murky clan networks and shady arrangements have penetrated and taken control of state institutions.The late former president Robert Mugabe did it as he positioned his own people to run government and establish political hegemony that kept him in power for 37 years, but Mnangagwa is brazen about it  he has taken clan politics to a new level.His clan-based appointments and patronage system; stripping state assets to feed his clan networks, while crowding out other mechanisms of diversity and national representation, have intensified since the August general elections.Mnangagwa's cabinet appointments, civil service deployments and control of strategic positions have placed his clansmen from the Midlands and Masvingo in control, fuelling undesirable ethnic tensions.Mnangagwa's programme of villagisation of government through systematic ethnicisation of state institutions to ensure political and ethnic supremacy gathered momentum recently when he brought in Gutu West MP John Paradza as Environment, Climate and Wildlife deputy minister and former Midlands minister of State Larry Mavima as Public Service Commission boss against the backdrop of the appointment of a village cabinet.Paradza's position was kept for him until after the delayed election in his constituency. The poll had been postponed as required by the law beyond the general elections due to the death in a road accident of independent candidate for Gutu West, Christopher Mutonhori Rwodzi .The President reserved the position for Paradza.Mnangagwa recently came under fierce attack following the controversial elections after which he threw wide open the floodgates for ethnic and political cronies, and relatives to get into government through the village cabinet.Zanu-PF has a long history of politicising and weaponising ethnicity to secure and retain political power.Mnangagwa's appointments undermine formal institutions, and create an underworld coterie of self-serving networks best understood as clan politics.Mushayavanhu's appointment falls neatly into that pattern.It was an appointment that was an open secret in terms of its inevitability. Every informed Zimbabwean knew Mnangagwa would appoint Mushayavanhu, currently FBC Holdings (FBCH) chief executive, the new RBZ governor once the incumbent John Mangudya completes his term on 30 April 2024.Even well before Mnangagwa became President, it was also known that once he took over  which subsequently happened through a coup in November 2017  there were certain individuals who would occupy senior political, bureaucratic and technocratic positions in his government.Mushayavanhu was one of them.He is part of the inner circle. Mushayavanhu is Mnangagwa's close political, business and personal associate. Some say they are also related.Out there, Mushayavanhu is known as Mnangagwa's close and trusted business associate, having worked with him in the nexus between Zanu-PF companies, local business circles and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) investment adventures during the Congo War from 1998-2002.Mnangagwa  Mugabe's point man on the war even though he was not Defence minister then  and Zimbabwe's military networks through Operation Sovereign Legitimacy (Osleg) and associated companies were accused by the United Nations of looting in the DRC.In 2008, the United States sanctioned Thamer Bin Saeed Ahmed Al-Shanfari, an Omani national with close ties to the Mugabe regime and his top officials then, as well as his company, Oryx Natural Resources, which mined diamonds in the DRC. Zimbabwe's military company Osleg (Pvt) Ltd was also sanctioned.Al-Shanfari has since fled Zimbabwe running from some unresolved local crimes.Given his closeness to Mnangagwa, Mushayavanhu was certain to replace his namesake John Mangudya.Before that, Mnangagwa's political allies were so impatient such that they wanted Mushayavanhu to replace Mangudya in 2019 when his first term ended. There was a big fight for Mangudya to get a second term.Mnangagwa however allowed Mangudya to finish his term. The President reportedly has a soft spot for Mangudya.That is why he has appointed him the new chief executive of the Mutapa Investment Fund, formerly the Sovereign Wealth Fund headed by his former central bank deputy Khuphukile Mlambo.The Mutapa Investment Fund has taken over more than 20 state enterprises, becoming a super-parastatal, a behemoth. That gives Mangudya a new powerful position, much more influential than the RBZ job despite the opaqueness of the arrangement.Even Mangudya's new role was already well-known in the market months ago.The NewsHawks and many other people had heard of it months before its official confirmation.Yet it is Mushayavanhu's new appointment that has further shown how Mnangagwa operates in the shadows. He is surrounded by cronies, close relatives and friends  clansmen. Mushayavanhu hails from Masvingo and fits the bill.Interestingly, his appointment was announced by Mnangagwa's relative Martin Rushwaya, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet.Rushwaya replaced another Mnangagwa relative Misheck Sibanda from the Midlands appointed by Mugabe who also practiced the same politics as his successor.Mushayavanhu worked with Mnangagwa in the DRC and the President's close business allies  the Joshi family (Jayant, Manharlal, Ketan and Heena) which was embedded in mostly defunct Zanu-PF businesses  on deals involving the Zuva Petroleum takeover from Masawara, owned by local tycoon Shingi Mutasa, in 2014. The Joshi family was put in Zanu-PF businesses by Mnangagwa when he was Zanu-PF treasurer in the early years of Mugabe's rule.The Masawara and later Zuva assets were initially owned by the London headquartered oil and gas multinational, BP & Shell.Mushayavanhu executed the US$29.3 million Zuva deal on behalf of the Joshi family through his Wobble Investments. Glencore, one of the largest global diversified natural resource companies in the world, funded the convoluted transaction.Mnangagwa lurked in the shadows of the transaction.More recently, Mushayavanhu led the acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank assets in Zimbabwe by FBCH, a Nssa-controlled financial services group with strong Zanu-PF links.Under the agreement, FBCH will acquire 100% of the shareholding in Standard Chartered Bank (Zimbabwe) Limited and, by extension, the custodial services business that is wholly owned by the local British bank subsidiary.As part of the agreement, FBCH will also acquire the economic interest in Africa Enterprise Network Trust whose main asset is 20.7% shareholding in Mashonaland Holdings.FBCH will continue to employ all of Standard Chartered's employees. The two banks will work closely in the coming months to provide a seamless transition for its clients and staff.Mushayavanhu said the acquisition enables FBCH to consolidate its banking market share, customer base and market competitiveness in a rapidly changing banking landscape.Mushayavanhu said: "We are pleased to sign this agreement today and to have been selected by Standard Chartered Bank as the preferred buyer. Standard Chartered is a leading regional and international bank with more than 150 years of experience globally. The bank has been present in Zimbabwe for more than 130 years. Equally, FBCH is a leading financial services group in Zimbabwe and the region, with interests in commercial banking, insurance, re-insurance, micro-finance, stockbroking and mortgage finance. The combined strengths of the two institutions will enable us to better respond to the ever-changing requirements of our clients."In April 2022, Standard Chartered strategically decided to divest from a number of markets, namely Lebanon, Angola, Cameroon, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and Jordan, and to exit the Consumer Private and Business Banking business in Cote d'Ivoire and Tanzania.The bank announced its sale of its business in Jordan earlier in March this year.A career banker, Mushayavanhu has over 30 years' experience in the financial services sector, gained through senior positions in corporate and retail banking he held with the local bank.He joined FBC Bank, which has links with murky Zanu-PF business interests, as an executive director in the corporate banking division in October 1997.It was still called First Banking Corporation, running First Bank. After it was rebranded FBC Holdings in 2004, he was appointed managing director and deputy group chief executive.He then became chief executive of FBC Holdings in June 2011. He is past president of the Bankers' Association of Zimbabwe and he sits on many boards.FBC's roots are traceable to Zanu-PF.Zanu-PF shelf companies had a combined 32.05% stake FBCH) which controlled the then First Bank, Southern Africa Reinsurance (Sare), and troubled National Discount House.The shareholding in FBCH was initially structured as follows: Segmented Investments 13.76%, Hustonville 4.36%, Amelia 3.54%, Tescrom 3.54%, M&S 3.06%, Smoothnest 3.06% and Ryobi Investments 0.82%.Before the transformation, Zanu-PF was represented in First Banking Corporation through AM Treger and Zidco Holdings, which held 13.5% each. M&S Investments and Smoothnest Investments had a combined shareholding of 37.84% in Sare, split equally between the two shelf companies used for sanctions busting by the ruling party.Zanu-PF formed FBC because it wanted a bank to rely on whenever it needed to borrow money. It used to borrow money from the CBZ Bank, which then came under South Africa's Absa financial services group, closing the credit tap.CBZ Bank is now once again under Zanu-PF and government sphere of influence after Absa divested. Mnangagwa's government is supervising the new CBZ project.Zanu-PF representatives in the bank were Jayant Joshi standing in for AM Treger and Dipak Pandya for Zidco Holdings, a company in which the ruling party had an interest. First Bank, later FBC, had a management contract in the DRC, which later collapsed.The directors of First Bank DRC were Mnangagwa, then Zanu-PF secretary for administration, Livingstone Gwata, Webster Rusere, Dipak Pandya and Mushayavanhu.Mushayavanhu's appointment to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor is a culmination of a long history of networks, loyalties and a manifestation of a web of an intersection of political, business and personal interests, compounded by the running thread of clan politics.
Manchester, VT (05254)

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Cloudy with snow showers developing for the afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%..

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Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low around 30F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn.  Low-cost carrier Breeze Airways will launch nonstop seasonal service between Bradley International Airport and Orlando International Airport three times a week.

Breeze will offer service between Bradley  the airport for the Springfield-Hartford area  and John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California. The flight will operate five days a week as part of the airlines BreezeThru service, which includes one stop, but without a plane change.

Both new routes will start on May 29, with one-way fares starting from $59 aboard the airlines Airbus A220 aircraft.

We appreciate Breezes continued partnership in bringing low-fares and so many convenient travel options to Bradley International Airport passengers, said Kevin A. Dillon, Connecticut Airport Authority executive director, in a statement. The new nonstop to Orlando and BreezeThru to Santa Ana are terrific additions to the airlines growing footprint at the airport.

24 1 / 24 OUTLOOK 2023 - Bradley International Airport

Breeze Airways flies nonstop between Bradley and Charleston, South Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; Las Vegas, Nevada; Phoenix, Arizona; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; and Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Tampa and Vero Beach, Florida.

Breeze has served Bradley International Airport since our very first day of operations, and Hartford was one of our first few bases of operations, said Breeze Airways President Tom Doxey. These two new routes to Orlando and Orange County will connect our guests with two great family-friendly destinations  and access to both Disney parks.

Bradley International Airport contributes nearly $3.6 billion to the regional economy.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE controversial weekend by-elections were significant for two main things: They gave the ruling Zanu-PF a two-thirds parliamentary and a return to Bulawayo from rural exile.The polls brought back Zanu-PF in Bulawayo with more than one seat for the first time since 2000  courtesy of opposition activist Sengezo Tshabangu who caused the polls through recalls of popularly elected MPs and other people's representatives.Zanu-PF, now a rural party since 2000 due to its political and economic governance failures, had been wiped out of Bulawayo in the August general elections.Prior to that, Zanu-PF had one seat in the city  Bulawayo South. Now Zanu-PF is back with three seats handed over to them by Tshabangu.In Harare, Tshabangu also handed over Mabvuku-Tafara to Zanu-PF, further exposing what his real agenda is.Initially acting out of blind rage and vindictivenesss over the issue of candidates imposition, Tshabangu is clearly now working with Zanu-PF, government and state security forces, as well as bitter individuals to help the ruling party get a two-thirds majority via the back door to change the constitution as they wish.In total, Zanu-PF got seven new more seats after the Tshabangu fiasco. Zanu-PF added Beitbridge West, Nketa, Cowdray Park, Bulawayo South, Lupane, Binga North and Mabvuku-Tafara to their tally, securing a two-thirds parliamentary majority. The new Zanu-PF MPs are: *Thusani Ndou (Beitbridge); *Arthur Mujeyi (Cowdray Park, Bulawayo); *Albert Mavhunga (Nketa, Bulawayo); *Raj Modi (Bulawayo South); *Pathisiwe Machangu (Lupane); *Muchimba Chineka (Binga North); and *Pedzai Scott Sakupwanya (Mabvuku-Tafara).Tshabangu's CCC faction won in Lobengula-Magwegwe (Tendai Nyathi Chitura) and Mpopoma-Mzilikazi (Charles Moyo). In the end, Zanu-PF benefitted more, while CCC was barred from contesting. Democracy was the biggest loser.As critical lessons drawn from by-elections begin to emerge and be publicly interpreted meaningfully to shed insight into recent political events, the controversial polls completely exposed posturing activist Tshabangu's fallacies and wilful falsehoods that he represents the interests of the people sidelined in the main opposition CCC led by Nelson Chamisa.One constituency particularly showed that Tshabangu was completely out of touch with reality and has been lying to the people about his real agenda.In Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, all candidates that Tshabangu  who is unelectable himself  fielded claiming they were from the people and were sidelined, lost heavily in the election that was not even competitive in the absence of arbitrarily recalled and disqualified CCC candidates who always win in towns.Courtesy of Tshabangu, now Cowdray Park constituency has ended up in the hands of Zanu-PF under Mujeyi. Tshabangu removed the CCC's popular MP Pashor Raphael Sibanda from the constituency.Sibanda defeated Finance minister Mthuli Ncube in the August general elections. What transpired in Cowdray Park has simply benefitted Zanu-PF, while robbing CCC and undermining democracy  thanks to Tshabangu and his opportunistic handlers.To further demonstrate that Tshabangu has no support among the people, councillor Nkosinathi Hove-Mpofu who was recalled has been re-elected by the residents of Ward 6 in Cowdray Park.People know who they want.Tshabangu's agenda is not to fix main opposition CCC internal democracy problems  which are there  but to help Zanu-PF get a two-thirds parliamentary majority to change the constitution as they wish for their own political ends, and then name the price himself for personal benefit.
SPRINGFIELD  After being indicted by a statewide grand jury in Boston, a city woman is charged with 16 criminal counts related to stealing from the elderly, her former employer and a bank.

According to court records, Kaylie Giberson stole thousands of dollars while working as a Medicaid consultant with a Wilbraham firm. Indictments recently transferred to Hampden Superior Court allege that Giberson forged signatures to gain power of attorney and stole amounts from victims over 60 ranging from $150 to $7,000.

According to investigators connected to state Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbells office, Giberson bilked her former employer, Brunelle Medicaid Consulting of Wilbraham, and Fidelity Bank in the scheme.

I am proud of my team for securing these indictments against an individual who preyed upon and took advantage of vulnerable elders, Campbell said in a statement. My office will continue to do all it can to advance elder justice and ensure that all who seek and use our public resources, including MassHealth, are protected from such harm and exploitation.

Giberson has not yet been scheduled for an arraignment.

Court records do not indicate whether she has an attorney, and Giberson could not be reached for comment.
The 18-year-old high school senior from Malden killed in a crash on Wednesday is being remembered for his fun-loving personality, especially when it came to his true passion: trucks.

Robert Bobby Joseph Giardino died on Dec. 6, after the pickup truck he and three teens were in overturned into the woods in Middleton. Giardino had to be freed from the truck and later died at the hospital, police said.

The 18-year-old was a senior majoring in plumbing at Northeast Regional Vocational High School, or Northeast Metro Tech, a vocational high school in Wakefield. He worked for Powder House Plumbing while attending school, his obituary said.

The seniors high school superintendent announced the tragic loss to his community on Dec. 7. Giardino was born in Florida and was a longtime resident of Malden, his obituary said.

Bobby was never more in his element than when he was working on his truck and doing donuts in J Lot with his friends, his loved ones wrote. Bobby was the go-to for his friends especially when it came to helping them with their trucks, since he had all Milwaukee tools.

The 18-year-old had very active TikTok and Instagram accounts (both @Bobs_5.4) where he posted almost exclusively about his adventures with friends in videos of him mudding, driving and showing off his silver Ford pickup.

In the comment section of the last video he posted on TikTok, friends gathered to share memories and mourn for Giardino.

The most amazing human to step foot on this cruel earth. I will never understand why god called you home so early. You were too good for this place, commented Claudia Breen. Give heaven some hell for us buddy.

Fly high Bobby, you were a great kid and lots of people loved you man, wrote Charlie Matsas.

And in his obituary, Giardinos loved ones even mentioned the vibrant teens dinner of choice: a McDonalds burger.

Driving around on an empty tank didnt stop him from going to McDonalds to grab a bacon cheeseburger minus the onions, which seems to have been his favorite meal since he ranked over 70k in reward points, his obituary read.

Bobby will be forever loved and never forgotten. Bobs_5.4 will forever live on, his loved ones wrote.

Giardino left behind his mother and father, David P. and Ana Giardino, along with his grandfather and many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, co-workers, the entirety of Truck Mafia and his dog, Snuffy, his obituary read.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours for Giardino, which will be held at the A.J. Spadafora Funeral Home, at 865 Main St. in Malden on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. A prayer service will follow at noon; the teens interment services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, Giardinos loved ones asked for donations to be made in his memory to the Animal Rescue League of Boston, at arlboston.org.
A massive mixed-use development on Lynns waterfront is expected to bring 850 units of much-needed housing to the North Shore city on a former landfill site that has been vacant for 40 years, making it the largest private investment in the citys history.

Despite the positives the South Harbor project, which follows Lynns 2019 Municipal Waterfront Master Plan, will bring, some residents are worried about two aspects of it: the amount of affordable housing included, and a proposed $45 million tax break for the developer.

As its currently envisioned, that tax break from the city government likely would mean the creation of a highly-segregated new neighborhood in the city on our waterfront, Lynn United for Change Director Isaac Simon Hodes told MassLive.

We want to see development in our city, but it has to be development thats inclusive, thats going to ensure that current residents who are struggling to find decent affordable housing will get some of the benefit, Hodes continued. ... If the city is going to support a developer with a tax break and help them make a profit, there really needs to be serious benefits and inclusion of lower-income working class people and communities of color.

The site is part of a 305-acre area southeast of the section of Route 1A known as the Lynnway between the General Edwards Bridge, which connects Lynn and Revere, and Nahant Beach Reservation. This area is further divided into three sections, including South Harbor, which is closest to Reveres border.

The $450 million project, which is being developed by Boston-based Samuels & Associates, consists of several components designed to encourage Lynn residents to visit the area. In addition to the 850 apartments, it is expected to include commercial space, and an 8 acre public waterfront park and promenade.

Ten percent of the apartments included in the plans, or 85, will be designated as affordable for residents making 60% of the area median income, a requirement Mayor Jared Nicholson said was negotiated between the developer and the city.

It takes a lot thats been vacant for decades, that is incredibly prominent ... and offers a development that has been what were hoping for, Nicholson said. Thats inclusive, that provides for not only needed housing but housing thats affordable for Lynn residents, housing that is part of a development that includes commercial space so that folks from all over the city have a reason to be there and enjoy it.

A tax break of approximately $45 million over 20 years to Samuels & Associates has been proposed to facilitate the project. Once the project is complete, the property is expected to go from contributing $60,000 to the citys tax base annually, as it does now, to $6 million.

A third-party consultant hired by the city said without the tax incentive, the affordable housing component of the South Harbor development would not be financially feasible.

Its not that we wouldnt love to see a private development also be able to contribute to lower AMI housing, Nicholson said. Its just not feasible. The economics dont work.

While more affordable housing may not be financially possible for South Harbor, Nicholson said the city is actively working on creating it in other places throughout Lynn, including through its Affordable Housing Trust Fund established last year.

For local advocates, the affordability is not enough for the city, which has a 14% poverty rate, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The 60% AMI income limit set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the area for a family of four is just over $89,000, while the Census lists the median household income for a renter family in Lynn as just $37,159.

A petition started by the activist organizations in opposition to the tax incentive compares the plan to Bostons Seaport, the redevelopment of which resulted in an almost entirely high-income, mostly white neighborhood.

We recognize that (the tax break) may be necessary to make the project viable, but also recognize that if the city is going to be giving such a large and long lasting tax break, we feel (they should be) coming back to the negotiating table to try to get some more level of benefit to arguably the main crisis facing facing the city of Lynn which is a lack of affordable places to live for average renters, Gabe Cohen-Glick, the Lynn organizer with the advocacy group Neighbor 2 Neighbor said. They should pursue all means possible to increase affordability.

Another complaint from the activists is a perceived lack of transparency from the city over what will be one of its largest development projects ever.

The plans for the project were not revealed to the public until last month, when Nicholson presented them to the City Council at its Nov. 14 meeting after they had received site plan approval, in order to ask the council for its blessing on the tax break.

It isnt anything new. Its been in development for years, and we havent been told anything, Dania De La Cruz, another organizer with Neighbor 2 Neighbor, said. They didnt give us enough time or the opportunity to voice our opinions and voice our concerns for these issues. So really, this is also just a plea for a seat at the table.

Nicholson said he sees it another way: the project fits into multiple guiding plans established in Lynn over the last few years, all of which were built from extensive community input. In addition to the Municipal Waterfront Master Plan, the 2021 Housing Lynn Plan made it clear that residents wanted more housing, and fast.

Read more: Land taken from Boston homeowners in 1970s now being used to ease housing crisis

In their petition, the activists outlined several changes that would make them more amenable to the project.

First, the number of affordable apartments could be increased, the level of affordability could be adjusted to be more in line with the typical Lynn renter and a preference for current or recent Lynn residents could be added.

They also suggested requiring a commitment from the developer to keeping an additional portion of the units at or below the maximum allowed rent for housing choice vouchers, using funding sources outside of the city to be able to increase affordability, and requiring a small portion of annual surplus from the project be contributed to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

After meeting with the activists late last week, Nicholson told MassLive Monday that the plan would largely go forward as presented, but that the city did hope to include a provision for local preference.

The Lynn City Council is expected to vote on the tax incentive at its Tuesday night meeting.

Samuels & Associates did not respond to requests for comment. The firm is known for major development projects in Boston, especially in the Fenway neighborhood.

Construction is not expected to start for at least 18 months and will take over a decade.
The man suspected of killing Fermin Baez in 2021 was arrested Monday.

Around 5 p.m., Boston police arrested Zykaris Hamilton, 19, of Mattapan, in the area of 450 Canterbury St. Police said he was wanted on warrants for murder and unlawful possession of a firearm issued out of Suffolk Superior Court in connection with the death of Baez, 32, of Dorchester.

Baez was shot around 8:45 p.m. on June 7, 2021 near 1510 Tremont St. Officers said they found Baez with life threatening injuries and brought him to the hosptial. But he later died.

Boston police are continuing to investigate the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at (617) 343-4470.

Community members can also contact police anonymously by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463).

Hamilton is expected to be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court.
The Bay States top lawyer has joined with her colleagues in other states to call on a federal appeals court to uphold Californias assault weapons ban, arguing that the law protects both public safety and gun rights.

The push by state Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell and attorneys general in 18 other states and the District of Columbia comes even as Massachusetts lawmakers eye a package of gun law reforms that includes an expansion of the commonwealths existing assault weapons ban.

In a statement, Campbell, who co-led the amicus brief filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, with New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, said she and her colleagues are committed to protecting our commonsense gun laws including restrictions on assault weapons which are exceptionally dangerous and have enabled some of the deadliest mass shootings in recent memory.

The case now before the appellate panel, Miller v. Bonta, was brought by was brought by several Golden State residents who wanted to own firearms such as the AR-15, in addition to several gun rights group, including the Firearms Policy Coalition, the California Gun Rights Foundation and the Second Amendment Foundation, Reuters reported.

In October, U.S. District Judge Judge Roger Benitez declared the Golden States law unconstitutional, ruling that the 1989-vintage prohibition on semi-automatic weapons would not stand under last years U.S. Supreme Court ruling that expanded gun rights, Reuters reported.

The lower court issued a preliminary injunction, which has been stayed while it considers Californias appeal. That means the law remains in effect for now, Campbells office said in a statement.

In their friend-of-the court filing, Campbell and the other attorneys general argue that there are three ways that Californias assault weapons ban is a constitutionally permissible restriction.

Those include the fact that states can  and do  impose restrictions on dangerous weapons, accessories, and ammunition that pose a threat to public safety; that assault weapons are not protected by the 2nd Amendment because theyre not commonly used or suitable for self-defense, and that Californias ban is is consistent with a historical tradition of states regulating and imposing restrictions on new and distinctively dangerous forms of weaponry.

Last month, Campbell and Platkin co-led an amicus brief in a similar case, supporting Californias efforts to restrict the capacity of large-capacity magazines.

Campbell and Platkin were joined in Tuesdays filing by attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
Police arrested two suspects in South Boston Monday evening after an SUV potentially connected to a Boston shooting sparked a car chase through the city, Massachusetts State Police said. The two suspects were charged in connection with the chase on Tuesday.

The driver, 23-year-old Bridgewater resident Kailyn Almeida, is facing a slew of charges including assault with a dangerous weapon, negligent operation and malicious destruction of property over $1,200, according to state police spokesperson David Procopio. The passenger, 30-year-old Malden resident Christopher Meade, already had a warrant out for his arrest and is now facing additional firearms and drug charges.

Read more: Police: Teen found stabbed to death in Boston alley

The car chase began around 10:20 p.m. after a trooper noticed the SUV  a 2023 GMC Acadia  coming into Dorchester via the Neponset Avenue bridge, Procopio said. The trooper turned on his emergency lights and tried to stop the SUV, but Almeida immediately accelerated and fled onto Morrissey Boulevard.

Almeida continued driving into South Boston and at some point hit a Boston police cruiser. Procopio listed this as the reason for the property destruction charge.

Eventually, the Acadia made it onto Castle Island where it was damaged by a tire deflation device, Procopio said. Almeida and Meade then got out of the SUV and tried to run away, but they were soon arrested in the area of F Street and West 1st Street.

Read more: Man suspected of killing Fermin Baez in 2021 arrested

Police recovered firearm and ballistics evidence from the ground next to the Acadia, Procopio said. Boston police are investigating both the suspects and the SUVs possible connection to a shooting, but Procopio did not say what shooting they are potentially connected to.

The chase resulted in a massive police presence in South Boston. Videos of the scene were shared widely on social media Monday night.
Boston police found an 18-year-old man dead from a stab wound in an alleyway in Bostons Roslindale neighborhood Monday evening, according to police.

Officers responded to 63 Bradeen St. for a report of a person stabbed just after 5:30 p.m., police said in a press release. There, they found a man with a life-threatening stab wound. Emergency services rushed him to a hospital, but he was soon declared dead.

Boston Police Superintendent Felipe Colon told reporters Monday night that the victim was 18 years old and that officers found him in an alleyway. Police had not identified a suspect or found the murder weapon Monday night, but officers were in the process of canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses and gathering security video of the area.

No further information about the stabbing has been released, including the victims identity. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call homicide detectives at 617-343-4470 or contact police anonymously by calling 1-(800)-494-TIPS.
A solo car that crashed near a four-way intersection in Easthampton resulted in the death of the driver Tuesday morning, Nouthwestern District Attorney David Sullivans office announced.

The 21-year-old Southampton mans car was driving east at around 6:40 a.m. on Pomeroy Meadow Road when his car did not stop at a stop sign, Sullivans office said in a statement. The car went through the intersection, made up of Loudville Road, Glendale Street, Pomeroy Meadow Road and West Street, and crashed into a guardrail near the southeast corner of the intersection.

His car went airborne before landing in a field, stopping in a wooded area, Sullivans office said. When first responders arrived, the driver was pronounced dead.

First responders comprised of the Easthampton Police and Fire departments, as well as the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and Crime Scene Services and state police detectives.

Roads were closed with detours to allow traffic to pass near the crash site, not lifting until 1:15 p.m., Sullivans office said.

The crash and what caused it remains under investigation, with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner yet to determine the drivers cause of death, Sullivans office said. The drivers name was not released in the district attorneys statement.
The Legislature and Gov. Maura Healey last week quietly restored a policy to offer state-funded food benefits for immigrants who are in the U.S. legally, but who are not citizens.

The benefits expansion authorized in a $3.1 billion spending bill will cost about $6 million, which advocates say will last seven months.

Massachusetts used to be one of six states that offered Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to all legal immigrants who met the programs income requirements. The state halted funding for the program after five years in 2002, and other five states offer these benefits.

With the influx of thousands of new immigrants into Massachusetts over the past year, immigration and anti-homelessness advocates called for the state to again expand food benefits for low-income populations who are excluded from federal benefit programs.

This is going to be huge for our families. This is going to be such a relief for many of them because theyre dealing with so much on their plate, said Norieliz DeJesus, policy and organizing director at Chelsea-based La Colaborativa community group.

La Colaborativa runs a twice-weekly food pantry under the Tobin Bridge, which sees about 10,000 people every week who line up for food. DeJesus said that number has increased significantly in the past year, as the number of new immigrants in Massachusetts has grown.

Hungry families begin lining up at 6 a.m., she said, though La Colaborativa does not begin to hand out food until 3 p.m. Many of these families are here legally but do not have federal authorization to work, and cannot qualify for federal benefits due to their immigration status, leaving them with few options to take care of themselves and their children, DeJesus said.

Expanding SNAP benefits so these individuals can shop at a grocery store instead of waiting in line at the food pantry will have a big impact, she said.

Its not going to resolve everything theyre going through, but just knowing that they dont have to be under the pressure of making the food line on time or missing a day at work or leaving the food line in time to pick up their child from school, DeJesus said. Those are the things theyre constantly stressing about while theyre in line, so that at least will not be part of the equation.

Theres a complicated patchwork of rules about which immigrants can access federal benefits, said Massachusetts Law Reform Institute senior policy advocate Pat Baker.

Immigrants ineligible for federal benefits who will now have the chance to access state SNAP include humanitarian parolees and those here under the color of law which could include some applicants for asylum, immigrants granted temporary protected status and others who are lawfully present and have work authorizations but are not considered qualified for benefits.

This includes many of the new immigrants coming into Massachusetts from Central and South America, who are here with permission from the federal government, Baker said.

In addition, Ukrainian refugees immigration status is being changed from humanitarian parolees to temporary protected status, meaning they will go from qualifying for federal SNAP to no longer being able to access the benefits, Baker said.

In Massachusetts, the maximum SNAP payment for one person is $291 per month, $535 for two people, and $766 for a family of three, according to MLRI.

Weve had this really historic, long-standing gap in access to basic food and SNAP benefits since 1996 when the Welfare Reform Law came through, and it just slashed and burned federal programs, including SNAP and cash benefits. And then we had the Massachusetts benefits for five years, and that picked up a lot of these populations, Baker said.

She added, Congress has not kept up with making sure certain populations were welcoming to the country can also survive the transition period. And the Biden administration authorized humanitarian parole for many new arrivals, but they dont get work authorization so they cant support themselves, and at the same time they cant get benefits.

The number of people in the Emergency Assistance shelter system has more than doubled since this time last year, with over half of the new entrants coming from other countries legally under federal immigration laws.

As Massachusetts continues to address the challenges associated with the ongoing humanitarian crisis, its critical that both the Commonwealths most vulnerable residents and legally present immigrants have access to SNAP benefits so they are able to feed their families, part of a broader effort to ensure that no child in Massachusetts goes hungry, House Speaker Ron Mariano said in a statement shared with the News Service on Monday.

The House last month included the $6 million in SNAP funding in its version of the supplemental budget. The Senate did not include the funding in its bill, but the House-Senate compromise bill Healey signed into law did include the measure.

Massachusetts is better off when the most vulnerable in our communities are cared for, Senate President Karen Spilka said in a statement. Access to food is a priority, no matter where you come from or what part of the Commonwealth you live in, and I was happy to see aid for that purpose included in the supplemental budget.

Both Baker and DeJesus said they hope Healey will include funding to continue the nutrition benefits in her fiscal year 2025 proposal.

DeJesus said the SNAP expansion is particularly impactful during the holiday season.

Now that Christmas is coming up and New Years, and for our Latino community often they celebrate Three Kings Day in January. So those are all things that have various specific dishes that remind them of back home, and theyll be able to provide that for their family, she said. It provides them with a sense of dignity.
Driven by a substantial headcount increase at the commonwealths 15 community colleges, Massachusetts public colleges have logged their first spike in undergraduate enrollment in nearly a decade, new state data show.

Public undergraduate enrollment across the state rose nearly 3%, or nearly 4,000 students, from last fall, the Healey administration said Tuesday, reversing a 9-year trend, aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

That brings the total undergraduate enrollment across all three segments of the states public education system to nearly 153,000 students, according to the administration.

The findings were made public during Tuesdays meeting of the state Board of Higher Education at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester.

Read More: The full data report can be found The full data report can be found here

Expanding access to higher education is critical for connecting students with the skills that are in demand by employers today and setting them on a path toward success in their future careers, Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement.

We are particularly excited to see a boost in enrollment at our 15 incredible community colleges following the launch of [the free community college program] MassReconnect. Were grateful for the partnership of the Legislature and our colleges and universities to expand these opportunities for our students, Healey continued.

The states community colleges gained 5,000 students, an 8% expansion, to their enrollment this fall, the administration said in its statement.

Among new community college students, those described as either new first-time or new transfer students, the increase was higher at an additional 12.2%, officials said. All 15 of the community colleges logged some kind of enrollment growth.

Other top-line findings:

Undergraduate enrollment at the nine state universities was down by 192 students, or 0.6%, this fall, after five years of more significant declines, the administration said. New first-time student enrollment jumped by 3.5% percent at the state universities, a sign that students are making their way back onto college paths, the administration said.

At the four UMass campuses, undergraduate enrollment was down by 1% percent from the prior fall, or 538 students. That year-over-year change was driven by small undergraduate enrollment declines at the largest, flagship campus of UMass Amherst, where enrollment has generally been growing steadily for 20 years, the administration said.

The other three UMass campuses (UMass Boston, UMass Lowell, and UMass Dartmouth) all showed increases in either overall undergraduate enrollment or new first-time undergraduate enrollment or both, the administration said.

The data supports anecdotes that Ive been hearing from students, faculty, staff, and families across the Commonwealthstudents are already taking advantage of the historic new opportunities available to them under the Healey-Driscoll administration, state Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler said.

Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega said the data was good news but only represents a first step, adding that his office remains committed to ensuring that all students who enroll in college complete their education.

Read More: UMass chancellor to speak at White House affirmative action strategy unveiling

On Tuesday, the Democratic administration highlighted some of the education spending it has undertaken, in partnership with the Legislature, since coming to power earlier this year.

That includes the $20 million MassReconnect program, which makes community college free for Massachusetts residents aged 25 and older; an $18 million appropriation in this years state budget underwriting community college nursing scholarships and program support; $25 million in financial aid for students pursuing in-demand careers, and a $62 million plan to expand financial aid at Massachusetts public institutions of higher education.

Opening the doors for more students to access higher education puts them on a path to build meaningful careers, meets the workforce needs of our industries, and strengthens our states economy as a whole, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, a Salem State University graduate, said. As an alumna of one of our incredible state universities, its even more meaningful to see this rebound in enrollment across our entire public education system.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Veteran educationist Akuneni Maphosa has been elected the new president of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association at the ongoing Zimta 39th Annual Conference in Harare.Maphosa won the post after polling 106 votes against Promise Keti's 14 votes during the elections held this afternoon.Maphosa replaced Richard Gundane who was the association's leader for the past 10 years.However, Zimta chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu announced that disciplinary proceedings against Tendeukayi Mukurunge, Albert Mukando, Jameson Mundava and Keti have been instituted. The quartet recently accused the association's leadership of overstaying in power.Ndlovu said the four were never chased away from the association but are on disciplinary probation and may appeal at the next national conference to rejoin."The four are undergoing some disciplinary hearings in the association and it is sad that they have decided to misuse their anger to misrepresent information in an association which they still want to be part of," he said."Zimta is a large union that is not only governed by law-abiding professionals, but also properly inducted personnel who follow procedures, processes and the constitution."Zimta's conference saw the election of a new leadership for the largest civil service employees' association with about 200 constitutionally appointed delegates from across Zimbabwe's 10 provinces attending.Meanwhile, Elizabeth Mahiyana and William Mufarinya were elected as the vice presidents while Goodwill Taderera retained his position as secretary general uncontested.Wilson Mangena was voted national treasurer, Lovemore Mapatsa is the new primary school teachers' representative while Petros Kawadza will represent colleagues from secondary schools.The new national tertiary representative is Evelyn Manyame.In his acceptance speech, Maphosa thanked the ZIMTA delegates for voting peacefully calling for unity among members for the success of the organisation."As the new president, my first task is to unite the organisation, members within the organisation, to create unity, create teams, and we work together."It is very normal that in any organisation you find disgruntled members, you find some people are disgruntled. But then that does not mean the organisation is in a crisis. It is very normal in an organisation."My first efforts will be to ensure that we remain united. We remain the strongest organisation in the country, and of course, we execute the mandate that we have been given by members by way of representing them, and by way of collective bargaining and by way of creating a dialogue with the employer to ensure that their welfare is uplifted."However, Mahiyana lamented the gender imbalance in the new executive."During this election, again, few women have been chosen to represent teachers, which is less than 50%. Far, much less than 50%. Even a quarter," she said.Mahiyana said she would use her tenure in office to empower women in the association.
WESTFIELD  Westfield High School student Brandon Cekovsky, of Boy Scout Troop 109 at St. Marys Church, is on a quest to build a U.S. flag retirement burn pit in Westfield for his Eagle Scout project.

According to the U.S. Flag Code, The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.
Tanzanias digital lifestyle telecommunication company, Tigo , which is a part of the Axian Telecom Group has won the prestigious Ookla Speedtest Award as the Fastest Mobile Network in Tanzania for the year 2023.

The Ookla Award is an elite designation reserved for fixed and mobile providers in a market, based on consumer-initiated tests and background scans from speed test applications.

Tigo has scooped the coveted award against the backdrop of the companys robust investment in its network modernization and upgrade across the country.

Speaking about the award, Tigo Chief Executive Officer, Kamal Okba said: We are excited and thrilled to win this much-sought-after award. The Ookla award is a clear demonstration that Tigos heavy investment in network modernization, new sites rollout and technology upgrade are paying off.

Since 2022, Tigo committed to invest over TZS 1 trillion within 5 years to improve and modernize its network infrastructure, an investment that has significantly enhanced the telecoms company customers digital experience hence led to Tigo earning local and international accolades, including the latest Ookla Speedtest award.

The Ookla Award presented to Tigo, recognize Tigos network quality and reliability following its huge investment in network upgrade, a fact that was underscored by Okba who said: We are currently executing an extensive modernization project to offer state-of-the-art and best in-class technology in each site including rural areas across Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar to improve experience, competitiveness and accelerate transformation of the digital economy.

Tigos mammoth investment has enabled it to launch the fastest (1Gbps) 5G technology in Tanzania in addition to upgrading all sites to 4G technology across all regions in Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar.

After conducting an in-depth analysis of consumer-initiated tests taken with Speedtest, Tigo has been named the Fastest Mobile Network in Tanzania by Ooklas Speedtest Awards, said Stephen Bye, President, and CEO of Ookla, a division of Ziff Davis.

This award is given to mobile network operators that demonstrate exceptional speed and performance in comparison to other major mobile networks in the market for Q2-Q3 2023. We are thrilled to acknowledge Tigo Tanzania for this achievement, which is the result of their unwavering focus on delivering a superior network experience to their customers. attributed to Stephen Bye, President and CEO of Ookla, a division of Ziff Davis

The Fastest Mobile Network in Tanzania award further attests to Tigos ambition to support the digital and financial transformation for our 18 million customers. Additionally, the deployment of cutting-edge technologies will benefit consumers and businesses across the country.
A long-standing volunteer fundraiser for Achill Island RNLI has been honoured by the charitys Chief Executive for her generous support of the Mayo lifeboat station and its work in saving lives at sea. Alexandra Van Tuyll, who has been volunteering for the charity since 1999, was presented with a framed 'Certificate of Thanks' by the RNLIs Head of Region, Anna Classon, during a recent visit to the lifeboat station.

The award, which was arranged by the Chairperson of the Fundraising Branch, Anthony McNamara, came as a surprise to Alexandra, who was honoured in front of many of her fellow fundraising volunteers and the Coxswain and Mechanic of the lifeboat station.

The official citation records that Alexandra Van Tuyll is awarded the RNLIs Certificate of Thanks in recognition of her generous support of Achill Island Lifeboat Station since 1999. Her contributions have included Christmas card sales, art exhibitions and donations. In 2012, she produced a magnificent publication titled Sea Meets Land, Around Ireland In Aid of the RNLI, showcasing her extensive visits to the stations around the coast of Ireland. Her valued contributions help the RNLI to save lives.

Speaking in presenting Alexandra with her award, the RNLIs Head of Region Anna Classon said: I feel I have come full circle in presenting this award. I started my career with the RNLI as a Fundraising Manager on the West Coast of Ireland and Alexandra was someone I came to know early on in that role. The lifeboat is a hugely important part of this community and having a fundraising group, who will step up and support the lifeboat crew, to ensure that they can save lives at sea, means that this work continues. From the range of fundraising activities that Alexandra has supported and continues to champion, that future is in good hands. This recognition is very much deserved and I am delighted to be here to present it.

Adding his thanks on behalf of the Achill Island RNLI fundraising branch, Anthony McNamara said: This is a fitting tribute to the work Alexandra does on behalf of the lifeboat service here in Achill. We have a wonderful team and the community are very generous in their support of our lifeboat crew. We couldnt do it without volunteers like Alexandra and her endless enthusiasm and dedication for raising vital funds for saving lives at sea. Long may it continue.

CAPTION FOR PICTURE

RNLI Head of Region Anna Classon presented Alexandra Van Tuyll with a framed 'Certificate of Thanks' for her years of volunteering. Alexandra is pictured outside Achill Island RNLI lifeboat station with Ms Classon, fundraising volunteers and representatives from station management and operational lifeboat crew.
A MEMBER of the HSEs Forum West has said the health service is in shambles after 25 people were left waiting on trollies in Mayo University Hospital yesterday (Monday)

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne has said that the current situation in the hospital is worse than he predicted, adding that he had never seen the health service in such a bad state.

This comes amid warnings from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), who have hit out at truly shocking figures which showed that 747 people were waiting on hospital trolleys nationwide yesterday.

I have people on the phone to me crying that cannot get home help for a family member thats at home. They want to get them out of the hospital because they cannot do any more for them there. The situation is just chronic, said Cllr Kilcoyne told The Mayo News yesterday (Monday).

God help people who need the health services this winter because they are going to be left without them by and large.

The Independent councillor called for the lifting of an ongoing recruitment freeze on certain health care workers, saying that a new emergency department should have been built at MUH ten years ago.

Cllr Kilcoyne added that the growth in population in Mayo since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine had led to increased demand on an already overburdened health service.

You cannot get an appointment for the doctor for a week or sometimes ten days. Our health service, its in shambles, he said.

The HSE is set to lodge a planning application for an extension to the emergency department which has been provided for under its capital plan.

This will involve expanding the existing emergency department with a ground-floor extension with seven new assessment and treatment spaces and a new first-floor Medical Assessment United (MAU) with ten additional assessment spaces.

Responding to a question on MUH from Mayo TD Alan Dillon, Minister of State for Health Mary Butler, TD, said that the early stages of all capital projects are the slowest, adding that once construction starts, it generally happens very quickly.

The INMO has also called for urgent action to alleviate the pressure on hospitals in anticipation of a surge in hospitalisations over the winter.

The HSE must take action in the form of accelerating the use of private hospital beds, the immediate cancellation of all non-urgent elective activity and the introduction of heightened infection control measures in all hospitals, INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdh stated.
THE CHIEF of the HSE has offered to meet the family of the late Aoife Johnston, 16, who passed away on a trolley at University Hospital Limerick almost a year ago.

The sixth-year student from Cronan Lawn in Shannon, Co Clare passed away on Monday, December 19, 2022 after contracting meningitis, and later sepsis, having gone untreated.

According to the Irish Independent, referring to an unpublished review, there were delays in her treatment which ultimately breached the national guidelines on sepsis management.

The report was commissioned in January 2023 by Prof Brian Lenehan, Chief Clinical Director, UL Hospitals Group, and completed by an expert HSE team external to UL Hospitals Group under the HSE Incident Management Framework.

In a statement released to Limerick Live, a spokesperson for the HSE said: "We have this week shared with the family the review into the tragic death of their daughter.

"We have apologised to them for the serious failings in the care we provided to their daughter which have been identified in the review. The review has been referred to the Coroner who has yet to make a determination in the case."

The statement continued: "[The CEO of the HSE Mr Bernard Gloster] is willing to meet the family privately should they wish to do so but it is a matter for the family to decide if and when they might like to do this.

"We wish to extend our sincere condolences to the family following their devastating loss."

The Irish Independent reports that Aoife presented to the emergency department after 5pm on Saturday, December 17, was triaged two hours later, with sepsis being considered as a possibility.

They report she was left to wait in the emergency department for 12 hours until she finally received an emergency medical review at 6am.

It is said that Aoife's condition deteriorated at a time where there were issues of severe overcrowding in the hospital.

At her funeral mass last December, Aoife was described as a "unique" and "bubbly" young woman. Limerick Live previously reported that two people had received her organs, giving two other families a precious gift through her untimely death.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The African Group of Negotiators is calling for an outcome that allows Africa to exploit its fossil fuels including coal, oil and gas to eradicate poverty while also funding renewable energy projects.This comes amid demands to end fossil fuels from climate change activists and other leaders around the world.Even the Global Stocktake text, a fundamental component of the Paris Agreement of 2015 used to monitor its implementation and evaluate the collective progress, released on Monday was heavily criticised for not containing a clear language on the phasing out of fossil fuels.Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai on Tuesday, African Group of Negotiators chair Collins Nzovu said it must be understood that Africa would need to exploit its natural resources and renewable energy endowments to achieve universal access to energy."The Global Stocktake outcome must promote equity and fairness in the allocation of policy space, and ensure that the energy transition will be just, equitable and orderly, as such the transition should be premised on differentiated pathways to net zero and fossil-fuel phasedown," said Nzovu, Zambia's Minister of Green Economy and Environment."It should also recognize the full right for Africa to exploit its natural resources sustainably and in line with sustainable development and poverty eradication needs."African governments are arguing that they should be allowed to invest in fossil fuels, a key foreign currency earner, given that the continent emits less than 4 percent.Africa is the least electrified in the world with over 50 percent of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa having electricity access rates below 50 percent, while 600 million people are without access to electricity which is central for the provision of basic services, including primary health, clean water, education.Africa holds 6 percent of known global reserves of oil and gas and accounts for about 12 percent of global production.Africa is the second largest exporting region with 16 percent of total exports, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).Crude oil production in Africa is estimated at almost 10 million barrels per day, representing about 10 percent of global crude oil production according to the African Energy Commission (AFREC).Nzovu said these resources are crucial to Africa's development as a means of earning foreign exchange and a positive balance of payments."Therefore, significant concessional financial support for our transition is essential, if we are to move away from the exploitation of fossil fuels," he said."Many African countries are also developing national energy transition plans with a mixed energy portfolio that includes the use of natural gas as a transitional fuel while seeking to increase energy produced from renewable energy."Beatrice Anywar Atim, a Ugandan minister of State for Environment said her country plans to use funds generated from fossil fuels to finance renewable energy projects."Uganda's energy transition plan requires $7 billion while fossil fuel development in Uganda will bring $47 billion," she said adding countries like Uganda whose energy mix is green energy must be allowed to develop their natural resources to get money to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.Speaking at the same press conference, Balarabe Lawal, Nigerian minister of environment, said the West African nation is not phasing out fossil fuels."Science has established that if you stop breathing without life support you will die. To ask Nigeria or Africa to phase out fossil fuels is asking us to stop breathing without life support. It is unacceptable," he said."Nigeria is committed to tripling renewable energy. Tripling renewable energy requires resources, transfer of technology and capacity building."Next year's COP will be held in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan, and in 2025 it will be in Belem, in Brazil's Amazon region.*This story was produced with support from MESHA and IDRC Eastern and Southern Africa office.
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Guyana's has the fastest growing offshore oil development "in the history of the world," Dan Yergin said.

Major oil companies like Exxon Mobil and Chevron have increased their footprint in the region.

But long-simmering antagonisms between Guyana and its neighbor Venezuela have resurfaced.

Guyana's oil production is booming, and it's growing at an unprecedented pace, according to energy expert Dan Yergin.

"Guyana is very important because it is the fastest offshore oil development in the history of the world," he said in a CNBC interview on Monday.

Exxon Mobil and Chevron have both been expanding their footprints in the region. Exxon began production at its third project in Payara, Guyana, this year, bringing its total production capacity in the region to approximately 620,000 barrels per day.

And in October, Chevron signed a deal to acquire oil company Hess, with one big trophy of the agreement being a project off the coast of Guyana.

But long-simmering antagonisms between Guyana and its neighbor Venezuela have resurfaced recently, with Venezuela claiming a big chunk of Guyana's land.

"So far it's more bluster," Yergin said. "Nicolas Maduro, the dictator president of Venezuela, had this farcical referendum where maybe 10% of people voted claiming two thirds of Guyana. But what's really piqued his interest is offshore oil."

The flare-up should be taken seriously in the US, Yergin warned, as Maduro remains in a weak position with the country seeing a large refugee crisis.

That's after years of economic collapse have sent millions of Venezuelans fleeing the country, landing mostly in other part of Latin America.

"The risk is that he might do something, he might seize a piece of territory, plant a flag," he said. "And of course, you have to keep in mind that Maduro's close allies are Russia, Cuba, and increasingly, Iran."

For now, hostility between Venezuela and Guyana is more words than action, Yergin added.

Story continues

In terms of geopolitics, the real threat to oil markets is in the Middle East, at the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

That waterway sees about 9 million barrels of oil pass through every day, especially with Russian oil shifting south after Western sanctions were imposed.

Meanwhile, Houthi rebels in Yemen have declared they would target Israel-bound vessels that do not stop in Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid.

"The Houthis seem to feel that they're invincible, that they can attack US naval ships," Yergin said. "That's a thing to watch as a geopolitical factor that could affect [oil markets]."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market is expected to surge due to the diseases increasing prevalence and awareness during the forecast period (2023-2032). Furthermore, launching various multiple- Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis pipeline products will significantly revolutionize the Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis market dynamics

The Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market report provides current treatment practices, Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis emerging drugs, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted 7MM Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis market size from 2019 to 2032. The report also covers current Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis treatment market algorithms and unmet medical needs to curate the best opportunities and assess the markets underlying potential.

Key Takeaways from the Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Research Report

The increase in Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis market size is a direct consequence of expected approval of emerging therapies and increasing patient population of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in the 7MM.

The total Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Diagnosed Prevalent Cases in the 7MM was 194,878 cases in 2021 which are expected to rise, at a significant CAGR during the study period (20192032).

The leading companies working in the Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market include Nerre Therapeutics Ltd., Pharm-Olam International, Trevi Therapeutics, Parexel, Afferent Pharmaceuticals Inc., Algernon Pharmaceuticals, Celgene Corporation, Patara Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim , and others.

Promising Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline Therapies in the various stages of development include Orvepitant Maleate, NAL ER, Gefapixant, Ifenprodil, PA101 , and others.

November 2023: Nerre Therapeutics Ltd . announced a study of Phase 2 clinical trials for Orvepitant Maleate. A Double-Blind, Randomised, Placebo Controlled, Two Period Cross-Over Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Orvepitant in Chronic Cough in Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

September 2023: Cellular Sciences Inc . announced a study of Phase 3 clinical trials for 20mM sodium pyruvate nasal spray. The purpose of this clinical trial is to administer a sodium pyruvate nasal spray that eliminates nasal oxidative stresses, caused by oxygen radicals, and demonstrate the efficacy of sodium pyruvate to reduce coughing and increase lung functions in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This will be a 21-day double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial designed to determine if patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treated with 20mM sodium pyruvate in 0.9% sodium chloride nasal spray solution will have reduced chronic coughing, as well as increased lung function (FEV1, FVC endpoints of 12% or more within the first week) and improved FEV1/FVC ratios.

Discover more about therapies set to grab major Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Share @ Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Size

Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Overview

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, a cough is a common symptom experienced by many individuals with this condition. IPF is a progressive lung disease characterized by the gradual scarring and thickening of lung tissue, which leads to a reduction in lung function and difficulty in breathing.

Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Epidemiology Segmentation in the 7MM

Total Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Diagnosed Prevalent Cases

Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Diagnosed Prevalent Cases

Download the report to understand which factors are driving Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Epidemiology Trends @ Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Epidemiological Insights

Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Insights

IPF, a condition marked by persistent lung scarring due to irregular healing processes, results in a continual decline in lung function. Its primary symptoms include breathlessness during physical activity and an ongoing dry cough. In IPF patients, the cough is not merely bothersome; it significantly impacts their quality of life and serves as an indicator of disease severity and progression.

Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Treatment Market Landscape

The current Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis treatment market landscape primarily involves managing symptoms rather than addressing the cough itself with specific approved therapies. Patients often receive general symptomatic relief through the use of standard cough suppressants or antitussive medications to alleviate the severity of the cough. Additionally, drugs like thalidomide, interferon-, and prednisolone have shown some effectiveness in reducing IPF-related cough in certain studies, although none have gained specific approval for this indication.

To know more about Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Treatment options, visit @ Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Drugs

Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Emerging Drugs

Orvepitant Maleate

Haduvio (nalbuphine ER)

ME-015(Suplatast Tosilate)

Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Therapeutics

Companies across the globe are diligently working toward the development of novel treatment therapies with a considerable amount of success over the years. To date, there are some emerging market player such as, Melius Pharma AB, Nerre Therapeutics Ltd., Trevi Therapeutics, and others that are developing drug for the treatment of Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).

Learn more about the Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline Therapies in clinical trials @ Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Landscape

Scope of the Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Research Report

Coverage- 7MM

Study Period- 2019-2032

Forecast Period- 2023-2032

Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Companies  Nerre Therapeutics Ltd., Pharm-Olam International, Trevi Therapeutics, Parexel, Afferent Pharmaceuticals Inc., Algernon Pharmaceuticals, Celgene Corporation, Patara Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, and others.

Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pipeline Therapies  Orvepitant Maleate, NAL ER, Gefapixant, Ifenprodil, PA101, and others.

Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Dynamics: Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Drivers and Barriers

Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Access and Reimbursement, Unmet Needs, Future Perspectives

Discover more about Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Drugs in development @ Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Ongoing Clinical Trials Analysis

Table of Content

Key Insights Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Executive Summary Competitive Intelligence Analysis for Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Overview at a Glance Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Disease Background and Overview Patient Journey Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Epidemiology and Patient Population Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Treatment Algorithm, Current Treatment, and Medical Practices Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Unmet Needs Key Endpoints of Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Treatment Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Marketed Products Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Emerging Therapies Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Seven Major Market Analysis Attribute analysis 7MM: Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Outlook Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Access and Reimbursement Overview Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis KOL Views Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Drivers Cough in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Market Barriers Appendix DelveInsight Capabilities Disclaimer About DelveInsight

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The global Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices market, valued at USD 722.78 Million in 2021, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.15% from 2023 to 2028, reaching USD 1033.33 million by 2028. This surge is driven by increasing instances of neurovascular disorders worldwide, notably ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, necessitating the use of these devices. The escalating elderly population further contributes to this demand. Moreover, key industry players focusing on advanced product development and awareness initiatives about neurovascular diseases are poised to amplify the market growth. Some of the key companies in the Global Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices/Neurothrombectomy Devices Market include Stryker, Penumbra, Inc., Vesalio, LLC., Acandis GmbH, Rapid Medical, Johnson & Johnson, Teleflex Incorporated, Medtronic, NeuroVasc Technologies, Inc., Perflow Medical, Edward LifeSciences Corporation, Terumo Europe NV, Koninklijke Philips N.V., MicroVention Inc., phenox GmbH, BIOMEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC., Ceretrieve Ltd., Anaconda Biomed SL, Genesis Medtech., and others.

DelveInsights Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices/Neurothrombectomy Devices Market Insight, Competitive Landscape, and Market Forecast 2028 research report provides the current and forecasted Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Market size, share, and trends analysis for the next five years. Moreover, it highlights the ongoing innovations in the segment, major market drivers & barriers, key competitors, and emerging devices in the domain.

Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices/Neurothrombectomy Devices Market: Overview

Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices are specialized tools designed to remove blood clots from blood vessels within the brain. These devices play a critical role in treating various neurovascular disorders, particularly ischemic strokes, by effectively removing obstructive clots that impede blood flow to the brain. Ischemic strokes occur when a clot obstructs a blood vessel, leading to reduced blood flow and subsequent brain tissue damage. Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices are instrumental in restoring blood flow, potentially minimizing long-term disability, and improving patient outcomes.

Benefits of Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices

Improved Patient Recovery: By swiftly removing clots, these devices aid in restoring blood flow to the brain, reducing the extent of brain damage and enhancing the chances of patient recovery post-stroke.

Minimized Disability: Prompt intervention with these devices can significantly reduce the long-term disability that often accompanies strokes, enabling patients to regain motor and cognitive functions more effectively.

Enhanced Treatment Window: Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices expand the treatment window for stroke patients, allowing medical professionals a more extended period to intervene and potentially reverse the effects of the stroke.

Precision and Efficacy: These devices are engineered for precise clot retrieval, ensuring efficient and effective removal while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.

Reduced Recurrence: By swiftly addressing the clot, these devices can reduce the risk of recurrent strokes, improving overall patient prognosis.

Applications of Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices

Ischemic Strokes: The primary application is in treating ischemic strokes, where a blood clot obstructs an artery or blood vessel, cutting off blood supply to a part of the brain.

Hemorrhagic Strokes: In certain cases, these devices might also be used in hemorrhagic strokes, where bleeding occurs in the brain due to a ruptured blood vessel. However, their application in this scenario might be limited.

Emergency Medicine: Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices are crucial in emergency settings, enabling rapid intervention to mitigate the effects of strokes and prevent further damage.

Clinical Settings: They are employed in clinical settings where timely removal of blood clots is necessary to prevent severe neurological damage and improve patient outcomes.

To provide a better understanding of the market dynamics, DelveInsights Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Market report provides a detailed assessment by product type (clot retrievers, aspiration devices, and others), by end-user (hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and others), and by geography (North America, Europe, Asia-pacific, and rest of the world).

Within the Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices domain, the segment dedicated to clot retrievers is projected to claim the foremost market share in the upcoming period. This trend is attributed to manufacturers intensifying their efforts in crafting highly advanced clot retrieval mechanisms. Their emphasis lies in refining these devices to ensure more effective and efficient removal of intracranial clots. This industrys focus on technological advancement aims to enhance the precision and effectiveness of clot removal methods, catering to the increasing demand for improved treatment outcomes in the field.

Furthermore, the aspiration segment is poised to experience substantial growth in the projected period, fueled by a burgeoning preference among physicians. This preference stems from the segments efficacy in addressing specific neurovascular conditions. Physicians increasingly favor aspiration techniques due to their ability to target and remove clots with precision, particularly in cases where direct retrieval might be challenging. As a result, this surge in physician preference for aspiration methods is anticipated to significantly contribute to the segments promising growth trajectory within the Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices market.

Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices/Neurothrombectomy Devices Market Analysis

The increasing global elderly populace is poised to substantially drive the need for Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices in the foreseeable future. This surge in demand is directly linked to the higher vulnerability of older individuals to neurological ailments like strokes. With age, the risk of experiencing neurovascular disorders notably rises, making the geriatric demographic a significant target for advanced treatment options such as Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices. Consequently, the growing proportion of elderly individuals worldwide is expected to be a pivotal factor in propelling the demand for these specialized medical devices.

As per the estimate, approximately 727 million individuals were aged 65 or older globally in 2020 and the number of cases is projected to reach 1.5 billion by 2050. Concurrently, data from the World Stroke Organization in 2019 revealed that nearly 60% of all strokes affect individuals under 70 years of age. This demographic trend and the prevalence of strokes in younger age groups serve as potential catalysts for driving the global market of Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices. These specialized devices are specifically designed to either extract or obliterate blood clots within the cerebral neurovasculature, aligning with the urgent need to address stroke incidences across various age brackets.

Moreover, the rising incidence and prevalence of neurovascular disorders such as acute ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and others can also be projected to propel the demand for these devices.

Furthermore, the uptick in demand for Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices may arise from a growing population of patients encountering challenges with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV rtPA) therapy. This includes individuals who havent responded effectively to IV rtPA treatment or those who are ineligible due to certain contraindications. Consequently, these factors collectively contribute to fortifying the global market for Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices, indicating a broader scope for these devices in addressing the needs of patients facing limitations with traditional treatment methods.

Nevertheless, the Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices market growth might encounter deceleration due to several factors, including challenges associated with the implementation of these devices and occasional product recalls. Issues arising from the complexities in deploying these advanced devices within clinical settings pose a potential hurdle, impacting the pace of market expansion. Additionally, sporadic product recalls, although infrequent, could also contribute to a temporary slowdown in market growth by instilling cautiousness among healthcare providers and consumers regarding device reliability and safety. These factors collectively introduce a degree of caution and potential impedance to the otherwise burgeoning Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices market.

Interested to know more about the ongoing developments in the market? Visit to get an in-depth insight @ Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Types and Emerging Products

Global Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices/Neurothrombectomy Devices Market Assessment and Forecast

Among all the countries, North America is anticipated to dominate the overall Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices/Neurothrombectomy Devices market during the forecast period. This anticipated leadership position results from various factors, including robust government initiatives aimed at heightening stroke treatment awareness, favorable reimbursement policies, and the extensive presence of advanced healthcare facilities across the region. These combined elements are expected to significantly bolster the adoption and utilization of Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices, propelling North America as a front-runner in the market landscape. The concerted efforts to raise awareness, coupled with conducive reimbursement structures and a well-established healthcare infrastructure, position the region for substantial growth and prominence in the Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices sector.

Additionally, the market in this region stands on the brink of growth, buoyed by the substantial influence of major manufacturers such as Johnson & Johnson, Vesalio, Stryker, and other key industry stakeholders. The imminent launch of novel products by these manufacturers is poised to markedly elevate the Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices/Neurothrombectomy Devices market, actively fostering its expansion and advancement within the geographical domain.

Moreover, Europe is poised to showcase substantial market growth driven by strategic endeavors undertaken by Neurothrombectomy Devices companies aiming for market expansion within the region. This expansion strategy, coupled with the frequent approvals of new products, positions Europe as an attractive hub for advancing Neurothrombectomy Devices. The regions allure for these companies lies in its receptive market landscape, where ongoing efforts to introduce innovative devices and gain regulatory approvals present ample opportunities for market penetration and growth. The strategic initiatives align with the regions emphasis on fostering advancements in neurological care, laying a robust foundation for sustained growth and innovation within the Neurothrombectomy Devices market in Europe.

Interested in knowing how the market will grow by 2028? Click to get a snapshot @ Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Market Trends and Developments

Key Developments and Breakthroughs in the Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices/Neurothrombectomy Devices Market

Over the years, the Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Market has evolved significantly, owing to the active participation of the global MedTech companies and technological advancements in the domain. Similarly, several clinical, commercial, and regulatory developments have also been registered in the domain. Some of the major advancements in the Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Market in recent years include 

On November 28, 2023, Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE: PEN) announced the first patient enrolled in STORM-PE, a first-of-its-kind prospective, multi-center, randomized controlled trial evaluating anticoagulation alone vs anticoagulation plus Lightning Flash for the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE).

On May 10, 2023, Akura Medical announced that it has initiated its first-in-human clinical study of the Akura Mechanical Thrombectomy Platform. The Akura platform is a low-profile solution designed to easily access and efficiently remove large volume, mixed morphology clots, and eliminate the guesswork around the procedure. The initial 5 cases were performed in the Republic of Georgia and marked the first use of mechanical thrombectomy for pulmonary embolism (PE) in the country.

On July 26, 2022, Rapid Medical received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for TIGERTRIEVER13 for large vessel occlusions.

In September 2021, NeuroVasc Technologies, Inc. had the first patient treated in a Chinese Pivotal Randomized Controlled Trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the ENVI-SR Mechanical Thrombectomy System (ENVI-SR), a stent-retriever for the removal of blood clots in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion.

In April 2021, Perflow Medical, a private, Israeli-based innovator for neurovascular treatments, had the first successful clinical use of the Stream17 Dynamic Neuro-Thrombectomy Net, a lower profile device designed for more tortuous anatomy, to effectively treat hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke patients.

In March 2021, Medtronic and SVIN Mission Thrombectomy 2020+ (MT2020+) entered into a new and exclusive partnership on the IMMEDIATE program to advance stroke care globally. This unique partnership between MT2020+ and Medtronic will combine specialist expertise from both organizations, thereby transforming and advancing a new standard of care in stroke treatment and accelerate access to mechanical thrombectomy for stroke.

In October 2020, CERENOVUS launched the CERENOVUS NIMBUS in Europe, designed to remove tough clots for successful revascularization in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by a large vessel occlusion.

In September 2020, Vesalio LLC entered into exclusive distribution agreements in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East that expand market coverage in 53 countries for the companys NeVa neurovascular thrombectomy system for first-pass recanalization in acute ischemic stroke.

In June 2020, Phenox announced the full European launch of the pRESET 5-40 and pRESET LUX 4-20 thrombectomy devices after receiving CE mark approval in the year 2019.

In February 2020, Stryker received the US FDA approval for Trevo NXT ProVue Retriever indicated for use to restore blood flow in the neurovasculature by removing thrombus for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.

On April 30, 2019, Medtronic announced the commercial launch of Solitaire X revascularization device in the United States. Also, Medtronic introduced the Phenom 21 catheter to facilitate the delivery of all sizes of the Solitaire X device.

Learn more about major clinical and commercial development in the market @ Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Market  Clinical and Commercial Development Activities

Key Companies in the Global Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices/ Neurothrombectomy Devices Market

Companies play a pivotal role in the global Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Market, driving innovation, research, and product development to meet the ever-evolving demands of healthcare. On a global scale, prominent players in the Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Market encompass esteemed MedTech giants such as Stryker, Penumbra, Inc., Vesalio, LLC., Acandis GmbH, Rapid Medical, Johnson & Johnson, Teleflex Incorporated, Medtronic, NeuroVasc Technologies, Inc., Perflow Medical, Edward LifeSciences Corporation, Terumo Europe NV, Koninklijke Philips N.V., MicroVention Inc., phenox GmbH, BIOMEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC., Ceretrieve Ltd., Anaconda Biomed SL, Genesis Medtech., and others. These companies are at the forefront of advancing technology and medical solutions, continually striving to enhance the safety and efficacy of Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices.

Learn how new players entries will transform the market dynamics in the coming years @ Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devicess Competitive Landscape

Scope of the Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices/Neurothrombectomy Devices Market Report:

Study Period  2020-2028

Geography Covered  North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World

Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Market Assessment 

Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Market By Product Type  Clot Retrievers, Aspiration Devices, And Others By End User  Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, And Others

Porters Five Forces Analysis, Product Profiles, Case Studies, KOLs Views, Analysts Views

Table of Content

1 Report Introduction 2 Executive Summary 3 Regulatory and Patent Analysis 4 Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Market Key Factors Analysis 5 Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Porters Five Forces Analysis 6 COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Market 7 Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Market Layout 8 Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Global Company Share Analysis  Key 35 Companies 9 Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Product Profiles and Key Companies 10 Project Approach 11 KOL Views 12 DelveInsight Capabilities 13 Disclaimer 14 About DelveInsight

Reach out to us to get a more detailed overview of the market and the key offerings of the report @ Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Market Insights and Competitive Landscape

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by Fern Siegel , December 12, 2023

In October, Grammy winner Michael Buble partnered with master distiller Paul Cirkanch to create a new whiskey brand: Fraser & Thompson.

Now, the pair have launched the "Easy, now" integrated campaign for the North American whiskey. Ad agencies SLAP Global and GREATWORK produced the two new spots that feature Buble: F&Tea and Fun and Tingly.

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The cross-media push consists of TV, online social and retail advertising. The campaign also includes an out-of-home placement in Times Square.

"I spent many summers with my grandfather at the confluence of the Fraser and Thompson rivers in British Columbia," said F&T founder Michael Buble. "When I heard Paul's vision for creating a new kind of whiskey, I knew instantly what I wanted to call it. For the last three years, we worked together to perfect a whiskey blend that is equally elegant and approachable."

Fraser & Thompson North American Whiskey blends Canadian straight whiskey and Kentucky bourbon into a smooth, mellow spirit. Cirka hand-selected aged liquid to blend into the whiskey, with sweet fig and blood orange on the nose, and a subtle finish of caramel, vanilla and spice. WES Brands is bringing it to market.

Lauren Kiyak, senior vice president of marketing for WES Brands, said: Both American and Canadian Whiskey have seen a resurgence over the past five years, so we felt the appetite for the first North American whiskey would be strong." Fraser & Thompson is blended and bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky.

U.S. whiskey has a storied history. According to the Distilled Spirits Council, in 1799, George Washington's distillery at Mount Vernon produced nearly 11,000 gallons, making it one of the largest whiskey distilleries in America at the time.

Most domestically produced whiskey is still consumed in the U.S., per the DSC. But consumer demand for American whiskey worldwide has risen, with exports in 2022 reaching $1.3 billion.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, December 11, 2023

California's privacy agency is calling for state legislation that would require browser developers to offer a tool like the Global Privacy Control, which aims to allow consumers to opt out of online behavioral advertising throughout the web.

If approved through the California legislative process, this proposal will not only advance Californians consumer privacy, but help incentivize the development of privacy-enhancing technologies, Ashkan Soltani, executive director of the California Privacy Protection Agency, stated Monday.

Late last week, the agency voted 5-0 to find a potential bill sponsor and work with that person on crafting legislation that would require browsers to include opt-out preference signals. The best known current opt-out preference signal is the Global Privacy Control -- a mechanism created by privacy advocates to enable consumers to reject all sharing of online data for ad purposes, instead of having to opt out of behavioral targeting company-by-company.

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California's privacy law gives consumers the right to reject cross-context behavioral advertising -- meaning ads served based on activity across different sites. That law also has been interpreted as requiring companies to honor universal opt-out requests, referred to in the regulations as opt-out preference signals.

Other states including Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Montana and Texas have recently passed laws or regulations mandating that companies honor universal opt-out mechanisms.

Currently, developers including Mozilla, Brave and Duck Duck Go build the Global Privacy Control into their browsers.

Google's Chrome doesn't include the specific Global Privacy Control, but has long had a do-not-track setting, which sends a no-tracking request to all websites consumers visit. The California privacy agency suggested Monday that this older do-not-track command isn't equivalent to an "opt-out preference signal," but it's not clear whether other state officials will agree -- or whether Google could tweak the do-not-track command so that it could serve as an opt-out preference signal.

Apple used to include a do-not-track setting in Safari, but discontinued the setting a few years ago due to concerns that ad-tech companies would harness the signal for device fingerprinting -- a tracking technique that identifies users based on on characteristics of their browsers.
by Erik Oster , December 11, 2023

Coca-Cola has always gone all-in on holiday marketing, but this year big Hollywood names are on board for a Santa Stories campaign.

Coca-Cola teamed up with directors Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II) and Bryce Dallas Howard (the Jurassic World franchise) to bring cinematic flair to a pair of branded short films that also contain a star-studded cast, available on Prime Video Direct, Amazon Freevee and Coca-Colas YouTube channel. A 30-second trailer promotes the shorts as Celebrating the Santa in all of us. Each entry takes a very different approach to that theme, however.

Oscar-winner (The Help) and nominee Octavia Spencer stars in the 15-minute Ho Ho Heist alongside Scoot McNairy (Argo, 12 Years A Slave). The thriller-style short, directed by Caple Jr., finds Santa in prison, being questioned by cops and facing the prospect of spending Christmas Eve behind bars, alongside a down-on-his-luck McNairy, who gets left behind during the opening scenes heist. The film injects Santa into an unexpected genre, with the Coke product placement revolving around an alarm-triggering bottle in its opening minutes, and a family tradition of leaving out cookies and a bottle of Coke for Santa preceding a surprise reveal in its concluding scene.

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The Note, directed by Howard, stars Irish actor Colm Meaney (Three Day Millionaire, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) as The No Man, so called because the Scrooge-esque character only ever seems to say no -- although at the end of a day of fishing, he does he give the only catch to his scene-stealing canine co-star. Predictably, by the end of its 10-minute runtime, the character's holiday spirit is restored via an on-brand message in a bottle, with Coca-Cola being more restrained about its brand insertion (with the exception of one long shot that really lingers on that bottle).

The iconic Coke bottle is part of the narrative, not a product placement. If you take the Coke bottle out of the story, there is no story, Islam ElDessouky, global head of creative strategy and content for Coca-Cola, said in a statement about "The Note."

Santa Stories builds off a branded content campaign from Coca-Cola last year, while upping the production and storytelling bonafides, and employing top talent.

We took steps to boost the caliber of whos in front of and behind the camera, so we sought out talent we knew could bring these stories to life in different ways, ElDessouky added. Its one thing to have Octavia Spencer in a 30-second commercial, but a completely different ballgame to work with her on a short film where shes in her natural element. Shes playing a character and representing certain values, which is super rich as a brand to tap into.

The campaign is also part of Coca-Colas co-creation model, which the company claims is designed to enhance its brand storytelling through collaboration with the Hollywood community.
by Les Luchter , December 11, 2023

Earlier this year, pharmaceutical company Endo launcheda still-running unbranded campaign aimed at motivating men with Peyronies disease (PD), aka curved penis, to take action. Now comes a branded campaign for Endos Xiaflex, an injection treatment for PD: In three unscripted videos from Klick Health, four real PD sufferers  treated and untreated -- shoot pool while providing straight talk about their PD experiences.

A pool hall was chosen as the venue because its representative of a place where men go with their friends, Ian Ehrhart, Endos associate director, consumer marketing, tells Marketing Daily. Using this as the setting helps us to normalize the conversation around PD, and to convey that those who suffer from the condition dont need to suffer in silence -- because there are others out there with PD.

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The PD Pool Hall videos, each around two minutes long (not counting disclaimers) have been posted at Xiaflex.com.

In the first video, titled Is it Peyronies Disease, the four men discuss how PD has affected them, such as It was very much affecting me mentally and it was affecting me physically. And I couldnt be the husband that she needed.

In the second video, titled Considering Xiaflex, they discuss issues around seeking treatment, such as Part of the reason why I havent done it yet is because of Im scared of like, the needles.

In the third video, titled The Xiaflex Experience, they discuss the treatment itself. You basically get an injection in it and then get another injection, says one. And then at the third, he [the doctor] did some penile stretching and straightening.

Excerpts from the three videos will run as a digital and social ad campaign thats expected to begin around Dec. 18. Healix is the media agency.

Theyll continue to run throughout the first half of 2024, Ehrhart tells Marketing Daily, with the potential to extend based on performance and other content priorities.

The ads will link to xiaflex.com, where the full videos are housed along with additional info on both PD and Xiaflex, as well a Specialist Locator tool to find a Xiaflex-trained urologist.

Men 45+ continue to be Endos main media target, although Ehrhart acknowledges that there are men out there suffering from PD that are younger (e.g., in their 30s).

The campaigns success will be measured by analysis of website visits video views and completion rate, as well as engagement with PD Pool Hall digital assets (e.g., social).

Endo, which says that PD affects one in 10 American men, began running unbranded TV spots and campaigns about PD in 2017, and launched the first branded Xiaflex campaign -- "Bent Carrot" -- in 2021.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, December 12, 2023

Google lost an antitrust case Monday when a U.S. federal jury ruled in favor of Epic Games. The video-game maker had accused the search giant of suppressing competition in the Android app market to secure billions of dollars in profits from its Play Store.

The blow to Google in this case came as a possible warning as it faces other legal challenges to its search dominance and ad-tech business.

Epic thanked the court and the jury "for their historic decision" in a blog post late Monday.

The video-game maker brought on the lawsuit in 2020, alleging that Google used its dominant position to squeeze excess profits from app developers.

The San Francisco jury deliberated for less than four hours before reaching a unanimous verdict, according to several media sources.

The point being debated was whether Google prevented rivals to its Play Store and payment services from flourishing on Android devices. Epics lawsuit alleged Google abused power by charging excessive fees.

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Epic said Google looked to gain dominance in the app business, claiming that more than 95% of apps are distributed through the Play Store on Android.

Google imposes a 30% tax on developers. Epic says it prevents viable competitors from emerging to offer better deals.

The video-game maker wrote in the blog post that Google's executives acknowledged in court their offer of a 26% rate on third-party payment options is a fake choice for developers.

Google made an operating profit of $12 billion on its Play Store in 2021, and Epic wanted to use an alternative billing process in the Play Store that avoids Googles fees, according to the Financial Times.

Earlier this month, Google Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy Wilson White wrote in a blog post that Epic had sued "Apple and lost twice," calling the company's claims "baseless."

In a related case against Apple in 2021, Epic lost when a California judge concluded the tech giant did not break the law by imposing rules that block rival stores and payment methods on its devices.

That's not how the jury in Google's case saw it.

The biggest difference in the two cases, as FT points out, is that Google doesn't control most of the hardware in which those apps sit. Apple does.

Google plans to appeal the verdict.
In recent years, city leaders in Grand Island observed that many workers and students were walking or biking long distances to their jobs or schools. So when City Administrator Laura McAloon learned of an opportunity to study the development of a bus system to meet those transportation needs, she jumped at it.

The opportunity was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in collaboration with the International City/County Management Association, a network of local government administrators. And it sent McAloon to Washington along with other local leaders to learn about strategies and policies to lift people in their community out of poverty.

The Gates Foundation announced Thursday that it will donate $100 million to expand its work on economic mobility  a move that the countrys largest foundation says is a change in how it operates, putting more power in the hands of grantees and looking to accelerate the speed at which its gifts have an impact. The commitment is part of the $460 million the foundation said in 2022 it would donate over four years to this part of its portfolio.

Ryan Rippel, the founding director for the Gates Foundations economic opportunity and mobility strategy, said the grants represent an important and deliberate change in how it works, with large grants going to organizations that will have a great deal of autonomy in directing their own work and the work of subgrantees.

The strategy, he said, is a result of feedback they heard from speaking with others in the field and the people they hope to help.

I went to a conference in Washington and was very proudly talking about a data investment that we had made that we think could actually help governments make very different decisions about allocating resources, he said. And a woman stood up in the back of the room and she shouted, I just need a tank of gas. And that really stuck with me. And it stuck with our team as a profound lesson that these are very concrete, daily needs.

The portfolio is a small portion of the foundations overall budget, which was $7 billion last year, but its grown significantly. Rippel said that is because theyve learned so much about the strategies, interventions and organizations that can lift people out of poverty. The continued expansion of their work, he said, depends on whether they meet their goal of improving economic mobility for 50 million people in the U.S. who earn 200% of the poverty level or less, which is $29,160 in annual income for an individual.

The foundation will fund organizations working to expand support for local governments implementing evidence-based policies, connecting people with skills but without college degrees to jobs, helping people claim government benefits and influencing small- and medium-businesses to adjust working conditions to help people balance personal and work commitments. The grantees include Opportunity@Work, Families and Workers Fund, Prosperity Now, Pacific Community Ventures, Results for America and the Urban Institute.

It was at a meeting in Washington in May where the Urban Institute introduced the tools and research theyve developed to help cities and counties understand barriers to economic mobility that McAloon from Grand Island realized that her city of 53,000 needed to collect more information.

We looked at each other and said, we dont know that we have the data, the metrics, to show that this problem exists that we said we were going to come up with a solution for, said McAloon, of her colleagues from the local community college and public school district who were with her.

By the end of the conference, theyd altered their objectives and launched a data collection and analysis project, which included surveying local residents with the help of translators at a summer festival and consulting with the human resources departments of major local employers.

What they learned is that transportation had been a problem for workers but when the meatpacking plant and other manufacturers raised wages during the period of low unemployment after the pandemic, many households were able to afford cars. Now the issue, the employers said, was housing.

Its a multi-pronged approach to actually creating opportunities for economic growth and personal income growth, McAloon said. Theres just no one silver bullet. Theres no one problem. You have to address all of it in order to make really significant change.

The Gates Foundation is far from alone in this field with large funders, like philanthropist MacKenzie Scott and Blue Meridian Partners, also making multimillion-dollar commitments, sometimes to the same organizations, in recent years.

Blue Meridian Partners recently announced it was granting $50 million each to three municipalities, San Antonio and Dallas County in Texas, and Spartanburg County, South Carolina, who each also raised at least $50 million from other sources, to support specific interventions like doubling the number of young adults making a living wage and increasing the percent of high schoolers who enroll in further education.

At the close of Grand Island's research study this fall, McAloon said they determined it won't be possible to set up a bus system, in part because of federal funding rules. Instead, they are exploring a van pool that is partially funded by employers and with state funds.

But, because of the new communication and coordination across agencies, schools and local organizations prompted by the study, her office heard that a lack of plumbers and electricians was holding up new housing developments. She reached out to the community college, which is now setting up a technical training program to funnel high school students into those trades.

It was a matter of a couple of emails, she said. And theyre already working on developing the curriculum and creating an apprenticeship program that hopefully will start making an impact on that issue thats keeping us from building more houses.
A veteran journalist and editor is bringing her passion for building newsrooms that connect with readers to the Omaha World-Herald, the media companys parent corporation announced Monday.

Rachel Stassen-Berger, a former Des Moines Register news director, will officially assume leadership of the Omaha World-Herald newsroom Jan. 15 as the new executive editor.

Stassen-Berger also will play a key role in directing news strategy for eight other Nebraska publications owned by Lee Enterprises, which is the parent company of the World-Herald.

Were thrilled Rachel is assuming the helm of our largest newsroom in Nebraska, said Marc Chase, senior director of local news for Lee Enterprises. Rachel will guide her staff in tirelessly pursuing the most relevant journalism for our readers, and its clear she will work every day to connect with the great city of Omaha and all of Nebraska.

She likes to use the phrase mission-driven journalism, and its fitting. We cant wait for her to begin that mission of service right here.

Stassen-Berger helped lead the Des Moines Register news efforts as its managing editor for nearly two years while overseeing several other Iowa newsrooms. The role included oversight of more than five dozen journalists.

I am honored and thrilled with the opportunity to lead the World-Heralds newsroom, which has a rich legacy and a vibrant future. Together with the World-Heralds talented journalists, I will work to deliver distinctive journalism and deeply connect with the people of Omaha and across Nebraska, Stassen-Berger said.

She said she looks forward to learning from Nebraskans about what they need from the World-Herald as well as the places she should explore in the state, from restaurants to festivals to dog parks.

Prior to her managing editor role, Stassen-Berger was the Des Moines Registers politics editor from March 2018 to July 2021, leading the team of reporters who produced in-depth and daily coverage of the Iowa caucuses.

Before her work in Des Moines, Stassen-Berger served as the Minnesota Capitol bureau chief for the St. Paul Pioneer Press from 2015 to 2017, managing a team of state government reporters.

She also worked as an adjunct professor and fellow at the University of Minnesotas Humphrey School of Public Affairs, teaching a graduate-level state government course in the Spring of 2017 and the Spring of 2018.

Earlier in her career, she worked as a politics reporter for the Star Tribune in Minneapolis and at the Pioneer Press.

Rachel has been leading, innovating and leaving her mark on Midwestern journalism for nearly three decades, Chase said while introducing Stassen-Berger to the Omaha staff Monday. World-Herald journalists and readers are getting an exceptionally talented news leader.

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BANGKOK  Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday seeking to deepen ties with the Southeast Asian neighbor, weeks after it elevated its diplomatic relations with the United States and Japan.

At the meeting with Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Xi announced that the countries would work together to create a China-Vietnam community with a shared future of strategic significance."

Vietnam has resisted using that phrase in the past, but Beijing is seeking reassurance from its ally after Vietnam designated both the U.S. and Japan as comprehensive strategic partners," the designation it uses for China. It is the country's highest official designation for a diplomatic relationship.

"These symbolic gestures go a long way to reassure Beijing that Vietnam still sees China as its most important partner," said Hunter Marston, a PhD candidate at the Australian National University who studies Southeast Asia's foreign policy.

Xis visit marks 15 years of China being a comprehensive strategic partner of Vietnam. But that designation is now being given to other countries as Vietnam seeks to keep itself from being overly reliant on Beijing.

In September, U.S. President Joe Biden visited Vietnam to mark the U.S. being elevated to the same diplomatic status as China. Biden asserted that the stronger ties were not about countering China, though U.S. diplomacy across Asia and the Pacific has been focused on improving defense ties with countries to do just that.

In November, Japan and Vietnam boosted their economic and security ties, citing a free and open Indo-Pacific." Japan has been rapidly developing closer ties with Vietnam and is its third-largest foreign investor.

Given the latest developments, experts say Vietnam wanted to make a concession to Beijing, though only at the level of rhetoric.

I think following the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Bidens last visit, there must be something done to mollify the Chinese concerns, said Collin Koh, a regional security expert at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

"Community with a shared future is a term that Xi put forth a decade ago. While it does not denote a specific initiative, some experts say it has a lot of underlying significance.

It's somehow another term for alliance, said Nguyen Thanh Trung, a professor of Vietnamese studies at Fulbright University Vietnam. For example, Vietnam has to support China in multilateral forums, and it carries a lot of weight.

Ideologically, Vietnam is close to Beijing. It is run by a Communist Party with strong ties to China. But in recent months, Vietnam has signaled closer ties with Western countries.

Vietnam is also one of several countries to clash with China in the disputed South China Sea, particularly on two archipelagos, the Spratlys and the Paracel Islands. It has faced off with Chinas coast guard in the disputed waters. Vietnam usually does not publicize the confrontations.

Vietnam is likely to sign some infrastructure agreements with Beijing, as it has paid close attention to the development of the Chinese-built high-speed rail in Laos, completed in 2021.

The Vietnamese prime minister wants to focus on more infrastructure, said Nguyen, the professor. He thinks its key to economic growth.

Xi will meet with President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Chinh on Wednesday.

China has been Vietnams largest trading partner for several years, with a bilateral trade turnover of $175.6 billion in 2022. Imports from China, including crucial inputs for Vietnam's manufacturing sector, make up 67%, according to Vietnam customs data cited by Vietnamese state media.

However, the trade is at a deficit in China's favor.

China has over $26 billion invested in Vietnam, with more than 4,000 active projects.

Xis 2017 visit to Vietnam was for an Asia-Pacific economic summit in the coastal city of Danang.

Associated Press writer Aniruddha Ghosal and video producer Hau Dinh in Hanoi, Vietnam, contributed to this report.
The mariners aboard the 79-foot schooner Barlovento were in trouble on June 19, 2021. The yacht was nearly 80 miles off the California-Oregon coast, disabled and taking on water in 20-foot seas.

In the churn, a crew member suffered a broken arm and possible head injury. With no hope of sailing to safe harbor in 60-mph winds, the six aboard reached for their radio, issuing a distress signal.

At 3:45 p.m., watchstanders with U.S. Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay picked up the call and immediately dispatched the crew of MH-65 Dolphin CG6565, along with a C-27J Spartan aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, to the scene.

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During a normal at-sea rescue, the short-range MH-65 helicopter's rescue swimmer, Aviation Survival Technician 2nd Class Spencer Manson, would have been lowered directly to the vessel, taking care to avoid masts and lines, and maneuver a basket to hoist out the injured crew member.

What transpired that day, however, was anything but normal. And on Tuesday, for the work he did that day, Manson will receive the Distinguished Flying Cross -- the highest aviation medal that can be awarded for non-combat operations.

"This case was a great example of a successful, multi-unit effort and highlights the importance of standardized procedures. The careful coordination between the two helicopters with support from the C-27 allowed us to save all six sailors," Lt. Ryan O'Neill, a Dolphin aircraft commander at Sector Humboldt Bay, said in a statement at the time.

After figuring out that they couldn't deploy Manson onto or even near the vessel, the Dolphin crew lowered him 150 feet downwind of the Barlovento.

As the boat flew past Manson at roughly 9 knots, the swimmer grabbed a line trailing behind the ship and hung on, eventually getting enough grip to pull himself hand over hand, through waves and wake, to reach the vessel. He then climbed aboard, but not before he was pitched up and down and slammed onto the sea's surface several times, according to Manson's award citation.

Manson was able to prepare the injured crew member for rescue, jump with her into the 49-degree water, and swim to an awaiting basket to be hoisted into the helicopter.

After the crew transported the patient to land and refueled, the members went back out to save those remaining, with Manson creating an "innovative, sliding-deployment technique" that let him hang off the boat and help the crew members jump into the water to be rescued.

He saved three more people in that manner before handing over the job to a fellow rescue swimmer from Coast Guard Sector North Bend.

For his "actions, skill and heroism," Manson will receive the Distinguished Flying Cross in a ceremony Tuesday at Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay in California.

"His courage, judgment and devotion to duty in the face of hazardous conditions are most heartily commended," his citation states.

The last Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to a rescue swimmer was given in 2021 to Aviation Survival Technician 3rd Class Jack Kelly for a nighttime rescue of a hiker who had plunged 100 feet off a cliff into the Rouge River in Oregon.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify the circumstances under which a Distinguished Flying Cross may be awarded.

Related: Crew That Delivered Baby Mid-Flight from Afghanistan Will Receive Distinguished Flying Cross
RAFAH, Gaza Strip  Israel and the United States were increasingly isolated as they faced global calls for a cease-fire in Gaza, including a non-binding vote expected to pass at the United Nations later on Tuesday. Israel has pressed ahead with an offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers that it says could go on for weeks or months.

The war ignited by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel has already brought unprecedented death and destruction to the impoverished coastal enclave, with more than 18,000 Palestinians killed, mostly women and minors, and over 80% of the population of 2.3 million having fled their homes.

Much of northern Gaza has been obliterated, and hundreds of thousands have fled to ever-shrinking so-called safe zones in the south. The health care system and humanitarian aid operations have collapsed in large parts of Gaza, and aid workers have warned of starvation and the spread of disease among displaced people in overcrowded shelters and tent camps.

Strikes overnight and into Tuesday in southern Gaza  in an area where civilians have been told to seek shelter  killed at least 23 people, according to an Associated Press reporter at a nearby hospital.

In central Gaza, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah received the bodies of 33 people killed in strikes overnight, including 16 women and four children, according to hospital records. Many were killed in strikes that hit residential buildings in the built-up Maghazi refugee camp nearby.

In northern Gaza, the aid group Doctors Without Borders said a surgeon in the Al-Awda hospital was wounded Monday by a shot fired from outside the facility, which it says has been under total siege by Israeli forces for a week. There was no immediate comment from the military.

In a briefing with The Associated Press on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant refused to commit to a firm timeline, but signaled that the current phase of heavy ground fighting and airstrikes could stretch on for weeks and that further military activity could continue for months.

He said the next phase would be lower-intensity fighting against pockets of resistance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain security control over Gaza indefinitely.

The U.N. secretary-general and Arab states have rallied much of the international community behind calls for an immediate cease-fire. But the U.S. vetoed those efforts at the U.N. Security Council last week as it rushed tank munitions to Israel to allow it to maintain the offensive.

A non-binding vote on a similar resolution at the General Assembly scheduled for Tuesday would be largely symbolic.

Crushing Hamas seen as 'tall order'

Israel and its main ally, the U.S., argue that any cease-fire that leaves Hamas in power, even over a small part of the devastated territory, would mean victory for the militant group, which has governed Gaza since 2007 and has pledged to destroy Israel.

But many experts consider Israel's aims to be unrealistic, pointing to Hamas' deep base of support in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it is seen by many Palestinians as resisting Israel's decades-old military rule.

Destroying Hamas, even its military capability  Israeli leaders chief war aim  will be a tall order without decimating what remains of Gaza, said the Crisis Group, an international think tank, in a report over the weekend that also called for an immediate cease-fire.

Gallant said Israel has already inflicted heavy damage on Hamas, killing half the group's battalion commanders and destroying many tunnels, command centers and other facilities.

The Israeli military said Tuesday that its aircraft targeted rocket launching posts throughout Gaza and that ground troops has found 250 rockets, mortar shells and rocket-propelled grenade launchers in a raid.

Israeli officials have said some 7,000 Hamas militants  roughly one-quarter of the groups estimated fighting force  have been killed and that 500 militants have been detained in Gaza the past month, claims that could not be verified. At least 104 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the Gaza ground offensive, the army says.

Gallant said that in northern Gaza, Hamas has been reduced to islands of resistance, while in the south, where Israel expanded ground operations earlier this month, they are still organized militarily.

Hamas says it still has thousands of reserve fighters  another unverified claim  and on Monday it fired a barrage of rockets that wounded one person and damaged cars and buildings in a Tel Aviv suburb. The attack set off sirens in the city, where Gallant's office and the military headquarters are located.

Lebanon's Hezbollah has repeatedly traded fire with Israel, and other Iran-backed groups across the region have attacked U.S. targets, threatening to widen the conflict. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have targeted Israeli shipping, attacked a tanker in the Red Sea with no clear ties to the country overnight.

Civilian plight worsens

Israel launched the campaign after Hamas broke through its defenses and militants streamed into the south on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and seizing about 240 others. More than 100 hostages, mostly women and children, were freed during a cease-fire last month in exchange for Israel's release of 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Two months of airstrikes, coupled with a fierce ground invasion, have resulted in the deaths of over 18,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory. They do not give a breakdown of civilians and combatants but say roughly two-thirds of the dead are women and minors.

The actual toll is likely higher, as thousands are missing and feared dead under the rubble, and efforts to maintain the count have been hindered by the collapse of the health sector in the north.

Israel blames civilian casualties on Hamas, saying it positions fighters, tunnels and rocket launchers in dense urban areas, using civilians as human shields.

With Israel allowing little aid into Gaza and the U.N. largely unable to distribute it amid the fighting, Palestinians face severe shortages of food, water and other basic goods.

Israel has urged people to flee to what it says are safe areas in the south, and fighting in and around the southern city of Khan Younis  Gaza's second largest  has pushed tens of thousands toward the city of Rafah and other areas along the border with Egypt.

But Israel has also continued to strike what it says are militant targets in so-called safe zones. Most of the 23 dead brought into the Rafah hospital overnight were from three families, hospital records show.

___

Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writer Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem contributed.
TOKYO  A Japanese court on Tuesday convicted three former soldiers in a sexual assault case that authorities had dropped until the victim, a former service member, came forward demanding a reinvestigation and prompting a military-wide harassment probe.

The Fukushima District Court sentenced the former Japanese army soldiers to two years in prison but suspended the sentences for four years  meaning they wont actually serve time in prison.

Still, the ruling is a rare victory in a country that consistently ranks near the bottom in international gender equality surveys and where sexual misconduct complaints are often disregarded and victims tend to face criticisms for speaking up.

The case filed by Rina Gonoi in August 2021 was initially dropped. Nine months later, she came forward and demanded the case be reinvestigated, saying the experience caused her to give up her military career. Gonoi said she has been attacked on social media for coming forward, but that she did so because she wanted to prevent similar problems for other female service members.

Gonoi welcomed the ruling, saying it would prevent future victims. Many victims still cannot speak up, but now we have this verdict, and I hope that more people come out and speak up," she told reporters.

Her revelation prompted a military-wide investigation into sexual harassment and other abuse allegations in September 2022, and prosecutors reopened her case.

The Fukushima court said Tuesday her three former supervisors  Shutaro Shibuya, Akito Sekine and Yusuke Kimezawa  each pressed the lower part of their bodies against her at an army training facility at a party in August 2021, and it found them guilty of indecent assaults.

Judge Takaaki Miura dismissed their argument, saying they had obviously imitated sexual acts on her at a party where attendants were mostly men and intimidating. By doing so, they denied her dignity and treated her like an object to ginger up the gathering, the judge said according to NHK television, calling their act despicable and vicious.

The three defendants had pleaded not guilty, denying any intent of indecency even though they admitted to pushing her down onto a bed, NHK said.

The ruling showed that such act for a laugh is not permissible, it's clearly a crime, Gonoi said.

In response to Gonoi's revelations, the Ground Self Defense Force in September 2022 acknowledged some of the misconduct and apologized, and then fired five servicemen, including the three defendants, while punishing four others.

The three defendants at that time offered a written apology, which Gonoi later said lacked sincerity. The three men said during their criminal trial that they had apologized because the GSDF ordered them to do so, according to Kyodo News agency.

A panel of experts that investigated harassment cases in Japan's military and the Defense Ministry said earlier this year it found widespread coverups and reluctance among supervisors to deal with the problems and recommended fundamental improvements.

Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told reporters earlier Tuesday that such harassment cannot be tolerated as servicemembers work together to strengthen Japan's military capability.

Women comprise 8.7% of Japan's military, which is second lowest among the Group of Seven advanced nations. The number compares to more than 17% in the United States, more than 16% in France and Canada, 13% in Germany, and 6% in Italy.

Gonoi, who was inspired to join the army after surviving the March 2011 massive earthquake and tsunami in her hometown in Miyagi prefecture as a child, was first assigned to a Fukushima unit in April 2020. But she quickly became a target of sexual misconduct, she said. Her male superiors repeatedly asked about her breast size, hugged her and made unnecessary physical contact, such as trying judo techniques on her, Gonoi said.

Gonoi has separately filed a damage suit against the three defendants, two other perpetrators and the government, saying she felt their earlier apologies were insincere. She is seeking 5.5 million yen ($37,800) from the perpetrators and 2 million yen ($13,740) from the government, saying it failed to prevent the assaults, properly investigate or respond appropriately.

Separately, an air force service member filed a lawsuit in February against the government seeking about 11.7 million yen ($75,600) in damages, saying it had failed to protect her from verbal sexual harassment from a male colleague and covered up the problem for more than a decade.
WASHINGTON  His country's future at stake, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used inspirational words, optimistic resolve and a nod to Christmas in appealing Tuesday to leaders in Congress for U.S. aid for his fighters in the war with Russia.

But after hours of talks on Capitol Hill, additional American support appeared in grave doubt as Zelenskyy arrived at the White House to huddle with President Joe Biden. The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his grinding invasion more than 21 months ago, but Republicans are insisting on linking any more money to strict U.S.-Mexico border security changes that Democrats decry.

The White House is warning that if new money isn't provided by year's end it will have swift consequences for Ukraine's capacity to hold its territory, let alone take back land captured by Russia.

Meeting with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, Biden said, Mr. President, I call on Congress to do the right thing, to stand with Ukraine, and to stand up for freedom. He added, Congress needs to pass the supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for the holiday recess. before they give Putin the greatest Christmas gift they could possibly give him.

Zelenskyy made his own case during his brief White House appearance with Biden and his private meetings with congressional leaders  that Ukrainian forces have fought fiercely to push back the Russian invasion with the help of American and other Western allies and it's no time for Ukraine's friends to step back.

The fight we're in is a fight for freedom," Zelenskyy repeatedly said in the meetings on Capitol Hill, according to lawmakers.

Meanwhile, more than 130 senior lawmakers from across Europe signed a letter urging U.S. lawmakers to continue their support for Ukraine.

Flanked by Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Zelenskyy entered a private meeting with senators with a public bipartisan show of support and to some applause. But more than an hour later few senators' minds appeared changed.

Zelenskyy also visited the House leaders, including privately with new Speaker Mike Johnson, whose hard-right Republicans have been the most resistance to any deal. Johnson insisted afterward: "We do want to do the right thing here.

Zelenskyy sought to impress on the senators that Ukraine could win the war against Russia, telling them he was drafting men in their 30s and 40s in a show of strength for the battle. In his trademark olive drab, he stood before a portrait of George Washington, history hanging behind him.

To the House Democrats, he showcased his country's embrace of the West by pointing to the Christmas season, telling them it was the first year Ukraine would celebrate on Dec. 25 rather than the day Russians mark the holiday.

McConnell said Zelenskyy was inspirational and determined" in the Senate meeting.

But Republican senators exited the meeting unmoved from their position. Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said the emergency funding wouldnt gain GOP support unless it includes real, meaningful border reform.

Biden has been calling for a $110 billion U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs.

He has expressed a willingness to engage with the Republicans as migrant crossings have hit record highs along the U.S.-Mexico border, but Democrats in his own party oppose proposals for expedited deportations and strict asylum standards as a return to Trump-era hostility towards migrants. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas headed to Capitol Hill to meet with negotiators as they try to reach a border deal,

One chief Republican negotiator, Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, said there was nothing Zelenskyy could say during his visit with the senators to sway the outcome.

Hey, pay attention to us, but not your own country? No, Lankford told reporters.

Ahead of Zelenskyys high-stakes meetings, the White House late Monday pointed to newly declassified intelligence that shows Ukraine has inflicted heavy losses on Russia in recent fighting along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis  including 13,000 casualties and over 220 combat vehicle losses. The Ukrainian holdout in the countrys partly-occupied east has been the center of some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks.

U.S. intelligence officials have determined that the Russians think if they can achieve a military deadlock through the winter it will drain Western support for Ukraine and ultimately give Russia the advantage, despite the fact that Russians have sustained heavy losses and have been slowed by persistent shortages of trained personnel, munitions and equipment.

Russia has lost 87% of the military personnel it had before the Ukraine war, including contracted and other ground forces, naval infantry and airborne troops, according to a person familiar with a recently declassified intelligence analysis and granted anonymity to discuss it.

Additionally, of the 3,500 Russian tanks before the invasion, some 2,200 have been lost on the battlefield, the person said.

The result is forcing Russia to rely on Soviet-era weaponry and has set back efforts to modernize its ground forces, the person said the analysis shows.

It's Zelenskyy's third visit to Washington since the war broke out in February 2022, including a quick trip just a few months ago as aid was being considered. But his surprise arrival days before Christmas last December drew thunderous applause in Congress, his daring first wartime trip out of Ukraine.

At the time, lawmakers sported the blue-and-yellow colors of Ukraine, and Zelenskyy delivered a speech that drew on the parallels to World War II as he thanked Americans for their support.

But 2023 brought a new power center of hard-right Republicans, many aligned with Donald Trump, the former president who is now the GOP front-runner in the 2024 race for the White House.

Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Zelenskyy might be able to take on the stalemate by showing the stakes of potential Russian expansion toward NATO, and making his case on moral clarity and why is Ukraine important.

Zelenskyy kicked off the quick visit to Washington on Monday, warning in a speech at a defense university that Russia may be fighting in Ukraine but its real target is freedom in America and around the world. During his meeting with Biden, he also sought to assure Congressand the American publicthat Ukraine was worth the substantial cost to the United States.

Ukraine can win," said Zelenskyy. People need to be confident that freedom is secure.

Of the new $110 billion national security package, $61.4 billion would go toward Ukraine  with about half to the U.S. Defense Department to replenish weaponry it is supplying, and the other half for humanitarian assistance and to help the Ukrainian government function with emergency responders, public works and other operations.

The package includes another nearly $14 billion for Israel as it fights Hamas and $14 billion for U.S. border security. Additional funds would go for national security needs in the Asia-Pacific region.

Biden also announced Tuesday that he had approved an additional $200 million military aid package for Ukraine. Including that latest package, the U.S. now has about $4.4 billion remaining in weapons it can provide from department stockpiles.

Border security talks have focused on making it more difficult for migrants to claim asylum and releasing fewer of them temporarily into the U.S. while they await proceedings to determine if they can remain permanently.

As border talks drag, Bidens budget director said last week that the U.S. will run out of funding to send weapons and assistance to Ukraine by the end of the year.

Associated Press writers Lolita Baldor, Tara Copp, Seung Min Kim, Will Weissert and Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.
As the USS Borie prepared to ram a German U-boat in the early morning hours of Nov. 1, 1943, the sailors on the Navy destroyer braced for impact. Turbulent waters in the north Atlantic Ocean negated the possibility of a head-on strike, though, producing a sudden wave that lifted the Borie off its intended course.

Instead, the Borie landed on the sub's foredeck, locking the ships together for an incredibly fraught 10 minutes of what would become an hourlong engagement widely considered by military historians as "the most spectacular surface battle since the days of John Paul Jones."

It was unlike anything that Robert Maher, a fire controlman first class who was the gun director pointer on the Borie, had ever seen. "It looked more like a Hollywood epic than an actual battle," Maher wrote in a 1993 Naval History Magazine article.

Commissioned in 1920, the Borie was named after Adolph E. Borie, who served a short stint as secretary of the Navy under President Ulysses S. Grant in 1869. The Clemson-class destroyer had served around the world by the time it was assigned to Task Force 21.14, a hunter-killer group in search of U-boats, during World War II. The USS Card, an escort carrier, and the destroyers USS Goff and USS Barry rounded out the task force.

The naval destroyer USS Borie sinks in the North Atlantic on Nov. 2, 1943, after being heavily damaged in a battle with a German submarine, U-405, the previous day. (U.S. Navy photo)

The German submarine U-405 was on a refueling run north of the Azores on the night of Oct. 31, 1943, when the Borie first made contact. After the warship fired a depth charge at the sub, a malfunction involving the stern tracks propelled the Borie's stern out of the water and forced U-405 to the surface.

With its searchlight on, the Borie approached U-405, which was unable to submerge as it was bombarded by persistent gunfire. German sailors moved furiously to man their deck guns, but almost all were killed before reaching their weapons. The sub's crew fired flare guns, and a sailor on the conning tower waved his arms in a plea for the Borie to stop shooting. Navy Lt. Charles Hutchins, the Borie's captain, ordered his men to cease firing, but a sailor had taken off his headphones and didn't hear his captain's demand. He kept shooting, decapitating the pleading sailor.

"It was a sight that was to give me nightmares for months," Maher recalled.

The Borie continued its unrelenting barrage of gunfire, and as the destroyer came within striking distance of the sub, Hutchins bellowed: "Stand by for a ram!" U-405 Capt. Rolf-Heinrich Hopman tried to avoid contact, but the sub turned too late. The stormy seas caused the Borie to land on top of U-405's deck at a 30-degree angle.

With the ships interlocked, some of the Bories crew manned 20mm Oerlikon antiaircraft cannons and four-inch guns, and others picked up Thompson submachine guns, shotguns and pistols. In one historical account, a fireman first class killed a German sailor by hurling a sheath knife at him, while in another, a chief boatswain's mate knocked a submariner into the water with a shell casing.

In the chaotic aftermath after the ships separated, the Borie fired a torpedo at U-405 but missed. U-405 started turning in a tight circle -- something the much larger Borie could not duplicate -- the maneuver resulting in the sub's stern tube pointing at the destroyer. This time, U-405 tried to ram the Borie, but three depth charges stopped its advance and narrowly averted another collision.

U-405 finally surrendered after being struck by another barrage from the Bories four-inch, prompting "a yell that went up from all hands -- it probably could be heard in Berlin," Hutchins wrote. All 49 German sailors were killed, either during the fighting or when the Borie zigzagged to avoid a torpedo from another U-boat, inadvertently hitting rafts of survivors.

By that point, the Borie was struggling to stay afloat, its collision with U-405 damaging the destroyer's entire port side and almost completely flooding the engine room with bitterly cold, neck-high water. While the crew scrambled valiantly to keep the power on during the Borie's engagement with U-405, eventually the electrical system died, sailors began dumping equipment, weapons and ammunition overboard, and saltwater contaminated its fuel and the boilers water supply.

Adm. Royal E. Ingersoll, commander in chief of the Atlantic Fleet, pins the Navy Cross on USS Borie Lt. Charles Hutchins on the flight deck of the USS Card. The Borie sank German submarine U-405 on Nov. 1, 1943, then had to be scuttled because of the damage it sustained. (Wikimedia Commons)

By 9 a.m. on Nov. 1, the Borie's last turbine stopped functioning. Despite the tremendous hardship, some ingenious radiomen got an auxiliary generator working long enough for the destroyer to message the USS Card: "Commenced sinking." The Card promptly launched two aircraft, and after one plane found the stricken ship 14 miles away, the USS Goff (and later the USS Barry) was deployed to the area.

The Borie was beyond saving, though, and Hutchins gave the order to abandon ship at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 1, 1943. Twenty-seven men died during the rescue effort because of the frigid water and weather, along with the imposing waves that caused the rafts to roll constantly. None of the Bories sailors died during the battle.

A combination of bombs from the USS Card's planes and depth charges sank the Borie on the morning of Nov. 2. "She still went down as a valiant lady," Maher wrote.

The Bories crew was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, and Navy Crosses were bestowed to Hutchins, Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Irving Saum and posthumously to Lt. Morrison Brown, the Borie's engineering officer. The destroyer received three battle stars for her WWII service.

Maher wrote about his experience in the book "Sailors' Journey into War," and a second USS Borie was commissioned in September 1944 -- less than a year after the fateful clash between its namesake and a German U-boat.

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Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested the former Dundy County Sheriff as part of an investigation into firearms missing from the sheriffs office.

An inventory conducted by the sheriffs office identified that four department-owned handguns were missing, according to a news release from the patrol. Investigators served a search warrant at the residence of Clinton Smith, 42, of Benkelman, and located one of the four missing firearms.

Smith was arrested for theft by unlawful taking and possession of a stolen firearm. He was lodged in Dundy County Jail.
LANSING, MI -- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel Monday announced the arrest of six people allegedly connected to two separate crime rings that involved the theft of goods from private citizens or retailers.

The first arrests announced involved a trio who are currently lodged at the Hamilton County Jail in Hamilton County, Indiana, over alleged crimes in that state. The three suspects have been identified as Tamara Ruiz-Saldias, 36, Ignacio Ruiz-Saldias, 29 and Jeremy Martinez, 19, who are all listed as Chilean nationals. All three are facing charges in Michigans 52-3 District Court in Rochester on one count each of conducting a criminal enterprise and eight counts each of second-degree home invasion.

Related story: Chilean crime ring suspected in sophisticated high-end home burglaries

The trio are alleged to have been involved in a series of break-ins between Feb. 3 and Feb. 10, 2023 in Ada Township, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, Grosse Pointe Farms, Rochester, and Rochester Hills.

Home invasions dont just threaten our property, they threaten our sense of security, and this ring has set entire communities on edge, Nessel said. I am proud of the hard work by not just those in my department, but by our county and local law enforcement partners on this effort.

Officials say the trio is part of what appears to be a larger ring of sophisticated home invasions that target affluent neighborhoods in Wayne, Oakland and Kent counties. The groups coordinated efforts target houses when no one is home and uses various ways to avoid detection by home-security systems. Officials say the scheme has led to the loss of millions of dollars of goods, money, jewelry, other high-value items, and safes.

Investigators believe the thieves are non-citizens who are in the U.S. legally but traveled to the United States and Michigan for the express purpose of conducting these crimes, according to a press release from Nessels office.

These organized transnational criminals do not respect county, state, or even national borders, so it is incumbent on us across all those boundaries to work together to hold them accountable. Having Attorney General Nessel charge them in a fashion that recognizes that this is an ongoing criminal enterprise subject to greater penalties is a critical step for us to better protect our communities, said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.

Nessel also announced the arrest of three Detroit residents accused of organizing several push-out thefts at multiple Lululemon and Ulta Beauty locations. The suspects in that case have been identified as Loreece Cross, 34, Cardiae Davis, 20, and Samira Smith, 20.

All three are facing charges of one count each of conducting a criminal enterprise. Cross is also facing four counts of first-degree retail fraud and one count of second-degree retail fraud. Davis and Smith are each facing seven counts of first-degree organized retail crime.

The trio will be arraigned later this week with Cross set to appear in 52-3 District Court in Rochester, while Cross and Davis will be charged in the 52-1 District Court in Novi.

Alleged thefts connected to this group include Lululemon stores in Ann Arbor, Birmingham, Clinton Township, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Grosse Pointe, Novi, and Rochester Hills, along with Ulta Beauty locations in Canton, Northville, Shelby Township, and Warren. In total, more than 30 organized thefts are believed to have occurred between December 2022 and Nov. 26, 2023.

It is alleged the group would enter a location, grab as much high-value merchandise as they could and leave the store to get into a getaway vehicle. The group allegedly then sold the stolen items to consumers or in bulk to a fence operation. More than $200,000 in merchandise is believed to have been stolen.

Organized Retail Crime is a pervasive problem in Michigan and across the United States, costing Michigan businesses over $1 billion each year, Nessel said. Through our state and local law enforcement partnerships, my FORCE Team is able to vigorously prosecute not just the thieves, but also the people who organize these rings. I anticipate that todays arrests will be the first of many tied to this ring as we continue to target those who target Michigans retailers.
BEAVER ISLAND, MI  A new ferry that will transport people and vehicles between Michigans mainland and the largest island in Lake Michigan could be ready for passengers by summer 2027, officials said.

A new Beaver Island ferry has been in the works for more than 10 years, but recently gained state and federal funding totaling $32.2 million.

RELATED: Beaver Island gets $10M to add new green passenger ferry

That amount will hopefully cover the project plus upgrades and repairs to the docking system on the island, Mary Cook, executive director of the Beaver Island Transportation Authority, told MLive. Summer 2027 is the absolute earliest Cook expects the ferry to be ready  it could be later.

Beaver Island, which is about 32 miles west of Charlevoix, is home to about 600 year-round residents. Its also a popular summer destination with multiple lighthouses, two nature preserves, a state forest campground and more to discover.

The ferry system is essential for transporting residents, visitors, vehicle and freight to and from the island, Cook said. Right now, there are two ferries running the route: the Emerald Isle, built in 1997; and the Beaver Islander, built in 1962.

The authority is waiting for the results of a propulsion study that will help determine what kind of power the new ferry will use. Completion is expected in February.

Its just key to everything, Cook said. Once thats completed, then we can make some major decisions.

The new ferry will be based off of designs from 2012, which called for a diesel engine, she said. They will likely need to be updated for a new propulsion system, and then a cost analysis can begin.

The plans call for a 150-foot vessel that will have capacity for 150 passengers, 24 vehicles and two semi-trailers. Most notably, the new boat will be up to American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, Cook said. It will also have more restrooms.

The new vessel will replace the Emerald Isle as the primary ferry.

The Emerald Isle is owned by Beaver Island Transportation Authority and operated through a public-private partnership with Beaver Island Boat Company; the new vessel will likely operate under a similar agreement. The Beaver Islander is owned by the ferry company and is expected to retire from the island route when the new vessel becomes operational.

The Emerald Isle will then become the secondary vessel and will be used during peak season and when the main ferry is out for repairs or maintenance, Cook said. The boat is 130 feet long with capacity for 298 passengers, 20 vehicles and one semi-trailer.
DETROIT -- A 59-year-old Detroit man was killed Monday night after his vehicle was hit by an airborne car that was driven by a man fleeing from police. Michigan State Police say the crash took place around 9:15 p.m. on southbound M-39 near Schoolcraft.

Troopers on patrol noticed a speeding vehicle on the highway that was weaving through traffic and driving recklessly. Troopers tried to pull the driver over, however he refused and attempted to exit the freeway. However, as he was exiting the driver hit the gore of the exit ramp, sending his car airborne.

The car then crashed into the vehicle being driven by the victim, which was on the service drive next to the highway. The suspects vehicle then landed on its roof, ending the short chase. The suspect -- identified only as a 20-year-old male from Detroit -- suffered minor injuries in the crash and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment before he will be lodged.

The 59-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

" The traffic crash reconstruction unit and the Second District Special Investigation Section are completing their investigation. said F/Lt Mike Shaw. A investigators report will be submitted to the prosecutors office for review once that is completed.
DETROIT -- Passengers on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit dealt with a delay that lasted for more than a day and resulted in them having to stay at a military barracks in Canada over the weekend. According to Fox 2 Detroit, the Delta flight was forced to make an emergency landing Sunday due to a problem with the planes de-icer.

A passenger on the flight said the pilot told passengers that if the de-icer wasnt working properly, it could cause a problem with the engine, which would be a much bigger issue. Delta later confirmed the plane experienced mechanical issues on board.

The plane landed in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador where hundreds of passengers were then moved to military barracks as the airline made arrangements to get another airplane to the airport to finish the journey.

However, weather and runway issues at Goose Bay Airport in Newfoundland and Labrador led to a problem with crew duty times, further delaying the trip. Eventually, the airline was able to get a different plane to the airport and the passengers landed in Detroit Monday, a day after their originally scheduled arrival.
FERNDALE, MI  Suspects who are accused of impersonating officers and handcuffing a victim while they allegedly robbed his home have been arrested and charged, police said.

Around 5:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 4, a 65-year-old man was exiting his home on the 100 block of West Woodland Street in Ferndale when he was accosted by four individuals who presented themselves as police officers, according to a news release from the Ferndale Police Department. The suspects allegedly handcuffed the man and then entered his home.

The on-scene investigation determined that this was a targeted act. There were no injuries. The suspects fled the scene and escaped.

Three of the four suspects were recently arrested and charged: 43-year-old Edward Clay of Detroit, 37-year-old Trevor Glenn of West Bloomfield, and 31-year-old Bernard Gardner of Detroit.

Ferndales new Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reader technology assisted in the investigation, which was a joint effort with the FBI Oakland County Violent Crimes and Gang Task Force.

Search warrants were executed at four locations. Evidence connected to this armed robbery was recovered, along with 20 illegal firearms, high-capacity magazines, narcotics and more than 800 rounds of ammunition. Some of the firearms were stolen or altered.

The defendants who impersonated law enforcement officers took advantage of the trust that exists between law enforcement and the communities they serve in Michigan, said Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI in Michigan. All officers carry badges and credentials that are used to verify their identity. If you believe someone is impersonating an officer, you may ask their agency to confirm their official business.

Clay, Glenn and Bernard were arraigned on Friday, Dec. 8, in 43rd District Court on felony charges of armed robbery, home invasion and felony firearm. Clays and Glenns bonds were set at $250,000 cash/surety. Gardners bond was set at $250,000/10% cash/surety. They are all due back in court at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 18.

This investigation is ongoing.
Martin and Brenda Seidl came close to losing their home on Hull Road in Muskegon Township several times over the past two decades.

They always found a way to snatch it back from the jaws of foreclosure. When the home burned in 2010, they rebuilt. They paid off the mortgage in the spring of 2020, though they ended up more than $11,000 behind on their property taxes at the same time.
An exodus of veteran staff at the Nebraska Legislature has, in some instances, led to questionable or incomplete recordkeeping in legislative committees, state senators learned on Friday.

More than 40 longtime employees, some with decades of experience, retired or left the legislative branch of state government ahead of the 2023 session, Speaker John Arch told lawmakers at the Legislative Council.

"What we experienced this year was a major disruption," Arch said at the retreat for state senators that focused on legislative systems rather than upcoming policy debates.

One of the areas where those disruptions were most evident was among the committee staff responsible for keeping detailed records of the work done by the Legislature's policy-making groups.

More than 80 corrections were made to reports used as a historical and legal record for the work of legislative committees this year  four times as many as were made in both the 2021 and 2019 sessions, which were also 90 days long.

Eight committee clerks failed to turn in completed reports detailing the efforts of senators on those working groups to the clerk's office by the Oct. 1 deadline this year, while three end-of-session reports from the 2023 session are still missing.

And, more recently, a committee clerk forgot to turn on the recording equipment during an interim hearing at the Capitol, meaning no record was created for a portion of the proceedings, while in other situations, recording equipment has been left on to capture senators' private conversations.

Clerk Brandon Metzler said efforts to rectify mistakes have often led to suggestions that committee clerks just need more training in order to perform the tasks with which they are charged.

But in multiple cases, Metzler explained, committee clerks have had processes explained to them multiple times even after a biannual training, and have even refused to consult the 100-page manual with an extensive index for quick reference that outlines their duties.

"Often times, committee clerks have not read this and don't know what's in it," Metzler told senators while he held a copy of the manual for them to see. "We can't make somebody open a book and follow the procedures. That's the problem."

The mounting issues led Arch and Metzler, who is charged with ensuring the Legislature meets its constitutional and statutory requirements, as well as with creating and maintaining a historical and legal record, to propose restructuring those positions.

"We looked at what kind of system we need in place to ensure that good staff are recruited and retained as well as supervised and trained while we have them here," Arch told members of the Legislature.

Through the creation of a new Legislative Committee Support Office, the committee clerks would receive uniform training and supervision from legislative staff rather than from state senators who chair committees and hire the clerks as part of their staff.

Metzler said the centralized office would allow the Legislature to operate with fewer committee clerks than it does currently because clerks could be assigned to multiple committees.

He also said they would receive better instruction on how to perform their in-session responsibilities like scheduling hearings, requesting statements of a bill's intent from the introducing senator, and gathering fiscal notes outlining a bill's impact to the state budget.

Outside of the session, clerks are responsible for reviewing the work of the transcribers to ensure an accurate record of the committee's work is kept, preparing committee records for archival purposes, and scheduling and running hearings that happen during the interim.

The idea of putting committee clerks into a centralized office, where they would still be assigned to a committee but would be able to fill in for others if necessary and provide continuity of service, has been put forward before but did not take hold.

Arch and Metzler said they hope the idea will stick this time and that the committee clerks could be reassigned on July 1, after the end of the 60-day session set to start in January, but before the start of the new biennium next year.

Several senators, mostly those who now serve as a committee chair, bristled at the idea of moving the clerk outside of their office, which they said would cut down lines of communication and potentially slow the Legislature's work.

Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard, chair of the Natural Resources Committee, said he supported the idea of putting the clerks in a centralized office where they would be supervised by legislative staff, but said they needed to remain in senators' offices while in session.

"I do a lot of things with the clerk," Bostelman said. "This is going to slow that whole process down and that continuity we have there. I would highly encourage you to retain clerks in senators' offices."

Other committee chairs also criticized the idea, saying the committee clerks work best when they work closely with senators.

Two other committee chairs  Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus, who leads the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, and Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, who leads the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee  both blasted the idea as unnecessary.

Moser said committee clerks that work out of a senator's office can understand the dynamics of those relationships better, while Brewer said the committee clerk often becomes a crucial part of a team.

Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne, the chair of the Judiciary Committee, echoed Brewer, saying clerks become an integral part of their team, both in running the committees as well as in helping move legislation onto the floor and that removing that person from his office could disrupt trust among staff.

But Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, who is not a committee chair, said she believed having a clerk that was part of the professional staff and not a political ally or former campaign member would benefit the institution as a whole.

"Your committee clerk should not be helping you get your bill out; their job is to run the meeting and keep a record," Cavanaugh said. "This shouldn't be a political position, and they shouldn't be in control over who is running the record of the Legislature."

No decision was made on Friday on how to proceed, and Arch said discussions on the proposal would continue in the weeks and months to come.

Both he and Metzler said as term limits continue to push lawmakers out, moving the committee clerks to an independent office would help ensure their longevity in those positions, which they said would benefit the Legislature and Nebraska as a whole.

After next year's session, seven sitting committee chairs will be term-limited, meaning the Legislature could see turnover in the clerks hired by those senators.

The people who replace them  Metzler estimated between four and six committee clerks would be new to the body  would mean all 16 committees have had new clerks within the last four years.

Top Journal Star photos for December 2023
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - It is unclear when a body found in a burned Washtenaw County home will be identified, police said.

The timeline for identifying the body found in a collapsed, burned home in the Manchester area is currently unknown, according to Rene Gonzalez, spokesperson for the Michigan State Police.

While the body has been sent to the Washtenaw County Medical Examiner, Gonzalez told MLive/The Ann Arbor News there is not currently a timeline for identification. No other information about the person found, including gender or approximate age, is currently available, police said.

The Washtenaw County Medical Examiner did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more: 1 killed when fire destroys Manchester-area house

Crews from the Manchester Township Fire Department were called to the 5600 block of Sharon Hollow Road in Sharon Township around 10:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 3. for a structure fire, according to Chief William Scully.

The two-story home, which was fully engulfed in fire when crews arrived, collapsed on itself within 15 minutes, Scully said.

Due to the intensity of the fire, an interior fire attack could not be made, Scully previously told MLive in an email. The fire was brought under control around 11:30 p.m.

The resident was found dead in the rubble of the home, Scully said. No other injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, although is not deemed to be suspicious, Scully said.

Read more: Officials still working to identify person killed in Manchester-area fire

Neighbors told police they believed the home was occupied by one person who was home at the time. They had last spoken with the person around 6 p.m. on Sunday, they told police.

A neighbor told an MLive reporter that a woman lived at the house.

Anyone with information is asked to reach out to the Michigan State Police Brighton Post at 810-227-1051.

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ANN ARBOR, MI  While some people have been able to forgive those who took their loved ones from them, Thomas Robinson said in court, he will not.

I stand in front of you today a person that does not forgive for this, Robinson told Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Arianne Slay. As long as I am of sound mind and body, I will never forget or forgive this.

Robinson shared his love for his daughter during the sentencing hearing for Madron Aldonijah Austin, 50, who was found guilty by a jury for her death on Friday, Nov. 3.

Austin was convicted of first-degree felony murder, assault with the intent to murder, assault with the intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and armed robbery in connection with Pritchards death.

I want this court to know that the verdict that was rendered gives me, my family and friends, and her family and friends a way to start to move forward again in life, because we were all stuck, Robinson said.

Angel Mercedes Pritchard, also known as Nyesha Mercedes Robinson, suffered critical injuries when she was stabbed during an argument in the early hours of April 4, 2021, inside a hotel room at the Sonesta Suites, 800 Victors Way, in Ann Arbor near the Pittsfield Township border, according to the Ann Arbor Police Department.

Pritchard died a week later while being treated at the University of Michigan Hospital.

Two other women who were stabbed, ages 33 and 36, survived.

Read more: She laid down her life in the ultimate sacrifice. Testimony begins in Ann Arbor hotel murder trial

Austin was sentenced to life in prison for the first-degree felony murder during a hearing before Slay on Monday, Dec. 11. He was also given a minimum of roughly 50 years for the other charges.

The sentencing day would have been Pritchards 30th birthday, according to Robinson.

This has truly been the longest two-and-a-half to three years of my life, Robinson said. I stand in front of you today a deeply hurt man, yet today I feel just a hint of relief.

The three women and another man known as Q were partying at the hotel when one of the women received a text from Austin asking if she wanted to get high with him, according to witnesses.

Austin was told not to come, but arrived anyway with drugs, witnesses said. He then propositioned the woman to pay for the drugs with sexual favors and was told to leave. The incident led to an argument, and Austin pulled out a small pocketknife and asked for the drugs back.

Read more: Jury finds man guilty of fatally stabbing woman at Ann Arbor hotel

One woman sprayed perfume in Austins eyes to try and get him to leave, according to testimony. Pritchard also hit him over the head with a hotel lamp.

Pritchard suffered six stab wounds, including one to her chest which punctured a lung, Washtenaw County Medical Examiner Dr. Allecia Wilson said. Austin claimed he acted in self-defense.

Slay said before sentencing Austin that his comments will stay with her for the rest of her life.

What you took from them, it will never make it right, Slay told Austin during the hearing.

Austin declined to make a statement during the hearing.

I stated on the stand my daughter would give the shirt off her back to a loved one in need, but obviously I was wrong, Robinson said. She was much more; she gave her life.

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ANN ARBOR, MI - The state of Michigan agrees toxic groundwater pollution that has spread for decades in the Ann Arbor area should join a national list of contaminated sites designated as a high priority for cleanup.

In a letter dated Monday, Dec. 11, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the state concurs with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys proposal to include the Gelman 1,4-dioxane plume on the Superfund National Priorities List. The list includes just over 1,300 sites where the historical release of hazardous substances poses significant threats to human health and the environment.

Superfund status would open up the site, stemming from the former Gelman Sciences filter manufacturing facility on Wagner Road in Scio Township, to federal oversight for monitoring and cleanup  a long-held goal of area residents and environmental advocates.

Whitmers letter cleared the way for the miles-long plume of dioxane, a likely carcinogen, to officially be proposed as a Superfund site. This follows the findings of a yearslong EPA evaluation of the the pollution released in early November.

Read more: EPA says Ann Arbor-area dioxane plume eligible to become Superfund site

Placing the site on the (National Priorities List) is the most viable alternative for addressing the issues with the source contamination remaining on-site and the contaminated groundwater on and emanating from the site, the governor wrote in her letter, addressed to EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore in Chicago.

Top officials with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, which has managed the site since discovery of the contamination in the mid-1980s, agreed.

We welcome all available resources to address what is a very complex site of legacy contamination, said EGLE Director Phil Roos, an Ann Arbor resident, in a statement. Weve listened to the community and concur with their wishes to ask the EPA to make this a priority site. Well continue to work with the community and EPA to ensure residents are protected.

The federal environmental agencys policy is to secure agreement from states before proposing a site to the list, according to the EPAs most recent update on the Gelman plume.

The update does not list a date for when the pollution might be officially proposed as a Superfund site. Doing so involves a federal rule-making process involving public comment and response, EPA officials said at a June town hall meeting about the plume.

In the meantime, a decades-long legal battle over the pollution continues to play out in state courts, with lawyers representing Washtenaw County and Gelman Sciences appearing in late November for the latest round of arguments in the 35-year-old case over the plume.

Read more: Gelman is wrong. Legal fight over Ann Arbor dioxane plume continues

A county judge denied Gelmans motion to end the case, predicting the legal maneuvering would continue for years to come.

Cleanup advocates have long called for Superfund status for the Gelman plume, arguing federal intervention is the only way to force the polluter to fully contend with the contamination and halt its expansion  further documented by independent Scio and Ann Arbor township well testing in recent years.

Superfund status has a proponent in U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, who has advocated to expedite cleanup of the plume.

Including the Gelman plume on the National Priorities List is critical to help finally end this decades-long nightmare for the residents of Ann Arbor, Scio Township and the surrounding communities, Dingell said in a statement. I thank Governor Whitmer for her continued partnership and commitment to getting this site cleaned up.

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A judge on Monday formally dismissed misdemeanor charges against former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in the Flint water scandal and ordered that police records and his booking photo be destroyed.

The dismissal was expected, weeks after the Michigan Supreme Court turned down a last-gasp appeal from state prosecutors and ended criminal cases against him and many others.

Snyder, a Republican who left office in 2019, was charged with willful neglect of duty. He was the first person in state history to be charged for alleged crimes related to service as governor.

The dismissal order, signed by Gennessee District Judge William Crawford, tells authorities to destroy records related to Snyders initial processing by police in 2021, including fingerprints and booking photo. Assistant Attorney General Chris Kessel also signed the court filing.

RELATED: Flint water criminal charges dismissed against former Gov. Snyder

Criminal cases against Snyder and eight others collapsed when the state Supreme Court in 2022 said a one-judge grand jury was improperly used by the attorney generals office to bring charges.

Flints water became tainted with lead after city managers appointed by Snyder began using the Flint River in 2014 to save money while a new pipeline to Lake Huron was built. The water wasnt treated to reduce its corrosive qualities, causing lead to break off from old pipes and contaminate the system for more than a year.

The attorney generals office in October said it would release a report about its investigation of Snyder and other officials. Snyders legal team plans to issue its own report.

Then the people of Flint can quickly decide for themselves who lied to them and who is telling them the truth, defense attorney Brian Lennon said Monday.
MECOSTA COUNTY, MI  A DNR officer accused of shooting another man at a campsite while off-duty this spring was arraigned Tuesday on two felony charges in Mecosta County District Court.

Ryan Cox, 22, of Mancelona, was arraigned Tuesday, Dec. 12, by Magistrate Tom Lyons on one charge each of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, a 10-year felony, and weapons felony firearm, a two-year-felony, the Attorney Generals Office announced Tuesday in a news release.

The charges follow a Michigan State Police investigation into an off-duty shooting at a Mecosta County campground by Cox, a conservation officer with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Cox is alleged to have intervened in a verbal and physical altercation on May 13, involving his father and other campers at the Merrill-Gorrel County Park in Barryton. He is said to have announced himself as DNR law enforcement before shooting multiple times, hitting one victim.

RELATED: Campground shooting involving off-duty DNR officer leads to $250 million lawsuit

The victim, Brandon Davis, filed a federal lawsuit against Cox in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, on June 5, seeking $250 million in damages.

That suit, which claims Cox used excessive force and was grossly negligent when he fired the gun, also claims assault and battery. Davis attorney, Brian Dailey, said Davis was hospitalized as a result of the incident, lost a kidney and in the three weeks following the incident had six surgeries. Davis lives in Mount Pleasant.

Related: Off-duty DNR officer shoots person while camping

Though Cox was off-duty at the time of the shooting, the DNR requested MSP investigate the incident. The states charges are based upon a review of that investigation, Attorney General Dana Nessel said.

Whether on or off-duty, law enforcement officers are not exempt from the law and must conduct themselves accordingly in order to gain and maintain the publics trust, Nessel said. I am thankful for the great work of my departments public integrity unit and the Michigan State Police for their work pursuing this very serious case and we look forward to a swift and just resolution of this matter.

Coxs bond was set for $25,000 and he must wear a GPS Tether if he bonds out, the release states.

Cox will next appear before the 77th District Court in Mecosta County for a probable cause conference on Dec. 20 and preliminary exam on Dec. 27.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- An executive committee member with the Ottawa County Republican Party has been chosen to fill a vacant seat on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.

County commissioners on Tuesday, Dec. 12, voted to appoint Kendra Wenzel to fill a seat vacated in November by District 6 Commissioner Kyle Terpstra.

Wenzel has been an Ottawa County Republican Party precinct delegate since August 2022, according to documents she submitted to county leaders.

She also began serving this month on the partys executive committee.

Six commissioners voted Tuesday to appoint Wenzel.

Commissioner Jacob Bonnema left before the vote because of a prior commitment.

Wenzel was among 11 people to apply for Terpstras district, which covers part of Georgetown Township. Commissioners on Dec. 4 whittled the applicants to five, then interviewed those five on Dec. 8.

According to her resume, Wenzel volunteers with the groups Mentoring New Mothers and Hand 2 Hand.

Hand 2 Hand provides lunches for students at mostly urban area schools, helping address food security issues.

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Kristina Karamo ran for chair of the Michigan GOP to embolden local Republicans, but as the state partys financial distress continues 10 months into her tenure, defenders are becoming detractors.

Karamo is not capable of building the infrastructure that is needed to ensure Republican victory in next years presidential, U.S. Senate and down-ballot races, Oakland County GOP Chair Vance Patrick said Monday in a public statement.

Oakland, a major suburban county of Detroit, is the states second-most populous. And Patrick, once a strong supporter, is the latest notable Republican to say theyve seen enough.

For the first time in modern history, the state party played no substantial role in getting out the vote for our candidates in the municipal election this past November, he said. Our candidates and GOP organizations have been left to fend for themselves when it comes to voter data and canvassing tools.

Patrick urged the state GOP committee, during a special meeting on Dec. 27 to consider removing Karamo as chair, to do so.

Related: Polarizing Michigan GOP chairs future in jeopardy as momentum builds to oust her

Elected by local-level Republican delegates in February, Karamo came into office as a populist reformer of a state party that grassroots activists felt was opaque, careless with its money and did not represent conservatives support for former President Donald Trump.

Karamo  endorsed by Trump for secretary of state in 2022, a race she lost by more than 600,000 vote  has carried his proverbial banner high throughout her term. Like Trump, for example, she continues to falsely claim Michigans elections are rife with result-changing, widespread fraud.

But on transparency and fiscal responsibility, the latter of which being especially crucial to winning back control of the legislature in 2024, more and more Republicans have lost faith.

Our state party has been left in shambles with regard to fundraising and effective staff work, Patrick wrote, noting local parties alone cant pay for millions of mailers and hire extensive field staff to persuade voters.

Karamo did not respond to MLives request for comment for this story. She has previously argued to party delegates that criticism of her is a deep state-like operation wanting their unchecked power back.

Related: Michigan GOP, on the brink of bankruptcy, broke campaign finance laws, report alleges

Last week, MLive reported on a draft report from Michigan GOP insiders claiming the party is on the brink of bankruptcy under Karamo. It blames her failed leadership, saying shes presided over disastrous decisions and possible broken laws.

According to budget documents included in the report and provided separately to MLive, most party bank accounts are empty.

Another key GOP chair, Mark Forton of third-most-populous Macomb County, is also now a vocal Karamo critic after being a glowing endorser when she took office. The MIGOP is a doggone mess under her leadership, he told MLive in September.

Nothing but controversies  of course we knew thered be controversy, dont get me wrong  but the controversies have been largely started by the administration. Its incredible, he said.

MLive senior political reporter Simon Schuster contributed.
LANSING, MI  As Michigan continues to rank dead last in government transparency, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced Tuesday her department has unveiled an online portal to make requesting state documents easier for the public.

The effort pushes Department of State-focused Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests largely online, and allows residents to view already requested documents on a topic theyre interested in filing for. Benson said she hopes the move cuts down on layers of bureaucracy while allowing users to view and download FOIAs requested within a one-year timespan without any additional fee.
Michigan is launching a new program to help local governments update their regulations to pave the way for new housing.

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority launched a $5 million Housing Readiness Incentive Grant Program last week to make it easier for cities, villages and townships to make rule changes that will lead to more affordable housing. Lowering these hurdles could help Michigan achieve its goal of building or rehabilitating 75,000 housing units by 2027.
LITCHFIELD  A Louisiana resident was found dead at the scene of a two-vehicle crash in Litchfield, a town 40 minutes outside of Kearney, on Wednesday.

According to a press release from the Sherman County Sheriff's Office, a U-Haul truck traveling westbound collided with an eastbound Chevy Silverado on Nebraska 2 at 12:23 a.m.

Christian Marquez Taylor, 19, who was a passenger of the U-Haul, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other two occupants of the U-Haul and the driver of the Silverado were transported to the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

The investigation by the sheriff's office and the Nebraska State Patrol is ongoing.
, a prominent software services company, is looking to sell its office assets in Bengaluru and Hyderabad as part of its strategy to transition to an asset-light model and leverage non-core real estate, as reported. The company plans to divest a 10-acre campus in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, and a 14-acre campus in Siruseri, Chennai, aligning with its cost-cutting restructuring initiative to achieve $400 million in savings over a two-year period. This includes the goal of vacating 11 million square feet of office space. "Cognizant is re-evaluating its entireand has given up rented properties in some geographies", the report quoted. The company, in some cases, has renegotiated the rent and downsized the assets too, the people said further.Cognizant assists businesses in updating technology, reenvisioning processes, and reshaping experiences. The company experienced a 16% decline in net profit, reaching $525 million in the third quarter of September 2023, compared to $629 million during the corresponding period the previous year. Revenue remained nearly unchanged at $4.89 billion. "We strengthened the companys fundamentals during the third quarter as reflected in higher customer satisfaction scores, significantly lower voluntary attrition, and continued growth in bookings, despite ongoing economic uncertainty", said Ravi Kumar S, chief executive officer of Cognizant. We are investing to put Cognizant in the best position to serve clients as they strive to reduce costs, digitally transform their businesses and embrace generative AI, he added.As of the conclusion of the third quarter, the total headcount stood at 346,600, marking a rise of 1,000 from Q2, 2023, and a decrease of 2,800 from Q3, 2022. "We have narrowed our full-year revenue guidance range, which now reflects recent discretionary spending pressure and its impact on our near-term revenue expectations. We have also updated our adjusted operating margin guidance to approximately 14.7%, which is the high-end of our prior range, reflecting our continuing focus on enhancing operational discipline", said Jan Siegmund, Chief Financial Officer at Cognizant
Taiwans FSC Sets Up Financial Technology Bureau to Oversee Crypto: Report

Disclosure: Crypto is a high-risk asset class. This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. By using this website, you agree to our terms and conditions. We may utilise affiliate links within our content, and receive commission.

Taiwans Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) has set up a Financial Technology Bureau to oversee cryptocurrencies to protect investors and increase regulation, according to a Taiwanese news report by United Daily News (UDN).

FSC chairman Huang Tien-Mu has confirmed the Executive Yuan Council which is responsible for overseeing statutory and budgetary bills in Taiwan has asked the regulatory body to form the Financial Technology Bureau overseeing cryptocurrencies as the country moves closer to strengthening crypto regulation, reports UDN.

The FSC and Executive Yuan Council were unavailable for comment.

Taiwanese politician and legislator Kuo Kuo-Wen recently called on the FSC to establish a Financial Technology Bureau, expressing that new forms of financial technology are emerging in the country, and several fraudulent groups are using the new forms of technology to harm investors.

The FSC-managed Fintech Bureau will be responsible for increasing regulation around the cryptocurrency market.

In Novemer, Taipei-based trading platform, Kronos Research suffered a cybersecurity breach, leading to a staggering $26 million loss in crypto assets. The hack was first reported by crypto on-chain sleuth ZachXBT, mapping out the fund outflow and confirming its magnitude.

The FSC is also exploring the possibility of introducing cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and has revealed that it is closely studying foreign cryptocurrency futures products and ETFs. The intention is to gradually ease restrictions in alignment with global market conditions.
Trial of Art-themed Altcoin Fraudster Underway in South Korea

Disclosure: Crypto is a high-risk asset class. This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. By using this website, you agree to our terms and conditions. We may utilise affiliate links within our content, and receive commission.

The trial of a suspected crypto fraudster who allegedly told victims they were investing in an art-themed altcoin and NFTs has begun at court in Gwangju, South Korea.

According to Munhwa Ilbo, prosecutors say an individual surnamed Tak, aged 44, defrauded 13 victims out of approximately $2.1 million.

The court also heard that Tak received and stole $318,000 from investors who backed the alleged fraudster to buy a [crypto] trading firm.

Prosecution officials said Tak also raised money by claiming to make proxy investments in Ethereum (ETH).

Investigators claimed Tak posed as a competent [crypto] investor who had earned a large amount of money by trading coins.

 South Koreas Biggest Supermarket Says Next-gen ATMs May Be Crypto Compatible Emart, South Koreas largest retailer and supermarket chain, says its new next-generation ATMs could offer trading functions with crypto and security tokens.#CryptoNewshttps://t.co/Sf0TlCjtnm  Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) December 7, 2023

South Korean Altcoin Fraudster Paid Broker to End Investigation



Tak allegedly told would-be investors that they would get high returns and guaranteed stake returns if they invested in a selection of unlisted stocks.

Tak also reportedly told investors they would make money from investing in altcoins linked to NFT artworks.

The court heard that Tak approached potential investors from 2021 to 2022, at the height of the NFT boom.

Prosecutors also told the court that Tak tried to throw police investigators off the scent when they launched a probe.

Officials said that Tak contacted a legal broker surnamed Seong (age 62), and paid the latter to help stop the investigation.

Prosecutors explained that Tak had paid Seong over $ 830,000 to help put an end to the investigation.

However, during the cross-examination, Tak denied claims that the payment was not an above-board transaction and pleaded for clemency. Tak told the court:

It was a normal transaction and I repaid some of the damages to the [alleged victims].

The court is set to reconvene on January 8.

Last week, the nations top financial regulator ruled that most NFTs are not subject to crypto-related laws and regulations.

Earlier this year, lawmakers said they would create legislation that differentiates CBDCs and other assets from fungible cryptoassets like Bitcoin (BTC).
With concerns over gaps in education during the pandemic and students behind on core subjects, the latest Pennsylvania Future Ready Index numbers show there are still some struggles in English, math and science locally and across the state.

The state Department of Education website updated its school performance data with information pulled from the 2022-23 school year. Similar to last year, a number of schools struggled to meet proficiency standards in the three test subjects, though some did show some growth in those areas.

Statewide benchmarks for proficiency were relatively high, especially compared to actual statewide averages. While the department set proficiency goals for elementary and secondary schools at 81.1% for English/literature, 71.8% for math/algebra and 83% for science/biology, statewide averages were far lower. According to the Future Ready Index, schools in the state had 54.5% proficient or advanced in English, 38.3% in math and 58.9% in science.

Several schools in Cumberland County did not meet proficiency goals, but often hovered around the statewide average.

Carlisle Area School District

Carlisle was among the districts whose schools often did not meet proficiency goals. Carlisle High School, Lamberton and Wilson middle schools, as well as Bellaire, Hamilton, Mooreland, Mount Holly Springs and North Dickinson elementary schools did not meet proficiency goals for any of the three subjects. The other two elementary schools, Crestview and LeTort, met or surpassed the proficiency goal in science, but did not make the goal in the other two subjects.

Most of the schools had proficiency percentages near statewide averages, though some were below average, including math and science at the high school and middle schools. Most of the elementary schools saw percentages above the state average, though Mount Holly Springs was below in all three subjects, Hamilton was below average in English and math, and LeTort was below average in English.

In a presentation to the school board Thursday evening, Assistant Superintendent Michael Gogoj presented the data, along with what the district has historically seen over the last few years.

We are comparing data across school years, he said. We are doing that because we have to find some way to be transparent. We are not hiding our data. This is what it is. Some years, there are decreases. Some years, there are increases. We dont like decreases, but we are attempting to be transparent.

With that said, I would caution ultra-simplistic comparisons between one year to the next, he said. It is more complicated than what we are showing you. We are disappointed when we do not see upswings, but we are not surprised by what we are seeing because we are looking at student data all year long ... K through 12.

The Future Ready Index also has data on academic growth, and Gogoj said that growth is a complicated measure that is easier to define on a student-by-student basis, but harder for an entire school since that could mean an advanced student getting a slightly lower score than the year before or could mean there are students not being proficient.

A few schools showed signs of improvement with the growth standard since last year. The department gave schools a passing grade if they saw an academic growth score of 70 or more.

While Carlisle High School did not see proficient scores last school year, it did meet the academic growth standard in English and math and surpassed the standard in science. Wilson Middle School met the growth standard in math and science, while Lamberton met the standard in science.

Some of the elementary schools that were proficient didnt necessarily meet the standards in growth. Crestview, Mooreland and North Dickinson didnt meet any academic growth standards.

Gogoj said its important to understand that there are many factors that play into these scores. Some involve the district like curriculum documents, staff experience, turnover or institutional practices. Others are at the student level, with their personal hardships, mental or social health concerns and devotion to family and schoolwork.

So, for each student, some complex combination of those things are at work, he said. At the district level, we take full responsibility that we are doing our part for the right program.

Gogoj said that while attendance has become a major issue across Pennsylvania, with the statewide average going from 85% to 73%, he said Carlisle has stayed well above average.

Its graduation rate, however, has fallen below the state average  the only district in the immediate area to see a percentage below the 87% average. Carlisle High Schools graduation rate last school year was 85.5%.

Graduation rate is a lagging indicator so this data is from the 2021-2022 school year and reflects an 85.5% graduation rate, he said. So, in the new year, this will be a new presentation. We will do an in-depth dive on graduation and pull out that 15% and without naming names, we are going to explain who those students are, why they dropped out, what we know about their stories and context and the things that we do to try to prevent that from happening. There are some complicated stories there we are going to try to explain who that 14.5% of students are.

Big Spring School District

Big Spring High School also didnt meet the graduation rate goal of 92.4%, but it was higher than the state average with its 89.4%.

Like Carlisle, Big Spring also saw some struggles, especially at the secondary school level.

The high school and middle school did not meet proficiency goals in any of the test subjects, with the high school seeing only 14.2% proficiency in math  the lowest in this area of the county. The high school also did not meet academic growth standards in any of the subjects, while the middle school met the standard in science, but not in English or math.

Though scores show areas of improvement for the high school and middle school, the elementary schools saw better rates in proficiency and growth.

Mount Rock Elementary School met proficiency goals in English and math and surpassed the goal in science, and it surpassed growth expectations in English and science, while meeting the math growth goal. Oak Flat Elementary School met proficiency goals in math and science, and met growth goals in English and math and surpassed it in science.

Newville Elementary School struggled a little more than its counterparts, but met proficiency and academic growth in science. Only English was below the state average in proficiency at the school, despite it not meeting the other standards.

Mechanicsburg Area School District

While the high school saw proficient English scores, it did not meet the goal for math and science, with math below the state average. The middle school didnt meet any of the proficiency goals, though only math was below the state average.

Similarly to Carlisle, however, both showed improvement in academic growth. The high school surpassed growth goals in English and science and met the goal in math, while the middle school met growth goals in math and science, but not in English.

The elementary schools werent as easy to compare with the data available on the Department of Educations website. Science data was only available for Elmwood Academy given that it serves fourth and fifth grade students, and the others also didnt have data on academic growth. Of the remaining math and English scores, students seem to have more problems meeting English standards than math. Broad Street, Northside, Shepherdstown and Upper Allen met the proficiency goal in math but none of them met the English proficiency goal. Elmwood Academy did not meet proficiency in English or math, but surpassed the science goal, and it saw growth in English and science.

South Middleton School District

With data for Boiling Springs High School, Yellow Breeches Middle School and Iron Forge Elementary School, the Future Ready Index showed some mixed results in the three subjects. There was no data for W.G. Rice Elementary School.

The high school met its proficiency target for English but was below the state average in both math and science. The middle school met the proficiency standard for science, but not for English or math, which was also below the state average.

Iron Forge surpassed the proficiency standard in science and met the proficiency rate in math, but did not meet the standard in English, though it was still above the state average.

The high school saw academic growth in English and math and was only slightly below the 70 standard in science. The middle school met the growth in science, but not in English or math, while Iron Forge met the English growth goal, but not in math or science.

Cumberland Valley School District

Of the five school districts in the area, Cumberland Valley School District was the outlier in academic scores. Most of its schools were able to meet or surpass the goals set by the state.

The high school surpassed the proficiency goal for English and met the goals in math and science, while Mountain View Middle School met all three of the proficiency goals. Eagle View Middle School met the proficiency goal in English, but not in the other two subjects; however, most elementary schools met all the proficiency goals. Only Silver Spring and Sporting Hill elementary schools did not meet the English proficiency, while Middlesex Elementary School did not meet any of the proficiency goals. Middlesex, however, saw academic growth in English.

Despite high percentages in proficiency, the high school still surpassed the academic growth standard in all three subjects, scoring 100 in each subject. Eagle View also surpassed the academic growth standard in English and met the standard in math and science. Despite its higher proficiency scores, Mountain View surpassed the English and science growth standards, but did not meet the standard in math.

For more information or to view school breakdowns at area school districts, visit the Future Ready Index website at futurereadypa.gov.
BJs Wholesale Club (NYSE:BJ  Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Monday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 3.800-3.920 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 3.850. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group cut BJs Wholesale Club from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $75.00 to $73.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. Bank of America dropped their price objective on BJs Wholesale Club from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 23rd. Roth Mkm reiterated a neutral rating and set a $63.00 target price on shares of BJs Wholesale Club in a report on Monday, November 20th. Evercore ISI reduced their price target on shares of BJs Wholesale Club from $68.00 to $64.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 20th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of BJs Wholesale Club from $83.00 to $81.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 23rd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $71.31.

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BJs Wholesale Club Stock Down 0.0 %

NYSE:BJ traded down $0.03 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $65.89. 1,742,805 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,745,712. BJs Wholesale Club has a 12-month low of $60.33 and a 12-month high of $78.88. The business has a 50-day moving average of $67.99 and a two-hundred day moving average of $66.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.12 and a current ratio of 0.73. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.79 billion, a PE ratio of 17.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.32.

BJs Wholesale Club (NYSE:BJ  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, November 17th. The company reported $0.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.95 by $0.03. BJs Wholesale Club had a return on equity of 43.26% and a net margin of 2.61%. The company had revenue of $4.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.90 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.99 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that BJs Wholesale Club will post 3.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other BJs Wholesale Club news, EVP Jeff Desroches sold 33,934 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.88, for a total transaction of $2,337,373.92. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 80,882 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,571,152.16. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other BJs Wholesale Club news, EVP Jeff Desroches sold 33,934 shares of BJs Wholesale Club stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.88, for a total transaction of $2,337,373.92. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 80,882 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,571,152.16. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Robert W. Eddy sold 11,965 shares of BJs Wholesale Club stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.04, for a total value of $838,028.60. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 238,667 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,716,236.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 118,653 shares of company stock valued at $8,306,084. Insiders own 2.20% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On BJs Wholesale Club

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in BJs Wholesale Club during the 1st quarter worth about $268,000. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of BJs Wholesale Club by 44.3% in the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 7,180 shares of the companys stock valued at $487,000 after purchasing an additional 2,203 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of BJs Wholesale Club by 104.7% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 10,961 shares of the companys stock worth $741,000 after purchasing an additional 5,607 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in shares of BJs Wholesale Club by 7.4% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 12,440 shares of the companys stock worth $843,000 after purchasing an additional 862 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can lifted its stake in BJs Wholesale Club by 7.7% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 74,006 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,143,000 after buying an additional 5,272 shares in the last quarter. 98.60% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About BJs Wholesale Club

(Get Free Report)

BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates warehouse clubs on the eastern half of the United States. It provides perishable, general merchandise, gasoline, coupon books, promotions, and other ancillary services. The company sells its products through the websites BJs.com, BerkleyJensen.com, and Wellsleyfarms.com, as well as the mobile app.

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Caxton Associates LP bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (NYSEARCA:EWZ  Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund bought 93,926 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $3,046,000. iShares MSCI Brazil ETF comprises approximately 0.5% of Caxton Associates LPs portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest holding. Caxton Associates LP owned approximately 0.06% of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Point72 Europe London LLP bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $3,476,000. PointState Capital LP bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $39,945,000. Quantitative Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $43,686,000. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. increased its position in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 10.8% in the 2nd quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 13,999 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $454,000 after buying an additional 1,360 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stifel Financial Corp increased its position in shares of iShares MSCI Brazil ETF by 18.2% in the 2nd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 106,454 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $3,452,000 after buying an additional 16,407 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI Brazil ETF Stock Down 1.2 %

Shares of EWZ traded down $0.40 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $33.36. The stock had a trading volume of 6,009,471 shares, compared to its average volume of 24,438,887. The company has a market cap of $5.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.86 and a beta of 0.97. iShares MSCI Brazil ETF has a 52 week low of $25.00 and a 52 week high of $34.51. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $31.84 and a 200 day moving average of $31.75.

iShares MSCI Brazil ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI Brazil Capped Index Fund (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the Brazilian market, as measured by the MSCI Brazil Index (the Index).

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SHENANDOAH  Police responding to a reported burglary at a southeastern Pennsylvania home shot and killed a man who authorities say lunged at them with a machete.

Shenandoah and Mahanoy City police had responded to the home in Shenandoah around 12:30 a.m. Monday, state police said. The property owner had video surveillance in the home because it's vacant, and the owner reported seeing someone in the house who was wearing a mask and had a big knife.

The officers found Byron Scheuring, 32, of Shenandoah, under a bed in an upstairs bedroom. After Scheuring refused to comply with several verbal orders to surrender, the officers moved the bed and Scheuring lunged at them with a machete, state police said. A Shenandoah officer then fired one shot that hit Scheuring, who was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

The names of the responding officers have not been released. No officers were injured.

State police say the matter remains under investigation.
Caxton Associates LP purchased a new stake in shares of Sysco Co. (NYSE:SYY  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 34,363 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,550,000.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brinker Capital Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of Sysco by 3.2% in the first quarter. Brinker Capital Investments LLC now owns 3,851 shares of the companys stock valued at $314,000 after buying an additional 121 shares during the period. Geller Advisors LLC increased its position in Sysco by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. Geller Advisors LLC now owns 3,362 shares of the companys stock valued at $276,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the period. Independence Bank of Kentucky increased its position in Sysco by 9.7% during the 2nd quarter. Independence Bank of Kentucky now owns 1,585 shares of the companys stock valued at $118,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the period. CENTRAL TRUST Co increased its position in Sysco by 2.9% during the 2nd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 5,071 shares of the companys stock valued at $376,000 after purchasing an additional 144 shares during the period. Finally, Brasada Capital Management LP increased its position in Sysco by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Brasada Capital Management LP now owns 22,837 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,695,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.60% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Sysco

In other news, Director Sheila Talton sold 2,200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.76, for a total transaction of $157,872.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 12,782 shares of the companys stock, valued at $917,236.32. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.58% of the companys stock.

Sysco Stock Performance

Sysco stock traded down $0.15 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $73.78. The stock had a trading volume of 492,063 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,497,400. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $37.21 billion, a PE ratio of 20.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.13. Sysco Co. has a 12 month low of $62.24 and a 12 month high of $84.79. The firms 50-day moving average price is $67.99 and its 200 day moving average price is $70.56.

Sysco (NYSE:SYY  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 31st. The company reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.02 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $19.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.73 billion. Sysco had a return on equity of 117.17% and a net margin of 2.35%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.97 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Sysco Co. will post 4.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Sysco Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.71%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 4th. Syscos payout ratio is presently 56.34%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Sysco in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Sysco in a research report on Thursday, October 19th. They issued a buy rating and a $75.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Sysco from $75.00 to $76.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 1st. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Sysco from $86.00 to $77.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 23rd. Finally, Stephens cut their price objective on shares of Sysco from $90.00 to $80.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 1st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $83.30.

View Our Latest Research Report on Sysco

Sysco Company Profile

(Free Report)

Sysco Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the marketing and distribution of various food and related products to the foodservice or food-away-from-home industry in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and internationally. It operates through U.S. Foodservice Operations, International Foodservice Operations, SYGMA, and Other segments.

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Energizer (NYSE:ENR  Get Free Report) issued an update on its first quarter 2024 earnings guidance on Monday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 0.500-0.600 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 0.860. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Energizer also updated its FY 2024 guidance to 3.100-3.300 EPS.

Energizer Stock Performance

Shares of Energizer stock traded up $0.30 on Monday, reaching $31.23. 435,330 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 610,418. Energizer has a 1-year low of $27.68 and a 1-year high of $37.89. The company has a current ratio of 2.12, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.81. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $31.62 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $33.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.24 billion, a PE ratio of 16.10 and a beta of 1.01.

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Energizer (NYSE:ENR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 14th. The company reported $1.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.13 by $0.07. Energizer had a net margin of 4.75% and a return on equity of 136.42%. The business had revenue of $811.10 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $794.64 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.82 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Energizer will post 3.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Energizer Dividend Announcement

Analyst Ratings Changes

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 14th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 29th will be paid a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 28th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.84%. Energizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 61.86%.

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on ENR shares. StockNews.com lowered shares of Energizer from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 13th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Energizer from $35.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. UBS Group downgraded shares of Energizer from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $36.00 to $34.00 in a report on Monday, November 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Energizer from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and set a $33.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Energizer from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and set a $33.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $35.00.

Read Our Latest Report on ENR

Insider Buying and Selling at Energizer

In other Energizer news, EVP Robin Vauth sold 2,919 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.64, for a total value of $92,357.16. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 3,780 shares of the companys stock, valued at $119,599.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.73% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Energizer

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ENR. Ancora Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Energizer during the first quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its position in Energizer by 107.4% during the first quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,014 shares of the companys stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 1,043 shares during the last quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC increased its position in Energizer by 42.4% during the first quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 1,836 shares of the companys stock worth $64,000 after purchasing an additional 547 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its position in Energizer by 11.6% during the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 3,919 shares of the companys stock worth $99,000 after purchasing an additional 408 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its position in Energizer by 114.7% during the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 4,052 shares of the companys stock worth $136,000 after purchasing an additional 2,165 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.74% of the companys stock.

About Energizer

(Get Free Report)

Energizer Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, markets, and distributes household batteries, specialty batteries, and lighting products worldwide. It offers lithium, alkaline, carbon zinc, nickel metal hydride, zinc air, and silver oxide batteries under the Energizer, Eveready, and Rayovac brands; primary, rechargeable, specialty, and hearing aid batteries; and handheld, headlights, lanterns, and area lights, as well as flashlights under the Hard Case, Dolphin, and WeatherReady brands.

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Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX  Get Free Report) was upgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a note issued to investors on Monday.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Barclays upgraded Fomento Economico Mexicano from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price target for the company from $115.00 to $130.00 in a report on Monday, October 30th. Itau BBA Securities downgraded Fomento Economico Mexicano from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $127.00 target price for the company. in a report on Tuesday, November 7th. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano in a report on Thursday. They issued a neutral rating and a $134.00 price target on the stock. Finally, HSBC raised their target price on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from $112.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, August 25th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $125.00.

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Fomento Economico Mexicano Stock Performance

Fomento Economico Mexicano stock traded down $0.43 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $127.78. The company had a trading volume of 252,420 shares, compared to its average volume of 559,008. Fomento Economico Mexicano has a 12-month low of $74.90 and a 12-month high of $129.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.93 and a quick ratio of 1.64. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $116.21 and a 200 day moving average price of $112.03.

Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 27th. The company reported $1.75 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.59. Fomento Economico Mexicano had a net margin of 9.01% and a return on equity of 9.42%. The company had revenue of $10.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.22 billion. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Fomento Economico Mexicano will post 5.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Fomento Economico Mexicano

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano during the second quarter valued at approximately $752,000. Operose Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano in the third quarter worth $29,000. Assetmark Inc. bought a new position in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano during the third quarter valued at $36,000. Advisory Services Network LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 44.3% during the first quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 342 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. boosted its position in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 117.0% during the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 421 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 227 shares during the last quarter.

About Fomento Economico Mexicano

(Get Free Report)

Fomento Economico Mexicano, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, operates as a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. The company produces, markets, and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.

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Hannover Ruck SE (FRA:HNR1  Get Free Report) traded down 0.4% on Monday . The stock traded as low as 217.70 ($234.09) and last traded at 218.60 ($235.05). 119,743 shares changed hands during trading, The stock had previously closed at 219.40 ($235.91).

Hannover Ruck Stock Performance

The company has a 50-day moving average of 210.25 and a two-hundred day moving average of 201.77.

Hannover Ruck Company Profile

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Hannover Ruck SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance products and services worldwide. It operates through Property & Casualty Reinsurance, and Life & Health Reinsurance segments. The company offers property and casualty reinsurance solutions for agricultural, livestock, and bloodstock businesses; aviation and space businesses; catastrophe XL business; credit, surety, and political risks businesses; facultative business; and marine and offshore energy businesses, as well as insurance-linked securities and structured reinsurance.

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Lithium Americas (Argentina) Corp. (NYSE:LAAC  Get Free Report)s share price traded down 3.9% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $5.40 and last traded at $5.41. 112,075 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 93% from the average session volume of 1,544,622 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.63.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently weighed in on LAAC. Stifel Nicolaus set a $18.50 price objective on Lithium Americas (Argentina) in a research report on Tuesday, November 28th. TD Cowen began coverage on shares of Lithium Americas (Argentina) in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. They issued an outperform rating and a $14.00 price target on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Lithium Americas (Argentina) in a research report on Wednesday, October 18th. They issued a buy rating and a $11.00 target price on the stock. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on shares of Lithium Americas (Argentina) from $7.50 to $7.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Finally, Scotiabank initiated coverage on Lithium Americas (Argentina) in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a sector perform rating and a $10.00 price objective on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Lithium Americas (Argentina) presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $12.10.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on LAAC

Lithium Americas (Argentina) Stock Performance

Lithium Americas (Argentina) Company Profile

The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $5.98. The company has a quick ratio of 12.43, a current ratio of 12.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The firm has a market cap of $859.58 million, a P/E ratio of 23.04 and a beta of 1.30.

(Get Free Report)

Lithium Americas (Argentina) Corp. operates as a resource company. The company explores for lithium deposits. The company owns interests in the Cauchari-Olaroz project located in Jujuy province of Argentina. It also has a pipeline of development and exploration stage projects, including the Pastos Grandes project and the Sal de la Puna project located in Salta Province in northwestern Argentina.

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Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK  Get Free Report) CEO Blake D. Moret sold 1,143 shares of Rockwell Automation stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $278.73, for a total transaction of $318,588.39. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 65,848 shares of the companys stock, valued at $18,353,813.04. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website.

Rockwell Automation Price Performance

NYSE ROK traded up $1.26 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $279.79. The stock had a trading volume of 728,479 shares, compared to its average volume of 779,197. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a twelve month low of $248.71 and a twelve month high of $348.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.46 and a quick ratio of 1.04. The firms 50 day moving average is $273.65 and its 200 day moving average is $296.22. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.39, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.42.

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Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The industrial products company reported $3.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.49 by $0.15. Rockwell Automation had a net margin of 15.32% and a return on equity of 40.19%. The business had revenue of $2.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.44 billion. Equities research analysts forecast that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 12.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Rockwell Automation Increases Dividend

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 11th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 13th will be given a dividend of $1.25 per share. This is a boost from Rockwell Automations previous quarterly dividend of $1.18. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 10th. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.79%. Rockwell Automations payout ratio is presently 41.81%.

ROK has been the topic of several recent research reports. KeyCorp started coverage on shares of Rockwell Automation in a report on Monday, October 2nd. They issued a sector weight rating on the stock. Barclays dropped their target price on Rockwell Automation from $287.00 to $270.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. Mizuho lowered their price objective on Rockwell Automation from $270.00 to $265.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Rockwell Automation in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Rockwell Automation from $317.00 to $291.00 in a report on Monday, October 9th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $299.20.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Rockwell Automation

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Rockwell Automation

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new position in Rockwell Automation during the third quarter worth about $26,000. Provence Wealth Management Group acquired a new stake in Rockwell Automation in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC raised its position in Rockwell Automation by 62.9% in the second quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 101 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares during the period. Delta Asset Management LLC TN purchased a new position in shares of Rockwell Automation during the second quarter worth $34,000. Finally, BluePath Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation in the third quarter valued at $29,000. 80.84% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Rockwell Automation

(Get Free Report)

Rockwell Automation, Inc provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services.

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Savers Value Village (NYSE:SVV  Get Free Report) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Monday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 0.630-0.630 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 0.620. The company issued revenue guidance of $1.5 billion-$1.5 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $1.5 billion.

Savers Value Village Price Performance

Shares of Savers Value Village stock traded down $0.11 on Tuesday, hitting $15.88. The companys stock had a trading volume of 557,045 shares, compared to its average volume of 665,857. Savers Value Village has a 1 year low of $10.16 and a 1 year high of $26.88. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.50. The firms fifty day moving average is $14.64.

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Savers Value Village (NYSE:SVV  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 9th. The company reported ($0.05) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.18 by ($0.23). The business had revenue of $392.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $395.61 million. Savers Value Village had a net margin of 2.40% and a return on equity of 34.22%. Sell-side analysts predict that Savers Value Village will post 0.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have issued reports on SVV shares. Loop Capital reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $31.00 price objective on shares of Savers Value Village in a report on Tuesday, September 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on Savers Value Village from $29.00 to $25.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 10th. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their price target on shares of Savers Value Village from $30.00 to $24.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 10th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $27.63.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Savers Value Village

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its position in shares of Savers Value Village by 5,798.0% during the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,008 shares of the companys stock valued at $56,000 after acquiring an additional 2,957 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. acquired a new position in Savers Value Village during the third quarter worth $92,000. California State Teachers Retirement System purchased a new position in shares of Savers Value Village during the third quarter worth $107,000. Barclays PLC acquired a new stake in shares of Savers Value Village in the second quarter valued at $237,000. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Savers Value Village in the 2nd quarter valued at $276,000. 98.78% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Savers Value Village

(Get Free Report)

Savers Value Village, Inc sells second-hand merchandise in retail stores in the United States, Canada, and Australia. It operates stores under the Savers, Value Village, Village des Valeurs, Unique, and 2nd Avenue banners. The company purchases secondhand textiles, including clothing, bedding, and bath items; shoes; accessories; housewares; books; and other goods from non-profit partners, then processes, selects, prices, merchandises, and sells them in its stores.

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Whitecap Resources Inc. (TSE:WCP  Get Free Report) Director Grant Bradley Fagerheim purchased 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were bought at an average price of C$8.70 per share, with a total value of C$43,500.00.

Grant Bradley Fagerheim also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, November 28th, Grant Bradley Fagerheim acquired 10,000 shares of Whitecap Resources stock. The stock was acquired at an average price of C$9.51 per share, with a total value of C$95,100.00.

On Thursday, November 16th, Grant Bradley Fagerheim acquired 15,000 shares of Whitecap Resources stock. The stock was acquired at an average price of C$9.47 per share, with a total value of C$142,050.00.

On Tuesday, November 7th, Grant Bradley Fagerheim acquired 10,000 shares of Whitecap Resources stock. The stock was acquired at an average price of C$9.99 per share, with a total value of C$99,900.00.

On Monday, October 30th, Grant Bradley Fagerheim acquired 15,000 shares of Whitecap Resources stock. The stock was acquired at an average price of C$10.72 per share, with a total value of C$160,800.00.

Whitecap Resources Price Performance

Shares of WCP traded down C$0.28 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching C$8.73. 3,523,509 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,106,609. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 22.40. The stock has a market capitalization of C$5.29 billion, a PE ratio of 5.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.33 and a beta of 2.66. Whitecap Resources Inc. has a fifty-two week low of C$8.65 and a fifty-two week high of C$11.91. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of C$10.20 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$10.33.

Whitecap Resources Dividend Announcement

Whitecap Resources ( TSE:WCP Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 25th. The company reported C$0.25 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.35 by C($0.10). The company had revenue of C$1.03 billion for the quarter. Whitecap Resources had a net margin of 26.66% and a return on equity of 17.79%. As a group, research analysts predict that Whitecap Resources Inc. will post 1.2822695 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 30th will be paid a $0.061 dividend. This represents a $0.73 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.38%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 29th. Whitecap Resourcess payout ratio is 48.34%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Whitecap Resources from C$12.00 to C$12.50 in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Raymond James cut their price objective on Whitecap Resources from C$16.00 to C$15.50 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their target price on Whitecap Resources from C$13.00 to C$15.00 in a report on Friday, October 20th. ATB Capital upped their target price on Whitecap Resources from C$15.00 to C$16.00 in a report on Friday, October 20th. Finally, Scotiabank upped their target price on Whitecap Resources from C$12.00 to C$13.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, October 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of C$14.77.

Read Our Latest Analysis on WCP

Whitecap Resources Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Whitecap Resources Inc, an oil and gas company, focuses on the acquisition, development, and production of oil and gas assets in Western Canada. The company's primary areas of focus of its development programs are in Northern Alberta and British Columbia, Central Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Whitecap Resources Inc was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced the resignation of President and CEO Natalie Masri.

Masri led the 110-year-old business advocacy group for less than seven months. Her predecessor Elizabeth Cromwell stepped down in February after a little more than four years.

The Chamber has not said what prompted Masris departure.

The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce will be operating business as usual as we look to select the next President & CEO, Chairwoman of the Chamber Board Rebecca Ivins said in a statement.

Ivins, who also is a client solutions manager at Richmond-based construction firm Hourigan, will take over as interim president and CEO starting Jan. 16 and will serve in that role until a more permanent replacement can be found, the Chamber said.

Sasha Tripp, who currently serves as vice chairwoman of the board, will replace Ivins as chairwoman of the board while Ivins takes over for Masri.

Sasha and I look forward to working alongside our membership, professional chamber staff, and our Board of Directors to maintain the positive position of the Chamber, Ivins said.

Masri took the top post at the Chamber in May, replacing Cromwell, whose tenure was dominated by a pandemic that took a severe toll on businesses locally and around the world. Cromwell told The Daily Progress in January that she planned to leave on a sort of sabbatical carved into quarters focusing on volunteering, personal projects, freelance work and some vacationing.

Like a lot of people, COVID gave me time to think about whats really important, Cromwell said in an interview before her departure.

Andrea Copeland, the chambers director of committee engagement, was named interim president before Masri was hired.

Masri joined the Chamber with more than 20 years of experience in corporate, chamber of commerce, trade association and nonprofit spaces, including a lengthy career at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its foundation.

The search committee was impressed with Natalies experience in working with and supporting chambers across the country through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as well as her extensive experience in strategic planning and her focus on supporting, developing and growing women and minority businesses. She will be a strong addition to the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce as we step into our next chapter, Arlene Lee, Chamber member and CEO and principal at Charlottesville-based Lee Construction Group, said in a statement announcing Masris hiring.

Masri was quoted in the Chamber statement announcing her departure praising the group but offering little insight into why she is leaving after such a short time.

I continue to believe wholeheartedly in the mission of the Chamber to advocate, convene, and engage to strengthen business in the greater Charlottesville Region, she said.

The Chamber is working to form a search committee to fill Masris seat. Those interested can submit a resume and cover letter to sasha@storyhousere.com.
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Abhishek Sahu covers HR and Education (Careers) at Moneycontrol. He can be reached at Abhishek.Sahu@nw18.com and @Abhishek44sahu.
The University of Virginia says it wants to be a good neighbor to the city of Charlottesville. But a member of the schools governing Board of Visitors says the proposed zoning ordinance in the city that seeks to boost density would make it more difficult and more expensive for UVa to expand.

Theres no question that the university has already expanded significantly under the current zoning policies in Charlottesville. The school, through its UVa Foundation, has historically been the largest landowner in the city. And as a nonprofit organization, it pays no taxes on the nearly 2,000 acres it owns in Charlottesville and surrounding Albemarle County.

In recent years, it has acquired an impressive array of properties on the citys western edge along Ivy Road for future expansion. Its Ivy Corridor projects include a hotel and conference center and future homes for its School of Data Science and the Karsh Institute of Democracy.

At its meeting last week, the Board of Visitors unanimously approved the demolition of two apartment buildings and two commercial buildings in that corridor to make way for development, including construction on the Karsh Institute project. Visitors also attended a groundbreaking for the Manning Institute of Biotechnology, a planned 350,000-square-foot facility just outside the citys limits that aims to be a life science hub rivaling North Carolinas Research Triangle.

It has also flexed its muscle when private developers have made moves near its acreage. In recent weeks, two proposed developments, both apartment buildings targeting students, have been caught in UVas crosshairs: the 12-story, 550-unit Verve at the intersection of Stadium Road and Jefferson Park Avenue and the 10-story, 242-unit 2117 Ivy Road.

The university has argued the buildings are too large and incongruous with the rest of the landscape, noting that part of the historic university is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Housing advocates in the city have argued Charlottesville is in the midst of a housing crisis and the university, which has contributed to a growing population and shrinking housing pool, is not acting in good faith. UVa, they say, only opposes the private projects because it wants the land itself.

Charlottesville City Council is currently considering a new zoning ordinance, the product of years of work, that seeks to boost density in the city, increasing housing stock and decreasing housing costs. Councilors have been fielding feedback from the public and are expected to vote on the new ordinance before the end of the year.

During UVas Board of Visitors meeting last week, board member John Nau III said he has been monitoring the developments  and he has some concerns.

In the last couple of weeks, theres been a great deal of activity that the staff is monitoring at the city of Charlottesville, said Nau. I would bet that the board is going to have to begin to become aware of what the city is doing and the impact on height, on traffic and making our expansions in the future even more difficult and certainly more expensive.

Nau made the comment Thursday during a meeting of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, which he chairs. The committee is responsible for the universitys land use planning and acquisition policy.

The growth of the university and the growth of the community are potentially going to come into conflict from time to time, Nau told The Daily Progress after the meeting. This impacts stuff that were probably going to address one, two, four years down the road.

But a statement from a university spokeswoman appears to contradict Naus assessment.

Recent months have brought a great deal of activity in the local market and with the citys work to update its development code, spokeswoman Bethanie Glover wrote, adding the school strives to be a good neighbor. UVa is interested in these ongoing matters, but does not expect that it will impact the cost of University developments.

Asked for his specific concerns, Nau pointed to height and density.

As soon as you get buildings higher than the standard, all of a sudden it changes the viewshed immediately, he said. The other is the issue of density; it affects traffic.

Nau was appointed to the Board of Visitors this past summer by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. A UVa graduate, he lives in Houston now and serves as chairman and CEO of San Antonio-based Silver Eagle Beverages, one of the largest distributors for Anheuser-Busch. He previously served on the Board of Visitors from 2011 to 2015.

His comments were made just 48 hours after Nau said he received what Ill call tangential reports on some of the activity in the city, apparently referring to the zoning ordinance.

It is not clear who at the university told Nau of the citys zoning plans, but he did mention Colette Sheehy, senior vice president for operations and state government relations at UVa.

If it takes longer to drive, if it takes longer to walk, that has an impact not just on the people in this city but students here at the university, so I think its important that there be a dialogue between community and the university, and according to Collette, thats going on. I just wanted to give the board a little bit of a heads-up, Nau said.

James Freas, Charlottesvilles director of neighborhood development services, said the city maintains multiple avenues of communication with UVa.

The University has a non-voting member on the Planning Commission. In addition, the University, City, and County meet monthly to discuss issues around land use and development, he wrote in an email to The Daily Progress. The University also gives the City an opportunity to comment on their planned building activity.

Freas declined to comment on Naus statement. First Ive heard this idea, Freas said.

It likely wont be the last, as private developers and the public university both pursue projects in a city that covers a little more than 10 square miles.

Housing advocates in the city have made it clear they believe the school is not interested in competing fairly for space, calling UVa petulant, monopolist and embarrassing in recent public comments.

At a Dec. 4 City Council meeting where councilors discussed the Verve and 2117 Ivy Road projects, Natalie Oschrin, who will join council in January, called out the university, saying the city does not have to bend to their will.

Please remember we are not beholden to UVa, Oschrin said during public comment. They buy our land, dont pay taxes, push against paying staff a living wage. We can ask them to be better.
AI-generated GST evasion notices stir human versus machine debate

As the tax authorities double down on ensuring compliance under the indirect tax regime, a key consequence has been the sheer number of notices received by the industry, with about 33,000 sent so far. One government official told Moneycontrol that AI is primarily responsible for the increase in detection of tax evasions, leading to the surge in the number of notices.











In the previous financial year alone, AI was responsible for identifying GST mismatches to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore, of which the finance ministry has recovered Rs 15,000 crore so far.

Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.

Meghna Mittal MEGHNA MITTAL is Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com
Community health workers, or CHWs, are members of the community who work to positively affect the physical and mental health of community members.

CHWs can be employed by a number of different health organizations or can work on a voluntary basis. They earn the trust of the community and learn about the medical and mental health needs of that particular area.

Their relationships with the community help them to gain knowledge about the barriers to quality healthcare and other resources. A CHWs office is the community where they have a variety of responsibilities such as:

 Finding resources for clients to help them obtain food and self-care supplies

 Being a liaison between clients and medical staff

 Interpreting languages for community members

 Educating groups and individuals about diseases and other health issues

 Securing transportation to medical appointments

CHWs usually live in or near the communities that they serve. Their work is unique because they often share the same socioeconomic status, language and ethnicity as their clients.

Because the CHWs are so relatable to their clients, they are best at getting accurate, in-depth and helpful information about the needs in the area. The CHW becomes a true friend to the community and an advocate for improved health.

CHWs also have a variety of titles, depending on what agency they work under. They may be called community health advisors, health advocates, outreach educators, community health representatives, peer health educators, community health educators or health navigators.

CHWs sometimes have one focus at a time in their communities. For example, they may target a particular condition such as heart disease. The CHW will provide educational materials and participate in community events to encourage members to change or enhance their lifestyles.

The CHW may coordinate with area resources, such as the American Heart Association or health centers, to provide blood pressure checks. They may identify someone who can do mindfulness trainings or search out resources to help with getting healthy food choices to their clients. CHWs may also have multiple health issues to focus on and address. Additional areas of focus in communities might include:

 Health needs of the elderly

 First aid

 Healthy eating/cooking education

 Smoking cessation for teens and young adults

 Child health support

 Family planning activities

 HIV/AIDS case management

 COVID-19

 Availability of fresh fruits and vegetables

 Management of simple or common illnesses

Currently there is no national certification for CHWs, but most states have their own set of CHW standards and training requirements. Virginia requires 60 hours of classroom training, as well as 2,000 hours (1 year) of experience practicing the CHW competencies, which include:

 Community health concepts and approaches

 Service coordination and system navigation

 Advocacy, outreach and engagement

 Communication

 Cultural humility and responsiveness

 Health promotion and prevention

 Ethical responsibilities and professionalism

Once a person has completed these tasks in the state of Virginia, he, she or they may apply to become a Certified Community Health Worker. The application should be made on the Virginia Certification website at www.vacertboard.org. Once the application and required documents are submitted, the Virginia Certification Board processes the request.

For more information about the CHW program in our community, contact Willie Mae Gray, the BRHD Community Health Worker supervisor, at williemae.gray@vdh.virginia.gov or by phone at (434) 270-3216.
In today's edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: India should join the Bitcoin party, foreign investors to drive Indian equities i...

Anthony Heredia, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund, believes that the Indian economy is at a point where there are opportunities across all sectors. The head of Indias 25th biggest asset management company (AMC) (as per average assets under management for the September quarter), suggests that if a person has Rs 10 lakh, a large part of that money can go into multi-asset funds, which invest across equity, debt, and commodities. In an interview...

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December 12, 2023 / 08:20 PM IST





Christopher A Wray, Director FBI, leading a high-level FBI delegation, visited the NIA headquarters on Tuesday and held extensive discussions with NIA Director General, Dinkar Gupta and senior officials of both agencies: NIA



FBI Director Wray added that increasingly, cybercrimes are being committed to fund terrorism. He stressed this evolution of the cyber-threat needs a joint response towards the investigation of cyber-threat cases: NIA
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In today's edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: India should join the Bitcoin party, foreign investors to drive Indian equities i...

Highlights Glencore, the second-largest coal producer, is exiting the business Glencore acquired a Canadian mining company only a few weeks back Glencore's exit does not mean the end of coal Nuclear power seems to be the most reliable alternative The world's second-biggest coal company, Glencore, is considering exiting the coal business. A company that stood up to environmentalist pressure and funding bans by financial institutions throwing in the towel is considered a surrender by certain sections. Nothing could be further from the truth. Just...

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In late October, a watchdog group released a scathing report refuting an Oregon State University professor's claims of Native American ancestry, prompting a graduate student to start an online petition calling for their removal in November.

But her issue wasn't just with the professor's ancestral claims.

The Ph.D. student who created the petition alleged OSU professor Qwo-Li Driskill had committed a series of abuses against students at OSU's College of Liberal Arts. Those grievances ranged from heavy workloads to alleged discrimination against students with disabilities and retaliation in the form of negative grades.

A Place to Sleep, episode 8: Portland Portland is not unlike cities in the mid-Willamette Valley in that it spends a lot of time defining when and where homeless people can't sleep rather than where they can.

According to multiple graduate students, Driskill's behavior was the subject of concern long before a nonprofit raised serious questions about their Indigenous identity. Those collective concerns sparked letters to school leadership and most recently to OSU's president, demanding action.

Driskill, who is transgender, nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, has fired back with complaints against those same students and the university, alleging discrimination.

The tenured associate professor is no longer teaching this term, citing health reasons, according to students who spoke to Mid-Valley Media.

Neither Driskill, nor their attorney, could be reached for comment.

Spokesperson Rob Odom said OSU wouldn't comment on personnel matters, but said the university is committed to creating a positive environment for staff, faculty and students.

"We take allegations of bias and harassment seriously, and we encourage reports of suspected wrongdoing or breaches of ethical conduct," Odom said via email.

But according to the students who spoke to Mid-Valley Media, their concerns about Driskill haven't been readily addressed, and there's currently no clear indication from the OSU about Driskill's future.

That lack of communication is coupled with a lingering sense of betrayal felt by some students, a few who traveled from out-of-state to Corvallis to work with Driskill, excited to study under a person renowned for their scholarship in Indigenous studies.

Now, some say their own scholarship, that of both former and current students, is in jeopardy just by virtue of their association with them.

Students sound alarm

Willamette Week first reported student concerns with Driskill's behavior, following Mid-Valley Media's story on the fraud allegations on Nov. 3.

Shaina Khan, who launched the Change.org petition to remove Driskill on Nov. 9, is a fourth-year Ph.D. student and graduate teaching assistant at OSU's Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department, where Driskill teaches.

According to Khan, complaints about the density and rigor of Driskill's graduate-level courses began to mount significantly late last year.

Khan said students noticed discrepancies between what Driskill expected of graduate employees and what was outlined in their handbooks, leading to confusion over teaching assignments and attendance rules. There were also concerns about class workload, she said.

Libia Marqueza Castro, who is a third-year Ph.D. student at the department, said Driskill's classes fueled a sense of self-doubt.

"It was sort of three terms of that," Castro said, "of like, 'OK, this is just how it's supposed to be. There must be something wrong with me if I'm not able to get this right.'"

But after sharing her story with others at the school, Castro said she learned she wasn't alone, and many others had taken incompletes for Driskill's graduate-level feminism course, a requisite. Khan said the course had excessive weekly reading and writing assignments that competed with coursework from other graduate-level classes.

In addition to workload, there were complaints from students with disabilities and those with an illness or injury, saying they weren't afforded accommodations in class, like being able to attend via Zoom  an option Driskill afforded themselves on at least one occasion, Khan said.

Khan said students initially thought these issues could be resolved by talking to Driskill, but the associate professor was dismissive of feedback.

"It really started to feel like we were just not getting through to them with our grievances as students and graduate student employees," she said.

By the end of spring term earlier this year, several students had gone to the School of Language, Culture, and Society's director, Susan Bernardin, to complain, Khan said.

"But by the end of the school year and early summer, it felt like there were not going to be significant changes," Khan said.

Aggrieved students then formed the group Graduate Leaders for Equitable Education and drafted a formal letter in July to the school's faculty and Dean Larry Rodgers, detailing their grievances and demands.

Among them, they called for Driskill to lose their "positional power" over the school's graduate program and called for another instructor to teach the required feminism course.

Dueling complaints

That letter appears to have catalyzed a back-and-forth of complaints.

According to the graduate students who spoke to Mid-Valley Media, Driskill filed reports against each of the seven signatories to the July 31 letter to OSU's Office of Equal Opportunity and Access in August.

The office deals with bullying, harassment, discrimination and retaliation complaints.

Khan said she's not heard back from the office about Driskill's allegations. However, she said she heard rumors from within the department about Driskill accusing some students of transmisogyny and discrimination, which she noted in the graduate student group's letter.

Khan believes those accusations have been used to discredit the cohort of students who've voiced complaints, which she said includes transgender students.

"It's not impossible for us to be bigoted against a trans person, I will admit that," Khan said. "But it seems like a stretch to say all of these trans students are exhibiting transmisogyny in our grievances."

However, Driskill has since filed a larger complaint against OSU, this time with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries.

Driskill's Oct. 5 complaint alleges a broader culture of "backchannelling and triangulation that created a hostile work environment, particularly toward trans persons," an issue Driskill said they first raised with Bernardin last year.

In the complaint, Driskill alleged instances of school leadership denigrating a department event, and a faculty member making disparaging remarks against a graduate student related to their gender and their history as a victim of sexual violence.

Driskill also said they submitted multiple bias incident reports throughout the spring, including one for a school email they alleged outed transgender and nonbinary students.

Driskill alleged they've been "targeted for retaliatory actions and subjected to multiple and persistent microaggressions as well as macroaggressions," and excluded from work-related positions and department communications because of their disability, gender and racial identity.

Khan and other students, however, said Driskill retaliated against them and first-year graduate students during the current fall term in the form of stricter attendance polices and harsher grading.

Then, less than a month after Driskill's BOLI complaint, and midway through the 2023 fall term, a watchdog group released its report on Driskill's claims of Native American ancestry.

Allegations of fraud

The Tribal Alliance Against Frauds, watchdog group based in North Carolina, found themselves against the associate professor after posting the results of their investigation into Driskill's genealogy online.

The Tribal Alliance has gained attention this year for calling out high profile figures, including authors and movie directors, for being "pretendians" or people who falsely claim to be Native American.

The watchdog report included letters from various tribal enrollment offices denying Driskill's membership with the Cherokee, Osage and Lenape tribes  tribes to which Driskill claims ties.

The group's news release noted Driskill has acknowledged they are not citizens of any federally recognized tribe but maintains their ancestral claims.

On top of the enrollment office letters, however, the report also included genealogical histories of both sides of Driskill's family.

Following the release of the report, Driskill stopped coming to class, according to Yola Gomez, a first-year Ph.D. student who was taking two courses this term with the associate professor  which Gomez later dropped. Gomez said Driskill sent an email to students announcing they were taking medical leave.

The release of the watchdog report capped off a heartbreaking disillusionment for Gomez.

Gomez, who identifies as trans, multiracial and multiethnic, decided to further their education at OSU specifically to work with Driskill on indigenous and Two-Spirit studies.

Two-Spirit is an umbrella term used by and for Indigenous people who are part of the LGBTQI+ community  serving as a placeholder for other terms being recovered due to Indigenous language loss  and can refer to an Indigenous person's gender and sexuality.

That's according to OSU associate professor Luhui Whitebear, who took over Driskill's Indigenous Two-Spirit and queer studies course this term.

Whitebear declined to comment on the controversy surrounding Driskill.

According to multiple students, Driskill played a pivotal role in shaping this particular field of study. Fraud allegations not only inflict emotional damage, but academic and professional hurt for students who based their work on Driskill's, Gomez said.

"Their scholarship, if you've written a paper, or any kind of concept, or anything that they have encountered or engaged with that was Dr. Driskill's, it's now meaningless," Gomez said.

Uncertainty ahead

For Khan, the release of the watchdog report was a precipitation point, which sparked a letter to OSU president Jayathi Murthy on Nov. 2, demanding Driskill's removal.

"Save for a few faculty members, we have received little support regarding how these harms will be addressed, and it is time to act before more students are at the receiving end of Driskill's behavior," the letter reads.

Khan has since helped organize multiple forums for students to come forward to share their own negative experiences with Driskill, she said.

OSU's women, gender and sexuality studies program has around 30 graduate students, Khan said. Her Change.org petition currently has more than 380 signatures.

Overall, there's a feeling of uncertainty about what lies ahead, Khan said, with some who were working on dissertations under Driskill's supervision unsure about their next steps.

Gomez said they've completely shifted their research focus as a result and are weighing furthering their studies outside of OSU.

The students who talked with Mid-Valley Media relayed a similar sentiment: Trust within the school had been broken.

But at the same time, for students like Marqueza Castro, there has been comfort in sharing experiences with others in the program.

"Without sharing our stories, we wouldn't have gotten to this point, and advocated for students," she said.

Related stories:
Operator Djibouti Telecom says it has developed D-Money, a new online payment service for port workers.

This appears to be an extension of the existing D-Money service launched in 2020, a means of payment by mobile phone that allows customers who have subscribed to the service to carry out deposit and withdrawal of money, transfer of money from individual to individual, purchase of telephone credit, invoice payment, merchant payment and payment of salaries.

Now it seems to have become an innovative, secure and fast service for small, medium and large e-commerce companies along with public institutions. It was officially launched by Djiboutian Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed on 11 December.

The Digital Business Africa news service says this money transfer system will facilitate daily payments to port workers. Djibouti Telecom suggests this should give D-money the opportunity to increase its current transactions by some 150%.

According to the management of Djibouti Port Community Systems (DPCS), a portal that provides a comprehensive set of online services to the trading community, the port community's payment transactions currently amount to two or three billion Djiboutian francs per month (US$11.2 million to US$16.9 million), 11% of which are already paid online via DPCS integration with banks such as CacBank, BCIMR, EximBank and SalaamBank.

Ports are big business in Djibouti, which is near some of the world's busiest shipping lanes, controlling access to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. The country serves as a key refuelling and transhipment centre, and is home to the principal maritime port for imports from and exports to neighbouring Ethiopia.
Thirupathi Reddy Bheemuni (TRB), instrumental in this story now surfacing, unfortunately, disappears after the first scene, not to reappear anytime later, a mishap that the readers may overlook!

TRB, a chartered accountant and a company secretary by qualification, was elected as an independent director (ID) of Bartronics India Ltd in May 2023 and resigned on 6 December 2023.

The reasons for his resignation, duly communicated by the company, can, by no means, be cast aside like many other resignations of IDs that have happened in the past. Ideally, this should be widely publicised for its transparency and humour, the two traits rarely observed in corporate functioning!

Mr. Thirupathi Reddy Bheemuni has tendered his resignation as an Independent Director of the Company with Immediate effect due to the reasons mentioned in his resignation letter. It 1s clarified by the Company that there was a misunderstanding about time of Board Meeting held on 14 November 2023. The Company had sent notice of Board meeting to the Stock Exchanges on 8 November 2023 stating that the said meeting is scheduled on 14 November 2023 at 4.00pm and the same intimation was sent to the Directors, as required under SEBI (LODR) Regulations 2015. The meeting was conducted at scheduled time as intimated to the Stock Exchanges and outcome of the meeting was shared with Stock Exchanges within stipulated time. Mr. Thirupathi Reddy Bheemuni came at 11:00AM thinking the meeting was at 11:30AM and did not attend the meeting at the scheduled time. The Company has recorded his leave of absence. However, the incident made Mr. Thirupathi Reddy Bheemuni tender his resignation.

It was but natural that the very unusual and quirky nature of the above communication created an urge to know more about this stellar organisation and dig a little deeper into its past!

The effort was anything but futile. In fact, it is quite enriching!

To help set the context for what follows, a portion of the notes figuring in the audited annual report of the FY22-23 of the company is extracted below-

The Financial Statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The financial statement captures the transactions contemplated in the approved resolution plan in accordance with applicable accounting standards and legal framework. Following are the certain significant transactions contemplated in the resolution plan which have been considered in preparation of this financial statement:

1. The resolution plan envisages extinguishment of the stake held by erstwhile Promoters and reduction of share capital by reducing the face value from Rs. 10/- to Re. 1/-. The necessary disclosures have been made in accordance with approved resolution plan. Further, the resolution plan envisaged allotment of 27,41,19,066 equity shares of face value Re. 1/- to Antanium India Pvt Ltd.

2. Difference in the admitted liability of operational and employees dues and the proposed settlement has been credited to the statement of profit and loss.

3. The admitted liability of the Financial Creditors have been proposed to be settled with Rs. 2,500 Lakhs as principal and Interest of Rs. 54.53 Lakhs for the delayed period which was paid as full and final settlement of the admitted claim of Rs. 1,04,194.79 Lakhs. The Resolution Applicant has effected remittance of payments to Financial Creditors in accordance with approved Resolution Plan. This payment passed through the statement of profit and loss. Pursuant to implementation of the Resolution Plan, the Company has written off/derecognised or provided for impairment of its assets, based on managements estimate, to the extent not receivable/recoverable and written back/derecognised its liabilities, based on managements estimate, to the extent not payable/extinguished/waived/ cancelled to the Statement of Profit and Loss amounting to Rs. 45,970.18 Lakhs.

This company was admitted to the insolvency resolution process by the national company law tribunal (NCLT) in December 2019 based on an application filed by one of the lenders.

The total liabilities admitted in the proceedings were Rs1,042 crore of which the claims of the banks and Life Insurance Corporation of India Ltd (LIC) was about Rs800 crore. Except a small amount that pertained to a foreign bank, the rest was due to the public sector banks (PSBs) and asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) which took over the loans from two PSBs.

The other claimants were the unsecured and other operational creditors, including the government.

The resolution was successfully accomplished when a resolution applicant offered to settle the entire dues for Rs27.41 crore, as against the liquidation value of Rs24.59 crore!

This case will add to the statistics of successful Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) resolutions, and the banks will record an income through the recovery of bad debts, with 3.02% of their claims settled! At an overall level, including the significant government dues, the recovery was 2.29%!

An item that was not reckoned in the math above is the claim of Rs605 crore of the foreign currency convertible bond (FCCB)-holders which was rejected on technical grounds. Considering this in the total will make the overall recovery even more abysmal.

Bartronics deserves its place in the sun. Quite perversely, the media has not considered a collective loss of more than Rs800 crore to a few PSBs and the LIC as meriting due publicity!

To take the discussion to the next level, it will be necessary to peel off some key numbers.

In FY11-12, by which time the company had fallen into arrears on the bank loans, the dues totalled Rs560 crore. While the group turnover was Rs1,164 crore, the book debts were Rs1,117 crore.

Five years later, in FY16-17 the bank dues were Rs840 crore, the book debts Rs1,142 crore and the turnover Rs88 crore!

While the ageing details of the book debts are unavailable, it is reasonable to assume it was many years (decade) old. Also, there was little evidence of any tangible assets beyond computers and software expenses capitalised.

Despite such tell-tale evidence of the company being saddled with liabilities that were many multiples of the assets in possession, the reference under IBC happened only by December 2019. The banks had filed suits under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act.

The Bartronics story from 2008 has all the typical ingredients of many failed corporates that conned the banks, cheated the investors, pulled the wool over the eyes of the regulators, most likely laundered money, found friendly accountants to certify, and the promoter escaped unscathed.

In 2008, this companys stock was on the recommendation list of leading brokerages like HDFC Securities!

Around the same time, the company raised US$50mn (million) in FCCB, a huge amount by that days standards that even larger corporates could not pull off then!

Interestingly, the default on the FCCB happened in 2012, but there has been little evidence of any litigation by the investors over the years. Even during the IBC process, they seem to have bungled by which the claim for Rs605 crore was disqualified on technical grounds!

It is difficult not to suspect that the FCCB proceeds were slush money stacked overseas that surfaced in the hope of legitimising it somehow!

It is not clear if any of the regulatory agencies took notice of this at any stage. Anyway, this is academic now as no past proceedings survive, after the dip in the IBC washing machine!

Since exports were a key ingredient in those days for better market valuation, Bartronics had its subsidiaries in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), ideal locations with little local scrutiny. A big part of the topline accrued by virtue of high sea sales, quite probably invoice trading or plain manipulation

Their resounding topline in those years appears to be mostly fictional and the countervailing figure was shown as book debts. Similar to the Satyam model!

Since Satyam Computer Services Ltd (Satyam) exploded in 2009, where homemade bank fixed deposit (FD) receipts showed up to be a childish idea of evidencing assets on the balance sheet, the Bartronics promoter stuck with the traditional strategy of leaving the surplus in the ballooning book debts!

This, perhaps, saved the auditor a jail sentence and only visited him with a 10-year ban!

Top PSBs like Bank of Baroda and Bank of India, with the mighty LIC in tow, lent money to a business whose basics are difficult to understand even in hindsight, much less could have been effectively appraised on an Excel sheet of projections! It is anybodys guess if the lenders revisited this account after the initial sanction.

The only major regulatory action seen in the public domain appears to be an order from the national financial reporting authority (NFRA) in August 2023 to debar, for 10 years, chartered accountant (CA) T Raghavendra, the statutory auditor, who, between the years 2012 and 2017, signed the accounts with little regard to the facts and figures but relying entirely on the fiction presented by the management!

The current auditor NG Rao and Associates, holding charge for the past five years (FY18-19 to FY22-23), has consistently taken the line that the managements assertion on the recoverability of the book debts formed the basis for the audit opinion!

The company showed a book debt of Rs330 crore even as of 31 March 2023, though the IBC process, which concluded in March 2022, assessed the value of the company to be around Rs25 crore!

Brahmayya & Co, CA has replaced, post the annual general meeting (AGM), the earlier auditor. The results for the second quarter (Q2) of FY23-24 indicate that all the book debts have been written off!

Interestingly, they signed the audit report in Singapore on 14 November 2023, while the board meeting took place in Hyderabad on the same day!

The credit for managing the show so successfully, till the IBC took over in 2019, belongs to the promoter AB Satyavas Reddy.

While there is no evidence readily available of the awards and trophies bestowed on him by international consultancy firms or by the leading business newspapers, his sole claim to fame appears to be a fine of Rs2 lakh levied by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for some violation in not intimating a share pledge!

However, it would be unfair to deny him a due niche in the Indian corporate pantheon that has illustrious names like the Wadhawans of Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL), Nirav Modi and Jatin Mehta, the diamantaires; the Sandesaras of Sterling Biotech Ltd; the airline honchos, Naresh Goyal and Vijay Mallya; the banking wizard, Rana Kapoor, and many others whose names were much feted in the past by various organisations showering awards on them!

Footnote: The resolution applicant infused Rs27 crore around July/ August 2023 to acquire a 90% ownership which is currently valued at Rs490 crore as per the recent BSE quote! The company continues its listed status, a rare one in an IBC proceeding.
On Tuesday, 1744 stocks advanced, 2047 declined and 114 remained unchanged, with an advance decline ratio of 0.85 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), indicating negative closing of stocks in broader markets. The trend of the major indices on Tuesdays trading is given in the table below.

On NSE, 208 securities advanced and closed at a new 52-week high whereas 11 securities sank to close at their new 52-week lows. In sectoral indices, Nifty Energy, Nifty Auto and Nifty Infrastructure were among the biggest losers. Nifty Media, Nifty Metal and Nifty PSU Bank among the biggest gainers.

Chinese company Rainbow Agro has entered into Pyroxasulfone market with 2000 tonne project. Chinese companies are competing in the booming Pyroxasulfone market. Pyroxasulfone is the key product for PI Industries with 35% revenue contribution. PI Industries fell 10%.

L&T Technology Services (LTTS) (+0.06%) has signed a landmark multi-year engineering services partnership with British Petroleum one of the world's largest diversified energy companies.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has concluded Pre-Approval Inspection (PAI) at Torrent Pharmaceuticals (-2.03%) Oral-Oncology manufacturing facility at Bileshwarpura, Gujarat.

BLS International Services (+7.02%) has been awarded the contract for outsourcing Consular, Passport, and Visa services by the High Commission of India (HCI) in Canada.

Control Print (+1.17%) has further invested 3,70,000 by way of subscribing 37,000 equity shares at euro 10 per share into Control Print B.V, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company for strategic business purpose in the European Market.

Rail Vikas Nigams (RVNL's) (-0.06%) joint venture (JV) RVNL-URC Construction has emerged as the Lowest Bidder (L1) for part design and construction of elevated viaduct, five elevated metro rail stations and ramp between chainages for Indore Metro Rail project. The size of the contract is Rs543 crore excluding GST. RVNL has a 51% stake in JV, while the rest is held by URC.

Tata Communications (+1.83%) has partnered with JLR to future-proof JLRs digital transformation and pave the way for new standards such as Industry 4.0 and advanced analytics.

Mishra Dhatu Nigam (+2.15%) has secured an order worth Rs357 crore.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (+0.97%) has received in-principle approval for issuance of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) for capex/refinancing of existing debt and general corporate purpose for an aggregate amount not exceeding Rs5,000 crore in one or more tranches on private placement basis.

Tata Motors subsidiary -- Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with leading charge point operators (CPOs), Chargezone, Glida, Statiq and Zeon.

Axita Cotton (+0.53%) promoter sold net 966,414 shares through open market. Goldiam International (-0.84%) promoter sold net 1,500,000 shares through open market. JSW Steel(+1.17%) insiders sold net 2,104 shares through open market. KCP (-0.63%) promoter bought net 14,000 shares through open market. Sree Rayalaseema (+7.79%) Hi Strength Hypo(+7.79%) Promoter sold net 2,300 shares through open market. Tejas Networks (+0.13%) Director sold net 50,000 shares through open market.

The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below:

The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below:
The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned, till January 3, 2024, the hearing on Central Bureau of Investigation's petition challenging the interim bail granted by the Bombay High Court to former ICICI bank chief Chanda Kochhar in the alleged Videocon loan fraud case.

A bench of Justices Bela M. Trivedi and S.C. Sharma decided to adjourn the hearing after senior advocate Amit Desai, who appeared on Kochhar's behalf via video conferencing, submitted that he is facing connectivity issues and intends to appear physically for making submissions in the case.

Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, who appeared for the CBI, pressed that the matter be listed on Wednesday and should not be adjourned for long.

Thereafter, the top court decided that it will take up the matter for further hearing on January 3 next year.

Earlier, the top court had raised eyebrows over continuation of Kochhars interim bail for 11 months.

"Is interim bail still continuing? Why are you not objecting?" Justice Trivedi had asked the CBI.

In response, Raju had said that the CBI has been objecting and will file an application before Bombay High Court for vacating the interim order. He had added that the basis of grant of interim bail given by the High Court is itself erroneous and therefore, being challenged by the central investigative agency before the apex court.

Giving a last opportunity, the apex court had said that it will take up the matter for hearing on December 11.

In a special leave petition before the apex court, the CBI had challenged the Bombay HC decision directing release of Kochhar and her husband Deepak Kochhar from judicial custody on the ground that the arrest made was not in accordance with the law. The High Court order of January 9, granting interim bail for two weeks only, is still continuing.

Kochhar and her family are alleged to have received kickbacks over her tenure in lieu of loans provided to the Videocon group.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
Making a dent in Indias start-up growth story, the country slipped to fourth position in the global ranking among the highest-funded geographies in 2023, as it recorded lowest funding in five years.

After grabbing the third spot globally in 2021 as well as in 2022, India ranked fourth behind the US, the UK and China this year, receiving only US$7bn (billion) in total funding (till 5th December), according to data compiled by global market intelligence platform Tracxn.

In the third quarter (Q3) this year, India even slipped to fifth position among the highest-funded countriesbehind the US, the UK, China and France.

Q3FY22-23 raised a total of US$1.5bn which is a 30% drop from Q2FY22-23 and a 54% drop compared to Q3FY21-22.

The last quarter (Q4) this year recorded the lowest funding of US$957mn (million) to date, marking it the lowest-funded quarter since Q3FY15-16.

"India continues to experience the effects of the funding winter. Following an increase in funding in Q4 2022, India Tech is seeing a decline in funding every quarter, with a third consecutive drop in funding in Q3 2023 making it the least funded quarter in 2023 and also the least funded quarter in the last 5 years, the report showed.

Despite the declining funding inflow, India has maintained its position in top-5 geographies in terms of total funding this year.

For 2023, the funding declined across all stages, with late-stage funding dropping over 73%, followed by early-stage funding (70%) and seed-stage funding (60%).

The decline is primarily due to the biggest drop in late-stage funding, by over 73% to US$4.2 billion in 2023 from US$15.6 billion in 2022.

The number of US$100 million+ rounds recorded were only 17, dropping by 69% compared to last year, said the report.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
Branty Walliby sits during opening statements of his murder trial Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, at the Superior Court of Guam in Hagatna.
Guam Visitors Bureau's Guam and Korea staff and management along with Inalahan Mayor Anthony Chargualaf Jr. pose during the 2023 year-end appreciation party in Seoul, South Korea.
Pic story of illustrator inspired by Great Wall in Dandong, NE China

Xinhua) 21:48, December 11, 2023

Jiang Yige creates a drawing at home in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 22, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

Jiang Yige visits the Hushan section of the Great Wall in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 23, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

Jiang Yige creates a drawing at the Hushan section of the Great Wall in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 23, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Jiang Yige retouches her drawing at home in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 22, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Jiang Yige creates a drawing at the Hushan section of the Great Wall in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 23, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

This undated combo file photo shows some drawings of Jiang Yige themed on the Hushan section of the Great Wall. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua)

Jiang Yige interacts with a kitten at a residential compound in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 22, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Jiang Yige prepares to go out for sketching in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 22, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Jiang Yige sorts out cultrual and creative products at a gallery where she displays her works in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 22, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Jiang Yige creates a drawing at the Hushan section of the Great Wall in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 23, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

Jiang Yige sorts out drawings at home in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 22, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Jiang Yige creates a drawing at the Hushan section of the Great Wall in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 23, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Jiang Yige visits the Hushan section of the Great Wall in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 23, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

Jiang Yige creates a drawing at the Hushan section of the Great Wall in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 23, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Zhang Xinjing)

Jiang Yige creates a drawing at home in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 22, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

Jiang Yige creates a drawing at the Hushan section of the Great Wall in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 23, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

Jiang Yige creates a drawing at a gallery where she displays her works in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 22, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

Jiang Yige creates a drawing at the Hushan section of the Great Wall in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 23, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Lu Zhe)

This undated file photo shows a drawing of Jiang Yige themed on the Hushan section of the Great Wall. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua)

Jiang Yige visits the Hushan section of the Great Wall in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 23, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Jiang Yige visits the Hushan section of the Great Wall in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 23, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Jiang Yige visits the Hushan section of the Great Wall in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 23, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Sheng Chuyi)
Reporter

Andrew Roberto was raised his whole life on Saipan. He graduated from Saipan Southern High School, holds a degree from Northern Marianas College, and a BA in English from the University of Guam. He once worked for KUAM, UNO Magazine, and the Guam Daily Post.
An oil tank and an oil pumpjack are pictured in the Permian basin, Loco Hills regions, New Mexico, U.S., April 6, 2023.
MONTGOMERY Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded more than $46 million in grants to 18 community service agencies that provide emergency assistance to help low-income households cover the costs of staying warm during the winter and cool during the summer.

High energy bills can be an overwhelming burden for families that are already struggling to meet their basic needs, Gov. Ivey said. These grants will help low-income Alabama residents weather the cold winter ahead as well as the hot summer months to come.

The community agencies accept applications at the local level from residents seeking help through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Adequate heating and cooling are essential to any household, particularly for the elderly and other vulnerable populations, ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in support of these community agencies that provide relief to those in need.

Below is a list of each grant, the recipient agency, they counties they serve and the agency contact information. Please note that the funding allocations announced today may not be immediately available for application at the local level. The application periods are established locally by each community agency.

Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Inc., $1.75 million, Colbert, Franklin, and Lauderdale Counties;

Community Action Partnership of Huntsville/Madison and Limestone Counties Inc., $2.87 million;

Walker County Community Action Agency Inc., $743,945;

Community Action of Etowah County Inc., $1.02 million;

Community Action Agency of Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Calhoun and Cleburne Counties, $2.66 million;

Community Action Partnership of Middle Alabama Inc., $2.35 million, Autauga, Chilton, Elmore, and Shelby Counties;

Community Action Committee Inc. of Chambers-Tallapoosa-Coosa, $917,034;

Montgomery Community Action Committee and Community Development Corporation Inc., $2.73 million;

Organized Community Action Program Inc., $1.99 million, Bullock, Butler, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Lowndes, and Pike Counties;

Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama Inc., $9.94 million, Blount, Cherokee, DeKalb, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall, and St. Clair Counties;

Mobile Community Action Inc., $4.46 million, Mobile, and Washington Counties;

Macon-Russell Community Action Agency Inc., $1 million;

Pickens County Community Action Committee and Community Development Corporation Inc., $207,463;

Southeast Alabama Community Action Partnership Inc., $2.43 million, Barbour, Coffee, Geneva, Henry, and Houston Counties;

Community Action Agency of South Alabama, $3.05 million, Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Marengo, Monroe, and Wilcox Counties;

Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Inc., $2.46 million, Cullman, Lawrence, Marion, Morgan, and Winston Counties;

Community Service Programs of West Alabama Inc., $3.9 million, Bibb, Choctaw, Dallas, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Perry, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa Counties; and,

Alabama Council on Human Relations Inc., $1.79 million, Lee County.
BARBOUR COUNTY, Ala.A ribbon cutting and check presentation for the Barbour County Dolly Partons Imagination Library was held on Saturday at EufaulaFest. Julie Odom of the Alabama Partnership for Children presented a check to Allie Logan and Mitzi Clayton, co-coordinators for Barbour County.

More than 380 children under 5 years old have been registered so far in Barbour County to receive a free book each month through Dolly Partons Imagination Library program in partnership with the Family Service Center Barbour. The free books are offered to all children under 5 years old in the county, regardless of family income.

A parent or guardian must register children to receive the books. There is no charge to register or receive the books. Age-appropriate books are mailed to the child in the childs name directly to the homes of registered children each month.

Parents or guardians can register their children online by filling out a brief form at www.imaginationlibrary.com. Registered children will begin receiving books at their home addresses about eight to 10 weeks after forms are completed.

The Barbour County Dolly Parton Imagination Library is currently funded by the Alabama Partnership for Children and the state of Alabama. The Alabama Partnership for Children gifted $19,641 to Barbour County, and through an initiative of Gov. Kay Ivey, that amount is matched by the state. The Imagination Library of Alabama expansion aims to establish local programs in all 67 counties and cultivate new partnerships to help fund and support local program partners.

Dolly Partons Imagination Library launched in 1995. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(3) non-profit organization, has gifted more than 200 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and The Republic of Ireland. This is achieved through funding shared by The Dollywood Foundation and local community partners.
Chinas Xi visits Vietnam weeks after it strengthened ties with the US and Japan

Chinas Xi visits Vietnam weeks after it strengthened ties with the US and Japan View Photo

BANGKOK (AP)  Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday seeking to deepen ties with the Southeast Asian neighbor, weeks after it elevated its diplomatic relations with the United States and Japan.

At the meeting with Vietnams Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Xi announced that the countries would work together to create a China-Vietnam community with a shared future of strategic significance.

Vietnam has resisted using that phrase in the past, but Beijing is seeking reassurance from its ally after Vietnam designated both the U.S. and Japan as comprehensive strategic partners, the designation it uses for China. It is the countrys highest official designation for a diplomatic relationship.

These symbolic gestures go a long way to reassure Beijing that Vietnam still sees China as its most important partner, said Hunter Marston, a PhD candidate at the Australian National University who studies Southeast Asias foreign policy.

Xis visit marks 15 years of China being a comprehensive strategic partner of Vietnam. But that designation is now being given to other countries as Vietnam seeks to keep itself from being overly reliant on Beijing.

In September, U.S. President Joe Biden visited Vietnam to mark the U.S. being elevated to the same diplomatic status as China. Biden asserted that the stronger ties were not about countering China, though U.S. diplomacy across Asia and the Pacific has been focused on improving defense ties with countries to do just that.

In November, Japan and Vietnam boosted their economic and security ties, citing a free and open Indo-Pacific. Japan has been rapidly developing closer ties with Vietnam and is its third-largest foreign investor.

Given the latest developments, experts say Vietnam wanted to make a concession to Beijing, though only at the level of rhetoric.

I think following the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Bidens last visit, there must be something done to mollify the Chinese concerns, said Collin Koh, a regional security expert at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

Community with a shared future is a term that Xi put forth a decade ago. While it does not denote a specific initiative, some experts say it has a lot of underlying significance.

Its somehow another term for alliance, said Nguyen Thanh Trung, a professor of Vietnamese studies at Fulbright University Vietnam. For example, Vietnam has to support China in multilateral forums, and it carries a lot of weight.

Ideologically, Vietnam is close to Beijing. It is run by a Communist Party with strong ties to China. But in recent months, Vietnam has signaled closer ties with Western countries.

Vietnam is also one of several countries to clash with China in the disputed South China Sea, particularly on two archipelagos, the Spratlys and the Paracel Islands. It has faced off with Chinas coast guard in the disputed waters. Vietnam usually does not publicize the confrontations.

Vietnam is likely to sign some infrastructure agreements with Beijing, as it has paid close attention to the development of the Chinese-built high-speed rail in Laos, completed in 2021.

The Vietnamese prime minister wants to focus on more infrastructure, said Nguyen, the professor. He thinks its key to economic growth.

Xi will meet with President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Chinh on Wednesday.

China has been Vietnams largest trading partner for several years, with a bilateral trade turnover of $175.6 billion in 2022. Imports from China, including crucial inputs for Vietnams manufacturing sector, make up 67%, according to Vietnam customs data cited by Vietnamese state media.

However, the trade is at a deficit in Chinas favor.

China has over $26 billion invested in Vietnam, with more than 4,000 active projects.

Xis 2017 visit to Vietnam was for an Asia-Pacific economic summit in the coastal city of Danang.

___

Associated Press writer Aniruddha Ghosal and video producer Hau Dinh in Hanoi, Vietnam, contributed to this report.

By HUIZHONG WU

Associated Press
As Navalny vanishes from view in Russia, an ally calls it a Kremlin ploy to deepen his isolation

As Navalny vanishes from view in Russia, an ally calls it a Kremlin ploy to deepen his isolation View Photo

MOSCOW (AP)  The loss of contact with Alexei Navalny at the prison colony where the opposition leader was being held likely signals a Kremlin effort to tighten his isolation while President Vladimir Putin runs for reelection over the next three months, Navalnys spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Worries about Navalny spread Monday after officials at the facility east of Moscow said he was no longer on the inmate roster. Navalnys spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said his associates and lawyers have been unable to contact him for a week. Prison officials said he has been moved from the colony where he has been serving a 19-year term on charges of extremism, but they didnt say where he went.

Prison transfers in Russia are notoriously secretive, with authorities providing no information about the whereabouts of inmates for weeks until they reach another facility and are given permission to contact relatives or lawyers.

We now have to look for him in every colony of special regime in Russia, Yarmysh told The Associated Press. And there are about 30 of them all over Russia. So we have no idea in which one we will find him.

She noted that they can transfer a prisoner for weeks or even for months, and no one will know where he is.

Russias Federal Penitentiary Service did not immediately respond to an AP request for comment about Navalnys possible transfer and whereabouts. Earlier this year, another prominent opposition figure, Andrei Pivovarov, also went missing during a prison transfer. His transfer, from a detention center in Russias southern region of Krasnodar to a penal colony in the northwestern region of Karelia, took about a month.

Once at a new facility, prison officials there are legally obliged to notify relatives or lawyers within 10 days, but Yarmysh said they can hardly be expected to follow the rules in Navalnys case.

She said the authorities will likely try to keep Navalnys location secret for as long as they can after Putin on Friday declared his intention to seek another six-year term in the March 17 election, moving to extend his rule of over two decades.

They will try to hide him as long as possible, Yarmysh said. I guess this was made deliberately to isolate Alexei during this period of time so he wouldnt be able to influence all these things in any way, because everyone understands  and Putin, of course, understands  that Alexei is his main rival, even despite the fact that he is not on the ballot.

Asked Tuesday where Navalny is, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov snapped that we have neither a desire nor an opportunity to track down inmates.

Commenting on U.S. expressions of concern about Navalny, Peskov said in a conference call with reporters that he has been convicted and is serving his sentence, adding that we consider any interference, including by the United States, inadmissible.

Navalny, 47, has been behind bars since January 2021, when he was arrested upon his return from Germany where he had recuperated from nerve agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin. Navalny, who campaigned against official corruption and organized major anti-government protests, has rejected all charges against him as a politically motivated vendetta.

Navalny has been serving his sentence at the Penal Colony No. 6, in the town of Melekhovo in the Vladimir region, about 230 kilometers (140 miles) east of Moscow. He was due to be transferred to a penal colony with an even higher level of security.

The loss of contact with Navalny was particularly worrying, given that he recently fell ill, Yarmysh said. She said prison officials had given him an IV drip when he felt dizzy and he had to lie on the floor of his cell.

It looks like it might have been a faint from hunger because he isnt being fed properly and he doesnt have any ventilation in his cell and he doesnt have any like proper exercise time, Yarmysh said.

While Putins reelection is all but certain, given his overwhelming control over the countrys political scene and a widening crackdown on dissent, Navalnys supporters and other critics hope to use the campaign to erode public support for the Kremlin leader and his military action in Ukraine.

Authorities could try to send Navalny to a remote colony to further limit his influence, Yarmysh said. Since the start of his imprisonment, he has continued his scathing attacks on the Kremlin in comments his associates posted to social media.

I guess they decided that it would be smarter for them to send him as far away because hes still too loud and too present in the public field, Yarmysh said.
An asylum-seeker in the UK has died onboard a moored barge housing migrants

An asylum-seeker in the UK has died onboard a moored barge housing migrants View Photo

LONDON (AP)  An asylum-seeker on board a barge housing migrants off the south coast of England has died and a police investigation has been launched, British officials said Tuesday.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said officers received a report of a sudden death of a resident on the barge, called the Bibby Stockholm, early Tuesday.

Officers are conducting inquiries into the circumstances of the incident, the force said.

Home Secretary James Cleverly told lawmakers the death will be investigated fully. He didnt provide details.

The Bibby Stockholm has been at the center of controversy since authorities first deployed the vessel, along with disused military barracks, as a solution to housing migrants awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications.

Earlier this year the ship had to be evacuated following the discovery of legionella bacteria, which can cause serious illness, in its water supply. About 40 men returned in October to the vessel, which is moored in Portland harbor in Dorset.

The barge, which has capacity to house some 500 people, is part of the British governments plans to tackle huge costs in housing thousands of asylum-seekers and to deter migrants from crossing the English Channel on unseaworthy small boats to seek a new life in the U.K.

Officials have said alternative accommodation like the Bibby Stockholm brings better value to taxpayers than housing them in hotels across the country, which costs millions of pounds a day.

But migrants rights groups have criticized conditions onboard the barge, saying it was prison-like, isolating and punishing for migrants who may have fled torture or persecution.

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman previously insisted the barge was safe amid repeated protests and threats of legal action from the firefighters union over fire safety concerns.

The Refugee Council called Tuesday for an independent review into the death of the asylum-seeker.

This is an appalling loss of life but tragically not surprising, said Enver Solomon, the groups chief executive. Nobody who comes to our country seeking asylum should be left without the support they need yet the system has more hostility than compassion built into it.

The Home Office described the death as a tragic incident and said it takes its responsibilities toward migrants seriously.

The welfare of all those in our care is of the utmost importance, it said in a statement.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to stop the boats bringing unauthorized migrants from northern France, and has brought in much tougher laws to curb migrants ability to seek asylum in the U.K.

But his government is struggling to unite lawmakers behind his flagship immigration bill, which seeks to revive a plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda that was ruled illegal by the U.K. Supreme Court.

___

Follow APs coverage of migration issues at https://apnews.com/hub/migration

By SYLVIA HUI

Associated Press
Senator Mitch McConnell View Photo

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered remarks on the Senate floor regarding national security priorities.

McConnell was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

Yesterday, every single Senate Republican rejected the Democratic Leaders attempt to separate border security from national security. As weve said for weeks, that was a futile effort that was doomed to fail from the very beginning.

Hopefully, the Senate can now seize a new opportunity to make real progress on legislation that addresses urgent national security priorities  both at home and abroad.

So lets establish a few things going forward:

It is profoundly unserious to pretend that national security priorities dont include securing our nations borders

To warn about borders in jeopardy and not start with the one thats being overrun here at home

To invoke threats facing sovereign nations without a clear plan to uphold Americas own sovereignty.

Mr. President, Im not in need of any lectures about on the gravity of the challenges facing national security today.

I dont need any admonishments about whats at stake for America and our allies in Ukraines fight against Russian aggression.

Im well aware that the worlds largest state sponsor of terrorism remains undeterred from trying to kill Americans in the Middle East.

And I certainly have not forgotten that China  our top strategic adversary  is watching what we do very closely.

Instead, unfortunately, its been the Biden Administration  including our Commander-in-Chief  who have all too often needed reminders about the responsibilities of a global superpower. From Europe to the Middle East, the Administration has reached new heights of self-deterrence.

With Putins forces massing on the borders of Ukraine, the Administration slow-walked lethal assistance. As the Russian offensive unfolded, they held back the most decisive capabilities Ukraine needed out of an unfounded fear of escalation.

And even with further security assistance hanging in the balance, the Biden Administration has been very slow to sell this urgent measure  and its massive domestic benefits  to the American people.

From the outset, the Biden Administration resumed the Obama-era efforts to reset relations with Tehran and removed the Iran-backed Houthis from the terrorism list.

It is no surprise that Iran has thumbed its nose at these displays of weakness. Its no surprise that U.S. personnel are facing a spike in terrorist attacks, from Iraq and Syria to the Red Sea. But the Administration continues to pull its punches.

And meanwhile, Republicans have spent years urging the Administration to start performing even the bare minimum of its fundamental responsibility to secure our southern border and enforce our nations laws.

Right now, the crisis created by the Biden Administrations neglect is bringing illegal aliens to the United States at a rate of 300,000 a month.

Thats roughly the population of Lexington, Kentucky, arriving every month. And thanks to an asylum and parole system that desperately needs fixing, many of them are just brought straight in.

I know many of our Democratic colleagues recognize the urgency of this crisis. I know many of them are ready to help restore sanity at our southern border.

Well, Senator Lankford, Senator Graham, and other Republican colleagues are still working hard to do exactly that. And theres no time like the present to join them in those efforts.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
GENEVA A Geneva County man is in Geneva County Jail awaiting sentencing after being found guilty of a nearly four-year-old murder Wednesday afternoon.

Michael Shane Paul was found guilty of murder in the 2020 death of Brett Joshua Grantham after a four women, eight men Geneva County jury deliberated more than an hour at the Geneva County Courthouse Wednesday afternoon.

Thirty third Judicial District Attorney Kirke Adams said Monday that Paul is expected to be sentenced in January 2024 by Circuit Judge William Filmore, who presided over the trial.

Grantham, 36 at the time of his death, was initially reported missing but that changed when the Geneva Police Department received a tip that Grantham had been murdered and buried in Holmes County, Florida. Grantham had been reported last seen on Aug. 22, 2020, in the Franklin Avenue area of Geneva.

In an April 2021 press conference, then-Geneva Police Chief Tony Clemmons, Geneva County Sheriff Tony Helms, and Holmes County Sheriff John Tate, confirmed the arrests of Paul and his girlfriend, Rebecca Holt, who had lived together, in connection to the body that was found. Holt has since pleaded guilty, Adams said Monday.

At that press conference, authorities said that after an investigation, officers searched Pauls property on Peak Road in Holmes County, Florida, and found Granthams body. Police said the murder took place in Alabama, and Granthams body was transported to Holmes County to be buried.

Paul was charged with murder in April 2021, and Holt was charged with hindering prosecution.

The Holmes County Sheriffs Office along with the Geneva Police Department, Geneva County Sheriffs Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the Florida State Attorneys Office were all part of the effort to locate the grave site.
As few details are released, fatal stabbing of Catholic priest rocks small Nebraska community View Photo

FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (AP)  The fatal stabbing of a Catholic priest inside the church rectory where he lived has rocked the eastern Nebraska community of Fort Calhoun, a one-stoplight town where people tend not to worry if they forget to lock their doors at night.

The Rev. Stephen Gutgsell, who served at St. John the Baptist church, was attacked during what authorities called a break-in early Sunday. The 65-year-old died despite being rushed to an Omaha hospital. Authorities with the Washington County Sheriffs Office arrested a man, who was still in the church rectory when they arrived six minutes after the priest called 911.

Its a crazy world I guess. Anything can happen to anybody, said longtime Fort Calhoun resident Stephen Green, who said he did not know Gutgsell personally, but has attended Lenten fish fries at the church and sent his kids to vacation Bible school there.

By Monday, the church nestled in a neighborhood a block away from the elementary school was clear of crime scene tape as it prepared to host a wake for one of its members, but the yellow plastic continued to encircle the rectory  the modest home next to the church.

A stack of church bulletins sat unused just outside the sanctuary  with a note from Gutgsell about how he had planned to preach about St. John the Baptists namesake on Sunday. On the way into town, the lighted sign along the highway welcoming visitors to Fort Calhoun asked for prayers for our church and our community.

Gutgsell was attacked just one day after the Christmas in Calhoun celebration, where many of the towns residents celebrated with a full day of events including a Boy Scout pancake breakfast at St. John the Baptist. The small congregation of more than 250 families is an active one known for its fish fries during Lent and its vacation Bible school programs every summer.

Fort Calhoun hosts only about 1,000 residents, located about 16 miles (26 kilometers) north of Omaha. The town is best known for being home to Fort Atkinson, the first U.S. military post west of the Missouri River, where volunteers dress up in clothes from the period as part of a living history program. It is about 75 miles (120 kilometers) south of Sioux City, Iowa, where authorities say the suspect in Gutgsells death was from.

But the priests stabbing was the second killing to happen this year in the small town.

You know, theres no murders forever and ever, and then all of a sudden, bam! said Kevin Schultz, one of two pastors at the Cherry Hill church and ice cream shop on the main highway just a few blocks away from St. John the Baptist.

A day following the attack with little new details released, residents were left to speculate about Gutgsells killing. Prosecutors said they expect to file formal homicide and weapons charges on Tuesday against Kierre L. Williams, 43, who was arrested inside the rectory. He does not have a lawyer yet and likely wont appear in court until Wednesday.

It seems like theres more to the story, Schultz said.

Court records in Iowa show Williams is facing a misdemeanor assault charge; he is accused of punching someone at a soup kitchen in Sioux City after getting in an argument in July. The criminal charge against him in that case lists him as homeless.

Green, who has lived in Fort Calhoun since he was 5 years old, said he has always known the town to be safe and he remembers riding his bike all over town when he was young. But he said the killing of Gutgsell  and the August killing of 71-year-old Linda Childers  are eye opening.

In August, Childers was found dead in her rural home in Fort Calhoun in what authorities believe was a home invasion by a man she did not know. In that case, William P. Collins has been charged with first-degree murder and other counts.

It shouldnt happen in a small town like this, said Andy Faucher, who owns the Longhorn Bar and Grill where people gathered to eat and talk about what happened. Faucher said the fact that this latest killing involved a priest only intensifies the scariness of the situation.

On Sunday evening, the congregation held a vigil at St. John the Baptist to remember Gutgsell, who served at several different parishes across the Archdiocese of Omaha during his 39 years as a priest. In addition to leading St. John the Baptist in Fort Calhoun, Gutgsell helped at St. Francis Borgia in Blair, where the archbishop held a special service after the stabbing Sunday and met with members of the congregation.

We continue to pray that the Lord of mercy and love will welcome Father Gutgsell into his Heavenly kingdom, Archbishop of Omaha George J. Lucas said in a statement. May Our Blessed Mother intercede for us all as we grieve his death.

The Archdiocese said Gutgsell was a native of Kansas City, Missouri, who graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 1980 and attended the St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota before joining the priesthood in 1984.

Funeral arrangements for Gutgsell are pending.

Kelly Tegels told KETV that she had just seen Gutgsell at Mass on Saturday night, so his death did not feel real yet.

Its going to be hard, Tegels said at the vigil. Im bringing flowers tonight because he always had this altar decorated with flowers, and I know he would appreciate it.

By JOSH FUNK

Associated Press
Three gun dealers sued by New Jersey attorney general, who says they violated state law

Three gun dealers sued by New Jersey attorney general, who says they violated state law View Photo

TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  New Jerseys attorney general sued three firearms dealers Tuesday, alleging one illegally stored firearms that were visible from outside a store and that the two others tried to sell ghost guns. The suits mark the first complaints filed under a 2022 law passed last year.

Attorney General Matt Platkin said he filed the lawsuits in state court to send a message to firearms dealers that run afoul of state law.

Were going to hold these folks accountable, but they wont be the last, Platkin said during a news conference held with state firearms enforcement director Ravi Ramanathan. I think others in the industry should take notice that if youre violating our laws, were going to come for you. Were going to hold you accountable, too.

The suits seek unspecified monetary and punitive damages as well as an injunction against the companies: FSS Armory, of Pine Brook, New Jersey; gun show operator Eagle Shows of western Pennsylvania; and gun vendor JSD Supply, also of western Pennsylvania. The Associated Press left email messages seeking comment with the companies.

One of the suits alleges that FSS Armory stored stacks of guns near a window on the ground floor of its shop, an arrangement that was visible online. In January, a group of people traveled to the store, broke the window and made off with more than 20 weapons, including pistols, shotguns, rifles and a revolver, Platkin said. Most of the stolen guns havent been recovered, and those that have been were found at crime scenes or on the black market, he said.

State law requires firearms to be secured and not kept in any window or area visible from outside.

The other suit, against Eagle Shows and JSD Supply, alleges the companies aimed to sell so-called ghost guns, which are illegal in the state, to New Jersey residents. Ghost guns are weapons without serial numbers that cannot be traced.

JSD Supply sold ghost gun products at Eagle Shows across the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border, while Eagle Shows continues to directly advertise their shows in New Jersey, according to the suit. Its unclear how many such guns were sold to New Jersey residents, but state police have arrested numerous residents returning from out-of-state Eagle Shows with illegal products, Platkin said.

The lawsuits were the first brought by the state under a bill Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed in July 2022 aimed at holding gun dealers accountable in civil court. Asked why he didnt bring criminal complaints against the companies, Platkin would only say that civil cases also play a role in upholding the law.

New Jersey isnt the only state going after gun dealers in civil court.

In October 2022, Minnesota filed suit against a gun retailer, alleging it sold firearms to straw purchasers that ended up being used in a fatal shooting. Earlier this year, Kansas City settled with a dealer it alleged ignored evidence that guns were being sold illegally.

By MIKE CATALINI

Associated Press
George Santos attorney expresses optimism about plea talks as expelled congressman appears in court View Photo

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP)  Former U.S. Rep. George Santos  lawyer expressed optimism about plea negotiations in Santos criminal fraud case Tuesday, successfully fending off prosecutors attempts to speed up the the ousted congressmans trial.

In Santos first court appearance since he was expelled from Congress earlier this month, his attorney, Joseph Murray, argued that it was premature to bring the September trial forward while the two parties were in talks to resolve the case.

We should focus on the plea deal. I believe they can be fruitful, Murray told Judge Joanna Seybert in the federal court in Long Island. He also argued that he was struggling to keep up with voluminous materials produced by the government during the discovery process.

Seybert sided with Murray, saying she would try to move the case as expeditiously as possible but that September seemed like the earliest possible date based on her current caseload. She set the next hearing in the case for Jan. 23.

Santos, wearing a blue blazer over a dark sweater, declined to comment on the case to reporters as he left the courthouse, saying to one, Its cold, go home.

Santos earlier this month became only the sixth lawmaker in history to be expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives.

In an interview with WABC radio that aired early Tuesday morning, Santos said he hopes to eventually regain the trust of the American people and return to public office.

Im not done with public service, I want to go back to Congress, he said. Im not saying today, Im not saying tomorrow. Im 35, I have a lot of things I need to take care of first, I think we all know.

The ex-lawmaker faces a slew of criminal charges, including allegations that he defrauded campaign donors, lied to Congress about his wealth, received unemployment benefits while employed, and used campaign contributions to pay for personal expenses like designer clothing. Among the charges are allegations that he made unauthorized charges on credit cards belonging to some of his donors.

Santos pleaded not guilty to a revised indictment in October.

Prosecutors revealed in a court filing Monday that they were negotiating with Santos to potentially resolve his criminal case without a trial.

In an interview on CBS New York that aired Sunday, Santos said he hadnt ruled out pleading guilty, saying theres obviously conversations taking place, especially after what happened in Congress, and well see.

Santos was elected last year after campaigning as a self-made Wall Street whiz, but was revealed after the election to have been a fabulist who had lied about where he worked, where he went to college and big chunks of his personal background.

Since leaving Congress, Santos launched an account on the website Cameo, where the public can pay him for a personalized video message. In the televised interview, Santos said he made more money in a week on the platform than his annual salary as a congressman.

A special election will be held Feb. 13 to elect his successor in a House district that includes a mix of wealthy Long Island suburbs and a working-class section of Queens.

That race will likely pit former U.S. Rep. Thomas Suozzi, a Democrat who previously held the seat before running unsuccessfully for governor, against one of a number of Republicans.

___

Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo.

By PHILIP MARCELO

Associated Press
Australia credits improving relations with Beijing after China lifts some meat export bans View Photo

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  China has lifted import bans on three Australian meat suppliers in another sign of improving trade relations between the two countries, Australian officials said Tuesday.

Chinas customs agency announced overnight it was removing bans on imports of beef and mutton from Australian plants of JBS, a global foods company, and from the Australian Lamb Company, both in Victoria state. Also from Teys Australia in South Australia state, a government statement said.

China had banned imports of red meats from 11 Australian abattoirs since 2020, citing cases of COVID-19 among staff and incorrectly labeled products. The bans were seen as part of various official and unofficial trade barriers China imposed to punish Australia over policies that included calling for an independent inquiry into the origins of and responses to the pandemic.

China still bans meat from the other eight Australian slaughter houses. Australian officials were working toward resolving technical impediments to trade, the government statement said

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said that resuming meat exports to China was another step toward stabilizing bilateral relations since the government headed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was elected last year.

Im not going to venture predictions going forward, but we will keep on the path that we are currently on, which does seek to stabilize the relationship with China, Marles, who is standing in for Albanese while he is on vacation, told reporters.

China has lifted most of its punitive trade barriers, which cost Australian exporters 20 billion Australian dollars ($14 billion) a year at their peak, since Australias government changed.

Last month, Albanese made the first visit by an Australian leader to China in seven years in a sign of both how low relations had fallen and how they have begun to stabilize.

But last month, the two governments also clashed over an Australian allegation that a Chinese warships unsafe use of sonar off Japan had caused ear injuries to at least one Australian navy diver. Albanese said the incident had damaged relations.

China denied the warship caused any injury and accused Australia of making reckless and irresponsible accusations.

Marles described the relationship with China as complex.

With the one hand weve got our largest trading partner and on the other weve got our most significant security anxiety, Marles said.

But for all those reasons, its important that we do diplomacy excellently, he said.

By ROD McGUIRK

Associated Press
A third suspect wanted in connection with the October murder of a Midland City man was captured by law enforcement officials late last week.

Chase Lee Easton, 22, is charged with one count of murder in the shooting death of Jaquez Octavious Hill, 20. He is currently being held in the Dothan City Jail, but will be booked into the Houston County Jail at a later date.

On Friday, Dec. 8, the Dothan Police Departments Special Response Team, Dothan PD investigators, and the Enterprise Police Department executed a search warrant at a home in the 100 block of Price Street in Enterprise after receiving information that Easton was at the location.

Upon entry, officials found Easton hiding in the residence and he was taken into custody.

According to Dothan Police, Hill left a nightclub in downtown Dothan in the early morning hours of Saturday, Oct. 7, when he was shot multiple times in the parking lot while walking back to his vehicle.

Three days later, the first suspect, Jacob Warren Crisostomo, 20, of Slocomb, was arrested and charged with one count of murder.

Chases brother, Zackary Dale Easton, 25, was also identified as a suspect and turned himself in to the Dothan Police Department shortly after the murder on Wednesday, Oct. 11.
Google has suffered a major blow to its Play apps store model if this new ruling survives appeal. A Federal jury returned what the Washington Post deemed to be a verdict against Google on all counts, after mere hours of deliberation. A link to the verdict form 1.

Readers may recall, at a 50,000 foot level, that Epic defied both the Google and Apple app store tolling by providing a direct way to pay for, download and install at a discount to the Google and Apple store prices.because Google and Apple charge a 30% fee, giving Epic plenty of pricing room on a direct sales basis. Epic argued that this direct payment model did not reduce safety, since Apple allowed many developers, such as Amazon and Grab, to provide direct payments.2

From the Financial Times overview:

Epics lawsuit alleged Google abused its power to charge excessive fees, and made an operating profit of $12bn on its Play Store in 2021 alone. Epic had sought to use an alternative billing mechanism on the Play Store that avoids Googles fees.

Matt Stoller pointed out that the Epic cases against Google and Apple were business customers revolting against the app stores chokehold:

Three years ago, Epics CEO Tim Sweeney launched a dramatic legal assault against Apple and Google for monopolizing the on-ramp to the phone. This case didnt come from the left or right, but from the commercial world. It was part of what I called a civil war in American business, as smaller companies across the economy began marshaling against dominant big tech goliaths.

Again, without belaboring details, Epic lost on most counts in it suit against Apple. Arguably the fact set is different since Apple controls hardware and software. But Epic is appealing to the Supreme Court. This conflicting Google ruling should increase the odds the Apple ruling will be reviewed (interestingly Apple also wants the Supreme Court to opine).

In November, The Verge explained why this case matters to Google:

The future of Googles app store could depend on this trial  both Epic and Google agree on that. Epic wants to break up Googles alleged monopoly on Android app stores and payment methods, so developers arent stuck paying the Google Tax or passing that fee along to you. But if Epic wins  according to Google, anyhow  it could make Android phones less safe by dismantling basic protections against sideloaded apps, and damage Androids ability to compete with the iPhone because it (arguably) cant run a competitive app store by giving it away for free.

Google did attempt to make that argument in court. Per Reuters:

Google has denied wrongdoing, arguing that it competes intensely on price, quality, and security against Apples App Store. A lawyer for Google, Jonathan Kravis, told jurors that Google does not want to lose 60 million Android users to Apple every year. Google lowered its fee structure to compete with Apple, Kravis said. This is not the behavior of a monopolist, he said.

If I were a juror, I would find that claim an insult to intelligence. Android and Apple users are two different markets. The idea that non-trivial numbers of Android users would run out to buy markedly more expensive iPhones.because Apple Store would become somehow better.is lunacy.

It didnt help that Google apparently destroyed evidence. Again from Reuters:

Among the more sensational allegations were that Google had a system for deleting texts and internal messages for the purpose of concealing its anticompetitive behavior. An attorney for Epic instructed jurors on Monday that they could assume the content of the deleted messages was pertinent to the case and would have been unfavorable to Google.

The findings in the case, summarized by The Verge:

 the jury unanimously answered yes to every question put before them  that Google has monopoly power in the Android app distribution markets and in-app billing services markets, that Google did anticompetitive things in those markets, and that Epic was injured by that behavior. They decided Google has an illegal tie between its Google Play app store and its Google Play Billing payment services, too, and that its distribution agreement, Project Hug deals with game developers and deals with OEMs were all anticompetitive.

Epic has asked for structural remedies, and not monetary damages, when the case goes into the sentencing phase in January. And Epic wants very serious changes. Again from Stoller:

Specifically, [Epic CEO Tim] Sweeney asked for the right for firms to have their own app stores, and the ability to use their own billing systems.

Ouch.

Since I have not been close to the case, I could be missing something, but the Google positioning seems tone deaf. Again from the Financial Times:

It now falls to the judge in the case to determine what remedies Google should face. In a statement, Wilson White, Googles vice-president for government affairs and public policy, said the company would appeal against the verdict. Android and Google Play provide more choice and openness than any other major mobile platform, he wrote.

Eerm, even from my remove, a 30% nick for extremely popular games with millions of users and a refusal to negotiate on that sure sounds like a monopoly to me. And Epic banged on about that point. Again from the pink paper:

Sweeney said the verdict called into question the widespread use of the 30 per cent commission fee across the gaming industry. To me thats the antitrust elephant in the room  that they all charge the same rate because they all have no competition, he said. I think 30 per cents days are numbered.

Stoller pointed out that Google had managed to buy off the other original plaintiffs in the Epic case:

Its a long and winding road for Epic. The firm lost the Apple case, which is on appeal, but got the Google case to a jury, along with several other plaintiffs. Nearly every other firm challenging Google gradually dropped out of the case, getting special deals from the search giant in return for abandoning their claims. But Sweeney was righteous, and believed that Google helped ruined the internet. He didnt ask for money or a special deal, instead seeking to have Judge James Donato force Google to make good on its broken promise, which he characterized as an open, competitive Android ecosystem for all users and industry participants.

So this is a very welcome development. Lets hope Epic continues on its winning ways.

_____

1 What is wrong with these people? Why is a 6 page pdf 2.2 MB, as in too big to embed, and also resistant to file size reduction via the Macs Preview? Tell me how grossly oversized files of simple text documents are in the public interest. UPDATE: Kind reader Tim H sent a reduced version, embedded below. A round of thanks!

2 Epic had tried bypassing Google from its very launch of what came to be a blockbuster game, Fortnite. As Verge had described that part of the saga:
Yves here. John Helmer gives a detailed and nuanced discussion of what Russia is doing, and importantly not doing, with respect to the war in Gaza. The bottom line is Russia is better served if things continue on a slow boil in the region, since that will continue to sap US resources without (hopefully) escalating to a hotter war. In addition, Russia has a clear policy as to when to step up and get involved in a conflict, and its when it is asked by states, not by various liberation groups or proxies.

A couple of additional thoughts: One could also characterize Russias posture as Dont get in your enemys way when he is making a mistake. The US is losing massive amounts of soft power. Russia has been very active on the diplomatic front, witness its cooperation with other US-and-Israel-opposed members of the Security Council and even more important, Putins recent tour through Middle Eastern capitals.

Even though it is distressing to see the slaughter in Gaza continue and apparent inaction by all of Israels neighbors, only the US could stop it any time soon and the US wont. Houthi harassment of shipping is proving to be effective, since it jacks up maritime insurance rates for transport in and out of Israel and is another blow to Israels economy. And it appears no one is keen to go after the Houthis directly since they could credibly turn Saudi oil fields into infernos. As I understand it, Hezbollah has been engaging in a deliberately proportional tit for tat with Israel, which Israel is apparently seeing as intolerable. Israel basically announced Hezbollah needs to cut it out or there will be consequences. This seems like a bizarre threat since despite its propaganda, the IDF is not doing all that well in Gaza (reports of high casualties and regardless, little progress in taking out Hamas fighters or penetrating the tunnels, so the really hard fighting is yet to come). It is hard to see how the IDF can afford to tax itself further. Moreover, as the Helmer piece indicates, Russia could join if asked by Lebanon, say by providing air coverbut Russia in the past did comparatively little, although the one request from Lebanon, per Helmer, was in 2019 when the IDF flew drones over Lebanon, which Russia may not have regarded as sufficient to justify intervention.

Finally, consider that Russia (Putin in particular) has been friendly to Israel. There are many Russian Jews in Israel. Putin is one of the few world leaders Netanyahu can still get on the phone. Russias Jewish population is peanuts compared to its Muslim population but some readers contend that Jewish oligarchs wield influence. While that may be a factor, Putin for the moment seems to regard it as winning play to be able to talk to both sides in the conflict.ex the US enabler, which since it is politically not able to check the Israel extermination, practically does not matter much.

By John Helmer, the longest continuously serving foreign correspondent in Russia, and the only western journalist to direct his own bureau independent of single national or commercial ties. Helmer has also been a professor of political science, and an advisor to government heads in Greece, the United States, and Asia. He is the first and only member of a US presidential administration (Jimmy Carter) to establish himself in Russia. Originally published at Dances with Bears

Not even in revolutionary times have Russian elections been waged on the issue President Vladimir Putin proposed a few days ago of what it means, what it costs, what it risks for Russia to lead the national liberation of the world.

Nor has Putin revealed after two days of intensive talks with Emirati, Saudi, and Iranian leaders, and then a telephone call with the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, what plan of action for the Gaza war they discussed. Russia is thinking about an initiative on Gaza, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has announced after the talks concluded.

El-Sisi was so negative about this, the Kremlin record of his Saturday morning telephone call reveals no more than that he and Putin talked over a number of issues related to Russian-Egyptian cooperation, which has been developing very successfully. Both parties expressed their interest in further expanding cooperation in various areas in a traditionally friendly manner based on the principles of strategic partnership. The two presidents then wished each other good luck for their re-elections.

The Egyptian presidential vote is running for three days from Sunday with the result to be declared on December 18; the Russian poll will be held on March 15-17. The outcome is certain for both.

Two hours after Putin put down the phone with el-Sisi, he picked it up again to call Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Kremlin communique has omitted to report what Netanyahu said.

Instead, Putin gave the Israeli his personal assurance there will be no Russian participation in a Gaza blockade-busting plan to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinians by sea, or across the Egyptian land border. Nor will the Russian military intervene to threaten Israeli aircraft if they commence bombing Beirut and southern Lebanese targets in the war against Hezbollah.

A Russian source on military strategy believes the Russian objective is to protract the Palestine war on all fronts simultaneously, and exhaust the US and Israel by threatening Israeli ports and shipping, Israels offshore gas supplies, and the economys principal sources of income. Exhausting the US in the Middle East helps exhaust the US and NATO in the Ukraine, the source adds.

Tactically, the source said, this should mean an international humanitarian operation to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza in order to deliver as much aid as the besieged Palestinians need; action at the international level to deter the Israelis using uranium radiation warheads, poison gas, and other weapons to attack the Hamas tunnel network; and a no-fly zone to cover Lebanon and Syria from Israeli bombing and missile attacks. Military action, the source cautions, should be indirect and confined to proxy forces like Hezbollah on the northern front; Iraqi groups in the east; the Houthis in the south; and support for the Palestinians fighting in the West Bank.

Hezbollah forces flying the Hezbollah and Syrian flags in Syrian operations to support President Bashar Assad.

The Israeli reaction  what we can do in Gaza we can do in Beirut  is to deter Russia, Iran, and the Arab states from allowing their initiative to adopt any of these tactics; and to deter an expanded operation by Hezbollah. If Hezbollah chooses to start an all-out war, Netanyahu declared publicly just before he spoke to Putin, then it will, by its own hand, turn Beirut and southern Lebanon, not far from here, into Gaza and Khan Younis.

Russian sources acknowledge the blackout on debate of these options in the Russian media, including the military bloggers who have become the most outspoken journalists in the country. One war at a time, one election at a time, according to one source. Thats how Putin is thinking right now. How can the General Staff argue with that?

The official Russian record on Hezbollah is almost empty; Russian officials are reluctant to pronounce the name in public. In 2005, asked what Russian policy was towards Hezbollah, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: It is necessary to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1559 in all its aspects. Like all the other decisions on the Middle East, they cannot be implemented just by one half or one third. This concerns matters related to Hezbollah and the Palestinians. As to the role of Hezbollah, I think that it is in the interest of Lebanon and the entire Middle East that the political role of Hezbollah should be taken into consideration and that the party receive a possibility to represent its interests through the elections for the power structures to be formed in Lebanon. Russia can help by being in contact with the Lebanese friends and the Syrian friends, the US, the Europeans, and the countries of the region and by advocating a well-balanced, comprehensive and just implementation of UNSCR 1559 and that in its implementation no one would pursue aims which do not relate to it.

Source: http://unscr.com/en/resolutions/doc/1559

A year later, Lavrovs ministry attempted well-balance between the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah. The Russian MFA resolutely condemns the abduction of the [IDF] servicemen, and the firing of rockets at Israeli territory. At the same time we regard the military actions launched by Israel as a disproportionate and inadequate use of force, endangering the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and peace and security across the regionWe urge Israel to cease incursions into Lebanon and the destruction of civilian infrastructure in the country and lift the blockade of its territoriesIn its turn, the Hezbollah movement should give up anti-Israeli actions that endanger the interests of its own country as well, release the kidnapped Israeli servicemen, cease firing into Israeli territory and respect the UN Blue Line.

The same balancing act is being attempted now, as Lavrov told Al-Jazeera on Sunday in answer to questions on Russias policy towards Hamas. Hamas committed a terrorist attack on the 7th of October, which we condemned immediately. Hamas has a political branch which operates in Doha, and we have relations with this political branch. We immediately got in touch with the people in Doha to negotiate the fate of the people taken hostages, Russian citizens (but not only Russian citizens), Israeli citizens, and citizens of the neighbouring countries to Russia, and some others. We managed to reach a deal which, as far as I can say, Israelis understand and even appreciate it as far as their citizens are concerned.

Lavrov attempted to distinguish between national liberation as a political strategy which the Kremlin supports, and Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthi operations which amount to terrorism the Kremlin condemns.

Listen to the exchange on terrorism from Min 13:40 to 16:14.

I dont believe I am hypocritical or Russia is hypocritical, Lavrov said. We never have been hiding the operations which we conducted in the Republic of Chechnya. We never have been hiding what we have been doing in Syria at the request of the legitimate government, member of the United Nations, fighting ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, and other organizations which have popped up after the American interventions in Iraq when Al-Qaeda was created, then in Libya, Jabhat al-Nusra, and you know this story. And we will continue to fight terrorism. Exactly with the rules.

One of the rules to which Lavrov refers is that Russian military engagement in the Middle East must be requested by a government for the security of its territory. In August 2019, when then- Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri requested Russian intervention after the IDF flew drones over Beirut, the response from the Foreign Ministry in Moscow was: The Russian side reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and stability of friendly Lebanon and underscored the need for unfailing compliance by all sides with international law.

There is no reliable evidence that Russian air defence missile systems have been supplied to the Lebanese government. Hezbollah is better equipped, but there is also no reliable evidence for Israeli and US propaganda claiming Russian deliveries of the Pantsir system to Hezbollah since the Gaza War began.

The evidence is much clearer that there has been no Lebanese government request for Russian air cover, nor even a Lebanese government conversation with the Russians since November 2021.

Last official communication between Lebanon and Russia  November 22, 2021.

If the Egyptians wont agree to request Russian backing for a blockade-busting operation, comments a Moscow source, and the Lebanese government will not request Russian military support for its airspace, what can the Kremlin do, let alone the General Staff? Considering the Russian attitude towards Hezbollah, and the position in Syria leaving gaping holes in their air defence against Israeli attack, I think we should expect nothing. I do not see the Arabs, Russians, and Chinese forming an alliance of any military consequence for now.

How long is now?

A veteran of NATO military operations in Afghanistan observes: The Ukrainian lines are breaking up all along the front. The push is on and thats where Putin will put his effort to keep his credibility at home. If [Chief of the General Staff General Valery] Gerasimov can keep destroying the fascists riding NATO junk at the current rate of a battalion per day and gain ground doing it, everyone is happy  for now. As for the Arabs, no one in the region will directly take Israel on. The Lebanese Government is petrified of Israel  and they know better than to ask for Russian help. Sisi, with the most capable military, is a coward. The rest will make noise while clandestinely helping the Palestinian resistance, and causing trouble for the US in the neighbourhood. The Iranians know how to fight and wont stop. The Israelis should and do see them as threat number-one.

The only way I see a direct intervention is if China takes the lead on, or announces support for, one. But [President] Xi [Jinping] has some trouble at home, and nothing Im reading shows Chinese popular support for intervening. If anything, theyre indifferent.

In wars for national liberation and in civil wars, the terrorism label is one sides propaganda against the other  this is the consensus of the Russian sources, unspoken and unpublished for the time being. Russian public policy has yet to resolve the contradiction between Russian support for Palestines national liberation and opposition to Hamass terrorism  this cant happen, the sources say, before the presidential election in March, and the success of the Russian military offensive in the Ukraine by then too.

Theres nothing new here. Putin is following the old Soviet line on exercising the greatest possible caution towards the frightful collisions which Stalins famous speech on revolution and tactics spelled out a century ago.
AI is a tempting proposition for businesses of all sizes, promising efficiency, productivity, and cost savings. But behind the shiny veneer of AI technology is a stark reality:

Australian businesses are losing money due to poor integration and digitisation.

Its something that big organisations and government departments arent immune to either.

One of the big four banks rolled out a new AI-powered fraud detection system in 2017. The system flagged legitimate transactions as fraudulent, which resulted in the embarrassing situation of many customers having their accounts locked. The financial institution was forced to withdraw the system and issue refunds to affected customers.

In 2018, a major telecommunications company launched a chatbot to assist customers. The chatbot provided inaccurate and misleading information to customers, and the company was forced to withdraw the initiative and apologise to its customers.

In 2019, the federal government launched an AI-powered tax chatbot, called RoboChat, that was unable to answer basic tax questions accurately. They were forced to withdraw the chatbot and issue an apology.

While youd be challenged to locate the exact financial costs of these missteps, the damage to customer confidence and trust, and the costs to fix the erroneous systems, have an enduring impact on consumer confidence.

Theres a multitude of reasons for the shortfall, including the challenges posed by disjointed digital systems and incorrect use, as well as implementation and integration.

Implementation and Integration

A 2022 study has found that many Aussie businesses are losing money on AI integration.

The study, conducted by MYOB, found that Australian businesses are wasting an estimated $1.4 billion each year on unused digital tools, including AI solutions. Additionally, 27% of Australian SMEs have experienced costs blowing out due to disconnected digital tools, including AI solutions.

There are a number of reasons why Aussie businesses are losing money on AI integration. One of them is that businesses are investing in AI solutions without fully understanding their needs or how to use the technology effectively. This can lead to unused or underused AI solutions, which is a waste of money.

Commonly, IT projects are approached as siloed, one-off opportunities to fine tune a specific business process or function. Maybe its the introduction of a conversational AI tool to improve frontline customer support functions, or the development of credit decisioning solution to build out a digital payments infrastructure; whatever the specific use case, projects approaching a singular vision to make one part of the business faster or more efficient are ineffective because they simply arent robust enough to leverage change across the entire organisation. IT leaders need to focus on projects that have the potential to transform legacy business and IT processes into a fully synchronised, smart workflow.

Integration and implementation of AI can be expensive, with Aussie businesses spending an average of $3.56 million on custom AI integration per year. Costs associated can be purchasing software, hardware, and infrastructure, and hiring AI professionals to manage your systems. Substantial financial losses can occur when businesses fail to budget appropriately for a seamless transition.

Disconnected and Legacy Systems

Another common reason for AI integration failure identified is when businesses do not properly integrate their AI tools with their existing business systems. This causes ineffective and/or duplicated efforts and work. It also makes it difficult to track the ROI of AI investments.

Recent research by IBM suggests the average cost of bad digitisation for businesses is $2.2 trillion per year globally. Alarmingly, its expected to rise, as we move forward and businesses become even more reliant on AI and other innovative digital technologies. The MYOB study supports this, as a staggering 59% of Australian SMEs report experiencing bad digitisation because their various digital and AI tools operate in silos.

The principal risks and costs, over and above not getting the full benefits of digital and AI investments that were highlighted, include:

Lost productivity as employees manually handle and transfer data between disconnected systems.

Increased costs due to duplication of work and efforts.

Reduced customer satisfaction from clunky experiences, leading to loss of business.

Increased security vulnerabilities.

Increased errors, as when AI isnt integrated correctly, it cant access all the data required for accurate assessment.

Research also confirmed that 70% of Australian SMEs have trouble understanding how their business is performing due to fragmented systems, and only 27% have a clear ROI plan for their AI investments.

While the financial cost can be significant, businesses that are unsuccessful in integrating AI can also lose tens of thousands of dollars by missing out on the competitive advantages that AI can offer.

Subscription Chaos

Research has also identified that Aussie businesses are paying for AI and digital subscriptions, but then not integrating them into their company tools in a seamless way, which means in some cases they are not using them at all.

42% of Australian businesses admit they have given up using some digital business solutions due to their inefficiencies, but are still paying for them.

When you consider the fact that Aussie SMEs spend around 25% more on software subscriptions than the average households $700 annual spend on streaming services, its a significant deficit in cash flow that could be going to other areas of the business. IT Brief Australia reports that around 12% of business owners estimated that cancelling unused software applications could save them up to $1,200 per year, with 9% doubling that estimate.

Lack of Education and Training

A 2023 survey by the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) revealed that 54% of Aussie businesses believe the lack of AI skills is their biggest obstacle to AI adoption.

McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) went as far as reporting that Aussie businesses are losing out on up to $25 billion per annum in productivity due to the AI skill shortage.

Many companies utilise ChatGPT, and interestingly, 77% of millennials and Gen Z say they use it. Its important to note the generational differences for adoption of the large-language model, with only 50% of Gen X and 30% of Baby Boomers using it.

However, its the more mature generations, who arent digital natives, that are more likely to use ChatGPT for business purposes, such as providing customer service, streamlining operations, and developing new products and services. This makes a more pressing argument for businesses to invest in AI education and training for their staff  or risk falling behind competition, and losing out on the benefits that AI can offer their business.

Importantly, many experts identify that its advisable to include a budget of 10-20% of the total integration cost for staff training and support in AI tools and processes.

Reducing The Loss and Maximising the Benefits of AI

AI custom integration and implementation expenditure will vary based on business size, intricacy, the solutions adopted, and the degree of customisation required. Some other factors affecting the price tag are chatbot integration, CRM integration, and custom AI developments.

There are a number of things that Aussie businesses can do to avoid losing money on AI integration. These include:

Carefully assess needs and choose the right AI solutions for the business. Not all AI solutions are created equal. It is important to carefully assess needs and select AI solutions that are specifically designed to address business challenges.

Work with a qualified AI consultant. Experienced AI consultants help choose the right AI solutions for specific businesses and ensure that they are properly integrated with existing business systems.

Develop a clear plan for measuring the ROI of your AI investments. Having a plan enables you to track progress and make necessary adjustments.

Invest in training employees on how to use AI tools effectively. AI is only as effective as the people who work with it. Investment in training people to use AI tools effectively ensures you get the most out of the AI systems.

In addition to the recommendations above, Aussie businesses can also start with small AI projects and gradually scale up as they gain experience and expertise, and see a healthy ROI for the efforts. Using cloud-based AI solutions can also reduce the upfront costs.

AIs potential for financial losses in Australian businesses is substantial but not insurmountable.

To truly harness the potential of these tech and AI investments, companies must tackle all interrelated functions, intertwining customer engagement, data collection, analytics, and digital operations to reshape the entire workflow from initial customer queries to sales, marketing, product development, and all other facets of the business. By adopting this holistic approach, businesses can achieve more.

AI technology investment is fundamentally reliant on data as its cornerstone. Our international collaborations with clients emphasise that data stands as the essential foundation underpinning all major initiatives poised to define success in the forthcoming decade within the AI landscape. Data not only fuels the development of advanced analytics solutions but also acts as the clandestine formula driving digital transformation and proficient operations management.

Companies must approach AI integration with caution, prioritising strategic planning, education, and effective integration to benefit the entire business, not just one aspect of their operations or functionality. Additionally, government regulation is essential to ensure responsible AI adoption and protect businesses from unnecessary financial losses. By effectively integrating AI technology and following sound digital transformation practices, businesses can turn potential losses into lasting gains.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Mike Adams announces breakthrough AI project that will bypass Big Tech censorship for health, nutrition and natural medicine

In 120 days, or not later than the end of March 2024, an open-source, freely downloadable and locally run large language model (LLM) system that will use artificial intelligence tools will be launched. Said repository of natural health, nutrition, herbs, alternative medicine and modalities, disease prevention as well as mind, body and energy medicine information will be easily accessed in a user-friendly interface, without the need to go online. Thus, content is less likely manipulated, controlled and censored by Big Tech, Big Government and Big Pharma.

Brighteon and Natural News founder Mike Adams announced this game-changer news in a recent episode of the "Health Ranger Report." "We have begun a project to build an AI chatbot, similar to chat GPT that is based on open-source systems that have matured substantially over the last two years," he said. The data will be compiled from millions of documents that his team has acquired over the years, written by over 1000 authors. "And you will be able to get answers to questions right there as if you were talking to the expert authors of this content," he told his podcast listeners.

He went on to point out that what he is building is far different from Google and other search engines, which are for the eradication of human knowledge. "A search engine doesn't really answer that question. It only gives you a list of pages where you might go and perhaps you'll find the answers there. But as you know, Google, Bing and even the other search engines wiped out the truth about health, nutrition and alternative medicine as they basically just push Big Pharma now," he noted. The award-winning independent journalist also stated that search engines are designed to destroy knowledge and not to index it and make it available. "Google is controlled by the deep state, just as Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a tool of the CIA to control the public narratives about everything that matters and about all the people that matter," he added highlighting that sites like these cannot be relied on to give access to information that can protect and enhance the quality of life.

Another platform that Adams has built was Decentralize.TV, wherein he hosts a show that talks about decentralization as the answer to setting humanity free and democratizing knowledge and information, money and finance, power speech and even health. "Centralization has put too much power in the hands of too few people and it has given Google search engine 98 percent dominance or something close to that," he noted. (Related: Google unveils new "fact-checking tools" meant to censor and keep independent media out of search results.)

Also, he raised how his new offline platform is going to bypass censorship and other entities that could be violating one's privacy. "Censorship is not the way forward. If you want to have prosperity, ingenuity, innovation, creativity, ideas, debates and democracy, it has to be based on the freedom to speak. And the ability to speak has to be powered by the ability to access knowledge," Adams added. "The push for censorship right now is very loud and strong all over the world. You have to censor anybody who says anything critical about vaccines and you have to censor anybody calling to stop the bombing in Gaza. It's just crazy. That just makes us less free," he further emphasized.

Tech should adjust to users' way of researching, Adams says

Fifteen years ago, Adams created the website NutrientReference.com, because it has been his long-term dream to build a system that would provide all the information everyone needs to live a healthy life.

"I built this system back in 2007 or 2008, as what would now be described as a kind of a large language model. Basically, it was a language processing system that I personally wrote the code for," he recalled, adding that the system was actually written inside Microsoft Visual Basic inside an enterprise SQL system, where he analyzed the text of over 1000 books that his team scanned. They used the text to begin parsing the language of different things out of the text.

"For example, I generated a list of what are all the known nutrients. And then there's another list of what are all the known diseases and symptoms and another list of what are all the known organs or organ systems. And then I defined those and wrote this very complex system to go in and statistically, begin to link nutrients with diseases and so on," he explained. He ended up publishing a system that analyzes all PubMed papers. However, the site did not gain much attention as people didn't really find much value in it. According to him, it doesn't work in the way that people like to ask questions.

"People don't actually like to drill down through hierarchical datasets in order to find answers. Most people just want to ask questions in a common language, he said. In the years since then, he has seen a revolution in AI systems, and more recently, ChatGPT.

And so he tapped the said "future technology," only he's going to make it based on open sources. "The bottom line is I want you to have all this knowledge at your fingertips. And you will, you will be able to install this and download it and run it on your own local computer," the Health Ranger concluded.

Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" below, where Mike Adams announced the soon-to-be-launched free AI open-source health data repository.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources for this article include:

Brighteon.com

Decentralize.tv

NutrientReference.com
Al Gore says people having access to non-mainstream information threatens democracy

Al Gore says that people having access to information outside of mainstream media sources is a threat to democracy and that social media algorithms ought to be banned.

(Article by Paul Joseph Watson republished from Modernity.news)

Yes, really.

Gore made the comments during an appearance at the Cop28 climate change hysteria conference in Dubai.

AL GORE - At COP28. Listen carefully. He says Democracy is under threat because citizens are no longer all getting the same print news (propaganda) Algorithms (that governments cant control) are threatening democracy. Its like he thinks we are stupid or insane  oh pic.twitter.com/aQe41iOhNY  Elander & the News (@ElanderNews) December 7, 2023

Gore whined that social media had disrupted the balances that used to exist that made representative democracy work much better.

The former Vice President said that functioning democracy relied on a shared base of knowledge that serves as a basis for reasoning together collectively but that social media that is dominated by algorithms upsets this balance.

According to Gore, people are being pulled down rabbit holes by algorithms that are the digital equivalent of AR-15s  they ought to be banned, they really ought to be banned!

Gore claimed, Its an abuse of the public forum and that people were being sucked into echo chambers.

If you spend too much time in the echo chamber, whats weaponized is another form of AI, not artificial intelligence, artificial insanity! Im serious! he added.

Apparently, the only echo chamber that should be allowed to exist is Gores own rabbit hole, wherein the earth is constantly on the brink of destruction thanks to people not obeying his technocratic mandates.

Perhaps Gore is unhappy at his own misinformation being fact checked by individuals who have access to information not produced by corporate media sources that are friendly to him.

Gore infamously predicted that the north polar ice cap would be ice free within 5 to 7 years.

It never happened.

As Thomas Cartenacci documents, Gore has a storied history of making climate change predictions that turn out to be spectacularly wrong.

No wonder he wants to ban dissent.

Read more at: Modernity.news
Polish book: British special forces are embedded with Ukrainian troops fighting Russia

A newly published Polish book authored by journalist Zbigniew Parafianowicz revealed that elite British special forces were secretly deployed to the warzone with Ukrainian soldiers, without informing the U.K. Parliament.

Parafianowicz was the Ukraine correspondent for the Polish daily Dziennik Gazeta Prawna (DGP). His book, "Polska na Wojnie" ("Poland at War"), examined Warsaw's role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

According to an article on Declassified, an unnamed Polish government minister shared his experience to Parafianowicz when the official was traveling from Kyiv to Zhytomyr in March 2022.

"It was a time when the Russians were still standing in Bucha, and the route was a gray zone. It was possible to run into Russians. We passed the last checkpoint. The Ukrainians told us that we continue at our own risk." "Well, and who did we meet next? Ukrainian soldiers and  British special forces. Uniformed. With weapons," the official told Parafianowicz, adding that the British soldiers moved with the Ukrainians in trucks and off-road vehicles with artillery radars and that they were tracking targets. "They were learning about this war. Such radar tracks where mortar or rocket shells fall and are fired."

The U.K.'s Ministry of Defense (MoD) has only confirmed that soldiers have been in Ukraine since the invasion to protect the British embassy. In mid-April 2022, the Times reported that British special forces had trained local troops in Kyiv for the first time since the war with Russia began. But the latest expose only proved that U.K. soldiers were embedded with the local troops and took part in an operation  not just in training. After a year, Declassified revealed that 50 elite British troops were in Ukraine, citing a leaked U.S. intelligence file. The U.K. contingent was three times larger than any other ally. Among those who claimed to have been trained by U.K. special forces was Daniil Lyashuk, who had previously been convicted of torture by a Ukrainian court.

Parafianowicz mentioned in his book that the British and the Ukrainians worked together, driving around the countryside with artillery tracking radars, "learning about this war." According to him, the Polish official also said their special forces based in Lublin had been in the Kyiv suburb of Brovary on the first day of the hostilities. As per the author, Britain's Special Air Service (SAS) had trained President Vladimir Zelensky's security detail as well.

A high-ranking Polish officer also said these commandos did not return to Poland, but "went in the opposite direction" in areas controlled by Ukrainians. "They cooperated with the British," the officer claimed. "Later, we worked out a formula for our presence in Ukraine. We were simply sent on paid leave. Politicians pretended not to see this."

Parafianowicz's book also corroborated previous media reports about North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) commandos fighting alongside Ukrainian troops. In April 2022, the French daily paper Le Figaro claimed that SAS and Delta Force operators had waged a "secret war" on behalf of Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's military operation. Last December, a British military publication admitted that up to 300 Royal Marines had been deployed to Ukraine for "discrete operations."

Poland and Ukraine now having a relationship crisis

Like the Americans and British, Poles had also been training the Ukrainian special forces since 2014. And ever since the war with Russia began in February 2022, Poland has been a staunch ally of its southeastern neighbor. However, reports claim that cracks are beginning to show in this previously strong bond.

According to Polish Ukraine expert Krzysztof Nieczypor of the Center for Eastern Studies (OSW) in Warsaw, the view of Poland's role is becoming increasingly negative in Ukraine. He told news outlet DW that based on his observations during his trip to Kyiv recently, Poland is being seen as skeptical about the accession of Ukraine to the European Union.

Nieczypor believes this negative view is due to the embargo on Ukrainian grain imposed by Poland's outgoing right-wing Law and Justice Party (PiS) government and the ongoing blockade of border crossings by Polish truckers. (Related: As the EU's Ukraine grain ban ends, longtime ally Poland blasts Zelensky for trying to flood Europe with cheap grain and produce, driving farmers out of business.)

Also, Nieczypor thinks the situation at the border between the two countries is seen in a negative light because the Polish transport companies' protests are blocking the transportation of all goods, including fuels, which are of huge importance during war.

UkraineWitness.com has more stories about Ukraine.

Watch the video below that talks about NATO cutting off weapons supply to Ukraine as Poland accuses Kyiv of committing Nazi war crimes.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

German farmers: Ukraine's accession to the EU would destroy family farming and flood markets with cheap crops.

Secret factory in Poland now repairing Ukrainian armor, artillery and equipment to send it back to the front lines.

Poland threatens to cut off oil exports to major German refinery if Russian state-owned oil company remains a major shareholder.

Sources include:

RT.com

DeclassifiedUK.org

DW.com

Brighteon.com
Christian Zionism harbors a contradiction  genocide cant be reconciled with the teachings of Jesus Christ

Though many fail to recognize it, Christians who unconditionally support the actions and agenda of the Jewish religious sect known as Zionism while also claiming to believe in and embrace the teaching of Jesus Christ are walking contradictions who need to do some serious soul-searching on this important matter.

While the Bible, including Romans 11, explains that God is not yet done with unbelieving Israel, there is a time and a place for all that in the next dispensation. Right now, Christians are to follow Jesus, the Way, who does not advocate for the genocide being perpetrated by the Zionists currently leading Israel.

There will come a time when God returns His focus back to majority-unbelieving Israel to deal with them once the fullness of the gentiles is complete, but that time has not yet come. It is thus erroneous for Christians in the current age of grace to put their full support behind unbelieving Israel's murderous actions against its Palestinian neighbors.

"This makes a problem for the Western governments that pretend to support human rights and to deplore war crimes," writes Paul Craig Roberts about the matter.

"It also makes a problem for American evangelicals known as 'Christian Zionists.' Genocide is not something that can be reconciled with the teachings of Jesus. The evangelicals will have to decide between worshipping Israel and worshipping Jesus."

(Related: Former U.S. government official and Zionist Stuart Seldowitz has been harassing and threatening halal food cart operators in New York City for supporting the Palestinians in Gaza.)

Jesus says love your enemies; Zionists say annihilate them

Even though God is not yet done with unbelieving Israel does not mean that Christians are to treat the Jewish people as better than the Palestinian people or any other people, for that matter.

Acts 10:34 clearly states that God is not a respecter of persons. St. Paul the Apostle also emphasizes in Galatians 3:28 that in Christ Jesus, there is no longer Jew nor Greek, or between Jew nor gentile, the point being that everyone is the same in the church age, and required to go through the same door, Jesus Christ, in order to find salvation.

Conversely, the Zionists march to the beat of their own drum. Their antichrist doctrines run contrary to everything found in the New Testament as instruction for Christians, yet many Christians wrongly put Israel, as it is variously defined, on a pedestal above all.

This is called idolatry because it places Israel above Jesus Himself as the object of worship and esteem. Zionism is also racism because it communicates to the world that Jewish lives are more valuable than Palestinian or Arab lives, which is not what Jesus taught.

Keep in mind that not all Jewish people are Zionists. In fact, many reject Zionism while others have converted to Christianity. The latter are effectively grafted back into the promise, while those who reject Jesus, Jewish or otherwise, have a different thing coming to them.

The situation in Gaza right now is considerably more serious than past incidents involving aggression between Israel and its Palestinian neighbors. Unlike past incidents, this one involves a full-scale genocide of the entire Gaza Strip, which is why it is receiving worldwide attention.

The Christian response, in this writer's review, is to take neither side, but rather to side with the widow, the orphan and the innocents wherever they live, in Israel, Gaza, or elsewhere.

"Not all of Israel is Zionist," Roberts further notes. "Netanyahu has minority support. The outcome could be different for Israel than Netanyahu and his U.S. neoconservative allies intended."

The Jewish-Palestinian conflict dates back centuries. Learn more at CultureWars.news.

Sources for this article include:

PaulCraigRoberts.org

BlueLetterBible.org

NaturalNews.com

BlueLetterBible.org

BlueLetterBible.org
Gene-edited humans? First CRISPR-based gene therapy gets approved for clinical use in the U.K.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has just approved the world's first CRISPR-based gene therapy for clinical use to treat inherited blood disorders in the United Kingdom.

Gene therapy for inherited blood disorders

The exa-cel (short for exagamglogene autotemcel) therapy, which goes by the brand name Casgevy, is based on the gene-editing tool CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), which was first reported in 2012 in the journal Science. This innovation won scientists Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

After rigorous assessment of exa-cel's effectiveness, quality and safety, Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics received regulatory approval for its use in treating patients aged 12 and older with sickle-cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder caused by a mutation in beta-globin -- a component of hemoglobin -- that leads to the formation of a faulty hemoglobin called hemoglobin S. Hemoglobin S changes red blood cells into rigid, sickle-shaped cells. Particularly common among people with African or Caribbean family backgrounds, sickle cell disease is an incredibly debilitating condition that leads to anemia (abnormally low red blood cells or hemoglobin) and causes severe pain and serious, life-threatening infections.

Beta-thalassemia is a rarer blood disorder also passed down from parent to child wherein the body doesnt make as much beta-globin. Mainly affecting people of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Southeast Asian origin, patients with beta-thalassemia need a blood transfusion every three to five weeks to remove diseased blood cells and replace them with healthy ones.

MHRA Interim Executive Director Julian Beach said: "The MHRA will continue to closely monitor the safety and effectiveness of Casgevy, through real-world safety data and post-authorization safety studies being carried out by the manufacturer. I would like to thank the patients with lived experiences who engaged with us as part of the assessment process and gave us valuable insight into their lives and the challenges of managing their condition.

How exa-cel works

Exa-cel (Casgevy) highly depends on the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology, which involves three steps  recognition, cleavage (splitting or slicing apart) and repair -- and is administered during a one-time infusion.

The first step of the therapy for patients with inherited blood disorders involves the collection of blood-producing stem cells from the patients bone marrow. Those cells are then edited in a lab using the gene-editing tool CRISPR.

The system uses short synthetic stretches of guide RNA to direct Cas9 enzymes to target a gene called BL11A. Once in place, Cas9 cleaves (splits or slices apart) the DNA three bases from the end of the target sequence, allowing for a precise replacement, deletion or insertion of new genomic material. (Related: Mad scientists to fall back on "CRISPR off switch" in case human gene editing goes horribly wrong.)

Patients must then undergo a risky "conditioning treatment" called "myeloablative conditioning" to prepare the bone marrow before the modified cells are infused back into them.

Patients may need to spend at least a month in a hospital while the treated cells take up residence in the bone marrow and start to make red blood cells with the stable form of hemoglobin.

Concerns raised

In December, federal regulators in the U.S. are poised to approve that same exa-cel treatment for sickle cell disease and thalassemia approved in the U.K., reported Childrens Health Defense.

In a statement released last Oct 26, the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) raised valid concerns about the accessibility of exa-cel and the potential adverse effects.

How effective is it? The SCDAA said, "More years of follow-up will be needed to show whether exa-cel will also reduce the organ damage caused by sickle cell disease. Can the stem cells treated with exa-cel continue to produce non-sickling red blood cells for the rest of the persons life, or will the stem cells die off over a certain number of years?"

"Currently, the treatment requires chemotherapy, which means there are also concerns about chemotherapy-associated complications, such as infertility or secondary cancer."

How accessible is it? The SCDAA said, "The high cost of gene therapy and eligibility restrictions are two of the main barriers we anticipate."

"Gene therapy treatments are produced through expensive, highly technical processes. The cost estimates are $2 million and up. The high price tags may be worthwhile, but FDA-approved high-cost medications come with insurance barriers and rules that are not evidence-based."

"Additionally, a large portion of the population will not be eligible for the treatment, including individuals with "hemoglobin sickle C" (Hb S/C), which represents a third of U.S. population. We need to be careful [so] that increasing the accessibility of gene therapy doesnt reduce the accessibility of other sickle cell treatment options."

But most importantly, experts have raised concerns about the safety of gene therapy. Earlier studies have shown that gene therapy comes with serious health risks, such as toxicity, inflammation and cancer. The National Institutes of Health also lists allergic reactions and tissue or organ damage as potential health risks, especially if an injection is involved, as proven by the serious injuries caused by the mRNA COVID vaccines.

Watch the following video about ethical issues related to CRISPR gene editing technology.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Gene editing industry officials lobbying to take power to regulate away from FDA, says report.

Controversial gene-editing procedure to fight AIDS is again being considered by scientists, despite disastrous results a decade ago.

CRISPR gene editing found to cause hundreds of "unintended mutations," warn scientists.

CRISPR gene editing may wipe out human geniuses and dumb down human civilization to conforming average.

Sources include:

Gov.uk

Science.org

Forbes.com

NHLBI.NIH.gov 1

LifeWithBetathal.com

ScienceDirect.com

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

SickleCellDisease.org

MedlinePlus.gov

NHLBI.NIH.gov 2

Brighteon.com
Diversity hire Harvard president Claudine Gay plagiarized PhD dissertation: report

It has been revealed by Christopher Rufo and Chris Brunet that Harvard University president Claudine Gay plagiarized sections of her PhD disertation. These revelations come after Gay defended antisemitism on campus after having condemned so-called misgendering and failure to use preferred pronouns.

(Article by Libby Emmons republished from ThePostMillenial.com)

Rufo and Brunet reported unequivocally that Gay's dissertation in defense of her doctoral degree "Taking Charge: Black Electoral Success and the Redefinition of American Policies," published in 1997, "contains at least three problematic patterns of usage and citation." They found that her disertation lifted "an entire paragraph nearly verbatim" from a previous paper from authors Lawrence Bobo and Franklin Gilliam called "Race, Sociopolitical Participation, and Black Empowerment."

EXCLUSIVE: @RealChrisBrunet and I have obtained documentation demonstrating that Harvard President Claudine Gay plagiarized multiple sections of her Ph.D. thesis, violating Harvard's policies on academic integrity. This is a bombshell. ?  Christopher F. Rufo ?? (@realchrisrufo) December 10, 2023

"Shocker," Elon Musk replied to Rufo.

Rufo and Brunet note that while she cites those authors and their paper, "she uses their verbatim language, with a few trivial synonym substitutions, without providing quotation marks." This, they say, violates Harvard's policy on plagiarism, as does her further use of language from Richard Shingles, Susan Howell, and Deborah Fagan, as well as additional material from Dr. Carol Swain, and Gary King.

Swain responded to the allegations that Gay had plagiarized her work, saying "I just learned of @realchrisrufo analysis of #ClaudineGays work and the allegations of plagiarism. I have not read the articles or books in question. However, two things come to mind: imitation is said to be the highest form of flattery and secondly Dr. Gays committee, reviewers, and colleagues should have caught these alleged transgressions. I will issue a statement after I have more information. Right now it seem like she is a victim of the 'Adversity of Diversity.'"

I just learned of @realchrisrufo analysis of #ClaudineGays work and the allegations of plagiarism. I have not read the articles or books in question. However, two things come to mind: imitation is said to be the highest form of flattery and secondly Dr. Gays committee, pic.twitter.com/0388xnHqSi  Dr. Carol M. Swain (@carolmswain) December 11, 2023

This, Rufo shows, is a further violation of Harvard's policy against "verbatim plagiarism." He calls for an investigation into Gay's work by Harvard's Board of Overseers and for Gay to resign, or be voted out by the board.

Bill Ackman, a major Harvard donor who has since stopped giving money to the school and has spoken out against Gay and the antisemitism at the school said that he had spoken to a senior faculty member at the school who said that yes, the allegation of plagiarism were "credible." Earlier in the week, Bill Ackman claimed that Gay was a "diversity hire," saying that he "learned from someone with first-person knowledge of the Harvard president search that the committee would not consider a candidate who did not meet the DEI offices criteria."

I asked a senior member of the @Harvard faculty to examine the below allegations of plagiarism against President Gay. The faculty member found them to be credible. https://t.co/Y7LdeuxODR  Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) December 11, 2023

She testified before Congress on Tuesday and was asked by Rep. Elise Stefanik "you are president of Harvard so I assume you are familiar with the term 'Intifada,' correct?" Gay confirmed she'd heard the term.

"And you understand that the use of the term 'intifada' in the context of the Israeli-Arab conflict is indeed a call for violent armed resistance against the State of Israel, including violence against civilians and the genocide of Jews. Are you aware of that?" Stefanik asked.

"That type of hateful speech is personally abhorrent to me," Gay said.

"And there have been multiple marches at Harvard with student chanting 'There is only one solution. Intifada revolution' and 'Globalize the Intifada,' is that correct?" Stefanik asked, referencing the numerous anti-Israel marches, rallies and protests that have taken place on the Harvard campus following the brutal massacre of Israelis by Hamas on October 7.

"Ive heard that thoughtless, reckless, and hateful language on our campus, yes," Gay said.

"So based upon your testimony, you understand that this call for intifada is to commit genocide against the Jewish people in Israel and globally, correct?" Stefanik asked.

Gay refused to answer the question, saying "I will say again, that type of hateful speech is personally abhorrent to me."

Do you believe that type of hateful speech is contrary to Harvards Code of Conduct or is it allowed at Harvard?" Stefanik pressed.

"It is at odds with the values of Harvard," Gay waffled.

"Can you not say here that it is against the Code of Conduct at Harvard?" Stefanik asked.

We embrace a commitment to free expression even of views that are objectionable, offensive, hateful - its when that speech crosses into conduct that violates our policies against bullying, harassment, intimidation" Gay said.

"Does that speech not cross that barrier? Does that speech not call for the genocide of Jews and the elimination of Israel? You testified that you understand that that is the definition of intifada. Is that speech according to the Code of Conduct or not?" Stefanik asked.

"We embrace a commitment to free expression and give a wide berth to free expression even of views that are objectionable, outrageous and offensive," Gay said.

"You and I both know that that is not the case," Stefanik said. "You are aware that Harvard ranked dead last when it came to free speech, are you not aware of that report?"

"As Ive observed earlier," Gay said, "I reject that characterization of our campus.'

Gay later apologized for her remarks and refusal to condemn antisemitism or calls for a Jewish genocide, telling the school newspaper "I am sorry. Words matter. When words amplify distress and pain, I don't know how you could feel anything but regret."

Gay claimed that she "got caught up in what had become at that point, an extended, combative exchange about policies and procedures."

University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill testified in a similar manner and later resigned under pressure as a result of her remarks.

Read more at: ThePostMillenial.com
Israel warns Hamas sleeper cells could be activated to launch terror attacks across Europe this Christmas

Undercover Hamas networks operating across Europe could be activated to carry out terror attacks all over the continent this Christmas.

This is according to the Israeli government, which sent a letter to around 20 European leaders warning them of possible Hamas sleeper cells in their countries.

According to the letter, sent to European leaders by the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, Hamas allegedly has a "complex network of hatred operating in many countries, including Western and highly democratic ones." (Related: Israel KNEW about Hamas' attack plan more than a year before Oct. 7 massacre but failed to act on it.)

The Israelis further warned that Hamas operatives and their sympathizers all over Europe are active and alleged that their activity "has already yielded results and produced consequences."

"Weeks have passed since the barbarism that Hamas committed against infants, children, the elderly and thousands of Israeli citizens," said Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party. "This is not the time for ambiguity. I want to clarify this unequivocally. Hamas has proven that their goal is to kill Jews everywhere."

"Unfortunately, Hamas' bloodlust is not limited to Israel and Jews but also extends to Europe and Christians," said Chikli. "I want to remind you that, in the past, Hamas members expressed the Islamic intention to conquer Europe."

The Diaspora Affairs Ministry's letter was sent to leaders in Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom, and to representatives of the European Union.

Hamas allegedly infiltrating humanitarian organizations

According to Tzur Bar-Oz, the Diaspora Affairs Ministry's head of research, Hamas has allegedly been operating with covert agents all over the world for years, with many of these agents successfully infiltrating humanitarian organizations and diverting aid donations to the pockets of Hamas.

"This phenomenon must be uprooted and eradicated as soon as possible," said Bar-Oz. "This activity has already yielded results and produced consequences."

As evidence of Hamas's alleged activities all over the world, Chikli's ministry alleged that calls for violence against Jews worldwide have increased by as much as 120 percent since Oct. 7.

Furthermore, Chikli's appeal also included alleged evidence of Hamas activities, including social media posts supposedly praising Hamas.

One example included the activities of Mohammed Ahmed Hanon, a resident of Italy and head of the non-profit organization, the Charity Association for Palestinian Support. This charity is supposedly a member of the Union of Good, an umbrella organization of dozens of groups all over the world that allegedly act as charities and humanitarian organizations but, according to Israel, is just a front for Hamas to receive money to purchase weapons.

Another person Israel tagged as a Hamas supporter is Amin Abu Rashad, who was arrested earlier this year for allegedly transferring millions of euros from Europe to Hamas through other charitable organizations.

In Canada, Israel claims that Palestinian-Canadian activist Khaled Barakat is also a terrorist along with his organization, the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network. Israel claims Samidoun is merely a front organization for the People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine, an armed group active in Gaza and the West Bank. Samidoun supposedly assists Palestinian political prisoners, but Israel claims it is an organization that provides legitimacy to Palestinian armed groups.

"We hope that the leaders of the countries understand what Hamas is," claimed Bar-Oz. "And that these are extreme people who pose a threat to citizens worldwide, not just Jews and not just in Israel. We are already seeing a response from certain countries on the ground."

Learn more about terror attacks all over the world at Terrorism.news.

Watch this clip from Southfront Press discussing the rising tensions in the Middle East as Israel renews its attack on Gaza despite raising hopes of peace following a short ceasefire.

This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Bombshell: Israel KNEW of the Hamas attack over a year ago but did nothing to stop it.

DELIBERATE RUSE? Israel surprises Hamas with incursion in southern Gaza despite "strong opposition" from the U.S.  or maybe it has America's blessing all along.

Israel admits its military killed hundreds of Israeli citizens at October 7 music festival, then blamed Hamas.

Israeli experts do not believe Netanyahu can both destroy Hamas and bring the hostages home.

Gaza-based journalists JOINED HAMAS during the Oct. 7 attacks and massacres in Israel.

Sources include:

The-Sun.com

DailyMail.co.uk

JPost.com

Brighteon.com
Political correctness is ruining the pursuit of knowledge

One of the key indicators that a scientific pursuit is legitimate is the unbiased nature of the work. Even if the findings are unpopular or offend some, true science tells it like it.

True science is becoming increasingly rare, though. Political correctness has created a culture of scientific censorship in which truths that upset are suppressed.

In recent years, politically privileged groups (i.e., non-whites and women) have made it increasingly difficult for science and the pursuit of knowledge to continue because there are a lot of ugly truths out there that many do not want to hear.

On the other hand, there is a growing movement that aims to fight back against the stigma surrounding science that offends. Thirty-nine leading academics recently signed on to a paper addressing the problem of scientific censorship.

The lead signatories include University of Pennsylvania behavioral scientist Cory Jane Clark, along with co-authors Gregory Miller, Steven Pinker, Lee Jussim, J. Michael Bailey, David Buss, Glenn Loury, John McWhorter, Wilfred Reilly, Bo M. Winegard and Philip E. Tetlock.

These scientists present various possible explanations for the takeover of science by the censorship brigade. One includes the ever-expanding definitions of "harm" in society, as well as increasing talk and worry about concepts like "equity" and "inclusion," which have taken over the modern lexicon.

"Censorship research typically explores dark psychological underpinnings such as intolerance, authoritarianism, dogmatism, rigidity and extremism," the paper explains. "But censorship can be prosocially motivated."

(Related: Even the banking system has begun discriminating against customers based on their political views.)

Science censors typically think of themselves as the good guys

The way the scientific censors try to justify their actions hinges upon the idea of social justice. If an area of science upsets someone who is "marginalized," for instance, then it is better to avoid publishing it, is the claim.

Rarely do science censors ever stop to reflect on the fact that perhaps truth is more important than feelings, especially when its publishing advances the pursuit of knowledge and understanding about the world and the way it works.

"Censorious scholars often worry that research may be appropriated by malevolent actors to support harmful policies and attitudes," the paper explains. "Both scholars and laypersons report that some scholarship is too dangerous to pursue, and much contemporary scientific censorship aims to protect vulnerable groups."

"In some contemporary Western societies, many people object to information that portrays historically disadvantaged groups unfavorably, and academia is increasingly concerned about historically disadvantaged groups."

Put differently, science censors do what they do because it makes them feel better. They are usually "privileged" themselves and feel guilty about it, which prompts them to extrapolate that guilt onto greater society.

Even though there is pretty much zero evidence to suggest that, say, blacks or transgenders will be harmed by the publishing of truths about high crime rates and high rates of mental illness, respectively, science censors believe it is in the best interests of society to keep a lid on anything that would "offend" these two demographics.

The new paper's conclusion that there should be very clear criteria for government research and science only limits the kind that causes actual harm beyond just a few bruised egos.

"It may be reasonable to consider potential harms before disseminating science that poses a clear and present danger, when harms are extreme, tangible and scientifically demonstrable, such as scholarship that increases risks of nuclear war, pandemics, or other existential catastrophes," the paper states.

"However, the pursuit of knowledge has a strong track record of improving the human condition."

More related news can be found at PoliticalCorrectness.news.

Sources for this article include:

TakiMag.com

PNAS.org

Newstarget.com
For small businesses, managing money wisely is crucial. Imagine it like navigating through a maze of challenges.

The big obstacles are things like insurance, energy costs, and taxesstuff every business has to deal with. Its a tricky balance between spending smart and growing steadily.

According to a report in December 2023 about businesses in New South Wales, many owners find these challenges pretty tough. About 76% of them feel that things like insurance, energy bills, and taxes make it hard for their profits to grow. And for 61% of them, these expenses stop their businesses from growing.

Weve gathered steps to help SMEs save money on insurance, energy, and taxes. These straightforward strategies, accompanied by useful links, can improve efficiency, cut expenses, and build a stronger, more sustainable business.

Lets take a closer look at the steps and resources that can help SMEs to optimize their finances.

Insurance

1. Conduct a Risk Assessment:

Step: Utilize the free Business Risk Assessment Tool provided by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO): https://asbfeo.gov.au/resources-tools-centre/disaster-preparation

Utilize the free Business Risk Assessment Tool provided by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO): https://asbfeo.gov.au/resources-tools-centre/disaster-preparation Action: Identify key risks specific to your industry and location. https://business.gov.au/risk-management/risk-assessment-and-planning/assess-and-manage-risk

2. Compare Quotes:

Step: Use the Compare Insurance Quotes tool on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) website: https://moneysmart.gov.au/how-life-insurance-works/life-insurance-claims-comparison-tool

Use the Compare Insurance Quotes tool on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) website: https://moneysmart.gov.au/how-life-insurance-works/life-insurance-claims-comparison-tool Action: Compare quotes from multiple insurers to find the best coverage and price.

3. Consider Bundling Policies:

Step: Contact your current insurance provider or consult an insurance broker.

Contact your current insurance provider or consult an insurance broker. Action: Explore the potential savings of bundling multiple policies, like property and liability insurance.

4. Review Coverage Regularly:

Step: Schedule annual reviews of your insurance policies with your provider or broker.

Schedule annual reviews of your insurance policies with your provider or broker. Action: Adjust your coverage levels based on changes in your business or risk profile.

5. Implement Risk Management Practices:

Step: Utilize resources from the Safe Work Australia website: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/

Utilize resources from the website: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/ Action: Implement safety protocols, training, and maintenance programs to reduce potential accidents and claims.

Energy

1. Audit Your Energy Consumption:

Step: Contact your energy provider or utilize the Energy Saver Tool from the Australian Government:https://www.energy.gov.au/

Contact your energy provider or utilize the Energy Saver Tool from the Australian Government:https://www.energy.gov.au/ Action: Identify areas of high energy usage within your business operations.

2. Invest in Energy-Efficient Equipment:

Step: Explore government rebates and incentives offered by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) :https://www.cefc.com.au/

Explore government rebates and incentives offered by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation :https://www.cefc.com.au/ Action: Upgrade outdated equipment with energy-efficient models to reduce consumption and costs.

3. Implement Energy-Saving Practices:

Step: Encourage employees to turn off lights and electronics when not in use, unplug appliances, and utilize natural daylight.

Encourage employees to turn off lights and electronics when not in use, unplug appliances, and utilize natural daylight. Action: Implement energy-saving measures across your business, including power-saving settings and efficient workflows.

4. Consider Renewable Energy:

Step: Assess rooftop solar panel feasibility through the Solar Homes  Panels for all program:https://www.solar.vic.gov.au/solar-panel-rebate

Assess rooftop solar panel feasibility through the Solar Homes  Panels for all program:https://www.solar.vic.gov.au/solar-panel-rebate Action: Explore renewable energy solutions to cut reliance on the grid and benefit from cost savings and potential government incentives.

Taxes

1. Maintain Accurate Records:

Step: Utilize accounting software or consult with a bookkeeper to ensure meticulous recordkeeping of income and expenses.

Utilize accounting software or consult with a bookkeeper to ensure meticulous recordkeeping of income and expenses. Action: Maintain accurate records throughout the year to facilitate accurate tax reporting and minimize liabilities.

2. Stay Informed:

Step: Regularly visit the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website for updates and information on tax obligations and changes: https://www.ato.gov.au/

Regularly visit the website for updates and information on tax obligations and changes: https://www.ato.gov.au/ Action: Stay informed about relevant tax laws and regulations to comply and avoid penalties.

3. Claim Deductions and Credits:

Step: Utilize the ATO Tax Deductions and Credits Tool: https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/income-deductions-offsets-and-records/deductions-you-can-claim

Utilize the ATO Tax Deductions and Credits Tool: https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/income-deductions-offsets-and-records/deductions-you-can-claim Action: Identify and claim all available deductions and credits to reduce your taxable income.

4. File Taxes on Time:

Step: Utilize the ATO online services : https://my.gov.au/en/about/help/mygov-website/link-services-to-your-account/link-the-australian-taxation-office for convenient and efficient tax filing.

Utilize the : https://my.gov.au/en/about/help/mygov-website/link-services-to-your-account/link-the-australian-taxation-office for convenient and efficient tax filing. Action: File your tax returns promptly to avoid late filing penalties.

5. Consult a Tax Advisor:

Step: Consider seeking professional advice from a qualified tax advisor for personalized strategies and compliance guidance.

Consider seeking professional advice from a qualified tax advisor for personalized strategies and compliance guidance. Action: Leverage expert knowledge to optimize your tax strategy and ensure you benefit from all available options.

Additional Tips

Negotiate with suppliers and vendors for better rates on goods and services.

Outsource non-core functions to save costs and focus on core business activities.

Utilize technology solutions to automate tasks, streamline processes, and improve efficiency.

Business costs are impacting the survival and growth of businesses in NSW, however as the report identifies, the vast majority of NSW Businesses are investing in initiatives to improve productivity, said Reece Ketu, Moneytechs Head of Small Business

The Business NSW report identifies staff training, machinery and equipment, and IT Programs as the top three initiatives NSW businesses invested in to improve productivity over the past 12 months.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Heres more proof that COVID vaccines have killed MILLIONS

New data out of the United States and New Zealand definitively shows that millions of people have died from Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccines."

On average, according to the data, roughly one person dies for every 1,000 doses of COVID shots that are administered. Keep in mind that the two main mRNA (modRNA) COVID jabs from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna come in two doses, which means one person dies out of every 500 people who get the complete double-dose series of those two brands.

For the first time, the newly released data is record-level public health data, meaning it is about as precise a data point as you can get to show, with the most accuracy, just how many people are dying from the shots.

"Privacy is not the reason for this," notes Steve Kirsch about why it has taken this long for record-level public health data to finally be released. "[T]he data can be easily obfuscated (which we did on this data) so that no record entry would match that of any person, living or dead."

"The reason the data is kept secret is simple: It would expose the fact that the COVID vaccines are unsafe, as well as all the vaccines that I have been able to get record-level data on."

(Related: In the past year, more than 90 percent of all "COVID" deaths occurred in people who were either fully or triple jabbed.)

Roughly 675,000 Americans have died from COVID jabs so far

Kirsch obtained New Zealand's record-level public health data from "courageous whistleblowers," he says, who work at the New Zealand Ministry of Health. Recognizing that there is a problem with the jabs, these whistleblowers released the data from a large population of all ages to help further efforts to get the truth out about just how deadly these shots really are.

The following video, entitled "M.O.A.R. (Mother of All Revelations)," explains more about the leak, (The video was also shared to YouTube but was deleted by the Google-owned platform almost immediately.):

Kirsch created a series of slides explaining the data in much further detail. There is also a PDF version of the slides that is also available that is searchable and also allows for copying and pasting text.

The United States data came from Medicare, and Kirsch says he also has another undisclosed source of the U.S. data that he is not yet choosing to disclose.

"All the data in the data-transparency bucket is sanitized," Kirsch says. "Any matches to actual records [are] completely accidental."

"The data was sanitized in a way that preserves the statistics. We ran the bucket analysis on the original and obfuscated data and got nearly identical results. There is no reason any health authority couldn't do the same thing we did."

Kirsch was asked by the whistleblower who provided him with this groundbreaking data to keep it confidential until November 30. This was to allow the whistleblower time to work out the logistics of how to best make the data public.

Kirsch also notes that the New Zealand data is not perfect in that it is not a complete sample. Some of the people included were only recorded starting at their third dose, and only vaccinated people are included in the database.

"There is no possible way that this data is consistent with a safe vaccine," Kirsch writes. "I estimated that the vaccine killed, on average, about 1 person per 1,000 doses. That means an estimated 675,000 Americans were killed by the COVID vaccines."

You can keep up with the latest news about the fallout from Operation Warp Speed at Genocide.news.

Sources for this article include:

KirschSubstack.com

NaturalNews.com

Google.com

SKirsch.com
EXPERTS: Putin wants to keep Ukraine out of NATO, not conquer it

The Western media has been working up the narrative that Russian President Vladimir Putin is just a power-crazed imperialist who wants to invade Ukraine and the surrounding countries to reestablish the Soviet Empire in Europe.

In fact, a CNN article dated June 11, 2022, said: "By summoning the memory of Peter the Great, it also becomes clear that Putins aims are driven by some sense of historical destiny. And Putin's project of imperial restoration could  in theory  extend to other territories that once belonged to the Russian Empire or the Soviet Union, something that should raise alarms in all the countries that emerged from the collapse of the USSR."

This did not sit well with the daily news and opinion site LewRockwell.com, which proved this to be untrue. According to the site, Russia started the conflict with Ukraine without an invasion objective, but a limited tactical intrusion to bring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's government to the negotiating table and guarantee that Ukraine would not join NATO. It supported this argument by juxtaposing the Russian president's military approach to Ukraine with that of Israel in Gaza.

Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, with some 190,000 troops. Meanwhile, as the Israeli government's response to the October 7 attack by Hamas, it amassed 300,000 troops around the Gaza Strip in anticipation of a ground invasion. The Gaza Strip is a narrow stretch of coastal land with a total area of 141 square miles populated by some 2.2 million people. On the other hand, Ukraine is one big country  the second largest country in Europe after Russia  and runs for 817 miles from west to east and 554 miles from north to south. Its area totals 233,032 square miles and has more than 42 million inhabitants. So, the territory of Ukraine is more than 1600 times larger than that of the Middle East enclave and its population is nearly 20 times more.

The Israelis also gathered 50 percent more troops than Russia to invade a coastal strip whose population is five percent that of Ukraine and whose territory is less than one percent of Ukraine's territory. It mobilized more troops for its invasion of the tiny strip than Putin had gathered for his alleged plan to conquer the second-largest country on the continent as well as the other European nations. Putin's invasion force of fewer than 200,000 soldiers was very small by any measurable standard. If he really wanted to invade Kyiv, he would have to go in with far greater numbers.

"There's no way that an army that had 190,000 troops [at the most] could have conquered all of Ukraine it's just impossible," one of the world's leading foreign policy experts John Mearsheimer stated in the interview below. He added that it would require at least two million troops to conquer and occupy Ukraine.

Russia's hindering Ukraine from joining NATO was confirmed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg who said that just weeks before the invasion, Putin sent the intergovernmental military alliance a draft treaty asking that Ukraine remain neutral. Putin indicated that if this security concern was met, he would not invade. "The background was that President Putin declared in the autumn of 2021, and sent a draft treaty that they wanted NATO to sign, to promise no more NATO enlargement. That was what he sent us. And was a pre-condition to not invade Ukraine. Of course, we didn't sign that."

Moreover, a February 26, 2022 BBC report said that Russia declared that the crisis can only be solved if the West agrees to a list of demands, including a guarantee that Ukraine will never join NATO. However, Putin's legitimate security concerns were dismissed by NATO, so he was left with no choice but to force the issue directly with the Zelensky government.

Western allies would rather sponsor the Ukrainian war than compromise with Putin

The negotiations began after Putin "invaded" Ukraine but the United States government instructed Zelensky to withdraw from the negotiations and promised to supply whatever military assistance was necessary to defeat Russia. Nearly two years after the war erupted, it was revealed that Russia again proposed ending the war in spring 2022 on the condition that Ukraine abandon its NATO aspirations and adopt a neutral stance. (Related: Putin reportedly willing to end war with Ukraine, sit down for PEACE TALKS.)

"They hoped almost to the last that they would put the squeeze on us to sign such an agreement so that we would take neutrality. It was the biggest thing for them," David Arahamiya, leader of the President's Servant of the People party and head of the Ukrainian delegation said in an interview with Ukrainian journalist Natalia Moseychuk. "They were ready to end the war if we took  as Finland once did  neutrality and made commitments that we would not join NATO. This was the key point." But Arakhamia said that it would require a constitutional change, given that Kyiv's Constitution states its intention to become a NATO member. He also said that they did not trust the Russian position and clarified that signing such an agreement without guarantees would have left Ukraine vulnerable to a second incursion.

"They would have come in more prepared, because they came in, in fact, unprepared for such resistance," Arakhamia claimed, adding that while another round of talks was underway in Istanbul, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson unexpectedly came to Kyiv on April 9 and said that Ukraine "shouldn't sign anything with them at all  and let's just fight."

Bookmark UkraineWitness.com for updates on the current situation in the beleaguered nation.

Sources for this article include:

Edition.CNN.com

LewRockwell.com

JeffSachs.org

BBC.com

KyivPost.com
Russian spy chief warns America that Ukraine could become a second Vietnam

The head of Russia's main intelligence service has warned the United States that its continued support for Ukraine would turn the conflict into a "second Vietnam" that would haunt Washington for years to come

Sergey Naryshkin, director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, warned that Ukraine will turn into a "black hole" if the U.S. and Ukraine's other Western allies continue to funnel resources and people into it to support Kyiv's efforts to repel Russia from the country. (Related: Putin reportedly willing to end war with Ukraine, sit down for PEACE TALKS.)

"Ultimately, the U.S. risks creating a 'second Vietnam' for itself, and every new American administration will have to try to deal with it," said Naryshkin.

For decades, the U.S. was engaged in conflicts in Vietnam, first in the form of military aid and advisors and then in the form of sending troops to South Vietnam. The U.S. justified its participation in the conflict due to the desire to stop the spread of communism during the Cold War with the Soviet Union.

The war killed between one to three million people, including nearly 60,000 American combatants, and inevitably ended in a communist victory in 1975. The U.S. spent $168 billion in Vietnam, or more than $1 trillion in today's dollars.

Naryshkin noted that this would be a reversal of the Western world's goal of turning the conflict in Ukraine into a "second Afghanistan" for Russia. Since these Western powers are unable "to achieve military victory" over Moscow, they are instead hoping to exhaust Russia in the "fight of potentials."

Naryshkin predicts Russia will get into further confrontations with Western powers, suggesting that the Cold War-like proxy conflicts the U.S. and its allies are trying to set up all over the world would once again draw in Moscow, possibly in the post-Soviet world and even in North America and the Pacific.

Biden wants to spend another $61 billion on Ukraine

Naryshkin's warning comes as President Joe Biden delivered a stern rebuke to Congress on Dec. 6 to agree to provide approximately $61 billion in additional emergency aid to Ukraine. Biden claims that, if Russia takes over Ukraine, Putin would go on to attack a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which in turn would compel the U.S. to send troops to Europe to defend its allies.

"We can't let Putin win. If Putin takes Ukraine, he won't stop there," alleged Biden. "We'll have something that we don't seek and that we don't have today: American troops fighting Russian troops."

Opposition to providing further aid to Ukraine has grown among Republicans, especially those in the House of Representatives, many of whom believe the U.S.  or rather, the American taxpayer  has already spent far too much for little gain.

"Congress needs to pass supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for the holiday recess, it's as simple as that," said Biden, who accused Republicans of giving Putin "the greatest gift he could hope for" by stalling the effort to provide Kyiv with more assistance.

Learn more about the United States' role in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia at UkraineWitness.com.

Watch this clip of Sergey Naryshkin discussing how Europe has collapsed and is no longer pleasant to visit.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Executive branch warns U.S. is OUT OF MONEY, almost out of time to help Ukraine.

Zelensky ADMITS Ukraine's counteroffensive HAS FAILED.

Ukrainian military rapidly losing manpower as Zelensky regime refuses to negotiate ceasefire with Russia.

Ukrainian frontlines are COLLAPSING, Russian forces ADVANCING on all fronts.

Europe's defense industry unable to achieve Ukraine weapons supply goal: "Unattainable," says German official.

Sources include:

Politico.eu

Reuters.com

TheBalanceMoney.com

Pravda.com.ua

TheHill.com

Brighteon.com
Transgender activists are using the power of the state to enforce their perverse ideology

Under the transgender regime, women must say that men are women. If they do not, they will be punished. That is not hyperbole. It is the state of affairs when transgender premises are incorporated into our criminal justice system. Let me provide a few recent examples.

(Article by Jonathon Van Maren republished from LifeSiteNews.com)

Earlier this year, the famous best-selling French feminist author, journalist, and social media influencer Dora Moutot got hauled into court for the fictitious crime of misgendering a male journalist who identifies as a woman.

That, incidentally, is a perfect microcosm of the gaslighting we are witnessing. Moutot correctly gendered her opponent, by identifying him as a man. But she is being charged with misgendering. The brazenness of the deceit  and the use of the legal system to enforce submission to this deceit  is all part of it. Moutot is being charged for doing the thing she would have been doing had she acceded to their demands.

Moutot isnt the only one. Social worker Louise Chivers of Northamptonshire, a social worker, found herself blacklisted this year for insisting that Dylan Mulvaney is a gay man. The fact that Mulvaney is a man is what makes the process so humiliating. Again, a woman is being told she must live by lies  that she must admit that a man is actually a woman. Because she will not, she must face consequences

Those consequences can be dire. A Norwegian feminist is actually facing jailtime for making a simple, truthful statement to a man insisting he was a woman: You are a man. You cannot be a mother. To normalize the idea that men can be mothers is a defined form of discrimination against women."

Reduxx, an independent news outlet consistently exposing the extremism of the transgender movement, has recently reported a new example. Louise Elliot, a Hobart City Council Member in Tasmania, is being investigated by the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner for the crime of inciting hatred after she stated that trans women are men. The expensive investigation, initiated by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, could order Elliot to publicly apologize to men who identify as women and pay a fine of up to $4,000.

Elliot uttered her heresy at a Let Women Speak demonstration in March, where she gave a speech in which she stated that trans women are trans women and remain biological man, adding that:

While the majority of men are decent, kind and caring people, men present an inherent danger to women. The vast majority of sex offenders and violence perpetrators are men. It is completely understandable that women would want spaces for females only, especially vulnerable spaces like changerooms, toilets, and showers. It is absolute insanity that we have a law that allows a man to at 10 a.m. declare hes a woman and by 11 a.m. be sharing changerooms and showers with young girls.

For that, she received a letter from the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Commissioner (ADC) informing her that they had received a complaint about her statements and had opened an investigation into her activities for inciting hatred under the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act. The unknown complainant also objected to Elliot stating that males in female spaces were uniquely threatening because You cannot be raped with a penis if there is no penis present. Last month, it was ruled that Elliots case will head to a tribunal inquiry.

If it is found that I have incited hatred with these accurate, factual, and true statements, then I wont be standing for that. And I know that the majority of Australians dont believe the truth can be hate. So, we will absolutely be taking it all the way to the High Court, because this is a massive overreach on our implied right to freedom of belief, freedom of expression, political communication, and we need to defend that, Elliot told the press. The threshold for inciting hatred needs to be really high. It cant be just because someone is offended. What really gets me is that its our taxpayer money that is funding this attack on freedom of speech."

Elliot, of course, is being forced to cover her own legal fees to defend herself from this farcical investigation  costs that will likely run to $100,000. She is crowdfunding her support, and is facing harassment from her colleagues and condemnation from politicians  although she says the support from ordinary people is overwhelming. Elliot may not be convicted  but the process is the punishment.

Trans activists insist that misgendering is hateful and must be illegal. The reality, however, is that they are attempting to make misgendering mandatory by forcing people to call men women and vice versa.

Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com
Another PROXY WAR in the works? U.S. shaping the Philippines into the next Ukraine

The U.S. is reportedly shaping the Philippines into the next Ukraine in its fight against China.

"With the rise of China, so too rises Southeast Asia," New Eastern Outlook (NEO) reported. "Southeast Asia has slowly transformed in terms of economics, infrastructure, tourism, industry, and politically over the last two decades as Chinese influence increases and inevitably displaces U.S. influence over the region."

The Philippines is among the nations in the region that would benefit with closer ties to Beijing. But while the rest of its neighbors are embracing ties with China, Manila is doing the opposite. One example NEO cited was the Philippine government's cancellation of several joint railway projects with Beijing.

According to a piece by the Washington-funded outlet BenarNews, the Philippines dropped its funding deal with China for three railway projects. The outlet also noted that Manila will seek out alternative contractors to build the rail projects.

NEO also pointed out that instead of civilian infrastructure, the Philippines has focused on signing military base access agreements with the United States. The Washington Post reported that American forces will be allowed to utilize four new military bases in the country. Reuters meanwhile reported that Manila and Washington have begun talks to develop a port in the northernmost Philippine province of Batanes  which is less than 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Taiwan.

"While the U.S. justifies its growing military presence in the Philippines by citing maritime disputes in the South China Sea, it should be noted that maritime disputes are common both around the world  and particularly in Southeast Asia. [Even though] these disputes become somewhat heated, they are always resolved bilaterally all while nations in the region, including China, maintain otherwise constructive and even close economic and diplomatic ties," NEO noted.

"Thus, the US is using common maritime disputes as a pretext to insert itself militarily into the region, attempting to escalate ordinary disputes into a regional or even global crisis. In reality, the U.S. is building up its military presence not to defend its supposed allies, but to encircle and contain China while transforming host nations into battering rams against China."

America still controls the Philippines

"In terms of political capture, the Philippines represents one of Washington's success stories. [By means of] enduring U.S. influence, Washington has convinced Manila to forego the benefits of trade and economic development together with China and the rest of Asia in exchange for positioning itself as Southeast Asia's 'Ukraine,'" NEO continued. (Related: America could turn the Philippines into the next Ukraine in proxy war with China.)

"Just as Kyiv attempted to convince the Ukrainian people that the West would provide a superior substitute for the nation's long-standing ties with Russia only to instead find itself abandoned at the end of a self-destructive proxy war, Manila is likewise attempting to convince the people of the Philippines that the U.S., Australia and Japan will provide better alternatives to Chinese-driven trade, economic progress, and infrastructure development. In reality, all the U.S. is building in the Philippines are military bases meant to drag both it and the region into greater instability, economic stagnation and possibly even war."

According to NEO, America's political capture of the Philippines stems from the Southeast Asian country's time as a U.S. colony after more than 300 years under the Spanish crown.

Washington's control of the Philippines, which was formerly under Madrid, was outlined in the Treaty of Paris signed in December 1898. Articles I to III of the said treaty mentioned that Spain would cede Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines.

A year later, American forces were sent to the islands, sparking the Philippine-American War that happened from 1899 until 1902. The U.S. granted "independence" to the Philippines 44 years later in 1946, but still maintains varying degrees of political and military control.

During his term as the chief executive from 2016 until 2022, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte  who espoused a more accommodating position toward China unsuccessfully attempted to expel American military presence. In contrast, incumbent Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  Duterte's successor  has adopted a more pro-America stance.

Visit WWIII.news for more similar stories.

Watch this video about Victoria Nuland of the U.S. Department of State setting up the Philippines in a proxy war against China.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

China using military lasers to BLIND Philippine Coast Guard ship crews.

Philippines gives American forces access to 4 additional military bases.

U.S. vows to defend the Philippines amid China's bold incursions.

Sources include:

Asia-PacificResearch.com

Journal-NEO.su

OfficialGazette.gov.ph

Brighteon.com
5G antennas cause children to suffer headaches, stomach pain and sleeping problems

New peer-reviewed research has found that children who get too close to 5G wireless towers develop serious health problems such as chronic headaches, stomach pain, and difficulty sleeping.

Three children and their parents came down with these and other symptoms after vacationing at a summer home located just 125 meters away from a mobile phone tower with multiple 5G antennas.

Published in the journal Annals of Clinical and Medical Case Reports, the study reveals that the family members' symptoms quickly subsided after they left the summer home and went back to their regular home, which is not located as close to 5G antennas.

The children, who ranged in age from four to eight, also developed emotional symptoms from being in close proximity to the 5G antennas. These include heightened irritability as the radiation inflamed their senses.

(Related: Both 5G and 4G wireless technology are linked to cell tissue damage and DNA destruction.)

5G is a possible death sentence for humans

Dr. Lennart Hardell, a leading scientist on cancer risks from radiation, and Mona Nilsson put together their own report about how 5G affects the health of young children, with Hardell, an oncologist and epidemiologist, telling The Defender the following:

"It is well known in medicine that children are more sensitive to toxic agents than grownups. Moreover, they have a longer life expectancy so chronic health issues may develop over a longer time."

According to Hardell, 5G is still "quite new," which means there is very little study into its effects. It is almost as if government regulators gave the telecommunications industry rubber stamp approval for the wireless technology without having first proven that it is safe.

Miriam Eckenfels-Garcia, director of the Children's Health Defense (CHD) Electromagnetic Radiation & Wireless program, stated that the 5G rollout is "another example of financial and industry interests trumping the protection of our children's health."

"As in this case study, we see the negative health impacts of this technology and instead of applying the precautionary principle until we can determine the full scope of health and environmental impacts, our government agencies  captured by industry  are allowing 5G to be installed anywhere and everywhere," Eckenfels-Garcia told The Defender.

"CHD is doing all it can to push back against this dangerous development through litigation, education and advocacy, and we are grateful to scientists like Dr. Hardell and Mona Nilsson for shining light on these cases."

For the vacation home study, the family who went there was asked to fill out a questionnaire following their visit about the symptoms they and their children suffered while on holiday. They were asked to rank the severity of each symptom on a scale from one to 10.

All three of the children, aged four, six and eight, reported having trouble sleeping and suffering emotional symptoms that included "irritability" and "emotive," both of which ranked at a level 10, the highest level.

"Two of the children got diarrhea, pain in the stomach and headache graded between 8 and 3 on the severity scale," the study states. "The child aged 6 years who did not get pain in the stomach and diarrhea, got skin rashes graded 8 on the severity scale."

"The symptoms appeared soon after the arrival to the house and disappeared after they came home, where radiation levels were considerably lower."

Responding to the findings, Nilsson, who manages the Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation, said that she finds them "very concerning," adding that children of that age should not yet be suffering from such symptoms, though they increasingly are as the "expected effects from increasing exposure to RF radiation."

More related news coverage can be found at 5Galert.com.

Sources for this article include:

AcmCaseReport.org

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

NaturalNews.com

ChildrensHealthDefense.org
Ammo prices to skyrocket due to global gunpowder shortage caused by Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine conflicts

One of the United States' largest ammunition manufacturers is warning that the average price of ammo is about to skyrocket as ongoing conflicts are leading to increased buying and an anticipated global shortage of gunpowder

Vista Outdoor, a Minnesota-based designer and manufacturer of ammunition, sporting goods and outdoor recreational products, is also the parent company of several of America's largest corporations that manufacture ammunition for the civilian market, including CCI, Federal and Remington.

In a statement, Vista Outdoor announced that world events are forcing its gunpowder suppliers to increase their prices by as much as 10 percent. This is forcing Vista Outdoor to increase how much it charges for ammunition.

"Due to world events, our suppliers have notified us of unprecedented demand for and an anticipated global shortage of gunpowder, and thus has increased our prices substantially," said Vista Outdoor.

"We must therefore raise our pricing to help offset those increases," added Vice President of Sales Brett Nelson. (Related: WWIII fears prompt panic buying of 5.56 ammo, triggering a 39% price surge within a week.)

Ammo prices to increase beginning Jan. 1, 2024

Along with Vista Outdoor's three ammunition brands, other companies like SEVI-Shot and Speer have also announced price increases.

The prices for shotshells, rifle rounds and certain rimfire rounds like .22 WMR and .17 HMR are expected to increase by one to seven percent. The price of handgun rounds and .22 Long Rifle and .22 Short rounds are expected to increase by one to five percent.

The prices for primers  the chemicals or mechanisms responsible for causing the combustion that shoots the ammunition from the barrel of a firearm  are expected to increase by as much as five percent. Alliant Powder  another company owned by Vista Outdoor that manufactures smokeless gunpowder  also announced that its prices are surging by at least 10 percent due to limited availability.

Vista Outdoor is giving customers until Jan. 1, 2024 to cancel their current ammunition orders. Orders that are otherwise allowed to continue will be repriced to the new prices after that date. Nelson noted that ammunition and gunpowder companies like Vista Outdoor will be publishing new price lists by the end of the year.

The price of ammunition has been soaring for the past few years, with the initial rise beginning at the height of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the U.S. More recently, the administration of President Joe Biden has gone on a purchasing spree to send over American-made ammunition to Ukraine and Israel to aid in their ongoing conflicts against Russia and Hamas, respectively.

Vista Outdoor even pledged one million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine, an order to be completed by March 2024. This pledge was made following a call for support from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"Supporting the relief effort is a crucial element of the global response and we are proud to do our part," said Vista Outdoor in a press release. "It underscores how critical the Second Amendment is in America and highlights the importance of the ability of American manufacturers to supply our allies with ammunition."

Learn the latest news regarding gun and ammunition sales and manufacture in the U.S. at Guns.news.

Watch this clip from Next News Network as anchor Gary Franchi reports on the ammunition buying spree in the United States.

This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

U.S. quietly sending more ammunition, missiles to Israel amid global outrage over genocide in Gaza.

Biden administration suspends issuance of export licenses for civilian firearms and ammunition in the latest attack on gun industry.

150k square-foot ammunition plant in Nebraska mysteriously EXPLODES  is this another planned assault on vital U.S. infrastructure?

NATO's ammo shortage worsens due to skyrocketing prices and Ukrainian troops' overconsumption of artillery shells.

Sources include:

Newsweek.com

WashingtonExaminer.com

Brighteon.com
Biden administration approves $583M arms sale to Saudi Arabia and $85M sale to the U.A.E.

The administration of President Joe Biden has approved a $583 million arms sale to Saudi Arabia and a $85 million sale to the United Arab Emirates

The approval of the arms deals comes as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and the participation of Yemen's Houthi rebels movement. (Related: U.S. warship in the Red Sea shoots down attack drones fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels.)

According to the State Department, the $583 million sale to Saudi Arabia primarily involves the Saudis purchasing upgrades for their small fleet of RE-3A Sentry Tactical Airborne Surveillance System aircraft.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency noted that the Department of Defense had received a request from the Saudis for hardware and software modifications to bolster the spy plane's mission readiness.

The Saudis acquired their fleet of several RE-3As from Boeing in the 1980s. As part of its modernization effort, Riyadh is purchasing seven global positioning system security devices, five L3Harris BlackRock communications intelligence sensor suites and one KIV-77 MODE 4/5 friend-or-foe identification system.

"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving Saudi Arabia's surveillance capacity," said the Pentagon in a statement.

Once delivered, the modernization equipment is expected to improve Saudi Arabia's ability to patrol its territories and counter current and future regional threats. It would also enhance the RE-3A's inoperability with similar systems operated by the U.S. and other Gulf states.

U.A.E. purchases anti-munition radar systems

Along with the sale to Saudi Arabia, the Biden administration has also approved an $85 million sale of 18 AN/TPQ-50 Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar systems and related equipment.

The U.S. said the sale will help the U.A.E. protect critical infrastructure and high-value civilian assets as well as the military installations of the Emiratis, especially from rocket and artillery fire but also from unmanned aerial vehicles.

"The U.A.E. is a vital U.S. partner for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East," said the Pentagon in a statement, adding that the sale "will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of an important regional partner."

While the Biden administration has provided its approval of the sales, Congress still needs to give its final approval for the military systems to be transported to the Middle East.

Both sales come as tensions in the Middle East increase due to Israel's conflict in Gaza against armed Palestinian groups led by Hamas.

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi both are concerned that the ongoing conflict could lead to a regional escalation, with the Houthis ramping up attacks against Israel and possibly opening up violence once more against Saudi Arabia. Both countries are also concerned that Iran could intervene since both nations have spent recent months attempting to mend fences with their regional rival as they aim to focus on growing their economies.

Learn the latest news regarding arms sales all over the world at MilitaryTechnology.news.

Watch this clip from Fox News reporting on the Houthis' most recent attack, when it launched ballistic missiles against U.S. warships in the Red Sea.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Iran, Russia finalize deal for purchase of advanced military aircraft.

It's official: United Arab Emirates STOPS using the U.S. dollar for oil trades.

American diplomats privately warn Biden regime that Arab world is furious over U.S. position of unconditional support for Israel.

Saudi Arabia launches FUND DRIVE for embattled Palestinians in war-torn Gaza.

Ukraine suddenly discovers money to manufacture its own weapons as U.S. funding dries up.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

TheDefensePost.com

Brighteon.com
CBP agents blame lack of DETERRENTS for illegals as major reason for U.S. BORDER CRISIS

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have blamed the surge of illegals at the southern border to the lack of consequences for unlawfully entering the United States.

The nine agents testified before investigators on the House Homeland Security and Oversight Committees during a five-month period earlier this year. Supervisory and line agents assigned to duty at key border stations from California to Texas participated in the probe. Excerpts of the interview transcripts were later provided to the Epoch Times.

It is worth noting that while both Democratic and Republican lawmakers joined the interviews, only the Republicans provided the excerpts. Given this, the Epoch Times has requested the full interview transcripts. "We wanted to interview these agents due to their deep expertise as Border Patrol agents and the experience their senior positions afforded them to speak about operations in their sector," a GOP committee spokesman said.

John Modlin, chief of the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector in Arizona, said in a July 26 interview that his border station experienced an unprecedented increase in illegal immigrants during the hottest months of the year ever since President Joe Biden took office. Typically, the number of border crossings during this period would be at their lowest. (Related: US border crisis persists: Thousands of migrants continue to cross daily despite the summer heat.)

"The summer months tend to be very low," he said. "[But] this time of year, the most dangerous time of year, [the Tucson Sector] is seeing one of the most significant flows that weve seen."

Modlin also described "staggering increases" in the number of illegals entering the U.S. at his station. From about 60,000 people recorded between 2018 and 2020, it increased more than three times to 190,000 in 2021. He also noted that this number spiked to 250,000 in 2022, and added that it could hit the 300,000 mark this year.

Illegals encouraged to cross border because there's no punishment for doing so

Agents interviewed by the House of Representatives were of the sentiment that the lack of negative consequences for illegally entering the United States is a major factor causing the influx of migrant crossings today, if not the prime reason.

In a May 9 interview, Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke of the San Diego Sector said returning illegal aliens to the Mexican side of the border or their country of origin is essential to stopping the current threat. Under the current administration's rules, illegals caught entering will instead be released in the U.S. heartland  where they will wreak havoc in the communities they are sent to.

"There needs to be a consequence to the illegal activity, otherwise it won't stop," Heitke told investigators. "When you look at a population thats coming, the only real consequence that we have is to send them back to their home country. And if somebody has traveled from wherever for an entire year and you fly them all the way back to their country, its a significant penalty."

"[There isn't] enough detention [capacity] in our country to detain everybody  and even if there was, it would be short-term. A day or two in detention is not a penalty to them; they're more willing to do that. Fines, obviously, are not going to be effective when the individuals have everything they own with them."

Chief Patrol Agent Jason Owens of the Del Rio Sector in Texas responded in the affirmative when asked whether illegal immigrants being released into the mainland U.S. following a short stay in custody would incentivize more border crossings. "What I will tell you is this: I think that if there is no consequence for an action, there's no deterrence for a person to not commit that action," he expounded.

"These chief patrol agents' testimonies make it clear consequences are essential to deterring illegal immigration," said Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee. "When those disincentives are absent, historic numbers of people will enter our country unlawfully. That is exactly what has taken place at America's borders for almost three years."

Watch this Fox News report about a Border Patrol agent lamenting how President Joe Biden has "surrendered the border."

This video is from the Redpillusapatriots channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden's lax immigration policy brings Yuma, Arizona to the brink of collapse.

Poll reveals majority of Arizonans want a BORDER WALL in the Grand Canyon State.

Border Patrol sector in Arizona STOPS POSTING UPDATES amid ongoing surge of illegals.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Brighteon.com
China harvesting DNA from pregnant women, babies in New Axis program

A British politician is sounding the alarm about a program in communist China called "New Axis" that he says allows the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to harvest DNA from pregnant women and their babies.

British member of parliament (MP) Sir Iain Duncan Smith told the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank on November 28 that the world's largest communist dictatorship has begun applying artificial intelligence (AI) to genomics, "which poses a significant threat to our collective national security."

In essence, what China is doing is applying AI to DNA editing technologies in an attempt to gain a significant strategic advantage in this particular field of technology.

According to Smith, the single-party state run by the CCP could end up gaining an incredible boost in global power through its New Axis program, including in the field of global health care and other major industries.

Smith wants other nations, including his own, to pay attention and develop strategic measures to guard against what the CCP is doing, which basically involves harvesting DNA from millions of people around the world through the clandestine use of its health care products.

"Nothing China does is left to chance," Smith further stated. "The threat that we now face is on par to that which we faced during the Cold War and even that which we faced in the 1930s."

(Related: Did you know that communist China used "coronavirus testing" kits to harvest Americans' DNA without their knowledge or consent?)

China at forefront of AI, genomics

Currently, there are ongoing investigations into the CCP's DNA harvesting activities in at least five countries. Instead of coronavirus testing kits, this time the CCP is hiding its DNA harvesting tools inside prenatal tests administered to pregnant women.

Marked as "NIFTY," these tests were specifically designed by Chinese genomics giant BGI, in consultation with the CCP's military arm, to collect DNA and store it across servers in mainland China where the CCP can access the data at any time.

The tests purportedly screen for Down syndrome and other genetic conditions, but their true purpose is to fill China's DNA databases with critical data needed to give it the upper hand in world affairs.

"These tests allow China to access the genomic data of both mother and fetus from all over the world, and we have granted them the rights to use that data back in China," Smith stated. "How astonishingly short-sighted was that?"

This is hardly the first time that BGI has been caught engaging in human rights abuses. As we reported in the past, the company is also involved in the harvesting of DNA from predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in China's Xinjiang province. Some units of BGI have been blacklisted in the United States as a result.

Smith also warns that China is not the only threat. Calling it a "new axis of totalitarian states," Smith also highlighted threats from Iran, North Korea and Russia, all of which just so happen to be countries that Western powers oppose and seem to want to overthrow.

These four powers, Smith says, represent a "growing threat to the free world" that are increasingly coordinating with "brutal regional powers" such as those in Burma (also known as Myanmar) and Syria to propagate their authoritarian vision for the world's future.

China is at the forefront of both AI and genomics, which means it is imperative for international leadership to take note and beware of this "existential risk to humanity."

"The war in Ukraine, the war in Gaza against Hamas, and China's overt threat to invade Taiwan are all of a piece," Smith says. "They are linked inexorably through this axis. To ignore one of these threats is to multiply the danger in the others."

The latest news about the horrors taking place in communist China can be found at Communism.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
Builders now have clarity on whether retention money claims can be made as payment claims thanks to a ruling by the Supreme Court of Victoria regarding the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002, otherwise known as the SOP Act.

The upshot is that, thanks to the ruling, claims for retention moneys can now be made as payment claims under the processes of the SOP Act. One of the interesting aspects of the ruling, however, is the case contrasts with previous authority in Puntons Shoes Pty Ltd vs Citi-Con (Vic) Pty Ltd [2020].

So how did we get to this new ruling, and how does it differ from the Puntons Shoes finding?

Background leading to the ruling

JG King Project Management Pty Ltd (JG King), a builder, contracted with Hunters Green Retirement Living Pty Ltd (Hunters Green) to build 49 retirement units across two contracts.

Under the contracts, JG King provided security for completion of the works to Hunters Green in the form of retention moneys which were to be returned to JG King at specified project milestones. The retention moneys were progressively deducted from each invoice issued by JG King. As a result, JG King received lesser amounts from Hunters Green than the invoiced amounts.

For JG Kings Final Payment Claims in respect of each contract (Payment Claims), each of the claims stated a current contract claim, which was the difference between the total amount of the value of the completed works less the total amount paid. The claims also amounted to the final 50 per cent of the retention moneys still being held by Hunters Green.

Hunters Green disputed the Payment Claims. Although an adjudication determination found in favour of JG King, Hunters Green appealed to the Supreme Court arguing (among other grounds) that the Payment Claims did not relate to construction work and thus were not payment claims under the SOP Act.

Defining construction work under the SOP Act

The Court found that the Payment Claims were in relation to construction work for the purposes of the SOP Act.

The judge stated that the Payment Claims were claims for the unpaid amounts for the completed construction work retained by Hunters Green as security. As amounts had been deducted for retention moneys, Hunters Green had not paid JG King the full amount for the construction work over the course of the contracts.

The Payment Claims, each being a Final Payment Claim for the contracts, consequently balanced the accounts between Hunters Green and JG King. Being the unpaid amounts for the completed construction work, they were not made solely to recover retention moneys, as submitted by Hunters Green. Rather, there was a direct and obvious connection between the retention moneys and the unpaid amount for construction works.

Additionally, it found retention moneys are not excluded amounts under section 10B of the SOP Act, along with the fact it was not relevant that retention moneys are not listed in sections 5 or 6 of the SOP Act, as those sections are limited to defining the actual construction work and related goods and services. As such, they do not identify everything that may be claimed in a payment claim.

This contrasts with Puntons Shoes and subsequent applications of that decision, which found that the return of retention moneys upon the issue of the Certificate of Practical Completion was not a progress payment entitlement in relation to work carried out by the contractor.

Identifying the construction work

In response to an argument that the payment claims did not sufficiently identify the construction work that they related to, the judge found that the Payment Claims sufficiently identified the relevant construction work for the purposes of section 14(2)(c) of the SOP Act.

His Honour noted that payment claims must be specific enough to enable its recipient to determine whether to pay the claims or dispute the claims with reasons. This requirement is a relatively undemanding test.

Finally, the judge considered that, in the context of their past dealings with each other, JG King had provided sufficient information in the Payment Claims. A reasonable building practitioner in the position of Hunters Green would have understood the Payment Claims as claims for the unpaid amounts for the construction work retained as security.

The key takeaway is that Principals and contractors should be mindful that claims for retention moneys may be made as payment claims which engage the processes under the SOP Act.

Holding Redlich, Partner, Kyle Siebel

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Microsoft inked deals with ChiCom propaganda outlets, documents show

Tech giant Microsoft is now in partnership with two newspapers under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

According to the Washington Free Beacon, the tech firm inked deals with the China Daily and the People's Daily newspapers. The two outlets are widely considered to be major propaganda arms of the CCP. China Daily is published by the CCP's Central Propaganda Department, while People's Daily is the official newspaper of the CCP's Central Committee.

Writing for the Free Beacon, senior investigative reporter Joseph Simonson said the Microsoft deals have "not been widely reported outside of China, nor have the financial terms been disclosed." In response, a Microsoft spokeswoman said the partnerships with the two newspapers "had expired years ago and were not renewed."

However, critics expressed great concerns. They described such deals as "dangerous just by the virtue of the fact that they existed." Moreover, the fact that Microsoft inked the deals at all is "a major win for the CCP." (Related: INFILTRATION ALERT: CCP-linked media company running influence campaigns across US news websites.)

"Its kind of an 'angel deal with the devil' scenario," said Heritage Foundation research associate Jake Denton. "Microsoft loves the idea of access to the Asia market but it comes with a catch. In this case, its helping the Chinese governments propaganda campaigns."

"These are major propaganda outlets that publish outright falsehoods attacking the ideas of democracy  the very concepts that strengthen our society. And yet, an American company is working to spread this," said Tech Integrity Project Policy Director Geoffrey Cain. "The purpose of all these [partnerships] is to show the Chinese Communist Party that [Microsoft is] firmly on the side of China and the Chinese system."

Ties between Microsoft and Beijing go a long way back

Microsoft, which is headquartered in Washington state, was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. It currently has roughly 9,000 employees in China, and has reportedly expressed its intent to surpass the 10,000-employee mark by the end of this year.

Citizen Frank reported that in 1998, Microsoft opened Microsoft Research Asia in Beijing  its largest research lab outside of the United States. Documents also show that the firm has entered into dozens of partnerships or cooperative agreements with various Chinese government entities since the 1990s.

On the Chinese app WeChat, an executive wrote that Microsoft hopes to "deepen the fertile ground for scientific research  [and] help to cultivate digital talents and join hands with Chinese innovation to go global."

Microsoft China President Joe Bao, who called the country the 'most dynamic and innovative place in the world in 2021,' said: "There is virtually no evidence Microsoft will reconsider its sprawling business relationships in China any time soon."

Citizen Frank also reported that back in 2016, China Daily and Microsoft's Global Media Cloud signed a memorandum of understanding in the mainland's capital Beijing. In attendance were China Daily Deputy Editor-In-Chief Wang Hao and Microsoft China Cloud Computing and Enterprise Division General Manager Shen Yuanqing.

Under the said "business partnership, China Daily received Microsoft technology to "enable it to target potential readers" and establish a so-called Media Smart Cloud Innovation Technology Laboratory. The partnership also encouraged the development of an open innovation platform promoting "technological innovation and application promotion in the field of media convergence, such as big data and cloud computing."

Visit CommunistChina.news for more stories like this.

Watch the following video about CCP propaganda and the moral corruption of China's "Wolf Warrior" diplomacy.

This video is from the Chinese Taking Down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

The Dr. Hotze Report: CCP has infiltrated most sectors of American society, including government, media, business and schools, in preparation for an INVASION - Brighteon.TV.

HILARIOUS: Rapper Hi-Rez creates genius sone and video parody of extreme liberalism and twisted communist trends infiltrating our republic.

Divide and conquer: General Michael Flynn warns China is dividing the US and its allies in push for global domination.

Sources include:

FreeBeacon.com

Caijing.ChinaDaily.com

CF.org

Brighteon.com
Queens GOP district leader eyeing seat vacated by George Santos CONVICTED on ginned-up J6 charges

A man from Queens, New York, who had hoped to fill the House seat involuntarily vacated by George Santos (R-NY), was convicted of charges related to the Jan. 6 protests.

Philip Sean Grillo, 49, was found guilty on five charges, including felony. He was also convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding; a felony and misdemeanor for entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Grillo was arrested on Feb. 23, 2021. While he was awaiting trial earlier this year, he claimed he didn't do anything. During the trial, he testified he had "no idea" Congress met inside the Capitol building.

According to the Department of Justice (DoJ), Grillo was seen illegally entering the Capitol building via a broken window near the Senate Wing door at about 2:20 p.m. carrying a megaphone. While ascending the stairs, the Marine Corps veteran was said to be interviewed by an individual. When asked for the reason why he was there, Grillo responded, "I'm here to stop the steal." "He was then seen on surveillance video footage about 15 minutes later with a mob of rioters attempting to exit the Rotunda and gain entry to a foyer that contained doors leading outside. However, the rioters' movement was prohibited by the Capitol Police (USCP) officers. Eventually, the mob forced their way past the officers and made their way toward the Rotunda's exterior entryway doors," the DoJ's statement included.

It continued that Grillo eventually pushed past the officers, opened the exterior doors and briefly went through the doors to the terrace area on the East Front of the Capitol. He also reportedly made several recordings of himself on his cell phone. In one recording, Grillo stated, "We got to the Capitol building. We f*** did it! We shut it down! We did it!" The former GOP Queens Assembly district leader's attorneys argued that he believed he was "authorized to engage in the conduct" laid out in his indictment.

Grillo is running to replace Santos after he was removed in a historic vote, ending his 11-month tenure in Congress and making him the sixth lawmaker to be ousted from the House.

Four "insurrectionists" were "tormented to death"

Since the insurrection, more than 1,230 people have been charged with crimes related to breaching the Capitol. More than 440 individuals have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. In November, House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly released 90 hours of security footage that showed J6 protesters peacefully walking through the Capitol. The said evidence exonerates the protesters who have been slandered by the media and harassed by President Joe Biden's DoJ.

Some even came to the point of taking their own lives as they were held in solitary confinement without due process. Holistic medicine proponent Matthew Perna, history buff Jord Meacham, gas field well technician Mark Aungst and regional bank portfolio manager Christopher Georgia were among the unfortunate ones to have walked through the Capitol doors and were severely punished because of taking part in the peaceful rally.

Surveillance video showed Perna entered the Capitol through an open door and peacefully walked through the building for about 20 minutes. Perna "did not assault anyone, carry a weapon, or vandalize property," journalist Julie Kelly reported. But he was arrested by six FBI agents at his home and was "indicted by a grand jury on four counts including obstruction of an official proceeding and trespassing misdemeanors." He pleaded guilty to all four counts and expected a prison sentence of less than a year. However, Matthew Graves, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia intervened and asked the court to delay Perna's sentencing. Before he could receive his sentencing, Perna took his own life at 37 years old.

At 19 years old, Meacham attended the protest with his uncle, where he did not appear to be violent or destructive. Footage showed him simply walking through the Capitol with a Trump flag. Yet the DoJ charged him with disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. On Aug. 28, 2021, just hours after a judge scheduled his arraignment, Meacham died from "an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound" at just 22 years old.

Another one was Aungst, who traveled to D.C. on a chartered bus from Pennsylvania for the protest. He was initially in the Capitol for only 30 seconds, reentered the building 20 minutes later, spending 10 minutes inside taking pictures and video. He was arrested in February 2021 and reportedly pleaded guilty to a charge of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. He was not accused of assault or property destruction. His sentencing was set for Sept. 27, where he reportedly could have faced "up to six months in prison and fined $5,000." But he took his life on July 20, 2022, at 47 years old.

According to court documents, Georgia was accused of violating the city curfew and trying to "enter certain property against the will of the Capitol Police." He was arrested on the day of the J6 protest. Three days later, he died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at 53 years old. (Related: FBI whistleblower explains the dark circular model being used against J6 political prisoners)

Deception.news has more stories about the lies the government and mainstream media have been spreading about the Jan. 6 "riot."

Watch the video below that talks about proof that J6 was an FBI operation.

This video is from Worldview Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

BOMBSHELL: President Trump to present CLASSIFIED information of election interference at J6 indictment trial.

WATCH: Nancy Pelosi's daughter explains the need for 24/7 media psyop to push false J6 narrative.

Whistleblower: Air marshals ordered to SHADOW individuals who flew to DC during J6, leaving commercial travelers at risk.

Sources include:

TheHill.com

Justice.gov

TheFederalist.com

Brighteon.com
Latin American gangs use security jammers to break into U.S. homes

Gangs originating from South America are infiltrating multi-million dollar residences across the nation, including the metropolitan Detroit area. Law enforcement officials have characterized these criminal groups as highly functional and adept.

Described as consisting of four to six members, these crews exhibit advanced training and functionality. Their approach involves using a jamming device to override wireless security systems reliant on WiFi.

The members uniformly dress in black, complete with backpacks and gloves, and adopt a non-confrontational approach, aiming to swiftly enter and exit targeted homes, according to police statements.

Since September, approximately 30 to 40 residences in the Detroit area have fallen victim to these burglaries. The thieves specialize in a rapid operation, making off with cash, jewelry and high-end handbags within minutes of gaining entry.

In response to this surge in criminal activity, Michigan police departments have established a task force and are advising homeowners to implement multiple layers of security measures to safeguard their properties.

Gangs come from south of the border

The gangs are exploiting lenient immigration policies in the United States, warned Sheriff Michael Bouchard of Oakland County, Michigan.

According to CBS Detroit, Bouchard revealed that syndicates from south of the border are specifically targeting upscale homes, pilfering "hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars" worth of valuables.

These transnational gangs, originating from Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras, allegedly cross the border and acquire counterfeit identification cards to reside in the very cities they plan to plunder. (Related: Venezuelan gangsters blending in with MIGRANTS, causing CHAOS in America under Maduro's orders.)

Bouchard said the gangs focus on jewelry, high-end purses, watches, currency and safes. The gangs meticulously survey homes for days, pinpointing opportune moments to strike, typically between 5 to 9 p.m. and through unguarded windows in the back.

While Bouchard refrained from disclosing affected communities and arrests, he asserted collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security on these cases.

Similar criminal activities have been reported in New York, prompting officials to call on the federal government to address border issues amid an influx of migrants.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, criticized the openness of the southern border, advocating for stricter controls. She urged Congress to enhance Border Patrol capabilities, emphasizing the need to double or quadruple the current agent numbers. "It is too open right now," Hochul told CBS's "Face the Nation," referring to the countrys southern border with Mexico. "Congress has to put more controls at the border."

Americans spend $20 billion to defend homes

Annually, Americans invest more than $20 billion in security devices and home security systems to safeguard both themselves and their property.

Here are additional surprising facts and statistics about home burglaries:

On average, there are over one million home burglaries in the U.S. each year.

Property crimes rank as the most prevalent type of crime in the country.

In 2017, the Department of Justice reported 1.7 million home burglaries.

A quarter of these burglaries occur during daylight hours.

Home invasions frequently take place during the day, assuming homeowners are away at work.

The most common times for a home break-in are between 10:00 am and 3:00 p.m.

A home burglary occurs approximately every 25.7 seconds in the United States.

The average duration of a break-in is eight to 10 minutes.

In 2021, a staggering $737,294,919,165 worth of property was stolen from homes.

Among stolen items, miscellaneous belongings are the most favored by thieves, closely followed by consumable goods, vehicles and money.

Read more stories about migrants committing crimes in the U.S. and other countries at Migrants.news.

Watch a group of illegal migrants rush through a breach in the border wall in Arizona.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

NYC Mayor Adams: MIGRANTS from Venezuela feeding Big Apples new RED-LIGHT DISTRICT

Panama intensifies efforts to prevent migrants from making their way to the U.S.

Caravan of MIGRANTS march toward the southern border after banding together in Mexico

Sources include:

ABC7Chicago.com

NYPost.com

Brighteon.com
MOBS of Chinese illegal immigrants SWARM California border

A video from early December shows mobs of illegal aliens, which included a lot of Chinese men swarming the California border

Jorge Ventura, a NewsNation correspondent, published exclusive footage on X, formerly Twitter, which showed Border Patrol agents processing long lines of illegal migrants in eastern San Diego County on Dec. 4.

In the caption of his post, Ventura explained that the large group of migrants, which was made up of mostly Chinese men, were "crossing illegally through open gaps on the border wall in Jacumba Hot Springs, California."

But unlike the usual migrants who seem to have little to nothing but the clothes on their backs and threadbare bags, many Chinese men in the video seem to be well-dressed, well-fed and carrying relatively new bags.

The Chinese migrants with suitcases who have illegally crossed the California border show that a new type of people are seeking asylum in the U.S. These Chinese men are starkly different from the exhausted and starved migrants who have traveled thousands of miles from South and Central America to the border.

Erika Pinheiro, an immigration attorney who does not represent the migrants in the NewsNation video, claimed that there are families who have experienced political oppression at the hands of the Chinese government and that many of them are political dissidents.

According to Pinheiro, one family she is working with includes a woman forcibly sterilized by the government. "They are coming into this country for a variety of reasons," said Pinheiro.

Pinheiro also said these migrants usually have access to more resources.

"We have this understanding of asylum seekers as poor and [that] they are only coming to America for economic opportunities, but the people that Im meeting [at the San Diego, California] border tend to be at least middle class, if not upper-middle class, from their countries," added Pinheiro.

The migrants, who were made up of mostly single Chinese men, have been living in makeshift tents in Jacumba Hot Springs, a small town in San Diego County that has become the latest hub for illegal crossing.

As seen in the video, many Chinese men shown in a single-file line were wearing clean clothes and standing near their luggage. (Related: Illegal Alien Invasion: All the big U.S. land grabs by China and globalists may be for housing illegal immigrants.)

According to police sources, the Chinese men pay smugglers up to $35,000 to help them cross from Mexico into the United States.

Pinheiro, who is the executive director of migrant services at legal aid company Al Otro, spoke to some of the Chinese migrants who have walked through multiple Central American countries. They told her that many of them who could afford it flew into Mexico and simply walked into the U.S. from there.

The migrants told Pinheiro that they received their travel visa like they were going to vacation in Mexico, with some of them spending at least a week in a resort because they could afford it.

UN: China losing 310,000 people to emigration alone in 2023

Chinese people are the fourth most common nationality of migrants entering America, following Venezuelans, Ecuadorians and Haitians, with many making their journey through the dangerous Darien gap.

Data has revealed that more than 4,000 Chinese nationals were apprehended by Border Patrol in October, a significant increase from only 329 who were captured around the same time last year.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) numbers have also shown that more than 230,000 people were apprehended crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in the San Diego Sector, an area that stretches 60 miles from the Pacific Ocean to around the town of Jacumba Hot Springs, marking a 20-year high for the area.

At the San Diego border, the Chinese are joined by other asylum seekers from other countries like Afghanistan, Jamaica, Nepal, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

The United Nations (UN) projected that China will lose 310,000 people from emigration in 2023 as the countrys economy struggled to recover after the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and rising youth unemployment.

The Chinese migrants use social media apps like WeChat to send step-by-step videos with tips, including what to pack to get through a jungle and how much money people need to bring to bribe police and officials in different countries.

In some cases, Chinese men flew to Ecuador because the country doesnt require a travel visa.

According to data, more than 24,300 Chinese nationals were apprehended at the southwest border during Fiscal Year 2023, which ended on Sept. 30.

Nationwide, about 52,700 migrants from China were encountered by CBP personnel in FY23.

While November data has not yet been released by the CBP, apprehensions of Chinese illegals at the southwest border in October were 10 times higher than the same period in 2022.

In reaction to Venturas video, former Congressional candidate Andrew McCarthy asked a question not many would dare to ask: "How many Chinese sabotage teams are currently operating on U.S. soil?"

For more updates about illegal immigrants in the U.S., visit OpenBorders.news.

Watch the video below to learn how more illegal immigrants are entering the Western world.

This video is from the RockOfHoreb channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

More refugees are choosing to remain in Mexico with its booming economy rather than try to enter the U.S.

Venezuelan illegal immigrant paroled by Biden ARRESTED by ICE in Chicago for allegedly FUNDING TERRORISM.

TX AG Paxtons first task is to destroy illegal immigrant colonies after his historic impeachment acquittal.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

Twitter.com

NYPost.com

Brighteon.com
More Americans preparing for doomsday  the difference between new type of preppers and the advanced movement, is literally the difference between life and death

Apparently both the left and the right are preparing for "doomsday," whether that is societal collapse, civil war , and EMP, Armageddon , or just any event that would require self-reliance rather than dependence on government entities.

(Article by Susan Duclos republished from AllNewsPipeline.com)

The difference between those that have been known as "preppers" for years, and those that started recently, as well as 'liberal' preppers and more libertarian-type preppers, is nothing less than the difference between life and death.

For example: Those that have been part of the prepping movement for years, likely have enough stores to last them a year or a few years, while the "newer" members of the movement suggest 90 days, enough to last until the government shows up to save them.

The more experienced in the movement understand that the government may never come to help, as most will be cowering in their underground bunkers, known as DUMBS (Deep Underground Military Bases), created for the federal government leaders, and military leaders and the families of both, especially if the catastrophe is civil war or societal collapse.

Interestingly it is the younger generations that are now discovering the "prepper" movement, and much of their reasoning surrounds the 2024 presidential election.

Doomsday prepping is seeping into the mainstream as Americans of all ages and political persuasions are becoming increasingly worried ahead of the 2024 presidential election about the prospect of a civil war.

The reasons for prepping seem to be difference as well, with the left scared of a Trump second term, thinking he will "declare himself dictator of the United States and people on the left are going to end up as targets in some sort of authoritarian system," which is ironic on a number of levels.

The Biden regime targeting conservatives as potential domestic terrorists, while using lawfare to attack Trump, the person leading in all the polls to become the Republican nominee for president.

See the two links below:

Exclusive: Donald Trump Followers Targeted by FBI as 2024 Election Nears

The Democrats Are Using Lawfare Against Trump Because They Can't Beat Him Fairly

As for the right, according to quotes cited by USA Today, "On the right, it's general malaise and a fear of society unraveling. They point to these smash-and-grab robberies, riots and protests."

Now between the two, we have the fears of Trump becoming a dictator, yet those same fears were expressed in 2025 and 2016, pushed hard by the media, and it never came to pass.

The violent protests, smash and grab robberies and multiple events of civil unrest, the George Floyd protests and the Pro-Hamas demonstrations, just two examples, of society unraveling, so it seems on that front at least, conservatives have the right of it.

There are other differences between the younger liberal, new preppers, and the older more advanced libertarian/conservative preppers, as well, and that is their ultimate purpose for preparing for "doomsday."

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.......

There are other differences besides the 90 day versus years worth of prepping that have life or death ramifications. Such as the reason one preps, not about what type of disaster their are preparing for, but rather why they are prepping at all.

In the USA Today article they cite a woman that runs a YouTube channel, where she offers advice on prepping, yet her mindset is not that of a true prepper, but more like a community organizer.

"If you can be prepared, you won't be a drain on the resources needed to help the people who didnt prepare, said Wagoner, who has a 90-day supply of food set aside for her six-person family. Wagoner, who works for a nonprofit, runs a YouTube channel where she offers prepping advice to young people, urban residents and people who have small homes.

First and foremost, she only has 90 days worth of food for her family, so she obviously still thinks that prepping is something one does to hold themselves over until some government agency comes to help.

Advanced preppers understand that whether it is a civil war, societal collapse, EMP, etc... Government help may take longer than 90 days, and in fact depending on the severity of the event, it may never come at all.

The part I highlighted in bold is another clear indication that while Wagoner considers herself a prepper, she hasn't a clue to why the movement began in the first place. She assumes there will be resources for those that didn't prepare, but according to the data only 29% of overall Americans spend money on prepping.

Some 39% of Millennials and 40% of Gen Z had spent money on the practice in the past 12 months, compared to 29% of the overall US adult population, the analytic spending website said.

This means approximately 71% of Americans are not prepared for any catastrophic event and since it is doubtful there will be any resources for those people.

This brings me to another quote from Wagoner:

"In the face of an apocalypse, I want to come out and calmly help people, she said. I want to be able to create a society that instead of wanting to shoot every stranger, understands our interdependence and creates a better society.

First thing, how is she going to help those unprepared in an "apocalypse" when she only has 90 days of food for herself and her family? Guaranteed she will be one of the first people to have a gun stuck in her face while her food is stolen.

Part of prepping is being prepared to protect your stored goods, with lethal force if need be.

Society building comes after survival, not while trying to survive the initial phase of a disaster. Wanting to help family and friends is one thing, but just wanting to come out, during an "apocalypse," which is the term she used, and "calmly help people" is a person who has romanticized what prepping is and is "teaching" others on her YouTube channel to do the same..

Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com
NYC firefighter forced to retire after COVID vaccine injury sues city for disability benefits

A firefighter from New York City who was forced to retire early after getting injured by Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccines" he was forced to take in order to keep his job is suing the Big Apple for damages, including expanded disability payments.

O'Brian Pastrana now suffers from permanent health damage as a result of the jabs, which he was required to take due to a citywide mandate. Pastrana's lawyer noted that the city is in denial about what has happened, which he says is part of a "disturbing pattern of deliberate cruelty" towards the vaccine-injured and those who spoke out against the mandates.

Back in June, the Fire Pension Fund's Board of Trustees denied Pastrana's request for more substantial disability benefits. This was after the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Board of Health concluded that Pastrana did, in fact, suffer a heart injury from the injection.

The problem, besides his permanent heart issue, is that Pastrana is now having to live off of about half his regular salary. This represents a major pay cut, and Pastrana wants to up that amount to at least equal what he was receiving previously before he was forced to get injected as a condition of continued employment.

(Related: Did you know that the mRNA or modRNA found in COVID jabs can spread from the fully vaccinated to the unvaccinated via aerosols?)

COVID jabs caused Pastrana to nearly die of heart failure

Pastrana received his first dose of one of the mRNA (modRNA) COVID injections on Oct. 29, 2021. He suffered an immediate anaphylactic response that included hives, swelling of the lips and various other horrific symptoms that persisted for weeks.

Pastrana had to be treated in an emergency room for these symptoms and was later seen by an FDNY doctor who diagnosed him as having suffered from a COVID injection side effect. From then on, Pastrana suffered on-and-off bouts of serious symptoms for weeks thereafter, which pulled him out of work a second time and brought him back to the emergency room.

Since Pastrana had not yet received his second dose of injection but was still suffering allergic reactions to the first, he brought up these concerns with his FDNY doctor in the hopes of skipping the second dose, but was denied.

On Nov. 23, 2021, Pastrana received his second dose, and his health immediately started to deteriorate.

"I was having shortness of breath, chest pain, and I was super fatigued  I couldn't do anything," Pastrana told The Defender "I was afraid I was going to die."

Despite being only 35 years old, Pastrana was suffering from what his wife, a nurse, suspected may be a heart condition. With no cardiac history, though, he was certain this was not the case.

A few months later in February 2022, Pastrana was diagnosed with myocarditis and was determined to be in the throes of heart failure.

"They told me, 'You can never again be a NYC firefighter,'" he says. "I kept saying to myself, maybe if I get a second opinion or a third opinion, maybe I'll hear something different. Every single one of them said the same thing."

A month later in March, an FDNY doctor took Pastrana off full duty and recommended that he retire. He was offered the minimal "ordinary disability retirement," despite there being higher tiers of disability benefits available, which pays out just 50 percent of his $92,000 salary, minus taxes.

Pastrana's attorney says his client should be medically and legally eligible for "accidental disability benefits," which are usually awarded when a firefighter suffers an accidental injury. That tier pays three-quarters of a firefighter's salary with no taxes taken out.

More of the latest news about COVID jab injuries and deaths can be found at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

NaturalNews.com
White House interns demand PERMANENT CEASEFIRE for Gaza via letter to Biden

A group of White House interns has demanded President Joe Biden declare a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip through a letter addressed to the chief executive

The letter, which was first obtained by NBC News, was penned by more than 40 interns at the White House and the Executive Office of the President. The signatories worked under the executive branch for the fall 2023 season.

"We will no longer remain silent on the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people," the letter reads. "We heed the voices of the American people and call on the Administration to demand a permanent ceasefire. We are not the decision makers of today, but we aspire to be the leaders of tomorrow  and we will never forget how the pleas of the American people have been heard and thus far, ignored.

"We were horrified by the brutal Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israeli civilians, and we are horrified by the brutal and genocidal response by the Israeli government [that is] funded by our American tax dollars, which has killed over 14,000 innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza  a large percentage of whom are children."

The group of interns acknowledged the Biden administration's support for the week-long humanitarian pause in Gaza, but stressed that this was insufficient. It instead called for a "complete halt of Israel's mass slaughter of innocent civilians." (Related: White House aides' frustration with Bidens Israel stance nears breaking point.)

"We urge the Biden administration to call for a permanent ceasefire now, a release of all hostages including Palestinian political prisoners, and to support a diplomatic solution that will put an end to the illegal occupation and the Israeli apartheid, in accordance with international law and for a free Palestine."

Biden under fire from his own party over Gaza issue

"Biden has repeatedly rejected calls for a permanent ceasefire to end the violence and is continuing U.S. support for Israel, including demanding further military aid, amid its renewed attacks against Hamas following an end to a recent seven-day ceasefire between the two sides," Newsweek reported.

Members of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas  formally the Islamic Resistance Movement  launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7. At least 1,200 people were murdered and 240 abducted by Hamas. In retaliation, Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza  killing more than 15,890 people, more than 10 times the number of casualties in the original attack.

The violence appears to be spreading outside the region, the letter's authors noted. They wrote that "ongoing violence perpetrated by the Israeli government" is resulting in the targeting of Muslims and Arabs in the U.S., including the shooting of three Palestinian students in Vermont and the murder of a six-year-old Palestinian boy in Chicago.

Such acts of violence are "inconsistent" with the Biden administration's principles and the national strategies to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia, the interns pointed out.

But the growing sentiment in favor of a ceasefire is not only limited to the White House interns. Both the general public and more progressive Democrats are at odds with him, as seen in a Data for Progress poll whose results were released on Dec. 5.

The poll found that a majority of respondents  61 percent  support Washington calling for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Of this number, more than three-quarters of respondents  76 percent  leaned Democrat.

JoeBiden.news has more stories about President Joe Biden's stance on the Gaza conflict.

Watch Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) remark that Biden won't take action on the interns' letter calling for a ceasefire.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

White House retracts Biden's admission of pushing for Gaza invasion delay until more American hostages are released.

CANCELED: Biden's scheme to help Israel ethnically cleanse Gaza of all Palestinians is a NO GO thanks to Egypt.

Palestinian human rights organizations sue Biden for "complicity" in Israel's "genocide" in Gaza.

Sources include:

Newsweek.com

Brighteon.com
Conservation Agreement Preserves Prairie Grasslands and Ranching Legacy in Southwestern Alberta

Calgary, AB

NCC partners with the Bectell family to conserve grasslands supporting rare species

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is announcing the conservation of important grasslands in southwestern Alberta, near Police Outpost Provincial Park.

This 323-hectare property, conserved through a partnership between NCC and its owners, the Bectell family, marks a significant step in conserving both the region's natural heritage and its ranching traditions.

The Bectell family are known for their cow-calf ranching operation and sustainable rotational grazing practices dating to 1917. This new conservation agreement ensures the Bectells property will continue to operate as a working landscape for cattle production while maintaining its remarkable ecological integrity.

Cattle are important to grassland health. When properly managed, their grazing behaviour approximates the historic actions of bison, including grazing and trampling. This disturbance, along with fire, helps maintain the health of grasslands, and creates diverse habitats for many plants and animals. Many species need shorter grass to survive, while others need longer grass.

This project further expands NCC's efforts in the area, which now form a contiguous block of almost 2,900 hectares of conserved lands west of the St. Mary River near the Canada-US border.

A key feature of this newly conserved property is its extensive prairie grasslands, constituting nearly 80 per cent of its area. These grasslands provide vital functions such as water filtration, carbon sequestration, soil protection, and provision of wildlife habitat.

The Bectells property provides habitat to many different species of wildlife, including several listed under Canadas Species At Risk Act, including ferruginous hawk, grizzly bear, horned grebe, and American badger. The property also features populations of western blue iris, an at-risk plant species.

This conservation project was made possible by the Bectell family along with private donors and supporters. Contributions were also made by the Government of Canada, through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, part of Canadas Nature Fund, by the Government of Alberta, through the Alberta Land Trust Grant Program, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and by private contributors, including the Weston Family Foundation, through the Weston Family Prairie Grasslands Initiative. It was supported by the Government of Canadas Ecological Gifts Program, which provides significant tax benefits for individuals or corporations who donate ecologically sensitive land.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC)s Prairie Grasslands Action Plan is an unprecedented effort to rally Canadians to protect one of the worlds most endangered ecosystems. The Plan will lead efforts to conserve more than 500,000 hectares by 2030  an area six times the size of the city of Calgary  and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Quotes

This partnership is a testament to the power of collaborative conservation efforts. The Bectell family's commitment to preserving their land and its environmental values will undoubtedly leave a legacy. Yet again, stewardship-minded ranchers in Alberta are helping lead us towards our nations ambitious conservation goals."  Tom Lynch-Staunton, Regional Vice-President, Nature Conservancy of Canada

"These grasslands have been here for thousands of years, and if we take care of them, they will continue to benefit wildlife and people. Our family would never want to see this property subdivided and turned into acreages. We're pleased to know our land will remain intact and continue to be managed in the way we have done for generations."  Jeff Bectell, Landowner

By working with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada is supporting the conservation of working prairie grasslands in Alberta. These prairie grasslands are a globally significant resource that clean our water, preserve biodiversity, and store vast amounts of carbon that would otherwise fuel climate change. Through programs like the Natural Heritage Conservation Program and the Ecological Gifts Program, and thanks to generous landowners such as the Bectell family, Canada is making progress toward its goal to protect 30 percent of land and water in Canada by 2030.  The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Facts

Canada's Prairie grasslands sequester billions of tonnes of carbon securely in their root networks. Recent research demonstrates that protecting our native grasslands is the single most effective nature-based solution available to Canada for mitigating the effects of climate change. The best way to ensure these grasslands remain that way is to support the landowners stewarding them. Sustainable ranching and biodiversity can go hand in hand in grasslands.

Western blue iris (also known as western blue flag) is a species of wildflower that grows in wet meadows and shorelines at less than a dozen sites in southwestern Alberta. It is listed as Special Concern under Canadas Species At Risk Act. The Bectells have helped support the study and management of this imperilled species.

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The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the countrys unifying force for nature. NCC seeks solutions to the twin crises of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale, permanent land conservation. As a trusted partner, NCC works with people, communities, businesses and government to protect and care for our countrys most important natural areas. Since 1962, NCC has brought Canadians together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares. To learn more, visit natureconservancy.ca.

The Government of Alberta created the Alberta Land Trust Grant program in 2011  a program designed to support land trusts such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada to assist in the purchase of conservation agreements on ecologically significant landscapes and donations of land with high conservation value.

The Government of Canadas Natural Heritage Conservation Program (NHCP) is a unique partnership that supports the creation and recognition of protected and conserved areas through the acquisition of private land and private interest in land. To date, the Government of Canada has invested more than $440 million in the Program, which has been matched with more than $870 million in contributions raised by Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the countrys land trust community leading to the protection and conservation of more than 700,000 hectares of ecologically sensitive lands.

To learn more about the Ecological Gifts Program, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/ecological-gifts

The Weston Family Prairie Grasslands Initiative  Stewardship Investment Program is a multi-year collaboration (20212024) to celebrate, steward and protect one of Canadas most ecologically valuable and threatened ecosystems: native prairie grasslands. Through this initiative, NCC will bring together a diverse group of individuals and organizations to accelerate the adoption of sustainable approaches to help conserve grasslands and improve on farm sustainability and viability. For more information, visit prairegrasslandsinitiative.ca.

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Sean Feagan
Experts advised people to become vaccinated to stay safe from threats of flu, respiratory viruses and COVID-19. More people are expected to travel and interact with one another this coming Holiday, Christmas and New Year.

It is not yet too late to have an annual vaccination as respiratory virus season can bring significant health risks this Holiday. It will help protect your family members from flu and respiratory illnesses, giving full optimal protection.

In the US, many Americans are now preparing for the winter and Holiday season. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention reminded the importance of vaccination.

In the winter, other concerns are colder to extreme temperatures, including hypothermia and frostbite. Respiratory transmissions are also likely as many people are on the streets, in parks and malls.

Annual Vaccination: Why Does It Matter?

According to the CDC report, November reported 7 respiratory virus records from 100,000 people who were admitted to hospitals. CDC highlighted the importance of vaccinating children and older adults.

CDC also reported that about 2 in 5 people had flu vaccine. Updated COVID-19 vaccine is also important. When people are vaccinated, it can mitigate the effects of the virus impact.

In addition, vaccination can also save time, money and room in healthcare systems. People should also check for possible signs of flu, including headache, dizziness, fatigue, colds and muscle pains.

People should also eat vegetables and green foods that are healthy for the body and reduce more health risks. Regular exercise is also essential to become physically fit and avoid the flu.

Also Read: Environment-Friendly Christmas Decors: 5 Sustainable Tips For Homeowners

Protecting People's Health From Flu and Respiratory Viruses

Homeowners can also protect themselves from health risks or getting sick this Christmas Holiday, especially for children, older adults and people with medical conditions.

At home, people should check their heating systems to prevent hypothermia and frostbite. Wearing winter clothes is also important for people leaving their homes.

In addition, bringing sanitizers can kill bacteria or viruses, stopping them from spreading over people's bodies. Parents should teach their children to sanitize.

If people are sick or have flu, wearing a face mask is recommended to prevent the virus from spreading. Older adults can also wear masks to avoid exposure to harmful pollutants.

For severe medical conditions, they should immediately seek medical help in nearby hospitals. They can also ask their doctors for essential vaccination that protects them from health risks.

According to reports, some of the signs of respiratory virus are the following:

Cough

Fever

Runny Nose or Congestion

Fatigue

Difficulty in Breathing

Related Article: Genetically Improved Trees: Three Important Benefits for Consumers in Christmas

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
Every year, millions of people around the world celebrate the arrival of the new year with dazzling displays of fireworks.

But while these colorful explosions may bring joy and excitement to humans, they can have a devastating impact on the millions of birds that share the sky with them.

According to a recent study by researchers from the University of Amsterdam for Ornithology, fireworks cause massive and widespread flight movements of birds, especially waterbirds, that can last up to 45 minutes.

These movements are not only stressful and disorienting for the birds, but also costly in terms of energy and time.

Fireworks trigger flight responses in birds

The researchers used data from 13 weather radars in Europe and the US to monitor the movements of birds during the night of New Year's Eve from 2014 to 2019.

They found that the number of birds in the air increased by an average of 7.5 times during the fireworks, reaching up to 20 times in some areas.

The birds were mainly waterbirds, such as ducks, geese, and swans, that roost in large flocks near lakes, rivers, and wetlands.

The researchers believed that these birds are more sensitive to noise and light pollution than other birds, and that they may perceive fireworks as a threat and flee to safer areas.

The flight movements of the birds were not random, but rather directed away from the areas with the highest fireworks activity.

According to estimates, birds flew at speeds of up to 60 km/h and at altitudes of up to 1,500 m, which are much higher than their normal flight behavior.

Also Read: Light Pollution Threatens Success Of Coral Spawning, Say Researchers

Fireworks waste precious energy and time for birds

The researchers calculated that the birds burned an extra 3.5 million kilocalories of energy during the fireworks, which is equivalent to the daily energy expenditure of 5,000 flying birds.

This energy loss is significant, especially in winter, when food resources are scarce and birds need to conserve their body fat to survive the cold.

Moreover, the fireworks disrupted the normal sleep patterns of the birds, which are essential for their health and well-being.

The researchers found that the birds spent 40 minutes less time roosting during the night of New Year's Eve, and that they did not resume their normal roosting behavior until 40 minutes after sunrise the next day.

The researchers warned that these effects of firekworks on birds could have long-term consequences for their survival and reproduction, as well as for the functioning of the ecosystems they inhabit.

Reucing the use of fireworks or switching to quieter and less bright alternatives, could help mitigate the harm to our feathered friends.

Fireworks also affect other wildlife and pets

The study focused on waterbirds, but other types of birds and wildlife may also suffer from the effects of fireworks.

For example, a study from the University of Amsterdam showed that fireworks caused erratic flight movements of thousands of birds in the Netherlands.

Another study from the Netherlands Institute of Ecology found that fireworks increased the stress levels of roe deer and badgers.

Fireworks can also pose a threat to pets, such as dogs and cats, that may be frightened by the loud noises and flashes of light.

According to the Animal Advocates of South Central Pennsylvania, fireworks can cause pets to run away, injure themselves, or develop anxiety and phobias.

They recommend that pet owners keep their animals indoors, provide them with a safe and comfortable place to hide, and play soothing music or white noise to mask the sound of fireworks.

Related article: Artificial Light Pollution: What is It and How Does it Affect our Environment?
On December 9, ships under the flag of the Peoples Republic of China attacked official Philippine vessels with water cannon, harassed them by engaging in reckless, dangerous maneuvers and even rammed one of the Philippine ships, all well within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone. In addition, the PRCs ships used acoustic devices, incapacitating the Filipino crew members, and drove away Philippine fishing vessels.

The Philippine vessels were part of a convoy on its way to re-supply troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre, a warship grounded at Second Thomas Shoal. This submerged reef is within the Spratly Island group, in the South China Sea.

Since 1946, the PRC has made poorly justified claims to the vast majority of the South China sea, including to swathes of the Exclusive Economic Zones of its neighbors. Included within the disputed area are numerous uninhabited islands, shoals, and submerged features, as well as large oil and natural gas deposits and rich fishing waters. This is also one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes.

Over the past decade or so, the PRC has aggressively enforced its assertions of ownership of this maritime region. This, despite the legally binding ruling of an international tribunal in 2016 that found the PRC has no lawful claim to most of the region, including the area around Second Thomas Shoal.

By impeding the safe operations of Philippine vessels carrying provisions to Filipino service members stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, the PRC interfered in lawful Philippine maritime operations and in Philippine vessels exercise of high seas freedom of navigation, said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a written statement. Obstructing supply lines to this longstanding outpost and interfering with lawful Philippines maritime operations undermines regional stability.

The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of these dangerous and unlawful actions, said Spokesperson Miller. We reaffirm that Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft  including those of its Coast Guard  anywhere in the South China Sea.
Beluga whales are known for their vocal abilities, which they use to communicate with each other and navigate their environment.

But in Cook Inlet, Alaska, where a small and isolated population of belugas lives, their voices are being drowned out by commercial ship noise.

This could have serious consequences for their survival, as a new study reveals.

The Vocal Repertoire of Cook Inlet Belugas

The Cook Inlet beluga whales are one of the most endangered marine mammal populations in the world, with only about 331 individuals left.

They face multiple threats, such as habitat loss, pollution, hunting, and climate change. But one of the most pressing issues is the increasing noise from human activities, especially shipping, which is the dominant source of underwater noise in the inlet.

Belugas rely on sound for many aspects of their life, such as finding food, avoiding predators, and maintaining social bonds.

They produce a variety of vocalizations, such as whistles, pulsed calls, and combined calls, which can convey different information and functions.

For example, whistles are often used for contact calls, pulsed calls for echolocation, and combined calls for complex communication.

To better understand how Cook Inlet belugas communicate and how ship noise affects them, a team of researchers from the University of Washington, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other institutions conducted a comprehensive analysis of their vocal behavior.

They recorded and measured over 1,600 beluga calls from 2016 to 2019, and classified them into 41 call types based on their acoustic features.

They also compared the call types with those of other beluga populations, and found that Cook Inlet belugas have a distinct and diverse vocal repertoire, which reflects their unique ecology and history.

Also Read: Researchers Detected Traces of Microplastics in Beluga Whale's Stomach, as Proof of Worsening Contamination

The Masking Effect of Ship Noise

The researchers also investigated how ship noise interferes with beluga communication, by measuring the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the calls in the presence of different ship noise levels.

SNR is a measure of how much a signal stands out from the background noise, and a lower SNR means a higher risk of masking, which is the inability to detect a signal due to noise.

The results showed that all seven of the most common call types of Cook Inlet belugas were partially masked by distant ship noise and completely masked by close ship noise in the frequency range of 0-12 kHz, which is the main range of beluga hearing and vocalization.

This means that belugas may not be able to hear each other or their surroundings when ships are nearby, which could impair their communication, navigation, and survival.

The researchers also found that the masking effect was more severe for whistles than for pulsed calls, because whistles have a narrower frequency bandwidth and a lower sound pressure level than pulsed calls.

This suggests that contact calls may be more vulnerable to noise interference than echolocation calls, which could affect the social cohesion and coordination of beluga groups.

The Implications for Conservation

The study provides important insights into the vocal behavior and the noise exposure of Cook Inlet belugas, which can inform the management and conservation of this endangered population.

The researchers recommend that noise mitigation measures, such as reducing ship speed, rerouting ship traffic, and implementing quiet ship technology, should be implemented to protect the acoustic habitat and the communication of Cook Inlet beluga.

They also suggest that further research is needed to understand how belugas cope with noise, such as by changing their call frequency, duration, or rate, or by shifting their distribution or activity patterns3.

Additionally, they propose that long-term monitoring of beluga vocalizations and noise levels, as well as behavioral and physiological studies, are essential to assess the impacts of noise on the health and fitness of Cook Inlet belugas.

The study highlights the importance of sound for beluga whales, and the challenges they face in a noisy world.

By listening to their voices, we can learn more about their lives and needs, and help them survive and thrive in their natural habitat.

Related article: White Beluga Whale Mimicked Human Voice
Archaeologists in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii have discovered a "bakery prison" where slaves and donkeys were used to crush the grain needed to produce bread.

Slavery

The bakery was found in a home as part of a larger project in the Regio IX area of the Pompeii archaeological park in southern Italy.

It provides further information about the everyday lives of the slaves in Pompeii, who are frequently neglected in histories of the ancient city.

According to a statement from the archeological park, indentations in the floor were also found, which suggested how the animals moved as they were made to walk around for hours while wearing blindfolds.

A small room with iron-barred windows high in the wall and no view of the outside world was also discovered during the excavations.

The bakery was a part of the working quarters of a huge home with well-preserved paintings.

The house was split into a residential part "decorated with exquisite Fourth Style frescoes" and a "productive quarter," which included the bakery, on the 44-hectare site that is currently being excavated.

In one of the bakery's rooms, three skeletons were found, indicating that the home was formerly occupied.

Read Also: Scientists Unearth Legendary 14,000-Year-Old Village in Canada That Could Rewrite North American History

Shocking Side Of Ancient Slavery

Pompeii director Gabriel Zuchtreigel describes the discovery as the "shocking side of ancient slavery."

"The one devoid of both trusting relationships and promises of manumission, where we were reduced to brute violence, an impression that is entirely confirmed by the securing of the few windows with iron bars," he added.

Archaeologists discovered in August a modest bedroom in a Roman home close to Pompeii, which provided insight into the living conditions of slaves in antiquity.

In an effort to reverse years of deterioration and neglect, the site has seen a surge in archeological activity recently.

More proof of this hard everyday existence is available to the public at the "The Other Pompeii: Ordinary Lives in the Shadow of Vesuvius" exhibition, which opens on December 15 at the Palestra Grande in Pompeii.

"(The exhibition is) dedicated to that myriad of individuals often forgotten by the historical sources, such as the slaves, who constituted the majority of the population and whose labour contributed in an important way not only to the economy, but also to the culture and social fabric of Roman civilization," the Pompeii authorities said.

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, burying Pompeii and the surrounding countryside in volcanic ash, thousands of Romans, unaware that they were living beneath one of the largest volcanoes in Europe, perished.

The city was covered in a heavy coating of ash by the eruption, although many of its citizens and structures were spared.

The rock and ash formed eerie forms around the curled-up corpses of the disaster's victims, estimated to be 3,000 in number, and helped preserve several buildings nearly to their original state.

After Rome's Colosseum, Pompeii is Italy's most popular tourist destination.

Related Article: Historic Discovery: Archaeologists Unearth Secret Ancient Egyptian City and Cemetery
In a landmark development, the UK is set to lead a new Maritime Capability Coalition in collaboration with Norway. The British Ministry of Defense, in its statement dated December 11, 2023, announced this strategic alliance. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed the transfer of two Royal Navy Sandown Class minehunter ships to the Ukrainian Navy, marking a significant step in strengthening Ukraines maritime capabilities.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Pictured is HMS Shoreham (M112) Sandown-class minehunter off the coast of Bahrain whilst deployed on Op KIPION. (Picture source UK MoD )

This transfer includes two Sandown Class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMV), which are expected to play a critical role in enhancing the Armed Forces of Ukraines (AFU) ability to operate at sea. The procurement of these ships by Ukraine facilitated through UK Export Finance, will be officially announced by Shapps today in London. His Norwegian counterpart will join him in this pivotal event, where they will also jointly launch the Maritime Capability Coalition.

This coalition aims to provide long-term support to Ukraine, helping to transform its navy. The focus will be on making it more compatible with Western allies and interoperable with NATO, thereby bolstering security in the Black Sea region. This initiative is a response to Ukraines ongoing struggle with Putins blockade in the Black Sea, which has significantly hampered the country's ability to transport vital exports via maritime routes. Enhancing the AFUs capacity, especially in countering Russian sea mines, is seen as crucial to restoring Ukraines maritime export capabilities.

This move builds upon the UK Foreign Secretarys visit to Ukraine last month. During this visit, the launch of the Unity Facility was celebrated. This is a collaboration between UK company Marsh McLennan and the Ukrainian Government, aiming to provide affordable shipping insurance for grain and other critical food supplies globally from Ukraines Black Sea ports. It's a strategic step to support international efforts in alleviating the global food crisis.

The formation of the Maritime Capability Coalition and the transfer of minehunter ships underscore the UK and Norway's commitment to supporting Ukraine. This collaborative defense initiative is expected to have significant implications for the security dynamics in the Black Sea region and beyond.

The Sandown Class minehunters, employed by the Royal Navy, are specialized naval vessels designed for the detection and neutralization of mines in marine environments. These ships are renowned for their fiberglass hulls, which significantly reduce their magnetic signature, a crucial feature that minimizes the risk of detonating magnetic mines. Typically measuring around 52.5 meters in length and displacing approximately 600 tonnes, these vessels are relatively small, enhancing their maneuverability in confined waters, a vital attribute for mine-clearing operations. They are equipped with powerful sonar systems, specifically the Type 2093 Variable Depth Sonar, which is adept at detecting mines and other underwater objects. This sonar system can be lowered beneath the sea to get a clearer picture of the seabed, essential for identifying mines.

The Sandown Class also boasts advanced mine disposal systems, including the Seafox mine disposal system, a remotely operated underwater vehicle that can safely neutralize mines. This capability ensures that the ship and its crew remain at a safe distance during mine clearance operations. Additionally, these minehunters are armed with a 30mm DS30M Mark 2 Automated Small Calibre Gun and two 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns for self-defense. Powered by diesel engines, they can reach speeds of up to 13 knots and have a range of approximately 2,500 nautical miles, allowing for extended operations. The ships also accommodate a crew of around 34 personnel, providing a balance of automation and human expertise essential for mine warfare. Overall, the Sandown Class minehunters are compact yet highly effective vessels, specifically tailored for the critical task of ensuring safe maritime passages by clearing naval mines.
On December 11, 2023, Saab, the renowned Swedish defense and security company, announced the sale of a Double Eagle Semi-Autonomous Remotely Operated Vehicle (SAROV) to the Kuwait Naval Force. This strategic move is part of a contract awarded by the US Navy, underscoring the growing importance of advanced naval defense technology in international military partnerships.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

"Double Eagle" Semi-Autonomous Remotely Operated Vehicle (SAROV). (Picture source: Saab)

The Double Eagle SAROV, a key player in the family of underwater vehicles, is recognized for its operational efficiency and safety in mine countermeasure (MCM) missions globally. This vehicle offers dual capabilities: functioning as an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) for detection, classification, and identification, as well as a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) for mine disposal. The acquisition of this advanced system by the US Navy, under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, is intended to enhance the capabilities of the Kuwait Naval Force.

The Double Eagle SAROV's design and sophisticated sensors allow it to provide multifunctional capabilities for MCM operators. The system is hydro-dynamically stable and highly reliable, delivering both exceptional performance and low lifecycle cost.

The Double Eagle SAROV package enhances the capabilities of the Double Eagle family of ROVs and creates an AUV/ROV hybrid. The vehicle can be operated as an ROV using two different tethers. One is a thin fiber tether for real-time communication and long-range missions (>3 km) while the vehicle is powered by its internal battery. Alternatively, a combined power and communication tether can be used, with a standard length of 1,000 m for endurance missions. However, the package enables the SAROV to be operated both with and without a tether, thereby increasing its range and versatility. The Double Eagle SAROV package has an operational depth of 300m and a payload capacity of 250kg.

Developed and produced at Saab's facility in Linkoping, Sweden, this contract signifies not only a major expansion of Swedish defense technology into the US market but also marks a significant milestone in Saabs global production strategy. Saab Inc.'s Autonomous and Undersea Systems Division in the United States will closely collaborate with other production sites in Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Denmark in manufacturing parts of this sophisticated system.

Erik Smith, President and CEO of Saab in the US, expressed his enthusiasm for introducing this undersea vehicle capability to the United States. He emphasized the establishment of a highly experienced team of undersea vehicle experts and the creation of significant new production capabilities within Saab, positioning the company for greater expansion in the US market.

Finally, one of the notable features of the Double Eagle systems is their high maneuverability and adaptability. They can be launched from a variety of platforms, including ships, shorelines, or even craft of opportunity. Additionally, these systems are designed for easy deployment, as they can be housed in standard containers, making them an ideal solution for rapid response to mine threats in various environments.
The United States cast the sole vote on the Security Council against a resolution calling for the immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas. Thirteen Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution on December 8; Britain abstained.

In remarks after the vote, U.S. Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs Robert Wood called the resolution imbalanced and divorced from reality.

We still cannot comprehend why the resolutions authors declined to include language condemning Hamas horrific terrorist attack on October 7. An attack that killed over 12,000 people. Women, children, the elderly. People from a range of nationalities. Burned alive. Gunned down. Subject to obscene sexual violence, he said.

Ambassador Wood noted that for the last 20 years, the Security Council has repeatedly underscored the need to take seriously all reports of conflict-related sexual violence:

Yet this Council and many of its members have been conspicuously silent in response to reports that Hamas committed acts of sexual-and gender-based violence on October 7. These incidents must be investigated and condemned, just as we do in any other conflict.

The resolution also failed to acknowledge that Israel has a right to defend itself against terrorism, consistent with international law. No country, said Ambassador Wood, could or should tolerate what Hamas did on October 7.

Perhaps most unrealistically, Ambassador Wood declared, this resolution retains a call for an unconditional ceasefire  [which] would simply leave Hamas in place, able to regroup and repeat what it did:

As long as Hamas clings to its ideology of destruction, any ceasefire is at best temporary, and is certainly not peace. And any ceasefire that leaves Hamas in control of Gaza would deny Palestinian civilians the chance to build something better for themselves.

The United States deplores the tragic deaths of thousands of civilians in Gaza and supports the renewal of humanitarian pauses to allow for additional aid to the people there, said Ambassador Wood.

The United States will continue the hard work of diplomacy. To free hostages. To increase protection of civilians. To expand humanitarian aid. And to increase an opportunity for Palestinians and Israelis to live side by side in peace and security.

As President Biden [has] reiterated, declared Ambassador Wood, A two-state solution is the only way to guarantee the long-term security of both the Israeli and the Palestinian people.
Businesses that need to build on-premises private clouds have a hardware problem, according to startup Oxide Computer Company. The typical on-premises cloud infrastructure rack consists of multiple commodity appliances (servers, switches, storage) from different vendors, a chaotic tangle of cables, and software layers on top of all of that.

While these systems improve on legacy designs, many of the advantages of cloud computing, such as elastic capacity and multitenancy are lost.

If an enterprise wants to enjoy cloud benefits, their only choice is to rent cloud infrastructure from the likes of AWS or Microsoft Azure. Renting infrastructure provides several benefits, including flexibility and shifting the burden of deploying and maintaining hardware to the service provider. However, renting forces businesses to cede control of critical infrastructure to a third-party.

The problem is that many workloads must run on-premises, due to security, compliance, or even latency concerns. But cobbling together DIY cloud infrastructure is like assembling Ikea furniture, but with each piece coming from a different vendor. Deployment cycles are long, ongoing maintenance is a serious burden, and the one-size-fits-all nature of commodity hardware means that its never quite optimized for the software running on it. The hardware-software mismatch creates unforeseen complexity that can lead to a range of problems, including outages, ongoing performance issues, and underutilization.

Putting the cloud back in private clouds

According to Oxide CEO Steve Tuck, the way forward is to stop thinking of the cloud as a destination. At its core, cloud computing is a way to programmatically interface with large pools of compute, networking, and storage resources, he said. This not only makes it easy for developers to write, deploy and manage software, but it delivers on original cloud promises, such as elastic capacity and better resource utilization.

In other words, Oxides main mission is to put the cloud back in private cloud computing.
By AFP

BEIJING: China is confronting "difficulties and challenges" to its recovery, Beijing's leadership said, according to state media Tuesday, as the world's second-largest economy charts an uneven rebound from the pandemic.

The annual closed-door meeting of Beijing's top decision-makers -- dubbed the Central Economic Work Conference -- comes as China's economy battles headwinds on multiple fronts, from waning consumer demand to a debt crisis in its property sector.

"China still has to overcome some difficulties and challenges to further revive the economy," top leaders, including President Xi Jinping, noted at the meeting, state news agency Xinhua reported.

At the Monday to Tuesday meeting, top officials "decided priorities for the economic work in 2024" and Xi gave a speech, Xinhua said.

"It was noted at the meeting that China's economy has achieved a recovery," the report said.

And according to the officials present, "favourable conditions outweigh unfavourable factors in China's development", state media reported.

"The fundamental trend of the economic recovery and long-term positive outlook has not changed," Xinhua quoted them as saying.

ALSO READ | 'Ticking time bomb': As China's economy enters sick bay, experts fear slump may get deeper

Last week, Xi warned the country's economic recovery remained "at a critical stage", and ordered measures to boost demand and "defuse" risks.

Exports rose in November for the first time in seven months, although the reading compared with a low base from last year when the impact of draconian Covid policies was being felt the most.

Chinese exports -- long a key growth driver -- had largely been in decline since last October, except for a short-lived rebound in March and April.

A surprise drop in imports in November also highlighted weak consumer activity at home.

And figures last week showing the country's slide into deflation accelerated in November also painted a grim picture.

Officials said the decline was linked to "downward fluctuations in the prices of energy and food".

Downgraded

Ratings agency Moody's last week downgraded the outlook on the country's credit rating to negative from stable, citing "broad downside risks to China's fiscal, economic and institutional strength".

ALSO READ | Cracks in the foundation of the Great Wall

Beijing's finance ministry insisted concerns about China's economy were "unnecessary".

Woes in the property sector -- another traditional engine of growth -- remain one of the largest sources of worry.

China's vast real estate industry is mired in a deep debt crisis, with some of the nation's biggest developers owing hundreds of billions of dollars and facing going out of business.

Authorities are on edge as debt fears stoke buyer mistrust, send home prices plummeting and, crucially, threaten to infect other sectors.

Construction and real estate account for around a quarter of China's gross domestic product.

ALSO READ | Global reckoning is unavoidable; we will now have to sit down to a banquet of consequences

China is aiming for "around five percent" growth this year -- from a low base last year when the domestic economy was paralysed by strict Covid restrictions.

But Beijing faces an uphill battle to achieve that target, with authorities under pressure to offer greater support after issuing sovereign bonds worth 1 trillion yuan ($137 billion) in October.

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BEIJING: China is confronting "difficulties and challenges" to its recovery, Beijing's leadership said, according to state media Tuesday, as the world's second-largest economy charts an uneven rebound from the pandemic. The annual closed-door meeting of Beijing's top decision-makers -- dubbed the Central Economic Work Conference -- comes as China's economy battles headwinds on multiple fronts, from waning consumer demand to a debt crisis in its property sector. "China still has to overcome some difficulties and challenges to further revive the economy," top leaders, including President Xi Jinping, noted at the meeting, state news agency Xinhua reported.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); At the Monday to Tuesday meeting, top officials "decided priorities for the economic work in 2024" and Xi gave a speech, Xinhua said. "It was noted at the meeting that China's economy has achieved a recovery," the report said. And according to the officials present, "favourable conditions outweigh unfavourable factors in China's development", state media reported. "The fundamental trend of the economic recovery and long-term positive outlook has not changed," Xinhua quoted them as saying. ALSO READ | 'Ticking time bomb': As China's economy enters sick bay, experts fear slump may get deeper Last week, Xi warned the country's economic recovery remained "at a critical stage", and ordered measures to boost demand and "defuse" risks. Exports rose in November for the first time in seven months, although the reading compared with a low base from last year when the impact of draconian Covid policies was being felt the most. Chinese exports -- long a key growth driver -- had largely been in decline since last October, except for a short-lived rebound in March and April. A surprise drop in imports in November also highlighted weak consumer activity at home. And figures last week showing the country's slide into deflation accelerated in November also painted a grim picture. Officials said the decline was linked to "downward fluctuations in the prices of energy and food". Downgraded Ratings agency Moody's last week downgraded the outlook on the country's credit rating to negative from stable, citing "broad downside risks to China's fiscal, economic and institutional strength". ALSO READ | Cracks in the foundation of the Great Wall Beijing's finance ministry insisted concerns about China's economy were "unnecessary". Woes in the property sector -- another traditional engine of growth -- remain one of the largest sources of worry. China's vast real estate industry is mired in a deep debt crisis, with some of the nation's biggest developers owing hundreds of billions of dollars and facing going out of business. Authorities are on edge as debt fears stoke buyer mistrust, send home prices plummeting and, crucially, threaten to infect other sectors. Construction and real estate account for around a quarter of China's gross domestic product. ALSO READ | Global reckoning is unavoidable; we will now have to sit down to a banquet of consequences China is aiming for "around five percent" growth this year -- from a low base last year when the domestic economy was paralysed by strict Covid restrictions. But Beijing faces an uphill battle to achieve that target, with authorities under pressure to offer greater support after issuing sovereign bonds worth 1 trillion yuan ($137 billion) in October. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
In the ever-changing world of data science, where innovation and technology are perpetually evolving, the need for skilled and competent professionals continues to rise. To meet this demand and empower aspiring data enthusiasts, Excellenc has emerged as a beacon of excellence in data science training in India. With its comprehensive course offerings, experienced faculty, hands-on learning approach, industry partnerships, and placement assistance, Excellenc is contributing significantly towards enhancing the quality of data science training in the country.The journey of Excellenc began with Analytics Space, an analytical consulting firm that identified a common challenge among its team members - despite expensive training from different institutes, they lacked essential practical skills. Determined to revolutionize the data science training landscape, Analytics Space envisioned an institute that would provide comprehensive courses with real-world exposure. Thus, Excellenc was born with a commitment to affordability and accessibility, empowering more individuals to pursue careers in data science, data analytics, and business analytics.Excellenc sets itself apart through its wide range of data science courses, covering topics such as data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, big data, and data visualization. The institute's experienced faculty, composed of working professionals

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By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Close on the heels of the bomb threats to 48 schools in the city, an unidentified caller sent the city police into a tizzy after he told the Bengaluru police control room that he had placed a bomb at Raj Bhavan, the official residence of Karnataka Governor.

The call was made on Monday night around 11.30 pm.

Raj Bhavan is located on Ambedkar Veedhi opposite DRDO.

Security forces carried out the search at the premises until the wee hours of Tuesday and later declared it a hoax as no suspicious objects were found.

Upon receiving the call, control room personnel alerted senior police officers.

Bomb squads, a dog squad, and police personnel carried out the searches and found the call to be a hoax.

The caller is said to have made the call from a mobile phone and the call was traced to Upparpet area.

The police are said to have traced the caller and are questioning him.

The jurisdictional Vidhana Soudha police have taken up a case.

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BENGALURU: Close on the heels of the bomb threats to 48 schools in the city, an unidentified caller sent the city police into a tizzy after he told the Bengaluru police control room that he had placed a bomb at Raj Bhavan, the official residence of Karnataka Governor. The call was made on Monday night around 11.30 pm. Raj Bhavan is located on Ambedkar Veedhi opposite DRDO.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Security forces carried out the search at the premises until the wee hours of Tuesday and later declared it a hoax as no suspicious objects were found. Upon receiving the call, control room personnel alerted senior police officers. Bomb squads, a dog squad, and police personnel carried out the searches and found the call to be a hoax. The caller is said to have made the call from a mobile phone and the call was traced to Upparpet area. The police are said to have traced the caller and are questioning him. The jurisdictional Vidhana Soudha police have taken up a case. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A three-year-old boy died at Navalur after he fell from the eighth floor of the apartment complex in which he was living.

The police said that the boy had accidentally ended up on the eighth floor after he failed to get down at the fifth floor along with his parents. A case of suspicious death was registered and an inquiry is on.

According to the Thalambur police, the deceased boy was identified as M Aarav. He was living with his parents on the fifth floor of a twenty-storied apartment complex at Navalur on the OMR stretch.

On Sunday night, Aarav was riding his bicycle on the ground floor accompanied by his parents. After some time, the family decided to return home.

A senior police officer said, "They were in the lift and the boy was holding his bicycle. When the lift stopped at the fifth floor, the parents got off but the boy could not. The doors of the lift closed and the boy was stuck inside. The lift then stopped at the eighth floor and he got out there. He started searching for his parents."

A worried Aarav went to the balcony on the floor and looked down from the railings to find his parents. It was then that he is believed to have accidentally slipped and fallen. The kid fell on the second floor balcony.

The agitated parents too were climbing up in search of him using the staircase. But before they could get to Aarav, he fell.

People on the second floor found the boy and alerted his parents. Aarav was then rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The Thalambur police sent the body for postmortem to Chengalpattu Government Hospital.

Earlier unfortunate accidents involving kids:

Six-year-old drowns in swimming pool in Sriperumbudur

Seven-year-old boy drowns in Chennai corporation-run swimming pool in Periamet, 3 booked

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CHENNAI: A three-year-old boy died at Navalur after he fell from the eighth floor of the apartment complex in which he was living. The police said that the boy had accidentally ended up on the eighth floor after he failed to get down at the fifth floor along with his parents. A case of suspicious death was registered and an inquiry is on. According to the Thalambur police, the deceased boy was identified as M Aarav. He was living with his parents on the fifth floor of a twenty-storied apartment complex at Navalur on the OMR stretch.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); On Sunday night, Aarav was riding his bicycle on the ground floor accompanied by his parents. After some time, the family decided to return home. A senior police officer said, "They were in the lift and the boy was holding his bicycle. When the lift stopped at the fifth floor, the parents got off but the boy could not. The doors of the lift closed and the boy was stuck inside. The lift then stopped at the eighth floor and he got out there. He started searching for his parents." A worried Aarav went to the balcony on the floor and looked down from the railings to find his parents. It was then that he is believed to have accidentally slipped and fallen. The kid fell on the second floor balcony. The agitated parents too were climbing up in search of him using the staircase. But before they could get to Aarav, he fell. People on the second floor found the boy and alerted his parents. Aarav was then rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. The Thalambur police sent the body for postmortem to Chengalpattu Government Hospital. Earlier unfortunate accidents involving kids: Six-year-old drowns in swimming pool in Sriperumbudur Seven-year-old boy drowns in Chennai corporation-run swimming pool in Periamet, 3 booked Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Tuesday witnessed some heated moments as Home Minister Amit Shah took exception to Trinamool Congress member Saugata Roy referring to the repeal of Article 370, the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya and Uniform Civil Code as BJP's "communal and divisive agenda".

"Ram temple was built as per directions of the Supreme Court, repeal of Article 370 has been endorsed by the Supreme Court. Do you wish to say that the Supreme Court is pursuing a communal agenda?" Shah countered.

UCC has been placed by Constitution-makers in the Directive Principles, he said.

"Do you mean to say that our Constitution-makers were also pursuing a communal agenda?" the Home Minister said.

The House also witnessed a spat between Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Shah, with the Congress leader seeking a timeline from the government on getting back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Chowdhury asked whether the government will be able to reclaim PoK before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"Let us assume that Congress did nothing but you are strong and powerful you should snatch back POK. We want to see if you can get it before the elections you make tall claims inside the House," the Bahrampur MP said.

Hitting back at Chowdhury, Shah said, "I want to ask under whose term did we lose Aksaichin and PoK.

" The issue of PoK was also raised by Saugata Roy, after which Shah retorted; "Under Congress' design West Bengal would have also been part of Bangladesh it was Syama Prasad Mukherjee who ensured that it didn't."

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NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Tuesday witnessed some heated moments as Home Minister Amit Shah took exception to Trinamool Congress member Saugata Roy referring to the repeal of Article 370, the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya and Uniform Civil Code as BJP's "communal and divisive agenda". "Ram temple was built as per directions of the Supreme Court, repeal of Article 370 has been endorsed by the Supreme Court. Do you wish to say that the Supreme Court is pursuing a communal agenda?" Shah countered. UCC has been placed by Constitution-makers in the Directive Principles, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Do you mean to say that our Constitution-makers were also pursuing a communal agenda?" the Home Minister said. The House also witnessed a spat between Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Shah, with the Congress leader seeking a timeline from the government on getting back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Chowdhury asked whether the government will be able to reclaim PoK before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "Let us assume that Congress did nothing but you are strong and powerful you should snatch back POK. We want to see if you can get it before the elections you make tall claims inside the House," the Bahrampur MP said. Hitting back at Chowdhury, Shah said, "I want to ask under whose term did we lose Aksaichin and PoK. " The issue of PoK was also raised by Saugata Roy, after which Shah retorted; "Under Congress' design West Bengal would have also been part of Bangladesh it was Syama Prasad Mukherjee who ensured that it didn't." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Ramashankar By

Express News Service

PATNA: The Janata Dal (United), a part of the Opposition 'INDIA' bloc, has chalked out a comprehensive campaign for Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Nitish is scheduled to tour various states to win the support of people against the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

While Nitish will address a public meeting in Varanasi on December 24, he will also visit Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Gujarat as part of his campaign. Nitish will address a public rally, Nitish Johar, in neighbouring Jharkhand's Ramgarh on January 21 next year.

On Monday, Nitish held a meeting with senior leaders of the party at his official residence and sought their opinion on various issues including the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

JD (U) national chief spokesperson K C Tyagi said that although Nitish's programmes would have no link with the Opposition alliance 'INDIA', his public meetings would aim at pushing the alliance's agenda of overthrowing the BJP from power. He said it was not proper to say that Varanasi was selected as the venue for Nitish's meeting as it was the PM's Lok Sabha constituency, contending that the city was selected as it was the birthplace of veteran socialist leader Raj Narain and also was a stronghold of socialists.

He said that prominent socialist leader Acharya Narendra Dev had also served as vice chancellor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

Tyagi said that Nitish would be touring various states to hold discussions on social justice with prominent leaders and the public. He said that Nitish had started his campaign from Varanasi several years back. He said that his party had extended its support to the movements of the Maratha and Patel communities and Nitish had received invitations from their representatives too. We all are making efforts to dethrone the BJP from power at the Centre in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, he said.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Sanjay Tiwari alias Munna Tiwari said that no leader was better than Nitish to stop the BJP's juggernaut in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

He said there would definitely be positive results if Nitish led the 'INDIA' bloc against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. He contended that the Congress lost the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh due to the overconfidence of senior party leaders.

He said the party high command also had no control over local leaders in those states and at the time of ticket distribution, the acceptability of party candidates among all castes was not considered.

Earlier, Congress MLA Neetu Singh had also demanded that the party high command contest the Lok Sabha election under the leadership of Nitish by showing generosity.

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PATNA: The Janata Dal (United), a part of the Opposition 'INDIA' bloc, has chalked out a comprehensive campaign for Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Nitish is scheduled to tour various states to win the support of people against the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. While Nitish will address a public meeting in Varanasi on December 24, he will also visit Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Gujarat as part of his campaign. Nitish will address a public rally, Nitish Johar, in neighbouring Jharkhand's Ramgarh on January 21 next year. On Monday, Nitish held a meeting with senior leaders of the party at his official residence and sought their opinion on various issues including the upcoming Lok Sabha election.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); JD (U) national chief spokesperson K C Tyagi said that although Nitish's programmes would have no link with the Opposition alliance 'INDIA', his public meetings would aim at pushing the alliance's agenda of overthrowing the BJP from power. He said it was not proper to say that Varanasi was selected as the venue for Nitish's meeting as it was the PM's Lok Sabha constituency, contending that the city was selected as it was the birthplace of veteran socialist leader Raj Narain and also was a stronghold of socialists. He said that prominent socialist leader Acharya Narendra Dev had also served as vice chancellor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Tyagi said that Nitish would be touring various states to hold discussions on social justice with prominent leaders and the public. He said that Nitish had started his campaign from Varanasi several years back. He said that his party had extended its support to the movements of the Maratha and Patel communities and Nitish had received invitations from their representatives too. We all are making efforts to dethrone the BJP from power at the Centre in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, he said. Meanwhile, Congress MLA Sanjay Tiwari alias Munna Tiwari said that no leader was better than Nitish to stop the BJP's juggernaut in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. He said there would definitely be positive results if Nitish led the 'INDIA' bloc against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. He contended that the Congress lost the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh due to the overconfidence of senior party leaders. He said the party high command also had no control over local leaders in those states and at the time of ticket distribution, the acceptability of party candidates among all castes was not considered. Earlier, Congress MLA Neetu Singh had also demanded that the party high command contest the Lok Sabha election under the leadership of Nitish by showing generosity. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Pranab Mondal By

Express News Service

KOLKATA: BJPs turf turned into the epicentre of Bengal politics on Tuesday, as West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her former lieutenant-turned-present leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, standing in the small town of Siliguri in north Bengal, accused each others party of depriving the people of the state.

Mamata will visit Delhi end of this week to attend the INDIA blocs meeting and a protest event against the states dues from the Centre. The Prime Ministers office on Tuesday approved her request for a meeting with Modi informing her that the PM will meet her around 11 am on December 20.

A war of words between Mamata and Adhikari, who defeated her in Nandigram in East Midnapore in the high-octane 2021 Assembly polls, broke out in Siliguri on Tuesday as the Trinamool Congress supremo lambasted the BJP-led Centre for not funding the schemes meant for minorities and backward class people while Adhikari hit back saying the people of north Bengal had realised her hatred for them four years ago, in the 2023 general elections, and as a result, the saffron camp bagged seven Lok Sabha seats out of eight in the northern part of the state.

The Centre is behaving step-motherly with the people of Bengal. They are not giving us funds meant for several welfare schemes that target minorities and backward-class people as beneficiaries. They are not even releasing funds for constructing roads in rural Bengal. The Centre already sent 108 teams to Bengal and showed no interest to clear the states dues, including Bengals stake in the GST, lashed out Mamata while addressing a rally at Kanchanjangha stadium during her four-day trip to north Bengal.

ALSO READ | Bengal could have added more people under welfare schemes if Centre cleared state's dues: Mamata

Adhikari, who was also in the headquarters of the Jalpaiguri district, described Mamatas north Bengal visit as a tourist venture and her allegations against the Centre as a move to hoodwink the people of the region.

She comes to north Bengal as a tourist. What North Bengal thinks today, Bengal thinks tomorrow. The people living here realised her real face of honesty four years ago. They realised her hatred for North Bengal. As a result, we won seven out of eight Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections in North Bengal. We will get all seats in the northern region in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and our partys tally will also increase to a significant figure in south Bengal as well. Before elections, the chief minister comes to north Bengal to hoodwink the people living here, said Adhikari.

The BJP won 18 LS seats out of 42 in Bengal in the 2019 general elections.

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KOLKATA: BJPs turf turned into the epicentre of Bengal politics on Tuesday, as West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her former lieutenant-turned-present leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, standing in the small town of Siliguri in north Bengal, accused each others party of depriving the people of the state. Mamata will visit Delhi end of this week to attend the INDIA blocs meeting and a protest event against the states dues from the Centre. The Prime Ministers office on Tuesday approved her request for a meeting with Modi informing her that the PM will meet her around 11 am on December 20. A war of words between Mamata and Adhikari, who defeated her in Nandigram in East Midnapore in the high-octane 2021 Assembly polls, broke out in Siliguri on Tuesday as the Trinamool Congress supremo lambasted the BJP-led Centre for not funding the schemes meant for minorities and backward class people while Adhikari hit back saying the people of north Bengal had realised her hatred for them four years ago, in the 2023 general elections, and as a result, the saffron camp bagged seven Lok Sabha seats out of eight in the northern part of the state.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Centre is behaving step-motherly with the people of Bengal. They are not giving us funds meant for several welfare schemes that target minorities and backward-class people as beneficiaries. They are not even releasing funds for constructing roads in rural Bengal. The Centre already sent 108 teams to Bengal and showed no interest to clear the states dues, including Bengals stake in the GST, lashed out Mamata while addressing a rally at Kanchanjangha stadium during her four-day trip to north Bengal. ALSO READ | Bengal could have added more people under welfare schemes if Centre cleared state's dues: Mamata Adhikari, who was also in the headquarters of the Jalpaiguri district, described Mamatas north Bengal visit as a tourist venture and her allegations against the Centre as a move to hoodwink the people of the region. She comes to north Bengal as a tourist. What North Bengal thinks today, Bengal thinks tomorrow. The people living here realised her real face of honesty four years ago. They realised her hatred for North Bengal. As a result, we won seven out of eight Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections in North Bengal. We will get all seats in the northern region in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and our partys tally will also increase to a significant figure in south Bengal as well. Before elections, the chief minister comes to north Bengal to hoodwink the people living here, said Adhikari. The BJP won 18 LS seats out of 42 in Bengal in the 2019 general elections. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

JAIPUR: The BJP legislature party meeting to pick the new chief minister of Rajasthan began in Jaipur on Tuesday afternoon.

The meeting is being held at the BJP office in the presence of the party's three central observers led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The two other observers are Vinod Tawde and Saroj Pandey

The meeting will elect the legislature party's leader, who will be the chief minister, following the BJP's victory in the recent assembly elections.

#WATCH | BJP central observers for Rajasthan, Rajnath Singh, Vinod Tawde, Saroj Pandey along with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, BJP leaders CP Joshi, Vasundhara Raje and other leaders at the BJP office in Jaipur. pic.twitter.com/ek4RXxyyq5  ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2023

The newly elected MLAs have already reached the party office for the meeting. After the announcement of the chief minister, a delegation will go to the Raj Bhawan to stake claim to form the government.

Asked about the probable candidate for the chief minister's post, party leaders maintained that the decision of the high command would be acceptable to all.

The BJP won 115 seats out of the 199 that went to polls. Polling was postponed in one constituency due to the death of a candidate.

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JAIPUR: The BJP legislature party meeting to pick the new chief minister of Rajasthan began in Jaipur on Tuesday afternoon. The meeting is being held at the BJP office in the presence of the party's three central observers led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The two other observers are Vinod Tawde and Saroj Pandeygoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The meeting will elect the legislature party's leader, who will be the chief minister, following the BJP's victory in the recent assembly elections. #WATCH | BJP central observers for Rajasthan, Rajnath Singh, Vinod Tawde, Saroj Pandey along with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, BJP leaders CP Joshi, Vasundhara Raje and other leaders at the BJP office in Jaipur. pic.twitter.com/ek4RXxyyq5  ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2023 The newly elected MLAs have already reached the party office for the meeting. After the announcement of the chief minister, a delegation will go to the Raj Bhawan to stake claim to form the government. Asked about the probable candidate for the chief minister's post, party leaders maintained that the decision of the high command would be acceptable to all. The BJP won 115 seats out of the 199 that went to polls. Polling was postponed in one constituency due to the death of a candidate. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

After tasting success, BJP turns to Punjab

Riding on recent victories in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is strategically positioning itself to translate regional success into a formidable political force in Punjab. Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar is engaging with party workers, preparing them for what he deems a defining moment for Punjab BJP. However, the appointment of new district presidents has become a point of contention. While Jakhar may replace district presidents, state organisation secretary Manthri Srinivasulu has opposed the move.

BJP leaders, Oppn attend weddings across state

Political leaders from the ruling BJP, JJP, and the Opposition Congress are actively participating in wedding ceremonies across the state, claiming they attend as invited guests. However, their true agenda is to bolster connections with the public ahead of next years parliamentary and assembly polls. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Bhisnoi, a senior BJP leader, is immersed in distributing wedding cards for his son Bhayva Bhisnoi, a BJP MLA. The festivities span Udaipur with receptions in Pushkar, Adampur, and Delhi. Bhisnoi aims to distribute cards across Hisar Lok Sabha constituency.

IMA threatens stir over ministers remark

While attending a function at Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in Faridkot, Punjab, Social Security Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur, in her speech, highlighted the prevalence of corrupt practices among doctors. She expressed concern about how innocent young doctors were being exposed to such unethical conduct. This stirred discontent among doctors, considering her own background as a former physician. In response, the Indian Medical Association convened an emergency meeting and threatened to initiate a protest, demanding an apology from the minister. The association also criticised her for insulting her mentors and superiors.

Harpreet Bajwa

Our correspondent in Chandigarh

hsbajwa73@gmail.com

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After tasting success, BJP turns to Punjab Riding on recent victories in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is strategically positioning itself to translate regional success into a formidable political force in Punjab. Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar is engaging with party workers, preparing them for what he deems a defining moment for Punjab BJP. However, the appointment of new district presidents has become a point of contention. While Jakhar may replace district presidents, state organisation secretary Manthri Srinivasulu has opposed the move. BJP leaders, Oppn attend weddings across state Political leaders from the ruling BJP, JJP, and the Opposition Congress are actively participating in wedding ceremonies across the state, claiming they attend as invited guests. However, their true agenda is to bolster connections with the public ahead of next years parliamentary and assembly polls. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Bhisnoi, a senior BJP leader, is immersed in distributing wedding cards for his son Bhayva Bhisnoi, a BJP MLA. The festivities span Udaipur with receptions in Pushkar, Adampur, and Delhi. Bhisnoi aims to distribute cards across Hisar Lok Sabha constituency. IMA threatens stir over ministers remark While attending a function at Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in Faridkot, Punjab, Social Security Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur, in her speech, highlighted the prevalence of corrupt practices among doctors. She expressed concern about how innocent young doctors were being exposed to such unethical conduct. This stirred discontent among doctors, considering her own background as a former physician. In response, the Indian Medical Association convened an emergency meeting and threatened to initiate a protest, demanding an apology from the minister. The association also criticised her for insulting her mentors and superiors.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Harpreet Bajwa Our correspondent in Chandigarh hsbajwa73@gmail.com Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Days after her expulsion from the Lok Sabha, 49-year-old Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra on Monday knocked the doors of the Supreme Court against her removal, a lawyer connected with the case told TNIE.

The action against the TMC leader came after the Lok Sabhas ethics panel found her guilty of accepting cash and expensive gifts from a businessman to ask questions attacking the Adani group and cornering the Narendra Modi-led government in Parliament. The charges against her include sharing her Parliament login credentials to unauthorised people for posting questions directly on her behalf.

Former Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra has filed a petition before the Supreme Court to challenge her expulsion from the Lower House in the cash-for-query scam, her lawyer said. He added that the petition is likely to come up for hearing within a week or even sooner, given the gravity of the case.

In her petition, Mahua has sought enforcement of her fundamental rights recognised by the Constitution. The Ethics Committee order is unfair, unjust and arbitrary, she said in her petition, adding that she was denied natural justice during the committees investigation against her.

Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha on December 8, following a heated debate in the House over the ethics panels report. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved the motion to expel the TMC MP for unethical conduct, which was adopted by the House by a voice vote. During the debate, the Lok Sabha Speaker did not allow Moitra to speak. The ethics panel report had also recommended a legal as well as institutional inquiry against the TMC leader.

Fight to continue

Moitra posted a video message on Sunday, thanking her well-wishers and party activists for their support. She added that she will press ahead with the fight against her expulsion

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NEW DELHI: Days after her expulsion from the Lok Sabha, 49-year-old Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra on Monday knocked the doors of the Supreme Court against her removal, a lawyer connected with the case told TNIE. The action against the TMC leader came after the Lok Sabhas ethics panel found her guilty of accepting cash and expensive gifts from a businessman to ask questions attacking the Adani group and cornering the Narendra Modi-led government in Parliament. The charges against her include sharing her Parliament login credentials to unauthorised people for posting questions directly on her behalf. Former Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra has filed a petition before the Supreme Court to challenge her expulsion from the Lower House in the cash-for-query scam, her lawyer said. He added that the petition is likely to come up for hearing within a week or even sooner, given the gravity of the case.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In her petition, Mahua has sought enforcement of her fundamental rights recognised by the Constitution. The Ethics Committee order is unfair, unjust and arbitrary, she said in her petition, adding that she was denied natural justice during the committees investigation against her. Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha on December 8, following a heated debate in the House over the ethics panels report. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved the motion to expel the TMC MP for unethical conduct, which was adopted by the House by a voice vote. During the debate, the Lok Sabha Speaker did not allow Moitra to speak. The ethics panel report had also recommended a legal as well as institutional inquiry against the TMC leader. Fight to continue Moitra posted a video message on Sunday, thanking her well-wishers and party activists for their support. She added that she will press ahead with the fight against her expulsion Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Centre has told the Supreme Court that it is not possible to collect data on illegal migrants living in various parts of the country as the entry of foreign nationals is clandestine and surreptitious.

In its affidavit filed in the top court which is examining the constitutional validity of section 6A of the Citizenship Act relating to illegal immigrants in Assam, the Centre said 17,861 people have been granted citizenship under the provision.

Answering the court's query posed on December 7, the Centre said 32,381 people have been detected as foreigners under the orders of the foreigner's tribunal concerning the period of 1966-1971.

READ MORE | Citizenship Act Section 6A: Supreme Court questions singling out of Assam

Replying to the court's query about the estimated inflow of illegal immigrants into India, including but not confined to Assam after March 25, 1971, the Centre said illegal immigrants enter the country without valid travel documents clandestinely and surreptitiously.

"The detection, detention and deportation of such illegally staying foreign nationals is a complex ongoing process. Since entry of such foreign nationals into the country is clandestine and surreptitious, it is not possible to collect accurate data of such illegal immigrants living in various parts of the country," the Centre said.

The government said in the past five years from 2017 to 2022, 14,346 foreigners were deported.

Giving some figures, the Centre said 100 foreign tribunals are presently working in Assam and as of October 31, 2023, more than 3.34 lakh cases have been disposed of and still 97, 714 as on October 31.

It said the number of cases pending before the Gauhati High Court, arising from the orders of the Foreigners Tribunal is 8,461 as of December 1, 2023.

READ MORE | Citizenship Act Section 6A: Assam's indigenous people will become foreigners, petitioners tell SC

The government gave details about the working of the Assam Police, fencing of borders, border patrols and other mechanisms adopted to dissuade infiltration.

On December 7, the top court directed the Centre to provide data on the number of Bangladeshi immigrants granted Indian citizenship in Assam between January 1, 1966 and March 25, 1971.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, which is hearing a batch of pleas on the validity of section 6A of the Citizenship Act had asked the state government to provide the data to the Centre for filing an affidavit.

It had also asked the Centre to inform it about the steps taken to deal with illegal immigration into India, particularly the North Eastern states.

Section 6A of the Citizenship Act relates to illegal immigrants in Assam. The provision was inserted into the Citizenship Act as a special provision to deal with the citizenship of people covered under the Assam Accord.

It says those who came to Assam on or after January 1, 1966, but before March 25, 1971, from specified territories, including Bangladesh, per the Citizenship Act amended in 1985, and since then are residents of the northeastern state, must register themselves under section 18 for acquiring Indian citizenship.

As a result, the provision fixes March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for granting citizenship to Bangladeshi migrants in Assam.

READ MORE | 'What steps have been taken to curb illegal migration into India?': SC poser to Centre

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NEW DELHI: The Centre has told the Supreme Court that it is not possible to collect data on illegal migrants living in various parts of the country as the entry of foreign nationals is clandestine and surreptitious. In its affidavit filed in the top court which is examining the constitutional validity of section 6A of the Citizenship Act relating to illegal immigrants in Assam, the Centre said 17,861 people have been granted citizenship under the provision. Answering the court's query posed on December 7, the Centre said 32,381 people have been detected as foreigners under the orders of the foreigner's tribunal concerning the period of 1966-1971.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); READ MORE | Citizenship Act Section 6A: Supreme Court questions singling out of Assam Replying to the court's query about the estimated inflow of illegal immigrants into India, including but not confined to Assam after March 25, 1971, the Centre said illegal immigrants enter the country without valid travel documents clandestinely and surreptitiously. "The detection, detention and deportation of such illegally staying foreign nationals is a complex ongoing process. Since entry of such foreign nationals into the country is clandestine and surreptitious, it is not possible to collect accurate data of such illegal immigrants living in various parts of the country," the Centre said. The government said in the past five years from 2017 to 2022, 14,346 foreigners were deported. Giving some figures, the Centre said 100 foreign tribunals are presently working in Assam and as of October 31, 2023, more than 3.34 lakh cases have been disposed of and still 97, 714 as on October 31. It said the number of cases pending before the Gauhati High Court, arising from the orders of the Foreigners Tribunal is 8,461 as of December 1, 2023. READ MORE | Citizenship Act Section 6A: Assam's indigenous people will become foreigners, petitioners tell SC The government gave details about the working of the Assam Police, fencing of borders, border patrols and other mechanisms adopted to dissuade infiltration. On December 7, the top court directed the Centre to provide data on the number of Bangladeshi immigrants granted Indian citizenship in Assam between January 1, 1966 and March 25, 1971. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, which is hearing a batch of pleas on the validity of section 6A of the Citizenship Act had asked the state government to provide the data to the Centre for filing an affidavit. It had also asked the Centre to inform it about the steps taken to deal with illegal immigration into India, particularly the North Eastern states. Section 6A of the Citizenship Act relates to illegal immigrants in Assam. The provision was inserted into the Citizenship Act as a special provision to deal with the citizenship of people covered under the Assam Accord. It says those who came to Assam on or after January 1, 1966, but before March 25, 1971, from specified territories, including Bangladesh, per the Citizenship Act amended in 1985, and since then are residents of the northeastern state, must register themselves under section 18 for acquiring Indian citizenship. As a result, the provision fixes March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for granting citizenship to Bangladeshi migrants in Assam. READ MORE | 'What steps have been taken to curb illegal migration into India?': SC poser to Centre Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Sudhir Suryawanshi By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: Mumbai Congress unit president Varsha Gaikwad on Monday alleged that retired encounter specialists have been tasked by the redevelopers of the Dharavi slum to terrorise the slum dwellers for vacating the land.

Billionaire Gautam Adani has formed a joint venture with the slum rehabilitation authority to redevelop Dharavi, Asias largest slum which houses nearly 68,000 slum dwellers. The project, one of the largest in India, was awarded to him earlier this year by the Maharashtra government.

Many retired police officers and encounter specialists roam around Dharavi, issue notices and threaten the settlers. There is an air of oppression in the area. The people should be rehabilitated before commencing the project, Gaikwad stated while speaking in the state assembly.

The Dharavi redevelopment project (DRP) has been in talk for a while now. Earlier, we used to watch in movies that a builder has an eye on land and tries to usurp it by oppressing people living there. Today, Dharavi residents are witnessing and experiencing the same kind of oppression in reality, she alleged.

Gaikawad, who is also a Congress MLA from Dharavi, asked the government to inform the Dharavi people about their rehabilitation. If they [residents] are not given what they deserve before the project begins, we will launch a protest, she added.

The Congress leader also asked the government to acquire a railway plot adjoining Dharavi. The state government has paid Rs 900 crore for this railway plot. There are slums over it. No assurance has been given to slum dwellers living there and these encounter specialists are roaming and threatening them to vacate the plot, Gaikwad alleged.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray supported Gaikawad in her demand saying that his party will not allow private developers to grab the land of slum dwellers. The right of people is more important than development, he said. Unless and until the Dharavi residents are not rehabilitated properly, we will not allow the redevelopment project, Thackeray added.

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MUMBAI: Mumbai Congress unit president Varsha Gaikwad on Monday alleged that retired encounter specialists have been tasked by the redevelopers of the Dharavi slum to terrorise the slum dwellers for vacating the land. Billionaire Gautam Adani has formed a joint venture with the slum rehabilitation authority to redevelop Dharavi, Asias largest slum which houses nearly 68,000 slum dwellers. The project, one of the largest in India, was awarded to him earlier this year by the Maharashtra government. Many retired police officers and encounter specialists roam around Dharavi, issue notices and threaten the settlers. There is an air of oppression in the area. The people should be rehabilitated before commencing the project, Gaikwad stated while speaking in the state assembly.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Dharavi redevelopment project (DRP) has been in talk for a while now. Earlier, we used to watch in movies that a builder has an eye on land and tries to usurp it by oppressing people living there. Today, Dharavi residents are witnessing and experiencing the same kind of oppression in reality, she alleged. Gaikawad, who is also a Congress MLA from Dharavi, asked the government to inform the Dharavi people about their rehabilitation. If they [residents] are not given what they deserve before the project begins, we will launch a protest, she added. The Congress leader also asked the government to acquire a railway plot adjoining Dharavi. The state government has paid Rs 900 crore for this railway plot. There are slums over it. No assurance has been given to slum dwellers living there and these encounter specialists are roaming and threatening them to vacate the plot, Gaikwad alleged. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray supported Gaikawad in her demand saying that his party will not allow private developers to grab the land of slum dwellers. The right of people is more important than development, he said. Unless and until the Dharavi residents are not rehabilitated properly, we will not allow the redevelopment project, Thackeray added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Hero Vired ensures that its programs are of the highest quality, over coming geographical barriers & allowing learners to access esteemed institutes & industry influencers

What sets Hero Vired apart is its collaborative approach to program development. By partnering with industry leaders, the company ensures that its programs are of the highest quality, overcoming geographical barriers and allowing learners to access esteemed institutes and industry influencers. The emphasis on hands-on learning, with 70 percent of sessions being instructor-led live sessions and 30 percent self-paced learning content, fosters a dynamic and engaging learning experience.Hero Vired goes beyond academic training by providing comprehensive placement assistance for all its programs. The career support team offers post-completion guidance, including assistance with resume and LinkedIn profile building. Each learner is assigned a career specialist from the learner success team who assists in building their personal and professional brand, refining presentation and communication skills, and preparing for interviews.Today, traditional degrees may not be sufficient in making professionals ready for skill-based job roles. There is always a need for enhanced skillset which is why we are attempting to go beyond the conventional, sculpting skill-forward learning experience to make our learners job ready. Our faculty at Hero Vired are industry leaders with extensive practical experience. They provide insights deeply rooted in real-world industry practices. Our aim for hands-on training is unwavering, complemented by one-on-one sessions that serve as a compass for our learner's learning journey. Each individual receives personalized guidance, ensuring that doubts are not just clarified, but understanding is deepened., shares Akshay Munjal, Founder & CEO, Hero Vired.In the span of just two years, Hero Vired has successfully placed over 300 learners, showcasing the transformative impact of its programs. One notable success story features a learner from Odisha who transitioned from a non-tech background to a Data Analyst position at Propmath, highlighting the efficacy of Hero Vired's Accelerator Program in Business Analytics and Data Science in facilitating significant career shifts.As the Data Science education landscape in India continues to evolve, Hero Vired is set to play a crucial role in bridging the skills gap and empowering individuals to embark on exciting and rewarding careers in this rapidly growing field. With its innovative programs, industry collaborations, and focus on practical learning, Hero Vired is poised to contribute significantly to the flourishing Data Science ecosystem in India.
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: The number of student visa applications from India to study in Canada has experienced a significant decline, dropping by approximately 40% in the latter half of 2023. The recent announcement by Canada regarding an increase in the financial requirement for international students further compounds the challenges for prospective students.

Starting January 1, 2024, the Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIP) requirement for study permits will be raised to $20,635, doubling the longstanding $10,000 threshold. This change, coupled with expenses for travel and tuition, particularly impacts Indian students, particularly those from Punjab, who constitute a substantial portion of annual applicants for Canadian student visas. Students and their families now face the necessity of securing additional loans to fund their education in Canada.

According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), student visa applications from India to study in Canada declined by 40% in the second half of this year, with only 86,562 applications for new study permits between July and October, compared to 145,881 during the same period last year. While there were 236,077 applications in 2021 and 363,541 in 2022, the numbers dropped to 261,310 by October 2023. As Indians constitute nearly half of international students in Canada, the decline in applications has broader implications for overall enrolment figures.

Shamsher Singh Sandhu, managing director of Canadian Migration Lawyers, emphasises that the increase in the Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIP) from $10,000 to $20,635 will likely result in a drastic reduction in students going to Canada on student visas. He said that post-graduate students have better chances for permanent residency compared to those pursuing diploma courses after Class XII, with the latter facing a mere 1% chance. Additionally, changes in work permit policies may further discourage students, limiting their stay in Canada after completing their studies.

Factors such as political tensions, visa refusal from Canadian authorities, a lack of job opportunities, and high rental costs have contributed to the decline in students interest in studying in Canada. The anticipated impact of these changes on international student intake is expected to be felt by September 2024, potentially leading to restrictions on students in specific regions, driven by concerns such as housing crises and backlash from locals.

The financial burden on parents too has intensified, with the cost of sending students to Canada expected to rise by approximately Rs 6.50 lakh. This financial strain is forcing families to seek additional funds, with middle-class parents finding it challenging to meet the heightened financial requirements for their kids education in Canada.

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CHANDIGARH: The number of student visa applications from India to study in Canada has experienced a significant decline, dropping by approximately 40% in the latter half of 2023. The recent announcement by Canada regarding an increase in the financial requirement for international students further compounds the challenges for prospective students. Starting January 1, 2024, the Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIP) requirement for study permits will be raised to $20,635, doubling the longstanding $10,000 threshold. This change, coupled with expenses for travel and tuition, particularly impacts Indian students, particularly those from Punjab, who constitute a substantial portion of annual applicants for Canadian student visas. Students and their families now face the necessity of securing additional loans to fund their education in Canada.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), student visa applications from India to study in Canada declined by 40% in the second half of this year, with only 86,562 applications for new study permits between July and October, compared to 145,881 during the same period last year. While there were 236,077 applications in 2021 and 363,541 in 2022, the numbers dropped to 261,310 by October 2023. As Indians constitute nearly half of international students in Canada, the decline in applications has broader implications for overall enrolment figures. Shamsher Singh Sandhu, managing director of Canadian Migration Lawyers, emphasises that the increase in the Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIP) from $10,000 to $20,635 will likely result in a drastic reduction in students going to Canada on student visas. He said that post-graduate students have better chances for permanent residency compared to those pursuing diploma courses after Class XII, with the latter facing a mere 1% chance. Additionally, changes in work permit policies may further discourage students, limiting their stay in Canada after completing their studies. Factors such as political tensions, visa refusal from Canadian authorities, a lack of job opportunities, and high rental costs have contributed to the decline in students interest in studying in Canada. The anticipated impact of these changes on international student intake is expected to be felt by September 2024, potentially leading to restrictions on students in specific regions, driven by concerns such as housing crises and backlash from locals. The financial burden on parents too has intensified, with the cost of sending students to Canada expected to rise by approximately Rs 6.50 lakh. This financial strain is forcing families to seek additional funds, with middle-class parents finding it challenging to meet the heightened financial requirements for their kids education in Canada. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Anuraag Singh By

Express News Service

BHOPAL: The BJP on Monday sprang a surprise by picking Mohan Yadav, higher education minister in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, as the Madhya Pradesh chief minister. By picking the 58-year-old OBC leader and third-time MLA, the BJP has unveiled a new, calculated political move to reap electoral gains not only in the central Indian state but also in the politically crucial states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

While MP has around 6% Yadav population (concentrated in areas of Gwalior-Chambal, Bundelkhand and some parts of Malwa-Nimar region), the Yadavs are the largest OBC bloc in Bihar with over 14% population and UP with around 9% population.

The Yadavs are influential because they can swing results in around 60 Lok Sabha constituencies of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, 25-30 have sizeable Yadav population, while 17 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar have Yadav voter base.

By picking Mohan Yadav, who has the strong backing of the RSS, the BJP aims to send out a symbolic message of political empowerment of Yadavs to UP and Bihar, where the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party and Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD are either in power or the primary opposition.

The entire move is also intended largely to send a message to Yadavs in UP and Bihar that the saffron party isnt at all averse to their political empowerment, said a source. Also, by going in for a Brahmin deputy CM in Rajendra Shukla (a powerful minister from Vindhya region which neighbours eastern UP) and Jagdish Devda (Scheduled Caste minister from Malwa region), the party wants to consolidate its position among the Brahmins as well as Dalits.

With ex-Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar likely to be elected as the Speaker, the party is trying to cement its position in the Thakur vote base, particularly in the Gwalior-Chambal region. According to sources, Madhya Pradesh has always been seen as a political experiments laboratory for the Sangh, which would be replicated in other parts of the country. What happened at the MP BJP legislature party meeting in Bhopal shouldnt be seen as a bolt from the blue, said a source.

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BHOPAL: The BJP on Monday sprang a surprise by picking Mohan Yadav, higher education minister in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, as the Madhya Pradesh chief minister. By picking the 58-year-old OBC leader and third-time MLA, the BJP has unveiled a new, calculated political move to reap electoral gains not only in the central Indian state but also in the politically crucial states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. While MP has around 6% Yadav population (concentrated in areas of Gwalior-Chambal, Bundelkhand and some parts of Malwa-Nimar region), the Yadavs are the largest OBC bloc in Bihar with over 14% population and UP with around 9% population. The Yadavs are influential because they can swing results in around 60 Lok Sabha constituencies of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, 25-30 have sizeable Yadav population, while 17 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar have Yadav voter base. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); By picking Mohan Yadav, who has the strong backing of the RSS, the BJP aims to send out a symbolic message of political empowerment of Yadavs to UP and Bihar, where the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party and Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD are either in power or the primary opposition. The entire move is also intended largely to send a message to Yadavs in UP and Bihar that the saffron party isnt at all averse to their political empowerment, said a source. Also, by going in for a Brahmin deputy CM in Rajendra Shukla (a powerful minister from Vindhya region which neighbours eastern UP) and Jagdish Devda (Scheduled Caste minister from Malwa region), the party wants to consolidate its position among the Brahmins as well as Dalits. With ex-Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar likely to be elected as the Speaker, the party is trying to cement its position in the Thakur vote base, particularly in the Gwalior-Chambal region. According to sources, Madhya Pradesh has always been seen as a political experiments laboratory for the Sangh, which would be replicated in other parts of the country. What happened at the MP BJP legislature party meeting in Bhopal shouldnt be seen as a bolt from the blue, said a source. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty By

Express News Service

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to ensure that he did not make any statement in the public domain about the pendency of his plea in the FiberNet scam case.

Mr Naidu is also an accused in the Skill development scam case, and the Apex Court had earlier directed him not to make any public comments in this case.

These observations came from a hearing today, by a two-judge bench of the Apex Court, headed by Justice Aniruddha Bose and also comprising Justice Bela M Trivedi.

The Apex Court was hearing Naidu's Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the Andhra Pradesh High Court's order Erich had refused to grant him anticipatory bail in the FiberNet scam case in October.

The Top court passed this direction, after hearing the arguments from senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing on behalf of the State of Andhra Pradesh.

During the course of the hearing today, Kumar accused Naidu of allegedly continuing to make 'political statements' about the cases against him and his incarceration, in spite of the fact that there is a court order against him giving any comments about the Skill development case.

The court directed that Naidu should refrain from giving any public comments or statements on the FiberNet scam case as well. It also said that the State of AP also had been directed to do the same.

ALSO READ | KCR will be back in action within 6 weeks, says Naidu

Opposing the submissions of Kumar, senior lawyer Siddharth Luthra, pointed to alleged remarks made by Andhra Pradesh's Additional Advocate General (AAG) about the criminal cases against Naidu.

The Apex Court also extended the protection from arrest to Naidu till Jan third week, when it would hear his anticipatory bail plea.

It is to be noted that the Top Court would hear the AP government's plea against Naidu's bail on Jan 19 in the Skill development scam case

Andhra Pradesh's Crime Investigation Department (CID) arrested Naidu on September 9 in connection with a fraud case involving the misappropriation of funds from the Skill Development Corporation, and he had allegedly made a loss to the State exchequer to the tune of Rs 300 crores.

It is significant to note that Naidu has already secured regular bail in the Skill development scam, till further orders.

Andhra Pradesh government's petition in the top court said that the alleged crime against Naidu relates to a project involving the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC), Siemens Industry Software (India) Pvt. Ltd and DesignTech India Private Limited for the establishment of SIEMENS centres of excellence and skill development in six clusters in Andhra Pradesh.

Mr Naidu has been accused of expedited incorporation of the APSSDC by overruling objections that it required Cabinet approval.

It is alleged by the present AP Govt that Naidu allegedly created his choice of appointments in the APSSDC to facilitate the scam.

Naidu, it is alleged by the state govt, also entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Siemens and DesignTech without any tender process.

He also expedited the release of funds for the project before any work was done, even overruling the objections of senior officers such as the Finance Secretary, the state govt alleged in the petition filed before the Top court.

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to ensure that he did not make any statement in the public domain about the pendency of his plea in the FiberNet scam case. Mr Naidu is also an accused in the Skill development scam case, and the Apex Court had earlier directed him not to make any public comments in this case. These observations came from a hearing today, by a two-judge bench of the Apex Court, headed by Justice Aniruddha Bose and also comprising Justice Bela M Trivedi.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Apex Court was hearing Naidu's Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the Andhra Pradesh High Court's order Erich had refused to grant him anticipatory bail in the FiberNet scam case in October. The Top court passed this direction, after hearing the arguments from senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing on behalf of the State of Andhra Pradesh. During the course of the hearing today, Kumar accused Naidu of allegedly continuing to make 'political statements' about the cases against him and his incarceration, in spite of the fact that there is a court order against him giving any comments about the Skill development case. The court directed that Naidu should refrain from giving any public comments or statements on the FiberNet scam case as well. It also said that the State of AP also had been directed to do the same. ALSO READ | KCR will be back in action within 6 weeks, says Naidu Opposing the submissions of Kumar, senior lawyer Siddharth Luthra, pointed to alleged remarks made by Andhra Pradesh's Additional Advocate General (AAG) about the criminal cases against Naidu. The Apex Court also extended the protection from arrest to Naidu till Jan third week, when it would hear his anticipatory bail plea. It is to be noted that the Top Court would hear the AP government's plea against Naidu's bail on Jan 19 in the Skill development scam case Andhra Pradesh's Crime Investigation Department (CID) arrested Naidu on September 9 in connection with a fraud case involving the misappropriation of funds from the Skill Development Corporation, and he had allegedly made a loss to the State exchequer to the tune of Rs 300 crores. It is significant to note that Naidu has already secured regular bail in the Skill development scam, till further orders. Andhra Pradesh government's petition in the top court said that the alleged crime against Naidu relates to a project involving the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC), Siemens Industry Software (India) Pvt. Ltd and DesignTech India Private Limited for the establishment of SIEMENS centres of excellence and skill development in six clusters in Andhra Pradesh. Mr Naidu has been accused of expedited incorporation of the APSSDC by overruling objections that it required Cabinet approval. It is alleged by the present AP Govt that Naidu allegedly created his choice of appointments in the APSSDC to facilitate the scam. Naidu, it is alleged by the state govt, also entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Siemens and DesignTech without any tender process. He also expedited the release of funds for the project before any work was done, even overruling the objections of senior officers such as the Finance Secretary, the state govt alleged in the petition filed before the Top court. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Anuraag Singh By

Express News Service

BHOPAL: The fourth OBC CM of the ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh in the last 20 years, Dr Mohan Yadav, hails from Abdalpura locality of the states temple city, Ujjain. Considered to have a strong RSS backing, Yadav is believed to be close to senior RSS functionary Suresh Soni.

The states higher education minister, before becoming the chief minister, Dr Yadav, was born in 1965 and started his political career with RSSs student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in native Ujjain city during early 1980s.

Holding B.Sc, LLB, MA (Political Science), MBA and PhD (Political Science) degrees, Dr Mohan Yadav started political career in 1982, when he became the co-secretary of Ujjains Madhav Science College Student Union. Two years later he was elected the president of the same student union, when he also served as the city unit secretary of ABVP in Ujjain. In 1988, he was appointed the state co-secretary and member of ABVP national executive, before serving as state secretary of ABVP in 1989-90.

Importantly, the science graduate, arts post graduate and MBA holder Yadav, completed PhD in Political Science while being an MLA for the first time from Ujjain Dakshi seat in 2014. Considered close to senior RSS functionary Suresh Soni, he became the national ABVP secretary in 1991-92, between 1993 and 1995, he held the position of RSS Ujjain Citys Kshetra Pracharak.

In 2003, when Uma Bharti led the BJP to a massive win in the state, Yadav was given the party ticket from Badnagar seat of Ujjain district, but owing to protest over him being an outsider, Yadav had returned the party ticket from the seat.

After the Uma Bharti-led BJP returned to power in MP in 2003, Yadav served as the head of Ujjain Development Authority twice between 2004 and 2010. He served as the chairman of MP Tourism Development Corporation between 2011 and 2013.

In November 2013, Yadav won his first Vidhan Sabha election from Ujjain Dakshin seat by 13,000-plus votes and retained the seat five years later by a margin of just 5381 votes in the 2018 elections. He was sworn in as states minister of higher education in 2020. He retained the Ujjain Dakshin seat for the second time, by defeating Congress candidate Chetan Yadav 12,941-plus votes recently.

Yadavs elder sister Kalavati Yadav is the fifth time sitting municipal councilor and the current chairperson of Ujjain Municipal Corporation. This is the second time in 48 years that a legislator from Ujjain district will be MP CM. Prior to it, Congresss PC Sethi (MLA from Ujjain Uttar seat) was the states CM for 3 years between 1972 and 1975. Importantly, Yadav had taken a vow of not entering the Vidhan Sabha premises before being elected an MLA, which he stuck to till winning his first assembly polls in 2013.

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BHOPAL: The fourth OBC CM of the ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh in the last 20 years, Dr Mohan Yadav, hails from Abdalpura locality of the states temple city, Ujjain. Considered to have a strong RSS backing, Yadav is believed to be close to senior RSS functionary Suresh Soni. The states higher education minister, before becoming the chief minister, Dr Yadav, was born in 1965 and started his political career with RSSs student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in native Ujjain city during early 1980s. Holding B.Sc, LLB, MA (Political Science), MBA and PhD (Political Science) degrees, Dr Mohan Yadav started political career in 1982, when he became the co-secretary of Ujjains Madhav Science College Student Union. Two years later he was elected the president of the same student union, when he also served as the city unit secretary of ABVP in Ujjain. In 1988, he was appointed the state co-secretary and member of ABVP national executive, before serving as state secretary of ABVP in 1989-90.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Importantly, the science graduate, arts post graduate and MBA holder Yadav, completed PhD in Political Science while being an MLA for the first time from Ujjain Dakshi seat in 2014. Considered close to senior RSS functionary Suresh Soni, he became the national ABVP secretary in 1991-92, between 1993 and 1995, he held the position of RSS Ujjain Citys Kshetra Pracharak. In 2003, when Uma Bharti led the BJP to a massive win in the state, Yadav was given the party ticket from Badnagar seat of Ujjain district, but owing to protest over him being an outsider, Yadav had returned the party ticket from the seat. After the Uma Bharti-led BJP returned to power in MP in 2003, Yadav served as the head of Ujjain Development Authority twice between 2004 and 2010. He served as the chairman of MP Tourism Development Corporation between 2011 and 2013. In November 2013, Yadav won his first Vidhan Sabha election from Ujjain Dakshin seat by 13,000-plus votes and retained the seat five years later by a margin of just 5381 votes in the 2018 elections. He was sworn in as states minister of higher education in 2020. He retained the Ujjain Dakshin seat for the second time, by defeating Congress candidate Chetan Yadav 12,941-plus votes recently. Yadavs elder sister Kalavati Yadav is the fifth time sitting municipal councilor and the current chairperson of Ujjain Municipal Corporation. This is the second time in 48 years that a legislator from Ujjain district will be MP CM. Prior to it, Congresss PC Sethi (MLA from Ujjain Uttar seat) was the states CM for 3 years between 1972 and 1975. Importantly, Yadav had taken a vow of not entering the Vidhan Sabha premises before being elected an MLA, which he stuck to till winning his first assembly polls in 2013. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
SV Krishna Chaitanya By

Express News Service

DUBAI: The 12-year-old Indian tribal climate activist Licypriya Kangujam, who staged a dramatic protest disrupting the United National Climate Change Conference (COP28) high-level meet, said she did it spontaneously out of frustration over the lack of political will to phase out fossil fuels.

Kangujam had abruptly ran onto the podium of a high-level meet late on Monday evening and gave a piece of her mind to the packed audience, which included delegates from multiple countries.

"Leaders lie, people die...act now...," she shouted, receiving loud applause. She was quickly escorted by the UN security. While Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi, who was holding the high-level meet, asked the audience to give her another round of applause saying he was proud of all young people who joined at the COP28, it was later learnt that Kangujam's delegate badge was stripped and her entry was blocked on Tuesday.

In an interview with TNIE, the young Meitei girl said UN officials took away her badges and threatened to blacklist her from all future COPs.

"I was warned, asked to behave properly. My badges were taken away. This is a gross violation of child rights. I was just expressing the voice of those children who are victims of climate change. If we keep burning fossil fuels, it will kill millions of people," she said standing outside the entry gate.

Kangujam first attended the COP in 2015 in Spain and, at COP28, she was attending as a Special Envoy of Timor Leste.

The girl's mother Kangujam Onjbi told TNIE she was worried about her daughter, when officials refused to give any update after she was evicted from the podium. "It was after 30-40 minutes that I met her. My badges were also taken away."

On what prompted her to become a climate activist, the young girl said she grew up in Manipur, Odisha and now in New Delhi. All these three places had their own share of climate change issues. "As a child, I saw rich biodiversity vanish in Manipur, experienced back to back devastating cyclonic storms 'Titli' in 2019 and 'Fani' in 2019. In Delhi, we see severe pollution during winter and heat waves in summer. My teachers told me this was climate change and wanted to do something about it. I founded the 'Child Movement' after that and started to get invited for conferences."

Kangujam started campaigning from the age of six and every Friday, she stages a demonstration before Parliament calling for the phasing out of fossil fuels.

While both mother and daughter have urged the UN to return their badges, there is no response yet.

ALSO READ | COP28: Rich rigid on climate finance, developing nations not ready to give up fossil fuels without CBDR

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DUBAI: The 12-year-old Indian tribal climate activist Licypriya Kangujam, who staged a dramatic protest disrupting the United National Climate Change Conference (COP28) high-level meet, said she did it spontaneously out of frustration over the lack of political will to phase out fossil fuels. Kangujam had abruptly ran onto the podium of a high-level meet late on Monday evening and gave a piece of her mind to the packed audience, which included delegates from multiple countries. "Leaders lie, people die...act now...," she shouted, receiving loud applause. She was quickly escorted by the UN security. While Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi, who was holding the high-level meet, asked the audience to give her another round of applause saying he was proud of all young people who joined at the COP28, it was later learnt that Kangujam's delegate badge was stripped and her entry was blocked on Tuesday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In an interview with TNIE, the young Meitei girl said UN officials took away her badges and threatened to blacklist her from all future COPs. "I was warned, asked to behave properly. My badges were taken away. This is a gross violation of child rights. I was just expressing the voice of those children who are victims of climate change. If we keep burning fossil fuels, it will kill millions of people," she said standing outside the entry gate. Kangujam first attended the COP in 2015 in Spain and, at COP28, she was attending as a Special Envoy of Timor Leste. The girl's mother Kangujam Onjbi told TNIE she was worried about her daughter, when officials refused to give any update after she was evicted from the podium. "It was after 30-40 minutes that I met her. My badges were also taken away." On what prompted her to become a climate activist, the young girl said she grew up in Manipur, Odisha and now in New Delhi. All these three places had their own share of climate change issues. "As a child, I saw rich biodiversity vanish in Manipur, experienced back to back devastating cyclonic storms 'Titli' in 2019 and 'Fani' in 2019. In Delhi, we see severe pollution during winter and heat waves in summer. My teachers told me this was climate change and wanted to do something about it. I founded the 'Child Movement' after that and started to get invited for conferences." Kangujam started campaigning from the age of six and every Friday, she stages a demonstration before Parliament calling for the phasing out of fossil fuels. While both mother and daughter have urged the UN to return their badges, there is no response yet. ALSO READ | COP28: Rich rigid on climate finance, developing nations not ready to give up fossil fuels without CBDR Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

A senior BJP leader from the tribal belt of Jashpur in northeast of Chhattisgarh capital Raipur, Vishnu Deo Sai (59) emerged as the favourite candidate for the chief ministers post. After he was elected the leader of the BJP legislature party, he spoke with Ejaz Kaiser on the formation of the government,

challenges, and the plan of action. Excerpts:

Whats your reaction to the BJPs return to power in Chhattisgarh?

The BJP got the mandate from the people who voted for our party. Every segment of the population who was distressed during the five-year rule of the Congress government now feels relieved. The people looked determined not to vote for the corrupt Congress.

Did you expect the party leadership to select you for the CMs post?

I am delighted and would like to extend my gratitude to my party leadership for reposing immense confidence in me and giving the responsibility of the chief minister to a small worker. This opportunity to lead the Chhattisgarh government means a lot since it also reflects the trust of PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda, besides the party workers. I am grateful to all of them.

Is your election as CM an attempt to win over tribals?

The BJP has always held tribals in high esteem. For holistic growth and development, a separate ministry was created for tribals at the Centre during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. Our party appointed a tribal woman as President of India. So, its BJPs endeavour to appreciate tribal legacy and care for their rights. The Congress has used tribals as their vote-bank only.

What will be your first move as the CM?

Our first priority will be to formulate an action plan to fulfill Modi ki guarantee and the pledges of the partys sankalp patra (manifesto) to be accomplished during the next five years. But to start with, the BJP government will now offer a two-year bonus of 2017-18 to farmers directly in their bank accounts on December 25, which is the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who created a separate Chhattisgarh state. The BJP government after taking oath will soon approve the construction of 18 lakh pucca houses for the homeless poor who remained deprived during the last five-year rule of the Congress.

Is fulfilling the promises going to be tough for the new government?

It will be a challenge for the BJP government as the previous Congress government had emptied the state exchequer. But we will work out plans to fulfill BJPs promises to the people.

Will there be any deputy CM in the BJP government and when will you take oath of office?

Let the party decide on taking the oath of office. It will be the central leadership to decide on having deputy chief ministers post. We have sent an invitation to the PM Modi to grace the occasion of the oath-taking ceremony, which will be organised at the Science College ground in the state capital, most likely on Wednesday. Other senior leaders from the Centre will also be invited to attend. We met Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan to stake our claim to form the government and it has been accepted.

How about constituting your cabinet team?

The decision on this will soon be taken after consultations. It will be a team that will deliver on good governance and development.

PM Modi asserted during campaigns that no corrupt person will be spared

Absolutely, the BJP stands for zero tolerance against corruption. There will be a thorough probe into all irregularities and corruption committed during the previous regime. Strict actions will be taken against those found guilty. Our government will be committed to strengthening good governance.

The first thing you did a day after being elected as the CM

As a chief minister I know there will be challenges. So, a day after being chosen for the big role, the first thing that I did was to visit the Ram temple and seek His blessings.

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A senior BJP leader from the tribal belt of Jashpur in northeast of Chhattisgarh capital Raipur, Vishnu Deo Sai (59) emerged as the favourite candidate for the chief ministers post. After he was elected the leader of the BJP legislature party, he spoke with Ejaz Kaiser on the formation of the government, challenges, and the plan of action. Excerpts: Whats your reaction to the BJPs return to power in Chhattisgarh? The BJP got the mandate from the people who voted for our party. Every segment of the population who was distressed during the five-year rule of the Congress government now feels relieved. The people looked determined not to vote for the corrupt Congress. Did you expect the party leadership to select you for the CMs post? I am delighted and would like to extend my gratitude to my party leadership for reposing immense confidence in me and giving the responsibility of the chief minister to a small worker. This opportunity to lead the Chhattisgarh government means a lot since it also reflects the trust of PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda, besides the party workers. I am grateful to all of them. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Is your election as CM an attempt to win over tribals? The BJP has always held tribals in high esteem. For holistic growth and development, a separate ministry was created for tribals at the Centre during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. Our party appointed a tribal woman as President of India. So, its BJPs endeavour to appreciate tribal legacy and care for their rights. The Congress has used tribals as their vote-bank only. What will be your first move as the CM? Our first priority will be to formulate an action plan to fulfill Modi ki guarantee and the pledges of the partys sankalp patra (manifesto) to be accomplished during the next five years. But to start with, the BJP government will now offer a two-year bonus of 2017-18 to farmers directly in their bank accounts on December 25, which is the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who created a separate Chhattisgarh state. The BJP government after taking oath will soon approve the construction of 18 lakh pucca houses for the homeless poor who remained deprived during the last five-year rule of the Congress. Is fulfilling the promises going to be tough for the new government? It will be a challenge for the BJP government as the previous Congress government had emptied the state exchequer. But we will work out plans to fulfill BJPs promises to the people. Will there be any deputy CM in the BJP government and when will you take oath of office? Let the party decide on taking the oath of office. It will be the central leadership to decide on having deputy chief ministers post. We have sent an invitation to the PM Modi to grace the occasion of the oath-taking ceremony, which will be organised at the Science College ground in the state capital, most likely on Wednesday. Other senior leaders from the Centre will also be invited to attend. We met Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan to stake our claim to form the government and it has been accepted. How about constituting your cabinet team? The decision on this will soon be taken after consultations. It will be a team that will deliver on good governance and development. PM Modi asserted during campaigns that no corrupt person will be spared Absolutely, the BJP stands for zero tolerance against corruption. There will be a thorough probe into all irregularities and corruption committed during the previous regime. Strict actions will be taken against those found guilty. Our government will be committed to strengthening good governance. The first thing you did a day after being elected as the CM As a chief minister I know there will be challenges. So, a day after being chosen for the big role, the first thing that I did was to visit the Ram temple and seek His blessings. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Mukesh Ranjan By

Express News Service

RANCHI: Suspense grips over Chief Minister Hemant Soren's appearance before the Enforcement Directorate as he is scheduled to go to Dumka to attend Aapki Yojana, Apki Sarkar Aapke Dwar programme on Tuesday.

Though there is no official communication in this regard, looking at the last-minute preparations being

done in Dumka, it could be presumed that he will skip the ED summons again on Tuesday for the sixth consecutive time in a land scam case.

Meanwhile, State BJP President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi suggested Soren face the ED. He also urged the Governor to take strict action against him, if he failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate.

If the Chief Minister himself defies the law then he should be dismissed from the post, said Marandi. If CM himself does not follow the rules, it conveys a bad message to the people, he added.

Notably, ED has summoned Soren again by ED for the sixth time in a land scam case as he ignored five summons issued earlier to him.

Interestingly, the Jharkhand High Court has already rejected his petition challenging the summons issued against him by the ED in a land scam case.

Incidentally, Soren moved to Jharkhand High Court after the Supreme Court refused to entertain his petition directing him to approach the High Court instead of coming directly to the apex court. Soren had approached the Supreme Court challenging the summons issued by the ED saying that it is wrong for the ED to summon him in the land scam, but the Apex Court refused to entertain his petition.

Soren skipped the first summons on August 14 and sent a letter to ED asking it to withdraw the summons or he will be forced to take legal action against the agency. But, the ED again issued a summon against Soren asking him to appear before it on August 24.

Soren skipped it again and sent a letter to ED saying that he had filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the summons issued to him, but he was summoned again by ED for the third time.

Soren was waiting for the hearing of his petition in the Supreme Court on September 17, but before that, he was issued a fresh summons by ED asking to appear before it on September 23.

Despite going to the ED office, Soren approached Jharkhand High Court against the summons issued against him and sought relief. But, a few days later, ED issued a fresh summons, this time for the fifth time, asking Soren to appear before the Central Investigation Agency on October 4, which he skipped again.

ED is probing two major cases of money laundering in Jharkhand.

The first case is related to illegal mining in Sahibganj in which the CM was questioned on November 17 last year.

The second case is related to an alleged land scam in the state capital for which Soren has been issued summons twice by the ED. 13 people, including IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan and two businessmen, Amit Agrawal of Kolkata and Bishnu Agarwal, who owns shopping malls in Ranchi, has already been arrested in connection with the alleged land scam.

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RANCHI: Suspense grips over Chief Minister Hemant Soren's appearance before the Enforcement Directorate as he is scheduled to go to Dumka to attend Aapki Yojana, Apki Sarkar Aapke Dwar programme on Tuesday. Though there is no official communication in this regard, looking at the last-minute preparations being done in Dumka, it could be presumed that he will skip the ED summons again on Tuesday for the sixth consecutive time in a land scam case. Meanwhile, State BJP President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi suggested Soren face the ED. He also urged the Governor to take strict action against him, if he failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); If the Chief Minister himself defies the law then he should be dismissed from the post, said Marandi. If CM himself does not follow the rules, it conveys a bad message to the people, he added. Notably, ED has summoned Soren again by ED for the sixth time in a land scam case as he ignored five summons issued earlier to him. Interestingly, the Jharkhand High Court has already rejected his petition challenging the summons issued against him by the ED in a land scam case. Incidentally, Soren moved to Jharkhand High Court after the Supreme Court refused to entertain his petition directing him to approach the High Court instead of coming directly to the apex court. Soren had approached the Supreme Court challenging the summons issued by the ED saying that it is wrong for the ED to summon him in the land scam, but the Apex Court refused to entertain his petition. Soren skipped the first summons on August 14 and sent a letter to ED asking it to withdraw the summons or he will be forced to take legal action against the agency. But, the ED again issued a summon against Soren asking him to appear before it on August 24. Soren skipped it again and sent a letter to ED saying that he had filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the summons issued to him, but he was summoned again by ED for the third time. Soren was waiting for the hearing of his petition in the Supreme Court on September 17, but before that, he was issued a fresh summons by ED asking to appear before it on September 23. Despite going to the ED office, Soren approached Jharkhand High Court against the summons issued against him and sought relief. But, a few days later, ED issued a fresh summons, this time for the fifth time, asking Soren to appear before the Central Investigation Agency on October 4, which he skipped again. ED is probing two major cases of money laundering in Jharkhand. The first case is related to illegal mining in Sahibganj in which the CM was questioned on November 17 last year. The second case is related to an alleged land scam in the state capital for which Soren has been issued summons twice by the ED. 13 people, including IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan and two businessmen, Amit Agrawal of Kolkata and Bishnu Agarwal, who owns shopping malls in Ranchi, has already been arrested in connection with the alleged land scam. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By ANI

NEW DELHI: National Conference chief and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah, when questioned about the Supreme Court's verdict on the abrogation of Article 370, said that Jammu and Kashmir should "go to hell."

"Let Jammu and Kashmir go to hell...They betrayed people. They want to win people's hearts. How'd you win that if you'd do such things to push people farther away?" Abdullah said on Tuesday while talking to reporters.

Coming out in defence of Jawahar Lal Nehru after the BJP blamed the country's first prime minister for decades of violence and instability in Jammu and Kashmir and the special constitutional privileges for the erstwhile state under Article 370, NC stalwart and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday claimed that the former was in the US when the special provision was brought.

Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, the former Jammu and Kashmir CM claimed then Union Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and saffron ideologue and Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mukherjee were involved in the process of according to special constitutional privileges to the erstwhile state.

ALSO READ | 'Disappointed with SC verdict on Article 370': Omar Abdullah, Sajad Lone

"I don't know why they (BJP) have so much venom against (Pandit Jawaharlal) Nehru. Nehru is not the one responsible (for providing special status to J-K under Article 370). When this article (370) was brought, Sardar Patel was here (in Parliament) and Pandit Nehru was in America. When the cabinet meeting (on the imposition of the special constitutional provision) took place, Syama Prasad Mukherjee was also party to it. It was at this meeting that the decision was taken," the NC stalwart said.

Abdullah said he was hopeful that the Supreme Court would direct the Centre to conduct immediate elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

The apex court, while upholding the revocation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir in a landmark ruling on Monday, set a deadline of September next year for the Centre to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and hold elections there.

"We want immediate elections to take place in Kashmir but the Supreme Court gave them time till September. Where's the justice?" he said.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah targeted former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and blamed him for Pakistan's illegal occupation of a portion of Kashmir, known as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

ALSO READ | Amit Shah welcomes SC verdict upholding abrogation of Article 370

Shah was speaking in the Rajya Sabha during a discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Also, in Lok Sabha last week, Shah said that Nehru made two big mistakes due to which Kashmir had to suffer for many years.

READ MORE | What was Article 370 of the Constitution? Why was it revoked?

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NEW DELHI: National Conference chief and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah, when questioned about the Supreme Court's verdict on the abrogation of Article 370, said that Jammu and Kashmir should "go to hell." "Let Jammu and Kashmir go to hell...They betrayed people. They want to win people's hearts. How'd you win that if you'd do such things to push people farther away?" Abdullah said on Tuesday while talking to reporters. Coming out in defence of Jawahar Lal Nehru after the BJP blamed the country's first prime minister for decades of violence and instability in Jammu and Kashmir and the special constitutional privileges for the erstwhile state under Article 370, NC stalwart and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday claimed that the former was in the US when the special provision was brought.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, the former Jammu and Kashmir CM claimed then Union Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and saffron ideologue and Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mukherjee were involved in the process of according to special constitutional privileges to the erstwhile state. ALSO READ | 'Disappointed with SC verdict on Article 370': Omar Abdullah, Sajad Lone "I don't know why they (BJP) have so much venom against (Pandit Jawaharlal) Nehru. Nehru is not the one responsible (for providing special status to J-K under Article 370). When this article (370) was brought, Sardar Patel was here (in Parliament) and Pandit Nehru was in America. When the cabinet meeting (on the imposition of the special constitutional provision) took place, Syama Prasad Mukherjee was also party to it. It was at this meeting that the decision was taken," the NC stalwart said. Abdullah said he was hopeful that the Supreme Court would direct the Centre to conduct immediate elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The apex court, while upholding the revocation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir in a landmark ruling on Monday, set a deadline of September next year for the Centre to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and hold elections there. "We want immediate elections to take place in Kashmir but the Supreme Court gave them time till September. Where's the justice?" he said. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah targeted former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and blamed him for Pakistan's illegal occupation of a portion of Kashmir, known as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). ALSO READ | Amit Shah welcomes SC verdict upholding abrogation of Article 370 Shah was speaking in the Rajya Sabha during a discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Also, in Lok Sabha last week, Shah said that Nehru made two big mistakes due to which Kashmir had to suffer for many years. READ MORE | What was Article 370 of the Constitution? Why was it revoked? Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed two bills that seek to extend the provisions of the women's reservation law to the legislative assemblies of the Union Territories of Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir.

Replying to a debate on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the twin measures will enable greater representation and participation of women as public representatives in law-making processes in the two legislative assemblies.

Hitting out at the opposition, Rai said that "be it the Mughal rule, the reign of aggressors, the British rule or Congress governments", women's rights were snatched, they were never given adequate opportunities to grow and injustice was meted out to them.

Rai said post revocation of Article 370, widow pension has reached 100 per cent saturation coverage in Jammu and Kashmir and one-stop centres for the benefit of women have come up in every district of the Union territory.

In Puducherry, provisions have been made for gender budgeting in the 2023-24 budget to the tune of Rs 1332 crore for the first time, the minister said, adding the 33 per cent reservation has been given to women in police, fire services and local bodies.

During the rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, women have got respect and the right opportunity, Rai said, adding that women were creating new records on the strength of their knowledge and talent.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill seeks to provide reservation for women in the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that came into force following the enactment of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023.

The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill seeks to provide for as nearly as may be, one-third of total seats in the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Puducherry to be reserved for women.

The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 is the official name of the women's reservation law, that seeks to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies During a special session of Parliament in September, the Prime Minister had described the law as "Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam".

The law will take some time before being implemented as the next census and the subsequent delimitation exercise -- redrawing of Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies -- will ascertain the particular seats being earmarked for women.

The quota for women in the Lok Sabha and assemblies will continue for 15 years and Parliament can later extend the benefit period.

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NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed two bills that seek to extend the provisions of the women's reservation law to the legislative assemblies of the Union Territories of Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir. Replying to a debate on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the twin measures will enable greater representation and participation of women as public representatives in law-making processes in the two legislative assemblies. Hitting out at the opposition, Rai said that "be it the Mughal rule, the reign of aggressors, the British rule or Congress governments", women's rights were snatched, they were never given adequate opportunities to grow and injustice was meted out to them.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Rai said post revocation of Article 370, widow pension has reached 100 per cent saturation coverage in Jammu and Kashmir and one-stop centres for the benefit of women have come up in every district of the Union territory. In Puducherry, provisions have been made for gender budgeting in the 2023-24 budget to the tune of Rs 1332 crore for the first time, the minister said, adding the 33 per cent reservation has been given to women in police, fire services and local bodies. During the rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, women have got respect and the right opportunity, Rai said, adding that women were creating new records on the strength of their knowledge and talent. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill seeks to provide reservation for women in the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that came into force following the enactment of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023. The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill seeks to provide for as nearly as may be, one-third of total seats in the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Puducherry to be reserved for women. The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 is the official name of the women's reservation law, that seeks to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies During a special session of Parliament in September, the Prime Minister had described the law as "Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam". The law will take some time before being implemented as the next census and the subsequent delimitation exercise -- redrawing of Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies -- will ascertain the particular seats being earmarked for women. The quota for women in the Lok Sabha and assemblies will continue for 15 years and Parliament can later extend the benefit period. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Jaison Wilson By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday rejected the plea moved by former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah seeking divorce from his estranged wife Payal Abdullah, saying there was no infirmity in the earlier judgment of the family court.

we find no infirmity with the view taken by the family court that the allegations of cruelty were vague and unacceptable and the appellant failed to prove any act which can be termed cruelty either physical or mental. Consequently, we find no merit in the appeal, the same is accordingly dismissed, a bench of justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vikas Mahajan noted in the order.

A detailed order will be available later in the day.

The former J&K chief minister was approaching the high court with his appeal against the family courts August 2016 order which dismissed his divorce petition. Abdullah pleaded their marriage had irretrievably broken down and wanted to get re-married.

As per his plea, the couple got married in 1994 but has not been in a conjugal relationship since 2007. In September 2023, the high court directed Abdullah to pay Rs 1.5 lakh to Payal monthly as interim maintenance and Rs 60,000 each for the education of their two sons every month.

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NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday rejected the plea moved by former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah seeking divorce from his estranged wife Payal Abdullah, saying there was no infirmity in the earlier judgment of the family court. we find no infirmity with the view taken by the family court that the allegations of cruelty were vague and unacceptable and the appellant failed to prove any act which can be termed cruelty either physical or mental. Consequently, we find no merit in the appeal, the same is accordingly dismissed, a bench of justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vikas Mahajan noted in the order. A detailed order will be available later in the day.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The former J&K chief minister was approaching the high court with his appeal against the family courts August 2016 order which dismissed his divorce petition. Abdullah pleaded their marriage had irretrievably broken down and wanted to get re-married. As per his plea, the couple got married in 1994 but has not been in a conjugal relationship since 2007. In September 2023, the high court directed Abdullah to pay Rs 1.5 lakh to Payal monthly as interim maintenance and Rs 60,000 each for the education of their two sons every month. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
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The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today (Dec 7) approved a joint settlement that addresses all issues related to the proposed consolida. . .
Mayank Singh By

Express News Service

SOUTH OF ENGLAND: The UK-led teams of military instructors, including those from partner countries, have so far trained around 32,000 Ukrainians under Operation Interflex within the UK with a plan to send them back to join the Ukrainian Army defending positions against Russia in Ukraine.

Speaking with a group of international journalists, Colonel James Thurstan said the programme is designed to equip the Ukrainian recruits with the basics of warfare. The mission focuses on the delivery of lethal and survivable soldiers equipped with the offensive spirit required to win on the battlefield. This reporter was on a field visit at the invitation of the UK government.

Col Thurstan heads the operation and is supported by instructors from other nations including Australia and New Zealand. He said, The training will give volunteer recruits with little to no military experience the skills to be effective in frontline combat. It allows them to be able to survive long enough in the conflict. It also gives them the defensive spirit to win the war. Since the war started, the UK government has been one of the largest militaries to donate to Ukraine, with 2.3 billion committed in the years 2022 and 2023.

Indias stand in the United Nations on the Ukrainian crisis is well-known. V. Muraleedharan, the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, told Parliament: Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, India has consistently called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to the violence.

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SOUTH OF ENGLAND: The UK-led teams of military instructors, including those from partner countries, have so far trained around 32,000 Ukrainians under Operation Interflex within the UK with a plan to send them back to join the Ukrainian Army defending positions against Russia in Ukraine. Speaking with a group of international journalists, Colonel James Thurstan said the programme is designed to equip the Ukrainian recruits with the basics of warfare. The mission focuses on the delivery of lethal and survivable soldiers equipped with the offensive spirit required to win on the battlefield. This reporter was on a field visit at the invitation of the UK government. Col Thurstan heads the operation and is supported by instructors from other nations including Australia and New Zealand. He said, The training will give volunteer recruits with little to no military experience the skills to be effective in frontline combat. It allows them to be able to survive long enough in the conflict. It also gives them the defensive spirit to win the war. Since the war started, the UK government has been one of the largest militaries to donate to Ukraine, with 2.3 billion committed in the years 2022 and 2023.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Indias stand in the United Nations on the Ukrainian crisis is well-known. V. Muraleedharan, the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, told Parliament: Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, India has consistently called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to the violence. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said in Parliament that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) belongs to India and that nobody can snatch it. After moving the J&K Reservation (amendment) Bill, 2023 and the J&K Reorganisation (amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha, which was passed in the House, Shah said 23 seats have been reserved for PoK.

Reiterating his governments commitment to statehood, Shah said, I have already promised that statehood of Jammu and Kashmir will be restored at an appropriate time. Earlier, there were 37 seats in Jammu, after the new delimitation commissions report, there are 43 seats. There were 46 eats in Kashmir, now there are 47 and in PoK, 24 seats have been reserved since PoK belongs to us ours, he asserted while speaking on the Bills.

Taking a swipe at Jawaharlal Nehru, Shah said that no one has the right to give away a section of Indias land to show the big heart. Taking a potshot at Congress, he quoted Nehru to say: If there was no untimely ceasefire, Pakistan would not have occupied Kashmir today. Our Army was winning, they were running away. If Nehru had stayed on for two more days, the entire PoK would have come under Tiranga (tricolour).

The Home Minister said that everyone knows that the accession of Kashmir to India was delayed because there was a demand to give special status to Sheikh Abdullah. He informed the House while replying to a debate on Bills that earlier there were 83 seats in J&K, which has now been increased to 90.

Quoting data, he said that 42,000 people have lost their lives. It was not about religious identity, whether they were Hindu or Muslim. States like Bihar, Gujarat and UP have larger Muslim populations than in Kashmir. But these states never witnessed the situation. But separation flourished in J&K just because of Article 370, he said.

I would like to ask a question to those who adhere to Nehrus philosophy: If Article 370 was extremely important, why did Nehru himself use the term temporary? Everyone who says Article 370 is permanent is insulting the Constitution, Shah said.

Reading out a quotaton of former Prime Minister Nehru, he said,One thing is clear and known to everyone now: had there not been an untimely ceasefire, there would not have been PoK today. He cited a reference in which Nehru had admitted that the untimely ceasefire was his mistake.

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NEW DELHI: Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said in Parliament that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) belongs to India and that nobody can snatch it. After moving the J&K Reservation (amendment) Bill, 2023 and the J&K Reorganisation (amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha, which was passed in the House, Shah said 23 seats have been reserved for PoK. Reiterating his governments commitment to statehood, Shah said, I have already promised that statehood of Jammu and Kashmir will be restored at an appropriate time. Earlier, there were 37 seats in Jammu, after the new delimitation commissions report, there are 43 seats. There were 46 eats in Kashmir, now there are 47 and in PoK, 24 seats have been reserved since PoK belongs to us ours, he asserted while speaking on the Bills. Taking a swipe at Jawaharlal Nehru, Shah said that no one has the right to give away a section of Indias land to show the big heart. Taking a potshot at Congress, he quoted Nehru to say: If there was no untimely ceasefire, Pakistan would not have occupied Kashmir today. Our Army was winning, they were running away. If Nehru had stayed on for two more days, the entire PoK would have come under Tiranga (tricolour).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Home Minister said that everyone knows that the accession of Kashmir to India was delayed because there was a demand to give special status to Sheikh Abdullah. He informed the House while replying to a debate on Bills that earlier there were 83 seats in J&K, which has now been increased to 90. Quoting data, he said that 42,000 people have lost their lives. It was not about religious identity, whether they were Hindu or Muslim. States like Bihar, Gujarat and UP have larger Muslim populations than in Kashmir. But these states never witnessed the situation. But separation flourished in J&K just because of Article 370, he said. I would like to ask a question to those who adhere to Nehrus philosophy: If Article 370 was extremely important, why did Nehru himself use the term temporary? Everyone who says Article 370 is permanent is insulting the Constitution, Shah said. Reading out a quotaton of former Prime Minister Nehru, he said,One thing is clear and known to everyone now: had there not been an untimely ceasefire, there would not have been PoK today. He cited a reference in which Nehru had admitted that the untimely ceasefire was his mistake. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Union Education Ministry has launched a portal SATHEE to provide quality education to every student who plans to participate in competitive examinations such as JEE, NEET and various state-level engineering and other examinations.

The portal SATHEE - Self-Assessment, Test and Help for Entrance Examination  has been created by the Department of Higher Education in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed the parliament that it is an open learning platform available to everyone.

AI-based tools (chatbots) have been integrated to offer valuable insights into effective exam preparation strategies.

The portal offers several facilities to help students with such examinations.

One of the features is that a senior student who has passed a competitive exam solves mock test papers and explains his or her thought process to solve different questions on camera. The session is telecasted live as well as recording is shared with the aspirants.

This helps aspiring students to understand the tips to ace a question paper beyond just subject knowledge.

The portal also offers an assessment platform with more than 60,000 questions.

These questions are obtained from various sources, such as NCERT textbooks, exemplar books, previous years' exam papers, or designed by experts. These questions follow the latest exam patterns and syllabus.

SATHEE provides video lectures and live sessions on various topics and subjects related to the NCERT curriculum. This feature provides a comprehensive and interactive learning platform for students who want to study the NCERT syllabus for board exams in addition to preparing for competitive exams.

These lectures and sessions are delivered by expert students from IITs, AIIMS, and other premier institutes.

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NEW DELHI: The Union Education Ministry has launched a portal SATHEE to provide quality education to every student who plans to participate in competitive examinations such as JEE, NEET and various state-level engineering and other examinations. The portal SATHEE - Self-Assessment, Test and Help for Entrance Examination  has been created by the Department of Higher Education in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed the parliament that it is an open learning platform available to everyone. AI-based tools (chatbots) have been integrated to offer valuable insights into effective exam preparation strategies.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The portal offers several facilities to help students with such examinations. One of the features is that a senior student who has passed a competitive exam solves mock test papers and explains his or her thought process to solve different questions on camera. The session is telecasted live as well as recording is shared with the aspirants. This helps aspiring students to understand the tips to ace a question paper beyond just subject knowledge. The portal also offers an assessment platform with more than 60,000 questions. These questions are obtained from various sources, such as NCERT textbooks, exemplar books, previous years' exam papers, or designed by experts. These questions follow the latest exam patterns and syllabus. SATHEE provides video lectures and live sessions on various topics and subjects related to the NCERT curriculum. This feature provides a comprehensive and interactive learning platform for students who want to study the NCERT syllabus for board exams in addition to preparing for competitive exams. These lectures and sessions are delivered by expert students from IITs, AIIMS, and other premier institutes. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Dilip Singh Kshatriya By

Express News Service

AHMEDABAD: In Gujarats political scene, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Umesh Makwana has stirred the pot by urging the Anti-Corruption Bureau (A.C.B.) to investigate his assets, along with those of other MLAs, MPs, ministers, and government officers. Makwana, marking a year as an MLA, proposes that the ACBs findings be made public on the Gujarat government website.

The letter has gained traction on social media, prompting Makwana to explain that, contrary to public perception, MLAs lack the influence to engage in corrupt practices in infrastructure projects. He emphasizes the need for an investigation, citing the absolute authority of IPS and IAS officers.

An anonymous political source notes the discomfort associated with the ACBs mention, highlighting Makwanas bold challenge to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The context is set against the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, which indicates an increase in corruption cases in Gujarat, with 160 officials booked by the ACB in 2022, including five for disproportionate assets. The report records 146 cases in 2020 and 136 cases in 2021, with a notable decline in cases of disproportionate property against government officials from 37 in 2020 to 11 in 2021.

According to a leader who wished to remain anonymous, This letter has raised many questions against the government system and the collusive corruption of politicians in Gujarat, he added. The NCRB report for 2022 states that 160 officials were booked in Gujarat by the ACB, and five officials had disproportionate asset cases filed against them.

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AHMEDABAD: In Gujarats political scene, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Umesh Makwana has stirred the pot by urging the Anti-Corruption Bureau (A.C.B.) to investigate his assets, along with those of other MLAs, MPs, ministers, and government officers. Makwana, marking a year as an MLA, proposes that the ACBs findings be made public on the Gujarat government website. The letter has gained traction on social media, prompting Makwana to explain that, contrary to public perception, MLAs lack the influence to engage in corrupt practices in infrastructure projects. He emphasizes the need for an investigation, citing the absolute authority of IPS and IAS officers. An anonymous political source notes the discomfort associated with the ACBs mention, highlighting Makwanas bold challenge to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The context is set against the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, which indicates an increase in corruption cases in Gujarat, with 160 officials booked by the ACB in 2022, including five for disproportionate assets. The report records 146 cases in 2020 and 136 cases in 2021, with a notable decline in cases of disproportionate property against government officials from 37 in 2020 to 11 in 2021.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to a leader who wished to remain anonymous, This letter has raised many questions against the government system and the collusive corruption of politicians in Gujarat, he added. The NCRB report for 2022 states that 160 officials were booked in Gujarat by the ACB, and five officials had disproportionate asset cases filed against them. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India's top court, on Tuesday, reserved its order on petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act related to the grant of Indian citizenship to illegal immigrants in Assam.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, also comprising Justices Surya Kant, M M Sundresh, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, reserved order on 17 petitions questioning the constitutional validity of Section 6A, which was inserted into the Citizenship Act as a special provision to deal with the citizenship of people covered under the Assam Accord.

The bench heard the submissions of Attorney General R Venkataramani, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, senior advocates Shyam Divan, Kapil Sibal, and others for four days before reserving the judgement.

In the last hearing, on December 7, the apex court had questioned the government as to what steps have been taken so far to curb illegal migration into Indian territory and directed it to furnish data on the number of Bangladeshi immigrants granted citizenship in Assam between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971, under section 6A (2)of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

In response, the Union government filed an affidavit before the bench on Tuesday, saying it would not be possible to provide accurate data on the number of illegal migrants living in the country, as they entered into the country in a "clandestine and surreptitious manner."

"Illegal migrants enter the country without valid travel documents in a clandestine and surreptitious manner. The detection, detention, and deportation of such illegally staying foreign nationals is a complex, ongoing process," the affidavit said.

The affidavit also stated that 14,346 foreign nationals were deported from the country between 2017 and 2022, and 17,861 migrants who had entered Assam between January 1966 and March 1971 were given Indian citizenship under the provision. "32,381 persons were declared foreigners by orders of Foreigners Tribunals between 1966 and 1971," it said.

READ MORE | Citizenship Act Sec 6A: Assam's indigenous people will become foreigners, petitioners tell SC

The affidavit further stated that in the last five years, a sum of Rs 122 crores was released by the Centre towards the functioning of such tribunals.

The total number of cases pending before the Gauhati High Court arising from the orders of the Foreigners Tribunal is 8,461 as of December 1, 2023, the government said.

Earlier, the top court had observed that the primary question in the case was "whether Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 suffers from any constitutional infirmity."

Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha, a Guwahati-based civil society organisation, along with other petitioners, had moved the Apex Court and challenged Section 6A way back in 2012.

Section 6A of the Citizenship Act was introduced to give effect to the Assam Accord.

It provides the framework to recognise migrants in Assam as Indian citizens or to expel them based on the date of their migration. The provision provides that those who have come to Assam on or after January 1, 1966, but before March 25, 1971, from specified territories, including Bangladesh in 1985, and since then are residents of Assam, must register themselves under Section 18 for citizenship.

Therefore, the provision fixes March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for granting citizenship to Bangladeshi migrants in Assam.

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NEW DELHI: India's top court, on Tuesday, reserved its order on petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act related to the grant of Indian citizenship to illegal immigrants in Assam. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, also comprising Justices Surya Kant, M M Sundresh, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, reserved order on 17 petitions questioning the constitutional validity of Section 6A, which was inserted into the Citizenship Act as a special provision to deal with the citizenship of people covered under the Assam Accord. The bench heard the submissions of Attorney General R Venkataramani, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, senior advocates Shyam Divan, Kapil Sibal, and others for four days before reserving the judgement.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In the last hearing, on December 7, the apex court had questioned the government as to what steps have been taken so far to curb illegal migration into Indian territory and directed it to furnish data on the number of Bangladeshi immigrants granted citizenship in Assam between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971, under section 6A (2)of the Citizenship Act, 1955. In response, the Union government filed an affidavit before the bench on Tuesday, saying it would not be possible to provide accurate data on the number of illegal migrants living in the country, as they entered into the country in a "clandestine and surreptitious manner." "Illegal migrants enter the country without valid travel documents in a clandestine and surreptitious manner. The detection, detention, and deportation of such illegally staying foreign nationals is a complex, ongoing process," the affidavit said. The affidavit also stated that 14,346 foreign nationals were deported from the country between 2017 and 2022, and 17,861 migrants who had entered Assam between January 1966 and March 1971 were given Indian citizenship under the provision. "32,381 persons were declared foreigners by orders of Foreigners Tribunals between 1966 and 1971," it said. READ MORE | Citizenship Act Sec 6A: Assam's indigenous people will become foreigners, petitioners tell SC The affidavit further stated that in the last five years, a sum of Rs 122 crores was released by the Centre towards the functioning of such tribunals. The total number of cases pending before the Gauhati High Court arising from the orders of the Foreigners Tribunal is 8,461 as of December 1, 2023, the government said. Earlier, the top court had observed that the primary question in the case was "whether Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 suffers from any constitutional infirmity." Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha, a Guwahati-based civil society organisation, along with other petitioners, had moved the Apex Court and challenged Section 6A way back in 2012. Section 6A of the Citizenship Act was introduced to give effect to the Assam Accord. It provides the framework to recognise migrants in Assam as Indian citizens or to expel them based on the date of their migration. The provision provides that those who have come to Assam on or after January 1, 1966, but before March 25, 1971, from specified territories, including Bangladesh in 1985, and since then are residents of Assam, must register themselves under Section 18 for citizenship. Therefore, the provision fixes March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for granting citizenship to Bangladeshi migrants in Assam. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

JAIPUR: A group photo taken at the BJP office here ahead of Tuesday's legislature party meeting showed Bhajanlal Sharma in the very last row.

An hour or so later, he had jumped places to front and centre stage.

The three central observers sent by the Bharatiya Janata Party from Delhi proposed his name as the leader of the legislature party in Rajasthan, the state it wrested from the Congress in the recent assembly elections.

And the 54-year-old first-time MLA, who represents Jaipur's Sanganer in the assembly became the chief minister-designate.

Sharma is one of the general secretaries in the state BJP and has kept a low profile.

Considered a hardcore RSS man, Sharma was actively involved in the agitation for the Ram temple in Ayodhya at the site where the Babri mosque stood.

ALSO READ | BJP names first-time MLA Bhajanlal Sharma as Rajasthan's next Chief Minister

In 1992, he spent time in jail for this. That was around the beginning of his political career. He has also been a village sarpanch twice, starting at the age of 27.

Over the past three decades, Sharma has held various posts in the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and in the party organisation.

He went to school in the Bharatpur district's Atari village and Nadbai town. Later, he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), and also took up social causes in Nabadi and Bharatpur.

Sharma actively participated in the 1990 ABVP protest in which thousands of students from across the country gathered in Jammu to march towards Srinagar.

The authorities stopped them, and Sharma was among the several who courted arrest in Udhampur, protesting against attacks on Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley. Sharma then moved on to the BJYM, the BJP's youth wing.

ALSO READ | Meet Diya Kumari, Rajasthan's deputy CM-elect

He was BJYM's district president thrice before becoming the parent party's Bharatpur district secretary and its district president.

Leaving Bharatpur for the BJP's Rajasthan headquarter, Sharma became the party's state vice president, and is now a general secretary in the state BJP.

Sharma holds a masters' degree in political science and runs an agriculture supplies business.

The BJP won 115 of the 199 seats on which polling took place in the November assembly elections in Rajasthan. The BJP also won the elections in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

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JAIPUR: A group photo taken at the BJP office here ahead of Tuesday's legislature party meeting showed Bhajanlal Sharma in the very last row. An hour or so later, he had jumped places to front and centre stage. The three central observers sent by the Bharatiya Janata Party from Delhi proposed his name as the leader of the legislature party in Rajasthan, the state it wrested from the Congress in the recent assembly elections.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); And the 54-year-old first-time MLA, who represents Jaipur's Sanganer in the assembly became the chief minister-designate. Sharma is one of the general secretaries in the state BJP and has kept a low profile. Considered a hardcore RSS man, Sharma was actively involved in the agitation for the Ram temple in Ayodhya at the site where the Babri mosque stood. ALSO READ | BJP names first-time MLA Bhajanlal Sharma as Rajasthan's next Chief Minister In 1992, he spent time in jail for this. That was around the beginning of his political career. He has also been a village sarpanch twice, starting at the age of 27. Over the past three decades, Sharma has held various posts in the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and in the party organisation. He went to school in the Bharatpur district's Atari village and Nadbai town. Later, he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), and also took up social causes in Nabadi and Bharatpur. Sharma actively participated in the 1990 ABVP protest in which thousands of students from across the country gathered in Jammu to march towards Srinagar. The authorities stopped them, and Sharma was among the several who courted arrest in Udhampur, protesting against attacks on Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley. Sharma then moved on to the BJYM, the BJP's youth wing. ALSO READ | Meet Diya Kumari, Rajasthan's deputy CM-elect He was BJYM's district president thrice before becoming the parent party's Bharatpur district secretary and its district president. Leaving Bharatpur for the BJP's Rajasthan headquarter, Sharma became the party's state vice president, and is now a general secretary in the state BJP. Sharma holds a masters' degree in political science and runs an agriculture supplies business. The BJP won 115 of the 199 seats on which polling took place in the November assembly elections in Rajasthan. The BJP also won the elections in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Unhappy with the Union minister's reply to the discussion on the bill regulating the appointment of CEC and election commissioners, leaders of several opposition parties on Tuesday walked out of Rajya Sabha in protest, alleging the government wanted to control the poll panel.

They said that Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal's reply to the debate on the bill was unconvincing and asked why the government replaced the Chief Justice of India with a Union minister in the selection committee for appointment of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and other election commissioners.

"The independence, autonomy and impartiality of poll machinery in the country have been crushed under the bulldozer," Congress' Randeep Surjewala alleged on the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 that was passed by a voice vote in the Upper House.

ALSO READ | Bill to regulate appointments, service terms of CEC, ECs passed in Rajya Sabha

After the walkout, senior Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav said, "It has now become clear that this government wants to have total control over the Election Commission and wants to tilt the election process in their favour."

"Now there is no scope of holding impartial elections," he claimed.

Surjewala said the Modi government has attacked India's Constitution with this legislation and the opposition parties are standing together in one voice against it.

"They will appoint their own CEC and ECs and will run the EC of their own will and will decide victory and defeat on their own will," he said.

"We will not allow this voice to die and this struggle will continue from Parliament to the streets," he said.

Congress deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari said opposition parties were of the view that justice should be done and not just "seen to be done".

"Does the government not have faith in the Chief Justice or the Supreme Court. Today is a black day for Indian democracy," he said.

Asked if they would move court on the issue, he said, "We will decide on the future course of action after discussion.

"Tiruchi Siva (DMK) said the Supreme Court judgement has said the CEC and ECs should be appointed by a committee comprising of the prime minister, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India. He said as per this bill, the committee for CEC appointment shall comprise the PM, LoP and a union minister appointed by the prime minister instead of the chief justice. So it is very clear that the majority lies with the government side. Now only two panel members can decide. The search committee comprises of bureaucrats," he said.

The EC is very important in a democratic country to ensure free and fair elections.

"But, they cannot be yes men to the government. The minister's reply did not convince us and we were compelled to stage a walkout," he said.

TMC's Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said, "What prompted the government to replace the Chief Justice with a minister to be nominated by the prime minister? The government did not have any reply, with a result that we staged a walkout."

AAP MP Raghav Chadha alleged it is "not a bill but a bulldozer with which the government has finished the Election Commission's impartiality."

"The biggest insult is of BJP's margdarshak L K Adani, who had himself said that the committee should be impartial and should not be in the control of the government. The BJP wants the committee can appoint anyone as Election Commissioner, even their partymen or party sympathisers. This is a very dangerous law which will end democracy in India, which is considered as the mother of democracy," he claimed.

He also said that they will take a decision on whether to move the Supreme Court on this issue after consulting their legal experts.

JMM leader Mahua Majhi said there is no point in having the leader of the opposition on this committee as the government will have a majority.

"I feel the government is afraid of keeping the Chief Justice of India on the committee. This bill is very dangerous and is a disaster," she alleged.

Replying to the debate, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the new bill has been necessitated as the earlier Act had certain weaknesses.

He rebutted the Opposition charge that the bill had been brought to circumvent the SC judgement.

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NEW DELHI: Unhappy with the Union minister's reply to the discussion on the bill regulating the appointment of CEC and election commissioners, leaders of several opposition parties on Tuesday walked out of Rajya Sabha in protest, alleging the government wanted to control the poll panel. They said that Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal's reply to the debate on the bill was unconvincing and asked why the government replaced the Chief Justice of India with a Union minister in the selection committee for appointment of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and other election commissioners. "The independence, autonomy and impartiality of poll machinery in the country have been crushed under the bulldozer," Congress' Randeep Surjewala alleged on the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 that was passed by a voice vote in the Upper House.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | Bill to regulate appointments, service terms of CEC, ECs passed in Rajya Sabha After the walkout, senior Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav said, "It has now become clear that this government wants to have total control over the Election Commission and wants to tilt the election process in their favour." "Now there is no scope of holding impartial elections," he claimed. Surjewala said the Modi government has attacked India's Constitution with this legislation and the opposition parties are standing together in one voice against it. "They will appoint their own CEC and ECs and will run the EC of their own will and will decide victory and defeat on their own will," he said. "We will not allow this voice to die and this struggle will continue from Parliament to the streets," he said. Congress deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari said opposition parties were of the view that justice should be done and not just "seen to be done". "Does the government not have faith in the Chief Justice or the Supreme Court. Today is a black day for Indian democracy," he said. Asked if they would move court on the issue, he said, "We will decide on the future course of action after discussion. "Tiruchi Siva (DMK) said the Supreme Court judgement has said the CEC and ECs should be appointed by a committee comprising of the prime minister, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India. He said as per this bill, the committee for CEC appointment shall comprise the PM, LoP and a union minister appointed by the prime minister instead of the chief justice. So it is very clear that the majority lies with the government side. Now only two panel members can decide. The search committee comprises of bureaucrats," he said. The EC is very important in a democratic country to ensure free and fair elections. "But, they cannot be yes men to the government. The minister's reply did not convince us and we were compelled to stage a walkout," he said. TMC's Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said, "What prompted the government to replace the Chief Justice with a minister to be nominated by the prime minister? The government did not have any reply, with a result that we staged a walkout." AAP MP Raghav Chadha alleged it is "not a bill but a bulldozer with which the government has finished the Election Commission's impartiality." "The biggest insult is of BJP's margdarshak L K Adani, who had himself said that the committee should be impartial and should not be in the control of the government. The BJP wants the committee can appoint anyone as Election Commissioner, even their partymen or party sympathisers. This is a very dangerous law which will end democracy in India, which is considered as the mother of democracy," he claimed. He also said that they will take a decision on whether to move the Supreme Court on this issue after consulting their legal experts. JMM leader Mahua Majhi said there is no point in having the leader of the opposition on this committee as the government will have a majority. "I feel the government is afraid of keeping the Chief Justice of India on the committee. This bill is very dangerous and is a disaster," she alleged. Replying to the debate, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the new bill has been necessitated as the earlier Act had certain weaknesses. He rebutted the Opposition charge that the bill had been brought to circumvent the SC judgement. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

SONBHADRA: A local court here on Tuesday convicted BJP MLA Ramdular Gond for raping a minor girl nine years ago and fixed December 15 for pronouncing the punishment.

Additional District Judge (First), MP/MLA Court, Ehsan Ullah Khan, found the MLA guilty in the 2014 rape case, said Special Public Prosecutor (POCSO) Satyaprakash Tripathi.

He added that the court has sent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA to judicial custody while fixing December 15 for pronouncing the punishment.

Gond is the MLA from Duddhi assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra district.

Giving detail of the case, Tripathi said that the incident took place on November 4, 2014, and a case was registered against the MLA under sections 376 (rape), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 5L/6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The MLA's wife was the gram pradhan at the time of the incident, he added.

The Myorpur Police had registered a case against the MLA on the complaint of the victim's brother.

Gond was not an MLA at that time and the trial of the case was going on in the POCSO Court. After he was elected the MLA, the files were transferred to the MP-MLA Court.

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SONBHADRA: A local court here on Tuesday convicted BJP MLA Ramdular Gond for raping a minor girl nine years ago and fixed December 15 for pronouncing the punishment. Additional District Judge (First), MP/MLA Court, Ehsan Ullah Khan, found the MLA guilty in the 2014 rape case, said Special Public Prosecutor (POCSO) Satyaprakash Tripathi. He added that the court has sent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA to judicial custody while fixing December 15 for pronouncing the punishment.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Gond is the MLA from Duddhi assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra district. Giving detail of the case, Tripathi said that the incident took place on November 4, 2014, and a case was registered against the MLA under sections 376 (rape), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 5L/6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The MLA's wife was the gram pradhan at the time of the incident, he added. The Myorpur Police had registered a case against the MLA on the complaint of the victim's brother. Gond was not an MLA at that time and the trial of the case was going on in the POCSO Court. After he was elected the MLA, the files were transferred to the MP-MLA Court. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

BUDAUN: The family members of a woman whose body was found hanging have accused doctors and staff members of a government hospital in this Uttar Pradesh district of removing her eyes during post-mortem, officials said on Tuesday.

Taking note of the allegations, the district magistrate has ordered a probe and asked for the post-mortem to be conducted again.

Puja (20) was allegedly killed for dowry and her body was found hanging on Sunday in the Rasula village of the district's Mujaria area.

The body was sent for post-mortem on Monday. When the body was handed over to the family members, the eyes were removed. The family members alleged that the eyes were removed during the post-mortem.

They also approached District Magistrate Manoj Kumar and demanded strict action against the doctor and the staff members, alleging that they were involved in organ trafficking.

"The victim's family members met me and gave a complaint for taking action. A probe has been ordered and the post-mortem will be done again. Strict action will be taken if anyone is found guilty," Kumar said.

Chief Medical Officer Pradeep Varshney said the district magistrate ordered the second post-mortem to be videographed and a report to be submitted to him.

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BUDAUN: The family members of a woman whose body was found hanging have accused doctors and staff members of a government hospital in this Uttar Pradesh district of removing her eyes during post-mortem, officials said on Tuesday. Taking note of the allegations, the district magistrate has ordered a probe and asked for the post-mortem to be conducted again. Puja (20) was allegedly killed for dowry and her body was found hanging on Sunday in the Rasula village of the district's Mujaria area.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The body was sent for post-mortem on Monday. When the body was handed over to the family members, the eyes were removed. The family members alleged that the eyes were removed during the post-mortem. They also approached District Magistrate Manoj Kumar and demanded strict action against the doctor and the staff members, alleging that they were involved in organ trafficking. "The victim's family members met me and gave a complaint for taking action. A probe has been ordered and the post-mortem will be done again. Strict action will be taken if anyone is found guilty," Kumar said. Chief Medical Officer Pradeep Varshney said the district magistrate ordered the second post-mortem to be videographed and a report to be submitted to him. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after the fracas on the street between the governor and the protesting Students Federation of India (SFI) activists, Arif Mohammed Khan on Tuesday alleged police complicity in the entire incident, and claimed that the agitators were brought to the spot in police vehicles.

Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Khan termed Mondays incident in which SFI activists blocked his car and waved black flags at him as an attack on him. Reiterating the charge that the chief minister was behind the conspiracy, he alleged the trigger for the attack was a speech by Pinarayi Vijayan three days ago in which he said the governor was provoking the SFI workers.

"It is the chief minister who has hatched this conspiracy (to attack him). Three days ago, he made a public statement. He said the governor is provoking the students. But he did not give the instance as to how I am actually provoking them," Khan said "This is not the first time. In Kannur, they had tried to assault me physically."

"The one who was preventing police from taking action against those creating disturbance has been rewarded by the chief minister by appointing him his secretary," he charged.

Khan demanded that cases under Section 124 of IPC - that lays down punishment for assaulting or restraining the President or governor - should be registered against the attackers. The punishment under this section is imprisonment of up to seven years.

The governor said the incident denoted the start of the collapse of constitutional machinery in the state and added that he would inform the Union government of the prevailing situation.

Kerala is not a communist state. It is a part of India, which is a democratic republic. Just because the government there is led by communists, it does not become a dictatorial state, the governor said.

"The chief minister is saying the government is not bound to reply to every query of the Governor. Let him not reply. I will wait for 10 days. And then, if the state is in crisis, I must make my recommendations to the central government," Khan told reporters at Kerala Bhavan, a day after the incident in Thiruvananthapuram.

He said the state chief secretary in an affidavit to the high court has stated that the Kerala government is not in a position to disburse the pension of employees.

The state chief secretary also stated in the affidavit that the Kerala government is not in a position to honour the financial guarantees that it has given, he said, adding "Which means financial emergency in the state. And I have asked for a report".

Union Minister of State V Muraleedharan, who called on the governor in Delhi, condemned the attack and said the Kerala government was answerable for the serious security lapse. He alleged that the police had leaked the governors itinerary to the SFI workers to facilitate the protest.

"He was attacked thrice during his travel from the Raj Bhavan to the airport. The Kerala chief minister and communist party (CPI-M) and the communist party secretary have been issuing threats to the governor for the last few weeks," Muralidharan alleged.

"It's because the governor has been upholding the law and the Constitution and is also taking a firm stand against the corruption of the state government and nepotism. And the fact that the Supreme Court has upheld the view of the governor has made the communist party and their ruling friend take up this issue on the streets," the Union minister charged.

Muralidharan alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's government is trying to build a false narrative that the Centre is trying to harass the state government.

"There will be a time when people of Kerala will come forward to resist such goons on the streets," he added.

Meanwhile, the SFI leadership said it would continue with the black flag protests without blocking the governors motorcade. SFI, which has been protesting the governors alleged attempts to saffronise universities, said Khan would not be allowed to enter campuses in his capacity as chancellor.

Ministers in the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet criticised the governor, with General Education Minister V Sivankutty likening him to a goonda leader. The minister was referring to the governors action of getting out of his car during the protest and challenging the SFI workers.

ALSO READ | Shashi Tharoor slams LDF govt in Kerala over 'assault' on governor's car by SFI activists

(With inputs from PTI)

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after the fracas on the street between the governor and the protesting Students Federation of India (SFI) activists, Arif Mohammed Khan on Tuesday alleged police complicity in the entire incident, and claimed that the agitators were brought to the spot in police vehicles. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Khan termed Mondays incident in which SFI activists blocked his car and waved black flags at him as an attack on him. Reiterating the charge that the chief minister was behind the conspiracy, he alleged the trigger for the attack was a speech by Pinarayi Vijayan three days ago in which he said the governor was provoking the SFI workers. "It is the chief minister who has hatched this conspiracy (to attack him). Three days ago, he made a public statement. He said the governor is provoking the students. But he did not give the instance as to how I am actually provoking them," Khan said "This is not the first time. In Kannur, they had tried to assault me physically."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The one who was preventing police from taking action against those creating disturbance has been rewarded by the chief minister by appointing him his secretary," he charged. Khan demanded that cases under Section 124 of IPC - that lays down punishment for assaulting or restraining the President or governor - should be registered against the attackers. The punishment under this section is imprisonment of up to seven years. The governor said the incident denoted the start of the collapse of constitutional machinery in the state and added that he would inform the Union government of the prevailing situation. Kerala is not a communist state. It is a part of India, which is a democratic republic. Just because the government there is led by communists, it does not become a dictatorial state, the governor said. "The chief minister is saying the government is not bound to reply to every query of the Governor. Let him not reply. I will wait for 10 days. And then, if the state is in crisis, I must make my recommendations to the central government," Khan told reporters at Kerala Bhavan, a day after the incident in Thiruvananthapuram. He said the state chief secretary in an affidavit to the high court has stated that the Kerala government is not in a position to disburse the pension of employees. The state chief secretary also stated in the affidavit that the Kerala government is not in a position to honour the financial guarantees that it has given, he said, adding "Which means financial emergency in the state. And I have asked for a report". Union Minister of State V Muraleedharan, who called on the governor in Delhi, condemned the attack and said the Kerala government was answerable for the serious security lapse. He alleged that the police had leaked the governors itinerary to the SFI workers to facilitate the protest. "He was attacked thrice during his travel from the Raj Bhavan to the airport. The Kerala chief minister and communist party (CPI-M) and the communist party secretary have been issuing threats to the governor for the last few weeks," Muralidharan alleged. "It's because the governor has been upholding the law and the Constitution and is also taking a firm stand against the corruption of the state government and nepotism. And the fact that the Supreme Court has upheld the view of the governor has made the communist party and their ruling friend take up this issue on the streets," the Union minister charged. Muralidharan alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's government is trying to build a false narrative that the Centre is trying to harass the state government. "There will be a time when people of Kerala will come forward to resist such goons on the streets," he added. Meanwhile, the SFI leadership said it would continue with the black flag protests without blocking the governors motorcade. SFI, which has been protesting the governors alleged attempts to saffronise universities, said Khan would not be allowed to enter campuses in his capacity as chancellor. Ministers in the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet criticised the governor, with General Education Minister V Sivankutty likening him to a goonda leader. The minister was referring to the governors action of getting out of his car during the protest and challenging the SFI workers. ALSO READ | Shashi Tharoor slams LDF govt in Kerala over 'assault' on governor's car by SFI activists (With inputs from PTI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
CARSON CITY  A member of an immigrant advocacy group represented by well-known Democratic attorneys is suing to stop a question aimed at requiring Nevadans to provide photo identification before voting from appearing on next years general election ballot.

The lawsuit, filed last Monday in Carson City District Court, argues the ballot initiative is unconstitutional because its description of effect (a 200-word summary of the measure included on signature forms) does not reflect all of the questions implications and would expend taxpayer funds as it does not have an identified funding source. Challenging the description of effect is a common tactic in Nevada to persuade judges to reject proposed ballot questions.

The suit was filed by a group of Nevada and Washington, D.C.-based attorneys, who are well known for representing Democratic Party causes, on behalf of Jennifer Fleischmann, the development director for Make the Road Nevada, an immigrant advocacy group.

Repair the Vote, a political action committee led by former Nevada Republican Club President and former Clark County GOP Chair David Gibbs, filed the petition for the ballot question last month. The initiative aims to amend Nevadas constitution by requiring in-person voters to provide valid photo identification, and those voting by mail to provide a personally identifiable number  such as part of a drivers license number or Social Security number  alongside their signature.

Nevada does not require voters to provide any type of identification before voting, but voters are required to provide a signature that must match the states files.

Under state law, petition supporters must gather and submit at least 102,362 signatures by July 8, 2024, to qualify for the 2024 ballot, with at least 25,591 signatures coming from each of the states four congressional districts. As a constitutional initiative, it would need to pass twice in subsequent elections (2024 and 2026) to take effect.

It marks Repair the Votes second attempt at putting a voter ID proposal directly in front of voters, following a failed attempt with a similar ballot measure last year. At the time, a judge ordered the group to rewrite its description of effect because it was argumentative. The effort ultimately did not receive enough signatures and did not make it on the ballot.

A Nevada Independent poll earlier this year found a majority of Nevada voters strongly supported voter ID laws, which have been a key aspect of Republicans electoral reform efforts. A bill pushed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo this year to enact voter ID laws stalled in the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

In an interview Thursday, Gibbs said the group had addressed the legal issues raised last year, and he derided Democrats for their opposition to voter ID laws.

Why are the Democrats so afraid of voter ID? Gibbs said in an interview. Youve got to show an ID to do a lot of different things nowadays, and yet when it comes to the fundamental right of our democracy and our republic, which is voting, theyre insistent that nobody should have to prove who they are.

Bradley Schrager, one of the lawyers who brought the lawsuit, declined to comment. The secretary of states office, which oversees ballot petitions and was named as a defendant in the suit, also declined to comment.

Last weeks lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the initiative by claiming it would implicitly require a funding source. Nevada law prohibits ballot initiatives from costing money unless the measure also includes a sufficient tax or funding source to make up for the costs.

The suit argues that the state would have to provide and pay for free identification cards for all Nevada voters, because requiring voters to pay for identification would be considered an implicit poll tax, which the U.S. Supreme Court has deemed unconstitutional across all American elections. Most of the identification options outlined in the initiative require some kind of payment, and those that do not are only available for certain populations.

The lawsuit also said the initiatives description of effect fails to outline the full implications of the ballot question. The 47-word description also fails to outline differing identification requirements depending on a voters age. Under the petition, identification for voters who are at least 70 years old could be expired for any period of time and still be accepted as valid, while other voters identification must not be expired by more than four years.

Independently and collectively, these omissions and misleading statements render the Petitions description of effect legally deficient, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit marks another legal challenge to a proposed 2024 ballot initiative. Last month, a Carson City judge tossed out an initiative filed by reproductive rights groups that aimed to place an abortion rights question on the ballot next year.

The judge ruled the petition was too broad for a ballot question, would expend state funds and had a misleading description of effect.
SV Krishna Chaitanya By

Express News Service

DUBAI: In a major development, the COP28 Presidency released a new text on global stocktake (GST) on Monday evening, which once again singles out coal and goes soft on other fossil fuels  oil and gas  which is likely to be heavily contested by developing countries, especially India.

The thirty-ninth paragraph of the text recognises the need for deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and calls upon all parties to take action. Eight points were listed and the language used is selective and discriminatory, according to observers from the developing world. It calls for rapidly phasing down unabated coal and limitations on permitting new and unabated coal power generation.

When it comes to other fossil fuels, it seeks Parties to reduce both consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner to achieve net zero by, before, or around 2050 in keeping with the science.

The text avoided the terms phase out or phase down of fossil fuels, which have been key sources of contention so far. Delegates from the European Union, AILAC (Latin American progressives) AOSIS (Small Islands) will struggle to support the text as it stands given there is no emphasis on action in this critical decade.

Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Fellow, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEE W), said the updated GST text furthers the differential treatment meted to the developing south and the developed world. Fossil fuels have to be only reduced in a just, orderly and equitable manner, while unabated coal has to be rapidly phased down and there need to be limitations on new and unabated coal power generation.

It will be a surprise if this language is not contested heavily by the global south in the final stages of the negotiations process, Vaibhav said. Harjeet Singh, Head of Global Political Strategy, Climate Action Network International, said the text on fossil fuels represents a significant regression from previous versions.

Astonishingly, it has dropped explicit language on phasing out fossil fuels, opting instead for a vague commitment to reduce both consumption and production by 2050. This is a clear indication of the fossil fuel industrys lobbying power, influencing global policies to favour prolonged fossil fuel use.

Sources in the Indian COP28 delegation say for India meeting its energy requirements is paramount. We will not agree on anything that is against our national interests. On our part, we are doing everything to mitigate emissions and well on our path to fulfill all the targets set in the NDC.

Fairness in transition

The crux of the stalemate remains how to handle differentiation in the energy transition. Fairness is key to this energy transition, Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa said. He added that rich historic polluters go first, then middle income nations, with poorer countries after that. Its not fair that Congo and Canada must phase out fossil fuels at the same rate.

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DUBAI: In a major development, the COP28 Presidency released a new text on global stocktake (GST) on Monday evening, which once again singles out coal and goes soft on other fossil fuels  oil and gas  which is likely to be heavily contested by developing countries, especially India. The thirty-ninth paragraph of the text recognises the need for deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and calls upon all parties to take action. Eight points were listed and the language used is selective and discriminatory, according to observers from the developing world. It calls for rapidly phasing down unabated coal and limitations on permitting new and unabated coal power generation. When it comes to other fossil fuels, it seeks Parties to reduce both consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner to achieve net zero by, before, or around 2050 in keeping with the science.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The text avoided the terms phase out or phase down of fossil fuels, which have been key sources of contention so far. Delegates from the European Union, AILAC (Latin American progressives) AOSIS (Small Islands) will struggle to support the text as it stands given there is no emphasis on action in this critical decade. Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Fellow, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEE W), said the updated GST text furthers the differential treatment meted to the developing south and the developed world. Fossil fuels have to be only reduced in a just, orderly and equitable manner, while unabated coal has to be rapidly phased down and there need to be limitations on new and unabated coal power generation. It will be a surprise if this language is not contested heavily by the global south in the final stages of the negotiations process, Vaibhav said. Harjeet Singh, Head of Global Political Strategy, Climate Action Network International, said the text on fossil fuels represents a significant regression from previous versions. Astonishingly, it has dropped explicit language on phasing out fossil fuels, opting instead for a vague commitment to reduce both consumption and production by 2050. This is a clear indication of the fossil fuel industrys lobbying power, influencing global policies to favour prolonged fossil fuel use. Sources in the Indian COP28 delegation say for India meeting its energy requirements is paramount. We will not agree on anything that is against our national interests. On our part, we are doing everything to mitigate emissions and well on our path to fulfill all the targets set in the NDC. Fairness in transition The crux of the stalemate remains how to handle differentiation in the energy transition. Fairness is key to this energy transition, Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa said. He added that rich historic polluters go first, then middle income nations, with poorer countries after that. Its not fair that Congo and Canada must phase out fossil fuels at the same rate. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Associated Press

DUBAI: When United Nations climate talks wrap up at some point this week in Dubai, big promises will likely be made about how the world is going to combat climate change, caused by the burning of fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal.

Negotiators are debating how fast fossil fuels should be reduced and how a major transition to green energy would be paid for, raising the possibility of a historic agreement.

Previous summits have ended with funds established to help developing countries transition to green energies, pledges to slash pollution and promises to keep people most vulnerable at the centre of policy discussions. But have countries stuck to their word?

Ahead of whatever decisions come from this year's negotiations, here is a look at five big promises from nearly 30 years of talks, and what's happened since.

ALSO READ | COP28 draft seeks 'reducing' fossil fuel production instead of 'phasing out'

Emissions cuts in Kyoto

The third climate summit took place in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997  one of the warmest years recorded in the 20th century. Known as the Kyoto Protocol, the agreement asked 41 high-emitting countries across the world and the European Union to cut their emissions by a little more than 5 per cent compared to 1990 levels.

Emissions cuts can come from many places, from deploying green energies like wind and solar that don't produce emissions to making things that do, like vehicles with combustible engines, run more cleanly. Despite the agreement to cut emissions, it was only in 2005 that countries agreed to finally act on the Kyoto Protocol.

The US and China  the two highest emitters both then and now  didn't sign the agreement.

In terms of sticking to the promises made, Kyoto wasn't successful. Emissions have increased dramatically since then. At the time, 1997 was the hottest year on record since pre-industrial times. 1998 broke that record, as have more than a dozen years since then.

But Kyoto is still considered a landmark moment in the fight against climate change because it was the first time so many countries recognized the problem and pledged to act on it.

Copenhagen's climate cash

By the time the 2009 conference in Denmark came around, the world was capping off its warmest decade on record  which has since been broken. The summit is widely regarded as a failure for the impasse between developed and developing countries on slashing emissions and whether poorer nations could use fossil fuels to grow their economies.

Still, it did see one major pledge: money for countries to transition to clean energy.

Rich countries promised to channel $100 billion a year to developing countries for green technologies by 2020. But they didn't reach $100 billion by the start of the 2020s, drawing criticism from developing states and environmentalists alike.

ALSO READ | COP28: India quiet on fossil fuels, stresses on equity and climate justice

In 2022, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development said rich countries might have finally met and even exceeded the $100 billion goal.

But Oxfam, a group focused on anti-poverty efforts, said it's likely that 70 per cent of the funds were in the form of loans that increased the debt crisis in developing countries. And as climate change worsens, experts say the funds promised are not enough.

Research published by climate economist Nicholas Stern found that developing countries likely need $2 trillion for climate action every year by 2030.

The Paris agreement

It wasn't until 2015 that a global pact to fight climate change was adopted by nearly 200 nations, which called on the world to collectively slash greenhouse gases. But they decided it would be non-binding, so countries that didn't comply couldn't be sanctioned.

The Paris Agreement is widely considered the single biggest UN achievement in efforts to confront climate change. It was agreed upon exactly eight years ago on Dec. 12 to a standing ovation at the plenary. Nations agreed to keep warming "well below" 2 degrees Celsius (3.8 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times, and ideally no higher than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).

Paris' legacy continues, with the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees still central to climate discussions. Scientists agree that the 1.5 threshold needs to be upheld because every tenth of a degree of warming brings even more disastrous consequences, in the form of extreme weather events, for an already hot planet.

The world hasn't exceeded the limit set in the Paris Agreement  it has warmed around 1.1 or 1.2 degrees Celsius (2 to 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) since the early 1800s  but is currently well on its way there, unless drastic emissions cuts are made quickly.

Glasgow and coal

Six years after Paris, global warming had hit such a critical point that negotiators were looking to recommit to the goal of capping warming to the levels agreed in 2015. Average temperatures were already 1.1 degrees Celsius (1.9 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than pre-industrial times.

The Glasgow summit was postponed until 2021 as the world was emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. It included mass protests headlined by climate activist Greta Thunberg, who helped lead a global movement of youth activists to demand more action from leaders.

After last-minute disagreements over the language of the final document, countries agreed to "phase-down" coal, less strong than the original idea of a "phase-out."

India and China, two heavily coal-reliant emerging economies, pushed to water the language down.

ALSO READ | India third-highest emitter of fossil CO 2 as global emissions hit record high

The burning of coal is responsible for more emissions than any other fossil fuel, approximately 40 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Burning of oil and gas are also a major source of emissions.

So far, countries have failed to deliver on the Glasgow deal. Emissions from coal have slightly increased and major coal-using countries have yet to begin moving away from the dirtiest of fossil fuels.

India is a case in point. It's dependent on coal for more than 70 per cent of power generation and plans a major expansion of coal-based power generation capacity over the next 16 months.

Loss and damage in Sharm el-Sheikh

At last year's climate talks in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, countries for the first time agreed to create a fund to help poorer nations recover from the impacts of climate change.

Coming a few months after devastating flooding in Pakistan that killed nearly 2,000 people and caused losses of over $3.2 trillion, COP27 delegates decided to set up the loss and damage fund so that destroyed homes, flooded land and lost income from crops damaged by climate change would be compensated.

After disagreements about what the fund should look like, the fund was formally created on the first day of this year's talks in Dubai. Over $700 million has already been pledged. The pledges  and the amounts the countries choose to commit  are voluntary.

Climate experts say the pledges are just a fraction of the billions of dollars needed, as climate-driven weather extremes such as cyclones, rising sea levels, floods and droughts are increasing as temperatures rise.

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DUBAI: When United Nations climate talks wrap up at some point this week in Dubai, big promises will likely be made about how the world is going to combat climate change, caused by the burning of fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal. Negotiators are debating how fast fossil fuels should be reduced and how a major transition to green energy would be paid for, raising the possibility of a historic agreement. Previous summits have ended with funds established to help developing countries transition to green energies, pledges to slash pollution and promises to keep people most vulnerable at the centre of policy discussions. But have countries stuck to their word?googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Ahead of whatever decisions come from this year's negotiations, here is a look at five big promises from nearly 30 years of talks, and what's happened since. ALSO READ | COP28 draft seeks 'reducing' fossil fuel production instead of 'phasing out' Emissions cuts in Kyoto The third climate summit took place in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997  one of the warmest years recorded in the 20th century. Known as the Kyoto Protocol, the agreement asked 41 high-emitting countries across the world and the European Union to cut their emissions by a little more than 5 per cent compared to 1990 levels. Emissions cuts can come from many places, from deploying green energies like wind and solar that don't produce emissions to making things that do, like vehicles with combustible engines, run more cleanly. Despite the agreement to cut emissions, it was only in 2005 that countries agreed to finally act on the Kyoto Protocol. The US and China  the two highest emitters both then and now  didn't sign the agreement. In terms of sticking to the promises made, Kyoto wasn't successful. Emissions have increased dramatically since then. At the time, 1997 was the hottest year on record since pre-industrial times. 1998 broke that record, as have more than a dozen years since then. But Kyoto is still considered a landmark moment in the fight against climate change because it was the first time so many countries recognized the problem and pledged to act on it. Copenhagen's climate cash By the time the 2009 conference in Denmark came around, the world was capping off its warmest decade on record  which has since been broken. The summit is widely regarded as a failure for the impasse between developed and developing countries on slashing emissions and whether poorer nations could use fossil fuels to grow their economies. Still, it did see one major pledge: money for countries to transition to clean energy. Rich countries promised to channel $100 billion a year to developing countries for green technologies by 2020. But they didn't reach $100 billion by the start of the 2020s, drawing criticism from developing states and environmentalists alike. ALSO READ | COP28: India quiet on fossil fuels, stresses on equity and climate justice In 2022, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development said rich countries might have finally met and even exceeded the $100 billion goal. But Oxfam, a group focused on anti-poverty efforts, said it's likely that 70 per cent of the funds were in the form of loans that increased the debt crisis in developing countries. And as climate change worsens, experts say the funds promised are not enough. Research published by climate economist Nicholas Stern found that developing countries likely need $2 trillion for climate action every year by 2030. The Paris agreement It wasn't until 2015 that a global pact to fight climate change was adopted by nearly 200 nations, which called on the world to collectively slash greenhouse gases. But they decided it would be non-binding, so countries that didn't comply couldn't be sanctioned. The Paris Agreement is widely considered the single biggest UN achievement in efforts to confront climate change. It was agreed upon exactly eight years ago on Dec. 12 to a standing ovation at the plenary. Nations agreed to keep warming "well below" 2 degrees Celsius (3.8 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times, and ideally no higher than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). Paris' legacy continues, with the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees still central to climate discussions. Scientists agree that the 1.5 threshold needs to be upheld because every tenth of a degree of warming brings even more disastrous consequences, in the form of extreme weather events, for an already hot planet. The world hasn't exceeded the limit set in the Paris Agreement  it has warmed around 1.1 or 1.2 degrees Celsius (2 to 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) since the early 1800s  but is currently well on its way there, unless drastic emissions cuts are made quickly. Glasgow and coal Six years after Paris, global warming had hit such a critical point that negotiators were looking to recommit to the goal of capping warming to the levels agreed in 2015. Average temperatures were already 1.1 degrees Celsius (1.9 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than pre-industrial times. The Glasgow summit was postponed until 2021 as the world was emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. It included mass protests headlined by climate activist Greta Thunberg, who helped lead a global movement of youth activists to demand more action from leaders. After last-minute disagreements over the language of the final document, countries agreed to "phase-down" coal, less strong than the original idea of a "phase-out." India and China, two heavily coal-reliant emerging economies, pushed to water the language down. ALSO READ | India third-highest emitter of fossil CO2 as global emissions hit record high The burning of coal is responsible for more emissions than any other fossil fuel, approximately 40 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Burning of oil and gas are also a major source of emissions. So far, countries have failed to deliver on the Glasgow deal. Emissions from coal have slightly increased and major coal-using countries have yet to begin moving away from the dirtiest of fossil fuels. India is a case in point. It's dependent on coal for more than 70 per cent of power generation and plans a major expansion of coal-based power generation capacity over the next 16 months. Loss and damage in Sharm el-Sheikh At last year's climate talks in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, countries for the first time agreed to create a fund to help poorer nations recover from the impacts of climate change. Coming a few months after devastating flooding in Pakistan that killed nearly 2,000 people and caused losses of over $3.2 trillion, COP27 delegates decided to set up the loss and damage fund so that destroyed homes, flooded land and lost income from crops damaged by climate change would be compensated. After disagreements about what the fund should look like, the fund was formally created on the first day of this year's talks in Dubai. Over $700 million has already been pledged. The pledges  and the amounts the countries choose to commit  are voluntary. Climate experts say the pledges are just a fraction of the billions of dollars needed, as climate-driven weather extremes such as cyclones, rising sea levels, floods and droughts are increasing as temperatures rise. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Associated Press

RAFAH: Israel and the United States were increasingly isolated as they faced global calls for a cease-fire in Gaza, including a non-binding vote expected to pass at the United Nations later on Tuesday.

Israel has pressed ahead with an offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers that it says could go on for weeks or months.

The war ignited by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel has already brought unprecedented death and destruction to the impoverished coastal enclave, with more than 18,000 Palestinians killed, mostly women and minors, and over 80% of the population of 2.3 million have fled their homes.

Much of northern Gaza has been obliterated, and hundreds of thousands have fled to ever-shrinking so-called safe zones in the south. The health care system and humanitarian aid operations have collapsed in large parts of Gaza, and aid workers have warned of starvation and the spread of disease among displaced people in overcrowded shelters and tent camps.

Strikes overnight and into Tuesday in southern Gaza  in an area where civilians have been told to seek shelter  killed at least 23 people, according to an Associated Press reporter at a nearby hospital.

ALSO READ | 'I'm destroyed': UNSC envoys meet victims of Gaza war near Rafah border

In central Gaza, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah received the bodies of 33 people killed in strikes overnight, including 16 women and four children, according to hospital records. Many were killed in strikes that hit residential buildings in the built-up Maghazi refugee camp nearby.

In northern Gaza, the aid group Doctors Without Borders said a surgeon in the Al-Awda hospital was wounded Monday by a shot fired from outside the facility, which it says has been under "total siege" by Israeli forces for a week. There was no immediate comment from the military.

In a briefing with The Associated Press on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant refused to commit to a firm timeline but signalled that the current phase of heavy ground fighting and airstrikes could stretch on for weeks and that further military activity could continue for months.

He said the next phase would be lower-intensity fighting against "pockets of resistance."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain security control over Gaza indefinitely.

The UN secretary-general and Arab states have rallied much of the international community behind calls for an immediate cease-fire. But the US vetoed those efforts at the UN Security Council last week as it rushed tank munitions to Israel to allow it to maintain the offensive.

A non-binding vote on a similar resolution at the General Assembly scheduled for Tuesday would be largely symbolic.

Crushing Hamas seen as 'tall order'

Israel and its main ally, the US, argue that any cease-fire that leaves Hamas in power, even over a small part of the devastated territory, would mean victory for the militant group, which has governed Gaza since 2007 and has pledged to destroy Israel.

But many experts consider Israel's aims to be unrealistic, pointing to Hamas' deep base of support in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it is seen by many Palestinians as resisting Israel's decades-old military rule.

"Destroying Hamas, even its military capability  Israeli leaders' chief war aim  will be a tall order without decimating what remains of Gaza," said the Crisis Group, an international think tank, in a report over the weekend that also called for an immediate cease-fire.

ALSO READ | New reports reveal how Israeli intelligence underestimated Hamas

Gallant said Israel has already inflicted heavy damage on Hamas, killing half the group's battalion commanders and destroying many tunnels, command centres and other facilities.

The Israeli military said Tuesday that its aircraft targeted rocket launching posts throughout Gaza and that ground troops has found 250 rockets, mortar shells and rocket-propelled grenade launchers in a raid.

Israeli officials have said some 7,000 Hamas militants  roughly one-quarter of the group's estimated fighting force  have been killed and that 500 militants have been detained in Gaza the past month, claims that could not be verified. At least 104 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the Gaza ground offensive, the army says.

Gallant said that in northern Gaza, Hamas has been reduced to "islands of resistance," while in the south, where Israel expanded ground operations earlier this month, "they are still organized militarily."

Hamas says it still has thousands of reserve fighters  another unverified claim  and on Monday it fired a barrage of rockets that wounded one person and damaged cars and buildings in a Tel Aviv suburb. The attack set off sirens in the city, where Gallant's office and the military headquarters are located.

Lebanon's Hezbollah has repeatedly traded fire with Israel, and other Iran-backed groups across the region have attacked US targets, threatening to widen the conflict.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have targeted Israeli shipping, attacked a tanker in the Red Sea with no clear ties to the country overnight.

Civilian plight worsens

Israel launched the campaign after Hamas broke through its defences and militants streamed into the south on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and seizing about 240 others. More than 100 hostages, mostly women and children, were freed during a cease-fire last month in exchange for Israel's release of 240 Palestinian prisoners.

ALSO READ | Israeli rhetoric in Gaza fuels fears of ethnic cleansing as IDF assault continues

Two months of airstrikes, coupled with a fierce ground invasion, have resulted in the deaths of over 18,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory. They do not give a breakdown of civilians and combatants but say roughly two-thirds of the dead are women and minors.

The actual toll is likely higher, as thousands are missing and feared dead under the rubble, and efforts to maintain the count have been hindered by the collapse of the health sector in the north.

Israel blames civilian casualties on Hamas, saying it positions fighters, tunnels and rocket launchers in dense urban areas, using civilians as human shields.

With Israel allowing little aid into Gaza and the UN largely unable to distribute it amid the fighting, Palestinians face severe shortages of food, water and other basic goods.

Israel has urged people to flee to what it says are safe areas in the south, and fighting in and around the southern city of Khan Younis  Gaza's second largest  has pushed tens of thousands toward the city of Rafah and other areas along the border with Egypt.

But Israel has also continued to strike what it says are militant targets in so-called safe zones. Most of the 23 dead brought into the Rafah hospital overnight were from three families, hospital records show.

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RAFAH: Israel and the United States were increasingly isolated as they faced global calls for a cease-fire in Gaza, including a non-binding vote expected to pass at the United Nations later on Tuesday. Israel has pressed ahead with an offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers that it says could go on for weeks or months. The war ignited by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel has already brought unprecedented death and destruction to the impoverished coastal enclave, with more than 18,000 Palestinians killed, mostly women and minors, and over 80% of the population of 2.3 million have fled their homes.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Much of northern Gaza has been obliterated, and hundreds of thousands have fled to ever-shrinking so-called safe zones in the south. The health care system and humanitarian aid operations have collapsed in large parts of Gaza, and aid workers have warned of starvation and the spread of disease among displaced people in overcrowded shelters and tent camps. Strikes overnight and into Tuesday in southern Gaza  in an area where civilians have been told to seek shelter  killed at least 23 people, according to an Associated Press reporter at a nearby hospital. ALSO READ | 'I'm destroyed': UNSC envoys meet victims of Gaza war near Rafah border In central Gaza, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah received the bodies of 33 people killed in strikes overnight, including 16 women and four children, according to hospital records. Many were killed in strikes that hit residential buildings in the built-up Maghazi refugee camp nearby. In northern Gaza, the aid group Doctors Without Borders said a surgeon in the Al-Awda hospital was wounded Monday by a shot fired from outside the facility, which it says has been under "total siege" by Israeli forces for a week. There was no immediate comment from the military. In a briefing with The Associated Press on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant refused to commit to a firm timeline but signalled that the current phase of heavy ground fighting and airstrikes could stretch on for weeks and that further military activity could continue for months. He said the next phase would be lower-intensity fighting against "pockets of resistance." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain security control over Gaza indefinitely. The UN secretary-general and Arab states have rallied much of the international community behind calls for an immediate cease-fire. But the US vetoed those efforts at the UN Security Council last week as it rushed tank munitions to Israel to allow it to maintain the offensive. A non-binding vote on a similar resolution at the General Assembly scheduled for Tuesday would be largely symbolic. Crushing Hamas seen as 'tall order' Israel and its main ally, the US, argue that any cease-fire that leaves Hamas in power, even over a small part of the devastated territory, would mean victory for the militant group, which has governed Gaza since 2007 and has pledged to destroy Israel. But many experts consider Israel's aims to be unrealistic, pointing to Hamas' deep base of support in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it is seen by many Palestinians as resisting Israel's decades-old military rule. "Destroying Hamas, even its military capability  Israeli leaders' chief war aim  will be a tall order without decimating what remains of Gaza," said the Crisis Group, an international think tank, in a report over the weekend that also called for an immediate cease-fire. ALSO READ | New reports reveal how Israeli intelligence underestimated Hamas Gallant said Israel has already inflicted heavy damage on Hamas, killing half the group's battalion commanders and destroying many tunnels, command centres and other facilities. The Israeli military said Tuesday that its aircraft targeted rocket launching posts throughout Gaza and that ground troops has found 250 rockets, mortar shells and rocket-propelled grenade launchers in a raid. Israeli officials have said some 7,000 Hamas militants  roughly one-quarter of the group's estimated fighting force  have been killed and that 500 militants have been detained in Gaza the past month, claims that could not be verified. At least 104 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the Gaza ground offensive, the army says. Gallant said that in northern Gaza, Hamas has been reduced to "islands of resistance," while in the south, where Israel expanded ground operations earlier this month, "they are still organized militarily." Hamas says it still has thousands of reserve fighters  another unverified claim  and on Monday it fired a barrage of rockets that wounded one person and damaged cars and buildings in a Tel Aviv suburb. The attack set off sirens in the city, where Gallant's office and the military headquarters are located. Lebanon's Hezbollah has repeatedly traded fire with Israel, and other Iran-backed groups across the region have attacked US targets, threatening to widen the conflict. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have targeted Israeli shipping, attacked a tanker in the Red Sea with no clear ties to the country overnight. Civilian plight worsens Israel launched the campaign after Hamas broke through its defences and militants streamed into the south on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and seizing about 240 others. More than 100 hostages, mostly women and children, were freed during a cease-fire last month in exchange for Israel's release of 240 Palestinian prisoners. ALSO READ | Israeli rhetoric in Gaza fuels fears of ethnic cleansing as IDF assault continues Two months of airstrikes, coupled with a fierce ground invasion, have resulted in the deaths of over 18,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory. They do not give a breakdown of civilians and combatants but say roughly two-thirds of the dead are women and minors. The actual toll is likely higher, as thousands are missing and feared dead under the rubble, and efforts to maintain the count have been hindered by the collapse of the health sector in the north. Israel blames civilian casualties on Hamas, saying it positions fighters, tunnels and rocket launchers in dense urban areas, using civilians as human shields. With Israel allowing little aid into Gaza and the UN largely unable to distribute it amid the fighting, Palestinians face severe shortages of food, water and other basic goods. Israel has urged people to flee to what it says are safe areas in the south, and fighting in and around the southern city of Khan Younis  Gaza's second largest  has pushed tens of thousands toward the city of Rafah and other areas along the border with Egypt. But Israel has also continued to strike what it says are militant targets in so-called safe zones. Most of the 23 dead brought into the Rafah hospital overnight were from three families, hospital records show. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of Indias decision to uphold the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution has not gone down well with Pakistan. The country's former Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has said that they would continue to raise the Kashmir issue.

"The Indian Supreme Court has violated international laws by giving a decision against the resolutions of the United Nations. The Indian Supreme Court has betrayed the sacrifice of millions of Kashmiris. With this biased decision of the Indian Supreme Court, Kashmirs freedom movement will become stronger. There will be no abatement in the Kashmiri struggle," Sharif said.

"This decision will be seen as recognition of the blood of justice on the forehead of Indias Supreme Court," he stated.

In an emphatic victory for the Modi government, the Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld its decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution that bestowed special status upon the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, ordered restoration of statehood "at the earliest" and set a September 30, 2024 deadline for holding assembly elections.

Shehbaz also went on to state that under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) will raise the issue of rights of Kashmiris at all levels. "We stand by our Kashmiri brothers and sisters in this struggle, Sharif added.

Pakistan Peoples Party chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that once again it has been proved that India does not follow international laws and UN resolutions. "Indian parliament and courts cannot rewrite international agreements," he said.

On December 9, former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif had spoken about improving ties with India.

"...During my tenure as PM, two Indian Prime Ministers visited Pakistan. Modi Saheb and Vajpayee Saheb had come to Lahore. We will have to improve our relations with India, Nawaz had said on Saturday.

It may be recalled that since August 17, Pakistan has been functioning under a caretaker government with an 18-member cabinet, which will continue until elections are held and a new government is formed next year. The caretaker PM of the country is Anwar ul Haq Kakar.

Relations between India and Pakistan have often been strained over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

However, their ties nose-dived after India abrogated Article 370 as Pakistan expelled the Indian envoy and downgraded the trade ties.

India has time and again said that Kashmir is an internal matter, and added it desires normal, friendly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, violence and hostility.

Judicial endorsement by Indian Supreme Court has no legal value: Pak's caretaker FM

Meanwhile, Pakistans caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said that international law doesnt support the Indian top court's decision.

"International law doesn't recognise India's unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019. The judicial endorsement by the Indian Supreme Court has no legal value. Kashmiris have an inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant UN SC resolutions," Jilani said.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Jilani said India has "no right to make unilateral decisions on the status of this disputed territory" against the will of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.

"Pakistan does not acknowledge the supremacy of the Indian Constitution over Jammu and Kashmir. Any process, subservient to the Indian Constitution, carries no legal significance. India cannot abdicate its international obligations on the pretext of domestic legislations and judicial verdicts," he said.

The minister said Pakistan will continue to extend its full political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Kashmir for the realisation of their inalienable right to self-determination.

"We will soon call a meeting of all stakeholders and determine our future course of action," he said.

(With additional inputs from PTI)

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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of Indias decision to uphold the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution has not gone down well with Pakistan. The country's former Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has said that they would continue to raise the Kashmir issue. "The Indian Supreme Court has violated international laws by giving a decision against the resolutions of the United Nations. The Indian Supreme Court has betrayed the sacrifice of millions of Kashmiris. With this biased decision of the Indian Supreme Court, Kashmirs freedom movement will become stronger. There will be no abatement in the Kashmiri struggle," Sharif said. "This decision will be seen as recognition of the blood of justice on the forehead of Indias Supreme Court," he stated.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In an emphatic victory for the Modi government, the Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld its decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution that bestowed special status upon the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, ordered restoration of statehood "at the earliest" and set a September 30, 2024 deadline for holding assembly elections. Shehbaz also went on to state that under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) will raise the issue of rights of Kashmiris at all levels. "We stand by our Kashmiri brothers and sisters in this struggle, Sharif added. Pakistan Peoples Party chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that once again it has been proved that India does not follow international laws and UN resolutions. "Indian parliament and courts cannot rewrite international agreements," he said. On December 9, former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif had spoken about improving ties with India. "...During my tenure as PM, two Indian Prime Ministers visited Pakistan. Modi Saheb and Vajpayee Saheb had come to Lahore. We will have to improve our relations with India, Nawaz had said on Saturday. It may be recalled that since August 17, Pakistan has been functioning under a caretaker government with an 18-member cabinet, which will continue until elections are held and a new government is formed next year. The caretaker PM of the country is Anwar ul Haq Kakar. Relations between India and Pakistan have often been strained over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. However, their ties nose-dived after India abrogated Article 370 as Pakistan expelled the Indian envoy and downgraded the trade ties. India has time and again said that Kashmir is an internal matter, and added it desires normal, friendly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, violence and hostility. Judicial endorsement by Indian Supreme Court has no legal value: Pak's caretaker FM Meanwhile, Pakistans caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said that international law doesnt support the Indian top court's decision. "International law doesn't recognise India's unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019. The judicial endorsement by the Indian Supreme Court has no legal value. Kashmiris have an inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant UN SC resolutions," Jilani said. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Jilani said India has "no right to make unilateral decisions on the status of this disputed territory" against the will of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan. "Pakistan does not acknowledge the supremacy of the Indian Constitution over Jammu and Kashmir. Any process, subservient to the Indian Constitution, carries no legal significance. India cannot abdicate its international obligations on the pretext of domestic legislations and judicial verdicts," he said. The minister said Pakistan will continue to extend its full political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Kashmir for the realisation of their inalienable right to self-determination. "We will soon call a meeting of all stakeholders and determine our future course of action," he said. (With additional inputs from PTI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By AFP

PESHAWAR: At least 23 people were killed in a suicide bombing at a Pakistan army base on Tuesday, an official said, in an attack claimed by militants affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban.

The early-morning attack targeted a base in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border, according to a local official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"Many of them were killed while they were sleeping and in civilian clothes so we are still determining if they are all military personnel," the official added.

An additional 27 people were wounded when the explosive-laden suicide vehicle detonated at a school building which had been commandeered as a makeshift military base, he said.

Three rooms had collapsed and efforts were underway to pull bodies from the ruins, with fears the toll could rise further still, he added.

Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan -- a new group affiliated with the Pakistan Taliban -- said the assault began around 2:30 am (2130 GMT) with a "martyrdom attack" by one fighter before others stormed the compound.

Pakistan's army have not yet commented on the incident.

Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic spike in militant attacks, mainly in its border regions with Afghanistan, since the Taliban returned to power there in 2021.

Analysts say Islamist fighters have been emboldened by the neighbouring insurgency's success following the withdrawal of US forces in 2021.

The first half of 2023 saw a nearly 80 percent spike in attacks compared to last year, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.

Islamabad alleges that hostile groups operate from "sanctuaries" across the border, a charge the Taliban government routinely denies.

The biggest threat to Pakistan is its domestic chapter of the Taliban known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which shares lineage and ideology with Kabul's rulers.

In January, the TTP was linked to a mosque bombing which killed more than 80 police officers inside a headquarters in the northwestern city of Peshawar, capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Islamabad said four troops were killed in September during a cross-border raid by "hundreds" of TTP fighters in Chitral, an area popular with domestic tourists.

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PESHAWAR: At least 23 people were killed in a suicide bombing at a Pakistan army base on Tuesday, an official said, in an attack claimed by militants affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban. The early-morning attack targeted a base in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border, according to a local official who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Many of them were killed while they were sleeping and in civilian clothes so we are still determining if they are all military personnel," the official added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); An additional 27 people were wounded when the explosive-laden suicide vehicle detonated at a school building which had been commandeered as a makeshift military base, he said. Three rooms had collapsed and efforts were underway to pull bodies from the ruins, with fears the toll could rise further still, he added. Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan -- a new group affiliated with the Pakistan Taliban -- said the assault began around 2:30 am (2130 GMT) with a "martyrdom attack" by one fighter before others stormed the compound. Pakistan's army have not yet commented on the incident. Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic spike in militant attacks, mainly in its border regions with Afghanistan, since the Taliban returned to power there in 2021. Analysts say Islamist fighters have been emboldened by the neighbouring insurgency's success following the withdrawal of US forces in 2021. The first half of 2023 saw a nearly 80 percent spike in attacks compared to last year, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies. Islamabad alleges that hostile groups operate from "sanctuaries" across the border, a charge the Taliban government routinely denies. The biggest threat to Pakistan is its domestic chapter of the Taliban known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which shares lineage and ideology with Kabul's rulers. In January, the TTP was linked to a mosque bombing which killed more than 80 police officers inside a headquarters in the northwestern city of Peshawar, capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Islamabad said four troops were killed in September during a cross-border raid by "hundreds" of TTP fighters in Chitral, an area popular with domestic tourists. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
OWYHEE  The 21st Century Braves After Hours held its annual Lights On afterschool at the Owyhee Combined School.

Many booths were set up and included slime, art, bracelet making, building blocks, coloring/cutting shapes, information and a large table of books for the families to take home. Because of the date, a few booths focused on Halloween and the Day of the Dead.

We had a great turn out with families and their children from pre-K to 12th participating and trying something from all the booths. They enjoyed hot cocoa on a cold wintry evening.

The primary purpose of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) program is to offer students a broad array of services, programs, and activities  before and after school  designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program through providing activities that significantly or are likely to increase improvement of academic outcomes for participating students.

According to the Nevada Department of Educations website, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program provides grantees with an array of options to support the specific needs of their student populations. Programs can be designed in a variety of ways around the three federally required components (SEC. 4201of ESSA): Academic, Enrichment, and Family Engagement.

A proclamation from 2022 from then governor of the State of Nevada Steve Sisolak states in part, Afterschool programs have risen to the moment to support youth in addressing the social and academic needs as they recover from the pandemic. Afterschool programs continue to provide innovative, hands-on opportunities for youth to reengage in their learning and connect with caring adults and peers in a safe and supportive environment.

Currently the 21st Century at OCS covers grades Pre-K through 8th grades and includes STEM, computers, dance, learning games.

The students receive nutritious snacks after school and before starting their after-school program. 21st Century has classes on Friday mornings from 8-12. Coordinator Paula Whiterock says, We need teachers. Everyone has something to offer. Please consider giving your time and sharing your skills with our students.
Apple Watch help save US woman & her baby's life: Report

San Francisco, Dec 11

A US woman has credited the Apple Watch with saving her and her baby's life when she was pregnant, the media reported.

Veronica Williams, who was pregnant with her first daughter, received a high heart rate notification on her Apple Watch that prompted her to seek help from her doctor, reports Fox19.

Williams said that she received numerous high heart rate alerts on her Apple Watch, and noticed that she was "starting to feel short of breath".

She then called her doctor, who advised her to go to the emergency room.

Next thing I knew, they came in saying, We need to do an emergency c-section. Is that okay? And I was wheeled out of my room and woke up at (University of Cincinnati), Williams was quoted as saying.

Doctors were able to deliver the baby safely, but Williams herself was still struggling. She was diagnosed with a rare form of myocarditis, the report noted.

"Essentially what happened is her immune system got fooled into attacking her own heart as something that was external," Williams surgeon, Dr Louis Benson Louis IV, explained.

Williams was hospitalised for a month and continued to receive treatment from Louis. Both she and her child are doing well now, the report said.

Meanwhile, an Apple Watch's Cardio Fitness notifications have helped a healthy man by identifying a major heart issue.

A 40-year-old man who was wearing Apple Watch Series 6 kept receiving notifications for low VO2 max, reports AppleInsider.

Researchers at Shackler School of Medicine and Leviev Heart Center in Israel conducted tests on the man and diagnosed a major heart problem: familial nonischemic cardiomyopathy with greatly reduced left ventricular systolic function.

After treatment began, which included additional cardio exercise routines, the symptoms started to get better.

Apple Watch help save US woman & her baby's life: Report

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Sharib Hashmi 'excited' as 'Fighter' to release on his b'day

Mumbai, Dec 11

A ctor Sharib Hashmi, who will be seen in Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone-starrer 'Fighter' has expressed his anticipation for 2024, and said he is excited as the movie will be releasing on his birthday.

Sharib is set to bid farewell to 2023 on a high note with a trio of projects -- 'Afwah', 'Zara Hatke Zara Bachke', and 'Tarla'.

As the curtains fell on 2023, Sharib eagerly anticipated an equally promising, exciting, and successful 2024, marked by major film releases scheduled in the beginning of the year.

Looking forward to the upcoming year, Sharib is gearing up for a double whammy in January 2024 with the release of 'Fighter' a big-budget production that holds special significance for him as it features him in a guest appearance alongside the dynamic duo of Hrithik and Deepika.

Adding an extra layer of excitement, 'Fighter' is slated to hit the big screens on January 25, coinciding with Sharibs birthday.

Talking about the same, the actor said: "For the first time ever, I will have a movie release on my birthday, and I am truly excited. I really wish to keep the audience entertained in 2024 as well and years to come."

Reflecting on the past year, Sharib expressed gratitude for the overwhelming success and the warm reception he received from audiences.

The actor shared his enthusiasm, saying, "2023 has truly been a wonderful year, and I am really grateful to God and the audience who have been kind to me and showered upon their love, encouragement, and support."

Presented by Viacom18 Studios in association with Marflix Pictures, 'Fighter', also starring Anil Kapoor assures an immersive narrative that seamlessly intertwines adrenaline pumping action and fervent patriotism.

The film is a celebration of the valour and courage epitomised by the Indian Air Force.

'Fighter' will be releasing in theatres on January 25.

Sharib Hashmi 'excited' as 'Fighter' to release on his b'day

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Panaji, Dec 11

H ighlighting the importance of industrial courses, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that plumbers charge more fess than doctors for a single visit.

Sawant was speaking during the programme in South Goa.

"We need to take education considering the availability of jobs or should think of self-employment. Everyone cant get government jobs. But 100 per cent youth of Goa can get jobs, which are available in the private sector. We need to take education in the fields where jobs are available, he said, urging students to learn various courses at Industrial Training Institutes (ITI).

This can help for self-employment. Why not become a plumbing contractor? Plumbers charge around Rs 500 after every visit. Their fees have become more than doctors. There are so many options available here (in ITIs), he said.

Sawant said that plumbers who give on call services earn around Rs 60,000 per month. Everyone cant become a doctor, engineer or clerk he said, urging students to take additional degrees.

There are several opportunities in Goa in tourism and wellness tourism. Three months ago there was an advertisement for Panchkarma assistant. But in Goa, we had no one with this qualification, Sawant said.

In aviation cell, we gave training to 1500 youths and they could work at Mopa airport, Sawant said.

He asserted that several job opportunities are available in the hospitality sector in the state, which can be grabbed by youths.

Goa CM highlights ITI courses' importance, says plumbers charge more than doctors

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Ola Electric aims to raise nearly Rs 5,800 cr via IPO, to file DRHP

New Delhi, Dec 11

H omegrown electric two-wheeler manufacturer Ola Electric aims to raise nearly Rs 5,800 crore through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) and is set to file its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) by December 20, media reports said on Monday.

According to the reports, the company is looking to list at a valuation of more than $7 billion by early 2024.

Through the IPO, Ola Electric plans to expand its EV business and establish a lithium-ion cell manufacturing facility, the reports said.

The company started sales in December 2021 and has sold over 353,000 units to date.

Meanwhile, Bhavish Aggarwal-driven Ola Electrics net loss nearly doubled to Rs 1,472 crore in FY23, from Rs 784.1 crore in the previous fiscal year, as expenses surged significantly.

The electric vehicle company reported an EBITDA loss of Rs 1,318 crore as its total expenses jumped to Rs 3,383 crore, in comparison to Rs 1,240 crore in FY22.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) is a measure of core corporate profitability. The company is now targeting an EBITDA profitability of Rs 803 crore in FY25. The company saw its losses growing nearly 293 per cent to Rs 784 crore in FY22.

Ola Electric aims to raise nearly Rs 5,800 cr via IPO, to file DRHP

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A China-Vietnam freight train pulls out of Xi'an international port in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)

China and Vietnam are friendly socialist neighbors with shared ideals, the same social system and similar development paths. The shared future of the two parties, two countries and two peoples is closely bound up by the same social system and development goals.

BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- After six years, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, will again pay a state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong.

The visit will not only consolidate and deepen the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam as friendly socialist neighbors, but also send a clear signal to the world to promote building a community with a shared future in the neighborhood.

Xi's visit will add new impetus to the Asia-Pacific region's stability, development and prosperity and inject more certainty and stability into a turbulent and intertwined world. It is indeed a journey to the past and the future.

A SHARED FUTURE

China and Vietnam are friendly socialist neighbors with shared ideals, the same social system and similar development paths. The shared future of the two parties, two countries and two peoples is closely bound up by the same social system and development goals.

In 2015 and 2017, Xi visited Vietnam twice as general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president.

Those visits deepened the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam, promoted the development of socialism and injected strong impetus into regional and world peace and stability and building of a community with a shared future for mankind through promoting political party diplomacy and state-to-state exchanges.

In October 2022, Xi and Trong held historic talks in Beijing, jointly steering the development of China-Vietnam relations and drawing up a new vision for China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperation in the new era.

China and Vietnam issued a joint statement on further strengthening and deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, advancing the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan.

Looking back at history, China and Vietnam have supported each other in fighting for their respective national liberation causes and forged a profound bond of "camaraderie and brotherhood." The traditional friendship nurtured by the older generations of leaders of the two countries remains a valuable asset for developing relations between the two sides.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Xi's upcoming visit is expected to make greater contributions to consolidating the social foundation for the development of bilateral relations, realizing the stability and development of both countries and pushing bilateral relations to a new level.

Nguyen Van Tho, former Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister and former ambassador to China, said the continuous development of Vietnam-China relations is in line with the interests of the two peoples and the general trend of the times.

He is looking forward to Xi's visit to Vietnam and expressed anticipation for the two leaders to jointly draw a blueprint for developing Vietnam-China relations and initiate a higher stage of political trust.

LAY FAST LANE FOR DEVELOPMENT

China and Vietnam are both advancing their own socialist modernization cause, both regard the bilateral relationship as a priority in their respective foreign policy, and both see each other's development as opportunities for their own development, said Xi on Oct. 20 when he met with Vietnamese President Thuong, for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

China's continued expansion of high-level opening-up has brought Vietnamese companies great opportunities to access a bigger market.

TH True Milk Group's Chairman Thai Huong recalled how, at the inaugural China International Import Expo (CIIE) in 2018, "President Xi Jinping visited our booth, attentively inquiring about our products."

People visit the booth of Vietnam at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

Thanks to the CIIE, this Vietnamese dairy production company formed a connection with China. With the assistance of Chinese partners, TH True Milk Group became the first Vietnamese dairy enterprise in 2019 to receive a transaction code to export its products issued by the General Administration of Customs of China.

Today, the company's products are available on supermarket shelves in cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. At the same time, online stores have been established on various e-commerce platforms in China.

At the recently concluded inaugural China International Supply Chain Expo, Nguyen Thi Mien Ha, brand manager at Vietnam's SAO THAI DUONG Joint Stock Company, said that the Expo provides opportunities for companies to deeply integrate with the Chinese market.

China's ability to manufacture advanced products, along with its large market and efficient logistics system, makes it easy for global industrial and supply chain operations to function smoothly, said the manager.

China is Vietnam's largest trading partner, and Vietnam is China's largest trading partner within ASEAN, with bilateral trade exceeding 200 billion U.S. dollars for two consecutive years. In the first 10 months of this year, bilateral trade reached 185.1 billion dollars.

In 2017, China and Vietnam signed a memorandum of understanding on the joint implementation of the China-proposed BRI and Vietnam's "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan to expedite cooperation across diverse sectors.

From booming border trade to infrastructure connectivity, from cooperation in industrial and supply chains to green development, practical cooperation between China and Vietnam has been expanding.

Vietnam's Vinh Tan Coal Fired Power Plant, one of the first projects under the BRI framework, has operated safely for over five years, greatly easing power shortages in southern Vietnam, with cumulative power generation exceeding 41 billion kWh. The plant has driven over one billion dollars of domestic engineering services, technology and equipment exports.

Another example of bilateral cooperation is Vietnam's first urban light rail, which was built by China Railway Sixth Group Co., Ltd., and has been operational for two years.

The line, starting from Cat Linh to Ha Dong in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, has facilitated public transport for local residents and significantly contributed to Hanoi's economic growth.

As a landmark project aligning with the BRI and the "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan, the line illustrates the commitment of both countries to a people-centered development philosophy.

Vietnam and China have additionally experienced advantages from the BRI's green energy cooperation.

According to Lu Hefeng, vice general manager of Ginlong Technologies Co. Ltd., a global provider of solar and energy storage solutions from China, Southeast Asian customers have shown a growing interest in green energy products made in China.

"We have established a factory in Vietnam with a capacity of 5 gigawatts," she said.

PROMOTING REGIONAL PEACE, PROSPERITY

On the morning of Oct. 16, two trains loaded with Yunnan specialties, including broccoli, Chinese cabbage and pomegranates, departed from the Yanhe Station in the city of Yuxi in the southwestern province of Yunnan.

Staff members label durians to be exported to China at a durian processing plant in Dak Lak province, Vietnam, Sept. 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Jiali)

They arrived at the Laos capital, Vientiane, and Vietnam's Lao Cai a day later.

It marked the launch of the international cold-chain train services on the China-Laos and China-Vietnam routes, which will drive economic and trade growth and enhance connectivity within the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor.

In his meeting with Trong in October 2022, Xi stressed that China regards ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and a critical region for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. China values Vietnam's position and role in ASEAN, said Xi.

"We look forward to working with Vietnam to accelerate the building of a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home together, and to promote regional economic integration in East Asia," he said.

Unremitting efforts are being made to build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

Regional cooperation has been enriched by two-way investment exceeding 380 billion dollars, setting a noteworthy example of collaboration between China and neighboring countries.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of China's practice of the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in neighborhood diplomacy.

Over the past decade, China has catalyzed the development of neighboring countries through its own growth. In collaboration with neighboring countries, efforts have been made towards modernization and bolstering global development.

With negotiations accelerating regarding the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, the dividends resulting from the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership are becoming evident.

China has also successfully hosted the China-ASEAN Expo, China-South Asia Expo, the China Import and Export Fair, the CIIE and the China International Supply Chain Expo.

A staff member promotes Vietnamese coffee products via livestreaming during the 19th China-ASEAN Expo at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

"We must remain steadfast in our commitment to APEC's founding mission. We must respond to the calls of our times responsibly and meet global challenges together. We must fully deliver on the Putrajaya Vision of building an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community for the prosperity of all our people and future generations," said Xi at the 30th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting held in San Francisco, the United States.

Thong Mengdavid, a research supervisor at the Phnom Penh-based independent think tank Asian Vision Institute, said that China-ASEAN cooperation -- defined by the building of free trade zones, BRI cooperation, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative -- will result in regional high-quality development and prosperous shared future.

Building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future is needed for peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region today and provides new insights for growth, said Bambang Suryono, chairman of Indonesia's think tank Asia Innovation Research Center.

China prioritizes mutual growth and values collaboration that benefits all parties involved, he said.

(Xinhua reporters Tao Jun, Sun Yi and Hu Jiali in Hanoi, Gao Bo in Bangkok, Wu Changwei in Phnom Penh and Wang Ao'na in Jakarta contributed to the story.)

Editor: GSY
Only 7% of new docs aware of advances in anti-smoking strategies: Study

New Delhi, Dec 11

A mere 7 per cent of doctors are aware of recent advances in anti-smoking strategies, posing a significant challenge to the nation's efforts in combating tobacco addiction, according to a new study on Monday.

The study by Indian Medical Academy for Preventive Health (IMAPH) -- a knowledge hub and a trusted resource for healthcare professionals -- is based on a survey of 200 Indian doctors with a minimum of 3 years of experience.

The findings also showed that cardiovascular disease is the most common reason for patient visits at 12 per cent, underscoring the urgent need for anti-smoking interventions.

"The survey sheds light on the key role doctors play in motivating smokers to quit, emphasising the need for increased awareness and training in implementing advanced anti-smoking strategies. The findings of the survey are a wake-up call. We need to bridge the awareness gap among doctors to effectively combat tobacco harm," said Chandrakant S. Pandav, global public health expert, and a former Professor & Head of the Department of Centre for Community Medicine at AIIMS, Delhi, in a statement.

The survey also highlighted that despite 78.5 per cent of doctors regularly providing anti-smoking advice, there remains a significant lack of awareness of the most recent advancements in this field.

Behavioural therapy (28 per cent) and counselling/support groups (26 per cent) were identified as the most effective methods for smoking cessation.

"Effectiveness remains a critical factor in recommending cultural and region-specific methods to combat smoking, advocating the need for science-backed policy making to arm doctors with safer options against tobacco addiction. Therefore, doctors must stay abreast of the latest developments to offer the best guidance. It is crucial for effective tobacco control which is successfully practised abroad," said M Wali, Senior Consultant, Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

The survey study suggests that doctors should rigorously inquire about patients' tobacco consumption at every visit. Additionally, novel alternatives like e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products could play a vital role as substitutes in reducing the burden of tobacco addiction in India. As the second-largest tobacco consumer globally, with 275 million users, India faces a significant challenge.

The recent Global Adult Tobacco Survey data indicates that only 55.4 per cent of smokers have ever considered or intended to quit, showcasing the urgent need for more effective anti-smoking strategies.

The research highlights the importance of science-backed policy making to empower doctors, researchers, and medical practitioners to explore and recommend safer options.

By addressing the gaps in awareness and advocating for effective strategies, India can progress towards achieving the global voluntary goal of a 30 per cent reduction in tobacco consumption by 2025.

Only 7% of new docs aware of advances in anti-smoking strategies: Study

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Bhopal, Dec 11

A fter the BJP named Mohan Yadav as the next Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, outgoing CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday evening tendered his resignation to Governor Mangubhai Patel.

After attending the legislative party meeting, four-time Chief Minister Chouhan went straight to the Raj Bhavan from the state BJP headquarters here and submitted his resignation to Governor Patel.

With this, the Chouhan era in Madhya Pradesh finally came to an end. The veteran BJP leader, who served as the Chief Minister for nearly two decades, had earlier posted a message on X saying, Sabhi ko Ram Ram."

Incidentally, Chouhan did not go to Delhi after BJP's landslide victory in the Assembly elections, saying now his only aim is to ensure that the party wins all the 29 Lok Sabha seats in next year's general elections.

It is being speculated that Chouhan is likely to be given a key role in BJP's central leadership. Last time, he was offered the post of Vice President of the party, a proposal Chouhan had declined.

The BJP had won two consecutive Assembly elections -- 2008 and 2013 -- under Chouhans leadership, before losing to Congress in 2018. However, BJP returned to power 15 in 2020 after 22 Congress MLAs led by Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the saffron camp.

The BJP contested the recent Assembly elections under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and registered a landslide victory by winning 163 seats against Congress 66.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan tenders resignation to MP Governor

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Only BJP can elevate an ordinary party worker to CM's chair: Mohan Yadav

Bhopal, Dec 11

M ohan Yadav, the newly-appointed Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJPs central leadership for elevating him to the top post in the state, here on Monday.

Only the BJP can elevate an ordinary party worker to CM's chair," said Yadav (58), who replaced four-time Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

A three-time MLA from the Ujjain South Assembly constituency, Yadav served as Higher Education Minister in Chouhans outgoing Cabinet.

During BJP's legislative party meeting to pick the next Chief Minister at the BJP headquarters here on Monday afternoon, supporters of the CM probables gathered in large numbers, raising slogans and beating drums.

However, the three observers sent by the BJPs central leadership came up with a surprise choice, Mohan Yadav, who was not even in the probables list. A lot of people were taken by surprise after Yadavs name was announced as the next Chief Minister of state, including mediapersons.

A businessman-turned-politician, Yadav began his political stint with the BJP in 2013 and has been elected as an MLA thrice since then. After completing his Masters in political science from Vikram University, Ujjain, in 2006, he did his PhD from the same university in 2009.

Only BJP can elevate an ordinary party worker to CM's chair: Mohan Yadav

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On govt's 1st anniversay, Himachal CM gives Rs 1,500 to every woman in Lahaul-Spiti dist

Dharamsala, Dec 11

H imachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, while addressing a public meeting here on completion of government's one year, tenure, on Monday announced to give Rs 1,500 from January 2024 to all women of Lahaul-Spiti district who are over 18 years of age.

However, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who arrived in Shimla on Sunday, gave the government's first anniversary celebrations in Dharamsala a miss.

Earlier, she and her brother Rahul Gandhi were to attend the programme.

At the rally, Sukhu said the promise made to all women of the state would also be met in a phased manner.

He announced the women who currently get Rs 1,100 as pension will also be provided Rs 1,500.

He announced the state would bear the expenses for higher education of children of widows from the next fiscal.

The Chief Minister also announced the increase in the purchase price of milk by Rs 6 and said the government would start the cow dung purchase scheme from January, 2024.

He said these decisions would prove to be a milestone in the direction of prosperity of the farmers.

"The state government was working for the welfare of the common man, where women, youth, all sections of the society, including farmers and employees, were getting due respect," said Sukhu.

Congratulating the people of the state on completion of the one year of the government, he said many historic decisions have been taken for the future of the youth.

"The government is focused towards changing the system and has taken many decisions in this regard," said the Chief Minister.

"In one year, our government has laid the strong foundation for making Himachal self-reliant and by 2027, Himachal will become an ideal example of a self-reliant state. Our dedicated and continuous efforts would ensure that Himachal becomes one of the most prosperous states of India by the year 2032."

He added that the government's revenue has increased by Rs 500 crore from the auction of liquor contracts.

"I am a dedicated party worker and no member of my family was in politics, but the Congress party, considering my 40 years in the party, put its trust on me and handed over the responsibility to serve the people of the state," he added.

On govt's 1st anniversay, Himachal CM gives Rs 1,500 to every woman in Lahaul-Spiti dist

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New Delhi, Dec 11

T here has been a sharp increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting India during 2023 with the numbers shooting up to 6.3 million during the eight-month period between January and September, compared to 6.44 million for the entire year in 2022, according to figures tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

The foreign exchange earnings from tourism jumped to Rs 1,66, 660 crore during Jan-Sept this year compared to Rs 1,39,935 crore for the full year in 2022.

India had recorded as many as 10.93 million foreign tourist arrivals in pre-Covid 2019 after which there was a sudden collapse in the tourist trade due to the pandemic.

Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy informed the Lok Sabha that his ministry is promoting India as a holistic destination to increase the countrys share of the global tourism market.

The government has drawn up an integrated marketing and promotional strategy, and a synergised campaign in association with the travel trade, state governments and Indian Missions.

The government continuously engages with industry experts and other relevant stakeholders and take their suggestions and feedback for promotion of varied tourism products of India. In order to boost visitor arrival, the Ministry of Tourism has declared Incredible India! Visit India Year 2023", he added.

In order to increase the footfall of international tourists, the Ministry of Tourism participated in various international travel fairs in 2023, such as FITUR 2023 in Madrid, ITB Berlin, Arabian Travel Market 2023 in Dubai, and IMEX in Frankfurt.

Apart from this, the ministry also attended fairs in Japan, Singapore, London and Moscow to hardsell India as a tourist destination.

Foreign tourist arrivals surge in Jan-Sept

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Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 11

I n scenes witnessed never before in Kerala, angry Governor Arif Mohammed Khan lost his cool on Monday night and hit out at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after protesting SFI activists stopped him when he was returning after attending an official function.

"Chief Minister is hatching this conspiracy to harm me physically as he did in Kannur. This is at the direction of CM to hurt me physically.

"When the CM is part of this conspiracy, what can this police do," a peeved Khan said, adding that he will not allow the criminals to rule the road.

The security officials were aghast seeing Khan stopping his vehicle and stepping out to challenge the protesters.

Losing his cool, he then asked the police officials if this is the security cover that has been given to him.

A police official had a very tough time in pacifying Khan while others chased away the SFI activists who managed to come to the Governors vehicle and were seen hitting it with their hands.

Khan then again turned his ire towards Vijayan and was heard saying that it appears the CM has given a free hand to the SFI activists to manhandle him.

"Will anyone be allowed to reach near the vehicle of the CM," he asked.

State Congress President K.Sudhakaran termed this a black day in the history of the state, while his BJP counterpart K.Surendran alleged that the police officials reduced the speed of the security vehicles to enable the protesters to come and bang the vehicle of the Governor.

"There is a total breakdown of law and order situation in the state and we the BJP will not remain a mute witness to such goondaism," he said.

Kerala Governor accuses CM Vijayan of 'conspiring to harm him physically'

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London, Dec 11

T he UK's Indian-origin British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, 43, was looking at an uncertain future on Monday afternoon, following a right-wing faction of his Conservative party being informed that a parliamentary Bill on which he has virtually staked his future was a "partial and incomplete solution" to the problem of sending back illegal asylum seekers from Britain.

The UK government wants to deport such arrivals to Rwanda, with which it has signed a treaty.

Immigration has been a major issue in Britain for some time. One of the main reasons why Britons who wanted the UK to leave the European Union (EU) was to stop uncontrolled immigration. The free movement of people that was mandatory if a country was a member of the EU simply did not allow this.

However, immigration from EU states has since Britain exited the EU in 2016 been more than replaced by migration from outside the EU, including tens of thousands of people fleeing their nations, desperately crossing the English Channel on inadequate boats, to arrive in the UK. Net migration  namely the difference between people leaving the UK for good and entering to settle in it  stood at nearly 800,000 in 2022.

The hard-line, anti-immigration section among Conservatives, known as the European Research Group (ERG), had referred the matter of whether Sunaks proposed Bill  set to be voted upon on Tuesday  to a team of lawyers called "The Star Chamber".

The lawyers opinion was: "The Bill overall provides a partial and incomplete solution to the problem of legal challenges in the UK courts being used as stratagems to delay or defeat the removal of illegal migrants to Rwanda."

Commenting on Sunaks claim that the draft Bill is the "toughest piece of migration legislation ever put forward by a UK Government", the lawyers said: "We do not believe that it goes far enough to deliver the policy as intended."

The opinion listed that the Bill as tabled does not exclude individual legal challenges and its scope of disapplying provisions of the European Court of Human Rights and other international instruments was "very narrow", among other alleged incapacities.

The chair of ERG Mark Francois stated: "This Bill means that individuals can keep tying the Government up in legal knots. Thats why it needs to be to be redrafted."

He added: "This really is the last chance so the Government would be well advised to get it right."

BBC noticed about 30 Conservative MPs attending the meeting with The Star Chamber. If all of them vote against the Bill in its current form, Sunaks motion could be defeated. The confidence of his lawmakers in him could then become an issue.

Whether that will lead to a resignation by Sunak, a leadership contest, or a snap general election remains to be seen. What is fairly certain is that it will weaken his already un-cemented position as Prime Minister  an unusual case of a political lightweight becoming head of government because nobody else in his party was fit for or wanted the job.

Indeed, breathing down his neck is an unabated call for Sunaks former boss Boris Johnsons return.

Johnson lost the support of his MPs after what was perceived to be his cavalier approach to the Covid-19 crisis.

Meanwhile, David Cameron, who was a promising Prime Minister for six years before losing the Brexit vote, was recently appointed as Foreign Secretary by Sunak and is perceived among political commentators to be poised to take over at the helm, if and when, Sunak bites the dust.

Sunak is being buffeted by two diametrically opposite views within his party. The centrist and moderate MPs, who call themselves One Nation Conservatives, reportedly believe the Bill as introduced would break international laws and contravene United Nations conventions. Their formal conclusion was expected to be announced on Monday evening.

In what is the toughest week of his career in public life, Monday began with Sunak being unsparingly cross-examined by a barrister at the Covid-19 Inquiry regarding his role as Chancellor of the Exchequer during the pandemic. He began his deposition by saying he was "deeply sorry" to those who lost loved ones and to "all those who suffered".

Medical officers of the British government had earlier told the Inquiry that Sunak's "Eat Out to Help Out" scheme in August 2020 to help pubs and restaurants during the Covid-19 crisis was not run past them and they questioned the wisdom of the policy.

Sunak, however, defended the decision, saying it was designed to save jobs and took place after the safe reopening of pubs and restaurants.

Sunak fights to save his Premiership as MPs seek revised immigration bill

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Washington, Dec 11

W ith just five weeks to go for the Iowa caucus, former US president Donald Trump has established an unprecedented lead over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley with New Hampshire to follow in the nations most watched polls of the state.

Trump holds an unprecedented lead in Iowa with an overwhelming 32-point lead (51-19) over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has the backing of the state governor.

According to the Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll, DeSantis, the once best positioned rival to Trump, is struggling for the number two position where former UN ambassador Nikki Haley is within striking distance with three points, technically making that race too close to call. The poll's margin of error's 4.4 percentage points.

Trump's lead is quite significant considering that much of Iowa's Republican political establishment is behind DeSantis, including Gov. Kim Reynolds.

According to the Register, Trump's lead is the largest at this point in the race for a competitive GOP caucus.

"The field may have shrunk, but it may have made Donald Trump even stronger than he was," pollster J. Ann Selzer, president of Selzer & Co., which conducted the Iowa Poll, told The Des Moines Register.

"I would call his lead commander at this point. There's not much benefit of fewer candidates for either Ron DeSantis or Nikki Haley."

Selzer is regarded as the "gold standard" of Iowa pollsters with her ability to closely predict the mood of the caucuses, which is difficult given the factors at play in the state, especially the potential number of first-time caucus goers, media reports said.

According to the poll, Trump's lead is so massive that he's ahead in every single demographic surveyed, the Business Insider reported.

The former president, despite his legal woes, is a hit with every age group, every type of resident (suburban, rural, or city), every income bracket, those who have a college degree or do not, those who are self-described evangelicals or not, and those who are self-described Republican caucus-goers or those will are independent for now.

Trump actually does best with those without a college degree and those who make less than $50,000 (61 per cent each), pulling off an even more dramatic repeat of a key demographic that powered his successful 2016 primary run. The former president does even better with men 65 and older and men without a college degree (66 per cent each).

DeSantis, the arch rival of Trump who calls him Ron DE - Sanctimonious in sarcasm, ought to be concerned as an earlier Iowa poll showed that he was tied with Trump amid likely Republican caucus goers. But, this is no longer true. Trump still leads when Iowans opt for Trump as their 1st choice, second-choice, and actively considering all are combined.

The former president's lead over DeSantis (76-67) narrows to nine points. Haley is the only other candidate over 50 per cent (52) in this larger sample.

DeSantis has invested a lot in his campaign's success in Iowa.

That DeSantis is losing ground despite having campaigned adroitly in each of the state's 99 counties is a major warning signal for his already faltering campaign.

No Republican has won the GOP presidential nomination without winning Iowa or one of the three other early states such as New Hampshire.

Iowa's Republican caucuses will be held on January 15.

Trump establishes unprecedented lead over rivals in Iowa

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Ex-UN Secy Gen Ban Ki-moon gets Power of One Award from Diwali Foundation USA

United Nations, Dec 12

A ccepting the Power of One Award from Diwali Foundation USA, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the global organisation is indispensable at a time when crises are tearing the world apart.

After receiving the award on Monday, he said that crises like in the Middle East and Ukraine have kept nations and people apart and hindered global cooperation and progress.

But it is exactly at times such as these that the work of the US is indispensable."

The UNs pursuit of peace, human rights and sustainable development exemplifies the values and principles that we should all espouse to replicate, he added.

Ravi Batra, chair of the National Advisory Council on South Asian Affairs, giving the citation for Ban, said that he was a man of history embedded in Republic of Korea's top political power, but he gave it all up to become a global champion. of peace and security and to better deliver justice to all.

His singular achievement is the Paris Agreement on climate change, Batra said.

Ban, who was the Secretary-General from 2007 to 2016, received the award from Ranju Batra, the chair of Diwali Foundation USA.

Now Ban is the deputy chair of The Elders, a group of former world leaders founded by the late South African President Nelson Mandela to work for human rights and a sustainable planet.

The Power of One Awards recognise the singular achievements of diplomats in bringing about positive change.

Sri Lankas Permanent Representative Mohan Pieris, who spoke at the awards ceremony, described the awards as the Oscars of Diplomacy, a comparison to the popular movie awards in the US.

The others who received the awards on Monday were Miroslav Lajcak, a former president of the General Assembly; and former Permanent Representatives Mirsada Colakovic of Bosnia and Kim Sook of South Korea.

The diplomats representing an array of religions who spoke at the event touched on the relevance of Diwali to the contemporary world and its significance that transcends religions.

Indias Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj said that the festival is a sentiment that embodies the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair.

Paula Narvaez Ojeda, the president of the UN Economic and Social Council, said that amid all the problems that the world faces, Diwali embodies hope, a universal and powerful moral message.

Olof Skoog, who heads the European Union delegation to the UN and moderated the event, said: Our session today is very much about turning the best of intentions into real change, light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance."

The event was co-sponsored by over 60 countries, including the US.

Both Israel and the Palestine Authority also joined in co-sponsoring it.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)

Ex-UN Secy Gen Ban Ki-moon gets Power of One Award from Diwali Foundation USA

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Vicky on social media: There's a difference in being in conversation, creating a legacy

New Delhi, Dec 12

A ctor Vicky Kaushal, who has often created a stir with his videos on social media, says that the platform helps in building a conversation and is for day to day fun.

Talking about how social media helps in shaping an actor stardom today, Vicky told IANS: Social media helps you in building conversations. But there is a difference between being in a conversation and creating a legacy. Social media helps because there is direct access with the audience.

The actor, whose video on the song Obsession became a rage, agrees that due to social media the attention span has become small.

The attention span has become small too because of social media as so much content is coming and new content is coming, he said.

The only thing that leaves a permanent mark is a film, Vicky believes.

Its good that youre a part of a conversation, but you have to go deeper than that. For that, the permanency that films have which is our profession, passion and love which is always paramount. But social media is for day to day fun, said the actor, whose latest release is Sam Bahadur.

Vicky on social media: There's a difference in being in conversation, creating a legacy

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) continues to count on Ukraines partners to fulfill their external financing obligations undertaken by them under the four-year EFF program opened by the fund in March this year, said IMF Mission Chief for Ukraine Gavin Gray.

"I would say the risks to external financing are there but they were there during the first review, they're not necessarily higher right now. We have concrete budget proposals from key donors that represent those financing assurances. Those countries are going through their budgetary processes and we will have to wait for them to be completed, he said at a press conference on Tuesday night after the board of governors approved the second review of the program.

He said the fund expects all donors to honor their commitments one by one once their budget processes are completed.

At the same time, Gray noted that the IMF would definitely discuss with the Ukrainian side the steps it can take to eliminate any short-term gaps.

He recalled that the $15.6 billion EFF program is part of a $122 billion aid package from the international community.

"So far this year, the donors have dispersed resources as planned and on time, and that has been important because it has enabled the authorities to execute their budgets to maintain the level of expected expenditure and it's enabled the authorities to preserve adequate levels of reserves and thus preserve economic and financial stability," the report reads.

Asked about the possibility of using Russian frozen assets to finance Ukraine, Gray indicated that the IMF is neutral towards its members, and is aware of the risks for the international monetary system associated with any such initiatives.

"The IMF is neutral across members and also mindful of the risks to the international monetary system of any such initiatives. Of course, if any revenues from frozen assets were to be made available to Ukraine, we would assess their impact on the budget and Ukraine's program," Gray added.
Los Angeles, Dec 12

A ctress Rebecca Ferguson shared that she had a "big" crush on Hollywood star Tom Cruise.

The actress was infatuated with her 'Mission: Impossible' co-star after seeing him in his 1994 horror movie 'Interview with the Vampire'.

"I had a crush on him by the time I saw him star in 'Interview with the Vampire'. It's certainly a weird film, and I told him when we worked together that I had a big crush. I'm sure he was delighted! Who wouldn't be?" Rebecca told Sunday Times Culture magazine.

"Tom is a huge movie star, but I've been fortunate to work with so many great people. When I worked with Meryl Streep on 'Florence Foster Jenkins', I would go to the set, even when we weren't filming, just to see her act. She's spectacular."

Rebecca has never felt comfortable on the red carpet and has been studying her co-star Zendaya Coleman tips for posing, reports aceshowbiz.com.

The actress said: "I was nominated for my first Golden Globe award in 2013 with 'The White Queen', with other nominees including Helena Bonham Carter and Helen Mirren".

"I just rocked up on the red carpet. I was winging it. I had no make-up artists or stylists. I was smiling for photos and then Cate Blanchett's team started nudging me to ask, 'Is it all right if Cate takes this?" She glided effortlessly, while I walked like a lumberjack."

"I'm not great at red carpets. Zendaya, who I worked with on 'Dune', can just play on set, wearing socks and no make-up, crazy hair, and then just put it on for the red carpet and become like a cat. I study how she does it, even though I'm older."

She had never even acted at school before she landed her first role, in Swedish soap opera 'Nya Tider' when she was just 16.

She said, "I was the beige one in the popular group at school. I was very plain, ordinary, easygoing and didn't do school plays or Nativities. Then one day, despite never acting, I did a casting for a soap opera, Nya Tider, and I guess it came naturally to me."

Rebecca Ferguson had huge crush on Tom Cruise

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The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in collaboration with Wellington Zhaotai Therapies Limited today announced results of its phase 1 dose escalation trial of a new third-generation anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy to be presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting in San Diego on 11 December, 3pm.

Anti-CD19 CAR T-cells with a CD28 co-stimulatory domain, such as axicabtagene ciloleucel and brexucabtagene autoleucel, are among the most effective CAR T-cell therapies for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas but are associated with neurotoxicity (immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, ICANS) in around half of recipients, and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in up to 90%.

The Malaghan Institute and Wellington Zhaotai Therapies Limited have developed a third generation autologous anti-CD19 CAR T-cell product, which combines CD28 with a toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) co-stimulatory domain. In preclinical studies, adding the TLR2 domain maintained or improved efficacy, while lowering production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN- and GM-CSF, which are implicated in CRS and ICANS, compared to a CAR with CD28 co-stimulation alone.

Twenty-one patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas were treated in the dose escalation cohort of a phase 1 trial (ENABLE, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04049513) and completed the primary follow-up period. Median age was 57 years, 19% were Maori, participants had received a median of four prior lines of therapy.

No dose limiting toxicities occurred at doses of 5  104 to 1  106 CAR T-cells/kg. Grade 1 or 2 CRS occurred in 13 patients (62%); no severe (grade  3) CRS occurred. Notably, no ICANS of any grade occurred. Clinical responses were seen at all dose levels, with a 3-month complete response rate of 52%. WZTL-002 CAR T-cell expansion was robust. A phase 2 dose range of 5  105 to 1  106 cells/kg was recommended. A further four patients have since been treated at this dose within a dose expansion cohort and have reached the DLT assessment timepoint; among these four additional patients, no grade  3 CRS or ICANS of any grade occurred.

"The absence of neurotoxicity with a CD28-based anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy is remarkable. Adding the intracellular TLR2 domain with CD28 and CD3 alters the CAR T-cell cytokine profile, and may account for our clinical findings," says Malaghan Institute Clinical Director and Principal Investigator Dr Robert Weinkove.

"We are enrolling to a dose expansion cohort, with outpatient management and automated manufacture of WZTL-002 CAR T-cells. This is helping us prepare for a phase 2 trial in early 2024, to assess efficacy and safety in a larger number of patients."

The original TLR2-containing CAR T constructs were developed at the Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health in China in collaboration with the Hunan Zhaotai Medical Group. In 2017, Wellington Zhaotai Therapies Limited was formed as a joint venture between the Malaghan Institute and Hunan Zhaotai Medical Group to develop this technology for international markets. The clinical trial of autologous anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy combining CD28 and TLR2 costimulation, WZTL-002, commenced in 2019. In 2023, Wellington Zhaotai Therapies Limited entered into a license agreement with Dr. Reddy's Laboratories to develop a CAR T-cell therapy incorporating this construct.

These results are another exciting milestone in the development of our novel CAR T technology and the future of CAR T therapies globally." Peter Lai, Wellington Zhaotai Therapies Limited Executive Director

"There is a huge need and opportunity to extend CAR T-cell therapies into markets not yet addressed by major pharmaceutical companies. The reduced side effect profile of WZTL-002 creates a promising opportunity to address this unmet need."

One of the objectives of the dose expansion cohort study is to move CAR T-cell manufacture onto an automated platform, in partnership with New Zealand company BioOra Limited. Professor Carl June, BioOra board member and CAR T-cell therapy pioneer, says the ENABLE trial's phase 1 CAR T data are a step forward for the treatment of CD19-expressing lymphomas.

"Dr Weinkove and his team at the Malaghan Institute have shown efficacy that is on par with commercial CAR T, but the safety signal appears superior. This lays the foundation for outpatient delivery and management and expanding indications for their CAR T program."
A team of scientists in Japan has recently conducted a study to investigate virological characteristics of the JN.1 variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

The study is currently available on the BioRxiv preprint* server.

Study: Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 variant. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock

*Important notice: bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative pathogen of the most recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus with a genome size of around 30 kb. Many variants of SARS-CoV-2 with distinct mutational signatures have emerged throughout the pandemic. Depending on their spike protein mutational landscape, some variants have shown higher transmissibility, infectivity, and virulence.

The BA.2.86 lineage of SARS-CoV-2, which was first identified in August 2023, is phylogenetically distinct from the currently circulating Omicron XBB lineages, including EG.5.1 and HK.3. The BA.2.86 lineage contains more than 30 mutations in the spike protein, indicating that this lineage is highly capable of evading the pre-existing anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity.

The JN.1 (BA.2.86.1.1) is the most recently emerged variant of SARS-CoV-2 that descended from the BA.2.86 lineage. The JN.1 contains a hallmark mutation L455S in the spike protein and three other mutations in the non-spike proteins. Studies investigating HK.3 and other "FLip" variants have shown that acquiring L455F mutation in the spike protein is associated with increased viral transmissibility and immune evasion ability. The L455F and F456L mutations are nicknamed "Flip" mutations because they switch the positions of two amino acids, labeled F and L, on the spike protein.

In this study, scientists investigated the virological characteristics of the JN.1 variant. This Omicron subvariant has been identified for the first time in the United States. More than 25 sequences of JN.1 have now been reported in France, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Important observations

The scientists analyzed genomic surveillance data from these countries using a Bayesian multinomial logistic model to estimate the relative effective reproductive number of JN.1. The effective reproductive number (R e ) is the expected number of new infections caused by an infectious individual in a population where some individuals may no longer be susceptible.

The findings revealed that the R e of the JN.1 variant is higher in these countries compared to the R e of BA.2.86.1 and HK.3 variants. This indicates that JN.1 has the ability to become a dominant variant worldwide in the future. In this context, existing evidence indicates that this variant has already dominated HK.3 in France and Spain.

The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to infect human cells. The in vitro ACE2 binding and pseudovirus assays are standard methods for investigating viral infectivity and transmissibility.

While the ACE2 binding assay indicated that the spike receptor binding domain (RBD) of JN.1 has a lower affinity for ACE2 compared to BA.2.86 spike RBD, the pseudovirus assay showed that JN.1 has significantly higher infectivity than BA.2.86.

As explained by the scientists, this discrepancy between the two assay findings could be due to the difference between monomeric RBD and trimerized whole spike protein used in these two assays, respectively.

Furthermore, the scientists conducted a virus neutralization assay using rodent sera infected with BA.2.86 or immunized with BA.2.86 spike protein. The findings indicated that the L455S spike mutation of JN.1 does not alter the antigenicity of BA.2.86.

The scientists also conducted separate virus neutralization assays using XBB.1.5 and EG.5.1 breakthrough infection sera and monovalent XBB.1.5 vaccine sera. The findings revealed that JN.1 is highly resistant to XBB.1.5- and EG.5.1-induced immunity.

Study significance

The study evaluated the virological characteristics of the omicron subvariant JN.1, which shows robust immune evasion ability against other co-circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. This increased immune fitness of JN.1 could be due to the acquisition of the L455S mutation in the spike protein.

However, the study could not conclusively find out if this mutation can affect the transmissibility and infectivity of JN.1.

*Important notice: bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Personalized treatment for the most common form of adult leukemia helps patients survive for longer and stay in remission, a phase III trial has found.

The trial, by the University of Leeds, has been identified as groundbreaking research by the New England Journal of Medicine and the 65th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego, where the results are presented today.

The data shows that the duration of therapy can be individualized for each patient by using regular blood tests to monitor their response. In the trial, this approach resulted in significant improvements in both progression-free and overall survival in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The effect was stronger among patients with poorer outcomes to standard treatments, such as those with some genetic mutations.

Adult patients were given a combination of cancer growth blocking drugs over varied durations depending on how rapidly their disease responded.

The trial found that this approach significantly improved progression-free and overall survival compared to the standard treatment for CLL, with more than 19 in 20 patients in remission three years after starting treatment.

The study, named FLAIR, is a phase III randomized controlled trial for untreated CLL, taking place in more than 100 hospitals across the UK. It was funded by Cancer Research UK, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, and AbbVie Pharmaceutical Research and Development.

Lead author Peter Hillmen, Professor of Experimental Haematology in the University of Leeds' School of Medicine, and Honorary Consultant Haematologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Our findings show that, for this group of patients, the treatment is very effective at tackling their disease and is well tolerated by them. This means that patients on our trial had better outcomes while also enjoying a better quality of life during their treatment. Most patients treated with the new combination have no detectable leukemia in their blood or bone marrow by the end of treatment which is better than with previous treatments and is very encouraging."

We are delighted to see these results from the FLAIR trial which show the importance and effectiveness of tailoring cancer treatment to the individual patient. Not only this, but the trial has found a way to do so without requiring frequent bone marrow tests which are more invasive and can be painful. The collaborative effort that went into this trial - involving researchers, healthcare professionals, funders and dedicated patients and their families - point to a new standard of care which could see real progress made against leukemia." Dr Iain Foulkes, Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It cannot usually be cured but can be managed with treatment. More than nine in 10 people are aged 55 and over when they are diagnosed.

Current treatments include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or cancer growth blockers.

The FLAIR trial tested cancer growth blockers called Ibrutinib and Venetoclax (I+V). Also known by the brand names Imbruvica and Venclexta, these are usually administered either continuously or for the same fixed duration rather than tailored to each patient's response. This means that many patients may stop treatment too early and don't get the full potential benefit from their therapy or continue therapy for longer than necessary. This could lead to a greater chance of relapse of their leukemia and/or of treatment side effects.

FLAIR researchers aimed to discover whether it was possible to personalize I+V treatment duration for patients based on regular blood sampling and / or bone marrows, and whether this was as effective or better than standard treatment (FCR).

This regular blood and bone marrow monitoring gave researchers a more up-to-date picture of how patients were responding to I+V, and meant that the duration of I+V treatment could be tailored accordingly to each patient. In addition, it was found that basing the duration of treatment on less invasive, quicker blood samples was just as effective as using bone marrows, which can be painful and sometimes require sedation.

FLAIR was launched in 2014, recruiting 1,509 patients with CLL. They were randomized to four treatment groups, each receiving a different treatment.

This part of the FLAIR trial compared two of the groups, placing 260 patients on I+V and 263 on the standard treatment, known as FCR. Almost three quarters were male, which was to be expected as CLL occurs more frequently in males. The average age was 62, and just over a third had advanced disease.

At the end of this stage of the trial, 87 patients had seen their disease progress, 75 of which were on FCR, and 12 on I+V.

To date, 34 of these patients have died during the trial. Of these, 25 were treated with FCR and only nine with I+V.

The patients on I+V underwent blood tests and bone marrows to monitor their response to treatment. The technique used is known as measurable residual disease (MRD) which allows clinicians to see the number of remaining cancer cells. The number of cells may be so small that the patient is asymptomatic. An MRD positive test result means that there are remaining cancer cells.

The research team now hope that this more personalised therapy approach, guided by blood test monitoring will be adopted as a new standard of care for patients needing first line CLL treatment.

Professor Hillmen said: "The results of the FLAIR Trial, led by the Leeds Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Leeds, are exceptional and herald a change in the way chronic lymphocytic leukemia will be treated. FLAIR has been a huge collaborative effort over the last decade by the UK's leading CLL specialists and by the hematology teams in over 100 hospitals throughout the UK. The participation of patient groups, individual patients and their families were critical to delivering such progress particularly through the challenges of the pandemic."

The trial was co-ordinated by the Leeds Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Leeds. Deputy Director Professor David Cairns said: "The vision of the Leeds Cancer Research UK CTU is to improve the length and quality of survival for cancer patients on a worldwide scale. Our strategy to do this is to ensure that we build evidence to identify the correct treatment, for the correct duration, for the correct patient. FLAIR is a trial well aligned to our strategy, and reflects team science including clinicians, laboratory scientists, methodologists and operational experts working together to deliver important trial results. None of this would be achieved without the selfless commitment of trial participants who contribute their time and data."
On December 11, 2023, UC San Diego Health successfully completed the purchase of Alvarado Hospital Medical Center from Prime Healthcare. The acquisition of the 302-bed medical facility greatly expands the university's growing network of clinics and hospitals to better serve patients with safe, timely and equitable access to high-quality health care.

We are grateful to all the teams who contributed to this milestone merger with UC San Diego Health. Together, we start a new chapter to expand access to needed medical and surgical care in eastern San Diego. This is a unique opportunity to create a more robust community-oriented model of care while increasing access to the nationally-recognized care of UC San Diego Health." Patty Maysent, CEO of UC San Diego Health

"Over the last decade, UC San Diego Health has grown exponentially, dramatically expanding access to health services in response to unprecedented demand," said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. "We are strategically acquiring and building facilities, addressing short and long-term public health needs of our community and connecting more patients with high-quality care for the benefit of the entire region."

UC San Diego Health completed the purchase of Alvarado Hospital for $200 million. Re-named UC San Diego Health East Campus Medical Center, the facility is located at 6655 Alvarado Road, and offers a new emergency department, remodeled intensive care unit, and expanded behavioral health services which UC San Diego Health will continue to grow.

"We are thrilled to join UC San Diego Health and partner with our new colleagues in continuing our 50-year legacy of caring for the College East community," said Kenneth D. McFarland, chief executive of East Campus Medical Center. "Together we are creating a shared future that will benefit new and existing patients, close to home."

One of the first areas of focus at UC San Diego Health East Campus will be the expansion of behavioral health services and a dedicated behavioral health patient care tower, in future collaboration with the County of San Diego.

Psychiatric care at UC San Diego Health is nationally recognized for offering specialized programs and evidence based treatments for mental health conditions, as well as implementing clinical trials and groundbreaking research.

"Behavioral health care services at East Campus Medical Center will move to a centralized model to provide a desperately needed continuum of comprehensive care for patients in the region, with fully integrated, interventional psychiatric services offered in both the inpatient and outpatient settings," said Jeff Daskalakis, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine and psychiatrist at UC San Diego Health.

"This model of care will address the regional shortage of acute psychiatric beds and also allow for additional training sites for medical students, therapy trainees, residents, advanced practice providers and physician fellows."

As part of its 10-year vision, UC San Diego Health is taking a systematic approach to improving timely access to its services and care. Already underway, UC San Diego Health is revitalizing its medical center campus in Hillcrest, where a new outpatient surgical center is scheduled to open in 2025. Planning for a new replacement hospital is occurring now. Simultaneously, new clinics are opening throughout the region.
Insights from Industry Dr. Rajas V. Warke Director of Molecular Biology & Virology HiMedia Labs

Join us in an engaging interview with Dr. Rajas Warke, Director of Molecular Biology and Virology at HiMedia Labs. Dr. Warke plays a pivotal role for HiMedia Labs, focusing on innovative molecular biology solutions and automation.

This interview delves into the challenges of nucleic-acid extraction, the effectiveness of HiMedia's automated systems, such as the Insta NX Mag24, and their impact across various industries. This conversation promises valuable insights into the evolving world of molecular diagnostics from a visionary in the field.

Please introduce yourself and tell us about your career to date.

I am Dr. Rajas Warke, currently leading the Molecular Biology & Virology Division (HiGenoMB) at HiMedia Labs. Pvt. Ltd., alongside my co-director and elder sister, Dr. Kavita Khadke. My academic journey began with a Bachelor's in Pharmacy. Still, my keen interest in Biotechnology led me to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the USA, where I pursued my Master's in the field.

My passion for research drove me to undertake a Doctorate degree at UMass Med, in collaboration with MIT, specializing in Clinical Immunology and Virology. After completing my education abroad, I returned to contribute to my family's business, HiMedia Labs, as a second-generation leader.

In my role, I oversee the development of innovative molecular biology solutions and automated platforms. I also manage the marketing, sales, and operations of our extensive product range, encompassing over 2,000 SKUs. To further enhance my commercial decision-making skills, I pursued an MBA in Family Business Management from the S. P. Jain School of Management, Mumbai. I am constantly seeking ways to improve our company's systems and stay updated with the latest global technology trends.

Dr. Rajas, could you start by explaining the main bottlenecks in nucleic acid extraction that industries face today?

In various industries, there's a notable trend toward adopting Nucleic Acid Sequence-Based Amplification (NASBA) in laboratory workflows. The first step in any biotechnology-based lab analysis is DNA or RNA extraction. The type of specimen and intended downstream applications significantly influence the chosen method to achieve the desired outcome.

To put it simply, you can liken the molecular biology workflow to a computer system's input/output process, where the input command affects the quality of the analyzed data. Similarly, the quality and concentration of extracted DNA or RNA are critical factors in any genetic analysis, regardless of the industry.

There are two primary methods for DNA/RNA extraction: silica-based columns and magnetic bead-based kits. Currently, the field of automation in nucleic acid extraction is becoming crowded with various instrumentation options. However, there's a noticeable lack of high-quality kits that are tailored to specific sample types. These can include clinical samples, food matrices, biopharma liquids, forensic samples, cosmetics, and more. Addressing this gap by developing kits that are specifically designed for these diverse sample types is essential.

Image Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com

Could you elaborate on how HiMedia's automated DNA/RNA extraction systems, such as the Insta NX Mag24, address these bottlenecks and revolutionize nucleic acid extraction in various industries?

HiGenoMB-HiMedia has always expertitised in the domain of laboratory solutions, catering to the diverse needs of various industries. Our product range includes instruments and kits designed for different sample processing capacities. The Insta NX Series of Magnetic Automated Extraction features the Mag16, Mag32, and Mag96 models, with the number indicating the maximum number of samples each can process.

Uniquely, the Mag24 model is engineered to handle higher sample volumes, up to 5ml per sample. This capability is particularly beneficial for oncology testing, which often requires processing larger initial sample volumes, necessitating a specific instrument design. The Mag24 is ideally suited for such applications.

However, the versatility of the Mag24 extends beyond oncology. It's also used in various other applications, such as automated midiprep plasmid DNA extractions for research and vaccine industries, as well as in agriculture for screening numerous samples simultaneously for infections and even in food diagnostics. The ability to handle bulk samples effectively is made possible by the specific kits we design, making this instrument adaptable across various industries.

Can you discuss the specific features of your automated systems that ensure high-quality, efficient, and reliable DNA/RNA extraction? In particular, what are the unique advantages of using magnetic bead-based systems in nucleic acid extraction, and how do they compare to traditional methods?

Traditional DNA extraction methods relied on a precipitation technique using Phenol and Isopropanol. This method was not only cumbersome but also involved handling hazardous chemicals. Over time, this approach was largely replaced by the spin column-based method. The spin column approach can be likened to using a fishing net, where nucleic acids are trapped in a membrane and then separately eluted out.

In contrast, the magnetic bead-based approach is akin to using a fishing hook. In this method, DNA molecules bind to magnetic particles and are subsequently eluted out. Our extensive research and comparative studies have shown that the magnetic bead-based approach is more specific and sensitive for DNA extraction across various sample types. When combined with automation, this method significantly reduces manual errors and saves time compared to other methods.

At HiGenoMB-HiMedia, we have developed user-friendly, pre-filled cartridges that further minimize human intervention. These cartridges enable the simultaneous processing of multiple samples, streamlining the workflow and enhancing efficiency in the laboratory.

How does HiMedia Labs ensure that its Automated DNA/RNA Extraction systems stay ahead of the evolving needs of multi-industrial users?

We at HiGenoMB-HiMedia are firm believers that the true potential of automation systems in nucleic acid extraction is unlocked only when they are paired with the right kits. These kits are crucial in bringing the scientific precision and efficiency needed in the extraction process.

Our dedicated team, comprising both engineers and extraction experts, works tirelessly to develop automated solutions that are not only sensitive and user-friendly but also tailored specifically to meet the unique requirements of each sample type and the specific needs of our customers' applications.

What sets HiGenoMB-HiMedia apart is our unique formulation of buffers and the meticulous design of our protocols for the instruments. This attention to detail in both hardware and reagent design is what makes our automated solutions stand out in the field of nucleic acid extraction.

With the increasing need for rapid diagnostics, how do your systems support the urgency in pathogen detection and precision medicine?

HiGenoMB-HiMedia has achieved a significant milestone by filing a patent for processing a maximum number of COVID samples in a remarkably short time  96 samples in just 11 minutes.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we played a crucial role by contributing to at least 25% of the COVID testing in India, both in government and private sectors. Additionally, our products were in high demand internationally, thanks to our innovative approach of using pre-filled plates combined with the fastest protocol settings on our instruments, proving especially vital during the pandemic's peak.

Our systems and kits are custom-designed to meet the specific needs of our customers. This bespoke approach and our technical and operational expertise position us exceptionally well in the Clinical Rapid Diagnostic industry. We pride ourselves on delivering efficient and tailored solutions that respond effectively to the urgent demands of health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

How do you envision the future of automated nucleic acid extraction technology in improving the accuracy and efficiency of diagnostic processes?

Common challenges in nucleic acid extraction include a limited number of technical staff, high staff turnover, and the use of different processing protocols across various commercial kits. These factors often lead to variability in the purity and yield of extraction results, even for the same sample.

Additionally, achieving repeatability and reproducibility of results between trained technical staff and across different laboratories is a significant concern. Each laboratory strives to mitigate this variance caused by human factors.

By reducing or minimizing human intervention during testing, more accurate and efficient results can be obtained. Automated extraction platforms play a crucial role in this regard, enhancing the precision and effectiveness of diagnostic processes. The implementation of automated nucleic acid extraction technology is key to improving the reliability and consistency of diagnostics.

Image Credit: Rost9/Shutterstock.com

What are the most exciting developments in molecular diagnostics, and how is HiMedia positioned to contribute to these advancements?

One of the most significant advancements in molecular diagnostics is the development of POCT (Point-of-Care Testing) technology, which automates the entire process from sample insertion to obtaining results. This technology holds great promise for making advanced diagnostic tests widely accessible, particularly in developing and underdeveloped countries.

However, a major challenge with current POCT technologies is their high cost per sample, which often limits their use to select groups or relies on funding from global healthcare projects. In contrast, developed countries benefit from robust logistics networks, ensuring that samples from remote areas reach major diagnostic labs in good condition and within a reasonable timeframe.

In developing and underdeveloped countries, the situation is starkly different. Due to inadequate infrastructure, samples often get spoiled or face delays in reaching diagnostic facilities. In such contexts, POCT platforms that require minimal or no technical expertise can be revolutionary, enabling healthcare accessibility across all regions of a country.

Recognizing this need, HiMedia has been dedicated to working on this front for several years. We are in the final stages of developing an affordable POCT platform and diagnostic kit.

This automated, expertise-free solution at a reasonable cost has the potential to empower clinicians and veterinarians significantly. They can focus on choosing the appropriate POCT RT-PCR tests without the burden of worrying about the patient's ability to afford the diagnostic test.

Lastly, how does HiMedia's approach to nucleic acid extraction contribute to a broader understanding and management of diseases in diverse fields like clinical diagnostics, environmental testing, and food safety?

HiMedia recognizes that, in the post-COVID-19 era, clinical molecular diagnostics have become a fundamental component of medium to large scale laboratories worldwide. To fully leverage this widespread adoption of fast and sensitive testing methods, there's a growing need to implement more RT-PCR based assays on these machines at affordable costs.

At HiMedia, we are developing QR code-based online reporting software. This innovation aims to enable immediate monitoring of the first outbreak, its location, the number of cases, and the direction of its spread. Such real-time data is crucial for government agencies to implement infection containment procedures swiftly.

Speed and simplicity are also essential for environmental monitoring and food safety, where testing often requires minimal technical expertise. Environmental samples are frequently collected far from established labs, and the food industry cannot afford lengthy waits to release batches of manufactured items. However, both sectors face competitive pressures and often struggle with increasing quality control (QC) testing costs.

In the realm of food safety, POCT platforms can be a game-changer. Government officials and diagnostic labs can deploy them directly in marketplaces to ensure vendors comply with necessary product cleanliness standards.

Therefore, at HiGenoMB HiMedia, we are dedicated to developing and implementing lab- and POCT-based molecular assays. These assays are affordable and easy to use and maintain high standards of sensitivity and specificity, catering to the diverse needs of the environmental and food industries.

Where can readers find more information?

HiMedias website - https://www.himedialabs.com/in/molecular-biology.html

About Dr. Rajas V. Warke, Ph.D., M. B. A

Leading one of the most technologically advanced branches of HiMedia Laboratories today is the youngest director, Dr. Rajas Warke. The Molecular Biology Division currently headed by Dr. Rajas with Dr. Kavita Khadke as his co-director. After earning his Doctorate Degree in Virology & Immunology from the esteemed University of Massachusetts and Masters in Biotechnology from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in USA he decided on coming back to India to spearhead the Companys Molecular Biology and Virology Division.

He further went on to earn the MBA degree from the well acclaimed S. P. Jain School of Management, Mumbai. He was also an Adjunct Research Scientist at the Haffkine Institute for 8 years. Over 30 Research Publications in Internationally peer reviewed journals, 2 book chapters and 5 patents to his credit to this date are testimony of his hard work being recognized and accepted world over. The rich blend of Molecular Research and Product Management and 12 years of hands on experience in the field now, makes him handle both responsibilities as a Technical Director and Marketing Decision Maker.

Dr. Rajas Warke has led the Molecular Biology Division at HiMedia to one of the prominent contributors for bringing in state of the art Instruments and Innovative technology like Genetic Sequencing & Bioinformatics for the company. Dr. Rajas has been successful in heading his young team at HiMedia towards bringing Automated and Complete Solution for not only Clinical Diagnostics but also for the Food, Water, Plant, Soil, Veterinary and Research Industry to India.

Development of various types of PCR kits and platforms which provide Rapid, Accurate, Reliable, highly Sensitive, Specific & Portable diagnosis of diseases in tropical countries has been Dr. Rajass mantra. He has taken charge of the Molecular Biology Division with a vision to develop path breaking and cost-effective solutions in this field. His infectious enthusiasm and determination continue to inspire his team to work harder each day.
Gavi, the vaccine alliance, says it has committed more than US$1.8 billion to support vaccine production in Africa, a move that could bolster the continents efforts to address historical dependence on imported vaccines and establish its own robust biotechnology sector.

Up to $US1 billion of this will be made available to drugs manufacturers through the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), which the Gavi board approved at a meeting in Ghana last week, the alliance said.

The new finance mechanism, scheduled to be launched in June 2024, is a response to the stark inequities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It aims to ensure a resilient vaccine supply for Africa, supporting at least four African manufacturers to deliver over 800 million doses over the next ten years.

Jean Kaseya, director-general of Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC), said the commitment was a game-changer for the continents efforts towards vaccine self-reliance.

The African Union has set a target for the continent to produce 60 per cent of the vaccines needed on the continent by 2040; AVMA is indeed an accelerator towards that ambition, he said in a statement.

The funding announcement also includes a US$ 500 million First Response Fund, put in place to secure immediate vaccine funding for future pandemics and extraordinary support to help close routine immunisation gaps, a legacy of COVID-19.

Gavis board approved a further US$22 million to support pandemic prevention, preparedness and response activities.

Gavi has also added the new multivalent meningococcal vaccine into its investment strategy and set out a shortlist of other proposed new vaccines, taking the total investment to $US1.8 billion.

However, vaccine manufacturers will not benefit from the accelerator funds immediately.

Following board approval, Gavi will consult widely on AVMAs operational framework, including an inclusive steering committee and governance processes. Olly Cann, Gavis head of communications

Cann said the AVMA would focus on supporting critical development stages and offsetting high start-up costs for vaccine manufacturers. This, he believes, positions Africa as a key player in the global vaccine ecosystem.

AVMA could help establish a robust biotechnology presence in Africa, manufacturing essential vaccines for cholera, malaria, measles, and the new hexavalent vaccine while supporting pandemic and outbreak prevention, he said.

Vaccine equity gap

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed Africas precarious dependence on imported vaccines, necessitating funding initiatives to build Africas vaccine manufacturing capacity to tackle future health emergencies.

According to Africa CDC, just over half the population of Africa has now been vaccinated against COVID-19. However, the rate of vaccination was far slower than the world average.

Previous big funding initiatives for African vaccine manufacturing include the US$2 billion raised through Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) since 2021 towards the 60 per cent goal for African vaccine production and over US$12 billion allocated by the World Banks Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility (PEF) to the same end.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has committed 1 billion (US$1.08 billion) towards vaccines, medicines and health technology in Africa, while The African Development Bank (AfDB) established a US$3 billion facility to support healthcare infrastructure development in Africa, including vaccine production.

Earlier this year, Africa CDC produced a roadmap to help the continent achieve health security for sustainable development, known as the new public health order for Africa.

Its main pillars include expanded manufacturing of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics to help achieve universal health coverage.

Anodi Kaihula, is a community health nurse from Tanzania and member of the African Unions Bingwa initiative, which aims to accelerate the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among young people in Africa.

He says the Gavi pledge is the right support for the region as the continent gears up for implementing the new public health order, particularly with regard to local vaccine manufacturing.

But he believes there is need for further support from African nations.

With the current status of only 1 per cent of vaccines being produced in Africa, much funding is needed to put infrastructures in place, human resources and capacity building for member states, Kaihula told SciDev.Net.

But the focus should be on raising domestic funding to make things happen sustainably.

Gavi urged finance institutions to invest in sustainable business cases and encouraged the private sector to contribute to capacity building and technology transfer.

Together, these efforts maximise sustainability and health security, added Cann.
In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers examine the changes in mental health among children and adolescents with special educational needs (SEN) during the first six months following the resumption of in-person learning after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related school closures.

Study: Mental Health of Children With Special Educational Needs and the Return to In-Person Learning After the COVID-19 Pandemic. Image Credit: Prostock-studio / Shutterstock.com

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on children worldwide, particularly affecting those with SEN. The disruption of routines and school closures heightened anxiety and negative behaviors in these children, thus worsening their mental health and quality of life.

During this period, schools, which typically offer a safe environment, nutritious meals, social interactions, and additional support for SEN children, were closed, which caused significant educational and developmental setbacks. In Hong Kong, which was one of the first cities to enforce school closures, children did not attend in-person classes for over 15 months, which caused challenges for those with SEN and their families.

The reopening of schools in March 2021 brought some relief; however, the transition back to face-to-face learning presented its own challenges. Further research is needed, as the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and adaptation of children with SEN in various educational and social settings remain unclear.

About the study

In the present cross-sectional study, researchers adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) reporting guidelines. Parents and their children between the ages of three and 18 with SEN who attended special schools and childcare centers in Hong Kong were included in the analysis.

Children with SEN in Hong Kong who are diagnosed by pediatricians and clinical psychologists typically start in special childcare centers from ages three to six and then transition to special schools until age 18.

Data were collected during school closures in April 2020, as well as 15 months later from July to October 2021, which was after schools and childcare centers had resumed face-to-face teaching. Stratified sampling was used to recruit children from schools across Hong Kong, whereas preschool children were selected from the largest special child care centers.

Parents provided written informed consent before completing either online or paper-based questionnaires distributed by their children's institutions. The study excluded children not yet in school or outside the target age range, in addition to removing duplicate entries.

Locally validated scales were used to assess the mental and physical well-being of both children and parents during and after school closures. Emotional and behavioral difficulties were evaluated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), whereas their quality of life was measured utilizing the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL).

Parents answered questions about their childs lifestyle habits and their own well-being using the PedsQL Family Impact Module and Chinese Parental Stress Scale. Family demographics and socioeconomic status were also recorded.

For statistical analysis, descriptive statistics were used for family demographics and measured variables. Univariate analysis of covariance compared scores between the two waves and were adjusted based on the child's age, gender, and socioeconomic status.

Mediated multiple regression analysis was used to explore the association between social and behavioral difficulties, as well as quality of life and parental well-being. This was to identify factors linked to poorer health outcomes after schools resumed. A subcohort of participants who completed questionnaires in both waves was analyzed for longitudinal changes in well-being using paired sample t tests.

Study results

During school closures in 2020, 41.9% of parents who were contacted completed the questionnaires. After school resumed, 40.1% of contacted parents responded.

This resulted in data on 456 children in the first wave with an average age of 7.44 years, as well as 519 children in the second wave with an average age of 8.16 years. As schools reopened, there were fewer disruptions in medical appointments and rehabilitation for SEN children.

The reopening of schools did not significantly alter emotional and behavioral difficulties in children; however, a decline in prosocial behavior was observed. Furthermore, a decrease in overall quality of life, emotional, and psychosocial functioning in children was observed post-reopening. Parents noted stable well-being and family functioning across both waves; however, they expressed increased concerns about managing their children's disabilities.

In a subgroup of 36 children who participated in both waves, increased emotional difficulties and reduced sleep and video game time were noted after schools reopened. Preschoolers exhibited fewer emotional and conduct difficulties, whereas adolescents showed increased conduct difficulties.

Older children experienced a decline in quality of life across various domains after schools reopened. Additionally, parents of school-aged children reported worsened emotional functioning and increased worries.

Children with intellectual disabilities reported lower emotional functioning and increased parental concerns after schools reopened. Parents of children with psychiatric illness or mental disorders also reported higher caregiving stress.

The mediated regression analysis with SDQ as the independent variable and PedsQL as the criterion revealed that emotional and behavioral difficulties negatively impacted the quality of life of children. This relationship was partially mediated by parental worries and emotional functioning. Three significant pathways were linked to behavioral difficulties and quality of life, each of which were mediated by parental worries and emotions.

Conclusions

The study findings highlight the complex dynamics of children's well-being and parental concerns in the context of school resumption following COVID-19 related closures, in which authors emphasize the impacts across different age groups and types of disabilities. This comprehensive analysis underlines the importance of tailored support for children with SEN and their families in the post-pandemic era.
Ukraine to adopt bill on governance of SOEs by early 2024, in 2024 to assess performance of state-owned banks  memorandum with IMF

Ukraine will implement a procedure for conducting performance assessments for all state-owned banks (SOBs) in 2024: the first such performance assessment will be conducted for each of the banks in early 2025 (based on 2024 performance) and the key findings of the first annual assessment will be published by the Ministry of Finance, together with Cabinet's proposed actions to address the findings, according to a Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies under the Extended Fund Facility EFF arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), updated as part of its second review.

"We will continue to strengthen the governance of SOBs. We remain committed to upholding the spirit of corporate governance reforms in SOBs and ensuring their operation on a professional and commercial basis, without political interference on operational matters," the Ukrainian government said in the document published by the IMF.

A fresh slate of independent supervisory board members to the SOBs in the first half of 2023 was appointed.

The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) is currently applying its fit and proper assessment framework to selected candidates. Upon completion of the selection process in this cycle, we have assessed the effectiveness of the new procedures and will make some minor adjustments to procedures in consultation with IFI stakeholders.

According to the memorandum, a draft law (No. 5593-D) bringing the SOE corporate governance framework broadly in line with Guidelines on Corporate Governance of SOEs of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and to mitigate fiscal risks, will be adopted by early 2024.

This reform, inter alia, aims to establish a regular independent evaluation procedure of SOE supervisory boards and clear criteria for early supervisory board dismissal. Overall, it will strengthen the accountability and broaden the powers of supervisory boards, so they have the ultimate authority to appoint and dismiss CEOs and set CEO remuneration (based on the states remuneration policy).

Ukraine will ensure a strong gatekeeper role of the Ministry of Finance in its relationship with SOEs on financial predictability, reporting, transparency, and accountability, including approving the key financial metrics.

During the time of Martial Law and 12 months thereafter, but not for a period of more than 3 years, a minimum level of dividends of state-owned enterprises (SOE) will be set in No. 5593-D. Once the draft Law No. 5593-D is adopted, we will follow up with a new secondary legislation that will implement this law such as the operationalization of SOEs' financial planning process. This will also include a revamped nomination process and effective independent evaluation procedure for SOE supervisory boards, consistent with OECD standards.

The legal framework established by No. 5593-D shall not be applicable to state-owned banks.

In addition, Ukraine is exploring options to strengthen SOE management through the existing SOE corporate governance reform agenda in close consultation with international partners, according to the memorandum.

"Drawing on best practices and putting it into the context of the ongoing SOE corporate governance reforms, we will clearly define the scope and mandate of options for strengthening SOE management, such as centralized modes, including defining the roles and mandates of key government institutions engaged in management of SOEs, such as the MOF, MOE, CMU, and SPFU," the document says.

To start with, we will follow the following SOE reform agenda and policy sequencing in close consultation with international partners, including: passing the SOE corporate governance law; implementing related secondary legislation, including establishing a methodology for and subsequently conducting regular independent evaluations of SOE supervisory boards; as an interim step, assessing the financial conditions and fiscal risks of the SOEs in the state ownership policy by end-March 2024; and producing a comprehensive state ownership, dividend policy and privatization strategy (proposed structural benchmark, end-August 2024).

According to the memorandum, more broadly, Ukraine will also assess the financial viability of key SOEs as an input to developing a framework to deal with quasi-fiscal costs, including legacy Public Service Obligations (PSOs).
PharmaKure, a clinical stage company developing precision medicine for Alzheimers Disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, announces a research collaboration agreement with the Faculty of Pharmacy in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), one of the largest comprehensive universities in Malaysia. The partnership is focused on advancing research initiatives on the use of machine learning tools to predict Alzheimers Disease using blood via academic-industry partnerships.

The new relationship aims to translate clinical research from UiTM using PharmaKures novel whole blood testing and machine learning technology for identifying early-stage Alzheimers Disease to support the development of much needed diagnostic tests worldwide. Pharmakure recently announced a successful study for its proprietary ALZmetrix blood-based biomarker test, which together with its machine learning tools can predict which biomarkers are most useful in detecting people at high risk of developing Alzheimers Disease. A simple whole blood test such as ALZmetrix may offer an accurate and simple alternative to expensive and invasive PET brain imaging or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection.

"The UK has an ageing population, where 1 in 14 people over the age of 65 have Alzheimers Disease. There is an urgent need to not only identify people who will develop this devasting disease, but also develop treatments. This agreement marks a significant milestone in establishing a research collaboration with UiTM, a leading academic institute, allowing us to partner with key experts and enhance our in-house expertise in the analysis of molecular signatures of disease biomarkers associated with Alzheimers, said Dr. Farid Khan, CEO of PharmaKure.

Earlier and more accurate diagnostics for Alzheimers Disease are desperately needed if we are to prevent this devastating disease before profound memory loss takes hold, said Professor Andrew Doig, Head of R&D at PharmaKure. We are excited to be forming this relationship which will help us translate research from UiTM to further advance and commercialise diagnostic tests needed worldwide.

Professor Dato Dr. Abu Bakar Abdul Majeed, Dean of Pharmacy Faculty in UiTM said, "Malaysia is expected to be an ageing nation by 2030, with almost half a million dementia patients predicted in 2050. Thats why this research partnership is important; we want to drive innovation and have societal impact both here and across the rest of the world. Alzheimers is a complex disease, by combining UiTMs and PharmaKures biomarker, clinical and imaging data together with machine learning algorithms we will gain better understanding of how this disease develops and ultimately find ways to treat it.

For more information, contact [email protected], or see Pharmakures website www.pharmakure.com
Officials from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) have announced a temporary closure on both Pune and Mumbai-bound lanes of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

This two-hour block, scheduled for tomorrow, aims to facilitate the setup of overhead gantries.

Starting from noon to 2 PM on December 12, the traffic will be rerouted to the old Mumbai Pune Highway, allowing the installation of these gantries at specific locations: Kusgaon Dheku Village (KM 56/900) and Ozarde Trauma Care Center (KM 74/900).

The Mumbai-Pune Expressway holds the distinction of being the countrys initial access-controlled highway.

Additionally, recent accidents along this expressway have raised concerns. A tragic collision involving a Vaibhav Travels bus and a trailer near Khopoli in Raigad resulted in the bus drivers demise and severe injuries to six passengers early on Sunday.

Emergency services, including Devdoot Rescue Team, Borghat Police Station, Khopoli Police, Delta Force personnel, Maharashtra Security Force personnel, Lokmanya Hospital ambulances, and a dedicated social organizations team, promptly responded.

The injured passengers were rushed to MGM Hospital in Panvel for immediate medical care, while the deceased driver underwent postmortem procedures at Khopoli Nagar Palika Hospital.
India Shelter Finance IPO: The initial public offering of affordable housing finance company India Shelter Finance is going to open for public subscription on Wednesday, December 13. The Rs 1,200-crore IPO, whose price band has been fixed at Rs 469-493 a share, will remain open till December 15.

The India Shelter Finance IPO will be listed on both BSE and NSE on December 20, while the share allotment might be finalised on December 18.

India Shelter Finance IPO GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of India Shelter Finance are currently trading Rs 135 higher in the grey market as compared with its issue price. The Rs 135 grey market premium or GMP means the grey market is expecting a 27.38 per cent listing gain from the public issue. The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing.

Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price.

India Shelter Finance IPO: Should I Subscribe?

Giving a Subscribe for Long-Term Horizon rating to the IPO, SBI Securities in its note said, The company is valued at P/BV of 2.4x/2.5x of its 1HFY24 financial data at the lower and upper price band respectively on post-issue capital. It is one of the fastest-growing housing finance companies in India, with an extensive distribution network and a well-established presence in Tier II and III cities.

It added that the business model is analytical-driven and scalable, with strong underwriting, collection, credit control, and collateral evaluation processes. We are optimistic about their niche presence in the affordable housing space and would recommend for medium to long term play.

Brokerage firm GEPL Capital has also given a Subscribe rating to the issue. Based on the valuation, issue appears to be fairly valued, The company exhibits robust AUM growth with high yields, emphasizing a granular, retail-oriented portfolio.

It said the company benefits from pricing control, healthy margins, reduced turnaround time, and enhanced asset quality. Strong asset quality is evident with GNPA at 1.00 per cent, NNPA at 0.72 per cent, and 68.9 per cent of customers possessing a credit score of 650 or higher. The company maintains a robust capital adequacy ratio of 48.7 per cent, with a Tier-I ratio at 47.9 per cent, ensuring a substantially lower leverage ratio at 2.4 times and providing ample room for future growth. Hence, we recommend a Subscribe rating to the stock issue.

At the upper price band of Rs 493, the company is looking for post issue

market cap of Rs 5,291.69 crore, which implies an earning multiple (P/B) of 1.92(x), GEPL said.

India Shelter Finance IPO Details: Lot Size, Minimum Investment

The price band of the Rs 1,200-crore IPO has been fixed at Rs 469-493 a share. The IPO comprises a fresh issue of equity shares worth Rs 800 crore and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of Rs 400 crore by investor shareholders.

Investors can bid for a minimum of 30 equity shares and in multiples of 30 equity shares thereafter.

Those offering shares in the OFS include Catalyst Trusteeship Ltd, Madison India Opportunities IV, MIO Starrock, Nexus Ventures III Ltd, and Nexus Opportunity Fund II Ltd.

Proceeds of the fresh issue will be used to meet future capital requirements towards onward lending and for general corporate purposes. Half of the issue size has been reserved for qualified institutional buyers (QIBs), 35 per cent for retail investors, and the remaining 15 per cent for non-institutional investors.

India Shelter Finance, which is backed by Westbridge Capital and Nexus Venture Partners, is a retail-focused affordable housing finance company with an extensive distribution network and technology infrastructure. The companys target segment is self-employed customers with a focus on first-time home loan takers in the low and middle-income groups in Tier II and Tier III cities in India.

ICICI Securities, Citigroup Global Markets India, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company, and Ambit are the book-running lead managers to manage the IPO.
Indias second-largest IT services provider, Infosys, is set to make three-day work-from-office mandatory for its employees, as per an Economic Times. This mandatory directive comes after repeated calls from management to restore regular office routines saw low compliance, it added.

According to the ET report, Infosys vertical heads have emailed employees, asking them to start coming to office at least three days a week. It will become mandatory very shortly, as per the email quoted in the report. Infosys has not yet issued a formal response to the reported development.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the limited return-to-office compliance, the email from the vertical heads highlighted that the three-year work-from-home arrangement following the Covid-19 pandemic had been sufficient.

The directive further stated that, except for medical reasons, employees must commence working from the office.

It may be noted that Infosys has recently asked lower-level employees to return to the office for a minimum of ten days each month.

A source told the paper that the management has voiced discontent with the companys delivery units (DUs) going underutilised, prompting a call for immediate attendance at campuses housing offshore development centres (ODCs) for clients. They are however open to considering health-related requests from employees on a case-by-case basis, the source added.

Besides the mandatory attendance issue, Infosys in another email announced the reinstatement of charges for bus services, set at 150 per day with a monthly cap of 1,500, effective from January 3, next year. Similarly, health club facilities will incur a daily charge of 100, capped at 700 per month, starting January 1, 2024.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, eligible Infosys employees could work from home for nine days each month. This new directive, if implemented, will revive the attendance system prevalent before the pandemic-induced lockdown in early 2020.

Earlier in October, Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy expressed concerns about Indias work productivity, noting that it was one of the lowest in the world. He said that youngsters should work for a minimum of 70 hours per week if the country wanted to compete with emerging economies.

Somehow our youth has the habit of taking not-so-desirable habits from the West, and then not helping the country. Indias work productivity is one of the lowest in the world. Unless we improve our work productivity, unless we reduce corruption in the government at some level, because we have been reading I dont know the truth of it, unless we reduce the delays in our bureaucracy in taking this decision, we will not be able to compete with those countries that have made tremendous progress. So therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say, this is my country, Id like to work 70 hours a week, Narayana Murthy said.
InoxCVA IPO: InoxCVA, Indias largest domestic cryogenic storage tank maker, is going to launch its initial public offering on December 14. The price band of the Rs 1,459.32-crore IPO has been fixed at Rs 627-Rs 660 per share.

The InoxCVA IPO will be opened on December 14 for public subscription and will conclude after three days on December 18. The IPO is likely to be allotted on December 19, while the listing on stock exchanges will take place on December 21.

InoxCVA IPO GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of Inox India are currently trading Rs 270 higher in the grey market as compared with its issue price. The Rs 270 grey market premium or GMP means the grey market is expecting a 40.91 per cent listing gain from the public issue. The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing.

Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price.

InoxCVA IPO Details

This is the first IPO from the Inox group after the Inox Leisure (its multiplex arm) issue almost 17 years back. Inox Leisure is now part of the PVR group.

The minimum lot size for an application is 22 shares. The minimum amount of investment required by retail investors is Rs 14,520.

ICICI Securities Limited and Axis Capital Limited are the book running lead managers of the Inox CVA IPO, while Kfin Technologies Limited is the registrar for the issue.

The Vadodara-based companys promoter and director Siddharth Jain told PTI here that at the upper end of the price band, the company is valued at Rs 5,990 crore.

The valuation comes at a steep premium over its likely Rs 1,200-crore annual revenue this fiscal, up from Rs 980 crore in FY23 as it has an order of book of Rs 1,100 crore now.

He said the issue will only be an offer for sale wherein the promoter entity Inox India, which has an equal joint venture with the US-based Air Products known as Inox Air Products, which is the largest manufacturer of industrial and medical oxygen in the country, will be divesting 25 per cent of its equity in the company.

The main purpose of the IPO is to make us more visible in the global markets. Though globally, we are the third largest by volume at Chart of the US and the Chinese state-owned firm CIMC, from a revenue perspective we are too small, Parag Kulkarni, who is an old hand with the group and an executive director, told PTI.

The company, founded in 1992, had reported Rs 980 crore topline in FY23 and had earned Rs 152 crore in net margin. The company is setting up the fourth plant at Savli.

It has three plants, including its flagship LNG tanker making units as also its space programme which supplies to the Isro, CERN and the Iter of France, at Katol near Vadodara.

Both Jain and Kulkarni feel the medium-term growth will come from its LNG tanker business (where it already has over 60 per cent market share and completes with VRV of Italy) as more and more long-haul commercial fleet is being converted to LNG as the primary fuel. Of the 150 LNG tankers on the street, 120 are made by the company and 22 of the 27 LNG stations are also by the company.

As much as 48 per cent of its Rs 980 crore revenue came from exports, and the rest from domestic sales. From a category perspective, close to 71 per cent from industrial gas tanks, 4.2 per cent from cryogenic tanks and 25 per cent from LNG now.

Through the OFS, the company will be selling up to 22,110,955 equity shares. The selling promoter shareholders include Siddharth Jain who will be pairing up to 10,437,355 shares, up to 5,000,000 shares each by the founder and father of Siddharth, Pavan Kumar Jain, and Nayantara Jain.

Selling non-promoter shareholders include Ishita Jain (1,200,000 shares), Manju Jain (2,30,000), Lata Rungta (1,90,000), Bharti Shah, Kumud Gangwal, Suman Ajmera and Rajni Mohatta will be selling 13,400 shares each.

The company employs close to 400 engineers and 1,200 workers of them 7 seven are young women welders.
IREDA Share Price NSE, BSE: Shares of the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) hit a fresh 52-week high on Tuesday i.e. on December 12.

With Tuesdays move, the stock has now tripled from its IPO price of Rs 32, after making an intraday high of Rs 102.02.

The stock has tripled from its IPO price within just ten days of listing. The stock had gone public on November 29, ending 87.5 per cent higher from its issue price.

IREDAs IPO was the first PSU IPO after LIC in May last year. The issue was subscribed nearly 40 times, making it the seventh most subscribed PSU IPO of the decade.

In the ten trading days since listing, shares of IREDA have declined only twice. The stock ended 10 per cent higher on Friday, before Mondays 20 per cent surge.

With Tuesdays surge, IREDAs market capitalisation also crossed the mark of Rs 25,000 crore.

23 crore shares of IREDA have already changed hands in Tuesdays trading session, compared to 21 crore shares on Monday and 26 crore shares on Friday.

Shortly after opening, IREDAs retail division quickly sanctioned its first loan amounting to Rs 58 crore under KUSUM-B scheme.

IREDA was the first public sector company to hit the capital market in over a year, after Life Insurance Corporation of Indias debut issue in May 2022. The power financiers asset book is mainly dominated by solar energy (30 per cent), followed by wind power (20.9 per cent), state utilities (19.2 per cent), and hydropower (11.5 per cent).

Apart from subscribing to the IPO for listing gains, analysts had recommended investing long-term in the stock considering GOI initiatives to promote the renewable energy sector. While the stock has very little charting history, as it listed only on November 29, some investors are hopeful that it will continue hitting fresh new highs.

With the rally, the valuations have become expensive compared to peers like PFC and REC, but IREDAs loan book growth prospects are stronger, believe analysts.

According to Nirmal Bang, diversification and expansion in emerging green technologies such as green hydrogen, pumped hydro storage power plants, battery storage value chain, and green energy corridor provide scope for longer-term sustainability of high growth of its loan book.

IREDA recorded a 58 per cent CAGR growth in net profit during FY21-FY23. The capital-to-risk weighted asset ratio (CRAR) was 21.22 per cent as of March 31, 2022, 18.82 per cent as of March 31, 2023, and 20.92 per cent as of September 30, 2023.
The Reserve Bank of India has implemented various provisions to support individuals in their post-retirement phase, introducing schemes to ensure financial stability for retirees. One prominent initiative was the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), providing retired government employees with a lifelong stable income, equivalent to 50% of their last withdrawn salary along with dearness allowances. Although the OPS was discontinued in 2004, recent efforts by several states, including Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Punjab, aim to reintroduce it, with Karnataka contemplating a similar move.

However, a new report from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cautions against the widespread reinstatement of OPS. The report, analysing budgets for 202324, emphasises that the financial burden on states would surge significantly if all states opt for OPS, reaching 4.5 times that of the New Pension Scheme (NPS). According to the report, the additional expenditure from OPS could amount to 0.9% of GDP by 2060, posing a substantial challenge to states financial stability.

While some states have already reintroduced OPS, the RBI report urges caution, stating that such a move could hinder developmental initiatives and divert resources from essential projects. The report identifies OPS as a retrograde step that could undermine the benefits of previous reforms, adversely affecting future generations. The RBI predicts that the last batch of OPS beneficiaries will retire around 2040, receiving pensions until 2060.

With general elections approaching, the RBI advises against implementing OPS to secure public support. Instead, the report encourages states to explore revenue-enhancing measures at the local level. Strengthening tax management to boost collection and prevent evasion emerges as a viable strategy to enhance the financial capacity of states.

The RBIs report emphasises the potential pitfalls of reinstating OPS, urging states to prioritize fiscal responsibility and explore alternative revenue-generation avenues to ensure sustained development without compromising financial stability.
When the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) decided to field Bhajanlal Sharma for the first time in an assembly election, it did not give him a ticket from his home district of Rajasthans Bharatpur. Instead, the party chose its strong seat of Sanganer in Jaipur, a safe seat which the BJP has not lost in the past two decades. The BJP denied its sitting MLA Ashok Lahoty the ticket from Sanganer as well.

ALSO READ | LIVE: Rajasthan CM-elect Bhajanlal Sharma Stakes Claim To Form Govt; Diya Kumari, Premchand To Be Deputy CMs

Does it show that there was perhaps always a plan in place to choose Sharma as the Chief Minister? Sharma has been with the party organization in Rajasthan for almost two decades with some describing him as the longest serving general secretary in the party. Someone who has been a sort of a crisis manager when it came to organization disputes and being the sane voice in the room. The 56-year-old Sharma is also seen as a soft-spoken non-confrontational leader who has always toed the party line. He is also not seen as belonging to any of the party leader camps in Rajasthan  be it the Vasundhara Raje camp or the Gajendra Shekhawat camp.

Being an upper-caste Brahmin, Sharmas choice also reflects the BJPs desire to accommodate all major caste groups in its Chief Ministerial choices in the three states  after making a tribal leader Vishnu Deo Sai (59) as the CM in Chhattisgarh and an OBC in Mohan Yadav (58) as the Chief Minister in Madhya Pradesh. The message in all three choices is also to go for a next-generational leadership aged between 55 and 60  Sharma is 56 years old. By doing this, the BJP has also moved on from its tried and tested long-time leaders and CMs like Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Raman Singh and Vasundhara Raje who are all aged between 64 and 71.

ALSO READ | Bhajanlal Sharma To Be Rajasthan CM: 1st-time MLA, Upper Caste Leader, All About BJPs Surprise Pick

By choosing Deputy CMs in Jaipur royal Diya Kumari, who is a Rajput, and Prem Chand Bairwa, a Dalit leader, the BJP has also perfected the caste combination in Rajasthan where the upper-castes, Rajputs and Dalits have backed the party in the present elections. Diya Kumari is seen as a successor of Vasundhara Raje in the mould of a woman leader and she is a second-time MLA and has been an MP too. All three leaders, who have little administrative experience, however face the challenge of handling a tough state like Rajasthan with complex caste equations and issues of law and order and paper leaks have dominated the narrative in these elections.

Will Bhajanlal Sharma be able to tide over this challenge and prove his worth to the top BJP leadership, and especially deliver the 25 Lok Sabha seats of the state to his party after five months. The task is cut out for him.
The opposition and treasury benches engaged in a heated verbal duel in Rajya Sabha on Monday after DMK MP M Mohamed Abdulla made a controversial remark during a discussion on Jammu and Kashmir bills.

Abdulla, who quoted Thanthai Periyar to make a controversial remark on Kashmir, led to a heated exchange of words between the opposition MP and the Chair after which Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expunged his speech and the remark was removed from the official records.

Dhankar reminded the MP that the speech challenged the Constitution and Supreme Court judgement and reminded the MPs of the responsibility that came with the freedom of speech.

First it was Amit Shah with Tiruchi Siva. But watch how the veep called the second d-stock's rubbish in style. Notice how the d-stocks are going beyond their brief to sink the already sinking ship.pic.twitter.com/WMA9F4xWfP Ajit Datta (@ajitdatta) December 11, 2023

Can we quote anything in this House? Can we go to the extent of it being seditious, challenging our integrity, going against our Constitution? Going against the judgement of the Supreme Court this day? Dhankar said during the proceedings.

Several Controversies of DMK Leaders

This isnt the first time that the DMK MP has made a controversial remark in the house. Earlier this month, partys Dharmapuri MP S Senthilkumar stirred a row with his criticism of Sanatan Dharma with his remarks on Hindi-speaking states.

People of this country should think that the power of this BJP is only winning elections, and mainly in the heartland Hindi states, what we generally call the ******** states, Senthilkumar said, which led to a huge uproar.

The controversial remarks by the DMK MPs come months after Udhayanidhi Stalin, Tamil Nadu minister and son of DMK chief MK Stalin, sparked a massive controversy with his remarks on Sanatana Dharma.

Udhayanidhi Stalin stated that Sanatana Dharma is incompatible with the concept of social justice and should be eliminated and drew parallels between Sanatana Dharma and diseases like dengue and malaria.

Stalin and other DMK leaders like M Mohamed Abdulla often name-drop Periyar, revered as the Father of the Dravidian movement. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has its roots in the Self-Respect Movement begun by EV Ramaswamy Periyar.

Periyar and Dravidian movement

Periyar EV Ramasamy was a radical advocate against Brahminical dominance and caste and gender inequality. His movement in the first half of the twentieth century was in opposition to caste and religion and portrayed itself as a rationalist movement against social evils.

Periyar joined the Indian National Congress in 1919 but resigned in 1925, feeling that the party was primarily serving the interests of Brahmins. Periyar founded the Self-Respect Movement in 1926, aimed at creating a rational society devoid of caste, religion, and God.

Periyar is considered as a demi-God by all present-day Tamil fanatic groups and secessionists in Tamil Nadu. His ideas have influenced the current Tamil politics and the present ruling party DMK, as well as the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

Periyars Controversial Views

Against Brahmans: Periyar in several of his speeches condemned Hindu Gods and ridiculed Hindu customs and traditions. In his last speech, in December 1973, he said that he had been striving for long to annihilate God, religion, the Congress, Gandhi and the Brahmin.

Brahminism came from Brahmins and hence it is the Brahmins who should be annihilated. It is like asking whether you hate thievery or the thief. It is because one is a thief, one indulges in thievery. When someone says he hates thievery, it means he hates the thief, too, doesnt it? Thus, Brahminism grew out of the Brahmin and I am striving to annihilate the root, he said.

Against Hindu Gods: Periyar and his supporters famously burnt posters and portraits of Hindu gods and goddesses since the 1950s. He also invited his supporters to desecrate the idols of Ganesha and organized a procession in Salem in Tamil Nadu with big cutouts of Ram, Sita and Hanuman garlanded with slippers.

He instead believed in eradicating the religion altogether. There is no god. He who created god is a fool. He who propagates god is a scoundrel. He who worships god is a barbarian, Periyar famously said.

Anti-Hindi stance: The continuing hate for the Hindi language in Tamil politics finds its roots in Periyars anti-Hindi stance. Periyar saw Hindi as a form of Brahmanical domination as it is known to have evolved from Sanskrit, the Vedic language traditionally restricted to upper-caste men. Therefore, every year, Tamil Nadu marks Language Martyrs Day, held in memory of those who gave their lives during the anti-Hindi agitation in the state.

Anti-reservation: Periyar used to accuse Ambedkar for selling himself to the Brahmins. The Brahmins had paid him a price. The price is this: he asked for 10% reservation and they gave him 15%. They knew that even if they gave him 25%, not even three or four percent of qualified people would be available (among Dalits). He accepted the Constitution written by the Brahmins and signed on the dotted lines, Periyar said.

Against Democratic Principles: India should never go anywhere near democratic principles. The reason is 90% of our population are fools and 97% of them are persons of low birth. How will their rule set right our country? Periyar would say.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Rajya Sabha on Monday that Article 370 gave rise to separatism and terrorism in Kashmir and suggested that its abolition had cleared the way for an end of terrorism in the valley.

Shah said a new and developed Kashmir free from violence is being built under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and blamed the countrys first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the Kashmir problem.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, arguably one of the most significant legislative decisions of the Narendra Modi government in August 2019, not only abrogated Article 370 and Article 35A, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir but also bifurcated it into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.

Drop in Stone Pelting

With the rise of security forces in Kashmir and tough measures and action by central agencies such as the NIA, stone pelting incidents in the Valley have plummeted and terror incidents have witnessed a decline.

Addressing the Lok Sabha last week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that in 2010, there were 2,654 stone pelting incidents in Jammu and Kashmir while in 2023 there was not a single stone pelting incident.

He said that in 2010 there were 132 organized strikes, while in 2023 there was not even a single strike. In 2010, 112 civilians died in stone pelting, whereas in 2023, not even one person died. In 2010, 6,235 security personnel were injured in stone pelting, not even a single one was injured in 2023.

There was a decline of 70% in incidents of terrorism, 72% in deaths of civilians, and 59% decline in deaths of security force personnel in Jammu and Kashmir between 2004-2014 and 2014-2023 periods, according to Shah.

The worst incidents of stone-pelting took place in 2010, 2016 and 2019. According to the data of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), there were 618 incidents of stone pelting in the Kashmir Valley in Jan-July 2019. Meanwhile, during the same period, there were just 222 incidents in 2020 and 76 incidents in 2021.

At the height of protests in 2016, there were 2,653 stone-pelting cases after the killing of Burhan Wani, a commander of the terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen.

One of the probable cases behind the drop is that the government decided to shift those accused of stone-pelting to jails in Uttar Pradesh.

How Normalcy Returned to Kashmir

Four years post abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir, the valley has not only seen a flag hoisting ceremony freely and fearlessly at Srinagars Bakshi stadium on Independence Day, but the Kashmir capital also hosted working group meeting of G20 nations earlier this year.

Union Home Minister informed the Parliament that two crore tourists visited Kashmir post Article 370 abrogation and over 100 film shoots have taken place and three theatres have opened and another 18 are in the offing.

The terror incidents have reduced by 70 per cent during the Modi government as compared to ten years of the UPA government. There were 7,217 terrorist incidents between 2004 to 2014 under PM Manmohan Singh, which have now reduced to 2,197 incidents in ten years of the Modi regime, Amit Shah said, citing figures.

The youth who used to carry stones earlier, the Modi government has helped them carry laptops now, he added, noting that the people of Kashmir ignore those who talk of separatism and terrorism under the guise of 370 and instead want the focus to be on development issues.

The government has invested Rs 30,000 crore in hydroelectricity and is focusing on railway and other infrastructure.

After a gap of 30 years, Muharram processions in the Valley have taken place under the Modi government. Shah said 42,000 people have lost their lives due to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir so far and the governments focus was on ending the terror ecosystem.
A large-scale failure occurred in the work of Ukraine's largest mobile operator Kyivstar on Tuesday morning, subscribers report a lack of network and Internet, and the operator's website is also unavailable, Suspilne reports.

The company officially confirmed a technical failure.

Today there was a technical failure in our network, as a result of which communication services and Internet access may be unavailable for part of the subscriber base. Company specialists are working to resolve the problem, says a statement from company representative Iryna Lelichenko.

If there is no mobile connection, you can use the free national roaming service, she clarified.
Amid concerns over Artificial Intelligences misuse, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said AI tools going into the hands of terrorists is a big threat while calling for steps to ensure responsible use of Artificial Intelligence.

Speaking at the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence Summit, the Prime Minister elaborated on the positive and negative impacts of Artificial Intelligence and said deepfake is a challenge for the whole world.

AI has several positive impacts, but it has many negative impacts too which is a matter of concern. AI can become the biggest tool in the development of the 21st century. But it can also play the biggest role in destroying the 21st century, PM Modi was quoted as saying by ANI.

#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence Summit says, AI has several positive impacts, but it has many negative impacts too which is a matter of concern. AI can become the biggest tool in the development of the 21st century. pic.twitter.com/Wt8Gn0CEVV ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2023

Deepfake is a challenge for the whole world. AI tools going into the hands of terrorists are also a big threat. If terrorist organisations get AI weapons, this will have a huge impact on global security. We need to plan how to tackle this, he added.

PM Expresses Concern over Deepfake: What is the AI Technology, How it is Created & Laws Against It

Govt to Launch AI Mission in Bharat, Says PM Modi

The Prime Minister also informed that the government is set to launch AI Mission in the country to promote the use of the technology in various sectors, including Agriculture and healthcare. He stated that the countrys National AI Portal will play an important role in promoting governments initiatives.

We are set to launch the AI Mission in Bharat, with a focus on promoting the use of AI in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education. Our National AI Portal will play a crucial role in supporting and promoting these AI initiatives, PM Modi said.

#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence Summit says, "We are set to launch the AI Mission in Bharat, with a focus on promoting the use of AI in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education. Our National AI Portal pic.twitter.com/N0oJ0OxIe5 ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2023

PM Modi Pitches For AI For All

Bringing in the reference of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, PM Modi said that the central government working towards building policies and programs that are inspired by the spirit of AI For All. He further added that India is committed to responsible and ethical use of AI.

Our development mantra in India is, Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. We have prepared government policies and programs inspired by the spirit of AI For All. Our endeavour is to take full advantage of the capabilities of AI for social development and inclusive growth. India is fully committed to responsible and ethical use of AI.

#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence Summit says, "Our development mantra in India is, Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. We have prepared government policies and programs inspired by the spirit of 'AI For All'. Our endeavour is to pic.twitter.com/JGgNnpJOw6 ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2023

Concerns Over Misuse of AI

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged journalists to educate people on Artificial Intelligence and Deepfake. I saw a video recently where I was singing. People who like me forwarded it, he said during Diwali Milan program at BJPs central office in New Delhi.

The misuse of AI came into the limelight after a deepfake video of actress Rashmika Mandanna was found circulating on social media platforms earning criticism from several politicians and celebrities. Netizens claimed the video has been morphed and the actual video is of an Indian-origin person living in the UK.

Later, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology of India, had earlier called out social media platforms for their inability to handle content containing deepfakes and misinformation. He also emphasizes the importance of internet-based platforms to adhere to the IT rules notified in April 2023.

In its advisory, the IT Ministry has directed social media companies to expeditiously take action against the content that violates the rules and regulations well within the timeframes stipulated under the IT Rules 2021, and users are caused not to host such information, content, deepfakes.

Remove any such content when reported within 36 hours of such reporting and ensure expeditious action, well within the timeframes stipulated under the IT Rules 2021, and disable access to the content or information, the statement said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday penned his thoughts on the historic Supreme Courts verdict on the abrogation of Article 370 and said the top courts judgement enhanced the constitutional integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country.

In its verdict on 11th December, the Supreme Court has strengthened the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat  it has reminded us that what defines us is the bonds of unity and a shared commitment to good governance. Today, every child born in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is born with a clean canvas, where he or she can paint a future full of vibrant aspirations, he said a blog post on his official website.

The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the governments decision to abrogate Article 370  which granted a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir  and directed the Election Commission to hold Assembly elections in the Union Territory by September 30, 2024.

Through its judgment, the Court has upheld the sovereignty and integrity of India, something that is cherished by every Indian. The Supreme Court rightly observed that the decision taken on August 5, 2019, was done with the purpose of enhancing constitutional integration and not disintegration, PM Modi wrote

The Court has also recognised the fact that Article 370 was not permanent in nature.

The Prime Minister noted that for the last seven decades, Jammu and Kashmir have witnessed the worst form of violence and instability, something which the wonderful people never deserved.

Unfortunately, due to centuries of colonisation, most notably economic and mental subjugation, we became a confused society of sorts. Rather than taking a clear position on very basic things, we allowed duality, leading to confusion. Sadly, Jammu and Kashmir became a big victim of such a mindset, he said.

Modi stated that at the time of independence, India had a choice of making a fresh start for national integration. Instead, we decided to continue with the confused society approach even if it meant ignoring the long-term national interests, he said.

Elaborating on his connection with the former state, PM Modi said he belonged to an ideological framework where Jammu and Kashmir was not merely a political issue but was about addressing the aspirations of society.

Turning a page in history, the PM recalled the contributions of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee and former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Jammu and Kashmirs political history.

Dr Mookerjee, who held an important portfolio in the Pundit Jawahar Lal Nehrus Cabinet, could have remained in government for a long time, PM Modi opined.

Yet, he quit the Cabinet over the Kashmir issue and preferred the tough road ahead, even if it meant paying with his life. His efforts and sacrifice led to crores of Indians becoming emotionally attached with the Kashmir issue, he noted.

Years later, Atal Ji (Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee), at a public meeting in Srinagar gave the powerful message of Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat, which has also always been a source of great inspiration, he added.

The Prime Minister asserted that it was always his firm belief that what had happened in Jammu and Kashmir was a great betrayal to the nation and the people living there.

It was also my strong desire to do whatever I could to remove this blot, this injustice done to the people. I have always wanted to work to alleviate the suffering of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

the Prime Minister called Articles 370 and 35 (A) as major obstacles and an unbreakable wall between the development of Jammu and Kashmir.

Articles 370 and 35(A) ensured that the people of Jammu and Kashmir never got the rights and development that the rest of their fellow Indians got. Due to these Articles, a distance was created between people belonging to the same nation. Due to this distance, many people from our nation who wanted to work to solve the problems of Jammu and Kashmir were unable to do so even if they clearly felt the pain of the people there, he opined.

The Prime Minister said he has seen these issues closely over the last several decades as a BJP Karyakarta, and knew that the people of Jammu and Kashmir want development and they want to contribute to the development of India based on their strengths and skills.

Thus, while serving the people of Jammu and Kashmir, we gave primacy to three pillars- understanding of the citizens concerns, building trust through supportive actions, and prioritising development, development and more development, he said as he recalled various development works done by his government between 2014 and 2019.

The Prime Minister then recalled the historical day of August 5, 2019, when Parliament passed the decision to abrogate Article 370.

Since then, much has changed in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The judicial court verdict came in December 2023 but seeing the wave of development across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, the peoples court have given a resounding thumbs up to the Parliaments decision of abolishing Articles 370 and 35(A) for four years now, PM Modi said.

As per the Prime Minister, at the political level, the last 4 years have been marked with a renewed faith in grassroots democracy.

The women, tribals, SC, ST and marginalised sections of society were not getting their due. At the same time, the aspirations of Ladakh were totally ignored. 5th August 2019 changed all that. All Central laws now apply without fear or favour Representation has also got more widespread- a three tier Panchayati Raj System is in place, BDC elections have been held, and refugee communities who were all but forgotten have begun to enjoy the fruits of development, he said.

He further noted all how Central schemesincluding Saubhagya, Ujwala and Ujjwala schemes reached the ground in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation.

Today, the dreams of the people are no longer prisoners of the past but are possibilities of the future. After all, Development, democracy and dignity have replaced disillusionment, disappointment and despondency, he added.
Hailing the Supreme Court (SC) verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the Muslim Students Organisation and All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council said it will help the Muslim youth in the Valley.

In a statement, the Muslim Students Organisation said: This is a welcome move. We hope this will help Muslim youth. We expect the Muslim youth to stay away from Muslim politics done by most political parties.

The organization added that Article 370 was harmful for Muslims of Kashmir and now time has come for development.

Hazrat Syed Naseruddin Chishty, successor of Spiritual Head of Ajmer Dargah & Chairman of All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council said, The whole nation stands in ovation for this historic judgment. The honble Supreme Court kept its reputation as the best interpreter of the Constitution. The judgment further reposed the trust and faith of the people of India in our Judiciary.

He added: Where there is a will, there is a way. Strong will is needed for a strong decision by a strong and powerful leader to make the country and its people strong and united. Hats off to Amit Shah ji and government of India under the leadership of PM Modi ji for making our country strong and united. History will remember this as a historic moment.

THE SC VERDICT

The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld the Centres decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution that bestowed special status upon the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, ordered restoration of statehood at the earliest and set a September 30, 2024 deadline for holding the assembly elections.

Settling the decades-long debate over the vexed constitutional provision, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud delivered three concurring judgements upholding abrogation of Article 370 that provided a unique status to Jammu and Kashmir when it acceded to the Union of India in 1947.

The Supreme Court verdict is a resounding declaration of hope, progress, unity for our sisters and brothers in J&K, Ladakh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spearheaded the move as part of the ruling BJPs long-standing promise, said. Writing the judgement for himself and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant, CJI Chandrachud ruled that Article 370 was a temporary provision and the President of India was empowered to revoke it in the absence of the Constituent Assembly of the erstwhile state whose term expired in 1957.

The apex court also upheld the validity of the union governments decision to carve out the union territory of Ladakh from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. We direct that steps shall be taken by the Election Commission to conduct elections to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir constituted under Section 14 of the Reorganisation Act by September 30, 2024. Restoration of statehood shall take place at the earliest, the CJI said.

With PTI Inputs
A 29-year-old man from Yemen had been living with a 3-cm-long bullet in his head for nearly 18 years until he landed in Bengaluru last week. A father of two, Saleh (name changed) was rendered deaf due to the injury.

According to a report in Times of India, the bullet was lodged deep inside his left temporal bone, causing him chronic headaches and persistent ear discharges.

The report stated that Saleh grew up in a village in Yemen with his six brothers and three sisters. His father was a farmer and mother a homemaker.

The family had a farm close to their residence, where they would grow onion, tomato, potato, garlic, and carrot. The publication stated that Saleh, an active child, would often help his father with watering and manuring the plants. He would also run errands.

His life changed for the worse at the age of 10. Saleh was reportedly caught in the midst of clashes between two warring groups while he was returning home from a shop.

I got severely injured and bled profusely. It was a sunny afternoon and I was rushed to a hospital. They only cleaned the wound but didnt bother to remove the bullet, Saleh was quoted as saying by TOI.

As the bullet had pierced through the ear, the entrance of the ear narrowed, leading to discharges. The bullet was partly exposed in the ear passage, while its inner end was lodged in the bone, causing a wound that just wouldnt heal, the report stated.

Saleh said that puss accumulation would lead to repeated ear infections, which then would trigger headaches. Through his friends, the 29-year-old got to know about a hospital in Bengaluru. Thus, he landed in the city with much hope.

The bullet was lodged inside his ear, deep inside the temporal bone in the left side and very close to the vital vascular structures, which made surgery challenging. Because of the proximity of the surgical site to the vital vascular structures, the patient was at risk of major bleeding when the bullet was removed, Dr Rohit Udaya Prasad, lead consultant, ENT and cochlear implant surgery, at Aster RV was quoted as saying.

The surgical team chose to do a contrast CT angiography instead of an MRI to figure out the location of the blood vessels in relationship to the bullet, TOI stated.

The surgery has reportedly relieved Salehs pain and partially restored his hearing. The ear discharge too has stopped.

Saleh flew back to Yemen after the surgery and is doing well now. He is currently pursuing his degree in English and French. While heading home, Saleh left behind the bullet so as to avoid detention at the airport, the report concluded.
Though inundation in Chennai and neighbouring areas due to the influence of Cyclone Michaung was a cause of concern, the Tamil Nadu government had done an enormous amount of work in preparing and responding to the crisis, Kunal Satyarthi, Advisor (Policy and Planning), National Disaster Management Authority, said on Tuesday.

Casualties in the cyclone-ravaged areas have been minimal. And compared to the 2015 December deluge in Chennai, the infrastructure is now much more resilient, he said.

We have been deputed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help the state government recover as quickly as possible, Satyarthi told reporters after inspecting the affected areas in Sholinganallur.

During his interaction, he found that the residents were worried about the water level rising as they lived close to lakes and canals.

Chennai is a low-lying town and on that night (December 4) the rainfall was extremely high and so was the storm surge. As a result, the canals and outlets were impaired and the sea did not allow the water to go inside, he said.

The government was in conversation with the IIT and other institutions to address the issue of flooding.

Theres already an urban mitigation plan made for Chennai and we are working with other governments in the world to look for a permanent solution to this problem, he said.

I appreciate that the Tamil Nadu government has done an enormous amount of work in preparedness and response and casualties have been minimal. Sadly, it happened. But, the infrastructure is much more resilient compared to the floods of 2015. The airports opened faster, and power supply and mobile connectivity have come quickly now, Satyarthi said.

The six-member team under the Union Home Affairs Ministry also visited Velachery to assess the extent of damage due to floods.

Whatever happened in Chennai is not very good  both the effect of the cyclone, stormwater surge, and the stagnation of water  is a matter of concern, he said and added that the committee would submit a detailed report to the Centre soon.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena briefed the inter-ministerial central team about the damages caused by the recent floods in the state due to Cyclone Michaung.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday rejected former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullahs plea, seeking divorce from his estranged wife. The bench, headed by Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vikas Mahajan, turned down the plea saying that there was no infirmity with the lower court order which had denied relief to Omar.

The court had earlier directed Omar to pay interim maintenance of Rs 1,50,000 per month to Payal Abdullah.

A single-judge bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad had said in August that Omar cannot abandon his children and ought not to abdicate his duties as a father.

This court is of the view that in light of the financial capacity of the Respondent (Omar Abdullah) to provide a decent standard of living to his wife and children commensurate with his income and the standard of living that the Petitioners enjoyed previously, there is no reason that the maintenance amount awarded to Payal Abdullah should not be enhanced to that extent. Accordingly, this court observes that there is limited merit in the instant petition and directs the interim maintenance amount to be increased from Rs 75,000/- per month to Rs 1,50,000/- per month for the petitioner from the date of the application, Prasad had said.

According to a report in OpIndia, Omar and Payal met when they were employed at The Oberoi Hotel in Delhi. Omar was a young marketing professional in the same hotel chain at that point in time. On September 1, 1994, they got married under the Special Marriage Act and welcomed two boys, Zahir and Zamir.

Payal is a Delhi native with family roots in Lahore, Pakistan. Her father, Major General Ram Nath, was an army officer, the report stated.

(details to follow)
A four-feet deep and wide pit was found adjacent to the boundary wall of the strategically important Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad, raising an alert. The local police said that the possibility of an infiltration attempt cannot be ruled out.

On December 10, local people informed the Tila Mod police station that a pit had been dug near the outer wall of Hindon Airport. After this information, the spot was inspected by police and Hindon airbase officials. This pit is situated near the boundary, Shubham Patel, DCP, Trans Hindon, Ghaziabad, was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

Patel further said that an FIR has been registered based on the complaint of the airport security officer. He added that the matter is being thoroughly investigated.

A report in News18 Hindi stated some netizens had taken pictures and videos of the pit and uploaded it on social media, tagging the police and the air force. The officers are also looking into these visuals.

Patel said that CCTV footage etc is also being checked. Soon, action will be taken against the people involved in this incident, he added.

#WATCH | Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh: An unidentified four-foot ditch was found adjacent to the boundary wall of Hindan Air Force Base. "On December 10, the locals informed the police that someone had dug a 4-foot pit near the outer boundary wall of Hindan Air Force Base. Police pic.twitter.com/lZOVLjQdpL  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) December 12, 2023

According to the DCP, it could be the case of somebody trying to dig a tunnel to enter the premises. possibility of an infiltration attempt by some anti-national elements or some terrorist outfit cannot be ruled out, he added.

News18 Hindi stated that apart from police, other investigating agencies have also started probing the matter as its related to the strategically important airbase.

The pit has been filled temporarily by mud and soil, he said. The Hindan airbase is just 10-12 kilometers away from Delhi and is the biggest and largest airbase in Asia. It comes under the Western Air Command.
Three years from now, the inhospitable desert in the Rann of Kutch will host the largest operational renewable energy park in the world, almost the size of Singapore with a whopping power generation capacity of 30 GW (gigawatts). India is undertaking the construction of this mammoth hybrid renewable energy project in Gujarat, called the Khavda Renewable Energy Park, at an estimated cost of $2.26 billion.

Spread across an area of 726 sq km, which is almost the size of the entire nation of Singapore, the park will harness both solar and wind energy to power nearly 20 million homes.

When the Rann Struck Gold

The Rann of Kutch is a hostile salt desert where the summers are unsparingly hot at temperatures reaching 50C, the winters hit sub-zero levels and where monsoon rains convert the desert into a gruelling marshland. The international boundary between India and Pakistan passes through this desert, making it one of the most daunting international borders in the world.

But in December, 2020, landholders in the wasteland struck gold when Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for this grand hybrid renewable energy project that would revolutionise the fate of the Kutch district of Gujarat and its residents. He also said the wide expanse of wind turbines along the international border would make the borders more secure.

Construction activity has taken off with more than 4,000 workers and 500 engineers deployed on the field to turn the salt marshy desert into a blue sea of solar panels dotted with wind turbines visible from space.

Aiming For Clean Energy Transition

Needless to say, the innovation and technology will be the greatest renewable energy undertaking the world has ever seen, highlighting Indias dedicated commitment to its renewable energy goals to build a total non-fossil fuel energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030 from the current 130 GW, and reach net zero emissions by 2070.

The projects 20 GW has been assigned to Adani Green Energy Limited. Other major contributors include Sarjan Realities, state-run NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation), Gujarat Industries Power Company and Gujarat State Electricity Corporation.

The developers have a mandate to install 50% of their assigned capacity by 2023 and finalise the project by 2025. Electric power transmission for the project will be overseen by the Power Grid Corporation of India.

This project, in the middle of an inhospitable wasteland, is a glaring reflection of India as a responsible power. As the worlds most populous country, India is taking the lead by prioritising measures to reduce global warming emissions.

Indias endeavour showcases a holistic strategy towards manufacturing renewable energy, giving equal importance to both solar and wind energy components. This initiative not only highlights Indias proactive leadership in the International Solar Alliance, which has 120 member states and is the only intergovernmental organisation headquartered in the country, but also contributes significantly to the worldwide transition to renewable energy sources.

The Khavda renewable energy park stands as a crucial milestone in the global shift towards sustainable sources, aligning with the discussions and objectives outlined at the COP28 climate summit.

Projections indicate that the park will create a workforce of 1 lakh jobs and draw an investment totalling Rs 150,000 crore or $19 billion. Additionally, it is anticipated to result in a yearly reduction of 5 crore tonnes of carbon emissions. Furthermore, the government is considering the implementation of a 14 GWh grid-scale battery by storage system.

Blunting the Wests Pressure on India

India has long opposed the single-focused call to out-phase coal as it is still dependent on it for 80% of its power generation. At the ongoing COP28 in Dubai, India has called for equity and justice defending its position, which is rightly stated in favour of Global South nations who bear the brunt, even as historically, it was the developed world led by the West that exploited fossil fuels for far longer than the rest to propel their economies to where they are now. It is unfair to demand of Global South nations to jettison coal at the drop of a hat and India has made its stand clear.

Criticism of the country is blunted, however, when one sees its burgeoning renewable energy capacity, which is what the grand 30GW hybrid clean energy project is poised to do.

Prolific Boost for Make in India

This ambitious hybrid renewable energy project comes with a prolific boost for Make in India, especially in the renewable energy sector.

Approximately 200 km distant in the industrial city of Mundra, situated along the coastline of Gujarat state, the Adani Group is producing the necessary components for the solar and wind energy project. This location stands out as one of the rare places in India where the majority of solar energy parts are fabricated from the ground up. According to an Associated Press report, several of the factories operate akin to laboratories, enforcing the use of protective gear, face masks, and head covers to prevent the infiltration of dust particles that could potentially impact solar cells.

The project will also be a solid endorsement of India-made solar modules, wind turbines and other parts central to the renewable energy economy.

According to Wood Mackenzie, India is poised to become the second-largest solar module producer by 2025, challenging Chinas 80% global share. Notably, Indias solar manufacturing surge is largely aimed at meeting the US demand, accounting for 93% of its solar PV exports. Meanwhile, India has reduced solar module imports from China by almost 80%, amounting to $2 billion in the first half of 2023, as reported by think tank Ember.

In recent years, the Indian government has implemented a series of measures not only to enhance the proportion of solar power in the countrys energy mix but also to significantly elevate Indias presence in global solar manufacturing. Prime Minister Narendra Modis objective is to effectively harmonise Indias commitment towards achieving climate goals with economic growth.

The Modi government has implemented a noteworthy move through a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, giving a boost to Indias solar manufacturing sector. With an allocation of Rs 25,000 crore, the PLI scheme aims to establish a framework for producing high-efficiency solar PV modules in India, reducing the countrys dependence on imports.

Among other initiatives, the imposition of a 40% basic customs duty on solar modules and 25% on solar cells by the Centre stands out as a particularly impactful move for the sector. Additionally, other structural initiatives are playing a vital role, contributing to Indias overarching goal of establishing dominance in the solar energy sector, following the attainment of self-sufficiency.

A vast eye-catching project such as the one in Khavda, bearing testament to Indias economic prowess and its advanced approach to building state-of-the-art infrastructure to harness clean energy, paving the way for nations worldwide to follow suit  it is developments like these that establish Indias clear-cut resolve to lead the world by example.
An important name in the Maratha quota agitation, Manoj Jarange-Patil, has been admitted to a hospital after he fell ill, following an assembly. Patil gained recognition for leading the protest advocating for Maratha community reservation in Maharashtra.

The activist traveled through various regions of Maharashtra to raise awareness regarding the need for reservation for the Maratha community.

Previously, he directed criticism toward Maharashtras deputy chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, alleging that certain individuals close to him spoke disparagingly about the Marathas. He urged Fadnavis to intervene and prevent such remarks.

This is my last request you can say. They (leaders in Maharashtra) should see that there should be no disgruntlement among people. There are five-seven people who speak about Maratha (community) and are close to Devendra Fadnavis, the leader was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

The leader had also given a deadline to the state to provide reservations by December 24 or face consequences. The leader had, however, said he is confident of present Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday termed misleading reports claiming that Indias family planning programme is likely to get severely affected due to the countrys central procurement agencys failure in procuring contraceptives. Such reports are ill-informed and provides misleading information, the ministry said in a statement.

The Central Medical Services Society (CMSS), an autonomous body and a Central Procurement Agency under Union Ministry of Health, procures condoms for National Family Planning Programme and National AIDS Control Programme.

The CMSS procured 5.88 crores pieces of condoms for Family Planning Programme in May, 2023 and the present stock position of condoms is sufficient to meet the requirement of the Family Planning Programme, the ministry said.

Currently, National Aids Control Organization (NACO) is receiving supplies of 75 per cent free condoms from M/s HLL Lifecare Ltd. and is preparing to place remaining 25 per cent quantities for 2023-24 with CMSS on the basis of recent approvals. Requirement of NACO is being met through 66 million pieces ordered from Ms HLL Lifecare Ltd, the statement said.

The order is currently under supplies and indents for one year requirements will be placed with Ms HLL Lifecare Ltd. and CMSS with the approvals of competent authority. There has been no instance of shortfall due to delay in procurement by CMSS, the statement stated.

The CMSS has already published tenders in the current financial year for procurement of different varieties of condoms and these tenders are at advance stage of finalization.

It is clarified that there is no cause for worry as the Union Health Ministry is keeping a close watch on the situation and weekly review meeting is being held in the Ministry to monitor tendering process and supply position of various medicines and medical items being procured by the CMSS for various Programmes of the ministry, the statement stated.
Umerov thanks UK, Norway for their leadership in establishing Maritime Capability Coalition in support of Ukraine

Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov thanked his colleagues from Great Britain and Norway for their leadership in establishing Maritime Capability Coalition in support of Ukraine.

"By developing this coalition, we will be able to prevent Russian interference in freedom of navigation and strengthen the protection of sea routes, in particular the grain corridor. Our victory depends on technological superiority over the enemy. Russia should not feel safe in any part of the Black Sea," the ministry's press service said on its Telegram channel, citing Umerov.

According the statement, UK is providing Ukraine with two Sandown-class mine sweeping ships, 23 high-speed boats and 20 Bandvagn BvS 10 (Viking) two-link tracked all-terrain vehicles.

"We have proven that we can inflict significant harm on an aggressor at sea. We have powerful technology development potential in the missile and naval industries. Along with our partners, we can develop naval aviation, reliable coastal defense and other general capabilities. Among the priority tasks are: to make the Black Sea coast safe from sea mines," Umerov said.
Two women government employees were caught while allegedly accepting bribes in separate cases in Madhya Pradeshs Seoni and Ujjain districts on Tuesday, officials said.

A team of the Special Police Establishment (SPE) of Lokayukta caught seed inspector Trishna Chouhan while allegedly accepting Rs 20,000 from a trader at her office at Seoni, said an official.

Trader Shivnath Chandravanshi had complained that the inspector had asked for Rs 30,000 per quintal to issue certification of seed. He wanted the certification tag for 1,000 quintals of seed, he told police.

After he filed a complaint, a trap was laid and Chouhan was arrested, said Lokayukta SPE officer Swapnil Das.

Priyanka Soni, a patwari, was caught while allegedly accepting Rs 8,000 at Alot town in Ujjain district. She had demanded bribe from Bharat Singh Chouhan, a farmer, for a change of land title, Ujjains SPE Superintendent of Police Anil Vishwakarma said.
A 137-year-old suspension bridge built during the British era fell near Morbi, Gujarat, on October 30, 2022. The popular destination was immediately known as the Bridge of Death after 135 people, 56 of them youngsters, perished in the fall. The catastrophic fall reminded people of another catastrophe, from 1979 when the Machchhu Rivers Dam-2 collapsed due to overflowing waters. The latter has gone down in history as one of the worst water body-related tragedies India ever witnessed.

Morbi is situated on the banks of the river Machhu. Historically, this city has its own identity but it is also important geographically. This is considered to be an area in Gujarat where rainfall is generally high. The newly independent state of India needed to recover from the economic depletion it faced by the British for the last two centuries and dams began to be seen as one of the foundations of development since they irrigated fields in the new India highly dependent on agriculture and farming.

In 1959, a dam was constructed in Gujarat on the Machchu River, taking into account the regions natural features. This dam was built to support the local irrigation system. Machchhu-II, a second dam, was constructed a few years later, in 1972. Compared to the first dam, this one was substantially larger, covering an area of roughly 2000 square km.

After this dam was built, everything ran smoothly for many years until a horrible tragedy happened on August 11, 1979. In the Rajkot district of Saurashtra, there was a lot of rain during the monsoon season; Morbi was also affected. The Morbi villagers who lived close to the dam were unaware that the increased water pressure would be too much for the newly constructed irrigation dam. The Machchu-II dam collapsed on August 11 in a matter of minutes.

During the disaster, many social organisations were among the first to react. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was one of these social groups (RSS). Sangh workers had been waiting to assist the victims, simple people, and the impoverished since the news of the calamity. The unions senior leadership, Laxman Rao Inamdar (also known as Vakil Saheb), Keshavrao Deshmukh, Praveenbhai Maniyar, and Keshubhai Patel, worked alongside thousands of workers. One name among these thousands of workers was that of 29-year-old Rashtriya Swayamsevak young worker Narendra Modi.

When this horrible disaster occurred in Morbi, he was in Kerala. Modi created a thorough plan taking into account the circumstances there. Every team was assigned a specific task that prepared them to identify various public needs and issues. Before the departing government was prepared to take action and provide assistance to all those in need, Modis task had already begun.

I have spent one month in the most tragic time of Morbi, Prime Minister Modi stated in his 2017 speech in Morbi. Where I removed soil, picked up carcasses of dead animals, and performed the last rites for the families of their loved ones who were victims of this disaster. According to the Times of India report published on 30 September 1979, the Flood Disaster Relief Committee was formed under the leadership of Narendra Modi. According to the report, this committee collected Rs 14 lakh to build houses for the flood victims.
UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE DAY 2023: The World Universal Health Coverage Day, observed on December 12 annually, serves as a global call for equal and accessible healthcare. Conceived by the United Nations, the core idea of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is that everyone, regardless of their location or economic status, should have access to quality healthcare without facing financial burdens. Aligned with SDG target 3.8, UHC aims to deliver comprehensive healthcare services, financial protection, and coverage for both the population and healthcare providers.

On UHC day, we reaffirm building resilient health systems, reducing disparities in global health, and ensuring that no one is left behind in their pursuit of well-being.

World Universal Health Coverage Day 2023 Theme

The theme for World Universal Health Coverage Day 2023 is Health For All: Time for action.

World Universal Health Coverage Day: History

On December 12, 2012, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution urging nations to accelerate their efforts towards achieving universal healthcare (UHC). The primary developmental objective was to ensure that everyone, regardless of their location, has access to high-quality and affordable healthcare. In 2017, the United Nations officially designated December 12th as International Universal Health Coverage Day.

World Universal Health Coverage Day: Significance

World Health Coverage Day serves as an annual call for diverse stakeholders to raise awareness of strong and resilient health systems. On this day, advocates inform the stories of millions still awaiting access to health services, celebrate the progress made thus far, and call on leaders to make large investments in health. It is a global effort and a crucial milestone towards the 2030 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goal.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the connection between UHC and health security. A health system that works for everyone, both in times of calm and crisis, is an essential requirement for effective health systems. The pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and financial burdens, thus, highlighting the importance of achieving UHC soon.
Bipasha Basu is currently relishing a joyful phase in her life. She is crafting cherished moments with her husband, Karan Singh Grover, and their adorable daughter, Devi Basu Singh Grover. The actress loves to share glimpses of their vibrant life, particularly the heartwarming moments spent with their little one. After a fabulous getaway in the Maldives to commemorate their baby girls first birthday, the family is now back and thriving. On Monday, Bipasha Basu provided a glimpse into their daughters bedtime stories.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, the actress shared an endearing video featuring the between the father-daughter duo. In the clip, Karan Singh Grover was seen lying on a bed with her adorable daughter, Devi by his side. Engrossed in a storybook, he reads a tale to her and introduces the little one to the names of the animals illustrated on it. Accompanying the video, Bipasha wrote, Bedtime stories (with a red heart and evil eye emoticon) and tagged Karan in it.

Take a look at the post here:

Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover welcomed their baby girl on November 12. Sharing an adorable post featuring a picture of the newborns tiny feet, the couple revealed her name as Devi Basu Singh Grover. The heartfelt caption read, 12.11.22. Devi Basu Singh Grover, The physical manifestation of our love and blessings of Ma is here now and she is Divine.

The arrival of Devi has profoundly transformed Bipashas life. Speaking about her newfound role as a mother, she told News18, Devis my number one when it comes to everything and anything. Whether my eyes are open or shut, its always her. Every time I step out, I want to return home and be with her. Everything in my life now revolves around her Karan is number three, Im number two and Devi is number one.

Bipasha Basu is a celebrated Indian actress renowned for her captivating performances in Bollywood. She gained widespread acclaim for her roles in films such as Raaz, Jism, and Dhoom 2. With her striking beauty and versatile acting skills, Bipasha has firmly established herself in the industry. Beyond the silver screen, she is admired for her dedication to fitness. Tied in matrimony to actor Karan Singh Grover, Bipasha continues to stand out as a prominent and influential figure in Indian cinema.

Her most recent on-screen project was the miniseries Dangerous in 2020. Fans eagerly anticipating her return to acting received encouraging news in a recent interview with News18. When asked about her comeback, Bipasha expressed her intention to make a return to the screen shortly. She openly acknowledged her ongoing efforts to strike a balance between professional commitments and family life, hinting at an exciting chapter in her career on the horizon.
Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner and popular YouTuber Elvish Yadav has entered the Googles Most Searched Person 2023 list. The list is topped by the Bollywood actress Kiara Advani followed by Shubman Gill, Rachin Ravindra and Mohammed Shami. Elvish rules the fifth spot on the list. He has left behind Sidharth Malhotra and David Beckham among others on the list.

Elvish Yadav emerged as the winner of Bigg Boss OTT 2 in August this year. He created history by becoming the first wildcard contestant to have won the show ever. Currently, Elvish is seen in the reality show Temptation Island India.

Elvish Yadav, the winner of Bigg Boss OTT 2 and the popular YouTuber, has made it to Google's Most Searched Person 2023 list. He made history by becoming the first wildcard contestant to lift the trophy. pic.twitter.com/tDj9YeQIU8 #BiggBoss_Tak (@BiggBoss_Tak) December 11, 2023

Not only did Elvish Yadav make his name into Google's Most Searched Person 2023 list but his meme of "Elvish Yadav ke aage koi bol sakta hai" entered into Top-10 Memes 2023. Systumm hain! pic.twitter.com/V2Vma4xNCV  #BiggBoss_Tak (@BiggBoss_Tak) December 11, 2023

Recently, Elvish was also in the news for his alleged connection in the Noida snake venom case. It all started after an FIR was filed against Elvish after his name came up in a rave party where snakes and venom was found. Later, politician and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi accused the YouTuber of supplying snake venom to rave parties in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Elvish was stopped at a checkpost in Rajasthans Kota in connection to the case recently but was released later. He was also questioned on November 7 in connection to the case.

Later, Elvish also issued a video clarification and claimed that all allegations against him are baseless and devoid of proof. Maine subah utha aur dekha kaise kaise news phail rahi hai mere khilaaf media mein. Jitne arop mere upar lage hai sab bebuniyad hai, fake hai aur ek percent bhi mein sachhai hai nehi hai, he said and further revealed that he would file a defamation case against Maneka Gandhi.
Known for portraying Dr. Armaan Malik in the popular Indian drama series Dill Mill Gayye, actor Karan Singh Grover is set to grace the screen in Siddharth Anands highly awaited film, Fighter. The filmmakers recently revealed his character details and look on Tuesday. Similar to Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor, Karan is taking on the role of an air force pilot in the film.

Karan makes his entrance as Squadron Leader Sartaj Gill, as featured in the newly-unveiled poster where he exudes a commanding presence in his military uniform. The emblem bearing his call name, Taj Gill, is displayed on his chest.

Karans wife and actor Bipasha Basu was all praise for him. She shared the poster on social and wished him luck for the film. All the best  she captioned the post and added section, Handsome Hot Hubby in the comments. Actor Dia Mirza also seemed happy with Karan being a part of the film and wrote, This makes me so so happy. Television actor Surbhi Jyoti commented, Woooaahhhh . Karans close friend and Dil Mill Gaye co-actor Ayaz Khan commented, Rock it bro  @iamksgofficial.

While Karans character has been officially introduced, the actor had a fleeting moment in the films recently released teaser, making a brief appearance dancing alongside Hrithik and Deepika.

Directed by Siddharth Anand and presented by Viacom18 Studios in collaboration with Marflix Pictures, Fighter is set to transcend boundaries with its stellar cast and gripping storyline. Expectations from the actioner are pretty high as it marks the third collaboration between Siddharth and Hrithik, who have earlier delivered blockbusters like Bang Bang (2014) and War (2019). The film also marks the first project between Hrithik and Deepika. Anil Kapoor will also be playing a key role in the movie.
The first teaser of Fighter is now out and boy, Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukones sizzling chemistry is already visible. The actors, who are sharing the screen for the first time, are seen in uniform and on board of fighter jets. The teaser has garnered an overwhelming response from all quarters. Netizens are showering love on the teaser, creating a lot of buzz for the films release.

As per reports, the first song of Fighter will be out in December itself. Siddharth Anand turned to his social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) and dropped a hint, suggesting that something is on the horizon for December 15. His post read, Friday the 15th. Now, Pinkvilla has exclusively got to know that the first song of Fighter starring Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan will drop on December 15.

Friday the 15th Siddharth Anand (@justSidAnand) December 12, 2023

Reportedly, the Siddharth Anand directorial will be releasing in 3D. According to a report in Pinkvilla, the director wants to make his film an unforgettable theatrical experience. Its an aerial action entertainer designed for a big screen experience and the idea is to transport the audience into the world of this adrenaline thumping film. Fighter will release in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D on the eve of Indias 75th Republic Day  January 25, 2024, the portal quoted a source as saying. The action sequences in the Hrithik Roshan starrer have also been designed in a way that will leave an impact in not only 2D but also 3D.

On Tuesday, Deepika Padukone took to her Instagram handle to welcome Karan on the movie. She dropped first look poster of the actor in which he was seen donning uniform. In the caption, Deepika revealed that Karan will be playing the role of Squadron leader Sartaj Gill in the film. Check out here:

Directed by Siddharth Anand and presented by Viacom18 Studios in collaboration with Marflix Pictures, Fighter is set to transcend boundaries with its stellar cast and gripping storyline. Expectations from the actioner are pretty high as it marks the third collaboration between Siddharth and Hrithik, who have earlier delivered blockbusters like Bang Bang (2014) and War (2019). The film also marks the first project between Hrithik and Deepika. Anil Kapoor will also be playing a key role in the movie.
The Madras High Court on Tuesday slammed Tamil actor Mansoor Ali Khan for filing defamation case against Trisha and seeking Rs 1 crore as compensation from the Ponniyin Selvan actress. Court questioned Khan for filing case and argued that it should be Trisha who should have sued him.

Did he tender the unconditional apology only to escape arrest? Actually, Trisha should have moved the suit for damage. On what basis has he moved it? the court questioned as quoted by Hindustan Times. It further asked Khans counsel to advise the actor on how to act responsibly in public places.

During the proceedings, Mansoor Ali Khan also claimed that he is innocent and argued that no personal statements were made against Trisha or any women. The court has now sought statements from Trisha, Chiranjeevi and Khushbu. The case has been adjourned till December 22.

Mansoor Ali Khan grabbed everyones attention after a video of the actor went viral on social media in which he said in Tamil, When I heard that I was acting with Trisha, I thought there would be a bedroom scene in the film. I thought I would carry her to the bedroom just like I did with other actresses in my earlier movies. I have done so many rape scenes and its not new to me. But these guys didnt even show Trisha to me on the sets during the shoot in Kashmir.

Later, Trisha also broke silence on Mansoor Ali Khans comment and called it sexist, disrespectful, misogynistic, repulsive. A recent video has come to my attention where Mr Mansoor Ali Khan has spoken about me in a vile manner. I strongly condemn this and find it sexist, disrespectful, misogynistic, repulsive, and in bad taste. He can keep wishing, but I am grateful never to have shared screen space with someone as pathetic as him, and I will make sure it never happens for the rest of my film career as well. People like him bring a bad name to mankind, she wrote on X.
Mouni Roy is undoubtedly one of the most fashionable actresses. Her social media is a treat for her fans. Each time Mouni drops gorgeous photos of herself on social media, she leaves everyone gasping for breath. On Tuesday too, Mouni took to her Instagram handle and dropped a series of pictures which are now setting fire online.

In these latest clicks, Mouni was seen posing in a body-hugging short black and white off-shoulder dress. She ditched accessories to let her outfit take centre stage. Mouni further opted for black high heels, left her tresses open and opted for glam makeup. Needless to say, Mouni looked prettiest as always in these photos. Check out here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by mon (@imouniroy)

Soon after the pictures were shared online, Mounis fans rushed to the comments section to compliment the actress. While one of the users called her stunning, another fan expressed love for her and wrote, I Love You So Much Sweet Heart. Several other users also dropped red-heart emojis in the comments section.

Mouni Roy has come a long way ever since she made her television debut with Ekta Kapoors Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. She became a popular name after she starred in Naagin. Mouni made her Bollywood debut with Akshay Kumars Gold in 2018. Last year, Mouni was seen in Ayan Mukerjis magnum opus, Brahmastra. Recently, she was also seen in a music video titled Dotara along with Jubin Nautiyal. Mouni Roy was last seen in the web-series Sultan of Delhi.

In a recent interview, Mouni shared that it is projects like Sultan of Delhi and Brahmastra which changed peoples perception of her as an actor. Brahmastra was absolutely different. When you see Gold, RAW and Made In China, I had played very Indianised characters. Maybe after Naagin and Sati, people could only see me as a saree-clad Indian character. So, for Milan sir to think of me as this cabaret dancer Nayantara, at a time when Brahmastra had not even released. I think it is an exciting time to be an actor where makers can visualise you in different roles. Such great parts are being written. I really feel fortunate to be offered these parts and be able to play them on screen, she told Indian Express.
Indias Nocturnal Burger is in the race for the upcoming Oscars. It is a live short action film and has been helmed by Reema Maya. Twenty-eight minutes long, it is Reemas second short movie.

Set over a single night, Nocturnal Burger follows Simi (played by Millo Sunka) and 13-year-old Minu (Bebo Madiwal). When Simi sees an auto-rickshaw driver molesting a minor girl, she takes the help of a schoolteacher and together they go to a police station. There is nothing graphic in the short, but every time it shows Minus eyes, we are devastated.

This is not a story that has not been told before; in fact, it has been several times. Yet, every time we watch something on this subject of child abuse, we feel deeply disturbed. Minus trauma is unbearable. On the other hand, Simi tries to seek justice with the help of the teacher. Simi realises that time alone will heal some wounds. At the police station, a male inspector handles the investigation. And a female cop helps him. We can clearly see traces of misogyny and patriarchy. The movie handles a lot: casual racism, apathy in our systems and people, the lack of female agency, and just how public our exploitation often is.

Nocturnal Burger is really honest, despite the fact we may feel a sense of helplessness when we see how it ends. The journey of this film started from a very unfortunate true incident a few years ago. Everything that happened that night stayed deep inside me, and Nocturnal Burger is the first outlet it has had. It is an exploration of abuse and trauma; fantasy and escapism. It talks about the omnipresence of sexual abuse even in our public spaces, and the need for vigilance and intervention by the community, Reema told Variety.

Nocturnal Burger is a coming-of-age film in the darkest sense. We all remember our teenage moments of wanting to grow up too fast and the moment we understood for the first time what growing up actually feels like. It is in the transition between these two moments that the story of Nocturnal Burger takes place on a rainy night in Mumbai, the director added.

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. It has since been screened at multiple festivals and won over 30 awards, including the Best International Short Special Mention at Palm Springs International Shortfest and the Film Critics Guild Gender Sensitivity Award at Dharamshala International Film Festival.
Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer, during a meeting with deputies of the National Council in the main committee on EU issues, spoke categorically against the "accelerated procedure" for Ukraine and Moldova to join the European Union, the press service of the Austrian Parliament said.

According to the parliament, Nehammer responded to APS deputies Petra Steger, Christian Hafenecker and Axel Kassegger that Austria would not agree to negotiations on Ukraine's accession in the current conditions. There should be no preferential treatment for Ukraine, especially in relation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is also currently in accession negotiations.

He also pointed out that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen did not consult before announcing the prospect of accession negotiations for Ukraine.

Separately, Nehammer said in order for the EU to be fit for enlargement, internal reforms must be carried out.

Nehammer said generally Austria continues to follow the EU line when it comes to solidarity with Ukraine, but without violating neutrality. He said this is primarily about financial assistance to support Ukraine as a state as a whole.
Mahesh Babus highly-anticipated movie Guntur Kaaram has hit the right chords after its announcement. Directed by Trivikram Srinivasan, the film features actresses Sreeleela and Meenaakshi Chaudhary in pivotal roles. As per earlier reports, the makers of the film commenced shooting for its third song at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad. Now, they have released a promo for the second song single called Oh My Baby.

The captivating song is composed by the S Thaman and boasts an enchanting melody that is sure to steal your heart. The song Oh My Baby has been sung by Shilpa Rao and written by Ramajogayya Sastry. The makers have scheduled the release of the song for December 13, 2023. They also dropped a post on X to share the promo and the release date of the song and wrote, Heres a blissful melody with a blistering Coffee!

Here's a blissful melody with a blistering Coffee! Swing along with #OhMyBaby  ~ Promo out now https://t.co/ln3DX1xtFg Full song will be out on 13th December A @MusicThaman Musical  @ramjowrites @shilparao11#GunturKaaram SUPER @urstrulyMahesh  Haarika & Hassine Creations (@haarikahassine) December 11, 2023

The song starts with Sreeleela in a dark green saree while the actor addresses her as Ammu. Dressed in a dark blue denim shirt, Mahesh Babu can be heard saying, My name is Ramana. Remember it. It might be useful if you ever visit Guntur. In response, Sreeleela gives a gesture and walks away.

Earlier, the makers dropped the first single of the film. Titled Dum Masala, the song went viral within the days of its release. The energetic track has been composed by Thaman. The vocals have been given by Thaman himself and Sanjith Hegde. Ramajogayya Sastry wrote the lyrics of this song as well while the director of the film Trivikram Srinivas added a spicy rap verse to the track.

Guntur Kaaram is slated to be released on January 12, 2024. The release of the film will coincide with Sankranthi festivities. Besides Mahesh Babu, Sreeleela and Meenaakshi Chaudhary, the film also features Jagapathi Babu, Ramya Krishna, Jayaram and Prakash Raj in the lead roles. S Radha Krishna has produced the film under the banner of Haarika and Hassine Creations.
The 15th Indian Film Festival Melbourne has just been announced by the Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency Professor, the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, at an IFFM industry event held in Mumbai. The evening marked a pivotal moment for IFFM as it unveiled plans for its landmark 15th-year celebrations, set to unfold in August 2024.

At the event, veteran Indian actress, Shabana Azmi was also given the IFFM Excellence Award, which was confirmed for the 2023 festival, but Azmi was unable to accept the award at the time. Renowned for her powerful and versatile performances in Indian cinema, Azmi has received multiple accolades including five National Film Awards during her four-decade career.

After receiving the honour, Shabana Azmi expressed gratitude and said, I am so grateful I was here amongst this small yet important gathering of my peers from the industry. I always believe its the actors who get all the honours and attention, but I truly believe that actors and films are a result of all the teams behind the camera. I am thankful to every technician, spot boy, light guy, everyone who deserves to be celebrated. Im grateful to the Governor, the Government of Victoria and IFFM to honour me with the Excellence in Cinema Award.

Speaking of the event and the developments, the governor said, Founded in 2010, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne brings Victorians together to experience the best of Indian Filmmaking, including the recent screen initiative, known as My Melbourne. This project has seen the Festival partner with renowned Indian filmmakers to create films reflecting the lived experience of the Indian Diaspora in Melbourne and highlight the diversity of those experiences. We are indeed fortunate to have this rich cultural event in Victoria.

Meanwhile, Shabana Azmi was last seen in Karan Johars Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. In the film, her chemistry with Dharmendra was widely loved by all.
Director Zoya Akhtar recently shared insights about her latest Netflix project, The Archies, on The Daily Show. The discussion explored her motivation for introducing the iconic world of Archies to Indian audiences and emphasised the importance of promoting inclusivity in the realm of filmmaking.

Zoya reflected on the connection between a fundamentally American universe of Archies and how it was an important aspect of an Indian urban kids life back in the 80s. Recalling her own childhood in the 80s, Zoya spoke about the limited access to cultural phenomena at that time. Despite the constraints, Archies comics emerged as a universal experience for many, serving as a portal to the captivating teenage life in the fictional town of Riverdale. Zoya said, Its crazy that something so fundamentally American was also fundamentally a part of an Indian urban kids childhood. Archies was one of the few things that everybody read, and it was a portal to this country.

As she further elaborated on her decision to adapt The Archies for a global audience, Zoya highlighted the nostalgic appeal and the desire for a return to innocence. She expressed her gratitude for Netflixs initiative to bring the Indian film industry onto the global stage, making The Archies a special project she couldnt turn down. Zoya added, I just couldnt say no. It was also like something to go back to, a less is more time.

Talking about inclusivity, Kal Penn was impressed by how Zoya also touched upon incorporating the LGBT (LGBTQIA+) community into the narrative of The Archies. Zoya acknowledged Indias vibrant LGBT community and the positive changes that have unfolded since the decriminalization of homosexuality in 2018. She emphasised the evolving nature of society and the role of storytelling and filmmaking in fostering understanding and empathy.

In 2018, homosexuality was decriminalised. Theres been so much change, and real positive change with that. And its going to keep evolving. And part of that evolution is storytelling and filmmaking, and somewhere I feel its not just like were representing something, but youre literally taking someone and putting them in someone elses shoes. Youre humanizing the other, Zoya shared.

Expressing her gratitude for a being part of the film fraternity and being an able individual with the power of story telling, Archies contributes to positive change, Zoya shared, I think Im lucky to be a part of a community that can affect some kind of evolution or change and represent and be there and say how I feel.
Dramatic scenes were witnessed in Thiruvananthapuram after Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan was hurt physically by goondas. He was on his way to the airport to board a flight to Delhi. While Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleged that chief minister Pinarayi Vijayans Nava Kerala is about welcoming terrorist Hamas, Minister of State V Muraleedharan met Khan at Kerala House on Tuesday.

Police was made ineffective to suit the interest of the CM. This shows what the situation has Kerala. The Governor is taking firm stand against corruption and nepotism of Vijayan government. This has made them take to streets by protesting in such a manner, Muraleedharan said after meeting Khan.

Students Federation of India (SFI) state secretary PM Arsho, meanwhile, accused the Governor of nominating people from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to the senate, by using his powers as a chancellor. Arsho alleged that Khan is not following any guidelines.

Black flag protest will continue. This protest is to ensure that the higher education is not saffronised, the SFI state secretary said.

The incident took place on Monday evening in Thiruvananthapuram. The Governor stormed out of his vehicle, and said people who came in cars hit his vehicle on both sides fled when he stepped out to question them.

Sources said that police is all set to book seven SFI workers under section 124 of the IPC (assaulting governor).

Today the goondas are trying to rule the roads of Thiruvananthapuram. Just because I dont get affected by pressure tactics, they will try to threaten me? Khan asked.

He further questioned, Is it possible that if a CM programme is going on, cars with protesters will be allowed there? Will they (police) allow anybody to come near the car of the CM?

Here cars of the protesters were standing there and police pushed them into their cars and they ran away. So, it is the CM, I am saying it clearly, who is conspiring and sending these people to hurt me physically, the Governor alleged.

This is not the #NavaKeralam that we want #NavaKerala according to @pinarayivijayan is welcoming Terrorist #Hamas, intimidating constitutional Governor, Rampant corruption, Destroying Economy, chasing investors, destroying jobs, filing cases against media & political opponents, https://t.co/NF61driTbf Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@Rajeev_GoI) December 12, 2023

He further contended that if the CM disagrees with him on something, that does not mean the Marxist veteran should hatch conspiracies to hurt him physically.

Khan also claimed that the constitutional machinery appeared to be collapsing in the state. He told reporters that the protesters not only waved black flags at him, they also hit his vehicle from both sides.

Then I got down from my car. Then why did they run away? They were all sitting in a car, which means the police knew. But what will the poor police do when the CM is directing them? Khan said.

A report in PTI quoted its sources in Raj Bhavan as saying that black flags were waved at Khan at three places and out of them at two his car was hit by the protesters.

Police, on the other hand, said that the Governors vehicle was blocked by the SFI activists only at one place and seven people of the student outfit have been arrested.

In the other two incidents, only black flags were waved and in connection with that around 10-12 SFI activists have been taken into custody. Cases under the relevant provisions of the IPC are being registered against them.

Meanwhile, the Congress, the UDF opposition led by it and the BJP too accused CM Vijayan of being behind the alleged attack on the Governor. They also alleged a breakdown of law and order in the state.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan said such allegations against a CM was a first in the history of the state and questioned whether attempt to murder cases would be registered against the SFI activists who blocked the Governors vehicle.

Satheesan also took a dig at the CM by asking who should rescue the SFI activists who jumped in front of the Governors vehicle and waved black flags at him.

Vijayan has been repeatedly stating that the Youth Congress and Kerala Student Union (KSU) activists, who had allegedly jumped in front of the bus in which he and his cabinet were travelling, were rescued by DYFI and CPI(M) workers by forcibly pushing them out of the way.

The CMs rescue remark had first come after Youth Congress and KSU activists were allegedly beaten up by DYFI and CPI(M) workers for waving black flags at his cavalcade in Kannur. He has subsequently reiterated it several times.

Satheesan also accused the CM of having double standards.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief and MP K Sudhakaran said it was a black day for the state and that the law and order has broken down as the Governor was allegedly attacked in the middle of the road.

He alleged that the SFIs actions were with the knowledge of the CM.

The KPCC chief further alleged that the police team accompanying the Governor rescued and released the SFI activists instead of protecting Khan.

He sought immediate and strict action against the police officers allegedly involved in it.

Sudhakaran also called the protesting SFI activists as chavers or suicide squads, a term that was used by the Left front for the Youth Congress and KSU workers who waved black flags at the CM.

BJP state chief K Surendran too spoke along similar lines when he said the alleged attack on the Governor was with the CMs knowledge.

He alleged that the CPI(M) was aggrieved by the recent Supreme Court verdict quashing re-appointment of the Kannur University VC and berating the state government for its interference.

So, the Left party resorted to the primitive move of attacking the Governor, Surendran alleged.

He further claimed that the incident occurred with the connivance of the police which indicates a breakdown of law and order in the state and added that BJP cannot stand by and watch the Governor getting attacked.

This is the second consecutive day when SFI activists waved black flags at the Governor.

The black flags were waved at the Governor near Vazhuthacaud in the state capital when Khan was on his way to an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry on Sunday.

Eighteen activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) were arrested in connection with that incident.

(With inputs from PTI)
Days ahead of the opposition INDIA bloc meeting, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that West Bengal will lead the country in every field and all will get their due respect.

The Trinamool Congress supremo is scheduled to travel to New Delhi to participate in an INDIA coalition meeting next week. What (West) Bengal is doing today is making other states contemplate. What Bengal thinks today, India will think tomorrow We will lead India, and Bengal will lead the country tomorrow in every field. We will show respect to everybody, give employment to everyone, and nobody will be deprived, she said.

Banerjee was speaking at a public distribution programme at Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri. The leaders of the INDIA bloc are scheduled in New Delhi on December 19 when there is likely to be a discussion on seat-sharing among the political parties in the Lok Sabha elections.

Discussions are likely to be held on the results of the assembly polls in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, sources in the Congress said.
After days of speculation and brainstorming, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday picked MLA Bhajanlal Sharma as the new chief minister of the state. The decision was taken during the partys legislative meeting held under the leadership of the three central observers.

Who is Bhajan Lal Sharma?

First-time MLA Bhajanlal Sharma, who was appointed as the new chief minister of Rajasthan on Tuesday, is currently serving as a member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly and represents the Sanganer Assembly constituency, mostly dominated by Brahmins.

An upper-caste candidate, Sharma also served as the State General Secretary for the Bharatiya Janata Party four times.

Rajasthan CM Announcement LIVE: BJP Surprises Again, Picks Bhajan Lal Sharma As Rajasthan Chief Minister

Following the 2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election, he was elected as an MLA from the Sanganer Assembly constituency. He is from Bharatpur but was not given a ticket there as the seat was not seen as a winnable one.

Sharma secured his position by defeating Pushpendra Bhardwaj, the candidate from the Indian National Congress (INC), with a margin of 48,081 votes.

The CM-designate has been associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the BJPs ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Apart from Sarma, MLA Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa will be the deputy chief ministers and Vasudev Devnani the speaker of the state assembly.

The saffron party meticulously chose an interesting caste combination in the state leadership with an upper-caste Brahmin CM, Rajpur Deputy CM Diya Kumar and Birwa as its representatives from the Scheduled Caste background.

The legislative meeting took place at the BJP office in the presence of the partys three central observers led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The two other observers are Vinod Tawde and Saroj Pandey.

All the newly elected MLAs were asked to compulsorily attend the meeting. Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Ashwini Vaishnaw were said to be among the frontrunners for the chief ministers post in Rajasthan, one of three states that the BJP won in the recent elections.

Reportedly, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, who was seated next to Rajnath, was the one to propose Sharmas name for the top post, which was accepted by party MLAs.

The BJP won 115 seats out of the 199 that went to polls. Polling was postponed in one constituency due to the death of a candidate. Several BJP MLAs have called on former chief minister Raje in recent days in what was seen as a show of support, amid speculations the party may spring a surprise this time.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) once again took everyone by surprise when it unveiled the names of its chief ministers pick for the newly won states of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. By choosing young, grassroots-level leaders for the top post, the saffron party delivered on its anti-nepotism and anti-bias political stance.

The ruling party made another statement and a strong one with its unexpected choice of chief ministers in the three Hindi-speaking states  That anyone can become a leader in the Modi-led BJP.

The placement of the newly appointed CMs in the group photo of winning MLAs captured right before the announcement of the chief ministerial candidate is a testament to that.

In the group photo taken before the BJP legislative meeting in Madhya Pradesh, the CM-designate Mohan Yadav can be seen standing in the third row, behind all the senior leaders of the party.

Similarly, in the group photo of the newly elected MLAs in Rajasthan, the CM-designate Bhajanlal Sharma can be seen not seated in the front row, or the second. In fact, he is standing in a corner of the last row, which is an insignificant spot and nearly out of shot.

Reportedly, Sharma was also in the background even at the meeting this evening to finalise his appointment.

After their appointment, both Yadav and Sharma thanked the BJP leadership for the opportunity and reiterated that anyone can make it to the top in the saffron camp.

I want to thank everyone for giving a small party worker like me a chance to serve the state. I also thank all the party workers who worked hard which resulted in BJP winning with a majority in the state, Sharma said after his appointment.

BJPs Surprise Appointment in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and MP

The Bhartiya Janata Party over the past weeks announced three new chief ministers for three states  Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. In Chhattisgarh, the BJP picked a tribal face. The party on Sunday picked Vishnu Deo Sai, a prominent tribal leader, as the next chief minister of the state.

The party picked first-time MLA Bhajanlal Sharma as Rajasthans new chief minister and Mohan Yadav was appointed as the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh.
A war of words broke out between Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and newly-elected Mizoram CM Lalduhoma over the latters comment on Manipur Police.

Singh urged Lalduhoma to not interfere in the internal matters of Manipur and appealed to the Mizoram CM to extend help to the violence-hit state in restoring peace.

Speaking to the media, the Manipur CM stated that whatever happened in Manipur is an internal matter. Most of our colleagues have expressed their willingness to help. But, unfortunately, the newly elected CM of Mizoram is accusing the Manipur police of harassing his people in Moreh, he said.

He further stated that it is beyond the constitutional rights of Mizoram CM to speak on the internal matters of Manipur. It is beyond his rights to speak on our internal matter. I never commented when the Bru issue in Mizoram, he said.

Singhs comments came a day after the Lalduhoma-led Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM) government came to power in the northeastern state of Mizoram. After taking over as the Chief Minister of Mizoram, Lalduhoma stated that his government would continue to provide shelter and assistance to refugees from Myanmar and those displaced from Manipur.

Notably, Lalduhoma is known for his work towards the unification of the Zo and Kuki communities in Mizoram. The Mizos share strong ethnic ties with Manipurs Kuki and Myanmars Chin tribes.

As per the reports, almost 35,000 Chin refugees from Myanmar have crossed over to the state since February 2021. Around 12,000 Kuki-Zo people from Manipur also fled to Mizoram after ethnic clashes between Kuki and Meitei communities broke out in the state in early May.
Monday saw a verbal duel in Rajya Sabha between the Opposition and treasury benches after a controversial remark by a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Member of Parliament (MP) during a discussion on Jammu and Kashmir bills.

ALSO READ | Amit Shah Hails SC Verdict on Article 370, Says Modi Govt Committed to Give Justice to Kashmiri Pandits

Opposing the two bills moved by Home Minister Amit Shah for consideration and passage by the House, M Mohamed Abdulla invoked rationalist and Dravidian movement founder Periyar to support his points and asked the government to take steps to address several issues in Jammu and Kashmir.

Disapproving of Abdullas remarks, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar told the DMK member, who also described the abrogation of Article 370 as an attack on federalism, that the freedom of speech in the Upper House is not unqualified" in reference to the Supreme Court judgment on the matter. Can we quote anything in this House? Can we go to the extent of it being seditious, challenging our integrity, going against our Constitution? Going against the judgement of the Supreme Court this day? That will not be acceptable"

Observing that Abdulla was abusing the platform", Dhankhar expunged the remarks and said he had gone too far".

A look at 10 times DMK leaders sparked controversy with their remarks:

Heartland states: While participating in a discussion on J and K Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill in the House last week, Dharmapuri DMK MP DNV Senthil Kumar had said the Bharatiya Janata Party can win elections only in the Hindi heartland states and not in south India. Senthils statement linking Hindi heartland to the urine of an animal (gaumutra) was later expunged by the Lok Sabha Speaker. Hindu Dharma: DMK MP A Raja labelled Hinduism a menace to India and the world." India is the source of the global malaise, which is spread through diving the society and the people on the lines of caste. Some Indians settled abroad also promote caste divisions in the name of Hinduism. So, Hinduism is a menace not just for India but the entire world," he said. Sanatana Dharma: Likening Sanatana Dharma to coronavirus, malaria, fever caused by dengue virus and mosquitoes", Udhayanidhi, son of Tamil Nadu CM and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin, on September 3, said it is against equality and social justice and it should be eradicated. Such things should not be opposed, but destroyed". Lord Shiva: In an interview with a private channel earlier this year, DMKs Senthil Kumar said, In the north, Shiva and Parvatis family stops with Ganesh  only if you come down South, they know that they also have Murugan. We dont know if family planning happened there." Whether Lord Shiva & Parvathy had Family planning  INDI alliance leader & DMK MP Senthil Kumar"I wonder if anybody can get away after abusing any other religions like this.And yet its Hinduism which is called intolerant pic.twitter.com/ok4IX7AD39  Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) December 5, 2023 Nagaland people: Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Sunday alleged DMK leader R S Bharathi has insulted the Naga people as dog eaters, which is scurrilous and unacceptable. #BreakingNews | Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Sunday alleged DMK leader R S Bharathi has insulted the #Naga people as dog eaters, which is scurrilous and unacceptable @nimumurali shares more details | @anjalipandey06 | #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/kpMn9czL4m  News18 (@CNNnews18) November 6, 2023 Ram: BJP trying to replace history with mythology," DMKs TKS Elangovan hit out at the Centre ahead of Ram Mandir inauguration, saying Ram birth was a myth". Israel: Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, A Raja pointed out that India has always supported Palestine. #BreakingNews: DMK MP A Raja faces backlash; Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, #ARaja has pointed out that India has always supported Palestine; #BJP takes on A Raja over his comment; #DMK backs MP A Raja@nimumurali shares more details | @Sriya_Kundu#IsraelPalestineConflict pic.twitter.com/GyWgNr7Atq  News18 (@CNNnews18) October 19, 2023 On one particular religion: Senthil Kumar was attending an inauguration ceremony for a road project in his home district of Dharmapuri. On his arrival, he asked an official if he was aware that a government function should not be held in such a manner involving prayers of only one particular religion.Sir, Do you have instructions or not that government functions should not be held like this. Are you aware or not?" he asked. Pointing to a saffron robes clad Hindu priest, the MP asked the official: What is this? Where are the other religions?, Where is the Christian and Muslim? Invite the Church father, the Imam, invite those who do not profess any religion, the atheists, the Dravidar Kazhagam (representatives)," he said. Trolling: Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan picked a fight with The Hindu Publishing Groups Chairperson Malini Parthasarathy making personal remarks. Hmm.fodder for rabble rousers, ah? , .. Does anyone have a link to the clip this parody-of-a-newspaper-publisher posted of herself joyously plate-banging (with her entire domestic entourage) and chanting the mantra Go Corona Go", swaying ever-so-lightly to the rhythm? https://t.co/hyCuetfeTl  Dr P Thiaga Rajan (PTR) (@ptrmadurai) January 31, 2023 Sanatana Dharma: DMK MP A Raja said that Sanatana Dharma should be compared to diseases that carry social stigma like HIV and leprosy.

With PTI inputs
The Congress was quick to taunt the BJP for not repeating Shivraj Singh Chouhan as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister for a fifth term, going instead for a relatively newer pick in Ujjain MLA Mohan Yadav. This is how they treat their chief ministers who take their party to victory and are seniors, said Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi at a press conference on Monday.

But the grand old partys track record on the treatment of its chief ministers, and even Union ministers, hasnt been squeaky clean either. While Jawaharlal Nehru preferred to work with strong Chief Ministers, his daughter Indira Gandhi, few months into her prime ministership, became uncomfortable with assertive Chief Ministers as well as some of her own powerful ministers.

The most ruthless was her dismissal of close aide and Union Civil Supplies Minister VC Shukla two minutes into a meeting she called him for early in the morning. In the 11 years of her rule between 1966 and 1977, at least seven Chief Ministers were dismissed by her as she was not comfortable with their power.

Sonia Gandhis tenure as Congress chief began well. But there have been instances where she fell for the wrong advice, especially when aides told her that some Chief Ministers with a mind of their own could spell trouble for the central leadership. This is increasingly the case as the party finds itself weakening at the national-level.

The most powerful Congress CM that Sonia Gandhi had to contend with during her leadership of the party was Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister R Rajashekhar Reddy. Following Reddys death in a plane crash in 2009 while still in office, the party just withered away in Andhra Pradesh. Rajashekhar Reddys cult following was said to be one of the reasons why his son Jagan Mohan Reddy was not made CM after his fathers death. The top brass was reportedly advised that he too could become as powerful as his father. The partys experiments with appointing amicable and docile chief ministers like K Rosaiah and Kiran Kumar Reddy ended in disaster, and the Congress has not won Andhra Pradesh since.

In 2005, Bhajan Lal, who was the strongman of Haryana politics, was not repeated as CM despite the party winning. The party chose Bhupinder Hooda instead. Bhajan Lal never forgave and forgot. Its been a series of experiments in CMs since then.

However, the most glaring and recent example of the party cutting a powerful Chief Minister to size has to be that of Captain Amarinder Singh in Punjab. A man with a mind of his own, who repeatedly opined that Rahul Gandhi has a long way to go in politics, Singh was eventually forced to resign. The reason cited was that he worked in a coterie and had lost support of his MLAs.

But those with access behind the scenes say the MLAs would happily have worked with the Captain had it been conveyed to them that the party leadership had no issues with him. Charanjit Singh Channi was made the Chief Minister and the CM face in elections, making it easy for rival Aam Aadmi Party to storm to power. Weak, almost subservient to the high command, Channi lost his gaddi (seat) and Punjab for the Congress.

As the Congress weakened nationally in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, so did its ability to dictate terms on who can be CM. Political compulsion tied the hands of the Gandhis. Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and Siddaramaiah were made CMs in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka, respectively. This gave rise to more dissent and showed that the Gandhis could not always get their way.

Apart from Siddaramaiah in Karnataka, the Congress has two chief ministers in the saddle now  Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in Himachal Pradesh and Revanth Reddy in Telangana. Theres no denying that the two are in top posts, but is also evident that both Sukhu and Reddy are Gandhi family loyalists and unlikely to break ranks. So while Congress can claim to pick grassroot chief ministers, loyalty is a big deciding factor.
The new Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk, presenting the action program of the new government to the Sejm, said his cabinet will demand the full mobilization of Western countries to help Ukraine.

"I can no longer listen to politicians who talk about being tired of the war situation in Ukraine. They tell President Zelenskyy that they are tired of the situation," Tusk said, Onet reports.

According to him, an attack on Ukraine is "an attack on all of us." He also said Poland's assistance to Ukraine is crucial, but at the same time indicated that Warsaw must be persistent when it comes to the interests, in particular, of Polish farmers.

"But we must remember what the war is for. That Ukrainians are fighting for something extremely important, that their battle began on the Maidan, that they are fighting to join the community of the Western world. They want Ukraine to be democratic, legal state, like Western countries. And they are now fighting for it," Tusk said.

He said he would soon travel to Brussels, hoping to persuade allies to defend democratic values and Ukraine from Russian aggression.

"Only a united West can help Ukraine win the fight for democratic values," Tusk said.
Surprising everyone, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday picked its first-time MLA Bhajanlal Sharma as Rajasthan Chief Minister. Along with Sharma, the saffron camp named Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa as the Deputy Chief Ministers of the state. Princess Diya Kumari, whose name was consistently in the news, sworn in as Sharmas deputy on Friday, December 15.

She has been seen as the next Vasundhara Raje in Rajasthan from the beginning of the electoral campaign season. The similarities are uncanny  both women leaders, both hail from royal families of Rajasthan, and both have connections to Rajputs who influenced results in 85 Assembly constituencies in the desert state this time. But if politics is about perception, there have been enough indications that made many question whether the BJP was pushing the 55-year-old princess to occupy the royal seat in Rajasthans power circles, replacing Vasundhara Raje Scindia, now 70 years old. With Tuesdays announcement, it has become clear  at least this one was not just mere speculation.

Diya Kumari is the granddaughter of Man Singh II, the last ruling Maharaja of Jaipur during the British Raj in India. She is a princess of Jaipur and the mother of the current Maharaja, Padmanabh Singh. Going against tradition, she married a commoner, Narendra Singh, in 1997. However, they got divorced in 2019. The BJP chose to field her from Vidyadhar Nagar, a seat from Jaipur city itself, which she won with more than 71,000 votes  a massive mandate in terms of the Assembly election.

A London graduate who completed her PhD in Philosophy and graduated in Decorative Arts, the Indian billionaire manages the Jaigarh Fort in Amber, two trusts  Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum Trust, Jaipur, and the Jaigarh Public Charitable Trust as well as two schools and three hotels.

In 2013, when the country was inching towards a monumental change with Narendra Modis arrival on the national scene, Diya Kumari ventured into politics. She joined the BJP before a massive crowd of lakhs, in the presence of Modi, who was Gujarats chief minister at the time, and Vasundhara Raje, at a rally in Jaipur  her home turf. She fought and won the assembly election from Sawai Madhopur, a Rajput-dominated seat, instead of Jaipur whose caste calculus was more cosmopolitan. In 2019, she was elected from the Rajsamand Lok Sabha constituency.

In politics, small things are indicative of what is to come. During the early days of the BJPs 2023 Rajasthan campaign, something happened that was a giveaway that Kumaris stature was going up. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Jaipur on the occasion of the completion of the Parivartan Sankalp Yatra, it was Diya Kumari  someone associated with the BJP for barely a decade  who was entrusted with the job of coordination on stage. Such responsibilities for a Modi rally are generally given to one of the senior-most or supremely trusted leaders of the party.

A lingering question that has been around in Jaipurs power corridors is will Raje be to Diya Kumari what Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was to Raje? The way BJPs legislature party meeting went on Tuesday, it was clear that Raje wouldnt be a roadblock.

In a state where royalty is still looked up to and commands respect, it seems the BJP has found a new princess  part of the next-gen to lead the desert state.

**This article was originally published on December 12, 2023. It was updated and republished after the swearing-in of Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma and deputy CMs Prem Chand Bairwa and Diya Kumari.**
West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee has sought time for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament at 11 am on January 20, a day after the Opposition alliance against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), is scheduled to meet.

According to Banerjee, she has sought time from the PM to ask about the pending MGNREGA arrears of her state. Sources said Banerjee has got the appointment.

Banerjee will be in Delhi on January 17. On January 19, she will attend the INDIA meet.

The CM had earlier said: I will go to Delhi. I have asked time from Prime Minister and already met him thrice demanding Bengals money. If he gives time, we will meet him again.

The TMC has been campaigning for the MNREGA money. Before Durga pujo National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee had gone to Delhi with party MPs and MNREGA workers to meet Panchayati Raj minister Giriraj Singh. According to TMC, the Minister did not give them time. Abhishek then came back to Kolkata and marched to the Governors house and sat on a dharna there.

Abhishek had stated that if the Central Government does not release MNREGA money, Banerjee will protest in Delhi.

As the winter session began, TMCs Sudip Banerjee raised the issue. Giriraj Singh told Sudip Banerjee that the CM should meet the PM.

The TMC tweeted: Give Bengal what it is owed or vacate your chair. Smt. @MamataOfficials message for the @BJP4India ZAMINDARS!

The Left and Congress in Bengal, however, raised questions on the plan. Sujan Chakraborty, CPIM leader, said, This is another tactic of Didi and Modi.

Suvendhu Adhikary, leader of opposition, said, If she gives something in writing that should come out.

The TMC wants to establish the narrative that the Central Government has neglected Bengal because they have lost in Bengal. The BJP, on the other hand, is trying to establish the narrative that Bengal is corrupted thats why they have not got money.
Age is just a number. While we all have heard the popular quote, very few people exemplify the same. Those who demonstrate the same with their actions emerge as an inspiration for others. One such inspiration is an old woman, who, at the age of 61, goes to school with her grandson and granddaughter regularly. She has even enrolled herself in the first standard.

An elderly woman named Chantara Devi hails from Nepal. She decided to get herself enrolled in the first class as she believes that there is no age for pursuing education. The elderly woman said that she used to drop her grandchildren at school and had a desire to study. After the school teachers came to know about the same, they insisted she enrol in the first standard. In the aftermath of the encouragement received, she took the plunge and started attending classes regularly.

Chantara Devi lives in Patan Municipality in Baitadi, Nepal. One of the teachers in the school, Bhagirathi Bisht says Chantara Devi has learned the alphabet and she, now, knows how to write her name. In addition to that, she also reads poems and participates in every school activity with her classmates. The school has been supportive and made arrangements for copies, books, pencils, and bags among other essentials for the elderly woman.

Ram Kunwarang, the headmaster of the school, expressed his pleasure about the same. He added that 61-year-old Chantara Devi has a passion for education and she also inspires others to stay focused towards their career goals. The headmaster also highlighted that she will be given full support by the school for her further education.

Earlier, a woman named Guadalupe Palacios made headlines for being the most enthusiastic student in the classroom. She stood out in her high school class in Mexico despite being 96 years old. The woman wanted to finish high school by her 100th birthday as it was her dream.
Groceries are an essential part of our daily life and nowadays, people have utmost trust on online grocery services. However, a leading online grocery provider, Grofers, recently faced consequences as they were told to compensate a Mumbai woman, Kalpana Shah, with Rs 8,000. The dispute arose when Rs 31 charge for undelivered watermelon seeds in 2020 wasnt refunded among other items. Unfortunately, it later came to light that Shah became a victim of cyber fraud, due to which she lost Rs 5,000 after providing an OTP while attempting to get a refund. Seeking a solution, she turned to the South Mumbai District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in 2022. The commission ruled in her favour and asked Grofers to reimburse the amount.

As per Times of India, in 2022, the woman had approached the commission and shared details about her issue. Following the failed delivery on January 28, 2020, Shah made several attempts to address the issue. Despite her efforts, the customer support team responded by asserting that, according to their records, all items were successfully delivered. Later, they closed her complaint from their end, leaving Shah dissatisfied with their resolution. This event led Shah to move towards higher authority regarding her unresolved delivery order.

Upon reviewing the companys response, Kalpana Shah contacted an individual representing Grofers, whom she found through an online search engine. The alleged company representative contacted her and gave two options, she could either get a refund immediately or wait for a fortnight to get the product. Opting for the refund, Shah unfortunately lost Rs 5,000 during the process.

Meanwhile, the Commission said, In the said case, by showing their harsh approach towards the complainant, we are of the opinion that the opposite party has rendered deficiency in service. Thus, it will be desirable to direct the opposite party to pay towards compensation for mental agony of Rs 5,000 and towards the cost of litigation of Rs 3,000. In the said issue of siphoning of amounts from complainants accounts, she needs to follow up with the investigation authorities concerned for further remedies. Complaints prayer of reimbursement of siphoned amount from bank account from opposite party is hereby rejected.

The commission stated that the refund of Rs 31, along with nine percent interest from January 2020, should be provided to Kalpana Shah. South Mumbai District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions decision concluded that Grofers, referred to as the opposite party, had failed to meet the expected service standards and had engaged in unfair trade practices concerning the complainant.
An Indian wedding is often synonymous with a grand festival, marked by meticulous planning, elaborate decoration, and sumptuous food. It also involves a significant financial expenditure by the families involved. However, in Madhya Pradesh, a unique tradition among the Bhil tribe provides an unconventional means of gathering funds for wedding expenses.

Particularly in districts such as Jhabua, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Alirajpur, and other parts of the country, the Bhil tribe organises an event known as Notra. During this ceremony, guests contribute financially to the wedding expenses, and in turn, the hosting family reciprocates by assisting other families in funding their weddings. This reciprocal practice fosters a sense of community support and social cohesion within the tribal society.

Professor Mahesh Shukla, the president of the Madhyanchal Sociological Society, highlights that such traditions contribute to the strong social fabric of tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh. The family hosting the Notra decides the scope of the event, whether it involves only extended family members or encompasses the entire village.

Notably, the Notra is a well-organised traditional system, with the person extending invitations known as the teda. Invitations are conveyed through the presentation of yellow rice for weddings and red rice for other related events. The marriage ritual, known as sajha, takes place within a handmade wood tent called a daagla, where the entire community collaborates to prepare the wedding feast. Each invited family contributes by bringing their vessels and ingredients for the communal feast.

A resident from Anandpuri, Rajasthan, emphasizes that wedding expenses can vary widely among families. For instance, a labourer might manage all arrangements within Rs 50,000, while another individual from the same community and village might raise Rs 2 lakh for the celebration.

In a notable example, Kamleshwar Dodiyar, a recently elected MLA from Sailana, utilised the Notra tradition to raise funds for his wedding due to his financially constrained background. Reportedly, he successfully collected 2.38 lakh with the support of 500 people, showcasing the enduring significance of this unique cultural practice in addressing economic challenges within the community.
Shah Rukh Khan is a BADASS while being kind, gracious, empathetic and respectful of women. Fondly known as The King of Bollywood, his commitment to kindness and gentlemanly demeanour remains unwavering, a trait that seems to be imprinted in his DNA. Generosity, benevolence, and a heart brimming with gratitude define King Khan on every occasion. So, when the movie Animal emerged, celebrating the archetype of an alpha male where aggression, misogyny, and everything else take centre stage, discussions naturally turned to SRK. Because lets face it, hes been dishing out films where the only thing missing is a dash of disrespect.

And this is just what made the celebrated writer and storyteller, Nikhil Taneja, talk about introducing a trend that demands celebration  positioning SRK and his films as the epitome of soft masculinity, that overshadows any Animal in the room. Thereby, citing examples from Pathaan and Jawan in his viral thread, Taneja masterfully asserted, In Pathaan, the introduction to Deepikas character is through an action scene where she saves SRKs character. And at no point does Pathaan try to take charge (or even try to cut himself loose).. he knows Rubina is very well in charge, and shes kicking all ass!

Also Read: Talk to Real Women: Ranbir Kapoors Pad Dialogue in Animal Has Internet Raising Eyebrows

Even in the face of betrayal, SRKs Pathaan remains untainted by any mistreatment of women. Now, thats the Pathaan we signed up for!

Spoke to @shrutisonal26 for a @timesofindia piece on The rise of alpha males thanks to films like Animal, Gadar & .While I dont disagree that hypermasculinity has made big bucks, I have a contrarian view on its rise. The reason? @iamsrk#Thread  Nikhil Taneja (@tanejamainhoon) December 11, 2023

And in Jawan, of course, SRKs character Azads army is an all-women army. He operates out of a womens prison, and in a fab dialogue written by @Sumitaroraa, he says, Jail mein aadmi tere hain par yeh jail meri auraton ka hai. They are his team, his family, his badass women, Taneja remarked, further elaborating on how its the way he loves doing it. Whether its succumbing to Deepikas character and accepting the defeat in kushti or stumbling in front of Nayantharas powerful role, SRK consistently lets the women take the reins when the script demands it!

And no one dares call SRKs characters in the films anything other than a real alpha male because in both, hes a soldier fighting for his country, against those who threaten Indias economic, financial or secular fabric. In Jawan, he has an even more alpha dad, but without any misogyny, he aptly put it, not getting swayed but acknowledging some problematic SRK movies, but then there are two SRKs, and they are BADASS while being kind, gracious, empathetic and respectful of women.

Also Read: SRKs Video on Right Portrayal of Women in Cinema Goes Viral But Internet Has Doubts

All in all, Taneja crafts a compelling narrative in the era of hypermasculine/misogynistic success, emphasising the need for conversations about SRKs alternative, wholesome masculinity. Its a love story, not just for fans but for everyone who craves a refreshing take on manhood.

So if we raise alarm bells about a hypermasculine/misogynistic success, we must also have as many conversations about the alternative, wholesome masculinity that SRK presents because thats as loved, and probably even more so, than anything or anybody else. And thank god for it! Nikhil Taneja (@tanejamainhoon) December 11, 2023

After all, its Baadshah who continues to reign supreme, not just as the King of Bollywood but as the ruler who captured every female heart. Now, that says it all about the man he truly is!
Rishi Sunak faces the biggest parliamentary test of his one-year-old premiership on Tuesday when the British lawmakers vote on his divisive plan to send asylum seekers to live in Rwanda. A defeat would undermine Sunaks authority, as he has committed to stopping the influx of boats carrying asylum seekers across the English Channel.

UKs top court last month ruled that the East African country was an unsafe place to send refugees and that the governments plan would breach international law. After the courts verdict, Sunak agreed to a new deal with Rwanda and brought forward emergency legislation designed to override domestic and international human rights law that would prevent deportations. The legislation has deeply divided his party and left lawmakers worried about Britain breaching its human rights obligations, and other politicians, who contend it does not go far enough.

Parliamentary vote

On Monday, some right-wing Conservatives called for a full rewrite of the legislation, saying it would not stop asylum seekers from successfully appealing against deportation. One member of parliament in this group said they had not decided whether to abstain or vote against the government.

On Tuesday, the British Parliament will hold the first vote on the draft law. Around 30 Conservative members opposition is all it will take to defeat the bill. Even if it goes through, the Indian-origin PM is likely to face attempts to toughen it up with amendments at later stages, as well as opposition in the House of Lords, the unelected upper chamber.

Defeat would be a huge embarrassment for Sunak  no government has lost a vote at this early stage in the parliamentary process since 1986. Such a development might potentially instigate another leadership crisis for a party that has seen five prime ministers in the past seven years.

The battle over the legislation has echoes of parliamentary showdowns over Brexit from 2017-19 when former Prime Minister Theresa May suffered repeated defeats, which led to her exit. Sunak, who replaced Liz Truss as prime minister last year after she was forced out, has made stopping boat arrivals one of his biggest priorities. The plan is being closely watched by other countries considering ways to halt immigration.

A key promise

This year about 29,000 asylum seekers have arrived on the southern coast of England, down around one-third compared with last year. However, they remain a visible symbol of the governments failure to control Britains borders  a key promise of campaigners for Brexit. The government has already paid 240 million pounds to Rwanda even though it only can settle hundreds of refugees a year from Britain and no one has yet been sent to the country.

A day ahead of the crucial vote, British lawmakers from different factions of the governing Conservative Party held several meetings to decide how to vote. A centrist group of lawmakers in the One Nation faction recommended that its members back the bill but warned that they would not accept any amendments that toughened the legislation at a later stage.

(With agency inputs)
US President Joe Biden is expected to skip Indias Republic Day celebration in January, media reports said on Tuesday. His visit was part of the Quad Summit, which was expected to be held in January next year in India, but will now be held later in the year, people familiar with the developments told News18.

The people mentioned above said that authorities are looking for revised dates as the dates that were being considered do not work with all the Quad members. The Quad Summit 2023 took place in Japans Hiroshima. This was the third in-person summit of the Quad leaders. Quad leaders also met during the coronavirus pandemic but the meetings were held virtually.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Quad Leaders Summit in Hiroshima along with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, host Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan and Biden.

During the 2023 Summit, several initiatives were declared by the four leaders which addressed climate change, sustainable development and building of sustainable infrastructure, undersea cables, investment in strategic technologies, data sharing on maritime domain awareness and stronger ties with Pacific and southern Pacific nations.

PM Modi emphasised the importance of consolidating Quads constructive agenda and delivering tangible outcomes for the region during the Hiroshima summit.

Following the leadership conference, a foreign ministers meeting was also held in New York City in September. During the meeting, the Quad partners reiterated their steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and ensured to take steps to keep it inclusive and resilient.

We strongly support the principles of freedom, the rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful settlement of disputes; and oppose unilateral attempts to change the status quo. We seek to maintain and strengthen stability in the Indo-Pacific, where competition is managed responsibly, the foreign ministers said in a joint statement following their meeting.

(with inputs from Shailendra Wangu)
A young man from the US state of New Hampshire has been arrested and charged in connection with death threats to Indian-American Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Tyler Anderson, 30, hailing from the city of Dover was arrested on Saturday and charged with transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure Ramaswamy, the US attorneys office in New Hampshire has said.

According to an FBI affidavit, the 38-year-old biotech entrepreneurs campaign sent a text message on Friday to notify voters, including Anderson, about an upcoming campaign event in Portsmouth. Anderson allegedly responded to the message: Great, another opportunity for me to blow his brains out! He also said: Im going to kill everyone who attends and then f*** their corpses. If convicted, Anderson could face five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a USD 250,000 fine.

While the statement from the attorneys office did not name which presidential campaign was targeted, Ramaswamys team confirmed on Monday that he was the target. A statement from his staff then criticised the news media, deranged voices and left-wing cranks, accusing the groups of inciting violence against the Republicans ahead of the 2024 presidential elections.

Im grateful to the people on the front lines who work hard every day to make sure people like me and other Americans keep safe, Ramaswamy told reporters in New Hampshire. I think that we are very well protected, he added. However, he declined to say when he found out about the alleged death threat or whether he would increase his security.

Ramaswamys staff reported the threatening text messages to authorities, the FBI affidavit said. Law enforcement officials searched Andersons residence on Saturday, arrested him, and seized his phone and firearms. While searching Andersons phone, the affidavit says, authorities discovered the texts to Ramaswamy in a deleted folder and found additional threatening messages to another candidate.

According to the affidavit, one message sent on Wednesday said: Fantastic, now I know where to go so I can blow that bs head off. Subsequent texts were referring to a mass shooting and intentions to defile a corpse. Anderson admitted to sending the text messages to Ramaswamy and confirmed that he sent threatening texts to other campaigns, according to the affidavit. Ramaswamy went on to hold the event in Portsmouth on Monday.

(With agency inputs)
An Indian-American man was found guilty on 11 counts of defrauding public health insurance plans out of more than USD 4 million and transacting in the criminal proceeds, U.S. Attorneys Office, District of New Jersey has said.

Kaival Patel, 54, of West New York in New Jersey was convicted on December 7 of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, and four counts of health care fraud. The US Justice Department said in a statement last week that Patel was also convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering by transacting in criminal proceeds, and five counts of money laundering by transacting in criminal proceeds.

Compound prescription medications

Patel created and operated a company called ABC Healthy Living LLC to market compound prescription medications. Patel and his conspirators approached the Indian-Americans family member, a medical doctor who owns and operates a clinic in Newark convinced him to authorise prescriptions for the compound medications for patients who had no medical need for the prescriptions and received commissions for the compound medication prescriptions, the statement said.

Certain state and local government employees who had insurance get reimbursements up to thousands of dollars for a one-month supply of certain compound medications such as vitamins, scar creams, pain creams, libido creams, and acid reflux medications. Patel conspired with a compounding pharmacist to add unnecessary ingredients to the compound medications to further increase their cost and augment his illicit profits. He engaged in a series of financial transactions to receive proceeds from the health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, the statement added. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said Patel was convicted following an 11-day trial before US District Judge Robert B. Kugler.

This defendant lined his own pockets by taking advantage of health insurance plans for New Jersey state and local government employees, defrauding them of millions of dollars by conspiring to obtain reimbursements for medically unnecessary compound prescription medications, the statement said. The defendant enriched himself by defrauding the New Jersey public health insurance plans out of more than USD 4 million, Tammy L. Tomlins, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, said.

Todays conviction is the result of the great investigative work of IRS-CI Special Agents and our law enforcement partners and their commitment to protect the integrity of our health care systems, Tomlins said. On the count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, Patel faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary loss from the offence, whichever is greatest. On each of the remaining 10 counts, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the offence. His sentencing is scheduled for April 10 next year.
Units of the Main Intelligence Agency (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine have carried out a successful special operation on the territory of the Russian Federation, attacking the tax system of the aggressor state.

"During the special operation, military intelligence officers managed to penetrate into one of the well-protected key central servers of the Federal Tax Service (FTS of the Russian Federation), and then into more than 2,300 of its regional servers throughout Russia, as well as on the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea. As a result of the cyberattack, all servers received malicious software," the GUR website reported on Tuesday.

In parallel, Russian Office.ed-it.ru IT company was attacked in the same way, which served the finances of the Russian Federation.

"As a result of two cyberattacks, the configuration files that have been ensuring the functioning of the extensive tax system of the Russian Federation for years have been completely eliminated  the entire database and its backup copies have been destroyed. Communication between the central office in Moscow and 2,300 Russian territorial administrations is paralyzed, as well as between the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation and Office.ed-it.ru which was a data center (data bank) for the tax service," the message says.

The GUR claims the complete destruction of the infrastructure of one of the main state bodies of the Russian Federation and numerous related tax data over a long period of time. It is also noted that the Internet traffic of tax data throughout the Russian Federation ended up in the hands of the military intelligence of Ukraine.

"Russians have been unsuccessfully trying to resume the work of the tax service for the fourth day in a row. According to experts, the paralysis in the work of the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation will last at least a month. At the same time, the full reanimation of the tax system of the aggressor state is impossible. The cyberattack of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was another serious blow to the regime in the Kremlin, which temporarily lost control of taxes and fees," the department concluded.
Zara withdrew an ad campaign from its website and app, showcasing mannequins with missing limbs and statues draped in white. The move was followed by pro-Palestine protests, urging a boycott of the fashion brand.

Zaras Instagram account saw tens of thousands of comments posted about the photos, many with Palestinian flags, while #BoycottZara was trending on social media platform X. In one of the photos, a model was seen carrying a mannequin wrapped in white, in another a bust lies on the floor and another features a mannequin with no arms. The pictures reportedly resembled photos of corpses in white shrouds in Gaza.

Get ready to get bankrupt @ZARAYou can not go away without boycotts and backlash for mocking the tragedies and sufferings of innocent Palestinians . #BoycottZara pic.twitter.com/GgldLz8WUe  (@Malcolm_Gazza) December 12, 2023

Atelier collection

Inditex, which owns Zara, said the change was part of its normal procedure of refreshing content and said the Atelier collection was conceived in July and the photos were taken in September. Zara said at the launch of the collection on Dec. 7 that it was inspired by mens tailoring from past centuries. The photos appear to show an artist studio with ladders, packing materials, wooden crates and cranes, and assistants wearing overalls.

The war between Israel and Hamas began after October 7. The current reaction shows the sensitivity international brands navigating as fighting across Gaza intensifies and calls for company boycotts rise. The photos, which featured on Zaras online store home page on Monday morning, were no longer visible on the website or on its app. A link on the UK website to Zara Atelier led to a page showcasing last years collection.

Its not the first time an advertising campaign has landed a fashion label in controversy. French luxury group Kering last year set up a group level position to oversee brand safety after advertising images from its label Balenciaga featuring children sparked a backlash that dented sales. Last year, Zara came under fire from some Palestinians and Israelis after the head of the retailers local franchise in Israel hosted a campaign event for an ultranationalist politician.

(With agency inputs)
Heavy urban battles raged Monday in the bloodiest-ever war in Gaza, with more than 18,200 Palestinians and 104 Israeli soldiers reported dead amid a spiralling humanitarian crisis.

The war was triggered by Hamass October 7 attacks that killed some 1,200 people in southern Israel and saw dozens of hostages dragged back to Gaza.

It has warned the remaining 137 hostages wont survive unless Israel meets its demands and frees more Palestinian prisoners.

Brutal fighting continued in Gaza, with Islamic Jihad militants saying they blew up a house in the southern Gazan city of Khan Yunis where Israeli soldiers were searching for a tunnel shaft.

Rockets fired from Gaza hit Holon on the edge of Tel Aviv, injuring a civilian and leaving a crater in a residential street.

Live AFPTV images showed a volcanic-like cloud of grey smoke rising after an explosion in central Gaza, while AFP correspondents reported explosions that shook several urban areas.

Israel had urged civilians to seek refuge in the far south, but the army has kept striking targets throughout the territory.

Umm Mohammed al-Jabri lost seven children in an air strike on Rafah, near Egypt, after fleeing there from Gaza City.

I have four children left, said Jabri, 56. Last night they bombed the house we were in and destroyed it. They said Rafah would be a safe place. There is no safe place.

The last death toll from the Hamas-run health ministry was 18,205, mostly women and children.

Physical, sexual abuse

In an Israeli psychiatric ward, doctors treating ex-hostages said many were drugged by Hamas to keep them docile in captivity, and suffered psychological and sexual abuse.

One was told his wife was dead when she was still alive back in Israel, and others were held in total darkness for more than four days, said Renana Eitan, director of the psychiatric division of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre-Ichilov.

The physical, the sexual, the mental, the psychological abuse of these hostages that came back is just terrible, she told AFP. We have to rewrite the textbook.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on Hamas to surrender now, with his government claiming thousands of militants have been killed during the war, now in its third month.

The army said 500 militants have been arrested over the past month.

Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble by the offensive, and the UN estimates 1.9 million of its 2.4 million people have been displaced. Roughly half are children.

Amid growing pressure over the humanitarian conditions, Israel announced it would be screening aid to Gaza at two additional checkpoints, which would allow more assistance to enter the ravaged strip.

The EUs top diplomat Josep Borrell said in a speech that the apocalyptic destruction was proportionally even greater than that experienced by Germany in World War II.

Health services have been devastated, with only 14 of Gazas 36 hospitals functioning at any capacity, according to UN humanitarian agency OCHA.

Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah was inundated with victims Monday, including dozens of screaming children, after Israeli strikes on the nearby Al-Maghazi refugee camp.

Elsewhere, as basic supplies run out and sanitary conditions deteriorate, women and girls spoke of using scraps of cloth for menstrual periods.

I cut up my kids clothes or any piece of cloth I find, said 25-year-old Hala Ataya in Rafah.

Unable to obtain gas or even firewood for cooking, Gazans brought decades-old brass stoves to a workshop for repair.

People have gone back to the old times, owner Ibrahim Shouman said.

In Al-Rimal, thousands of Palestinians had set up camp at a UN agency headquarters after nearby homes and shops were destroyed by Israeli strikes.

An AFP correspondent said both the Islamic and adjacent Al-Azhar universities had been reduced to rubble, as had the police station.

There is no water. There is no electricity, no bread, no milk for the children, and no diapers, said Rami al-Dahduh, 23, a tailor.

UN meeting

The UN General Assembly will meet Tuesday to discuss the humanitarian crisis, after the United States last week vetoed a Security Council resolution for a ceasefire.

A group of Security Council ambassadors travelled to Egypt to meet Gazan victims on an informal trip.

I just met a young mother who lost a kid and has another little girl who is wounded, Ecuadors envoy Jose de la Gasca told AFP. I dont ever want to see again what I have just seen.

In the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Lebanon, a general strike in solidarity with Gaza saw shops, schools and government offices closed.

Elsewhere in the region, the war has encouraged Iran-backed groups to target US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria, with fresh attacks reported Monday.

Israeli bombardment killed an official in south Lebanon, the National News Agency said, amid near-daily cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israeli strikes late Sunday near Damascus killed four people linked to Hezbollah, a Britain-based war monitor said.
Philippines on Tuesday summoned Chinas ambassador to Manila to protest back-to-back harassments in the South China Sea at the weekend, as longstanding geopolitical tensions continue in the disputed waterway.

Manila has asked China to direct its vessels to cease illegal actions and dangerous manoeuvres against Philippine vessels, and stop interfering in legitimate Philippine activities, the Philippines foreign ministry said in a statement.

READ #DFAStatement: DFA Summons Chinese Ambassador to Protest Back-to-Back Harassments in the West Philippine SeaAlso found in this link https://t.co/TQVpfL0Iu6#DFAForgingAhead pic.twitter.com/cy1QHtxreh  DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) December 12, 2023

Collision, shadowing and water cannoning

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro verbally delivered the protest against the Chinese manoeuvres that led to a collision, and against the use of water cannons against Philippine vessels sending supplies to troops stationed in an ageing warship at the Second Thomas Shoal.

The actions of the Chinese vessels within the Philippine exclusive economic zone are illegal and violate the freedom of navigation, the ministry said. It also protested Chinas use of water cannons against three fisheries bureau vessels on their way to send oil and groceries to fishermen near the Scarborough shoal. The two neighbours traded accusations on Sunday, and the Philippines called Chinas actions a serious escalation.

China Also Protests

Beijing protested over what it said was a collision on Sunday, but the Philippines said Chinese coastguard and maritime militia repeatedly fired water cannons at its resupply boats, causing serious engine damage to one, and deliberately ramming another.

The United States, and the United Kingdom, both backed Philippines and condemned the actions of China, which claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than USD 3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce. The Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, have competing claims. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said Chinas claims had no legal basis.

(With agency inputs)
Commercial tanker vessel STRINDA came under attack as a land-based cruise missile launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen struck the ship causing a fire and damage but no casualties, news agency Reuters reported citing two American defence officials on Monday.

The attack took place about 111 km north of Bab al-Mandab Strait around 9pm (local time). The report said that the US Navy destroyer USS Mason was there and provided aid, citing the aforementioned officials. The vessel was moving under its own power in the hours after the attack.

USS Mason responded to the M/T STRINDA's mayday call and is currently rendering assistance. https://t.co/7nRWhlLuAn U.S. Fleet Forces (@USFleetForces) December 12, 2023

The chemical tanked carries the flag of Norway and is owned by Mowinckel Chemical Tankers and is managed by Hansa Tankers.

Houthis have waded into the Israel-Hamas conflict which has engulfed West Asia since the October 7 attacks led by Hamas on southern Israel. Vessels in vital shipping lanes have been attacked by the group and they have fired drones and missiles at Israel itself.

Houthis last week said all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their nationality, will be targeted and warned international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports. According to Kpler, a shiptracking firm, STRINDA loaded vegetable oil and biofuels in Malaysia and was headed for Venice, Italy.

Houthis, who rule large swathes of Yemen, said its attacks are a show of support for the Palestinians and said these attacks will continue until Israel stops its offensive on the Gaza Strip, which is close to 1,600 kms from Yemens capital Sanaa. The Houthis are one of several groups in the Iran-aligned Axis of Resistance and have targeted Israeli and American security assets since Hamas attacked Israel.

Within the first week of December, three commercial vessels came under attack in international waters, and a US Navy destroyer was called to intervene. The Houthis also seized last month a British-owned cargo ship that had links with an Israeli company, the news agency said in its report.

The US and the UK condemned the attacks on shipping and blamed Iran for its role in backing Houthis. Iran claims the Houthis took the decision to attack independently. Saudi Arabia has urged the US to show restraint in responding to the attacks.
A former Canadian chef accused of selling suicide kits that lead to deaths in several countries was charged Monday with 14 counts of murder related to suicides in Canada as a result of his online scheme.

The charges filed against Kenneth Law, 58, are on top of 14 he already faces for allegedly counseling or aiding suicides across Ontario province, according to documents.

His defense lawyer Matthew Gourlay also confirmed to AFP that Law has been charged with 14 new counts of second degree murder.

Law was arrested in May for marketing a substance that is used as a food additive but can kill if misused. He is said to have targeted vulnerable people online.

He is believed to have sent as many as 1,200 packages to people in more than 40 countries since 2020.

Toronto police are scheduled to brief the media on the new charges Tuesday.

In Britain, at least 272 people purchased products from Laws websites and 88 of them died, police there have said.

Alerted by Interpol, several other countries have launched investigations, including New Zealand and Italy, where nine buyers have been identified and one victim has died.

The Canadian victims were both male and female between the ages of 16 an 36, according to police.
At least 23 Pakistani soldiers were killed in Tuesdays attack in the countrys restive northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Terrorists affiliated with Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) stormed a security compound in the Draban area of Dera Ismail Khan district at 3 am with an explosives-laden vehicle.

The death toll, as per CNN News18 sources, may rise to 30. The terror group TJP has claimed responsibility, issuing a video. The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted which forced the terrorists to ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the post, followed by a suicide bombing attack. The resulting blasts led to the collapse of the building, causing multiple causalities; 23 brave soldiers embraced shahadat, while all six terrorists were effectively engaged and sent to hell, the Pakistani military said in a statement.

The Pak army said that 17 terrorists were killed separately in an intelligence-based operation in the Darazinda area on the night of Dec 11 and Dec 12. It said that two soldiers were killed while four more terrorists were neutralised in another operation in the Kulachi area.

Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, a group affiliated with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack. This attack comes two months after the outfit had attacked the Air Force Base in Mianwali in November and damaged several fighter planes. The Pakistan army personnel present at the air base killed nine terrorists and prevented further damage to the airbase during the November attack.

Pakistan has been suffering from a wave of terrorism along with the political and economic crisis it has been facing. The situation has been exacerbated due to the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan who have not shown any interest in reigning in its Pakistani counterpart, the TTP, who broke the ceasefire deal with the Pakistan government in 2022.

According to an Islamabad-based think tank, Pakistan suffered 599 militant attacks, resulting in 897 fatalities and 1,241 injuries in the first 11 months of 2023. This signifies an 81% escalation in militant attacks, an 86% surge in resultant deaths, and a 64% rise in the number of injured compared to the corresponding period in 2022, the report said.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) emerged as the most affected province, with 51 attacks, causing 54 fatalities and 81 injuries, the report further added. Tuesdays attack also occurred in the southern part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Allies of the jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Monday that they had been unable to locate him for six days, and that he had likely been transferred to another facility.

Navalny is serving a 19-year prison sentence on extremism charges, and a court this summer ordered to move him to a harsher special regime prison colony.

We still do not know where Alexei is, his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said on social media.

She said his lawyers tried to visit Navalny at the IK-6 facility in the Vladimir region of Russia where he was being held, and tried a special regime colony  IK-7  in the same region.

They have just been informed simultaneously in both colonies that he is not there, Yarmysh said.

They refuse to say where they have taken him, she said in another post.

The United States said it was deeply concerned by reports that Navalnys whereabouts were unknown and demanded he be released immediately.

Hes now been gone for allegedly a week and neither his representatives or his family know where he is, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

He should be released immediately, he should never have been jailed in the first place, Kirby told journalists travelling with US President Joe Biden aboard Air Force One.

Kirby added that Washington was going to work with the US embassy in Moscow to look into Navalnys possible location.

He can be anywhere

His disappearance comes as President Vladimir Putin announced he will run for a fifth term in March, intent on prolonging his long rule.

Since launching its military offensive on Ukraine last February, the Kremlin has escalated its crackdown against Navalny, who opposes Russias offensive, as well as his allies and the Russian opposition more broadly.

Moscow has detained thousands of people including high-profile political activists for criticising the conflict and highlighting alleged Russian military atrocities.

Navalnys allies believe he was taken out of the Vladimir region.

He can be anywhere, said Leonid Volkov, another Navalny ally. Whats worse, he could be transferred for several weeks.

Russias extensive prison system often takes weeks  or even months  to transfer prisoners between far-flung facilities by rail.

Prison officers have in the past often sent Navalny to a solitary punishment cell  where he has spent at least 266 days.

The opposition figure, who has complained of a series of health problems and has lost weight in prison, communicates with the outside world through his lawyers.

Navalny galvanised huge nationwide protests in Russia before he was jailed in 2021 on fraud charges after returning from Germany.

He had been recovering from a poisoning attack with Novichok, a Soviet-designed nerve agent, that he and independent investigators say was carried out by Russian agents.

In August, his initial sentence of nine years was more than doubled to 19 years, as Moscow prosecutors accused him of creating an organisation that undermined public security by carrying out extremist activities.

Navalny had established a network of political offices across the country and a corruption watchdog that brought credible graft allegations against political elites.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday that a patient had died in an emergency convoy en route to a Gaza City hospital, during repeated and lengthy Israeli checks. This comes as the UN health agency, during the weekend had managed to deliver essential trauma and surgical supplies to the Al-Ahli hospital and to transfer 19 critical patients.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Tuesday revealed the details of the high-risk mission, saying that the WHO was deeply concerned about prolonged checks and detention of health workers that put lives of already fragile patients at risk. Due to the hold-up, one patient died en route, given the grave nature of their wounds and the delay in accessing treatment, he said.

WHO calls for protection of humanitarian space in Gaza following serious incidents in high-risk mission to transfer patients, deliver health suppliesWHO reiterates its call for the protection of health care and humanitarian assistance in #Gaza, following military checkpoint pic.twitter.com/iCIf7Dh2Em  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) December 12, 2023

The war began with Hamass October 7 attacks that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures, with around 240 hostages taken back to Gaza. Israel has responded with an offensive that has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and killed at least 18,200 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The UN estimates 1.9 million of the territorys 2.4 million people have been displaced by the war, half of them children. Humanitarian leaders fear the besieged territory will soon be overwhelmed by disease and starvation. Saturdays WHO-led mission brought desperately-needed aid to Al-Ahli hospital, which had been substantially damaged and was in acute need of oxygen and essential medical supplies plus water, food and fuel, as well as additional health personnel.

Yesterday, @WHO and partners in #Gaza managed to deliver essential trauma and surgical supplies to Al-Ahli hospital to cover the needs of 1500 people, and to transfer 19 critical patients.This was another very high-risk mission in the vicinity of active shelling and artillery pic.twitter.com/NBihupJMMS  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 10, 2023

Tedros had described it as a very high-risk mission in the vicinity of active shelling and artillery fire. On Tuesday, he said the convoy was stopped twice at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint on the way to northern Gaza and on the way back, adding that some Palestinian Red Crescent staff were detained both times and questioned for several hours.

As the mission entered Gaza City, the aid truck carrying the medical supplies and an ambulance were hit by bullets, he said. Tedros stressed that the people of Gaza have the right to access health care. The health system must be protected. Even in war.

(With agency inputs)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky began talks in Congress and at the White House Tuesday to plead for more US military aid, as Russia claimed advances on the battlefront and scornfully dismissed the impact of Western help for Kyiv.

Zelensky arrived at the Senate where he was set to meet with leaders of both parties, before going on to the House of Representatives to confer with the Republican speaker, Mike Johnson. Later, Zelensky was set to move over to the White House for one-on-one talks with President Joe Biden and a joint press conference.

The trip  coming as Ukraines main phone operator suffered what it said was a massive hacking attack  represents a desperate bid by Zelensky to keep Ukraines most important international backer from drifting away.

Republicans are increasingly lukewarm about the need to support Ukraine and are also treating Bidens request for billions of dollars in new armaments as a bargaining chip for gains on immigration reform and US-Mexico border security  one of the most intractable issues in US politics.

In a speech Monday at the National Defense University in Washington, Zelensky said that politics should not betray Ukraines soldiers and he echoed Bidens frequent warning that the Ukrainian struggle against invasion has global implications.

When the free world hesitates, thats when dictatorships celebrate and their most dangerous ambitions ripen, he said. They see their dreams come true when they see delays.

Putin must lose, he said.

Advanced Significantly

The Kremlin scoffed at the impact of US support, echoing the arguments made by some senior Republicans who say that continuing the flood of weaponry to Ukraine would be futile.

It is important for everyone to understand: the tens of billions of dollars pumped into Ukraine did not help it gain success on the battlefield, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.

The tens of billions of dollars that Ukraine wants to be pumped with, are also headed for the same fiasco.

In an interview with Russian state television on Sunday, Putin said that Ukraine was running out of arms because its defense industry was not able to produce enough.

When there is no base of their own, no ideology of their own, no industry of their own, no money of their own, nothing of their own, then there is no future. And we have one.

Russia said it was pressing ahead on the ground, just as Ukraines freezing winter deepens.

Our units have advanced significantly forward northeast of Novopokrovka, the Moscow-installed head of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia region, Yevgeny Balitsky, said on Telegram.

Ukraine said Russia had launched a massive offensive with armored vehicles in another part of the front near Avdiivka in the east.

In a blow felt by civilians far beyond any frontlines, the countrys main mobile operator said it had been paralyzed by a powerful hacker attack.

The disruptions, which the companys CEO called an act of war, make it impossible to send out air raid alerts, just as Ukraine is dealing with nightly Russian bombing.

Full Mobilization

Even as the United States ponders its future Ukraine policy, Kyivs main European ally Poland urged global support.

Polish prime minister-designate Donald Tusk called for the full mobilization on the part of the free world, the West in support of Ukraine in this war.

That will be the same message delivered by Zelensky in his talks on Capitol Hill  and it will likely be echoed loudly by Biden at the White House.

Republican senators last week blocked Bidens request for $106 billion in emergency aid primarily for Ukraine and Israel.

Talks are ongoing behind the scenes on a deal that would make concessions to Republican demands for tough measures against illegal immigration in return for the Ukraine package.

However, Biden, who is seeking reelection next year, needs to thread a narrow passage between giving Republicans what they want and not alienating the left of his own party.

One key Republican senator, James Lankford, was quoted by US media on Monday saying were not going to be able to get a deal by the end of this week.
Defense Minister of Ukraine Rustem Umerov and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny visited the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the Eastern direction, where they got acquainted with the situation and discussed the key needs of soldiers, the press service of the Ministry of Defense reports.

"Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, together with Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valeriy Zaluzhny, visited the positions of soldiers in the Eastern direction and congratulated them on the Day of the Ground Forces. The minister presented state awards to the fighters," the message published on the Telegram channel on Tuesday says.

"Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrsky, briefed the Minister and the Commander-in-Chief on the situation in the Eastern direction. They also discussed the key needs of Ukrainian soldiers, which are necessary for the effective destruction of the enemy," the message says.

In his turn, Umerov noted that during the trip, issues of training recruits and strengthening fortifications along the entire line of contact were also discussed. In addition, the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff are developing a joint action plan, as well as assessing potential threats.

"We are working to strengthen the supply of weapons to the front, launching production, expanding the possibilities of purchasing UAVs (both reconnaissance and strike). We are in touch with partners every day," the press service quoted Umerov as saying.
THE Government has made it mandatory for households to establish three permanent Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots each as a way of guaranteeing food security at both household and national level through the use of sustainable agricultural practices.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development permanent secretary Professor Obert Jiri yesterday urged farmers to maintain the position of the plots as permanent so that they get the incremental benefits of conservation agriculture or Pfumvudza/Intwasa.

By now at least three plots must be ready for planting for the household and beneficiary, said Prof Jiri.

He encouraged all farmers to prepare at least three plots if they were to receive inputs.

For household food security, the emphasis on permanent plots for Pfumvudza/Intwasa should be done on time with holes covered with mulch for effective moisture conservation, he explained.

We need to climate-proof our agriculture practices at household level to ensure food security everywhere and every day. With renewed trust in Pfumvudza/Intwasa and irrigation development we should able to obtain cereal grain for the national food security.

We must climate-proof our crop and livestock production through Pfumvudza/Intwasa and irrigation development meant for cereal production as well as pasture production for livestock. This must remain our best foot forward as we transform Zimbabwes agricultural sector, he explained.

Meanwhile, a video on X (formerly twitter) has presented Agritex acting director Mr Leonard Munamati urging farmers to continue with their farming activities in anticipation of the rains in the next few days.

The planting season is upon us. The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has advised that most parts of the country will receive rainfall amounts that are enough for planting, said Mr Munamati.

He also encouraged farmers with irrigation systems to increase their hectarage.

We are appealing to all farmers with irrigation to put every square inch of their irrigable land to maize. We now emphasise early maturing varieties to allow smooth transitioning into winter wheat production in 2024, he explained.

He added that farmers without irrigation systems and had already completed potholing could start planting using water from rivers or wells and those with no water sources near them could dry plant.

Those in regions 1 and 2, which receive more rainfall must also plant early maturing maize varieties as time is already gone. Those in regions 4 and 5 must grow traditional grains such as sorghum, finger millet and millet to ensure food security, said Mr Munamati.

He also advised farmers to grow other seed varieties like groundnuts and cowpeas to promote diversity and ensure enough and nutritious food in view of the current climate change challenges. Herald
Poland's parliament elected centrist party leader Donald Tusk as prime minister on Monday, paving the way for a new pro-EU government after eight years of stormy national conservative rule. Tusk becomes prime minister nearly two months after a national election that was won by a coalition of parties ranging from left wing to moderate conservative. The parties ran on separate tickets but promised to work together under Tusk's leadership to restore democratic standards and improve ties with allies. The vote was 248-201 in support of Tusk in the 460-seat lower house of parliament, the Sejm, with no abstentions, the AP reports. After Tusk gave a short speech, all lawmakers rose to sing the national anthem.

Tusk is scheduled to give a speech to parliament on Tuesday, present his Cabinet, and face a vote of confidence for his new government. He should then be sworn in by President Andrzej Duda, a step expected Wednesday. The election of Tusk comes after the former government of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki lost a confidence vote in parliament earlier on Monday. The votes marked the end of eight tumultuous years in which the national conservative Law and Justice party ruled the country with the support of many Poleswhile at bitter odds with liberal Poles as well as the European Union and other Western allies, per the AP.

The transition, coming nearly two months after Poles turned out in huge numbers to vote for change, was delayed for weeks by President Andrzej Duda, who kept his political allies in office as long as possible. The change of power is felt as hugely consequential for the 38 million citizens of the central European nation, where collective anger produced a record-high turnout to replace a government that had been eroding democratic norms. There is relief for many women who saw reproductive rights eroded and for LGBTQ+ people who faced a government hate campaign. Former President Lech Walesa, who was hospitalized last week for COVID-19, traveled from his home in Gdansk to attend the parliamentary session. The anti-communist freedom fighter had despaired at what he viewed as the unraveling of democracy.

(Read more Poland stories.)
What appeared to be another high-profile theft at the Ritz Paris had a more innocent explanation, the hotel says. Police launched an investigation Friday after a Malaysian businesswoman said a diamond ring worth around $800,000 had vanished from her bedside table while she was out shopping, the Guardian reports. The hotel said Sunday that the ring had been found in a vacuum cleaner bag. "Thanks to the careful search work of security agents, the ring was found this morning," the hotel said. "Our client is happy with this news." The hotel said that the woman plans to return Paris from London to claim the ring and that she has been offered a free three-night stay.
A Montana woman is facing charges including felony assault with a weapon after allegedly driving through a religious gathering on a sidewalk in Billings on Saturday. "I just kind of saw this white Jeep fly by me and jump onto the sidewalk, straight at the group of people that were there," witness Jamee Wagenmann tells KTVQ . She says she thought it was an accident until she saw the driver try to hit the group again. The woman "drove into the Albertsons parking lot and then drove straight at them from behind, like trying to catch them not paying attention," Wagenmann says. Police say a 45-year-old man was injured.

Genevienne Rancuret, 55, faces eight counts of felony assault with a weaponher vehicle, the AP reports. She also faces charges of felony criminal mischief and driving under the influence. The FBI is looking at the case, and the Yellowstone County Attorney's Office is considering bias-related charges. Billings Police Lt. Matt Lennick says that the religious group was "Israelis for Christ" and its members "were all wearing purple, so it was clearly a group."

Sarah Gebhardt, who works in a convenience store across the street from where the group gathered, tells the AP that the suspect spoke to her moments before the alleged attack. "She thought they were being racist against white people. She didn't appreciate their interpretation of the Bible," Gebhardt says. "She made the comment that, 'While I'm in a Jeep, I should just run them over.' I did not think she was serious and then she went to the exit and it was pretty obvious she was very serious." A representative for the groupdescribed by the Southern Poverty Law Center as "an extreme and antisemitic sect of Black Hebrew Israelites"says the members were acting peacefully and did not speak to the suspect. (Read more Montana stories.)
European Commission approves proposal to European Council on use of income from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine recovery

The European Commission has approved legislation proposals on the use of income from frozen Russian assets for the restoration of Ukraine.

A senior European Commission official told reporters in Brussels on Tuesday that the text of the proposals will not be made public, but will be transferred to the European Council for further consideration and subsequent decision-making. The decision to put the proposals into effect must be made unanimously by all member states of the European Union.

In this regard, the official warned that he would not announce specific numbers and procedures due to the nature of the proposals, adding that these are restrictive measures introduced due to Russian aggression.
For years, thousands of people had been keeping an eye on a chair that sat atop a New Jersey home after the structure's roof was ripped off in a 2020 storm. On Monday, their watch ended: "Chair is down 7:10am," wrote one of the 11,900 members of the "Chair Watch" Facebook group dedicated to the furniture-turned-roadside-attraction. The chair was clearly viewable to travelers along the state's Route 47, which heads out to Jersey Shore communities including Cape May, NJ.com reports. It was distinctive among the other furniture, appliances, clothes, and personal items that can also be seen on the open-air top floor of the home because of how close to the edge it had long perched, previous bad weather having failed to dislodge it.

"Glad it came to a natural end and the chair came down due to the forces of nature in a storm," wrote the creator of the Facebook group (there was a storm involving gusty winds and rain Sunday night into Monday). The home's current owner, who uses the surrounding property as a work site and does not live in the house, has plans to demolish it. He says that before the chair blew down, he planned to retrieve it before demolition, due to the public interest in it. He told CBS News earlier this year that the ghost of a woman who lived in the house before a fire tore through it in the 1970s must have been watching over the chair. (Read more strange stuff stories.)
A federal court jury decided Monday that Google's Android app store has been protected by anticompetitive barriers that have damaged smartphone consumers and software developers, dealing a blow to a major pillar of a technology empire. The unanimous verdict came after just three hours of deliberation following a four-week San Francisco trial revolving around a lucrative payment system within Google's Play store, the AP reports. The store is the main place where hundreds of millions of people around the world download and install apps that work on smartphones powered by Google's Android software.

Epic Games, maker of the popular Fortnite video game, sued Google three years ago, arguing that the internet powerhouse was abusing its power to shield its Play Store from competition in order to protect a gold mine that makes billions of dollars annually. Just as Apple does for its iPhone app store, Google collects a commission ranging from 15% to 30% on digital transactions completed within apps. Apple prevailed in a similar case that Epic brought against the iPhone app store, but that trial was decided by a federal judge in a ruling that is under appeal at the US Supreme Court. The nine-person jury in the Play store case apparently saw things through a different lens, though Google technically allows Android apps to be downloaded from different storesan option that Apple prohibits on the iPhone.

It will be up to US District Judge James Donato to determine what steps Google will have to take to unwind its illegal behavior in the Play store. The judge indicated he will hold hearings on the issue during the second week of January. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney broke into a wide grin after the verdict was read. He slapped his lawyers on the back and also shook the hand of a Google attorney, whom he thanked for his professional attitude during the proceedings. Google didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the trial's outcome, per the AP.

(Read more Google stories.)
A passenger who flew into Los Angeles International Airport last month from Denmark apparently has quite the story to tell, but he swears he can't remember it. The passenger is identified as Sergey Ochigava, who has Russian and Israeli identity documents, reports 404 Media . He flew into LAX on a Scandinavian Airlines flight from Copenhagen on Nov. 4, but when he got to a Customs and Border Protection checkpoint, he said he'd left his passport on the plane. No such passport turned up in a search, according to an FBI affidavit. As it turns out, Ochigava wasn't supposed to be on the flight from Denmarkhe's not on the passenger manifest and had no ticketand he told authorities he has no memory of how he boarded.

"Ochigava claimed he had not been sleeping for three days and did not understand what was going on," per the affidavit. "Ochigava also would not explain how or when he got to Copenhagen or what he was doing there." The feds have charged him with being an old-fashioned stowaway, and he is now in federal custody awaiting a hearing later this month, reports NBC Los Angeles. Ochigava, who told authorities he's a Russian economist, didn't exactly keep a low profile on his flight to the US. He asked for two meals at every service, tried repeatedly to chat up other passengers, walked around midflight and sat in different seats, and tried to eat chocolate that belonged to the crew, according to the affidavit.

Agents scrolled through his phone with permission and found photos of screens at the Copenhagen airport showing information for flights around the world, per the Washington Post. "Other photographs consisted of screen grabs from the 'Maps' app showing a hostel in Kiel, Germany, and street maps from an unknown foreign city," says the affidavit. It's possible more answers will emerge at his Dec. 26 hearing. For now, Ochigava has pleaded not guilty to charges of illegally boarding the aircraft out of Denmark. (Read more strange stuff stories.)
After a pregnant Texas woman whose fetus has a fatal condition left the state to get an abortion elsewhere , the state Supreme Court on Monday rejected her unprecedented challenge of one of the most restrictive bans in the US, the AP reports. The court's ruling against Kate Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two, came three days after the court temporarily halted a lower judge's ruling that gave Cox permission to get an abortion. Monday's ruling by the high court reversed the lower court ruling, CNN reports. Doctors told Cox that her fetus has a rare condition known as trisomy 18, which has a very high likelihood of miscarriage or stillbirth and low survival rate.

"No one disputes that Ms. Cox's pregnancy has been extremely complicated. Any parents would be devastated to learn of their unborn child's trisomy 18 diagnosis," the state supreme court wrote. "Some difficulties in pregnancy, however, even serious ones, do not pose the heightened risks to the mother the exception encompasses." Texas' abortion ban makes narrow exceptions when the life of the mother is in danger but not for fetal anomalies. Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton argued that Cox had not shown that any of the complications in her pregnancy rose to the level of threatening her life. Per CNN, "The ruling calls into question whether this decision could deter women in similar situations from seeking a court-authorized abortion."

Paxton sent three Houston hospitals letters warning of legal consequencesboth criminal and civilif they allowed Cox's physician to provide the procedure. He also argued that Cox had not demonstrated that her life was at imminent risk, including noting that she was sent home after her multiple visits to emergency rooms. Cox had cesarean surgeries during her first two pregnancies. Her lawsuit argued that inducing labor would carry a risk of a uterine rupture because of her prior C-sections, and that another one at full term would endanger her ability to carry another child. But Paxton contended those arguments still fell short. "Rather, the only question is whether Ms. Cox's condition meets the exception, regardless of how long the child is expected to live," Paxton's office told the court in a filing over the weekend. (Read more Texas stories.)
Since October's mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, that left 18 dead and injured more than a dozen others, investigators have been trying to piece together what led gunman Robert Card to carry out such a violent act. Now, Card's brain is being sent to Boston's CTE Center, where it will be examined to see if he suffered any brain injury or trauma while serving in the Army Reserve, reports CBS News . Card, a 40-year-old petroleum supply specialist who cops say later died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, had been a member of the reserve for more than two decades when he started "behaving erratically" in July of this year, according to base leaders at Camp Smith in upstate New York.

Card was committed for two weeks at a mental health facility after claiming he was hearing voices and reportedly threatened to open fire at a military base in Saco, Maine. "In an event such as this, people are left with more questions than answers," Lindsey Chasteen, office administrator for the Maine medical examiner's office, says in a statement. "It is our belief that if we can conduct testing ... that may shed light on some of those answers, we have a responsibility to do that." The AP notes that the analysis of Card's brain is due to "exposure to repeated blasts while training US Military Academy cadets about guns, [anti-tank weapons], and grenades at West Point."

Per the New York Times, the CTE center at Boston University where Card's brain has been sent "has the nation's largest brain bank focused on chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain condition thought to be tied to repeated head hits. The paper also notes that the Pentagon has, over the last few years, begun "trying to track, study, and understand the impact of blast exposure" from taking part in such activities as grenade throwing.

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Some soldiers in Card's 3rd Battalion, 304th Regiment unit, which he joined in 2014, say he may have seen upward of 10,000 blasts; he wore a hearing aid in his last year of life. Although the US military does test veterans for brain injuries when they return from war zones, they don't test instructors like Card on training ranges"even though they may be exposed to far more blasts than troops in war zones are," per the Times. Results from tests on Card's brain may not be in for six to eight months. (Read more Robert Card stories.)
Retail clothing chain Zara says it has pulled images from an ad campaign featuring statues wrapped in white coverings after some said they resembled the shrouded bodies of murdered Palestinians. Users left tens of thousands of comments on the Spanish brand's Instagram page criticizing the images, while calls to boycott the chain resounded on X, per Reuters . One image showed a model holding a mannequin wrapped in white plastic or cloth over her shoulder. Other photos showed the model "against a background of cracked stones, damaged statues, and broken plasterboard," per the BBC . Some mannequins were shown with missing limbs.

"Zara is mocking the Palestinians who are massacred by Israel," one user wrote. Zara defended the campaign, saying it had been conceived in July and photographed in Septemberbefore the outbreak of violence in Israel and Gaza, which has reportedly killed more than 18,000 people"with the sole purpose of showcasing craftmade garments in an artistic context," per Zara's Instagram. The photo shoot featured Zara's "Atelier" collection of six jackets, priced up to $799, in what appeared to be an artist's studio. "Unfortunately, some customers felt offended by these images, which have now been removed, and saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created," Zara said.

Zara's parent company, Inditex, said six images from the campaign were removed from Instagram and other platforms. Zara had removed references to the photo shoot from its website and app on Monday, with Inditex initially claiming the change was part of a normal refreshing of content, per Reuters. "Zara regrets that misunderstanding and we reaffirm our deep respect towards everyone," the chain said Tuesday. The UK's Advertising Standards Authority said it received 50 complaints about the ad, but it's not currently investigating. Pro-Palestinian activists also called for a boycott of Zara last year after a franchise owner in Israel hosted a campaign event for far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir. (Read more boycott stories.)
While it was a slow year for property, these areas of New Zealand managed to buck the trend and still increase in value the most on average over the past 12 months:

Sunshine Bay (Queenstown) +6.6 percent Karoro (Greymouth) +3.9 percent Lake Hayes Estate (Queenstown) +3.8 percent Mataura (Gore) +3.4 percent Mornington (Wellington) +3.0 percent Albert Town (Queenstown) +2.6 percent Cromwell +2.6 percent Westport +2.5 percent Kingston (Wellington) +2.4 percent Lake Hawea +2.3 percent

These areas experienced drops in value over the last 12 months:

Featherston -16.0 percent Marton -15.3 percent Raumanga (Whangarei) -13.4 percent Glendowie (Auckland) -13.0 percent Ostend (Auckland) -12.8 percent Petone -12.8 percent Karaka Bays (Wellington) -12.5 percent Martinborough -12.5 percent Matakana (Auckland) -12.4 percent Pahiatua -12.4 percent

CoreLogic's report said the national property value increase was 0.4 percent in October and in 0.7 percent in November.

Zooming out, we can see the areas of the country that have gained the most value over the past five years.

Mataura (Gore) +138.9 percent Raetihi (Ruapehu) +128.1 percent Wairoa +125.2 percent Waverley (South Taranaki) +122.6 percent Elgin (Gisborne) +122.3 percent Outer Kaiti (Gisborne) +118.6 percent Patea +118.3 percent Mangakino (Taupo) +114.4 percent Manunui (Ruapehu) +110.5 percent Reefton +106.1 percent

Interestingly, three Auckland suburbs near the CBD are the only ones in the country to have lost value over the past five years, while other Auckland suburbs and Wellington Central have experienced low growth.

Auckland Central -8.8 percent Newmarket -3.1 percent Grafton -2.3 percent Waiake +3.4 percent Campbells Bay +6.0 percent Wellington Central +6.1 percent Rothesay Bay +7.0 percent Mission Bay +7.4 percent Eden Terrace +7.5 percent Orakei +7.7 percent

The most expensive suburbs in New Zealand in 2023 were still all in Auckland though (median value):

Herne Bay $3,161,400 Saint Marys Bay $2,697,500 Remuera $2,451,850 Westmere $2,377,700 Ponsonby $2,347,550 Campbells Bay $2,097,150 Shamrock Park $2,094,900 Orakei $2,048,550 Kohimarama $2,039,900 Takapuna $2,027,800

These were the most affordable areas of the country in 2023 (median value):

Cobden (Greymouth) $258,200 Blaketown (Greymouth) $277,750 Patea (South Taranaki) $292,800 Mataura (Gore) $294,000 Wairoa $297,050 Appleby (Invercargill) $319,650 Manunui (Ruapehu) $324,850 Westport $324,950 Manaia (South Taranaki) $328,600 Kew (Invercargill) $333,950

CoreLogic noted that declining property sale volumes and house prices characterised the first half of 2023 before finding a floor in the middle of the year.

Sales volumes hit their lowest in around 40 years in April, with "a 12-month moving total of just 60,475 while national property values declined a further 5 percent over the year".

From May and June onwards, market conditions began to change, which they said was due to "changes in credit cost and mortgage availability".

"Sales volumes are now rising pretty consistently from month to month, although from such a low base, even strong percentage gains of 10-15 percent haven't yet translated into large increases in the number of deals," CoreLogic NZ chief property economist Kelvin Davidson said.

Part of the rebound in 2023 was due to the surge in net migration to New Zealand.

Annual net migration to New Zealand hit a record high of more than 128,000, data from Tuesday revealed.

CoreLogic's report said the increased migration "hasn't necessarily kickstarted sales volumes or house prices on its own, but there are certainly signs that it's put significant pressure on an already-constrained supply of rental property".



While this is attractive for landlords whose rental prices will continue to increase, it's unwelcome news for tenants.

The biggest acceleration in rent prices in 2023 can be seen in these areas across the motu:

Fairview Heights (Auckland) +32.4 percent Auckland Central +31.1 percent Fendalton (Christchurch) 30.0 percent Wanaka +29.3 percent Frankleigh Park (New Plymouth) +25.0 percent Jacks Point (Queenstown) +20.6 percent Lyttelton (Christchurch) +20.4 percent Birchville (Upper Hutt) +20.0 percent Camborne (Porirua) +20.0 percent Picton +19.8 percent

These areas of the country had their average rent decrease by the most in 2023:

Herne Bay (Auckland) -14.5 percent Solway (Masterton) -7.6 percent Point Chevalier (Auckland) -6.7 percent Boulcott (Lower Hutt) -6.5 percent Crofton Downs (Wellington) -6.3 percent Mapua (Tasman) -5.7 percent Lynfield (Auckland) -5.0 percent Wilton (Wellington) -4.8 percent Silverstream (Upper Hutt) -4.4 percent Oriental Bay (Wellington) -4.4 percent

Looking ahead to 2024, CoreLogic predicts an "underwhelming upturn".

As the housing market moves into its next phase, Davidson said the labour market and mortgage repricing processes will continue to play a big part.

"The New Year will likely kick off positively in terms of mood, with a new property-friendly Government looking to shorten the Brightline Test back to two years and steadily reinstate full mortgage interest deductibility," Davidson said.

The positive mood could pull investment back into the market, but Davidson said, "it's not likely to be a torrent due to low rental yields and high mortgage rates".



Investment is also not likely to crowd out first-home buyers, who "should still be able to find good opportunities".

"We're anticipating sales rising by perhaps 10 percent and prices seeing growth of around 5 percent, which is still below long-term average levels," Davidson said.

With gross rental yields still low, CoreLogic said that typical property investment purchases in 2024 will still have to be significantly topped up out of other income, creating a "real-world hurdle for investors, even if their 'mood' is more positive".

CoreLogic describes itself as "a leading, independent provider of property data and analytics".

It covers 99 percent of New Zealand's property market and holds more than 500 million decision points in its database.

The full report can be viewed on their website.
By Phil Pennington, RNZ

Almost $50 million of repairs to a rutted expressway between Auckland and Hamilton are mired in delays and question marks.

The latest low point in the decade-long saga of the section of State Highway 1 outside Ngaruawahia, has come with the completion date suddenly shooting out by another 15 months.

Consternation is revealed in newly released project management board minutes from Waka Kotahi.

"BLANK [name redacted] queries how within a month of setting baseline programme, the update moves completion date out by 15 months," August minutes state.

The completion date has blown out from late 2023, to mid-2025.

"No way! No, well I didn't know that," said Waikato district councillor Janet Gibb when told of the delay by RNZ.

"That surprises me... I thought it was rectified and I thought it was close to being finished.

"I just feel really sorry, especially as summer's drawing closer, for the people travelling in cars that are going along and all of a sudden they're held up for a while.

"It can be crawling along."
Peters was back for a spin in the big chair as acting Prime Minister, but haunted by the ghosts of Winston Peters past.

The Opposition lined up with statements Peters had previously made, including when he was a minister in the previous Government.

"Does he agree with the then-deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters when he said that the oil and gas ban 'makes sense'," asked Marama Davidson.

Labour's Chris Hipkins asked Peters about a statement he made in which he said New Zealand First was going to stop land and house sales to foreigners.

Peters replied to one of the questions saying, "that quote from one of the brightest guys that have ever come to this Parliament".

He also faced comments that his new coalition partners made in the past, like when ACT leader David Seymour called him a "muppet".

Question Time also briefly took a turn into being a pop quiz.

Labour's finance spokesperson Grant Robertson asked Peters if knew what the minimum wage was.

Peters stood and looked around, saying to his colleagues "$22.70".

He said he wasn't asking if that was the correct figure but looking for affirmation from his colleagues.

But mess with this bull - you get the horns.

"Don't shout out like a bunch of clowns at university," he said at one point.

"Don't just carry on like a bigoted lefty shill."

"No, on the marae Megan you keep quiet."

"Woke idiotic left ideals."

"When the handbrake left, what a mess they were."

"Words matter Mr [Robertson] not just gobbledegook."

His most savage was saved for Te Pati Maori.

At first he declined to answer their question, which was asked in te reo Maori, unless Rawiri Waititi translated it for him.

"He can tell me in English or he can [inaudible]," Peters said.

"The people who are watching on television also are part of this parliamentary debate, that's what a democracy is called. It's not just about 5 percent, it's about the other 95 percent as well. It's called one people, one country."

It should be noted - there was a translation provided on Parliament TV - and there was a translation available in earpieces for MPs.

But Peters doubled down.

Asked if he wouldn't answer questions if they were in te reo Maori, Peters said: "Would you just follow the facts for a change, I did answer a question, didn't I."

When it was put to him that he didn't initially, Peters said: "No, no. The translation was really slow. The people out there listening were not getting the information they should have got."

Waititi called it a "disgrace", while Te Pati Maori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said he was a "perfect example of a colonesian".

A very eventful temporary turn at the top.
Finland intends to more than double production of artillery shells, incl for Ukraine

The Finnish authorities are going to more than double the production of artillery shells, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

Finland will more than double the production of heavy ammunition (...), the government and industrial companies will invest EUR 120 million to increase the production of artillery shells, EUR 24 million of this amount will come from the defense department, the agency informs.

"This decision demonstrates commitment to the task of supporting Ukraine and strengthening the military industry in the long term," Bloomberg quoted Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen as saying.

According to him, Finland, which has more artillery compared to Western European countries, will also become one of the largest producers of artillery shells in Europe.

Finland has paid a lot of attention to strengthening its defense capabilities in recent years. It has ordered 64 F-35 fighter-bombers to replace the aging F-18. It is in the process of obtaining the David's Sling missile defense systems manufactured by Israel and the United States, and is building four corvettes to protect coastal waters.

Finland joined NATO earlier this year.
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Defense Minister of Ukraine Rustem Umerov has said that the issue of possible resignation of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Valeriy Zaluzhny and Commander of the Joint Forces of the AFU Serhiy Nayev is not on the agenda.

"We do not have such an issue on the agenda. I know that it has been raised inside and outside [the country] We always joke on the issue with Valeriy Fedorovych [Zaluzhny]. I ask him, 'So, who is firing you this time?' I am always open: if such issues are raised, I will inform immediately. There are no such issues. We had transitional ones regarding certain commanders," he told a press briefing on Tuesday, when asked about possible personnel reshuffles in the command of the AFU.
OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 11, 2023 /CNW/ - On Monday, December 4, Humanity & Inclusion Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Landmine Foundation and Mines Action Canada, paid tribute to the victims of bombing in populated areas at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

From left to right : Pierre Leonard, Chairman of Humanity & Inclusion Canada; Anne Delorme, Executive Director of Humanity & Inclusion Canada; Nisreen Mustafa, Syrian refugee; Erin Hunt, Executive Director of Mines Action Canada; the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada; Nujeen Mustafa, Syrian refugee; Peter MacKay, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Minister of National Defence of Canada; Jennifer Welsh, Canada 150 Research Chair in Global Governance and Security at McGill University and Director of the Centre for International Peace and Security Studies; Yuliya Kovaliv, Ukraines Ambassador to Canada; Lloyd Axworthy, former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Board member of the Canadian Landmine Foundation; and Dymphna Keogh, Deputy Head of Mission for the Embassy of Ireland in Canada.  Jennifer Bernard / HI (CNW Group/Humanity & Inclusion Canada)

A ceremony was held with the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency Yuliya Kovaliv, Ukraine's Ambassador to Canada, special guests, Humanitarian partners, members of the Diplomatic Corps and families of victims affected by armed conflict. All gathered around the Monument to the Unknown Civilian, a temporary memorial inspired by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honour the thousands of men, women and children unjustly killed and wounded by explosive weapons.

"This monument should serve as an important reminder of the need for strict and universal respect for international humanitarian law," said Anne Delorme, Executive Director of Humanity & Inclusion Canada. Our organization has seen first-hand the humanitarian consequences of the use of explosive weapons. The ceremony was a moving demonstration of our collective commitment to support those who suffer, and I hope it can help stimulate concrete action to protect civilians."

"Today, more than ever, Canada's leadership is needed to ensure the protection of civilians in situations of armed conflict," said the Honourable Melanie Joly. I believe that participating in meaningful conversations contribute directly to our commitment to addressing protection challenges. Canada is proud to support organizations like Humanity & Inclusion Canada, whose work is essential to protecting and improving the lives of the most vulnerable."

The evening continued with a panel on the evolution of Canadian leadership in civilian protection, from the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines to the present day. A panel featuring Lloyd Axworthy and Peter MacKay, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and National Defence over the past 30 years; Jennifer Welsh, Canada 150 Research Chair in Global Governance and Security at McGill University; and Nujeen Mustafa, today an advocate for the rights of refugees and people with disabilities. They discussed current issues and challenges, past experiences and possible political approaches to ending violence against the victims of bombing and shelling, 90% of whom are civilians.

For more information on the event, visit www.hi-canada.org

About:

Humanity & Inclusion (formerly Handicap International) is an international solidarity organization that has been working tirelessly for over 40 years to ensure that people with disabilities and populations affected by crises, conflicts and disasters are never left behind. The organization is present in nearly 60 countries, where it runs projects focused on the inclusive development of people with disabilities, provides humanitarian aid to populations in crisis, and helps to reduce armed violence through awareness-raising, mine clearance and explosive ordnance education. Recognized for its advocacy work, HI is one of the founding organizations of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW), co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 and winner of the Conrad N. Hilton Award in 2011. In Canada, HI is based in Montreal and Ottawa for nearly 20 years.

SOURCE Humanity & Inclusion Canada

For further information: Contact media: Fatou Thiam, Communications Manager, Humanity & Inclusion Canada, [email protected], 514 229-0671.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 11, 2023 /CNW/ -

Minister's reflection for today

From left to right: Marie-Philippe Menard, Assembly of First Nations; Dane de Souza, Metis National Council; Sara Olsvig, Inuit Circumpolar Council; Steven Guilbeault, Government of Canada; and Catherine Stewart, Government of Canada, at COP28 Canada Pavilion (CNW Group/Environment and Climate Change Canada)

"Going into the last days of negotiations at COP28 in Dubai, and the momentum is strong. As co-facilitator on finance with Minister Fouad from Egypt, I have met with all countries to find a path forward. We're close to reaching a strong agreement, and Canada continues to push for language on aligning countries' actions to keep 1.5 C within reach."

 The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Daily event and announcement summary

Minister Guilbeault and Dr. Yasmine Fouad , Minister of Environment of the Arab Republic of Egypt , engaged in an armchair discussion on their experiences as co-facilitators of ministerial consultations on the Global Biodiversity Framework at COP15 , and on the Means of Implementation at COP28 . They discussed how our two nations are working together to fight the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

, Minister of Environment of the Arab Republic of , engaged in an armchair discussion on their experiences as co-facilitators of ministerial consultations on the Global Biodiversity Framework at , and on the Means of Implementation at . They discussed how our two nations are working together to fight the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The Minister participated in the closing ceremony of the Canada Pavilion, where he remarked that over the past two weeks, more than 70 sessions were held at the Paviliona place to promote Canada's COP28 aspirations and drive global momentum. He highlighted Canada's important partnership with Indigenous peoples and took the opportunity to reflect on the outcomes of COP28 and emphasize the importance of collaboration in addressing climate change.

Quote of the day

"Everything has been about the solutions we bring to this space, everything is about the solutions we bring to climate change, because that's who we are. We have always been the stewards of our lands, we have always been leaders in how we maintain our climate, and I do feel we had that space this year and this is something I hope we can build on next year."

 Dane de Souza, Climate Change and Emergency Management Policy Advisor, Metis National Council

Minister's bilateral meetings

Minister Guilbeault had a productive meeting with John Kerry , United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. Discussions focused on the status of COP28 negotiations to date, as well as the progress that has been made in relation to financing. Following the meeting, the Parties released a joint statement on Renewed CanadaUnited States Commitment on Climate and Nature Ambition. Read more about CanadaUnited States collaboration in the press release.

, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. Discussions focused on the status of negotiations to date, as well as the progress that has been made in relation to financing. Following the meeting, the Parties released a joint statement on Renewed CanadaUnited States Commitment on Climate and Nature Ambition. Read more about CanadaUnited States collaboration in the press release. The Minister met with Italy's Minister of the Environment, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, and discussed possibilities for cooperation in the coming year during Italy's Presidency of the G7, particularly in relation to plastics management.

Minister of the Environment, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, and discussed possibilities for cooperation in the coming year during Presidency of the G7, particularly in relation to plastics management. The Minister had a constructive discussion with Simon Watts , New Zealand's Minister of Climate Change and Revenue, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing climate and biodiversity, and areas of cooperation, including agriculture, forestry, and carbon offsets.

Photo of the day

Credit: Environment and Climate Change Canada

See our Facebook Album for more.

Preview of upcoming events: December 12, 2023

Closed-door Ministerial meetings focused on negotiations.

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page

SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada

For further information: Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free), [email protected]
Zelenskyy in USA discusses with senators strengthening of air defense, Ukraine's needs for long-range weapons

As part of the working visit to the United States, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and senators in the U.S. Congress.

The Head of State noted that the meeting was an important confirmation of support for Ukraine in its struggle for independence, freedom and democracy.

The President informed the senators about the military tasks for the medium term. According to him, Ukraine will continue to put pressure on the aggressor next year, so the support of the United States is very important. In particular, he emphasized the need for long-range weapons, the press service of the Presidents Office reported.

He also underscored the importance of strengthening Ukraine's air defense to diminish Russia's air capabilities, protect civilians, and safeguard critical and grain infrastructure.

According to Zelenskyy, the protection of Ukrainian cities is extremely important for the return of people, economic growth and the earliest possible achievement of economic independence. The Head of State noted that even in the face of war, the Ukrainian economy had grown by 5% this year.

Answering the senators' questions, the President spoke about securing the alternative "grain corridor" created by Ukraine from Russia's attempts to disrupt civilian navigation and the increasing volume of transportation.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine had fulfilled all its obligations to the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission.

The Head of State emphasized that he would continue his vigorous anti-corruption efforts and work to significantly enhance the anti-corruption infrastructure.
The largest Ukrainian mobile operator Kyivstar, after a large-scale outage, at 20:00 on Monday, partially restored the work of fixed-line communication services; the company promised to complete the work on restoring other services during the day on December 13.

"As of 20:00 on December 12, the work of fixed-line communication services has been partially restored. Now, the company's specialists are working to restore other services and are doing everything possible to fully complete this work on December 13, 2023. The restoration of services can occur gradually, and we will inform about it additionally," the Kyivstar press service said in a statement.

Kyivstar called the attack on the company on Monday "the largest hacker attack in the history of the global telecom market." They also assured that the company's specialists began resuming services without delay.

Kyivstar expressed gratitude to law enforcement agencies, government services, and the Security Service of Ukraine for their immediate response and professional assistance in resolving the unprecedented situation.

Also, on behalf of the entire Kyivstar team, the company thanked customers, colleagues in the telecom market, and corporate clients for their understanding and support.

The company assured that after stabilization of the network, all subscribers and corporate clients for whom Kyivstar services were unavailable after the hacker attack will definitely receive compensation.
Eighteen pupils of St. James Primary School B, Owo-Ope, Osogbo were reportedly hospitalised after consuming food linked to the Osun government's free school feeding programme.

Kolapo Alimi, commissioner for information and public enlightenment in Osun, said Ademola Adeleke, the governor, has directed a probe into reports of the food poisoning. In a statement, Alimi said the victims have been treated and discharged from hospitals.

"Osun State Government has ordered full investigations into the reported cases of food poisoning at St James primary School B, Owoope Osogbo," the statement reads.

"The State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, directed immediate action when the matter was reported to him by the Special Adviser on O-Meal, Mrs Grace Ayodele.

"The Governor has subsequently directed the stoppage of further food cooking at the affected school pending the outcome of the investigations."

The statement added that the cooks have been summoned to government house.

"The affected cooks in the said schools alongside the planning officer for the O-Meal programme have also been summoned to a meeting by Tuesday morning," the statement reads.

"Additionally, the governor has directed enforcement of food standards and control as well as the auditing of the O-Meal structure to forestall future occurrences.

"Meanwhile, the government is settling the medical bills of the affected students as narrated by the Chairman of the Local Government Education Authority, Mr Nathaniel Ojetola.

"The LGEA Chairman who was at the forefront of the intervention efforts disclosed that a total number of 18 students were treated and discharged.

"The total student population of the school is 200 while 103 are within the population receiving food from the O-Meal Programme. A government delegation is also visiting families of the affected students."
Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo, will embark on a medical leave on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, as a follow-up to his treatment.

Richard Olatunde, chief press secretary to the governor, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

During his medical leave, Governor Akeredolu will prioritise his health and ensure a full recovery before resuming his official duties, the statement reads.

A formal letter regarding the medical leave and a notice formally transferring power in line with the Nigerian Constitution will be transmitted to the House of Assembly.

In the absence of Governor Akeredolu, the Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, will assume the responsibilities of the Governor in acting capacity.

Governor Akeredolu expresses his gratitude for the unwavering support and affection of the people of Ondo State. He assures them that his administration remains committed to the path of progress and prosperity for the people.

As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a widely respected Nigerian, Governor Akeredolu has consistently delegated power to his deputy during his annual vacations.

This practice was observed on April 1, 2021, April 1, 2022, April 3, 2023, and July 10, 2023, when he embarked on previous vacations.

POLITICAL CRISIS

On September 7, Akeredolu returned to Nigeria after a three-month medical leave in Germany.

Since his return, the governor has been working from Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

His remote working scenario led to a political crisis in Ondo  one that pitted Akeredolus loyalists against his deputy.

There were also attempts to impeach the deputy governor before and after Akeredolus return to Nigeria.

On November 24, President Bola Tinubu waded into the cold war and rift between Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa.

On November 28, Olamide Oladiji, speaker of the Ondo house of assembly, asked Aiyedatiwa to sign an undated letter of resignation as a pre-condition for a transfer of power to him.

There have also been allegations of Akeredolus signature being forged on official documents as the governor continued to work from Ibadan.

Akeredolu immediately refuted the allegations.
Edwin Clark, convener of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has asked President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the political crisis rocking Rivers state.

On Monday, 27 members of the Rivers house of assembly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers who are said to be loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), held a plenary session at about 8 am where the decision was taken amid tight security.

The legislators said division within the PDP was their reason for jumping ship.

The defection of the lawmakers is reportedly connected to the rift between Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers and Wike, his predecessor, over control of the political structure in the state.

The crisis between the two politicians heightened last month, culminating in an attempted impeachment of Fubara.

Despite Tinubu's reported intervention, the political crisis looks far from resolved

Early this month, Wike said he would do all it takes to maintain his "political structure" in the state,

"Nobody can take away the political structure in Rivers. Nobody can intimidate me. If I want to do something, I will do it. The impeachment is not a military coup, it is provided under the constitution," Wike had said.

The minister had also called Fubara an ingrate, saying he is "trying to create" a political crisis for himself.

During a recent quarterly general meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt, Fubara said he would not surrender the mandate of the people "to intimidation, blackmail and deliberate sabotage".





CLARK ASKS TINUBU TO CALL WIKE TO ORDER

In a letter addressed to the president, Clark asked Tinubu to "personally handle this matter".

"Mr. President, I want to seek your clarification, why is the Minister keeping structures and for what purpose," Clark wrote.

"I recall that in his days as a Governor, he had attacked the concept of godfatherism as totally unacceptable

"As a matter of fact, this made him to fall out with his predecessor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, the immediate past Minister of Transportation, whom we know was not even directly interfering in the affairs of the state.

"So, what purpose are the structures supposed to serve when there is a governor in place?

"This is a question that he owes you and all Nigerians.

"If all governors who as a matter of right, insist on allowing their favoured candidates as successor, insist on controlling them, insist on controlling the State Assemblies, insist on controlling the structure which they left behind, what manner of confusion will we have in Nigeria?

"To further put themselves against the Governor and possibly drag you and your political party, the APC, we are now receiving a breaking news that "27 Members of Rivers State House of Assembly (all of whom are PDP like the Governor) decamped to the APC. The question is what is going on?

"In his state, at a relatively young age of 55 years, my son Wike had been a Minister of State, Minister in Federal Ministry of Education, before serving as Governor for 8 years and now Minister of FCT. So what does he need a structure for? This is very curious.

"If strong politicians such as yourself and other former presidents never talk about controlling structures, so how can a minister be threatening a governor not to touch a structure he has left in place.

"This is a bad precedent and if other Ministers in your government follow this trend, then it will be total confusion!"

Clark said the minister is focusing on the wrong problems and and told Tinubu that "as a member of your cabinet, you may need to call this minister to order to face the work in the quietness which is demanded of him".

"He should focus on his office and know that he is just one among a cabinet of 48 persons, besides the Vice President and yourself," Clark added.

"The country has enough problems which your government must sit down to solve. The FCT itself is full of challenges all over and he has more than he can chew and therefore avoid these distractions."

The PANDEF convener said a further degeneration of the political crisis in Rivers would spell chaos for the country because of the state's importance to the stability of the Niger Delta and the overall national economy.
The federal government says if the country records a solid revenue performance, it will return to the national assembly for appropriation of extra revenue in 2024.

Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of economy, spoke when he appeared before the senate committee on finance, led by Sani Musa.

President Bola Tinubu had presented a N27.5 trillion budget proposal for 2024 to the national assembly about two weeks ago.

Speaking on the development, Edun said the revenue performance of the country is encouraging, adding that it is expected to continue.





There is a fiscal policy and tax reform committee that is already at work, Edun said.

It is meant to provide fundamental change together with digitalisation and greater efficiency in collection because it is revenue-to-debt that can allow us to increase this budget.

If we have a solid revenue performance, we will come back, and Im sure Mr President will authorize the process to return to the national assembly to appropriate extra revenue. That is a situation we are all looking forward to.

FG had projected N16.87 trillion in revenue for 2023.

Edun said to boost capital spending in the budget 2024 budget, the federal government is seeking ways to expedite the procurement process.

When we look at actual budget performance, expenditure as of the third quarter of the year, which is September, was 32 percent below the budget estimate, and revenue was five percent up, he said.

In the meantime, efforts have been made to raise tax revenue as a percentage of GDP from its relatively low figure of under 10 per cent, doubling now within two or three years to 18 per cent which is more than the African average, so that the government has enough money to spend, which it does not at the moment.

Providing a breakdown of the budget, Atiku Bagudu, minister of budget and national planning, had said the projected national revenue in 2024 is estimated at N18.32 trillion  marking a substantial 66 percent increase compared to the previous years budget.
President Bola Tinubu on Monday vowed that the battle to keep Nigeria secured is one battle he will not lose.

The President said he will continue to work assiduously and provide the military with the necessary support to keep the troublers of the nation at bay.

Speaking at the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2023 in Maiduguri, Borno State, President Tinubu said he has no intention of relenting or resting on his laurels in securing Nigeria, declaring that he will win the battle to keep Nigeria safe.

The President, who acknowledged the Nigerian Armys commitment to national security, asked the army to remain non-partisan but vigilant in upholding democratic principles, emphasizing their role as a guardian of constitutional order during elections.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, quoted Tinubu as saying, The professional conduct of the Armed Forces during the elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States underscores your role as a guardian of our constitutional order and democracy precepts. In this regard, the Nigerian Army must remain completely non-partisan but vigilantly pro-democracy.

We also note with great satisfaction the many civilian-military projects across the country, some of which will be commissioned during this Conference.

These projects not only bring the military and civilian population into closer affinity and mutual understanding, they also serve the practical purpose of tangibly improving the living conditions of the people.

Citing the recent procurement of new aircraft as a testament of his resolve to upgrade national defence capability, President Tinubu also affirmed his administrations commitment to advancing the ongoing modernization process within the military, with a focus on improving mobility, communications, and offensive striking capabilities.

The President, while expressing the nations gratitude for the service and sacrifice of the armed forces, recalled his earlier approval of N18 billion in Group Life Assurance benefits for families of fallen heroes, even as he pledged continuous government support for the welfare of serving personnel and their families.

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar said the Presidents new approach to empowering the force and enhancing intra-military collaboration has led to a substantial increase in morale for the armed forces.

Mr. President, you are a man of your word. Your Renewed Hope agenda assured Nigerians of progress in the fight against insecurity. The men of the armed forces are more committed than ever before. They see the progress they recording. They know the damage they are inflicting on our enemies. They have high morale. Our enemies do not because of your leadership. Thank you, Mr. President, the Minister stated.

He pledged to sustain his support for the Nigerian military in the provision of infrastructure while acknowledging the unalloyed commitment of the Tinubu administration to substantial investments to enhance the operational capabilities of the military.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, informed the President that ongoing military operations in different parts of the country have significantly weakened criminal elements, while checkmating farmer-herders crises in various parts of the country.

Notwithstanding these achievements, we recognize the importance of continuous evaluation and this conference will be instrumental in formulating long-term strategies to bolster our ability to carry out our constitutional responsibility in the year 2024, the Army Chief said.




Bode George, the former deputy national chairman (south) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says the party will go into the dustbin of history if a northerner becomes the partys presidential candidate in 2027.

George criticised some members of the PDP who he said are pushing an agenda for a northern presidential candidate in the 2027 election.

In 2027, Nigerians will head to the polls to elect a president and members of the national assembly.

Speaking in a press conference on Monday in Lagos, the PDP chieftain said no member of the party in the northern part of the country should consider contesting for the partys presidential ticket in 2027.





In the build up to the 2023 presidential election, George and some PDP chieftains called for the zoning of the partys presidential ticket to the southern part of the country.

However, Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, who hails from the north, won the PDP presidential primary  a development that created division in the party.

GARBAGE HEAP OF HISTORY





At the press conference, George said the PDP did not listen to his warning against nominating a northern presidential candidate for the last election.

He said he has nothing against the northerners, adding that his best friend is from the northern part of the country.

I want to sound a note of warning to some gladiators in our great party, the PDP, George said.

If care is not taken, the party may become a garbage heap of history in 2027.





Dustbin of history is a phrase or coinage used to describe an entity, group, organisation or individual that once flourished.

At the apex of the existence of such an entity, it was the alpha and omega, the controller of its surrounding.

But it came crashing down due to a lot of factors, some of which are avoidable.

Such a huge downfall can also be described as ash heap of history, garbage heap of history and landfill of history.

By then, our party will be referred to in the past tense.

A northerner cannot be the presidential candidate of our party in 2027, pure and simple.

The earlier some members pushing this agenda know this truth, the better for our collective sanity.

I have nothing against northerners. In fact, my best friend is from the north but PDP members must understand this reality before it is too late, that a PDP member from the southern part of the country must be our candidate and we must all support him to defeat the APC candidate in the 2027 elections.

Until 2031, nobody should think of contesting for the presidential ticket of our party from the north.

The real elders in our party should stand up and say the truth. The truth may be bitter but it must be said without any emotion or else, the founding fathers of our party, some of whom have exited this world, will not forgive us.




A High Court Sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Tuesday confirmed Edison Ehie as the authentic Speaker of the states House of Assembly.





Edison Ehie is one of the four lawmakers backing the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in the ongoing face-off between him and his immediate predecessor, Nyesom Wike.





Edison was suspended and removed as leader of the house by his colleagues who are loyal to Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja.





Justice M.W. Danagogo, who made the ruling, also ordered Martins Amaewhule and Dumle Maol to stop parading themselves as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.





The court also warned against using thugs and Police officers to gain access to the Assembly Complex.





Recall that the political crisis rocking the state took a new turn on Monday when about 27 lawmakers dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
In USA, Zelenskyy discusses with Democratic congressmen needs for military equipment, strengthening air defense, joint production of weapons

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a meeting with leader of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives Hakkeem Jeffries and Democratic congressmen during a working visit to the United States, his press service reported.

During the meeting, the President of Ukraine noted the strong bicameral and bipartisan support from Congress, U.S. President Joseph Biden and the entire American people, which is provided to Ukraine to fight Russian aggression.

The President discussed with congressmen the key needs of Ukraine in weapons and military equipment, in strengthening air defense, especially with the onset of winter.

Issues of joint production of weapons necessary for Ukraine with the United States were also raised. Zelenskyy highly appreciated the holding of the Ukrainian-American Defense Industries Conference in Washington, which took place on December 6-7.

"Now that Ukraine has liberated 50% of its territories illegally occupied by Russians since 2022, ensured the operation of the grain corridor and is winning in the Black Sea, we need more than ever the continued support of the United States and the unity of our partners," the President said.

The Head of State assured that Ukraine uses all the assistance of the United States extremely transparently, effectively and responsibly, in close cooperation with American partners.
Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike to join the party because hes needed.

APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha, said the party is the one in power, hence Wike should join.

He spoke to journalists in Port Harcourt after 27 state lawmakers defected to the APC.

Asked if the defection was part of plans for Wike to join APC, Okocha said: I dont think so.

Whatever their reason is, when they get to the bridge they will cross it.

Wike is a politician whose name shakes and echoes in the society; so nobody can think or say for him if he will defect to APC or not.

In 2023, he immensely aided the victory of APC in the state.

The best thing we are asking him to do is to come and join the APC because it is the government in power.
A sailboat that has been beached and abandoned for months in Cape May County near the famed Jersey Shore ghost tracks was destroyed in a fire early Tuesday.

Photos posted on social media groups showed the charred remains of the Panache on Sunset Beach, just north of the landmark sunken concrete ship Atlantus, in Lower Township.

The boat had no insurance on it and preliminarily the fire is not considered suspicious, Lower Township police Deputy Chief Don Vanaman said Tuesday. Workers were out on the beach this morning removing the remains of the vessel, the deputy chief added.

The boat was scheduled to be removed from the beach at 9 a.m. by State Park Police, according to West Cape May Fire Chief David Peck. A photo posted later showed the remains of the boat being dropped into a large trash container.

West Cape May firefighters were called to the beach shortly before 7 a.m., but the fire was almost out by then, Peck said.

The fire had apparently been burning through the night and some people walking on the beach reported it, the chief said. By the time we got there, it was just smoldering.

The state Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees the State Park Police, declined to say what the next steps are.

The fire is under investigation, a DEP spokesman said Tuesday. We dont have any additional comment at this time.

The abandoned sailboat on Sunset Beach in Lower Township was destroyed an overnight fire.Photo by Annette Patton

Waves were breaking over the charred and still smoldering wreck Tuesday morning.

The sailboat mysteriously appeared months ago and quickly became a tourist attraction at the popular and scenic Delaware Bay beach. The boats arrival coincided with the occasional reemergence of the century-old railroad tracks known as the ghost tracks, which disappear and reappear depending on shifting tides and sand.

A sailboat that has been beached and abandoned for months at Sunset Beach in Lower Township, Cape May County was destroyed in an overnight blaze on Dec. 12, 2023.Photo provided by Brian Turner

Captain Jack Moran, owner of Sea Tow Cape May, which also repairs boats, said late last month that the sailboat  with the name Panache on its stern  was abandoned about a month prior in a confounding set of circumstances.

An older gentleman gifted the boat to two other guys. The boat does not have a working motor and they decided they were gonna sail it at night around Cape May Point  without a motor, Moran previously told NJ Advance Media. ... And they wound up on the beach and just walked away from it.

A small sailboat was recently abandoned in Cape May  near a set of ghost tracks that occasionally are unearthed is shown in late November. The boat was destroyed in a fire early Tuesday, Dec. 12.Matt Dowling | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

A local gift shop provided a further explanation.

The single-masted sailboat is resting in the sand on the beach between Higbees Beach and Sunset Beach in Lower Township, the Sunset Beach gift shop posted online in a comment about the boat a few week ago. It is cracked at the keel and is not seaworthy, so it will have to be removed over land and demolished. The owner has been identified, but Sea Tow was unaware of where the boat was ported.

In recent weeks, the sailboat had shifted on the beach to be more perpendicular to the shoreline. In addition, the sails had been unfurled.

The fate of the charred wreck and potential for contamination remains unclear.

Photos posted from the scene showed firefighters from West Cape May and Cape May Point using all terrain vehicles to access the fire scene from the parking lots about a half-mile away.

A sailboat that has been beached and abandoned for months at Sunset Beach in Lower Township, Cape May County was destroyed in an overnight blaze on Dec. 12, 2023.Photo provided by Brian Turner

NJ Advance Media staff writer Steven Rodas contributed to this report.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist., wrote to the presidents of more than 40 of New Jerseys colleges and universities Monday, urging them to address the rise of antisemitism on campus.

Jewish students report feeling targeted by faculty and their fellow students, being threatened verbally and physically by student activists, and harassed with hurtful antisemitic tropes, Sherrill wrote in a letter obtained by NJ Advance Media.
A state Assembly committee on Monday approved a bill that would allow New Jerseys four largest urban centers to create civilian panels with the power to subpoena documents while investigating complaints of police abuses.

The Democratic-sponsored bill (A1515) would authorize the cities of Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Trenton each to establish a civilian complaint review board, or CCRB, as a pilot program lasting five years.
Three people are hospitalized in critical condition after they were rescued from a house fire in Gloucester County on Monday night.

Police and fire crews were called to the blaze on the 1700 block of West Boulevard in the Malaga section of Franklin Township shortly before 9 p.m., according to township police.

Three residents were trapped in the fully involved two-story dwelling and crews were able to rescue them, police said.

A 77-year-old man and 76-year-old woman were airlifted to burn centers in Philadelphia, while a 31-year-old man was taken by ambulance to Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pennsylvania, authorities said.

All three were still listed in critical condition as of Tuesday morning.

The Gloucester County Fire Marshals Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez was still in law school when Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla began his political career in 2009.

Bhalla described his experience and Menendez Jr.s lack of it as a key factor in his decision to announce Tuesday that hes bucking the county Democratic party organization and challenging the son of indicted Sen. Bob Menendez for his seat in congress.
At least one person was taken into custody Sunday evening after he was seen walking through Newport Centre mall in Jersey City brandishing a machete, police said in radio transmissions.

The person was detained near the Newport light rail station on Washington Boulevard just after 5 p.m. and a machete was recovered, but three or four others who also may have been armed with machetes managed to flee, according to the radio transmissions.

Jersey City police did not immediately provide information on the possible arrest.
Gunfire erupted and blood was shed for a second time within hours in Jersey City Monday when a person was shot not far from the site of an earlier shooting.

Jersey City police responded to the area of Claremont Avenue and Bergen Avenue at 12:55 p.m. Monday and located shell casings on Bergen Avenue, police said in radio transmissions.

The victim was taken to a local hospital. Police said in radio transmissions that the victim was in stable condition and uncooperative with police.
Federal authorities announced charges Monday against two South Jersey men allegedly involved in a dog-fighting operation in which the suspects livestreamed dog fights, shared videos training dogs to fight, and filmed the killing of underperforming dogs.

Tommy J. Watson, 43, of Clayton and Johnnie Lee Nelson, 34, of Bridgeton, violated the Animal Welfare Act by fighting, training, transporting and possessing pit bull-type dogs, from August 2017 through March 2019, according to charging documents from the U.S. Attorneys Office.

The pair operated a dog-fighting venture called From Da Bottom Kennels, which posted bloodline information of fighting dogs owned by the kennel on the dog fighting website Peds Online, charging documents allege.

READ MORE: Sick puppies. Healthy profits.

Watson and Nelson worked with others to develop and maintain properties for housing and training pit bull-type dogs for use in dog fights, and for using and storing dog fighting equipment, according to the state.

They also acquired and maintained medical equipment, including skin staplers, suture removers and veterinary injectable medications, for the purpose of attempting to treat dogs injured during dog fights, in order to avoid a veterinarian, prosecutors allege.

The men communicated using the DMV Board on Telegram, an encrypted messaging app that allows users to send messages, create groups and send videos.

Watson, also known as Snakes, and Nelson, who also goes by Johnny, used the Telegram group to transmit videos of live dog fights, of training dogs for fights, and of the killing of underperforming fighting dogs, including by hanging, according to charging documents.

The men often filmed dog fights at an auto repair garage located on Center Road in Upper Deerfield Township in Cumberland County, authorities said. Over the years, they worked to evade authorities.

On March 23, 2019, a co-conspirator placed a 911 call, falsely reporting a robbery at a business near the auto repair garage, for the purpose of attempting to divert police from the dog fight, prosecutors allege.

Through the scheme, the men sought to enrich themselves by placing wagers on dog fights, taking steps to collect bets, collecting bets, and distributing proceeds, prosecutors allege.

Watson is facing additional charges under the Animal Welfare Act for fighting two pit bull-type dogs in dog fights on Dec. 2, 2018. He is also charged with transporting a third dog, Rambo, along with do-it-yourself veterinary equipment, for a dog fight law enforcement prevented from occurring on March 23, 2019.

At that location, law enforcement discovered, concealed in a car, two other dogs that had already fought, according to the U.S District Attorneys office. Both Watson and Nelson are charged with possessing and training Rambo for the March 23 fight.

Watson is also charged with one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

Watson surrendered to authorities Monday, officials said. Nelson was arrested Dec. 5.

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Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com.
Three Elizabeth men who robbed nine liquor stores in New Jersey and New York at gunpoint five years ago were sentenced to federal prison on Monday, authorities said.

Vincent Chan-Guillen was sentenced to 33 years, 11 months, Jamie Fontanez received 14 years and 6 months and Paul Jimenez got a 10-year term, according to court records.

The robbery spree began on Nov. 4, 2018 when the trio made off with about $4,000 from a store in Elizabeth, according to court papers. Five days later, Fontanez and Jimenez hit a store in Rahway for $8,400.

On Nov. 13, 2018, Chan-Guillen and Jimenez stole $800 from a liquor store in Woodbridge at 8:40 p.m., the charging document said.

All three men took part in the robbery of a store in Bloomfield less than an hour later, according to court papers. When Jimenez was unable to open the cash register, Chan-Guillen fired a shot that got lodged in a freezer and was later recovered by investigators. The men fled in a car without any money.

The final New Jersey robbery took place Nov. 27, 2018 when Chan-Guillen and Jimenez stole about $4,000 from a liquor store in Linden. None of the liquor stores were named.

Chan-Guillen, now 33, was pulled over Nov. 30, 2018 in Lyndhurst and found with the same .45-caliber handgun used in all of the robberies. He also wore the same sneakers and jacket in each of the robberies, officials said.

The E-ZPass transponder on the car seen in the area of all the robberies is in Fontanezs name as well.

Chan-Guillen was convicted in March of multiple counts of Hobbs Act robbery and weapons offenses. Fontanez pleaded guilty in November 2022 to numerous conspiracy and robbery charges. The then-45-year-old Fontanez pleaded guilty to two counts of brandishing a firearm while committing a crime of violence.

Jimenez pleaded guilty to multiple counts of Hobbs Act robbery in 2020. He was 29 when he was charged in February 2019.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
Ukraine should become 33rd member of NATO as soon as possible  Latvian Defense Minister

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds is convinced that Ukraine should become the 33rd full member of NATO as soon as possible.

"We are supporters of Ukraine's full membership in the EU and NATO, which will undoubtedly struggle in the coming days to start negotiations on EU membership. At the same time, we share everything that was said in Vilnius and believe that Ukraine should become the 33rd member of NATO as soon as possible," Spruds said at a joint briefing with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in Kyiv on Tuesday.

He stressed that Latvia, for its part, will make every effort to also convince partners "to ensure the possibility of membership and prospects for Ukraine as soon as possible."
A series of public hearings will be held next month by the U.S. Coast Guard into the deadly shipboard fire that killed two firefighters this past July at Port Newark, officials said Monday.

The hearings, which will be conducted in the greater Newark area in conjunction with the National Transportation Safety Board, will begin the week of Jan. 8 and continue through the week of Jan. 15. The exact dates and times have yet to be set.
Dyson has already debuted its 360 Vis Nav robotic in the UK, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, etc., but the brand plans to launch the all-new robo vac in the United States next year (exact timing is still TBD)  adding to its impressive home products portfolio.

With twice the suction power of any other robot vacuum, its engineered with Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) technology that creates a 360-degree vision and remembers where it has been.

Plus, with 26 sensors for dust detection, obstacle avoidance and wall detection and a square head, itll clean right to the edge and pick up crumbs, dust and debris that rounded robot models typically miss.

How the most powerful intelligent robot vacuum cleaner stacks up:

Full-width triple-action brush bar: Means every surface is covered. Soft fluffy nylon picks up large debris on hard floors; anti-static carbon fiber filaments remove fine dust; stiff nylon bristles dig deep into carpets.

Dual link suspension: Means no more bending or moving heavy furniture around. The dual link suspension allows it to climb obstacles up to 21mm, and its low profile helps it clean under furniture as low as 99mm.

50-minute runtime: Means itll do its work and then automatically retreat to its dock for recharging after 50 minutes.

MyDyson reporting: Means youll get deep cleaning reports after each cleaning session to stay on top of your cleaning game without having to lift a finger.

You can sign up to receive Dysons official launch alerts when the robot vac is available to shop online.

But if you need something to tide you over until then, here are some of Dysons best beauty and vacuum deals live on the site right now:

RELATED STORIES ABOUT RETAIL AND SHOPPING:

Dyson Holiday Gift Guide 2023: The 12 best gift ideas to add to your Christmas list this year

The best robot vacuums to buy in 2023, according to reviews

Dyson has finally added a wet-to-dry vacuum to its lineup

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Danielle Halibey can be reached at dhalibey@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
A man who recently admitted stabbing a 21-year-old in Union County more than two years ago was sentenced last week to 23 years in state prison, officials said.

Alexis Mondesi, 50, of Elizabeth, pleaded guilty last month to aggravated manslaughter, according to a statement from the Union County Prosecutors Office.

Mondesi stabbed Yonatan Alexander Vasquez-Torres on the 300 block of Center Street in Elizabeth during the early morning hours of Oct. 10, 2021, the office said said. Vasquez-Torres was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mondesi was later arrested and charged with murder, robbery and weapons-related offenses before he eventually pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter.

A citizen of the Dominican Republic, Mondesi has been held at the Essex County jail since Oct. 15, 2021, according to jail records.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
UPDATE: Phillipsburg school bus crash followed police pursuit from N.J. to Pa. and back

A crash involving a Phillipsburg School District bus with students on board shut down the eastbound lanes of Memorial Parkway (Route 22) near Morris Street Tuesday afternoon.

Phillipsburg Superintendent of Schools Greg Troxell said 22 students were on the bus at the time of the crash. He said he is unaware of any major injuries involving the students, who were first and second graders at the Phillipsburg Primary School.

It appeared that many of the students on the bus were sheltering in a nearby business as police were investigating the wreckage at 3:45 p.m.

The other vehicle involved was a Ford Focus.

The road reopened about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, the New Jersey Department of Transportation reported.

In addition to local first responders, Pennsylvania State Police were also at the scene of the crash. The site of the crash is less than half a mile from the Route 22 toll bridge into Pennsylvania.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Phillipsburg Police Department and the Warren County Prosecutors Office.

Editors note: This article was updated with the timing of the roads reopening.
Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost.

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Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with snow. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches..

Tonight

Light snow this evening. Then remaining cloudy late. Low 24F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference with founders of Manifest 42 public union Worsening of issue of corruption pressure by rear security forces on business

On Thursday, December 14, at 11.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference with the founders of the Manifest 42 public union public union entitled "Worsening of issue of corruption pressure by rear security forces on business."

Participants include

Chairman of the Board of the Manifest 42 public movement, head of the Association of Veteran Entrepreneurs Serhiy Pozniak;

Chairman of the Council of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine Dmytro Oliynyk; member of CEO Club Ukraine Vyacheslav Lysenko; Head of the Ukrainian Association of Regional Employers' Organizations of Light Industry Enterprises Oleksandr Sokolovsky; Head of the Anti-Raider Union of Entrepreneurs Andriy Semididko; editor-in-chief of the Nashi Groshi (Our Money) project Oleksiy Shalaisky (8/5a Reitarska Street).

The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel.

Admission of journalists requires press accreditation.

Details by phone: (067) 245 6247 (Serhiy Syrovatka).
Heres one scenario: All year, you said youd get together with the old gang, and now in the final days of the year, youre determined to make good.
DUBAI, UAE, December 12. The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29) in Azerbaijan is expected to take concrete actions on financial aspects, Daouda Konate from Cote dIvoire told reporters on the sidelines of COP 28 in Dubai, Trend reports.

"Azerbaijan will host COP 29, which is a good opportunity. We would be very happy to visit Azerbaijan and participate in this event next year to take a decision. I believe that COP 29 in Azerbaijan will be a COP of action, a COP of decision," he said. "In this COP, developed countries will help the developing countries to deal with climate change. We can work on this issue in Azerbaijan. It is very important for resilience actions to be taken against climate change."

"In COP 28 the Loss and Damage Fund was announced and in Azerbaijan, during COP 29, we expect concrete actions regarding funding for developing countries to fight against climate change," Konate noted.

He pointed out that he'll also visit Azerbaijan to take part in the ceremony of passing Azerbaijans chairmanship in the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) to Uganda.

The decision to host COP 29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai during the COP 28 on December 11.

The Eastern European regional group has selected Azerbaijan to host the COP 29 next year. COP 29 will take place in November 2024.

In addition to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Bulgaria put forth their candidacies. However, on December 7, 2023, after direct negotiations between the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Armenia decided to withdraw its candidacy in support of Azerbaijan. Bulgaria followed up and also withdrew its candidacy.
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In the early 1990s, bass drummer Derrick Moss, snare drummer Lumar LeBlanc and other members of the Young Olympia Brass Band decided to split off to form a new brass band: The Soul Rebels. They wanted to blend in more of the music they were listening to on the radio, including funk and, most importantly, hip-hop.

As hip-hop took hold in New Orleans in the 80s, it naturally began to influence the citys young musicians, who began to incorporate the new sounds coming from the East and West Coasts. Both Black music-rooted styles originating in the streets, it was only a matter of time before hip-hop and brass band music came together.

Deff Generation in 1991 mixed the two styles on its song Running with the Second Line, but it was The Soul Rebels that firmly blended the genres on their 1994 debut Let Your Mind Be Free.

In its more than 30 years, The Soul Rebels have come full circle and now perform with many of the acts that inspired the band, like Rakim, Slick Rick and Melle Mel. They headlined Jazz Fest in 2017 with Nas and returned to the Congo Square Stage earlier this year with the Wu-Tang Clan. The band also has played with DMX, Black Star, The Roots Black Thought and Joey Bada$$.

Today, along with Moss and LeBlanc, The Soul Rebels include trumpeters Marcus Hubbard and Julian Gosin, trombonists Corey Peyton and Paul Robertson, saxophonist Erion Williams and sousaphonist Manuel Perkins Jr. The bands latest album is 2019s Poetry in Motion.

Gambit spoke with Hubbard, who joined The Soul Rebels in 1998, and Perkins, who joined in 2017, about merging hip-hop and brass band music and Master Ps influence on the music industry.

This Q&A is part of a series of interviews about New Orleans as hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Gambit: What was your introduction to hip-hop?

Marcus Hubbard: The first artist that I actually fell in love with was Eric B. & Rakim. When I saw them on TV with the gold chains and eight-ball jackets, the leather jackets and stuff, that was my first time ever seeing hip-hop artists with that kind of flair. Before that you had Whodini and the rest of the guys, but when I saw Eric B., I liked his flow and everything about him.

My first tape that I bought was the (Eric B. & Rakim) Paid In Full record. And then the other one I had was Big Daddy Kane. So we were lucky to [play with] both of those guys on one night in New York.

I was around when the gangsta rap first was hitting. NWA first dropped, that was when you first heard those aggressive tones on the record. You had Black Power stuff with Public Enemy, but the real aggressive stuff, that was the first time you heard that. NWA, Ice-T, all those guys I was listening to when they first came out.

Manuel Perkins Jr.: My introduction was actually New Orleans artists on Cash Money Records and No Limit. This was when those guys were making the airwaves and being introduced in the mainstream media at that time.

Gambit: Who were the first New Orleans artists that yall admired? Manny, was it some of the Cash Money and No Limit rappers?

Perkins: At the time, I think Master P, because he was the top guy at the time that was coming out of New Orleans as far as airwaves and the hip-hop sound that was coming out down here. And shortly after that, you have Cash Money with their whole entourage that was introducing their sound. It was pretty much a collection of what Master Ps camp and Cash Moneys camp were doing. It was just very cool.

Hubbard: My first hip-hop song was Gregory D and Mannie Fresh, Buck Jump Time. That was the first song we heard on the radio, and it just had so much energy. I was there when bounce first came, and we heard T. Tucker and DJ Irv doing their thing.

You had a lot of people from New Orleans: Ghetto Twiinz, Tim Smooth, bounce rappers like Cheeky Blakk and Katey Red. I was in the era when bounce first dropped, so Jubilee. Everybody when I was in high school had dance teams. It was a bunch of dance crews going to different talent shows and going to different dances. Youd wear your uniforms, and you represented whatever school you was with. Every school had a dance team. It was fun, man. It wasnt about all the violence and stuff you had going on during that time. Bounce music was one of the things that brought good feelings to everybody.

Gambit: What do you think makes hip-hop and brass band music work so well together, both musically and also culturally?

Hubbard: Both of them emerged from the streets. Brass band music is a combination of different Caribbean sounds mixing with the European instruments, and it was something that was basically organic from the street. It was something that was supported by the streets first. And thats kind of how hip-hop originated: guys just DJing in the square.

At first, with hip-hop it was all about the DJs, and most of the emcees were just guys they consider like hype-men whod just bring a little extra energy. But then the roles completely reversed. The emcee is the front, and the DJ is in the back.

For us, growing up in that time when hip-hop was becoming really big, that was music that we were listening to, but living in New Orleans, brass band and jazz and everything is all at the forefront. You couldnt run away from it. It was something that you listened to every day. But our music peers, the hip-hop artists we grew up with  its kind of natural that you wanted to do that, too.

The way we always looked at it is: Hip-hop is based on using old jazz and funk records and scratching up jazz records and sampling different old music. So for us, it was kind of a natural merge, because the horns and things that youre sampling, thats what we do. For us, its instead of having a DJ doing the scratching, it was a natural merging of the horns and making a live scene.

I think it is opening the eyes of a lot of rappers. Theyve heard a lot of these different horn loops and stuff like that, but to hear a horn section play it [is powerful]. The thing about us is were acoustic. Its different between having keyboards and guitars and stuff like that  you can hear that pretty much anywhere in the world. But you get to hear us do it with the natural, organic horns. It makes it much better. And I think its given them something fresh and new to observe.

Perkins: Hip-hop originated with beats that were [originally] played by horn players and musicians, so it's just a culmination of going back to the roots and having that live instrumentation. The DJs were sampling records with horns on the beat, drums, and they were making their mixes from instrumental songs. Were bringing the instrumentalist style back to the forefront.

Gambit: What has been New Orleans most significant contribution to hip-hop?

Perkins: That you can actually do it independently. That you dont necessarily need labels all of the time. Master P showed that with his company. The labels werent trying to give him any money to fund their product, and the money that some of the labels were trying to give him, he didnt feel as though it was enough, so he did it independently.

He showed the world that you can do it, and you can have so many different records being played in so many different places at one time. Because if youre making good music and youre making a good product, people are going to gravitate toward it.

Hubbard: I agree. I feel that Master P is the main one that shows that betting on yourself can be real beneficial. A lot of people had labels back then, but they were cool with letting major labels control everything. But I think Master P was the first artist that realized what his worth was. He felt like, Im able to make records and push records myself. All I need is somebody to be able to put it into places that I cant put it into.

He had to put up a lot of his money. You get people thats willing to do it now, but before [Master P], a lot of people were scared to do that. People werent putting up their own money to fund a whole project.

Thats one thing I think New Orleans hip-hop doesnt get credit for: the business side. We added a lot to the mindset of how to think about doing this stuff and whats possible even if you do it yourself.

I think part of it is just being from [New Orleans]. We always feel like, if we want anything, weve got to do it ourselves. We dont have major record labels and stuff in New Orleans, so a lot of stuff, you have to do for yourself. You start learning that a lot of this we can do ourselves, so we dont really need to be giving somebody 30% or 40% for something we can do ourselves.

Gambit: Do you feel New Orleans hip-hop gets the respect it deserves?

Hubbard: I think at times. You have moments. One thing about it, guys respect Master P for his business side. So you wont get guys who say, Oh no, that wasnt nothing. And then you had Cash Money basically come right after that. So we had two major labels come out of New Orleans.

One thing about it, though, we dont really have any major labels besides that. So I can understand why some of the respect is not given to the level that we really think it [should be].

A lot of our music, too, is based on having fun. You got a whole bunch of different genres, trap, gangsta rap, and all kinds of different stuff out here. Our music is true to what New Orleans is, which is about having fun. So some people might consider that bubblegum rap or something like that. But it all has its place. The crazy part about it is you have bounce music, but all crunk music is is a different version of that. Its about turning the club up. Its basically the same thing when it comes to us.

I think that helps us, too, as far as a brass band. Were built on being able to interact with the crowd, which is basically kind of what hip-hop is. Its a give-and-take between the crowd and the band. A lot of it was kind of a natural thing. The crowd response, the chants, thats in New Orleans music. Thats coming from the music we made with Native Americans. Chanting is natural to New Orleans, thats why you get bounce music, when you tell the crowd to say something and they say omething, thats a natural thing for us. Thats how the slaves interacted with each other. So for us, its just a natural thing.

Music is supposed to be free. Theres no limits to what you can do. Thats all jazz is. Improvisation. Whatever you feel, do it. By us having so much freedom to do so much with music, thats why were able to come up with a lot of stuff and fit into spaces that a lot of people cant play in. Thats one thing that helps Soul Rebels. When we go play with these different artists  were playing with hip-hop artists, were playing with heavy metal artists, were playing with funk artists  were able to do that because, naturally, we feel like if its music, theres a place for us.

Gambit: What has hip-hop come to mean to you?

Perkins: Its a lifestyle. So many different elements that go into it, from the vernacular that some people use to the way that they dress to some of the things that they do within their lifestyle, all of it has been influenced by hip-hop in some way, shape or form. Yes, it derives from other forms of music, but hip-hop basically comes to the forefront to be like, OK, were the new front runner of the music industry, and we want everyone to follow us.

Whether it be bubblegum rap, gangsta rap, trap rap, feel-good hip-hop, go-go hip-hop, all of these different subgenres has gotten everybody on board in some way. It may only be a handful of songs that you like, but you can pick at least one song from any of these subgenres and be like I really like this song, and it has changed people just by listening to that song.

It's amazing just to see what it has done to the human soul. Im pretty sure you guys can remember at the beginning everybody thought hip-hop wouldnt last and things like that, but it is here, 50 years and still growing and still being strong every day

Hubbard: One thing about hip-hop thats helped it last this long is its always reinventing itself. Its never just been one thing. It starts out with The Sugarhill Gang, and it goes into your Kurtis Blows and Rakims, and then it goes into your gangsta rap and it goes into your Tribe Called Quests. No matter what background you come from, theres a form of hip-hop that you can relate to, and thats the thing I like about it. Hip-hop is always open to new changes.

It's a culture. The music is a part of it, but [hip-hop] controls how people dress. It controls how people think. You see the mindset of coming from nothing and becoming something. Its been proven in hip-hop that you can do that. Its provided education for kids. Its done so much.

It has been here for 50 years, and its definitely set up to be here another 50 years. Whatever comes down the pipe, hip-hop is going to find a way to weave itself into it and show you that we can be in this space, too.

Thats the fun part about it: the journey. Just seeing where hip-hop came from, from being just a DJ with a turntable in the courtyard of a project, to now you see it at the Super Bowl, you see it all overseas. No matter where you go in the world, theres people who are fans of hip-hop. Thats amazing to see.
4S LLC, an official partner of the Claas Group of Germany proudly working over the years in the agricultural sector of Azerbaijan, continues to offer new innovative solutions for farmers. Claas made Dominator Combines seen as the effective vehicles in harvesting wheat fields, has earned a high evaluation by national farmers.

As the business partner of the Claas Group in Azerbaijan, the 4S Company has showcased an updated and strengthened version of Claas Dominator Combines to the agricultural owners of Azerbaijan in 2022. The new Dominator features 5 straw walkers with 60% enlarged threshing unit, and two times increased grain tank. It takes only one minute to empty a tank of the New Dominator that enables increased working potential and accelerates the speech of harvesting. This Combine is a multipurpose machine that is highly productive in harvesting all types of cereals.

The 4S LLC founder Elkhan Alakbarov noted that corporate technicians have attended long term training courses in Germany to deliver high quality and operative services to the farmers. They have obtained special certificates upon the completion of training courses. At the same time, there are large stocks of spare parts to maintain 7/24 services for vehicles and meet potential needs. It is indeed convenient to ensure the comfortable use of Claas machines by owners, reduce losses and increase productivity.

Elkhan Alakbarov also said that Claas Dominator 260 Combines is unmatched leader compared to the competitors of its class.

Let us see comparative data are given below:

Concave area  0,95 m2 (more than 20%) Separation area  5,35 m2 (more than 12%) Cleaning area  4,80 m2 (more than 20%) Fuel tank volume 500 l (more than 67%) Maximum output  205 hp (effective more than 19%) Spare parts lubrication time interval  50 hours (5 times more effective) A possibility of visual control of product separation ISOBUS terminal and multifunctional control lever ensures more comfortable steering and control. Panoramic glass windows of this Combines enables a larger visual frontal controlling area.

All of these amenities make the harvesting operations more effective, productive and cleaner.

Another important feature of Dominator 260 model that it demonstrates the same effectiveness and productivity when harvesting corn and sunflower fields.

For these purposes, the only thing you will need are attachments of Claas Sunspeed and Corio offered by 4S LLC.

What about these attachments and its working mechanism?

Farid Bananyarli, Executive Director of 4S LLC notes that the main factor to harvest corn and sunflower with success and less losses is the accurate and exact separation of plant roots from its stems. In this context, Claas Corio attachment features enable us to say that it is a tool that can be maximum effective and unmatched in harvesting corn. Applied innovative systems allow to separate root from stem without any damage.

Well balanced solutions presented by Claas engineers make corn harvesting as ideal as possible and ensure maximum quality of product by reducing losses.

Claas SUNSPEED attachments offered by 4S LLC can make your Dominator Combine as a very comfortable vehicle to harvest in sunflower fields.

With its stalk-free picking concept based on row interval and stem width, SUNSPEED becomes the universal machine in sunflower harvesting. Thus, SUNSPEED helps to prevent premature separation of stem during harvesting. At the same time, the unique system of Dominator creates all conditions to obtain maximum clean and quality product.

Unique amenities of SUNSPEED attachments make possible an effective harvesting in sunflower fields:

low fuel consumption;

increased productivity.

In a nutshell, Claas Technologies offered by 4S LLC help you to optimize your expenses, increase productivity and be on the forefront from competing farmers.

All technologies are offered to you on privileged leasing terms with German guarantee.

Our mission is to set new traditions in the agricultural area.
Barnstaple Local Policing Inspector Andy Wills was on duty in London recently assisting colleagues at The Metropolitan Police Service.

He led a team of mutual aid officers from several other police forces, including Surrey, Sussex and Norfolk, as well as officers from his own force  Devon & Cornwall Police.

Officers from across the UK helped out to police the streets of London in late November, for protest processions and assemblies related to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

Inspector Andy Wills explained: I was on duty in London to lead a team of 24 officers from various other police forces in support of colleagues at The Met Police. The police family help each other out when necessary and we rely on our colleagues around the country and home nations to help us keep the public safe.

Early one morning we were presented with a great opportunity for a photograph outside Number 10 Downing Street, which really added to our interesting experience policing the nations capital.

Inspector Wills has served with Devon & Cornwall Police for almost 19 years and has spent most of that time in North and West Devon. He has been a Response Constable, a Neighbourhood Beat Manager, a Response Sergeant and a Custody Sergeant. He also spent two years as an Inspector working in the Contact Centre at police HQ Middlemoor in Exeter managing the emergency 999 and non emergency 101 calls, as well as online crime reporting.

He has also previously served with Sussex Police as a switchboard operator dealing with calls from the public and is a Public Order Commander. As with other colleagues who work locally, this is not the first time he has been called upon to assist other police forces outside of his usual North Devon patch.

For more information about the Barnstaple Local Neighbourhood Policing Team please follow them on Facebook Barnstaple Police account or visit www.devon-cornwall.police.uk
DUBAI, UAE, December 12. UNFCCC will work with Azerbaijan for successful COP 29, Senior Director of Operations Coordination of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Chhaya Kapilashrami told journalists, Trend reports.

She spoke on the sidelines of the COP 28 conference in Dubai.

"Congratulations to Azerbaijan for willing to host COP 29. We in the UNFCCC Secretariat look forward to working with your government and your people to have a successful COP 29," she said.

"We go from COP to COP, but UNFCCC is the constant force to help guide and support. We hope to be able to support the conversations around fair transition to renewable energy. We hope to be able also to support the conversation on financing, which will be a big piece of COP 29," she said.

Kapilashrami emphasized that UNFCCC had huge landmark decision on the Loss and Damage Fund from the very first days at COP 28, which was significant. The adoption of the agenda was also made on the very first day. UNFCCC has been working on negotiations on mitigation, adaptation and other important matters over the last two weeks.

UNFCCC hopes that Azerbaijan as the host will take this conversation forward at COP29.

"I hope the commitments to Loss and Damage Fund will continue from year to year. I believe that here was a commitment to the Fund, there were also pledges. We hope to keep the momentum at COP29.," she said.
The Sisters-based farm and educational outreach program Seed to Table has named Holly Haddad as the new executive director starting January 4, 2024.

With a 25-year background in food systems development, nonprofit management, and agriculture, Haddad brings years of experience to the organization. The nonprofit is celebrating 10 years of success and growth led by the passion, skilled guidance, and depth of knowledge of founder and current executive director Audrey Tehan, who is moving into the organization's new position of farm director.

"Holly and I connected deeply around our passion for local food systems, education, community, and leadership. She will be an incredible team member in stewarding our organization, with experience and commitment to focus on sustaining and deepening our impact throughout Central Oregon," said Tehan.

Sheila Kelley, board chair for Seed to Table (S2T), added, "Seed to Table is thrilled to have Holly join Audrey and the S2T team. As we launch into our second decade of building community through equitable access to farm-based education and locally grown, farm-fresh produce, whether delivered direct from the farm, the Sisters Farmers Market, and our community partners, our leadership team is strong, intelligent, experienced, and poised to sustain our work for years to come."

Tehan is excited to step into the role of farm director while Haddad takes the lead on strategic planning, fund development, budget management, and other executive duties. As the founder of the organization, Tehan will still play an important role in strategic planning, fundraising, and communications.

"It was very clear through our extensive interview process that Holly is a champion of collaboration - internally in organizations and throughout communities. Collaboration is a huge part of our organizational culture and I can't wait to see what the leadership team of Holly, in combination with Program Director Hannah Joseph, Sisters Farmers Market Program Manager Willa Bauman, and myself will accomplish in the future," said Tehan.

"I'm so honored to join Audrey and the incredible Seed to Table team at such an exciting time. Seed to Table is a truly vibrant organization that offers so many ways to celebrate community belonging and local, sustainable agriculture. We are so fortunate to have this unique, mission-driven nonprofit right here in Sisters," said Haddad.

In Haddad's previous role as associate director for Family Farmed, she was instrumental in growing the nonprofit and launching their Good Food Business Accelerator and on-farm food safety program. She also led their market development programming, which has trained over 15,000 produce farmers across the U.S. As executive director for Chefs Collaborative, she led an organizational turnaround and delivered an innovative national Chef Summit, which included dramatically expanding the diversity of participating scholars, chefs, and community partners.

Haddad also contributed to research at the Program on Agricultural Technology Studies at the University of Wisconsin and managed new program development at the Skagit County Community Action Agency in Mt. Vernon, Washington. She served on the National Advisory Council for the Women, Food, and Agriculture Network as well as on the boards of Slow Food Chicago, and World Pulse, a network that supports and connects grassroots women leaders around the globe.

Being a part of the farming community for over two decades has inspired Haddad as she's watched local farmers brave a myriad of challenges. She admires their tenacity, camaraderie, and deep commitment to a thriving Central Oregon community and ecosystem.

"I look forward to lending my skills and passion for local produce and farm-based education so that Seed to Table can continue to flourish and nourish the community well into the future. I'm eager to deepen my connections here in Sisters and Central Oregon so we can all grow, learn, and thrive together," said Haddad.

For more information contact Audrey Tehan at [email protected].
I was a youngster in 1975-76, when the American Bicentennial celebrations were underway, and I was obsessed. I dove into the American Revolution with all the passion you might expect a 10-year-old to bring to, say, Star Wars, or some such. I have always been a history nerd.

I watched Disneys Johnny Tremain in school, the kids cheering when the Minute Men ambushed and gunned down the Redcoats. Dont imagine that happens anymore. I read the covers off of Esther Forbes novel, then moved on to her biography of Paul Revere.

My parents indulged me with repeated trips to Knotts Berry Farms replica of Independence Hall, where I sat rapt, listening to an audio re-enactment of the debates over the Declaration of Independence. I held secret meetings of the Sons of Liberty in the loft of our cabin in Wrightwood, California.

Somehow, a half-century has roared by, and were coming up on the 250th anniversary of the events that created our nation.

On December 16, 1773, tax protests in Boston hit a tipping point that led inexorably to armed conflict, which would break out on April 19, 1775. The watershed event would go down in history as the Boston Tea Party.

Things had actually calmed down in the American colonies, after several years of protests over taxes imposed by the British Parliament without the consent of colonial legislatures. Parliament had (mostly) backed down. Then the British government tried to solve several problems at once  and made a major miscalculation. As the Massachusetts Historical Society recounts:

In the spring of 1773, the East India Company had a large amount of surplus tea on hand. To aid the failing company, thwart the smuggling of Dutch tea, and reassert its authority to levy taxes on the colonies, Parliament authorized the Tea Act on 10 May 1773. Tea sold in America would carry no duty for the East India Company; instead, the tea would be taxed at the point of entry in colonial ports.

The government expected no trouble over this. The amount of the tax was insignificant. The tea  which Americans consumed by the gallon  would be sold at a discount rate. Why would anybody protest over such a good deal?

The ploy was too clever by half, and American activists in every colony saw through it. There was a unified movement to refuse to allow the tea to be offloaded anywhere. On December 16, 40 men dressed up as Mohawk Indians marched down to Griffin Wharf in Boston, boarded three merchant ships, and dumped 342 chests of fin Bohea Tea into Boston Harbor.

This was no riot. The men who conducted the operation were mostly trained militiamen, and acted with discipline. No damage was done to the ships; the locks on the cargo holds that were broken to get at the tea were replaced, and the one man who tried to stuff some tea into his pockets was severely chastised.

When news of the Boston Tea Party made its way back across the Atlantic Ocean in a few weeks, King George III and his Parliament blew a gasket. This kind of disrespect of government authority could not be tolerated.

King George wrote to his minister Lord North:

The die is now cast. The Colonies must submit or triumph.

Parliament passed what they aptly titled the Coercive Acts to bring the colonies to heel. They shut down the port of Boston and sent troops to occupy the city under what was essentially martial law. The Americans called the legislation the Intolerable Acts. And they began to gather arms and to drill in anticipation of an armed confrontation.

It wasnt long in coming. The colonies did not submit, and  after many years and terrible hardship  they triumphed, and the United States of America was born.

Its worth commemorating such historical moments for their own sake  moments that created the world we live in. We history nerds love these occasions when the connection with the past feels particularly strong.

But beyond mere commemoration, anniversaries are opportunities to glean lessons from history.

When a government tries to trick or bribe its constituency into compliance, its stepping out onto a slippery slope. People dont like being taken for fools, and if theyre already leery of a governments actions, chicanery and false pretenses only make things worse.

Demanding respect and submission under threat or actual use of force may work in the short term. You can coerce and cow people into obedience for a time. But doing so sacrifices legitimacy, and grievances fester, exacerbated by humiliation. The result can be explosive. A government that forces a submit-or-triumph choice upon its own people is borrowing trouble.

Thats worth pondering on in our own troubled times  perhaps over a mug of hot tea. There are plenty of choices in Sisters, and at least you wont be paying a sales tax on it.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. With deep respect and reverence, we honor the bright memory of the great leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Jahit Bagchi said on X (Twitter), Trend reports.

"Those who dedicated their lives to the nation and fellowship always live in our hearts. May his soul rest in peace!" he said.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new regulations on pollution from steel mills that the steel industry and some elected officials say would impose heavy costs on domestic steelmaking, making it less competitive, but that environmentalists say do not go far enough to safeguard public health.

The EPA is proposing limits on emissions from "fugitive" sources at steel mills like bell leaks, unplanned bleeder valve openings, planned bleeder valve openings, slag pits and beaching. It aims to raise standards on releases from sinter plants and blast furnaces.

We have serious concerns with these proposed rules because they would dramatically undermine the domestic steel industry and national security while driving production overseas, likely resulting in no net reduction in emissions from the steel industry globally, wrote a bipartisan group of senators who hail from states where the steel industry has a significant presence.

Sens. Todd Young, R-Indiana, Mike Braun, R-Indiana, Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania, and Amy Klobuchar D-Minnesota, called for the EPA not to enact the proposed regulations.

Cleveland-Cliffs Chairman, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said the company is investing in reducing emissions.

"However, these EPA proposed rules are not technically feasible or scientifically justified, he said. If promulgated, the regulations would put at risk good-paying, middle class union jobs in the steel industry."

Steelmakers and steelworkers have raised concerns the new rules would require billions of dollars in capital spending and raise operating costs.

The proposed amendments would result in significant costs and jeopardize good paying jobs in local economies throughout the U.S," said Donnie Blatt, director of United Steel Workers District 1. "The EPA should further consider revising these amendments responsibly to allow U.S. steel companies to compete globally and still achieve their desired goals.

But Earthjustice Senior Attorney James Pew said the regulations do not come close to protecting public health in communities like Northwest Indiana.

"The mills currently emit more than 350 tons of toxic metals like arsenic and lead as fugitive emissions," he said. "The rule would reduce these fugitive emissions by just 80 tons, leaving approximately 270 in the air. The health harms from lead and arsenic are very serious. The three sinter plants in Northwest Indiana  the only sinter plants still operating in this country  are largely untouched by the rule. They can continue emitting more than 200 tons per year of hazardous air pollutants into the communities between Gary and East Chicago."

Steel mills will continue to release a significant amount of toxic pollutants that have been tied to a number of health issues, including known carcinogens like lead.

"The rule seems designed to do very little and cost industry very little. It wont impact the mills emissions much, and will cost only $5.4 million in capital costs and $2.8 million in annual costs for the whole industry," Pew said. "The industrys revenues were well over $40 billion last year."
VALPARAISO  More than four years after being accused of raping a then-12-year-old girl, Hebron resident Kittrell Hawthorne will stand trial next month, court records show.

Porter Superior Court Judge Mike Fish granted Hawthorne's request this week for an early trial and scheduled the three-day proceedings to begin Jan. 30.

Hawthorne, who now lives in Georgia but is in custody at the Porter County Jail, is charged with felony counts of rape, child molesting and theft stemming from the alleged incident on Aug. 28, 2019 at a home in Hebron, records show.

Police said when the arrived at the home that night they found the young girl sitting on a couch with her head in her lap and crying uncontrollably.

The girl's mother said she had gone to work that night and left her three children with Hawthorne, but returned unexpectedly and found Hawthorne in the girl's bedroom looking surprised and sweaty, police said. Hawthorne reportedly ran past the woman, who found her daughter in the bedroom closet crying and only partially clothed.

Hawthorne, who was dating the woman, allegedly left without permission in her vehicle, according to police.

The girl told police she went to bed that night and awoke at some point to Hawthorne lying with her. It was then that he is accused of raping her, causing her physical harm, police said.

Valpo man ordered to apologize after knocking out downtown restaurant employee A witness reported seeing Malamatos strike another man with a closed fist, causing him to fall unconscious and suffer swelling and a cut to the side of his face, police said.

Hawthorne was taken into custody at gunpoint the following morning after police were tipped off that he was on his way to pick up his last paycheck in Merrillville before intending to flee the area.

A pretrial hearing in the case is scheduled for Jan. 2, records show.
GARY  The Lake County Coroner's Office has identified the body of a Gary woman found in the Little Calumet River.

According to a news release from the Coroner's Office, the body of 36-year-old Brittni Campbell was recovered from Little Calumet River on Saturday.

Lake County Coroner David J. Pastrick and the Lake County Coroner Death Investigations team responded to 3000 Chase Street at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Campbell was officially pronounced dead at 4:30 p.m., after her body was recovered.

Campbell's family made an identification on Monday; she had been missing since Sept. 12 of this year.

An autopsy has been performed, however the cause of death is still pending.

Gary Police, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Lake County Homicide Task Force assisted at the scene.

PHOTOS: Gary names new police chief Indiana State Police press conference regarding their partnership with Gary PD Indiana State Police press conference regarding their partnership with Gary PD Indiana State Police press conference regarding their partnership with Gary PD Indiana State Police press conference regarding their partnership with Gary PD Indiana State Police press conference regarding their partnership with Gary PD Indiana State Police press conference regarding their partnership with Gary PD Indiana State Police press conference regarding their partnership with Gary PD Indiana State Police press conference regarding their partnership with Gary PD Indiana State Police press conference regarding their partnership with Gary PD Indiana State Police press conference regarding their partnership with Gary PD
DUBAI, UAE, December 12. The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29) in Azerbaijan will be needed to move from pledges to actions, Joseph Njuguna from Kenya told reporters on the sidelines of the COP28 in Dubai, Trend reports.

"We are at the forefront of climate initiatives. I support Azerbaijan in hosting COP 29. We will need to move from ideas to real actions. Thats what we want to see. We need concrete pledges turning into actions in financial sphere, especially for developing countries. All we have now are pledges, but this is not enough," he said.

Njuguna pointed out a need of actual financing the fight against climate change.

"We are really suffering, we have a big gap between what is expected and what has been provided. I hope I will have an opportunity to attend COP 29 in Azerbaijan and make a presentation there," he added.

The decision to host COP 29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai during the COP28 on December 11. The Eastern European regional group has selected Azerbaijan to host the COP29 next year. COP 29 will take place in November 2024.

In addition to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Bulgaria put forth their candidacies. However, on December 7, 2023, after direct negotiations between the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Armenia decided to withdraw its candidacy in support of Azerbaijan. Bulgaria followed suit and also withdrew its candidacy.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal Monday filed by a former Starke County Council member who was expelled from the financial governing body by his colleagues in 2019 after explicitly threatening racial and religious minorities.

It was the second legal loss this month for Thomas DeCola, of North Judson, after the Indiana Supreme Court dismissed a separate DeCola appeal Friday seeking title to LaPorte County railway property owned by Norfolk Southern Corp. that DeCola purchased at a county tax sale.

The nation's highest court, as is typical, did not detail its reasons for declining to review DeCola's claim that he was unlawfully removed from the Northwest Indiana county council seat to which DeCola was elected in 2018 as a Republican.

DeCola's prior attempts to regain his seat, or be compensated for its loss, likewise were denied at every level in both the state and federal court systems, records show.

According to court records, DeCola was expelled from the council after he told participants at the Dec. 12, 2018 Association of Indiana Counties conference that he was "an active member of the Aryan Brotherhood" and "n-----s and Jews were no longer going to be allowed in Starke County" once he took office Jan. 1, 2019.

DeCola also told Indiana county officials attending the conference that "n-----s and Jews" were not safe in Starke County, he knew how to torture people, and previously had tortured "n-----s and Jews" in an underground bunker, records show.

According to court records, the Starke County Council voted 5-1 to remove DeCola from the council for violating the oath of office he signed Dec. 7, 2018, which contained a pledge to "impartially" serve the citizens of Starke County while supporting the U.S. and Indiana Constitutions  neither of which permit the government to expel individuals from a county based on their race or religion.

Under Indiana law, a county council can remove a member for violating an official duty if at least two-thirds of the council members agree.

Starke County is home to approximately 23,000 people and is located immediately south of LaPorte County. The Starke County seat, Knox, is about 32 miles southeast of Valparaiso.

In DeCola's tax sale case, the Indiana Supreme Court's five justices unanimously agreed his appeal should be dismissed because DeCola sought review by the Indiana Court of Appeals (and got it), as well as the state's highest court, prior to receiving a final judgment at the trial court in LaPorte County.

"We raise the jurisdictional issue here to remind ourselves and our judicial colleagues of the importance of ensuring that courts exercise judicial power only where our jurisdiction is secure," said Justice Geoffrey Slaughter, a Crown Point native, on behalf of the Supreme Court.

In any case, DeCola appears unlikely to obtain clear title to the Norfolk Southern property because records show the railway did not receive sufficient notice of the tax sale, its right of redemption or the petition for a tax deed  as required by law.

Gallery: Take a virtual tour of Indiana's state parks Brown County State Park Chain O' Lakes State Park Charlestown State Park Clifty Falls State Park Falls of the Ohio State Park Fort Harrison State Park Harmonie State Park Lincoln State Park McCormick's Creek State Park Mounds State Park O'Bannon Woods State Park Ouabache State Park Pokagon State Park Potato Creek State Park Prophetstown State Park Shades State Park Shakamak State Park Spring Mill State Park Summit Lake State Park Tippecanoe River State Park Turkey Run State Park Versailles State Park White River State Park Whitewater Memorial State Park
The social media message arrived at 10:20 p.m. Saturday night.

Wirt High School is on fire, a friend told me.

My heart sunk. I thought of you because I know you went to school there, the message stated.

It came with a short video of a raging fire in the background.

Were on our way home from Chicago on the toll road, the message stated.

My mind raced. But then I realized its impossible to see my old school from the Indiana Toll Road. I watched the video again. My friend must have been talking about Emerson High School in Gary, located just south of the toll road.

The Steel Citys first high school, at Seventh Avenue and Carolina Street, had been a shell of its former glory, abandoned many years ago and left for graffiti vandals, scrapping vultures and criminal elements, including arson.

Were watching it burn, my friend told me.

My first thought was of all the generations of proud Emerson graduates in our Region and across the country. Their once-majestic school  opened in 1909 and closed for good in 2008  had already looked like it was hit by a bomb. The last time I was stopped there was in July, to record a video for a column. (Watch it at NWI.com.)

Last week, I drove past the school again after my interview with Eddie Melton, the citys next mayor. I was just curious how it looked. The massive school has a gravitational pull for people even if we didnt attend classes there.

It was the best of the best, Jim Terry told me a few years ago.

Hes a former student from the schools 1960 graduating class, which continues to meet, mingle and reminiscence. On Saturday, the groups reunion committee met at Tiebels Family Restaurant in Schererville. Coincidentally on the same day as the fire. They had no idea that in just a few hours their beloved school would be in flames. Again.

Units are currently on scene for a 2-Alarm Fire at Emerson High School, the Gary Fire Department posted on its Facebook page that night with photos of the blaze.

One person commented, They shouldve just let it melt on down  it was time.

I immediately shared the news with Emerson graduates on a private Facebook page.

So sad, Terry commented. So many wonderful memories going up in flames.

The Emerson School Alumni Page blazed with reactions about the fire as it continued to burn in the darkness.

Shes on fire tonight, one post sighed.

Im crushed, someone wrote.

My heart hurts, another graduate wrote.

This is awful. I would rather see them demolish the school than to watch its demise, a person wrote.

With tears in my eyes. Can't believe it's come to this. It was supposed to be preserved as a historical site, one grad commented.

In 1995, the school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The recognition did little to rescue the building from the ravages of time, the corruption of politicians, and decades of empty promises to preserve it.

My heart sunk for all the grads who once wandered its halls, studied in its library, swam in its pool and made teenage connections that would last a lifetime.

A sad end for the most historic school building in America, Kendall Svengalis commented on that Facebook webpage. The well-known Emerson graduate authored the 2006 book, Gary, Indiana: A Centennial Celebration.

We don't realize the importance of high school in our lives until weve escaped far enough away to look back and see it from a distance. This distance could take 10 to 20 years, or 60 to 70 years, or possibly hundreds of life experiences and thousands of miles away from our old school.

Until we reach whats called a shift in time perspective, we dont fully understand or appreciate the indelible mark of our high school life. It doesnt matter if we lived our glory days or ghastly days back then. Those experiences are imprinted on us like songs from that time period. High school life leaves impressions on us that have a way of lingering long after the final bell rings.

Emerson High School has had a deeper effect on its graduates. For them, the latest fire felt like watching a sad bonfire blaze into the night. These past years, its like a loved one is in hospice or in a coma. The plug needs to be pulled. The patient needs to be let go.

Dont let this building sit in ruins, one graduate commented. Give it a proper burial, clean up the site and turn it into a memorial park for people of the neighborhood to enjoy.

The schools namesake, Ralph Waldo Emerson, once penned, The earth laughs in flowers.

Someday the sprawling school property will be covered with nothing but fond memories and fresh flowers.

We have the best of memories and they cant take that away from us, a graduate said.

GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week
At Harvard, students, faculty, alumni and donors debated today over the future of the schools leadership. Claudine Gay, the universitys president, was facing calls to resign after widely criticized comments she made last week about antisemitism on campus.

As Harvards governing body met today, hundreds of faculty came to Gays defense in several open letters. One, from Black faculty members, called the attacks on the schools president specious and politically motivated. Another letter that was gaining traction, from students and alumni, called for her firing, saying she does not represent our collective values.

The uproar mirrors the situation at another Ivy League school, the University of Pennsylvania, where its president, Elizabeth Magill, resigned on Saturday after losing the support of the schools board of trustees. My colleagues wrote about the path to her downfall, which began as far back as August.

At Yale, university officials condemned what they called the desecration of a public Hanukkah menorah after a protester hung a Palestinian flag from it.
A federal judge in Texas on Monday upheld a ban that prevented state employees from using TikTok, the Chinese-owned short-form video app, on government devices and networks, rejecting a challenge by lawyers who argued that the prohibition had violated the First Amendment.

The ban was challenged in July by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. The institute filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Coalition for Independent Technology Research, whose members include Texas college professors who said that their work had been undermined after they were blocked from gaining access to TikTok on campus Wi-Fi and university-issued computers.

In his decision, Judge Robert L. Pitman of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas said he agreed that the ban had prevented public university faculty from using state-provided devices and networks to research and teach about TikTok, but found that it was a reasonable restriction in light of Texas concerns about data privacy.

Texas had limited the scope of its ban to state employees, he wrote, and there were numerous other ways for state employees, including public university faculty members, to access TikTok, such as on their personal devices.
The United Automobile Workers union accused three foreign automakers on Monday of unfair labor practices, asserting that they had interfered with efforts by employees to build support for the union at U.S. plants.

The union said it had filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board contending that the automakers  Honda, Hyundai and Volkswagen  had tried to prevent workers from discussing U.A.W. representation at work and that the companies had discriminated against those who had done so.

The action came two weeks after the U.A.W. announced an effort to organize nonunion plants owned by 10 foreign-owned companies, along with the domestic manufacturers Tesla, Lucid and Rivian, which make electric vehicles. The union has tried unsuccessfully to unionize some of those companies factories in recent years, but not simultaneously on such a wide scale.

The U.A.W. said Monday that hundreds of workers at Hondas plant in Greensburg, Ind., and at Hyundais plant in Montgomery, Ala., and more than 1,000 workers at a Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, Tenn., had signed cards expressing support for joining the union.
This case is unusual for Coxs willingness to wage a legal fight while suffering a medical catastrophe, but not for the cruel bind the state placed her in. The day Cox received the terrible news about her fetus, the Texas Supreme Court was hearing oral arguments in Zurawski v. Texas, a suit brought by two doctors and 20 women who had been denied medically necessary abortions and were seeking to clarify the scope of emergency exemptions to the states ban. Among the plaintiffs is Amanda Zurawski, who was 18 weeks pregnant after a year and a half of fertility treatments when her water broke. Although her pregnancy had no chance of surviving, she was denied an abortion until she became septic. Zurawski ended up spending days in an intensive care unit and has been left with damage to her reproductive tract that will most likely make it harder for her to become pregnant again.

Turning to Google in the midst of her own crisis, Cox learned about the Zurawski case and got in touch with the legal organization representing the 20 women, the Center for Reproductive Rights. That group quickly filed suit on her behalf, and last week, a Texas judge sided with Cox, issuing a temporary restraining order that would have allowed her doctor to end the pregnancy without facing criminal or civil penalties. But Paxton appealed the order and warned three hospitals where Coxs doctor holds admitting privileges not to let the abortion go forward. The restraining order, he wrote, will not insulate you, or anyone else, from civil and criminal liability for violating Texas abortion laws, including first-degree felony prosecutions. On Friday, Texas Supreme Court blocked the lower court ruling, pending its decision on the merits of the case.

In desperation, Cox finally traveled out of state for an abortion, though the Center for Reproductive Rights is not disclosing where she went. It cant have been easy, and not just because Cox has two young children at home. Even for people with financial resources, its painful to endure a medical trauma in an unfamiliar place.

As Molly Duane, the Center for Reproductive Rights attorney representing Cox, points out, abortion procedures at 15 weeks of pregnancy or later are generally done over two days, with patients sent home in between. Most people would rather not endure this process in a hotel room. Truly, she just wanted to get health care in Texas, Duane said on Friday. But she couldnt. Late on Monday, the Texas Supreme Court declared that Cox wasnt entitled to an abortion and vacated the lower courts order.

I think its the clearest message you could have possibly received from an anti-abortion state that they never meant the medical exemption to mean anything at all, Duane said.
A jury ruled on Monday that Google had violated antitrust laws to extract fees and limit competition from Epic Games and other developers on its Play mobile app store, in a case that could rewrite the rules on how thousands of businesses make money on Googles smartphone operating system, Android.

After deliberating for a little more than three hours, the nine-person federal jury sided with Epic Games on all 11 questions in a monthlong trial that was the latest turn in a three-year legal battle.

The jury in San Francisco found that Epic, the maker of the hit game Fortnite, proved that Google had maintained a monopoly in the smartphone app store market and engaged in anticompetitive conduct that harmed the videogame maker.

Google could be forced to alter its Play Store rules, allowing other companies to offer competing app stores and making it easier for developers to avoid the cut it collects from in-app purchases.
The House scrapped votes on rival bills late Monday that would narrow the scope of a powerful surveillance tool after an ugly fight broke out among Republicans, likely punting until next year on plans to renew but also limit an expiring wiretapping law at the heart of the program.

In a hastily organized closed-door meeting, Republican members traded accusations and even expletives as they argued over which of two measures to overhaul the law, known as Section 702, should be put to the floor. Under the law, the government can conduct warrantless surveillance of foreigners abroad but also sometimes sweeps in Americans private messages.

The dispute effectively upended Speaker Mike Johnsons plans to have the House vote on both measures this week and send to the Senate whichever one secured a larger majority  a rare move that conservatives vigorously protested.

Ive never seen us bring multiple bills at the same time from different committees and put them on the floor and have a beauty pageant, said Representative Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky and a member of the Rules Committee, which would have had to approve the maneuver. I think this would set a horrible precedent for legislating.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine began his last-ditch pitch for additional U.S. aid for his countrys war effort after arriving in Washington on Monday by declaring that the true winner of the stalled negotiations in Congress is Russia.

If theres anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill, its just Putin and his sick clique, Mr. Zelensky told national security officials at the National Defense University in Washington.

The remarks represented a message to Congress, even as its chances of passing an aid deal have become increasingly bleak. They also marked Mr. Zelenskys first appeals in a hastily organized trip to Washington that is also scheduled to include meetings with members of Congress and President Biden on Tuesday.

Mr. Zelensky and the White House have argued that supporting Ukraine would protect the West in the long term by preventing President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia from trying to seize more of Europe, though polls show the American public has grown increasingly skeptical of financial assistance for Ukraine.
Glenys Kinnock, a former European lawmaker and British government minister who helped secure for women a central role in the continents politics, died on Dec. 3 at her home in London. She was 79.

Her family confirmed the death, saying she was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease in 2017.

Her death was the first in a political dynasty built around her husband, Neil Kinnock, who led Britains Labour Party beginning in 1983, and a son, Stephen Kinnock, a Labour lawmaker, both of whom survive her, along with a daughter, Rachel Kinnock, a onetime Labour Party campaigner who became a television producer.

For many years Glenys Kinnock was seen primarily as the companion of her husband in his ill-starred efforts to reform the Labour Party and return it to power after the unbroken Conservative ascendancy of Margaret Thatcher and John Major between 1979 and 1997.

Notably, she was at Mr. Kinnocks side in 1983 when, during a photo-shoot on the pebbles of Brighton Beach in southern England, he stumbled into the incoming tide. That image of haplessness continued to haunt him in his unsuccessful campaigns to take over as prime minister  a dream that ended in 1992, when he lost national elections and quit as Labour Party leader. The party was returned to power only with the landslide election victory of Tony Blair in 1997.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. Heydar Aliyev's ideas both today and in the future will serve the sacred goals of the Azerbaijani people, said Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan Bahar Muradova, Trend reports.

She noted that the Azerbaijani people will remember Heydar Aliyev throughout the existence of the Azerbaijani state.

"Great leader Heydar Aliyev by his wise policy and with the help of people's power managed to overcome all difficulties and problems put by time before the country, and realized the people's millennial dream of independent statehood. Heroism and selflessness of Heydar Aliyev is an example for every citizen of Azerbaijan," Muradova added.

The 12th of December is the Remembrance Day of Heydar Aliyev, the national leader of the Azerbaijani people. Prime Minister Ali Asadov, speaker of Milli Majlis (Parliament) Sahiba Gafarova, head of the Presidential Administration Samir Nuriyev, and other state and government officials, as well as servicemen, law enforcement officers, representatives of the diplomatic corps visited the grave of the national leader in the Alley of Honorable Burial and, laying flowers at the monument, expressed deep respect to the memory of the founder of modern independent Azerbaijan.

Also, the memory of great leader Heydar Aliyev's spouse, scientist-ophthalmologist, and academician Zarifa Aliyeva was honored and flowers were laid at her place of grave.

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A commercial ship was hit and set on fire by an anti-ship cruise missile in the southern Red Sea, an attack U.S. officials say came from the Iranian-backed Houthi militia in Yemen.

The Strinda, a Norwegian motor tanker, was hit by what is assessed to have been an anti-ship cruise missile launched from a Houthi controlled area of Yemen, the Central Command of the U.S. Department of Defense said.

It represents the latest attack by the Houthi militia on targets in the Red Sea and the broader region during more than two months of war between Israel and Hamas, which is also backed by Iran. The Houthis  a rebel group long enmeshed in a civil war in Yemen  has launched a series of drone and missile assaults on Israeli and American targets since Hamas killed at least 1,200 people on Oct. 7 in southern Israel.

The Houthis have said they intend to prevent Israeli ships from sailing in the Red Sea until Israel stops its assault on Hamas in Gaza. At least 15,000 people, and possibly thousands more, have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, according to the health authorities there. It was not immediately clear whether the Strinda had any connection to Israel, and some of the Houthis prior targets have had no discernible connection to Israel.

Last week, Jake Sullivan, President Bidens national security adviser, said that the United States was in discussions with allies to set up a naval task force to guard ships traveling through the Red Sea.

The vessel was hit at about midnight local time on Tuesday while it was passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb, the Central Command said on X. The Bab el-Mandeb is a strait between the Horn of Africa and the Middle East that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, which opens into the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Geir Belsnes, the chief executive of Mowinckels Rederi, the shipping company that owns the Strinda, confirmed that the vessel, carrying feedstock for biofuel and bound for Italy, caught fire after being hit by a missile.

Fortunately, there were no injuries to any member of the crew, who managed to extinguish the fire, he said. The ship, manned by a crew of Indian nationals, was now proceeding to a safe port, he said.

No United States vessels had been in the vicinity during the attack, the Central Command said, adding that a U.S. Navy ship, the U.S.S. Mason, responded to the Strindas mayday call and was at the scene of the attack rendering aid.
Other dance offerings include the return of DanceAfrica (May 24-27), BAMs longest-running program and one of the largest festivals of African dance in the country, under the artistic direction of Abdel R. Salaam, and the return of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (June 4-9) for the New York troupes second year in a two-year commitment at BAM (repertory works will be announced at a later date).

BAM has been facing serious challenges recently: It announced in June that it had laid off 13 percent of its staff and reduced programming to try to close a sizable structural deficit. David Binder, its former artistic director, stepped down over the summer after roughly four years at the helm, a much shorter tenure than those of his predecessors.

This season begins with American Fiction: The Characters of Jeffrey Wright (Jan. 10 to Feb. 11), a look back at the Tony and Emmy Award-winning actors contribution to cinema across four decades. The retrospective will include five film screenings, including Wrights first starring role as the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. For younger audiences, the theater will present the BAMkids Film Festival (Feb. 3-4), highlighting short films and features from around the world; the schedule will be announced in the new year.

The performing arts center will also present the Long Play Festival (May 3-5), Bang on a Cans weekend-long classical music festival across venues in Downtown Brooklyn, and the L.G.B.T.Q. Artists Archive Project (Feb. 1 through June 30), an exhibition honoring the pioneering downtown artists who shaped New York over the past 35 years, including the playwright Ain Gordon, the choreographer Ishmael Houston-Jones and the actor Lola Pashalinski.

You kind of risk saying, Oh theres something for everyone, because that seems like a scattershot, Cassello said of the diverse season. It isnt. Its very intentional.
Four months after the British Museum fired a curator suspected of stealing gems, jewelry and semiprecious stones, the London institution on Tuesday released further information about the fate of the missing items.

Officials assume that around 1,500 artifacts were stolen or are otherwise missing from its Greek and Roman stores, the museum said in a news release. Another 350 items have been damaged, the statement added, including by gold having been removed. Those gold parts were likely to be unrecoverable, the museum said, and were probably sold to scrap metal merchants.

Another 140 items that remain in the museums possession have been damaged by tool marks, the news release added.

Of the missing 1,500 items, just over 350 had been returned, a British Museum spokeswoman said in an interview. Another 300 items had been identified, but those items had not been recovered.
When former President Donald J. Trumps eyes drifted shut as his former accountant testified during his civil fraud trial in New York State Supreme Court earlier this fall, no photographers captured the moment: Cameras were banned during the trial.

But several courtroom artists  an anachronistic group that continues to use chalky pastels to draw scenes from camera-free courtrooms to sell to TV stations and newspapers  were on it, erasing Mr. Trumps pupils from their sketches.

Hes nodding off! the artist Isabelle Brourman whispered to a colleague.

Ms. Brourman, a 30-year-old newcomer, was not part of the dwindling coterie of commercial courtroom artists who make their livings selling cinematic, sometimes vaguely expressionistic trial drawings to news outlets. She is there for a different kind of art project: A mixed media artist, she has found herself drawn to big trials, sketching the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial in Virginia last year and showing the resulting works in a Los Angeles gallery, and now trying to capture the frenetic energy and political theater of the remarkable fraud trial of a former U.S. president.

I wanted to bring something unregulated into such a regulated space, Ms. Brourman said recently in the marble halls of the courthouse.
Vincent van Gogh has been surprisingly busy for a dead man.

His paintings have featured in major museum exhibitions this year. Immersive theaters in cities like Miami and Milan bloom with projections of his swirling landscapes. His designs now appear on everything from sneakers to doormats, and a recent collaboration with the Pokemon gaming franchise was so popular that buyers stampeded at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, forcing it to suspend selling the trading cards in the gift shop.

But one of the boldest attempts at championing van Goghs legacy yet is at the Musee DOrsay in Paris, where a lifelike doppelganger of the Dutch artist chats with visitors, offering insights into his own life and death (replete with machine-learning flubs).

Bonjour Vincent, intended to represent the painters humanity, was assembled by engineers using artificial intelligence to parse through some 900 letters that the artist wrote during the 1800s, as well as early biographies written about him. However the algorithm still needed some human guidance on how to answer the touchiest questions from visitors, who converse with van Goghs replica on a digital screen, through a microphone. The most popular one: Why did van Gogh kill himself? (The painter died in July 1890 after shooting himself in a wheat field near Auvers.)
Paddington, the well-traveled bear known for his floppy red hat and love for orange marmalade sandwiches, is taking on yet another venture in 2025: the theater.

A stage musical about the friendly bear is in development and is set to open in Britain in 2025, the shows producers announced on Tuesday. It will be adapted from the book series that made him famous, as well as the two live-action films, Paddington and Paddington 2.

The working title is Paddington: The Musical, and it is currently undergoing a period of development and workshops, according to a news release.

Paddington was first introduced in a book series by Michael Bond that follows the good-natured bear who emigrates from Peru to England and is taken in by the Brown family. Paddington is sweet, curious and prone to mishaps.
In November 2022, Li Ying was a painter and art school graduate in Milan, living in a state of sadness, fear and despair. Chinas strict pandemic policies had kept him from seeing his parents for three years, and he was unsure where his country was heading.

In China, after enduring endless Covid tests, quarantines and lockdowns, people staged the most widespread protests the country had seen in decades, many holding roughly letter-size paper to demonstrate defiance against censorship and tyranny, in what has been called the White Paper movement.

Then Mr. Li did something that he never anticipated would become so significant: He turned his Twitter account into an information clearinghouse. People inside China sent him photos, videos and other witness accounts, at times more than a dozen per second, that would otherwise be censored on the Chinese internet. He used Twitter, which is banned in China, to broadcast them to the world. The avatar on Mr. Lis account, his drawing of a cat that is both cute and menacing, became famous.

His following on the platform swelled by 500,000 in a matter of weeks. To the Chinese state, he was a troublemaker. To some Chinese, he was a superhero who stood up to their authoritarian government and their iron-fisted leader, Xi Jinping.
I cant sit here and say it will never displace a job, Mr. Smith said at the forum, alluding to artificial intelligence. I dont think that would be honest. But he added that the key is to try to use it to make jobs better, saying the technology could eliminate tasks that people consider tedious.

The unveiling of the A.I. initiative comes a few weeks after the board of the start-up OpenAI, which makes ChatGPT, fired the companys chief executive, Sam Altman, only to accept his reinstatement days later. The episode added to widespread concerns over how to ensure that companies develop and deploy artificial intelligence safely.

Microsoft is OpenAIs biggest investor and played a role in reinstating Mr. Altman.

Asked if the OpenAI controversy was an impetus for the new partnership with organized labor, Mr. Smith demurred and said the labor initiative had been in the works for months.

I wouldnt say what happened in the board room at OpenAI changed it, he said in an interview after Mondays forum. But it raised questions about how A.I. is governed and perhaps it gave even more credence to the kind of partnership were announcing today.
Bipartisan lawmakers on Tuesday called for severing more of Americas economic and financial ties with China, including revoking the low tariff rates that the United States granted Beijing after it joined the World Trade Organization more than two decades ago.

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party released a wide-ranging set of recommendations for resetting Americas economic relationship with China. The report, which was signed by both House Democrats and Republicans, argued that China had carried out a multidecade campaign of economic aggression that had undercut American firms, dominated crucial global industries and left the United States highly vulnerable in the event of a broader military conflict.

The 53-page report included nearly 150 recommendations that Congress and the administration could take to offset those vulnerabilities. They ranged from imposing new tariffs on older types of Chinese chips to further cutting off the flow of capital and technology between the worlds largest economies.

Among the reports other recommendations were requiring that publicly traded American companies disclose ties to China and investing further in U.S. research and manufacturing capacity to counter Chinas dominance of sectors like pharmaceuticals and critical minerals. It also suggested developing plans to coordinate economically with allies if the Chinese government invades Taiwan.
Following months of political wrangling, the European Union on Tuesday officially began a lengthy process to deliver on its pledge to use money derived from frozen Russian central bank assets toward the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The European Commission, the blocs executive arm, said it had agreed on a proposal detailing a legal way to use interest earned and other profits from these assets, which are held in European financial institutions, to Ukraines benefit. But contrary to the usual practice, the commission has not disclosed publicly its contents, reflecting how politically fraught the plan is for many of member nations.

The plan has the potential to provide Ukraine up to 3 billion euros ($3.25 billion) a year, or as much as 15 billion from 2023 to 2027, said an official involved in the process who was not authorized to speak about it publicly. But those figures could vary according to market conditions.

Tuesdays proposal still has a way to go before it can be implemented. It must be approved by the European Parliament and all 27 member states, and is expected to face resistance from some countries. France, Germany and Italy expressed objections, according to the official, and Hungary has been blocking a separate financing mechanism for Kyiv, which the leaders are expected to discuss at a summit later this week.
DUBAI, UAE, December 12. Fiji hopes the message about maintaining the 1.5 degree target will be heard at the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29) in Azerbaijan, Amenatave Vakasauwaqa Yauvoli from Fiji told reporters on the sidelines of the COP28 in Dubai, Trend reports.

"It is the turn of Eastern European member states to host COP. We are really happy that Azerbaijan will hold COP 29. Azerbaijan is a beautiful country and I hope at COP 29 we will carry the message about maintaining the 1.5 degree target," he said. "We, the developing countries, hope to get support from developed countries to tackle the climate change. And we really wish to see that this message can be carried across COP 29 in Azerbaijan."

Yauvoli noted that an important deal was achieved on phasing out fossil fuels.

"Also we are aimed at tripling the production of renewable energy for mitigation and adaptation. We hope we will take a key measure in terms of financing that will support developing countries," he pointed out.

"We are committed to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement, whether it's legally binding or otherwise. We believe that parties should and shall commit to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement," Yauvoli mentioned.

"This is a global problem, a global challenge, which requires global solutions. We cannot do it alone. This problem was created by other countries. So they need to come to the table and we need to discuss how we can move forward," he said.

The decision to host COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai during the COP28 on December 11. COP29 will take place in November 2024.

The Eastern European regional group has selected Azerbaijan to host the COP29 next year.

In addition to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Bulgaria put forth their candidacies. However, on December 7, 2023, after direct negotiations between the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Armenia decided to withdraw its candidacy in support of Azerbaijan. Bulgaria followed suit and also withdrew its candidacy.

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A bright orange robot, 10 feet tall, looms over Volkswagens new electric car assembly line in central China. It was imported from Germany. The factorys other 1,074 robots were made in Shanghai.

Volkswagen used to import shock absorbers from Central Europe for cars it makes at Chinese factories. Now it buys them from a company in China for 40 percent less.

After relying for decades on engineers in Germany to design cars for the Chinese market, Volkswagen has begun hiring for a team of nearly 3,000 Chinese engineers, which will include hundreds transferred from Volkswagen operations elsewhere in China. They will design electric cars at VWs industrial complex in Hefei, a city in central China.

The new strategy, which Volkswagen calls In China, for China, is another sign of how Chinas commanding lead in electric vehicles has upended global auto making. Chinese car brands are appearing more in Germany and throughout Europe, causing politicians to worry about job losses.
Zara, the fast-fashion retailer, said on Tuesday that it had removed an ad campaign, after critics said the imagery brought to mind scenes from the Israel-Hamas War and called it insensitive.

The campaign, which was called The Jacket, featured the model Kristen McMenamy and was photographed by Tim Walker. In one of the images, Ms. McMenamy is holding what appears to be a mannequin wrapped in a white cloth material. In another image, what looks to be white powder is sprinkled on the floor.

Unfortunately, some customers felt offended by these images, the fast-fashion brand said in a company statement posted Tuesday on Instagram, adding that people saw in them something far from what was intended when they were created. The company said it regrets that misunderstanding.
Everyone can agree on one thing: Its not the cats fault theyre bad for wildlife. Cats are carnivores. Their talent for preying on rodents is a big reason their ancestors and ours started hanging around together in the first place. But then people carried cats around the world, into ecosystems that werent equipped for such predators.

Wherever they are, they stalk. They pounce. They kill. They eat.

Now, researchers have documented the breadth of cats global buffet. A study published on Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications found that free-ranging domestic cats (including feral ones) eat more than 2,000 species, raising renewed concerns about the ecological fallout.

Almost half of the species were birds, followed by reptiles and mammals. An unexpected number of insects were found, including monarch butterflies, pink-spotted hawk moths and emperor dragonflies.

Other surprises on the menu included camels, cows and green sea turtles. (As skilled as cats are at hunting, the camels and cows were probably scavenged. The sea turtles were probably hatchlings.)
Its hard enough for world leaders to figure out the future of coal, oil and gas in a warming world. What about the future of bread and milk?

The food system accounts for around 30 percent of global greenhouse emissions from farm to fork to garbage dump, and it is a major culprit in biodiversity loss. Small farmers in poor countries, already on the edge of subsistence, are among the most vulnerable to climate hazards. And hunger has risen in the last three years, as the coronavirus pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have upended the global food and energy supply chain. About 735 million people today are hungry, according to the World Health Organization.

So how do we feed ourselves without further damaging the planet or worsening rising levels of hunger? This years United Nations climate summit has confronted this question like never before.

For the first time there is a broad acknowledgment that the food agenda is aligned with the climate fight across the board, said Ed Davey of the World Resources Institute, who worked with organizers of the summit, known as COP28, on its food agenda.
But many major fossil fuel-producing companies and countries  including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which is hosting COP28  dont want to give up the golden goose. Some developing countries are also opposed to an across-the-board phaseout, believing it will limit their economic growth.

To tell us to stop fossil fuels is an insult. Its like you are telling Uganda to stay in poverty, Ruth Nankabirwa, Ugandas minister of energy and mineral development, said on X. She added that Uganda was open to a long-term phase out but only if developing nations can exploit their resources in the near term, while wealthy longtime producers quit first.

The U.A.E. was hoping for a breakthrough COP28 deal that left all parties satisfied. That was always going to be a stretch.

An early draft this weekend was seen as watering down calls for a phaseout. It said nations could take actions to slash greenhouse gas emissions, including reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels by 2050. But it said nothing about deeply cutting fossil fuel use this decade, and the use of could made the action optional.

That provoked outrage from many COP28 delegates.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands did not come here to sign our death warrant, said John Silk, the minister of natural resources for the nation of atolls in the Pacific Ocean. We will not go silently to our watery graves.
George Recine, a Boston advertising executive, knew exactly where to eat lunch last week during a business trip to Philadelphia.

What better place to stop by than Goldie? he said.

Mr. Recine, 45, had read reports about a protest there a few days earlier that Pennsylvanias governor and the White House had condemned as antisemitic. A crowd carrying Palestinian flags had gathered in front of the popular falafel restaurant, co-owned by an Israeli-born chef, and chanted, Goldie, Goldie, you cant hide, we charge you with genocide.

All Mr. Recine knew was that the owners had donated restaurant proceeds to an Israeli medical nonprofit organization that has supplied that nations troops with toiletries and gear in the Israel-Hamas war. He showed up to buy a falafel as a statement. He didnt think an American restaurant serving Israeli food should be a target.
Transforming Spaces is a series about women driving change in sometimes unexpected places.

Data has long been in the background of Abigail Echo-Hawks life. Growing up in rural Alaska, she remembers hearing stories about Indigenous data gatherers, like an uncle who counted beavers every spring so hed know how many could be sustainably hunted the following winter.

But it wasnt until her early 20s that Ms. Echo-Hawk realized that data was not just information  it could also be power. After reading a report from the Urban Indian Health Institute about infant mortality in Washington States Native community, Ms. Echo-Hawk shared it with a volunteer commission on which she served. That led to a 2012 Seattle ordinance protecting the right to breastfeed in public, as breastfeeding is linked to reduced infant mortality.

A story by itself makes it easy for somebody to say this was just one persons experience, said Ms. Echo-Hawk, who lives outside Seattle and is a citizen of the Pawnee Nation. Data, on the other hand, makes people pay attention.

Ms. Echo-Hawk has since become a leading voice of the Indigenous data movement. She now directs the Urban Indian Health Institute, and is the executive vice president of its overseeing body, the Seattle Indian Health Board. She wields data as a tool for racial equity, using it to dismantle stereotypes, highlight disparities and vie for funding.
About 70,000 people arrived in the United Arab Emirates, one of the worlds largest oil producers, for this years United Nations climate summit, known as COP28.

Industry leaders, heads of state and diplomats gathered in Dubai at the annual summit to discuss ways to reduce emissions from fossil fuels and steer the world toward a more sustainable future. David Gelles, who writes the Climate Forward newsletter for The New York Times, was among the attendees. He spent eight days reporting from the summit, which concludes Tuesday.

It was the third U.N. climate summit that Mr. Gelles attended as a reporter; he previously covered financial news for The Times and joined the Climate team in 2022. In an interview, he discussed how his background in business reporting shaped his approach to covering COP28 and what he learned from industry leaders. This conversation has been edited and condensed.

Is there anything in particular from your past U.N. summit experiences that you kept front of mind while reporting at COP28?
Its an explicit sex scene, but it is not wholly sexy. Elizabeth and Joe have two distinct sets of feelings and perspectives, and the films visual approach captures this sense of dissonance. Theres something concrete, even thrilling, about the fleshly realism of Joes slight paunch and the texture of their labored breathing, something beautiful and tragic about the way their interlocking fantasies converge and decouple. Its an encounter thick with layers of lust, pleasure, self-deception and disappointment. Though the sex is consensual, the viewers experience of it is uneasy. It slips from steamy to disconcerting to alienating in a way that, though not uncommon in lived experience, has become less familiar on the screen. After its over, Elizabeth presses him on his relationship with Gracie. Joe draws back, wounded: For him, the sex was a way of regaining some of the agency he lost in entering a relationship with an adult as a child. In his eyes, Elizabeth is suggesting that he has no agency at all. Were observing the discordant, syncopated elements a single sexual encounter can encompass.

Over the last several years, the matter of onscreen sex in the movies has been a continuing source of anxiety for audiences, critics and filmmakers who feel that desire has been shunted offscreen in favor of more chaste fare. In a 2021 interview, the director Paul Verhoeven lamented a movement toward Puritanism in Hollywood. Over the summer, buzz around Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer hinged in part on the fact that it was the directors first film to feature either sex or nudity. As some on X dissected the extent to which Florence Pugh appeared naked onscreen, a repost of an anti-porn TikTokers reaction to those scenes (Have a plan and talk about it before you go, she advised potential viewers who might feel triggered) caused a stir among some commentators, who saw it as proof that viewing audiences were caught up in an anti-sex fervor. Whether or not there has actually been a widespread puritanical shift, the portrayal of sex has certainly been complicated by heightened scrutiny in the wake of the MeToo movement.
The director of the elite French university Sciences Po said on Monday that he would temporarily step aside from his role after he was accused of domestic violence.

In a statement emailed to the university community, Mathias Vicherat, 45, said he had proposed that he withdraw from his post temporarily. The Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques, one of the two boards that oversee the school, will meet on Wednesday to define the terms of Mr. Vicherats withdrawal, including its duration and whether he will continue to be paid.

Mr. Vicherat and his partner were detained by the police this month after each accused the other of domestic violence. While the police and prosecutors have not named that partner, she has been widely identified in the French press as Anissa Bonnefont, a director and actress. Neither Mr. Vicherat nor Ms. Bonnefont has filed formal charges. Prosecutors say they are investigating the incident.

In his statement to students, Mr. Vicherat denied the allegations. I have never, under any circumstances, committed such acts, he said, noting that following our police custody, no complaint was lodged, nor was a judicial review or a protective order issued.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. A delegation headed by Chairman of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili visited the Alley of Honor, paid respect in memory of Heydar Aliyev, the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, architect and founder of the modern independent state of Azerbaijan, and laid a wreath at his grave on December 12, Azerbaijan's parliament told Trend.

The Georgian delegation also honored the memory of Heydar Aliyev's spouse, outstanding ophthalmologist, and academician Zarifa Aliyeva and laid flowers at her grave.

"Then the delegation visited Alley of Honor, paid respect to the memory of heroic sons of Azerbaijan who gave their lives for the freedom and sovereignty of their motherland, and laid flowers at their graves. A wreath was also laid in front of the Eternal Flame monument during the visit. Admiring the view of the Azerbaijani capital from the highest point of Baku, the guests were informed about the history of Alley of Honor and landscape, as well as construction work being carried out in Baku," the message said.

The 12th of December is the Day of Remembrance of Heydar Aliyev, the national leader of the Azerbaijani people.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
After watching Killers of the Flower Moon at a July screening in Tulsa, Okla., Dana Bear emerged from the theater with a complicated mix of emotions.

Bear, who is an Osage artist and birth worker, felt the horror of witnessing the murders of her people onscreen. But she also felt a sense of deep relief: For years, Bear had told stories of those murders to her children  tales of poisoned relatives and sleepless nights and charred homes  bearing the burden of that tragic history and passing it on to the next generation.

Now, we dont have to carry these stories anymore, she said. Now, the whole world knows what happened to us.

Bear is one of many Indigenous people who came away deeply affected by Martin Scorseses searing film, based on the 1920s Reign of Terror in Oklahoma, when dozens of oil-rich Osage were killed by their white neighbors. The murders were part of a wide conspiracy led by William Hale, played in the film by Robert De Niro. Those he enlisted included his nephew Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), a World War I veteran who married Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), a wealthy Osage woman.
Around 3 p.m. on Monday, Maria Vargas was in her daughters room on the third floor of their Bronx apartment building when cracks shot across the walls.

One wall was split down the middle. Ms. Vargas, 55, whose husband is the buildings superintendent, joined a mob racing for the exit. Then the entire corner of the building crashed down, sending jolts through the neighborhood and spilling the innards of several homes.

I thought to myself, Ms. Vargas said, Oh my God, Im going to die.

I havent slept, she added. Every time I close my eyes, all I see is the crumbling room.

No one was killed or severely injured in the partial collapse of the 46-unit building in Morris Heights. A day later, officials offered few conclusions, saying that the incident was under investigation.
New Yorks highest court ordered the state to redraw its congressional map on Tuesday, delivering a ruling that offers Democrats a new weapon to wrest control of the House from Republicans in 2024.

The decision could have far-reaching implications in reshaping the House battlefield in a key state. New York Democrats are widely expected to use the opening to try to shift two to six Republican-held swing districts that President Biden won, from Long Island to Syracuse.

The State Constitution still prohibits partisan gerrymandering. But Democrats would need to make only slight alterations to the district lines to improve the partys chances and imperil Republicans three-seat majority before the campaign season even begins.

They might have won two or three of those Biden districts back anyway  now it might be five or six, said Dave Wasserman, an elections analyst with the Cook Political Report. When you are talking about such a narrow majority in the House, obviously thats a big deal.
Taslima Amjad has called, emailed or visited government offices in New York City nearly every day for months, in search of help for her 3-year-old nonverbal son.

Her son has physical difficulties and developmental delays and needs one-on-one help and therapy sessions to learn. He also has the right  enshrined in federal law  to attend a special preschool class with only six students, for free, to get that support.

But this school year, officials told Ms. Amjad that no spots were available. Months later, he remains in a regular large class of about 15 students. He is not eating his lunch and rarely participates. Until recently, the program required him to leave early  at 11 a.m.  since his teacher is unequipped to support him.

They have no idea how much my son is suffering, said Ms. Amjad, who lives in the Bronx. She added: I cry all day, every day.
To the Editor:

Re Republicans Are Finding Out That Pro-Life Has Too Many Meanings, by Liz Mair (Opinion guest essay, Dec. 6):

Ms. Mair, a G.O.P. campaign strategist, writes about all the desperate ways Republican politicians are trying to explain their stance on abortion now that their decades-long fight to make it illegal has taken a step forward.

It seems her clients are scrambling, surprised to find that rank-and-file G.O.P. voters are not as pro-life as we might have thought.

The medical community is not surprised. You see, there are no party affiliation requirements for unplanned or medically doomed pregnancies. Doctors have seen staunch Republicans obtain safe and legal abortions for decades. Im sure that every single white male Republican legislator who signs heartbeat laws, piously claims he is pro-life and rails against Planned Parenthood knows a woman who has had an abortion. And he may have caused one himself.

Instead of spinning the message on their terrible policies, her advice to her G.O.P. clients should be to stop blocking funding for reliable contraception, stop interfering with medical decisions between women and their doctors and start writing laws that support women who cant afford another pregnancy because of poverty, a lack of postpartum job security or abusive partners.
ezra klein

From New York Times Opinion, this is The Ezra Klein Show. [MUSIC PLAYING] Hey, it is Ezra. Im thrilled today to have this fantastic conversation from my colleague at Times Opinion, the co-host of Matter of Opinion, our cousin podcast, Lydia Polgreen, on one of the other foreign affairs stories weve wanted to cover more and that deserves a lot of attention, which is rising illiberalism in India.

lydia polgreen

15 years ago, I moved to New Delhi as a correspondent for The New York Times. It was a heady moment. After years of uncertain growth, the country seemed primed for a kind of rapid economic expansion that could vault its billion-plus people out of poverty, just as China had. But unlike China, India was a boisterous beacon of democracy, secularism, and freedom. India today has fulfilled a lot of the promises I heard when I was there. It became the worlds most populous country this year. According to the World Bank, Indias economy is one of the fastest growing in the world. The country even hosted the G20 in September. At the same time, theres been a clear erosion of democracy. The state has stoked violence against religious minorities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his administration have silenced both critics and independent institutions. And Indian government officials have been linked to two assassination plots against Sikh activists in Canada and the United States, a pretty stunning diplomatic scandal that puts new stress on Indias relationship with the West. So looking back in 2023, its clear that India has risen, but not quite in the way we necessarily expected. So I asked Pratap Bhanu Mehta to walk me through what has happened to Indian democracy and what it means for the rest of the world. Mehta is a professor at Princeton University. He has written widely on political theory and is the author of The Burden of Democracy. He has a regular column at the Indian Express, where he makes sense of Indian and global affairs. We talked back in early October, but I think his insights have only become more relevant. As always, you can email the ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. Heres Pratap Bhanu Mehta. Pratap Bhanu Mehta, wonderful to be here with you.

pratap mehta

Thank you very much, and its wonderful to see you as well.

lydia polgreen

So its been a while. I lived in Delhi from 2009 to 2013. And in that time, you were really an indispensable guide for me in trying to understand the extraordinary place that is India. Im just curious. Hows life for you in India these days?

pratap mehta

Well, theres never a dull moment in India, thats for sure. You know, its a cliche about India that you always experience India as a paradox. And I think the paradox of this moment is clearly Indias political significance, economic significance, cultural creativity is kind of as vibrant as ever. On the other hand, the signs for Indian democracy are looking very ominous indeed. I coedited a big Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution. I have to say now, when I go to class, I say I cannot tell you what the Constitution of India is. I cannot tell you if you go with a habeas corpus case to the Supreme Court whether it will be heard. I cannot tell you when opposition politicians are being targeted by the government for tax reasons, they will actually get the same fair relief from the Supreme Court. So there is a sense of dread about where this democracy is heading, and I think we have to register both of those kind of emotions at the same time.

lydia polgreen

Were going to talk a lot about democracy. Its a sort of line that we all hear, India is the worlds largest democracy. Its been a democracy almost without interruption since its independence. That sort of uniqueness and boldness of the experiment  I mean, you cannot visit India and not be profoundly moved by what is being attempted. I mean, Im wary of exceptionalism, but I think never in human history has a more ambitious experiment in coexistence through government by common consent been attempted. So maybe a good place to start is just to ground us in some history. Tell me a little bit about the history of India as a democracy, and what India has had to learn from being the worlds largest democracy.

pratap mehta

Look, I mean, Indian elections were probably more important to us than religions. And I think they still remain. I mean, theres a certain kind of vibrancy, a sense of diversity, dealing with difference. And I think Indias nationalist movements greatness was that it actually recognized that the only way you could hold India together was if it was a product of widespread consensus across religions, across communities, across castes, across classes. I think that was, in a sense, I think its instinctive grasp of what democracy is. So one story you can tell about Indian democracy is that a lot of the constituent parts or groups in society dont actually have to be democratic. I mean, they can be internally sometimes quite intolerant. They can be quite conservative. And yet, the balance of social power amongst groups, amongst castes, regions, is such that no single group or no single identity can hope to dominate without generating some kind of resistance and backlash. And we always used to say that Indias politics was fated to a certain kind of centrism precisely for this reason, that there wasnt going to ever be a single identity force that could command sufficient power to be able to govern India as a whole. In fact, the joke used to be that any party that governed India would have to look like the Congress Party, or maybe a better version of the Congress Party.

lydia polgreen

The Congress Party was the party that was started by Mahatma Gandhi. And just give us a little bit of the history of the Congress party.

pratap mehta

Well, it was actually started by  officially, its founder is A.O. Hume. But its Mahatma Gandhi that actually gave the party its modern form. He converted that party into a mass movement, and really, of extraordinary proportions. What he managed to do, I think quite significantly, was not just forge a mass movement, but create an imagination of modern India where each of its constituent parts would find its fullest expression. So for example, he was a political genius. Each state had a linguistic unit which then became the basis for how India dealt with the language question later on. We created this brilliant compromise that there would be an official link language, English. Aspirationally, Hindi as a kind of national language, but each state would be able to use their own language, so Tamil, Bengali, so on and so forth, you know, Malayalam. And it avoided the fate of so many post-colonial countries that experienced civil wars or got divided on the basis of language. And I think that really was an extraordinary political innovation. It was an anticolonial movement, but it was an enormously cosmopolitan movement in its aspirations, founded in a much more authentic conception of rights, free expression, recognizing individuality and dignity, and a pursuit of politics through nonviolent means, which is not an insignificant contribution in the context of so many postcolonial movements. I mean, India was one of the few nationalist movements that avoided both the extremes of left violence and the extremes of right violence. And I think thats Gandhis extraordinary contribution. I think one of the remarkable things about the Indian nationalist movement, when I compare it to other nationalist movements, is it is a movement for self-determination, but it has very little resentment against the idea of the west. In fact, I sometimes feel that our post-colonial moment now carries much more of a sense of resentment than our anticolonial nationalist movement did.

lydia polgreen

Its interesting, because for me as a correspondent, I moved to India from West Africa. I had been raised in East Africa, and had spent my childhood in West Africa as well, so I had this deep sense of India as this kind of beacon of what a large, polyglot, multireligious, multiethnic nation could be. And its worth just dwelling for a moment on the violence and difficulty of Indias birth. It was born out of the partition of the British Raj. It was a colony of Britain at the time. Can you just talk a little bit about how these ideas came out of that experience of the horrors of partition?

pratap mehta

Im glad you raised the issue of partition, which is I think one of the most decisive events in modern South Asian  I think  history. India always thought it could be the exception to the European experience. The process of the formation of nation states everywhere, including in Europe and North America, has been an extraordinarily violent, exclusionary, and majoritarian movement. There is almost no exception to this, I think. And the aspiration of the nationalist movement was that, look, can we forge a new kind of identity that doesnt repeat the mistakes of Europe? Now, partition was the first shock to this aspiration, because in some senses partition was premised on something like the European idea of a nation state, there must be some single identity that actually binds the nation. In the case for the demand for Pakistan, its the idea of a kind of Muslim homeland in South Asia. And so in that sense, Pakistan actually came as a deep shock to that nationalist project. I mean, that image of Gandhi in a sense grieving at independence because he saw Indias independence as a failure. It was born out of violence. He saw it as a rebuke to that extraordinary project that the nationalist movement had tried to create. And it would have been very easy for Indias founders to have said, look, India has been already divided on religious grounds. Let us complete the task of partition, declare India a Hindu state. And yes, Muslims can live here. But we should be absolutely, no doubt, that the logic of partition is actually the creation of a Hindu state in India.

lydia polgreen

And Muslims are the largest minority, but theyre very significant, right? I mean, what is the percentage  proportion between Hindus and Muslims in India?

pratap mehta

Its a very sizable minority. Youre looking at about 200 million people. And I think what is remarkable is that despite partition, they actually, I think, continued with that project of trying to create an Indian exceptionalism. I think Jawaharlal Nehru  he was the Indias first prime minister, and really, in some sense, the founder of Indias democracy in some ways. I think the two deep ideas that he had, if you read his books like Discovery of India and stuff  so one was this idea of India as a palimpsest of all of the worlds civilizations. India is a Hindu country, its a Muslim country, its a Christian country. Its an Asian power, but its also an Enlightenment country. And that phrase he uses over and over, India as a palimpsest on which every civilization has left a mark, but a palimpsest which has then transformed each of those civilizations and made it into its own. I think that was a kind of a deeply philosophical and I think profound orientation to India. But second, I think at a more practical level, that India has such cross-cutting diversity that if you privilege any basis of identity as the basis of nationhood, what you risk is a great deal of violence, expulsion, and bloodletting. So I think in a strange way, partition actually just reinforced the idea. Even what remains of India cannot flourish and survive unless it says, we are going to create a kind of nation state thats very different from anything else that has happened in the world.

lydia polgreen

Yeah. You invoked Nehru, and I think one of his most famous and historic phrases  speeches  is the Tryst with Destiny speech. What do you think was Indias tryst with destiny, and what is it today?

pratap mehta

Right, so the first and most important one was actually overcoming poverty, and the extraordinary levels of human misery and oppression that this society had internally experienced, particularly through the institution of caste.

lydia polgreen

This is the undergirding system of people being born into a particular community, and that forming a social hierarchy.

pratap mehta

Absolutely, a social hierarchy which you could not escape, a social hierarchy that was in some senses deeply oppressive, and particularly if you were at the bottom end of that social hierarchy  Dalits, untouchables, as they used to be called in those days, the bottom 20 percent. It really would rank up there with slavery. I mean, we can always kind of nuance these comparisons intellectually, but theres just no getting around what a moral abomination it was. So in some senses, the Indian state was embarking for the first time on this project of saying, look, we need a model of development that can overcome the tyranny of this compulsory identity that is called caste. And so I think this idea, which is embodied in the Indian Constitution, of the idea of liberty, equality, fraternity, in conditions that otherwise were deemed to be inhospitable to them, India gained universal suffrage at a moment where it was one of the poorest countries in the world. So if you look at levels of economic development at which countries get universal suffrage, India gets it at the lowest level of economic development. It was one of the least educated countries in the world. And yet, this enormous hope that through constitutional politics, you could actually overcome the scourge of poverty and at least social inequality. I think the second thing that I think is very remarkable to me about the Tryst with Destiny speech in the Indian constitution, in the preamble to the Indian constitution, is God knows Nehru and the founding generation fully understood that God, history, and identity matter to Indians. I mean, you cant imagine this country in some senses without a deep religious and spiritual engagement, without deep contestation over history. And identities proliferate. I mean, people wear them on their sleeves. But that in order for these identities to flourish, in order for that cultural heritage to come alive, it was very important that the political social contract not be burdened with the weight of God, history, or identity, so people dont feel that they have to be benchmarked to a single identity or axis of loyalty. So yes, God will flourish, but gods will flourish. I mean, you know, Indias idea of secularism wasnt that religion would be marginalized. It would be that it would be put on a basis of individual freedom, such that all communities and all groups could enjoy it. [MUSIC PLAYING]

lydia polgreen

Just looking at the past few years, and you see the way in which India is sort of meeting this kind of Tryst with Destiny  right, India is by most accounts now the most populous country in the world, outstripping China. The economy, the G.D.P. expanded by 7.8 percent last quarter. India hosted the G20, a very important gathering of global leaders. And youre seeing India kind of step up to its place on the global stage. But its happening at a time when the sort of internal contradictions and tensions is, I think, really coming to bear. So maybe this is a good time for us to turn to Narendra Modi and spend some time talking about who he is, where he came from, and maybe focus on a couple of key moments. And I think one key moment for me, certainly, is the 2002 riots in Gujarat.

pratap mehta

So I think the three most important things to bear in mind about Narendra Modi, who is an extraordinary political figure  I mean, just as an analytical proposition, you dont have to endorse his politics to recognize what a transformative figure he has been. So the first, most important thing is that he is a member of, and had much of his political and cultural upbringing, in an organization called the R.S.S., the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which was founded in the 1920s. And the R.S.S. has had one core objective, which is the creation of a Hindu political consciousness, that India has been subjugated to what they call a thousand year period of slavery. They regard even Mughal India, for example, as a period of slavery. And their political commitment is to create a form of Hindu consciousness and identity such that Hindus are never subjugated again, and have a political state, an instrument of their own. So this straightforward political objective has been Narendra Modis, in a sense, guiding star. Everything he does in some senses flows from realizing this political objective, even economic policy, right? Making India an economically developed nation is in some senses part of an instrument to achieve this objective. I think the second thing about him, which I think in the Indian context is remarkable, is hes a completely self-made politician and leader. Biographically, hes from Indias less privileged castes, and had absolutely no privileges, either economic, social, or political that usually mark the political careers of so many Indians. And what this allowed him to do was two things which are really quite central to his success. One is to produce a kind of instinctive identification with large masses of people. The political party represents  the Bharatiya Janata Party used to be accused of being largely an upper caste party of privileged traders, privileged Brahmins. He single-handedly transformed that party into a party that has a much wider social base now. He managed to run, and still runs on this plank, that what kept India back, particularly over the last 20, 30 years, was the fact that India was being ruled by something like a dynastic ancien regime. The Congress Party was dominated by the Nehru-Gandhi family in some ways. And so when he speaks of corruption, hes not just referring to the fact that there might have been monetary corruption. Hes actually just referring to the fact that Indian democracy had acquired the characteristic of being something like a closed club, and he has in some senses opened the gates of this politics to ordinary Indians, to languages they speak. So for example, hes a very gifted orator in Hindi. The B.J.P. is much more comfortable in the vernaculars than the Congress Party is. So he could represent that old complex as a privileged elite with a narrow social base against whom his kind of persona stands. And I think the third thing about him, which I think goes back to I think his days in Gujarat, is in Gujarat he acquired the reputation for both being an effective administrator on the one hand. And the second thing, of course, he was known for is his conduct during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

lydia polgreen

What happened in these riots?

pratap mehta

This is very contested. And I think one has to go back to the late 80s, early 90s, where the Bharatiya Janata Party, which Mr. Modi presents, launched a agitation for reclaiming what they called was the site of the birthplace of Lord Ram, where a mosque had been built in the 16th century. And the B.J.P.s demand has been that this should in some sense be returned to the Hindus. And they created a mass movement. Now, what that mass movement did was that it in a sense created pockets of Hindu-Muslim tension all across India, because in some senses, these rallies were quite aggressive. They really were signposting the fact that a Hindu movement was arriving to claim India for Hindus. One of the results of that mass movement was the tearing down of the Babri Masjid.

lydia polgreen

This mosque in Ayodhya.

pratap mehta

Yeah, Ayodhya. Now, this movement was actually trying to collect volunteers, and collect  actually, literally, bricks from different parts of India to take to Ayodhya as a kind of symbolic gesture of building  you know, these be used to build temple. Now, as this movement is going on and tensions are on the rise, a train in Godhra was set on fire. And roughly around 50 of these volunteers that were going to Ayodhya were killed. This immediately set off a set of now what the B.J.P. would call retaliatory violence.

lydia polgreen

This violence was directed at Muslim residents in Gujarat.

pratap mehta

Absolutely, and about 2,000 people died. And it was absolutely gruesome violence. I mean, it really  its just  its just very hard to describe.

lydia polgreen

Yeah, neighbors set upon neighbors.

pratap mehta

Neighbors set upon each other. Now, his role  so there is a range of positions on this. One, of course, holds him directly responsible for instigating the retaliatory violence. There was a commission of inquiry. And for what its worth, that commission of inquiry absolved him of that charge. I mean, thats  again, for what its worth. But we do know in India that if the state is committed to stopping violence, it can actually stop it fairly quickly. You can bring the law enforcement agencies out. The army can be called out. And I think the political question mark over Narendra Modi, whatever you think may be the direct instructions he may or may not have given, is that this was clearly a massive abdication of responsibility on part of the chief minister of the state. This violence could have been stopped, and there is no excuse  no excuse, no matter how deep the passions run, no matter how widespread the desire for revenge is. There is absolutely no excuse for the scale of violence that actually took place in Gujarat. The fact that he was accused of fomenting this violence by the Congress Party, he had been denied a visa to the United States until he became prime minister, I think that convinced him that the entire world is a kind of gigantic conspiracy out to get Hindus. I mean, and that conspiratorial mindset is actually very, very central to the B.J.P. and R.S.S. thinking about the rest of the world, that somehow there has been this global conspiracy since, I dont know, maybe 900 A.D. to keep Hindus as a political community down. And the fact that people were accusing him of fomenting this violence was just another element in that conspiracy, so it was completely turned on its head. And I hate to say this, but there is a sense in which I think there was a significant number of Hindus who began to radically subscribe to this much more radical and aggressive message, that the B.J.P. was going to be much more aggressive in protecting Hindus, if you want to put it charitably, or aggressively targeting minorities. I think that message went out loud and clear from that Gujarat experience, the sense that violence can pay long term dividends for Hindu nationalism as a movement. It became a central plank of the B.J.P.. I mean, till 2002, there always used to be this sense that you could not win a national election only with the votes of Hindus, that somehow youd always have to stitch a broad coalition. I think Narendra Modi managed to convince his party, and that has been their electoral strategy, that they could come to power only with Hindu votes. And in fact, you could actually increase your share of Hindu votes, consolidate a Hindu constituency, if you were to clearly send a signal that you were going to politically marginalize Muslims.

lydia polgreen

But then 2009, theres another election. This is the moment that I land in India. And I think youre right that this fire has been lit around Hindu nationalism, but at the same time, there was this sense that India had a teetotalling economist as its prime minister, that Indias tryst with destiny is about to be fulfilled. It felt like a moment. And the thing that I remember particularly was a sense that these sectarian divides felt much less alive. One of the first stories that I did was I actually went to the city of Ayodhya, where the Babri Masjid mosque was. And it was striking to me how the temperature at that place was basically just room temperature, and you had this kind of too busy to hate India moving forward. Were joining the global economy. Were  you know, and that was very much the vibe when I got there. And there was a sense that Narendra Modi, no chance he could be prime minister. The guy cant even go to the United States. And the B.J.P. seemed like they were nowhere. And you know, Congress was ascendant. And boy, were we wrong. So walk me through what happened. How did Modi go from being an international pariah to prime minister of the worlds largest democracy?

pratap mehta

I think, as I said at the beginning of the show, this sense we had of a kind of India fated to a certain kind of centrism actually made all of us complacent that a force like Narendra Modi, or at least a very radical Hindu nationalist ideology, could never be dominant. Or if it even came to power, it would have to ally with other kinds of groups to moderate its stance. So I think what happened post 2009 is, I think, a bunch of things. So the first is, of course, the 2009 financial crisis globally, which is a pivotal moment in democracies across the world, because India was growing at 8 percent. And it was a nice place to be, youre growing at 8 percent, the state was getting enough resources to begin to build out a slightly more ambitious welfare state, something Narendra Modi has then sought to accelerate. And yet, what the 2009 financial crisis did, at least in the Indian context, was two things. One, it actually did expose the corruption at the heart of that growth regime. Lots of projects suddenly seem unviable to people. And there is an anti-corruption movement which kind of paved the way for saying, look, this old regime, this ancien regime headed by the Congress, this coalition government. It may have done us some good, but now it is a corrupt, tottering regime. India has a moment, an opportunity here, but it is actually frittering it away because of a weak government. In fact, the slogan Narendra Modi used was policy paralysis. So in 2014, he ran largely on this plank. Im going to overcome this paralysis. Im a strong, decisive leader. Look at my record in Gujarat. And he ran against plutocracy, but plutocracy in this very generalized sense. This is a kind of old corrupt ancien regime. And like, I think, politics elsewhere, it was the implosion of the alternative, the internal implosion of the Congress Party that created much more of the space, that somehow it had lost this will to fight, this will to govern. There was very little communication, very little mass mobilization. It just had lost all the kind of ABCs of political mobilization. The second thing that I think happened, and this may take some explaining, but I actually do think it is important  so the B.J.P.s primary base is in north India. It has now expanded, so it is a genuinely pan-Indian party. But its core political support is drawn from north India, and particularly the largest state in North India, which is Uttar Pradesh, which is the size of Brazil, I think, in terms of population, or something. In north India, English does remain a language of privilege. So Hindi and the vernacular languages are important, but they are the languages of culture. They are the languages of the past. They might be the register of emotions, in some ways. We might kind of curse each other in Hindi. [LAUGHS] But the language of the future is English. If you want to get access to social privilege and if you want to get access to the production of knowledge, and particularly future knowledge, science, technology, medicine, law, you have to have English or at least be fluent in it. And our education system actually produced large masses of students, young people, who are kind of linguistically stranded. Theyre linguistically stranded in the sense that theyre fluent in the vernaculars, but actually will find it difficult to compete in the cutting edge of English, that we have a form of language competence that does not make us full participants in this privileged social structure. What it has done is that it made it very easy to mobilize this kind of resentment against an entrenched elite. When you were in Delhi, you went to Khan Market a lot, Im sure. I mean, its a great place to hang out with bookshops, coffee shops 

lydia polgreen

Restaurants. yeah.

pratap mehta

Mr. Modi frequently uses this phrase, I stand against the Khan Market gang. Its a brilliant piece of political communication because everybody instinctively recognizes that it refers to the narrow social privileges of an elite. And so I think what he was able to tap into, apart from his kind of caste identification, is that I actually stand for something that is much more authentic and connected. Our heritage, our languages do not just have to be about the past. Now quite what he does with his education policies is another matter. But I think that sense of, I think, ressentiment, that India was being governed by a small, exclusive elite, I think he managed to give that voice and expression very powerfully. And because of his uniqueness in some sense as a politician, his own biography, his own extraordinary communicative skills, I think he was in a sense able to tap into that. And I think more than the specifics of Hindu nationalism, its this particular trope that  I am rescuing India from a small, elite out of touch that I think still resonates very powerfully.

lydia polgreen

Yeah, and I think its not just an elite thats out of touch, its an elite that is looking outward. And theres something about the sort of return to the vernacular thats saying, no, no, no, the real strength of India lies within. And we will engage with the rest of the world on our own terms. So Modi gets elected in 2014. His first term, to my mind, as I followed it, seemed mostly to be focused on these economic issues. There were some cultural issues focusing on hygiene and toilets. I mean, what a lot of people maybe dont know about India is that the lack of clean water and access to toilets is a huge public health issue, holding people back in a lot of ways. There were a lot of just sort of fundamental development issues that he focused on. But it seems to me that it wasnt until he was re-elected, that his government was re-elected in 2019, that you really started to see the claws come out. And youve written, I think, quite powerfully on the governments policy in Kashmir, because there was a very sharp change. And Ill quote you: The B.J.P. thinks its going to Indianize Kashmir, but instead what we will see is potentially the Kashmirization of India. So tell me about what happened in Kashmir, and what you meant by that idea, that Kashmirization of India?

pratap mehta

Right, gosh. So you know, Kashmir has historically been one of the deepest failures of Indian democracy. So when India became independent, there was a whole bunch of princely states that had to take the decision of whether to accede to India, whether to accede to Pakistan, or potentially even remain independent. I mean, most of them werent viable, but at least in theory, that was an option. Now, Kashmir was one of the last holdouts. It had a Hindu Raja, but its population was majority Muslim  but interestingly, one of the most secularized and led by a radical leftist, Sheikh Abdullah. And Pakistan decided to force Kashmirs hand by actually invading Kashmir. And India said it could help only if the maharaja signed an instrument of accession joining India, and Kashmir joined India. Pakistan never recognized the legitimacy of that accession, and theres a long history of Pakistan fermenting active terrorist and militant violence in Kashmir for much of the 20th century.

lydia polgreen

And this  just to put a fine point on it, I mean, this Himalayan province, one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Ive been there many times, and its extraordinary. But youre talking about a flashpoint between two nuclear armed countries, Pakistan and India. And its a very explosive situation. I mean, I just wanted to underscore how tender and fragile the status of Kashmir is.

pratap mehta

It is. And unfortunately, I think it was also a failure for Indian democracy. Kashmir also had special status in the Indian Constitution. According to the terms of accession, the Indian state was going to conduct Kashmirs foreign policy. Thered be a minimum set of common laws, but Kashmir was supposed to have a great deal of autonomy in terms of governing its own affairs. But unfortunately, I think the Indian states relationship with Kashmir got securitized very early on. I mean, every political protest, every kind of political dissension was being looked at through this prism of, are they really kind of covert secessionists in place, right? Kashmir is the only state in India where there was a sense that the elections were not entirely free and fair. Its constantly interfering in elections. It is putting Kashmir, internally, under a state of siege. Pakistan is actively, in some senses, fomenting violence and terrorist groups, even when it was open for tourism. It became an immensely militarized place, about half a million troops guarding kind of Kashmir security checkpoints. There was a great sense of siege about Kashmir.

lydia polgreen

Yeah, and its this place, theres this beautiful lake. And people stay in houseboats, and youve got the amazing Himalayan skyline. But there was this sense that you were stopped and asked for identification constantly. Flying in and out of the airport, you felt a sense of surveillance. And this is for an outsider. For my many Kashmiri friends and particularly journalists, this sense of being surveilled and having your rights curtailed was really, really powerful. And so what did Modi do in 2019?

pratap mehta

So one of the R.S.S.s planks, the organization that Modi belongs to, was that if you actually wanted the integration of Kashmir into India, Article 370 had to go. That would be a constitutional statement that Kashmir is a part of India, just like any other part. And it would also send a signal to Pakistan that we are not even thinking that this is disputed territory. I mean, just forget about it. And this has been part of B.J.P.s manifesto forever. I mean, so at one level there was no surprise. I mean, I think we just never took them literally in some ways, right? So what they did was they basically revoked Article 370 and on the grounds that Kashmir needs to be a state like any other state in the Indian Union, no special privileges. And the governments view was, we are going to restore administrative order  so we are going to clamp down on militants, we are going to attract investment by creating law and order. And to be honest, it has had mixed results. I mean, the government can claim that at least the outbreak of violence has not been as bad as many had feared  many of us had feared, actually. But it still remains the case that there are still pockets of militancy. And there is still a significant clampdown on civil liberties, on reporting on Kashmir, on the free movement of journalists in Kashmir. If you are in a journalist in Kashmir, you really have an impossible task ahead of you. Even outside of Kashmir, most Indian mainstream papers will not carry stories critical of whats happening in Kashmir. Now, what I meant by the Kashmirization of India  I mean, partly of course  its a column that was a sort of cri de coeur kind of provocation. But unfortunately, I think the grain of truth in this was that what the government was trying to demonstrate in Kashmir was that a strong, repressive surveillance state was going to be the more effective means of integrating Indian citizens into the state, rather than a faith in democracy, pluralism, and open society. And many of the practices that we experimented on in Kashmir  detailed surveillance, preventive detention, the idea of expanding the remit of who you hold under suspicion, that those practices of the state would become much more generalized and be replicated elsewhere in India. You can see that in a state like U.P., where the chief minister is very popular, but one of his characteristic modes of governance is a form of vigilante justice. If you are suspected  and the key word here is expected  and particularly, if youre a member of the minority community, of  lets say even participating in a protest, your house can become bulldozed without due process. So this arsenal of repression and looking upon the citizens as objects of presumptive distrust, thats really what the Indian state did in Kashmir at the end of the day. That is becoming a much more generalized practice of governance, I think, across India.

lydia polgreen

Its interesting, because Im always trying to check my own assumptions here, because the people that I talk to, my friends, theyre journalists. Theyre people who are in kind of activist communities or politics adjacent. And the report that I hear from them about the general mood across India is very much what youre describing, this kind of Kashmirization. Muslims have felt the first brunt of it. But anybody seeking to live a different kind of life or to report honestly on whats happening in the country is ultimately feeling the sharp end of that stick. But the thing that you sort of balance that up, again, is that, I think, really striking popularity of Narendra Modi. And my friend, the journalist Mihir Sharma wrote in 2019, after Modis party was re-elected  he said, We do not live in Modis India. We live in Indians India, and the reason so many Indians adore Modi is because he represents their preferred conception of the Indian state and the Indian nation. And it reminded me of something that you wrote, which is that tyranny can be the stepchild of democracy, which is a great paraphrase from Plato  this theory that you could build a majoritarian project on the votes of Hindus alone. Its clearly working.

pratap mehta

No, it is clearly working. So look, if you want to take a hopeful story, and the opposition will keep reminding you of this. They will keep saying something like 60 percent percent of Indians still dont vote for the B.J.P.. In a first past the post system, parliamentary system, roughly about 38 percent to 40 percent of the vote can actually get you a pretty dominant majority in Parliament. But there is a lesson in that, and the lesson is that like everywhere in the world that ethnic majoritarian forces have come to power, it has largely been because the forces arrayed against them have failed to credibly unite on a coherent platform. So the center and left in India splits 20 different ways. But I think more deeply  I think, and I actually do think the cultural transformation that I see of India is truly astonishing. Large sections of Indias elites in particular  right, those who are most powerfully placed to resist this, I think their ideological conversion to this project is actually quite significant. If you look at the Indian media landscape, its one thing to say that the media does not criticize government. Maybe they fear reprisals. Often, the owners of media might fear reprisals. But what you are seeing in the Indian media is actually something much more than simply complying with the state. It is actually creating and disseminating structures of hate, fully funded by the most powerful echelons of Indian capital. I mean, this is going way beyond we fear the state and we will not criticize it. There is almost like a positive investment in that information order, day in and day out. I mean, its actually unbearable to read many of the regional papers these days. English media, you see somewhat a little less of it, but its still there  or on television media, for example. The Indian Supreme Court, really an extraordinary puzzle. We used to say in 2009, the years you were here, that the Indian Supreme Court had become one of the most powerful courts in the world. In fact, the criticism of the Indian Supreme Court was it pretty much did what it wanted, meddled in whichever issue it wanted far beyond its jurisdiction or competence. One of the most disappointing things has been the near abdication of the Supreme Court in protecting basic civil liberties. The extent of it is so mind boggling that youve got to think that deep down, there is some kind of allegiance to this project that is actually surfacing. Its not simply held together by fear of reprisal. So for those of us who grew up in India, I have not seen an elite discourse that so openly participates, revels in disseminating hate as I see at this moment in Indian, not even at the height of the temple movement, Ayodhya, in the 1990s. The one most important function of the leader is to be at least able to articulate a norm. This is right, this is wrong, this is what we accept, this is what we dont. Its a measure of how far India has come that the leadership is not only unwilling to articulate this norm, it is often dogwhistling about targeting minorities. We have this extraordinary scene in Parliament, where a senior leader of the B.J.P. in Parliament said something of one of the few Muslim MPs in parliament that you could not even say with censored speech. I mean, its literally  I mean, its the kind of thing youd expect out of a text called Mein Kampf.

lydia polgreen

Wow.

pratap mehta

In the Indian parliament, senior B.J.P. leader. He has been rewarded. You are now empowering a set of people, an ideology, and sending out a signal that if you want to move up in this political system, you have to engage in acts of hate or violence or commit yourself publicly to this project. I mean, this is completely unprecedented. This is  its a shattering of the norms. [MUSIC PLAYING]

lydia polgreen

Its really striking to me that weve gotten to this place now, where you have India kind of emerging on the global stage as such a critical player, because there are big, powerful countries  like the United States, but also others  that are seeking India to take its place on the global stage as a counterweight to China. What recommends it for that role is precisely the fact that it sees itself, it describes itself, and is seen by others as a secular, pluralistic democracy. So theres this tremendous irony that at precisely the moment youre seeking a democratic counterweight to China, the obvious candidate for that role, its democracy is  from what weve discussed, seems really deeply imperiled.

pratap mehta

No, it is. And if you look at Indias projection abroad, one of Mr. Modis favorite tropes these days, India is the mother of all democracies. I mean, thats the kind of tagline  and a kind of guru to the world. But it is a performance. This governments diagnosis  and Trumps election may have something to do with it, the way in which the world changed post-Trump, is that there is not going to be any penalty for Indias actions, domestically. And to be fair to them, their reading of the international system has been just right, that somehow they think, in the end, the United States strategic imperatives, rather than its imperatives in democracy and pluralism, will actually trump their engagement with India. By the way, theyve  its also happening in a moment where the exemplarity and authority of almost all democratic countries around the world is also at its lowest. I cant remember a time where the prestige and authority of American democracy was so low. Its almost  even in this state, many Indians are willing to say, oh, now we can talk back to the United States.

lydia polgreen

Yeah.

pratap mehta

So there is no exemplarity and authority left to that idea in the international system, I think. And this goes to one of the fundamental tenets of Hindu nationalism as an ideology. Their diagnosis of Indias success and failure is very different from at least mine, possibly yours, and most of the worlds. The two figures in Indian history they hate the most, they revile the most, are Gautam Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi. I mean, this is a party that openly celebrates Mahatma Gandhis assassin.

lydia polgreen

Yeah.

pratap mehta

And there is almost this sense of embarrassment they have, that somehow this whole talk of nonviolence actually made us weak. It made us less respected in the world. America took Pakistan more seriously because it created trouble in the international system. We never were taken seriously  which, again, I think is a pretty bizarre reading of history, actually, but it is a kind of political style whose core is defined by a certain kind of fascination with violence and aggression. The other has to be created in order for this Hindu existential crisis to actually reap political dividends. So it can be Muslims, it can be secular intellectuals. It can be liberals. It can be George Soros  God knows why George Soros in the Indian context, but 

lydia polgreen

There too, huh?

pratap mehta

Oh, absolutely. I mean, its  in fact, today the B.J.P. has just put out a big political ad which basically describes the Congress Party as a film being produced by George Soros. So in that sense, the core of the sensibility rests on the idea of a kind of perpetual Hindu victimhood.

lydia polgreen

One place where you sort of see this playing out, and obviously, this has been very, very big in the news, is Canadas assertion that India assassinated a Sikh activist who was a Canadian citizen in Canada. Theres a lot of questions about what exactly happened here. If India is actually responsible for this assassination, its a huge violation of international norms. But even if they werent directly involved in it, it almost seems to play the game that India wants to play on the global stage, to create the perception that India has that capacity and will act as it wishes on the global stage, without deference to the kind of rules based order.

pratap mehta

Yeah, I think thats exactly right. But what is striking, sitting in India and looking at it, is how much the political machine of the B.J.P. is trying to milk this occasion. Its almost like we didnt do it, but  right, we are capable. And itd have been a great thing.

lydia polgreen

But if we did 

pratap mehta

Its truly, actually astonishing, I mean, how much it is being fed into part of that narrative of bravado in some ways.

lydia polgreen

You know, its interesting. Theres another narrative that I hear sort of bubbling along underneath all of this, which is  I think theres a sense in the United States that perhaps we were mistaken in how we managed our relationship with China. The idea that you bring China under your wing, you integrate them into the global economic system, you see prosperity rise, rise you create the linkages that make it harder for a country to kind of go off on its own. I think theres a feeling, well, was that a mistake? Did we create the conditions for China to become this incredibly powerful country? And now its of course our main geopolitical rival. And you hear in some quarters a question of, are we doing the same thing again with India? And I wonder what you make of that question.

pratap mehta

And I have to be candid. I think sitting in Asia, this idea that somehow you could structure a global development process that shuts out countries like China or India just sounds so remarkably full of hubris and presumption. And I mean, the fact that Chinas integration into the global economy actually lifted millions and millions of people out of poverty, I dont think its a human achievement to be sneered at. But the idea that India and China could be shut out in some senses from being competitors or participating in the global fruits of science, technology, development, frankly, I dont think its even practical terms on. In fact, that kind of assertion plays exactly into the hands of nationalists everywhere. I mean, even those who dont support authoritarian governments, when they hear a statement like, oh, actually, what the United States is going to do is structure the world economy in a way in which it retains primacy forever? [LAUGHS] It doesnt matter whether youre authoritarian or democratic, right, youre not going to particularly  so I actually think, for the United States own sake, I think this way of posing the question is, I think, a slightly self-defeating one. I mean, the easiest way of reinforcing the conspiratorial mindset of Hindu nationalism is to actually prove what they have been always saying, that the world is out to get India, and is to place it under siege. And also, I think, particularly at a moment in world history where its very hard for the United States or any other country to pull this policy off as if this were a matter of principle and conviction. I mean, how many authoritarian regimes are you going to exclude, not do business with, right? So I actually think if you make peoples development and democracy a tool of geostrategic politics, you end up doing both geostrategic politics and the cause of democracy and development great harm. I mean, many Indians often talk about this. Should the Biden administration be doing more? They dont have to roll out the red carpet. They can say the truth sometimes. I mean, it can be a perfectly candid relationship. But I dont think there is an option but to engage with India. And I think both, in some senses, will be better off. I also strongly believe that  not to take away anything from American power, but I actually think the United States role in how Indian democracy develops will be minuscule at most. This is a struggle that Indians will have to undertake internally. I mean, maybe most of us are still complacent. The way in which violence is being enacted in Indian democracy still feels like in drips and dribbles. I mean, most of us can still go around our daily business thinking this is not going to affect us. But most of us still hope and still believe  I mean, otherwise, we wouldnt even be having this conversation  that yes, the signs look ominous for Indian democracy, but that some point will come a threshold where ordinary Indians begin to say that, look, this is not us. Now, what that threshold is is an open question. But I actually do believe that threshold will be reached and you will find Indian society reacting appropriately.

lydia polgreen

I think that is a very good and hopeful note to perhaps wrap up our conversation on. And as a person who loves and admires India very much, I very much want to believe in that prognosis. And next year is an election year. Itll be interesting to see what happens. I think most people think that the B.J.P. will come back, but lots of things can happen. The world spins on. So at the end of every episode of The Ezra Klein Show we ask our guests to recommend some books. Could you recommend three books that our listeners could benefit from, to understand India, democracy and the world better?

pratap mehta

OK, so Ill go with a couple of unusual choices. One, which is not recent, is  I actually still think reading V.S. Naipauls India Trilogy, which is now one book, I think he  and partly because he himself was such a complicated, in many ways, awful character. I think he actually saw the moral psychology of whats happening in various Indian social movements, I think, much more clearly than I think many of us liberals and constitutionalists have recognized  this theme of India thinking of itself as a wounded civilization, and now trying to kind of claim something of that itself through this path of violence and Hindu nationalism. Besides, I mean, hes a wonderful writer to read. I think the second book I pick is a recent book by Shivshankar Menon. The title is India in Asian Geopolitics, but its really about Indias place in the world, incredibly well written, but also somebody whos both a deep historian and has had the benefit of having a ringside seat. I think its the single best book on Indias place in the world. The third I would recommend  I mean, this is a sort of a slightly more kind of quirky recommendation, is a book by Snigdha Poonam called Dreamers. This is a book that kind of captures the craziness and the contradictory textures of this kind of young, educated India, right? I mean, some of those linguistically stranded people we talk about, the IT hackers, the would be Indian Idols  I mean, which is the Indian version of American Idol, the music program. It does have kind of enough of these sort of quirky life biographies to make it an interesting introduction to India beneath the surface of these large themes of politics and economics.

lydia polgreen

Those are all wonderful, wonderful recommendations. Pratap Bhanu Mehta, thank you so much for being with us.

pratap mehta

Thank you so much, and good luck to both our democracies.

lydia polgreen
The indictment unsealed in New York on Nov. 29 accusing an unnamed Indian government official of plotting the assassination of a Sikh separatist in America raises many grave questions. Chief among them: Is the partnership between the United States and India in peril?

On the face of things, it would appear not. Washington has so far adopted a measured tone, urging cooperation and forgoing any outright condemnation of the Indian government for its potential role in the foiled plot. India, which in September angrily rejected what Canadas prime minister, Justin Trudeau, called credible allegations linking Indian agents to the killing of a Sikh secessionist in British Columbia, has responded temperately this time; it asserted that extraterritorial killings are contrary to government policy and set up a panel to investigate the charges.

Nevertheless, these allegations, and the way they are playing out in India, expose the brittle underpinnings of what the Biden White House views as one of Americas most important relationships.

The two Sikh men the United States and Canada say were targeted by agents of the Indian government were drum beaters for an independent state of Khalistan. For most Indians, the memory of the Khalistan movement, a bloody ethno-religious agitation to establish a Sikh state in the Punjab region, is harrowing. Its campaign of terror, peaking in the 1980s, claimed thousands of lives. It took years for its traumas  from the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her own Sikh bodyguards to the killings of thousands of Sikhs in riots that followed  to heal. In 2005, Manmohan Singh, Indias first Sikh prime minister, made a public apology to the Sikh community.
It seems obvious to say, but if you want a real sense of the differences between Americas two major parties  and if you want a sense of what the future could bring if either party wins full control of the federal government next year  all you have to do is look at the states.

Where Republicans have gained this kind of full control over state legislatures and statehouses, they have used that authority in pursuit of policies meant to curtail the ability of people in their states to live as they please.

You know what this looks like. Its the anti-woke policymaking of Gov. Ron DeSantiss Florida, from laws that stigmatize L.G.B.T.Q. students and teachers in public school classrooms to an assault on higher education that has driven professors out of state. What we are witnessing in Florida is an intellectual reign of terror, LeRoy Pernell, a law professor at Florida A&M University, said in an interview with a special committee of the American Association of University Professors.

Its not just Florida, of course. Republican trifectas in states across the country have introduced and passed dozens of bills aimed at the public existence of trans and other gender-nonconforming people. Republicans in Oklahoma banned the use of nonbinary gender identifiers on birth certificates; Republicans in Tennessee, similarly, banned trans people from changing their gender on their birth certificates. Republicans in Arkansas and Alabama have passed laws that ban gender-affirming care for young trans people, and Republicans in Texas have gone as far as to say that under state law, gender-affirming care can legally constitute child abuse.
In June 2019, scientists in Spain went searching for ghosts haunting the skies above the Mediterranean Sea. These green-hued wisps, dancing above pink-red, extremely high-altitude lightning during thunderstorms, had been discovered only in May that year. What were they? The only way to know was to capture one.

But that would prove to be a troublesome task. These ghosts are aptly named: they are difficult to see with the naked eye and appear for just a heartbeat dozens of miles above ground.

Seeing a ghost is really difficult, said Maria Passas-Varo, a researcher at the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia in Spain.

But on Sept. 21, 2019, they finally caught one with a specialized camera: a green spirit flickering at the crown of a jellyfish-shaped maelstrom of fuchsia lightning 50 miles above the sea. And after painstakingly disentangling the various wavelengths of light emitted by the ghost, the scientists unveiled its elemental makeup.
A group of current and former prisoners sued Alabama on Tuesday, saying that the states system of prison labor is a modern-day form of slavery that forces them to work, often for little or no money, for the benefit of government agencies and private businesses.

In the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, the 10 plaintiffs, who are all Black, say the state regularly denies incarcerated people parole so that they can be leased out to produce hundreds of millions of dollars in profits for local and state agencies and businesses every year.

The lawsuit accuses the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles of perpetuating the use of incarcerated workers by openly disregarding a 2015 state law that required it to make evidence-based parole decisions.

Instead, the lawsuit says, the board denies parole to anyone convicted of a violent offense, and disproportionately denies parole to Black people, particularly those who are deemed low-risk and eligible to participate in the states extremely lucrative prison work programs.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. Azerbaijan's revival is inseparable from the name of Heydar Aliyev, said CEO of the Russian Caspian Institute for Strategic Studies, Igor Korotchenko told Trend.

"The nascent Azerbaijani state was faced with difficult circumstances following the collapse of the USSR and the emergence of independent Azerbaijan. To begin with, there was an armed power struggle in Azerbaijan's early years after independence. This battle, as well as instability, harmed statehood. The country's sociopolitical upheaval, anarchy, and bloodshed exacerbated national and civil conflict, and the then-government failed completely. In the summer of 1993, Azerbaijan was in crisis and on the point of disappearing from the world political map," he noted.

He emphasized that it was in these difficult conditions that the Azerbaijani people demanded Heydar Aliyev's return to power.

"He was elected chairman of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan on June 15, 1993, and from July 24, by resolution of the Milli Majlis (Parliament), he began to fulfill the duties of the President of Azerbaijan. Finally, Heydar Aliyev was elected President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on October 3, 1993, as a result of nationwide voting, and he vigorously undertook to solve the most urgent and top-priority tasks. After coming to power, Heydar Aliyev neutralized destructive forces activated in various regions of the republic and prevented civil war," Korotchenko said.

Korotchenko mentioned that elements who organized encroachment on the statehood, independence, and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan were isolated from society.

"Finally, in May 1994, a ceasefire was reached in the Armenian-Azerbaijani war, which allowed Azerbaijan to concentrate its forces on the solution of priority tasks. This allowed the realization of a number of major contracts, including the so-called "Contract of the Century." In general, we can say that Heydar Aliyev's return to the leadership of Azerbaijan marked a turning point in the country's socio-political, social, economic, scientific, and cultural life, as well as in the expansion of international relations. The first oil contract was signed in September 1994. Its realization was developed by Heydar Aliyev and is still an example of the implementation of a well-thought-out, effective oil strategy, which forms the basis of the concept of economic development in Azerbaijan. Later, these contracts were expanded, including gas contracts for the supply of natural gas from Azerbaijan to a number of countries through the Southern Gas Corridor," he noted.

According to him, economic reforms, the establishment of a market economy, ensuring economic development, integration of Azerbaijan into the world economy, and implementation of the agrarian reform program have become consistent priority spheres in Heydar Aliyev's activity.

"And we should say that he laid the foundation of the economy, armed forces, the basis of the political system, and most importantly, aimed Azerbaijan at the course of development, which was developed and improved by his son President Ilham Aliyev, who realized his father's political will - restoration of territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country by returning the territories occupied by Armenians," he said.

Korotchenko added that the Azerbaijani flag is waving over these territories once again.

"As for the peculiarities of Heydar Aliyev's personality, which affected the formation of his leadership style and impact on political culture, first of all, of course, it is a great intellect, vast life, and political experience, I would say, worldly political wisdom, strategic goal-setting, and most importantly, he perfectly understood how international politics is done. In this regard, we note those traditionally friendly ties between Russia and Azerbaijan, at the origins of which Heydar Aliyev undoubtedly stood, who did not allow the continuation of interethnic clashes in Azerbaijan. The status of the Russian language was confirmed at the highest level; Russian culture was enjoyed, and the Russian community enjoyed and continues to enjoy patronage and support from the official Baku. Of course, today, when we talk about the memory of Heydar Aliyev, we recall his life path," he emphasized.

According to him, Heydar Aliyev made a huge contribution to the development of the USSR.

"We know Heydar Aliyev as a benefactor of science and culture, as a man thanks to whom Baikal-Amur Mainline and several other strategic infrastructure projects of Russia are working today. The revival of Azerbaijan and the strengthening of traditionally friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are connected with his name. Therefore, of course, Heydar Aliyev is a figure of international scale. He is a politician who left behind a huge number of accomplishments. Monuments erected to him today in several countries and cities speak of the deep respect the peoples of the world have for the memory of Heydar Aliyev, this outstanding son of the Azerbaijani people and undoubtedly a political and statesman, whose name and deeds have forever entered modern history," Igor Korotchenko concluded.

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Since Hamass surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, and the start of a counteroffensive from Israel, colleges and universities across the United States have been struggling to handle the debate and protests over the war.

Here are some of the episodes that have added to the tensions on campuses, including dueling protests, calls for the ouster of school leaders and threats from angry donors and alumni to pull funding:

Oct. 8

The day after the Hamas attack, a coalition of more than 30 student groups at Harvard publishes an open letter, saying it holds the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence. The letter receives intense backlash.

Oct. 9

Amid rising pressure from alumni and donors, Harvards president, Claudine Gay, issues a statement expressing heartbreak over the death and destruction while calling for an environment of dialogue and empathy.

Oct. 10

At least five of the 34 student groups that originally signed the letter at Harvard have withdrawn their endorsements of it. Dr. Gay issues a more forceful statement, condemning the attacks by Hamas as abhorrent.
Federal prosecutors in Montana have charged two men with illegally shooting about 3,600 birds, including bald and golden eagles, in a killing spree that fueled a black market for tail feathers and preyed on a symbol of the nation.

The men, Simon Paul, 42, of St. Ignatius, Mont., and Travis John Branson, 48, of Cusick, Wash., were each indicted Thursday on one count of conspiracy, 13 counts of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles and one count of violating the Lacey Act, a federal law that prohibits the trafficking of illegally taken wildlife.

From January 2015 to March 2021, prosecutors said, the two men would venture out to the Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana, where mountains reflect off the streams and lake that cover the land, and fire their weapons at the eagles soaring above the prairies.

The defendants then illegally sold the eagles on the black market for significant sums of cash across the United States and elsewhere, prosecutors said in court records.
The battle over the fate of Harvards president, Claudine Gay, took an unexpected turn this week, as accusations of plagiarism in her scholarly work surfaced, along with questions about how the university had handled them.

On Tuesday, the Harvard Corporation, the universitys governing body, announced that Dr. Gay would keep her job, despite the uproar over her statements on campus antisemitism at a congressional hearing. But the Corporation also revealed that it had conducted a review of her published work after receiving accusations in October about three of her articles.

The Corporation said that while the review found that she had not violated the universitys standards for research misconduct, it did discover a few instances of inadequate citation. Dr. Gay would request four corrections in two articles to insert citations and quotation marks that were omitted from the original publications, the statement said.

The accusations were first widely publicized on Sunday, in a newsletter by the conservative education activist Christopher Rufo. On Monday, The Washington Free Beacon, a conservative media outlet, published its own investigation, identifying what it said were issues with four papers published between 1993 and 2017. The article said the papers had paraphrased or quoted nearly 20 authors without proper attribution.
As universities across the country strained under pressure to take a public position on the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, few were as tormented as Harvard.

First school officials said nothing when a pro-Palestinian student group wrote an open letter saying that Israel was entirely responsible for the violence. Harvard followed up with a letter to the university community acknowledging feelings of fear, sadness, anger, and more. After an outcry, Harvards president, Claudine Gay, issued a more forceful statement condemning Hamas for terrorist atrocities while urging people to use words that illuminate and not inflame.

The difficult and divisive questions over how universities should respond when student demonstrations cross a line into threatening, disruptive and harmful behavior came to a head at Harvard over the last week, as Dr. Gay faced calls to resign after her widely criticized appearance before a congressional committee looking into antisemitism on campus. When asked a question about whether threatening Jewish people with genocide would violate the schools code of conduct, she equivocated.

On Tuesday, Harvards governing body said it stood firmly behind Dr. Gay, offering her a unanimous show of support after several days of silence and intense public pressure. Under fire from some of the universitys major financial backers, prominent Jewish alumni and lawmakers, the board deliberated late into the night on Monday before issuing a statement of support.
Christopher Armstrong, a lawyer with Holland & Knight who represents clients through congressional investigations and oversight hearings, said that declining an invitation from Congress is always on the table, unless youre being subpoenaed.

The impulse is, you should testify  that its not a great look to refuse to cooperate, Mr. Armstrong said. That said, if I had a client and I realized that testifying would potentially be a disaster, I would not have them testify.

There are, of course, risks to telling Congress thanks, but no thanks.

Failing to appear before committee lawmakers voluntarily risks they demand your presence with a subpoena. The chances of prevailing if an individual chooses to litigate the subpoena are low, according to legal experts, and few chief executives of companies want to go down that path. It can also raise the stakes: When an individual does eventually show up, either voluntarily or responding to a subpoena, they are more likely to appear on their own, and to be treated like a recalcitrant witness.

Theres also the risk of the committee hanging a nameplate over an empty chair to theatrically underscore the individuals failure to appear.

That is usually not in a clients best interest, said Emily Loeb, the chair of the congressional investigations practice at Jenner & Block LLP.
When the House votes on Wednesday to authorize an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, it will be the culmination of a slow but decisive political shift among Republicans  urged on by former President Donald J. Trump and his closest allies in Congress  from a place of resisting such an inquiry to fully embracing it.

The vote is both a consequential step and a mere formality; Republicans have been conducting an impeachment investigation for months, a fact that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy made official when he announced in September that the inquiry was commencing without a House vote.

But this weeks action follows a monthslong effort by G.O.P. leaders to shore up support among more than a dozen mainstream conservatives who had been skeptical about pushing forward on impeachment amid an investigation that has so far failed to produce concrete evidence that the president has committed high crimes or misdemeanors.

They succeeded in part because of fresh, explosive allegations against the presidents son Hunter Biden and by making the case to their G.O.P. colleagues that there is no harm in scrutinizing whether the president might have played a role.
He simply said, I know that I should not be involved in the discussions about the border, said Senator Mike Rounds, Republican of South Dakota. He made it clear that he understood that that was an issue. He was there to talk about their needs. And he did a very good job of not getting involved, not being pulled into the discussion.

In the meantime, bipartisan talks in the Senate aimed at breaking the impasse on immigration policy have deteriorated, and lawmakers are openly talking about the likelihood that they will leave Washington for the holidays without passing aid for Ukraine.

A bipartisan group of senators and congressional aides met in the Capitol with White House officials and Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, on Tuesday evening to continue negotiations. Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, told reporters that negotiators had made progress toward a deal.

Still, those talks have not yielded much in recent days, and time is not on their side.

It is practically impossible for Congress to pass a bill on Ukraine and border security before the holidays, said Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, the minority leader who has been a leading champion of backing Kyiv in its war against Russia.

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, said a stringent House-passed border measure championed by conservative hard-liners was dead on arrival in the Democrat-controlled Senate. But if Republicans show theyre serious about meeting us in the middle, we are willing to meet them in the middle, he said.

He said some G.O.P. lawmakers were simply unwilling to budge on their border demands.

Unfortunately, it may seem the case that these are both excuses, and they really want to kill funding for Ukraine and never had any intention of passing it, Mr. Schumer said. Thats not true of all Republicans  but too many.

Karoun Demirjian , Kayla Guo and Robert Jimison contributed reporting.
The Russian push in eastern Ukraine this fall and winter was designed to sap Western support for Ukraine, according to a newly declassified American intelligence assessment.

The drive has resulted in heavy losses but has not led to strategic gains on the battlefield for Russia, said Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council.

Since the beginning of the war Russia has suffered from a staggeringly high number of losses, according to another newly declassified assessment shared with Congress. At the start of the war the Russian army stood at 360,000 troops. Russia has lost 315,000 of those troops, forcing them to recruit and mobilize new recruits and convicts from their prison system.

Moscows equipment has also been crushed, according to the assessment. At the start of the war, Russia had 3,500 tanks but has lost 2,200, forcing them to pull 50 year old T-62 tanks from storage.
Jack Smith, the special counsel who has brought two cases against former President Donald J. Trump, made a bold move this week designed to undercut one of Mr. Trumps chief defenses against accusations of plotting to overturn the 2020 election.

Mr. Smith asked the Supreme Court to rule on Mr. Trumps attempts to have the election subversion charges dismissed on a sweeping claim of executive immunity before a lower appeals court even has the chance to consider the issue.

Mr. Smith also asked the justices to make their decision quickly.

The United States recognizes that this is an extraordinary request, he told the Supreme Court in a petition filed on Monday.

But there was a reason it was needed.

This is an extraordinary case, he wrote.

Here is a look at the intersecting legal and political issues surrounding the special counsels move.
Since Russias February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration has sent more than $75 billion in cash and equipment to the country for its defense. Most of the aid has gone to Ukraines military operations, keeping its government running and addressing its humanitarian needs.

Without it, Ukraine would at best struggle to fend off Russias army  and might collapse altogether. But now, as Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, visits Washington, the future of U.S. aid is in grave doubt.

President Biden says Ukraine needs a major new infusion of cash and equipment that only Congress can approve. But many Republicans object to pouring more taxpayer dollars into the faraway conflict and are insisting that Mr. Biden make concessions on unrelated U.S. border security issues for their support.

Heres a look at what aid the United States has sent to Ukraine and the political debate about whether to continue that support.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. The return of two Azerbaijani servicemen captured by Armenia to their homeland will be ensured, said Kamran Aliyev, Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

Note that the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia issued a joint statement.

Negotiations between the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia resulted in an agreement to take tangible steps to build confidence between the two countries.

Guided by the principles of humanism and as a goodwill gesture, the Republic of Azerbaijan releases 32 Armenian servicemen. The list of 32 does not and cannot include the leaders of the notorious regime who committed war crimes against the Azerbaijani people and crimes against humanity, such as Arayik Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Ruben Vardanyan, as well as Vagif Khachaturyan and Alyosha Khosrovyan.

In its turn, the Republic of Armenia releases the two Azerbaijani servicemen.

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San Francisco voters say in poll after poll that theyre unhappy with the direction of their city and that they dont like Mayor London Breed. They say they want better leadership to solve homelessness, property crime, fentanyl overdoses and the citys other crises.

And yet, the 2024 mayors race so far has a distinct air of meh. Only two challengers have declared that they will take on Breed: Ahsha Safai, a member of the Board of Supervisors, and Daniel Lurie, an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune. Neither is gaining much traction.

Even an unpopular mayor may have a large enough incumbency advantage in San Francisco to ward off many challengers. Its been 28 years since a mayor  the former police chief Frank Jordan  got the boot after just one term.

Still, at least three names of potential mayoral candidates are now being bandied about in the city.
Last week in northern Nigeria, two drone strikes killed at least 85 people who had been out celebrating a Muslim holiday in a village. In June, dozens of herders and their cattle were hit from the sky, in the state next to the countrys capital. And in 2017, around 100 people were killed in an airstrike on a refugee camp in the countrys northeast.

As the Nigerian military wages a domestic war against extremist militants and armed gangs, its widespread use of airstrikes on its own soil has come with a cascade of more than a dozen accidents that have killed hundreds of civilians in the past six years, according to security analysts.

The repeated errors raise pressing questions for the United States, which trains and equips the Nigerian military and considers Nigeria a key ally in a region of Africa marred by widespread insecurity and coups.

The Dec. 3 attack on a village where hundreds of worshipers were gathered at night for a festive Muslim holiday underscored the deficiencies of West Africas largest military. Analysts say the problems include mismanagement, faulty intelligence gathering and a lack of coordination among the different branches of the countrys security apparatus.
A judge in South Africa has set aside the presidents recognition of the Zulu king, the latest twist in a vicious and long-running battle over who is the rightful leader of one of Africas most storied monarchies.

The ruling, issued by Judge Norman Davis on Monday, raised the prospect that King Misuzulu, 49, who last year ascended to the throne made famous by the legendary King Shaka Zulu, might have to step down.

The uncertainty is likely to fuel tension within the royal family that oversees South Africas largest and most culturally influential traditional kingdom. Since the death of King Goodwill Zwelithini in March 2021 after a 50-year reign, royal family members have lobbed heated accusations at one another, including claims that wills were forged, that rivals were poisoned, that secret meetings were convened and that King Misuzulu was an incestuous playboy.

The drama has captivated a nation home to about 14 million Zulus, whose language is the most widely spoken in South Africa.
Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday for a relatively rare trip abroad, seeking to elevate ties with an important neighbor just three months after President Biden visited Hanoi on a similar mission.

Few nations now feature more centrally in the great-power competition between the United States and China, placing Vietnam, which has a long history of fierce independence, in a high-risk, high-reward position. Keeping both giants happy could mean a transformative economic boost; angering one or the other could bring heavy costs.

This is a very delicate dance for Vietnams government, said Alexander Vuving, a professor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu. They have to dance on a very thin tightrope, and the tightrope has become even thinner.

Mr. Xi, analysts say, wants to test Vietnams intentions, seeking reassurances that it is not siding against China with the United States after Washington and Hanoi agreed in September to form a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Twenty-three soldiers were killed in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday when heavily armed militants attacked a security post in one of the deadliest assaults on the countrys security forces in recent years, officials said.

The pre-dawn raid occurred on the outskirts of Dera Ismail Khan, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, which borders Afghanistan and has been plagued by militancy and terrorist attacks since the Afghan Taliban took power in the neighboring country two years ago.

The militants initiated the attack by ramming an explosive-laden vehicle into the compounds outer perimeter, beside a police station, causing a building to collapse and leading to numerous casualties, the Pakistani military said in a statement. After a fierce gun battle, all six attackers were killed, it said.

In a separate recent episode in the same district, a military operation against a militant hide-out resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and 21 militants, according to the military.
It was just minutes after Donald Tusk made his triumphant return as Polands leader that his archenemy stepped to the podium in Parliament to rain acid on his parade.

I dont know who your grandfathers were but I know one thing: You are a German agent, just a German agent, growled Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the chairman of Law and Justice, the right-wing party that, until Monday, had held all the reins of power.

The accusation, one of many smears aimed at Mr. Tusk over a political career stretching back to the 1980s, came after Parliament endorsed Mr. Tusk as prime minister, stirring joy and relief among Polish liberals and pro-European centrists.

The attack reflected the no-holds-barred approach to Polish politics after eight years of Law and Justice rule. But it also highlighted the difficulties for many in Poland of pinning down who their countrys next leader is and where he stands.
Ukraines largest mobile operator said it had come under a powerful cyberattack on Tuesday morning that knocked out service to millions of people.

The company, Kyivstar, said that the attack also affected internet access and that it was unclear when service would be restored. The interruption poses real danger in a country where many rely on phone alerts to warn them of impending Russian bombardments.

We are working to eliminate the consequences of this attack to restore communication as soon as possible, the head of Kyivstar, Oleksandr Komarov, said in a video statement, adding that users personal data had not been compromised.

While Mr. Komarov did not explicitly say who was responsible for the attack and there was no immediate claim of responsibility, the implication was clear.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain survived a crucial test of his authority on Tuesday, facing down at least for now a rebellion from the hard right of his party.

At issue was a highly contentious immigration policy that aims to deter asylum seekers from crossing from France to Britain on small boats by putting hundreds of them on one-way flights to Rwanda.

Both Mr. Sunak and the hard-right caucus regard the project as key to the prospects of the governing Conservative Party.

The Conservatives have chosen to make tackling immigration a central theme in recent years, announcing hard-line measures aimed at deterring migrants from even trying to reach Britain. On Tuesday, it was announced that a man had died on a barge that the government had hired to house asylum seekers, the Bibby Stockholm, piling additional pressure on Mr. Sunak over his governments treatment of migrants.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain survived a major threat to his leadership on Tuesday, advancing his flagship immigration policy over the objections of hard-right factions in his Conservative Party. But the victory may prove fleeting as he faces several more hurdles to the plan, which would deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

While about two dozen Conservative lawmakers abstained from voting on the policy, the partys 56-seat majority ensured that it went through by a vote of 313 to 269.

That was a relief to Mr. Sunak, who has lashed his political fortunes to the ambitious, some say impossible, goal of stopping the arrival of migrants on small boats across the English Channel. A defeat would have pitched him into crisis and could even have prompted a leadership challenge.

Yet the touch-and-go nature of the vote sent an ominous signal about Mr. Sunaks grip on his party on the eve of an election season. The Rwanda legislation now moves to the House of Lords, the unelected upper chamber of Parliament, where it is likely to get a hostile reception from members, many of whom have been harshly critical of the governments hard-line approach.
The Vatican said on Tuesday that Catholic families may ask to preserve a minimal part of the ashes of a relative in a place of significance to the deceased, softening a previous mandate that ashes could be kept only in sacred spaces like cemeteries.

The instructions come seven years after the Vatican first issued guidelines to respond to what it called an unstoppable increase in cremation. The guidelines banned the scattering of ashes in the air, on land, at sea or in some other way, and said that ashes could not be kept at home.

The new instructions allow families to keep a small portion of ashes in a place that has meaning for the deceased provided that every type of pantheistic, naturalistic, or nihilistic misunderstanding is ruled out. In keeping with the 2016 rules, the remaining ashes had to be kept in a sacred place, the doctrinal office said, according to a note posted on the Vaticans website.

The new rules also allow ashes to be mixed in a common urn as long as the identity of each deceased person is marked so as not to lose the memory of their names.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. Azerbaijan's national leader Heydar Aliyev laid the foundations of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, said Ukraine's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladyslav Kanevskyi, Trend reports.

"Today is a special day for Azerbaijani people, and I think for Ukrainians too, because today we honor the memory of national leader Heydar Aliyev. I believe that this is the person thanks to whom the great friendship between Azerbaijan and Ukraine began. He created the strategic partnership that exists between the two countries," the ambassador said.

He added that today's feeling of great support of the Azerbaijani people by Ukraine is also part of the foundation laid by Heydar Aliyev.

The 12th of December is the Remembrance Day of Heydar Aliyev, the national leader of the Azerbaijani people. State and government officials, as well as servicemen, law enforcement officers, and representatives of the diplomatic corps, visited the grave of the national leader in the Alley of Honorable Burial and, laying flowers at the monument, expressed deep respect to the memory of the founder of modern independent Azerbaijan.

Also, the memory of great leader Heydar Aliyev's spouse, scientist-ophthalmologist, and academician Zarifa Aliyeva was honored and flowers were laid at her place of grave.

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President Biden told Israels leaders on Tuesday that they were losing international support for their war in Gaza, exposing a widening rift with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who rejected out of hand the American vision for a postwar resolution to the conflict.

Mr. Biden delivered the blunt assessment of Americas closest ally in the Middle East during a fund-raiser in Washington, where he described Mr. Netanyahu as the leader of the most conservative government in Israels history, which doesnt want anything remotely approaching a two-state solution to the countrys long-running dispute with Palestinians.

The president said that Israel had support from Europe and much of the world as well as the United States, but he added that theyre starting to lose that support by the indiscriminate bombing that takes place.

The presidents remarks came hours after Mr. Netanyahu pledged to defy weeks of American pressure to put the Palestinian Authority in charge of Gaza once the fighting ends. Mr. Netanyahu ruled out any role there for the authority, which now governs Palestinian society in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Until Tuesday, the United States had largely backed Israel both in action and in rhetoric  supporting the assault on Gaza, fending off calls for a cease-fire at the United Nations and authorizing the sale of thousands of tank shells to the Israelis.

There is disagreement about the day after Hamas, Mr. Netanyahu said in a video statement posted on social media. He said he hoped the two governments could reach an agreement about what happens after the war ends, but he vowed not to allow threats to Israels population to continue.
The WhatsApp group members had advantages many fellow Gazans lacked: working cellphones and a way to communicate with one another to avoid deadly Israeli strikes.

But snippets of their conversations about the besieged southern city of Khan Younis show how even they were flummoxed by Israels sometimes contradictory evacuation warnings, which they described as confusing.

How do you know which blocks are under threat? Where do you get the news from, read one of the snippets seen by The New York Times.

Is block 49 under threat?

People, if anyone understands the map, please clarify it to us.

For the many Gazans without reliable cellphones or access to social media, the options for obtaining accurate information to navigate Israels evacuation orders are even more challenging  especially since the Israeli military this month intensified its offensive aimed at Hamas militants in southern Gaza.
Israeli military officials announced on Tuesday that they found the remains of two hostages captured in Hamass Oct. 7 attack on Israel and have repatriated the bodies.

The remains of the hostages, Eden Zakaria, 27, and Master Sgt. Ziv Dado, 36, were discovered during a recent operation in the Gaza Strip, Israeli officials said in a statement. Ms. Zakaria was taken hostage from the Tribe of Nova music festival in Reim, in southern Israel, while Sergeant Dado was serving as a logistics supervisor in the armys Golani Brigade at the time of the attack and had been presumed dead, Israeli officials said.

The operation to locate their bodies resulted in at least two deaths, officials said, including those of Master Sgt. Eyal Meir Berkowitz and Gen. Gal Meir Eisenkot, the son of the war cabinet minister Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot. They died on Dec. 7.

Our national mission is to locate the missing and return all the hostages home, the Israeli military said. We are working together with security agencies, and with all intelligence and operational means in order to return all of the hostages home.

Liat Bell Sommer, a spokeswoman for The Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum, a group formed by the families of abductees after the Oct. 7 attack, said in a statement that it shared the profound grief of those hostage families just informed of the repatriation.

Ms. Zakaria was filled with joy for life, Ms. Sommer said, noting her devotion to her family and her dogs. Sergeant Dado was married and the father of a 5-month-old daughter, Ms. Sommer said, and he loved helping others, especially underserved populations.

Of the roughly 240 hostages kidnapped on Oct. 7, more than 100 have been released, after a series of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas that were brokered by Qatari, American and Egyptian officials. In November, the negotiations led to the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian women and teenage prisoners being held by Israel. They also led to a brief pause in the Israeli bombardment of Gaza, which has prompted a humanitarian crisis in the enclave that has displaced about 1.9 million Palestinians over two months.

Hostages who have been freed have described the conditions of their captivity to family members as horrific. Some were held in sweltering tunnels deep beneath the strip, squeezed into tight quarters or confined in isolation. All bore physical and psychological wounds. Hamas and Israel last week offered conflicting reports of hostage rescue efforts by the Israeli military.

President Biden is scheduled to meet on Wednesday with families of some of the remaining American hostages. Families of hostages have pressed the United States to push for more pauses in fighting and continued negotiations.
Palestinians bidding farewell to relatives killed in the war at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis this month.

The number of Gaza residents reported killed during Israels 10-week-old war in the territory has already surpassed the toll for any other Arab conflict with Israel in more than 40 years and perhaps any since Israels founding in 1948.

The Gaza Health Ministry said on Thursday that the death toll had exceeded 20,000 for the first time, putting it just above one of the most authoritative estimates of those killed in Lebanon by Israels 1982 invasion.

And though Gaza officials have said counting the dead has become increasingly challenging, most experts say the figure is likely an undercount and express shock at the enormity of the loss. Some military experts said more people had been killed more quickly in this war than during the deadliest stages of the U.S.-led wars in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Azmi Keshawi, the Gaza analyst for the International Crisis Group think tank, said this war was more horrifying than any he had experienced before. He said he and his family had fled his home in northern Gaza and moved six times so far. They now live in a tent near a U.N. shelter in the southern city of Rafah.

Image The Gaza Health Ministry has said that about 70 percent of those killed in the war are believed to be women and children. Credit... Yousef Masoud for The New York Times

The Israeli military has engaged in an intense air and ground campaign to eliminate Hamas, the armed Palestinian group that rules Gaza and led the Oct. 7 attack that officials say killed about 1,200 people in Israel  the majority of them civilians but also including hundreds of soldiers. The assailants still hold scores of hostages.

The high death toll reflects how Israel has chosen to wage the war, using thousands of airstrikes, heavy bombs and artillery in a small territory densely packed with civilians who cannot escape. Israel has said Hamas built an extensive tunnel network underground to shield its fighters and weapons, putting civilian infrastructure and people on the ground in the line of fire.

The Gaza war was already thought to be the deadliest conflict for Palestinians in the 75 years since Israel was established. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, an estimated 15,000 Palestinians were killed during the war surrounding Israels creation in 1948.

The deaths in the current conflict, if the figures from Gaza are accurate, have also exceeded the most widely cited estimate of the toll for the initial three months of the 1982 invasion of Lebanon. But as in Gaza today, researchers say the number killed in Lebanon may never be known with confidence because of the fog of war, even four decades later.

Image Palestinian women looking for the bodies of relatives in the Sabra refugee camp in West Beirut in 1982. Credit... Bettmann, via Getty Images

That estimate comes from an analysis of police and hospital records compiled in 1982 by the newspaper An Nahar, which at the time was among the Arab worlds most respected. It put the death toll at 17,825. But the paper said that tally was most likely an undercount, and in 1982, The Times reported that numbering the dead correctly is virtually impossible in Lebanon.

In the 1967 Middle East war, nearly 19,000 Egyptians, Syrians and others were estimated to have been killed fighting Israel, while a similar number  mostly Syrians and Egyptians  died in the 1973 war, according to The Associated Press. As in the Gaza and Lebanon wars, the exact tolls for these wars are also not known, but most of the dead were believed to be combatants.

In contrast, the Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government there, has said that about 70 percent of those killed are women and children. On Thursday, the ministry said the death toll had reached 20,057 but the Gaza authorities never give breakdowns for how many of those killed are combatants.

Israel claims it has killed some 7,000 Hamas fighters, but has not explained how it arrived at that number.

The toll in Gaza is expected to rise significantly when Palestinians are able to dig out of the vast destruction that the war has wrought. A Gazan government spokesman said Wednesday that in addition to the dead, 6,700 people are missing. Many are believed to still be buried in the rubble.

The likelihood is that many people who are missing under the rubble will be determined to have been killed, said Omar Shakir, the Israel and Palestine director for Human Rights Watch. For that reason, the death toll is likely to increase even if the bombing were to stop today, he added.

Image Gaza officials say thousands of people are still missing and presumed dead, believed to be buried under the rubble amid the vast destruction across Gaza. Credit... Yousef Masoud for The New York Times

No independent organizations have been able to verify the Gaza death toll because of the difficulties of operating in the territory. And as the conflict has ground on, the casualty numbers have become more difficult to collect.

The Gaza Health Ministry compiles death toll data from the records of local hospitals and morgues, officials in the territory have said. But in recent weeks, the government media office said it had stepped in to help gather the figures after the Health Ministrys facilities were bombed and 27 of the 36 hospitals in Gaza were rendered unusable by airstrikes amid an Israeli siege that has tightly restricted food, water, fuel and medicine from entering.

Frequent disruptions in communications caused by Israeli attacks on telecommunication towers, Israeli control of the enclaves communication lines and fuel shortages have also made gathering information very difficult.

Mahmoud al-Farra, a spokesman for the government media office, said the people collecting the data had to make the most of the available possibilities amid the fighting. Its hard to count them because the number of martyrs is large, he added.

Image An estimated 85 percent of Gazas population of more than 2 million have left their homes in an attempt to flee Israels airstrikes and ground invasion. Credit... Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times

Throughout the war, the Gaza Health Ministry has released updated death tolls that have been called broadly reliable by the U.N., humanitarian groups and a study published this month in The Lancet, a British medical journal.

This month, when the ministry said the death toll had passed 15,000, some Israeli officials said they believed that figure to be roughly accurate. However, the Israeli military has also said the death toll reported in Gaza could not be trusted because the territory is run by Hamas.

On Oct. 26, the ministry released a list of the names and ID numbers of 6,747 people it said had been killed up to that point by Israeli bombing  an accounting that enhanced the credibility of its numbers.

The ministrys staff includes many civil servants that predate the Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007, and humanitarian groups have defended its record. They say it has a history of good faith reporting and has provided reliable information.

But the ministry came under criticism after an Oct. 17 explosion at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, when the government almost instantaneously released casualty figures that ranged from 500 to 833 dead. Days later, it announced a final count of 471.

After the explosion, John F. Kirby, a White House spokesman, called the ministry a front for Hamas, and President Biden told reporters he had no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed.

Mr. Biden then added: Im sure innocents have been killed, and its the price of waging a war.

Image Palestinians buried 111 bodies in a mass grave at a cemetery in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, in November. The bodies were brought to Khan Younis from northern Gaza. Credit... Yousef Masoud for The New York Times

The war has posed myriad other complications for compiling accurate casualty counts.

An estimated 85 percent of Gazas population of more than two million have fled their homes, after Israel ordered the evacuation of much of the territory, to try to escape Israels airstrikes and ground invasion. Its largest population center, Gaza City, has been reduced to rubble. Thousands sleep on the street, and others live in overcrowded shelters that teem with disease.

There has been virtually no electricity for more than two months. Food and clean water are scarce. The U.N. says half the population is at risk of starvation, and 90 percent regularly go without food for a whole day.

Image Palestinians from the Abu Namous family searched for the freshly dug graves of their relatives who were killed and buried in the Deir al-Balah cemetery in November. Credit... Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times

Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a vocal critic of Hamas who grew up in Gaza but now lives in California, said Israeli airstrikes have so far killed more than 30 members of his family, including people in their 70s and cousins between the ages of 3 months and 9 years old.

Early in the war, he said, his childhood home was bombed, killing one young cousin. And last week, his aunt and uncles home was bombed, killing at least 31 people. Sitting in California, he watched video of their destroyed home on his phone. None of the people there were affiliated with Hamas, he said.

It was a family home, he said.

Iyad Abuheweila , Adam Sella and Isabel Kershner contributed reporting.
Today, most Jewish Israelis support the invasion of Gaza. They think it is crucial to restoring their countrys reputation for military competence and strength. But while Israel can depose Hamas, its leaders have not explained how it can rule Gaza  either directly or by proxy  without inviting a future insurgency. That insurgency will be powered by Palestinians seeking revenge, since, as Israeli experts have noted, Hamas recruits fighters from the families of people Israel kills. As that quagmire deepens, Israel would look about as strong and competent as the United States did when it could not quash insurgencies in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Militarily, Israel should instead conduct the kind of narrowly targeted response the United States eschewed after Sept. 11. It should pursue the people who masterminded the Oct. 7 slaughter to the ends of the earth and the end of their days. But it should halt its invasion of Gaza and negotiate a long-term cease-fire that leads to freedom for all the remaining Israeli hostages. At the same time, Israel should allow Palestinians to create a legitimate political leadership  which can take charge in the West Bank and Gaza  and empower Palestinians who pursue their freedom in ethical ways.

To negotiate seriously with Israel, Palestinians need legitimate leaders  not the discredited Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, who hasnt stood for election since 2005. As the Israeli newspaper Haaretz has advised in the past, Israel should release the imprisoned Palestinian nationalist Marwan Barghouti, who is more popular than the leaders of Hamas. Mr. Barghouti was convicted of murder and membership in a terrorist organization during a trial at which he declined to offer a defense and refused to recognize the Israeli courts jurisdiction. But despite defending Palestinians right to violently resist Israeli oppression, he has also lauded Nelson Mandelas willingness to defy hatred and to choose justice over vengeance.

Israel should then empower Mr. Barghouti and other credible, non-Hamas Palestinian leaders by showing that they can improve Palestinian lives and give Palestinians hope that they will gain their freedom. It should begin dismantling the West Bank settlements whose inhabitants terrorize their Palestinian neighbors and help Palestinians forced from their villages by settler violence to return. It should prevent Jewish ultranationalists from undermining the status quo on the Temple Mount, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, and promise not to establish diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia until Palestinians are free.

According to Israeli media, influential Palestinians have proposed allowing Hamas to join the Palestine Liberation Organization, the umbrella group that includes different Palestinian parties, if it disarms. Mr. Barghouti could oversee such a process, which would pave the way for a revived, internally democratic P.L.O., which could set a new political direction for the Palestinian people.

Will Benjamin Netanyahus government do any of this? Not a chance. But polls suggest that his Likud party may suffer a historic collapse when Israelis next vote. The Biden administration should make it clear that Americas relationship with Israel will depend on its next government pursuing a different path. Israels current one will succeed only in devastating Gaza. It wont give Palestinians hope, and it wont keep Israelis safe.

Peter Beinart (@PeterBeinart) is a professor of journalism and political science at the Newmark School of Journalism at the City University of New York. He is also editor at large of Jewish Currents and writes The Beinart Notebook, a weekly newsletter.
The home to the Oroville Dam is looking for a PR firm that can implement a series of marketing goals and strategies pertaining to economic development, tourism and community development.
FOUR students from Offaly celebrated their graduation from Carlow College, St. Patricks last week at the Conferring Ceremony for 2023.

Ben ONeill from Edenderry and Jack Hughes from Walsh Island, both graduated with a BA (Hons) in Arts & Humanities, whilst Eilish OBrien and Felix Obare both from Tullamore graduated with a BA in Applied Social Studies (Professional Social Care).

After being unsure what to do at the start, Ben ONeill felt the first year of his degree helped him to explore potential areas of interest. After studying all the core subjects in first year of the course, I was confident enough to mostly refine my studies to English and History modules. As someone who was still unsure about what they wanted to study, the variety of subjects suited me perfectly, said Ben.

Social Care graduate, Eilish, felt her degree helped her develop vital teamwork skills, saying: I loved that each module delivered gave students the chance to partake in group work. I think thats the most important thing in social care  being part of a team. Eilish is now working as a Social Care Worker.

Speaking of the official opening of the CORU professional register for Social Care Workers, Dr John McHugh, Programme Director for the BA in Applied Social Studies (Professional Social Care) programme said: Todays a great date as its the first time that Social Care graduates will graduate with an award that they can get a professional qualification with CORU  thats a big achievement.

Staff and students at Carlow College had a day of celebration for its Class of 2023 on Friday as 189 graduates  including 7 students from Offaly - were conferred in the Colleges graduation, which took place in Carlow Cathedral.

The College welcomed back alumni, Donnchadh OMahony of the Leaving Cert Guidance podcast and Aisling Burke, Residential Service Manager for Compass Child and Family Services to deliver the keynote addresses at the graduation.

Speaking of the ceremony, Dr Thomas McGrath, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Registrar of Carlow College said: Today we congratulate our new graduates and celebrate their achievements so far. They are a credit to the College and I have no doubt they will go on to prosper in their chosen career paths.

Carlow College President, Fr Conn O Maoldhomhnaigh warmly congratulated the graduates who come from 18 different counties across Ireland.

As College President, it is my pleasure and privilege to acknowledge the exceptional achievements of all of our graduates. They have been part of our journey over the past three to four years and we wish them the very best as they continue on their own individual paths., said Fr O Maoldhomhnaigh
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. The resolution on "The impact of mines on cultural heritage" is the first in the history of UNESCO, which was put up for discussion and adopted unanimously, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend.

"At the same time, for the first time in the history of the mentioned convention the issue of similar content was included on the agenda by Azerbaijan," the ministry said.

The 15th meeting of the parties to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in times of armed conflict was held at UNESCO headquarters on December 11.

The draft resolution on "The impact of mines on cultural heritage" introduced by Azerbaijan was adopted by unanimous decision of 135 countries.

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Shocking! Rs 21 Crore Drugs Seized in Bengaluru, Read Details Here

Bengaluru

oi-Gaurav Sharma

The Bengaluru City Police and the Central Crime Branch, in a joint operation, seized drugs worth Rs 21 crore on Tuesday. According to the reports, the Bengaluru police seized the drugs from a Nigerian national in Bengaluru's Ramamurthy Nagar area. The accused was later identified as Leonard Okwudili, who is residing in India on a business visa.

After Slueths' success, the City Police Commissioner B Dayananda thumped their back during a media briefing stating that the contraband included 16 kg MDMA crystals worth Rs 16 crore and 500 grams of Cocaine worth Rs 5 crore.

The reports marked this raid as the biggest one in the history of the Bengaluru City Police.

The Anti-Narcotics Wing of the Bengaluru Crime Branch successfully arrested an international drug dealer. The individual had stocked 16 Kg of MDMA and 500 gm of Cocain worth Rs 21 Crore for the upcoming New Year parties. Additionally, the police recovered a mobile phone, three pic.twitter.com/ymcyn7HyiN     BengaluruCityPolice (@BlrCityPolice) December 12, 2023

According to the reports, the peddler had a plan to sell these drugs on the eve of the new year to college students across the city at different venues. As per the police officials, the drugs were procured from suppliers from different states like Delhi and Mumbai using postal services and public transport. The accused told the police that he was used to hide drugs bedspread packings, soap boxes, and chocolate boxes to transport them.

The police have also summoned the owner of the house from where the drug seller has been nabbed to collect more information about the accused and people associated with him.

According to the report, the police have filed the case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against the Nigerian national.

Earlier, the Bengaluru police nabbed 11 accused, of which, five were foreign nationals while peddling MDMA and cannabis. Drugs worth Rs. 1 crore were reported to be seized.

"Real-life Narcos hunt by Cubbon Park and Ashoknagar PS. Busted 11 members including 5 foreigners & seized 1.10 kg of MDMA and 2 kg cannabis worth 1 crore who were peddling across Bangalore City." R Srinivas Gowda, deputy commissioner of police (central Bengaluru) had written on X.

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 20:01 [IST]
Bomb Scare At Raj Bhavan: Bengaluru Police Launch Manhunt To Trace Hoax Caller's Location

Bengaluru

oi-Madhuri Adnal

An unidentified caller on Monday night contacted Raj Bhavan, stating that a bomb had been planted within the premises. Responding swiftly, the bomb detection team hurried to the location and conducted a thorough search, concluding that the call was a hoax. Vidhana Soudha Police Station has filed a case regarding the incident.

Around 11:30 pm that same Monday, an unidentified caller issued a bomb threat to Raj Bhavan, withholding their identity before abruptly ending the call.

Raj Bhavan's security promptly alerted law enforcement, prompting a swift response from the police along with anti-sabotage and bomb detection units.

Interpol Help Sought In Bengaluru School Bomb Threat Case

After an extensive search spanning several hours, authorities confirmed the absence of any suspicious items within the vicinity. Vidhana Soudha Police have initiated an investigation to trace the caller's location.

In a separate incident, Bengaluru witnessed 27 schools receiving hoax bomb threat emails on December 1 between 6-9 am, causing distress among parents and students. Extensive searches were conducted, ultimately clearing the schools of any potential threats.

Subsequently, Bengaluru Police filed 27 First Information Reports (FIRs) and reached out to the email service provider, beeble.com, for information about the sender. While a response was received, it was reportedly insufficient, prompting ongoing communication with the service provider.

Bengaluru Schools Bomb Threat Email Origin Traced To Czech Republic Or Slovakia

Additionally, Bengaluru Police have sought assistance from the Central Bureau of Investigation's Interpol division regarding certain aspects of the case.

The emails sent to multiple schools referenced the 2008 Mumbai attack, stating, "Convert to Islam or face the sword of Islam."
Rs 18.2 L Tata Nexon Delivered With Defects: Customer Exposes Prerana Motors In Viral Rant

Bengaluru

oi-Madhuri Adnal

A recent Instagram reel has gone viral, exposing a customer's ordeal while trying to purchase a new NEXON Facelift from Prerana Motors, a Tata Motors dealer in Yelahanka, Bengaluru.

The incident involves Sharath Kumar T., who claims the dealership attempted to sell him a defective NEXON Facelift without proper Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) or Quality Control (QC). Sharath alleges that the vehicle was registered in his name despite the identified defects.

In his emotional Instagram post, Sharath recounts his shattered dreams and the hardship faced by his family, especially his four-month-old twin daughters, who were forced to travel in autos and cabs for vaccinations due to the lack of a reliable vehicle. The caption accompanying the video details the disheartening sequence of events that unfolded during his attempt to take delivery of a NEXON FACELIFT Automatic Petrol Fearless Plus, priced at 18.2 Lakhs.

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"Dreams of my family shattered when I went to take delivery of NEXON FACELIFT Automatic Petrol Fearless Plus worth 18.2 Lakhs from probably the Worst Dealer of TATA MOTORS i.e PRERANA MOTORS, Yelahanka, as they tried to sell me a Defective NEXON Facelift vehicle without doing PDI or any QC. They registered the vehicle in my name," reads the caption.

He expresses his disappointment with the lack of resolution from both Prerana Motors and Tata Motors. Despite highlighting the issue for a month, Sharath claims neither party has offered a replacement vehicle or a full refund.

Instead, he alleges they are trying to convince him to accept the repaired vehicle with a 2-year extended warranty. This solution falls short of his expectations, as he feels it undermines the seriousness of the issue and the inconvenience he has faced.

Sharath concludes his post by urging people to share his story to raise awareness about the importance of PDI and QC before making payments for new vehicles.

The Instagram video went viral on social media and gained immense traction, prompting a response from the official Tata Nexon handle. They urged Kumar to share his email address for further assistance.

Bomb Scare At Raj Bhavan: Bengaluru Police Launch Manhunt To Trace Hoax Caller's Location

"Hi @shras007, we deeply regret the inconvenience caused. Kindly send us your email ID via DM, enabling our team to provide prompt assistance," their message read.

However, Kumar remained unconvinced by their response, hinting at potential legal action.

"Despite ongoing discussions with Prerana's CEO, Prithvi, and Tata Karnataka's Zonal Manager, Mohammed Ahmed, I find the proposed solution unsatisfactory. We may pursue legal recourse instead," he conveyed.

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 15:36 [IST]
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Fact Check: Is India's Family Planning Program On The Brink Due To Condom Crisis?

Fact Check

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Union Health Ministry dismissed as "misleading" recent reports suggesting that India's family planning program would face significant disruptions due to the central procurement agency's failure in obtaining contraceptives.

In a statement, the ministry deemed these reports as ill-informed and providing misleading information.

''Such reports are ill-informed and provides misleading information,'' the ministry said in a statement.

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The Central Medical Services Society (CMSS), functioning as an autonomous body and Central Procurement Agency under the Union Ministry of Health, is responsible for procuring condoms for the National Family Planning Programme and National AIDS Control Programme. ''The CMSS procured 5.88 crores pieces of condoms for Family Planning Programme in May, 2023 and the present stock position of condoms is sufficient to meet the requirement of the Family Planning Programme,'' the ministry said.

The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) currently receives 75% of its condom supplies from M/s HLL Lifecare Ltd., with plans to allocate the remaining 25% for the 2023-24 period through CMSS following recent approvals. NACO's current demand is being fulfilled by an order of 66 million pieces from M/s HLL Lifecare Ltd., the organization confirmed.

The ongoing order is in the process of being supplied, and requests for one-year requirements will be made to both M/s HLL Lifecare Ltd. and CMSS with the necessary approvals. The statement emphasized that there have been no shortages due to procurement delays by CMSS.

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CMSS has already initiated tenders this fiscal year for acquiring various types of condoms, and these tenders are in the final stages of completion.

The Union Health Ministry assured that there's no need for concern, mentioning close monitoring of the situation. Weekly review meetings within the ministry oversee the tendering process and supply status of medicines and medical items procured by CMSS for different ministry programs.

Fact Check Claim India's family planning program would face significant disruptions due to the central procurement agency's failure in obtaining contraceptives Conclusion No, there is no shortage. Rating False Raise your request for FACT CHECKING. Mail us at [email protected]

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 12:43 [IST]
Poll Body Revokes Telangana Top Cop Anjani Kumar's Suspension

Hyderabad

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to revoke the suspension imposed on Telangana's Director General of Police (DGP), Anjani Kumar. Initially enforced over alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), Kumar faced suspension following his meeting with Congress leader Revanth Reddy, now the Chief Minister, during the state assembly election counting earlier this month.

Anjani Kumar's visit to Reddy's residence, captured in photographs showing friendly exchanges, triggered social media controversy and raised concerns about potential MCC breaches. During the meeting, State police officers Sanjay Kumar Jain and Mahesh M Bhagwat accompanied the DGP.

The singular focus of the DGP's attention on a specific candidate among 2,290, who happened to be a prominent campaigner from a particular party among 16, raised suspicions of favoritism. Such circumstances prompted concerns about impartiality and adherence to the MCC, which mandates neutrality from officials during elections.

Telangana Cabinet Ministers List: CM Revanth Reddy Keeps Law And Order, Check Full Portfolios Of MLAs

The Election Commission emphasized that such actions by the DGP could influence junior officers and viewed the meeting as a direct violation of the code. The decision to rescind the suspension follows a thorough assessment of the situation and its potential impact on electoral conduct.

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 11:58 [IST]
I Smiled For The First Time In Over A Year And Half: Bilkis Bano On SC Verdict

Bilkis Bano Case: No Information Yet About Surrender Of Convicts, Says Dahod SP

1994 SR Bommai Case Verdict Decoded: How Did It Shape The SC's Stance On Article 370?

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Supreme Court's recent decision upholding the abrogation of Article 370 drew heavily upon its landmark 1994 judgement in the S.R. Bommai v Union of India case. This case dealt with the interpretation of Article 356 of the Indian Constitution, which allows the President to impose central rule in states experiencing a "failure of constitutional machinery."

But what is Article 356?

Article 356, rooted in Section 93 of the Government of India Act, 1935, is popularly recognized as 'President's Rule.' It is also referred to as 'State Emergency' or 'Constitutional Emergency.'

Essentially, this provision addresses the 'failure of constitutional machinery in the state,' empowering the President to take over all state functions. It can be enforced for a maximum of six months at a stretch, with a total cap of three years.

Article 370 Ruling Boosts 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' Vision, Says PM Modi

Reimposing President's Rule beyond the initial six months necessitates approval from Parliament.

What is S. R. Bommai v. Union of India case?

The S. R. Bommai v. Union of India case, decided by the Supreme Court of India in 1994, is considered a landmark judgement regarding the interpretation of Article 356 of the Constitution of India and its limitations.

In 1989, the Congress government at the Centre dismissed the Janata Dal-led Karnataka government, headed by Chief Minister S. R. Bommai, by imposing President's rule.

The Governor of Karnataka, P. Venkatasubbaiah, had recommended President's rule after reportedly receiving 19 letters from MLAs withdrawing their support for Bommai's government.

Bommai challenged the dismissal in the Supreme Court, arguing that the President's action was unconstitutional and politically motivated.

The Supreme Court, in a 9-0 decision, upheld the validity of Article 356 but laid down several important guidelines for its application.

The Court held that the President's decision to impose President's rule was not absolute and could be challenged in court.

SC Rules President's Order Scrapping Article 370 In J&K Is Valid

The Court established the following guidelines for imposing President's rule:

The President must have a "reasonable satisfaction" that the state government is unable to function according to the Constitution.

There must be a failure of constitutional machinery, not just a political crisis.

The Governor's report recommending President's rule must be based on objective facts and not mere speculation.

The central government's decision must be immediately communicated to both Houses of Parliament for approval.

The proclamation of President's rule must be laid before each House of Parliament within a month.

The Bommai judgment remains the definitive legal precedent for the application of Article 356, and has been invoked in recent challenges to President's rule in Uttarakhand (2016) and Arunachal Pradesh (2016), both of which were successfully overturned by the Supreme Court.

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 15:16 [IST]
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. We expect progress on long-term climate finance at COP29 in Azerbaijan, said Baye Salla Mar, president of the Green Party in Senegal, during the sidelines of the COP28 conference held in Dubai, UAE, Trend reports.

"We commend the UAE for successfully organizing COP28. There has been a significant increase in contributions to the Lost and Damage Fund. We extend our congratulations to Azerbaijan for hosting COP29. We expect that logistical problems will be overcome and that long-term climate finance will make significant progress," he said.

It should be noted that the decision to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced on December 11 within the framework of the COP28 conference in Dubai.

COP29 will be held in November 2024.

The Eastern European Regional Group has selected Azerbaijan to host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP29, in 2024.

To note, besides Azerbaijan, Armenia and Bulgaria were also nominated. However, on December 7, 2023, after direct negotiations between the Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Armenia decided to withdraw its candidacy in support of Azerbaijan. Bulgaria followed suit and also withdrew its candidacy.

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Article 370 Ruling Boosts 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' Vision, Says PM Modi

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

A day after the Supreme Court upheld the central government's decision to strip special status from Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate it into union territories by abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed that the court's decision has "bolstered the essence of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat."

In his article published in The Hindu, PM Modi penned, "Through its ruling on December 11, the Supreme Court has fortified the essence of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat - it has reminded us that our unity and dedication to good governance define us."

The five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, affirmed the validity of the President's 2019 order to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's special status. The court emphasized that not every action of the Centre is subject to challenge, asserting its inability to rule on the government's order and affirming Jammu and Kashmir's integral position within India.

Resounding Declaration Of Hope: PM Modi Hails SC Verdict Upholding Abrogation Of Article 370

PM Modi highlighted, "The court's judgment has upheld India's sovereignty and integrity, a sentiment cherished by every Indian. The court rightly recognized that the decision made on August 5, 2019, aimed to strengthen constitutional integration, not disintegration."

Expressing concern about the country's lack of a definitive stance on fundamental matters, PM Modi pointed out the resulting confusion arising from this duality, citing Jammu and Kashmir as a significant casualty of such ambiguity. He lamented the missed opportunity at Independence to embark on a new path towards national unity, instead perpetuating a state of uncertainty, disregarding long-term national interests.

The Prime Minister firmly expressed, "I always believed that what occurred in Jammu and Kashmir was a profound betrayal - to our nation and its people."

SC Rules President's Order Scrapping Article 370 In J&K Is Valid

Asserting a positive transformation in the northernmost region of India since 2019, PM Modi stated, "Presently, the aspirations of the people are not confined by past limitations but are future prospects. Development, democracy, and dignity have replaced disillusionment, disappointment, and despair."

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 9:39 [IST]
Bhajan Lal Sharma Is The New Rajasthan CM; Diya Singh, Prem Chandra Bairwa Appointed Deputy CMs

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

After nine days of speculation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has named Bhajan Lal Sharma as the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan. Alongside this decision, the party has also appointed Diya Singh and Prem Chandra Bairwa as Deputy Chief Ministers. Additionally, Vasudev Devnani has been chosen as the new Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

The announcement came following a crucial meeting of the BJP Legislative Party held in Jaipur on Tuesday afternoon. The meeting was attended by newly elected MLAs, senior party leaders, and central observers Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, alongside two co-observers-national vice president Saroj Pandey and national general secretary Vinod Tawde from the BJP. After a brief discussion, the party unanimously decided to elect Sharma as the next Chief Minister.

Sharma, a five-time MLA from the Sanganer constituency, has a long and distinguished career in politics. He has held various positions within the BJP, including state general secretary, national vice president, and observer for various state elections. His experience and political acumen are seen as valuable assets in leading Rajasthan through its next phase of development.

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Among the prominent contenders for the chief minister's position in Rajasthan, a state where the BJP secured victory in the recent elections, were former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Ashwini Vaishnaw. However, as the day progressed, names like Kailash Chaudhary, Diya Kumari, and Anita Bhadel also surfaced as potential frontrunners.
BJP Govt To Most Likely Retain Power In 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Fitch Ratings

India

oi-PTI

There is likelihood of policy continuity to be maintained in India as the incumbent administration is ''most likely'' to retain power in the general elections due in April-May, Fitch Ratings said on Tuesday. However, the size of the majority in the next Indian Parliament could influence the ambitiousness of the administration's reform agenda, it said.

''We believe it most likely that incumbent administrations will retain power in India (BBB-/stable) and Bangladesh (BB-/negative), during their general elections in April-May and January, respectively, pointing to the likelihood of broad policy continuity,'' Fitch said in a statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government had came to power in 2014 and came back with a thumping majority in 2019 general elections as well. The 2024 general elections are due in April-May and Fitch expects the Modi government to come back to power for the third time. The global rating agency said almost half of its rated portfolio in the Asian region will hold legislative or presidential elections in 2024.

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Fitch said it expects continuity to be the main theme of the elections among its rated Asian sovereigns due in 2024.

But the chance of election outcomes influencing credit profiles as being higher in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which are both dependent on successful IMF programme implementation and official support, as well as Taiwan, given potential geopolitical implications.

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 16:00 [IST]
Caste Census In Maharashtra? Opposition Seeks Similarity To Bihar's Model

India

oi-PTI

Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative assembly Vijay Wadettiwar on Tuesday demanded the state government to carry out a caste-based census on the lines of Bihar.

He was speaking in the assembly during the ongoing winter session of the state legislature here. ''The Maharashtra government should carry out a caste-wise census in the state on the lines of the Bihar government. We are not opposed to any particular community getting benefits of quota,'' he said.

''The census should find out how backward people are there in every community in the state,'' he said. In October, the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar released findings of its caste survey which revealed that Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) constitute a whopping 63 per cent of the state's total population.

Caste Census In Karnataka 'Completely Scientific', Says Former Panel Head, Rebuts Charges

Ever since the Bihar caste survey was out, the national leaders of the Congress, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, have been pressing for a caste census in the country. In the run-up to the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi had described caste census as an ''X-ray'' which will reveal the proportion of the OBCs, Dalits and tribals in the population.

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 16:06 [IST]
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Says ED Summons Illegal: 'BJP Wants To Stop Me From Campaigning'

Chhattisgarh, MP Done, All Eyes Now On Rajasthan: Who Are the Frontrunners?

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

After setting the suspense in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will now pick the new chief minister face in Rajasthan on Tuesday.

With high anticipation, the saffron party is set to finalize its pick for the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan through a crucial legislature party meeting scheduled for 4 pm today. This meeting marks the culmination of over 10 days of intense speculation and negotiations following the party's impressive victory in the recent assembly elections.

The meeting, to be held at the BJP's state headquarters, will be presided over by central observer Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with co-observers Saroj Pandey and Vinod Tawde. All newly elected MLAs are mandated to attend, and the party's choice for the next Chief Minister will be announced during the meeting.

Race For Rajasthan CM Started: Vasundhara Raje, Mahant Balak Nath, CP Joshi, Gajendra Shekhawat In Fray

Who Will Be The Next CM of Rajasthan: Who Are the Frontrunners?

Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje: Raje's extensive experience and strong political base make her a formidable candidate. Her supporters are hopeful that the BJP might opt for a familiar face to lead the state.

Raje's extensive experience and strong political base make her a formidable candidate. Her supporters are hopeful that the BJP might opt for a familiar face to lead the state. MLA Baba Balaknath: Balaknath's dedicated work and clean image have garnered him significant support within the party. His selection could signify a shift towards a younger leadership.

Balaknath's dedicated work and clean image have garnered him significant support within the party. His selection could signify a shift towards a younger leadership. Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal: Meghwal's influence in the Jat community and his association with the central government could make him a valuable asset in the role of Chief Minister.

Meghwal's influence in the Jat community and his association with the central government could make him a valuable asset in the role of Chief Minister. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Shekhawat's strong organizational skills and his performance as Union Minister of Jal Shakti have made him a viable contender.

Shekhawat's strong organizational skills and his performance as Union Minister of Jal Shakti have made him a viable contender. Diya Kumari: Diya Kumari's royal lineage and her popularity among the youth could make her a potential dark horse candidate.

Diya Kumari's royal lineage and her popularity among the youth could make her a potential dark horse candidate. Shrichand Kriplani : He is considered close to former chief minister Vasundhara Raje. He comes from Sindhi community and is the MLA from Nimbahera. He has served as the Housing and Urban Development Minister under Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in Rajasthan from 2016 to 2018.

: He is considered close to former chief minister Vasundhara Raje. He comes from Sindhi community and is the MLA from Nimbahera. He has served as the Housing and Urban Development Minister under Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in Rajasthan from 2016 to 2018. Ashwini Vaishnaw:Vaishnaw, equipped with a rich background in both bureaucracy and the corporate sphere, has held the position of a Rajya Sabha member from Odisha since June 2019. He entered the political realm after serving as a collector in Cuttack and Balasore, establishing ties with the BJP while working in the Prime Minister's Office during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure. Additionally, Vaishnaw holds an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

It must be noted several MLAs were seen visiting Vasundhara Raje residence in the morning, heightening speculations about the outcome of the evening meeting.

In recent days, seven BJP MLAs have rallied behind the former Rajasthan chief minister, showcasing apparent support amidst rumors suggesting a replication of the Madhya Pradesh formula, potentially bringing in a fresh face for the state's top post.
Congress Announces Month-Long Protests in Odisha for Students, Farmers Rights

The Congress party in Odisha is organizing month-long demonstrations to highlight student and farmer concerns, including opposition to selfie points featuring political leaders on campuses and demands for increased support prices and loan waivers.

India

-Krishna Kripa

The Congress party in India has announced plans to hold month-long demonstrations across the state of Odisha, focusing on issues affecting students and farmers. The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief, Sarat Pattanayak, outlined the party's intentions to address concerns related to education and agriculture.

Protests Against Selfie Points in Educational Institutions

The Congress's student wing, the National Students Union of India (NSUI), will spearhead protests in colleges and universities against the establishment of selfie points featuring photographs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. These demonstrations, scheduled from December 20 to January 20, aim to oppose the glorification of political leaders in educational institutions.

Demands of Farmers

Concurrently, the Pradesh Kisan Congress will organize protests across Odisha from December 13 to January 13 to advocate for several demands on behalf of farmers. Their primary requests include an increase in the minimum support price for paddy to Rs 2,930 per quintal and the waiver of crop loans. The Congress aims to highlight the challenges faced by farmers and seek government support.

Concerns Over Historical Misrepresentation

OPCC chief Sarat Pattanayak expressed concerns about the alleged attempts by both the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the center and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in Odisha to rewrite history. He criticized the focus on self-promotion and the misuse of public funds, claiming that the governments have neglected the contributions of prominent leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subash Bose, and Gopabandhu Das.

Unfulfilled Promises and Lack of Quality Education

Pattanayak further pointed out the failure of both the BJP and BJD governments to fulfill their promises of job creation. He highlighted the BJP's pledge to provide employment to two crore youths annually and the BJD's commitment to offer jobs to 2 lakh youths each year, both of which have allegedly gone unfulfilled.

Additionally, Pattanayak criticized the BJD government's performance in the education sector, asserting that the state has failed to provide quality higher education during its 24-year rule. He lamented the lack of basic facilities in higher education institutions and the numerous vacant posts in universities and colleges.

The Congress party's decision to hold month-long demonstrations in Odisha underscores the importance of addressing student and farmer issues. By organizing protests against selfie points and advocating for farmers' demands, the Congress aims to hold the government accountable and bring attention to pressing concerns affecting these communities. The party's criticism of historical misrepresentation and unfulfilled promises further highlights the need for transparency and responsible governance.
Sad to see grand old party implode: Omar Abdullah on Azad's resignation from Congress

Delhi HC Refuses To Grant Divorce To Omar Abdullah From Wife Payal Abdullah

India

oi-PTI

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed National Conference leader Omar Abdullah's plea seeking divorce from his estranged wife, saying there was no merit in his appeal.

A bench of Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vikas Mahajan upheld an order of the trial court which had also refused to grant divorce to Abdullah.

The high court said there was no merit in the appeal filed by the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister challenging the trial court's 2016 verdict.

Abdullah has sought divorce from estranged wife Payal Abdullah on grounds that he was subjected to cruelty by her.

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''We find no infirmity in the view taken by the family court that the allegations of cruelty were vague and unacceptable, that the appellant failed to prove any act which could be termed as an act of cruelty, be it physical or mental, towards him,'' the bench said while pronouncing the judgment.

On August 30, 2016, the trial court had dismissed Abdullah's plea seeking divorce.

The trial court had said Abdullah could not prove his claims of ''cruelty'' or ''desertion'' which were the grounds alleged by him for grant of decree of divorce.

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 11:38 [IST]
IndiGo Pilot Moves Bombay High Court for Right to Carry Kirpan While Flying

An IndiGo pilot has approached the Bombay High Court seeking permission to carry a kirpan while flying, arguing that it is part of his religious freedom.

India

-Krishna Kripa

html

A pilot working with IndiGo, a private airline, has approached the Bombay High Court seeking a directive to the Union government to allow him to carry a kirpan while flying. The kirpan is a short knife with a curved blade, sometimes worn in miniature form, as one of the five distinguishing signs of the Sikh Khalsa.

Pilot Claims Right to Carry Kirpan Under Freedom of Religion

Angad Singh, a pilot with InterGlobe Aviation which operates IndiGo, asserted in his petition filed before the Nagpur bench of the high court that he has the right to carry a kirpan as part of the freedom of religion guaranteed under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.

High Court Issues Notice to Union Government and IndiGo

A division bench of Justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri issued a notice to the Union government and the airline on Monday, seeking their replies. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on January 29, 2024.

Inconsistency in Guidelines for Passengers and Airline Staff

Singh's lawyer, advocate Saahil Shyam Dewani, argued that the restrictions imposed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation need to be amended. He pointed out that on March 12, 2022, the government issued guidelines permitting Sikh passengers to carry a kirpan of a particular size.

However, the guidelines state that employees, including those belonging to the Sikh religion working at airports or airlines, are not allowed to carry a kirpan. The petition claims that this is a violation of Singh's fundamental rights.

Violation of Fundamental Rights and Logical Inconsistencies

The petition further argues that allowing passengers to carry a kirpan on board a plane but denying the same right to airline staff defies logic. It contends that the restrictions imposed on Sikh employees are discriminatory and infringe upon their religious freedom.

The Bombay High Court's decision on this case will have significant implications for the rights of Sikh individuals in the aviation industry and the broader discourse on religious freedom in India.
Newborn Girl Rescued from Borewell in Odishas Sambalpur After Five-Hour Operation

A newborn girl was rescued from an abandoned borewell in Odishas Sambalpur district after a five-hour-long operation. The baby is currently under observation in a hospital.

India

-Krishna Kripa

In a heart-warming and miraculous turn of events, a newborn baby girl was successfully rescued from an abandoned borewell in Odisha's Sambalpur district on Tuesday night. The rescue operation, which lasted over five hours, involved the tireless efforts of multiple agencies and officials.

Rescue Efforts and Collaboration

The rescue operation commenced at 4 pm and concluded around 9:30 pm. Initially, the Sambalpur Fire Service personnel took charge of the operation, but as the situation became more complex, the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and other agencies joined forces to ensure the baby's safe retrieval.

The baby, who was found stuck inside the 20-foot deep iron borewell, showed remarkable resilience throughout the ordeal. Despite the challenging circumstances, she remained alive and responsive, giving hope to the rescue team.

Oxygen Supply and Visual Assistance

To sustain the baby's well-being during the rescue operation, oxygen was continuously supplied into the borewell. Additionally, a 100-watt electric bulb was lowered into the borewell to provide light and warmth, which helped revive the baby's cries after a period of silence.

The rescue team faced a critical challenge in locating the exact position of the baby within the borewell. To address this, the state government promptly dispatched a victim location camera from Bhubaneswar to Jharsuguda airport via a special flight. This camera played a crucial role in identifying the precise spot where the iron pipe needed to be cut to retrieve the baby safely.

Precautious Measures and Coordinated Efforts

The rescue operation demanded meticulous planning and precautions to ensure the baby's safety. The use of a gas cutter was ruled out due to the risk of generating excessive heat that could harm the infant. Instead, alternative methods were employed to cut the iron pipe carefully.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed immense relief and joy over the successful rescue. He conveyed his heartfelt wishes for the baby's well-being and longevity, seeking divine blessings from Lord Jagannath. The Chief Minister also commended the coordinated efforts of the ODRAF, Fire Services, district administration, police, and medical team, acknowledging their invaluable contributions in saving the infant's life.

The miraculous rescue of the newborn girl from the abandoned borewell stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment and collaboration of various agencies in Odisha. The successful operation underscores the state's guiding principle of valuing every life and exemplifies the dedication of its officials and personnel in ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens.
Karnataka Makes HSRP Mandatory For Vehicles Registered Before April 2019: How To Obtain It?

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Advocates for Public Involvement in Road Safety

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stressed the significance of public engagement in road safety efforts at the culmination of the National Road Safety Short Film Festival- 2023 in Bhubaneswar. The festival, organized by the commerce and transport departments, aims to raise awareness about road safety through short films.

India

-Krishna Kripa

Bhubaneswar, December 12: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik emphasized the importance of transforming road safety initiatives into a people's movement during his attendance at the grand finale of the National Road Safety Short Film Festival- 2023 in Bhubaneswar. He highlighted road safety as a top priority for the state government.

Second Edition of Short Film Festival

This year marks the second edition of the short film festival, organized by the commerce and transport departments. The festival was initially launched in 2022 with the aim of raising public awareness through short films.

Overwhelming Response from Participants

The film festival witnessed an impressive response, receiving 247 entries in seven different languages from eight states across India. Chief Minister Patnaik acknowledged the power of movies in evoking emotions and their ability to foster empathy among viewers.

Short Films as a Medium for Social Engagement

Patnaik emphasized the significance of short films as an effective medium to engage society in addressing pressing issues like road safety. He expressed gratitude to the commerce and transport departments for organizing the festival.

Enthusiastic Public Participation

Prior to the grand finale, at least 42 films were screened in various cities, including Berhampur, Sambalpur, and Angul, garnering an enthusiastic response from approximately 5,000 citizens.

Promoting Local Languages for Greater Impact

The Chief Minister expressed delight over the inclusion of entries in local languages such as Santali and Sambalpuri, in addition to Odia. He recognized the potential of local languages to establish stronger connections with the audience and create a more profound impact on road safety awareness.

Participation from Diverse Regions and International Students

Notably, the festival received entries not only from Odisha but also from states like Punjab, Maharashtra, Kerala, Assam, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal. Additionally, international students from neighboring countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, and Kenya, who are pursuing their studies in Bhubaneswar, also contributed films to the festival.

Celebrating the Winners

Patnaik congratulated all the winners for their efforts in spreading road safety awareness through their films. The Odia short film "Biswasth Sathi" (Trusted Friend) secured the first prize, while a film from Kerala bagged the second prize.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. During a working visit to Belgium, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, addressed at an unofficial meeting of the foreign ministers of Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM) member countries, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend.

Bayramov noted that, in light of global security concerns, especially those in the GUAM region, the organization can play a critical role as a platform for long-term peacemaking and development.

In this context, the significance of adhering to common commitments and principles of international law was emphasized.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Minister noted the country's support for the settlement of the situation around Ukraine within the norms of international law, including the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

Saying that Azerbaijan will chair GUAM in 2024, Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that during the presidency the country will make every effort to promote cooperation between member states in political, economic, trade, transport, communication, humanitarian, tourism, and other areas. In particular, the importance of using the potential of the countries of the region in the field of transport and communications, promotion of the GUAM transport corridor project in this direction, and its transformation into a significant part of the East-West transport corridor was emphasized.

Next year Azerbaijan will host the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), within the framework of which it is also planned to organize a GUAM event.

Noting that in the post-conflict period, a historical opportunity for peace and development has appeared in the South Caucasus region, Jeyhun Bayramov said that the full restoration of Azerbaijan's sovereignty over the internationally recognized territories of the country is one of the important milestones. Extensive information was also provided on the reconstruction and building works and peace efforts of our country.

In the course of the meeting, decisions were approved on the transfer of GUAM chairmanship to Azerbaijan for 2024, GUAM budget for 2024, and other matters.

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PM Modi inaugurates Global Partnership Artificial Intelligence Summit, Highlights Darker Aspects Of AI

India

oi-Gaurav Sharma

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence Summit on Tuesday and flagged the concern of misuse of artificial intelligence (AI). AI tools help and ease research and technology work, but possess "darker aspects" which may harm the world. India is committed to responsible and ethical use of the technology, Prime Minister underlined.

Along with Prime Minister Modi, 28 representatives from other member countries participated in the event aimed at using artificial intelligence with ethics.

Prime Minister Modi in his address said "Besides the challenge of deepfakes, cyber security, and data theft, AI tools falling in the hands of terrorists pose a big threat. Global security will face a big threat if AI-laced weapons were to reach terrorist organisations. We have to deliberate on this issue and reach a concrete plan to stop the misuse of AI,"

"Just like we have agreements and protocols for various international issues, we have to create a global framework for the ethical use of AI. This will include a protocol for testing and deployment of high-risk and frontier AI tools," PM added.

Union Minister for Information and Technology Ashwani Vaishnav also attended too graced the event. He said "The world's thinking on AI is converging. People understand the potential, look to the benefits that can come, and understand the dangers and put certain guardrails. There is convergence on how AI should be treated going forward."

"There will be regulatory aspects that are in line with past agreements and declarations. The thinking process of GPAI will be in line with global ideas. We are negotiating a declaration document at the end of GPAI 2023, which we hope we'll be able to arrive at through consensus," he added.

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 21:16 [IST]
PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah To Attend Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav's Oath Ceremony

India

oi-PTI

Bhopal, Dec 12 (PTI) Mohan Yadav will take oath as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh here on Wednesday morning, and the event will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the chief ministers of BJP-ruled states among others, a party leader said. Elaborate arrangements are being made for the swearing-in ceremony scheduled to be held at 11.30 am at the Lal Parade Ground here, state BJP chief Vishnu Dutt Sharma and outgoing chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told reporters after reviewing preparations for the ceremony.

"Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda, the chief ministers of several BJP-ruled states, and central ministers among others will attend the oath-taking ceremony," Sharma said. Chouhan said as a caretaker chief minister it was his duty to see that all preparations were made for the swearing-in ceremony. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will also attend the function, a BJP spokesperson said.

A large number of Bharatiya Janata Party workers, especially from Yadav's hometown Ujjain, are also expected to be present for the ceremony, party sources said. Ending days of suspense, the BJP on Monday picked Yadav as the new chief minister of the state and denied party stalwart Shivraj Singh Chouhan a record fifth term in office.

Yadav (58), a minister in the Chouhan government, was elected unanimously as the BJP legislative party leader during a meeting on Monday.

The state will also have two deputy chief ministers - Rajendra Shukla and Jagdish Devda.

However, it is not clear whether they would also take oath along with Yadav, the state BJP spokesperson said.

Senior BJP leader and newly-elected MLA Narendra Singh Tomar, who was among the contenders for the CM's post, will be the new assembly speaker.

Yadav, who was not seen as a contender for the top post, is considered to be close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and hails from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community which accounts for more than 48 percent of the state's population.

After he was named as chief minister-designate on Monday, Yadav met Governor Mangubhai Patel and staked a claim to form the next government.

Yadav was elected as MLA from Ujjain South seat for the first time in 2013. He retained the assembly seat in 2018 and again in 2023.

In the last month's assembly elections, the BJP won 163 of the 230 assembly seats in the state, relegating the Congress to a distant second with 66 seats.

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 23:46 [IST]
Rajasthan CM Announcement: 'Be Ready For Surprise', Says BJP As Key Meet Starts Shortly

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The recently elected MLAs of the Bhartiya Janata Party in Rajasthan are set to convene on Tuesday to finalize the selection of their next chief minister. The announcement regarding the new CM of Rajasthan is expected after this pivotal meeting today. The CM designate will be announced after the legislature party meeting scheduled to take place at 4 pm.

Tasked as the observer for the CM selection process in Rajasthan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accompanied by two co-observers-national vice-president Saroj Pandey and national general secretary Vinod Tawde-will participate in the meeting. The party is slated to unveil the new Rajasthan CM following this gathering.

Among the potential candidates for the chief ministerial position in Rajasthan are former CM Vasundhara Raje and Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The official announcement regarding the next CM will come after the BJP legislature party meeting, scheduled for 4:00 pm on Tuesday in Rajasthan. Attendance at this crucial meeting is mandatory for all newly elected MLAs.

Kirodi Lal Meena hinted at the emergence of an unexpected candidate for the CM role. ''There will be a surprise name for the CM face,'' said Meena.

Chhattisgarh, MP Done, All Eyes Now On Rajasthan: Who Are the Frontrunners?

Alongside CP Joshi, Diya Kumari, and Kirori Meena, Anita Bhadel, the MLA representing Ajmer South, has risen as a primary contender for the party's CM candidacy. Bhadel has maintained a consistent victory streak from the Ajmer South constituency since 2003.

Rajasthan's spotlight intensifies due to the absence of opposition if a fresh face is given the opportunity, akin to the smooth transition observed in Chhattisgarh. However, the BJP's confidence regarding a seamless transition in Rajasthan remains uncertain. This hesitation might clarify why the BJP has yet to convene the Rajasthan legislature party meeting, unlike the other two states where announcements have been made.

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 15:51 [IST]
Tihar Inmates Products Outlet: A Symbol of Hope and Transformation

Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena inaugurates an outlet selling products made by Tihar Jail inmates, supporting their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

India

-Krishna Kripa

In a significant step towards the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners, Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena inaugurated an outlet selling products made by Tihar Jail inmates at a petrol pump in the capital on Tuesday. The Convenio Store, a joint initiative of the Delhi Prison Department and the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), aims to provide a platform for inmates to showcase and sell their products, fostering equality and bridging the gap between the prison and society.

A Symbol of Hope and Transformation

Lt Governor Saxena emphasized the importance of reintegrating prisoners into the mainstream after their time in jail, stating that the store is not just a retail outlet but a symbol of hope and transformation. By offering a platform for inmates to display and sell their products, the initiative actively contributes to their rehabilitation and reintegration into society, providing them with a second chance in life.

Products and Services

The Convenio Store, located at the company-owned company-operated IOCL filling station at Masjid Moth in south Delhi, offers a diverse range of products crafted by Tihar Jail inmates. These include clothes, imitation jewellery, bakery and confectionery items, candles, soaps, and furniture. Once released from jail after serving their sentences, the inmates will be responsible for selling these products.

Vocational Training Programs

In addition to the retail outlet, Tihar Jail offers various vocational training programs to inmates, empowering them with skills that can help them earn a livelihood after their release. These programs include carpentry, weaving, papermaking, baking, hair cutting, and refrigerator/air conditioner repair, among others.

Hathkargha Unit for Women Prisoners

During the inauguration, Lt Governor Saxena also launched a Hathkargha unit in jail number 6 specifically for women prisoners. This unit provides skill training in the fields of Hathkargha and Hasthashilpa, empowering women inmates with valuable skills that can contribute to their economic independence upon release.

The Convenio Store and the Hathkargha unit represent significant steps towards the rehabilitation and reintegration of Tihar Jail inmates. By providing opportunities for skill development and market exposure, these initiatives empower inmates with the means to earn a livelihood and successfully transition back into society after their time in jail.
CPI (Maoist) rank 12 in terror index: Why you should never take your eyes of their urban friends

Tripura CM Manik Saha Accuses CPIM of Plotting to Bury BJP Leaders Alive

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has accused the CPIM of digging graves to bury BJP leaders and workers alive before the Assembly elections in February. The CPIM has rejected the allegation as baseless.

India

-Krishna Kripa

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Agartala, Dec 12: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha launched a scathing attack on the CPIM, alleging that the party had dug holes on the ground to bury BJP leaders and workers alive before the Assembly elections held in February this year.

CPIM Rejects Allegations

Rejecting the allegation as baseless, the CPIM said the saffron party won the elections because of division of votes among non-BJP parties.

Saha's Grave Allegations

"We had inputs that many graves were dug for selective killing of BJP leaders and work by burying them alive as they were confident of winning the February 2023 elections. But it was foiled by the people as the BJP won the battle of the ballots, Saha said.

Tribute to NLFT Victims

He was addressing a programme organised to pay tribute to 26 villagers who were killed by NLFT militants in the wee hours of December 12, 1996.

Saha's Criticism of CPIM-Congress Alliance

Alleging that the CPIM had committed an "unpardonable crime by abetting terror tactics in the northeastern state, Saha said he felt pity for the Congress as it joined hands with the Left party ahead of the Assembly elections. The Congress had suffered a lot during the Communist regime, he said.

CPIM's Response

Reacting to the chief ministers allegations, CPIM state secretary Jitendra Choudhury said the party does not believe in violence or terror tactics.

CPIM's Explanation for BJP's Victory

"The BJP didn't get a popular mandate in the 2023 Assembly elections as it secured less than 40 per cent of votes. Taking advantage of division of votes, they formed the government. They are worried and thats why they brought such baseless allegations, he said.

The allegations and counter-allegations between the BJP and CPIM highlight the intense political rivalry in Tripura. As the state prepares for future elections, these accusations are likely to further polarise the political landscape.
United in the Face of Climate Change: Egypt and UAEs Pioneering Alliance at COP28

Abu Dhabis Game-Changing Alliance for Climate Action: FCA & UICCA Team Up

In a landmark initiative, Abu Dhabi's Family Care Authority (FCA) joins hands with the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) to drive community engagement and environmental sustainability. The collaboration includes a series of community-centric programs, education, and action-oriented projects to foster environmental consciousness and sustainable practices among residents.

International

-Oneindia Staff

By Oneindia Staff

The Family Care Authority (FCA) in Abu Dhabi, in a significant move to further climate action and environmental sustainability, has joined forces with the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA). This partnership heralds the commencement of a comprehensive community engagement programme aimed at fostering environmental consciousness and mobilising the community towards sustainable practices.

Community Engagement and Climate Action

The year 2024 is set to witness a series of community-centric events across Abu Dhabi, thanks to the collaboration between FCA and UICCA. These events are designed to not only engage but also educate the public through workshops, nature walks, enlightening talks, and a host of other activities. The initiative is structured to involve residents in meaningful dialogue and action surrounding environmental stewardship.

Partnership Inauguration at COP28

The formalization of this dynamic partnership was celebrated with a signing ceremony during COP28, a pivotal climate change conference. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, at the helm of UICCA, and Dr. Bushra Al Mulla, leading the FCA, inked the agreement, marking the start of a collaborative journey towards impactful climate action within the community.

Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, expressed her vision that the UAE's long-standing tradition of living in equilibrium with the environment should be a guiding principle for all. UICCA's mission, according to her, is to inspire every individual to carry forward this legacy by playing an active role in nurturing a sustainable future. She emphasized the importance of education and empowerment in making the climate conversation inclusive.

Dr. Bushra Al Mulla highlighted the shift in family care services that the partnership represents, embedding sustainability at its core. She stressed the FCA's commitment to ensuring that their beneficiaries are not only participants in climate discussions but also practitioners of environmentally friendly actions.

Leveraging Abu Dhabi's Natural Environment

Both leaders are optimistic about pioneering approaches that leverage the natural beauty of Abu Dhabi to offer unique and immersive experiences for the FCA's beneficiaries. Their shared goal is to transcend traditional methods and interweave the well-being of individuals, families, and the environment into an integrated model of care. Dr. Al Mulla further emphasized the significance of the partnership in setting the foundation for a holistic and sustainable future.

The collaboration between FCA and UICCA is a testament to the proactive role that regional organizations can play in addressing global environmental challenges. It showcases how the integration of sustainability into various facets of community and family care can contribute to broader climate goals.

In conclusion, the alliance between the Family Care Authority and the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators is more than a mere partnership; it is a paradigm shift towards a sustainable and inclusive future. It is a beacon of hope that shines brightly on the path of environmental conservation, demonstrating that when entities come together, the impact on climate change can be profound and enduring. With the world's eyes on Abu Dhabi following COP28, this strategic collaboration stands as a powerful example for others to follow, underlining the crucial role that communities and social sectors play in the global narrative of climate action.

FAQ's What is the Family Care Authority (FCA) in Abu Dhabi's recent initiative for climate action and environmental sustainability? The Family Care Authority in Abu Dhabi has partnered with the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) to start a community engagement programme aimed at fostering environmental consciousness and promoting sustainable practices.

What are the main activities included in the community-centric events planned by FCA and UICCA? The community-centric events planned by FCA and UICCA for the year 2024 will include workshops, nature walks, enlightening talks, and a series of other activities to educate and engage the public in environmental stewardship.

Where was the partnership between the FCA and UICCA formally inaugurated? The partnership between the FCA and UICCA was formally inaugurated at COP28, a pivotal climate change conference.

What are the shared goals of FCA and UICCA as stated by their leaders? The shared goals of FCA and UICCA are to leverage the natural beauty of Abu Dhabi to offer unique and immersive experiences for their beneficiaries and to integrate the well-being of individuals, families, and the environment into an integrated model of care.

How does the partnership between the FCA and UICCA contribute to broader climate goals? The partnership between the FCA and UICCA contributes to broader climate goals by integrating sustainability into community and family care, thus playing a proactive role in addressing global environmental challenges.
Joe Biden Unlikely To Visit India For Republic Day Celebrations, Quad Summit Postponed

International

oi-PTI

US President Joe Biden is not travelling to India next month to grace the Republic Day celebrations as the Chief Guest, and New Delhi is looking at holding the next Quad summit later next year instead of its earlier plan to host it in January, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

In September, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited President Biden to be the Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations on January 26 next year. However, there was no official word from India on the invitation to Biden.

It is learnt that Washington has already conveyed to New Delhi that Biden would not be able to visit India. The reasons for the decision are believed to be the State of the Union address in late January or early February, Biden's focus on his re-election bid and Washington's increasing focus on the Hamas-Israel conflict. The people cited above said the Quad summit is not taking place in India in January and it is now proposed to be held in the country in the later part of 2024. It was expected that the Quad summit would take place around January 27 if Biden accepted India's invite.

"The Quad Summit in India is proposed to be held later in 2024. We are looking for revised dates as the dates currently under consideration do not work with all the Quad partners," said a source.

The Quad or Quadrilateral coalition comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia. There have been a flurry of visits by senior US officials to India in the last few months. Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin visited India for the '2+2' ministerial dialogue. US Principal Deputy NSA Jonathan Finer visited India last week and, currently, FBI Director Christopher Wray is on a trip to New Delhi. The visit by Finer and Wray came against the backdrop of Washington's allegations about an Indian link to a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil.

American prosecutors linked an Indian official to a man charged with conspiring to assassinate separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. India has already constituted a probe team to investigate the allegations. On the Quad summit, the sources said India is looking at fresh dates. The last Quad summit had taken place in Hiroshima on May 20 on the sidelines of the G7 summit. The Quad summit was originally scheduled to take place in Sydney on May 24. However it was decided to hold it in Hiroshima after President Biden postponed his trip to Australia. In their next summit, the Quad leaders are expected to bolster overall cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, a region that has been witnessing growing Chinese military assertiveness.

In the Hiroshima summit, the Quad leaders unveiled a 'Vision Statement' titled 'Enduring Partners for Indo-Pacific' expressing their resolve to act as a "force for good" to find common solutions for region-wide benefit. They also came out with a series of initiatives including in areas of clean energy supply chains, undersea cables and investments in strategic technologies.

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 20:46 [IST]
First Hindu Woman In Pakistan Files Nomination To Contest February 8 Elections

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Pakistan: Suicide Bomber Kills Multiple Officers

International

dwnews-DW News

At least 23 security officials were killed and several others were injured in a suicide bomb and gun attack on a police station in northwest Pakistan.

A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle in an early-morning attack on a police station in in Dera Ismail Khan, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan.

Militants opened fire and there was a shootout with the security forces, police officer Kamal Khan said.

Several people were wounded and in critical condition, said Aizaz Mehmood, an official of the state-run rescue service.

Bhindranwale's Nephew, Khalistani Terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode Passes Away In Pakistan

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar condemned the attack and said "Such cowardly actions cannot diminish the morale of the security forces."

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Terrorist Attack Claims 24 Lives, says Pakistan Pakistani Army | Oneindia News

Tahreek-e-Jihad Pakistan claims responsibility

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is a former stronghold of the militant Pakistani Taliban group, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. The newly formed militant group Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, or TJP, believed to be an offshoot of the TTP, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Security forces, including the Pakistani military, from across the country were conducting intelligence-based operations against militants in the area and were based at the police station.

Indian Woman Anju, Who Went To Pakistan To Meet Facebook Friend, Returns

Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic spike in militant attacks, mainly in its border regions with Afghanistan, since the Taliban returned to power there in 2021.

In January, nearly 101 people had died in a suicide bomb attack on a mosque in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Source: DW
United in the Face of Climate Change: Egypt and UAEs Pioneering Alliance at COP28

Sheikh Theyab Advocates for Youth Empowerment in Climate Action at COP28

During an important event in Dubai, Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed toured the COP28 UAE's Green Zone, demonstrating the UAE's active role in combating climate change and advocating for sustainable initiatives. The visit included stops at the Youth Hub, the Energy Transition Hub, and the House of Sustainability, reflecting the UAE's commitment to leadership in sustainability and global climate action, aligning with the UAE Year of Sustainability.

International

-Oneindia Staff

By Oneindia Staff

In the vibrant city of Dubai, a significant event unfolded on the 11th of December, 2023, as H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the esteemed Chairman of the Office of Development and Martyrs Families Affairs at the Presidential Court, embarked on a comprehensive tour of the COP28 UAE's Green Zone. This prominent area is dedicated to showcasing innovative strategies and initiatives aimed at combating climate change and fostering a more sustainable future.

Exploring the Hubs of Innovation

Sheikh Theyab's visit was marked by stops at several key areas within the Green Zone. Among them was the Youth Hub, a platform designed to engage and empower the younger generation in the climate conversation. Recognizing the vital role of youth in shaping the future, the Youth Hub serves as a beacon of hope and a source of innovative ideas to address environmental challenges.

The Energy Transition Hub was another focal point of Sheikh Theyab's tour. Here, he delved into the latest advancements and strategies for transitioning to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. As the world grapples with the urgent need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, this hub stands as a testament to the UAE's commitment to leading the energy transformation.

Lastly, Sheikh Theyab visited the House of Sustainability, a space that encapsulates the essence of sustainable living and operations. It is here that visitors can learn about practical solutions and best practices for minimizing carbon footprints and living in harmony with our planet.

Championing Global Climate Action

During his visit, Sheikh Theyab took the opportunity to express his admiration for the event's role in driving forward global climate action. The COP28 UAE's Green Zone is more than just a showcase of ideas; it's a catalyst for change, enabling policymakers and stakeholders to align their efforts towards a sustainable economy.

Sheikh Theyab's endorsement of the event is particularly resonant in the context of the UAE Year of Sustainability. This initiative underscores the nation's dedication to integrating sustainability into every aspect of societyfrom economic development to environmental stewardship. The Green Zone, therefore, serves as a physical manifestation of this vision, offering tangible solutions to the pressing issue of carbon emissions and their impact on the planet.

As the tour concluded, it was evident that Sheikh Theyab's engagement with the COP28 UAE's Green Zone signified more than a ceremonial visit. It represented a strong commitment from the UAE's leadership to prioritize sustainability and actively contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change.

In a world where the effects of climate change are increasingly felt, events like COP28 UAE's Green Zone provide a beacon of hope and a roadmap for collective action. It is through such platforms that nations can come together to share knowledge, inspire action, and forge partnerships for a healthier, more resilient planet. The UAE, with its clear vision and proactive initiatives, continues to play a pivotal role in this global movement, proving that sustainability is not just an ideal, but a tangible goal that can be achieved through collaboration and innovation.

As the nation looks towards a future where economic progress and environmental conservation go hand in hand, the COP28 UAE's Green Zone stands as a testament to the power of united action in the face of climate challenges. It is a clear message to the common man and the world at large: sustainable development is not only necessary, it is within our reach.

FAQ's Who visited the COP28 UAE's Green Zone on the 11th of December, 2023? H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited the COP28 UAE's Green Zone on the 11th of December, 2023.

What is the purpose of the Youth Hub within the Green Zone? The Youth Hub is designed to engage and empower the younger generation in the climate conversation and serve as a source of innovative ideas to address environmental challenges.

What did Sheikh Theyab explore at the Energy Transition Hub during his tour? Sheikh Theyab delved into the latest advancements and strategies for transitioning to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources at the Energy Transition Hub.

What is the House of Sustainability and what can visitors learn there? The House of Sustainability is a space that encapsulates the essence of sustainable living and operations, where visitors can learn about practical solutions and best practices for minimizing carbon footprints.

How does Sheikh Theyab's visit to the COP28 UAE's Green Zone align with the UAE Year of Sustainability? Sheikh Theyab's visit to the COP28 UAE's Green Zone aligns with the UAE Year of Sustainability by underscoring the nation's dedication to integrating sustainability into every aspect of society.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. Azerbaijans National Leader Heydar Aliyev was an emblematic statesman of Eurasia and Azerbaijan, Peter Tase, US expert and scholar on the geopolitics of Eurasia, told Trend.

"He has always been dedicated to shaping democratic institutions and forging transatlantic economic alliances. Heydar Aliyev is the founder of modern Azerbaijan and has, in many aspects, conducted impressive public policy reforms that are comparable to what the founding fathers conceptualized for the early stages of the United States government," he said.

Tase pointed out that, during his time in the Soviet Union Politburo office, Heydar Aliyev contributed immensely, ensuring that the Soviet Union did not engage in a nuclear conflict with Western countries and NATO.

"Heydar Aliyev was a superb military strategist, a brilliant military tactician who demonstrated courageous and visionary efforts in shaping the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan. The country is a member of the UN, International Organization of Turkic Culture, and many other global organizations, thanks to the statecraft and vision of Heydar Aliyev, the first president of modern Azerbaijan. He was an emancipated leader who invested his entire life in the prosperity of Azerbaijan, preserving regional security, and crafting geopolitical alliances throughout Europe," he added.

In turn, US analyst Irina Tsukerman highlighted that Heydar Aliyev's role in Azerbaijan's transition from the period of the Soviet Union and the tough years of post-Soviet partial occupation by Armenia into modernity laid the foundation for the strong, independent, secure, and prosperous state that Azerbaijan is today.

"Moreover, the post-Soviet period was characterized by the necessity to engage in international diplomacy and form alliances to address threats to the country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Concurrently, efforts were made to capitalize on natural resources, all while grappling with internal displacement and a refugee crisis resulting from Armenian occupation. Notably, those who were displaced were not abandoned. Furthermore, Azerbaijan consistently projected an image of complete independence, even during the darkest moments when the country had to overcome the economic challenges inherited from the post-Soviet era," she noted.

Tsukerman added that, under Heydar Aliyev's leadership, Azerbaijan remained unwavering in its pursuit of sovereignty.

"Simultaneously, the country firmly aligned itself with the West, establishing itself as a crucial partner to NATO. Azerbaijan emerged as a beacon of regional stability, demonstrating resilience in the face of challenges. It actively participated in and eventually became a leading actor in the non-aligned movement, basing its global role on a diverse balance of relations with Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and other nations," the expert concluded.
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Case On Sedition Charge Registered Against Sanjay Raut For Article Against PM In 'Saamana'

Mumbai

oi-PTI

The Yavatmal police have registered an FIR against Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on charge of sedition and other offences for writing an alleged objectionable article against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana', a senior official said on Tuesday.

The case is based on a complaint filed by BJP's Yavatmal district coordinator Nitin Bhutada against Rajya Sabha member Raut, who is the executive editor of Saamana, the official said.

In the complaint, Bhutada claimed Raut wrote an objectionable article against PM Modi on December 10.

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The case was registered on Monday at Umarkhed police station here against Raut under IPC sections 124 (A) (sedition), 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc) and 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes), the official said.

''We have registered the case as per the complaint and will conduct a probe into it,'' he said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 11:44 [IST]
Political Slugfest Erupts As Kerala Governor Accuses CM Vijayan Of Conspiracy To Hurt Him

Thiruvananthapuram

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan ignited a political firestorm on Monday by accusing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of conspiring to physically harm him. The Governor's accusations stemmed from an incident where his convoy was allegedly attacked by activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the ruling CPI(M).

This incident, which took place while the Kerala governor was en route to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to leave for New Delhi.

While addressing the media, Governor Arif Mohammed said,"...Police have been prevented from acting against these rowdies, criminals...This was the fifth incident...The rods on which they had the black flags, they were using those rods to hit the car...There are so many scratches on the car...Everything is being done under his direction (Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan). It is he who has hatched this conspiracy...These people are working on the instructions of the Chief Minister...I do not try to scare anybody, there is no question I shall be scared of anything..."

Kerala CM Takes Action As Sabarimala Pilgrims Face Hardships, Calls For All-Party Meet

#WATCH | Delhi: On SFI's black flag protest against him, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan says, "...Police have been prevented from acting against these rowdies, criminals...This was the fifth incident...The rods on which they had the black flags, they were using those rods to pic.twitter.com/nYOQIl91Ko  ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2023

According to the police, Governor Khan's vehicle was blocked by SFI activists at one particular location. Seven members of the student organisation have been arrested in connection with that, police said.

Reacting strongly, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticized Chief Minister Vijayan, attributing Kerala's challenges to the influence of Congress and Left parties.

This is not the #NavaKeralam that we want #NavaKerala according to @pinarayivijayan is welcoming Terrorist #Hamas, intimidating constitutional Governor, Rampant corruption, Destroying Economy, chasing investors, destroying jobs, filing cases against media & political opponents, https://t.co/NF61driTbf  Rajeev Chandrasekhar  (@Rajeev_GoI) December 12, 2023

"This is not the NavaKeralam that we want NavaKerala according to Pinarayi Vijayan is welcoming Terrorist Hamas, intimidating the constitutional Governor, Rampant corruption, Destroying the Economy, chasing investors, destroying jobs, filing cases against media and political opponents, beating up those who question him," he wrote on X.

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 12:08 [IST]
Sabarimala Rush: Virtual Q System Eases Crowds But Traffic Woes And Parking Issues Linger

Thiruvananthapuram

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The annual Sabarimala pilgrimage continues to draw massive crowds, with over 15.9 million devotees journeying to the hill shrine this season. While the ongoing influx presents challenges, concerted efforts by authorities have yielded positive results, particularly in improving crowd management at Sannidhanam and Nadapandal.

However, the recent implementation of temporary vehicle blockades on key routes has led to traffic congestion, requiring immediate attention.

Virtual Q System Streamlines Pilgrim Flow at Sannidhanam

One of the most encouraging developments this season has been the significant improvement in crowd management at Sannidhanam and Nadapandal, the holiest sites within the Sabarimala temple complex.

Sabarimala Pilgrimage Season Begins: New App For Pilgrims, Dos And Don'ts & More

Collaborative efforts between the police and Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) staff have implemented effective measures, including the virtual Q system, which has facilitated a smoother flow of pilgrims and reduced congestion. This is a welcome change from previous years, where overcrowding often posed a safety concern. On Monday alone, 54,692 pilgrims utilized the virtual Q system to reach Sannidhanam, demonstrating its effectiveness in managing the large crowds.

The TDB has also prioritised the safety and well-being of pilgrims by implementing various initiatives. A dedicated special revenue squad, led by a duty magistrate and executive magistrate, ensures the availability of drinking water and maintains order at critical points. Additionally, separate queues have been designated for the disabled, elderly, and children, providing them with a more comfortable and hassle-free pilgrimage experience. These measures have been praised by many pilgrims and are crucial for ensuring a safe and inclusive pilgrimage for all.

New Water Kiosks at Pampa

With the scorching December heat and the physical exertion involved in the pilgrimage, access to clean drinking water is paramount. Recognizing this need, the TDB has established new water kiosks at Pampa, supplementing the existing KWA (Kerala Water Authority) distribution centers. This has significantly improved the availability of drinking water for pilgrims, especially during peak hours.

Vehicle Blockades Near Nilakkal Cause Frustration for Pilgrims on Sabarimala Routes

While significant progress has been made in managing crowds and ensuring pilgrim safety, the issue of traffic congestion remains a concern. The recent implementation of temporary vehicle blockades on the Erumeli-Sabarimala and Pathanamthitta-Sabarimala routes, aimed at controlling the influx at Pampa and Sannidhanam, has resulted in long queues stretching across several kilometers. This has caused considerable inconvenience and frustration for pilgrims, some of whom have been forced to wait for hours before reaching Nilakkal, the base camp for the trek to Sabarimala.

Kerala HC pulls up Sabarimala guard shoving devotees

Under-Utilized Parking Facilities Frustrate Pilgrims

Adding to the frustration of pilgrims is the under-utilization of parking facilities at Nilakkal. Despite having 17 parking grounds with a capacity to accommodate up to 8,000 vehicles, the lack of proper staff management and inadequate signage has led to inefficient utilization of available space. Police sources have highlighted the need for TDB to deploy personnel to guide drivers to vacant spaces and optimize the use of these parking facilities.

The TDB President, P S Prasanth, has acknowledged the shortcomings in parking management and has assured pilgrims that the issue will be addressed promptly. Implementing measures such as deploying staff to manage parking and installing clear signage will significantly improve the parking experience for pilgrims. Continued collaboration between the TDB, police, and other stakeholders will be crucial in ensuring a smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage season for all.

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 10:40 [IST]
While most Palestinians are furious at Israel, some are also expressing anger at the Islamic group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2009.
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As a supporter of Ukraine, Germany has been targeted by foreign intelligence services, but not just since the Ukraine war began. Here's a reminder of some prominent spy cases.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. The owner of an Internet information resource and its domain name, as well as a user of the information and telecommunication network, must not permit the distribution of information about the movement or dislocation of Azerbaijani Armed Forces personnel, military weapons, ammunition, or military equipment, Trend reports.

This was reflected in the modification to the Law "On Information, Informatization, and Protection of Information" submitted by the Parliament, which was reviewed in Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament) Human Rights Committee and recommended for adoption in the plenary session.

According to the draft, the exception is information made available to the public by governmental organizations (institutions).

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
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Terrorism is the most direct asymmetric threat to the security to international stability and prosperity. A persistent global issue that knows no border, nationality or religion, terrorism is a challenge that the international community must tackle together but are we tackling together? The Answer:



The quote "One man's...
In a new push to clamp down on problem gambling, Australias legislature has passed a new rule against using credit cards and digital currencies like cryptocurrency for online gambling. Most industry insiders have praised the new regulation as it will eliminate gambling debt for Australians.

The Australian legislature has rubber-stamped a measure to prohibit using credit cards for online gambling activities conducted within its borders. This follows the passage of the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) 2023 bill, imposing a blanket ban on using credit cards, credit card-related products, and even digital currencies for online gambling. The bill was introduced in the legislature in September by the Australian federal government and is set to bring a fundamental shift in the nations online gambling operations.

Australias minister for communications, Michelle Rowland, welcomed the move by commenting:

The Albanese government is committed to ensuring that gambling takes place within a robust legislative framework with strong consumer protections, and this ban is helping us to achieve just thatThe principle here is simple: Australians should not be gambling with money they do not have. This legislation delivers on the commitment we made in April this year to ban the use of credit cards for online wagering.

Further, the Australian Banking Association (ABA) lauded the legislature, saying that the new regulation would help players break the rampant debt cycle in the online gambling industry worldwide. ABAs chief executive, Anna Bligh, remarked:

These new laws will overturn the absurd reality of someone not being able to use a credit card at the betting counter at a TAB outlet or pub- but still being able to sit and gamble on abetting app using a credit card Using a credit card for gambling can lead very quickly to a serious debt trap for consumers, and this debt cycle can be extremely difficult to break. Online gambling is a fast-growing form of gambling, so its imperative that this loophole is finally being closed. The federal government is to be strongly congratulated for acting on this important issue.

Responsible Wagering Australia, whose members include Bet365, Ladbrokes, and Sportsbet, just to mention a few, also supports this ban. The organizations CEO, Kai Cantwell, pointed out that Australians must only wager with the money that they have, and this ban goes a long way toward ensuring that this will be the case right away. He said:

This is an important measure to protect consumers and their loved ones, making it easier for people to stay in control of their own gambling behavior It will complement the existing offering of safer gambling account management tools by RWA members to customers to help them stay in control of their betting.

The RWA Hits Out at the Exclusion of Some Forms of Gambling in the Ban

Although Mr. Cantwell heaped much praise on the legislature for the passage of the bill, he also expressed disappointment at the lack of inclusion of other forms of gambling, such as lotteries and keno. Thats because lotteries are one of the most prevalent forms of gambling for Australians in low socio-economic communities. Mr. Cantwell had statistics to back up his claims, stating:

The latest Australian Gambling statistics show that Australians lost more than A$3.2 billion in lotteries and keno in 2020-21. With the introduction of online keno in Victoria, keno losses increased more than 400 percent from 2021-22 to 2022-23.

Mr. Cantwell also expressed concerns that lotteries are excluded from the national self-exclusion register, BetStop. According to him, this leaves Australians who have self-excluded from gambling vulnerable, as theyll be able to bet up to A$10,000 at a time in lotteries across the country. Additionally, the overriding message from the RWA was that this ban should ideally encompass all forms of gambling:

To effectively reduce gambling harm, consumer protection measures must exist across all forms of gambling; otherwise, those at risk of harm will just move from one form of gambling to another less regulated type.

Cantwell concluded by reaffirming the RWAs commitment to working hand in hand with the federal government to develop the frameworks of this ban. He maintained that the RWA will continue supporting the initiative wholeheartedly as it nears its implementation stage.

Key Provisions of the Bill

When the bill was introduced in the lower house in September, the federal government argued that there was a need for such a regulation to curb the increased problem gambling in the country. Besides the ban, operators who fail to enforce the rule will be liable to hefty fines worth up to A$234,750 (122,475/ 143,003/ US$154,282).

Upon presentation before the lower house, the bill quickly garnered majority support, smoothly sailing through with the backing of two of Australias most prominent political factions, Liberal and Labor. In addition to the ban on credit cards and digital currencies for online gambling, this bill also grants more power to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). This body will also be tasked with ensuring that operators abide by the new measures to the letter and issue penalties on non-compliant operators.

The government has allowed a six-month transition period to give operators, payment providers, customers, and all the general stakeholders time to adjust to the new regulations. When the bill receives royal assent, the regulatory changes in question will come into effect immediately.

Australias minister for social services, Amanda Rishworth, remarked:


House speaker Mike Johnson as Moses

(Image by boingboing) Details DMCA



The Christian theocrat and Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson, number two in the line of US presidential succession, recently gave a speech at the National Association of Christian Lawmakers' (NACL) annual meeting and awards gala. In his speech, Johnson claims "the Lord" had a conversation with him prior to Johnson becoming Speaker of the House. According to Johnson, the conversation was, "The Lord told me very clearly to prepare. 'You ready?' 'Be ready for what?' 'We're coming to a Red Sea moment.' 'What does that mean?'"

The "Red Sea moment" allegedly mentioned by God to Johnson is in reference to the Hebrew Bible/Christian Old Testament's (it's illogical that Gentile Christians believe the Hebrew Bible/Christian Old Testament has anything to do with them when it is only addressed to the Jews) myth at Exodus 14 in which God hardened Pharoah's heart so that he would pursue the Jews fleeing from Egypt. The Jews were stopped by the Red Sea. God allegedly told Moses to raise his staff and hand towards the Red Sea and the Red Sea would part and allow the Jews to safely pass and afterwards it would flood back in killing all the Egyptian soldiers who were pursuing the Jews. According to this ungodly nonsense, God thought that killing the Egyptians would give God honor!

In his speech, Johnson said the Red Sea moment was the House speaker's race. He thought he'd be a second to whoever became House speaker, as Moses' brother Aaron was a second to Moses, but God wanted Johnson to be the modern-day Moses and made Johnson House speaker.

All of this brings out two important facts. One is that Johnson must not have objectively read what the Hebrew Bible/Christian Old Testament claims about Moses. For just one example out of many, Numbers 31 is all about God allegedly ordering Moses to have the Israelite army commit genocide against the Midianite people. (God sure gets blamed for a lot of evil in the Bible and other "holy" books!) Moses was very angry when he saw the Israelite army did not murder the Midianite women and children. Verses 17-18 have Moses saying to the Israelite army, "Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves." Murder is unjustifiable, let alone murdering defenseless and innocent children. To order the army to keep the "women children" alive for themselves is beyond evil. Perhaps Johnson is so delusional he believes the Bible is God's Word, so he accepts these inhumane crimes without thinking, completely ignoring his God-given reason and conscience.

The brutal and ungodly claims in this horrific Bible story denigrates God even more. Verse 25 has God telling Moses how to split up "the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast" from the Midianites, which includes how to split up the "women children"/virgin girls among the Jews. Verse 35 states the number of "women children"/virgin girls was 32,000 and verse 40 states "the LORD's tribute was thirty and two persons." Of course, "God" did not get the 32 "women children"/virgin girls, they went to the priests, as did "God's" share of the gold, silver, jewelry and livestock. This chapter of "the good book" brings to mind this statement by Thomas Paine in The Age of Reason, The Complete Edition:

"The Bible is a history of the times of which it speaks, and history is not revelation. The obscene and vulgar stories in the Bible are as repugnant to our ideas of the purity of a divine Being, as the horrid cruelties and murders it ascribes to Him are repugnant to our ideas of His justice. It is the reverence of the Deists for the attributes of the DEITY, that causes them to reject the Bible."

The second important fact brought out by Johnson's biblical delusion regarding God choosing him as the new Moses is how the overwhelming vast majority of people see Moses as an upright and godly man and hero. He's seen as a prophet of God in all of the Abrahamic man-made "revealed" religions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Mormonism. The US government even has a marble figure of ungodly, cruel and genocidal Moses on the US Supreme Court building.

It's necessary for humanity to evolve out of the ancient and barbaric "revealed" religions. We need to make a clean break with them in order to both survive in the nuclear age and to make true natural progress for all of society. The best and probably only way to accomplish that is through God-given reason-based Deism . Deism and Deists have the ability to connect with rank-and-file members of Christianity and the other "revealed" religions because Deism promotes the belief in The Supreme Intelligence/God, which is common ground between Deists and "revealed" religionists.
Equal Means Equal announced in a press release that it had filed an intervention today, Monday Dec 11, in a second Texas case, Cox V Texas:

Equal MEANS EQUAL along with the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Trust and the Women's and Children's Advocacy Project at New England Law | Boston filed a brief today with the Texas Supreme Court on behalf of Kate Cox and all Women in Texas.

Ms. Cox is in urgent need of an abortion but Texas officials blocked a judge's ruling allowing the abortion to proceed. Our brief asserts the strongest possible legal arguments on behalf of women.

We were compelled to file because, yet again, the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents Ms. Cox, asked for only meager second/class legal protections under the Texas Constitution. Our brief urges the court to apply the most rigorous legal standards that afford Ms. Cox and all Women in Texas maximum legal protections for their rights to life and health, including abortion rights.

Our lawyer, Wendy Murphy, wrote the brief and filed it with the help of her Texas colleague and civil rights attorney Jason Smith.

Please take the time to read our brief and share it widely. This case involves profoundly important rights for half the population in Texas. The legal issues are not well understood but need to be. Texas is one of many states where abortion-related lawsuits are pending. We intend to file similar briefs in all of them.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. The Russian Foreign Ministry welcomes the mutual initiative of Baku and Yerevan to normalize relations and sign a peace agreement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, Trend reports.

She made a statement at a briefing in response to a question from News.ru.

"The joint statement issued by Baku and Yerevan opens up fresh avenues for rapprochement. The time of the signing of the peace treaty is decided by the parties themselves. In turn, we are prepared to assist our partners in reaching a fair deal. This type of paper is meant to build a solid foundation for long-term peace and stability in the region," she said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova held a briefing on December 8, where she noted that the Russian side positively assesses the intention of Azerbaijan and Armenia to normalize relations and sign a peace agreement.

"Moscow welcomed with satisfaction the Joint Statement of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia confirming the mutual intention to normalize relations and conclude a peace treaty between the two countries," she said.

Zakharova also noted that Russia is ready to continue to provide all possible assistance in unblocking transport communications, delimitation of the border, the conclusion of a peace agreement, and contacts through civil society.

As a result of the negotiations between the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, an agreement was reached to take tangible steps to strengthen confidence between the two countries.

Guided by the principles of humanism, as a gesture of goodwill, Azerbaijan releases 32 Armenian servicemen. Among the list of 32 persons are not and cannot be included the leaders of the notorious regime, such as Arayik Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arkady Ghukasyan, Ruben Vardanyan, including Vagif Khachatryan, and Alyosha Khosrovyan, who committed war crimes against the Azerbaijani people and crimes against humanity.

In turn, Armenia, guided by the principles of humanism and as a goodwill gesture, releases two Azerbaijani servicemen. In addition, as a goodwill gesture, Armenia withdraws its candidacy for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-29) in support of Azerbaijan's candidacy. The Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia hope that other countries in the Eastern European Group will also support Azerbaijan's candidacy. As a kind gesture, the Republic of Azerbaijan supports the candidature of the Republic of Armenia from the Eastern European Group for membership in the COP Bureau.

The Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia will continue negotiations on the implementation of additional confidence-building measures in the near future and call on the international community to support their efforts, which will contribute to the establishment of mutual trust between the two countries and positively impact the entire South Caucasus region.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel


(Image by Citizen of the World Charter Schools) Details DMCA



Like a scab located on a part of the body that is prone to contact with the outside world, any pause in the hostilities in the Middle East always seems destined to be ripped away before it can lead to permanent healing. Looking to disrupt the expanding state of detente between Israel and its neighbors, Hamas stuck a knife directly into the healing wound with its barbaric terrorist attack of October 7th. Israel's right-wing government responded with a sledgehammer, exacting revenge not only on the terrorists but on innocent civilians.

With our country's political systems badly broken, this conflict in the Middle East has become yet another battle in the endless culture war. We only seem to be able to see issues in terms of black and white refusing to see shades of grey. Those supporting a cease-fire are deemed to be allies of terrorists with opposition to the policies of the Israeli government too quickly classified as anti-Semitic. In response, the deep harm done to innocent Israelis is too often minimized and care is not always taken to ensure that the historic persecution of the Jewish people is recognized. While people yell past each other, thousands of families from both sides are suffering as they bury their dead.

Despite the complexity of this situation, teachers at Citizens of the World Charter School East Valley decided that it would be appropriate to tackle it in a first-grade classroom. Grown adults do not have the Emotional Intelligence to discuss the subject in a productive way, but somehow these teachers thought that six-year-olds could handle it. Predictably, the attempt blew up in their faces, with the teachers accused of weaponizing "their role as educators to indoctrinate the youngest of children with a radical and hateful agenda".

According to a report that I received, the instructor asked students to "identify who in the room was Jewish" and was "trying to persuade six-year-olds that Jews living in Israel [is] an act of genocide". In the aftermath, the charter school chain "unequivocally" condemned "the disturbing suggestion that Jews should leave the region" and "any lesson that creates bias or fear among our students".

The pain caused by these actions is magnified by the fact that the school is located on the campus of a Jewish Synagogue. Ignoring the "pain and distress" of its host community caused by events of October 7th, staff at the charter school complained "about Israeli flags that were hung up on the campus" in the wake of the terrorist attack. The principal even asked the Rabbi when they would be taken down.

This is not the first time that a franchise of this white-flight charter school chain has clashed with the hosts of its campuses:

Citizens of the World justifies its existence (and the funding provided by taxpayers) by promising to create "meaningful school experiences that build cross-cultural understanding and tolerance". In reality, the chain has left a trail of ill will as it repeatedly finds itself at the center of conflict. How can it succeed at teaching children to be citizens of the world when its management consistently fails at displaying citizenship in the communities where it operates?

Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.
"The world got along without race for the overwhelming majority of its history. The U.S. has never been without it." - David R. Roediger

* What's wrong with our Electoral College vs. voters' direct choices:

Americans, by acclamation, are mutually molded in the image of the Presidents, Members of Congress and Governors, we elect.

When a third of Americans choose the mold of Andrew Jackson(7th) reincarnated in Donald Trump(45th) - inciting violence camouflaged by faux-religious patriotism, aid and abet the decline of American democracy.

Even with interventions by Congress and Supreme Court, Native Americans were routed from their homes and lands, because President Jackson believed: white men should rule over non-white people - including servitude of indigenous people and Africans kidnapped to be Slaves for Southern American plantations.

The potential discovery of gold prompted Georgia in particular to demand Indians move west of the Mississippi.

* What's wrong with America's Trail of Tears and Slavery:

Race is the child of racism, not the father - Ta-Nehisi Coates

Theodore Roosevelt(26th): white race exists to rule over all other races, in the defense of the American Empire, including, the Pacific.

Racial expansion of Monroe Doctrine: The Great White Fleet sailed to Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Japan, flaunting a global Tsunami of the White Man's power.

Howard Taft as Governor-General of the Philippines before becoming POTUS (27th), labeled Filipinos: our Little Brown Brothers.

* What's wrong with Voting People:

Those who fail to vote, and those who vote for leaders failing to work five-day weeks, opting for government shutdown in favor of Joe Biden (46th) Impeachment without evidence.

There are no perfect American leaders - certainly not among those boasting, Home of the Brave, while separating parents from children seeking safety, risking drowning death by Governor Abbotts' imposing Rio Grande divide.

If we see no evil in #45's hateful extremists (collaring German reaction to Versailles with American Appomattox), accepting dictator-like inciting, hearts and minds - nor hear no evil in post mass shootings' thoughts and prayers - 2024 may cause desertion from, speak no evil by voting to allow American defamation of faith, hope and love thy neighbor as thyself.

* What went wrong with American Caucasian people after WWII:

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The financial sector, like all sectors, has been forced to adapt and transform itself in response to the new realities of the modern world: decarbonisation, corporate responsibility, the energy transition, net zero... Private equity has found itself ever more under the microscope of the ESG analysts, with modern investment portfolio management inextricably bound to social, economic and political responsibility. Some investment houses have been taken this new reality in their stride.

The energy transition and net zero targets have, more than any other market phenomenon, transformed the investment sector in such a way that old approaches will forever remain just that, old. Financial players have accepted that economic success today relies on measurable social conscientiousness. PE houses all have that desire to 'do their bit', to meet the expectations of various stakeholders (investors, LPs, employees, civil society, regulators, etc.), to differentiate themselves from their peers and communicate a possible carbon advantage, and to measure their carbon exposure and transition risks. Profitability now depends on it.

ESG criteria have become central facets of risk management strategies, and it has begun to dawn on investment house CEOs that adhering to a robust ESG strategy is crucial to long-term value creation. It is now indisputable that PE's position as a major player in the global financial system has huge potential when it comes to tackling the climate crisis, according to the Harvard Business Review. PE assets are projected to surpass $11 trillion by 2026. Circa. 10,000 PE firms worldwide oversee more than 20 million employees spread across 40,000 portfolio companies. A commitment to green finance and green investments could have the power to be transformative.

A decade of changing attitudes

Over the last decade, PE firms have come to realise the crucial role they have to play in the global struggle to get global warming under control, as well as other major challenges facing humanity today. But ESG, from a financial perspective, has become a key component of portfolio profitability. According to Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), "nearly 75% of the 633 private equity investors that reported to the PRI in 2021 (598 investment managers and 35 asset owners) said they assess ESG materiality for individual companies... rather than only looking at industry-level factors."

PE's unique position within portfolio companies in terms of governance, ownership and management means it is well placed to oversee the ESG transition. "Our investment model whereby we are often in control ownership positions and have a long-term perspective and our expertise can help our portfolio companies advance their ESG journeys," said Elizabeth Lewis, the deputy head of ESG at Blackstone.

"We aim to be a responsible investor. Our approach is one of constant improvement in this area," said UK investment house Bridgepoint's CEO, William Jackson. "We invest in all stages of the ESG maturity curve with the intention of making a difference and making sure our portfolio companies make a difference."

Some firms have been hot on the heels of innovative, sustainable projects in the framework of the energy transition, for over a decade. A good example is the French-based PE firm Ardian. The firm has long put a robust ESG strategy at the heart of its investment management approach, leaning on innovative, socially responsible ideas and rethinking wealth distribution through employee ownership schemes across its portfolio.

"Our criteria for investing in companies and infrastructure are evolving considerably, precisely to incorporate ESG criteria in a very rigorous way. By reinventing the way we invest today, we can jointly ensure the performance of our industry and the long-term development of our companies," said the firm's CEO, Dominique Senequier.

Hard impact investment

This embrace of impact and ESG investing by the big global private equity firms has led to high growth and some serious attempts at value creation through green finance project. Industry body the Global Impact Investing Network calculates that the market is now worth $1.2tn. In 2021, for example, TPG, the Texas-based private equity firm, said it had raised $7.3bn for a climate-focused impact fund, TPG Rise Climate, from backers including the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and insurance company Axa. As part of the $14 billion TPG Rise global impact investing platform, TPG Rise Climate leverages the capabilities of Y Analytics, TPG's public benefit LLC dedicated to understanding, valuing, and managing the social and environmental impact of its investments.

"Our limited partners - both institutional investors and large multinational corporations - have joined us with a common purpose: to rapidly finance and scale climate solutions that meaningfully reduce or avert greenhouse gas emissions. It is a privilege to be working with our investors and climate innovators around the world to build a new net-zero economy," said Hank Paulson, Executive Chairman of TPG Rise Climate and former U.S. Treasury Secretary.

Ardian, for example, has a CEO wholeheartedly committed to the modern ESG approach. The firm has made it its mission to accelerate the energy transition through clever investments in green energy projects. "It is becoming increasingly important to find more local energy sources and prioritise greener supplies," said Ardian's Marion Calcine, Senior Managing Director and CIO for Infrastructure, in an interview with Infrastructure Investor . "These are markets where we have a lot of experience with a portfolio of more than 8GW of renewables."

Of course, measuring impact can be a real issue for PE investors. Clear climate targets are somewhat more easily auditable, but social targets less so. This can lead firms open to the accusation of greenwashing. This is not putting off investors, however. The blurring of impact and ESG investing within new regulatory frameworks is indeed a challenge, but one worth overcoming, especially in a context of the increasing threat of global warming. Financial players must seek to reduce the emissions linked to their operational activities (travel, offices, equipment, etc.), but also and above all simultaneously reduce the volume of financial flows to carbon-intensive players (e.g. the fossil fuel sector) and increase those to decarbonised and decarbonising activities (which help to decarbonise our economy).
When it comes to bizarre demands for government intervention in trivial matters, US Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is the gift that keeps on giving. Try as I may to tear myself away from watchng the slow motion train wrecks of her ideas and cast my gaze on similar weirdness from other politicians, she just tops everyone else on a regular basis and I can't resist the temptation to talk about her again.

This time, it's sandwiches.

Yes, really.

And not in the vein of the misogynous "make me a sandwich" meme. In point of fact, she just might be the last person on the planet I'd delegate sandwich-making duty to. Not because I assume she wouldn't be good at it -- she contributed several supposedly Cherokee-related family recipes to a cookbook in the 1990s, after all! -- but because I know that no matter what I asked for, I'd end up with whatever Elizabeth Warren thought I should eat.

"We don't need another private equity deal that could lead to higher food prices for consumers," Warrne tweeted (or whatever) on November 26. "The @FTC is right to investigate whether the purchase of @SUBWAY by the same firm that owns @jimmyjohns and @McAlistersDeli creates a sandwich shop monopoly."

Such an FTC investigation would presumably take about half a minute to discover the existence of Jersey Mike's, Firehouse Subs, Quiznos, Blimpie, and a gazillion other sandwich shops of both the chain and small business variety. Not to mention the existence of stores where bread, meat, cheese, etc. can be purchased, and homes with refrigerators, counters, etc. where the ingredients can be stored and assembled at the diner's leisure.

It's not so much that Warren seeks solutions to non-problems as that she considers it a problem -- or at least an oversight -- whenever she happens across something, anything, anywhere, that she's not been put in charge of supervising.

And it's not that she's different from other politicians in that respect. Generally speaking, all politicians have a lot in common with the rest of us -- we want to run our own lives, and they want to run our lives too.

But the areas she picks to address make one wonder just what the hell she's doing to earn her $174,000 US Senate salary. She clearly has plenty of spare time and energy to spend worrying about American sandwich consumption, and no time or energy at all to spend on actually looking into whether that worry is warranted.

There is no "sandwich shop monopoly." There's not GOING to be any "sandwich shop monopoly" even if Roark Capital adds Subway to its portfolio.

In fact, the only truly dangerous monopoly in America is the one Elizabeth Warren affiliates herself with: Government.
Chrome Industries, known for its bicycle messenger bags with a seat-belt buckle strap, has opened a new store in Portlands Pearl District.

The Portland-based companys new 200-square-foot retail space, called the Drop Shop, opened on Monday at 505 N.W. 13th Ave. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays through Mondays.

Meghan Litchfield, Chrome brand president, said the store is the first of its kind for the brand that is a truly unique, micro retail experience for Portlanders.

Litchfield said the company hopes to use the space to engage with the community and offer exclusive experiences such as limited products, experimental designs and a bag buckle customization bar where shoppers can personalize their Chrome bags.

Litchfield said the company had previously operated 10 brick-and-mortar stores, called Chrome Hubs in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and New York, among other cities. Chrome aspired to make them gathering spaces in addition to being retail outlets.

But when the pandemic hit and gatherings werent feasible, Litchfield said, the stores were no longer able to serve the community purpose. She said the brands last Chrome Hub closed in Old Town in March 2020 and the company shifted its focus to wholesale and e-commerce.

Litchfield said Chromes new store partly reverses that strategy.

Chrome saw the true value of brick-and-mortar-stores as hubs of community connection, so were glad to bring that same spirit to our own backyard, she said. While many retailers and brands are running away from Portland, we are running towards creating spaces that are new, different, and fresh We started to ideate on what an innovative approach to retail could look like in 2023 and beyond.

Litchfield said the company doesnt plan to open additional Drop Shops in other cities in the near future.

Chrome was founded among the bicycle messenger community in Colorado in 1995, then relocated to San Francisco in 2002, according to Litchfield. She said the company moved its headquarters to Portland in 2017, as the brand saw the Pacific Northwest citys people and culture a better fit and was drawn by the talent pool in design and innovation.

-- Kristine de Leon; kdeleon@oregonian.com
Tucked in the back of the building anchored by Corvallis Starbucks on Madison Avenue, Nichole Ashley Moss new beauty supply business is attracting customers whose first comments tend to be how thankful they are that the store exists.

Based on the Linn-Benton County National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples Black-owned business directory, Soulful Strands, which opened Nov. 11, is the only one of its kind in Corvallis.

Its just the beginning, Moss hopes.

I am looking to get way bigger than this, Moss said.

Its been a challenging launch, according to Moss.

With difficulties sourcing loans for the business, Moss said the store is a result of four months of saving, contributions from her husband, bulk buying and storing all of her current stock until she found a location she could afford to rent.

A community gap

Nichole Ashley Moss owns Soulful Strands, which provides multicultural hair products.Jess Hume-Pantuso/Corvallis Gazette-Times

Soulful Strands was born out of a suggestion from her husband, according to Moss.

I went to Portland and spent $400 at Mid-K Beauty, because we have to stock up when we go out there; theres nothing like this inward, nearby, Moss said.

She had just graduated from business school at the time and was looking to start an enterprise with all the knowledge shed gained. She had an idea for an indoor spa, but the capital needed was prohibitive.

After she complained about the amount she had to spend upfront at the Portland store on hair care products, her husband suggested she begin one in the area.

Initially, shed planned to situate it in Albany, but after the property owner requested triple the amount in rent due to her credit history, Moss said she was forced to look elsewhere.

The location in downtown Corvallis was not ideal because of the size, she said, but the space has been put to good use.

Shelves full of a wide variety of hair extensions, conditioners, accessories and tools have been strategically arranged along the walls and around the stores inner and outer rooms, but still offer enough maneuvering space for patrons to peruse whats available.

Right opposite the store is a braiding salon, and Moss said, so far, patrons there have come in to shop for last-minute packs of extensions to complete a hairstyle. Its a win-win.

The name Soulful Strands is partly her sons idea and is an acknowledgement and celebration of the soul of Black people, she said.

From Long Beach, California, Moss said she moved to Gresham nine years ago where she spent a year before moving to Corvallis with her family.

When I got here, I saw no Black people here, Moss said.

In search of community, after she began encountering more Black people around town, Moss started a Facebook group. This was in 2017.

Corvallis is a good landing spot.

Obviously there is a college here, and theres a lot of Black students here. We have a lot of African people and mixed-race people here, Moss said.

She added the store and its products also will cater to anyone who may have a hard time finding the right products to tend to their curls at other hair salons or product shops.

Sights on the future

One of the windows on the exterior of Soulful Strands spells out the store's hours and products.Jess Hume-Pantuso/Corvallis Gazette-Times

Many products in the store come from China, customized for her business. Moss said she is hoping in a few years time to feature only products sourced from Africa.

And she is already thinking about expanding, both the space and the variety of what customers can access in her store: makeup and beauty products, fashion accessories, African prints, etc.

I want my whole shop to be a one-stop shop, Moss said, acknowledging that visibility makes expansion plans a gamble.

Moss said funding, advertising and keeping her spirits high have been the biggest challenges since opening.

Im planning on journaling to remember all these moments, she said.

But it has also been an avenue to learn and expand her understanding and appreciation of curly, coily and kinky hair, so she can answer questions patrons have when they come in.

For many years, Black people have not liked their hair; weve been told to straighten our hair and make it more presentable, Moss said.

Its a vicious cycle, she said, adding that her mother permed and straightened her hair as a child, and it is now in adulthood that she is learning to love her hair as it is.

Your hair is like a plant. You got to water it, and if you dont, itll die, like a plant. Its causing me to learn a lot more working here, Moss said.

 Kosisochukwu Ugwuede (she/her) covers the cities of Corvallis, Philomath & Millersburg for the Corvallis Gazette-Times. She can be reached via e-mail at Kosiso.Ugwuede@lee.net.
The FBI has located several good leads after a string of threatening emails landed in the inboxes of at least 18 Oregon schools, synagogues and regional airports Monday.

FBI Portlands special agent in charge Kieran Ramsey said authorities have identified an overseas IP address associated with the attack, noting that some of the threats used identical language or were sent by the same email address.
As an Oregonian with multiple disabilities, I was disappointed to read about the problems with the Medicaid renewal process, (Oregons Medicaid renewal process boots eligible children, adults off the plan, Oct. 29). Although an Oregon Health Authority spokeswoman said that through the renewal process Oregon has had one of the lowest closure and reduction rates in the nation, that is little reassurance when we are talking about vulnerable groups such as low-income families and children.

Health equity in this nation is already a significant issue. Inequities disproportionately disadvantage Black and Indigenous communities and people of color; low-income communities; and people with disabilities. Many Oregonians rely upon Medicaid coverage for life-saving and chronic health care needs. Adults and children with disabilities are at a greater risk of long-term medical ramifications if treatment is not accessible. Any gap in care can be a vital risk.

The most disappointing factor is Oregons slow response both in releasing information and resolving the error. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services alerted states of the problem at the end of August. It reported on Sept. 21 that 500,000 children nationwide had wrongly lost coverage. At this time, Oregon was one of five states still assessing the situation, although more than 20 states already knew some of their residents were affected. It wasnt until Oct. 26 that OHA spokesperson Erica Heartquist shared information about Oregons numbers.

Though Heartquist stated that all potentially affected peoples benefits will be restored or will be prevented from closing, a timelier response from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was and still is crucial.

Grace Ogden-Parker, Creswell

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
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Generation Z isnt convinced monogamy is the best relationship structure, and more than half of them are considering relationship styles long considered taboo in American culture.

New data from Ashley Madison, the dating website built for affairs (or married dating), found Gen Z was over represented among new signups to the site, regardless of if they were married or not. In 2022 alone more than 1.8 million Gen Z joined (of which more than 1 million were from the U.S.) representing 40% of all signups, according to the report published on November 7.

More and more Gen Zers like reddit user r/Marmatus, who shared his experience of having a non-monogamous relationship in the r/Zillennials subreddit, are getting on dating sites in search of a plus one (or more).

Its nice having the freedom to explore your sexuality safely and ethically with other people, said Marmatus, who said at 18 years old he still hadnt had his first kiss.The thought of going an entire lifetime only ever having one sexual partner is not something Id choose for myself. There are only so many experiences that one person can give you.

More than half of Gen Z respondents (59%) said they would consider a non-monogamous relationship. But why? Reckon spoke with Ashley Madisons Chief Strategy Officer Paul Keable and Leanne Yau, a relationship expert and the author of the Polyphilia blog and its Instagram account.

Whats unique about Gen Z?

The data on how common cheating is in married relationships is all over the place, with data from various sources suggesting between 20 to 70% of marriages experience cheating.

A very big misconception that exists about polyamorous people is that were all just cheating on our partners, and that our partners are crying themselves to sleep when thats not the case, said Yau, who is non-monogamous. A lot of people believe that its not possible for someone to be okay with their partner being with someone else. There are people who are genuinely fine with it, and you dont have to go behind your partners back to do it.

Just over half (51%) of Gen Z respondents also said they seek multiple partners because they felt one person could not meet all their sexual needs.

Its unrealistic to believe that one person can fulfill all my needs to be my best friend, my financial partner, often my co parents, and my lover for all my different interests, needs, desires and curiosities. Thats a big burden for one person to carry day to day. We didnt really question that in my generation, Keable said.

Paul said he thinks what makes Gen Z different than generations before when it comes to non-monogamy is the way this generation understands shame. He mentioned the prevalence of premarital sexsomething thats most Americans feel is no longer morally wrong. Data from Guttmacher Institute published in 2006 found premarital sex is practically universal in America with 95% of survey respondents saying they had sex before they were married.

This Gen Z report is really revealing to people that you can have healthy relationships with multiple people, said Keable. You can have healthy sexual opportunities and events through communication that dont have a negative consequence. Once you remove shame, once you open your eyes and understand that people have different needs and desires at different times, you can see this reality.

Women are more open to polyamory than men

The stereotype that men are more sexually promiscuous and that women arent is moot, according to the Ashley Madison data and Yaus own followers list.

The data from Ashley Madison showed women were more likely than men to say they felt they could not be happy and monogamous at the same time. Women were also three times more likely than men to say they had always felt non-monogamous, according to the data.

While Yau said a cohort from Ashley Madison, the dating website built for affairs, might not be the best group to compare to herself or the content she creates, she said a majority of her followers and fellow polyamory content creators are women.

Another dataset from Ashley Madison found that 80% of the married women on the website who sought out an affair did so because they were in sexless or orgasmless marriages, Keable explained.

Challenging the common stereotypes about gender and sexuality is something non-monogamous women like reddit user u/Muted_Key_1007 are still confronting, even in non-monogamous communities.

The woman, who described herself as a 29-year-old married bisexual woman, made the post in the r/nonmonogamy subreddit about her experience being a unicorn  a term used to describe women who are the third person in a threesome between an already partnered couple.

I mostly joined male/female couples with a bi woman looking to explore, but also some male/male bi couples and female/female couples. It was a lot of fun, and it was a great way to explore my sexuality, she said in the post.

Arent you just cheating?

Yau said the difference between an affair and ethical non-monogamy is an important distinction for readers to understand, especially considering the data in question came from Ashley Madisona dating website designed for married people looking to cheat.

The site has been at the center of various scandals and data leaks over the last two decades since the site launched in 2001. The website made headlines and became a household name in July 2015 after a list of about 2500 users data was posted online, revealing some high-profile peoples extramarital affairs, including disgraced Counting On star Josh Duggar.

The data Ashley Madison collected is interesting and worth discussing. I do think that we have to be very careful not to conflate affairs and cheating with non-monogamy and polyamory, Yau said.

She explained it like this: An affair is secretive. One partner has a second partner but is hiding the outside relationship. In ethical non monogamy, all the partners are aware of each other and the relationships are agreed upon.

While these two groups have been conflated, what I can say is that there is definitely an emerging trend of people recognizing that one person doesnt have to meet all our needs. Whether youre going to be honest about that or not is up to individual people, she said.

Keable said his companys data shows that Gen Z does want discretion when it comes to their sex lives and relationships. They want the power to control the narrative around how they relate to people.

r/Marmatus explained his non-monogamous relationships include his primary partner and two friends with benefits.

On average I probably see one or the other every month or so. Its been less frequent than that lately because weve all just been really busy, but we also sext and stuff like that quite often. Both of them are in open relationships as well; one is married, the other is in an LTR. My partner isnt currently seeing anyone else. He has a much lower sex drive than me, which was largely the reason for us transitioning to an open relationship, he said in a comment on a reddit post.

What about loved ones who dont understand this lifestyle?

Keables response to this question was direct.

Invite the polycule to Christmas. You may be surprised how much fun your kids partners are, he said.

For Yau, educating people about the possibilities is important to helping other people understand an alternative lifestyle like non-monogamy. The LGBTQ+ rights movement has already helped bring some exposure to these communities, but its just the beginning, she explained.

What is it about exclusivity that is so precious to society, particularly given that infidelity is extremely common in monogamous relationships? I think the normalization queer rights and kink becoming more mainstream and people exploring their desires has opened people to the transformative power of exploring your sexuality, she said.
Sign up for The Meltdown, a weekly newsletter highlighting the latest apocalyptic dramas, debunking climate myths, and sharing sustainability hacks, all while arming you with information to hold polluters and the government accountable. Enter your email to subscribe.

In a world where $200 can buy you a personalized 60-second video from none other than former U.S. House member and full-time fantasist George Santos, one must ponder the myriad ways to amass a fortune in these modern times, especially when youre recently unemployed. OnlyFans seems intriguing if you have nice feet. I do not. I like the idea of being a professional cuddler or the person who tastes cookies at the factory. Or, dare to dream by joining the 9-5 brigade, toiling away like the rest of us to line someone elses velvet pockets.

But why settle for mere terrestrial riches when one could aspire to the stratospheric wealth of Middle Eastern royalty? Were talking extra guacamole at Chipotle levels of affluence here, folks.

That takes us back to the United Arab Emirates, a wealthy oil country run by a wealthy monarchy currently playing host to COP28, the UNs extremely important climate change conference. This week, Dubai is swarming with 2,456 oil and gas lobbyists hired to wield influence and ensure the industry can keep earning money.

Something else happened at COP28 over the weekend. The Environmental Protection Agencys Administrator, Michael Regan, announced a final rule that aims to slash methane levels back in the United States.

But rules only work if they can be enforced, and the EPA has had a tough time enforcing rules in recent years. I was curious why, so I chatted with a former deputy EPA administrator under President Obama. We discussed some of the very interesting obstacles facing the agency and why Trump made it much harder to enforce rules.

But as our beloved planet hurtles through the cosmic void, teetering on the brink of ecological disaster, why drown in a sea of existential dread? Lets pivot to the sunnier side of the oil well.

This week in The Meltdown, well delve into the triumphs of the Endangered Species Act and discuss the benefits of writing letters to your beloved friends and family. Then, well end with why its better to be safe than sorry.

Before you read on, please feel free to follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. And share this newsletter with your friends if you think theyll enjoy it.

Drizzle

Young child holding a chicken on a farmGetty Images

Earlier this year, the Endangered Species Act turned 50 years old, but it didnt just materialize out of thin air in 1973. The United States, thanks to President Teddy Roosevelt, started trying to save the American buffalo at the turn of the 20th century after they were hunted to near extinction, their numbers falling from 40 million in 1830 to just 300 in 1900. Today, there are around 500,000. It proved that with the right people, animals and the environments they live in could be saved. Albeit, it took another 70 years before the Endangered Species Act was passed.

It has been very successful in recovering and restoring species, said Timothy Preso, the managing attorney for the biodiversity defense program with Earthjustice, a San Francisco-based public interest organization dedicated to litigating environmental issues. The act brought back the bald eagle, the American alligator, and the grizzly bear, among other iconic animals, from near extinction. Add a whole bunch of creatures you may have never heard of to the list, like the Dixie Valley Toads that only live in the hot-spring-fed wetlands in one northwest Nevada valley or the incredibly rare Alabama sturgeon, which hasnt been seen in over a decade.

Touch Grass

Close up of antique love letter on parchmentGetty Images/Tetra images RF

About 12 years ago, following a breakup with a woman in Sweden, which is something I made a habit of, I decided I was sad enough to start writing letters  one a day during Lent. Id given up quite enough that year and needed to create something positive instead. Dramatic, I know. I wasnt even baptized. One of the letters was 10 pages, which found its way to Sweden, while others were short notes of appreciation filled with love and little anecdotes of the past. I sent them to friends and family at first, then about 25 days in, I started to run out of people. I then sent them to old teachers, my friends parents, and even a receptionist I met at a hotel while traveling through Senegal in West Africa.

It mended friendships, brought closure to old love, and put me in touch with family members and good people I hadnt heard from in years. The benefits were profound and healing. It was one of the most beautiful and positive things Ive ever done. All this to say, in this season of giving, why not write a letter to someone youre grateful for?

Compost Dump

Environmental disaster with hazmat team cleaning up. 3D generated image.Getty Images

Have you ever heard of the Precautionary Principle? Its kind of like the rule better safe than sorry, but for big decisions that could affect people and the environment. Its especially useful when we dont have all the science figured out yet.

Heres what it means:

Being Proactive: Its about stopping lousy stuff from happening before were 100% sure it will. This might mean saying no or limiting things that could be dangerous.

Who Proves What: Normally, if people think somethings risky, they must prove it. But with this rule, its the other way around. The people who want to do something that might be risky have to prove its safe.

Being Careful When Unsure: If theres some science showing something might be harmful, but its not conclusive, this principle says its better to be cautious.

Everyone Decides Together: Its about making decisions by looking at all the possible effects and getting input from a bunch of different people.

Matching Reaction to Risk: The idea is to ensure the response fits the risk. Dont freak out over small risks, but dont ignore big ones, either.

I never want to see anyone unemployed, and I will do anything possible to ensure people who need a job can get one in a place where they are valued. If youre reading this newsletter, George Santos, the oil and gas industry also has a penchant for saying things that arent true. Ask for a job!

Thanks for reading The Meltdown. Please sign up, share, and lets all become professional cuddlers on OnlyFans. Send tips to: charress@reckonmedia.com

See you next week.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. In line with number of high-handshakings, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan met with Argentina's newly elected President Javier Milei during his inauguration ceremony at the Casa Rosada Palace in Buenos Aires.

He also met with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, which appears to be nothing unusual at first glance. However, when we consider the Armenian side's consistent refusal to participate in summit events within the framework of joint formats with Russia while also organizing meetings with the Ukrainian side and visits to Ukraine at every opportunity, it becomes clear that Armenia's stakes have shifted 180 degrees.

For Armenia, Russia is becoming a less prominent actor in the region. In order to pick up the remnants of the armaments that Kiev refuses to give up, Yerevan attempts to create relations with Ukraine and, through it, with the countries that supply them against Russia.

According to the material, Vahagn Khachaturyan "presented the actions of the Armenian side aimed at establishing a stable and lasting peace in the region" during his discussions with his colleagues, notably Volodymyr Zelensky.

However, these "actions" are not seen in actuality; Armenian officials just speak about them. When it comes to actual acts, Armenia tends to wait for time, as has been shown on multiple occasions. By the way, Armenia relies on Western "friends" as well, refusing, if unofficially, Russian mediation.

Just recently, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev spoke about the delaying of this process on the part of Armenia in an interview with the Euronews TV channel in late November.

As the head of state noted, Azerbaijan and Armenia have several times exchanged proposals on the initial draft of the peace treaty, which Azerbaijan developed itself. After that, the two countries exchanged comments six times.

"We sent them the last of them on September 11, and we received a response to the comments only two days ago. For almost two and a half months, they have been evaluating the draft treaty, which consists of several pages. What does that mean? It means that they want to artificially delay the process. It is already the end of November," President Ilham Aliyev said.

That is, the presentation of some non-existent "actions" of Armenia on the establishment of peace in the region to the overseas countries, as well as to Ukraine, which is in a state of war, which does not care about the South Caucasus, and in particular does not care about Armenia, which pursues, of course, the goal of cheap PR in the sense that Armenia, allegedly "unlike Azerbaijan," is "working on the establishment of peace for 24/7."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. Russia expresses its readiness to hold negotiations on the Azerbaijani-Armenian settlement and hopes that Baku and Yerevan take into account the relevance of Moscows proposal, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Galuzin said, Trend reports.

Our proposal to hold peaceful negotiations on a settlement between Azerbaijan and Armenia at Moscow is an open initiative for our partners from Azerbaijan and Armenia. We hope that Baku and Yerevan remember this, Galuzin emphasized.

He added that Russia is always ready for such work, answering a question about a possible meeting of the foreign ministers of the three countries in Moscow.

Galuzin expressed his conviction that the expansion of the EU civilian observation mission in Armenia does not contribute to the resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In his opinion, this will only increase tension in Transcaucasia. The deputy minister emphasized that such a decision would not be useful for promoting the Azerbaijani-Armenian settlement, and considered it useless to involve the European Union in this context.

He also noted that the EU policy in the Transcaucasus, aimed at ousting Russia from the region, only brings additional tension and mistrust.

He noted that the European Union's strategy in the South Caucasus exclusively involves ousting Russia from this region.

We see that the policy of the European Union in Transcaucasia is aimed exclusively at pushing Russia out of there, while using our achievements in the process of a peaceful settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the deputy minister emphasized.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid al Dbaiba, has reaffirmed his support for all scientific activities in all fields, particularly in the field of renewable energies and the fight against climate change
Photo: (Photo : Brad Vest /Getty Images)

Ten teenagers are now confronting charges in connection with the escalating carjacking menace that has seized Washington, D.C.

Authorities have revealed that the suspects are accused of forcefully robbing at least a dozen drivers, contributing significantly to the surge in car theft incidents within the nation's capital.

Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia unveiled on Monday that the ten individuals are allegedly part of two distinct carjacking rings.

These rings, one comprising seven teens facing charges in D.C. Superior Court, and the other involving a three-man crew facing federal charges in the U.S. District Court, operated extensively between January and June.

The modus operandi frequently included stealing vehicles at gunpoint, leaving a trail of victims and an alarming spike in car theft cases in Washington, D.C.

Teens Face Carjacking Charges in Washington, D.C.

The larger of the two rings has been linked to numerous carjackings, armed robberies, and the trafficking of stolen property, painting a grim picture of criminal activity in the region.

Individuals facing federal charges include Jaelen Jordan, 18, and Warren Montgomery, 19, both residents of Washington, D.C., along with Byron Gillum, 18, Isaiah Flowers, 18, Jahkai Goff, 19, Taj Giles, 18, and Irshaad Ellis-Bey, 18, all hailing from Prince George's County, Maryland.

This diverse criminal network reveals the collaborative efforts across jurisdictions that have contributed to the growing carjacking menace in Washington, D.C.

As the investigation unfolds, it becomes apparent that the carjacking rings operated extensively, making their presence felt throughout the District.

The allegations of carjackings, armed robberies, and involvement in trafficking activities underscore the gravity of the situation.

The accused teens now face charges that reflect the comprehensive nature of their criminal endeavors.

Alarming Rise in Carjackings Across the District

Washington, D.C., has witnessed an alarming surge in carjackings, with a staggering 932 incidents reported in 2023 alone.

This growing carjacking menace has significantly impacted the safety and security of residents, forcing authorities to address the root causes urgently.

Of particular concern is that 77% of these carjackings involved the use of firearms, intensifying the threat to public safety.

Only 167 individuals have been arrested for carjacking, highlighting the challenges faced by law enforcement in curbing this wave of criminal activity.

Disturbingly, 62% of these arrests involved juveniles, emphasizing the youth-driven nature of the car theft epidemic.

The surge in carjackings poses a severe threat to the well-being of Washington, D.C., residents.

The use of firearms in a significant number of these incidents raises the stakes, requiring law enforcement to adopt comprehensive strategies to tackle this specific aspect of the growing problem.

With the majority of arrests involving juveniles, there is a pressing need for targeted interventions to address the root causes and prevent further involvement of young individuals in criminal activities.

Read Also: Texas Woman Granted Emergency Abortion in Groundbreaking Court Decision

City Leaders React Amidst Criticism

City leaders, including Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith, recently testified about the rising crime in a closed-door bipartisan briefing.

House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer expressed concern over the "rising, unchecked crime impacting the nation's capital city."

However, criticism has been directed towards the district's governing council and U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves, alleging a failure to ensure public safety.

These concerns come at a time when carjackings have targeted a diverse range of victims, from professionals on their way to work to families outside elementary schools.

The response from city leaders and law enforcement is under intense scrutiny as they grapple with the multifaceted challenges posed by the growing carjacking menace.

The diverse nature of victims, ranging from professionals to families with young children, emphasizes the urgent need for a coordinated and effective strategy to address the various dimensions of the issue.

As Washington, D.C., grapples with this growing carjacking menace, urgent measures are required to address the root causes of the issue.

The recent arrest of the ten teenagers is a significant step in holding individuals accountable for their actions, but it also underscores the need for a comprehensive strategy to tackle the broader challenges contributing to the surge in car theft incidents.

City leaders are under increasing pressure to collaborate on effective solutions and update public safety laws to reflect the current reality, as the capital faces a complex and multifaceted threat to its residents' safety.

The intersection of law enforcement efforts, legislative action, and community engagement will be crucial in mitigating the growing carjacking menace in Washington, D.C.

The challenges are significant, but a comprehensive and coordinated approach is essential to ensure the safety and security of the city's residents.

Related Article: Texas Supreme Court Blocks Emergency Abortion for Pregnant Woman; Legal Battle Over Life-Threatening Pregnancy Intensifies
I noticed this Public Square Magazine article online the other day and found it interesting. And then found, to my surprise, that I myself was mentioned in it: Tapped Out: Criticism an Unsustainable Fountain for Faith: The fact that accusation clouds religious epistemology is a lesson we can all learn from a debacle on a popular YouTube channel.

I have not seen this film, although I hope to watch it reasonably soon. So Im not endorsing it. Obviously, Im in no position to do so. But I want you to be aware of it, and I have a personal hope that, by supporting faith-based films, well eventually create a viable market for such films that will provide fertile soil in which to plant ever-better Latter-day Saint cinema. Take a look at this: The Oath.

The other day, I recommended The Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text, published by Yale University Press, as a very good Christmas gift for your family, your friends, and even, yes, surreptitiously and stealthily, for yourself. In case you dont already own it or, perhaps, havent even seen it, Im sharing with you a note that was circulated shortly after the second edition was released in May 2022. It will help you to understand and appreciate what the Yale edition uniquely offers:

Yale University Press has now published the second edition of The Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text, as a trade paperback, edited by Royal Skousen, with 10 May 2022 as the release date.

After five printings of the hardback edition (from 2009 up through 2020), Yale University Press has decided to issue this durable softbound edition, which has a somewhat smaller format (6  9  1 inches) than the first hardbound edition (7  9  2 inches).

The attached PDF shows the entire cover  front, back, and spine  for the new edition.

Opaque paper has been specially selected to help the reader see a clean page of text, without interference from the printing on the reverse side of the page. Yet the physical thickness of the book has been reduced by one half.

The format continues to use the sense-lines of the first edition. Instead of breaking up the text into two columns of verses (the current LDS text) or in a paragraph system (like the first edition in 1830), this format makes it so that each line of text ends naturally, where the text breaks, at the end of a phrase or clause. This is the only format that allows the reader to recover a sense of how Joseph Smith dictated the original text to his scribes in 1828-29: it would have been in sense-lines.

The actual scriptural text in this new edition remains the same as in the first Yale edition, in accord with the evidence of the earliest text from the two manuscripts and the 1830 edition, and occasionally from the two subsequent editions in 1837 and 1840. When compared against the most recent printing of the hardbound Yale edition (the fifth printing, dating from 2020), there are only a few changes in punctuation, capitalization, and sense-line breaks.

The appendix now contains 724 textual variants, five more than in the appendix to the first edition. One interesting improvement is that the title page now begins with a significant change in the punctuation and a shift in the sense-lines, so that we now read that the Book of Mormon is an account written by the hand of Mormon upon plates and that this account was taken from the plates of Nephi.

The most striking difference in the new edition, besides its sturdy softbound cover and a somewhat smaller format, is that the new edition has a completely new introduction, written by the editor, Royal Skousen, specifically for this second edition. In this introduction, Skousen explains how the Yale edition derives from the Critical Text Project of the Book of Mormon, which Skousen has headed from 1988 to the present. The text itself was not keyed in, but was systematically generated from the computerized collation that was originally produced in the late 1990s. The Yale edition of the Book of Mormon takes advantage of all the important findings of the Critical Text Project, including the following:

615 readings that have never before appeared in any standard printed edition

251 readings that make a difference in meaning

19 corrected spellings of names

133 readings that make the text more consistent in phraseology or usage

38 readings that restore a unique phrase or word choice to the text

The easiest source for purchasing the second edition is found on Amazon.com under royal skousen earliest text of the book of mormon, which brings up the right page on Amazon.com:

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Mormon-Earliest-Text/dp/0300263376/

Some of the explanatory material describes the first Yale edition. And the 106 reviews of the Yale edition are all based on the first edition, as we would expect.

But especially note: the Kindle version being offered here on this webpage is not the new edition, but the second printing in 2010 of the hardbound version, dating from 2009, and now textually inaccurate in a number of places. We hope to get Yale to make a Kindle version of the new edition as soon as possible.

It should also be emphasized that this paperback version is not simply a reprint of the original hardback edition. It is a second edition, with a completely new introduction that more directly ties the Yale text to the Book of Mormon Critical Text Project. Usually a publisher issues a paperback as a reprint of its original hardback publication. That is definitely not the case here, with over 12 years having elapsed since the publication of the original first edition in 2009.
PERPETUAL VIRGINITY

The word brother as used in the New Testament (Greek, adelphos), has a wide range of meaning, including those of the same nationality (Rom 9:3), neighbors or any man ((Mt 5:22; 7:3; Lk 10:29), mankind (Mt 25:40; Heb 2:17), Christian believers (Acts 1:15), etc.

Neither Hebrew nor Aramaic had a word for cousin. Greek did have such a word, but since ancient Israel was a Semitic culture, they still used the equivalent of brother to signify a cousin. Jesus Himself used the word in this way. He described the crowds and His disciples as His brethren (Matthew 23:8; cf. 12:49-50) We see this wider usage of brother even in English today. Here are some plain examples of the wider (non-sibling) usage of adelphos:

Acts 3:12, 17, 22 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, Men of Israel, . . . And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. . . . Moses said, The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. . . . 

Acts 7:23-27 When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel. And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking the Egyptian. He supposed that his brethren understood that God was giving them deliverance by his hand, but they did not understand. And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and would have reconciled them, saying, Men, you are brethren, why do you wrong each other? But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?

Romans 1:7, 13 To all Gods beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: . . . I want you to know, brethren, . . .

I Thessalonians 1:1, 4 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians . . . For we know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you;

Hebrews 7:5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brethren, though these also are descended from Abraham.

Revelation 22:9 . . . your brethren the prophets, . . .

St. Paul uses adelphos some 138 times, and it seems clear that in virtually every case, the meaning is in the wider non-sibling sense. Thus, when he refers to James the Lords brother in Galatians 1:19, it is altogether sensible to interpret it in the same way. Keeping this usage in mind, lets look specifically at several related passages that mention Jesus brothers:

Matthew 13:55-56 Is not this the carpenters son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?

Matthew 27:56 among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Matthew 27:61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre.

Matthew 28:1 Now after the sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre.

Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him.

Mark 15:40 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome,

John 19:25 So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mothers sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

James and Joseph, who are described as Jesus brothers (Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3), are also called sons of Mary, wife of Clopas (Mt 27:56; Mk 15:40; cf. Jn 19:25). Thus, they were either Jesus cousins or fellow Israelites; not literally siblings. This same other Mary (Mt 27:61; 28:1) is called the Blessed Virgin Marys sister (adelphe) in John 19:25.

Since it is unlikely that there were two Marys in one family, again the text must be referring to the Virgin Marys cousin or more distant relative. By quite plausible deduction, then, Simon, Jude, and sisters (Mt 13:55-56; Mk 6:3) are also Jesus cousins or more remote relatives.

We may have a bit more biblical information about the brother Judas. Many scholars believe he could very well be the same person as the Jude who wrote the New Testament book of the same name. Granting this for the sake of argument, note that he describes himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James (1:1). It strains credulity to think that if he were Jesus blood brother, or sibling, that he would describe himself as James brother. Therefore, it is far more reasonable to believe that he is James sibling and Jesus cousin or more distant relative; just as we have seen is the case with James himself, from direct exegetical indications.

Other arguments for Jesus being Marys only child derive from He alone being mentioned at age twelve, visiting the Temple with His parents for the yearly Passover observance (Luke 2:41-51), and His committing His mother Mary to the care of St. John, from the cross (John 19:26-27). It was unthinkable in that culture (as in most cultures) to do that if indeed Jesus had siblings.

Lastly, some think it is telling that sungenis (Greek for cousin) isnt used in direct reference to Jesus brothers. Apart from the cultural considerations already discussed, there is at least one plausible indirect argument from cross-referencing, where this association does occur:

Mark 6:4 And Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin [sungenis], and in his own house.

John 7:3-5 So his brothers said to him, Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples may see the works you are doing. For no man works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world. For even his brothers did not believe in him.

The two passages seem to be describing the same thing. If so, then this would be an equation of those who are called brothers in John 5, with kin (sungenis) in Mark 6:4; thus confirming the traditional Catholic interpretation yet again: that these brothers and sisters of Jesus are not siblings. Therefore, the doctrine of Marys perpetual virginity is perfectly consistent with all of the biblical data, closely examined (which is why Luther, Calvin, and many Protestants through history have accepted this truth alongside Catholics and Orthodox).

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Luke 1:26-28 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgins name was Mary. And he came to her and said, Hail, full of grace [non-Catholic RSV edition: O favored one], the Lord is with you!

The Greek word for full of grace or favored one is kecharitomene: perfect passive participle of charitoo, which means endowed with grace. Charis (the Greek word for grace) is translated in the KJV, as grace 129 times out of about 150 appearances. This passage teaches the sinlessness of Mary  itself the root assumption of the developed doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. With additional cross-referencing of a lot of scriptural material concerning grace, the striking Catholic conclusion becomes a lot clearer than it is at first glance.

For St. Paul, grace (charis) is the antithesis and overcomer of sin:

Romans 5:17, 20-21 If, because of one mans trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. . . . Law came in, to increase the trespass; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (cf. similar zero-sum game notions in 1 John 1:7, 9; 3:6, 9; 5:18)

2 Corinthians 1:12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we have behaved in the world, and still more toward you, with holiness and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God.

2 Corinthians 12:9 but he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Timothy 1:9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago,

We are saved, of course, by grace, and grace alone:

Acts 15:11 But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.

Romans 3:24 they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, (cf. 11:5)

Ephesians 2:5 . . . (by grace you have been saved),

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God not because of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men,

Titus 3:7 so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. (cf. 1 Pet 1:10)

The implications of all this for Luke 1:28 and the Immaculate Conception of Mary now start to become more apparent. From the above data we learn that two things are biblically certain:

1) Grace saves us.

2) Grace gives us the power to be holy and righteous and without sin.

Therefore, for a person to be full of grace is to both be saved and to be exceptionally, completely holy. The Bible also teaches that people can have different levels of grace (Acts 4:33; Rom 5:20; 6:1; Eph 4:7; Jas 4:6; 1 Pet 5:5; 2 Pet 1:2; 3:18). And Mary, as we know from Luke 1:28, was full of grace. Thus, we can restate the above two propositions with Mary in mind, as follows:

1) To be full of the grace which saves is to surely be saved.

2) To be full of the grace which gives us the power to be holy and righteous and without sin, is to be fully without sin, by that same grace.

Or, we could make the following deductive argument, with premises (#1 and #2) derived directly from Scripture:

1) The Bible teaches that we are saved by Gods grace.

2) The Bible teaches that we need Gods grace to live a holy life, above sin.

3) To be full of Gods grace, then, is to be saved.

4) Therefore, Mary is saved.

5) To be full of Gods grace is also to be so holy that one is sinless.

6) Therefore, Mary is holy and sinless.

7) The essence of the Immaculate Conception is sinlessness.

8) Therefore, the Immaculate Conception, in its essence, is directly deduced from the strong evidence of many biblical passages, which teach the doctrines of #1 and #2.

The logic follows inexorably from unquestionable biblical principles. The only way out of it would be to deny one of the two premises, and hold that either (1) grace doesnt save, or that (2) grace isnt that power which enables one to be sinless and holy. In this fashion, the entire essence of the Immaculate Conception is proven from explicit biblical statements, and principles and doctrines that every orthodox Protestant holds. All of this follows straightforwardly from Luke 1:28 and the (primarily Pauline) exegesis of charis elsewhere in the New Testament.

Luke 1:35 And the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.

The Greek word for overshadow is episkiasei, which describes a bright, glorious cloud. It is used with reference to the cloud of transfiguration of Jesus (Mt 17:5; Mk 9:7; Lk 9:34) and also has a connection to the shekinah glory of God in the Old Testament (Ex 24:15-16; 40:34-38; 1 Ki 8:10). Mary is, therefore, in effect, the new temple and holy of holies, where God was present in a special fashion. In fact, Scripture draws many parallels between Mary, the ark of the new covenant and the ark of the (old) covenant:

Exodus 40:34-35 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

The Greek Septuagint translation uses the same word, episkiasei, in this passage.

1 Kings 8:6-11 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles. And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside; and they are there to this day. There was nothing in the ark except the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.

More direct parallels occur as well:

2 Samuel 6:9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, How can the ark of the LORD come to me?

Luke 1:43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

2 Samuel 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the horn.

Luke 1:42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

2 Samuel 6:14, 16 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. . . . King David leaping and dancing before the LORD . . .

1 Chronicles 15:29 And as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David dancing and making merry . . .

Luke 1:44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.

2 Samuel 6:10-11 So David was not willing to take the ark of the LORD into the city of David; but David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months . . .

Luke 1:39, 56 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, . . . And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.

Further reflection on holy places and holy items (see Chapter Two) brings out the meaning of the striking parallel symbolism. The Temple and Tabernacle were holy, and this was especially the case with the holy of holies, where the ark was kept. God was said to dwell above the ark, between the two cherubim (Ex 25:22). The presence of God always imparted holiness (Duet 7:6; 26:19; Jer 2:3). The furnishings of the Tabernacle could not be touched by anyone, save a few priests, on pain of death (Num 1:51-53; 2:17; 4:15).

This was true of the holiest things, associated with God and worship of God. The high priest only entered the holy of holies once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Num 29:8). The Jews would tie a rope to his leg in case he perished from improper behavior (Lev 16:2, 13), so they could pull him out. This was true of the ark itself. Uzziah merely reached out to steady it when it was toppling over, and was struck dead (2 Samuel 6:2-7). Others died when they simply looked inside of it (1 Sam 6:19; cf. Ex 33:20).

This is how God regards people and even inanimate objects that are in close proximity to Him. Thus, Mary, as the ark of the new covenant, Theotokos (bearer of God): the one who had the sublime honor of carrying God incarnate in her womb, had to be exceptionally holy to do so. This is indicated by both Luke 1:28: understood in its full implications, and the ark parallels noted above. Thus, her sinlessness is strongly indicated, and this is the premise of her Immaculate Conception, meaning that God miraculously preserved her free from the stain of original sin, from the moment of her conception. It was a free act of grace, obviously having nothing to do with Marys will. Hence, full of grace and all its implications.

Its not as if being without sin is completely unimaginable. Adam and Eve were originally created without sin. The angels also were, and the ones who did not rebel have never sinned. There will eventually be no sin in heaven, when all things are redeemed. Prophets were exceptionally holy, and some (like Jeremiah and John the Baptist) were even sanctified from the womb, as Mary was:

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. (cf. Is 49:1, 5)

Sirach 49:7 . . . he had been consecrated in the womb as prophet, . . .

Luke 1:15 . . . he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mothers womb.

The Immaculate Conception and Marys sinlessness are, therefore, concepts that are perfectly harmonious with what was taught in the Bible from the beginning, and even some explicit scriptural proofs on their behalf exist, as shown above.

ASSUMPTION

No direct biblical indications of Marys assumption are to be found. But (as always with Catholic doctrine), there are indirect, deductive arguments from things that are clear in Scripture, and nothing in Scripture that would contradict the possibility of this happening. There were, for example, several bodily going to heaven events recorded in Scripture that bear some similarity to the Catholic belief in Marys bodily assumption:

Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

2 Kings 2:1, 11 Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. . . . And as they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Acts 1:9 And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

2 Corinthians 12:2-3 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven  whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise  whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows 

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangels call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God.

Revelation 11:9-12 For three days and a half men from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, Come up hither! And in the sight of their foes they went up to heaven in a cloud.

If one accepts Marys Immaculate Conception, the Assumption follows from the fact of absence of sin. Bodily death and decay, after all, come about as a result of sin and the fall:

Genesis 3:14 ,19 The LORD God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. . . . In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return. (cf. Ps 16:10)

Romans 5:12, 17 Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned  . . . because of one mans trespass, death reigned . . .

The Blessed Virgin Mary was the first fruits (after Jesus) of what will eventually be a general resurrection:

1 Corinthians 15:12-26 Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (cf. Mt 27:52-53)

Mary was preserved from sin in order to bear God incarnate. Because of this, she didnt have to undergo the bodily decay that is the lot of all fallen human beings. What more appropriate person should be made the Second Eve: like Eve was before the fall? It makes perfect sense. The Assumption goes hand in hand with the General Resurrection and the Immaculate Conception, and the latter goes hand-in-hand with the Incarnation itself. In biblical thinking, all things have a relationship to each other. Thus we see her being greatly exalted and venerated in heaven:

Revelation 12:1-5 And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery. And another portent appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth; she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,
Minister for Finance Ken Ofori-Atta has called on Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), the International Development Finance Club and the global financial architecture to swiftly provide the required support to climate vulnerable countries to achieve the climate prosperity plans.



The minister, who doubles as the Chair of the V20 Group of Finance Ministers, said a prompt and fast-paced support was a necessary requirement for the achievement prosperity of plans in the face of mounting global crisis that sought to further deepen the financial gap between vulnerable and the developed countries.



Dr. Osei Oteng Asante, an official of the Ministry of Finance who spoke on behalf of the minister at a side meeting of the ongoing Conference of Parties (COP 28) in Dubai on the topic Action for Climate Targets (ACT) for a Net-Zero Future, disclosed that 40 of the 68 member-states of the V20 Group were in debt distress.



The climate prosperity actions developed by most of the 68 members were constrained by inadequate financing, high cost of capital and the squeeze in fiscal space, especially after the COVID-19 crisis, he indicated, adding that this has led vulnerable countries in their full swing of development to build in further vulnerabilities with each investment rather than becoming more resilient.



The minister noted that the time is ripe for the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to incorporate climate vulnerability into their resource allocation metrics and ensure that climate vulnerable economies had access to low cost and concessional resources.



He also advocated for the MDBs to scale up credit enhancement tools and guarantees for vulnerable countries and dedicate resources directly to project preparation facilities rooted in member-countrys climate prosperity plan.



By the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings in 2024, MDB management should formulate plans for a general capital increase, articulating how the increase in capital will support development-positive climate action, he insisted.



In 2022, US$60.9billion of MDB climate finance was provided for low-income and middle-income economies. US$38.2billion, equivalent to 63 percent, of this total was for climate change mitigation finance and US$22.7billion or 37 percent for climate change adaptation finance. The amount of mobilised private finance stood at US$15.4billion.



The minister, while admitting the commendable support of the MDBs to low-income countries, called for a swift process in releasing finance support to these countries as time remains of a real essence in the fight against climate change.



The Climate Prosperity Plain are national investment strategies that seek to maximise socio-economic outcomes for countries on the frontline of the climate emergency through the deployment of maximised domestic renewable energy potential and climate-proofing of the economy.



The development of Climate Prosperity Plan, the minister noted, is essential to foster climate prosperity through a deliberate climate action which included the adopted Accra-to-Marrakech Agenda in October 2023, which outlined a number of salient points.



Other speakers at the event included Saroj Kumar, Global Director for the World Bank Groups Water Global Practice; Pablo Viera, Global Director of the NDC Partnership Support Unit; Jorge Moreira da Silva, Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director; Lilian Macharia, Director of Portfolio Management at Green Climate Fund; and Emilie Potvin, Director of Partnerships, UNOPS.

Source: B&FT









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TBD, a business from Block focused on open source decentralized technologies, today unveiled a technical preview of tbDEX: an open source liquidity and trust protocol to unlock frictionless commerce and financial access globally. At its core, the tbDEX protocol facilitates the formation of mutual trust between counterparties on an open and permissionless network.



It also enables counterparties to negotiate requirements to enable compliant transactions. Yellow Card becomes the first Participating Financial Institution (PFI) on tbDEX that offers liquidity across 20 African countries.



tbDEX bridges the gap between the old and the new  enabling anyone to benefit from decentralized payment systems and digital assets, with easy on- and off-ramps to legacy payment systems and fiat currencies. says Emily Chiu, COO of TBD. For developers, adopting the tbDEX protocol unlocks global liquidity for their customers, while avoiding the complexity associated with bespoke API integrations with each and every provider.



Re-Imagining a New World of Payments and Commerce

Globally, 1.7 billion adults lack access to the banking system, yet two-thirds of them own a mobile phone that could help them access financial services. The internet and wireless technology has given us the information infrastructure we need to serve everybody, but money and payments have not kept pace.



An open, decentralized financial system will enable people and institutions to exchange value and transact with each other globally, and at significantly lower costs and more inclusively than what traditional financial systems allow. tbDEX was formed as an open source, permissionless protocol out of a desire to enable everyone to participate in this vision for the future.



Core to tbDEXs innovation is the creation of a trust protocol for the exchange of value. This is useful for bitcoin, stablecoins, digital assets, and traditional fiat alike  by creating a standardized way to establish trusted economic and commercial transactions on the internet through an internet-native financial protocol, says Mike Brock, CEO of TBD. The absence of trust in payments means youll have more fraud, misrouted payments, and higher financial losses. This increases the cost of financial transactions for everyone.



tbDEX Protocol: A New Trust and Identity Layer for Digital Payments



The tbDEX protocol creates a bridge, based on open standards, that connects the world of legacy money to digital money and assets, without the need for centralized intermediaries or governance tokens. True to open source practices, tbDEX is a protocol that is available to everyone, but owned by no one.



The protocol enables participants to securely validate counterparty identity and trust, as well as desired compliance with relevant laws and regulations. After trust establishment, tbDEXs standard messaging protocol enables Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) and counterparties to discover, negotiate, and confirm transactions using a bid and ask system. Once transaction details are confirmed, participants execute and settle these trades outside of the protocol.



Verifiable Credentials (VCs) are core to establishing trust and compliance on the tbDEX protocol. VCs are an open standard established by The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that enable digital claims to be easily shared in a secure, tamper-proof, and independently verifiable way using globally recognized standards. VCs provide a standard way to express physical credentials across the digital world in a way that is cryptographically secure, privacy respecting, and machine verifiable. These credentials can be proof of identity, proof of drivers license, or any other kind of credential, securely attached to an identifier that you own and can securely prove is yours.



TBD is pioneering the use of VCs for compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CTF), and sanctions regulations to ensure that networks built on the tbDEX protocol are ones that regulators and regulated financial institutions can trust.



Building a Truly Open Ecosystem



The tbDEX protocol allows any organization that shares the vision of a decentralized and open global payments system to establish new services and benefit from an ever-growing network of participants. The network effects grow stronger with each additional participant. Participants that will bring this to life include:



Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) are entities that offer liquidity. PFIs can be, but are not limited to, fintech companies, regional or large institutional banks, and other financial institutions. PFIs have access to payment systems and the ability to facilitate fiat exchanges for digital assets (or vice versa). Any PFI can run a node on the network without third-party approval by any individual, federation, or organization. At scale, a competitive network of PFIs brings more liquidity and competition, resulting in lower fees and faster transaction times.



Wallets and Applications. Wallets or apps facilitate exchanges with PFIs. Self-custody wallets and non-financial apps may also seek liquidity on the tbDEX network. Wallet and app developers may design features and functionality tailored to their desired user experience. For example, a wallet could algorithmically select the PFI based on speed, cost, or track record  or delegate that choice to the owner of the wallet.



Issuers of Verifiable Credentials (VCs). Financial use cases on tbDEX will be unlocked through a network of credible identity issuers and verifiers. Examples could be authoritative issuers, such as a government agency issuing a physical identity document as a VC. Digital identity verification (IDV) providers globally can play a key role in verifying the information upon which the VCs rely. As such, a financial institution can issue a VC based on its existing identity verification and KYC onboarding process. Its up to verifiers to decide whether to trust the VC based on their regulatory obligations and the level of assurance they have in the issuer.



Any potential participants who would like to learn more about tbDEX can download the whitepaper and connect with the TBD team by emailing [email protected].



Yellow Card Becomes the First PFI on tbDEX, Unlocking Off-Ramps into 20 African Countries While the tbDEX protocol can facilitate many use cases, cross border payments and commerce are amongst the first that TBD is exploring. Earlier this year, Yellow Card built an implementation of tbDEX that facilitated the exchange of bitcoin into Kenyan shillings, deposited in an M-PESA account in real time. This used the tbDEX protocol to negotiate the terms of the asset exchange using tbDEX messages; and establish compliance using sanctions VCs to fulfill Yellow Cards legal and regulatory obligations.



Today, Yellow Card establishes the first PFI on the network. Yellow Card offers off-ramps into both bank and mobile money accounts as well as liquidity across 20 African countries, including Botswana , Cameroon , DR Congo , Cote dIvoire , Gabon , Ghana , Kenya , Malawi , Nigeria , Republic of Congo , Rwanda , Senegal , South Africa , Tanzania , Uganda , Zambia , Togo, Mali, the Republic of Benin, and Burkina Faso.



Interested developers can benefit from Yellow Cards PFI offerings by engaging with the tbDEX protocol via TBDs open source software developer kits (SDKs).



"It's a true honor to be chosen by TBD as the first PFI for tbDEX. These collaborations, especially of this caliber, serve as a compelling testament to the dedication and hard work of the Yellow Card teamespecially our compliance, treasury, and commercial teamsbut also to our collective vision with TBD for reshaping the landscape of cross-border payments across Africa and the world," said Chris Maurice, CEO and co-founder of Yellow Card.



tbDEX SDKs for Typescript and Kotlin / Java Now Available; Additional Platforms Coming in 2024 Today, TBD launched tbDEXs first set of SDKs on Typescript and Kotlin / Java. These SDKs make it easy for participants to create and manage their identifiers, issue and accept VCs, negotiate bids and asks, and engage in the protocol.



These SDKs offer a range of functionality and include:

tbDEX SDK: used by participants to construct, verify, and validate tbDEX messages

DID SDK: used to create and resolve identifiers (DIDs) that represent institutions and participants

Credentials SDK: used to create and verify the verifiable credentials (VCs) that get sent back to applicants, and construct data structures needed to exchange VCs

Crypto SDK: contains the cryptographic foundation needed for DIDs, VCs, and tbDEX messages

Encoders SDK: contains encode and decode utility functions needed for DIDs, VCs, and tbDEX.



In 2024 TBD plans to release additional SDKs across platforms, including SWIFT and Android. To learn more and start developing with tbDEX SDKs, please visit developer.tbd.website.



About TBD



As one of four businesses at Block (fka Square), TBD is focused on creating a decentralized future that returns ownership and control over your finances, data, and identity. Guided by this vision, TBD is building an open source developer platform and infrastructure that enables everyone to access and participate in the global economy.



About Yellow Card



Yellow Card is the largest and only licensed Stablecoin on/off ramp on the African continent. Operating across 20 countries, we provide individuals and businesses of all sizes across Africa with secure, liquid, and cost-effective access to USDT, USDC, PYUSD, and BTC via their local fiat directly and through our Payments API.



Founded in 2016 by Chris Maurice (CEO) and Justin Poiroux (CTO), Yellow Card launched in Nigeria in 2019, and since then it has quickly grown to be one of the fastest-growing fintechs in Africa, with a presence in 20 countries and over 1.7 million retail customers.



In 2023, Yellow Card was awarded the prestigious Disrupter of the Year award at the Africa Financial Industry Summit (AFIS). The award acknowledges companies that have demonstrated resilience in challenging times and whose innovation represents a market disruption.









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Kennedy Osei Nyarko, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for the Akim Swedru has dismissed recent claims by a colleague lawmaker that some NPP delegates in his constituency are on government payroll for political reasons.



This follows an allegation in September 2023 by Member of Parliament for Bongo, Edward Bawa, that the Controller and Accountant-Generals Department has enrolled NPP delegates on government payroll.



While Edward Bawa's allegations were made on TV3s Big Issues programme, Osei Nyarko posted his rebuttal on Facebook, tasking well-meaning Ghanaians to treat the claims with the contempt they deserve.



As a Member of Parliament for the Akyem Swedru constituency, I would like to address the recent allegations regarding the Controller and Accountant General putting my delegates on the payroll for election purposes. I want to clarify that these allegations are entirely false and unfounded.



I want to emphasize that none of my delegates are on the payroll to influence the election. It is crucial to maintain the integrity of our democratic process and ensure that elections are conducted fairly and transparently the Akim Swedru MP Kennedy Osei Nyarko said.



I urge everyone to be cautious of false information and to verify the facts before jumping to conclusions. Let us focus on the issues that truly matter to the people and work together to build a better future for our constituency, he added.



Osei Nyarko will face the current Controller and Accountant-General Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem during NPP primaries scheduled for early next year.



Bawa's allegation is to the effect that the government accountant had put the delegates on salary in order to attract the needed votes to be able to represent the NPP in the 2024 elections.



The Controller and Accountant General's Department (CAGD) has since issued a formal response to the MP describing his views as ignorant and untrue.



What Bawa said on Live TV



Currently, as we sit, on live radio, you know the current sitting Controller and Accountant-General Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem is vying to contest one of the seats in the central region. Every delegate has been put on salary, and he has been doing that for about two years.



Thats what I heard. So yesterday, you had a situation where people were now texting and saying incoming MP. I say if you have a situation where you control my money, there must be a law on how you deal with some of these things. Everybody is seeing it, and nobody is questioning it, Edward Bawa alleged.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. The British Parliament expressed support for the joint statement of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia dated December 7, the Azerbaijani Embassy in the UK said, Trend reports.

House of Commons member David Duguid, in his speech in parliament, called the joint statement a historical event. He inquired about the efforts of the British government towards achieving a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

British Foreign Minister for Europe Leo Docherty noted that the joint statement of Azerbaijan and Armenia, confirming their intention to normalize bilateral relations, is encouraging. He stressed that the UK fully supports the parties' efforts to achieve a historic and lasting peace.
A power blackout that plunged Kenya into darkness on Sunday was a possible act of sabotage, a minister has said.



It hit at about 20:00 local time (17:00 GMT) - Kenya's third countrywide blackout in the past four months.



The outage disrupted several services, including at the main airport in the capital, Nairobi, where two terminals were without power for several hours.



Several Kenyans have demanded answers, as anger and frustration mount over recurring power disruptions.



Transport Minister Kipchumba Murkomen - who has been criticized for the time it took to restore power at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Sunday - has asked police to investigate the possibility that the recurrent power outages are a sabotage plot.



"Considering the frequency of the power disruption, and taking into account the fact that JKIA is a facility of strategic national importance, we are making a formal request to the National Police Service to investigate possible acts of sabotage and coverup," he posted on X.



Mr Murkomen had pledged in August that a power outage at the airport would "not happen again", after Kenya suffered its longest countrywide power outage in recent years.



Sunday's blackout affected two of the busiest JKIA terminals, with the airports authority explaining that the backup generators serving those terminals "failed to immediately activate".



Some Kenyans have suggested that the power cuts could be part of a plot to justify privatizing the state-run electricity provider, Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC).



Other Kenyans have disagreed, instead citing KPLC's incompetence as the cause of the blackouts.



Power had been restored to most of the country by noon on Monday, except for some parts of Nairobi and the Coast region.



In its most recent update, Kenya Power said it was "working round the clock to restore normalcy to the remaining areas as soon as possible".



Kenya has suffered several national power outages in recent months, including on 11 November, 25 August, 4 March and in November and December last year.

Source: BBC









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Member of Parliament for Anyaa Sowutuom, Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi has asked critics to exercise restraint in their criticisms of Ghana's lithium deal as the extractive industry is not an easy sector.



The lawmaker implored Ghanaians to be careful when discussing the deal, stressing when it comes to deals like the mining of lithium or exploitation of the country's minerals, it is the person "financing who calls the tune".



He noted that the lithium contract between the Government of Ghana and Barari DV Ltd, a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Ltd, to mine Ghana's lithium is not as straightforward as some people think.



He recounted the huge monies that go into the extractive business and the high risk involved which normally scares Ghanaian investors or local companies from utilizing the mining sector disclosing that sometimes an investor could expend millions of dollars in exploration of the mineral site only and come out with nothing.



"Financing anything does not have country colors and that one, some people will argue with me but when it comes to financing a project, the rudiments of financing does not have any country colors", he said during "Kokrokoo" panel discussion programme on Peace FM.



Dr. Dickson Adomako went ahead giving various explanations to support the deal which include the demand for specific expertise and knowledge in the field.



"We should stop doing a disservice to our people in this country", he called for public education on the lithium deal to dispel the misconceptions.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Ghana Association of Banks (GAB) in partnership with the United Way Ghana has extended its support to the victims of the Akosombo Dam Spillage Disaster.



According to them, this initiative was sponsored by the financial backing of the entire membership of the Ghana Association of Banks, and aims to provide timely aid to the affected communities through the execution of a strategic intervention plan.



In an interview with Peace FM News, the Executive Director of the United Way Ghana, Madam Faustina Abbey emphasized on the intervention strategy, shaped by a meticulous needs assessment conduct in collaboration with community leaders is set to unfold in multiple phases and the initial phase was executed on October 27, 2023 prioritized the distribution of relief items to 150 households, comprising 88% females and 12% males, totaling 657 individuals.



She added that building on the success of phase 1, the Ghana Association of Banks in partnership with United Way Ghana, executed the second phase in December, marketing Agbetikpo in North Tongu and Tokpo in Osudoku District with a comprehensive survey conducted by United Way Ghana guided the intervention, seeking to understand the evolving needs, challenges, and resources required for effective recovery of the affected families.



She said the phase 2 concentrated on aiding 250 families, encompassing nearly 1,750 individuals, with complete bedding and two months worth of food suppliers, 250 school children whose educational materials were compromised by the disaster receives schools bags and stationery to facilitate their continued engagement in learning and in a notable gesture, 100 school girls lacking access to sanitary pads were provided with a four-month supply, ensuring hygienic menstrual management.

Source: Abdulai Dasmani/Peace FM News









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The Leader of Prophets and Spiritual Churches Council, Ghana Nakoa Prophet Nazareth Ansah Jamson has been coronated as the "Nor Yaa Mantse" meaning "Development Chief".



At a ceremony in Accra on Saturday, the renowned Prophet was outdoored to the public and a host of high-profile dignitaries comprising the clergy, traditional rulers and politicians.



The National Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu who maintains close ties with Nakoa Prophet was present at the function with a powerful delegation.



The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who missed the coronation due to pressing national assignment, was earlier represented by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, but later in the evening, the Vice President joined the event and congratulated Prophet Nazareth Ansah Jamson.



On the royal front, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Turu II was represented by Nana Kwaku Amankwa Sarkodie (II) while the Ga Traditional Council also sent a delegation to represent the Ga Mantse.



The installation of Nakoa Prophet as Nor Yaa Mantse of the Onomrako Adain Family is in recognition of his impactful development initiatives, both within his community and at the national level.



Nakoa Prophet is credited with instituting many developmental initiatives impacting lives positively.



Speaking after his coronation, Nakoa Prophet expressed gratitude to the Onomrako Adain Family for the honour bestowed on him and pledged to continue doing his best to support communities.



Nakoa Prophet Jamson also thanked Dr. Bawumia and the other dignitaries for gracing the event.



"What Vice President Bawumia has done really touched my heart...He had national assignments outside Accra and he sent a representative here but he has still managed to be here upon getting back to Accra. This shows how he values us and I am really touched.



So far as the Vice President has been able to give that much respect to Allah Almighty. Should he also have any request before Him, may his request be granted. May God Almighty grant the Vice President his heart desire and make him great and strong", he prayed.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Western Region branch of the Christian Council of churches has held its annual festival of nine lessons and carols at the Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic cathedral in Takoradi.



The well-attended event was graced by AME Zion, First Baptist, Bethel Methodist, Airforce Methodist-Presby, Salvation Army, All Saints Anglican church, and Mozama Church International.



All the churches in attendance came with their choir and singing bands, which filled the air with melodious Christmas songs and other gospel songs interspersed with bible readings.



Reverend Opoku Sampson from the Bethel Methodist church in a Christmas message Dubbed The greatest announcement from Heaven, said Christmas should be a period of sober reflection on the love God has for mankind.



He asked Christians to be prepared to receive Christ and allow him to take charge of their lives and reminded the faithful of the need to amend their ways, live in peace with one another to inherit the kingdom of God



As we sing, lets reflect on what Jesus Christ stood for and exhibit his attributes..



He said Christians should let the joy the Shepherds experienced when the angel announced the birth of Jesus reflect in their lives, work, and marriages as they celebrate the birth of Jesus.



Rev. Opoku pointed out that Christmas should not only be for merry-making but also a period for peace and reconciliation among families and communities.



He `entreated all to trust in the lord because in him is protection, peace, joy and fruitfulness



He said Christians should use the yuletide to show love to the less privileged since they are also created in the image of God and could be used by God for his work.



Do not undermine anyone for all are created in the image and likeness of God.



Mrs Anastasia Williams guest of honour at the event, appreciated the choristers for entertaining the congregation with the melodious songs and prayed that God continued to bless them.



Reverend Fr Lawrence Krah, the Our Lady Star of Sea Catholic Cathedral administrator, thanked all who graced the occasion and promised a wonderful celebration next year.



The festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is mostly celebrated by Christians on Christmas Eve where they sing Christmas carols, hymns and choir anthems to remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus.





Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Some traditional rulers in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region have pledged to clamp down on illegal mining activities, otherwise known as galamsey in the area.



Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Nana Aka Nwoza III, the Chief of Bakanta in the district, expressed concern over the galamsey activities in upstream communities such as Ebi, Asasetre, Nvenlesolo, Bomoakpole, Anwia, Teleku-Bokazo and Nkroful within the district.



He said a sub-committee, set up by Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli, the President of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council, comprising chiefs of Asanda, Ambainu and other traditional areas, as well as himself, had gathered first-hand information of the extent of damage that galamsey activities were causing fertile lands and river bodies in the area.



He called on chiefs in the Nzema area to be united and fight against the menace, which was polluting the water bodies, especially River Amanzule, the main source of drinking water in that enclave.



Nana Nwoza said on their second fact-finding mission on galamsey sites, they would go with the police and drones to track and arrest those involved.



Nana Ainoo-Kwagyan III, the Chief of Esiama in the Nzema East District, lauded the efforts of Awulae Kpanyinli for setting up the committee to investigate galamsey activities in his jurisdiction.



He told the GNA that the committee, of which he is a member, would do a good fact-finding job and present its report to the Traditional Council, the District Security Council and the Operation Vanguard team so they could take the necessary action to deal with the canker.



He said: Even if the Minerals Commission has given a license to a mining company to do prospecting in the area, the Chief of that community should be prompted, else, the move will be stopped.



He appealed to all traditional rulers to support the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council to fight the galamsey menace to protect water bodies from further deterioration.





Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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NPP former General Secretary, Kwabena Adjei Agyepong has commended Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for being magnanimous in character.



Kwabena Agyepong was one of ten people who contested the NPP flagbearership of which Dr. Bawumia won and has since displayed his open support for the Vice President.



Addressing members of the New Patriotic Party in Volta Region on Sunday when Dr. Bawumia paid a visit to the Region as part of his "Thank You" tour, the former General Secretary explained that he is supporting Dr. Bawumia because he has demonstrated that he is a unifier.



"I was part of the ten people who contested the election and in the end, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia emerged the winner to lead our party. In such contests, the winners have to be magnanimous in victory and the losers also have to be gracious in defeat," Kwabena Agyepong said.



He added; "Dr. Bawumia, who won, has been magnanimous and he has demonstrated this by visiting all those who contested with him. Last Friday in Kumasi, four of us were on the same table with and it was so beautiful."



"He has demonstrated that he is a unifier and I have also been gracious in defeat, so we are working together to ensure that he wins and the party wins in 2024", he further remarked.



Kwabena Agyepong urged the party executives in the Region as well as winners and losers of the recently held parliamentary primaries by the party to come together and work to increase the party's votes in 2024.



"Our votes here have been increasing since 1992 and I am very hopeful that with Dr. Bawumia, we will even have more and win next year, in shaa Allah. So let us all come together and work hard for victory."



Dr. Bawumia's delegation included NPP National Chairman Stephen Ayesu Ntim and Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, MP for Efiduase in the Ashanti Region.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Minority caucus in Parliament has officially requested the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison, to schedule a time for them to present their petition calling for his removal.



In October 2023, the minority group conducted a march to the Central Bank's premises, urging the removal of Dr. Addison from office. However, their efforts to submit the petition were obstructed as the BoG governor did not engage with the minority caucus. The head of security appointed by the BoG to receive the petition was rejected by the Minority group.



A statement released on Monday, December 11, and signed by Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson, indicated, We, therefore, write to request your availability at the premises of the Bank of Ghana head office for the Honourable Members of the Minority Caucus in Parliament to hand over our petition to you personally."



Kindly inform us by Monday, 18th December 2023, a date and time convenient to you for us to present our petition to you at the Bank of Ghana head office.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A 50-year-old man is facing a dozen charges including aggravated assault after firing a hail of gunfire outside a private club in Allegheny County on Sunday.

According to a report from CBS News Pittsburgh, police said it was just after 2 a.m. when Juan Santana Cabrera opened fire, using an AR-15, hitting several parked vehicles before trying to get into the Homestead Slavs Club located on Ann Street.

Witnesses told police that Cabrera then tried to get inside the club, but they locked themselves inside and hid in the basement, according to the criminal complaint,

When Cabrera couldnt get inside the club, he drove off, police said.

Police said they were able to arrest Cabrera after a brief high-speed chase when he struck a patrol car. Officers said Cabrera reached for a pistol before being tackled.

Homestead Slavs Club employee Kim Scabora told CBS Pittsburgh that Cabrera was a regular at the club who was always polite.

Cabrera is being held in the Allegheny County Jail. Hes due in court next week.
A Pennsylvania man dubbed NarcoBoss who sold fentanyl powder that led to the overdose deaths of two men in Portland, Oregon, and one near-fatal overdose of a Portland State University freshman was sentenced Monday to life in federal prison.

He peddles death, U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman said. Sometimes the callousness and the cruelty with which a defendant commits crime that kills others merits the highest sentence.

Henry Konah Koffie, 39, declined to address the court before he was sentenced.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin urged the life prison term, saying Koffie ran a marketplace of death and destruction by distributing an extremely deadly poison.

Kerin said Koffie sold about 43 pounds of furanyl fentanyl in 7,849 sales to customers in all 50 states.

Furanyl fentanyl is a synthetic opioid developed in 1986 that has no acceptable medical use. It was first identified in the United States in 2015.

The death and destruction this defendant unleashed in the community is truly astronomical, Kerin said.

Defense lawyer James Halley sought a 25-year prison term for Koffie, noting the possibility of rehabilitation and redemption for his client.

While Mosman said he believes redemption is an eternal possibility, he called Koffies case the rare one that warranted a life prison term.

He sold the drug, knowing it was killing people, simply for greed, the judge said. He wasnt young, wasnt an addict but was a one-man kingpin as one of his nicknames suggested, Mosman said.

He did it to make a lot of money, and he enjoyed making a lot of money and he spent a lot of money, Mosman said. So while young, almost children, young people were choking on their own vomit to death, he was having a good time.

In March, Koffie was convicted at trial of distributing furanyl fentanyl that led to three overdoses in Oregon.

He imported the potent form of fentanyl from China and then shipped packages to customers across the country. People made orders on a darknet site called AlphaBay and paid with the digital currency Bitcoin to avoid detection.

He marketed China White powder for $40 a gram on an anonymous online site using the monikers DNMKingpin and NarcoBoss, with a booking photo of Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman as his profile picture, testimony showed.

He shipped the illicit opioid across the country in UPS priority mail packages, prosecutors said.

The three Portland-area overdoses occurred within a year of each other from May 2016 to May 2017.

Prosecutors also said Koffie was implicated in contributing to an additional 27 overdoses deaths across the country, though they conceded they didnt pursue separate prosecutions for those and hadnt fully examined them.

Koffie intends to appeal the sentence, his lawyer said. The judge recommended that Koffie serve his sentence at a federal prison in Pennsylvania where his mother lives. He also has pending charges in federal court in Pennsylvania for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Maxine Bernstein: mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. The senior staff of the Defense Ministry visited the Alley of Honor on December 12, the Remembrance Day of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, architect of modern Azerbaijan, and national leader of the Azerbaijani people, Trend reports, referring to the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

"A wreath and flowers were laid at the grave of the national leader, his bright memory was honored. Then flowers were laid at the grave of outstanding ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva," the ministry said in a statement.

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People in mental health crisis will be far less likely to end up in handcuffs. Or jail. Or to spend hours or even days in a hospital emergency room waiting for a mental health bed that often ends up being in a distant county. Or to decide its not even worth it to try to get help for severe depression or suicidal thoughts.

All of those commonly happen in Cumberland, Perry and Dauphin counties. But they should become far less frequent after a walk-in mental health crisis center opens in Harrisburg in about a year, officials from the three counties said Tuesday.

The $17.5 million center will occupy the renovated first floor of a Dauphin County-owned building at 1100 S. Cameron St. near the border of Harrisburg and Steelton. It will be open 24/7, 365 days a year and accept everyone, regardless of insurance or financial status.

Its main role will be to stabilize people in mental health crisis while connecting them to the appropriate mental health professionals and treatment.

At an announcement event, Cumberland County Commissioner Gary Eichelberger highlighted the need by noting 184 inmates at the county prison have mental illness, equaling 49% of the population, and 35 residents of Cumberland and Perry committed suicide this year.

Jennifer Wilt, a mental health advocate, said she had just learned of someone in need of mental health care who has been waiting three days in a hospital emergency room.

Wilt, who is president of a local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, called the planned facility amazing.

You cant imagine how scary it is when somebody gets picked up for an [involuntary commitment] and has to be taken by police, a lot of times in handcuffs, to an ER and a stark room, she said.

The center will be run by Connections Health Solutions, an Arizona-based company that operates several centers around the country, and touts a track record of turning no one away, stabilizing most people within 24 hours, and providing or connecting them to longer-term treatment that results in very few ever ending up in jail or needing hospitalization.

Connections further touts a 30-year history of providing crisis mental health care, saying its centers have been studied extensively and are recognized for best practices by federal agencies and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

In addition to separate observational units and beds for adults and children, the center will have two mobile units to respond to people in crisis at home or other locations. Connections further promises to accept everyone brought there by police, including people brought involuntarily.

The need for mental health care has surged in recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Harrisburg region and all over Pennsylvania, people tell of having to wait several months for a first appointment and to receive treatment and medication for a condition such as depression. Annie Strite, the mental health administrator for Cumberland and Perry, said she expects the center will provide immediate access to medical evaluations and prescriptions. The center will also accept people in crisis because of substance abuse.

Officials from Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties joined together to plan the facility and will help support it long-term. They put out a request for proposals and received responses from all the major health systems serving the Harrisburg region, Strite said. A team that included elected officials, professional staff and people living with mental illness evaluated the proposals, with Connections scoring the highest, according to Strite.

The cost of renovating the Cameron Street building will be covered with grants of about $13 million from the American Rescue Plan Act and $4.5 million from the Capital Area Behavioral Health Collaborative.

County officials said they still have much work to do in ensuring an adequate supply of staff for the center, given the national shortage of mental health professionals.

However, they stressed the center will be unique for the number of trained peer specialists  people who have experienced mental illness  it will employ.

Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, the state secretary of human services, attended Tuesdays announcement and said the center and the effort to create it can serve as a model for other Pennsylvania communities.

On Tuesday, local officials acknowledged theyve struggled for years, with limited success, to address the severe needs of people in need of mental health care.

But they cited the center as an example of unwavering determination along with willingness to cooperate within the three counties.

One thing I know, we live in a community that really works together with a desire to help others, and I think this represents our values, Strite said.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  All five people inside a construction site elevator that crashed to the ground in Stockholm have died, a Swedish prosecutor said Tuesday.

Authorities had previously only reported that the occupants were seriously injured when the elevator plummeted 20 meters (66 feet) in Sundbyberg, a Stockholm suburb, on Monday. It is still unclear what caused the accident. Construction at the site has been stopped.

Gunnar Jonasson, the senior prosecutor in charge, said there is an investigation into suspicion of work environment violations causing the death of another.

This is a serious incident that we are now investigating, Jonasson said. He added that authorities are working on ensuring the identity of the deceased and contact is being made with relatives.

The prosecutor said nothing more about how or when the victims died in the brief statement.

A spokesman for the company that manufactured the elevator told the Aftonbladet tabloid on Monday that that type has been used around the world for more than 20 years, and the company had never been involved in such an incident before.
By Paul J. Weber and Jamie Stengle, The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas  A pregnant Texas woman who was seeking court permission for an abortion in an unprecedented challenge to one of the most restrictive bans in the U.S. could not wait any longer and went to another state, her attorneys said Monday.

The announcement came as Kate Cox, whose fetus has a fatal condition, awaited a Texas Supreme Court ruling on whether she could legally receive an abortion. Her babys diagnosis has low survival rates and her attorneys said continuing the pregnancy jeopardized both her health and ability to have more children.

Her health is on the line. Shes been in and out of the emergency room and she couldnt wait any longer, said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which was representing Cox.

The organization did not disclose where Cox went. On Monday, she would have been 20 weeks and six days pregnant.

Hours after the announcement, the Texas Supreme Court issued its decision, ruling against Cox.

These laws reflect the policy choice that the Legislature has made, and the courts must respect that choice, the court wrote Monday afternoon. On Friday night, the high court had paused a lower a judges order that gave Cox permission for an abortion.

Texas abortion ban makes narrow exceptions when the life of the mother is in danger but not for fetal anomalies. For the past week, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton has argued that Cox, 31, had not shown that any of the complications in her pregnancy rose to the level of threatening her life.

The mother of two, who lives in the Dallas area, was believed to be the first woman in the U.S. to ask a court for permission for an abortion since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year. Her lawsuit quickly became a high-profile test of bans in Texas and a dozen other GOP-controlled states, where abortion is prohibited at nearly all stages of pregnancy.

Days after Cox filed her lawsuit, a pregnant woman in Kentucky also asked a court to allow an abortion. There has been no ruling yet in that case.

In Texas, Paxton mounted an aggressive defense to try to prevent Cox from having an abortion. He sent three Houston hospitals letters warning of legal consequences  both criminal and civil  if they allowed Coxs physician to provide the procedure. He also argued that Cox had not demonstrated that her life was at imminent risk, including noting that she was sent home after her multiple visits to emergency rooms.

FILE - Demonstrators march and gather near the state capitol following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)AP

Cox had cesarean surgeries during her first two pregnancies. Her lawsuit argued that inducing labor would carry a risk of a uterine rupture because of her prior C-sections and that another one at full term would endanger her ability to carry another child. But Paxton contended those arguments still fell short.

Rather, the only question is whether Ms. Coxs condition meets the exception, regardless of how long the child is expected to live, Paxtons office told the court in a filing over the weekend.

Dr. Leilah Zahedi-Spung, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Colorado and a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, said when lethal fetal anomalies are diagnosed theres only risk to that pregnant person and no benefit unfortunately for that innocent child.

You are putting your body through risks without any benefit because prolonging the pregnancy doesnt change the survival rate, Zahedi-Spung said.

Doctors told Cox that her fetus has a condition known as trisomy 18, which has a very high likelihood of miscarriage or stillbirth, and low survival rates, according to her lawsuit filed last week in Austin. They also told Cox that inducing labor or carrying the baby to term could jeopardize her ability to have another child.

Trisomy 18 occurs in approximately 1 in 2,500 diagnosed pregnancies, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. There is no live birth in about 70% of pregnancies involving the diagnosis that proceeds past 12 weeks gestational age, according to a legal filing that the two groups submitted to the court.

FILE - Demonstrators gather at the federal courthouse in Austin, Texas, following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, June 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)AP

The termination of pregnancies because of fetal anomalies or other often fatal medical problems is seldom discussed in national debates over abortion. There are no recent statistics on the frequency of terminations for fetal anomalies in the U.S. but experts say its a small percentage of total procedures.

It has long been at the forefront of strict abortion laws in the U.S., and even now, there are ongoing efforts to make it harder for pregnant women to leave Texas for states where the procedure is legal. This year, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the bans do not apply to helping women get abortions out of state.

Dr. Christina Bourne, medical director for abortion provider Trust Women, which operates clinics in Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kansas, said that whether someones life is at imminent risk can be subjective. There is no clear answer to what is imminent risk, she said.

Bourne said doctors are now operating in a confusing atmosphere.

If you are a pregnant person in a legally restrictive state, I am concerned about your health outcomes, she said.

Stengle reported from Dallas.
By Mike Catalini, The Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J.  New Jerseys attorney general sued three firearms dealers Tuesday, alleging one illegally stored firearms that were visible from outside a store and that the two others tried to sell ghost guns. The suits mark the first complaints filed under a 2022 law passed last year.

Attorney General Matt Platkin said he filed the lawsuits in state court to send a message to firearms dealers that run afoul of state law.

Were going to hold these folks accountable, but they wont be the last, Platkin said during a news conference held with state firearms enforcement director Ravi Ramanathan. I think others in the industry should take notice that if youre violating our laws, were going to come for you. Were going to hold you accountable, too.

The suits seek unspecified monetary and punitive damages as well as an injunction against the companies: FSS Armory, of Pine Brook, New Jersey; gun show operator Eagle Shows of western Pennsylvania; and gun vendor JSD Supply, also of western Pennsylvania. The Associated Press left email messages seeking comment with the companies.

One of the suits alleges that FSS Armory stored stacks of guns near a window on the ground floor of its shop, an arrangement that was visible online. In January, a group of people traveled to the store, broke the window and made off with more than 20 weapons, including pistols, shotguns, rifles and a revolver, Platkin said. Most of the stolen guns havent been recovered, and those that have been were found at crime scenes or on the black market, he said.

State law requires firearms to be secured and not kept in any window or area visible from outside.

The other suit, against Eagle Shows and JSD Supply, alleges the companies aimed to sell so-called ghost guns, which are illegal in the state, to New Jersey residents. Ghost guns are weapons without serial numbers that cannot be traced.

JSD Supply sold ghost gun products at Eagle Shows across the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border, while Eagle Shows continues to directly advertise their shows in New Jersey, according to the suit. Its unclear how many such guns were sold to New Jersey residents, but state police have arrested numerous residents returning from out-of-state Eagle Shows with illegal products, Platkin said.

The lawsuits were the first brought by the state under a bill Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed in July 2022 aimed at holding gun dealers accountable in civil court. Asked why he didnt bring criminal complaints against the companies, Platkin would only say that civil cases also play a role in upholding the law.

New Jersey isnt the only state going after gun dealers in civil court.

In October 2022, Minnesota filed suit against a gun retailer, alleging it sold firearms to straw purchasers that ended up being used in a fatal shooting. Earlier this year, Kansas City settled with a dealer it alleged ignored evidence that guns were being sold illegally.
If you were experiencing issues with watching Netflix late Monday afternoon or early evening, you werent the only one, as thousands of users worldwide reported having trouble connecting to the streaming service, reports say.

That problem was resolved around 8 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), according to The Verge.

Over 20,000 Netflix users made error reports as of 6:31 p.m. ET, according to Downdetector. Outage reports began coming in around 5 p.m.

Along with connection issues, users said theyre seeing a tvq-pb-101 error message, as the app said it was checking network connection but failing, according to a report from The Verge.

Netflix told Reuters in an emailed statement that theyre facing unexpected technical issues for some members.

Reports of devices with problems include Roku Smart TVs as well as many others, as well as people trying to stream via PS5 and Xbox, from cities scattered across the US and in different countries, according to The Verge.
NEWVILLE - Given their chance to weigh in on the way out of a long-hidden financial crisis, residents turning out at a public budget hearing Monday here kept making similar requests of borough council: Make hard cuts to keep tax increases as low as possible.

For Newville, that potentially means a reduction in police services since, as financial consultants working with the borough have pointed out this fall, its the only department of a size where you can make a change that makes a difference in a troubling 2024 budget deficit.

Borough officials came into Mondays meeting framing the issue as a choice between keeping the boroughs existing force at three officers, including the chief, and raising the current 4.895 mill property tax rate by 3.5 mills; or dropping the force to two officers and raising taxes by 2.4 mills.

Such increases would push the annual property tax bill on a home valued at $129,000  the current average residential assessment in Newville  from $631 to $1,078, at the higher rate; or to $946 at the lower rate.

Several of the approximately 50 residents who turned out for the community meeting at the towns fire station Monday argued for going even further; keeping a force with one full-time officer, with off-hour coverage performed by part-time officers or Pennsylvania State Police.

I understand theres a level of comfort around having a police department, Becky Barrick, a former mayor of Newville, said after the public meeting wrapped, noting that the local officer would usually offer a faster response time, and can provide service in non-emergency situations that state police wont.

But given the size, the incidence of serious crime and, above all, the fiscal situation, Barrick said, I just think that in a situation like this, one officer in our small community would be sufficient for the time being.

That wasnt a unanimous view, though.

Another of Mondays attendees lauded the borough police for identifying and arresting a pedophile at a community festival this summer that, he contended, state police would likely never even have staffed.

The problem is that any property tax increase in 2024 likely comes on top of a 91 percent hike in the local wage tax, from the current 1.65 percent to 3.15 percent, that council endorsed two weeks ago, and that officials expect to submit for court approval later this week.

If approved, a person with an annual income of $50,000 would see a jump in local taxes from $825 to $1,575 next year. Thats an increase of $750 for that hypothetical citizen, or about $62 per month.

The combination of tax increases is needed, Newvilles state-funded fiscal consultants say, to re-balance a budget that has been operating at about $800,000 out of balance.

I just got a nice pay raise, said Vicki Witter, giving voice to the taxpayers frustration in this town of about 1,300.

Come January first, its gone. I think we need to make more cuts... Im sorry that the police department is taking the hit, but Im not going to see a raise for five years.

The proposed earned income tax could stay at the elevated levels for up to eight years, or as long as Newville is rated as being in fiscal distress.

Though it wasnt presented in black and white Monday, the consultants with PFM Municipal Group noted that if Newville police was cut from three positions to one, the property tax increase could be scaled back to slightly less than 1 mill, or about $100 per year to the typical homeowner.

Its certainly more palatable to do one mill this year, a little bit more next year, and a little bit more the year after as opposed to a massive increase all at one time, said Robert Barrick, a former member of Big Spring school board, which is anchored in the Newville area.

Newvilles problems started to unspool in late 2022 when then-Borough Manager Fred Potzer became sick and missed time at work.

Potzer for years was the trusted, well-liked face of borough government here. But when wasnt there to intercept the mail, we began finding out a lot of things, borough solicitor Marcus McKnight told PennLive last month.

The revelations included: Newville was several years behind on its minimum municipal obligation payments to its two employee pension plans, to the tune of more than $600,000; it had unpaid bills to vendors in excess of $60,000; and it had not repaid a 2022 cash flow loan of $158,632.

The total amount owed exceeded $1 million, according to a July estimate contained in PFMs proposed financial recovery plan. And, making matters worse, the boroughs general fund budget was running at a severe deficit.

The council voted to terminate Potzer for willful misconduct in January 2023.

The combined findings caused the state to place Newville into its Act 47 program for distressed municipalities earlier this year, and prompted Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack to launch a still-pending forensic audit of the boroughs finances.

Its a bad situation, PFMs Gordon Mann levelled with the audience Monday that only goes away by making hard decisions.

A steady undercurrent at Mondays meeting was frustration with the council for not being more skeptical of Potzer, who the record shows was resigned under pressure from a similar municipal position in Kingston, Luzerne County, after a financial crisis there.

But for the most part, residents at Mondays meeting stayed focused on making sure that the current councils objective isnt just raising revenues - in the form of their tax payments - to balance the budget; but that major expense cuts are part of the equation too.

Council members reviewed other line-item cuts in the proposed $1.2 million 2024 budget that they said totalled about $135,000 - including one public works staffer and a part-time secretary in the police office.

But some residents challenged them to do more.

The elephant in the room and the elephant in the budget is three police officers, Robert Barrick said, as the members of the Newville force observed from the back of the hall. We cannot afford the police department at their current wages. And its nothing personal. Its fact. Its black and white in the budget.

Council was careful to leave all options on the table Monday night, but they are expected to pass a final budget - a tax rate - at their regular business meeting on Dec. 21.
Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) are investigating after a trooper shot and killed a man Monday morning in Schuylkill County, according to troopers.

Troopers from Shenandoah and Mahanoy City boroughs were dispatched to the 300 block of West Coal Street at 12:38 a.m. after a report of a burglary that was taking place inside a vacant home, troopers said.

The owner of the vacant home told police he called 911 after he looked at video surveillance inside the home and noticed a man inside the home wearing a mask and carrying a large knife.

When troopers arrived at the scene, they met with the property owner, who gave them access to the home.

During a search troopers found a man, later identified as Bryon Scheuring, 32, of Shenandoah, hiding under a bed in an upstairs bedroom, said PSP.

Troopers said they asked Scheuring multiple times to surrender but he refused to comply, according to PSP.

As [officers] began moving the bed to take him into custody, Scheuring lunged at officers while holding a machete. A Shenandoah officer fired one round from his pistol, striking Scheuring, troopers said in a statement.

Officers rendered aid and called EMS, but Scheuring died from his injuries, according to state police. Troopers said he was pronounced dead by the Schuylkill County Coroners office.
Over 40,000 people have been killed as a result of gun violence this year, says ABC News, with states such as Pennsylvania witnessing even their youth become increasingly more affected.

Its no surprise, then, that people across the nation are experiencing more anxiety with regards to crimes involving firearms.

CounselingPsychology.org  which is described by its about page as a website devoted to providing educational resources for aspiring counselors and psychologists  delved into the growing feelings of concerns those in the United States regarding gun violence.

The report born of this research  as based on a survey of people across the country as well as publicly available gun violence data  ranked Pennsylvania as the 20th state thats the most concerned about gun violence in the nation. Interestingly, Philadelphia  which frequently makes headlines for the gun violence which occurs within it  was the 10th least concerned city.

The most concerned city, on the flip side of things  New Orleans  also happened to be in the top anxious state: Louisiana.

Coming in first with the highest level of concern on average is Louisiana, where 1 in 4 residents know a victim of gun violence, the report elaborates. According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, Louisiana has experienced the most shooting per capita in the U.S. from 2014 to 2022, with about 632 per 100,000 residents.

The second is Texas, with a 7.46 out of 10 on the concern scale. Our study found that 93% of the Lone Star States residents think the government has not done enough to prevent gun violence.

Rounding out the top three was Alabama in third. Then theres Maine, which was found to be the state that had the least amount of anxiety regarding the state of gun violence.
The parents of a 4-year-old western Pennsylvania boy who shot himself in the head last summer after finding a handgun now face criminal charges.

Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said in a statement released Monday that Rostraver Township police have charged Laura Steele, 32, and Michael Lynn, 37, with endangering the welfare of children by a parent/guardian and recklessly endangering another person.

This was a tragic and unacceptable shooting that ultimately could have and should have been prevented, Ziccarelli said in the statement. There is one simple solution to prevent these types of incidents from happening, and it is to store your firearms in a safe and secure location.

Online court records show that Steele and Lynn have preliminary hearings scheduled for Jan. 5. Both were released on $25,000 unsecured bail, meaning they did not have to put up any cash.

Police and Westmoreland County detectives went to the home on July 6 for a report of a child being shot. The boy was flown to UPMC Childrens Hospital in Pittsburgh with a head wound, according to initial reports.

Ziccarellis statement said that the boy continues to receive constant medical care.

A police investigation determined that the loaded gun was kept unsecured on a bedroom floor.

Both Steele and Lynn were home when the shooting occurred, according to the statement, which explained that they heard a pop coming from the bedroom and found their son bleeding on the floor with the handgun lying beside him.

This little boy will likely have to live with this painful reminder for the rest of his life, said Ziccarelli.
This year has been good to Pennsylvanias hometown pop queen. First the blockbuster Eras Tour, then cover of Time magazine and now ... a year dedicated to Taylor Swift?

Three lawmakers from southeast want to enshrine Swifts popularity by designating 2023 the Taylor Swift Era in Pennsylvania.

Reps. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester County, Jennifer OMara, D- Delaware County and Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, a Democrat from Swifts native Berks County, have introduced a resolution to recognize the mega-star.

The resolution praises Swift for the positive impact her tour had on all the cities she played, including Philadelphia, her philanthropic work to fight hunger and her get-out-the-vote social media campaign behind a 115% increase in the number of 18-year-olds registering to vote.

For that, it is clear that Pennsylvania is in its Taylor Swift Era, the resolution reads.

The resolution recognizes Swifts rural Berks County roots and the lasting impact shes made as a cultural and economic force.

From her humble beginnings as a teenage artist on that Christmas tree farm in Berks County, Taylor Swift is the epitome of what it means to be a Pennsylvanian, the resolution says. Through her talent, hard work and determination, Taylor Swift has transcended the role of pop star, becoming a veritable cultural and economic force. And it would be a dishonor if she were not recognized by her home state for the lasting impact she has made in her career.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. Great leader Heydar Aliyev is the man who created conceptual bases of employment, labor relations and social security issues in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Labor and Social Protection Minister Sahil Babayev told journalists, Trend reports.

"Heydar Aliyev is remembered not only for building the Azerbaijani state, but also for defining its social policy," the minister added.

He also noted that the social policy concept created by the great leader continues today under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. The welfare of Azerbaijani citizens is a key part of the state policy.

The 12th of December is the Remembrance Day of Heydar Aliyev, the national leader of the Azerbaijani people. State and government officials, as well as servicemen, law enforcement officers, and representatives of the diplomatic corps, visited the grave of the national leader in the Alley of Honorable Burial and, laying flowers at the monument, expressed deep respect to the memory of the founder of modern independent Azerbaijan.

Also, the memory of great leader Heydar Aliyev's spouse, scientist-ophthalmologist, and academician Zarifa Aliyeva was honored and flowers were laid at her place of grave.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Dozens of people gathered in the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday for a Wreaths Across America ceremony. It pays tribute to those who served or are serving in the military, as well as their families, for the sacrifices made.

Since this time of the year is awfully difficult for family members of our fallen veterans, we recognize and extend our humble gratitude and respect to all of them, said Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Allegheny County. And we hope to teach the value of the price of freedom to all who listen.

The event precedes Saturdays wreath-laying on fallen veterans graves at Fort Indiantown Gap National Ceremony beginning at noon. It is one of more than 3,700 similar ceremonies to be held in locations across the country, including Arlington National Cemetery, as part of the 31-year-old Wreaths Across America program.

At the Capitol ceremony, Robinson and Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa of Allegheny County presented a resolution to David Klimas, volunteer coordinator for Wreaths of America at Fort Indiantown Gap, designating this Saturday as Wreaths Across America Day in Pennsylvania.

Last year, the projects national network of volunteers placed more than 2.7 million wreaths on the headstones of nations fallen service members.

Millions of families who visited those gravesites had the joy of seeing that wreath and that we remembered, Wreaths Across America and its many people and many volunteers remember them for their sacrifice, Costa said.

As wreaths are laid at a grave site, the veterans name is said aloud and perhaps a prayer is offered or stories of them shared.

Simple yet profound, said Adjutant General Mark Schindler. This small act multiplied many times over creating a community of people that in the words of Mother Teresa are giving their hands in service and their hearts to love. It is in this regard our friends at Wreaths Across America carry out their mission: Remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and to teach our children the value of freedom and selfless service.

The Wreaths Across American project includes a weeklong veterans parade to spread that message of remember, honor and teach as they make their way from Harrington, Maine, to Arlington National Cemetery where some 5,000 balsam fir wreaths are laid on veterans graves.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on X at @JanMurphy.
For the first time ever, food and agriculture took center stage at the annual United Nations climate conference in 2023.

More than 130 countries signed a declaration on Dec. 1, committing to make their food systems  everything from production to consumption  a focal point in national strategies to address climate change.

The declaration is thin on concrete actions to adapt to climate change and reduce emissions, but it draws attention to a crucial issue.

The global food supply is increasingly facing disruptions from extreme heat and storms. It is also a major contributor to climate change, responsible for one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. This tension is why agriculture innovation is increasingly being elevated in international climate discussions.

At present, agriculture provides enough food for the worlds 8 billion people, although many do not have adequate access. But to feed a global population of 10 billion in 2050, croplands would need to expand by 660,000 to 1.2 million square miles (171 million to 301 million hectare) relative to 2010. That would lead to more deforestation, which contributes to climate change. Further, some practices widely relied on to produce sufficient food, such as using synthetic fertilizers, also contribute to climate change.

Simply eliminating deforestation and these practices without alternative solutions would decrease the worlds food supply and farmers incomes. Fortunately, innovations are emerging that can help.

In a new report, the Innovation Commission for Climate Change, Food Security and Agriculture, founded by Nobel-winning economist Michael Kremer, identifies seven priority areas for innovation that can help ensure sufficient food production, minimize greenhouse gas emissions and be scaled up to reach hundreds of millions of people.

Im an agriculture economist and executive director for the commission. Three innovations in particular stand out for their ability to scale up quickly and pay off economically.

Accurate, accessible weather forecasts

With extreme weather leaving crops increasingly vulnerable and farmers struggling to adapt, accurate weather forecasts are crucial. Farmers need to know what to expect, both in the days ahead and farther out, to make strategic decisions about planting, irrigating, fertilizing and harvesting.

Yet access to accurate, detailed forecasts is rare for farmers in many low- and middle-income countries.

Our assessment shows that investing in technology to collect data and make forecasts widely available  such as by radio, text message or WhatsApp  can pay off many times over for economies.

For example, accurate state-level forecasts of seasonal monsoon rainfall totals would help Indian farmers optimize sowing and planting times, providing an estimated US$3 billion in benefits over five years  at a cost of around $5 million.

If farmers in Benin received accurate forecasts by text message, we estimate that they could save each farmer $110 to $356 per year, a large amount in that country.

More sharing of information among neighboring countries, using platforms like the World Meteorological Organizations Climate Services Information System, could also improve forecasts.

Microbial fertilizers

Another innovation priority involves expanding the use of microbial fertilizers.

Nitrogen fertilizer is widely used to increase crop yields, but it is typically made from natural gas and is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Microbial fertilizers use bacteria to help plants and soil absorb the nutrients they need, thereby reducing the amount of nitrogen fertilizer needed.

Studies have found that microbial fertilizers could increase legume yields by 10% to 30% in healthy soil and generate billions of dollars in benefits. Other microbial fertilizers work with corn, and scientists are working on more advancements.

Soybean farmers in Brazil have been using a rhizobia-based microbial fertilizer for decades to improve their yields and cut synthetic fertilizer costs. But this technique is not as widely known elsewhere. Scaling it up will require funding to expand testing to more countries, but it has great potential payoff for farmers, soil health and the climate.

Reducing methane from livestock

A third innovation priority is livestock, the source of roughly two-thirds of agricultures greenhouse gas emissions. With demand for beef projected to rise 80% by 2050 as low- and middle-income countries grow wealthier, reducing those emissions is essential.

Several innovative methods for reducing livestock methane emissions target enteric fermentation, which leads to methane belches.

Adding algae, seaweed, lipids, tannins or certain synthetic compounds to cattle feed can change the chemical reactions that generate methane during digestion. Studies have found some techniques have the potential to reduce methane emissions by a quarter to nearly 100 percent. When cattle produce less methane, they also waste less energy, which can go into growth and milk production, providing a boost for farmers.

The method is still expensive, but further development and private investment could help scale it up and lower the cost.

Gene editing, either of livestock or the microorganisms in their stomachs, could also someday hold potential.

Scaling up agriculture innovation

The Innovation Commission also identified four other priorities for innovation:

Helping farmers and communities implement better rainwater harvesting.

Lowering the cost of digital agriculture that can help farmers use irrigation, fertilizer and pesticides most efficiently.

Encouraging production of alternative proteins to reduce demand for livestock.

Providing insurance and other social protections to help farmers recover from extreme weather events.

While promising agricultural innovations exist, commercial incentives to develop and scale them up have fallen short, leading to underinvestment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

However, innovation funding has a track record of generating very high social rates of return. This creates an opportunity for public and philanthropic investment in developing and deploying innovations at a scale to reach hundreds of millions of people. Of course, to be effective, any potential innovation must be consistent with  and driven by  national strategies and planned in conjunction with the government, the private sector and civil society.

Two decades ago, global leaders, frustrated that lifesaving vaccines were not reaching hundreds of millions of people who needed them, created Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance. They invested billions of dollars to scale up these innovations, helped to immunize over 1 billion children and halved child mortality in 78 lower-income countries.

This year, officials at COP28 are aiming for a similar global response to climate change, food security and agriculture.

Paul Winters, Professor of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
A bill cracking down on the misclassification of workers by construction contractors passed the Pennsylvania House on Monday, heading to the Senate where a slightly different bill on the same issue is already in the works.

The variations represent some of the back-and-forth between Democrats  who say such measures will ensure fairness and that workers get their benefits  and some Republicans who believe this would be too onerous for employers.

The issue, generally speaking, is what was described in a legislative report last year as frequent and often intentional misclassification of direct employees as independent subcontractors.

Employers generally do not have to remit unemployment insurance payments for independent contract workers, meaning these individuals wont get as much in benefits if they lose their jobs. Such workers also dont have to be covered by an employers workers compensation insurance, with any injury claims instead coming from the states Uninsured Employer Guaranty Fund.

While some misclassification may be genuine confusion over the distinction between employees and contractors, much of it appears to be intentional schemes to save money on unemployment and workers comp costs in order to gain an advantage over other businesses, according to the state labor department.

When employers misclassify employees, they save money, but workers  and the law-abiding businesses competing for lowest-bidder projects  suffer the consequences, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Nancy Walker wrote in an op-ed earlier this year, describing the problem as a crisis.

Last years report estimated that over a quarter-million employees in Pennsylvania are misclassified in a given recent year, shorting the unemployment trust fund $91 million and causing nearly 11,000 workers to be denied workers comp, resulting in $153 million in lost payouts.

The bill that cleared the Democratic-controlled House on Monday would allow the labor department to debar companies over misclassification, preventing them for taking public contracts. It would also up-grade penalties to higher level misdemeanors and felonies for repeat violators, and codify the right of employees to bring court actions against their employers when they have been harmed by misclassification.

The bill will prevent the continued exploitation of workers through misclassification and strengthen our laws to protect workers in Pennsylvanias construction industry along with leveling the playing field for employers, the bills prime sponsor, Rep. Kyle Donahue, D-Lackawanna County, said on the House floor Monday.

Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh County  the ranking Republican on the House labor committee  said the bill is still problematic and that yet again we are heading down the path of offering a bill that is going to be dead when it goes over to the Senate, given that other chamber has its own version.

The bill in the GOP-controlled Senate, which passed out of committee with bipartisan support in October, has most of the same provisions as the House bill, with one crucial exception. The House version contains a provision extending debarments to successor entities, intended to prevent the same operators from re-forming to skirt the ban.

When employers misclassify employees, 'they save money, but workers  and the law-abiding businesses competing for lowest-bidder projects  suffer the consequences,' Pa. Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Nancy Walker wrote in a PennLive op-ed earlier this year, describing the problem as a crisis.

This is the provision at issue, according to Mackenzie, who said the definition is too broad and that businesses that are actually doing the right thing could get swept up in this legislation due to the way the bill is worded.

In her op-ed, Walker said the labor department is doing everything it can under current law to stem the problem, issuing penalties to more than 125 construction-industry employers last year with nearly $273,000 collected in fines, but that these violations represent a drop in the bucket compared to the true epidemic of worker misclassification across Pennsylvania.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. The process of returning to the territories liberated from occupation of Azerbaijan will be intensified from next year, the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the liberated territories of the Karabakh economic region (except the Shusha district) Emin Huseynov told reporters, Trend reports.

He noted that significant restoration and construction activities are underway in Karabakh.

"Already, more than 3,000 families of our former IDPs have returned to their native lands. Out of 34,500 families, it's planned to relocate 16,000 to the Karabakh economic region. In Aghdam city, it's planned to settle 20,000 people. In connection with this, five quarters are planned to be built in the city. The construction work has already begun," the official added.

Following the liberation of its territories from Armenian occupation in 2020, Azerbaijan initiated the long-awaited 'Great Return' program, which envisions the return of IDPs to their native lands.

Up to now, the former IDPs have returned to Lachin and Fuzuli cities, the villages of Aghali (Zangilan district), Talish (Tartar district), and Zabukh (Lachin district).

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. The largest power plant in the Caucasus, being built in Mingachevir on the territory of Azerbaijan TPP, will be put into operation in the first half of 2025, Chairman of the Board of Azerenerji (largest electrical power producer in Azerbaijan) Baba Rzayev told journalists, Trend reports.

He noted that the construction of the new station is being carried out in accordance with the schedule.

Also, according to Rzayev, work is underway to launch renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan's territories liberated from Armenian occupation.

"Work will start in Jabrayil to put into operation a solar power plant with a capacity of 240 megawatts," he added.

As a result of connecting the new power plant with a capacity of 1,280 megawatts and the existing seventh and eighth units of Azerbaijan TPP, the total capacity will amount to 1,880 megawatts. At the same time, the efficiency will increase from 18 to 56 percent.

As a result of the connection, 800 million cubic meters of gas per year will be saved.
Day 1 of the 10,200 Mystery Bounty has concluded here at PokerStars European Poker Tour Prague with Oleg Vasylchenko bagging up the lead after amassing 1,665,000 in chips. The event drew a total of 56 entries, which generated a total prize pool of 263,200. After 19 levels of play, a final table of eight remained here at the Hilton Prague.

Vasylchenko is no stranger to poker success, having accrued over $450,000 in live-tournament earnings to date. A few months ago, Vasylchenko earned a third-place finish for 46,550 in a No-Limit Hold'em EPT Barcelona event and he now finds himself in pole position to make a run at his first EPT title. His closest competition headed into the final table is Elias Gutierrez (1,105,000), who was the only other player to bag over a million in chips.

Official Final Table of 10,200 Mystery Bounty

Seat Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Enrico Camosci Malta 710,000 18 2 Dimitar Danchev Bulgaria 810,000 20 3 Masato Kashiwabara Japan 320,000 8 4 Paul Newey England 200,000 5 5 Antoine Labat France 400,000 10 6 Marcelo Bonanata Uruguay 390,000 10 7 Elias Gutierrez Spain 1,105,000 28 8 Oleg Vasylchenko Ukraine 1,665,000 42

Alejandro -Papo MC- Lococo

Day 1 Action

Day 1 started off with 12 entrants and it didn't take long for the action to heat up and for players to start busting each other. Team PokerStars ambassador Fintan Hand jumped out to an early lead after catching a flush against against Elias Abussamra's flopped set of sevens. Hand wasn't able to hang onto that momentum, however, and ended up busting two bullets before late registration ended.

Team PokerStars ambassador Benjamin Spragg also fired two bullets before ultimately falling short of the money, thanks in part to losing a flip against fellow PokerStars ambassador Alejandro Lococo.

Other notables to bust after the end of late registration include Niklas Astedt, Julien Sitbon, and Nozomu Shimizu, who bluff shoved and was called lightly by Marcelo Bonanata late in the day.

The unlucky run for Team PokerStars ambassadors continued after Parker Talbot bowed out just shy of the unofficial final table after running into the aces of Elias Gutierrez.

Play slowed considerably at the unofficial final table, with many of the short-stacked players shoving and stealing the blinds uncontested. Ultimately, it would be Lococo to burst the money bubble after losing the majority of his chips by doubling up both Vasylchenko and Enrico Camosci. Lococo shoved his remaining chips and ended up running into Dimitar Danchev's aces on the final hand of the day.

Players will reconvene for Day 2 on Tuesday, December 11 at 12:30 p.m. local time. Play will resume on Level 20, which features 20,000/40,000 blinds with a 40,000 big blind ante. Levels will last 45 minutes each and the final table will also be streamed on the PokerStars YouTube and Twitch channels on a delay.

The mystery bounty portion of the prize pool will come into play during the final table and specific bounty amounts will be announced at the start of Day 2.

Keep it with PokerNews as we continue to provide all the No-Limit Hold'em action leading to the next EPT Prague champion!
Oleg Vasylchenko has overcome a 56-entry field and defeated Enrico Camosci heads-up to win his first EPT title and the 74,673 first-place prize here at the 2023 PokerStars European Poker Tour Prague. Vasylchenko also claimed four mystery bounties en route to his victory totaling 80,000 to bring his total prize up to 154,673.

Vasylchenko's win comes after a long history of close calls. Before today, Vaslychenko had final-tabled four times in other EPT events over the past several years but was never able to take down the title.

"It feels great. I was craving for [an EPT title] for ten years," Vasylchenko said. "I made several final tables so I'm really glad I won it... besides the money."

Vasylchenko, who entered the final table as the big stack, explained that he was a bit disappointed to miss out on the largest bounties (which were claimed by Elias Gutierrez), but is satisfied nonetheless.

"I was in good shape to make some bounties, but you actually need to make some hands. I didn't get the opportunities that [Gutierrez] got, so I'm kind of frustrated about that. But it was fine, at least I got a trophy!"

Gutierrez ended up claiming five of the nine mystery bounties, leaving him as the highest cash winner of the tournament after earning 238,150 between his third-place finish and the bounty prizes.

10,200 Mystery Bounty Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize Bounty Prize Total Prize 1 Oleg Vasylchenko Ukraine 69,673* 80,000 154,673 2 Enrico Camosci Italy 58,277* 0 58,277 3 Elias Gutierrez Spain 38,150 200,000 238,150 4 Marcelo Bonanata Uruguay 28,950 0 28,950 5 Dimitar Danchev Bulgaria 22,350 0 22,350 6 Masato Kashiwabara Japan 17,100 0 17,100 7 Paul Newey England 13,150 0 13,150 8 Antoine Labat France 10,550 0 10,550

*Denotes heads-up deal

Elias Gutierrez

Final Table Action

Day 2 began with several short-stacked players as a result of the event's turbo structure. As expected, the final table got off to a blazing start, with Antoine Labat, Paul Newey, and Masato Kashiwabara all being eliminated in eighth, seventh, and sixth place, respectively, within the first half-hour of play.

Vasylchenko claimed the first couple of mystery bounties after eliminating Antoine Labat and pulled a 10,000 + Draw Again bounty followed by a 25,000 bounty. However, it was Gutierrez who far and away claimed the lion's share of the mystery bounty prize pool.

Following Labat's elimination, Gutierrez claimed the next three eliminations, including Dimitar Danchev after getting him all-in preflop and catching a queen on the turn.

Gutierrez wasted little time before drawing his first two bounties, in which he claimed the top prize of 100,000 and the second prize of 50,000. Gutierrez saved his third bounty for the first break of the day and promptly pulled a 25,000 bounty. This brought his bounty earnings to a staggering 175,000  more than double the first-place prize.

Marcelo Bonanata, who started the day as one of the short stacks, managed to double up several times and at one point took the chip lead during four-handed play. His momentum quickly fizzled out, however. After losing a couple of sizable pots to Vasylchenko and Camosci, Bonanata shoved with king-queen and lost a race against Gutierrez's pocket fives to bow out in fourth place. Unsurprisingly, Gutierrez drew the highest available 25,000 bounty following the elimination to bring his total bounty prize to 200,000.

It looked to be Gutierrez's day, but soon after three-handed play began, he lost a big pot after running top pair into Vaslychenko's trips. Vasylchenko claimed the rest of Gutierrez's chips after calling a shove from Gutierrez with pocket fours and holding with pocket fives.

Deal Discussion

The heads-up battle between Vasylchenko and Camosci proved to be a short one. On just the fifth hand of play, Vasylchenko shoved with pocket fives and was called by Camosci, who held ace-deuce. The board ran out sweat-free for Vasylchenko and with that, he claimed his first EPT title.

That's a wrap for PokerNews' coverage of the 10,200 Mystery Bounty here at the Hilton Prague. For continuing coverage of EPT Prague events and others around the globe, be sure to check out our live-reporting hub.
The PokerStars European Poker Tour at the Hilton Prague continued today with Day 2 of the 2,200 Eureka High Roller. A total of 1,478 players made up this field generating a prize pool of 2,837,760, leaving a grand total of 474,510 up for grabs for the first place prize.

Over a total of two starting flights yesterday, 221 players advanced to the felt on Day 2 this afternoon. After an additional 18 levels of play, just four remain as this two-day event goes to an unscheduled Day 3.

By the end of proceedings, it was Grzegorz Kozieja who bagged the overall chip lead, taking through a massive 21,800,000; over double his nearest competitor Safwane Bahri, who accumulated 10,050,000 as the dust settled.

Final Table Chip Counts

Place Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Grzegorz Kozieja Poland 21,800,000 55 2 Safwane Bahri France 10,050,000 25 3 Bruno Volkmann Brazil 7,575,000 19 4 Jason Wheeler United States 4,900,000 12

With the post-bubble flurry of all-ins happening from the moment the clock started this afternoon, over half the field had been eliminated by the first break of the day. This seemingly set the pace for proceedings as the three-table redraw was reached promptly by level 26. The final 24 players had their antepenultimate reshuffle of the day, and the race to a final table began.

Final Table Action So Far

It was Michele Nizzardelli who was the first casualty of this final table when his pocket tens ran straight into the pocket aces of Bahri. Nizzardelli couldnt combat the best hand in Holdem and was sent to the rail in ninth place.

In just a matter of hands, Pablo Silva soon followed Nizzardelli to the payout cage when he got all the money in behind, holding king-queen against the ace-king of opponent Kozieja. There was no help for Silva and he made his exit.

It was another level and a half before Vasileios Chatzilazarous deep tournament run came to an end. Chatzilazarou met the same fate as Silva, as his king-jack fell to the ace-king of Kozieja, whittling down the final table to six.

Vasileios Chatzilazarou

Another hour passed before the next short stack, Sokratis Linaras, met their demise. Despite Linaras hot run earlier in the day, his queen-ten couldnt pull in front of the ace-jack of Jason Wheeler, and he was sent to the rail.

Dan Larsen was the last elimination of the night, in fifth place, when his ace-queen lost to the king-jack of Bahri. The final four mutually agreed to stop play for the day and continue tomorrow.

The unscheduled day 3 will commence tomorrow with a start time of 1 pm and will play down to a winner.

The PokerNews live reporting team will return to bring you more coverage of the Eureka Poker Tour Main Event here at EPT Prague, so stay tuned.
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A collection of political quotes that you might have missed over the past week. This was a popular feature in my old column, so I decided to bring it back.

They will do anything  anything  to get nominated.

 An associate of the Clintons who was quoted by Bob Novak in his Washington Post column 3/24

She thought it was a powerful speech  but she is biased, shes my grandmother.

 Barack Obama quoted in Sundays Philadelphia Inquirer about reaction to his speech on race.

The time that he could have been effective has long since passed.

 Top Clinton strategist Mark Penn, on Richardsons endorsement of Obama

That will be, frankly, a very big issue for the country, whether we withdraw and have al Qaeda win and announce to the world they have won and have things collapse there, or whether we see this strategy through to success.

 GOP nominee John McCain in London talking about election issue of the Iraq war.

The idea that we can walk away from Iraq is, I think, terribly damaging on its face, and to say that, well thats the only way we can get the Iraqis to take on responsibility, I dont believe thats the case.

 Dick Cheney disputing the idea that the Iraqis need to take responsibility for their government in an interview with ABC News.
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After meeting with President Zelenskyy, Speaker Mike Johnson issued a statement blaming Biden for the lack of Ukraine aid and then left without taking questions.

Video:

Mike Johnson blames the White House, I have asked the White House since the day that I was handed the gavel as speaker for clarity. We need clear articulation of the strategy to allow Ukraine to win. Thus far, their responses have been insufficient, then flees reporters. pic.twitter.com/P2O6ne4Zqg  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) December 12, 2023

Johnson said:

I just had a good meeting with President Zelenskyy. I reiterated to him that we stand with him and against Putins brutal invasion, the American people stand for freedom and theyre on the right side of this fight. I have asked the White House since the day that I was handed the gavel as speaker for clarity, we need a clear articulation of the strategy to allow Ukraine to win. And thus far their responses have been insufficient.

They have not provided us the clarity and the detail that we have requested over and over since literally 24 hours after I was handed the gavel as Speaker of the House. And so what the Biden administration seems to be asking for billions of additional dollars with no appropriate oversight, no clear strategy to win, and none of the answers that I think the American people are owed.

According to Punchbowl Newss Jake Sherman:

SPEAKER JOHNSON just left his meeting with ZELENSKY. his position hasnt changed. His conditions to pass Ukraine aid are an immigration/border package and clarity on the administrations strategy on Ukraine. Johnson took no questions from reporters.  Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) December 12, 2023

That sound you hear is the sound of goalposts being moved. Just this morning, Johnson and House Republicans claimed that the issue was border funding, Of course, they arent concerned enough about the border to cut their Christmas vacation short, but they claimed that the standoff was about the border.

Fast forward to lunchtime, and the problem is that Biden has given Republicans a strategy for winning the war. Keep in mind that Ukraine was invaded. Winning for the Ukrainians would be getting Russian forces out of their country.

Ukraine is not Bidens war. so why does Biden have to come up with the strategy for Ukraine to win?

The answer is that Republicans dont want to support Ukraine, and Mike Johnson was too big of a coward to face reporters and explain why.

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The tragic tale of medical torture deliberately being inflicted on a U.S. citizen by Republicans in Texas is gruesome, but it also reveals that abortion ban exemptions are a very thin sham meant to appease on the surface only. They arent meant to actually be used.

Kate Cox was informed by her doctor that her fetus had a fatal genetic condition and furthermore, that carrying the pregnancy to term could threaten her fertility. A lower court determined that she should be given an abortion. The Center for Reproductive Rights, which is representing Cox, says she has been to the ER over this pregnancy four times and could no longer wait for medical care as the case is fought in the legal system.

So Kate Cox was forced to flee Texas after Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, a man embattled with plenty of scandals and thus the exact kind of man one would guess would be behind trying to control a womans body, threatened hospitals with prosecution if doctors treated her as they saw fit. Paxton argued that Coxs case did not meet all of the elements necessary to fall within an exception to Texas abortion laws noting, seemingly without self awareness, that the judge was not medically qualified to make this determination.

Ken Paxton is not a doctor, either, and yet he claimed to know that Kate Coxs case did not qualify for an exemption.

The Texas State Supreme Court vacated the lower courts decision allowing Cox to have an abortion because they felt her doctors informed opinion of required medical treatment did not meet the threshold of requiring more than a doctors subjective belief. They went so far as to question the reasonable medical objectivity of Coxs doctor, who is a woman.

The all-Republican State Supreme Court offered up the heartwarming suggestion that Kate Cox should just wait until she develops a life-threatening physical condition, and then she wouldnt have to fight in court to qualify for an exemption from their abortion ban.

Yes, wait until youre near death and have lost your fertility. Thats the message of pro-life Republicans. Does that sound like an exemption to you? Wait until your life is in danger and youve endured medical pain most men cannot comprehend, and then you liberty-enjoying citizens can get care in this, the land of the free.

Kate Cox didnt meet the requirements for the exemptions Republicans offer up as proof that they dont hate women and girls. These exemptions are meant to address the glaring flaws in the government interfering in medical freedom of its citizens, but only on the surface. Only as a form of argument and justification, not as actual practice.

Attorney Lisa Rubin explained, Instead, it maintained, no court order is necessary or even advisable for a woman seeking an abortion under the exception. But a doctor can perform the procedure only if his or her medical judgment is objectively reasonable. In other words, make the call, MDsand then pay the legal price later. Shifting blame to doctors doesnt obscure the reality here: The ambiguity  and the potential penalties for doctors  is exactly the point.

Essentially, all of the legal bullying around the exemption is meant to chill doctors and hospitals from providing the care their education and judgement informs them is necessary.

The Texas Supreme Court claim that Kate Cox was not in enough danger, with a smug dismissal of her medical torture and pain: Any parent would be devastated to learn of their unborn childs Trisomy 18 diagnosis. Some difficulties in pregnancy, however, even serious ones, do not post the heightened risks to the mother the exception encompasses.

Republicans are inserting their uneducated judgment to have authority over-educated, expert assessments made by patients own treating doctors. Why are they doing this? If they really cared about life, wouldnt they deeply respect medical experts?

It is unacceptable that in 2023, people should have to fear persecution by their own government simply for accessing the health care their doctors say they need. The truth is: any one of us could be Kate. Every one of us should be outraged, the Center for Reproductive Rights commented on Monday.

Kate Cox is baffled that she has to leave her home state to get medical care, writing, I am a Texan. Why should I or any other woman have to drive or fly hundreds of miles to do what we feel is best for ourselves and our families, to determine our own futures?

All of this comes down to the fact that abortion ban exemptions were put in to appease and make the medicine of fascist-style control over citizens bodies go down easier; they were never meant to be used.

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Senate Republicans are worried that House Republicans moving forward without evidence in their impeachment push against President Biden will be seen as crying wolf.

The House isnt too concerned with the fact that they havent even been able to sell manufactured or conflated evidence against Biden on TV, let alone in a setting where evidence is supposed to play the leading role, so they are charging ahead to impeach Biden over a jumble of lies, distortions, confabulations, fantasy, and storytelling. Theyre moving ahead to formalize their impeachment inquiry before the break, without much concern for U.S. national security or other pressing issues.

Politico had a round-up of sentiment by Republican Senators:



I think theyre a long way from coming to a conclusion there, said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of Republican leadership. I dont see the grounds for this yet.





Youre not going to have this president impeached based on the evidence that weve seen come to light, Senator Lisa Murkowsi (R-AK) told the outlet. Impeachment used to be taken pretty seriously. It should be taken pretty seriously. Its like the biggest consequence possible for a sitting president. Will it drag down the president as he goes into an election year? I dont think that thats good for any sitting president.



Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT): There may be of course evidence  I dont know  but theres been no evidence provided to the public yet or certainly to me to suggest an impeachment inquiry or impeachment itself is justified.



And Senator Mike Rounds warned that House Republicans should make sure they have a strong case before they launch an inquiry, otherwise they could be seen as crying wolf:



They should be able to make a strong case before they actually do an impeachment inquiry, said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). Otherwise, what they can do is be seen as crying wolf, and that would hinder future abilities to actually get the job done.

House Republicans have been indulging this fantasy for years and trying to make fetch happen, but every time they open their mouths to share their breaking report of proof, members of their own party and even some on Fox News point out that they do not have evidence. Speaker Johnson even said that there is insufficient evidence to initiate formal impeachment proceedings but then the nihilists running the show for Donald Trump got a hold of Johnson and he changed his tune.

Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX) flat out said, We dont have the evidence. Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) said I havent seen evidence linking Hunter Bidens activities to Joe Biden and Im not convinced that that evidence exists. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) said, You hear a lot of rumor and innuendo  but thats not fact to me. As a former prosecutor, I think there has to be facts, and I think there has to be due process that we follow, and Ive not seen any of that.

Fox News host Bill Hemmer pointed out that after five years of hunting down something on Biden, they still have nothing. Its been five years, and what do we have for it?Again, five years investigating. Nothing just yet.

On Fox News, Neil Cavuto said after their first impeachment hearing (yes, theyve already done the hearings to find evidence and found none), None of the expert witnesses today presented, yet, any proof for impeachment When you begin to trumpet what you have as the beginning of an explosive inquiry into the president of the United States to potentially remove him from office, you would think you would bring your A-game.

A Republican strategist warned, Its stupid. Its completely made up. They dont have anything. This is not about impeachment for cause. This is a political stunt. And I have a feeling its going to go very badly for Republicans.

On and on it goes.

While some Republicans are trying to argue that the inquiry is necessary to get the evidence, first of all an impeachment inquiry should be launched because there is evidence suggesting a serious infringement has taken place, not to find it, but also, Republicans have already gone over tens of thousands of documents and financial records. Theyve interviewed every witness they could imagine and then some. Theyve had a year of leadership to investigate and have already spent five years looking and they have not found anything to justify an impeachment inquiry.

It all led to nothing but Marjorie Taylor Greene sharing naked, stolen photos of Hunter Biden in a House hearing, which critics have used to point out that for all of their accusations against drag queens grooming kids, Greene is the person who showed them naked revenge p@rn images on network TV.

You might think that House Republicans would want to pass some actual policy while they have the House, but they are focused on obstruction of Joe Biden and doing their best for Vladimir Putin while sticking it to Joe Biden by undermining U.S. foreign policy. Trolling a president is a full time job and its one that apparently their constituents are fine with paying for, at the expense of the cost of groceries, healthcare, gas, and other kitchen table issues that the GOP-led caucus might spend this time addressing before another vacation.

House Republicans will be accused of crying wolf, again, because that is what they are doing.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. More than 41 tons of potatoes transported from Belarus to Azerbaijan were discovered to have quarantine organisms, Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan told Trend.

According to the information, personnel of the Agency submitted samples of food potatoes imported from Belarus to the Food Security Institute's laboratory in response to Lars 77 LLC's plea.

According to the analysis results, quarantine organism - brown rot was discovered in a batch of food potatoes weighing 20,980 kg, and ring rot was detected in a batch of food potatoes weighing 20,450 kg.

In compliance with the law, the decision was made to dispose of the products that were unfit for eating.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A Dollar Tree and a Family Dollar Tree are set to be built in the Aiken area.

A sign along East Pine Log Road indicates a Dollar Tree will be built on the southeastern corner of East Pine Log Road and Banks Mill Road. And a developer plans to construct a Family Dollar Tree at 2530 Columbia Highway N.

The East Pine Log Road Dollar Tree is to be constructed on the former Carolina Fresh Farms site located at the at 1103 and 1123 Banks Mill Road.

Carolina Fresh Farms moved further east in 2021.

WTC of Banks Mill is developer of the property.

Records of South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond's office indicate the company is based in South Carolina. The records add its registered agent is Thomas Goforth of Graniteville.

The Aiken City Council voted unanimously Oct. 9 to approve a request from WTC of Banks Mill to annex the property from Aiken County into the city of Aiken and to zone the property General Business.

When the Aiken City Council voted to approve the annexation and zoning request, what was being planned for the property was unknown.

Planning Director Marya Moultrie told the Aiken Planning Commission a developer does not have to submit a concept plan for City Council approval if the property is zoned General Business.

The planned size of the store is unknown.

A timeline for the construction and opening of the store is also unknown.

There are currently four Dollar Trees in the Aiken area. One is near Walmart on Richland Avenue, another is on the corner of Laurens Street and Rutland Drive, a third is located in the Shoppes on Whiskey and the fourth is located on the corner of Bettis Academy Road and Ascauga Lake Road near Graniteville.
Aiken's budget could soon grow by $20 million as the city moves toward constructing a mixed-use building downtown. The Aiken City Council voted unanimously Monday evening to approve the first reading of an ordinance adding $20 million to the city's budget for the building that could be constructed in the 100 block of Newberry Street. Read moreAiken City Council moves toward adding mixed-use building funding to city budget
Dozens of local veterans accepted an invitation Dec. 11 to hear from regional leaders with the Department of Veterans Affairs, getting an update on some of the facilities and services open to veterans and their dependents in the Aiken-Augusta area.

The "town hall," held at the Aiken County Government Center, included input from such authorities as Shelia Jackson, director of the VA's regional office in Columbia; and Robin Jackson, director of the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta.

They and their co-workers fielded questions on a variety of topics, ranging from suicide prevention and traumatic brain injury to prescription medicine benefits and plans to build another community-based outpatient clinic in Aiken, to replace the one at 951 Millbrook Ave., near Captain D's.

"I think there's some significant introductions here, especially with the increase in the size of the clinic, and increased services," said Marine veteran Josh Porte, who was among the audience members. "I don't know who's doing what, but they're doing it right."

He gave the event a thumbs-up review and "signed up for volunteering," he said.

Army veteran Larry Forster made similar comments. "It was very beneficial to me, since I have really not had access to VA benefits before, being new in the area," he said.

Helping run the event were Lowell Koppert, chairman of Aiken County Veterans Council; and Dwight Bradham, Aiken County's director of veterans affairs.

"The people were happy to see that Norwood would come across the river to engage with the residents of Aiken County and acknowledge, like, 'Hey, we're here,'" Koppert said, acknowledging a similar response with regard to the Columbia-based visitors, representing William Jennings Bryan Dorn Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Aiken County veterans, he noted, are "serviced by the state of Georgia" in terms of VA benefits, due to most local residents living closer to Augusta than to Columbia.
LEXINGTON  A kayaker paddling on a river in Lexington County found the body of a woman who was reported missing out of Barnwell County. The death has been ruled a homicide.

The body was identified by the Lexington County coroner as 56-year-old Regina Veronica Arroyo, who was reported missing on Nov. 30. According to the Barnwell County Sheriff's Office, Arroyo was last seen on Nov. 28.

The next week, at around around 3:45 p.m. on Dec. 3, her body was found floating in the North Fork Edisto River near Wagner Highway in Leesville.

Arroyo was involved in rescuing dogs, often transporting the dogs from shelters to new homes in other states, according to a GoFundMe campaign. The fundraiser has raised more than $1,000, which will go toward Arroyo's family.

The Lexington County Coroner's Office announced that the death was ruled as homicide following an autopsy at MUSC in Charleston. The results are not being released due to the investigation by the Lexington County Sheriff's Department.

The Barnwell County Sheriff's Office said the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is assisting in the case. Those with information are asked to email SLED at tips@sled.sc.gov.
Nathan Ott, 28, of Moncks Corner, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison this past week after pleading guilty to distributing a pill that was sold as Roxy (a street name for Roxicodone, a pharmaceutical drug, which is an opioid that contains oxycodone hydrochloride). The pill Ott sold Read morePill dealer sentenced to 25 years for selling fentanyl-laced tablets
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One of the Charleston region's major health care providers plans to set up its first outpost on a former West Ashley supermarket site.

Trident Medical Center LLC, a subsidiary of Nashville-based HCA Healthcare, bought the property where Food Lion once operated at St. Andrews Boulevard and Sycamore Avenue from Lowcountry developer Ben Gramling and business partner Mikell Harper for $11.45 million in late November.

The future use hasn't been determined, but the acquisition marks the regional medical provider's continued expansion across the Lowcountry.

"The purchase represents our continued commitment to creating more access to much-needed health care services," said Landon Smith, Trident's chief operating officer and interim CEO. "We will announce the specific plans for the property at a future date."

In June, Trident opened a free-standing emergency room on Folly Road on James Island before providing details in August for a planned $278 million, 50-bed hospital and full-service emergency room on Johns Island. The site between Maybank Highway and Cane Slash Road also has room for an additional 100 beds for future expansion.

Trident began acquiring land in 2020 and paid $20 million for about 56 acres along Zelasko Drive.

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In addition to its namesake flagship hospital in North Charleston, Trident also operates several other care sites in the Lowcountry.
Boeing Co. delivered a half-dozen 787s in November to move within range of its goal of bringing at least 70 of the North Charleston-built wide-body jets to customers by the end of the year.

The planemaker handed over 62 Dreamliners through the first 11 months of 2023. December is typically one of the company's busiest months as it pushes to meet the benchmarks it promised to analysts earlier in the year.

The Dreamliner deliveries were among 56 commercial planes that airlines and other Boeing customers received in November  the highest monthly total since June. The Arlington, Va.-based company also delivered 45 737 Max planes, two 777 freighters, a pair of 767s and one P-8 maritime patrol jet.

Singapore Airlines, the launch customer for the 787-10, was among the Dreamliner customers that picked up new aircraft last month. The Asian carrier now has 21 of the Dreamliner family's largest variant in its fleet, tied for the most with United Airlines.

Gulf Air, Qatar Airways and Vistara received mid-sized 787-9 models while low-cost Scoot, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, took delivery of a 787-8, the first and smallest model.

Irish aircraft leasing firm AerCap Holdings also received a 787-9.

Boeing has delivered 461 commercial planes through November, including 343 of its popular Max single-aisle jets.

Boeing also announced 104 net orders for the month highlighted by a deal with Emirates, announced during the Dubai Airshow, for 90 wide-body 777X aircraft. With 945 net orders so far in 2023, this is already Boeing's best year for new plane deals since 2014.

Last month's order totals beat rival Airbus, which notched new deals for 61 planes. The French manufacturer delivered 64 commercial jets in November. For the year, Airbus has delivered 623 planes and taken orders for 1,395 more.
A seat at one of Malagons wooden barstools is a wonderful place to be on a cool Charleston night.

With your jacket hanging on a rack near the kitchen and feet resting on a brass bar rail, the time has come to order a glass of wine. While youre perusing the nearly 10-page food menu, a server wearing a red-and-white striped shirt brings over a sample from the all-Spanish list featuring full-bodied reds, refreshing cavas and nutty sherries.

Wine chosen  with guidance from a server who strikes a deft balance between attentiveness and nonchalance  youre ready to listen to the daily specials.

Tonight, Malagon executive chef and co-owner Juan Cassalett has thinly shaved house-cured duck, placing the darkened sheet over endive dressed in a vinaigrette  bright and bursting with acidity. Swordfish skewers have been cooked over charcoal, and house-made sourdough is receiving the 'pa amb tomaquet' treatment of local tomatoes and jamon iberico, capped with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of chives.

With a prime view of Malagons tight open kitchen, where Cassalett cooks on most nights with two sous chefs and three line cooks, you can choose from those options and be perfectly content. You could then return the following night with a small group of friends, allowing for full exploration of the menu.

Thats exactly the type of restaurant Cassalett, his wife and Chez Nous chef Jill Mathias, and restaurateurs Patrick and Fanny Panella set out to create when they opened Malagon in 2018. Even with a specific regional focus, the plates stay fresh.

We want there to be something for everybody without sacrificing the purity of the concept, Patrick Panella said.

On any given night, parties of one or two can be seen grabbing a quick bite after work next to a group of tourists, table filled with marinated lamb skewers; crab rice with squid ink and paprika; jamon-wrapped grouper; white asparagus with anchovies; and La Bomba de la Barceloneta, a pork-packed mashed potato "bomb" with tomato and aioli.
GREENVILLE  The city of Greenville is enlisting private security to patrol its public parking garages and downtown bus station, though specific reasons for the move are unclear for the moment.

As the process has played out over the past three weeks when the city issued a request for proposals to provide the service, Greenville Police say this past weekend a woman was attacked in the Richardson Street Garage, one of the city's largest and most-used.

An unknown man robbed the woman in the early-morning hours Dec. 9, and she later reported that she was sexually assaulted.

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Police spokesman Sgt. Jonathan Bragg told The Post and Courier that detectives will speak with the woman to "firm up details" but declined to say when, saying it isnt public information. The incident report showed the attack happened between 1 and 1:30 a.m., but it provided little detail.

The request for proposals posted online included few details hinting at the reason for the search, which includes requests for armed security at the downtown Greenlink station and security at city zoning and planning board meetings.

City spokeswoman Beth Brotherton declined to tell The Post and Courier what prompted the request, saying the city needed to maintain the integrity of the bidding process. City Manager Shannon Lavrin said speaking during the contracting period could compromise the effort.

"The City routinely works with private contractors to support and enhance public safety," Brotherton said. We cannot talk about open solicitations ... Were happy to discuss once the project is awarded."
NOTE: Some of these events may have been canceled or postponed. Please check with the organizers. Call 843-873-9424 ext. 220 or email broberts@journalscene.com to add an event to this free calendar. Read moreCommunity calendar
Colliers International South Carolina, Inc. Board of Directors recently announced leadership changes in electing David M. Feild, CCIM, as its President. John W. Folsom, who has led the company as President for over 30 years, will continue as the companys Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Read moreColliers elects new president
Parenting these days is hard. Kids have phones and tablets in their hands at an early age, a fact that leaves parents like me worrying about whether our children are getting too much screen time and what they're stumbling onto online. Of course, technology comes with plenty of benefits, but  Read moreCommentary: Parents want to protect kids online, but SC device filter bill won't help
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. Iran will sign a preferential trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) members in Saint Petersburg (Russia) on December 25, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Mehdi Safari said, Trend reports.

He made the announcement at a press conference in Tehran on December 12.

The deputy minister said that the agreement will pave the way for a significant increase in Irans trade with the EAEU countries.

Safari added that Iran is keen to cooperate with countries that offer preferential trade conditions.

He also said that Iran plans to expand its trade ties with Russia, a member of the EAEU. He said that the recent meeting between Irans President Ibrahim Raisi and Russias President Vladimir Putin in Russia focused on enhancing the trade volume between the two countries.

According to the deputy minister, there are some challenges with the transport links between Iran and the EAEU countries, and that efforts are being made to overcome them.

Irans total non-oil trade with the EAEU countries reached $2.34 billion in value and 5.2 million tons in volume in the first eight months of the current Iranian year (March 21-November 21, 2023), showing a 14 percent increase in value and a 33.5 percent increase in volume compared to the same period of the previous year.

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Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur
I was on the distribution list for the conversation with Senator Tom Cotton hosted by the United States Institute for Peace last night (video below  Senator Cottons remarks begin at about 8:00). The event offered Perspectives on the Israel-Hamas War. The conversation essentially updates the conversation Senator Cotton had in mid-October with Mark Halperin that I posted here.

Senator Cotton enlisted in the Army following 9/11. He subsequently served in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division and in Afghanistan with a Provincial Reconstruction Team. Between combat tours he served with the Armys 3rd Infantry Regiment (the Old Guard), an experience that inspired him to write Sacred Duty: A Soldiers Tour at Arlington National Cemetery. I first met him face to face during his service in the Old Guard.

Senator Cotton is also a student of American foreign policy and the author, most recently, of Only the Strong: Reversing the Lefts Plot to Sabotage American Power. There is no one in our public life whom I respect more greatly than Senator Cotton. As I did his conversation with Halperin, I found this interview to be highly informative.
In France, two teachers have been murdered by Muslim students. So you cant blame educators for being a little skittish: Teachers strike after Muslim threats over nudes in art class.

Staff have gone on strike at a school near Paris saying they fear for their lives after Muslim pupils and parents voiced anger towards a teacher who displayed a Renaissance painting of nude women.

This is the painting:

The teacher showed it to an art appreciation class of 12 and 13 year olds.

Several turned away from the picture, saying their religion forbade such works. False rumours then circulated that the teacher had singled out Muslims for insult and made racist remarks. Staff walked out on Friday after parents complained to the school and the female teachers name and the false claims were published on social media. The school was closed yesterday and the education ministry sent inspectors and promised more staff in response to what the teachers said was a hostile atmosphere. Teachers see themselves on the front line of the ethnic and cultural conflict between much of mainstream France and the countrys large Muslim population. The flare-up and falsehoods over the art class echo the claims fuelled by social media that led to Patys murder in 2020, the teachers union, SNES, said.

I think they are right about being on the front lines. Mr. Paty was beheaded.

Teachers at the Issou school said that pupils had admitted lying about events in their art class but that the damage had been done. Were dealing with vindictive parents who prefer to believe their children than us, they said. The schools head teacher recently appealed to the education ministry for more staff and resources to deal with deteriorating discipline at the school, saying that fights and death threats and threats of rape had become common among pupils.

Death threats and threats of rape are common? So it didnt start with the painting. And, by the way, it seems a little odd that kids who threaten to rape their girl classmates are offended by the sight of naked women in a painting.

The clash of cultures is acute:

In another episode in the tense relations between religion and the education system, the state has announced that it will halt funding for the countrys biggest state-subsidised Muslim high school. The Averroes school, in Lille, was teaching Islamic doctrines rather than conveying the moral values of the French republic, the authorities said.

In modern times, at least, immigrants have generally been expected to respect, if not adopt, the culture into which they have moved. But many Muslims refuse to do this, and their insistence on remaking Europe in their own image is the reason for the conflicts that have convulsed Europe in recent years.
I am grateful to Lloyd Billingsley for his account of Edward Gibbons encounter with Muhammad in the pages of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire via Robert Spencers The History of Jihad: From Muhammad to ISIS. This is nothing more than a long footnote to Lloyds post for readers who might be unfamiliar with the text of Gibbons monument to posterity or interested in a deeper dive into the text. It is one of the greatest books ever written. One might spend a lifetime trying to unravel its mysteries. Does anyone read it anymore?

In his Autobiography, Gibbon gives this account of the inspiration for his lifes work:

It was at Rome, on the 15th of October 1764, as I sat musing amidst the ruins of the Capitol, while the barefooted friars were singing vespers in the temple of Jupiter, that the idea of writing the decline and fall of the city first started to my mind. But my original plan was circumscribed to the decay of the city rather than of the empire; and though my reading and reflections began to point towards that object, some years elapsed, and several avocations intervened, before I was seriously engaged in the execution of that laborious work.

Volume 1 of Gibbons History was published in a year that should ring a bell with intelligent readers: the year was 1776. Gibbon brought his History to its conclusion 22 years later in Volume 6 with this reflection:

every reader(s)  attention will be excited by an History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire: the greatest, perhaps, and most awful scene in the history of mankind. The various causes and progressive effects are connected with many of the events most interesting in human annals: the artful policy of the Csars, who long maintained the name and image of a free republic; the disorder of military despotism; the rise, establishment, and sects of Christianity; the foundation of Constantinople; the division of the monarchy; the invasion and settlements of the Barbarians of Germany and Scythia; the institutions of the civil law; the character and religion of Mahomet; the temporal sovereignty of the popes; the restoration and decay of the Western empire of Charlemagne; the crusades of the Latins in the East; the conquests of the Saracens and Turks; the ruin of the Greek empire; the state and revolutions of Rome in the middle age. The historian may applaud the importance and variety of his subject; but, while he is conscious of his own imperfections, he must often accuse the deficiency of his materials. It was among the ruins of the Capitol that I first conceived the idea of a work which has amused and exercised near twenty years of my life, and which, however inadequate to my own wishes, I finally deliver to the curiosity and candour of the public.

In 1995 Penguin Classics republished the original text of Gibbons History in three volumes edited by David Womersley. The three volumes run to more than 3,000 pages and are a treasure.

Historian Keith Windschuttle reckoned with Womersleys edition in the 1997 New Criterion essay Edward Gibbon & the Enlightenment (behind the TNC paywall, but accessible in PDF form here). The Online Library of Liberty has posted John Burys text of Gibbons History in 12 volumes that are accessible here.

Gibbon is an elegant, elusive, ironic writer. His diction is elevated. His approach to the subject is sweeping. Understanding him is a challenge. One must rise to meet him and even then the task is difficult, for like every serious writer on politics before the nineteenth century, Gibbon concealed his thoughts between the lines. Ralph Lerner provides a valuable introduction to this side of Gibbon in the essay that concludes Playing the Fool: Subversive Laughter In Troubled Times (The Smile of a Philosophic Historian).

Gibbons frequent irony comes into play especially whenever Gibbon takes up the subject of religion: Roman, Christian, or Mahometan (as Gibbon calls it  Muhammad is Mahomet). Gibbon takes up Muhammad and Islam in chapter L of the History. Chapter L runs 80 pages in Womersleys edition and one can find within it the thoughts that are reflected in Lloyds post. However, it is not entirely clear to me what judgment Gibbon renders on Muhammad and Islam. Just about every adverse judgment seems to be qualified or mitigated by a positive statement.

Chapter L opens OLLs volume 9 here. You can see for yourself. Take, just for example, this passage from what appears to be Gibbons summing up (Volume III, page 212 of Womersleys edition):

At the conclusion of the life of Mahomet, it may perhaps be expected that I should balance his faults and virtues, that I should decide whether the title of enthusiast or impostor more properly belongs to that extraordinary man. Had I been intimately conversant with the son of Abdallah, the task would still be difficult, and the success uncertain: at the distance of twelve centuries, I darkly contemplate his shade through a cloud of religious incense; and, could I truly delineate the portrait of an hour, the fleeting resemblance would not equally apply to the solitary of Mount Hera, to the preacher of Mecca, and to the conqueror of Arabia. The author of a mighty revolution appears to have been endowed with a pious and contemplative disposition: so soon as marriage had raised him above the pressure of want, he avoided the paths of ambition and avarice; and, till the age of forty, he lived with innocence, and would have died without a name. The unity of God is an idea most congenial to nature and reason; and a slight conversation with the Jews and Christians would teach him to despise and detest the idolatry of Mecca. It was the duty of a man and a citizen to impart the doctrine of salvation, to rescue his country from the dominion of sin and error. The energy of a mind incessantly bent on the same object would convert a general obligation into a particular call; the warm suggestings of the understanding or the fancy would be felt as the inspirations of heaven; the labour of thought would expire in rapture and vision; and the inward sensation, the invisible monitor, would be described with the form and attributes of an angel of God.

And so on.

On the other hand, Gibbon writes with what appears to be straightforward clarity (at page 218 of Womersleys edition): The silence and death of the prophet restored the liberty of the people You have to read the whole thing, but even here one can see how difficult it might be to assess Gibbons judgment.

I would add only that Chapter L must be read in the context of Gibbons famous Chapter XV (The Progress of the Christian Religion, and the Sentiments, Manners, Numbers, and Condition of the primitive Christians), at the end of the OLL editions volume 2 here. It isnt easy. It is at least as challenging as Chapter L.

In his learned 1976 essay Gibbon on Muhammad (collected in Islam and the West), Bernard Lewis suggests some of the complications:

The honor and reputation of Islam and its founder were protected in Europe neither by social pressure nor by legal sanction, and they thus served as an admirable vehicle for anti-religious and anti-Christian polemic. Gibbon occasionally accomplishes this purpose by attacking Islam while meaning Christianity, more frequently by praising Islam as an oblique criticism of Christian usage, belief, and practice. Much of his praise would not be acceptable in a Muslim country.

One more thought. As a student of Jeffrey Hart I first dipped into Gibbons History in the form of The Portable Gibbon, edited by Dero Saunders and now apparently out of print. In his introduction Saunders floats the thought that Gibbon is unconsciously describing himself in commenting on Muhammad (also from chapter L): Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius
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Objective is to Refine 2024 Drill TargetsRENO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Athena Gold Corporation (OTCQB:AHNR)(CSE:ATHA) ("Athena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has contracted with Zonge International, Inc. to perform an IP/Resistivity (the "Survey") at its 100% owned Crow Springs Project ("Project") located approximately 21 miles northwest of Tonopah, Nevada.The Crow Springs Project was internally generated, and Athena staked 10 unpatented claims with the BLM in 2022 and leased an additional key claim CS-124 at that time. The CS-124 claim is strategically positioned based on mapped surface potassic alteration, geochemistry, and past drilling. Reference Athena Press Release dated May 26, 2022. Additional claims were staked in 2023 and the project now comprises 31 unpatented claims.The project is in west central Nevada within the Walker Lane structural belt and is a porphyry Cu- Mo-Au system with the size potential to develop a world class resource. Porphyry-related alteration, geochemistry, magnetics, and past drilling indicate a porphyry system of over 4.5 square miles in surface area.Porphyry copper mineralization at Crow Springs District is related to strong potassic alteration that is locally developed in coarse quartz monzonite porphyry and aplitic-textured monzonite. Surface rock geochemistry indicates that moderate to strong Cu-Mo-Au mineralization is exposed at shallow levels and is amenable to reverse circulation drilling to depths of less than 1,500 feet.A district-scale airborne magnetics radiometric survey was flown in 2021 (see Figure 1) and indicates that classic porphyry potassic alteration is associated with an untested magnetic anomaly controlled by Athena. The untested magnetic anomaly indicates a possible porphyry copper-gold target of significant size. The planned IP-Resistivity survey is designed to further refine and delineate Cu-Mo-Au drill targets within or adjacent to the magnetic anomaly.Athena holds claims over one of the two major magnetic highs thought to be related to potassium feldspar-magnetite-Cu-Mo-Au mineral potential. The other magnetic high is controlled by EMX Royalty Corp ("EMX"), which holds 132 claims in the Crow Springs district.Figure 1. Map depicting prior Magnetic survey over Athena claim blocks together with proposed IP lines.John Power, Athena's President & CEO commented, "We remain focused on our flagship Excelsior Springs Gold Project but are excited to advance our porphyry copper molybdenum gold target in a Tier One jurisdiction to diversify our portfolio and build accretive value for our shareholders. Nevada has had numerous recent success stories whereby modern exploration techniques have been applied at historic mining districts. A favorable IP survey will confirm our 2024 drill targets." "The Crow Springs District has been known as a top tier concealed porphyry target since the early exploration by Homestake Mining in the early 1960s but has received only minimal modern exploration and as such the potential for discovery of copper-molybdenum mineralization is high and we look forward to the advancement of our project and the entire Crow Springs District," added Power.Details of Proposed IP SurveyZonge International will acquire IP/Resistivity data on the Crow Springs survey on the two lines specified by Athena as depicted on Figure 1.. The IP/Resistivity data will be acquired using a dipole-length of 200 meters, in the 9- spread dipole-dipole configuration, providing continuous coverage from n=1 to n=7. The survey is designed to penetrate a target depth of 1,200 feet or more to determine the possibility of a porphyry target at depth.Crow Springs History and LocationCrow Springs, a porphyry Cu-Mo-Au in quartz monzonite porphyry stock is located along the eastern margin of the Tertiary Walker Lane structural province in the southern Royston Hills, northern Esmeralda Co., Nevada.Wide-spaced core drilling by Homestake in 1963 indicates pervasive propylitic alteration (clay-pyrite-carbonate) surrounding magnetic high centers of potassic alteration that have not been drill tested.Figure 2. An outcrop of leached quartz stockwork breccia rock recently collected provides compelling evidence of a potentially mineralized porphyry system at depth. This rock sample was collected just north of the proposed south IP line and overlies the magnetic high anomaly.Figure 3. Locations of porphyry copper and related occurrences in Nevada of Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous age. (Source: Porphyry Copper and Related Occurrences in Nevada - NBMG Wendt & Albino 1991)In addition, fifteen miles east-northeast of Crow Springs, lies the Hall Molybdenum Mine, which formerly produced 53 million pounds of Mo. It is a porphyry Mo-Cu deposit hosted in 69 million years old quartz monzonite that has been intruded by a granite porphyry.Allegiant Gold's Eastside project, which hosts a large and open resource of 1.4 million ounces of gold with excellent potential for expansion of that resource lies within 3 miles to the west.Qualified PersonJohn Hiner, SME Registered Member and Washington State Licensed Geologist is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis of this press release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Hiner is not independent of the Company.About Athena Gold CorporationAthena is engaged in the business of exploring its flagship Excelsior Springs Project and the acquisition of additional mineral properties of merit.For further information about Athena Gold Corporation and our Excelsior Springs Gold Project, please visit www.athenagoldcorp.com On Behalf of the Board of DirectorsJohn PowerChief Executive Officer and PresidentContact:Phone: John Power1 (707)-291-6198Email: info@ athenagoldcorp.com Jason LibensonPresident and CCOCastlewood Capital Corporation1 (647)-534-9884Email: jason@ castlewoodcapital.ca Cautionary Statement to U.S. InvestorsThis press release references NI 43-101, which differs from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects.The United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") permits mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can legally extract or produce. Pursuant to SEC Industry Guide 7 under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a "final" or "bankable" feasibility study is required to report reserves. Currently Athena has not delineated "reserves" on any of its properties. A
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 2, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS), if they purchased the Company's securities between July 22, 2019 and October 12, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.What You May DoIf you purchased shares of Barclays and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-bcs/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by January 2, 2024.About the LawsuitBarclays and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) contrary to false public assertions, the Company's former CEO, James Staley, had a close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, was reportedly aware of Epstein's criminal activities and may have even sexually assaulted a victim who had previously been trafficked by Epstein; (ii) if discovered, the relationship and potential criminal activity could bring reputational, legal, and financial harm to Company; (iii) the Company's response to an inquiry by the British Financial Conduct Authority regarding Staley's relationship with Epstein was materially false; (iv) when the Company became aware of information contradicting its response to the inquiry, it failed to update the response so that it would be accurate, or otherwise take any meaningful action; and (v) as a result, the Company's statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.The case is Merritt v. Barclays Plc, et al., 23-cv-9217.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Boston ScientificEleanor O'Sullivan was in a shopping mall food court in 2011 when her partner of more than six years, Ivan O'Regan, took her hand and looked at her as if he had something to say. She stopped him before he could utter a word."Wait, we're not doing this here," Eleanor recalls telling Ivan in that moment. "I knew he had something big to tell me." Big turned out to be an understatement. When they got home, Ivan shared that he'd just been diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease. He was 31 years old. Eleanor was 32.Now, over a decade later, Eleanor shares how Ivan's diagnosis changed both of their lives-and how a Boston Scientific treatment helped them take a turn for the better.Ivan's symptoms were subtle at first. He was finding it difficult to type certain keyboard commands, like control-alt-delete. When he'd lift his hand up, he noticed it shaking a little bit.We now know these were early signs of Parkinson's disease. But it wasn't until Ivan took me to the emergency room one day after I'd cut my finger that he ultimately talked to a doctor about his symptoms. The doctor recommended he come back for a brain scan.A few weeks later, we found ourselves in that food court.A slow progression of Parkinson's symptomsWhen we started searching to learn more about Parkinson's, all we saw were images of older people. The advice we found didn't speak to us at all.We were in denial as well, thinking, This isn't supposed to be happening. We're just starting out in life. For the first two years, Ivan had appointments every six months. While his symptoms were manageable, we had so many questions: Can Ivan keep working? Am I going to have to look after him indefinitely? Can we have a family?One night, Ivan started sobbing in bed and asked, "What's to become of me?" I didn't have an answer for him. But I said, "Whatever it is, we'll get through it together." At first, life went on as usual for the most part. Ivan is an accountant and continued to work. I also continued working in the finance department of a multinational company. We had children: Effy, who's now 6 years old, and Ellis, who's 5.Then, Ivan's Parkinson's symptoms started getting worse. He'd have to lay down in an empty conference room when he was at the office. He also had painful stiffness down the left side of his body and muscle cramping that made typing difficult. He went on leave in summer 2018 and hasn't returned since.A few times, Ivan's stiffness and cramping was so bad that his chest tightened, leaving him gasping for breath. It was so hard to see him that way. I felt powerless. There were times I'd say to Ivan, "If I could take this from you for a day I would." I know it sounds selfish, but there were also times when I thought God, this diagnosis has ruined my life as well.The Parkinson's treatment that changed everythingIvan could see the pressure on me. He felt so guilty about that and still does. But that was a dark time for us. I cried every day. The medication he'd been prescribed made him feel so ill that he wouldn't take it. This would cause arguments between us, because when he didn't take the medication, he couldn't move for hours, literally stuck in a chair. Meanwhile I was juggling work and caring for our two young children. At one point I said to him, "There comes a time where love isn't enough." Once Ivan started deteriorating, I was thankful his doctor talked to him about deep brain stimulation (DBS), a treatment that uses a small, surgically implanted device to send signals to a targeted portion of the brain. The stimulation can improve motor function by reducing Parkinson's symptoms such as tremor, slowness and stiffness. In February 2022, within a year of Ivan's doctors talking to him about DBS, Ivan was in the hospital having the procedure done.We weren't naive; we knew DBS would not cure his Parkinson's. But today, I can say our lives are so much better. Now, I'm able to do what I want, when I need to. I don't have worries about Ivan being with the children-he's moving well again. We have pretty much our normal lives back.We had an eye-opening moment when Ivan went for his one-year follow-up after DBS. The doctors turned off the brain stimulation, and his symptoms quickly came back. We both cried. Those symptoms had become a distant memory. It was such a big realization of how the DBS is masking Ivan's Parkinson's.But by God, it's a fantastic mask.Advice for other caregiversSo many couples fall apart and don't make it through a Parkinson's diagnosis. After all, there is no cure.I've learned a few things since Ivan's diagnosis that I hope can help others in our situation:Try to be open about your situation. I was forthcoming with my employers from day one of Ivan's diagnosis. Explaining it early on laid the groundwork for more understanding later. If you try not to bring this big, life-changing diagnosis that will undoubtedly impact you into your workplace, it will happen anyway. People will notice. I think you'll find people show you a lot more support than you think you'll get.Remember it's OK to have your own needs. "How's Ivan?" This is a question I field all the time. It's never, "How are you?" It's OK to feel disappointed by this, and to seek out the people who do put your feelings first. I think more caregivers need to talk honestly about their emotions. It's not wrong to think these things. You can't be positive all the time. But if you keep the negative stuff bottled up, you can't be positive any of the time.Look for the silver linings. Even though we've had a lot of dark times, every day we've had a good moment. And it's important to recognize those-to say, This is good today, and we are happy. Yes, this disease is awful. But we're OK. And after DBS, that is especially true.Are you caring for someone with Parkinson's disease? Click here for resources and support.View original content here.Eleanor, her partner Ivan and their children View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Boston Scientific on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Boston ScientificWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/boston-scientificEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Boston Scientific
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 12. Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Alibek Kuantyrov has met with Minister of Trade and Industry of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Qassim Al-Thani on the sidelines of XXI Doha Forum, Trend reports.

The parties discussed bilateral cooperation and considered the prospects for further Kazakh-Qatari cooperation. The ministers focused on strengthening trade, economic and investment cooperation.

In addition, issues of increasing the volume of Kazakhstan's exports of goods to Qatar were discussed. Currently, many Kazakh companies are expressing interest in exporting their goods to the market of the Arab country. A project is being developed for the construction of a plant for deep processing of grain in the Akmola region.

The ministers also discussed the possibility of developing joint projects with the participation of QatarEnergy in the gas industry.

Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Qatar increased almost 2 times, reaching $4.8 million from January through July 2023 (from January through July 2022 - $2.8 million).

Exports amounted to $400,000, imports - $4.3 million.

In general, from 2005 through 2022, Qatari investments worth $56.6 million were attracted to Kazakhstan.

Three Qatari companies operate in Kazakhstan: one in the financial sector, two carry out scientific and research activities.
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Mandi Tomazic's patient-centered approach builds on Bux Pain Management's goal of providing its patients with innovative and holistic careLEXINGTON, KY / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Nurse practitioner Mandi Tomazic has joined Bux Pain Management, a leading provider of patient-centered pain management solutions to those living in Lexington, Cynthiana, Maysville, and Danville, Kentucky.Mandi Tomazic is a highly skilled and compassionate board-certified family nurse practitioner. She brings a wealth of expertise to Bux Pain Management, holding a Master's degree in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Her unique background allows her to approach patient care with a holistic perspective, focusing not only on the physical symptoms but also addressing the psychological and social needs of each individual under her care."I'm thrilled to leverage my passion and expertise for individualized care at Bux Pain Management. I believe that pain management is not only about treating the symptoms, but also about addressing the underlying causes and improving the quality of life of the patients," said Mandi Tomazic. "Joining the Bux Pain Management practice aligns perfectly with my philosophy of care, which focuses on the whole patient, health promotion, and disease prevention, rather than just disease treatment." With a diverse background in primary, urgent, and emergency medicine, Mandi brings a broad range of experience to practice. This varied experience enables her to integrate a balance of physical, psychological, and social considerations, allowing her to think innovatively and craft individualized treatment regimens that contribute to overall wellness.Dr. Anjum Bux, esteemed owner of Bux Pain Management, expresses his enthusiasm for Mandi joining the team. "We are delighted to welcome Mandi Tomazic to Bux Pain Management. As our practice continues to grow and evolve, Mandi's commitment to patient-centered care will undoubtedly enhance our ability to provide comprehensive and effective pain management solutions to our patients." Bux Pain Management is known for its emphasis on nonsurgical and minimally invasive treatments for chronic pain, providing patients with innovative and compassionate care that aims to improve their quality of life. Mandi's addition signifies the practice's dedication to expanding its team with professionals who share a commitment to excellence in patient care.Mandi has already started seeing patients in Lexington, Cynthiana, Maysville, and Danville, Kentucky locations and is looking forward to continuing to establish relationships built on trust and quality care. Her passion for delivering patient-centered services aligns seamlessly with the core values of Bux Pain Management.For more information about Bux Pain Management and the comprehensive pain management services they offer, please visit www.buxpainmanagement.com or contact their office at +1 859-695-2111 to schedule an appointment.About Bux Pain Management:Bux Pain Management is a trusted provider of patient-centered pain management solutions in Lexington, Cynthiana, Maysville, and Danville, Kentucky. Led by Dr. Anjum Bux, the practice is committed to offering nonsurgical, minimally invasive treatments for chronic pain, with a focus on improving the overall well-being of its patients.Contact Information:Mashal Thariani Marketing Manager mashal@ mashmarketing.digital SOURCE: Bux Pain Management
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / National plaintiffs law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP encourages investors in ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. ("ChargePoint" or the "Company") (NYSE:CHPT) who suffered losses from purchasing or otherwise acquiring the securities of ChargePoint between June 1, 2023 and November 16, 2023 to contact us immediately regarding a pending securities fraud class action against ChargePoint. The deadline to apply to be lead plaintiff is January 29, 2024.Class Period: June 1, 2023 - November 16, 2023Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: January 29, 2024Case information: lieffcabraser.com/securities/ChargePoint Contact us: Email or text investorinfo@ lchb.com or call 1-800-541-7358ChargePoint is an electric vehicle infrastructure company. Its core business involves providing networked solutions for charging electric vehicles, including the ChargePoint cloud subscription platform and charging hardware.The action alleges ChargePoint made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that it was experiencing elevated component costs and supply overruns for first generation direct current ("DC") charging products and, as a result, the Company's business and prospects were much worse than defendants claimed.On September 6, 2023, after the market closed, ChargePoint reported its second quarter fiscal year 2024 financial results, including an "$28.0 million, or 19 percentage point, inventory impairment charge." The Company stated the "inventory impairment charge was taken to address legacy supply chain-related costs and supply overruns on a particular DC product." As a result, ChargePoint reported a second quarter generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") gross margin of 1%, down from 17% in the prior year's same quarter. On this news, the Company's share price declined $0.77 per share, or 11%, from its closing price of $7.06 on September 6, 2023, to close at $6.29 per share on September 7, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume.Then, on November 16, 2023, after the market closed, ChargePoint released preliminary financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, which included an "additional non-cash inventory impairment charge" in the amount of $42 million "related to product transitions and to better align inventory with current demand." As a result, the Company expected to report "GAAP gross margin of negative 23% to negative 21%." ChargePoint also reported revenue had fallen to "$108 million to $113 million, as compared to $150 to $165 million as previously expected." Moreover, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer were both replaced, effective immediately. On this news, the ChargePoint's share price declined $1.11 per share, or 35%, from its closing price of $3.13 on November 16, 2023, to close at $2.02 per share on November 17, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume.About Lieff CabraserLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, with over 120 attorneys in offices in San Francisco, New York, Nashville, and Munich, Germany, is an internationally recognized law firm committed to advancing the rights of investors and promoting corporate responsibility. Recognized as a "Plaintiffs' Powerhouse" by Law360, Lieff Cabraser has litigated some of the most important civil cases in the United States, and has assisted clients in recovering over $129 billion in verdicts and settlements. For over 50 years, Lieff Cabraser has remained committed to ensuring access to justice for all.CONTACTSharon LeeLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP415 956-1000slee@ lchb.com SOURCE: Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein
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HAGENS BERMAN Encourages ChargePoint (CHPT) Investors with Substantial Losses to Contact FirmSAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CHPT) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: June 1, 2023 - Nov. 16, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Jan. 29, 2024Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/CHPTContact An Attorney Now: CHPT@ hbsslaw.com844-916-0895 ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CHPT) Securities Fraud Class Action:"The litigation focuses on whether ChargePoint may have misrepresented product demand and omitted to disclose rising inventory costs," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm's investigation.On Dec. 6, ChargePoint posted disappointing quarterly results, reporting a fiscal third-quarter net loss of $158.2 million, or 43 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $84.5 million, or 25 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter. Revenue also declined 12% to $110.3 million from $124.3 million a year ago, missing analyst expectations.The poor results come on the heels of a recently filed securities class action suit. The complaint there alleges that Defendants misrepresented and concealed that: (1) ChargePoint was experiencing higher component costs and supply overruns for first generation DC charging products; (2) that, as a result, the Company was likely to incur impairment charges impacting profitability.The truth began to emerge on Sep. 6, 2023, when ChargePoint reported its 2Q 2024 financial results, including a "$28.0 million, or 19 percentage point, inventory impairment charge." The Company stated the "inventory impairment charge was taken to address legacy supply chain-related costs and supply overruns on a particular DC product." Then, on Nov. 16, 2023, ChargePoint announced preliminary Q3 2024 financial results, which would include an "additional non-cash inventory impairment charge" in the amount of $42 million "related to product transitions and to better align inventory with current demand." As a result, the Company expected to report "GAAP gross margin of negative 23% to negative 21%." The Company also reported revenue had fallen to "$108 million to $113 million, as compared to $150 to $165 million as previously expected." Moreover, ChargePoint announced the abrupt departures of its CEO (Pasquale Romano) and, at the request of its board, its CFO (Rex S. Jackson).Shares of ChargePoint have cratered 78.5% this year, as compared to the S&P 500 index that has increased nearly 20%."Based on ChargePoint's recent disclosures and share performance, we are investigating whether the alleged fraudulent period should be extended," said Mr. Kathrein.If you invested in ChargePoint and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses now If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the ChargePoint case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding ChargePoint should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email CHPT@ hbsslaw.com About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Attorney advertising.Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 29, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CHPT), if they purchased the Company's securities between June 1, 2023 and November 16, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of ChargePoint and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-chpt/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by January 29, 2024.About the LawsuitChargePoint and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On November 16, 2023, post-market, the Company announced its preliminary financial results for 3Q 2024, disclosing that revenue had fallen to "$108 million to $113 million, as compared to $150 to $165 million as previously expected," and an additional non-cash inventory impairment charge in the amount of $42 million "related to product transitions and to better align inventory with current demand," which was expected to result in "GAAP gross margin of negative 23% to negative 21%," as well as the replacement of both its CEO and CFO, effective immediately.On this news, shares of ChargePoint fell $1.11, or 35%, to close at $2.02 per share on November 17, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume.The case is Khan v. ChargePoint Holdings, Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-06172.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ CONTACT:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF REGULATION (EU) 596/2014 AS IT FORMS PART OF DOMESTIC LAW IN THE UNITED KINGDOM BY VIRTUE OF THE EU (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 ("MAR").SURRY, UK / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Condor Gold Plc (AIM:CNR)(TSX:COG) announces that Galloway Limited, a company wholly owned by Burnbrae Group Limited which is, in turn, wholly owned by Jim Mellon, Condor's Chairman has sent the Company a signed notice for the exercise of warrants which will result in the issue of 6,666,667 New Ordinary Shares at 15p for a consideration of 1M.Application has been made for the New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. Admission of the New Ordinary Shares is expected to take place on or before 10 July 2023. The Company has prior approval for the Shares to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX").Director/PDMR ShareholdingGalloway Limited will hold 22.99% of the Company's issued ordinary shares post exercise of the warrants and is wholly owned by Burnbrae Group Limited which is, in turn, wholly owned by Jim Mellon, Condor's Chairman.Denham Eke, a Non-Executive Director, is also a director of the Burnbrae Group Limited and Galloway Limited.Total Voting RightsFollowing the issue of the 6,666,667 New Ordinary Shares to Galloway Limited, Condor's total issued share capital will comprise 187,457,491 New Ordinary Shares, each with voting rights (the "Enlarged Issued Share Capital"). This figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, securities of the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.TSX MattersThe Company is relying on the exemption provided for pursuant to Section 602.1 of the TSX Company Manual (the "Manual") from the requirements of the Manual and the TSX relating to the issue of New Shares Ordinary, including the requirements of Section 613 of the Manual, as the Company is an "Eligible Interlisted Issuer" as defined in the Manual.- Ends -For further information please visit www.condorgold.com or contact:Condor Gold plcMark Child, CEO+44 (0) 20 7493 2784Beaumont Cornish LimitedRoland Cornish and James Biddle+44 (0) 20 7628 3396SP Angel Corporate Finance LLPEwan Leggat +44 (0) 20 3470 0470H&P Advisory LimitedAndrew Chubb, Matt Hasson, Jay Ashfield+44 207 907 8500Adelaide Capital (Investor Relations)Deborah Honig+1-647-203-8793About Condor Gold plc:Condor Gold plc was admitted to AIM in May 2006 and dual listed on the TSX in January 2018. The Company is a gold exploration and development company with a focus on Nicaragua.The Company's principal asset is La India Project, Nicaragua, which comprises of a large, highly prospective land package of 588 sq km comprising of 12 contiguous and adjacent concessions. The Company has filed a feasibility study technical report dated 25 October 2022 and entitled "Condor Gold Technical Report on the La India Gold Project, Nicaragua, 2022" (the "2022 FS") which is available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and was prepared in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101. The 2022 FS indicated that La India Project hosts a high grade Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") of 9,672 kt at 3.5g/t gold for 1,088,000 oz gold in the indicated mineral resource category and 8,642 kt at 4.3 g/t gold for 1,190,000 oz gold in the inferred mineral resource category. The open pit MRE is 8,693 kt at 3.2 g/t gold for 893,000 oz gold in the indicated mineral resource category and 3,026 kt at 3.0 g/t gold for 291,000 oz gold in the inferred mineral resource category. Total underground MRE is 979 kt at 6.2 g/t gold for 94,000 oz gold in the indicated mineral resource category and 5,615 kt at 5.0 g/t gold for 98,000 oz gold in the inferred mineral resource category.The 2022 FS replaces the previously reported Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") as presented in the Technical Report filed on SEDAR in October 2021 as the current technical report for the La India project.The 2021 PEA considered the expanded Project inclusive of the exploitation of the Mineral Resources associated to the La India, Mestiza, America and Central Breccia deposits. The strategic study covers two scenarios: Scenario A, in which the mining is undertaken from four open pits, termed La India, America, Mestiza and Central Breccia Zone ("CBZ"), which targets a plant feed rate of 1.225 million tonnes per annum ("Mtpa"); and Scenario B, where the mining is extended to include three underground operations at La India, America and Mestiza, in which the processing rate is increased to 1.4 Mtpa. The 2021 PEA Scenario B presented a post-tax, post upfront capital expenditure NPV of US$418 million, with an IRR of 54% and 12 month pay-back period, assuming a US$1,700 per oz gold price, with average annual production of 150,000 oz gold per annum for the initial 9 years of gold production. The open pit mine schedules were optimised from designed pits, bringing higher grade gold forward resulting in average annual production of 157,000 oz gold in the first 2 years from open pit material and underground mining funded out of cashflow. The 2021 PEA Scenario A presented a post-tax, post upfront capital expenditure NPV of US$302 million, with an IRR of 58% and 12 month pay-back period, assuming a US$1,700 per oz gold price, with average annual production of approximately 120,000 oz gold per annum for the initial 6 years of gold production. The Mineral Resource estimate and associated Preliminary Economic Assessment contained in the 2021 PEA are considered a historical estimate within the meaning of NI 43-101, a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify such historical estimate as current, and the Company is not treating the historical Mineral Resource estimate and associated studies as current, and the reader is cautioned not to rely upon this data as such. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Company believes that the historical Mineral Resource estimate and Preliminary Economic assessment is relevant to the continuing development of the La India Project.In August 2018, the Company announced that the Ministry of the Environment in Nicaragua had granted the Environmental Permit ("EP") for the development, construction and operation of a processing plant with capacity to process up to 2,800 tonnes per day at its wholly-owned La India gold Project ("La India Project"). The EP is considered the master permit for mining
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2023 / SAP:Feature by Alexandra van der PloegIn my role at SAP, I have seen firsthand the multifaceted challenges climate change brings, especially to youth. By 2050, we are looking at a world where over 1 billion people could be displaced due to environmental upheavals, with nearly 2 billion children facing increased health risks from intense heat.These are not just numbers: futures are at stake, particularly for young people whose education and opportunities are being disrupted right before our eyes. This stark reality drives home the need for inclusive and equitable strategies in our climate action plans.Youth are at the frontline of these environmental challenges. Their futures depend on how effectively we can address the impacts of climate change. It is a call to action for all of us across various sectors to unite and empower the voices of these young people, harnessing their potential to create innovative solutions.At SAP, we've embraced a four-pronged approach specifically designed to support and empower youth in their journey to a sustainable and just world: rally, represent, reskill, and resource.Sharing these insights at the RewirEd Summit during COP28, where education is a focal point, reminds me of the critical need to intertwine education funding with our climate goals, addressing the immediate and future climate challenges.At the core of our mission for climate justice is rallying the energy and passion of the younger generation. I sincerely believe that climate action among young people is a key component of climate justice, and we need to promote that in various ways.That is why we support Green Rising, an initiative led by UNICEF and Generation Unlimited along with partners that supports children and youth-led grassroots climate action for a faster and fairer transition to a low-carbon economy. The aim is to directly engage 10 million youth, particularly girls, to take action by 2025 through volunteering, green skills, jobs, entrepreneurship, and advocacy. Our 2023 collaboration with Goodwall and Accenture has already launched digital challenges like #ClimateAction, #DigitalCleanUp, and #GoingZero with 15,000 active youth participants.However, I'm keenly aware that passion alone is not enough. The journey from raising awareness to finding real change requires more than just enthusiasm; it demands skill and knowledge. This realization bridges us to the next critical phase of our mission.Green Rising also recognizes the importance of equipping youth with the tools they need to make a lasting impact.The reskilling effort at the heart of Green Rising is about transforming energy and concern into potent, informed action. As we confront the reality of "eco-anxiety" affecting 57% of global youth, we understand that empowerment comes from giving these young minds the ability to turn their worries into wisdom and their fears into a force for good. By fostering climate literacy and developing green skills, we are not just creating activists; we're nurturing future leaders, problem solvers, and innovators who will shape a sustainable world in areas like biodiversity, air quality, water conservation, and waste management.I'm fortunate to see how our dedication to reskilling is making a real impact. We are charting a clear course in initiating and nurturing programs that significantly boost young people's employability and entrepreneurial capabilities.For instance, through accessible online resources like open.sap.com learning.sap.com , and collaborations with our colleagues from SAP University Alliances, we are empowering individuals with the necessary insights to contribute positively to climate action. Efforts extend globally. With UNICEF's Generation Unlimited, we have empowered more than 7.6 million young people in India, Turkey, and Vietnam with vital digital and life skills.Looking ahead, Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA), co-created with young people from the continent, will reach 1 million youths in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and the Philippines by 2025, offering opportunities for learning and reskilling. Additionally, the SAP Educate to Employ initiative is shaping future careers, training 100 young talents in each pilot country annually, with 25 stepping into internships or roles within the SAP ecosystem.These are steps toward nurturing a generation ready to lead the charge in sustainability and innovation.In my experience attending conferences, I have often noticed a missing crucial element: the direct input of the young people we're talking about. It is one thing to teach and upskill them with the crucial knowledge, but it's another to truly empower them to be part of the conversation. It is about going beyond just training and providing youth with real platforms to contribute their fresh skills and innovative ideas to the global climate conversation.This is what drives our approach to representation, with long-time partners and organizations such as We Are Family Foundation and ChangemakerXChange in programs like Youth To The Table.I truly believe that this is the real game-changer. Ultimately, it is something quite simple yet often overlooked: genuinely including young people in the conversations and decision-making that shape their future.This approach is encapsulated in the phrase "Nothing about us without us." It's about flipping the script, moving from merely discussing climate issues about young people to actively collaborating with them. They are not just on the sidelines, they are in the room where decisions are made.For instance, we are bringing 50 young leaders from across the globe to the COP28 conference to get their innovative opinions and learn from their solutions. We have done it in the past and will continue in the future at global forums like the World Economic Forum and the United Nations General Assembly. Watching young leaders confidently take the stage and influence global conversations is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do - it's about empowering them to shape the world they will live in.A mere 0.76% of grants from major climate foundations currently support youth-led climate initiatives. This means while rallying, reskilling, and giving them a voice is crucial, it is not enough. To combat climate change, we must funnel more resources toward the projects and innovations led by youth, especially in the most affected communities. This means not just talking about, but investing in their ideas through project grants, mentorship programs like Climate Hacks, and corporate pro-bono consulting programs that connect experts with social and climate enterprises to amplify their impact and turn youthful enthusiasm and innovation into
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 15:17:01

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / The Chemours Companyby Joseph T. Martinko, President - Thermal and Specialized Solutions at ChemoursLast week, at the European Business Summit, I had the opportunity to speak on a panel addressing "How to create both a competitive and sustainable industrial policy." It was a unique moment for me to engage with EU stakeholders in a public forum about a critical challenge - how can Europe "go green," but also stay competitive on a global level. My key takeaway is that there is clearly a shared desire from both industry and government to build this more competitive, innovative, and sustainable Europe, but we've got to work closer together and communicate more in order to find the right path forward.Chemours is committed to a green and digital Europe.Chemours is a global chemical company with a strong presence in Europe. As president of Thermal and Specialized Solutions at Chemours, building a strong EU industrial policy is important to me because my business is dedicated to delivering clean, safe, and efficient solutions necessary to realize Europe's green ambitions. This includes technologies used in heat pumps, refrigeration, electric vehicles, data centers, and air conditioning. Innovative chemistries known as fluorinated gases (F-gases) and specialty fluids are fundamental to driving Europe's green and digital transitions, but policy inconsistency and uncertainty is slowing progress, especially in the residential heating and cooling space, which is where we need to decarbonize at the fastest pace possible.I firmly believe that sustainability and business competitiveness are not mutually exclusive - but we need policy initiatives and regulations to complement one another, and not work against each other. The number one thing that businesses need from regulators is certainty and predictability in policy, and more and more we see lack of coherence in Europe between the "sustainable industry goals" and the legislations that should support the industry transition.EU policy and regulation on chemicals are not consistent.Over the past 15-years, Chemours and the industry have been asked and encouraged to invest in low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants, given they are critical to food security, electric vehicles, heat pumps, data centers, and many other sectors. However, now the EU's most recent F-Gas regulation is banning these refrigerants, despite long-term investments by industry, broad industry reliance, superior energy efficiency, and performance across applications. There are many other examples, in the hydrogen sector, batteries, and semiconductors.... all these sectors can be at risk without regulatory consistency. When it comes to regulation, we need the right hand to speak to the left, and this was a key message I shared during my panel, echoed by several of the other panelists representing different companies.Data center immersion cooling could be a game changer.Another example of an innovation that I'm excited about, but which could risk being banned due to inconsistent regulation, is our game-changing immersion cooling technology for data centers. As many of you may be aware, data centers - or the facilities that store the computing infrastructure and data on which modern society relies - are the invisible backbone of the tech industry and our economy more broadly. Yet the exponential growth in data traffic, coupled with a demand for increased computing speeds, has created a new challenge for these centers - increased heat generation that can't be remedied by traditional cooling methods.Fortunately, thanks to innovations in F-gases, two-phase immersion cooling (2PIC) has emerged as a solution. Rather than using air or water to cool servers, 2PIC submerges electronic components into a bath of dielectric heat transfer fluid that is based on fluorinated chemistry. The heat from the servers boils the liquid, transforming it into gas and creating vapor which removes heat - all within a closed system. This process expends no extra energy. In fact, the heat can be recovered for other uses, enhancing energy efficiency and slashing emissions in the process. And the liquid is fully recyclable. It's a truly circular solution!Chemistry is part of the solution.There are many other examples I could mention where our chemistries will be vital to the future. Chemours has innovative solutions that deliver on both technological progress and climate ambitions - top priorities in Europe. Yet emerging regulation - and resulting uncertainty - puts this innovation at risk. In the race to decarbonize mobility, access to advanced fluorinated chemistries will be critical for everything from EV battery production, faster charging, increased range, and heating and cooling, to sourcing, supply chains, distribution, and logistics. If these technologies are banned or severely restricted in Europe, the cost to the EU economy would be significant, with negligible benefit to climate or health.It's commonly said that "chemistry is the mother of all industries." The more the chemicals industry innovates, the better it will be for safety and the environment because our materials are at the backbone of Europe's green and digital transitions. However, industry and government must collaborate more closely to create a realistic, proportionate, and consistent regulatory and policy landscape that allows such solutions to work, and that fosters this innovation.I left the summit with renewed, but cautious, optimism that this is possible, and policymakers are willing to lay the groundwork for a coherent, science-based, actionable policy framework to unlock a more sustainable future for us all - and I look forward to continued dialogue on how we can achieve this in Europe and around the world thanks to the power of chemistry, together.View original content here.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from The Chemours Company on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: The Chemours CompanyWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/chemours-company Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: The Chemours Company
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 21:31:05

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Dollar General Corporation ("Dollar General" or "the Company") (NYSE:DG) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Dollar General securities between May 28, 2020 and August 30, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/dg Case Details:The Complaint alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Dollar General stores were chronically understaffed and suffering from logistical and inventory management problems which left stores with tens of millions of dollars' worth of outdated and unwanted inventory, mispriced goods, and lost and damaged items; (ii) large backlogs of unsellable merchandise had built up at Dollar General's stores, which inventory had not been timely written down due to understaffing and Dollar General's failure to manage its inventory; (iii) the allotment of employee hours per store per week imposed by Dollar General management placed employees in virtually impossible situations where assigned tasks, including those necessary to effective store operations, could not be completed within the allotted time; (iv) Dollar General was systematically overcharging customers for items upon checkout above the listed price in violation of state laws, including state law violations identified by state regulators in Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio; (v) Dollar General's reported revenue and earnings during the Class Period were artificially inflated by defendants' over-pricing scheme; (vi) Dollar General's failure to manage store inventories and accurately price items upon checkout risked the loss of customers, lower sales, adverse regulatory actions, and reputational fallout; and (vii) Dollar General was not on track to achieve its guidance during the Class Period and such guidance lacked a reasonable factual basis.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/dg or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Dollar General you have until January 26, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 20:04:08

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HONG KONG / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Bernard Chu, Chief Operations Officer Asia/Europe at Direction Capital Limited, has announced ambitious expansion plans for the third quarter of next year, with the company opening new offices in Austral, Asia, Europe, and North America. This challenging goal underlines the company's desire to make its services more globally accessible.Expanding HorizonsDirection Capital Limited has long been an established wealth management company in the Hong Kong investment scene, and "the decision to now move into five new countries, namely Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom, will help the company meet the specific local demands of clients in those locations," said Mr. Chu.AustraliaAustralia has a thriving economy and a well-established financial sector. There has been an increase in demand for offshore and overseas investment advice, so by having an office in Australia that is focused on the requirements and needs of the local market, Direction Capital Limited will be in a better position to offer more relevant and country-specific advice.New ZealandNew Zealand is attractive for a new Direction Capital office as it has a growing high-net-worth population, a stable economy, and a well-regulated financial services sector. Its political stability and double taxation treaties with several other countries are also significant plusses.GermanyGermany is Europe's biggest economy and home to global financial hubs with well-developed financial sectors like Frankfurt. The country's membership in the EU opens the door to the entire European market, and an office in Germany gives Direction Capital a front-row seat to the country's thriving mergers and acquisitions scene and cities that encourage startups, like Berlin. With significant retirement and pension funds and a high standard of living, Germany is an attractive base from which to attract many new clients.CanadaThe Canada office will bridge the time zones between Asia and Europe and fulfill Direction Capital's wish to operate round-the-clock. Canada's close trading relationship with the United States further increases its attractiveness, particularly in sectors closely involved in cross-border trade.United KingdomThe United Kingdom is home to many non-British investors needing expert advice on international advisory and immigration consulting issues. Its established financial sector and high individual earning potential mean there is also a sizeable pool of educated and experienced domestic investors to tap into.A Global Presence"Direction Capital Limited's global presence will reach new levels as it extends its footprint into new locations. The new offices will encourage an environment where clients with international interests can readily access all-embracing cross-border solutions," added Mr. Chu.About Direction Capital Limited: Direction Capital has a distinguished track record of providing personalized financial solutions for international clients and has developed a reputation for excellence and integrity and for delivering class-leading financial and investment services that ensure clients' wealth is in safe hands.Contact InformationCompany Name: Direction Capital LtdContact Name: Bernard ChuEmail: chu.b@professionaldirection.comAddress: 11/F The Metropolis Tower, 10 Metropolis Drive, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong KongFor more information, please visit https://professionaldirection.com/ SOURCE: Direction Capital Ltd
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 26, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG), if they purchased the Company's securities between May 28, 2020 and August 31, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Dollar General and would like to discuss your legal rights and how the case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-dg/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by January 26, 2024.About the LawsuitDollar General and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On August 31, 2023, the Company announced its 2Q 2023 financial results, disclosing among other things, cuts to its FY23 sales and profit outlook, decreases in operating profits of 24.2% and EPS of 28.5%, and that it "expect[ed] an incremental operating profit headwind of up to $170 million in the second half of 2023," consisting of $95 million for markdowns on existing inventory and $75 million on increased store personnel to support inventory and pricing control measures.On this news, the price of Dollar General's shares plummeted $19.16 per share, or 12%, on August 31, 2023, on unusually high trading volume of more than 19 million shares.The case is Washtenaw County Employees' Retirement System v. Dollar General Corporation, et al., 23-cv-01250. A subsequent case expanded the class period, Edmonds v. Dollar General Corporation, et al., 23-cv-01259.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Press Release

December 11, 2023 Congress ratifies P5.768 T national budget for 2024 The Senate on Monday, December 11, 2023, ratified the harmonized version of the 2024 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) which contains the proposed P5.768 trillion budget for next year. The House of Representatives also ratified the bicameral conference committee report today. After the ratification by both Houses of Congress, the government's spending plan bill will be transmitted to Malacanang for President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s signature. Sen. Sonny Angara, chairperson of the Committee on Finance and head of the Senate panel in the bicam, said the joint body committed to increasing the budget of the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the light of the increasing tension in the West Philippine Sea. Aside from the increase in the budget to improve the country's defense and peace and order capabilities, Angara said the other highlights of the 2024 GAB are: Support for efforts to enhance self-reliance in agriculture, not only to raise the income of Filipino farmers and fisherfolks but also to ensure food security;

Education remains a top priority in the expenditure plan for 2024;

Additional funds for the health sector through augmentations for the Department of Health budget items such as the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially-Incapacitated Patients o MAIFIP program, and the Health Facilities Enhancement Program o HFEP;

Continued assistance to indigent individuals through different kinds of "ayudas" such as Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Cash-for-Work under KALAHI-CIDSS, Supplementary Feeding Program, Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers Program;

More funds for the government's housing program;

Significant funds for infrastructure, for greater mobility through roads, bridges, railways, and seaports;

Budget to cover for efforts to protect the environment and respond to climate change;

Budget for the transition to renewable energy sources;

More budget to attract investors and to strengthen SMEs;

Innovation, science and technology, and research and development shall also remain key pillars of the government's efforts, and hence priorities in expenditure plans with augmentations to the budgets of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), and many others; and,

The 2024 budget will also support the government's efforts for promoting the Philippines as a prime tourist destination, and preserving our culture and heritage, among others. "Mr. President, these are just a few of the agreements in the bicameral conference regarding the national budget in 2024. We hope that this budget will help to achieve, under the leadership of President Marcos, the new Philippines that every Filipino dreams of. We are confident that this budget will provide certainty and hope during these uncertain times," Angara added.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, December 12. The UK Embassy in Turkmenistan and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, to continue their partnership within the framework of the third stage of the development of the draft National System of Inventory of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions in Turkmenistan, Trend reports.

According to UNDP, the project will assist the Government of Turkmenistan in assessing the actual greenhouse gas emissions and will allow it to take the necessary actions to reduce emissions within the country within the framework of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.

This initiative builds on the ongoing climate work of the UK Embassy and further strengthens the successful partnership with UNDP in promoting and supporting specific climate actions in Turkmenistan.

According to the UNDP representative in Turkmenistan, the organization has long been cooperating with the UK Embassy in Ashgabat in supporting Turkmenistan's efforts to fulfill the obligations of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, including reducing GHG emissions and contributing to the country's global efforts to combat climate change.

It was also noted that UNDP remains committed to strengthening national resilience and enhancing the country's adaptive capacity to counter the adverse effects of climate change.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 08:00:18

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. (AIM:ECO)(TSXV:EOG), the oil and gas exploration company focused on the offshore Atlantic Margins in South Africa, Namibia, and Guyana, is pleased to announce that, further to the Company's announcement on 24 October 2023, it has posted to Shareholders a formal notice of its Annual General Meeting ("AGM"), explanatory circular (the "Circular") and form of proxy. The AGM is to be held at 07:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on 29 December 2023 via teleconference. Copies of the formal notice of AGM, form of proxy, the Circular and virtual access details will be made available on the Company's website at: https://www.ecooilandgas.com/investors/documents-circulars/ Proposed Appointment of Non-Executive DirectorThe Company is also pleased to announce the proposed appointment of Mr Oliver Quinn following the AGM to be held in December. Mr Quinn will be appointed, subject to Shareholder approval, as the nominee director of Africa Oil Corp. ("Africa Oil"), which holds 14.84% of the Company's issued share capital. Mr Quinn was appointed as the Chief Commercial Officer of Africa Oil in September 2023 having previously been employed as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at Kosmos Energy Ltd. Mr Quinn started his career at Shell and has 19 years of experience in the Oil & Gas industry. He is a graduate of the University of Manchester where he studied for a BSc (Hons), Environmental & Resource Geology and a graduate of the University of Edinburgh where he completed a PhD in Petroleum Science. While Mr Quinn replaces Keith Hill as Africa Oil's board nominee, the Board is pleased that Mr Hill has agreed to remain as a Non-executive Director of the Company.Mr Quinn's appointment is subject to the completion of customary due diligence required by the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers (the "AIM Rules") to be undertaken by the Company's Nominated Adviser, Strand Hanson Limited. A further announcement, including the requisite Schedule 2(g) disclosures required under the AIM Rules for Companies, will be made in due course.Shareholder Approval of the Proposed Farm Out of Block 3B/4B to Africa OilOn 11 July 2023, the Company announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Azinam Limited ("Azinam"), would farm out a 6.25% Participating Interest in Block 3B/4B, offshore South Africa to Oil SA Corp, a wholly owned subsidiary of Africa Oil (the "Farm Out"). The Farm Out remains, inter alia, conditional on regulatory approvals from the government of South Africa and the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). As part of the regulatory approval process, the TSXV has now advised the Company that it must obtain shareholder approval for the Farm Out from those shareholders in the Company who are not deemed to be interested in the Farm Out, primarily comprising Africa Oil. Accordingly a resolution to approve the Farm Out is contained within the Notice of AGM.Full details of all the Resolutions to be voted on at the meeting, as well as the Circular and form of proxy can be found on the Company's website at: https://www.ecooilandgas.com/investors/documents-circulars/ **ENDS**For more information, please visit www.ecooilandgas.com or contact the following:Eco Atlantic Oil and Gasc/o Celicourt +44 (0) 20 8434 2754Gil Holzman, CEOColin Kinley, COOAlice Carroll, Head of Corporate Sustainability+44(0)781 729 5070Strand Hanson (Financial & Nominated Adviser)+44 (0) 20 7409 3494James HarrisJames BellmanBerenberg (Broker)+44 (0) 20 3207 7800Matthew ArmittDetlir EleziEchelon Capital (Financial Adviser N. America Markets)Ryan Mooney Simon Akit+1 (403) 606 4852+1 (416) 8497776Celicourt (PR)+44 (0) 20 7770 6424Mark AntelmeJimmy LeaAbout Eco Atlantic:Eco Atlantic is a TSX-V and AIM-quoted Atlantic Margin-focused oil & gas exploration company with offshore license interests in Guyana, Namibia, and South Africa. Eco aims to deliver material value for its stakeholders through its role in the energy transition to explore for low carbon intensity oil and gas in stable emerging markets close to infrastructure.Offshore Guyana in the proven Guyana-Suriname Basin, the Company Operates a 75% Working Interest in the 1,800 km2 Orinduik Block. In Namibia, the Company holds Operatorship and an 85% Working Interest in four offshore Petroleum Licences: PELs: 97, 98, 99, and 100, representing a combined area of 28,593 km2 in the Walvis Basin.Offshore South Africa, Eco is Operator and holds a 50% working interest in Block 2B and a 26.25% Working Interest in Block 3B/4B operated by Africa Oil Corp., totalling some 20,643km2.This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@ lseg.com or visit www.rns.com SOURCE: Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Ltd.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 13:02:36

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NORTHVALE, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Elite" or the "Company") (OTCQB:ELTP), a specialty pharmaceutical company developing niche generic products, today announced the first shipment of generic Adderall XR to its distribution and marketing partner Prasco, LLC ("Prasco"). Adderall XR is an extended-release mixed salt of a single entity Amphetamine product (Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Amphetamine Aspartate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate, Amphetamine Sulfate) with strengths of 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 25 mg, and 30 mg capsules (the "Products").Prasco is, pursuant to the manufacturing and supply agreement dated April 5, 2023 ("Agreement") between the companies, a non-exclusive U.S. distributor of the Products. Prasco will market the Products under Burel Pharmaceutical's label, and Elite will manufacture the Products. Elite's product is co-owned with Mikah Pharma.About Prasco, LLCPrasco is a privately held healthcare company located in Mason, Ohio. Over 50 of the most innovative and trusted pharmaceutical companies have relied on Prasco to bring their products to the US generic marketplace. Prasco provides patients with high-quality products at affordable prices in over 60,000 US pharmacies. For more information, visit the company's website at www.prasco.com About Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and distributes niche generic products. Elite's product lines consist of immediate-release and controlled-release, solid oral dose products, which are marketed under the Elite Laboratories label, as well as pursuant to licenses granted to third-party pharmaceutical marketing and distribution organizations. Elite operates a cGMP and DEA registered facility for research, development, and manufacturing located in Northvale, NJ. For more information, visit www.elitepharma.com This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, those related to the effects, if any, on future results, performance or other expectations that may have some correlation to the subject matter of this press release. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve, without limitation, risks, uncertainties and other factors not under the control of Elite, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Elite to be materially different from the results, performance or other expectations that may be implied by these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding the expected timing of approval, if at all, of products by the FDA, and the actions the FDA may require of Elite in order to obtain such approvals. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future action or performance. These risks and other factors are discussed, without limitation, in Elite's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its reports on forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K. Elite is under no obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.CONTACT:For Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Dianne Will, Investor Relations, 518-398-6222Dianne@ elitepharma.comwww.elitepharma.com SOURCE: Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 22:55:22

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Shiftconnector Smart Search Accelerates Plant Floor Search Capabilities with AIBOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Global software developer eschbach, provider of the Shiftconnector enterprise software platform for process manufacturing, received this year's Best of Industry Award in the Artificial Intelligence category. eschbach's AI team was recognized last Thursday evening in Wurzburg, Germany for their Shiftconnector Smart Search module by about 20,000 readers of MaschinenMarkt. Providing relevant knowledge that is user-friendly, Smart Search has become a powerful assistant in 24/7 plant manufacturing operations."Capturing and managing knowledge is domain-specific, which is why our Smart Search is specifically designed with our customers in mind. Managing data and information in a 24/7 shift operation is a challenge. With a smart application, information can be managed to help provide greater efficiency and safety in manufacturing. AI also makes it possible to collect tacit knowledge to make the experience of employees available for future generations," explains Andreas Eschbach, CEO and founder of eschbach.The Shiftconnector Smart Search feature, developed by eschbach over five years, utilizes state-of-the-art AI-based natural language processing (NLP) to provide process manufacturers with new search capabilities. The eschbach AI team, led by AI/NLP Team Lead Dr. Christian Matt, worked closely with one of its major customers to conceptualize and design a search function that could easily find relevant answers based on its plant operations. The team also collaborated with Prof. Dr. Bela Gipp of Gottingen University (Germany) and his team of leading researchers in natural language processing, such as Anastasia Zhukova. The cooperation is supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)."The success following initial implementations is impressive. Smart Search has been well received in production facilities and is an integral part of daily operations. Where users previously spent several hours searching online documentation, sometimes without results, Smart Search now shows process-relevant results in a matter of seconds," explains Matt. "Statistics also show that the knowledge accumulated in Shiftconnector over the years is no longer lost but is repeatedly picked up by users. Before implementation, only information not older than a month was used. This means that employees in shift operations, from plant operators to plant managers, benefit from the AI-supported and innovative plant process management solution." "Truly user-centered, this application demonstrates the value of bringing customers into the design process from the onset to help drive and ensure satisfactory outcomes," said Eschbach. "With close to 20 years of experience in developing solutions for the process industry and almost 70,000 users, we understand the challenges of the process industry. We welcome suggestions from our users to provide solutions that will help them win in an increasingly competitive environment," he added. eschbach's dedication to customer-centric software development, along with their commitment to harnessing the power of AI technology, has positioned the company as a leader in the process manufacturing industry.The new Smart Search function makes production plants more reliable and productive by recording knowledge for shift teams and making it easy to search for information. As we move forward into Industry 5.0 where the human element is the focus in plant operations, using AI is a leap forward in gaining the information necessary to drive process efficiency, mitigate risk, and ensure regulatory compliance.About eschbach and ShiftconnectorHeadquartered in Bad Saeckingen, Germany, and Boston, MA, in the U.S., eschbach develops software for plant process management. Shiftconnector provides a new level of digital team communication and collaboration that ensures safety and improves plant effectiveness. The award-winning solution is trusted worldwide by leading manufacturing companies such as Bayer, DuPont, BASF, and Roche. For more information visit www.eschbach.com Media Contact:Dawn FontaineRipple Effect CommunicationsEmail: Dawn@ rippleeffectpr.comTel: 617-536-8887SOURCE: eschbach
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 04:50:28

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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 8, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's shares between February 9, 2022 and October 30, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.What You May DoIf you purchased shares of FMC and would like to discuss your legal rights and how the case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-fmc/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court by January 8, 2024.About the LawsuitsFMC and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On September 7, 2023, Blue Orca Capital reported that the Company had made a series of false statements about the status of patent protections for its flagship products following legal defeats in India, China, and Brazil, that allowed competitors to launch competing generic products at much lower prices. On this news, the price of FMC's shares dropped more than 7.4%, to close at $76.10 per share, representing approximately $630 million in investor losses, on high trading volume.Then, on October 23, 2023, the Company disclosed further cuts to its Q3 2023 outlook and guidance for revenues for Q4 and FY 2024, projecting earnings well below analysts' expectations, citing substantially lower sales volumes in Latin America. On this news, the price of FMC's shares plummeted by $8.83 per share, or 12.18%, to close at $58.12 per share.The case is Heeg v. FMC Corporation, et al., 23-cv-4938. A subsequent case expanded the class period, Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System v. FMC Corporation, et al., 23-cv-4842.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 08:00:42

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LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Golden Metal Resources plc (LON:GMET)(OTCQB:GMTLF), a strategic mineral exploration and development company focused on Nevada, USA, is pleased to announce the Company has been informed that on 11 December 2023 Oliver Friesen (Chief Executive Officer) purchased on-market 80,000 Golden Metal shares at a price per share of 9.35p, for an investment value of 7,480.Following the above purchase Oliver Friesen has a beneficial interest of 673,967 shares representing 0.79% of the Company's issued share capital.PDMR DISCLOSUREThe notification below, made in accordance with the requirements of the EU Market Abuse Regulation, provide further detail on the director's share dealing.Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associateda)NameOliver FriesenReason for the notificationa)Position/statusChief Executive Officerb)Initial notification /AmendmentInitial NotificationDetails of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitora)NameGolden Metal Resources Plcb)LEI213800J4SKZAMUEPGW34Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducteda)Description of the financial instrument, type of instrumentordinary shares of 1p eachIdentification codeISIN: GB00BPQY8R36b)Nature of the transactionPurchase of ordinary sharesc)Price(s) and volume(s)Price(s)Volume(s)9.35p80,000d)Aggregated information- Aggregated volume80,000- Price9.35pe)Date of the transaction11 December 2023f)Place of the transactionXLONThis announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the UK version of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended ("MAR"). Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company is Oliver Friesen, Chief Executive Officer of the Company.For further information visit www.goldenmetalresources.com or contact the following:Golden Metal Resources plcOliver Friesen (CEO)Tel: +44 (0) 20 7583 8304Cairn Financial Advisers LLPNominated AdviserSandy Jamieson/Jo Turner/Louise O'DriscollTel: +44 20 7213 0880First Equity LimitedBrokerJonathan Brown/Jason RobertsonTel: +44 20 7374 2212THE PROJECTSPilot Mountain ProjectThe Pilot Mountain project is an advanced exploration and mineral resource definition stage project located in Mineral County in western Nevada. The project covers an area of 14.80 km2 (3,656.1 acres) and is located 200km southeast of Reno and 18km east of Mina, Nevada. It is well situated for the supply of power, water and skilled labour and proximity to transport infrastructure in Mineral County and is centred around four existing mineral deposits: Garnet; Good Hope; Gunmetal and Desert Scheelite, all of which possess significant skarn-style tungsten-copper-silver-zinc mineralisation. The Pilot Mountain project consists of 176 active lode mining claims and 4 filed mill site claims. The four mill site claims filed at the former Dunham mill site have secure access to groundwater supply sufficient for the proposed project.Kibby Basin Lithium ProjectThe Kibby Basin Project covers two claim packages which are prospective for lithium brine mineralisation. The southern claim package is less than 250m from a 2022 drillhole which returned a significant interval (169m) of lithium brine mineralisation which was determined to be open in all directions. The Project is less than 5km to the southeast of the Company's flagship Pilot Mountain Project.Golconda Summit ProjectGolden Metal is the operator of the Golconda Summit project, which is held under an earn-in right to acquire up to 100 per cent. of the project from the mineral claim owner pursuant to an option agreement. The Golconda Summit project is an exploration stage gold and silver project located in Humboldt County and situated at the confluence of the Getchell and Battle Mountain - Eureka metallogenic trends, and consists of 44 lode mining claims, covering a total area of approximately 3.22 km2 (795.4 acres) located approximately 27km east of Winnemucca.Garfield ProjectThe Garfield Project is an exciting copper-gold-silver prospect consisting of 39 lode mining claims covering 3.23 km2 (797.9 acres) located in Mineral County, Nevada, approximately 14km due east of the town of Hawthorne and 120km due west-northwest of Tonopah. Exploration to date has included detailed geochemical sampling and follow up analysis which highlighted the presence of both skarn-type and porphyry style mineralisation and alteration at the 'High-Grade Zone'. Further mapping, prospecting and rock sampling was recently completed with results confirming presence of high-grade copper, silver and gold mineralisation.Stonewall ProjectThe Stonewall project is an exploration stage gold-silver property prospective for epithermal gold-silver mineralisation. The property consists of 19 lode mining claims covering 1.59 km2 (392.5 acres) located on the northern flank of Stonewall Mountain, on the western edge of the Nellis Airforce Range Restricted Access Area, in Nye County, Nevada, approximately 24km south-east of the historic gold mining town of Goldfield and 60km due south of Tonopah.This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@ lseg.com or visit www.rns.com SOURCE: Golden Metal Resources PLC
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 12:28:40

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. (the "Company" or "GSilver") (TSXV:GSVR)(OTCQX:GSVRF) is pleased to provide an operations update prior to year-end 2023. Production results are generated from the Company's wholly owned El Cubo Mines Complex ("El Cubo"), Valenciana Mines Complex ("VMC"), and San Ignacio Mine ("San Ignacio") in Guanajuato, Mexico, and the Topia Mine ("Topia") in Durango, Mexico.November Production Results Demonstrate Improved PerformanceDuring the second and third quarters of 2023, the Company completed several changes to operations at all of GSilver's producing silver mines. (See GSilver news release dated November 24, 2023 - "Guanajuato Silver Reports Q3 2023 Financial and Operating Results"). Most notably:Mining operations were adjusted at El Cubo to significantly increase the number of available mining stopes.Dewatering commenced at El Cubo to access higher-grade mineralized zones located in deeper areas of the Villalpando section of the mine.The business model at Topia was changed to center on purchasing mineralized material from underground contract miners and local operators.Results from October to the end of November have demonstrated improvements across almost all measurable categories.1Silver equivalents are calculated using an 84.85:1 (Ag/Au), 0.04 (Ag/Pb) and 0.05 (Ag/Zn) ratio for November and an 85.70:1 (Ag/Au), 0.04 Ag/Pb), and 0.05 (Ag/Zn) ratio for October.James Anderson, Chairman & CEO of Guanajuato Silver, said, "As previously reported, we have adjusted several operating procedures and made significant capex investments designed to increase efficiencies and better overall commercial performance. Results to date are very encouraging; we appear to be back on track in terms of the progress of the ramp-up at El Cubo as we have increased the available production stopes there from 10 to 23; also, our new business model at Topia is generating much healthier economics. At San Ignacio, November was the best single month on record regarding tonnes mined. We are confident that the trajectory of this success will continue well into the New Year." Decision to Transition to Dry StackAfter a comprehensive internal review, Guanajuato Silver has decided to proceed with the installation of a dry stack tailings facility at the Company's wholly owned El Cubo Mines Complex. A dry stack tailings facility employs a filter press that will extract approximately 82% of the water from the tailings generated during mineral processing; this water can then be reused and recycled continuously. The "dry" tailings process is much easier to rehabilitate, reduces future environmental impact and, increases overall safety for local communities by increasing the structural integrity of the tailings deposit, and would extend the tailings capacity at El Cubo by an estimated 18 to 20 years. GSilver anticipates the start of production of the new dry stack facility to commence in H2 2024, and the Company will provide more details on specific timing later in 2024.James Anderson, Chairman & CEO, added, "Transitioning our El Cubo tailings to a dry stack technique further enhances Guanajuato Silver's commitment to become one of Mexico's most environmentally friendly mining companies. This decision to move away from the current Mastrantos basin system at El Cubo will add up to 20 years of tailings capacity, while confirming our commitment to employ the best and most environmentally sound contemporary mining techniques." Caption: Guanajuato Silver's current Mastrantos tailings basins at El Cubo. Mastrantos IIIB is currently active.About Guanajuato SilverGSilver is a precious metals producer engaged in reactivating past producing silver and gold mines in central Mexico. The Company produces silver and gold concentrates from the El Cubo Mine Complex, Valenciana Mines Complex, and the San Ignacio mine; all three mines are located within the state of Guanajuato, which has an established 480-year mining history. Additionally, the Company produces silver, gold, lead, and zinc concentrates from the Topia mine in northwestern Durango. With four operating mines and three processing facilities, Guanajuato Silver is one of the fastest growing silver producers in Mexico.Technical InformationReynaldo Rivera, VP of Exploration of GSilver, has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Rivera is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM - Registration Number 220979) and a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS"James Anderson"Chairman and CEOFor further information regarding Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., please contact:JJ Jennex, Gerente de Comunicaciones, T: 604 723 1433E: jjj@ GSilver.comGsilver.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, which relate to future events or future performance including, but not limited to, the continuing trend of quarterly increases in production and silver equivalent ounce recoveries in 2023; the details of the progress at El Cubo, confidence in continued success, the construction of a new dry stack tailings facility at El Cubo, the anticipated increase and length of additional tailing storage capacity resulting therefrom and the expecting timing for the construction thereof and safety and environmental benefits therefrom;; and the Company's status as one of the fastest growing silver producers in Mexico.Such forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and expectations and are based on information currently available to and assumptions made by the Company; which assumptions, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include: our estimates of mineralized material at El Cubo, VMC, San Ignacio and Topia and the assumptions upon which they are based, including geotechnical and metallurgical characteristics of rock conforming to sampled results and metallurgical performance; available tonnage of mineralized material to be mined and processed; resource grades and recoveries; assumptions and discount rates being appropriately applied to production estimates; the ability of the Company to ramp up processing of mineralized material
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 19:00:22

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Hack The Box has been recognized as a leader in The Forrester Wave: Cybersecurity Skills And Training Platforms, Q4 2023. Hack The Box received the highest possible scores in seven criteria: Skills Assessment and Verification, Gamification, Competition and Recognition, Learner Experience and Adoption, Curriculum Management, Vision, Pricing Flexibility and Transparency, and Community.A year of remarkable growthThis recognition follows a momentous year for Hack The Box-a successful $55 million Series B funding, surpassing 2 million platform members worldwide, and an expanded product offering that introduced new defensive security solutions, complementing its prowess in offensive methods since 2017.Offering hands-on, captivating learning experiences that mirror real-world threat scenarios and incorporate the latest attack techniques, Hack The Box continues to set new benchmarks in cybersecurity expertise.Forrester's report cites Hack The Box's approach, stating the company "is reflected in its differentiated vision of creating and connecting cyber-ready humans, offering hours of free content from which thousands of its two-million community members got their start with offensive security techniques." The independent research firm has recognized Hack The Box with the highest scores possible, defined as superior capabilities relative to others in the evaluation, in criteria for several of our key areas:CommunityGamification, competition, and recognitionLearner Experience and AdoptionSkills AssessmentHaris Pylarinos, Founder and CEO at Hack The Box, celebrates: "This recognition further validates for us our commitment to providing unique solutions and spearheading a new era in upskilling. As the global skills shortage hits record highs of 4 million, our platform plays a crucial role in addressing this challenge." "The landscape of cybersecurity training has evolved. Traditional methods no longer suffice against the rising tide of sophisticated attacks. Security professionals seek engaging, gamified training-where we lead." "Our core mission has always been cultivating a 'hacker mindset,' fostering out-of-the-box thinking and enabling organizations and individuals to adopt this unique perspective through Hack The Box." Moving beyond upskillingHaris Pylarinos, Founder and CEO at Hack The Box, continues, "Hack The Box doesn't just provide a comprehensive platform for individuals, businesses, government institutions, and universities to enhance their offensive and defensive security skills. It also acts as a pathway to cybersecurity job opportunities, directly addressing the industry's serious talent shortage." "Across the globe, customers have acclaimed our platform as an invaluable tool that remarkably contributes to their wider objectives, delivering substantial returns on their investment." "We're thrilled by Forrester's recognition and remain committed to delivering even more distinctive solutions throughout 2024 and beyond." ENDSAbout Hack The BoxHack The Box is a leading gamified cybersecurity upskilling, certification, and talent assessment platform enabling individuals, businesses, government institutions, and universities to sharpen their offensive and defensive security expertise. Launched in 2017, Hack The Box brings together the largest global cybersecurity community of more than 2m platform members and is on a mission to create and connect cyber-ready humans and organizations through highly engaging hacking experiences that cultivate out-of-the-box thinking. Offering a fully guided and exploratory skills development environment, Hack The Box is the ideal solution for cybersecurity professionals and organizations to continuously enhance their cyber-attack readiness by improving their red, blue, and purple team capabilities. Rapidly growing its international footprint and reach, Hack The Box is headquartered in the UK, with additional offices in Greece and the US.For more information, please visit hackthebox.com For press inquiries, please contact: pr@ hackthebox.com SOURCE: Hack The Box
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 00:00:26

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2023 / The first Entrepreneur Networking Event on Wall Street, hosted at the iconic Trump Building in New York on December 7th, was a resounding success, drawing over a hundred participants. This gathering provided a unique and valuable opportunity for Chinese and American entrepreneurs in New York to engage in impactful business discussions, share insights, and explore collaborative ventures.Inaugural Entrepreneur Networking Event Triumphs at Trump Building on Wall Street The event was collaboratively organized by Manhattan Primary Consulting Inc, Apexy Investments, and Milli Media. It brought together a diverse array of industry leaders, fostering an environment conducive to networking and partnership building.In her opening speech, CEO Linda Yang of Manhattan Primary Consulting Inc. highlighted the event's core objective: to facilitate meaningful exchanges among local entrepreneurs, fostering precise business connections. Yang announced an exciting plan to make these events a monthly occurrence starting in 2024, demonstrating a commitment to sustained collaboration.Founders Jun He of Apexy Investments and Eva Cai of Milli Media extended a warm welcome to attendees, expressing their anticipation for fruitful interactions and valuable insights gained from the event.Representing the sponsor, Kevin Chin of HAO MU PTE. LTD. (Singapore) took the stage to introduce the company's partnership with Phenix Bio Inc. and its revolutionary products. Chin emphasized flagship products such as CUCA NMN+ for anti-aging, Empress Treasure for women seeking to maintain youthfulness and vigor, and Fit Trim for those focusing on metabolism and weight management. Chin passionately conveyed Phenix Bio Inc.'s belief that "health is wealth" and underscored the importance of making conscious choices to lead healthier lives through high-quality health supplements. The success of the inaugural Entrepreneur Networking Event not only provided a conducive environment for collaboration but also set a precedent for future gatherings, showcasing their pivotal role in fostering robust business relationships and promoting healthier lifestyles.Contact InformationMuse Chan millimedia.ny@gmail.com SOURCE: Milli Media
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 13:02:13

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MAN Property hosts 80 previous drill holes and 19,449 meters of assay data, within 622 acres of patented mining claims and BLM lode claimsSeveral high-grade copper and gold intercepts from historic drilling including:53.03 meters of 1.63% Cu and 1.45 g/t Au in Hole 28_0872.03 meters of 0.75% Cu, 0.34 g/t Au and 14.47 g/t Ag in Hole 28_01With the addition of the MAN Property, the Corral Copper Project now contains a 3 km long mineralized trend and totals over 9,600 acres (15 Square miles), including 1,800 acres of patented mining claims and surface rightsVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Intrepid Metals Corp. (TSXV:INTR)(OTCQB:IMTCF) ("Intrepid" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the previously announced option to acquire a 100% interest in the MAN Property (the "Property") from Mining and Mineral Opportunity Ltd. ("MMO") within its Corral Copper Project, in Cochise County, Arizona. The Corral Copper Project area incudes 50,000 metres ("m") of historical drilling data, with shallow mineralization of copper ("Cu"), and gold ("Au").The terms of the Agreement give Intrepid the option to acquire a 100% interest in the Property in return for certain cash and common share ("Share") payments to MMO. The consideration is as follows and all dollar values are United States dollars:Time PeriodCash PaymentsShare ConsiderationClosing$200,0003,500,000 Shares12 Months$100,0002,500,000 Shares24 Months$1,000,0002,500,000 Shares36 Months$960,0003,500,000 SharesTotals$2,260,00012,000,000 SharesIn connection with closing, Intrepid has made the initial $200,000 cash payment and issued 3,500,000 Shares to MMO. Intrepid will take over as operator of the Property and will be responsible for future exploration work and maintaining the Properties in good standing. The common shares issued to MMO are subject to a four month hold period that expires on April 9, 2024."We are very pleased to close this integral acquisition as it completes the consolidation of a 3 km trend of impressive copper and gold mineralization within our larger Corral Copper Project area," said Ken Brophy, CEO of Intrepid. "We are excited to begin to unlock the value within the district as the previous fragmented land ownership has acted as a barrier to a district scale approach to exploration and development. We now control over 9,500 acres, with 1,800 acres made up of patented mining claims and additional surface rights that host the mineralized trend." Figure 1: Plan Map Showing Historical Copper Values within the 3 km TrendFigure 2: Cross Section through the MAN Property Highlighting Historical ResultsHistorical Drilling Highlights from MANCopper highlights, as well as corresponding gold and silver grades from historical drilling include:53.03m of 1.63% Cu and 1.45 grams per tonne ("g/t") Au (117.35m to 170.38m) in Hole 28_0872.03m of 0.75% Cu, 0.34 g/t Au and 14.47 g/t Ag (57.91m to 129.94m) in Hole 28_0174.98m of 0.73% Cu (74.98m to 149. 96m) in Hole M_3538.70m of 2.14% Cu (98.76m to 137.46m) in Hole M_01106.68m of 0.65% Cu and 0.34% Au (109.73m to 216.41m) in Hole 28_09Note: *Drill intercepts reported from historical drilling. Composite drill intervals where reported were calculated using 3-meter composites, 3 meters of internal dilution with minimum grades of 0.2% copper. All intervals are core lengths, and true thicknesses are yet to be determined. No core remains, therefore Intrepid has been unable to independently verify the results or carry out any independent investigation of the sampling of the historical exploration work. Intrepid considers these historical drill results relevant, as the Company will use this data as a guide to plan future drill 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 drilling.Additional maps and cross-sections for Corral Copper can be found on our website at: Intrepid Metals Corp - Corral CopperAbout Corral CopperThe 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.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. More details about the Corral Copper Property and the plans for 2023 will be released soon.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, including the statements with respect to data verification.About Intrepid Metals Corp.Intrepid Metals Corp. is a Canadian company focused on exploring for high-grade essential metals such as copper, silver, lead, and zinc mineral projects in proximity to established mining jurisdictions in southeastern Arizona, USA. The Company has acquired or has agreements to acquire several drill ready projects, including the Corral Copper Project (a district scale advanced exploration and development opportunity with significant shallow historical drill results), 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 has assembled an exceptional team with considerable experience with exploration, develop
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 09:00:17

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Licensing Expo returns to Las Vegas, May 21-23, 2024, as the premier meeting point for the $340.8 billion global licensing industry.LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Licensing Expo, the world's leading event dedicated to brand licensing, IP extension and collaborations, opens 2024 registration and hotel bookings with new dedicated attendee programs delivering elevated value to its attending audience of global consumer product manufacturers and retailers.Organized by Informa Markets' Global Licensing Group and sponsored by Licensing International, Licensing Expo plays host to the world's biggest brands from Hasbro to Pokemon, BBC's Bluey to the Coca-Cola Company, all looking for new partners to develop best-in-class officially licensed consumer product ranges.With "Brands at Play" set as the core theme for 2024, the event will spotlight the power play holds in every stage of life and the creativity it fosters when building brands. Manifesting across a range of new immersive brand experiences, new educational content and new catered networking spaces, the theme will also continue internationally into Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) later the same year (Sept. 24-26, 2024, ExCeL London)."Licensing Expo and Brand Licensing Europe continue to exceed all expectations with record high retail attendance," notes Anna Clarke, SVP Licensing, Global Licensing Group, Informa Markets. "As we enter the next stage of Licensing Expo's evolution, we continue to strive to facilitate the highest quality of new business opportunities for our industry and invest in the development of exciting advancements for the future. The curated theme is contextual and intentional. We invite the licensing community's imagination of fun to see everyone "at play" throughout the event!"Maura Regan, President of Licensing International, adds: "The business of brand licensing is constantly evolving and we are thrilled to partner with the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets to take Licensing Expo into the next stage of its development, meeting executives where they are with what they need. The licensing community is looking for insight into emerging trends, new business opportunities and new ways to connect. Licensing Expo remains a key global destination for anyone looking to achieve all of this under one roof. It is truly a must-attend event for those in the business of global brands." Registration is now open for visitors and exhibitors. Admission is free of charge for qualified retailers, press and exhibitors. 2023 attendees can benefit from a limited time discount enabling free of charge registration until Jan. 31, 2024. General admission is $50. For more information on the 2024 admissions policy, visit www.licensingexpo.com Early registration is encouraged to be the first to hear on new updates for Licensing Expo 2024. Advanced hotel room bookings are also now available for full advantage of exclusive discounts. Hotels available for discounted housing rates include the Four Seasons, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Delano, Park MGM and NoMad.About Licensing Expo:Launched in 1980, Licensing Expo is the world's largest and most influential annual tradeshow dedicated to licensing and brand extension. Every year, more than 5,000 brands and 16,000 retailers, licensees, manufacturers, distributors, and licensing agents attend Licensing Expo from more than 70 countries. Licensing Expo is a part of the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets, the licensing industry's leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide licensing opportunities around the world by bringing brands and products together. Connect with Licensing Expo and join the conversation on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram.About Global Licensing Group:The Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), is the licensing industry's leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide licensing opportunities around the world by bringing brands and products together. The following events and information products are produced for the licensing industry by the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets: Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Shanghai, and License Global. Global Licensing Group events are sponsored by Licensing International.About Licensing International:Licensing International is the leading trade organization for the $340+ billion global brand licensing industry. Licensing International's mission is to foster the growth of brand licensing around the world, raise the level of professionalism for licensing practitioners, and create greater awareness of the benefits of licensing to the business community at large. Founded in 1985, more than 1,500 Licensing International member companies in over 40 countries enjoy access to an array of benefits, including extensive educational programming and worldwide networking events. Visit www.LicensingInternational.org for more information.Media Contact:Informa Markets Licensing PRLicensingPR@ informa.com SOURCE: INFORMA MARKETS - GLOBAL LICENSING GROUP (Licensing Expo)
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 12. Uzbekistan officially opened its embassy in Qatar, Trend reports.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov took part in the opening ceremony of the embassy in Doha.

"Thanks to the high dynamics set by the leaders of the two countries, Uzbek-Qatari relations are developing at an unprecedented level. In May, a diplomatic mission of Qatar opened in Tashkent. Undoubtedly, these embassies will serve to strengthen our relations," the minister said.

Uzbekistan and Qatar have made significant progress in establishing closer contacts, developing legal frameworks and expanding areas of cooperation.

In June 2023, the visit of the Emir of Qatar to Samarkand opened a new page in Uzbek-Qatari relations. During the visit, an agreement was reached to raise cooperation to the level of a comprehensive partnership.

In addition, the parties reached an agreement on the participation of leading Qatari companies in the implementation of investment projects with a total value of $12 billion.

In 2022, trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $4.8 million.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 18:01:39

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Arrow Benefits Group Celebrates Community Accolade Encouraging DiversityPETALUMA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Arrow Benefits Group Senior Benefits Advisor Rosario Avila has been honored with the North Bay Business Journal's Diversity in Business Award. Avila is recognized as an outstanding diverse leader, working to empower the community in the North Bay. The award celebrates individuals whose contributions build community and a positive work environment where all people are represented and supported.Avila has been involved in several local organizations such as Sonoma Family Meal, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, LatinX Hub, and Los Cien. In her role as the leader of Arrow's Spanish Language Division - Alianza - Avila brings her passion for community to the workplace. "I'm very humbled by this award," says Avila. "As the youngest child of immigrants, I saw firsthand how thoughtful communication among different people helps to limit misunderstandings. I'm so proud that Arrow understands this and works to ensure our clients receive culturally sensitive information." To learn about Avila and Arrow's diversity work, please visit https://www.arrowbenefitsgroup.com/spanish-language-division/ or call 707-799-9274.Translating for a population and its language is more than just converting information; it takes a deeper understanding, re-interpretation, and communication of words and ideas. Avila understands this concept exceptionally well. She helped Arrow build its Spanish Division, Alianza, to do exactly that, allowing an entire diverse community to make the best use of its benefits and reduce financial losses for its clients - the program had been a win-win for employees and employers alike.Avila's efforts to ensure equitable access to information have been recognized in the past. She has been nationally recognized as an Employee Benefits Advisor of the Year and received an Excellence in Advising Award. Avila was honored with the North Bay Business Journal Latino Business Leadership award in 2018."One of Arrow's goals is to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where our employees can grow, thrive, and be supported," says Joe Genovese, Arrow's CEO and Managing Principal. "This award is a great achievement for Rosario and the Arrow team at large." About Arrow BenefitsFor more than 30 years, Arrow has been a true partner to employers by delivering employee benefits expertise, service excellence, and strategic consulting designed to meet the unique needs of its clients. In 2019, Arrow Benefits Group co-founded Patriot Growth Insurance Services (PGIS), which is now one of the largest benefits consulting and brokerage networks in the country. Patriot and Arrow are aligned with TRUE Network of Advisors, a national collaboration of independent agencies and brokerages. Learn more at https://www.arrowbenefitsgroup.com/ or call 707-992-3780.Be Social with Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrow-benefits-insurance-services/ Contact InformationJenny Kaplan JKPR kaplan@ jkaplanpr.com 415-342-2209SOURCE: Arrow Benefits Group
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LIMA, PERU / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Mundo-Btc, a leading trading platform, proudly announces the launch of its innovative trading platform in Latin America. This expansion marks a significant milestone in the company's mission to provide accessible and innovative financial tools to traders and investors worldwide.The new platform launch in Latin America represents Mundo-BTC's commitment to democratizing access to financial markets in the region. With a user-friendly interface and robust features, the platform offers a professional suite of investment tools, empowering users to trade a wide range of financial instruments efficiently.Key Features of Mundo-BTC in Latin America include:Diverse Asset Selection: The platform enables users to access a diverse array of financial instruments, including stocks, options, cryptocurrencies, and more, allowing investors to diversify their portfolios.Advanced Analytics and Tools: Users benefit from advanced analytics, real-time market data, and customizable tools designed to enhance their trading strategies and optimize their investment portfolios.User-Friendly Interface: The platform boasts an intuitive and user-friendly interface, catering to both novice and experienced traders, ensuring a seamless trading experience.Latin America presents a vibrant market with a growing interest in financial markets and investment opportunities.Mundo-BTC's platform launch aims to address the increasing demand for accessible and reliable trading solutions, empowering individuals across the region to participate actively in global financial markets.With a keen focus on security, reliability, and innovation, Mundo-BTC remains dedicated to delivering a seamless and secure trading experience for users in Latin America. The platform's launch aligns with our vision to foster financial inclusion and empower individuals to achieve their investment goals.More about Mundo-BTC:As the leading trading platform in Latin America, Mundo-BTC possesses a number of significant elements that contribute to its success and attractiveness among regional dealers.This platform provides a dynamic doorway to the global financial markets, exemplifying innovation, trustworthiness, and accessibility. It offers a comprehensive set of tools and services designed to meet the different needs of both novice and experienced traders in the region.This platform champions diversity, offering a wide array of financial instruments that include stocks, options, bonds, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and more. Its expansive range empowers investors to diversify their portfolios and seize opportunities across various asset classes.An intuitive and user-centric interface is the hallmark of this top trading platform. Seamlessly navigating through the platform, users access real-time market data, advanced analytics, and customizable tools that are instrumental in shaping informed investment decisions. These tools not only aid in crafting strategies but also provide insights into market trends and opportunities.Security and reliability are non-negotiable aspects of this platform. Utilizing high-tech technology and adhering to the highest security standards, it ensures the safety of users' funds and personal information. The platform's credibility and trustworthiness form the foundation of its relationship with traders.Adapting to the evolving needs of its users, this platform embraces innovation. Regular updates and feature enhancements reflect its commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements in the trading landscape.Ultimately, as the leading trading platform in Latin America, Mundo-BTC possesses a number of significant elements that contribute to its success and attractiveness among regional dealers.This platform provides a dynamic doorway to the global financial markets, exemplifying innovation, trustworthiness, and accessibility.Media Details:Company Name: Mundo Btc LtdContact: Ignacio Marquez-HidalgoCity and Country: Lima, PeruBusiness Mail: Ignacio@ mundo-btc.comWebsite: SOURCE: Mundo Btc Ltd
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Before the REORGANIZATION, Stemtech thrived IN COLOMBIA, generating $10 million and boasting 3,000 IBPs in the Colombian market.NAPLES, FL / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / STEMTECH CORPORATION (OTCQB:STEK) Stemtech, the pioneer in all-natural, plant-based stem cell nutrition wellness solutions, announces a significant step in its global expansion strategy with the re-entry into the Colombian market and the planned expansion of its product line in Ecuador. These strategic moves are poised to unlock new opportunities and consolidate Stemtech's position as a key player in the wellness industry, setting the stage for robust growth in 2024.Re-Entry into the Colombian MarketPrior to the recent reorganization of the company, Colombia stood as a robust market for Stemtech, with its products enjoying strong brand recognition and a dedicated user base, particularly for its flagship product, Stemrelease3. Before the reorganization of the Colombian market, Stemtech was thriving, generating over $10 million in revenue and boasting over 3 thousand Independent Business Partners (IBPs).Exciting Pre-Registration Opportunity for Independent Business Partners (IBP)s:In tandem with the Colombian market re-entry, Stemtech is thrilled to extend a special invitation to Independent Business Partners (IBPs) to pre-register, providing motivated individuals with an opportunity to generate income for their families and enhance their overall well-being. Be among the first to access these groundbreaking solutions by pre-registering at Stemtech's Colombia Pre-Registration section on the stemtech.com website. Secure your spot and become a part of the wellness revolution sweeping across Colombia. We will also be adding this feature for our existing Ecuador market.Stemtech's Planned Product Line Expansion in Ecuador will feature StemFlo Advanced Circulation support and MigraStem migration enhancer. This will provide the full Release, Circulate, Migrate (RCM System) for our Ecuador business.Self-Sustained Growth Model:Importantly, Stemtech is aligned to expand markets and grow revenue with its current structure, eliminating the need for additional corporate resources. This self-sustained growth model exemplifies the company's strategic efficiency, allowing it to capitalize on emerging opportunities without additional strain on corporate infrastructure.Celebrating Top Producers:In tandem with its strategic market moves, Stemtech is excited to kick off its end-of-year Cruise for its top producers. Stemtech is thrilled to be sailing the South Caribbean on the Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas, which began on Saturday, December 9th through the 16th with its top global leaders who earned the opportunity by qualifying for an incentive contest which began in June 2023. Stemtech looks forward to seeing this number continue to grow substantially in the coming years as more IBPs strive for excellence and qualify for this exceptional reward. Qualification for the cruise is a testament to the dedication and outstanding performance of IBPs, emphasizing Stemtech's commitment to recognizing and rewarding excellence within its community.Qualifying IBPs showcase exceptional dedication and achievement within the Stemtech community, and the cruise serves as a symbol of appreciation for their outstanding contributions. We will also share key new 2024 initiatives with these top leaders.In Conclusion:Stemtech's re-entry into the Colombian market, planned product line expansion in Ecuador featuring StemFlo Advanced and MigraStem, the exciting pre-registration opportunity for IBPs, and the celebration of top producers underscore the company's commitment to international growth and the well-being of its community. These strategic initiatives position Stemtech strategically to capitalize on emerging opportunities, making 2024 a year of significant expansion and impact for the company.ABOUT STEMTECHStemtech Corporation, a leading stemceutical company with a direct sales distribution model, was founded on April 18, 2018, after acquiring the operations from its predecessor Stemtech International, Inc., which was established in 2005. From 2010 through 2015, Stemtech International, Inc., was recognized four separate times on the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies list. In 2018, Stemtech underwent an extensive executive reorganization, and continued operations under new leadership as Stemtech Corporation. In August 2021, Stemtech became a publicly traded company (OTCQB:STEK) and has expanded business opportunities for its Independent Business Partners, who may earn incomes by sharing Stemtech products. January 2022 saw the introduction of new marketing efforts. In September 2022, the new Stemtech AdvanceOffice mobile app based on the VERB Technology platform was successfully launched as a powerful communication - recruiting tool for our Field On November 1, 2022, Stemtech introduced the new travel/sample size OraStem Toothpaste. On December 6, Stemtech announced the promotion of Alejandro Carrillo to the role of Vice President Global Sales from his current role as Managing Director Latin Markets. Stemtech introduced the new CellectOne Rapid Renew Stem Cell Peptide Night Cream at their December 2022 International Leadership Event in Cancun, Mexico. January 10, 2023. Stemtech appoints Margie and Mike Mares to Field Advisory Board. Stemtech has Ranked Number 11 in Momentum out of 700+ top Global MLM companies by Business For Home independent MLM publication, January 23, 2023. Stemtech conducted Field Leadership Business Academies in Aguas Calientes, Mexico May 25 - 27, and in Las Vegas, NV on June 1 - 3. Stemtech rewards top Field Leaders with reward cruise in the South Caribbean December 9 - 16 2023 aboard the Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas.Forward-Looking StatementsThis announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include but are not limited to statements identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," "projects" and similar expressions. The statements in this release are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences, including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials and/or other studies, the challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, the effect of any competitive products%
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Regions Bank joins Mississippi State University to equip family business owners for sustainable success.NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Regions BankBy Veleka FinchDr. Laura Marler grew up in Pineville, Louisiana, watching her father start and grow his auto body paint distributing business. What she witnessed made an enduring impact."From as early as I can remember, my father was my career role model," Marler said. "I was impacted by seeing his strong work ethic, never hearing him complain about long hours or financial sacrifice, and understanding that education was a staple in my future. He set an example I can only aspire to." The family business expanded and now includes stores across South Louisiana. Marler's brother is now part of the executive team. And the company has been mentioned in a Harvard Business Review article.Today, Marler is paying forward her father's example in her role as head of Mississippi State University's Department of Management and Information Systems. She oversees strategic research on family business, has been published in top management journals, and co-founded the Family Business Education Initiative (FBEI) in 2018.FBEI is a half-day seminar series offered multiple times per year, free of charge to family business owners in North Mississippi and surrounding regions.Seminar topics have included:Human ResourcesLegal IssuesStaffingInformation SecuritySuccessionFBEI focuses on small business, because 90 percent of small businesses in Mississippi are family owned."With MSU's E-Center resources available for startups, we identified a gap in the support and outreach for existing businesses that have begun to grow," Marler said. "We are trying to help these small family firms continue to grow and sustain their businesses for generations to come." Regions Bank has been FBEI's lead donor since 2022. The bank also supplies subject matter authorities to inform FBEI participants about business trends."FBEI perfectly aligns with Regions Bank's priority of creating inclusive prosperity in the communities we serve," said Justin Casano, market executive for Regions in Starkville. "We want to help educate more small business owners to provide them a pathway to financial stability and a sustainable future. FBEI is the perfect partnership to accomplish that success." The next FBEI session is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to noon in McCool Hall - Room 208A.Lunch will be provided.The following topics will be covered:Parker Ellen, Mississippi State University - Smarter Choices, Better Business: Developing Decision-Making SkillsJeff Taylor, Head of Forensic Fraud, Regions Bank - Fighting Commercial Fraud in 2023"Protecting liquidity is vitally important in today's economy," said Casano. "If a fraudster steals or disrupts a business's working capital, it could cause serious operational problems." "Jeff Taylor will give best practices on what a small business owner can do to help minimize their risk," he added.Marler says this type of outreach impacts the "heart" of the Mississippi economy."Small businesses are key to providing employment opportunities and advancing economic growth," she proclaimed. "I'm honored to share knowledge in an applied way." "We create FBEI sessions with information attendees can implement after they attend outreach sessions," Marler added. "The College of Business is committed to supporting local businesses. We are proud that - with the support of Regions Bank - FBEI can help attendees build a solid plan for their family business and their family's future." Contact Katie Ruth at kruth@ business.msstate.edu for FBEI registration information.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Regions Bank on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Regions BankWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/regions-bankEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Regions Bank
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FAYETTEVILLE, AR / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / As the year draws to a close, businesses, tax professionals, and service providers diligently prepare for the imminent year-end filing obligations. Tax1099 , a top IRS-authorized eFile service provider, emerges as a beacon of convenience. Acknowledging the diversity of financial transactions, Tax1099 has announced its acceptance of a range of IRS forms for the 2023 tax year, including 1099 , 1098 , 1042 , 1095 , and W-2 . In addition to this, they have announced an exclusive early bird offer , providing users with a special 20% discount. This makes an already competitive price even more appealing.Tax1099's powerful features, like real-time TIN matching, bulk filing, 12+ integrations, address validation, etc., can assist businesses in simplifying their filing procedure and verifying the correctness of tax filings.Tax1099 facilitates the eFiling of Form 1099-NEC , Form 1099-MISC , Form 1099-K , Form 1099-DIV , Form W-2 , Form 941 , and over 40 other Federal Forms. The platform also eliminates guesswork by backing both the Combined Federal/State Filing (CFSF) Program with the IRS and automatically determining the need for direct-to-state filings ."As the 2023 filing season approaches, the Tax1099 team stands prepared to support organizations with speed and precision, ensuring a seamless experience for all its customers", affirms Sanjeev Singh, Founder and CEO of Zenwork. He emphasizes their commitment to excellence, expressing excitement about introducing new features, forms, and functionality to their robust application for an upcoming significant tax season.Features and Functionality of Tax1099Before filing paperwork with the IRS/SSA, businesses can use TIN Matching to check all EIN/SSN information provided to them. Tax1099 uses the IRS database to confirm the accuracy of TIN information, preventing incorrect filing.Simplify tax administration with the ability to create and manage multiple payer accounts, consolidating data and forms in one centralized location for efficient processing.Tackle compliance challenges head-on by tracking every IRS notice , eliminating confusion, and saving valuable time addressing regulatory requirements.Ensure the highest level of data security with bank-grade 256-bit encryption and two-factor authentication , offering peace of mind for users.CPAs and firms with large filing volumes can reduce their filing time and manual work with the Bulk Upload feature . It allows tax professionals to upload all data in one batch, using the provided template, seamlessly populating their clients' forms and streamlining the e-filing process.With its hallmark features of quick 1099 eFiling, IRS-compliant eDelivery, timely deadline reminders, and dedicated round-the-clock customer support, Tax1099 stands as a trusted and reliable platform for eFiling.About Tax1099: Tax1099, an IRS-authorized digital tax compliance service, simplifies tax filing for over 500,000 businesses nationwide. Offering 40+ federal and state-compliant electronic returns, 11+ data management integrations, API integration, secure document management, Bulk filing, and 24/7 customer support, Tax1099 is a leading tax filing solution provider.About Zenwork Inc: Zenwork Inc., the parent company of Tax1099 and backed by Spectrum Equity, is a key player in digital tax compliance and regulatory reporting technology. With a decade of experience, Zenwork Inc. has assisted over 150,000 businesses and 30,000 CPA firms in simplifying compliance. Learn more about Zenwork and its products at www.zenwork.com www.tax1099.com , and www.compliancely.com Contact:April Rae Mallord Zenwork, Inc. April@ zenwork.com SOURCE: ZENWORK INC
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ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / In a world where businesses often focus solely on profits, The Millennia Companies continues to stand out as an example of a company committed to making a lasting impact on the communities it serves. Beyond its role in providing quality, affordable housing, Millennia extends its social responsibility footprint by partnering with local leaders to address critical needs, particularly during the holiday season. A prime example of this commitment is the company's support for communities like Azure Estates, where it is fostering positive change that goes well beyond the walls of the buildings they manage.Azure Estates is just one of the communities that have benefited from Millennia's investment in community well-being. Situated in a challenging market, Azure Estates faced several obstacles, including economic disparities and limited access to resources. The Millennia Companies understood the opportunity to transform the property and improve the living experience of residents with an $18+ million renovation that was completed in 2022. However, Millennia recognized that the physical environment was just one component of property management, and has worked to further support the community through services and events.The holiday season is a time of joy for many, but it can also be a period of hardship for those in underserved communities. As such, Millennia took the initiative to partner with local leaders and organizations to make a tangible difference in the lives of Azure Estates residents. The company organized a series of events and initiatives designed to alleviate some of the challenges being faced by the community.One of the key aspects of Millennia's approach is its collaborative spirit. They understand that true community impact requires a united effort. By working closely with local leaders, nonprofits, and volunteers, Millennia was able to amplify the positive changes they sought to bring about. In 2021, Azure Estates organized a Secret Santa gathering that supported families and children living within the Azure Estates community. The collaborative effort resulted in donations of over 75 bicycles and 500 toys for the children. Ahead of the event, many of the youth wrote letters to Santa and through the generosity of the community, every wish on each list was fulfilled, and every child who attended received a gift. Ultimately, this event fostered a feeling of unity and collaboration during the festive period and has continued in the years following.Millennia has also demonstrated its commitment to health equity by partnering with the city council for the first annual Community Health and Wellness Resource Fair in 2023. As part of the programming, residents of Azure Estates were provided free screening services including diabetes risk assessments, blood pressure readings, BMI scores, and rapid result HIV and Hepatitis C tests. This fair had a lasting impact on a community of families, children, adults, and seniors and was made possible through a sustainable partnership with local organizations including Dedicated Senior Medical Center, FoundCare, Diabetes Coalition of Palm Beach, and more.The Millennia Companies' investment in communities like Azure Estates reflects a deep commitment to social responsibility that goes beyond property management alone. Millennia demonstrates that making a lasting impact is not only possible but also vital for businesses, especially in challenging markets. By partnering with local leaders, organizing community events, and providing ongoing support, Millennia strives to make a significant difference in the lives of those it serves.Contact:Andrew Mitchellmedia@ cambridgeglobal.com SOURCE: Cambridge Global
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 22:02:17

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Politician Dennis Bonnen explains how recommendation letters can impact scholarship opportunities.NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / When it comes to applying for scholarships, many factors can affect your chances of success. One aspect that often gets overlooked is the power of recommendation letters. These letters, written by individuals who know you well and can speak to your character and achievements, can significantly impact your scholarship application.Dennis Bonnen, an American politician who served as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, understands the importance of recommendation letters in the scholarship process. He has witnessed firsthand how these letters can make or break a student's chances of receiving financial aid for their education.Dennis Bonnen advises that recommendation letters provide valuable insight into a student's character, work ethic, and potential for success. They give scholarship committees a more well-rounded view of the applicant and can often be the deciding factor in awarding funds.But why are recommendation letters so powerful? For one, they come from individuals who have a personal connection to the student and can speak to their strengths and accomplishments in a way that numbers and grades cannot. They also provide a sense of credibility, as the writer is putting their reputation on the line by vouching for the student. This can carry a lot of weight with scholarship committees, often looking for standout applicants. Additionally, recommendation letters can help showcase qualities that may not be evident in other parts of the application, such as leadership skills, community involvement, and personal growth.About Dennis Bonnen ScholarshipsDennis Bonnen was sworn in as Texas House Speaker in January 2019. Elected by his colleagues, Speaker Bonnen set an early tone for unity in the House Chamber by empowering members to work together to achieve meaningful results that address the state's most pressing issues. Speaker Bonnen believes in casting aside politics in favor of finding real solutions.Media Contact:Alexis Kennedyalexisk@ dennisbonnenscholarship.comdennisbonnenscholarship.com SOURCE: Dennis Bonnen Scholarships And Foundation
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 01:00:21

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CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / December 11, 2023 / Tocvan Ventures Corp. (the "Company") (CSE:TOC)(OTCQB:TCVNF)(WKN:TV3/A2PE64), is pleased to announce that it has closed a second tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement of Units ("Units") for gross proceeds of $306,150 (the "Offering"). The Offering of the second tranche consisted of the issuance of an aggregate of 680,333 Units at a price of $0.45 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share ("Common Share") in the capital of the Company and one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional Common Share in the capital of the Company at a price of CAD $0.60 for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering, subject to the accelerated expiry provisions described in the notes below.In connection with the Offering, the Company paid aggregate cash commissions to arm's length finders who assisted with the Offering of approximately $15,165 and issued 33,700 finder warrants ("Finder Warrants"). Each Finder Warrant is exercisable at a price of $0.45 per Common Share for a period of 18 months from the closing of the Offering. After giving effect to this tranche, a total of $675,150 has been raised, exceeding the original target of $500,000.The company currently has 42,339,441 Common Shares outstanding.Use of ProceedsThe proceeds of the raise will go towards the advancement of the Pilar Au-Ag project in Sonora, Mexico, with a primary focus on the initial cash payment for the expansion acquisition around Pilar (see News Release October 18, 2023) and accelerating the permitting and drilling initiatives leading towards resource development. Further drill targeting at Pilar and El Picacho projects will be carried out to advance additional resource evaluation.Notes On the OfferingIf, on any 10 consecutive trading days occurring after four months and one day has elapsed following the closing date of the Offering, the closing sales price of the Shares (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported on a trading day) as quoted on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("Exchange") is greater than CAD $0.75 per Common Share, the Company may provide notice in writing to the holders of the Warrants by issuance of a press release that the expiry date of the Warrants will be accelerated to the 30th day after the date on which the Company issues such press release.Closing of the Offering is subject to several conditions, including receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including the Canadian Securities Exchange. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation in Canada. The proceeds from the Offering will also be used for general working capital.The Existing Shareholder Exemption and Investment Dealer ExemptionThe Offering was also made available to existing shareholders of the Company who, as of the close of business on November 1, 2023, held common shares of the Company (and who continue to hold such common shares as of the closing date), pursuant to the prospectus exemption set out in Alberta Securities Commission Rule 45-513 - Prospectus Exemption for Distribution to Existing Security Holders and in similar instruments in other jurisdictions in Canada. The existing shareholder exemption limits a shareholder to a maximum investment of $15,000 in a 12-month period unless the shareholder has obtained advice regarding the suitability of the investment and, if the shareholder is resident in a jurisdiction of Canada, that advice has been obtained from a person that is registered as an investment dealer in the jurisdiction. If the Company receives subscriptions from investors relying on the existing shareholder exemption exceeding the maximum amount of the financing, the Company intends to adjust the subscriptions received on a pro rata basis.The Company has also made the Offering available to certain subscribers pursuant to the investment dealer exemption. In accordance with the requirements of the investment dealer exemption, the Company confirms that there is no material fact or material change about the Company that has not been generally disclosed.About Tocvan Ventures Corp.Tocvan is a well-structured exploration development company. Tocvan was created in order to take advantage of the prolonged downturn the junior mining exploration sector, by identifying and negotiating interest in opportunities where management feels they can build upon previous success. Tocvan has approximately 40 million shares outstanding and is earning 100% into two exciting opportunities in Sonora, Mexico: the Pilar Gold-Silver project and the El Picacho Gold-Silver project. Management feels both projects represent tremendous opportunity to create shareholder value.Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking StatementsNeither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.This news release contains "forward-looking information" which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Offering. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words and phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. 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, among others, risks related to the speculative nature of the Company's business, the Company's formative stage of development an
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 17:01:15

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BELCOURT, ND / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / North Dakota's newest indoor water park celebrated its grand opening on December 8, 2023. Turtle Island Indoor Water Park is the area's premiere destination for family fun, attached to Sky Dancer Casino & Resort, at 3965 Sky Dancer Way NE, Belcourt, ND 58316.Turtle Island Indoor Waterpark The all new Turtle Island Indoor Water Park is now open in Belcourt, ND The indoor water park features three water slides, a 175-foot-long lazy river, an activity pool, and a children's play area. Tickets are on sale now by going to the website, turtleislandadventureparks.com "We are thrilled to welcome families from across North Dakota, Canada, and Minnesota!" said Carl Foy, Marketing Director for Turtle Island Indoor Water Park. "Turtle Island Indoor Water Park is going to be the number one destination in our area for families. There is something for everyone - thrill seekers will love our waterslides, our youngest guests will play all day at the splash pad, and parents can spend a relaxing day on the lazy river. Being attached to Sky Dancer Casino & Resort offers families easy access to lodging and dining, without ever having to step outside." Following the grand opening, the water park will be open Wednesday through Monday every week. The operating schedule varies per day, but the full schedule is available at turtleislandadventureparks.com "With the holidays right around the corner we encourage families to make their plans and book tickets soon," said Foy. "North Dakota winters are cold, so we're excited to offer this year-round getaway for families to escape the windchills and enjoy a weekend away. It's always Summer at Turtle Island Indoor Water Park." In addition to slides, a pool, and a lazy river, Turtle Island Indoor Water Park celebrates the Ojibwe culture and traditions of the local area. Turtle Island is named for the Ojibwe origin story, where the center of creation begins on a turtle's back. Visitors to the water park will see other characters and scenes from the creation story depicted on murals and installations throughout the park.Families can expect more exciting options in the area soon. Turtle Island Indoor Water Park marks the first attraction opening as part of the new Turtle Island Adventure Park, a family destination concentrated in and around the Belcourt area. Over the coming months a trampoline park, winter park, and arcade will join the water park to give families even more options for fun during their visit."Turtle Island Adventure Park will truly be a destination for families with children of all ages," said John Allery, Director of Inclusive Economic Development Projects with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. "Bringing this attraction to the Turtle Mountains is a significant opportunity for us to share our local community and culture with even more visitors." WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIAWebsite: turtleislandadventureparks.comFacebook: Turtle Island Indoor Water ParkInstagram: Turtle Island Indoor Water Park (@turtleislandindoorwaterpark)###Contact InformationCarl FoyVice President of Marketing cfoy@ armpallc.com 832-693-3609SOURCE: Turtle Island Indoor Water Park
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-12 09:01:32

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Ximen Mining Corp. (TSXV:XIM)(FRA:1XMA)(OTCQB:XXMMF) (the "Company" or "Ximen") announces information from its eighth drill hole at the Amelia Gold project in Camp McKinney near Rock Creek in southern BC.Photo of drill being moved to next drill site.Ximen has now drilled eight holes to test the extension of the historic Cariboo-Amelia gold mine in Camp McKinney in the Greenwood Mining Division, BC. The Cariboo-Amelia mine was BC's first dividend paying gold mine. Over its 68-year history, the mine produced 81,602 ounces of gold and 32,439 ounces of silver from 112,254 tonnes milled (BC Minfile Records). The mine is situated within a 4-kilometer system of gold-quartz veins and historic workings.View of 3D model of Cariboo mine (looking North) showing vein blocks and current drill holes.Hole AM23-08 intersected the extension of the McKinney vein beneath the eastern end of the historic mine. Eight NQ-size drill holes have been completed for a total of 2,064 meters. The target vein was intersected in five holes (AM23-01, 3, 5, 7 and 8) between 30 and 45 meters below the lowest mine level and over a strike length of 150 meters.The mineralized intercepts range in core length from 0.26 meters to 0.70 meters and contain pyrite, sphalerite, galena and chalcopyrite. Hole AM23-08 intersected the vein within a mineralized quartz stringer alteration zone. The vein consisted of "blue quartz" containing fine grained pyrite. The "blue quartz" is a local mine term for grey quartz that typically contains gold. Visible gold hasn't been observed, but this sulphide mineral assemblage is the same as that reported to occur in the vein where it was mined historically. Core samples will be sent for analysis once the geological logging and sampling is completed.HoleFromToLength (m) MineralizationAM23-01218.02218.630.61Quartz Vein with Py, Sp, Gn, CpAM23-03230.80231.060.26Quartz Vein with Py, Sp, Gn, CpAM23-05214.55215.250.70Quartz Vein with Py, Sp, CpAM23-07194.60194.810.21Quartz Vein with Py, Sp, GnAM23-07195.71195.990.28Quartz Vein with Py, Po, Sp, GnAM23-07215.47215.660.19Quartz Vein with Py, Sp, GnAM23-07217.64217.760.32Quartz Vein with Py, Po, Sp, GnAM23-08198.60198.950.35Quartz Stringers, Py,Sp,Gn, CpAM23-08198.95199.450.50Quartz Vein with PyAM23-08199.45200.000.55Quartz Stringers, Py,Sp,Gn,CpAbbreviations: Py: pyrite, Sp: sphalerite, Gn: galena, Cp: chalcopyriteNote: Reported lengths are core lengths not true widths.Core Photos:Photo of vein intercept in hole AM23-08.Close-up photo of sulphide mineralization intersected in hole AM23-08; galena, PbS (silvery grey) and sphalerite ZnS (brown). Width of view is about 20 cm.Holes AM23-03, 04, 05 and 08 also intersected a second mineralized vein about 50 meters south of the main vein that is also mineralized with pathfinder minerals. Its extent has yet to be determined.Holes AM23-02, 04 and 06 targeted the zone at greater depths but did not intersect the vein. It is likely that the vein has been displaced by faults similar to those which occur in the upper levels of the mine, where the vein is displaced a relatively short distance to the south by flat lying faults.Overall, the results indicate there is potential for more tonnes to be mined below the lowest level of the mine workings and that there is potential for additional material in parallel zones.Readers are cautioned that historical records referred to in this News Release have been examined but not verified by a Qualified Person. Further work is required to verify that historical records referred to in this News Release are accurate.Dr. Mathew Ball, P.Geo., VP Exploration for Ximen Mining Corp. and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, approved the technical information contained in this News Release.On behalf of the Board of Directors,"Christopher R. Anderson"Christopher R. Anderson, President, CEO and Director 604 488-3900Investor Relations: 604-488-3900, ir@ XimenMiningCorp.com About Ximen Mining Corp.Ximen Mining Corp. owns 100% interest in three of its precious metal projects located in southern BC. Ximen`s two Gold projects, The Amelia Gold Mine and The Brett Epithermal Gold Project. Ximen also owns the Treasure Mountain Silver Project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver Mine. Currently, the Treasure Mountain Silver Project is under an option agreement. The option partner is making annual staged cash and stocks payments as well as funding the development of the project. The company has also acquired control of the Kenville Gold mine near Nelson British Columbia which comes with surface and underground rights, buildings and equipment.Ximen is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XIM, in the USA under the symbol XXMMF, and in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin Stock Exchanges in Germany under the symbol 1XMA and WKN with the number as A2JBKL.This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval and the exercise of the Option by Ximen. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, December 12. Uzbekistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakhtiyor Saidov, and Qatar Islamic Bank CEO, Bassel Gamal, deliberated on matters concerning the support of investment projects in Uzbekistan during their meeting in Doha, Trend reports.

Their negotiations covered various topics, including knowledge exchange, advancements in modern banking and financial services, and the joint implementation of instruments for project financing.

Qatar Islamic Bank, the largest Islamic bank in Qatar, holds assets exceeding $50 billion.

Moreover, on December 11, the opening ceremony of the Uzbekistan Embassy in Qatar took place in Doha. According to the Uzbekistan Minister of Foreign Affairs, the extraordinary progress in Uzbekistan-Qatar relations is a result of the strong impetus set by the leaders of both countries.

On October 2 this year in Doha, negotiations took place between Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Qatar's Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. During the discussions, both sides expressed their intention to collaborate on joint investment projects in traditional and green energy, petrochemicals, metal processing, agriculture, and other sectors.
The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani has assured that the state government has set plans in motion to tackle malnutrition, infant and maternal mortality in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Mr Sani spoke when a delegation from the United Nations International Children Fund (UNICEF) paid him a courtesy visit at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House Kaduna. He thanked the delegation for their condolences to the people of the state over the recent drone bomb mishap at Tudun Biri community, Igabi Local Government Area.

Mr Sani also lauded UNICEF for its numerous proactive interventions in healthcare matters especially the efforts to eradicate maternal and child mortality rates, infectious diseases, and improvement of routine immunization across the state.

The governor reiterated the state governments commitment to partnering with the UNICEF, to overcome all identified challenges and save lives of the vulnerable and underserved particularly in rural communities.

Kaduna State under my leadership recognises primary health care as key because accessible healthcare is very important. Recently while deliberating on the budget, we were able to commit a lot of money into the provision of healthcare in our state as only a healthy society can achieve sustainable development, Mr Sani remarked.

It was also announced during the meeting, that in the next one year, the issue of malnutrition would be a thing of the past as the State Government would rely on the expertise of the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe and the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Abdulkadir Mayere, who are both seasoned public health experts to achieve the target.

On the quagmire of out-of-school children, Governor Sani said We have our data and statistics; if we do not eradicate poverty or reduce the level of poverty in our rural areas; we can never truly address the issue of out-of-school children because here in Kaduna primary and secondary school education is free.

Speaking on behalf of UNICEF, the Deputy Representative of UNICEF Nigeria, Rownak Khan stated that more than half of the children born in the state do not receive birth certificates, which hampers the process of immunization. Furthermore, she expressed concern about the significant rate of malnutrition among children, affecting approximately 60% of the population.

Khan however expressed optimism with the political will and assurances given by Governor Uba Sani to work closely with UNICEF in achieving its goals across all 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

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Residents of Kaduna have appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to urgently address the shortage of naira notes in the state

Many business owners including PoS operators complained of a shortage of naira notes in the state.

A visit to many bank ATMs in the state capital on Tuesday by our reporter showed that most of the ATMs were not dispensing cash.

At the popular Murtala Square GTB ATM, many customers returned home without cash.

It was further observed that inside banking halls, customers were not withdrawing much cash as some bank officials claimed they did not have enough cash to pay customers.

A bank customer, Rabiu Sule, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said at Sterling Bank, only N5,000 was issued to him and other customers over the counter, even though they tried to withdraw more.

 I have gone around Kaduna today, there is no money in almost all the ATMs. For me, I will say none was paying. I have to go back to PoS operators.

 The PoS operators have jerked the charges they collect on every withdrawal, he said.

A check by PREMIUM TIMES showed that some PoS operators increased their charges by 100 per cent.

A withdrawal of N20,000, which attracted N200 naira, attracted N400 on Tuesday, while any amount below N10,000 attracted N100 charges.

Landow Bitrus, a resident of Sabon Tasha, lamented that this was coming at the wrong time.

We are already in Christmas mood and season. We cannot be having this. People need to have cash even as we can also do transfers. We are calling on the federal government to make cash available, he said.

Mustapha Umar, a business owner, said that they are beginning to feel the impact of the scarcity as fewer customers are conducting business.

Many people feel more comfortable to transact business with cash. If they dont have cash they just dont buy and it is affecting us, especially today.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that similar scarcity was being witnessed in many states across Nigeria.

CBN reacts

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in a statement issued by its Corporate Communications Department, last week, said there was no shortage of banknotes in the country.

CBN said the scarcity was caused by the large volume of cash withdrawals from its branches by Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) across the country.

The bank also lamented that panic withdrawals by bank customers were partly responsible for the scarcity.

Efforts by PREMIUM TIMES to reach the CBN on Tuesday were unsuccessful as its spokesperson did not pick up or return calls to his phone.

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The Minister of Trade, Industry and Investments, Doris Uzoka-Anite, is proposing to spend over a billion naira on a trip to Geneva next year.

The proposed spending is contained in the allocation of the ministry in the 2024 budget.

Adams Oshiomhole, the senator representing Edo North, spoke on the allocation on Tuesday when the minister appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Trade, Industry and Investment, to defend her ministrys budget.

Mr Oshiomhole, who is also the chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, was not specific about the actual amount the minister proposed for travelling to Geneva.

He only mentioned that the trade, industry and investment minister is proposing to spend over N1 billion on a trip to Geneva.

The details were not released to journalists either after the budget defence.

During the defence, Mr Oshiomhole questioned the rationale behind the ministers plan to spend over one billion naira on a trip to Geneva amidst economic hardship that has forced many Nigerians into poverty.

I see that you intend to travel to Geneva next year and you have budgeted over one billion for that. We cant keep going on with over-bloated teams on abroad trips. Use the experts we have in your offices in the country to save costs.

Let us practice what we preach. We cannot talk about industrialisation and keep importing toothpicks and tyres. We must ensure that we have homegrown products, he said.

Sit down in your office and work

Mr Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State, advised Mrs Uzoka-Anite to develop the trade and investment sector of Nigeria through foreign investors.

What is our balance of trade, especially with China? Those countries importing things to Nigeria are expected to build factories in Nigeria. We have to take advantage of our population to grow our industries.

Madam, sit in your office and work for Nigerians. I have gone there twice. You are always in the BOI. If you preferred the BOI, you should have declined the presidents nomination to be a minister the senator said.

Responding, Mrs Nkiruka-Anite claimed that she doesnt stay in her office because it is under renovation.

I assure you that I can work from anywhere and give Nigerians results. My office is currently under renovation.

No record of trade balance in my office  Minister

The minister also said her ministry does not have a record of the countrys trade balance.

Sir I regret to say that we seem to have no record of our balance of trade. Or at least it doesnt exist in the ministry and that is why we initiated a new unit called the trade intelligence unit to ensure that such data are generated and stored.

Criticism over-bloated COP28 delegation

The federal government had recently come under heavy criticism for sending over 400 delegates to the Climate Change Summit, COP28, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the government spent at least N2.7 billion to sponsor the delegates to attend the 13-day summit which ended on 12 December.

Altogether, Nigeria had 1,411 delegates attending the event, out of which the government said it sponsored 422.

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The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has offered clarifications to the Senate Committee on Public Accounts on the debt sum of N1 billion, which the committee said was not clarified in the report of the Auditor General of the Federation.

Its clarification also extended to the $852,093,731.10 cited in the Auditor General of the Federations report being circulated in the media, even as it claimed that a total of $232,354,156.43 out of the sum had been recovered.

Managing Director of the NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, who appeared before the Committee said that the House Committee on Public Accounts had, in the 9th Assembly, thoroughly verified the money and had given the Authority a clean bill of health.

Mr Bello-Koko explained that the misunderstanding between the position of the Senate and House of Representatives Public Accounts Committees arose from the continuous repetition of sums dating back to the period before the year 2006 Concession of the Authority, which the current NPA Management had already accounted for but the sums had yet to be expunged from its books.

Speaking on Thursday (December 8th, 2023) when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Mr Bello-Koko exhaustively explained the facts of the matter to the Senators.

He said most of the debts date back decades. I mean legacy debts from companies like Nigerian National Shipping Line Ltd and from pre- concession period.

But we have been carrying these debts in our books and we have been impairing the amounts, thereby making provisions for all such debts. We have written to Auditor-General of the Federation on the procedure to take them out of our books and solicited for the support of the Senate Committee in this regard.

Mr Bello-Koko assured the Senate Committee on Public Accounts that in the spirit of public accountability, we will always be open to give account.

Responding to question that he should further clarify the debt issue, he explained that the debt figures were composed of estate rents, lease fees and throughput charges among others as stipulated in the Concession Agreements.

According to him, The debts date back to the period 2006 to 2019, adding that There have been recoveries within the period under review, and they are unrecoverable debts owing to issues such as Volume Change, Gross Minimum Tonnage (GMT)/Penalties, Encumbered Areas. etc.

He added: For avoidance of doubt, it would be necessary to explain the following terms:

Volume Change  Means volume adjustment. The Executed Contract Agreement stated that if the percentage variation between actual/ performance and projected volume is within minus 10% to plus 10% the lease fee will be paid in full. However, if the percentage variation performance is more than minus 10% to plus 10% the lease fee payable will be adjusted by an equivalent percentage. Therefore, the adjustment is against the lease fee payable by the percentage change in volume.

Encumbered Areas  Refers to areas that are inaccessible due to factors not caused by the tenant such host community hostility, marshy land etc.

Guaranteed Minimum Tonnage (GMT)- This to the projected tonnage pledge by the Concessionaire to achieve, this arises from the inability of the Concessionaire to meet up the pledge.

Unpaid VAT- This relates to the VAT element of the unpaid Lease Fees arising from adjustment brought about by the volume change defined above.

Penalty- Refers to financial burden suffered for failure to meet terms of payment in a contractual agreement. It is as a result of the Concessionaire not paying within the specified time /days allowed in the contractual agreement. Simply put, it refers to a charge for late payment.

He continued: The figure quoted in the press relates to the 2019 Auditor Generals report and it doesnt reflect the current position of indebtedness to NPA.

It would be pertinent to clarify that out of the amount of $852,093,731.10 cited in the Auditor General of the Federations report and being circulated in the media, a total of $ 232,354,156.43 have been recovered.

The balance $504,663,452.37 constitutes uncollectible portion due to volume change and Contentions, $54,663,452.37 constitutes uncollectible portion due to Gross Minimum Tonnage (GMT), $19,619,459.00 constitutes Portion due to Encumbered Areas, $11,908,355.82 constitutes various penalties imposed on the terminal operators for not meeting set standards and $ 28,693,607.07 represents VAT of said amount .

In relation to the concessionaire debt of N1.8bn, a total of N269m has been recovered leaving a balance of N1.6bn which represents encumbered areas of the terminals.

As regards the outstanding estate rent, Ship Dues and service boats of $67m a total of $10.6m has been recovered.

Mr Bello-Koko added: It is very important to note that the uncollectible debts are summation of GMT stated above (which is a performance metrics) which the Terminal Operators could not meet mostly because of change in government policies (e.g issues like force majeure) and infrastructure decay.

According to him; Some of the other debts are also legacy debts being owed by a government agency which metamorphosed into a limited liability company and for which the Authority is working out modalities with the relevant parties to recover accordingly.

He confirmed that the Authority was in advanced talks to resolve the disputes surrounding these amounts, pointing out that all outstanding amounts due to NPA had been accounted for by the end of the year 2022.

Mr. Bello-Koko disclosed that the management of the Authority, in a concerted effort to correct the anomalies as seen in the concession agreements, engaged the World Bank to provide consultancy services for its review while an inter-agency committee comprising NPA, FMOT, FMOJ, BPE and ICRC developed a template to address the inherent anomalies in the agreements that allowed for the accumulation of such debts and to forestall a recurrence.

This has resulted in the signing of a supplemental concession/legal agreements which will come into effect shortly, he added.

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The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre has conferred the Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards (GFIIA) on the Chairman, Unubiko Foundation, James Ume.

HEDA presented the award to James Ume during the 6th GFIIA and lecture held in Lagos at the weekend.

This was just as the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria (PCN), Ketu Parish, Lagos, also honoured the businessman with the Gods Mission Ambassadors Award during its silver jubilee, held recently in Lagos.

HEDA Resource Centre, with the support of the MacArthur Foundation, instituted the annual GFIIA, in honour of the late Human Rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, to reward acts of Integrity, Accountability and Whistleblowing to deserving Nigerians of impeccable characters, courage, selflessness and honesty.

According to HEDA, the award aims to encourage, promote, celebrate and protect the uncommon principles of openness, honesty, probity, accountability and transparency in public and private life and whistleblowing to deserving persons and bodies.

Jame Ume has made a mark, quietly, in ensuring that others find comfort and convenience and overcome the vicissitude of life. He has touched the lives of the less privileged without making noise about it and has perfected the act of giving to become one of the shining and inspirational lights in humanitarian spaces in Nigeria. Hence, he is well deserving of the award.

Similarly, the PCN in bestowing the award on Jame Ume praised his philanthropy.

According to the Minister in Charge, PCN, Ketu Parish, the award conferment on James Ume was, in appreciation and recognition of your invaluable work towards the growth of the Parish and The Church Universal.

Reacting to the two awards while speaking with THISDAY, Mr Ume, who is also the Publisher of TheWhistler.ng, said, This award stands for so many things to me. One of which is a call for service.

It also shows that no matter the little things you do to humanity, people are watching, and they are recognising the things you are doing. It also means that you must monitor every one of your activities and everything you are doing because people are seeing it, and they are observing you and taking records.

It therefore also means that we just have to keep working harder. For me, serving the people is what gives me ultimate satisfaction, and thats what I believe in.

On what to expect from the Foundation, moving forward, the businessman said, We are very grateful for the recognition that is coming. And I can tell you, we didnt know how all these awards came about, just some random guy reached out to me to inform me about the awards.

For us, its just a beautiful thing. And for the Unubiko Foundation, we are not stopping here. We have had many people support us in many ways, with the work we are doing.

This December, we are handing over a brand new secondary school that we built to the community and the government on December 26, and we will also be handing over N300 million for scholarships to Abia State students.

So we are not stopping. We will keep uplifting humanity and keep hoping that we will get support from our friends and associates who help us in the works that we are doing.

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The federal government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, is exploring collaboration with the World Bank to unlock financing and technical support for the development of the mining sector.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the minister, Dele Alake, on Monday, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, expressed satisfaction with the renewed focus on the development of the nations mineral resources by the Tinubu administration.

Mr Chaudhuri stated that with the preponderance of economically viable minerals in Nigeria, the country has the potential to make the sector a major contributor to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Mr Chaudhuri reiterated the readiness of the Bank to partner with the ministry to unlock financing for specific intervention areas requiring funding.

The Country Director of the bank, emphasised, however, that the terms and conditions of the Bank to ensure effective implementation of projects and transparency in utilising funds is mandatory.

He also added that the bank is not restricted to providing financing alone, asserting that it can offer technical assistance to improve mining operations in the country.

In his response, Mr Alake hailed the World Bank team for the visit, commending the institution for spearheading developmental efforts in diverse sectors of the economy over the years.

The World Bank has been able to redirect focus on developmental issues and projects in countries, especially Nigeria. Just recently, we had the support of the World Bank on palliatives being rolled out after fuel subsidy removal. We had appreciable support from the World Bank. I thank you for your involvement in the min diver project, which, unfortunately, is coming to a close. We look forward to strengthening collaboration, which will culminate in the needed funding for critical areas in the mining sector, alongside the requisite technical support, as earlier hinted, Mr Alake said.

Throwing light on his vision for the mining sector, the minister revealed that the first major priority is investment in exploration to generate the requisite geo-data that will guide investors in making informed decisions about investing in the sector.

He also revealed that efforts are ongoing to establish efficient governance structures and secure the mining environment.

Mr Alake further assured that the federal government is committed to providing an enabling environment to safeguard mining operations whilst ensuring maximum beneficiation to host communities and accruable revenue to the government through royalties and taxes.

On the World Bank delegation were the Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, and World Bank programme leader, equitable growth, finance innovation, Bertina Kamphuis.

Segun Tomori

Special Assistant on Media to the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

12th December, 2023.

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No fewer than 10 persons died in an accident that occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Tuesday.

Florence Okpe, the Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun State, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta.

She noted that the accident involved an Iveco truck marked KRA 80 XA and a Hiace bus with registration number FKY 898 YF.

According to Mrs Okpe, the accident occurred at 5:00 a.m. at Kara, near the turning towards the interchange on the expressway.

She said that 18 men were involved in the accident, adding that seven people sustained injuries, 10 died while one was unhurt.

The FRSC spokesperson added that the accident was caused by speeding on the part of the driver of the bus, leading to a loss of control.

The bus rammed into the truck that was about to negotiate the turning, she said.

Mrs Okpe explained that the injured victims were taken to Famobis Hospital, Mowe for medical attention, while the corpses were deposited at Idera Morgue, Sagamu.

She said that the Sector Commander, Anthony Uga, was grieved by the incident because it could have been avoided if necessary caution had been taken.

The spokesperson quoted the sector commander as advising drivers to endeavour to take a 15-minute rest for every four hours on the wheel.

According to Mr Uga, fatigue was often the major cause of road traffic crashes.

(NAN)

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The Western Nigeria Security Network. code-named Amotekun Corps, in Osun, has arrested three suspects for allegedly exhuming corpses from graves and removing body parts for rituals

The spokesperson of the Corps in Osun, Adeniyi Brown, said this in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday in Osogbo.

Mr Brown said the suspects, an automobile mechanic, 43; a driver, 56; and a native doctor, were all arrested by operatives of Amotekun in Iwo

According to him, the suspects were apprehended following intelligence received of their acts.

Mr Brown said when interrogated, the suspects made confessional statements that they exhume corpses from graves and sell the body parts for money-making rituals.

He said that the Amotekun commander in the state, Bashir Adewinmbi, a retired Nigerian Army brigadier-general, had directed that the suspects be transferred to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

READ ALSO: Amotekun seeks collaboration to fight crimes in Ondo ahead Christmas

Mr Brown quoted the corps commander as appealing to residents to be more security conscious and report any suspicious activity in their environment to security agencies.

When you see something, please always say something, Mr Adewinmbi said.

(NAN)

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The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has deployed Commissioner of Police, (CP), Fayoade Adegoke, to take over as the new police commissioner in Lagos State.

The redeployment was contained in a signal signed by the Force Secretary, Olanrewaju Oladimeji, an assistant inspector general of police.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that before his new posting, Mr Adegoke was in charge of Armament at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

While serving in that capacity, he was sent for a course at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru-Jos, Plateau State, where he graduated among 96 distinguished Nigerians as Executive Course 45.

Mr Adegoke will take over from Idowu Owohunwa, who had been promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police, in charge of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon Ikoyi, Lagos.

(NAN)

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The Gombe State High Court in Gombe, the state capital, has convicted Khadijah Boss to four months imprisonment for bribery during the 2023 governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said in a statement on Tuesday that Ms Boss was convicted and jailed on Monday, after facing trial on two counts of bribery during elections.

It alleged that the convict canvassed votes using bundles of fabrics within 300 metres of a polling unit during the elections, thereby committing an offence in violation of section 126 (1)(a), of the Electoral Act, 2022. The offence, according to the anti-graft agency, is punishable under section 121 (3), of the same Act.

Presenting the facts of the case during proceedings, EFCC counsel, Abubakar Aliyu, pointed out that the case was peculiar and first of its kind in the Gombe Zonal Command.

According to the statement, the trial judge, Abdulhamid Yakubu, convicted and sentenced Ms Boss to three months imprisonment with an option of N30,000 fine on count one, and one-month imprisonment with an option of N10,000 fine. The judge ordered the sentence to run concurrently.

ALSO READ: Police to prosecute 781 electoral offenders in Kano

The court acknowledged and commended the Gombe Zonal Command and expressed hope that the conviction will bring sanity to the electoral processes, the statement signed by EFCCs spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, stated.

One of the charges against the convict read, That you Khadijah Ibrahim Boss on or about 18th March 2023 in Gombe within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did canvass for votes using bundles of fabrics within 300 metres of a polling unit during the Governorship and State House of Assembly Election and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 126 (1)(a), of the Electoral Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 121 (3), of the same Act.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. The renewal of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear program, which is currently in limbo, and Iran's fulfillment of its obligations should not be conditioned by the lifting of sanctions against Iran, Iranian international analysts Hasan Behishtipour told local media, Trend reports.

Beheshtipour emphasized that this means that Iran has limited its nuclear program and the JCPOA, which covers many issues, to just one issue - the lifting of sanctions.

He added that if the JCPOA is addressed in all aspects, Iran can still hope to recover.

"But when the government does not even want to mention the JCPOA and is satisfied with the lifting of sanctions, there is no hope for the restoration of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action," he said.

The analyst also pointed out that the JCPOA can become an example at the international level to prevent any threat related to nuclear weapons.

Irans nuclear program was the subject of the JCPOA, a deal signed by Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, UK, France, and Germany) on January 16, 2016. However, on May 8, 2018, the US withdrew from the JCPOA and imposed new sanctions on Iran as of November 2018.

Iran claims that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes, but the IAEA has reported that Iran has increased its highly enriched uranium by 27 percent in the last three months and now has 4,745 kilograms of enriched uranium. This is 15 times more than the amount allowed for Iran in the JCPOA.

Iran has been trying to resume talks with the other parties on its nuclear issue and revive the JCPOA. The main goals of Iran are to end the sanctions imposed by the US and Western countries, access funds frozen abroad, and resume its crude oil exports.

Recently, some world media reports cited the IAEA as saying that Irans 60 percent enriched uranium reserves had increased from 6.7 kg to 128 kg.

In late 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to implement a strategic plan to tackle the sanctions, citing the non-implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and six countries and the imposition of sanctions on Iran. According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, as of February 23, Iran suspended the implementation of additional steps and an additional protocol provided for in the nuclear deal. As a result, the control mechanism of the IAEA decreased by 2030 percent.

---

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Nigerian troops have killed a suspected member of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), an official announced on Tuesday.

Troops of Exercise Golden Dawn III of the Nigerian Army killed the suspected IPOB member in Orsumoghu, a community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, south-east Nigeria.

Exercise Golden Dawn III is a joint task force operation recently flagged off in south-east Nigeria to strengthen security in the region before, during and after the yuletide period.

Jonah Unuakhalu, the spokesperson of the 82 Division of the Army, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

How the suspect was killed

Mr Unuakhalu, a lieutenant colonel, said the suspect was killed on Monday when the troops raided some camps belonging to suspected members of IPOB and its armed militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in the community.

During the raid operations, the gallant troops cleared and destroyed IPOB/ESN camps. One of the terrorists was neutralised while others escaped with gunshot wounds and one pump action rifle was recovered, he said.

The army spokesperson, however, did not state the number of camps destroyed by the troops during the operations.

He said the operations were conducted in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Police Force and local vigilantes.

Interception of suspected criminals

Mr Unuakhalu said in a separate incident on Saturday that troops of the Nigerian Army came in contact with suspected criminals during a routine patrol along Orsumoghu-Ukpor Road in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.

However, due to superior firepower (of the troops), the (suspected) criminals were forced to abandon their location, he said.

Twenty-seven rounds of ammunition, three locally made hand grenades, two handheld radios, one pair of police uniforms, a fragmental jacket and charms, were among the items recovered from the suspects, according to the army.

The General Officer Commanding of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Hassan Taiwo-Dada, enjoined Nigerians to support the countrys military and other security agencies with credible information to aid the fight against terrorism and other criminal activities, Mr Unuakhalu said.

Mr Taiwo-Dada, a major general, also urged Nigerians to go about their normal daily activities and businesses without fear of intimidation.

IPOB, a group seeking to carve out a sovereign state of Biafra from the south-east and some parts of the south-south of Nigeria, has been linked to some deadly attacks in the two regions.

But the separatist group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.

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The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has set up an ad hoc committee to fast-track the restructuring and resuscitation of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

This is in a bid to ensure better service delivery in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration.

The committee was set up during the maiden meeting of the reconstituted NCP at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who chaired the meeting, emphasised the importance of the tasks before the new Council, particularly the rejuvenation of BOA, among others.

Speaking after the presentation of the agenda and matters arising by the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Alex Okoh, the VP listed the composition of the ad hoc committee, saying a lot will depend on the decisions of the Council in the months ahead.

We have to make some far-reaching decisions on the restructuring of the Bank of Agriculture because the bank will be critical to the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration. It is very important for us and for this administration, he said.

According to the Vice President, the Finance Minister, Wale Edun, will chair the ad hoc committee, while members include, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso; Rep of the Ministry Of Finance Incorporated (MOFI); Chairmen of the NCP Technical and Legal Committees; a member of the NCP, Mohammed Bintube, and the DG BPE will serve as Secretary.

VP Shettima urged the committee to come up with a roadmap for the resuscitation of the BOA, among other resolutions.

The vice president had earlier in his opening address set the tone for the deliberations, urging members to take every task seriously.

We will be meeting more frequently because we have to support the president to execute the Renewed Hope Agenda, he noted.

Concession of Zungeru power plant

The council also approved the completion of the concession of the 700MW Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant and particularly directed the opening of a dedicated account at the Debt Management Office for the payment of the concession fees by the concessionaire.

Mr Shettima directed the CBN governor to commence the opening of the account at the DMO as proposed by the BPE.

Yet another major decision taken at the meeting was the ratification of constituted standing committees for the council, comprising the Technical, Stakeholder Engagement, Finance and Legal committees.

Also approved at the maiden NCP meeting was the 2024 work of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) covering its privatisation activities and participation in international forums to attract interest in the countrys privatization programme.

Present at the meeting were Messrs Edun; Kyari; Bagudu; Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu; Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali; Mr Cardoso, and Chairman of the reconstituted Technical Committee, Oye Odukale, among other Council members.

*Stanley Nkwocha*

*Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications*

*(Office of The Vice President)*

*12th December, 2023*

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The palace of the Deji of Akure has explained why it revoked the approval for the use of a community facility for a planned protest to demand the resignation of ailing Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

The protest by the Take-It-Back Movement is being promoted by political activist, Omoyele Sowore, and is planned to be held at the Akure Town Hall on Saturday.

Mr Sowore was said to have paid N100,000 for the use of the facility for a meeting to precede a street protest.

However, the approval was later withdrawn by the palace.

Mr Sowore had accused the State Security Services of putting pressure on the palace to withdraw the approval granted to the organisers.

But the palace denied the claims by Mr Sowore.

In a statement on Monday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deji, Michael Adeyeye, said the approval was withdrawn because the organisers concealed the intentions behind the use of the venue.

The statement reads thus:

The attention of the Palace of the Deji & Paramount Ruler of Akure Kingdom have been drawn to a recent publication on the verified Twitter handle of Mr Omoyele Sowore which had gone viral on some social media alleging that men of the Department of State Security Services came to threaten His Majesty, the Deji of Akure to reverse the initial approval granted for the usage of Akure Town Hall.

We wish to state unequivocally that, there was never any time that the DSS threatened the Dejis of Akure or anyone on the premise of seeking the reversal of the temporary approval granted for the usage of Akure Town Hall by the Dejis Palace Property Committee

For the avoidance of doubt and save for the unsuspecting Public, the withdrawal of the approval earlier granted by the Dejis Palace Property Committee which is saddled with the responsibility of managing the facility was sequel to the fact that the request for the usage of the facility was done under a pretentious manner which conceals the real motive of the usage of the Hall.

READ ALSO:

It is an established standard that, anyone or organizations requesting the usage of the hall or any community facilities for any activities must make full disclosure of the purpose of the usage.

Without mincing words, the hall is made available for all activities including social events, religious activities, and political gatherings and rallies amongst others. However, concealing the real motive for a gathering for which approval for the usage of the hall is sought negates the standing rules for getting the facility approval.

However, the initial approval granted which necessitated the payment of a deposit of one hundred thousand naira was for a roundtable meeting of a coalition of civil societies and not for a meeting point for any procession.

While the palace strongly acknowledges the right of individual organizations and societies to lawful assembly, procession and protest as the case may be in a democratic society, But, seeking the approval for the usage of palace facility or any other should not be done in a deceitful manner as such action will leave the Palace Property Committee with no option than reversing any approval granted under such manner.

We wish to inform the General Public that the approval for the usage of the facility was not in anyway as a result of any form of threat or harassment from DSS or any quarter but rather on the fact that the approval was sought in a fraudulent manner which negates the rules for seeking the usage of the hall.

A political crisis is raging in Ondo State over the incapacitation of Governor Akeredoku who has been out of the state since April due to ill health.

Some people are demanding the governors resignation so that his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, can complete his term which expires early in 2025.

But supporters of Mr Akeredolu have accused Mr Aiyedatiwa of disloyalty to his boss and had orchestrated a foiled move to remove him from office through the state legislature.

President Bola Tinubu last month met with the warring factions in Abuja where they agreed to keep the governor and deputy in their offices.

Shortly after the agreement, an allegation emerged that those close to the ailing governor were forging his signature to carry out government activities in his name.

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The new presidential wing of the State House hospital in Abuja has not been put to use months after its official inauguration by the immediate-past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The chairperson of the Clinical Services at the State House, Jane Ifechukwu, disclosed this on Monday when the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, toured the facility in the Nigerias Presidential Villa.

According to the official, the facilitys current status is skeletal, awaiting approval to commence full operation.

What we have here is skeletal, just the way we were having the Villa Clinic. But once we dot the is  we cant take decisions on our own; they give us the go-ahead, and we are good to go, she said.

High standard facility

Speaking with journalists after the tour, Mr Gbajabiamila expressed satisfaction with the equipment at the clinic and attested that it compares with any standard hospital globally.

I am very impressed and Im sure you are as well, because you went around with me. This is a clinic you will find anywhere in the world, the standard is very high, he said.

The equipment is world-class. From my understanding, there are some equipment that you wouldnt even find in too many places all over the world.

Mr Gbajabiamila also highlighted the advanced medical equipment, including a Cath Lab and a unique C-ARM.

He said: So, as far as clinics go, in terms of equipment, in terms of what they can do, I mean, Ive just been lectured about kidney transplant now from one of the best Theres a Cath. Lab. thats world-class and so many other things.

Theres equipment they called C-ARM. This gladdens my heart that at least when we were appropriating money in the House of Representatives when I was the Speaker, I can see where the money has gone.

READ ALSO: FG releases N10bn for Presidential Wing of State House Clinic

So its for them to dot the is and cross the ts and put finishing touches, and I think well be proud to say that we have a clinic of international standard like this one.

Medical Tourism

When asked about when the facility will commence operations to avoid medical tourism, Ms Ifechukwu said medical tourism is discouraged.

She said the management of the facility is only awaiting the directive from the Permanent Secretary to commence operations.

The wife of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha Buhari, had in May, explained that the state-of-the-art medical facility would eliminate the need for future presidents and their families to seek medical treatment abroad.

Mrs Buhari disclosed that the project had been initiated six years ago, prompted by her husbands three-month-long consecutive medical trip abroad.

Recognising the abundance of medical expertise within Nigeria, she emphasised the importance of establishing a reliable platform for high-quality healthcare services.

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The Nigerian government is set to unveil the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) as part of efforts aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday night.

Mr Pate said a strategy to actualise this initiative will be signed in Nigerias capital city, Abuja, by governments at all levels and development partners to commemorate the 2023 UHC Day.

He said the President Bola Tinubu led- administration is determined to deliver equitable and optimal health outcomes for the nation.

The quest to achieve UHC and better health for all Nigerians requires a multi-sectoral and whole-of-government approach, he said.

Further to this, the Government of Nigeria has articulated NHSRII to advance the nations journey towards UHC.

He said the initiative aims to guide the renewal of Nigerias health system, part of the governments broader health agenda.

Mr Pate said the focus is driving towards UHC, ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location, economic status, or employment, can access essential services for a healthy life without financial strain.

New initiative

Mr Pate said the initiative directly confronts poor population health outcomes, intensified by highly inequitable access to health.

He said the initiative will leverage the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), in partnership with state governments and development partners in a transformational sector-wide approach programme to improve health outcomes.

This, he said, includes plans to train additional human resources for health and make available at least 17,000 functional primary healthcare centres.

The commitment to expanding BHCPF and increasing the number of PHC aligns with the National Health Acts objectives, he said.

The comprehensive strategy outlined involves assessing existing facilities, improving infrastructure, ensuring a sufficient health workforce, and actively engaging local communities for feedback.

Strengthening PHCs

Speaking at the briefing, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Muyi Aina, said strengthening the PHC system is a crucial step towards building a sustainable healthcare system that can effectively respond to the needs of the population.

Mr Aina said this will further contribute to the overall development and well-being of Nigerias growing population.

He noted that the successful implementation of the NHSRII can significantly contribute to achieving UHC in the country, ensuring that every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare services without suffering financial hardship.

UHC Day

UHC Day is commemorated on 12 December every year, to celebrate the progress towards health for all and raise awareness of the need for strong and resilient health systems in achieving UHC.

The theme for this years UHC Day is: Health for All: Time for Action, emphasising the need for immediate and tangible steps in creating the world we want.

It calls for reflection on a decade of progress, challenges, and opportunities in advancing UHC.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said this year, UHC Day presents an opportunity to revitalise commitments towards accelerating UHC as countries recover from the devastating economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The global health body said countries in the Western Pacific region have made significant progress on the UHC service coverage index, which measures population coverage of essential health services based on tracer interventions that include reproductive, maternal, child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and service capacity and access.

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Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, is set to commence another medical leave on Wednesday, 13 December, as a follow-up to his medical treatment.

Mr Akeredolu, who is battling an undisclosed ailment, was away for the first medical leave between June and August in Germany.

He returned to the country shortly after the leave expired in September and announced his resumption of duties but failed to show up at the Government House, Alagbaka, Akure, which prompted the citizenry to ask about his whereabouts.

A press statement on Tuesday by the governors spokesperson, Richard Olatunde, said Mr Akeredolu will prioritise his health and ensure a full recovery before resuming his official duties.

The statement noted that a formal letter regarding the medical leave and a notice formally transferring power in line with the Nigerian constitution will be transmitted to the House of Assembly.

In the absence of Governor Akeredolu, the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, will assume the responsibilities of the governor in an acting capacity, a part of the statement read.

Governor Akeredolu, the statement said, expressed his gratitude for the unwavering support and affection of the people of Ondo State, assuring them that his administration remains committed to the path of progress and prosperity for the people.

As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a widely respected Nigerian, Governor Akeredolu has consistently delegated power to his deputy during his annual vacations. This practice was observed on April 1, 2021, April 1, 2022, April 3, 2023, and July 10, 2023, when he embarked on previous vacations, the statement said.

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Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has sworn in nine out of the 10 recently appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) including one exposed by PREMIUM TIMES to be a supporter of Nigerias ruling party, APC.

He has also deployed them to different states where they will serve the commission for the next five years. Mr Yakubu said none of them would be deployed to their states of origin.

The nine RECs took their oath of office shortly before the quarterly meeting of RECs in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mr Yakubu announced their state of deployment shortly after they took the oath of office in Abuja on Tuesday.

INEC deployed Abubakar Ahmed to Borno State, Anugbum Onuoha (Edo), Isah Ehimeakhe (Akwa Ibom), Aminu Idris (Kaduna) and Shehu Wahab (Nasarawa).

Others are Abubakar Dambo (Kebbi), Mohammed Abubakar (Kwara), Oluwatoyin Babalola (Ondo) and Olubunmi Omoseyindemi (Ekiti).

Etekmba Umoren, the REC nominee from Akwa Ibom State, was not sworn in.

Mr Yakubu said he would be sworn in next month when the tenure of the REC representing Akwa Ibom State expires.

The 10th REC-designate will be sworn in next month on the expiry of the tenure of the REC representing Akwa Ibom State currently deployed to Delta State, he said.

He commended the Delta State REC, Monday Udo-Tom, for selfless and dedicated service rendered to the commission and the nation.

He added that the same appreciation is extended to all the other RECs whose tenure ended after serving meritoriously.

Initial and subsequent confusion

In October, President Bola Tinubu nominated 10 persons to the National Assembly for confirmation as RECs.

The list was changed multiple times, thus confusing observers.

The final list, according to the presidents spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, contained the following persons and state of origin  Etekamba Umoren (Akwa Ibom), Isah Ehimeakne (Edo), Oluwatoyin Babalola (Ekiti), Abubakar Maaji (Gombe), Shehu Wahab (Kwara), Bunmi Omoseyindemi (Lagos) and Aminu Idris (Nasarawa).

Others are Mohammed Yelwa (Niger), Anugbum Onuoha (Rivers), Ismaila Moyi and (Zamfara).

However, when the Senate started screening the nominees, two names from Niger and Zamfara appeared to have been replaced.

The Senate confirmed Mohammed Abubakar and Abubakar Dambo even though up till this moment, the names of Messrs Moyi and Yelwa, remain on the updated list on the governments social media handles.

The upper chamber did the confirmation despite protests from some civil society organisations.

Partisan nominees

PREMIUM TIMES found two of them  Mr Umoren and Mr Ehimeakne  to be members of Mr Tinubus political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr Ehimeakne will now lead INECs operations in Akwa Ibom, the home state of Senate President Godswill Akpabio who is believed to have nominated Mr Umoren. Mr Umoren will only be deployed to a state after he is sworn in.

Another two were found to be loyalists of politicians in his government.

Meanwhile, four of the RECs are former staffers of the commission.

This is sacred duty, no excuses

Addressing the new RECs, Mr Yakubu described their new roles as a sacred duty and that no excuses will be accepted for subpar performance.

He said the commission would not hesitate to deal with any REC found wanting, adding that they would be held accountable for their actions and inactions.

He said, You must always be very firm in ensuring fairness and transparency to all. Let me make it clear to you from the outset that you must at all times be guided by the electoral legal framework, the code of conduct for RECs and your good conscience.

Similarly, I must warn you to understand and operate within the limits of your delegated powers and responsibilities. Our state offices are part and parcel of the commission and we will not hesitate to deal with acts of defiance, indiscretion or transgression on the part of any REC.

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The Osun House of Assembly, on Tuesday, passed a bill extending the retirement age of judges and other judicial officers from 65 to 70 years.

The bill is entitled: Osun State High Court and Customary Court of Appeal Registrars, Secretary to the State Judicial Council, State Counsels in the Ministry of Justice, State Magistrates and District Customary Courts Presidents Retirement Age Bill, 2023.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill was passed during the plenary session, held at the House of Assembly complex in Osogbo, the state capital, after passing the third reading.

Speaker of the House of Assembly Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, said the final copy of the bill would be produced and forwarded to Governor Ademola Adeleke for his assent.

The bill, when signed into law, will align the retirement age of judges in the state with the new constitutional provision which President Bola Tinubu signed into law in June.

Before Mr Tinubu signed the constitutional amendment bill into law in June, state and federal high court judges must quit the bench once they clocked 65.

Similarly, judges of the National Industrial Court and Sharia and customary courts of appeal must retire at 65.

But judges of both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court already had their retirement age pegged at 70.

The bill signed into law by Mr Tinubu brought the retirement of the lower court judges to par with that of the judges of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

The Osun State House of Assemblys bill is a mere formality to update the states law with the salient constitutional provision.

The constitutional provision extending the retirement age of judges to 70, which supersedes any other law on the subject in the country, already began to take effect as soon as President Tinubu signed it into law in June.

Mr Egbedun expressed appreciation to his colleagues for the conduct of the 2024 budget presentation and defence by various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in the state.

NAN reports that the budget defence exercise, which lasted for 11 days, saw 90 MDAs appearing before the House Committee on Budget and Appropriation, chaired by Mr Saheed Fatunmise.

The last set of MDAs that appeared before the committee on Monday included: Osun Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Osun East, Osun West and Osun Central Education District Offices.

Others were: the Osun Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Osun Tourism Board and Osun Council for Arts and Culture

(NAN)

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The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, has proposed a unified revenue collection, with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) collecting revenues on behalf of the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) and other revenue-generating agencies.

Mr Edun spoke at the budget defence session held by the House of Representatives Committee on Finance on Tuesday.

The minister made the proposal while responding to a question by a member of the House, Oluwole Oke (PDP, Osun).

Mr Oke had asked him if the FIRS and NCS could be merged into a single entity or agency.

Mr Edun responded that it would not be out of place if the FIRS was given the mandate to collect revenue on behalf of customs.

He stated that there is no reason all revenue-charging agencies should also be saddled with collecting revenues.

In terms of the merger, what you are really indicating and speaking to is the fact that revenue collection should be through a focal point.

They can pay to a centralised point, the Federal Internal Revenue Service. They can collect on behalf of all the agencies. So these are the types of innovations, these are types of efficiencies and improvements that we must look at.

I am just agreeing wholeheartedly with you that given this day and age, given the technological advancement, given the digital tools available, we really should be doing better in terms of revenue generation, collection and monitoring, he said.

Merger of revenue collection agencies has been a popular discourse within the fiscal space. Earlier in July, President Bola Tinubu approved the establishment of a Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms and appointed Taiwo Oyedele as the chairman of the committee.

The committees primary objective, according to the government, is to enhance revenue collection efficiency, ensure transparent reporting, and promote the effective utilisation of tax and other revenues to boost citizens tax morale, foster a healthy tax culture, and drive voluntary compliance.

Replace tax waivers with tax rebates

Some of the lawmakers who spoke at the session faulted the current tax waiver system, noting that the government is not getting value for money.

Responding to the issues raised by the lawmakers on tax waiver, Mr Edun said there is an ongoing effort by the government to carry out a cost-benefit analysis of the policy.

He suggested that the government should consider a tax rebate system which is more effective than the current system.

In terms of tax waivers, exemption basically incentives, there is a set of incentives which effectively is government expenditure. The government is spending on encouraging manufacturing, exports and so forth.

It is worth approximately as you rightly said about one per cent of GDP and I know the Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee is looking very closely and the Ministry of Finance will as well. But the arrowhead for a really comprehensive analysis and cost-benefit analysis of those incentives and the spending on incentives, tax exemptions, duty waivers and so forth, is being done right now and we expect tremendous savings.

And in particular we feel that a policy of rebate is probably better than upfront allocation of incentives. When the transaction is carried out it is entirely feasible and practical and possible to immediately give somebody a rebate on funding that they have spent.

It can be done seamlessly and with the technology these days, what could have been cumbersome in the past and taken too long and be self-defeating can now be done simultaneously, so that if you pay your duty and you claim the rebate, immediately the transaction consummated and we see that you have actually imported the machinery you said you would import, you get your funds back. So that is the direction in which that is moving, he said.

Targeting billions of dollars outside banking sector in Nigeria

When asked about the status of Nigerias foreign reserve, Mr Edun did not give a specific figure. He instead told the committee that the government is focusing on the billions in the hands of Nigerians within the country.

He said there are billions of dollars outside the banking sector in Nigeria, adding that the new Executive Order signed by the president will allow these billions to flow into the banking sector.

Foreign exchange held by Nigerians in cash outside the banking system is in the billions. And Mr President has authorised an Executive Order to facilitate the payment of that cash into the banking system, so it can form part of the money supply, so it can be of use to the Nigerian economy, he said.

After the presentation, the minister was asked to take a bow and go by the Chairman of the Committee, James Faleke (APC, Lagos).

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The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, has said regulators of the aviation sector will begin to compel airlines to compensate passengers for delayed or cancelled flights by January 2024.

The minister disclosed this on Tuesday when he appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation to defend his ministrys budget for the 2024 fiscal year.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that over half of the domestic flights in Nigeria between January and March were delayed, according to data from the regulator, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Of the total 18,288 domestic flights within the period, 10,128 were delayed, representing 55 per cent.

On Tuesday, Mr Keyamo also assured that a list of airlines that delayed or cancelled flights will be published in the media every week as part of the compensation scheme.

I have called the customers satisfactory commission regarding the treatment of Nigerians. In fact, I have gone back to the committee, that is how much concern I am concerned.

And I have said at the last address that I gave during our stakeholders meeting in Lagos and our retreat in Warri.

I said on a weekly basis, please publish the list of airlines that do not fly as at when due, cancelled flights, delayed flights, how many hours it was delayed, were there compensation, actions they took as regulator against these airlines. We are starting that in January.

The aviation minister proposed that a discount should be deducted from the flight tickets of airlines that delayed passengers as part of the compensation.

For every delay, there is a report, an actual report by the regulator. What did they do? Did they pay compensation? And if they didnt pay compensation, we have said that the other way to get compensation if they can return cash is that once the passenger is buying the next ticket, it must be given a rebate. That passenger must be given a 50 per cent rebate or 40 per cent rebate because there must be a rebate.

Concession of Airports

Mr Keyamo said the best option to develop Nigerian airports is through concessions to investors.

Private partnership must come to the fore. It is not even negotiable, we dont have the funds to do so (manage the airports).

In concession, we will give the people what we want, not what they want. We have to decide what we want. It is the nature, the quality of the concession that all of us will agree on.

We want to go ahead but I want every one of us to sit down, look for the best hands. We should go to the end of this world to look for the best and the best thing for Nigeria and raise our offer to tier one, not tier two. Tier one investors should come to Nigeria and build our gateway for us, the minister said.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. Negotiations between Hamas and Israeli authorities on a new hostage exchange agreement could begin next week, Trend reports.

According to the information, Hamas has demanded a complete ceasefire and is not refusing a humanitarian truce on new terms.

It is reported that although negotiations have not yet begun, the pulse of a new truce agreement in the Gaza Strip has begun to be felt.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

Israel declared a state of war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists.
President Bola Tinubu says his administration is prioritising and improving Nigerias health sector through massive investments and the allocation of increased funds to the sector in the proposed 2024 budget.

The president made this declaration at the unveiling of Nigerias Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the signing of the Health Renewal Compact by Federal, State Governments, and Development Partners in Abuja on Tuesday.

The event was a part of activities marking the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, observed annually on 12 December.

Delivering improved quality health is an underpinning factor in my promise of Renewed Hope to Nigerians. That hope is ignited here today with the support of all multilateral partners and agencies; health is back on the front burner.

This occasion marks an opportunity for collective reflection and action as we recommit ourselves to the noble pursuit of health for all. The theme for this year Health for All: Time for Action encapsulates the urgency and the determination with which we must approach this noble goal.

Health is not merely the absence of disease but the embodiment of physical, mental, and social well-being. It is a fundamental human right and Nigerias commitment to achieving Universal Health Care Coverage is reflected in the unwavering dedication of my administration to uphold this right for every individual, young or old, in rural or urban areas, the president said.

Noting the importance of primary healthcare in building a resilient, integrated healthcare system, President Tinubu announced plans for a comprehensive revamp of physical infrastructure, equipment, and the re-training of frontline health workers starting from 2024.

Redesigning healthcare provision fund

To address the high cost of healthcare, the president said the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) will be redesigned to enhance access to essential healthcare services as outlined in the National Health Act (2014).

The president emphasised the coordination and implementation of these initiatives must be non-partisan.

Highlighting several key policy actions of the administration in the health sector, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, explained that the BHCPF has been redesigned as the foundational basis for a sector-wide approach.

He added that the BHCPF, comprising at least one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, is expected to receive at least $2.5 billion in pooled and non-pooled financing from 2024 to 2026 to improve the primary health system nationwide.

The minister outlined plans to double the number of fully functional Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) from 8,809 to 17,618 by 2027 across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that these PHCs will be linked to a comprehensive emergency care system.

Emphasising the importance of transparent reporting, Mr Pate stated that the federal government will make resource allocation, releases, and results transparent to all stakeholders, including government bodies, non-governmental partners, civil society organisations, and citizens.

He noted that the increased allocation in the proposed 2024 budget for health and social welfare sectors has demonstrated the political will of the Tinubu administration to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and improve the health of Nigerians.

Thanks to Mr. President, the federal government is making significant investments in health infrastructure and equipment for our hospitals, as well as the provision of critical commodities, the expansion of health insurance, alongside heightened attention to the welfare of the health workforce, he stated.

Addressing the rising prices of medicines, Mr Pate announced the federal governments plan to establish a mechanism for the pooled procurement of critical pharmaceuticals in 2024. This initiative aims to lower costs and guarantee quality, making life-saving medications more affordable for the poorest Nigerians.

In the medium term, Mr Presidents initiative to unlock the healthcare value chain will see Nigeria manufacturing increasing share of its generic drugs, medical devices, and associated content, such as vaccines over time. This will reduce our dependency on those only keen to exploit our markets, the minister said.

Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

December 12, 2023

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The Rivers State Executive Council, in a meeting on Monday in Port Harcourt, approved N800.3 billion as appropriation bill for 2024 fiscal year.

The meeting, the fifth under Governor Siminalayi Fubara was held hours after 27 out of the 31 lawmakers in the Rivers House of Assembly announced their defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Addressing reporters after the meeting, the State Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson, gave the figures for capital and recurrent expenditures as N412 billion and N361 billion respectively.

Essentially, the budget is focused on some key areas with infrastructure taking the lead with N128 billion of the budget followed by education, health and security, Mr Johnson said.

The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Tammy Danagogo, who also spoke to reporters gave the budget size as N800,392,485,433.00.

We believe, by the time it gets to the state House of Assembly, the public will be made to see and understand all the projections and fundamentals, Mr Danagogo said.

Governor Fubara will have to present the budget to the House of Assembly which has been split into two factions as a result of the feud between the governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Some of the lawmakers in late October initiated an impeachment proceeding against Governor Fubara, a development that led to the bombing of a section of the assembly complex.

The lawmakers who are against Governor Fubara are backed by Mr Wike.

ALSO READ: PDP asks 27 Rivers lawmakers who defected to APC to vacate seats

Martin Amaewhule is the speaker of the faction which is backed by Mr Wike while Edison Ehie, a former leader of the assembly who was removed for not endorsing Governor Fubaras impeachment, later emerged the speaker of the other faction which is in support of the governor.

Both camps on Monday held parallel sittings under heavy security mounted by police operatives after which the 27 members backed by Mr Wike announced their defection to APC.

Mr Ehies faction is yet to make a statement about the defection.

The PDP has, however, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to declare the seats of the 27 lawmakers vacant.

It is not clear, for now, if the lawmakers will close ranks so that the governor can present the 2024 budget or if Mr Fubara would present the budget proposal to the four members loyal to him for consideration and passage.

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An unorthodox and definitely delicate eyeball-to-eyeball diplomacymay actually hold the key to halting the carnage in Gaza and, ultimately, becoming a starting point in the solution to the Palestinian question It may be time now for the regional actors, with the requisite agency, to examine these possibilities, as the world figures out how to bring ongoing destruction of Gaza, including of children and women, to an end.

With the US veto of the UAE draft resolution on humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, it has become clear that the solution to the current conflict in the territory may not lie with the UN. This is not a surprise, though, as it had become evident soon after the world body was created in 1945 that it would only be effective in resolving conflict situations when the five veto-holding member-states  US, USSR (now Russia), UK, France, and China  were in agreement. The implication of the US veto of the UAE draft resolution is that the carnage in Gaza, which started on 7 October, may continue unabated.

Lest we forget, the primary objective of the Israeli government in invading Gaza is the complete annihilation of Hamas. But the truth is that Hamas is not just a mere organisation, which can be so easily isolated and taken out by the force of arms. It is also an idea, which has context. It draws life from the reality on ground in the Middle East  i.e., denial of the aspiration of the Palestinian people for a homeland of their own, on parts of the territories occupied, either wholly or partially, by the State of Israel. It is thus obvious why the objective of stamping out Hamas, desirable as it may seem or sound, will not happen. It will, at best, remain a mere facade to justify the continued destruction of innocent life and infrastructure in Gaza by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). The foregoing has made it imperative for the world to find alternative pathways to stopping the expanding scope of this war, the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip, and the disruptions and killings underway in the occupied West Bank.

In the circumstances, recourse to some form of eyeball-to-eyeball diplomacy, the type of which was employed to end the 1956 Suez Canal Crisis and the 1973 Yom Kippur War, may have become inevitable. On each occasion, the now defunct Soviet Union, under Premier Nikita Khrushchev and Leonid Brezhnev in 1956 and 1973 respectively, forged the pathway to peace by simply issuing, each, a firm ultimatum, to end the conflict. Khrushchevs ultimatum was on the tripartite alliance of Britain, France and Israel, to halt their joint invasion of Egypt, designed to seize the Canal and depose Egyptian leader, Gamal Abdel Nassar; failing which Moscow would consider a nuclear attack on Western Europe! The three parties complied almost immediately. The US failure to fully back the tripartite expedition, it must be noted, was also quite helpful in this regard.

The USSR was able to act as a countervailing force in 1956 and 1973 because it had the power and influence requisite for commanding compliance. It is doubtful if Russia, the main rump, and successor nation to the former Soviet Union, is appropriately positioned to do as the predecessor nation did in 1956 and 1973. What is more, Russia is currently comprehensively engaged, nay, bogged down, in its war in Ukraine.

Embarrassed by the possibility of Israeli liquidation of columns of Egyptian troops in the Sinai, the Soviet leader, Brezhnev, on 24 October, 1973, wrote to his US counterpart, President Richard Nixon, threatening unilateral intervention in the war  ostensibly to stop the fighting forces  if the IDF failed to immediately end its encirclement and planned destruction of the Egyptian troops, and further advancement into Egypt. By the second day, the war, which had started on 6 October, 1973, came to a screeching halt!

The USSR was able to act as a countervailing force in 1956 and 1973 because it had the power and influence requisite for commanding compliance. It is doubtful if Russia, the main rump, and successor nation to the former Soviet Union, is appropriately positioned to do as the predecessor nation did in 1956 and 1973. What is more, Russia is currently comprehensively engaged, nay, bogged down, in its war in Ukraine. China, another power with a veto vote in the UN that could credibly fill the void, is obviously not inclined to gamble on Gaza, where it presently has no direct interest at stake. No core member of the Western alliance, including veto-vote holders, Britain and France, is going to go this route either. That leaves Turkiye as a possible candidate for redeeming the increasingly desperate situation in Gaza.

Turkiye does not have nuclear weapons, yet; or at least nothing contrary has been announced. But the country has enough clout and credentials in the Middle East for decisive action; as it was the core of the defunct Ottoman Empire, which held suzerainty over the entire region up until the First World War. In addition, Turkiye, like most Palestinians, is wholly Islamic; and has the second largest military in NATO, after the US. Ankara has also really never stopped being militarily engaged in the region. Besides, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, head of the Turkish state, is a very strong leader, a maverick, not known to fret about making tough, even if risky and unpopular, decisions.

The 7 October invasion of Israel; massacre of 1,200 innocent Israelis; and taking into captive of more than 300 others by Hamas, were horrific and stand condemned. But even these can hardly continue to provide justification for the killing of 17,000 Gazans, and still counting! Yet, Hamas  whose extermination Israel seeks  does not look like anywhere near liquidation.

Though this may sound a little farfetched, if not awkward, but obtaining the acquiescence of nuclear holding North Korea, may actually serve the purpose of making such a Turkish ultimatum on Israel to stop the killings in Gaza, quite credible. The US, and indeed, Israel  in spite of its bravado  may not want to gamble on a possible escalation of the Gaza conflict; especially, such as may be ignited, for the US, by a fellow NATO member-state.

An unorthodox and definitely delicate eyeball-to-eyeball diplomacy of this nature may actually hold the key to halting the carnage in Gaza and, ultimately, becoming a starting point in the solution to the Palestinian question. I had broached this idea in my presentation at a webinar, organised by the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), on 21 November. It may be time now for the regional actors, with the requisite agency, to examine these possibilities, as the world figures out how to bring ongoing destruction of Gaza, including of children and women, to an end.

The 7 October invasion of Israel; massacre of 1,200 innocent Israelis; and taking into captive of more than 300 others by Hamas, were horrific and stand condemned. But even these can hardly continue to provide justification for the killing of 17,000 Gazans, and still counting! Yet, Hamas  whose extermination Israel seeks  does not look like anywhere near liquidation. The world cannot continue to sit idly by, or helplessly watch. All options must be on the table to stop the Gaza carnage.

Femi Mimiko is a professor of Political Science at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and member, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru. E-mail: femi.mimiko@gmail.com; nomimiko@oauife.edu.ng; Twitter: @FemiMimiko

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The leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has expressed its excitement about Nigerias impressive performance at the ongoing International Telecommunications Union (ITU)s World Radio Communications (WRC) Conference 2023, holding in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Two Nigerians were elected into leadership positions, while some other delegates from the NCC were elected into working groups at the conference.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Aminu Maida, speaking on the sidelines of WRC 2023 in Dubai, announced that the Director of Spectrum Administration at NCC, Abraham Oshadami, has been elected Vice Chairman of the ITUs Radiocommunication Advisory Group (RAG). Also, the Acting General Manager and Project Manager, Navigation Project Office, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, Lasisi Salami Lawal was elected Vice Chairman of the ITU-R Study Group Four (Satellite Services). Some other members of the NCC delegation were elected into WRC 2023 working groups.

While congratulating the successful delegates, Maida commended the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, who led Nigerias delegation to WRC 2023, for providing guidance, leadership, encouragement and support to the Nigerian delegation at the conference.

The WRC Conference brings together the global community to agree on the use of the worlds finite spectrum resources, the electromagnetic waves that provide connectivity for our day-to-day technologies.

Mr Maida expressed delight at the outcome of the elections, stating that the roles of the Nigerian elected delegates would enhance Nigerias global standing in the telecom space, as well as ensure that the countrys interests and goals are more aptly aligned with global best practices.

I am excited about the election of two of our colleagues, Engr Oshadami and Dr Lawal as Vice Chairs of the key study groups. It is an honour for the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited to have produced these two intellectuals as global radiocommunication leaders.

Their positions will also ensure that our interests and goals aptly align with global best practices, especially as we work towards attaining the target set by the National Broadband Plan, he said.

He further charged them to live up to the huge expectations that the global radiocommunication community has placed on them by electing them into the roles.

He also reflected deeply on the presence of the Minister at the event as a major booster for the delegation and a strong indication of the Federal Governments commitment to the delegations participation at the WRC-23.

The NCC boss also used his presence at the event to engage with the leadership of the ITU, as well as other leaders in the global telecom industry.

He held meetings with the Secretary General of the ITU, Mrs Doreen Borden-Martin, as well as the Secretary General of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), Mr John Omo, during which he shared his vision and priorities for the Commission, as well as potential areas of collaboration and increased Nigerian participation in the two unions.

Mr Maida also met with directors at the ITU, including the Director of Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), Mr Cosmas Zavazava; Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau (BR) Mr Mario Maniewicz and the Director of the Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau (TSB), Mr Seizo Onoe,

One of the meetings was also with his UAE counterpart  the Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), Majed Sultan Al Mesmar. They both shared their perspectives on effective

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Nigerian soldiers rescued nine kidnapped victims while two others died before a rescue operation, an official announced on Monday.

The spokesperson of the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Musa Yahaya, a lieutenant colonel, said the soldiers who were on routine patrol in the Kanzaure area were tipped off about the kidnap of 11 civilians at Anguwan Maharba and Dandami villages.

The soldiers were deployed to Birnin Yero in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna.

Mr Yahaya said the troops and the Civilian Joint Task Force swiftly mobilised and ambushed the bandits. After a shootout, they successfully rescued some of the victims.

Troops made contact with the bandits and the overwhelming firepower of the troops made the bandits withdraw in disarray with gunshot wounds.

The troops rescued 9 kidnapped victims namely Inusa Bala 45, Halima Gambo 36, Halima Saidu 35, Ladi Musa 35, Aisha Basiru 30, Inusa Saidu 22, and Faiza Inusa 10.

Others are Dahara Saidu 10, and Shahid Inusa 1 year and 5 months, while 2 of the kidnapped victims, Safiya Saidu 19, and Saadatu Saidu 18 years respectively were killed by the bandits before the troops arrival, Mr Yahaya said.

During the operation, troops recovered one AK 47 rifle, one AK 47 rifle magazine, and one locally made weapon from the bandits, the army officer added.

He said the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division and Force Commander Operation WHIRL PUNCH, Valentine Okoro, a major general, commended the troops for their resilience and charged them not to relent in ensuring peace and safety of citizens in the divisions area of responsibility.

The spokesperson said the GOC urged the citizens of Kaduna State to continue availing troops and other security agencies with credible intelligence.

The area where the latest kidnap incident took place is part of the larger Igabi council area where a military drone killed at least 85 people last week Sunday at the Tudun Biri community.

Kaduna is one of Nigerias north-west states being terrorised by armed persons locally called bandits. Attacks by armed persons are frequent in the state, with several people killed and others abducted for ransom.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12. The European Council has approved conclusions on enlargement for the six Western Balkans partners, Turkiye and  for the first time - Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, Trend reports.

"The Council takes good note of the Communication from the Commission of 8 November 2023 on the EU Enlargement Policy including the reports on Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Turkiye, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova (hereinafter: Moldova) and Georgia.

The Council reaffirms its commitment to enlargement in line with the renewed consensus on enlargement approved by the European Council in December 2006 and subsequent Council and European Council conclusions. In line with previous Council conclusions, and in the framework of the Copenhagen political criteria, the Council reaffirms the need for fair and

rigorous conditionality, the principle of own merits and reversibility. The Council stresses the importance of ensuring that the EU can maintain and deepen its own development, including its capacity to integrate new members. The Council continues to expect partners to take ownership and demonstrate the credibility of their commitments and political will through the implementation of necessary reforms and tangible progress on the fundamentals," the statement said.
The alginate casing market is expected to witness significant growth, owing to an increase in the inclination of consumers toward naturally derived casings

PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Alginate Casings Market By Application (Meat, Vegan, and Fish), End User (Food Industry and Pet Food Industry), Usage (Halal, Kosher, and Other), and Type (Basic, Colored, and Flavored): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the global alginate casings market generated $516.8 million in 2023 and is anticipated to generate $1,424.9 million by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 10.9% from 2023 to 2032.

Request Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/17241

Prime determinants of growth

The alginate casings market is witnessing a rise, driven by a surge in demand for eco-friendly packaging solutions. These casings, derived from seaweed extracts, offer a sustainable alternative in the food industry. A notable industry trend is the shift towards environmentally conscious practices, prompting the adoption of biodegradable alginate casings. The market's growth is further fueled by consumer awareness of the environmental impact of traditional packaging materials and a preference for natural and organic food products.

Key growth factors contributing to the alginate casings market include the rise in consumer awareness regarding the environmental impact of traditional packaging materials coupled with the growth in preference for natural and organic food products. The increasing adoption of alginate casings by food manufacturers, driven by their versatility and ability to enhance product quality and shelf life, further propel the market growth. Additionally, technological advancements in alginate extraction processes and manufacturing techniques are fostering innovation in the industry, opening new avenues for market players.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20222032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $516.8 Million Market Size in 2032 $1,424.9 Million CAGR 10.9 % No. of Pages in Report 473 Segments covered Application, End User, Usage, Type, and Region Drivers  Consumer Preference for Healthier and Natural Products  Increase in Demand for Meat  Rise In Demand for Packaged Food  Rapid Urbanization and Migration to Urban Areas  Technological Advancements Facilitate Transportation  Surge In Penetration of Retail Chains in Emerging Markets Opportunities  Emerging Markets  Trend In the Use of Blockchain Technology  New Product Development Restraints  Meat Industry Is Vulnerable to Infectious Diseases  Restrictions And Regulations in Meat Processing Hampers the Demand for Alginate Casings

The meat segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on application, the meat segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for two-thirds of the global alginate casings market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The increasing population and consumer rising demand for various types of meat is the major driver for market growth. Increase in purchasing power and the inclination of consumers toward meat food products also drive the market growth. However, the vegan segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 13% from 2023 to 2032.

Buy This Report (473Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/3uTWiQC

The food industry segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on end user, the food industry segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than half of the global alginate casings market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The increasing population across the globe coupled with shifting of the consumers to urban cities are having a positive impact on the market as consumers' tastes and preferences for food are changing rapidly. Also, consumers are shifting toward alternate sources of food to get vitamins and nutrition due to health as well as environmental concerns, which is the major key factor for the growth of the market. However, the pet food industry segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 11.6% from 2023 to 2032.

The halal segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on usage, the halal segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for two-fifths of the global alginate casings market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The halal meat market is witnessing growth as people are becoming more aware of the health benefits it provides. The growing population of Muslim religious followers globally coupled with the increasing awareness among Muslims for not consuming non-haram food led to an increase in the demand for halal food products. However, the other segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 10.9% from 2023 to 2032.

The flavored segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period.

Based on the type, the flavored segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly half of the global alginate casings market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Also, the flavored segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 11.6% from 2023 to 2032.

North America to maintain its dominance by 2032

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for two-fifths of the global alginate casings market revenue. Technological advancements and an increase in consumer preference for alginate casing over artificial casing coupled with the rise in several fast-food restaurant chains and the increase in demand for sausages and meat-based food are the key drivers of the market. In addition, the Asia-Pacific region is also expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 13.7% from 2023 to 2032 and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period.

Enquire Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/17241

Leading Market Players: -

FMC Corporation

Reiser

Promar Przedsiebiorstwo Produkcyjno Handlowe Sp. z o. o

D2 Ingredients, LP

Qingdao Hyzlin Biology Development Co.,Ltd.

CEAMSA

J. Rettenmaier & Sohne GmbH Co KG

DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

Stern-Wywiol Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG

ViskoTeepak Holding Ab Ltd

Kalle GmbH

Vaessen-Schoemaker B.V.

Ruitenberg Ingredients B.V.

Algaia

Albert Handtmann Holding GmbH & Co. KG

The report provides a detailed analysis of the key players in the global alginate casings market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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We are in professional corporate relations with various companies, and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
Awards Going to Sen. Grassley, Gov. Reynolds, and IEDA Director Durham

New Report Highlights $25 Billion in Utility-Scale Clean Power Investments in Iowa

ANKENY, Iowa, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Clean Power Association (ACP) and Power Up Iowa (PUI) will honor U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, Governor Kim Reynolds, and Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Director Debi Durham as Champions of Clean Energy. Thanks to their leadership, Iowa has increased diversification in agriculture income, generated substantial tax revenue for Iowa's rural communities, and improved the state's renewable energy portfolio.

Power Up Iowa

In advance of the award ceremony, ACP today released a new report detailing the significant contributions made in Iowa from utility-scale clean energy projects. The Clean Energy Powers Iowa report finds that 61% of the state's energy capacity is currently generated through solar and wind projects. Clean energy capacity in the state now stands at 13,278 megawatts (MW), enough to power 4.2 million homes.

"Iowa is a clean energy success story, producing and using clean power for a greater share of the state's electricity generation mix than any other state. Thanks to the leadership of Senator Grassley and Governor Reynolds, Iowa has achieved this success with broad public support," said ACP CEO Jason Grumet. "Senator Grassley has long championed the partnership between clean energy and Iowa's rural and agricultural communities. Governor Reynolds is leading the nation in demonstrating the economic benefits of clean energy in local communities and the statewide economy. IED Director Durham has enabled a culture of innovation that has propelled small business development and local investment into the state's clean energy economy. It is a great pleasure to acknowledge Senator Grassley, Governor Reynolds, and Director Durham and the example they have set for the nation."

The Champions luncheon on Friday, December 15, will also mark the 40th anniversary of Iowa's renewable portfolio standard and the 30th anniversary of the Wind Energy Incentives Act of 1993, authored by Sen. Grassley.

"I have always been a strong champion of renewable energy and the ability for farmers to diversify their operations through some of Iowa's most bountiful resources: wind and solar," said Senator Chuck Grassley. "I am honored to be recognized by the American Clean Power Association for my work on behalf of the people of Iowa, and I look forward to our continued work to grow renewable energy opportunities across Iowa."

Building on the momentum of tax incentives announced in the last year, billions more in investments are projected by 2030. Iowa report highlights include:

$25 Billion  Today's total private sector investment in Iowa's utility-scale solar, wind, and storage projects.

 Today's total private sector investment in utility-scale solar, wind, and storage projects. $13 Billion  The expected private sector investment through clean energy projects that will support Iowa's clean energy economy by 2030.

 The expected private sector investment through clean energy projects that will support clean energy economy by 2030. $73.4 Million  The amount paid annually through Iowa land lease payments.

 The amount paid annually through land lease payments. $61.5 Million  The annual investment in local and state taxes paid by the industry.

 The annual investment in local and state taxes paid by the industry. Nearly 5,500 Iowa jobs are supported by the clean energy industry.

"It's a privilege to help honor these dynamic leaders in the renewable energy space," said Des Moines Area Community College President Rob Denson. "Their leadership has a long reach  from economic development and homegrown energy to the production of high-paying careers for DMACC's graduates. When the renewable energy industry grows, Iowa grows with it."

A Celebration of Clean Energy in Iowa  Champions of Clean Energy Awards Luncheon

Date: Friday, December 15, 2023

Time: 11:30 AM  1:00 PM

Location: FFA Enrichment Center, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy, Ankeny, IA 50023 (DMACC's main campus)

To RSVP for the event contact Mak Heddens at [email protected] or 515-450-2954.

About ACP

The American Clean Power Association (ACP) is the leading voice of today's multi-tech clean energy industry, representing over 800 energy storage, wind, utility-scale solar, clean hydrogen and transmission companies. ACP is committed to meeting America's national security, economic and climate goals with fast-growing, low-cost, and reliable domestic power.

Learn more at cleanpower.org .

About PUI

Power Up Iowa, an initiative of the American Clean Power Association, is a statewide coalition of renewable energy supporters advocating for local, state and federal policies and initiatives that enhance Iowa's wind and solar energy investment. By educating, raising awareness, and participating in conversations with our state's leaders, Power Up Iowa will help make the case for renewable energy investment to revive and drive our local economies.

CONTACT:

Sabrina Fang

[email protected]

703-283-2091

Mak Heddens

[email protected]

515-450-2954

SOURCE American Clean Power Association
OPOC.US Joins Atria's Cadaret Grant for Award-Winning Technology and Advisor-Centric Culture

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Atria Wealth Solutions, Inc. ("Atria"), a multi-channel wealth management solutions holding company, today announced the addition of OPOC.US ("OPOC") to Atria subsidiary Cadaret Grant. OPOC, which stands for "One Point of Care," is a firm based in Worthington, Ohio, managing nearly $350 million in client assets. OPOC joins Cadaret Grant and the Atria family from Osaic's Securities America.

Edward "A.J." Sommer III, OPOC's Managing Partner of Retirement Plans and Investments, said, "We wanted to find a partner who really understands the needs of financial professionals and the challenges and complexities we and our clients face. Atria understands that. It was evident in their approach to technology and how it is used to engage and meet the needs of our clients. They understand each client is different and it is essential to have a robust set of solutions to meet those needs. And most importantly, Atria understands this is a people business  it's all about people and building real relationships. It's clear they approach the business in a different way  a way that's all about true partnership."

The OPOC team, including German "Alex" Cabrera, John Crow, David Lawler, Clark May and Carl Swanson, specializes in providing holistic "One-Point-of-Care" services, a philosophy rooted in being the singular source for employers seeking comprehensive employee benefits and wealth management solutions. This approach resonates with Atria's philosophy in which the clients of each of Atria's firms  financial professionals like those associated with OPOC  are served with a broad spectrum of resources tailored to their specific needs.

"We are thrilled to welcome OPOC into Cadaret Grant and the Atria family. After spending time with A.J. and the team and understanding their business and where they want to go, I knew we would be the perfect partner and home for them," said Kevin Beard, Atria's Chief Growth Officer and one of its Founding Partners. "OPOC's decision to join the Atria family is yet another example of the success we are having with financial professionals choosing our firm because they recognize our unique ability to help the most complex, successful businesses thrive."

About Atria Wealth Solutions, Inc.

Atria Wealth Solutions, Inc. (Atria), headquartered in New York City, is a wealth management solutions holding company focused on delivering a clear path to the future of financial advice for financial professionals, financial institutions and their clients. Atria's broker-dealer and RIA subsidiaries, located throughout the U.S., empower independent financial professionals and financial institutions with a sophisticated set of tools, services and capabilities that deepen client relationships and maximize efficiencies in their practices.

Atria operates the following wealth management subsidiaries that provide brokerage and advisory services: CUSO Financial Services, Sorrento Pacific Financial, Cadaret Grant, NEXT Financial Group, Western International Securities, SCF Securities and Grove Point Financial. Atria's subsidiaries together support close to 2,700 financial professionals with nearly $120 billion of assets under administration. Each broker/dealer is a member FINRA/SIPC, and each advisory firm is a federally registered investment adviser. For more information, please visit atriawealth.com.

Media Contact

Haven Tower Group

Brandon Blackwell

424 317 4868

[email protected]

SOURCE Atria Wealth Solutions
NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) ("Autohome" or the "Company"), the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China, today announced that Mr. Quan Long has stepped down from his position as the chief executive officer of the Company (the "Chief Executive Officer") due to his other personal commitments, effective immediately. Mr. Long will remain in his position as the chairman of the board of directors of the Company (the "Board"). Dr. Jing Xiao has also resigned from his position as a director and a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board due to his other personal commitments, effective immediately.

The Company is pleased to announce that Mr. Tao Wu has been appointed as an executive director of the Company and the Chief Executive Officer, and Ms. Keke Ding, a current director and member of the Compensation Committee of the Board, has been appointed as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, both effective immediately.

Mr. Tao Wu has over 28 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance and automobile services industries. Mr. Wu currently serves as a director of Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An P&C"). Before joining Autohome, he served as an executive director and a vice general manager of Ping An P&C. Mr. Wu joined Ping An P&C in September 2001, and held a series of leadership roles there, including operating director, general manager of the Guangdong Branch, general manager of the Auto, Accident & Health Insurance Claims Department, vice general manager of the Fujian Branch and vice general manager of the Xiamen Branch. Mr. Wu also served as a vice president of Autohome from July 2016 to November 2020. Mr. Wu received his bachelor's degree in automotive engineering from Tsinghua University in July 1995.

Mr. Quan Long, the chairman of the Board, stated, "We are delighted to welcome Mr. Tao Wu back to the team as our executive director and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Wu previously spent over four years in a management role at Autohome and during that time he played a crucial role in leading the development of our core businesses. We believe that his leadership and extensive industry experience will be a great asset to our future development. The Board looks forward to working with him closely as we enter the exciting next phase of our growth story."

Mr. Long continued, "On behalf of the Board, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Xiao for his dedication and his contributions to the Company. We wish him continued success in all of his future endeavors. I would also like to welcome Ms. Ding to her new role where I am confident her experience and perspectives will prove valuable to the Board."

About Autohome Inc.

Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) is the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China. Its mission is to relentlessly reduce auto industry decision-making and transaction costs driven by advanced technology. Autohome provides occupationally generated content, professionally generated content, user-generated content, and AI-generated content, a comprehensive automobile library, and extensive automobile listing information to automobile consumers, covering the entire car purchase and ownership cycle. The ability to reach a large and engaged user base of automobile consumers has made Autohome a preferred platform for automakers and dealers to conduct their advertising campaigns. Further, the Company's dealer subscription and advertising services allow dealers to market their inventory and services through Autohome's platform, extending the reach of their physical showrooms to potentially millions of internet users in China and generating sales leads for them. The Company offers sales leads, data analysis, and marketing services to assist automakers and dealers with improving their efficiency and facilitating transactions. Autohome operates its "Autohome Mall," a full-service online transaction platform, to facilitate transactions for automakers and dealers. Further, through its websites and mobile applications, it also provides other value-added services, including auto financing, auto insurance, used car transactions, and aftermarket services. For further information, please visit https://www.autohome.com.cn.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Autohome's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Autohome's filings with the SEC and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Autohome does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Autohome Inc.

Investor Relations

Sterling Song

Investor Relations Director

Tel: +86-10-5985-7483

E-mail: [email protected]

Christensen China Limited

Suri Cheng

Tel: +86-185-0060-8364

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Autohome Inc.
YAVNE, ISRAEL, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - [BELKIN Vision], an innovator in ophthalmic medical solutions, is pleased to announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance for its glaucoma laser, the Eagle device. A Q-switched, 532 nm-wavelength, frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser, the Eagle is intended for use in performing selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT). This milestone achievement marks a significant advancement in the field of ophthalmology, offering expanded treatment options for individuals suffering from glaucoma.

BELKIN Vision CEO, Daria Lemann Blumenthal with the newly FDA approved Eagle device. (CNW Group/BELKIN Vision)

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, affecting 70 million people worldwide with more than 3.6 million diagnosed patients in the US alone.1 The clearance of the Eagle by the FDA represents a significant opportunity in the management of glaucoma, as the first and only contactless laser for glaucoma, providing an automated and non-invasive solution for patients and healthcare professionals alike. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recognizes laser trabeculoplasty as an initial or adjunctive therapy in patients with primary open angle glaucoma.2

The Eagle is a state-of-the-art laser device which offers several advantages over traditional treatment options; the laser energy is delivered in a non-contact procedure directly through the limbus to the trabecular meshwork without the need for the use of a gonioscopy lens. In addition, the device automatically defines the target location then applies the laser treatment sequence while the eye tracker compensates for any eye movement. By introducing Direct-SLT (DSLT), a streamlined, user-friendly technology, BELKIN Vision aims to expand access to early laser therapy for more patients by enabling a larger number of eye care professionals to perform the procedure.

BELKIN Vision CEO, Daria Lemann-Blumenthal states: 'This achievement has been possible thanks to the skill, passion, and dedication of our entire team. We believe that this FDA clearance will have a positive impact on the lives of those affected by glaucoma, offering novel treatment methods and renewed hope for the future.'

About BELKIN Vision:

BELKIN Vision is an innovative Israeli medical device company, established in 2013. Our vision is accessible first-line glaucoma care for all. Visit the BELKIN Vision website to learn more.

Connect with us at www.belkin-vision.com, on LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

__________

1 https://glaucoma.org/learn-about-glaucoma/, https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/resources/features/glaucoma-awareness.html#:~:text=About%203%20million%20Americans%20have,results%20in%20increased%20eye%20pressure., Market Scope 2022 Glaucoma Surgical Device Market Report 2 https://www.aao.org/education/summary-benchmark-detail/glaucoma-summary-benchmarks-2020

SOURCE BELKIN Vision
DUBLIN, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Brazil Electric Vehicle Market Outlook to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Brazil Electric Vehicle Market is characterized by a growing demand for EVs in urban centers, where factors like congestion and pollution are leading to the adoption of clear mobility option. Brazil's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emission is driving regulatory support and polices that promote EV adoption, such as tax incentives, subsidies, and reduced import tariffs.



As Battery technology improves, EVs will become more affordable and practical for consumers, resulting in increased consumer interest and awareness. The expansion of charging infrastructure is also an important component, alleviating range anxiety and promoting wider adoption. Established automotive manufactures and new comers alike are entering the market, offering a range of electric models to cater to diverse consumers preference. Overall, Brazil electric vehicle market is growing, and with a projected CAGR of 17% during the forecast period (2022-2028), it is driven by a convergence of policy incentives, technological advancement, environmental consciousness and urban mobility needs.



The Brazil EV Market is streamlined with some of the largest players, having major influence in the market. This ecosystem comprises EV manufacturers, charging infrastructure providers, battery manufacturing companies, and technology/software firms Battery advancements impact vehicle design, charging infrastructure requirements influence vehicle usage patterns, and software solutions enhance the overall EV experience. Government incentives and policies further shape the ecosystem, influencing investments, market adoption, and regulatory frameworks.



Brazil Electric Vehicle Market Analysis:

Escalating gasoline prices in Brazil , soaring from $1.05 /L in May to $1.17 /L in June 2023 , are prompting a surge of interest in electric vehicles (EVs). The potential for long-term fuel savings with EVs becomes an attractive proposition amid volatile oil prices, prompting buyers to make the shift for economic stability.

, soaring from /L in May to /L in , are prompting a surge of interest in electric vehicles (EVs). The potential for long-term fuel savings with EVs becomes an attractive proposition amid volatile oil prices, prompting buyers to make the shift for economic stability. The expanding middle-class segment, accounting for up to 47% of the population, is a key driver behind the increasing demand for electric vehicles in Brazil . As more people achieve higher purchasing power, the affordability and long-term cost savings of EVs align with their aspirations for sustainable and efficient mobility solutions.

. As more people achieve higher purchasing power, the affordability and long-term cost savings of EVs align with their aspirations for sustainable and efficient mobility solutions. Government policies and initiatives have played an important role in fostering the growth of the EV market in Brazil . By offering incentives and subsidies, the government is making electric vehicles more accessible to consumers. These initiatives not only boost consumer confidence but also contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions and dependence on traditional fossil fuels.

Key Trends by Market Segment:

By Type of Vehicles : The Passenger vehicle was the dominant segment in 2022 because of their broader consumer base, daily commuting suitability, and increasing environmental awareness. Consumers opt for EVs as personal transportation, driven by lower emissions, cost savings, and urban mobility advantages. Government incentives often target passenger EVs, further boosting adoption. These factors collectively position passenger EVs as the preferred choice for individuals seeking sustainable and efficient mobility solutions

: The Passenger vehicle was the dominant segment in 2022 because of their broader consumer base, daily commuting suitability, and increasing environmental awareness. Consumers opt for EVs as personal transportation, driven by lower emissions, cost savings, and urban mobility advantages. Government incentives often target passenger EVs, further boosting adoption. These factors collectively position passenger EVs as the preferred choice for individuals seeking sustainable and efficient mobility solutions By Distribution Channels : The OEMs sector dominated the market in 2022. Due to their manufacturing expertise, brand recognition, diverse product range, research investment and global partnership. These factors enable them to produce high-quality EVs, offer various models, innovate in technology, and ensure reliable after-sales support, making them key drivers in shaping the industry's growth and consumer adoption

: The OEMs sector dominated the market in 2022. Due to their manufacturing expertise, brand recognition, diverse product range, research investment and global partnership. These factors enable them to produce high-quality EVs, offer various models, innovate in technology, and ensure reliable after-sales support, making them key drivers in shaping the industry's growth and consumer adoption By Regional Split: The most dominant region is the South region of Brazil , The South region has a higher population density compared to other regions, which can drive higher demand for transportation solutions, including electric vehicles. Urban centers like Sao Paulo have a larger concentration of potential EV consumers. due to Availability of charging infrastructure is crucial for EV adoption. The South region has invested significantly in building a robust charging network, that contribute immensely to the market share

Competitive Landscape:



The competitive landscape of the Brazilian electric vehicle (EV) market is characterized by a diverse array of players spanning various segments. Established global automotive giants such as Tesla, Nissan, and Chevrolet have a significant presence, offering a range of EV models that cater to different consumer preferences. These companies drive innovation in EV technology, design, and performance, setting industry benchmarks. Battery manufacturing companies such as Samsung SDI and local producers contribute to technological advancements, enhancing the efficiency and capabilities of EV batteries. Charging infrastructure companies play a crucial role, with international names like EVgo and Electrify America making their mark alongside local entities like EDP and Green Mobility. Their expanding charging networks address the critical concern of charging accessibility, facilitating widespread EV adoption.

Future Outlook:

The market is showing considerable growth over the years, moving forward with an expected CAGR of ~17% within a time period of 2022 to 2028. This rise is in the wake of New Technology globally, which is pushing this market to rise up to the newer challenges.

Ongoing advancements in battery technology will lead to longer ranges, faster charging times, and reduced costs, boosting consumer confidence in EVs, strengthening the market even more. As battery capacities increase, leading to longer driving ranges, and charging infrastructure improves, EVs become more convenient and practical for everyday use.

Expansion of a reliable and convenient charging network across urban and rural areas will alleviate range anxiety and promote wider EV adoption. A well-developed charging network with easily accessible charging stations across urban and rural areas will provide consumers with the confidence to embrace EVs for longer journeys.

Increasing awareness of climate change and air quality concerns will drive consumers to opt for cleaner and more sustainable transportation solutions like EVs. The rise in awareness about climate change and air quality issues is motivating consumers in Brazil to opt for electric vehicles as a means to reduce their carbon footprint.

to opt for electric vehicles as a means to reduce their carbon footprint. With the collaborations between local manufacturers and global EV leaders will expedite EV production, technology transfer, and innovation, fueling market growth. Such partnerships can facilitate technology transfer, knowledge sharing, and efficient production processes, allowing local manufacturers to produce competitive EV models quickly.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary



2. Brazil EV Market Overview

2.1 Taxonomy of the Market

2.2 Industry Value Chain

2.3 Ecosystem

2.4 Government Regulations/Initiatives for the Market

2.5 Growth Drivers of the Brazil EV Market

2.6 Issues and Challenges of the Brazil EV Market

2.7 Impact of COVID-19 on the Brazil EV Market

2.8 SWOT Analysis



3. Brazil EV Market Size, 2017-2022



4. Brazil EV Market Segmentation

4.1 By Type of Vehicles, 2017-2022

4.2 By Distribution Channels, 2017-2022

4.3 By Regional Split (North/East/West/South), 2017-2022



5. Competitive Landscape

5.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements

5.2 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players

5.3 Company Profiles Comparison

5.3.1 BYD

5.3.2 Volkswagen Group

5.3.3 Renault

5.3.4 Nissan

5.3.5 BMW

5.3.6 JAC Motors

5.3.7 CAOA Chery



6. Brazil EV Market Size, 2022-2028



7. Brazil EV Market Segmentation

7.1 By Type of Vehicles, 2022-2028

7.2 By Distribution Channels, 2022-2028

7.3 By Regional Split (North/East/West/South), 2022-2028



8. Analyst Recommendations



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/yl79dw

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Bulat Utemuratov named Philanthropist of the Year 2023 by the Kazakhstan Growth Forum, in recognition of social projects

Continued focus on autism, recently opening 13 th Asyl Miras Autism Center in Semey

Other notable projects include opening new school Kosshy city, with plans for two more schools in Almaty region and construction of Kyzylorda airport terminal underway

Humanitarian relief program includes donations to Turkey earthquake victims and families of Kostenko mine disaster in Kazakhstan

ALMATY, Kazakhstan, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation has completed another successful year with Bulat Utemuratov, the organization's founder, recently named Philanthropist of the Year 2023 by the Kazakhstan Growth Forum.

The award is in recognition of the Foundation's social projects, having provided $150 million for healthcare, education, infrastructure and cultural projects in Kazakhstan. The results were unveiled at a charity event in Almaty where independent members of the Kazakhstan Growth Forum's Expert Council selected winners across 13 categories.

Photo Credit: Bulat Utemuratov Foundation

The key initiative of the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation has been its work in the field of autism, and most recently the Foundation, with the assistance of the Akimat of the Abay region, opened its 13th Asyl Miras Autism Center in Semey, Kazakhstan.

The new center will employ 15 specialists and educate up to 300 children a year, with classes aligned with the "Autism. One World for All" six intervention programs. It will provide tailored support for each child, with each three-month cycle of work based on their specific needs following diagnosis. Seven classrooms at the center are fully equipped with furniture, inventory and teaching aids.

The Foundation's "Asyl Miras" autism centers have been operating for nine years, educating 16,000 children throughout Kazakhstan free of charge. They adopt cutting-edge practices and partner with recognized experts including the Kasari Lab at the University of California, the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta, and the international organization Autism Speaks.

Other notable projects of the Foundation in 2023 include the construction and opening of a new school in the city of Kosshy for 3,000 pupils, along with commencing construction of an 8,500 square meter community center. In 2024, the Foundation plans to commission two more schools in the Almaty region, in the cities of Issyk and Shelek. The Foundation continues to support the construction of a new airport terminal in Kyzylorda, to be completed in the spring of 2024.

Humanitarian relief is another focus, and during 2023 the Foundation donated $5 million to victims of the earthquake in Turkey, along with $1 million to support families of victims of the Kostenko mine disaster in Kazakhstan's Karaganda region. The Foundation also provides regular assistance to Kazakhstanis affected by natural disasters under its "Aid Card" program.

In addition, Bulat Utemuratov supports cultural projects such as the Batyrkhan Shukenov Foundation and the Kulanshi Gallery of Contemporary Art.

Almaz Sharman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation, commented: "In the last decade, the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation has had a significant impact on several areas, including infrastructure, healthcare, education, and cultural initiatives. Notably, its dedication to supporting individuals with autism has been remarkable. The journey began with the establishment of the inaugural autism center in Almaty, which has since expanded into a successful network. The positive changes in children's lives and social abilities have been inspiring, greatly assisting their integration into society and helping them adapt to challenges. These initiatives underscore Kazakhstan's dedication to fostering a fair and inclusive society."

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2298763/Bulat_Utemuratov.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2200082/4451638/Bulat_Utemuratov_Logo.jpg
DUBAI, UAE, December 12. Uganda will promote climate change measures as the next chairperson of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Judith Heard, Miss Environment International Africa 2022, representing Uganda, told reporters on the sidelines of the COP 28 in Dubai, Trend reports.

"Uganda will chair the Non-Aligned Movement after Azerbaijan and I hope it will take action against climate change," she said.

Heard noted that she is attending a fashion show as part of COP 28.

"The fashion industry has done a great job on the environmental aspect. I come from Uganda, where we have a lot of issues due to climate change. We have landslides, and rivers breaking down, and today we are here to find out a solution to tackle climate change. We are here also to encourage the young people, not just the governments, who have to fix the problems. I am here to represent my young people so that they understand that fashion is not just about beauty, but also about fighting for Mother Nature. I want to encourage young girls to recycle," Heard said.

In addition, Heard said that she will also attend COP 29 in Azerbaijan.

"Wherever COP goes, we will go there and raise our voices. I will be there. Uganda will chair the Non-Alignment Movement after Azerbaijan and I hope it will take action against climate change," she said.

The decision to hold COP 29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced on December 11 within the framework of the COP 28 conference in Dubai. COP 29 will be held in November 2024.

The Eastern European Regional Group has selected Azerbaijan to host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP 29, in 2024.

In addition to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Bulgaria were also nominated. Later, on December 7, 2023, after direct negotiations between the Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Armenia decided to withdraw its candidacy in support of Azerbaijan. Bulgaria followed suit and also withdrew its candidacy.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CorePower Yoga is accused of sharing subscribers' personal information and video-viewing habits with Facebook without its users' consent. Specifically, www.corepoweryoga.com appears to have used a tracking tool to record its subscribers' viewing habits and secretly share them with Facebook. CorePower Yoga customers could be eligible to collect up to $2,500 for these violations.

Levi & Korsinsky is working to represent CorePower Yoga members with Facebook accounts who may have been impacted by this improper information sharing. To find out if you qualify, please go to:

https://bit.ly/3MOo3QL

There is no cost or obligation to participate.

WHAT'S THIS ABOUT? Compensation may be available for eligible CorePower Yoga subscribers - the Federal Video Privacy Protection Act allows compensation of up to $2,500.

HOW DOES THIS WORK? Mass actions involve hundreds or thousands of consumers bringing individual claims against the same company at the same time and over the same issue. Levi & Korsinsky is now gathering members to take action over these potential privacy violations. To join the others taking action, go to:

https://bit.ly/3MOo3QL

WHO IS LEVI & KORSINSKY?

A nationally-recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations

A team of 70+ extraordinary attorneys and professionals who know how to maximize your compensation

A winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world

A 100% contingency firm  we don't get paid unless you get paid!

WHO IS COREPOWER YOGA?

CorePowerYoga.com is headquartered in Denver, CO and is one of the largest the largest yoga studio chains in the US with more than 220 locations across 22 states and over 1,500 employees. The Company has hundreds of thousands of members and offers various formats of yoga and bootcamp style classes.

The Company has previously been sued multiple times in class action lawsuits alleging gross underpayment of wages to its yoga instructors.

Please visit us as www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

Ed Korsinsky, Esq.

33 Whitehall Street, 17th Floor

New York, NY 10004

(212) 363-7500

https://bit.ly/3MOo3QL

SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
PHOENIX, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Desert Financial Credit Union announced $300,000 in donations to Arizona nonprofits through its grant program today.

This is the credit union's largest grant cycle to date, an increase of more than 25% compared to 2022 and more than double the amount awarded just two years ago.

Desert Financial Credit Union announced $300,000 in donations to Arizona nonprofits through its grant program today. Post this

"At Desert Financial, we care about the communities where we work and live," said Ron Amstutz, Desert Financial Credit Union executive vice president. "We focus our grants on programs for children and families that will improve their future and, in turn, make Arizona a better place for all of us to live."

Grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 were given to 26 nonprofits focused on education, child and youth services, housing and human services. The organizations were selected through a formal application and review process.

Organizations receiving grants from Desert Financial in 2023 include:

A New Leaf  $15,000 for early childhood education for low-income and underserved children in South Phoenix

 for early childhood education for low-income and underserved children in Billy's Place, Inc.  $15,000 for school-based grief support services in Maricopa County

 for school-based grief support services in Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley  $15,000 for academic success programming in the greater Phoenix area and Yuma

 for academic success programming in the greater area and Candelen  $15,000 for early childhood education in Flagstaff

 for early childhood education in Jobs for Arizona's Graduates  $15,000 for career and college readiness programs in Arizona

 for career and college readiness programs in Lowell Observatory  $15,000 for STEAM education programming for fourth- through eighth-grade students on the Navajo , Hopi and Apache nations

 for STEAM education programming for fourth- through eighth-grade students on the , Hopi and nations Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center  $15,000 for an early childhood inclusive preschool program designed for children diagnosed with autism in Phoenix , Tempe and Scottsdale

 for an early childhood inclusive preschool program designed for children diagnosed with autism in , and Southwest Human Development  $15,000 for early education in the Balsz School District in Phoenix

 for early education in the Balsz School District in The Launch Pad Teen Center  $15,000 for workforce development for 16- to 24-year-olds in Prescott

 for workforce development for 16- to 24-year-olds in Tynkertopia  $15,000 for teaching and mentoring youth from low-income families in the Siler Homes public housing community in Flagstaff

 for teaching and mentoring youth from low-income families in the Siler Homes public housing community in Laptops 4 Learning  $12,500 for laptops for kindergarten through college students who cannot afford them in the Phoenix area

 for laptops for kindergarten through college students who cannot afford them in the area Save the Family Foundation of Arizona  $12,500 for children's services designed to halt the cycle of homelessness in the East Valley

 for children's services designed to halt the cycle of homelessness in the East Valley Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arizona  $10,000 for career and college readiness programs for youth ages 11-18 in Prescott and Prescott Valley

 for career and college readiness programs for youth ages 11-18 in and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale  $10,000 for workforce development training for teens in Phoenix and Scottsdale

 for workforce development training for teens in and Catholic Charities Community Services  $10,000 for tutoring support or tuition for unaccompanied refugee minors in central Phoenix

 for tutoring support or tuition for unaccompanied refugee minors in central Diocesan Council for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Diocese  $10,000 for its Dream Center educational program for children ages 4-17 in the Phoenix area

 for its Dream Center educational program for children ages 4-17 in the area Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona  $10,000 for resilience-building arts programs for children who have experienced trauma in Maricopa County

 for resilience-building arts programs for children who have experienced trauma in Earn to Learn  $10,000 for a matched savings scholarship program in Maricopa County and rural Arizona

 for a matched savings scholarship program in and rural Native American Connections  $10,000 for children and teens experiencing homelessness in Phoenix

 for children and teens experiencing homelessness in The Be Kind People Project  $10,000 to provide the Be Kind curriculum to several Title I schools in Arizona

 to provide the Be Kind curriculum to several Title I schools in Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters  $10,000 for expanding youth services and mentorship opportunities in Yavapai County

 for expanding youth services and mentorship opportunities in Future for Kids  $7,500 for Discover Your Future programming and mentorship for children in Phoenix , Tempe and Mesa

 for Discover Your Future programming and mentorship for children in , and Literacy Volunteers of Coconino County  $7,500 to improve the reading skills of kindergarten and first-grade students who are reading below grade level in Flagstaff

 to improve the reading skills of kindergarten and first-grade students who are reading below grade level in Live and Learn Economic Empowerment Program for Women  $7,500 for financial literacy training for women experiencing poverty or domestic violence in Maricopa County

 for financial literacy training for women experiencing poverty or domestic violence in McDowell Sonoran Conservancy  $7,500 for Expedition Days on the Trail field trips for third-, fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms at selected Title I schools in Maricopa County

 for Expedition Days on the Trail field trips for third-, fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms at selected Title I schools in Children's Museum of Phoenix  $5,000 for free and reduced-price museum admission for children with high financial need who visit the museum in Phoenix

Desert Financial has provided more than $1.5 million to Arizona non-profits through grants in the past decade. To learn more about Desert Financial's grants, visit DesertFinancial.com/Community.

About Desert Financial Credit Union

Celebrating more than 84 years in Arizona, Desert Financial is the state's most trusted local credit union with over $8 billion in assets, 400,000+ members and 47 branches. Membership eligibility is open across Arizona with contactless solutions making it easy to click, call or come in. As a not-for-profit cooperative, Desert Financial takes pride in sharing success. In 2023, members received $16 million in dividends via the Member Giveback Bonus, and the credit union became the official retail banking partner of Arizona State University. Federally insured by NCUA. Learn more at desertfinancial.com.

SOURCE Desert Financial Credit Union
BEIJING, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Founder, Chairperson and CEO of DHGATE Group Diane Wang has been recognized as a Platinum tier "Female Entrepreneur of the Year" in the "Women Helping Women - Business" category of the 2023 TITAN Women In Business Awards.

DHGATE Group Founder Diane Wang Named Platinum Female Entrepreneur of the Year at 2023 TITAN Women in Business Awards

Each year, the TITAN Women In Business Awards recognizes the outstanding achievements of women in business and the impact of their roles as executives, leaders, supervisors, and owners of businesses ranging from small and medium enterprises to some of the world's best known companies and brands. The TITAN Women In Business Awards are organized by the International Awards Associate (IAA) and judged by a panel of senior-level executives, business professionals and entrepreneurs.

"It is a great personal achievement to be named a Female Entrepreneur of the Year and to join such an accomplished list of talented, insightful and driven female TITANs," said Diane. "I hope that my story can inspire other women to pursue their own ambitions, whether for personal growth or to further their career and entrepreneurial dreams."

Diane was honored by TITAN for her 30 years of business leadership and trailblazing role in furthering women's empowerment through entrepreneurship and digitalization. Under Diane's leadership, DHgate serves more than 2.54 million sellers and 59.6 million buyers across 225 countries/regions through its online marketplace by coordinating with more than 100 logistics service providers worldwide.

In 2020, Diane launched MyyShop , a pioneering social commerce platform that helps social media influencers and content creators monetize their outreach and social media success. Connected with DHgate's resources, creators are equipped with tools to quickly identify in-demand products, leverage AI-powered product recommendations, build a customized online shopfront, and earn commission through sales. Creators can also efficiently create their own personalized product lines using MyyShop's centralized platform and verified supplier network.

For female entrepreneurs, MyyShop uses innovative technology and services to address complex supply chain challenges in cross-border e-commerce. This enables women to leverage their strengths and actively participate in the digital economy with equal opportunities by breaking down numerous barriers to entry.

Leveraging her personal experiences climbing the ladder of corporate and entrepreneurial success as well as navigating career and industry challenges, Diane now works closely with international organizations to promote the digital inclusion of women and their leadership in small and medium enterprises and startups. Diane is the Chair of the APEC Women Leadership Summit, the Chair of 50 Cross-border E-Commerce Leaders in China, a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General's Business Advisory Group a member of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), and a Chinese National Chapter member of the BRICS Women's Business Alliance.

Championing Female Entrepreneur Empowerment Around the World

As a global business leader, Diane is continuously exploring new ways to support and empower female entrepreneurs in different stages of their careers and lives. Most recently in 2023, she founded a global community and social enterprise for women called The Inner Mountain Foundation , which is dedicated to empowering women through the power of community. The Foundation fosters a community of like-minded women who can lead, nurture and inspire those around themstarting with themselvesby providing access to various entrepreneurial resources, training, information, and funding for women-owned businesses. Embracing a forward-looking global perspective, Diane will establish branches in other major cities around the world after The Inner Mountain Foundation's initial debut in China and North America. These branches resemble satellites orbiting different trajectories, each having its own unique color while sharing a common mission and vision.

In 2016, Diane was named Chairwomen of the APEC Women's Leadership Forum, and has since been instrumental in advancing concrete ideas to empower women and bringing about significant change in workplaces. In the same year, she founded the APEC Women Connect (AWC) international digital entrepreneurship community for women, which empowers women through inspirational sharing, practical learning, effective recognition and awards. AWC has successfully trained over 100,000 women MSMEs and cultivated more than 2,000 women entrepreneurs.

In 2020, Diane launched the APEC Women Connect "Her Power" Entrepreneurship Competition to activate women's passion for entrepreneurship in the digital economy. Each year, the competition draws thousands of international participants to participate in competitive challenges that also teach them skills to boost product sales while increasing awareness across social media platforms.

The 4th edition of the APEC Women Connect "Her Power" Entrepreneurship Competition is currently ongoing. Interested participants can sign up here for the 4th APEC Women Connect "Her Power" Entrepreneurship Competition and join the community discussion on Discord.

Other TITAN Women In Business Awards recipients include Debbie Yu, Co-Founder, President and Board Member of autonomous driving technology company ISEE.AI; as well as Christine Cooper, CEO of medical payments services company aequum.

About DHgate

Founded in 2004, DHgate has become the leading B2B cross-border e-commerce marketplace in China, boasting over 34 million live listings annually. Through their global operations and offices, including in the USA and UK, DHgate reaches millions of people with trusted products and services. As of December 31, 2022, DHgate served more than 59.6 million registered buyers from 225 countries and regions, connecting them to over 2.54 million sellers in China and other countries.

For more information, please visit DHgate.com and follow @DHgate.com .

About MyyShop

MyyShop is a pioneering social commerce platform launched by DHGATE Group that provides an effortless selling experience on social media. The platform aims to empower different types of creatorsfrom nano to mega-influencersto turn their social media influence and passion for content creation into thriving online businesses. Equipped with MyyShop's social commerce and online store creation toolkit and resources, creators can quickly identify viral or in-demand products, leverage MyyShop's AI-powered product recommendations based on shoppers' interests and sales trends, build a customized online shopfront and earn commission through social commerce sales. Creators can also efficiently create their own personalized product lines through MyyShop's centralized platform and extensive network of verified cross-border suppliers and manufacturers.

For more information, please visit MyyShop.com and follow @MyyShopOfficial.

About The Inner Mountain Foundation

The Inner Mountain Foundation promotes the empowerment of women through education, community, and outreach. We are led by our Founder and Chairperson Diane Wang, who first articulated the principles of Inner Mountain Thinking in her 2024 book, The Inner Mountain. As a global foundation and women's empowerment community, we invest in impact-making educational resources that we seek to make as broadly accessible as possible. Our goal is to focus the work of the Inner Mountain on the soft skills training that we believe helps equip women to be their greatest, most empowered selves across their most wholly integrated life (connecting the self with work, family, community, and legacy).

About APEC Women Connect

Founded in 2016, APEC Women Connect is an APEC-endorsed program initiated by Ms. Diane Wang, the China Representative on the APEC Business Advisory Council, Chair of the APEC Women Leadership Forum, Co-Chair of WiBAC of B20 Indonesia, and Founder, Chairperson and CEO of DHgate.com. APEC Women Connect aims to empower women, especially young women, to realize entrepreneurship via digital solutions through inspirational sharing, practical learning, effective recognition, and awards. APEC Women Connect has been included in the annual recommendation to the APEC Economic Leaders for three consecutive years. It has also been included in the annual recommendation to G20 Leaders by B20 for two consecutive years.

Contact

Harry Wang

Tel: (86) 10  8202 8870 ext.8284

[email protected]



Georgina Lv

Tel: (86) 10  8202 8870 ext.8908

[email protected]

SOURCE DHGATE Group
SHANGHAI, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dizal presented compelling data from its robust portfolio of hematological oncology at the 65th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition held in San Diego, California from December 9-12. The data showcased updated results of Dizal's two leading assets: golidocitinib, the first and only JAK1 selective inhibitor for the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), and DZD8586, a first-in-class LYN and BTK dual inhibitor for the treatment of relapsed or refractory (r/r) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). This underscores Dizal's dedication to developing and delivering innovative, life-changing medicines in the field of hematological oncology.

Golidocitinib

The first and only JAK1 selective inhibitor for the treatment of PTCL

Golidocitinib, a novel JAK1-only inhibitor developed by Dizal, is currently in the NDA stage for the treatment of r/r PTCL. The China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) recognized its potential and granted it Priority Review in September 2023. Notably, golidocitinib stands as the world's first and only highly selective JAK1 inhibitor specifically developed for PTCL. Furthermore, it has obtained Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), positioning it as the first Chinese innovative PTCL drug to receive this designation.

The efficacy of golidocitinib in PTCL was highlighted at 2023 ASH, with two studies being selected for presentation. Particularly noteworthy is the multinational, pivotal study of golidocitinib for the treatment of r/r PTCL (JACKPOT8 PART B), which was selected for oral presentation and simultaneously published in the peer-reviewed journal The Lancet Oncology (Impact Factor: 54.4).

The potential best-in-class treatment option for r/r PTCL

There is no consensus on the standard treatment for r/r PTCL and the 5-year survival rate is below 30%. The results of JACKPOT8 PART B study revealed that golidocitinib demonstrated superior and durable clinical benefits in the treatment of r/r PTCL with a favorable safety profile that outperformed existing treatment options. Per independent review committee (IRC) assessment, golidocitinib achieved an overall response rate (ORR) of 44.3% and a complete response rate (CRR) of 23.9%. Both were more than double that of existing treatment options. Tumor responses were observed across various PTCL subtypes. The responses were durable, with the median duration of response (mDoR) of 20.7 months. This is higher than the DoR observed with existing therapies, which is typically below 12 months. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 5.6 months, and the median overall survival (mOS) was 19.4 months and still ongoing.

Promising and durable efficacy in PTCL after first-line systemic therapy

Approximately 40% of patients with complete response (CR) and 80% of patients with partial response (PR) have disease relapse within 2 years after initial tumor response. These patients currently lack a standard maintenance therapy.

JACKPOT 26 is a phase 2, single-arm, multicenter study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of golidocitinib for maintenance treatment after first-line therapy. At the data cut-off date of October 12, 2023, in the cohort of patients achieving CR post first-line therapy, median disease-free survival (DFS) has not been reached, with 76.7% patients still event free. In the cohort of patients achieving PR post first-line therapy, median DoR has not been reached, with 33% of patients achieving a CR and 85.7% of patients still responding to the treatment. The median PFS was 16.7 months. The treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) observed in this study were similar to those previously reported for golidocitinib and were clinically manageable and reversible.

DZD8586

A first-in-class non-covalent LYN and BTK dual inhibitor with excellent blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration

DZD8586 is a rationally designed, oral, non-covalent, LYN/BTK dual inhibitor with excellent BBB penetration as a potential treatment option for B-NHL. While Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitors have been approved for the treatment of B-NHL, resistance can emerge due to various mechanisms. This includes acquired mutations at residue C481X of BTK which disrupts covalent BTKi binding, as well as non BTK-driven mutations that seems more common in patients who have failed non-covalent BTKi such as pirtobrutinib. Currently, there is no targeted therapy available to address both resistance mechanisms, highlighting an urgent need for a safe and effective treatment option for patients with r/r B-NHL.

Potential to overcome resistance to both covalent and non-covalent BTK inhibitors

Preclinical studies have shown that DZD8586 can overcome resistance mutations observed with approved covalent and non-covalent BTK inhibitors. DZD8586 has exhibited potent inhibition of cell growth by blocking both BTK-dependent and BTK-independent signaling pathways.

No BTK inhibitor has been approved for treating diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). It is hypothesized that blockage of BTK pathway alone is not sufficient to bring meaningful clinical benefit in DLBCL. DZD8586 shows strong inhibition of LYN and BTK phosphorylation and achieves superior anti-tumor efficacy in DLBCL and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) models than selective BTK inhibitors. Due to limited BBB penetration of the current therapies, treatment of central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL) remains a clinical challenge. DZD8586 indicated CNS penetration with the potential to treat CNSL.

A novel treatment option for r/r B-NHL

DZD8586 is currently being evaluated in two phase 1/2 clinical trials for patients with r/r B-NHL worldwide. At 2023 ASH, the pooled analysis from the two studies were debuted. The results revealed that DZD8586 showed encouraging anti-tumor activity with manageable safety and favorable PK profile in heavily pre-treated B-NHL patients. Highlights of the study findings include:

ORR of 64.7% across all dose levels, 71.4% at 50 mg

Tumor response in different subtypes, including DLBCL ( ORR 83.3%), CNSL , and CLL

ORR CNSL CLL ORR of 50% in patients resistant to BTKi treatment

"Our research findings presented at ASH demonstrate Dizal's distinctive competitiveness in the field of hematological oncology. We are fully committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and developing transformative drugs to improve the lives of patients globally." said Xiaolin Zhang, PhD, Chairman and CEO of Dizal.

- End -

About golidocitinib (DZD4205)

Golidocitinib is currently the first and only Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) selective inhibitor being evaluated for the treatment of r/r PTCL. At the data cut-off date of August 31, 2023, golidocitinib has demonstrated robust and durable anti-tumor efficacy, with an ORR of 44.3%. More than 50% of the patients with tumor remission achieved a complete response with a CRR of 23.9%. Per IRC assessment, mDoR reached 20.7 months. Golidocitinib was granted Fast Track Designation by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of r/r PTCL in February 2022. In September 2023, the CDE accepted its NDA and granted Priority Review for the treatment of r/r PTCL. The Phase I clinical data of golidocitinib (JACKPOT8 PART A) was published in Annals of Oncology (Impact Factor: 51.8), and global pivotal trial data of golidocitinib for the treatment of r/r PTCL (JACKPOT PART B) was published in The Lancet Oncology (Impact Factor: 54.4).

About DZD8586

DZD8586 is an orally available, highly selective small molecule inhibitor to target both BTK-dependent and BTK-independent B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathways, with full blood-brain barrier penetration. Pre-clinical research revealed that DZD8586 demonstrated good safety profile and could effectively inhibit the growth of B-NHL cells. A healthy volunteer study of DZD8586 has been completed to investigate the clinical safety and PK/PD correlation. Additionally, a global phase I/II study is ongoing to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and anti-tumor efficacy of DZD8586 in patients with r/r B-NHL. Preliminary results from the clinical trial suggest that DZD8586 exhibits favorable PK properties, good safety profile, and preliminary anti-tumor efficacy in patients with B-NHL.

About Dizal

Dizal is a biopharmaceutical company, dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of differentiated therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and immunological diseases. The company aims to develop first-in-class and groundbreaking new medicines, and further address unmet medical needs around the world. Deep-rooted in translational science and molecular design, it has established an internationally competitive portfolio of five clinical-stage assets with two leading assets in global pivotal studies and one already launched.

To learn more about Dizal, please visit www.dizalpharma.com , or follow us at Linkedin or Twitter .

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", and "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Dizal, are intended to identify certain forward-looking statements. Dizal does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly.

These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections, and understandings of the management of Dizal with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond Dizal's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, Dizal's competitive environment, and political, economic, legal, and social conditions.

Dizal, the Directors, and the employees of Dizal assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained on this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or turnout to be incorrect.

Contacts

Investor Relations: [email protected]

Business Development: [email protected]

SOURCE Dizal Pharmaceutical
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ESET, a global leader in digital security, today launched Marketing as a Service (MaaS), an innovative new addition to its Partner Program. The tailor-made offering delivers full funnel marketing campaigns for ESET channel partners  focusing on delivering new leads, nurturing existing relationships and improving brand awareness.

"Many channel companies lack the resources to deploy sophisticated marketing campaigns that can drive business growth," said Ryan Grant, Vice President of Sales for ESET North America. "ESET is a channel first company. We built this new program based on feedback that our partners are challenged with executing comprehensive marketing campaigns and require dedicated, specialized marketing support. ESET Marketing as a Service addresses this challenge by offering a steady flow of potential customers  moving them through the buyer's journey from cold lead to demo, to close won."

Run in six-month campaigns, MaaS is part of ESET's robust Marketing Development Fund (MDF) program. The dedicated marketing support helps channel partners to maximize their outreach potential, generate high-quality leads, drive upsell and cross-sell opportunities, and ensure personalized, consistent email communications. Applying a data-driven approach, ESET fine-tunes communications based on campaign performance to ensure the program delivers anticipated results.

"MaaS is another offering from ESET that clearly illustrates their commitment to help partners like SSO to become successful and hit our growth targets," said Rusty Sailors, CEO of Secure Smart Office. "The MaaS program is like adding another person to the SSO team and is enabling us to bring dead contacts back to life. We've already had traction with end users and see great potential for this new program."

"Our message to partners? Let us do the heavy lifting for you," said Hope McCluskey, Director of Channel Marketing for ESET North America. "We are dedicated to supporting partners at all levels  ensuring they have custom solutions required to improve profits and productivity. We designed MaaS to help our partners target the right prospects, nurture relationships, achieve long-term engagement and maximize ROI."

Designed to be easy, flexible, profitable and predictable, the ESET Partner Program comes with personalized, high touch sales, marketing and technical support. Focused on rich stackable margins, incumbency protection, a best-in-class portfolio of cybersecurity solutions and managed services, and local customer support, ESET arms channel partners with the tools and resources required to expand into new markets and grow their businesses.

To learn more about how to partner with ESET, visit https://www.eset.com/us/partnernow/.

About ESET

For more than 30 years, ESET has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure and consumers worldwide from increasingly sophisticated digital threats. From endpoint and mobile security to endpoint detection and response, as well as encryption and multifactor authentication, ESET's high-performing, easy-to-use solutions unobtrusively protect and monitor 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company that enables the safe use of technology. This is backed by ESET's R&D centers worldwide, working in support of our shared future. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE ESET
DUBLIN , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Europe Miticides Market Forecast to 2028 -Regional Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The recent market analysis report on the Europe Miticides Market offers comprehensive insights into the evolving dynamics, growth trends, and potential prospects. Amid a competitive agricultural landscape, the report underscores the significant ascendancy of bio-based miticides as pivotal factors catalyzing market expansion across Europe, with an anticipated growth from US$ 107.86 million in 2022 to US$ 142.82 million by 2028. This leap reflects a robust CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period.

Expanding Bio-Based Miticides as a Significant Trend in Europe

Environmental concerns and an increasing preference for sustainable agriculture are driving the shift toward bio-based miticides in Europe. Stringent regulations from the European Union are fostering this pivot away from synthetic pesticides, with countries like Germany, Italy, and France taking the lead in organic farming practices. The advantages of botanical oils, such as lemon essential oil and rosemary oil, are being increasingly recognized. Organic active compounds in these natural products are hailed for their low environmental persistence and minimal toxicity to humans, signaling a notable shift towards greener plant protection solutions.

Market Overview: Europe's Strategic Paradigm Shift in Crop Protection



The European agricultural sector's pressing need to boost productivity aligns with the region's growing population needs. As a result, the market for miticides is witnessing a stronger demand to safeguard a range of crops - from fruits and vegetables to cereals and ornamentals. Organic produce's popularity and enhanced government efforts in biological farming methods are bringing bio-based miticides into the spotlight.

Extensive Market Analysis and Segment Breakdown



The detailed report categorically dissects the Europe Miticides market into various segments, including source, form, crop type, and country. The segments offer an in-depth examination, highlighting:

The synthetic segment's dominance in 2022, alongside a surging demand for bio-based alternatives.

Liquid miticides' prevalence in the market over their dry counterparts.

The fruits and vegetables segment leading market demand, and likely to continue its dominance.

Geographic market analysis revealing 'Rest of Europe ' as the frontrunner in miticides consumption.

Prominent companies, without overt mention in this release but notable in the industry such as BASF SE and Bayer AG, are making strides in the Europe Miticides market, echoing the sector's growth potential and innovative advancements.

Market Prognosis: A Vehicle for Sustainability

As the agricultural community inclines towards sustainable practices, the Europe miticides market is poised to sustain its steady growth. Enhanced by evolving consumer preferences and regulatory support, the market's trajectory is set toward an eco-conscious, productivity-enhancing paradigm.

The comprehensive report enables relevant stakeholders to understand the market's direction, with insights that are both strategic and actionable, for informed decision-making and long-term planning.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction

1.1 Study Scope

1.2 Research Report Guidance

1.3 Market Segmentation

1.3.1 Europe Miticides Market, by Source

1.3.2 Europe Miticides Market, by Form

1.3.3 Europe Miticides Market, by Crop Type

1.3.4 Europe Miticides Market, by Country



2. Key Takeaways



3. Research Methodology



4. Europe Miticides Market Landscape



5. Europe Miticides Market - Key Market Dynamics

5.1 Market Drivers

5.1.1 Increasing Use of Miticides for Crop Protection and Yield Improvement

5.1.2 Growing Demand for Fruits and Vegetables

5.2 Market Restraints

5.2.1 Regulations Focused on Harmful Effects of Miticides

5.3 Opportunities

5.3.1 Ongoing Developments in Crop Protection Practices

5.4 Future Trends

5.4.1 Bio-Based Miticides

5.5 Impact Analysis



6. Miticides - Europe Market Analysis

6.1 Europe Miticides Market -Volume and Forecast to 2028 (Tons)

6.2 Europe Miticides Market -Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million)



7. Europe Miticides Market Analysis - By Source



8. Europe Miticides Market Analysis - By Form



9. Europe Miticides Market Analysis - By Crop Type



10. Europe Miticides Market - Country Analysis



11. Company Profiles

BASF

Bayer

Certis USA

FMC Corp

Gowan Co

Kemin Industries Inc.

Nihon Nohyaku Co. Ltd.

Oro Agri International

Syngenta

UPL

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/efwo1u

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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SOURCE Research and Markets
NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The food packaging market size is set to grow by USD 79.41 billion between 2022 and 2027 and register a CAGR of 4.32%, according to Technavio's latest market research report estimates. The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Amcor Plc, Ardagh Group SA, Ball Corp., Berry Global Inc., BWAY Corp., CANPACK SA, COFCO Corp., DS Smith Plc, International Paper Co., Kian Joo Can Factory Bhd, Metal Packaging Europe, O I Glass Inc., Orora Ltd., Sealed Air Corp., Silgan Holdings Inc., Tata Steel Ltd., Tetra Laval S.A., Toyo Seikan Group Holdings Ltd., Crown Holdings Inc., and Huhtamaki Oyj are some of the major market participants. To leverage the current opportunities, market vendors must strengthen their foothold in the fast-growing segments while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.With a focus on identifying dominant industry influencers, Technavio's reports present a detailed study by the way of synthesis and summation of data from multiple sources. Get a comprehensive report summary describing the market size and forecast along with research methodology. Read our sample report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Food Packaging Market 2023-2027

Food packaging market 2023-2027: Segmentation

Product

Flexible plastic



Rigid plastic



Glass



Metal



Others

Application

Bakery and confectionery



Dairy products



Poultry meat and sea food



Fruits and vegetables



Others

Geography

APAC



Europe



North America



South America



Middle East And Africa

The flexible plastic segment will be significant during the forecast period. There are various types of flexible plastic products, such as bags, pouches, liners, wraps, and sachets. The flexible plastic packaging market is expected to grow due to its advantages over other types of packaging materials. Flexible plastic packaging comes in different shapes and sizes, thus enabling packaging customization. It is reusable, lightweight, and easy to ship. Flexible packaging also supports various printing options. These factors will drive segment growth during the forecast period.

The report comprises of various segments as well as an analysis of the trends and factors that are playing a substantial role in the market  Download a sample report

Food packaging market 2023-2027: Vendor analysis and scope

Some of the major vendors of the food packaging market include Amcor Plc, Ardagh Group SA, Ball Corp., Berry Global Inc., BWAY Corp., CANPACK SA, COFCO Corp., DS Smith Plc, International Paper Co., Kian Joo Can Factory Bhd, Metal Packaging Europe, O I Glass Inc., Orora Ltd., Sealed Air Corp., Silgan Holdings Inc., Tata Steel Ltd., Tetra Laval S.A., Toyo Seikan Group Holdings Ltd., Crown Holdings Inc., and Huhtamaki Oyj. To leverage the current opportunities, market vendors must strengthen their foothold in the fast-growing segments while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the food packaging market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile, and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. The key offerings of some of these vendors are listed below:

Amcor Plc - The company offers food packaging solutions under its brand LifeSapn, AmPrima, and PrimeSeal.

The company offers food packaging solutions under its brand LifeSapn, AmPrima, and PrimeSeal. Ardagh Group SA - The company offers food packaging solutions such as steel and aluminum cans.

The company offers food packaging solutions such as steel and aluminum cans. Ball Corp. - The company offers food packaging solutions such as aluminum packaging.

The report also covers the following areas:

Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights. Subscribe now to our most popular "Lite Plan" billed annually at USD 5000

Food packaging market 2023-2027: Market dynamics

Key driver - The prevention of food counterfeiting is driving market growth. Food fraud causes the global food industry to incur losses worth billions of dollars annually. This can be effectively addressed with the help of packaging. The use of food traceability can stop food fraud, as food can be tracked during its movement through the supply chain with the help of technologies such as barcodes and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. The use of barcode labels helps in verifying the integrity of the product, which helps in overcoming counterfeiting. Such factors will fuel the global market growth during the forecast period.

Significant trend - The growing sales of food products on e-commerce platforms is a key trend in the market. Primary packaging of food items should ensure the quality and freshness of food products. These products require efficient secondary packaging as well. Sales of groceries are increasing. In countries such as the US, online grocery sales account for 18%-22% of the e-commerce market in the country. Various e-commerce channels offer meal kits, fresh delivery, click-and-collect, and delivered baskets. For instance, Amazon offers online grocery delivery services such as Amazon Fresh's Next-Day Delivery, Amazon Subscribe and Save, and Amazon Dash Button. These factors will support market growth during the market during the forecast period.

Major challenge - Volatility in raw material prices is challenging market growth. Various raw materials, including paper, glass, metals, and plastic, are used for food packaging. However, the fluctuation in raw material prices can reduce the profit margins of vendors due to rising production costs. As a result, vendors are compelled to increase the prices of their products. During the forecast period, changes are expected in the cost of packaging raw materials such as paper and paper goods. These factors will hinder market growth during the forecast period.

Food Packaging Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2023-2027

Detailed information on factors that will assist food packaging market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the food packaging market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the food packaging market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of food packaging market vendors

Related Reports:

The self-heating food packaging market size is expected to increase by USD 1.51 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.6%.

The size of the flexible packaging market for food and beverages is expected to increase by USD 39.02 million from 2021 to 2026. The market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.16%.

TOC

Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Size Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Product Market Segmentaion by Application Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, and Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix

About US

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
FreeCast and Unity Wireless offer an affordable television option to customers of the Lifeline Program and Affordable Connectivity Program.

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FreeCast, the aggregated streaming platform, and Unity Wireless, a fast-growing provider of wireless service under the Affordable Connectivity Program, have announced a strategic partnership to provide free and low-cost TV service to wireless customers. New phones and tablets from Unity Wireless will come pre-loaded with FreeCast's app, while existing customers will be able to download the app for free.

FreeCast Enters Distribution Partnership with Unity Wireless

FreeCast's free service includes hundreds of free streaming channels as well as on-demand access to over 500,000 on-demand shows and movies from across multiple streaming providers. With a wide variety of free ad-supported content, subscription video, and pay-per-view, FreeCast users can build a TV experience that fits their budgets, or enjoy plenty of free content without spending a dime.

Unity Wireless provides free service to low-income Americans through the federally-funded Affordable Connectivity Program, as well as free and low-cost devices, including smartphones and tablets. With nationwide coverage and 5G capability, this service can also support streaming video. By pre-loading the FreeCast app, these customers who may also struggle to afford pay television services can access hundreds of live channels and a wealth of on-demand content at little to no cost.

FreeCast CEO William Mobley discussed the opportunity to partner with Unity Wireless: "TV bills are expensive, and these days, streaming can be expensive too. At FreeCast, that's always been at the heart of our mission: to make TV easy and affordable by leveraging technology and putting the power in consumers' hands customize their experience to their preferences and budgets. We think that's a great solution for customers who need a solution that prioritizes affordability, and in many cases, can be enjoyed for free."

For more information on FreeCast visit https://corp.freecast.com

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE FreeCast
NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The graphene market size is estimated to grow by USD 773.01 million between 2022 and 2027, accelerating at a CAGR of 34.07% during the forecast period. APAC will account for 42% of the market growth during the forecast period. The growth of the regional market is driven by the increased demand for graphene in end-user industries such as construction, automotive, electronics, aerospace, electrical, steel, and others. The increasing demand for electric and hybrid vehicles is another major factor driving the growth of the graphene market in APAC. For more insights on the historic data (2017 to 2021) and forecast market size (2023 to 2027)  Request a report sample

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Graphene Market 2023-2027

Graphene Market 2023-2027: Market Dynamics

The growth of the market is driven by the increasing use of graphene in the construction industry. The construction industry contributed considerably to greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, about 8% of the world's total CO2 emissions come from cement, which is a key material in concrete. Thus, to reduce the impact of GHG emissions, the use of green building materials has increased significantly in the construction industry. Graphene offers excellent strength and flexibility. In addition, the use of graphene results in the production of self-cleaning, environmentally friendly concrete. Such benefits are increasing demand for graphene in the construction industry, which is driving the market growth.

Graphene Market 2023-2027: Segmentation

The graphene market is segmented as below:

Product

Graphene Nanoplatelets



Graphene Oxide



Reduced Graphene Oxide



Others

End-user

Electronics



Energy



Composites



Automotive



Others

Geography

North America



The U.S.





Canada



Europe



The U.K.





Germany





France





Rest of Europe



APAC



China





India



Middle East & Africa

&

Saudi Arabia





South Africa





Rest of the Middle East & Africa

&

South America



Argentina





Brazil





Chile

Based on the product, the market is expected to witness significant growth in the graphene nanoplatelets segment during the forecast period. Graphene nanoplatelets offer high electrical conductivity, high modulus, high strength, and high thermal conductivity. Such properties are increasing their use in various applications such as electrodes, batteries, and supercapacitors. These factors are fostering the growth of the segment.

Get a glance of the market contribution of various segments, historic data (2017 to 2021), and forecast market size (2023 to 2027) - Download a Sample Report

Graphene Market 2023-2027: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the graphene market. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research report on the graphene market is designed to provide entry support, customer profile, and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Some of the key vendors covered in the report include:

Advanced Graphene Products SA - The company offers graphene as an additive to paints, varnishes and composites, improving effectively the properties of a final product.

- The company offers graphene as an additive to paints, varnishes and composites, improving effectively the properties of a final product. Directa Plus PLC - The company offers graphene for various applications including the manufacture of pencil tips.

- The company offers graphene for various applications including the manufacture of pencil tips. First Graphene Ltd. - The company offers graphene for various applications ranging from precision injection molding to forming of large composite plastic parts.

Why Buy?

Add credibility to strategy

Analyzes competitor's offerings

Get a holistic view of the market

Grow your profit margin with Technavio  Buy the Report!

Graphene Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2023-2027

Detailed information on factors that will assist graphene market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the graphene market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the graphene market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of graphene market vendors

Related Reports:

The electrically conductive coatings market is projected to grow by USD 5.78 billion , accelerating at a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period 2021 to 2026.

is projected to grow by , accelerating at a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period 2021 to 2026. The stretchable conductive materials market size is expected to increase by USD 3.43 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 30.22%.

TOC

Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Size Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Product Market Segmentation by End-User Market Segmentaion by Distribution Channel Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, and Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix

About US

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
White retires after leading Hoonigan for 27 years since co-founding the business in 1996

DENVER and SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hoonigan (the "Company"), a provider of high-performance aftermarket vehicle enhancements backed by Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. (together with its affiliates, "Clearlake"), today announced that the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") has appointed Vance Johnston as President and Chief Operating Officer. In his new role, Johnston will report exclusively to the Board and will manage all aspects of Hoonigan's operations as the Company continues to execute its strategic vision.

He succeeds Co-Founder and former Chief Executive Officer Randy White, who announced his retirement after almost 30 years of driving the Company and the automotive aftermarket industry forward. White will continue to serve on the Board and be closely involved in the transition as an advisor.

"Vance is a leader with a track record in executive leadership roles at significant scale. We look forward to partnering with him and the rest of the leadership team at Hoonigan to drive growth in the platform," said Jose E. Feliciano, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, and Colin Leonard, Partner, at Clearlake. "Randy is an inspiring leader who has progressed both Hoonigan and the industry forward since the Company's inception. On behalf of the Board, we thank Randy for his unwavering leadership, passion, and commitment to innovation, all of which have propelled Hoonigan to grow from two distribution centers into the global company it is today."

"It has been a true privilege to build and lead Hoonigan over almost three decades, and I am thankful to have worked with so many wonderful individuals that have allowed the Company to reach its goals of enabling consumers to satisfy their automotive passions and personalize their vehicles," said White. "I'm confident Vance is the right person to lead Hoonigan into the future and deliver its next phase of growth. I look forward to working with him as I continue serving on the Company's Board."

Johnston brings decades of leadership experience, including helping organizations achieve their growth and strategic objectives. Prior to joining Hoonigan, Johnston served in various executive roles leading strategic planning, finance, and operations, including most recently as Chief Financial Officer at Parts Authority, a national auto parts distributor. He previously served as CFO at IAA, Inc., a global technology and auto services company; SP Plus Corporation, a business services company; and Furniture Brands International, Inc., a consumer goods, manufacturing and retail company, and he also led strategy and/or operations at Royal Caribbean, Burger King, and OfficeMax. Over his career, he has led over 25 M&A transactions and has experience implementing growth strategies and business transformations. Johnston holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of San Diego and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

"Hoonigan is an exciting company with passion and innovation in its DNA, and I'm honored to have the opportunity to lead this organization and work with all the wonderful members of the team at the Company in its next phase of growth," added Johnston. "Randy has built an incredible foundation for us to continue to scale from, and I believe there are many opportunities for Hoonigan to drive accelerated growth as the Company provides consumers with new ways to connect with and customize their vehicles."

"We're thrilled to welcome Vance to the Hoonigan and Clearlake family. We believe his capabilities and past experience in developing strategy and operational execution will drive the Company to new heights," said Dilshat Erkin, Senior Vice President at Clearlake. "We wish Randy the best in his decision to retire and appreciate everything he has done to enable the successes we've enjoyed in our years of partnership. We look forward to his continued contributions to our future success as a member of the Board."

About Hoonigan

Hoonigan serves the automotive enthusiast industry with entertaining content and a wide selection of vehicle enhancements from its portfolio of lifestyle brands, including Fuel Off-Road, American Racing, KMC, Morimoto, TeraFlex, Rotiform, and Black Rhino. Utilizing its expanding global network of distribution centers spanning North America, Australia, and Europe, Hoonigan serves over 16,500 retailers. It has a growing e-commerce presence to provide enthusiast consumers with access to a variety of aftermarket enhancements including wheels, suspension, lighting, and accessories. More information is available at www.hoonigan.com.

About Clearlake

Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. is an investment firm founded in 2006 operating integrated businesses across private equity, credit, and other related strategies. With a sector-focused approach, the firm seeks to partner with experienced management teams by providing patient, long term capital to dynamic businesses that can benefit from Clearlake's operational improvement approach, O.P.S. The firm's core target sectors are industrials, technology, and consumer. Clearlake currently has over $70 billion of assets under management, and its senior investment principals have led or co-led over 400 investments. The firm is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA with affiliates in Dallas, TX, London, UK, Dublin, Ireland and Singapore. More information is available at www.clearlake.com and on Twitter @Clearlake.

Media Contacts

For Hoonigan:

Hoonigan Media Relations

[email protected]

For Clearlake:

Jennifer Hurson

Lambert

845.507.0571

[email protected]

SOURCE Hoonigan
Ace Jewelers & Nivada Grenchen join forces for a limited edition Super Antarctic in polar colors  with a vibrant Dutch twist

Ace Jewelers and Nivada Grenchen are proud to to introduce the Super Antarctic Polar wristwatch. This exclusive timepiece promises to captivate watch enthusiasts and collectors with its distinctive design and impeccable craftsmanship.

Launched in the mid - 1950s, the original Nivada Grenchen Antarctic gained renown when it accompanied the Operation Deep Freeze 1 mission to the South Pole in 1955/56. The Ace Jewelers Super Antarctic Limited Edition pays homage to Nivada Gren chen's flagship model, celebrating its legacy as essential equipment in polar expeditions. This watch seamlessly merges Nivada Grenchen's expertise with Ace Jewelers' discerning taste and watch curation skills, resulting in a watch that is both cool as ice as well as a fitting tribute to an underrated classic.

Drawing inspiration from the pristine beauty of the polar regions, the design features a pristine white dial reminiscent of ice - covered landscapes. The addition of a vibrant orange seconds hand, a no d to Arctic exploration gear and also the Dutch national color, adds a touch of flair. Notably, this marks the first instance of the Super Antarctic featuring a white dial, making this limited edition truly distinctive.

Super Antarctic Polar  Ace Jewelers x Nivada Grenchen

Ace Jewelers x Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic Polar

"Being longtime admirers of Nivada Grenchen, we were thrilled when Guillaume and his teams successfully revitalized the brand  says Alon Ben Joseph, CEO of Ace Jewelers.  Impressed by their accomplishments, we eagerly sought to establish an exclusive retail partnership for the Netherlands and proposed an exciting collaboration. The enthusiasm within Team Ace was palpable, with a multitude of ideas buzzing around. Despite having concepts for 10 more collaborations, we chose the principle o f "less is more" for our inaugural collaboration, paying homage to one of the most iconic explorer watches ever created."

The Ace x Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic Polar draws inspiration from the Super Antarctic 32025A template. Departing from the standar d production version's matte black with white print, this unique edition embraces its polar opposite: a clean, matte white background adorned with contrasting black print. T he bright orange second hand not only adds a vibrant touch, but also pays homage to the color commonly associated with high - visibility Arctic exploration gear. For example, the British Antarctic Survey, the United Kingdom's leading polar research institute, employs orange for its fleet of De Haviland airplanes , its standard - issue jackets , and more . With Ace Jewelers hailing from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, it also doesn't hurt that orange is the Dutch national color.

Super Antarctic Polar  Ace Jewelers x Nivada Grenchen

Alon and I initially connected through his podcast series, The Real Time Show, and our friendship quickly blossomed from t here. This laid the groundwork for discussions about a collaboration with Ace Jewelers. With a swift and unanimous decision, we agreed that the watch should incorporate some orange elements as a tribute to the Netherlands. Our in - person meeting in Geneva d uring Watches & Wonders this year solidified the idea, and we collectively finalized the concept for a Polar edition as a fitting tribute .  , says Guillaume Ladet , CEO of Nivada Grenchen.

Availability

The Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic Polar is exclusively available from Ace Jewelers boutique in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, as well as online via AceJewelers.com. It's priced at EUR 1.155 incl. 21% VAT and outside the EU at EUR 955 excluding VAT.
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Illinois Theatre Association (ITA) proudly unveils its groundbreaking Professional Interviews, Auditions & Networking Opportunities (PIANO) Conference, set to transform the landscape of the theater industry. This innovative event marks the first-of-its-kind conference, designed to provide a platform where leading hiring companies can directly engage with a diverse pool of skilled and talented theater artists.

Scheduled for February 16 and 17, 2024, the inaugural PIANO Conference will take place at the prestigious Drury Lane Theatre, located at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181. With an aim to bridge the gap between employers and industry professionals, this event promises an unparalleled opportunity for artists and companies alike.

"We are thrilled to introduce the PIANO Conference to the vibrant theater community of Illinois and beyond," stated ITA board member Paul Stancato. "This unique initiative serves as a dynamic hub for networking and collaboration, fostering meaningful connections between renowned hiring companies and a diverse array of skilled theater artists, both at the college and professional levels."

The PIANO Conference will feature dedicated sessions for actors, musicians, designers, directors, choreographers, music directors, stage technicians, stage managers, and company managers, providing an immersive experience tailored to the specific needs of each discipline. Attendees can look forward to interactive one-on-one networking opportunities, facilitating a dynamic exchange of ideas and expertise.

Moreover, the collaboration between ITA and GetAcceptd.com, an innovative online database platform, allows attendees to curate comprehensive profiles according to their respective disciplines. This feature facilitates streamlined connections by enabling users to filter and search based on specific skill sets. Registrants will retain access to their Acceptd profiles for a full year, empowering them to continue networking and seeking opportunities beyond the event's timeline.

"This event represents a pivotal step toward fostering a thriving ecosystem within the theater industry, offering a platform that encourages the growth and development of both established and emerging talent," states ITA board member Tracy Nunnally. Both Nunnally and Stancato are spearheading the event for ITA.

Through the PIANO Conference, the Illinois Theatre Association reaffirms its commitment to promoting inclusivity, creativity, and excellence within the performing arts.

For more information about PIANO, click here. To register, please visit PIANO Registration.

About Illinois Theatre Association:

The Illinois Theatre Association (ITA) is a leading organization dedicated to advancing the performing arts landscape in Illinois and beyond. With a mission to foster collaboration, creativity, and excellence within the theater community, ITA continually strives to create impactful opportunities for artists and enthusiasts to thrive and grow.

Media Contact: Illinois Theater Association

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Illinois Theater Association
CHICAGO, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Immersion Cooling Fluids Market by Type (Mineral Oil, Fluorocarbon-based Fluids, Synthetic Fluids), End Use (Transformers, Data Centers, EV Batteries, Solar PV), Technology (Single-Phase Cooling, Two-Phase Cooling) & Region - Global Forecast to 2030", is estimated to be USD 1.8 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 3.2 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2023 to 2030. Immersion cooling fluids are becoming increasingly in demand due to advancements in technology, energy efficiency concerns, and the growing need for high-performance computer systems. In high-performance computing (HPC) applications, where there is a great demand for processing power, immersion cooling is frequently taken into consideration.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Immersion Cooling Fluids Market"

336  Tables

55  Figures

272  Pages

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=107755859

The mineral oil segment is expected to hold the largest share of the immersion cooling fluids market, during the forecast period.

In certain applications, mineral oil more especially, a highly refined and dielectric variety is frequently used as an immersion cooling fluid, especially for the cooling of electronic components like servers, transformers, and other electrical devices. Mineral oil is classified as a petroleum-based product since it is not biodegradable. Its extensive use and shown efficacy make it a popular choice in various applications, even though it might not be as ecologically friendly as some alternatives.

The two-phase immersion cooling segment, by technology, is expected to account for the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period.

A number of businesses focus on creating fluids especially made for two-phase immersion cooling. These fluids are frequently special formulas created by engineers to satisfy the particular needs of this cooling technique. The phase transition from liquid to vapor during the chilling process is essential to two-phase immersion cooling. An appropriate temperature range for the fluid's boiling point is necessary to ensure efficient heat absorption and vaporization.

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Among end-use transformers is the largest segment in the immersion cooling fluids market.

The transformer segment is expected to lead the immersion cooling fluids market during the forecast period by value. High power requirement results in heat generation in transformers. The cooling fluid needs to work with the many metals, winding materials, and insulating materials that are utilized to build transformers. The guarantee of compatibility prevents the fluid from negatively affecting the transformer's components.

Asia Pacific region is expected to be the largest and fastest-growing immersion cooling fluids market.

As environmental responsibility and sustainability become more important, companies in the Asia-Pacific region will probably look into immersion cooling options for their green projects. Environmentally friendly immersion cooling fluids may experience a rise in demand. To improve immersion cooling methods and fluids, regional and international businesses are making research and development investments. Further developments could result in enhanced efficacy, economic viability, and wider integration of immersion cooling.

Some of the leading players in this market include Nynas AB (Sweden), Ergon, Inc. (US), PetroChina Company Limited (China), APAR Industries (India), and Sinopec Lubricant Company (China), among others.

Browse Adjacent Market: Specialty Chemicals Market Research & Consulting

Related Reports:

Data Center Liquid Cooling Market - Global Forecast to 2028

Electric Vehicle Fluids Market - Global Forecast to 2030

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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.

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DUBLIN, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Evaluating Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) Market in India by 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



This report enables companies both on the demand and supply side of market to take informed decision when it comes to making investment & also choosing CBG as they undergo their energy transition journey.

There is growing interest in CBG as one of the key sources of clean energy that is indigenously available and could play key role in bringing down the reliance on imports for energy & also be a key avenue for decarbonization across industries. The government's push with the policies and schemes seems to have given the sector an impetus.

The report includes a detailed assessment of feedstock potential to generate CBG in India, economically viable locations where CBG plants can be set, different business models like CBG as a service, distribution of CBG, adoption of CBG and different success stories in India and overseas, different ecosystem companies involved in CBG and the price dynamics and other factors influencing potential of CBG in India.

Biogas is fuel produced by the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste such as agricultural waste, plant waste and organic municipal waste. Compressed biogas (CBG) is then produced by further processing of biogas in which other gases like carbon dioxide are reduced and methane is maintained at more than 90 percent quantity. CBG is also referred to as bio-CNG and could be directly used in vehicles that usually use CNG or compressed natural gas which is a fossil fuel. CBG is also used as an alternative to natural gas for cooking and in other industries like cement and steel.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated one of India's biggest CBG (bio-CNG) plants at Indore in Madhya Pradesh, named Gobar-Dhan, which has the capacity to process 550 tonnes of waste and produce 17,000 kilograms of bio-CNG each day. The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has also tied up with Gobar-Dhan and has assured the purchase of 50 percent of the fuel to run its CNG buses. IMC has also promised to provide sufficient segregated waste to the plant to ensure adequate feedstock for its biogas production.

Apart from all the state-specific investments which provide a major boost to the sector, leading corporate houses Reliance Industries and Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL) have also planned to invest Rs. 500-600 crores each in the sector. While ANIL reportedly plans to use its existing city-based gas network to use CBG in cooking fuel, Reliance Industries is expected to use its fuel outlets in India, for automobiles.

However, the companies are yet to make official announcements regarding their investments. To boost availability of affordable and clean transport fuels, a MoU was signed today between MoPNG and leading oil & gas marketing companies & technology providers to establish Compressed Bio-Gas CBG) plants across India under the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative, in the presence of Union Minister of petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Shri Dharmendra Pradhan.

MoUs were signed with energy companies viz. JBM Group, Adani Gas, Torrent Gas and Petronet LNG for setting up of Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plants, and with technology providers in CBG sectors IndianOil, Praj Industries, CEID Consultants & Bharat Biogas Energy for facilitating availability of technology for the projects.

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

Natural Gas Landscape in India

Significance of CBG in India's Tryst for Energy Security

Significance of CBG in decarbonization

Understanding CBG Value Chain

Policy Support for CBG in India

CBG Potential in India

Feedstock potential Livestock Sewage Food Waste Crop Residues Energy Crops Sugarcane press mud MSW

Estimated production potential

CBG Production Technology

CBG Business Models in India

CBG Supply Chain

Potential Locations for Setting up CBG Plant in India

CBG Market in India in 2022 and 2030

CBG Pricing in India

CBG end use application in commercial & industry segment

Electricity Generation

CHP

Heating & Burning

Biofuel

Key challenges

Case study on CBG plants in India

Case study on CBG adoption in global markets

CBG projects in India - Planned, Announced & Under Construction

ULBs plan on CBG as tool for waste management

Demand Barometer - Customer Survey on CBG Adoption

Key Companies in CBG Space in India

Equipment OEMs

CBG Suppliers

CBG Financiers

OMCs

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1ejtjh

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The collaboration signifies a landmark moment for Infleqtion's quantum computing platform.

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Infleqtion, the world's leading quantum information company, has been selected by Japan's Science and Technology Agency (JST) as the only foreign quantum computing partner in the Quantum Moonshot program, a cutting-edge initiative to advance Japan's technological capabilities and to revolutionize Japan's economy, industry, and security by 2050. As part of the program, Infleqtion will collaborate to develop a large-scale, neutral atom quantum computer with high-fidelity qubits.

Led by Professor Kenji Ohmori of the Institute for Molecular Science, the program will develop a leading-edge fault-tolerant quantum computer based on atomic qubits. Professor Ohmori is a world leader in the ultrafast control of atoms for quantum computing and simulation. Recently, his team successfully executed an ultrafast 2-qubit gate between two single atoms, which has disruptively accelerated the 2-qubit gate operation of neutral atom quantum computers by two orders of magnitude. Neutral-atom technology has emerged as the most promising candidate for commercial quantum computing. In particular, it has revolutionary potential in that it can be easily scaled up while maintaining high coherence times compared to the superconducting and trapped-ion modalities.

"Infleqtion's participation in the Quantum Moonshot program marks a significant step forward in advancing quantum computing capabilities for Japan. We look forward to leveraging Infleqtion's expertise to push the boundaries of quantum computing," said Professor Kenji Ohmori.

Infleqtion is a world leader in the innovation and development of quantum technologies, including quantum computing. This collaboration, the first in which a foreign company is participating in the Moonshot program, will enable transformational quantum computing capabilities for Japan.

"Infleqtion is honored to contribute to Japan's ambitious Quantum Moonshot program, bringing our years of neutral atom leadership to Japan," said Scott Faris, Chief Executive Officer at Infleqtion. "This partnership signifies a landmark moment for Infleqtion's quantum computing platform. We are excited to bring our expertise in quantum technologies and photonics to the forefront of this transformative journey."

"Having a trailblazing U.S. quantum company joining forces with Japans Moonshot program is a major leap in strengthening the U.S.-Japan Alliance in a critical tech frontier, said Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan. This collaboration marks a transformative era in our joint pursuit of quantum innovation."

About Infleqtion's Quantum Computing Platform:

Infleqtion's success in the Quantum Moonshot program highlights the potential of its neutral atom quantum computing platform. By encoding quantum information in the electronic states of individual atoms, Infleqtion's cutting-edge technology contributes to a scalable solution with high-quality qubits. The neutral atom platform leverages naturally identical atoms, avoiding challenges associated with engineered qubit types. The absence of charge in these atoms enables efficient trapping in dense arrays, offering unparalleled scalability.

Key Characteristics of Neutral Atom-Based Qubits:

Exceptionally Long Coherence Times: Neutral atoms boast coherence times that surpass other quantum computing modalities.

Strong Connectivity: The flexible topography of neutral atom structures ensures robust connectivity among qubits, enabling all-to-all connectivity.

Scalability: Identical qubits based on atomic elements and efficient packing of atoms in tight arrays allow for scalability, a distinctive advantage.

External Cryogenics Not Required: Unlike other modalities, neutral atoms do not require cryogenic chillers, reducing overhead and cycle times.

Reduced Wiring Complexity: Control functions for neutral atoms are executed via light through free space, simplifying wiring complexity.

By combining Infleqtion's expertise with Professor Ohmori's groundbreaking research, the consortium aims to achieve new heights in quantum computing capabilities, laying the foundation for Japan's technologically advanced future.

About Infleqtion

Infleqtion delivers high-value quantum information precisely where it is needed. By operating at the Edge, our software-configured, quantum-enabled products deliver unmatched levels of precision and power, generating streams of high-value information for commercial organizations, the United States, and allied governments. With 16 years of ColdQuanta's pioneering quantum research as our foundation, our hardware products and AI-powered solutions address critical market needs in positioning, navigation and timing, global communication security and efficiency, resilient energy distribution, and accelerated quantum computing. Our teams of quantum experts reside in Austin, TX; Boulder, CO; Chicago, IL; Madison, WI; Melbourne, AU; and Oxford, UK. Learn how Infleqtion is revolutionizing how we communicate, navigate, and discover at www.infleqtion.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

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NEW YORK and MIAMI, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kingswood U.S., part of a network of independent wealth management firms that oversees more than $13 billion in client assets globally, today announced the recruitment of 16 financial advisors in 2023, supervising $730 million in client assets. The newest members of the Kingswood U.S. network are highly experienced advisors offering services in financial planning, asset management and qualified retirement plan support across the United States.

Headquartered in New York and Miami, Kingswood U.S. supports more than 200 financial advisors under the Kingswood Wealth Advisors (KWA) brand.

Michael Nessim, CEO, President and Managing Partner of Kingswood U.S., said, "At Kingswood, we place financial advisors front and center, a reflection of our unswerving commitment to our network of professionals. Our core mission is to empower advisors with the tools to deliver unparalleled client service. It brings me great joy to extend a warm welcome to these exceptional professionals joining our continuously flourishing network, as they face the future of wealth management with a firm that understands their drive and goal of delivering superior outcomes."

The 16 financial advisors joining Kingswood U.S. include a practice serving individual and corporate investors in Lexington, Ky., focused on wealth management and financial advice, a three-advisor team in Santa Barbara, Calif., offering a wide ranging of financial planning services, including qualified retirement support, and an advisor in Canton, Texas.

The latest additions to Kingswood U.S. said the opportunity to tap into a broader range of services and solutions as a primary reason for their decision to join the leading network. Advisors have previously said Kingswood's capabilities and platforms allow them to prioritize strong client connections and achieve client objectives. The Kingswood platform's robust features, that include access to insurance and alternative investments, continue to enable advisors to expand their market presence and outreach.

About Kingswood U.S. / Kingswood Group

Kingswood U.S., part of the Kingswood Group, is a network of wealth management firms that includes an SEC-registered RIA and a FINRA-licensed broker-dealer, offering comprehensive wealth management and business-building services, designed specifically for the independent financial advisor. Together with our parent company, the Kingswood Group, has more than $13 billion in AUM, and 400 registered individuals, we combine the resources and capital of a very large financial services firm with the personalized touch and feel of a boutique company. Kingswood has earned a reputation as a firm built for advisors by advisors.

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NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The maritime surveillance market is estimated to grow by USD 1.47 billion from 2022 to 2027. The market is estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 3.65% during the forecast period. The maritime surveillance market report includes information on the product launches, sustainability, and prospects of leading vendors including Airbus SE, BAE Systems Plc, Elbit Systems Ltd., Furuno Electric Co. Ltd., HENSOLDT AG, Honeywell International Inc., Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp., MIND TECHNOLOGY INC., Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Raytheon Technologies Corp., Saab AB, Safran SA, Sonardyne International Ltd., SRT Marine Systems Plc, Teledyne Technologies Inc., Terma AS, Thales Group, and The Boeing Co. For Comprehensive details on the market size of the historic period(2017 to 2021) and forecast period (2023-2027) - View Sample report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Maritime Surveillance Market 2023-2027

Maritime Surveillance Market - Vendor Landscape

The maritime surveillance market is fragmented; the vendors are competing with competitors and are trying to get a greater market share. The market is growing, and the chances of new entrants cannot be overlooked. The major vendors have well-established economies of scale and market presence and generally rely on positioning technological advances, and the price of the products -The report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now

Maritime Surveillance Market - Market Dynamics

Major Drivers & Challenges-

Key Drivers boosting the market growth

The growing marine threats are the major factor that drives the global maritime surveillance market growth.

In national security, territorial integrity, global trade, immigration, and migration, maritime borders play an important role. Patrolling territorial water areas with state-of-the-art flying platforms is of increasing importance, for many countries with long coastlines.

For example, the oil rigs in the Gulf of Guinea in Western Africa are highly vulnerable to the threat of piracy.

in are highly vulnerable to the threat of piracy. Hence, such factors drive the market growth during the forecast period.

Major Challenges hindering the market growth

The issues related to privacy can challenge the growth of the maritime surveillance market growth.

In order to prevent and detect crime, but its use can lead to privacy concerns, ocean surveillance is used. Public surveillance systems may cover private areas such as homes and offices without the owner's consent, which leads to an invasion of privacy.

People's privacy is a fundamental right and the use of surveillance systems can violate it, which results in the line between legitimate surveillance and intrusion blurs.

Hence, such challenges impede market growth during the forecast period.

Key Trends-

The expansion of the Chinese naval fleet in critical regions is an emerging trend fueling the global maritime surveillance market growth.

As the Chinese president announced in 2012 that China would become a maritime power, China has focused on expanding its naval fleet.

would become a maritime power, has focused on expanding its naval fleet. Furthermore, the expansion of China's naval fleet has emboldened the country to assert dominance in key regions such as the disputed South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

naval fleet has emboldened the country to assert dominance in key regions such as the disputed South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. Hence, such trends influence the growth of the market in focus during the forecast period.

Technavio has identified key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market, which will help clients improve their strategies to stay ahead of their competitors. - View Sample Report

Geographical Analysis

North America is estimated to account for 33% of the global market growth during the forecast period. The US is a major market for marine surveillance in the region. This growth can be attributed to the growth of the marine surveillance market is the large number of Americans participating in water-related recreational activities. Additionally, the growth of the marine surveillance market is the large number of Americans participating in water-related recreational activities. Hence, the growing demands for maritime security in the United States are expected to boost the demand for marine surveillance during the forecast period.

Competitive Analysis

The report includes competitive analysis, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their industry position score and market performance score. The competitive scenario categorizes companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, and growth in market share, among others.

Maritime Surveillance Market - Market Segmentation

This maritime surveillance market report extensively covers market segmentation by component (sensors, radar, AIS receiver, and software and others), end-user (defense, customs, fisheries, intelligence, and others), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America).

The market share growth by the sensors segment is significant during the forecast period. Sensors are used in a wide range of maritime applications including hydraulic cylinder position measurement, marine machinery condition monitoring, crane and deck hoist load measurement, and tank pressure measurement. Some major benefits of sensors include near-lossless transmission, increased sensitivity during data collection, and continuous real-time analysis. Hence, such factors are expected to have a positive impact on the sensors segment of the maritime surveillance market during the forecast period.

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The video surveillance as a service market size is expected to increase by USD 7.45 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 17.56%.

The trade surveillance systems market size is expected to increase to USD 878.49 million from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 16.7%.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Size Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Component Market Segmentation by End-user market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, and Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix

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A family winery obsessed with realizing the potential of Washington's Columbia Valley

WOODINVILLE, Wash., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Matthews, a family-owned winery focused on expressing the purity of the Columbia Valley, has released its first wines under the new winemaking team, which joined in the spring of 2021. The releases include the 2021 Columbia Valley Cuvee, Claret, Cabernet Sauvignon and 2022 Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc.

Matthews winery in Washington state has released its first wines crafted by the new winemaking team. Post this The new release 2021 Matthews Columbia Valley wines. Photo courtesy of Matthews

For the past decade, the Matthews team has been on an incredible journey. The family put every aspect of the operation under review, from the vineyards to farming to winemaking. The new release wines are the result of this uncompromising focus.

"My family has a relentless obsession to showcase the pure expression of the Columbia Valley," said Bryan Otis, Proprietor of Matthews. "We are from Washington, born and raised, and know there is a level of greatness that can be unlocked in the Columbia Valley. We are determined to realize its full potential. The 2021 vintage marks a new beginning for Matthews toward this goal."

A critical step in the Matthews journey was bringing on three of the most recognized and acclaimed winemakers in Washington state  Head Winemaker Alex Stewart, along with Hal Iverson and Jesse Schmidt. Together, they have crafted more 100-point Cabernet Sauvignon wines than all other wineries in the state combined.

"We are so proud of the wines from the 2021 vintage. They have great richness and textural depth and are quite different than any wines Matthews has previously produced," said Head Winemaker Alex Stewart. "We were given the opportunity to completely re-imagine the winemaking at Matthews. We tightened up the vineyard sourcing and farming practices and dramatically changed how the wines are being made. The stars aligned for the 2021 vintage, as well as the stellar 2022 and 2023 that we are working on now. We hope these releases represent a new benchmark for the Columbia Valley."

The new release wines include:

Matthews Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 - $50

Matthews Columbia Valley Cuvee 2021 - $55

Matthews Columbia Valley Claret 2021 - $55

Matthews Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2022 - $39

Beginning in February of 2024, Matthews will release its Columbia Valley Reserve red wines, which will be available in key markets across the U.S. for the first time. In previous years, these wines have only been available from the tasting room and wine club. The Reserve tier prices range from $75 to $195.

Matthews wines are distributed nationally and available through Winebow or Republic National Distributing Company.

"The work we have done as a team to overhaul our winemaking process has given my family a renewed sense of wonder for what is possible with our wines and vineyards across the Columbia Valley," said Bryan Otis. "While just one of the enhancements we've made would result in notably more compelling wines  we feel the sum of the changes, beginning with the 2021 vintage, has created a completely new flavor profile and experience for every Matthews wine."

About Matthews Winery

Matthews is a family-owned and operated winery with a singular mission to showcase the pure expression of Washington state's Columbia Valley. Since 1992, Matthews has crafted red blends from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, and white wines exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc. In the spring of 2021, the Matthews team set out to dramatically elevate its current vineyard holdings and add additional diversity to the vineyard portfolio as well as enhance its winemaking techniques. The resulting wines have a richness and textural depth unlike anything Matthews has ever released.

The winery's tasting room is located on an eight-acre property in Woodinville, about 20 minutes from downtown Seattle. In addition to a tasting room, the winery grounds include a fully organic farm with an outdoor kitchen and multiple lawns and patios. For information, please visit www.matthewswinery.com.

Media Contact

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SOURCE Matthews Winery
With more than 20 years of experience in Institutional Capital Markets, Bob will focus on Fixed Income, Whole Loans, CRA and Real Estate at Mesirow

Addition of Djorup part of continuing strategic growth of Institutional Sales & Trading team

CHICAGO, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesirow, an independent, employee-owned financial services firm, today announced that Bob Djorup has joined the firm as Managing Director, Mesirow Institutional Sales and Trading. In this role, Bob will focus on Fixed Income, Whole Loans, CRA and Real Estate. Bob brings more than 20 years of experience in Institutional Capital Markets to the firm.

Mesirow Institutional Sales and Trading Hires Bob Djorup as Part of Ongoing Growth Strategy

"I am excited to join Mesirow and contribute to the growth of Mesirow's Institutional Sales and Trading team," said Bob Djorup. "Mesirow's commitment to excellence and client-focused approach align with my own values. I look forward to leveraging my experience and working closely with the team to provide tailored solutions that benefit our clients."

Prior to joining Mesirow, Bob was Senior Director of Fixed Income at 1010dataSymphonyAI covering Banks, Money Managers, Hedge Funds and REITs. He will add extensive experience in transacting MBS, ABS, CMBS and Whole Loans to Mesirow.

"Strategically expanding our team and capabilities is a vital part of our commitment to serving clients," said Jeff Levine, Chief Operating Officer, Institutional Sales and Trading. "Bob brings specific skills to Mesirow that will enhance our ability to provide high-quality sales and trading solutions. We are excited to welcome him to the team and, in the months ahead, look forward to bringing on additional talent to the firm."

Mesirow Capital Markets advises clients across multiple capabilities that include Institutional Sales and Trading, CTL And Structured Debt, Ground Lease financing, Public Finance, Realty Bridge Equity and Sale-Leaseback Capital.

About Mesirow

Mesirow is an independent, employee-owned financial services firm founded in 1937. Headquartered in Chicago, with offices around the world, we serve clients through a personal, custom approach to reaching financial goals and acting as a force for social good. With capabilities spanning Global Investment Management, Capital Markets & Investment Banking, and Advisory Services, we invest in what matters: our clients, our communities and our culture. To learn more, visit mesirow.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Mesirow was recently named one of the Best Places to Work in Chicago by Crain's Chicago Business and one of the Top 100 RIA firms by Barron's.

Media

[email protected]

Michael Herley | 203.308.1409

Mesirow refers to Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. and its divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates. The Mesirow name and logo are registered service marks of Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc.,  2023, Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. Investment management services provided through Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc., Mesirow Institutional Investment Management, Inc. and Mesirow Financial Private Equity Advisors, Inc., all SEC-registered investment advisor, a CFTC registered commodity trading advisors and member of the NFA, or Mesirow Financial International UK, Ltd. ("MFIUK"), authorized and regulated by the FCA, depending on the jurisdiction.

Award recognition disclosures: mesirow.com/award-recognition-disclosures

SOURCE Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc.
DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MGI, a company committed to building core tools and technology to lead life science, recently concluded its inaugural The Future of Omics Research Summit, the global event focused on the field of population genomics, metagenomics research and precision medicine, which took place in Dubai on Dec 4th and 5th 2023.

"We were delighted to convene global key opinion leaders from across the genomics and healthcare ecosystems at the inaugural The Future of Omics Research Summit," said Duncan Yu, President at MGI. "At MGI, we believe the era of genomics, particularly metagenomics, is prompting the most important human health transformation of our generation. By supporting ground-breaking research and knowledge exchange, we will continue to expand access to the potential of genomics and push the boundaries of life science and technology."

Under the theme of "Leading Life Science Innovation", the invite-only event brought together over 100 of the brightest minds in life science, to discuss and exchange ideas around expanding the reach of genomics and facilitating "omics for all". Over 25 top scientists and entrepreneurs from around the world joined as speakers, sharing their achievements and insights into the future of population genomics, metagenomics research and precision medicine.

The two-day event witnessed presentations and sharing from experts on the impact of life science research and technologies in areas ranging from precision medicine to pediatric rare genetic diseases, gut disorders, oncology, viral diseases, unknown infections, and many more.

As the first speaker, H.E Dr Maryam Matar, Founder of Sheikh Zayed Research Centre and Founder of Chairperson of UAE Genetic Diseases Association highlighted the need of credible and scientific Knowledge for better quality of life for the UAE population. Dr Matar said: "I am privileged to share my scientific research, and the potential of advancements in regenerative medicine with the scientific community in the summit. In line with the healthcare vision of the UAE, the summit is serving the community by fostering innovation in the field of omics. Collectively, we all strive to work towards personalized healthcare and better data-driven treatments, which will create better healthcare systems."

Great Potential in Population Genomics

Population genomics has the potential to greatly contribute by facilitating the accurate categorization of individuals based on shared genetic backgrounds. During his speech, Prof. Patrick Tan, Executive Director of PRECISE in Singapore detailed the progress of the National Precision Medicine Programme, a 10-year research roadmap to accelerate biomedical research and improve health outcomes. "In the first phase, we generated the world's largest multi-ethnic Asian reference database (SG10K Health)," said Prof. Tan. "Phase 2 is currently underway to scale this genomic-phenotypic database to 100,000 Singaporeans (PRECISE-SG100K) to address key questions about Asian health and disease linking genomic, phenotypic, and clinical outcome data."

On the other hand, Prof. Stephen T.S. Lam from Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital examined in his presentation how "omics" can contribute to the health of the population. "In addition to genomics, more recent developments in the other disciplines of biological science, such as proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, have increasingly been incorporated in disease management and health promotion," said Prof. Lam. "Their efforts are helping to characterize and quantify the biological molecules that contribute to the structure and functions of human cells, tissues and organs, both in health and disease."

In understanding diseases in the context of genomic diversity, Prof. Shuhua Xu from China's Fudan University offered an overview of the recent progresses in human population genetics studies in China based on large-scale whole-genome sequencing. "Identifying and prioritizing disease-associated causal variants is based on an understanding of the distribution of genetic variation within and between populations," Prof. Xu added. "Population genetics and genomics thus play a vital role in dissecting genetic architecture of diseases and complex traits."

Metagenomics Enables Robust Treatment

Metagenomics plays a crucial role in understanding the genetic diversity and functional potential of microbial communities, providing valuable insights into ecosystem dynamics, human health, and biotechnological applications. With a key focus of the summit on metagenomics, scientists from across the globe shared the progress and fruits of their relevant research and clinical applications.

Prof. Mahir Al Hilali from Mediclinic Middle East in UAE gave an update on topics relating to the role of metagenomics in gut disorders and oncology. "Rapid and comprehensive profiling of the gut microbiome through shotgun metagenomic sequencing, along with molecular and cell biology studies, have indicated that gut microbiota can be utilized for disease prevention as well as to modulate the efficacy of different treatments, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy," said Prof. Al Hilali.

Meanwhile, Dr. Maike Seifert, from Karolinska Institute and AmbioGen, Sweden, shared a comprehensive snapshot of the current landscape of large-scale population-based metagenomics and insights into innovative approaches, cutting-edge methods, and the formidable challenges encountered from past projects. "As metagenomics increasingly move towards broader population samples, the need for more robust research methodologies is becoming paramount," Dr. Seifert remarked.

Advancing Precision Medicine for Health Promotion

Precision medicine is a groundbreaking approach that considers the unique genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors of individual patients. On advancing precision medicine with genomics and proteomics, Prof. Zhengming Chen, University of Oxford in the UK highlighted recent large-scale applications of proteomics technologies in biobank research and key novel findings. "The exposure and health outcome data are now being complemented by large-scale assays of stored biological samples, including genomics and proteomics.," Prof. Chen noted. "Together with proteomics dataand genetic data, we will enable important discoveries relevant to risk prediction, early diagnosis, drug target identification, and better understanding of disease aetiology, ageing and biology."

Through the summit, MGI provided a dynamic platform for unfettered discussion and cross-discipline collaborations, inspiring innovation and new real-world applications around life sciences and technology. In light of the success of the summit, MGI will be hosting the summit again with a different focus in the future. Rooted in the mission to deliver accurate, efficient, and accessible DNBSEQ technology, MGI strives to enable more scientific breakthroughs and discoveries and empower global researchers and scientists in the collective journey of advancing the positive impact of omics.

SOURCE MGI
GUANGZHOU, China, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MINISO Group Holding Limited (NYSE: MNSO; HKEX: 9896) ("MINISO", "MINISO Group" or the "Company"), a global value retailer offering a variety of trendy lifestyle products featuring IP design, today announced that Mr. Zhang Jingjing, the Company's Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, together with Mr. Huang Zheng, General Manager of MINISO Overseas distributor markets and Vice President, and Mr. Yao Jianzheng, General Manager of MINISO China and Vice President (together as the "Management"), have acquired the Company's shares in the open market in the amounts of about USD400,000, USD300,000 and USD300,000 respectively as of the date of this press release, re-affirming their commitment and confidence in the value and long-term development of the Company. The Management may further increase their shareholding in the Company as and when appropriate and subject to compliance with the applicable laws and regulations.

Shareholders and potential investors should note that any share purchase by the Company's management may be done subject to market conditions and at the individual's absolute discretion. Shareholders and potential investors should therefore exercise caution when dealing in the shares.

About MINISO Group

MINISO Group is a global value retailer offering a variety of trendy lifestyle products featuring IP design. The Company serves consumers primarily through its large network of MINISO stores, and promotes a relaxing, treasure-hunting and engaging shopping experience full of delightful surprises that appeals to all demographics. Aesthetically pleasing design, quality and affordability are at the core of every product in MINISO's wide product portfolio, and the Company continually and frequently rolls out products with these qualities. Since the opening of its first store in China in 2013, the Company has built its flagship brand "MINISO" as a globally recognized retail brand and established a massive store network worldwide. For more information, please visit https://ir.miniso.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to,", "potential," "continue" or other similar expressions. Among other things, the quotations from management in this announcement, as well as MINISO's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. MINISO may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "HKEX"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about MINISO's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: MINISO's mission, goals and strategies; future business development, financial conditions and results of operations; the expected growth of the retail market and the market of branded variety retail of lifestyle products in China and globally; expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of MINISO's products; expectations regarding MINISO's relationships with consumers, suppliers, MINISO Retail Partners, local distributors, and other business partners; competition in the industry; proposed use of proceeds; and relevant government policies and regulations relating to MINISO's business and the industry. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in MINISO's filings with the SEC and the HKEX. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and MINISO undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact:

Raine Hu

MINISO Group Holding Limited

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +86 (20) 36228788 Ext.8039

SOURCE MINISO Group Holding Limited
In a rare public appearance, A. Lange & Sohne CEO Wilhelm Schmid made a flying visit to Paris for the opening of a new boutique. One of the industrys longest-serving CEOs (18 years), he has strong convictions for the brand. Weve picked four. You may be surprised

Paris, the place to be

We caught up with Wilhelm Schmid at the reopening of the brands boutique on Rue de la Paix, in Paris. The two previous boutiques were operated by Dubail but were not as successful as expected, mainly because of the pandemic. Will it be third time lucky? Schmid is convinced this is a place to be, like Madison, Bond Street or Ginza. Were here to stay. Translation: a brand has to have its name on Place Vendome and stay open regardless of which way the economic winds blow. Its a view not everyone shares. Many neighbouring stores have closed. Online sales are progressing. Except at A. Lange & Sohne. Customers want to be able to see their watch and try it on, especially their first Lange. Which is? Often a Lange 1. A #1 watch, a Lange 1, at 1, Rue de la Paix.

A. Lange & Sohne is a brand apart

Schmid believes that A. Lange & Sohne is a brand apart and that its place is that of an independent. Which again may seem counterintuitive when you belong to the Richemont group. Thats not how we should see things. If you dont belong to a group, you belong to your shareholders or you depend on your retailers, etc. Youre independent when you have your own autonomous production, your own values, and youre capable of defending them. Objection: all the Manufactures say the same. Wilhelm Schmid retorts that, with 5,500 watches adjusted and assembled by hand each year, the brand has more in common with an independent workshop than mass production.

The tourbillon is dead, long live the chronograph?

The majority of collectors at Dubai Watch Week were of the same opinion: the tourbillon has had its day. Too much of a good thing these past 15 years? Wilhelm Schmid gives a knowing smile: the next big thing in fine watchmaking will be the chronograph. Its a major complication. One that is extremely technical and underestimated. The Odysseus, the latest in-house chronograph from A. Lange & Sohne, confirms this, with a current wait list of between three and five years.

Competition? What competition?

According to Wilhelm Schmid, given its low production volume - a far cry from the likes of Patek Philippe or Audemars Piguet  A. Lange & Sohne is not in competition with these brands, which are still sought-after by collectors (for the time being: certain indicators suggest the end of a love affair). A. Lange & Sohnes real competitors are the independents. Going head-to-head with the German firm are Akrivia, Laurent Ferrier and Philippe Dufour, among others. Names that Wilhelm Schmid welcomes with open arms: They are an excellent benchmark for us.
ATLANTA and NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Splitit Payments Limited ("Splitit" or the "Company") (ASX:SPT), the white-label, fully-embedded payments technology platform allowing customers to pay via card-attached installments using their existing card at checkout without increasing their total credit exposure, announced today that it has voluntarily delisted from ASX upon its closing of the first US$25 million of a US$50 million growth commitment from funds advised by Motive Partners (together with its affiliates, "Motive"). These funds will be used to accelerate Splitit's growth and support the execution of its strategic plan.

Motive's US$50 million commitment is comprised of two US$25 million tranches in exchange for the issuance of new preference shares. The first US$25 million tranche closed yesterday after Splitit received overwhelming shareholder approval on 13th November 2023 for (1) the voluntary delisting of the Company from ASX, and (2) the redomicile of the Company from Israel to the Cayman Islands by means of a share-exchange accomplished through a merger. The second US$25 million tranche will be invested upon Splitit achieving certain 2023 full-year financial performance milestones (which Splitit is currently exceeding)1 and the satisfaction of certain other closing conditions. For additional information, please refer to Splitit's ASX Announcement dated 16th August 2023.

Dawn Robertson, Chair of Splitit, commented, "We are delighted to close Motive's first round of growth investment. As a world-class private equity sponsor with significant capital, extensive payments expertise, value-additive capabilities, and deep industry relationships, Motive is the ideal partner to support Splitit in creating long-term value."

Nandan Sheth, Managing Director & CEO of Splitit, added, "Attracting a strategic investor of this caliber is a testament to the quality of our team and our unique, innovative offering. Motive's investment significantly strengthens our balance sheet and brings additional global payments expertise, allowing the team to accelerate our white-label product strategy, product innovation, and our Tier One global distribution partnerships.

Jeff Yabuki, Chairman and Founding Partner at Motive Partners, commented, "We are thrilled to become a strategic investor in Splitit. The Company and its management have created a differentiated approach to commerce innovation across an impressive set of strategic partnerships which we believe will further unlock an attractive market. We look forward to partnering with Splitit's talented team to take the Company to new heights."

Blythe Masters, Founding Partner at Motive Partners, added, "We have been impressed by Splitit's evolution into the premier card-attached installments platform and are excited for the opportunity to apply our expertise and resources to further enhance Splitit's global growth trajectory."

About Splitit

Splitit powers the next generation of commerce innovation through its merchant-branded Installments-as-a-Service platform. Splitit is solving the challenges businesses face with legacy Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) providers while unlocking commerce innovation at the point of sale for card networks, issuers, and acquirers all through a single network API. Splitit's Installments-as-a-Service platform mitigates issues with legacy BNPL like the declining conversion funnel, clutter at the checkout, and a lack of control of the merchant's customer experience while putting the power back in the hands of merchants to nurture and retain customers, drive conversion, and increase average order value. Splitit's white-label solution is the easiest installment option for merchants to adopt, integrate, and operate while delivering an uncluttered, simplified experience embedded into their existing purchase flow. Headquartered in Atlanta, Splitit has an R&D center in Israel and offices in London and Australia. For more information, please visit Splitit.com.

About Motive Partners

Motive Partners is a specialist private equity firm that combines Investors, Operators, and Innovators (the "IOI model") to pursue growth equity and buyout investments in technology-enabled financial and business services companies. Motive has $4.8 billion in assets under management and targets five primary subsectors: Banking & Payments, Capital Markets, Data & Analytics, Investment Management, and Insurance. Through its in-house combination of Investors, Operators, and Innovators, Motive brings differentiated expertise, connectivity, and capabilities to its investments to create long-term value. Today, Motive employs over 230 professionals and maintains offices in New York City, London, and Berlin.

For more information, please visit motivepartners.com.

For more information please contact:

SPLITIT

Danielle Poggi / Michael McMullan

Berns Communications Group

[email protected] / [email protected]

MOTIVE PARTNERS

Sam Tidswell-Norrish

Managing Director, Investor Relations

+44 78 5591 0178 | [email protected]

______________________________________________

1 Indicative based on the [1.54] USD to AUD exchange rate on [11] December 2023. All other amounts in this announcement quoted in USD.

Targets are currently exceeded measured on a year-to-date basis to 30 September 2023.

SOURCE Splitit USA, Inc.
Efforts to connect multiuse trails into transportation systems prevalent nationwide with developing trail networks in every state, reaching at least half of Americans.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), the nation's largest trails and active transportation advocacy organization, today released the first-ever spatial analysis of the country's trail networks.

Trail networks are part of the DNA of the nation, bringing new mobility and recreation to at least half of Americans. Post this Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), the nations largest trails and active-transportation advocacy organization, today released the first spatial analysis of trail networks in development across the country. This video tells the story of the impact of trail and active transportation networks across the country.

The analysis found that there are more than 150 known multiuse trail networksinfrastructure that creates walking and biking routes that connect within and between communities, separated from trafficin development nationwide, with trail networks underway in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. At least half of Americans (49.75%) live in a county that is home to a developing trail network. Of the counties where trail networks are being developed, 74% are majority suburban/urban and 26% are majority rural populations.

"This data validates what we've long knownthat multiuse trail networks are critical to the well-being of the nation. The scope and scale of trail network development underway nationwide has the potential to deliver powerful solutions for the climate, economic and mobility challenges facing all types of communities," said Ryan Chao, RTC's president. "People want more investment in infrastructure that will help them get around in their communities, whether or not they drive. The impact of this infrastructure is invaluable."

Alongside the spatial analysis of America's trail networks, RTC released national opinion-poll data capturing public support for trail networks.

People indicated that connectivity and active transportation infrastructure would help them walk and bike more. The top five factors include more destinations within a 10-to-20-minute walking distance (37%); friends and family to join them (34%); trails and greenways separated and protected from traffic (30%); more sidewalks (30%); and more protected bike lanes (29%).

distance (37%); friends and family to join them (34%); trails and greenways separated and protected from traffic (30%); more sidewalks (30%); and more protected bike lanes (29%). Nearly one-third of people (29%) say that trail networks would make it easier to walk and bike where they need to go instead of drive.

Overwhelming support for spending tax dollars on trail networks is consistent across party affiliation82% of people agree that tax dollars should be spent on connecting trails to each other and important destinations (81% Republicans, 84% Democrats, 81% Independents, n = 619).

More people think that the government spends too little money on walking and biking infrastructure versus other forms of transportation infrastructure (49% compared with 39% public transportation and 38% roads).

These findings come as the U.S. Department of Transportation prepares to release the first-ever call for applications for the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program, which was authorized as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. This new federal program is the first to dedicate funding to the connectivity of active transportation infrastructure. According to RTC, the scale and scope of the nation's trail networks illustrate the urgency to fully fund the program, which only received a portion of the authorized funding in the 2023 federal budget. RTC, Congressional champions and partners across the country are continuing to advocate for full program funding, which is necessary to complete safe routes in communities across America and more quickly unlock the safety, climate and equity benefits of active transportation networksespecially critical at a time when thousands of pedestrians and cyclists are dying in crashes each year.

The data was released as part of a panel discussion at WOSU in Columbus featuring RTC, Latino Outdoors and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC). The event elevated Columbus as a prime example of what it takes to prioritize and accelerate the pace of efforts to connect trails into larger recreation and active transportation systems across the country, and the regional, statewide and national impact of those investments. The region is the hub of the Central Ohio Greenways network, an anchor in the statewide Ohio to Erie Trail, and a community along the route of the cross-country Great American Rail-Trail, which stretches 3,700 miles between Washington, D.C., to Washington State.

The analysis of America's trail networks is part of RTC's TrailNation initiative, redefining how the country builds trail networks and the impact this infrastructure can have on people and places. The analysis includes trail networks that are locally adopted; in development (either planning, construction, or both); and comprising two or more multiuse trail segments or contiguous loops that provide seamless connectivity without traffic interaction. The infrastructure represented in this assessment was identified by RTC as of Dec. 1, 2023, from spatial analyses and local and regional nonprofits and agencies. This assessment serves as a benchmark of trail network development nationwide and will expand over time as more networks are reported and developed. View the interactive map of America's trail networks at railstotrails.org/trailnation.

RTC's opinion poll was conducted online, Sept. 1423, 2023, by the firm Stratalys Research, with a sample size of 1,200 adults over age 18, including an oversample of 200 Black and 200 Latino respondents.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is the nation's largest trails organizationwith a grassroots community more than 1 million strongdedicated to building a nation connected by trails, reimagining public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors. Connect with RTC at railstotrails.org and @railstotrails on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

CONTACT:

Patricia Brooks

[email protected]

202.351.1757

SOURCE Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - NexGen Energy Ltd. ("NexGen" or the "Company") (TSX: NXE) (NYSE: NXE) (ASX: NXG) announced today that it has updated its at-the-market equity program (the "ATM Program") to offer and sell up to C$500 million of common shares from treasury ("Common Shares").

Sales of Common Shares, if any, will be made pursuant to the terms of an equity distribution agreement dated December 11, 2023 (the "Sales Agreement") among the Company, Virtu ITG Canada Corp., as Canadian agent, and Virtu Americas, LLC, as U.S. agent (together, the "Agents"), on the TSX and/or the NYSE, and/or any other marketplace for the Common Shares in Canada or the United States or as otherwise agreed between the Agents and the Company. The volume and timing of sales under the ATM Program, if any, will be determined in the Company's sole discretion, and at the market price prevailing at the time of each sale, and, as a result, sale prices may vary.

The ATM Program is being made pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated December 11, 2023 (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's final short form base shelf prospectus filed in all provinces and territories of Canada dated December 8, 2023 (the "Base Shelf Prospectus"), and pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated December 11, 2023 (the "U.S. Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's U.S. base prospectus (the "U.S. Base Prospectus") included in its registration statement on Form F-10 (the "Registration Statement") (File No. 333-275839) filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on December 8, 2023 (collectively, the Prospectus Supplement, Base Shelf Prospectus, U.S. Prospectus Supplement, the U.S. Base Prospectus and Registration Statement, the "Offering Documents").

As outlined in the Offering Documents, the Company intends to use the net proceeds from the ATM Program, if any, to fund the continued development and further exploration of its mineral properties, and for general corporate purposes.

The ATM Program will be effective until the earlier of the sale of all of the Common Shares issuable pursuant to the ATM Program and January 8, 2026, unless terminated prior to such date by the Company or the Agents. Concurrent with the entering into of the Sales Agreement, the Company's previously announced at-the-market equity distribution agreement dated January 6, 2023 was terminated.

Potential investors should read the Offering Documents, Sales Agreement and other documents the Company has filed for more complete information about the Company and the ATM Program.

About NexGen

NexGen is a British Columbia corporation focused on the development of the Rook I Project located in the southwestern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada, into production.

Copies of Offering Documents

The Prospectus Supplement, the Base Shelf Prospectus and the Sales Agreement are available at www.sedarplus.ca and the U.S. Prospectus Supplement, the U.S. Base Prospectus and the Registration Statement are available at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Agents will send copies of the Prospectus Supplement and the Base Shelf Prospectus or the U.S. Prospectus Supplement and the U.S. Base Prospectus, as applicable, upon request by contacting:

Virtu Americas LLC

Attn Capital Markets

1633 Broadway | New York, NY 10019

[email protected]

Virtu ITG Canada

Attn Capital Markets

222 Bay Street | Suite 1720 | Toronto, ON M5K 1B7

[email protected]

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Common Shares, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Forward-Looking Information

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable United States securities laws and regulations and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, the 2021 Arrow Deposit, Rook I Project and estimates of uranium production, grade and long-term average uranium prices, anticipated effects of completed drill results on the Rook I Project, planned work programs, completion of further site investigations and engineering work to support basic engineering of the Project and expected outcomes. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Statements relating to "mineral resources" are deemed to be forward-looking information, as they involve the implied assessment that, based on certain estimates and assumptions, the mineral resources described can be profitably produced in the future.

Forward-looking information and statements are based on the then current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about NexGen's business and the industry and markets in which it operates. Forward-looking information and statements are made based upon numerous assumptions, including among others, that the mineral reserve and resources estimates and the key assumptions and parameters on which such estimates are based are as set out in this news release and the technical report for the property, the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the price and market supply of uranium, the cost of planned exploration activities, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment, supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct NexGen's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate in the future.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performances and achievements of NexGen to differ materially from any projections of results, performances and achievements of NexGen expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others, the existence of negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of the availability of additional financing, the risk that pending assay results will not confirm previously announced preliminary results, conclusions of economic valuations, the risk that actual results of exploration activities will be different than anticipated, the cost of labour, equipment or materials will increase more than expected, that the future price of uranium will decline or otherwise not rise to an economic level, the appeal of alternate sources of energy to uranium-produced energy, that the Canadian dollar will strengthen against the U.S. dollar, that mineral resources and reserves are not as estimated, that actual costs or actual results of reclamation activities are greater than expected, that changes in project parameters and plans continue to be refined and may result in increased costs, of unexpected variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates or other risks generally associated with mining, unanticipated delays in obtaining governmental, regulatory or First Nations approvals, risks related to First Nations title and consultation, reliance upon key management and other personnel, deficiencies in the Company's title to its properties, uninsurable risks, failure to manage conflicts of interest, failure to obtain or maintain required permits and licences, risks related to changes in laws, regulations, policy and public perception, as well as those factors or other risks as more fully described in NexGen's Annual Information Form dated February 24, 2023 filed with the securities commissions of all of the provinces of Canada except Quebec and in NexGen's 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and Edgar at www.sec.gov .

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or statements or implied by forward-looking information or statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE NexGen Energy Ltd.
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) continues to expand its global cloud region footprint with 48th public cloud region

New region in Valparaiso extends Oracle's commitment to helping organizations across one of South America's largest economies move to the cloud

More Chilean organizations across all industries can now benefit from OCI's high performance and security, powerful data and analytics, and distributed cloud capabilities

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle today announced the opening of a second Oracle Cloud Region in Chile, making it the first hyperscaler to have two regions in the country. With the new Oracle Cloud Valparaiso Region and the existing region in Santiago, Oracle will help organizations across all industries in Chile strengthen business continuity while addressing data residency and sovereignty requirements.

"The arrival of the second Oracle Cloud Region in Chile is a significant milestone as it allows our customers to gain the benefits of OCI's services, while leveraging best practices for business continuity and disaster recovery," said Joaquin Ma-Shichoy, managing director, Oracle Chile. "With the opening of the Oracle Cloud Valparaiso Region, we're strengthening our commitment to Chile's technological development by enabling organizations  including those in highly regulated industries and with in-country data residency requirements  to accelerate their journeys to the cloud."

Part of Oracle's distributed cloud strategy, the new public cloud region is Oracle's 48th worldwide and will offer Oracle Cloud's full capabilities across more than 100 Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) services and cloud applications, including Oracle Autonomous Database, MySQL HeatWave Database Service, Oracle Container Engine for Kubernetes, Oracle Cloud VMware Solution, and AI infrastructure. Underscoring its significant investment across Chile and the broader Latin America region, Oracle now operates seven public cloud regions across Chile, Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico  triple that that of other hyperscalers.

"The opening of a second Oracle Cloud Region in Chile is excellent news, not only because of the impact of cloud computing on our economy, but because it consolidates us as a digital infrastructure hub in the southern cone of Latin America," said Karla Flores, director, Invest Chile. "These investments reaffirm the confidence of foreign investors in our country and its opportunities. The launch of this Oracle region demonstrates that this type of operation can also be developed at a regional level, in this case promoting Valparaiso as a digital hub that provides the latest technology and increased employment opportunities across the region."

High Availability and Low Latency Provides Chilean Customers with a Resilient Cloud Foundation

The Oracle Cloud Valparaiso Region gives organizations access to a wide range of cloud services to modernize their applications, innovate with data and analytics, and migrate all types of workloads from their data centers to OCI. With the addition of a second region in Chile, customers and partners gain access to low-latency networking and high-speed data transfer across both Oracle Cloud Regions to help them derive better value from their data. In addition, customers can leverage redundancy and disaster recovery capabilities to enhance business continuity and help meet the country's regulations and requirements for data residency and sovereignty. Via both regions in Chile, OCI is able to manage every type of customer workload across all industries, including financial services, communications, and retail.

A Focus on Driving Sustainable Operations Across the Globe

Underscoring its ongoing focus on sustainability, Oracle has committed to matching all worldwide Oracle Cloud Regions with 100 percent renewable energy by 2025, including the Oracle Cloud Valparaiso Region. Many Oracle Cloud Regions are already powered by 100 percent renewable energy, including the existing Oracle Cloud Santiago Region, which enables organizations to run their computing services more sustainably and with a lower carbon footprint. To further advance its commitment to sustainable operations, Oracle and its asset recovery partners recycled 99.7 percent of retired hardware they collected in FY'23.

Customers and Partners Welcome the New Oracle Cloud Valparaiso Region

"The cloud is transforming the way we work and deliver services to our customers. For us it is essential to have business partners who are constantly evolving in this sense and have a strong local presence," said Esteban Kemp, COO, Banco de Chile. "The opening of a second Oracle Cloud region in Chile, in addition to providing scalable, flexible, and secure services, will provide us with greater resilience via local access  which is necessary to support the digital transformation of Banco de Chile."

"When we considered completely vacating our data centers and migrating them to OCI, we had planned to do so within a period of 12 months and with the support of the Oracle team," said Sergio Cornejo, chief technology officer, Unicomer. "We managed to migrate 18 data centers in eight months, exceeding the expectations set. The process has been successful and has allowed us to reduce service times in our stores, especially during periods of high demand such as Christmas."

"Given that in Chile the rise of cloud infrastructure is a reality, the arrival of Oracle's second region not only marks a technological milestone, but it will also help drive digital transformation and new cloud architectures that are more resilient and secure for industries across the country," said Helder Branco, head of IT operations, Entel. "In addition, the opening of this new region demonstrates Oracle's commitment to the country and continues to enable local companies to use world-class solutions recognized for their stability and high performance."

"We see the opening of a new Oracle Cloud region in Chile as an important step forward towards greater resilience, low latency, and high availability, which allows us to continue trusting Oracle as a technological ally to leverage our growth and development in LATAM," said Emilio Davis, CTO and founder, Khipu.

"The expansion of cloud infrastructure in Chile, marked by the opening of Oracle's second cloud region, is crucial for the advancement and development of significant technological tools in the region  such as AI," said Ricardo Stranges, managing director, Accenture Chile. "This investment reflects confidence in the local market and provides a vital foundation for handling the large volumes of data across Chilean organizations. Oracle's cloud regions will help the country position itself as a leader in AI innovation in Latin America, enabling organizations to maximize the opportunities offered by this technology  from improving services to driving the economy."

"The opening of the new Oracle Cloud Region in Chile is an example of how quickly the adoption of cloud technologies has advanced in the country," said Diego Cotignola, consulting lead partner, Deloitte. "This region will allow Oracle customers to accelerate the use of new technologies quickly, reliably, and securely, further promoting innovation through solutions with high availability and low latency."

"True modernization cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires a reliable ecosystem, skills enhancement, platform integration, and external partnerships to help guide businesses through change management," said Ariel Sclippa, general manager, Kyndryl Chile. "The cloud solutions offered by Oracle are flexible, secure, and robust, enabling Kyndryl to deliver excellent services to clients."

Oracle's Distributed Cloud Delivers the Benefits of Cloud with Greater Control and Flexibility

Oracle's distributed cloud offers customers all the advantages of cloud with greater control over operations as well as data residency and proximity. It also offers customers low latency, even for operations spanning multiple clouds. In total, Oracle manages 67 cloud regions across 26 countries, including public and dedicated regions. All deployment options offer more than 100 cloud services across infrastructure and applications to support IT migration, modernization, and innovation. OCI services and pricing are consistent across deployment types to simplify planning, portability, and management.

OCI's distributed cloud lineup supports:

Multicloud Options including Oracle Database@Azure, MySQL HeatWave on AWS, and Oracle Interconnect for Microsoft Azure allow customers to combine key capabilities from across clouds.

Options including Oracle Database@Azure, MySQL HeatWave on AWS, and Oracle Interconnect for Microsoft Azure allow customers to combine key capabilities from across clouds. Hybrid cloud OCI delivers key cloud services on-premises via Oracle Exadata Cloud@Customer and Compute Cloud@Customer and is already managing deployments in over 60 countries.

OCI delivers key cloud services on-premises via Oracle Exadata Cloud@Customer and Compute Cloud@Customer and is already managing deployments in over 60 countries. Public cloud Forty-eight hyperscale public cloud regions across 24 countries serve any size of organization, including those requiring strict EU sovereignty controls. See the full list of regions here.

Forty-eight hyperscale public cloud regions across 24 countries serve any size of organization, including those requiring strict EU sovereignty controls. See the full list of regions here. Dedicated cloudCustomers can run all OCI cloud services in their own data centers with OCI Dedicated Region, while partners can resell OCI cloud services and customize the experience using Oracle Alloy. Oracle also operates separate US, UK, and Australian Government Clouds, and Isolated Cloud Regions for US national security purposes.

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Oracle Cloud Regions

Learn more about Oracle Cloud Infrastructure

About Oracle

Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com.

Trademarks

Oracle, Java, MySQL and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud companyushering in the new era of cloud computing.

SOURCE Oracle
NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The paint protection film market size is expected to grow by USD 128.31 million from 2023 to 2028. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 2.33% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. Expansion of the consumer electronics industry is notably driving the paint protection film market. However, factors such as the slower adoption rate of emerging applications may impede market growth. The market is segmented by End-user (Automobile, Aerospace and Defense, Electrical and electronics, and Others), Type (Thermoplastic polyurethane, Polyvinyl chloride, and Others), and Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America). We provide a detailed analysis of 20 companies operating in the paint protection film market including 3M Co., Avery Dennison Corp., Bluegrass Protective Films LLC, Compagnie de Saint Gobain, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Eastman Chemical Co., GARWARE HI TECH FILMS Ltd., Global Pet Films Inc., HEXIS SAS, LINTEC Corp., Mativ Holdings Inc., Polor Pro, POYA TECH CO. LTD., RENOLIT SE, The Lubrizol Corp., Top Color Film Ltd., UPPF Inc., XPEL Inc., Zhejiang Shichuang Optics Film Manufacturing Co. Ltd., and Ziebart International Corp..The report offers an up-to-date analysis of the market, and to know the exact growth variance and the Y-O-Y growth rate, Request a FREE Sample Report.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Paint Protection Film Market 2024-2028

Paint Protection Film Market 2024-2028: Company Analysis

3M Co. - The company offers paint protection films such as 3M paint protection films.

This report provides a full list of key companies, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now for detailed company information.

Paint Protection Film Market 2024-2028: Segmentation

End-user

By end-user, the automobile segment will be the largest contributor to market growth during the forecast period. The demand for PPF is expected to increase during the forecast period, owing to the increasing rate of production of lightweight passenger cars.

segment will be the largest contributor to market growth during the forecast period. The demand for PPF is expected to increase during the forecast period, owing to the increasing rate of production of lightweight passenger cars. Other segments include Type (Thermoplastic polyurethane, Polyvinyl chloride, and Others)

Geography

Europe is estimated to contribute 37% to the growth of the overall market. Another region offering significant growth opportunities to companies is APAC. India, Indonesia , Thailand , and Vietnam are the key countries for the paint protection film market in APAC. This growth is attributed to factors such as the increasing demand for automobiles. Moreover, market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in other regions.

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a FREE PDF Sample Report

Paint Protection Film Market 2024-2028: Key Highlights

Historic Market Size 2018-2022

CAGR of the market during 2024-2028

Detailed information on factors that will assist paint protection film market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the paint protection film market size and its contribution to the parent market

Forecasts on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the paint protection film market

Analysis of the competitive landscape and detailed information on companies

Comprehensive details of factors that will impede the growth of paint protection film market companies

Related Reports:

The aircraft paint market share is expected to increase to USD 193.78 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.72%.

The paint and coatings market share in MEA is expected to increase by USD 2.55 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.13%.

Paint Protection Film Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018-2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 2.33% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 128.31 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 2.0 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution Europe at 37% Key countries US, China, Japan, India, and Germany

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by End-user

Market Segmentation by Type

Market Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
OSLO, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Reltime, a forefront innovator in blockchain technology, is proud to announce that it has received a significant funding approval from the Research Council of Norway. This endorsement and financial support have been received for Reltime's ground-breaking three-year development initiative on "Using 5G Mobile Handsets as node validators in Reltime's Layer 1 Blockchain for Microtransactions."

In June 2023, Reltime had confirmed that it has performed an initial pilot in using 5G handsets as node validators in its layer-1 Proof of Authority Blockchain and would continue to develop this solution. So, the funding decision from the Research Council of Norway is well-timed. This ambitious project aims to integrate the massive computing and scaling power of 5G mobile handsets (as node validators in a layer 1 blockchain) and revolutionize the use of blockchain in handling microtransactions.

Top 3 Project Highlights:

Innovative Integration: Utilizing the advanced speed and connectivity of 5G handset technology to enhance blockchain efficiency as Node validators , instead of using traditional servers.

Enhanced Microtransaction Capabilities: Focusing on the growing demand for swift and secure small-value transactions e . g ., IoT , machine-to-machine transactions, rural markets.

Connect the existing Layer 1 Proof of Authority Blockchain with Mobile handset Node: A step forward in blockchain technology, emphasizing security, speed, and reduced environmental impact.

CEO & Co-Founder, Marlene Julo said, "The funding from the Research Council of Norway is not just a financial boost but a significant vote of confidence in our vision. Our latest development project will help to optimize this innovation and effectively leverage 5G Node in our PoA blockchain, revolutionizing how microtransactions are conducted globally."

About Reltime

Reltime is revolutionizing the financial and digital services industry with its advanced Web3 platform. Reltime has developed its own Layer-1 Proof of Authority Blockchain with zero transaction and gas fees. The platform includes a range of applications such as non-custodian wallets, SuperApp, loyalty programs, payment solutions, lending services, QR codes, CBDCs and digital fiats, and utility tokens. Additionally, the Reltime platform provides customer administration features like eKYC, identity management, SLA, and reporting. By incorporating a decentralized identity, Reltime is driving the next generation of digitization in supply chain management, tokenization, asset ownership, and global trade.

For more information on Reltime, visit, https://www.reltime.com/

Press Contact Reltime: Bishwajit Choudhary, [email protected]

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/reltime-as/i/5g-reltime,c3247949 5g reltime

SOURCE Reltime AS
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Resecurity, a leading cybersecurity company, announced the successful launch of its innovative Identity Protection solution in Bahrain. The unveiling occurred following the Arab International Cybersecurity Summit held on December 5-6, 2023, at Exhibition World Bahrain, hosted by the National Cyber Security Center.

IDP Bahrain

The Arab International Cybersecurity Conference & Exhibition, held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Prime Minister of Bahrain, provided an ideal platform for Resecurity to introduce its cutting-edge Identity Protection solution to the Bahraini market.

Getting in front of key decision-makers at the summit proved to be a pivotal move for Resecurity. The conference, known for attracting industry leaders, offered an invaluable opportunity to network, learn about the latest trends, and engage in meaningful discussions about the challenges facing the cybersecurity community. Resecurity's presence at the event allowed the company to position itself as a thought leader and gain exposure among influential figures in the cybersecurity field.

Commenting on the summit's significance, Gene Yoo, CEO of Resecurity, stated, "The Arab International Cybersecurity Summit provided an excellent platform for us to showcase our Identity Protection (IDP) solution in Bahrain. Our commitment to providing advanced cybersecurity solutions aligns with the summit's focus on innovation and collaboration. We believe that our presence at this event will enhance digital security in Bahrain and beyond."

Resecurity's Identity Protection solution, tailored for Bahrain, builds upon the company's success in delivering comprehensive protection to consumers and businesses in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, India and other countries. The comprehensive Identity Protection program addresses the evolving threats to digital security and reflects Resecurity's dedication to staying ahead of the cybersecurity curve.

Bahrain's pro-innovation business policies and laws create an ideal environment for cybersecurity businesses to thrive, making the launch of Resecurity's Identity Protection solution timely and significant for the company and the nation.

As Resecurity continues to expand its presence in the Middle East, the company remains committed to providing state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions and contributing to the ongoing efforts to strengthen digital security in the region.

For more information about Resecurity and its Identity Protection solution, visit www.resecurity.com.

About Resecurity

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence. Known for providing best-of-breed data-driven intelligence solutions, Resecurity's services and platforms focus on early-warning identification of data breaches and comprehensive protection against cybersecurity risks. Founded in 2016, it has been globally recognized as one of the world's most innovative cybersecurity companies with the sole mission of enabling organizations to combat cyber threats regardless of how sophisticated they are. Most recently, Resecurity was named as one of the Top 10 fastest-growing private cybersecurity companies in Los Angeles, California by Inc. Magazine. An Official Member of Infragard, AFCEA, NDIA, SIA and FS-ISAC. To learn more about Resecurity, visit https://resecurity.com.

SOURCE Resecurity Inc.
NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of securities of General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) between February 2, 2022 and October 26, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 6, 2024.

SO WHAT: If you purchased GM securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the GM class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=21020 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 6, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding GM's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) GM downplayed concerns with its vehicles' airbags and the need to record additional warranty accruals for related product recalls; (2) GM overstated the extent and efficacy of its efforts to analyze defects in its vehicles' airbag inflators; (3) Cruise LLC's ("Cruise") autonomous vehicles ("AV") and/or AV technology were less safe and well-developed than defendants had led investors, regulators, and the general public to believe; (4) accordingly, regulatory approval of Cruise's AV products was unsustainable and the prospects for widespread regulatory approval and adoption of Cruise's AV products were overstated; (5) all the foregoing subjected GM to an increased risk of governmental and/or regulatory scrutiny and enforcement action, significant legal liabilities, product recalls, and reputational harm; and (6) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the GM class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=21020 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
MILWAUKEE, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating Evofem (OTCQB: EVFM) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with Aditxt.

Click here to learn how to join the https://www.ademilaw.com/case/evofem-biosciences-inc or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.

In the transaction, the holders of Evofem's common stock will exchange their shares for an aggregate of 610,000 shares of Aditxt common stock. In addition, Aditxt has agreed to issue up to an aggregate of 89,126 shares of preferred stock to the holders of Evofem's currently outstanding unsecured notes, purchase rights, certain warrants, and preferred stock. The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing transactions for Evofem by imposing a significant penalty if Evofem accepts a competing bid. Evofem insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.

We are investigating the conduct of Evofem's board of directors, and whether they are fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders.

If you own Evofem common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/evofem-biosciences-inc.

We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contacts

Ademi LLP

Guri Ademi

Toll Free: (866) 264-3995

Fax: (414) 482-8001

SOURCE Ademi LLP
Oleksii Hnatkovskyi, a well-known Ukrainian film actor who starred in the movie "Dovbush", has shamed supporters of the Russian language and literature. In particular, the actor believes that one should first of all know Ukrainian culture and not tolerate the enemy.

ADVERTISIMENT

He spoke in details about his position in an interview with 20minut.ua. Oleksii called the Russian language cursed, and Ukrainians who tolerate Russian as suffering from the "Stockholm syndrome".

"For some reason, we have been very tolerant until recently, so that, God forbid, the Russian language would not be 'infringed'. No! We must ban this language in principle! It must be destroyed at the root! Because it is a cursed language," the actor said.

In particular, he said that Ukrainians have long been victims of a hostile culture, and Oleksii asks not to support the Stockholm Syndrome, because the victim should not support his rapist.

ADVERTISIMENT

"In my performances, I always say on stage that the last thing our soldiers hear when they are killed in captivity, or a woman being raped by six men at the same time, or a mother whose child is being raped in front of her is the damn Russian language. It is the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian language that they have always fascinated us with, that comes before weapons. First, spirituality and culture, and then weapons and bombs. Therefore, we cannot continue to tolerate this. We must categorically refuse and forever forget about everything Russian!" believes Hnatkovskyi.

In particular, the actor used to love reading the enemy classic Fyodor Dostoevsky: "You see, even I, a sincere Banderite from western Ukraine, used to say that Dostoevsky was my favorite author. Seriously, I used to say that! I know English and French well, I read a lot of literature, and I was still tolerant of this issue."

ADVERTISIMENT

Oleksii Hnatkovskyi recommended reading European and American authors, such as: Henrik Ibsen, Remarque, Sienkiewicz, Bernard Shaw, and for children - Mark Twain. But first of all, it is worth learning about Ukrainian writers.

"By the way, I did a separate social project in Frankivsk on the 'Executed Renaissance' - about all the authors from the Slovo House who were killed or repressed by the Soviet Union in the 1930s. We know nothing about them! We've heard about Khvylovyi, Les Kurbas, and Kulish somewhere else, but what about the rest? People know absolutely nothing about Mykhailo Semenko and Mike Johansen. Because they were killed on purpose so that we would not know about them. So that Dostoevsky could come to us instead," the actor said.

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that Oleksii is very annoyed when young children speak Russian, because the fault lies primarily with the parents, not the children.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Highlights:

The Governments of Canada and Quebec have demonstrated forward thinking by enhancing the capability of Port Saguenay with their commitments to funding the important new multi-user conveyor system.

and have demonstrated forward thinking by enhancing the capability of Port Saguenay with their commitments to funding the important new multi-user conveyor system. The conveyor system will allow material to be transported from the wharf to Strategic's planned operations at the Port of Saguenay industrial park, where it has a long-term lease agreement.

Strategic is currently evaluating increasing the planned throughput of its pelletizer project component to four million tonnes of iron ore pellets per annum, which can be delivered to the wharf via the new conveyor.

MONTREAL, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Strategic Resources Inc. (TSXV: SR) (the "Company" or "Strategic") is pleased to announce the Governments of Canada and Quebec are funding $111.2 million to the Saguenay Port Authority for the construction of a mechanized handling system intended for multi-user bulk materials. This conveyor, powered by hydroelectricity, will connect the maritime terminal to industrial storage and railway marshalling spaces located in the industrial-port zone ("IP zone") of Saguenay. Its commissioning is planned for 2025.

Sean Cleary, CEO of Strategic Resources commented: "This is a very positive announcement for both Port Saguenay and Strategic Resources. Our BlackRock Project will be able to benefit from this new conveyor system as we pursue the opportunity to build a four million tonne iron ore pellet plant. We would like to congratulate the Port and its team for this major investment."

The Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Minister responsible for Regional Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Metropolis and the Montreal region, Mr. Pierre Fitzgibbon, made the announcement on December 11th in the company of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister responsible for the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, Ms. Andree Laforest, and the Member of Parliament for Dubuc and parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Francois Tremblay and the Mayoress of Saguenay.

The Federal Government of Canada is granting the Saguenay Port Authority a contribution of $55.2 million. The Government of Quebec is providing a loan of $36.8 million, from the Ministry of the Economy, Innovation and Energy, as well as financial assistance of $19.2 million from the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.

Both the Federal and Provincial levels of government reaffirm that the Port of Saguenay represents a central economic engine for the development of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. The Saguenay IP zone has been identified as a priority site by the Quebec Ministry of the Economy, Innovation and Energy.

In addition to the $111.2 million for the construction of a mechanized handling system intended for multi-user bulk transportation, Quebec previously committed to paying $105.5 million for the establishment of multi-user infrastructure for the IP zone of Saguenay (electricity, gas and water) and has also recently announced a sum of $20 million for the expansion of the wharf at Port Saguenay. This brings the total announced investment supporting the area and the BlackRock Project to over $235 million.

About Strategic Resources

Strategic Resources Inc. (TSXV:SR) is a critical mineral exploration and development company focused on high-purity iron and vanadium projects in Canada and Finland. The Company is developing its flagship BlackRock Project, which is a fully permitted and ready to construct mine, concentrator and metallurgical facility located at the Port Saguenay seaport in Quebec with full access to the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Company's Head Office is in Montreal, Quebec.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://strategic-res.com/. To follow future news releases, please sign up at https://strategic-res.com/contact/.

Follow us on: Twitter or Linkedin.

STRATEGIC RESOURCES INC.

Signed: "Sean Cleary"

Sean Cleary, CEO & Director|

For further information email [email protected] or contact:

Alex Meterissian

VP ESG & Communications

+1 (514) 316-7096

Scott Hicks

EVP Corporate Development

+1 (604) 646-1890

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 Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to future planned operation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "will" or "projected" or variations of those words or statements that certain actions, events or results "will", "could", "are proposed to", "are planned to", "are expected to" or "are anticipated to" be taken, occur or be achieved.

Although management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by all forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the business of the Company; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of reserves and resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters); risks relating to adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities administrators. Strategic does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Strategic Resources Inc.
A partnership between Solinftec, Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN) - and Still Waters Manufacturing combines the expertise of these three companies to manufacture the Solix robot, contributing to regional development in Indiana.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Solinftec, a global leader in artificial intelligence solutions and sustainable agricultural practices, strengthened its partnership with WHIN and expanded its manufacturing capacity in the United States through collaboration with Still Waters Manufacturing. The production of the Solix robot in the WHIN region of Indiana strengthens Solinftec's presence in the United States from the last quarter.

Solix Ag Robotics

The collaboration and efforts of the companies will make robotic technology more accessible to American producers, leading to a significant reduction in herbicide use and promoting sustainable agriculture. "This partnership represents a significant milestone for the US agricultural industry, and it's gratifying to see two companies from our network bringing innovation to our region. Collaboration among all parties was crucial to the success of this project," says Johnny Park, CEO of WHIN.

The factory, with the capacity to produce up to 20 Solix robots per day, benefits from the experience of Jake Church, CEO of Still Waters Manufacturing. "There's something truly special about building these robots in rural Indiana. They will come out of what used to be a school, where many farmers and livestock producers in this area received their primary education. This venture is an opportunity to 'rewrite' history. A dear friend of mine often says, 'If you want to know the future, go build it,'" Church states. The business received an initial investment of over 2 million dollars from Solinftec for the next two harvests, ensuring continued annual growth.

"This will be the first agricultural robotics factory in the American Midwest," added the CEO of Still Waters Manufacturing. The team involved in Solix manufacturing will consist of workers living near the region served by Still Waters Manufacturing, with many of them being local farmers. "This work brings the community close, seeking to develop and innovate agriculture in the region with technology," says Guilherme Guine, Chief Operations Officer of Solinftec for North America.

The use of Solinftec solutions has already led to a reduction of up to 97% in herbicide volume on properties using the Solix robot in the United States. The key differentiator is that, through the collaboration of the three companies, the solutions will be adapted to the reality of the American Midwest.

About Still Waters Manufacturing:

The American company was acquired in 2022 by Jake Church and his wife Kindra. The company has over 35 years of serving the industry, focusing on the production of components for industrial forklifts. The factory is located in the former Coal Creek School, near New Richmond, Indiana.

About Solinftec:

Solinftec is a Brazilian company, a global leader in artificial intelligence and robotics for agribusiness. Founded in Aracatuba (SP) in 2007 by Cuban automation engineers, the agtech has over 800 employees globally, with 330 dedicated to R&D, and has units in the United States, Colombia, Canada, and China. Among the technological solutions offered by the company are the artificial intelligence platform ALICE AI and the Solix Ag Robotics, a robot designed for large-scale food production in agribusiness. Solix: Solix (solinftec.com)

About WHIN:

WHIN is an innovative nonprofit organization devoted to making the 10-county Wabash Heartland region of north-central Indiana the global epicenter of digital agriculture and next-generation manufacturing empowered by smart IoT technology.

SOURCE Solinftec
Eighth Annual Awards Commend Standout Product Innovation Across the International Food and Beverage Industry

DENVER, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Functional Chocolate Company  is pleased to announce that its products have been recognized in the LUXlife 2023 Food & Drink Awards . In its eighth consecutive year, The Food & Drink Awards 2023 highlight the most innovative companies, brands and products from across the international food and beverage market.

The Functional Chocolate Company (PRNewsfoto/The Functional Chocolate Company)

The Functional Chocolate Company offers naturally vegan and gluten free dark chocolate paired with a blend of condition-specific nutraceuticals - vitamins, minerals, botanicals and amino acids, to help address a variety of everyday health realities - from sleep to energy, stress to focus and much more.

"So many of the things we do for our health are simply no fun," said Nicole Smith, CEO, The Functional Chocolate Company. "We believe treating your health should be a treat. That's why we created the most effective solution to everyday health realities, in the most indulgent way. This recognition from The Food & Drink Awards validates the growing customer appreciation for accessible, functional foods that do more than just taste great."

Products from The Functional Chocolate include:

About LUX Lifestyle:

LUXlife Magazine is a premium lifestyle publication which was founded in 2015 by the publishing company AI Global Media Ltd. Distributed to a circulation of 238,000 globally, LUXlife focuses on a range of topics within the luxury lifestyle industry, featuring articles on, fashion, beauty, fine dining, travel, luxury real estate and much more. Within our pages you'll find everything from product news and reviews to in-depth pieces on trends, features and comment; all designed to inform, entertain, and inspire.

About The Functional Chocolate Company

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CHICAGO, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MarketsandMarkets has released Top 20 Fire Resistant Lubricants Companies, Worldwide 2023 to help businesses make quicker and more informed decisions. Companies' market presence and product footprint are used to build quadrants, which will be revised annually.

The global Fire Resistant Lubricants market was valued at USD 3.1 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 3.7 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 3.4% from 2022 to 2027. Rapid industrialization in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East & Africa post-COVID-19, coupled with the rise in process automation in most industries and the gradual increase in the metal processing & mining industry are expected to drive the global Fire Resistant Lubricants industry during the forecast period. Furthermore, the market presents growth opportunities driven by the increasing demand for renewable energy and the thriving e-commerce industry. However, significant challenges in the fire-resistant lubricants market stem from inadequate training and limited product awareness.

Access Research Report @ https://www.360quadrants.com/chemicals/fire-resistant-lubricants

Unveiling the Market Leaders: Honoring Excellence in Fire Resistant Lubricants Markets

Quaker Houghton has established itself as a market leader in fire-resistant lubricants owing to its innovative product footprint and a robust market presence. Quaker Houghton's fire-resistant fluids are widely used in applications like steel mills, die casting machines, and power plants. The three main types of fire-resistant hydraulic fluids offerred by the company include HFA, HFC, and HFDu that cater the diverse needs, providing a versatile and reliable solution for a wide range of applications. Beyond its superior product offerings, the company's market presence is fortified by strategic partnerships, a global distribution network, and a reputation for delivering high-performance solutions. This combination of top-tier products and a strong market footprint positions Quaker Houghton as a trusted and preferred choice in the competitive landscape of fire-resistant lubricants.

has established itself as a market leader in fire-resistant lubricants owing to its innovative product footprint and a robust market presence. Quaker Houghton's fire-resistant fluids are widely used in applications like steel mills, die casting machines, and power plants. The three main types of fire-resistant hydraulic fluids offerred by the company include HFA, HFC, and HFDu that cater the diverse needs, providing a versatile and reliable solution for a wide range of applications. Beyond its superior product offerings, the company's market presence is fortified by strategic partnerships, a global distribution network, and a reputation for delivering high-performance solutions. This combination of top-tier products and a strong market footprint positions Quaker Houghton as a trusted and preferred choice in the competitive landscape of fire-resistant lubricants. Bp plc , as a prominent leader in the market for fire-resistant lubricants, BP distinguishes itself through a combination of innovative products and a wide market presence. Through its flagship lubricant brand, Castrol, the company offers a diverse product line catering to various industries. Castrol offers products such as water-glycol fire resistant hydraulic fluid (HFC), HFDU-type polyol ester fire-resistant hydraulic fluid, and other types. In addition to its outstanding product quality, BP's influence in the market is strengthened by its worldwide presence, expansive distribution networks, and a robust reputation for reliability and excellence. Together, these elements firmly establish BP plc as a strong leading figure in the domain of fire-resistant lubricants.

, as a prominent leader in the market for fire-resistant lubricants, BP distinguishes itself through a combination of innovative products and a wide market presence. Through its flagship lubricant brand, Castrol, the company offers a diverse product line catering to various industries. Castrol offers products such as water-glycol fire resistant hydraulic fluid (HFC), HFDU-type polyol ester fire-resistant hydraulic fluid, and other types. In addition to its outstanding product quality, BP's influence in the market is strengthened by its worldwide presence, expansive distribution networks, and a robust reputation for reliability and excellence. Together, these elements firmly establish BP plc as a strong leading figure in the domain of fire-resistant lubricants. FUCHS , a renowned leader in fire-resistant lubricants, has solidified its position at the forefront of the market through a combination of innovation, product excellence, and extensive market presence. FUCHS' fire-resistant lubricants stand out for their exceptional performance in high-temperature environments, ensuring machinery operates smoothly while mitigating the risk of fire hazards. The company's fire-resistant hydraulic fluid type HFDU based on synthetic esters in combination with the latest zinc- and ashfree additive technology, latest ester and additive technology, and others. The products offered by the company are used across applications such as Machinery, equipment, Cement, Forging, Casting, Metal processing, Other industries, Steel, metals, and Power generation, etc. Some of the notable products offered by the company include RENOSAFE FireProtect 46 / 68, RENOSAFE FireProtect 46, PLANTOFLUX-AT/46-S, and SOLCENIC GM 20 among others.

, a renowned leader in fire-resistant lubricants, has solidified its position at the forefront of the market through a combination of innovation, product excellence, and extensive market presence. FUCHS' fire-resistant lubricants stand out for their exceptional performance in high-temperature environments, ensuring machinery operates smoothly while mitigating the risk of fire hazards. The company's fire-resistant hydraulic fluid type HFDU based on synthetic esters in combination with the latest zinc- and ashfree additive technology, latest ester and additive technology, and others. The products offered by the company are used across applications such as Machinery, equipment, Cement, Forging, Casting, Metal processing, Other industries, Steel, metals, and Power generation, etc. Some of the notable products offered by the company include RENOSAFE FireProtect 46 / 68, RENOSAFE FireProtect 46, PLANTOFLUX-AT/46-S, and SOLCENIC GM 20 among others. Furthermore, FUCHS' established global footprint, with a widespread distribution network and a strong presence in key markets strengthens its position as a market leader.

Shell has emerged as an industry leader in fire-resistant lubricants, particularly with its Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluids, which are fully synthetic formulations with a host of advantages over mineral oil-based alternatives. These fluids, based on a high viscosity index polyalkylene glycol (PAG) base stock, find application in diverse sectors, including industrial, marine, and mobile equipment handling high-pressure systems, hydrostatic drives, systems with servo valves, and robotics. Shell fire-resistant hydraulic fluids also include a range of aqueous (HFA, HFC) and non-aqueous (HFD) product types A prime example is the Shell Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluid S3 DU, representing a notable leap forward in hydraulic fluid technology. With a robust market presence, Shell's commitment to technological innovation and product excellence positions it as the preferred choice for businesses emphasizing safety, reliability, and environmental sustainability in their operations.

has emerged as an industry leader in fire-resistant lubricants, particularly with its Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluids, which are fully synthetic formulations with a host of advantages over mineral oil-based alternatives. These fluids, based on a high viscosity index polyalkylene glycol (PAG) base stock, find application in diverse sectors, including industrial, marine, and mobile equipment handling high-pressure systems, hydrostatic drives, systems with servo valves, and robotics. Shell fire-resistant hydraulic fluids also include a range of aqueous (HFA, HFC) and non-aqueous (HFD) product types A prime example is the Shell Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluid S3 DU, representing a notable leap forward in hydraulic fluid technology. With a robust market presence, Shell's commitment to technological innovation and product excellence positions it as the preferred choice for businesses emphasizing safety, reliability, and environmental sustainability in their operations. PETROFER has firmly established itself as one of market leaders in fire-resistant lubricants, owing to a combination of cutting-edge products and a robust market presence. These fluids play a pivotal role in a diverse array of industries, including diecasting, foundries, automobile, military, shipping, marine, offshore drilling, press shops, and even earthquake monitoring. PETROFER excels with their versatile products ranging from HFA hydraulic fluids meeting ecological standards for underground mining to HFC fluids like ULTRA-SAFE excelling in die-casting and marine applications, and HFD series offering synthetic alternatives with outstanding stability, including the flame-resistant ULTRA-SAFE 1000 series for control systems. PETROFER's products, characterized by high safety standards, make them one of the top-tier providers in the fire-resistant lubricants domain.

has firmly established itself as one of market leaders in fire-resistant lubricants, owing to a combination of cutting-edge products and a robust market presence. These fluids play a pivotal role in a diverse array of industries, including diecasting, foundries, automobile, military, shipping, marine, offshore drilling, press shops, and even earthquake monitoring. PETROFER excels with their versatile products ranging from HFA hydraulic fluids meeting ecological standards for underground mining to HFC fluids like ULTRA-SAFE excelling in die-casting and marine applications, and HFD series offering synthetic alternatives with outstanding stability, including the flame-resistant ULTRA-SAFE 1000 series for control systems. PETROFER's products, characterized by high safety standards, make them one of the top-tier providers in the fire-resistant lubricants domain. TotalEnergies has been identified as one of market leaders in fire-resistant lubricants owing to its diverse product footprint and wide market presence. The company's product footprint includes fire-resistant water-based hydraulic fluids for applications like steel manufacturing, automotive manufacturing, mining, tunneling, and offshore applications. The company's HYDRANSAFE series of fire-resistant fluids encompasses a comprehensive array of technologies, ranging from water glycol emulsions to ester-based solutions, ensuring that it delivers reliability, safety, and value to your plant and equipment. Some of the notable products are HYDRANSAFE HFA S7, HYDRANSAFE HFC-E, and Hydransafe FR EHC among others. With a steadfast focus on safety, technological advancement, and a widespread market footprint, TotalEnergies continues to lead the way in the field of fire-resistant lubricants.

Categorization Of Fire Resistant Lubricants Companies On 360 Quadrants

Fire Resistant Lubricants companies' evaluation was conducted for 50 companies, of which the top 20 were categorized and placed in a quadrant under Market Leaders, Contenders, Innovators, and Emerging Companies.

Positioned in the upper-right quadrant, Market Leaders exemplify a combination of an expansive product offering and a formidable market presence. These organizations not only deliver comprehensive solutions but also boast a well-established and influential position in the market. Market Leaders are recognized for their reliability, consistent innovation, and widespread acceptance among customers. Their dominance in both product capabilities and market influence solidifies their status as leaders in their respective industries. These companies include Quaker

Houghton, BP, FUCHS, PETROFER, Shell, and TotalEnergies. These companies dominate the market, together accounting for nearly one-third of the entire Fire Resistant Lubricants market.

ExxonMobil, LANXESS, Phillips 66 have been recognized as the contender. Nestled in the upper-left quadrant, Contenders possess a substantial market presence but may encounter challenges in terms of product innovation or differentiation. These companies have already secured a notable customer base and market recognition, positioning them as contenders. While their current offerings are competitive, Contenders have the potential to evolve and enhance their product capabilities to become more visionary and competitive in the future.

Situated in the lower-right quadrant, Innovators are distinguished by their exceptional product innovation and uniqueness. While they may not match the market presence of Market Leaders, Innovators challenge industry norms by introducing cutting-edge solutions. These companies push industry boundaries with forward-thinking approaches and have the potential to become major players despite lower corporate growth strategies. Chevron, PETRONAS, and CONDAT have been identified as the innovators in the quadrant.

Residing in the lower-left quadrant, Emerging Companies showcase a promising product footprint but are in the early stages of establishing their market presence. These companies may excel in specific niche areas or offer unique features that differentiate them, but their impact on the overall market is still evolving. Emerging Companies are considered niche players with significant growth potential as they expand their reach and recognition in the market. This segment of the quadrant has identified Sinopec, Eni, ACT, Hill & Griffith, SWEPCO, Tashkent, MORESCO, Rayco Chemical as emerging companies.

Request Your Free Marketing Kit @ https://www.360quadrants.com/chemicals/fire-resistant-lubricants

Evaluation Criteria

The vendor evaluation was conducted on over 50 companies of which the top 20 were categorized and recognized as the quadrant leaders. Factors such as revenue, geographic presence, growth strategies, investments, and sales strategies for the market presence of the Fire Resistant Lubricants quadrant. While the top criteria for product footprint evaluation included Type (HFA (Water Oil Emulsion), HFB (Oil Water Emulsion), HFC (Water Glycol), HFDU (Polyol Ester), HFDR (Phosphate Ester)), End-Use Industry (Metal Processing, Mining, Power Generation, Aerospace, Marine, Construction, Others).

360 Quadrants Scoring Methodology

360 Quadrants employs a comprehensive and transparent scoring methodology to evaluate companies. It identifies relevant evaluation criteria, collects and validates data from multiple sources, and employs an algorithm that considers parameter weights to generate scores. Normalization ensures fair comparisons, and the aggregated scores categorize solutions into quadrants such as Market Leaders, Contenders, Innovators, and Emerging Companies. This unbiased approach equips users with accurate information, empowering them to make well-informed decisions and select solutions that best suit their needs and objectives.

About MarketsandMarkets

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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 and facilitates analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

360 Quadrants will also be launching 100 quadrants in Chemicals and Materials, Packaging, Energy & Power, and Healthcare. Visit https://www.360quadrants.com to access our interactive quadrants.

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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
DENVER, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Transform Wealth is pleased to announce it has hired Jason Peters as Legacy Advisor. Peters brings a unique and exciting background to Transform from both the military and non-profit leadership sectors. A retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel and former non-profit CEO, Jason completed his doctorate in ministry and education in 2007, along with a one-year clinical residency at a trauma center in 2009. Jason has worked closely with families who are dealing with the nuanced and complex dynamics many high-net-worth families face. He has advised hundreds of individuals and families, with a special focus on people with a desire to make a significant impact with their wealth.

Jason Peters

"I'm ecstatic to be part of the Transform Wealth team," said Peters. "I am devoted to healthy relationships, facilitating conversations about what matters in life, and helping people develop a legacy they can be proud of. These ideals are too high for any of us to achieve alone. As part of an integrated team at Transform Wealth, it is a joy to serve as a trusted advisor for our clients and their families."

"Jason brings 25+ years of professional experience and numerous counseling credentials to the table which will help our clients create, preserve, and transfer their unique legacy," said Nathan Kubik, CEO of Transform Wealth. "Many of our clients are crafting an extraordinary family legacy while maximizing philanthropy and tax efficiency, enabling their focus on the life contributions that matter most to them."

Transform Wealth President David Kubik has known Peters for years and believes Jason will be a natural fit. "Jason and I have had some of the most meaningful conversations about life and family that I have ever had. He is truly a wonderful family man and brings a unique experience and perspective to Transform Wealth. We couldn't be happier to have Jason join us as he will help us continue to deliver the highest level of service to our clients. He has a gift of connecting with people on the topics that matter most to them and helping them think through how to live with intentionality, and that's what we are all about as a firm."

"During my military and non-profit careers, I was honored to engage with people from all walks of life," said Peters. "It was a gift to learn from them, and it shaped my calling. Journeying alongside people as they faced some of the most interesting, and often challenging, situations motivated me to devote my life to helping people shape a meaningful legacy. I am committed to ensuring my five children are still hugging each other after I am gone, and I recognize that focus and intentionality are required to build that type of legacy. I love helping others navigate this adventure of life."

Jason will serve in the firm's Greenwood Village and Colorado Springs offices, with a particular focus on helping clients develop, communicate, and implement a legacy they are passionate about.

About Transform Wealth

Transform Wealth is a fee-only, fiduciary Registered Investment Advisor. Our approach ensures clients receive advice in alignment with their best interests. We provide individually tailored solutions delivered within the context of the highest fiduciary standard with a transparent cost and fee model. For more information about Transform Wealth, please visit TransformWealth.com .

Media Contact

Kyle Gentile

Managing Director, Growth and Strategy

P: 720-509-3557

[email protected]

Disclosure

Investing has risks, including loss of income and principal, and there are no assurances specific investment results will be achieved. Transform Wealth has no control over market volatility so investors should understand these are inherent risks with investing. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

A copy of Transform Wealth's regulatory disclosure document is available upon request and is also available on the SEC's website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. For questions about our firm, please contact us at (303) 741-2560.

SOURCE Transform Wealth
New white label brokerage platform is positioned to take on existing solutions and is underpinned by Blockchain.com's industry-leading infrastructure, over 40 million verified users, and key launch clients.

LONDON, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blockchain.com, one of the world's most trusted and popular platforms for retail customers and institutions to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrency, today launched Blockchain.com Pay, a crypto on-ramp product designed to help web3, gaming and retail companies offer their own crypto brokerage. The service's first platform integrations include TRON and Changelly. These early collaborators have the added benefit of a "flexible integration" with custom-built features to meet each platform's specifications.

As a platform, Blockchain.com Pay enables businesses to integrate the company's robust infrastructure and access liquidity seamlessly in a single widget. The end result will be a hassle-free trading experience for end users. That's because the solution is backed by Blockchain.com's user base of more than 40 million verified customers, which precludes the need for Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures for supporting platforms.

Blockchain.com Pay is ambitiously taking on competitors such as MoonPay and Banxa by offering an impressive client stack backed by industry-leading infrastructure  a key differentiator as more service providers across Web3 and traditional finance race to integrate on-ramp solutions. With Blockchain.com Pay, fraud management, compliance, KYC, and customer support are all part of a plug-and-play comprehensive solution that almost nobody in the space can offer.

Peter Smith, CEO of Blockchain.com, expressed his excitement about the launch, saying, "Signing TRON and Changelly as initial design partners for Blockchain.com Pay positions our platform for rapid adoption and furthers our mission to streamline the user experience."

Jake Cormack, CEO of Changelly, commented on the collaboration, stating: "Changelly is excited to join forces with Blockchain.com Pay to enhance the crypto onboarding experience. This collaboration opens doors to a vast pool of existing Blockchain.com users  enhancing our reach but also contributing to the broader mission of making crypto accessible to a global audience.

David Uhryniak, Ecosystem Lead at TRON DAO, added, "TRON is thrilled to integrate Blockchain.com's solution, Blockchain.com Pay, into the TRON ecosystem. The single widget solution will enable TRON DAO website visitors in supported countries to purchase TRX, the native token of TRON."

Blockchain.com Pay aims to offer a one-click brokerage experience for existing Blockchain.com users, eliminating the need to provide additional personal information or identification documents. With TRON and Changelly on board, this vision is set to become a reality for users looking to enter the crypto space with ease.

About Blockchain.com

Blockchain.com is connecting the world to the future of finance. The most trusted and fastest growing global crypto company helps millions across the globe safely access cryptocurrency. Since its inception in 2011, Blockchain.com has earned the trust of more than 90 million wallets and over 40 million verified users, and has facilitated over $1 trillion in crypto transactions. Visit Blockchain.com for more information.

Media Contact

[email protected]

About TRON DAO

TRON DAO is a community-governed DAO dedicated to accelerating the decentralization of the internet via blockchain technology and dApps.

Founded in September 2017 by H.E. Justin Sun, the TRON network has continued to deliver impressive achievements since MainNet launch in May 2018. July 2018 also marked the ecosystem integration of BitTorrent, a pioneer in decentralized Web3 services boasting over 100 million monthly active users. The TRON network has gained incredible traction in recent years. As of December 2023, it has over 200.01 million total user accounts on the blockchain, more than 6.82 billion total transactions, and over $20.44 billion in total value locked (TVL), as reported on TRONSCAN.

About Changelly

Changelly, established in 2015, offers a comprehensive ecosystem of products and services for a seamless experience in buying, selling, swapping, and trading cryptocurrencies. Dedicated to hastening the era of mass adoption, Changelly focuses on continuous development to enhance user experience with an intuitive platform for fast and easy crypto exchanges.

SOURCE Blockchain.com
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominent figures within the casino industry are gearing up to engage in a crucial dialogue about the current state of affairs surrounding EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service) providers that are reluctant to collaborate within the gambling sector. Join us for an exclusive and complimentary webinar titled "Navigating the Uncharted Waters of EMS Providers in the Casino Industry," where a panel of esteemed experts will delve into the challenges faced by clients who find themselves with limited rights, limited recourse and indefinite or undefined exceptions when dealing with EMS providers unwilling to embrace the gaming industry. The prevailing question on everyone's mind should be, "Why should we place our trust in them?"

Event Details:

Title: Software for the casino industry you can trust!

Date: Tuesday, December 19th, 2023

Time: 11:30 AM Pacific Time

The esteemed panelists for this thought-provoking webinar include:

Andrew Cardno  Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) will serve as panel leader.

Cameron Kane  Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of iPost, a trusted name in the digital marketing landscape, offering cutting-edge solutions that enable businesses to connect with their audiences effectively. As the CEO of iPost, Cameron Kane brings a wealth of expertise to the webinar.

Deana Scott  CEO & Owner of Raving, a full-service, Native-owned casino and hospitality company dedicated to helping gaming operations thrive. From a client and thought leader perspective, Deana will bring an insider view of the implication these policies will have on tribal and commercial properties.

Buddy Frank - Moderator

The webinar will tackle a pressing issue that has been largely unnoticed by many in the industry. At least 40 firms have adopted a stance against casinos by categorizing "gambling" on their prohibited lists. Interestingly, among these companies are not just lesser-known organizations but also industry giants who are responsible for sending hundreds of billions of messages a year for their clients, which provide Enhanced Messaging Services (EMS) as a secondary product.

During the event, the panelists will explore the implications on the casino industry, its stakeholders, and the broader business landscape. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the reasons behind these policies, their potential impact on casino businesses, and strategies to address and navigate these challenges effectively. Attendees will also learn about the heavy investment QCI and iPost have made in developing a software solution the casino industry can trust, including their development roadmap and their innovative components.

To Register for the Free Webinar:

Interested participants can register for the webinar by visiting: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_F-A20NbASa-2URZQdxPEag

Don't miss this opportunity to join the conversation and gain a deeper understanding of the issues affecting the casino industry.

Join us on December 19th, 2023, at 11:30 AM Pacific Time, to uncover the hidden challenges faced by the casino industry and explore strategies for addressing them. Together we can ensure a prosperous future for tribal and commercial casinos.

ABOUT QCI

Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI Enterprise Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 150 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and The Bahamas. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $24 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI's data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

About Andrew Cardno

Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the realm of artificial intelligence and data plumbing. With over two decades spearheading private Ph.D. and master's level research teams, his expertise has made significant waves in data tooling. Andrew's innate ability to innovate has led him to devise numerous pioneering visualization methods. Of these, the most notable is the deep zoom image format, a groundbreaking innovation that has since become a cornerstone in the majority of today's mapping tools. His leadership acumen has earned him two coveted Smithsonian Laureates, and teams under his mentorship have clinched 40 industry awards, including three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Together with Dr. Ralph Thomas, the duo co-founded Quick Custom Intelligence, amplifying their collaborative innovative capacities. A testament to his inventive prowess, Andrew boasts over 150 patent applications.

Across various industriesbe it telecommunications with Telstra Australia, retail with giants like Walmart and Best Buy, or the medical sector with esteemed institutions like City Of Hope and UCSDAndrew's impact is deeply felt. He has enriched the literature with insights, co-authoring eight influential books with Dr. Thomas and contributing to over 100 industry publications. An advocate for community and diversity, Andrew's work has touched over 100 Native American Tribal Resorts, underscoring his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.

SOURCE Quick Custom Intelligence
"We are excited to work with our Sutter Health partners to serve the most vulnerable seniors with better quality and compassion in the San Jose area," said Si France, MD, CEO at WelbeHealth. "Through this expansion, we are ensuring that matriarchs and patriarchs can age in place and thrive in their communities."

Sutter Health is one of the largest health systems serving Northern California's Medi-Cal eligible population and has partnered with WelbeHealth to improve healthcare for underserved seniors.

"WelbeHealth provides nursing-home eligible seniors with the wrap-around services they need to remain safely at home in our communities," said Kevin Cook, Greater Silicon Valley Market President at Sutter Health. "San Jose is home to a rapidly growing aging population that will benefit from greater access to PACE."

Over 4,000 PACE eligible seniors reside within 15 miles of the San Jose location, and the population of these seniors is anticipated to increase. The California Department of Aging forecasts that Santa Clara County's senior population will surge by over 200% by 2060, while Alameda County's senior population is expected to increase by 150% by the same year.

"Many seniors in San Jose have been left out of the region's broader economic growth. It's difficult for low-income older adults to make ends meet and get the care they need amidst high rent, home care labor shortages and stretched family caregivers. WelbeHealth and Sutter Health are committed to delivering the PACE model, ensuring vulnerable seniors are not left behind," said Vaneesh Soni, MD, Chief Growth Officer at WelbeHealth.

PACE is a proven, high-quality, cost-effective solution to address the care gaps left by the underfunded and patchwork system for long-term care in San Jose and across the United States by delivering comprehensive health and supportive services for seniors. The price for long-term care is expected to reach half a trillion dollars a year by 2030 , yet the current infrastructure cannot support this growth and the United States lags behind most other wealthy countries in long-term care investment . PACE is one obvious solution because it delivers better health outcomes at a lower cost.

WelbeHealth is committed to addressing the long-term healthcare crisis for low-income seniors through PACE expansion. In addition to San Jose, WelbeHealth operates programs across California, including Modesto, Stockton, Fresno, Pasadena, Long Beach, North Hollywood, and Rosemead. All locations deliver fully integrated care, allowing frail seniors to age in place with the support of interdisciplinary teams, including doctors and nurses, physical therapists, home care aides, and social workers. Wrap-around support like meals, social activities, and transportation address social determinants of health.

About WelbeHealth

WelbeHealth is a physician-led public benefit company founded in 2015 that provides comprehensive health care services for seniors through a fully integrated program that includes all medical and dental care, physical and occupational therapy, transportation to medical appointments, meals, and personal care services. WelbeHealth addresses social determinants of health to keep the most vulnerable seniors living safely in their own homes. Services are delivered through the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a national Medicare and Medicaid program.

About Sutter Health

Sutter Health's integrated, not-for-profit system of associated clinicians, employees and volunteers supports more than 3 million patients in diverse communities across two dozen counties. Headquartered in Northern California, Sutter provides access to high-quality, affordable care through its hospitals, medical foundations, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent and walk-in care centers, telehealth, home health and hospice services. As part of its commitment to improving community health, Sutter invested $899 million in the community in 2022  this amount includes traditional charity, the unreimbursed costs of providing care to Medi-Cal patients and investments in community health programs.

For more information, please visit welbehealth.com and sutterhealth.org

CONTACT: Nate Goehring, [email protected]

Angharad Bhardwaj, [email protected]

SOURCE WelbeHealth
Magnolia Wash Holdings unites more than 100 express car washes and counting under one brand focused on modernizing customer experience

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Magnolia Wash Holdings is now Whistle Express Car Wash, unifying more than 100 car wash locations from a variety of local and regional chains and independent operators under one cohesive brand, offering customers an elevated wash experience, no matter where their travels take them within the company's nine-state footprint.

Whistle Express' Ultimate Wash Club members can now use their membership at more than 100 locations in the Midwest and Southeast. Whistle Express offers a multi-sensory wash experience, with in-tunnel scents and colors.

Whistle Express is currently the 10th largest car wash brand in the country, but with an aggressive growth plan that will add up to 50 additional locations in 2024funded by a recent investment by funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.CEO Jose Costa plans to climb the rankings quickly. The move to consolidate under one name stems from a desire to create consistency among the brand's extensive network of car washes, many of which were locally owned and operated with a very loyal fan base. Costa, who spent time at Bojangles Restaurants, Inc., and Driven Brands prior to taking the helm at Magnolia Wash Holdings in May 2022, said the efficiency and affordable membership structure appeal to the growing number of consumers who take pride in meticulously maintaining one of the largest investments they'll make in their lifetime.

Now, all 200,000 of the brand's Unlimited Wash Club members can leverage their memberships at any location, ensuring a consistent, top-notch wash experience anytime, anywhere. The brand is committed to reinventing the consumer experience through technology and innovation that take the utmost care of our customers' vehicles. From a gentle, touchless prep process to top-tier application of products designed to clean and protect, each trip through Whistle's was tunnel leave cars sparkling and spotless.

"The feeling of driving around in a clean car is a little win that can brighten any day, and Whistle Express makes those little wins quick, easy, and affordable," said Costa. "Wherever they may find themselves, our customers will come to know that the Whistle Express brand is synonymous with quality and efficiency."

In addition to competitive membership pricing, customers can expect a multi-sensory experience including in-tunnel lights and uplifting scents that offer a brief escape from the every day. Drivers can also take advantage of free self-vacuum stations, floor mat cleaning machines, towels and sprays, all of which deliver a seamless wash experience resulting in high-level shine. Whistle Express locations will also use state-of-the-art technology that reclaims 85 percent of the water used in a wash and uses 91 percent less water when compared to a home wash.

About Whistle Express Car Wash

With more than 105 locations and counting, Whistle Express leverages technology and innovation to deliver a premium experience that saves customers time, moneyand their car's paint job. Customers can take advantage of the brand's Unlimited Wash Club Membership Program, plus free supplies and amenities to save money while getting their cars squeaky clean, while Whistle's Sparkle Assurance means all customers drive away satisfied. The Charlotte-based company is committed to giving back to each local community it serves, while also protecting the environment. For more information, visit www.whistleexpresscarwash.com.

SOURCE Magnolia Wash Holdings
Two grandmothers proudly proclaim the confidence-inspiring value and reliability of their high-mileage Mitsubishi vehicles

Amy Butterworth, who bought her 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander brand new, and Letha Grubb , who recently purchased a pre-owned 2010 Mitsubishi Endeavor, both surpass 300,000 miles

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) constantly draws inspiration from the stories of its loyal customers. In the past two months, MMNA received notes from two proud owners of high-mileage Mitsubishi SUVs, sharing their satisfaction and pride with their vehicles. Meet Amy Butterworth and Letha Grubb, both grandmothers and owners of Mitsubishis that have recently surpassed 300,000 miles and continue to serve their owners faithfully.

Grandmother proudly proclaims the confidence-inspiring value and reliability of her high-mileage Mitsubishi vehicle

Butterworth of Tennessee has owned her 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander from new. She claims the Outlander had just 13 miles on the odometer when she purchased it from Gossett Mitsubishi in Memphis, Tennessee. In an interview, Butterworth said, "I went looking for a new car back then, and I was looking for a Jeep Wrangler or something. I was just about ready to sign the papers, and I turned around and saw the Mitsubishi sitting there. I said, 'Wait, a minute what kinda car is that?' The salesperson told me what it was, and I said, 'Let me test drive that one.' So, I did and just fell in love with it."

Butterworth continued, "I wasn't expecting it to last this long, but it has. We replaced the radiator fan along the way, but other than that all I've had done was tires, and I've not had any problems."

In her 2005 Outlander, Butterworth has driven to Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma, commuted 60 miles to and from work each day, and has made food deliveries over the past three years. "Still looks good," Butterworth added. "Anybody could get one to go that long if they took care of it. That's what I did and look at it! I still get compliments on it all the time... I'd get in it and go anywhere in the United States today."

Grubb, a resident of Springfield, Missouri, is the owner of a 2010 Mitsubishi Endeavor, which she purchased two years ago with over 200,000 miles on it. Since then, she's added over 100,000 additional miles, frequently driving across Missouri to visit her family. "All we really needed to change on it were the thermostat, tires, and brakes. It still runs excellent today. I'm very impressed with it, especially now."

Grubb finished saying, "My son is a Mitsubishi owner. He had a Galant. Now, he has a Montero. It'd be hard to get him to get anything else. He's pretty smitten with that SUV. Based on his experience, we were confident that the Endeavor would serve well. This is my first Mitsubishi, and I'm pretty pleased with it. I have no doubt that it would get us from here to wherever we want to go."

While there's no assurance that every Mitsubishi vehicle will exceed 300,000 miles in service, the company stands behind its vehicles with a blend of outstanding warranties, all part of the Mitsubishi Motors Confidence promise. Every 2024 model-year vehicle includes a 10-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty, five-year/60,000-mile Limited Warranty, five-year/unlimited-mile Roadside Assistance program, and also adds a new two-year/30,000-mile Limited Maintenance Included program, which provides three oil changes, three tire rotations, and one cabin air filter for customers of 2024 model-year vehicles.1.2

The ownership experience with a Mitsubishi vehicle is an award-winning one too, as the company was named the top mass-market brand in J.D. Power's 2023 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study and in Reputation's 2023 Automotive Report. These awards support the brand's dealer partners' commitment to customer service, and, when coupled with the included maintenance and long warranty, showcase Mitsubishi Motors' desire to exceed all customers' expectations at every step of the ownership journey.

For more information on the full lineup of Mitsubishi vehicles, visit MitsubishiCars.com .

For more information on MMNA, visit media.mitsubishicars.com .

Disclaimers

All coverage terms are from the original in-service dates and are applicable only to the original owner of new, retailed models purchased from an authorized Mitsubishi dealer. Subsequent owners receive the balance of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty of 5 years/60,000 miles. See retailer for limited warranty and roadside assistance terms and conditions. Powertrain coverage terms are from original in-service date and applicable only to original owner. Subsequent owners receive balance of 5-year/60,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Roadside Assistance timed from date vehicle is first sold or put into use, whichever is earlier. Certain assistance and vehicle uses excluded. Limited Maintenance includes three oil and filter changes, three tire rotations, three multi-point inspections, and one cabin filter change within specified time/mileage windows. Not transferable to subsequent owner. Parts or services not redeemed within specified windows are forfeited. Certain restrictions apply. See retailer for complete details.

ABOUT MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC

Through a network of approximately 330 dealer partners across the United States, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is responsible for the sales, marketing and customer service of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in the U.S. In its recently announced Midterm Plan  "Challenge 2025"  MMNA's parent company Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has committed to accelerating its efforts toward a sustainable carbon-neutral future, setting goals of 40 percent reduction in vehicle CO2 emissions and 50 percent reduction in operational CO2 emissions by 2030. Additionally, MMC has set targets for global sales of electrified vehicles at 50 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2035, leveraging a blend of plug-in hybrids (PHEV), hybrids (HEV) and pure electrics (BEV).

MMNA has its headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, as well as corporate operations in California, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas, and Florida.

For more information on Mitsubishi vehicles, please visit media.mitsubishicars.com .

Contact

Jeremy Barnes

Senior Director, Communications and Events

[email protected]

Mobile: 714-296-1402

SOURCE Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
Press Release

December 12, 2023 CHIZ: PHL NEEDS TO INCREASE ITS GDP TO MANAGE DEBT Sen. Chiz Escudero has urged the Marcos administration's economic managers to increase the gross domestic product (GDP) moving forward in order to maintain the country's debt-to-GDP ratio at a manageable level. During Monday's plenary session, the veteran legislator cited the need to explore all possibilities to maintain the debt-to-GDP ratio as he made the manifestation on the floor before the Senate approved and ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the 2024 national budget. Escudero noted that during the six years of the Duterte administration and the first six months of President Marcos' term, the Philippines has recorded some P13.6-trillion debt in 2023. If the country borrowing is P2.3 trillion per year, he said, by the end of Marcos administration in 2028, which starts with a P13.6-trillion debt, it will balloon to P27.4 trillion. "In 2023, we borrowed P2.2 trillion; in 2024 we are slated to borrow P2.4 trillion. If we average our borrowing for the next four years half way at P2.3 trillion per year, by the end of President Marcos's term in 2028, our debt which stood at P13.6 trillion will be P27.4 trillion. That means, if we are to maintain a 60-percent debt-to-GDP ratio, our GDP, Mr. President, should double by 2028," Escudero told Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri. "I hope we will keep that in mind as we go through the next four years and approve the budget for the succeeding years, so that we have always at the back of our mind every possibility to increase our GDP, so not only for our debt-to-GDP ratio to remain at a manageable 60 percent but also to ensure that the quality of life of the Filipinos will continue to improve as we continue on increasing our indebtedness as well," Escudero explained.
American model Paloma Elsesser, 31, was named Model of the Year 2023 by the British Fashion Awards. She became the first curvy woman to do so.

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This was reported by VOGUE magazine. Paloma is breaking the mold and confidently gaining a place at the top of the industry. The model became famous thanks to her Instagram page, and now she is invited to the world's fashion weeks. Read more about Elsesser in our article.

American woman did not plan to be a model

In fact, she wanted to be a writer or a psychologist, and for that she went to study psychology and literature at The New School in New York. Today, she is still passionate about writing as well as poetry.

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The first time she was spotted by a celebrity makeup artist

Pat McGrath, a makeup artist and close friend of Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, was looking for unique faces for her makeup line. She accidentally stumbled upon Paloma's Instagram account and was immediately captivated by her charm. This is what allowed the top model to become famous.

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She is dedicated and not shy about talking about her problems

Paloma Elsesser is aware that she represents a diversity of figures and skin colors among Western fashion and beauty canons. Although her success is overwhelming, she is not satisfied with it and publicly declares her unwillingness to be "special."

On the contrary, the model wants to pave the way for a new generation of young girls. To do this, she regularly speaks out about her efforts, including fighting discrimination against black people, as well as body positivity and mental health (she herself suffered from addictions and depression).

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She was chosen as the model of 2020

In 2020, Paloma Elsesser was recognized as the Female Model of the Year by Models.com. The list included creative figures from the industry. The prestigious title confirmed her place among the Top 50 most sought-after faces in the fashion world.

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Earlier, OBOZ.UA told about how Marilyn Monroe ended up naked on the cover of Playboy and what kind of a high-profile scandal was behind it.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber.Do not fall for fakes!
Amazing animals can be found not only in cartoons and games. Some creatures that look like toys and even aliens live right next to us. And some of them can even be adopted as pets.

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OBOZREVATEL tells you about seven creatures that seem unreal. But they actually exist on Earth.

The blue dragon

The gastropod Glaucus atlanticus impresses with its bright blue color and resemblance to a fantastic bird, although it lives in water - in tropical seas and oceans. Its distinctive coloration warns that the blue dragon is a dangerous predator and can bite with a very strong venom.

Slow loris

This fluffy little guy with giant eyes is a nocturnal primate that lives in Indochina and Indonesia. It is a relative of the famous Madagascar cat lemur, but slow in movement and therefore very touching. Due to its phlegmatic nature, the fat lorikeet is one of the few lemurs that can be kept in captivity. However, their saliva can be poisonous, so caring for a slow loris is not as easy as it sounds.

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Blobfish

What makes this creature unusual is its muzzle, which resembles a human face with large, pouty lips and a long nose. However, it only looks like this when it is taken out of the water. In its usual environment, it looks more typical of a fish. You can find this curiosity in the deepest waters of Tasmania, New Zealand and Australia. Female blobfish are able to sit down to lay eggs in the same way as birds do.

Axolotl

Have you ever wanted to never grow up and stay a child forever? The larva of the amphibian ambystoma has learned to do this. And for this, it received a special name - axolotl. The animal has phenomenal regenerative abilities and can regrow a lost limb or even a part of the brain. An axolotl can be kept as a pet, but it is better to have experience in keeping at least aquarium fish.

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Japanese spider crab

This crustacean looks terrifying and fantastic because of its long legs. It is often compared to aliens from horror movies that can leap over a skyscraper in one step. In fact, the body of the spider crab is somewhat more compact, it can reach 45 cm in length, and the span of the first, longest pair of legs is almost 4 meters. This amazing creature can live up to 100 years. It can be settled in a home aquarium. But the house must be of the right size.

Okapi

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This distant relative of the giraffe looks like the fruit of this majestic animal's sin with the zebra. You can meet this amazing creature in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With its long tongue, the okapi can clean its own eyelids and ears and even drive away insects from its neck.

The pacu fish

A member of the piranha family is shocking because it has teeth that look very similar to humans. Unlike their formidable but smaller relatives, these Amazonian inhabitants feed mainly on nuts and seeds, so they don't need sharp teeth. The pacu can be kept like aquarium fish. Some aquarists even claim that they can become attached to their owners.

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Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told about the fluffy frettas that live in the Kyiv zoo after being rescued from the occupation.

Subscribe to OBOZREVATEL's Telegram and Viber channels to keep up with the latest developments.
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
Ukrainians often gave each other nicknames, which later turned into surnames, in honor of some defining feature. And it was not always a mockery of flaws. Often it was a way of emphasizing a person's virtues.

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Thus, a separate group includes surnames that indicate the outstanding intelligence of the ancestor. This, in particular, was written about in his book Modern Ukrainian Surnames by linguist and specialist in Ukrainian anthroponymy Yulian Redko. According to him, such an origin cannot be called a frequent phenomenon, but such cases are not completely isolated.

The linguist gave several examples of such surnames that he came across during his research:

Mudryi;

Mudryk;

Mudrak;

Mudrets;

Mudryi;

Mudreyovsky;

Wise;

Smarty-pants;

Head;

Golovach;

Semirozum.

But this list is not exhaustive. Among the surnames that indicate a person's intelligence, we find the following examples:

Pysmennyi;

Duma;

Dumenko;

Dumchuk;

Dumchenko;

Razumovsky;

Myslyvyi;

Smart;

Razumey;

Rozumovych.

From this we can conclude that intelligence was so highly valued by Ukrainians that the people paid special attention to this quality. The wisdom of a person was recorded by giving him or her a nickname, which was later passed on to descendants.

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Earlier, OBOZ.UA told about the surnames that were given to the descendants of important people.

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Ballia : , Dec 12 (IANS) Shrawan Ram, 35, hanged himself to death from a tree after murdering his wife and two sons, the police said.

He was a resident of Devdih village under Bansdih police station in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district.

The police received information from a local resident that Shrawan was brutally assaulting his wife and her children and rushed to Devdih village.

Upon searching Shrawan's home and the surrounding area, the police found his body hanging from a tree branch in an orchard.

The bodies of his wife, Shashikala, 30, and their two sons, seven-year-old Surya Ram and four-month-old Chatthu, were found in a pool of blood. The woman and children had been attacked with a sharp-edged weapon.

Ballia Superintendent of Police (SP), S. Anand, said that the incident was a result of an old dispute between Shrawan Ram and his wife.

A suicide note found in Ram's pocket confessed to the murder of his wife and children in the middle of a family dispute, before taking his own life.

Ram's brother informed the police that the marital life of Ram and Shashikala had been troubled for several years, leading to a previous court case. Nearly 18 months ago, a compromise had been reached, and Shashikala had resumed living with her husband. Despite this, the couple continued to quarrel and their dispute escalated, leading to the incident.

The SP added that the investigation is ongoing, and the bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination.
Doha, Dec 12 : Qatar's Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi said Qatar will continue its payments to Gaza to support the enclave, as it has been doing for years.

"We're not going to change our mandate. Our mandate is our continuous help and support for our brothers and sisters of Palestine. We will continue to do it systematically as we did it before," Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi added.

Qatari Foreign Minister's remarks come against increased anger in Israel about years of payments from the Gulf state to Hamas. Under a deal, Qatari diplomats used to arrive in the enclave every month with suitcases containing $15 million in cash.

The cash deliveries were supposed to help pay Gaza's civil servants. Pictures in 2018 showed workers lining up to receive $100 bills, CNN reported.

Israel had approved the deal in a security cabinet meeting in August 2018, during a previous Benjamin Netanyahu's tenure as Prime Minister. At that time, Netanyahu was criticised for being soft on Hamas.

After Qatar's envoy to Gaza, Mohamed Al Emadi, delivered the first suitcases of cash in November 2018, Netanyahu defended the initiative.

"I'm doing everything I can in coordination with security experts to return calm to (Israeli) villages of the south, but also to prevent a humanitarian disaster (in Gaza). It's a process. I think at this time, this is the right step," Netanyahu had said.

The then Education Minister Naftali Bennett, who was among his worst critics, called the funds "protection money". Bennett later became Prime Minister himself in a short-lived government.

On Sunday, he told CNN that he had stopped allowing the payments to be made in cash when he became the Prime Minister, calling the cash suitcases a "horrendous mistake".

"Why would we feed them (Hamas) cash to kill us (Israelis)?" Bennett asked.

Mounting criticism: The deal is one reason why many Israelis today place part of the blame for the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Netanyahu personally. A lot of people feel allowing the Qatari payments made Hamas stronger and, ultimately, made the brutal attacks worse.

Retired Major General Amos Gilad, who argued against giving Hamas cash when he was in the security establishment on Sunday told CNN that the money was "like oxygen" and that Hamas used it to cement its grip on Gaza.

Meanwhile, the UN agency staff in Gaza feels "abandoned" after the US vetoed the ceasefire resolution. The Commissioner-General of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said UNRWA in Gaza felt "abandoned by the international community" after the US vetoed a UNSC resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza last week.

"It's beyond disappointing. They feel abandoned by the international community," Lazzarini told CNN in Arish, Egypt.

"They still cannot understand why, after 17,000 people have been killed, after almost the entire population has been displaced, we still cannot agree on a ceasefire."

The UNRWA Chief said that his staff felt "deep frustration, deep disappointment, (and) outrage" at the failure of the UN to approve the resolution, adding that the system in Gaza is "teetering on the edge of a collapse".

Gaza is "very close" to seeing "a breakdown of civil order," which will not allow the agency to operate anymore, he said, adding some civilians in Gaza had resorted to looting warehouses in desperation.

"Too many people haven't eaten now for two, three days in the Gaza Strip," Lazzarini said.

"The more (that) we will see breakdown of civil order, the more (UNRWA) will be at risk not to be able to operate anymore."
EU flags are seen outside the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 6, 2023.(Xinhua/Zheng Huansong/IANS). Image Source: IANS News

Valletta, Dec 12 : The leaders of four EU member states have urged the bloc to agree on a firm position complete with sanctions on the situation in the West Bank.

"We must avoid escalation in the West Bank, for which we propose imposing targetted travel bans and asset freezes on violent settlers who are attacking and displacing Palestinian settlers," the leaders of Belgium, Ireland, Spain and Malta said in a letter addressed to European Council President Charles Michel and dated December 8.

Highlighting the "death toll, level of destruction and the dire humanitarian situation" in Gaza, the letter said a clear and firm position by the EU was needed, Xinhua news agency reported.

While reiterating their condemnation of Hamas and Israel's right to defend itself "in line with international law," the four countries said the EU had "reached a moment ... where it must go further on three issues".

In addition to the travel bans and asset freezes, the leaders call for a "lasting humanitarian ceasefire" to end the hostilities; United Nations humanitarian agencies to be allowed to carry on their work unhindered; and for infrastructure in the strip to be restored.

They said this should include the reopening of the Karem Shalom crossing, which straddles the Gaza-Egypt and Gaza-Israel borders, to allow food, water, medicine and fuel into the conflict-stricken Palestinian enclave.

Calling the number of casualties in Gaza "unbearable," the letter stressed the "urgent need" for a political process to implement a two-state solution.
UP to create land banks in all 75 districts. Image Source: IANS News

Lucknow, Dec 12 : The Uttar Pradesh Industries and Infrastructure Department will create land banks in all the 75 districts of the state.

The state government has directed District Magistrates to identify land in their areas for the purpose.

The officials have been told to earmark plots of 15 acres or more for investors to set up their units.

The idea behind the exercise is to ensure that the stateas bid to become a one trillion-dollar economy benefits small districts as well.

In an official communication to the District Magistrates, additional chief executive officer, Invest UP has sought details on the count.

A state government spokesman said that the criteria of 15 acres has been kept in mind to facilitate entrepreneurs interested in setting up big plants.

The area is also considered to be good enough if a medium enterprise wants to set up a unit along with an ancillary.

The officials have been told to identify lands close to the Bundelkhand and Purvanchal expressways.

Uttar Pradesh has been able to garner investment intent of Rs 40 lakh crore through the Global Investor Summit.

Of the total, projects worth Rs 7 lakh crore are all set to take off during the upcoming ground breaking ceremony.

However, the government is pursuing the remaining projects as well and availability of land is the first step for the go ahead.
Washington, Dec 12 : US President Joe Biden has touted his "unshakeable support for the safety of the Jewish people and the security of Israel and its right to exist" as the Jewish nation and Hamas continue their war in Gaza.

He made the remarks on Monday night at a reception hosted by him and First Lady Jill Biden to celebrate the fifth night of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, CNN reported.

President Biden was joined by Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and a group of White House officials that descended from Holocaust survivors who lit the White House menorah.

The event featured some 800 guests, including Holocaust survivors, lawmakers and various Jewish leaders, according to the White House.

In his address, the President said: "We'll continue to provide military assistance to Israel until they get rid of Hamas, but we have to be careful  they have to be careful.

"The whole world's public opinion can shift overnight, we can't let that happen."

The President also hailed the work his administration has done to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region.

"We're working relentlessly for the safe return of the hostages. I personally spent countless hours -- and I mean it, probably up to 20 hours with the Qataris and Egyptians, the Israelis -- to secure the freedom of hostages, to get the trucks in, to get the humanitarian aid flowing, to convince them to open the gate, to have (Egyptian President Abdel Fattah) El-Sisi make sure he opened the gate into Egypt.

"And there's a whole range of things going on now that are really very, very difficult. We've gotten more than 100 hostages out and we're not going to stop till we get every one of them home," CNN quoted President Biden as saying.

According to the White House, there are still seven American men and one woman unaccounted for since the Israel-Hamas war began.

Four Americans -- a four-year-old girl and three women -- have been released so far.

Israeli officials have said that about 137 people remain captive in Gaza, including foreign nationals.

During the humanitarian pause from November 24-30, 86 Israeli and 24 foreign hostages were released.
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 12 : Twelve hours after unprecedented scenes were witnessed when protesting SFI activists stopped Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on a main road here, state Ministers on Tuesday were seen extending bouquets to the SFI.

The police have charged the arrested SFI activists with minor charges like obstructing the job of police officials.

State Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, who is the son-in-law of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said the SFI is mainly indulging against the ongoing saffronisation taking place in college campuses and they should be given a hand shake.

State Industries Minister P. Rajeeve asked, "Was it right for the Governor to step out of his car.

"Only after a report on the incident comes out, will we be able to assess things. The incidents which Khan and the chief minister faced should not be seen in the same manner," said Rajeeve.

Veteran Minister, who handles the Forest portfolio, A.K. Saseendran said it was the governor who resorted to 'goondaism'.

"He was in a provocative mood and it was not right for a governor to weave stories to play a hero," said Saeendran.

It was on Monday night that Governor Khan en route to Thiruvananthapuram airport got out of his car to confront black flag-waving SFI protesters and was seen asking them to come near him. He then slammed CM Vijayan and blamed him for everything.

"The Chief Minister is hatching this conspiracy to harm me physically as he did in Kannur. This is happening at the direction of the CM to hurt me physically.

"When the CM is part of this conspiracy, what can this police do," a peeved Khan said, adding that he will not allow the criminals to rule the road.

The security officials were aghast seeing Khan stopping his vehicle and stepping out to challenge the protesters.

Losing his cool, he then asked the police officials if this was the security cover that had been given to him.

The Congress and the BJP quickly came out with statements slamming the collapse of the law and order situation in the state.

Governor Khan, meanwhile, in the night left for Delhi, and according to sources he will be asking for a report from the Vijayan government,even when the central intelligence has already commenced a probe to submit its report to the Centre.
Houston, Dec 12 : A woman who sued Texas to get an abortion after learning that the foetus has a fatal condition, has left the US state to have the procedure, her lawyers have confirmed.

Shortly after Thanksgiving last month, 31-year-old Kate Cox from the Dallas area found that her foetus was diagnosed with trisomy 18, -- a chromosomal disorder which in the majority of cases results in miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of the baby within the first year of life, the BBC reported.

The mother of two was granted an exception by a Texas judge on December 7, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened criminal prosecution against any doctors or healthcare providers who helped her obtain an abortion.

According to Cox's court filings, doctors refused to perform an abortion on her, saying their "hands were tied" as long as her baby had a heartbeat.

Paxton also asked the state's Supreme Court to intervene and the latter obliged, temporarily blocking Cox from obtaining an abortion while it reviewed the case.

On Monday, the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents Cox, announced that she had left the state to get health care elsewhere, following "a week of legal whiplash", CNN reported.

The Center however, did not disclose more details about Cox's plans, but it said that she "offers to help her access abortion elsewhere, from Kansas to Colorado to Canada".

Just hours after the Center's announcement, the state Supreme Court ruled against her.

The ruling calls into question whether this decision could deter women in similar situations from seeking a court-authorised abortion.

Texas has one of the strictest abortion bans in the country. Abortions in the state are prohibited from the point of conception, except in rare cases where the life of the expectant mother is under threat.

There is no state-wide law prohibiting travel outside of the state for an abortion, but some counties have passed such restrictions in recent months.

In October, Lubbock County became the largest county to enact such a measure, making it illegal for anyone to transport a pregnant woman through the county, or pay for her travel, for the purposes of obtaining an abortion.

Nearly 1 in 5 people who had an abortion in the US in the first half of 2023  more than 92,000 people  traveled across state lines for their care, according to a report from the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organisation focused on sexual and reproductive health that supports abortion rights.
Ex-UN Secy Gen Ban Ki-moon gets Power of One Award from Diwali Foundation USA. Image Source: IANS News

United Nations, Dec 12 : Accepting the Power of One Award from Diwali Foundation USA, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the global organisation is indispensable at a time when crises are tearing the world apart.

After receiving the award on Monday, he said that crises like in the Middle East and Ukraine have kept nations and people apart and hindered global cooperation and progress.

"But it is exactly at times such as these that the work of the US is indispensable."

The UN's "pursuit of peace, human rights and sustainable development exemplifies the values and principles that we should all espouse to replicate", he added.

Ravi Batra, chair of the National Advisory Council on South Asian Affairs, giving the citation for Ban, said that he was "a man of history embedded in Republic of Korea's top political power, but he gave it all up to become a global champion. of peace and security and to better deliver justice to all".

"His singular achievement is the Paris Agreement" on climate change, Batra said.

Ban, who was the Secretary-General from 2007 to 2016, received the award from Ranju Batra, the chair of Diwali Foundation USA.

Now Ban is the deputy chair of The Elders, a group of former world leaders founded by the late South African President Nelson Mandela to work for human rights and a sustainable planet.

The Power of One Awards recognise the singular achievements of diplomats in bringing about positive change.

Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative Mohan Pieris, who spoke at the awards ceremony, described the awards as the "Oscars of Diplomacy", a comparison to the popular movie awards in the US.

The others who received the awards on Monday were Miroslav Lajcak, a former president of the General Assembly; and former Permanent Representatives Mirsada Colakovic of Bosnia and Kim Sook of South Korea.

The diplomats representing an array of religions who spoke at the event touched on the relevance of Diwali to the contemporary world and its significance that transcends religions.

India's Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj said that the festival "is a sentiment that embodies the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair".

Paula Narvaez Ojeda, the president of the UN Economic and Social Council, said that amid all the problems that the world faces, Diwali embodies hope, "a universal and powerful moral message".

Olof Skoog, who heads the European Union delegation to the UN and moderated the event, said: "Our session today is very much about turning the best of intentions into real change, light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance."

The event was co-sponsored by over 60 countries, including the US.

Both Israel and the Palestine Authority also joined in co-sponsoring it.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)
Tel Aviv, Dec 12 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday announced the death of a reservist soldier who was injured in the ongoing fighting in Gaza last month.

In a statement, the IDF said that 30-year-old Master Sgt. (res.) Tzvika Lavi of the 551st Brigadeas 699th Battalion had been injured on November 20 in northern Gaza.

A resident of Eli province, Lavi succumbed to his wounds on Monday.

With his death, the overall number of Israeli soldiers killed in the ongoing ground offensive in Gaza has increased to 105.

The military also said that three additional soldiers, including two reservists from the 7th Armored Brigade, were seriously injured during fighting in southern Gaza on Monday.

As of Tuesday, more than 580 soldiers have been injured since the offensive was launched on october 27.
Warsaw, Dec 12 : Former European Council president Donald Tusk has been elected as the new Polish Prime Minister in a parliamentary vote following the outgoing government's failure to secure a vote of confidence.

On Monday night, Tusk -- who had previously served as the Prime Minister from 2007 to 2014 -- won 248 votes in favor of his candidacy for the position in the Sejm, the lower house of Parliament, reports Xinhua news agency.

He was supported by the country's three biggest opposition groupings: the Civic Coalition, the Third Way and the New Left.

A total of 201 MPs voted against him, but there were no abstentions.

The Sejm voted for Tusk just hours after former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki failed to win a vote of confidence.

Poland held its parliamentary elections on October 15, when the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party won most of the votes, but fell short of a majority in the Sejm.

Morawiecki, the Prime Minister candidate from the socially conservative PiS party, was tasked on November 27 by President Andrzej Duda with forming a government.

However, his government was rejected by 266 votes to 190 on Monday afternoon, which put an end to eight years of rule by the PiS party.

Tusk is set to present his cabinet to the parliament before walking through a vote of confidence in the Sejm on Tuesday.

His swearing in ceremony is likely to take place on Wednesday.
Astronomers have discovered a giant star stream in intergalactic space, previously thought to be a dead zone, that is almost ten times larger than our Milky Way galaxy. This is a unique phenomenon that no one has ever seen before.

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According to Universe today, the irony is that scientists did not even expect to find this stream. The main objective of their observations was to search for halos around stars located in large galaxies.

Previously, it was believed that the space between galaxies was a dead zone. There were single rogue stars there, but most of this space was considered empty. But now, astronomers from various European and California institutions have discovered a trail of stars flowing between galaxies.

They called the phenomenon they observed the Giant Coma Stream. The name, however, has nothing to do with coma as a state of an organism that ceases to function. The source of the name is actually the Berenice's Hair Cluster (Coma Berenices in English), from which this stream originates.

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The Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky first drew attention to this cluster of galaxies back in 1933. In particular, he was interested in the fact that the galaxies in this cluster are moving too fast to be caused by ordinary matter alone. This led to the emergence of the theory of the existence of "dark matter". Even though 90 years later scientists still don't understand what this matter is, its existence is still the best guess as to what makes these galaxies move so fast.

The Berenice's Hair Cluster contains more than a thousand cataloged galaxies and is located at a distance of about 300 million light-years. This makes it popular with amateur astronomers as some of its bright galaxies can be seen with relatively small amateur telescopes.

The cluster was observed through a 70-centimeter telescope by professional astronomer Michael Rich from the University of California, Los Angeles (USA). He was the first to detect a faint patch of star trail between galaxies in the cluster.

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To confirm that he had seen exactly what he saw, Rich turned to his colleagues in Spain. Thanks to the 4.2-meter William Herschel Telescope, they were able to see the entire length of the stream and were amazed at its scale.

Despite the fact that the stream is in an environment that is affected by the gravitational forces of other galaxies around it, it moves in a straight line and looks like a coherent "structure". This sounds strange, given that it is almost ten times larger than our own galaxy.

This is not the first time scientists have discovered stellar flows. Some have even been spotted in the Milky Way. But this is the first time that astronomers have found a stream so large that it crosses the gap between galaxies.

In order to better study this stream, as well as find others, astronomers need an even more powerful telescope. The researchers hope to have access to the Very Large Telescope with a huge 39-meter observation dish or the Euclid Telescope in the near future. However, getting quick access to them can be problematic as there is a great demand for working with telescopes among scientists from around the world.

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Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported that NASA's telescope saw the oldest supernovae, which may reveal the cosmic origin of humans.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 12 : Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Tuesday reiterated his charge that the continuing attacks on him were being carried out under the directions of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and asked the state chief secretary and police chief not to brush-off take the SFI attack case.

He was referring to the SFI activists who stopped his car on Monday evening while on his way to the Thiruvananthapuram airport.

"I have asked the chief secretary and the state police chief not to haul up this case as there is a provision for the Governor and the President of Section 124 under the IPC. The Chief Minister's post doesn't have this benefit," said Khan when told that the arrested SFI students have been charged under flimsy charges," said Khan, who arrived in the national capital on Monday late night.

"Yesterday three times I came under the protesters and what is to be noted is that these protesters were brought in police jeeps and after the incident they were taken back in these jeeps," added Khan and slammed the police for putting charges under 300 A when a shoe was thrown at the vehicle carrying Chief Minister and his cabinet ministers.

He said, "The government is doing this to scare me, but I am not going to be scared.

"They are angry because after the chief secretary in an affidavit before the Kerala High Court explained about the financial situation, I have asked for a report on it. The chief minister was heard saying that the government need not reply to all questions asked by the governor. No CM has ever said such a thing. I will wait for 10 days, if no reply comes, I will go forward," said Khan.

"In Kerala, the collapse of the Constitutional machinery has started. Now I am in Delhi and will return to Kerala and have a programme at Kozhikode on the 16th and I will have no problem if they show black flags, but if they come near my car, I will stop and get out of the car," said Khan.

He slammed State Industries and Law Minister P. Rajeeve who said the governor should have sat in the car, to which he said, "Since the car was of high quality, the glass did not break. The car's glass has been beaten up and there are lots of scratches and the inspection of it is presently on,".

"The chief minister is behind this and this was a pre-planned attack," said Khan and added that just because the Communist is ruling Kerala none should think an autocratic rule can take place, as India is a democracy and Kerala is a state only."

Levelling grave charges, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan said there seems to be a total collapse of law and order in Kerala.

Meanwhile, the SFI is in no mood to relent and have said their protest against the governor will continue and he will not be allowed entry to any campuses.
Tel Aviv, Dec 12 : Officers of the Israeli Military Intelligence and Shin Bet are currently interrogating Hamas militants arrested from the Gaza Strip amid the raging war, sources told IANS.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sources, more than 500 Hamas men who were arrested from the Gaza Strip are being questioned on various issues, including the October 7 massacre and the planning behind the massive attack.

The IDF sources told IANS that some of the arrested include middle and senior operatives of the militant group.

Since the seven-day humanitarian pause in Gaza collapsed on December, more than 140 militants have been arrested.

Tuesday's development comes a day after Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said that the Hamas was cracking and that the militant group's units in northern Gaza have already crumbled.

Gallant also reiterated that senior Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar would be killed anytime and that IDF soldiers were conducting massive searches in the Khan Younis area of south Gaza where Sinwar and another top militant Mohammed Deif are reportedly hiding.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who is currently hosting 'Kaun Banega Crorepati 15', shared how Maharashtra's most loved delicacy 'Vada Pav' is famous in Bulgaria, Europe.

In the episode 86 of the quiz based reality show, host Amitabh welcomed Dilip Mohan Shimpi from Maharashtra's Nandurbar to the hot seat.

For Rs 2,000, the contestant was asked: "The main ingredients of which of these include a type of bread and potatoes?"

The options given were -- Jalebi, Vada pav, Pulao, and Rava idli. The correct answer was Vada Pav.

The 'Don' actor went on to say, "Vada pav is a terrific snack, sir. In Maharashtra, one can survive solely on 'vada pav' all their life, especially in Mumbai."

The 81-year-old actor further narrated an anecdote, and shared: " 'Vada pav' is not just a popular snack only in Mumbai, but all around the world. A few years ago, I went to Bulgaria to shoot a film. Bulgaria is in Europe. I saw 'vada pav being sold there in Bulgaria."

"I asked them what it was. They told me in their language 'This is delicious and quite popular here'. I asked them, 'Where is it made?' They said, 'A desi here makes them.' And they relished it. The foreigners were having 'vada pav'," added Amitabh.

'Kaun Banega Crorepati 15' airs on Sony.
Kolkata, Dec 12 : A sharp decline in the number of water bodies in Kolkata during the last few years has become a cause of major concern for many.

According to a recent survey conducted by the office of the land records & surveys and joint land reforms commissioner, the record of rights for as many as 8,250 of a total of 12,442 water bodies scattered just between 101 and 144 wards under Kolkata Municipal Corporation(KMC) have been changed.

Ward number 101 to 144 is mainly in added areas under KMC and the record of rights for the majority of the water bodies there have been changed to that of classified lands.

The matter was recently highlighted at a petition on such rampant filling up of water bodies and changing the record of rights at the division bench of the Calcutta High Courtas Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya.

The bench also took objection to the reluctance of the KMC in arresting the rampant filling up of water bodies and had also imposed a financial penalty on KMC authorities.

In fact, the environmentalists for quite some time too had been vocal against the rampant filling up of water bodies and changing their nature into classified lands for the sole purpose of unbridled real estate promotion.

The concerns of the environmentalists on this count were also echoed in an observation by Justice Amrita Sinha of the Calcutta High Court while hearing on a somewhat similar case. Justice Sinha directed the wetland authority to file a report regarding an illegal and unauthorized construction over wetland in an area under the Narendrapur Police Station in South 24 Parganas.

Justice Sinha also expressed ire over unbridled real estate development filling up water bodies and that too at a time when the people of Kolkata are gasping for breath.
Panaji, Dec 12 : Considering the opposition by locals, Goa Tourism Department has refused to grant permission to 'Sunburn Music Festival' on December 31. However, it has issued a provisional approval to organise the festival for three-days up to December 30.

The Empower Committee of Tourism department, headed by Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has also refused to grant permission for the music to be played beyond 10 p.m.

"We have given provisional approval to organise Sunburn from December 28 to 30. They should stop taking us for granted. They should not expect that we will dance to their tunes," Khaunte said, adding Sunburn will be held only for three days.

Khaunte said that organisers had sought permission from 4 p.m. till midnight, but the committee has granted the time from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

He said that the issues have been also discussed with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

Sawant last week had said that if people don't want the 'Sunburn Music Festival' to be held on December 31, then it will not take place.

He said that BJP MLA from Siolim constituency, Delilah Lobo, had urged him not to allow the 'Sunburn Festival' on December 31.

"If people don't want it, then how it can happen," Sawant had told reporters here.

Lobo had urged Sawant not to allow 'Sunburn Music Festival' on December 31, stating that it will affect business of local restaurants and traffic jams will deter people from attending the midnight mass.

The music festival is now scheduled to take place from December 28 to 30 in the coastal area of North Goa.
Washington, Dec 12 : Former US President Donald Trump is leading his successor Joe Biden in Michigan and Georgia with broad majorities in the two crucial battleground states holding negative views of the sitting President's job performance, policy positions and sharpness, according to the latest polls.

The CNN polls released on Monday revealed that in Georgia, a state Biden carried by a very narrow margin in 2020, registered voters say they prefer Trump (49 per cent) over Biden (44 per cent) for the presidency in a two-way hypothetical matchup.

In Michigan, which Biden won by a wider margin, Trump has 50 per cent support to Bidenas 40 per cent, with 10 per cent saying they wouldnat support either candidate even after being asked which way they lean.

In both Michigan and Georgia, the share of voters who say they wouldnat support either candidate is at least as large as the margin between Biden and Trump.

Overall, just 35 per cent in Michigan and 39 per cent in Georgia approve of Bidenas job performance, the surveys find, and majorities in both states say his policies have worsened economic conditions in the country (54 per cent in Georgia, 56 per cent in Michigan).

Most voters in both states say Biden, whoas 81, does not have the attributes theyare looking for in a president when it comes to his policy positions (57 per cent in Michigan, 56 per cent in Georgia), his ability to understand the problems of people like them (60 per cent in Michigan, 56 per cent in Georgia) or his sharpness and stamina (69 per cent in Michigan, 66 per cent in Georgia).

Fewer in each state say that Trump, whoas 77, falls short of their expectations for a President on those same measures.

But Trump fares worse than Biden on temperament a" 57 per cent in Michigan and 58 57 per cent in Georgia say the former President doesnat have the temperament theyare looking for, compared with about half who say the same about Biden.

Michigan will hold presidential primaries on February 27, 2024, while Georgiaas primaries are set for March 12.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : The aviation industry in India saw a modest uptick in domestic passenger traffic for November, according to a report released by the credit rating agency ICRA.

The data reveals that the domestic air passenger traffic reached approximately 127.1 lakh, indicating a marginal increase of around 0.6 per cent compared to the 126.4 lakh recorded in October.

In a year-over-year (YoY) comparison, November exhibited a notable growth of approximately nine per cent, with passenger numbers soaring from 116.8 lakh in November 2022. However, the figures still lag behind pre-Covid levels, showcasing a two per cent decrease from the November 2019 benchmark of 129.5 lakh.

The cumulative domestic air passenger traffic for the first eight months of FY2024 (April-November 2023) reached a total of 1,007.00 lakh. This represents a robust YoY growth of 17 per cent over the same period in the previous fiscal year (8M FY2023), which recorded 857.54 lakh passengers. Furthermore, the current figures are approximately five per cent higher than the pre-Covid levels of April-November 2019, which stood at 956.20 lakh passengers.

ICRA's report also sheds light on the airline industry's capacity deployment in November 2023, revealing an eight per cent increase compared to the same month in 2022. However, this surge remains four per cent lower than the pre-Covid levels observed in November 2019.

The estimated passenger load factor (PLF) for November 2023 stood at approximately 88 per cent aligning closely with the figures from November 2022. Nevertheless, it marked a slight dip from the pre-Covid levels of November 2019 when the PLF was around 90 per cent.

Fuel prices, a critical factor for the aviation industry, experienced fluctuations during FY2024. Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices witnessed a sequential decline until June 2023, followed by a sequential increase until October 2023.

In November and December 2023, ATF prices registered a decline of approximately six per cent and five per cent, respectively, on a YoY basis. This downward trend in prices corresponds with the trajectory of crude oil prices during the same period.

Despite a brief YoY increase of 1.3 per cent in October 2023, driven by rising crude oil prices, the subsequent months witnessed a significant YoY drop in ATF prices. November and December 2023 recorded declines of 8.3 per cent and 10.5 per cent, respectively, aligning with the overall decrease in crude oil price.

The report further stated that the Indian aviation industry has been facing issues of engine failures for the Pratt and Whitney (P&W) engines supplied to various airlines.

"In FY2023, Go Airlines (India) Limited grounded half of its fleet of aircrafts due to faulty P&W engines, which led to the stalling of its operations. InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo) has also grounded 40-plus aircraft due to P&W engine issues," the report read.

IndiGo has also recently announced that aircraft in the range of mid-thirties would be incrementally grounded in Q4 FY2024 due to a powder metal (used to manufacture certain engine parts) contamination issue with its P&W fleet.

"Hence, on an overall basis the issue has been impacting the sector's capacity as a whole and will remain a near term challenge for the domestic aviation industry," it said.

The report said that while some airlines have adequate liquidity and/or financial support from a strong parent, supporting their credit profile, the credit metrics and liquidity profile of the others will remain under stress over the near term, despite some improvement relative to the last few years.

Go Airlines (India) Limited grounded half of its fleet due to faulty P&W engines, which led to payment defaults to vendors, aircraft lessors and financial creditors.

"Consequently, GoFirst filed for insolvency with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), which imposed a moratorium on the airline's assets and prohibited the lessors to repossess their aircraft, which was upheld in the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)," it said.

However, the Delhi High Court allowed leasing companies to inspect the aircraft and carry out maintenance work on their fleet, which was challenged in the Supreme Court. However, the Supreme Court dismissed GoFirst's plea.

"GoFirst also lost its airline code 'G8' assigned by International Air Transport Association (IATA) for being non-operational since May 2023. On October 3, 2023, the Union Corporate Affairs Ministry notified that no Indian airline will be able to hold on to its leased assets (aircraft and engines) under the asset protection (moratorium) provided for a limited time by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and lessors can repossess their planes after an airline files for bankruptcy.

With 270 days' prescribed deadline for completing cases under IBC ending soon, the Committee of Creditors (CoC) is going to decide whether to opt for liquidation or invite for a second round of express of interest (EoI)," the report said.
Bengaluru, Dec 12 : The infighting within the BJP's Karnataka unit has intensified after senior MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal accused former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa of blackmailing the high command to install his son B.Y. Vijayendra as the party President.

After making the allegations on Monday night, the MLA said: "I don't know why the high command got fearful. They talk about discipline. Are we slaves? Don't we have strength? Even we have the support of the people."

"Yediyurappa had blackmailed central leaders saying that he won't campaign for the 2025 Lok Sabha elections. He told the high command that he won't move across the state and confine himself to the Shivamogga district."

The MLA also claimed that former minister V. Somanna was made a scapegoat in this year's Assembly elections.

"Surprisingly, Vijayendra had sent money to defeat former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. Now, Vijayendra has been made the BJP state President. Bommai himself had shared about Vijayendra funding for his defeat.

"The truth should come out on what the father and son duo had conspired."

Yatnal went on to say that in Shikaripura, a weak candidate was fielded by the Congress against Vijayendra.

"They (Yediyurappa and Vijayendra) supported Chief Minister Siddaramaiah against party leader Somanna. In Kanakapur, there is an understanding," he said and alleged of an underhand pact between Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Yediyurappa.

The party high command has not responded to the allegations, while Vijayendra said that he will not make any remarks.
Nagpur : , Dec 12 (IANS) In a bolt, the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) Chairperson, Justice (retired) Anand Nirgude quit his post -- as the quota issue continues to rock the state polity and the government, here on Tuesday.

Justice Nirgude submitted his resignation to the government on December 4 and it was accepted on December 9 when the Maharashtra Legislature Winter Session was underway.

Congress' Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar first tweeted the developments and alleged that the state government "hid the information" from the Legislature about it.

On his part, Justice Nirgude -- who was appointed the Chairperson in March 2021 -- confirmed that he had resigned for 'personal reasons', he had done his best for the MSBCC but would not choose to speak about it before the media.

Terming the news as "shocking", Wadettiwar said that 9-member MSBCC Members are resigning one after the other and the "government hid the information that the President had accepted the resignation (of Nirgude)".

Earlier two other Members -- Laxman Hake and Balaji Bhillarikar -- had quit the panel alleging 'interfernce' by the state government into its functioning.

Now, after the MSBCC Chairperson and two other members quitting, the panel is left with other -- Nilima Lakhade, Chandulal Meshram, Baban Taywade, Sanjiv Sonawane, Gajanan Kharate, Alka Rathod and Govind Kale.

"Why did the government not give any information about this in the House when the Winter Session is on? The government must explain in the House why a Member and now the Chairman of MSBCC has quit," demanded Wadettiwar.

The MSBCC had recently been looking into the status of backwardness of the Maratha community -- currently on a warpath for reservation -- and the spate of resignations have raised concerns among the various communities.

The MSBCC was directed by the state government to ascertain the existence of exceptional circumstances or extraordinary situations in the context of the Maratha community, justifying exceeding of the limit of 50 per cent quotas as laid down in the Supreme Court judgements.

Shivba Sanghatana President Manoj Jarange-Patil said Nirgude may have had his reasons for quitting but added that he had "no idea" of the development.
Kolkata, Dec 12 : West Bengal education department, at the last moment, has denied permission to the iconic University of Calcutta to conduct a crucial examination-related meeting of the university's syndicate which was scheduled for Tuesday.

The meeting was crucial in the sense that some decisions were supposed to be taken there over the introduction of a "new examination system" in light of the new education policy nationally for the 169 colleges under the jurisdiction of the University of Calcutta.

University insiders said that a last moment communique reached the authorities on Monday evening from the state education department denying permission for conducting the meeting of the syndicate.

As a reason for the denial of the permission, the state education department has stated that since the University of Calcutta does not have any permanent vice- chancellor such meetings cannot be convened by any interim vice-chancellor.

Currently, the daily affairs of the University of Calcutta are being managed by the current interim vice-chancellor Shanta Dutta, who was appointed by the West Bengal Governor C.V Ananda Bose. The issue of the interim vice- chancellor had been long contentious following the continuing tussle between the Governor's House and state secretariat.

University insiders apprehend that unless a quick decision relating to the matter of introduction of "new examination system" is taken, there might be future complications relating to declaration of results, thus putting the future of the students at stake.

Recently, similar complications surfaced in another iconic university in the city, Jadavpur University (JU), where the proposal to convene a working committee meeting of the university by the current interim vice- chancellor Buddhadeb Sau was rejected by the state education department on similar grounds.

Like Dutta, Sau was also appointed by the Governor as the interim vice- chancellor, much to the disliking of the state government. The JU had been running without a permanent vice-chancellor and Sau was appointed by the Governor soon after the ragging- related suicide of a minor fresher at the student's hostel there.
Russian economist Sergey Vladimirovich Ochigava arrived in the United States without a passport, a visa, or an airline ticket. He arrived in Los Angeles on November 4.

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This was reported by Fox News, citing the minutes of the District Court of the Central District of California. The Russian traveled to the United States from Copenhagen (Denmark).

According to the TV channel, the crew members had no information about his boarding pass.

Law enforcement officers found a Russian and an Israeli ID on his person, as well as a part of a passport photo on his phone that showed his name, date of birth, and passport number, but without a photo of the document holder.

FBI agent Caroline Walling noted in the report that the man last worked as an economist in Russia. The Russian man himself said that he allegedly did not remember getting on the plane in Copenhagen and passing the inspection without documents. A preliminary trial in his case is scheduled for December 26.

"He also did not explain how and when he got to Copenhagen and what he was doing there. When asked how he passed security checks in Copenhagen, Ochigava said he did not remember how he passed security without a ticket," the report reads.

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Earlier, it was reported that another plane with 105 passengers on board made an emergency landing in Russia on December 8 due to a malfunction. As a result of the depressurization of the cabin, a Rossiya Airlines Airbus A319 flying from Mineralnye Vody to St. Petersburg landed 20 minutes after takeoff.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : Homegrown logistics solution provider Shiprocket is reportedly in talks with top VC firms for a fund-raise upto $75-100 million, led by US-based investment firm Tribe Capital.

According to a TechCrunch report, citing sources, "the funding talks are ongoing and the terms may change".

Both Tribe Capital and Shiprocket did not comment on the report.

Bengaluru-headquartered Shiprocket aims to become IPO-ready in the next 12 to 18 months, the report said on Tuesday.

Shiprocket aims to disburse around Rs 100 crore to SMBs in the next 12 months.

In its pilot phase, Shiprocket has already enabled around 150 SMBs with access to vital growth capital and disbursed more than Rs 35 crore via Shiprocket Capital, it said last week

"India is on track to build a thriving ecosystem of 1 million e-commerce businesses by 2025. As an e-commerce enablement platform, we aim to empower them with flexible capital to grow their businesses and prove to be their partner in growth through Shiprocket Capital," said Saahil Goel, Co-founder and CEO of Shiprocket.

In order to enable seamless capital disbursement, Shiprocket has partnered with India's leading non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) like InCred, Indifi, Klub, Stride, Vedfin, Velocity, and GetVantage.

Launched in 2017, Shiprocket provides a technology stack to help retailers integrate their shopping websites on Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, Zoho, and others.

Shiprocket also offers state-of-the-art fulfilment solutions with more than 45 warehouses located across the country.
Nagpur : , Dec 12 (IANS) The state political circles are abuzz with speculation that the Maharashtra government is likely to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death of a celeb manager, Disha Salian, sparking worries in the Shiv Sena (UBT), here on Tuesday.

Among other things, the SIT is expected to probe the alleged involvement of Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aditya U.Thackeray into the 'accidental death' of Salian on June 8, 2020.

As per the probe so far, Salian was killed after falling from the 14th floor of a building in Malad -- just a week before the Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found hanging from his Bandra flat -- which had sparked a huge political row.

Reacting to certain unconfirmed reports that the Mumbai Police are likely to announce its high-level SIT Tuesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) Deputy Leader and MLA Sachin Ahir said the party is ready to face any probe "provided it is done in a fair and transparent manner".

His colleague Sunil Prabhu has slammed the SIT as a 'political vendetta' intended to hound the Opposition leaders by the government.

Ruling allies, Shiv Sena's Minister Shambhuraj Desai and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Nitesh Rane have termed the Salian case as serious and said the guilty must be punished.

Nitesh Rane countered by asking why the former Maha Vikas Aghadi government kept silent for two-and-half years and failed to order an SIT probe the Salian case.

Other Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders like Sanjay Raut, Arvind Sawant, Anil Parab and Bhaskar Jadhav, have also attacked the state government for selectively targeting the Opposition and attempting to crush them, but said they would not succeed as the Mumbai Police had already probed the case in detail then.
Kunzer : , Dec 12 (IANS/101Reporters) Launched in 2020-21, the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) (SBM-G) Phase-II had instilled a new hope among the residents of 6,650 villages in Jammu and Kashmir. The drive had promised to provide interventions for the safe management of solid and liquid waste (SLW) in every gram panchayat of the Union Territory (UT).

According to official data, as many as 6,535 waste collection and segregation sheds were constructed in the UT as part of the initiative. Around 50,000 dustbins, 23,826 community soak pits, 12,308 community compost pits and 5,527 community sanitary complexes were set up for the first time to manage SLW.

However, residents complain that the SBM-G failed to make a positive impact on the ground. "It is evident from the overflowing trash bins in markets, lanes and alleys," says Sheikh Rayan (30) of Hardu Aboora village in Baramulla district of north Kashmir.

According to the guidelines issued by the Central government, the residents would dump the segregated waste in the respective dustbins, which sanitation workers would transport to the sheds where biodegradable waste will be composted.

"Around April-May this year, a bin was placed in the market area here. For about a month, two sanitation workers were hired by the Rural Development Department. As their wages were not paid on time, they stopped collecting waste. So now, there are overflowing dustbins everywhere, emitting foul smell and attracting flies. It is impossible to stand near this area," says Rayan.

"Instead of helping us, the initiative has aggravated the problem. Earlier, we would segregate kitchen waste and use it as fodder. We would burn some portion of the solid waste in our homes itself. Whatever remained used to be disposed of on the village outskirts. Now garbage of over 40 households and over a dozen shops is collected in a bin installed near a stream," says Ali Mohammad (48), who runs a shop in the nearby market.

Unsegregated waste in segregation sheds

On the outskirts of the heavily populated Ogmuna village in Kunzer stands a segregation shed built at an estimated cost of Rs 5.16 lakh to manage waste from over 700 households. According to officials, waste from about 100 households of nearby Ketch village is also handled here.

"Ideally, the waste should have been sorted into three -- wet, dry and biomedical. However, the shed has become a dumpyard. Blankets, sanitary pads, food scraps, plastic bags, medical waste, shoes and kitchen waste are scattered in and around it," says Suhaib Ahmed (29), a resident of Ogmuna.

"The plan has failed. The authorities have actually increased our problems. Earlier, we encouraged people to manage waste at home by putting compostable waste in pits set up in their orchards or by gathering waste outside residential areas. But this segregation shed has encouraged people to bring and dump waste here," Ogmuna panchayat sarpanch Jahangir Ahmad Dhobi tells 101Reporters.

Calling it a matter of grave concern, Jammu and Kashmir General Health Services Director Dr Salim-Ur-Rahman says the waste causes both health and environmental hazards. "The health risks associated with open waste are multifaceted, including water-borne and vector-borne diseases. Segregation sheds and dustbins can be a breeding ground for rodents and insects. Coming into contact with wastewater can expose people to harmful micro-organisms leading to diseases like giardiasis, severe stomach cramps and hepatitis."

The residents are particularly worried as sanitation facilities are functioning near vital water bodies. "Look at this so-called segregation shed right by the banks of two significant water sources," remarks Farooq Ahmad Wani, a senior citizen. The segregation shed in Ogmuna is positioned near a spring providing pure water to the village. On the other side is a scenic water stream called Wussan Nullah, from which water is supplied to numerous villages, including Tarhama, Heing, Barzulla and Soipura, in summers.

Irfan Banka, an anthropologist and chairman of J&K RTI Foundation, says the persistent challenge to rural sanitation is the existing untreated waste that continues to seep into vital water sources. "This leads to a surge in skin diseases and gastrointestinal infections as emphasised in the official report from the Sub District Hospital, Magam," he says.

"Our rural sanitation programme must evolve to address the immediate deterioration of water bodies. This involves not only relocation but an integrated approach that incorporates effective waste management practices, community education and sustainable solutions," he adds.

No payment for workers

Farooq Ahmad Ganie (35) and Mohammad Shafi Bhat (46) worked as sanitation workers in Hardu Aboora for Rs 5,000 per month. Ganie says he signed an employment letter in the sarpanch's presence in May. "They provided us with uniforms, carts and necessary equipment and we began working within a week. However, even after two months we did not receive the promised money," he says.

"When we approached the officials, they informed us about the fund crunch and told us to collect user charges from the community. But people refused to pay us... They (officials) are mocking our poverty. If they did not have a proper policy in place, why did they promise to pay us initially," Ganie asks.

Ogmuna sarpanch Dhobi blames the Rural Development Department officials for the residents' "irresponsible" act of dumping unsegregated waste at the shed. "The department lacks adequate staff and an effective system to handle waste I have always been against simple dumping of garbage. Waste can be a significant resource if managed properly. It can even create job opportunities," he says.

About a km away, in Hardu Aboora, a similar condition prevails at the segregation shed. It has become a den for stray dogs, which feed on waste and scare away anyone approaching the area. The shed got ready in September under the SBM-G at an estimated cost of Rs 5.15 lakh. However, there is no mechanism in place to sort the waste, says Ghulam Mohammad Wani (60), a resident of Hardu Aboora.

According to environmental activist Dr Raja Muzaffer Bhat, the error lies in the management system. "Of the 6,535 segregation sheds constructed so far, there is not even a single place in Jammu and Kashmir where segregation is undertaken in sheds. The dustbins placed for cleanliness add to the messiness and filth of rural areas."

Farooq Ahmad Wani, sarpanch of Hardu Aboora, complains that the government policies are not designed for the people but bureaucrats. "Despite catering to a population of over 800 households in Hardu Aboora, Kharpora, Haripora and Gulabdaji, only 10 dustbins have been placed so far," he says.

What officials say

Acknowledging the issues, Kunzer Block Development Officer Dr Shuyab tells 101Reporters that many residents discard both biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste in open spaces near the sheds, causing issues in subsequent processing. "Segregation sheds, if managed effectively, can play a vital role in promoting organic farming," he adds.

Speaking to 101Reporters, Charandeep Singh, Director, Rural Sanitation, Jammu and Kashmir, admitted that "there are loopholes here and there, but it is not that simple to immediately come to the conclusion that the mission has failed." "In fact, we are the first UT to declare open defecation free-plus model status in the entire country," Singh informs.

Asked about the issues faced by sanitation workers, he claims, "We have hired two swachhagrahis in every village panchayat. They are being paid by the government. They were hired after a resolution was passed by the respective village panchayats and agencies and their monthly payment of Rs 5,000 is being paid to these gram panchayats and agencies regularly."

Asked if this amount was sufficient, he says, "It is ultimately a community-driven mission and to make it successful, we have to levy user charges from the residents. We cannot rely solely on government funds. The operation and maintenance have to be done by the community through elected members and representatives to make this programme a success," he says.

(Ishfaq Reshi is a Jammu and Kashmir-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.)
Washington, Dec 12 : US Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson will embark on a visit to Delhi and Mumbai this week "to continue work with our important partner and ally on combatting illicit finance and anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) issues", the Department of Treasury announced.

Nelson is scheduled to travel to India from December 11 to 15.

In a statement, the Department said that while in Delhi, the Under Secretary will meet government officials to discuss the "Treasuryas commitment to working with India to further secure the international financial system from abuse by illicit actors".

It also said that Nelson will discuss opportunities to work together to cut off sanctions evasion and address terrorist financing, including disrupting the ability of terrorist groups to leverage the international financial system to raise and move funds.

The statement went on to say that the Under Secretary will also chair a meeting of the re-established US-India AML/CFT Working Group, where participants will discuss virtual assets, sanctions implementation, financial inclusion, and beneficial ownership implementation.

It further said that ahead of the January 1, 2024 launch of the US beneficial ownership registry, Nelson will seek insights from Indian counterparts on their experiences over the past six years launching and operating their domestic registry.

During his visit to Mumbai, he will meet the private sector to discuss Treasuryas continued work to enforce sanctions on Russia for its brutal war against Ukraine as well as the price cap on Russian oil, the Department said.

He will also solicit their perspectives on managing illicit finance risks and their experience in implementing Indiaas beneficial ownership laws, it added.
London, Dec 12 : Adverse impacts on health due to extreme weather and vector-borne disease risks could increase in the UK under a warming climate, according to a report published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

The report, written by 90 experts, is based on climate projections using a high-end warming scenario or a "worst-case scenario" of approximately 4.3 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100.

"Our changing climate poses one of the greatest health security and societal challenges, impacting everything from the air we breathe to the quality and availability of our food and water," Xinhua news agency quoted Isabel Oliver, chief scientific officer at UKHSA, as saying in a statement.

The report estimates that there will be up to 10,000 deaths in the country by the 2050s as a result of extreme heat.

Based on a high-end warming scenario, the report anticipates a substantial surge in heat-related deaths, with an increase of over 1.5 times by the 2030s and an over 12-fold rise by the 2070s.

It also states that vector-borne diseases, such as chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses, could become transmissible in London and other parts of the UK due to Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquitoes) and Culex mosquitoes.

According to the report, under a high-warming scenario, the UK will become suitable for new domestic mosquitoes by the 2040s and 2050s, while most of Wales, Northern Ireland, and parts of the Scottish Lowlands may see potential establishment by the 2060s or 2070s.

The report also warns that more people will be at high risk of flooding in the future due to changing rainfall patterns.

It is projected that the UK's dependence on food from highly climate-vulnerable countries will increase, potentially affecting the stability of food supplies, particularly for fresh fruit and vegetables.

"Action is needed now to adapt our policies, environments and our behaviors to secure health, well-being and livelihoods," Oliver said, adding that much can be done to "avert and prevent" the impacts of climate change on health.

UKHSA, an executive agency sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care, is responsible for planning, preventing and responding to external health threats.

This year is set to be the hottest year on record in human history, according to a report published by the World Meteorological Organization at the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
New York, Dec 12 : An Indian-origin financial advisor from New York has been found guilty on 11 counts of defrauding public health insurance plans out of more than $4 million and transacting in the criminal proceeds.

Kaival Patel, 54, who underwent an 11-day trial before US District Judge Robert B. Kugler, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 10, 2024.

He was convicted last week of one count of conspiracy to commit wire and healthcare fraud, four counts of healthcare fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering by transacting in criminal proceeds, and five counts of money laundering by transacting in criminal proceeds.

"This defendant lined his own pockets by taking advantage of health insurance plans for New Jersey state and local government employees, defrauding them of millions of dollars by conspiring to obtain reimbursements for medically unnecessary compound prescription medications," US Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial, Patel created and operated a company called ABC Healthy Living LLC to market compound prescription medications.

Compounded medications are specialty medications mixed by a pharmacist to meet the specific medical needs of an individual patient.

These medications, such as vitamins, scar creams, pain creams, libido creams, and acid reflux medications, require a prescription from a physician.

Patel and his conspirators learned that certain state and local government employees had insurance that would reimburse up to thousands of dollars for a one-month supply of certain compound medications.

They approached a medical doctor, a family member of Patel who owns and operates a clinic in Newark, and convinced him to authorise prescriptions for the compound medications for patients who had no medical need for the prescriptions.

Patel received commissions for the compound medication prescriptions.

Patel and his conspirators paid a group of corrections officers to go to Patel's family member's medical practice for the purpose of receiving fraudulent prescriptions.

He conspired with a compounding pharmacist to add unnecessary ingredients to the compound medications to further increase their cost and augment his illicit profits.

Patel engaged in a series of financial transactions to receive proceeds from the healthcare fraud and wire fraud conspiracy.

"The defendant enriched himself by defrauding the New Jersey public health insurance plans out of more than $4 million," Tammy L. Tomlins, Special Agent in Charge of IRS - Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, said.

To date, approximately 47 people have been convicted or pleaded guilty in the overarching conspiracy.

On the count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and healthcare fraud, Patel faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 fine, or twice the gross pecuniary loss from the offence, whichever is greatest.

On each of the remaining 10 counts, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.
Harare, Dec 12 : At least 100 elephants have died in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe's largest game reserve, from the El Nino-induced drought, an international animal welfare and conservation group said.

Summer rains are five weeks late due to the ongoing El Nino phenomenon, as dozens of elephants have already died in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe's largest protected area, home to about 45,000 elephants, said the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in a statement.

"At least 100 elephants are already reported dead due to lack of water," Xinhua news agency quoted IFAW as saying.

The organization said the 104 solar-powered boreholes in the park were inadequate to match extreme temperatures that are drying up existing waterholes, forcing wildlife to walk long distances in search of food and water.

Water-dependent mammals like elephants are among the most affected and these and other wildlife species will face a crisis if rains do not come soon, IFAW said.

In 2019, over 200 elephants died in Zimbabwe from severe drought, and according to IFAW, the phenomenon is recurring.

IFAW said the deaths of elephants in Zimbabwe must be seen as a symptom of deep-seated and complex challenges affecting the region's natural resources conservation, aggravated by climate change.
Los Angeles, Dec 12 : Actress Rebecca Ferguson shared that she had a "big" crush on Hollywood star Tom Cruise.

The actress was infatuated with her 'Mission: Impossible' co-star after seeing him in his 1994 horror movie 'Interview with the Vampire'.

"I had a crush on him by the time I saw him star in 'Interview with the Vampire'. It's certainly a weird film, and I told him when we worked together that I had a big crush. I'm sure he was delighted! Who wouldn't be?" Rebecca told Sunday Times Culture magazine.

"Tom is a huge movie star, but I've been fortunate to work with so many great people. When I worked with Meryl Streep on 'Florence Foster Jenkins', I would go to the set, even when we weren't filming, just to see her act. She's spectacular."

Rebecca has never felt comfortable on the red carpet and has been studying her co-star Zendaya Coleman tips for posing, reports aceshowbiz.com.

The actress said: "I was nominated for my first Golden Globe award in 2013 with 'The White Queen', with other nominees including Helena Bonham Carter and Helen Mirren".

"I just rocked up on the red carpet. I was winging it. I had no make-up artists or stylists. I was smiling for photos and then Cate Blanchett's team started nudging me to ask, 'Is it all right if Cate takes this?" She glided effortlessly, while I walked like a lumberjack."

"I'm not great at red carpets. Zendaya, who I worked with on 'Dune', can just play on set, wearing socks and no make-up, crazy hair, and then just put it on for the red carpet and become like a cat. I study how she does it, even though I'm older."

She had never even acted at school before she landed her first role, in Swedish soap opera 'Nya Tider' when she was just 16.

She said, "I was the beige one in the popular group at school. I was very plain, ordinary, easygoing and didn't do school plays or Nativities. Then one day, despite never acting, I did a casting for a soap opera, Nya Tider, and I guess it came naturally to me."
Hyderabad, Dec 12 : In the first major shakeup in bureaucracy after a change of guard in Telangana, the new government has transferred three police commissioners in the state capital region.

K. Sreenivasa Reddy, Additional Director General of Police, Organisations & Legal, has been transferred and posted as the Police Commissioner of Hyderabad.

Sandeep Shandilya, who was holding the post after the Election Commission of India had removed C. V. Anand, is now posted as director of Telangana Stat Anti-Narcotics Bureau.

The government appointed G. Sudheer Babu, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Hyderabad, has been transferred and posted as Police Commissioner of Rachakonda.

Avinash Mohanty, Joint Commissioner of Police (admin), Cyberabad, will be the new Police Commissioner of Cyberabad.

Present Rachakonda Commissioner Devendra Singh Chauhan and Cyberabad Commissioner M. Stephen Ravindra have been directed to report in the office of Director General of Police.

Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari issued a Government Order on transfers and postings.

In October, the Election Commission of India had ordered transfer of some police officers including then Hyderabad Commissioner C. V. Anand. Sandeep Shandilya was appointed the Commissioner.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : Booking the best private jets in India reveals a nuanced tapestry of comfort, flexibility, and indulgence for those seeking unmatched travel experiences. With an emphasis on the luxury, comfort, and flexibility of private jets, Jet Set Go has offered a comprehensive guide for reserving the greatest private jets in India.

Identify Your Needs: Make a detailed list of your trip needs before stepping foot in the realm of private jet reservations. Take into account variables such as the frequently traveled destinations, typical number of passengers, flight length, preferred cabin layout and size, and frequency of trips. You can customize your private jet experience to meet your unique demands by taking this first step to be clear on your typical travel needs and preferences.

Look Up Reputable Service Companies: Spend some time investigating and locating reliable companies that offer private jet services. Seek out businesses that have a track record of success, satisfied clients, are fully regulated and compliant with DGCA regulations, and offer an aircraft fleet that is modern and well-maintained. Selecting a private jet service with a reputation for safety, dependability,, and quality of service is wise because not all of them are made equal.

Think About Membership Programmes: Investigate the membership plans that some private jet firms provide. Members of these programmes frequently receive special advantages including priority reservations, preferential pricing, flexibility and access to a larger fleet. Examine the numerous membership options and discuss them carefully with the companyas sales team in order to select the one that best suits your travel preferences.

Evaluate your aircraft options: There are several sizes and configurations of private aircraft from smaller turboprops or light jets, to large long range jets. To choose the airplane that best meets your demands, compare the many options and match them carefully to your typical travel needs. This can be complex, so use the services of an expert advisor to help with this step. Think about things like cabin size, number of seats, range, and amenities. Selecting the ideal aircraft guarantees a relaxing and delightful flight.

Recognise Pricing Structures: The cost of a private jet can vary widely according to the type of aircraft selected, the distance traveled, and extra services required. Make sure pricing is transparent and ask prospective service providers for precise quotes. A thorough explanation of the costs should be requested, and you should be aware of any potential hidden fees such as fuel surcharges, and variable costs.

Verify Safety Records and Laws: When it comes to flying, safety comes first. Make sure prospective private jet operators are fully licensed as a Non-Scheduled operator (NSOP) by the DGCA. You can also check their reputation and safety record by talking to an expert aviation advisor. Always seek out businesses who uphold the strictest safety regulations and place a high priority on comprehensive maintenance inspections.

The key is flexibility: Flexibility is one of private jet travel's main benefits. In contrast to scheduled airlines the private aviation sector is aon-demanda so flexibility is the core benefit. Select a service provider that lets you alter the locations and departure timings on your trip schedule as needed. After all your plans can change, and this adaptability makes sure that your time on the private jet fits in perfectly with your itinerary.

Personalized Services: Look for private jet operators that provide individualized inflight service and care. Excellent private jet experiences extend beyond the trip itself, and may include ground connections, unique service requests, accommodating children or pets, customized catering, or particular cabin arrangements. The flexibility to customize the trip to your tastes adds even more luxury.

Examine Customer Testimonials: Read customer testimonials and reviews to learn about other people's experiences using the private jet service company. This first-hand account can yield important insights regarding the caliber of service, dependability, and general satisfaction.

Make a Plan: Planning ahead is frequently necessary to reserve the greatest private jet experience. Demand for private aircraft can be very strong, particularly during the busiest travel times. Make sure you reserve your aircraft as far in advance as possible during peak travel times to guarantee availability and the best aircraft for your trip needs.

You may hire a private jet with confidence if you use these pointers, which will guarantee that your trip is not just smooth but also customized to your particular tastes and needs.

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in

--IANS

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On the morning of December 12, the Kyivstar mobile operator experienced a large-scale outage. Subscribers claimed that the network was down, and when they tried to call, they heard the answer "mobile network is unavailable."

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It is worth noting that Kyivstar's official website and the mobile operator's app are also unavailable. OBOZ.UA readers report that problems with the mobile operator's work are observed throughout the country.

Problems with Kyivstar's mobile communication started in the morning. Some subscribers have no connection. At the same time, some Kyivstar users reported on social media that their smartphones were showing "all connection bars" but it was impossible to call or receive a call.

Around noon, Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said that Kyivstar subscribers would experience communication problems for another 4-5 hours. Thus, the network is expected to be restored around 16.00-17.00 on December 12.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko noted that people who were left without mobile communications and the Internet can seek urgent assistance at the nearest police department or fire and rescue station. There they can contact their relatives or call emergency services.

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The Interior Minister also noted that one can ask for help from the National Guard, police and border guards who serve in settlements and on highways. In addition, Klymenko reminded that the "Points of Invincibility" deployed on the basis of the Ministry of Internal Affairs units have the opportunity to use Wi-Fi.

Kyivstar stated that it would definitely compensate subscribers who had no connection or could not use the operator's services. They also assured that the personal data of subscribers was not compromised.

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At the same time, Kyivstar TV's OTT service is working without any problems on Android and iOS operating systems. Other services of the company remain unavailable as of 7:40 am.

While Kyivstar mobile operator is unavailable, Ukrainians are offered to use national roaming (the service is free). In the mobile network settings on the gadget, you need to find the "manual network selection" option, and then try to connect to Lifecell or Vodafone. If the network does not appear, you should try to select other networks.

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At the same time, there is no absolute guarantee that national roaming will work. This may be due, in particular, to the load on the networks as subscribers switch to available networks.

Around 8 a.m., Kyivstar responded to a large-scale failure in its mobile network. They noted that due to the technical failure, communication and Internet access services may be unavailable to some of their subscribers.

Kyivstar also assured that its specialists are working to fix the problem. At the same time, the operator has not yet provided any information on the timeframe for fixing the problem.

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It is worth noting that Kyivstar subscribers were not satisfied with the company's response. In particular, people are surprised that the problems with mobile internet and communication started around 5 a.m., and the company decided to respond only three hours later.

The possible cause of the technical failure is also being discussed online. Some suspect that the problems could have been caused by external interference in the operator's work. In particular, the possibility of a hacker attack on Kyivstar's equipment is not ruled out.

As a reminder, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that a SIM card of the Ukrainian operator Kyivstar was found in one of the Iranian kamikaze drones launched by the Russians in Ukraine. Earlier, this information was made public by analysts at the American Institute for the Study of War.

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Earlier, it was reported that Kyivstar mobile operator has increased the cost of a number of tariffs since September, both for contract subscribers and prepaid subscribers. At the same time, mobile Internet packages were increased.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Kolkata, Dec 12 : The crucial meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the issue of pending central dues to the state government is likely on December 20, highly-placed sources from the state secretariat said on Tuesday.

The Chief Minister had earlier sent a communique to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) seeking time between December 18 and December 20 for discussions in the contentious matter.

State government sources said that positive indications about the proposed meeting have come from the PMO and the probable date and time of the meeting is 11 a.m on December 20 within the Parliament premises.

However, it is not clear whether the meeting will be one-on-one between the PM and the CM or whether some Trinamool Congress MPs will be accompanying Mamata Banerjee at the meeting as indicated by her last week.

It is also not clear whether the Trinamool Congress' National General Secretary and party Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee will accompany Mamata Banerjee at the proposed meeting with Modi.

It is learnt that Mamata Banerjee is slated to be in New Delhi from December 18 on. However, the Trinamool Congress leadership is maintaining secrecy over her detailed schedule and hence so far there is no clarity on whether she will be attending the meeting of the grand Opposition INDIA bloc in the national Capital.

To recall, on December 9, the Chief Minister while informing about her communique to the PMO seeking time, also said that if she does not get the appointment from the Prime Minister on this count she will decide over her party's next course of action in the matter. She also said that West Bengal is the only state where the Union Government has stopped central funds under all centrally-sponsored schemes.

"Still the state government here is somehow continuing with the schemes. The major schemes under which the flow of central funds has been stopped include MGNREGA, PMAY, NHM and PMGSY, among others. These are our legitimate dues," the Chief Minister said.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : Allen Career Institute on Tuesday announced the appointment of former Apple Marcom executive Apoorv Sharma as its Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).

At Apple, Sharma was responsible for brand building, creative solutions, and product marketing for Appleas iconic devices, wearables and services.

He will anchor Allenas brand-building, marketing and PR efforts.

"As we aspire to build a world-class education company, itas going to be about creating engagements that not only inform but also inspire and empower student communities to envision and achieve a brighter future," Sharma said in a statement.

Sharma has more than 18 years of experience spanning B2B & B2C domains across international geographies, with roles in product marketing, digital strategy, creative communications, partnerships, and business development.

He was previously associated with technology-first companies such as Amazon, Flipkart, and DXC Technology.

"Allen has earned tremendous brand equity with students and parents in its journey of more than three decades. I believe that Apoorvas experience will help Allen transform into an education brand that combines Allenas long-standing ethos and its new digital identity," said Nitin Kukreja, CEO of Allen Career Institute.

Sharma holds a dual MBA from IMT Ghaziabad & the France-based IESEG School of Management and a Bacheloras degree in Computer Science.

Allenas recent hires include Abha Maheshwari as Chief Executive Officer Digital from Meta, Ankit Khurana as Chief Product Officer from Flipkart and Saurabh Tandon as Chief Technology Officer also from Flipkart.

Over the last six months, Allen has attracted top talent from leading global and Indian tech companies, such as Amazon, Google, Meta, Flipkart, Samsung, Twitter, and Apple.
Lawyers ask Indians seeking asylum in UK to pretend as 'tortured' Khalistanis, gays: Report. Image Source: IANS News

Rome, Dec 12 : Irregular border crossings into the European Union (EU) have dramatically increased this year, the bloc's border control agency said.

Till November, the number of arrivals has already surpassed full-year totals in any year since 2016, according to data released by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).

The total number of migrants arriving in the EU via non-regular means this year reached at least 355,300 by the end of November, Xinhua news agency quoted Frontex as saying.

Nevertheless, the number of irregular arrivals is slowing, and the balance between different routes is changing.

The Central Mediterranean Route, marked by crossings to Italy from Tunisia or Libya, remained the most common means of entry into the EU.

According to Frontex, this route accounted for around 43 per cent of all arrivals, at more than 152,000, an increase of 61 per cent compared to last year.

Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency put this figure at just over 153,000 through Sunday.

The Western African Route -- from the west coast of Africa to Spain's Canary Islands -- has seen the largest increase, rising by 116 per cent compared to the same period a year ago.

In November, arrivals on the Western African Route were up by 500 per cent compared to the same month in 2022, Frontex reported.

However, the Western African Route still sees relatively low traffic numbers, accounting for just over 9 per cent of total arrivals.

In the first 11 months of this year, there were 32,400 landings.

Other routes into Europe have seen declines in arrivals, Frontex said.

The Western Balkan Route has seen arrivals fall by 28 per cent this year, while the Western Mediterranean Route from Morocco to Spain has seen the number of landings decrease by 2 per cent.

Arrivals via the Eastern Land Border have declined by 10 per cent.

Frontex cautioned that its figures are not comprehensive, since they only include migrants processed by government officials, and not those who enter the bloc undetected.

An individual could also be counted more than once if they re-entered the EU after being expelled.

Most of the irregular arrivals this year came from Syria, Guinea, and Afghanistan.
Barabanki : , Dec 12 (IANS) In an example of speedy justice, the Barabanki Police, on Monday, filed a charge sheet in the gang rape case of a 22-year-old woman, barely 96 hours after the crime had taken place and appealed for speedy trial.

The woman was allegedly abducted and gang-raped in the district on December 6 and the two accused were arrested the next day and sent to jail.

The police had filed a charge sheet against Rahul Kumar, 30, and Manoj Kumar, 28 and sent them to jail.

Barabanki Superintendent of Police Dinesh Singh said that the accused impersonated palmists and tantriks and exploited women/girls by promising to rid them of all problems.

"They have been booked under IPC Sections 376 D (gang rape) and 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint)," said the officer. "We have written to the district judge to fast-track the case and an officer has been assigned to personally monitor the day-to-day hearings in the case," said the SP.

He added that all the exhibits recovered from the spot of the crime were sent to the FSL while testimonies of eyewitnesses have been added to the charge sheet along with the medical report to make it a watertight case.

"The FSL has also been requested to complete the sampling and send a report at the earliest, which will help us in attaining conviction in record time," the SP said.

"In the past also, we have had convictions obtained in crimes against women cases in record time. One was in 54 days and another took 70 days," the officer added.
Rishabh Shetty gives glimpse of his 'family-filled' moment. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Dec 12 : Kannada star Rishabh Shetty shared some moments with his family and said that he's creating a "gallery of love".

Rishabh took to Instagram, where he shared some beautiful moments with his wife Pragathi Shetty and kids Ranvit and Radhya.

In the images, he and his family looked regal dressed in a traditional attire.

The actor captioned the photographs: aCreating a gallery of love through every family-filled moment."

On the work front, Rishabh has begun preparation for the next part of 'Kantara', titled 'Kantara Chapter 1', which is going to be a prequel.
Kanpur, Dec 12 : The Kanpur district jail has launched a unique prisoner reform initiative under which food outlet will be run by its current and former inmates.

Jail superintendent B.N. Pandey said that the outlet has become functional from Monday.

While food will be prepared by the prisoners in the jail kitchen, former inmates will not only man the outlet but also act as home delivery executives as the jail aspires to take the initiative online.

On its first day, the outlet managed a sale of an impressive Rs 5,500 -- most of it coming from people visiting their kin lodged in the jail.

Tea, sold for Rs 10 per cup, and espresso, sold for Rs 20 per cup, made for the bulk of the revenue.

The idea was mooted by District Magistrate Vishak G. Iyer who was impressed by the culinary skills of inmates as they churned a variety of food items for the erstwhile jail canteen.

"We believe that the initiative will bring a change in the mindset of people behind bars. Also, it will send a message that the government is interested in their rehabilitation," said Iyer, who provided government funds for the project.

It was decided that 10 current and 10 former inmates be engaged in the initiative.

The inmates have decided to serve only vegetarian food with a high sale value.

The menu would be revised after the outlet makes its way to food aggregator platforms, Pandey said, adding talks with two major app-driven service providers were already in the final stages.

The project's nodal officer, Anil Kumar, said the rates had been kept reasonable.

"A thali (meal) of four rotis, two curries, dal, rice and salad is sold for Rs 70. This is the costliest item on the menu," said Kumar, adding samosa, noodles, rajma-rice, kadhi-rice, chole-rice and, puri-sabzi would also be sold.

"Chefs from reputed institutes and hotels will train inmates to better their skills and add new items to the menu," he said.

The food joint will be managed by a prisoner welfare and rehabilitation cooperative society.

A bank account has been opened in the name of the society, and earnings from the outlet would be credited to this account.
42% of Indian workers likely to switch jobs next year for better pay, promotion: Report. Image Source: IANS News

Canberra, Dec 12 : Major Australian infrastructure projects are under threat from massive workforce shortages, a government report warned on Tuesday.

Infrastructure Australia on Tuesday published its annual market capacity report, revealing a shortfall of 229,000 public infrastructure workers.

According to the report, the shortfall - as well as a shortage of construction materials - is jeopardising infrastructure projects worth A$230 billion over the next five years, Australia's green energy transition, and a government plan to build 1.2 million new homes, Xinhua news agency reported.

"With so much construction activity underway, the industry is finding it increasingly difficult to source key building materials and workers - particularly engineers, skilled trades and laborers," Adam Copp, chief executive of Infrastructure Australia, said in a statement.

"A clear message in this year's report is that limited access to local steel and cement, as well as localized shortages of quarry products is contributing to price uncertainty in the supply chain, leading to delays and cost overruns."

It marks the third consecutive year that Infrastructure Australia has reported significant workforce shortages.
Bhopal : BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan congratulates party leader Mohan Yadav after he was named as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Image Source: IANS News

Bhopal, Sec 12 : Outgoing Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday expressed his gratitude to the people of Madhya Pradesh for their support in the last two decades. Delivering a farewell speech at the party headquarters in Bhopal, four-time CM Chouhan expressed satisfaction that he was bidding farewell at a time when the BJP had retained power with absolute majority.

"While bidding farewell, I am satisfied that the BJP is going to form the government with an overwhelming majority. I am leaving after forming a majority government," Chouhan added.

This was Chouhanas first statement after tendering his resignation from the post on Monday.

After addressing a Press conference at the party headquarters, Chouhan also met the large gathering of people at his residence.

Chouhan, who was made the Chief Minister for the first time in 2005 after replacing Babulal Gaur, had retained power until 2018 when the BJP lost the election against the Congress. However, the tenure of the Kamal Nath-led Congress Government ended within 15 months due to a political crisis within its top leadership in March 2020.

The then Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia shifted to the BJP with his loyalists and the saffron party came back to power again.

Even though, the BJP had lost the election under the leadership Chouhan, he took oath as the Chief Minister for the fourth term and became the longest-serving CM of the state.

The BJP contested the Assembly election 2023 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and registered a landslide victory by securing 163 seats.

The Opposition Congress, which was looking to come back to power, was reduced to 66 seats against its 114 in 2018.

On Monday, the BJP's legislative party meeting unanimously declared Mohan Yadav as Chief Minister-designated. Beside him, two senior BJP leaders Rajendra Shukla and Jagdish Devda were made Deputy Chief Ministers.
Amaravati, Dec 12 : Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday sentenced Guntur municipal commissioner Chekuri Keerthi to one month imprisonment in a contempt of court case.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 on her.

She was directed to surrender before the High Court registrar on January 2.

The court found that the official did not obey its orders in a lease case relating to Yadavalli Vari Satram, a charity organisation in Kothapet area of Guntur.

The petitioner had approached the court, complaining about non-implementation of the orders passed by the court in the past.

The court treated this as a case of contempt of court and awarded the sentence to the official.
Jaipur, Dec 12 : Rajasthan will get the name of its new Chief Minister by Tuesday evening as the BJP Legislature Party meeting will be held at 4 pm at the state headquarters and the name of the CM-elect will be announced there.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Saroj Pandey and National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, who have been made observers for Rajasthan, have reached Jaipur.

Rajnath Singh has come up with the name of the new Chief Minister and State President CP Joshi, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje welcomed him to the city.

All senior BJP leaders including Rajnath have currently reached the hotel and before the meeting, Rajnath Singh will have a discussion with all the leaders.

Meanwhile, Security of Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary has been increased in Delhi and commandos have been deployed at his bungalow. He will reach Jaipur by special flight at 3 pm.

Interestingly, the face of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is missing from the poster put up on the stage of the state office hall where the legislative party meeting will be held.

Apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there are posters of National President JP Nadda and State President CP Joshi on the poster.
A Ukrainian film, a recognized hit at international film festivals, the drama "How is Katya?" The film stars actress Anastasia Karpenko (known for her role as cardiac surgeon Oksana Kovalchuk in the TV series "Doctor Kovalchuk").

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The film tells the story of an ambulance doctor. Her name is Anna, and she is trying to find justice in an unjust world. The film "How is Katia?" has already been screened at more than 30 film festivals around the world.

Ukrainian film stars also played roles in the film: Kateryna Kozlova, Tatiana Krulikovska, Oleksii Cherevatenko, Iryna Verenich-Ostrovska, Viktor Zhdanov, Olena Khokhlatkina and others. The film was produced by Olha Matat, Vlad Dudko and Serhii Konnov.

The film was directed by Kriystina Tinkevich. According to her idea, the protagonist is the support for her family - her sister, mother and only daughter Katia. Anna tries to give her child a better life than she had. But an unexpected and shocking tragedy occurs that can destroy everything and leave the heroine alone with an indifferent system and an infinite loss.

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The film is not about wartime events, but it is still extremely relevant for today's Ukraine. "The main character faces a trauma. She goes through acceptance, experience, rethinking. And unfortunately, over the past year and a half, this is an experience that has become familiar to millions of people. Perhaps this film will become a therapeutic experience for someone," says Krystyna Tynkevych.

The film had its world premiere at the 75th Locarno Film Festival in the Concorso Cineasti del presente competition program. The film received two awards at the festival: the Cine+ Special Jury Prize and the Best Actress Award for Anastasia Karpenko.

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"How is Katia?" has already been screened at more than 30 film festivals around the world. The film was presented in the competition programs of prestigious world film screenings, including Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Seville European Film Festival, Stockholm International Film Festival and many others. Currently, the hit continues its journey through the world's leading competitions.

The film "How is Katia?" by Krystyna Tinkevich was also honored at the CinEast Festival in Luxembourg. The film received the Film Critics' Prize at the festival. The film was also awarded the main prize at the Around The World in 14 Films festival in Berlin. The film also received the main prize in the section of the national feature competition of the Molodist festival and the Scythian Deer award.

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The film was created with the support of the Ukrainian State Film Agency (the film became one of the winners of the Eleventh State Film Agency Competition in the category of feature debuts). The international promotion of the film is supported by the Ukrainian Institute as part of the proMOTION program.

EVOS FILM and distributor ADASTRA CINEMA are pleased to present an exclusive theatrical trailer for the acclaimed Ukrainian drama "How is Katia?"

The film will be released in Ukraine on January 25, 2024.

Also, read on OBOZ.UA how the State Film Agency reacted to the hype around the Russian series The Word of the Boy.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
Kolkata, Dec 12 : Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is unclear about the exact medical condition of Sujay Krishna Bhadra, the prime accused in the cash-for-school-job case in West Bengal, has now sought a particular medical report from the authorities of the state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital.

Sources said the particular report that was sought by the ED officials is on the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) vessel, to have an idea on why the accused had to remain admitted four months after his bypass surgery was completed in August this year.

Sources also said that after getting the particular report from the S.S.K.M. authorities, the ED sleuths are planning to get it cross- checked by experts in the related field from any Centre-run hospital to clear the confusion in the matter.

At the same time, ED has decided to strengthen the security and surveillance at the ICU of the cardiology department of S.S.K.M. Last week following the request of the ED officials, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) authorities deputed two of its armed personnel in front of the ICU where Bhadra is admitted now.

Now, from Tuesday onwards ED have decided to depute two of its own officers on rotational basis for 24 hours at the cabin, so the entire activities concerning the bed number 18 of ICU, where Bhadra has been accommodated, can be kept under strict supervision and surveillance round the clock.

To recall, Bhadra was supposed to be shifted from S.S.K.M. to Centre-run ESI Hospital in the southern outskirts of Kolkata for the compulsory medical examinations before conducting his voice sampling test. The ED sleuths accordingly reached S.S.K.M. along with an ambulance for that shifting purpose.

However, they had to return empty-handed as the S.S.K.M. authorities informed them that Bhadra had to be shifted to the ICU the night before as he complained about chest pain. Later it was revealed that Bhadra had been accommodated at a bed in the ICU which is reserved for the children.
Los Angeles, Dec 12 : Actor Tom Holland revealed he couldn't cry on set and hence took some help from the English actor Benedict Cumberbatch.

The 27-year-old actor found himself filled with "worry" whenever he had to show emotion on screen because he found it so difficult.

Speaking at a recent SAG-AFTRA Foundation event to promote his latest series 'The Crowded Room', Tom said: "Benedict Cumberbatch is someone that I asked for advice a lot about acting. I went through a phase where I was really really struggling to cry, in my personal life also."

"It was really affecting me on set because I would really just worry about crying scenes and worry and worry and worry and I would worry so much that I would almost like worry myself out of tears," he said.

Holland shared how Cumberbatch had taught him to overcome his fear of crying whilst they worked on 2017 thriller 'The Current War' - and now he loves such scenes, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

He said: "The technique that he told me was this kind of thing that he's able to do with his diaphragm which is almost like laughing. I'm probably giving away his secrets here.

"He would do this thing where he would kind of simulate laughing and he would breathe really really quickly and that would sort of, I guess bring the emotion to the surface and then he could just take it and ride the wave from there."

He later loved crying scenes, said the actor.

"I'd started doing that and I love crying scenes now. I love it, I feel really confident. It's something I really feel like I have in my wheelhouse. I don't have to draw on past experiences or personal matters anymore, which is really important, especially for a show like this," he said.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : With the arrest of three men, including a weapon manufacturer, the Delhi Police's Special Cell has busted an inter-state firearms syndicate that supplied semi-automatic guns to criminals and traffickers in Delhi-NCR, an officer said on Tuesday.

The accused were identified as Amarjeet Singh a.k.a Sardar (35) a resident of Khargone in Madhya Pradesh who is an arms manufacturer, Vimal Kumar (19), and Sumit Kumar (19), both residents of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.

The officer said that they have also recovered 11 semi-automatic pistols of .32 bore from their possession.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), Alok Kumar, said that they got information that gangsters and hardcore criminals in Delhi/NCR have been procuring sophisticated firearms from an MP-based arms manufacturer and supplier.

"After sustained efforts for more than four months, some of the members of this interstate firearm syndicate were identified," said the DCP.

On December 4, police received specific inputs that two members of this arms syndicate, Vimal and Sumit, had procured a consignment of pistols from Khargone and brought it to Delhi.

"They were to meet one Delhi-based arms trafficker near the Pul Prahladpur underpass, MB Road, in the afternoon to deliver the pistols," said the DCP.

A trap was laid and at about 01.30 pm, the two were spotted coming towards the Pul Prahladpur underpass, and they were overpowered by the police team.

"During the search, 10 semi-automatic pistols were recovered from the duo," said the DCP.

On interrogation, it was revealed that the pistols were to be supplied to the members of the Hashim Baba gang in Delhi.

"The accused further revealed that they would procure the firearms from Amarjeet for Rs. 8,000 per pistol and would sell them at Rs. 25,000 per pistol to the criminals in Delhi-NCR and other states," said the DCP.

The accused also told police that they had already supplied more than 50 firearms in the last two years. During further investigation, the supplier, Amarjeet Singh was also arrested from Nizamuddin railway station on December 5, and one semi-automatic pistol was recovered from his possession.

"On sustained interrogation, Amarjeet Singh revealed that he himself manufactures the illegal pistols and has been involved in this trade for the last ten years," said the DCP.
Tel Aviv, Dec 12 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday said that two rockets were fired from Lebanon towards the northern community of Malkia in the Jewish nation.

In a statement, the IDF said the rockets landed in open areas, and no sirens were sounded.

The Israeli military is responding by shelling the source of fire in Lebanon, it added.

IDF officers told IANS that the rockets were fired most likely by Hezbollah militants and warned that Israel can easily open a war front against the Iran-backed group in the northern areas.

This latest development comes amid continued skirmishes along the Lebanon-Israel border since the war in Gaza erupted on October 7.

Hezbollah had fired dozens of rockets toward Israel on October 8 in support of the Hamas attack on Israel the previous day.

Israeli forces responded by firing heavy artillery at several areas in southeastern Lebanon.

The confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel have killed 144 on the Lebanese side.

The victims comprise 99 Hezbollah members; a Lebanese soldier; one member of the Amal Movement; 16 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants; and 27 civilians, including three journalists, according to security sources.
Tokyo, Dec 12 : A 116-year-old woman recognised as the oldest person in Japan died of old age in Kashiwara, Osaka prefecture, on Tuesday, local media reported.

Fusa Tatsumi, born on April 25, 1907, had recently spent most of her days in bed at a nursing home in Kashiwara, Kyodo News said.

Tatsumi became the oldest living person in Japan in April 2022 following the death of a 119-year-old woman in Fukuoka, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as saying.

As of January 2023, the world's oldest living woman is Maria Branyas Morera in Spain, who is now 116 years old.

She was born on March 4, 1907, according to the Guinness World Records.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : The highly awaited holiday season is here, from putting together all our beauty & personal care must-haves to selecting the chic yet comfortable vacation ensembles, or the quest for impeccable luggage and accessories, this season certainly demands thoughtful preparation! For those who love to explore new places in style, Myntra is your go-to destination for your fashion and travel accessory needs.

With more than 2,000 new and trendy collections from renowned international, homegrown, and D2C brands, Myntra has got you covered for all your travel needs this holiday season.

Explore an array of premium selections in the ongoing 19th edition of End of Reason Sale (EORS) from brands like Mokobara, Tommy Hilfiger, and Delsey among others. Here are the top picks to ace your holiday style:

Handbags & Accessories: Indulge in the elegance of brands such as Aldo and Mango on Myntra, without breaking the bank. Grab the trendy handbags and accessories at budget-friendly prices this EORS.

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Backpacks and Duffle Bags: Nothing exudes comfort quite like a backpack on your travels. Discover backpacks and duffle bags tailored for the laid-back travellers out there, priced affordably between Rs 499 to Rs 1,299 on Myntra during EORS. Each option is designed to meet the diverse needs of every explorer. Your ideal travel companion awaits!

Belts and Wallets: Stay trendy on the go and travel in style without compromising on essentials! Thatas why Belts and Wallets from some of the renowned brands such as Peter England, Louis Philippe, Jack and Jones, Hidesgn and more on Myntra are here to spice up your travel looks!

Premium Accessories: Add a touch of luxury to your holiday ensemble with Premium Accessories starting at Rs 1,199. Elevate your look with accessories such as stylish sunglasses and cozy scarves -- it's the little details that make a big statement.

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Sling Bags: For the on-the-go folks, Sling Bags are a game-changer and an absolute must-have! Starting from Rs 399 on Myntra, these bags are perfect if you are planning to travel light while effortlessly balancing style and practicality!

The ongoing Myntra EORS-19 promises an unparalleled shopping experience, with access to some of the renowned domestic, international and D2C brands on offer. With the EORS offerings, step into the holiday season with confidence, flair, and of course, impeccable style. Don't miss out -- grab your favourites, make a statement, and let your holiday plans unfold with a touch of fashion finesse!
Hyderabad, Dec 12 : Hundreds of people continued to throng the Jyotirao Phule Praja Bhavan, the official residence of the Telangana Chief Minister, to voice their grievances.

Minister for Endowments, Forest and Environment, Konda Surekha, heard the grievances of the people during the Praja Vani programme on Tuesday. She assured the people that the Congress government would give priority to solving their problems. Surekha received the applications from the citizens and interacted with them.

The minister said that every applicant is being given a number and an SMS is being sent to their phone for their reference.

Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board Managing Director Dana Kishore and GHMC Commissioner Ronald Rose coordinated the conduct of the Praja Vani.

IAS officer Musharraf Ali, Ayush Director Harichandana, Hyderabad District Collector Anudeep Durishetty and other officials participated in the programme.

The state government had on Monday decided to rename Praja Darbar as Praja Vani and hold it twice a week, i.e. Tuesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The decision was taken at a review meeting presided over by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

Revanth Reddy had started hearing public grievances at Praja Darbar on December 8, a day after he assumed office as the Chief Minister. Officials received the applications on December 9. IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu interacted with the applicants on December 11.

The officials have received more than 6,000 applications so far. Most of the applications are for sanctioning double bedroom houses and pensions.
Even at 83, Papas first fight is for people: Supriya Sule's b'day greeting for Sharad Pawar. Image Source: IANS News

Pune : , Dec 12 (IANS) Thousands greeted Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar on his 83rd birthday on Tuesday, but the best message was from his daughter Supriya Sule -Pawar.

The NCP Working President, Supriya Sule-Pawar penned a brief but loving tribute to her 'Baba' (Papa), by saying that even at 83, his "first fight is in the public interest".

"Dear Dad, today is your birthday. In fact, it's a birthday just for us, for you it is like any other day You are the peoples' comrade and they are your allies" gushed Sule.

She said that Pawar is completing 83 years of age today (December 12) with the blessings and adulation of the masses, and the invaluable support of his medical team.

"This is indeed a matter of great joy and we are all sincerely grateful to them all Even yesterday (December 11), you took to the streets for the Nashik onion farmers issue. I am also putting in my full strength to tackle issues of public concern here in Parliament," Sule said.

The Baramati MP added how several people asked whether she would be going to Nagpur on Tuesday for the NCP's Sangharsh Yatra, but adhering to Pawar's own advice, she would raise the issues of her constituency and people of Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha.

"We have committed our entire lives to public service as per the vow given by my grandfather Govindrao Pawar and grandmother Shardabai. Fulfilment of public interest is your joy and passion," said Sule.

"For us to be with you and support your endeavours would be the best way of celebrating your birthday. In these difficult times, we all are confident that you will overcome all the difficult challenges and succeed. We will fight & Win! Wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Daddy !" concluded Sule.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla tweeted greetings while Shiv Sena (UBT) President and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aditya along with Sanjay Raut, called on Sharad Pawar to meet and greet him on his 83rd birthday.

Top leaders across the national and state political spectrum have extended warm greetings to Sharad Pawar, including from the breakaway NCP faction led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

Some of the prominent personalities include: Nana Patole, Digvijaya Singh, Rajeev Shukla, Praful Patel, Dayanidhi Maran, Zeeshan Siddiqui, Riteish Vilasrao Deshmukh, among others, who called on him in Nagpur.

Several top leaders from the Centre and states, the partners of I.N.D.I.A. block, business and glamour personalities as well as commoners all over the country wished him with messages pouring on the social media.
Indian national convicted on multiple counts for visa fraud in US. Image Source: IANS News

New York, Dec 12 : A 33-year-old Indian national has been convicted of multiple counts related to visa fraud and conspiracy, following a three-day jury trial in the US state of Pennsylvania.

Vinaykumar Patel was the manager of the Fuel-On convenience store in Lock Haven city, the US Attorneyas Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced last week.

In June 2019, Patel contacted an associate of his in New Jersey and asked that person to hire someone to stage a robbery at the Fuel-On store.

After the staged robbery occurred, it was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police, according to US Attorney Gerard M. Karam.

Patel then used the PSP (pre-employment screening program) reports of the robbery to apply for a U-visa.

The U-visa is a special visa offered by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services to non-citizens who are victims of crime and who are cooperative with law enforcement.

Patel had no lawful immigration status in the US at the time of the staged robbery. He faces a maximum penalty of 25 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Patel's case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Clinton County District Attorneyas Office.

--IANS

mi/ksk
Kolkata, Dec 12 : Questioning of a rape victim and that, too, a minor by male police officers is simply unacceptable, a single judge Bench of the Calcutta High Court observed on Tuesday.

The Bench of Justice Jay Sengupta made this observation while hearing a matter relating to the rape of a minor girl at Bagnan in Howrah district of West Bengal.

"Taking statements of a rape victim in front of a male Investigation Officer or Officer Incharge is not just unacceptable but is also against the rules. The charges in this particular case are quite serious. This cannot go on," Justice Sengupta observed.

The family members of the victim informed the court that after they filed a complaint regarding the rape, the victim's statement was recorded at the Bagnan Police Station. She was asked to narrate what happened to her in front of the Investigation Officer and the Officer Incharge, all of whom were men.

They complained that the victim, who was already in a state of shock after the incident, was even more traumatised by having to describe and relive her ordeal in front of the male officers.

The family also complained that they were receiving threatening calls ever since they had filed the complaint.

Thereafter, Justice Sengupta ordered a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)-level probe into the matter and also directed the Bagnan police station to ensure the safety of the victim and her family.

He also directed the victim's family members to directly approach his Bench in case they faced further problems on this count.
Mysteries have always attracted people. Haunted houses, cursed forests, unknown circles in the field: all this causes both delight and an eerie feeling inside. The most mystical places in the world are presented in the OBOZREVATEL's selection.

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Chillingham Castle (Great Britain)

This castle can probably be called the oldest of all the cursed houses in the world. It was built in the distant twelfth century. In the Middle Ages, hundreds of people were tortured in the basements of this stone building. And many innocent people have died here.

Most often, visitors to the castle talk about the ghost of a shining boy. He allegedly appears at night in a pink room and screams very loudly. The legend about him has a real basis because the skeletons of an adult man and a little boy were found in the walls of this house during renovation work. They were probably buried alive because the scratches left by them were clearly visible around them. I don't even want to think what happened to them.

No less gruesome events took place in the local dungeon. It was a small room without windows and doors, which could be accessed only through a small hole in the wall. It was through this hole that prisoners with broken arms and legs were thrown inside and left to die. At the beginning of the last century, the British authorities ordered all the corpses to be removed from there, except for the last tortured girl. Her skeleton can still be seen by visitors to the castle.

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Humberston (USA)

At the end of the nineteenth century, this city grew rapidly. Hundreds of laborers came here to get a job at a nitrate mining company. Houses and shops appeared here at a frantic pace. However, all this did not last long.

During the Great Depression, the company that essentially supported the entire village went bankrupt. With no other options for work, the locals began to slowly leave.

This is the official reason why Humberston disappeared from the US map in just a few years. But there is another version. It is said that due to lack of money, many residents of this settlement committed suicide and now their souls walk the streets in search of peace.

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It becomes even more eerie when you find out that most of the graves in the Humberston cemetery are open because they were robbed.

Death Valley (USA)

Fortunately, no one has died here (at least, there are no official records of it) and there are no ghosts here either. The same cannot be said about the stones, which move on their own on the clay surface of Racetrack Playa Lake, which dried up many years ago.

Scientists could not solve this mystery for a long time. Ordinary people did not explain it. They implicated aliens, conspiracy theories, magnetic fields, and paranormal phenomena. But the solution was much simpler.

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In 2014, a group of scientists placed stones weighing 5 to 15 kilograms with navigation sensors in different parts of the zone, set up cameras around them, and began to observe. As it turned out, on frosty nights, the ground is covered with very thin ice, which moves slightly due to the wind and drags the stones along at a speed of 2-5 meters per minute.

However, there were few supporters of this theory. Most people still believe that there is something supernatural going on here and that scientists and the authorities are simply hiding the real information from them.

Aokigahara Forest (Japan)

There is probably not a single forest in the world that has a huge sign that reads, "Your life is valuable". The fact is that up to 100 people who have committed suicide are found among the trees here every year.

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The Japanese believe that evil spirits live in Aokigahara, convincing people to take their own lives. Thus, anyone who enters the forest with bad thoughts never comes back.

The worst part is that the bodies of most of the people who died here have not yet been found. This is primarily due to the very large area of the green zone at the foot of Mount Fuji: more than 35 square kilometers. At the same time, local foresters are very responsible for search operations. They go through every part of the forest, and when they find the deceased, they carry him or her to a nearby station, not leaving the body for a minute, so that his or her soul does not get lost among the trees and turn into an evil spirit.

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Darvaza (Turkmenistan)

If there is a gateway to hell in the world, it is here. The 60-meter crater that has been burning for over 50 years is both fascinating and overwhelming. It seems that it will burn forever. And it all started with a simple mistake.

In 1971, a group of scientists from the U.S.S.R. discovered a gas accumulation in this area. It was decided to drill a well, but soon after the work began, the workers stumbled upon a void and the ground collapsed. There was a threat of a large gas leak. Thus, scientists and project managers urgently ordered to set fire to the crater to burn off all the gas. They thought this process would take several days, but the fire is still burning to this day.

The Turkmen authorities recently intended to bury the crater, but this is impossible until all the gas is burned. Putting it out or covering it up is simply unrealistic from a technical point of view. So all that remains is to wait.

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Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told you about the most secretive places on the planet.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
New Delhi, Dec 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday once again took a swipe at the Congress after the huge recovery of cash to the tune of over Rs 300 crore from its Rajya Sabha MP Dhiraj Sahu's premises, saying in India who needs 'Money Heist' when you have grand old party whose heists are legendary for 70 years and counting.

The cheeky reply from the Prime Minister mentions the popular Netflix series 'Money Heist'.

The Prime Minister in a post on X, said, "In India, who needs 'Money Heist' fiction, when you have the Congress Party, whose heists are legendary for 70 years and counting!"

He made the remarks while sharing a video posted by the BJP, which reads, "Congress presents the Money Heist'.

The BJP also attached a video of huge stash of money recovered from the premises linked to Sahu with the song of the Money Heist in the background and former party chief Rahul Gandhi's picture with the Rajya Sabha MP.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : The Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday demanded in the Supreme Court that TDP supremo and former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu be restrained from making any public comments related to the alleged FiberNet scam case.

Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing on the state governmentas behalf, urged a bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M. Trivedi that Naidu be directed to not make any political statements about the pending case.

It may be recalled that the top court had already ordered the political leader to not make any public comments relating to the alleged Skill Development Corporation case.

In response, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Naidu, alleged that senior officials of the state government are holding press conferences in Delhi and other states in relation to the cases lodged against the former CM.

After hearing the submissions, the bench suggested that both sides should exercise restraint and adjourned the hearing till January 17, 2024.

It clarified that the undertaking given by the Andhra Pradesh CID that it will not arrest Naidu in the FiberNet case will continue till the next date of hearing.

Naidu is accused of playing a 'key role' in the AP FiberNet scam that happened during the TDP government in the state. The CID has accused him of exerting pressure on officials to favour a certain company that was awarded the FiberNet contract.
Kolkata, Dec 12 : As per initial estimates, the total loss in the exchequer of the West Bengal government due to the alleged ration distribution case was around Rs 400 crore, as per the first charge sheet of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which was submitted at a special court in Kolkata on Tuesday.

Sources said that while this is just the initial estimate, the figure might inflate further as the investigating officials get deeper in the course of investigation and get more clues relating to different avenues of fund diversion.

Sources also pointed out that this initial estimate of Rs 400 crore is just related to the loss in state exchequer and not the entire fiscal size of the alleged scam, considering the huge amount earned by those involved in the scam making huge money either by selling food products meant for public distribution system at premium rate in the open market or by investing the scam proceeds in other areas like real estate and hotels.

In the charge sheet, sources said, the statement of a bureaucrat associated with the state food & supplies department, has been included. The bureaucrat has been referred to as a witness by the ED sleuths. In the charge sheet, the ED has identified current West Bengal forest minister and former state food & supplies Minister Jyotipriya Mallick and Kolkata- based businessman Bakibur Rahaman as the principal masterminds in the scam,

The ED has also mentioned that a section of the PDS dealers, rice- mill owners were also parties in the entire laundering system.

The central agency sleuths have also got specifics on the involvement of a section of the state food and supplies department officials considering that a large number of official seals of the department were seized from the possession of Rahaman.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : Minister of Chemical and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday said that government has achieved the production of over 285 lakh metric tonne of urea and currently only 200 metric tonne is being imported from other countries which includes China.

He made the remarks while responding to a question of Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain after he raised the issue of import of urea and fertilizers from China.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Hussain said: "There is a lot of news on 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and tall claims by the government on the China issue as well. I want to ask whether the government is still importing urea and fertilizers from China.

"If so, what is the value and quantity, and what measures is the government taking to reduce dependency on imports from China?" Hussain asked.

"After our government came to power in 2014, we prepared to restart the plants which were shut. Four plants -- Gorakhpur, Ramagundam, Sindhri and Barauni have been started," Mandaviya said.

He said that India's production has now increased to 285 lakh metric tonne.

"For the rest of our needs we issue tenders. And the manufacturer quotes their price. It is also imported from China," he said.

After he said the urea is also imported from China, a commotion ensued in the house to which the minister responded that this tradition was started by you (Congress) and what you have given us in legacy proves it.

"We have laid foundation stone of five plants while the government three private sector plants production have been started by bringing the new urea policy," Mandaviya said.

"Today, we only import 200 lakh metric tonne. When we issue the global tender, should we not take the fertilizer from one country if we are buying from other country? How can we leave our farmers without fertilizers? There is a limit of doing politics," Madaviya said.

"If we are taking about 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' are we doing wrong?" he asked.
Abhishek on 2 decades of 'LOC: Kargil': Can't believe it's been 20 years. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Dec 12 : Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, who was recently seen in 'Ghoomer', is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his war film 'LOC: Kargil'.

The film paid a tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers who fought in the Kargil war.

On the film's 20th anniversary, Abhishek, who played the role of Captain Vikram Batra in LOC: Kargil, took to X (formerly Twitter), and talked about the memories he made while shooting.

Sharing the pictures from the film, he wrote, "Time flies! Cannot believe it's been 20 yrs since the release of L.O.C. Such great memories making the film with so many friends. But an even greater honour to be able to tell the stories of our true heroes in the Indian armed forces (sic)."

The actor thanked director J.P. Datta for giving him the opportunity.

Abhishek added, "Thank you JP sahab for choosing me and giving me the opportunity to be a part in the film. #20YearsOfLOCKargil."

The film featured one of the biggest star casts ever assembled in Bollywood, with several top stars of the era making an appearance.

Abhishek's portrayal of Captain Vikram Batra was the first time this heroic tale was brought to the big screen, a role that was later essayed by Sidharth Malhotra in the streaming film 'Shershaah'.
Six Pak Army soldiers killed in gunfight with militants in North Waziristan. Image Source: IANS News

Islamabad, Dec 12 : Twenty-three Pakistan Army soldiers were killed in a "terror attack" on a checkpost in Dera Ismail Khan's Daraban area on Tuesday.

Six terrorists attacked the security post in the early hours of December 12, Pakistani media outlet Dawn reported, citing the military's media affairs wing.

"The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted which forced the terrorists to ram an explosive laden vehicle into the post, followed by a suicide bombing attack. The resulting blasts led to the collapse of the building, causing multiple causalities; 23 brave soldiers embraced shahadat, while all six terrorists were effectively engaged and sent to hell," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, a new group affiliated with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack.

This is the militaryas highest single-day death toll from terrorist attacks reported this year. Before this, 12 soldiers were martyred in separate military operations in the Zhob and Sui areas of Balochistan in July, the media report said.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti condemned the "terrorist attack on the police station" and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives.
Six Pak Army soldiers killed in gunfight with militants in North Waziristan. Image Source: IANS News

Islamabad, Dec 12 : Twenty-three Pakistan Army soldiers were killed in an attack on a checkpost in Dera Ismail Khan's Daraban area on Tuesday.

Six terrorists attacked the security post in the early hours of December 12, Pakistani media outlet Dawn reported, citing the military's media affairs wing.

"The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted which forced the terrorists to ram an explosive laden vehicle into the post, followed by a suicide bombing attack. The resulting blasts led to the collapse of the building, causing multiple causalities; 23 brave soldiers embraced shahadat, while all six terrorists were effectively engaged and sent to hell," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, a new group affiliated with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack.

This is the militaryas highest single-day death toll from terrorist attacks reported this year. Before this, 12 soldiers were martyred in separate military operations in the Zhob and Sui areas of Balochistan in July, the media report said.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti condemned the "terrorist attack on the police station" and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives.
Queenstown, Dec 12 : Pakistan women's team suffered injuries to a pair of experienced players -- pacer Diana Baig and skipper Nida Dar as New Zealand cruised to victory in the opening match of their ODI series on Tuesday.

Pakistan lost key pacer Baig to a finger injury during a practice session before Tuesdayas match and that was further compounded when skipper Dar was struck in the face while bowling in the 44th over of the New Zealand innings and ruled out for the remainder of the match. She was replaced by Sadaf Shamas.

The 28-year-old Baig, while fielding in a practice session, suffered an injury to the index finger of her bowling arm. She was taken to a local hospital Immediately after the incident for a thorough examination, including an X-ray.

The medical reports have confirmed a horizontal fracture in Baig's index finger, making her unavailable for the ODI series against the White Ferns.

The loss of the key players overshadowed an impressive performance from New Zealand, as veteran opener Suzie Bates scored her 13th ODI century to lead the home side to an easy 131-run triumph over Pakistan at John Davies Oval.

Pakistan were never really in the hunt in reply as they were dismissed in the final over for 234 despite a brilliant century from opener Sidra Ameen.

While Dar still has some chance of recovering in time to play in the final two matches of the series, Pakistan have already revealed Baig will miss the remainder of the series due to her injury.
San Francisco, Dec 12 : An Indian-origin executive was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly a million dollar fine in the US for misappropriating information about impending corporate transactions.

Amit Bhardwaj, 49, former Chief Information Security Officer at Lumentum Holdings, was sentenced last week by US District Judge Gregory H. Woods for committing insider trading based on material, non-public information (MNPI) that he misappropriated from his employer.

A resident of San Ramon in California, he previously pleaded guilty to 13 counts relating to the insider trading scheme.

"Amit Bhardwaj violated the trust placed in him by his employer by tipping his associates with valuable, non-public information regarding Lumentum's planned corporate acquisitions," US Attorney Damian Williams said.

"Today's sentence should serve as a stark reminder to corporate executives regularly entrusted with confidential business information that if you try to illegally profit from this information, you will pay a stiff price," Williams added.

According to the allegations in the Indictment and statements made in public court proceedings, around December 2020, Bhardwaj learned that Lumentum was considering acquiring Coherent, Inc.

Based on this information, he purchased Coherent stock and call options, then tipped three associates -- his friend Dhirenkumar Patel, another friend, and one of his close family relatives.

As a result, all these individuals traded in Coherent securities.

As per their pact, Patel agreed to pay Bhardwaj 50 per cent of the profits he earned by trading in Coherent based on the MNPI provided by Bhardwaj. When Coherent's stock price increased substantially following the announcement of the Lumentum acquisition, Bhardwaj, Patel and two others, closed their positions in Coherent securities and collectively profited by nearly $900,000.

In October 2021, Bhardwaj learned that Lumentum was engaged in confidential discussions with Neophotonics Corporation about a potential acquisition. He provided this information to Srinivasa Kakkera, Abbas Saeedi, and Ramesh Chitor, and these individuals all subsequently traded in Neophotonics securities.

In connection with Chitor's trading, Bhardwaj and Chitor agreed that they would split the profits equally.

When Neophotonics's stock price increased substantially following the announcement of the Lumentum acquisition in November 2021, Kakkera, Saeedi, and Chitor closed their positions in Neophotonics securities. They collectively made approximately $4.3 million in realised and unrealised profits.

After they were interviewed by the FBI voluntarily and served with federal grand jury subpoenas on March 2022, Bhardwaj took steps to obstruct the federal investigation of their conduct. On the day of the FBI interviews, he drove to the homes of certain of his co-conspirators to encourage them not to tell the federal authorities the truth about their insider trading scheme.

Bhardwaj and his associates subsequently met in person on multiple occasions and discussed, among other things, potential false stories that would conceal their insider trading scheme. They also created false documents to buttress lies regarding payments that were, in reality, related to the insider trading scheme.

In addition to the prison sentence, Bhardwaj was ordered to forfeit $547,286 and pay a fine of $975,000.
Fedir Khrystenko, an MP from the now-banned Opposition Platform - For Life (OPFL) party, who left Ukraine on the eve of Russia's full-scale invasion, has an apartment in Moscow. However, for some reason, he decided to live in Poland rather than Russia.

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He rented a 173-square-meter apartment there, where he lives with his family. This is reported by the Radio Liberty project "Schemes" with reference to the State Register of Declarations and a source with access to the border crossing database.

In his declaration for 2022, the fugitive MP noted that he rented housing in Poland on February 19. Khrystenko rents the apartment with his wife and daughter. The exact address of their apartment is not specified in the declaration, but according to media reports, it may be a house on Sarmacka Street in an upscale neighborhood of Warsaw. In August 2022, three cars registered to Khrystenko's wife were spotted near it: BMW M760LI, Bentley Continental, and Porsche Cayenne, which the MP also declared.

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Next to this apartment, the declaration also lists a 176-square-meter apartment in Moscow with an estimated value of more than 100 million rubles (about $1 million). It has been registered in the name of the MP's wife, Marina Khristenko, since 2018.

The border crossing database shows that Khristenko left Ukraine exactly 10 days before the start of the full-scale war. He took off from Boryspil on February 14, 2022, and has not returned since, having settled in Poland.

It is also worth noting that in 2022, the MP declared only 42 thousand hryvnias of his deputy salary. This is probably due to the fact that the leadership of the Verkhovna Rada called Khrystenko one of the biggest absenteeists, which is why they stopped paying him.

We would like to add that the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk previously explained that it is impossible to deprive a deputy of his mandate for absenteeism.

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As OBOZ.UA previously reported, 13 Ukrainian MPs went abroad as volunteers and did not return. They abuse the "Shlyakh" system and then do not hurry to return from Poland, the United States and other countries.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
New Delhi: Former ICICI Bank chief Chanda Kochhar and her husband Deepak Kochhar arrive to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Rs 1,875-crore Videocon loan case in New Delhi on May 13, 2019. . Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Dec 12 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned, till January 3, 2024, the hearing on Central Bureau of Investigation's petition challenging the interim bail granted by the Bombay High Court to former ICICI bank chief Chanda Kochhar in the alleged Videocon loan fraud case.

A bench of Justices Bela M. Trivedi and S.C. Sharma decided to adjourn the hearing after senior advocate Amit Desai, who appeared on Kochhar's behalf via video conferencing, submitted that he is facing connectivity issues and intends to appear physically for making submissions in the case.

Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, who appeared for the CBI, pressed that the matter be listed on Wednesday and should not be adjourned for long.

Thereafter, the top court decided that it will take up the matter for further hearing on January 3 next year.

Earlier, the top court had raised eyebrows over continuation of Kochharas interim bail for 11 months.

"Is interim bail still continuing? Why are you not objecting?" Justice Trivedi had asked the CBI.

In response, Raju had said that the CBI has been objecting and will file an application before Bombay High Court for vacating the interim order. He had added that the basis of grant of interim bail given by the High Court is itself erroneous and therefore, being challenged by the central investigative agency before the apex court.

Giving a last opportunity, the apex court had said that it will take up the matter for hearing on December 11.

In a special leave petition before the apex court, the CBI had challenged the Bombay HC decision directing release of Kochhar and her husband Deepak Kochhar from judicial custody on the ground that the arrest made was not in accordance with the law. The High Court order of January 9, granting interim bail for two weeks only, is still continuing.

Kochhar and her family are alleged to have received kickbacks over her tenure in lieu of loans provided to the Videocon group.
Jaipur, Dec 12 : The suspense regarding the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan is now over as Bhajan Lal Sharma, a first time MLA who stood from the Sanganer seat, is the BJP's choice for the top job. The party has named Diya Kumari and Premchand Bairwa as the two deputy CMs of Rajasthan.

The observers from Delhi settled on Bhajan Lal Sharma after the meeting of the legislature party.

Sharma, a resident of Bharatpur, has been part of the ABVP, RSS and the BJP for a long time and he has served as the General Secretary in Rajasthan four times under different state Presidents.

The BJP made him contest elections for the first time from a safe seat like Sanganer after cutting the ticket of sitting MLA Ashok Lahoti and this will be his first time in the CMas seat.

The Sanganer seat is the stronghold of the BJP and Bhajan Lal Sharma won because of this. In view of his long stint in the organization in Rajasthan, he has been given the top job now.

The BJP high command had made Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Vinod Tawde and Saroj Pandey as observers for Rajasthan and the three leaders reached Jaipur this afternoon and held a meeting with the MLAs.

Union Minister Rajnath Singh also had a one-on-one meeting with Vasundhara Raje and spoke to BJP National President JP Nadda on phone.

Before the party settled upon Bhajan Lal Sharma as the CM-elect, there were many names doing the rounds and Raje was the front runner for the top job.
Patna, Dec 12 : After BJP announced Mohan Yadav (from Yadav caste) as its Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, the JD(U) Spokesperson K.C Tyagi on Tuesday said that the saffron party was forced to change its strategy due to the caste census conducted in Bihar.

"The caste census in Bihar was followed by enhancing the quota reservation. It was a masterstroke of Nitish Kumar government. It forced BJP to change its strategy," Tyagi said while interacting with the media persons in Patna.

He said that the Chief Minister will soon visit Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand and address the election rallies. Besides, he will also go to Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

"The caste based survey and enhancing quota reservation has increased the popularity of Nitish Kumar," Tyagi said.

He said that BJP changed its strategy in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh due to the sharp politics of Nitish Kumar.

He said that if Congress had taken help of Nitish Kumar during the assembly elections in three states, the result may have been different.

As per the cast census, the Yadav caste, has the highest population (14 per cent) in Bihar.

As the data shows, the Yadav caste can be a deciding factor in upcoming general elections as far as Bihar and Madhya Pradesh is concerned and by choosing Mohan Yadav as Chief Minister, the BJP is trying to get Yadav voters on its side.

--IANS

ajk/dan
New Delhi, Dec 12 : The Special CBI Court in Jammu on Tuesday sentenced a former Executive Engineer of Northern Railways to five years' imprisonment in a bribery case.

According to the CBI, they had registered the instant case against B B Mittal, Executive Engineer (Construction/Doubling), Northern Railway, Jammu on the allegations that he was demanding a bribe of Rs 10,000 from the complainant for releasing the security amount of Rs 7.5 lakhs.

Acting on the case, a CBI team laid a trap on July 15, 2009 and caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs 10,000 from the complainant.

"After investigation, a charge sheet was filed on March 11, 2010. The trial court found the said accused guilty and convicted him," said a senior CBI official.

"On Tuesday, the Special CBI judge sentenced Mittal, the then Executive Engineer, to five years' rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10,000," the official added.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : In a significant step towards bolstering bilateral cooperation in combating transnational crimes and addressing emerging challenges in law enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director, Christopher A Wray, visited the Delhi Police Headquarters on Tuesday.

The visit was part of Wrayas ongoing tour of India and the high-profile delegation received a warm welcome by the Delhi Police.

Director Wray was briefed on the mandate, challenges, and organisational set-up of the Delhi Police.

The discussions centred on potential areas of mutual cooperation between the two law enforcement agencies, with a particular emphasis on the exchange of information.

Both, the FBI and Delhi Police recognised the necessity to enhance structural coordination in combating transnational crimes, including a focus on emerging technology-based challenges.

The need for closer cooperation in solving transnational cybercrimes, facilitating access to service providers offering encrypted communication applications, and sharing information to prevent criminals from exploiting different countries for shelter, were some of the issues taken up during the discussions.

Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora and Director Wray emphasised the importance of establishing both formal and informal channels for communication, experience sharing, and resource collaboration, especially in the investigation of complex technology-enabled crimes.

Expressing satisfaction with the current state of their relationship, the two law enforcement chiefs acknowledged the positive results achieved over the year. They further deliberated on strategies to build on this progress collaboratively.

Director Wray, in his interactions with senior officers of the Delhi Police, expressed gratitude for hosting the FBI delegation and expressed optimism that the visit would lead to a qualitatively enhanced relationship in the future.

The Delhi Police Chief reciprocated the sentiment, thanking Director Wray for sparing time to visit one of the world's largest metropolitan police forces. He assured continued cooperation in all matters of criminal investigation, mutual concerns, and relationship-building in the days to come.
KCR appeals to people not to visit him at hospital. Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, Dec 12 : BRS supremo and former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday appealed to people not to visit the hospital to see him as this will cause inconvenience to other patients.

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief, who is undergoing treatment at Yashoda Hospital Somajiguda after undergoing hip replacement surgery, made the appeal through a video message.

He said that he is thankful to thousands of people who came to the hospital from different parts of the state.

KCR said he was recovering after the accident and doctors have advised him not to leave the hospital as there are chances of catching infection. He requested people not to come to see him for another 10 days as this could cause inconvenience to hundreds of other patients undergoing treatment at the hospital and create traffic problems around the hospital.

He said he would soon recover and will be in the midst of people.

The BRS chief underwent hip replacement surgery on December 7 after suffering a fracture when he slipped and fell at his farmhouse.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, ministers, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, leaders of various political parties and actors Chiranjeevi and Prakash Raj visited KCR at the hospital during the last two days.

On Tuesday, Ministers Damodar Rajanarasimha, D. Sridhar Babu, and AMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi called on KCR.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : With the arrest of six men, the Delhi Police's Crime Branch has successfully dismantled an inter-state gang of notorious robbers involved in the heist of Rs 50 lakhs from a couple in Anand Vihar area, an official said on Tuesday.

The arrested suspects have been identified as Mohd Shahzad (45), Saeed alias Kalwa (38), Jameel aka Famu (42), Arshad (36), Lalita Prasad alias Lalta (52), and Shamim (36).

Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav said that on November 28, the complainant, a resident of Markin Ganj, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh alleged that at 10.15 a.m, he along with his wife de-boarded a train at Anand Vihar railway station, as they had to go to Chandni Chowk for purchasing gold jewellery for their shop.

After exiting the railway station, an auto-rickshaw driver approached them and agreed to take them to Chandni Chowk.

"They were carrying two bags containing cash of Rs 50 lakhs, so they quickly boarded the auto-rickshaw. After travelling some distance, the driver and one of his associates stopped the auto-rickshaw and informed them that some fault had occurred in the engine, preventing them from going any further," said Yadav.

Simultaneously, another auto-rickshaw approached them, and the autorickshaw driver of the first auto asked them to sit in the other auto-rickshaw.

As the autorickshaw already had two passengers, the complainant declined to sit. However, both auto-rickshaw drivers placed their bags in the auto-rickshaw. "After covering a certain distance, the driver of the second auto-rickshaw and the three persons who were already in the autorickshaw threatened them, robbed their bags, and disembarked," said the Special CP.

During the investigation, all relevant CCTV footage of the incident was collected and analysed. "In the scrutiny of these CCTV recordings, one footage surfaced, depicting the victims seated in an auto-rickshaw under the Ghazipur flyover. Following the auto-rickshaw through surveillance cameras, the registration number of the vehicle was identified," said Yadav.

Upon obtaining the details, it was revealed that the auto-rickshaw was registered in the name of Mahavir. "Information about the said auto-rickshaw was also gathered from the traffic unit, uncovering traffic violation challans registered against the names of Sarfaraz and Aftab," said Yadav.

Both manual and technical surveillance were deployed on the suspects, and the presence of the accused persons involved in the robbery case was traced to Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh.

The investigative team conducted a raid in Bijnor at the residences of the accused, but all were found absconding from their respective places.

"Upon questioning with the family of one suspect named Shahzad and examining his daughter's mobile, a mobile number surfaced. Further investigation into the provided mobile number revealed its activation on the day following the offence, with its location traced to Patna, Bihar," said the Special CP.

A raid was executed in Patna, Bihar, but the mobile number was found switched off. Subsequently, all hotels in the vicinity of the potential location were meticulously searched for customers with Bijnor IDs.

"After checking more than 20 hotels, a guesthouse in Raja Bazaar, Patna, Bihar, revealed that room No. 203 was occupied by four persons from Bijnor," said Yadav.

The room was found locked, and upon inquiry, a new mobile number was discovered in the guesthouse record. Based on technical analysis, Shahzad, Saeed, Jameel, and Arshad were apprehended.

During sustained interrogation, they confessed to their involvement in a robbery case at Police Station S Anand Vihar, Delhi. A sum of Rs 23,50,000, the robbed cash, was recovered from their possession.

"Further investigations led to the apprehension of accused Prasad from Bijnor. At his disclosure, another accused named Shamim was apprehended, who provided the auto-rickshaw to the accused persons. A sum of Rs 7,96,000, along with both the auto-rickshaws used in the commission of the crime, was recovered from their possession," said Yadav.

During questioning, the accused revealed their extensive involvement in criminal cases, having been incarcerated multiple times. After their release, facing financial challenges, they all came to Delhi from Bijnor and stayed at the residence of Nafees, their gang operator.

Since November 22, they actively sought a target, regularly visiting railway stations to identify a profitable opportunity. However, success eluded them until November 28 when Prasad identified a target, and they executed their plan in collaboration with Nafees, robbing Rs 50 lakhs from an elderly couple in the Anand Vihar area.

"Post-robbery, they directly proceeded to Nafees's residence to distribute the stolen loot," said Yadav.

It was also revealed that Nafees distributed the shares among all gang members, operating the gang and providing logistical support to them.

"All the accused disclosed their involvement in similar modus operandi cases. To evade arrest, they frequently changed their hideouts. Remaining accused persons, named Iqbal, Akbar, and Nafees, are still at large," Yadav added.
Nagpur : , Dec 12 (IANS) For the fourth consecutive day, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) protested against the Maharashtra Government over the spate of deaths in public hospitals in the last few months.

Leaders of the Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-Nationalist Congress Party (SP) symbolically sported stethoscopes, surgical masks and oxygen masks, and raised slogans attacking Health Minister Tanaji Sawant for the sorry state of government-run hospitals in the state, stood outside the Legislature on Tuesday.

Leader of Opposition (Assembly) Vijay Wadettiwar and Leader of Opposition (Council) Ambadas Danve carried placards bearing the statistics of fatalities that occurred in several public hospitals in the recent past at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nanded, Chandrapur and Thane, the home-town of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Decrying the state of the government hospitals where scores of deaths took place in August-October, Danve said that the time has come now to examine the health of the government which has ruined the peoplesa well-being.

In mid-August, around 27 patients died at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital at Thane in a span of barely 48 hours, sparking a furore in the state.

In October, at least 24 people, including 12 infants died at the Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College & Hospital, Nanded, allegedly owing to a paucity of medicines and medical supplies.

The same month, some 18 patients succumbed at the Government Medical College & Hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, barely two days after the Nanded tragedy, leading to a huge political fracas.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : The Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) will ensure that AI becomes a kinetic enabler for millions of people with clear and accountable guardrails, the Indian government said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the GPAI summit in the capital, saying that AI has the potential to transform Indiaas tech landscape.

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that AI will be a game changer for several sectors like healthcare, education, water resources and agriculture, helping build real-life use cases for the country.

aGPAI is a coming together of the nations that can work together to shape the future of AI to give a framework that enables the good of AI for all our people, while ensuring clear and accountable guardrails while ensuring that safety, trust and responsibility are put in place," Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said.

As the host country, "we ourselves have seen the power of tech in last nine years since our PM launched Digital India, and we have seen how technology has transformed the lives of our citizens", he added.

India is organising the summit in the capital from December 12-14 and according to Vaishnaw, "we will be able to arrive at some consensus" on building responsible AI with certain guardrails. After the successful AI Safety Summit in the UK, the GPAI summit in New Delhi will further deliberate upon the risks associated with AI, before a global framework is reached in South Korea next year.
Los Angeles, Dec 12 : Actor Adam Driver secretly welcomed his second child into the world earlier this year. Adam and his wife were due to give their son a sibling.

Page Six has claimed the 'House of Gucci' star let slip his wife Joanne Tucker had given birth to a baby girl during his rehearsal for 'Saturday Night Live' this past weekend.

During his opening monologue take, he allegedly said: "Last year, I asked for a baby girl, and I got it, which is exhausting. So this year, I wish for Ambien", reports 'Female First UK'.

The 40-year-old actor and his longtime spouse - whom he married in 2013 - managed to keep their son a secret from the world for two years.

However, Joanne's sister inadvertently revealed the actress was a mother when she made her Instagram account public in 2018, which revealed pregnancy pictures from the pair's joint baby shower and a reference to her and Joanne as "new moms".

As per 'Female First UK', Adam publicly confirmed he was a dad while hosting 'Saturday Night Live' in 2020. He joked during his opening monologue on the show: "I'm a husband. And a father. It's in that order though. I've been very clear with my son about that, he's second in everything."

Adam has also made cryptic references to parenthood in interviews over the years. The marine-turned-actor also told W magazine in 2017 he didn't think he could "love anything more" than his dog, except "maybe" his child.

He said: "Like, I have a kid, maybe, and be like, (gestures dismissively.) But the dog". Adam and Joanne met at The Juilliard School in the early 2000s and the actor has hailed his partner for helping him "remain a normal person" amid the "Hollywood craziness".
The heart is a real "engine" of the human body, and life depends on its proper functioning. Its diseases usually require careful examination and treatment. However, sometimes people with heart disease worry excessively that their lives cannot be fulfilling and that ordinary joys, such as intimate relationships, can harm them. Sexual activity almost never leads to heart problems or sudden death.

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People with congenital, hereditary, or acquired heart disease can be calm and enjoy life to the fullest. These conclusions of doctors were reported by la Repubblica on its website.

Fears of sudden death during sexual intercourse have arisen because most people consider sexual activity to be intense and capable of affecting the heart. However, a recent American study refutes this fact and gives hope.

The review analyzed the medical records of patients who died suddenly over the past 15 years (6847 people) at a British university's cardiology center. Only 17 of them had a heart attack during intercourse or within an hour of it, meaning that the probability was approximately 0.2%.

In addition, the data from the experiment reveal interesting facts. Thus, they showed that the minimal risk of dying during sex exists not only in men but also in women (6 cases out of 17). The average age of patients also does not indicate a risk for the elderly, as it was 38 years old.

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A thorough analysis also proved that cardiac arrest could have been caused by another heart disease, such as sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.

Therefore, experts assure that sexual activity does not lead to heart disease and sudden death . Thus, intimate relationships are good for the body at any age, or at least not more dangerous than other active activities.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL talked about a way to increase libido. Doctors claim that regular exercise can bring back the joy of sex to women.
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud during pronouncement of verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Dec 12 : An exclusive nationwide survey conducted by CVoter soon after the Supreme Court upheld the abrogation of Article 370 as valid reveals that a big majority of the respondents have welcomed the verdict.

Overall, seven out of every 10 respondents have stated that they agree with the SC verdict. Not surprisingly, while four-fifth of NDA supporters agree with the verdict, a lower 61 per cent of Opposition supporters share the view.

The divergence is seen on other issues too. While three-fourth of NDA supporters feel the current regime is treating the people of Jammu & Kashmir well, a shade less than half of Opposition supporters share the same view.

While Indians overall have supported the abrogation and the verdict, people living in the Kashmir Valley disagree. For instance, about 51 per cent respondents living in the Kashmir Valley say that they do not agree with the Supreme Court verdict. Similarly, about 52 per cent of the people in the Valley say the current regime is not treating them well.

Besides, close to two-third are opposed to the idea of Indians from other states buying property and settling down in J&K, while more than 77 per cent in rest of India feel the other way round.

Since 1952, Article 370 and Article 35 were operational in Jammu & Kashmir, giving the state a unique and special identity along with substantive powers to choose which laws passed by the Indian Parliament would be implemented in the state.

On August 5, 2019, soon after winning a massive mandate in the Lok Sabha elections, the current regime passed a Bill in both the Houses of the Parliament abrogating Article 370.

More than 20 petitions challenging the decision were filed in the Supreme Court, which clubbed them together.

On Monday, a five-judge bench passed a unanimous verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : There is nothing usual about cases of mycoplasma pneumonia reported by various countries, beginning China, and subsequently the Netherlands, Denmark and two states in the US, said a health expert on Tuesday, allaying fears.

It all began with several social media posts claiming a new and major pneumonia outbreak with no known cause among Chinese children. It was also reported by ProMED Mail, the online reporting system of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, which said that the outbreak, causing symptoms such as high fever, and some developing pulmonary nodules is overwhelming paediatric hospitals in the country.

Upon request from the the World Health Organization (WHO), Chinese officials informed that no new pathogens were detected in the outbreak, and instead the illnesses were caused by known seasonal viruses such as the flu and RSV, along with the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

But experts allayed fears, attributing the rising infections to the winter season as well as lack of immunity due to Covid measures.

"China, especially the northern parts of that country, is going through winter. So from October onwards, the winter respiratory infections go up in China every year, and there is nothing unusual about that," Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association Covid Task Force, told IANS.

Dr Jayadevan noted that the past three years had extraordinary levels of protective measures, mainly non pharmaceutical measures, such as masks, social distancing and tracking and quarantine due to Covid.

This not only kept Covid virus away, but other viruses were also "muted and they did not circulate". While this did not really affect adults as they have already been exposed to multiple infections before the pandemic, children presented to be a "susceptible population", the doctor said.

"From January 2023 onwards, China's restrictions ended, and it has been back to normal in terms of social interaction -- children are going to school, they're attending birthday parties.

"So with all the mingling going on, these viruses struck a jackpot: they suddenly found a huge number of hosts that had no prior immune exposure. About 30 to 40 million children were available for the virus. So this was 100 per cent expected, there's nothing unusual about that. This is the mechanism of a large number of children getting infected at once," Dr Jayadevan explained.

"There's no strange, mysterious virus spreading. With the information we have, this doesn't have any potential to spread and become another pandemic," said the Kochi-based gastroenterologist.

Further, he noted that "mycoplasma has a habit of reemerging every three to four years or so, a cyclical pattern. Bottom line is this might just be a natural mycoplasma surge and of course it's a bacterial infection," he added.

"Mycoplasma is a bacteria that causes respiratory infection. A distinct feature is that the child feels relatively well in spite of an abnormal chest x-ray. Easily treated with antibiotics, it is known to appear every few years with intervals ranging from 4 to 7 years.

"Importantly, there is no report of ICUs being filled or of real hospitalisation in terms of hospital rooms getting filled in China, most of the rush is in the outpatient section," the doctor said.

Following the reports from China, Netherlands, Denmark and Ohio as well as Massachusetts in the US reported a similar uptick in pneumonia cases among children. While the cases are not part of global spread, and reported separately, these have raised concerns as the world largely is still crawling back from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"These western nations are going through winter, and winter surges are part of normal life there. And the same susceptibility factors apply there, except these are not very densely populated countries. These countries lifted restrictions much earlier than China, hence the proportion of susceptible children is small," Dr Jayadevan said.

On the chances of such an infection in India, Dr Jayadevan said India can see "normal winter surges" but not such severe cases as there is no "susceptible population" in the country.

(Rachel V Thomas can be contacted at rachel.t@ians.in)
New Delhi, Dec 12 : Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Tuesday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to bring back the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Aksai Chin before the general elections.

He also asked them not to distort the history by targeting first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

While speaking in Lok Sabha during the discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second) Amendment Bill, Chowdhury said: "He (Amit Shah) says that we will reclaim the PoK, but what is happening today, the Pakistan-China Belt corridor is being constructed with length of 3,000 km.

"You say that we will make someone representative there (in PoK). What we want to say that you do it. You have said that we will take back Siachen, Ladakh and what you have done in Ladakh. Aksai Chin and PoK is part of India. When will you reclaim the POK and Aksai Chin?

"They only talk big," Chowdhury remarked.

Chowdhury then asked Home Minister when he is going to bring back the PoK. "I challenge Amit Shah and Modiji to reclaim PoK before the Lok Sabha elections," he said.

He said that in this House in 1993 there was an all party resolution to reclaim PoK. "Now China is making roads there. You don't speak on China. We have fought three wars. Till now nothing happened because we had an iron lady in the form of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi," the Congress leader said.

Hitting back at BJP, he said, "Don't distort history, you are the Home Minister of the country. Every day you bring unverified facts about Nehru."

Taking a jibe at the BJP, Chowdhury said that look at your history.

"Do you remember in 1941 Shyama Prasad Mukherjee along with Fazlul Haq, one Hindi Mahasabha and Muslim League formed government in Bengal," Chowdhury said.

He also said that don't disrespect anyone without facts and discuss their role in the House for a day.

He also asked Shah to conduct the elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mentioning the SC judgement of Monday which upheld the reading down of Article 370, Chowdhury said: "As you all know that yesterday the SC judgement came and now elections should be conducted there. And the SC has directed the Election Commission to conduct elections by September 30, 2024."

He said that Congress also want that the elections should take place in Kashmir and the government should not delay it.

In the House, Shah has said that elections will be conducted in Kashmir and also the statehood will be granted.

He said that the SC has talked about the truth and reconciliation committee.

"You (Shah) should also speak about it. Shah whatever we say about Jammu and Kashmir, everything is not normal. If everything was normal then why would SC say it," he added.
Domestic help sentenced to life for killing elderly Indian in Singapore. Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru, Dec 12 : A 34-year-old man was stabbed by a group of individuals at Doddacheemanahalli villlage of Bengaluru Rural district after an altercation over his pet dog barking at them, police said on Tuesday.

The victim, identified as Madhu Kumar, was attacked on Monday night and is currently hospitalized.

According to police, the altercation broke out when accused individuals from same village were complaining to Kumar about the consistent barking of his pet dog at them. Subseuently, the accused physically assaulted the pet owner and his wife, Mamatha.

One of the attackers stabbed Kumar in the abdomen.

The pet owner has filed a complaint with the Vishwanathapura police station, said an official.

The accused have fled the village since the incident, and the police have launched an investigation into the incident, the official added.
Belagavi : , Dec 12 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday clarified that he has not opposed the caste census at any point and anywhere.

"My stand is that the caste census survey must be conducted scientifically and in an organised manner," he said in response to a question on Congress President Mallikarjun Khargeas statement in Rajya Sabha that BJP leaders and Shivakumar are opposed to the caste census implementation.

Shivakumar stated that many MLAs have objected that the caste survey has not been conducted appropriately.

"There are complaints that door to door visits were not conducted during caste census. All communities should get their rights as per their population. Minorities and scheduled castes and others will demand funds and rights as per their population. We have sought clarification on whether the caste survey has been done scientifically," he ssaid.

"We have faith in social and economic surveys. I support the stand of the Congress to provide social justice to all classes and communities. As per the Central government classification, I am also a leader from OBC communities. I have to see all classes of people equally as a state President of the party," he added.

Asked about missing documents from the caste census records, Shivakumar maintained he didn't know about this matter.

"I have spoken to the Chairman of the Backward Classes Commission Jayaprakash Hegde and got the information that the caste census report is not signed by the Member-Secretary.

"Without the signature of the Member-Secretary, how can the caste census report become legitimate is the question," he underlined.

Asked about rumours of his joining the BJP with 50 to 60 MLAs after the Lok Sabha elections, he stressed that he is a Congressman by birth. "I am not mad to join another party. I have my own principles. I have great confidence in the Gandhi family and the Congress. I canat account for other statements in this regard. Let them talk, I wonat bother," he stated.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : The growth rate of India's industrial output shot up to a 16-month high of 11.7 per cent in October, compared to the same month of the previous year, on the back of a strong performance of the manufacturing, mining and electricity generation sectors, according to figures released by the Ministry of Statistics on Tuesday.

The manufacturing sector, which provides quality jobs to young engineers and graduates passing out of the countryas universities, posted a double digit growth rate of 10.4 per cent during the month.

The mining sector production shot up by 13.1 per cent while electricity generation surged by as much as 20.4 per cent.

However, part of the increase is also due to the fact that the numbers are compared to a low base of the previous year when the industrial growth was low.

Data on the user base classification shows that the output of capital goods, which comprise machines that produce goods and thus, reflect the real investment taking place in the economy, grew at robust rate of 22.6 per cent which augurs well for the economy going ahead.

The output of consumer durables such as refrigerators and TVs also grew in double digits which appears to be a positive sign of demand for these goods picking up in a growing economy.
Patna, Dec 12 : Minister of State (MoS) for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on Tuesday said that Bihar has not fulfilled the criteria required to come under special status category.

The MoS was responding to a question asked by Bihar MP and JD-U President regarding the the special status for Bihar.

"On the basis of Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) report which was submitted on March 30, 2012, Bihar has not fulfilled the criteria required to come under special status category," the MoS said in the written reply.

The MoS said that the special category status for plan assistance was granted in the past by the National Development Council (NDC) to some states that are characterised by a number of features necessitating special consideration.

"These features included hilly and different terrain, low population density and/or sizable share of tribal population, strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries, economic and infrastructural backwardness and non-viable nature of state finance," he said.

He said that the decision was taken based on an integrated consideration of all the factors listed above and the peculiar situation by an IMG which submitted its report on March 30, 2012.

"The IMG came to the conclusion that based on the existing NDC criteria, the case for Special Category Status for Bihar is not made out," the MoS said.

He said that as per the 14th finance commission recommendation, the union government increased the share of net shareable taxes to the states from 32 per cent to 42 per cent for the period of 2015 to 2020.

"The 15th finance commission recommendation had also retained the same at 41 per cent and one percent adjusted on the account of the reorganisation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir for the period 2020 to 2026," the MoS said.

He said that after the acceptance of 14th finance commission recommendation the state's share in the divisible pool of central taxes has increased, providing for more fiscal space to the states for contextual needs.

He said that the Central government has given share in devolution of central taxes and duties to Bihar in 2016-17 was Rs 58,881 crore, Rs 65,083 in 2017-18, Rs 73,603 crore in 2018-19, Rs 63, 406 in 2019-20, Rs 59,861 crore in 2020-21, Rs 91,353 crore in 2021-22 and Rs 95,510 crore in 2022-23.

"The central government has also given Grant-in-aid to Bihar Rs 20559 crore in 2016-17, Rs 25,720 crore in 2017-18, Rs 24, 652 crore in 2018-19, Rs 26,969 crore in 2019-20, Rs 31,764 crore in 2020-21, Rs 28,606 crore in 2021-22 and Rs 58,001 crore in 2022-23," the minister said.
Dubai, Dec 12 : UK Climate Minister Graham Stewart, who was attending the final phase of the two-week-long negotiations in the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) here, has left the talks midway and returned to Westminster to attend the Rwanda vote, a critical vote on immigration policy back home home.

Media reports said that Stewart has returned to London from the climate summit in Dubai for the second reading of the contentious Rwanda Bill in the UK Parliament on Tuesday night.

A source told the BBC: "The UK's chief negotiator Alison Campbell continues to lead negotiations for the UK, and the UK government continues to be represented at a ministerial level at COP28 by Lord Benyon."

The source added: "Lord Benyon and Alison Campbell remain in constant contact with minister Stuart, who is responsible for the final decision on key issues and retains responsibility for UK negotiations overall."

Responding to reports that the UK Climate Minister has left the COP28 talks, Christian Aid's Head of UK Advocacy, Jennifer Larbie, told IANS: "It's shocking to see the UK Climate Minister leaving the COP28 talks early, just as crucial negotiations about a global fossil fuel phase-out reach crunch point. The UK has a proud history of being a key player at previous talks.

"Only last night Graham Stewart was describing the UK as a climate champion and today he's not even here during the most important hours of the summit. Considering Rishi Sunak's push for more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, it's very sad to see the UK soiling its credentials on climate change."

Chiara Liguori, Oxfam's Senior Climate Change Policy Advisor, said: "There can be no more tragic outcome for UK climate diplomacy than this -- flying home from talks to avert a climate catastrophe at the most critical moment in an attempt to salvage a cruel and impractical policy."

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted as gulatiians@gmail.com)

--IANS

VG/
Bhopal : BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan congratulates party leader Mohan Yadav after he was named as the BJP's legislature party leader in Madhya Pradesh. Image Source: IANS News

Bhopal, Dec 12 : On the eve of the swearing-in ceremony of the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Mohan Yadav and his two Deputy CMs Rajendra Shukla and Jagdish Devda, the outgoing CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan made his farewell speech on Wednesday.

A large number of supporters, specifically women assembled at his official residence to bid a farewell to the longest-serving CM of the state.

Emotional scenes were witnessed as many of the supporters could be seen wiping their tears.

As many of the women told him that they had voted in order to make him the Chief Minister again, Chouhan tried to console them saying, "It's not the end."

This remark created a buzz because the people present there took it as a signal that even though Chouhan did not get the top job he was not leaving politics and might be back at the helm again in future.

Political observers also believe that Chouhan will bounce back soon enough.

Before meeting his supporters, Chouhan addressed a press conference and was asked why he did not visit Delhi after the BJP registered a landslide victory on December 3. Responding to that question Chouhan said, "One thing I say with great humility, that I would rather die than go and ask for something for myself. That's not my job. That's why I had said that I will not go to Delhi."

The outgoing CM further termed questions about him contesting the Lok Sabha elections as a figment of people's imagination and added that he would abide by the party's decision and was committed to a larger mission.

When asked if the BJP had done injustice with him by not giving him a fifth term as the CM, Chouhan replied that the party had entrusted him with the top job for 18 years.

"The BJP kept an ordinary worker as a CM for 18 years. No one sees the other side. The BJP gave me everything, now the time has come to reciprocate and give back to the party. Why can't this be the thinking?" he added.

Notably, the BJP on Monday picked the three-time MLA from Ujjain South Assembly seat for the Madhya Pradesh CM's post.

Congratulating Mohan Yadav for getting the top job, Chouhan said, "I am confident that under the leadership of CM Mohan Yadav, the BJP Government will complete the ongoing projects in the state. In terms of progress and development, Madhya Pradesh will achieve new heights. I will keep supporting him."
New Delhi, Dec 12 : Global Kashmir Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) on Tuesday welcomed the SC's decision which declared the reading down of Article 370 as constitutionally valid and permanent.

"We would like to offer our profound gratitude to the SC. We are also grateful to our countrymen who have supported us in this journey. The SC's judgement fills us with optimism that our collective voices are being heard," the GKPD in a statement said.

The GKPD said that December 11 marks a "red letter day" for the Kashmiri Pandit community.

It said that Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul who in a separate ruling has recommended the setting up of a truth and reconciliation commission -- which has been a long-standing demand of the Kashmiri Pandit (KP) community -- must start and the inter-generational trauma of KPs needs urgent redressal.

GKPD said that MP Vivek Tankha also spoke eloquently on behalf of the KPs in the Rajya Sabha when the Jammu and Kashmir reorganisation/amendment bill was being debated.

"He not only corrected the figures related to the number of displaced people but also requested that all descendants of the KPs should be given the opportunity to avail the seat reservations in the Legislative assembly as is the case for PoJK displaced people," it said.

The GKPD also thanked Tankha for talking about our trauma and genocide of KPs.

It said that Tankha has also filed a case history of how the Central government will always consult the KP community on strategic matters but now had ignored them for the last thirty three years.

"We request Amit Shah to start the process of engagement with the community. As stakeholders of the valley of Kashmir with a 5000 year history we are hopeful of an honourable return to our homeland in the near future. Our return with dignity and justice will be a big win for the state, its people and India," the GKPD said.
Press Release

December 12, 2023 Senate approves tougher measure against agricultural economic saboteurs The Senate on Monday, December 11, 2023 passed on third and final reading a bill imposing severe sanctions against smugglers, profiteers, hoarders and cartels of agricultural and fishery products. Voting 18-0-0, senators approved Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2432 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. The bill repeals Republic Act No. 10845, otherwise known as the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. saw the need to immediately pass the measure by certifying it as urgent, citing the rising prices of agricultural products caused by hoarding, smuggling and other illegal activities. The bill defines the crime of agricultural economic sabotage as any act or activity that disrupts the economy by creating artificial shortage, promoting excessive importation, manipulating prices and supply, evading payment or underpaying tariffs and customs duties, threatening local production and food security, gaining excessive or exorbitant profits by exploiting situations, creating scarcity, and entering into agreements that defeat fair competition to the prejudice of the public. The Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council headed by the President shall be created composed of national government agencies and representatives from the agricultural sectors. It shall also create the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Enforcement Group. Violations of this Act shall be under the jurisdiction of the Court of Tax Appeals. Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform and sponsor of the measure, said severe penalties are needed to deter smuggling and abusive market practices which threaten the well-being of agricultural producers and welfare of the consumers, and the economy as a whole. The following agricultural and fishery products are covered under the bill: rice, corn, beef and other ruminants, pork, poultry, garlic, onion, carrots, other vegetables, fruits, fish, salt and other aquatic products, in their raw state or which have undergone the simple process of preparation or preservation for the market within the primary and post-harvest stages of the food supply chain, palm oil, palm olein, raw and refined sugar, and tobacco. Under the bill, the crime of agricultural smuggling as economic sabotage is committed when the value of each, or a combination of agricultural and fishery products smuggled by a person is at least P3 million using the daily price index computed at the time the crime was committed. Agricultural smuggling as used in this measure shall be committed through any of the following acts: (a) Importing or bringing into the Philippines agricultural and fishery products without the required import clearance from the regulatory agencies; (b) Using import clearance of persons other than those specifically named in the permit; (c) Using fake, false, fictitious or fraudulent import clearance, shipping documents or any other transport documentation; (d) Selling, lending, leasing, assigning, consenting to or allowing the use of import clearance of corporations, non-government organizations, associations, cooperatives, partnerships, or single proprietorships by other persons; (e) Misclassification, undervaluation or misdeclaration upon the filing of import entry declaration or transport documentation with the Bureau of Customs in order to evade the payment of correct taxes and duties due the government; (f) Organizing or using dummy corporations, non-government organizations, associations, cooperatives, partnerships, or single proprietorships for the purpose of acquiring import clearance; (g) Knowingly transporting or storing smuggled agricultural and fishery products; (h) Acting as a broker of the importer; or (i) Allowing the use of a private port, fish port, fish landing site, resort, and/or airport to perpetrate economic sabotage. Agricultural hoarding as economic sabotage is committed by a person or combination of persons by having stocks of agricultural and fishery products in excess of thirty 30 percent of their normal inventory level two weeks after the declaration of an abnormal situation by the Council, or an emergency or state of calamity declared by competent authority. Agricultural profiteering as economic sabotage is the sale or offering for sale of each agricultural and fishery products at a price at least ten (10) percent in excess of the daily price index at the time of the declaration of an abnormal situation by the Council, or emergency or state of calamity declared by competent authority. There shall be prima facie engagement in cartel as economic sabotage through any agreement between two or more persons competing for the same market and dealing in the same agricultural and fishery products to perform uniform, simultaneous, or complementary acts among themselves and actually perform such acts designed to artificially and unreasonably increase or manipulate the supply or prices of such products, thereby stifling competition, as defined in Section 14 of Republic Act No. 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act. The penalty of life imprisonment and a fine thrice the value of the agricultural and fishery products subject of the crime shall be imposed on any person who commits agricultural smuggling, agricultural hoarding, agricultural profiteering and engaging in cartel. The bill also prohibits the act of financing agricultural economic sabotage crimes, which shall also have the penalty of life imprisonment. Under the bill, it shall be a crime for any employee of any member of the Enforcement Group to commit any of the following acts: A. Extortion or willful oppression under color of law; B. Knowingly demanding other documents or records that are irrelevant to the case at hand or unjustifiably extending the constructive custody of the goods; C. Failing to report knowledge or information to their superior officer about the commission of an act or acts punishable under this Act; D. Accepting or attempting to collect directly or indirectly any sum of money or other thing of value for the compromise adjustment or settlement of any charge or complaint for any violation of this Act; and E. Unlawfully disclosing confidential information gained during any investigation or audit, or using such information for personal gain or to the detriment of the government or third parties. Every officer, agent, or employee of any member of the enforcement group who shall be found guilty of committing any prohibited acts shall be penalized with imprisonment of not less than six years but not more than 12 years, and perpetual disqualification to hold public office, from exercising the right to vote and to participate in any public election and a fine of not less than P500, 000 but not more than P1 million. To assist the Council in the expeditious prosecution of criminal cases covered under the bill, the Secretary of the Department of Justice is mandated to constitute a special team of prosecutors all over the country, which shall evaluate evidence, act on criminal complaints, initiate and conduct preliminary investigation, and timely file and prosecute the appropriate criminal charges against the person/s responsible for the crimes of smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel as economic sabotage and other prohibited acts under this act. Items subject of smuggling shall, after filing of the criminal case, the Court may, within seventy-two (72) hours, conduct an ocular inspection of the confiscated, seized or surrendered agricultural and fishery products, and within twenty-four (24) hours thereafter be destroyed by the enforcement group in the presence of the media, the DOJ, any elected public official and representative of agriculture and fishery sector. Locally sourced agricultural and fishery products subject of the crimes of hoarding, profiteering and cartel may be donated by the Council to the DSWD or LGUs or disposed of in any manner. Properties used in the commission of the crimes of agricultural economic sabotage such as, but not limited to, vehicles, vessels, aircrafts, storage areas, warehouses, boxes, cases, trunks and other containers of whatever character confiscated, seized, or surrendered in favor of the government. The proposed law mandates the Bureau of Customs and all Trade Regulatory Agencies to fully implement the National Single Window Program (NSW) within 90 days from the effectivity of this Act. The law provides for a citizen suit, that any person may directly file a criminal complaint either with the Department of Justice or an administrative complaint with the appropriate government agency. "It is high-time that we have an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council, an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Enforcement Group, as well as a special team of prosecutors. With these in place, we will have a watchdog in the agricultural sector to ensure that whoever manipulates the price of agricultural commodities to the detriment of the small farmers and consumers, will be brought to justice accordingly," Villar said. Senate, inaprubahan ang mas mahigpit na panukala laban sa agricultural economic saboteurs Ipinasa noong Lunes ng Senado sa third and final reading ang mas mahigpit na parusa laban sa smugglers, profiteers, hoarders at cartels ng agricultural at fishery products. Sa botong 18-0-0, sinang-ayunan ng mga senador ang Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2432 o ang Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. Pinawalang bisa ng panukala ang Republic Act No. 10845 o ang Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016. Sinertipikahan ni President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na urgent ang batas na ito dahil na rin sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng agricultural products bunga ng hoarding, smuggling at iba pang iligal na gawain. "The bill defines the crime of agricultural economic sabotage as any act or activity that disrupts the economy by creating artificial shortage, promoting excessive importation, manipulating prices and supply, evading payment or underpaying tariffs and customs duties, threatening local production and food security, gaining excessive or exorbitant profits by exploiting situations, creating scarcity, and entering into agreements that defeat fair competition to the prejudice of the public," ani Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairperson ng Senate committee on food and agriculture. Sinabi pa ni Villar na mas mahigpit na parusa ang ipapataw upang maiwasan ang smuggling at abusive market practices. Ang mga sakop ng panukala na agricultural at fishery products ay ang bigas, mais, baka, baboy, manok, bawang, sibuyas, carrots, mga gulay, prutas, isda, asin at iba pang aquatic products. "Under the bill, the crime of agricultural smuggling as economic sabotage is committed when the value of each, or a combination of agricultural and fishery products smuggled by a person is at least P3 million using the daily price index computed at the time the crime was committed," ani pa ni Villar. "Agricultural smuggling as used in this measure shall be committed through any of the following acts: (a) Importing or bringing into the Philippines agricultural and fishery products without the required import clearance from the regulatory agencies; (b) Using import clearance of persons other than those specifically named in the permit; (c) Using fake, false, fictitious or fraudulent import clearance, shipping documents or any other transport documentation; (d) Selling, lending, leasing, assigning, consenting to or allowing the use of import clearance of corporations, non-government organizations, associations, cooperatives, partnerships, or single proprietorships by other persons; (e) Misclassification, undervaluation or misdeclaration upon the filing of import entry declaration or transport documentation with the Bureau of Customs in order to evade the payment of correct taxes and duties due the government; (f) Organizing or using dummy corporations, non-government organizations, associations, cooperatives, partnerships, or single proprietorships for the purpose of acquiring import clearance; (g) Knowingly transporting or storing smuggled agricultural and fishery products; (h) Acting as a broker of the importer; or (i) Allowing the use of a private port, fish port, fish landing site, resort, and/or airport to perpetrate economic sabotage," dagdag pa niya. Sa Agricultural hoarding bilang economic sabotage, itinatambak at itinatago ang agricultural at fishery products na lagpas sa 30 percent ng kanilang normal inventory level dalawang linggo matapos magdeklara ng abnormal situation. Ang Agricultural profiteering bilang economic sabotage ay ang pagbebenta ng agricultural at fishery products ng 10 percent sa price index nito, "There shall be prima facie engagement in cartel as economic sabotage through any agreement between two or more persons competing for the same market and dealing in the same agricultural and fishery products to perform uniform, simultaneous, or complementary acts among themselves and actually perform such acts designed to artificially and unreasonably increase or manipulate the supply or prices of such products, thereby stifling competition, as defined in Section 14 of Republic Act No. 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act," base sa inaprubahang panukala. "The penalty of life imprisonment and a fine thrice the value of the agricultural and fishery products subject of the crime shall be imposed on any person who commits agricultural smuggling, agricultural hoarding, agricultural profiteering and engaging in cartel," dagdag pa nito. Ipinagbabawal din sa panukala ang pag-pondo sa agricultural economic sabotage crimes na may parusang life imprisonment.
Due to the ambiguous position of the US Congress, further military support for Ukraine is at risk of being disrupted. There are also problems with receiving adequate assistance from other Western partners.

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The majority of Ukrainians believe that the termination of military aid will significantly affect the fighting and the outcome of the Russian-Ukrainian war in general. This is evidenced by the results of a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.

Ukrainians were asked whether our country can succeed with proper support from the West. The vast majority of Ukrainians - 87% - believe that if the West helps Ukraine with weapons, finance, and sanctions, our country will be able to defeat the aggressor country of Russia and achieve an acceptable result. At the same time, only 6% of respondents believe that Russia is too strong regardless of Western support.

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However, most Ukrainians are inclined to believe that even if Western aid is significantly reduced, military operations should continue to put pressure on the Russian occupiers. At the same time, 58% of Ukrainians believe that in this case, additional risks arise for the territories controlled by Ukraine.

At the same time, every third respondent believes that it is better to stop the fighting if the West provides really serious security guarantees, even if the liberation of the occupied territories is delayed indefinitely. The remaining 10% were undecided.

As a reminder, the Ukrainian military leadership, together with its American counterparts, is developing a new strategy for the Russian-Ukrainian war. It will be implemented in early 2024 to return the initiative to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in all areas of the front.

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Earlier it was reported that upon arrival in Washington, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that Russia's real goal is not so much to seize sovereign Ukraine, but to destroy democracy and stability throughout the free world.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Hyderabad, Dec 12 : After fulfilling two guarantees in less than a week, the new Congress government is Telangana is now taking steps to fulfil the remaining four guarantees but the review meetings held during the last few days for their implementation show that it faces a daunting task due to financial challenges.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and ministers have been holding a series of review meetings with the departments concerned to evolve modalities for fulfilling other guarantees.

The Chief Minister and ministers have been reiterating their commitment to fulfill all guarantees within 100 days despite the financial problem faced by the state.

While working out modalities for implementing the guarantees, the government is also collecting data about finances of every department and has decided to release a white paper so that people know the facts about the financial position of all the departments.

During a review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on power sector and to discuss implementation of the guarantee for 200 units free power to poor families, the officials informed him that the total debts of the power sector are around Rs 81,000 crore and the implementation of the scheme is likely to cost Rs 4,000 crore every year.

Free travel for women in TSRTC buses and enhancement of coverage to Rs 10 lakh under health insurance scheme for the poor, Rajiv Arogyasri are the two guarantees fulfilled by the Congress government within three days after assuming office.

Monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 each for women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, cooking gas cylinders for Rs 500, 200 units of free electricity for BPL households, and annual investment support of Rs 15,000 per acre for farmers are the other major guarantees.

The Congress had also promised Rs 12,000 per year for agriculture labourers and Rs 500 bonus per quintal for paddy crop above the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The party had also given the guarantee that homeless will get house sites and Rs 5 lakh for construction of houses. Monthly pension of Rs 4,000 for senior citizens and Vidya Bharosa Card worth Rs. 5 lakh each for students are the other major promises made under six guarantees.

Irrigation, Food & Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday held a review meeting on the functioning of the Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supplies Department. The minister accused the previous BRS government of ruining the Civil Supplies Corporation's financial health. He said that the BRS government never supported the corporation financially and prompted it to take loans from outside agencies while giving guarantees.

Consequently, the Civil Supplies Department today has outstanding debts of Rs 52,067.03 crore which is alarming. He said that the department lost Rs 3,645.25 crore only due to interest on these loans.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that as of today there are 89,98,546 Food Security cards in the Telangana and nearly 11.02 lakh new applications are pending. Through PDS, a total of 6,47,479 cardholders are getting six kg of rice free. Out of six kgs, five kg of rice is being provided by the Central government under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and the remaining 1 kg of rice is being provided by the state government.

He Reddy revealed that almost 90 per cent of rice being provided by the Centre and State for Rs 39.02 per kg was not edible. The beneficiaries are selling away the poor quality PDS rice to dealers, idly-dosa units, poultry farms, etc., for as low as Rs 5 per kg. Therefore, the very purpose of supplying free rice to the poor through PDS is not being achieved.

He directed the Civil Supplies Department officials to conduct an in-depth study on the quality of rice being supplied to the ration card holders. He emphasised improving the quality of PDS rice to the beneficiaries.

"If the rice being given to the poor people is not edible, then the entire purpose is lost," he said.
Jaipur, Dec 12 : BJP leader Bhajan Lal Sharma after being elected as the leader of the legislative party in Rajasthan on Tuesday said that he will work with all the leaders of the party for overall development of the state.

Chief Minister-designate Sharma, who contested from Sanganer constituency replacing sitting MLA Ashok Lahoti, said: "We will develop with everyone's cooperation."

Earlier in the day, BJP leader Rajnath Singh met all senior party leaders in the state before the meeting of MLAs.

According to sources, Singh had convinced former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje to propose Sharma's name as the Chief Minister even before the meeting.

In a photo session before the MLAs' meeting, Raje was seen sitting right next to Singh while Sharma was sitting in the fourth row. Diya Kumari, whose name was announced as the Deputy Chief Minister, was in the second row.
New Delhi. Dec 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India will launch an AI mission to boost the healthcare, agriculture and education sectors.

Addressing the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit here, PM Modi said that India is working to transform the health sector using AI.

He highlighted the key role that the path-breaking technology can play in sustainable development.

"We will launch an AI mission to get AI compute power which will help startups and innovators. With this mission, agriculture, healthcare and education sectors will be promoted.

"Our National AI Portal will play a crucial role in supporting and promoting these AI initiatives," he added.

PM Modi said that government's development mantra is, Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.

"We have prepared government policies and programs inspired by the spirit of 'AI For All'. Our endeavour is to take full advantage of the capabilities of AI for social development and inclusive growth. India is fully committed to responsible and ethical use of AI," Modi said.

He said AI has the potential to revolutionise India's tech landscape and AI skills will be taken to tier two and tier three cities in the country.

He said that a more inclusive development of AI will help to spread the benefit to a wider segment of the population and do away with the earlier inequities in technology.

"India is now the main player in AI talent and new ideas related to AI. The young tech experts and researchers in India are exploring the new limits of AI," he said.

However, at the same time the Prime Minister had a word of warning of the potential danger posed by the misuse of AI.

"AI can become the biggest tool of development in the 21st century, but it can also destroy the 21st century. If terrorists manage to misuse AI, there could be a huge blow to global security," PM Modi said.

GPAI is a multi-stakeholder initiative with 29-member countries, which aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI by supporting cutting-edge research and applied activities on AI-related priorities.

India is hosting the Annual GPAI Summit from December 12 to 14 and is the lead chair of GPAI in 2024. India is also the current incoming Support Chair of GPAI.

Multiple sessions on diverse topics like AI and global health, education and skilling, AI and data governance, and ML Workshop, among others will be organised during the summit.

Other attractions in the summit include Research Symposium, AI Gamechangers Award and India AI Expo.

The summit will witness participation of 50+ GPAI experts and 150+ speakers from across countries.

Further, Top AI Gamechangers from across the world will be participating in different events including Intel, Reliance Jio, Google, Meta, AWS, Yotta, Netweb, Paytm, Microsoft, Mastercard, NIC, STPI, Immerse, Jio Haptik, Bhashini etc. Besides, students who are winners under YUVA AI initiative and start-ups will also be showcasing their AI models and solutions.

--IANS

pannu/dan
Jaipur, Dec 12 : Bhajan Lal Sharma, the Chief Minister-designate of Rajasthan after being elected as the leader of the Legislative Party said that he will work with all BJP leaders for all-round development of the state. Sharma said, "We will develop the state with everyone's cooperation." Jaipur, Dec 12 (IANS) Bhajan Lal Sharma, the Chief Minister-designate of Rajasthan after being elected as the leader of the Legislative Party said that he will work with all BJP leaders for all-round development of the state. Sharma said, "We will develop the state with everyone's cooperation."

The BJP high command had made Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Vinod Tawde and Saroj Pandey as observers for Rajasthan and the three leaders reached Jaipur this afternoon and held a meeting with the MLAs.

Union Minister Rajnath Singh also had a one-on-one meeting with Vasundhara Raje and spoke to BJP National President JP Nadda on phone.

According to sources, Rajnath Singh convinced Raje to propose the name of the new Chief Minister even before the meeting. After announcing Sharma's name, BJP leaders reached Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form the government in Rajasthan.

The BJP has played the social engineering card in Rajasthan by choosing a Brahmin Chief Minister and selecting a Rajput, Diya Kumari and a Dalit, Prem Chand Bairwa as his two Deputies. The party has also given a big message to the general category people by doing this.

It is after 33 years that a Brahmin face has been made the Chief Minister of Rajasthan. Before this, Hari Dev Joshi from the Congress was the CM of Rajasthan thrice. Hari Dev Joshi was CM from 1973 to 1977, then from 1985 to 1988 and from 1989 to 1990.

The BJP has also tried to woo the Rajputs by bringing in Diya Kumari who belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur as Deputy CM. She contested from Jaipur's Vidhyadhar Nagar constituency and won by a record margin of over 75,000 votes.

Further, Prem Chand Bairwa from Dudu has been made the Deputy CM, too, to woo the Dalit segment.

Party officials said that the party carders worked hard to balance the social engineering equations in the state and are looking forward to the Lok Sabha polls.
Kolkata, Dec 12 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday that it will submit a report on the assets of the present and former directors of a corporate entity whose name surfaced in the multi-crore cash for school jobs case in West Bengal to the court on Thursday.

The report will be submitted in a sealed envelope, the ED counsel informed the single-judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha.

The ED counsel also informed that the present and former directors of the said corporate entity have submitted the details of their properties and assets to the central agency as per the directive of the high court.

"A lot of crucial information surfaced following the examination of the documents," the ED counsel informed the court.

Justice Sinha questioned the ED counsel as to whether the central agency has got information about the sources of funds for the creation of the assets and properties of the directors of the said corporate entity.

When the ED informed that a number of crucial transactions has been traced through the examinations of the documents, Justice Sinha directed the ED counsel to make separate mention of these findings to the court.

She also questioned the central agency counsel whether the investigating officials are sure of winding up the probe process as directed by the court, the ED counsel said that all efforts are being made to meet the deadline.

"New evidences are surfacing daily during the course of investigation," the ED counsel told the court.

Justice Sinha observed that the court has noticed that there has been a sudden increase in the assets and properties of the directors of the said corporate entity after 2014.

Pointing out that since the recruitment irregularities also took place after that, it has to be seen whether there is a link between the irregularities and increase in assets.
Visakhapatnam, Dec 12 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) General Secretary Nara Lokesh claimed on Tuesday that the unemployment rate in Andhra Pradesh has increased to 24 per cent, the highest in the country.

He alleged that the government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy has completely destroyed the state -- which once flourished with jobs and employment opportunities -- leaving the youth totally disappointed.

Women representatives from the Payakaraopeta Assembly segment in Visakhapatnam district complained to Lokesh during his ongoing Yuva Galam Padayatra at Godicherla village that there is no security for them in the YSRCP rule.

In a memorandum to Lokesh, they said there is no use of Disha Act and demanded that after coming to power, the TDP should bring a legislation to provide security to the women of the state.

The women representatives also requested Lokesh to set up employment training centres and sanction loans to them on subsidy. They also demanded facilities like pension for single women and Pendli Kanuka (wedding gift) to be introduced by the next government.

Observing that the Jagan Mohan Reddy government is cheating women in the name of Disha Act, which is not at all in existence, Lokesh told the women representatives that the murders and atrocities against women in daylight are totally ignored.

"Soon after the TDP forms the next government, a legislation on the lines of East Coast States will be enacted for the security of women in the state, while the Maha Sakthi scheme will be introduced to solve the problems of women," he added.

Lokesh also promised to provide free bus travel for women and a financial assistance of Rs 2,500 per month for every woman in the state, besides sanctioning loans on high subsidy to them.

Women entrepreneurs will be encouraged with special incentives and the Pendli Kanuka scheme will be implemented, he promised.

The TDP leader also alleged Jagan Reddy has miserably failed even to meet the basic needs of the people who elected him to power.

Though the Centre has released funds under the Jal Jeevan Mission. this 'inefficient' government failed to utilise these funds, he said.

Soon after the TDP comes to power in the coming polls, a water grid will be set up to supply safe drinking water to every doorstep for 24 hours a day, Lokesh told the villagers.

Lokesh also said that Jagan Reddy has cheated even the Anganwadi workers by not fulfilling the promise made to them on increasing their wages.

This apart, the work load on them has been increased heavily, Lokesh said as he expressed solidarity with the Anganwadi workers who are on an agitation demanding fulfilment of their demands.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari on Tuesday urged the Commanders of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to keep pace with the global technological developments especially in the newer domains of space, cyber and electronic warfare.

The CAS, speaking at a two-day Commanders' Conference of Western Air Command (WAC) of the IAF, also emphasised on embracing a disruptive pattern of training while fostering a culture of discipline. The conference held here on December 11-12.

Chaudhari, the chief guest, was received by Air Marshal P.M. Sinha, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief WAC and was presented with a ceremonial Guard of Honour on his arrival.

The CAS interacted with commanders of the WAC AoR (Area of Responsibility) and discussed the impact of emerging technologies, the need for capability enhancement and fully harnessing the potential of human resources.

Chaudhari, in his address, complimented WAC for "maintaining a credible operational posture, mounting rapid response on all required occasions and for its invaluable contribution to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, across the globe".

He also directed the commanders to ensure that operations are undertaken in an environment of denial to bolster the IAF's aim to become a truly agile and adaptable air force that provides decisive aerospace power in furtherance of the national interests.

Further, during the conference, eminent speakers shared their opinions on multi domain operations envisaged by the IAF in future warfare.
New Delhi, Dec 12 : The NHAI has signed an agreement with DC Multi-Modal Park (Nagpur) Ltd, a special purpose vehicle of DeltaBulk Shipping India Pvt Ltd, for the development of a multi-modal logistics park at Nagpur, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said on Tuesday.

The logistics park will be developed in an area of 150 acres under the Public Private Partnership model at an estimated cost of Rs.673 crore. This project is poised to be the first multi modal logistics park (MMLP) in Maharashtra under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, making it a significant milestone in the country's development.

The project will be developed in three phases. Phase-I is expected to be completed in two years with an investment of Rs 137 crore. The MMLP will cater to about 9.47 million metric tonnes (MMT) cargo in the horizon period of 45 years and will give a huge boost to the industrial zones in the catchment region such as Nagpur, Wardha, Chandrapur, and Gondiya. It will create a lot of employment opportunities and bring in economic development in the region.

The MMLP will be developed at Sindi (near railway station) in Wadha district of Maharashtra. The site is strategically located at a distance of around 3 km from Nagpur-Mumbai Maha-Samruddhi Mahamarg on one side and the Howrah-Nagpur-Mumbai rail line, on the other side. Rail siding of length 3 km from Sindi Railway station on Howrah-Nagpur-Mumbai rail line is substantially completed.

The MMLP is also being provided access from four lane Nagpur-Aurangabad, NH 361. The site is 48 km from Nagpur International Airport and 56 km from Nagpur railway station, according to the ministryas statement.

A government SPV, Nagpur MMLP Pvt. Ltd is formed by the National Highways Logistics Management Ltd (NHLML), a 100 per cent owned company of NHAI and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA). JNPA has provided land for development of MMLP & NHLML is providing the external rail, road connectivity as well as water and power supply.

The MMLP will provide facilities such as warehouses, cold storages, intermodal transfers, handling facilities for container terminals, bulk/break-bulk cargo terminals along with Value Added Services such as sorting/ grading and aggregation/ desegregation areas, bonded warehouse and customs facilities as well as support logistics facilities such as offices for freight forwarders and transporters and truck terminals.
Nagpur, Dec 12 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the Finance portfolio, on Tuesday assured that the MahaYuti government will take a decision on the Old Pension Scheme before the 2024 Assembly elections.

Nagpur, Dec 12 (IANS) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the Finance portfolio, on Tuesday assured that the MahaYuti government will take a decision on the Old Pension Scheme before the 2024 Assembly elections.

He made the commitment in the legislature after a government-appointed 3-member panel submitted its report on the OPS to the state, while adding that the Centre is also considering the OPS.

Ajit Pawar said that in case the Central government takes a decision on the OPS then the state would follow suit, and meanwhile the government would study the report submitted by the panel comprising experts Subodh Kumar, K. P. Bakshi, and Sudhir Srivastava.

He assured the legislature that the government was positive on the OPS and expected to take the decision before the 2024 Assembly polls.

Meanwhile, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis urged the pensioners to call off their agitation and give time to the government to consider the OPS report.

Outside the legislature, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies Congress and Shiv Sena-UBT leaders addressed a protest march of pensioners who are demanding the reinstatement of the OPS, and expressed solidarity to their cause.

Addressing the government pensioners who had converged here from all over the state, Congress state President Nana Patole and Shiv Sena-UBT President and ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray demanded that the state government should immediately concede the OPS issue of the pensioners.

Patole said that he had raised the issue in the legislature and the Congress supports the OPS as a constitutional right of the pensioners which they must get. He pointed out that Congress-ruled states have already implemented the OPS so thereas no reason why it cannot be replicated in Maharashtra and urged the MahaYuti regime to take cognisance of the pensionersa sentiments.

Thackeray said that if the MVA government headed by him was in power, "then this protest march would not have been needed" as he would have taken the decision to restore and implement the OPS, which was discontinued here in 2005.

"Do not stop your fight till you get a victorya The state government is not willing to help your causea and they may try to misguide you with false promises. You must guard against thema The time has come to end the politics of treachery and falsehoods in Maharashtra and throw out the insensitive regime," he declared.
Kolkata, Dec 12 : Taking a note of rampant complaints against corruption in the land deed distribution process in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday warned those involved of strict disciplinary action once detected.

Kolkata, Dec 12 (IANS) Taking a note of rampant complaints against corruption in the land deed distribution process in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday warned those involved of strict disciplinary action once detected.

"Some individuals in the block land records offices are resorting to rampant irregularities in association with some vested interests. I have directed the Chief Secretary to take strong action against the offenders," she said while addressing a public gathering in Siliguri.

"Any government officer involved with any kind of corruption will not be spared. Strong actions will be taken against them," the Chief Minister added.

Banerjee also drew a comparison between involvement of a government official in corruption and that of a politician. "When money is recovered from the residence of a politician, the information gets widely publicised. But, when government officials are caught taking bribes, it is not often highlighted."

She also launched a scathing attack against the Union government over the "non-payment" of central dues to the West Bengal government under various Centrally-sponsored schemes.

"While I indulge more in development activities, rather than doing politics, the case for the Union government is exactly the reverse. Before every election they make a lot of promises. But those promises remain unfulfilled after the elections. Now elections are coming again and they have started making promises," the Chief Minister said.
Kyivstar 's mobile network has experienced a technical failure, which may result in some subscribers being unable to access the Internet. Specialists are working to fix the problem.

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This was reported by the Kyivstar press service on the morning of December 12. The company apologized for the inconvenience.

"Today, our network experienced a technical failure, which may result in the unavailability of communication and Internet access services for part of the subscriber base. The company's specialists are working to fix the problem. We apologize to our subscribers for any inconvenience and thank them for their understanding," the statement said.

At 12 p.m., the government said that Kyivstar was expected to restore communication around 16:00-17:00 on Tuesday.

"We hope that in a few hours (the connection - Ed.) will be back in operation," said Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction and Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure, at the final meeting of the Ministry of Reconstruction with heads of diplomatic missions and the public.

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According to him, repair work can take four to five hours.

Kyivstar itself said that the operator had suffered a powerful hacker attack , which caused the outage.

"This morning we became the target of a powerful hacker attack. It caused a technical failure, which temporarily made mobile and Internet services unavailable. Of course, this is a challenge for us. But now we have engaged representatives of law enforcement agencies and special state services to record the circumstances and consequences of the unlawful interference with the network ; we are working to eliminate the consequences to restore communication as soon as possible," the company said in a statement.

Kyivstar added that "as of now, the personal data of subscribers has not been compromised" and promised compensation to subscribers who had no connection or could not use the operator's services.

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As a reminder, Kyivstar experienced a large-scale out age on the morning of December 12, when subscribers lost access to the network, the ability to make calls and send messages. The operator's website was also unavailable.

Subscribers who were left without connection can use national roaming, which allows them to connect to another operator's network in case of a network outage.

How to activate national roaming

Kyivstar and Vodafone subscribers can connect to national roaming manually. To do this, you need to

- disable network auto-selection (on Android: settings - mobile network (or connection) - operator; on iOS: settings - mobile communication - network selection - disable the "Automatic" option - all available networks will appear in a few seconds, so you should choose the one you want to connect)

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- find and select an available network: UA-KYIVSTAR, Vodafone UA or lifecell;

- if the registration failed, you need to try again or select another network;

- check the possibility of using the mobile Internet by sending a message in the messenger.

For lifecell subscribers, national roaming works automatically. If this does not happen, you must also make the settings manually.

To avoid overloading mobile networks, operators recommend

- disable auto-loading in messengers and other applications (for example, in the Play Market and App Store via mobile networks);

- in the settings, prohibit applications running in the background from using mobile traffic;

- set the video quality to a lower quality when watching online;

- make better use of Wi-Fi whenever possible.

It is also important to try to return (connect) to your operator's network every day, either manually or by enabling auto-selection of the network.

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It is worth noting that calls to short service numbers are not available when registering a number in national roaming.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on September 1, Kyivstar raised a number of tariffs for contract subscribers and prepaid customers. At the same time, Internet packages were increased.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
New Delhi, Dec 12 : Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia on Tuesday chaired a pivotal Advisory Group meeting with key representatives from the airline industry to address critical issues concerning performance and services provided to customers.

The primary focus of the meeting was on improving On-Time Performance (OTP) for each airline.

Scindia directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to reassess technical specifications at VFR-equipped (Visual Flight Rules) airports, aiming to augment the OTP of airlines and ensure a more efficient travel experience for passengers.

In addition to scrutinising OTP, the Minister delved into the self-monitoring mechanism related to airfares implemented by each airline.

Emphasising the need for fair pricing, he urged airlines to maintain reasonable fares on specific routes.

"The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Tariff Monitoring Unit has been also tasked with regularly monitoring airfares on randomly selected routes to ensure compliance," an official said.

With a vision to enhance connectivity between tier 2 and tier 3 cities and international destinations, Scindia called upon airlines to submit individual aircraft induction and deployment plans for the next six months. He stressed the importance of prioritising point-to-point direct connectivity and encouraged airlines to scale up capacities, utilising both wide-body and narrow-body-long-range aircraft.

Scindia also met the Advisory Group of Aerospace Manufacturers and MROs "and deliberated upon taxation, as well as regulatory issues impacting the growth of the sectors".

"...Also, advised aerospace manufacturers to present a collaborative plan outlining their requirements from each department of GOI, in order to help them expand their supply chains in India," he wrote on X.

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Gen Dr. V. K. Singh (retd), Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam and other senior officials from the Ministry also participated in the meeting.
Washington, Dec 12 : Visiting Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky made a powerful plea to US Senators to release the $61 billion aid promised by US President Joe Biden, denying charges of corruption in his government that had held up the flow of assistance, even as Kremling said it was monitoring his movements and actions in the US.

Washington, Dec 12 (IANS) Visiting Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky made a powerful plea to US Senators to release the $61 billion aid promised by US President Joe Biden, denying charges of corruption in his government that had held up the flow of assistance, even as Kremling said it was monitoring his movements and actions in the US.

Zelensky worked to dissuade the Senators that corruption remains a significant problem in his country and is a reason for them not to provide US funds to Ukraine, according to two Senators who attended the meeting.

"I think the notion of corruption came up because some have said we can't do it, because people will buy yachts with the money. He disabused people of those notions with the reforms that he made out of the (International Monetary Fund) and (European Union). There have been substantial reforms," North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis said.

Tillis was quoted by the CNN as saying that Zelensky was warmly received and spent his time trying to persuade senators to provide more funding and did not press them about the political standoff in Washington, about whether to add border policy changes to the funding bill for Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin said on Tuesday that it will be "very closely" monitoring the meeting between Biden and Zelensky in Washington.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed the potential impact of the Zelensky meeting with Biden and address to the Senate, saying that despite the US aid to Ukraine, there has been no significant success on the battlefield.

"It is certainly important for everyone to understand that the tens of billions of dollars pumped into Ukraine did not help it achieve success on the battlefield," he said, adding the meeting will not alter the outcome of Russia's war in Ukraine.

"We understand this process; it cannot change the situation on the battlefield, and it cannot change the progress of the special military operation either," he said.

Meanwhile, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Zelensky will "beg his masters, the producers of his terrible tragicomic show, not to stop generously sponsoring the Kiev regime, and to persuade the White House to care about Ukraine more than about the Americans themselves".

Zelensky addressed concerns about corruption in Ukraine during an all-Senators meeting. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Zelensky's meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill was "very powerful".

Zelensky "outlined in great detail" what Ukraine needs and how the US can assist the country in defending itself against Russia, Schumer said.

"If he gets the help he needs, he will win. If we lose, Putin wins, and this is very, very dangerous for the United States," Schumer said.
Jaipur: BJP MLA from Sanganer Bhajan Lal Sharma flashes the victory sign after he was elected as the next Chief Minister of Rajasthan. Image Source: IANS News

Jaipur, Dec 12 : The name of first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma as the new Rajasthan Chief Minister was decided in 15 minutes, as per party sources, but was so unexpected that there was silence in the meeting after the announcement.

After senior leader and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje proposed Sharma's name, Defence Minister and central observer Rajnath Singh asked the MLAs that if there is any other name, then the MLA can say it.

However, not a single MLA spoke and thus in 15 minutes, the new Chief Minister was decided.

Sources said that the decision to make Sharma the Chief Minister was already made in in Delhi and the observers were allegedly given a sealed envelope, which was opened only in the legislature party meeting.

Before the meeting of the legislature party, Rajnath Singh had held discussions with Vasundhara Raje and state President C.P. Joshi in the hotel.

As soon as the meeting started, Rajnath Singh gave a slip to Vasundhara Raje, which contained the name of the new Chief Minister and she proposed the name.

The same pattern was adopted in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh also.

As per sources, the instruction from the high command to Rajnath Singh was that Vasundhara Raje will make the proposal.

Rajnath Singh was specifically sent an observer with the responsibility to get the name of the new CM proposed by her. It was thus, he had held discussions with her as soon as he reached Jaipur and it is said that Vasundhara Raje did not agree on some names. However, she did not object to Sharma's name.

Premchand Bairwa, who was made Deputy Chief Minister, is also believed to be inclined towards Vasundhara Raje.

As soon as the legislative party meeting started, Joshi gave a short speech in which he said that the BJP "is a disciplined party and decisions are taken here as per the customs and policies of the organisation".

"Being disciplined party workers, we all have been accepting the decisions of the central leadership. This has been our tradition. Even today the same tradition has to be followed," he said and then called on Rajnath Singh to speak and he made the same points.

After finishing his speech, Rajnath Singh asked Vasundhara Raje to propose the name of the Chief Minister.

Sharma did not meet any leader of the high command after the elections. He remained in Jaipur and did not even go to Delhi.

Before the legislative party meeting, even he himself did not know that he was going to become the Chief Minister as the entire process was kept confidential. He came to know only when Vasundhara Raje proposed his name and everyone supported it.

Sources said Sharma is considered close to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and this played a big role in his elevation. PM Narendra Modi, Shah, and party President J.P. Nadda together finalised Sharma's name after discussing names of half a dozen leaders but there were some political obstacles that kept them out of the reckoning.
Patna, Dec 12 : In a shocking shocking incident in Bihar's Jamui district, a pregnant woman succumbed to her injuries during treatment after her husband set her on fire on Tuesday morning, the police said.

The victim, Radha Devi (27), was four-month pregnant. As per preliminary investigation, her husband Ranjeet Shah killed her after he came to know that she was carrying a female fetus which was detected illegally through ultrasound at a private clinic in Jamui.

The accused poured kerosene on Radha and set her ablaze on Tuesday morning. The victim sustained serious burn injuries and was admitted to a private hospital from where she was referred her to the Sadar Hospital where she died during treatment.

The victim had earlier informed her parents about the ultrasound and the desperation of her husband to have a male child.

"Ranjeet wanted a male child as he already had two daughters. We have learnt that he took his wife to a private clinic and learnt about the female fetus inside Radha's womb, which enraged him," said Kedar Shah, the brother-in-law of the victim.

"After we were informed that a woman was burnt alive in Sudamapur village, we rushed to the spot and took the victim to the hospital. A bottle of kerosene and a match box were also found at the crime scene. The accused and his entire family are on the run. Efforts are on to nab them," said A.K. Azad, SHO of Barhat police station.
Patna, Dec 12 : The bodies of two persons, including a woman, were found on a railway track in Bihar's Jamui district on Tuesday, police said.

Patna, Dec 12 (IANS) The bodies of two persons, including a woman, were found on a railway track in Biharas Jamui district on Tuesday, police said.

The deceased are identified as Pankaj Kumar, a native of Chenveria village, and Babita Kumari of Gugaldih village under Laxmipur police station in the district.

Their bodies were found at poll number 365/7 on Up line between Jamui and Jasidih rail section near Jhajha station.

The dead bodies were spotted by people who passed the area in the morning and then informed the railway police station at Jhajha station.

RPF SI Kunj Bihari said that the identification of the accused was done through the Aadhaar cards found on them.

The reasons for their deaths are not ascertained yet. The preliminary investigation revealed that they were committed suicide. Pankaj Kumar was a married man and had two kids. He left his first wife and has been living with Babita for the last three months. He also went with Babita to Bengaluru recently.

Due to his illicit relation with Babita, his first wife lodged a complaint before police and Panchayat as well.
Patna, Dec 12 : A veteran RTI activist was stabbed to death in Bihar's West Champaran district on Tuesday, police said.

The deceased was identified as Mahmed Haroon, a native of Bankat Purena village under Chanpatia police station in the district and the incident occurred at Jokaha village under Manuapul police station.

"We had received information about an elderly person who was found at the roadside near Jokaha village around 7 p.m.. He sustained multiple stab injuries and was found dead on the spot. The reason of murder is not ascertained yet and we are also not knowing about how many persons have committed the crime," said the SHO of Manuapul police station.

Haroon used to file RTI pleas on various government projects. He was also the target of local land and liquor mafias. Apart from filing RTI pleas, he is also a social activist and running an institution called Samaj Sudhar Jagrukta Senani. Recently, he sustained a fracture in his leg after some unidentified men attacked him.

Haroon has two sons and one of them has already died due to illness.
Ahmedabad, Dec 12 : In response to the discovery of butchered cows in an open parcel of land in Nadiad in Kheda district, the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday expressed its dismay over such incidents.

The court directed the relevant authorities to investigate the matter and submit a comprehensive report.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for Wednesday, expecting the authorities to provide information on the actions taken in response to the Nadiad incident.

During the hearing of a contempt petition on cattle-related issues and road conditions, advocate Amit Panchal, representing the petitioner, submitted an affidavit on behalf of a Nadiad resident.

The affidavit highlighted the presence of carcasses of butchered cows left unattended in an open area within the city, urgently calling for appropriate action. The affidavit also included photographic evidence of the deceased animals.

On being informed of this distressing development, Justice A.J. Shashtri expressed his shock and emphasised the gravity of the situation.

He recommended that advocate general Kamal Trivedi instruct the Kheda district collector "to submit a detailed report promptly".

The high court also sought information regarding the number of cattle pounds in the state, their capacity, and their current condition.

Trivedi informed the court that some miscreants likely orchestrated these acts of animal brutality. He assured the court that authorities would investigate and identify those responsible for such acts.
In the Avdiivka and Maryinka sectors, Russian occupation forces launched massive offensives, using armored vehicles and actively employing aircraft with guided aerial bombs. Thus, in just two days, the enemy conducted 19 air strikes.

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This was reported by Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of the "Tavria" operational and strategic group of troops. The enemy offensive continues, but Ukrainian troops are holding steadfastly.

Yesterday, 42 enemy attacks were repelled east of Novobakhmutivka, south of Severne and Tonenke, as well as in the area of Avdiivka, Pervomaiske and Nevelske. The day before yesterday, 49 attacks were repelled in the Avdiivka sector and 11 Russian tanks and 15 other armored vehicles were destroyed. Near Avdiivka, the occupants are trying to continue their offensive both in the north and in the south.

Hostile activity is also active in the areas of Maryinka, Krasnohorivka and Novomykhailivka. Over the last day, our defenders repelled 14 attacks in these areas.

In the Zaporizhzhia sector, Ukrainian defense forces repelled three enemy attacks south of Novodarivka and west of Novopokrovka the day before yesterday. And yesterday the enemy attacked three times north of Pryiutne and west of Novopokrovka.

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Meanwhile, in the Melitopol sector, Ukrainian troops continue to inflict losses on the occupation forces in both manpower and equipment.

The total losses of the enemy forces amounted to 430 people over the past day, and 7 units of military equipment were destroyed, including 3 tanks, 2 armored vehicles and a unit of special equipment.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Russian occupation forces have faced a shortage of thermal imagers they need for night battles. The occupiers have to raise money from relatives and supporters of the war for such equipment, while the Ukrainian military is often supplied with night vision devices by international partners.

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Earlier it was reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that the occupiers in the Tavriisk direction began to use more kamikaze drones and aircraft. There has also been a significant increase in enemy assaults.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden does not rule out the possibility that a new aid assistance package could be delivered to Ukraine by the end of 2023. There are also active discussions about the President's request for $106 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

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This was stated by John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator for the White House National Security Council, at a briefing on Monday, December 11. He noted that the US President is holding urgent talks to find a compromise to approve his request.

Kirby also answered whether Biden would announce a new arms package for Ukraine.

"I don't want to get ahead of the president, but we don't have many weeks left this year to be able to provide security assistance. I would expect that we will announce additional security assistance by the end of the month," the White House official emphasized.

Kirby confirmed that Biden will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on December 12. He will provide the US president with an update on the situation on the battlefield.

Biden will assure his counterpart that Washington will continue to support Kyiv in the face of intensified Russian missile and drone attacks.

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"Tomorrow you will hear more from the president in this context. But he will continue to explain why additional funding for Ukraine and Israel is important to our own national security interests at this time," Kirby said.

Biden will also tell Zelensky that the White House continues to advocate for the approval of the presidential request, after which Kyiv may receive $61 billion.

As a reminder, upon his arrival in Washington, Zelensky said that Russia's real goal is not so much to seize sovereign Ukraine but to destroy democracy and stability throughout the free world. The war that dictator Putin has unleashed in our country is just a step on the way to achieving his barbaric plans.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the day before, US Secretary of State Blinken said that Russia must be stopped in Ukraine to prevent its aggression from spreading to other countries. He believes that the Russian army could attack NATO member states.

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Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
On December 12, it became known that Ukrainian soldiers had repelled the occupiers' positions on a spoil tip within Horlivka, Donetsk region. The Ukrainian Armed Forces noted that this was "good news, but not a sensation."

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This success, as well as any advance of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, is the result of the hard work of the soldiers, said Volodymyr Fitio, head of the public relations service of the Land Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during a telethon.

He emphasized that Ukrainian troops are in active defense near Horlivka. At the same time, he answered the hosts' questions about the details of the liberation of the landfill within this city in Donetsk region, which has been occupied since 2014.

"The details are what we saw in the daily reports of the General Staff. We all saw perfectly well that south of Bakhmut, Ukrainian units continue their assault operations. Ukrainian defenders are in active defense," Fiteau said.

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He added that Ukrainian soldiers use every good opportunity to improve their tactical position. Therefore, the repulsion of Russian positions on the spoil tip is "good news, but not a sensation."

"This is the hard, painstaking work of our defenders and, accordingly, at this stage it has brought such a result," Fitzhugh emphasized.

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Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi showed a video of the soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces brigade that recaptured the spoil tip in Horlivka . The Ukrainian flag is now flying on it.

At the same time, the assault aircraft of the 24th King Danylo Brigade, which took part in the operation on the spoil tip, replenished the exchange fund. At least five occupants were captured there, which the soldiers showed on video.
Julie Abe is the author of the middle grade fantasy adventure series Eva Evergreen and the speculative YA road-trip romance The Charmed List. Her new YA novel, Our Cursed Love, is a gentle love story set against the backdrop of wintry Japan. When Japanese American high school seniors Cam Yasuda and Remy Kobatawho are secretly in love with each otherarrive in Japan, their plan is to tour Tokyo Magical University and enjoy everything that the magically aware side of the country has to offer. But after they impulsively imbibe an illegal soulmate-finding potion, Cam loses all his memories of Remy, leaving her with less than a week to undo his affliction before it becomes permanent. Abe spoke with PW about how writing Our Cursed Love helped her feel closer to her family, the differences and similarities between her YA and middle grade works, and her love of all things magical.

What led you to set Our Cursed Love in Japan?

I was born in Japan, but I grew up mostly in the U.S., kind of like Remy and Cam. But I would always go back to Japan to visit familyat least until the pandemic restricted travel. I really, really miss Japan; I miss my family and walking around Tokyo. I lived in Japan for a little bit during college and I would go on these night walks during the winter. Itd be freezing cold and there would be snow falling; it was just a magical moment. When I was writing Our Cursed Love, I thought about Tokyo and all its lights and how it illuminated the snow and just channeled the wintry vibes. I missed it so much, so I wrote it into a story that made me feel like I was there, even for a little bit.

How did you balance all of the narrative elements and why was it important for you to utilize them?

The elements of present and past and of writing Remy and Cam at their different ages was a lot to balance. But also, when creating their timeline, I felt as if a lot of it fell almost naturally into place because their childhood together had a certain impact on their life and how it was now, and without their past, I wouldnt have been able to craft an accurate version of their present or their future. Believe me, there were a lot of spreadsheets and doodling in notebooks and trying to put the pieces together. But I felt that there was no other way to tell their story than with the dual POV and the different timelines. And, of course, a love potion going wrong. It took some planning, but it all came together in a way that Im proud of.

What is your primary motivator in setting your stories in magically aware societies and why did you decide to write another love story, as opposed to a magical YA adventure?

When I was writing The Charmed List, Remy and Cam [who were background characters] jumped out to me as people who belonged in their own romance. I always loved romances and when I started thinking about Remy and Cam and how they could go on to have their own lives and their own love story, I saw the potential with that. And, thankfully, my publisher was onboard. It was so exciting to be able to explore their love story as sort of a very loose continuation to The Charmed List that worked as a standalone. As I was planning Our Cursed Love and reading through my synopsis, I could immediately visualize certain parts of the story so well; the ending and the epilogue felt so real and I wanted to write this book so badly.

I love magic, and I love the feeling of a book being an escape. One of the things that is always such a joy about creating little bits of magic in our everyday world is that spark of imagination, of like, What if theres magic everywhere? And that phrase, you know, about a book being an escape, I wanted to make it real. I also wanted to make it fun for readers to have that feeling of possibilityor even a romancebeing just around the corner. Though Our Cursed Love and the next book in my middle grade series Tessa Miyata Is No Hero are totally different journeys, I think this sensibility is something that both my middle grade and YA novels have in common. I just like to have fun.

What are some key differences for you between writing for YA audiences vs. middle grade readers?

The differences between YA and middle grade for me are very nuanced. I would say that regardless of the age range, there are so many things that they have in common. The biggest difference, for me, though, would be the way I approach the maturity level of the characters or the way in which I explore a specific theme. In Our Cursed Love, I explored feelings of love and loss, and of the characters having endless possibilities and potential, in a much more sophisticated way than I have in my middle grade books. Still, I would never assume that an action-adventure middle grade wouldnt have as much heart or as many feelings as a YA romance.

Our Cursed Love by Julie Abe. Wednesday, $21 Dec. 12 ISBN 978-1-250-85132-1
Lauded as one of the best writers born in the 1970s in China, Xu Zechen has penned five novels and nearly 100 short stories. He has won numerous awards and honors, including the 2014 Lu Xun Literary Prizefor Short Story and the 2019 Mao DunLiterature Prize. His works, mostly about the underbelly of contemporary urban life in Chinas largest cities, have been translated into 23 languages, including Arabic,English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.

Short stories have always been Xus forte and The Selected Stories of XuZechen: Plum Rain and Other Worksa new volume in the Jiangsu Literature Translated series from Phoenix Publishing and Media Group (PPMG)offers six works that reflect the different styles in each period of his work. Told in a straight-forward manner, these stories revolve around men of low status, memories of childhood, campus life, and the living conditions of Beijings drifters.

Xu focuses on the pains and struggles of ordinary people and their personal tragedies, which, had they happened in real life, would go mostly unnoticed and completely unreported, says translator Fernando Arrieta. The translator has worked on five of the six stories in the 275-page English edition, which was released by Bridge21 Publications. Xu is an author of great imagination and the characters he created are all unique, as are the conflicts that each character is presented with. 'Qijiazhuang,' for instance, is about a bankrupt ex-convict returning to his rural hometown to bury his father and having to deal with a relative of a local thug who has political aspirations.

Each story is presented from a different perspective, says Arrieta. Sometimes, it is narrated from the first person, and the main character is presented with a moral dilemma. Or its told by a third party, from a distance. In Plum Rain, Xu writes about the recollections of a teenage boy who, for weeks, watches with wonder as the personal tragedy of an unknown woman unfolds. She has recently arrived in his town and is assumed, throughout the story, to be a prostitute. Then there is the document forger talking about his cousin, who came to Beijing from the countryside and was gradually swallowed up by city life, in Rock Paper Scissors.

Xus stories, Arrieta says, open a window to the unique experiences of the Chinese people, from the rural movement in the past few decades to the rapid economic prosperity in the first ten years of the 21st century. The translator elaborates: These are experiences and historical circumstances that, without any doubt, form the worldview and mindset of several generations of Chinese people. I found much joy translating these stories, and I hope that readers will find as much joy reading them.

ew York-based copyeditor and translator Matt Turner, a fan since reading Xus novel Running Through Beijing (Two Lines Press, 2014), offers a different take on the anthology: What immediately struck me was the books portrayal of city life. It didnt show family dramas at home, or professionals facing minor difficulties but eventually finding success. There were no cool characters hanging out at the slickest new bars. It showed how life was lived by both insiders and outsiders, but none of them quite fit in with easy literary tropes, and none behave as you expect.

For Turner, who lived in Beijing for almost a decade, this anthology gives English-language readers, perhaps for the first time, a broader taste of Chinese city life. It is something that you dont see on television. It is about average people with average concerns. And yet, Xu makes these concerns universalsomething that any reader can understand and relate to.

The Selected Stories of Xu Zechen also shows how the author has grown over the years. Calling the book a pleasure to read, Turner says it also provides a broader picture of Xu, both how he has written and the things that motivate him. I thank him for the stories, which are full of memorable characters and cities, and enable readers to feel all these different relationships that he writes about.

The Russian edition, to be published by Hyperion, will be available in the first quarter of 2024.
Philip and Kathleen won the Family Farm of the Year honor from the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union last month during the organization's convention. In the back row from left are Kelsey White, Jonathan Clark, Sherry Byrd, Phillip Box and Jason Box. In the front row are Logan Byrd, Emmalyn Byrd, Kathleen Box, Opal Romero and Andrea Box.

The Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and much of his family surprised rural Tucumcari resident Philip Box when he and his wife Kathleen won the Family Farm of the Year honor during the union's convention in Greeley, Colorado, last month.

"I was sitting there, getting a piece of cheesecake" when he and his wife's name were announced for the award, Box said in a phone interview last week.

"I was totally in shock," he said.

Box's four children and three grandchildren knew about the honor beforehand but kept it quiet. They sneaked into the convention to surprise him when the honor was announced.

The award recognizes outstanding achievement and leadership in agriculture and community.

The Boxes grow feed crops, mostly for their own cow-calf operation, and they also own weaner cattle and do some finishing of the animals. They also set up a direct marketing program called Box Beef.

"Just as significantly, all of the Box family members invest their time in being advocates for the families who make their living farming and ranching," a news release from the union states. "They are mentors to beginning farmers and champions of making sure their community creates and maintains an environment to strengthen agriculture as an economic base and a way of life."

Phillip Box is an FUSA Insurance agent and has served on the boards of the local soil and water conservation district, credit union, rural water cooperative, ditch board and the city-county economic development board. He also is a trustee for Mesalands Community College.

Kathleen Box is stepping back from running a home-based daycare and remains a volunteer for community boards and committees, including Tucumcari Rawhide Days, 4-H and the Quay County Cooperative Extension Service. She also has served on the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union board of directors.

Both are members of the First Baptist Church of Tucumcari.

The Rocky Mountain Farmers Union is a grassroots organization of family farmers and ranchers in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming.
By Ron Warnick The Staff of The News

The Quay County Commission on Monday approved a $190,000 purchase contract for the former Bobs Budget Pharmacy building to be used as a new site for the countys 911 dispatch center.

The commissioners unanimous vote came after a one-hour closed executive session attended by county fire marshal Lucas Bugg, Tucumcari/Quay Regional Emergency Communications Board Chairman Rodney Paris and 911 dispatch director Jamie Luaders.

The 911 board recommended the purchase last month.

Local appraiser Justin Knight had estimated the value of the former Bobs Budget Pharmacy at 511 S. Second St. at $190,000. It has been owned by Tucumcari-based Rafter E LLC since May.

The appraisal stated the recently remodeled building contains 2,000 square feet with a 1,000-square-foot carport and storage area.

The 911 center currently is housed in a less than 400-square-foot room at the Tucumcari Police Department.

Last month, Paris said he anticipated it would take at least a year for the 911 center to move into the former pharmacy. He said it likely would need to hire an engineer to oversee the move because of the complexity of moving high-tech equipment into the building without any down time.

Bobs Budget Pharmacy, built in 1983, became Bestcare Pharmacy in 2018 after the death of longtime pharmacist and co-owner Bob McClelland that year.

The pharmacy closed in September 2022 after the store could not find another pharmacist to replace one who moved away.

Commissioners also approved incentive pay for county employees after the open session resumed.

The closed session also was held to discuss pending litigation.

In other business:

 Commissioners tabled action on buying a Tek84 body scanner for the Quay County Detention Center.

The whole-body scanning device would help officers find contraband in an inmate and in mattresses.

County manager Daniel Zamora said the county budgeted $240,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds for the device. Its cost from APIC Solutions of Albuquerque would be $181,697.74, plus a $10,700 extended warranty. Jail administrator Johnny Reid said the Curry County jail uses the same scanner.

Commissioner Jerri Rush objected to the warrantys cost and wanted it removed. Fellow commissioner Brian Fortner asked officials to check to see whether other counties using the scanner thought the additional warranty is needed.

 Commissioners approved a resolution that updates compensation for county assessor employees who gain certification levels.

James Kleinsasser will receive an additional $3,500 for four levels of certification, and Rudy Blea will receive $1,750 for two levels.

Assessor Dana Leonard recommended passage of the resolution because he said it would provide incentives to employees to earn more certifications.

 Commissioners approved a resolution updating the personnel policy for overtime and compensatory time for non-exempt employees.

Zamora said he wanted to provide law enforcement personnel compensation for overtime at the same rate as other county employees. Law enforcement are compensated for more than 171 hours worked in a 28-day period, while other workers overtime pay is computed over a 40-hour week.

We want to play the overtime theyre entitled to, he said.

He said the sheriff offices overtime budget last year was $10,000.

 Commissioners appeared an agreement to detain Quay County inmates at Roosevelt County for $125 a day. Zamora said rates at Roosevelt County rose, but it was still below the state average of $200 a day.

 Vickie Gutierrez, administrator of Trigg Memorial Hospital, gave a report for the August-to-October quarter. She said the number of transfers from the hospital in October had dropped to about 8%  below earlier double-digit levels.

Gutierrez said the hospital still was losing money, but its finances improved compared to 2022. Trigg has provided $1.3 million in charity care so far this year, compared to $1.05 million a year ago.

She also said two traveling nurses at the hospital would be replaced next month by two local nursing graduates.

Commissioners approved a $250,000 payment from a mill levy and gross receipts taxes to the hospital for the quarter.

 During Renee Hayozs monthly report from the Quay County Family Health Center, Zamora said he was seeking to obtain a larger refrigeration unit for the clinic. Its current small unit doesnt have room to store COVID-19 shots and other vaccines.

 Commissioners approved an amendment and resolution regarding a Quay Road 63 road project where the county was granted a match waiver from the state of $17,086.65.

 Commissioners approved the New Mexico Department of Transportations BKLUP and STEP grants of $1,269 and $2,508 to pay deputies for overtime for seatbelt and DUI patrols.

 Commissioners approved a budget increase of $225,000 to the Law Enforcement Recruitment Fund. Zamora said it would be used for salaries for newly hired deputies and dispatchers.

 Commissioners approved a budget increase of $30,000 for the Cannabis Regulation Act Fund. Zamora said that is the estimated annual excise tax revenue from the recently opened Glenrio Smoke Stop.

 Commissioners approved an EMS annual service report and an EMS Fund Local Funding Program application of $5,000 for District 1 fire agency.

 Commissioners approved a service agreement with the Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Corp. The organization has been without a permanent director since June, though Kristine Olsen is filling that role on an interim basis.

 Commissioners approved resolution listing its meeting dates in 2024. The commissions first meeting of the year was rescheduled from Jan. 10 to Jan. 4 because of a conflict. The commission also approved its 2024 holiday schedule.

 Commissioners approved a medical services agreement between the jail and Presbyterian Medical Services.

 Zamora said county employees health insurance premiums, supplied by the state, will rise by 10% in January after no increases for five years.
The big "T" on Tucumcari Mountain glows at dusk in May shortly after its lights were replaced by the Rotary Club.

When the lighted "T" on the north face of Tucumcari Mountain is refurbished again, the Tucumcari Rotary Club may have a way to brighten the letter to viewers in more parts of the city.

Robert Hockaday, an officer for the club, detailed to the Tucumcari Lodgers Advisory Board on Wednesday its efforts earlier this summer to install new lighting that outlines the "T."

The Rotary Club initially wanted to install many more solar-powered lights on the mesa for a more elaborate "T" outline, at an estimated cost of $12,000.

The club was hoping to include Tucumcari High School seniors to help with the big "T" as they had since the 1940s until recently, when landowners restricted access.

However, Tucumcari Mountain's owners urged the club to stick with current simple "T," using 36 lights over a 140-by-150-foot space. The owners also didn't want high-schoolers on the mountain while installing the new lights, fearing it would encourage those students to trespass later.

"The landowners are frustrated with people running all over their property," Hockaday said, citing littering and vandalism.

Hockaday said the Rotary Club probably would add a secondary set of lights on the "T" that would make it more visible to viewers on the east side of town.

The current lights are pointed toward the wind turbine at Mesalands Community College and are most visible only at a 30-degree angle. The secondary set of lights would be pointed more toward the north.

Hockaday said the solar-powered lights last only about three years.

Replacement of the current lights required only five people and a few hours to install for a little less than $1,100. City manager Paula Chacon approved reimbursement of the club's expenses for the project because of the low cost.

Hockaday said a secondary set of lights would cost an additional $650.

Hockaday said a proposal to add concrete pavers outlining the "T" and making it visible in the daytime was too "overwhelming," noting such an endeavor would require 20,000 pounds of materials.

Hockaday said he held out hope that THS students could help with the periodic refurbishment of the "T" someday.

"We want to involve the kids at some point," he said.

In other business:

- The board recommended reimbursement of $3,874 to organizers of the annual Rattler Reunion held in August.

Kathy Segura, secretary-treasurer of the event, said the 2023 edition of the reunion drew good crowds and that the event would like to get more businesses involved in the future.

Board Chairman Matt Bednorz said he appreciated the reunion's "very, very detailed" post-event report and praised the improvement in this year's gathering. He said Rattler Reunion puts "heads in beds" in the city's motels as much as any event.

- City manager Paula Chacon told the board the city has received interest from two parties regarding its request for proposals for a tourism marketer. The deadline to apply is Dec. 15.

- Board members held an extensive discussion possible changes to the board's by-laws. A final draft of changes likely would be acted on in the board's January meeting.
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Collin D. Barry, a native of Tucumcari, of Marine Corps Base Quantico receives a meritorious service award from Col. Michael L. Brooks during his relief and appointment ceremony Friday. Barry retired and transferred his duties onto Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Brown.

A Tucumcari native retired from 24 years in the Marines during a relief and appointment ceremony Friday at Marines Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

Sgt. Maj. Collin D. Barry was relieved by Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Brown during a relief and appointment ceremony at The Clubs at Quantico.

"My fondest memory of serving in the Marine Corps was having the distinct, humble and honorable privilege to lead Marines in every clime and place," Barry said.

The ceremony concluded with a presentation of flowers to Barry's family members, playing of "Anchors Aweigh," singing of "The Marines' Hymn," passing of the flag and a reception.

Barry, who grew up in Tucumcari, enlisted in the Marines in September 1999.

He said he credited his career to his family, friends and colleagues, but emphasized if not led by the "tough, intelligent, selfless, and mission-oriented members of the Marine reconnaissance community," he wouldn't have accomplished as much as he had.

Brown and Barry joined the Marines in the same month and were deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I and II at the same time, but they never served together.

"Twenty-four years and never crossed paths ... crazy!" Brown said.

Barry said they're disappointed that was the case, but both claimed they're "long-lost brothers."

Barry at the time became an instructor for the University of New Mexico's Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps until 2009. He later became a Basic Reconnaissance Course platoon sergeant for the School of Infantry-West from 2010 to 2013.

It took Brown to be selected as the next sergeant major at Quantico for their paths to finally cross.

"In my three short weeks here, I can already feel Sgt. Maj. Barry's impact aboard this base," Brown said. "His retirement is not only a loss to this installation, but a loss to our entire Corps."

"Our personalities and leadership philosophies are extremely similar, and there is no doubt that he will always place the tenant commands' Marines, sailors, civilians and families above himself," Barry said. "He is the perfect sergeant major to take this position to the next level - well beyond what I could achieve."
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During a meeting with U.S. senators in Congress, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that if he receives help from the United States, he will be able to win this war. At the same time, a victory for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in the war would mean danger for the United States.

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This was stated by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer following a meeting with the Ukrainian president, The Guardian reports. American lawmakers greeted the Ukrainian president warmly.

"If Ukraine receives help, it will be able to win this war," the head of the Ukrainian state assured.

"He (Zelenskyi - ed.) also made it clear that if we lose, Putin will win. It will be very dangerous for the United States," Schumer emphasized.

According to two senators who attended the meeting, Zelenskyi tried to allay the senators' concerns about corruption in Ukraine.

He tried to convince his interlocutors that this is not a serious problem and is not a reason for them not to provide US funds . However, it is noted that Zelensky did not put pressure on the issue of border policy in the bill on financing aid.

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The president himself noted on Telegram that the meeting was friendly and frank.

"I told the senators about the current security and economic situation in Ukraine, the importance of maintaining vital American support. I answered questions," Zelenskyi said.

He thanked Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell for consolidating bipartisan support for our country and people.

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After that, President Zelenskyi met with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and then with U.S. President Joe Biden.

As a reminder, the main topic of the President's meetings in the US Congress is assistance to Ukraine. In the legislature, Zelenskyy was met by Senate party leaders Democrat Chuck Schumer and Republican Mitch McConnell.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- During his visit to the United States, Zelenskyi held talks with World Bank President Ajay Banga. Among other things, they talked about how to use frozen Russian assets for the benefit of our country.

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- During a speech at the US National Defense University, the President said that the real goal of the Russian Federation is not so much to seize sovereign Ukraine as to destroy democracy and stability throughout the free world. The war that dictator Vladimir Putin has unleashed in our country is just a stepping stone on the way to achieving his barbaric plans.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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bUY IT TODAY AND I'LL PAY YOUR 2024 MAINTENANCE FEE!!! NET COST TO YOU -$450 Enjoy the ultimate beach/ocean experience with this beautiful timeshare at IMPERIAL OF WIKIKI, located at 205 Lewers St, Honolulu, HI 96815. This 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom property offers a spacious and comfortable setting for you and your family to relax in. With a floating week, you have the flexibility to choose the perfect time for your vacation. The resort is located in the heart of Honolulu, offering easy access to a ...

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Kumail Nanjiani's role in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will be funny, the actor told UPI in an interview late Monday. However, the situations he's reacting to will be frightening.

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"There's some really, genuinely scary stuff," he said in Los Angeles during an interview for his new animated film Migration. "The scary stuff is actually scary."

A teaser trailer shows the grandchildren of the late Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) continuing to bust ghosts with the veteran Ghostbusters in New York. When a spirit freezes the city in July, some New Yorkers literally freeze to death.

"The danger is very real and the stakes are very high," Nanjiani said. "That makes the comedy even funnier."

The teaser shows Nanjiani in a bookstore with Dan Aykroyd, Patton Oswalt, Paul Rudd, Mckenna Grace and Logan Kim. Nanjiani said the film shares the jokes among its cast.

"Everybody gets to be funny," Nanjiani said.

Nanjiani also confirmed that the cast returned to filming since the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strike ended. Sony moved the film's release from December to March 29.

"We actually just finished a couple days ago," Nanjiani said. "I got to work with people who have been my heroes for a long time and people who I admire."
Russian bloody dictator Volodymyr Putin is trying to increase military pressure on Ukraine to achieve his own political goals. Therefore, support for Kyiv must not be weakened, but rather military and financial assistance to the country that is confronting the aggressor must be strengthened and accelerated, and the European Union must remain united in this regard.

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This was stated by European Union High Representative Josep Borrell at a press conference following the EU Foreign Affairs Council. He emphasized that it is necessary to agree on funding for Ukraine.

"The overwhelming majority of ministers were very clear: this is not the moment to weaken support for Ukraine - on the contrary, it is the moment to increase and accelerate it. To do this, we must remain united. We need to strengthen our defense industry and help Ukraine accelerate its own defense industry. We need to agree on the 8th tranche (500 million euros - Ed.) under the European Peace Fund, which is still being finalized, and new funding from the EFSF of 5 billion euros," Borrell said.

He expressed hope that EU leaders would provide political directives to implement these areas of assistance to Ukraine during a meeting to be held later this week.

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According to Borrell, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who personally attended the EU Council of Ministers, informed them of the current developments in Ukraine, which is currently fighting on two fronts - the military one, repelling Russian aggression, and the political one, implementing the reforms necessary for EU membership.

Josep Borrell noted that Putin, in order to maintain his presidency, is trying to give a new impetus to the war he is waging in Ukraine. Therefore, the EU must do everything to prevent Putin's Russia from winning.

"Last night, after a pause, Russia launched its first ballistic missile attack against Kyiv in two months. They continue to target civilians, infrastructure, and export infrastructure. We must do everything we can to prevent Putin's Russia from winning and continue to support Ukraine," the EU High Representative emphasized.

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He emphasized that Ukraine is fighting on the battlefield, and at the same time Ukrainians are working selflessly to achieve results in reforms. And Ukraine has made important steps on its way to EU membership. So EU leaders have to make important decisions during the European Council this week.

"We have already started a dialogue and expert consultations with Ukraine on future security commitments. We have to provide operational military assistance, but also work on predictable and long-term financing for Ukraine," Borrell added.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had a conversation with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto. The main topic of the dialogue was the European Council's decision to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, which Budapest opposes.

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Transportation is important. From making doctors appointments, attending meetings or getting to see friends, the act of driving is almost a n
'A key reason for the strong interest in IPOs has been an increased focus on profitability and reasonable pricing of deals.'

Photograph: Kind courtesy Geralt/Pixabay

The initial public offering (IPO) market experienced euphoria in November with blockbuster listings of Tata Technologies and the State-owned Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency.

The outlook for next year remains equally robust, according to Nipun Goel, head of investment banking at IIFL Securities, a leading investment bank that has managed deals worth Rs 40,000 crore (Rs 400 billion) since April 2021.

In an e-mail interview with Samie Modak/Business Standard, Goel says the increased focus on profitability and reasonable pricing underpins demand for IPOs.

What are the key takeaways from the recent IPO success?

The market environment has been extremely robust. While the start of the year was tepid amid global headwinds, activity picked up from April onwards, beginning with the Rs 4,300 crore IPO of Mankind Pharma. Since then, there has been no looking back.

Since the start of April 2023, 44 companies have completed IPOs, raising more than Rs 43,100 crore.

This is in stark contrast to the same period last year when only 27 IPOs were completed.

Excluding Life Insurance Corporation of India, the funding through IPOs in 2022 was Rs 26,200 crore.

The current calendar year has also witnessed significant private equity monetisation through block deals in several listed companies.

A key reason for the strong interest in IPOs has been an increased focus on profitability and reasonable pricing of deals.

In 2021, several companies raised capital with a limited track record of profitability, with the price-to-revenue ratio being a key metric in pricing some of them.

Today, the emphasis is on sustained profitability and earnings multiples.

Investors have been discerning in terms of pricing, building in a higher margin of safety while valuing IPO-bound companies.

This also partly explains the fact that of the 46 companies listed this year, more than 90 per cent are trading above the issue price, with median returns of about 40 per cent.

Investors have made gains, boosting confidence and aiding continued deal flow.

What are the big themes that have dominated this year?

The IPO activity has been broad-based across sectors. However, the manufacturing sector has caught investor attention.

About a third of the IPOs this calendar are from the industrial/manufacturing sector.

Other sectors, such as healthcare, consumer goods, real estate, and finance, have also made significant contributions.

The outlook for manufacturing companies remains strong, with many global players looking to expand manufacturing in India as part of the overall Make in India push by the government, the China+1 strategy, and the overall recovery in the capital expenditure cycle.

What is the outlook for 2024? Do you see any sectors or themes dominating?

Markets are likely to witness a robust capital raise next year as well.

There are more than 65 IPO documents filed with Sebi. Of these, 25 have already received approval.

They could launch their share sales as soon as the marketing process is complete, and investor feedback around demand and pricing is received.

Almost half of the draft documents awaiting Sebi's approval pertain to the industrial and financial sectors.

Several new-age companies across platform technology, consumer technology, and payment technology are evaluating IPO plans as well. They are likely to file their offer documents over the next few months.

We hold a strong bullish outlook on the IPO market, extending well beyond 2024.

This optimism is buoyed by robust domestic and foreign investments, driven by superior growth prospects of the Indian markets.

The inflows are expected to gain even more momentum once the uncertainties related to the elections are resolved.

Will startup IPOs make a comeback?

There have been a few new-age businesses that have successfully listed this year.

These include Mamaearth, Yatra and Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services.

Also, the recovery in share prices of already listed new-age companies is a clear sign of strong investor interest in them.

New-age companies must stabilise their business models and be on a clear path to profitability.

Once this is achieved, the IPO markets will likely experience a strong and steady supply of paper from the new-age sector.

We anticipate that some of them will file their draft offer documents in and around elections to launch post-election results.

Will December be soft due to foreign portfolio investor holidays?

We expect IPO activity to continue until about the third week of this month. At least five companies could launch their IPOs or qualified institutional placements (QIPs) before the year-end holidays.

How has domestic institutional and retail participation in IPOs evolved? Has reliance on overseas investors been reduced?

Participation in the current calendar year has been extremely strong across investor categories. We expect this trend to continue.

The current equity-oriented domestic mutual fund assets under management are worth Rs 27 trillion.

This is driving strong domestic participation in not just IPOs but also in other equity offerings such as blocks and QIPs.

In 2023, on average, 65 per cent of the anchor book was covered by domestic institutions.

How have regulatory changes, such as T+3, benefited the IPO market?

Sebi has been extremely progressive in reforming the capital markets. The recent migration to the T+3 listing is another step in the same direction.

Listing timelines have significantly reduced, and several issuers have voluntarily migrated to the T+3 listing framework even ahead of the regulatory deadline of December 1.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Domestic passenger vehicle wholesales rose by around 4 per cent year-on-year in November, driven by robust demand for utility vehicles, industry body SIAM said on Tuesday.

Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Passenger vehicle dispatches from companies to dealers rose to 334,130 units last month, the best ever figure for the month of November, from 322,268 units in same month last year.

Two-wheeler sales rose to 16,23,399 units last month, a growth of 31 per cent as compared to 12,36,282 units in November 2022.

Similarly, three-wheeler dispatches also rose to 59,738 units last month, registering an increase of 31 per cent over 45,664 units in last November.

"All segments of the automobile industry witnessed robust growth during the festival season which ended in the first part of November," Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) president Vinod Aggarwal said in a statement.

Supported by strong economic growth, the automobile industry is optimistic in ending the year 2023 on a high note and expects the trend to continue into 2024, he added.

Elaborating further, SIAM director general Rajesh Menon said passenger vehicle segment witnessed highest ever wholesales in November 2023 with dispatch of 3.34 lakh units, albeit with a growth rate of 3.7 per cent, in the backdrop of a high base last November.

Three-wheeler dispatches in November were just below the peak of November 2017, he noted.

Similarly, two-wheeler wholesales last month were also slightly below the peak seen in November 2018, Menon said.
Next year Medica and Manipal will merge, making the amalgamated entity the largest corporate hospital chain in the country, overtaking Apollo Hospitals Enterprises.

IMAGE: Manipal Hospitals, Hebbal, Bengaluru. Photograph: Kind courtesy manipalhospitals.com

Singapore-based investment company Temasek-backed hospitals Manipal Health Enterprises and Medica Synergie Pvt Ltd are likely to merge soon and operate as a single entity under the Manipal brand, sources close to the development said.

Manipal Health Enterprises (Manipal Hospitals) has a capacity of 9,500 beds in 33 hospitals in India, while Medica has a presence in eastern India with 1,200 beds.

Both the hospitals are in expansion mode -- with Manipal Hospitals eyeing another 1,200 beds in 18 to 36 months, and Medica 450 to 500 beds in two-three years.

A source close to the development told Business Standard: "In Manipal Temasek owns around 59 per cent, while in Medica about 90 per cent. Therefore, it makes sense to operate as a single entity to leverage synergies."

The process will begin in the next few months, and next year Medica and Manipal will merge, making the amalgamated entity the largest corporate hospital chain in the country, overtaking Apollo Hospitals Enterprises, the person quoted above added.

The move will help the hospital groups to collaborate in regional expansion plans and have better hub-and-spoke operations.

Medica has a presence in Kolkata, Siliguri, and Ranchi and is building a cancer hospital in Asansol.

In Kolkata it operates around 600 beds. It is adding capacity to its old Siliguri hospital, which is being developed into a modern 300-bed hospital, and is also expanding in Ranchi.

Speaking to Business Standard, Ayanabh Debgupta, co-founder and joint managing director of Medica, said the entity was mostly focusing on cancer care in its expansion plans.

Cancer care often does not need several beds because many of the treatment procedures can be done in day-care. However, to cater to the growing needs of cancer care in the region, Debgupta said a facility in Asansol was being set up.

"We are also looking at locations like Guwahati and even Varanasi because these are contiguous with our present locations," he said.

While Debgupta did not give details, he said Medica's top line had been growing at 20 per cent annually, and the bottom line too has been increasing at a similar pace.

Manipal Hospitals, on the other hand, recently added 1,200 beds through its acquisition of Emami Group-owned AMRI Hospitals for Rs 2,300 crore (Rs 23 billion) in September.

Earlier in April, Temasek had increased its stake in Manipal Hospitals by buying an additional 41 per cent from the promoters and other investors including TPG and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund at an enterprise valuation of Rs 40,000 crore.

Temasek's stake in Manipal thus increased from 18 per cent to 59 per cent. Temasek has been invested in Manipal for six years and plans to remain a long-term investor.

In an interaction with Business Standard in September, Dilip Jose, managing director and CEO, Manipal Health Enterprises, had said Manipal Hospitals had 1,300 beds in Kolkata (after the AMRI deal), and it would look at expanding further into Tier-II and smaller towns of West Bengal.

Manipal Hospitals is setting up three hospitals in Bengaluru, totalling 750 beds, and adding another 350 in Raipur.

Manipal Hospitals closed FY23 with revenues of around Rs 4,600 crore (Rs 46 billion)n at a consolidated level, and an Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) of Rs 1,200 crore (Rs 12 billion), resulting in an Ebitda margin of over 25 per cent, market sources said.

It has average revenues per occupied bed of Rs 2 crore (Rs 20 million) at network level, which is on a par with Fortis Healthcare and Apollo Hospital Enterprises, sources added.

Medica co-founder Alok Roy, who was chairman too, exited the hospital group some time ago. Around May the hospital named Nandakumar Jairam chairman.

Temasek's health care platform Sheares Healthcare had raised its shareholding in Medica to 90 per cent by providing an exit to Roy and related entities.

In December 2021, it had picked up the stake held by Quadria Capital and thereby held a majority of around 75 per cent.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
'I would put my hand in the ground and have a little listen to what the mountain was doing.'

'Actually, it was still collapsing.'

'And there was a very real possibility that at some stage, without warning, the collapse could continue -- and continue across us, the people who were doing the rescue and also across to the men on the other side, who were being rescued.'

IMAGE: Arnold Dix (yellow helmet) with Pramod Kumar Mishra, principal secretary to the prime minister of India, and others leave after visiting the tunnel site, November 27, 2023. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Tunnelling professional Professor Arnold Edward Dix, 59, has just returned from his daughter's school in Monbulk, a farming town in the shadow of the Dandenong mountains, 42 km from Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia, where he spent about an hour recounting a Christmas story to her classmates.

It was a true Christmas story. Not an imaginary one.

His tale had nothing to do with grinches, nutcrackers, carols, a Polar Express, sugarplums or snowmen.

It was a story of hope. A tale that showed "We all might be different people, but in the end we all just want the best for our kids."

A story with the message that "Good People can do Kind Things, Great Things."

Cheerful Dix, who looks and sounds a bit like a twinkle-eyed Santa himself, recounted a miraculous Christmas story about the wonderful rescue of 41 young men in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel, without any loss of life, that illustrated, according to him, how we are all little people contending with the "big forces" out there, but we just have to stay positive, work together to find solutions.

Like all tales with a universal message, it found instant resonance in faraway Australia and the children loved it. They cheered and clapped at the end of it.

Ever since Dix got involved as a volunteer with the nail-biting Himalayan tunnel rescue, he, along with the rat miners Feroz, Munna, Rashid, Irshad, Naseem, Monu, Naseer, Ankur, Jatin, Devender, Saurabh, Waqeel, Hasan, have become international stars. He returned to a hero's welcome in Australia, with the country's prime minister, Anthony Albanese taking time out in parliament to celebrate him. He has been feted and interviewed wherever he went.

The underground expert collected a tonne of Indian hearts when he was spied, tikka on his forehead, praying at a mountain shrine of Baba Boukhnag, heartily tucking into Indian vegetarian food and gamely and readily immersing himself, even spiritually, in our culture.

Dix is quick to confess that the time he spent in Silkyara in the depth of the majestic, mysterious Himalayas was a soul-altering experience for him, where he learnt different, eccentric styles of problem solving, an alternative flabbergasting culture of management and about a kind of resilience, kindness and concern for human life he had not encountered before, that touched him deeply.

A geologist and legal expert, who earned both his degrees at Monash University, Clayton, Australia, with various visiting professorships, Dix belongs to a not very large community of specialists in tunnelling, with his key area being troubleshooting and helping governments and he is the president of the Geneva-based International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association.

"I've never been in the midst of a process where it felt like India, as a country, all its agencies, the military and everything, had all got together and said, 'We're going to save the lives of these 41 men'. That was quite an experience," he tells Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel in the first of a multi-part, exclusive, interview.

What was it like coming to India and helping with this rescue? It made you quite a star. How has the entire experience changed you? What was your takeaway?

Oh, that's an interesting (question). I found the whole experience almost enlightening. I know, it sounds a bit odd. I was really struck by the sophistication and maturity of the Indian sense of justice and fairness and of the value of a human life.

I don't know if I'd really fully appreciated that before. I'd certainly seen how you shouldn't jump on ants or kill things and what have you. But I've never been in the midst of a process where it felt like India, as a country, all its agencies, the military and everything, had all got together and said, 'We're going to save the lives of these 41 men'. That was quite an experience. It's unlike what I find in many countries, when people are in trouble.

They're not superstars. They're not Bollywood stars. They're not super-rich people. They're just like normal, hardworking people. And yet, the whole country just rallied around and (said) 'We're going to bring these kids home'.

I really liked that. I found that a very high form of civilisation, a high form of humanity. I enjoyed being part of it.

IMAGE: Arnold Dix speaks to people involved in the rescue operation. Photograph: ANI Photo

I understand it was quite a journey for you to get to the site of the tunnel collapse?

Diwali started for me in New Zealand. I had the first call, after the incident, when I was in New Zealand. Then I got called when I was in Germany. I had something to do there. It was a bit urgent. Finally, when things weren't going so well, I was in Ljubljana, Slovenia. That's when the secretary and the chief engineer (India's ministry of road transport and highways) said to me, 'Look, can you get here?'

Actually, it was quite hard to get there. I was in a kind of a remote part of Europe. You wouldn't think Europe has a remote part. It was like: 'Oh, yeah, we don't have a plane going today. But we've got one tomorrow' and then I had to get connections from Slovenia to the Middle East and a plane from the Middle East to, I think, Mumbai, from Mumbai, I had to get to Delhi and then from Delhi to Dehradun. From there, it was pretty easy because there was a helicopter. That was pretty cool.

You arrived at the site on November 19 by helicopter?

Yeeeaah! Which was fantastic. Because my name is Arnold. This was like what Arnold Schwarzenegger does in one of those movies. I got no muscles. I got no guns, but it was awesome to actually come into the Himalayas on, I think, a military helicopter. That was pretty much like a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

IMAGE: Drones being used in the rescue operation of the trapped workers in the tunnel. Photograph: Kind courtesy Arnold Edward Dix

Who was the person who contacted you first?

The first person to contact me was India's chief engineer, Mr Gupta (Rahul Gupta, Chief Engineer, MoRTH, New Delhi). We just discussed strategies in the beginning. And then the next (conversations) were with him and the secretary of the whole federal department (Anurag Jain).

The secretary then asked me to come. I said, 'Yes, of course'. It was as uncomplicated as that. He had an emergency, and we just kind of help each other like 'You're my friends'. It could have been my kids (Australian underground workers) who were stuck in there, because my kids also work in tunneling. I was like, 'Of course, I will come'. Of course, I just came as quick as I could.

IMAGE: Arnold Dix offers prayers at the temple of Baba Bokhnaag at the entrance of the Silkyara tunnel. Photograph: Arnold Dix

Did you get to know the 41 men after they were pulled out?

It was a funny thing. Yes and no. A little bit.

So, what happened was I was meant to, in fact, I was told immediately after they were pulled out (on November 28, 17 days later), I was to go to a helipad and get flown back to Delhi.

I just felt that I had unfinished business. I kind of didn't do what I was told. Not kind of. I didn't do what I was told. And I snuck off with the SDRF rescue men (State Disaster Response Force). I was to be at the helipad. But actually, I ran off and went up the mountain where the main temple is for the god for that particular mountain.

I had the best day but unfortunately, I made a lot of people a bit annoyed with me because a helicopter was waiting, and I never came. I thought I'd told them, but apparently my message didn't get through. They were a bit worried that maybe I'd fallen off a cliff or any of all the sorts of things that happen when you're in the Himalayas.

The good news about all of that was: Even though I missed my helicopter, even though I had a great day up the mountain, even though that meant I couldn't get a helicopter so I had to get a car, even though that then delayed me another day, even though I missed my flight... But the flight that I did get had a whole heap of the men I rescued on it!

They were on the flight with me, and we were all seated together. Actually, I had the best time. We all introduced ourselves to each other. And it was a really wonderful experience. It was obviously just meant to be.

The funniest thing was the airline had put them in the exit rows. I thought that was really funny, next to the little door on the airplane. They'd never been on a plane before. When the airline hostess comes down to tell us like, 'Are we prepared to use the doors in an emergency?' I just start laughing.

Like, I was telling the air hostess, 'Don't you know who these guys are? These guys have just burrowed out of a Himalayan mountain through a million tonnes of rock. You can assume that they're going to be able to open a little door onto the wing'.

But the airline lady, she's getting angry with me. It doesn't matter how many times she tells me to shut up, I just keep on laughing at her and thinking it's very, very, funny.

Anyway, so eventually I had to behave myself. Eventually they agreed that they would use the emergency door if in the unlikely event of an accident, blah blah blah. We said farewell in Delhi, and sort of wished each other goodbye.

It was wonderful. It was a really charming and fitting end to an epic -- an epic rescue of almost god-like proportions. I couldn't have couldn't have written the story better than this reality. It was just fantastic.

WATCH: Arnold Dix with members of the Silkyara rescue team

The Australian prime minister was talking about how you went into the Uttarakhand tunnel and your wife was very scared that you might get trapped inside. What was it like on a day-to-day basis inside there?

Well, it's a mountain. It's collapsing. So, we had the initial collapse. Speaking as an engineer now, and as a tunnel expert, it was quite clear from all the data that we were getting -- data from drone-based LIDAR surveys, from satellite LIDAR surveys, from traditional on-the-ground surveys -- that everything was still moving.

We increasingly had data from the site, where the men were trapped, showing us that the roof was collapsing, particularly on the left side. So, we had collapse occurring on the left side, on the side the men were trapped. Plus, we had what looked like the early stages of collapse on the side that we were rescuing.

I would always go right down to the avalanche, and literally put my hand in the ground, and just sit there and have a little listen to what the mountain was doing.

Actually, it was still collapsing. And there was a very real possibility that at some stage, without warning, the collapse could continue -- and continue across us, the people who were doing the rescue and also across to the men on the other side, who were being rescued.

It was very much a high-alert thing. You go in there. But you're listening to the rocks. You're listening to the sound of the cracks. You're watching for things falling from the roof. You're watching for rocks coming from where the avalanche had been.

The good thing was that the best experts in the world were there -- like the Himalayan experts from India are just fantastic. And they come from the federal agencies, the state agencies, the army, the Indian coal agency, so many areas. Between us all, I think we were able to come to quite an informed view about the likelihood of it collapsing while we were there.

Although we knew it was still collapsing, and we knew that there was a chance it was going to collapse at any moment, we were just on super high alert, because we knew we also had a rescue to complete.

It was quite a balancing act. But an informed balancing act. Not a crazy balancing act. But we were going to do this, we were going to be calm, we were caring about our own well-being, we were making sure that people on the other side were going to be rescued.

We were not going to jeopardise that, we were not going to cause another avalanche by doing something crazy. It was a quite informed and careful balancing act that we were performing.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'This verdict means that if there is presidential rule anywhere in any state of India, that state can be dismembered and from a state can be downgraded to a Union territory.'

IMAGE: A lawyer shows copies of Article 370 after the Supreme Court upheld the Centre's decision to abrogate the article, December 11, 2023. Photograph: Mohammed Zakir/ANI Photo

Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami was detained by the government and his movements were restricted post the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.

The situation turned so bad for him that CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury had to file a habeas corpus petition in the Supreme Court asking him to be brought to court as he feared that Tarigami was either dead or illegally detained.

After much deliberations, the Supreme Court allowed Yechury to travel to Kashmir and meet Tarigami.

Tarigami has been very vocal against the abrogation of Article 370 and feels the Supreme Court judgment upholding the central government's decision will have serious consequences.

Tarigami spoke to Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com after the Supreme Court ruling on Monday.

How do you react to the Supreme Court verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370?

It is highly disturbing and in our view it is bound to have serious consequences for the federal structure of our Constitution.

This verdict says that there is no question of retaining any element of sovereignty after the Instrument of Accession was signed but the fact remains that signing of the instrument of accession was conditional.

The then J&K maharaja Hari Singh (in 1947), while signing the Instrument of Accession, had forwarded another letter specifying the speciality of the situation and asking for retention of internal security for the state.

The verdict declares that J&K is like any other state of the Union; it means that it is depriving us of some special features like Himachal Pradesh and other North Eastern states (have).

This verdict means that if there is presidential rule anywhere in any state of India, that state can be dismembered and from a state can be downgraded to a Union territory.

It is a big challenge for the basic structure of the Constitution of India as its federal character is under threat.

It is not injustice to the people of J&K, but supportive of policies which are aimed at disrupting and dismantling the very basic federal character of our polity.

It is almost five years since the scrapping of Article 370. How has life been different for the people of Jammu and Kashmir in this time?

Everything is different in J&K post the abrogation of Article 370.

The day this judgment is being delivered I am virtually under house arrest. This is the difference.

Even media people are not allowed to come and meet me.

Earlier, we had certain rights like holding assembly elections on time.

Now, four-and-a-half years have passed post the abrogation of Article 370 and our state has no assembly.

The delimitation process has been completed, they have upgraded the electoral rolls but there is still uncertainty on elections.

The prime minister and home minister time and again assured us on the floor of the Lok Sabha that statehood will be restored.

And even in today's judgment there is no specific time frame for the government to restore statehood.

My question to the rest of the country fellowmen would be, how will you feel when you are meted out this kind of treatment in your state?

I hope we all citizens of India realise together and restore the Constitutional rights of the people of J&K and the rest of the country.

The Supreme Court verdict is the final seal of approval on the abrogation of Article 370. It cannot be reversed now.

We know that once upon a time the Emergency was imposed and at that time it was the last word of Parliament too.

Nevertheless, the people of India asserted themselves and democracy was restored.

Whatever has happened to us, we hope democracy will be restored in J&K as promised by the founding fathers of the Indian Constitution. We look forward to better days for us and the country.

The main argument is that Article 370 created a separatist mindset in the people of Jammu and Kashmir and therefore it was essential to scrap it.

This argument is misleading people and is a distortion of historical facts.

When in 1947 there was no Indian army in Kashmir and raiders (from Pakistan) came to attack Kashmir, the maharaja of J&K (Hari Singh) left Kashmir and went to Jammu with his troops.

Who then resisted these raiders? It was the people of Kashmir who resisted the raiders.

Kashmiris then formed bonds with Indians over secular values and not on communal lines with Pakistan which was a Muslim State.

Kashmiris willingly opted for a secular India in 1947.

The maharaja of Kashmir joined India on October 26, 1947, and not on August 15, 1947, when India got independence.

Please try to understand this historical fact. Signing of accession to India was by a Hindu maharaja and not any Muslim leader.

When the raiders came in 1947, Kashmiri Muslims refused to side with them and instead fought against them.

With Article 370 gone, how difficult will it be for you to convince ordinary Kashmiris that what the Indian establishment is doing is good for them?

We have been fighting for the rights of people and we have been victims of violence from the other side (Pakistan). We will definitely go on and march ahead with the rest of the country for genuine democratic rights.

Has peace been restored since Article 370 was abrogated?

They are silencing and arresting people. They are prohibiting even social media activity by the Kashmiri people.

But terrorism cases have reduced post the abrogation, isn't it?

When Article 370 was eroded, the tendency of terrorism emerged in Kashmir. There was a time when there was no terrorism in Kashmir.

Why don't you see that period of Kashmir when there was no terrorism? Terrorism emerged in the late 1980s.

From 1947 to 1989 was a big period of peace in Kashmir.
The Income Tax department winded up its six-day search operation on Tuesday and left the country-liquor manufacturing unit in Odisha's Bolangir district after recovering more than Rs 350 crore in unaccounted cash and about 3 kilograms of gold, officials said.

IMAGE: Quantum of cash recovered and seized in Odisha's Balangir IT raids linked to Congress MP Dheeraj Sahu, on Monday, December 11, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

As the raids were completed, the I-T team took two managers of the distillery located at Sutapada to an unknown location for interrogation, they said.

The company was owned by the family of Congress MP Dhiraj Prasad Sahu, a resident of Jharkhand.

The Odisha unit of the Congress, however, claimed that the party has no connection with the seizure of the huge unaccounted money, termed as the "highest-ever" haul in a single action by any probe agency in the country.

Following a tip-off regarding tax evasion, the I-T department officials launched a search operation at six locations in Odisha on December 6. More than 200 people including bank employees were engaged in the search and counting of the cash in Bolangir and Sambalpur.

The raids were conducted in Bolangir, Titlagarh, Boudh, Rourkela, Sundergarh and Bhubaneswar. I-T department DG Sanjay Bahadur camped in Bhubaneswar to monitor the raids.

Meanwhile, political parties intensified their protest and blamed each other over the I-T raids.

The opposition BJP's Mahila Morcha on Tuesday held a demonstration in Bhubaneswar and burnt an effigy of Sahu. The party activists demanded a CBI probe into his links with the liquor traders and seizure of cash.

The BJP alleged that the country liquor business and tax evasion have taken place in Odisha due to patronage of the state's BJD government.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Sarat Pattnayak claimed in a press conference that his party has nothing to do with the black money generated through the country liquor trade in the state.

"The BJP leaders across the country have been making allegations against the Congress. However, the I-T department is silent so far. It has not yet issued any statement regarding the source of the money and the alleged involvement of the Congress," Pattnayak said.

Asked about Sahu's involvement, Pattnayak said: "We do not know regarding this. He might have a liquor business but it has nothing to do with the Congress. Above all, he does not belong to Odisha."

In a related development, officials said a three-member ED team visited the I-T department office in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.

However, there was no word on whether ED will take over the investigation.
The government is learnt to have decided to retain the status of CEC and other election commissioners on par with judges of the Supreme Court, following protests by opposition parties and former chief election commissioners.

IMAGE: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar with Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel at an event to announce the appointment of Bollywood actor Rajkumar Rao as Election Commission's National Icon in New Delhi. Photograph: Mohd Zakir/ANI Photo

At present, the CECs and ECs enjoy the status of a Supreme Court judge.

The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 introduced in the Rajya Sabha in August this year had proposed to bring the status of the CEC and other ECs on par with the Cabinet Secretary.

The opposition parties and some former CECs had opposed the move, saying it will go against the independence of the institution.

According to sources, the proposed official amendment says "The CEC and other commissioners shall be paid a salary which is equal to the salary which is equal to the salary of a judge of the Supreme Court."

According to another proposed amendment, a search committee headed by the Union Law Minister comprising two other members not below the rank of secretary to the government of India, shall prepare a panel of five persons for the selection committee.

In the bill, it was proposed that the Cabinet Secretary will head the search committee.

The bill is listed for consideration and passage in the Rajya Sabha for Tuesday.
The delay in US defense aid to Ukraine is not a tragedy. American lawmakers will approve this package even if Washington has not given an exact figure that Kyiv can expect to receive.

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Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, expressed this belief in a commentary to the BBC. According to him, everything will be resolved because "the truth is on our side."

The newspaper noted that the $106 billion financial aid package for Ukraine ($60 billion), Israel and Taiwan is embroiled in internal party politics, and time is running out before the US Congress's Christmas recess. Today, a smaller number of Republican lawmakers are "skeptical" about providing Kyiv with additional funds to strengthen its defense.

"If we get a gift before Christmas, we will be happy. But if it happens a little later, we should not turn it into a tragedy," Danilov commented.

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He did not answer the journalist's question about whether Ukraine would lose the war to Russia if American aid stopped. The NSDC Secretary simply refused to consider this possibility, saying that "the truth is on our side."

"Will Putin destroy us before the eyes of the world? Will he kill our children, our women, our old people? And will the whole world watch with its eyes closed? Then the question should be the following: what kind of world do we live in?" Danilov stated.

To add, diplomat Oleksandr Levchenko said that the most unfavorable scenario, in which Western aid is critically reduced, Russian troops advance and seize new territories, and the government is forced to capitulate, can not happen to Ukraine. He noted that such an "apocalypse" is impossible for a number of objective reasons.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, President Volodymyr Zelensky recently met with representatives of American think tanks in Washington. They discussed how to maintain US support and attention to Ukraine in the face of other global challenges.

Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A group photo taken at the Bharatiya Janata Party office in Jaipur ahead of Tuesday's legislature party meeting showed Bhajan Lal Sharma in the very last row.

IMAGE: Rajasthan Chief Minister-designate Bhajan Lal Sharma during a press conference, in Jaipur on Tuesday. Photograph: ANI Photo

An hour or so later, he had jumped places to front and centre stage.

The three central observers sent by the BJP from Delhi proposed his name as the leader of the legislature party in Rajasthan, the state it wrested from the Congress in the recent assembly elections.

And the 56-year-old first-time MLA, who represents Jaipur's Sanganer in the assembly became the chief minister-designate.

Sharma is one of the general secretaries in the state BJP and has kept a low profile.

Considered a hardcore Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh man, Sharma was actively involved in the agitation for the Ram temple in Ayodhya at the site where the Babri mosque stood. In 1992, he spent time in jail for this.

That was around the beginning of his political career. He has also been a village sarpanch twice, starting at the age of 27.

Over the past three decades, Sharma has held various posts in the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and in the party organisation.

He went to school in the Bharatpur district's Atari village and Nadbai town.

Later, he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), and also took up social causes in Nabadi and Bharatpur.

Sharma actively participated in the 1990 Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad protest in which thousands of students from across the country gathered in Jammu to march towards Srinagar.

The authorities stopped them, and Sharma was among the several who courted arrest in Udhampur, protesting against attacks on Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.

Sharma then moved on to the BJYM, the BJP's youth wing. He was BJYM's district president thrice before becoming the parent party's Bharatpur district secretary and its district president.

Leaving Bharatpur for the BJP's Rajasthan headquarter, Sharma became the party's state vice president, and is now a general secretary in the state BJP.

Sharma holds a masters' degree in political science and runs an agriculture supplies business.

The BJP won 115 of the 199 seats on which polling took place in the November assembly elections in Rajasthan.

The BJP also won the elections in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday picked first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma as Rajasthan's new chief minister, ending days of speculation that followed its victory in the assembly polls.

IMAGE: Bhajan Lal Sharma being greeted by BJP's central observer Rajnath Singh and former CM Vasundhara Raje Scindia on being picked as Rajasthan chief minister, Jaipur, December 12, 2023. Photograph: BJP4Rajasthan on X

The surprise choice was announced after BJP MLAs met in Jaipur and elected the 56-year-old legislator from Sanganer as the leader of its legislature party.

Sharma, a Brahmin face, is at present a Rajasthan BJP general secretary.

Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa will be the deputy chief ministers and Vasudev Devnani will be the speaker of the state assembly, said senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh, who led a team of three party central observers to oversee the meeting.

Following the meeting at the BJP office in Jaipur, chief minister-designate Sharma met Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra and staked claim to form the next government in the state.

Party sources said the oath-taking ceremony is likely to take place on December 15.

The BJP won 115 seats in the November 25 assembly elections while the Congress got 69 seats. Polling was held on 199 of the 200 seats in the state.

BJP state president C P Joshi presented a letter to the governor, informing that Sharma has been elected as the leader of the BJP legislature party in the state, according to a Raj Bhawan statement.

Kumari is a member of the erstwhile Jaipur royal family and a Rajput while Bairwa, a Dalit leader and Vasudev Devnani, is from the Sindhi community.

At the meeting, Sharma's name was proposed by former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, who was herself considered to be in the running for the top post.

Sharma is the third in a series of little-known MLAs who have been elevated by the BJP to the chief minister's post after the recently held assembly elections, ignoring state stalwarts.

The others are Vishnu Deo Sai, who has been picked as the CM-designate for Chhattisgarh, and Mohan Yadav, who has been picked for the post in Madhya Pradesh.

Elections were held between November 7 and November 30 in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram.

The Congress won in Telangana and the Zoram People's Movement in Mizoram.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-backed Sharma won the Sanganer constituency with a margin of 48,081 votes.

Sharma, who belongs to Bharatpur district, holds a master's degree in political science.

He thanked the BJP leadership for giving a 'chance' to the son of a farmer and said the party takes care of its workers.

"The BJP is the only party which gives opportunities to its workers. I would like to thank the party's national and state leadership for giving a chance to the son of a farmer," Sharma said.

"The BJP is a party that takes care of its workers. The party has honoured a small worker of the organisation. I am thankful for it," he told reporters at the BJP office.

Following the BJP legislature party's decision, people living in the vicinity of Sharma's residence in Jaipur celebrated the moment with many reaching the Balaji Tower to congratulate his family members.

Sharma along with his wife and sons Abhishek and Kunal, a doctor, stays on the seventh floor of the apartment near Jawahar Circle.

Security has been tightened for Sharma's family members, who will soon move to the chief minister's official residence.

Prior to the legislature party meeting, a group photo was taken and Sharma is seen standing in the last row.

Before Sharma, Raje was the preferred choice of the BJP for the post for 20 years. She was chief minister twice -- from 2003 to 2008 and from 2013 to 2018. The Congress was in power in the state in the intervening years with Ashok Gehlot at the helm.

After the meeting, Rajnath Singh told reporters that Raje had proposed Sharma's name for the post of leader of the legislature party. This was unanimously accepted, the defence minister said.

He said Devnani, Kirodi Lal Meena, Madan Dilawar and Jawahar Bedham were the first to accept the proposal. Following this, Singh said, he declared the name of the leader of the BJP legislature party -- Bhajan Lal Sharma.

"I am assured that in the leadership of Bhajan Lal Sharma, Rajasthan will move on the path of development. All have congratulated Sharma," he said.

Along with this, Singh also declared that Kumari and Bairwa will be the deputy chief ministers and Devnani will be the assembly speaker.

Kumari is a two-time MLA and one-time MP. She won from Vidhyadhar Nagar this time with a margin of 71,368 votes.

The 51-year-old BJP leader was elected to the legislative assembly for the first time in 2013 from Sawai Madhopur. In 2019, she was elected as MP from Rajsamand.

The BJP government will work to make Rajasthan a developed state, Kumari told reporters at the party office and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party high command for making her deputy chief minister.

Bairwa, who was declared deputy chief minister along with Kumari, is a Dalit face in the BJP and a two-time MLA.

The 54-year-old won the Dudu constituency in the November 25 polls.

He defeated Congress' Babu Lal Nagar with a margin of 35,743 votes. He holds a PhD from the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur.

Devnani, who won from Ajmer North, is a former minister.

The 77-year-old is a five-time MLA and an engineering graduate.

Before entering politics, he was a lecturer at the Government Polytechnic College in Udaipur. He has a teaching experience of 30 years.

He said his priority as the speaker would be to ensure meaningful debate in the assembly.

"My priority will be to run the House by taking everyone along," Devnani told reporters.

Shortly after the announcements, celebrations broke out at the residences of Sharma and the others.

"I thank the people and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Sharma's wife told reporters at their residence in Jaipur.

Later in the evening, Sharma offered prayers at the Moti Dungari Ganesh temple. Former leader of opposition in Rajasthan Assembly Rajendra Rathore was among those who accompanied the CM-designate to the temple.

Sharma also visited the Govind Devji temple.

After visiting the temples, Sharma went to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh office.

Polling was held on 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan.

The election in Karanpur was deferred due to the death of Congress candidate and sitting MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar and will now be held on January 5.
United States President Joe Biden is not travelling to India next month to grace the Republic Day celebrations as the Chief Guest, and New Delhi is looking at holding the next Quad summit later next year instead of its earlier plan to host it in January, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden at Raj Ghat, during the latter's visit to India for the G-20 Summit in September 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

In September, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited President Biden to be the Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations on January 26 next year.

However, there was no official word from India on the invitation to Biden.

It is learnt that Washington has already conveyed to New Delhi that Biden would not be able to visit India.

The reasons for the decision are believed to be the State of the Union address in late January or early February, Biden's focus on his re-election bid and Washington's increasing focus on the Hamas-Israel conflict.

The people cited above said the Quad summit is not taking place in India in January and it is now proposed to be held in the country in the later part of 2024.

It was expected that the Quad summit would take place around January 27 if Biden accepted India's invite.

"The Quad Summit in India is proposed to be held later in 2024. We are looking for revised dates as the dates currently under consideration do not work with all the Quad partners," said a source.

The Quad or Quadrilateral coalition comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia.

There have been a flurry of visits by senior US officials to India in the last few months.

Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin visited India for the '2+2' ministerial dialogue.

US Principal Deputy NSA Jonathan Finer visited India last week and, currently, FBI Director Christopher Wray is on a trip to New Delhi.

The visit by Finer and Wray came against the backdrop of Washington's allegations about an Indian link to a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil.

American prosecutors linked an Indian official to a man charged with conspiring to assassinate separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. India has already constituted a probe team to investigate the allegations.

On the Quad summit, the sources said India is looking at fresh dates.

The last Quad summit had taken place in Hiroshima on May 20 on the sidelines of the G7 summit.

The Quad summit was originally scheduled to take place in Sydney on May 24.

However it was decided to hold it in Hiroshima after President Biden postponed his trip to Australia.

In their next summit, the Quad leaders are expected to bolster overall cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, a region that has been witnessing growing Chinese military assertiveness.

In the Hiroshima summit, the Quad leaders unveiled a 'Vision Statement' titled 'Enduring Partners for Indo-Pacific' expressing their resolve to act as a 'force for good' to find common solutions for region-wide benefit.

They also came out with a series of initiatives including in areas of clean energy supply chains, undersea cables and investments in strategic technologies.
Mohan Yadav will take oath as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh in Bhopal on Wednesday morning, and the event will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the chief ministers of Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states among others, a party leader said.

IMAGE: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Mohan Yadav being greeted by his supporters, in Bhopal on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Elaborate arrangements are being made for the swearing-in ceremony scheduled to be held at 11.30 am at the Lal Parade Ground in Bhopal, state BJP chief Vishnu Dutt Sharma and outgoing chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told reporters after reviewing preparations for the ceremony.

"Prime minister Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda, the chief ministers of several BJP-ruled states and central ministers among others will attend the oath-taking ceremony," Sharma said.

Chouhan said as a caretaker chief minister it was his duty to see that all preparations were made for the swearing-in ceremony.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will also attend the function, a BJP spokesperson said.

A large number of BJP workers, especially from Yadav's hometown Ujjain, are also expected be present for the ceremony, party sources said.

Ending days of suspense, the BJP on Monday picked Yadav as the new chief minister of the state and denied party stalwart Shivraj Singh Chouhan a record fifth term in office.

Yadav (58), a minister in the Chouhan government, was elected unanimously as the BJP legislative party leader during a meeting on Monday.

The state will also have two deputy chief ministers -- Rajendra Shukla and Jagdish Devda.

However, it is not clear whether they would also take oath along with Yadav, the state BJP spokesperson said.

Senior BJP leader and newly-elected MLA Narendra Singh Tomar, who was among contenders for the CM's post, will be the new assembly speaker.

Yadav, who was not being seen as a contender for the top post, is considered to be close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and hails from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community which accounts for more than 48 per cent of the state's population.

After he was named as chief minister-designate on Monday, Yadav met Governor Mangubhai Patel and staked a claim to form the next government.

Yadav was elected as MLA from Ujjain South seat for the first time in 2013. He retained the assembly seat in 2018 and again in 2023.

In the last month's assembly elections, the BJP won 163 of the 230 assembly seats in the state, relegating the Congress to a distant second with 66 seats.
The Kashmir issue should be resolved through dialogue and consultation between India and Pakistan, China said on Tuesday while reacting to the Supreme Court judgment on Article 370 upholding the central government's decision on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

IMAGE: Chief Justice of India Justice DY Chandrachud speaks during a hearing in the plea against abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta looks on, New Delhi, August 29, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

On the Kashmir issue, China's position is consistent and clear, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, replying to a question by a Pakistani journalist seeking China's reaction on the issue.

The Supreme Court of India on Monday unanimously upheld the central government's decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 bestowing special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The apex court also directed restoration of statehood at the earliest as well as holding elections to the assembly by September 30 next year.

This is a dispute left from the past between India and Pakistan and it should be properly addressed through peaceful means, according to the UN charter, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and relevant bilateral agreements, she said.

Relevant parties need to settle the dispute through dialogue and consultations and safeguard peace and stability in the region, Mao said.

Pakistan, China's all-weather ally, on Monday said India's Supreme Court verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370 has "no legal value", asserting that the international law does not recognise New Delhi's "unilateral and illegal actions" of August 5, 2019.
At least 23 Pakistani soldiers were killed and more than 30 others injured Tuesday when six terrorists linked to a Pakistani Taliban affiliate rammed an explosive-laden truck into a security forces' post in the restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, in one of the worst terror attacks targeting security forces in recent years.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the army, the terrorists attacked the security post in Dera Ismail Khan's Daraban area bordering the South Waziristan tribal district in the early morning hours.

The army had set up the camp in a police station complex in the Daraban area.

'The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted which forced the terrorists to ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the post, followed by a suicide bombing attack.

'The resulting blasts led to the collapse of the building, causing multiple casualties,' it said.

Twenty-three Pakistan Army soldiers were killed while all six terrorists were 'effectively engaged and sent to hell', the ISPR said.

It added that sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists present in the area.

'Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthens our resolve,' the ISPR said.

An emergency was declared in district hospitals while all schools and colleges were closed due to the attack.

The Tehrik-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), a newly formed militant group that is an affiliate of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack.

TJP spokesperson Mullah Qasim termed the attack a 'suicide mission' (Fidayein).

Separately, 17 terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation in the Darazinda area of Dera Ismail Khan, the army said.

'During the conduct of the operation, terrorists' hideout was busted and 17 terrorists were sent to hell,' the military's media affairs wing said.

The ISPR further stated that two soldiers were killed while four more terrorists were neutralised in another IBO in the Kulachi area.

'The killed terrorists were actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces as well as killing of innocent civilians. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered during the operation,' the statement said.

Throughout this year, terrorists and separatists have been targeting security forces in Pakistan. Tuesday's attack resulted in the military's highest single-day death toll from terror attacks this year.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar strongly condemned the attack and said the security forces would not be demoralised by such 'cowardly acts', state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

He said the entire nation salutes those who sacrificed their lives in the war against terrorism. The premier directed authorities to provide the best medical treatment to the injured persons.

'Their dedication, sacrifice and valour in the face of terror is unparalleled and a beacon of hope for our nation. My deepest sympathies to the families of our brave martyrs. We will fight back till the menace of terrorism is eliminated from our motherland,' he said in a post on X.

President Arif Aliv said such cowardly acts could not shake the resolve of the security personnel.

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti also condemned the terrorist attack and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives.

Former president Asif Ali Zardari emphasised the need to eradicate the menace of terrorism. He also prayed for the recovery of the injured.

The TJP terror outfit has been behind some major attacks in Pakistan.

On November 4, the TJP militants attacked the Pakistan Air Force's Mianwali Training Air Base, some 300 km from Lahore, damaging three grounded aircraft.

All the attackers were killed in the army operation, which came a day after 17 soldiers were killed in three separate terror strikes in the country.

In July this year, the TJP militants attacked Zhob Garrison in the restive Balochistan province, killing four soldiers and wounding five others.

Pakistan has been facing a rise in violence in the wake of the Taliban seizing power in Afghanistan in August 2021.

The terrorists have repeatedly attacked the security and military installations in Pakistan.

In September 2015, Taliban gunmen killed 29 people, including 16 praying in a mosque, when they stormed Badaber air base, close to the northwestern city of Peshawar.

It was the deadliest Taliban attack on a military installation in Pakistan's history.

Among those killed were 22 serving officials of the Pakistan Air Force, four civilians and three army soldiers responding to the attack. The 13 gunmen were also killed in the attack.

In May 2011, 15 terrorists belonging to TTP and Al Qaeda attacked PNS Mehran, the headquarters of the Pakistan Navy's Naval Air Arm, located in Sindh and killed 18 military personnel and wounded 16.

Two American-built surveillance aircraft were also destroyed.
The one-year-old Himachal Pradesh Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was expanded on Tuesday with the induction of Rajesh Dharmani and Yadvinder Goma as cabinet ministers.

IMAGE: Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and state CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu with newly inducted Cabinet Minister Yadvinder Goma, at Raj Bhawan in Shimla on Tuesday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Sukhu said efforts have been made to balance the caste and region and the lone Congress MLA from Mandi district, Chandershekher, would be accommodated soon.

One ministerial berth in the cabinet is still vacant and would be filled soon, the chief minister told reporters in Shimla. He also indicated reshuffle in portfolios of ministers.

The much awaited expansion of the state cabinet took place a day after the Congress government completed its one year on Monday. With this, the cabinet's strength has now increased to 11.

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla administered the oath of office to the newly inducted ministers at a ceremony at the Raj Bhawan in Shimla in the presence of Chief Minister Sukhu and other cabinet ministers.

The Governor, who was in Delhi, reached Shimla on Tuesday for the oath ceremony.

Dharmani (51) is a former chief parliamentary secretary and a three-time MLA from Ghumarwin, while Goma (37) is a two-time legislator from Jaisinghpur. Both the leaders hold engineering and MBA degrees.

After the swearing-in of Chief Minister Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on December 11 last year, the cabinet was expanded on January 8 with the induction of seven cabinet ministers.

With the inclusion of Dharmani, Bilaspur district has got representation in the government while through Goma, the under-represented Kangra district with 10 Congress MLAs has got one more minister.

The total strength of the Himachal cabinet is 12 and one berth is still vacant, while the election of the deputy speaker of the state assembly is pending.

Sukhu had also appointed six chief parliamentary secretaries, ahead of first expansion in January.

After the latest expansion, the cabinet consists of five ministers from the Rajput community, including the chief minister, two from Brahmin including deputy CM, two from scheduled castes, and one each from other backward classes and schedule tribe.

While, the expansion has increased the representation of Brahmin and Schedule Caste communities, it seems the Congress government has failed to give adequate representation to various regions in the state.

For instance, Shimla district with seven Congress MLAs still has lion's share in the cabinet -- three berths -- while Kangra district with 10 party MLAs has only two cabinet ministers.

The Congress won 40 out of 68 assembly seats including 10 seats in Kangra, seven in Shimla, four each in Una, Solan, and Hamirpur, three in Sirmaur, two each in Chamba and Kullu, and one each in Mandi, Bilaspur, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts.

Kangra, the biggest district of the state with 15 assembly constituencies, is instrumental in formation of government in the hill state and discrimination with Kangra could create problems for the Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Dharmani has earlier held several posts including secretary of HP Congress Committee, vice president of HP Youth Congress, AICC secretary and secretary and convener of Technical Cell NSUI. He is presently nominated as Chairman, Human Development Committee and member of Public Accounts and e-Governance-cum-General Purposes Committees.

Goma was general secretary, State Rajeev Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan from 2011-2014 and president, HP Congress SC Cell from 2019-2021. He was also nominated as chairman, Subordinate Legislation Committee, and member, Welfare and Rules Committees.

The Congress won 40 out of 68 assembly seats in the 2022 polls.

District wise, three ministers are from Shimla, followed by two from Kangra and one each from Hamirpur, Solan, Sirmaur, Una, Bilapsur and Kinnaur while Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti districts are unrepresented in the cabinet.

Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Pathania is from Bhatiyyat in Chamba district.

After the cabinet expansion on Tuesday, Sukhu said that caste and region has been balanced in the cabinet expansion and Mandi parliamentary constituency would also get its due representation.

From Mandi parliamentary constituency, tribal leader Jagat Singh Negi from Kinnaur (ST) seat is the lone minister in the state cabinet.

The expansion would further strengthen the government or make the left out aspirants more vocal, only time will tell, said a veteran Congress leader.

Some Congress leaders have also been vocal against the government. Himachal Congress chief Pratibha Singh, wife of former CM Virbhadra Singh, has been raking the issue of lack of coordination between the organisation and the government.

Recently, she had expressed her displeasure for not being consulted on one-year celebration of the state government and asserted that the dedicated party workers, who were instrumental in the victory of the party in the assembly polls, should be rewarded.

In September, Congress MLA Rajinder Rana had also expressed concern over delay in recruitments in government jobs, and drawn the attention of chief minister over brewing discontent among the unemployed youth after Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission was scrapped.
His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, arrived in Gangtok on Monday for a three-day visit to Sikkim after a gap of 13 years.

His Holiness landed at the Libing army helipad in East Sikkim where he was received by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. He was also accorded a grand welcome by monks of various monasteries in the state with a traditional Buddhist ritual of dance and prayer known as Sherbang, PTI reported.

The 87-year-old Dalai Lama traveled to a hotel in Gangtok and hundreds of people queued up on both sides of the highway from Deorali to Zero Point to get a glimpse of the spiritual leader.

He will impart teachings on the 'Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas' on Tuesday at the Paljor stadium around 50 km from the India-China border at Nathu La.

"Around 40,000 devotees will attend the event at Paljor stadium to get blessings from the Dalai Lama," Gangtok Superintendent of Police Tenzing Loden Lepcha said.

The Dalai Lama last visited Sikkim in 2010. He is scheduled to stay in Gangtok till Thursday morning when he will leave for Salugara in Siliguri, West Bengal.

The Dalai Lama's proximity to the Chinese border will anger the Communist dictators in Beijing who despise the Tibetan spiritual leader who retains his influence in his homeland 64 years after he fled Tibet.

Earlier, on Sunday, December 10, 2023, Tibetans had offered special prayers for the Dalai Lama's long life on the 34th anniversary of being conferred with the Nobel Peace Prize.

IMAGE: His Holiness arrived by an Indian Army helicopter. All photographs: ANI Photo

IMAGE: The Dalai Lama, who is 87, assisted by disciples.

IMAGE: His Holiness receives a warm welcome, here and below.

IMAGE: Women in traditional attire queue to welcome the Dalai Lama, here and below.

IMAGE: A traditional dance form to welcome the Dalai Lama.

IMAGE: Traditional music to welcome the spiritual leader.

IMAGE: Buddhist monks wait to welcome His Holiness.

IMAGE: The Dalai Lama is offered a traditional token of welcome.

IMAGE: His Holiness inspires devotion wherever he goes.

IMAGE: Devotees seek His Holiness's blessings, here and below.

IMAGE: On Sunday, Tibetans in Bikaner prayed for His Holiness' long life, here and below.

IMAGE: Tibetans celebrate the 34th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize in Bikaner.

On December 10, 1989, His Holiness was conferred with the Nobel Peace Prize.

IMAGE: Tibetans in Dhanbad offer prayers at the Lhasa Market Purana Bazar.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com and Anant Salvi/ Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Police in Budaun have registered a first information report (FIR) against two doctors of a government hospital who performed post-mortem of a woman's body whose eyes were later found removed, a senior official said on Tuesday.

A probe team has been formed to investigate the matter and it will submit its report within 24 hours, District Magistrate Manoj Kumar said.

The body of the woman, Puja (20), was found hanging at her in-laws' house in the Mujaria area's Rasula village on Sunday.

Her family has alleged that she was killed by her in-laws for dowry, officials said.

"The body was sent for post-mortem examination on Monday. When the body was handed over to her family members, they found that the eyes had been removed. They alleged that the eyes were removed during post-mortem," they said.

Taking note of the family's allegations, another post-mortem was conducted and the eyes were found missing, District Magistrate Kumar said.

Based on a complaint lodged by Puja's brother Rajkumar, an FIR was registered at Civil Lines police station under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act against the team of doctors that conducted the first post-mortem, he said.

A team comprising Additional District Magistrate (Administration) V K Singh, Circle Officer (City) Alok Mishra and Chief Medical Officer Dr Pradeep Varshney has been formed to investigate the matter.

It will submit its report within 24 hours, he added.

This is a very shameful and condemnable incident. After the investigation report comes, strict action will be taken against those found guilty. They will not be spared under any circumstances, Mishra said.

The woman's family had approached Mishra and demanded strict action against the doctors and staff members of the hospital where the autopsy was conducted, alleging that they were involved in organ trafficking.

Initially, the woman's family refused to perform her last rites. However, they cremated her on Tuesday afternoon after the second post-mortem was conducted and the FIR was registered against the doctors, police said.
Outgoing Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said he will 'rather die' than asking something for himself from his party.

IMAGE: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Mohan Yadav with Outgoing CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Photograph: ANI Photo

He will carry out whatever task the Bharatiya Janata Party gives him, said the four-term chief minister who would soon be replaced by Mohan Yadav following the party's resounding victory in the last month's assembly elections.

"I wanted to say humbly that I would rather die than go (to Delhi) and ask for something for myself, this is not what I do," Chouhan told reporters in Bhopal to a question.

Last week, amid suspense over who would be the next chief minister, Chouhan had said he would not go to Delhi while claiming that he had never been in the race for the top post in the state.

"When a person is self-centred, he thinks about himself. But the BJP is a mission, there is some work for every worker. I will do whatever work is assigned to me," the 64-year-old leader said on Tuesday.

Expressing contentment over his stint in power, Chouhan further said he was fully confident that the new BJP government under Mohan Yadav's leadership will complete the ongoing works at a rapid pace.

"I will always support them," he added.

The BJP formed a majority government in Madhya Pradesh with the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and due to the hard work of party workers as well as the welfare schemes of the state government and Centre, especially the 'Ladli Behna' Yojana, he said.

The Ladli Behna Yojana was a flagship scheme of the Chouhan government under which Rs 1,250 are given to the women from financially weaker sections every month.

The state achieved all-round development during the BJP rule, he said, citing improved condition of roads, power supply and agriculture growth among other things.

Women's empowerment and farmers' welfare have never been a means of getting votes for him, Chouhan said.

Meanwhile, a video that surfaced on social media showed a group of women who were visiting the chief minister's residence on Tuesday morning crying in Chouhan's presence.

Mohan Yadav is set to take oath as chief minister on Wednesday.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that the real goal of the Russian Federation is not so much the seizure of sovereign Ukraine as the destruction of democracy and stability throughout the free world. The war that dictator Vladimir Putin has unleashed in our country is just a stepping stone on the way to achieving his barbaric plans.

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These are the words of the Ukrainian guarantor, which he spoke at the US National Defense University, Ukrinform reports. The Kremlin's ideas are a dictatorship with elements of a market economy.

"Putin is at war with Ukraine, but in reality he is opposed to the entire free and united Europe. He is destroying ordinary life in Ukrainian cities, but his real goal is the freedom that people have from Warsaw to Chicago to Yokohama," the head of state emphasized.

Zelensky noted that all the debates and disagreements among Americans about further assistance to Ukraine in the war against the invaders cause the Russian elite to be happy and inspired. It is the responsibility of the West to ensure that Putin does not even think that he can win over democracy and human rights.

"People like Putin and his sick clique should not even hope to win freedom. And we can show our children and grandchildren what true confidence is," the leader of the Ukrainian people said.

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As a reminder, Zelensky's visit to the United States will end with a meeting of senators in Congress. He will present arguments in favor of the need to liberate Ukrainian territories from Russian occupiers and call on Washington to more actively assist the army of the Defense Forces in decisive battles.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Ukrainian guarantor once again emphasized that negotiations with Putin are out of the question. And it's not about unreasonable principle, but about the fact that the Kremlin does not need peace, it will use any pause as an opportunity to build up its military power.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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STAMFORD  A developer considering a 2.2-megawatt wind power project in Stamford has announced it wont continue in the permitting process before the Vermont Public Utility Commission.

Norwich Technologies, manager of the Stamford Main Renewables wind turbine proposal, said in a media release, To date, the project has had to delay its [permit application] filing multiple times due to the project being fed by a line from outside of Vermont with a utility that is not under Vermont rules. These delays have resulted in significant additional financial impacts that make the project infeasible at this time.

Green Mountain Club seeks wind project viewshed study for proposed Stamford site STAMFORD  The Green Mountain Club is requesting a study of visual impacts a proposed 500-fo

The project was expected to require connections from the proposed site, near the towns northeast corner, several miles from the Readsboro border and west of Route 8, with both Green Mountain Power utility lines and those of National Grid in Massachusetts.

In documents posted with the PUC, the developer had cited negotiation delays in discussions with National Grid as a cause of delays in submission of a full permit application to the state commission.

Officials with the company could not be reached Friday for further comment.

Norwich Technologies twice sought extensions of a permitting timeline for submission of their full application, with the most recent deadline set for Dec. 15.

The project also had prompted concerns or opposition from a number of town residents and town officials.

The wind proposal called for a a single 500-foot tall wind turbine with a 2.2 megawatt generating capacity, similar to a large solar panel array covering several acres of land.
The Russian occupation forces have faced a shortage of thermal imagers, which they need for night battles. The occupiers have to raise money from relatives and supporters of the war for such equipment, while the Ukrainian military is often supplied with night vision devices by international partners.

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This is stated in the UK military intelligence report released on December 12. The agency noted that Russian troops are likely to continue fighting at night.

Numerous reports from combatants (military personnel involved in combat operations) have emphasized this trend since the beginning of the war, the report said.

For example, in late November, a social media user who identified himself as a Russian soldier fighting in the Kherson region emphasized the lack of night vision goggles and low-light cameras for drones.

"Night vision devices often top the list of equipment that Russian units request from their families and supporters. Ukrainian forces are often equipped with night vision devices from international partners," the British intelligence service said.

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They added that there is probably a "cultural element" to the Russian problem.

"Russian military training rarely pays much attention to night training, instead usually building on standard daytime activities to impress visiting senior officers. Conversely, a Russian soldier said that Ukrainian forces "move mostly at night," the report said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- The Armed Forces of Ukraine said that the occupiers began to use more kamikaze drones and aircraft in the Tavriisk direction. There has also been a significant increase in enemy assaults.

- Earlier, Defense Express editor-in-chief Oleh Katkov said that Ukraine produces six units of "Bohdan" self-propelled artillery systems per month. The pace will only increase in the future. Ukraine's 155-mm wheeled artillery system has recently been modernized to speed up the rate of fire.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The authorities also issue warrants for 2 overseas activists who called for a boycott of patriotic election.

Authorities in Hong Kong have arrested seven people and issued warrants for two overseas activists for protesting the citys District Council elections, in which only candidates approved by the government as patriots were allowed to stand.

Officers from the citys Independent Commission Against Corruption, which enforces electoral law, made the arrests and issued the warrants for inciting another person not to vote, or to cast an invalid vote, with six out of the seven detained on Dec. 10, the day of the poll, according to London-based rights group Amnesty International.

Three are members of the opposition League of Social Democrats, who were on their way to protest outside Chief Executive John Lees polling site, Amnesty International said, while the others were targeted for social media posts, including reposting comments from the two people abroad.

The Commission said it has charged a woman with incitement after she shared a post calling on voters to boycott the election, while a court issued a warrant for former pro-democracy district councilor Leos Lee, who is now based in democratic Taiwan.

Social activist Koo Sze-yiu [front, right], carries a mock coffin during a demonstration in Hong Kong in 2019. He told a Hong Kong court he was arrested before he could take a coffin to the Electoral Registration Office ahead of the recent election. (Kin Cheung/AP)





Since rewriting the electoral rulebook to allow only patriots to stand in 2021, the government has banned calls for boycotts of elections, and criminalized the use of blank or spoiled ballots as a form of protest.

ICAC reminds the public that inciting others to cast invalid votes at an election may contravene the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance, the Commission said. The maximum penalty for the offense is three years imprisonment and a fine of HK$200,000.

It called on the public not to engage in illegal appeals or repost any unlawful content.

Veteran social activist Koo Sze-yiu, also known as Long Beard, told the West Kowloon Magistrates Court that he had planned to take a coffin to the Electoral Registration Office ahead of the poll to protest the lack of opposition candidates, but was arrested by national security police before he could set off.

Koo, 77, a veteran protester who has been jailed 12 times, pleaded not guilty to one count of attempting or preparing to commit an act with seditious intent on Monday, and was remanded in custody pending a bail application review later in the month.

A constructive District Council

Meanwhile, a couple in their 40s were arrested for inciting others to tick more than the required number of boxes, spoiling their vote, the Commission said in a statement on its website.

The Commission also said it had obtained a warrant for the arrest of Taiwan-based former District Councilor Leos Lee after he called for a boycott of the patriots only elections, which offered no opposition candidates  only those vetted and pre-approved by several Beijing-backed committees, including the national security police.

People walk past a polling station during the election in Hong Kong on Dec. 10, 2023. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP)





The ICAC investigation revealed that the online post reposted by the arrestee was originally published by disqualified and former District Councillor Leos Lee Man-ho on his personal social media page during the election period, it said.

The [Election Ordinance] has extraterritorial effect and applies to all conduct concerning an election, be it engaged in within Hong Kong or elsewhere, it added.

The Dec. 10 poll saw a record low turnout of just over 27% in the first election since the rules were changed.

The last District Council election four years ago saw a landslide victory for pro-democracy candidates and record turnout that was widely seen as a ringing public endorsement of the 2019 protest movement.

Hong Kong chief executive John Lee defended the Dec. 10 turnout, saying that the 1.2 million who voted clearly have faith in the new system, which will be less destructive with no opposition councilors in the mix.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and his wife, Janet Lam, cast their votes at a polling station in Hong Kong on Dec. 10, 2023. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP)





The outcome means a constructive District Council, rather than what used to be a destructive one, Lee said, accusing pro-democracy councilors of having reacted against the government.

The outcome is District Council members who will be monitored for their performance to ensure that they do well, rather than previously, some District Council members pursued their own political interests, sabotaged the system, and reacted against the governance of the Hong Kong Government or the Central Government, he said.

Blank ballots and spoiled ballots

Lee said the government would set up a monitoring system to ensure that the newly elected councilors take care of the peoples interests rather than those in the past taking care of their own political interests and sometimes acting as agents of foreign forces.

The government has blamed several waves of pro-democracy protests in recent years on foreign forces trying to instigate a democratic revolution in Hong Kong.

Poon Chi-sheng, a retired senior scientist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said on Friday he had submitted a complaint to the United Nations Human Rights Council over the arrests.

We have witnessed a clampdown on dissent since the introduction of Hong Kongs National Security Law that has left many opposition activists in jail or exile, Amnesty Internationals Deputy Regional Director for China Sarah Brooks said.

People in Hong Kong and elsewhere have the right to express critical views of government policies, including the revamped electoral system in the city, she said.

Pedestrians walk past campaigners promoting candidates during the District Council elections in Hong Kong on Dec. 10, 2023. (Louise Delmotte/AP)





These actions by the authorities appear to infringe on the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. All those arrested must be released from detention with the charges against them dropped," Brooks said, calling on the government to protect peoples right to protest.

Current affairs commentator Sang Pu said the government could target people for not voting at all in future, in a bid to improve turnout figures.

There are three things they are going after: not voting, blank ballots and spoiled ballots, Sang said. But only going after spoiled ballots isnt a good option.

They will need to go after non-voters too, because a lot of Hong Kongers deal with this situation by lying flat, because they know its pointless.

Translated with additional reporting by Luisetta Mudie.
Family members and activists say the post wasnt published by Niu Tengyu or his meme website, VulgarWiki.

Niu Tengyu is serving a 14-year jail term for alleged involvement in the doxxing of Xi's daughter Xi Mingze.

Hundreds of Chinese activists overseas have called for the release of Niu Tengyu, said to have been tortured to the point of mental disorder after being jailed for allegedly posting a photo of the daughter of Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Niu is currently serving a 14-year jail term for alleged involvement in the doxxing of Xi's daughter Xi Mingze. He was sentenced on Dec. 30, 2020, by the District Peoples Court in Guangdongs Maoming city, which found him guilty of picking quarrels and stirring up trouble, violating others privacy and running an illegal business.

In an open letter signed by 262 people and posted on Tuesday to the X account of activist Jie Lijian, the activists said Niu's mother reported during a Nov. 24 video call with her son in prison that he appears to have suffered either brain damage or a psychological breakdown

Niu Tengyu didnt even recognize his own mother, the letter said. His eyes were dull, and he was yelling and talking nonsense.

The issues appeared to have been brought on by forcible administration of unknown medicines, the letter said.

It has been confirmed that an unidentified inmate was instructed by state security police to put an unknown drug into [Nius] drinking water, it said.

We call on the Chinese Communist Party authorities ... to release Niu Tengyu and all of the other victims in this case immediately, and hold those who framed them to account, said the letter, which was signed by hundreds of high-profile Chinese dissidents, including former 1989 student leader Wang Dan.

After the call, Nius mother Coco, who has said repeatedly that her son was the fall guy in a high-profile case that saw orders come down from Beijing for immediate arrests, traveled to Guangdongs Sihui Prison after the video call to talk to prison authorities.

When she arrived, she found several vehicles parked inside, with special police and armed police patrolling the area.

These commercial vehicles were full of police officers, and there was also a vehicle filled with special police who came with loaded guns and ammunition to threaten me, she told Radio Free Asia in an interview on Dec. 7.

Coco met with the deputy warden, but wasnt allowed to see Niu face to face.

She said prison officials had been inconsistent in their claims about Nius well-being.

One minute they were saying that Nius mental state was fine, but then when they refused me [a face-to-face meeting], they said I couldnt meet him because he wasnt in a normal mental state, she said.

I tried to negotiate with them, but they wouldnt allow it, she said.

U.S.-based democracy activist and historian Wang Dan, who signed the letter, called on the international community to pay more attention to Nius case.

Niu Tengyu was tortured to the point of insanity, even worse than the last time, Wang said. The entire international community is responsible for this ... because they pay less attention to China's human rights record than it used to.

Niu Tengyus mother, Coco, has repeatedly said her son is the fall guy in the case related to the doxxing of Xi's daughter Xi Mingze. (Provided by Coco)

Jie, who co-signed the open letter with Wang, said they plan to send it to U.S. President Joe Biden, members of Congress and the embassies of various countries in China, in a bid to step up pressure on the authorities through diplomatic channels.

Its been more than 10 days since the [video call] and Coco hasnt been allowed to see her son, Jie told RFA Mandarin. We are very concerned about this.

What has happened to him during that time? Jie said. Has his condition worsened?

Repeated calls to Sihui Prison rang unanswered during office hours on Friday.

Niu, a self-taught computer expert, was tortured by police to get him to confess to being the ringleader, his mother has said in previous interviews, adding that he was beaten, suspended in restraints and deprived of sleep.

Nius attorneys Bao Longjun and Wang Yu filed an official complaint over torture Niu suffered while in police detention in October 2019 that resulted in injury to his right hand. Bao told RFAs Cantonese Service in March 2020 that Niu had also been stripped, suspended from the ceiling, and his genitals burned with a lighter.

An overseas-based ZhinaWiki editor who gave only the pseudonym Mr. L, told RFA in a 2021 interview that he was the person who posted personal information relating to the Xi family.

Throughout this investigation, all of the official records of the case, including the verdict, all admit that ZhinaWiki was responsible for posting [details about Xis family], but they still refuse to admit that this has been a miscarriage of justice, he said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie.
1 in 4 freshwater fish at risk of disappearance due to warming, overfishing, and pollution.

An extremely rare Java Stingaree, known solely from a single specimen collected in 1862 at a fish market in Jakarta, has officially been declared extinct and added to the updated Red List of Threatened Species, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced Monday at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.

The loss of one of the relatives of stingrays marks the first instance of a marine fish species going extinct due to human activities, Craig Hilton-Taylor, the head of the IUCN Red List Unit, told Radio Free Asia.

Intensive and unregulated fishing, coupled with coastal habitat loss and degradation due to industrialization, were the primary factors leading to the extinction of the Java Stingaree, according to lead assessor Julia Constance, a PhD candidate at Charles Darwin University in Australia.

The IUCNs Red List, established in 1964, is the worlds most comprehensive resource for assessing the extinction risk and status of animal, fungus, and plant species. It offers critical data on their range, population, habitat, threats, and conservation actions for informed decision-making and policy changes.

Climate change is a threat to the diversity of life in our planet. Today, we bring with us evidence of the effects of climate change in the destruction of nature on species, Gretel Aguilar, IUCN Director General, told reporters in Dubai.

The number of species on the Red List has gone up from 150,388 to 157,190, while 44,016  almost 2,000 more than the previous count  are considered at risk of extinction, according to IUCN. There was no regional breakdown.

Other species in the updated list include green turtles, categorized as endangered in the Central South Pacific and vulnerable in the East Pacific, mainly due to increasing sea temperatures, elevated water levels inundating its nests, diminished food  seagrass, as well as adult turtles frequently falling victim to industrial fishing as by-catch.

Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) make their way into the ocean upon their release at Kuta beach, Bali, Indonesia, Jan. 8, 2022. (Firdia Lisnawati/AP)





The updated Red List also highlights successful conservation efforts, as seen in the scimitar-horned oryx, which has progressed from extinct in the wild to endangered due to successful reintroduction in Chad.

Similarly, the previously critically endangered saiga antelope has improved to near threatened after the population increased by 1,100% in just seven years, mainly in Kazakhstan, due to strict anti-poaching measures.

However, both species still face growing climate change threats in their respective regions, with the oryx contending with increased droughts in the Sahel region of Africa and the antelope experiencing mass mortality in 2015 due to extreme temperatures and humidity.

Climate impact show in fish assessment

Globally, a quarter of freshwater fish species are at risk of extinction due to warming temperatures, overfishing and pollution, according to the first global freshwater fish assessment by IUCN, which was included in the latest Red List update.

The assessment includes the elusive Mekong giant catfish, whose population has come under duress due to dam construction and overfishing in the Lower Mekong region, as well as Atlantic salmon that saw a 23% decrease between 2006 and 2020.

Climate change impacts at least 17% of endangered freshwater fish species, leading to declining water levels, the intrusion of seawater into rivers due to rising sea levels, and changing seasons, it found.

A fish species known as Piraputanga (Brycon hilarii), which as assessed by IUCN Red List, somewhere in Serra da Bodoquena National Park in Brazil. (Michel Roggo/IUCN Handout)





Climate change interacts with other threats, and its usually those other threats pushing species over the edge and making them go extinct, rather than climate change itself, said IUCNs Hilton-Taylor.

These threats include pollution affecting 57% of endangered freshwater fish, dams and water extraction impacting 45%, overfishing threatening 25%, and invasive species and disease harming 33%, according to the organization.

Freshwater fishes make up more than half of the worlds known fish species, an incomprehensible diversity given that freshwater ecosystems comprise only 1% of aquatic habitat, said Kathy Hughes, co-chair of the IUCNs freshwater fish specialist group.

These diverse species are integral to the ecosystem and vital to its resilience. This is essential to the billions of people who rely upon freshwater ecosystems and the millions of people who rely on their fisheries.

The freshwater fish assessments were developed with the input of over 1,000 scientists from around the world and a combination of over 100 workshops in person and online.

IUCN is currently assessing freshwater species in China, Hilton-Taylor told RFA.

Previously common and now threatened Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is seen here somewhere in Swedish Lapland. (Michel Roggo/IUCN Handout)





What we have found is that there has been a huge impact due to all the dams on the rivers on the freshwater fish, and so quite a few species in this update have deteriorated status because of those impacts on water flow due to dams, like Three Gorges.

He singled out Baiji, a Chinese River dolphin listed as critically endangered since 1996 due to what happened in those river systems.

The status of Baiji, known as the Goddess of Yangtze, has not changed, even though it is possibly extinct as nobody has seen it in a very long time, Hilton-Taylor said.

We just havent declared extinct yet, he said, adding numerous survey attempts, including visual and acoustic surveys, have failed to find even a single one in the last two decades.

No sign whatsoever. Really sad.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan.
One month since launching an offensive against Myanmars military in Kayah state, ethnic Karenni joint forces are in control of the regional capital Loikaw and the strategic township of Moebye, the Karenni Army said Monday.

On Nov. 11, the Karenni Army, or KA, Karenni National Defense Force, or KNDF, and anti-junta Peoples Defense Force paramilitaries initiated Operation 1111, named for the starting date of the campaign, along the shared border between northern Myanmars Shan and Kayah states.

Speaking to RFA Burmese on Monday, Col. Phone Naing, the KAs adjutant general, said the joint forces had captured all of Moebye township except for an area where the juntas Battalion 422 is based, and 80% of Loikaw city.

We are carrying out attacks very cautiously to avoid civilian casualties and damage, he said. We will first remove all the junta troops, then we will set up an administrative mechanism there.

On Sunday, the joint Karenni forces captured the Kayah State Police Headquarters under the Home Affairs Ministry, which a KA spokesperson said had allowed resistance fighters to demolish one of the pillars of the junta in Loikaw. Details related to the number of casualties and arrest of junta forces were not immediately available.

Banya Khun Aung, the deputy secretary of the Interim Executive Council of Karenni State, or IEC, said that while the militarys administrative mechanism had effectively ground to a halt in Loikaw and Moebye, the Karenni resistance forces have yet to replace it.

As we are not entirely in control of Loikaw, we have not set up our own administrative system, he said, noting that people cannot move freely due to restrictions on area roads. The same rules are being exercised in Moebye. The existing Karenni forces are overseeing security there as it is not ready to begin a transition to the people's administrative system.

Members of the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force and the Karenni Army take part in Operation 1111 in Myanmar, Nov. 2023. (Screenshot from Karenni Army Facebook video)

In addition to its Regional Control Command, the juntas Infantry Battalions 261, 250 and 54, Field Artillery Regiments 356 and 362, No. 7 Military Hospital and Supply and Transport Company 722 are stationed in Loikaw.

The Regional Control Command in Loikaw is responsible for measures of defense, security, military missions and control of militarily important areas on behalf of Eastern Command, according to the military sources.

Strategic Kayah city

Political commentator Than Soe Naing told RFA that Loikaw is key to controlling and supplying other towns in Kayah state, and that both sides are determined to control the city.

If Loikaw can be captured, it will be the very first liberated area of Kayah state for the KNDF, he said. The city is almost under control. However, it cannot be said that it has been fully controlled as the main camp is still in the hands of the junta, and they are still using Loikaw airport for reinforcements and other military supplies.

Both sides have suffered casualties during Operation 1111, according to the KNDF, which did not provide specific numbers. The group said that 32 junta soldiers had surrendered to Karenni forces during a clash at Loikaw University on Nov. 14 and that 204 people were evacuated from the fighting, including Loikaw University staff and their family members.

Non-CDM teachers and their family members from Myanmars Loikaw University are seen Nov. 24, 2023. (Interim Executive Council of Karenni State)





Separately, the Karenni Humanitarian Aid Initiative, or KHAI, reported that at least 82 civilians were killed by the junta between the start of Operation 1111 and Dec. 8, including 39 men, 18 women, 12 minors, two novice monks, and 11 people who could not be identified. Among them, 43 were killed in artillery attacks, 24 in airstrikes, and 15 by small arms fire.

KHAI said that the junta carried out 353 airstrikes on Loikaw in the 20 days from Nov. 11-30.

Displaced desperate for aid

A resident of Loikaw told RFA that while fighting in the city has not intensified since Dec. 2, the junta had blocked all roads in and out of the city, creating a shortage of food and medicine.

If the situation worsens, the need for medical doctors and medical supplies will soar, said the resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal. We are carrying out as much rescue work as we can. However, our rescue vehicle was shot up as we returned to Loikaw after taking a person injured by artillery shelling for treatment.

Sources in Loikaw said that around 10,000 people are trapped there without the means to flee.

A member of KHAI, who also declined to be named, said that those displaced by fighting in Kayah state are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

All the residents of Kayah state have turned into [internally displaced persons], and the need for emergency response is high, he said. We call on humanitarian agencies to assist. Not even emergency supplies cannot be provided in the country, so more assistance is needed to evacuate [the displaced] through border crossings and other relief measures.

Attempts by RFA to contact junta Deputy Information Minister Major-General Zaw Min Tun for comment on the situation in Loikaw and Moebye, as well as numbers of civilian casualties, went unanswered Monday.

Operation 1111 is the second major offensive launched by ethnic armies against the military.

On Oct. 27, the Three Brotherhood Alliance of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Arakan Army and the Taang National Liberation Army launched Operation 1027 in Shan state. Rebels say they have made notable gains against the military in several key cities and claim to have captured more than 170 military outposts since the start of the campaign.

Translated by AungNaing and Htin Aung Kyaw. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.






The arrest warrants are the latest to target online scamming businesses near the Chinese border.

Chinas Ministry of Public Security has issued arrest warrants for 10 people, including the former chairman of the Kokang self-administered region, Bai Suocheng [top row, first left], his son Bai Yingcang [top row, second left] and his daughter Bai Yinglan [top row, third left].

Chinas Ministry of Public Security has issued arrest warrants for 10 people alleged to have been involved in online scamming businesses in Myanmars Kokang Self-Administered Zone in northern Shan state.

Among the 10 was Bai Suocheng, the regions former leader and a former member of parliament from the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party, or USDP. His son, Bai Yingcang, the 31-year-old commander of the Kokang militia, was also named, according to junta-controlled media.

Scamming gangs have proliferated in Shan state, along eastern Myanmars borders with China and Thailand, amid the political chaos in the wake of the Feb. 1, 2021, coup detat.

The gangs have benefitted from widespread unemployment and poor oversight. Theyre known to brutally punish trafficking victims who refuse to work for them or fail to meet earning quotas, sometimes with deadly consequences.

Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong and junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing met in Naypyidaw on Oct. 31 and agreed to form a joint task force to eradicate online scam rings in Laukkaing, Kokangs principal township.

Three hundred and thirty-seven Chinese nationals from Myanmars Kokang region were transferred to China on Oct. 7, 2023. (Kokang Region News)





Weeks later, the Chinese government issued a set of warrants for four family members accused of orchestrating telecom scam rings in Myanmar staffed by human trafficking victims.

One of the four was Ming Xuechang, a former member of parliament for the USDP who fatally shot himself after police in Kokang took him into custody. The other three were immediately handed over to Chinese authorities at the border, according to junta-aligned media outlets.

Beijings initiative

Earlier in October, authorities in China arrested 11 businesspeople at a trade fair in Yunnan provinces Lincang township, according to Chinese state media.

Among them was Liu Zhangqi  a hotelier and former USDP lawmaker who is one of Ming Xuechangs grandsons.

The new warrants indicate that Beijing remains unhappy with the juntas lack of decisive action against online fraud operations in Kokang, political commentator Than Soe Naing told Radio Free Asia.

It is difficult to go in and arrest those who are involved in the online fraud because they were parliamentary members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party, which is a political party backed and recognized by the junta, he said. Thats why China had to issue the arrest warrants.

RFAs calls to junta spokesman Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun regarding the warrants went unanswered on Sunday.

But on Dec. 5, he said through the junta-controlled media that Myanmar wont allow activities that harm the interests of neighboring countries. He added that Myanmar is actively participating in the crackdown on online fraud businesses.

Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
Dozens of children and four teachers were trapped in the building, according to People's Defense Forces.

Some children from Kampats orphanage in Tamu township fled and were sheltering in Kales Seikkan Thar Church on Aug. 3, 2023.

Junta soldiers sheltered in an orphanage in central Myanmar to deter resistance groups from attacking, locals and Peoples Defense Forces told Radio Free Asia on Tuesday.

A junta military camp in Sagaing regions Tamu township was abandoned by troops in November when it was captured by resistance groups, local Peoples Defense Forces said. While attempting to recapture their lost base, junta troops positioned themselves in Kampat citys orphanage on Sunday. Forty people were in the orphanage at the time, including 36 children and four teachers.

On Sunday, junta soldiers launched an attack on Peoples Defense Forces from outside the building, according to a resistance group official, adding that the troops used heavy and small weapons, as well as airstrikes.

However, the resistance group removed the teachers and children from the orphanage on Monday, the official added.

That orphanage is near the military camp on the hill. The junta troops regained control of that camp on the hill using the orphans as human shields, he told RFA, asking to be kept anonymous for fear of reprisals.

Both the children and the adults in that orphanage tried to escape, but they did not succeed. So they were evacuated by our Peoples Defense Forces at around 12 yesterday. Now they are in a safe place.

The orphanage is owned by a Christian church in No. 1 neighborhood of Kampat city. Nearby are a police station and a temporary military camp on the hill, residents said, which troops regained control of after the battle.

Intense fighting on the India-Myanmar border near Kampat city has been constant since the end of October. Peoples Defense Forces claim to have captured Kampat on Nov. 7.

Almost a month later on Wednesday, junta troops launched an offensive to recapture the city, defense force officials told RFA. Since then, fighting has continued.

On Sunday, the military junta carried out an aerial attack around the Kampat Police Station near the orphanage, he added.

Calls by RFA to Sagaing regions junta spokesperson Sai Naing Naing Kyaw seeking comment on the incident went unanswered Tuesday.

Nearly 5,000 residents from four neighborhoods in Kampat city and surrounding villages have fled on Tuesday, some to the Indian border. Fighting has also intensified near Tamu city, making it difficult for locals to find a place to seek shelter, residents said.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.
Press Release

December 12, 2023 SP ZUBIRI: SENATE DELIVERS ON VOW TO BOLSTER DEFENSE CAPABILITIES IN WPS IN 2024 NATIONAL BUDGET True to his earlier promise, Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri today announced that the Senate ratified next year's national budget that included institutional amendments that will provide the much-needed boost to the country's defensive posture in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). "As we have learned from the constant bullying and aggression of China against Filipino fishermen and our protectors in the WPS and our exclusive economic zone, we badly need to upgrade our capabilities in patrolling our seas. As promised, your Senate has delivered," said Zubiri, leader of the 24-member Senate. Zubiri bared that coming out of the bicameral committee conference hearing on the P5.768 trillion 2024 General Appropriations Act, he fought and consistently maintained for the inclusion of an additional budget of P10.47 billion to upgrade the country's defense capabilities and enhance presence in the WPS. Specifically, a P6.17 billion has been added to the budget of the Department of National Defense for the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Philippine Navy, P2.8 billion for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), P1 billion for the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), and P500 million for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The funds, he said, will be used for the purchase of additional patrol ships and other defense equipment. All changes were ratified by the Senate yesterday. "Our brave Coast Guard and Navy, even with their limited mobility and equipment, are not wanting in courage and bravery in standing up to their Chinese oppressors. I say to you, TAKE HEART because your Congress sees your situation and has done its part to address the deficiency," the Senate chief said. "You have been an inspiration to us all by giving us a much-needed boost in our own courage and bravery. Ipinagmamalaki namin kayo! At bilang pagkilala sa ipinamalas ninyong kabayanihan at katapangan, pinondohan ng inyong Kongreso ang modernisasyon ng inyong hanay," Zubiri added. The Bukidnon senator also disclosed that the 2024 national budget also includes funds for the establishment of a Marine Research Center in the islands of the WPS that will be under the control and management of the DENR. These research centers are envisioned to bolster the Philippines's right to the islands in the WPS as well as its EEZ as upheld in 2016 by the ruling of the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). "We hope that this boost in funds for the purchase of additional patrol ships and defense equipment will also boost the morale of our brave Coast Guard and soldiers in protecting our EEZ. Kasama nyo ang lahat ng Pilipino sa labang ito!" Zubiri said. Just this week, another incident of Chinese aggression was recorded against vessels of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources that were providing supplies to Filipino fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal. Zubiri condemned this latest attack of China on Filipino vessels and described it as a heartless attack on a humanitarian operation to aid Filipino fishermen.
US Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said that the Senate could allocate aid to Ukraine and resolve the controversial issue of US border security before Christmas. This is possible if Congress postpones its winter recess to continue working on the agreement.

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There are three days left before the US lawmakers' "vacation". This was reported by Reuters.

Murphy is part of a group of senators who are currently negotiating to allocate funds to help Ukraine and Israel and to make the necessary changes to immigration policy required by Republicans. He expressed confidence that the Senate could approve aid to Ukraine before Christmas if Congress postpones the upcoming recess, which is scheduled to begin in three days, to continue working on the agreement.

At the same time, according to Reuters, Republican senators call such a scenario "unlikely."

U.S. President Joe Biden commented on the situation around the aid for Ukraine blocked by the Republicans quite sharply. According to him, "history will harshly judge those who turn away from the cause of freedom." Both the American president and other representatives of the current US government warn that if Ukraine loses the war with Russia, sooner or later the Americans will have to fight the Russians. After all, the Kremlin, inspired by its victory, may decide to attack a European NATO country, and the United States will be forced to fulfill its collective defense obligations.

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Earlier, the first details of Zelenskyi's meeting with U.S. senators were revealed. The President of Ukraine said in Congress that if Ukraine receives help from the United States, it will be able to win the war. At the same time, the victory of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in the war poses a serious danger to the United States.

It was also reported that the United States has expanded sanctions against Russia: businessmen and about 200 companies have been added to the blacklist.
An uptick in cultivation brought on by junta mismanagement of the economy has made Myanmar the worlds largest source of opium, according to the United Nations, which warned that the trend is expected to accelerate amid conflict in the countrys remote border regions.

Data collected by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, or UNODC, showed a 18% year-on-year increase in cultivation from 40,100 hectares (99,100 acres) to 47,100 hectares (116,400 acres) in the second full growing season since the militarys Feb. 1, 2021 coup detat. This year marked the third consecutive increase in cultivation since the takeover.

The increase has pushed Myanmars potential yield to 1,080 metric tons (2.38 million pounds), which the UNDOC said in a report released Tuesday is its highest since 2001 and catapults the country into the top spot among the worlds producers. Opium can be used to make heroin.

As the Taliban  Afghanistans de facto authority  reimposed a strict ban on poppy cultivation and opium production in 2022, the countrys production decreased by 95 percent, and Myanmar has become a major cultivation and production hub of opium, according to the statement of UNODC.

The economic, security and governance disruptions that followed the military takeover of February 2021 continue to drive farmers in remote areas towards opium to make a living, UNODC Regional Representative Jeremy Douglas said in the report, entitled Southeast Asia Opium Survey 2023: Cultivation, Production and Implications.

The intensification of conflict in Shan and other border areas is expected to accelerate this trend, Douglas said.

On Oct. 27, the Three Brotherhood Alliance of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Arakan Army and the Taang National Liberation Army launched Operation 1027, named for the starting date of the campaign, in Shan state. Rebels say they have made notable gains against the military in several key cities and claim to have captured more than 170 military outposts since the start of the campaign.

The Karenni Army, Karenni National Defense Force, and anti-junta Peoples Defense Force paramilitaries initiated the second major offensive by ethnic armies against the military  Operation 1111  along the shared border between northern Myanmars Shan and Kayah states on Nov. 11.

Conflict spurs cultivation growth

The UNODC said the data for its report was based on a survey of 370 poppy farm plots in Shan, Kachin, Chin and Kayah states and showed the most significant annual increase in cultivation in Shan with a 20% uptick, followed by Chin and Kachin, which increased by 10% and 6%, respectively.

Overall, cultivation increased from around 40,000 hectares (99,000 acres) last year to 47,000 hectares (116,000 acres) in 2023.

Opium yield also increased by 16% to nearly 23 kilograms per hectare (20 pounds per acre), beating the countrys previous record a year earlier, which the report said highlighted more sophisticated farming practices and investments in irrigation systems and fertilizers.

Meanwhile, the average price paid to farmers per kilogram (2.2 pounds) grew by 27% to U.S.$355, despite an expanding supply, suggesting that opium had become more attractive as a crop and commodity amid strong demand for the drug in Southeast Asia, UNODC said. Farmers earned around 75% more than they did in 2022.

An illegal poppy field is seen in Hopong in Myanmars Shan state in 2019. (AFP)

The U.N. said that the growth in opium cultivation is part of a growing illicit economy in the Mekong region that includes drug trafficking, money laundering and online criminal activities, generating healthy profits for organized crime rings. Myanmar, and in particular Shan state, is also a leading source of methamphetamine in Southeast Asia.

The crime and governance challenges in the region are compounded by the crisis in Myanmar, Douglas said. Southeast Asia needs to come together to find solutions to both traditional and emerging threats.

We need to accept reality

A resident of Yangon named Jewel told RFA Burmese that the erosion of rule of law under the junta means that people can now buy whatever drugs they want in Myanmars largest city, including opium, without any difficulty.

At the bars and clubs, narcotics can be consumed openly at ones table, she said. In the past, authorities confiscated narcotics at these places but, at present, no one is arrested. Trade of these drugs is allowed for easy consumption.

Ying Leng Ham, the spokesperson of the Shan Human Rights Foundation, said that production and transportation of commodities in Myanmar have been severely disrupted by armed conflict that erupted in the wake of the coup.

In these circumstances, the people have no choice because they cant make a living from local products such as tea leaves and avocados, he said. With no other option, they have turned to poppy cultivation.

Tin Maung Thein, the chairman of the Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association in Shans Kyaukme township, warned that the trend in his state and for the country in general is likely to continue under junta rule.

International experts use technical methodology to collect data on narcotic drug production and consumption which is beyond our capacity, he acknowledged. However, we have seen significant growth in cultivation in our state, so their figures arent surprising. We need to accept reality.

The UNODC cautioned that any effort to curb cultivation of opium in Myanmar and elsewhere in the region must take into account what it called the complex realities and vulnerabilities faced by people living in opium-cultivating areas.

In the current situation, farming communities are caught between insecurity and economic hardships, said Benedikt Hofmann, UNODCs deputy regional representative. Even more people will look at opium as a viable crop if there are no alternatives, especially in the absence of the rule of law.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes.
A former Trump administration official tells the event U.S. businesses are complicit in white washing Beijing.

Uyghur activists and U.S. lawmakers on Monday marked two years since an independent tribunal in London handed down a decision that Chinas government was committing genocide against Uyghurs.

The Uyghur Tribunal on Dec. 9, 2021, declared that it was satisfied that Beijing had pursued a deliberate, systematic and concerted policy with the object of so-called 'optimizing' the population of Uyghurs in the far-western Xinjiang province in order to reduce birth rates.

It implicated Chinese President Xi Jinping in the policies, which it said were also intended to erase Uyghur culture and assimilate the mostly Muslim ethnic minority through internment and forced relocation.

At the commemoration, which was held in the Speaker Nancy Pelosi Caucus Room of the House of Representatives, the Uyghur activists spoke of the dual need to recognize the severity of what is occuring in Xinjiang but also to pursue tangible actions to stop it continuing.

Omer Kanat, executive chairman of the World Uyghur Congress and director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project speaks on Capitol Hill, Dec. 11, 2023, in Washington. (Bahram Sintash/RFA)

By holding this event, we want to highlight the importance of commemorating the victims of the Uyghur genocide and honor the survivors, said Omer Kanat, executive chairman of the World Uyghur Congress and director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project.

But we must act without delay on real action, for accountability, deterrence and a practical humanitarian response, he said.

Call for action

Rep. Young Kim, a Republican from California, said she had family members who defected from North to South Korea and so understood the pain of many of the Uyghurs in attendance worried about family in Xinjiang who face genocide in modern-day concentration camps.

Kim said recognizing the genocide was only the start of the responsibilities of people in free countries, and said Congress had to act through bills like the Uyghur Policy Act, which has failed to pass in past congressional session but now has dozens of co-sponsors.

Among other things, she said, the bill would introduce a Uyghur language program at the Foreign Service Institute, which teaches American diplomats, so that the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and each American Consulate in China would have available Uyghur speakers.

Others said action was not the sole responsibility of government.

Kelley Currie, a former Trump administration official, speaks on Capitol Hill, Dec. 11, 2023, in Washington. (Bahram Sintash/RFA)

Kelley Currie, who served as U.S. ambassador-at-large for global womens issues and the deputy U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration, said she was dismayed by the hurried white washing of Beijing by American business in recent months.

On its final day in power, the Trump administration, too, declared that China is committing a genocide against Uyghurs. President Joe Bidens decision to carry on that assessment contributed to strained relations between Beijing and Washington over the past three years.

But the recent thaw in ties had made for a strange spectacle, she said.

Business as usual

Americas CEOs filled the room in San Francisco last month, giving Xi Jinping standing ovations after a speech he delivered at a high-profile dinner, Currie said, describing their appeals for increased American engagement with a genocidal regime as morally bankrupt.

The worst culprit, she said, was the financial services industry, who were the first ones to race back to China and grovel with Chinese officials in order to protect their assets after the recent thaw in ties.

That stood in stark contrast with the finding that genocide of Uyghurs is taking place at the hands of Chinas government, Currie noted.

Its time for all of us to demand an end to business as usual, she said. Its time that our actions become commensurate with our words.

Edited by Malcolm Foster
BELGRADE -- A Russian diplomat and alleged spy expelled by the European Union for "illegal and disruptive actions" is serving as an election observer for upcoming parliamentary and local elections in Serbia as part of a mission with Europe's largest security body, an RFE/RL investigation has found.

Aleksandr Studenikin, 49, was listed as a counselor at Russia's permanent mission to the EU in Brussels when he and 18 other Russian diplomats were designated personae non gratae in April 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine two months earlier.

The EU said the blacklisted Russian diplomats engaged in activities "against the interests and security of the EU and its member states."

Now Studenikin is among a group of 30 election observers representing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for Serbia's elections for parliament and 65 municipalities on December 17.

A media report had previously alleged that Studenikin was an employee of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). A senior European official with access to classified information also told RFE/RL that Studenikin works for the SVR, though Studenikin himself denies any intelligence links.

Studenikin is one of four Russians on the list of the long-term observers with the observation mission of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). These observers are responsible for monitoring the entire electoral process, "gaining an in-depth understanding of the overall administrative procedures and campaign environment," according to the OSCE.

The group also includes observers from the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Denmark, Belarus, and seven other countries.

While Studenikin's assignment in Serbia is temporary, the Balkan country has become a destination for Russian diplomats kicked out of the EU.

An investigation by RFE/RL in March found that at least three Russian diplomats with ties to Russian intelligence who were blacklisted by EU member states had resurfaced as accredited Russian diplomats in Serbia, one of the few European countries that has not leveled sanctions against Russia over the Kremlin's all-out war on Ukraine.

Their expulsions came as EU governments blacklisted hundreds of Russian diplomats following Moscow's February 2022 invasion, with several of these states citing alleged espionage as the grounds for expulsion.

The Serbian elections come amid mounting pressure on Belgrade from Western governments to impose sanctions on Moscow over Russian aggression in Ukraine. The ruling Serbian Progressive Party and President Aleksandar Vucic have held their coalition together with parties seen as strongly pro-Russian, while the pro-EU opposition has struggled to gain popularity in a country where a majority of the population sees Russia as a friendly nation.

Vucic has sought to balance Belgrade's aspirations to join the EU with its friendly relationship with Russia, which shares Serbia's Orthodox Christian heritage and has supported Belgrade in disputes with the West.

Russians working for the OSCE have previously encountered difficulties entering certain EU countries. Last year, Polish authorities declared two Russian employees of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly personae non gratae, saying they posed "a threat to state security." One of the employees, Darya Boyarskaya, was detained at the Lithuanian-Russian border while attempting to visit relatives in Kaliningrad.

OSCE member countries select the individuals they want to join an election-observation mission. The OSCE itself does not manage the recruitment of these observers, who are recommended by member states.

Studenikin, who previously worked at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague, arrived in Serbia on November 19 to begin his work as an OSCE election observer.

Studenikin's group of observers is responsible for several municipalities in eastern Serbia, and he has met with local political representatives in Zajecar and Kladovo, near the borders with Bulgaria and Romania, respectively.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy rejected the possibility of a cease-fire with Russia, saying it would not lead to substantive progress in the war and only favor Moscow by giving it time to boost supplies to its military as the conflict nears its two-year anniversary.

A pause on the Ukrainian battlefield will not mean a pause in the war, the Ukrainian leader said in Estonia's capital, Tallinn, on January 11 during a tour of the three Baltic nations.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

"Give Russia two to three years and it will simply run us over. We wouldn't take that risk.... There will be no pauses in favor of Russia," he said. "A pause would play into [Russias] hands.... It might crush us afterward.



Zelenskiy has pleaded with Ukraine's allies to keep supplying it with weapons amid signs of donor fatigue in some countries and as Russia turns to countries such as Iran and North Korea for munitions.



NATO allies meeting in Brussels on January 10 tried to allay Kyiv's concerns over supplies, saying they will continue to provide Ukraine with major military, economic, and humanitarian aid. NATO allies have outlined plans to provide "billions of euros of further capabilities" in 2024 to Ukraine, the alliance said in a statement.



Estonian President Alar Karis said after meeting Zelenskiy that his country will provide 1.2 billion euros ($1.31 billion) in aid to Ukraine until 2027.



"Ukraine needs more and better weapons," Karis said at a joint news conference with Zelenskiy.



"The capabilities of the EU military industry must be increased so that Ukraine gets what it needs, not tomorrow, but today. We should not place any restrictions on the supply of weapons to Ukraine," he added.



Estonia has so far provided military assistance to Ukraine worth nearly 500 million euros, or more than 1.4 percent of its gross domestic product, according to the Estonian Foreign Minstry.

In a separate message on X, formerly Twitter, Zelenskiy thanked Tallinn for its continued aid.



"Estonia's unwavering support for Ukraine, our people, and our defense is evident today, during my visit, and throughout the war," Zelenskiy wrote. "I am grateful to Estonia for all its support."



The Baltic countries have been staunch allies of Ukraine since the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion in February 2022.



On January 10, Zelenskiy held talks in Vilnius with Lithuanian counterpart, Gitanas Nauseda.

We have proven that Russia can be stopped, that deterrence is possible, he said after talks with Nauseda.



Ukraine has been subjected to several massive waves of Russian missile and drone strikes since the start of the year that have caused civilian deaths and material damage.



In the latest such attack, a hotel in downtown Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, was struck by Russian missiles overnight on January 11. The strike injured 13 people, including Turkish journalists staying at the hotel, Kharkiv regional police chief Volodymyr Tymoshko said.



Regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said that one of those injured was in serious condition. More than 30 civilians were inside the hotel at the time of the attack, Synyehubov said on Telegram.



Ukraine's emergency services said those hurt in the strike were "hotel staff and guests, one of whom is a foreign journalist," without giving details. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said no military personnel were staying at the hotel.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
PRAGUE -- As the European Union heads toward a crucial summit in Brussels this week, Georgia President Salome Zurabishvili says she's under no illusion as to what it will mean if her Caucasus nation fails to be given the green light to become a candidate for membership in the bloc: a loss for Georgians and a win for Russia.

The EU's 27 leaders were meeting in the Belgian capital on December 14-15 to discuss what could be a historic enlargement agreement. The key decision will be whether to give Moldova, Ukraine -- and possibly Bosnia-Herzegovina -- the go-ahead to start EU accession talks.



But they will also discuss Georgia becoming an official EU candidate country after the European Commission recommended last month that it be granted such status if and when it fulfils remaining conditions set out by the bloc.



Asked in an interview at RFE/RL headquarters in Prague on December 12 on how failing to get that status would be greeted by her compatriots, Zurabishvili, a career diplomat who became Georgia's first female president in 2018, didn't hesitate.



"Very bad...because it would mean very deep frustration, in the public opinion, even deeper after the recommendations made by the commission.... The frustration would be enormous," she said.



Just as dire, she added, would be what such a decision would mean for Moscow, which has long considered Georgia, a former Soviet republic, part of its sphere of influence.



Such a decision would hand Russia "huge satisfaction."



"Because of course, and we all know that, frustration is what can be best exploited by people that manipulate propaganda, fake news and all of that, and they will start blaming the European Union for, once again, forgetting Georgia, letting Georgia down. And all these themes will of course, come from and play for Russia," said Zurabishvili, the daughter of refugees who fled Georgia in 1921 for Paris after the country was annexed by Moscow's Soviet rulers.



"Russia will consider that Georgia remains in a gray zone. And we all know, again, that for Russia to consider any country as being completely in a gray zone means that they consider that it's theirs to play with."

The EU decision comes at a time of deep polarization in Georgian politics.



After the Rose Revolution in 2003, the country became a close ally of the United States, and its enmity with Russia deepened to the point that the two fought a war in 2008 over the breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.



But the current government led by the Georgian Dream party has taken a less confrontational approach toward Russia, even as it continued moving closer to the West at the same time.



In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Georgian Dream has doubled down on its policy of accommodating Moscow. Just how Georgia should deal with Russia has become the sharpest point of contention in the country's politics.

Meanwhile, Georgian Dream has also taken a sharp turn toward social conservatism, embracing rhetoric of "family values" and identity, inspired by the example of Viktor Orban's Hungary.



With parliamentary elections coming up in Georgia next year, the country may be at a crossroads in its post-Soviet path.



Zurabishvili, who has been at odds with Georgian Dream -- which in October spearheaded a failed drive to impeach the president over her visits to European Union countries -- has accused the party of attempting "to kill Georgia's European future and democracy."



She said she plans to see out her term, which runs past the elections, and bring political consensus back to the country.



But, when asked if Georgia's EU future is on the line, would she enter the race in some way, she said: "If Georgia's European future is on the line, I would consider anything."
More than 6,000 kilometers from Tehran, in treacherous waters off the shores of Singapore, a "dark fleet" of oil tankers waits to offload the precious cargo that helps keep Iran's economy afloat -- a dependency that could also sink it.

The fleet has grown steadily over the past five years, delivering Iranian crude to China as the countries work in concert to circumvent international sanctions that target Tehran's lucrative oil exports. But while the clandestine trade has buoyed Iran's budget, it also comes at tremendous cost and risk to Tehran.

Iran gives China a hefty discount to take its banned oil, taking 12 to 15 percent off the price of each barrel to make it worthwhile for Beijing to take on the liability of skirting sanctions, according to research by the data analysis unit of RFE/RL's Radio Farda.

Additional costs add up as well: ship-to-ship operations to offload the oil, middlemen, hidden-money transfers, and rebranding the oil to mask its Iranian origin and make it appear to come from a third country, said Dalga Khatinoglu, an expert on Iranian energy issues.

Altogether, said Khatinoglu, who contributes to Radio Farda's data analysis unit, Iran's budget figures and official statements indicate that 30 percent of the country's potential oil revenue was wasted last year.

And with the draft budget for the next fiscal year currently being debated by the Iranian parliament, there are no guarantees that Tehran's bet on quenching China's thirst for oil will continue to be a panacea.

With Iran almost entirely dependent on Beijing to take its oil and on other entities to facilitate the trade, Tehran has managed to inject desperately needed revenue into its economy. But Iran has also put itself at risk of seeing its main revenue stream dry up.

"There's definitely an extent to which Tehran has become more dependent on the likes of China or those who would be willing to deal with Iran in spite of Western sanctions," said Spencer Vuksic, a director of the consultancy firm Castellum, which closely tracks international sanctions regimes.

Vuksic said Iran is "definitely put in a weak position by having to depend on a single external partner who's willing to deal with and engage with Tehran."

Oily Deficit

Iran has trumpeted its foreign trade, claiming in December that oil revenue had contributed to a positive trade balance for the first eight months of the year.

But the oil and gas sector, by far the largest part of the Iranian economy, will not be enough to save the current budget of around $45 billion that was approved last year.

The Iranian fiscal year, which follows the Persian calendar and will end in March, is expected to result in a major deficit. In presenting the draft budget to parliament in December, President Ebrahim Raisi acknowledged a $10 billion deficit.

But the shortfall could be much higher -- up to $13.5 billion, the largest in Iran's history -- by the end of the fiscal year, according to Radio Farda. This is because data shows that just half of the expected oil revenues were realized, in part due to lower than expected oil prices and additional costs and discounts related to Tehran's oil trade with China.

Whereas the budget expectations were based on oil being sold at $85 per barrel, the price of crude dipped below $75 per barrel in December and has fluctuated wildly recently amid concerns that tensions in the Middle East could disrupt shipping and production.

And while Iran expected to export 1.5 million barrels of oil per day (bpd), it exported only 1.2 million bpd in the first eight months of the year, according to Radio Farda.

Altogether, Radio Farda estimates that Iran lost some $15 million per day in potential revenue through its trade with China, which accounts for more than 40 percent of the Iranian budget.

For the upcoming budget of about $49 billion, expectations for domestic and foreign oil revenue have dipped by 3 percent, according to Khatinoglu, even as the projected budget itself has risen by about 18 percent.

Accounting for the fluctuation of global oil prices, which fell far short of the average estimated for the current year, the peg has been lowered to $71 per barrel. Tehran is also expecting lower oil-export volumes -- which only briefly met forecasts of 1.5 million bpd, the highest levels seen since 2018 -- with only 1.35 million bpd forecast.

Iran is reportedly expected to plug the gap left by the lower oil revenue by increasing taxes on wealthy individuals and businesses, while Khatinoglu says Tehran will try to boost revenue by raising domestic energy prices.

Shipping Competition

Adding to the uncertainty of Iran's finances is the potential for weaker Chinese demand for its oil and competition from Russia which, like Tehran, sends banned oil to Beijing.

And international sanctions are continuously evolving to punish countries and entities that foster Iran's illegal oil trade, threatening to capsize the dark fleet that helps sustain Tehran's so-called resistance economy.

On the other hand, the mercurial nature of oil price fluctuations and demand could work to Iran's advantage. With Venezuelan oil no longer under sanctions, Russia is left as the only competitor for clandestine oil sales to China.

And Iran's capacity to export oil is greater than ever, allowing it to more easily sell its oil to Beijing when demand is high.

This is largely due to the considerable expansion of the global "dark fleet" of oil since crippling U.S. sanctions targeting Iran's oil exports were restored after the United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018 from the Iran nuclear deal that has been agreed with six world powers.

The deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), offered sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Tehran's controversial nuclear program. After the deal went into effect in January 2016, Iran more than doubled its legal oil exports in a few months, eventually reaching a high of 1.54 million bpd in 2018.

But with the U.S. withdrawal from the deal and subsequent reintroduction of sanctions that year, Iranian oil exports plummeted. And after the exceptions granted to a handful of countries -- including China -- that were allowed to continue to import Iranian oil expired in 2019, Iranian oil exports slowed to a trickle.

This was partly because Iran was not equipped to export its oil and had no immediate customers willing to defy the sanctions. But that changed with the fine-tuning of Irans efforts to defy sanctions, the fivefold rise in the number of dark-fleet tankers, and China's willingness to take the risk of doing business with Tehran -- although Beijing has not acknowledged unregistered imports of Iranian oil.

Today the dark fleet of often aging ships -- nearly half of them VLCCs (very large crude carriers) -- has risen to up to 1,000 vessels, according to Vortexa, which tracks international shipping. Many smaller ships are involved in Russian oil exports, which account for about 80 percent of all opaque tanker activity. But Iran had access to nearly 200 tankers, many of them supertankers, as of early 2023, according to Vortexa.

More than 20 ships, 13 of them VLCCs, joined the Iranian fleet in 2023, Vortexa reported in June, contributing to record-high Iranian oil exports under sanctions.

Vortexa attributed the rise to increased Chinese demand, the addition of the new tankers to shuttle Iranian oil after many had switched to shipping Russian oil, and the decline of Iranian inventories drawn down to boost exports amid heightened competition with Russia for the Chinese market.

While Chinese demand for Iranian oil slowed in October, Vortexa noted in a subsequent report, Washingtons removal of oil sanctions on Venezuela that month opened the possibility of higher demand for Iranian oil.

Uncertain Waters

In an October report, the global trade intelligence firm Kpler explained that tankers illegally shipping Iranian oil commonly "go dark" upon entering the Persian Gulf by turning off their transponders, technically known as the automatic identification system (AIS). After visiting Iran's main oil terminal on Kharg Island or other ports, they then reemerge after a few days indicating they are carrying a full load.

From there, the ships offload the oil with ship-to-ship transfers that take place in unauthorized zones, mostly in the Singapore Straits. Eventually the oil, rebranded as coming from Malaysia or Middle Eastern countries, enters China, where it is processed by more than 40 independent "teapot" refiners that have little exposure to international sanctions or the global financial system.

Sanctions Revisited

The challenge for those trying to halt the illicit trade in Iranian oil as a way to hold Tehran accountable for its secretive nuclear activities and dire human rights record, is how to make the negatives of dealing with Iran greater than the financial benefits.

That has put the illicit seaborne trade of oil -- both Iranian and Russian, owing to the ongoing war in Ukraine -- under greater scrutiny by the international community.

"There's continuous refining of the sanctions programs to include and expand sanctions against those involved in evasion, and that includes sanctioning so-called dark fleets," said Castellums Vuksic, noting that the number of targeted sanctions against Iranian individuals and entities rose by more than 1,000 last year.

The big question is enforcement, an issue that is being debated in the United States and other countries and is leading to increased calls for countries like Panama to de-flag illegal tankers and for countries to clamp down on dark-fleet ships anchored off their shores.

"My expectation is that governments, including the United States, will take action against these dark fleets, especially the facilitators and the [ship] owners when they're identified," Vuksic told RFE/RL.

Other factors, including concerns about the impact of a broader Middle East conflict potentially involving Iran, could also hurt or help Iran's financial standing.

As Kpler noted while reporting that Chinese imports of Iranian oil had dropped significantly in October, the changing global landscape can have a big effect on the independent Shandong-base refineries that purchase Iranian oil.

"Middle East tensions/threat of stricter enforcement of U.S. sanctions may have turned Shandong refiners more risk-adverse," the global trade intelligence firm wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

In the past week, supply fears also exposed the volatility of global crude prices, potentially to Iran's benefit.

Oil prices rose sharply on January 2 on news that Iran had sent a frigate to the Red Sea and was rejecting calls to end support for attacks by Tehran-backed Huthi rebels that have disrupted shipping in the important trade route.

Prices surged again following the deadly January 3 bombing attack in Iran, for which the Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility.

But the week ended with questions about the future of Iran's cut-rate deal with the only country willing to help prop up its economy, with Reuters reporting that China's oil trade with Iran had stalled after Tehran withheld supplies and demanded higher prices.
A court in the Russian North Caucasus region of Chechnya has rejected a request for early release filed by Zarema Musayeva, the imprisoned mother of three self-exiled outspoken Chechen opposition activists.

The Shali City Court ruled on December 12 that Musayeva cannot be granted an early release because the administration of the correctional facility she is held in opposed it, claiming that Musayeva failed to be rehabilitated.

Musayeva is the mother of Ibragim, Abubakar, and Baisangur Yangulbayev, all of whom have fled the country citing harassment from the Chechen authorities over their online criticism of Kremlin-backed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

Chechen police and security officers detained Musayeva in January 2022 in her apartment in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod, some 1,800 kilometers from Chechnya, and forcibly returned her to Grozny.

In July, a court in Chechnya sentenced Musayeva to 5 1/2 years in prison on charges of fraud and attacking a police officer, which Musayeva and her supporters have denied.

In September, the Supreme Court of Chechnya shortened Musayeva's prison term by six months and said Musayeva must serve her term in a colony settlement instead of a normal prison.

A colony settlement is a dormitory-like penitentiary located near an industrial facility where convicts work alongside regular employees. The court reasoned that Musayeva's medical condition, diabetes, warranted the change in sentence.

Kadyrov, other Chechen officials, and a member of the Russian Duma have publicly vowed to kill all members of the Yangulbayev family, calling them "terrorists."

Journalists, rights activists, and other Russians have urged the government to punish those who issued the threats.

Abubakar Yangulbayev has accused Kadyrov's law enforcement and security officers of "lawlessness on a daily basis in Chechnya" and says the case against his mother is Kadyrov's retaliation for his activities.

Ibragim and Abubakar have said they faced years of pressure from Chechen authorities over their criticism of Kadyrov and the rights situation in Chechnya.

Many of their relatives have been similarly harassed in Chechnya and even deprived of their homes since Kadyrov and his people vowed to kill them and their family.

The activists' father, Saidi Yangulbayev, a retired federal judge, and a sister fled Russia in January 2022, following the threats.

Russian and international human rights groups have for years accused Kadyrov of overseeing grave human rights abuses, including abductions, torture, extrajudicial killings, and persecution of the LGBT community.

Kremlin critics say Putin has turned a blind eye to the abuses because he relies on the former rebel commander to control separatist sentiment and violence in Chechnya.

With reporting by SOTA
Russian riot police raided an LGBT club in Yekaterinburg less than two weeks after Russia's Supreme Court banned the activities of the "international LGBT movement" -- which legally does not exist -- in the country. Dozens of visitors were detained while police recorded their personal information. Similar raids were carried out in Moscow clubs in early December, while St. Petersburg's oldest gay club shuttered its doors.
DUSHANBE -- Some Tajik migrant workers in Russia say they were beaten by police and deported on fabricated criminal charges for refusing to fight in Ukraine.

About Our Special Project To mark International Migrants Day on December 18, RFE/RLs language services have come together to focus on the migrant and refugee issues most affecting the 23 countries in our broadcast region. You can find all of our stories and videos from this special project here.

The allegations come as Russian officials continue to target migrant workers from Central Asia in an effort to shore up Moscow's depleted troops in Ukraine, according to migrants and rights activists.



Mansur Hojiev, a 30-year-old Dushanbe resident, was deported from Russia in October just weeks after declining to sign a contract to join the Russian Army, the former migrant worker says.



Hojiev told RFE/RL his problems began when he approached migration officials in September to complete paperwork to obtain Russian citizenship.



"During my appointment at the migration office in the Sverdlovsk district in Perm Province on September 12, officials told me that I need to sign a contract to go to war [in Ukraine] or my citizenship application would be rejected," Hojiev said.



The holder of a valid residency permit, Hojiev said he didn't sign the contract and decided to continue living and working in Russia without trying to get citizenship.

But two weeks later Hojiev was summoned to the migration office where officials allegedly demanded that he sign a statement admitting to taking illegal drugs.



"Four masked men handcuffed me there, put a plastic bag over my head, and pushed me into a van like a cow," he claimed. "They drove me to some forest, [attaching wires] to my arms and legs and giving me electric shocks."



Hojiev told RFE/RL that under duress he signed a fabricated confession that he was caught by police while taking narcotics.

The next day, the Sverdlovsk district court convicted the Tajik migrant of illegal drug use based on a police report and his "confession." Hojiev was ordered to pay a fine before he was deported to Tajikistan.



RFE/RL repeatedly tried to contact police and court officials in Perm for comment but was unsuccessful.



Rights defenders and migrants in Russia have reported dozens of similar cases of Central Asian workers being pressured into signing contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry amid Moscow's efforts to bolster its troops in Ukraine.

Just weeks before Hojiev was targeted at the migration office, Russian rights activist Tatyana Kotlyar told the 7X7 Telegram channel that five Central Asian migrants were ordered to sign such military contracts as a precondition for obtaining a Russian passport.



Among them was a Tajik migrant working in Kaluga Province whose citizenship application was rejected after the man said he was unable to join the military on medical grounds, Kotlyar said.



Kotlyar wrote on Facebook afterward that the migrant filed a complaint to Russian authorities. But in response, "a protocol was drawn up against him [by police] for a violation that did not exist," the activist said.



Right Decision



Valentina Chupik, the director of Tong Jahoni, a human rights NGO in Russia, has repeatedly spoken about officials' campaign to recruit migrant workers into the army using force, intimidation, or strong incentives such as the promise of fast-tracked citizenship.



The total number of Central Asian citizens who have gone to war in Ukraine is unknown.



Dushanbe resident Anvar, who gave only his first name, claims he was ordered by officials at the Sakharovo migration center in Moscow to sign a military contract in March.



"I told them that I don't want to go war. They insulted me and beat me," he told RFE/RL. "They kicked me in my lower back."

Anvar said he was kept in detention for 17 days before being deported to Dushanbe for allegedly violating migration rules.



"I have had my all documents in order. I had paid the required three-month fees to extend my work permit; I had also paid the fees on time to prolong my residency documentation," said Anvar, who maintains he was punished for refusing to go to Ukraine.



Anvar's mother said her son returned home "badly bruised" and suffering both physical and psychological trauma. He underwent medical treatment for several months.



Hojiev and Anvar haven't yet found work in Dushanbe. Unemployment is rife in impoverished Tajikistan, which has forced millions to move to Russia where they are vulnerable to threats and pressure put on them by Russian authorities.



Despite being destitute, however, the two said they don't regret their decision to reject serving in the Russian military in Ukraine.

Written by Farangis Najibullah based on reporting by the RFE/RL Tajik Service and the Central Asia Migrant Unit
At about 7 a.m. on Tuesday, December 12, Russian troops shelled the center of Kherson from the left bank. A 29-year-old man was wounded as a result of the shelling. The Korabelny district of the city was also attacked, where the occupiers wounded a 54-year-old man, the victims were hospitalized. In the afternoon, another 67-year-old man was wounded by an artillery strike.

ADVERTISIMENT

"Around 7:00, Russian troops from the temporarily occupied left bank shelled the central part of Kherson. As a result of this attack, a 29-year-old man was wounded. He is currently hospitalized," said Roman Mrochko, head of the Kherson City Council, as of 8:01 a.m.

As of 9:18 a.m., Mrochko reported a second wounded in the Korabelny district of Kherson.

"Two people were wounded in Kherson this morning as a result of hostile shelling. The second wounded man, a 54-year-old man, was taken to hospital. At the time of the Russian attack on the Korabelny district of the city, he was on the street," the statement said.

ADVERTISIMENT

Mrochko also said (as of 8:30 a.m.) that the enemy fired 32 times at Kherson city territorial community during the day, using 128 shells.

Kherson, Sadove, Antonivka, Prydniprovske and Zelenivka were hit.

One man was killed in the shelling, four others were injured of varying severity, two of them in serious condition.

All the injured were provided with medical aid, said the head of the MVA.

ADVERTISIMENT

The Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office released photos of the aftermath of the morning shelling of Kherson and reported that a pre-trial investigation has been launched into the violation of the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

As of 13:13, the Kherson Regional Military Administration reported that the Russian army shelled Kherson once again today. A 67-year-old man was injured as a result of an artillery strike.

"Doctors are conducting an examination and providing assistance to the wounded," the administration said in a statement.

ADVERTISIMENT

As of 14:33, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, said that one of the educational institutions in Kherson was hit.

"The facade and roof of the building were damaged. There is destruction in the premises," he said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

ADVERTISIMENT

- On the night of December 12, Russia staged another UAV attack, launching Shaheds from the occupied Crimea. Air alert was declared in a number of regions of Ukraine.

- Air defense forces destroyed 11 out of 17 air targets during the night: nine Shaheds and two guided missiles.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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As Russian forces battle for the industrial city of Avdiyivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region, members of a Ukrainian unit to the north say they've slowly gained territory. The fighting has taken a heavy toll as soldiers hold their positions from flooded trenches.
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Bukhara, a historic city in Uzbekistan located in the heart of Central Asia, is home to around 200 Jews -- the remnants of a once-thriving community. As their population declines, Bukharan Jews are finding it increasingly difficult to find marriage partners.
We asked some of our most perceptive journalists and analysts to anticipate tomorrow, to unravel the future, to forecast what the new year could have in store for our vast broadcast region. Among their predictions:

The war in Ukraine will persist until the West realizes that a return to the previous world order is unattainable.

In Iran, with parliamentary elections scheduled for March, the government is likely to face yet another challenge to its legitimacy.

In Belarus, setbacks for Russia in Ukraine could prompt the Lukashenka regime to attempt to normalize relations with the West.

While 2024 will see a rightward shift in the EU, it is unlikely to bring the deluge of populist victories that some are predicting.

The vicious spiral for women in Afghanistan will only worsen.

Peace between Armenia and its neighbors could set the stage for a Russian exit from the region.

Hungary's upcoming leadership of the European Council could prove a stumbling block to the start of EU accession talks with Ukraine.

Kyrgyzstan is on course to feel the pain of secondary sanctions over Russias invasion of Ukraine if the West's patience runs out.

Here, then, are our correspondents' predictions for 2024. To find out more about the authors themselves, click on their bylines.

The Ukraine War: A Prolonged Stalemate

By Vitaliy Portnikov

In September 2022, Ukrainian generals Valeriy Zaluzhniy and Mykhaylo Zabrodskiy presciently warned that Russia's aggression against Ukraine would unfold into a protracted conflict. Fast forward 15 months, and the front line is effectively frozen, with neither Ukrainian nor Russian offensives yielding substantial changes.

As 2023 comes to a close, observers find themselves revisiting themes familiar from the previous year: the potential for a major Ukrainian counteroffensive, the extent of Western aid to Kyiv, the possibility of a "frozen conflict, security assurances for Ukraine, and the prospects for its Euro-Atlantic integration ahead of a NATO summit.

It is conceivable that, by the close of 2024, we will still be grappling with these same issues. A political resolution seems elusive, given the Kremlin's steadfast refusal to entertain discussions on vacating the parts of Ukraine its forces occupy. Conversely, Ukraines definition of victory is the full restoration of its territorial integrity.

Even if, in 2024, one side achieves a military victory -- whether through the liberation of part of Ukraine or Russia seizing control of additional regions -- it won't necessarily bring us closer to a political resolution. Acknowledging this impasse is crucial, as Russian President Vladimir Putin's assault on Ukraine is part of a broader agenda: a push to reestablish, if not the Soviet Empire, at least its sphere of influence.

Even if, in 2024, one side achieves a military victory, it won't necessarily bring us closer to a political resolution.

For Ukraine, resistance to Russian aggression is about not just reclaiming occupied territories but also safeguarding statehood, political identity, and national integrity. Western support is crucial for Ukraine's survival and the restoration of its territorial integrity. However, this backing aims to avoid escalation into a direct conflict between Russia and the West on Russia's sovereign territory.

The war's conclusion seems contingent on the depletion of resources on one of the two sides, with Ukraine relying on continued Western support and Russia on oil and gas revenues. Hence, 2024 might echo the patterns of 2023. Even if external factors shift significantly -- such as in the U.S. presidential election in November -- we might not witness tangible changes until 2025.

Another potential variable is the emergence of major conflicts akin to the war in the Gaza Strip. Nevertheless, this would likely signify the dissipation of Western resources rather than a shift in approaches to war.

In essence, the war in Ukraine will persist until the West realizes that a return to the previous world order is unattainable. Constructing a new world order demands unconventional measures, such as offering genuine security guarantees to nations victimized by aggression or achieving peace, or at least limiting the zone of military operations to the current contact line, without direct agreements with Russia.

So far, such understanding is lacking, and the expectation that Moscow will eventually grasp the futility of its ambitions only emboldens Putin. Consequently, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will endure, potentially spawning new, equally perilous local wars worldwide.

Iran: Problems Within And Without

By Hannah Kaviani

Iran has been dealing with complex domestic and international challenges for years and the same issues are likely to plague it in 2024. But officials in Tehran appear to be taking a wait-and-see approach to its lengthy list of multilayered problems.

Iran enters 2024 as Israel's war in Gaza continues and the prospects for a peaceful Middle East are bleak, with the situation exacerbated by militia groups firmly supported by Tehran.

Irans prominent role in supporting paramilitary forces in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen has also drawn the ire of the international community and will continue to be a thorn in the side of relations with the West.

Tehran has refused to cooperate with the UNs International Atomic Energy Agency over its nuclear program, resulting in an impasse in talks with the international community. And with the United States entering an election year that could see the return of Donald Trump to the presidency, the likelihood of Tehran and Washington resuming negotiations -- which could lead to a reduction in sanctions -- is considered very low.

But Iran's problems are not limited to outside its borders.

Another critical issue Iranian officials must continue to deal with in 2024 is the devastated economy.

The countrys clerical regime is still reeling from the massive protests that began in 2022 over the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody after her arrest for not obeying hijab rules. The aftershocks of the Women, Life, Freedom movement that emanated from her death were reflected in acts of civil disobedience that are likely to continue in 2024.

At the same time, a brutal crackdown continues as civil rights activists, students, religious minorities, and artists are being beaten, detained, and/or given harsh prison sentences.

With parliamentary elections scheduled for March, the government is likely to face yet another challenge to its legitimacy as it struggles with low voter turnout and general disinterest in another round of controlled elections.

Another critical issue Iranian officials must continue to deal with in 2024 is the devastated economy resulting from the slew of international sanctions because of its controversial nuclear program. After a crushing year of 47 percent inflation in 2023 (a 20-year high, according to the IMF), costs are expected to continue to rise for many foods and commodities, as well as real estate.

Irans widening budget deficit due to reduced oil profits continues to cripple the economy, with the IMF reporting that the current government debt is equal to three annual budgets.

With neither the international community nor the hard-line Tehran regime budging, most analysts see scant chances for significant changes in Iran in the coming year.

Belarus: Wider War Role, Integration With Russia Not In The Cards

By Valer Karbalevich

Belarus has been pulled closer into Moscows orbit than ever by Russias war in Ukraine -- but in 2024, its unlikely to be subsumed into the much larger nation to its east, and chances are it wont step up its so-far limited involvement in the conflict in the country to its south.

The most probable scenario in Belarus, where the authoritarian Alyaksandr Lukashenka will mark 30 years since he came to power in 1994, is more of the same: No letup in pressure on all forms of dissent at home, no move to send troops to Ukraine. And while Russias insistent embrace will not loosen, the Kremlin will abstain from using Belarusian territory for any new ground attacks or bombardments of Ukraine.

But the war in Ukraine is a wild card, the linchpin influencing the trajectory of Belarus in the near term and beyond. For the foreseeable future, what happens in Belarus -- or to it -- will depend in large part on what happens in Russias assault on Ukraine.

Should the current equilibrium on the front persist and Western support for Ukraine persist, the likelihood is a continuation of the status quo for Belarus. The country will maintain its allegiance to Russia, marked by diplomatic and political support. Bolstered by Russian loans, Belarus's defense industry will further expand its output.

If Russia wins or scores substantial victories in Ukraine, Lukashenka will reap "victory dividends."

The Belarusian state will continue to militarize the border with Ukraine, posing a perpetual threat to Kyiv and diverting Ukrainian troops from the eastern and southern fronts. At the same time, however, Russia is unlikely to use Belarusian territory as a launching point for fresh assaults on Ukraine, as it did at the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

If Russia wins or scores substantial victories -- if Ukraine is forced into negotiations on Moscows terms, for example, or the current front line comes to be considered the international border -- Lukashenka, consolidating his position within the country, will reap "victory dividends." But relations between Belarus and Russia are unlikely to change dramatically.

Potentially, Moscow could take major steps to absorb Belarus, diminishing its sovereignty and transforming its territory into a staging ground for a fresh assault on Kyiv. This would increase tensions with the West and heighten concerns about the tactical nuclear weapons Moscow and Minsk say Russia has transferred to Belarus. However, this seems unlikely due to the absence of military necessity for Moscow and the problems it could create on the global stage.

The loss of Belarusian sovereignty would pose a major risk for Lukashenka and his regime. An overwhelming majority of Belarusians oppose the direct involvement of Belarus in the war against Ukraine. This fundamental distinction sets Belarus apart from Russia, and bringing Belarus into the war could trigger a political crisis in Belarus -- an outcome Moscow would prefer to avoid.

If Russia loses the war or sustains significant defeats that weaken Putin, Lukashenka's regime may suffer economic and political repercussions. This could prompt him to seek alternative global alliances, potentially leading to an attempt to normalize relations with the West.

Russia, Ukraine, And The West: Sliding Toward World War III

By Sergei Medvedev

2024 will be a critical year for the war in Ukraine and for the entire international system, which is quickly unraveling before our eyes. The most crucial of many challenges is a revanchist, resentful, belligerent Russia, bent on destroying and remaking the world order. In his mind, President Vladimir Putin is fighting World War III, and Ukraine is a prelude to a global showdown.

Despite Western sanctions, Russia has consolidated its position militarily, domestically, and internationally in 2023. After setbacks and shocks in 2022, the military has stabilized the front and addressed shortages of arms, supplies, and manpower. Despite latent discontent, the population is not ready to question the war, preferring to stay in the bubble of learned ignorance and the lies of state propaganda.

Here are four scenarios for 2024:

Strategic stalemate in Ukraine, chaos in the international system: The West, relaxed by a 30-year peace dividend, lacks the vision and resolve of the 1980s, when its leaders helped bring about the U.S.S.R.s collapse, let alone the courage of those who stood up to Nazi Germany in World War II. Putins challenge to the free world is no less significant than Hitlers was, but there is no Roosevelt or Churchill in sight. Probability: 70 percent

While breakup into many regions is unlikely, the Russian empire could crumble at the edges.

Widening war, collapse or division of Ukraine: Russia could defend and consolidate its gains in Ukraine, waging trench warfare while continuing to destroy civilian infrastructure, and may consider a side strike in Georgia or Moldova -- or against Lithuania or Poland, testing NATO. A frontal invasion is less likely than a hybrid operation by unidentified units striking from Belarus, acts of sabotage, or unrest among Russian-speakers in the Baltic states. Other Kremlin operations could occur anywhere in the world. The collapse of Ukraines government or the division of the country could not be ruled out. Probability: 15 percent.

Russia loses in Ukraine: A military defeat for Russia, possibly entailing a partial or complete withdrawal from Ukraine. Consistent Western support and expanded supplies of arms, like F-16s or Abrams tanks, or a big move such as closing the skies over Ukraine, could provide for this outcome. It would not necessarily entail Russias collapse -- it could further consolidate the nation around Putins regime. Russia would develop a resentful identity grounded in loss and defeat -- and harbor the idea of coming back with a vengeance. Probability: 10 percent

Russias Collapse: A military defeat in Ukraine could spark social unrest, elite factional battles, and an anti-Putin coup, leading to his demotion or violent death. Putins natural death, too, could set off a succession struggle, causing chaos in a country he has rid of reliable institutions. While breakup into many regions is unlikely, the empire could crumble at the edges -- Kaliningrad, Chechnya, the Far East  like in 1917 and 1991. Russias nuclear weapons would be a big question mark, leading to external involvement and possible de-nuclearization. For all its perils, this scenario might provide a framework for future statehood in Northern Eurasia. Probability: 5 percent

EU: 'Fortress Europe' And The Ukraine War

By Rikard Jozwiak

2024 will see a rightward shift in the European Union, but it is unlikely to bring the deluge of populist victories that some are predicting since Euroskeptics won national elections in the Netherlands, Poland, and Slovakia and polled well in Austria and Germany.

The European Parliament elections in June will be the ultimate test for the bloc in that respect. Polls still suggest the two main political groups, the center-right European People's Party and the center-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, will finish on top, albeit with a smaller share of the vote. But right-wing populist parties are likely to fail once again to agree on the creation of a single political group, thus eroding their influence in Brussels.

This, in turn, is likely to prod more pro-European groups into combining forces again to divvy up EU top jobs like the presidencies of the European Commission, the bloc's top executive body, and the European Council, which defines the EU's political direction and priorities. Center-right European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is widely tipped to get a second term, even though she might fancy NATO's top job as secretary-general. Charles Michel, on the other hand, will definitely be out as European Council president after serving the maximum five years.

While right-wing populists may not wield major influence in the horse-trading for those top jobs, they will affect policy going forward. They have already contributed to a hardening of attitudes on migration, and you can expect to hear more of the term "fortress Europe" as barriers go up on the EU's outer border.

The one surefire guarantee in Europe isn't about the European Union at all but rather about NATO.

The biggest question for 2024, however, is about how much support Brussels can provide Ukraine going forward. Could the "cost-of-living crisis" encourage members to side with Budapest to block financial aid or veto the start of de facto accession talks with that war-torn country? The smart money is still on the EU finding a way to green-light both those decisions in 2024, possibly by unfreezing more EU funds for Budapest.

Although it seems like a remote possibility, patience could also finally wear out with Hungary, and the other 26 members could decide to strip it of voting rights in the Council of the European Union, which amends, approves, and vetoes European Commission proposals -- essentially depriving it of influence. In that respect, Austria and Slovakia, Budapest's two biggest allies right now, are the EU countries to watch.

The one surefire guarantee in Europe isn't about the European Union at all but rather about NATO: After somehow failing to join as predicted for each of the past two years, against the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Sweden will become the transatlantic military alliance's 32nd member once the Turkish and Hungarian parliaments vote to ratify its accession protocol.

Caucasus: A Peace Agreement Could Be Transformative

By Josh Kucera

Could 2024 be the year that Armenia and Azerbaijan finally formally resolve decades of conflict?

This year, Azerbaijan effectively decided -- by force -- their most contentious issue: the status of the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. With its lightning offensive in September, Azerbaijan placed Karabakh firmly under its control. Both sides now say they've reached agreement on most of their fundamental remaining issues, and diplomatic talks, after an interruption, appear set to resume.

A resolution of the conflict could transform the region. If Armenia and Azerbaijan made peace, a Turkish-Armenian rapprochement could soon follow. Borders between the three countries would reopen as a result, ending Armenia's long geographical isolation and priming the South Caucasus to take full advantage of new transportation projects seeking to ship cargo between Europe and Asia while bypassing Russia.

Peace between Armenia and its neighbors also could set the stage for a Russian exit from the region. Russian-Armenian security cooperation has been predicated on potential threats from Azerbaijan and Turkey. With those threats reduced, what's keeping the Russian soldiers, peacekeepers, and border guards there?

There are mounting indications that Azerbaijan may not see it in its interests to make peace.

A Russian exit would be a messy process -- Moscow still holds many economic levers in Armenia -- but Yerevan could seek help from the United States and Europe to smooth any transition. Washington and Brussels have seemingly been waiting in the wings, nudging Armenia in their direction.

But none of this is likely to happen without a peace agreement. And while there don't seem to be any unresolvable issues remaining, there are mounting indications that Azerbaijan may not see it in its interests to make peace. Baku has gotten what it wanted most of all -- full control of Karabakh -- without an agreement. And maintaining a simmering conflict with Armenia could arguably serve Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev well, as it would allow him to continue to lean on a reliable source of public support: rallying against an Armenian enemy.

But perhaps the most conspicuous indication of a broader strategy is Aliyev's increasing invocation of "Western Azerbaijan" -- a hazily defined concept alluding to ethnic Azerbaijanis who used to live on the territory of what is now Armenia and their presumed right to return to their homes. It suggests that Azerbaijan might keep furthering its demands in hopes that Armenia finally throws in the towel, and each can accuse the other of intransigence.

Hungary: The Return Of Big Brother?

By Pablo Gorondi

Critics might be tempted to believe that Big Brother will be watching over Hungarians in 2024 like at no point since the fall of communism.

A new law on the Defense of National Sovereignty will allow the Office for the Defense of Sovereignty, which the law created, to investigate and request information from almost any group in Hungary that receives foreign funding. This will apply to civic groups, political parties, private businesses, media companies -- in fact, anyone deemed to be conducting activities (including "information manipulation and disinformation") in the interests of a foreign "body, organization, or person."

The law has been criticized by experts from the United Nations and the Council of Europe over its seemingly vague language, lack of judicial oversight, and fears that it could be used by the government "to silence and stigmatize independent voices and opponents."

The head of the Office for the Defense of Sovereignty should be nominated for a six-year term by right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban and appointed by President Katalin Novak by February 1. This would allow the new authority to carry out investigations and present findings ahead of simultaneous elections to the European Parliament and Hungarian municipal bodies in early June -- possibly influencing their outcomes.

Orban has said in recent interviews that he wants to "fix the European Union" and that "we need to take over Brussels."

Asked by RFE/RL's Hungarian Service, some experts said fears of the new authority are overblown and that the government is more likely to use it as a threat hanging over opponents than as a direct tool for repression -- at least until it finds it politically necessary or expedient to tighten control.

On the international scene, meanwhile, Hungary will take over the Council of the European Union's six-month rotating presidency in July, a few weeks after voting to determine the composition of a new European Parliament.

MEPs from Orban's Fidesz party exited the center-right European People's Party bloc in 2021 and have not joined another group since then, although some observers expect them to join the more Euroskeptic and nationalist European Conservatives and Reformists.

Orban has for years predicted a breakthrough of more radical right-wing forces in Europe. But while that has happened in Italy, the Netherlands, and Slovakia, experts suggest that's not enough to fuel a significant shift in the European Parliament, where the center-right and center-left should continue to hold a clear majority.

Because of the June elections, the European Parliament's activities will initially be limited -- and its election of a European Commission president could prove complicated. Nevertheless, Orban has said in recent interviews that he wants to "fix the European Union" and that "we need to take over Brussels." So, Hungary's leadership may make progress difficult on issues that Orban opposes, like the start of EU accession talks with Ukraine or a possible reelection bid by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Stability And The 'Serbian World'

By Gjeraqina Tuhina and Milos Teodorovic

Serbia, once again, will be a key player in the region -- and its moves could significantly shape events in the Balkans over the next 12 months.

For over a decade, the dialogue to normalize relations between Serbia and its former province Kosovo has stymied both countries. Then, in February in Brussels and March in Ohrid, North Macedonia, European mediators announced a path forward and its implementation. There was only one problem: There was no signature on either side. Nine months later, little has changed.

Many eyes are looking toward one aspect in particular -- a renewed obligation for Pristina to allow for an "appropriate level of self-management" for the Serb minority in Kosovo. This also entails creating possibilities for financial support from Serbia to Kosovar Serbs and guarantees for direct communication of the Serb minority with the Kosovar government.

In October, EU mediators tried again, and with German, French, and Italian backing presented both parties with a new draft for an association of Serb-majority municipalities. Both sides accepted the draft. EU envoy to the region Miroslav Lajcak suggested in December that the Ohrid agreement could be implemented by the end of January. If that happened, it would mark a decisive step for both sides in a dialogue that began in 2011.

"The Serbian world" is a phrase launched a few years ago by pro-Russian Serbian politician Aleksandar Vulin, a longtime cabinet minister who until recently headed the Serbian Intelligence Service. It is not officially part of the agenda of either Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic or the government, but it underscores the influence that Serbia seeks to wield from Kosovo and Montenegro to Republika Srpska in Bosnia-Herzegovina. But how Vucic chooses to exert the implicit ties to Serb leaders and nationalists in those countries could do much to promote stability -- or its antithesis -- in the Balkans in 2024.

Another major challenge for Vucic revolves around EU officials' request that candidate country Serbia harmonize its foreign policy with the bloc. So far, along with Turkey, Serbia is the only EU candidate that has not introduced sanctions on Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It is unclear how far the Serbian president is willing to push back to foster ongoing good relations with Moscow.

But first, Serbia will have to confront the fallout from snap elections in December dominated by Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party but rejected by the newly united opposition as fraudulent. The results sparked nightly protests in the capital and hunger strikes by a half-dozen lawmakers and other oppositionists. A new parliament is scheduled to hold a session by the end of January 2024, and the margins are seemingly razor-thin for control of the capital, Belgrade.

Central Asia: Don't Write Russia Off Just Yet

By Chris Rickleton

Will the empire strike back? 2023 has been a galling year for Russia in Central Asia as it watched its traditional partners (and former colonies) widen their diplomatic horizons.

With Russia bogged down in a grueling war in Ukraine, Moscow has less to offer the region than ever before. Central Asias five countries have made the most of the breathing space, with their leaders holding landmark talks with U.S. and German leaders as French President Emmanuel Macron also waltzed into Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with multibillion-dollar investments.

And China has reinforced its dominant position in the region, while Turkey has also increased its influence.

But dont write Russia off just yet.

One of Moscows biggest wins in the neighborhood this year was an agreement to supply Uzbekistan with nearly 3 billion cubic meters of gas every year, a figure that could increase.

Power deficits in Uzbekistan and energy-rich Kazakhstan are the most obvious short-term sources of leverage for Moscow over those important countries.

The coming year will likely bring more in terms of specifics over both governments plans for nuclear power production, with Russia fully expected to be involved.

And Moscows confidence in a region that it views as its near abroad will only increase if it feels it is making headway on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Tajikistan

Tajikistans hereditary succession has been expected for so long that people have stopped expecting it. Does that mean it is back on the cards for 2024? Probably not.

In 2016, Tajikistan passed a raft of constitutional changes aimed at cementing the ruling Rahmon familys hold on power. Among them was one lowering the age to run for president from 35 to 30.

Turkmenistans bizarre new setup begs a question: If youre not ready to let it go, why not hold on a little longer?

That amendment had an obvious beneficiary -- veteran incumbent Emomali Rahmons upwardly mobile son, Rustam Emomali. But Emomali is now 36 and, despite occupying a political post that makes him next in line, doesnt look any closer to becoming numero uno.

Perhaps there hasnt been a good time to do it.

From the coronavirus pandemic to a bloody crackdown on unrest in the Gorno-Badakhshan region and now the shadows cast by the Ukraine war, there have been plenty of excuses to delay the inevitable.

Turkmenistan

But perhaps Rahmon is considering events in Turkmenistan, where Central Asias first father-son power transition last year has ended up nothing of the sort. Rather than growing into the role, new President Serdar Berdymukhammedov is shrinking back into the shadow of his all-powerful father, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov.

And this seems to be exactly how the older Berdymukhammedov wanted it, subsequently fashioning himself a post-retirement post that makes his son and the rest of the government answerable to him.

But Turkmenistans bizarre new setup begs a question: If youre not ready to let it go, why not hold on a little longer?

Kyrgyzstan/Kazakhstan

Writing on X (formerly Twitter) in November, a former IMF economist argued that Kyrgyzstan would be the "perfect test case" for secondary sanctions over Russias invasion of Ukraine. Robin Brooks described the country as "small, not remotely systemically important, and very clearly facilitating trade diversion to Russia."

Official statistics show that countries in the Eurasian Economic Union that Moscow leads have become a backdoor around the Western-led sanctions targeting Russia. Exports to Kyrgyzstan from several EU countries this year, for example, are up by at least 1,000 percent compared to 2019.

Data for exports to Kazakhstan shows similar patterns -- with larger volumes but gentler spikes -- while investigations by RFE/RL indicate that companies in both Central Asian countries have forwarded dual-use products that benefit the Kremlins military machine.

Belarus is the only Russian ally to get fully sanctioned for its support of Moscows invasion of Ukraine -- but will that change in 2024?

Central Asian governments will argue they have resisted Russian pressure to provide political and military support for the war. They might even whisper that their big friend China is much more helpful to Russia.

But the Wests approach of targeting only Central Asian companies actively flouting the regime is failing.

So, while Western diplomats continue to credit the regions governments for their anti-evasion efforts, their patience may wear out. And if it does, Kyrgyzstan might be first to find out.

Afghanistan: The Vicious Spiral Will Worsen

By Malali Bashir

With little internal threat to Afghanistans Taliban regime and the failure of the international community to affect change in the hard-line Islamist regimes policies, the Taliban mullahs control over the country continues to tighten.

And that regimes continued restrictions on Afghan women -- their rights, freedom, and role in society -- signals a bleak future for them in 2024 and beyond.

Many observers say the move by the Taliban in December to only allow girls to attend religious madrasahs -- after shutting down formal schooling for them following the sixth grade -- is an effort by the Taliban to radicalize Afghan society.

Madrasahs are not an alternative to formal schooling because they dont produce doctors, lawyers, journalists, engineers, etc. The idea of [only] having madrasahs isabout brainwashing [people] to create an extremist society, says Shukria Barakzai, the former Afghan ambassador to Norway.

The crackdown on womens rights by the Taliban will also continue the reported uptick in domestic violence in the country, activists say.

Since the Taliban shut down Afghanistans Independent Human Rights Commission and Women Affairs Ministry, women find themselves with nowhere to turn to and find it extremely difficult to seek justice in Taliban courts.

The Taliban seems adamant about maintaining its severe limits on women and reducing their role in society.

With no justice for victims of abuse on the horizon, womens rights activists say violence against women will continue with no repercussions for the perpetrators.

Barakzai argues that Taliban officials have already normalized domestic violence and do not consider it a crime.

According to [a Taliban] decree, you can [confront] women if they are not listening to [your requests]. Especially a male member of the family is allowed to use all means to punish women if they refuse to follow his orders. That is basically a call for domestic violence, she said.

The vicious spiral for women will only worsen.

Being banned from education, work, and public life, Afghan women say the resulting psychological impact leads to panic, depression, and acute mental health crises.

Although there are no official figures, Afghan mental health professionals and foreign organizations have noted a disturbing surge in female suicides in the two years since the Taliban came to power.

"If we look at the women who were previously working or studying, 90 percent suffer from mental health issues now," said Mujeeb Khpalwak, a psychiatrist in Kabul. "They face tremendous economic uncertainty after losing their work and are very anxious about their future."

Heather Bar, associate director of the women's rights division at Human Rights Watch, says, "It's not surprising that we're hearing reports of Afghan girls committing suicide. Because all their rights, including going to school, university, and recreational places have been taken away from them."

Promising young Afghan women who once aspired to contribute to their communities after pursuing higher education now find themselves with no career prospects.

I do not see any future. When I see boys continuing their education, I lose all hope and wish that I was not born a girl, a former medical student in Kabul told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi.

Despite immense global pressure, the Taliban seems adamant about maintaining its severe limits on women and reducing their role in society. This will result in a tragic future for the women of Afghanistan with no relief in sight.


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The Ukrainian military leadership, together with its American counterparts, is developing a new strategy for the Russian-Ukrainian war. Implementation will begin in early 2024 to return the initiative to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in all areas of the front.

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One of the main tasks of the new strategy is to bring Kremlin representatives to the negotiating table on Ukraine's terms in late 2024 or early 2025. This was reported by The New York Times.

American analysts said that the idea to formulate a new strategy arose after the Armed Forces' counteroffensive operations failed to achieve all the goals set, including the return of the occupied territories. It is also noted that Republicans in the US Congress have weakened their support for Kyiv, and US officials have expressed concern that dictator Vladimir Putin may gain an advantage on the battlefield in 2024.

In addition, analysts warn that the Russian occupation army has also begun to change its strategy. At the same time, the aggressor country, the Russian Federation, is trying to recover its losses at an accelerated pace. Moscow now has more troops, ammunition, and missiles, and the aggressor has increased its firepower advantage due to the huge number of drones, most of which are supplied by Iran.

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In this regard, the United States has stepped up its personal military advice to Ukraine. US and Ukrainian military officials say they hope to work out the details of the new strategy next month during a series of military exercises in Germany.

At the same time, it has become known that the United States insists on a conservative strategy aimed at holding the territory of Ukraine. This approach also involves building up reserves throughout the year.

U.S. officials say that without a new strategy and additional funding, Ukraine could lose the war. Therefore, dictator Putin is betting on a decrease in American support, pointing to his recent statements that if Ukraine runs out of NATO-supplied ammunition, Russia will win in a matter of days.

Therefore, the Ukrainian military leadership, together with U.S. officials, intends to create a sufficiently realistic threat to Russia to consider engaging in meaningful negotiations at the end of next year or in 2025.

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As a reminder, the administration of US President Joe Biden does not rule out the possibility that they could deliver a new security assistance package to Ukraine by the end of 2023. Active discussions regarding the President's request for $106 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan are also underway.

Earlier, it was reported that upon arrival in Washington, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia's real goal is not so much to seize sovereign Ukraine but to destroy democracy and stability throughout the free world.

Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Bus Eireann has announced details of its Christmas and New Year timetables for services in Roscommon.

With anticipated high demand, passengers are encouraged to plan their journeys in advance and check the updated timetables on the Bus Eireann website.

Bus Eireann services will operate to normal schedules until Saturday, December 23rd, marking one of the busiest travel weeks as passengers from across Ireland and beyond travel home for the festive season.

Passengers are advised to check their individual route on the Bus Eireann website: https://www.buseireann.ie/service_updates.php?id=7812&month=Dec On Christmas Eve, December 24th, services will operate to a Sunday timetable with earlier final departures at approximately 9 p.m..

No services will operate on Christmas Day. Bus Eireann services will operate based on Bank Holiday/Sunday service timetables for St. Stephens Day, December 26th commencing around 9 a.m.. Passengers planning to travel are encouraged to check the timetable for their routes.

Starting from Wednesday, December 27th services will operate to normal timetables to New Years Eve, Sunday, December 31st. Services on New Years Day, Monday, January 1st will operate to a Sunday schedule.

A full normal timetable across Bus Eireann services will resume from Tuesday, January 2nd.

Stephen Kent, Chief Executive of Bus Eireann, said: Bus Eireann has facilitated over 99 million passenger journeys in 2023, and we know that many of our customers will be using our services during the Christmas season  whether travelling home, visiting family and friends, shopping, or working over the festive period.

Christmas and New Year are the busiest period for Bus Eireann services and we are delighted to provide an extensive schedule up to and during the Christmas season to meet the travel needs of our customers.

We advise those planning to travel over the festive period to plan their journeys in advance and check our website for up-to-date timetables and travel information.
As of December 11, Russian occupation forces kept trying to get into the territory of the Avdiivka Coke Plant. The Ukrainian military continue to hold the line in this city in Donetsk region and prevent the enemy from doing so, inflicting significant losses on the invaders.

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The bodies of the invaders killed during the storming attempts are left by their colleagues lying near the plant. This was reported by Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesman for the Tauride Defense Forces, on the air of Radio Donbas.Realii.

"The enemy is trying to approach the coke plant. So far, certain groups have managed to get to the fence, and they were simply smashed there, and there are a lot of corpses lying around," he said.

According to the spokesperson, the enemy is simultaneously trying to put pressure on the Defense Forces at both the Avdiivka and Maryinka directions.

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"Yesterday, we can say it was a record for simultaneity - such a large number of simultaneous assault actions in all directions around Avdiivka, as well as in the area of Maryinka, Novomykhailivka and Pobeda. Near Avdiivka, almost fifty attacks were registered over the last day, and near Maryinka - 18 more. The enemy has sent a lot of equipment forward and is also acting with air support," noted Shtupun.

As OBOZ.UA reported earlier, according to British intelligence, the Ukrainian Armed Forces conducted successful counterattacks near Avdiivka, depriving the occupiers of full control over Stepove.

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The critical situation facing the communities around Lough Funshinagh and the Shannon Callows due to the ongoing delays in implementing long promised flood mitigation measures has been highlighted by Independent TD Denis Naughten.

Speaking in the Dail last Thursday, Deputy Naughten pointed out that with Lough Funshinagh's water level now 330mm higher than in 2020, the threat of flooding loomed larger than ever, causing widespread anxiety and concern.

Furthermore, despite the allocation of 7 million four years ago for the removal of a number of pinch points on the River Shannon, south of Athlone, progress has been frustratingly slow. The appointment of an ecological consultant, essential for the environmental study necessary to commence work, is still pending, he said.

Last year, the Minister of State, Deputy ODonovan, approved funding for a new planning process for Lough Funshinagh.

Difficulties in procuring environmental consultancy services have stalled both of these crucial projects. The inability to source experts is not due to a lack of funding, as the OPW has a 1.3 billion budget for approximately 100 flood projects, but is due to market conditions that favour private, less complex projects, explained Deputy Naughten.

Unacceptable delays in progressing projects at Lough Funshinagh and the Shannon Callows, as well as similar flood relief projects across the country, are leaving 10,000 families living in fear of the next rainfall, and possible flooding of their homes. Deputy Naughten has proposed a proactive approach to address this critical issue. The Office of Public Works should directly employ key environmental personnel for flood relief projects. Additionally, reaching out to experienced professionals who emigrated during the recession could provide the necessary expertise and stability, he suggested.

Another significant challenge in project implementation is the complexity and ambiguity of environmental regulations. The current lack of clarity in the interpretation of EU and national environmental laws is a deterrent for consultants and hampers progress. To address this Deputy Naughten has urged the Government to instruct the Law Reform Commission to conduct a thorough review of all environmental legislation applicable in Ireland, aiming to eliminate ambiguities and streamline project design.
Community groups in North Roscommon have been the beneficiaries of funding from the Derrysallagh Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Energia Renewables, part of the Energia Group, which owns and operates 16 wind farm sites across the country, recently held a workshop for community groups from counties Roscommon, Sligo and Leitrim to discuss the impact of the Derrysallagh Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Community groups from Ballyfarnon, Geevagh, Keadue and Arigna, which operate community services or activities within 5km of the wind farm near Kilronan, were invited to attend the meeting to discuss multi-annual grant awards and community legacy projects for the area.

The Derrysallagh community benefit fund will operate for the lifetime of the wind farm and is administered on behalf of Energia by Community Foundation Ireland, an independent charitable organisation. Groups can currently apply for project grants of up to 3,000 all year round. In certain circumstances, grant size may be increased up to 6,000, depending on the need for the project and availability of funding.

Participants in the Energia CFI Derrysallagh Community Workshop. Pic. Brian Farrell

The Ballyfarnon Community Enterprise Group recently received a grant of 2,500 to install new stage lighting in the community hall. Aisling Lowe, who chairs the local group, said: "There are funders out there and wed already successfully applied for a large government grant for the refurbishment of our hall but it can be complicated. The Derrysallagh Wind Farm Fund, though, makes it simple to apply. For a start, you dont need to have raised a large proportion of the money required in advance. We needed new lighting for our redesigned stage and its been installed in time for Christmas activities, including the local school play.

Were grateful to Energia for reviewing the fund and inviting local community groups to discuss how it can best help the local area.

Rosy Billingham, Community Engagement Manager for Energia Renewables, explained that all the funds prioritise energy efficiency and sustainability but we tailor them to meet the needs of the communities living beside our wind farms. Over the lifetime of the Derrysallagh Wind Farm, we will be investing over 700,000 through the Community Benefit Fund and we want it to have maximum positive impact.

Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland, added: Listening to the views of local people and their priorities is key to the success of the Derrysallagh Benefit Fund. We at the Community Foundation are proud of our long-standing partnership with Energia through their wind farm funds in Ireland, which are delivering some really transformative grants to community services, while also opening up opportunities for local young people.

To find out more about the Derrysallagh Wind Farm community benefit fund, visit www.energiagroup.com/renewables or www.communityfoundation.ie.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

WhatsApp messages sent by former Stormont ministers during the pandemic have been lost after British government-issued electronic devices were wiped, the UK Covid Inquiry has been told.

Counsel to the inquiry, Clair Dobbin KC, said this included the devices of former first minister Baroness Arlene Foster and deputy first minister Michelle ONeill.

The inquiry is holding a preliminary hearing into the devolved administrations decision making and response to the pandemic.

The inquiry was told there had been a data loss relating to WhatsApp messages sent by former Stormont ministers (Liam McBurney/PA)

Ms Dobbin said informal communications such as WhatsApp messages may be of a forensic value in preserving what individuals thought or knew at a given point in time.

She said that after the inquiry was established in 2021, the permanent secretaries of all devolved departments were contacted asking them to ensure no material of potential relevance to the inquiry was destroyed.

Ms Dobbin said the inquiry had sought at an early point information on informal communications, including WhatsApp messages, sent by former Stormont ministers or senior civil servants.

She said: In August 2023, The Executive Office (TEO) notified the inquiry team of a potential loss of data in relation to the Northern Ireland Civil Service supplied devices that were held by former Executive ministers and senior civil servants.

TEO informed the inquiry that the government-supplied devices of the former first minister Baroness Arlene Foster and the deputy first minister Michelle ONeill had been reset to factory settings.

It was said this was also the position in relation to other ministers and meant that no data was available from those devices.

Ms Dobbin said the inquirys legal team immediately expressed grave concern and sought the detail of what had happened.

She added: TEO informed the inquiry that it would ascertain the circumstances of what had happened in which the data loss arose.

This became a formal investigation.

Ms Dobbin was addressing inquiry chair Baroness Heather Hallett, pictured (Lucy North/PA)

Ms Dobbin said the TEO had provided a report to the inquiry last week and further information was being sought.

The barrister also said that efforts were continuing to recover some of the material which had been lost.

She said: That some devices have been reset does not mean that there isnt WhatsApp material, there is.

We will continue to work to secure that WhatsApp material.

Addressing inquiry chair Baroness Heather Hallett, Ms Dobbin said: The question of the wiping or resetting of devices itself remains at large but you will undoubtedly want to have time to consider the report by the TEO and the witness statement and you may also wish to consider the issue of the resetting of devices as part of your overall considerations about the use of informal communications.

You may want to hear evidence or understand more about the extent in which informal communication was used and the preservation of messaging.

You may wish to be able to judge the effect of wiping or resetting devices in light of material which is disclosed.

Ms Dobbin said the inquirys legal team had been demanding of what it had required of witnesses in Northern Ireland.

The inquiry team is aware that the absence of powersharing arrangements has added to pressures on departments and civil servants in responding to this inquiry, she said.

She added that the inquiry had to date received more than 35,000 documents of evidence from Stormont departments, including notes and minutes of Executive meetings and briefing papers.
Getting swiftly through December and there are still some fun Christmas events coming up in Williston.

The Spring Lake Park Drive is continuing from 5:30-9:30 p.m. every day through Dec. 31. There will be take-and-go kids crafts, interactive exibits, an elf on the shelf bingo, photo station, and thousands of twinkling lights. Admission is $5 per car.

Dec 16 will be a very busy day. There will by a Santas Workshop Craft and Vendor Show at the Raymond Family Community Center from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The first 100 kids get a free Christmas swag bag. Santa photos will be taken by Radd Photos from 1-4 p.m. for $20. There will be plenty of opportunities to get that last minute Christmas gift. There will be a used toy giveaway at the Train ND Building and Familyworks 1st Annual Christmas Giveaway at the Williston Public Library from 1-5 p.m. Santa will be at Safari Trampoline from 1-6 p.m., along with a free gift raffle and presents for kids. Harmonic is presenting Winter Wonderland at the Williston High School starting at 7 p.m.

On Dec. 22, Williston Police Department will be hosting their first Blacklight Snowball Fight. The event is free and will be upstairs at the Raymond Family Community Center from 5-8 p.m. Drinks and snacks will be provided. Children under 12 must have an adult to supervise but, an adult can have up to 10 kids tagging along. Also, many of the small businesses in town are having special holiday sales throughout the month.

Williston is halfway through the month of December, yet there are still plenty of things to do, plenty of events to attend, and plenty of places to shop. Merry Christmas!
(U.S. Senate)  As a direct result from his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), U.S. Senator Jon Tester secured $142,662 in Safe Streets for All funding for Richland County to improve street safety.

Tester worked with five Republicans and four Democrats to negotiate the IIJA and was the only member of Montanas Congressional delegation to vote for the bill.

Montanans count on safe streets to stay connected, grow their small businesses, and support their communities, said Tester. These targeted resources will help Richland County plan for the future and ensure that folks can count on safe travel for years to come. Im proud to have worked across the aisle to deliver these dollars through my bipartisan infrastructure law, and Im looking forward to seeing them be put to good use.

Funding from Testers bipartisan IIJA will be delivered to Richland County in the form of a Safe Streets for All grant to develop a comprehensive safety action plan that will ultimately improve street safety.

Tester secured significant wins for Montana in the legislation, including $2.82 billion for Montanas roads, highways and bridges; $2.5 billion to complete all authorized Indian water rights settlements; $1 billion to complete all authorized rural water projects through the Bureau of Reclamation; $65 billion to deploy broadband to areas across the country that lack internet access and additionally make online connectivity affordable; and $3.37 billion to reduce wildfire risk nationwide, among others. Tester also worked to ensure that all iron, steel, and construction materials used for these projects must be made in America.

A full list of Montana provisions in Testers bipartisan infrastructure law can be found at https://www.tester.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/pr-8721/.
Boys & Girls Club of the MonDak will once again be handing out Holiday Food Boxes for families in need this Holiday season. The distribution is set for Dec. 20 at the Boys & Girls Club Clubhouse, 201 3rd Ave. SE, Sidney. While the Richland County Food Bank dedicates their Holiday food box program to elderly and disabled community members, the Boys & Girls Club focuses on families with children in the household. Boys & Girls Club started the Holiday food box program in 2020 after witnessing the critical need for food security in our community while serving meals to families during the pandemic closures and throughout the summer. Today, food security for children and families is still a key part of the Club's mission. Thanks to partnerships with Montana Food Bank Network, Montana No Kid Hungry, OPI Summer Food Program, Reynolds Market, and The Market in Sidney, they provide food, at no cost, to families in multiple ways. Free weekend food backpacks are sent out to referred children in the county every week during the school year. During the summer, free lunches are available for kids and teens, and free food boxes are distributed to the community whenever supplies are available. All these services are open to any community family with children, even if the children are not members of the Club. These are in addition to all the nutritious breakfasts, lunches, and snacks provided to members all year long.

If you would like to donate towards the Holiday food boxes or any of the other BGC food programs, please contact Madison or Janelle at the Boys & Girls Club office at 406-433-6763 or email at [email protected] or [email protected].
Each year, the Williston City Commission and STAR Fund Advisory board allocate up to $50,000 for nonprofit groups and organizations to fund activities and projects that improve the quality of life in and around the Williston area. Grant recipients in the past include: Upper Missouri District Health Unit Safe Seats Program, Maah Daah Hey Trail, Williston Sea Lions, Western North Dakota Honor Flight and many others.

The Community Enhancement Grant program is made possible through the Williston STAR Fund which was created to help provide financial support for economic and community development projects that create jobs. The funds are derived from a voter approved 1% city sales tax through June 30, 2030. Seventy-five percent of the collections benefit infrastructure needs and property tax relief while 25% assists projects that promote a vibrant and sustainable community.The deadline to apply is Friday, Dec.15, 2023 at 5 p.m. Applications may be emailed, mailed or delivered to Williston Economic Development. The STAR Fund Advisory Board will meet to evaluate the applications mid-January 2024.

Nonprofit organizations may pick up applications at the Williston Economic Development Office, 113 4th St. E. or fill out online at http://www.willistondevelopment.com

For more information contact Brenda Schmidt at 701-577-8110 or [email protected]
Mid-Rivers Communications is proud to announce the recipients of its 2023 Education Technology Grants. Grants are awarded to educational and non-profit entities with an educational mission to benefit members and customers in the Mid-Rivers service area. Montana law requires that the cooperatives Fund for Education, funded with unclaimed capital credit dollars, be used for educational purposes.

Grants were awarded to 12 applicants totaling $80,000.

 $10,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Richland County for virtual reality equipment and workforce readiness curriculum through Transfr VR.

 $8,500 to Circle Public Schools to help purchase the laptops for the 24-25 school year for the schools 1-to-1 laptop program.

 $8,000 to Garfield County Fire Foundation to develop the FireFacts fire safety training website.

 $7,500 to Washington Middle School in Glendive for the purchase of Tech Tubs.

 $7,500 to Winnett High School for Newline Interactive Smart Boards in the classrooms.

 $7,500 to Prairie Elk Colony School for a Smart Board and classroom laptops.

 $7,000 to Dawson County High School visual media productions class for the purchase of new cameras.

 $7,000 to Roy Public School for the purchase of a large screen Smart TV to be used for school and community education.

 $6,000 to Roy Elementary School for the purchase of iPads to be used in kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms.

 $4,500 to Lewistown Junior High School for the purchase of technology education equipment.

 $4,000 to Miss Heathers Pre-K in Circle to purchase a Smart Board for the Pre-K classroom.

 $2,500 to the Miles City Public Library to update and add several new pieces of equipment including computers, iPads, and a Smart TV.

Rural schools and other educational entities often feel the connectivity gap due to limited funding sources. Mid-Rivers is pleased to be able to offer these 2023 Fund for Education Grants to assist in addressing those needs.

General Manager/CEO Michael Candelaria says, As an active member of our communities, Mid-Rivers Communications is dedicated to helping our schools, libraries and non-profits meet the challenge of addressing rural technology needs.
Montana 7th Judicial District Judge Katherine Bidegaray held a meet and greet with area residents on Dec. 7 at the Sidney Yellowstone Mercantile in downtown Sidney. Bidegaray is running for the seat of Montana State Supreme Court Associate Justice currently held by Dirk Sandefur.

Bidegaray is a native Montanan, born in Sidney and raise on a farm/ranch in rural Richland County. After finishing high school in Culbertson, she attended the University of Montana and received her B.A.s in political science and philosophy. She then received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Montana School of Law.

Bidegaray began her professional career serving as an Insurance Department Staff Attorney, and later as Deputy Securities Commissioner at the Montana State Auditor's Office. Upon her return to Eastern Montana, Bidegaray practiced law in Sidney involving estate planning, probate, real estate transactions, agricultural law, oil and gas, family law and criminal law. She also served as a hearing examiner for the Montana Office of Public Instruction. In 2002, she was elected to the District Court bench of the Montana 7th Judicial District which includes Richland, Dawson, Wibaux, McCone and Prairie counties. Bidegaray is currently serving her fourth term as Montana District Court Judge.

"As a judge I've tried always to act with impartiality, independence, rationality, fairness and reasonableness while developing and relying upon a good knowledge of the law," Bidegaray stated. "I have consistently set aside my personal preferences to decide cases."

Bidegaray's main goals as Montana Supreme Court Justice are to protect Montanan's rights, public lands and provide checks and balances to the executive and legislative branches of government. "We are living in times of unprecedented attacks on the judiciary, individual rights and the rule of law. All of which are key to a healthy democracy," she said. "Basically, we need people on the Montana Supreme Court who are committed to the separation of powers that our Montana constitution requires, who understand the critical importance of an independent judiciary and who cherish the preservation of the rule of law."

For more information about Bidegaray's campaign or to make a donation visit her campaign website bidegarayformontana.com or the campaign Facebook page "Bidegaray for Montana Supreme Court".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will hold a series of discussions with U.S. President Joe Biden and with some key officials at the White House Tuesday.

Announcing this, NSC Coordinator For Strategic Communications John Kirby said, "It's a chance for the President to get an update from President Zelenskyy about how things are going on the battlefront, but also to make it very clear to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people that we're going to continue to support them, particularly at this very difficult time."

Addressing the media aboard Air Force One en route Philadelphia, he said that as winter approaches, the Russian Armed Forces have increased missile and drone attacks against Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. Washington expects that the attacks will continue, particularly against energy infrastructure, mainly in the East.

Kirby said President Biden will brief Tuesday about the negotiations on Capitol Hill about his supplemental request for funding Ukraine.

"He'll continue to make clear his case for why additional funding for Ukraine and Israel are vital to our own national security interests at this time."

Biden is scheduled to hold a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart at 4:15 PM ET following their meeting.

Republicans defeated a foreign aid Bill for Ukraine in the Senate last week in protest against the package's lack of changes to border and immigration policy.

Out of the $110 billion foreign assistance package for Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, $61 billion was earmarked for Ukraine.

On Monday, the Ukrainian President addressed the National Defense University in Washington.

Zelenskyy said that Russia's fight against Ukraine is really a fight against a free and united Europe.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking for allies who are susceptible to his ideology, even in America, according to the Ukrainian leader. "His weapon against you right now is propaganda and disinformation."

Zelenskyy said that Putin's aim isn't just the takeover and destruction of Ukraine. He will wage a global war on freedom.

Delivering introductory remarks at the event, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Washington's commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression is unshakable.

The United States has committed more than $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine so far, and led a coalition of some 50 countries, who have contributed more than $37 billion in security assistance to the war-ravaged nation.

Austin claimed that the capabilities from the coalition are making a crucial difference on the battlefield. Ukraine has taken back more than half of the territory grabbed by Russia since February 2022.

The Russian military had been badly weakened, according to the U.S. Defense chief.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

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Ukrainian defense forces will be able to hold their positions in Avdiivka, Donetsk region, at least until the New Year. They have good defensive positions in this town.

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This opinion was expressed by the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine in 2005-2010, Army General Mykola Malomuzh in an exclusive interview with OBOZ.UA. "This is the main goal that Putin personally controls because it is necessary to show that something has been captured by the end of the year. They chose Avdiivka because they believed it could be surrounded and captured. They also believe they will reduce the threat to Donetsk itself," he explained.

According to the general, the enemy is deploying "an unmeasurable number of troops" near Avdiivka, using artillery, missiles, aviation, special operations forces and mercenaries, including those from the Wagner group. At the same time, Malomuzh explained why it is difficult to lay siege to the city even in a situation of the superiority of the occupation army.

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"We have strong positions in terms of defense capabilities. This is Avdiivka itself as an infrastructure, the coke plant, which is a powerful fortified area, and partly the industrial zone, which is a natural stronghold in itself. At the same time, the Defense Forces are conducting flank attacks and, possibly, rear attacks to unblock Avdiivka," he explained.

Thus, according to the general's forecasts, "it is almost impossible to capture Avdiivka by December 14 (December 14 is the date when Russia will have a direct line with Putin - Ed.) or by January 1, 2024." "I am talking to our defenders on this section of the frontline and they say that they will not surrender Avdiivka before the New Year," he summarized.

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As OBOZ.UA previously reported, on December 5, Ukrainian defenders counterattacked the positions of the Russian occupation army in the area of the Avdiivka Coke Plant, which Russia is making great efforts to capture. Ukrainian soldiers forced the occupiers to retreat from two advanced positions.
After moving in a very narrow range, the Switzerland benchmark SMI ended marginally up on Tuesday with select stocks finding good support.

Investors are looking ahead to the Swiss National Bank's monetary policy announcement due on Thursday. The SNB is widely expected to hold rates for now, and announce a reduction in September next year. A Bloomberg survey says the Swiss central bank will likely cut rates twice next year.

The SMI ended up 20.86 points or 0.19% at 11,151.22, after moving between 11,119.69 and 11,168.18.

Kuehne & Nagel rallied more than 3%. Logitech International climbed 1.67%, while Swiss Re, Givaudan, Lonza Group, Geberit, Holcim and Zurich Insurance Group gained 0.6 to 0.85%.

Partners Group drifted down 0.81%. Roche Holding, ABB and UBS Group declined marginally.

In the Mid Price Index, Sandoz, VAT Group, BKW and Straumann Holding gained 1 to 1.4%.

Schindler Ps ended nearly 1% down. Avolta, PSP Swiss Property, Lindt & Spruengli, Schindler Holding and Clariant gained 0.5 to 0.8%.

Meyer Burger Tech plunged nearly 19%. Barry Callebaut ended 2.79% down. ams OSRAM AG dropped 2.3%, while SIG Combibloc and Julius Baer ended lower by 1.4% and 1.28%, respectively.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
After River Indie, Gogoro Crossover electric scooter aims for a rugged and purposeful design along with a colourful flair

Gogoro is a Taiwanese electric mobility solutions provider known for its swappable battery tech. The company has made quite a dent in electric mobility share in its home country and other markets. For the first time, Gogoro is making its presence known in Indian market physically by launching Gogoro Crossover electric scooter for B2B customers first. Crossover is the companys latest addition to its global lineup.

Gogoro Crossover

India is emerging as an important market for 2-wheel vehicles. Even though a majority of this 2W industry is still riding on the wave of IC engine-based vehicles, there is a growth potential in electric realm. This is where Gogoro intends to make a mark. A place where companies like Ola, Ather, TVS, Bajaj, Ampere, Okinawa, Hero Electric and others are currently operating.

There are three variants of Gogoro  Crossover GX250, Crossover 50 and Crossover S. Crossover GX250 has a 2.5 kW motor (3.35 bhp) with 60+ km/h top speed and 111km certified range. Crossover 50 has a 5.0 kW motor (6.70 bhp) and Crossover S gets either 6.4 kW (6.58 bhp) or 7.2 kW (9.65 bhp) options. Gogoro networks are currently live in Delhi and Goa with plans to extend to Mumbai and Pune by Q1 2024.

Early batch will be exclusive to B2B customers while passenger versions will be available in Q2 2024. Unveiled globally in October 2023, Gogoro Crossover electric scooter is a crossover as its name suggests. It can be both an urban commuter or a rugged and proper workhorse. This is a unique approach where Gogoro can target both PV and CV segments alike with the same actual product.

Crossover utilises a steel tubular frame. The 1,400 mm wheelbase is the longest that Gogoro has ever produced. Other numbers include 176 mm ground clearance and 126 kg weight including its batteries (global spec). Where design is concerned, there is a protruding headlight from front apron. This seems to be an integral part of its frame as it can accommodate an optional rack to carry luggage.

Dual swappable batteries

Similar provision is seen at the rear where an optional rack can accommodate quite a bit of luggage or cargo. If there is a need for more space, rear seat can be folded up to form riders backrest, freeing up a flat area to accommodate more cargo. If thats enough, there is a large and flat floorboard at owners disposal.

Panniers, top boxes and other accessories should broaden the horizon for Gogoro Crossover electric scooters practicality and capability. Componentry includes RSU telescopic front forks, rear shock absorbers, 12-inch wheels at both ends, 220 mm front and 180 mm rear disc brakes, a mid-mounted motor and more (specs are for global model).

Gogoro Crossover gets two removable batteries, weighing 10 kg each. Swappable batteries ensure negligible downtime and optimum time management. Despite the twin swappable batteries, there is decent under-seat storage too. Features include a fully digital instrument cluster, LED lighting all around, Bluetooth with smartphone connectivity options and more.

As of now, Gogoro has committed to USD 1.5 Bilion (Rs. 12,300 Crore) in investments in Maharashtra state. The companys first manufacturing facility has been set up in Aurangabad. Gogoro has teamed up with HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum Company Limited) to host its battery-swapping stations. Prices for Gogoro Crossover GX250 intended for B2B customers have not been made public and will depend on specific requirements.
As opposed to the recently launched W175 Street with alloy wheels and tubeless tyres, Standard Kawasaki W175 gets wire-spoke wheels with tube tyres

Kawasaki seems to be making quite a buzz in India, all for the right reasons. The Japanese company recently showcased ZX-6R in India at India Bike Week 2023. In the same event, Kawasaki took the wraps off W175 Street which got an introductory price of Rs. 1.35 lakh (ex-sh). Following that, Kawasaki has slashed prices of Standard Kawasaki W175 as well.

Standard Kawasaki W175 Gets Price Cut Of Rs. 25K

Previously available at Rs. 1.47 lakh (ex-sh), Standard Kawasaki W175 was a hard sell. With the introduction of W175 Street with more attractive features, prospect of a Standard W175 got even less appealing. We say this because W175 Street got an introductory price of Rs. 1.35 lakh (ex-sh) and boasted more desirable features.

Now, the Standard Kawasaki W175 is being offered with a big price cut. Making it Rs. 25,000 more affordable than it used to be before. Ex-sh prices for Standard W175 start from Rs. 1.22 lakh and goes till Rs. 1.31 lakh, depending on the choice of colours.

Speaking of colours, Kawasaki has introduced two new colours on top of Ebony and Candy Persimmon Red shades on offer from the start. New colours are Metallic Graphite Grey and Metallic Ocean Blue. All four colours on Standard W175 motorcycle are offered at different price points.

This spreads W175s variant lineup across Standard and Street versions. Offering a broader range of price spectrum, starting from Rs. 1.22 lakh to Rs. 1.31 lakh for Standard W175 and Rs. 1.35 lakh for newly launched W175 Street (all prices ex-sh).

Breaking down the prices, we get Standard W175 starting from Rs. 1.22 lakh for Ebony shade, Rs. 1.24 lakh for Candy Persimmon Red, Rs. 1.29 lakh for Metallic Graphite Gray and Rs. 1.31 lakh for Metallic Ocean Blue. Where W175 Street are concerned, Rs. 1.35 lakh for Metallic Moondust Gray and Candy Emerald Green. All prices are ex-sh.

Difference between Standard and Street versions

The only difference between Standard Kawasaki W175 and W175 Street is the addition of alloy wheels with the latter. Whereas Standard W175 still gets wire-spoke wheels with tube-type tyres. W175 gets tubeless tyres, which is a much-appreciated convenience feature on this retro motorcycle.

Other than that, both Standard and Street versions get the same old-world charm and bare-bones features list. Both motorcycles get the same 177cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine that pumps out 13 hp of peak power and 13 Nm of peak torque, mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

There is a disc brake at the front with single-channel ABS and a drum brake setup at the rear. Wheels are 17-inch in size and there is not a lot of kit on offer with Kawasaki W175. Lighting all around is graced by halogen bulbs and instrument cluster is semi-digital. The 135 kg weight is a strong point with W175 that makes it very friendly.
The companys pavilion at EXCON 2023 had E.28K electric tipper concept and Tata LNG CVs launched  Prima 3528.K LNG and Prima 5528.S LNG

A pioneer in engineering and technology, Tata Motors, showcased a range of new commercial vehicles and aggregates at EXCON 2023, which is South Asias popular construction equipment exhibition. Tata showcased prototype CVs running on green fuels along with fully electric ones. Tatas aggregates were on display too, showing new gensets, CV engines and live axles.

Tata LNG And Electric CVs Showcased At EXCON 2023

The main highlight at Tata Motors pavilion at EXCON 2023 has to be E.28K, a concept electric tipper that takes the companys push towards zero-emission mobility to a new horizon. The company commercially launched LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) powered Prima range of tippers and trucks  Prima 3528.K LNG and Prima 5528.S LNG, respectively.

Other than that, Tata also unveiled a new breed of high-performance machines with features like cruise control, auto traction control, and pneumatically suspended drivers seat for safety and comfort of operators. These trucks include Prima 2830.TK VX and Signa 3530.TK VX.

Unveiling Tata Motors EXCON 2023 pavilion, Mr. Rajesh Kaul, Vice President & Business Head  Trucks, Tata Motors, said, EXCON 2023 serves as a monumental stage to showcase our superior technology and unwavering dedication to providing construction industry with solutions that transcend excellence.

The launch of LNG-powered range of trucks and tippers echoes our determination to lead in innovation, aligning with the evolving needs of fleet owners who are ready to embark on a sustainable journey. As a customer-centric company, we understand that fleet owners demand more value in long-haul transportation and infrastructure sectors like construction and mining.

We have also displayed our electric tipper concept, the Prima E.28K. Along with introducing the electric tipper, we will develop a holistic ecosystem to aid electric mobility in the construction segment. The new VX variants of the Prima and Signa showcased at our pavilion, set new paradigms in the industry for safety, productivity and driver comfort.

Aggregates showcase at EXCON 2023

Where aggregates are concerned, Tata Motors pavilion was a hotspot of tech and innovation with new generation of advanced machines. Tatas aggregates are known for their efficient and cost-effective performance along with reliability and durability at the same time. They meet evolving needs and requirements of a wide range of applications and sectors.

At EXCON 2023, Tata Motors showcased a new range of fuel-efficient and reliable gensets. These gensets have power ratings rating between 25 kVA and 125 kVA. These gensets have advanced CPCB IV+ emission-compliant engines. Other than that, Tata showcased live axles and trailer axles for varied torque and load requirements. Along with that, CEV BS V emission-compliant industrial engines are capable of 55 to 138 bhp power nodes.

Commenting at the event, Mr. Vikram Agrawal, Head  Spares and Non-Vehicular Business, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, said, We are delighted to unveil our latest range of aggregates and CPCB IV+ compliant engines. EXCON 2023 offers an ideal platform to engage with our customers showcasing our world-class range of aggregates.

With a focus on innovation, reliability and performance, Tata Motors continues to set new benchmarks, contributing to the progress of our customers business. We are confident that our offerings will empower Indias industries across varied sectors, ensuring smooth and cost-effective operations.
Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umierov and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi congratulated the Commander of the Land Forces, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, and the soldiers on their professional holiday. Our defenders were presented with awards.

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Umierov posted about the meeting with the soldiers on Facebook. He noted that the commander of the Khortytsia separate military unit reported on the situation in the eastern part of the front and the key needs of the soldiers.

In addition, the military leaders discussed the training of recruits and the strengthening of fortifications along the entire contact line.

"We are developing a joint action plan and assessing threats," Umerov said.

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According to him, Ukraine's military leadership is currently working to increase the supply of weapons to the front. The state is also launching production and expanding the possibilities of purchasing UAVs, both reconnaissance and strike.

As a reminder, on the Day of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander of the Tavria Operational and Strategic Group of Forces Oleksandr Tarnavskyi and Commander of the Land Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi congratulated the soldiers on their professional holiday. For the second year in a row, Ukrainians have been celebrating it in the midst of a major war.

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"Day always comes after night. And every war ends in victory. Our victory. Glory to Ukraine," Syrskyi said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- The day before, Syrskyi said that the occupiers are trying to capture the village of Synkivka, Kharkiv region. The enemy is suffering significant losses in manpower, so it is redeploying assault units that were in reserve to this area.

- Commander Syrskyi emphasized that the situation in eastern Ukraine remains tense. The enemy continues active offensive operations along the entire frontline.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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The inside of Hollywood Casino in Jamul. The casino has a temporary license to serve alcohol and is looking to get a permanent license.

An administrative law judge listened to closing arguments on Wednesday at a hearing over granting a permanent liquor license to the Hollywood Casino in Jamul.

The casino is on land off state Route 94 belonging to the Jamul Indian Village and run by Penn National Gaming. It opened last October with a temporary license to serve alcohol. The casino is open 24 hours a day, serving alcohol from 10 a.m. until 1:30 a.m.

After three hours of testimony at Skyline Church in La Mesa, California Office of Administrative Hearings Law Judge Adam Berg said he would decide on the matter within 100 days  in mid-December.

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The hearing has been part of a long application process that casino management must go through to get a license approved by the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control.

Thousands of residents from Jamul, including county Supervisor Dianne Jacob, have objected to a permanent license for the casino. They cited concerns about traffic safety and general safety for the rural community and visitors traveling on Highway 94, a winding, dark rural road.

Jacob on Sept. 5 sent a letter to the California Department of Transportation, calling attention to the public safety hazards that incomplete improvements to the road promised by the casino in association with Caltrans.

Although she was not at the hearing, Jacob said in a statement that state officials are to blame for allowing the casino to directly access one of the most dangerous stretches of rural highway in the region.

She said the state made the situation even worse by permitting the sale of alcohol.

Thats grossly irresponsible and a recipe for disaster, she wrote. My hope is that the judge will yank the liquor license as soon as possible.

The ABC first heard the case last November. The agency handed it off to the California Office of Administrative Hearings earlier this year after a judge overseeing the hearings recused himself.

Attorneys opposed to the liquor license asked Judge Berg that if a permanent license is granted, to at least consider conditions being placed on the casino.

Conditions requested by attorney Bill Adams included fewer hours that alcohol can be served, additional security measures, more shuttle buses to keep inebriated drivers from getting onto the road and enforcing limits on locations within the casino where alcohol can be served.

Some other Indian casinos with dining establishments keep alcohol service away from the gaming areas. Several Hollywood Casino restaurants that serve alcohol are contiguous with the casino and are part of the gaming floor.

Jamul Indian Village attorney Carrie Bonnington said the tribe has taken extra measures to ensure safety for the roads outside of the casino. The tribe signed a contract with the county for more than $3.5 million to improve roads and is paying the Sheriffs Department more than $250,000 annually for its services.

Bonnington said the casino voluntarily reduced its hours of alcohol service and that employees serving alcohol are trained in responsible beverage service. She said security personnel remain at all entrances to make sure no minors enter the casino.

She said California Highway Patrol officers are often stationed in front of the casino to help with the traffic and that there was no evidence of any DUIs tied to the casino and no evidence of collisions resulting from someone at the casino.

karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com
Slovakia's position on Ukraine's accession to the European Union has changed. The country stated that it is ready to support the start of negotiations with Kyiv and noted positive developments in reforms in Ukraine.

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This was announced by Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar following a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. The issue of Ukraine's accession will be discussed at the EU summit to be held on December 14-15 in Belgium.

"Having assessed Kyiv's reform efforts, we are ready to support the opening of accession negotiations, which will be discussed at the upcoming European Council meeting. However, our eastern neighbor still has a long and thorny path ahead of it, and all the necessary measures need to be not only approved, but also implemented and monitored," the minister said.

At the same time, Blanar warned that it is important to focus on "finding peaceful solutions" and restoring Ukraine, which are key to the country's approach to EU membership.

He also emphasized that Slovakia has no plans to provide military support to Ukraine, but will continue to provide humanitarian assistance, including demining and support for Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the winter.

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Earlier, Slovakia's newly appointed Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said that he "cannot imagine" Ukraine's membership in the European Union under current circumstances. He also noted that our country is still "terribly far away from joining the EU," Ukraine can count on the prospect of the future, but cannot claim any exceptions. Juraj Blanar also hinted that Ukraine should make concessions to Russia.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA also told about the new Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar. In particular, he has repeatedly made disinformation statements about the war in Ukraine and repeated Russian propaganda.
This undated photo provided March 10, 2010 by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows inmate Joshua Maxwell. Maxwell is scheduled to be executed Thursday, March 11, 2010, in Huntsville, Texas, for the robbery and fatal shooting of an off-duty police officer in San Antonio nearly 10 years ago. (AP Photo/Texas Department of Criminal Justice)

An Indiana man whose cross-country crime spree with his girlfriend a decade ago ended in a gun battle with police in San Francisco was executed Thursday in Texas for killing a sheriffs officer.

Joshua Maxwells voice broke as he apologized repeatedly in the seconds before the state put him to death by lethal injection for the October 2000 slaying of Bexar County sheriffs Sgt. Rudy Lopes.

The person that did that 10 years ago isnt the same person you see today, Maxwell said. I hurt a lot of people with decisions I made. I cant be more sorry than I am right now.

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He said his execution was creating more victims.

This is not gonna change anything, he said.

Maxwell, 31, was the fourth inmate executed this year in the nations busiest capital punishment state. No late court appeals were filed for him. The U.S. Supreme Court last week refused to review his case.

Lopes, a 45-year-old veteran jailer, was robbed of his truck and shot. His bound and blindfolded body was found behind a San Antonio shopping mall.

Maxwell and his girlfriend, Tessie McFarland, crisscrossed the country in a deadly crime spree, starting in Indiana with the robbery and slaying of Robby Bott, 45, a FedEx mechanic from Mooresville, Ind., a month before Lopes slaying.

Botts parents joined three relatives of Lopes on Thursday as witnesses in the Texas death chamber. Maxwells son, mother and half-sister watched through a window in an adjacent room.

After Maxwell was pronounced dead, Shirley Bott turned to a state official accompanying her and showed a heart-shaped locket she wore on a chain around her neck.

I have my sons ashes in here, she said. I wanted him to be here.

Maxwell and McFarland were arrested less than a week after Lopes body was found. They had a chase and running gun battle with police through downtown San Francisco after Maxwell, driving Lopes stolen truck, refused to be pulled over for running a red light.

Maxwell was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in Lopes killing. In Indiana, he was convicted of murder, felony confinement, arson and theft in Botts slaying.

McFarland, 30, is serving a life prison term in Texas after pleading guilty to Lopes slaying. In Indiana, she initially was charged with murder, criminal confinement, arson and theft in Botts killing, but pleaded guilty to confinement and arson as part of a plea deal.
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated in a meeting in Cairo on Thursday their categorical rejection of any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land, affirming that the two-state solution is the basis for regional stability.
Egyptians queued up outside polling stations nationwide as they opened at 9am on Tuesday, the final day of the 2024 presidential elections.

The voting process is currently proceeding smoothly, with all committees functioning regularly, said the Executive Director of the National Elections Authority (NEA) Ahmed Bendari during a video conference with the heads of electoral committees all over the governorates to follow up on the voting process on the third day of the elections.

Bendari pointed out that the last committee to open today, located in Warraq in Greater Cairo, opened at 10:20am instead of 9am, due to a traffic accident involving the committee's head.

Overall turnout is noticeable, but not dense, he added.

On Monday, he said that approximately 45 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballots by the end of the second day.

Around 67 million Egyptians are eligible to vote, according to the NEA, meaning that over 30 million people have voted.

The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) reported a substantial turnout compared to prior elections and observed voters from diverse age groups throughout the day on Monday.

During the 2018 presidential election, 24 million people, or 41 percent of eligible voters, cast their ballot.

However, the EOHR received several reports of election irregularities during the first day.

They documented 12 violations inside and near polling stations in Cairo, Giza, Luxor, and Aswan.

These included overcrowding, delayed polling station openings, campaigns breaching electoral silence laws, campaigning in front of polling stations. and the distribution of goods and coupons by supporters of candidates to influence voters.

The Journalists Syndicate received ten complaints on Monday, mainly focused on photography restrictions inside and outside polling stations.

Incidents included assaults on journalists, delayed openings of polling stations, campaign violations, distribution of food and coupons, and restrictions on journalists within voting committees across Egypt.

Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam cast his ballot in a subcommittee located at the British School in First New Cairo.

According to a statement by the ministry, Sewilam cast his ballot right after returning to Egypt from the ongoing 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) held in Dubai.

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Egypt strongly condemns the terrorist attack that occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, killing and injuring numerous victims, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.

Egypt, both the government and the people, expressed sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the government and people of Pakistan after this painful incident, extending wishes for the speedy recovery of all the injured, the statement said.

Egypt reiterated in the statement its steadfast rejection of all forms of terrorism, calling on all countries to cut off the funding sources for terrorism and not provide safe havens for terrorist organizations.

Egypt affirms its full solidarity with Pakistan in confronting such events, the statement added.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border, at least 23 soldiers were killed and dozens injured when militants targeted a police compound.

The assault occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, with a vehicle carrying explosives crashing into the building.

A militant group linked to the Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

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(Photo : PIxabay / 51581 )

The first tomato grown in space that disappeared eight months ago has now been found.

Space-Grown Tomato

The tomato was both the first space-grown and space-harvested one in history. Frank Rubio, an American astronaut, grew it in March. Rubio is also the record-holder for having the longest spaceflight, reaching up to 370 days.

The harvest of the red robin tomato came as part of an experiment by NASA to grow space produce for future longer-term space missions. According to Rubio, the moment itself was a proud one, until the food commodity got lost in space.

Rubio recalls harvesting the space-grown tomato and placing it inside a small bag. He noted that he took the tomato outside of the bag's safety in order to show it to some students. However, he ended up misplacing it afterwards.

He ended up spending 18 to 20 unsuccessful hours looking for the space-grown fruit. He then assumed that the fruit could have desiccated until its location could not be pointed out and that it may have been accidentally thrown away.

Because of space's weightless nature, any unsecured or untied object may likely float away. Moreover, in the six-bedroom-house-sized ISS, there are several spots where the rogue tomato could have been hidden.

Months into the fruit's disappearance, some suspected that the astronaut ate the tomato. This was something that Rubio denied.

ALSO READ: Microgravity Refrigerator Could Store Food for Astronauts in the Future

Space-Grown Fruit Found After 8 Months

Now, during the orbiter's 25th anniversary, seven astronauts at the ISS (International Space Station) revealed that the rogue fruit had been found.

Jasmin Moghbeli, a NASA astronaut, explains that for a long time, Rubio had been blamed for the tomato's consumption. Now, they are able to exonerate the astronaut.

The exact discovery location and condition of the dwarf tomato were not specified.

Veg-05

The tomato was specifically part of NASA's Veg-05, which is a tag of the agency to avoid its official name, which is the pick-and-eat salad-crop productivity, nutritional value, and acceptability to supplement the ISS foot system.

On top of assessing the effects and viability of spaceflight on the growth of fruit crops under varying conditions, the project also grants astronauts taste tests and surveys to see if plant interactions in spaceflight environments led to psychological lifts or impacted their mood.

The ISS itself has a vegetable production system of its own called the Veggie. For several astronauts, being able to work on it is one of the several perks that come with space travel.

The tomato of Rubio is one of the 12 red dwarves that were observed to have successful germination and ripe growth in space during the Veg-05 project.

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RELATED ARTICLE: Best Diet for Astronauts: Here's How Scientists Build Menu for Space Travelers

Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.
COP28 president announces approval of proposal to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan

Xinhua) 08:08, December 12, 2023

DUBAI, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber announced on Monday the approval of a proposal to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan.

The South Caucasus nation won the bid after winning backing from other Eastern European countries on Saturday.

COP28, or the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is due to conclude on Tuesday, has gathered more than 110,000 registered participants in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, in a bid to work out a global solution to the pressing climate crisis facing all countries.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili held a meeting with European Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi in Brussels to discuss issues related to enlargement and neighborhood policy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has disseminated information about this meeting.According to the agency, during the meeting, the parties reviewed the steps taken by Georgia on the path of integration into the European Union and the reforms implemented at both the legislative and institutional levels. The efforts made by the Georgian side and the achieved results were duly noted.The conversation also touched on the European Commission's enlargement report and recommendations, which were determined for Georgia by the decision of November 8, 2023.Darchiashvili informed the European Commissioner about the action plan approved by the Government of Georgia, aimed at fulfilling the nine recommendations of the European Commission. During the conversation, he emphasized that the Georgian side is ready to closely cooperate with the EU side in fulfilling the mentioned tasks. Additionally, the minister highlighted that the country is eagerly awaiting the decision of the European Council to grant Georgia candidate status.The parties also discussed the Eastern Partnership ministerial, exploring the prospects of cooperation in this format and the overall future development of the partnership. Additionally, the conversation touched upon other crucial aspects of Georgia-EU cooperation, including sectoral integration and the progress achieved in this direction.The Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, met with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.According to the Parliament's press service, the parties positively assessed the close friendly, and partnership relations between the two countries and peoples. They discussed current and planned projects and activities in the fields of transport, energy, culture, and people-to-people relations. Emphasis was placed on the role and importance of the parliaments of Georgia and Azerbaijan in strengthening bilateral ties.The meeting also addressed the security environment in the region, the ongoing processes related to Karabakh, and the possibilities of establishing long-term peace.
As of January 2024, all foreign nationals, including Egyptians, heading to Malaysia will be required to complete an online pre-arrival form providing information about personal details and the trip, the Immigration Department of Malaysia informed the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The form, known as the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC), must be submitted three days before the scheduled arrival, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

However, according to the statement, the new procedure does not apply to holders of diplomatic and official passports and those with permanent and long-term Malaysian residency.

The foreign ministry advised all Egyptians traveling to Malaysia to pre-register on the online card following the instructions provided by the Malaysian authorities.

A Malaysia tourist visa is not required for Egyptian citizens for a stay of up to 90 days.

Malaysia is a popular tourist destination for many Egyptians, particularly honeymooners.

Egypt is a popular destination for Malaysians seeking to pursue Islamic studies at Al-Azhar University, a renowned institution known for its expertise in Islamic knowledge.

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Egypts National Elections Authority (NEA) announced on Sunday that the subcommittees of the polling stations will continue to work till the last voter can vote due to the high turnout of voters on the first day of the 2024 Egyptian Presidential elections.

The first day of the 2024 Egyptian Presidential elections should have initially concluded at 9 PM nationwide.

Due to the high turnout on the first day, confirmed by the NEA and independent observers from NGOs and other organizations, the operation time of the polling stations was extended until the "last voter standing can vote," according to the NEA.

The authority added that polling stations closed after the voting process ran smoothly despite a few violations reported to the NEA by observers and candidates campaigns.

In addition, the NEA announced that additional judges and members of judicial bodies were assigned to various subcommittees to expedite proceedings and alleviate crowding due to the high turnout.

The authority also announced the passing away of Aziza Tawfik Mahmoud Ali Ragab, aged 63, while casting her vote at one of the polling stations in Nasr City, Cairo. Furthermore, the late Saber Tawfik Saber Youssef, aged 55, died peacefully while voting at a polling station in Nabrouh City, Dakahlia Governorate.

The NEA had previously declared that 15,000 judges nationwide supervise the electoral process and that 67 million eligible voters can head to 11,631 sub-committees across 9,376 polling stations from 9 AM to 9 PM from Sunday to Tuesday.

In a press conference on Sunday morning, Ahmed Bendari, the Executive Director of the (NEA), stressed that the voting process is progressing smoothly at all polling stations and subcommittees. He mentioned a brief delay in a Giza committee for a few minutes, following which operations promptly resumed.

Bendari also revealed that 5 million citizens have inquired about their polling stations in the presidential elections on the website of the National Authority, 500,000 via text messages sent to 506207, and another 500,000 through email messages.

The State Information Service (SIS) released its mid-first day report from its elections-operation room detailing how the international media actively covers the Egyptian presidential elections, with 528 journalists from 33 countries representing 110 media entities, of whom 462 were resident correspondents, and 102 were visitors.

The SIS also organized a trip to facilitate coverage for 24 foreign correspondents in North Sinai, where they observed the voting in several committees and assessed the current situation at the Rafah border crossing.

Moreover, the service reported that its elections operations room received only four observations from foreign correspondents regarding photography inside polling stations and that all reported issues were promptly addressed due to the effective management of the electoral process.

Furthermore, the SIS said that global media coverage had been generally positive and that major international media outlets published reports focusing on the commencement of the voting and provided information on the candidates and the competitive landscape.

The coverage maintained objectivity and described the events inside and around the polling stations, the SIS said, adding that the reports on the electoral atmosphere, procedures, integrity, or any undue interference by state authorities have been generally positive.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) decided to interrogate Saheeh Masr news website staff for reportedly publishing false news about the Presidential elections.

The admins of the fact-finding news website may be referred to the prosecutor general if they are proven guilty of spreading false information about the elections.

The candidates campaigns

The presidential candidates, including the frontrunner and incumbent president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, cast their votes early Sunday at their respective polling stations. El-Sisi, seeking reelection for the third time under the star symbol, faces competition from three other candidates in this election.

Among the contenders is Farid Zahran, the leader of the leftist opposition Social Democratic Party, with the sun as his electoral symbol; Abdel-Sanad Yamama, who represents the Wafd party and whose electoral symbol is the palm tree; and Hazem Omar, the candidate from the People's Republican Party who uses the ladder as his electoral symbol.

In its first report on the voting process, Farid Zahran's campaign, with over 6,000 delegates observing the first day of elections nationwide, praised the media for its high standards of neutrality and security forces for their impartiality.

Nevertheless, the campaign documented violations by the executive authority against citizens supporting Zahran in some governorates, stressing that such violations compromise equality.

The campaign said it submitted the documented violations to the NEA and urged Egyptian citizens to continue voting to bring about a peaceful power transition and democratic change.

The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) also reported its remarks on the first day of elections through 188 observers across all governorates.

Despite noting 26 violations inside and outside several polling stations in Cairo, Giza, Beni Suef, Luxor, Aswan, and Kafr El-Sheikh -- including delayed polling station openings, voter congestion, and electioneering -- the overall electoral process proceeded smoothly, the EOHR said.

The organization said it has submitted detailed reports to the NEA urging necessary measures to address these violations and ensure the continued integrity and transparency of the electoral process in the remaining days.

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There are good things happening despite the challenges. Employees have a voice, and we are listening to it. Tracey Hamlet, executive director, MOKA



Natalie Visser, an assistant supervisor for MOKA, left, and Tracy share a warm embrace during a life skills session on cooking at a MOKA site in Wyoming.

Visser works with, Tracy, left, and Stacy, right.

Tracey Hamlet, executive director, MOKA

Life skills session on cooking at a MOKA site in Wyoming.

Dave Simpson, residential services administrator, Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority

Natalie Visser, an assistant supervisor for MOKA, works with, Stacy, left, and Juanita.
Global media agreed  almost unanimously  that voting on the first day of Egypts 2024 presidential elections went smoothly with high turnout at polling stations nationwide, the Egyptian State Information Service (SIS) said in a report on Saturday evening.

The SIS monitored the content disseminated by hundreds of international media outlets in more than 10 languages, the head of the SIS, Diaa Rashwan, said.

The service authorized 528 journalists from 33 countries representing 110 media entities to cover the elections.

The SIS, Rashwan noted, received no complaints from foreign media correspondents who covered the election and observed polling stations nationwide, whether individually or as part of groups authorized by the SIS.

Foreign coverage also made no negative observations other than the general state of the economic climate and the difficulties faced by Egyptians, he added.

Moreover, numerous reports drew a connection between the elections and events in Gaza, suggesting that heightened tension on the Egyptian borders positively influenced the turnout in the poll and the prospects of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi winning a new term, according to Rashwan.

Rashwan added that foreign correspondents and observers reported no voting irregularities or other violations of election integrity.

Presidential elections in Egypt commenced on 10 December and will conclude on 12 December.

The election authority will announce the final results on 18 December if no run-off is required.

Candidates running for the 2024 presidential race include incumbent President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, who is running for a third term in office and whose electoral symbol is a star; and Farid Zahran, the leftist opposition Social Democratic Party candidate with the sun as his electoral symbol.

Other contenders are Abdel-Sanad Yamama, representing the Wafd party with the palm tree as his electoral symbol; and Hazem Omar, the candidate from the People's Republican Party with the ladder as his symbol.

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The third and final day of Egypts 2024 presidential elections is proceeding smoothly, with no voting violations observed, said the Executive Director of the National Elections Authority (NEA) Ahmed Bendari.

All subcommittees opened on time except one committee located in Warraq in Greater Cairo, which opened at 10:20am instead of 9am, due to a traffic accident involving the committee's head, Bendari revealed earlier.

Turnout, which was moderate in the morning, was significant through the afternoon across the country, Bendari said.

In a report on Tuesday afternoon, the State Information Service's (SIS) Central Operations Room reported no complaints regarding obstacles faced by international correspondents overseeing the process in hundreds of committees.

Head of SIS Diaa Rashwan revealed in the report that the SIS has been organizing tours for the correspondents of polling stations in various cities and provinces over the three days.

On Tuesday, 17 foreign correspondents, representing 14 foreign media institutions, visited the National Elections Authority (NEA) headquarters to understand how the operations room functions.

In a tour on Monday, journalists visited voting committees in Cairo, Giza, and Qalioubiya. The 15 journalists involved represented 13 institutions from the US, Cuba, Britain, Russia, China, Japan, Iraq, Tunisia, Jordan, and Libya.

On Sunday, 24 journalists from 17 institutions visited committees in North Sinai, including Arish, Rafah, Bir El-Abd, and Sheikh Zuweid.

Last week, the NEA approved 24 embassies, 67 diplomats, and 220 international observers, along with 68 local organizations and 22,340 local observers to monitor the elections.

It also approved 4,218 media observers  representing a wide range of agencies, newspapers, channels, and media outlets  to cover the elections, stated Ahmed Bendari last week.

Polling stations are set to close at 9pm.

On Monday, the NEA executive director said that approximately 45 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballots by afternoon of the second day,

Around 67 million Egyptians are eligible to vote, meaning that over 30 million people had voted by this time.

The electoral process is being supervised by 15,000 judges assigned to 11,631 sub-committees across 9,376 polling stations countrywide.

Voting abroad was held on 1-3 December at 137 Egyptian embassies and consulates across 121 countries.

The NEA will complete the overall vote count by 13 December.

The NEA will accept appeals against its decisions on 14 December, with rulings issued on 15 and 16 December.

It will also announce the final results on 18 December, if no run-off is required.

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Egypt could seek to restructure its debt in 2024 to mitigate the burden of debt service payments through 2025, according to a research note by Morgan Stanley titled "Nine Surprises for 2024".

"Egypt could choose to pre-emptively restructure as it would be mindful of a rising interest burden," Morgan Stanley said.

Morgan Stanley doesn't consider the restructuring scenario as likely, as Egypt would probably manage its problems without needing to make huge changes. However, the American investment bank said that it still could happen.

The restructuring process could be pre-emptive in nature, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing a research note by Morgan Stanley.

Debt restructuring by countries can include extending due dates of debts and maturity dates of sovereign bonds, along with other measures including moving debt from private to public institutions or reducing the yields payable on sovereign bonds, according to Investopedia.

Egypt is required to pay $29.23 billion in external debt service in 2024, $19.43 billion in 2025, and $22.94 billion in 2026, according to data released by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE).

The countrys total debt reached $164.73 billion by the end of June.

Of this total, Egypt owes $52.9 billion to multilateral institutions, of which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) accounts for 40 percent, or $21.2 billion, according to data released by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE).

The other major multilateral creditors are the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development ($12.3 billion), European Investment Bank ($4.8 billion), African Development Bank ($2.9 billion), and Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development ($2.2 billion).

Additionally, $46.2 billion is owed to Arab countries, including the UAE ($20.9 billion), Saudi Arabia ($12.2 billion), Kuwait ($7.1 billion), and Qatar ($4.0 billion).

Meanwhile, $8.8 billion is owed to five members of Paris Club countries, including Germany ($2.4 billion), Japan and France ($2.3 billion each), and the UK and the US ($0.9 billion each). In addition, $8.3 billion is owed to China.

Debt service accounted for 60.3 percent of Egypts total expenditure during the first quarter of the fiscal year (FY) 2023/2024 which ended in September.

Last week, Julie Kozack, the International Monetary Funds (IMF) director of strategic communications (COM), told Ahram Online that the IMF is currently discussing with Egyptian authorities providing additional financing to ensure the successful implementation of the policy package for Egypt to help it withstand the repercussions of the recent conflict in the Middle East and its potential adverse impact on tourism revenues.

Egypt is engaged in a $3 billion four-year loan agreement with the IMF signed in December 2022. It received the first of eight tranches the same month. Cairo was slated to receive two more tranches in March and September of this year upon the conclusion of reviews of the economy by the fund, but these were delayed.

*An earlier version of this article cited Morgan Stanley as saying that the restructuring scenario is likely.

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Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir and Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Moselhi opened the Food Africa 2023 and Pacprocess exhibitions, according to a statement on Tuesday.

The events are held at Egypt International Exhibitions Centre in Cairo between 12 and 14 December with exhibitions from more than 900 companies representing 32 countries.

The Food Africa exhibition is held under the patronage of the trade ministry in collaboration with strategic partners, on top of which are the Food Export Council, the Agricultural Export Council, and the Export Council for Printing, Packaging, Paper, Books, and Artistic Works, among other entities, said Samir.

The African market is a strategic priority to Egypts trade goal of increasing exports to $100 billion annually, the minister added.

He also stated that Egypts food, agriculture, and packaging exports reached $8.761 billion in 2022, accounting for 16.81 percent of the countrys total exports that year.

Egypts exports increased by 19.4 percent in 2022 reaching $52.1 billion, up from $43.6 billion in 2021, according to CAPMAS, the official statistics authority.

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Friday, 8 December, was a very sad day for humanity: once again the US decided to use its veto power at the UN Security Council to block a resolution tabled by the United Arab Emirates, and seconded by 97 nations, demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to end the insane, unprecedented intentional daily killing of Palestinians in Gaza by the Israeli army.

With this shameful vote, the US proved it was not only complicit in Israels murder of Palestinians but actually a partner in crime.

To say that nearly 18,000 people have been killed and 50,000 wounded in a little over 60 days might be a difficult statement to absorb or comprehend, especially when the majority of those killed are innocent civilians, mostly women and children. Nor is this an earthquake or a natural disaster. It is an intentional, reckless revenge spree aimed at all Palestinians, undertaken in the belief that such war crimes will forever end the Palestinian aspiration to be free of occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state. Yet this is the reality the US administration, led by President Joe Biden, has decided to disregard, in opposition to the entire world, giving Israel even more time to take more innocent lives.

This is not the first time the US has used its veto power to shield Israel from sharp condemnation by the vast majority of the world for its continuing violations of all sorts of UN and human rights conventions in order to maintain its racist occupation of Palestine since 1948. This was US veto number 46 in Israels favour, affirming the isolation of the Jewish state and the double standards and hypocrisy of consecutive US administrations when it comes to Palestinian and Arab rights. Even the US poodle, the British government, sought to avoid harsh criticism from its own people for backing Israels criminal war, and decided to abstain.

For Arabs and developing nations in general, the UN Security Council has rarely been a forum to seek justice, knowing the balance of power among its five, veto-yielding countries. After all, that body tasked with maintaining international peace and security did not manage to stop the illegitimate war launched by former US president George W Bush to invade and occupy Iraq in 2003, or force Israel to respect dozens of Security Council resolutions calling for an end to the occupation or the building of illegal settlements in the Occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Yet this time the case is different by all standards. It was the Western media, after all, that pointed out that nowhere on earth has witnessed such a heavy-handed campaign of bombardment against a tiny enclave such as Gaza where more than 2.3 million live in miserable conditions. Comparisons have been made to the Allies bombing of Dresden, Germany during World War II, noting that the total weight of bombs dropped by Israel on Gaza may be equal to the two atomic bombs the United States used against Japan in the same war.

Besides the heavy human losses among Palestinian women and children, which invoked the brave UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, to use Article 99 of the UN Charter for the first time since 1971 to call for the intervention of the Security Council to stop the war, was the fact that far many more people could die of hunger and disease due to the miserable human conditions in Gaza since Israel started its revenge war.

Guterres said he invoked Article 99 because there is a high risk of the total collapse of the humanitarian support system in Gaza. The UN anticipates this would result in a complete breakdown of public order and increased pressure for mass displacement into Egypt, he warned. Gaza is at a breaking point, he said, and desperate people are at serious risk of starvation. Guterres said Hamas attack against Israel on 7 October can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

The UN chief had earlier provoked Israels wrath and call for his resignation when he reminded the world in an earlier Security Council meeting that the Hamas attack did not happen in vacuum, and came after more than 56 years of Israels occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, denying Palestinians their basic human rights, topped the right to self determination.

Guterres detailed the humanitarian nightmare Gaza is facing, citing intense, widespread and ongoing Israeli attacks from air, land and sea that have reportedly hit 339 educational facilities, 26 hospitals, 56 health care facilities, 88 mosques and three churches. Over 60 per cent of Gazas housing has reportedly been destroyed or damaged, some 85 per cent of the population has been forced from their homes, the health system is collapsing, and nowhere in Gaza is safe, Guterres added.

Yet, all these facts seemed to ring hollow for the US representative at the Security Council meeting, who reiterated the same meaningless arguments about how stopping the war now would allow Hamas to launch more attacks against Israel in the future.

Echoing Israels prime minister, US officials said they supported the illusion of eliminating Hamas, while knowing that this was practically impossible. Both Israel and the Biden administration insist on ignoring the fact that the only way to prevent future attacks against Israel and end all violence is the termination of Israels racist occupation.

Even if Hamas theoretically disappeared, this would not prevent the rise of new Palestinian resistance groups as long as the suffering of Palestinians under occupation and an apartheid system continued. Thus, instead of using the same old arguments about protecting Israels security and right to exist, the alternative strategy should be to stop putting Israel above all international laws.

By using its veto to prevent an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the US administration has lost many good friends in the Arab region, as well as all over the world, and lost any credibility in claiming that human rights have any place in its foreign policy agenda.



* A version of this article appears in print in the 14 December, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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CleanTech Lithium announced a partnership with the Colla territorial communities from the high Andean region of Atacama on Tuesday, launching a co-created mining model for lithium extraction in Chile.

The AIM-traded firm said the collaboration would initially focus on developing the Laguna Verde project.

It said the alliance included a commitment to early consultation with the communities, allowing them to provide essential data for the environmental baselines required for the environmental impact assessment (EIA).

The agreement also recognised the importance of ancestral settlements and land use in developing a sustainable lithium industry.

CleanTech said it was committed to contributing to the region's socio-economic development.

As the Laguna Verde project progressed, the company pledged to maintain open communication with local communities, establishing a long-term trusting relationship.

The agreement also aligned with the priorities set by the Chilean government, advancing the objectives outlined in the National Lithium Strategy and informing the Special Lithium Operation Contracts (CEOLs).

"This is the first alliance founded in early consultation with local communities in lithium extraction in Chile," said chief executive officer Aldo Boitano.

"We are very proud to be working with the local communities and strengthening our relationships, which will allow us to continue building a unique model that places people and the planet at the centre.

"This is how we aim to make a positive impact as CleanTech Lithium grows."

Boitano said the alliance between CleanTech Lithium and the local communities represented a "significant step forward" in co-designing the firm's projects, providing data for its environmental baselines and creating long-term socio-economic benefits for the region.

"This agreement demonstrates how seriously we take the agenda set in the government's National Lithium Strategy, proving that goals can be achieved and project development can be done in a more considerate way."

At 1525 GMT, shares in CleanTech Lithium were up 3.01% at 21.38p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Bank of England concerns over the high level of pay awards are likely to be eased in the coming months as wage settlements fall in response to a tumbling annual inflation rate, a thinktank has said. The Resolution Foundation said recent strong growth in earnings was primarily caused by a sharp increase in the cost of living, with workers trying to prevent their living standards being eroded.  Guardian

Epic Games, maker of Fortnite, has prevailed in an antitrust trial over Alphabets Google Play app marketplace, Epics chief executive said on Monday, hours after the federal jury took up the case. Victory over Google! After 4 weeks of detailed court testimony, the California jury found against the Google Play monopoly on all counts. The Courts work on remedies will start in January, Tim Sweeney wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.  Guardian

The world is edging towards a new Cold War that risks annihilating free trade as we know it, the deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned. Gita Gopinath said growing fault lines in the global economy, such as tensions between the US and China and Russias invasion of Ukraine, had created permanent shifts in the way countries do business.  Telegraph

With a population of around 3,000, Fordham, Cambridgeshire, is not known to be a hotbed of organised crime. But for Jonathan James, who opened a new Fresh & Proper shop in the village with his son Joshua in June, it has become the site of an ongoing battle with shoplifting gangs.  Telegraph

The UK competition regulator is stifling innovation and entrepreneurship by taking too long to make decisions, according to a senior Adobe executive who is overseeing its $20 billion takeover of Figma. In an interview with The Times, David Wadhwani, president of Adobes Digital Media business, said: The process should not take 15 months to get to the stage. I think we can all agree that expediting these kinds of decisions is important for innovation and for doing the right thing by consumers and customers to make these decisions faster and move more quickly.  The Times

A secretive Cayman Islands-based tycoon, one of the largest shareholders in British American Tobacco, has raised his stake in the maker of Dunhill and Lucky Strike following a share sell-off in the cigarette company last week. Spring Mountain Investments, the vehicle of Kenneth Dart, a billionaire heir to an American foam cups fortune, has increased his position to 10 per cent from 9 per cent, new stock market filings show.  The Times
Could the Middle East soon become the Middle West and challenge US global dominance?

The Middle East has now become the Middle West, declared the Chinese Foreign Ministry in October.

The Chinese envoy to the Middle West had arrived in the UAE as part of a regional tour aimed at calming the conflict in Gaza, and, in so doing, the international centre of gravity had shifted from the West to the East.

The Arabs and the Middle East were once east of the Western centre, giving rise to the traditional name of the region. Now they find themselves west of the Eastern centre, making their relative position the Middle West.

Their status is no longer defined solely by blood ties but rather by international alliances, as highlighted by the mediaeval Arab writer Ibn Khalduns distinction between tribal affiliation and blood ties.

The term Middle East was imposed on the region from the outside, and similarly the term Middle West will also be. The US journalist Karl E Meyer, writing in the New York Times in March 1991 in an article called How the Middle East Was Invented, attributed the concepts creation to US Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan in 1901.

The term gained political significance with the Sykes-Picot Agreement in 1917 between Britain and France that marked an historical turning point for the Arabs. Today, as the East develops, the Arab world is changing from being the Middle East to the Middle West, signifying a major geopolitical shift.

Amid the ongoing Palestinian conflict, the Arab world feels the pain of neglect, having opened doors, resources, and markets to the West for nearly half a century. The West, however, has seemed to disregard the Arab world in return, treating us as mere pawns to be moved around in a way reminiscent of its dealings with the former Ottoman Empire.

But today the Arab world finds itself at the crossroads of history. The Palestinian crisis is not just a struggle between the Palestinian resistance and Israel, but a war orchestrated by the United States to maintain its presence and influence in the heart of the world.

The West sees the situation in Palestine as a soft underbelly to the wider region. The Russians and the Chinese, on the other hand, anticipate the US slipping into a quagmire in the region, leading to a significant global shift. We must recognise that the war in Palestine is not solely about the Palestinian resistance but is also a US war to preserve its position at the centre of global affairs.

Two centuries after the term Eastern Question first emerged in 1823, the West continues to view us with the same mindset as it did during the Ottoman era. In an article called When the Middle East Changes, the World Changes... Gaza: Does it Turn the Scene Upside Down? published in December, Lebanese political analyst Nabil Al-Bourji emphasises the intertwined existential crisis for the Israelis and the strategic predicament for the Americans as a result of the current crisis.

Both the US and Israel see the Palestinian crisis as having serious repercussions, affecting Israels existence and the US global leadership.

The enormity of US support for Israel is evident, with it providing over $260 billion in aid since 1946, not including military technology assistance. All this has been done to ensure that the Arabs remain in the Middle East and do not become the Middle West. Yet, history has its own harsh laws that can be difficult to rectify or redirect at the eleventh hour.

The writer is a professor of political science at Cairo University.



* A version of this article appears in print in the 14 December, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Amazon.in announced the launch of AI-Generated Review Highlights, a new feature that provides a short paragraph right on the product detail page highlighting the products features and customer sentiment frequently mentioned across written reviews. This innovation empowers customers with enhanced product insights, enabling them to make informed purchase decisions with greater ease and confidence.

The AI-Generated Review Highlights serve as a valuable tool for customers seeking a quick understanding of a product's overall sentiment and key attributes. By providing a snapshot of the common themes from reviews, the highlights enable buyers to determine whether a product aligns with their needs and expectations before delving into detailed reviews. Furthermore, the feature facilitates easy navigation to specific reviews that address particular product attributes. For instance, a customer interested in understanding the ease of use of a product can tap to see the number of positive and negative mentions for "ease of use" and representative reviews.

"We are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance the customer experience on Amazon.in," said Kishore Thota, Director, Shopping Experience, India & Emerging Markets, Amazon. "The introduction of AI-Generated Review Highlights marks a step forward in our efforts to empower customers with the information they need to make informed decisions".

Emphasizing Amazons commitment to continuous innovation, Thota stated, " We will continue exploring opportunities to provide review highlights in more places throughout the shopping experience to make it easier for customers to discover and evaluate products. Our ultimate goal is to simplify the review submission process, combat fake reviews, introduce new content types, and utilize AI to highlight key insights, ensuring that customers can confidently navigate their purchase decisions".

Amazon.in is committed to providing customers with a trusted and reliable e-commerce experience. The AI-generated review highlights utilize only Amazon's trusted reviews from verified purchases, ensuring that the insights presented reflect the genuine experiences of actual customers.

As Amazon enhances the reviews experience, it remains dedicated to maintaining the authenticity and relevance of content. Its Community Guidelines, help both machine learning models and human moderation keep the community safe and the reviews relevant, while providing a trustworthy environment for customers to express their genuine opinions. Amazon strictly prohibits fake reviews and content that misleads customers by providing information that is not impartial, authentic, or intended for that product or service. It continues to invest significant resources to proactively stop fake reviews. This includes machine learning models that analyze thousands of data points to detect risk, such as relations to other accounts, sign-in activity, review history, and any other unusual behavior, as well as expert investigators who use advanced fraud-detection tools to analyze and prevent fake reviews from appearing in being published on the marketplace.
The Indian Institute of Management, Visakhapatnam (IIMV), has joined forces with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to introduce specialized courses in entrepreneurship for aspiring individuals and entrepreneurs. Under this collaboration, IIM Visakhapatnam will provide a tailored PG Certificate course called the Skill to Enterprise Model (STEM) program in Entrepreneurship. This initiative aims to empower individuals with the skills needed to become successful entrepreneurs, fostering the creation of jobs and contributing to the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The main goal of the collaborative effort between IIMV and SIDBI is to encourage entrepreneurs to launch innovative businesses by the conclusion of the program. Subhransu Acharya, Chief General Manager at SIDBI, emphasized that the ultimate aim of this initiative is to transform entrepreneurial education into thriving enterprises. "India is aspiring to become a powerhouse driving global growth by 2047. A thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem will prove fundamental to propel Indias economy. The SIDBI and IIMV joint initiative has been designed in this direction to create actual enterprises rather than limiting it to classroom education", said Acharya.

The SIDBI chief general manager added that the programme will have an academic training phase and incubation and mentoring phase to offer the participants practical skills-idea validation, prototype formation, company registration, pitch presentation before investors, etc. "This is to help the participants hit the ground running soon after completion of the programme. While IIMV will offer its academic, research, and entrepreneurial ecosystem to the participants, SIDBI will entirely fund the project for the ultimate societal and national cause", said Acharya.

The SIDBI chief general manager explained about the key thrust areas of their MoU with IIMV which will help the entrepreneurs, particularly from the region. SIDBI made into the MoU as part of the SIDBIs "Mission Swabhalamban" initiative. IIM Vizag director Prof M Chandrasekhar said that this is the first such joint initiative taken up by the IIMV in association with a development financial institution.

"The programme offers everything, including knowledge and funding support, mentoring, and guidance. The initiative is like two public institutions working for public good joining their forces together. We have our objectives very clear  to see more enterprises germinate, grow, take wings, and contribute to the nation. We will offer whatever it takes for the entrepreneurs to grow in this direction", said Prof Chandrasekhar. Professor Sushil Kumar, a faculty member specializing in entrepreneurship at IIMV, will spearhead this collaborative initiative. The presence of Professor MV Anuradha, Dean of Administration at IIMV, and Guhesh Ramanathan, CEO of IIMV's incubation and startup hub, FIELD, was noted during the event.
The Minister for Mines, Pralhad Joshi, has announced the initiation of multilateral and bilateral collaborations with various nations to ensure the procurement of essential minerals. Minister Joshi highlighted the involvement of the state-run Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL), which has partnered with state-owned entities in different countries through the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian embassies. The primary focus is on acquiring mineral assets, particularly special and critical minerals. Notably, Argentina possesses the world's third-largest lithium reserves, and Australia is a prominent producer of potash and lithium.

KABIL is a joint-venture company of National Aluminium Company Ltd, Hindustan Copper Ltd and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Ltd, set up with the objective of ensuring a consistent supply of critical and strategic minerals to the Indian market. "The ministry is also actively involved in the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) and other multilateral/ bilateral partnerships with various countries to secure the critical mineral demand of India. Under Indias G20 presidency, recognizing the significance of the role of critical minerals in global energy transition, the Ministry of Mines got it included in the G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration," Joshi added in his written reply.

In June, India became a member of the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States. The MSP is a coalition consisting of 13 countries and the European Union (EU) with the goal of stimulating both public and private investments in critical mineral supply chains. The alliance includes Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the EU.

In July, the Ministry of Mines compiled a roster of 30 minerals deemed critical for the nation, following the suggestions of a committee. Among these are tin, employed in aerospace, construction, home decor, electronics, jewelry, and telecommunications; molybdenum, utilized in steel alloys, pigments and dyes, catalysts, electrical components, and electronics; graphite, utilized in batteries, lubricants, electric vehicles (EVs), and fuel cells for EVs; and nickel, employed in stainless steel, solar panels, batteries, aerospace, defense applications, and electric vehicles.
PanIIT Alumni India concludes the "PIWOT - Global Technology Summit", a groundbreaking two-day event held in physical (physical and digital) format on December 2023, at Taj, Yeshwantpur, Bengaluru. As a global platform for sharing thoughts, collaborative conversations, and ground-breaking results, the summit served over 2000 delegates committed to fostering innovation for positive societal change. The summit commenced with a keynote session on "GenAI: The Next Frontier of Human-Centric Creativity and Innovation", which was followed by sessions on an array of themes ranging from "Digital First India" to "Enabling Social Impact". These sessions contributed to collective insights propelling us towards a more sustainable and technologically advanced future.

The summit also hosted a vibrant Hackathon  Hack of Pi, where talented developers collaborated to solve industry and governance-defined problems with positive social impact solutions. Over 27 teams from across the country participated in the Hackathon and team from IIT Guwahati won the first prize for their - Smart Farming Thing app. The app aims to improve traditional farming with precise control in greenhouses. It focuses on increasing crop yields (8-10 times more) by giving the right nutrients based on real-time plant feedback and automating temperature control. It's not just for rural areas people without farming experience can use it on their balconies. Plus, it helps cut down on carbon emissions by using power more efficiently in equipment.

The Startup Conclave's Mega Investor Startup Meet provided emerging startups with the opportunity to participate in a Live Pitch program, offering on-the-spot funding of up to USD 500k. More than 500 startups in fields such as DeepTech, Fintech, AI, and Agritech registered for demos and live pitching sessions to engage with investors. Out of these, 16 startups were selected for demos, resulting in 8 live pitches. The event attracted 100+ investors, including VCs and Angels like Matrix, Bloom, Sama Nexus, etc. The Demo Day allowed startups to pitch for funding ranging from USD 1M to 5M, while the Startup Expo showcased 45 booths featuring innovative products, services, and business ideas.

Reflecting on the success of the summit, Debashish Bhattacharyya, Chairman, PanIIT, shared, "The PanIIT  World of Technology Summit has not only inspired but has also ignited a beacon for the future. The collaborative discussions and valuable insights shared during the event showcased how technology can revolutionize various sectors and influence government policies. We take pride in hosting this international summit, contributing to the collective insights that will propel us towards a more sustainable and technologically advanced future". "We are thrilled with the overwhelming success of PIWOT 2023," said Pradeep Bhargava, General Secretary, Pan IIT. "The event not only brought together industry leaders and startups but also facilitated meaningful conversations and collaborations that will undoubtedly drive the industry forward".
In a groundbreaking advancement for India's swiftly growing plant-based foods industry, Nourish You, the pioneering superfood brand of the country, is thrilled to declare its full acquisition of One Good, the most cost-effective and adaptable vegan dairy brand in the nation. This strategic initiative marks the most extensive merger and acquisition undertaking in the conscious-consumption sector and marks a crucial juncture in the thriving plant-based foods landscape of India.

Established in 2016 under the name Goodmylk and based in Bengaluru, One Good has gained recognition for its acclaimed lineup of vegan dairy products, encompassing milks, cheeses, chocolates, curd, ghee, butter, and beyond. This acquisition unites two forward-thinking teams, as One Good's leadership, led by CEO & Co-founder Abhay Rangan, CFO & Co-founder Radhika Datt, and COO Dhivakar Sathyamurthy, collaborates with Nourish You.

Nourish You, initially known for pioneering the cultivation of Quinoa and Chia in India, has expanded its footprint from 50 acres to an impressive 5000 acres. The company's foray into the superfoods category, featuring innovative products such as fills, mueslis, and plant-based milk, has positioned its offerings in over 2,500 retail stores. Supported by influential investors like Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath, actor and investor Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Darwinbox's Rohit Chennamaneni, Triumph Group's Y Janardhana Rao, Gruhas Proptech's Abhijeet Pai, and KIMS Hospitals' Abhinay Bollineni, Nourish You ventured into alternative dairy with the successful launch of Millet Mlk in early 2023.

Recognized for its achievement in making vegan milk more economical than cow's milk in certain areas, One Good has been a frontrunner in the vegan dairy sector, having successfully acquired three plant-based companies thus far. The brand is committed to its mission of providing high-quality products/services, easily accessible plant-based nutrition for everyone, aligning seamlessly with Nourish You's pledge to animal welfare and the provision of wholesome, reasonably priced plant-based foods.

Krishna Reddy, Co-founder of Nourish You, commented on the acquisition, stating, "From introducing India to the power of superfoods and now acquiring One Good, Nourish You evolves from being a superfood brand to a plant-based brand, embracing a more inclusive vision". Reddy emphasized the revolutionary journey of One Good, born with a vision to create a major dairy company without reliance on animals, led by a dedicated team of vegans committed to innovation and animal protection.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A working group tasked with gathering input and providing feedback to New York City to implement a new state class size law released its final report of recommendations on Monday.

The Class Size Working Group was first convened in April and was made up of a diverse cross-section of stakeholders  including two Staten Island residents. The group helped devise recommendations to help the city Department of Education (DOE) be in compliance with the law that Gov. Kathy Hochul signed last year to limit class sizes in New York City public schools. The law limits kindergarten through third-grade classes to 20 students, fourth- through eighth-grade classes to 23 students, and high school classes to 25 students.

The 55-page report focused on key aspects of implementing the new class size law, including enrollment planning, space and capital planning, special education, staff and hiring, instructional implications, and budgeting and financing. The DOE noted that this report does not contain official recommendations by the agency and is made up of suggestions developed by the working group for the city schools chancellors consideration.

The city will still make all final decisions when implementing measures to comply with the class size caps.

The report included 36 recommendations.

Heres a closer look at some of the most debated recommendations made by the working group.

In consultation with school communities, adjust enrollment at overcrowded schools when there are underutilized schools nearby

Members recommended that enrollment be adjusted in overcrowded schools if there are nearby underutilized schools with the same grade configurations. Some ways to do this would be prioritizing zoned students for all seats in a program, which would result in seat reductions for non-zoned students. Many members of the group expressed concerns about the potential impacts on equity, diversity and vulnerable student groups, including those in specialized programs.

Relocate 3-K and Pre-K classes in overcrowded schools to nearby Community Based Organizations

The group noted that there were 30,000 empty pre-K and 3-K seats last year  mostly in DOE-run centers. The group argued this could free up space in district public schools, though some members and members of the public expressed concerns that this could inconvenience parents, especially those with older children in the public schools.

Make permanent an agreement in which teachers who hold or obtain a valid NYC teacher license and who hold NY State valid teacher certification in a shortage area (including Special Education, Bilingual Education, STEM and CTE), can have the probationary period reduced to one year

The working group stated that this recommendation is one of the most controversial proposals, with many concerns about the quality of teachers and the importance of an extended window to earn tenure. One member said reducing tenure to a year doesnt give enough time to see if the teacher has the capacity to grow.

Mergers of existing co-located schools should be considered

The group said that the city should focus efforts on maximizing classroom space. The recommendation stated that, in existing co-located schools, there should be a regular review of space to ensure it makes sense under the new class size law.

It added that mergers of existing co-located schools should be considered, especially those with similar designs, programs and student population.

Only open new schools after a careful analysis

The report stated that building new schools should only be considered after careful analysis of available space to lower class size  unless there is an additional newly acquired or constructed building. Instead, if there is a perceived need or idea for a valuable new program or service, existing underutilized schools should be given the resources and support to provide these new programs or services, the recommendation stated.

MONTHS-LONG EFFORT

The city selected the working group members in April, including parents or guardians of DOE students, educators, advocates, researchers and other key stakeholders. The DOE considered individuals geographic representation, experience, school affiliation (including grade composition and size of the school), as well as organizational affiliation to ensure that a diversity of perspectives were represented within the working group.

The two Staten Island members include parents Lucia Curatolo-Boylan, a member of Staten Islands Community Education Council 31, and Venus Sze-Tsang, a former CEC 31 member and Panel for Education Policy member. According to the report, Sze-Tsang is among several working group members who does not endorse the recommendations.

In response to the report, Schools Chancellor David C. Banks thanked those who participated in the group.

The work to remain in compliance will take changes, tradeoffs and additional resources across NYC public schools, and I appreciate the Working Groups time and effort, said Banks. We look forward to taking the time to review these recommendations and work to determine the best path forward for our system.

The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) union supported the working groups recommendations. Michael Mulgrew, UFT president, stated that the group came up with reasonable, achievable recommendations for how New York City can implement the state law to reduce class sizes for all students.

It will not be easy, but Albany has provided $1.6 billion in new, recurring funding to help make it happen, Mulgrew added. The law also makes the DOE responsible for building more classroom seats in congested neighborhoods, so no child is pushed out of a chosen school. The Working Group takes on these complex realities and shows how we, as a city, can get it done.

The DOE published its annual class size report last month  showing the city is in compliance for this school year with New York States new class size mandates. According to the report, as of Oct. 31, 40% of classes in New York City are at or below class size caps. Overall, 20% of classes are required to be at or below such caps for this school year.

Staten Islands District 31 is one of three school districts that have the lowest percentage of classes at or below the class size caps.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The Sorrentinos  thats Mindy and John  incredible holiday display returns this year. The husband-and-wife teams fourth annual Laceys Fur-Get Me Not Holiday Fundraiser is set for this weekend  Friday, Saturday and Sunday  from 5 to 8 p.m., at 18 Carpenter Ave. in New Springville.

Donations are optional. The fundraiser is named for the Sorrentinos beloved dog, Lacey, who died a few years ago.

All proceeds will be earmarked for the Near and Far Animal Foundation, founded by Staten Island resident Carla Murino, as well as For Blakes Sake Rescue, founded by Doreen E. Murphy.

In addition to cartoon characters, virtual Winter Wonderland is bedecked with extravagant Christmas decor featuring Santa and his elves and popular Disney, Looney Tunes and Sesame Street characters and folks can watch Santa and his elves handcraft Christmas toys for children in the upper window of their home. (Courtesy/John Sorrentino)Staten Island Advance

After Lacey passed our hearts were broken, Mindy said.

We werent ready for a lifetime commitment to owning a dog, but wanted to have a dog in the house, she continued. So we fostered four dogs through Near and Far, an amazing foundation. Each time a dog leaves, a piece of your heart goes with it and many say, How can you foster? Dont you get attached? And my answer is, we hurt so they dont have to. We are a little sad, but it opens up our home again to help another dog. Basically, its animals in need  in foster care  before theyre adopted.

There's a new addition to the already fabulous ice pond. (Courtesy/John Sorrentino)Staten Island Advance

She added fostering could be weeks to months, but it keeps animals out of shelters. We are doing this in honor of Lacey and to raise awareness and funds for animals in need.

Brand new this year is a Mickey Mouse Animatronic that dances and sings Christmas carols. (Courtesy/John Sorrentino)Staten Island Advance

Mindy and John will be handing out Santa and elf hats, and candy canes for children.

A brand new Dumbo has been added to the already fabulous holiday display at the Sorrentino's New Springville home. (Courtesy/John Sorrentino)Staten Island Advance

The Sorrentinos invite all to pose with Santa and bring the family and/or family pets with the goal of bringing smiles to kids faces and at the same time helping to spread awareness about the cause.

New Santas and Sesame Street characters light up 18 Carpenter Ave. in New Springville. (Courtesy/John Sorrentino)Staten Island Advance

John adds: Theres nothing better than seeing kids faces light up when families stop by every night to see the display. Santa cant wait to see all the families and their pets too at the upcoming fundraiser this weekend.

NEW THIS YEAR

New attractions this year are Mickey Mouse animatronics that move and sing Christmas carols, additions to their Dumbo display, more attractions to their ice pond, and and a slew of new light-up LED trees.

John and Mindy Sorrentino's Christmas display doubles as a fundraiser in memory of their beloved Dog, Lacey, who passed away. Visitors are able to donate to the Near and Far Animal Foundation while taking in the lights at 18 Carpenter Ave. in New Springville. (Staten Island Advance/Lauren Lovallo)Staten Island Advance/Lauren Lov

Mindy, John and their daughter, Raquel, have expanded their Winter Wonderland thats bedecked with extravagant Christmas decor featuring Santa and his elves, and popular Disney, Looney Tunes and Sesame Street characters.

Watch for definite standouts that include inflatable Avengers and Star Wars figures and light-up Mickey Mouse animatronics  not to mention Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys. Plus hand-made, one-of-a-kind pieces of Bugs Bunny and his crew on a sled.

-John and Mindy Sorrentino's Christmas display doubles as a fundraiser in memory of their beloved Dog, Lacey, who passed away. Visitors are able to donate to the Near and Far Animal Foundation while taking in the lights at 18 Carpenter Ave. in New Springville. (Staten Island Advance/Lauren Lovallo)Staten Island Advance/Lauren Lov

A vintage display including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, handcrafted 70 years ago by John Sorrentinos dad, aunt and uncle, also comes to life.

Then theres an impressive penguin ice pond with a slide, the Grinch character, the Flintstones, Popeye, Winnie the Pooh and friends, Magilla Gorilla, Underdog, Mickey and friends on a sled and other Christmas related pieces including Santas mailbox.

John and Mindy Sorrentino (Staten Island Advance/Lauren Lovallo)Staten Island Advance/Lauren Lov

And in a live feed from the North Pole, kids can watch Santa and his elves handcraft Christmas toys.

Mindy and John Sorrentinos home at 18 Carpenter Ave, New Springville, is ready to welcome visitors again. (Staten Island Advance/Lauren Lovallo)(Staten Island Advance/Lauren Lo

CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS

The mission of the Near and Far Animal Foundation focuses on saving animals that are forgotten, abandoned, and in need of a compassionate hand on Staten Island and across the globe.

And the mission for For Blakes Sake Rescue is to rescue as many fur babies as it can from whatever unfortunate circumstances they are faced.

- Mindy and John Sorrentinos home at 18 Carpenter Ave, New Springville, is ready to welcome visitors again. (Staten Island Advance/Lauren Lovallo)(Staten Island Advance/Lauren Lo

- Mindy and John Sorrentinos home at 18 Carpenter Ave, New Springville, is ready to welcome visitors again. (Staten Island Advance/Lauren Lovallo)(Staten Island Advance/Lauren Lo

Two dogs -- Khaleesi and Inara -- came to the Sorrentinos through For Blakes Sake Rescue from Japan, where they were born. They ended up in a shelter in Tennessee and were rescued by For Blakes Sake Rescue.

Mindy and John Sorrentinos home at 18 Carpenter Ave, New Springville, is ready to welcome visitors again. (Staten Island Advance/Lauren Lovallo)(Staten Island Advance/Lauren Lo

Three weeks later they were officially adopted by the Sorrentinos.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  As a way to celebrate the work of a scientist or doctor whos made a significant discovery in the field of audiology, The Grand Prix Scientifique 2023 has presented an award to Professor Barbara Canlon.

The Fondation Pour lAudition, an organization that promotes hearing health, has awarded Canlon, of the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute in Sweden, the prize that rewards leading research. The prize has a different theme each year. The New Dorp native, who grew up in Great Kills, was bestowed the award for fundamental or applied research in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Canlon, who now lives in Sweden, is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and has devoted her entire research career to explaining the mechanisms behind damage to the inner ear and developing strategies to prevent and treat them.

She has discovered the existence of a biological, or circadian clock that regulates the function of the cochlea, the sensitive organ in the inner ear, during the 24 hour day. Canlon has been able to demonstrate that the time of day is an important factor in how vulnerable the body is to hearing damage. The discovery may make it possible to optimize the time for administering drugs. 

I am very honored to receive this prestigious award, said Canlon. I hope it will help raise awareness of the importance of circadian rhythms for our auditory system, added the professor.

The medal was presented by Jean-Pierre Meyers, who founded the Fondation Pour lAudition together with his wife, Francoise Bettencourt Meyers.

A LITTLE ABOUT PROFESSOR CANLON

Canlon received her bachelors degree from Brooklyn College, the City University of New York, while working at the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities in Willowbrook. She moved to Ann Arbor in Michigan, where she earned a masters degree at the University of Michigan.

In 1984 she relocated to Stockholm and obtained her doctorate at the Karolinska Institute. At that time, she met her husband-to-be and the couple married.

She is a member of the Swedish Academy of Sciences and has previously received several scientific prizes. Canlon has been editor-in-chief for the scientific journal, Hearing Research, for the past 11 years.

She currently resides in Stockholm, where she raised her two children. When shes not in the laboratory, Canlon spends time at the family farm in the Western part of Sweden where she grows a variety of vegetables.
The Middle East has been riddled with divisions in its modern history. At one point, they mirrored the Cold War in their tug-of-war between states in the Western orbit versus Eastern-looking ones.

The well-known historian, Malcolm Kerr, wrote an entire book on the Arab Cold War. At another point, the question of peace with Israel was at the centre of the regional divide. That period lasted only a decade between the Egyptian-Israeli peace agreement and the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. After the war to liberate Kuwait, most Arab countries attended the Middle East peace conference in Madrid which paved the way to the Jordan-Israeli peace agreement and the Oslo Accords.

The peace-making countries, for their part, encountered opposition from the Steadfastness and Defiance Front and/or the Resistance and Rejectionist Front.

Before long, the so-called Arab Spring precipitated another divide following a period of civil warfare and anarchy.

On one side was the group of countries that set into motion radical and profound social and economic reform drives whose cardinal tenets were the primacy of the nation-state, the geographic inclusion of all corners of the state, the marshalling of all available domestic resources, and the participation of all citizens, especially women and youth, in the national renaissance project.

On the other side were the opponents to everything progressive who were determined to perpetuate chronic conflict. The first camp was not deterred. They set their sights on attaining regional stability and did what they felt needed to be done to this end. That included working to assimilate Israel into the region, in part using the Abraham Accords, and promoting a solution to the Palestinian question based on the provisions of the Arab Peace Initiative.

The fifth Gaza war, as I had pointed out in previous articles, was an attempt on the part of the rejectionist camp to undermine the path to regional stability and the attempts to resolve the regions chronic problems.

The war led to a major confrontation and a dreadful humanitarian tragedy in which death and destruction are of the magnitude of major international wars. Moreover, observers fear that the war could spread into a regional one involving Hizbullah on the Lebanese front. Meanwhile, Israel has expanded its offensive to the West Bank while many regional and international powers have tried to promote a truce that would open an opportunity for an extended ceasefire.

In the latest chapter of the drive to destabilise the region, the Houthi forces in Yemen attacked a commercial vessel in the Red Sea and harassed other ships in the area. The US hastened to rally other Western nations to form a naval force to safeguard navigation in the international waterway that links the Bab Al-Mandab with the Suez Canal. The Houthis aim was obvious: to link the full-scale confrontation in Palestine and the limited confrontation along the Lebanese-Israeli border with a new front in the strategically sensitive Red Sea. Iran is playing a major part in this through the provision of arms, training, funding, and direction.

The new front presents another challenge to the reformist countries on the banks of the Red Sea, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Clearly, the rejectionists seek to sabotage development and progress in this area as well. As I have explained before, the Egyptian reform drive aims to expand urban development and economic life from the Nile Valley to the shores of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean and into the Sinai, which is bordered by the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aqaba.

The geographical thrust of the Saudi developmental project is towards AlUla at the northwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula. There, at the juncture of these two great reform drives is Neom and other state-of-the-art urban development projects. There are 81 islands in the western part of the Red Sea and more than a hundred islands in the eastern part. Major construction and development projects are in progress on both sides.

It was no coincidence that, when the Houthis launched their misadventures in the Red Sea, the Red Sea International Film Festival was taking place. Events such as this help build the soft power of Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea region. The festival, itself, epitomises the Saudi policy of diversifying sources of wealth as well as the westward orientation of the Saudi development process as part of the plan to achieve geographic and demographic balance in national development.

It came as no surprise when the Houthis began to shell targets in southern Israel, starting with the port of Eilat (in the process, two rockets landed in Taba and Nuweiba in Egypt). The Houthis then proceeded to apprehend ships owned or leased by Israel or carrying freight to Israel, and they vowed that they would not allow Israeli ships to pass through the Bab Al-Mandab. Before long, their operations in the Red Sea escalated into threatening US and British war ships with rockets and drones. In short, the Red Sea had become another theatre of operations with Iranian fingerprints all over it.

This is not the first time the Red Sea had become an arena of war in the Middle East. Egypt closed the Bab Al-Mandab during the October 1973 War which, in all events, was short. During the 1980s, navigation was hampered by a series of naval mines for which Iran was alleged to be responsible. More recently, navigation was disrupted by piracy off the coast of the Horn of Africa. The Red Sea offensive claims that its target is Israel, but it has other undeclared objectives.

For one, Iran wants to take hold of an international sea between Egypt and Saudi Arabia for whom this area is the focus of a different vision for the future of the region and its people  a vision of reform, development, and progress. The Houthis are the opposite. Theirs is the camp of war without end and let-up, theirs is the vision of perpetual destruction and displacement, and they see nothing beyond that.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 14 December, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  This beautiful center-hall Dutch Colonial home on Colonial Court in what was once called the Barrett Park section of West Brighton was built around 1920 and has been the home of wood craftsman and sand sculptor Matt Long and his wife, former Storyteller bookstore owner, Nina Long, for 23 years.

Matt Long says the block is lined with Dutch Colonials built by the same Norwegian builder, Ole Olsen Odegaard. Odegaard (1886-1972) was a Staten Island builder who was born in Norway and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s, settling on Staten Island in 1906. Among his many building projects was Odegaard Manor, which he created in 1926 on the former estate of William Van Clief.

On a quiet street opposite the Staten Island Zoo, we caught up with the Longs as they decorated for the Christmas holiday season. It has been a passion of Nina Long since she trimmed the Storyteller bookstore she owned and operated every year between 1991 and 2004.

But first, the story of how the Longs became owners of this home.

John Coleman was a client of Matt Longs Furniture Restoration Workshop, and through the years, they became friends. Matt Long had never been to the home, as Coleman would always bring his pieces to the shop for restoration. After Matt Long finished much work for this client and his house through the years, Coleman asked him if he was interested in buying his home one day. Hed only been inside once with a quick viewing. Mind you, his wife had never seen the inside of the house. Matt Long said yes.

The Longs had meager funds at the early stages of running two businesses, so, with some luck, they made a few timely, almost karmic investments, which allowed the couple to piece together a down payment, they explained. They bought the house and have enjoyed living there and decorating it ever since with their three daughters and now a granddaughter.

Many Christmas angels, dolls, ornaments, and boughs of greenery have been saved throughout the years from the bookstore days.

No less than 100 glue sticks were used to make the many handmade ornaments you see,' Matt Long said.

By the way, the mantel was designed and created by Matt Long soon after they moved in. And, they celebrated the marriage of their daughter, Emily, in the home just this past year.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  If you plan to mail a holiday package this season with the United States Postal Service (USPS), its important to know the deadlines to make sure its delivered on time.

Timing is everything, especially when it comes to shipping holiday items, and USPS recommended several mailing and shipping deadlines this year for expected delivery by Christmas Day, or Dec. 25.

Here are the recommended shipping deadlines for expected delivery before Dec. 25.

Continental U.S.

USPS Ground Advantage 5-day shipping  Dec. 16

USPS Ground Advantage 4-day shipping  Dec. 18

USPS Ground Advantage 3-day shipping  Dec. 19

USPS Ground Advantage 2-day shipping  Dec. 20

First-Class Mail (including greeting cards)  Dec. 16

Priority Mail 3-day shipping Dec. 20

Priority Mail 2-day shipping  Dec. 21

Priority Mail Express 2-day shipping  Dec. 20

Priority Mail Express 1-day shipping  Dec. 21

The last scheduled delivery day is Saturday, Dec. 23. For those who pay for a holiday premium for Priority Mail Express, the last scheduled delivery day is Sunday, Dec. 24.

First Class Mail

5-day mailing  Dec. 16

4-day mailing  Dec. 18

3-day mailing  Dec. 19

2-day mailing  Dec. 20

The last scheduled delivery day for First Class Mail is Saturday, Dec. 23.

Alaska

USPS Ground Advantage  Dec. 16

First-Class Mail  Dec. 16

Priority Mail  Dec. 18

Priority Mail Express  Dec. 20

Hawaii

USPS Ground Advantage  Dec. 16

First-Class Mail  Dec. 16

Priority Mail  Dec. 16

Priority Mail Express  Dec. 20

You can go here to see military and international mail deadlines.

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

USPS will close all branches for Christmas Day and New Years Day. This closure affects all postal services, including retail services, mail delivery and blue collection boxes.

This year, Christmas Eve and New Years Eve each fall on Sunday, when normal closures apply. According to USPS, there are currently no plans for limited hours or early blue box collection times on Saturday, Dec. 23, or Saturday, Dec. 30. Customers are encouraged to check with their local Post Office for hours of operation.

Customers who are unable to mail items before the scheduled collection box pickup times on Dec. 23 and Dec. 30 should use the postal locator at tools.usps.com to find Post Office locations that may be open late.

Following those holiday closures, Post Offices will be open and regular mail delivery will resume on Tuesday, Dec. 26, and Tuesday, Jan. 2.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New Yorks cost of living can be astronomical, and on Tuesday, officials unveiled a revamped food pantry at Fort Wadsworth that will help provide Coast Guard personnel with a bit of relief just in time for the holidays.

The Craig Newmark New York Tri-State Chapter of Blue Star Families, a non-profit organization that supports military families, led a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the pantry stocked full with supplies.

Erica Newhouse, the executive director of the local Blue Star Families chapter, said the pantry had already been in operation for a few years, but they hoped to make it a more inviting space for service men, women and their families.

To that end, Blue Star Families, in partnership with volunteer groups and using donated supplies, refurbished the space with new countertops, cabinets and flooring.

Officials unveiled a new food pantry at Fort Wadsworth on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Paul Liotta)Paul Liotta

I thought...lets make it beautiful up here for families. The pantry is here to stay, so lets make it more permanent, she said. And in doing that, bring more awareness to food insecurity within the military.

Most members of the armed forces arent wealthy, and when someone gets stationed in the five boroughs, adjusting to the local cost of living can be a challenge, particularly on Staten Island.

Local service members are grouped with New Jersey for cost of living adjustments, so those serving at bases in the four other boroughs actually receive higher wages than those on Staten Island.

An old photo shows what a portion of the pantry looked like before the renovation. (Courtesy: Erica Newhouse)third party

Capt. Zeita Merchant, the commanding officer for the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York, said the revamped space provides a more welcoming location for service members, and easier access to supplies. Merchant said that her own grocery shopping usually requires a half hour drive to a supermarket on Hylan Boulevard.

We (service members) often take care of others, so to be in the position to be vulnerable and come to a food pantry, its something that theyre not used to. With this renovation, its a welcoming, and safe place for our military members to come to, she said. In the immediate area, theres no place for them (to food shop), and this provides a support to them right where they live.

Funding and support for the project were provided by Floor Coverings International of Staten Island; Shannyn and Jesse Hal, a pair of private donors; Homes for Heroes, a nationwide network of affiliate real estate, mortgage, and local business specialists that help service members secure housing; and the Ollis Foundation, a local non-profit organization named for Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, a New Dorp resident who lost his life while serving in Afghanistan.

Volunteers for the makeover came from the U.S. Coast Guard, Homes for Heroes, AmeriCorps, and Phillips 66, a multinational energy company. The pantry also maintains a number of ongoing partnerships with private companies, including Starbucks and Amazon.

Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn) and Borough President Vito Fossella attended Tuesdays ribbon-cutting ceremony, and applauded what the new space will mean for service members living at Fort Wadsworth.

Its very important, especially since our service members do not receive the compensation for their service to our country, Tannousis said. New York City tends to be a more expensive place to live as opposed to other parts of the country where these service members may be from, so its very important that we are able to provide them with resources so they are able to live adequately to continue contributing to the safety of our nation.

Like Tannousis, Fossella said he hoped for better compensation for the nations service members. He said that his office was organizing a supply drive for the Coast Guard personnel ahead of the Christmas holiday.

Its a shame that you need a food pantry to provide for military personnel and their families. That, at some point, should be fixed, he said. I think the military personnel should know that the people of Staten Island care about them and want to be supportive of them.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  They survived one of their nations darkest days, and on Monday, a group of Israelis shared their Oct. 7 survival stories with members of the Staten Island community.

Shani Teshuva, Hila Fakliro, and husband and wife, Ofer and Rony Kissin, joined about 100 people at the Joan and Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center in Sea View. They shared their unique stories about living through the Hamas-led military attacks on Israel that triggered Israeli retaliation and a bloody conflict that continues today.

The violence has been chiefly taking place in and around the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7 attacks, with clashes also taking place in the West Bank and IsraelLebanon border.

Fakliro, a bartender at the Nova music festival attacked by the Hamas militants, recounted her escape from the violence that left hundreds dead, and said simple decisions she made that day were a matter of life or death.

Are we running to our death? Are we going to get ourselves killed? she recalled thinking as she and a coworker ran for their lives. In the end, we ran for five hours, 13 miles, without water, alone through open fields with all the missiles and the terrorists.

Each of the survivors shared similar experiences they described as miracles, helping them live through the violence that led to hundreds of deaths.

An initial Israeli estimate put the death toll at about 1,400 people, but government officials from that nation revised the number to about 1,200 in early November.

As of Saturday, the Palestinian death toll in Gaza had surpassed 17,700, about two-thirds of whom were women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory.

Rony Kissin  a resident of Kerem Shalom, an Israeli community within a mile of border crossings with Egypt and the Gaza Strip  said she almost became a victim when a bullet grazed her as she and her husband fought to stay alive.

The pair are trained medics with United Hatzalah and they were working to assist their neighbors in need of medical attention as they tried to keep themselves safe as well.

I [saw] in front of me, a terrorist aiming with an AK (rifle), she said. Afterwards, I understood that I got hit...its only a scratch, and I have no signs on my body, but it was bleeding  thats how close it was.

Following the Heroines and Heroes of Light luncheon, the four Israelis who survived the Oct. 7 attack on Israel attend the Hanukkah Menorah lighting at the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island in Seaview on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)Staten Island Advance

Likewise, Teshuva  a resident of Zikim, which is near Gazas northern border with Israel  recalled a harrowing experience of her own that changed her neighbors lives and her own forever.

She said that before the attacks, she would freely travel around the area despite her homes proximity to Gaza, but said that since Oct. 7, the people of Israel have a new sense of insecurity.

The sense of personal security that we had up until Oct. 7 was amazing,' she said. We didnt lock our doors when we went to sleep at night. You (could) forget your car keys in the car and it would be fine.

On Oct. 7, a chance decision to not leave on time for her usual morning bike ride likely saved Teshuvas life, as she wouldve been out of her house when Hamas arrived in her community.

The afternoon program preceded a menorah lighting at the Bernikow JCC for the fourth night of Hanukkah, providing a more festive backdrop to the somber conversation.

Scott Maurer, the CEO and executive vice president for the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island (COJO), served as an emcee for the Monday conversation, and said an empty chair on stage with the survivors was meant to serve as a placeholder for the Israelis remaining in Hamas captivity.

We will always have a chair and a place for hostages until they come home, and we want it filled, he said.

The four Israelis comprise one of several survivor groups from their nation sharing stories with the international community. Teshuva, Fakliro, and the Kissins have also made other stops around the country.

Each came to their new calling of sharing their stories in different ways. Teshuva said she became a go-to interviewee for media outlets hoping to speak with survivors of the attacks at the hotel she and her family stayed at after Oct. 7. Fakliro said she had participated in several U.S.-Israeli exchange programs before Oct. 7.

Orit Lender, CEO of the Bernikow JCC, organized the local event with COJO in partnership with the JCC Association of America, the Israel Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, and the World Zionist Organization.

They are working hard and collaboratively to bring firsthand testimonies to the United States and to Europe and globally so that people can hear firsthand the truth about what happened on Oct. 7, she said.

One attendee of Mondays event raised concerns that the message isnt getting to people who might not understand the devastation Hamas attack wrought on Israel.

Lender said she had invited other groups to the JCCs event, but they were unable to attend. She said they hope to organize similar events in the future.

My goal is to try to get as many community leaders to understand what occurred on Oct. 7, to understand that Israel is doing everything they can to defend themselves in order to be able to survive, and that we, the Jewish community, are not going to be silent any longer, that were going to be loud and clear about what truth occurred, and the Hamas as a terrorist organization needs to be eliminated, she said.
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Floppy-haired British prime ministerial flop Boris Johnson might not, on the surface, have much in common with US pop juggernaut Taylor Swift, but it turns out that just like Tay Tay, Johnsons Australian fans cannot get enough of their idol.

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In scenes modestly reminiscent of the fuss surrounding Swifts Eras tour, organisers have scrambled to meet demand for tickets to Johnsons upcoming John Howard Lecture in Sydney.

The Menzies Research Centre, a Liberal Party-affiliated think tank, had to boost the events capacity to 1000 after tickets to see the former UK PM on his first visit to Australia since being ousted as leader of his riven Conservative Party, sold out.

The institutes David Hughes  not the comedian  said Boris had proved an all-time chart-topper for the conservative ideas factory, with the talk the biggest Menzies Research Centre event, I think, ever.
Zara pulled an advertising campaign featuring mannequins with missing limbs and statues wrapped in white from the front page of its website and app on Monday after it prompted calls by some pro-Palestine activists for a boycott of the fashion retailer.

Inditex, which owns Zara, said the change was part of its normal procedure of refreshing content. It did not comment on the boycott calls, but said the Atelier collection was conceived in July and the photos were taken in September. The war between Israel and Hamas began after October 7.

People walk past a Zara shop window in Barcelona, Spain earlier this month. Credit: Reuters

Zaras Instagram account featured tens of thousands of comments posted about the photos, many with Palestinian flags, while #BoycottZara was trending on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

In one of the photos a model is pictured carrying a mannequin wrapped in white, in another a bust lies on the floor, and another features a mannequin with no arms. Critics said they resembled photos of corpses in white shrouds in Gaza.
Broadcaster Alan Jones has sent a legal letter threatening defamation proceedings against the Nine media empire, claiming journalists want to destroy his reputation because they resent his rise as one of Australias most prominent commentators.

The concerns notice was sent on Tuesday afternoon to Bevan Shields, the editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, Patrick Elligett, the editor of The Age, and Kate McClymont, the Heralds chief investigative reporter. The two mastheads are owned by Nine.

Alan Jones has threatened legal action over the investigation. Credit: Getty

A concerns notice is the first step towards commencing defamation proceedings but does not institute proceedings.

The letter follows an investigation by the Herald and The Age which revealed the high-profile radio star allegedly used his position of power to prey on young men, indecently assaulting, groping or inappropriately touching them without their consent.
CCTV: On December 11, Argentinas new President Javier Milei met with President Xi Jinpings Special Envoy and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress Wu Weihua. Could you share more details on that meeting?

Mao Ning: At the invitation of the government of Argentina, President Xi Jinpings Special Envoy and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress Wu Weihua attended the inauguration of President of Argentina Javier Milei in Argentinas capital Buenos Aires. On December 11, President Javier Milei met with Wu Weihua.

Wu Weihua extended President Xi Jinpings warm congratulations and best wishes to President Javier Milei. President Javier Milei thanked President Xi for sending the special envoy to attend his inauguration, and asked Vice Chairman Wu to extend his sincere greetings and best wishes to President Xi. He stressed that the new government of Argentina attaches high importance to its relations with China and will continue to firmly follow the one-China principle and the Argentine side stands ready to further promote the in-depth exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields including economy and trade and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Global Times: It is reported that IMF First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath said on December 11 that around 3,000 trade restricting measures were imposed last year, nearly three times the number imposed in 2019. If the global economy fragments into two blocs, including predominantly the US and Europe in the Western bloc and China and Russia in the Eastern bloc, the global losses are estimated to be about 2.5 to 7 percent of global GDP. What is your comment?

Mao Ning: Trade protectionism is not conducive to the free flow of factors including goods, services and capital, distorts resource allocation, and undermines consumers interests. It does no good to the production efficiency and the recovery and development of the world economy. What is concerning is that some countries have been pushing for decoupling and severing of supply chains under the pretext of security, and imposing trade restriction measures in the name of de-risking. This will only make the world even less safe and bring more risks.

As President Xi Jinping stressed, in an increasingly interdependent and integrated world where countries form a community of shared interests, openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation are the only viable option.

China is always committed to building an open world economy and steadfastly promoting high-level opening-up. We always believe that absence of cooperation is the biggest risk and failure to develop is the biggest security threat. China stands ready to work with all parties to realize common development and prosperity through equal consultation and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Associated Press of Pakistan: On December 11, Indian Supreme Court announced a decision endorsing the Indian governments unilateral step to change the status of Jammu and Kashmir region, which is a clear violation of UNSC Resolution 122 which decided that the final settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue can only take place by UN-supervised plebiscite. What is Chinas response?

Mao Ning: Chinas position on the Kashmir issue is consistent and clear-cut. The Kashmir issue, left from the past, needs to be resolved peacefully and appropriately in accordance with the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions and relevant bilateral agreement. Parties concerned need to settle the dispute through dialogue and consultation so as to maintain regional peace and stability.

Bloomberg: Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the US will take the strongest possible action to protect national security when asked about how the Commerce Department will respond to Huaweis chip-making breakthroughs. Do you have any response to her comments?

Mao Ning: We have made clear our position on US chip export controls targeting China on multiple occasions. Such abuse of export control measures seriously harms Chinese companies legitimate rights and interests, destabilizes global chip industrial and supply chains, violates the principles of market economy and fair competition, and serves no ones interests. We firmly reject this.

The US needs to act on its commitments of not seeking a decoupling from China and not seeking to halt Chinas economic development. We will be watching closely relevant developments and resolutely defend our legitimate rights and interests.

Bloomberg: One more on Raimondo on a separate issue. She said the US is looking into specifics of three new AI accelerators that Nvidia is developing for China. Earlier this month she vowed to restrict any new chips that give the Asian country AI capabilities. Can you give any response to that?

Mao Ning: We firmly oppose the USs abuse of export controls and malicious attempts to blockade and keep down China.

AFP: Chinas official media reported today that President Xi is now in Hanoi on a state visit to Viet Nam. Could you update us on this?

Mao Ning: General Secretary and President Xi Jinping is paying a state visit to Viet Nam starting from today. More information on the visit will be released in a timely manner. Please check back for updates.
A suspected lieutenant in a billion-dollar crime syndicate  allegedly commanded by infamous gang member Bilal Haouchar from his hideout in Lebanon  discussed setting up a drug lab and obtaining massive amounts of cocaine, a court has heard.

Fadi El Zebdeh, 43, was released on bail after a hearing in the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday and will return to his family home in Yagoona almost one month after he was arrested by NSW Police.

Alleged drug syndicate heavy, Fadi El Zebdeh, allegedly imported more than 800g of meth oil. Police claim he plotted with infamous gangster, Bilal Haouchar, before an insider informed police. Credit: Facebook

For the first time, it can be revealed police convinced an unnamed person from inside the sprawling criminal empire to provide evidence against El Zebdeh and other alleged gangsters.

El Zebdeh was one of 24 people arrested in mid-November when 400 police swept across Sydney carrying out search warrants under Strike Force Tromperie, which was targeting alleged members of a massive crime empire, stretching from Lebanon to Sydney, that used guns and kidnappings to keep their hold on Australias drug market, police said last month.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size What hope have small, climate-vulnerable nations got, when a record number of fossil fuel lobbyists have flooded Dubai in order to undermine them (We will not sign our own death certificate: COP28 talks on the cusp of failure, smh.com.au, December 12)? At last count, there were well over 2400 representatives from oil, gas and coal corporations pushing their polluting products at the global summit. Thats more than the number of delegates from the 10 most climate-vulnerable countries combined. And it seems that bigger, louder, richer will win again, ultimately to all our detriment. So disappointing. Meredith Williams, Northmead Illustration: Credit: Matt Golding The amoral lobbying of the fossil fuel industry and the gob-smacking hypocrisy of coal and gas exporters has overwhelmed the COP meeting that was supposed to save the climate; what can I now say to my descendants to excuse this travesty of intergenerational justice? Im tearing out my remaining hair. Barry Laing, Castle Cove To more rapidly reduce our carbon emissions, at probably lower cost than other alternatives, particularly nuclear, why not give every household a solar battery, or at least heavily subsidise them. That would make better use of rooftop solar, in which Australia already leads the world. As power can be drawn from the battery, instead of the grid, it would reduce our reliance on power generated by fossil fuels. Also, excess power generated from the solar panels would firstly go to the battery, reducing the need to upgrade the grid to cope with electricity being fed back to it. And if were worried about the cost, why not remove the existing subsidies to coal and gas? If we believe in market forces, then new projects should be able to stand on their own two feet. Some radical thinking is needed given the little time we have. David Rush, Lawson One cannot help but be suspicious of Chris Bowens motives in telling COP28 that fossil fuels have no future. It is well known that Australia is expanding production primarily for export and as expected, is being accused of hypocrisy. It seems Australia is incapable of setting an example by immediately winding down production, our excuse being there must be a consensus by delegates regarding a rapid reduction target, and this is becoming less likely. However, to propose a conspiracy theory, Australias strategy may be to encourage other nations to reduce fossil fuel production in order to increase demand and prices for our exports. Geoff Harding, Chatswood It seems that many correspondents are overthinking the Coalitions promotion of nuclear energy as a future energy source (Letters, December 12). The Coalition knows as well as anyone that the economics of nuclear energy, either with large traditional plants or the unproven Small Modular Reactors, just dont add up. The Coalition dont want nuclear reactors any more than anyone else, what they want is the issue, not a solution. The more fog and misdirection they can create, the more distracted Labor will be in responding to the Coalition agenda rather than prosecuting their own emission reduction policy. The oppositions aim is not to form policy it is to frustrate the governments agenda and if the polls are to be believed, it is working. Peter Croft, Castle Hill

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With COP28 avoiding commitment to phase out fossil fuels it should be renamed COPOUT28. Rowan Godwin, Rozelle Referendum result highlights Australia Day slap in the face Ive always thought of Australia Day as yet another annoying public holiday but on January 26, 2024 Ill be mourning with Indigenous Australians at the disastrous result of the Yes campaign (Smiths Australia Day veto another blow for Albanese, December 12). The 60 per cent No vote demonstrated exactly how the majority of the population feels about our Indigenous people and their future. High Commissioner Stephen Smith is correct in cancelling this slap in the face to Indigenous Australians.

Christine Tiley, Albany Creek (Qld) Its time we stopped tiptoeing around the contentious issue of Australia Day. The High Commissioner to Britain should be commended for cancelling the Australia Day Gala dinner. Why is there more concern about upsetting non-Indigenous Australians than the original owners of this land? Are they supposed to be grateful just for being tolerated? Hopefully, changes to Australia Day celebrations here at home are under consideration as well. The defeat of the Voice referendum was a massive insult to Indigenous Australians, but they accepted it with dignity. Since then many non-Indigenous Australians realised they were conned into voting No. The gala represented another slap in the face of our First Nations peoples. Fundraisers can be held anytime. Theres no need to schedule them on a day that negatively impacts on First Australians. Its time the rest of us showed more respect, dignity and maturity. Graham Lum, North Rocks Calling Smiths veto of a black tie Australia Day gala in the UK risible, clumsy and likely to be met with derision seems a bit of an over-reaction. After the disappointment of the referendum, I say well played, Mr Smith. And let me get in early to loudly cheer change the date! Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn Illustration: Credit: Matt Golding Smith cancelling Australia Day at Australia House in London is an own goal that will cause more damage than good. He obviously does not understand the importance of informal relationships. If we couldnt even support the Indigenous Voice we are very far from appearing to cancel our so-called national day. Anne Garvan, Chatswood West

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Whilst respecting Ken Wyatts view, I tend to disagree that the referendum question was too complicated (Voice question should have been split, Wyatt says, December 12). The simple answer is that Australia is inherently racist. From the rednecks to the benevolent white mission managers, the No vote reflects the institutional racism that pervades across Australian society. Of the billions allocated to First Nations initiatives, far too much lands in the hands (and wallets) of non-Indigenous organisations based in Sydney and Melbourne that know better. Colonisation has a lasting uncomfortable stench. Chris Andrew, Turramurra Migration cuts rob Australia of essential skills I work for NSW Health. When I look at my patients electronic medical records, I see a long list of non-Anglo names that are contributing to and responsible for the care of my patients (Labor takes the point, but migration cuts fall short, December 12). These are the names of my colleagues who are professional, experienced, articulate, ethical and the mainstay of our health system. Many have come to Australia as students, some of whom I have taught at university, while others have come as graduates from their own countries. The NSW Health system is already stretched in terms of health care workers. These workers have difficulty finding affordable accommodation close to their work  bearing in mind most of them start shifts at 7am and finish after 10pm. Often their ability to find suitable local accommodation is compromised by their non-Anglo status and appearance. Reducing the intake of skilled migrants will have an immeasurably deleterious effect on Australian society. While reducing them in the short term might appease Australians who favour reduced migration, in the long term, we will all be worse off: in particular, those from western Sydney who most vehemently complain about migration and who might subsequently reply on their service. Patricia Farrar, Concord There is an additional factor to be under consideration when decisions are being made about tightening the English test and restricting overseas student numbers, and it is the mental health and wellbeing of these students. Working as a GP treating many students, and aware of the difficulty a considerable number have communicating in English, I often put myself in their shoes, struggling with their courses due to lack of English literacy, and it becomes clear the adverse effect this would have on their mental health. Also to be considered is the resultant burden on other students with better language skills when undertaking group work. Louise Dolan, Birchgrove

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Fair funding We have yet another report about the entrenched gap between the richest and poorest school students and the need for a massive boost to public school funding (New school targets, funding boost needed to overhaul entrenched disadvantage: report, December 12). How many times have we repeatedly heard this over many, many years? But still the disadvantages continue to multiply. Enough of the platitudes about the Gonski funding recommendations, which were undermined and distorted by successive governments. This report calls for full funding for public schools as a matter of urgency. For our children and the future of this so-called egalitarian country, will our current political leaders please do something tangible and effective to redress the imbalance, finally? Rob Phillips, North Epping The crucial and most desired words I want to hear from the federal education minister, are not only that public schools will receive 100 per cent of the Gonski school resourcing standard funding and additional loadings based on disadvantage, but that the excessive levels of federal funding to private and elite independent schools will be cut substantially. We cant allow the error of Julia Gillards No school will lose a dollar to once again maintain the dreadful inequity and segregation in our education system. Mark Berg, Caringbah South Repeat offender Trump incited a treasonous mob to attack the Capitol building in an attempt to prevent the peaceful handover of power (Call for fresh Democrat face as poll predicts a Trump win, December 12). He cheated on each one of his three wives, and paid off a porn star. A jury found him guilty of sexually attacking a woman in a department store. He increased the national debt by almost $8 trillion. He faces 91 indictments for various crimes. Yet the party of God, family values and fiscal responsibility will no doubt endorse him for president again and this poll says he could win in a general election. Go figure. Victoria Harrington, Thirroul Illustration: Credit: John Shakespeare Modern-day US politics has become all spin and frothy misinformation to sway voters. Truth is unknown and has become unknowable. If the MAGA, isolationist and protectionist Donald Trump becomes US president in 2024, Putin will cheer. The military aid to Ukraine is likely to be cut, and Ukraine may be obliged to sue for peace, surrendering all of Eastern Ukraine that the Russian forces have invaded.

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From an Australian view point, a Trump presidency will not be a total disaster. Although Trump may tear up AUKUS or go slow on the delivery of our nuclear-powered subs, the climate change denialist Trump is good for fossil fuel prices. Our coal exporters will make a motza. Geoff Black, Caves Beach Prayer for peace Amid the various protests, many thousands of people not speaking out are very aware of the terrible suffering on both sides of the war between Israel and Gaza (Letters, December 12). We could despair at the intractable problems now playing out in death and destruction. Instead, we turn to the only avenue open to us  we keep on praying for a just and lasting peace. Please dont anyone think that is simply a vain hope. There are people of goodwill in every nation who can work to make it happen. Margaret Johnston, Paddington A tart start For a couple of months in 2001, my wife and I were managers of a conservation reserve outside the citrus-growing area of Waikerie in South Australia. During that time, I developed the habit of peeling, slicing, dicing and deseeding an orange and grapefruit for breakfast every morning (Letters, December 12). That practice has continued to this day. Greater love hath no man? Alan Robertson, Campbell (ACT) Minister for common sense Im voting for Gary Nunns version of the minister for common sense as long as he promises to ban corporations from answering our calls with the most annoying recorded messages of our times: Your call is important to us. (A minister for common sense? So wrong, its right, December 12.) This line would only make sense if the same companies actually employed enough people to answer our phone calls, rather than keeping us on hold, sometimes for hours, while torturing us with further caring messages, spliced with some of the worst music ever recorded. Nick Franklin, Katoomba

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Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles has been forced to defend embattled high commissioner to the UK Stephen Smith, insisting the London post will hold an Australia Day function to mark January 26.

But the government-hosted event is separate to the long-running charity gala staged by the Australia Day Foundation that Smith blocked from being held near Australia Day, citing sensitivities around the date.

Smith has subsequently changed his story, citing high costs as a reason for his decision.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles says there will be an Australia Day function at Australia House in London next year. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Speaking from Adelaide on Tuesday, Marles said there would be a function at Australia House in London next month but would not specify if it would be the traditional dinner run by the foundation.
Engineered stone could be banned nationwide by next July if state and territory ministers sign off on a draft agreement in a high-stakes meeting on Wednesday as the Commonwealth faces renewed calls to ban imports of the product.

The agreement, circulated among ministers ahead of the meeting, says they accept the findings of a major report on the substance, which is linked to lung disease in tradies, and agree to prohibit its use under work health and safety laws by the second half of next year.

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke will meet with his state and territory counterparts to agree on a deadline for the use of engineered stone. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

While all states and territories have declared their support for a ban on the material, ministers have so far stayed silent on their preferred timeline.

But Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union head Zach Smith suggested they would have blood on their hands if it wasnt imposed by July.
Steven Miles is all but set to be confirmed as Queenslands next premier by the weekend after agreeing to a new leadership team with Treasurer Cameron Dick as his deputy.

Announcing a 12-month vehicle registration freeze from July 1 next year as a first cost-of-living move, Miles said the pair would take their pitch to a meeting of fellow Labor MPs on Friday.

There will be changes to cabinet, but were not getting ahead of ourselves, Steven Miles said on Tuesday. Credit: Louise Kennerley

But the meeting should be little more than a formality, after Miles Left faction ally Shannon Fentiman dropped her brief bid for the top job when faction and union support aligned with Miles.

Annastacia Palaszczuks decision to step down from Friday after almost nine years in the job triggered swift internal party and union movement discussion around an ultimate successor, with Miles, Dick and Fentiman included in talks of those with leadership potential and ambition.
Victoria would share in the cost of any unexpected price hikes in the first major works for the Suburban Rail Loop, as part of a new $3.6 billion contract that locks the state into the infrastructure project and forces the opposition to reconsider its policy to cancel it.

Premier Jacinta Allan on Tuesday announced the contract for 16 kilometres of tunnelling between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley had been awarded to CPB Contractors, Ghella and Acciona Construction.

Premier Jacinta Allan last Thursday. Credit: Joe Armao

On the same day, Infrastructure Australia released a report warning that workforce shortages would escalate costs and delay infrastructure projects across the country.

Allan acknowledged the pressures on the industry but said all work for SRL East, the first stage of the 90-kilometre orbital rail link, was still expected to cost between $30 billion and $35 billion. She would not say how much was needed to fund the entire project, which will eventually connect Cheltenham to Werribee via the airport.
Google has released its annual year in search reports, giving an insight into what Australians, and people around the world, have used the tech giants technology to find out over the course of 2023.

Globally, the ongoing Israel-Hamas war topped news trends for this year, followed by queries related to the Titanic-bound submersible that imploded in June, as well as Februarys devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. But in Australia specifically, they were all trumped by searches related to Novembers 12-hour Optus outage.

Sam Kerr and The Matildas feature prominently in this years data. Credit: Getty Images

In sport, US soccer club Inter Miami CF, the new home of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, led Googles global trends.

But in Australia, its no surprise that the Matildas figure prominently throughout the results. Though Womens World Cup appears at number three in the overall sports list (under two cricket-related queries), the top how to query was about figuring out how to watch the World Cup, and Tillies Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler topped the list for the most-searched Australians of the year.
Brussels: In a cathartic moment for many in Poland, centrist political veteran Donald Tusk has become the next prime minister, marking the end of eight years of right-wing nationalist rule and a dramatic shift in the European political landscape.

Tusks alliance secured a majority in October elections with a promise to restore Polish democracy and the countrys relationship with European allies.

This is a wonderful day, not for me, but for all those who have deeply believed over these years that things will get even better, that we will chase away the darkness, that we will chase away evil, Tusk said, addressing the Polish people. From tomorrow, we will be able to right the wrongs so that everyone, without exception, can feel at home, he added.

Donald Tusk shows a heart with his hands to lawmakers after he was elected as Polands prime minister in parliament in Warsaw on Monday. Credit: AP

But with interest and expectations running high, Tusk, a former president of the European Council, faces the daunting task of repairing relations with the European Union, depoliticising the judiciary, restoring the independence of the media, and bolstering the rights of women and minorities  all without alienating the many who sympathise with the old guard.
Washington: A lawyer for two Georgia election workers has accused Rudy Giuliani of destroying his clients reputations by falsely accusing them of working to rig the 2020 US presidential election against Donald Trump.

A jury heard opening arguments in a civil defamation trial focused only on how much Giuliani will have to pay the two workers. They are Wandrea Shaye Moss, a voter registration officer, and her mother Ruby Freeman, who was a temporary worker for the election. A federal judge has already determined that the former New York mayor and Trump lawyer is liable for defamation.

Lawyers for Moss and Freeman said they would ask the jury to award tens of millions of dollars in damages at the close of the trial.

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani talks to reporters outside court in Washington. The trial will determine how much he pays in damage to two defamed Georgia election workers. Credit: AP

If the jury awards Freeman and Moss what they are seeking, Giulianis lawyer Joseph Sibley said, it will be the end of Mr Giuliani.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has confronted US House Speaker Mike Johnson at an event in Washington, pleading with the senior Republican to keep Congress in session until it has approved a new round of funding to Ukraine.

Abbott, now a member of the UKs Board of Trade and newly appointed director of Rupert Murdochs Fox Corporation, addressed the new Speaker during audience questions at The Wall Street Journals CEO Council Summit.

Abbott said Ukrainians were not just fighting for their own freedom but fighting for everyones freedom.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott confronts US House Speaker Mike Johnson from the audience of the WSJ CEO Council event in Washington. Credit: Screenshot/X

And Ukrainians are fighting and dying so that Americans and Britons and Australians dont have to fight and die, he said.
On the 67th day of the war, Israel occupation army heavily bombards Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south, while also targeting Jabalia and Shejaiya in the north, as the UN General Assembly gears up to vote on a non-binding resolution for an immediate ceasefire, following the US veto at the Security Council.

23:30 The Pentagon announced Tuesday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Israel, Bahrain and Qatar next week as the U.S. continues to press allies to commit to an international maritime task force to protect commercial ships in the Red Sea as those ships have come under increased attacks.

Austin will also meet with his defense counterparts in Tel Aviv to show continued U.S. support for Israels right to defend itself but also press the need for Israel to avoid more civilian casualties in Gaza.

Late Monday, a land-based cruise missile launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen hit the Motor Transport ship STRINDA, causing a fire. The USS Mason, a destroyer, responded to assist the ship.

22:15 Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, told U.N. reporters Tuesday that Arab and Islamic ambassadors have been mobilizing support for the resolution and expect it will get a significantly higher number of votes than their Oct. 27 resolution, which called for a humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities. That resolution was the first U.N. reaction to the Gaza war, and the vote was 120-14 with 45 abstentions.

I think it will send a message to Washington and to others, Mansour said, adding that a demand from the United Nations, whether its the Security Council or the General Assembly, should be looked at as binding. And Israel has to abide by it, and those who are shielding and protecting Israel until now should also look at it this way, and therefore act accordingly," he said.

Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding. But the assemblys messages are also very important and reflect world opinion, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Monday.

20:00 President Joe Biden says hes told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel risks losing international support because of indiscriminate bombing during its war on Gaza, but that hes not sure the countrys staunchest conservative leaders are getting the message.

Speaking at a fundraiser for his reelection campaign in Washington on Tuesday, Biden said, Israel has a tough decision to make. He added of Netanyahu, I think he has to change his government. His government in Israel is making it very difficult.

One of the things that Bibi understands, Biden said is that Israels security can rest on the United States. But, right now, it has more than the United States. It has the European Union, it has Europe, it has most of the world supporting them. But theyre starting to lose that support by indiscriminate bombing that takes place.

Biden also called out Itamar Ben-Gvir, the leader of a far-right Israeli party and the minister of national security in Netanyahus governing coalition. Ben-Gvir opposes a two-state solution and has called for the Israel to reassert control over all of the West Bank and Gaza.

Biden suggested that he wasnt sure Ben-Gvir and Netanyahus war Cabinet understand the implications of the ongoing bombing.

The president also said he urged Netanyahu not to make the same mistakes the U.S. made after Sept. 11, saying the U.S. military response landed it in a long war in Afghanistan and theres no reason we did so many of the things we did.

19:15 The Israeli army announced on Tuesday that they had retrieved the bodies of two captives from Gaza in an operation that killed two Israeli soldiers.

Soldiers retrieved the bodies of Eden Zakaria, 27, who was kidnapped from the music festival near Kibbutz Reim, and Ziv Dado, 36, a soldier serving near the Gaza border. Dado was killed on October 7 and his body was taken to Gaza. Zakaria was wounded on October 7, and it was unclear if she was taken alive or dead to Gaza, according to reports on Israels Channel 12.

During the operation to rescue the bodies, two soldiers, Gal Meir Eizenkot and Eyal Meir Berkowitz, were killed. Gal Eisenkot is the son of Gadi Eizenkot, who served as military chief of staff from 2015 to 2019 and sits on the war cabinet.

17:30 White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said he will speak with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about timetables for ending major combat in Gaza when he visits Israel later this week.

Sullivan said he would be carrying President Joe Bidens thoughts on the matter and would also be looking to hear from Netanyahu and Israeli officials on the issue.

The subject of how they are seeing the timetable of this war will certainly be on the agenda for my meetings, Sullivan said Tuesday during an appearance at a forum hosted by the Wall Street Journal.

Sullivan suggested that at some point Israeli forces would shift toward more focused operations to achieve their objectives.

It doesnt have to be that you go from that to literally nothing in terms of putting pressure on going after Hamas targets, Hamas leadership, or continuing to have tools in your toolbox to try to secure the release of hostages, he said. It just means that you move to a different phase from the kind of high-intensity operations that we see today.

Sullivan said he would also speak to Netanyahu about his recent comments that Israeli army would maintain open-ended security control of Gaza after the war ends.

Sullivan reiterated the Biden administration's position that it does not want to see Israel reoccupy Gaza or further shrink its already small territory. The administration has repeatedly called for a return of the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority and the resumption of peace talks aimed at establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

I will have the opportunity to talk to Prime Minister Netanyahu about what exactly he has in mind with that comment, because that can be interpreted in a number of different ways, Sullivan said. But the U.S. position on this is clear.

15:25 Israel has killed 18,412 people and injured 50,100 other in Gaza since the begining of the war on 7 October, the Palestinian health ministry reported in its daily tally.

14:16 Israel has imposed a near-total siege on Gaza-inflicting collective punishment on over 2 million people, half of whom are children, the UNRWA said.

Israel has imposed a near-total siege on #Gaza-inflicting collective punishment on over 2 million people, half of whom are children.



The meager supplies that Israel has been allowing into#Gaza have little effect in the face of the overwhelming needs of an entire population. pic.twitter.com/jl0mYnknI7  UNRWA (@UNRWA) December 12, 2023

13:50 Nine injured Palestinians have crossed from Gaza into Egypt via the Rafah crossing to seek medical treatment at Egyptian hospitals, as reported by Al-Qahera News TV channel.

Moreover, over 300 individuals holding dual citizenship have also entered through Rafah.

Additionally, 40 humanitarian aid trucks and five fuel trucks dispatched from Egypt have entered Gaza via the terminal.

12:20 The health ministry in the Gaza Strip sayas that the Israeli forces are raiding Kamal Adwan hospital in the north of the Palestinian territory.

"Israeli occupation forces are storming Kamal Adwan hospital after besieging and bombing it for days," ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a statement.

11:50 Puma will end its sponsorship of Israel's national football team next year, a spokesperson for the German sportswear firm said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

"While two newly signed national teams - including a new statement team - will be announced later this year and in 2024, the contracts of some federations such as Serbia and Israel will expire in 2024," said the spokesperson in an emailed statement.

The news was reported by the Financial Times.

The company says the decision, planned since last year, is unrelated to boycott calls against it amid Israels war on Gaza, and is part of Puma's new "fewer-bigger-better strategy."

The Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement had called for a boycott of the sportswear firm over its sponsorship of the Israeli team.

Puma first signed its contract with the Israeli team in 2018.

Since then, the company has faced boycott calls from activists, since the Israeli Football Association includes teams based in Jewish-only settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are illegal under international law.

Boycott calls have grown stronger and expanded to more firms and products following Israel's brutal war on the Gaza Strip.

11:00 Of the 105 Israeli occupation soldiers killed in the Gaza Strip during its ground offensive in Gaza, 20 were killed by friendly fire and other accidents, according to The Times of Israel reporting on data released by the Israeli army.

Thirteen of the soldiers were killed by friendly fire due to mistaken identification, including in airstrikes, tank fire, and gunfire.

One soldier was killed by gunfire aimed at another target and another two were killed by misfires.

Two soldiers were killed when they were run over by armoured vehicles.

Two soldiers were killed by shrapnel from explosives intentionally set off by Israeli forces.

The war has led to the killing of 433 Israeli soldiers and the wounding of at least 1,645 more.

However, some reporting by an Israeli newspaper suggests this number could be higher.

10:10 Sky News' reporter Mark Stone confronted the US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller over the American response to the Israeli detention of Palestinian children and men who were stripped to their underwear, blindfolded, and crowded into trucks.

Others were forced to sit in lines on bombed-out streets, surrounded by tanks and soldiers.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller was challenged by @Stone_SkyNews over America's response to Israeli forces detaining a number of Palestinian men who were stripped to their underwear and blindfolded.



Latest updates: https://t.co/O1sOcCCWiD pic.twitter.com/tL7iUIpdLs  Sky News (@SkyNews) December 11, 2023

"We found those images deeply disturbing and we are seeking more information, both about the nature of the images and, of course, why they are public in the first place," Miller responded when asked if he found such images appropriate.

Al Jazeera interviewed a group of former detainees, including several children and elderly people, who said that they were separated from the women, ordered to strip, and then beaten and imprisoned by the Israeli army.

One of the older members of the group stated that prisoners were subjected to mock executions.

Palestinians rounded up by Israeli forces in Gaza City have described being stripped, blindfolded, numbered and tortured while detained.



This group of detainees have now been released and are receiving medical treatment  pic.twitter.com/XFqZJQOfKb  Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 10, 2023 Other videos depict Israeli soldiers engaging in mockery, looting, and vandalizing properties. In one footage, a soldier rummages through womens lingerie within an upturned room, referring disrespectfully to the previous occupant as a slut while off-camera, he inquires, "Who wants a [lingerie] set." Another video shows a soldier blowing up a building, dedicating the action to his daughter.

10:00 The European Union will work on introducing sanctions against Israeli extremist settlers who commit acts of violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, the bloc's foreign policy chief said.

Josep Borrells comments come amid growing concern that Israel is not doing enough to prevent hardcore settlers from launching attacks on Palestinians.

United Nations data has shown a sharp increase in attacks by terrorist settlers against Palestinians since 7 October  though European and US diplomats have expressed concerns for years about such violence and the sense it frequently goes unpunished by Israel.

Borrell's remarks also follow the announcement last week of a new visa policy by the United States targeting the same violent individuals.

The State Department will be able to apply the policy to both Israelis and Palestinians who are responsible for attacks in the West Bank, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week.

American citizens represent 15 percent of the overall settlement population.

Borrell did not give details of possible EU sanctions, but Reuters said officials believed it would involve travel bans to the bloc.

9:45 A surgeon was wounded after being shot from outside a hospital in northern Gaza that is surrounded by Israeli forces, Doctors Without Borders said.

The aid group said the shooting occurred Monday at Al-Awda Hospital, and that five hospital staff at Al-Awda Hospital, including two of its own doctors, have been killed while caring for patients since the start of the war.

The United Nations humanitarian office, known as OCHA, said a convoy delivering medical supplies to the north for the first time in more than a week came under fire on the way to another hospital over the weekend.

The convoy evacuated 19 patients but was delayed for inspections by Israeli occupation forces on the way south. OCHA said one patient died and a paramedic was detained for hours.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have remained in northern Gaza, even after Israel's evacuation orders and as airstrikes have leveled entire neighborhoods.

Very little humanitarian aid has been allowed into northern Gaza, and the health system has all but collapsed.

Earlier today, an MSF surgeon was injured inside Al-Awda hospital in north Gaza by a shot fired from outside the facility. Our colleagues report snipers surrounding the hospital, firing on those inside. Al-Awda has been under total siege by Israeli forces since December 5.  Doctors w/o Borders (@MSF_USA) December 11, 2023

9:35 The Israeli occupation forces killed four Palestinians in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday, the Palestinian health ministry reported.

At least one other is thought to have been seriously wounded.

The ministry did not provide further details on the fatalities, while the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said they were killed in a drone strike on the Old City.

Videos emerged from inside the city, showing several bodies lying on the ground, and people gathered around them, BBC reported.

At least 275 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settler attacks in the occupied Jerusalem and West Bank, Palestinian officials say, as violence has escalated in the territory since the outbreak of the Israeli war on Gaza on 7 October.

An AFP photographer saw Israeli military vehicles entering Jenin refugee camp on Tuesday and a drone flying above.

Israeli forces "continue to storm Jenin camp and ambulance crews are prevented from entering to deal with medical cases without prior coordination," the Red Crescent said in a statement.

09:32 The World Health Organization said Tuesday that a patient had died in an emergency convoy en route to a Gaza City hospital, during repeated and lengthy Israeli checks.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at the weekend that the UN health agency and its partners had managed to deliver essential trauma and surgical supplies to the Al-Ahli hospital and to transfer 19 critical patients.

But on Tuesday, he provided more details about the high-risk mission, saying on X, formerly Twitter, that the WHO was "deeply concerned about prolonged checks and detention of health workers that put lives of already fragile patients at risk."

"Due to the hold-up, one patient died en route, given the grave nature of their wounds and the delay in accessing treatment," he said.

The UN estimates 1.9 million of the territory's 2.4 million people have been displaced by the war, half of them children.

Humanitarian leaders fear the besieged territory will soon be overwhelmed by disease and starvation.

Saturday's WHO-led mission brought desperately needed aid to Al-Ahli hospital, which had been "substantially damaged" and was in acute need of oxygen and essential medical supplies plus water, food, and fuel, as well as additional health personnel.

Tedros had described it as a "very high-risk mission in the vicinity of active shelling and artillery fire."

On Tuesday, he said the convoy was stopped twice at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint on the way to northern Gaza and on the way back, adding that some Palestinian Red Crescent staff were detained both times and questioned for several hours.

"As the mission entered Gaza City, the aid truck carrying the medical supplies and an ambulance were hit by bullets," he said.

We received greater detail on Saturdays high-risk @WHO-led mission in #Gaza to Al-Ahli Hospital. We are deeply concerned about prolonged checks and detention of health workers that put lives of already fragile patients at risk.



The mission was stopped twice at the Wadi Gaza https://t.co/DG4uxYSNBw  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 12, 2023

9:30 A missile fired by Yemen's Houthi group slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen near a key maritime chokepoint, the Houthi and authorities said Tuesday.

The assault on the oil and chemical tanker Strinda expands a campaign by the group targeting ships close to the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait into now striking those that have no clear ties to Israel.

That potentially imperils cargo and energy shipments coming through the Suez Canal and further widens the international impact of the now-raging devastating Israeli war on Gaza.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree issued a video statement saying the rebels only fired on the vessel when it rejected all warning calls.

The US military's Central Command issued a statement Tuesday saying an anti-ship cruise missile launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen hit the Strinda.

The private intelligence firms Ambrey and Dryad Global had earlier confirmed the attack happened near the crucial Bab Al-Mandeb Strait separating East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.

The Strinda was coming from Malaysia and was bound for the Suez Canal and then on to Italy with a cargo of palm oil, Belsnes said. Saree alleged without offering any evidence that the ship was bound for Israel.

The Houthis have carried out a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and also launched drones and missiles targeting Israel because of its war on Gaza.

In November, Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen.

The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Separately, a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a drone in the Indian Ocean.

9:00 Israel continued its bombing of Gaza amid ongoing fierce resistance, with confrontations reported in central Gaza and witnesses detailing deadly strikes in the south.

Strikes targeted Gazas main southern cities of Khan Younis and Rafah, both bearing the brunt of the war and providing shelter to tens of thousands seeking refuge from Israel's genocidal war.

Dozens more were injured in the strike on a family home in the Al Zuhur neighbourhood, the Wafa news agency said.

Israeli strikes overnight and into Tuesday in southern Gaza killed at least 23 people, including six children.

Most of the 23 dead brought into the Rafah hospital overnight were from three families, hospital records show.

Since the start of the war in early October, Israel has killed over 18,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

Simultaneously, the Israeli occupation army continued its assault on the northern areas of Jabalia and Shejaiya, where homes lie in ruins.

A Palestinian from Khan Yunis, follows his father who is carrying the wrapped body of his daughter Sidal who was killed overnight while sleeping in a tent from a shrapnel that hit her in the head following Israeli bombardment in Rafah on December 12, 2023. AFP

Palestinians mourn their relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, at the hospital Rafah, December 12, 2023. AP

Forty humanitarian aid trucks and five fuel trucks, delivered from Egypt, arrived in Gaza through the Rafah crossing, Al-Qahera News TV channel reported on Tuesday.

Additionally, nine injured Palestinians arrived in Egypt through the Rafah crossing to receive medical treatment in Egyptian hospitals. More than 300 dual citizenship holders also arrived in Rafah.

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Recently, the cybercrime department of the Caribbean Netherlands Police Force has received several reports about 'Sextortion'.

What is Sextortion?

Sextortion is extortion with a sexually explicit photo or video of the victim. This may be a nude photo or video of the victim, but it may also be that webcam images of someone are edited in such a way that it appears that the victim is having sex with a minor, so that posting material is also blackmailed in this way.

The blackmailer usually wants money or more spicy photos or videos of the victim. Often the photos and videos are stolen via social media, emails, by taking over webcams or by stealing equipment. You can report 'Sextortion'.

What can you do against 'Sextortion'?

Don't respond to the threats.

When you do what is asked of you, they can blackmail you further. There is no guarantee that the blackmail will stop if you do what is asked.

Collect as much evidence as possible.

This can help if you go to the police now or later. Take as many screenshots as possible of the messages you receive. Is there something annoying about you online? Take screenshots of that and make sure the website address (URL) is visible.

Remove and block the person everywhere.

Find yourself on the internet via search engines.

Did you come across your photo or video online? Then contact that site as soon as possible. You will often find a link to 'help', 'abuse' or 'contact' at the bottom of a site. Explain in your email that you can be seen on it and that you have not given permission for its placement.

Please note that some sites are in English, so it is best to write your mail in English.

Let the police know via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Tips to prevent 'Sextortion'

Share as little private information online as possible.

Shield your social media profile from strangers and set other privacy settings properly. This also includes properly securing your photos.

Use an alias or Nick name instead of your own name on dating and profile sites. This makes it difficult for scammers to identify you and find family, friends or colleagues.

Don't accept friend or follow requests from people you don't know.

Do not just click on links or open files if you do not know the sender (well) or do not expect an attachment.

Clearly indicate your limits, for example that you do not send nude photos.

Say 'no' to requests you don't want to participate in.



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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, December 6, Sint Maarten organized and hosted three information sessions for Thursday, December 7, 2023, the Secretariat of the Parliament of all candidates of the political parties contesting the parliamentary elections on January 11, 2024. Candidates of all eight parties contesting the upcoming elections made use of this opportunity to learn more about Parliament.

The sessions were provided by the Secretary-General of the Parliament, Mr. Garrick J. Richardson, LL.M, ML, and Advisor to the Secretary-General, Mrs. Ann A. Groen-Gumbs, LL.M.

During the presentation, the Secretary-General gave insight into Sint Maartens political history that made way for our current constitutional framework and our Parliamentary democracy.

The presentation also covered the tasks of Members of Parliament, namely to represent the entire population of Sint Maarten, to act as co-legislator, and to exercise control over and supervise the Governments policies.

During the presentation, the legislative process was also discussed in detail, from the start of a legislative piece to the entry into force of the legislation. The candidates were also briefed on the Rules of Order for Parliament that regulates how Parliament functions.

The Advisor to the Secretary-General presented on the different formats of meetings that the Parliament has, the requirements of the meetings, and what takes place in those meetings. The candidates were informed about the Committee for Petitions, as regulated by the Constitution, the Permanent Committees of Parliament, and the Ad Hoc (temporary) Committees of Parliament. Time was also spent on why Sint Maarten implemented a Question Hour.

After that, an explanation was given on the role of the President of Parliament, the Presidium, and the Secretariat of Parliament in the organization of Parliament.

At the end of the presentation, the candidates attending the sessions were given the opportunity to pose questions related to the presentation to the presenters.

At the start of every Parliamentary Term, the Secretariat of Parliament organizes an Orientation Week for all the Members of Parliament, in which intensive training into the role of a Member of Parliament and presentations by the High Councils of State and other Advisory Bodies of Sint Maarten are given. The information sessions held on December 6 and 7, 2023, served as an introduction to the Parliament of Sint Maarten and a stepping stone towards further and continuous learning about Parliament and the role of Members of Parliament in our democracy.
A missile fired by Yemen's Houthi group slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen near a key maritime chokepoint, the Houthi and authorities said Tuesday.

The assault on the oil and chemical tanker Strinda expands a campaign by the group targeting ships close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into now striking those that have no clear ties to Israel. That potentially imperils cargo and energy shipments coming through the Suez Canal and further widens the international impact of the now-raging Israeli war on Gaza.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree issued a video statement saying the rebels only fired on the vessel when it rejected all warning calls.

The U.S. military's Central Command issued a statement Tuesday saying an anti-ship cruise missile launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen hit the Strinda.

There were no U.S. ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but the USS Mason responded  and is currently rendering assistance, Central Command said. The Mason is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that has been involved in several of the recent incidents off Yemen.

The private intelligence firms Ambrey and Dryad Global had earlier confirmed the attack happened near the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.

Geir Belsnes, the CEO of Strinda's operator, J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, also confirmed the attack took place.

All crew members are unhurt and safe, Belsnes said. The vessel is now proceeding to a safe port.

The Strinda was coming from Malaysia and was bound for the Suez Canal and then on to Italy with a cargo of palm oil, Belsnes said. Saree alleged without offering any evidence that the ship was bound for Israel.

The British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which provides warnings to sailors in the Middle East, earlier reported a fire aboard an unidentified vessel off Mokha, Yemen, with all the crew aboard being safe. The coordinates of that fire correspond to the last known location of the Strinda based on satellite tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press.

The Houthis have carried out a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and also launched drones and missiles targeting Israel because of it's devastating war on Gaza.

In recent days, they have threatened to attack any vessel they believe is either going to or coming from Israel, though there was no immediately apparent link between the Strinda and Israel.

Israels national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said over the weekend that Israel has called on its Western allies to address the threats from Yemen and would give them some time to organize a response. But he said if the threats persist, we will act to remove this blockade.

Analysts suggest the Houthis hope to shore up waning popular support after years of civil war in Yemen between it and Saudi-backed forces.

France and the United States have stopped short of saying their ships were targeted in rebel attacks, but have said Houthi drones have headed toward their ships and were shot down in self-defense.

Washington so far has declined to directly respond to the attacks, as has Israel, whose military continues to describe the ships as not having links to their country.

Global shipping has increasingly been targeted as Israel war on Gaza threatens to become a wider regional conflict  even during a brief pause in fighting during which Hamas exchanged captives for Palestinian children and women detainees held by Israel. The collapse of the truce and the resumption of a punishing Israeli ground offensive and airstrikes on Gaza have raised the risk of more sea attacks.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is only 29 kilometers (18 miles) wide at its narrowest point, limiting traffic to two channels for inbound and outbound shipments, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Nearly 10% of all oil traded at sea passes through it.

In November, Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen.

The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Separately, a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a drone in the Indian Ocean.

A separate, tentative cease-fire between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition has held for months despite that country's long war. That's raised concerns that any wider conflict in the sea  or a potential reprisal strike from Western forces  could reignite those tensions in the Arab world's poorest nation.

In 2016, the U.S. launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at U.S. Navy ships at the time.

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The Israeli occupation forces killed four Palestinians in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday, the Palestinian health ministry reported.

At least one other is thought to have been seriously wounded.

The ministry did not provide further details on the fatalities, while the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said they were killed in a drone strike on the Old City.

Videos from inside Jenins Old City, in the occupied West Bank, show on Tuesday several bodies lying on the ground, people gathered around them, BBC reported.

At least 275 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire and settler attacks in the occupied Jeruslamen and West Bank, Palestinian officials say, as violence has escalated in the territory since the outbreak of the Israeli war on Gaza on 7 October.

An AFP photographer saw Israeli military vehicles entering Jenin refugee camp on Tuesday and a drone flying above.

"Israel's army is operating inside Jenin Camp  residents filming from inside their houses have shared videos of soldiers moving through the streets in full body armor with their weapons raised", BBC said.

Israeli forces "continue to storm Jenin camp and ambulance crews are prevented from entering to deal with medical cases without prior coordination," the Red Crescent said in a statement.

Jenin city and its refugee camp have seen repeated Israeli raids, with over 200 killed this year including children, even before the war on Gaza.

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While the US has given wholehearted diplomatic and military support to Israels campaign, the two allies are wider apart over the timetable of the war and what comes afterward in Gaza if Hamas is defeated.





Benjamin Netanyahu says his government and that of the US have differing ideas on what the end of the current war might bring in terms of the governance of Gaza.

"There is a disagreement [with the US] when it comes to 'the day after Hamas,' and I hope we will come to an agreement here too," Netanyahu was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. "I will not allow Israel to repeat the mistake of Oslo."

The 1993 Oslo Accords saw Israel agree that Palestinian people had the right of self-determination, although did not create a definitive Palestinian state.

Netanyahu in a statement, reiterating his past refusal to back the return of the Palestinian Authority, run by the Fatah faction, to rule over Gaza once again, saying that Gaza "will be neither Hamas-stan nor 'Fatah-stan'".

In a briefing with the AP on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signaled that the current phase of heavy ground fighting and airstrikes could stretch on for weeks and that further military activity could continue for months.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said he will speak with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about timetables for ending major combat in Gaza when he visits Israel later this week.

Speaking at a forum hosted by the Wall Street Journal, Sullivan said he would also speak to Netanyahu about his recent comments that the Israeli military would maintain an open-ended security control of Gaza after the war ends.

The Biden administration says it does not want to see Israel reoccupy Gaza. It has also called for a return of the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority to Gaza and the resumption of peace talks aimed at establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

The US has also urged Israel to do more to prevent civilian casualties, but the toll in Gaza has continued to mount at seemingly the same dizzying rate.

Many experts consider Israels aim to crush Hamas to be unrealistic, pointing to Hamas deep base of support among many Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, who see it as resisting Israels half-century of occuping rule.

Even just destroying Hamas military capability will be a tall order without decimating what remains of Gaza, said the International Crisis Group, a think tank, in a report over the weekend that also called for an immediate cease-fire.

Israeli officials clamied that some 7,000 Hamas fighters, roughly one-quarter of the groups estimated fighting force, have been killed and that 500 have been detained in Gaza over the past month.

Hamas says it still has thousands of reserve fighters. None of the claims could be verified.

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The UN General Assembly was due to vote Tuesday on a non-binding resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, a call that the paralyzed Security Council has so far failed to make.

The United States, one of only five permanent members of the Security Council, used its veto on Friday to halt a draft text calling for a ceasefire, the latest sign of impasse.

The Council took more than a month after the start of the Israeli war on Gaza to speak out, and it did so with a weak voice, calling in mid-November after four rejected texts for humanitarian "pauses" in the conflict.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned of a looming "complete breakdown of public order" in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Many countries and human rights organizations deplored last Friday's Security Council failure, and Guterres on Sunday described the Council's authority and credibility as "undermined."

Israeli air and ground attacks continue to pummel Gaza, more than two months after the unprecedented offensive perpetrated by Hamas on Israeli soil on October 7 where 1,200 killed, according to Israeli officials.

The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza says 18,412 people killed, 70% of them children and women, with 50,100 injured, in Israel's bombardment since.

The UN itself is mourning the death of more than 100 of its own aid workers since the onset of war.

"We need to stop this war. And we need to stop it now," Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour said Tuesday, adding that Palestinians are justifiably outraged.

"At the end of the day, we believe we will prevail with almost the entire international community in calling for a humanitarian ceasefire," Mansour said.

- 'Catastrophic' -

In order to build pressure, Arab countries called for the new special session of the General Assembly for Tuesday afternoon, just after a visit to the Rafah border point by more than a dozen Security Council ambassadors.

The draft text, seen by AFP, largely reproduces the resolution blocked in the Council on Friday by the United States.

Expressing concern at the "catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip," it "demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire," and calls for the protection of civilians, humanitarian access, and the "immediate and unconditional" release of all captives.

But like a text adopted by the Assembly at the end of October, which called for an "immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities", it does not condemn Hamas, an absence systematically criticized by Israel and the United States.

The US delegation has proposed an amendment which condemns "the attacks by Hamas" on October 7. A similar amendment to the resolution passed in late October was rejected.

The previous resolution received 120 votes in favor, 14 against (including Israel and the United States) and 45 abstentions.

With calls for a ceasefire multiplying, "it is safe to assume that the majority will be greater" this time, Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group told AFP.

This may bring the Assembly closer to the 140 or so countries (out of 193 member states) that have repeatedly denounced the invasion of Ukraine, a result that the United States has cited as proof of Russia's isolation.

But even with overwhelming support for a non-binding text, "nobody imagines that the General Assembly can persuade Israel to cease fire, just as it cannot order Putin to quit Ukraine. The goal is to make the US increasingly nervous," Gowan said.

Although the Security Council is "at the heart of our work in peace and security," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general, messages from the General Assembly "are also very important."

* This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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Faster growth in earnings has supported a faster pace of rental growth. The supply-demand imbalance in rented housing is not going to disappear in 2024, however, the market is set to become more balanced than it has been over the last three years.
The family went Santa-hunting each year. But we could not find an experience that reflected how important this moment was to us. All the grottos, shopping malls, garden centres and Santa experiences we visited lacked scale, storytelling and frankly, believability. Father Christmas wouldnt even know our boys names. Even a trip to Lapland in Finland itself left us wanting. As parents we started thinking that if we could create something truly special that we would have loved for our own sons here in the UK, hopefully other families would love it too.
Working with Matthew Perry, Matthew Perry has since said that he was so impressed with your comedic abilities working with him that he said if there was ever to be a biopic on him, he would want you to play him.
"His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers." A 17-year-old male was arrested nearby on suspicion of murder and taken to a north London police station where he remains. A crime remains in place as detectives and forensics officers trawl for clues.
It was asserted on their behalf that they were not involved in the murder but were concerned with the theft of cars.
Tenants told officers who visited the premises their landlord was called Barry Jacobs, but the council workers were only able to locate 'Barry' in 2016 and were unable to prove who he was.
Commander Umer Khan OBE, from City of London Police, said: The City of London is a vibrant, exciting place to be in London, offering the best bars, pubs and restaurants. This New Years Eve, were fully prepared to welcome visitors to the City, whilst working with partners to prevent, detect and act on any criminality.
We have seen in the course of the protests a whole spectrum of behaviour, the extreme of whi9hc crosses over into terrorism legislation. The arrests for those offences that relate to supporting or glorifying terrorism are in unprecedented numbers when compared to the last decade and are part of a concerning environment where people are energised towards potentially support for extremist ideologies.
"Under a Labour Government we will win back the trust of the global south...we won't be messing up our relationship with the United State. There is so much to do and all of that will mean growth and opportunity and partnership in a very unstable and troubled geopolitical environment."
Exports of K-pop albums reached a new high last year.

K-pop album sales abroad soared to US$220.8 million, up some 62 percent from the year before, according to the Korea Customs Service.

Even in China, which has imposed restrictions on the dissemination of Korean culture, sales were up more than 2.5 fold. The biggest market was Japan with $87 million, followed by China ($42.5 million), the U.S. ($37.9 million) and Indonesia ($9.6 million).

The growth in sales was led by groups like Bangtan Boys, also known as BTS, and NCT. The coronavirus pandemic fueled the sales, as few K-pop concerts were held and fans bought more of their idols' albums instead.
Sue Casey, chair of the Isleworth Society, said: The Inspectors decision to turn down the appeal by Northumberland Estates is so significant for the Isleworth community. Important local open space is secured; heritage is protected and wildlife preserved. The Isleworth Society is delighted with this outcome - of great benefit to present as well as to future generations.
In answer to the concerns some councils have raised about the costs of upgrading kitchens or hiring more staff to deliver the policy, Mr Khan said: Were here in December for a scheme which started in September, and so far its working pretty well. If in term two, issues are raised, we can address those.
Labour supporters were more likely to think the Government had done a bad job, with 70% of the partys 2019 voters saying so. But 35% of those who voted Conservative in 2019 also said they thought the Government had performed badly.
Speaking to the PA news agency, she said: So directly and indirectly they are responsible for all the children on whom bombs are falling, injuring them, the hospitals that are being lost, the schools being lost, the lives are being lost, the destruction, the trauma and the dreadful, unspeakable acts that are happening.
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In a policy statement on the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill  published by the Home Office ahead of its first vote in the Commons later on Tuesday  the Government said that migrants flown to the country will still be safe despite concerns over its human rights record and attitude towards LGBT people.
Mr Kelly continued: What we are seeing is our officers are committed to doing the best they can, people are struggling and looking for help and unfortunately that help is either negligible or is so far down the line that they are now looking at alternatives.
The way Im going to help to persuade them to support the Bill and to support us as we pass the Bill through Parliament is to help show that the Bill is actually going to work, because thats what we all want. We all want this legislation to work. And that is what Im determined to do, he added.
Henry Long, 19, was sentenced to 16 years and 18-year-olds Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were handed 13 years in custody for manslaughter at the Old Bailey, but all three were cleared of murder by the jury.
The four remaining members of boy band Bangtan Boys, also known as BTS, are starting their military service this week.

RM and V enlisted Monday for their 18 months of service and Ji-min and Jung-kook on Tuesday.
Travel website Paddle Your Own Kanoo stated: Incredible that we found ourselves in the awkward position of having to discuss what underwear our female members were allowed to wear in 2023. It could be argued that we wouldn't have even been in this position if the blouse wasn't transparent in the first place.
George Osborne, museum chairman, told the BBC: One of the things that we've got to get to the bottom of is exactly the motivation of the individual who we believe is responsible.
They added: It has definitely meant that relationships between parents and the school are stronger. Its a very difficult thing in a school to be chasing someone for money because relationships are so important. You need to have the best possible relationship with the parents and students at the school and thats very difficult to do when you are asking people for money who dont have much.
U.S. chipmaker Nvidia's chief executive said on Monday the company will expand its partnership with Vietnam's top tech firms and support the

country in training talent for developing artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.

Nvidia, which has already invested $250 million in Vietnam, has so far partnered with leading tech companies to deploy AI in the cloud, automotive and healthcare industries, a document published by the White House in September showed when Washington upgraded diplomatic relations with Vietnam.

"Vietnam is already our partner as we have millions of clients here," Jensen Huang, Nvdia's CEO said at an event in Hanoi in his first visit to the country. "Vietnam and Nvidia will deepen our relations, with Viettel, FPT, Vingroup, VNG being the partners Nvidia looks to expand partnership with," Huang said, adding Nvidia would support Vietnam's artificial training and infrastructure.
Belotte also shared with the Star a social media direct message he said he received from Cousins-Emily several hours after police were called to her apartment building.

A three-year-old boy who was allegedly murdered by a 22-year-old woman while under her care suffered a severe head injury, his father told the Star.

Yverson Belotte said he is at a loss to understand the circumstances surrounding the death of his son, Yverson Belotte Jr. Quintanni, whom he and his ex-partner shared custody of.

"It doesn't make sense," Belotte said, adding that he was told his son died in his sleep.

"I'm trying to find answers," he said. "I just want the truth."

Toronto police said they received a medical call to an East York apartment building on Dawes Road near Chapman Avenue around 12:40 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3.

When they arrived, a three-year-old boy was found dead at the scene.

Police said a woman, who was not related to the child, was caring for the child and took him to an "organization" near Yonge Street and Bloor Avenue.

Police allege the woman assaulted the toddler in the washroom of that location and then headed back to her residence. She contacted police the next day.

Court records show Shardanae Cousins-Emily, 22, of Toronto, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Yverson Belotte Jr. She appeared in court last Thursday and was ordered by a judge not to communicate with several people. Her next court appearance is scheduled for this Thursday.

Yverson Belotte said he didn't learn about his son's death until the next day and is frustrated he was not contacted earlier. When he did speak with police, Belotte said, they told him his Quintanni suffered "a brain injury to his head."

Belotte said Emily-Cousins took his son to the Children's Aid Society (CAS) of Toronto at 30 Isabella St. on Dec 2. and allegedly assaulted the boy there. His ex-partner and Yverson Belotte Jr. Quintanni's mother wrote on her Instagram page that the alleged incident occurred in the CAS bathroom.

CAS Toronto did not immediately respond to questions from the Star.

In a social media message to Belotte from Emily-Cousins, the details of which were reviewed by the Star and backed by witness accounts, the accused told him Quintanni was "playing and happy" alongside her son at the Children's Aid Society office.

"He did trip and fall at one point, but he was fine after, and he went to bed with no issues that night," the message reads.

When Emily-Cousins woke up the following day, the message says, she realized Quintanni was not breathing and ran to a neighbour for help. They performed CPR until paramedics arrived.

"She came to my door. She said she didn't have a phone and couldn't call 911," said the neighbour, Amanda, who declined to give her full name.

That's when Amanda grabbed a friend, and they called police. "My friend did CPR because it was instructed by 911."

When emergency crews arrived at the unit, the baby was pronounced dead on the spot, she said. "It was very traumatic."

Born on April 24, 2001, Quintanni was "a miracle baby" and the "perfect" son, Belotte said. He loved watching the kids show CoComelon on YouTube, so much so that his birthday was themed after the series.

"He was sweet and so loved. He especially loved his grandma," Belotte said, referring to his ex-partner's mother.

Belotte said having Quintanni gave him a new purpose. "My son was I had. He changed my life," he said tearfully. "I became a carpenter when I had my son. I didn't even have a job."

Residents and business owners said the incident on Dec. 3 drew a massive presence of emergency responders, including police, ambulance and fire. A forensics team was later called in.

Police sealed off the dumpster at the back of the building for several hours. "They had somebody sitting out there all night with the dumpster. Then the next day, they sealed up the dumpster and about an hour or so later, took it away," one resident said.

Until last Friday, at least one police cruiser was parked outside the apartment building. An officer was also staged inside. The scene was cleared by Saturday.

Above everything, Belotte said he wants justice for his son. I want some answers, and I want justice for my son. He has a voice."
Prosecutors of the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) raided on Tuesday the Administration of Hospitals and Medical Services of Bucharest and the Coltea and Sf. Luca hospitals in Bucharest, in relation to a corruption case on the implementation of IT services at hospitals in Bucharest, DNA told AGERPRES in a press release.

"Prosecutors with the National Anti-corruption Directorate - Anti-Corruption Section are conducting investigations in a criminal case involving suspicions of corruption offences committed by public officials in 2023, in the context of a public procurement procedure that provided for the implementation of IT services in hospitals in Bucharest. On December 12, pursuant to the judicial authorizations granted by the competent court, house searches were carried out at the offices of three public institutions in Bucharest. The prosecutors are supported by the IGPR - Special Operations Directorate and the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Gendarmerie," DNA said.
Almost 30 tons of second-hand clothes and shoes, transported by two Bulgarian citizens in two road units for commercial companies from Romania, were stopped at the southern Giurgiu Border Crossing Point because the goods were not accompanied by documents corresponding to cross-border transport.

"There being suspicions about the legality of these transports, the border police requested authorized support from the representatives of the National Authority for Consumer Protection. Thus, during the checks, it was established that there were 29,630 kilograms of waste in the means of transport," said the Giurgiu Border Police Inspectorate, in a press release issued on Tuesday.

After checking the accompanying documents, the authorities found that the transports did not meet the conditions for entering the country, which is why the competent authorities did not allow the means of transport to enter Romania.
Gov't proposes 3,700 lei minimum wage from 1 July 2024

The Government proposed to increase the minimum wage from 3,300 lei to 3,700 lei as of 1 July 2024, while employers proposed 3,500 lei from 1 July 2024 and 3,700 lei from 1 January 2025, and trade unions proposed an increase to 3,800 lei from 1 March 2024, National Council of SMEs President Florin Jianu said, at the end of the meeting of the National Tripartite Council, held under the coordination of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.

"The proposals we made in agreement with the employers's associations, both the National Council of SMEs and Concordia, were that this increase in the minimum wage should be made in two stages, 3,500 lei from 1 July 2024 and 3,700 lei from 1 January 2025. The trade unions came up with a proposal for an increase to 3,800 lei and the Government came up with a proposal of 3,700 lei, namely from 3,300 lei to 3,700 lei from 1 July 2024. For the agri-food industry, the minimum wage for the economy should remain the same at 3,700 lei, and the minimum wage for the construction industry should not be increased, because they have a differentiated wage of 4,500 lei. So these were the proposals on the table. We will see what the Government's decision is, it is the Government's decision, not ours," said Florin Jianu.

Moreover, he explained that the employers' associations asked that the tax exemption of 200 lei for those on the minimum wage should remain in force for the six months until the next minimum wage increase and be included in the next increase.

Jianu also referred to the requests for funds for SMEs in next year's budget, mentioning a 12 percent increase in the budget for SMEs provided in the budget draft undergoing a decision transparency process these days.

In his turn, Marius Sepi, representative of the Forta Legii National Trade Union, said that in addition to the proposal to increase the minimum wage to 3,800 lei from 1 July, they also came up with the proposal to reduce the salary income tax by 5%.

"We received the Government's offer of 3,700 lei, starting July, the trade union confederations' request was 3,800 lei, starting March. As a representative of the Meridian Confederation, I asked for something extra, 3,800 lei in March and a 5 percent reduction in the tax on all wages. This means a net 300 lei, at current values, for employees in Romania working on the minimum wage. Of course, the Government will decide what the agreed form will be. We do not accept the employers' offer of 3,500 and 3,700 lei, because the standard of living, as you all know, has dropped a lot in Romania," Sepi said.
IntMin Predoiu about Schengen accession, after Salzburg Forum: Discussions brought progress

The minister of internal affairs, Catalin Predoiu highlights, in a statement after the Salzburg Forum, the progress in the discussions about Romania's accession to Schengen and states that there is a big difference compared to a few months ago, a basis "on which one can built".

"We had, during these previous months, complicated discussions and they still remain complicated discussions, but at the same time, there is clearly a big difference compared to a few months ago. I don't want to evaluate whether it is a lot or a little. It's something else, it's something that we can build on, that we can continue on. The efforts that are being made by our delegation and by the Bulgarian delegation and the Austrian one, but at the same time by the Commission and the Spanish Presidency in this discussion framework, but also the efforts made by other colleagues from other member states, who support these discussions, are directed precisely in the direction of obtaining a tangible, concrete result in December", Predoiu said in a press statement held on the occasion of the Salzburg Forum organized in Slovenia.

The minister announced that he had discussions related to the technical possibilities of making a decision in December. Predoiu addressed the requirements imposed by Austria and mentioned that they are not "conditions", but "adjacent measures". He explained that "Romania applies these procedures (...) according to the Schengen criteria and the Dublin Agreement".

The minister mentioned, related to the fears related to the transfer of illegal migrants from Austria, that this refers only to those initially registered in Romania.

"It is a matter of proceeding with the repatriation of those citizens who entered through Romania, were registered in Romania, in EURODAC or in the SIS - Schengen System and then migrated illegally to Austria. According to the Dublin rules in force, once they are captured in Austria and you find that they are in a state of illegal migration, according to the existing rules, they are sent to the country where they came from, that is, to Romania. It is not about any other procedure. (...) This year we are talking about 120 citizens," Predoiu also said.

He confirms that Romania already complies with the Schengen criteria, without the need for additional measures. "The discussions are positive and bring progress," concluded Predoiu.
M Ciolacu, Kazakh Deputy PM Nurtleu discuss cooperation in Europe interconnection with Caspian Sea area

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu welcomed at the Victoria Governmental Palace on Tuesday Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, in which context the Romanian PM stressed that the excellent dynamics of the relations between the two countries brings forth potential for bilateral cooperation in interconnecting Europe with the Caspian Sea area.

According to a Government press release, the Romanian PM welcomed the upward trajectory of political dialogue and bilateral cooperation, pointing out that Kazakhstan is Romania's largest economic partner in Central Asia.

"An important topic discussed during the meeting was cooperation in the area of energy, with both sides agreeing to encourage the development of cooperation in order to enhance security of supply for EU member states, but also for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine," the press release reads.

In this regard, the Ciolacu stressed the importance of Kazakhstan's involvement in strengthening the international transport route connecting the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea.

"The excellent dynamics of bilateral cooperation brings forth the necessary potential for projects through which Romania and Kazakhstan can contribute to the development of connectivity between Europe and Central Asia. If we talk about energy security, the reconfiguration of transport routes and energy supply, including green energy, it is an objective of interest both in the Black Sea area and for the Caspian Sea area, and Romania is ready to take an active role in this direction," Ciolacu said.

The two officials also discussed the regional security situation in the context of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Marian Neacsu and Energy Minister Sebastian-Ioan Burduja.
Omniasig sells gross premiums of approximately 1.7 bn RON in Q3 2023

Omniasig Vienna Insurance Group sold gross premiums of approximately 1.7 billion RON in the first three quarters of 2023, a value that represents an increase of approximately 10% compared to the same period in 2022, according to a company release, told Agerpres.

The total value of the compensations paid in this interval was approximately 840 million RON.

"The year 2023 proved to be an intense year, full of changes and unforeseen events, which tested the adaptability of insurance companies. Omniasig continued to demonstrate during this period that it is a company that can adapt to changes, stable, that follows a long-term strategy in Romania and is always with its clients and partners. The positive results recorded on most lines of insurance are proof of this. In the first nine months of the year, Property insurance registered an increase of approximately 20 %, which indicates an increasing awareness of the need for protection through insurance, both among corporate clients and individuals. Thus, in a context that is in continuous change, we will continue to follow the trends, to understand the needs of our clients and to adapt our products and services accordingly. We are pursuing sustainable growth, both in terms of financial performance and our impact on the environment and society," said Mihai Tecau, CEO of Omniasig Vienna Insurance Group.

The Property insurance line (fire and natural disaster insurance) grew by about 20% in the first three quarters of 2023, compared to the same period last year, with subscriptions of about 270 million RON.

Health insurance continued to grow significantly in the first three quarters of 2023, reaching a value of sold premiums of approximately 65 million RON, which is approximately 30% more compared to the same period of the previous year.

Car insurance, mandatory and optional, registered an aggregate increase in gross premiums, for both lines, of approximately 4.5% compared to the first three quarters of 2022, their value amounting to approximately 1.2 billion RON. The value of compensations paid on the two lines in this interval, cumulatively, increased by over 8%, reaching over 730 million RON.

Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) is the leading insurance group in the entire Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. More than 50 insurance companies and pension funds from 30 countries are part of this group with a long tradition, strong brands and a close relationship with clients. Around 29,000 employees of VIG meet the daily needs of around 28 million customers.

VIG shares have been listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange since 1994, on the Prague Stock Exchange since 2008 and on the Budapest Stock Exchange since 2022. The company is rated A+ with a stable outlook by the renowned international rating agency Standard & Poor's.

VIG works closely with Erste Group, the largest retail bank in Central and Eastern Europe.
The average monthly housing rent in Seoul has surpassed W1 million (US$1=W1,317).

Property information service Real Estate 114 compiled 99,895 rental contracts in Seoul signed in the first 11 months of this year and found that the rent was W1.02 million on average, up 13.3 percent compared to 2021 and 4.1 percent from last year.

The biggest reason behind the surge is that people no longer trust jeonse or Korean-style deposit leases amid a spate of reported fraud in recent months.
Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), told Monday evening private TV broadcaster Digi 24 that he has an "institutional" and "correct" relationship with President Klaus Iohannis, with whom he coordinates primarily on the country's foreign policy issues.

The PSD leader was asked in the interview about the level of communication he has with President Klaus Iohannis, given that there is "discontent" with the head of state from "society", according to which, lately, he is "absent" and does not participate in the "problems, concerns" of Romanians.

"First of all, I communicate with the president of Romania institutionally. I have discussions, I had them a few days ago, I will have them in the coming days, on the Schengen issue. We coordinate, you know very well that the president represents Romania at the European Council, compared to other countries where the prime ministers do that, but we have a decision of the CCR [the Constitutional Court of Romania] and we respect it. I didn't think that I would get to live the moment when I would come to your television and I would have to defend the president of Romania, after 'I sold Transylvania', I won't do it. I, when it comes to the relationship with the president of Romania, don't miss it," said Marcel Ciolacu.

"I talk to the President and we coordinate, as is normal, first and foremost in foreign policy. It is normal, when I return from a visit to a foreign state, although I am accompanied by the foreign minister, who reports to the prime minister, to the president, as is normal, it is normal to have a discussion with the president about the things we have agreed in those states. It is normal, before we go, to see what are the major interests of Romania in terms of foreign affairs," said Marcel Ciolacu.

He pointed out that "Romanians are always right", and that they have decided to be represented by Klaus Iohannis, beyond the resident's "absences or non-absences" clamored in the public sphere.
PM Ciolacu: We shall submit PNNR payment request 3 on Friday

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announces that Romania will submit on Friday, December 15, the request for payment number 3 under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

According to a Government press release, the prime minister coordinated on Tuesday the meeting of the Interministerial Coordination Committee of the PNRR, a structure that brings together the ministries and institutions in charge of fulfilling the commitments undertaken by the Government under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

"We shall submit on Friday, December 15, the request for payment number 3 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which means a financing of more than 3.1 billion euros for Romania, including the pre-financing of 13% already received. By fulfilling the promises and milestones we have assumed, but also through consultations with European Commission representatives, we are succeeding in transforming the PNRR into an instrument for reforms and investments that Romanians need," said Marcel Ciolacu.

Payment request 3 has a total value of EUR 2.7 billion (less pre-financing already received) in the form of grants of EUR 1.9 billion and EUR 811 million in the form of loans. This covers 74 targets and milestones relating to quarter III 2022 and quarter IV 2022.

Also discussed at the meeting were the targets and milestones related to payment request 3, including the "eight milestones that are under completion phase, for which urgent measures have been proposed" for their fulfilment, the release said.

"The Council of the European Union has positively assessed the modification of Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan, worth 28.5 billion euros. It was a collective effort of the whole team at governmental level and represents a success for Romania. Thank you and I assure you of my full support for the proper management and implementation of the Plan, so that the money allocated to our country through the PNRR is fully attracted and invested correctly and efficiently," said Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.

Also discussed were the results of the audit missions carried out by the Audit Authority at the level of the PNRR system.

"In addition, the next steps after the approval of the PNRR amendment by the Council of the European Union were discussed, such as the signing of the Annex to the Agreement on the financial contribution, the updating of the national legal framework and the implementation of the new REPowerEU chapter, which will increase Romania's resilience and energy independence," the Government press office said.
President Iohannis discusses Moldova's EU accession negotiations with Moldovan counterpart

President Klaus Iohannis reiterated Romania's support for the European aspirations of the Republic of Moldova during a discussion he had on Tuesday with his Moldovan counterpart, Maia Sandu.

"I've had a discussion over the phone today with Mrs. President Maia Sandu during which we have tackled the most important topics in Europe right now, with an emphasis on the preparation of the decisions concerning the Republic of Moldova to be tanked at the European Council this week. Romania is a firm supporter of the Republic of Moldova's negotiations for European Union accession," the head of state wrote on the X (former Twitter) platform.

The Romanian president is set to participate in Brussels, Wednesday to Friday, in the European Union - Western Balkans Summit and in the European Council, on which occasion he is going to support such decisions that will lead to the opening of the EU accession negotiations for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.
Romania represents a "top partner" of Kazakhstan in terms of investments and trade, the minister of Foreign Affairs of this country, deputy prime minister Murat Nurtleu, declared on Tuesday, during a press statement held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters.

According to him, the discussions with the minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminita Odobescu, were "significant" and "substantial", practical steps being identified in order to strengthen relations in the political, economic, scientific and cultural fields.

"Our countries have developed a very good tradition of mutual support, as well as effective collaboration within the UN and within the OECD. When it comes to the European Union, we look forward to continuing our joint work in implementing the objectives we have and which are included in the extended partnership between Kazakhstan and the EU and the European strategy for the South Caucasus. We are committed to expanding the Kazakh-Romanian partnership. (...) Today, Romania is one of the top investment and trade partners in Kazakhstan - fifth in the EU and number 12 globally," he said.

Murat Nurtleu specified that, in the last ten months, bilateral trade increased by 9.5% and exceeded 2.3 billion dollars, under the conditions in which 97% of commercial exchanges concern oil refineries. Exports of goods to Romania represented 500 million dollars.

"Goods such as nuclear energy, chemical products, food products, mechanical engineering and construction have a very high potential. In addition, we offer the Romanian business community opportunities for transit and logistics and technological and material modernization in Kazakhstan," the minister said.

Imports from Kazakhstan to Romania reached 37% of the consumption of Romanian refineries.

"We are committed to maintaining this level, as strategic and investment partners. Exports from Kazakhstan represent 10% of Romania's imports in terms of energy and we thus contribute to the energy security, not only of Europe, but also of Romania," he stated.

"We will focus on transport and other areas, especially we want to work together on the Trans-Caspian transport road, also known as the median corridor to the Caspian Sea. (...) We want to integrate our logistics and infrastructure to serve the interests of Kazakhstan and Romania. Our seaport and the port of Constanta are the best examples of such cooperation. We expect the 17th meeting of the inter-governmental committee in Bucharest to give even more impetus to the implementation of many promising projects," he stated.
Wild animals have begun to arrive at the St. Louis Zoos WildCare Park  but not a lot of them.

At the moment, the 425-acre park is home to just six animals from A to Z  four addaxes and two Grevys zebras. By the time the property opens to the public in 2027, it should be home to about 250 species, said interim director Martha Fischer.

Addaxes, a member of the antelope family, are native to the Sahara Desert. Like Grevys zebras, which come from the Horn of Africa  Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea and Djibouti  they are considered endangered.

When you come to WildCare Park, it will be a different experience, more like a safari experience. Youre in the animals space; youre either driving through or walking through, Fischer said.

Certain details are still being worked out for the project, Fischer said, but it is on track to be completed on time and at its $230 million budget.

The WildCare experience will be different from the ones offered by the St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park or other traditional zoos. Located in Spanish Lake, on property purchased in 2018, the park has sufficient room for herds of animals to roam and interact with one another and other species.

The species have been selected with the animals safety in mind, Fischer said. Predators such as lions will not be kept at the park.

One 160-acre section will be the Savannah Safari, home to mammals with hooves, such as reticulated giraffes and, perhaps, zebras, antelopes and banteng, which are Asian wild cattle.

Another 60-acre section will be the Woodland Safari, where visitors can see more mammals with hooves such as white rhinos, wild horses and antelopes. Ostriches, which are neither mammals nor hooved, may also live there because they do well in that environment.

For both of those safaris, the visitors will be driven in special vehicles through the animals areas. There will be no fences to keep wild animals from the road, Fischer said.

There very well could be a rhino in the middle of the road that will pause your safari for a time, she said.

The drivers, who will be zoo employees, will be knowledgeable about the animals and will be able to help visitors spot them.

Also on the site will be a walk-through safari, possibly featuring such animals as kangaroos and wallabies, and a 60-acre nature adventure area for children and families featuring plants and animals native to Missouri.

A zooseum will focus on science and natural history, and it will also be home to the parks gift shop. An event center will be available for rentals, and an 11-story observation tower will provide an expansive view of the zoo.

Nine barns are being constructed, with two more still to come, and the animals will be able to come and go when they want. Fischer said they will probably be outside most of the time but are likely to seek shelter in extreme weather.

One of the more important parts of the parks mission will be behind the scenes and out of sight. Sixty acres of pasture and five conservation barns will be devoted to breeding, both as a way to populate zoos and to generate animals to release back into the wild.

Most of the breeding will be left to nature, Fischer said, though the animals at the park will be pre-selected for their genetic traits and viability.

Its almost like a dating service. Its deciding which animals will be good pairing to sustain the species, she said.

Animals for WildCare Park will come both from the St. Louis Zoos Forest Park campus and also other zoos that belong to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The St. Louis Zoo is a member of the association, which emphasizes wildlife conservation.

Zoo officials will slowly introduce animals to the park before it opens, with the intention of acclimating them to their new environment before adding humans to the mix.

There was one problem just after the first animals arrived in late September. A zebra that was alarmed by something ran into a fence post near a building and died, Fischer said.

Zebras seem very big and strong, but they are actually very skittish, she said.

Everything was new. New construction. It probably smelled very new to them. They get very easily spooked.

Fischer said she expects the park to employ about 100 people full time. Admission will be free to residents of St. Louis County, which voted to financially support the park in 2018. Admission for non-county residents has not yet been determined.

First look: Renderings of plans for The St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park, and photos of it now St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park renderings St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park renderings St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park renderings St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park renderings St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park renderings St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park renderings St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park renderings St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park renderings St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park Renderings St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park renderings
What started as a modest December concert at Off Broadway 15 years ago has grown into one of St. Louis most anticipated annual holiday events.

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Funky Butt Brass Bands Holiday Brasstravaganza takes over Delmar Hall for four shows including matinees Dec. 15-17.

Its a local tradition that continues to grow. Two of the shows this weekend have long been sold out, creating the need for the fourth show. Brasstravaganza features the Funky Butt Brass Band in full holiday mode reimagining Christmas classics; having fun with its Christmas parodies like Crazy Sleigh, a take on Ozzy Osbournes Crazy Train; performing unexpected mashups like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Becks Debra titled Rudolph; and bringing its own original classics to the table.

The band released its Shiny Christmas Balls album in 2012 and Funky Butt Family Christmas in 2017.

Aaron Chandler (trombone) says Brasstravaganza attendees bring an over-the-top festive attitude.

Its the most fun Ive ever been a part of or seen, he says.

Our audience still shows up in their pajamas or Christmas suits, says Adam Hucke (trumpet). Theyre going for it, and that empowers us. The audience, from the get-go, helped make this cool event. Theyre so involved with this.

From the get-go means Brasstravaganzas 2009 show at Off Broadway, attended by about 50 people. Funky Butt Brass Bands plan was to do its regular repertoire of New Orleans-flavored horn-fueled tunes. But the show organically slipped into the Christmas tunes that the concert would become known for.

It happened as easily as subbing the words Santa Claus for Mardi Gras.

Half of the show was normal material and the other half we just decided we wanted to do Christmas songs, and it kind of caught on, says Chandler. They wanted us to do more the next year, more and more. Immediately we felt like we were onto something, and we were as surprised as anybody that the crowd loved the songs and was singing along.

Chandler continues, what started off feeling like a corporate Christmas party for us in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way turned into a special gathering that only happens once a year.

By the second year, knowing theyd tapped into something that couldnt be ignored, they kept it up.

We exclusively did Christmas songs. We didnt have to fake it at all now that we presumably knew what the people wanted, says Chandler.

They stick with the more secular side of Christmas like Bruce Springsteens Santa Claus is Comin to Town, along with Christmas songs by the likes of Sharon Jones, Rufus Thomas, James Brown and others.

Adam says by year three or four of the event, the band really started to fill the venue. Cool people showed up. People who dont go to any other shows.

They also saw Brasstravaganza attracting the kind of people who may not normally attend a Christmas concert.

We get a lot of people who will come (but) who tell me how much they hate the holidays and Christmas songs. We put a little spin on it and make them feel welcome and give them something to love, says Chandler.

Weve reclaimed the fun part of Christmas that we have lost since we were kids. Oh I forgot Christmas can be fun. ... People who try to avoid the song Last Christmas love to hear us do it, says Hucke.

The event was comfortably housed at Off Broadway for a decade before it moved to the larger Delmar Hall, where it has remained. Its just one of the ways the event has evolved over the years.

Each year what we get to do is take something that already existed and add things, tweak it, bring different special guests. Weve always had great guests, says Chandler.

Brasstravaganza guests have included Emily Wallace, Javier Mendoza (who they say brought a fresh cultural aspect to the proceedings), and surprise guest Charles Glenn, who was introduced by a fake-out video last year. Steve Ewing has been the most frequent guest.

Ive known the guys in the Funky Butt Brass Band for a very long time. So, when they asked me to be a guest vocalist at the show, I was like, of course! The energy was awesome. I was hooked, says Ewing, who also sang This Christmas on A Funky Butt Family Christmas.

I feel like a true member of a family of really incredible musicians, says Ewing.

Allie Kral, formerly of Yonder Mountain String Band, is one of the special guests this year, along with Glenn, Mendoza, Ewing and Wallace.

The regular band features Adam Hucke (trumpet), Bryan Fritz (saxophone), Cody Henry (sousaphone), David Grelle (keyboards), Jim Peters (guitar), Ron Sikes (drums), and Matthew Henry (percussion).

This year the band is debuting Live It Like Its Christmas, written by Peters and described as a funky, fun tune that will easily appeal to the jamband crowd.

Brasstravanga also added childrens matinees early on, which Hucke says was one of his ideas though he doesnt have any children.

When Aarons kids would come, I would see how much they enjoyed it, Adam says, adding its not a watered-down childrens show. Were not babying them. They get to go crazy with us, and we encourage them to be very loud. Its a cool thing, and it sold out so quickly this year we added another one.

Several years ago, Matt Brinkmann, who is no longer with the band, contributed the song Because Its Christmas featuring Ewing, Wallace, Al Holiday and the late Roland Johnson. The song was written in the wake of unrest in Ferguson.

While Brasstravanga remains a St. Louis thing, it has ventured out to Kansas City several times, and this year went to Omaha, Nebraska, for the first time.

I think personally this is possible in other cities. Kansas City has proven that it is, says Chandler. The goal is to fill out all of December with Brasstravaganza.

What Funky Butt Brass Bands 15th Annual Holiday Brasstravaganza When 8 p.m. Dec. 15, 3 p.m. Dec. 16 (sold out), 8 p.m. Dec. 16 (sold out), 3 p.m. Dec. 17  Where Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Boulevard How much $15-$25  More info ticketmaster.com

Holiday concerts include Brett Eldredge, Samara Joy, Kenny G, Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas and holiday concerts continue with a diverse array of offerings, also including returning favorites and new shows.

Photos: Scenes from the Cherokee Street Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout Brass Band Blowout

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ST. LOUIS  With Christmas approaching in 1930 and the Depression settling hard, the Post Office downtown asked for 1,200 temporary helpers to keep up with the crush of holiday mail. More than 4,800 people applied.

St. Louis Postmaster Athol Michener said it would be futile for more job-seekers to come downtown.

The following year, a line of applicants formed at 5 a.m. outside the hiring office in the old federal Custom House, at Third and Olive streets. The Post Office wanted 2,300 extras to help its 2,500 regular clerks and mail carriers. More than 800 showed up that first morning.

The pay wasn't bad  65 cents an hour (almost $10 today)  even though the job only lasted three weeks. Post Office officials said they gave preference to unemployed heads of households. They had plenty to choose from.

Temporary hires were needed every year to handle mountains of Christmas letters and packages. Sorting was done by hand. At the sorting center, mail went into canvass sacks, then got tossed onto push carts and hauled to trucks and railroad cars. Newspapers published lists of deadlines for mailing packages to Australia, Germany, Cuba or California by Christmas Day. Regular news updates reported the numbers of letters processed.

Most years, they published photographs of the piles of packages. Plenty of readers had personal wishes somewhere in the jumble, often six times the usual volume.

In 1933, the local Post Office handled 14 million pieces of mail during the last week before Christmas. In a sad sign of the times, Santa got fewer letters from kids.

But total mail volume climbed through the Depression decade. So did hiring. In 1939, the local office sought 3,700 temporary employees to assist the full-time staff of 3,000. It received 4,400 applications.

That changed with entry into World War II. More than 650 postal employees left for the military. Enlistments cut into the temporary pool as well. Before Christmas 1943, St. Louis Postmaster Rufus Jackson warned that mail and packages were piling up.

Labor shortages and the volume of parcels destined for bases overseas forced a big move-up of mailing deadlines  Oct. 15 for soldiers, Nov. 1 for sailors and Marines. It was Dec. 10 for domestic delivery, a week earlier than pre-war deadlines. Harried clerks had to reject any military-bound parcels that weighed more than six pounds. The most frequent overweight item? Radios.

Victory brought relief for the hiring office and steady growth in mailing during the boom years of the 1950s. In 1946, the metro areas Post Office handled 42.5 million pieces of mail from Dec. 1 to Dec. 24. In 1960, it handled 81.5 million pieces during the same three-week period. Automation reduced the need for so many Christmas temporaries  the Post Office hired 3,900 in 1940, but only 1,200 in 1968.

A Look Back  St. Louis Post Office Christmas shipping scenes
It was a historic day: The Missouri Supreme Court convicted Secretary of State Judith Moriarty of misconduct and removed her from office, the first time the court ever took such an action. Our report:

In a unanimous opinion Monday, the Missouri Supreme Court convicted Secretary of State Judith K. Moriarty of misconduct and removed her from office.

The court found that Moriarty had backdated paperwork for her son, Timothy Moriarty, when he filed for a state House seat last spring. "I'm just numb," Moriarty said in an interview in her home in Sedalia Monday evening. Wearing a green sweatsuit, she dabbed her puffy eyes with Kleenex.

"I thought I could get a fair shake from the court but it just didn't happen," she said.

Moriarty criticized the swiftness of the court's decision, which affirmed three articles of impeachment approved by the state House. Her trial ended Friday morning and the court decision came down at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

"They went with the House articles in one (working) day and they did it readily," she said.

After six months of turmoil, this appears to be the end of the road for Moriarty, Missouri's first woman to be secretary of state. Her ouster is immediate and there is no appeal. She is the first statewide official to be removed through impeachment in Missouri's 173-year history.

Gov. Mel Carnahan said the ruling "removes a cloud that has been hanging over the secretary of state's office and the state of Missouri for many months. I am pleased this has finally come to a conclusion."

Attorney General Jay Nixon said Moriarty "certainly had every opportunity to prove her innocence. I just think it's time now for her to recede quietly into the annals of Missouri history."

Carnahan will appoint someone to serve the remaining two years of Moriarty's term.

The governor's spokesman, Chris Sifford, said no one had been chosen but that the governor was likely to make his selection this week.

Interim Secretary of State Dick Hanson says he does not want the permanent appointment. He plans to return to his post as commissioner of administration.

Moriarty, 52, a Democrat, was the surprise winner for the office two years ago. The lone woman in the field of candidates, she spent a mere $16,000 to win the primary. She then edged Republican John Hancock of St. Louis County in the general election. She had been the county clerk in Pettis County for 10 years.

As the state's chief elections official, Moriarty was responsible for the filing of candidates for state offices. The Supreme Court said testimony showed the process was error-filled, and that filings complied with the law "as much by accident as by design."

The investigation into Timothy Moriarty's filing began in mid-June, when former aide Barbara Campbell told investigators that he had filed for office improperly.

Campbell said Timothy Moriarty came to the office on March 21 and filled out preliminary paperwork, but that Judith Moriarty told Campbell to hold the papers.

At the time, Timothy Moriarty was checking to see whether he could become a candidate and keep his state job at the Department of Labor. On March 29, the last day to file, Campbell said Judith Moriarty told Campbell to file Timothy Moriarty, even though he was not present. State law requires candidates to appear in person when they file.

Campbell filed Timothy Moriarty's papers at 1:19 p.m. on March 29. Weeks later, Judith Moriarty ordered Campbell to sign the document, Campbell said. Timothy Moriarty also came to Jefferson City and signed, sometime in May.

Moriarty has contended that Campbell made a "clerical error" and the office corrected it by getting Campbell and Timothy Moriarty to sign his declaration of candidacy after the filing deadline had passed.

But the court noted that the time and date on Timothy Moriarty's declaration "are false. They are not the product of a clerical error; they are outright fiction."

The court said Timothy Moriarty got special treatment from Moriarty's staff.

"This special treatment permitted Timothy Moriarty to complete some or all of the paperwork required to declare his candidacy and have that paperwork placed `on hold' until he could assure himself that he would not lose his state job."

While Campbell is "not a particularly believable witness," the court said, two other employees - Juli Rodenburg and Nadine Barrows - backed up Campbell's account that she held the papers.

At the trial Moriarty's attorney, Stuart Berkowitz, argued that Campbell might have decided on her own to hold the papers.

Considering that argument, the court said: "Even if one assumes that an overzealous and personally ambitious staff person committed most of the errors and violations of law and office policy in the filing of Tim Moriarty's March 21 paperwork, it remains beyond dispute that the secretary of state discovered the absence of the signatures required . . . and, aware of the failure of her son's declaration of candidacy to meet the requirements of the law, she nevertheless certified him . . . as a properly filed candidate."

Mark Richardson, the attorney for the House, said Monday he was "impressed with the promptness" of the opinion. "They had a full and complete record of the evidence on which to base their decision. The best legal minds in the state have decided the issue."

Richardson said the case was important because the elections process must be free of taint. Otherwise, people will shun the voting booth and decide against running for office.

"The people must have faith in the elections process, and certainly, in the chief elections officer," he said.

Moriarty said Monday that she had hoped to be cleared by new testimony from aide Barrows. Barrows, who previously denied seeing Timothy Moriarty's declaration of candidacy, last week testified that she tore it up and threw it away on March 21.

Moriarty, joined in her home by her brother, three of her sisters, and son Timothy, said she was mystified by the outcome of her lengthy journey through the legal process.

Since June, she has been indicted by a grand jury, found guilty of a misdemeanor by a Cole County jury, impeached by the state House and now, convicted by the Supreme Court.

Asked why no one has taken her side, she said: "I wish I were smart enough to answer that."

Moriarty criticized the media, saying: "It was hit after hit, day after day. They never let up."

She said she didn't know what she'd do now. "I'll have to take a few days to get my thoughts together," she said.

Moriarty had been suspended with pay since Oct. 12. She had kept her $73,450-a-year salary, state car and cellular phone pending the outcome of her trial.

Those benefits end immediately, Nixon said. "It's time for her to turn in the keys, turn in the car and remove her personal property from the office," he said.
ST. LOUIS  Talks are ongoing for a new labor contract that will cover about 5,000 union-represented Anheuser-Busch workers, including about 450 in St. Louis.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is holding a strike authorization vote this week, wherein members will decide whether to give Teamster negotiators the power to call a strike, in the case that the groups fail to reach a deal. Results are expected Saturday.

Contract talks began in September. The current agreement expires Feb. 29. The new, national contract will cover 5,000 production workers who brew, package and ship beer at 12 breweries across the U.S.

The union said it has already secured wins around retirement benefits and health care, but is pushing for more assurances around job security.

A-B said in a statement that the company is bargaining in good faith, and aims to reach an agreement that rewards its workers talent and commitment.

The Teamsters held a rally outside the companys brewery in Jacksonville, Florida over the weekend, and last month a group held a practice picket at a site in Merrimack, New Hampshire.
Abbas Ganbay

On 11 December, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov attended a meeting of Foreign Ministers of Eastern Partnership countries, Azernews reports.

Within the framework of his working visit to Brussels, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov took part in the meeting of foreign ministers of the Eastern Partnership Programme (EaP) member states.

The Foreign Ministry's Press Service Department reports that the meeting chaired by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell was also attended by European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varheli, as well as foreign ministers of the European Union and Eastern Partnership member states.

The event started with a speech by High Representative Josep Borrell and Commissioner Oliver Varhely.

The meeting discussed the current state of cooperation within the EaP, the prospects of the EU's relations with partner countries, and regional security issues.

In his speech at the event, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said that the meeting was a significant opportunity to review the cooperation within the EaP, as well as the next steps.

Pointing out the importance of matching the priorities of the Eastern Partnership with the realities of the region, as well as the regional initiatives being implemented, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov expressed confidence that this platform through the right approach and adaptation to the current trends of regional development can make a positive contribution to the EU co-operation with the region.

It was underlined that Azerbaijan fully supports and encourages the cooperation with Central Asian partners aimed at enhancing regional transport, energy and digital connectivity in line with the EU-Central Asia Strategy, as well as their potential participation in relevant EaP activities.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov touched upon the expanding potential of the Southern Gas Corridor, and spoke about Azerbaijan's priorities such as the supply of additional gas volumes and potential export of green energy to Europe, as well as the investments Azerbaijan is making in the transition to green energy, and emphasised the importance of the Middle Corridor.

It was noted that the digitalisation of the Middle Corridor is important in terms of ensuring transparency and facilitating transit, and digital transformation can become a horizontal priority within the EaP. The special significance of Azerbaijan's support in the issue of chairing COP29 was emphasised.

Jeyhun Bayramov also informed the participants of the meeting in detail about the process of normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It was noted that mutual recognition and respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity is the only way to sustainable peace, stability and prosperity in the South Caucasus.

Concern was expressed that despite Azerbaijan's comprehensive and open expression of its justified concerns, some EU member states continue inflammatory rhetoric and taking unilateral steps.

It was emphasised that the EU monitoring mission to Armenia has not achieved its stated objectives of promoting confidence building between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but instead has been widely used as a propaganda tool against Azerbaijan.

It was also noted that increasingly destabilising initiatives such as arming Armenia, including through the EU, undermine the credibility of the EU as a "neutral mediator" and efforts to normalise relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a whole. It was emphasised that arming or otherwise exploiting one partner against the other is in no way compatible with the stated objectives of the Eastern Partnership.

Taking into account the mentioned appeals, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov once again called on all interested parties not to harm the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The meeting continued with speeches by the foreign ministers of other Eastern Partnership Programme participating countries.
A gray wolf is seen in a trail camera image on the Sherman Creek Ranch, March 26, 2023, near Walden, Colorado. As state officials prepare to reintroduce wolves in western Colorado, a small number of the animals already have wandered in from Wyoming. (Don Gittleson via AP)

Wildlife officials plan to release gray wolves in Colorado in coming weeks, at the behest of urban voters and to the dismay of rural residents who dont want the predators but have waning influence in the Democratic-led state.

The most ambitious wolf reintroduction effort in the U.S. in almost three decades marks a sharp departure from aggressive efforts by Republican-led states to cull wolf packs. More releases planned for Colorado over the next several years will start to fill in one of the last remaining major gaps in the western U.S. for a species that historically ranged from northern Canada to the desert southwest.

The reintroduction, starting with the release of up to 10 wolves, emerged as a political wedge issue when GOP-dominated Wyoming, Idaho and Montana refused to share their wolves for the effort. Colorado officials ultimately turned to another Democratic state  Oregon  to secure wolves.

As anticipation grows among wildlife advocates, whove already started a wolf-naming contest, ranchers in the Rocky Mountains where the releases will occur are anxious. Theyve already seen glimpses of what the future could hold as a handful of wolves that wandered down from Wyoming over the past two years killed livestock.

The fear is such attacks will worsen, adding to a spate of perceived assaults on western Colorados rural communities as the states liberal leaders embrace clean energy and tourism, eclipsing economic mainstays such as fossil fuel extraction and agriculture.

Especially grating for rancher Don Gittleson is that his fellow Colorado residents invited the reintroduction through their narrow approval of a 2020 ballot measure. Suburbs and cities along Colorados Front Range, which includes Denver, carried the vote despite strong opposition across less-densely populated counties where the wolves will be released  the home district of conservative Republican firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert.

It was the cities that voted for it, and most of them cant tell the difference between a wolf or a coyote or a dog, said Gittleson, who lost at least six cows and calves to wolves from his Sherman Creek Ranch in northern Colorado over the past couple years  among the first documented wolf attacks in the state in more than 70 years.

In 2022, gray wolves attacked domesticated animals hundreds of times across 10 states in the contiguous U.S. including Colorado, according to an Associated Press review of depredation data from state and federal agencies. Attacks killed or injured at least 425 cattle and calves, 313 sheep and lambs, 40 dogs, 10 chickens, five horses and four goats, according to the data. Other times livestock simply goes missing, such as two calves that Gittleson said disappeared after wolves had passed through.

Such losses can be devastating to individual ranchers or pet owners. However, their industry-wide impact is negligible: The number of cattle killed or injured in the documented cases equals 0.002% of herds in the affected states, according to a comparison of depredation data with state livestock inventories.

95% of ranchers in Colorado will never have a problem, said Ed Bangs, a former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist who led the reintroduction of wolves in the mid-1990s to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho. 4.5% will have the occasional problem every couple of years maybe, and maybe one or two guys will have a problem like every other year. I dont think its enough to put them out of business. But if it was my cattle and my business, Id be pissed, he added.

Opposition to wolves is being used as a political bludgeon by elected officials such as Boebert, who sponsored legislation to lift remaining federal protections for wolves. That may not significantly sway an election but its a boon for candidates like Boebert to rally behind, I think for want of another issue, to gin up cultural resentments. said Seth Masket, director of the Center on American Politics at the University of Denver.

Colorado wildlife officials anticipate releasing 30 to 50 wolves within the next five years. To allay livestock industry fears, ranchers who lose livestock or herding and guard animals to wolf attacks will be paid fair market value, up to $15,000 per animal. Meanwhile, Colorado residents who backed the reintroduction are going to have to get used to wildlife agents killing wolves that prey on livestock.

Already some wolves have been killed when they crossed from Colorado into Wyoming, which has a predatory zone for wolves covering most of the state where they can be shot on sight.

The roiling political debates over the predator have been divorced from the details on the ground, said Matt Barnes, a range scientist focusing on preventing conflict between carnivores and ranchers. The former rancher argued that theres a middle ground where agriculture and wildlife can inhabit the same landscape.

People are really arguing not so much about the animals themselves, or even the land, but underlying worldviews about how humans fit into a more than human world, said Barnes.

Colorado officials have a detailed strategy to deter wolves from livestock, including blinking lights that hang along fence lines and propane cannons that make frightening sonic blasts. Another method is tying fabric streamers to fences to make wolves wary of crossing onto ranches. The predators eventually get used to such deterrents, so they are used for relatively short periods of time.

Gray wolves were exterminated across most of the U.S. by the 1930s under government-sponsored poisoning and trapping campaigns. They received endangered species protections in 1975, when there were about 1,000 left, in northern Minnesota.

Theres been no turning back for other states where gray wolves have become reestablished. An estimated 7,500 wolves in about 1,400 packs now roam parts of the contiguous U.S. Populations are expanding most rapidly in Oregon and Washington  Democratic states that wolves are naturally recolonizing after being reintroduced to neighboring states.

In Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, where wolf hunting is legal, Republican-dominated legislatures have sought to drive down wolf numbers by loosening rules for killing the predators and increasing the number that can be taken by individual hunters. That led to more Yellowstone wolves being shot but had a minor impact on overall wolf numbers. State officials say its helped reduce attacks on livestock as wolves become more wary of humans.

The stepped up killing also drew attention from President Joseph Bidens administration, which is considering restoring federal wolf protections in the states in response to laws that made it much easier to kill the predators. Its the only region of the U.S. where wolves are not currently federally protected.

Interior officials have sought for a decade  beginning under former President Barack Obama  to remove protections for wolves across the remainder of the contiguous U.S. That finally happened under former President Donald Trump, until a federal court struck down the action.

A new proposal is due by early February. If wolves lose their protected status, it would open the door to future hunts for the predators in Colorado and elsewhere, with each state to decide.

Near Gittlesons Sherman Creek Ranch, Brian Anderson found three of his lambs dead last month on his familys ranch. One was partially eaten, the other two seemingly untouched save for blood stains in their wool.

Anderson will be reimbursed, likely for the market rate of about $300 per animal, he said, but the monetary value isnt whats important to me. ... I have three customers now this year that arent going to get a lamb.

Still, hes less concerned about the long-term impacts on ranching assuming people get paid when livestock get killed.

Is it going to affect people over the next four years? You betcha. Is agriculture and ranching still going to happen? Oh yeah, he said.

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Following a wave of positive publicity about her charity work during the pandemic, Shana Jones won a seat in April 2022 on the Maplewood City Council.

Along with the media exposure, Jones campaign enjoyed the support of several political players in the St. Louis County suburb  including the person who will be nominated Tuesday night to become the new Maplewood city manager.

But only five months after being elected, Jones abruptly resigned, saying she wanted to expand Keep Pushing Inc., a nonprofit organization she formed before the pandemic.

Her departure, however, may have been hastened when word began to circulate that Jones past included a felony criminal record.

Maplewood is behind me, Jones said Monday. My life has moved on from Maplewood.

Before ending the interview, Jones said Maplewood officials knew about her felony convictions.

Ive always been upfront, she said.

Maplewood Mayor Nikylan Knapper, who was elected in 2021, flatly stated she had no idea about Jones past convictions.

She is seriously mistaken, Knapper said. That is not true.

Jones former campaign treasurer, Christy Kramlich, also denied that Jones had shared the criminal details of her past.

Absolutely zero knowledge, Kramlich said in regard to Jones past criminal record.

Jones deputy campaign treasurer, and largest campaign contributor, Amber Withycombe, declined to return calls.

Withycombe is at the center of a contentious municipal tussle since she emerged as the front-runner to become Maplewood city manager, even though she has no work experience in the field.

Withycombe was recommended for the $175,000-a-year job by Knapper, a friend and political ally. Knappers campaign treasurer is Withycombes partner, Joshua Kryah.

The agenda for the Maplewood council meeting includes discussion of the city manager hiring process at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday. A resolution to hire Withycombe is set to be introduced at the 7 p.m. meeting.

As to Jones criminal history, she pleaded guilty in 2004 to three felony counts of forgery and one felony count of identity fraud, according to online records from the Superior Court of Clayton County, Georgia.

Jones was sentenced to three years in prison on each of three forgery charges and one year on a felony identity fraud charge, with the sentences imposed concurrently, court records indicate.

In 2019 in North Carolina, Jones pleaded guilty to one count of felony forgery and was placed on two years probation, a spokesman for the Pitt County Superior Court said.

Jones, also known as Poole-Jones, came into the public eye in St. Louis in 2020. Local print and electronic media, followed by some national outlets, reported on her grassroots aid efforts during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

The operation began at her home on Folk Avenue in Maplewood, where people could take items from a table set up in her front yard. It became known as the Grab N Go Table, which has a Facebook page featuring scan codes for making donations.

Kramlich said talk began in 2021 about the possibility of Jones running for a council seat in 2022.

I remember I sat on her couch, looked her in the eye and asked her if there was anything in her past that could come back and bite us, Kramlich said. She said no.

Jumping forward to August 2022, Kramlich came home to find a mugshot photo tucked between her front doors  from the Georgia Department of Corrections.

I recognized it as Jones, said Kramlich, who then found records that appeared to verify the past record. She called Jones in early September and confronted her on the matter.

She admitted it, Kramlich said. But she said that she did her time and that shed changed.

Kramlich said that Jones also told Kramlich that Knapper was aware of Jones past.

But I called Nikki (Knapper) anyway and told her we had a problem, Kramlich said. She came over to my house and just kept saying Oh my God, as she looked at each page of records.

Then she called Amber (Withycombe) right there from my house and told her what was going on, Kramlich said of Knapper.

The city remained silent officially about Jones situation, but that did not stop it from unofficially being a hot topic around Maplewood.

Former Councilwoman Jenny Schmidt said she does not agree with the citys decision to remain silent. Schmidt was on the council from 2017 until April 2022.

Yes, it was a complicated issue. But how was this not made public? Schmidt said, then noted that it was the gossip was widespread. Everybody knew.

Sarah Crosley, who served on the council from 2020 to 2023, defended the citys strategy of not making a statement.

Crosley called it the right decision and credits former City Manager Michael Reese with offering the best guidance on the matter.

In October, the city paid Reese $130,000 in a severance agreement, a parting that several sources say stemmed from conflicts with Knapper.

I valued his integrity, Crosley said. Its too bad (the city) had to spend six figures buying him out because they couldnt keep him.

Jones also has been involved in a number of civil lawsuits related to debts in recent years. Online court records indicate that some of the judgments against her in St. Louis County Circuit Court go back to when she was on the Maplewood council:

In June 2022, Dobbs Tire and Auto won a judgment of $2,512 against Jones.

In August 2022, the Missouri Division of Employment Security, which oversees employer payment of unemployment taxes, won a judgment against Jones nonprofit organization for $1,032.

In June 2023, a judgment of $6,217 was entered against Jones, and another $6,217 was placed on Keep Pushing Inc. The lawsuit by Kalinga Productions involved commercial space on Manchester Road in Maplewood.

In all three cases, online records give no indication that the judgments have been satisfied.

In a pending court action, Jones and her nonprofit group are suing Marsad Smajic, claiming he changed locks on properties he was leasing to Jones in south St. Louis and removed items belonging to her.

In an interview, Smajic said he plans to file a countersuit, claiming Jones paid little in rent that was due on his properties.

Jones was on the winning end of a 2021 suit. A St. Louis County judge awarded her $5,500 from a company that sued Jones after she circulated flyers on rental assistance to tenants at a north St. Louis County apartment complex.

Originally posted at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
JEFFERSON CITY  The number of people in Missouri jails waiting to be transferred to hospitals for mental health evaluations has risen to 285 amid ongoing staffing woes in state government.

Missouri Department of Mental Health Director Valerie Huhn told a legislative panel Monday that the agency is making inroads on hiring, but a lingering shortfall in workers continues to plague the states ability to treat mental illness.

We are starting to see improvements, Huhn said. These are very, very difficult jobs. We would love to be doing more.

The waiting list is affecting people who were arrested and deemed unfit to stand trial until they undergo further testing and treatment.

Crime suspects in the St. Louis region are waiting an average of nearly six months to be evaluated to determine if they are competent to stand trial, according to data from the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

And if they are deemed incompetent, they wait an additional eight months for treatment.

In the meantime, criminal cases are halted until those evaluations are complete. The result is crime victims left waiting for a resolution, and suspects, who havent yet been convicted of a crime, stuck in jails that often dont have capacity to care for them.

The statewide number has hovered around 250 in recent months, but rose slightly in recent weeks despite ongoing efforts within the department to hire more workers and retain existing employees, Huhn said.

Lawmakers approved a change earlier this year that gives the agency the authority to treat arrested people within jails or on an outpatient basis if the person can be safely released and treated.

The General Assembly budgeted $2.5 million for the program to be used in jails in St. Louis, St. Louis County, Jackson County, Clay County and Greene County.

The state also has boosted worker pay to help lower turnover rates and the department has launched an apprenticeship program designed to support people who start jobs in mental health.

We cant recruit like we used to recruit. Our workforce supply is not going to get better, Huhn said, adding that it could take more than a decade to correct itself.

During the hearing, Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Manchester, asked if the waiting times could trigger a lawsuit against the state.

Not yet no, not that I know of, Huhn said. They have in many other states gone down that path.
JEFFERSON CITY  A state appeals court sided Tuesday with a former Capitol staffer who won a $3.3 million worker discrimination judgment last year.

The Missouri Court of Appeals at Kansas City denied an appeal by the House of Representatives but sent the matter back to a lower court to determine the fate of more than $1 million in legal fees awarded in the case.

At issue were claims by former House research staff member Eric Qualls, who said he was discriminated against when he was fired in 2017.

Qualls alleged that his supervisors failed to accommodate for his medical disability and that he was fired after he said he would report them to the Missouri Human Rights Commission.

Court records show that Qualls was diagnosed with several mental health disorders, including anxiety symptoms that could lead to possible panic attacks.

As a result of his disorders, Qualls found it hard to work in the workspaces he shared with other House analysts, records show.

In one instance, Qualls surrounded himself with boxes, a filing cabinet and a bookshelf so he could focus and feel safe.

Despite these attempts, Qualls could not escape the noise and would sometimes break down and cry in a bathroom stall, court records noted.

Qualls said just over a month prior to his firing, he was called into a meeting involving concerns from House administrators about how seriously he was taking the job and his work ethic.

In his lawsuit, Qualls identified several ways the House could accommodate his disability but said that officials seemed indifferent and they could not see a process for moving forward.

A Cole County jury ruled in Qualls favor last year, awarding him $2.02 million total in damages for discriminatory practices, disability discrimination and retaliation by the state and Adam Crumbliss, who was at the time chief clerk of the House.

In its 23-page decision, the appeals court said Qualls presented sufficient and substantial evidence that he had a disability.

House officials, the three-judge panel wrote, had the opportunity to provide accommodations to help Qualls fulfill his job duties, but did not provide them.

Money for the judgment will come out of the states Legal Expense Fund, which is paid for by taxpayers.
SHREWSBURY  None of the 30 smallest Catholic grade schools in the Archdiocese of St. Louis have been slated for closure by their pastors, church leaders said Tuesday.

Pastors now must produce a three-year feasibility study by February for their schools as part of the All Things New downsizing plan for the archdiocese. The template for the feasibility reports includes goals for increasing enrollment and funding at each school while still supporting other parish ministries.

Archbishop (Mitchell) Rozanski will review the feasibility reports and may suggest additional revisions or amendments. It is possible that some parishes may elect in February to reconsider their decisions to remain open, according to a press release from the archdiocese.

Original blueprints for All Things New called for nearly half of the 82 grade schools to close or merge.

The Catholic school system is financially unsustainable with too many buildings for not enough students, archdiocesan leaders have said. Enrollment across all buildings has fallen below 65% capacity, straining the ability of parishes to subsidize an average operating deficit of $600,000 each year.

Our goal has always been to stabilize the school footprint and to create an educational model that is strong in Catholic identity, accessible, affordable and equitable, said Lisa Shea, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese.

The school changes were postponed until after Rozanskis decision in May to close 34 parishes and merge 15 others. That means there are schools at closed parishes, including Blessed Teresa of Calcutta in Ferguson with about 150 students. Blessed Teresa parish was absorbed by Sacred Heart in Florissant, where the school has 340 students.

Christ the King parish in University City also has two schools under its umbrella: Christ the King with 180 students along with St. Roch in St. Louis with 140 students.

More than half of the archdiocesan schools have fewer than 200 students, considered a benchmark for viability:

Two out of three desks are empty at St. Simon the Apostle school in south St. Louis County, which fell to 126 students last year.

The smallest school in the archdiocese is St. Joseph in Ste. Genevieve County with just 31 students last year and an operating deficit of nearly $200,000.

Little Flower in Richmond Heights has the smallest parochial school in St. Louis city or county with 89 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

School parents and administrators said Tuesday that they do not expect every grade school to stay open in the same configuration for 2024-2025.

I personally feel like this was all fake because they want to get families to re-register, they want to get teachers to sign on to stay, and then before anybody realizes its too late, theyre going to close these schools, said one St. Louis County school director who requested anonymity.

Parish leaders from one-third of the grade schools met with archdiocesan officials this fall to discuss their schools enrollment and demographic trends, finances and proximity to other parish schools.

Pastors were given three choices: close the school, merge with another Catholic school, or stay open and produce a long-term plan to raise funds and attract more students.

The press release from the archdiocese said it will continue to financially support viable schools, but a spokeswoman said it is premature to speculate about future subsidies. Leaders at the vulnerable schools said they have been told their subsidies will decrease each year.

Catholic schools face the same headwinds as public and other private schools, mainly a longstanding decline in birth rates. Three parochial schools did not reopen this fall because of low enrollment: Good Shepherd in Hillsboro, St. Mark in south St. Louis County and St. Rose in Florissant.

There are now about 19,000 students  down from 40,000 in 2000  in kindergarten through eighth grade across the archdiocese, which covers St. Louis and 10 counties in eastern Missouri.

Everybody wants to stay open, but the demographics dont work, said Mike Oslance, a former Catholic school principal in the Belleville diocese. There is no plan that can make up for the number of students versus revenue needed.
ST. CHARLES COUNTY  The Wentzville School District argued in court on Monday that a judge should toss out Missouri Attorney General Andrew Baileys lawsuit against it, saying the law allows board members to discuss transgender issues privately.

The case isnt about transgender politics, said Melanie Renken, an attorney representing the school district. Its about whether a school board can solicit legal advice from its attorney during closed session.

I cant imagine anyone in this courtroom doesnt believe in government transparency when it comes to educating our children, Renken said at the hearing. But this is not a case of government transparency. It is not a case about transgender rights or parent rights.

Baileys suit, filed in September, claims the school board violated the states open meetings law when members met in closed session over the summer to discuss a process that could allow transgender students to use a single-stall bathroom or locker room.

The issue in Wentzville arose publicly this fall after the school board met privately twice, on June 14 and July 25, regarding bathroom and locker room access for transgender students.

In the June 14 meeting, Renken said the school board discussed a legal memo related to transgender students using locker rooms and bathrooms and requested that general counsel Patrick Brazill present a draft of a potential transgender student policy for locker room and bathroom usage.

In both meetings, board members talked among themselves for 10 or 15 minutes, according to lawyers for the district and for the attorney general.

Bailey has said his office was first notified of possible open meeting violations by school board members Jennifer Olson and Renee Henke, elected in April, who filed affidavits describing the meetings. Board member David Lewis said he had also filed an affidavit, but his was not included in the lawsuit.

In court on Monday, Brazill, Superintendent Danielle Tormala and board member Julie Scott sat just two rows from Olson and Henke. The two parties did not speak to each other.

At the hearing, Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Monroe said the boards conversations this summer should have been held in open session.

Missouris open meetings law has protections allowing for closed meetings involving district attorneys, pending litigation and ongoing legal issues.

But the school boards conversations in June and July didnt need to be protected, Monroe said. Just because discussions are controversial doesnt mean they should be had in private.

We feel those conversations went beyond the scope of the Sunshine Law, she said.

Monroe also dismissed concerns that allowing the lawsuit to go forward would have a chilling effect on school board members ability to discuss legal issues in closed session with their attorneys.

The law does not require that (Brazills presentations) be made in closed session. They could have been discussed in open session, Monroe said.

But St. Charles County Judge Deborah Alessi said it was unfair and unrealistic to expect board members not to talk amongst themselves following a legal presentation.

People are human beings, said Alessi. They are going to talk to one another.

Alessi questioned how the dispute ended up in court at all.

Im sorry, but how can this situation even get to this point without being fixed? she asked. All you have to do is to go into the next open meeting and talk about it.

Monroe disagreed.

We encourage those conversations to happen, she said. But doing it after the fact does not change the fact that there was a violation of the Sunshine Law.

Alessi did not rule on the case. She said Monday she would read the court filings and issue a ruling soon. She set a hearing date for Feb. 5.
JEFFERSON CITY  In an about-face from a month ago, the board that oversees Missouris state employee pension system voted Tuesday to jettison some investments in China over the next three years.

Led by appointed state Treasurer Vivek Malek, a Republican newcomer embroiled in a crowded 2024 primary race, the Missouri State Employees Retirement System board voted 9-2 to phase out investments in the country worth about $190 million.

Malek, with help from Gov. Mike Parson, managed to reverse a vote from last month when the board rejected his idea, which has become a talking point in Maleks bid for a full, four-year term.

The difference between now and then: In November, the vote was an unrecorded voice vote, while Tuesdays was a recorded vote, putting the 11 members on the spot to take a public position.

The two no votes Tuesday came from Gary Findlay, the former executive director of MOSERS, and Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, who called Maleks push a political ploy to win votes in next years election.

This does nothing. It does nothing to stand strong against China, said Rizzo, D-Independence.

Rizzo said MOSERS investment managers have not called on the board to take action on the issue. He added the boards actions show instability, which could hurt the pension system.

Rizzo slammed Malek for not accepting the vote from four weeks ago, saying the Republican is fighting a culture war by using the states 140,000 retirees and current workers.

Youre trying to do something that can sound big but doesnt hurt the pension fund, Rizzo said.

He said pension fund managers could turn around and use money currently invested in China and invest in private companies that invest in China, such as Apple or General Motors.

I respectfully disagree with Senator Rizzo, Malek said before the votes were cast.

Malek said China investments have not performed well in the past 15 years. In addition, he said the country is a threat to national security, making it a risky investment.

This is not all made-up stuff, Malek said.

Malek, an attorney from Wildwood who is the first person of color to serve in statewide office, enlisted help from Parson, who appointed him to the post in January.

Parson last week called on the pension system to take direct action and hold a recorded vote to disinvest in China, rather than wait for lawmakers to wade into the issue during their upcoming legislative session.

Lawmakers return to action Jan. 3 with at least one member pursuing legislation that would prohibit all public pensions from investing in companies controlled by the Peoples Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Dirk Deaton, R-Noel, also sets forth a divestment plan for any affected investment but does so in a way as to limit any losses for the pension system or taxpayers.

Deaton, a member of the MOSERS board, voted yes on Tuesday, joining other Republican members supporting the change.

China has become an issue before the Missouri Legislature in recent years with lawmakers seeking to ban foreign ownership of farmland. The Chinese spy balloon that floated over Missouri before being shot down in the Atlantic Ocean spurred action on legislation in the House, but the farmland measure did not advance in the Senate.

The move by MOSERS is not expected to have a significant impact on the systems nearly $9 billion portfolio, which is used to support monthly pension payments to retirees.

Rep. Don Mayhew, R-Crocker, said his decision to vote in favor of divestment was not based on politics, but on what makes financial sense for the pension system.

I personally dont care for Chinas politics. However, I was appointed to this board not to bring my political and personal views into the decision making process, Mayhew said. My vote is only in the interest of what is, in my opinion, best for the membership.
ST. LOUIS  The family of a man killed in a crash with a driver fleeing police has filed suit against the City of St. Louis.

The wrongful death suit claims two St. Louis police officers failed to follow the citys pursuit policy and drove at excessive speeds, contributing to the crash.

The crash happened in 2020. Carl Baines, 56, of Moline Acres, was driving in the 4200 block of East Page Boulevard on Dec. 9 when another driver, Daron Whitt, 39, struck a car, triggering a four-car crash that killed both Whitt and Baines.

St. Louis police said at the time that officers had tried to stop Whitts car, a 2017 Infiniti Q50, that night, but it fled at speeds as high as 120 mph. Whitt was in a car wanted in connection with an assault and robbery, police said then.

Authorities told the Post-Dispatch at the time that officers were not chasing Whitts car when it crashed. A police helicopter was monitoring the cars route. Police released audio of a recorded conversation between officers and a supervisor.

As the car sped west on Page, crossing Vandeventer Avenue, an officer said, Sarge, you want us to back off and let them deal with it, see if theyll slow back down?

Yeah, lets back off and let the helicopter follow it, the supervisor said.

Radio: Crash in Vandeventer Neighborhood Your browser does not support the audio element.

The wreck occurred shortly later.

Whitts wife, Nayesha Courtney, told the Post-Dispatch after the crash that Whitt never committed an assault or a robbery.

The suit was filed Friday in St. Louis Circuit Court on behalf of Baines son, Dante Baines, and his wife, Jacqueline Baines.

It names the city, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, St. Louis police Chief Robert Tracy and two police officers, identified as Jane and John Doe, as defendants.

St. Louis attorney Daniel Brown is representing the Baines family.

The St. Louis police department did not immediately respond on Monday to a request for comment.
We have always wanted a large family, and after our 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son came along, Justin and I began planning and trying for one more. Because both of my earlier pregnancies required C-sections, we knew this one and any subsequent pregnancy would be considered a higher risk to me and to the pregnancy.

We were so excited to learn I was pregnant again in August and had so much fun springing the news on our wider family at a family event. Being a mom is the absolute greatest part of my life. Every day is filled with love and laughter.

Things were going smoothly until my doctor called me  unexpectedly  to give me the results of an early screening test. She asked if I was driving. Sensing the seriousness of her tone, I pulled over to the side of the road. My heart and stomach sank.

She said more tests needed to be done, but that there was an increased risk that our third baby, a baby girl, had Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards syndrome. I stayed parked in my car, frantically googling Trisomy 18. Tears rolled down my face as I read about issues with multiple vital organs and learned that most of the cases do not last the full pregnancy and result in stillbirths.

We were devastated but tried to remain hopeful. The waiting was tough on both of us. It took five weeks from first hearing the news of an early screening test to receiving the final diagnosis after an amniocentesis, a diagnostic test that could tell us if our baby has full Trisomy 18.

At times, we felt optimistic but at other times, pessimistic. I kept thinking, maybe the early tests are wrong. Maybe she will have a really nice life in a wheelchair. Each week brought more ultrasounds and more bad news. There are issues with her spine, heart, brain, and limb development, among other conditions.

And then it was for certain: We now know she has full Trisomy 18 and cannot sustain life.

An abortion was not something I ever imagined I would want or need; I just never thought Id be in the situation Im in right now. Twenty weeks pregnant with a baby that wont survive and could jeopardize my health and a future pregnancy.

The daily pregnancy reminders are hard to handle, especially when I feel her moving around and kicking. Im noticeably pregnant and kind strangers in the grocery store line smile at me and my two children and want to know how far along I am.

My doctors are amazing. They patiently answered all my questions but never told me what I should do. I asked, what do other women do in this situation? They said some choose to continue the pregnancy and some dont. I was shocked to learn that if I chose the latter, I couldnt get an abortion in Texas. These caring doctors were trained to help me, but the new abortion bans in Texas tie their capable hands.

I kept asking more questions, including how much time we might have with her if I continued the pregnancy. The answer was maybe an hour  or at most, a week. Our baby would be in hospice care from the moment she is born if she were to be born alive. It isnt a matter of if I will have to say goodbye to her, but when.

In most states in our country, I could receive the abortion care I want and need right now. In a strange twist of fate, I received the amniocentesis results the same day the Zurawski vs. Texas case was at the Texas Supreme Court and all over the news. This case includes 20 women who are challenging the states exceptions on abortion.

I reached out to the Center for Reproductive Rights to help me access the essential and humane health care I seek in my home state of Texas. I am a Texan. Why should I or any other woman have to drive or fly hundreds of miles to do what we feel is best for ourselves and our families, to determine our own futures?

Im trying to do what is best for my baby daughter and myself and my family, but we are suffering because of the laws in Texas.

I do not want to continue the pain and suffering that has plagued this pregnancy or continue to put my body or my mental health through the risks of continuing this pregnancy. I do not want my baby to arrive in this world only to watch her suffer.

I need to end my pregnancy now so that I have the best chance for my health, for parenting my children, and for a future pregnancy.

With help from the center, I am asking the Texas courts to grant me a temporary restraining order saying that my situation falls under the exception to the states abortion bans. Not because my pregnancy is exceptional, just because this is life. Its my decision.

Editors note: After this op-ed was written, Cox decided to travel out of Texas to obtain an abortion, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Anyone who still doesnt understand that the newly empowered forced-birth movement is inherently oppressive, cruel and at times literally life-threatening to women should look carefully at what elected officials are trying to do today in Missouri and in Texas.

In Missouri, state lawmakers have filed legislation that would give full legal rights of personhood to fertilized eggs  meaning women who end their pregnancies at any point, for almost any reason, could face murder charges and, potentially, the death penalty.

And a Texas womans quest to end a pregnancy that is medically nonviable and has become ensnared in the court system there because (and please read this part carefully) continuing the doomed pregnancy endangers merely her reproductive system rather than her very life.

These arent hysterical hypotheticals but actual developments affecting actual women, unfolding in real time right now. They raise the stakes immeasurably for efforts like the current push in Missouri to codify abortion rights via statewide referendum.

When the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned Roe v. Wade, eviscerating almost half a century of constitutional protection for abortion rights during early pregnancy, the courts majority waxed on about taking judges out of the abortion debate and returning the matter to the peoples elected representatives in the states.

A year and a half later, both those lofty goals are dust. The courts are, if anything, more deeply enmeshed in the abortion debate than ever, as judges are increasingly tasked with interpreting extreme and often vaguely worded state abortion bans and related policies.

As for the supposed infallibility of the peoples elected representatives: Voters in seven states so far have found it necessary to go around their extremist legislators to protect abortion rights via referendum. Not a single state that has put the issue to a statewide vote (not even deep-red states such as Kansas, Kentucky and Montana) has come down on the anti-choice side.

That explains why conservative politicians in Missouri have spent months now trying to sabotage efforts to get an abortion rights measure on next years Missouri ballot.

The courts have repeatedly had to step in and smack down various schemes by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Attorney General Andrew Bailey and others that were designed to deny Missouri voters the right to weigh in on an issue that intimately affects half the population.

The urgency of that referendum effort has been ratcheted up this month with the filing of several bills in Jefferson City that would give a newly fertilized egg the same legal rights as a fully formed person from the moment of conception.

Missouri already prohibits abortion from conception in all cases  even rape and incest  with a sole, vaguely defined exception for medical emergencies. Doctors who violate the ban can face up to 15 years in prison and revocation of their medical licenses. But the law, enacted literally minutes after Roes overturn last year, specifically prohibits prosecution of the mother.

That could soon change. As The Kansas City Star reported last week, two almost identical bills filed this month by state Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, and Rep. Bob Titus, R-Billings, would bestow all legal rights of individuals to zygotes and fetuses at all stages of development.

A third bill, by state Rep. Brian Seitz, R-Branson, would simply change the legal definition of person to include unborn child at every stage of development from the moment of fertilization until birth.

Which means a pregnant woman who takes action to end the pregnancy could be prosecuted for murder. The legislation from Moon and Titus confirms this by specifying that when the victim is an unborn child and the defendant is the childs mother, she is allowed to argue a legal defense of duress.

As if the criminalization of a womans control over what happens inside her body isnt duress by definition.

The proposed legislation recognizes no legal difference between aborting a zygote and killing a fully formed individual, and it specifies no separate penalties. Because Missouri employs capital punishment against convicted murderers, the execution of women who facilitate their own abortions would presumably be on the table for prosecutors.

Even those who believe fertilized eggs should have full legal rights should pause to consider how complicated pregnancy can be in the real world  and how willing anti-choice politicians have been to blithely victimize women entangled in those complications.

The potential depths of that victimization is being demonstrated right now in Texas.

Kate Cox wanted to carry out her pregnancy, but at 20 weeks, she has learned that the fetus has a fatal genetic condition. It will mean either stillbirth or a short, tormented life for the fetus and potential damage to Coxs reproductive system, possibly preventing her from ever getting pregnant again.

A lower court ruled that Coxs condition falls under the exceptions to Texas draconian abortion ban. But, in an act so deliberately cruel it borders on psychotic, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton petitioned the states Supreme Court to intervene.

The high court last week prohibited the abortion while it reviewed the case  extending Coxs risk and torment for no remotely rational reason. (Cox finally ended up leaving the state to seek an abortion, according to media reports Monday.)

Cox tells her story in an op-ed originally published in the Dallas Morning News, which appears elsewhere in todays Post-Dispatch opinion section. Regardless of ones views on abortion rights, it should stand as evidence that the issue is seldom as simple as anti-choice ideologues try to make it.

As for the pending Missouri legislation: Anyone who dismisses the possibility of a woman someday being marched to the execution chamber for refusing to carry out a pregnancy hasnt been paying attention to the escalating fanaticism of the anti-choice movement in the post-Roe era. This misogynistic dystopia must be averted  and the ballot box is the only way it will be.
Photographer Michel Haddi has led an eventful life. During a childhood spent in orphanages, he discovered fashion through old magazines brought by his mother (he never knew his father). Haddi seemed to be blessed by good fortune, emerging unscathed whether it was getting stopped by the police in Saudi Arabia with a trunk full of whiskey, getting shot in Berlin on the day the wall fell, or running into Bin Laden in Yemen. When I was young, I moved in with my mom in this banlieue in Paris. The neighborhood was absolutely terrible. I looked around and said to myself, If I dont get out of here, Im gonna end up a freaking criminal [laughs]. There was no plan B. I was once offered $7,000 to drive a car full of gold from Romania to Paris, but I knew that would be a fatal mistake, said Haddi.

Haddi recently published his latest photo book, The Legend-Tupac, (MHS Publishing) about Tupac Shakur, one of the best-known rappers in the United States who was murdered in Las Vegas on September 13, 1996. For many, his death marked a significant turning point in the escalating feud between Tupac and Notorious B.I.G., another hip hop icon, in the intense clash of East Coast (Biggie) and West Coast (Tupac) rappers. Shakur had become a global celebrity, synonymous with the gangsta style that rapped about guns, drugs, street life, prison and revenge.

Tupac Shakur in 1993. Michel Haddi

Tupac Shakur in 1993. Michel Haddi

Haddi was one of the last photographers to have a session with the rapper. Tupac reminded me of Malcolm X, so I straight up told him so. We even joked about it and I was like, Make an X with your arms! [smiles]. But you wanna know something? When I looked at him, I saw a dead man. Ive got this crazy intuition  it has saved my life five or six times. Same thing happened with Brandon Lee [the actor who died accidentally on set in 1993]. Yeah, I saw a dead man... I was living in Venice Beach when The Source magazine called me for a photo shoot with Tupac. He had just finished filming Poetic Justice, John Singletons film, and when he arrived at the studio I was surprised by his elegance and education. The guy had a wonderful soul.

There arent too many well-known faces who havent posed for Haddis camera. Actors from Cameron Diaz to Kate Moss, and musicians from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers to David Bowie  everyone has ended up in a Haddi photo shoot.

Tupac Shakur in 1993. Michel Haddi

Michel Haddi: Beyond Fashion the first major solo show in Milan by the French-Algerian photographer, is at the 29 Arts in Progress gallery. The show will unfold over two consecutive exhibitions, the first from October 19 to December 22, 2023 and the second from January 16 to March 16, 2024. Each exhibition showcases different photos from a career spanning more than 40 years.

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I was so angered by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel. It was a vicious assault on men, women, children, old and young. I understand why all Israelis have been so outraged. People were viciously killed and hostages taken and still two months later not all have been freed. There is no justification for those acts. I feel sorrow for those families and how they have also become victims.

I do, however, blame the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for much of the anger and hatred Palestinians have felt over the years of oppression and restrictions they've been forced to live under. His and other previous administrations have rejected the solutions many leaders put forth over time for living side by side in territory both have laid claim to.

Again and again, Netanyahu has demonstrated his belief that all of the land belongs to Israel, such as support for Israeli settlements built on West Bank territory that was planned for the Palestinians.

So yes, Israel had a right to go after Hamas, but the way they've done it has been to cause the deaths and injuries of innocents in the process. They chose to use missiles to bomb them knowing that that would be a consequence. There are more than 10 times as many Gazans killed and many thousand more injured and missing under the rubble than the number of Israeli losses on Oct. 7.

It has become a war of revenge in my estimation. We will all have to pay for the damage Israel is doing.

Karen Glaub

Wentzville
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / AllianceBernstein

Patrick O'Connell, CFA | Director-Fixed Income Responsible Investing Research

Christian DiClementi | Portfolio Manager-Emerging Market Debt

Elizabeth Bakarich, CFA | Portfolio Manager-Emerging Market Corporate Debt

Just six metrics can effectively assess sovereign issuers' sustainability and provide guidance for both issuers and investors.

From a sustainability perspective, investing in sovereign emerging-market (EM) debt can feel messy. Most investors feel just familiar enough with individual EM countries to fall prey to subjective judgments when making comparisons. The market tends to overreact to news - good news, bad news and often both at once. And huge, complex data sets bog down analyses and muddy the view.

That's why we've charted a new path: one that sheds light on sovereign EM investing through a small set of concrete metrics that help identify potential value and provide guidance for both issuers and sustainable investors.

Gauging Sustainability with Precision Metrics

To solve the problems of subjectivity, reactivity and obscurity, we've identified six measures by which a sovereign issuer may be ruled in or out of an investable universe of sustainable sovereign debt.

We began with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which we recognize as a blueprint for identifying sustainable investments. Together, these 17 SDGs comprise 169 specific sub-targets. From these, we selected six that represent the broader investment themes of climate, health and empowerment. We believe that these six sub-targets capture the spirit of the larger list. They cover the transition to low-emissions energy consumption; biodiversity; hunger; infant mortality; equal employment opportunities; and institutional strength (Display).

For each of these six sub-targets, we identified a specific measure. For example, to be considered in alignment with UN SDG 3.2 (one of the two health sub-targets), countries should reduce newborn mortality to 12 or fewer deaths per 1,000 live births - a threshold set by the UN. Roughly half of all countries pass this metric.

Applying the Framework to Narrow the Investable Universe

The result is a robust analytical framework anchored in specific UN SDG targets. A country that passes all six metrics qualifies for sustainable EM investing. Countries that fail three or more metrics should not be considered for inclusion in a sustainable investing universe.

In our analysis, countries that fall just short of passing, failing only one or two of the six metrics, deserve a closer look. If we believe we can engage* with the country to improve in that fifth or sixth category, that country may become eligible for inclusion.

Just how rigorous is this methodology? Only about half of all countries pass any single metric. Fewer than 20% of countries globally, including developed markets, pass all six metrics.

Further, thanks to the materiality of the identified metrics over the long run, we believe that countries that pass this framework can deliver better risk and return outcomes over time than those that fail.

Putting the Framework into Practice

Three countries - Chile, Brazil and the Philippines - exemplify the rigor of this framework.

Chile hits the mark by passing all six metrics. The country's sustainable development is on par with that of many developed countries. For example, from 2010 through 2019, Chile increased wind and solar energy from around 1% to 14% of total electricity. Since 2000, it has increased its forested land by around 15%. It recently met UN goals around lowering preventable infant deaths. And it has a strong female participation rate in the labor force.

Brazil fails one critical metric: deforestation. Since 2000, the country's forest cover has declined by 10%, due mostly to destruction of the Amazon rainforest. (Almost 20% of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed since 1970.) In our framework, this signals the need for investors and asset managers such as ourselves to actively engage with Brazil to make needed improvements on this front.

After all, Brazil leads the world in many other sustainability measures: increasing wind and solar from around 0% to 10% of total electricity; meeting the UN threshold on preventable infant deaths; and having a fairly strong labor force participation rate from women.

By contrast, the Philippines fails on three metrics and thus is not yet eligible for inclusion in our sustainable universe, despite having a dynamic economy and an investment-grade rating. From 2010 through 2019, the country increased wind and solar only marginally to just 2% of its electricity matrix. Though the Philippines has worked to reduce preventable infant deaths, at the current rate the country will fail to meet UN goals by 2030. And the labor force participation rate from women is below our threshold.

The Benefits of a Sustainable Framework

Not only is this framework robust, but unlike many existing approaches to defining a sustainable investment universe, our approach is simple, transparent and objective, with data drawn from neutral sources such as the World Bank.

What's more, our approach positions the investable universe to grow as more countries meet more metrics, because it uses absolute, rather than relative, thresholds. In addition, five of the six metrics are forward-looking, so that we are able to assess not only where a country is now (static measure) but where it is going (dynamic measure). And the approach allows for targeted, effective engagement on material and relevant issues - helping an issuer move the needle from nearly to fully qualified.

Lastly, our framework for sustainable sovereign investing aligns with investor objectives and intentions. Where the goal is to improve sustainable practices around the world, we believe our framework stands out as both effective and credible.

*AB engages issuers where it believes the engagement is in the best interest of its clients.

The views expressed herein do not constitute research, investment advice or trade recommendations and do not necessarily represent the views of all AB portfolio-management teams. Views are subject to revision over time.

Learn more about AB's approach to responsibility here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from AllianceBernstein on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: AllianceBernstein

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/alliancebernstein

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: AllianceBernstein

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. securities laws.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Amego Capital Corp. (TSXV:MEGO.P) ("Amego" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent ("LOI") dated December 9, 2023 to complete a reverse takeover (the "Transaction") with Klarzen Green Technology LLC ("Klarzen"). The Transaction will be an arm's length transaction, and, if completed, will constitute Amego's "Qualifying Transaction" (as such term is defined in Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies ("Policy 2.4") of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV" or the "Exchange") Corporate Finance Manual (the "Manual")).

In connection with the Transaction, Amego and Klarzen will issue a subsequent news release setting out further information contemplated in Policy 2.4.

Trading of Amego's common shares has been halted in accordance with the policies of the TSXV and will remain halted until such time as all required documentation in connection with the Transaction has been filed with and accepted by the TSXV and permission to resume trading has been obtained from the TSXV. It is likely that trading in the Amego's common shares will not resume prior to the closing of the Transaction.

About Klarzen Green Technology LLC

Klarzen is a leading solar energy company duly incorporated under the laws of Florida, USA with operations in Latin America. Through engineering, procurement and construction services and direct to consumer Power Purchase Agreements ("PPAs"), Klarzen has developed and built over 40 solar energy projects in Colombia. In June, 2021, Klarzen entered into a Power Purchase Agreement with an international oil and gas producer to design, finance, produce, and install a 10 MWp solar energy system in Casanare, Colombia. The total investment in the PPA project exceeded US$8 million and electrical production commenced in November, 2022. Klarzen is a limited liability company existing under the laws of Tampa, Florida, which was formed on August 3, 2018.

To learn more, visit: https://www.klarzen.com.

Capitalization

Immediately prior to the share exchange contemplated by the Transaction, the authorized share capital of Amego consists of an unlimited number of common shares, of which: (a) no more than 5,591,152 common shares will be issued and outstanding; (b) no more than 367,500 options with a strike price of $0.20 per share will be issued and outstanding; and (c) no more than 150,000 broker warrants with a strike price of $0.20 will be issued and outstanding

Pursuant to the applicable steps of the Transaction, the equity capital of Amego and Klarzen will be reorganized as contemplated by the LOI, including:

existing holders of Amego's exercisable or convertible securities shall become holders of equivalent convertible securities of the Resulting Issuer; Klarzen's security holder shall receive: an aggregate of 15,085,565 common shares of the Resulting Issuer ("Resulting Issuer Shares"); a $500,000 promissory note with a term of 2 years from the closing date of the Acquisition (the "Closing Date") in accordance with Exchange policy; a $500,000 convertible debenture with a term of 2 years from the Closing Date, convertible into 1,428,571 common shares of Amego at a conversion price of $0.35 in accordance with Exchange policy; and Amego shall become the sole registered and beneficial holder of all of the issued and outstanding securities of Klarzen.

Following the Transaction the Resulting Issuer will have approximately 21,226,717 common shares issued and outstanding, of which the shareholders of Amego will hold approximately 5,591,152 common shares (26.3%), the shareholders of Klarzen will have received approximately 15,085,565 common shares (71.1%), and the Finder (defined below) will have received approximately 550,000 common shares (2.6%) of the Resulting Issuer.

A portion of the Resulting Issuer Shares may be subject to escrow provisions which shall be imposed by the policies of the TSXV and/or applicable securities laws. If applicable, these escrowed securities will be held in escrow and released, over time, as determined by the TSXV and/or applicable securities laws.

Terms of the Transaction

The Transaction is expected to be completed by way of a share exchange, pursuant to which the sole proprietor of Klarzen will transfer all of the membership interest in Klarzen to Amego and, in exchange, Amego will issue common shares in the capital of Amego to such sole proprietor, pursuant to the laws of the Province of British Columbia. The publicly traded entity resulting from the Transaction is referred to as the "Resulting Issuer".

Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the LOI, Klarzen and Amego (each, a "Party", and collectively, the "Parties") have agreed to diligently and act in good faith to negotiate the terms and conditions of a definitive agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") incorporating the principal terms of the Transaction as described in the LOI, and in addition, such other terms and provisions of a more detailed nature as the Parties may agree upon and as are customary for transactions of this nature.

In the Definitive Agreement, each of Amego and Klarzen will make such representations and warranties as are customary in transactions of this nature including, without limitation, representations as to the power, authority and standing of such Parties to engage in the contemplated Transaction; the absence of material pending or, to the knowledge of the Parties, threatened litigation and liabilities (contingent or otherwise) affecting the business of any Party in relation to the Transaction; the absence of any material default by either of the Parties under the terms of any material contract; and the accuracy in all material respects of the information, contracts and other materials furnished by either of the Parties for review by the other Party. Specific reference herein to the foregoing representations will not preclude the Parties from requiring such additional representations from the other Party, as such Party may reasonably require in the Definitive Agreement.

The Parties intend to enter into the Definitive Agreement on or before January 8, 2024, or such other date as agreed to by the Parties.

In addition, either Party may terminate the LOI before entering into the Definitive Agreement if: (a) it is not reasonably satisfied with the results of its due diligence investigations of the other party or as to the legal or tax consequences of concluding the Transaction; (b) the Parties have not entered into the Definitive Agreement on or before January 8, 2024 or such other dates as the Parties have agreed in writing; or (c) if any law, regulation or judgement of a governmental authority of competent jurisdiction makes the completion of the Transaction or the transactions contemplated by the LOI illegal or otherwise prohibited, and such law has become final and non-appealable. The LOI is intended as an expression of mutual intention of the Parties to proceed towards negotiating the Definitive Agreement, provided that there is no assurance that a Definitive Agreement will be successfully negotiated or entered into.

Upon closing of the Acquisition, two directors of Amego, Nicole Marchand and Andy Edelmeier, are expected to resign and be replaced by two nominees of Amego, James Ross and Ian Mallory. Further, Amego will appoint one nominee of Klarzen to its board of directors, Jhon Cohen, all in a manner that complies with the requirements of the Exchange and applicable securities and corporate laws. Current Amego directors Fraser Atkinson and Kirk Exner will remain on the board of directors of the Resulting Issuer.

The following are the names and background of all persons who will be principals or insiders of the Resulting Issuer:

Kirk Exner is the President of Newcoast Capital Corp., a private investment and consulting firm since 1998. During this time, he has held senior management roles with Canadian-listed public companies and provided management consulting services to private and publicly-traded companies in Canada. Prior to this, he was a corporate finance analyst at Golden Capital Securities in Vancouver from 1997 to 1998. Mr. Exner holds an MBA from York University's Schulich School of Business and a B.Sc. in Cellular Biology from the University of British Columbia.

Fraser Atkinson has served as the Executive Chairman and Director of GreenPower Motor Company Inc. since February 2011 and was appointed CEO of the Company in June 2019. Mr. Atkinson has been a director and officer of a number of public companies and is presently a director of Equus Total Return listed on the NYSE. Mr. Atkinson has been actively involved in the Canadian public equity markets since 2002 and was a former partner of KPMG LLP from 1988 to 2002. He is a Chartered Professional Account of British Columbia and graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1980.

Jhon Cohen is the CEO of Klarzen Green Technology LLC. Mr. Cohen has been active in the renewable energy industry with 12 years of international experience in the Americas and Asia focusing on solar energy and sustainable technologies. As CEO of Klarzen, Mr. Cohen developed the company from a start-up into a profitable business with COP$32.4 billion (approximately CAD$11 million) in unaudited revenue in 2022. Under Mr. Cohen's leadership, Klarzen financed and built the largest self-consumption solar plant in the private oil & gas industry in Colombia. Jhon received his Corporate Strategist certificate from Harvard University, an MBA from Hult International Business School, and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Externado University in Bogota, Colombia.

James Ross is an experienced financial manager and independent power developer. Mr. Ross is currently a Partner in Sage Stone Ventures a renewable energy project development and advisory firm. Past executive positions include President, Northstone Power, Vice President of Westlock-Algonquin Power, and Chief Financial Officer of Daxxes Corporation. Mr. Ross has been in the renewable and power industry for over twenty-five years developing, constructing, financing, acquiring and divesting numerous renewable energy projects. More recently, as a Partner in Sage Stone, he has developed and divested approximately 1,000 MWp of solar, energy storage and small hydro projects. Mr. Ross also has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, project finance, financial management, technology commercialization and investment. Past experience includes business in Europe, Latin America, China, and India. Mr. Ross holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science and an MBA from Schulich School of Business at York University.

Ian Mallory has thirty years of experience developing, financing, and executing international energy projects, with a focus on the Americas including Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. A financial lawyer by training, Mr. Mallory has been an executive at Canadian and US gas and power companies TransAlta, Westcoast Energy, Duke, ENMAX, Sea NG and New Fortress Energy. Mr. Mallory is currently Chairman of Zorzal Holdings Canada Inc. and a Director of Priority Transactions Accelerator Group Inc. Prior to joining the energy sector, Mr. Mallory was Counsel to the Treasury of the World Bank in Washington, D.C. He began his career as an associate with the law firm Fasken in Toronto. Mr. Mallory has an A.B. magna cum laude from Harvard University, an LL.B. from the University of Toronto, and an M.Phil from Cambridge University. He was called to the bar of the Province of Ontario in 1986 and received the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors (Canada) in 2018.

Subject to Exchange approval, Amego will loan Klarzen (the "Loan") USD$85,000 upon entering into a Definitive Agreement. The Loan will be secured against a Power Purchase Agreement dated August, 2023 entered into between Klarzen and a real estate development company with operations in Bogota, Colombia.

The Definitive Agreement is expected to contemplate a break fee if Klarzen elects not to pursue with the merger of CAD$200,000 and a 4% member interest in Klarzen, payable in the event Klarzen does not proceed with the reverse takeover to compensate for costs and expenses incurred by Amego.

Upon closing of the Acquisition, Amego will issue to Kirk Exner (the "Finder") a finder's fee (the "Finder's Fee") of 550,000 common shares in the capital of Amego, in accordance with and subject to Exchange policy.

Prior to the completion of the Transaction, if required, Amego may diligently seek shareholder approval, including by way of calling and holding a meeting of its shareholders in accordance with applicable corporate and securities laws, to effect to such matters as Klarzen may reasonably request in connection with the completion of the Transaction, including without limitation the approval of a new equity incentive plan (the "New Plan") as proposed by Klarzen, acting reasonably.

Name Change

In connection with the Transaction, the Parties have agreed that Amego will propose to change its name as mutually determined by Klarzen and Amego (the "Name Change").

Conditions of the Transaction

Completion of the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction of a number of customary conditions, including, among other things: (i) the negotiation and execution of the Definitive Agreement; (ii) completion of satisfactory due diligence by Klarzen and Amego of the other Party; (iii) receipt of all required approvals and consents relating to the Transaction, including without limitation, (A) the TSXV's approval for the listing of the Resulting Issuer's shares, (B) any third party consents, and (C) any approvals of the boards of directors of Amego and directors and sole proprietor of Klarzen, as applicable and as required by the TSXV and under applicable corporate or securities laws; (iv) the director nominees shall have been elected to the board of directors of the Resulting Issuer, conditional upon the completion of the Transaction, and the management nominees shall have been duly appointed as the management of the Resulting Issuer as of the time of closing of the Transaction; (v) no material adverse change shall have occurred in the business, results of operations, assets, liabilities or financial condition of Klarzen or Amego, as applicable, (vi) there being no prohibition under applicable laws against consummation of the Transaction; (vii) Andy Edelmeier and Nicole Marchand, directors of Amego, shall have delivered resignations, acting reasonably, and no termination, severance or other fees shall be payable to any such directors in connection with such resignations; (viii) Amego having adopted the New Plan, as determined by Klarzen, acting reasonably; (ix) Klarzen having an estimated tangible net asset value of USD$3,844,538 based on unaudited financial statements; and (x) such other conditions to closing as may be customary for a transaction of the nature of the Transaction as may be identified by either Party during the course of its due diligence.

Exclusivity

Pursuant to the terms of the LOI, each Party has agreed that, from the date of the LOI until the earlier of the date of the Definitive Agreement or on the date the LOI is otherwise terminated in accordance with its terms, such Party shall not, nor shall any of its representatives (the "Party Group"), initiate, solicit, entertain, negotiate, accept or discuss, directly or indirectly, any proposal or offer from any person or group of persons (including any proposal or offer from a person (or group of persons) who is part of the other Party) to acquire all or any portion of the respective businesses or assets of the other Party (an "Acquisition Proposal") whether by business combination, amalgamation, arrangement, purchase of shares, purchase of assets, tender offer, take-over bid or otherwise, or provide any non-public information to any third party in connection with an Acquisition Proposal or enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding requiring it to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the Transaction.

The Resulting Issuer

On the Closing Date, Amego shall complete the Name Change as may be determined by Klarzen and Amego, which will be the name of the Resulting Issuer.

If the Transaction is completed the board of directors and officers of Amego shall be appointed in a manner that complies with the requirements of the TSXV and applicable securities and corporate laws.

Sponsorship

Amego intends to make an application for exemption from the sponsorship requirements of the TSXV in connection with the Transaction; however, there is no assurance that the TSXV will exempt Amego from all or part of the applicable sponsorship requirements.

Non-Arm's Length Parties

No party to the Transaction or their respective Associates or Affiliates (as such terms are defined in the Manual), is a Control Person (as defined in the Manual) of either Amego or Klarzen and as such the Transaction will not be a Non-Arm's Length Party Transaction (as defined in the Manual).

No Non-Arm's Length Party (as defined in the Manual) to Amego (a) has any direct or indirect beneficial interest in Klarzen; (b) is an insider of Klarzen; or (c) has any relationship with the Non-Arm's Length Parties to the Qualifying Transaction (as defined in the manual).

Further Information

Amego and Klarzen will provide further details in respect of the Transaction.

All information contained in this press release with respect to Amego and Klarzen was supplied by the Parties respectively, for inclusion herein, without independent review by the other Party, and each Party and its directors and officers have relied on the other Party for any information concerning the other Party.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable pursuant to Exchange requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Amego should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Amego (TSXV: MEGO.P)

Amego is a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia and is a "reporting issuer" in the Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta (the "Reporting Provinces"). Amego was incorporated on July 7, 2021 pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia).

Amego is a "capital pool company" (within the meanings of the policies of the TSXV, including Policy 2.4). Amego has not commenced commercial operations and has no assets other than cash of approximately $895,000 as of November 30, 2023. Except as specifically contemplated in Policy 2.4, until the completion of a Qualifying Transaction (as defined in Policy 2.4), Amego will not carry on any business other than the identification and evaluation of companies, business or assets with a view to completing a proposed Qualifying Transaction.

Contact Information

Amego Capital Corp.

Suite 2050 - 1055 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, B.C. V6C 3P3

Attention: Kirk Exner, Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (559) 318-5592 or Email: [email protected]

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about an issuer's business, capital, or operations that is prospective in nature, and includes future-oriented financial information about the issuer's prospective financial performance or financial position. Any statements that are contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "would", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward looking statements concerning (a) the Transaction, (b) the Name Change (including its timing), (c) the expected composition of the board and management of directors of the Resulting Issuer, (d) the New Plan, if any, (e) the completion and timing of board, securityholder and regulatory approvals, including the application to and approval by the TSXV in respect of the Transaction, (f) the proposed structure of the Transaction, (g) the ability of Amego and Klarzen to meet the conditions of the Transaction and the timing for completing the Transaction, (h) the timing for entering into a Definitive Agreement and the terms and conditions therein, (i) the preparation and delivery to securityholders of a management information circular, if required, the timing associated with its preparation and delivery to securityholders and the convening of the necessary securityholders meeting, (j) trading in Amego's common shares and when such trading will resume, if at all, (k) the issuance of and timing associated with issuing a further comprehensive news release or news releases and (l) certain financial information and forecasts.

The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of Amego and Klarzen, including expectations and assumptions concerning Amego, Klarzen, and the Resulting Issuer, the Name Change, the Transaction, the negotiation of the Definitive Agreement on satisfactory terms, the timely receipt of all required shareholder, court and regulatory approvals (as applicable), including the acceptance of the TSXV, the satisfaction of other closing conditions in accordance with the terms of the Definitive Agreement, as well as other risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including but not limited to assumptions regarding prevailing market conditions and general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties to develop the forward-looking information in this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed in its entirety. Investors are cautioned that any information released or received with respect to the Name Change and the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Such forward-looking statements, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Amego does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

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 of this release.

SOURCE: Amego Capital Corp.

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Arvana Inc. (OTC PINK:AVNI) is pleased to announce that it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) to acquire FirstShot Centers, LLC, a business development company intent on expanding its specialty use concept to acquire and repurpose vacant commercial real estate. The decision to venture into real estate aligns with Arvana's mission to enhance stockholder value by capitalizing on fixed business opportunities.

Online shopping is a multi-billion-dollar industry that has changed the retail landscape. Empty shopping malls, big box stores and superstores are for sale across the United States at prices that are a fraction of replacement cost. FirstShot intends to acquire and repurpose these types of undervalued commercial properties to attract new tenants from targeted industries that offer goods or services that are not available online.

The MOU anticipates that the purchase price to acquire FirstShot will be paid in shares of Arvana's restricted common stock in addition to Arvana's commitment to fund FirstShot's business plan.

"Arvana is a great platform to roll up vacant or underused real estate, to instill new purpose and value into the many empty spaces that dot the commercial landscape," said Ruairidh Campbell AVNI's chief executive officer.

The MOU with FirstShot is non-binding and subject to the mutual satisfaction of customary due diligence in advance of finalizing the terms of a definitive agreement.

For additional information concerning the prospective transaction, please refer to Arvana's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or contact us directly.

Arvana Inc.

Arvana ("OTC PINK:AVNI") is a public company registered under the Securities & Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that is quoted on the OTC Pink Sheets Current Information Alternative Reporting platform.

FirstShot Centers, LLC

FirstShot is a Nevada based company intent on expanding its specialty use concept to acquire and repurpose vacant shopping malls, outlet locations and big bog stores throughout the United States to attract new tenants from targeted industries that offer goods or services that are not available online. Bondock LLC, the controlling stockholder of Arvana, owns FirstShot.

Website: https://firstshotcenters.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Several statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements of future expectations based on currently available information that are subject to risks and uncertainties including general economic conditions, changes in capital markets, regulatory legislation, and other circumstances that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expectations. Arvana does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or status of such statements so it will not be liable for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements contained in this press release. Arvana encourages the public to read the information provided in conjunction with its recent filings on Form 8-K, Form 10-Q and Form 10-K, which may be viewed at www.sec.gov .

Contact

Ruairidh Campbell, Chief Executive Officer

Phone: +1 801-232-7395

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://arvana.us

SOURCE: Arvana, Inc.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Boston Scientific

Eleanor O'Sullivan was in a shopping mall food court in 2011 when her partner of more than six years, Ivan O'Regan, took her hand and looked at her as if he had something to say. She stopped him before he could utter a word.

"Wait, we're not doing this here," Eleanor recalls telling Ivan in that moment. "I knew he had something big to tell me."

Big turned out to be an understatement. When they got home, Ivan shared that he'd just been diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease. He was 31 years old. Eleanor was 32.

Now, over a decade later, Eleanor shares how Ivan's diagnosis changed both of their lives-and how a Boston Scientific treatment helped them take a turn for the better.

Ivan's symptoms were subtle at first. He was finding it difficult to type certain keyboard commands, like control-alt-delete. When he'd lift his hand up, he noticed it shaking a little bit.

We now know these were early signs of Parkinson's disease. But it wasn't until Ivan took me to the emergency room one day after I'd cut my finger that he ultimately talked to a doctor about his symptoms. The doctor recommended he come back for a brain scan.

A few weeks later, we found ourselves in that food court.

A slow progression of Parkinson's symptoms

When we started searching to learn more about Parkinson's, all we saw were images of older people. The advice we found didn't speak to us at all.

We were in denial as well, thinking, This isn't supposed to be happening. We're just starting out in life. For the first two years, Ivan had appointments every six months. While his symptoms were manageable, we had so many questions: Can Ivan keep working? Am I going to have to look after him indefinitely? Can we have a family?

One night, Ivan started sobbing in bed and asked, "What's to become of me?" I didn't have an answer for him. But I said, "Whatever it is, we'll get through it together."

At first, life went on as usual for the most part. Ivan is an accountant and continued to work. I also continued working in the finance department of a multinational company. We had children: Effy, who's now 6 years old, and Ellis, who's 5.

Then, Ivan's Parkinson's symptoms started getting worse. He'd have to lay down in an empty conference room when he was at the office. He also had painful stiffness down the left side of his body and muscle cramping that made typing difficult. He went on leave in summer 2018 and hasn't returned since.

A few times, Ivan's stiffness and cramping was so bad that his chest tightened, leaving him gasping for breath. It was so hard to see him that way. I felt powerless. There were times I'd say to Ivan, "If I could take this from you for a day I would."

I know it sounds selfish, but there were also times when I thought God, this diagnosis has ruined my life as well.

The Parkinson's treatment that changed everything

Ivan could see the pressure on me. He felt so guilty about that and still does. But that was a dark time for us. I cried every day. The medication he'd been prescribed made him feel so ill that he wouldn't take it. This would cause arguments between us, because when he didn't take the medication, he couldn't move for hours, literally stuck in a chair. Meanwhile I was juggling work and caring for our two young children. At one point I said to him, "There comes a time where love isn't enough."

Once Ivan started deteriorating, I was thankful his doctor talked to him about deep brain stimulation (DBS), a treatment that uses a small, surgically implanted device to send signals to a targeted portion of the brain. The stimulation can improve motor function by reducing Parkinson's symptoms such as tremor, slowness and stiffness. In February 2022, within a year of Ivan's doctors talking to him about DBS, Ivan was in the hospital having the procedure done.

We weren't nave; we knew DBS would not cure his Parkinson's. But today, I can say our lives are so much better. Now, I'm able to do what I want, when I need to. I don't have worries about Ivan being with the children-he's moving well again. We have pretty much our normal lives back.

We had an eye-opening moment when Ivan went for his one-year follow-up after DBS. The doctors turned off the brain stimulation, and his symptoms quickly came back. We both cried. Those symptoms had become a distant memory. It was such a big realization of how the DBS is masking Ivan's Parkinson's.

But by God, it's a fantastic mask.

Advice for other caregivers

So many couples fall apart and don't make it through a Parkinson's diagnosis. After all, there is no cure.

I've learned a few things since Ivan's diagnosis that I hope can help others in our situation:

Try to be open about your situation. I was forthcoming with my employers from day one of Ivan's diagnosis. Explaining it early on laid the groundwork for more understanding later. If you try not to bring this big, life-changing diagnosis that will undoubtedly impact you into your workplace, it will happen anyway. People will notice. I think you'll find people show you a lot more support than you think you'll get.

Remember it's OK to have your own needs. "How's Ivan?" This is a question I field all the time. It's never, "How are you?" It's OK to feel disappointed by this, and to seek out the people who do put your feelings first. I think more caregivers need to talk honestly about their emotions. It's not wrong to think these things. You can't be positive all the time. But if you keep the negative stuff bottled up, you can't be positive any of the time.

Look for the silver linings. Even though we've had a lot of dark times, every day we've had a good moment. And it's important to recognize those-to say, This is good today, and we are happy. Yes, this disease is awful. But we're OK. And after DBS, that is especially true.

Are you caring for someone with Parkinson's disease? Click here for resources and support.

View original content here.

Eleanor, her partner Ivan and their children

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Boston Scientific on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Boston Scientific

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/boston-scientific

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Boston Scientific

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / The Chemours Company

by Joseph T. Martinko, President - Thermal and Specialized Solutions at Chemours

Last week, at the European Business Summit, I had the opportunity to speak on a panel addressing "How to create both a competitive and sustainable industrial policy." It was a unique moment for me to engage with EU stakeholders in a public forum about a critical challenge - how can Europe "go green," but also stay competitive on a global level. My key takeaway is that there is clearly a shared desire from both industry and government to build this more competitive, innovative, and sustainable Europe, but we've got to work closer together and communicate more in order to find the right path forward.

Chemours is committed to a green and digital Europe.

Chemours is a global chemical company with a strong presence in Europe. As president of Thermal and Specialized Solutions at Chemours, building a strong EU industrial policy is important to me because my business is dedicated to delivering clean, safe, and efficient solutions necessary to realize Europe's green ambitions. This includes technologies used in heat pumps, refrigeration, electric vehicles, data centers, and air conditioning. Innovative chemistries known as fluorinated gases (F-gases) and specialty fluids are fundamental to driving Europe's green and digital transitions, but policy inconsistency and uncertainty is slowing progress, especially in the residential heating and cooling space, which is where we need to decarbonize at the fastest pace possible.

I firmly believe that sustainability and business competitiveness are not mutually exclusive - but we need policy initiatives and regulations to complement one another, and not work against each other. The number one thing that businesses need from regulators is certainty and predictability in policy, and more and more we see lack of coherence in Europe between the "sustainable industry goals" and the legislations that should support the industry transition.

EU policy and regulation on chemicals are not consistent.

Over the past 15-years, Chemours and the industry have been asked and encouraged to invest in low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants, given they are critical to food security, electric vehicles, heat pumps, data centers, and many other sectors. However, now the EU's most recent F-Gas regulation is banning these refrigerants, despite long-term investments by industry, broad industry reliance, superior energy efficiency, and performance across applications. There are many other examples, in the hydrogen sector, batteries, and semiconductors.... all these sectors can be at risk without regulatory consistency. When it comes to regulation, we need the right hand to speak to the left, and this was a key message I shared during my panel, echoed by several of the other panelists representing different companies.

Data center immersion cooling could be a game changer.

Another example of an innovation that I'm excited about, but which could risk being banned due to inconsistent regulation, is our game-changing immersion cooling technology for data centers. As many of you may be aware, data centers - or the facilities that store the computing infrastructure and data on which modern society relies - are the invisible backbone of the tech industry and our economy more broadly. Yet the exponential growth in data traffic, coupled with a demand for increased computing speeds, has created a new challenge for these centers - increased heat generation that can't be remedied by traditional cooling methods.

Fortunately, thanks to innovations in F-gases, two-phase immersion cooling (2PIC) has emerged as a solution. Rather than using air or water to cool servers, 2PIC submerges electronic components into a bath of dielectric heat transfer fluid that is based on fluorinated chemistry. The heat from the servers boils the liquid, transforming it into gas and creating vapor which removes heat - all within a closed system. This process expends no extra energy. In fact, the heat can be recovered for other uses, enhancing energy efficiency and slashing emissions in the process. And the liquid is fully recyclable. It's a truly circular solution!

Chemistry is part of the solution.

There are many other examples I could mention where our chemistries will be vital to the future. Chemours has innovative solutions that deliver on both technological progress and climate ambitions - top priorities in Europe. Yet emerging regulation - and resulting uncertainty - puts this innovation at risk. In the race to decarbonize mobility, access to advanced fluorinated chemistries will be critical for everything from EV battery production, faster charging, increased range, and heating and cooling, to sourcing, supply chains, distribution, and logistics. If these technologies are banned or severely restricted in Europe, the cost to the EU economy would be significant, with negligible benefit to climate or health.

It's commonly said that "chemistry is the mother of all industries." The more the chemicals industry innovates, the better it will be for safety and the environment because our materials are at the backbone of Europe's green and digital transitions. However, industry and government must collaborate more closely to create a realistic, proportionate, and consistent regulatory and policy landscape that allows such solutions to work, and that fosters this innovation.

I left the summit with renewed, but cautious, optimism that this is possible, and policymakers are willing to lay the groundwork for a coherent, science-based, actionable policy framework to unlock a more sustainable future for us all - and I look forward to continued dialogue on how we can achieve this in Europe and around the world thanks to the power of chemistry, together.

View original content here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from The Chemours Company on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: The Chemours Company

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/chemours-company

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: The Chemours Company

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Intelligent Document Revolution

MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / DealPulse, Inc., a Maker5 Venture Studio company, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Matterhorn Transactions, Inc., the acclaimed provider of deal analytics to attorneys and financial professionals across the U.S., U.K., and Canada. Maker5's venture studio is a core component of its law firm innovation advisory and software development services business.





DealPulse, Inc.

www.dealpulse.law





Matterhorn Transactions, co-founded by a team including Mark Gerson, John Cooper, and Logan Beirne in collaboration with Goldman Sachs in 2011, initially developed its document analytics platform to quantify competitive market deal terms for Goldman. Working with attorneys at Kirkland & Ellis and Debevoise & Plimpton, the Matterhorn team built a system covering over 1,000 legal data points per deal, which LexisNexis then distributed as its MarketTracker product.

Today, Matterhorn powers components of Wolters Kluwer's popular M&A analytics suite, multiple digital publications for LexisNexis UK, and Law Street Media's deal articles. Additionally, Matterhorn provides bespoke content services for Wilson Sonsini, and has implemented its deal analytics platform at Holland & Knight to enable their attorneys to analyze private client deals as an internal proprietary "what's market" tool.

DealPulse applies AI-powered technology to enable firms to build structured data sets from their internal documents behind their own firewalls, eliminating concerns about sharing client data with third party cloud solutions. From customized league tables used for business development to comprehensive trend reports, attorneys harness the data DealPulse provides to increase competitiveness and profitability. For years, only a select few of the AmLaw 20 law firms could boast a comprehensive deal database that gave them a competitive edge in negotiating market terms. DealPulse enables law firms across the AmLaw 200 to offer this value proposition to their clients.

"This union will bring together the technology and attorneys to enable clients to know precisely the frequency, form, and language of transaction terms with their own proprietary deal databases," said Sanjay Kamlani, CEO of Maker5, "Under Logan's brilliant leadership, Matterhorn has worked with leading firms to build a multinational business processing both public documents as well as attorneys' client documents securely behind each firm's firewall."

Logan Beirne, co-founder and CEO of Matterhorn, as well as bestselling author and co-founder of Artusi Music, has been named CEO of DealPulse. Beirne said, "DealPulse's advanced AI capabilities will revolutionize how firms access their internal documents. What once cost us millions to process manually can now be accomplished for a small fraction of the cost and time. With this acquisition, our long-time clients will be able to harness the cutting-edge technology DealPulse offers."

"As the founder of Maker5 and co-founder of Pangea3, the Sequoia Capital portfolio company acquired by Thomson Reuters and more recently by EY Law, Sanjay has always had an eye for talent and pioneering legal industry market solutions," Mark Gerson continued. "We will see tremendous results as he works with Logan, an accomplished entrepreneur whose leadership has been pivotal to our success."

Contact Information

Logan Beirne

CEO

[email protected]

2035453388

SOURCE: Maker5

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. (AIM:ECO)(TSXV:EOG), the oil and gas exploration company focused on the offshore Atlantic Margins in South Africa, Namibia, and Guyana, is pleased to announce that, further to the Company's announcement on 24 October 2023, it has posted to Shareholders a formal notice of its Annual General Meeting ("AGM"), explanatory circular (the "Circular") and form of proxy. The AGM is to be held at 07:00 a.m. (Toronto time) on 29 December 2023 via teleconference. Copies of the formal notice of AGM, form of proxy, the Circular and virtual access details will be made available on the Company's website at: https://www.ecooilandgas.com/investors/documents-circulars/.

Proposed Appointment of Non-Executive Director

The Company is also pleased to announce the proposed appointment of Mr Oliver Quinn following the AGM to be held in December. Mr Quinn will be appointed, subject to Shareholder approval, as the nominee director of Africa Oil Corp. ("Africa Oil"), which holds 14.84% of the Company's issued share capital. Mr Quinn was appointed as the Chief Commercial Officer of Africa Oil in September 2023 having previously been employed as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at Kosmos Energy Ltd. Mr Quinn started his career at Shell and has 19 years of experience in the Oil & Gas industry. He is a graduate of the University of Manchester where he studied for a BSc (Hons), Environmental & Resource Geology and a graduate of the University of Edinburgh where he completed a PhD in Petroleum Science. While Mr Quinn replaces Keith Hill as Africa Oil's board nominee, the Board is pleased that Mr Hill has agreed to remain as a Non-executive Director of the Company.

Mr Quinn's appointment is subject to the completion of customary due diligence required by the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers (the "AIM Rules") to be undertaken by the Company's Nominated Adviser, Strand Hanson Limited. A further announcement, including the requisite Schedule 2(g) disclosures required under the AIM Rules for Companies, will be made in due course.

Shareholder Approval of the Proposed Farm Out of Block 3B/4B to Africa Oil

On 11 July 2023, the Company announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Azinam Limited ("Azinam"), would farm out a 6.25% Participating Interest in Block 3B/4B, offshore South Africa to Oil SA Corp, a wholly owned subsidiary of Africa Oil (the "Farm Out"). The Farm Out remains, inter alia, conditional on regulatory approvals from the government of South Africa and the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). As part of the regulatory approval process, the TSXV has now advised the Company that it must obtain shareholder approval for the Farm Out from those shareholders in the Company who are not deemed to be interested in the Farm Out, primarily comprising Africa Oil. Accordingly a resolution to approve the Farm Out is contained within the Notice of AGM.

Full details of all the Resolutions to be voted on at the meeting, as well as the Circular and form of proxy can be found on the Company's website at: https://www.ecooilandgas.com/investors/documents-circulars/.

**ENDS**

For more information, please visit www.ecooilandgas.com or contact the following:

Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas c/o Celicourt +44 (0) 20 8434 2754 Gil Holzman, CEO

Colin Kinley, COO

Alice Carroll, Head of Corporate Sustainability +44(0)781 729 5070 Strand Hanson (Financial & Nominated Adviser) +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 James Harris

James Bellman

Berenberg (Broker) +44 (0) 20 3207 7800 Matthew Armitt

Detlir Elezi

Echelon Capital (Financial Adviser N. America Markets) Ryan Mooney

Simon Akit +1 (403) 606 4852

+1 (416) 8497776 Celicourt (PR) +44 (0) 20 7770 6424 Mark Antelme

Jimmy Lea



About Eco Atlantic:

Eco Atlantic is a TSX-V and AIM-quoted Atlantic Margin-focused oil & gas exploration company with offshore license interests in Guyana, Namibia, and South Africa. Eco aims to deliver material value for its stakeholders through its role in the energy transition to explore for low carbon intensity oil and gas in stable emerging markets close to infrastructure.

Offshore Guyana in the proven Guyana-Suriname Basin, the Company Operates a 75% Working Interest in the 1,800 km2 Orinduik Block. In Namibia, the Company holds Operatorship and an 85% Working Interest in four offshore Petroleum Licences: PELs: 97, 98, 99, and 100, representing a combined area of 28,593 km2 in the Walvis Basin.

Offshore South Africa, Eco is Operator and holds a 50% working interest in Block 2B and a 26.25% Working Interest in Block 3B/4B operated by Africa Oil Corp., totalling some 20,643km2.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Ltd.

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NORTHVALE, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Elite" or the "Company") (OTCQB: ELTP), a specialty pharmaceutical company developing niche generic products, today announced the first shipment of generic Adderall XR to its distribution and marketing partner Prasco, LLC ("Prasco"). Adderall XR is an extended-release mixed salt of a single entity Amphetamine product (Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Amphetamine Aspartate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate, Amphetamine Sulfate) with strengths of 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 25 mg, and 30 mg capsules (the "Products").

Prasco is, pursuant to the manufacturing and supply agreement dated April 5, 2023 ("Agreement") between the companies, a non-exclusive U.S. distributor of the Products. Prasco will market the Products under Burel Pharmaceutical's label, and Elite will manufacture the Products. Elite's product is co-owned with Mikah Pharma.

About Prasco, LLC

Prasco is a privately held healthcare company located in Mason, Ohio. Over 50 of the most innovative and trusted pharmaceutical companies have relied on Prasco to bring their products to the US generic marketplace. Prasco provides patients with high-quality products at affordable prices in over 60,000 US pharmacies. For more information, visit the company's website at www.prasco.com.

About Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and distributes niche generic products. Elite's product lines consist of immediate-release and controlled-release, solid oral dose products, which are marketed under the Elite Laboratories label, as well as pursuant to licenses granted to third-party pharmaceutical marketing and distribution organizations. Elite operates a cGMP and DEA registered facility for research, development, and manufacturing located in Northvale, NJ. For more information, visit www.elitepharma.com.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, those related to the effects, if any, on future results, performance or other expectations that may have some correlation to the subject matter of this press release. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve, without limitation, risks, uncertainties and other factors not under the control of Elite, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Elite to be materially different from the results, performance or other expectations that may be implied by these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding the expected timing of approval, if at all, of products by the FDA, and the actions the FDA may require of Elite in order to obtain such approvals. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future action or performance. These risks and other factors are discussed, without limitation, in Elite's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its reports on forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K. Elite is under no obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT:

For Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Dianne Will, Investor Relations, 518-398-6222

[email protected]

www.elitepharma.com

SOURCE: Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Golden Metal Resources plc (LON:GMET)(OTCQB: GMTLF), a strategic mineral exploration and development company focused on Nevada, USA, is pleased to announce the Company has been informed that on 11 December 2023 Oliver Friesen (Chief Executive Officer) purchased on-market 80,000 Golden Metal shares at a price per share of 9.35p, for an investment value of 7,480.

Following the above purchase Oliver Friesen has a beneficial interest of 673,967 shares representing 0.79% of the Company's issued share capital.

PDMR DISCLOSURE

The notification below, made in accordance with the requirements of the EU Market Abuse Regulation, provide further detail on the director's share dealing.

1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated a) Name Oliver Friesen 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status Chief Executive Officer b) Initial notification /Amendment Initial Notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name Golden Metal Resources Plc b) LEI 213800J4SKZAMUEPGW34 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument ordinary shares of 1p each



Identification code ISIN: GB00BPQY8R36



b) Nature of the transaction Purchase of ordinary shares c) Price(s) and volume(s)











Price(s) Volume(s)





9.35p 80,000











d) Aggregated information





- Aggregated volume 80,000



- Price 9.35p



e) Date of the transaction 11 December 2023 f) Place of the transaction XLON

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the UK version of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended ("MAR"). Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company is Oliver Friesen, Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

For further information visit www.goldenmetalresources.com or contact the following:

Golden Metal Resources plc Oliver Friesen (CEO) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7583 8304 Cairn Financial Advisers LLP Nominated Adviser Sandy Jamieson/Jo Turner/Louise O'Driscoll Tel: +44 20 7213 0880 First Equity Limited Broker Jonathan Brown/Jason Robertson Tel: +44 20 7374 2212





THE PROJECTS

Pilot Mountain Project

The Pilot Mountain project is an advanced exploration and mineral resource definition stage project located in Mineral County in western Nevada. The project covers an area of 14.80 km2 (3,656.1 acres) and is located 200km southeast of Reno and 18km east of Mina, Nevada. It is well situated for the supply of power, water and skilled labour and proximity to transport infrastructure in Mineral County and is centred around four existing mineral deposits: Garnet; Good Hope; Gunmetal and Desert Scheelite, all of which possess significant skarn-style tungsten-copper-silver-zinc mineralisation. The Pilot Mountain project consists of 176 active lode mining claims and 4 filed mill site claims. The four mill site claims filed at the former Dunham mill site have secure access to groundwater supply sufficient for the proposed project.

Kibby Basin Lithium Project

The Kibby Basin Project covers two claim packages which are prospective for lithium brine mineralisation. The southern claim package is less than 250m from a 2022 drillhole which returned a significant interval (169m) of lithium brine mineralisation which was determined to be open in all directions. The Project is less than 5km to the southeast of the Company's flagship Pilot Mountain Project.

Golconda Summit Project

Golden Metal is the operator of the Golconda Summit project, which is held under an earn-in right to acquire up to 100 per cent. of the project from the mineral claim owner pursuant to an option agreement. The Golconda Summit project is an exploration stage gold and silver project located in Humboldt County and situated at the confluence of the Getchell and Battle Mountain - Eureka metallogenic trends, and consists of 44 lode mining claims, covering a total area of approximately 3.22 km2 (795.4 acres) located approximately 27km east of Winnemucca.

Garfield Project

The Garfield Project is an exciting copper-gold-silver prospect consisting of 39 lode mining claims covering 3.23 km2 (797.9 acres) located in Mineral County, Nevada, approximately 14km due east of the town of Hawthorne and 120km due west-northwest of Tonopah. Exploration to date has included detailed geochemical sampling and follow up analysis which highlighted the presence of both skarn-type and porphyry style mineralisation and alteration at the 'High-Grade Zone'. Further mapping, prospecting and rock sampling was recently completed with results confirming presence of high-grade copper, silver and gold mineralisation.

Stonewall Project

The Stonewall project is an exploration stage gold-silver property prospective for epithermal gold-silver mineralisation. The property consists of 19 lode mining claims covering 1.59 km2 (392.5 acres) located on the northern flank of Stonewall Mountain, on the western edge of the Nellis Airforce Range Restricted Access Area, in Nye County, Nevada, approximately 24km south-east of the historic gold mining town of Goldfield and 60km due south of Tonopah.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Golden Metal Resources PLC

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Maastricht, the southern Dutch city that owes its name to the bridge built there by the Romans to cross the Meuse River, wants to recover an ancient treasure: the fossilized skull of a mosasaur, an aquatic reptile that lived some 66 million years ago when the area surrounding the present-day city was covered by a warm, shallow sea. Discovered at the end of the 18th century, it was looted by French troops and has been on display since 1795 at the Museum of Natural History in Paris. Now, the counterpart institution in the Netherlands, the Natural History Museum of Maastricht, which possesses only a plaster replica, wants the Dutch government to officially demand its return from France. The City Council supports the idea and last Thursday a meeting took place at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science to analyze the case. On the table is a possible restitution comparable to that applied to other historical pieces, whether from the colonial era or World War II.

The official name of this large prehistoric creature is Mosasaurus hoffmanni. It is the first of its kind of the several that have been found in the southern Netherlands, although they have also appeared in other parts of the world. The fossil was discovered in October 1778 in subterranean limestone quarries in the Maastricht area, originating from the remains of shells of marine animals. It dates to the Maastrichtian period (71 to 66 million years ago) of the Late Cretaceous, and was found on land owned by Canon Theodorus Godding. As the limestone mine tunnels where the fossil was extracted were underneath his house, he claimed it as his own. Once in his possession, he put it in a display case so that people could admire it. Maastricht is in the Catholic part of the Netherlands, and in the Bible there are no dinosaurs or mosasaurs, of course. The one we are dealing with is essential because it represents the first part of what would later become the theory of the evolution of species, explains John Jagt, curator of paleontology at the Natural History Museum of Maastricht. In his opinion, the fossil is comparable to what Tutankhamun represents for archaeology.

In 18th century Maastricht, the reptiles presence could be explained by alluding to the Flood, but when fossils appeared in other countries, in a way it was like accepting that God could be fallible; that there was more than one flood. Hence, Mosasaurus led scientists to wonder whether animals and plants could become extinct via natural circumstances, Jagt continues. Although a complete skeleton has not been discovered, it is believed that the reptile, which measured up to 17 meters (56 feet), had a body covered with scales, a relatively small brain, and a dull tone on its back with a lighter hue on the stomach. Their young were born in the water and had to surface immediately to breathe. How did they become extinct? Having no predators other than those of their own size or species, they suffered the domino effect of rains of sulfuric acid and other debris that reached the sea after the cataclysm caused by the meteorite impact [in what is now the Yucatan Peninsula] that wiped out the dinosaurs.

A public domain image of an engraving recreating the discovery of the fossil in 1778.

Spoils of war

At the end of 1794, Maastricht was captured by the French Revolutionary Army and there was already a precise plan in place to get hold of the fossil. France had stripped itself of all religious vestiges at that time and they had to get the mosasaur, of great scientific value, says Jagt. As it was believed to have been hidden somewhere in the city, legend has it that up to 600 bottles of the finest wine were offered as a reward to whoever found it. Thats all a sham. It was stolen. It was a spoil of war, Jagt assures. The fossilized skull was taken to Paris in 1794 and declared an item of national heritage. There is documentary evidence that after Napoleon there was an opportunity for the Dutch to reclaim some of the things that were the product of the rapine of the revolutionaries, and several were recovered. They forgot about the fossil, or maybe they didnt know about it, says the curator.

Mosasaurus hoffmanni is part of the Netherlands Natural History canon, and the Maastrichtian period is the only division of the geological timescale that comes from the Dutch city. The 175th anniversary of the adoption of the term comes in 2024, and although Jagt prefers not to comment on the possible return of the fossil, he points out that this type of restitution usually affects art. Its a decision that is not up to the scientists and many things can happen in the future. For the time being, the fossilized skull of the Netherlands most famous mosasaur rests in a display case in Paris.

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Brands in the pool, hot tub, decking and outdoor living industries unite for three days of product exploration.

LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / The International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo, co-located with Deck Expo (PSP/Deck Expo) successfully concluded the three-day annual event on November 15. Organized by Informa Markets, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) and the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA), PSP/Deck Expo utilized 141,500 NSF of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The energy on the show floor was palpable, bringing together more than 9,900 registered professionals, connecting established and emerging brands with thousands of buyers and engaging in a full range of education led by renowned industry experts. More than 440 companies displayed the latest products, services and technology for the pool, spa, patio, outdoor living and decking industries, including prominent suppliers Pentair, Trex, AquaStar Pool Products and BioLab.

"PSP/Deck Expo stands as the industry's largest meeting place, fostering collaboration through the wide range of exhibiting brands and extensive learning opportunities," remarks Kris Osterbusch, Show Director. "Year after year, the event serves as the nexus where suppliers and attendees converge to forge new deals, partnerships and gain valuable connections. The expo floor resonated with vibrant energy, providing a platform where buyers delved into cutting-edge products and technologies for all pool, spa, patio, deck needs and beyond."

PSP/Deck Expo introduced new pathways for engagement through the return of the interactive Power Panels, held in conjunction with conference programming and covering four important topics: Builder, Service, Retail and Decking. Esteemed experts shared insights into emerging technologies, economic trends and the current state of the industry. The Decking Power Panel took place at the all-new Outdoor Living Stage and featured decking professionals discussing trends, current challenges and future solutions.

"Deck Expo is not just an event - it's the lively heartbeat of our industry," shares John Lea, NADRA member and speaker for four education sessions, including the Decking Power Panel. "It is where decking pros come together to create not just partnerships, but lasting friendships."

New introductions to the 2023 edition of PSP/Deck Expo included Blossom & Lead, a curated show floor education area focusing on the advancement of women in the pool and hot tub industry, and the Retail Innovation Zone, an immersive experience demonstrating the power of a customer-first retail store.

"The conference rooms were abuzz as professionals actively sought solutions to contemporary challenges," notes Sabeena Hickman, CAE, President & CEO of PHTA. "This edition of the Expo uniquely elevated the experience, offering exceptional networking opportunities and enriching educational sessions."

A highlight of the event, the Innovative Product Showcase, recognized new and noteworthy technologies. Over 30 products were submitted to the showcase, and the winning products were chosen through an onsite and online vote.

Winners include:

Most Innovative Products for Pool and Backyard Construction Professionals: The Shelf Lounger, GPM Manufacturing

Most Innovative Products for Retailers: Chill Springs All-In-One Cold Plunge, GPM Manufacturing

Most Innovative Products for Service Professionals: Filter Preaux System, Filter Preaux

Most Innovative Deck or Patio Products: Accoya Color Grey, Accoya

PSP/Deck Expo 2024 will return to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, November 9-14, 2024. For more information, visit www.poolspapatio.com.

About the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo", co-located with Deck Expo

The International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo", co-located with Deck Expo is where all segments of the industry (pool, spa, patio, decking, and outdoor living) gather to stay well-informed of the trends, market directions, and technology. The event offers industry professionals a large selection of educational sessions, an expo hall, and various networking opportunities. The event partners with The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) as the official Show Sponsor, GENESIS as the official Show Endorser, Pool and Spa News (PSN) as the official Show Publication, and the North American Deck & Railing Association (NADRA) as the official Show Sponsor of Deck Expo. The event is owned and produced by Informa Markets. www.poolspapatio.com.



About Informa Markets

Informa Markets, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio comprises more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Engineering, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world's leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, visit www.informamarkets.com.

Media Contacts

Abby Portwood

Informa Markets Construction and Infrastructure PRa

[email protected]

Megan Magana

Senior Marketing Manager, PSP/Deck Expo

[email protected]

SOURCE: INFORMA MARKETS

View the original press release on accesswire.com
DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Koios Beverage Corp. (CSE:FIT)(OTC PINK:FITS) (the "Company" or "Koios") announced earlier this year, its commitment to providing healthier snack alternatives with the introduction of a new line of better-for-you sweets called "Swol Bears". Swol Bears are infused with a proprietary blend of Vitamin D to deliver a daily dose of this essential nutrient in each bag and contain only 1g of sugar, making them a delicious and healthier snacking option. This product line has quickly garnered praise from retail partners across the nation, showcasing the Company's dedication to delivering delicious treats without compromising on nutritional value.

With a strategic approach to placement in retail outlets nationwide, Koios has secured a significant retail footprint for Swol Bears. The Company's reputation for delivering innovative and purposeful offerings, coupled with the success of Fit Soda, has fueled anticipation among retailers eager to stock the Swol Bears line.

CEO, Chris Miller, expressed enthusiasm for the Company's latest venture, stating, "We are thrilled to introduce Swol Bears in 2014 to consumers nationwide. The better-for-you sweets category is experiencing unprecedented growth, and we are proud to contribute to this movement. Our aim has always been to create the most enjoyable and functional foods possible. As health and wellness become increasingly crucial in our society, we are dedicated to helping people make better and easier choices that lead to a healthier lifestyle."

Highlighting the explosive growth in the better-for-you sweets category, Chris Miller CEO, cited examples like Smart Sweets and Mr. Beast's candy line, emphasizing the market's potential for innovation and consumer interest.

Anticipation for Swol Bears is already generating considerable buzz, with consumers eagerly awaiting the product's official release in 2024. The Company is confident that the combination of their expertise in crafting functional foods and the success of their existing product lines will propel Swol Bears to new heights.

The introduction of Swol Bears not only marks an exciting expansion of the Company's product offerings, but also strategically positions the Company to reach a broader audience within its established retail footprint. The new better-for-you sweets line provides an opportunity to diversify the Company's product portfolio, enabling Koios to cater to a wider demographic and tap into consumer segments that may not have been as prominently targeted by the beverage lines. Additionally, Swol Bears allows the Company to compete more effectively with direct-to-consumer channels by offering a product that is easier to handle than beverages. This strategic move is anticipated to not only drive additional sales but also boost profit margins, as the confectionery market often boasts higher margins than traditional beverage products. By expanding into the sweets category, Koios is poised to strengthen its market presence and provide consumers with a delightful array of better-for-you options.

Koios is set to launch Swol Bears in 2024, with 30% of its retail footprint already secured for the nationwide rollout. The Company remains committed to its mission of providing enjoyable, functional and healthier snack choices, contributing to the ongoing health and wellness revolution.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

KOIOS BEVERAGE CORP.

"Chris Miller"

Chris Miller, CEO, and Director

For further information, please contact:

Mt. Zion Market Ventures

Jacob Slade

856-685-8022

[email protected]

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (CSE) HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE.

About Koios Beverage Corp.

The Company is an emerging functional beverage company which has an available distribution network of more than 5,100 retail locations across the United States in which to sell its products. Koios has relationships with some of the largest and most reputable distributors in the United States, including Europa Sports, Muscle Foods USA, KeHE, and Wishing-U-Well. Koios uses a proprietary blend of nootropics and natural organic compounds to enhance human productivity without using harmful chemicals or stimulants. Koios products have been shown to enhance focus, concentration, mental capacity, memory retention, cognitive function, alertness, brain capacity and create all day mental clarity. Its ingredients are specifically designed to target brain function by increasing blood flow, oxygen levels, and neural connections in the brain.

Koios produces one of the only drinks in the world infused with MCT oil. MCT oil is derived from coconuts and has been shown to help the body burn fat more effectively, create lasting energy from a natural food source, produce ketones in the brain, allowing for greater brain function and clarity, support healthy hormone production, and improve immunity. For more information, please visit our website: https://www.koiosbeveragecorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding: Potential outcomes from the launch of Swol Bears to the Company's product portfolio, the availability of the Company's products so they are more accessible to a wider audience and the overall performance of the functional food and beverage market. The forward-looking information reflects management's current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include: (i) adverse market conditions; (ii) changes to the growth and size of the functional beverage markets; and (iii) other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Company's management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on the Company's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company expressly 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 law.

The statements in this news release have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As each individual is different, the benefits, if any, of taking the Company's products will vary from person to person. No claims or guarantees can be made as to the effects of the Company's products on an individual's health and well-being. The Company's products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This news release may contain trademarked names of third-party entities (or their respective offerings with trademarked names) typically in reference to (i) relationships had by Koios with such third-party entities as referred to in this release and/or (ii) client/vendor/service provider parties whose relationship with Koios is/are referred to in this release. All rights to such trademarks are reserved by their respective owners or licensees.

Contact Information

Gina Burrus

VP

[email protected]

SOURCE: KOIOS Beverage Corp

View the original press release on accesswire.com
86% of respondents agree that river pollution greatly affects human health, but more than half (57%) have little to no knowledge about how to clean it up.

MIDLAND, MI / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Today, Rivers are Life, a collective voice for global river ecosystems, reveals the multinational, multicultural, and cross-generational results for the "State of Rivers Around the World" survey. The global survey gathered insights from 6,645 people throughout 14 countries and four continents, including North America, South America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.





Rivers are Life

These results show that, despite regional and cultural differences, people around the world agree that climate health and rivers are inseparable and vitally important. 91% of people around the world believe that climate change needs to be acted on in 2024, and nine in ten report that rivers are important to climate change mitigation. Moreover, 80% globally agree that rivers have an impact on their lives.

Despite 81% of people considering rivers to be a vital part of the food system - and 94% agreeing that rivers are important to agriculture - the majority of people around the world would not eat a fish out of their local river.

"What's most shocking about this data is that we found something that more than 90 percent of the world agrees on: climate change needs to be addressed, and rivers play a vital role in mitigating those issues," said Katie Horning, BeAlive, Head of Rivers are Life Brand. "Despite that alignment, there are still gaps in knowledge about rivers, and how people can take action to make a difference."

Greater Education Is Needed

Across findings, respondents agreed that there is a need for greater education around the environment, river systems and how they can help. 98% of people around the world would like to know more about environmental issues.

Importantly, 74% of participants believe more public awareness will improve the health of rivers, and 63% say lack of attention to the issue is a major obstacle to reducing water pollution.

"Education is a key component to addressing issues like river pollution, and we at LSU contribute both academic expertise and on-the-ground support to Rivers are Life," said Clint Willson, Interim Dean of LSU's College of the Coast & Environment and Director of the LSU Center for River Studies. The Center for River Studies is an academic partner to Rivers are Life. "LSU's commitment to this research signifies the importance of educating and encouraging younger generations globally to advocate for the vitality of waterways."

Around the world, and across generations, there are a few key differentiators about what individuals want to learn and how they take action:

People in South America and Asia (69%) are twice as likely to be interested in learning about environmental issues facing rivers than those in North America and Europe (30%).

Globally, Gen Z (56%) and Millennials (57%) are much more interested in learning about environmental issues than the Baby Boomers (33%).

Limiting pollution in rivers is a higher concern for people in South America and Asia (80%) when compared to North America and Europe (68%).

When asked to rank who was most responsible for polluting rivers, people in Asia (42%) and those in South America (36%) felt that individuals were most at fault, while those in North America (41%) and Europe (42%) were most likely to select corporations.

In terms of taking action, 75% of individuals from Asia have helped to clean their local river, compared to only 46% in South America, 27% in North America and just 18% in Europe.

And More Urgent Action Is Required

While most survey respondents agree that some action is required, the findings show differing responses when it comes to how this problem is addressed:

76% believe that human behavior is the biggest obstacle to reducing water pollution;

50% believe no one is protecting their local rivers; With only 10% of participants strongly agreeing that their countries' leaders care about the health of rivers;

72% of people around the world would like stricter policies or more regulation to curb river pollution;

88% believe there should be stronger legislation to prevent sewage drainage into rivers;

And 57% have little to no personal knowledge on how to clean up their local rivers

Despite these concerns, respondents shared a sense of hopefulness, and willingness to help, when it comes to cleaning these vital waterways. Fifty-nine percent of people around the world are planning to take action to help clean their rivers in 2024, they just need help getting started.

Rivers are Life is the ideal platform that can provide education and solutions for those looking to get involved in addressing the issue and protecting our rivers. It aims to inspire people to protect, preserve, and explore our world's rivers.

Visit RiversareLife.com to subscribe to their e-newsletter, hear from River Heroes impacting community-based change around the world, and follow on social media to learn more. For full survey results, visit www.RiversareLife.com/State-of-rivers-around-the-world.

METHODOLOGY:

Conducted by SAVANTA, a market research consultancy. Dates of fielding: October 3, 2023, to October 18, 2023. This survey was conducted in: U.S., Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), South America (Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, and Peru), and Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand).

The sample populations were: U.S. (n=1,590), Europe (n=1,925), South America (n=1,487), and SE Asia (n=1,643). The survey was in an online format and was conducted in English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese (BR), Italian, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Thai, and Indonesian.

Contact Information

Katie Horning

Head of Brand, Rivers are Life Brand Division, BeAlive Inc.

[email protected]

989-491-1019

SOURCE: Rivers are Life

View the original press release on accesswire.com
ISTANBUL, TURKEY / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / Solana, one of the world's fastest-growing blockchains, is set to host its second annual Solana Crossroads community conference in Turkey. The 3,000-attendee conference will be the largest community conference to date and will bring together the Solana community and companies across the Solana ecosystem, such as Star Atlas, Marinade, Superteam, MarginFi, Zeta Markets, and more.

Solana Crossroads

Solana Conference Solana Crossroads in Istanbul, Turkey

The two-day international event will take place from May 10 to May 11, 2024, in Istanbul and will be hosted by Step Finance, the front page of Solana. Featured speakers include Coingecko co-founder Bobby Ong, Solana project founders such as Michael Wagner of Star Atlas, Superteam co-founder Kash Dhanda, as well as Solana Foundation leaders who are yet to be announced.

"Solana is experiencing a significant surge in growth, and there's no place more suited than Istanbul to gather the global Solana community. We aim to lead in fostering Solana's progress, and Solana Crossroads is a vital part of this effort," says George Harrap, Co-founder of Step Finance.

Solana Crossroads will feature exclusive Turkish-style parties for VIPs, VIP networking lunches, and extensive exhibitions and speaker sessions showcasing leading Solana projects. The event is set to take place at the Hilton Bosphorus in Istanbul, notable for being the first Hilton establishment in Europe.

Early bird tickets are now available for a limited time. More information can be found on the Solana Crossroads Official Website.

Contact Information

Press Office

[email protected]

SOURCE: Step Finance

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2023 / DOW

Originally published in Dow's 2022 INtersections Progress Report

We strive to provide Team Dow with flexible, inclusive benefits, policies and programs that drive engagement and cultivate a positive employee experience.

Providing Flexibility Through Design Your Day (DYD)

DYD encourages employees and leaders to collaborate on workplace plans that enable employees and workgroups to maximize their productivity and balance personal needs, while continuing to collaborate with colleagues and meet their job expectations.

Parental Leave Policy

Dow's global parental leave policy provides a minimum of 16 weeks of paid time-off to all parents - birthing, non-birthing and adoptive, regardless of gender. This policy provides parents equal time away from work to bond with their child.

Family Caregiver Leave Policy

The family caregiver leave policy provides employees up to three weeks of paid time-off to care for family members who are sick or injured.

Volunteer and ERG Time-Off

Dow provides 12 hours paid time off annually to ensure every member of Team Dow - whether they work at a manufacturing site, in an office or in the field - is able to make a positive difference by volunteering and getting involved in one of Dow's ERGs.

Dow's parental leave policy gave me the opportunity to be present to see my daughter grow and change during the first four months of her life. My leader was very supportive of me utilizing all of the parental leave available. It benefited me personally, as it gave me time to adjust to this major life change without having to stress about work. - Cody Ecker, Corporate Facilities Manager, U.S. Gulf Coast

Read more

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from DOW on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: DOW

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/dow

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: DOW

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM), the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China , today announced that Mr. Quan Long has stepped down from his position as the chief executive officer of the Company (the "Chief Executive Officer") due to his other personal commitments, effective immediately. Mr. Long will remain in his position as the chairman of the board of directors of the Company (the "Board"). Dr. Jing Xiao has also resigned from his position as a director and a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board due to his other personal commitments, effective immediately.

The Company is pleased to announce that Mr. Tao Wu has been appointed as an executive director of the Company and the Chief Executive Officer, and Ms. Keke Ding , a current director and member of the Compensation Committee of the Board, has been appointed as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, both effective immediately.

Mr. Tao Wu has over 28 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance and automobile services industries. Mr. Wu currently serves as a director of Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An P&C"). Before joining Autohome, he served as an executive director and a vice general manager of Ping An P&C. Mr. Wu joined Ping An P&C in September 2001 , and held a series of leadership roles there, including operating director, general manager of the Guangdong Branch, general manager of the Auto, Accident & Health Insurance Claims Department, vice general manager of the Fujian Branch and vice general manager of the Xiamen Branch. Mr. Wu also served as a vice president of Autohome from July 2016 to November 2020 . Mr. Wu received his bachelor's degree in automotive engineering from Tsinghua University in July 1995 .

Mr. Quan Long , the chairman of the Board, stated, "We are delighted to welcome Mr. Tao Wu back to the team as our executive director and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Wu previously spent over four years in a management role at Autohome and during that time he played a crucial role in leading the development of our core businesses. We believe that his leadership and extensive industry experience will be a great asset to our future development. The Board looks forward to working with him closely as we enter the exciting next phase of our growth story."
The multi-target research and development partnership will focus on severe skin diseases

The collaboration leverages ethernas proprietary mRNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology with Almiralls expertise in the dermatology space

In addition to upfront and technology access payments, etherna is eligible to receive 300 million in development and commercial milestones as well as tiered royalties

BARCELONA, Spain & NIEL, Belgium--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Almirall, S.A. (ALM), a global pharmaceutical company focused on medical dermatology, and etherna, an mRNA/LNP technology platform company, announced today a multi-target alliance to discover and develop new mRNA-based therapies for severe skin diseases, including non-melanoma skin cancer.

The alliance combines and leverages ethernas innovative proprietary mRNA capabilities and LNP formulations with Almiralls leading expertise in medical dermatology to accelerate discovery of novel treatment options. Delivery of LNP-formulated mRNA for transient and local translation of therapeutic proteins offers a unique opportunity to encode for multiple therapeutically active components in a single treatment.

Etherna and Almirall will work collaboratively on the research activities, while Almirall will lead clinical development and commercialization. Under the terms of the agreement, etherna will receive upfront and technology access payments. In addition, etherna is eligible to receive success-based development and commercial milestone payments that could exceed 300 million contingent upon launch and commercial success of multiple products, as well as tiered royalties based upon future global sales. Further financial details were not disclosed.

Dr. Karl Ziegelbauer, Chief Scientific Officer of Almirall, stated: At Almirall, we always look for new solutions for patients suffering from skin diseases and we are thrilled about the strategic alliance with etherna to strengthen our pipeline with mRNA-based assets.

Bernard Sagaert, CEO of etherna, stated: We are excited to partner with Almirall to advance mRNA therapeutics into medical dermatology. Almirall and etherna share the vision that intradermal application of LNP-formulated mRNA is a highly promising strategy to bring novel, efficacious new treatment options that will deliver huge benefits to patients.

About etherna

etherna is an mRNA technology platform company with integrated capabilities in mRNA construct design and optimization, customized lipid nanoparticles (cLNP) formulations tailored for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, and process technology for manufacturing. The company believes that customized LNPs are critical enablers in advancing mRNA technologies to new levels of prophylactic and therapeutic utility. Ethernas proprietary platform provides answers to end-to-end solutions for next generation mRNA therapeutics. The company has its Headquarters, R&D and manufacturing facilities in Belgium, and its commercial office in Boston, MA, USA.

For more information, please visit https://www.etherna.be/

About Almirall

Almirall is a global pharmaceutical company focused on medical dermatology. We collaborate with scientists and healthcare professionals to address patient's needs through science to improve their lives. Our Noble Purpose is at the core of our work: "Transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life". We invest in differentiated and ground-breaking medical dermatology products to bring our innovative solutions to patients needs.

The company, founded in 1944 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publicly traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange (ticker: ALM). Throughout its 79-year history, Almirall has retained a strong focus on the needs of patients. Almirall has a direct presence in 21 countries and strategic agreements in over 70, with about 1,800 employees. Total revenues in 2022 were 863.2 million euros.

For more information, please visit almirall.com

Almiralls legal warning

This document includes only summary information and is not intended to be exhaustive. The facts, figures and opinions contained in this document, in addition to the historical ones, are "forward-looking statements". These statements are based on the information currently available and the best estimates and assumptions that the company considers reasonable. These statements involve risks and uncertainties beyond the control of the company. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those declared by such forward-looking statements. The company expressly waives any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, goals or estimates contained in this document to reflect any changes in the assumptions, events or circumstances on which such forward-looking statements are based, unless required by the applicable law.

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Media contact etherna:

RHA Communications

Richard Hayhurst

[email protected]

Phone: (+44) 7711 821527



Investor relations contact: [email protected]

Corporate communications: [email protected]



Media contact Almirall:

Tinkle

Laura Blazquez

[email protected]

Phone: (+34) 600 430 581



Investors Relations contact

Almirall

Pablo Divasson del Fraile

[email protected]

Phone: (+34) 93 291 30 87



Corporate Communications contact:

Almirall

Mar Ramirez

[email protected]

Phone: (+34) 659 614 173

Source: Almirall, S.A.
COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Battelle and its spinoff company Revive Environmental will continue to develop the groundbreaking new PFAS Annihilator technology to fight one of Americas biggest emerging pollution problems. The pair have been chosen to participate in the United States Department of Defense (DoD) new cohort of prototype projects to demonstrate treatment technologies for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-impacted media.

Spread across three DoD-identified installations, these new demonstrations are in partnership with the DoDs Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). Ten companies have been awarded prototype contracts under this effort.

With our technology, we can conduct advanced demonstrations to address this high-priority issue and help provide treatment options for DoD installations impacted by PFAS, said Battelle PFAS Program Manager Amy Dindal.

Known as forever chemicals, the family of PFAS chemicals are in many products and very stable in the environment due to their unique chemical structure. In addition to landfill runoff and industrial wastewater containing PFAS, Americas civilian and military fire fighters have used aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) to suppress fuel fires for decades. These firefighting substances contain high levels of PFAS and have been shown to migrate into soil and groundwater. Battelle and Revive have technology to destroy these chemicals without harmful byproducts, especially with the PFAS Annihilator.

Our PFAS Annihilator is currently destroying PFAS from various customer waste streams around the country, and we look forward to demonstrating our proprietary technology on DoD groundwater remediation applications, said Revive Environmental President and CEO David Trueba.

For this project, Battelle and Revive will evaluate the cost and performance of the PFAS Annihilator. Federal officials say the new partnership-based action plan will help identify the operational constraints of the fielded technologies.

About Battelle

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.

About Revive Environmental

Revive Environmental is a full-service environmental contaminant mitigation and water treatment company, co-founded by Battelle and Viking Global Investors, and is on a mission to destroy PFAS using ready-now, advanced technologies. These patented technologiesPFAS Annihilator and GAC Reneware commercially available and already operating in the U.S. Revive is rapidly scaling and deploying these technologies to isolate, remove and annihilate PFAS chemicals from landfill leachate, industrial wastewater, drinking water, groundwater, and AFFF firefighting foam. In the first-ever deployment of a PFAS destruction technology in North America, Revives PFAS Annihilator is running in a continuous operation and destroying PFAS in landfill leachate to below the U.S. EPAs proposed 4 parts per trillion drinking water standards. For more information, visit https://revive-environmental.com/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212021179/en/

Battelle

Katy Delaney

(614) 424-7208

[email protected]

or

T.R. Massey

(614) 424-5544

[email protected]

Revive Environmental

Rick Gillespie

(972) 654-2629

[email protected]

or

Trevor Whitson

(817) 659-9700

[email protected]

Source: Battelle
Updated results highlight the range of differentiated research platforms across BMS multiple myeloma pipeline, including cell therapy and protein degradation

Data will be presented for first-in-class GPRC5D CAR T BMS-986393, novel CELMoD agent mezigdomide, and unique 2+1 bispecific T cell engager alnuctamab

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced updated results from three key programs within its broad multiple myeloma research pipeline, highlighting its diverse targets and molecular approaches to address unique patient needs within the disease. These data were presented at the 65th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego, California.

The data from our multiple myeloma pipeline at ASH this year continue to demonstrate the progress we are making to deliver the best possible outcomes for patients, leveraging an array of targets matched to the right therapeutic modality based on insights from causal human biology, said Michael Pourdehnad, M.D., senior vice president, Head of Early Clinical Development, Hematology Oncology and Cell Therapy Development, Bristol Myers Squibb. These programs also represent the strength of our promising pipeline with a growing wave of registrational assets. As we continue to advance these programs, these data provide further evidence of the transformational potential of our cell therapy, protein degradation, and cell engager platforms.

Results being presented at ASH provide updated evidence for programs including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies, novel CELMoD agents from our leading protein degradation research platform, and bispecific T cell engagers (TCE):

Updated data from the Phase 1 study of CAR T BMS-986393, a potential first-in-class cell therapy targeting GPRC5D, show deepening responses, a tolerable safety profile, and activity across both B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-naive and -exposed patients (Oral Presentation #219)

New results from the Phase 1 CC-92480-MM-002 study of oral CELMoD agent mezigdomide, including first results for cohorts evaluating mezigdomide and dexamethasone with monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD38 mAbs) daratumumab and elotuzumab (Oral Presentation #1013)

Updated results of the Phase 1 study of alnuctamab, a 2+1 BCMA x CD3 bispecific TCE, show deepening and durable responses, including minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity, along with manageable safety (Poster Presentation #2011)

Despite continuing advances in care for multiple myeloma, critical unmet needs remain as patients reflect a diverse spectrum of characteristics. Moreover, the disease remains marked by eventual relapse, making the long-term management of the disease paramount, said Joseph Mikhael, M.D., Professor in the Applied Cancer Research and Drug Discovery Division at the Translational Genomics Research Institute and Chief Medical Officer of the International Myeloma Foundation. Because of this heterogenous profile, having a broad array of options across the treatment path is extremely valuable. Seeing the range of new and updated data being presented at this meeting is encouraging as we look toward the future of myeloma therapy.

GPRC5D CAR T (BMS-986393) Phase 1 Study Results

BMS-986393 is a first-in-class GPRC5D-directed autologous CAR T cell therapy that has the potential to be a best-in-class option for this emerging target.

This Phase 1, first-in-human, multicenter, open-label study is evaluating BMS-986393 in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who had received three or more prior lines of therapy. Prior BCMA-targeted treatment, including CAR T cell therapy, was allowed. Primary objectives of the study were to determine safety and tolerability of BMS-986393 and inform the recommended dose for future development.

At the data cutoff of September 11, 2023 (median follow-up of 8.8 months), BMS-986393 continued to demonstrate an efficacy benefit with deep and durable responses in these heavily pretreated patients, including those with prior exposure to BCMA-targeted treatment. The overall response rate (ORR) was 91% (48% complete response rate) among patients treated with the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D, n=23), including an ORR of 100% (n=8) in patients with previous exposure to anti-BCMA targeting therapy. Minimal residual disease-negativity was observed in 86% (n=14) of evaluable patients.

BMS-986393 demonstrated a well-tolerated safety profile, and the RP2D was declared as 150 x 106 CAR T cells without reaching the maximum tolerated dose. The benefit-risk profile remained consistent with earlier, previously presented data cuts. Overall, most patients regardless of treatment dose experienced a treatment emergent adverse event (n=84; any Grade: 91.7%, Grade 3/4: 82.1%). Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was common with the majority of events being manageable and low grade (any Grade: 76.2%, Grade 3/4: 3.6%) including in patients treated at RP2D where all CRS events were Grade 1 (88.5%). ICANS-type neurotoxicity events were not common across all dose levels (any Grade: 9.5%, Grade 3: 2.4%) and were reversible with or without intervention; among patients treated at RP2D all ICANS events were low grade (any Grade: 3.8%, Grade 3/4: 0%). The incidence of non-ICANS neurotoxicity was similar for patients treated at RP2D as compared with all patients (15.4% vs. 10.7%, respectively). On-target/off-tumor skin, nail, and oral adverse events (AEs) were all low-grade, transient, and the majority (86%) did not require treatment.

These early clinical data suggest a single infusion of BMS-986393 is tolerable and efficacious in RRMM, including in those with prior exposure to BCMA-targeted therapy, and a single-arm Phase 2 trial of BMS-986393 in patients with RRMM exposed to four or more classes of therapy (quadruple-class exposed) is planned to open in the first half of 2024.

Novel oral CELMoD agent mezigdomide Phase 1/2 Study Results

Cereblon E3 ligase modulators (CELMoDs), representing one of three modalities from the companys leading protein degradation platform, are a class of oral therapeutics that are optimized to both stimulate the immune system and directly kill cancer cells by inducing the degradation of tumor-promoting proteins. The CELMoD agents, mezigdomide and iberdomide, are adaptable combination and sequencing partners being investigated in multiple myeloma.

The mezigdomide CC-92480-MM-002 trial is an ongoing open-label, international Phase 1/2 study evaluating the safety and efficacy of mezigdomide with different treatment combinations in patients with RRMM. At ASH, first results were presented for combinations of mezigdomide and dexamethasone plus monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD38 mAbs) elotuzumab (MeziEd, Cohort H=21/28 days) or one of three dosing schedules of daratumumab (MeziDd, Cohort B1= 21/28 days, Cohort B2=14/21 days, Cohort B3=7/14 days x2). Patients had a median of 3 (range 2-5) prior therapies including stem cell transplantation, proteasome inhibitors, anti-CD38 agents or IMiD agents. The primary objectives of the study were to determine the RP2D, safety, and preliminary overall response rate (ORR).

Results at ASH showed mezigdomide combined with anti-CD38 mAbs showed encouraging efficacy in previously treated patients. Patients treated with MeziDd achieved a response regardless of dose and schedule, with ORR observed in 82.6% of patients in Cohort B1 (n=23), 62.1% of patients in Cohort B2 (n=18) and 88.9% of patients in Cohort B3 (n=18). MeziEd was active in patients who were refractory to prior anti-CD38 mAb therapy, with an ORR of 45% in Cohort H (n=20). MeziDd and MeziEd were pharmacodynamically active at all schedules and dose levels tested. Further investigation is underway to determine the optimal dose and schedule for MeziDd based on Cohort B3.

The safety profile of mezigdomide in combination with anti-CD38 mAbs was manageable and consistent with prior reports. Most Grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) following treatment with MeziDd or MeziEd were hematologic, with neutropenia being the most common and ranging from 40-70% across cohorts. The occurrence of Grade 3/4 non-hematologic TEAEs was relatively low with either combination.

Mezigdomide is currently being evaluated in two randomized pivotal Phase 3 studies, including SUCCESSOR-1 (NCT05519085: mezigdomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone vs. pomalidomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients with lenalidomide-exposed RRMM) and SUCCESSOR-2 (NCT05552976: mezigdomide with carfilzomib and dexamethasone vs. carfilzomib and dexamethasone in patients with anti-CD38 and lenalidomide exposed RRMM).

Alnuctamab (BMS-986349/CC-93269) Phase 1 Study Results

Alnuctamab is a bispecific T cell engager (TCE) that simultaneously binds myeloma cells expressing BCMA and T cells (via CD3) in a unique 2:1 fashion. This interaction aims to drive myeloma cell death by inducing T cell activation and release of proinflammatory cytokines and cytolytic enzymes.

In the ongoing alnuctamab CC-93269-MM-001 open-label, Phase 1 study, 78 patients with RRMM were treated with subcutaneous (SC) alnuctamab in two step-up doses (3 mg and 6 mg) followed by escalating target doses of 10, 15, 30, and 60 mg, given every one week for three months, then every two weeks for three months, followed by every four weeks after those six months.

In updated results, SC alnuctamab showed durable responses with high anti-tumor activity observed at target dose of 30 mg (n=32), the dose selected for Phase 3. In the efficacy-evaluable patients treated with SC alnuctamab (n=73), the ORR was 53% across all doses and 67% at the 30 mg target dose. Median time to response was 1.2 months (range, 0.94.0) and responses deepened over time. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 10.1 months (95% CI, 2.817.8) across all dose levels and 11.4 months (95% CI, 1.8 to not estimable) in the 30 mg target dose. Median duration of response (DOR) had not been reached at the time of data cutoff. All patients who achieved a response at the 30 mg target dose (14/14) were MRD-negative.

The safety profile was manageable and no Grade 3/4 CRS was observed. The most common Grade 3 or higher hematologic TEAEs across target doses (n=78) were neutropenia (46%), anemia (26%) and thrombocytopenia (17%) with the most common non-hematologic Grade 3 or higher TEAE being infections (17%).

A Phase 3 study of alnuctamab in patients with RRMM exposed to lenalidomide and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody is planned and will be initiated in the first half of 2024.

Bristol Myers Squibb: Transforming the Multiple Myeloma Treatment Paradigm

At BMS, we believe that every patient deserves a tailored treatment approach to achieve the best possible outcome for their disease, from extended survival and reduced treatment burden to the possibility of cure. Over two decades of trailblazing work in multiple myeloma, we have driven significant scientific and clinical advancements. As we look forward, we are leveraging our deep immunotherapy experience to progress an industry-leading pipeline across targets, molecular approaches and combinations (including BCMA-targeted therapies, targeted protein degradation, CAR T cell therapies and NK-cell engagers). Understanding that continued partnership with the multiple myeloma community is key to advancing scientific progress, we pride ourselves on an openness to collaborate, which is reflected in our ongoing research fueled by academic and industry partnerships. While multiple myeloma remains a relentless disease, we continue to transform the multiple myeloma treatment paradigm by dramatically improving outcomes for every patient.

Bristol Myers Squibb: Creating a Better Future for People with Cancer

Bristol Myers Squibb is inspired by a single vision  transforming patients lives through science. The goal of the companys cancer research is to deliver medicines that offer each patient a better, healthier life and to make cure a possibility. Building on a legacy across a broad range of cancers that have changed survival expectations for many, Bristol Myers Squibb researchers are exploring new frontiers in personalized medicine and, through innovative digital platforms, are turning data into insights that sharpen their focus. Deep understanding of causal human biology, cutting-edge capabilities and differentiated research platforms uniquely position the company to approach cancer from every angle.

Cancer can have a relentless grasp on many parts of a patients life, and Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to taking actions to address all aspects of care, from diagnosis to survivorship. As a leader in cancer care, Bristol Myers Squibb is working to empower all people with cancer to have a better future. Learn more about the science behind cell therapy and ongoing research at Bristol Myers Squibb here.

About Bristol Myers Squibb

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. All statements that are not statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them in the next several years, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, that future study results may not be consistent with the results to date, that the product candidates described in this release may not receive regulatory approval for the indications described in this release, that any marketing approvals, if granted, may have significant limitations on their use, and, if approved, whether such product candidates for such indications will be commercially successful. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect Bristol Myers Squibbs business and market, particularly those identified in the cautionary statement and risk factors discussion in Bristol Myers Squibbs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and except as otherwise required by applicable law, Bristol Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

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Bristol Myers Squibb:

Media Inquiries:

[email protected]

Investors:

[email protected]

Source: Bristol Myers Squibb
BYDs participation at COP28 displays global sustainability leadership

BYD showcased a decade-long commitment to Belt & Road sustainability at COP28.

BYDs innovative ecological projects, Zero-Carbon Industrial Campus, SkyRail, and SkyShuttle gained recognition

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BYD, the worlds leading manufacturer in new energy vehicles (NEVs) and power batteries, showcased its impactful contributions to sustainable development at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, UAE, held from November 30 to December 12. This years conference, themed Unite, Act, Deliver, keeps focusing on fostering international collaboration to address urgent climate change challenges.

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Michael Shu, Managing Director of BYD Europe, gave remarks at COP28 (Photo: Business Wire)

On December 8, Michael Shu, Managing Director of BYD Europe, attended the conference and delivered a compelling speech at the China Pavilions side event, shedding light on green practices under Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. Drawing on BYDs extensive experience in actively contributing to the initiative, Michael Shu shared insights on fostering sustainable development for new energy technology companies along the Belt and Road.

Emphasizing BYDs integral role in shaping a sustainable future, Michael Shu stated, A decade ago, in response to the Initiative, BYD embraced an open and collaborative approach, gradually expanding its presence along the route. Our transformative journey, evolving from global product and technology outreach to leading the shift towards green energy, vividly illustrates our unwavering commitment to cultivating economic growth and employment in the Belt and Road regions.

As a consistent champion of ecological innovation, BYD actively upholds climate commitments through green solutions and tangible actions. In a groundbreaking move last year, BYD became the worlds first automaker to cease combustion engine vehicle production, spearheading a revolutionary shift in the industry. BYDs unique advantages in the new energy sector were further demonstrated by establishing the first Zero-Carbon Industrial Campus for a Chinese automotive brand at its global headquarters in Shenzhen. Recognition of BYDs Zero-Carbon Industrial Campus, SkyRail, and SkyShuttle among Shenzhens top ten exemplary low-carbon initiatives at the China Pavilions Shenzhen Session on December 5 underscores the companys leadership in sustainable practices.

During COP28, BYD also officially announced a collaboration with the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), targeting to jointly drive electric mobility and energy transformation processes across the 27 member countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. This strategic initiative reaffirmed BYDs commitment to propelling global green transformation.

Additionally, BYDs full electric products, including BYD HAN, BYD ATTO 3, and pure electric buses, provided carbon-free transportation services throughout the conference at Expo City Dubai, aligning with COP28s zero-carbon transportation goals.

Looking ahead, BYD remains steadfast in its vision to Cool the Earth by 1C, continuing to play a pivotal role as a global leader in new energy vehicles. The company will persist in employing forward-thinking strategies and innovative technologies to lead the global new energy vehicle industry, unwavering in its commitment to contributing even more to global sustainable economic development and environmental protection.

About BYD

BYD is a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Founded in 1995 as a rechargeable battery maker, BYD now boasts a diverse business scope covering automobiles, rail transit, new energy, and electronics, with over 30 industrial parks in China, the United States, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Hungary, and India. From energy generation and storage to its applications, BYD is dedicated to providing zero-emission energy solutions that reduce global reliance on fossil fuels. Its new energy vehicle footprint now covers 6 continents, over 70 countries and regions, and more than 400 cities. Listed in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, the company is known to be a Fortune Global 500 enterprise that furnishes innovations in pursuit of a greener world.

For more information, please visit www.bydglobal.com.

About BYD Auto

Founded in 2003, BYD Auto is the automotive subsidiary of BYD, a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Aiming to accelerate the green transition of the global transportation sector, BYD Auto focuses on developing pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company has mastered the core technologies of the entire industrial chain of new energy vehicles, such as batteries, electric motors, electronic controllers, and automotive-grade semiconductors. It has witnessed in recent years significant technological advancements, including the Blade Battery, DM-i Super Hybrid Technology, e Platform 3.0, CTB Technology, e4 Platform, BYD DiSus Intelligent Body Control System, and DMO super hybrid system. The company is the worlds first carmaker to stop the production of fossil-fueled vehicles on EV shift and has remained top of new energy passenger vehicle sales in China for 10 years in a row.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212056037/en/

Asia-Pacific: Liya Huang, [email protected] tel: +86-755-8988-8888-69666

Europe: Penny Peng, [email protected] tel: +31-102070888

North America: Frank Girardot, [email protected] tel: +1 213 245 6503

Latin America: Jose Miranda, [email protected] tel: +56 9 96443906

Brazil: Pablo Toledo, [email protected] tel: +19 3514 2554

Middle East and Africa: Nikki Li, [email protected] tel: +86-755-8988-8888-62319

Source: BYD
An opinion piece that you describe, praises or criticizes, on the whole or partly, to cultural or entertainment work. It must be written by an expert on the matter

History recounts many pleasing things about an exceptional character named Leonard Bernstein. Not only his transparent artistic talent as a composer and conductor, and his magnetic capacity with the public that crowded his concerts, but also his ability to encourage the younger generations to discover the greatness of classical music.

Popular tastes will always identify Bernstein with authorship of the extraordinary musical West Side Story, something that can be listened to endlessly and still move you. His sophisticated personality and his hectic existence also made him a very popular character. He belonged to the artistic elite of New York, which made him the protagonist of a story by the irreplaceable Tom Wolfe (although he has had countless cheap imitators) entitled Radical Chic: That Party at Lennys, in which he narrated with sarcasm and lucidity a dinner party that Bernstein threw at his house that brought together leading figures from the Black Panthers and a florid sector of the white intelligentsia. In screwed-up times, Bernstein did not impose the law of silence on his bisexuality, either. And it is said that neither did he do so with his various addictions. They were private hobbies that he was not obsessed with covering up.

Sooner or later the biography of this legendary and complex gentleman, who is said to have also possessed sumptuous personal charm, was bound to become movie fodder. Apparently, Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese once set out to tell Bernsteins haunting life story, but their project fell through. Both are listed as producers on Maestro, a pretentious but poorly made biopic directed by and starring Bradley Cooper. He tries to make the character fascinating, to express his creativity, to show his excessive uncertainties (he lyrically mentions a couple of times that the brightness of summer only appears in his head and his heart when his art is inspired, and that the rest inside him is almost always darkness and despair), to show his charisma in his dealings with his family and friends, and his prominence in social life.

Cooper whimsically uses color and black and white to portray his life, and exotic planning to recount Bernsteins present and past. And in the way he describes him, I fail to figure out where his appeal and genius lies. Im getting confused. I just dont like him, I dont care about him, Im not bothered about his achievements and his failures.

And I wonder if I have experienced the same thing with the male protagonists of several of this years releases endowed with artistic or spectacular ambitions. All of them brought forth by what is supposedly the great American cinema. It happened with Leonardo DiCaprios character in Killers of the Flower Moon. I didnt understand him. Or he struck me as an unnuanced idiot. Nor was I the least bit fascinated by Ridley Scotts linear and cruel Napoleon. And it rubbed off on this mellifluous and soft Bernstein. However, in all three films, I am awakened and replete with interest when the wives of these expendable men appear. The Osage woman in Scorseses film has light and enormous sadness; the Empress Josephine in Scotts movie is intelligent, biting, sensual and bitter; and the excellent Carey Mulligan in Maestro impresses with her usual truthfulness and subtlety. When they appear, I believe it all. However, their roles are not big and absolute protagonism is exercised by their husbands. Well, something is something, but not enough to enhance the whole.

'Maestro' Director: Bradley Cooper. Cast: Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman. Genre: Biopic. USA, 2023. Runtime: 129 minutes. Release: In theaters now and December 20 on Netflix.

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The crunch of popcorn was combined with the taste of the Chupa Chups lollipops. On December 11, the new product will be available throughout France.

SANT ESTEVE SESROVIRES, Spain & BARCELONA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CRNCH POPCORN CONCEPTS, part of the United Food & Beverage Group, launches a Chupa Chups popcorn novelty in France. The Dutch company combined the crunch of popcorn with the sweet signature taste of the Chupa Chups lollipops. This premium quality of colourful popcorn is air-popped, gluten-free and glazed with the most loved and signature Chupa Chups lollipop flavours: Apple, strawberry, cola and caramel. It comes in a fun-sized 135 gr bag for easy sharing. Starting with December 11th 2023, the product will be available in all Carrefour hypermarkets and supermarkets across France.

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Chupa Chups Brings Pop to Popcorn in Carrefour (Photo: Business Wire)

To mark the official launch, Chupa Chups invites popcorn lovers to join an exclusive event at Carrefour Montesson on December 12th. The attendees will be part of the excitement, indulge in free tastings, and experience the Chupa Chupa Popcorn Wonderland.

Great collaboration for taste

CRNCH POPCORN CONCEPTS is a new brand in the food industry. The company is part of the United Food & Beverage Group. A distributor of A-branded, licensed and new-label F&B products through sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships all over the world.

Either during big birthday celebrations or intimate family TV nights. We are there together with iconic flavoured Chupa Chups popcorn, to celebrate true joy. We are enthusiastic about this great collaboration between partners that share the same values; bringing tasteful and joyful moments to families and friends across the world, said Yuri Roosblad, Director at United Food & Beverage Group.

Still innovative after 65 years

Conquering the heart and taste of kids and teens since 1958, Chupa Chups has become world famous for its round lollipops and the flower shaped logo designed by Salvador Dali in the late sixties. Its characteristic flavour profile is also ideal to bring credibility and inspire innovative F&B products that never fail to stand out on retail shelves.

Marta Ballesteros, Global Licensing Manager at Perfetti Van Melle, the global confectionery group, commented: We are very excited at the prospect of CRNCH Popcorn Concepts. Offering the fans of our brand many moments of joy and fun with every crunch of this popcorn that is so skillfully glazed in the long-time, fan favourite flavours of Chupa Chups.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212813268/en/

Anna Amat

[email protected]

Source: Chupa Chups
IRVING, Texas, & TAIPEI, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Please replace the graphic for release dated December 11, 2023, with the accompanying corrected graphic.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231211092566/en/

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and TXOne Networks collaboration to create innovative new value in OT security by combining Mitsubishi Electric's assessment, maintenance and operation services as well as control equipment and systems with TXOne's OT security products. The new OT security solutions are expected to improve manufacturing productivity, efficiency and safety as well as security levels throughout the supply chains of various industries. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The release reads:

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC AND TXONE NETWORKS TO COOPERATE IN MUTUAL EXPANSION OF OT SECURITY BUSINESSES

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and TXOne Networks Inc. announced today that they have signed a long-term cooperation agreement covering technology development and marketing, aiming at expanding the operational-technology (OT) security businesses of both companies.

OT and industrial control systems in manufacturing sites are often operated in closed environments, with IT and OT systems separated from each other. However, the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) and digital transformation (DX) is enabling convergence between these two domains. As a result, cyberattacks targeting manufacturing sites in industries such as semiconductors and automobiles have increased, leading to production disruptions and highlighting the growing need for more robust security measures in factories.

Through their new collaboration, the two companies aim to create innovative new value in OT security by combining Mitsubishi Electric's assessment, maintenance and operation services as well as control equipment and systems with TXOne's OT security products. The new OT security solutions are expected to improve manufacturing productivity, efficiency and safety as well as security levels throughout the supply chains of various industries.

Mitsubishi Electric offers comprehensive OT security solutions to protect manufacturing sites from cyberattacks. The company has cultivated extensive experience in IT security technology for the financial industry and other sectors, and has developed in-depth knowledge of control equipment and systems, especially for manufacturing, which it provides through a full range of services, from assessment and consulting to countermeasures and operational support.

TXOne provides OT security solutions that enable manufacturers to comply with security guidelines, such as the semiconductor sector's SEMI E187* specification. The company's OT-native network segmentation and defense technologies enable customers to mitigate the impact of cyberattacks. Based on a principle of 'OT Zero Trust,' TXOne adapts to the unique characteristics of each OT environment to deliver cybersecurity solutions that support secure production operations."

[*Cyber security specifications for fab equipment established by the semiconductor manufacturers association, SEMI]

"We look forward to creating new value in OT security by combining OT technology and expertise for manufacturing, infrastructure and building automation with security technology for information systems," said Kunihiko Kaga, Mitsubishi Electric's Representative Executive Officer and Industry and Mobility Business Area Owner. "With the continued evolution of DX and the increasing sophistication and complexity of cyberattacks, OT security measures must extend from the information communication layer to the control communication layer and deeper into the network layer. We are confident that our synergy with TXOne's OT network segmentation and defense technologies will enable us to contribute to greater safety and security in OT environments and the world beyond."

"As cyber threats continue to evolve, TXOne remains committed to fortifying the industrial landscape with pioneering OT security solutions," said Dr. Terence Liu, CEO of TXOne Networks. "The collaboration between Mitsubishi Electric and TXOne Networks creates a unique value with our deep-rooted expertise in both IT and OT, forming comprehensive and holistic security services to safeguard manufacturing assets against the ever-evolving cyber risks at once. Our mutual dedication empowers industries to thrive securely in this digital age."

Overview of Mitsubishi Electric

Location 2-7-3, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Establishment January 15, 1921 Business Production and sales of heavy electric systems, industrial mechatronics (PLC, servos, NCs, HMIs, inverters, industrial robots, three-phase motors, magnet contractors, transformers, software, etc.), information communication systems, semiconductor devices, and home appliances URL https://www.mitsubishielectric.co.jp/

Overview of TXOne Networks Inc.

Location No. 1, Songgao Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City, 110 Establishment June 20, 2019 Business Pioneering the development and delivery of a range of cybersecurity solutions dedicated to ensuring the reliability and safety of industrial control systems and OT environments. URL https://www.txone.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231211092566/en/

Customer Inquiries

OT Security Business Development Dept.

Industry & Mobility Business Area

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

https://www.mitsubishielectric.com/fa/support/



TXOne Networks Inc.

[email protected]



Media Contacts

Public Relations Division

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

[email protected]



TXOne Networks Inc.

Lynette Lee

[email protected]

Source: TXOne Networks Inc.
- Responding to semiconductor market needs where circuit line widths are becoming increasingly finer -

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) (TOKYO: 7912) has successfully developed a photomask manufacturing process capable of accommodating the 3-nanometer (10-9 meter) lithography process that supports Extreme Ultra-Violet (EUV) lithography, the cutting-edge process for semiconductor manufacturing.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231205156005/en/

Photomask capable of supporting 3nm EUV lithography (Photo: Business Wire)

[Background]

DNP has continually responded to the demands of semiconductor manufacturers in terms of performance and quality. In 2016, we became the world's first merchant photomask manufacturer to introduce the multi-beam mask writing tool (MBMW). In 2020, we developed a photomask manufacturing process for 5nm EUV lithography processes, and have been supplying masks that meet the needs of the semiconductor market. In this latest development, in order to meet the needs of further miniaturization, we have developed a photomask for EUV lithography capable of supporting 3nm processes.

[Summary]

MBMW introduced by DNP in 2016 is capable of irradiating with approximately 260,000 electron beams, and can significantly shorten the lithography time even with complex pattern shapes. On this occasion, we have improved the manufacturing process by leveraging the characteristics of the equipment, while optimizing the data correction technology and processing conditions to match the complex curved pattern structure of photomask for EUV lithography.

DNP has installed a new MBMW, and plans to commence operations in the second half of 2024. We will also strengthen our support for semiconductor manufacturing in advanced areas such as photomasks for EUV lithography.

DNP will promote joint development of EUV photomasks for next-generation EUV exposure equipment with Interuniversity Microelectronics Center (imec), a cutting-edge international research organization headquartered in Belgium.

[Going Forward]

DNP will provide the newly developed photomask capable of supporting 3nm EUV lithography to semiconductor related manufacturers throughout the world. In addition, we will also support the development of peripheral technologies for EUV lithography, aiming for annual sales of 10 billion yen in 2030.

Through joint development with partners, such as imec, DNP will continue to develop more advanced photomasks capable of supporting processes finer than 3nm and even beyond 2nm.

More Detail

About DNP

DNP was established in 1876, and has become a leading global company that leverages print-based solutions and the strengths of its growing number of partners to engineer fresh business opportunities while protecting the environment and creating a more vibrant world for all. We capitalize on core competencies in microfabrication and precision coating technology to provide products for the display, electronic device, and optical film markets. We have also developed new products, such as vapor chamber and reflect array that offer next-generation communication solutions for more people-friendly information society.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231205156005/en/

Media contact

DNP: Yusuke Kitagawa, 81-3-6735-0101

[email protected]

Source: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Forcura, a healthcare workflow management company, today announced the signing of new client Pride PHC Services Inc. (Pride PHC), a subsidiary of New Day Healthcare that provides essential personal care to recipients throughout Texas.

Pride PHC will activate Forcuras Workflow for Referrals and Workflow for Care Plan Management products, as well as its enhanced Referral IQ technology that launched earlier this year. The suite of products will allow Pride PHC to better accommodate the changing and growing landscape of home-based patient care and continue to provide excellent service to their patients.

This is the third New Day Healthcare-owned company to implement Forcuras referral and care management technologies  Phoenix Home Care and Hospice signed on in August 2021 and Home Care Providers of Texas started in June 2022. Collectively, 10,000 New Day Healthcare patients will now move through Forcuras workflow services.

New Day Healthcare companies have greatly benefited from the technology Forcura provides, said Justin Miller, founding executive vice president of Patient Navigation at New Day Healthcare. Forcura has been a trusted partner of New Day since 2021 and we look forward to expanding this partnership by enabling Forcura to optimize the workflow of Pride PHCs personal care services.

Forcura is thrilled to grow the already strong relationship we have with New Day Healthcare, said Craig Mandeville, founder and chief executive officer of Forcura. Personal care is an essential aspect of providing quality care in the home, and Pride PHCs adoption of our tech will support their growth and mission to improve the quality of life of their patients.

About New Day Healthcare

Believing that Home Care investments should be patient focused and outcome driven, New Day Healthcare was founded by former home care and hospice veterans with a history of building patient centered companies and cultures based in value and innovation.

New Day Healthcare founded, owned and operated by home care professionals focused on developing business from a home care operators perspective based on honor and kindness and not the single narrow investor perspective.

We collaborate and communicate with owners, in a way we can all understand, creating patient centered solutions with great financial outcomes, not financial outcomes that let patient solutions fall where they may.

New Day Healthcare understands what it takes to run a home care business, because our leaders have run them from $1M to over $1B.

Extremely well-funded and streamlined, able to close deals quickly and collaborate immediately.

We bring more than capital, we bring proven Home Care Based Leaders providing Professional Home Care Collaboration. Owners meet with home care professionals who have very successful histories, building home care businesses from the operators perspective.

About Forcura

Forcura, a healthcare workflow management company headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, facilitates continuity of care and improves business performance for providers via its automated workflow, collaboration and analytics SaaS solutions. The company is deeply committed to empowering better patient care and elevating the role of post-acute in the broader healthcare continuum. The company is a KLAS certified technology vendor, is a certified Great Place to Work employer, and has ranked for the sixth consecutive year on the Inc. 5000. For more information visit forcura.com, call 800-378-0596 or follow Forcura on LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212234331/en/

Tyler Holder

[email protected]

904.645.6200

Source: Forcura
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Goldman Sachs Asset Management L.P. (GSAM), the investment adviser for the Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Paris-Aligned Climate U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF (the Fund), announced today that the Funds Board of Trustees, at the recommendation of GSAM, has approved a plan of liquidation (the Plan) for the Fund. Under the Plan, which is effective today, the Fund will begin the process of liquidating portfolio assets and unwinding its affairs in an orderly fashion over time. The Plan is not subject to shareholder approval.

Shareholders of the Fund may sell their shares on the Funds listing exchange, Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. (Cboe), until market close on January 12, 2024, and may incur transaction fees from their broker-dealer. The Funds shares will no longer trade on Cboe after market close on January 12, 2024, and the shares will subsequently be de-listed. Shareholders who continue to hold shares of the Fund on the Funds liquidation date, which is expected to be on or about January 19, 2024, will receive a liquidating distribution of cash in the cash portion of their brokerage accounts equal to the amount of the net asset value of their shares. For tax purposes, shareholders will generally recognize a capital gain or loss equal to the amount received for their shares over their adjusted basis in such shares. The Fund will stop accepting creation orders from Authorized Participants on January 12, 2024.

About Goldman Sachs Asset Management

Bringing together traditional and alternative investments, Goldman Sachs Asset Management provides clients around the world with a dedicated partnership and focus on long-term performance. As the primary investing area within Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), we deliver investment and advisory services for the worlds leading institutions, financial advisors and individuals, drawing from our deeply connected global network and tailored expert insights, across every region and market  overseeing more than $2.68 trillion in assets under supervision worldwide as of September 30, 2023.1 Driven by a passion for our clients performance, we seek to build long-term relationships based on conviction, sustainable outcomes, and shared success over time. Follow us on LinkedIn.

Goldman Sachs does not provide accounting, tax, or legal advice.

The Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Paris-Aligned Climate U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Paris-Aligned U.S. Large Cap Equity Index (the Index), which delivers exposure to equity securities of large-capitalization U.S. issuers. The Funds investments are subject to market risk, which means that the value of the securities in which it invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies, particular sectors or governments and/or general economic conditions. Because the Fund may concentrate its investments in an industry or group of industries to the extent that the Index is concentrated, the Fund may be subject to greater risk of loss as a result of adverse economic, business or other developments affecting that industry or group of industries. The Index is intended to be an EU Paris-Aligned Benchmark whose constituents are aligned with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and the Index may weigh certain characteristics of an issuer more heavily than an issuers performance or returns. The Fund is not actively managed, and therefore the Fund will not generally dispose of a security unless the security is removed from the Index. The Index calculation methodology may rely on information based on assumptions and estimates and neither the Fund nor its investment adviser can guarantee the accuracy of the methodologys assessment of included issuers. Performance may vary substantially from the performance of the Index as a result of transaction costs, expenses and other factors.

Fund shares are not individually redeemable and are issued and redeemed by the Fund at their net asset value (NAV) only in large, specified blocks of shares called creation units. Shares otherwise can be bought and sold only through exchange trading at market price (not NAV). Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.

A summary prospectus, if available, or a Prospectus for the Fund containing more information may be obtained from your authorized dealer or from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC by calling 1-800-621-2550. Please consider a fund's objectives, risks, and charges and expenses, and read the summary prospectus, if available, and the Prospectus carefully before investing. The summary prospectus, if available, and the Prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund.

The Investment Company Act of 1940 (the Act) imposes certain limits on investment companies purchasing or acquiring any security issued by another registered investment company. For these purposes the definition of investment company includes funds that are unregistered because they are excepted from the definition of investment company by sections 3(c)(1) and 3(c)(7) of the Act. You should consult your legal counsel for more information.

ActiveBeta is a registered trademark of Goldman Sachs Asset Management in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Smart Momentum and Smart Value are registered trademarks of GSAM in the United States. The ActiveBeta Portfolio Construction and Maintenance Methodology is the patent-protected property of GSAM (U.S. Patent Numbers 8,285,620 and 8,473,398).

ALPS Distributors, Inc. is the distributor of the Goldman Sachs ETF Funds. ALPS Distributors, Inc. is unaffiliated with Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

2023 Goldman Sachs. All rights reserved. NOT FDIC INSURED. MAY LOSE VALUE. NO BANK GUARANTEE. NOT INSURED BY ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

ALPS Control: GST 2362

Compliance Code: 348947

Date of first use: 12/12/2023

1 Assets Under Supervision (AUS) includes assets under management and other client assets for which Goldman Sachs does not have full discretion. AUS figure as of September 30, 2023.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212033872/en/

Media:

Victoria Zarella

Tel: 917-343-8402

Source: Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Health care professionals learn and share innovative approaches to improve health and health care at 35th annual conference

BOSTON & ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The 2023 IHI Forum kicked-off today with a provocative keynote address by Dr. Kedar Mate, President and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). Dr. Mate focused on the importance of finding a sense of purpose as health care professionals. He implored clinicians, quality leaders, administrators, safety professionals, and medical students in the audience to take back our system and restore our purpose, and in doing so, help define a new frontier in health care quality.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231211394135/en/

IHI President and CEO Dr. Kedar Mate kicks off the 35th annual IHI Forum (Photo: Business Wire)

In my clinical life, I feel my sense of purpose challenged on a regular basis, said Dr. Mate. Our health care system has become extractive  not giving but squeezing as much as it can out of every clinical exchange and interaction. Forcing false choices  volume or value, mission or margin, staff or community, safety or equity, profit or purpose. How might we build a health and care environment that trusts us, patients and clinicians, and optimizes for our original and intended purpose? Over the years, IHI has had the privilege of working with many organizations that have taken steps towards this future, and this is the new frontier in quality.

To hear Dr. Mates full remarks on the future of health care quality, and all of the keynote addresses at the IHI Forum, a livestream option is available.

The IHI Forum is the longest running gathering focused on quality improvement in health care, bringing together clinicians, leaders, researchers, students, and improvers from more than 50 countries. Now in its 35th year, the IHI Forum connects and energizes health care professionals while equipping them with practical tools and insights to make health care better, safer, and more equitable for all.

This years IHI Forum features 180+ learning sessions led by 400 presenters on pressing health care topics including health equity, patient and workforce safety, improvement science, and building improvement capability. A core attraction at the conference is the Forum Hall, which includes exhibitors, Innovation Theater presentations, improvement project posters, and the Forum Cafe & Bookstore. Forum Hall Parks are a new feature this year, offering a variety of unique networking and learning opportunities.

An impressive lineup of Forum keynote speakers are sharing their deep expertise in critical issues of our time: artificial intelligence (AI) in health care, climate and the environment, and health equity. IHIs work in these areas is also prominently featured at the Forum.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Health Care

Peter Lee, PhD, Corporate VP of Research and Incubations at Microsoft, will deliver a keynote address on December 13 at 8:00 AM ET on the topic of AI in health care. Dr. Lee coauthored the book, The AI Revolution in Medicine: GPT-4 and Beyond.

Corporate VP of Research and Incubations at Microsoft, will deliver a keynote address on December 13 at 8:00 AM ET on the topic of AI in health care. Dr. Lee coauthored the book, The AI Revolution in Medicine: GPT-4 and Beyond. Two sessions will help attendees understand and navigate this emerging technology. A24: When AI Meets QI shares guidance on how to apply the new generation of generative AI tools in QI-related use cases, and the risks and concerns that accompany such work. RS02: Is Healthcare Really Behind in Tech explores the current state of AI in routine acute care operations at Tampa General Hospital.

shares guidance on how to apply the new generation of generative AI tools in QI-related use cases, and the risks and concerns that accompany such work. explores the current state of AI in routine acute care operations at Tampa General Hospital. A Forum Leadership Summit will explore the application of AI techniques to patient safety systems. This dynamic conversation is informed by learnings from two recent IHI innovations cycles and the influence of vanguard improvers around the world.

Climate and Health Care

Erin Brockovich , environmental activist, consumer advocate, and author, delivered a powerful keynote address last night. She encouraged everyone to make a difference in their own backyard by reporting contamination and other issues to help improve the health of their communities.

, environmental activist, consumer advocate, and author, delivered a powerful keynote address last night. She encouraged everyone to make a difference in their own backyard by reporting contamination and other issues to help improve the health of their communities. The Decarbonizing Care Learning Community Celebration takes place at 6:00 PM ET today, recognizing the work of 14 health systems that tested strategies to lower carbon emissions from clinical care. Coming out of the year-long Learning Community, 16 clinical decarbonization projects are underway, with more than half already documenting reductions in carbon emitting activities.

takes place at 6:00 PM ET today, recognizing the work of 14 health systems that tested strategies to lower carbon emissions from clinical care. Coming out of the year-long Learning Community, 16 clinical decarbonization projects are underway, with more than half already documenting reductions in carbon emitting activities. The IHI Open School announced a course available early next year to provide foundational education on this critical topic: Decarbonizing Care 101: Introduction to Climate Change and Human Health.

announced a course available early next year to provide foundational education on this critical topic: Additional Forum sessions focus on strategies for achieving health care decarbonization, net-zero emissions, and clinician-led action on climate change.

Health Equity

Allyson Felix , decorated Olympian and maternal rights advocate, is the featured keynote speaker today at 3:30 PM ET. Ms. Felix will be interviewed onstage by Akilah Johnson, Washington Post national reporter focusing on health disparities.

, decorated Olympian and maternal rights advocate, is the featured keynote speaker today at 3:30 PM ET. Ms. Felix will be interviewed onstage by Akilah Johnson, national reporter focusing on health disparities. IHI-led collaboratives to reduce maternal mortality in Brazil, Mozambique, and Colombia were described in Forum session SH12: International Learnings in Maternal Mortality Reduction Across Care Settings .

. Leading stakeholders were convened by IHI at the Forum to share best practices and coordinate efforts to address the worsening maternal mortality crisis in the U.S.

IHIs new framework to guide the work of leaders with responsibility for system-wide equity at health care delivery organizations was the focus of MH04: Leadership for Health Equity a 3-hour workshop held yesterday with an overflow crowd.

a 3-hour workshop held yesterday with an overflow crowd. Rise to Health: A National Coalition for Equity in Health Care shares actionable learnings in two Forum sessions today (RS05 and A07). The Rise to Health Coalition, which was first announced at the 2022 IHI Forum, is co-led by IHI, the American Medical Association (AMA), and others to bring together individuals and organizations to transform health care through coordinated and collective action.

The IHI Forum also includes multiple tracks and nearly 55 sessions and workshops addressing patient safety, workforce safety, and workforce well-being, including:

SH01: Safety & Quality said, "I Do!": The National Action Plan and Whole System Quality Take the Next Step  This interactive session introduced participants to the opportunity for operationalizing the National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety (NAP) via Whole System Quality (WSQ).

 This interactive session introduced participants to the opportunity for operationalizing the National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety (NAP) via Whole System Quality (WSQ). RS07: The Value of CPPS Certification: Building Safety Competencies Across the Workforce  Given the urgent need to reset and strengthen safety, this session provides timely and practical tools and resources for fortifying the safety capabilities of the health care workforce.

 Given the urgent need to reset and strengthen safety, this session provides timely and practical tools and resources for fortifying the safety capabilities of the health care workforce. C12: Nurse-led Care Solutions to Improve Patient Care and Workforce Vitality  This session will highlight nurse-led initiatives and resources for staffing, care delivery innovation, and fostering cultures and healthy work environments that are necessary for safe and quality care, well-being, retention, and engagement.

Success and learnings from the Age-Friendly Health Systems (AFHS) movement  which now includes more than 3,400 sites recognized by IHI for providing 4Ms care to 2.7 million older adults  are featured in several IHI Forum sessions. A half-day workshop (MHOO) included a robust panel of researchers who shared emerging findings to help attendees understand how health systems are implementing the 4Ms framework, and the impact of those efforts on outcomes for older adults. Additional sessions include A02: Caring for Caregivers within Age-Friendly Health Systems; and D23: Scaling & Spreading 4Ms Care: Successes & Challenges in Leading a VA Age-Friendly Action Community.

Graduating IHI Fellows were celebrated at the IHI Fellowship Graduation and Networking Reception last evening, and the new cohort of the IHI Fellowship program was welcomed. IHI also recognized the first recipients of the new Berwick & Bisognano IHI Scholarship Fund for Emerging Leaders, which supports leaders of color and those representing populations that have been historically overlooked and undervalued. IHI awarded scholarships to five individuals, representing four countries, who have joined the new cohort of Fellows. Former IHI Presidents Dr. Don Berwick and Maureen Bisognano, for whom the new scholarship is named, were also honored at the gathering.

Please visit ihi.org for more information about the IHI Forum or to register for the livestream. Journalists wishing to access the livestream should contact Joanna Clark at [email protected].

About the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is an independent not-for-profit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. For more than 30 years, IHI has used improvement science to advance and sustain better outcomes in health and health systems across the world. IHI brings awareness of safety and quality to millions, catalyzes learning and the systematic improvement of care, develops solutions to previously intractable challenges, and mobilizes health systems, communities, regions, and nations to reduce harm and deaths. IHI collaborates with a growing community to spark bold, inventive ways to improve the health of individuals and populations. IHI generates optimism, harvests fresh ideas, and supports anyone, anywhere who wants to profoundly change health and health care for the better. Learn more at ihi.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231211394135/en/

Joanna Clark, CXO Communication

[email protected]

(207) 712-1404

Source: Institute for Healthcare Improvement
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The 17th edition of the World Branding Awards honoured the success and achievements of some of the Worlds Best Brands as National, Regional, and Global Winners. The 2023 - 2024 World Branding Awards saw over 1,500 brands from more than 40 countries nominated as Brand of the Year. Of these, less than 200 were declared Winners.

The prestigious Award Ceremony was held at the home of the awards, Kensington Palace, United Kingdom. It welcomed over 100 guests worldwide and was hosted by acclaimed television presenter, David Croft.

Global winners who proved excellence and impeccable branding in their industry include IKEA (Sweden), Yakult (Japan), CoCo (Taiwan), LURPAK (Denmark), Marriott International (USA), and The Body Shop (United Kingdom).

Winners from Sweden include Absolut, IKEA, Spotify, Skanska and Swedbank. Other National tier winners include Munchys (Malaysia), Sukiya (Japan), City Chain (Hong Kong), Safaricom (Kenya), Sokos Hotel (Finland), Boots (United Kingdom), Royal Umbrella (Thailand), Fullon Hotels & Resort (Taiwan), Cine Yelmo (Spain), and Food Republic (Singapore), to name a few.

Only 14 brands were selected to receive the Regional Tier award this year, including Nippon Rent-A-Car (Japan), GIG (Kuwait), MR.DIY (Malaysia), M-150 (Thailand), HECOM (Hong Kong), and VITADAY (Thailand). These brands were voted as consumers' favourites in 4 or more countries across 3 or more areas in a specific geographic region.

This is a celebration of the continuous efforts that is vital to building outstanding brands. To stay relevant as a brand, brands must build an image that resonates and lasts. This means not only building up a culture and community around the brand through marketing, but also ensuring that all generations continue to find the brand interesting. said Mr Richard Rowles, Chairman of the World Branding Forum.

More than 150,000 consumers participated in the nomination process globally this year. On average, there are only 5 winning brands in each country, proving that winning a World Branding Award is a remarkable accomplishment.

For more information and the full list of winners, visit awards.brandingforum.org.

ABOUT WORLD BRANDING AWARDS

The World Branding Awards is the premier awards of the World Branding Forum, a registered non-profit organisation. The awards recognise the achievements of some of the worlds best brands.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldbrandingforum/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WorldBranding

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldbranding/

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/world-branding-forum

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231207145538/en/

Email: [email protected]

Source: World Branding Awards
16% Overall growth in revenue

The Company expanded to 240 locations globally (179 corporately owned and operated)

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Jack Nathan Medical Corp. (TSXV: JNH, OTCQB: JNHMF) (Jack Nathan Health, JNH or the Company) announced today its unaudited interim consolidated financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2024, nine months ended October 31, 2023. Jack Nathan Healths financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Management Commentary

Commenting on the Companys performance and outlook, Dr. Glenn Copeland, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, We continue to produce tremendous results with 16% growth in revenue year over year. The Company is well financed and well-staffed both in Canada and Mexico to enter the next phase of its growth.

Marcy Herriman, Chief Operating Officer added: The growth the Company has experienced has been due to the hard work of both the Canadian and Mexican operations team. I am humbled to lead such a strong, talented group of individuals.

Bharat Choudhary, Chief Financial Officer added: I am excited to be part of this great organization. The growth demonstrated by the current leadership team, the opportunity that lies ahead, and the strong partnership with Wal-mart are the right ingredients for the recipe for success.

Financial Highlights for the Three and Nine Months Ended October 31, 2023

Operating Results

Three months ended October 31 Nine months ended October 31 2023 2022 2023 2022 $ $ $ $ Revenues 4,939,616 4,278,029 13,735,214 11,802,010 Total operating expenses (6,517,702) (5,139,163) (17,573,785) (15,239,422) Loss from operations (1,578,086) (861,134) (3,838,571) (3,437,412) Other income (expense) (475,680) 41,951 (541,725) (59,379) Net loss before income taxes (2,053,766) (819,183) (4,380,296) (3,496,791)

For the three months ended October 31, 2023, total revenues were $4,939,616 (2022 - $4,278,029), an increase of $661,587 or 15%. For the nine months ended October 31, 2023, total revenues were $13,735,214 (2022 - $11,802,010), an increase of $1,933,204 or 16% compared to the nine-month period of last fiscal year. The Company saw significant growth in revenues driven from its clinic operations.

Clinic operations revenues of $4,246,386 accounted for 86% of total revenues for the three months ended October 31, 2023, compared to $3,260,969 or 76% of revenues for the three months ended October 31, 2022. For the nine months ended October 31, 2023, clinic operations revenues of $11,653,262 accounted for 85% of total revenues compared to $9,359,758 or 79% of revenues for the nine months ended October 31, 2022. The increase in clinic operations is aligned with the Companys strategic plan of expanding corporate-owned and operated medical centers with strategic partner Walmart.

The loss from operations for the nine months ended October 31, 2023, was $3,838,571 (2022 - $3,437,412) representing a slight increase in operating loss of $401,159. Even with 16% overall revenue growth, the Company suffered a slight increase in operating loss due to substantial increase in acquisition related cost and Debenture interest during this quarter. Apart from these increased expenses, the Company was able to achieve the following: i) the Company experienced a 16% growth in revenues compared to the same period last year, ii) operating expenses were 128% of revenues in the current period compared to 130% in the same period last year, iii) the Company reduced certain expenses such as professional fees, license fees, development fees, and consulting fees, iv) while variable operating expenses such as clinic supplies, salaries and wages, etc. increased, the Company was more efficient in generating revenues for every $1 of operating expense incurred.

Balance Sheet as of October 31, 2023

Cash of $5.28 million (January 31, 2023 - $1.46 million)

Total assets of $11.91 million (January 31, 2023 - $6.45 million)

Total liabilities of $16.75 million (January 31, 2023 - $8.32 million)

Shares Outstanding

As of December 12, 2023, the Company had 87,099,159 common shares outstanding, 5,415,000 stock options outstanding, 8,750,000 RSUs outstanding and 502,506 DSUs outstanding.

The Company also has outstanding a secured convertible debenture in the principal amount of $8,000,000, which is held by Wal-Mart Canada Corp. (Wal-Mart). Subject to earlier conversion, the Debenture will mature on July 20, 2026. The principal amount outstanding under the debenture is convertible, at the option of Wal-Mart, into units of the Company at a price of $0.105 per unit. Each such unit shall consist of one common share of the Company and one warrant, with each such warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.105 until the date that is three years following the date of issue of such warrant.

Corporate Update

The Company reports that Geoffrey Farr has been appointed Corporate Secretary of the Company. Mr. Farr is a partner of the law firm Dickinson Wright LLP, which acts as counsel to the Company. He practices corporate and securities law, and has acted as Corporate Secretary for a number of Canadian public companies.

For further information regarding the Companys financial results for Q3 fiscal 2024, please refer to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2023 together with the corresponding MD&A, available at www.sedarplus.ca and the JNH website https://www.jacknathanhealth.com

About Jack Nathan Medical Corp.

Jack Nathan Medical Corp., operating as Jack Nathan Health, is one of Canadas largest healthcare networks. Jack Nathan Health is an innovative healthcare company that is improving access for millions of patients by co-locating physician and ancillary medical services conveniently located inside Walmart stores.

Jack Nathan Health provides an exceptional level of patient care, made possible through patient-centric physicians, a variety of medical services, technology, and programs, designed to put patients first. Our mission is to provide everyone access to the finest quality retail medical centers, with both in-clinic physicians and digital telemedicine, so you and your loved ones can Live Your Best Life.

Jack Nathan Health was established in 2006 and continues to expand its international footprint, delivering exceptional, state-of-the-art, turn-key medical centers. In Canada, the Company has 78 clinics in Walmart locations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec and 3 independent locations for a total of 81 clinics. There are currently 20 corporate owned and operated clinics of which 4 include Rehab services and 5 include MedSpa services. In Mexico, the Company has 154 corporate owned and operated clinics in Walmart locations, 4 Clinics inside Walmart Distribution Centers servicing Walmart Associates, and 1 Multidisciplinary clinic. During this quarter, Jack Nathan Health, Mexico started operation of its first medical center in Mexico City.

For more information, visit www.jacknathanhealth.com or www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Appendix:

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to Jack Nathan are intended to identify forward- looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward- looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to them, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. Such factors include but are not limited to: changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in costs; litigation; legislative and other judicial, regulatory, political, and competitive developments; the economic and business impact of COVID-19 and operational difficulties. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward- looking information. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward- looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward- looking information, other than as required by applicable law.

Source: Jack Nathan Medical Corp.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212291685/en/

Jack Nathan Medical Corp., Bharat Choudhary, Chief Financial Officer, 416-637-2240

Source: Jack Nathan Medical Corp.
General Holcomb (U.S. Army) served 33 years as a leader in Nursing, Healthcare, Medical Research, and Logistics

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Humanetics Corporation (Humanetics), a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company pioneering radiation countermeasures, adjunctive oncology therapies, and pulmonary protective therapies, has announced the addition of Major General (Ret.) Barbara R. Holcomb, RN, BSN, MSN to its board of directors.

General Holcomb brings a wealth of knowledge and relevant experience that strengthens our Board, said Ronald J. Zenk, Chief Executive Officer at Humanetics. Her experience as Commanding General of US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick brings significant insights that align with our mission to develop medical countermeasures for the Department of Defense.

Im excited to start my service on the board of directors and to begin working alongside my fellow directors and the management team at Humanetics, Ms. Holcomb said. From my first interaction with the company, I understood the potential to solve urgent and unmet medical needs for our armed forces, first responders, civilian populations, cancer radiation therapy patients, and those experiencing inflammatory lung diseases such as COVID-19. The management team has done great work developing BIO 300 for these important missions.

General Holcomb served in command positions at every rank from Captain onward. Over 33 years of service, she deployed to Iraq during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Kosovo during Operation Joint Guardian, and Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. Her last military assignment was as the 25th Chief, Army Nurse Corps, and as Commanding General, Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland. She retired on June 1, 2020.

She is a 1987 Distinguished Military Graduate of Seattle University Army ROTC, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She earned a master's degree in Nursing Administration from the University of Kansas, a masters level Certification in Emergency and Disaster Management from American Military University, and a master's in Military Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, PA. As a Veteran, Barb continues to serve by volunteering a clinical nursing shift once a week in the Brooke Army Medical Center Emergency Department.

A significant focus of Humanetics is developing the new drug candidate, BIO 300, as a medical countermeasure to prevent radiation damage. BIO 300 has received considerable attention, funding, and research from the Department of Defense (DOD) for its potential to mitigate the harmful effects of radiation among warfighters and civilians in the event of a nuclear attack or radiological incident. The need for such a product has escalated significantly, given current world events. Humanetics is currently working under a contract with DOD to position BIO 300 for Emergency Use.

About Humanetics Corporation

Humanetics is a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the accelerated discovery, development, and commercialization of proprietary drugs in markets with urgent and unmet needs, with a focus on medical countermeasures to prevent harm caused by exposure to radiation, for protective use in cancer radiation therapy, and to guard against inflammatory lung diseases such as COVID-19. For more information, visit www.humaneticscorp.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212976705/en/

Ronald Zenk

Chief Executive Officer

952-400-0400

[email protected]

Source: Humanetics Corporation
During the initial pilot with HIFI Marketing Agency, MANTL Growth Engine helped Veritex Community Bank raise over $100M of core deposits at 43 basis points per dollar via the MANTL Deposit Origination platform

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MANTL, a leading provider of account origination solutions, today announced the launch of MANTL Growth Engine, a data-driven growth marketing solution for MANTL deposit origination customers. In its initial pilot with Texas-based Veritex Community Bank and HIFI, a leading digital marketing agency specializing in financial services, MANTL Growth Engine raised over $100M of directly attributable online deposits at 43 basis points per dollar and reduced the cost per acquisition (CPA) by two to three times over the common rate-driven product marketing strategies.

MANTL Growth Engine was created to address a gap in core banking technology for access to real-time customer data to optimize marketing performance. Half of banks (51%) cite pricing of deposits as a top challenge for 2023. This is because many banks seek to rebalance funding toward core deposits yet face increasing pricing pressure and expensive acquisition costs via affiliate sites and national rate aggregators.

"Consumer buying behaviors have changed. Without the infrastructure to support true performance marketing, banks and credit unions will continue to struggle with customer acquisition, said Nathaniel Harley, co-founder and CEO of MANTL. "MANTL Growth Engine combines a real-time, anonymized data feed with best-in-class marketing support to convert high-quality accounts and generate more deposits per marketing dollar spent. Leveraged in tandem with our industry-leading deposit origination platform, MANTL Growth Engine unlocks a massive opportunity for a bank or credit union to grow quickly without necessarily needing to offer the top rate thereby lowering cost of funds.

MANTL Growth Engine is built on top of MANTLs deposit origination platform and pairs proprietary customer data with industry-leading marketing experts to empower banks and credit unions to effectively and efficiently achieve deposit goals with modest marketing budgets. The real-time data feed provided by MANTL makes it possible for marketing teams and agencies to better track marketing channel performance, make smarter decisions around their marketing mix, build and improve their audiences, create lookalike audiences for digital channel optimization, and more.

MANTL piloted Growth Engine in partnership with HIFI and Veritex Community Bank, a $12B bank headquartered in Texas. With MANTL Growth Engine, Veritex Community Bank achieved its deposit goals and optimized marketing spend:

Increased deposits : over $100M in new deposits from its online channel in 90 days

: over $100M in new deposits from its online channel in 90 days Improved CPA : up to 3x lower than alternative marketing strategies like using national rate aggregators

: up to 3x lower than alternative marketing strategies like using national rate aggregators High-value accounts : $84,300 average account balance post-opening

: $84,300 average account balance post-opening Sticky customers : nearly 30% of new accounts are high-yield savings accounts with 15% increase in balances post-opening

: nearly 30% of new accounts are high-yield savings accounts with 15% increase in balances post-opening Cost-effective footprint expansion: 60% of accounts were booked outside of Veritex branches service radius

60% of accounts were booked outside of Veritex branches service radius Increased in-market conversion rate: 70%+ of applications started by customers within their existing footprint led to successfully booked accounts showcasing the high quality of the marketing-generated leads

Our partnership with MANTL and HIFI supported our effort to enter into a digital channel for client acquisition in a more strategic and cost-effective way, said Rudy Beeching, EVP, Managing Director of Retail and Business Banking at Veritex Community Bank. With guidance on how to use our spend efficiently in places other than expensive opportunities, like national rate aggregators, we could stay within our Texas market and avoid the complexities of a national offering. This supports our desire to minimize unnecessary risk in the channel as well.

Key features of MANTL Growth Engine include:

Data and Analytics Infrastructure provided by MANTL

Customer Data Integration (CDI) : Access to secure, single-tenant, fully managed BigQuery database with real-time streaming data feed from origination activity on the MANTL platform. Anonymized with PII hashing for easy onboarding to media partners. Easily transferable to other business intelligence instances and marketing tools inside your financial institution.

: Access to secure, single-tenant, fully managed BigQuery database with real-time streaming data feed from origination activity on the MANTL platform. Anonymized with PII hashing for easy onboarding to media partners. Easily transferable to other business intelligence instances and marketing tools inside your financial institution. Analytics Infrastructure : Strategy, setup, and implementation of end-to-end analytics that provides insights on media, website behaviors, and conversion.

: Strategy, setup, and implementation of end-to-end analytics that provides insights on media, website behaviors, and conversion. Real-time Dashboard Analysis : Custom analysis dashboards allow stakeholders to see performance in real time and drill down on meaningful media, product, and acquisition cost insights.

: Custom analysis dashboards allow stakeholders to see performance in real time and drill down on meaningful media, product, and acquisition cost insights. Anonymization and PII Hashing: Datasets are normalized and formatted for consumption by common media platforms, and to facilitate safe, compliant data sharing with agency partners.

Marketing and Media Services provided by vetted Agency Partners

CDI Activation : Connected media analytics and optimization cycles via a pre-vetted digital growth agency, such as HIFI, with expertise in financial services and MANTLs data structures.

: Connected media analytics and optimization cycles via a pre-vetted digital growth agency, such as HIFI, with expertise in financial services and MANTLs data structures. Brand and Messaging Strategy: A proven brand-building process for organizations seeking to develop a new digital identity or improve a legacy brands performance in the digital channel.

A proven brand-building process for organizations seeking to develop a new digital identity or improve a legacy brands performance in the digital channel. Media Strategy and Planning : Based on a financial institutions goals, HIFI helps craft local, regional, or national media programs that attract the right clients to digital channels.

: Based on a financial institutions goals, HIFI helps craft local, regional, or national media programs that attract the right clients to digital channels. Advertising Campaign Development: High-performing advertising campaigns connect to unique audiences, are thoroughly tested and optimized, and bring interested buyers back. HIFI builds a custom, multi-channel campaign that connects and converts.

High-performing advertising campaigns connect to unique audiences, are thoroughly tested and optimized, and bring interested buyers back. HIFI builds a custom, multi-channel campaign that connects and converts. Funnel Performance Optimization: Each financial institutions marketing funnel presents unique user experience challenges that require a thorough understanding of audience sources, pre-application experiences on websites, in-application pain points, and post-application relationship expansion.

Financial institutions have relied on a fragmented approach to full-funnel digital acquisition for far too long. The root issues stemmed from a disconnect between strong origination experiences, integrated digital marketing, and a thoughtful data feedback loop, said Hunter Young, founder and president of HIFI Agency. The partnership between MANTL and HIFI offers financial institutions a long-awaited bridge between these factors and it's already showing up in incredible results for our mutual clients.

Based on the pilot's success with Veritex and HIFI, MANTL is expanding the offering to existing customers with a monthly digital marketing budget of over $40,000 and integrating additional marketing agency partners.

To learn more about MANTL Growth Engine and to download the case study, please visit www.mantl.com/growthengine.

About MANTL

MANTL is a financial technology firm offering omnichannel account origination software for banks and credit unions. Consumer Deposit Origination by MANTL is among the fastest and most performant solutions on the market, empowering net-new prospects to open accounts in under three minutes, enabling existing account holders to open additional accounts with just one click, and reducing fraud by as much as 67%. Commercial Deposit Origination by MANTL is a first-of-its-kind solution that reimagines account opening for businesses of all sizes by automating up to 97% of application decisions. MANTL customers raise billions in core deposits each month. Founded in 2016, MANTL is a privately held company headquartered in New York with the backing of prominent venture capital investors. For more information, visit mantl.com.

About HIFI Agency

HIFI Agency is a full-service marketing firm dedicated to the financial sector. We help bring marketing clarity to financial brands trying to tell their story in a chaotic digital world by developing stronger brands, building better media investments, and developing smart, scalable creative marketing programs. Our team of designers, writers, developers, media experts, and analysts bring high-performing campaigns and digital experiences to some of the most innovative fintechs and financial institutions around the world. Get to know HIFI Agency better at www.hifiagency.com/agency

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212786350/en/

Taina Pena Biggs

[email protected]

Source: MANTL
The global race towards energy transition is stumbling into another Sino-Western war. As crude oil prices soar and the European Union is shifting towards a green transition, China is monopolizing critical minerals for renewable energy, with some $4 billion in investments and more than 5,152 projects across the African continent, according to data from the China Global Investment Tracker. The race is very much on. Several member countries of the European Union and the United States are turning to green energy in view of the threat of climate change, the geopolitical squeeze on oil caused by the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza, which is jeopardizing the stability of energy prices.

The European Commission forecasts that demand for aluminum, which is essential for renewable energy, will skyrocket by 543% between 2020 and 2050, as will demand for lithium, copper, cobalt and nickel. This demand for 34 critical raw materials will only escalate as the Eurozone shifts towards the energy transition.

By way of example, Spain imported metals valued at $1.56 billion from African countries in 2021, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OCE). Although this figure represents about 5% of its net imports of these materials, 8% of the metals processed by refineries in China with resources from these countries must be added.

Africa holds the key to some critical minerals; 70% of global mineral production stems from a mere four countries: South Africa, Algeria, Angola and Nigeria, all territories with which Beijing maintains economic ties. It is worth clarifying that although China supplies 100% of the rare-earth elements to the European Union, according to the Commission, it accomplishes this through its cultivation mines scattered across Africa.

The most significant stakeholders are government-owned companies such as the China Railway Engineering, China National Petroleum and Sinomach corporations, as well as other private firms in African nations such as Zambia, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In most cases, the Chinese mining business carries conditions for these countries in the Global South, like loans that have resulted in high levels of public debt.

To begin to guarantee this supply, the Western powers have begun to launch their own silk route after reaching an agreement with Xis former partners. The European Union, along with the G7, struck a deal with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in October to secure the supply of these precious commodities. The West will secure the supply of critical minerals, and in return the Lobito Corridor will be expanded  a key railway line at the southern tip of Africa.

Some experts, such as Yunnan Chen, a researcher for the British think-tank ODI, believe that Europe and Western countries have missed the opportunity to break into the mineral supply chain. Even if the West tries to access mining resources, the actual processing, knowledge and technology is currently monopolized within China, Chen said. Europe is going to have trouble catching up, if it can at all.

China now controls 90% of the processing of rare-earth elements, which are the most difficult minerals to cultivate and extract through a six-step process, according to a Goldman Sachs report.

Beijing: the global collector

The New Chinese Silk Road, known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is the economic operation that has brought about this monopoly through $1.3 trillion in loans, though this initiative began decades ago. The endeavor believed to be the worlds largest development program marked its 10th anniversary in October under the leadership of Xi Jinping. Ten years later, after an economic slump, the loss of half of the U.S. dollar reserves and a real estate crisis, China is not what it used to be.

Chinese banks do not have the same appetite for risk as they did a decade ago, and this has resulted in investments that are more commercial and on a smaller scale, according to Chen. Chinese banks may be tougher than other official creditors who are more willing to make cuts or apply other forms of debt relief, she adds. When Chinese banks grant loan write-offs, they tend to be quite small.

Beijing is currently the largest debt collector in the world and has provided 331 loans during the past two decades. Borrowing countries in the Global South owe approximately $1.1 trillion to Xis government, and half of their loans have now matured, according to a new report by AidData.

Angola and Kenya are among the countries most indebted to China, according to Boston Universitys Global Development Policy Center. Linda Calabrese, a researcher for ODI and the Lau China Institute at Kings College London, believes that Africa has benefited from Chinese investment notwithstanding huge debts through rising demand, although she stresses that this needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The Asian giants interests extend beyond Africa. Through the BRI, it has managed to pull clear in the global race in 150 countries, representing about 75% of the world. In addition to its investments in Africa and Latin America, Beijing secured the services of Australia in the last decade to exploit its lithium reserves, a key component in batteries. The Oceanic nation possesses 47% of the worlds lithium reserves, according to the IEA.

Chinese firms, like Hanking Holdings, Yancoal, China Minmetals, ChemChina and the China Light and Power Company, are leading in the Australian lithium sector, although investments in this sector have slumped in recent years.

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SIS-A data supports States Path for ME Lifespan Waiver Initiative serving residents with disabilities

TYSONS, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Maximus, a leading provider of government services worldwide, announced that it was selected by the State of Maines Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) to independently administer SIS-A 2nd Edition (Supports Intensity Scale for Adults) Assessments. Through the contract, Maximus administers SIS-A assessments for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and completes assessments that inform the development of the states A Path for ME Lifespan Home and Community-Based Services initiative. The states initiative supports individuals as their needs change during various stages of life with a primary focus on identifying the strengths of individuals with IDD, their families, and their communities.

This is a transformational moment for Maine as state leaders implement a unique approach to meet the lifetime needs of individuals with IDD, said Christa Ballew, Senior Vice President, Clinical Services, Maximus. Maximus understands the need for high-quality, reliable, and consistent information about the support needs of adults with intellectual disabilities and autism. Our combination of innovative technology and decades of assessment experience will allow us to collect this important data in an efficient, effective, and empathetic manner.

Developed and maintained by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), the SIS-A assessment is a comprehensive planning tool that measures support needs of members in the areas of home living, community living, lifelong learning, employment, health and safety, and social activities. One of Maximus goals through this new contract is to conduct the assessments with integrity to build stakeholder confidence in the states use of the SIS-A planning tool.

Maximus was the first vendor certified by AAIDD to conduct the 2nd Edition of the SIS-A assessment, and we work with other states to conduct vital assessment services and help develop solutions specifically designed to promote fair, equitable outcomes for the populations we serve, said Ballew. Our focus is on accurately recording each members support needs and conducting the interviews to provide each state with a strong foundation of accurate data. In Maine, this information will help inform key decisions ahead of the formal launch of the A Path for ME Lifespan Waiver initiative in 2025.

For more information about the companys assessment services work in Maine, along with the A Path for ME Lifespan Waiver timeline and member incentives, visit the Maximus Maine SIS-A resources site and the State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services OADS Lifespan Project site and SIS-A Implementation site.

About Maximus

As a leading strategic partner to governments across the globe, Maximus helps improve the delivery of public services amid complex technology, health, economic, environmental, and social challenges. With a deep understanding of program service delivery, acute insights that achieve operational excellence, and an extensive awareness of the needs of the people being served, our employees advance the critical missions of our partners. Maximus delivers innovative business process management, impactful consulting services, and technology solutions that provide improved outcomes for the public and higher levels of productivity and efficiency of government-sponsored programs. For more information, visit maximus.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212829178/en/

Media & Public Relations

Eileen Cassidy Rivera, [email protected]

Source: Maximus
Voluntary Collaboration Between Food and Drug Administration and Private Sector Analyzes Medical Device Data to Drive Better Health Care Outcomes

BEDFORD, Mass. & CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MITRE, the independent trusted third party for the Medical Device Information Analysis and Sharing (MDIAS) Public Private Partnership (PPP), today announced the addition of Atrium Health. The Charlotte-based health system is joining the voluntary MDIAS collaboration between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and stakeholders across the private sectorincluding patients, hospital providers, and medical device manufacturersto proactively analyze medical device-related data to improve health care outcomes for consumers.

Its a pleasure to welcome Atrium Health to MDIAS, said Kim Warren, vice president of MITREs Center for Transforming Health, operator of the CMS Alliance to Modernize Healthcare, a federally funded research and development center, more commonly known as the Health FFRDC. As an early adopterand the very first health system to join MDIASAtrium Healths active participation will benefit patients, regulators, and the medical device ecosystem.

Safety is at the heart of our organization, said Dr. Rasu Shrestha, executive vice president and chief innovation and commercialization officer for Advocate Health, of which Atrium Health is a part. Delivering the safest care and highest-quality outcomes ensures were the most trusted choice for care. Were also driven to advance the science of medicine in the most innovative ways possible. To that end, our team is dedicated to developing the most comprehensive provider-based research data set in the country. Our organization is excited for this opportunity to join MDIAS to help improve patient safety across the entire health care industry.

MDIAS convenes multiple stakeholders to discuss medical device quality and safety issues and solve those challenges collaboratively. Recognizing that data from a wide variety of sources can provide greater insights than data from a single source alone, participants agree to share appropriate data with MITRE for analysis and development of recommendations for organizational and industry-wide performance improvement.

Learn more about MDIAS at https://mdias.org.

About MDIAS

The Medical Device Information Analysis and Sharing (MDIAS) PPP is a voluntary partnership between the FDA and stakeholders across the private sectorincluding patients, hospital providers, and medical device manufacturers. It was formed to proactively analyze broad and extensive medical device-related data to improve health care outcomes for patients. The concept stems from the recognition that data from a wide variety of sources can provide greater insights than data from a single source alone. MDIAS enables the medical device community to acquire, integrate, and analyze multiple data sources in a way that provides new insights into systemic quality issues.

About MITRE

MITREs mission-driven teams are dedicated to solving problems for a safer world. Through our public-private partnerships and federally funded R&D centers, we work across government and in partnership with industry to tackle challenges to the safety, stability, and well-being of our nation. Learn more about MITREs impact.

About Atrium Health

Atrium Health is a nationally recognized leader in shaping health outcomes through innovative research, education and compassionate patient care. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Atrium Health is part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, which was created from the combination with Advocate Aurora Health. A recognized leader in experiential medical education and groundbreaking research, Wake Forest University School of Medicine is its academic core. Atrium Health is renowned for its top-ranked pediatric, cancer and heart care, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Atrium Health is also a leading-edge innovator in virtual care and mobile medicine, providing care close to home and in the home. Ranked nationally among U.S. News & World Reports Best Hospitals in eight pediatric specialties and for rehabilitation, Atrium Health has also received the American Hospital Associations Quest for Quality Prize and its 2021 Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award, as well as the 2020 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Health Equity Award for its efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in care. With a commitment to every community it serves, Atrium Health seeks to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing  for all, providing $2.46 billion last year in free and uncompensated care and other community benefits.

About Advocate Health

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States  created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health serves nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs nearly 150,000 team members across 68 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nations largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides nearly $5 billion in annual community benefits.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212694717/en/

Mike Murphy, external communications principal, MITRE, for MDIAS. [email protected]

Dan Fogleman, senior director, enterprise communications for Atrium Health. [email protected]

Source: MITRE
Iconic Haircare Meets Emerging Skincare For A Unique Holiday Shopping Experience

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pour Moi Skincare, renowned for its innovative Pour Moi Climate-Smart skincare, announces its debut pop-up at the House of Sassoon, a salon concept that reimagines the legendary Sassoon brand with 70 years of pioneering hair innovation. This exciting collaboration brings together two influential beauty brands to redefine skincare and haircare in one extraordinary location, perfectly timed for the holiday shopping season.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231211421429/en/

Dayna Devon of KTLA, Ellen K of KOST (103.5 FM), Ulli Haslacher of Pour Moi Skincare, Etienne Taenaka of House of Sassoon, Dr. Iffie Okoronkwo of Pour Moi Skincare at House of Sassoon x Pour Moi Skincare Popup Store at 9667 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210. (Photo: Business Wire)

Patented Climate-Smart Pour Moi, known as anti-aging for your zip code, customizes skincare routines to local climates with a devoted following.

Legendary Sassoon, renowned for its expertise in precision hair cutting and coloring, innovative styling, and trendsetting biannual collections, is entering a new era as House of Sassoon.

The pop-up offers a curated selection of Pour Mois innovative products, including moisturizers, serums, and masks specific to Southern California micro-climates. Visitors can receive personalized skincare consultations from expert advisors to find the ideal products tailored to their zip code.

Were thrilled to partner this holiday season with House of Sassoon for our first-ever pop-up, said Ulli Haslacher, Founder and CEO of Pour Moi Skincare. Together, were excited to provide a holistic beauty experience that combines the best of haircare and skincare.

We are proud to welcome the exclusive launch of Pour Moi Climate-Smart skincare into the California market as we expand our mission of healthy, beautiful hair to healthy, beautiful skin, said Etienne Taenaka, General Manager of House of Sassoon.

Pop-up Location: House of Sassoon | 9667 Wilshire Blvd. | Beverly Hills CA 90212

Open: November & December 2023.

For media inquiries, contact Sarah Corwin at [email protected]

About Pour Moi Skincare: Pour Moi, named TIME Invention of the Year winner, is an LA-born digital-native skincare brand pioneering climate-specific skincare solutions. Made in France, the brands science-backed approach recognizes the profound impact of climate on skin health and skincare outcomes. For further information, visit pourmoiskincare.com.

About House of Sassoon: Soon to mark its 70th year as the industry leader in hair, the House of Sassoon enters a new era with a new concept that combines salon, academy, studio space, and introduces an exclusive members club and ambassador program. For more information, contact [email protected]

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231211421429/en/

Sarah Corwin

[email protected]

Source: Pour Moi Skincare
Silver Star Communications receives a 2023 Calix Innovations Award for maintaining exceptional customer supportleveraging Calix Service Cloud and Customer Success Services to achieve an 83 percent increase in first call resolution and solve subscriber issues 35 percent fasterall while completing an historic network expansion in half the expected time

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) honored its customer, Silver Star Communications (Silver Star), with a 2023 Calix Innovations Award, recognizing them as a Giant of Customer Service and Support. The award spotlights Silver Star for maintaining customer support excellence while growing rapidly across Idaho and western Wyoming.

Silver Star recently completed a $100 million fiber-optic network expansion in five years instead of the expected 10, becoming the first broadband service provider (BSP) to deliver 10G service in Wyoming with an XGS-PON network. A Calix customer for more than a decade, Silver Star leverages the Calix platform and award-winning Calix Customer Success Services (Customer Success) to provide superior customer support that contributes to exceptional subscriber experiences.

Along with support and training from Customer Success, Silver Star leverages deep data and insights in Calix Service Cloud on the Calix platform to advance subscriber visibility and improve operational efficiencies for their customer support team. With deeper data-driven insights, Silver Stars customer service representatives (CSRs) increased their first call resolution rate 83 percent while reducing unnecessary truck rolls by 41 percentleading to a better experience for their subscribers and greater operational efficiency for their business.

Customer service is paramount to us. In the event of network issues or trouble calls, it is vital that we resolve them with minimal disruption, said Barbara Sessions, president at Silver Star. For over a century, Silver Star has prioritized providing exceptional customer support. By leveraging the Calix platform and guidance from the Customer Success team at Calix, we have expanded our network in record time while maintaining the level of service excellence our subscribers expect.

This customer-centric growth strategy underscores Silver Stars commitment to innovating for their community, a tradition that spans an impressive 111 years. Silver Star leverages the Calix platform to grow their business and maintain a high level of customer support by:

Solving subscriber issues 35 percent faster and reducing hardware replacements. With the help of Calix Premier Customer Success and Calix Business Insights Services (a Customer Success program) Silver Star standardized troubleshooting processes using Service Cloud. This led to a better subscriber experience, enabling CSRs to solve issues 35 percent faster and cut the number of required hardware replacements 14 percent.

With the help of Calix Premier Customer Success and Calix Business Insights Services (a Customer Success program) Silver Star standardized troubleshooting processes using Service Cloud. This led to a better subscriber experience, enabling CSRs to solve issues 35 percent faster and cut the number of required hardware replacements 14 percent. Cutting call handling time by one minute thanks to no swivel chair delays. Service teams often face delays and strain due to swiveling between multiple tools for troubleshooting. Through a partnership between Calix and National Information Solutions Cooperatives (NISC) iVUE trouble management system, joint customers like Silver Star can streamline CSR workflows to more easily access information, reducing average call handling time by at least one minute.

Service teams often face delays and strain due to swiveling between multiple tools for troubleshooting. Through a partnership between Calix and National Information Solutions Cooperatives (NISC) iVUE trouble management system, joint customers like Silver Star can streamline CSR workflows to more easily access information, reducing average call handling time by at least one minute. Engaging 74 percent more subscribers in using their branded mobile app. Silver Star launched their subscriber-facing mobile app, built on CommandIQ, in 2020, with two key managed services: home network cybersecurity (ProtectIQ) and advanced home network management (ExperienceIQ). In the past year, 74 percent more subscribers have started using the app to manage and monitor their home network, conduct speed tests, and use self-service options.

Efficiencies on the Calix platform, like the NISC partnership, have enabled our customer support team to solve subscriber issues faster without putting more strain on our CSRs day-to-day, said Sessions. While we expand our business into new markets, optimizing our customer support processes has enabled us to free up resources to pour back into our community with several scholarships and donations that benefit local youth. We are honored to be recognized by Calix for raising the bar on subscriber support.

We proudly present Silver Star Communications with the 2023 Giants of Customer Service and Support award, said John Durocher, chief customer officer at Calix. Silver Star delivers service excellence by leveraging our platform and managed services to provide customer support that differentiates their brand as they expand their service territory. Notably, their dedication to simplifying support operations contributes to an enhanced experience for both the support team and subscribersoffering more proactive care and expertise for faster resolution. Silver Stars significant focus on community engagement through scholarships and donations showcases how their care extends beyond providing next-level broadband service to positively impacting their community, team, and customers. We are delighted to be their partner for close to two decades and look forward to continuing to support their success.

To learn how BSPs can enable their support organizations to deliver service excellence, watch John Durocher present How We Serve You at Calix ConneXions 2023.

About Calix

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX)Broadband service providers of all sizes leverage the Calix platform and teams to simplify their business and excite their subscribers to grow the value of their business and for their communities for generations. The democratizing power of the platform and portfolio of managed services enables them to operate efficiently, acquire subscribers, and deliver exceptional experiences. Calix is dedicated to driving continuous improvement in partnership with our growing ecosystem to support the transformation of our customers and their communities.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon managements current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calixs business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calixs results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

Calix and the Calix logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Calix and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Calixs trademarks can be found at https://www.calix.com/pages/trademarks.html. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212908700/en/

Press Inquiries:

Alison Crisci

919-353-4323

[email protected]

Investor Inquiries:

Jim Fanucchi

[email protected]

Source: Calix, Inc.
New facility will divert more than 300,000 tons of waste from local landfills annually when completed; groundbreaking planned for Q2 2024

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Synthica Energy, a leading developer of anaerobic digestion facilities that convert organic waste into renewable natural gas (RNG), has received an Air Quality Permit from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for its new facility in Rome, Georgia. Located at W. Hermitage Rd NE & Old Shannon Rd. in Floyd County, the new facility will divert up to 300,000 tons of industrial organic waste each year when completed. The permit paves the way for Synthica to break ground at the site in Q2 2024, with operations expected to begin in late 2025.

The Air Quality Permit was issued for the purpose of establishing enforceable emission limitations and covers the full operation of an anaerobic digestion facility consisting of two digesters, two tanks, and a boiler. Synthica is currently working with manufacturers across Greater Atlanta on contracts to handle their organic waste feedstocks, including everything from food and beverage manufacturing byproducts and expired/damaged produce to spent yeast, expired beer and other depackaged beverage products.

"The approval of the air permit for Synthica Energy's anaerobic digestion facility in Rome, Georgia, marks a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainable development," said Missy Kendrick, President & CEO, Rome Floyd County Development Authority. "The partnership with Synthica aligns with our mission to foster innovation and environmental responsibility. Our existing and future industries now have a resource to support their environmentally friendly corporate policies. Together, we are shaping a cleaner, more resilient future for Rome and Floyd County. This project exemplifies our dedication to progressive industry practices that benefit both our community and the planet. We look forward to the positive impact this venture will bring to our region."

The anaerobic digester like the one being built in Rome will use time-tested technology that transforms waste into renewable energy. Synthica has already broken ground on its flagship location in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is developing similar facilities in a dozen other markets, including San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans and Louisville.

Demand for a facility like this is significant across the Atlanta region, said Grant Gibson, co-founder and chief development officer at Synthica Energy. Despite being home to hundreds of manufacturers, there are currently no anaerobic digestion plants within 50 miles of downtown Atlanta. That means operating a food and beverage manufacturing plant in this region is more expensive than other markets because of the increased cost of hauling away and disposing of byproducts. Combine that cost savings with the environmental impact of anaerobic digestion and the new production of RNG, and this solution is a win for manufacturers, for the Rome community and for the environment.

About Synthica Energy

Synthica Energy is a renewable natural gas (RNG) development company focused on the creation of anaerobic digestion facilities across the United States. Founded in 2017, Synthica is developing facilities in Cincinnati, Atlanta, San Antonio, New Orleans, Louisville and other urban markets and has long-term agreements in place to manage waste from leading manufacturers in those regions. To learn more, visit www.synthica.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212328406/en/

Jon Reischel, [email protected], 513.237.7758

Source: Synthica Energy
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vicinity Energy, a decarbonization leader with the nations largest portfolio of district energy systems, has been recognized by the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce for its commitment to innovation in the launch of eSteam, the first renewable, carbon-free thermal energy product in the United States.

Each year, the Visionary Awards recognize innovators from the business, institutional, and non-profit communities who are creating change in Cambridge and beyond. This years fellow award recipients include Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Astellas Pharma, the Broad Institute, The Loop Lab, Philips, and Sarepta Therapeutics.

With a commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Vicinity is electrifying its district energy systems, starting in Boston and Cambridge, with other locations to follow. The companys multi-pronged decarbonization and electrification plan includes installing innovative technologies such as electric boilers, industrial-scale heat pumps, and thermal storage. Vicinity announced the launch of eSteam, the first-ever carbon-free thermal energy product powered by renewable energy, as a key part of this strategy.

Vicinity's work to decarbonize its customers, operations, and communities by electrifying steam generation truly embodies the Visionary spirit," stated David Maher, president and CEO of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce. "We are proud to present the Visionary Award to Vicinity for the development of eSteam, a renewable carbon-free product that will be critical to helping businesses decarbonize their operations in Boston and Cambridge."

At IQHQ, we are developing transformative science districts across Boston that will leverage e-steam from Vicinity Energy to meet the needs of our life science tenants and our organizations sustainability goals, said Will Ashton, senior director of development for IQHQ. We are excited to have partnered with Vicinity to decarbonize the steam serving our projects with renewable energy options that comply with the Citys BERDO 2.0 regulations.

This is an exceptional recognition of eSteam, our renewable carbon-free product, said Kevin Hagerty, president and deputy chief executive officer of Vicinity Energy. The Chambers Visionary award solidifies our commitment to a clean energy future and demonstrates our teams commitment to helping our innovative customers like IQHQ lower carbon emissions and combat climate change.

The race to net zero

In November of 2022, the company kicked off its electrification strategy by deconstructing a steam turbine at its Kendall Facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In its place, Vicinity is installing an electric boiler that will begin supplying eSteam to customers in 2024.

In April 2023, Vicinity took another crucial step forward, announcing its partnership with Augsburg, Germany-based MAN Energy Solutions to collaborate in engineering low-temperature source heat pump systems for steam generation. Vicinity plans to install an industrial-scale heat pump complex at its Kendall Station facility by 2027.

The companys other 10 locations will undergo similar electrification processes in the coming years to achieve its operations goal of net zero by 2050.

About Vicinity Energy

Vicinity Energy is a clean energy company that owns and operates the nations most extensive portfolio of district energy systems. Vicinity produces and distributes reliable, clean steam, hot water, and chilled water to over 230 million square feet of building space nationwide. Vicinity is committed to achieving net zero carbon across its portfolio by 2050. Vicinity continuously invests in its infrastructure and the latest technologies to accelerate the decarbonization of commercial and institutional buildings in city centers. For more information about Vicinitys Clean Energy Future commitment, visit www.vicinityenergy.us.

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Sara DeMille

Senior Director, Marketing and Communications

857 557 7838

[email protected]

Source: Vicinity Energy
Nine Piper Fellows selected for their leadership and impact in Maricopa Countyall receive Fellowships for study, reflection, and growth

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nine inspiring Maricopa County nonprofit leaders were selected for Piper Trusts 2023 Class of Piper Fellows. The Fellows are:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212603865/en/

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust 2023 Piper Fellows; Front Row: Ryan Corry, Carmen Guerrero, Torrie Taj, Shelby Pedersen, Steve Zabilski (Piper Trust president and CEO). Second Row: David Roche, Kate Fassett, Matthew Kasper, Monique Lopez, Dr. Kris Volcheck. (Photo: Business Wire)

Ryan Corry , chief philanthropy officer, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (serves individuals and families in central and northern Arizona through facilities across the state; its main campus is located in South Phoenix).

, chief philanthropy officer, (serves individuals and families in central and northern Arizona through facilities across the state; its main campus is located in South Phoenix). Kate Fassett , chief advancement officer, Valleywise Health Foundation (serves predominantly the underserved population in Maricopa County, AZ; its world-renowned Diane and Bruce Halle Arizona Burn Center serves the entire Southwest region).

, chief advancement officer, (serves predominantly the underserved population in Maricopa County, AZ; its world-renowned Diane and Bruce Halle Arizona Burn Center serves the entire Southwest region). Carmen Guerrero , executive director, Cultural Coalition, Inc. (serves all of Maricopa County, AZ).

, executive director, (serves all of Maricopa County, AZ). Matthew Kasper , artistic and general director, Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras (serves all of Maricopa County, AZwith its youth musicians representing 61 ZIP codes).

, artistic and general director, (serves all of Maricopa County, AZwith its youth musicians representing 61 ZIP codes). Monique Lopez , chief operating officer, UMOM New Day Centers, Inc. (serves all of Maricopa County, AZ).

, chief operating officer, (serves all of Maricopa County, AZ). Shelby Pedersen , CEO, ICAN: Positive Programs for Youth (serves underserved communities in eastern Maricopa County, AZ, and specifically the downtowns of Chandler and Mesa).

, CEO, (serves underserved communities in eastern Maricopa County, AZ, and specifically the downtowns of Chandler and Mesa). David Roche , Dickey Family director and CEO, Heard Museum (located in Phoenix, AZ, and serves local, national, and international audiences).

, Dickey Family director and CEO, (located in Phoenix, AZ, and serves local, national, and international audiences). Torrie A. Taj , CEO, Child Crisis Arizona (serves children, youth, and families through multiple locations in Phoenix and through statewide programs).

, CEO, (serves children, youth, and families through multiple locations in Phoenix and through statewide programs). Kris Andrew Volcheck, DDS, founding president and CEO, Brighter Way Institute (located in downtown Phoenix and serves all of Maricopa County, AZ).

The newly selected class becomes part of the larger and enduring Piper Fellows network that is now a community of 111 Fellows. The 2023 Piper Fellows will participate in self-designed professional development sabbaticals focused on strengthening leadership skills and exploring renowned programs that can help nonprofits become more effective and resilient.

A Fellowship supports professional development, study, and travel for the Fellow, including an intentional respite activity that allows the Fellow to reflect on learnings. Additionally, the Fellowship supports related professional development for the staff and/or board of a Fellows organization. After completing the Fellowship, the Fellow is eligible to apply for an Organizational Enhancement Award to implement learning or programming that emerged as a result of the Fellows study. In total, a Piper Fellowship provides up to $90,000 in potential grant awards for a Fellows organization.

Our commitment to supporting nonprofit leadership extends beyond financial contributions. By offering fellowship sabbaticals and access to the robust network of Piper Fellows, we aim to create a life-changing culture of care and empowerment within the sector, said Steve Zabilski, president and CEO of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. We envision a future where nonprofit executives can lead with vitality, embracing challenges with fresh perspectives and innovative solutions.

The 2023 Piper Fellows applications were reviewed and selected for recommendation by an external committee, this year comprised of: Darlene Newsom (2011 Piper Fellow; founder of Newsom Nonprofit Consulting), Edmundo Hidalgo (2008 Piper Fellow; community advocate and nonprofit consultant), Julia Patrick (CEO and founder, American Nonprofit Academy), and Brian Spicker (president and CEO, Maricopa Community College District Foundation).

I was awarded a Piper Fellowship when I was CEO of Chicanos Por La Causa, said Edmundo Hidalgo, a 2008 Piper Fellow and now community advocate and nonprofit consultant. The Fellowship gave me the opportunity to dream and think strategicallyit was a transformational springboard that helped take me and my organization to the next level. I still draw on the experience today and remain active in the Piper Fellows community, Hildago said.

Applications will open for the 2024 Class of Piper Fellows in spring 2024.

About Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust:

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust supports organizations that enrich health, well-being, and opportunity for the people of Maricopa County, Arizona. Since it began awarding grants in 2000, Piper Trust has invested more than $717 million in local nonprofits and programs. Piper Trust grantmaking areas are healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education, and religious organizations. For more information, visit pipertrust.org | X/Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn. For Piper Trusts Annual Financial Report: Fiscal Year Ending March 2022, visit FY2022.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212603865/en/

Karen Leland, [email protected] | 480-556-7125

Chief Communications Officer, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust

Source: Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
86% of Americans surveyed say biggest GenAI in healthcare concern is lack of transparency on origin and vetting of information used

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A new Wolters Kluwer Health survey, Generative AI in Healthcare: Gaining Consumer Trust, reveals one of the biggest concerns Americans have about generative AI (GenAI) in healthcare is not knowing where the medical information being used came from or how it is validated.1

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212501104/en/

86% of Americans surveyed say biggest GenAI in healthcare concern is lack of transparency on origin and vetting of information used (Graphic: Business Wire)

For American health consumers, its all about the content

With GenAI making headlines throughout 2023, Americans are growing familiar with the technology and see its potential to improve healthcare. However almost nine out of ten Americans (86%) agree a problem with using GenAI in healthcare is not knowing where the information came from and/or how it was validated, while 82% agree another problem is that information may be coming from internet searches with no filter. Half of Americans (49%) say they are concerned GenAI might produce false information.

With certain criteria met, Americans concerns about GenAI being used in their healthcare start to dissipate. When asked if they would be concerned knowing that their healthcare provider was using GenAI, four out of five (80%) respondents said they would be concerned. However, that concern drops to three out of five (63%) if they knew their doctor was using GenAI that came from an established source in healthcare; that it was created by doctors and clinicians; and it was constantly being updated.

As the healthcare community begins implementing GenAI applications, they must first understand and address the concerns Americans have about it being used in their care, said Greg Samios, President and CEO of Clinical Effectiveness, Wolters Kluwer Health. It will take responsible testing as well as understanding the importance of using the most current, highly vetted content developed by real medical experts to build acceptance of this new technology in clinical settings.

Findings reveal transparency on how clinical content is developed and trained by GenAI is key to building trust for healthcare:

All about the content: When asked what it would take to be comfortable with their own healthcare provider using GenAI, 86% of Americans say they would need to know medical professionals were involved in the process of creating the source content.

When asked what it would take to be comfortable with their own healthcare provider using GenAI, 86% of Americans say they would need to know medical professionals were involved in the process of creating the source content. Reputation matters : When asked the same question, 81% say they would need to know that the company behind the GenAI has a long track record in the healthcare industry.

When asked the same question, 81% say they would need to know that the company behind the GenAI has a long track record in the healthcare industry. Transparency is key: Nine out of ten surveyed (89%) say clinicians need to be clear and transparent about the use of GenAI in healthcare.

More key data findings from the GenAI in healthcare consumer survey include:

Consumers know AI is coming: One third (34%) of Americans believe GenAI will become widely used in healthcare in the next five years, while 19% believe they will see this happen sooner, in the next one to two years.

One third (34%) of Americans believe GenAI will become widely used in healthcare in the next five years, while 19% believe they will see this happen sooner, in the next one to two years. Mixed feelings: When asked about their feelings about the technology being used in their healthcare 44% of Americans said they are concerned about GenAI in healthcare while 36% of Americans said they are curious.

When asked about their feelings about the technology being used in their healthcare 44% of Americans said they are concerned about GenAI in healthcare while 36% of Americans said they are curious. Ready for some use cases: Nearly half of Americans (45%) say GenAI can help improve healthcare by reading medical tests, X-rays, or images more thoroughly and accurately. Over two in five (42%), would use GenAI as a resource for follow up questions after an appointment or to ask questions about medications when a pharmacist isn't available.

A responsible approach to healthcare GenAI

Wolters Kluwer Health recently announced the launch of AI Labs, a collaborative resource that allows healthcare providers to explore the use of GenAI within UpToDate. AI Labs is powered by UpToDate, a leading clinical decision support solution with more than 12,400 clinical topics based on the synthesis of medical literature and the experience of physician experts around the world. UpToDate is used by more than two million users at more than 44,000 healthcare organizations in over 190 countries.

For more information, download the Generative AI in Healthcare: Gaining Consumer Trust Survey Executive Summary

1The survey, commissioned by Wolters Kluwer Health, was conducted online between October 27 and November 2, 2023 with 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, designed to be representative of the total U.S. population according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software, and services for professionals in healthcare, tax and accounting, financial and corporate compliance, legal and regulatory, and corporate performance and ESG. 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 20,900 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212501104/en/

Andre Rebelo

Director, External Communications

Wolters Kluwer Health

+1 (781) 392-2411

[email protected]

Source: Wolters Kluwer Health
Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) ("the Company") today will host its investor day to outline its 2024 financial guidance as well as provide updates on its long-term strategic plan, designed to deliver long-term shareholder value.

"We continue to execute against our strategic plan, positioning Centene to deliver strong, long-term earnings growth and create meaningful shareholder value. Looking to the year ahead, we see the opportunity to provide access to high-quality health care for more Americans by working every day to make healthcare affordable. Today, we are increasing our 2024 adjusted diluted EPS outlook to "greater than $6.70 ," indicative of positive operational momentum and strong execution against our plan. While there is still work to do, we are proud of the significant progress made this year and are energized to continue demonstrating results in 2024," said Chief Executive Officer of Centene, Sarah M. London .

For its 2024 fiscal year, the Company's guidance is as follows:

Total revenues of $142.5 billion to $145.5 billion .

to . Premium and service revenues of $132.0 billion to $135.0 billion .

to . GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) of greater than $5.61 .

. Adjusted diluted EPS of greater than $6.70 .

. Health benefits ratio of 87.3% to 87.9%.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense ratio of 8.4% to 9.0%.

Adjusted SG&A expense ratio of 8.4% to 9.0%.

Effective tax rate of 24.3% to 25.3%.

Adjusted effective tax rate of 24.1% to 25.1%.

Diluted shares outstanding of 522.2 million to 525.2 million.

In addition, the Company also announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized a $4 .0 billion increase to the Company's existing stock repurchase program. The increase is in addition to the approximately $1 .2 billion remaining under the previously authorized program.

The Company reaffirms its 2023 premium and service revenues in the previously announced range of $137.5 billion to $139.5 billion , HBR guidance in the previously announced range of 87.1% to 87.7% and adjusted diluted EPS guidance of at least $6.60 . Full year 2023 earnings will be reported on February 6, 2024 , at 6:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) , with a conference call at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) .

Investor Meeting

Centene Corporation will host an investor day today. Sarah London , Chief Executive Officer, and other members of the Centene management team, will host the event, which will also be webcast live from the New York Stock Exchange. The event will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time).

In-person attendance is by invitation only. As previously announced, all others are invited to participate in the investor meeting via live webcast on the Company's website at www.centene.com, under the Investors section, or directly via the following link at https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1638571&tp_key=cb2fedd0a6.

Non-GAAP Financial Presentation

The Company is providing certain non-GAAP financial measures in this release as the Company believes that these figures are helpful in allowing investors to more accurately assess the ongoing nature of the Company's operations and measure the Company's performance more consistently across periods. The Company uses the presented non-GAAP financial measures internally in evaluating the Company's performance and for planning purposes, by allowing management to focus on period-to-period changes in the Company's core business operations, and in determining employee incentive compensation. Therefore, the Company believes that this information is meaningful in addition to the information contained in the GAAP presentation of financial information. The Company strongly encourages investors to review its consolidated financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety and cautions investors that the non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company may differ from similar measures used by other companies, even when similar terms are used to identify such measures. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

The Company believes the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures that excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets, acquisition and divestiture related expenses, as well as other items, allows investors to develop a more meaningful understanding of the Company's core performance over time.

The Company references 2024 adjusted effective tax rate guidance, which excludes acquisition and divestiture related expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets, as well as other items. The Company references 2024 adjusted SG&A expense ratio guidance, which excludes estimated acquisition and divestiture related expenses of approximately $55 million and estimated severance costs due to a restructuring of approximately $10 million . These items cannot be reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure without unreasonable effort. The Company is unable to provide a reconciliation of its 2023 adjusted diluted EPS guidance range to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure without unreasonable effort. The 2023 adjusted diluted EPS guidance excludes the items we typically adjust on a non-GAAP basis.

The table below provides a reconciliation of the Company's 2024 adjusted diluted EPS guidance:
CV Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: CVSI) today announced that it has consummated its purchase of Cultured Foods , a leading manufacturer and distributor of alternative plant-based vegan foods. Cultured Foods produces a variety of curated plant-based products, currently sold in 15 different European countries, with its base of operations in Warsaw , Poland. The acquisition creates opportunity for importation of these specialty foods to the US and establishes a European base of operations for the sale and distribution of +PlusCBD products, opening doors to numerous new retail and distributor partners. In addition, it helps accelerate CV Sciences transition to a more diverse global health and wellness company. The acquisition was structured as an equity purchase, where the Company will operate Cultured Foods as its wholly-owned subsidiary.

"We are thrilled that Cultured Foods and all of its employees are joining CV Sciences as a first key milestone to transition to a global health and wellness company. The acquisition synergies will allow us to leverage our key assets including U.S. distribution and B2B expertise to drive long-term growth and shareholder value. Our immediate plan is to leverage our B2B distribution network and bring convenient and sustainable plant-based foods into the US natural product channel while working with Cultured Foods to grow their business in the European market. The global vegan food market is expected to grow 5 times by 2030 with millennials and flexitarians as the driving force behind soaring vegan food sales," said Joseph Dowling , Chief Executive Officer of CV Sciences. "In addition, we plan to leverage the Cultured Foods infrastructure to introduce select products from our flagship brand PlusCBD across all of Europe as laws allow, providing for significant expansion and opportunity to grow our company mindshare."

The total consideration for the acquisition of Cultured Foods is up to $535,000 , consisting of (i) a cash payment made at the closing of $175,000 (the "Closing Payment"), (ii) the delivery at the closing of 7,074,270 shares of CV Sciences' common stock, having a value of $250,000 as priced at the three (3) day Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP) of CV Sciences' common stock, and (ii) the potential payment of up to $110,000 in the form of an earn-out if the business of Cultured Foods meets certain performance thresholds during the first year subsequent to the closing. The Closing Payment was subject to adjustment based on certain working capital calculations and the subtraction of certain indebtedness of Cultured Foods at the closing.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak walks, on the day he gives evidence to the UK Covid-19 inquiry, in London, Britain, December 11, 2023.

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced a rebellion from restive lawmakers over his signature immigration policy, while fending off tough questions Monday about his judgment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The twin pressures add up to one of the toughest weeks of Sunaks 13 months in office, with both his present authority and past record at stake.

Legislation intended to salvage Sunaks blocked plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda faces a vote in the House of Commons on Tuesday. While disparate groups of Conservative lawmakers met in Parliament to pick holes in the bill, Sunak was undergoing a six-hour grilling at the U.K.s pandemic inquiry, where he denied taking risks with public health.

Sunak was Treasury chief to Prime Minister Boris Johnson when the pandemic hit, and backed a discount initiative that encouraged people to go back to restaurants in August 2020 after months of lockdown.

The governments scientific advisers have told the judge-led inquiry that they werent informed in advance about the Eat Out to Help Out program, which scientists have linked to a rise in infections. One senior government science adviser referred to Sunak in a message to colleagues at the time as Dr. Death.

Sunak denied there had been a clash between public health and economics when it came to confronting the pandemic, which authorities said left more than 230,000 people dead in the U.K.

He said that he saw his role as making sure the prime minister had the best possible advice, information and analysis relating to the economic impact of potential measures. He stressed that Johnson, as prime minister at the time, was the ultimate and sole decision-maker.

At the inquiry last week, Johnson rejected suggestions hed wanted to let the virus rip through society.

Sunak denied seeing a warning from government scientific advisers in late June 2020 about the risks of opening up society. He defended his decision not to consult scientists about the Eat Out to Help Out plan, saying the government had already made the collective decision to reopen indoor hospitality. He said the policy had helped save the livelihoods of low-paid bar and restaurant workers.

Sunak began his testimony by apologizing to everyone who suffered during the pandemic and said it was important to learn the lessons so that we can be better prepared in the future.

His evidence didnt, however, include his WhatsApp messages from the time. Sunak claimed they had been lost during several changes of phone since then.

Johnson also has been unable to produce messages from several key months in 2020, saying they are on an old phone for which he has forgotten the password and tech experts have been unable to retrieve them.

Naomi Fulop from the pressure group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice said that Sunaks evidence showed he was a public health hazard.

Over and over again today, Sunak claimed he could not recall key moments from his time as chancellor. The public does, Fulop said.

Meanwhile, Sunak is battling to save the Rwanda plan, a key part of his pledge to stop unauthorized migrants from trying to reach England from France in small boats. More than 29,000 people have done so this year, down from 46,000 in all of 2022.

The plan has already cost the government 240 million pounds ($300 million) in payments to Rwanda, which agreed in 2022 to process and settle hundreds of asylum-seekers a year from the U.K. But no one has yet been sent to the country, and last month the U.K. Supreme Court ruled the plan illegal, saying Rwanda isnt a safe destination for refugees.

In response, Britain and Rwanda signed a treaty pledging to strengthen protections for migrants. Sunaks government argues that the treaty allows it to pass a law declaring Rwanda a safe destination, regardless of the Supreme Court ruling.

The law, if approved by Parliament, would allow the government to disapply sections of U.K. human rights law when it comes to Rwanda-related asylum claims.

The bill faces opposition from centrist Conservative lawmakers concerned that it sidelines the courts, and from legislators on the partys authoritarian wing who think the legislation is too mild because it leaves migrants some legal routes to challenge deportation, including at the European Court of Human Rights.

The hard-line European Research Group of Conservative lawmakers said that the bill provides a partial and incomplete solution and needs major changes. Group member Mark Francois urged Sunak to rework the bill before putting it to a vote, but didnt say whether he would vote against it if that didnt happen.

If the bill passes Tuesdays vote, weeks of wrangling and more votes in Parliament lie ahead. Defeat would leave the Rwanda plan in tatters, and would threaten Sunaks leadership.

Sunak believes delivering on his promise to stop the boats will allow the Conservatives to close a big opinion-poll gap with the opposition Labour Party before an election that must be held in the next year.

But some Tory lawmakers think he is bound to fail, and are contemplating a change of leader. Under party rules, Sunak will face a no-confidence vote if 53 lawmakers  15% of the Conservative total  call for one.

Others argue that it would be disastrous to remove yet another prime minister without a national election. Sunak is the third Conservative prime minister since the last election in 2019, after the party ejected both Johnson and his successor, Liz Truss.

Lawmaker Damian Green, a leading Conservative moderate, said that anyone who wanted to change the party leader again is either mad, or malicious, or both.

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GE Vernovas Grid Solutions business (NYSE: GE) and MYTILINEOS Energy & Metals (RIC: MYTr.AT, Bloomberg: MYTIL.GA, ADR: MYTHY US) (MYTILINEOS) announced that they have been awarded a 1 billion contract by National Grid Electricity Transmission and SP Transmission, part of SP Energy Networks (SPEN), for the United Kingdoms first high-capacity east coast subsea link.

Specifically, the GE VernovaMYTILINEOS consortium was selected to supply and construct two High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) converter stations for Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1), a joint venture between National Grid Electricity Transmission and SP Transmission. EGL1 will oversee the construction of a 525kV, 2GW bipole Voltage-Sourced Converter (VSC) and HVDC subsea transmission cable from Torness in East Lothian, Scotland to Hawthorn Pit in County Durham, England, enabling the transmission of renewable green energy to power more than two million homes across the UK.

GE Vernova, the consortium leader, and MYTILINEOS will provide the engineering works and technology for the two VSC HVDC converter stations, which form the terminals for the HVDC cable and convert the direct current to alternating current enabling the transmission of electricity into the onshore transmission network. The HVDC cable system is expected to be approximately 190km in length. VSC is the latest HVDC technology. HVDC provides the most efficient and reliable means of transmitting large amounts of power long distances subsea.

The design phase will begin in January 2024. Construction will begin in 2025.

"Together with our consortium partner MYTILINEOS, we are honored to have been awarded the HVDC contract for EGL1, one of the UKs largest ever transmission projects. This critical project to the UKs decarbonization and energy security efforts adds to a growing backlog of projects that are utilizing GE Vernovas advanced HVDC technology, said Philippe Piron, President and CEO of GE Vernovas Grid Solutions.

Evangelos Mytilineos, Chairman & CEO of MYTILINEOS, commented: We are very satisfied with National Grid and SP Transmissions vote of confidence in MYTILINEOS capabilities to execute on the EGL1 project together with our consortium partner GE Vernova. MYTILINEOS looks forward to bringing its decades-long expertise in managing and building big and complex grid projects to this vital UK energy transition project.

Under the contract, GE Vernova will supply its VSC HVDC technology from its facilities in Stafford, UK, including its second-generation VSC valve and its state-of-the-art eLumina control system. eLumina is the industrys first HVDC control system to use a digital measurement system fully based on International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61850.

MYTILINEOS will be responsible for engineering, procurement and construction of civil works, balance of plant and installation of all equipment.

MYTILINEOS' strategic focus on network development is imperative for the successful energy transition and utilization of renewable energy potential globally. Through enhancing the capacity of the networks to transmit energy, stability is increased and transmission systems are becoming more resilient. MYTILINEOS has a significant track record in grid projects including high voltage (HV) and ultra-high voltage (UHV) transmission projects, such as substations, transmission lines as well as grid stabilisation projects, which have been successfully implemented internationally, making it a reliable partner for transmission and distribution network owners around the world. Furthermore, the high expertise of MYTILINEOS in the management and worldwide construction of projects of such magnitude and complexity is key to a successful outcome that will benefit thousands of people towards the net zero era.

Subsea links, particularly in the context of energy transition, play a crucial role in facilitating the development and integration of renewable energy sources, improving grid stability, promoting international collaboration, and contributing to a more sustainable and diversified energy mix.

EGL1 is a key part of the new network infrastructure in supporting UKs efforts for decarbonization and security of supply.
Turkiyes leading mobility super app Marti Technologies, Inc. (Marti or the Company) (NYSE American: MRT) has once again outperformed its 2023 year end expectations for its ride-hailing business, hitting over 452,000 unique riders and over 100,000 registered drivers as of December 11, 2023, half a month earlier than planned.

Martis number of ride-hailing riders grew 19% from November 14, 2023 to December 11, 2023. The number of registered drivers grew 11% during the same time period. The faster than forecasted growth in both the rider and driver sides of Martis ride-hailing marketplace demonstrates the strong need for the service across Turkiye. The service intends to provide readily available, safe, and affordable rides for riders, while providing economic opportunities for drivers across the income spectrum.

As previously reported in its 2023 first half yearly results, Marti had originally set targets of 375,000 unique riders and 80,000 registered drivers for its ride-hailing business by 2023 year end and then revised those targets in mid-November to 450,000 unique riders and 100,000 registered drivers after exceeding the original targets. As of December 11, 2023, Marti has met the revised targets, a half month earlier than the 2023 year end.

Encouraged by the growth in its rider and driver bases in its ride-hailing business, Marti has set targets for over 700,000 riders and over 120,000 registered drivers by March 31, 2024.

Martis ride-hailing service currently operates in over 20 cities across Turkiye, including Istanbul, Antalya, and Izmir.

Of Martis over 100,000 registered drivers, over 80,000 are in Turkiyes largest city, Istanbul. This is in contrast to 19,016 taxis serving the city. With 4.2 times as many registered drivers as taxis serving the city of Istanbul, Marti is able to offer widespread availability across the city. Furthermore, Martis drivers undergo formal background checks before acceptance onto the service, thereby contributing to rider safety. The average rating of Martis ride-hailing drivers by riders is 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Marti currently does not enable online payment for the service over its app, or charge a fee for the service.

McKinsey & Company, a consultancy group, estimates the taxi market size in Turkiye at $9 billion to $12 billion as of 2021. Further, under the Disruptive Scenario 2030, ride-hailing is expected to increase the size of the taxi market by offering cheaper and more convenient rides. McKinsey & Company estimates the potential size of the Turkish ride-hailing market in 2030 at $15 billion to $20 billion.
Nokia (NYSE: NOK) today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Fenix Group, a privately held company that specializes in tactical 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) communications solutions for the defense communities. Fenix Group is a leading provider of innovative tactical communications products, including the Banshee product family. The systems are designed to provide high-speed, low latency data connections to many devices and users simultaneously, making them ideal for supporting a wide range of military applications. Fenix Group is a portfolio company of Enlightenment Capital. Nokia is a leading global provider of commercial 5G mobile broadband technology and private wireless solutions for ultra-reliable, mission-critical applications. The addition of Fenixs tactical communications capabilities will allow Nokia to offer a more comprehensive suite of solutions to its defense customers. Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, said: The acquisition of Fenix Group is an important milestone in our strategy to grow our defense business. We are excited to welcome Fenix to the Nokia family, and we look forward to working together to create a more stable world with high-performance, secure, and reliable communications solutions.

Dave Peterson, CEO of Fenix Group, said: We are thrilled to be joining Nokia. Nokia is a global leader in telecommunications technology, and its commitment to defense modernization is unmatched. We believe that by combining our capabilities, we can create even more innovative and effective solutions for our defense customers.
Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ORA), a leading renewable energy company, announced the signing of a 15-year Energy Storage Service Agreement (ESSA) with San Diego Community Power (SDCP), Californias second largest community choice aggregator, for the 20MW/40MWh Pomona 2 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) located in Los Angeles County, California.

The Pomona 2 project, operational since July 2023, represents Ormat's commitment to growing its energy storage segment through the delivery of innovative solutions and storage services. This agreement marks the second tolling agreement in the Companys expanding portfolio, following the 2022 Bottleneck contract. These agreements contribute to the growth of a stable, profitable and predictable revenue stream for Ormats energy storage segment, with over 40% of the segments revenue expected to be contracted starting the second half of 2024.

Doron Blachar, CEO of Ormat Technologies said, This long-term tolling agreement further expands Ormats energy storage portfolio and supports SDCPs commitment to bringing clean, reliable energy to its nearly one million customers. The Pomona 2 project will help to balance our merchant portfolio and support more stable and profitable revenues for the storage segment. We continue to view energy storage as a unique, multi-year growth sector that will play a vital role in global decarbonization as intermittent renewable energy sources continue to be deployed as part of the ongoing energy transition. Ormat is committed to growing its energy storage portfolio and capabilities by utilizing our market position and expertise, and we are proud to expand our presence in California with this second agreement signed with SDCP. We view California as a key target market for renewable energy development, and are proud to be part of the solution in addressing the states net-zero goals.
Moderna logo and stock graph are seen displayed in this illustration taken, May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

(Reuters) -Moderna said its Chief Commercial Officer Arpa Garay has stepped down from the role and CEO Stephane Bancel will look over sales and marketing, sending the shares of the vaccine maker down 5% on Tuesday.

Garay, who was in the position for less than two years, will remain an employee through June 2024, the company said.

Her exit from the role comes at a time when the company, which is looking to break even in 2026, is ramping up spending on research and development as weak sales of COVID vaccine weigh on stock performance.

The company had last month said it would be able to meet just the lower end of its $6 billion to $8 billion sales forecast for 2023. In contrast, Pfizer expects annual sales from COVID shot to be about $11.5 billion.

CEO Bancel will now directly oversee the company's efforts to drive sales of the COVID shot and its preparation to roll out the vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) next year.

Moderna expects $4 billion in revenue in 2024 from the sale of COVID and RSV vaccines.

The company said president Stephen Hoge will be responsible for its pipeline commercial strategy and medical affairs. This follows the departure of Chief Medical Officer Paul Burton earlier this year.

(Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)
FILE PHOTO: Trevor Milton, founder and former-CEO of Nikola Corp., departs the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse in New York, U.S., September 12, 2022. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File Photo

By Jody Godoy

(Reuters) - Nikola founder Trevor Milton should receive around 11 years in prison for defrauding investors in the electric- and hydrogen-powered truck maker, prosecutors in New York said on Tuesday.

Milton was convicted at trial in October 2022 on two counts of wire fraud and one count of securities fraud. Prosecutors said Milton targeted retail investors with false claims about Nikola's technology starting in 2019.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 18 at a hearing where investors may appear to speak about their losses on the company, whose market cap soared to above $30 billion in June 2020.

Prosecutors on Tuesday asked U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos to give Milton a "substantial sentence" in line with an 11-year recommendation from the probation department.

They compared Milton to Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, who was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison last year for defrauding investors in her blood testing startup.

"Just as Holmes lied about Theranos-manufactured blood analyzers, Milton lied about the operability of the Nikola One semitruck," they said.

Milton has urged the judge to resist comparing him to Holmes, saying Nikola is a "real company with real products," unlike Theranos. He has asked for probation, saying his statements came from a "deeply-held optimism" in the company he founded in 2014.

Prosecutors said at trial that Milton used social media and news-media interviews to make false and misleading claims, including that Nikola built an electric- and hydrogen-powered "Badger" pickup from the "ground up."

(Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by David Gregorio)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it will launch a live road tour connecting entrepreneurs developing advanced technologies to Americas Seed Fund, the countrys largest source of early-stage federal funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Americas Seed Fund finances cutting-edge research & development (R&D), providing over $4 billion each year in non-dilutive funding from across 11 participating federal agencies.

Americas Seed Fund Road Tour is a national outreach effort to connect innovators and entrepreneurs directly with federal agencies that fund non-dilutive SBIR/STTR grants and contracts. The Road Tour plays an important role in increasing the engagement of our nations entrepreneurs with organizations supporting and financing next-generation innovations. The Road Tour will kick off with Americas Seed Fund Week, a Virtual Road Tour ahead of four in-person road tours scheduled to visit 16 states and territories in 2024.

The Biden Administrations Investing in America agenda is about connecting innovators with the resources and capital to support next-generation research and technology, from concept to commercialization. The SBA is coordinating this federal engagement to ensure innovative startups and small businesses from underserved states and communities can equitably access this critical source of early-stage funding, said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman.

Each Road Tour stop is hosted in collaboration with SBAs Federal And State Technology (FAST) Partners, who serve as navigators connecting entrepreneurs to Americas Seed Fund opportunities in their regions. At each stop, technology entrepreneurs and small business owners will meet one-on-one with federal agency representatives and attend programming designed to help participants navigate applications for SBIR/STTR funding.

Incubating cutting-edge American innovations, innovations capable of improving the human condition and increasing economic growth and opportunity frequently requires close coordination between the public and private sectors. Americas Seed Fund Tour strives to increase connectivity between innovators, experts, funders and federal resources in communities across America, said Bailey DeVries, Associate Administrator of Investment and Innovation.

For the full list of SBIR/STTR funding agencies, visit PARTICIPATING FEDERAL AGENCIES | SBIR.gov.

Americas Seed Fund 2024 Road Tour Schedule

2024 Road Tour Virtual  Americas Seed Fund WeekJan. 23-25 | Host: SBAs Office of Investment and Innovation

2024 Road Tour Coastal Feb. 7 - Orlando, Fla.| Host: Florida High Tech CorridorFeb. 9 - San Juan, PR | Host: Puerto Rico Small Business, Technology and Development Centers

2024 Road Tour South April 2  Little Rock, Ark. | Host: Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center April 3  Jackson, Miss. | Host: Innovate Mississippi, Jackson State University and The University of Southern Mississippi April 4  Baton Rouge, La. | Host: Louisiana Technology Transfer OfficeApril 5  Houston, Texas | Host: University of Texas at San Antonio  Texas South-West SBDC Technology Commercialization Center

2024 Road Tour Southeast May 13  Columbia, S.C. | Host: University of South CarolinaMay 14  Atlanta, Ga. | Host: Innovation Gateway-University of Georgia, Center for Black Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Center at MorehouseMay 15  Knoxville, Tenn. | Host: Launch TennesseeMay 16  Lexington, Ky. | Host: Kentucky Science & Technology CorporationMay 17  Huntington, W.Va.| Host: TechConnect West Virginia and Marshall University

2024 Road Tour Great Lakes July 15 - East Lansing, Mich. | Host: BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consultings Michigan Catalyst Advantage NetworkJuly 16 - Indianapolis, Ind. | Host: Indiana Economic Development CorporationJuly 17 - Champaign-Urbana, Ill. | Host: Research Park at the University of IllinoisJuly 18 - Madison, Wis. | Host: Center for Technology CommercializationJuly 19 - Minneapolis, Minn.| Host: MNSBIR, Inc.

For detailed information on the Americas Seed Fund Road Tours and registration, visit americasseedfund.us/road-tour.

For more information about Americas Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR) programs, visit sbir.gov.

###

About the U.S. Small Business AdministrationThe U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. Learn more at sba.gov.

About SBA Office of Investment and InnovationThe U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) leads programs that provide the high-growth small business community with access to two things: financial capital and R&D funds to develop commercially viable innovations. Our work is underpinned by public-private partnerships that help small businesses on their trajectory from idea to IPO. Learn more at sba.gov.

Christine Saah Nazer U.S. Small Business Administration 202-765-0304 [email protected] Rebecca Galanti U.S. Small Business Administration 202-756-0304 [email protected] Han Nguyen U.S. Small Business Administration 202-765-0304 [email protected]

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration
COLUMBIA, Md., Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BigBear.ai (NYSE: BBAI), a leading provider of AI-powered decision intelligence and cyber-engineering solutions, today announced a significant extension from the U.S. Army to continue as the prime contractor for the Global Force Information Management (GFIM) system. Valued at $17.9 million, this extension capitalizes on the successful delivery and acceptance of BigBear.ai's work during Phase 1 and Phase 2.

This extension underscores the progress made in transforming 15 legacy U.S. Army systems into an enterprise intelligent automation platform that aligns with the Secretary of the Army's vision for a data-centric force. The extended work will focus on enhancing the data layer, further developing the MVP in line with Army priorities, and ensuring all systems operate within a secure and accredited IL5/IL6 cARMY Cloud environment.

"BigBear.ai's deep understanding of the Army Force Management process combined with decades of experience in innovative agile technology solutions is integral to GFIM's evolution into a modern system that encapsulates the Army's operational needs," said Ryan Legge, President, Integrated Defense Solutions at BigBear.ai. "This extension represents both parties ongoing commitment to achieving a state-of-the-art platform that meets the Army's highest standards of data security and operational effectiveness."

During the initial Phase 2 period, BigBear.ai laid the groundwork for a modernized force structure system. The team has successfully navigated the complexities of the U.S. Army's requirements, and this extension will see the continuation of that partnership as the project moves towards operationalizing the prototype within the cARMY cloud, a pivotal step in the U.S. Armys Cloud Plan 2022.

"The GFIM system is set to become a cornerstone of the Army's data-driven approach," said Lori Mongold, U.S. Army GFIM Capabilities Management Officer. "The advancements in the data layer and the progress towards accreditation in the cARMY environment will significantly enhance the Army's operational readiness and system security."

The extended contract follows a series of successful milestones, including a comprehensive User Acceptance Testing Session, which marked the transition to this next phase of development. The extension will continue to drive the GFIM system towards the Army's goal of a more integrated, efficient, and effective force.

About BigBear.ai

BigBear.ai is a leading provider of AI-powered military and business intelligence solutions. Serving markets such as global supply chain and logistics, autonomous systems, and cybersecurity, BigBear.ai's current solution domains include Autonomy, Modeling & Simulation, Intelligent Automation, Organizational Readiness, Cybersecurity, and Intelligence Operations. The U.S. Government and commercial enterprises rely on BigBear.ais predictive analytics and AI capabilities to better understand the implications of changes to their complex environments, systems, processes, and supply chains. This intelligence supports hyper-informed planning, forecasting, and decision-making. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, BigBear.ai is a public company traded on the NYSE under the symbol BBAI. For more information, visit: https://bigbear.ai/ and follow BigBear.ai on LinkedIn: @BigBear.ai, and Twitter: @BigBearai.

For media inquiries, please contact: Ryan Stenger[email protected]

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the intended use of proceeds from the private placement and 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 Companys control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political, and legal conditions; risks related to the uncertainty of the projected financial information (including on a segment reporting basis); risks related to delays caused by factors outside of our control, including changes in fiscal or contracting policies or decreases in available government funding; changes in government programs or applicable requirements; budgetary constraints, including automatic reductions as a result of sequestration or similar measures and constraints imposed by any lapses in appropriations for the federal government or certain of its departments and agencies; influence by, or competition from, third parties with respect to pending, new, or existing contracts with government customers; our ability to successfully compete for and receive task orders and generate revenue under Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contracts; potential delays or changes in the government appropriations or procurement processes, including as a result of events such as war, incidents of terrorism, natural disasters, and public health concerns or epidemics; and increased or unexpected costs or unanticipated delays caused by other factors outside of our control, such as performance failures of our subcontractors; risks related to the rollout of the business and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on our future business; our ability to issue equity or equity-linked securities in the future, and those factors discussed in the Companys reports and other documents filed with the SEC, including under the heading Risk Factors. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is outlined in the Companys filings with the SEC, including the Companys 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 SECs website at https://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, except as required by law.

Source: BigBear.AI
Regulated information - Brussels, Paris, 12 December 2023  05:45 PM

Dexia will continue its orderly resolution as a non-banking entity as from 1 January 2024

In a letter dated 11 December 2023, the European Central Bank (ECB) approved the withdrawal of Dexia Credit Local's credit institution licence and investment services authorisations. This request had been submitted by the Dexia Group to the Autorite de Controle Prudentiel et de Resolution (ACPR) on 4 July 2023, concomitantly with the request for withdrawal of authorisation as a finance company for Dexia Flobail and Dexia CLF Regions Bail, effective since 27 October 2023. Furthermore, as the merger between DCL and Crediop was completed on 30 September 2023, Dexia Credit Local no longer holds any regulated entity.

The withdrawal of authorisation from Dexia Credit Local will be effective as from 1 January 2024.

To recall and as announced by Dexia on 3 July last1 the withdrawal of Dexia Credit Local's banking and investment services authorisations is part of the ongoing implementation of the ordered resolution plan validated by the European Commission in December 2012. It is based on a detailed analysis of the impacts and risks, which demonstrated that Dexia is perfectly capable of continuing this resolution process outside banking regulations.

The decision to operate without these approvals will contribute to the simplification of Dexia's organisation and improve its cost trajectory, without affecting the Group's capacity to carry out its resolution or the quality of its portfolio monitoring. Indeed, it does not call into question Dexia Credit Local's ability to finance itself via the issuance of debt guaranteed by the Belgian and French States, which will retain HQLA level 1 qualification2. It also preserves Dexia's ability to conduct own account trading operations on financial markets. Dexia will also retain direct access to clearing houses and the main trading venues, which are essential for managing its orderly resolution.

The Group will also maintain a robust risk management and monitoring system, based on comprehensive reporting and a demanding Risk Appetite Framework. An independent Surveillance Committee, set up by the guarantor States, will take over from the banking supervisors from 1 January 2024, particularly in terms of risk monitoring and the organisation of internal control. This committee will be made up of four members, appointed equally by the Belgian and French governments, with solid banking supervision expertise. The members of the committee will carry out their duties and analyse and pass judgement on the subjects entrusted to them in complete independence.

In addition to verifying compliance with the professional expertise and good repute (fit and proper) requirements for candidates for the positions of members of the Board, the Management Board and the positions of heads of internal control functions (risk management, compliance, internal audit), the committee will also issue technical opinions on the assessment of Dexia Group risks and on the risks associated with any project the impact of which on Dexia's balance sheet, statement of income, shareholders' equity or liquidity position could, in the short, medium or long term, lead to alert thresholds being crossed. It will alert the Board of Directors if a shortcoming is observed in the quality of data or tools for monitoring risk indicators or in the organisation and internal control systems, or if Dexia's strategic decisions or their execution appear to be incompatible with the orderly resolution plan or the Group's risk appetite framework.

Consequently, as from 1 January 2024, Dexia Credit Local will continue its orderly resolution as a non-bank. It will remain a public limited company under French law and will change its corporate name to Dexia (instead of Dexia Credit Local).

The abandonment of Dexia Credit Local's status as a credit institution will also lead to a change in the status of its parent company under Belgian law, Dexia SA/NV, which will cease to be a financial holding company while remaining a public limited company. An Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of Dexia SA/NV will be organised at the beginning of January 2024 to change its corporate name to Dexia Holding (instead of Dexia).

Dexia Credit Local will therefore become Dexia, while the current parent company Dexia will become Dexia Holding.

Press and Investor Contacts  Brussels: +32 2 213 57 39  Paris: +33 1 58 58 58 49

1Cf. Dexia Press Release dated 3 July 2023, available at www.dexia.com.

2Confirmation in the ACPR Notice 2023, Section 6.1.1.6 relating to the eligibility of securities issued by financial sector entities: https://acpr.banque-france.fr/sites/default/files/media/2023/07/17/20230711_notice_college.pdf

Attachment
Charleston, SC, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released for anyone interested in Sikh history, I am a Sikh takes readers on an incredible journey from the shadows in the Mughal Dynasty to the Sikh pride of the present day. Written with precision and passion by Dr. Gul, author of Through My Prism and Who is a Woman, this book provides penetrating insights into Sikhisms foundational principles.

In the shadows of Mughal oppression, Guru Nanak emerged with his stirring teachings of courage, spirituality, and justice. From Guru Nanaks foundational roots to the sacrifices of successive gurus, this volume details two centuries of faith, bravery, and resilience. Learn how the Sikh challenged the Mughal Dynasty and helped India preserve its treasured religious plurality. Along the way, discover Sikhisms core principles as the incredible stories of heroism, sacrifice, and martyrdom unfold.

I am a Sikh will appeal to anyone seeking spiritual wisdom or readers interested in a true historical voyage of faith overcoming oppression. Readers seeking inspiration or understanding of Sikhism will find the messages in I am a Sikh to be deeply relevant and encouraging to todays generation.

I am a Sikh is available for purchase online at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com.

About the Author:

Dr. Gul was trained as a clinical psychiatrist in Boston and has run a private practice since 1982. As a writer, she blends her medical expertise with insightful narratives, and she has authored the notable works Through My Prism and Who is a Woman. She is a proud mother and grandmother. She makes her home in Southern California with her husband. I am a Sikh is her loving tribute to Sikhisms profound history.

Attachment

Leah Joseph Palmetto Publishing [email protected]

Source: Palmetto Publishing
The image of the baby Jesus placed on rubble in a church in Bethlehem, in the West Bank, symbolizes a cry for peace at the gates of a wartime Christmas in Palestine. A boy and a girl light the candles surrounding this vindictive nativity scene at the beginning of a Sunday Mass, presided between songs by priest Isaac Munther. We are all shattered by the images of children being pulled out from under the rubble, explains the priest to justify his montage. His idea attracted attention in the international media, but only local citizens enjoy it live. The escalation of the war has scared off tourists, dealing a blow to the local economy.

Munther, 44, originally from Beit Sahour, one of the towns with a large Arab Christian population surrounding Bethlehem, recently traveled to the United States. There, among many other appointments, he delivered a letter to the White House that he had signed along with other Palestinian Christian clergy and which, he was assured, would find its way into the hands of President Joe Biden. We wrote a letter of peace, uncontroversial, and asking for an immediate ceasefire, he said at the end of the Eucharist. But the U.S. response was the veto last Friday of the ceasefire resolution in the United Nations Security Council, he laments with more derision than surprise. They also replied by confirming a new arms deal with Israel. I commented on it in the sermon. There they celebrate Christmas with presents and lights, and here they send us weapons and the machinery of war, he adds sarcastically.

After his return to the West Bank on December 1, the day on which the week-long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came to an end, the Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, where Munther works, decided to set up the nativity scene among the rubble. The priest says he has received messages of solidarity and support from all over the world and that there are churches asking permission to make posters and postcards and to put it in their Nativity scenes and calendars.

The United Nations puts the number of children killed in Gaza during the war at over 7,500, making it the armed conflict with the highest child mortality rate of our times, with an average of 115 minors killed every day. Some sources, such as the Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, place the figure at over 10,000, taking into account the bodies that remain unaccounted for in the wreckage of the bombardment. In total, the number of dead in Gaza now exceeds 18,000, according to the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, which is governed by Hamas.

If Jesus were born again today, he would be born again under the rubble in Gaza, Munther says next to the boulders of his nativity scene. For us, God is under the rubble. God is in the operating rooms. God is in solidarity with those who suffer injustice. So the idea of this manger arose, especially when the world continues to justify the murder and dehumanization of these children, he adds against the bustling backdrop of the downtown Bethlehem market. Just over 1% of the 5.3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem are Christians, most of them Catholic and Orthodox.

A street in the center of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, with stores closed and no tourists due to the war, December 10. Jaime Villanueva A young man prays in front of the manger, the place where, according to the Bible, Jesus was born, in the Basilica of the Nativity in the city of Bethlehem, December 10. Jaime Villanueva The Basilica of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, completely empty of tourists as Christmas approaches; December 10. Jaime Villanueva A street in downtown Bethlehem. Jaime Villanueva The nativity scene at the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church shows the baby Jesus wrapped in the tradition Palestinian kefiya and placed among rubble in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, to remember and protest the situation in war-torn Gaza. Jaime Villanueva A family walks through a street empty of tourists in Bethlehem, December 8. Jaime Villanueva Father Munther, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem. Jaime Villanueva The Nativity scene at the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem. Jaime Villanueva

Economic hole

Half of Bethlehems income comes from tourists and pilgrims attracted by the Basilica of the Nativity, a World Heritage Site that Christians traditionally recognize as the site of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Of the 1.9 million overnight stays in the West Bank between January and September of this year, one million were in the city of Bethlehem, which also accounted for half of the 2.5 million total visitors, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). The conflict has put an end to tourism, causing an economic hole, to which must be added the 150,000 West Bankers who had work permits in Israel that have now been canceled.

The lively souk that leads to the heart of Bethlehem, the Manger Square, remains active but limited to local citizens. There are stores and stalls selling fruit and vegetables, sneakers and clothing. The cafes operate normally and vendors hawk their wares to customers wandering the streets. But none of them are foreigners. Visitors have been driven out by the war.

On Paul VI Street, which leads from the Lutheran church to Manger Square and the Basilica of the Nativity, a desperate vendor latches on to the handful of foreigners as if they were an apparition. Abud Salah, 31, runs a family business selling handicrafts, gifts, leather bags and carpets where local passersby dont linger. This tour guide-turned-shopkeeper explains how revenues have plummeted at a time when they were just beginning to recover after the coronavirus pandemic. Now, after the struggles of 2020 and 2021, Christmas 2022 was just a mirage that has evaporated with the war.

Tourists returned en masse last year to a destination whose peak season coincides with Christmas. There wasnt a single vacancy in the hotels, hostels or houses, Salah says as he presents objects with which to try to make a little cash. A few meters away, the manager of the Al Sufara establishment invites you to try the falafel, traditional chickpea croquettes, which he is frying in the same street. He also offers tea on his own initiative, surprised by the presence of foreigners, whom he asks, please, to rate his place on a well-known internet platform.

Half-price handicrafts

Downstairs, next to the temple that marks the site of the stable where Jesus was born, the Nativity store welcomes a single customer. Three generations of Tabash family entrepreneurs have kept this business open since 1927. Epifanio sells, among many other objects and gifts, handicrafts made of olive wood from the West Bank. He does so at half the marked price. There is no need to resort to the traditional haggling that is commonplace when shopping in the Arab world. He announces the discount directly to the few people who come to the store.

In front, the Manger Square is a chaotic parking lot. The city authorities announced weeks ago that they were suspending Christmas celebrations due to the conflict and only performing the religious rites. The esplanade of the square, in front of City Hall, looks orphaned this year without the Christmas tree, without its gift stalls, without the festive lighting, without the figure of Santa Claus.

What remains is the strange image of Joseph and Mary, helped by the shepherds and the three Wise Men, all carved in local olive wood, coming to the rescue of the baby Jesus, who appears covered with a traditional keffiyeh (a Palestinian scarf) among the rubble, in the staging of the Nativity scene at the Lutheran Church. And, with him, all the children of the war trapped or killed among the stones and rubble of the bombardments, says Father Munther.

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced the expansion of its Energy & Industrials Business Transformation practice with the appointments of Satish Damodaran and Alejandro Vanags as Senior Managing Directors within the firms Corporate Finance & Restructuring segment.

In the face of economic uncertainty across the globe, energy, industrials and manufacturing organizations are taking a deep look at ways they can optimize their operations, said Omar Aguilar, Leader of FTI Consultings Energy & Industrials Business Transformation practice. Both Satish and Alejandro understand the key trends and challenges our clients are facing in complex, transitioning sectors, and I look forward to working alongside them as we develop holistic solutions to our clients' unique business challenges.

Mr. Damodaran, who is based in Atlanta, brings more than 25 years of experience in operations management, manufacturing operations and business strategy. In his role at FTI Consulting, he will help industrial sector clients with business transformation, manufacturing operations and interim management operational and strategic needs, focusing on improving overall operational and business performance.

Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Mr. Damodaran was a Managing Director at Deloitte. He has executed business improvement strategies for global industrial, aviation and consumer companies, integrating people, process and next-generation technologies to provide innovative solutions for clients. He has also provided and enabled direct operational support to clients, including developing offshore and near-shore capabilities.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Damodaran said, I am thrilled to join the firm and look forward to pursuing my passion for enhancing operational performance in companies by assisting management, boards and investors. FTI Consulting professionals appreciate the importance of tailoring solutions to meet the unique requirements of each client, and I look forward to joining a team of experts with the credibility to deliver transformational results.

Mr. Vanags joins the Houston office with more than 20 years of experience in the oil, gas, power and chemicals industries in the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia. In his role at FTI Consulting, he will help clients in the energy sector implement growth and strategy-based transformation programs, improve operating models and build new organizational capabilities.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Vanags was a Managing Director at Accenture, where he helped clients design strategies and transformation programs, including the implementation of a digital/AI transformation program for a large oil and gas company and leading the energy strategy for a North American downstream company.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Vanags said, FTI Consulting is known for its suite of services that helps clients achieve positive and differentiated outcomes for their operational and strategic challenges. I look forward to working alongside my new colleagues as we leverage our deep energy industry experience to identify and set strategic agendas that help our clients navigate uncertainty and improve their overall business performance.

The appointments of Mr. Damodaran and Mr. Vanags build on the firms continued investment in its Business Transformation and Strategy offering, which includes the October 2023 launch of FTI Delta, a global, industry-specialized strategy consulting practice.

About FTI Consulting

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations manage change, mitigate risk and resolve disputes: financial, legal, operational, political & regulatory, reputational and transactional. With more than 8,000 employees located in 31 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges and make the most of opportunities. The Company generated $3.03 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2022. In certain jurisdictions, FTI Consultings services are provided through distinct legal entities that are separately capitalized and independently managed. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com and connect with us on Twitter (@FTIConsulting) , Facebook and LinkedIn .



FTI Consulting, Inc.

555 12th Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

+1.202.312.9100

Investor Contact:

Mollie Hawkes

+1.617.747.1791

[email protected]

Media Contact:

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Gradient Cyber Named Cutting Edge in Extended Detection and Response (XDR) In 11th Cyber Defense Magazines Annual InfoSec Awards during CyberDefenseCon 2023

SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gradient Cyber , the mid-market leader in MXDR, is proud to announce that Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM), the industrys leading electronic information security magazine, has named Gradient Cyber as the Top InfoSec Innovator 2023 Awards winner in the Extended Detection and Response (XDR) category.



The threat landscape in the cybersecurity world is constantly evolving, and mid-market companies face the very same threats as larger organizations, but often lack the same level of resources and expertise to deal with these threats effectively, commented Neal Hartsell, CMO at Gradient Cyber. Our goal is to provide these entities with enterprise-grade Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) solutions that can greatly assist these companies in enhancing their cybersecurity posture.

Gradient Cyber embodies three major features we judges look for with the potential to become winners: understanding tomorrows threats, today, providing a cost-effective solution and innovating in unexpected ways that can help mitigate cyber risk and get one step ahead of the next breach, said Gary S. Miliefsky, Publisher of Cyber Defense Magazine.

Gradient Cybers MXDR platform is purpose-built for the mid-market. The MXDR solution boasts an unparalleled blend of EDR, identity, and deep network traffic analytics, enhanced by real-time data analysis for precise detection and responses. This coupled with Gradient Cybers SOC 2 Type 2 compliant 24/7 Security Operations Center with a dedicated, seasoned analyst team, provides a personal relationship, ensuring consistent touch points, and a hands-on approach from installation to solution optimization.

About Gradient Cyber

Gradient Cyber provides the leading mid-market Managed Detection and Response (MXDR) solution - which bolsters your cybersecurity posture, compliance, and business resilience by pinpointing and halting attacks before they lead to financial setbacks, operational disruptions, data breaches, or reputational harm. Our open XDR platform integrates a variety of endpoint, identity, network and cloud data sources. Advanced analytics connect and contextualize data signals into prioritized alerts which are vetted by cyber analysts and converted into response / remediation action. Combined with our 24x7 SOC, and white-glove service model Gradient Cyber ensures high customer satisfaction at a fraction of the cost of alternative approaches.

About Cyber Defense Awards

This is Cyber Defense Magazines 11th year of honoring cybersecurity innovators, in this case the Top Global CISOs for 2023, on our Cyber Defense Awards platform. In this competition, judges for these and other prestigious awards includes cybersecurity industry veterans, trailblazers and market makers Gary Miliefsky of CDMG, Dr. Lindsey Polley de Lopez of VentureScope, Robert R. Ackerman Jr. of Allegis Cyber, Dino Boukouris of MomentumCyber and with much appreciation to emeritus judges Robert Herjavec of Cyderes, Dr. Peter Stephenson of CDMG and David DeWalt of NightDragon. Top InfoSec Innovators for 2023 is found here: https://cyberdefenseawards.com/top-infosec-innovators-for-2023/ and download The Black Unicorn Report for 2023: https://cyberdefenseawards.com/the-black-unicorn-report-for-2023/ and Top Global CISOs Winners for 2023, here: https://cyberdefenseawards.com/top-global-cisos-winners-for-2023/ .

About Cyber Defense Magazine

Cyber Defense Magazine was founded in 2012 by Gary S. Miliefsky, globally recognized cyber security thought leader, inventor and entrepreneur and continues to be the premier source of IT Security information. We are managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Our mission is to share cutting-edge knowledge, real-world stories and awards on the best ideas, products and services in the information technology industry. We deliver electronic magazines every month online for free, and limited special editions exclusively for the RSA, BlackHat and Cyber Defense Conferences. Learn more about us at http://www.cyberdefensemagazine.com . Cyber Defense Magazine is a proud member of the Cyber Defense Media Group.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/806a06a1-f180-4555-93c9-9a4cd719a2b1
NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guggenheim Securities, the investment banking and capital markets division of Guggenheim Partners, announced today that Brent Surber has joined the firm as a Senior Managing Director to strengthen its capital markets capabilities within its investment banking division. Mr. Surber is based in the firms New York office.

Mr. Surber joins Guggenheim with almost 20 years of investment banking experience and focuses on arranging customized private capital raises in support of refinancings, recapitalizations, leveraged buyouts, and financings for acquisitions and other growth initiatives, as well as broader capital markets advisory, structuring, and distribution.

Mr. Surber joins Guggenheim from Houlihan Lokey where he spent almost a decade focused on bespoke capital raises, most recently serving as a Managing Director in its Capital Markets Group. Prior to Houlihan Lokey, he held investment and merchant banking roles at Integrity Square, Sagent Advisors and Bear Stearns & Co.

We are excited to welcome Brent to Guggenheim Securities, said Mark Van Lith, CEO of Guggenheim Securities. Brent brings broad origination and execution experience, across numerous products and industry verticals, which complements our growing capital markets platforms, particularly those oriented toward the middle market financial sponsors. We look forward to his success at the firm.

Mr. Surber holds a B.S. in Commerce from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, and an MBA in Finance and Economics from Columbia Business School.

About Guggenheim Securities

Guggenheim Securities is the investment banking and capital markets business of Guggenheim Partners, a global investment and advisory firm. Guggenheim Securities offers services that fall into four broad categories: Advisory, Financing, Sales and Trading, and Research. Guggenheim Securities is headquartered in New York, with additional offices in Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Houston. For more information, please visit GuggenheimSecurities.com, follow us on LinkedIn, or contact us at [email protected] or 212.518.9200.

About Guggenheim Partners

Guggenheim Partners is a diversified financial services firm that delivers value to its clients through two primary businesses: Guggenheim Investments, a premier global asset manager and investment advisor, and Guggenheim Securities, a leading investment banking and capital markets business. Guggenheims professionals are based in offices around the world, and our commitment is to deliver long-term results with excellence and integrity while advancing the strategic interests of our clients. Learn more at GuggenheimPartners.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @GuggenheimPtnrs.

Media ContactSteven Lee Guggenheim Securities212.293.2811[email protected]

Source: Guggenheim Securities
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) announced today that the companys Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division joined elected officials and community leaders Tuesday to dedicate the 20th and 21st houses shipyard volunteers have constructed in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg since 2002.

The ribbon cutting welcomed the families to their new homes, which were partly built by Habitat for Humanity using 3D printing technology. NNS is an industry leader in additive manufacturing, using 3D printing technology in the shipyard to support both aircraft carrier and submarine production.

NNS President Jennifer Boykin and NNS Vice President of Engineering and Design Dave Bolcar presented the house keys to the families. They were also gifted custom doorknockers and house address signs created by NNS using 3D printing, in a nod to the historic construction of the homes.

Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://hii.com/news/hii-dedicates-20th-and-21st-habitat-for-humanity-homes/.

Like the ships we build for the Navy, these houses were constructed with pride and an appreciation for those who will call them home, Boykin said. Theres something special about giving back to our neighbors here in our companys hometown. We are committed to the city of Newport News and the revitalization of the Southeast community. I know these two wonderful families will be positive anchors for the future of this neighborhood.

She also recognized one of the first NNS Habitat for Humanity volunteers, Matt McQuade, an outside machinist at the shipyard for 32 years until his passing last year.

He lent his craftsmanship, love and service to help shape the Habitat homes we supported, so it was an honor to build these two homes in his memory, Boykin shared.

This is the first time NNS has sponsored two homes at once. BayPort Credit Union is also a partner on the 20th home.

Having the support of HII, not just financially but also in the time invested by shipbuilders at the Newport News Shipbuilding division, meant the world to us on this historic project, said Janet V. Green, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg. We know our new homeowners will be able to enjoy these homes as places of fellowship and security for their families and will create new memories in them for years to come.

The three-bedroom, 1,200-square-foot homes are in the Southeast community of Newport News, on land donated by the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

The families are purchasing the homes from Habitat with a 30-year, no-interest mortgage, which illustrates Habitats objective to give families a hand up rather than a hand out. The payments are cycled back into the community so more homes can be built for qualifying families.

Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg is a non-profit organization serving the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson and Williamsburg and the counties of Charles City, James City, New Kent and York. For more information, visit www.HabitatPGW.org.

About HII

HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HIIs mission is to deliver the worlds most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.

As the nations largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HIIs workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:

HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/

HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII

HII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII

HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII

Contact:Todd Corillo[email protected](757) 688-3220

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/40d5c96c-334b-4c2c-8dc7-fa18acae209c

NNS Habitat for Humanity Dedication 2023 A dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting was held Tuesday, December 12, 2023 for the 20th and 21st houses volunteers from HIIs Newport News Shipbuilding division have constructed in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg since 2002 (Photo by Ashley Cowan/HII).

Source: HII
REGULATED RELEASE

INFORMATION REGARDING THE TOTAL VOTING RIGHTS AND SHARES OF KLEPIERRE SA

AS OF NOVEMBER 30, 2023(1)

Paris  December 12, 2023

NUMBER OF SHARES AS OF NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Date 11/30/2023 Company name Klepierre Trading place Euronext Paris (Compartment A) Mnemonic LI Symbols EPA:LI / LI:FP / LOIM.PA ISIN FR0000121964 Total number of shares 286,861,172 Total number of voting rights Number of theoretical voting rights(2) 286,861,172 Number of exercisable voting rights(3) 285,597,348





AGENDA February 14, 2024 2023 full-year earnings (after market close) May 3, 2024 Annual General Meeting 2024 INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTS Paul Logerot, Group Head of Investor Relations and Financial Communication

+33 (0)7 50 66 05 63  [email protected]

Hugo Martins, Investor Relations Manager

+33 (0)7 72 11 63 24  [email protected]

Tanguy Phelippeau, Investor Relations Manager

+33 (0)7 72 09 29 57  [email protected]

ABOUT KLEPIERRE

Klepierre is the European leader in shopping malls, combining property development and asset management skills. The Companys portfolio is valued at 19.4 billion at June 30, 2023, and comprises large shopping centers in more than 10 countries in Continental Europe which together host hundreds of millions of visitors per year. Klepierre holds a controlling stake in Steen & Strm (56.1%), Scandinavias number one shopping center owner and manager. Klepierre is a French REIT (SIIC) listed on Euronext Paris and is included in the CAC Next 20 and EPRA Euro Zone Indexes. It is also included in ethical indexes, such as Euronext CAC 40 ESG, Euronext CAC SBT 1.5, MSCI Europe ESG Leaders, FTSE4Good, Euronext Vigeo Europe 120, and features in CDPs A-list. These distinctions underscore the Groups commitment to a proactive sustainable development policy and its global leadership in the fight against climate change.

For more information, please visit the newsroom on our website: www.klepierre.com

(1) Provided pursuant to article l. 233-8-II of the French commercial code and article 223-16 of the general regulation of the Autorite des marches financiers.

(2) Theoretical voting rights correspond to the total number of voting rights attached to all shares, including those deprived of voting rights (article 223-11 of the General Regulations of the Autorite des marches financiers). As of November 30, 2023, Klepierre SA owns 1,263,824 of its own shares.

(3) Exercisable voting rights correspond to the number of voting rights net of shares deprived of voting rights.

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SANDY, Utah, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mountain America Credit Union and the Mountain America Foundation are pleased to announce the launch of its annual Elevate Scholarship program for the 2024-2025 academic year. The foundation is set to award $300,000, distributed as 120 scholarships of $2,500 each, to graduating high school students enrolling in higher education institutions in the fall of 2024. Other eligible candidates include students who are starting higher education in the fall of 2024 for the first time and meet one of the following criteria: they graduated from high school in the spring of 2023 or later and took a gap year, or they graduated from high school in the spring of 2021 or later and delayed higher education for military, humanitarian or religious service reasons.

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

Candidates are assessed by factors like scholastic records, character, core values, work ethic, experience, community involvement and leadership in action. Membership at Mountain America Credit Union is not required to apply. Details about eligibility requirements can be found at macu.com/graduate. The online application opens Monday, December 11, 2023, and closes Sunday, February 11, 2024, at 11:59 PM MST.

Mountain America has dedicated itself to helping people achieve their financial dreams for over 80 years, said Sterling Nielsen, president and CEO of the credit union. We actively seek opportunities to enhance the well-being of the communities where our members reside, and the Elevate Scholarships play a pivotal role in amplifying that impact.

In the programs inaugural year, Mountain America collected more than 1,300 scholarship applications from six states. These applicants aimed for diverse educational goals, ranging from pursuits in the medical profession, law, engineering, elementary education, fine arts, science, information technology and business, to trades such as HV/AC, welding and culinary arts.

We understand the pivotal role education plays in the lives of our youth and the financial stress it can impose on students and their families, said Suzanne Oliver, executive director of the Mountain America Foundation. We take pride in supporting these students, aiming for our scholarships to provide access to higher education that can significantly improve their quality of life.

To learn more and apply for the Elevate Scholarship program, visit macu.com/graduate. Additional details about the Mountain America Foundation can be found at macu.com/foundation.

About Mountain America Credit Union With more than 1 million members and $18 billion in assets, Mountain America Credit Union helps its members define and achieve their financial dreams. Mountain America provides consumers and businesses with a variety of convenient, flexible products and services, as well as sound, timely advice. Members enjoy access to secure, cutting-edge mobile-banking technology, over 100 branches across six states, and more than 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs. Mountain Americaguiding you forward. Learn more at macu.com.

Source: Mountain America Credit Union
New York, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At the citys annual Hanukkah celebration at Gracie Mansion, New York City Mayor Eric Adams today honored two New Yorkers who are combatting hate and showing solidarity with the Jewish community: Dr. Michael L. Lomax and Eboni Williams. Lomax and Williams were honored with Shine A Lights Civil Courage Award for Community Building for their work in combating hate and antisemitism. The award is dedicated to non-Jewish leaders who have stood up and taken a leading role in fighting antisemitism.

Shine A Light is a coalition of more than 60 Jewish and non-Jewish organizations and businesses dedicated to shining a light on the dangers of antisemitism through education, community partnerships, workplace engagements, advocacy, and media. In attendance at the Hanukkah celebration were also families whose loved ones are currently being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza following the October 7th terrorist attacks in Israel. Together, attendees lit a Menorah that was molded with the remains of an Israeli license plate from the October 7th terrorist attack at the Reim Music Festival in southern Israel. The menorah was designed by Eliyahu Skaist and is engraved with the words of the prophet Micah (7:8):Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise again; though I sit in darkness, God is my light.

Hanukkah tells the story of shining light into darkness  a lesson all too important to remember as hate rears its ugly head around the world today. But theres no room for hate in New York City and todays Hanukkah celebration shows that no matter who you are or where you come from, we all have a role to play in standing up for whats right, said Mayor Adams.

Few people embody the concept of light overcoming darkness like the two people we honor tonight: Dr Michael Lomax and Eboni Williams  both who have done so much to promote the shared bond between African Americans and the Jewish community. They remind us that we are a city with people from every corner of the world, and, regardless of our differences, our communities will always come together to help and protect our fellow New Yorkers. I also want to thank the families of hostages still being held captive in Gaza for your courage. Finally, tonight, we celebrate and reaffirm our commitment to the spirit of Mitzvah and of Tikkun Olam, and recommit ourselves to repairing our world together. My mother used to tell me and my siblings, If you find yourself in a dark place, you make the determination if that dark place is a burial or a planting. The menorah we lit tonight was molded with the remains of an Israeli license plate from the October 7th terrorist attack and fulfills the true meaning of Hanukkah by shining light into darkness.

The Adams administration is on the frontlines of combatting hate in New York City. Mayor Adams announced the launch of Breaking Bread, Building Bonds a citywide initiative in partnership with UJA Federation of New York to combat the rise in hate crimes in many communities across the city, and foster mutual understanding between New York Citys diverse neighborhoods. The program, which builds on an initiative that was launched when Mayor Adams served as Brooklyn borough president, aims to organize meals citywide with a group of 10-12 diverse New Yorkers at each meal. To date, more than 1,000 Breaking Bread, Building Bonds gatherings have taken place with more than 10,000 New Yorkers.

Mayor Adams also created the citys first-ever Jewish Advisory Council in June. Members of the council focus on all issues affecting Jewish New Yorkers, including public safety, quality of life, and education, and will ensure Jewish communities across New York City are connected with all of the citys resources and services available.

Finally, since the start of his administration and especially in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7, Mayor Adams has hosted and attended various interfaith meetings to promote peace, acceptance, and unity among different religious and cultural groups across the five boroughs.

I am deeply gratified and humbled to receive this award recognition from Mayor Adams, Shine A Light, and the UJA Federation of New York, said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and chief executive officer, United Negro College Fund. As we reflect on the remarkable impact of Black-Jewish allyship, let us remember that allyship is not just about supporting a cause or lending a helping hand. It is about recognizing our shared humanity, standing up against injustice, and working together to build a world where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.

Im both humbled and honored to receive this award from Mayor Adams and Shine A Light, said Eboni K. Williams. In this acute moment of devastating antisemitism, Im more determined than ever to continue my work towards restoring solidarity and deep relationship between Black American and Jewish American communities.

Mayor Adams has been a champion in fighting antisemitism, supporting Israel, and celebrating the enduring contributions of the Jewish people to New York, said Elan S. Carr, CEO, Israeli-American Council, and former United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. Todays Hanukkah celebration at Gracie Mansion, in the presence of a delegation from Israel of families of hostages held by Hamas, is a perfect example of his moral clarity and commitment. Especially during this Festival of Lights, we thank Mayor Adams for being a bright light during this time of too much darkness in our world.

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About Dr. Michael L. Lomax

Dr. Michael L. Lomax is the current president and chief executive officer of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the nations largest private provider of scholarships and educational support to Black students. Dr. Lomax has been promoting the shared bond between African Americans and the Jewish community his whole life. He oversaw the National Center for Black-Jewish Relations, housed on the campus of Dillard University. Recently, in light of rising antisemitism across college campuses, Dr. Lomax helped found a coalition of colleges, universities, and higher education institutions to stand with Israel against Hamas, alongside 13 other university leaders, including The City University of New York Chancellor, Felix V. Matos Rodriguez.

He is also a leading advocate of college readiness and the universal need for a quality education, from pre-school through high school, that prepares children for success throughout and after college. Under his leadership, UNCF has raised over $3 billion and helped more than 110,000 students earn college degrees; launched the Institute for Capacity Building to help member historically Black colleges and universities become strong, more effective, and self-sustaining institutions; and awarded 10,000 individual scholarships alongside 400 scholarship programs annually.

Before leading UNCF, Lomax served as president of Dillard University and as a professor of literature at Morehouse and Spelman Colleges.

About Eboni K. Williams

Eboni K. Williams is a proud New Yorker and the host and executive producer of the podcast Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams with Warner Music Group and the show The Grio with Eboni K. Williams on The Grio television network. Williams is also an attorney and public commentator on Black culture and history.

Williams has a long history of supporting the Jewish community and Israel, with a focus on supporting Black and Jewish collaboration. In 2019, she worked with the JewBelong to eradicate antisemitism within and beyond Black communities, and, in 2021, she featured the first Black Shabbat on national television.

More recently, Williams served as a panelist at an event co-hosted by the National Black Empowerment Council, UJA Federation of New York, and the Anti-Defamation League to help unpack antisemitism and anti-Blackness with the goal of collaboration and healing between the communities. This past year, Williams facilitated the inaugural event Black and Jewish Healing Journey: Exploring the U.S. Holocaust Museum and National Museum of African American Culture.

Roy Betts UNCF 2407033384 [email protected]

Source: United Negro College Fund, Inc. (UNCF)
Grants will provide investments for habitat, climate resilience and community engagement

CHICAGO, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Chi-Cal Rivers Fund partners today announced $1.85 million in grants to improve and enhance waterways in the Chicago-Calumet region. These investments will protect and conserve fish and wildlife habitat, reduce stormwater runoff, and improve access to and use of natural areas and greenspace for communities. The grants will generate $1.7 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $3.55 million.

The grants were awarded through the Chi-Cal Rivers Fund (Chi-Cal), a partnership between NFWF and BNSF Railway, Cleveland-Cliffs, Crown Family Philanthropies, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Hunter Family Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, Salesforce, the Walder Foundation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service.

The grants awarded today will build on the long-standing public-private partnership in the Chicago-Calumet region to advance a community-based approach for clean water and habitat, said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. These latest grant awards will support efforts to add nature-based stormwater storage to improve flood resiliency, restore wetland and upland habitat to benefit species, and build on efforts to increase community benefits in nature.

Joyce is proud to help support projects that reduce flooding and improve Chicagos waterways today and for the next generation in our region, said Elizabeth Cisar, director of the Joyce Foundations Environment Program.

The projects supported by the six grants announced today will restore wetland and riparian habitat to benefit migratory birds and native fish species such as longnose gar; install green stormwater infrastructure that reduces runoff and creates community greenspaces to enhance residents quality of life; and continue to improve habitat in Chicago and northwest Indiana through tree planting and invasive species control.

Given the increasing climate impacts our region is facing, the work accomplished through this partnership is more vital than ever, said David Farren, executive director of the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation. By coordinating and leveraging our collective funds, we can achieve more powerful results for the communities, people, and ecosystems within the Chicago and Calumet watersheds.

As the leading mode of environmentally friendly transportation on land with a commitment to reducing our CO2 emissions 30 percent by 2030, BNSFs support of the Chi-Cal Rivers Fund rounds out our environmental efforts for land, air and sea, said Peter Skosey, executive director of government affairs, BNSF Railway.

Since 2013, Chi-Cal has awarded 66 grants totaling $14.6 million drawing an additional $29.1 million for total conservation investment of more than $43.7 million.

A complete list of the 2023 grants made through the Chi-Cal Rivers Fund is available here.

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nations fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate, foundation and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 6,000 organizations and generated a total conservation impact of $8.1 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more at nfwf.org.

About BNSF Railway

BNSF Railway is one of North Americas leading freight transportation companies. BNSF operates approximately 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and also operates in three Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of consumer goods, grain and agricultural products, low-sulfur coal, and industrial goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food and beverages. BNSFs shipments help feed, clothe, supply, and power American homes and businesses every day. BNSF and its employees have developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. We work continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy, and environmental benefits we provide to our customers and the communities we serve. You can learn more about BNSF at www.BNSF.com.

About Cleveland-Cliffs

Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest flat-rolled steel producer in North America. Founded in 1847 as a mine operator, Cliffs also is the largest manufacturer of iron ore pellets in North America. The Company is vertically integrated from mined raw materials, direct reduced iron, and ferrous scrap to primary steelmaking and downstream finishing, stamping, tooling, and tubing. We are the largest supplier of steel to the automotive industry in North America and serve a diverse range of other markets due to our comprehensive offering of flat-rolled steel products. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland-Cliffs employs approximately 27,000 people across its operations in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.clevelandcliffs.com.

About Crown Family Philanthropies

Rooted in the legacy of Arie and Ida Crown, as well as the Jewish tradition of tikun olamor repairing the worldCrown Family Philanthropies (CFP) is driven by more than 70 years of family commitment to social impact. Crown Family Philanthropies Great Lakes grantmaking supports efforts to address water quality, habitat conservation, and basin-wide policy to ensure that the Great Lakes are protected and restored for the use and enjoyment of people and wildlife for generations to come. Learn more at https://crownfamilyphilanthropies.org.

About The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation

Established in 1952, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation supports land conservation, artistic vitality, and regional collections for the people of the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina. In the Chicago region, the Foundation focuses its land conservation program on innovative and inclusive natural and working lands protection and stewardship with an increased emphasis on integrating climate resiliency strategies and approaches; utilizing advocacy to advance land conservation programs and policies; and providing benefits to both natural and diverse human communities. See more about the Foundation at www.gddf.org.

About The Hunter Family Foundation

HFF provides grants and leadership to improve lives in a long-term and sustainable way by supporting education, healthcare, economic development, and the environment in communities where Hunter family members live. Our environmental granting focuses on advocating for policy and behavior changes to enhance land conservation and water protection efforts in the Great Lakes region, as well as hyper-local work to ensure community members can access natural areas. www.hunterfamilyfoundation.org

About The Joyce Foundation

The Joyce Foundation is a Chicago-based, nonpartisan, private foundation that invests in policies and strategies to advance racial equity and economic mobility for the next generation in the Great Lakes region in the areas of Culture, Democracy, Education & Economic Mobility, Environment, Gun Violence Prevention & Justice Reform, and Journalism. Learn more at www.joycefdn.org.

About the Walder Foundation

The Walder Foundation was established by Joseph and Elizabeth Walder to address critical issues impacting our world. The Foundations five areas of focusscience innovation, environmental sustainability, the performing arts, migration and immigrant communities, and Jewish lifeare an extension of the Walders lifelong passions, interests, and their personal and professional experiences. Learn more at www.walderfoundation.org.

About the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) leads the nations environmental science, research, education, and assessment efforts. The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people. For more information, visit www.epa.gov.

About the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is to work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

About the U.S. Forest Service

Established in 1905, the Forest Services mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nations forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains one of the largest forestry research organizations in the world. Public lands managed by the Forest Service provide 20 percent of the nations clean water supply and contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. The agency also supports sustainable management on about 500 million acres of private, state and tribal forests including forests in urban areas. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov.

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Over $20 million in signed manufacturing contracts which include

premier biotech/pharma companies and research institutes

Elusys divestiture and R&D cuts expected to eliminate over $40 million in commitments and

reduce operating expenses by more than $13 million per year

DURHAM, N.C., Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NightHawk Biosciences (NYSE American: NHWK) today (NightHawk or the Company) announced its strategic shift into a pure-play biomanufacturing Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), as well as the divestiture of certain non-core assets, in order to focus on the growing sales within its Scorpius BioManufacturing subsidiary (Scorpius). The Company has booked contracts thus far in 2023, Scorpius first full year of operation, that are expected to generate over $20 million in revenue, a substantial portion of which will be recognized in 2024. To facilitate this strategic shift, the Company has divested its Elusys subsidiary and related assets, and has eliminated most of its R&D and associated expenses to focus its resources on growing and expanding Scorpius.

The assets will be acquired by a private company established by Jeff Wolf, CEO of NightHawk, which will assume Elusys contracted financial commitments, currently estimated at over $40 million. Under the terms of the transaction, the private company will also provide an upfront payment of $500,000, a note for $2.25 million that is convertible into shares of NightHawks common stock subject to receipt of stockholder approval, and royalties of 3% on all of Elusys gross sales until June 30, 2031. The royalties are subject to a mandatory minimum payment of $5 million during the first five years of the royalty term. The divestiture of Elusys and R&D cuts are expected to reduce the Companys annual operating expenses by over $13 million and fully eliminate the need for NightHawk to raise capital to support Elusys programs.

Jeff Wolf, Chief Executive Officer of NightHawk and Elusys following the closing, commented, Given the strength of our CDMO operations at Scorpius, we have made the strategic decision to refocus our efforts around those activities that hold the potential to generate meaningful cash flow while substantially reducing non-core costs and associated overhead. Scorpius booked $3 million in contracted sales in 2022, which has grown to over $20 million in contracted sales thus far in 2023. As contracted sales are generally recognized as revenue as work is performed, we expect to recognize substantial revenue on these booked contracts in 2024. We also have a very significant and growing sales pipeline, which includes contracts from premier pharma and biotech companies, as well as leading research institutes. We expect to close a number of new contracts before year-end and believe the growth in our sales pipeline is strong validation of the meaningful investments we have made in our Scorpius subsidiary. As we continue to grow our revenue and leverage our fixed costs, we expect our CDMO business to generate high margins and long-term profitability.

Mr. Wolf added, There is a significant shortage of clinical scale biologic manufacturing capacity within the industry as a result of growing demand for large molecule CDMO services. In turn, this has led to significant M&A activity within the sector. We believe we are extremely well positioned to capitalize on these trends given our state-of-the-art facility, experienced and dedicated team, broad service offering, and robust sales pipeline.

John Prendergast, Ph.D., NightHawks lead director stated, The divestiture of our non-core assets enables NightHawk to focus its resources on growing its Scorpius subsidiary, and will result in the immediate elimination of approximately $40 million of contractual obligations and reduction of over $13 million in operating expenses per year. Moreover, NightHawk will receive an upfront cash payment, as well as a $2.25 million convertible loan and at least $5 million in royalties on future Elusys gross payment receipts for approximately 7.5 years. This was vetted and approved by an independent committee of the board to be in the best long-term interests of NightHawk and its shareholders. As a pure-play CDMO, the board of NightHawk believes that NightHawk now has the opportunity to create substantial shareholder value in an underserved marketplace.

Mr. Wolf further noted, The senior management team and board of directors are laser-focused on transforming our company into a revenue-generating CDMO. We have shuttered most all of our research, substantially cut costs and divested our non-core assets to achieve this. Our goals are clear; provide the highest quality manufacturing services to our CDMO customers and focus on driving near and long-term revenue. We believe this strategic shift and divestiture of non-core assets will not only enhance our balance sheet and cashflow, but also drive meaningful returns to our shareholders for years to come.

NightHawk Biosciences, Inc.

NightHawk Biosciences, through its Scorpius BioManufacturing subsidiary, is an integrated contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) focused on rapidly advancing biologic and cell therapy programs to the clinic and beyond. Scorpius offers a broad array analytical testing, process development, and manufacturing services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies at its state-of-the art facilities in San Antonio, TX. With an experienced team and new, purpose-built U.S. facilities, Scorpius is dedicated to transparent collaboration and flexible, high-quality biologics biomanufacturing. For more information, please visit: www.nighthawkbio.com or www.scorpiusbiologics.com , and also follow us on Twitter .

Forward Looking Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "should," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions, and include statements such as booking over $20 million in booked contracts in 2023 alone; the Elusys divestiture and research and development cuts to eliminating over $40M of commitments and reducing annual operating expenses by more than $13 million; recognizing substantial revenue on contracts next year; closing a number of new contracts before year-end; the growth in the Companys sales pipeline being strong validation of the meaningful investments it has made in its Scorpius subsidiary; the CDMO business generating high margins and achieving long-term profitability; being extremely well positioned to capitalize on trends given the Companys state-of-the-art facility, broad service offering, and robust sales pipeline; the the reduction in personnel and other expenses substantially reducing the Companys operating expenses; transforming the Company into a revenue-generating CDMO; providing the highest quality manufacturing services to CDMO customers and driving near and long-term revenue; and the strategic shift into a pure-play, large molecule CDMO and divestiture of non-core assets, enhancing the Companys balance sheet and cashflow and also helping to drive meaningful returns for shareholders for years to come. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the Companys ability to generate over $20 million in future revenue from manufacturing contracts booked in 2023; the Companys ability to close on a number of new CDMO contracts before year-end; the Companys ability to continue to grow revenue, leverage fixed costs and achieve long-term profitability; the Companys ability to create substantial shareholder value as a pure-play CDMO in an underserved marketplace; the Companys financing needs, its cash balance being sufficient to sustain operations and its ability to raise capital when needed, the Companys ability to successfully operate as a CDMO, he continued maintenance and growth of the Companys and its subsidiaries patent estates the ability to obtain regulatory approval or to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements, regulatory limitations relating to the Companys ability to successfully promote its services and compete as a pure- play CDMO, and other factors described in the Companys annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Qs and any other filings the Company makes with the SEC. The information in this presentation is provided only as of the date presented, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this presentation on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
Press Release

Nokia to acquire Fenix Group, strengthening wireless offering in the Defense segment

 Acquisition of North American Fenix Group will allow Nokia to offer a more comprehensive suite of solutions to its defense customers.

12 December 2023 Espoo, Finland  Nokia, a global leader in telecommunications technology, today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Fenix Group, a privately held company that specializes in tactical 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) communications solutions for the defense communities. Fenix Group is a leading provider of innovative tactical communications products, including the Banshee product family. The systems are designed to provide high-speed, low latency data connections to many devices and users simultaneously, making them ideal for supporting a wide range of military applications. Fenix Group is a portfolio company of Enlightenment Capital. Nokia is a leading global provider of commercial 5G mobile broadband technology and private wireless solutions for ultra-reliable, mission-critical applications. The addition of Fenixs tactical communications capabilities will allow Nokia to offer a more comprehensive suite of solutions to its defense customers. Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, said: The acquisition of Fenix Group is an important milestone in our strategy to grow our defense business. We are excited to welcome Fenix to the Nokia family, and we look forward to working together to create a more stable world with high-performance, secure, and reliable communications solutions.

Dave Peterson, CEO of Fenix Group, said: We are thrilled to be joining Nokia. Nokia is a global leader in telecommunications technology, and its commitment to defense modernization is unmatched. We believe that by combining our capabilities, we can create even more innovative and effective solutions for our defense customers.

Resources Webpage: Nokia for Public Sector

About NokiaAt Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today  and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

Media inquiriesNokia Communications, CorporateEmail: [email protected]

Follow us on social mediaLinkedIn X Instagram Facebook YouTube

About Fenix Group

Fenix Group is a system integrator focused on battlefield technologies. The company has developed several 3GPP based tactical communications solutions, including a 4G portable Network-in-a-Box (Banshee) and an innovative MANET device named Talon, a direct communication between handsets via wireless mesh network, including a CELLBLOCK that prevents mobile handsets from being interrogated or geolocated.

Their tactical comms solutions are already highly ranked and recognized in the defense market. Nokia intends to accelerate the investments in developing further specific defense solutions leveraging its IPR portfolio following the most advanced 3GPP standards and security requirements.

The addition of Fenixs tactical communications capabilities will allow Nokia to offer a more comprehensive suite of solutions to its defense customers. Nokia and Fenix are committed to working together to create a more stable world and provide with reliable, secure communications solutions.

Source: Nokia Oyj
Donald Tusk has returned to the summit of Polish politics as prime minister. As hated as he is adored in his country, the liberal politician successfully ousted the conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) from power, which failed in its attempt to form a government after the October elections. After leading the European Council and the European Peoples Party (EPP) in Brussels, Tusk returned to Warsaw to guide his country back to the center, as he did in 2007. This time around, the 66-year-old leader aims to dismantle the undemocratic system established by his political rival, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, and restore the rule of law.

In the Polish political context, Tusk is relatively progressive compared to PiS, but hes no revolutionary. The last time he was PM, Tusk advocated for liberal economic principles but took tough stances on refugees and refused to consider social measures like legalizing abortion. The new Tusk has evolved and seems more receptive to social initiatives, but still aligns with European populists on issues such as tax reduction, limited government and opposition to immigration. He also still falls short on recognizing LGBTQ+ rights. Brussels sees Tusk as a constructive, pro-Europe partner, but he wont be a pushover.

Tusk is public enemy number one for many Poles and a hero for others. According to an IBRiS survey conducted for Rzeczpospolita newspaper, 41.8% of people hold a negative view of the new prime minister, while 31.2% view him positively. Pawel Jabonski, a PiS legislator and former Foreign Ministry official describes Tusk as unscrupulous, arrogant, and dictatorial, while his PPE allies praise his focus, humility, intelligence and ability to evolve.

The image that many Poles have of Tusk is shaped in part by years of PiS smear campaigns. Jacek Kucharczyk, president of the Institute of Public Affairs think tank, says that Tusk has been accused of horrible things. Some even blamed Tusk for the death of former president Lech Kaczynski, Jaroslaws twin brother, in a 2010 plane crash that killed 96 people, including many of Polands highest military and civilian leaders. And in the recent elections, state-owned media outlets often described him as a traitor who would sell out his country to the EU, a German puppet and a Russian lapdog. But Polands left wing doesnt seem to care for Tusk either.

Kucharczyk says he admires Tusk, who co-founded the Civic Platform party and cobbled together a coalition with Third Ways Christian Democrats and Lewica, a catch-all bloc of the Polish left. Since 1989, he has emerged as one of the most remarkable political leaders in Poland, if not the most exceptional, said Kucharczyk, who believes Tusk has the capacity to evolve and remain a centrist liberal. Hes a politician who relies on trial and error but never gives up.

A Solidarity trade union member

The son of a carpenter and a nurse, Tusk studied history at the University of Gdansk. The city is famous for being the birthplace of the legendary Solidarity trade union, which played a significant role in overthrowing the communist regime. Tusk himself joined Solidarity in 1980. Before entering politics, he worked as a bricklayer specializing in high-altitude construction and also as an industrial painter. After the countrys first semi-democratic elections in 1989 that toppled the communist regime, Tusk played a part in establishing two liberal parties influenced by the economic theories of Thatcher and Reagan. Years later, he co-founded Civic Platform in 2001.

Civic Platform participated in the 2001 elections alongside Law and Justice, a recently formed party led by the Kaczynskis, who also emerged from Solidarity. The Kaczynski twins won on a pro-church, nationalist platform advocating family values. In 2005, Tusk ran against Lech Kaczynski for the presidency. In an effort to appeal to PiS voters, Tusk moved towards the right and even celebrated a religious wedding with the mother of his two children. However, a Kaczynski brother emerged victorious once again.

PiS immediately clashed with the EU, which Poland had recently joined in 2004, and there was heavy friction with Germany and Russia. In 2007, after high-profile corruption and illegal wiretapping scandals, early elections were held and Tusk finally won. His aim was to position the country at the center of the EU. His top priority has always been the stabilization of Polish democracy, both then and now, said Kucharczyk.

Tusk managed to steer through the 2008 economic crisis during his first term, but made mistakes such as not firing PiS loyalists who later torpedoed his administration. His second term was blemished by corruption scandals and public protests. Many people recall those years as a time of economic crisis and unpopular laws, like raising the retirement age. This led to significant public opposition, said Pawe Jabonski.

As president of the European Council between 2014 and 2019, Tusk faced constant turmoil like the euro shock and debt crisis, the refugee crisis in 2015 and 2016, and above all, Brexit. After being appointed EC president, the Polish leader quickly learned English and honed his negotiation skills. He eventually went on to become the president of the European Popular Party. In Brussels, he commuted to the EPP headquarters on foot or by scooter. Life there was quieter compared to Poland, where plans to attack him and his family were foiled by the police. However, in May 2022, he made the decision to return to Polish politics.

A boost for Civic Platform

Tusks return gave a big boost in the polls to a free-falling Civic Platform. He continued to support the liberal economy, but he had learned from his mistakes, whether out of conviction or opportunism. He no longer opposed PiSs social welfare initiatives, and instead promised to uphold them. He also shifted his stance on certain social issues, such as the legalization of abortion and the separation of church and state. Tusk also made numerous campaign sweeps through rural Poland in addition to the cities.

The 2023 election campaign was fierce. Once again, he found himself facing off against a Kaczynski in a battle to define the future of Polands democracy and firmly establish the rule of law. The candidates debated major issues like EU encroachment on national sovereignty and Christian values. The Law and Justice party won the most votes, but the Tusk-led liberal opposition commanded the necessary majority to govern. In both 2007 and now, I cant envision a totalitarian defeat without his [Tusks] leadership, said Kucharczyk.

The Tusk government will start its mandate by purging public institutions and companies of PiS appointees. It aims to rebuild the rule of law while facing certain opposition from President Andrzej Duda. However, Tusk has prior experience governing with an opposition party president  Lech Kaczynski in 2007. The Law and Justice party has already begun attacking, anticipating the coalitions collapse. They have numerous political differences, but the one thing that brings them together is their opposition to PiS, said Jablonski. Tusk recently described himself as a deal personified.

After a vote of confidence in his government on December 12, Tusk will be inaugurated the next day. The new prime minister is eager to join this weeks European Council meeting and reaffirm Polands position at the decision-making table in Brussels, a realm he is intimately familiar with. According to a former team member, Tusk brings hope for a shift away from the far-right in the EU.

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Falls Church, Va., Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Community association management continues to be a high-demand profession with increasing compensation and positive business prospects. Managers are confident about the industry with 80% of respondents saying that business prospects for their employer are good or very good for the coming year, according to the 2022 Community Association Manager Compensation and Salary Survey conducted by the Foundation for Community Association Research.

High-rise managers, on-site managers, portfolio managers, and assistant community managers all report compensation increasesby an estimated 4.6%over the past year. Large-scale managers, those who oversee a community with at least 1,000 acres, 1,000 units, and with a budget of at least $2 million, report earning the highest total annual compensation at a median of $140,000, followed by managers of high-rises at $114,176, and management company CEOs at $108,000.

Weve known for a long time that the community association management profession is growing and that it offers valuable opportunities to job seekers at every stage in their careers. The findings in the latest salary survey prove those points, says Dawn M. Bauman, CAE, executive director of the Foundation and chief strategy officer of Community Associations Institute (CAI).

The salary survey is a valuable tool for benchmarking compensation and benefit levels for community association management professionals. It includes data from nearly 1,000 managers across the country. The information represents complete, accurate, and up-to-date compensation data on the community association industry.

In addition to providing basic company and manager profile and salary information, the survey includes:

- Compensation outlook for the community association industry.- Compensation by job title, presented by regions and states.- Salary differences between managers with and without professional credentials.- Data based on community association size, in addition to management company size.- Information on employee benefits, health coverage, and retirement plans.

The 2022 Community Association Manager Compensation and Salary Survey, sponsored by Innovia Co-Op, allows an individual community manager or management company representative to compare their compensation with peers. For example, the report shows the most highly compensated professionals are those with industry credentials, particularly those awarded by CAI.

Based on total annual median compensation for all survey respondents, managers with the Large-Scale Manager (LSM) specialization received the highest compensation at $173,000, followed by individuals at companies with the Accredited Association Management Company (AAMC) accreditation at $120,000, and those holding the Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM) designation at $120,640.

Community associations, which include condominium communities, homeowners associations, and housing cooperatives, are home to more than 74.2 million Americans, according to the Foundation. A community association manager provides professional guidance and assistance to a community associations board of directorsdeploying financial, administrative, and facilities management experience. There are nearly 60,000 community managers in the U.S., and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 3% growth in the profession through 2031.

Community association management offers tremendous career opportunities, financial growth, and job security for individuals at any stage in their professional life. For more resources about the profession from CAI and the Foundation, visit www.caionline.org/CAICareerCenter.

The Foundation has conducted the salary survey eight times since 2000. Each edition provides a snapshot of the field and enhances understanding of this growing and dynamic profession. The complete salary survey is available for purchase as a digital book. Reporters interested in learning more about compensation in community association management may request a review copy of the report.

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Media Contact:Daniel BranniganSenior Director of Publishing[email protected] | (703) 970-9233About the Foundation for Community Association ResearchOur missionwith your supportis to provide research-based information for homeowners, community association board members, community managers, developers, and other stakeholders. Since the Foundation's inception in 1975, we've built a solid reputation for producing accurate, insightful, and timely information, and we continue to build on that legacy. Visit foundation.caionline.org.About Community Associations Institute Since 1973, Community Associations Institute (CAI) has been the leading provider of resources and information for homeowners, volunteer board leaders, professional managers, and business professionals in the more than 358,000 homeowners associations, condominiums, and housing cooperatives in the United States and millions of communities worldwide. With more than 45,000 members, CAI works in partnership with 36 legislative action committees and 64 affiliated chapters within the U.S., Canada, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates as well as with housing leaders in several other countries, including Australia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. A global nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization, CAI is the foremost authority in community association management, governance, education, and advocacy. Our mission is to inspire professionalism, effective leadership, and responsible citizenshipideals reflected in community associations that are preferred places to call home. Visit us at www.caionline.org, and follow us at @CAISocial.

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Daniel Brannigan Community Associations Institute 703-970-9233 [email protected]

Source: Community Associations Institute
SAN DIEGO and TORONTO, Dec. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StateHouse Holdings Inc. (StateHouse or the Company) (CSE: STHZ) (OTCQB: STHZF), a California-focused, vertically integrated cannabis company, today announced that it has issued a total of 734,000 restricted share units ("RSUs") to certain directors, officers, and employees of the Company as of December 5, 2023.

About StateHouse Holdings Inc.

StateHouse, a vertically integrated enterprise with cannabis licenses covering retail, major brands, distribution, cultivation, nursery, and manufacturing, is one of the oldest and most respected cannabis companies in California. Founded in 2006, its predecessor company Harborside was awarded one of the first six medical cannabis licenses granted in the United States. Today, the Company operates 13 dispensaries covering Northern and Southern California and one in Oregon, an integrated cultivation facility in Salinas and manufacturing in Greenfield, California. StateHouse is a leading brand house in California by market share, with a diversified product across multiple brands, form factors, and price points. StateHouse sells its six popular house brands to over 600 retailers across California including Kingpen, Dime Bag, Loudpack, Fuzzies, Sublime, Urbn Leaf and Smokiez line of products. StateHouse is a publicly listed company, currently trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the ticker symbol "STHZ" and the OTCQB under the ticker symbol "STHZF". The Company continues to play an instrumental role in making cannabis safe and accessible to a broad and diverse community of California and Oregon consumers.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements'' (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. To the extent any forward-looking information in this news release constitutes "financial outlooks" or "future-oriented financial information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects'', or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to potential future growth, future financial performance including but not limited to the companys sale of various non-core assets, enhanced output for cultivation and manufacturing, expanding managed services offerings, reduction of operating expenses, future infrastructure investments, increased cannabis yields and potency, the companys ability to increase the sale of in-house branded products, new product sales targets, future financings and the potential rescheduling or de-scheduling of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, and the potential benefits of this change to StateHouse.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as 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 materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the cannabis markets where the Company operates; changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion and acquisitions; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; employee relations; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution, and sale of cannabis and cannabis-related products in the markets where the Company operates; and the risk factors set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the Company's listing statement dated May 30, 2019, which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

The Company, through several of its subsidiaries, is directly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States. Local state laws where the Company operates permit such activities however, investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the United States Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute, or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable United States federal money laundering legislation.

While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward non-enforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with recreational and medicinal cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve the Company of liability under United States federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of the Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The Company's securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For the latest news, activities, and media coverage, please visit https://www.statehouseholdings.com, https://shopharborside.com and https://urbnleaf.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

For further information:

StateHouse Holdings Inc., Ed Schmults, CEO 800-892-4209

Investor Contact: MATTIO CommunicationsRob Kelly [email protected]

Source: StateHouse Holdings Inc.
BERLIN and DENVER, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ThinPrint, a leading provider of print management solutions, has launched a new solution for high-availability printing. The new ThinPrint LPD Service ensures high-availability printing, including load balancing from ERP, EMR, and CRM systems. ThinPrint thus provides an important tool for preventing business-critical outages.

Many companies and institutions print from ERP, CRM, or EMR systems such as SAP, Oracle, McKesson, Cerner, or Epic. If the printing infrastructure fails, it can have a business-critical impact on operations. Patients cannot be adequately cared for, product processes come to a standstill, and supply chains are interrupted. The systems run on a wide variety of platforms, such as Unix, Linux or Windows, making printing a complex process. High availability in this scenario requires fixed IP addresses and fixed printer names. While the Windows LPD (Line Printer Daemon) can help to a limited extent, it is also a single point of failure. If it fails, there is no replacement.

A solution is available with the ThinPrint LPD Service, which was developed specifically for these scenarios. ThinPrint's own feature-enhanced LPD service bridges the ERP/EMR solutions and the printers, as ThinPrint combines its proven high-availability technology with a network load balancer (NLB). The network load balancer is used by the backend system instead of the physical node (print server) to address the printer queues, and ThinPrint's own LPD service then takes on these print jobs. The server, spooler, and all dependent services are continuously monitored for their operability. If an error occurs, print jobs are processed by another functioning service. The ThinPrint Client can also be designed for high availability to avoid a single point of failure.

"For companies that use ERP, EMR or CRM systems, fail-safe printing systems are vital. We are therefore even more pleased that we can now offer these customers a highly available, elegant and powerful solution with the ThinPrint LPD Service," says Charlotte Kunzell, CEO of ThinPrint GmbH. "The ThinPrint LPD Service was a missing piece of the enterprise printing puzzle and is a feature-rich addition to our ThinPrint universe."

Further information and a demo version can be found at: https://www.thinprint.com/en/features/lpd-service-erp-emr-printing/.

About ThinPrintNetworks are becoming more complex and heterogeneous and end devices more differentiated  whether remote and virtual desktops, PCs, Macs, iOS or Android devices, Chromebooks, thin or zero clients, branch offices, home workstations, whether cloud or on-premises. What remains is the need and wish to print from all these workstations. ThinPrint, an expert in enterprise printing solutions for 20 years, always has the right technology on hand for secure, high-performance printing that seamlessly combines with a perfect user experience. ThinPrints solutions support all printing innovations, thereby helping to complete and implement advanced technology that ranges from innovative end devices to endpoint printers.

The core focus of the solutions is always simple print infrastructure administration, network performance optimization and user satisfaction. 30,000 corporate customers across all industries and regions as well as more than 100 desktop-as-a-service, and software-as-a-service providers rely on printing solutions from ThinPrint. To complement its cloud portfolio, ThinPrint acquired ezeep and its native cloud technology in 2015. ezeep has now grown to become the leading printing solution for coworking and shared spaces.

ThinPrints solutions are developed and tested at the companys headquarters in Berlin, Germany. In addition, offices in the USA, UK, Australia, Japan and China as well as more than 350 channel partners around the globe provide local presence and support for customers.

Our promise is that with ThinPrint, the printing solution for innovative companies, you can fully master all printing challenges. Now. And in the future.

Press Contacts: Headquarters: Silke Kluckert, Public Relations Manager, Phone: +49-30-408-198-725,E-mail: [email protected]

North America: VisiTech for ThinPrint, Kendra Westerkamp,Phone: +1-720-261-2300E-mail: [email protected]

Source: ThinPrint
VALLOUREC

French limited liability company (societe anonyme) with a Board of Directors

with share capital of 4,735,634.54

Registered office: 12, rue de la Verrerie  92190 Meudon, France

Registered on the Nanterre Trade and Companies Register under n 552 142 200

Meudon, December 12, 2023

Monthly information relating to the total number of voting rights

and shares comprising the share capital

Article L. 233-8-II of the French Code de commerce and

Article 223-16 of the General Regulations of the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF)

Date Total number

of outstanding shares Theoretical total number of voting rights (1) Net total number

of voting rights (2) 30 November 2023 236 781 727 229 386 969 229 279 301 31 October 2023 236 781 727 229 386 969 229 279 301 30 September 2023 236 635 229 229 240 471 229 132 803 31 August 2023 236 619 061 229 240 471 229 132 803 31 July 2023 236 619 061 229 240 471 229 132 803 30 June 2023 235 532 187 229 240 471 229 132 803 31 May 2023 231 777 627 229 228 999 229 080 116 30 April 2023 231 777 627 229 228 999 229 080 116 31 March 2023 231 777 627 229 228 999 229 080 116 28 February 2023 231 777 627 229 228 999 229 080 116 31 January 2023 231 777 627 229 228 999 229 080 116 31 December 2022 231 777 627 229 228 999 229 080 116 30 November 2022 231 777 627 229 228 999 229 080 116 31 October 2022 231 777 627 229 228 999 229 080 116 30 September 2022 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 779 545 31 August 2022 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 779 545 31 July 2022 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 779 545 30 June 2022 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 779 502 31 May 2022 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 740 763 30 April 2022 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 740 763 31 March 2022 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 740 763 28 February 2022 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 740 763 31 January 2022 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 740 763 31 December 2021 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 740 763 30 November 2021 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 740 763 31 October 2021 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 740 763 30 September 2021 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 740 763 31 August 2021 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 740 763 31 July 2021 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 714 160 30 June 2021 228 928 428 228 928 428 228 914 031 31 May 2021 11 449 694 11 811 810 11 797 413 30 April 2021 11 449 694 11 811 772 11 790 691 31 March 2021 11 449 694 11 811 662 11 810 581 28 February 2021 11 449 694 11 809 473 11 808 392 31 January 2021 11 449 694 11 809 652 11 808 571 31 December 2020 11 449 694 11 810 456 11 809 375 30 November 2020 11 449 694 11 809 708 11 808 627 31 October 2020 11 449 694 11 809 929 11 808 848 30 September 2020 11 449 694 11 809 877 11 808 796 31 August 2020 11 449 694 11 792 317 11 791 236 31 July 2020 11 449 694 11 792 291 11 791 210 30 June 2020 11 449 694 11 792 487 11 791 352 31 May 2020 11 449 694 11 825 998 11 810 412 30 April 2020 457 987 760 467 246 708 466 723 205 31 March 2020 457 987 760 467 212 665 466 689 162 29 February 2020 457 987 760 470 490 431 469 966 928 31 January 2020 457 987 760 470 448 503 469 925 000 31 December 2019 457 987 760 470 435 812 469 912 309 30 November 2019 457 987 760 470 400 552 469 877 049 31 October 2019 457 987 760 470 391 503 469 868 000 30 September 2019 457 987 760 470 373 857 469 850 354 31 August 2019 457 987 760 470 365 861 469 842 358 31 July 2019 457 987 760 470 354 599 469 831 096 30 June 2019 457 987 760 470 370 960 469 842 814 31 May 2019 457 987 760 470 352 202 469 824 056 30 April 2019 457 987 760 470 352 409 469 717 892 31 March 2019 457 987 760 470 318 361 468 612 089 28 February 2019 457 987 760 470 289 887 469 583 848 31 January 2019 457 987 760 470 288 267 470 197 228 31 December 2018 457 987 760 470 286 184 470 195 145

(1) According to Art. 223- 11 of the AMF General Regulations the theoretical (or gross) number of voting rights is used on the basis of all shares with voting rights, including shares temporarily deprived of voting rights (treasury shares, liquidity contract treasury shares), but excluding shares which have no voting rights (preferred shares).

(2) The net number of voting rights (or voting rights exercisable at a Shareholders Meeting) is calculated by excluding shares without voting rights. It is provided for public information.

The by-laws of Vallourec contain a provision imposing an obligation to declare crossing thresholds in addition to those relating to legal thresholds.

This information is also available on the Vallourec website under Regulated information: https://www.vallourec.com/en/hub-finance/informations-reglementees

Attachment
Despite concerns voiced by critics regarding the potential surge in problematic cannabis use following legalization, recently released federal data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reveals a different narrative. The SAMHSA analysis, which covered 2021 and was released last week, showed that the states with the greatest rates of treatment admissions for cannabis were those where sales of the drug were still illegal. The data showed that admissions to substance-use treatment services at state-licensed facilities for people aged 12 year of age and older totaled approximately 1.5 million countrywide.

According to the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), 10.2% of all recorded admissions involved cannabis or hashish as the major drug. This placed cannabis as the fourth

Read More>>

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CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern  our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

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Appia Rare Earths & Uranium (CSE: API) (OTCQX: APAAF) (FSE: A0I0), a publicly traded Canadian company in the rare earth element and uranium sectors, has announced the discovery of a new mineralized zone named Buriti, showcasing mineralization of scandium (Sc), cobalt (Co) and rare earth elements (REE) in reverse circulation (RC) hole PCH-RC-116. According to the announcement, the Buriti Target was found through exploratory RC and auger drilling conducted as part of the companys 2023 drill program. The discovery opens the potential of a promising new target zone for exploration and development, said company officials, who observed that it is the first time that Appia has intersected significant continuous levels of scandium oxide (Sc2O3), cobalt oxide (CoO) and rare earth oxides (REO) mineralization in the same RC drill hole. The Buriti Target is hosted within mafic and ultramafic rock formations related to the tertiary-age regional alkaline complex; the new target is predominantly underlain by gabbro, diorite and pyroxenite. The company observed that the high-grade intervals identified within the weathering profile, specifically in the saprolite layer, represent a supergene concentration of scandium and cobalt together with REEs within the mafic rocks. These are valuable elements, identifying a mineralized zone with this range of grades that remains open at depth introduces a new layer of potential value to our PCH project, said Appia Rare Earths & Uraniumpresident Stephen Burega in the press release. Appia will be conducting a thorough investigation into the extent of this significant discovery, and analytical results for the 46 pending RC and auger drill holes from this mineralized zone will be reported once received. Metallurgical testing is planned to confirm the economic potential of the Buriti Target.

To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/e4SW9

About Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp.

Appia is a publicly traded Canadian company in the rare earth element and uranium sectors. The company is currently focusing on delineating high-grade, critical rare earth elements and gallium on the Alces Lake property, as well as exploring for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Otherside, Loranger, North Wollaston and Eastside properties. The company holds the surface rights to exploration for 113,837.15 hectares (281,297.72 acres) in Saskatchewan. The company also has a 100% interest in 12,545 hectares (31,000 acres), with rare earth element and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp project in Ontario. Lastly, the company holds the right to acquire up to a 70% interest in the PCH Project, which is 17,551.07 hectares in size and located within the Goias state of Brazil. For more information about the company, please visit www.AppiaREU.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to APAAF are available in the companys newsroom at https://ibn.fm/APAAF

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Sekur Private Data (CSE: SKUR) (OTCQB: SWISF) (FSE: GDT0), a leading Swiss-hosted secure and private communications platform, today announced that it is on track to launch its Sekur Enterprise suite of privacy communications solutions starting mid-January 2024. Several customers are waiting for Sekur Enterprise in Latin America, the USA and the Middle East Gulf countries. We are excited to launch our anticipated Sekur Enterprise solutions globally, said Alain Ghiai, CEO of Sekur Private Data. The first phase has already been launched with our SekurRelay feature for all SekurMail Enterprise accounts, the second phase will launch mid-January with expanded features for SekurMessenger, and the last phases will be launched by mid-March with the rest of the privacy and security features our enterprise clients are expecting. Sekur Enterprise is important, as it answers the demands of our existing clients and will propel the company to a new level by being able to offer our solutions to all enterprise level clients worldwide. Additionally, it will increase the average revenue per user (ARPU) by up to 280% to a bundled amount value of US$47/month from a bundled value of US$17/month. Additional features such as SekurVoice and video solutions will increase ARPU even more. We are happy to be able to provide these new enterprise solutions to all our existing and new customers worldwide, as we can offer the only Swiss-hosted, proprietary, private and secure communications platform that does not rely on big tech infrastructure, open-source coding or data mining, therefore reducing exponentially the risk of cyber penetration. Our prime directive is to provide private and secure communications for everyone, and as we are not connected to any big tech 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.

To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/tJeUX

About Sekur Private Data Ltd.

Sekur Private Data 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 sells its products through its own website, www.Sekur.com, approved distributors and telecommunications companies. The company serves consumers, businesses and governments worldwide.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SWISF are available in the companys newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SWISF

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Revolutionary Building Technologies by ADHI Recognized in Landmark Alliance with Shelter Afrique

Kigali, Rwanda--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - In a triumph at COP 28, pioneering strides of ADHI in affordable and sustainable housing has gained global acclaim, with the spotlight on the groundbreaking Bwiza Riverside project. The source of this transformative success, ADHI, is leading a strategic collaboration with Shelter Afrique that is set to reshape affordable housing solutions across the African continent.

Addressing the multifaceted challenge of affordable housing in Africa, characterized by rapid urbanization, limited land availability, and a growing population, the Bwiza Riverside project exemplifies innovation. Developed through a collaborative effort between Rwanda and ADHI, the project has set a new standard for sustainable building practices, delivering 256 homes in its first phase within a year. Now scaling up to 2,000 homes, the project addresses both affordability (through the Banque Rwandaise de Devellopment mortgage scheme) and scalability while ensuring environmental sustainability and cultural acceptance.

Rwanda's triumphant success in sustainable housing is deeply rooted in its visionary commitment to affordability, paving the way for a transformative framework. The nation's system is strategically designed to make home ownership accessible to a broad spectrum of its population. By aligning its housing projects with the financial capacities of its citizens, Rwanda has successfully addressed the multifaceted challenges it once faced with ADHI, as a crucial contributor to this success.

Shelter Afrique, recognizing the alignment with its 'New Dawn' strategy, has entered into a strategic partnership with the Bwiza Riverside project, providing an endorsement of Rwanda's approach. This collaboration showcases the model's potential for replication and harmonizes with Shelter Afrique's mission to enhance housing financing and accessibility to sustainable solutions across Africa.

International recognition as EDGE Champions by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) underscores the dedication of Rwanda and ADHI to sustainable development. The EDGE certification reinforces their commitment to decarbonizing building portfolios, aligning with global sustainability objectives.

ADHI's financial strategy, encompassing robust returns and thematic areas such as Green/Climate/Resilience, Gender, Jobs, Islamic finance, and support for IDPs and the Diaspora, ensures not only financial viability but also facilitates diverse and impactful societal benefits.

Rwanda's housing model, poised for continent-wide scaling through Shelter Afrique's strategic partnership, serves as an inspirational framework for other African nations. It highlights how strategic partnerships, innovative technology, and a commitment to sustainability and cultural values can revolutionize the affordable housing sector.

About ADHI

ADHI is a pioneering force in sustainable construction, delivering innovative solutions in building technologies, manufacturing, and training. Committed to transforming the landscape of affordable housing, ADHI's projects stand as beacons of innovation, setting new industry standards. For more information, visit ADHI Corp.

For media inquiries, please contact:

ADHI

Contact Person: Luqman Soleman

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: +250 252 607 875

Website: https://rwanda.adhicorp.com

Address: KG 523 Street, Door 2 Nyarutarama, Kigali, Rwanda.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190671
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - CEO.CA Technologies Ltd. ("CEO.CA"), the leading investor social network in junior resource and venture stocks, shares comprehensive video coverage from the recent Mines & Money / Resourcing Tomorrow conference in London, UK.

Founded in 2012, CEO.CA, a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthLabs, Inc. , is one of the most popular free financial websites and apps in Canada and for investors globally - with industry leading audience engagement and mobile functionality. Millions of people visit CEO.CA each year to connect with investors from around the world, share knowledge and view impactful stories about stocks, commodities, and emerging companies.

As a media partner at investor events around the world, CEO.CA provides coverage of the companies shaping the future of mining, meeting with industry leaders to learn more about their vision and strategy.

Meet the Executives Shaping the Mineral Exploration Landscape:

About CEO.CA

The leading community for investors & traders in junior resource & venture stocks. CEO.CA is one of the most popular free financial websites and apps in Canada and for small-cap investors globally -- with industry leading audience engagement and mobile functionality. Since 2012, CEO.CA has brought millions of investors together from over 164 countries to discuss their portfolio holdings and find new investment opportunities. Download our App on iOS or Android marketplace or visit us today at CEO.CA to set up your free account.

CEO.CA is a wholly owned subsidiary of EarthLabs, Inc.

For further information please contact:

CEO.CA

Email: [email protected]

Website: CEO.CA

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), OTC Best Market "(OTCQX") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement

The information regarding any issuer contained or referred to in any interviews conducted by CEO.CA has been furnished by such issuer directly, and neither CEO.CA nor any of its affiliates or principals assumes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information or for any failure by an issuer to ensure disclosure of events or facts which may affect the significance or accuracy of any such information.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This news release contains forward-looking information which involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release may include, but is not limited to, the objectives, goals, future plans, statements regarding exploration results and exploration and/or development plans of companies featured on the CEO.CA platform. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, currency risk and the other risks involved in the applicable exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the public documents of such companies filed on SEDAR or elsewhere from time to time. Undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. CEO.CA disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190656
Kingston, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - Delta Resources Limited(TSXV: DLTA)(OTC Pink: DTARF) (FSE: 6GO1)("Delta" or "the Company")is pleased to provide a summary of its exploration results from the Delta-1 Gold project located 50 km west of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

In 2023, Delta completed sixty (60) drill holes for a total of 19,620 metres at the Delta-1 project. This brings the total drilling at the property to eighty-six (86) drill holes or 26,288 metres, since Delta's 2019 acquisition of the project. Other exploration work at the property in 2023 include a geological mapping, prospecting and sampling program that covered approximately ten (10) square kilometres as well as a 3D induced polarization geophysical survey and a high-resolution drone magnetic survey.

The objective of this exploration program was to follow-up on Delta's discovery drill holes released in October 2022 and January 2023, including D1-22-18: 5.92 g/t Au over 31.0 metres including 14.8 g/t Au over 11.9 metres, D1-22-24: 6.49 g/t Au over 10.0 metres and D1-22-25: 130.0 g/t Au over 1.0 metre, 1.2 g/t Au over 20.0 metres and 1.66 g/t Au over 18.1 metres.

HIGHLIGHTS OF DELTA'S 2023 DRILLING PROGRAM:

DELTA GOLD ZONE: A gold mineralized zone was outlined over 1.8 kilometres long, extending from surface to a vertical depth of over 250 metres, with a true width of up to 100 metres (figures 1 and 2). The zone, which remains open on strike and at depth, is located immediately south of the Trans-Canada Highway, on a topographic high in an area that has largely been logged and where active logging is currently taking place. The area is largely uninhabited and there are no nearby lakes or rivers therefore greatly reducing any potential environmental issues.

STRUCTURAL CORRIDOR HOSTING THE GOLD: The gold mineralization is hosted by a structural corridor with intense alteration and high background in gold, that was traced over a strike length of approximately 4.5 kilometres (figure 1). This corridor remains largely unexplored.

EAST EXTENSION: East of the main gold mineralized zone, Delta has traced low-grade gold mineralization over a strike length greater than 600 metres (Figure 1), at shallow depths, with widely spaced drilling including D1-23-45: 0.63 g/t Au over 12.5 metres, D1-23-47: 0.30 g/t Au over 36.5 metres, D1-23-48: 0.30 g/t Au over 48.7 metres, D1-23-74: 0.49 g/t Au over 15.5 metres. These intercepts are believed to be part of gold-enriched halo of a higher-grade core that will be explored in future drilling.

WEST EXTENSION: West of the gold mineralized zone Delta has traced the gold mineralization with a 250-metre step-out drill hole that intersected 0.63 g/t Au over 10.5 metres (D1-23-83) These intercepts are believed to be part of gold-enriched halo of a higher-grade core that will be explored in future drilling.

STRUCTURAL CONTROLS OF THE GOLD MINERALIZATION: Drilling has provided extremely valuable information about the structural controls and geometry of the gold mineralized zone. Gold occurs in a stockwork of quartz-ankerite veinlets with 1-2% disseminated pyrite, trace arsenopyrite and occasional visible gold. The zone strikes 290 azimuth and dips steeply towards the north. At least one higher-grade shoot, approximately 300 metres of strike length, appears to plunge at 40 towards the west (Figure 2).

FULLY FUNDED FOR 2024: Following Delta's $10M bought deal financing in May of 2023, Delta's exploration program is fully funded for 2024.

Andre Tessier, President and CEO commented: "What an exciting year 2023 has been for Delta Resources. The Delta-1 Gold discovery is now shaping up to be very significant. Counting the western and eastern extensions to the Main Zone, the gold mineralization was intersected over 2.8 kilometres with a higher-grade core that is nearly one kilometre long. The structure that hosts the mineralization was traced over nearly five kilometres and is largely untested. This is a true testament to the size and potential of the mineralized system."

Tessier continued: "This has all occurred within one year. The year to come will surely bring its share of excitement as we continue our exploration with the extra knowledge we now have on the gold system."

Results from all 2023 drill holes that intersected the zone so far, are provided in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 (part 1): Table of 2023 drill results intersecting the gold mineralized zone.

DRILL HOLE NO Easting Northing Elevation (m) Azimuth Incl. Length

(m) FROM

(m) TO

(m) Au Grade (g/t) CORE LENGTH

(m) (UTM Zone 16) D1-23-26 289946 5385384 438 180 -58 300.0 8.70 138.50 0.37 129.80 D1-23-27 290051 5385389 435 180 -40 270.0 16.80 110.00 0.45 93.20 incl. 16.80 77.00 0.54 60.20 D1-23-28 290051 5385390 434 180 -68 300.0 44.90 62.00 0.63 17.10 105.00 117.60 1.91 12.60 incl. 105.00 113.60 2.46 8.60 D1-23-29 290151 5385354 443 180 -40 231.0 79.00 85.00 2.29 6.00 85.00 93.90 Late Diabase Dike 93.90 99.00 1.37 5.10 D1-23-30 290150 5385355 443 180 -65 303.0 51.20 59.10 0.62 7.90 73.20 236.00 0.97 162.80 incl. 73.20 139.00 2.06 65.80 incl. 76.00 102.20 4.23 26.20 incl. 79.00 80.10 49.91 1.10 217.00 236.00 0.74 19.00 D1-23-31 290253 5385380 444 180 -40 247.5 36.00 133.00 1.29 97.00 incl. 36.00 45.50 1.04 9.50 incl. 58.00 133.00 1.54 75.00 incl. 93.50 94.40 36.59 0.90 incl. 124.10 125.00 46.81 0.90 198.00 204.00 0.79 6.00 D1-23-32 290253 5385381 444 180 -65 303.0 42.30 280.50 0.55 238.20 42.30 176.00 0.61 133.70 incl. 54.00 76.50 1.25 22.50 243.50 280.50 1.15 37.00 incl. 271.50 280.50 2.62 9.00 D1-23-33 290367 5385355 450 180 -40 261.0 14.80 104.50 1.15 89.70 14.80 36.00 2.87 21.20 Incl. 23.00 24.00 45.44 1.00 49.00 104.50 0.73 55.50 incl. 103.00 104.50 12.05 1.50 173.50 193.00 0.72 19.50 D1-23-34 290368 5385357 449 180 -70 144.3 33.00 142.00 0.86 109.00 incl. 33.00 75.50 1.31 42.50 incl. 33.00 45.00 2.08 12.00 incl. 50.50 75.50 1.21 25.00 115.50 142.00 1.11 26.50 D1-23-35 290464 5385361 436 180 -40 258.0 25.00 32.00 1.23 7.00 89.00 143.00 0.80 54.00 168.00 170.10 2.15 2.10 D1-23-36 290464 5385362 436 180 -65 354.0 41.00 50.00 1.76 9.00 137.00 162.50 0.80 25.50 D1-23-37 289882 5385377 438 180 -70 312.0 18.00 122.60 0.37 104.60 141.00 294.50 0.44 153.50 incl. 272.10 289.60 2.06 17.50 D1-23-38 290602 5385206 446 180 -45 222.5 62.80 63.80 1636.00 1.00 69.00 70.00 697.00 1.00 90.00 95.00 1.73 5.00 107.00 108.00 9.78 1.00 D1-23-39 290602 5385207 445 180 -70 378.0 68.20 107.00 0.70 38.80 236.00 239.00 1.24 3.00 incl. 251.00 257.00 1.24 6.00 D1-23-40 290709 5385221 431 180 -45 340.8 86.00 214.50 0.34 128.50 incl. 130.00 146.40 0.92 16.40 incl. 163.70 180.10 0.84 16.40

TABLE 1 (part 2): Table of 2023 drill results intersecting the gold mineralized zone.

DRILL HOLE NO Easting Northing Elevation (m) Azimuth Incl. Length (m) FROM

(m) TO

(m) Au Grade (g/t) CORE LENGTH

(m) (UTM Zone 16) D1-23-41 290713 5385122 443 180 -45 225.0 25.80 31.50 1.05 5.70 81.00 159.00 0.34 78.00 incl. 81.00 111.50 0.58 30.50 D1-23-42 290595 5385295 443 180 -45 247.1 49.00 54.00 2.96 5.00 incl. 76.00 80.10 3.34 4.10 D1-23-53 290364 5385203 452 180 -45 411.0 8.00 50.00 1.18 42.00 incl. 22.00 23.00 37.80 1.00 D1-23-54 290144 5385547 425 180 -45 525.0 278.00 318.20 0.58 40.20 incl. 302.90 318.20 1.00 15.30 incl. 305.40 306.20 10.00 0.80 D1-23-60 290200 5385387 442 180 -45 276.0 25.50 154.00 1.79 128.50 incl. 25.50 123.00 2.16 97.50 incl. 25.50 90.00 2.56 64.50 incl. 46.00 47.00 14.10 1.00 incl. 75.00 76.50 51.40 1.50 incl. 122.00 123.00 24.50 1.00 D1-23-61 290308 5385381 446 180 -45 300.0 13.00 165.40 0.58 152.40 incl. 52.30 165.40 0.70 113.10 incl. 13.00 16.00 1.62 3.00 incl. 55.00 90.00 0.98 35.00 incl. 140.00 165.40 1.18 25.40 D1-23-62 290605 5385206 444 330 -40 300.0 26.70 44.00 0.95 17.30 incl. 71.00 83.00 0.55 12.00 incl. 106.50 133.00 0.62 26.50 D1-23-64 290405 5385369 445 180 -45 300.0 61.50 107.70 0.47 46.20 129.50 168.00 1.37 38.50 incl. 143.00 151.60 4.82 8.60 D1-23-65 290534 5385339 436 180 -45 351.0 84.00 119.50 1.39 35.50 incl. 84.00 109.00 1.81 25.00 D1-23-67 290659 5385262 435 180 -45 378.0 39.00 79.20 0.66 40.20 incl. 59.00 79.20 0.95 20.20 282.80 284.30 24.40 1.50 D1-23-68 290715 5385361 432 180 -45 600.0 237.50 303.40 0.54 65.90 incl. 270.50 303.40 0.73 32.90 406.00 446.50 0.80 40.50 incl. 409.00 436.30 0.98 27.30 539.50 540.50 12.50 1.00 incl. 574.50 576.00 11.20 1.50 D1-23-69 290101 5385390 437 180 -60 276.0 48.80 76.60 2.25 27.80 incl. 73.60 75.60 16.16 2.00 120.10 141.20 0.46 21.10 incl. 129.20 141.20 0.58 12.00 153.20 161.00 0.82 7.80 229.50 250.50 0.55 21.00 D1-23-70 289998 5385398 436 180 -45 300.0 39.60 97.00 0.38 57.40 incl. 73.50 94.00 0.64 20.50 258.50 259.80 7.78 1.30 D1-23-72 289926 5385057 455 360 -45 552.0 78.00 81.00 1.75 4.00 277.50 280.50 1.82 3.00 325.00 329.00 1.63 4.00 403.10 422.00 1.49 18.90 incl. 403.10 413.10 2.27 10.00 and 408.10 411.10 5.20 3.00 451.80 457.90 1.41 6.10 D1-23-77 290463 5385210 456 180 -40 165.0 36.00 47.50 1.05 11.50 D1-23-78 290263 5385242 459 180 -40 174.0 6.00 29.50 0.54 23.50 D1-23-82 289987 5385203 441 0 -45 348.0 137.50 155.50 0.54 18.00 164.50 190.00 0.60 25.50 incl. 164.50 167.50 3.30 3.00 D1-23-86 289831 5385059 445 0 -45 591.0 290.30 349.00 0.64 58.70 incl. 340.00 349.00 2.20 9.00 514.50 516.00 9.66 1.50

Geological Discussion

The Delta-1 project is located in the Shebandowan Greenstone Belt and covers a 19 km strike extent of the Shebandowan Structural Zone (only 3 km have been explored by Delta so far). Gold mineralization occurs within a broad corridor of highly altered (ankerite-calcite-silicification and albitization) rocks exhibiting highly anomalous gold values of up to 0.2 g/t gold. Higher-grade mineralization within this corridor is associated with a stockwork of quartz-ankerite-pyrite-gold veinlets, with increased density of these veinlets generally proportional to increased gold grade. The gold mineralized zones have so far been intersected for a strike of approximately 2.3 kilometres, with a higher-grade segment extending for nearly 950 metres. So far, the mineralized zone extends from surface to a vertical depth of approximately 250 metres. Mineralization strikes approximately 100 to 120 degrees azimuth, with a dip of 75-80 degrees north (shallower dips of 50N are observed in the western portion of the zone). Higher-grade, wide ore shoots are observed and appear to be plunging approximately 40 degrees towards the west, within this structural corridor. Similar ore shoots are often observed in structurally controlled gold deposits and often occur with a certain periodicity. The currently defined ore shoots are open at depth.

The Next Steps

Delta's team of geologists is currently compiling the wealth of geological, structural, and geochemical data accumulated since the beginning of this phase of drilling. The team is also interpreting the results from a 26.05-line kilometre 3D Induced Polarization survey covering 282 hectares, that covered the known mineralized zone and its extensions as well as the new structural data acquired through a televiewer probing survey of fourteen (14) strategically located drill holes. This multidisciplinary approach will be used to help vector towards new mineralized zones within the gold-bearing structure, helping to plan Delta's next phase of drilling due to start mid-January 2024.

Analytical Protocol and QA/QC

Chemical analyses reported in this press release were performed at AGAT Laboratories. AGAT Laboratories is accredited to ISO 17025 by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). Sample preparation was performed in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Sampling and analytical procedures are subject to a comprehensive Quality Assurance and Quality Control program that includes duplicate samples, blanks, and analytical standards.

The following assaying protocol was adopted at Delta-1 to reduce the assay variability due to nugget effect caused by visible gold:

If visible gold is observed in the sample or within the assumed mineralized zone , the assay is performed by Metallic Screening whereby the entire sample is crushed, a 1 kg portion is pulverized and screened to 106m and analyzed by 50 g fire assay with gravimetric finish at the AGAT Laboratory in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

, the assay is performed by Metallic Screening whereby the entire sample is crushed, a 1 kg portion is pulverized and screened to 106m and analyzed by 50 g fire assay with gravimetric finish at the AGAT Laboratory in Thunder Bay, Ontario. If no visible gold is observed or outside of the mineralized zones , an initial assay is performed by 50 g Fire Assay with ICP-OES finish at the AGAT Laboratory in Thunder Bay, Ontario. If the assay result exceeds 2.0 g/t gold, remaining rejects are pulverized, a 1 kg portion is screened to 106m and analyzed by 50 g fire assay with gravimetric finish at the AGAT Laboratory in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

NQ-size drill core was sawed in half lengthwise and half of the core was sampled and sealed in clean plastic bags before being shipped for assay. The remaining half of the core was replaced in core boxes and is stored at Delta's core storage facilities. Standards and blanks are inserted in the sequence of samples on site as quality assurance and quality control in addition to the regular insertion of blank, duplicate, and standard samples accredited by SGS Canada Minerals Laboratories during the analytical process.

Qualified Persons

Daniel Boudreau, P.Geo. and Manager of Exploration at Delta Resources Limited, is the Qualified Persons as defined by NI-43-101. He has supervised the drilling program in the field and reviewed the technical information presented in this press release.

Ontario Junior Exploration Program

Delta Resources would like to acknowledge the financial support provided by the Ontario Government via the Ontario Junior Exploration Program ("OJEP"). Delta will be receiving up to $200,000 upon completion of its exploration program at Delta-1.

Figure 1: Map of the Delta-1 Gold Zone, showing the outlines of the gold mineralization along with the alteration corridor that is hosting the gold mineralization. The East and West Extensions of the mineralized zone are also shown. The alteration corridor is defined over nearly five kilometres of strike length at Delta-1 (not all shown here).



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Figure 2: 3D model of the Delta-1 Gold Zone oriented as a longitudinal section, looking north. The illustration shows the Main Zone only. Both the eastern and western extensions are not shown.

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About Delta Resources Limited

Delta Resources Limited is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on growing shareholder value through the exploration of two very high-potential gold and base-metal projects in Canada.

DELTA-1 is Delta's flagship project, where the company is building gold ounces 50 kilometres west of Thunder Bay, Ontario, at surface and adjacent to the Trans-Canada highway. To date, the gold mineralization is defined over 1.8 km from surface to a vertical depth of 250 m. Highlights include drill intercepts such as 5.92 g/t Au over 31 m (incl. 14.8 g/t Au over 11.9 m), and 1.79 g/t Au over 128.5 m. The property covers 107 square kilometres and Delta has identified a 5 km long corridor of intense alteration and deformation at the property, on strike with the gold zone, that has yet to be thoroughly explored.

The DELTA-2 property covers 194 square kilometres in the prolific Chibougamau District of Quebec. The property holds excellent potential for gold-rich polymetallic VMS deposits as well as hydrothermal-gold deposits. Delta targets VMS deposits such as the LeMoine past producer where 0.76 Mt were mined between 1975 and 1983, grading 9.6% Zn, 4.2% Cu, 4.5 g/t Au and 84 g/t Ag.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DELTA RESOURCES LIMITED.

Andre C. Tessier

President, CEO and Director

www.deltaresources.ca

We seek safe harbor. 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. The TSX Venture Exchange has not approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein.

For Further Information:

Contact Delta Resources Limited

Frank Candido, Chairman

Tel: 514-969-5530

[email protected]

or

Andre Tessier, President and CEO

Tel: 613-328-1581

[email protected]

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Some statements contained in this news release are "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases (including negative or grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and involves risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual facts to differ materially. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. The forward-looking information contained in this press release constitutes management's current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake to update any estimate at any particular time or in response to any particular event.

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The forced displacement of more and more Gazans to the south of the Strip, which borders Egypt, and the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave have sparked concern in Cairo. It is feared that the expansion of the Israeli military offensive, the siege of Gaza and the constant relocation orders to the population are the prelude to expelling Gazans to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. There is also concern that the situation in Gaza will become so dire that thousands of civilians may try to cross the border in desperation. Egypt considers these situations a red line that could upturn its relations with Israel.

Since the beginning of Israels military onslaught on Gaza in early October, there have been two large waves of forced displacements to the south. In its early stages, the Israeli armys operations were concentrated in the northern half of the enclave, and residents were ordered to move to the southern half of Gaza. Then, after the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel concluded on December 1, the Israeli ground offensive was extended to the southern half, forcing tens of thousands of people  many of whom had already been displaced during the first weeks of the assault  to flee to even more southern points, closer and closer to Egypt.

It is estimated that around 1.8 million people in Gaza  around 85% of its population  are currently internally displaced, representing the largest movement of the Palestinian population recorded since the mass exodus caused by the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, according to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

The current Israeli military offensive has also decimated the north of the enclave, and the situation in the south is rapidly deteriorating. The recent arrival of tens of thousands of displaced people to cities such as Rafah, on the border with Egypt, has led to extreme overcrowding, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). It is also exacerbating food and water shortages.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health has warned that the health system in the south is in a dire state. Given the almost total collapse of Gazas sanitation system, this could soon lead to a situation in which there are more deaths from diseases than from Israels bombings, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In a letter to the U.N. Security Council on Saturday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned: I expect public order to completely break down soon due to the desperate conditions.

Protect Egypt

Egypt  concerned about the growing pressure on its border with Gaza  has informed both the United States and Israel that it is willing to consider breaking its relations with the Israeli state if the military campaign in the south of the Strip forces Gazans to flee to the Sinai Peninsula in search of refuge, according to four U.S. and Israeli officials quoted on Thursday by Axios. Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979.

The Egyptian Minister of Defense, Mohamed Zaki, an influential figure close to the president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, stated in a speech last Monday that the armed forces are prepared to protect the countrys national security and stability in the event of any aggression on Egyptian soil. He noted that the situation is very delicate and could lead to a military escalation that upturns the region. The director of the Egyptian Information Service, Diaa Rashwan  who in recent weeks has emerged as a kind of official spokesperson  also said last Thursday that the forced displacement of Gazans to the Sinai Peninsula is a red line that must not be crossed.

Since the beginning of the Israeli offensive, Egypt  along with Jordan and the Palestinian Authority  has been expressing concern that Israel will expel Palestinians from the Gaza strip. Cairo has always categorically rejected the forced relocation of Gazans to its territory, as this would undermine Palestinians right to establish a future state that includes Gaza. It also fears that this would turn the Sinai Peninsula into a base of operations for Palestinian resistance movements. El-Sisi has suggested that Israel may temporarily relocate Gazans to the Negev Desert in Israel.

The lack of humanitarian aid is also accelerating the collapse of the south. Since the end of the ceasefire, only around 100 truckloads of supplies are entering Gaza a day. This is far below the average of 500 trucks that crossed into the Palestinian enclave before the military offensive, according to OCHA data. The blockade at the Rafah border crossing, which connects Gaza to Egypt, is due to obstacles and restrictions imposed by Israel. There are also limits on how much fuel is allowed into Gaza, with only the minimum needed to avoid the collapse of the most critical services permitted. The entry of aid has been further complicated by telecommunication cuts and the intensifying hostilities.

The United Nations and Egypt have unsuccessfully asked Israel to allow supplies to be sent through Israels border crossings, and the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, has warned that preventing the delivery of aid may constitute an international crime. In accordance with international humanitarian law, the evacuation of civilians during conflicts must be accompanied by measures to ensure their security, accommodation, nutrition and hygiene, according to OCHA.

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - Homerun Resources Inc.(TSXV: HMR) (OTCQB: HMRFF)("Homerun" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that on November 11, 2023, the Company completed another significant milestone in its Strategic Plan with the execution of the signed Agreement between Homerun Resources and Companhia Baiana de Pesquisa Mineral ("CBPM" and the "CBPM Agreement") detailing the terms regarding Homerun's exclusive right to extract high purity silica sand sourced from CBPM's concessions near Santa Maria Eterna, Belmonte, Bahia, Brazil. Companhia Baiana de Pesquisa Mineral is the mineral research and development company of the State of Bahia, Brazil.





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Henrique Carballal, President of CBPM, stated, "Firstly, it is an immense satisfaction to be able to build a partnership with a company like Homerun, which will prospect industrial sand in the municipality of Belmonte and will process this industrial sand, transforming it into pure silica and then into high technology products, such as the cell that will enhance the production of photovoltaic energy in Brazil. This places the state of Bahia in a condition of economic and social development more focused on enhancing green industry, expanding an industrialization policy, associated with our mineral potential, which today is focused on strategic minerals for the energy transition. Therefore, we believe that the partnership between CBPM and the State Government with the company Homerun will be of fundamental importance in the development of other policies aimed at mineral development, focusing on the energy transition for the growth of Bahia in the areas: social, environmental and economic." (Translated from original Portuguese)

Brian Leeners, CEO of Homerun stated, "We are extremely excited to have exclusive access to this incredibly high-grade HPQ silica sand supply in Bahia, Brazil and equally excited about our growing partnership with CBPM and the State of Bahia, which is the pivotal relationship in the extension of our business plan, from extraction through processing and on to end-use manufacturing. CBPM shares our vision that this amazing resource can be leveraged with environmentally sound development, that will bring long-term economic and social benefit to the people of Bahia."

Under the CBPM Agreement, Homerun will pay an extraction royalty of R$50 (US$10.00) per tonne of extracted silica sand. Any of the extracted silica sand sold outside of Brazil will be subject to a further five percent (5%) gross sales royalty in addition to the above extraction royalty. Homerun will make minimum annual royalty payments corresponding to the sale of a minimum annual production of twelve thousand (12,000) tons of processed sand. In addition to the above.

Homerun has further agreed to implement, jointly with CBPM, a fund for the development of education in the municipalities where Homerun's operations related to the extraction of the silica sand and the industrial units related to the processing and subsequent end-use manufacturing that takes place. The parties will contribute equally, with CBPM contributing ten percent (10%) and Homerun contributing an additional 10% of the amount of the royalties paid under the CBPM Agreement. The administration of the fund will be exercised by a representative of CBPM and a representative of Homerun, based on bylaws to be prepared jointly by the parties, subject to the relevant laws and regulations of Bahia and Brazil.

The term of the CBPM Agreement is for an initial twenty-year term, from the date of execution with an additional twenty-year term if the CBPM Agreement is in good standing at the end of the initial term. If the Company transfers the CBPM Agreement to another party, CBPM will receive one percent (1%) of the amount received by the Company for the transfer.

Homerun will pay R$1,000,000 (US$200,000) to CBPM upon execution of the CBPM Agreement and will pay another R$1,000,000 (US$200,000) payment upon receipt of Brazilian Regulatory Approvals of the Company's extraction plan. It should be noted historically that extraction activities in the district have received regulatory approval.

The CBPM Agreement will be subject to the US$1.00 per tonne royalty under the Company's agreement with Beko Invest Ltd. ("Beko") which applies to every tonne of silica extracted and sold by the Company or its affiliates in Brazil. Beko has been instrumental in the development and execution of the Company's silica sand strategy in Brazil to the benefit of the Company's stakeholders.

About CBPM

Companhia Baiana de Pesquisa Mineral (CBPM) is the mineral research and development company of the State of Bahia, Brazil. Its activities are centered on expanding and improving geological knowledge of the Bahian territory, by identifying and researching its mineral resources and promoting their use by attracting private initiatives to this end. Founded on December 18, 1972, CBPM is recognized as one of the most dynamic companies in mineral research in Brazil. The collection of geological data and information, generated and disseminated by it has contributed to making the State of Bahia one of the best studied and geologically known Brazilian states, highlighting the great diversity of its geological environments and mineral deposits. CBPM's stated mission is to promote the development of the mineral sector in the State of Bahia with technical, economic and social efficiency, in harmony with the preservation of the environment.

About Homerun Resources

Homerun Resources is focused on the development of its business within the critical and energy materials sectors. With a steadfast commitment to operational excellence, sustainability, and building shareholder value, Homerun Resources Inc. is poised to make a lasting impact in these industries.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

Homerun Resources Inc.

"Brian Leeners"

Brian Leeners, CEO & Director

[email protected] / +1 604-862-4184 (WhatsApp)

FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements.

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.

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - New Zealand Energy Corp. (TSXV: NZ) ("NZEC" or the "Company") announced that, further to its 24 October 2023 and 23 November 2023 news releases, it has completed the closing of the first tranche of the previously announced non-brokered private placement offering (the "Private Placement") of common shares of the Company ("Common Shares"). NZEC issued 5,417,837 Common Shares at a price of C$0.38 per Common Share for gross proceeds of $2,058,778. All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement are subject to a hold period that expires on 13 April 2024. Finders acting in connection with the Private Placement received fees in the aggregate amount of $60,950. It is anticipated that NZEC will close a final tranche of the Private Placement on or about 29 December 2023.

Vliet Techniek B.V. ("Vliet"), a company wholly-owned by Mr. Frank Jacobs, a director of NZEC, subscribed for 1,510,000 Common Shares under the first tranche of the Private Placement. Vliet intends to subscribe for a further 582,163 Common Shares pursuant to the final tranche of the Private Placement. If these additional Common Shares are issued by the Company, Vliet would hold more than 20% of the outstanding Common Shares of NZEC, and therefore, in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, disinterested shareholder approval is required to approve Vliet becoming a new Control Person (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) of the Company. Such approval will be sought at the upcoming annual general and special shareholders meeting to be held on 29 December 2023.

As noted above, Vliet has been issued 1,510,000 Common Shares. Prior to the offering, Vliet did not own any Common Shares. Vliet now owns 1,510,000 Common Shares, or approximately 19.51% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. The acquisition of the Common Shares by Vliet was made for investment purposes. Vliet may increase or decrease its investment in NZEC depending on market conditions or any other relevant factors. The head office address for NZEC is Level 6, 59 High Street Auckland, New Zealand. The address for Vliet is Steenbergen, the Netherlands.

A superannuation fund, of which James Willis, the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and a director of NZEC, is a member, subscribed for 250,000 Common Shares under the Private Placement. Accordingly (and including the subscription by Vliet), the Private Placement is a related party transaction for the purposes of TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (the "Related Party Policies"). NZEC has determined that exemptions from the various requirements of the Related Party Policies are available in connection with the Private Placement (Formal Valuation - Issuer Not Listed on Specified Markets; Minority Approval - Fair Market Value Not More Than $2,500,000).

Monumental Energy Corp. ("Monumental"), a TSX Venture Exchange listed company, has been issued 1,000,000 Common Shares. Prior to the offering, Monumental did not own any Common Shares. Monumental now owns 1,000,000 Common Shares, or approximately 12.92% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. The acquisition of the Common Shares by Monumental was made for investment purposes. Monumental may increase or decrease its investment in NZEC depending on market conditions or any other relevant factors. The address for Monumental is 228 1122 Mainland Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5L1.

With new capital, new directors and shareholders, the Company is in a "turn-around" phase. As previously announced, the Company intends to use the proceeds from the Private Placement to procure long lead items for the Tariki-5 well and to fund working capital. Planning for the drilling of Tariki-5 is completed and the Company aims to drill this will in the first half of 2024. The Company is also advancing plans for Tariki to be an integral part of a gas storage project.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"James Willis"

CEO and Chairman

New Zealand Energy Corp.

New Zealand Energy Contacts

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.newzealandenergy.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding: the Private Placement, the potential use of proceeds of the Private Placement and the closing of a final tranche of the Private Placement. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects NZEC's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to NZEC and on assumptions NZEC believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the underlying value of NZEC and its common shares; TSX Venture Exchange approval of the Private Placement; NZEC's general and administrative costs remaining constant; and the market acceptance of NZEC's business strategy. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of NZEC to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; industry condition; volatility of commodity prices; imprecision of reserve estimates; environmental risks; operational risks in exploration and development; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; the actual results of future operations; competition; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting NZEC; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in NZEC's disclosure documents on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca. Although NZEC has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of NZEC as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. However, NZEC expressly 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 expressly required by applicable securities law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190769
Statewide System Initiative aims to prepare graduates for in-demand careers and boost Oklahoma economy

Tulsa, Oklahoma--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - Oklahoma's leader in advanced technology education has unveiled a new initiative to expand STEM education access and enhance workforce development across the state: OSU Polytech.





OSU President Kayse Shrum announces the launch of OSU Polytech, Dec. 12, 2023, at OSU-Tulsa. The OSU Polytech initiative will align academic programs across the entire OSU System with industry needs and expand innovative curriculum in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

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The OSU Polytech initiative will align academic programs with industry needs; expand innovative curriculum in science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and weave emerging AI technology into programming.



The initiative will offer students across the state greater access to flexible learning opportunities and real-world learning experiences at Oklahoma State University's Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Okmulgee institutions, which have faithfully served the state for a combined 164 years.

By expanding access to workforce development education in high-demand fields across all academic levels, from certificate to doctoral, the state's largest university system aims to provide flexible education options, increasing value for both students and employers.

The announcement was made Tuesday morning at the Helmerich Research Center on the OSU-Tulsa campus, where OSU President Kayse Shrum was joined on stage by featured speakers OSU/A&M Regent Chair Joe Hall, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief David Hill.

The event, which was sponsored by Explorer Pipeline, featured STEM demonstrations from OSUIT, OSU-OKC and OSU-Tulsa - including VR training modules, fiber splicing, a robotic arm and examples of how engineers work in the energy sector.

The event also included a workforce development panel featuring:

Chuck Hoskin Jr. | Cherokee Nation Principal Chief

Dr. Paula Marshall | CEO, The Bama Companies

Leigh Anne Strahler | President and COO, PSO

Bailey Siegfried | VP, Culture, Communication and HR, NORDAM

Ryan Plotkin | President and CEO, M-D Building Products

"OSU is the state's undisputed leader in advanced technology education. This new OSU Polytech initiative is reflective of our land-grant mission to serve the state, our longstanding tradition of service through our Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Okmulgee institutions, and our commitment to a student-focused approach to higher education. As the state's largest university system, OSU is uniquely positioned to ensure that Oklahoma is open for business in the fast-moving areas of science and technology," Dr. Shrum said.

"Working collaboratively with industry and communities across the state, we aim to cultivate ideal graduates capable of meeting the state's emerging workforce needs and addressing society's most pressing challenges. This systemwide effort is an opportunity for us to better position our academic campuses to deliver on that promise and expand STEM education access and excellence statewide."

OSU has delivered technology-based education for over six decades at its Okmulgee institution - OSUIT - which boasts an employment rate of nearly 90% for its graduates and a median pay range for alumni between $50,000 and $55,000. College Values Online named OSUIT the No. 2 Most Affordable College for STEM in 2023.

OSU-Tulsa offers engineering degrees at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels, and OSU-OKC has certificate and degree programs in information technology, manufacturing and fire protection.

The initial focus will be expanding OSUIT's footprint in the Tulsa area, with plans to expand to Oklahoma City and other parts of the state. The existing academic structures of the institutions - including OSU-Tulsa, OSU-OKC and OSUIT - will remain unchanged, and each institution will maintain its respective accreditation.

To ensure OSU Polytech aligns with job market demands, the transformative vision for OSU Polytech was developed in collaboration with industry representatives from across the state and will include ongoing input from industry leaders to maximize system efficiency and shape programming to meet the needs of students and the Oklahoma economy.

OSU will launch an industry leadership advisory council to support OSU Polytech in gathering market intelligence to determine what industry-aligned academic certificate and degree programs should be priority development areas.

The council will have six committees that represent the following key industry sectors for Oklahoma:

Aerospace and Aviation

Advanced Manufacturing

Energy and Power

Health Care and Life Sciences

Information Technology and Telecommunications

Supply Chain and Operations

Additionally, the plan calls for the creation of internal committees to address seamless credit transfer from campus to campus and improve academic program alignment across campuses.

"As regents, we support programs that benefit our students and help our state," Hall said. "OSU Polytech builds on the successes of OSUIT's industry-driven approach. It enables partnering between businesses, industries, public and private organizations, and multiple governments for a single purpose - workforce development. With strong partnerships, we can provide companies with a capable workforce from day one. As regents, we believe OSU Polytech will benefit our students, citizens, industries and the state."

"There is a gap that needs to be filled in Oklahoma's workforce," said Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell. "For Oklahoma to be open for business, we must prioritize science and technology. OSU is a proven leader in advanced technology education, and OSU Polytech will empower our workforce to meet industry demands and grow the state economy."

OSU Senior Vice President for System Affairs Kyle Wray said the latest steps are in line with the comprehensive We Are Land-Grant strategic plan the university released in the fall of 2022 - a plan Wray said is deeply rooted in the university's land-grant mission to serve the public good and advance STEM education and workforce development in Oklahoma.

"We are here to serve Oklahomans at every stage of their educational journey, whether they are high school students, traditional college students, or non-traditional adult learners," Wray said.

"Oklahoma has untapped economic and human potential. We need a tremendous amount of human talent to power our state's economy, yet we face a shortage of highly skilled workers to help our businesses grow and compete in a technologically driven global economy. We've seen headlines about Oklahoma losing opportunities to bring high-tech companies and large scale manufacturers to the state because of a shortage of high tech workers. As a land-grant institution, OSU has an obligation to help lead the state's response to these workforce challenges."

Hoskin and Hill expressed excitement about increased collaboration with OSU, which has been a faithful partner on major initiatives, such as the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation and the creation and accreditation for Muskogee Nation colleges.

"I love Oklahoma State University," Hoskin said. "I mean that from the bottom of my heart, because when OSU says that they want to be your partner, they mean it. When they talk about respecting stakeholders and respecting people in the community and respecting tribal nations, they mean it. Those aren't just words - they put those words into action."

"These types of initiatives are the way of the future, and it's up to us to seek out partnerships with institutions like Oklahoma State to make sure our students have what they need to pursue these types of careers and keep our economy strong," Hill said. "I'm so thrilled to be here today and celebrate together because that's how we become greater in this state - working together, working in collaboration and combining our resources."

INFO BOX: Upcoming OSU Polytech areas of focus

Innovative STEM-based curriculum

Industry-aligned academic programs - Developing new workforce-responsive degree programs, ideally with hybrid and applied components

Flexible learning opportunities - Developing new workforce-responsive online degree and certificate programs at all levels

Real-world learning experience - Establishing new advanced technology learning partnerships that include student internships at partner companies as part of their degree programs

VIDEO AND PHOTOS: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zTDDGOgVvBqT-sB__Yx_TKCjjspAKLHS?usp=drive_link.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405-744-5540 | [email protected].

Oklahoma State University is a premier land-grant university that prepares students for success. Through teaching, research and Extension, OSU engages communities and empowers servant-leaders to meet society's most pressing challenges. OSU is the largest university system in Oklahoma and has more than 34,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 25,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and more than 125 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 280,000 students to serve the state of Oklahoma, the nation and the world.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190754
Hummingbird Resources plc becomes a Control Person in Connection with Pasofino Gold's Consolidation of the Ownership of the Dugbe Gold Project

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - Pasofino Gold Limited (TSXV: VEIN) (OTCQB: EFRGF) (FSE: N07A) ("Pasofino" or the "Company") and Hummingbird Resources plc (AIM: HUM) ("HB PLC" and together with Pasofino, the "Parties") are pleased to announce that further to the news releases issued on December 7, 2023, the Parties have completed the consolidation of the Dugbe Project. Pasofino now owns 100% of the Dugbe Gold Project (prior to giving effect to the 10% carried interest of the Government of Liberia) and HB PLC is now a control person of Pasofino.

The consolidation is pursuant to Pasofino's exercise of its right ( see the November 1, 2022 press release of Pasofino) under the option agreement to cause HB PLC to sell to ARX Resources Limited ("ARX"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pasofino, HB PLC's 51% interest in the issued and outstanding shares of Hummingbird Resources (Liberia) Inc. ("HBL"), all shareholder loans made by HB PLC to HBL and all sums owed in consideration for services provided by HB PLC to HBL to Pasofino in order for Pasofino to become owner of 100% of the Dugbe Gold Project (prior to giving effect to the 10% carried interest of the Government of Liberia) (the "Project Consolidation"). As consideration for the Project Consolidation, Pasofino issued to HB PLC 54,027,783 common shares in the capital of the Company resulting in HB PLC holding a 51% shareholding interest in Pasofino and therefore becoming a "control person" of Pasofino as defined by the policies of the TSXV.

To effect the Project Consolidation, HB PLC, Pasofino and ARX entered into a share exchange agreement and an investor rights agreement, both effective December 8, 2023 (the "Consolidation Agreements").

Board and Management

Pursuant to the Consolidation Agreements, HB PLC has appointed to the board of directors of Pasofino, Thomas Hill and Dan Betts and Pasofino has appointed Stephen Dattels. These directors will serve on the Board effective December 11, 2023 until they seek re-election at the next annual meeting of Pasofino's shareholders.

Darryl Levitt, Krisztian Toth and Daniel Limpitlaw have resigned as directors of Pasofino, also effective December 11, 2023. Pasofino thanks Messers. Levitt, Toth and Limpitlaw for their contributions to the Board and wishes them the best in their future endeavours. Management of Pasofino will remain unchanged.

The Board is currently comprised of Dan Betts (as non-executive chairman), Stephen Dattels (as non-executive deputy chairman), Thomas Hill (as a non-executive director) and Sava_ Sahin and Robert Metcalfe. Ian Stalker will continue to be the lead Advisor for Pasofino as he was responsible for the completion of Pasofino's exploration programme and Feasibility Study.

Ian Stalker commented that "with Pasofino now owning a net 90% interest in the Dugbe Gold Project the Company is in a position to progress with the development of the Project. In addition, while its strategic process was paused pending the acquisition of the 51% interest it will now continue given interest expressed during the process."

"The reconstituted board of Pasofino will be evaluating a new drill programme to extend the Tuzon mineralization along with possible additional exploration targets previously evaluated. It also intends to optimize the Feasibility Study which was completed during COVID with challenges incurred during that time."

Dan Betts, Hummingbird's CEO and Interim Executive Chairman commented that "with a more simplified ownership structure in place, this will provide clear visibility and control to facilitate more efficient decision-making and project development to drive the material value the Dugbe Gold Project represents to all stakeholders."

ABOUT THE DUGBE GOLD PROJECT

The 2,302 km2 Dugbe Gold Project is in southern Liberia and situated within the southwestern corner of the Birimian Supergroup which is host to most West African gold deposits. To date, two deposits have been identified on the Dugbe Gold Project: Dugbe F and Tuzon discovered by Hummingbird entities in 2009 and 2011 respectively. The deposits are located within 4 km of the Dugbe Shear Zone which is thought to have played a role in large scale gold mineralization in the area.

A significant amount of exploration in the area was conducted by Hummingbird up until 2012 including 74,497 metres of diamond coring. Pasofino drilled an additional 14,584 metres at Tuzon and Dugbe F during 2021. Both deposits have Mineral Resource Estimates dated November 17, 2021, totalling 3.3 Moz gold in the Measured plus Indicated categories, with an average grade of 1.37 g/t Au using a 0.5 g/t cut-off grade, and an additional 0.6 Moz in Inferred. Following the completion of the Feasibility Study in June 2022 a Mineral Reserve Estimate was declared, based on the open-pit mining of both deposits over a 14-year Life of Mine. A technical report for the Dugbe Gold Project was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 and filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website.

Figure 1. Dugbe Gold Project Mineral Development Area and gold deposits and targets with airborne magnetic data background.





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Table 1. Mineral Resource Estimate for the Dugbe Gold Project using a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off grade

.Classification Tonnage (Mt) Grade (Au g/t) Contained Gold (koz) Tuzon deposit Measured - - - Indicated 53.2 1.40 2,396 Measured & Indicated 53.2 1.40 2,396 Inferred 7.5 1.13 270 Dugbe F deposit Measured 1.2 1.44 56 Indicated 20.8 1.28 860 Measured & Indicated 22.1 1.29 916 Inferred 7.4 1.34 317 Total Measured 1.2 1.44 56 Indicated 74.0 1.37 3,256 Measured & Indicated 75.2 1.37 3,312 Inferred 14.9 1.23 588

Notes:

1) Report reference: Dugbe Gold Project, NI 43-101 Technical Report Feasibility Study prepared by DRA Projects (PTY) LTD with an effective date of June 13, 2022, and an issue date of July 28, 2022 filed on SEDAR+ on July 28, 2022.

2) The effective date of the Mineral Resource is November 17, 2021.

3) The Mineral Resource are stated using a 0.5 g/t cut-off grade and within a USD1700/oz gold conceptual pit shell.

4) Figures have been rounded to the appropriate level of precision for the reporting of Mineral Resources.

5) The Mineral Resources are stated as in situ dry tonnes. All figures are in metric tonnes.

6) The Mineral Resource has been classified under the guidelines of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council (2014), and procedures for classifying the reported Mineral Resources were undertaken within the context of the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101).

7) Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

QUALIFIED PERSONS STATEMENT

Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to exploration results was prepared and approved by Mr. Andrew Pedley. Mr. Pedley is a consultant of Pasofino Gold Ltd.'s wholly owned subsidiary ARX Resources Limited. He is a member in good standing with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) and is as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

ABOUT PASOFINO GOLD LIMITED.

Pasofino Gold Limited is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSXV (VEIN).

Pasofino, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, has consolidated its interest in the Dugbe Gold Project and currently owns 100% of the Dugbe Gold Project (prior to the issuance of the Government of Liberia's 10% carried interest).

For further information, please visit www.pasofinogold.com

ABOUT HUMMINGBIRD RESOURCES PLC

Hummingbird Resources plc (AIM: HUM) is a leading multi-asset, multi-jurisdiction gold producing Company, member of the World Gold Council and founding member of Single Mine Origin (www.singlemineorigin.com). The Company currently has two core gold projects, the operational Yanfolila Gold Mine in Mali, and the Kouroussa Gold Mine in Guinea, which will more than double current gold production once at commercial production. Further, HB PLC now has a controlling interest in Pasofino Gold Limited, who is the owner of the Dugbe Gold Project in Liberia. The final feasibility results on Dugbe showcase 2.76Moz in Reserves and strong economics such as a 3.5-year capex payback period once in production, and a 14-year life of mine at a low AISC profile.

For further information, please visit hummingbirdresources.co.uk.

For further information, please contact:

Pasofino Gold Limited

Ian Stalker, Lead Advisor

Email:[email protected]

Website:www.pasofinogold.com

Hummingbird Resources plc

Daniel Betts, CEO and Interim Executive Chairman

Thomas Hill, FD

Edward Montgomery, CD

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7409 6660

Website:hummingbirdresources.co.uk

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterised by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "seek", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the ability to raise the funds to finance its ongoing business activities including the acquisition of mineral projects and the exploration and development of its projects. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Pasofino to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to, the ability to obtain all requisite government and regulatory approvals, the ability to fund operations, the results of business operation, the results of exploration activities; the results of the strategic review process, the ability of Pasofino to complete further exploration activities; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms and those risk factors outlined in Pasofino's Management Discussion and Analysis as filed on SEDAR+. Pasofino does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NON-IFRS MEASURES

This news release includes certain terms or performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), including cash costs and AISC per payable ounce of gold sold. Non-IFRS measures do not have any standardised meaning prescribed under IFRS and, therefore, they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. We believe that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate our performance. The data presented is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190733
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - Defence Therapeutics Inc. (CSE: DTC) (OTC Pink: DTCFF) (FSE: DTC) ("Defence" or the "Company"), one of the leading Canadian biotechnology companies working in the field of immune-oncology is pleased to announce that the U.S. FDA issued a "Study May Proceed", this clears its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for a Phase I clinical trial of ACCUM-002TM Dimer CDCA-SV40 commonly named "AccuTOX", as an injectable anticancer molecule, for the treatment of solid cancer tumors. The approval granted to AccuTOX, the company's first first-in-class therapy, marks another key advancement for Defence in the immune-oncology field.

The successful filing and safety review by the U.S. FDA of our protocol entitled "Phase 1 trial of ACCUM-002TM administered intratumorally as monotherapy and in combination with Opdualag (fixed IV doses), in patients with unresectable, stage IIIB to IV melanoma refractory to or relapse from standard therapy" marks a significant milestone for the company's strategy featuring diverse pipelines. Alongside its cancer vaccine-related therapies, AccuTOX will become Defence's flagship asset in the anti-cancer therapeutics field. Defence remains committed to its mission of addressing unmet clinical needs and in pursuing its goals to become a global leader in the development of innovation anti-cancer therapies.

About AccuTOX 

AccuTOX is a derivative of the initial Accum backbone molecule. It was initially designed to various cellular processes including endosomal membranes to impair intracellular transport mechanisms, triggering genotoxic effects, blocking DNA repair mechanisms, and eliciting immunogenic cell death to stimulate the immune system. The use of AccuTOX in preclinical animal models with T-cell lymphoma, melanoma or breast cancer, under Dr. Moutih Rafei supervision, Defence's CSO, resulted in impaired tumor growth with 70% of treated animals showing complete responses.

"We are very proud, thrilled, and we look forward to beginning this Phase I trial as its aim is to test one of our leads and most advanced therapeutic candidate for the treatment of solid tumors for the benefits of the cancer patients. Defence is becoming a clinical stage company," said Sebastien Plouffe, President & CEO of Defence Therapeutics.

The primary objective of this upcoming Phase I clinical trial, is to identify the safest dosing range in order to co-administer AccuTOX with Opdulag, a BMS product containing both anti-LAG3 and anti-PD-1. Several other secondary parameters including therapeutic efficacy will be monitored in treated patients in preparation for a Phase II clinical trial on a basket of tumors. More details about the beginning of the Phase I will be announced in the near future.

According to Data Bridge Market Research, the solid tumors market was valued at USD 209.61 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 901.27 billion by 2029, registering a CAGR of 20.0% during the forecast period of 2022 to 2029.

https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-solid-tumors-market

About Defence:

Defence Therapeutics is a publicly-traded biotechnology company working on engineering the next generation vaccines and ADC products using its proprietary platform. The core of Defence Therapeutics platform is the ACCUM technology, which enables precision delivery of vaccine antigens or ADCs in their intact form to target cells. As a result, increased efficacy and potency can be reached against catastrophic illness such as cancer and infectious diseases.

For further information:

Sebastien Plouffe, President, CEO and Director

P: (514) 947-2272

[email protected]

www.defencetherapeutics.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, 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 applicable 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.

Neither the CSE nor its market regulator, as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190605
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 12, 2023) - Sanu Gold Corporation (CSE: SANU) (OTCQB: SNGCF) ("Sanu Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that a ground geophysics program has commenced on the Company's flagship Bantabaye gold exploration permit ("Bantabaye" or the "Permit") in Guinea, West Africa. The Permit, which lies on the western margin of Guinea's prolific Siguiri Basin, is located approximately 50 kilometres ("km") south of the multi-million ounce Lefa Gold Mine and 80 km north of the multi-million ounce Bankan Gold Project.

Highlights:

Crews have been mobilized and a program of ground geophysics is underway at Bantabaye ,

, Induced Polarization ("IP") and Ground Magnetometer ("Ground Mag") surveys are planned,

("IP") and ("Ground Mag") surveys are planned, The primary objective of this work is to refine target definition for follow up drilling in Q1 2024.

Martin Pawlitschek, President and CEO commented: "The first geophysics program on our flagship Bantabaye project is now underway. Geophysical surveys are a rapid and cost-effective method of obtaining a more robust understanding of the geology, structural setting, and signature of gold mineralization at Bantabaye, where initial drilling earlier this year returned up to 11.4 g/t Au over 15 m, including 41.2 g/t Au over 4 m1."

"Within the region, induced polarization has proven to be a particularly effective geophysical tool in the discovery and delineation of gold mineralization. The results from this program will form an important dataset that will be combined with existing drill and surface sampling datasets to better delineate key targets, with the primary objective of refining target definition for our next phase of drilling planned for early 2024," continued Mr. Pawlitschek.

Program Summary

The ground geophysics program (the "Program") is being conducted by SAGAX AFRIQUE of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and is planned to include IP and Ground Mag over the key gold anomalies and structures identified by termite mound sampling, auger drilling and initial reverse circulation ("RC") drilling in the northern portion of the Permit ("Bantabaye North").

The Program consists of north-south oriented lines centered on Bantabaye North, with up to 90 line km of Gradient Array IP/Resistivity, up to 9 line km of Pole-Dipole Array IP/Resistivity and up to 90 line km of Ground Mag planned (Figure 1).





Figure 1 :Location of ground geophysics program and key target areas in Bantabaye North.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8941/190655_d9fbbea8847fca1a_001full.jpg

The Company and its consultants will review the data as it is collected and make modifications to the Program parameters in the field as required. It is anticipated that the survey will take 6 to 8 weeks to complete.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Serigne Dieng, Ph.D., M.Sc., a Member (MAIG) of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG), Exploration Manager of the Company and a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Sanu Gold

Sanu Gold is a publicly traded exploration company focused on a portfolio of highly prospective gold projects in Guinea, West Africa's Siguiri Basin.

West Africa is the number one gold mining region in the world and Guinea's Siguiri Basin is a prolific, yet underexplored part of this region. Despite being home to both long-lived multi-million ounce gold mines and recently commissioned gold mines, Guinea's Siguiri Basin continues to produce important new gold discoveries.

Sanu Gold has defined multi-kilometer long gold-bearing structures on each of its three exploration permits and is targeting near-surface multi-million ounce gold discoveries. Initial drill programs on the first two permits drilled have yielded high-grade gold discoveries. The company is operated by a highly experienced team, with successful records of discovery, resource development and mine permitting across West Africa.

Martin Pawlitschek

President & CEO, Sanu Gold Corp.

For further information regarding Sanu Gold, please visit the Company's website at www.sanugoldcorp.com or contact:

Fiona Childe, Ph.D. P.Geo.

VP, Corporate Development & Communications

Sanu Gold Corp.

+1 647-473-7268

[email protected]

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. 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", "indicates", "opportunity", "possible" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Sanu Gold believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's plans for exploration on its properties and ability to execute on plans, ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its obligations under its property agreements going forward, ability to maintain its material property agreements, mineral tenures and concessions in good standing, to explore and develop its projects; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the inherent hazards associated with mineral exploration and mining operations, future prices of gold and other metals, changes in general economic conditions and local risks in the jurisdiction (Guinea) in which it operates, accuracy of mineral resource and reserve estimates, the potential for new discoveries, the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop the projects and if obtained, to obtain such permits and consents in a timely fashion relative to the Company's plans and business objectives for the projects; the general ability of the Company to monetize its mineral resources; and changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, dependence on key management personnel and general competition in the mining industry. Forward-Looking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, 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.

1grams of gold per tonne ("g/t Au"); metres ("m"); The Company does not have sufficient information to make a determination of the true widths of the drill hole intersections; see Sanu Gold news releases dated May 17 and July 27, 2023, for additional information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/190655
An Israeli soldier shows located Hamas tunnel shaft near the school, during the ongoing ground operation of the Israeli army against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in a location given as Beit Lahiya, in Gaza, in this handout still image obtained from a

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden declined to directly answer a question on reports that Israel was pumping seawater into Hamas' Gaza tunnel complex, referring only to assertions that there were no hostages in the areas targeted.

Citing unnamed U.S. officials, the Wall Street Journal reported that Israel had recently begun pumping seawater into Hamas' vast labyrinth of tunnels underneath Gaza, in a process that would likely take weeks.

ABC News later published a similar report and said the flooding appeared limited as Israel evaluates the strategy's effectiveness.

Israel's military said it was looking into the reports. An Israeli defense ministry spokesperson declined to comment.

Responding to a question about the reports at a press conference in Washington, Biden said: "With regard to the flooding of the tunnels. I'm not at lib-, well. There (are) assertions being made that ... there's no hostages in any of these tunnels. But I don't know that for a fact."

Biden added: "I do know that, though, every civilian death is an absolute tragedy, and Israel has stated its intent, as I said, to match its words ... with actions."

The Journal, citing Biden administration officials, has said the flooding could help destroy the tunnels, where Israel believes the militant group is hiding hostages, fighters and munitions.

Other officials have expressed concerns the seawater would endanger Gaza's fresh water supply, the Journal added.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Deepa Babington)
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

AI-driven reviews can now facilitate digital interactions between customers and small businesses, with Reviewly.ai announcing the latest upgrade to its innovative feedback management and Google review automation software.



Reviewly cites a pressing need among busy consumers for assisted review drafts, with more than a quarter lacking the time to write helpful feedback after their experience at businesses. It has upgraded its platform to address this issue, delivering customers a prompt-based process that quickly customizes their feedback to produce reviews in alignment with their honest opinions.

For more information see http://Reviewly.ai

The news comes with Reviewly looking to provide SMBs and larger corporate entities alike with the means to streamline their client outreach process. Its upgraded software helps businesses craft automated calls for action, such as requests for ratings, before recommending software-driven feedback for customers to approve and post online accordingly.

Propelling the ongoing creation of constructive feedback, Reviewly notes that its program is positioned to enhance the user experience in terms of convenience and efficiency. Via a simple SMS invite system, opened by a reported 97% of recipients, Reviewly is built to guide customers through the seamless composition of detailed, personalized reviews with minimal effort.

Alongside its capacity for generating assistive reviews on behalf of customers, Reviewly can also be utilized to craft quick responses from the perspective of businesses. Reviewly points to the significant SEO impact of consistently responding to online feedback, explaining: Google rewards businesses that engage with their customers, so let our AI help you improve your online presence and search rankings.

Entrusting Reviewlys automated AI process with user engagement serves to help businesses save time, particularly when large numbers of reviews are coming in. Reviewly states that its customizable technology further prevents customer feedback from being lost or ignored. As such, businesses can generate intelligent responses to reviews while simultaneously boosting their brands digital profile.

Its software also offers an easy-to-view dashboard, says the company, providing businesses with crucial data on posted reviews in addition to a sortable feedback timeline at a glance.

Video demonstrations of Reviewlys enhanced capabilities can be scheduled via its official website - offering a glimpse at its tailored feedback composition and potential for enhancing brand recognition.

Reviewly has made it effortless for my clients to collect and respond to Google reviews, said one user. The AI-generated review options have helped their customers post more quality reviews, giving them a boost in their online profile visibility.

Interested parties can access additional details about Reviewly at: http://Reviewly.ai

Contact Info:

Name: Jeff Schwerdt

Email: Send Email

Organization: Reviewly.ai

Address: 21001 N Tatum Blvd #1630404 Az 85050, Phoenix , Arizona 85050, United States

Website: http://Reviewly.ai



Release ID: 89115917

If there are any problems, discrepancies, or queries related to the content presented in this press release, we kindly ask that you notify us immediately at [email protected]. Our responsive team will be available round-the-clock to address your concerns within 8 hours and take necessary actions to rectify any identified issues or support you with press release takedowns. Ensuring accurate and trustworthy information is our unwavering commitment.
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

Innovative Tokenization Platform Empowers Enthusiasts and Offers Lucrative Earning Opportunities



original

In a groundbreaking development for the blockchain industry, Tokenza has announced its entry into the market with a unique partner program designed to democratize access to advanced technology and provide earning potential for individuals and tech enthusiasts worldwide. The company is pioneering a cutting-edge technology that combines a Miner Extractable Value (MEV) algorithm with Artificial Intelligence, setting a new standard in the tokenization space.

Tokenza's open ecosystem is not just another platform; it is a revolution in how tokenization services are delivered and experienced. The platforms comprehensive suite of tools and features, including smart contract integration and a user-friendly interface, ensures that the process of tokenizing assets is seamless, secure, and accessible to all.

"At Tokenza, we believe that the future of finance is inclusive and decentralized," says Yan Calman, CEO of Tokenza. "Our platform is built on this vision, offering an open ecosystem where anyone can engage with cutting-edge technology and reap the benefits of our unique partner program."

The platforms commitment to security is unparalleled, with advanced cryptographic techniques and decentralized storage systems in place to protect user data and assets. By fostering transparency and immutability, Tokenza enhances trust within the ecosystem, ensuring that users can participate with confidence.

Tokenzas partner program is not just about technology; its about community. By inviting ordinary people to become partners in the platforms growth, Tokenza is creating a vibrant network of contributors who can share in the success of the platform. This approach enables enthusiasts to engage with advanced technologies and earn from their contributions.

Moreover, Tokenzas dedication to global accessibility is evident through its multilingual support and compliance with diverse regulatory frameworks. This ensures that users from various backgrounds can participate without barriers.

The introduction of a secondary market for tokenized assets on the Tokenza platform addresses the critical need for liquidity, allowing investors to trade and unlock the value of their holdings. This feature is particularly significant for those looking to capitalize on their investments in a dynamic market.

"Tokenza is not just building a platform; we're nurturing an ecosystem where innovation thrives," Calman adds. "Our technology is at the forefront of the industry, and our partner program is your invitation to be part of something truly special."

Tokenza invites businesses, individuals, and technology enthusiasts to explore the opportunities within its ecosystem. The company's whitepaper provides detailed insights into its vision and offerings, setting the stage for a new era in tokenization.

To learn more about Tokenza and its unique partner program, visit https://Tokenza.io .

About Tokenza:

Tokenza is a state-of-the-art tokenization platform that aims to revolutionize the industry by providing secure, efficient, and user-friendly tokenization solutions. The platform leverages advanced cryptographic techniques, smart contract integration, and AI-powered MEV algorithms to offer an unparalleled experience for users looking to tokenize assets. With a focus on security, global accessibility, liquidity, and innovation, Tokenza is poised to unlock new opportunities for businesses and individuals alike.

Contact Info:

Name: CEO Yan Calman

Email: Send Email

Organization: Tokenza

Website: https://Tokenza.io



Release ID: 89115910

In case of identifying any errors, concerns, or inconsistencies within the content shared in this press release that necessitate action or if you require assistance with a press release takedown, we strongly urge you to notify us promptly by contacting [email protected]. Our expert team is committed to addressing your concerns within 8 hours by taking necessary actions diligently to rectify any identified issues or supporting you with the removal process. Delivering accurate and reliable information remains our top priority.
Board-certified dermatologist's tips

ROSEMONT, Ill. , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dandruff, a common scalp condition, affects people of all ages, especially in the cold winter months. If you notice small pieces of dry skin flaking from your scalp or persistent itching, it may be time to seek treatment options.

"It is a common misconception that dandruff is caused by poor hygiene," said Mona Sadeghpour , MD, FAAD.

"It is a common misconception that dandruff is caused by poor hygiene," said Mona Sadeghpour , MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Pittsburgh, Pa. and Lone Tree, Colo. "Causes range from oily skin to hair care habits, along with some medical conditions."

You can usually treat mild dandruff at home by regularly washing your hair. If this is not manageable or doesn't relieve your dandruff, Dr. Sadeghpour and the AAD recommend following these tips from board-certified dermatologists:

Choose a dandruff shampoo. You can find shampoos specially formulated to treat dandruff over the counter at your local drugstore. If one shampoo doesn't work, try alternating between dandruff shampoos with different active ingredients. Look for a shampoo with one of the following ingredients: Zinc pyrithione; salicylic acid; sulfur; selenium sulfide; ketoconazole; or coal tar shampoo. Follow the instructions on the dandruff shampoo bottle. Dandruff shampoos need to be applied to and lathered on your scalp. You may also need to allow some dandruff shampoos to sit on your scalp for about 5-10 minutes before rinsing. These instructions will be different depending on the shampoo you choose and your hair texture. Shampoo according to your hair type. If you have fine or naturally straight hair, or an oily scalp, wash your hair often. For example, you may need to shampoo daily or every other day and use your dandruff shampoo twice a week. If you have coarse or naturally curly or coily hair, wash your hair when needed, and use your dandruff shampoo about once a week. Take care to only apply the dandruff shampoo to your scalp if you have curly or coily hair, as the ingredients that treat dandruff can dry your hair. There are some dandruff shampoos specifically for coarse hair that are more hydrating. You can also shampoo and condition your hair with your normal products after using your dandruff shampoo if it is needed for hair care. Protect your scalp from the sun. Some dandruff shampoos, such as those containing coal tar, can make your scalp more sensitive to the sun's harmful UV rays. A sunburn on your scalp can also increase flaking. To protect your scalp from the sun, seek shade, wear sun-protective clothing, like a wide-brimmed hat, and apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to your scalp if you have thinning hair. Try powder or spray sunscreen for easier application to your scalp.

"If these tips do not provide you relief from dandruff, it is best to make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist," Dr. Sadeghpour said.

These tips are demonstrated in "How to treat dandruff" a video posted to the AAD website and YouTube channel . This video is part of the AAD's "Your Dermatologist Knows" series, which offers tips people can use to properly care for their skin, hair, and nails.

To find a board-certified dermatologist in your area, visit aad.org/findaderm .

More Information

How to treat dandruff

10 reasons your scalp itches and how to get relief

AAD B-Roll Library

About the AAD

Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill. , the American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 20,800 physicians worldwide, the AAD is committed to advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair, and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care because skin, hair, and nail conditions can have a serious impact on your health and well-being. For more information, contact the AAD at (888) 462-DERM (3376) or aad.org. Follow @AADskin on Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest and YouTube and @AADskin1 on Instagram.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-academy-of-dermatology-how-to-treat-dandruff-302013090.html

SOURCE American Academy of Dermatology
The landscape in the centers of large Brazilian cities is quite eloquent: hundreds of people sheltered under arcades, viaducts or bridges, plastic and cardboard camps in the most central squares and, in some cases, extreme pockets of misery and drug addiction, such as the infamous Crackland in downtown Sao Paulo, a handful of streets dominated by crack addicts. The problem of homelessness in Brazil is obvious and not new, but data shows that it has worsened enormously in recent years. The number of homeless people increased tenfold in a decade, from nearly 22,000 in 2013 to more than 227,000 this year, according to figures from the countrys Institute of Applied Economic Research (Ipea). To deal with this problem, the government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva presented on Monday a plan endowed with 982 million reais ($200 million). The project will be more centered on providing assistance to the homeless population, rather than to reintegrating them into society or tackling the circumstances that left them homeless to begin with.

Half of the budget announced by President Lula will be dedicated to food, reinforcing the allocation to states and municipalities, which run shelters and soup kitchens. In addition, 5,000 health professionals will be trained to work on the streets and a health policy will be created exclusively for the homeless.

Almost half (47.3%) of homeless Brazilians ended up on the street due to family issues or problems with romantic partners. Unemployment (40.5%), alcohol and drug addiction (30.4%) and loss of housing (26.1%) are some of the other reasons. The average age is 41 years, the majority are men, and the study also shows that, as is almost always the case, racial differences go hand in hand with inequality: while 56% of the Brazilian population is Black, 69% of homeless Brazilians are Black. The authors of the study conclude that the increase in homelessness can be explained by economic stagnation  Brazil has not been growing strongly for almost a decade  and by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ipea warns that the 227,000 figure is probably not accurate, as many homeless people tend to hide their condition because of the social stigma attached to living on the streets, and, in the case of women, for fear of losing custody of their children.

An important part of the resources included in Lulas plan will go to campaigns against aporophobia (discrimination against homeless people), the creation of support points such as bathrooms or laundries, shelters for the LGBTQ+ community, literacy courses, and programs for the regularization of documents. So-called hostile architecture is also prohibited, that is, the use of materials or structures intended to prevent homeless people from sleeping in certain public places.

The housing policy, which at first glance would seem to be central to addressing the problem, is, of the seven axes of the plan, the fifth with the smallest budget. The housing pillar will receive 3.7 million reais ($750,000), with which it intends to include the homeless in public housing social programs and build 150 homes throughout Brazil, with priority for families with children and pregnant women. The section earmarked for training courses, promotion of cooperatives and associations and insertion in the labor market has an even smaller allocation of 1.2 million reais ($243,000).

The rise in homelessness coincides with a time in which large cities, such as Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte or Recife, are implementing urban development plans to attract residents to the most centric neighborhoods, which were previously left abandoned. Millionaire incentives and tax exemptions are being given to construction companies to encourage the rehabilitation of historic buildings in these city centers and convert them into residential buildings. Developers are also being encouraged to build new housing complexes. In general, most of these development plans dont mention the creation of public housing for the poorest residents. Nor is the homeless population taken into account, many of which congregate in these city centers.

Unifying the intentions of the federal government and that of states and municipalities is another major challenge. The previous national homeless policy had been in place since 2009, but only five states and 15 cities implemented it in recent years.

The new program devised in Brasilia by the Ministry of Human Rights has a strong welfare character that may not be entirely in line with the wishes of the municipal authorities. Recently, in Rio, Mayor Eduardo Paes  an ally of Lula  was embroiled in controversy after he proposed a mechanism that would allow drug addicts who refuse to go to shelters to be forcibly removed from the street for treatment. In July of this year, the Supreme Court accepted an appeal by leftist parties and social movements and prohibited the forced removal and transportation of homeless people, as well as the confiscation of their property.

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Awards Going to Sen. Grassley, Gov. Reynolds , and IEDA Director Durham

New Report Highlights $25 Billion in Utility-Scale Clean Power Investments in Iowa

ANKENY, Iowa , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Clean Power Association (ACP) and Power Up Iowa (PUI) will honor U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley , Governor Kim Reynolds , and Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Director Debi Durham as Champions of Clean Energy. Thanks to their leadership, Iowa has increased diversification in agriculture income, generated substantial tax revenue for Iowa's rural communities, and improved the state's renewable energy portfolio.

In advance of the award ceremony, ACP today released a new report detailing the significant contributions made in Iowa from utility-scale clean energy projects. The Clean Energy Powers Iowa report finds that 61% of the state's energy capacity is currently generated through solar and wind projects. Clean energy capacity in the state now stands at 13,278 megawatts (MW), enough to power 4.2 million homes.

" Iowa is a clean energy success story, producing and using clean power for a greater share of the state's electricity generation mix than any other state. Thanks to the leadership of Senator Grassley and Governor Reynolds , Iowa has achieved this success with broad public support," said ACP CEO Jason Grumet . " Senator Grassley has long championed the partnership between clean energy and Iowa's rural and agricultural communities. Governor Reynolds is leading the nation in demonstrating the economic benefits of clean energy in local communities and the statewide economy. IED Director Durham has enabled a culture of innovation that has propelled small business development and local investment into the state's clean energy economy. It is a great pleasure to acknowledge Senator Grassley , Governor Reynolds , and Director Durham and the example they have set for the nation."

The Champions luncheon on Friday, December 15 , will also mark the 40th anniversary of Iowa's renewable portfolio standard and the 30th anniversary of the Wind Energy Incentives Act of 1993, authored by Sen. Grassley .

"I have always been a strong champion of renewable energy and the ability for farmers to diversify their operations through some of Iowa's most bountiful resources: wind and solar," said Senator Chuck Grassley . "I am honored to be recognized by the American Clean Power Association for my work on behalf of the people of Iowa , and I look forward to our continued work to grow renewable energy opportunities across Iowa ."

Building on the momentum of tax incentives announced in the last year, billions more in investments are projected by 2030. Iowa report highlights include:

$25 Billion  Today's total private sector investment in Iowa's utility-scale solar, wind, and storage projects.

 Today's total private sector investment in utility-scale solar, wind, and storage projects. $13 Billion  The expected private sector investment through clean energy projects that will support Iowa's clean energy economy by 2030.

 The expected private sector investment through clean energy projects that will support clean energy economy by 2030. $73.4 Million  The amount paid annually through Iowa land lease payments.

 The amount paid annually through land lease payments. $61.5 Million  The annual investment in local and state taxes paid by the industry.

 The annual investment in local and state taxes paid by the industry. Nearly 5,500 Iowa jobs are supported by the clean energy industry.

"It's a privilege to help honor these dynamic leaders in the renewable energy space," said Des Moines Area Community College President Rob Denson . "Their leadership has a long reach  from economic development and homegrown energy to the production of high-paying careers for DMACC's graduates. When the renewable energy industry grows, Iowa grows with it."

A Celebration of Clean Energy in Iowa  Champions of Clean Energy Awards Luncheon

Date: Friday, December 15, 2023

Time: 11:30 AM  1:00 PM

Location: FFA Enrichment Center, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy, Ankeny, IA 50023 (DMACC's main campus)

To RSVP for the event contact Mak Heddens at [email protected] or 515-450-2954.

About ACP

The American Clean Power Association (ACP) is the leading voice of today's multi-tech clean energy industry, representing over 800 energy storage, wind, utility-scale solar, clean hydrogen and transmission companies. ACP is committed to meeting America's national security, economic and climate goals with fast-growing, low-cost, and reliable domestic power.

Learn more at cleanpower.org .

About PUI

Power Up Iowa, an initiative of the American Clean Power Association, is a statewide coalition of renewable energy supporters advocating for local, state and federal policies and initiatives that enhance Iowa's wind and solar energy investment. By educating, raising awareness, and participating in conversations with our state's leaders, Power Up Iowa will help make the case for renewable energy investment to revive and drive our local economies.

CONTACT:

Sabrina Fang

[email protected]

703-283-2091

Mak Heddens

[email protected]

515-450-2954

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-clean-power-honors-iowa-champions-of-clean-energy-302013271.html

SOURCE American Clean Power Association
Arbor, a biotechnology company discovering and developing the next generation of genetic medicines, will leverage Ginkgo's R&D services to further optimize Arbor's novel precision editors

Arbor's portfolio of novel gene editors has significant therapeutic potential because of their unique protospacer adjacent motifs, varied cut types, smaller editing technology, and high specificity

Ginkgo's high-throughput Mammalian Foundry enables companies like Arbor to optimize novel gene editors with improved functional characteristics by screening in mammalian cells

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and BOSTON , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arbor Biotechnologies, Inc., a biotechnology company discovering and developing the next generation of genetic medicines, today announced a collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, to leverage Ginkgo's comprehensive Codebase and automated Foundry to jointly optimize Arbor's novel precision editors.

Arbor utilizes its computational metagenomic discovery engine and protein engineering expertise to identify and optimize genetic editors with the potential to treat a broad range of genetic diseases. The company's portfolio of novel gene editors has significant therapeutic potential due to, among other things, their unique protospacer adjacent motifs (PAMs), which may enable access to nearly all sites in the genome, their varied cut types, which can potentially correct a wider range of diseases, their smaller editing technology, which allows the use of additional delivery technologies, and their high specificity, which can enable improved safety profiles. Ginkgo's expertise in high throughput exploration of genetic design spaces complements Arbor's in-house capabilities, and the collaboration is expected to accelerate Arbor's precision editor optimization campaign through massively parallel library design, automated mammalian cell experimentation and iterative AI-guided protein engineering.

"Patients are at the center of everything we do at Arbor, and we are thrilled to partner with Ginkgo to hasten the advancement of our precision editing technologies into therapeutic applications that have the potential to address diseases with high unmet medical need," said Devyn Smith , Ph.D., CEO of Arbor. "Ginkgo's expertise aligns well with our goals, and their technology will synergize with our in-house capabilities, potentially fueling a faster, more efficient expansion of our toolbox of gene editing technologies."

"As we can see from the recent landmark regulatory approval of the world's first CRISPR-based treatment, the gene editing landscape is rapidly advancing, with continuous innovation and optimization of novel technologies that are revolutionizing the way we consider and address disease," said Jason Kelly , CEO and co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks. "This collaboration with Arbor is an exciting project for us, as it gives us an opportunity to leverage our platform-driven approach to contribute to the gene editing sector's fast-moving evolution. We look forward to expanding our capabilities in this field by working with such an innovative pioneer as Arbor to power technologies with the potential for transformative impact."

About Arbor Biotechnologies

Arbor Biotechnologies is a next-generation gene editing company based in Cambridge, MA. Combining the promise of CRISPR with advanced computational AI-driven discovery, high throughput screening, and robust protein engineering approaches, our co-founders Feng Zhang and David Walt laid the groundwork for our proprietary discovery engine, which has yielded an extensive toolbox of gene editors, far exceeding the number of editors published in the literature to date. We envision a future of gene editing that extends beyond simple knockdowns to include precision writing, precise excisions and large insertions. This affords us the potential to treat a broad spectrum of patients, from those with ultra-rare to the most common genetic diseases. Guided by a deep understanding of the molecular basis of disease and our access to a unique suite of optimized editors, we are rapidly advancing our discovery-stage programs with an initial focus on genomic diseases of the liver and CNS for which there are no existing functional cures. As we advance toward the clinic with our lead program in primary hyperoxaluria type I, we look to expand our strategic partnerships around in vivo gene editing across multiple therapeutic areas and ex vivo cell therapy programs to broaden the reach of our novel nuclease technology. For more information, please visit: arbor.bio.

About Ginkgo Bioworks

Ginkgo Bioworks is the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, providing flexible, end-to-end services that solve challenges for organizations across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to pharmaceuticals to industrial and specialty chemicals. Ginkgo's biosecurity and public health unit, Concentric by Ginkgo, is building global infrastructure for biosecurity to empower governments, communities, and public health leaders to prevent, detect and respond to a wide variety of biological threats. For more information, visit ginkgobioworks.com and concentricbyginkgo.com , read our blog , or follow us on social media channels such as X (@ Ginkgo and @ ConcentricByGBW ), Instagram (@ GinkgoBioworks and @ ConcentricByGinkgo ), Threads (@ GinkgoBioworks ) or LinkedIn .

Forward-Looking Statements of Ginkgo Bioworks

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the capabilities and potential success of the partnership and Ginkgo's cell programming platform. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "can," "project," "potential," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) volatility in the price of Ginkgo's securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Ginkgo operates and plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting Ginkgo's business, (ii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and to identify and realize additional business opportunities, (iii) the risk of downturns in demand for products using synthetic biology, (iv) the uncertainty regarding the demand for passive monitoring programs and biosecurity services, (v) changes to the biosecurity industry, including due to advancements in technology, emerging competition and evolution in industry demands, standards and regulations, (vi) our ability to realize the expected benefits of merger and acquisition transactions, (vii) the outcome of any legal proceedings against Ginkgo, including as a result of recent acquisitions, (viii) our ability to realize the expected benefits from and the success of our Foundry platform programs, (ix) our ability to successfully develop engineered cells, bioprocesses, data packages or other deliverables, and (x) the product development or commercialization success of our customers. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of Ginkgo's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on November 8, 2023 and other documents filed by Ginkgo from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Ginkgo assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Ginkgo does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

Arbor Biotechnologies Media Contact:

Peg Rusconi

Verge Scientific Communications

prusconi@vergescientific.com

Ginkgo Bioworks Investor Contact:

investors@ginkgobioworks.com

Ginkgo Bioworks Media Contact:

press@ginkgobioworks.com

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SOURCE Ginkgo Bioworks
DALLAS , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Beal Bank is pleased to announce that it has originated a construction and permanent loan of $619,450,000 to a development venture for the construction of a mixed-use development in the Knox Street neighborhood of Dallas, Texas , next to the iconic Katy Trail and nearby town of Highland Park . The world-class destination development, expected to open in 2026, is a project of MSD Partners, Trammell Crow Company, Highland Park Village Associates, and The Retail Connection. JLL Capital Markets served as financial advisor to the borrower group in connection with the construction financing.

Confirming the transaction, Anthony Sassine , Executive Managing Director of Beal Bank's wholly-owned commercial lending subsidiary, said, "We are pleased to have worked with the development team to complete a loan for this one of a kind project. This financing helps ensure this exciting project will generate dynamic new opportunities for this prime real estate in one of the country's most rapidly developing and prosperous areas."

When completed, the project will cover 4 acres and 1 million square feet of prime, upscale, mixed-used retail, office, hotel and residential space, including:

A 140-key Auberge Resorts Collection luxury hotel 48 ultra-luxury high-rise for-sale condominium units achieving high-watermark sales 150,000 square feet of Class AA boutique office space A 173-unit Class A+ multifamily tower 100,000 square feet of ground floor and second story retail and restaurant space surrounding a park with direct access to the Katy Trail .

Beal Bank is uniquely suited for this transaction. Beal Bank's familiarity with and proximity to the area; its size and one-stop-shop approach, carrying no risk of syndication; and the nimble flexibility and creativity to meet the needs of the borrower positioned Beal Bank perfectly to originate this loan.

###

About Beal Bank: The Beal Bank family of companies comprises one of the largest privately owned financial institutions in the nation with combined assets of approximately $32.5 billion as of June 30, 2023 . The Beal Bank brand includes Beal Bank (Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender), based in Plano, Texas , (near Dallas ) and Beal Bank USA (Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender), headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada . The Banks have well-earned reputations as stable, strongly capitalized financial institutions.

Beal Bank and its lending affiliates are active in financing commercial real estate; acquiring individual loans and loan portfolios; and financing and funding loans and syndication interests in loans secured by tangible assets in such industries as real estate, lodging, energy and power, manufacturing, timber, and transportation and distribution. Beal Bank's core consumer service is to provide depositors with competitive rates on certificates of deposits (CDs) through its branches and online. Contact: Anthony Sassine  [email protected]  469-467-5546.

Media Contact: Jim Chambless

[email protected]

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SOURCE Beal Bank
LOS ANGELES , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of homeless and underprivileged children in Los Angeles are set to experience the magic of Christmas at one of the biggest Christmas celebrations in the city on Saturday, December 16 th, 2023. Generously donated by compassionate individuals, over 7,000 new toys will bring smiles to the faces of approximately 2,000 children in need. This heartwarming event, known as Christmas At the Mission, will take place at Fred Jordan Missions located at 445 Towne Avenue , at the corner of East 5th and Towne in downtown Los Angeles .

The atmosphere will be heightened as the children join in singing Christmas carols during the spectacular Christmas show. For many of these children, these toys will be the only ones they receive this Christmas, amplifying their anticipation and excitement. Volunteers will also be serving warm cookies and providing milk. Each child will receive multiple toys, along with warm blankets, hygiene bags, hats, mittens, and socks. Additionally, each family will be given a Christmas Dinner food bag filled with a turkey and nutritious, healthy, and delicious food to ensure their holiday season is filled with warmth and comfort.

This incredible event is made possible by the support and contributions of numerous volunteers and organizations across the Southland. Fred Jordan Missions would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to Deloitte, Galpin Ford Motors, The Willdan Group, LEGO, Adventure 4 Wheel, Hillsong LA, Notre Dame High School, Orange County Christian School, and Capo Beach Church for their generous help and donations.

As we celebrate this joyful Christmas season with our families, let us not forget those less fortunate, particularly our homeless, hungry, and hurting friends on Skid Row . This time of year can be particularly heartbreaking and lonely for them. We still need your support to make this Christmas a memorable one for all. We kindly ask you to consider supporting by calling (626) 915-1981 or visiting the Fred Jordan Missions website at www.fjm.org to make a tax-deductible donation. Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of those in need.

Since 1944, Fred Jordan Missions (http://www.fjm.org) has been a pillar of support in downtown Los Angeles , providing assistance to homeless and impoverished men, women, and families with children. The Mission's impact extends beyond the borders of Los Angeles , as it has also built orphanages, schools, hospitals, and missions in Africa , Asia , and Latin America . As a non-profit, faith-based, educational, and relief organization, the Mission seeks to create positive change through various initiatives.

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SOURCE Fred Jordan Missions
Travelers flying through Miami this December are invited to elevate their travel experience with the spirit of Brugal through an immersive tasting experience celebrating the brand's ultra-premium double-aged rum, Brugal 1888

MIAMI , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Brugal, the renowned ultra-premium rum producer in the Dominican Republic, unveiled its immersive pop-up experience in Terminal D at Miami International Airport . The month-long pop-up invites visitors to embark on a captivating journey through 135 years of unrivaled rum craftsmanship, offering a unique exploration of Brugal's ultra-premium double-aged rum, Brugal 1888.

Brugal's pop-up will run through January 3 between Gate 37 and 38 in MIA's Terminal D from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm daily.

A welcomed respite for travelers flying in or out of Miami during the busy holiday season, the vibrant space transports guests to the world of Brugal, inviting them to explore the brand's rich heritage through immersive, sensory-driven tasting experiences.

Guests of drinking age are warmly welcomed by Brugal ambassadors to a bespoke bar, offering guided tastings of Brugal 1888 and insights into its craftsmanship. Visitors can choose to indulge in a sumptuous chocolate pairing with Exquisito Chocolates and a neat pour of the double-aged rum or savor a specialty cocktail. The feature serve is Brugal's 1888 Old Fashioned, a twist on the classic concoction made with Brugal 1888 rum, simple syrup, Angostura Bitters and a spritz of orange essence. A masterful creation, this cocktail offers a simple, yet complex libation to bring out the very best of special holiday moments.

The pop-up also features a curated gallery space  a heritage wall of portraits and historic artifacts weaving the tale of Brugal's origins, its 135-year history, and its passionate pursuit of rum mastery. A dedicated lounge space provides a comfortable retreat, inviting guests to linger and enjoy a moment of respite during a bustling holiday travel season. QR codes throughout allow guests to leave with a scrolling library of cocktail recipes and educational masterclasses about Brugal 1888 for further exploration.

"This experience, inspired by La Casa Brugal , invites consumers on a journey into my family's rich history, immersing them in the artistry behind crafting and aging our exceptional rums," said fifth generation Maestra Ronera Jassil Villanueva Quintana. " Miami has historically been a vibrant and dynamic market for Brugal, making it the perfect setting for this immersive experience. Each sip of rum transports you to the legacy of our founder and my great-great grandfather, Don Andres Brugal  one that has been meticulously cultivated over five generations. A story of passion, tradition, and unparalleled craftsmanship that defines Brugal."

Settling in the Dominican Republic after journeying from Spain and Cuba , Don Andres Brugal founded Brugal in 1888 with his sons. They cultivated sugarcane first and then began to distill rum, harnessing the warmth of the tropical sun to cask-age and imbue their spirit with rich complexity and flavor. Don Andres set sail once again to share the very best of Dominican rum with the world, and each successive generation of Maestros has since followed in his footsteps. They mastered the nuanced art of cask selection and ageing, which led to the brand's signature double ageing technique and use of ex-Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks.

Brugal 1888 is produced via a double-aging process, which is unique for rum. It is first aged in ex-bourbon casks for up to eight years and is then extracted and given a new home in hand-selected, first-fill Oloroso Sherry casks. This process is what renders a phenomenal balance of smokiness and full mouth feel of Brugal 1888, which is difficult to replicate with any other rum in the world. On the nose, Brugal 1888 offers a refined sweetness of red and dried fruits, raisins and dates, which complement a spicy woodiness with hints of cinnamon. On the palate, the liquid is well-rounded and smooth with body and character, with a perceived sweetness of toffee and vanilla balanced with peach, cocoa and cloves. The aftertaste is remarkably long-lasting and elegant with a hint of honey.

The pop-up will run through January 3, 2024 between Gate 37 and 38 in Miami International Airport's Terminal D, with daily hours from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Bottles of Brugal 1888 are available for purchase at Duty Free Americas for travelers looking to add to their home bar or for upcoming holiday celebrations.

To learn more about Brugal, the home of rum mastery in the Dominican Republic , and to explore their exceptional range of rums, please visit www.brugal-rum.com. Imagery of the activation is also available to view and download HERE.

ABOUT BRUGAL:

Home to 135 years of rum mastery, Brugal is an award-winning ultra-premium rum producer from the Dominican Republic . An esteemed portfolio of high-quality, top shelf aged rums tells the story of five generations of liquid mastery that began in 1888 by legendary founder Andres Brugal . After traveling from Spain and Cuba , Don Andres and his family settled in Puerto Plata and began distilling a uniquely light and pure spirit, harnessing the warm, tropical sun to imbue their spirit with complexity and flavor to create elegant, aromatic and smooth Dominican rum. Since its foundation, Brugal's cherished traditions and production expertise has been passed down through five generations of Maestros Roneros, each continuing to innovate. This mindset ensures that each expression remains of the highest quality, yet relevant through the decades. Over 130 years later, the legacy of Brugal continues to bring out the very best in our rum.

ABOUT EDRINGTON:

Edrington's vision is to give more by crafting exceptional ultra-premium spirit brands. Edrington owns some of the leading Scotch whisky and rum brands in the world, including The Macallan, Brugal Rum, Highland Park , The Glenrothes, The Famous Grouse, Naked Malt and Noble Oak bourbon. Edrington also has strategic partnerships with No.3 London Dry Gin and Wyoming Whiskey in the American Whiskey category.

Edrington is headquartered in Scotland and employs over 3,500 people in its wholly owned and joint venture companies, with over 70% employed overseas. We own our route to market in 16 countries and distribute our brands to more than 100 countries around the world through joint ventures and third-party agreements.

Edrington's principal shareholder is The Robertson Trust, which has donated over 320 million to charitable causes in Scotland since 1961. Our business is underpinned by the Edrington values of giving, respect, integrity and excellence.

PR CONTACT:

QUINN PR

[email protected]

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SOURCE Brugal
CHARLOTTE, N.C. , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bundy Group, an industry-focused investment bank, is pleased to share its year in review, highlighting key achievements and accomplishments. The 2023 calendar year was an outstanding period of success for Bundy Group, which included numerous client transactions, the expansion of the Bundy Group leadership team, and the company's continued growth in key industries and speaking engagements.

This year, Bundy Group successfully delivered closed transactions at an average value premium of 50% on behalf of its clients in a challenging macroeconomic and Mergers & Acquisitions environment. Relevant client transactions included Avanceon; Compass Systems; Environmental Options; Metal Tech; Ultimation, Clarity Technology; Compass Systems, and a Northeastern-based fire & security solutions provider. The 2023 transactions involved sales to both strategic parties and financial sponsor groups, highlighting Bundy Group's range of buyer and investor relationships.

"For nearly every engagement in 2023, Bundy Group was selected after the clients interviewed multiple investment banks," said Clint Bundy , Managing Director of Bundy Group. "These transactions underscore our team's continued performance, significant industry experience and focus on providing quality advice and outcomes to our clients. Our organization is able to confidently deliver strategic buyer and financial sponsor options through competitive processes and drive overall client value in our key sectors, as evidenced by this year's growth and overarching success."

On the talent side, Bundy Group expanded its leadership team by promoting Megan Hagemann to Director and Chief Operating Officer and Jordan Frickle to the position of Vice President, and the firm added Alex Chausovsky as Director of Analytics and Consulting. Alex joined Bundy Group in Q3 as a highly experienced market researcher and analyst with more than twenty years of knowledge centered on key topics such as economics, business cycle analysis, and industry-specific trends. In his new role, he serves as a trusted resource for owners and executives of privately held firms and industry trade associations on analytical and business-oriented topics.

"We are thrilled to announce both the promotion of Megan and Jordan and the addition of Alex to the Bundy Group team this year," said Clint. "Their combined experience and expertise allow Bundy Group to further expand its capabilities and offer our clients a robust and comprehensive suite of advisory services."

More broadly, Bundy Group continued to aggressively grow its presence and expertise in key industries, which included the Automation & Industrial Tech, Healthcare Services, and Business Services sectors. Bundy Group closed three Automation transactions in 2023 and furthered its work in the Business Services sector through its engagements with Metal Tech and Environmental Options. Bundy Group also built a strong pipeline of Healthcare & Life Sciences engagements within the Physician Practice Management and Healthcare IT sectors, which positions the company for momentum in 2024. In addition, Bundy Group also participated in 19 strategic speaking engagements throughout the year, including the Control System Integration Association Conference, Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute, and Power Transmission Distributors Association, with plans to expand these participation efforts in early 2024.

For more information about Bundy Group's industry expertise and recent transactions, please visit bundygroup.com.

About Bundy Group

Established in 1989, Bundy Group is an industry-focused investment bank that specializes in representing business owners and management teams in business sales, acquisitions, and capital raises. The team of highly experienced investment bankers leverages extensive industry knowledge and skill to provide hands-on guidance to clients through every phase of the business transaction. Bundy Group has been a trusted partner in more than 250 closed deals over the past 34 years, providing high quality options, actionable insights, and delivery of optimal strategic fit at a premium value for our clients.

Bundy Group Securities, LLC, is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. More information on the background of Bundy Group Securities, LLC is available at FINRA's BrokerCheck.

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SOURCE Bundy Group
Censys continues to prioritize the cybersecurity community through boot camps and programs made for researchers

ANN ARBOR, Mich. , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Censys , the leading Internet Intelligence Platform for Threat Hunting and Exposure Management, today announced two new product tiers of its industry-leading search tool, Censys Search Solo and Censys Search Teams . These additions are part of a series of strategic initiatives to enhance the security community, including the introduction of Threat Hunting Boot Camps, the Censys Beta Workshop, which provides beta access to CensysGPT and Map to Censys , and significant upgrades to its product infrastructure.

Known for its commitment to the cybersecurity industry, Censys' community has grown to nearly half a million users over the last seven years, enabling them to gain a unique perspective to address the needs of cybersecurity teams and individuals. In today's threat landscape, where time and resources are often limited, especially for smaller teams, the ability to proactively monitor for threats is crucial, irrespective of team size or budget. Understanding these challenges, Censys tailored Censys Search Solo and Censys Search Teams to cater to the varied needs of all security teams. Each tier is available month-by-month or on an annual basis:

Censys Search Solo : Designed for sole practitioners who require more robust capabilities than Censys' Community version. This tier empowers individuals with 500 search queries per month, along with unlimited API access, essential support and up to one week of host history. Censys Search Solo users benefit from advanced features, like tags and comments for organized search management, matched services to highlight relevant host services and custom field selection for precise data extraction.

: Designed for sole practitioners who require more robust capabilities than version. This tier empowers individuals with 500 search queries per month, along with unlimited API access, essential support and up to one week of host history. Censys Search Solo users benefit from advanced features, like tags and comments for organized search management, matched services to highlight relevant host services and custom field selection for precise data extraction. Censys Search Teams: Specifically designed for small security teams, this tier extends the benefits of the Solo tier and introduces additional features for a comprehensive, collaborative approach to threat hunting. With thousands of queries, teams can delve deeper and conduct in-depth investigations. The higher API rate allows for swift navigation through Censys' extensive dataset, streamlining the detection and analysis of threats. This tier supports up to five users, enabling a more integrated and coordinated approach to threat hunting, making it an ideal choice for small teams aiming to strengthen their cybersecurity posture.

"Empowering the threat intelligence community is one of Censys' biggest priorities, and with these two new product tiers, we can continue to help researchers enhance their threat hunting work, no matter the size of their team,'' stated Brad Brooks , CEO of Censys. "The market has similar offerings, but only Censys can provide the extensive breadth and depth of data, granularly indexed data fields for querying along with the most recent scans of the internet for any user."

Censys recognizes that shared insights and knowledge are key to collective growth. To support this vision, the company hosts Threat Hunting Boot Camps designed to share techniques, tips and tricks among security researchers to enhance their skills and capabilities. Furthermore, Censys introduced the Censys Beta Workshop a dedicated space for crafting, refining, and testing prototypes and beta projects. This initiative aims to bridge communication between Censys and its vibrant community, enabling them to collaboratively shape the future of technology. Among their recent innovative endeavors are:

CensysGPT uses artificial intelligence (AI) to allow users to craft their search queries using natural language, reducing the learning curve. Additionally, CensysGPT can translate queries from Shodan, Zoomeye, and SecurityTrails into Censys Search Language, allowing users to leverage the capabilities of various platforms.

uses artificial intelligence (AI) to allow users to craft their search queries using natural language, reducing the learning curve. Additionally, CensysGPT can translate queries from Shodan, Zoomeye, and SecurityTrails into Censys Search Language, allowing users to leverage the capabilities of various platforms. Map of Censys offers a new perspective on data visualization, providing developers with tools and features to navigate and interact with geographical datasets.

In the continued spirit of innovation and its commitment to excellence, Censys rolled out a series of significant upgrades to its product infrastructure over the past year. Among those enhancements, Censys launched Certs 2.0, delivering better, more reliable access to the most extensive collection of X.509 certificates in existence with daily refreshes and revocation checks and more. In addition, Censys launched Predictive Scanning, a research-backed scanning technique used to discover services across 65,000 ports. This ensures the most up-to-date and accurate data across all services on the internet, including those on non-standard ports. To make digesting all of that data even easier, Censys added 4,000+ software and device labels so customers can focus on specific software or services of interest within Censys Search.

To learn more about Censys' search capabilities and the organization's involvement in the security community, visit: https://censys.com/

About Censys

Censys, Inc. is the leading Internet Intelligence Platform for Threat Hunting and Exposure Management. Founded in 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan , Censys gives organizations the world's most comprehensive real-time view of global networks and devices. Customers like Google, Cisco, Microsoft, Samsung, Swiss Armed Forces, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, and over 51% of the Fortune 500 rely on the company's Exposure Management solution for a real-time, contextualized view into their internet and cloud assets. At Censys, you can be yourself. We like it that way. Diversity fuels our mission, and we are committed to inclusion across race, gender, age and identity. To learn more, visit censys.com and follow Censys on Twitter.

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SOURCE Censys
Third generation continues to lead the family-owned company that proudly manufactures products made in USA

RANDOLPH, N.J. , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Cra-Z-Art, a prime manufacturer in the U.S.A and leader in trendy toy, activity, art and school supply products, is proud to celebrate the 100th year of its RoseArt brand. RoseArt was founded in 1923 by Isador Rosen and eventually led by Lawrence and Jeffrey Rosen , the third generation of the family.

The company developed from a small supplier of toys and puzzles to one of America's largest toy manufacturers. One of the company's earliest successful products was the "Big Apple" game developed in 1925, propelling the company to new heights. "Popeye Pipe Toss" soon followed, developed in 1931, and became one of the company's most famous products during this era, selling over one million units. After a near disastrous fire in 1985 that almost destroyed the company, the Rosens rebuilt the company, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, into an empire. An important and celebratory milestone occurred in 2021 when Cra-Z-Art and Chairman Lawrence Rosen purchased RoseArt back from Mattel, reuniting the classic brand with the Rosen family who originally founded the company.

The key reason for the company's longevity is being on the pulse of what kids crave. RoseArt is known for discovering hot trends and quickly bringing quality products to market for children and adults to enjoy. RoseArt was the first company to introduce art activity kits in the mid-twentieth century, which then became a staple item.

Capitalizing on trends has also continued with Cra-Z-Art. The company started the slime trend back in 2017 and its Cra-Z Slimy product remains hot today. "We have continually had success with being able to predict, based on monitoring consumer behavioral patterns, what toys will perform in the marketplace. We use our boundless creativity and innovation to bring these trends to life and inspire kids", says Lawrence Rosen , Cra-Z-Art Chairman.

RoseArt now produces and globally markets such popular products as Kodak jigsaw puzzles, USA Gold writing instruments, Scribble Stuff Pens, Fuzzy Posters, etc. Cra-Z-Art continues to produce such iconic items as Snoopy Sno Cone and Magna Doodle as well as best-selling Shimmer 'N Sparkle craft and activity kits. They also own the Rose Moon factory in Lewisburg, Tennessee , America's largest pencil factory, as well as manufacturing and distribution facilities in Jacksonville , Florida. The production facilities contribute to Cra-Z-Art's goal of significantly increasing production of goods made in the U.S.A. The company has over 1 million square feet of manufacturing space domestically, the largest U.S. footprint in the industry.

"We are absolutely delighted to be celebrating the 100th anniversary of our RoseArt brand," said Rosen. "The company was started by my grandfather, then run by my father, Syd, my brother, Jeffrey, and myself. We have created tens of thousands of nostalgic toys, games, and crafts throughout the world. The success and longevity of the brand is a testament to the continued hard work, business savvy and creativity of our entire team. We continue to produce quality products, including toys, arts and crafts kits, puzzles, premium writing instruments and paints that remain very popular and resonate with the child as well as the mature adult consumer. We see tremendous growth that will keep us a key player in the industry for years to come as we extend product lines and explore new channels for distribution".

RoseArt and Cra-Z-Art products are sold at major retailers including Walmart, Target and Amazon as well as the company's own website (www.cra-z-art.com).

About CRA-Z-ART

CRA-Z-ART, based in Randolph, NJ , offers original, creative, exciting and trendy activity, toy, art and school supply products. The CRA-Z-ART management team has over 120 years of experience in creating, manufacturing and marketing stationery and activities products. At CRA-Z-ART we clearly, understand the needs of the retailer and the desires of our consumers. We make it a point daily to be...Always creative! To learn more, please visit www.cra-z-art.com.

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SOURCE Cra-Z-Art
DUBAI, UAE , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --In a landmark move for global conservation efforts, U.S. -based dClimate , a leader in decentralized climate data infrastructure, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to safeguard the biodiverse-rich Congo Basin rainforest and peatlands. This historic MOU targets the preservation of hundreds of thousands of hectares, underlining a shared commitment to combat climate change through innovative environmental stewardship. The MOU was signed in Dubai during the 28th UNFCCC Conference of Parties ( COP28 ).

dClimate will contribute strongly to the development of the DRC's national carbon registry, aligning with the guidelines of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. This initiative is expected to store and sequester over 100 million tonnes of CO2, producing high-quality conservation credits. These credits are designed to bring integrity and transparency to global carbon markets, emphasizing data integrity, quality and standards as well as strong collaboration with the national government and local communities.

"This partnership with the DRC brings a new paradigm of accountability to carbon markets for conserving threatened ecosystems," said Sid Jha , co-founder of dClimate. " The Congo Basin rainforests and peatlands store vast amounts of carbon making the protection of these crucial areas key to safeguarding our planet's climate. By financially incentivizing environmental conservation monitored by leading technology, we can ensure benefits for local populations while protecting crucial rainforests and peatlands for future generations."

This partnership will be strategically utilized to fight deforestation, including community education, infrastructure improvement, and environmental training programs. Importantly, dClimate will lease the carbon sequestration rights for an initial ten-year period but will not lease or buy the land, thus preserving the national sovereignty and the rights of local communities.

"Under the leadership of His Excellency Felix Antoine Tshisekedi , President of the DRC and Champion of Climate Conscious Sustainable Development, we are proud to partner with dClimate in this groundbreaking initiative. This collaboration not only aims to protect one of the Earth's most vital ecosystems but also empowers our communities through sustainable development. It's a stride towards balancing ecological preservation with our national growth, ensuring that the guardianship of the Congo Basin serves the future of the DRC and the planet," said Stephanie Mbombo , Special Envoy for the New Climate Economy of the Democratic Republic of Congo .

The project's technology system includes the use of blockchain technology, and CYCLOPS , a digital MRV (measurement, reporting, verification) platform employing remote sensing technology and artificial intelligence to ensure commitments to prevent deforestation in the project region are upheld, and the project meets and exceeds its stated benchmarks. CYCLOPS enables real-time monitoring of the project, ensuring stringent oversight. dClimate will also aim to work with the DRC to implement the use of CYCLOPS for environmental monitoring across the country.

This project is in line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which seeks "to ensure international carbon markets are real, additional, and verifiable in delivering further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions."

About dClimate:

dClimate is a decentralized climate information and data infrastructure network helping businesses, governments and individuals unlock the power of data to accelerate verifiable climate action globally. dClimate empowers participants to easily access and share institutional-grade climate data and risk models with a global network of users and then enables them to easily build climate solutions to power long-term resilience. By indexing and organizing Earth's climate record on an immutable ledger, dClimate is facilitating scalable and transparent climate tech development and global access to critically important ecological data.

The company was founded by the same senior leadership team behind Arbol, a leading climate solutions platform that is expanding access to climate insurance and risk products for underserved stakeholders around the world. Its senior leadership team brings decades of combined experience across several industries, including finance, commodities, technology, AI and machine learning, ESG and sustainability and project financing. dClimate's Advisory Board includes Americans distinguished in technology, finance, and public service, including Sergey Nazarov , co-founder of Chainlink, investor and entrepreneur Mark Cuban , and Ambassador J. Peter Pham , former U.S. Special Envoy for the Great Lakes and Sahel Regions of Africa .

Visit our website to learn more!

Contact: [email protected]

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THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DigiKey, a leading global commerce distributor offering the largest selection of technical components and automation products in stock for immediate shipment, announced today it has received the 2023 Governor's International Trade Award for Large Companies from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota Trade Office. It is the second time that the company has received this honor.

DigiKey received the 2023 Governor's International Trade Award for Large Companies from Governor Tim Walz . Pictured here is Governor Walz and Tim Carroll , global head of marketing and e-commerce at DigiKey.

The Governor's International Trade Award recognizes Minnesota companies that have shown exceptional progress and success in exports to foreign markets, as well as foreign-owned companies that have made significant economic contributions through their investments in the state. DigiKey was also a recipient of the award in 2012.

"We appreciate our positive working relationship with the State of Minnesota and Minnesota DEED and are honored to be recognized for the work we've done to grow a thriving company and contribute to a thriving community," said Tim Carroll , global head of marketing and e-commerce at DigiKey. "We agree with Governor Walz that by working together we can become the top state for business, and we look forward to continuing our partnership toward that goal."

DigiKey employs more than 5,000 people, with more than 4,000 of those team members based in Minnesota , delivering up to 27,000 orders per day to customers in 180+ countries around the world. DigiKey does business in 27 different currencies and offers websites and content in 22 different languages. The company also established a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) in Thief River Falls, Minn. , and the first small-package FTZ with all major carriers, Custom Border and Protection (CBP) and government entities. Since DigiKey received its first Governor's International Trade Award in 2012, international sales have expanded by more than five times with 46% of sales taking place in the international market.

For more information about DigiKey, please visit the DigiKey website.

About DigiKey

DigiKey has been proudly headquartered in Thief River Falls, Minnesota , since 1972. Recognized as the global leader, innovator and pioneer in the cutting-edge commerce distribution of electronic components and automation products, DigiKey offers more than 17.2 million components from over 2,800 quality name-brand manufacturers. DigiKey employs more than 5,000 people in Northwest Minnesota and beyond, delivering over 27,000 orders per day to customers in 180+ countries around the world. More information is available at digikey.com and on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Editorial Contact

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Bellmont Partners

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By Asim Aliyev

A memorial event dedicated to the memory of National Leader of Heydar Aliyev was held in Seoul under the organization of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Korea. At the event, a minute of silence honored the National Leader's memory, Azernews reports.

Ambassador Ramin Hasanov noted the irreplaceable role of outstanding statesman Heydar Aliyev in the history of Azerbaijani statehood and political heritage of the National Leader. He noted the year 2023, coinciding with Heydar Aliyev's 100th jubilee, was declared the "Year of Heydar Aliyev" in Azerbaijan by the relevant Decree of President Ilham Aliyev as a sign of respect to the National Leader's irreplaceable services to Azerbaijan. The diplomat emphasized that the name of Heydar Aliyev, who was managed to lead Azerbaijan out of a very difficult situation and save our statehood, has become a symbol of modern and strong Azerbaijan.

The Ambassador emphasized that Ilham Aliyev continues to pursue the policy with skill and foresight, the political line laid down by the National Leader. The restoration of territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country under the leadership of President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev is proof of this. The diplomat noted that Azerbaijan is currently making efforts to achieve sustainable peace in the region, as well as trying to normalize relations with Armenia and sign a peace agreement in the near future.

This was followed by a short documentary depicting the National Leader's foreign policy activities and diplomatic efforts.

The event continued with a commemorative concert of works by Azerbaijani and foreign composers performed by Korean musicians Park Jeong Ju, Yeon Kyung Kwon and Bo Bae Yoon.

The event was attended by heads and staff of accredited diplomatic missions in the Republic of Korea, representatives of socio-political, cultural, scientific and educational circles of Korea, media representatives and members of the Azerbaijani Diaspora.
In places like Guatemala, coups are still the operational monopoly of the army, of course, with the backing of the oligarchy and a wink from the U.S. empire. The only time a civilian tried it, just over 30 years ago, it failed. Jorge Serrano, being a democratically elected president, suffered a hallucination of massive popular support and dissolved Congress and the courts of justice, but the armed forces were fragmented and the oligarchy was decidedly adverse to him. They were fighting among themselves for the benefits of the juicy privatizations of state enterprises. Washington, moreover, had learned from the successful coup of Alberto Fujimori that had taken place a year earlier in Peru. The Guatemalan Constitutional Court then ruled against the attempted coup, and the defeated president resigned himself to the silver bridge to Panama, where he still lives.

Attorney General Consuelo Porras  the Torquemada of Guatemala  is the second civilian to attempt a coup detat, dubbed coup in slow motion, as it has been going on for almost six months of laborious and exhausting judicial skirmishes. What is unprecedented in the case is that the coup is against a legitimately elected government and a president elected by 61% of the voters, Bernardo Arevalo, but who has not yet been sworn in  the swearing-in is scheduled for January 14. Since 2019, Porras has served as the spearhead of the Pact of the Corrupt, a loose coalition of politicians, bureaucratic and business elites, plus powerful drug trafficking groups, which has pushed back civil and political liberties, unleashing fierce persecution against dissent, particularly against independent justice operators, who now number half a hundred in exile.

This time, the prosecutor launched an irrational attack against president-elect Bernardo Arevalo and several leaders of his party, Movimiento Semilla. She intends to erase them from political existence and describes them as a criminal organization. For the time being, she managed to freeze the legal status of the party, issued arrest warrants against some of its youth leaders and has launched three lawsuits against Arevalo to imprison him. She has the underhanded support of President Alejandro Giammattei, who is urged on by his unofficial partner, the young Miguel Martinez, sanctioned at the beginning of December by the Biden administration with the Magnitsky Act for alleged acts of corruption in the purchase of Russian vaccines and money laundering in a U.S. bank. The coup effort is supported by a majority of deputies  provided they get their moneys worth , some judges and magistrates, and oligarchs who still believe they are anonymous.

But that army of civilians contains many people who speculate about which side to jump to and, day after day, despite the prevailing uncertainty due to the prosecutors onslaught, there are more silent deserters. In the courts, they have lost the majority for major decisions. In the Attorney Generals Office, there are more and more employees who carry out illegal assignments by dragging their feet. The next Congress, which is due to take office on January 14, is already fragmented: Giammatteis party contains four currents; that of Sandra Torres  the defeated candidate, but second legislative force  is divided into three; Cabal, the organization founded by former candidate Edmond Mulet, is broken, and so on. The military officers, warned by the U.S. Southern Command, remain on the sidelines of the political fights, except for a handful of members of the Giammattei and Miguel Martinez clique, who can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The radical oligarchy is under surveillance. Some of them have already received the notice that they cannot visit Mickey Mouse again and their assets have been frozen, but there are several behind the scenes who believe that they have outwitted the empire while they continue to fund the coup plotters.

Last Friday, the Prosecutors Office presented a plea criminalizing Arevalo and the Semilla party, and went all out: it demanded the annulment of the elections of June 25 and August 20. Its arguments have been copiously discredited by local and international experts. It seems that the lieutenants of the prosecutor Consuelo Porras were dressed with kamikaze vests, precisely on the day when she had to appear before the press and the rumors of her alleged illnesses increased on social media. However, the unplanned pincer of mobilized Indigenous peoples and the international community continue to operate in defense of democracy.

Edgar Gutierrez is a political analyst and former foreign minister of Guatemala.

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RIVIERA NAYARIT, Mexico , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Located on Mexico's spectacular Pacific Coast , the Riviera Nayarit region has established itself as a must-visit tropical destination, attracting travelers in search of natural beauty, adventure, and luxury.

This paradisiacal corner offers more than 185 miles of spectacular beaches, picturesque towns, and exuberant landscapes. For a deeper understanding of the community's connection to the land, travelers may explore diverse ecotourism and nature excursions, or enjoy some adventure travel through diverse outdoor activities including surfing, diving, and hiking through the jungle. Gastronomy is also a key proponent of Riviera Nayarit. Here visitors will be able to explore the local flavors that bridge the gap between traditional dishes and innovative culinary techniques.

When seeking accommodations for one's trip, travelers can turn to Marriott International, a trusted source that provides a diverse portfolio of properties fit for one's needs and comforts.

Revamped Authentic Cultural Experiences

Recently undergoing a renovation, W Punta de Mita has brought its cultural connection to a higher level, becoming a truly modern oasis full of traditional ties and experiences. Boasting new beachfront suites that include private plunge pools and ocean views, the property's refresh brings it to a new height of luxury. To further connect itself in the region, the hotel was designed to reflect the influence of local artisans, which further immerses guests in the tradition of the Huichol Tribe and the bohemian surf culture.

Additionally, The St. Regis Punta Mita , an icon of luxury and hospitality in the Riviera Nayarit, experienced a major renovation inspired by sixteenth-century Mexican Haciendas. The hotel has adopted a distinctive Mexican-Mediterranean aesthetic, where guests are treated to a fusion of history, art, culture, and identity through this new, exclusive setting. The resort is the ideal choice for travelers seeking a world-class experience while indulging in authentic experiences such as cooking classes, where participants can learn to make fresh ceviche and Mexican guacamole, in addition to enjoying modern Mexican cuisine at Punta de Mita's only AAA Five Diamond Award restaurant, Carolina.

Unparalleled Family Experiences

Delta Hotels by Marriott Riviera Nayarit , An All-Inclusive Resort , located in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, is a wellness-inspired all-inclusive resort. Its Aqua Jungle & River experience allows visitors to immerse themselves in the surrounding lush jungle. With multiple jacuzzis, pools, and slides, it is ideal for both adults and families. At this hotel, guests will find rooms and suites with breathtaking mountain views, Mexican art-inspired design, and a renowned spa with an abundance of treatments for an unforgettable stay.

Families with little ones can indulge in a myriad of experiences, including the state-of-the-art waterpark. It features numerous cascading pools and jacuzzis, a lazy river, kids and adult-only areas, as well as a complete jungle lounging experience. Inspired by the Tolantongo caves, located in the Mexican state of Hidalgo, and where cascading thermal springs naturally form heated pools, this area allows guests to still experience the authentic nature of the region while staying the comforts of the resort.

Riviera Nayarit is a magical, enriching, and diverse destination that offers a unique combination of nature, exciting activities, culture, and luxury. With the renewed offerings of Marriott International hotels, this Mexican paradise is unforgettable and is waiting with open arms to welcome new visitors.

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marriott@brandmanagency.com

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MINNEAPOLIS , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunwoody College of Technology , a leader in hands-on technical education, is proud to announce that its Bachelor of Architecture (BARCH) program has received reaccreditation through the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) , building upon the program's initial accreditation in 2019. Dunwoody now stands as the second educational institution in Minnesota to provide an accredited Architecture program. The renewed accreditation is valid for eight years.

"I'm so impressed with the growth and maturation I've seen in this program over the past few years," said Trevor Bullen , Dunwoody College of Technology's Academic Dean for the School of Design. "This recognition is a testament to the dedication and brilliance of Dunwoody's faculty and students, without all of whom none of this would be possible. We're thrilled to continue being a leader in architectural education."

Dunwoody's BARCH program provides students with project-based, hands-on learning with a focus on career readiness to jumpstart students' careers and shorten their path to licensure. The BARCH program is a five-year, professional undergraduate degree that serves as an evolution and expansion of one of the College's two-year associate's degree programs: Architectural Drafting & Design, which originally began as Architectural Drafting & Estimating in 1914.

"Accreditation from the National Architectural Accrediting Board shows prospective students and our greater community that Dunwoody's Bachelor of Architecture program is one of the best in the nation," explains Bullen. "This assures students and their families that the program will prepare them for a long and successful career in the field of architecture."

The BARCH program at Dunwoody boasts a 100 percent job placement rate of its graduates, according to the 2021-2022 Career Services Annual Report. This is due to Dunwoody's history of career readiness among its graduates, which involves a practice-based curriculum, a professional-focused philosophy, and actively practicing faculty. The school roots its architectural education in a tradition of community engagement, social responsibility, and leadership in the profession, both locally and globally. This approach gives students a unique perspective on the architecture industry and the insight needed to succeed in an ever-changing field.

NAAB provides accreditation and oversight services for educational institutions to ensure the quality of architecture programs across the United States , using established criteria. The accreditation serves as a mark of distinction for educational institutions and offers various benefits to students, education programs, and the architecture industry at large. There are currently 175 NAAB-accredited programs across the United States and two in Minnesota .

For more information on Dunwoody's Bachelor of Architecture program, and other programs that are preparing the next generation of doers, visit https://dunwoody.edu/design/architecture/ or follow the College on Facebook , Instagram , and TikTok .

ABOUT DUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Founded in 1914, Dunwoody College of Technology is the only private, not-for-profit technical college in the Upper Midwest. Having provided hands-on, applied technical education to more than 250,000 individuals, Dunwoody is the college for experimenters and makers, a place where the curious and the confident learn by doing. Located in Minneapolis , Dunwoody offers a unique campus experience in dedicated labs, studios, and shops that treats students like future professionals from day one. With certificates, associate's, and bachelor's degrees in more than 40 majors - including engineering, robotics, design and other STEM-related fields - Dunwoody challenges students to come determined and graduate destined.

Media Contact:

Shepard Rogers

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New grant will be delivered by UNHCR, reaching over 20,000 children with quality education. ECW calls on donors to scale-up funding for Sudan regional refugee response.

NEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its regional response to the Sudan refugee crisis, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) announced today US$2 million in new grant funding in Egypt . The 12-month grant will be delivered by UNHCR, providing life-saving access to education for children fleeing the war in Sudan .

The war in Sudan has generated a vast humanitarian crisis. In all over 6.5 million people are estimated to be displaced both within Sudan and across the region, according to UNHCR. The UN considers this the largest child displacement crisis in the world today, with over 3 million children fleeing widespread violence. There are concerning reports of women and girls being abducted, forced marriage, recruitment of child soldiers, and other grave violations of human rights.

Since April 2023 , over 300,000 people have fled to Egypt from Sudan , including 16,000 school-aged children. Prior to the recent conflict in Sudan , Egypt hosted 59,000 refugees from Sudan . The Government of Egypt has granted access to the public education system for Sudanese refugees. However, many refugees are attending community schools that make use of the Sudanese curriculum but are largely unregulated. The concentration of refugees in specific areas, coupled with the limited number of schools and over-stretched classrooms capacities, has created further challenges for the Egyptian education authorities in meeting the demand for education.

"The brutal war in Sudan must stop. Children are dying, girls and boys are being denied their human rights and their human dignity. We must act now as a global community to address this complex humanitarian crisis by ensuring children and adolescents have access to safe and protective learning environments, mental health and psychosocial services, and other holistic education opportunities. We are calling on world leaders to substantially increase funding for education in response to this devastating crisis," said Yasmine Sherif , Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait, the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises.

The new grant will reach more than 20,000 children and adolescents, with a focus on increasing access and continuity of education for newly arrived refugee learners, enhancing the quality of learning, ensuring equity, social cohesion and well-being, and strengthening the capacity of the national education system.

ECW has provided US$8 million to date in response to the regional crisis, with First Emergency Response grants also announced in the Central Africa Republic, Chad , Ethiopia , and South Sudan . To provide life-saving access to children impacted by the war in Sudan and other protracted crises across the globe, ECW is calling on donors, the private sector and philanthropic foundations to mobilize US$1.5 billion in support of the Fund's 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, which will reach 20 million children and adolescents over the next three years.

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SOURCE Education Cannot Wait
The partnership procures renewable natural gas (RNG) from food waste for carbon-neutral energy

Enchanted Rock and U.S. Energy partner to help data center project become carbon neutral

HOUSTON , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Enchanted Rock , the leading provider of electrical resiliency microgrids, and U.S. Energy , a vertically integrated energy solutions provider proficient in refined products, alternative fuels and environmental credits, announced a partnership to procure renewable natural gas (RNG) for Microsoft's new data center in San Jose during grid outages and when California's Base Interruptible Power (BIP) is activated. The data center will use Enchanted Rock's electrical resiliency-as-a-service and ultra-low-emission generators to avoid disruptions to their operations.

The resiliency microgrid, utilizing carbon-neutral RNG, will ensure maximum uptime for Microsoft's San Jose data center by providing reliable backup power during grid outages. U.S. Energy will deliver RNG sourced from diverted food waste that would have otherwise ended up in landfills. The RNG will be injected upstream in the pipeline to match natural gas usage at the site and reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions, supporting Microsoft's goal to become carbon negative by 2030.

The agreement also allows for flexibility in the amount of RNG supplied, ensuring the data center is always able to meet its high standards for emissions reduction. And the clean microgrid will also result in 80%-96% lower local emissions than even the strictest EPA diesel standards, which decreases health impacts on nearby communities.

"Enchanted Rock has always been committed to using the cleanest fuel available without compromising on reliability for our customers," said Thomas McAndrew , founder and CEO of Enchanted Rock. "After announcing our renewable natural gas solution in 2021 and this particular Microsoft data center project in 2022, we're proud to be taking this important next step toward seeing this key technology in operation. We're pleased to be partnering with U.S. Energy and look forward to showcasing how RNG can be the new standard in providing carbon-neutral, dependable backup power."

"Energy resilience is crucial with data centers like this one," said president of U.S. Energy, Mike Koel . "Through our portfolio of 40 renewable natural gas projects, we're able to ensure our customers have the supply needed to meet any additionality requirements. As we continue to grow our portfolio, our partnership with Enchanted Rock will help more organizations take that next step in their carbon reduction goals."

Procurement of the RNG is scheduled to begin in early 2026. This project marks a major milestone in sustainability for data centers. Enchanted Rock's microgrid is also California Air Resources Board (CARB) Distributed Generation (DG) compliant, meeting the nation's strictest emission requirements for reciprocating engines.

About Enchanted Rock

Founded in 2006, Enchanted Rock is the national leader in electrical resiliency-as-a-service, powering companies, critical infrastructure and communities to ensure business continuity during unexpected power outages from extreme weather, infrastructure failures, cyberattacks and other grid disruptions. Enchanted Rock's dual-purpose microgrids use natural gas and renewable natural gas (RNG) to produce significantly lower carbon emissions and air pollutants than diesel generators, capable of achieving resiliency with net-zero emissions. Additionally, the company's end-to-end microgrid software platform, GraniteEcosystem, provides real-time 24/7/365 system monitoring and optimization, including forecasting of electricity market conditions to provide grid support services and ensure cost effective and worry-free reliable power to customers. For more information, please visit www.enchantedrock.com or visit Twitter or LinkedIn.

About U.S. Energy

U.S. Energy, a U.S. Venture company, is a leading vertically integrated solutions provider proficient in refined products, alternative fuels, and environmental credits. Over its 70-year tenure, it has diversified throughout the energy supply chainoffering realistic, executable strategies that satisfy your economic and environmental goals. From energy project development, distribution, and marketing through wholesale, commercial, and retail channels, U.S. Energy partners with organizationsproviding comprehensive support for any fuel or energy type. Its asset portfolio of more than 30 refined product terminals, 40 renewable natural gas development projects, 50 alternative fuel stations, and two forestry projects helps its customers Stay Ahead. Driven to be the very best and most trusted energy solutions provider dedicated to finding a better way toward a sustainable future, U.S. Energy is uniquely positioned to help organizations navigate the evolving energy industry. For more information, visit www.us-energy.com .

Media Contacts

Samantha Rubenstein

Account Director

Interdependence Public Relations

650.200.6110

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Stephanie Lowney

Vice President of Marketing, Strategy & Innovation

U.S. Energy, a U.S. Venture company

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SOURCE Enchanted Rock
BEIJING , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Full Truck Alliance (NYSE: YMM), a leading digital freight platform in China , published the Industrial Clusters Report of Digital Logistics on December 7 , sharing its insights on the evolution of logistics industry from the perspective of digital logistics for the first time.

The report aims to help SMEs discover more business opportunities, as well as provide industry insights on cargo trends to drivers, enabling them to more efficiently take orders and serve consignors.

The report highlights that China's digital logistics penetration rate has seen double-digit growth annually in recent years, with inland areas witnessing a 27% and more developed coastal regions a 15% growth rate over the past year. Overall, the development of industrial clusters of digital logistics in China features stair-stepped growth patterns, and industry clusters in different provinces show different characteristics.

The report also notes a 4% reduction in the average transportation distance for digital logistics orders nationwide during the past year, while within most industrial clusters, this distance has shortened by up to 10%, signaling faster regional economic integration.

Meanwhile, the report uncovers economic shifts within regions, such as the replacement of eight of the top ten consignors in Qingdao's top industries, transitioning mostly from agriculture to manufacturing within a year.

At the report release conference held in Beijing , Full Truck Alliance also held panel discussions together with executives and experts from the logistics industry, to explore how to comprehensively improve the efficiency of logistics to benefit the broader society, better serve the logistic needs for various industries and support the development of economy.

At the conference, Wang Yuchen, General Manager of Cold-Chain Logistics at Full Truck Alliance, noted that digitalized methods can better track the fluctuation of supply and demand of cargos and trucks dynamically, better balance the fluctuation, and significantly reduce transportation costs. In addition, with its disintermediation nature, digital logistics platform can reduce repeated price increases in traditional logistics chains, improve the transparency of business operation, and help businesses reduce their comprehensive logistic costs by as much as more than 10%.

"After fully embracing digital logistics, our logistics costs have decreased by 30%, and efficiency has increased by 60%," echoed Jiang Hao , General Manager of Shanghai Yihuang Wood Industry Co., Ltd. "Additionally, our warehousing turnover has improved by 20%, contributing to a 10% cost reduction."

He Zhilin, founder of Guangdong Chuanwei Dongpin, believes that digitalization can effectively improve turnover efficiency and reduce operating costs of logistics. "Chuanwei has started its digital transformation in business management, operation and logistics since 2020. Thanks to the digitalization, Chuanwei's CAGR for its earnings has grown by 100%, with its revenue reaching a record of 6 billion in 2023."

As industry leaders emphasize, digital logistics platforms are more than just technological advancements; they are a catalyst for cost savings and increased efficiency across various sectors. According to Zhou Zhicheng, director of the research institute of China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing and secretary-general of its Sub Committee of Freight Industry, digital freight platforms are able to explore more industrial use cases, and provide digital tools and solutions to help businesses reduce costs and increase efficiency.

With over a decade of innovation, Full Truck Alliance now services over 300 cities and more than 100,000 logistic routes, links 3.79 million active drivers with over 2 million consignors monthly, and enhances logistics efficiency through intelligent cargo-truck matching and streamlined online transactions. This not only helps businesses reach freight capacities easily and brings SMEs flexible and diverse shipping solutions, but also allows businesses to integrate and manage complex transport resources including trucks and drivers, so as to improve the efficiency of various industries and expand their business operations.

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SOURCE Full Truck Alliance
WASHINGTON , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GM Defense LLC, a subsidiary of General Motors (GM), and Jankel, a British world-leader in the design, integration, manufacture and support of high-specification defense systems, announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU establishes a framework to jointly pursue business opportunities for defense and government customers using GM Defense mobility solutions, including the Heavy-Duty Sport Utility Vehicle (HD SUV) international variant, the Integrated Armored Vehicle (IAV). The collaboration will include support work in the U.S. , in addition to the UK , Europe and in other locations where Jankel has an established support capability.

GM Defense uses a commercial-based approach, leveraging the advanced technologies of its parent, GM, to develop a protected mobility solution, such as the HD SUV, for global defense and government customers. These specially designed vehicles include independent armoring certification with options and configurations to suit customer requirements. With armor built into the vehicle design, GM Defense delivers a purpose-built platform that works seamlessly with the rest of the vehicle. These design features help ensure the vehicle is safe, reliable and easy to maneuver. GM Defense also offers ability to produce international armored vehicle fleets quickly and efficiently.

Jankel is one of the leading global suppliers of Civilian Armoured Vehicles to defense and security customers, including military and nongovernmental organizations and is a trusted and key supplier of full-service support packages that include the complete spectrum of in-service vehicle support. Experts in the conversion of a variety of base platforms to meet the demanding protection requirements of these customers, Jankel has delivered over 2,000 specialist protected platforms to more than 15 global customers, including the United Kingdom , Europe and elsewhere.

"GM Defense is looking forward to collaborating with Jankel, who can help support mobility solutions such as the HD SUV and IAV," said Steve duMont, president of GM Defense. "Aligning our capabilities with companies like Jankel, who have a proven track record among global defense and government customers, is important as GM Defense seeks to meet the needs of the UK Ministry of Defence's Land Industrial Strategy and to help modernize the mobility platforms of our allies."

"Announcing this MOU is a key step for Jankel as we continue to grow our global footprint in the defense and security vehicle space," said Jankel Chairman Andrew Jankel . "In selecting Jankel, GM Defense has recognized our strong position in the UK and Europe , and we look forward to pursuing joint support opportunities for GM Defense's IAV. Whilst our initial focus will be on support for the IAV, the collaboration allows for a broadening of the scope to include other GM Defense products and services provided we find suitable joint opportunities. We very much look forward to growing this important relationship."

For the latest GM Defense news, please visit www.GMDefenseLLC.com and follow GM Defense on LinkedIn .

About GM Defense LLC

GM Defense delivers integrated vehicles, power and propulsion, and autonomy and connectivity solutions to global defense, security, and government markets. The exceptional reliability of GM Defense's technologies results from decades of proven performance and billions of dollars spent in independent research and development by its parent, General Motors, a world leader in global design, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities. For more information, please visit www.gmdefensellc.com.

About Jankel

Jankel is a world class specialist in protection systems. Undertaking design, development, prototyping and production of armoured vehicles, light tactical vehicles, counter terrorism vehicles and equipment, and customised occupant survivability solutions for military, security, government, aid agencies and NGOs throughout the world. The vision of marrying protection, performance and quality has been at the heart of the business since 1955.

With secure manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA , Jankel is able to provide high volume production, whilst still offering a flexible approach to exacting customer requirements. A partnership approach to every solution ensures a smooth journey from concept to delivery.

An exceptional customer care programme completes the service, with dedicated programme support, full after-sales and Through Life Support (TLS) providing peace of mind for a successful partnership.

Jankel has achieved ISO 9001 and 14001 for its security, engineering, manufacturing and vehicle production capabilities. www.jankel.com

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SOURCE GM Defense LLC
Presented during COP28 , the report details specific proposals to show the existential urgency of a shift to a plant-based world.

LOS ANGELES , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report, presented by Plant Based Treaty at COP28 , outlines a global plan that will reduce the world's food system's massive impact on climate change by transitioning from animal agricultural to plant-based.

A new report outlines a global plan that will reduce the world's food system's massive impact on climate change.

EATING OUR WAY TO THE PLANETARY BRINK

The current global food system:

Affects all 9 of what are known as "planetary boundaries", which regulate the state of the planet within ranges that maintain Earth's stability

Is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissionsgreater than all forms of transportation

Neglects factors such as food security, sustainability and community health

Conversely a plant-based food system presents an opportunity to both feed the world with just 1 billion hectares of land and rewild three-quarters of agricultural land.

Report co-author Steven George states, "Scientists have warned us that even if we phase out fossil fuels today, food emissions alone are enough to put the 1.5C and 2C targets out of reach."

A NEW FOOD SYSTEM, 30 YEARS BEHIND THE TIMES

"Global per capita meat consumption has been dramatically rising since the 1980s. Yet food policy is lagging 30 years behind energy. At COP28 , food systems have made an appearance, albeit a few crumbs on the plate, not the urgent plant based agricultural revolution we need," states Plant Based Treaty's Global Campaign Coordinator and Co-author of the report, Anita Krajnc .

This Safe and Just Report presents that missing action framework that would reduce shortfall by incorporating economist Kate Raworth's famous " Doughnut Economics " model which identifies social boundaries needed to meet basic human needs equitably along with the planetary boundary framework led by noted climate researcher, Johan Rockstrom .

The report features 40 detailed proposals for a global plant-based transition which would reduce greenhouse gasses, land use, and ocean acidification, and allow us to live equitably within our planetary boundaries.

ABOUT PLANT BASED TREATY

Formed in 2021 as a global campaign, the Plant Based Treaty's tenets are to relinquish, redirect, and restore the global food system. The treaty aims to stop the widespread degradation of critical ecosystems caused by animal agriculture. Endorsed by dozens of cities so far, including Amsterdam , Edinburgh , and Los Angeles , the treaty has attracted support from 120K individual endorsers, 5 Nobel laureates, IPCC scientists, and more than 3K groups and businesses. www.plantbasedtreaty.org

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SOURCE Plant Based Treaty
White retires after leading Hoonigan for 27 years since co-founding the business in 1996

DENVER and SANTA MONICA, Calif. , Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hoonigan (the "Company"), a provider of high-performance aftermarket vehicle enhancements backed by Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. (together with its affiliates, "Clearlake"), today announced that the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") has appointed Vance Johnston as President and Chief Operating Officer. In his new role, Johnston will report exclusively to the Board and will manage all aspects of Hoonigan's operations as the Company continues to execute its strategic vision.

He succeeds Co-Founder and former Chief Executive Officer Randy White , who announced his retirement after almost 30 years of driving the Company and the automotive aftermarket industry forward. White will continue to serve on the Board and be closely involved in the transition as an advisor.

"Vance is a leader with a track record in executive leadership roles at significant scale. We look forward to partnering with him and the rest of the leadership team at Hoonigan to drive growth in the platform," said Jose E. Feliciano , Co-Founder and Managing Partner, and Colin Leonard , Partner, at Clearlake. "Randy is an inspiring leader who has progressed both Hoonigan and the industry forward since the Company's inception. On behalf of the Board, we thank Randy for his unwavering leadership, passion, and commitment to innovation, all of which have propelled Hoonigan to grow from two distribution centers into the global company it is today."

"It has been a true privilege to build and lead Hoonigan over almost three decades, and I am thankful to have worked with so many wonderful individuals that have allowed the Company to reach its goals of enabling consumers to satisfy their automotive passions and personalize their vehicles," said White. "I'm confident Vance is the right person to lead Hoonigan into the future and deliver its next phase of growth. I look forward to working with him as I continue serving on the Company's Board."

Johnston brings decades of leadership experience, including helping organizations achieve their growth and strategic objectives. Prior to joining Hoonigan, Johnston served in various executive roles leading strategic planning, finance, and operations, including most recently as Chief Financial Officer at Parts Authority, a national auto parts distributor. He previously served as CFO at IAA, Inc., a global technology and auto services company; SP Plus Corporation, a business services company; and Furniture Brands International, Inc., a consumer goods, manufacturing and retail company, and he also led strategy and/or operations at Royal Caribbean, Burger King, and OfficeMax. Over his career, he has led over 25 M&A transactions and has experience implementing growth strategies and business transformations. Johnston holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of San Diego and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

"Hoonigan is an exciting company with passion and innovation in its DNA, and I'm honored to have the opportunity to lead this organization and work with all the wonderful members of the team at the Company in its next phase of growth," added Johnston. "Randy has built an incredible foundation for us to continue to scale from, and I believe there are many opportunities for Hoonigan to drive accelerated growth as the Company provides consumers with new ways to connect with and customize their vehicles."

"We're thrilled to welcome Vance to the Hoonigan and Clearlake family. We believe his capabilities and past experience in developing strategy and operational execution will drive the Company to new heights," said Dilshat Erkin , Senior Vice President at Clearlake. "We wish Randy the best in his decision to retire and appreciate everything he has done to enable the successes we've enjoyed in our years of partnership. We look forward to his continued contributions to our future success as a member of the Board."

About Hoonigan

Hoonigan serves the automotive enthusiast industry with entertaining content and a wide selection of vehicle enhancements from its portfolio of lifestyle brands, including Fuel Off-Road, American Racing, KMC, Morimoto, TeraFlex, Rotiform, and Black Rhino. Utilizing its expanding global network of distribution centers spanning North America , Australia , and Europe , Hoonigan serves over 16,500 retailers. It has a growing e-commerce presence to provide enthusiast consumers with access to a variety of aftermarket enhancements including wheels, suspension, lighting, and accessories. More information is available at www.hoonigan.com.

About Clearlake

Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. is an investment firm founded in 2006 operating integrated businesses across private equity, credit, and other related strategies. With a sector-focused approach, the firm seeks to partner with experienced management teams by providing patient, long term capital to dynamic businesses that can benefit from Clearlake's operational improvement approach, O.P.S. The firm's core target sectors are industrials, technology, and consumer. Clearlake currently has over $70 billion of assets under management, and its senior investment principals have led or co-led over 400 investments. The firm is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA with affiliates in Dallas, TX , London, UK , Dublin, Ireland and Singapore . More information is available at www.clearlake.com and on Twitter @Clearlake.

Media Contacts

For Hoonigan:

Hoonigan Media Relations

[email protected]

For Clearlake:

Jennifer Hurson

Lambert

845.507.0571

[email protected]

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SOURCE Hoonigan
TAMPA, Fla. , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyde Park Capital is pleased to announce that its client, Nevada Surgical Suites ("NSS"), a leading provider of pain management solutions, including interventional pain management and minimally invasive spine surgery via a portfolio of ambulatory surgery centers, has entered into a joint venture with Surgery Partners, Inc. ("Surgery Partners"), a leading operator of surgical facilities and related ancillary services. Hyde Park Capital served as the exclusive investment banker and financial advisor to NSS. Epstein Becker Green served as legal counsel to NSS.

Nevada Surgical Suites, top provider of pain mgmt solutions, entered into a joint venture with Surgery Partners, Inc.

Dr. Alain Coppel , Chief Medical Officer, Nevada Surgical Suites, stated, "This partnership with Surgery Partners will allow for even greater services to be provided to the Las Vegas community through the addition of state-of-the-art healthcare professionals and resources to support our existing stellar team and facilities. The Company was ready to grow and needed a national advisory group to accomplish its goals and NSS utilized Hyde Park Capital to streamline the process of aligning with a strategic partner. The Hyde Park team was well-versed in navigating the progression of a transaction and made it an absolute ease."

Mike Maley , Senior Vice President West Region - American Operations, Surgery Partners noted, "We are extremely proud to partner with Dr. Coppel and Nevada Surgical Suites, whose proven track record of clinical excellence and patient satisfaction is well known in the Las Vegas market. We look forward to the combination of two extraordinary teams with the shared vision of delivering compassionate, high-quality care to communities in Nevada , and to working with NSS's exceptional physicians, advanced practice providers, and staff to grow the impressive platform they've developed and make a difference in more patients' lives."

Josh Mastracci , Director, Hyde Park Capital, added " Dr. Coppel and his team have built a first-class business that attracted significant national interest and in partnership with Surgery Partners is poised to improve upon its already state- and regional-leading quality care in the Mountain West."

About Nevada Surgical Suites

Nevada Surgical Suites, founded in 2009 by Dr. Alain Coppel , is a portfolio of ambulatory surgery centers affiliated with the premier provider of outpatient interventional pain management in Nevada . NSS offers seamless outpatient interventional options, including pain and spinal procedures and its team of specialty-trained physicians provides treatment for both acute and chronic conditions across its Medicare-deemed ASCs in the Las Vegas Valley . For additional information, please visit www.nevadasurgicalsuites.com.

About Surgery Partners

Surgery Partners is a leading healthcare services company with a differentiated outpatient delivery model focused on providing high-quality, cost-effective solutions for surgical and related ancillary care in support of both patients and physicians. Founded in 2004, Surgery Partners is one of the largest and fastest growing surgical services businesses in the country, with more than 180 locations in 32 states, including ambulatory surgery centers, surgical hospitals, multi-specialty physician practices and urgent care facilities. For additional information, visit www.surgerypartners.com.

About Hyde Park Capital

Hyde Park Capital is an institutionally focused boutique investment banking firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions of successful founder and family-owned companies. Hyde Park's principals have extensive investment banking experience managing merger and acquisition engagements, including executing sell-side and buy-side sale of company assignments, recapitalizations, financial advisory services, and raising growth capital. Hyde Park's bankers have significant experience in the healthcare sector, including physician practice management, ambulatory surgery centers, healthcare consulting and market research, pharmacy services, medical devices and home healthcare. Hyde Park Capital is headquartered in Tampa, Florida , with a second location in Nashville, TN and is a member of FINRA and SIPC. Hyde Park Capital is also a member of the Geneva Capital Group (GCG) International M&A Alliance (see www.gcg.com). For additional information, please visit www.hydeparkcapital.com.

Media Contacts:

Josh Mastracci

Director

Hyde Park Capital

[email protected]

248-891-2363

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SOURCE Hyde Park Capital
New venture backed by LIXIL empowers people to address growing water crisis with information and tools

NEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hydrific, part of LIXIL, announced its official launch today, committing to addressing the growing water crisis by bringing the sustainable homes of the future into the present. Hydrific empowers people with the information and tools they need to make saving water easy and enjoyable, giving them increased control over their at-home water usage.

Hydrific's focus on water sustainability and climate resilience comes at a critical time. U.S. water consumption has tripled in the past 50 years, exacerbating concerns around climate change and aging infrastructure. With at least 40 states projected to face water shortages by 2024, the urgency to combat water scarcity and inefficiency in homes has never been clearer. In response, Hydrific is developing unique innovations like sustainable smart home technologies for homeowners, tenants, and utilities. The venture aims to bring awareness to individuals about their water usage habits and provides intuitive ways to incorporate conservation into their daily lives.

"Many consumers want easy-to-use, affordable, and sustainable options to make it seamless and simple to take concrete actions," said Julia Deister , CEO & Co-Founder of Hydrific. "We are excited to be pioneers in innovative water solutions and are well-positioned to tackle the growing challenges of water scarcity in our communities. At Hydrific, we're not just striving for a sustainable future  we're building it, one drop at a time."

Julia Deister spearheads Hydrific as CEO & Co-Founder, leading an award-winning team in developing strategic frameworks and solutions that align with consumer needs to make home water use more sustainable.

Backed by the global reach and expertise of LIXIL, a global maker of pioneering water and housing technologies, Hydrific's vision extends beyond empowering consumers  it aims to change how we think about and use our water. Aligned with LIXIL's newly updated Impact Strategy, Hydrific will directly contribute to LIXIL's broader Water Conservation and Environmental commitments.

For more information about Hydrific and its mission, visit the official Hydrific website. To learn more about the Hydrific team, visit the team page.

About Hydrific

Hydrific is dedicated to redefining water sustainability, empowering individuals with accessible information and tools to simplify water conservation. Through simple solutions, Hydrific offers homeowners and tenants invaluable insights and control over their water usage, bringing forth the vision of sustainable homes in the present day. Supported by the global reach and expertise of LIXIL, a global leader in creating water and housing products, Hydrific is committed to reshaping perceptions and practices around water usage through sustainable solutions.

About LIXIL

LIXIL (TSE Code 5938) makes pioneering water and housing products that solve everyday, real-life challenges, making better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere. Drawing on our Japanese heritage, we create world-leading technology and innovate to make high quality products that transform homes. But the LIXIL difference is how we do this; through meaningful design, an entrepreneurial spirit, a dedication to improving accessibility for all, and responsible business growth. Our approach comes to life through industry leading brands, including INAX, GROHE, American Standard and TOSTEM. Approximately 55,000 colleagues operating in more than 150 countries are proud to make products that touch the lives of more than a billion people every day. Learn more at www.lixil.com.

Media Contact

Hannah Lindley

[email protected]

(574) 261-9126

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SOURCE Hydrific
Opinion articles written in the style of their author. These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. All opinion articles written by individuals from outside the staff of EL PAIS shall feature, along with the authors name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed

Nowadays, everything can be easily passed off as what it is not, as there has been a profound breakdown of convictions. Perhaps this has its advantages, since indisputable dogmas can implode from within. But it can also lead to distortion, the same kind seen in the paranoid or the heavily stimulated.

In a world where we can watch a three-hour story about the creator of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and not see the slightest bit of damage that it caused to the innocent population of Japan, the power of perspective should come as no surprise. It is precisely this break with the dominant way of seeing that is causing the most exciting rereadings of the moment. What we saw from one point of view, we are now seeing from another.

In this way, its not surprising at all that the same movie industry that catapulted the legend of the American West and the strength of pioneers is now rewriting those very stories from the perspective of Native Americans. It is about completing the puzzle for possible justice, which greatly upsets some, as they do not want anyone to change their childhood landscape, the territory of their egomania.

Only this love for a horrendous yet welcoming landscape can justify why some politicians are trying to pass off the mass bombing of Gaza as a proportionate and fair act of defense. It would be good if they could clarify the reason why thousands of Palestinian children and women do not deserve their compassion. To say that terrorists use them as human shields is nothing short of denying them the right to exist. They literally have nowhere to go to escape a carnage that does not even respect hospitals. Of course the kidnapping and murder of innocent Israelis in the October 7 massacre is abhorrent, but turning it into an opportunity to destroy all human restraint is unthinkable. Or is it? Its curious that some of the staunchest defenders of Netanyahus doctrine were also behind the catastrophic invasion of Iraq, carried out on the false accusations that the country had weapons of mass destruction. That geopolitical disaster, from which we are still recovering, triggered two issues that are once again taking center stage: the massive exodus of the migrant population and the exponential increase in the threat of terrorism.

No one is unaware that these two issues are the electoral ammunition behind the triumph of the most reactionary political proposals that the West has seen since the rise of Nazism. The uncontrolled migratory flow and the threat of terrorism are two fears that have been introduced into the personal agenda of citizens who enjoy democratic systems. They are the two uncontrollable pieces in countries that self-impose guarantees and limitations by curbing civil rights. The freedom gained is at odds with citizen panic. Creating and establishing it as a new social landscape leads voters to move towards Messianic authoritarianism. Thats the dilemma we find ourselves in today. Dont believe there is anything innocent about the efforts to encourage these two fears. It wins a lot of votes. Netanyahu, whose political program consisted of stripping power from oversight courts, knows this well, as do his allies in Western democracies. They are working overtime to stoke our fears.

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DUBAI, UAE , Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Beijing HyperStrong Technology Co., Ltd. ("HyperStrong" or "the Company") co-founder, chairman, and CEO Jianhui Zhang attended the recent 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 28 ) in Dubai , United Arab Emirates ( UAE ), where he presented and participated in discussions on crucial topics such as sustainable development, energy transformation solutions, and green supply chain practices. HyperStrong, a leader in dedicated energy storage system (ESS) integration and service provision, also signed a collective vision statement for the development of global zero-carbon communities.

HyperStrong is rapidly expanding its international business to provide one-stop energy storage system solutions for partners in the global ecological chain and is currently deploying regional centers and local teams in North America , Europe , and Australia . This year, the Company participated in leading renewable energy exhibitions in Germany , the United States , and Australia , displaying the Company's flagship products and cutting-edge solutions, and reaching various cooperation deals with many partners and customers in the industry.

"In the near future, the integrated application of energy storage products in new energy consumption, transportation, construction, industry, rural areas, and other fields will continue to deepen," said Jianhui Zhang . "Diverse application scenarios such as smart energy, smart transportation, household storage, smart electrification, and virtual power plants will all be ubiquitous."

New energy storage plays a pivotal role in constructing a modern power system, contributing significantly to power supply support, enhanced system adjustment capabilities, and the overall safety of grid operations. The transition from traditional source-to-load dynamics to source-grid-load-storage integration marks a transformative shift in the power system, aligning with the three overarching development goals of safety, green practices, and efficiency.

Examining the global electrochemical energy storage market's size reveals sustained rapid growth. Predictions indicate an addition of over 1000GWh of energy storage capacity worldwide from 2022 to 2030, with China and the United States continuing as the leading markets. In terms of technology trends, the energy storage industry's large-scale development stage necessitates exploration into digitalization, intelligence, safety, and efficient, coordinated development. Solid-state battery technology is acknowledged as a crucial solution to safety concerns, with HyperStrong actively deploying next-generation intrinsically safe battery technology. HyperStrong's co-developed semi-solid lithium iron phosphate battery for energy storage has successfully entered mass production and application in projects.

Intelligent energy storage systems face challenges in managing extensive data generated by projects, identifying fault risks swiftly, and ensuring system safety. HyperStrong addresses these concerns through big data and artificial intelligence, establishing a digital model for the product life cycle. This facilitates multi-dimensional status analysis, health diagnosis, fault location, and long-term safety risk warnings, ensuring power station safety, operational efficiency, and enhancing asset value.

Smart manufacturing is prioritized for energy storage product quality, with HyperStrong aiming to build several zero-carbon smart manufacturing bases. The establishment of a product life cycle traceability system and a new digital and intelligent manufacturing model support high-quality, large-scale delivery of energy storage products, securing the industry's sustainable development. So far, HyperStrong has accumulated experience of over 10GWh energy storage deployment.

About Beijing HyperStrong Technology

Beijing HyperStrong Technology Co., Ltd. ("HyperStrong") is a leading ESS integrator and service provider. Founded in 2011, HyperStrong has become the largest ESS integrator in China . With over 10 years of R&D and experience garnered through more than 300 ESS projects, HyperStrong offers a full portfolio of ESS products as well as one-stop solutions for clients ranging from thermal power and renewable power generation to C&I and residential users. Having built two smart manufacturing bases, two R&D centers, a testing lab and a global marketing center, HyperStrong empowers clients worldwide to achieve their energy transition and carbon neutrality goals.

For three consecutive years (2020-2022), the China Energy Storage Alliance (CNESA) has ranked HyperStrong as the top ESS player by energy storage system installation and/or delivery volume in the Chinese market. According to a recent report unveiled by S&P Global, HyperStrong is ranked one of the top 5 ESS integrators worldwide in terms of project scale as of July 2023 .

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SOURCE Beijing HyperStrong Technology Co., Ltd.
ICONIQ Impact's Ocean Co-Lab will fund 20 projects to help protect our ocean, and our planet, from a climate disaster.

NEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, ICONIQ Impact, ICONIQ Capital's global platform for collaborative philanthropy, announced its Ocean Co-Lab  a philanthropic fund of up to $50 million to support organizations that are harnessing the power of our planet's ocean to fight climate change.

The Ocean Co-Lab is helping fill a critical gap in ocean climate investment by funding solutions that are not only meant to protect and preserve the ocean but also harness its immense power to mitigate climate change. Ocean-based solutions  such as replacing fossil fuels with offshore wind energy, protecting mangroves and other ecosystems that absorb carbon, and supporting coastal communities in their efforts to adapt to a warming planet  are critically important in the fight against climate change.

Despite the ocean's ability to deliver up to 35 percent of the emission reductions needed to keep the planet below 1.5 degrees warming, funding for ocean-based climate solutions currently comprises just seven percent of climate giving. Moreover, less than one percent of ocean funding is directed toward solutions that help combat climate change.[1]

"Our focus at ICONIQ Impact is to identify areas where our collaborative funding can have a catalytic impact and where existing funding is nowhere near commensurate with the need," said Matti Navellou, head of ICONIQ Impact. "With the Ocean Co-Lab, we're looking to fill a critical funding gap and champion solutions that governments and the private sector often overlook or are too early-stage to fund, such as new research in promising climate technology or supporting vulnerable coastal communities."

"Tackling climate change is no small feat," said Michael Anders , founding partner of ICONIQ Capital. "It takes courage and grit to look at an issue of this magnitude and say, 'We can defeat this together.' That's what the Ocean Co-Lab's participants  both our donors and grantees  are trying to do. It's a remarkable moment when a group of philanthropists realizes the immense impact they can have if they pool resources and direct them toward experts and organizations who have been doing the work for decades. I'm really proud to be a founding donor of the Ocean Co-Lab, and our hope is to nudge more philanthropists closer to this type of collaborative, trust-based giving."

The Ocean Co-Lab's funding will provide three-year grants to 20 projects, each of which aims to address the root causes of climate change and help build the resilience of coastal ecosystems and communities. Each project falls into one of the below categories:

Climate Change Mitigation: Five projects are scaling proven mitigation solutions, such as decarbonized shipping and offshore wind power.

Five projects are scaling proven mitigation solutions, such as decarbonized shipping and offshore wind power. Carbon Sequestration: Four projects are applying scientific rigor to unlock emerging sequestration technologies, such as ocean alkalinity enhancement, while protecting marine ecosystems.

Four projects are applying scientific rigor to unlock emerging sequestration technologies, such as ocean alkalinity enhancement, while protecting marine ecosystems. Blue Carbon: Four projects are helping preserve and protect mangroves, salt marshes, and other critical ecosystems that absorb and store carbon.

Four projects are helping preserve and protect mangroves, salt marshes, and other critical ecosystems that absorb and store carbon. Adaptation & Resilience: Seven projects are increasing the ocean's resilience to climate stressors and supporting coastal communities in their ongoing efforts to withstand climate-induced shifts to their land and livelihoods.

Grantee organizations include:

Pacific Environment : Pacific Environment serves people, wildlife, and ecosystems by promoting grassroots activism, strengthening communities, leading strategic campaigns, and reforming international policies. Pacific Environment is expanding their Ports for People campaign to three of the world's largest shipping economies: South Korea , Japan , and China . Specifically, they're looking to put ships on mandatory zero-emission pathways, help create zero-emission trade routes, and end ports' fossil fuel reliance.

Pacific Environment serves people, wildlife, and ecosystems by promoting grassroots activism, strengthening communities, leading strategic campaigns, and reforming international policies. Pacific Environment is expanding their to three of the world's largest shipping economies: , , and . Specifically, they're looking to put ships on mandatory zero-emission pathways, help create zero-emission trade routes, and end ports' fossil fuel reliance. Renewables Grid Initiative : Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI) is a European-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting fair, transparent, and sustainable grid development. Since 2020, RGI has initiated a collaboration with 32 NGOs, transmission system operators, and wind developers in a project called Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature (OCEaN). OCEaN's focus is to accelerate offshore wind and electricity grids while protecting and restoring marine ecosystems. Initially covering the North and Baltic seas, OCEaN has recently expanded to include the Mediterranean and Atlantic basins.

Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI) is a European-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting fair, transparent, and sustainable grid development. Since 2020, RGI has initiated a collaboration with 32 NGOs, transmission system operators, and wind developers in a project called (OCEaN). OCEaN's focus is to accelerate offshore wind and electricity grids while protecting and restoring marine ecosystems. Initially covering the North and Baltic seas, OCEaN has recently expanded to include the Mediterranean and basins. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution : The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ocean science, marine research, engineering, and higher education. Their mission is to understand the ocean and its interactions with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate an understanding of the ocean's role in the changing global environment. The Subhas Lab at WHOI is looking to understand the effectiveness and scalability of ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), a process where alkaline substances are added to the ocean to enhance its capacity to absorb and store carbon.

The (WHOI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ocean science, marine research, engineering, and higher education. Their mission is to understand the ocean and its interactions with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate an understanding of the ocean's role in the changing global environment. at WHOI is looking to understand the effectiveness and (OAE), a process where alkaline substances are added to the ocean to enhance its capacity to absorb and store carbon. The Marine Tenure Facility for local communities, small-scale fishers, and Indigenous Peoples : The Marine Tenure Facility provides services and resources to groups that are disproportionately impacted by climate change. Support from the upcoming Facility will enable these groups to secure and use their rights to coastal and marine spaces and resources, allowing them to continue to be effective stewards of coastal environments and supported as leaders in climate change response. The Facility will focus on ensuring that communities experience greater agency over the ways in which their coasts and oceans are used, conserved, managed, and adapted.

A full list of grantees can be found here .

ICONIQ Impact has mobilized $42 million for this effort thus far and is inviting other philanthropists to join us to protect our ocean, and our planet, from a climate disaster. Philanthropists interested in learning more about or providing additional funding for the Ocean Co-Lab should contact ICONIQ Impact at [email protected] .

ABOUT ICONIQ IMPACT :

ICONIQ Impact is ICONIQ Capital's platform for collaborative philanthropy. We convene an extraordinary community of families, founders, and organizations to tackle some of the world's most complex challenges. Guided by experts and impacted communities, our model lowers the barriers to philanthropy, encourages collective action, and prioritizes learning and equity at each step.

ICONIQ Impact Co-Labs are collaborative philanthropy funds where donor communities make multi-year grants to a portfolio of nonprofit organizations addressing urgent challenges facing the world today. Each Co-Lab enables donors to maximize their efficiency through co-funding while learning from inspiring experts and leaders of impacted communities.[2]

[1] "The Ocean as a Solution to Climate Change: Updated Opportunities for Action." High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy , https://oceanpanel.org/publication/ocean-solutions-to-climate-change/. Accessed 14 November 2023 .

[2] ICONIQ Impact serves as a philanthropic advisor to the third party sponsoring the Co-Lab.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Amy Enright

Newton Street

[email protected]

+1 206 612 3151

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SOURCE ICONIQ Capital
SHANGRAO, China , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. ("JinkoSolar" or the "Company") (NYSE: JKS), one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world, today announced that it has been honoured with the PV Magazine Publisher's Pick Award 2023 for its latest commercial and industrial energy storage system SunGiga. This prestigious recognition highlights JinkoSolar's exceptional contribution to the renewable industry.

JinkoSolar's new SunGiga has an intelligent power conversion system and multiple liquid cooling control modes that lower consumption by 30% and, compared with a standard air-cooling system, SunGiga's space utilization rate is higher by 38%. The modular and pre-assembled design makes installation and maintenance as well as future capacity augmentation easier and faster.

The SunGiga BESS's distinctive liquid-cooling structural design not only optimizes heat dissipation but also significantly enhances the overall energy density of the system. Thanks to this breakthrough innovation, less space is required to house the 215 kWh of battery capacity.

Safety is a paramount at JinkoSolar. This is parfticularly evident in the comprehensive multi-layer safety protection integrated into the SunGiga BESS at the battery electrical and system levels. Intelligent battery monitoring technology ensures high-precision online monitoring of the battery status, offering timely and accurate alerts to prevent thermal runaway.

Ms. Dany Qian , Vice President of JinkoSolar, commented: "We are very proud to receive this prestigious award from PV Magazine for our advanced ESS solutions. This award is a testament to our steadfast commitment to advancing secure, efficient, and groundbreaking solutions in the field of renewable energy. Together with our state-of-the-art modules, our solar-plus-storage comprehensive solution optimized for C&I markets help our customers enjoy cheaper power, achieve energy security and decarbonize their operations. JinkoSolar remains fully committed to be a trailblazer in shaping the future of sustainable energy solutions for the benefit of humanity."

About JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world. JinkoSolar distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China , the United States , Japan , Germany , the United Kingdom , Chile , South Africa , India , Mexico , Brazil , the United Arab Emirates , Italy , Spain , France , Belgium , Netherlands , Poland , Austria , Switzerland , Greece and other countries and regions.

JinkoSolar had 14 productions facilities globally, 24 overseas subsidiaries in Japan , South Korea , Vietnam , India , Turkey , Germany , Italy , Switzerland , the United States , Mexico , Brazil , Chile , Australia , Canada , Malaysia , the United Arab Emirates , Denmark , Indonesia , Nigeria and Saudi Arabia , and global sales teams in China , the United States , Canada , Brazil , Chile , Mexico , Italy , Germany , Turkey , Spain , Japan , the United Arab Emirates , Netherlands , Vietnam and India , as of September 30, 2023 .

To find out more, please see: www.jinkosolar.com

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and the Company's operations and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in JinkoSolar's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Ms. Stella Wang

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

Tel: +86 21-5180-8777 ext.7806

Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is welcoming the International Labor Organization, the World Bank, United Nations Saudi Arabia, and other partners for the inauguration of the Global Labor Market Conference (GLMC) in Riyadh on December 13-14 , as leading institutions search for comprehensive strategies to deal with the advent of AI, shifting demographics, and dramatic changes to the nature of work in the world.

H.E. Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhii , Minister of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) offered context for GLMC, saying its inauguration comes at a time when global labor markets are facing exceptional dynamics and anticipated changes. He continued that a concerted international effort is required to address these factors in a way that secures a better future for all.

He added the conference participants hail from among the most important and influential actors in the global labor market, who will come together with the aim of creating a common vision for success and prosperity. He expressed his confidence that this conference marks the beginning of this vision, which will be developed and implemented on the ground.

The GLMC will convene leaders from multinational organizations, government ministries, business, academia, technology, and labor representatives from more than 40 countries. The platform is designed to help identify common challenges, forecast future uncertainties, and build the mechanisms of cooperation necessary to safeguard international labor markets.

Dignitaries in attendance will include International Labor Organization Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo , former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi , Saudi Minister of Communications & Information Technology H.E. Abdullah Al-Swaha , Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning H.E. Faisal Bin Alibrahim , Saudi Minister of Tourism H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb , and Saudi Human Rights Commission President H.E. Dr. Hala bint Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri .

The conference will entail over 40 sessions addressing critical questions including, "Has the Labor Contract Run its Course?" and "The Next Frontier for AI & People." Sessions also will tackle skills and productivity gaps, regulation and deregulation, and best approaches to spur work for all. Dozens of new international agreements are expected to be announced over the course of the two-day conference.

Announcing the GLMC Vision Ambassadors

The GLMC also is announcing on Tuesday, Dec. 12 , that it has enlisted Brigitte Hyacinth, Pascal Bornett , Ahmed Al-Shehri , and Mohammed Al-Hammadi as "Vision Ambassadors."

Hailing from Trinidad and Tobago , Ms. Hyacinth is a best-selling author and expert on leadership, management, human resources, and emerging technologies. Mr. Bornet , who is based in the United States , is at the forefront of the artificial intelligence revolution, and is a leading media commentator on the work-related impacts of AI. Mr. Al-Shehri is a Saudi economic consultant and expert, whose columns on labor markets have appeared in Saudi Gazette among others. From the United Arab Emirates , Mr. Al-Hammadi is the Chairman and Board of Directors of the UAE Journalists Association and has a career-long track record as a journalist and communications expert.

For more information about the Global Labor Market Conference (GLMC), please visit www.globallabormarketconference.com

About the Global Labor Market Conference (GLMC)

The Global Labor Market Conference is a platform that aims to convene experts, specialists, and representatives of labor market stakeholders to engage in discussions about current and future international market challenges and propose innovative solutions to address them. Launched in Riyadh by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this annual conference seeks to establish a forum for the exchange of ideas, collaboration, and as a driving force for positive changes in labor practices on a global scale.

The event will gather Excellencies, the Ministers of Labor from G20 countries, leaders of pertinent international organizations, high-ranking officials, and figures from government and private sectors worldwide. It will also draw participation from major investors in both local and international private sectors. The conference's primary focus will be on policies and best practices related to labor markets, while emphasizing the pivotal roles of employers and governments in shaping a harmonious and inclusive labor market.

In addition to the core conference program, which will delve into topics concerning the future of labor markets, the ongoing transformations in the world of work, and the influence of globalization, several ancillary activities will take place. These will include specialized workshops, diverse events, the signing of numerous memorandums of understanding and agreements, and the recognition of distinguished institutions and organizations within the labor market through the "Labor Award."

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Leading settlement funding firm to deploy remaining capital prior to Christmas.

NEWARK, N.J. , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal-Bay LLC, the premier pre settlement funding company, announced today that they expect a multitude of new funding applications this holiday season. While dealing with the financial woes that come with a higher cost of living, plaintiffs are asking themselves how they can get their hands on some extra money for their Christmas shopping this year. Tapping into an existing lawsuit could be the answer.

Legal Bay knows that this time of the year can be joyful, but also stressful when funds are low. That's why they have some good news for those who may need a little extra holiday cash: The settlement funding company has a deadline of December 25 to deploy its remaining allocated capital for the year. This means they are approving cases at the highest rate in the industry right now. To prove this, Legal-Bay is prepared to fund most injury cases that have filed complaints in court but have never received settlement funding before. Cases with large buyouts and/or have not yet filed in the courts are also free to apply.

This unprecedented offer is on a first-come, first-served basis and will close on either December 20 or once all funds are deployed, whichever comes first.

Chris Janish , CEO of Legal Bay , commented, "We are in a giving mood this time of year. We cannot guarantee approval for everyone, but plaintiffs that have been left out in the cold in the past or have been denied by other settlement funding companies should not be discouraged from applying with our team. We have available capital that must be deployed by Christmas, and our friendly staff are here to do our best to try and make the holidays a little easier for you and your family."

If you need an immediate cash advance against your impending lawsuit settlement, please visit Legal-Bay HERE or call toll-free: 877.571.0405. Agents are standing by during business hours from 9AM to 7PM EST .

Legal-Bay offers cash settlement funding and lawsuit loans for all types of cases including personal injury, dog bites, motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, and more.

Their loan for settlement funding programs are designed to provide immediate cash in advance of a plaintiff's anticipated monetary award. While it's common to refer to these legal funding requests as settlement loans, loans for settlements, law suit loans, loans for lawsuits, etc., the "lawsuit loan" funds are, in fact, non-recourse. That means there's no risk when it comes to loans in lawsuit settlements because there is no obligation to repay the money if the recipient loses their case. Therefore, terms like settlement loan, loans for lawsuit, loans on settlement, or lawsuit loan funds don't necessarily apply, as the "loan on lawsuit" isn't really a loan at all, but rather a stress-free cash advance.

Legal-Bay is known to many as the best lawsuit funding provider in the industry for their helpful and knowledgeable staff, and one of the best lawsuit loan companies overall for their low rates and quick turnaround, sometimes within 24-48 hours once all documents have been received.

To apply right now for a loan settlement program, please visit the company's website HERE or call toll-free at: 877.571.0405 where agents are standing by to answer any questions.

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SOURCE Legal-Bay, LLC
Exclusive list recognizes technology breakthroughs which will transform the future

SEATTLE , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Optical semiconductor pioneer Lumotive today announced that it has been named in Fast Company's third annual list of Next Big Things In Tech, honoring technology breakthroughs that promise to shape the future of industries  from healthcare and security to artificial intelligence and data.

This year, 119 groundbreaking technologies have been recognized for their potential to revolutionize society and transform the way we live, work, and interact. A panel of 18 Fast Company editors and writers scrutinized each entry, carefully considering their relevancy, ingenuity, progress and potential, and the impact they could bring to the world. The assessments extended beyond immediate successes, seeking innovations with the potential to blossom into even greater prominence in the future.

Lumotive's technology is recognized as one of the 4 next big things in transportation for 2023, addressing the physical limitations of traditional lidar systems that have hindered their widespread adoption. At the heart of this innovation lies the Light Control Metasurface (LCM), a groundbreaking solid-state beam steering technology that eliminates the need for moving parts. The semiconductor-based design of LCM enables tunable nano-antennas to steer the laser beam with exceptional precision and speed, overcoming the inherent limitations of mechanical systems.

LCM technology offers a compelling solution to the key challenges that have plagued lidar systems for decades: size, cost, and reliability. The compact form factor makes LCM-powered lidar ideal for integration into various applications, including autonomous vehicles, service robots, and consumer electronics. Moreover, the solid-state nature of LCM removes the need for frequent calibrations, reducing maintenance costs and enhancing reliability.

Lumotive's LCM technology also revolutionizes the lidar manufacturing process. Unlike mechanically steered lidar systems that require complex and time-consuming assembly processes, LCM-based lidar can be manufactured using established semiconductor fabrication techniques. This alignment with the well-developed and cost-effective semiconductor industry enables mass production of LCM chips, driving down costs and making lidar more accessible across various industries.

"Being recognized by Fast Company as one of the Next Big Things in Tech is a testament to the groundbreaking work of our team and the transformative potential of our LCM technology," said Dr. Gleb Akselrod , Founder and CTO of Lumotive. "We are thrilled to be at the forefront of revolutionizing 3D sensing and enabling a future where lidar becomes ubiquitous, powering a world of autonomous vehicles, smart spaces, and intelligent machines."

"The Next Big Things in Tech is not just a look around the corner  it's a look around the corner after that," says Brendan Vaughan , editor-in-chief of Fast Company. "These are the products and ideas that will define technological innovation for the rest of this decade and beyond  and solve some of the world's most pressing issues. We are thrilled to honor the organizations that are making them a reality."

Click here to see Fast Company's third annual Next Big Things in Tech list.

Want to learn more about the next big thing in tech? Visit Lumotive at CES 2024 to experience the transformative power of solid-state 3D sensing, powered by LCM.

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. The editor-in-chief is Brendan Vaughan . Headquartered in New York City , Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication, Inc., and can be found online at fastcompany.com.

About Lumotive

Lumotive's award-winning optical semiconductor solutions enable advanced sensing and perception capabilities in next-generation consumer, mobility, and industrial automation products such as mobile devices, autonomous vehicles, and robots. The company's patented Light Control Metasurface (LCM) beam steering chips deliver an unparalleled combination of high performance, exceptional reliability, and low cost  all in a tiny, easily integrated solution. Lumotive has received measurable industry acclaim including Fierce Electronics' 2021 Startup of the Year award, CES Innovation Awards in 2022 and 2024, Fast Company's Next Big Thing in Tech 2023, a 2022 SPIE PRISM Award, and a prestigious Edison Award. Investors include Gates Frontier, MetaVC Partners, Quan Funds , Samsung Ventures, and Uniquest.

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SOURCE Lumotive
ATLANTA , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) will donate nearly $600,000 in grants to 29 organizations that serve homeless individuals across its 22-state network. Recipient organizations are based in communities served by Norfolk Southern and provide an array of vital services to homeless populations, from housing to job assistance to food and mental health support.

"We believe in the power of community and understand the profound impact homelessness has on individuals and families," said Kristin Wong , Director Corporate Giving at Norfolk Southern. "Norfolk Southern is focused on addressing this issue by supporting organizations across our 22-state network that provide shelter and critical services to the most vulnerable members of our communities."

This announcement comes as data shows homelessness has increased by nearly six percent over the last five years. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in 2022, counts of individuals and chronically homeless individuals reached record highs in the history of data collection. Homelessness is not a problem unique to any one city or town, but local service organizations play a key role in supporting those affected.

Organizations receiving funding include:

Organization Location

Atlanta Mission Atlanta, GA

Better Days Ahead Outreach Inc Phoenixville, PA

Blue Grass Community Foundation Lexington, KY

Center for Homeless Advancement for Today and Tomorrow Chattanooga, TN Covenant House Georgia, Inc Atlanta, GA

Covenant House Michigan Detroit, MI

Creative Health Service Inc Pottstown, PA

Faith Mission Columbus, OH

First Light, Inc Birmingham, AL

First Stop, Inc Huntsville, AL

Fort Wayne Rescue Mission Ministries Fort Wayne, IN

Helping Hands of Springfield Inc Springfield, IL

Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina Asheville, NC

Matthew 25: Ministries Blue Ash, OH

Ministry with Community Kalamazoo, MI

Miriam's House Lynchburg, VA

Nicholas House Atlanta, GA

North Alabama Coalition for the Homeless Huntsville, AL

Pathways Birmingham, AL

Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless Portsmouth, VA

Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities Outreach Center Pottstown, PA

Roof Above Charlotte, NC

St. Patrick's Center Inc Wilmington, Delaware

St. Vincent de Paul Baltimore Baltimore, MD

The Cooperative Downtown Ministries Inc Birmingham, AL

The Hope Center at Hagerstown Rescue Mission Hagerstown, MD

The Least of These Ministry Roanoke, VA

Uniting Partners for Women and Children Louisville, KY

Unity of Greater New Orleans New Orleans, LA



As a major driver of business and economic growth in towns and cities across the eastern United States , Norfolk Southern is committed to playing an active role in helping its communities thrive. In its corporate giving, Norfolk Southern is focused on making investments and supporting organizations that promote safe and sustainable operations, develop the local workforce, and build strong, thriving communities.

About Norfolk Southern

Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America . Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S. , serving a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes . Learn more by visiting NorfolkSouthern.com.

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SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation
Paradise Mobile is a new mobile operator which aims to provide Bermuda with agile and innovative communication experiences.

with agile and innovative communication experiences. Thales' mobile connectivity solutions were chosen by the brand-new operator to enable remote activation of its customers' eSIM (embedded SIM) equipped handsets.

Visitors to Bermuda and the region will soon be able to pre-download the eSIM profile on their device and get immediate connectivity upon their arrival, thanks to Thales remote eSIM connection to Paradise Mobile's network.

HAMILTON, Bermuda , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Paradise Mobile , a new mobile operator based in Bermuda , has chosen Thales' connectivity services to deliver the smoothest experience possible for users connecting to its new ultrafast network. Thales's cloud-based connectivity management solution will give Paradise Mobile's customers the freedom to instantly and remotely activate and update subscriptions for smartphones and other devices fitted with an eSIM , anytime and anywhere.

Launched recently, Paradise Mobile's network is built on the simple promise of 'fast, reliable mobile that just works'. In addition to setting new standards in convenience for subscribers, Paradise Mobile intends to introduce the network speeds and capacity necessary to attract hi-tech enterprises to Bermuda . In the longer term, Paradise Mobile intends to expand throughout the Caribbean and accelerate its development in order to handle the exponential increase of eSIM activation worldwide (expected to reach 2.4 billion[1] active eSIM subscriptions for smartphones by 2025).

With Thales' cloud-based solutions - eSIM management services and Over-The-Air platforms - Paradise Mobile is ideally positioned to handle the rapidly growing range of eSIM-enabled devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables. Thales' 'software as a service' (SaaS) based solutions can readily accompany the operator's expansion, as the cloud platform addresses any activation or update needs remotely, automatically adjusting the computing resources. As a result, Paradise Mobile' users will benefit from prompt eSIM activation and smooth remote subscription updates thanks to Thales' highly scalable solutions.

Cesar Cabarcos , Head of Partnerships and Roaming for Paradise Mobile said: "Thales is providing the industry-leading technology that will deliver on our promise of a fantastic user experience for everyone. The Thales platforms are also a key ingredient in our plans to create the world's fastest commercial mobile network and help turn Bermuda into the Silicon Valley of the Caribbean ."

Thierry Clamou, VP Sales Latin America and the Caribbean for Thales said: "The rapid proliferation of eSIM-enabled devices is redefining the mobile landscape. We are therefore delighted to announce this new partnership, which puts Paradise Mobile at the forefront of a new era in user convenience. With our platforms, subscribers can connect their eSIM-enabled device to a network for the first time instantly anytime and anywhere."

[1] eSIM: State of the consumer market and the road ahead' GSMA Intelligence, March 2021 https://data.gsmaintelligence.com/research/research/research-2021/esim-state-of-the-consumer-market-and-the-road-ahead

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies within three domains: Defence & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Digital Identity & Security. It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive.

The Group invests close to 4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key areas such as quantum technologies, Far Edge computing, 6G and cybersecurity.

Thales has 77,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2022, the Group generated sales of 17.6 billion.

About Paradise:

Paradise Mobile is an emerging leader in the telecom industry, known for its customer-centric approach and innovative solutions. Aimed at offering a hassle-free mobile experience, Paradise Mobile is continuously evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of its customers.

PRESS CONTACT

Thales, Media Relations

Digital Identity and Security

Vanessa Viala

+33 (0)6 07 34 00 34

[email protected]

Thales LATAM Media Relations

Jacqueline Takemasa

[email protected]

Paradise Mobile Media Relations:

Mikaela Pearman

[email protected]

441 537 1889

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SOURCE Paradise Mobile
~ First study to demonstrate rapid and sustained absorption of NDS1C epinephrine nasal spray compared to epinephrine intramuscular autoinjector, while offering higher and more sustained therapeutic plasma levels ~

~ Study also found that NDS1C was safe and generally well-tolerated, showing the enhanced pharmacokinetic profile of NDS1C does not compromise pharmacodynamic parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure ~

~ If approved, NDS1C may offer patients at risk of anaphylaxis a novel and practical alternative to needle-based administration routes ~

LEBANON, N.J. , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bryn Pharma, LLC, a privately held pharmaceutical company dedicated to finding a novel and convenient way for patients and caregivers to treat anaphylaxis, today announced data from the Company's pivotal clinical study for its investigational epinephrine nasal spray (ENS), NDS1C, have been published online by the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI): Global.

The results showed that NDS1C provides comparable rates of absorption, with overall higher and more sustained epinephrine plasma concentrations, compared to two intramuscular (IM) treatments (0.3 mg epinephrine autoinjector and 0.5 mg manual syringe).

The data support the ability of NDS1C to achieve a rate of absorption comparable to the 0.3 mg IM autoinjector, with a higher therapeutic level of epinephrine (i.e., >100 pg/mL) for essentially twice as long and with a similar safety profile.

"The results of this study are highly encouraging as an important alternative to the autoinjector in the real-world outpatient setting remains a significant unmet medical need. Recent treatment guideline updates discuss the potential need for alternative, safe, and effective epinephrine delivery devices to alleviate their symptoms quickly and efficiently," said Matt Greenhawt , M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Section of Allergy and Immunology at Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. "Currently, challenges with needle-phobia, which can delay treatment and exacerbate symptoms requiring a second dose, and reluctance to carry a potentially bulky device with them, remain a key challenge in effectively managing anaphylaxis for patients and their families."

Pharmacokinetic parameters for NDS1C exceeded those of the 0.3mg intramuscular autoinjector with a rapid and higher Cmax, (intranasal 429.4, autoinjector 328.6), and greater systemic exposure (AUC0-360 intranasal 539,060g*min/mL than autoinjector 517,440g*min/mL).

Safety results from the study found that NDS1C was safe and generally well-tolerated with no new safety signals observed for the intranasal route of administration. Similar blood pressure and heart rate effects were observed for intranasal and autoinjector administration. The most common AEs were headache (Cohort 1) and mild vomiting (Cohort 2).

"The publication of our pivotal NDS1C data in JACI Global further validates our ambition to develop an epinephrine product that is comparable to the outpatient standard of care, the EpiPen autoinjector. We are pleased that the published results from our clinical development program are able to provide that peace of mind to the anaphylaxis community, in addition to supporting the potential of a needle-free, small, easy-to-use and affordable option," said Sandy Loreaux , chief executive officer at Bryn Pharma. "We are confident that, if approved, NDS1C will offer a novel, practical and convenient alternative to needle-based administration routes to help overcome some of the persisting barriers that cause patients and caregivers experiencing an anaphylactic attack to delay or avoid treatment."

Additional details can be found in the manuscript, which is available in the "Articles in Press" section of the JACI website, located at: https://www.jacionline.org. JACI is an official journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

Study Design

The pivotal study was an open-label, three-period, crossover study was conducted in 116 healthy adult volunteers to assess the bioavailability of a single intranasal dose of epinephrine, 13.2 mg compared to an intramuscular 0.3 mg autoinjector, and a 0.5 mg manual syringe. Patients achieving epinephrine concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 pg/mL at 10-, 20-, 30-, and 60-minutes post-dose were also evaluated.

About NDS1C

If approved, NDS1C will offer patients a novel delivery system for emergency epinephrine, an area that hasn't seen significant innovation in fifty years. In 1987, the FDA approved the first epinephrine autoinjector, which has since become the standard of care in outpatient settings. Today, Bryn is working to continue the path of innovation by advancing a development program focused on pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic and safety comparisons of NDS1C to the current standard of care treatment, the 0.3 mg IM autoinjector, in accordance with clinical practice guidelines. Bryn is dedicated to creating a novel and practical solution to help this community address these challenges and better manage their daily lives with severe allergies.

About Bryn Pharma

Bryn Pharma, established in 2017, is a privately held pharmaceutical company founded by patients for patients. Bryn is focused on positively disrupting the existing market for epinephrine autoinjectors by delivering an accessible, easy-to-use alternative that better meets the needs of patients. Bryn Pharma seeks to provide this growing population at risk for anaphylaxis with a novel and practical way to be prepared for a life-threatening allergic reaction. For more information visit www.brynpharma.com.

Media Contact:

Elixir Health Public Relations

Lindsay Rocco

+1 862-596-1304

[email protected]

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SOURCE Bryn Pharma
LOS ANGELES , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Resecurity, a leading cybersecurity company, announced the successful launch of its innovative Identity Protection solution in Bahrain . The unveiling occurred following the Arab International Cybersecurity Summit held on December 5-6, 2023 , at Exhibition World Bahrain, hosted by the National Cyber Security Center.

The Arab International Cybersecurity Conference & Exhibition, held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa , Crown Prince , Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Prime Minister of Bahrain , provided an ideal platform for Resecurity to introduce its cutting-edge Identity Protection solution to the Bahraini market.

Getting in front of key decision-makers at the summit proved to be a pivotal move for Resecurity. The conference, known for attracting industry leaders, offered an invaluable opportunity to network, learn about the latest trends, and engage in meaningful discussions about the challenges facing the cybersecurity community. Resecurity's presence at the event allowed the company to position itself as a thought leader and gain exposure among influential figures in the cybersecurity field.

Commenting on the summit's significance, Gene Yoo , CEO of Resecurity, stated, "The Arab International Cybersecurity Summit provided an excellent platform for us to showcase our Identity Protection (IDP) solution in Bahrain . Our commitment to providing advanced cybersecurity solutions aligns with the summit's focus on innovation and collaboration. We believe that our presence at this event will enhance digital security in Bahrain and beyond."

Resecurity's Identity Protection solution, tailored for Bahrain , builds upon the company's success in delivering comprehensive protection to consumers and businesses in Saudi Arabia , the UAE , India and other countries. The comprehensive Identity Protection program addresses the evolving threats to digital security and reflects Resecurity's dedication to staying ahead of the cybersecurity curve.

Bahrain's pro-innovation business policies and laws create an ideal environment for cybersecurity businesses to thrive, making the launch of Resecurity's Identity Protection solution timely and significant for the company and the nation.

As Resecurity continues to expand its presence in the Middle East , the company remains committed to providing state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions and contributing to the ongoing efforts to strengthen digital security in the region.

For more information about Resecurity and its Identity Protection solution, visit www.resecurity.com.

About Resecurity

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence. Known for providing best-of-breed data-driven intelligence solutions, Resecurity's services and platforms focus on early-warning identification of data breaches and comprehensive protection against cybersecurity risks. Founded in 2016, it has been globally recognized as one of the world's most innovative cybersecurity companies with the sole mission of enabling organizations to combat cyber threats regardless of how sophisticated they are. Most recently, Resecurity was named as one of the Top 10 fastest-growing private cybersecurity companies in Los Angeles, California by Inc. Magazine. An Official Member of Infragard, AFCEA, NDIA, SIA and FS-ISAC. To learn more about Resecurity, visit https://resecurity.com.

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SOURCE Resecurity Inc.
Standup comic Jimmy Durante, who spent his careers most prolific era in California, once sang, Did you ever get the feeling that you wanted to go / But still had the feeling that you wanted to stay? One year after the debut of the documentary Harry & Meghan on Netflix, in whose six episodes Mr. and Mrs. Sussex laid out their version of the breakup with the British royal family that led to their Californian exile, the couple has once again burst into the headlines of British tabloids. There are two reasons for this. The first is Harrys battle against the British Home Office for having withdrawn him, his wife and their two children from the protective security enjoyed by the rest of the members of the royal family. And in second place, the new book by the couples chief journalist, Omid Scobie, Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchys Fight for Survival (Dey Street Books), whose Dutch edition had to be abruptly pulled from shelves because it exposed  through an error by the editorial for which the author denies all responsibility  the two Windsors who, according to Markle in her now-famous interview with U.S. television presenter Oprah Winfrey, had expressed their curiosity to know what color skin Archie, the Sussexs firstborn, would have.

At first, British media did not want to publish the names that half of the Netherlands had already found out, and that American newspapers such as The New York Times had no problem in revealing. It was journalist and presenter Piers Morgan, whose particular vendetta with the couple led to his expulsion from channel ITV more than a year ago, who broke the taboo on his GB News program. They were, he said, King Charles III and Catherine, Princess of Wales.

If over the last year a certain truce-calm has been established between the Sussex and the rest of the family, and the citizenry and media have seemed to tired of the battle, with both parts resigned to stay a civil distance from each other, the resurgence of the racism accusations have revived tensions, not to mention the attention of both the British tabloids and more conventional press. With their power waning, little wonder the Sussexes have made it known that an invitation to spend Christmas with the relatives at Sandringham [one of the kings residences] would be favourably looked upon, one of the Daily Telegraphs star columnists Allison Pearson wrote, dripping with irony. Well, they can forget that now. By publishing those two Royal names, Omid Scobie must have crushed any prospect of a reunion. This is war. [ the book is called] Endgame  the Monarchys Fight for Survival. We all know whoand whatthe monarchy is fighting. There can be only one winner, wrote Pearson.

Feeling at home in the United Kingdom

From a distance in California  he did not travel to London this time  Prince Harry has embarked on his umpteenth legal battle. This time, its against the Home Office. He is accusing the governmental department of jeopardizing the safety of his children through withdrawing the permanent security enjoyed by the rest of the House of Windsor, since the moment they ceased to have an official role as members of the royal family in 2020, by decision of Elizabeth II.

The UK is my home. The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the United States. That cannot happen if there is no possibility to keep them safe when they are on UK soil, stated Harry in a written statement read before court by his lawyer Shaheed Fatima, a practicing Muslim who does not remove her hijab in public, a specialist in public and private international law. I cant put my wife in danger like that, and given my experiences in life Im reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harms way too, stated Harry.

From left to right, Queen Camilla, King Charles III and the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, at an official reception at the Palace of Buckingham on December 5, 2023. CHRIS JACKSON (AFP)

That feeling when you want to go and that you want to stay. The back-and-forth is partly encouraged and aired by the Sussex themselves and their allies, such as the journalist Scobie, but also cheered by the tabloids, which can never resist the temptation to stir the pot, in a game of point-counterpoint between the two opposing parties. The conservative press, scandalized by the accusations of racism on behalf of the monarchy  the media refuses to accept the explanation that their publication was an accident  celebrated the apparent decision of Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, and his fiancee Olivia Henson, to not invite Harry and Meghan to their wedding, which will be held next June in the Chester Cathedral. Its nearly certain that Charles and Camilla will attend, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine. Harry and Meghans exclusion will [be] a particular blow to the couple because Grosvenor is so close to Harry that it can be revealed that he is also a godfather to the Sussexes son, Prince Archie. He is thought to be the only friend of William and Harrys chosen as a godparent by both, wrote the royal editor of The Times, Roya Nikkhah.

The Duke of Westminsters decision, the media explained, was the only appropriate move available given the current situation, so as not to further cloud the internal conflicts of the Windsors. However, it did not take long for the Sussexes to leak, through allies in their entourage, that the decision to not attend the wedding of the largest landowner in the United Kingdom had been theirs. Harry, according to the website Page Six, received the invitation a few months ago and personally called his friend Hugh to explain that his presence at the event would be very awkward. In short, he didnt go because he didnt want to. To be there and not be there, in an eternal return.

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- From firework shows, concerts, parties and more, there are endless ways to celebrate the new year in Denver . -

DENVER, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mile High City is ready to ring in 2024 with a bang. Families can experience memorable holiday traditions - including a free, ball drop-style countdown at 9 p.m. around the Mile High Tree in Civic Center Park - as well as other spectacular light displays, New Year's parties, festive events, museum exhibitions, live music and more.

Below are some fun ways to celebrate the new year. Many downtown hotels are offering packages, such as the Catbird's Disco Dreaming package, Le Meridien Denver Downtown's New Year's Eve Staycation, The Maven's No Champagne Problems New Year's Eve package and 11th Avenue Hostel's 20% off for NYE, making it the perfect place for a weekend getaway. For a full list, check out the VISIT DENVER website.

New Year's Eve Fireworks & Downtown Fun

New Year's Eve at The Mile High Tree Presented by Xfinity

Dec. 31, 2023 ; 9 p.m. , Civic Center Park

Join in on the family-friendly celebration as The Mile High Tree will host a special ball drop-style countdown to ring in the new year. The show will begin at 9pm with a 60-second cascading countdown along the seven-story, 110-foot-tall immersive art tree and will immediately precede the first downtown firework display. Admission is free!

Downtown Fireworks

Dec. 31, 2023 ; 9 p.m. and midnight, Downtown

The sky will once again sparkle over downtown at the close of 2023 with the New Year's Eve Fireworks. The two 8-minute spectacular fireworks show will occur at 9 p.m. and midnight. The identical fireworks shows can be seen near the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel and in the middle of downtown near Curtis Street .

IgNight NYE

Dec. 31, 2023 , Tivoli Quad, 1000 Larimer St , Denver

ONE Denver presents IgNight. Attendees will experience the spectacle of fire as 50+ foot tall hot air balloon's ignite the night, the frosted, delicate intricacy of ice sculptures crafted before your very eyes and family-friendly activities like a glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt and interactive movie characters. ONE Denver (Office of Nighttime Economy Denver) works to preserve the cultural identity of Denver while building a vibrant, safe, and inclusive city nightlife ecosystem that benefits all residents.

New Year's Eve Parties

Denver New Year's Gatsby's White Rose Gala

Dec. 31 2023 , The Ritz-Carlton

Immerse yourself in the Roaring 20's theme, complete with art deco decor and a crowd dressed in the period's finest attire. Revel in the luxury of The Ritz-Carlton, a premier destination that amplifies the gala's grandeur.

Denver NYE Black Tie Party

Dec. 31, 2023 , Asterisk Denver

The Denver NYE Black Tie Party is the perfect way to ring in the new year in style. Enjoy an open bar all night, live music from an incredible local cover band, and top live DJs spinning top 40s, EDM, old school hip hop, R&B, and all your classics.

8th Annual Nocturne New Year's Eve Celebration

Dec. 31, 2023 ; 5:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. , Nocturne

Sip the night away with Champagne and sublime cocktails and enjoy delectable plates created by Nocturne's culinary team as you take in the sounds of the ever-swinging Wil Swindler /Marion Powers Quintet.

"Union Station Through the Ages" New Year's Party

Dec. 31, 2023 , Denver Union Station

Step into a kaleidoscope of eras inside the Beaux Art Great Hall of Denver Union Station , where the echoes of history converge with the excitement of the present to help inform the future, creating a magical night that traverses the corridors of time. Each era will unfold in a tapestry of glamour, nostalgia, and jubilant festivity. Tickets are limited and advanced reservations are required for each experience. All guests must be at least 21 years old.

Family-Friendly New Year's Events

Noon Year's Eve

Dec. 31, 2023 ; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. , Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus

In conjunction with Snow Days, get all the glitz and glam of New York City's Times Square before bedtime! There will be ball drops at 10 a.m. , noon and 2 p.m. , plus music, tasty treats from The Teaching Kitchen and more.

Downtown Aquarium New Year's Eve Family Celebration

Dec. 31, 2023 , Downtown Aquarium

Ring in the New Year with Downtown Aquarium's mascot, Sharkey! Celebrate with a delicious buffet, a balloon drop, contests and giveaways for the kids! Reservations required.

Music & Performing Arts

'Spookadelia: Doubt's Echo'

Thru Dec. 31, 2023 , Spectra Art Space

Each room and section of this indoor/outdoor experience is immersive, interactive and full of surprises. The installations and experience, while "spooky" are also family-friendly and full of delight! Go on a self-guided journey through the Mirror Realm, aka Doubt's Echo, on a mission to conquer Doubt and his duplicitous minions.

Decadence

Dec. 30, 2023 , Colorado Convention Center

Decadence with Cosmic Gate, Deathpact, Ganja White Night, HE$H, ILLENIUM, John Summit , Justin Jay , Of The Trees, Ray Volpe , SOFI TUKKER (Hybrid DJ Set), Subtronics and Two Friends live at the Colorado Convention Center .

Nikki Glaser

Dec. 3031, 2023, Paramount Theatre

Comedian Nikki Glaser graces the Paramount Theatre for two nights of her "The Good Girl Tour."

CloZee

Dec. 3031, 2023, AEG Presents - The Mission Ballroom

AEG Presents welcomes CloZee live at Mission Ballroom for the last two nights of 2023.

Neal Francis

Dec. 31, 2023 , The Ogden Theatre

Live For Live Music welcomes " Neal Francis - Francis Comes Alive with The Texas Gentlemen" live at the Ogden Theatre.

Museum & Gallery Exhibitions

Borderlands of Southern Colorado

Thru Dec. 31, 2023 , History Colorado Center

Presented in English and Spanish, Borderlands explores the shifting geopolitical history of southern Colorado . This area, framed by mountains and rivers, is naturally conducive to unique and resilient forms of cultural connection.

Vision and Resolve

Thru Dec. 31, 2023 , Center for Colorado Women's History

This exhibition illuminates how women and their social movements have impacted Colorado's History. Focusing on suffragist Ida Clark DePriest , gay rights activist Mary Lopez Dussart , disability rights activist Laura Hershey , civic activist Anne Evans and the women leaders of Casa Verde Mothers of Pueblo, this Vision and Resolve allows visitors to experience their stories along with artifacts from the History Colorado Collection.

By Design: Stories and Ideas Behind Objects

Thru Jan. 1, 2024 , Denver Art Museum

A series of thematic installations drawn primarily from the architecture and design collection, this exhibition illustrates the abundance and versatility of approaches to design.

Sporting Events

Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Dec. 29, 2023 ; 7 p.m. , Ball Arena

Colorado Avalanche vs. San Jose Sharks

Dec. 31, 2023 ; 6 p.m. , Ball Arena

Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Dec. 31, 2023 ; 2:25 p.m. , Empower Field at Mile High

Denver Nuggets vs. Charlotte Hornets

Jan. 1, 2023 ; 7 p.m. , Ball Arena

More Holiday Events & Activities

Holiday Lights & Sights Bus Tour

Nov. 25Dec. 30, 2023, Downtown Denver

This holiday season, embark on a fun-filled, 90-minute Denver holiday lights bus tour as you take in all of the magic and cheer of this festive time of year in The Mile High City. Enjoy the unique history, architecture and beauty of Denver's holiday lights and top sights at night during this limited-run Denver holiday lights experience.

Tinseltown: Christmas Bar

Dec. 130, 2023, Denver Pavilions

Tinseltown is coming, just in time for winter! The all-encompassing Christmas-themed pop-up is overflowing with holly jolly Christmas spirit, with Santa, elves, presents, tinsel, festive tunes and lots of winter warmer drinks, including a fabulous Christmas cocktail menu.

Denver Milk Market New Year's Day Drag Queen Bingo Brunch

Jan. 1, 2024 , Denver Milk Market

Start 2024 off with a fun Drag Queen Bingo Brunch on Monday, Jan. 1st from 11 a.m.  1 p.m. featuring bottomless mimosas, prizes, delicious brunch dishes & more! Open to all.

About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau

Celebrating 114 years of promoting The Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. Denver welcomed more than 36 million visitors in 2022, generating $9.4 billion in spending, while supporting tens of thousands of jobs and making Tourism one of the city's largest industries. Learn more about Denver on the VISIT DENVER website or at Tourism Pays Denver. Follow Denver's social media channels for up-to-the-minute updates on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

With press or photo inquiries, please contact:

Jesse Davis : (720) 417-9621 or [email protected]

Caroline Campbell : (303) 549-3537 or [email protected]

Abby Schirmacher : (303) 358-0096 or [email protected]

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SOURCE VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau
SEOUL, South Korea , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wemeet Mobility, a leading South Korean mobility tech startup, unveils Roouty at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) from January 912, 2024, in Las Vegas , signaling a transformative shift in logistics. Roouty stands as more than a multi-dispatch solution with route optimization. It extends beyond transforming last-mile logistics, aiding companies to transition from manual to modern processes. Additionally, Rooty infused ESG values into the traditionally challenged logistics industry, aligning Wemeet Mobility's commitment as a pioneer to sustainability, human-centric values, and overall last-mile logistics landscape.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9232551-roouty-by-wemeet-mobility-last-mile-logistics-solutions-ces-2024/

At CES 2024, Wemeet Mobility will unveil its latest innovations, partnerships, and collaborations, underscoring its unwavering dedication to advancing the logistics industry through ongoing research and development.

Discover cutting-edge logistics solutions and the future of digital services at Roouty's website www.roouty.com and connect with Wemeet Mobility on LinkedIn to stay updated.

Redefining Last-Mile Logistics for Sustainability and Human-Centric Efficiency with Roouty

Wemeet Mobility transforms logistics with a human-centric approach, challenging industry norms through a proprietary routing engine ensuring accurate ETA and real-time shipment visibility. This addresses industry pain points, offering optimization options, leveraging insights from veteran drivers, and reducing carbon emissions to align with global regulations.

Mr. Kang , CEO Wemeet Mobility, stated, "Wemeet Mobility leverages Roouty to excel in the last milereducing costs, improving efficiency, and offseting CO2 through route optimization. Operational efficiencies result in a substantial 4x average cost reduction, empowering decentralized decision-making by dispatchers on the field and enhancing customer experience based on accuracy and Moments of Truth (MOT)."

Wemeet Mobility's boasts rapid computation and customizable business logic, ensuring ETA accuracy within 10 minutes from the actual ATA, enhancing logistics efficiency. Through collaborations with various Korean public logistics and distribution companies, Roouty strategically addresses the evolving demands in last-mile logistics.

About Wemeet Mobility

Wemeet Mobility, a pioneering mobility tech startup with six years expertise in cutting-edge VRS engines for fleets and mobility services, is poised for expansion into diverse Location-Based Services (LBS) businesses. Building on its success in the 2022 Logistics Conference and the 2023 Korea Logistics Startup Competition, the company emphasizes its commitment to upgrading logistics operations through digital transformation at the convention.

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SOURCE Wemeet Mobility
SANYA, China , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2023 China Tourism Group Development Forum was held in Shanghai from December 11-12 . Sanya, a popular destination on the southern tip of China's Hainan Island , has been selected as a model of tourism entrepreneurship and innovation for China in 2023 by the China Tourism Academy ("CTA") due to its pioneering innovative models in destination tourism development.

The CTA, founded in 2008, has been at the forefront of promoting policy development and international exchange in the tourism industry. It has been instrumental in collecting exemplary cases of tourism entrepreneurship and innovation. Sanya's inclusion as a model represents a beacon for other destinations seeking to embrace innovative approaches.

To better promote Sanya tourism globally, Sanya established the Sanya Tourism Promotion Board in 2020  the nation's sole dedicated agency for destination marketing and promotion. In 2023, the board evolved into the Sanya Tourism Board, leveraging its market-driven, specialized, and internationalized institutional mechanisms. The transformation aimed to explore new opportunities for the innovative development of Sanya tourism through market research, business conventions and awards ceremonies, festivals, media information, route development, tourists expansion and more.

Since its establishment, the Sanya Tourism Board has collaborated with travel-related enterprises within the Sanya economic zone, including accommodations, dining, transportation, attractions, duty-free shopping, and cruise industries. Meanwhile, in a bid to remain competitive among all global tourist destinations, the board has continually enhanced its core competencies by focusing on constructing a professional marketing system. This involves using a tourism data platform for market research, which helps to create targeted marketing strategies for specific customer groups and seize opportunities to grow the inbound tourism market. By closely linking and actively collaborating with enterprises, the Sanya Tourism Board has made significant contribution to the high-quality development of Sanya's tourism industry.

In 2020, data analysis and market research revealed a notable shift towards a younger customer base. To cater to this demographic, Sanya launched a targeted marketing campaign, "Wonderland Sanya", focusing on the travel interests and consumer preferences of this group. This campaign successfully drew a large number of young tourists to explore Sanya's diverse attractions. Furthermore, Sanya collaborated with local tourism businesses to host innovative events such as the Sanya Tourism Festival, music festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, cultural and creative weeks, coffee festivals, diving festivals, and family seasons. These events not only showcased the city's unique features but also stimulated tourist spending.

Furthermore, the Sanya Tourism Board has recruited outstanding talents with international perspectives and overseas work experience since its inception. The team, led by Albert Yip , the first globally recruited top executive in the Hainan Free Trade Port, consists of more than half of its members with overseas study or work backgrounds, proficient in languages such as English, Russian, French, German and Korean. With such a high-quality team, Sanya has effectively employed three strategies to boost its inbound tourism: subsidizing international routes, collaborating with top travel agencies, and enhancing global visibility via international media. This approach has successfully elevated Sanya's global presence, attracting an increasing number of tourists from around the world.

The selection by CTA as an entrepreneurship and innovation in China model in 2023 not only recognizes Sanya's achievements but also highlights the city's pivotal role in shaping the future landscape of Chinese tourism. Such recognition comes as a testament to its efforts in market-oriented collaboration, professional marketing and putting together an internationalized team. The Sanya Tourism Board's dedication has not only elevated Sanya's profile but also set a benchmark for sustainable and innovative tourism development nationwide.

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SOURCE Sanya Tourism Board
ARLINGTON, Va. , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) is pleased to announce that Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has been selected to receive the 2023 Congressional Bone Health Champion Award. The national award annually recognizes four Members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to protect and improve the bone health of Americans. BHOF, the leading health organization dedicated to preventing osteoporosis and promoting strong bones for life, presents the awards to highlight the importance of bone health and raise awareness about the osteoporosis crisis in the U.S. The other 2023 winners are Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) and Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL).

Senator Baldwin is the Chair of the Senate Subcommittee that controls funding for health, education and job training programs. The Subcommittee's report accompanying its Fiscal Year 2024 funding bill includes report language supporting a BHOF-led effort to improve Medicare payment incentives aiming to assure better care for the 1.8 million seniors on Medicare who suffer one or more osteoporotic fractures. In Wisconsin , 32,000 Medicare beneficiaries suffered over 38,000 osteoporotic fractures in 2016.

"Bone health is essential to our overall quality of life, especially as we age," said Senator Baldwin . "I am proud to be a partner to the BHOF in our fight to ensure more Americans have the awareness of and access to the care they need to protect their bones and live healthy, fulfilling lives."

"The importance of bone health and its impact on an individual's overall health as well as healthcare costs is often overlooked by policymakers," said Claire Gill , CEO of the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. "We greatly appreciate Senator Baldwin's work to improve care and shed light on what is a crisis in bone health in the United States . We know what needs to be done to address this crisis. There are simple steps Congress and the Biden Administration can take that would greatly improve the care of millions of Americans with osteoporosis."

Osteoporosis is a growing yet often ignored healthcare problem that disproportionately impacts women. Ten million Americans have osteoporosis and 44 million are at high risk of the disease due to low bone density. According to a 2021 report, two million Medicare beneficiaries (about 70 percent women) suffered up to 2.1 million osteoporotic bone fractures in 2016. For women, the risk of any osteoporotic fracture is greater than their risk of a heart attack, stroke or breast cancer combined. The total annual cost for osteoporotic fractures among Medicare beneficiaries was $57 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow to over $95 billion in 2040 without reforms, as the population ages.

About the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation

The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation, formerly the National Osteoporosis Foundation, is the leading health organization dedicated to preventing osteoporosis and broken bones, promoting strong bones for life, and reducing human suffering through programs of public and clinician awareness, education, advocacy and research. Established in 1984, BHOF is the nation's largest health organization dedicated to osteoporosis and bone health.

Media Contact:

Carina May

[email protected]

Phone: 703-740-1764

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SOURCE Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation
QUEENS, N.Y. , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dean Michael A. Simons announced today that the Center for Law and Religion at St. John's Law will be named in honor of alumni Denise Melillo Mattone and Michael X. Mattone , in recognition of their transformative gift to endow the Center's activities. The multimillion-dollar gift will allow the Center to offer new educational programs and expand its impact as a hub for exploring issues of law and religion in the United States and around the world.

"People continue to care deeply about the relationship between church and state, and the questions aren't getting any easier," Dean Simons said. "These questions are crucial for us to examine as members of a Catholic and Vincentian institution and as American citizens. I'm so grateful to Denise and Michael for their generosity and commitment, which will allow the Center to contribute even more to this vital area of the law."

The newly named Denise '90 and Michael '91 Mattone Center for Law and Religion will offer educational opportunities, including innovative coursework, a visiting scholars program, and academic workshops and conferences at St. John's campuses in New York , Paris , and Rome . It will also host programs for St. John's alumni and the wider public, including podcasts, videos, and live events on pressing church-state issues.

"For 13 years, the Center has had an impact in the legal academy through our conferences, podcasts, and other programs," said Center Co -Director Mark Movsesian . "Denise's and Michael's gift will allow us to have even more influence. I'm grateful for their confidence in us and honored to be associated with a center that bears their names."

Another major benefit of the Mattones' gift, Professor Movsesian shared, will be increased funding for student fellowships. "Our student fellows play an important role in the Center , working on our blog, producing podcasts, tending our social media feeds, and helping with Center events," he said. "Denise's and Michael's generosity will help us continue to provide this opportunity to our students, enhancing their learning and the intellectual life of the Law School."

Reflecting on the Mattones' generosity, and looking forward to the opportunities it fosters, Center Co -Director Marc DeGirolami said: "This wonderful gift positions the Center to extend and deepen the basic inquiry that has animated it from the beginning: how do law and religionthese enduring and profound sources of meaning, authority, tradition, and valuerelate to one another? We're very excited for the work that Denise's and Michael's generous gift has made possible."

As the Center starts this new chapter, the Mattones are delighted to be part of its progress. "Denise and I are pleased to support the Center ," Michael Mattone said. "It plays a key role in providing a forum for scholarly dialogue on the interplay of law and religion, and we're eager to see that important work evolve and shape discourse nationally and globally."

About Denise and Michael Mattone

Denise Melillo Mattone began her legal career in public service, working as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn and, later, as Law Secretary to Hon. Jeffrey D. Lebowitz in the New York courts. She then moved into private practice. Denise has supported her community through St. Brigid's Attic, Saint Christopher-Ottilie Family of Services, and the Catholic Faith Network, among other organizations.

Michael X. Mattone is Chief Executive Officer of Mattone Investors, LLC. He is a member of the St. John's Law Alumni Association Board of Directors and sits on the St. John's University Board of Trustees. Supporting the wider community, Michael serves on the boards of the Catholic Faith Network, New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, Queens Economic Development Corporation, Jamaica Center Business Improvement District , and Queens Boy Scouts. He has received the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America's Golden Lion Award, Catholic Charities of Long Island's Caritas Award, and St. John's Spirit of Service Award. He is also a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher.

About the Mattone Center for Law and Religion

Established in 2010 as the Center for Law and Religion and renamed in 2023, the Denise '90 and Michael '91 Mattone Center for Law and Religion at St. John's Law provides a forum for studying law and religion from domestic, international, and comparative perspectives with the aim of:

Examining the role of law in the relationship between religion and the state

Exploring the concept of law in different religious traditions

Promoting St. John's Vincentian mission by encouraging an open dialogue on law and religion in the local, national, and international communities

In addition to hosting academic programs locally and around the world, the Center coordinates the Law School's law and religion curriculum. It also hosts the Law and Religion Forum, a blog about recent law and religion scholarship and news, and Legal Spirits, a podcast series on law and religion issues in the courts.

Media Contact:

Trent Anderson , Associate for Enrollment and External Relations

[email protected]

718-990-6613

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Twelfth annual Crossed Swords will see Stamus Networks share expertise and technology to develop and test the capabilities and practical skills of participants

TALLINN, Estonia , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stamus Networks , a global provider of high-performance network-based threat detection and response systems, today announced it is once again participating in Crossed Swords, organized by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Center of Excellence (CCDCOE) in Tallinn, Estonia . The exercise runs from December 12-14 .

Since it was first developed in 2014, Crossed Swords focuses on full-spectrum offensive cyber operations, exploring every possible attack vector and technique potentially used by adversaries. The event, which is designed to help make NATO members build a more resilient defense against cyber adversaries, brings together hundreds of participants from around the world. They'll be training in the areas of cyber red teaming, penetration testing, digital forensics, situational awareness, and monitoring techniques. The exercise uses realistic technologies and attack methods, with the goal of building a resilient defense through knowing the most current attack methods and tools. This year, participants from 21 countries are taking part, including a team of Stamus Networks engineers.

"By partnering with the CCDCOE and our NATO allies in these exercises, we're putting our technologies and skills to the test in real-world scenarios," said Ken Gramley , CEO of Stamus Networks. "There's no better proving ground to demonstrate that our solutions work, uncover ways that they can become even stronger, and to support cyber defenders around the globe."

Since 2016, Stamus Networks has worked with the CCDCOE in numerous live fire exercises, including Locked Shields, the largest live-fire cyber defense exercise in the world, providing both personnel and its network security solutions. This includes educational workshops and its network detection and response (NDR) system  the Stamus Security Platform .

To learn more about the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) and the exercise Crossed Swords, visit the website: https://ccdcoe.org/exercises/crossed-swords/ .

About Stamus Networks:

Stamus Networks believes in a world where defenders are heroes, and a future where those they protect remain safe. As organizations face threats from well-funded adversaries, we relentlessly pursue solutions that make the defender's job easier and more impactful. The global leader in Suricata-based network security solutions, Stamus Networks helps enterprise security teams know more, respond sooner and mitigate their risk with insights gathered from cloud and on-premise network activity. Our Stamus Security Platform combines the best of intrusion detection (IDS), network security monitoring (NSM), and network detection and response (NDR) systems into a single solution that exposes serious and imminent threats to critical assets and empowers rapid response. For more information visit: stamus-networks.com.

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SOURCE Stamus Networks
Improving Employee Experience Will Be a Top Focus in 2024

NEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In recent months, America's red-hot post-pandemic labor market has finally begun to cool, though substantial labor shortages remain as a long-feared recession failed to materialize for 2023. Under these more balanced conditions, a new survey of Chief Human Resources Officers finds CHROs are increasingly confident about expanding their companies' workforces: 44% expect to increase their hiring over the next six monthsup from 38% in Q3.

Overall, The Conference Board CHRO Confidence Index fell to 53 in Q4 2023, down from 55 in Q3. (A reading of more than 50 points reflects more positive than negative responses.) Despite the improved outlook on hiring, expectations in the Index's other two component areasretention and employee engagementcontinued to slide in Q4, driving down headline CHRO confidence.

"HR leaders' optimism is waning as recession remains on the horizon to start 2024," said Diana Scott , Leader of The Conference Board US Human Capital Center. "With a third of CHROs expecting employee engagement to decline, it is reassuring that CHROs plan to strengthen employee experience and organizational culture in 2024. And while the percentage of CHROs planning to hire workers ticked up after a steep drop last quarter, nearly a quarter expect to lose workers in the coming months. It follows that an overwhelming percentage of leaders say retaining existing workers will be a key part of their talent strategy next year."

The Index, conducted quarterly, was launched in Q1 2023 and is comprised of three componentshiring, retention, and engagementas well as special questions included in each quarter's survey. A total of 194 CHROs participated in the Q4 survey, which included additional questions on 2024 priorities. Key findings include:

Hiring

The CHRO Confidence Index: Hiring component rose to 55 in Q4 2023up slightly from 53 in Q3.

On average, CHROs' workforce expansion plans improved in Q4:

44% of CHROs expect to increase their hiring over the next six monthsup from 38% in Q3.

19% expect to decrease their hiring over the next six monthsdown from 26% in Q3.

Retention

The CHRO Confidence Index: Retention component ticked down to 51 in Q4 2023 from 54 in Q3.

The decline in CHRO expectations regarding employee retention has persisted into Q4:

22% of CHROs expect employee retention to decrease over the next six months, up from 18% in Q3.

Only 28% of CHROs expect their employee retention levels to improve over the next six monthsdown from 34% in Q3.

51% of CHROs expect employee retention to hold steadyup slightly from 48% in Q3.

Engagement

The CHRO Confidence Index: Engagement component dropped to 52 in Q4 2023 from 57 in Q3.

More CHROs expect declines in employee engagement in Q4:

31% expect engagement levels to decrease over the next six monthsup from 25% in Q3.

37% expect engagement levels to increasedown from 48% in Q3.

32% expect engagement to hold steadyup slightly from 27% in Q3.

Special Questions for Q4: 2024 Priorities

For Q4 2023, the Index also surveyed CHROs on their human capital management priorities for 2024.

Overall priorities: In 2024, CHROs are prioritizing strengthening employee experience and organizational culture.

75% plan to strengthen the employee experience and organizational culture.

A close second, 74% of CHROs plan to develop leadership and workforce capabilities.

Less important is addressing worker flexibility, with only 11% stating it as a priority.

Employee experience and culture: Engaging employees takes precedence over employee well-being.

70% will focus on improving employee engagement at all levels.

Only 36% will focus on employee well-being initiatives.

Worker flexibility: CHROs are not putting an emphasis on bringing workers back to the office.

Only 10% plan to bring workers back to the office full time.

Instead, 52% plan to improve the productivity of hybrid work arrangements.

Talent strategy: Attracting and retaining workers will also be a priority for CHROs in 2024.

56% said attracting and retaining workers was a priority.

CHROs' talent strategy is overwhelmingly to retain existing workers (80%), rather than focus on internal mobility (46%) or adding full-time workers (20%).

Total rewards: CHROs are emphasizing adjusting wages to align with market rates.

62% plan to adjust wages to align with market rates.

Only 35% plan to increase pay transparency.

Digital transformation: CHROs are investing in AIbut not for a competitive advantage.

61% are investing in AI to streamline HR processes.

Only 21% are investing in AI to create a competitive advantage.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion: No CHROs plan to scale back their initiatives.

No CHROs plan to scale back DEI initiatives, programs, and policies.

63% plan to focus on attracting a more diverse workforce.

About The Conference Board

The Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers trusted insights for what's ahead. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States . www.conference-board.org

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SOURCE The Conference Board
A partnership between Solinftec, Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN) - and Still Waters Manufacturing combines the expertise of these three companies to manufacture the Solix robot, contributing to regional development in Indiana .

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Solinftec, a global leader in artificial intelligence solutions and sustainable agricultural practices, strengthened its partnership with WHIN and expanded its manufacturing capacity in the United States through collaboration with Still Waters Manufacturing. The production of the Solix robot in the WHIN region of Indiana strengthens Solinftec's presence in the United States from the last quarter.

The collaboration and efforts of the companies will make robotic technology more accessible to American producers, leading to a significant reduction in herbicide use and promoting sustainable agriculture. "This partnership represents a significant milestone for the US agricultural industry, and it's gratifying to see two companies from our network bringing innovation to our region. Collaboration among all parties was crucial to the success of this project," says Johnny Park , CEO of WHIN.

The factory, with the capacity to produce up to 20 Solix robots per day, benefits from the experience of Jake Church , CEO of Still Waters Manufacturing. "There's something truly special about building these robots in rural Indiana . They will come out of what used to be a school, where many farmers and livestock producers in this area received their primary education. This venture is an opportunity to 'rewrite' history. A dear friend of mine often says, 'If you want to know the future, go build it,'" Church states. The business received an initial investment of over 2 million dollars from Solinftec for the next two harvests, ensuring continued annual growth.

"This will be the first agricultural robotics factory in the American Midwest ," added the CEO of Still Waters Manufacturing. The team involved in Solix manufacturing will consist of workers living near the region served by Still Waters Manufacturing, with many of them being local farmers. "This work brings the community close, seeking to develop and innovate agriculture in the region with technology," says Guilherme Guine, Chief Operations Officer of Solinftec for North America .

The use of Solinftec solutions has already led to a reduction of up to 97% in herbicide volume on properties using the Solix robot in the United States . The key differentiator is that, through the collaboration of the three companies, the solutions will be adapted to the reality of the American Midwest .

About Still Waters Manufacturing:

The American company was acquired in 2022 by Jake Church and his wife Kindra. The company has over 35 years of serving the industry, focusing on the production of components for industrial forklifts. The factory is located in the former Coal Creek School, near New Richmond, Indiana .

About Solinftec:

Solinftec is a Brazilian company, a global leader in artificial intelligence and robotics for agribusiness. Founded in Aracatuba (SP) in 2007 by Cuban automation engineers, the agtech has over 800 employees globally, with 330 dedicated to R&D, and has units in the United States , Colombia , Canada , and China . Among the technological solutions offered by the company are the artificial intelligence platform ALICE AI and the Solix Ag Robotics, a robot designed for large-scale food production in agribusiness. Solix: Solix (solinftec.com)

About WHIN:

WHIN is an innovative nonprofit organization devoted to making the 10-county Wabash Heartland region of north-central Indiana the global epicenter of digital agriculture and next-generation manufacturing empowered by smart IoT technology.

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SOURCE Solinftec
DENVER , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Transform Wealth is pleased to announce it has hired Jason Peters as Legacy Advisor. Peters brings a unique and exciting background to Transform from both the military and non-profit leadership sectors. A retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel and former non-profit CEO, Jason completed his doctorate in ministry and education in 2007, along with a one-year clinical residency at a trauma center in 2009. Jason has worked closely with families who are dealing with the nuanced and complex dynamics many high-net-worth families face. He has advised hundreds of individuals and families, with a special focus on people with a desire to make a significant impact with their wealth.

"I'm ecstatic to be part of the Transform Wealth team," said Peters. "I am devoted to healthy relationships, facilitating conversations about what matters in life, and helping people develop a legacy they can be proud of. These ideals are too high for any of us to achieve alone. As part of an integrated team at Transform Wealth, it is a joy to serve as a trusted advisor for our clients and their families."

"Jason brings 25+ years of professional experience and numerous counseling credentials to the table which will help our clients create, preserve, and transfer their unique legacy," said Nathan Kubik , CEO of Transform Wealth. "Many of our clients are crafting an extraordinary family legacy while maximizing philanthropy and tax efficiency, enabling their focus on the life contributions that matter most to them."

Transform Wealth President David Kubik has known Peters for years and believes Jason will be a natural fit. "Jason and I have had some of the most meaningful conversations about life and family that I have ever had. He is truly a wonderful family man and brings a unique experience and perspective to Transform Wealth. We couldn't be happier to have Jason join us as he will help us continue to deliver the highest level of service to our clients. He has a gift of connecting with people on the topics that matter most to them and helping them think through how to live with intentionality, and that's what we are all about as a firm."

"During my military and non-profit careers, I was honored to engage with people from all walks of life," said Peters. "It was a gift to learn from them, and it shaped my calling. Journeying alongside people as they faced some of the most interesting, and often challenging, situations motivated me to devote my life to helping people shape a meaningful legacy. I am committed to ensuring my five children are still hugging each other after I am gone, and I recognize that focus and intentionality are required to build that type of legacy. I love helping others navigate this adventure of life."

Jason will serve in the firm's Greenwood Village and Colorado Springs offices, with a particular focus on helping clients develop, communicate, and implement a legacy they are passionate about.

About Transform Wealth

Transform Wealth is a fee-only, fiduciary Registered Investment Advisor. Our approach ensures clients receive advice in alignment with their best interests. We provide individually tailored solutions delivered within the context of the highest fiduciary standard with a transparent cost and fee model. For more information about Transform Wealth, please visit TransformWealth.com .

Media Contact

Kyle Gentile

Managing Director, Growth and Strategy

P: 720-509-3557

[email protected]

Disclosure

Investing has risks, including loss of income and principal, and there are no assurances specific investment results will be achieved. Transform Wealth has no control over market volatility so investors should understand these are inherent risks with investing. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

A copy of Transform Wealth's regulatory disclosure document is available upon request and is also available on the SEC's website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. For questions about our firm, please contact us at (303) 741-2560.

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SOURCE Transform Wealth
OSLO, Norway , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vianode, an advanced battery materials company providing sustainable anode graphite solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Stefan Bergold as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Bergold will lead Vianode's commercialisation focused on developing long-term customer partnerships in North America and Europe .

Bergold will join Vianode in February 2024 from the position as general manager of Europe for Farasis Energy (Gan Zhou) Co., Ltd., an advanced lithium-ion battery supplier, and from the position as board director of SIRO Clean Energy Technology San. Tic. A.S, a lithium-ion battery start-up. He holds a PhD in electrical engineering and has over 15 years of experience as a sales and engineering executive in companies such as Siemens, AVL and AKASOL.

"Stefan's deep battery value chain knowledge and global sales experience will be key in realising Vianode's ambition of supplying high-performance anode graphite solutions with industry-leading sustainability metrics to 3 million EVs per year by 2030," says Burkhard Straube , CEO of Vianode. "In addition to a proven track record of executing large off-take agreements within the battery and EV industry, he has been actively engaged in scaling early-phase companies to achieve global success."

Vianode's ambition is to decarbonise battery and EV value chains and create long-term value for stakeholders and society through industrial-scale supply of low-emission anode graphite solutions. The company plans a phased development of production in North America and Europe after completing the USD 200 million customer qualification plant at Herya, Norway , in 2024.

"Vianode brings a highly attractive value proposition to battery and EV manufacturers in North America and Europe based on a unique offering of tailored synthetic anode graphite solutions with resource-efficient and low-emission production. I share the commitment to decarbonise global transport through the battery and EV value chains and look forward to joining a strong and committed Vianode team," says Stefan Bergold .

For further information, please contact:

Hans Iver Odenrud

Tel +47 958 16 230

Email [email protected]

About Vianode

Vianode is an advanced battery materials company providing sustainable anode graphite solutions for the battery and EV value chains in North America and Europe . Vianode's breakthrough solution enables tailored high-performance synthetic anode graphite and a holistic sustainability offering including a 90% reduction in CO2 footprint. The company is currently preparing to start its customer qualification plant at Herya, Norway , before executing its multi-billion dollar phased investment program for large-scale plants in North America and Europe . The long-term ambition is to supply advanced battery materials to 3 million EVs per year by 2030. Vianode is owned by the world-leading industrial and financial companies Elkem, Hydro and Altor.

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/vianode/i/nic-1597,c3247917 NIC 1597

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SOURCE Vianode
Joan Massague, 70, says that a great change is taking place in sciences ongoing battle against cancer. New research into metastasis has led to a leap of knowledge that is so great it is modifying our relationship with this dark and deadly disease. Metastasis is no longer something we try to detain with aggressive chemotherapies. New experimental drugs have been discovered that prevent it, revealing latent cells that can remain hidden for years after an apparently successful first treatment.

By teaching the immune system to identify these sleeping cancer cells, we can prevent them from overcoming our defenses and causing metastasis to return with increasing force, which is what happens in cancers such as lung cancer. Given the enormous difficulty of containing these recurrent relapses, Massague chose to direct the efforts of his research group into preventing, not treating metastasis. He explained this to EL PAIS after speaking at the Spanish Cancer Research Association (Aseica) congress in November.

Massague believes that in 20 years time we will be able to control cancer, just as we managed to stop infectious diseases in the mid-20th century. The Spanish scientist is one of the leaders in this fight: he directs one of the most cutting-edge centers in the world in metastasis research, the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Question. What are the latest advances that science has achieved in its battle against cancer?

Answer. In 2012, after more than 10 years studying the most aggressive metastasis, I decided to change course, orient the laboratory more towards latent, invisible metastasis. I came to the conviction that this is the stage of metastasis that is most worth studying. Not because it is darker, but because understanding it in its details will provide us with new avenues, new opportunities to prevent metastasis  not treat it.

Q. What is the difference between treating and preventing metastasis?

A. Treating the metastasis when it appears has been made possible; and increasingly so, thanks to personalized, high-precision therapies and immunotherapy. All of them can treat metastatic disease, although they were not designed specifically for that purpose. And whats the result? Metastases are reduced and even disappear; or seem to disappear, because then the patient relapses.

That's why we thought about focusing on the metastasis that is not seen, the latent one. When a tumor is diagnosed and operated on, the area is then irradiated in case there is any residue left. If everything goes well, the doctor tells us that there are no sources of metastasis. Oh, that's great, that's it, right? No, it's not. There are no foci, but there may be seeds of metastasis, which the tumor had had time to spread already at the time of diagnosis.

And we also saw that when the metastasis forms, it is treated and the patient responds well to therapy. But the microscopic residue that remains is also the seed for a recurrence, for a more accelerated relapse. Relapse occurs faster after metastasis than after the primary tumor. That is why we must go beyond treating it: we must prevent it, to finish it off, eliminating these microscopic and latent residues. This is what my research group is dedicated to, and most of the advances we have published have been defining the general framework of knowledge of latent metastasis. And then, we have continued the process looking for those details that new therapies can exploit.

Q. What phase are you in of this project to prevent metastases?

A. The process is going well. Things never go as fast as one would like, but we are light years away in terms of where we were in our knowledge of dormant metastasis only 10 years ago, which is a very short time in the framework of medical researchs fight against cancer. We begin by identifying these latent cells, their properties and vulnerabilities, their relationship with the bodys defenses that are around them all the time. How come they dont eliminate them? And our latest article, published a few months ago in the journal Nature, demonstrates that having identified how latent metastasis is evading immunity, we can use an existing drug to make it more visible to our immune system, so that we can eliminate it.

Q. But that feat was achieved in mice. Is there a risk of creating false hopes?

A. There are always cynics who say, well, these researchers have cured cancer in mice a thousand times over. Yes, thats true, but when we manage to cure cancer in humans, it is because a research group cured it first in a mouse. The article is published in a prominent scientific journal because it demonstrates that Yes, we can. If we can delve deeper into metastasis, understand the aspects that we saw were going to be of value, we can develop a drug (or apply an existing one) to clean mouse tissues that contain latent metastasis of human cells. This had not been done before.

Q. It is surprising that your discovery can take advantage of existing drugs.

A. It is an immunotherapy drug, which makes these cells more visible to the immune system, it marks them. They hide from the immune system while they are latent, and in humans they can go unnoticed for years, until they take advantage of a mishap in the immunes system. Those cells, which are hidden, are constantly trying and failing. Because when they try and begin to divide, they do become visible to the immune system, which continuously eliminates them. Until one of those cells sneaks in because the immune system was a little depressed, or because of other things that are also being studied.

This drug was developed for cancer, but for completely different situations. Time will tell if it is effective in preventing metastasis in humans, if someone is dedicated to doing the clinical tests, which are complicated because it involves patients who will spend a long time without developing cancer. And then, we will have to see if less metastasis develops in the treated group than in the other. For these trials to be viable, they must target cancers that have a latency period, but one that is short enough for a clinical researcher to observe the drugs effectiveness.

Q. Like lung cancer? In lung patients with metastases, it is common for the disease to return a few months after a treatment that seemed to have worked.

A. Thats why we work in the lungs, because they do have that latency. That is the key to preventing metastasis, to preventing it from returning quickly and with increasing strength.

Q. Would that lead to a situation in which metastasis is no longer a death sentence for these patients?

A. Metastasis is no longer a death sentence, it is manageable. In some cases, it is curable with immunotherapy, and in many cases it can become chronic and we are even learning how to prevent it. It is changing our emotional and intellectual relationship with cancer, including metastasis. We are normalizing this disease. We are never going to eliminate it, just as we are never going to eliminate aging or its ailments. But we are changing our relationship with it, by understanding it enough to cure it more, make it more chronic, predict it more and prevent it more. Thats what we think should be the norm in a major disease.

We are in the second of four decades of a campaign to fend off cancer. We have 20 more years until we get it under control like we did with infectious diseases in the mid-20th century. We did not eliminate them  we just had a pandemic  but its not the same situation.

Joan Massague gave the opening conference of the last congress of the Spanish Association for Cancer Research. David Balado / ASEICA

Q. Looking back, 30 years ago we only had chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Now we have many more therapies and we are talking about preventing metastasis. What has changed?

A. It is always knowledge. Once you understand the enemy, you can develop or apply weapons. That is why there are more and more weapons against cancer. Some with glorified names, like liquid biopsy: that technology is wonderful, yes, but it is no stranger than a blood test, only it includes markers to early detect tumors such as prostate cancer.

Q. Speaking of early detection, will we ever have the equivalent of mammography for lung cancer?

A. Yes. And for pancreatic cancer and many others. It is a very broad field, with enormous interest, because it will be a great advance for humanity. And it doesnt have to be expensive. Whats more, it would be a huge benefit for the company that has the talent to get it out effectively and economically. In other words, so that healthcare systems can introduce it overnight, almost literally, just as the Covid-19 vaccines were rolled out.

These early detection tests will be part of the annual check-up that we all have to do from a certain age. But that age will not be 50 or 60. I would say that it will be 25 or 30 years old. If there is an affordable technology that can early detect cancers that are going to occur in the population in one in every 500 people, it will be worth the investment to check everyone. The financial savings in treatments will be enormous, in addition to the emotional and personal cost.

Q. When is widespread early detection of cancer going to be a reality?

A. It is an ideal to which we aspire. I am very good at making predictions about the past, but not predictions about the future. I dont know. This much I do know: we are at the point in the history of science when we are turning a dark and deadly thing, such as cancer, into a medically normal disease.

Q. Can the success of Covid-19 vaccines boost the development of cancer vaccines?

A. The same technology used in Covid-19 vaccines is already being used to develop vaccines to prevent metastasis, with promising initial trials in small groups of patients. This is led by researchers at my institution [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center], who have published a series of articles in Nature that brings together evidence that it can be done. And now the trials are moving to Phase 2, with 200 patients from about 80 international centers; including some in Spain, who are currently preparing to participate.

The success of the Covid-19 vaccines has increased confidence in that [messenger RNA] technology. However, my colleagues had already thought about applying it to prevent metastasis from pancreatic cancer. Now we have the advantage that there is experience in how to manufacture and administer these vaccines on a large scale. Whats more, pharmaceutical companies have the ability to take risks in new applications of their vaccines, because they have been able to make important profits that encourage them to launch into new challenges. And that is cause for hope. Of course, nothing comes fast enough for the cancer patient who needs it today. But they can also think: They have done more for me today and treated me better than they would have 10 or 20 years ago.

Q. What do we know about cancer today that we didnt know 20 years ago?

A. Cancer is the end of a movie in which the good guys lose, after an epic battle between the mutations that have been growing in the living being and the vigilance of the immune system that a persons defenses have developed to eliminate them. Mutations are an absolutely necessary condition for cancer, but completely insufficient. A cell that has mutated until it is capable of forming a tumor has a very difficult time achieving this. Every day we generate hundreds or thousands of these precancerous cells, but our immune system eliminates or incapacitates them.

They have it very difficult, they constantly fail. But we are giving them tickets to win the lottery (and the tumor appears), when we subject the body to behaviors that create chronic inflammation. Inflammation causes a disruption in the immune system. It accelerates tissue regeneration because the tissue is stressed and encourages cells to want to divide [which is what tumor cells do, at high speed]. Today we know that tobacco and pollution cause more cancer through the chronic inflammation they cause than due to the mutations they generate.

Q. What habits in our daily lives make it easier for these malignant cells?

A. In addition to tobacco and pollution, excessive alcohol, which puts a constant inflammatory load on the liver and pancreas. Or aggressive and very salty foods, which stress and irritate the stomach. When you irritate and inflame, you are weakening your immunity because inflammation is an arm of immunity: when you force that arm, you throw everything off-balance. Inflammation is the cradle for these cells with mutations to develop, which will happen no matter what we do. And if we smoke, if we expose ourselves to the sun, even more will emerge.

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French tech company develops cutting-edge self-stabilizing exoskeletons to enable walking for people with mobility impairments due to stroke, spinal cord injuries or motor neuron diseases

Cure's 22 resident companies share mission to foster collaborations spanning disciplines, sectors and geographies to advance health

NEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wandercraft, developer of the world's first in market self-stabilizing exoskeleton designed to enable people with walking impairments to stand and walk again, announced today the opening of its U.S. headquarters at Cure, a healthcare innovation campus in New York City . The Company now has headquarters both in the U.S. where its CEO Matthieu Masselin has relocated, and in France where it originated, after receiving clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in early 2023 for its lead product, the hands-free Atalante X exoskeleton, for use in stroke rehabilitation.

"Wandercraft's new experiential space at Cure immerses us in the heart of the world's largest healthcare market and moves us closer to achieving our goal of creating new standards of care, recovery and movement for patients with severe mobility issues due to injury or illness," said Matthieu Masselin , CEO of Wandercraft. "Cure enhances our ability to collaborate with leading research institutions and other cutting-edge entrepreneurs, while applying our strong clinical and engineering expertise to create state-of-the-art robotic exoskeleton technologies that improve patients' clinical and functional outcomes."

Wandercraft will host an invite-only Keynote event at 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at Cure, 345 Park Avenue South , New York City . The event will include demonstrations of its new Personal Exoskeleton that will offer new, revolutionary options to those of us in wheelchairs.

"Wandercraft's technology, which masterfully combines its expertise in biomechanics engineering and neurobiology, exemplifies the innovative approaches that Cure residents are bringing to the healthcare ecosystem," said Seema Kumar , CEO of Cure. "By joining our community, Wandercraft also furthers Cure's mission to convene healthcare innovators and foster meaningful collaborations among organizations that span disciplines, sectors and geographies."

Wandercraft is joining Cure's group of start-up and established companies that have collectively raised more than $760 million since 2021. The campus community offers residents opportunities to create synergies and collaborative partnerships with peer organizations that span medical technology, healthcare services, therapeutics, healthcare investment, academic research and non-profit initiatives. Cure offers additional networking and employee education opportunities focused on critical health topics through its industry-leading event programming.

The Need for Walking Robotics

Globally, about 18 to 23 million people live with a spinal cord injury (SCI), due to an accident or illness, that impairs, or has potential to damage, their mobility.i SCIs also may increase patients' risks for developing secondary medical conditions such as pressure ulcers, pain, muscle spasms, deep vein thrombosis, respiratory illnesses or chronic pain.ii In the United States , 255,000 to 383,000 people live with traumatic SCIiii, and SCI can occur in the more than 795,000 people who experience a strokeiv and the nearly 1 million people who live with multiple sclerosis each year.v

Wandercraft developed Atalante X with a proprietary self-balancing feature that enables patients to move in multiple directions without using their hands or an assistive device. Atalante X includes a dynamic Active Balance mode, unavailable elsewhere in the exoskeleton market, that leverages a motion sensor on the patient's back to enable the exoskeleton to follow the patient's movements. Active Balance brings more freedom to the patient's rehabilitation program, including gamification of the sessions to keep the patients engaged and work on core strength and balance as well as gait. Atalante also is battery powered and has an adjustable gait.

Atalante X received a Conformite Europeene (CE) Mark in 2019 because it complies with the European Union's New Approach Directives, part of the mandatory conformity marking EU uses to regulate goods sold within the European Economic Area. It was cleared by the FDA in the Stroke indication in December 2022 . Since 2019, more than 2,000 patients with a variety of medical conditions have used Atalante X as part of their treatment at multiple European rehabilitation hospitals, tallying almost 10,000 sessions in 2023 alone.

ABOUT WANDERCRAFT

Founded in 2012, Wandercraft is a French company, a pioneer of realistic and autonomous walking exoskeletons. The team has a lead of several years in dynamic walking algorithms, artificial intelligence and technologies related to walking robotics. The development of a personal exoskeleton is also underway with the aim, within a few years, of improving the mobility of millions of people with reduced mobility, at home and in their daily lives. Wandercraft distributes its exoskeletons to health institutions and is developing a personal version. It has received numerous awards and its ambition is supported by prestigious investors. Wandercraft fulfills the promise of robotics to offer an Ordinary Life to Extraordinary People. www.wandercraft.eu

ABOUT CURE

Cure is a healthcare innovation campus in the heart of New York City that features cutting-edge wet and dry labs, office space, and premium event spaceplus tools, mentoring, and other assistance to physician-scientists, entrepreneurs, academics, and nonprofits working across the spectrum of healthcare and biomedicine. Cure's mission is to advance healthcare by accelerating the development of therapies and cures, and to facilitate critical conversations about the future of healthcare. For more information, please visit https://cure.345pas.com/.

i Ding W, Hu S, Wang P, et al. Spinal Cord Injury: The Global Incidence, Prevalence, and Disability From the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2022;47(21):1532-1540. doi:10.1097/BRS.0000000000004417.

iiWorld Health Organization. Spinal Cord Injury. November 19, 2013 . https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/spinal-cord-injury#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20reliable%20estimate,injury%20appears%20to%20be%20growing.

iii National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Facts and Figures at a Glance. 2023. https://www.nscisc.uab.edu/public/Facts%20and%20Figures%202023%20-%20Final.pdf.

iv U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stroke Facts. May 4, 2023 . https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm.

v National Multiple Sclerosis Society. How Many People Live With MS? 2023. https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Who-Gets-MS/How-Many-People.

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SOURCE Cure
FILE PHOTO: A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifts off carrying Amazon's two prototype relay stations for a space-based internet service it calls Project Kuiper, from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., October

By Joey Roulette

(Reuters) -Amazon.com asked a Delaware court to dismiss a lawsuit brought by shareholders over the company's Kuiper satellite launch contracts, arguing in a filing that the plaintiffs failed to prove that directors acted in bad faith in approving one of the e-commerce giant's biggest capital expenditures.

The Cleveland Bakers and Teamsters Pension Fund, a multi-employer fund, in August sued Amazon in the Delaware Court of Chancery alleging Amazon's board awarded contracts to Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin without proper diligence and without considering rocket rival Elon Musk-owned SpaceX's rockets.

In a redacted motion to dismiss filed with the court on Monday, Amazon argued that plaintiffs did not adequately show its directors acted in bad faith.

"The complaint does not come close to alleging the facts necessary to support that extraordinary theory," Amazon said, countering that its directors "undertook a diligent and informed review of the agreements."

Amazon aims to launch over 3,000 satellites into low-Earth orbit to provide global broadband internet coverage and compete directly with Elon Musk's SpaceX, whose Starlink network is farther ahead in the market for providing internet from space.

Bezos is Amazon's founder and was CEO until 2021, but remains as the company's executive chairman. He is founder and primary owner of Blue Origin, the launch company whose New Glenn rocket Amazon contracted with to use for some of its Kuiper satellite launches.

Amazon refuted allegations of conflicts of interest with Bezos, saying he was recused from some meetings that were convened to consider launch agreements with his space company Blue Origin.

Amazon deployed its first two test satellites for the Kuiper network in October.

To deploy the remaining thousands of satellites, the company last year announced a bulk launch deal for 83 launches - the largest commercial rocket procurement ever - from various rocket companies, including Blue Origin, Europe's Arianespace and United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

Amazon announced earlier this month it had bought three launches from SpaceX to help deploy the Kuiper satellites.

The plaintiffs have until February 2024 to counter Amazon's motion to dismiss.

(Reporting by Joey Roulette; Additional reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Leslie Adler and Sandra Maler)
Palestinians gather outside Nasser hospital following Israeli strikes, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Khan Younis, December 12, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

By Ismail Shakil

OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada, Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday backed urgent international efforts towards a "sustainable ceasefire" in Gaza in a coordinated show of concern shortly after the U.S. warned Israel of declining support over its military campaign.

"We are alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza. The price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians," the three prime ministers said in a joint statement.

A ceasefire cannot be one-sided and Hamas must release all hostages and stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields, they added.

Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden said Israel was losing support over its "indiscriminate" bombing of Gaza and that Benjamin Netanyahu should change his hard line government, exposing a new rift with the Israeli prime minister.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa that he had "a very long conversation" with Netanyahu on Tuesday about Canada's position on the Gaza conflict and commitment towards a two-state solution for the region.

Trudeau has consistently said Israel has the right to defend itself after the deadly rampage by Hamas in southern Israel on Oct. 7, but as the death toll in its retaliatory action in Gaza has mounted, he has gradually hardened his tone.

Last month, he said the "killing of women, of children, of babies" in the Palestinian enclave must stop - comments that were rebuked by Netanyahu on social media.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil and David Ljunggren in Ottawa;Editing by Marguerita Choy)
Brazil's Planning and Budget Minister Simone Tebet attends a ceremony at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil August 30, 2023. REUTERS/Adriano Machado

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's government has spearheaded an effort to raise $10 billion from multilateral and development banks to fund infrastructure projects to advance South American integration, seeking enhanced trade and reduced transportation time to Asia.

Brazilian development bank BNDES is expected to allocate $3 billion within this effort, primarily for funding projects that Brazilian states and municipalities propose to connect to this network, the Planning Ministry said on Tuesday.

Simultaneously, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will contribute $3.4 billion, the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) will provide $3 billion, and regional fund Fonplata will give $600 million for funding countries in the region.

"We want other banks to join later, such as the World Bank and the New Development Bank (NDB) of the BRICS," said Planning Minister Simone Tebet.

Resources from these banks will be channeled into a fund whose governance is still under development.

According to the minister, the initiative emerged from a mapping exercise conducted by the federal government in collaboration with the 11 Brazilian states bordering neighboring countries, which identified 124 projects within the country deemed essential for five integration routes in the region.

Tebet said these routes hold the potential to be completed by 2027.

The minister said federal funding was already earmarked for these projects, which were part of the portfolio of 9,200 projects under Brazil's Growth Acceleration Program (PAC).

However, the resources from the pool of institutions will be directed toward enabling neighboring countries to connect their logistics infrastructure network to these points.

"Brazil is accustomed, through the Atlantic, to focus on coastal states targeting Europe. Now, with this open market in Asia, it is evident by numbers and mileage that the easiest route is through the Pacific," Tebet said, estimating that once the routes are completed, the potential time savings in transportation to Asia could reach up to 20 days.

She added that, while the potential is significant, there is no estimate of how much Brazil's trade flow could grow from these initiatives.

(Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Editing by Leslie Adler)
A delegate looks on at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 11, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/ File photo

By Valerie Volcovici, Jake Spring and Kate Abnett

DUBAI (Reuters) - The COP28 climate summit was hurtling towards overtime early on Tuesday, with negotiators awaiting a new draft deal after many countries criticised a previous version as too weak because it omitted a "phase-out" of fossil fuels.

Countries gathered at the Dubai summit are attempting to agree on a global plan of action to limit climate change fast enough to avert more disastrous flooding, fatal heat and irreversible changes to the world's ecosystems.

A draft of a final deal, published on Monday by the United Arab Emirates, which holds the presidency of the summit, suggested eight options countries "could" take to cut emissions.

One was "reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner so as to achieve net zero by, before, or around 2050".

That would be the first time in history that a U.N. climate summit has mentioned reducing use of all "fossil fuels".

But the move fell short of the "phase-out" of coal, oil and gas demanded by many nations, or the emphasis on cutting their use this decade, which scientists say is necessary to avoid climate change escalating.

Negotiators were waiting for a new text on Tuesday, when the conference was set to close at 0700 GMT, although delegates said the deadline was no longer feasible. COP summits rarely finish on schedule.

The draft was criticised as too weak by participants such as Australia, Canada, Chile, the European Union, Norway and the United States, among the 100-strong group demanding a firm commitment to wean the world off coal, oil and gas.

Greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are the main cause of climate change.

"The vast majority of countries want a stronger text - phase down with a view to a long-term phase-out, or transition away from fossil fuels," Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide told Reuters.

Brazil wants a stronger text on ditching fossil fuels, but one that makes clear rich and poor nations could do so in different timeframes, Environment Minister Marina Silva said.

"One of the shortcomings is it does not establish efforts to phase out fossil fuels," Silva told reporters about the draft deal.

Representatives of small island nations said they would not approve a deal that was a "death warrant" for vulnerable countries hit hardest by rising sea levels.

"We will not go silently to our watery graves," said John Silk, the head of the Marshall Islands' delegation.

SAUDI PRESSURE

Sources familiar with the discussions said the United Arab Emirates' COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber had faced pressure from Saudi Arabia, de facto leader of the OPEC oil producers' group to which UAE belongs, to drop any mention of fossil fuels from the text - which he did not do.

Saudi Arabia's government did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. A COP28 negotiator for the country declined to comment on the text on Monday night.

In a Dec. 6 letter seen by Reuters, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais urged members to reject any COP28 deal that targeted fossil fuels.

Negotiators and observers in the COP28 talks told Reuters that while Saudi Arabia has been the strongest opponent, other OPEC and OPEC+ members, including Iran, Iraq and Russia, have resisted attempts to insert a fossil fuel phase-out into the deal.

Deals at U.N. climate summits must be passed by consensus among the nearly 200 countries present. Then it is up to individual countries to deliver the globally agreed deal, through national policies and investments.

For oil-producing nations, a global deal at COP28 to ditch fossil fuels could signal a political willingness by other nations to slash their use of the lucrative products on which fuel-producing economies rely.

"Kuwait works according to a policy based on preserving the sources of petroleum wealth and their optimal exploitation and development," Oil Minister Saad Al Barrak told the 12th Arab Energy Conference in Doha on Monday.

Despite the rapid growth of renewable energy, fossil fuels still produce about 80% of the world's energy.

It was unclear if China, the world's top greenhouse gas emitter, supported the draft.

Sources familiar with a meeting of COP28 negotiators in the early hours of Tuesday said Beijing had resisted a section of the text which said the world's greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025.

China has committed to bring its climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions to a peak before 2030, although experts predict the goal will be met earlier.

Indian environment minister Bhupender Yadav also declined to comment on the latest draft deal.

EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said the draft deal was "disappointing" and the bloc would negotiate into overtime for a stronger text. "We will talk as long as necessary," Hoekstra told reporters.

(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici, Jake Spring, Kate Abnett, David Stanway, Gloria Dickie, Sarah McFarlane; Writing by Kate Abnett; Editing by Elizabeth Piper and Clarence Fernandez)
FILE PHOTO: Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer of SpaceX and Tesla and owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, attends the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in Paris, France, June

By Alvise Armellini

ROME (Reuters) -Billionaire Elon Musk has accepted an invitation from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to attend a gathering of her right-wing political party this weekend in Rome.

Musk on Tuesday replied "yes" to a post on social media platform X, which he owns, saying he had "reportedly accepted" the invite, and linking to an Italian newspaper article.

The article, from Il Fatto Quotidiano newspaper, said Musk would be a guest at "Atreju," a four-day festival starting on Thursday that is organised by Meloni's Brothers of Italy party.

Atreju's X account confirmed Musk's attendance separately, saying he was the "mysterious" guest mentioned in a previous post, adding that he would come on Saturday.

Musk had previously travelled to Rome in June to meet Meloni.

He told public broadcaster RAI after that meeting that he had discussed with her possible remedies to Italy's demographic crisis and risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI).

At this year's edition, held in the ancient Roman Castel Sant'Angelo fortress near the Vatican, one of the other notable guests will be Spanish far-right opposition leader Santiago Abascal.

The Atreju festival, which has been running since 1998, is named after the central character in the fantasy book and film "The Neverending Story."

(Additional reporting by Shubhendu Deshmukh in Bengaluru; Editing by Crispian Balmer and Mark Porter)
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union reached agreement on Tuesday on rules to make freezing and confiscation of criminal assets more effective, including boosting the capacity of EU countries to identify assets of Russian or Belarusian people subject to sanctions.

Negotiators for the European Parliament and the grouping of EU governments called the Council struck a deal on EU-wide minimum rules on the tracing, identification, freezing, confiscation and management of criminal property.

The rules will ensure assets can be frozen quickly and widen the crimes covered under existing EU law to include trafficking of humans, drugs and firearms. They would also crack down on cases where a third person helps evade confiscation.

People and companies profiting from circumventing sanctions will see their earnings seized in the same way as those of drug cartels.

When proposing the law in May 2022, the European Commission said that organised crime was one of the greatest threats to European security. According to Europol data, criminal gangs amass revenues amounting to an estimate of at least 139 billion euros ($150.1 billion) per year.

EU members will be obliged to ensure authorities involved in tracing and freezing criminal money have qualified staff and sufficient resources.

The new law, likely to enter force next year, will also extend to confiscation of "unexplained wealth" and seek to prioritise restitution and compensation for victims of crime.

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Nick Macfie)
People dance on the deck of the Galaxy Leader commercial ship, seized by Yemen's Houthis last month, off the coast of al-Salif, Yemen December 5, 2023. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah/File Photo

By Ahmad Ghaddar

LONDON (Reuters) - Yemen's Houthis have been targeting vessels in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait in attacks that the Iran-aligned group says aim to support the Palestinians as Israel and Hamas wage war.

The attacks have disrupted global trade flows, with shipping firms and oil companies saying they would avoid the Suez Canal, adding to freight costs and making voyages longer as vessels opt to circumnavigate the African continent instead.

WHY ARE THE HOUTHIS ATTACKING SHIPS?

* The attacks are in support of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas fighting Israel in the Gaza Strip.

* The Gaza war has drawn in the United States and its allies on the side of Israel, and Iran and its Arab proxy forces on the side of Hamas, raising the risk of a wider Middle East conflict.

* The Houthis, who control most of Yemen, said they will target all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their nationality, and warn all international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports.

WHAT SHIPS HAVE THE HOUTHIS TARGETED?

* Dec. 18: The M/V Swan Atlantic is attacked in the southern Red Sea by multiple projectiles launched from Houthi-held territory, U.S officials told Reuters.

* Dec. 16: the U.S. Central Command says its guided missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) shot down 14 drones launched by Houthis over the Red Sea.

* Dec. 15: A projectile launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen strikes the Liberia-flagged, German-owned Al Jasrah ship, causing a fire but no injuries, a U.S. defence official says.

* Dec. 15: Maersk denies a Houthi claim that the militia carried out a drone strike on a Maersk vessel sailing towards Israel, but says the tanker was targeted by a missile. Shipping sources say that vessels operated by Maersk Tankers have the option to re-route via the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa due to the worsening security situation in the Red Sea.

* Dec. 12: Houthi spokesman says the group targeted the Norwegian commercial tanker STRINDA. The attack occurred about 60 nautical miles (111 km) north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait at about 2100 GMT, a U.S. official tells Reuters.

* Dec. 10: A French warship operating in the Red Sea shoots down two drones launched at it from the Yemen coast, the defence ministry says.

* Dec. 3: The U.S. military says three commercial vessels came under attack in international waters in the southern Red Sea; Houthis claimed drone and missile attacks on two Israeli vessels in the area.

* Nov. 19: Israel says Houthis seized a British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship in the southern Red Sea.

WHAT IS THE BAB AL-MANDAB AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

* Bab al-Mandab, or the Gate of Tears, named for its perilous navigation conditions, is the southern outlet of the Red Sea, situated between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea on the African coast.

* It is one of the world's most important routes for global seaborne commodity shipments, particularly crude oil and fuel from the Gulf bound for the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal or the SUMED pipeline on Egypt's Red Sea coast, as well as commodities bound for Asia, including Russian oil.

* The Bab al-Mandab was the site of a naval blockade of Israel by Egypt in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

* The Bab al-Mandab is 18 miles (29 km) wide at its narrowest point, limiting traffic to two channels for inbound and outbound shipments, divided by the island of Perim.

* Around 7.80 million barrels per day of crude and fuel shipments transited the strait in the first 11 months of 2023, up from 6.60 million bpd throughout 2022, according to oil analytics firm Vortexa. On average, Vortexa tracked 27 tankers carrying crude or fuel each day in 2023, up from 20 last year.

* According to the Energy Information Administration, 12% of total seaborne-traded oil in the first half of 2023 as well as 8% of LNG trade passed through the Bab al-Mandab, the SUMED pipeline and the Suez Canal.

HOW HAVE THE ATTACKS IMPACTED GLOBAL TRADE?

* Major shippers including Hapag Lloyd, MSC and Maersk, oil major BP and oil tanker group Frontline have said they will be avoiding the Red Sea route and re-routing via the Cape of Good Hope for the time being.

* A number of container ships are anchored in the Red Sea and others have turned off tracking systems as traders adjust routes and prices in response to the attacks.

WHAT MEASURES ARE BEING TAKEN TO PROTECT SHIPS?

* Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Dec. 19 said the United States was leading a multinational operation to safeguard commerce in the Red Sea.

* He said the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain were among nations involved in the Red Sea security operation, which will be known as "Operation Prosperity Guardian".

* Sources told Reuters, however, that Saudi Arabia - seeking to contain spillover from the Hamas-Israel war - has asked the United States to show restraint in responding to attacks in the Red Sea.

* The international community has had a history of using naval forces to protect navigation from piracy off the Horn of Africa, especially as Somali piracy surged in the 2005-2011 period.

* In December 2008, the European Union launched "Operation Atalanta" to tackle Somali attacks on cargo ships. NATO's Operation Ocean Shield, as well as a multinational naval force known as Combined Task Force 151, have also been involved in anti-piracy protection.

Sources: Reuters, Energy Information Administration, Vortexa, World Bank

(Reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar; editing by Mark Heinrich)
French Government spokesperson Olivier Veran leaves following the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, November 22, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

PARIS (Reuters) -The French government announced plans on Tuesday to form a special parliamentary commission aimed at breaking the deadlock over a draft immigration law that was rejected by lawmakers in a surprise move.

Government spokesperson Olivier Veran told reporters after a cabinet meeting that the commission would be put in place "as fast as possible" and that the government hoped to find a compromise with opposition lawmakers.

The commission will be composed of seven representatives from each house of parliament, and will aim to return the bill to both chambers for a vote, Veran said.

The immigration bill has been an important plank of President Emmanuel Macron's attempts to show he can be tougher on law-and-order issues while keeping France's doors open to foreign workers who can help the economy.

It also includes provisions disliked by left-wing lawmakers and more liberal aspects that have been criticised by some conservatives and the far right.

Although the Senate had adopted the bill, lawmakers in the National Assembly sent it back to the drawing board on Monday, cutting short debates and dealing a blow to Macron's attempts to pass laws without a majority.

Lawmakers from Marine Le Pen's far-right Rassemblement National (RN), many conservatives from Les Republicains (LR) and members of the left bloc rejected the bill on its first day of debate.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Monday's vote was "against France" but that he still believed a breakthrough was possible before the end of the year "so that we adopt a strong law against illegal immigration."

LR President Eric Ciotti told Europe 1 radio the bill presented to the lawmakers "carried a message of pseudo-firmness" that went in the direction of "more regularisation of illegal immigration".

He said this was unacceptable, but that he saw no reason not to back the text that had been approved by the Senate.

(Reporting by Piotr Lipinski and Elizabeth Pineau, Editing by Tassilo Hummel and Timothy heirtage)
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani gets out of his car to speak to reporters outside the Fulton County Jail after surrendering to face state charges arising from actions he is accused of taking to overturn former U.S. President Donald Trump's 2020 e

By Andrew Goudsward

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A former Georgia elections worker told a jury on Tuesday that she feared for her life after Rudy Giuliani and other allies of former U.S. President Donald Trump falsely accused her of attempting to rig the 2020 election.

Wandrea Shaye Moss, a former voter registration officer in Fulton County, testified at the second day of Giuliani's defamation trial that her life "flipped upside down" in early December 2020 when Trump allies began falsely claiming that she and her mother, Ruby Freeman, engaged in fraud after the November election.

"How can someone with so much power go public and talk about things that he obviously has no clue about?" Moss, 39, said of Giuliani. "It's just obvious that it's lies."

A federal judge has already determined that Giuliani, the former mayor of New York and personal lawyer for Trump, defamed Moss and Freeman. The only issue for the jury to decide is how much Giuliani owes in damages.

Moss testified that the ordeal has affected "every single aspect" of her life, forcing her out of her job and leaving her fearful of going out alone. She spoke of receiving a flood of racist messages that included threats to lynch her and her mother.

"I literally felt that someone is going to come and attempt to hang me and theres nothing that anyone will be able to do about it," Moss said.

Giuliani's lawyer Joseph Sibley has argued that others besides Giuliani bear responsibility for the harm the two workers suffered. During cross-examination, Sibley questioned Moss on whether there was evidence that Giuliani intended to spur threats and racist attacks against her and her mother.

"Rudy Giuliani and his crew were the start of it all," Moss said. "They lit the torch."

REPEATING FALSE CLAIMS

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, who is overseeing the case, scolded Giuliani earlier on Tuesday for repeating the accusations as he left the courthouse following the first day of the trial.

Giuliani told reporters on Monday outside the courthouse that "everything I said was true" and again accused Moss and Freeman of "changing votes," according to an ABC News report. Giuliani confirmed in court on Tuesday that he made the statement.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs noted that the judge has already deemed that Giuliani's prior statements were false and he should not be allowed to challenge that determination during the trial.

Howell said Giuliani's Monday remarks "could support another defamation claim" and contradicted his lawyer's statement in court that the workers were "good people."

The judge said it would be "grossly unfair" for Giuliani to make similar statements when he testifies at trial, which is expected later this week.

Sibley, Giuliani's lawyer, told the judge that the case has "taken a toll" on the 79-year-old Giuliani, but he would be able to manage his client's statements in court.

"I can't control what he says outside the courtroom," Sibley said.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Andy Sullivan, Bill Berkrot and Lisa Shumaker)
The Biden administration announced the first of many coming federal investments in computer chip production, saying Monday that it would provide $35 million for BAE Systems to increase production at a New Hampshire factory making chips for military aircraft, including F-15 and F-35 jets.

This would be the initial allocation of incentives from last years bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which provides more than $52 billion to boost the development and manufacturing of semiconductors in the United States.

The Commerce Departments choice of a military contractor instead of a conventional chip manufacturer reveals the national security focus of the law, as more and more weapons systems depend on advanced chips that could be decisive in both preventing and fighting wars.

We cant gamble with our national security by depending solely on one part of the world or even one country for crucial advanced technologies, said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who called the investments a once-in-a-generation opportunity to advance our national and economic security and create a thriving, long-lasting domestic semiconductor manufacturing industry.

President Joe Biden signed the incentives into law in August 2022 partly out of concerns that a military attack on Taiwan could deprive the world of advanced computer chips and plunge the U.S. into a recession.

The coronavirus pandemic revealed the fragility of computer chip supplies as a worldwide shortage curbed U.S. auto production and pushed up prices around the start of Bidens presidency.

Over the coming year, the Department of Commerce will award billions more to make more semiconductors in America, invest in research and development capabilities to keep America at the forefront of new technologies, Biden said in a statement.

Biden also said the incentives his administration is providing have already led to more than $230 billion in planned investments in semiconductors and electronics.

The Democratic president has gone to a planned Intel factory in Ohio and a new Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. plant in Arizona, as well as touted investments by IBM while in New York. Biden has made these financial commitments part of his pitch to voters ahead of the 2024 elections, saying his policies have energized the U.S. economy.

Government officials said the investment in the BAE Systems facility will ultimately save money for taxpayers. The money being paid out as the company hits benchmarks will help quadruple the plants production capacity, helping to halve the price of making the chips and leading to net savings for the federal agencies buying the chips.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said NATO allies and partners in Asia also will benefit from the increased capacity. But he stressed that an expanded manufacturing base was essential to protect the U.S.

We do not want to be in a position where critical national security needs are dependent on faulty foreign supply chains, Sullivan said. We do not want to be in a position where another country can cut us off in a moment of crisis.

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FILE PHOTO: Fortnite game installing on Android operating system is seen in this illustration taken, May 2, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

By Jaspreet Singh and Harshita Mary Varghese

(Reuters) - Google's stunning defeat in a legal battle with "Fortnite" maker Epic Games may clear the way for rival app stores on its Android mobile system but a lengthy appeals process will likely prevent any changes for years, according to analysts and legal experts.

A jury in California found on Monday that the Alphabet-owned company's Play app store operated as an illegal monopoly, quashing competition and charging app developers unduly high fees of up to 30%.

Epic Games will now have a chance to submit a court filing on how it wants Google's Play Store to be fixed -- potentially putting at risk what Wells Fargo estimates is $10 billion in annual revenue from app sales and in-app purchases for the tech giant.

"This is a big win for Epic," said Pinar Akman, professor of competition law at the University of Leeds.

"The usual remedy in such case ... would mean Google may be required to allow developers to use payment systems other than Google's. If such a remedy is adopted, then that will have an impact on the entire ecosystem and business model."

Google takes a cut on each digital purchase through Play Store on Android, the mobile system it develops. While revenue from such transactions is a fraction of the total sales, it's a high-margin business for the company, according to analysts.

The remedies could force it to allow rival app stores or lower the fees it charges on app sales and in-app purchases.

Alphabet shares were down nearly 1% on Tuesday.

The unanimous ruling by the jury will intensify pressure on Google at a time it is caught in a legal battle with the U.S. Justice Department (DoJ), which has accused the online search leader of breaking antitrust law to stay on top.

"It's worth noting the ad tech case is also a jury trial. Ad tech is more complicated than app stores, but DOJ still must be feeling encouraged by last night's jury ruling," analysts at TD Cowen said.

The decision is also expected to deepen questions over Apple's market dominance. The company won a similar fight against Epic but both the companies have approached the Supreme Court to review their dispute.

While it may not directly impact the case, the Google ruling will amplify questions about the influence Apple exerts through its App Store, said Eleanor Fox, professor emerita at the New York University School of Law.

"Apple might be and should be more concerned that it will be found to be a monopoly," Fox said.

LENGTHY APPEALS PROCESS

Google has said it will appeal the verdict, and the case will head to the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. That is the same court that heard Epic's arguments last year to revive its antitrust claims against Apple.

In January, U.S. District Judge James Donato in San Francisco will weigh Epic's request for an injunction. Epic and Google will face off for a second time in court  before the judge only.

Google would likely argue that the proposed injunction is too broad and needs to be more tailored.

"It's not so much will there be an injunction but the strength and scope of that remedy," said antitrust legal scholar Christine Bartholomew of the University at Buffalo School of Law in New York.

Still, analysts expect Google to appeal any remedy orders from Judge Donato, delaying any potential changes.

"Using the timeline in Epic v. Apple as a guide, the 9th Circuit would likely rule around Q2 2025," TD Cowen said.

(Reporting by Jaspreet Singh, Harshita Varghese and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru and Mike Scarcella; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)
Guatemalas President Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei Falla, addresses a ministerial level meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the crisis in Ukraine at U.N. headquarters in New York, September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/ File Photo

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) -Guatemala's outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei on Tuesday rejected what he described as "intimidating actions" that undercut national sovereignty, a day after the U.S. government announced new visa restrictions on 300 Guatemalan nationals.

On Monday, the U.S. government announced measures to punish what it has described as anti-democratic moves by officials, including Guatemala's top prosecutor, that seek to annul the election won decisively by President-elect Bernardo Arevalo nearly four months ago.

In a statement, Giammattei denounced "media and political manipulation" by some members of the U.S. government directed against Guatemala, but did not single out any officials.

He also reiterated his pledge for an orderly transition of power with the presidential inauguration scheduled for January.

The latest measures imposed by Washington include visa restrictions on nearly 300 Guatemalan nationals, including 100 lawmakers out of the 160-member unicameral Congress, accused of undermining democracy in Central America's most populous country.

The travel restrictions also target some private sector representatives and their family members.

(Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Editing by Kylie Madry)
LONDON (Reuters) - Attacks on commercial vessels by Yemens Houthis are a threat to global shipping routes and seaborne traffic to Israel although there has been no direct impact on port activity, Israels Port of Ashdod said on Tuesday.

The Iran-backed Houthis said on Tuesday they carried out a military operation against a Norwegian commercial tanker in their latest protest against Israel's bombardment of Gaza, underlining the risks of a conflict that has shaken the Middle East.

"We emphasize that we are doing everything in order to act fully and to maintain open gateways to Israel despite the challenges of the war," the port said in a statement.

Israel relies on its maritime trade for imports and its exports. Ashdod in the south and Haifa in the north are the country's biggest ports.

The smaller port of Ashkelon, which is the closest to Gaza, has shut for the moment due to the war.

Norway's Mowinckel Chemical Tankers, owner of the Strinda tanker which was attacked by the Houthis, said on Tuesday that, while there was no Israeli link to the ownership or management of the vessel, the ship was "tentatively nominated" by her charterers for a cargo out of Ashdod in January.

"Owners had an option to cancel the contract if such a worsening of the situation would take place," Mowinckel Chemical Tankers said.

"Upon the recommendation of our security advisors, it was decided to withhold this information until the vessel and her crew were in safe waters."

The Port of Ashdod declined to comment, but added in the statement that "we are prepared and are working to absorb any operational activity it terms of loading and discharging that is required".

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul; Editing by Christina Fincher and Mark Potter)
FILE PHOTO: FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies at a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 5, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

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By Rupam Jain

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India has requested the United States to share intelligence on Sikh separatists living there amid investigations into an accusation that an Indian official was linked to a plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil, an Indian official said on Tuesday.

The request was made by the National Investigations Agency (NIA), India's federal anti-terrorism agency, in meetings with visiting FBI Director Christopher Wray, said the official, who works at NIA and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The issue of what New Delhi says are Sikh separatists operating against India from U.S. soil was discussed in "greater detail by a team of internal security officials from both countries", the official said.

"India has requested the U.S. officials to share inputs on suspected individuals who have in recent years been recruited and embedded in the separatist movement," the official said.

An NIA spokesperson said the agency did not have a comment when reached by Reuters.

The U.S. embassy's spokesperson said meetings between Wray and Indian officials were underway and he could not share details as yet.

The movement for a Sikh homeland in northern India, crushed decades ago, has burst onto the global stage in recent months as the United States and Canada accused Indian officials of involvement in assassination plots against Sikh separatist leaders in North America.

New Delhi denies any connection to a June murder in a Vancouver suburb but has announced an investigation into U.S. concerns about an alleged plot in New York.

It says such plots were not government policy and it is not hunting down Sikh separatists abroad. At the same time, Indian security and foreign ministry officials say Sikh separatists in North America and Europe raising money, training people and campaigning for Indias division, is a concern for New Delhi.

India has also sought to distance the FBI chief's visit - the first in years - from the New York case, saying Wray's trip had been planned for some time.

(Reporting by Rupam Jain, editing by YP Rajesh and Angus MacSwan)
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi

AMMAN (Reuters) - The Jordanian army said on Tuesday it killed several smugglers during dawn clashes that left one of its soldiers dead as a large group of drug dealers crossed the border from Syria.

The army said smugglers, who had infiltrated under cover of heavy fog, fled back into Syria in the incident only a week after three smugglers were shot dead trying to smuggle large quantities of captagon pills - a mix of amphetamines.

"A clash took place with tens of smugglers who fired at border guards and exploited poor visibility and heavy fog to cross the border. The engagement killed a number of them and the rest forced to flee deep inside Syrian territory," the army statement said.

The army did not specify where along the 370-km (230-mile) border with Syria the incursion took place but Syrian sources said the incident occurred in an area northeast of the city of Mafraq in Jordan.

"We act forcefully to protect our borders and prevent any attempt to undermine our national security," the army statement said.

Syria has become the region's main location for a multi-billion-dollar drug trade, with Jordan being a main transit route to the Gulf states for a Syrian-made amphetamine known as captagon, Western anti-narcotics officials and Washington and its European allies say.

Jordanian officials echo Western claims that Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group and militias, who control much of southern Syria, are behind the surge in smuggling and support the smugglers' operations. Hezbollah denies the accusations.

The illicit drug trade finances a proliferation of pro-Iranian militias and pro-government paramilitary forces that more than a decade of conflict in Syria has spawned, according to U.N. experts and Washington.

Jordan has been promised more U.S. military aid to bolster security on the border, where Washington has, since the Syrian conflict began, given around $1 billion to establish border posts, Jordanian officials say.

Senior Jordanian officials say they have raised their concerns with Syrian authorities and Russia, a main ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Jordan, impatient with what it says are broken promises to curb the drug war, had taken matters into its own hands and conducted several strikes inside Syrian territory this year against Iran-linked drugs factories, local and Western intelligence sources said.

Officials expect the smuggling attempts, which also have used drones, to spike during the coming winter months.

Damascus says it is doing its best to curb smuggling. It denies complicity with Iranian-backed militias linked to its army and security forces.

Iran says the allegations are part of Western plots against the country.

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi. Editing by Jane Merriman)
FILE PHOTO: Ken Griffin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Citadel, looks on during the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit, in Hong Kong, China November 7, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo

By Carolina Mandl

(Reuters) -Billionaire Ken Griffin's Citadel is planning to give back about $7 billion in profits to investors after a year of double-digit returns, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

Its flagship multi-strategy Wellington fund returned 14.8% this year through November, a second source said.

Citadel declined to comment on the matter.

Last year, Citadel also returned roughly $7 billion in profits to its investors after posting gains of over 30%. Griffin's firm usually hands back money to clients as a way to keep its size compatible with the investment opportunities it sees on the horizon.

Citadel, which will start 2024 with $58 billion in assets under management, has outperformed many of its peers in recent year.

Israel Englander's Millennium Management is up 9.7% in the first nine months of 2023, one of the sources said. The hedge fund declined to comment on the matter.

The WSJ first reported on the money returned to investor earlier this morning.

On Tuesday, Griffin, the world's most successful hedge fund manager in terms of earnings, announced he and billionaire David Geffen donated $400 million to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Griffin has donated over $2 billion to charity during his lifetime, to causes from education to COVID-19 vaccines.

(Reporting by Carolina Mandl in New York and Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
FILE PHOTO: The Kroger supermarket chain's headquarters is shown in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S., June 28, 2018. Picture taken June 28, 2018. REUTERS/Lisa Baertlein

(Reuters) - Kroger said on Tuesday its associates would be returning to its offices in Cincinnati and other locations for more days in the week from February next year.

"Remote working" had gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing employees to stay out of offices and work from home. However, with the pandemic subsiding, employers are now asking employees to return to offices, citing higher efficiency and better collaboration.

"To better support our teams, our customers and the communities we serve, beginning February 5, 2024, associates will be coming into their assigned offices for three to four days a week," a spokesperson for the retailer told Reuters in an emailed statement.

The company said the move would impact about 5,800 associates in the Greater Cincinnati as well as in other locations such as North Carolina, Illinois and Florida, among others.

The U.S. supermarket chain said it had encouraged its employees to spend at least two days a week in the office since June 2021.

As of Jan. 28, Kroger employed nearly 430,000 full and part-time employees, according to a regulatory filing.

(Reporting by Granth Vanaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)
FILE PHOTO: Women's March activists hold signs outside the White House in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn the landmark Roe v Wade abortion decision in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 9, 2022. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo

By Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) - A Kentucky woman who filed a class action last week challenging the state's near-total ban on abortion is no longer pregnant, her lawyers said Tuesday, calling for more plaintiffs to carry the case forward.

Lawyers for the woman at Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said in a statement that the woman learned her embryo no longer had cardiac activity after she filed the lawsuit on Friday.

ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project deputy director Brigitte Amiri, a lawyer for plaintiff Jane Doe, said in Tuesday's statement that "patient-led challenges like Jane's are our only path forward," and she encouraged other pregnant Kentucky residents seeking abortion to contact the attorneys if they wished to join the case.

The news comes a day after Texas's Supreme Court rejected a woman's bid for a court order allowing her to get an emergency abortion under that state's medical exception for life-threatening emergencies, saying she and her doctor had not made the case she qualified.

Planned Parenthood and Kentucky abortion clinics sued Kentucky over its ban last year, but the state's Supreme Court earlier this year ruled that they could not sue on behalf of their patients. Last week's lawsuit sought to get around that problem by having the pregnant plaintiff sue on behalf of a class of woman who are similarly situated.

The office of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Doe's lawsuit, filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court, challenged two 2019 laws: a law banning abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, around six weeks and before many women know they are pregnant, and a ban on abortion at any time. The latter was passed as a so-called trigger law that took effect automatically when the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which had guaranteed abortion rights nationwide.

Both laws contain only narrow exceptions to save the mother's life or prevent severe injury to the mother. They do not have exceptions for rape, incest or for fatal fetal anomalies.

The lawsuit claims the laws violate the Kentucky state constitution's right to liberty, which it says includes a right to privacy.

Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe, 18 Republican-led states have banned or significantly restricted abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights.

(Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Aurora Ellis)
FILE PHOTO: Meta AI logo is seen in this illustration taken September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

By Katie Paul

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Meta Platforms' lawyers had warned it about the legal perils of using thousands of pirated books to train its AI models, but the company did it anyway, according to a new filing in a copyright infringement lawsuit initially brought this summer.

The new filing late on Monday night consolidates two lawsuits brought against the Facebook and Instagram owner by comedian Sarah Silverman, Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Chabon and other prominent authors, who allege that Meta has used their works without permission to train its artificial-intelligence language model, Llama.

A California judge last month dismissed part of the Silverman lawsuit and indicated that he would give the authors permission to amend their claims.

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations.

The new complaint, filed on Monday, includes chat logs of a Meta-affiliated researcher discussing procurement of the dataset in a Discord server, a potentially significant piece of evidence indicating that Meta was aware that its use of the books may not be protected by U.S. copyright law.

In the chat logs quoted in the complaint, researcher Tim Dettmers describes his back-and-forth with Meta's legal department over whether use of the book files as training data would be "legally ok."

"At Facebook, there are a lot of people interested in working with (T)he (P)ile, including myself, but in its current form, we are unable to use it for legal reasons," Dettmers wrote in 2021, referring to a dataset Meta has acknowledged using to train its first version of Llama, according to the complaint.

The month prior, Dettmers wrote that Meta's lawyers had told him "the data cannot be used or models cannot be published if they are trained on that data," the complaint said.

While Dettmers does not describe the lawyers' concerns, his counterparts in the chat identify "books with active copyrights" as the biggest likely source of worry. They say training on the data should "fall under fair use," a U.S. legal doctrine that protects certain unlicensed uses of copyrighted works.

Dettmers, a doctoral student at the University of Washington, told Reuters he was not immediately able to comment on the claims.

Tech companies have been facing a slew of lawsuits this year from content creators who accuse them of ripping off copyright-protected works to build generative AI models that have created a global sensation and spurred a frenzy of investment.

If successful, those cases could dampen the generative AI craze, as they could raise the cost of building the data-hungry models by compelling AI companies to compensate artists, authors and other content creators for the use of their works.

At the same time, new provisional rules in Europe regulating artificial intelligence could force companies to disclose the data they use to train their models, potentially exposing them to more legal risk.

Meta released a first version of its Llama large language model in February and published a list of datasets used for training, including "the Books3 section of ThePile." The person who assembled that dataset has said elsewhere that it contains 196,640 books, according to the complaint.

The company did not disclose training data for its latest version of the model, Llama 2, which it made available for commercial use this summer.

Llama 2 is free to use for companies with fewer than 700 million monthly active users. Its release was seen in the tech sector as a potential game-changer in the market for generative AI software, threatening to upend the dominance of players like OpenAI and Google that charge for use of their models.

(Reporting by Katie Paul in New York; Editing by Kenneth Li and Matthew Lewis)
Razan Shabat, a displaced orphaned Palestinian girl who was wounded in an Israeli strike and whose parents were killed in a strike on a house they were sheltering in, plays with dolls at a hospital, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palesti

By Doaa Rouqa

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (Reuters) - Playing with dolls on a Gaza hospital bed where she sits with her leg in a plaster cast and scars on her face, 10-year-old Razan Shabat does not know that her mother, father and siblings were killed in the strike that wounded her.

The little girl is one of a growing number of children in Gaza who have lost both parents, and in some cases their entire families, in the war between Israel and Hamas, and who are being cared for by distant relatives, friends or even strangers.

"This girl doesn't know that she lost her family, and we're responsible for her now," said Rajaa al-Jarou, who is married to an uncle of Razan and is now caring for the girl at the Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.

Despite the large scab on her forehead and thinner scars running from her brow to her cheek, Razan's face lit up with a big smile as she played with two pink rag dolls, cooing at them as a mother would with a baby.

Her smile disappeared when she was asked what she was missing the most in hospital.

"I miss my family. I miss seeing them," she said, suddenly sad and serious.

Her left leg lay flat on the bed, encased from top to bottom in a cast.

"I had an operation on my leg, it was broken. And as you can see in my forehead there's a wound, and I had four operations in my skull, but thank God, Im good and thank God, Im getting better," she said.

Younis al-Ajla, a doctor involved in caring for Razan, said she and many other children had been brought to the hospital alone.

"Many children who come to Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, we dont know their names. We write unknown on their entry files until one of their relatives comes and recognises them," he said, adding that this had been Razan's case for many days.

'THEY'VE LOST EVERYONE'

James Elder, chief spokesperson for UNICEF, the U.N. agency for children, said it was hard to determine how many Gaza children were now orphans due to the sheer number of people being killed and the desperate conditions on the ground.

"There are so, so many children who have lost both parents, but worse than that, they've lost entire families," he said.

Relatives or neighbours usually step forward to care for orphaned children, although there were cases so extreme that no one was alive to do so, he said.

"I've met children, usually in hospitals because they'd been injured when their home was hit, they lost their mother and their father and grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings, everyone.

"When a child is the last surviving family member, then you have a real problem."

The war was triggered by Hamas militants who rampaged through southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people including babies and children and kidnapping 240 people of all ages to hold as hostages in Gaza, according to Israel.

Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has responded with a military onslaught and total siege of the densely populated strip that have killed more than 18,000 people, most of them women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Gemma Connell, a U.N. aid worker visiting the hospital in Deir al-Balah, crouched down to talk to a young girl sitting on the floor with bandaged feet, holding a partially inflated blue balloon in one hand and a packet of sweets in the other. The girl appeared dazed and did not respond.

Connell said she had met many traumatised children who were injured, hungry, scared and in many cases bereaved.

"Many of them have seen their siblings die, their parents die," she said, speaking in a telephone interview on Monday separate from her hospital visit.

"Yesterday I met a young girl about four years old who couldn't speak because of what she had seen. She couldn't even say her name. Her eyes were as wide as a deer's in the headlights ... That is what children in Gaza look like."

(Additional reporting by Maggie Fick; Writing by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Russia must lose the war in Ukraine. That was the message Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy repeated on Monday, in a speech at the National Defense University, the Pentagons higher education center. Its the core idea that Zelenskiy has been trying to transmit on his 36-hour trip to Washington, where he has been meeting with military, political and economic authorities. He will also meet with U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday. His goal is to try to convince Washington of the urgent need to provide economic and military assistance to Ukraine before Congress takes its holiday recess on Friday.

We wont give up. We know what to do and you can count on Ukraine. And we hope just as much to be able to count on you, Zelenskiy said in his address to the National Defense University, where U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, was also present. The Ukrainian leader  dressed in a characteristic khaki sweater with the message Im Ukrainian  was met by applause. He said that while Russian President Vladimir Putin was at war with Ukraine, his real goal was the freedom that people have from Warsaw to Chicago to Yokohama.

For Zelenskiy and Biden  who insists that the United States remains firm in its unshakable commitment to provide assistance to Kyiv  there is a lot at stake. And very little time. Both leaders have launched a last-minute campaign to rescue aid to Ukraine before the holiday break.

Biden has asked Congress to approve $61.5 billion to help Ukraine repel the Russian invasion. This aid is part of a nearly $106 billion package that also includes funding for Israel, Taiwan and the border with Mexico. But last week, Republican Senators blocked the proposal.

In exchange for supporting the aid package, Republicans want the Democrats to approve immigration reform that will toughen border control and the conditions for requesting asylum. Both parties are negotiating around the clock to try to reach a last-minute agreement. But a deal seems almost impossible: barring any surprise, Congress will close for the holidays on Friday and not reconvene until next year. By then, the funds available to support Ukraine militarily will have completely run out, according to the U.S. government.

In January, the U.S. government could resort to other bureaucratic mechanisms to restore at least part of its aid to Ukraine. But the pause will disrupt supplies. And given the harshness of winter, the limitations on Ukrainian forces and the fact that Russia is redoubling its offensive, that could prove fatal to Kyivs chances of stopping the invasion. The White House insists that waiting is not an option.

Putin still believes that he can outlast Ukraine, and that he can outlast America, said Austin in his address to National Defense University on Monday. If we do not deter other would-be aggressors, we will only invite more aggression, more bloodshed and more chaos, he said, warning that Putin would look to attack countries beyond Ukraine.

Zelenskiy repeated this warning: Ukraine is just a stepping stone for Russia, a way to act like that old empire that died in 1989, and to challenge the lead of freedom wherever the Russian tsar likes.

The Ukrainian president has a packed agenda. In addition to speaking with the U.S. military, he also met with the director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, on Monday. On Tuesday, he will participate in a closed-door session with senators in Congress, which will be followed by a private meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson.

Republican lawmakers  especially in the House of Representatives, where they hold a slim majority  believe the United States has delivered more than enough aid to the invaded country; that there is not enough transparency on how these funds have been used, and that this money would be better spent on other causes within the United States.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022, U.S. Congress has approved more than $100 billion in aid to Ukraine. But it has not approved new funding since the Republican Party took control of the House of Representatives in January. As the White House warned last week, the Pentagon had used 97% of the $62.3 billion it had in assistance for Ukraine by mid-November, and the State Department had exhausted its $4.7 billion.

The skepticism of lawmakers is increasingly spreading among voters. A University of Michigan poll for the Financial Times found that 48% of voters believed the United States has already spent too much on aid to support Kyivs war effort against Russia, while 27% responded that an adequate amount has been invested. Only 11% believed that the U.S. had not provided enough aid. Republican voters were the least supportive of aid to Ukraine: 65% said that the United States has already spent too much on the country, compared to 52% of independent voters and 32% of Democrats.

This is a time to really step up because if we dont, we know what happens. Putin will be able to move forward with impunity and we know he wont stop in Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday in a series of televised interviews.

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Foreign Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Riyad Al-Maliki attends a side event during an event commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islam

By Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber

GENEVA (Reuters) -The Palestinian foreign minister on Tuesday accused Israel of starving Gaza, a charge swiftly rejected by an Israeli official, as the U.N. human rights chief said the battered enclave was on the verge of finding itself "well beyond breakdown".

The U.N. World Food Programme says half of Gaza's population of 2.3 million is starving as the expansion of Israel's military assault on the southern part of the Gaza Strip, in response to October's bloody cross-border rampage by Hamas militants, has cut people off from food, medicine and fuel.

"As we speak, at least 1 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, half of them children, are starving, not because of a natural disaster or because of lack of generous assistance waiting at the border," Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki told a U.N. event to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"No, they are starving because of Israel's deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war against the people it occupied."

In response, an Israeli official told Reuters in Jerusalem: "This is, of course, obscene ... (a) blood-libellous, delusional level of allegations."

Israel was encouraging increased shipments of food into Gaza from Egypt, which also borders the Palestinian enclave, the official said, blaming lags on a "bottle neck".

A government official said the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza from Israel was reopened for inspections on Tuesday, and the government had ramped up aid inspection capacity.

'DYSTOPIAN REALITY'

In Geneva, al-Maliki said: "We are living through this dystopian reality that excludes Palestinians from the basic, most basic rights afforded to all human beings."

He described this as an "utter international failure" to protect Palestinians.

Asked if he agreed with al-Maliki's assessment, U.N. High Commissioner Volker Turk described the situation in Gaza as "on the verge of well beyond breakdown".

"This is a clarion call for everyone and for the international institutions that deal with it, to take it very seriously and act on it," he said.

In remarks to reporters, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Meirav Eilon Shahar, criticised al-Maliki's address for making no mention of Hamas and its deadly attacks on Israel.

"Nothing about Oct. 7, nothing about the atrocities that were committed by Hamas," she said, speaking alongside the mother of U.S.-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

Israel says its instructions to people to move to areas it says are safer are among measures it is taking to protect civilians as it tries to root out Hamas militants who killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostage in the Oct. 7 attack.

Israel's retaliatory assault has killed at least 18,205 people and wounded nearly 50,000, according to the Gaza health ministry, which says many thousands more dead are uncounted under the rubble or beyond the reach of ambulances.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Emma Farge; Editing by Alison Williams, Alexandra Hudson and Nick Macfie)
By AbdelHadi Ramahi and Alexander Cornwell

AL ARISH, Egypt (Reuters) - When an Israeli air strike hit her neighbourhood and destroyed her home, Faten Abu Khoseh ran into the street to desperately look for her youngest child who had been walking to the market.

Abu Khoseh, a 37-year-old widow, found her daughter, 10-year-old Qamar Shureihy, in the arms of young men. Qamar, badly wounded, had been pulled from underneath the rubble of a mosque in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Qamar was rushed by a car to a nearby hospital because there were no ambulances. Her mother said she underwent hours of surgery, partially amputating her left leg and fitting protruding metal rods to the child's broken right leg.

"All they told me was 'pray for her, she's in a tough situation'," Abu Khoseh recalled the hospital staff saying.

Abu Khoseh, who lost her husband in an accident before the war, said the war had been harder than any of the past conflicts she had lived through. She said Israeli air strikes were "targeting everywhere", leaving people buried under rubble.

"People are all but dead, they are not alive. What can I say, the situation is indescribable," she said

Due to the severity of her injuries Qamar, who was wounded about a month ago, was allowed to leave Gaza to receive medical care in Al Arish, in Egypt's North Sinai.

Abu Khoseh spoke to Reuters as she waited to fly with Qamar on a United Arab Emirates government-chartered plane to Abu Dhabi, where the UAE will provide medical treatment.

Abu Khoseh, a mother-of-four, said her twin 16-year-old daughter and son and 18-year-old daughter were still in Gaza.

She has lost contact with her parents after an Israeli air strike hit their neighbourhood, and said she was in constant fear that her three children in Gaza would be killed.

"I am exhausted. I am psychologically exhausted," Abu Khoseh said. "I can't eat, I don't care about anything. All I care about is the children."

Israel has bombarded Gaza from the air and from land, imposed a siege and mounted a ground offensive in retaliation for an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that Israel says killed 1,200 people and saw 240 people taken hostage.

Gaza's health authorities say more than 18,000 people have been killed by Israeli attacks, with more than 49,500 wounded.

Israel says it does its utmost to minimise civilian casualties but that Hamas combatants use built-up residential areas for cover, something the Islamist militant group denies.

"We just want to live like everyone else, thats all we ask for," Abu Khoseh said. "We don't want much, just to live a dignified life without blood and without war. A good life for ourselves and our children. That's all we want."

(Reporting by Abdelhadi Ramahi and Alexander Cornwell, writing by Alexander Cornwell, Editing by Alex Richardson)
Members of the Polish Parliament congratulate newly appointed Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk after he won the vote of confidence for his government, in Parliament, in Warsaw, Poland December 12, 2023. REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel

By Anna Koper

WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish prime minister Donald Tusk's government won a vote of confidence in parliament on Tuesday, as he set out a pro-European Union vision for Poland that marks radical change after eight years of nationalist rule and disputes with Brussels.

Presenting his government's plans to lawmakers, Tusk said Poland would be a strong backer of Ukraine, a loyal ally of the United States and a committed member of the NATO military alliance.

He also signalled his determination to mend Warsaw's ties with EU institutions after years of feuding over issues ranging from judicial independence and the rule of law to LGBT rights.

"Poland will regain its position as a leader in the European Union... Poland will build its strength, the position it deserves," said Tusk during a policy expose, later promising to "bring back billions of euros" from Brussels.

Tusk received the support of 248 lawmakers while 201 voted against him, at the end of a sitting that was disrupted when a far-right deputy used a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles during an event in parliament with members of the Jewish community.

The new prime minister added his voice to a chorus of outrage and condemnation, labelling it a "bandit act".

EU FUNDS

The European Commission, the EU executive, put significant funds earmarked for Poland on hold when the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party was in power because of concerns over the rule of law.

Poland has gained approval to access 5.1 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in advance payments as part of an EU programme to encourage a shift from Russian fossil fuels.

But the rest of a total of 59.8 billion euros in green transition and COVID-19 recovery funds is frozen until Warsaw rolls back a judicial overhaul implemented by PiS which critics say undermined the independence of the courts.

Despite his pro-EU line, Tusk, who was also prime minister form 2007 to 2014, said he would oppose any changes of EU treaties that would disadvantage Poland.

"Any attempts to change treaties that are against our interests are out of the question ... no one will outplay me in the European Union," said Tusk, a former president of the European Council, which groups the leaders of EU member states.

Tusk, 66, also promised his government would make defence a priority and honour previously signed arms contracts.

PiS lawmaker Ryszard Terlecki was unimpressed with Tusk's speech. "It wasn't very specific and it was long," he said.

PiS came first in an Oct. 15 election and had the first shot at forming a government, but lacked the necessary majority to do so after all other parties ruled out working with it.

Tusk's government will be sworn in by President Andrzej Duda on Wednesday before the new prime minister heads to Brussels for an EU summit.

UKRAINE TIES

The final months of Mateusz Morawiecki's PiS government were marked by a souring of relations with Ukraine, mainly over Warsaw's extension of a ban on Ukrainian grain imports.

With concerns growing in Kyiv about its Western allies' commitment to funding its defence against Russia's invasion, Tusk said Poland would advocate for continued support.

"We will ... loudly and decisively demand the full mobilisation of the free world, the Western world, to help Ukraine in this war," he said.

Ukraine also faces the possibility that Hungary will not give the green light for it to start EU accession talks at a Brussels summit this week.

Ties between Warsaw and Kyiv have been strained by a protest by Polish truckers who have blocked some border crossings in a dispute over Ukrainian trucking firms' access to the EU.

Tusk said he would quickly resolve issues behind the protest, and that Poland would ensure its eastern border - an external border of the EU - is secure.

Poland has accused Belarus of orchestrating a migrant crisis on their border. But human rights activists have accused Poland of mistreating migrants, mainly from the Middle East and Africa, who have sought access from Belarus.

"You can protect the Polish border and be humane at the same time," Tusk said.

He said that after he returned from this week's EU summit he would meet the leaders of the Baltic states in Estonia to discuss the Ukraine war and safe borders.

($1 = 0.9264 euro)

(Reporting by Anna Koper, Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz; Writing by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk and Alan Charlish; Editing by Alison Williams, Tomasz Janowski, Timothy Heritage and Grant McCool)
By Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) - Russia should help impose new sanctions against North Korea over its recent launch of a spy satellite and enforce existing bans on the isolated country's labour exports, a senior South Korean official said on Tuesday.

South Korea's unification minister Kim Yung-ho, in charge of inter-Korean ties, said last month's satellite launch violated U.N. Security Council resolutions banning North Korea's use of ballistic technology, but Russia has been "extremely passive" in further sanctioning Pyongyang.

There are "clear signs" of military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, and Seoul is also looking into whether Russia has accepted more North Korean workers in defiance of U.N. resolutions, Kim said.

"As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia has responsibility to faithfully implement its sanctions resolutions," he told a news conference.

South Korea's intelligence agency said last month the North had received Russian aid for the satellite launch, which was its third attempt after two failed tries.

Following leader Kim Jong Un's rare trip to Russia in September, North Korea has sent hundreds of construction and other workers to the Russian Far East to earn foreign currency, South Korea's Donga Ilbo newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing unidentified government officials.

Minister Kim also urged China to play a better role in sanctioning North Korea over its weapons development, and complying with international norms not to forcibly repatriate North Korean defectors.

South Korean activists said last week that up to 600 North Koreans have "vanished" after being deported by China in October, in what could be the largest such mass repatriation in years.

Kim also said the increasing public appearances and levels of protocol for Kim Ju Ae, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, could be aimed at laying groundwork for a future succession.

Since her debut in November 2022, she has appeared in state media 19 times, mostly accompanying her father at military events, he said.

"The possibility of her becoming a successor cannot be ruled out," Kim said. "By putting her on the public stage early, they might be trying to show their resolve for a fourth generation hereditary succession."

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Kim Coghill)
(Reuters) - U.S. automaker Tesla Inc on Monday said it has a "moral obligation" to continue improving its Autopilot driver assistant system and make it available to more consumers based on data that showed stronger safety metrics when it was engaged.

In response to a Washington Post investigation of serious crashes involving Autopilot on roads where the feature could not reliably operate, the company said its data showed it was saving lives and preventing injuries.

The Post report said the newspaper had identified at least eight crashes between 2016 and 2023 where Autopilot could be activated in situations it was not designed to be used, and said Tesla had taken few definitive steps to restrict its use by geography despite having the technical capability to do so.

Autopilot is "intended for use on controlled-access highways" with "a center divider, clear lane markings, and no cross traffic," the Post said, adding Tesla's user manual advises drivers the technology can also falter on roads if there are hills or sharp curves.

The Post investigation "leverages instances of driver misuse of the Autopilot driver assist feature to suggest the system is the problem", Tesla said in a post on social media platform X, adding that Autopilot was about 10 times safer than the U.S. average and 5 times safer than a Tesla without the technology enabled.

The company also reiterated that the driver remained responsible for control of the vehicle at all times and is notified of this responsibility.

The Post said regulatory bodies like the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not adopted rules to limit the technology to where it is meant to be used despite opening investigations into the software after identifying more than a dozen crashes in which Tesla vehicles hit stationary emergency vehicles.

NHTSA did not respond immediately to a request for comment from Reuters outside normal business hours. The agency told the Post it would be too complex and resource-intensive to verify that systems like Autopilot were used within the conditions for which they are designed, and it potentially would not fix the problem.

Last month, a Florida judge found "reasonable evidence" that Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk and other managers knew the automaker's vehicles had a defective Autopilot system but still allowed the cars to be driven unsafely.

The ruling came as a setback for Tesla after the company won two product liability trials in California this year over the Autopilot system.

(Reporting by Jyoti Narayan in Bengaluru; Editing by Jamie Freed)
SAO PAULO (Reuters) -A U.S. citizen accused of trying to stab his girlfriend and a taxi driver in Brazil's northeastern city of Salvador jumped to his death from a hotel room window on Tuesday while attempting to avoid arrest, according to police in Bahia state.

Police identified him as Zachary Modi Mikaya, aged 30.

According to a LinkedIn page for "Zach Mikaya," he was a software engineer and a 2016 Mechanical Engineering graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

MIT did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Police said he was accused of other crimes in March and had stayed at the hotel with false documents making it difficult to find him.

"It was his choice, when police arrived and knocked on the door, it was his choice. Sadly, he tried to flee and jumped out the window," said police officer Mariana Ouais.

The stabbings took place on Sunday in an upscale part of Salvador, police said, adding that the American had cut his hair in an attempt to disguise his identity.

Police had obtained an arrest warrant for attempted murder.

"The permits for removal and forensics have been issued and the hotel staff will be interviewed," Ouais said.

Reuters had not received a response for a request to comment from the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia by the time of publication.

(Reporting by Eduardo Simoes and Anthony Boadle; Writing by Steven GrattanEditing by Marguerita Choy and Sandra Maler)
FILE PHOTO: A local resident stands next to a crater at a site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine December 11, 2023. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo

By Daphne Psaledakis, Simon Lewis and Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on hundreds of people and entities, including in China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, as it targets Russia's sanctions evasion, future energy capabilities, banks and its metals and mining sector.

The U.S. Treasury and State departments targeted more than 250 individuals and entities in Washington's latest action attempting to crack down on Russia and its evasion of sanctions imposed by the U.S. and its allies over the war in Ukraine.

"We will continue to use the tools at our disposal to promote accountability for Russias crimes in Ukraine and those who finance and support Russias war machine," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The Treasury said it imposed sanctions on a network of four entities and nine people based in China, Russia, Hong Kong and Pakistan over the facilitation and procurement of Chinese-manufactured weapons and technologies to Russia.

It said the network sought to circumvent U.S. sanctions and Chinese controls on the export of military-related materials.

It also targeted Turkey, United Arab Emirates and China-based companies over the shipment of technology, equipment and inputs, including ball or roller bearings, aircraft parts and X-ray systems.

The China-based firms targeted included commercial satellite imagery companies that Treasury said provided high-resolution observation imagery to Russian mercenary firm Wagner.

The State Department also targeted Chinese entities in an action against a network it said was involved in procuring microelectronic components for Russian state conglomerate Rostec, which itself is under U.S. sanctions.

It said the microelectronics were being used to develop electronic warfare systems. Companies in Russia, Turkey and Hong Kong were also targeted as part of action against the network.

Washington has stepped up diplomatic pressure on countries and private companies globally to ensure enforcement of the sanctions it, the European Union and other Western nations have imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

"The anti-Russian steps announced today ... are nothing more than an attempt to put a good face on a bad game," Russia's envoy to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, said in comments posted on the Russian embassy Telegram messaging app. "Nothing will help Zelenskiy. But the Americans risk getting even more bogged down in the quagmire of the Ukrainian conflict."

Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said China regulates military and dual-use exports responsibly and opposes the United States' use of sanctions, which he called "unilateral" and "illegal."

"We firmly oppose the U.S. side sanctioning relevant companies under groundless pretext," Liu said in an emailed response to questions about Tuesday's sanctions.

UAE's embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its foreign ministry did not immediately reply to a request outside usual working hours.

A Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that while Turkey only imposed sanctions endorsed by the United Nations Security Council and opposed unilateral measures, Ankara took measures to minimize any circumvention of sanctions.

"Strict monitoring and prevention of efforts to skirt sanctions through Turkey is an integral part of our non-abidance policy," the official said, and added the Turkish financial and commercial sector dealt primarily with Western markets.

"Inevitably, there are evasion attempts by obscure and insignificant entities that are uneducated about or indifferent to sanctions," the person said. "Such entities will unavoidably incur the consequences of unilateral restrictive measures."

Turkish authorities are taking regulatory actions if the circumventions amount to a pattern breaching Turkey's policy, the official told Reuters.

FUTURE ENERGY

The U.S. targeted three companies developing the Ust-Luga liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, a facility at a Baltic seaport in northwest Russia to be operated by Gazprom and RusGazDobycha.

The yet-to-be-built complex is part of Gazprom's strategy to shift focus to processing and is poised to become Russia's largest gas processing plant, and one of the world's largest in terms of production volumes.

The sanctions were put on Russian-based companies Limited Liability Company Northern Technologies, Joint Stock Company Kazan Compressor Machinery Plant, and Limited Liability Company Gazprom Linde Engineering.

Washington is seeking to interfere with Russia's future energy production and fuel export capacity. The move came a little over a month after Washington put sanctions on an entity developing another LNG project, Arctic-2 LNG in Siberia.

It was not immediately clear how Russia's future LNG exports would be affected. The U.S. is the world's largest LNG exporter. German company Linde stopped work at Ust-Luga in 2022 due to Western sanctions. This year Russia has been talking with China to involve Chinese companies in construction of the plant.

Gazprom did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The State Department also targeted Russian businessman Vladislav Sviblov and Highland Gold Mining Ltd, a UK-registered company owned and controlled by him that it said is Russias seventh-largest gold producer, as well as other companies connected to Sviblov following action Britain took in November.

A representative for Sviblov declined to comment.

The State Department also designated three shipping companies and three Russian-flagged commercial vessels it said have been used to transfer munitions between North Korea and Russia.

North Korea's mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Washington also targeted four Russian financial institutions - including Expobank, the proposed buyer of HSBC's Russian business - and dozens of Russia-based entities involved in the import, production, modification and sale of defense-related and industrial technology, including drones.

The State Department also listed former telecoms CEO Ivan Tavrin and a network of companies he runs. It said Tavrin "has become one of Russias biggest wartime dealmakers since the beginning of Russias illegal war against Ukraine."

A representative for Kismet, owned by Tavrin, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the sanctions. New Towers, one of the companies in Tavrin's empire, declined to comment.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Simon Lewis, Timothy Gardner, Michael Martina, Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu in Washington, Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow, Alexander Marrow in London, Maha El Dahan in Dubai, Tuvan Gumrukcu in Ankara and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Gerry Doyle)
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - A small part of a dead person's cremated ashes may be stored in a place that was dear to them rather than in a church or cemetery, the Vatican said on Tuesday, softening its previous stance on the issue.

In previous guidance from 2016, the Vatican said the ashes must be kept in "sacred places", and therefore neither at home, divided among family members nor scattered to the wind.

It warned that a Christian funeral could be denied to those who request that they be scattered.

The Vatican's doctrinal office said on Tuesday those instructions remain valid, but added that relatives may ask for "a minimal part of the ashes of their relative (to be stored) in a place of significance for the history of the deceased person."

This would be on condition that anti-Christian practices such as pantheism or naturalism are "ruled out" and that the remaining part of the ashes are kept in a sacred place, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith said.

Keeping ashes in a sacred place "ensures they are not excluded from the prayers and remembrance of their family or the Christian community," and prevents the departed "from being forgotten, or their remains being shown a lack of respect", the office said.

The Catholic Church has an uneasy relationship with cremation.

For centuries it banned the practice because it clashed with teachings about the resurrection of the body in the Last Judgment at the end of the world. The ban was lifted in 1963, but the Church still frowns on it.

Tuesday's statement, signed by the Vatican's doctrinal chief, Argentine Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez and approved by Pope Francis, was a response to questions posed by the head of the Italian Catholic Church, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi.

It also said the ashes of the dead may be mixed in a common urn, rather than kept separately, as long as the identity of each deceased is marked "so as not to lose the memory of their names."

(Reporting by Alvise Armellini, editing by Gavin Jones and Tomasz Janowski)
A Vatican trial of 10 people accused of financial crimes, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu, resumes after a chief judge ordered the prosecution to give the defence more access to evidence and to question defendants who were not given the right to speak ea

By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Defence lawyers at the Vatican's big corruption trial, in which one of the 10 defendants is a cardinal, completed their summing up on Tuesday and the court president announced that the verdicts would be announced on Saturday.

The trial, which began in July 2021 and has sat for 85 sessions, revolves mostly around the complicated purchase of a luxury building in London by the Secretariat of State, the Vatican's key administrative and diplomatic department.

The Vatican sold the building last year, taking an estimated loss of about 140 million euros.

All of the defendants have denied wrongdoing. Chief among them is Cardinal Angelo Becciu, 75, who was number two at the secretariat at the time of the purchase and is the highest ranking Vatican official ever to face a trial.

He is accused of embezzlement, abuse of office and inducing a person to give false testimony.

The others on trial, which was heard by a panel of three judges, include several Vatican employees and two outside Italian brokers who the Vatican has accused of extortion.

At his summing up on Monday, prosecutor Alessandro Diddi repeated his request for guilty verdicts for all of the defendants, which he first made in July, when he asked for a jail sentence of seven years and three months for Becciu.

Diddi asked for a sentence of more than 11 years for one of the brokers, Raffaele Mincione, and more than nine years for the other, Gianluigi Torzi.

The pope fired Becciu from another senior clerical post in 2020 for alleged nepotism. That accusation has often surfaced at the trial and Becciu denied that as well.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Former settler leader, Dani Dayan, who was announced as the consul-general in New York on Monday, speaks at a conference on fighting the anti-Israel boycott, in Jerusalem March 28, 2016. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/File Photo

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The head of Israel's main Holocaust memorial centre has welcomed criticism levelled at three top U.S. university presidents over their comments on campus antisemitism but said an anti-Jewish climate in parts of academia remained a profound threat.

Dani Dayan, chairman of the Yad Vashem memorial centre in Jerusalem, said a surge in antisemitic incidents worldwide reflected trends that had been developing well before the start of the war in Gaza in October but that had taken on "a new magnitude" since.

"And the epicentre of that is in the academy," he told Reuters.

U.S. colleges have been rocked by bitter rows over differing views on free speech and the right to protest in support of the Palestinians and against the war in Gaza as well as accusations that universities have tolerated a climate in which Jewish students and faculty feel under threat.

"I think that in Western academies, stone by stone, piece by piece, article by article and book by book, a pseudo-academic theory is being developed that calls for, justifies and even advocates for the elimination of the Jewish state," he said.

Anti-discrimination groups have reported sharp rises in both antisemitic and Islamaphobic incidents in Western countries since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas gunmen in southern Israel and the subsequent bombardment and invasion of Gaza by Israel.

The extreme sensitivity of the issue was highlighted by the row over the testimony from the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology about a rise in antisemitism on college campuses.

More than 70 U.S. lawmakers signed onto a letter demanding that the governing boards of the three universities remove the presidents. All three declined to give a definite "yes" or "no" answer when asked whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate their schools' codes of conduct, saying they had to find a balance with free speech protections.

Since then, University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill has resigned. Claudine Gay, the president of Harvard, apologised for the remarks but the university's board said she would remain in her post after the backlash.

Dayan said the backlash against the presidents' testimony had been encouraging but was not enough.

"Any antisemitic call, any antisemitic action should be off limits in campuses," he said.

(Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Alison Williams)
There are difficult jobs in the United States, but few as difficult as that of Rahul Gupta, the White House drug czar. He is director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, a position to which he was appointed by Joe Biden in 2021. Gupta is in charge of combating the opioid epidemic, an old tragedy with a new actor: fentanyl. The drugs potency  it is 50 times stronger than heroin  and its capacity for devastation are unprecedented.

Fentanyl is a substance that, until recently, almost no one had heard of outside of the operating room. Now it has swept across the streets of cities and towns in the United States, leading to record-high overdose deaths. In 2022, there were nearly 110,000 overdose deaths (two-thirds of which involved the powerful opioid). Its similar to that of 2021, but represents a 50% rise compared to 2019.

There has been a flattening of that [overdose death] curve. This is really significant because it tells me that, first, the policies that President Bidens administration has enacted are working. Secondly, its not enough. You need to double down on the work that is happening to make sure that we do it with a sense of urgency when so many American lives are at stake, explained Gupta by videoconference in an interview with EL PAIS last Wednesday.

That day, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced during an official visit to Mexico that the United States was sanctioning 15 individuals and two companies linked to the feared Beltran Leyva cartel for their alleged involvement in the transportation and distribution of deadly drugs to the U.S. This is in addition to the sanctions that were placed against Jalisco New Generation Cartel-affiliated entities last week, which is one of our priorities in this war, said Gupta, who refused to link the current immigration crisis with the opiate crisis. Its important to emphasize that 90% or more of the fentanyl [which is much easier to transport than other non-synthetic drugs, such as heroin] that enters the United States comes through ports of entry through passenger vehicles and cargo vehicles. Thats why, the top priority of the president, who has asked Congress for supplemental funds, is to provide the appropriate drug detection machines so that we can stop as much fentanyl as possible.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during last week's visit to Mexico. Jose Mendez (EFE)

With respect to the fight against fentanyl overseas, Gupta pointed to the commitment obtained by Biden during his recent bilateral summit in San Francisco with Chinese president Xi Jinping, who agreed to pursue companies that manufacture and export the precursors used by Mexican and American laboratories to make fentanyl. We need China to take more aggressive measures. Although that meeting was very important in order to get those conversations started. Gupta recalled that last July Washington launched a global coalition of over 130 countries to beat the scourge of the global synthetic drug crisis. Mexico is in that group, but not China.

To attack the problem within U.S. borders, Gupta  the first doctor to be elevated to the position of White House drug czar  declares himself a believer in harm reduction, a policy he introduced at the federal level and applied in his time as a health official in West Virginia. Born in India and raised in a suburb of Washington, it was in that state, which each year has the highest percentage of overdose deaths in the entire country, where he first attracted national attention with his progressive commitment to treat the drug crisis.

Harm reduction includes three areas, he explained. One: making available naloxone or Narcan [in its commercial formulation], the best antidote that exists against fentanyl overdoses. Second is syringe service programs that prevent really the spread of communicable diseases. And the third is drug testing strips for fentanyl and xylazine [known colloquially as tranq or zombie drug, a substance that enhances the effects of fentanyl and aggravates its harmful effects]. One of the most worrying facts about the worst drug crisis in the history of the United States, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, is that many overdose victims die believing they had taken another drug, such as cocaine or ecstasy, because dealers cut these substances with fentanyl, which is much cheaper.

Since March, naloxone  a drug patented in the 1960s  has been available without a prescription in pharmacies and convenience stores nationwide. Gupta is absolutely convinced that the impact of this measure will be seen in the following overdose death statistics, which are going down. Under this administration, we have made naloxone available over the counter, sitting in pharmacies right next to Tylenol and Motrin. But we are also encouraging schools, malls, public places to make sure that they keep making Narcan or naloxone available just like a fire extinguisher or a defibrillator device. Because at the end of the day, they save lives.

The syringe problem

One of the most divisive policies of harm reduction is syringe service programs, with critics  who usually also call for a tough stance against crime  arguing that it encourages drug consumption. In neighborhoods such as Kensington (Philadelphia) or Tenderloin (San Francisco), the ease of finding a new syringe means sidewalks are often filled with needles discarded by addicts. I have worked at the local, state and federal level, and the exchange of syringes is critical to saving peoples lives and preventing the spread of diseases. At the same time, a lot of non-government organizations and nonprofits are working to make sure that those spare needles are picked up from the street so they are not harming other people.

Gupta sees addicts as sick people who need treatment for a disease, like diabetes or hypertension, instead of considering addiction a moral failing. And he sees traffickers as monsters who take advantage of them. These views are novel for the head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, a position given to William J. Bennett during the Bush Sr. administration, who argued that legalization was equivalent to financing cocaine for 12-year-old children. The position of drug czar was granted a charter during the administration of Richard Nixon, the first president to declare the war on drugs.

More than half a century later, few would argue that the war has been won. Indeed, the United States has taken great steps in the decriminalization of marijuana and is beginning to open up to psychedelic mushrooms. Putting addicts in prison doesnt work, explained Gupta. There are two million people incarcerated. Two-thirds of them are because of the disease of addiction. One of the things were trying to do is to make sure that every jail and prison in the United States has access to treatment. When we do that, not only do we reduce the overdose deaths after people are released, but we also help people go back to their jobs.

The drug czar says that the fight against opioids is one of the four points (along with the search for a cure for cancer, care for veterans and the mental health pandemic) of the unity agenda proposed by Biden in his first State of the Union address, in 2022. Biden called on Republicans and Democrats to work together to address those priorities, but surely nowhere else is the partisan battle more fierce than with fentanyl. Republicans are using it as another weapon in their culture wars. They blame the Biden administrations border policies for encouraging drug trafficking, and propose that anti-terrorist measures be taken against cartels, as was done against Islamic State  rhetoric that has intensified the anti-immigration rhetoric. This is one of those areas we dont need to be polarized, said Gupta. I travel the country a lot. This is one area that affects Republicans, Democrats, independents, people that live in rural and urban areas, rich, poor, Black and white. Everybody can come together to fight this because everybody is affected and impacted.

The issue wasnt always this divisive. Until 2016, the opioid crisis used to be one of the few areas that brought the two Americas together. At this point in 2023, the only thing that is clear is that fentanyl will be one of the hot topics in next years presidential elections.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
DUBAI (Reuters) - Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Tuesday they carried out a military operation against the Norwegian commercial tanker STRINDA.

The group targeted the tanker with a rocket after the crew refused to respond to all warnings, Houthi military spokesperson Yehia Sareea said in a televised statement.

He added that the group had managed to obstruct the passage of several ships in recent days, acting in support of the Palestinians.

He vowed that the Houthis would continue blocking all ships heading to Israeli ports until Israel allows the entry of food and medical aid into the Gaza Strip - more than 1,000 miles from the Houthi seat of power in Sanaa.

(Reporting by Nadine Awadalla and Maha El Dahan; editing by Christina Fincher)
Prospectus supplement dated December 12, 2023

to the following prospectus(es):

Nationwide Destination SM Future prospectus dated

This supplement updates certain information contained in your statutory prospectus. Please read and retain this supplement for future reference.

Effective February 12, 2024, the following changes apply for new contracts:

I. For applications signed on or after February 12, 2024, the current charge for each of the following optional benefits will increase to 1.45 %:

 Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider Plus Core

 Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider Plus Accelerated

 Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider Plus Max

II. For applications signed on or after February 12, 2024, the current charge for each of the following optional benefits will decrease to 0.15 %:

 Joint Option for the Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider Plus Core

 Joint Option for the Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider Plus Accelerated

 Joint Option for the Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider Plus Max

Accordingly, the following changes apply to the prospectus:

(1) Footnotes 7 and 8 in the Fee Table section are deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following:

7

8

(2) The second paragraph of the Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider Plus Core, Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider Plus Accelerated, and Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider Plus Max provision of the Charges and Deductions section is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

For an additional charge not to exceed 1.50% of the Current Income Benefit Base, an applicant can elect one of the available Nationwide L.inc Plus Riders. Currently, for applications signed on or after February 12, 2024, the charge for the Nationwide L.inc Plus Riders is 1.45% of the Current Income Benefit Base, and for applications signed before February 12, 2024, the charge for the Nationwide L.inc Plus Riders is 1.30% of the Current Income Benefit Base. The current charge will not change, except, possibly, upon the Contract Owners election to reset the benefit base. If the current charge does change, it will not exceed the maximum charge of 1.50% of the Current Income Benefit Base.

(3) The first paragraph of the Joint Option for the Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider Plus Core, Joint Option for the Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider Plus Accelerated, and Joint Option for the Nationwide Lifetime Income Rider Plus Max provision of the Charges and Deductions section is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Federally Chartered Corporation 000-51397 13-6400946 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

101 Park Avenue , New York , New York 10178-0599 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code: ( 212 ) 441-6616

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):

 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered None N/A N/A

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 ( 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ( 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (the "Bank") obtains most of its funds from the sale of debt securities, known as consolidated obligations, in the capital markets. Consolidated obligations, which consist of bonds and discount notes, are by regulation the joint and several obligations of the eleven Federal Home Loan Banks. The Federal Home Loan Banks are regulated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (the "Finance Agency") and Finance Agencys regulations authorize the Finance Agency to require any Federal Home Loan Bank to repay all or a portion of the principal of or interest on consolidated obligations for which another Federal Home Loan Bank is the primary obligor. Consolidated obligations are sold to the public through the Office of Finance using authorized securities dealers. Consolidated obligations are backed only by the financial resources of the eleven Federal Home Loan Banks and are not guaranteed by the United States government.

Schedule A sets forth all consolidated obligation bonds and discount notes committed to be issued by the Federal Home Loan Banks, for which the Bank is the primary obligor, on the trade dates indicated, other than discount notes with a maturity of one year or less that are issued in the ordinary course of business. Schedule A also includes any consolidated obligations with a remaining maturity in excess of one year, if any, for which we have assumed the primary repayment obligation from another Federal Home Loan Bank.

We may elect to change our method of reporting information on the issuance or assumption of consolidated obligations at any time. In reviewing the information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, please note:

 although consolidated obligations issuance is material to the Bank, we have not made a judgment as to the materiality of any particular consolidated obligation or obligations;  Schedule A does not address any interest-rate exchange agreements (or other derivative instruments) which we may enter into as a result of our asset and liability management strategies and that may be associated, directly or indirectly, with one or more of the reported consolidated obligations;  Schedule A will not enable a reader to track changes in the total consolidated obligations outstanding for which we are the primary obligor because Schedule A generally excludes consolidated obligation discount notes with a maturity of one year or less and does not reflect whether the proceeds from the issuance of the reported consolidated obligations will be used to, among other things, satisfy called or maturing consolidated obligations. We will report the total consolidated obligations outstanding for which we are the primary obligor in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and  the principal amounts reported on Schedule A represent the principal amount of the reported consolidated obligations at par, which may not correspond to the amounts reported in our financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles contained in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, because the par amount does not account for, among other things, any discounts, premiums or concessions.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number Description 99.1 Schedule A, containing information pertaining to consolidated obligations. 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

2

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Date: December 12, 2023 By: /s/ Benjamin Tan Name: Benjamin Tan Title: Assistant Treasurer

3

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

GOLDEN MINERALS COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

delaware 1-13627 26-4413382 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

350 Indiana Street , Suite 650

Golden , Colorado 80401

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrants telephone number, including area code: ( 303 ) 839-5060

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock, $0.01 par value AUMN NYSE American

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On December 6, 2023, the parties to the previously disclosed lawsuit between Minera William, S.A. de C.V. (Minera William), a Mexican subsidiary of Golden Minerals Company (the Company), and Unifin Financiera, S.A.B. de C.V. (Unifin) entered into a settlement agreement (the Settlement Agreement) to resolve the dispute. The lawsuit relates to Unifins allegations that a representative of Minera William signed certain documents in July 2011 purporting to bind Minera William as a guarantor of payment obligations owed by a third party to Unifin.

On December 6, 2023, Minera William and Unifin filed a joint motion to notify the court that they entered into the Settlement Agreement. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, Minera William has agreed to pay US$250,000 to Unifin and Unifin has agreed to release Minera Williams from any future claim related to the dispute.

The Settlement Agreement is subject to court approval. The Company anticipates, subject to court approval, that the settlement amount will be paid at the end of 2023 or early 2024.

The information in this Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and applicable Canadian securities legislation, including the expected timing of the payment of the Settlement Agreement. These statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, conditions and events to differ materially from those anticipated. The Company assumes no obligation to update this information. Additional risks relating to the Company may be found in the periodic and current reports filed with the SEC by the Company, including the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

3

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: December 12, 2023

Golden Minerals Company By: /s/ Julie Z. Weedman Name: Julie Z. Weedman Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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An F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, Nov. 15, 2023. (Samuel Earick/U.S. Air Force)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  The U.S. and South Korean militaries are working together to recover an F-16 Fighting Falcon that crashed this week in the Yellow Sea, according to the U.S. 7th Air Force.

The command is coordinating with the Air Force Safety Center and South Korean navy to retrieve the F-16 lost from the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, 7th Air Force spokeswoman Maj. Rachel Buitrago told Stars and Stripes by email Tuesday.

The fighter was over the Yellow Sea on a training operation when it experienced an in-flight emergency at 8:43 a.m. Monday.

The pilot ejected and was rescued at sea by the South Korean navy and coast guard. A South Korean air force helicopter airlifted the pilot, who was awake and in stable condition, to Kunsan, Buitrago said.

Kunsan, about 115 miles south of Seoul, is home to the 8th Fighter Wing, which operates roughly 30 F-16s.

Once the aircraft is recovered, it will be scrutinized to determine the cause of the crash, Buitrago said. The exact location of the recovery efforts in the Yellow Sea will not be disclosed due to operational security, she added.

The flying status of F-16s on the Korean Peninsula has not changed, Buitrago said. However, she added that the wings commander, Col. Matthew Gaetke, ordered a two-day pause on flights to focus on the recovery of the pilot and aircraft and in preparation for the safety investigation.

We want to extend our sincere thanks to the [South Korean] coast guard, navy and air force for all of their assistance in the rescue and recovery efforts, Buitrago said.

South Koreas military will continue providing support to the U.S. for the incident, Ministry of National Defense spokesman Jeon Ha Gyu said Monday during a press conference in Seoul.

The crash comes about seven months after an F-16 from the 8th Fighter Wing crashed into a farmers field about 10 miles from Osan Air Base.

That pilot suffered non-life-threatening injuries and F-16 flights in South Korea were paused for three days, the wing said at the time.
Maj. Jeffrey Hoernemann, 32, of Andover, Minn., was a CV-22 instructor pilot and officer in charge of training. (U.S. Air Force)

TOKYO  The Air Force has identified the seventh CV-22B Osprey crew member recovered after the tiltrotor crashed off southwestern Japan with eight aboard.

The body of Maj. Jeff Hoernemann, 32, of Andover, Minn., was discovered over the weekend by divers from the Navy and the Air Forces 320th Special Tactics Squadron, according to an Air Force Special Command news release.

The service announced the discovery Sunday but did not publicly disclose that it was Hoernemanns body until Monday, after his family was notified.

Hoernemann was a CV-22 instructor pilot and chief of weapons tactics assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo.

One of the Ospreys eight crew members  Maj. Eric Spendlove, 36, of St. George, Utah  remains missing nearly two weeks after the Osprey went down off the coast of Yakushima Island during a training mission.

U.S. and Japanese divers are continuing their search, according to the news release.

The main priority is returning our Airmen home and taking care of their family members, the command wrote. Support to, and the privacy of, the families and loved ones impacted by this incident remains AFSOCs top priority.

The eight airmen killed in the crash of a CV-22B Osprey on Nov. 29, 2023. Top row, left to right: Maj. Jeffrey Hoernemann, Maj. Eric Spendlove, Maj. Luke Unrath and Capt. Terrell Brayman. Bottom: Tech Sgt. Zachary Lavoy, Staff Sgt. Jake Turnage, Senior Airman Brian Johnson and Staff Sgt. Jake Galliher. (U.S. Air Force)

The body of Staff Sgt. Jake Galliher, 24, of Pittsfield, Mass., was found the day of the crash. Five more were discovered Dec. 4 along with the Ospreys fuselage. The remains and wreckage were found about 100 feet below the surface.

Two were identified Dec. 5 as Maj. Luke Unrath, 34, of Riverside, Calif. and Tech Sgt. Zachary Lavoy, 33, of Oviedo, Fla.

Three more were identified Dec. 6 as Capt. Terrell Brayman, 32, of Pittsford, N.Y.; Staff Sgt. Jake Turnage, 25 of Kennesaw, Ga.; and Senior Airman Brian Johnson, 32, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

A preliminary investigation indicated that an equipment failure, rather than human error, was likely the crashs cause, Air Force Special Operations Command said Dec. 6.

Since then, the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps have grounded their Osprey tiltrotor aircraft until the investigation determines the cause of the crash and recommendations are made to return the aircraft to service.
Security Assistance Group Ukraine commander Lt. Gen. Antonio Aguto Jr., center, walks with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and U.S. Army Europe-Africa commander Gen. Darryl Williams at USAREUR-AF headquarters at Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, Germany, on June 14, 2023. Aguto is reportedly spending extensive time in Kyiv as a war adviser, according to a New York Times report. (Volker Ramspott/U.S. Army)

STUTTGART, Germany  A three-star U.S. Army general based in Germany is now spending a lot of time in Kyiv, where he is taking a hands-on role in improving the quality of advice the U.S. is giving to Ukraines military, according to a New York Times report.

Lt. Gen. Antonio Aguto Jr., who leads the militarys security assistance initiative for Ukraine from the U.S. Armys European headquarters in Wiesbaden, is being dispatched to the Ukrainian capital on a rotational basis, the newspaper said Monday.

Col. Martin ODonnell, a spokesman for U.S. Army Europe and Africa, declined to comment when asked about Agutos reported travels to Ukraine, citing operational security reasons.

U.S. military officials regularly engage with the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv and senior Ukrainian military leaders to consult on a range of issues, ODonnell said.

U.S. European Commands Gen. Christopher Cavoli, who serves as NATOs supreme allied commander, also has been playing a larger role in delivering military advice to officials in Ukraine, a move that comes as the counteroffensive against Russia has turned into a virtual stalemate.

Last month, Cavoli made his first visit to Ukraine since Russias February 2022 full-scale invasion, joining Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on an unannounced visit to Kyiv.

Their trip was meant to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to supporting Ukraine, even as uncertainty grows over the durability of Washingtons pledge to keep weapons flowing to the country.

This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Washington to try to galvanize support for his war effort, which is heavily dependent on weapons and ammunition deliveries from the U.S. and European countries.

However, Ukraines failure to make substantial gains during its much-anticipated summer counteroffensive has raised questions about Kyivs military strategy.

It also has tested the patience of some Republicans in Washington who want to curtail American support for Ukraine.

Sen. J.D. Vance, a Republican from Ohio who is a prominent critic of continued support, said Sunday that the U.S. should encourage Ukraine to give up land to Russia to end the fighting.

Whats in Americas best interest is to accept Ukraine is going to have to cede some territory to the Russians and we need to bring this war to a close, Vance said on CNNs State of the Union.

However, Zelenskyy said Monday that giving up territory isnt an option. He also said there was no sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is interested in any kind of peace deal.

Let me be frank with you, friends: If theres anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill, its just Putin and his sick clique, Zelenskyy said in a speech at the National Defense University in Washington. They see their dreams come true when they see the delays or some scandals and ... when the support of freedom fighters (goes) down.

Zelenskyy and U.S. backers of Ukraine have argued that Europes security is riding on the wars outcome because a victorious Putin would be emboldened.

Critics of that outlook, however, say Moscows military difficulties in Ukraine have exposed the limits of Russian might and its ability to challenge the American-led NATO alliance.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy was slated to meet with Senate and House leaders, and later in the day with President Joe Biden to make his case for more support.
The Portuguese port of Setubal took shipment Dec. 7, 2023, of a load of U.S. military equipment that was headed back to the United States after being used in Estonia, as part of the response to safeguard NATO members in the wake of Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine. (Andrew Jo/U.S. Army)

A Portuguese port recently took its first turn shipping American military goods from Europe back to the United States as part of efforts to diversify the ways the Pentagon moves cargo in and out of the Continent.

On Thursday in Setubal, roughly 500 pieces of equipment belonging to the Armys 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Ky., was loaded onto a stateside-bound ship, the service said in a statement the same day.

The push to gain options for moving equipment and supplies across Europe reflects a growing focus on mobility by NATO.

The Portuguese port is the furthest west that weve ever operated coming in or out of Europe, said Col. Robert Kellam, commander of the 598th Transportation Brigade. We were able to effectively connect the furthest point in eastern Estonia to the furthest west port in Portugal and connect all the transportation nodes from here to there.

The equipment, including light medium tactical vehicles and heavy expanded mobility tactical trucks, arrived in Poland months earlier before it was moved on to Estonia.

U.S. troops deployed to Estonia used the equipment in Operation Atlantic Resolve, the allied mission that began following Russias 2014 aggression against Ukraine.

Portuguese army Maj. Gen. Joao Paulo de Almeida, left, talks with Col. Robert Kellam, center, the 598th Transportation Brigade commander, and Lt. Col. Michael Harrell, the 839th Transportation Battalion commander, during an operation Dec. 7, 2023, at the port of Setubal in Portugal. ( Andrew Jo/U.S. Army)

The brigade and the Germany-based 21st Theater Sustainment Command, to which it reports, conducted the operation along with the Portuguese military and port authority, the Army said.

Setubal, which is just south of Lisbon, is the latest European port to cooperate with the U.S. military since Atlantic Resolve began in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and began backing armed separatists in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

In 2021, when the Army and Danish troops offloaded hundreds of pieces of equipment during a first-of-its kind mission at the Danish port of Esbjerg, the U.S. said expanding the number of seaports that can support Army deployments was a key objective.

Since then, the Army has also begun using the port of Adria in Bar, Montenegro.

The Army expects more cooperation with Portugal in the future, 21st TSC spokesman Maj. Vonnie Wright said Tuesday.

We both desire to do more with each other, and this was a successful joint operation, Wright said.
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan testifies before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee during a hearing on Thursday, July 13, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes)

Sen. Richard Blumenthal pledged Tuesday to issue a subpoena to the Coast Guard if service officials do not provide emails on a cover-up of dozens of sexual assaults at the service academy that had not been properly handled or investigated.

These critical documents must be provided without further delay, Blumenthal, D-Conn., said during Senate hearing that featured testimony from three former and one current cadet of the Coast Guard Academy. We can certainly take that [subpoena] action, if necessary.

Blumenthal is chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subpanel on investigations, which is examining the cover-up of Operation Fouled Anchor  a 2020 report based on a six-year inquiry into the handling of sexual assault and harassment at the Coast Guard Academy.

The reports existence only became known to the Senate subpanel and the public after reporters with CNN obtained a copy earlier this year.

Coast Guard officials in June briefed Congress about the report, which Blumenthal said reviewed 102 instances of rape or sexual assault at the academy dating back to the early 1990s through 2006. It identified 43 alleged perpetrators and 63 victims. Only five cases had been reported to law enforcement at the time, he said.

The internal academy emails are necessary to understanding the cover-up, Blumenthal said. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, the top Republican on the subpanel, agreed.

It is not that hard to go into emails, do searches and start producing some of these documents, Johnson said. What were those communications that resulted in this three-and-a-half-year cover-up?

The Coast Guard last week released a separate report looking into the cover-up of Fouled Anchor that affirmed service leaders worked to downplay the prevalence sexual assault and harassment among cadets.

Caitlin Maro, who left the Coast Guard Academy after her first semester in 2004, said Tuesday during the hearing that she has seen service leaders continue to provide information to Congress that is not true. She described being sexually harassed daily and groped by a fellow cadet at the academy while 30 others looked on and laughed about it.

Her incident was part of the Fouled Anchor investigation though she said she was never contacted by the Coast Guard. However, Adm. Linda Fagan, the services commandant, told a different congressional committee in July that all victims listed in the report were notified.

I found out about my inclusion in Operation Fouled Anchor from a writer at CNN in June of 2023, Maro said.

She asked the Senate subpanel to consider calling Fagan to testify and ask her about this and whether anyone was punished for Fouled Anchor. Maro also asked the senators to call in Fagans predecessor, retired Adm. Karl Schultz, about the report.

Thank you, Mrs. Maro, youve read our minds, Blumenthal said. Were certainly going to pursue those two individuals and others. Im really heartened by the bipartisan support we have for this continued effort.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., pushed to call service leaders to testify.

They need to sit where youre sitting, take the oath and explain to the country whats going on, he said. They have broken our trust. And frankly, when you see the trust constantly broken in institution after institution of this government, its no wonder the people across this country just are in despair, regardless of their politics. Its unbelievable.

Rear Adm. Michael Johnston, the academys superintendent, released a statement following the hearing that reiterated the schools commitment to a safe workplace free from assault, harassment, bullying, discrimination and retaliation.

Let me make clear, the retaliation, isolation and fear experienced by these women is unacceptable and there is absolutely no place for it within the Coast Guard Academy. I want all members to thrive here, not simply survive, he said.

Denise Rucker Krepp, a former Maritime Administration chief counsel and former Coast Guard officer, attended the hearing to support the women who testified. She agreed the senators should use their subpoena authority if necessary.

We need to know who is involved in the cover up, Krepp said. If theyre retired, recall them and prosecute them. If theyre currently in the military, prosecute them. If theyre civilian, they should be held accountable and fired.
Members of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels visited Dayton Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, to prepare for the 50th anniversary CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show in June 2024. (CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show/Facebook)

(Tribune News Service)  Members of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels visited Dayton, Ohio, Tuesday to prepare for the 50th anniversary CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show.

The Blues have been performing above the Dayton area since at least the early 1950s, well before the first incarnation of the current air show. When the two-seat Blue Angel #7 F/A-18 Super Hornet circled and landed Tuesday, that tradition was continued.

Every air show begins on the ground, said Navy Lt. Commander Brian Vaught, the teams events coordinator.

Were kind of the advance party, Vaught said.

The next air show takes flight June 22 and 23 at Dayton International. When it does, the Navys precision flying team will show up with close to 70 sailors and Marines, and likely six other FA-18s, as well as Fat Albert, the teams C-130 cargo plane. (Though the Blues have 11 F/A-18s, usually six or seven are used in demonstrations.)

The work ahead includes getting the lay of the land in Dayton  checking out the airfield diagram, examining Federal Aviation Administration requirements, taking care of safety-oriented details. Every air show imposes different geography, terrain and metrics.

Really, the planning starts now for a show thats six months away, Vaught said.

The Dayton Air Show is nationally respected, one of the few events that can reliably showcase some of the militarys best pilots  the Air Force Thunderbirds one year as event headliners, then the Blue Angels the next year.

This year, its the Navys turn. (Department of Defense regulations do not typically permit the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds to fly together without special permission.)

One purpose of the shows, for both the Navy and the Air Force, is as a recruiting tool. You can ask Blue Angels pilot Lt. Connor ODonnell how effective they are in that regard.

I grew up in Maine, ODonnell said Tuesday. They (the Blue Angels) came to Brunswick in 2003. I still remember that show. It started it all for me.

Aviation services company Wright Brothers Aero Inc. began producing the Dayton show two years ago. Kevin Franklin, the shows executive director, acknowledged that some surprises are hoped for in this 50th anniversary show, but he could not offer details.

Hopefully, after the first of the year, well know something, Franklin said.

Scott Buchanan, chairman of the board of the United States Air & Trade Show, said the show continues to be blessed with cooperative communities, the support of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and one of the largest groups of sponsors in the nation.

Without them and thousands of volunteers, these shows do not happen, Buchanan said.

The past two years have seen record attendance. Last Julys show drew about 85,000 attendees over the weekend, surpassing the 2022 record attendance mark of about 83,000.

This year wont be any different, Buchanan said. We have a huge show planned.

(c)2023 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio)

Visit www.daytondailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Tucker Carlson is back at it. The controversial former star host of Fox News, not satisfied with his videos on social media, has decided to launch his own subscription streaming service, Tucker Carlson Network, TCN. The corporate media lied too much, and it killed them, he says in the video presenting his new channel.

Carlson launched the new medium on Monday. A subscription costs $9 per month, although the price drops to $6 per month for an annual subscription ($72 in total). Carlson promises to give his subscribers the unadorned truth. Some content is offered for free on his website, where he recycles what he has published on X, formerly Twitter.

The networks streaming service has various formats, but they all revolve around the former Fox News host, who claims that the team he had at the Fox network has joined him in the new project. The names of the different segments make it clear that Carlson is the main selling point of the platform. The Tucker Carlson Encounter is long conversations with guests. The Tucker Carlson Interview are question-answer interviews. In After The Tucker Carlson Interview, the host shares his opinions on his most important interviews and provides some behind-the-scenes content. Tucker Carlson Uncensored will be similar to the opening monologue he had on his Fox News show, while Tucker Carlson Films will produce documentaries like those he made for the online service Fox Nation, including the controversial film that questioned whether the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, was violent. There will also be a segment with audience participation called Ask Tucker.

The former Fox News host was fired in April following the networks out-of-court settlement with Dominion Voting Systems to avoid a defamation trial. Carlson was one of the presenters who falsely alleged that there was voter fraud in the 2020 presidential elections. But internal messages and communications revealed that the Fox presenters and executives did not believe the false allegations they were promoting. Fox News reached a $787.5 million agreement to compensate Dominion and avoid trial.

Following his dismissal, Carlson launched an interview program on Twitter, in which he has spoken mainly with far-right politicians. He interviewed former president Donald Trump, who was counterprogramming the first debate of the Republican presidential primary candidates. Viktor Orban, president of Hungary, appeared on his show; as did Javier Milei, before becoming president of Argentina; Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene; conspiracy theorist Alex Jones; and Santiago Abascal, the leader of the Spanish far-right party Vox, whom he went to interview in Madrid. Carlson has also spoken to fringe figures who have spread conspiracy theories of all kinds.

The Wall Street Journal, controlled like Fox by the Murdochs, published that Tucker Carlson had an annual salary of $20 million at Fox News. According to the newspaper, the presenter accused the network of breach of contract after his dismissal through a letter that seemed to be a prelude to legal action. The hosts contract lasted until January 2025 and the network intended to continue paying his salary to prevent him from signing for another channel.

Carlsons new venture comes more than seven months after he was fired by Fox with little explanation. Lachlan Murdoch, the head of the company, presented it as just another programming adjustment. It really is one of those mysteries that I will probably never get to the bottom of, Carlson said Monday in an interview for The Megyn Kelly Show podcast, according to AP.

Promises and conspiracy theories

Despite being known for spreading lies and twisting reality, Carlson presents himself as a champion of democracy and criticizes all other media. News coverage in the West has become a tool of repression and control. Reporters no longer reveal essential information to the public; they work to hide it. Journalists act as censors on behalf of entrenched power. They have contempt for the public. They hate the truth, says the Tucker Carlson Network.

Yet his website features an interview with Alex Jones, who was sentenced to pay nearly $1.5 billion in several defamation lawsuits for falsely claiming that the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School  a tragedy that cost the lives of 20 children and six teachers  was a hoax. Jones falsely argued that it was a dramatization to achieve stricter gun regulation. Parents of the victims were threatened and harassed by those who believed the lies that they had staged the shooting.

On his website, Carlson continues his attacks on traditional media, arguing democracy cant function in a society like this. Voters cant know what theyre voting for. People do understand theyre being manipulated, and they resent it. The population becomes angry and paranoid, the Tucker Carlson Network states.

The streaming service also includes an interview with Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who dropped out of the race to win the Democratic Party nomination and is running for president as an independent. The presidential hopeful claims that Vladimir Putin is acting in good faith in the war against Ukraine; that HIV was manufactured so that corporations could sell drugs to treat AIDS; that vaccines cause autism; that Prozac is responsible for mass shootings in U.S. schools; that Wi-Fi radio frequency signals can cause cancer; that chemicals in water make children transgender, and that Chinese people and Jews are immune to Covid-19.

Theres only one solution to a propaganda spiral like the one were living through, and its telling the truth about the things that matter  clearly and without fear. Thats our job. We plan to do it every day, no matter what, Carlson continues on his website.

In addition to Trump, who falsely argues that the 2020 elections were stolen from him, Carlson has also interviewed Vivek Ramaswamy, a climate change denier, who is also seeking the Republican Partys presidential nomination. Ramaswamy has defended far-right conspiracy theories, casting doubt on the investigations into the September 11 attack, suggesting that the assault on the Capitol was staged and subscribing to the theory of the great replacement, which maintains that immigration policies are specifically designed to dilute the political power of white Americans.

All this content is now available on the Tucker Carlson Network.

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An unmanned, self-checkout micro market opened recently aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. (Navy Exchange Service Command)

An unmanned, self-checkout micro market opened recently aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, a second experiment in convenient retail at sea that gives sailors 24/7 access to food, beverages and other essentials.

Dubbed Micro Market@Sea, the tiny prototype shop is the second established aboard a warship by the Navy Exchange. The first one opened on the amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio in December 2020.

At-sea shoppers can expect to find a variety of food, beverages and health and wellness items. The Dwight D. Eisenhowers micro market has tallied about $200,000 in sales since serving its first sailor on Oct. 4, according to Navy Exchange Service Command.

This self-service initiative strengthens the Navys quality of life mission and supports operational readiness by offering Sailors convenient and accessible necessities at any time of the day, command spokeswoman Kristine Sturkie said by email Dec. 6. Furthermore, the self-service register for checkout supports manning requirements.

Retail service specialists  active-duty sailors who work with ship stores  are responsible for managing the micro markets and keeping them stocked. Self-checkouts allow them to serve concurrently in places like the ships store, laundry and barbershop.

There have been no reports of theft from the Dwight D. Eisenhowers micro market, Sturkie said, adding that anti-theft mitigation measures are in place.

The at-sea concept was born out of ashore options that have been operating since 2015. Nearly 80 ashore markets can be found worldwide at Navy hospitals, shipyards, hangars and office spaces, Sturkie said.

Navy Exchange Command is committed to continuous innovation and is ever-evolving to meet the needs of the Fleet and strengthening the Navys quality of life mission, she said. With that, the Micro Market self-service concept began at shore commands to support Sailors who work around the clock.

Its unclear when other Navy ships can expect to see a micro market. Sturkie said the command will determine the way forward after the test phase ends in May aboard the Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., the carrier has been operating in the Middle East since October.
The destroyer USS Oscar Austin sails during exercise Formidable Shield 2023 while operating in the North Atlantic Ocean, May 15, 2023. The ship is scheduled to switch its homeport to Rota, Spain, toward the end of summer 2024. (Thomas McGowan/U.S. Navy)

Naval Station Rota is sending command staff and other officials stateside to assist sailors and their families attached to one of two destroyers moving to Spain as part of a long-anticipated expansion of allied sea power in Europe.

USS Oscar Austin is scheduled to switch its homeport to Rota toward the end of summer 2024, Capt. Teague Suarez, NS Rotas commander, said Dec. 1 at a town hall meeting on Facebook. A second destroyer, as yet unidentified, will deploy in 2026, he added.

It wasnt clear exactly when the Rota team will go to Norfolk, Va., the ships current home. But the Navy hosted meetings there in November for sailors and their families, and established a newsletter to keep them informed.

In May, Spain greenlighted a plan to add the vessels, which will bring the total of U.S. destroyers based at Rota to six.

That agreement came a little more than a year after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and amid increasing concern about a growing Russian submarine presence from the North Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea.

U.S. commanders have long championed the increase in firepower. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers work in conjunction with land-based Aegis ballistic missile defense sites to protect Europe.

The U.S. began keeping destroyers in Spain in 2014, beginning with USS Ross and USS Cook.

The vessels are armed with vertical launch anti-submarine rockets, Tomahawk missiles and MK-46 torpedoes. They are designed for anti-air, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, and the most recent versions can simultaneously defend against aircraft and missiles, according to the Navy.

Oscar Austin was undergoing $41.6 million in maintenance and modernization upgrades when an electrical fire in November 2018 extensively damaged the ship, effectively taking it out of service until 2022, according to USNI News reports at the time.

In February 2022, the destroyer subsequently completed sea trials, a final step in rejoining the fleet, according to the Navy. The ship also took part in NATOs Formidable Shield exercise in the North Atlantic in May.
Video screen grabs show former Japanese Self Defense Force member Rina Gonoi who has said that multiple assaults caused her to give up her military career. (YouTube)

Three former Japanese soldiers were found guilty of sexual assault in a case that has drawn attention to rampant harassment in the countrys military and complicated its efforts to recruit more women.

The Fukushima district court sentenced the men to two years in prison, in line with prosecutors demands. The sentences were suspended for four years, according to the court.

Rina Gonoi, the 24-year-old victim, took the rare step of going public with her accusations, drawing widespread attention in Japan, where individual victims of such crimes rarely speak out in public against their assailants. Among previous, high-profile examples was journalist Shiori Ito, who in late 2019 won damages in a rape case against a prominent television journalist  a decision upheld by the Supreme Court of Japan in 2022.

Gonois case also comes as the government is struggling to fill recruitment quotas amid a demographic crunch and increasing security challenges posed by China and North Korea.

Gonoi said she endured frequent harassment after joining the SDF in 2020 and that in 2021 the defendants physically pinned her to the ground and pressed their bodies against hers in a sexually suggestive manner in front of several other colleagues.

The three men said they were initially forced to apologize but that there had been no assault.

Gonoi has said that as a child she wanted to join the SDF after seeing troops helping victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, but she quit in 2022, struggling with mental health issues following the assault. After prosecutors and the Ministry of Defense failed to help, she turned to social media, making her case on YouTube and starting an online petition, which eventually gained media attention, forcing officials to take action.

Gonoi eventually won an apology from the ministry, which confirmed the allegations and dishonorably discharged the three defendants, along with two others who havent been charged, last year. She was recently chosen by the BBC for its worldwide list of 100 influential women, while also becoming the target of online abuse. Gonoi said the defendants lack of contrition was particularly distressing.

These past years have been hellish, Gonoi, who now occasionally teaches judo, told Bloomberg News ahead of the verdict.

I had hoped theyd express remorse, but there was none, she said. It was a bit of a shock. I felt hopeless.

Gonoi, who has also filed a civil case against the government, said she hoped her case would draw more attention to victims of harassment and assault. Following her claim, the Ministry of Defense conducted a survey that found over 1,300 cases of harassment in different branches of the defense forces.

The survey also found that reported incidents were frequently covered up or dismissed by superiors, who also pressured victims to quit if they pushed for probes to continue. The SDF has struggled to attract sufficient recruits, even as it strives to build up its capabilities to deal with rising military challenges posed by China and North Korea. Its reputation for harassment isnt helping.

Elite female officers are saying enough is enough. They do think change, and getting in line with global standards, is now overdue, said Fumika Sato, a professor at Hitotsubashi University specializing in gender studies and military affairs. She added that a culture of fear around challenging the male-dominant status quo has perpetuated harassment.

Gonoi said the SDFs initial reluctance to deal with her case had left her disappointed and feeling the military wasnt up to the job of providing the nation with security.

If even those in upper ranks lack humanity and a strong sense of justice, perhaps they cannot protect people, she said.
A service member supporting Joint Task Force-Red Hill inspects fuel from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 2023. (ZaBarr Jones/Defense Department)

A provision in the proposed National Defense Authorization Act would require the federal government to assess health impacts on military families exposed to tap water contaminated by jet fuel from the Navys Red Hill storage facility in Hawaii.

Sen. Brian Schatz and Rep. Ed Case, Hawaii Democrats, on Thursday successfully inserted several provisions regarding Red Hill in the NDAA, which specifies spending and policy priorities for the Defense Department, Schatz said in a news release that day.

The potential health impacts of this crisis remain one of my highest priorities, Case said in the release.

Schatz and Case sit on defense appropriations subcommittees in the Senate and House, respectively.

The NDAA awaits votes by the full House and Senate and the signature of President Joe Biden.

The language in the bill directs the government to track the health implications of fuel leaks from Red Hill for uniformed service members and their dependents.

The tracking would be done in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Hawaii Department of Health to ensure a holistic and unified approach that documents and ultimately addresses illnesses affecting service members, dependents and civilians, according to the release.

The underground Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, built during World War II just 100 feet atop a crucial Oahu aquifer, was ordered emptied and permanently closed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in March 2022.

The decision came in the wake of a spill of 20,000 gallons of jet fuel in November 2021 that contaminated one of three wells used by the Navy to supply tap water to military communities on and near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Thousands of residents were forced to relocate for several months, with many complaining of rashes, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness and a host of other health conditions.

Dozens of residents and former residents have joined a federal lawsuit seeking compensation for illnesses and financial losses.

Many have complained that their medical issues have not been properly addressed by the military.

People who were exposed to toxic fuel from this leak should know what kind of impact that might have on their long-term health and what kind of additional federal help they can get, Schatz said in the news release.

This study will give doctors, public health experts, and those affected by the leak a better understanding of what that kind of exposure can do to someones health, Schatz said.

The scope of Red Hill contamination may vastly exceed the November 2021 spill, according to a recent report.

Late last month, the Red Hill Water Alliance Initiative, a working group of state, county and city of Honolulu officials, estimated that as much as 2 million gallons of fuel may have leaked or spilled into the ground from the facility over the past eight decades.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is increasingly concerned about the long-term effects of jet fuel exposure on service members, who can be exposed on the job or in homes on contaminated installations.

VA works with the Department of Defense and other federal agencies to track these situations and relay relevant and timely information to Veterans, the agency states on its website in a section devoted to jet fuel exposure.

The website highlights several of the most egregious examples of installation contamination, recently adding the Red Hill area to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and Karshi Khanabad Air Base in Uzbekistan.

Scientific research on the long-term effects of exposure to jet fuels is inconclusive; however, if an individual is exposed to jet fuel at very high levels over a long period of time, lung and heart problems may develop, the website states.

The bill also requires the Defense Department to work with Hawaii officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help identify additional resources for those affected by jet fuel contamination.
Residents leave the Hamad Towers area of Khan Younis on Dec. 2, 2023, after Israeli attacks. (Loay Ayyoub/for The Washington Post)

Israels offensive in Gaza has increasingly shifted to the south, with its forces pushing last week into Khan Younis, a major southern city that had provided refuge for Palestinians displaced from the north.

Over the weekend, Israeli tanks and troops moved into the center of Khan Younis, and the Israel Defense Forces claimed that it struck underground tunnels in the city. Describing Khan Younis as one of Hamas strongholds, IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari called it one of the places where his troops are fighting fierce and difficult battles.

Here is what to know about Khan Younis and the fighting taking place there.

Where is Khan Younis and how many people live there?

Khan Younis, north of the Rafah border crossing, is the largest city in southern Gaza. It was home to about 400,000 people before the war.

It houses civilian infrastructure, such as the Nasser Hospital, and is also the site of one of eight U.N. camps for Palestinian refugees who had to leave their homes in the 1948 war. The Khan Younis refugee camp, with about 88,854 registered refugees, is overcrowded and most of the camps water supply is unfit for drinking, according to UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees.

Khan Younis was the site of a massacre in 1956 when Israeli forces attacked Gaza, killing dozens of refugees, according to a U.N. report. Israeli authorities said Palestinian refugees were part of the resistance, a charge the Palestinians denied, the report said.

After the war that began on Oct. 7 of this year, Khan Younis became a major destination for fleeing Palestinians, and was crowded with displaced civilians following IDFs directive to evacuate to the south. But now, the city once considered safe is the site of some of the heaviest fighting.

Why is Khan Younis significant?

Khan Younis has been linked to Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Sinwar was born in the Khan Younis refugee camp in 1962 and some Gazans have dubbed him the Butcher of Khan Younis.

At the top of Israels hit list in Gaza, Sinwar is accused of masterminding the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that killed at least 1,200 people. Israeli officials claim Sinwar and other key leaders are hiding out in the south.

Injured Palestinians arrive at Nasser Medical Hospital on Dec. 5, 2023, after a UNRWA school housing displaced people in Khan Younis was targeted. (Loay Ayyoub/for The Washington Post)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Hamas fighters to surrender and abandon their leaders. Its over. Dont die for Sinwar. Surrender now, he said in a video statement Sunday.

The city has a rich cultural history which is now under threat amid bombardment. The town square is bordered by a fortress dating back to Egypts Mamluk rulers from the 13th century.

What is happening now in Khan Younis?

In the past days, IDF has said there are fierce fights ongoing in several Hamas strongholds simultaneously: Shejaiya and Jabalya in the north and Khan Younis in the south.

On Dec. 10, the IDF said it used precise munitions to strike underground tunnel shafts in Khan Younis and used a drone to identify and eliminate an armed terrorist cell in Khan Younis.

Over the last week, Israel has called for the evacuation of parts of Khan Younis, sending displaced civilians on the move once again; but Palestinians say there is nowhere left to go.

On Dec. 6, five U.N. schools where people were sheltering in the Khan Younis region were forced to evacuate after Israeli orders, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement. And on Dec. 10 and 11, al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis witnessed repeated bombardment in its vicinity, the agency said Monday.

Strikes have hit areas of Khan Younis that civilians had imagined would be safe, including a strike on a school that killed and injured dozens of displaced people on Dec. 5.

They told people to leave Gaza City and come to Khan Younis. ... We were supposed to be in the unthreatened areas, Mohammed al-Majayda, who was living in Khan Younis during strikes last week, told The Washington Post. Many people sheltering near him had arrived to the southern city just a day before strikes hit, Majayda said. They should have given a warning that they would strike this building, he said, covered in rubble dust. He had to carry his elderly uncle who couldnt walk or move to safety, he said.
University campuses in the United States have become the rearguard of the Gaza war. The numerous pro-Palestinian demonstrations and the atmosphere of hostility and insecurity that many Jewish students say they feel have put the university presidents in a tough spot. They are torn between protecting the constitutional right to freedom of expression and bowing to pressure from employers and donors to stop  and even punish  any protest considered antisemitic. The increasingly bitter row has already claimed its first victim, the president of the University of Pennsylvania, Liz Magill, who presented her resignation on Saturday, along with the president of the board of trustees.

For the Republicans, the allegations of antisemitism have been a golden opportunity to attack universities, which they consider bastions of the radical left and so-called woke theories. But this time, they have found themselves standing with unexpected allies: the Democrats. On the question of antisemitism and aid to Israel, there are no half measures and the two parties  with the exception of a few progressive Democrats  have closed ranks on the issue. The heated debate over antisemitism on university campuses is not just another manifestation of the cultural wars waged by Republicans; it is a visceral issue, which the Gaza war has exacerbated.

An online petition demanding the resignation of Magill  which garnered 24,000 signatures in just a few hours  was the final straw that led to her stepping down. A day earlier, Magill had appeared before the House Education Committee, along with Claudine Gay, the president of Harvard, and Sally Kornbluth, the president of MIT. Far from calming tensions, the three womens evasive responses to the Republican-controlled committee fueled further criticism.

Republican Elise Stefanik, a self-confessed Trumpist and supporter of conspiracy theories, asked each of the university presidents if protests calling for the genocide of Jews violated the university rules. It is a context-dependent decision, replied Magill, who underscored the constitutional obligation to preserve the debate of ideas and free expression. Gay gave a similar response. The hearing lasted five hours, but it was a video of this short exchange that went viral. The blowback was immediate.

Faced with a donors threat to withdraw a $100 million contribution to the University of Pennsylvania, an online petition calling for her resignation and harsh criticism from the governor of Pennsylvania and even the White House, Magill decided to step down. She was also criticized for allowing a festival of Palestinian literature in September  days before the deadly Hamas attack that sparked the war  which featured Pink Floyd musician Roger Waters, a staunch critic of Israel.

Stefanik said that Magills resignation was just the beginning, and that Gay would be the next to fall, despite the fact that nearly 700 Harvard faculty members signed a letter supporting the university president. This forced resignation of the President of Penn is the bare minimum of what is required, said Stefanik in a statement. Democrats on Friday termed Gays responses unacceptable.

At stake  in addition to irreconcilable ideas  is the millionaire endowment of elite universities. Pennsylvania has an endowment of $21 billion, while Harvards is $50 billion. But this funding is in jeopardy as donors, unhappy with the universitys response to pro-Palestinian protests, threaten to take back their donations. The rise in reports of antisemitic incidents  sometimes just a call for a ceasefire, which some students consider threatening  has also prompted a Department of Education investigation into a dozen universities, including Harvard, Pennsylvania and Columbia. All of them must respond to allegations that they have violated Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or origin. Programs accused of violating Title VI could lose federal funding. One of the lawsuits, filed on behalf of two Jewish students at the University of Pennsylvania, claims that the center has become an incubation lab for virulent anti-Jewish hatred.

For Peter Beinart, a professor at New York University and the editor of the blog Jewish Currents, equating pro-Palestinian protests with antisemitism is nonsense and part of an effort to control speech about Israel and Palestine.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which staunchly defends freedom of expression on campuses, has also defended the university presidents, arguing that context does matter and that censorship would ultimately be more harmful than free speech.

As the AP reported on Sunday, protesters are calling for an end to the genocide of Palestinians, not for the genocide of Jews. As the death toll in Gaza rises, there have been a growing number of protests in the U.S. in support of Palestinians, according to a tracker from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. At the same time, almost half of the pro-Israel protests recorded worldwide have taken place in the United States, according to the same tool. Opinion polls show that younger Americans are more sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.

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The destroyer USS Carney defeats a combination of Houthi missiles and aerial drones in the Red Sea on Oct. 19, 2023. (Aaron Lau/U.S. Navy)

Houthi militants in Yemen are escalating attacks on ships traversing the Red Sea, one of the worlds busiest maritime routes, including for oil shipments.

Since Israel declared war against Hamas in retaliation for its Oct. 7 cross-border attack, the Iranian-backed Houthis have used their base in northern Yemen to fire missiles and drones at several ships passing through the Red Sea. U.S. forces in the Middle East have been forced to respond in some cases; in November, personnel on the USS Carney downed cruise missiles and drones launched from Yemen, possibly aimed at Israel. Other Iranian-backed groups in the region have also attacked U.S. targets, in retaliation against Israels offensive in Gaza.

Houthis claim they are attacking Israeli-linked vessels or those destined for its ports. Israels military has said that at least some of the vessels have no link to Israel. On Nov. 19, Houthi rebels escalated their attacks even further, by hijacking a 620-foot-long cargo vessel, the Galaxy Leader, and taking 25 of its crew members captive.

The United States, hoping to contain Israels war against Hamas from expanding across the region without getting drawn into Yemens civil conflict, hopes a coalition of allies will step in to safeguard vessels in the Red Sea.

Who are the Houthi militants from Yemen?

The Houthis are a rebel movement that took control of Yemens capital in 2014. They are formally known as Ansar Allah, or the partisans of God. After deposing the U.S.-allied government in Sanaa, the Houthis forced then-President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to Saudi Arabia, elevating the group to international prominence and triggering a years-long civil war. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict, which has engulfed Yemen ever since, alongside a spiraling humanitarian emergency.

The civil war has pitted the Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels, who maintain a stronghold in Yemens north, against Saudi-backed government forces who are supported by a coalition of mostly Gulf Arab nations. The United States has provided military support to the Saudi-led coalition throughout the war.

The rebels named themselves after Hussein al-Houthi, a key figure who promoted the Zaydi branch of Shiite Islam, which dominated Yemen for centuries. After the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, Houthi staged anti-American rallies in opposition to Yemens U.S.-backed government before he was killed by government forces in 2004. As the group shifted from religious protest to armed insurgency, it became associated with the slogan developed by Houthi: Death to America, death to Israel, damnation to the Jews.

Beyond Yemens own borders, the militant group has targeted its opponents with missiles and drones. The Houthis have claimed responsibility for a crippling 2019 attack on Saudi Arabias oil infrastructure, strikes in 2020 against Riyadh involving a ballistic missile, and a deadly drone attack in 2022 that killed three people in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

What do the Houthis want and why are they getting involved in the Israel-Gaza war?

The Houthis leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, threatened to involve the group in the Israel-Gaza war if what he called red lines were crossed. If the United States intervened in Gaza, he said the Houthis would respond with missile strikes, drones and military options, according to the Houthi-run Masirah news channel.

Strong support for the Palestinian cause across the Middle East, including in Yemen, has stirred outrage in the region at Israels military offensive in Gaza. The Houthis have cast themselves as defenders of the Palestinians, while also seeking to bolster their standing among the regions Iranian-backed proxy militias, according to analysts.

I think they dream that the Americans or the Israelis attack them, because that will turn them into a real resistance force, Mustapha Noman, a Yemeni analyst, writer and former diplomat, said at a recent Chatham House briefing.

Why are the Houthis attacking ships?

The Houthis have claimed ships that are linked to Israel or heading to its ports or that are passing by Yemens Red Sea coastline are legitimate targets. The shipping route  connecting European ports to their Asian counterparts via the Suez Canal  is a crucial passage for global commerce and among the busiest in the world. Some 8.8 million barrels of oil pass through the area each day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

On Nov. 19, Houthis hijacked the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship flagged to the Bahamas, taking 25 of its crew members hostage. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the hijacking took place approximately 50 miles west of the Yemeni port city of Hodeida, on the Red Sea.

The Houthis claimed the hijacked vessel was Israeli, but Israel said it was British-owned, Japanese-operated and not staffed by any Israeli crew members. The vessels owner said crew members had been granted modest contact with their families weeks after it was seized.

After the Galaxy Leader hijacking, a Houthi spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said on social media that the group would target all ships operated or owned by Israel or carrying its flag. He claimed the Houthis were acting in solidarity with Palestinian people in the wake of the brutal Israeli aggression on Gaza.

On Saturday, Saree escalated the threat  announcing the groups militants would act to prevent all ships from traveling to Israel. We warn all ships and companies to avoid dealing with Israeli ports, he said.

The rebel group has deployed drones and missiles against bulk cargo ships and a Norwegian oil and chemical tanker. On Saturday, the French navy said it downed two drones that had been fired from Yemen in the direction of one of its frigates in the Red Sea.

Israel, insisting that the Houthi threats present a global problem, is seeking action from other countries. Tzachi Hanegbi, the head of Israels National Security Council, told Israels Channel 12 that if there is no international organization  because this is a global problem  well work to remove the maritime closure. He did not respond to a question about whether he was referring to military action.

How has the U.S. responded to Houthi attacks?

The Biden administration has been reluctant to become dragged into the military conflict, as it balances the goal of deterring Houthi threats with a long-standing effort to broker an end to Yemens disastrous, years-running civil conflict  an effort that could be complicated by direct military strikes or the designation of the Houthis as terrorists.

Instead, the United States has pitched to its allies the expansion of a multinational naval task force to safeguard the passage, The Washington Post has reported. The Combined Task Force 153, a military unit focused on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, is part of the Combined Maritime Forces, comprising 39 allies and headquartered in Bahrain.

Our focus is ensuring that there are sufficient military assets in place to deter these Houthi threats to maritime trade in the Red Sea and in the surrounding waters to the global economy writ large, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby recently told reporters at the White House.

Adam Taylor, Siobhan OGrady, Dan Lamothe, Kareem Fahim, Alex Horton, Ben Brasch and Ali Al-Mujahed contributed to this report.
Workers in protective gear take part in hazardous waste clean up on Sunday, December 3, 2023 at the historic Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin. The hangar was destroyed in a fire last month. (Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Five weeks after a fire destroyed a 17-story World War II-era blimp hangar in Southern California, some local officials are concerned about the Navys pace of work and responsibility for the cost of the cleanup.

There were a lot of promises made that we would have that support and its kind of dwindled as time has gone by, Tustin City Councilwoman Letitia Clark said Dec. 5 during a meeting to call on the Navy to double its efforts.

One of two historic anti-submarine blimp hangars at former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin constructed in 1942 caught fire and partially collapsed Nov. 7 but continued to burn and smoke until completely extinguished Dec. 1. The Navy had closed the base in 1997.

Three days after the fire began, the Navy and local officials came to an agreement on Nov. 10 that gave local emergency officials wide leeway for any actions needed on the federal property. The Navy also pledged $1 million to cleanup efforts.

Since then, local officials have said the cost increased to clean up the fire, as well as testing and mitigating harm to neighborhoods, businesses and schools that have grown up around the hangars in the 80 years since they were built.

Officials investigate the rubble of the historic Tustin Marine Corps Air Station blimp hangar on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 after a fire destroyed the WWII-era structure. (Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Local officials said the price tag for the cleanup is already into the tens of millions of dollars and the Navys only publicly announced funding is insufficient.

Christopher Dunne, spokesman for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command in Washington, D.C., said Friday that the $1 million was only a down payment on the Navys help.

The Navy has always known more than the money we already provided would be needed, he said.

Dunne said no specific dollar figure has been determined at this point. What local officials might see as foot-dragging by the Navy is an attempt to follow federal rules that emphasize safety, thoroughness and caution.

Sometimes the wheels of government turn slowly, he said.

The complaints came as local contractors using a chemical adhesive nicknamed gorilla snot to hold the panels in place began to bring the heavy metal doors at either end of the 1,000-foot-long hangars slowly to the ground. High winds stalled the effort over the weekend, but plans were to complete the process within about two weeks.

During this slow and controlled process, all six panels will be lowered to the ground, the City of Tustin said on its webpage dedicated to the hangar fire and demolition. All door materials will remain onsite, and no removal will take place during this time.

At that point, all that will remain of the north hangar will be the concrete frame for the doors, standing like obelisks alone against the sky. The panels will be left on the ground for the Navy to do the final demolition work on the concrete, metal and burned-wood remnants.

The city promised residents that it would monitor the work until the hangar site has been completely remediated by the U.S. Navy.

Beyond additional money that might go to local governments, the Navy will foot the bill and contract the work to deconstruct  essentially a meticulous demolition  the remaining wreckage and haul away the debris, while ensuring the area left behind is not a danger to local health.

Thats the Navys responsibility, Dunne said.

Details of a contract for the work are still pending.

Residents and local officials want more information on what the Navy plans to do about the fires toxic footprint beyond the federal land and whether the service will pay for the cost of inspecting and mitigating contamination on properties hundreds of yards or even miles away from the hangar.

The city has received 1,029 reports of fire debris to its hangar response portal, of which 973 have been inspected and 806 have been mitigated and cleared.

The city reported Monday that all 29 schools in the Tustin Unified School District have been inspected, mitigated and cleared. Two schools closest to the hangar fire remained closed until a final all-clear is given by local and state environmental experts.

Legacy Park, closest to the hangar, remains the last of 11 city parks to reopen following inspections and clean-up.

The hangars have been a local historic landmark  one of the local schools had its roof line designed to echo the airships home.

Now that the north hangar is destroyed, there is a desire to see the eyesore beside the busy Interstate 5 removed swiftly.

That may be the Navys property, but this here is the city, Tustin Mayor Austin Lumbard told a group of reporters last week.
A Chinese flag in front of buildings in Pudongs Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai on Oct. 17, 2022. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg)

Members of a bipartisan committee on China are calling for a reset on the U.S.-China economic relationship, laying out over 130 policy recommendations for sweeping changes to how Washington governs trade, investment and security with the worlds second biggest economy.

The report, released Tuesday by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, contains a broad legislative blueprint that  if followed  could ratchet up duties on Chinese goods, significantly curtail certain U.S. investments in China and further restrict or ban U.S. market access for companies including TikTok, as well as drone makers, chip manufacturers and telecommunications groups.

It also lays out a strategy for cushioning the blow to U.S. companies and banks from the potential shock waves of a partial decoupling and  in more serious scenarios  protect banks and enact sweeping economic penalties against Beijing in the event of conflict.

We have to do everything in our power to prevent that from happening. And I think that one of those areas of instability is the economic relationship, the committees top Democrat, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, told The Washington Post. We now have to size up where we are, recognize the reality of the situation and protect our interests.

The report is the summation of months of investigation by the committee, which held its first hearing just nine months ago and has become a rare example of bipartisan cooperation amid fierce division in the House.

That bipartisan consensus that the economic relationship needs a major overhaul comes despite a relative recent thawing of relations between Washington and Beijing, following a meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping last month where the two leaders agreed to restore military communications and strengthen cooperation on counternarcotics  modest but meaningful advances following a year of turmoil.

More broadly, the committee report lays out a framework for unwinding some of the advantages afforded to China in the wake of its accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001, benefits some lawmakers say were mistaken in hindsight. The report calls for China to be removed from its current Column 1 tariff classification  a status that confers regular duty rates on imported goods. Chinas removal would undermine its most favored nation trading status and potentially levy higher tariffs on Chinese goods, making them more expensive to consumers and less competitive in the market.

The report said the move would restore U.S. economic leverage to ensure the PRC abides by its trade commitments. It did not clarify whether it recommended China be reclassified in its own category or join the small handful of countries that fall outside of normal trade relations with the United States and have higher duty rates, including Cuba, North Korea and  since the war in Ukraine  Russia and Belarus.

The committee report also calls for the renewal of the China 421 safeguard mechanism, a rule brought in after Chinas accession to the WTO and abandoned in 2013 that would allow Washington to impose tariffs on Beijing without the requirement of proving unfair trade practices.

China has never abided by the promises it made when it joined the WTO and when we moved to permanent normal trade relations. And as a consequence, we find ourselves dangerously dependent on the PRC in key areas  areas that they could be weaponized in the event of a crisis, Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., chairman of the committee, told The Post.

Elsewhere, members stressed that the United States lacks an economic contingency plan in the event of war with Beijing, and recommended Washington develop strategies with allies to enact severe diplomatic and economic costs on Beijing, while calling on U.S. banks to undergo stress tests led by the Federal Reserve to assess their ability to withstand a sudden loss of access to China in the event of war.

It follows a September hearing held in New York by the committee with finance figures including Jay Clayton, former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and a simulated war game conflict it hosted in April where the group assessed Americas potential economic and military response to a war over Taiwan.

The committee said at the time that in the hypothetical 2027 conflict, the global economy would lose trillions of dollars in the event of an ensuing economic blockade with China.

The committees work  including investigations into TikTok, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and U.S. tech exports to China  have attracted fierce condemnation from Beijing.

Chinas Foreign Ministry has accused the Biden administration and individual lawmakers of pursuing a policy of economic bullying with the goal of containing the legitimate growth of China and its companies.

The relevant report, which aims at building walls and barriers and pushing for decoupling and severing supply chains, runs counter to the principles of market economy and fair competition, and will undermine the international economic and trading order and destabilize global industrial and supply chains. Such attempts serve no ones interests, said Liu Pengyu, spokesman at the Chinese Embassy in Washington. He said that China will will follow the developments closely and resolutely safeguard our rights and interests.

House lawmakers said the committees report underscores the strong bipartisan support for tighter controls over Chinese economic practices and better preparation in the event of a crisis between the two superpowers.

Getting bipartisan agreement on five recommendations is almost impossible, let alone 150. So Im proud of the work that went into this from members on both sides of the aisle, said Gallagher. We are not calling for a complete decoupling, but a recognition of the fact that the status quo is failing, he said.

In Tuesdays report, the committee said it recommended legislation that would require large U.S. firms with investments in China to disclose the impacts of a sudden change in access to the Chinese market, as well as a law that would force any foreign-adversary owned social media firm  including TikToks Chinese owner ByteDance  to divest its stake in U.S.-operated social media products or risk a nationwide ban.

ByteDance returned to negotiations with the U.S. government in September, six months after the Biden administration gave the company a choice to sell the firm or risk a congressional bill that could ban the platform entirely.

The House report also proposed a bump in domestic funding support for competitive technologies including artificial intelligence, quantum computing and semiconductors and recommended that revenue from Chinese tariffs be used to advance U.S. national security and competitiveness as part of a broader strategy to support workers to prepare for a period of increased trade tensions and uncertainty.

Krishnamoorthi said that the group also wanted to send a message to the CCP that there was potential for a return to more positive relations if it were to change course. But right now, weve got to protect ourselves, he said.
In yet another major relief for the PML-N, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday acquitted PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference.

A two-judge bench comprising IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the verdict, which was reserved earlier in the day, while hearing Nawazs appeal against his conviction in the Al-Azizia reference.

The Al-Azizia case was one of the two graft references that Nawaz was convicted in. He was [acquitted] in the Avenfield reference on Nov 29 by the same bench.

The Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference pertains to a case in which he was sentenced to seven years in jail on Dec 24, 2018. He was also fined Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million.

The reference pertains to the Sharifs being unable to justify the source of the funds provided to set up Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment (HME) in Saudi Arabia.

The IHC had declared him a proclaimed offender in the case in December 2020. After leaving for London on medical grounds, Nawaz remained there for nearly four years and only returned to the country in October this year.

Soon after his return, Nawaz had formally filed two separate applications seeking restoration of his appeals against the conviction in reference.

In the application, the PML-N supreme leader had said that while he was abroad for medical treatment, the pending appeals were dismissed for non-prosecution. The application requested the court to revive the pending appeals to decide on these pleas on merit.

The IHC had on Oct 24 revived Nawazs appeals in the two reference.

At the previous hearing, the court had turned down the National Accountability Bureaus suggestion that Nawazs conviction in the reference be set aside and the case be re-tried. It had also declared that it would decide the PML-N supremos appeal on merit.

Ahead of todays hearing, Nawaz arrived in court along with senior PML-N leaders including Ishaq Dar and Azam Nazeer Tarar.

At the outset of the hearing, Nawaz lawyer Amjad Pervaiz came to the rostrum and told the court that he wanted to argue on the matter of Nawazs dependents.

However, IHC CJ Farooq pointed out that the PML-N lawyer had completed his arguments in the case. Pervaiz insisted that he wanted to argue on one point in this regard.

The court then asked whether NAB had proven anything related to Nawazs dependents. The lawyer responded that one of the witnesses, Wajid Zia, had admitted that there was no evidence pertaining to Nawazs dependents.

He said that there were several court verdicts present regarding the definition of benami. Pervaiz then presented 13 separate verdicts in benami cases. He contended that the legal team had also raised its objections in front of the trial court that convicted Nawaz.

He said that the trial court had relied on three major points. Nawazs lawyer said that the trial court had kept the civil miscellaneous applications filed in the Panama case as the basis.

All three civil miscellaneous applications were filed by Maryam Nawaz, Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, he contended. He highlighted that not a single civil miscellaneous application was filed by Nawaz.

In its judgement, the trial court held that the civil miscellaneous applications were criminal material, the lawyer said. Not a single application proves that Nawaz was the owner of these assets, he said.

At one point, the IHC CJ asked about the contents of the civil miscellaneous applications. The applications were not placed on record. Documents related to them were placed on record, Pervaiz responded.

He reiterated that the applications did not state that Nawaz owned the assets, adding that they instead stated that the matter did not concern the PML-N supremo.

It is a principle that evidence in one case cannot be admissible in another. Especially when the nature of both cases is separate, he said.

Pervaiz further said that the trial court also relied on an interview given by Hussain Nawaz to a private TV channel in 2016. Even though Hussain was saying in the interview that the matter did not concern Nawaz, he said.

Nawazs lawyer further said that an accused was innocent until proven guilty. He said that the onus was on the prosecution to prove the charges against the accused. The burden of proof is on the prosecution, not the accused, Pervaiz said.

The accused cannot be forced to prove his innocence, he said. Nawazs lawyer said that there was no previous assets case where the accused was convicted without presenting clear proof of ownership.

The prosecution could not present a single piece of evidence. Therefore, the the burden of proof cannot be transferred onto the accused, he said as he wrapped up his arguments.

The NAB prosecutor, Azhar Maqbool Shah, then came to the rostrum and began his arguments. He said that a references were filed in accountability courts on the directives of the Supreme Court. He further said that a joint investigation team (JIT) was formed to probe the NAB references.

He said that the accountability watchdog conducted its own investigation. In cases concerning assets, there are only two to three methods of investigation, he said, adding that all the evidence collected was part of the record.

These also included statements recorded under Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, he said. He also read out loud some parts of Nawazs indictment.

Al-Azizia and Hill metal are the two prime allegations. Tell us when the Al-Azizia allegations were brought, asked the IHC CJ. You were the prosecutor. Tell us what evidence you possessed. Tell us on what basis you transferred the burden of proof onto the accused, he said.

Leave the law. We have the read the laws. Come straight to the prosecution, the IHC CJ told the NAB lawyer. Is there any evidence on record? Is there any witness present? he asked.

Shah said that Nawaz was indicted on charges of corruption and corrupt practices. Witnesses from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) were presented in court, he said.

This is a case of white collar crime, he said. Shah further said that evidence was collected from across the country and said that letters were also written to collect evidence from abroad.

The IHC CJ then asked the NAB lawyer to tell the court about the evidence which it was linking to the case. There must be some documents pertaining to the ownership of assets, he remarked.

Before going into the evidence, I would like to clear up a confusion. At the previous hearing, you had asked for the case to be remanded back to the trial court, Justice Aurangzeb said.

We have not yet passed an order. You can maintain the conviction while arguing on the merits of the appeal, he remarked.

For his part, Shah conceded that the bureau had asked for the case to be remanded back to the trial court.
Night time-intruder at a car dealership was so drunk he was almost sleepwalking when he was seen on CCTV making his way around and interfering with the camera.

Keith Connolly, of St Donaghs Road, Donaghmede admitted trespassing in a manner likely to cause fear. Photo: Four Courts/Getty Images

A night time-intruder at a car dealership was so drunk he was almost sleepwalking when he was seen on CCTV making his way around and interfering with the camera.

Frightened staff had feared it was someone with a grudge when he returned to trespass again, but Keith Connolly (40), who had been drinking morning, noon and night had no clear motive or reason for his bizarre behaviour.

Judge John Hughes handed the accused a six-month suspended sentence. Connolly, of St Donaghs Road, Donaghmede admitted trespassing in a manner likely to cause fear.

Dublin District Court heard staff at Denis Mahony Motors in Kilbarrack reported an unknown man trespassing at the property on the night of June 22 last year and when gardai viewed CCTV footage, they saw Connolly walking around before leaving when the alarm was activated.

On July 12, gardai were called again after a similar offence had happened the night before. The accused was again seen entering the garages compound where cars were stored, acting in a suspicious manner.

He was seen moving in and out between the cars and also seemed to be interfering with the CCTV camera. Staff were concerned as this was now a second incident.

While on patrol the following night, gardai saw Connolly again acting suspiciously outside the premises and arrested him for trespassing.

The accused did not try to conceal himself and did not have any items that might be used in a break-in, his lawyer said.

At the time, Connolly was drinking heavily and was like someone who was sleepwalking, he said.

The garda agreed there was no ransacking or looking for cash, or any attempt to gain access to vehicles.

Connolly had 36 previous convictions.

The incident was bizarre but despite the staff worrying about possible grudges, Connolly had no connection to the garage or reason for being there. He simply cant explain what he was doing, his lawyer said.

Connolly had been going through a difficult break-up at the time and was out of the house and not in good shape.

He had since knuckled down", got back on track and was working in construction. He was back with his partner and avoiding drink.

Judge Hughes told Connolly people in his workplace would be terrified if they saw someone casually walking around and tilting cameras.
Interruptions by family members orchestrated to cause maximum disruption, judge says

Schoolteacher Enoch Burke will remain behind bars for Christmas after again refusing to purge his contempt during a typically fractious hearing in the High Court.

Mr Justice Mark Sanfey had to rise from the bench on five occasions due to constant interruptions from members of Mr Burkes family.

It was a scene familiar to many who have witnessed the behaviour of the Burkes, an outspoken family of evangelical Christians from Castlebar, Co Mayo, in various courtrooms since the schoolteacher was suspended by his employers in August last year.

Mr Burke has spent more than 200 days in prison over the past 17 months for defying court orders to stay away from Wilsons Hospital School in Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath.

His suspension and eventual sacking had its roots in his opposition, on religious grounds, to a request from the then principal that a transgender pupil be called by a new name and they/them pronouns.

By the end of todays hearing, which took place to review his detention in Mountjoy jail, the schoolteacher, his parents Sean and Martina and siblings Ammi and Isaac had all been ejected from the courtroom by gardai, at the direction of the judge.

So many were the interruptions, Mr Justice Sanfey actually lost count of the number of times he had risen, mistakenly saying it was four.

Mr Justice Sanfey said the tag team nature of the interruptions was notable.

This was done in an orchestrated way to cause maximum disruption, he said.

It will not be tolerated, in the same way the flouting of orders of this court will not be tolerated.

During the hearing, Mr Burke repeatedly refused to give a yes or no answer when asked by the judge if he was willing to purge his contempt.

Instead he persisted with a pre-prepared speech in which he criticised several judges who had dealt with aspects of the dispute.

He claimed one, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, was wilfully ignorant and had ignored evidence.

He claimed another judge, Mr Justice Brian OMoore, who imposed fines of 700-a-day on him, had obstructed justice and was rewarded by the first gay Taoiseach with elevation to the Court of Appeal.

But most of his ire was directed towards Ms Justice Maire Whelan of the Court of Appeal, who penned an excoriating judgment about Mr Burkes conduct.

Mr Burke claimed the former attorney general was a nakedly political appointment who should not be on the bench.

Counsel for the schools board of management, Rosemary Mallon BL, said the personalised attacks were so outrageous, they are not worthy of comment.

Her remarks were echoed by the judge.

Journalists present were hectored by Martina Burke as she was led out by gardai. Mr Burkes mother singled out some reporters, asking them: Will you be allowed to speak the truth?

Prior to being ejected, Enoch Burke vowed: I will be reinstated in my classroom in accordance with the law.

The review of his detention took place some 95 days after he was committed to prison for a second time over his refusal to abide by court orders restraining him from the school premises.

Mr Burke, who taught German and History there, was suspended in August last year after publicly clashing with school management over the principals request.

He has consistently claimed he could not comply as it would have been contrary to his religious beliefs, an assertion he repeated today.

Despite his suspension, he continued to show up for work, even after the school got a temporary injunction restraining him from doing so.

He was later jailed for contempt, spending an initial period of 108 days in prison, before being released shortly before Christmas last year despite refusing to purge his contempt.

Following his release he immediately resumed turning up at the school on days when classes were taking place. This continued even after the school sacked him last January, a decision he is appealing.

Instead of returning Mr Burke to prison for continued contempt, the High Court decided last January to impose fines of 700-a-day on him. However, this did not dissuade Mr Burke.

And when the new academic year began last August, he again returned to the school, this time in breach of a permanent injunction granted by Mr Justice Owens on July 17.

His behaviour prompted a second application from the schools board of management for his attachment and committal to prison, an order granted by Mr Justice Mark Heslin on September 8.

Mr Burke refused to purge his contempt when his detention was reviewed by the High Court on October 3.

At the outset of todays second review hearing, Ms Mallon said the school was with great reluctance seeking a continuation of the status quo unless Mr Burke was willing to give an undertaking not to attend.

She said his attendance had caused great disruption, a comment which immediately gave rise to interruptions from Mr Burke, who stated it was not true.

Mr Justice Sanfey said the only purpose of the hearing was to see if Mr Burke wanted to purge his contempt.

But instead of addressing this issue, Mr Burke launched into a speech comprising a long list of grievances he has with various judges and lawyers.

He claimed, as he has repeatedly done, that there was a demand for teachers in the school to accept transgenderism.

There was nowhere to hide. Ignoring this demand was not an option, he said.

But I could not deny my Christian belief in male and female and call a boy a girl.

After criticising various judges, Mr Burke was told by Mr Justice Sanfey: You may have problems with judgments given by other members of this court on previous occasions and there are appropriate avenues for dealing with that. This is not one of them.

The judge added: You well know what is required to purge your contempt.

Mr Justice Sanfey said Mr Burke had steadfastly refused to address the single point the court was sitting to deal with and repeatedly warned that people would be removed from the court if they interrupted it.

By the end of the hearing, all of the Burkes had been removed.

The judge awarded the costs of the hearing to the schools board of management and set February 27 as the next review date.

He said he wanted to make it absolutely clear Mr Burke could come back to the court at any time before then if he was wiling to purge his contempt.
The victim was beaten over her head with a glass bottle before being kneed and kicked in the face after being taunted by teenagers.

A teenage girl will be sentenced in January for a vicious attack on a woman who had been subjected to fat shaming on the Luas.

The victim was beaten over her head with a glass bottle before being kneed and kicked in the face after being taunted by teenagers.

One of the attackers, a girl then aged 16, has pleaded guilty at the Dublin Childrens Court to assault causing harm to the passenger on May 22 last year.

Judge Paul Kelly granted a six-week adjournment today for the Probation Service to be provided with a copy of the victims impact statement to assist in a possible restorative justice or community service sanction.

Earlier, Garda Darragh Cashe told Judge Kelly that he met the victim at Dawson Street afterwards, and she informed him that she had been attacked on the tram while travelling northbound.

The court heard that three youths, two female and one male, were fat-shaming her before there was a physical altercation.

Garda Cashe said that one girl, yet to be identified, struck the womans head with a glass bottle, and the defendant also attacked her.

The injured party was hit a number of times by the defendant, kneed, kicked once in the face and kicked at least another two times, Garda Cashe said.

The accused, now 18, had no convictions but awaits sentence in the Circuit Court for another offence.

The male travelling with them on the Luas did not get involved in the attack.

The victim did not have to testify or face cross-examination because the accused changed her plea to guilty just before her hearing.

However, the woman was in court and provided a written victim impact statement, which was not read aloud.

She had told the court she received treatment for her injuries, and a medical report was also handed over to Judge Kelly.

Defence counsel Doireann McDonagh had said the accused had matured greatly since the incident and got on a training course.
Vakhtangi Kokoshvili (47) is alleged to have been in a fist fight between members of the Georgian and Algerian communities at the facility.

A man has denied taking part in a mass brawl at an asylum-seekers accommodation centre in west Dublin.

Vakhtangi Kokoshvili (47) is alleged to have been in a fist fight between members of the Georgian and Algerian communities at the facility.

When his case came before Blanchardstown District Court, Mr Kokoshvilis lawyer said prosecution evidence had been furnished to the defence and a hearing date was sought, on a not guilty plea.

Judge David McHugh adjourned the case for a non-jury trial on a date next year.

Mr Kokoshvili is charged with violent disorder in the alleged incident at Citywest Convention Centre on March 13, 2023.

Previously, the court heard gardai were called to the centre where security guards told them about a large disorder incident that had happened a short time earlier.

They were told a dispute began over the alleged theft of a phone by a member of the Algerian community and it escalated from there.

The security stated Mr Kokoshvili had taken part in the ensuing fist fight.

The garda said the accused had been arrested on foot of this allegation and the purported identification by security staff. There was no CCTV evidence.

The allegation was that Mr Kokoshvili and another man were the first two people to start the fight.

A number of people were removed to hospital after the incident but they were discharged without any serious injuries, the court heard.
By George Galer, KYODO NEWS - Dec 12, 2023 - 08:21 | Feature, All, World

A city in a Los Angeles suburb has dedicated an intersection to the first Japanese-American soldier to receive the most distinguished U.S. military medal for his actions during World War II.

Commemorating Sadao Munemori from Glendale, the city office named the location "Sadao S. Munemori Memorial Square" and held a ceremony Saturday attended by his relatives, veterans from Munemori's infantry regiment and others.

The square is also home to Glendale's Veterans Memorial, which lists on plaques the names of all of the city's fallen soldiers, Munemori included.

James Nakakihara, 64, a grand nephew of Munemori, said the dedication of the square makes his family feel "honored, grateful, hopeful and proud," adding that he hopes Munemori's memory will inspire "love and good deeds."

Munemori grew up in Glendale before joining the Army at 19. He served in the 100th Infantry Battalion during the war, which was made up of mostly Japanese-American soldiers.

While fighting in Italy in April 1945, Munemori disabled enemy machine gun positions with grenades before jumping on and covering a live grenade thrown by the enemy. He died at 22, sacrificing himself to save the lives of his fellow soldiers.

Munemori was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1946. He was the only Japanese-American recipient of the medal from the war until June 2000, when then President Bill Clinton awarded the medal to some 20 additional Japanese-American soldiers who had fought in the war.

Munemori's family, who had owned a vegetable farm in Glendale, were taken during the war to Manzanar, a Japanese-American incarceration camp.

Kenko Sone, Japan's consul general in Los Angeles, said at the unveiling ceremony that he hopes the square will "inspire those who visit with the heroism and self-sacrifice of Mr. Munemori."
Former Garda Paul Moody controlled and abused his partner on her death-bed

The former partner of jailed garda Paul Moody has said she is lucky to be alive following the abuse and coercive control she suffered at his hands while she battled cancer.

In July last year, Moody was jailed for three years and three months for the coercive control of his seriously-ill partner.

Speaking on RTEs Upfront with Katie Hannon on Monday night, Nicola said she doesnt take a minute of her life for granted now.

The Dublin hairdresser appeared on the programme alongside her family and friends after featuring in an RTE documentary titled Taking Back Control, which detailed how she met Mr Moody on a dating app and fell in love.

The pair then went on to have a child together as his violent and controlling behaviour escalated.

She had been given the all-clear from cancer the year before she met Moody but mid-way through her pregnancy, she discovered a lump on her breast.

Nicola has ensured Paul Moody cannot have guardianship over her son. Photo: RTE

Nicola said: I feel that if I dont break my silence how can I send a positive message to other people that are living in these situations.

Its very difficult to actually believe that was my life at one time but Im just so glad that Im one of the survivors because there are so many women out there that havent got the same story to tell.

The mother-of-one said she decided to break her silence in order to encourage other victims to come forward and said there is no shame in telling the truth.

Since this has happened to me, I find other women are coming forward to me already about their friend or somebody that they work with. I feel like theres a lot of judgement out there, as in I think women should be supporting women and men also, she said.

At the end of the day, no one should have to live in these situations. For now, I have the rest of my life to live. My life was horrendous for them years, but now I want to give people a positive message that you do not have to live like this, its wrong.

There are all different forms of abuse. When youre put in these situations its impossible to leave. I found myself going into shock so many times every time these things happened.

She urged people to look out for any early warning signs within a relationship that may be considered red flags.

When you go on a date or you meet somebody, listen very clearly to how they speak about their past relationships, she said.

Nicola said her life is absolutely fantastic at the moment. Adding: Im with all my lovely family, friends, my beautiful boy and Im just enjoying every single day.

Nicola said she believes that a lot of things have to change in this country and that children have no voice in similar circumstances.

Im one of the lucky victims, Im alive. There are so many people who havent survived. Things have to change. We have to be heard, if we want the cycle to change in this country, the law has to change also, she said.
The woman is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996

A woman in her 30s was arrested today following the seizure of cannabis worth over 600k in Dublin 7.

The bust was made as part of a joint operation involving gardai from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North Central Divisional Drugs Unit and Revenue Officers.

Cannabis herb seized in Dublin

They seized 33kg of cannabis herb with an estimated value of 660,000.

The woman is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a garda station in Dublin.

A garda spokesperson said investigations are ongoing.
It has been further been reported that the man, named variously as Sean Alexander Dempsey or Alexander Barrett, had used a false identity in Veracruz

An Irishman reported missing in the Mexican state of Veracruz had actually been handed over to US authorities for the alleged sexual abuse of an infant in Benton County, Washington, it has emerged.

Sean Alexander Dempsey was initially reported missing from the city of Veracruz where he had been teaching children in a local school. However, within hours authorities revealed he had been arrested.

State authorities confirmed that a coordinated intelligence effort between the personnel of the United States embassy and the Ministerial Police of the State Attorney Generals Office, had led investigators to Dempsey, who they located in Veracruz port.

At the time of his arrest, the Irishman identified himself using credentials from the National Electoral Institute (INE) that accredited him as a Mexican national from Veracruz.

However, after checking with the Civil Registry investigators discovered that the information was falsified.

A missing persons' notice issued for the man

It has been further been reported that the man, named variously as Sean Alexander Dempsey or Alexander Barrett, had used a false identity in Veracruz, where he had been living for several years.

On Saturday, December 9, the State Search Commission issued a file on the disappearance of a Sean Alexander Dempsey, however, as local media reported, he did not disappear as, in fact , ministerial elements had detained him.

The file on his alleged disappearance detailed that the subject is 33 years old, is of Irish nationality, is 1.80 meters tall, has a white complexion, green eyes, and short, curly blonde hair,.

The missing persons file adds:  As a particular sign, Sean Alexander Dempsey has a tattoo on his left arm.

After his arrest, the Baltic Bilingual School issued a statement after it emerged he had worked there as a teacher under a false identity.

The statement, signed by the general director of the school Monica Maria Fernandez Limon, declared: This institution is governed according to rigorous standards and protocols that in terms of security establish the laws regarding the hiring of personnel from each and every one of the areas that comprise it, approved with international rules, and whose sole purpose is the development and safety of our students.

In addition, the school clarified that there are security mechanisms within the facilities and that the alleged crime committed by the foreigner occurred in the United States and not within the educational institution.

"In this particular case, the notes refer to alleged illegal actions carried out in the United States and in no way within the facilities of this school or to the detriment of our students, the statement reads.

The school also clarified in the statement that at the time when a man who called himself Alexander Dempsey was a teacher, there was no complaint or complaint against him.

The school stressed that spaces are totally safe as they have closed circuit cameras.
The cocaine that had been shipped across the Atlantic from South America was due to be distributed across Europe, police believe

Spanish police have released footage of a search that retrieved 7.5 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a frozen tuna fish shipment in what has been described as a major blow to international drug traffickers.

The discovery, in the north-western port of Vigo, has been hailed as the biggest drugs bust by volume in the history of Galicia, the wild Atlantic coastline of Spain, which has long been used by smugglers.

The cocaine that had been shipped across the Atlantic from South America was due to be distributed across Europe, police believe.
The 43-year-old mum of five said she worries about her youngest childs health as she had a difficult birth

Kerry Katona has opened up about her nightmare week after daughter DJ was rushed to hospital.

The former Atomic Kitten star has shared an update on DJs condition after revealing how the little girl has been suffering with a bout of fainting spells in recent months.

The 43-year-old mum of five said she worries about her youngest childs health as she had a difficult birth.

And she has now detailed how DJ had to be isolated while her health condition was diagnosed and treated.

Writing in her column for OK! Magazine, Kerry explained: Ive had a nightmare this week as DJ was taken into hospital for tests after having a really high temperature for a couple of days. It turned out she had really bad influenza, so they had to put her in isolation.

Kerry added: I took some days off work to stay with her. Shes home now, but nurses are still coming to us to visit. Its been scary and shes still full of cold, but shes on the mend. Ryan is looking after her while I go back to work.

Kerry added that while DJ is recovering she had been left shaken by the ordeal.

Kerry shares DJ with late ex-husband George Kay  who died in 2019 aged 38. She also has daughters Molly Marie, 22, and Lilly-Sue, 20, with ex-husband Brian McFadden; daughter Heidi, 16, and son Max, 15, with ex-husband Mark Croft.

Just last month, Kerry opened up about the health anxiety she has over DJ and her health after presenter Annabel Giles passed away.

The television and radio star died aged 64 on 20 November following a brave battle against cancer.

Kerry wrote: Annabel Giles sadly passed away at 64 last week, which was awful. It really scares me to read things like that. Its such a shame and Im thinking of her family. I have health anxiety when it comes to DJ.

I worry about her, especially recently as shes had a few fainting spells. We took her for an MRI and the doctor found something.

Were waiting as her results have been sent to a neurosurgeon, but the doctor seems to think shes alright. He said that lots of us could have what she has but weve just not had MRIs.

Kerry met DJs father, rugby star George, when they were in school together, but didnt begin dating until 2012 after a chance encounter brought them back together.

After he died in 2019 from a drug overdose, Kerry said in an interview: George is my baby's daddy and she's never, ever going to see him again and I've got so much anger towards him for that.

I'm so angry. You become very, very selfish when you have an addiction. He's going to be missing out on so many wonderful things, because that kid is one amazing kid.

Kerry has had her own health scares and in October told The Mirror how her "life flashed before her eyes" after a fan spotted a lump on her Instagram picture.

She has previously explained that while showering, she discovered a mass in her armpit.

Speaking to the Mirror, she said: "I had a lump under my left arm and this is why I regret messing with my body so much. I remember doing a photoshoot and someone commented in the comments, I ignored it, I was in the shower and I was shaving.

"I thought 'That's a lot bigger', that's when your life flashes before your eyes. Mine turned out to be a swollen lymph node because I've got lymphedema."
The collision took place at around 6.15am this morning.

Four gardai were rushed to hospital following a two-vehicle crash in Limerick city centre this morning.

The collision, which involved a garda car, took place at around 6.15am today, Tuesday 12 December, on OConnell Street in Limerick city.

Four members of An Garda Siochana received medical attention at University Hospital Limerick for injuries, which are not described as life-threatening.

OConnell Street is currently open to traffic.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said they were aware of the case and were providing consular assistance

Tributes have begun flowing in for an Irishman who has been reportedly killed while fighting in Ukraine.

Messages on social media platforms indicate that the man, who was originally from Dublin, had joined the Ukrainian Army to offer his assistance before he tragically lost his life on Friday, December 8.

This absolutely breaks my heart. He was a great guy. Thank you for putting out the information. He will definitely be missed, one person has written on Facebook.

Another has added: That just hurt my soul. He was an awesome guy. My condolences and prayers to you and his family for peace and comfort during this difficult time.

The Dubliner had previous military experience, having served with the US forces in the Middle East..

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said they were aware of the case and were providing consular assistance.

As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases, the spokesperson added.
The winner has been advised to sign the back of the ticket, keep it safe and contact the prize claims team

The National Lottery has urged Dublin players to check their Lotto tickets as there is someone in Coolock who may not have yet realised they won 1 million.

A lucky punter in Dublin 17 became a millionaire during the draw on Saturday at 2pm, but they are yet to make contact with Lotto HQ to claim their winnings.

The winner has been advised to sign the back of the ticket, keep it safe and contact the prize claims team and arrangements will be made for them to claim the life-changing sum.

The winning numbers in the draw were 03, 04, 24, 30, 32, 39 and the bonus was 15.

Meanwhile, a family syndicate has claimed a prize worth 334,197 from a draw that took place on November 4.

We had no idea that there had been a big prize won that night, let alone that we were the ones who had won it! I was checking a few tickets the week after the draw and when I scanned this one, I got the Youve Won Big message, one of the winners said.

"At that stage, I still had no idea what wed won so I called the claims team up immediately. Im sure they knew I had no clue what wed won when they spoke to me because I was in utter shock. I knew it must have been a big prize when I got the message but I never imagined that it was as big as it was.

"Even though were sitting here in the Winners Room now, the news still hasnt sunk in. Weve had a few weeks to think about it but it doesnt feel real to be honest. As soon as it does, our first plan will be to organise a celebration over Christmas  its certainly not how we expected to be ending the year but it sure is a welcome surprise!

Their winning ticket was bought at the Centra store in Northtown Shopping Centre on the Ennis Road in Co. Limerick.
The incident on Monday afternoon and Spencer Street was closed for a time following the incident but has since re-opened.

A man is in a critical condition in hospital following a fall from an e-scooter in Castlebar on Monday.

After being treated at the scene at Spencer Street, the victim was rushed to Mayo University Hospital., where he remains in a critical condition this morning.

The incident on Monday afternoon and Spencer Street was closed for a time following the incident but has since re-opened.

The victim, who is in his fifties and has an address in Castlebar, is being treated in the intensive care unit of Mayo University Hospital.

Gardai are investigating the circumstances of the incident.
The Irish Red Cross has hit out at sledgehammer approach to cuts to benefits

Cabinet ministers have signed off on plans to reduce the welfare rate and accommodation rights for people arriving from Ukraine.

The Cabinet Committee on Humanitarian Response to Ukraine has agreed new arrivals would only be permitted to 90 days in state provided accommodation.

While in state-supported housing, they will be given a weekly payment of 38.80 as opposed to be being able to claim 220 in jobseekers' allowance, which Ukrainians who are currently residing here are entitled to. However, once they leave state accommodation centres, they will be able to claim the full rate of the jobseeker payment.

The Irish Red Cross has expressed its concern over the decision to limit state accommodation to newly arrived Ukrainians in Ireland to three months.

The charity warned that forcing Ukrainians into the private accommodation sector would only increase pressure on a rental sector it said is already in crisis while also increasing social tensions and resentment towards a migrant group.

It comes as the Taoiseach today said that "no decisions" have yet been made by the Cabinet on cutting supports for Ukrainian refugees.

Earlier Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that any supports offered to Ukrainian refugees arriving here should match what other European countries offer.

"The basic principle that we're going to apply is what we offer people fleeing Ukraine in Ireland should be similar to what's offered in other parts of western Europe.

"In most cases in western Europe people are offered accommodation but not indefinitely. And if you are being provided with accommodation - food, board, lodging, heat, light - by the state, you don't get the full social welfare payment."

Mr Varadkar said the Cabinet also has to think of the "knock-on effects" of any change, given the housing shortage.

Ukrainian refugees can currently receive 220 in jobseekers' allowance while looking for work. A subcabinet committee met today to discuss reducing the payment.

In a statement issued this evening, the Irish Red Cross said that few Ukrainians here have sufficient economic means to enter the rental sector independently.

It pointed out that HAP is not available to them and the rent allowance scheme is complex to navigate.

It also expressed the concern that a significant number of Ukrainian refugees are women caring for children, and are therefore often limited in the types of employment they can seek to the level necessary to pay rent.

The proposal does not provide a viable route to accommodation for temporary protection beneficiaries. This is contrary to Irelands commitment to and obligations under the EU wide Temporary Protection Directive, the charity said.

"It is clear that the proposed measure is not intended to manage the accommodation crisis in Ireland but to send a message of deterrence to others thinking of travelling to Ireland. Such an approach is a sledgehammer and other solutions should be found.

This proposal should not be a solution to the different supports amount EU states. The Irish Government and their EU counterparts should work at an administrative level to harmonise the supports provided.

The Government has achieved significant success in meeting the needs of several thousand Ukrainians. But more is needed, particularly in exploring alternative forms of accommodation.

"For example, there are extremely high vacancy rates in office buildings and further exploration of these could yield some results. Further work is needed to repurpose vacant office buildings, and vacant state and religious buildings.

It continued: Sudden cuts in supports by government to a vulnerable group will have negative implications and it is critical that any changes in supports is implement in a phased manner, taking account of the adjustments required by the beneficiary.

Speaking earlier, Mr Varadkar said he was proud the country had welcomed approximately 100,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Asked if the decision to offer 220 per week in jobseekers' allowance to Ukrainian refugees was a mistake, Mr Varadkar said: "I really don't think so. We managed to welcome about 100,000 people from Ukraine to Ireland and I'm proud of the country that we managed to do that.

"Irish people have to travel all over the world for all sorts of reasons and received a welcome in the countries that we went to, and I'm glad that we were able to do this, on this occasion, for the people of Ukraine."

Mr Varadkar said it was not about being able to afford the payment but rather about a "deficit" in accommodation.

"We don't want to be in a position whereby we're saying to people we have nowhere for you to stay, but we are in a very difficult situation now and the priority will be to look after women and children and people who have particular vulnerabilities and particular needs." He said all applicants are "fully vetted".

"Contrary to some things I hear being said, of course, before anyone is granted leave to stay in Ireland they are fully vetted. Fingerprints are taken so we can cross-check them for having been in other countries, lots of things are done that maybe people don't realise but, you know, everyone is a person and there's a basic standard of human dignity that we try to apply in all cases."

Mr Varadkar said people fleeing to Ireland are "suffering in a way we can almost not imagine" as he said other countries' "tough talk" had not reduced refugee numbers.

"Let's not forget that, whether it's people fleeing the war in Ukraine or people fleeing wars in other parts of the world, they don't have any homes at all. Their homes are long gone, their schools are gone. They are going to keep coming here and we need to be realistic and honest with people about that.

"I've seen governments all around the world talk tough about migration - leave the European Union, build walls and fences, put children in cages, separate them from their families, it hasn't stopped the numbers coming.

"We live in a very dangerous world where hundreds of millions of people are on the move and we're very lucky and very privileged to live in a country like Ireland where people are safe and most people have homes, schools, hospitals and services to go to. We should never forget that."
Abbas Ganbay

Return of two Azerbaijani servicemen taken captive by Armenia will be ensured, Azernews reports, citing Prosecutor General of the Republic of Azerbaijan Kamran Aliyev. .

To recall that the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia issued a joint statement.

It should be noted that as a result of negotiations between the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia an agreement was reached to take tangible steps to strengthen confidence between the two countries.

Guided by the principles of humanism and as a goodwill gesture, the Republic of Azerbaijan releases 32 Armenian servicemen. The list of 32 does not and cannot include the leaders of the notorious regime who committed war crimes against the Azerbaijani people and crimes against humanity - Araik Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arkady Ghukasyan, Ruben Vardanyan, including such persons as Vagif Khachaturyan, Alesha Khosrovyan.

In turn, the Republic of Armenia, guided by the principles of humanism and as a goodwill gesture, releases two Azerbaijani servicemen.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 12, 2023 - 21:45 | World, All

China's President Xi Jinping said Tuesday in his talks with Vietnam's Communist Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong that Beijing is ready to deepen the bilateral partnership and build a "community with a shared future," according to the Chinese media.

China regards its relations with Vietnam as "a priority" in its neighborhood diplomacy, Xi told the leader as he visited the country for the first time since 2017, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

With joint efforts, China-Vietnam ties will "enter a new stage of greater political mutual trust, more solid security cooperation, deeper mutually beneficial cooperation," Xi added, according to the report.

Xi's trip came after the United States and Vietnam announced during President Joe Biden's visit to Hanoi in September an upgrade of their relations to the Southeast Asian country's highest diplomatic ranking, on par with its ties with China and Russia.

During his two-day visit, Xi is also scheduled to meet with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The two Asian neighbors have been engaged in territorial disputes in the South China Sea but maintain strong economic ties. China is Vietnam's largest trading partner, while Vietnam is China's fourth largest.

Xi's visit came ahead of a summit to be held Sunday in Tokyo between Japan and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes Vietnam, to commemorate 50 years of bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed with Thuong in November in Tokyo to deepen bilateral maritime security cooperation.

Related coverage:

Japan, ASEAN to map out "new vision" at Tokyo summit: gov't

China "not fearful of war" over Senkakus: military officer

Japan, Vietnam agree to deepen security cooperation amid China's rise
The Irelands Fittest Family host had outlined her experience of wearing orthodontics products by Dental Options and offered advice to prospective users.

RTE star Laura Fox is one of a number of influencers that the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) upheld a complaint about for not properly disclosing gifts and other brand deals on social media.

The Irelands Fittest Family host had outlined her experience of wearing orthodontics products by Dental Options and offered advice to prospective users.

The content included the hashtag #collab at the end of the content, a hashtag that the ASAI no longer considers sufficient for disclosing marketing communications between influencers and brands.

A complaint made against the content on the grounds that it was unclear that it was a marketing communication was upheld by the complaints committee, who ruled it was not appropriately disclosed by the brand and the presenter that she had received free, gifted services.

The content had since been amended to include the disclosure #gifted.

The influencers agency replied to the ASAI on her behalf, stating that she had been gifted the treatment and no payment and no money had been exchanged.

They apologised on the influencers behalf and said that they would amend advertising in the future to use #ad and #sponsor.

They said that the influencer now fully understood the need to make clearer that promotional content should be properly disclosed and that #collab was not a sufficient disclosure.

A number of other ads featuring influencers were also found to have been out of alignment with the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) code.

The committee recently upheld nine complaints about various advertisements, including one made about Volkswagen Wexford and a number of Instagram posts, stories and reels that appeared on influencer Phil Cawleys social media page.

File image from Getty images.

It asked that all relevant posts be amended to include #brandambassador to better reflect the arrangement between the brand and the influencer.

A complaint was also made against an advertisement by Dylan Oaks Jewellery after an influencer under the username @twins_and_me shared a discount code and link for the website on their social media account.

Although the influencer included sp (meaning sponsored) on one image, it was written in white text on a white background and the ASAI upheld the complaint.

Another influencer, Fabio David, was the subject of a complaint to the ASAI when he did not disclose that he were involved in any sponsorship, collaboration or advertisement when he posted a sketch video at Romayos Diner in Santry.

Separately, retail giant Harvey Norman included an electric scooter in a television advert that used the statement perfect for commuters which one complainant found misleading due to the legal status of electric scooters at the time and that they could not be used in public places without being taxed and insured.

The committee noted that while there had been no intention to mislead, the advertising should not appear in the same format again.

Another complaint made against a poster reading Super Thursday 3 for 2 on the entire store* outside the Asics outlet shop in Kildare Village was upheld after it was pointed out that the asterisk noted exclusions may apply.

The ASAI Complaints Committee asked that the ad did not appear in the same format again as the footnote could be seen to contradict the headline offer.

Online company Loveholidays was also the subject of a complaint for a misleading advertisement that offered an All inclusive holiday to the Aqua Fantasy Aquapark Hotel and Spa, Kusadasi, Aegean Coast, Turkey.

The complainant said they booked for April 2023 on the basis that the waterpark would be open, though they later learned it was only open from May to October and believed this should have been referenced in the advertising.

The ASAI Committee noted the requirement that a marketing communication should not mislead, or be likely to mislead, by inaccuracy, ambiguity, exaggeration, omission or otherwise and that as per the code: Advertisers should not exaggerate the availability of products advertised.

The advertiser did not respond and the ASAI asked that the ad should not be published in the same format again.

Carrolls Irish Gifts were the subject of an upheld complaint after they advertised a scarf as the perfect Irish gift, despite the product not being made in Ireland.

A voucher shared by Kenny Fuels that is now no longer in use was found to be in breach of the advertising code after a discount code offered by the brand could only be used for home heating oil and not anything under 500 as the voucher had stated.
Julie Sach's appointment as Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support Service's new chief executive officer signifies an exciting new chapter for the organisation as they continue to deliver services, raise awareness, and effect positive change in the lives of survivors.

"We are thrilled to welcome Julie as the new CEO of Tautoko Mai," says board chair Prue McCallum.

"Her leadership and dedication to supporting survivors align perfectly with our mission.

"Julie brings a unique blend of expertise and passion that will guide our organization in our efforts to provide essential resources and support for survivors of sexual assault and foster community awareness and education around issues of sexual violence.

With an extensive background in social services and a passion for advocating for survivors of sexual assault, Julie will lead the agency's vision of a society free from sexual harm and violence.

She has held the Social Change and Prevention role at Tautoko Mai for four years, leading the development of new and exciting initiatives to address the issue of sexual violence.

"Bringing a wealth of family and sexual violence industry experience to her new role, Julie is recognised for her leadership, commitment to social justice, and dedication to ensuring survivor voices are heard.

"Julie has a proven track record of leadership in both community and government roles, reflecting a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding sexual assault and a determination to drive positive change within the community."

Julie has called this area home for over five decades although she has spent time in Wellington working for Te Puna Aonui and The Family Violence Death Review Committee.

"I am honoured to step into this new role at Tautoko Mai and am supported by a dedicated team to continue the essential work of advocating for survivors and change," says Julie.

"I am deeply committed to our mission of creating a society free from sexual violence, and I look forward to collaborating with our partners, stakeholders, and the community to drive impactful initiatives that support survivors and prevent future instances of assault."

Julie officially started her role as Chief Executive Officer of Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support on December 11.

Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support Services provide sexual harm support in the Bay of Plenty. To contact Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support Services phone 0800 227 233 or go to www.tautokomai.co.nz
Many long-standing tenants of The Historic Village are concerned that an imposed increase in operating expenses, combined with proposed rent increases, will impact the valuable community work they do and could force them to close.

Historic Village tenants received notice of the operating expense increase from Tauranga City Councils Property and Leasing team on November 27, 2023, advising them of the increase, which will come into effect on January 1, 2024.

In addition, License to Occupy fees increases are being considered as part of Tauranga City Councils Long-Term Plan process.

There is deep concern from tenants, funders, and social agencies about the potential adverse effects on local community groups and artisans that they say will struggle to afford the "debilitating" proposed increases to leases and overheads.

Concerned tenants include many long-standing community and grassroots organisations that have been operating from The Historic Village for a decade or more and are a critical component of the character, culture, vibrancy and sustainability of the village.

These community groups and small businesses operate on tight budgets, many relying on donations and volunteer efforts and grants.

"The huge surge in costs not only puts overwhelming and additional financial strain on these organisations but diverts resources away from their primary missions and hinders their ability to serve the community effectively," says a spokesperson.

"There is fear that the unachievable costs will create an exodus of these groups and people from the Historic Village, which will exacerbate socio-economic disparities and create the very barriers they have worked to break down.

"It will cause a loss of diversity and opportunities within the community and impact the representation of the older community, the grassroots arts community mental health and youth agencies, the disabled and ethnics communities to name just a few."

Te Taiope Huringanui  Turning Point Trust provides crucial services to whanau and people in the community who have been touched by mental illness or addiction.

The Trust provides day activity, vocational and peer support services and has been operating from its Historic Village site for more than 24 years.

We hope and pray that Tauranga City Council will recognise the importance of the Historic Village in the cultural and social fabric of Tauranga and take steps to ensure not just that it survives but that it thrives and develops even more into what it could be," says general manager Tim Jackson.

Joyce van der Lely from The Artemist - Young at Art Studio, who has been in the Historic Village for 12 years, believes that with the overhead increases and proposes rent increases, many of the businesses and creatives, who over the years have made the Historic Village to what it is today, will no longer be here.

Over the years, with a whole lot of input, precious hours, energy and goodwill of myself and many other creative souls that joined the streets, we collectively brought the Historic Village to a more vibrant place to be enjoyed by the Tauranga community and beyond," says Joyce.

The Historic Village has a calm, safe and wonderful vibe. It makes people feel comfortable and inspires. It would be such a shame to see it go.

"There is nothing like The Historic Village, so where would we all go?"

Joyce says as a creative precinct, The Historic Village has a distinct identity that reflects art and culture back to the city.

"Theres nothing else like this community in NZ.

The Incubator Creative Hub rents a majority of the buildings in the Historic Village, including the Village Cinema, the Jam Factory, The Pot House, the Peoples Gallery, Okorore Toi Maori, the Artists Window, and the Villa, Brooke Street, Te Whare Te Moana and Satellite Studios, The Incubator barn building, and thanks to Lotteries New Zealand funding, has purchased the Creative Campus building last year.

Director Simone Anderson has lived and breathed the development of The Incubator and its synergetic relationship at the Historic Village, since the grassroots community arts and creative hub was founded 10 years ago.

Weve always appreciated the support and investment of Tauranga City Council and have appreciated times of collaboration and investment in this community asset for all," says Simone.

Our hope is that the social return on investment and impact that this village generates is acknowledged as having an equal if not higher value to rents; and that together we can continue to progress the village as a community arts and cultural destination  the only one of its kind in the country and a celebrated Tauranga taonga for future generations.

However, she says the opex and rent increases will come at a cost to The Incubator Creative Hub, the Historic Village and the community as a whole.

As a result, we would most likely lose our resident artists, who we incubate in a supported and connected whanau, people who give so much more to the wairua of this space - volunteerism, vibrancy, they are ambassadors to the community, out of town tourists including cruise ship visitors.

We would stand to lose our beloved galleries that support emerging artists, attract visitors and support six local school annual exhibitions."

Simone says grassroots arts including music, cinema, creative education, representation of Toi Maori practices and social wellbeing associated with arts participation will all be impacted.

Pathways will close for creatives and the reputation of the Historic Village as an important a vibrant, inclusive, diverse community, arts, culture hub for Tauranga Moana will be impacted.

Tauranga Men's Shed Incorporated Chairman Bryce Strong says the increases mean the Tauranga Mens Shed would have to close.

He says the Men's Shed brings men together in one community space to share their skills, have a laugh, and work on practical tasks individually - personal projects, or as a group for the Shed or community.

We simply cannot pay any increase at all," says Bryce.

We are a charity doing work for the community, and do not, and never had, the ability to pay commercial rental rates.

And in addition, we have been presented with a massive opex increase as well.

Not only can we not afford any increase, the whole process and the uncertainty of outcome causes distress to our members, who are predominantly older men.

We dont believe that the Village can be tenanted with only tenants who can pay full commercial rental rates as its design and layout and floor plans and lack of parking prohibit this," says Bryce.

Detour Theatre Trustees Devon and Kim Williamson say they have had a positive journey at the Historic Village for the past 17 years.

We hope that the enormous amount of investment that the arts and community groups make to the Historic Village(and wider community will be recognised, leading to affordable and sustainable leases/overheads so the work we all do can flourish to the benefit of the community," says Devon.

With the significant investment we have made in the redevelopment of the building that we lease from the Council and the huge effort we have made to make the Historic Village a city-wide and regional asset, we're extremely disappointed to be facing these financial challenges.

For fashion designer Kerry Funnell, who, with the support of The Incubator Creative Hub, went from working from her garage five years ago to having her own store Nape within the Historic Village.

As a first-time business owner, the cost increases mean its not viable for me to continue and sadly, I will return to working from home, possibly losing customers and business growth potential, along with losing connections and the collaborative projects that come from mixing with the not-for -profits community groups who are also here," says Kerry.

Its such a special experience to talk to the actual makers and there are plenty here in the Village, artists, jewellers, potters, weavers, musicians, sewers, crafters, carvers and more. Its a unique experience.

Grey Power has been a tenant in the Historic Village for nearly 15 years and says the opex and proposed rent increases are completely unaffordable for them.

Tauranga and WBOP Grey Power Assn President Jennifer Custins says they are now very concerned that their office will have to close.

If we and other community groups close, I fear that the Village will become over commercialised and lose its unique character," says Jennifer.

Over the years we have contended with flooding and substandard conditions, but we have an overall love of the Village lifestyle.

Now we feel penalised because the cost of the refurbishments of the Historic Village Complex 2 venue and Village Hall will force us out."
Jo Gravit was a woman of conviction who championed her community of Te Puna.

She was a Western Bay of Plenty councillor from 2001 until stepping down in 2010.

Gravit remained an active member of the community right up until her cancer diagnosis in September. She passed away on December 4, nine days after her husband of 60 years Peter.

During her time as a councillor she was member of the Omokoroa Community Board, and chair of the Community Coordination Committee and the Sustainable Communities Committee.

Gravit was also part of the community volunteer organisation Te Puna Heartland.

Te Puna Heartland member said Beth Bowden said once she stepped down from council she really rolled up her sleeves and relished the opportunity to get fully involved in the organisations work.

She was Te Puna's heart and soul.

She rallied the community to ensure the Te Puna hall was replaced after it had to be demolished when upgrades were done to the intersection of State Highway 2 and Te Puna Road.

The late octogenarian also ensured Te Puna had an emergency response plan and a community management plan.

She was a great believer in practical activity, said Bowden.

Not only would she get things done but she had a way of soothing ruffled feathers, said Bowden.

She was always right, but she would always smooth the waters so that people thought they were right too.

Bowden considered Gravit and her husband dear friends. She will greatly miss the weekly Sunday morning coffee dates with Gravit at a local cafe.

Jo Gravit during her time as a Western Bay of Plenty District councillor. Photo: WBOPDC.

Councillor Don Thwaites worked with Gravit for 18 months after winning his seat in a by-election, but the pair were friends for years prior.

A fellow Te Puna resident, Thwaites managed the Gravits orchard when they lived in Wellington from 1985 to 1999.

In Wellington Gravit was the chief executive of the womens division of Federated farmers. Having managed their Te Puna dairy farm before it was converted to a kiwifruit orchard.

Thwaites said the former councillor got the Te Puna library set up at the school and the footpath on Te Puna and Armstrong Roads were laid because of her advocacy.

She was a stickler for the detail and an incredible reader. She used to read all the reports and be able to speak to everything [in council]

Thwaites said she set the standard pretty high for him as a new councillor.

When the big debates had come up, she loved to quote back to policy, which used to infuriate a few of the other councillors around the table who wanted to have a crack at bending rules.

She was actually known to break the odd policy herself when it suited her, but in a nice way.

Thwaites also played indoor bowls against Gravit for years at the hall she had helped replace.

She traded a 98-year-old hall for a brand new hall.

Jo "traded a 98-year-old hall for a brand new hall" at Te Puna. Photo: Supplied.

Councillor Margaret Murray-Benge served two terms with Gravit. Murray-Benge said she was thoughtful, caring, and a good networker.

She never stopped caring and working for her community.

Shes a perfect example of a woman who stood up and participated, and a great example to other women to follow on and do the same.

Former chairman of Te Puna Heartlands Richard Comyn described Gravit as a great peacemaker with loads of local knowledge.

She was always trying to find the common ground.

She'll be missed on Heartland for her breadth of knowledge.

Gravit was born in 1941 and grew up in Sanson, Manawatu. She was educated at Palmerston North High School, then did a Bachelor of Science at the University of Canterbury.

She became a teacher, married Peter and had four children, one of their daughters died at a young age from cancer.

In 1973 she and Peter moved to Tauranga then bought a farm in Te Puna.

Jo fishing on Lake Tarawera. Photo: Supplied.

She was heavily involved in her childrens lives as well as managing the farm, and was on the PTA at Te Puna School, where her children attended.

Mum put the kids first, said her son Jonathan.

After her stint in Wellington Gravit, became a member of the Acorn Foundation, was part of the Tauranga Budgeting Service and her biggest legacy was as the Tauranga Community Housing Trust chairwoman.

Jonathan said she wasnt afraid to make the big calls and the trust expanded and bought pensioner housing in Whakatane, and Murupara with the Murupara homes sold to iwi.

She had a strong understanding of that interlinking between health services and iwi services.

Another achievement Jonathan said his mum was most proud of was being involved in getting an unsealed part State Highway 36 tarsealed.

Her involvement in the community was so valued that just before her death she received a call asking her to be part of an advisory group, which Jonathan said she politely declined.

He describes his mum as woman of conviction, determined to champion people and their needs.

She left the community in a better place than she found it.

Gravit is survived by her children Jonathan, Roanna and Virginia and seven grandchildren.

A celebration of her life is being held at Te Puna Memorial Hall, on Wednesday, December 13 at 11.30am.

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.
More than $39,000 is being donated to Tauranga Intermediate School to go towards counselling and mental health resources for the school.

Youth Lives Matter holds an event each year to raise money to provide counselling services to Intermediate schools in the Bay of Plenty, says Youth Lives Matter founder Colleen Schumacher.

This year, the organisation presented Tauranga Intermediate School with a cheque for $39,317.51.

Tauranga Intermediate School principal Cameron Mitchell says students are struggling with a large variety of issues.

We've got all sorts of social anxiety caused through the effect of platforms like Instagram and Snapchat and TikTok.

We've got domestic violence and broken relationships in the family that have an impact on children.

It's all of the above.

For a two-year period from 2012, our school suffered from the tragic loss of three of our students so that prompted an urgent response from our board.

The money will provide counselling and mental health resources for the school, says Cameron.

It's going to go a long way to provide high-quality counselling services for the students of the intermediate school.

Were oversubscribed.

We can't meet the demand for students that are wanting counselling services within our school.

We've just lost our amazing counsellor because of the qualifications, you can get paid a lot more in the private sector or outside of the school education circle.

School is restricted as to how much we can pay them.

It's about trying to get their balance right as far as attracting people that want to work in schools, but also them knowing they're not going to get paid as much as what they could elsewhere.

Currently, the school has four youth mentors, says Cameron.

Youth mentors connect with students that need extra pastoral support around the school.

All of our students check in with their mentors first thing in the morning, and they go through their day to make sure they're all set up for a positive start.

The Primary sector is not provided with any funds for mental health services, says Colleen.

If you are a student in year seven and eight at an area school that goes from years one to 13 or you are at a middle school from year seven to nine you are provided with free counseling services, says Cameron.

If you're a year seven, eight student in an intermediate school or a full primary school, you are not provided with free counseling services. So you've got disparity with between year seven, eight students in certain schools in New Zealand getting free counseling and then in other schools.

I started it the group due to the loss of a very good friend of mines the 13-year-old son took his life at the end of 2020 and he went to Mountain Intermediate, says Colleen.

I realised the struggles that the school had and that there was no government funding for counsellors in intermediate schools.

In the primary sector in New Zealand, there's no funding.

Mount Maunganui Intermediate School struggled to try and get any support when their school was in a massive, huge crisis, says Colleen.

That's what started the ball rolling, and then when it was so successful last year, we thought we'll do it again.

Last year, the money went to Mount Intermediate.

We raised just over $85,000.
Court acquits three Malaga residents who spent 17 months in jail for huge cocaine haul Spain's National High Court ruled there was not enough evidence to link the three men and their businesses to the crime which involved 899 kilos of cocaine stashed inside containers of avocados

Eugenio Cabezas Tuesday, 12 December 2023 | Updated 14/12/2023 12:29h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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Three people from Malaga who spent 17 months behind bars for allegedly smuggling 899 kilos of cocaine from Colombia into Spain via containers of avocados have been acquitted of all charges.

The National Court concluded they were not guilty of forming a drug trafficking network that allegedly helped import the drugs intercepted at the port of Algeciras in 2018. Two of the acquitted are residents of Velez-Melaga and the third lives in Marbella. The court considered that there was no evidence that proved that the defendants were guilty of the charges of drug trafficking or using false official documents.

One of the acquitted men is former National Police officer Francisco Mena. The 66-year-old was posted at Velez-Malaga police station until 2006 when he took a leave of absence and set up a tropical fruit import company in the town. On the morning of 22 November 2018, just as he was leaving his home, he was approached by dozens of officers from the Drugs and Organised Crime Unit (Udyco) and was arrested.

His mobile phone had been tapped for more than a year and the name of his company exposed by an undercover agent. Mena had reportedly had conversations and business dealings with another local man. The 58-year-old was also an importer of tropical fruit. The two, and Moroccan man, 41, who was a business partner of both and based in Marbella, were arrested for the 899-kilo haul of cocaine.

The three men were represented by law firm AJF Cid Abogados of Velez-Malaga, David Cuenca Moron of Cuenca Moron Abogados, and Juan Manuel Aido Montanez. Following the evidence provided throughout proceedings, which took place in October last year, it could not be proven that the three defendants were guilty, the National Court ruled. The public prosecution, which had asked for 15 years' prison for each man, has not filed an appeal. Two of the acquitted men paid 20,000 euros in bail, and the third paid 100,000 and was released from prison a month and a half before the others.

Market value of more than 77 million

The cocaine - which was stashed inside 26 backpacks hidden inside pallets of avocados - had a purity level of 80.9% and would have reached an estimated market value of 30,392,493 euros. With lower levels of purity, its value would have reached 77,901,394 euros (at 38%) and 53,148,880 euros (at 53%), according to the court ruling.

The drugs were discovered during a routine customs inspection. After they were confiscated the container was allowed to continue on its way.

When the truck with the rest of the pallets arrived at the facilities of the company in Velez-Malaga, one of the acquitted businessmen made several phone calls to the forwarding company, to customs and to the 112 emergency service, "receiving another from the police number 091, in which he explained the incident of a missing pallet in a container of fruit that had been imported from Colombia and that had been inspected at the port of Algeciras", according to the sentence.

Proceedings against a fourth person who was also arrested and investigated, but who did not stand trial, were also thrown out after the prosecutor dropped the drug trafficking charges. The National Court issued an order requesting that the money, assets and vehicles that may have been seized during the proceedings, as well as the bail bonds, be returned to the defendants.

"They ruined my life," said Francisco Mena, whose lawyers say they will sue the State for damages.
Pilar R. Quiros Malaga Tuesday, 12 December 2023 | Updated 13/12/2023 14:05h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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Malaga city hall is updating its branding, and will soon be called Ciudad de Malaga (City of Malaga). All municipal services and facilities will be integrated under this name and updated logo. This change still needs to be approved in the plenary, but no problems are expected since the ruling PP party has the absolute majority.

It will come into effect in 2024, and in the eyes of the local government team this change signifies a modernisation of the image of Malaga and "is adapted to the digital environment, gaining in agility and flexibility, and includes adaptations for electronic administration needs".

The new logo for the institutional image of the council was created by Malaga-based company SODA who specialise in branding, and has cost the public coffers 18,137 euros.

The process has taken a year and a half of work based on an in-depth study of the council, its meaning and presence in the city. The new logo includes, like the previous one from 2007, the city's coat of arms granted by the Catholic Monarchs after Malaga was incorporated in the Crown of Castile.

The changes to the logo still make it recognisable, since it is a new version of the original that depicts the Mediterranean municipality where "the waves of the sea crash against the walls that protect the Alcazaba, the hillside of Gibralforo and its castle can be seen and the martyrs San Ciriaco and Santa Paula, patron saints of Malaga, appear all covered by the crown".

Daniel Vico, the consultant in charge of the project, explained that the new branding aims to make citizens "understand the value of the institution through a clear communication system, easy to understand, recognisable and coherent with the values and position held by the city". In addition, he explained that the corporate font for the town hall will be Matter, while the actual blue colour, pantone 308, is the same as it is currently.

The first step for the approval of this change in branding is to take it to the Economy Commission, the next meeting taking place this Thursday 14 December. It will first be implemented online, and then everywhere else, "with a period where both logos exist to avoid incurring expenses" such as print and other media.

According to the PP local government team, it completes the updates of the municipality's corporate identity that began with the slogan 'Malaga, the perfect city', which was presented in 2022 and is currently being implemented.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 12, 2023 - 18:42 | All, Japan

A Japanese court on Tuesday sentenced a 68-year-old man to life in prison for fatally shooting a doctor and attacking other medical workers before an 11-hour standoff with police at his home near Tokyo last year.

In handing down the sentence as sought by prosecutors, the Saitama District Court found that Hiroshi Watanabe had the intent to kill 44-year-old Junichi Suzuki and other staff in a shotgun attack during a home visit on Jan. 27 last year.

Presiding Judge Kenji Koike dismissed arguments by the defense that the shots were accidental or not intended to kill, saying that the close-range firing of the weapon indicated otherwise.

Saying Watanabe harbored resentment toward Suzuki and the other medical workers following the death the previous day of his mother, who had been in their care, Koike said his actions were "irrational, even in consideration of his significant sense of loss over the death of his mother."

According to the ruling, Watanabe asked seven medical workers, including Suzuki, to come to his home in Fujimino, Saitama Prefecture, to offer condolences over his mother's death.

Watanabe then shot three of them, killing Suzuki and severely injuring a physiotherapist in his 40s while shooting the third who ended up unhurt. He also sprayed another medical worker with tear gas.

He was eventually arrested after the police stormed the building following the standoff.

Prosecutors argued that Watanabe had a "strong intention to murder as many as he could" of the medical workers over his mother's death.

Related coverage:

Life term sought for man over killing of doctor in 11-hr standoff

Man charged with fatally shooting doctor denies intent to kill

Hostage dead after 11-hour standoff near Tokyo
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If anyone encapsulates legal cannabis in Rochester, its Tiffany Walters.

In her 39 years, Walters has developed expertise from industries ranging from cannabis to communications to child care, which have enabled her and her partner, Jumaane Hughes, 44, to build a statewide cannabis training and information platform that could become a key driver of workforce development in New Yorks legal cannabis industry.

Rochester  the city and greater metro area in which she was born, raised, and still lives  contain disparate assets (farmland, an urban center, a population greater than 1 million) that could collectively yield a successful legal cannabis industry, but its retail prospects have been hamstrung by court injunctions more than any other hub in the state, increasing the importance of a statewide platform being headquartered in the Finger Lakes city.

All the components that we need to have a very successful cannabis ecosystem are right here in Rochester, and I think Tiffany and Jumaane are definitely a part of the puzzle that makes Rochester rock, said Jeff Medford, a Rochester-based legacy operator who runs a cannabis cultivation safe space in the city called The Green Lounge.

The platform Walters and Hughes have built, New York State Cannabis Connect, has linked New Yorkers  from Rochester to Syracuse to New York City and beyond  to resources and networks aimed at helping them find their place in the states legal cannabis industry.

The duo founded NYSCC about a month after New York legalized adult-use cannabis, in March of 2021, with the intention of assisting everyone from entrepreneurs looking to start a weed business to prospective employees looking for a job within the nascent marketplace.

Specifically, the pair wanted to help Black New Yorkers, who accounted for a majority of cannabis arrests in New York City before legalization, according to NYPD data.

We wanted to be that connection, and that vehicle, and that foundation, and offer free resources so that you could at least have a starting point, Walters told NY Cannabis Insider.

Fifty-seven percent of the people arrested for cannabis [in 2020] were Black, she said. We have to make a space for ourselves; we have to figure out how to help each other; we have to figure out how to work together.

In partnership with New Yorks Department of Labor, NYSCC has hosted networking events across the state, called Catch A Contact, which have attracted more than 3,000 people since 2022.

Walters and Hughes have published web-based training modules and built the General Resource Access Map (G.R.A.M.), an exhaustive database of support systems for those looking for careers in cannabis.



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The need for services connecting people to jobs in cannabis will likely grow significantly in coming years. Statewide, the industry could create up to 60,000 new jobs, and account for $350 million per year in state tax revenue, according to a study by government relations firm Capalino.

Legal operators in New York have seen more than $112 million in revenue since last December, and a 2021 study funded by the New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association predicted up to $4.6 billion legal marijuana revenue per year by 2027.

Over the next year and beyond, Walters said she and Hughes want to double down on building tutorial materials, putting much of their energy into creating curricula and programs that could serve as standard training for all cannabis licensees and employees in New York State.

The platform has already connected people across the state to information and contacts in the weed industry, and it could become an important accelerant for the states marijuana sector, said Michelle Fields, an attorney and manager at Black Farmers United NYS.

Thats despite New Yorks failure to fully launch the industry more than two years post-legalization.

They have really pushed through all of the hurdles that they are facing as a small organization, and theyre still having an impact, Fields said.

With its ever-changing regulatory environment, New Yorks legal cannabis industry has proven to be a difficult landscape to work within. But, historically, working around challenges has never deterred Walters much.

Partners in cannabis

Growing up on Rochesters Columbia Avenue during the 80s and 90s crack cocaine wave  and corresponding heavy-handed enforcement  provided Walters with a front-row seat to the War on Drugs at an early age. Including in her own home.

Multiple family members, including her mother who passed away in 2018, lived with substance abuse issues, which they often funded through criminal activity, Walters said.

My mom was addicted to drugs, some of my aunts and uncles were addicted to drugs; it was life. I was born in 84, this is what the ghetto in Rochester looked like, she said.

I dont typically talk about that: My mom was in and out of jail, she was a booster, a thief  she even robbed banks. So I was exposed to a lot.

While Walters understood from an early age the disastrous effects drug addiction can have on anyones life, she also learned that conflating marijuana with hard drugs like crack and heroin is a category error.

She first tried smoking weed with friends when she was about 14, but didnt really dive into cannabis culture until she attended Monroe Community College at 19. Thats where she met Hughes, who would become her partner in business and in life  the two have a child and have been together for 21 years.

And for a time during cannabis prohibition, they were also partners in crime.

The two met through mutual friends at Monroe Community College in 2003. Hughes, who grew up in Rochesters west side, first bonded with Walters over their mutual interest and enjoyment in cannabis. It was during these early days the two started taking trips to Canada, where the drinking age was 18, and stores could legally sell cannabis seeds.

At the time, before legalization was on the horizon in New York, good weed wasnt always easy to come by. Now-a-days, cannabis users can walk into a dispensary and buy specific strains based on terpene and cannabinoid content, but back then, bags of bud were often just identified as B-sters, kine bud and headdies.

But Walters and Hughes wanted to grow weed that looked like the centerfolds in High Times magazine.

The whole point of growing this cannabis wasnt to try to become profiteers of this plant, Hughes said. It was to create a better plant.

Walters and Hughes experimented with growing by piecing together information gathered from the internet and magazines. It took three or four crop failures  and a friend from the Adirondacks to help them hone their growing skills  before they successfully harvested smokeable weed.

But the exposure to better weed also exposed them to law enforcement.

Walters was living at her aunts house in Irondequoit, a working-class suburb five miles north of Rochester where Black residents accounted for just under 10% of the towns population of approximately 50,000 in the early 2000s  compared to White residents, who made up 83%.

There, Walters said, the two were often targeted by police for smoking weed, one time arresting Hughes for possession of about an ounce. He was charged with a misdemeanor, and felt lucky that was all that happened.

Being a minority individual from the inner city, Hughes said, police use cannabis as an excuse to escalate things. Ive seen the cops use it as an excuse to humiliate you; Ive seen cops use it as an excuse to financially decapitate you.

But their biggest legal scare happened when they were still college students growing weed for personal use in a Rochester duplex. Police were searching for a fugitive in the adjoining unit and trying to gain access to search for the suspect.

The array of plants Walters and Hughes were growing could have exposed them to serious charges, but they were able to move the cannabis out of the building to Walters mothers apartment. They then had to move the plants a second time, which killed the crops.

Following the scare, the two remained passionate about cannabis, but shifted their focus to their education and careers in a time when few people took the prospect of legal cannabis in the U.S. seriously.

Walters went on to graduate from community college with an associate degree in communications, and later earned a bachelors in communications and public relations from SUNY Brockport, where she graduated magna cum laude. She worked in public relations, sales and implementation roles at companies including Sprint, LensCrafters and Petco.

In 2015, Walters and Hughes opened a daycare business, which has been free of any infractions in a strictly regulated environment. Statistically, this is no easy feat; a 2016 New York State Senate study reported an average of at least eight violations for each of the states 2,244 group daycares between 2013 and 2016.

This experience would later help them advise people looking to start legal cannabis businesses, Walters said.

I understand what they need to do in order to develop standard operating procedures, and operation methods, so that they wouldnt get violated, Walters said.

When New York legalized cannabis in 2021, it was an exciting but bittersweet moment for Walters and Hughes.

The two were both energized, and immediately began thinking strategically about how they could be part of this newly legalized industry. But by the time it happened, Walters mother and Hughes father  both of whom had been supportive of cannabis  had died.

The death of Hughes father hit hard. He enjoyed cannabis and supported legalization, but opted to indulge in alcohol more than weed, mostly because it was more socially acceptable. He died from health issues partly caused by drinking about a month before adult-use marijuana became legal in New York.

By the time then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the MRTA into law, Walters and Hughes had decided they wanted to be on the ancillary side of cannabis, rather than plant-touching. They also figured that their combined experiences running a heavily regulated business and doing public relations, in addition to their college era experience growing weed, positioned them to build a resource that could highlight available resources and create new ones for people new to cannabis and/or business regulations.

The two soon came up with the New York Cannabis Connect concept, and started working on it in April of 2021. They officially launched the website a few months later, in August.

NYSCCs use case is multifaceted. It includes a job board, information about state regulations and training opportunities, a forum for licensees and prospective licensees to connect, and other features.

But, ultimately, they would like to create and license training curricula that entrepreneurs can use to learn about regulations, and employers can use to teach new workers about state laws.

The feedback that weve been receiving is that people feel like there arent opportunities, they dont know where to find opportunities  and for the employer: how they can find people who are interested in this field, Walters said.

The Office of Cannabis Management has hosted informational events about the legal cannabis industry, along with training programs. The agency has run in-person and online events about each license type and how to apply, as well as requirements and regulations for licensees. The OCM has also offered the Cannabis Compliance Training & Mentorship Program, a 10-week class meant to teach legacy operators about how to operate a regulated business.

And while the OCMs work is an important institutional effort, NYSCC adds a deep connection to the communities its services are meant to support, said state Sen. Jeremy Cooney, who represents Rochester in the state legislature and has partnered with NYSCC on several occasions.

Cannabis Connect is doing the grassroots work to ensure New Yorkers can fully participate in this emerging market, Cooney told NY Cannabis Insider. I commend Tiffany for her commitment to our shared mission of an equitable program throughout New York.

New York State Sen. Jeremy Cooney joins Tiffany Walters and Jumanne Hughes of New York State Cannabis Connect for a Catch A Contact job summit.New York State Cannabis Connect

Future revenue

Since dispensaries in the states Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary program began planning and opening businesses, NYSCC has created a revenue stream by providing job placement and business implementation services, Walters said.

In the long run, Walters said, NYSCCs revenue model will include charging for those services in addition to licensing training modules. The idea for training came from Walters experience in daycare, where she knew there were organizations offering courses in subjects like first aid and CPR for her employees.

Additionally, Walters said, the training modules create a way for prospective employees to show weed companies that they have some experience in the field. People who have grown weed illegally for years dont have a certificate proving their knowledge, but a training program can give them some documentation showing they have a basic understanding, she said.

One of the goals Walters and Hughes want to achieve in providing these connections and educational opportunities is to encourage minorities  especially Black New Yorkers  interested in entering cannabis to look beyond retail.

Minorities should also consider creating brands, and using licensing agreements to work with licensed cultivators, as well as explore other non plant-touching opportunities, Walters said.

Lets not, all of us as minorities, get tricked into going to the retail license; we need to be getting all of the licenses on the chain, Walters said.

Catch a Contact

The Catch a Contact job summits, in partnership with the state Labor Department, have proven successful in placing jobs and creating brand awareness for NYSCC.

Walters did most of the promotion for the first summit  held in Rochester in July 2022  but at the time, she wasnt sure if theyd even see 100 attendees.

They ended up hosting 180 people, and two attendees got jobs at the event. A few months later, Walters and Hughes were surprised to find people lined up around the block for their next event in Brooklyn.

In total, according to Walters and Hughes, more than 1,350 people have attended one of their nine Catch A Contact events, and over 5,000 people have attended either virtual or in-person events associated with NYSCC. Nearly 50 people have been hired for jobs via Catch A Contact or NYSCCs job board, and those have an 80% retention rate as of six months from their date of hire.

It has grown into something I never could have imagined, Walters said.

NYSCC has been resonating with people across the state, and growing its reputation as a clearinghouse for information and contacts in New Yorks cannabis industry.

Even though theyre located in Rochester, their bandwidth has been to cover New York State, especially in the five boroughs, attorney Michelle Fields said. It gives them a really powerful position to really scale and reach a larger demographic.

Medford said the platform could become vital for small businesses, largely due to the combination of Walters and Hughes skills in business development and operating in a heavily regulated industry, and their understanding of the cannabis community.

What makes them unique is they kind of tapped into the culture of cannabis, Medford said. They really open up some wonderful opportunities to the community  we need jobs, we need employment, we need people to be educated about the jobs that are available.

New Yorks slow rollout for the cannabis industry has, in some ways, limited NYSCCs progress in recent months  especially amid a court injunction that stopped hundreds of CAURD businesses from opening between August and December (the injunction was lifted on Dec. 1).

But, as Walters said, NYSCC is still growing, building its training curricula, and serving as a key source of information for people seeking contacts in the industry.

Access to this education and connections can go a long way to creating an equitable cannabis industry in New York, Walters said.

When were talking about generational wealth, when were talking about actually making an impact, Walters said, were talking about wages, C-suite positions, and these things that arent available right now, because the industry is in its infancy.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Syracuses yearly effort to hunt nuisance deer will expand this winter thanks to a newly signed state law.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation approved last spring by the state Legislature that reduces the setbacks from occupied buildings required for specially trained U.S. Department of Agriculture sharpshooters who cull deer.

Syracuse is close to starting its fifth season using the program aimed at reducing deer overpopulation in residential areas. Since the winter of 2019-20, the USDA-trained hunters have been working on select nights to reduce the number of animals that are causing vegetation damage, increasing motor vehicle crash risk on city streets and dropping disease-carrying ticks.

After the program eliminated 159 deer in its first year, numbers dropped significantly in the following winters. City officials have been working with state legislators on a change in the law that governs Syracuses urban deer management program.

State Sen. Rachel May and state Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter ushered through a bill that reduces the distance from an occupied building that deer management sharpshooters could fire from 500 feet to 250 feet. Anything inside that perimeter needs written permission of 100% of the affected property owners.

With Hochuls signature this month, the expansion can move forward. The Syracuse Common Council has approved a $50,000 USDA contract for this years program that anticipated the expanded hunting zones. City officials hope they can cull 150 deer, up from 79 killed last winter.

The deer sharpshooters use sound-suppressed rifles, infrared vision devices and spotlights. Their work takes place in the northwest, southwest and southeast areas of the city. Deer harvested are processed for free by Marsh Mill Ranch and donated to food pantries. Last year, about 1,913 pounds of venison were delivered, providing 7,652 meals.

Syracuse can work more closely with USDA-certified specialists, guaranteeing the highest level of expertise and professionalism when culling, May said in a news release. We can better manage the destructive habits and public health risks of deer while still enjoying the many wildlife areas of Central New York.

City officials expect the deer management work, which also includes baiting targeted areas where hunts take place, to start next week. The program typically runs into the early spring.

Weve made significant progress in reducing the overpopulation of deer in the city over the past five years, but there continue to be parts of Syracuse where the problem is still serious, Mayor Ben Walsh said in a written statement. We expect this legislation will allow the City to safely conduct deer removal in additional locations, so we can improve public health and safety.

City reporter Jeremy Boyer can be reached at jboyer@syracuse.com, (315) 657-5673, Twitter or Facebook.
Syracuse, N.Y.  About 100 people rallied Monday evening in downtown Syracuse for a ceasefire in the Middle East.

People gathered around 5:30 p.m. next to the ice rink in Clinton Square, where speakers called for an end to the conflict in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza that has killed thousands since the Oct. 7 surprise attack by the U.S.-designated terrorist group Hamas and other organizations on southern Israel.

The event, titled Chanukah Vigil for Ceasefire Now, was led by the newly re-established Syracuse chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, a left-leaning national advocacy group.

Organizers led those in attendance in traditional Jewish songs and prayers, including Lo Yisa Goy, which is about nations not taking up arms against each other; and Oseh Shalom, the prayer for peace. The mourners Kaddish, the Jewish mourning prayer, was read for those killed during the Israel-Hamas war.

A menorah was lit for the fifth night of Hanukkah, a holiday that marks the victory of the Jews, led by the Maccabees, against Greek persecution more than 2,000 years ago.

On Oct. 7, attackers from Hamas and other groups killed an estimated 1,400 people and took roughly 240 hostages, many of whom are still being held in captivity. Israel has fought back by bombing and invading Gaza, resulting in more than 15,000 deaths.

A ceasefire was in effect in Gaza from Nov. 24 to Dec. 1. About 100 people taken by Hamas and other groups were exchanged for around 240 Palestinians in Israeli prisons. The truce ended after disagreements between the two sides on further releases, according to The New York Times.

Staff writer Jon Moss covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at jmoss@syracuse.com or @mossjon7.
Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud said today calls for the genocide of Jews violate the campus code of conduct and are subject to discipline.

The chancellors comments in a letter to the campus community come after Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, kicked off a national discussion last week when she asked presidents of three prestigious universities whether calls for the genocide of Jews ran counter to their code of conduct.
By Raga Justin | Times Union, Albany

Albany, N.Y.  A newly formed coalition of labor and business stakeholders have launched an initiative to combat anti-migrant sentiment by touting the economic benefits that a stream of new workers could bring to communities in upstate New York.

The Ellis Island Initiative will strive to cast the recent influx of migrants as a boon for industry, coalition organizers told the Times Union. It now lists as participants that include the Business Council of New York and the New York AFL-CIO, as well as various other faith, labor and business groups. The coalition is attempting to highlight how more than 100,000 migrants who have recently arrived in New York City and upstate  as well as the nearly $2 billion the state is projected to spend in aiding those individuals  could bring economic dividends for upstate and rural communities.

In doing so, the initiative points to a readymade source of labor capital, especially at a time when businesses are reporting nearly half-a-million jobs open across the state.

That stance has been taken up by state officials including Gov. Kathy Hochul and members of her administration who have pointed to unfilled jobs in industries such agriculture, hospitality and nursing. Shortages of jobs in those sectors have been acutely felt in upstate New York, according to business groups who are part of the coalition.

The Ellis Island Initiative is not a lobbying entity and organizers said it will attempt to steer clear of highly charged political rhetoric on the issue, instead engaging with local small businesses and community groups to make the economic case for integrating migrant workers.

Members have maintained an emphasis on removing systemic barriers to obtaining work authorization permits and increasing available workforce training programs, both tacks that have been echoed by Hochuls administration. Many migrants have come to the state seeking work and economic stability, but have found themselves mired in backlogged federal processes to gain work authorization permits.

We have to figure out a way to make sure that this population is incorporated into our economy. Its better for all New Yorkers said Paul Zuber, vice president of the Business Council of New York. You have jobs being filled, itll help businesses continue to operate and expand, you increase the tax base, you get people working who want to be working.

The coalition also says the migrants represent a large revenue source that could help boost local economies, with both New York City and the state projected to spend heavily to offset their costs for housing, feeding and providing legal aid for hundreds of thousands of newcomers.

Officials with the state Division of Budget have said New York will spend around $2 billion on dealing with the migrant crisis, with a large share of the money for hotel and shelter costs, as well as legal aid and other services to help transition people into residency. That money could be used to enlist and compensate local service providers, coalition members suggested.

Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams have urged increased White House support, particularly in expediting work authorization permits for migrants. In the interim, members of the Ellis Island Initiative want to see workforce training even before migrants have legal work permits, especially to prepare individuals to fill key roles in decimated industries like home health care and other medical sector jobs.

Many people actually have health care experience, said Helen Schaub, a vice president with the health care union 1199SEIU. You might have somebody whos a nurse  and so we think that identifying those folks even before they have work permits and starting to connect with them can be really valuable.

Recently, the federal government announced it would expand Temporary Protected Status to migrants from Venezuela, kickstarting work permit authorization for thousands of individuals from that country. But Venezuelans make up only a portion of those in NYCs overloaded shelter system; its unclear how many migrants who have relocated upstate are eligible to take advantage and begin working.

The most recent memos from Hochuls administration have referenced an estimated 18,000 jobs open to migrants who have recently gained access to work authorization across nearly 400 workplaces.

The coalitions members also say that migrants represent an important avenue to reversing population decline, which has particularly beset upstate New York cities that have slowly emptied or aged over the past several decades.

You see these immigrants really changing the trajectory of communities that were definitely stagnating, said Justin Wilcox, who heads the business advocacy group Upstate United. This is an unprecedented opportunity, and we really need to make sure policymakers are aware of that. The business community, the faith community, the labor community  were all looking at this the same way.

___

(c)2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.)

Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com
New Yorks highest court ruled Tuesday that the state must redraw maps for its 26 congressional districts, setting new boundaries in time for the 2024 election.

The state Court of Appeals upheld a lower courts ruling that found the district boundaries used in the 2022 election were only meant to be temporary, not left in place for a decade.

The courts 4-3 decision is a victory for Democrats, whose national campaign organization wanted a chance to reopen the redistricting process and change the geographical boundaries of New Yorks House districts.

Those districts, drawn by a court-appointed expert last year, split 15-11 in favor of Democrats in the 2022 election. Before the election, the Court of Appeals had rejected maps that gave Democrats a voter enrollment advantage in 22 of the 26 districts.

The courts decision Tuesday adds a new level of uncertainty to the race for the 22nd Congressional District in Central New York. Four Democrats have already launched campaigns to challenge first-term Republican Rep. Brandon Williams in a district that includes Syracuse, Utica and Rome.

Now its unclear whether that district will remain intact. Also unknown is where Williams, who does not currently live in the district, will run for reelection.

Related: Central New York race for Congress could be turned upside down by states top court

As a result of Tuesdays decision, New York will have to develop new maps for its 26 House districts in time for the states 2024 primary and general elections.

Voters could be assigned to vote in new districts with very different boundaries than the ones used in the 2022 elections.

The outcome of the court case has been closely watched nationally because Democrats view New York as the state that will determine which party controls the House of Representatives after the 2024 election.

Democrats are targeting six Republican-held districts in New York as the key to winning back the House majority.

In Central New York, the new district lines will affect who runs in a highly competitive district now represented by Williams, one of the top 10 targets of Democrats on the national map.

Williams reacted to Tuesdays court decision by calling it an embarrassment.

When our judges ignore the law, we all suffer, Williams said in a statement. Now, only Albany politicians will decide who can represent NYS in Congress. What a shame. What an embarrassment. What a disservice to the people of this great state.

The existing 22nd Congressional District represented by Williams spans all of Onondaga, Madison and Oneida counties and the southeastern tip of Oswego County.

Williams, who lives outside of the 22nd District in Cayuga County, could decide to campaign in the district that includes his home. Or he could run in a nearby district with district lines that are more favorable to a Republican.

The New York Independent Redistricting Commission, a 10-person panel made up of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, will be tasked with drawing a new set of maps. The court decision requires the commission to finish its work no later than Feb. 28, 2024.

Democrats argued in court that the commission never had a chance to finish its job last year, as required by the state constitution, when the courts rejected maps approved by lawmakers. Instead, an independent, court-appointed expert made the district maps used in last years election.

Todays decision is a win for democracy and particularly the people of New York, said Rep. Suzan DelBene, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. We are eager for the Independent Redistricting Commission to get back to work to create a new, fair congressional map  through the process New York voters intended.

The commissions final map must be approved by the New York Legislature and the governor. If lawmakers or the governor reject those maps, the Democratic-controlled legislature could draw its own district boundaries.

Jeff Wice, a professor at the New York Census and Redistricting Institute at New York Law School, said the Court of Appeals made it clear in its decision that the responsibility for redistricting rests with state lawmakers, not the courts.

The court said that its time to let this play out and let the redistricting process be finished as it was intended to, Wice told syracuse.com.

Congressional district lines are changed every 10 years as part of a nationwide reapportionment based on new population totals reported by the U.S. Census.

As part of last years redistricting process, New Yorks number of House seats was reduced from 27 to 26 because the states population gains lagged faster-growing states.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
KYODO NEWS - Dec 13, 2023 - 08:05 | All

Episode 24: Japan's tallest skyscraper

It's as tall as Tokyo Tower!

Three Kyodo News reporters - Yamaguchi-san, Toma and Horiuchi-san - talk about the 330-meter-high Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower, Japan's tallest skyscraper, which opened in Tokyo last month. Listen to Yamaguchi-san, who went to the building for its opening, tell the others about the facilities within the complex while they share their experiences regarding other sky-high global landmarks.

Article mentioned in the podcast:

Japan's 330-meter tallest skyscraper Azabudai Hills opens in Tokyo

Kyodo News presents a bilingual podcast for English learners about the ins and outs of news writing and how to translate tricky Japanese phrases into English. Have fun listening to journalists discuss recent articles as they occasionally go off on unrelated tangents.

More Podcast episodes:

Podcast [English World] Episode 23: Youngest female mayor

Podcast [English World] Episode 22: Princess Mononoke

Podcast [English World] Episode 21: Legend of Zelda
A UK retailer is under fire for selling a Pan Am Christmas sweater just before the 35th anniversary of the Lockerbie bombing over Scotland.

The BBC reports Next, a clothing and home goods chain based in England, was selling holiday jumpers (the British word for sweaters) with the Pan Am airline logo and images of planes with blue and white snowflakes and other festive images. Criticism ensued, as next week marks 35 years since the Pan Am Flight 103 disaster that left 35 Syracuse University students dead in 1988.

As a resident of the town at the time of the Lockerbie bombing, an event that has left an indelible mark on the lives of many hundreds of people, it is with this personal experience that I raise my voice against a product currently being sold by Next, Phil Geddes wrote in a petition signed by more than 1,500 people. This item, in its design or message, is offensive and disrespectful to those affected by this tragic event... The pain and trauma it caused are still felt today by countless individuals around the world.

According to the Daily Mail, the product was available on Nexts website for 36 (approximately $45) but has since been removed. The company said the sweaters were being sold by a third party and apologized.

In response to customer contact, Next removed the All+Every third-party branded items from its marketplace over the weekend, the retail chain said in a statement Monday, according to The Telegraph. We apologise for any upset caused.

Next pulls Christmas Pan Am jumper after Lockerbie anniversary backlash.



Read the full story here https://t.co/7FzLoY8ml5 pic.twitter.com/y5o7NPHd5R  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 12, 2023

Pan Am Flight 103 exploded on Dec. 21, 1988, killing 270 people, including 35 SU students were studying abroad at the time and 11 Lockerbie residents who died when the plane crashed in the Scottish town. The plane was traveling from London to New York just before the Christmas holiday.

A Libyan intelligence official accused of making the bomb that brought down Pan Am Flight 103 was charged in 2021 and taken into U.S. custody last year. Abu Agila Mohammad Masud Kheir Al-Marimi has pleaded not guilty to his alleged role in the terrorist attack.
KYODO NEWS - Dec 12, 2023 - 13:31 | All, Japan

Fusa Tatsumi, a 116-year-old recognized as Japan's oldest person, died of old age Tuesday, according to a city official of Kashiwara in Osaka Prefecture where she lived.

Born on April 25, 1907, Tatsumi had recently spent most of her days in bed at a nursing home in Kashiwara and often greeted the employees working there, the facility said.

She became the oldest living person in Japan in April last year following the death of a 119-year-old woman in Fukuoka, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

As of January this year, the world's oldest living woman is Maria Branyas Morera in Spain, who is now 116 years old. She was born on March 4, 1907, according to the Guinness World Records.

Related coverage:

Centenarians in Japan hit record 92,139, women account for 88%
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Speedrider75 Newbie

Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Bangalore Posts: 21 Thanked: 61 Times

Re: Fiat 1100 Club - Bangalore [FCB] Quote: shankar.balan Originally Posted by Superb!

So my memory didn't fail me as regards the variant, the badging and the model age.

My Uncles was a 1966 or 1967 model of the same 1100D and it was Black. My Dads was a 1968 or 1969 model and it was a Grey-Blue. They had the most wonderful transmission whine when accelerating away in second gear and would emit a light burble when changing up to third and of course in the hills when changing down from 4th to 3rd to 2nd. Brrrm! Lovely cars those Fiats.

Hello All,



Continuing on this post - please see some photos of the car. Its a 1969 Fiat1100D - we (my Dad and I) bought it recently and intend to restore it to as close to original as possible.



As is, the car has a reasonable level of original parts, but some are from the PP. The interiors have been re-upholstered sometime in the past, but the color is the original grey (though many panels seem to have been repainted and its not in very good shape overall).



Mechanically, the car is running fine as of now



Posting a lot of photos of the car (apologies for the large #).



It would be very helpful to us if experienced members here could point out the bits which are original and the ones that need changing.



Also would anyone have pictures of an original 1100D that they could share with us, for reference





Many thanks in advance. Hello All,Continuing on this post - please see some photos of the car. Its a 1969 Fiat1100D - we (my Dad and I) bought it recently and intend to restore it to as close to original as possible.As is, the car has a reasonable level of original parts, but some are from the PP. The interiors have been re-upholstered sometime in the past, but the color is the original grey (though many panels seem to have been repainted and its not in very good shape overall).Mechanically, the car is running fine as of nowPosting a lot of photos of the car (apologies for the large #).It would be very helpful to us if experienced members here could point out the bits which are original and the ones that need changing.Also would anyone have pictures of an original 1100D that they could share with us, for referenceMany thanks in advance. Attached Thumbnails
















































































Petrolhead1209 Newbie

Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20 Thanked: 85 Times

My Pre-Owned 2010 BMW 520d (F10)



A little bit of background story-



In 2017 a 2010 Fiat Linea entered my life as a surprise addition to the garage. My dad brought it home out of the blue without any forewarnings. Turns out it was a distress sale, the man was leaving India on a very short notice and needed to get rid of it and was offering it for a very very low price. This is when my dad swooped in and got it for a steal. We owned that for just around 2 years which was when construction of our new home was in progress and it wasn't being used much. A buyer came around nearing the end of 2019 and offered us the same price that we'd paid for it 2 years prior. And boom - she was gone!

At the time we had our Zen - the daily and a 2005 Hyundai Accent - A spare vehicle which was used very occasionally. Now the Hyundai Accent became the Mile Muncher in place of the Linea. Worlds apart but got the job done.



Fast forward to the end of 2022, nearly 3 years later and no car, dad felt the itch for a new-old car. (He has this itch every couple of years ). Me and my younger brother were tasked to finding the next Mile Muncher. Dad gave us a budget and genre of cars to look for. He gave us the category - Sedans, German Sedans, no ordinary German Sedans but the 3 big boys - Audi, Mercedes Benz, BMW. Initial plan was a either a 3er, C Class, A4. The search begun. Found some suitable candidates and went for a test drive. And there was the first hiccup. Not enough space. For context my dad and my brother are just shy of 6ft tall, me being 6ft. My mum would've been fine, she's around 5ft 4". Considering that one of us has to be in the back seats, these options simply didn't suffice.



The next was a slight stretch in the budget and new candidates - F10 or a E60 5er, W212 E class, C7 A6(2011-14). This time the hiccup was the budget. The only option available at that price point were the E60 and the W212 4th Gen, E class. Dad said it would suffice, it's just an entry into this segment, we will swap it out for a newer version down the line. Cool. But my heart was still on the F10 and C7. But nonetheless Candidates were chosen, Test drives were taken. Space was more than sufficient.

Narrowed the search down to a 2010 Titanium Silver 520d. Really good condition. Run around 90k at the time. Well maintained and checked the boxes. Decision made. In 2 weeks time we pick up the car with full cash payment. Dad was in Coorg for a project completion hence the delay.

3 days after this my brother comes rushing to me with mum's phone in his hands with a huge grin on his face "Let's get a F10, there's one for sale somewhat in our budget." I was ecstatic. Called my dad and he said he'll be back in 2 days, let's go see it.



We go to see the vehicle, turns out he was a mutual friend. Trust went up but didn't let our guard down. Got a full comprehensive scan, and checked for everything that was recommended by the folks on Team BHP forum for buying a pre owned car. Everything checked out. Only small issue was it was driven 1 lakh kms, and it was MH registered. Negotiated on the price, got it down a bit and finalized it, with an advance paid. He said his new vehicle was to be delivered in a week or so and he needed the car to get around. We were all bustling with excitement on this acquisition. We didn't tell mum about this by the way. 10 days later, we got the call. Couldn't contain the excitement when I was in college and dad told me we'll go pick it up today. I rushed home, took a quick shower and we hopped in a cab.



And there she was, our new F10 520d, finished in this beautiful shade of Space Grey Metallic, being washed and cleaned at a Washing Centre.









Absolutely gorgeous car, very timeless, I'm in love.



Next came the interiors, me being an avid viewer of AMMO NYC, decided to detail the interiors fully. Yes fully, with the seats out of the car. Gave a little love to the wheels with Turtle Wax Wheel cleaner. And a polish on the exterior.





WHAT I LIKE

The buttery-smooth, insanely refined 2.0 diesel engine from BMW. The engine can barely be heard on startup it gets a little vocal under heavy acceleration. This paired with the ZF-8 gearbox is insane!! I've driven DSGs and those are the fast. ZF-8 is really good even at low speeds with no jerking at all. Throw it in manual mode and the shifts are crisp and rapid.



Amazing suspension: Took all of the irregularities on the Indian roads like a champ.





Performance: The 185hp/380 nm really comes to its own league on the highways. Coming from a Fiat Linea and a 2004 Camry, my dad says this is rapid for the size. City driving is very easy, power is always on tap.



Very spacious with a huge boot at 520 litres, extremely practical.



Unlike every other Indian, dad was not very concerned about the age old question 'Kitna deti hai?" Since it's only for longer drives. Surprised to report I've gotten a minimum of 17 kmpl with the car sitting happily at 120 to 140 and an occasional spirited overtake. Get around 13 14 in the cities with the AC on full blast





1. EXTERIOR



 The front is pretty iconic, F10 and the F90 pre lci have to be my favourite body styles of all time in the 5er lineup. Long hood with strong masculine creases, with the luxury line bumper is sophisticated and understated. Bi-xenons on the outer projectors with the iconic angel eyes. Light output is fine, does the job. Fog Lamps are HID, done by the previous owner.





The welcome lights. Have coded only the angel eyes to come on



 The side profile is nothing short of spectacular. Strong body line running from the front fenders and meeting with the sculpted tail lamps. Sitting on 17" alloys from the luxury line variant. Looks good. It's currently on Tubeless Tyres, with a puncture repair kit and a compressor in the boot.





 The rear is instantly recognisable from a distance, the dual tips are a nice touch. Subtle crease connecting the 2 reflectors on the bumper.

A very squatted look to it with wide haunches.







 All things considered, it's a beautiful car with a very understated, elegant look about it.



2. INTERIORS





 Centre console

Centre console has a well cushioned arm-rest opens like a clamshell of sorts. Iconic BMW. Next comes the Electronically operated Parking Brake with the gear lever just ahead of it. Easy to use and requires some amount of getting used to.

To the left of the gear lever on the passenger side is the iDrive controller, again has a small learning curve but is excellent once you get used to it. Fun Fact - This is borrowed out of the F01 7 series.

To the right of the gear lever is the TCS button and the toggle for parking sensors at any given point in time. Comes on automatically when the car is put into reverse.

2 cup holders under a retractable wood panel. Also has a slot for the key to sit in.







 HVAC system



Pretty straight forward to use. Dual zone controls, has a sync option which puts the driver in control of passengers side. Haven't had to use the heating system, Air Conditioning is sufficient and cools the car down in a relatively short time period.



 Infotainment system and Speakers.



The system itself is a very straight forward system. Has Bluetooth, AUX, USB, CD options. Does the job for me.

Also neat trick, you can set the numbers to do specific actions. I've set mine to jump directly to the settings, Bluetooth connection, trip computer, vehicle status etc. Shows you what it's assigned to when you hover over the numbers.

Provision for Profiles are given. Again I have 2 profiles assigned. Memory seats are bound to specific profiles.

Vehicle Status shows the engine oil level, Low Tire Pressure warning and if the Brake Pads need changing.

Speakers are good for me. I'm not an extreme audiophile but do appreciate the difference in the quality when compared to other vehicles. 1 speaker and 1 tweeter in each of the front door cards, 1 speaker in the centre of the dashboard, 2 speakers behind the headrests of the rear passenger seats. 2 subs under the front seats. A good output to say the least.



 Glove Box

Decently sized glove box, has one of the 2 fuse boxes of the car behind a door. Fully lined with felt so no rattling.



 Door cards

Lined with leather. Bins are lined with felt. Kind of small for the sheer size of the Doors.



 Sunshades - decently sized with a vanity mirror, has automatic lights



 Sunroof Control unit and sunroof

Houses the reading lights and a set of orange lights as part of the ambient light system. Sunroof is large and gives an airy feel to the cabin





 Ambient lights

The Pre LCI comes with orange ambient lights and is observable at night but not distracting. Folks with darker interiors may not notice it as much





3. SEATING AND COMFORT



 The seat you want to be in - the drivers seat. Well bolstered, mine has the optional lumbar support allowing for even more adjustment. You can get a good driving position very easily. Comes with 2 memory slots. No.1 for my dad and No.2 for me.

+ A good view out with ample size for the ORVMs. IRVM also does the job quite well. All the mirrors are auto dimming. The hood is a tad bit longer for shorter folks.

+ Looking straight at you is a analog-digital cluster with the speed on the left and the rpm on the right. Small digital part on the bottom for the odo, time and other details. Shows you how much longer until next service-quite neat!!

+ Indicators and high/low beam on the left stalk. Feels nice and premium, has a button on the end to cycle through the various data displayed on the instrument cluster. Stalk is easy to use, do not know why the running joke of BMW drivers not using turn signals due to the difficulty.

+ Right stalk for wipers, has a button to toggle for the automatic wipers.

+ Door card has controls for the power windows, memory seats and the orvm adjustment. Beautiful wood trim all accross the dash. Soft touch materials everywhere.



+ The steering is nice and thick especially when compared to the W212. Has your usual media controls and cruise controls. Also has a voice command system - very finicky and needs specific prompts.





Passenger seats is identical to the drivers seat, except for the memory seats.





Rear seats - I would say the 520d is best suited for 4 individuals. Haven't been in the backseats yet. But from my brother's perspective - they are very comfortable but could use a bit more of legroom for stretching out a bit more but not cramped by any means. But considering the sheer size of the vehicle, I expected quite a bit more. Mother is very happy with the space back there. Door cards have manual sunshades. Even one for the quarter glass!! Neat touch. Rear sunblind is automatic and operated by the driver. Central armrest with cup holders. Rear AC vents also present. Huge centre tunnel giving a sense of seclusion in the rear seat when 2 are seated. A folding headrest for the third passenger, best suited for children. Manageable by adults for short runs.





Suspension is nice and supple, albeit the Ground Clearance is not the best, need some snaking over certain speed breakers. Eats up road imperfections with no hesitation.



PRACTICALITY



Insane Boot Space. 520 litres. More than enough for us. Kind of a boat to drive around on Bangalore roads at first but it's easily manoeuvrable.



DRIVING DYNAMICS - MY FAVOURITE SEGMENT



Mine is powered by the in-line 4 2.0 diesel engine from BMW, producing 185hp and 380 nm of torque. It's found on a variety of BMWs. In city situations, the engine is very manageable with power on tap anytime. The gearbox is smooth and not noticeable. Feels like a petrol car at the lower end.



On the highway, this is a different animal altogether. With a slightly heavy foot, it reaches 3 digits in no time and quite happy sitting there.

Throw it in the manual/sport mode and you have all 185 horses at your disposal with the tiptronic system if you'd like. My favourite time to use this is when there's work going on on the highway, and there's a speedbreaker.

Slow down, take the speedbreaker and start creeping forward at around 20 kmph. Once I see a clear line in the fast lane, push the gear lever into sport/manual and the GB instantly drops a gear and sits at 2.5k rpm, and a firm push on the pedal shoves you in the back of the seat. The rear squats down, and hood rises ever so slightly. The engine is now vocal and pulling the nearly 5 metre long, 1.7 tonne Bavarian Machine to 3 digits in 6 seconds. The gearshifts are straight up violent for a Luxury Sedan of this calibre. The pull is relentless and soon I end up doing insane speeds without realising it. Needless to say, the enthusiast within me is very satisfied with how this drives.

 Did take it on a drive in the hills, very agile for the size, steering is very direct and puts you where you want to be. Turn of TCS and floor it in a corner, you'll feel that rear end step out a bit and with a little counter steer the tyres do their work and grip up, propelling you out of the corner. The torque that this engine provides is excellent for the winding roads. Is very planted for what it is and is not skittish by any means.







Safe to say, I think I'm very happy with this car. Only thing I would like instead of this is the M Sport trim instead of the Luxury Line purely for the looks, that front bumper is something I love along with the other small touches that the M Sport has.



Thanks for Reading!!

Attaching some photos that I love.



Groom Squad at Cousins Engagement,missing the W212









The shopping for the engagement, with the said W212, in Palladium Silver







Views on views! Little did I know I would be posting here at this point in time. So here goes my first ever post on Team BHP.A little bit of background story-In 2017 a 2010 Fiat Linea entered my life as a surprise addition to the garage. My dad brought it home out of the blue without any forewarnings. Turns out it was a distress sale, the man was leaving India on a very short notice and needed to get rid of it and was offering it for a very very low price. This is when my dad swooped in and got it for a steal. We owned that for just around 2 years which was when construction of our new home was in progress and it wasn't being used much. A buyer came around nearing the end of 2019 and offered us the same price that we'd paid for it 2 years prior. And boom - she was gone!At the time we had our Zen - the daily and a 2005 Hyundai Accent - A spare vehicle which was used very occasionally. Now the Hyundai Accent became the Mile Muncher in place of the Linea. Worlds apart but got the job done.Fast forward to the end of 2022, nearly 3 years later and no car, dad felt the itch for a new-old car. (He has this itch every couple of years). Me and my younger brother were tasked to finding the next Mile Muncher. Dad gave us a budget and genre of cars to look for. He gave us the category - Sedans, German Sedans, no ordinary German Sedans but the 3 big boys - Audi, Mercedes Benz, BMW. Initial plan was a either a 3er, C Class, A4. The search begun. Found some suitable candidates and went for a test drive. And there was the first hiccup. Not enough space. For context my dad and my brother are just shy of 6ft tall, me being 6ft. My mum would've been fine, she's around 5ft 4". Considering that one of us has to be in the back seats, these options simply didn't suffice.The next was a slight stretch in the budget and new candidates - F10 or a E60 5er, W212 E class, C7 A6(2011-14). This time the hiccup was the budget. The only option available at that price point were the E60 and the W212 4th Gen, E class. Dad said it would suffice, it's just an entry into this segment, we will swap it out for a newer version down the line. Cool. But my heart was still on the F10 and C7. But nonetheless Candidates were chosen, Test drives were taken. Space was more than sufficient.Narrowed the search down to a 2010 Titanium Silver 520d. Really good condition. Run around 90k at the time. Well maintained and checked the boxes. Decision made. In 2 weeks time we pick up the car with full cash payment. Dad was in Coorg for a project completion hence the delay.3 days after this my brother comes rushing to me with mum's phone in his hands with a huge grin on his face "Let's get a F10, there's one for sale somewhat in our budget." I was ecstatic. Called my dad and he said he'll be back in 2 days, let's go see it.We go to see the vehicle, turns out he was a mutual friend. Trust went up but didn't let our guard down. Got a full comprehensive scan, and checked for everything that was recommended by the folks on Team BHP forum for buying a pre owned car. Everything checked out. Only small issue was it was driven 1 lakh kms, and it was MH registered. Negotiated on the price, got it down a bit and finalized it, with an advance paid. He said his new vehicle was to be delivered in a week or so and he needed the car to get around. We were all bustling with excitement on this acquisition. We didn't tell mum about this by the way. 10 days later, we got the call. Couldn't contain the excitement when I was in college and dad told me we'll go pick it up today. I rushed home, took a quick shower and we hopped in a cab.And there she was, our new F10 520d, finished in this beautiful shade of Space Grey Metallic, being washed and cleaned at a Washing Centre.Absolutely gorgeous car, very timeless, I'm in love.Next came the interiors, me being an avid viewer of AMMO NYC, decided to detail the interiors fully. Yes fully, with the seats out of the car. Gave a little love to the wheels with Turtle Wax Wheel cleaner. And a polish on the exterior.The buttery-smooth, insanely refined 2.0 diesel engine from BMW. The engine can barely be heard on startup it gets a little vocal under heavy acceleration. This paired with the ZF-8 gearbox is insane!! I've driven DSGs and those are the fast. ZF-8 is really good even at low speeds with no jerking at all. Throw it in manual mode and the shifts are crisp and rapid.Amazing suspension: Took all of the irregularities on the Indian roads like a champ.Performance: The 185hp/380 nm really comes to its own league on the highways. Coming from a Fiat Linea and a 2004 Camry, my dad says this is rapid for the size. City driving is very easy, power is always on tap.Very spacious with a huge boot at 520 litres, extremely practical.Unlike every other Indian, dad was not very concerned about the age old question 'Kitna deti hai?" Since it's only for longer drives. Surprised to report I've gotten a minimum of 17 kmpl with the car sitting happily at 120 to 140 and an occasional spirited overtake. Get around 13 14 in the cities with the AC on full blast The front is pretty iconic, F10 and the F90 pre lci have to be my favourite body styles of all time in the 5er lineup. Long hood with strong masculine creases, with the luxury line bumper is sophisticated and understated. Bi-xenons on the outer projectors with the iconic angel eyes. Light output is fine, does the job. Fog Lamps are HID, done by the previous owner.The welcome lights. Have coded only the angel eyes to come on The side profile is nothing short of spectacular. Strong body line running from the front fenders and meeting with the sculpted tail lamps. Sitting on 17" alloys from the luxury line variant. Looks good. It's currently on Tubeless Tyres, with a puncture repair kit and a compressor in the boot. The rear is instantly recognisable from a distance, the dual tips are a nice touch. Subtle crease connecting the 2 reflectors on the bumper.A very squatted look to it with wide haunches. All things considered, it's a beautiful car with a very understated, elegant look about it. Centre consoleCentre console has a well cushioned arm-rest opens like a clamshell of sorts. Iconic BMW. Next comes the Electronically operated Parking Brake with the gear lever just ahead of it. Easy to use and requires some amount of getting used to.To the left of the gear lever on the passenger side is the iDrive controller, again has a small learning curve but is excellent once you get used to it. Fun Fact - This is borrowed out of the F01 7 series.To the right of the gear lever is the TCS button and the toggle for parking sensors at any given point in time. Comes on automatically when the car is put into reverse.2 cup holders under a retractable wood panel. Also has a slot for the key to sit in. HVAC systemPretty straight forward to use. Dual zone controls, has a sync option which puts the driver in control of passengers side. Haven't had to use the heating system, Air Conditioning is sufficient and cools the car down in a relatively short time period. Infotainment system and Speakers.The system itself is a very straight forward system. Has Bluetooth, AUX, USB, CD options. Does the job for me.Also neat trick, you can set the numbers to do specific actions. I've set mine to jump directly to the settings, Bluetooth connection, trip computer, vehicle status etc. Shows you what it's assigned to when you hover over the numbers.Provision for Profiles are given. Again I have 2 profiles assigned. Memory seats are bound to specific profiles.Vehicle Status shows the engine oil level, Low Tire Pressure warning and if the Brake Pads need changing.Speakers are good for me. I'm not an extreme audiophile but do appreciate the difference in the quality when compared to other vehicles. 1 speaker and 1 tweeter in each of the front door cards, 1 speaker in the centre of the dashboard, 2 speakers behind the headrests of the rear passenger seats. 2 subs under the front seats. A good output to say the least. Glove BoxDecently sized glove box, has one of the 2 fuse boxes of the car behind a door. Fully lined with felt so no rattling. Door cardsLined with leather. Bins are lined with felt. Kind of small for the sheer size of the Doors. Sunshades - decently sized with a vanity mirror, has automatic lights Sunroof Control unit and sunroofHouses the reading lights and a set of orange lights as part of the ambient light system. Sunroof is large and gives an airy feel to the cabin Ambient lightsThe Pre LCI comes with orange ambient lights and is observable at night but not distracting. Folks with darker interiors may not notice it as much The seat you want to be in - the drivers seat. Well bolstered, mine has the optional lumbar support allowing for even more adjustment. You can get a good driving position very easily. Comes with 2 memory slots. No.1 for my dad and No.2 for me.+ A good view out with ample size for the ORVMs. IRVM also does the job quite well. All the mirrors are auto dimming. The hood is a tad bit longer for shorter folks.+ Looking straight at you is a analog-digital cluster with the speed on the left and the rpm on the right. Small digital part on the bottom for the odo, time and other details. Shows you how much longer until next service-quite neat!!+ Indicators and high/low beam on the left stalk. Feels nice and premium, has a button on the end to cycle through the various data displayed on the instrument cluster. Stalk is easy to use, do not know why the running joke of BMW drivers not using turn signals due to the difficulty.+ Right stalk for wipers, has a button to toggle for the automatic wipers.+ Door card has controls for the power windows, memory seats and the orvm adjustment. Beautiful wood trim all accross the dash. Soft touch materials everywhere.+ The steering is nice and thick especially when compared to the W212. Has your usual media controls and cruise controls. Also has a voice command system - very finicky and needs specific prompts.Passenger seats is identical to the drivers seat, except for the memory seats.Rear seats - I would say the 520d is best suited for 4 individuals. Haven't been in the backseats yet. But from my brother's perspective - they are very comfortable but could use a bit more of legroom for stretching out a bit more but not cramped by any means. But considering the sheer size of the vehicle, I expected quite a bit more. Mother is very happy with the space back there. Door cards have manual sunshades. Even one for the quarter glass!! Neat touch. Rear sunblind is automatic and operated by the driver. Central armrest with cup holders. Rear AC vents also present. Huge centre tunnel giving a sense of seclusion in the rear seat when 2 are seated. A folding headrest for the third passenger, best suited for children. Manageable by adults for short runs.Suspension is nice and supple, albeit the Ground Clearance is not the best, need some snaking over certain speed breakers. Eats up road imperfections with no hesitation.Insane Boot Space. 520 litres. More than enough for us. Kind of a boat to drive around on Bangalore roads at first but it's easily manoeuvrable.Mine is powered by the in-line 4 2.0 diesel engine from BMW, producing 185hp and 380 nm of torque. It's found on a variety of BMWs. In city situations, the engine is very manageable with power on tap anytime. The gearbox is smooth and not noticeable. Feels like a petrol car at the lower end.On the highway, this is a different animal altogether. With a slightly heavy foot, it reaches 3 digits in no time and quite happy sitting there.Throw it in the manual/sport mode and you have all 185 horses at your disposal with the tiptronic system if you'd like. My favourite time to use this is when there's work going on on the highway, and there's a speedbreaker.Slow down, take the speedbreaker and start creeping forward at around 20 kmph. Once I see a clear line in the fast lane, push the gear lever into sport/manual and the GB instantly drops a gear and sits at 2.5k rpm, and a firm push on the pedal shoves you in the back of the seat. The rear squats down, and hood rises ever so slightly. The engine is now vocal and pulling the nearly 5 metre long, 1.7 tonne Bavarian Machine to 3 digits in 6 seconds. The gearshifts are straight up violent for a Luxury Sedan of this calibre. The pull is relentless and soon I end up doing insane speeds without realising it. Needless to say, the enthusiast within me is very satisfied with how this drives. Did take it on a drive in the hills, very agile for the size, steering is very direct and puts you where you want to be. Turn of TCS and floor it in a corner, you'll feel that rear end step out a bit and with a little counter steer the tyres do their work and grip up, propelling you out of the corner. The torque that this engine provides is excellent for the winding roads. Is very planted for what it is and is not skittish by any means.Safe to say, I think I'm very happy with this car. Only thing I would like instead of this is the M Sport trim instead of the Luxury Line purely for the looks, that front bumper is something I love along with the other small touches that the M Sport has.Thanks for Reading!!Attaching some photos that I love.Groom Squad at Cousins Engagement,missing the W212The shopping for the engagement, with the said W212, in Palladium SilverViews on views! Attached Thumbnails















Last edited by Petrolhead1209 : 11th December 2023 at 16:05 .
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Why it matters: Hardware vendors have been offering Wi-Fi 7 capable devices based on draft specifications for some time. The final release of the standard was anticipated for 2024 and with a clearer timeline now available, more manufacturers like Intel are expected to soon unveil products that utilize Wi-Fi 7's enhanced bandwidth and stability.

The Wi-Fi Alliance has confirmed that the final Wi-Fi 7 standard will be released before the end of the first quarter of 2024. It promises to deliver multi-gigabit speeds and other improvements compared to the current Wi-Fi 6 standard.

Intel and Broadcom showcased Wi-Fi 7 speeds last year (also known as 802.11be) reaching up to 5 Gbps  significantly surpassing Wi-Fi 6's typical maximum of around 1.7 Gbps. Wi-Fi 7 achieves this by allowing seamless switching between the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz frequencies, which compatible devices can juggle simultaneously.

Additionally, the 6GHz spectrum offers access to 320MHz superwide channels, doubling the throughput compared to Wi-Fi 6  a key factor in the speed increase. The new standard also enhances transmission rates by 20 percent by upgrading from 1024 QAM to 4K QAM.

Wi-Fi 7 connections are also expected to be more stable than previous specifications. The multi-link operation intelligently balances traffic, enabling networks to accommodate more devices efficiently. The Alliance suggests that the new standard will be ideally suited for augmented and virtual reality applications. The FCC's recent preliminary approval for ultrafast Wi-Fi tethering on the 6GHz spectrum is a significant step towards enabling VR and AR equipment to utilize Wi-Fi 7.

The 2024 launch date roughly matches Intel's predictions from 2022. The company plans to release Wi-Fi 7-capable PCs starting next year, with widespread market availability in 2025. Qualcomm is also optimistic about Wi-Fi 7, incorporating it into its FastConnect program alongside 5G.

Since last year, other manufacturers have been jumping the gun using draft specifications, including the likes of Netgear, TP-Link, Asus, Amazon, and Gigabyte. Amazon launched the $600 Eero Max 7 router in September, boasting wireless speeds of up to 4.3 Gbps. The $1,700 three-pack system can cover up to 7,500 square feet.

For those looking to upgrade their desktops for Wi-Fi 7, Gigabyte's recently announced PCIe adapter is an option. The single-slot card offers speeds of up to 5.8 Gbps and includes all official specification features from the Alliance, though its pricing and availability are yet to be confirmed. Motherboards supporting Wi-Fi 7 from most major manufacturers are now available for those starting new builds.
Why it matters: Graphite is the largest component in lithium-ion batteries by weight. Accounting for losses during the manufacturing process, it takes over 30 times more graphite than lithium to make the batteries, and most of that comes from China. A New Zealand-based startup uses leftover wood chips to make graphite, and its technology could provide a new supply route for the increasingly in-demand material.

Earlier this year, Ford warned the United States is not ready to compete with China on electric vehicles and called for the industry to learn and adapt quickly. Separately, regulators have been discussing steps to address the refining capacity for key materials as Chinese companies also dominate in that area.

A New Zealand-based startup has an interesting solution for producing large quantities of graphite  a key ingredient for the batteries that power EVs. CarbonScape CEO Ivan Williams told the Wall Street Journal during an interview that his company is using wood chips to "decarbonize" the battery industry and provide an alternative way for EV companies to reorient their supply routes.

Making this alternative graphite involves taking waste from timber-making and heating it through a process known as pyrolysis to obtain biochar. The company then takes the biochar and mills it to create raw graphite. Williams says the resulting material is just as pure as that made from fossil fuels but requires significantly less energy to produce.

CarbonScape's tech is supposedly cost-competitive with the traditional processes used to create graphite, but the company didn't provide any figures. Williams explains this alternative process is faster and thus easier to scale, which is key for localizing supply chains.

To get an idea of how efficient the process is, CarbonScape says it's able to make one metric ton of synthetic graphite using seven tons of dry wood chips. And while the company's pilot operation in Marlborough, New Zealand has only produced five tons of graphite, a commercial plant should be able to reach an output of 10,000 tons per year.

Regulators in the EU and the US are definitely on board with the idea of reducing the reliance on China for critical raw materials by financing projects like CarbonScape. Earlier this month, the Chinese government responded to US sanctions on tech sales in the region by introducing export restrictions on graphite.

China is estimated to produce around 60 percent of the world's mined graphite and almost 70 percent of synthetic graphite. When looking at just battery-grade graphite, Chinese companies produce almost all of it. With graphite demand expected to increase 25 times over the next two decades, it's no surprise Western nations are looking for ways to prevent any potential disruptions to the supply chain.

Related reading: Sodium-ion battery breakthroughs may be key to our electric future

CarbonScape has managed to draw more than $18 million in investments from companies like Stora Enso and TDK, but not everyone is sold on its technology. Many in the industry believe natural graphite is more sustainable than man-made graphite, and some critics are calling into question the cost-effectiveness of using wood chips to produce the much-needed material.

William says CarbonScape is currently looking to build its first commercial plant in Europe or one of the southeastern US states.

In related news, Panasonic's battery division recently signed a deal with US-based startup Sila to use the latter's silicon anodes to produce EV batteries. Rather than trying to make graphite as cheaply as China, this approach reduces the quantity of graphite required while also increasing the energy density of the resulting batteries.
What just happened? Plenty of people worry about the dangers of AI advancing to the point where humans lose control of these systems, leading to consequences ranging from quite bad to apocalyptic. But the warnings hit even harder when they come from those within the tech industry, including the CEO of Arm, who says the idea of this scenario keeps him awake at night.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Arm boss Rene Haas said that artificial intelligence needs some form of override or backdoor that can shut the systems down. "The thing I worry about most is humans losing capability," said the chip designer's boss, after being asked what keeps him up at night when he thinks about artificial intelligence.

Haas estimates that 70% of the world's population touches Arm-designed products in some way  99% of the 1.4 billion smartphones sold every year use either Arm designs or its tech. Of course, he's not against AI and is aware of the role Arm will play in the new technological revolution. The CEO previously said, "You can't really run AI without Arm." Haas just feels that a failsafe is required.

"I think it [AI] will find its way into everything that we do, and every aspect of how we work, live, play," said Haas, who became CEO last year. "It's going to change everything over the next five-to-10 years."

Haas isn't the first person in the industry to admit to concerns over AI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warned in February that the world might not be far from a "potentially scary" artificial intelligence. There was also a warning from the ChatGPT company in July about the potential of an AI smarter than people being developed that could cause the extinction of the human race.

Then there's xAI boss Elon Musk, who has constantly talked about the technology being an existential threat to humanity, while artificial intelligence pioneer Geoffrey Hinton left Google in May due to the risks associated with emerging AI. Many experts and CEOs even compared the dangers posed by AI to those of nuclear war and pandemics. Two-thirds of the American public are just as worried, too.

Not everyone has the same concerns, though. Prof Yann LeCun, another one of the Godfathers of AI, called warnings about the AI threat to humanity "ridiculous." And famed professor of theoretical physics, Michio Kaku, compared generative AI to glorified tape recorders.
COP28 Director-General Majid Al Suwaidi speaks to media during COP28, or the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Dec. 12, 2023. The ongoing UN climate talks in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, were extended Tuesday beyond the scheduled host-set deadline of 11:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) as parties to the COP28 climate conference failed to reach a consensus on the draft text of a hoped-for final agreement. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

DUBAI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing UN climate talks in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, were extended Tuesday beyond the scheduled host-set deadline of 11:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) as parties to the COP28 climate conference failed to reach a consensus on the draft text of a hoped-for final agreement.

"We would all like to finish on time, but we want the most ambitious outcome," said COP28 Director-General Majid Al Suwaidi while briefing media on the latest developments.

Al Suwaidi said, "We are facing the most demanding COP agenda of all time."

He noted that the Presidency and all parties are "trying to do something that has never been done before ... something historic," referring to "including language on fossil fuels in the text."

Al Suwaidi said efforts are being made toward "a comprehensive plan to close the gaps between where the world is and where it needs to be."

He reaffirmed that the summit has adopted a "two-track approach," one driven by the Presidency and one by all the parties while admitting that lots of the parties felt the draft text on the table "did not fully address their concerns."

The director general said a new text is to be drafted, which would include "all the elements we need for a comprehensive plan to 2030," regarding mitigation, adaptation, means of implementation, and loss and damage. 

This photo taken on Dec. 12, 2023 shows a view of the Expo City, the venue for COP28, or the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. The ongoing UN climate talks in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, were extended Tuesday beyond the scheduled host-set deadline of 11:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) as parties to the COP28 climate conference failed to reach a consensus on the draft text of a hoped-for final agreement. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

A woman walks in the venue for COP28, or the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Dec. 12, 2023. The ongoing UN climate talks in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, were extended Tuesday beyond the scheduled host-set deadline of 11:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) as parties to the COP28 climate conference failed to reach a consensus on the draft text of a hoped-for final agreement. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Attendees walk in the venue for COP28, or the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Dec. 12, 2023. The ongoing UN climate talks in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, were extended Tuesday beyond the scheduled host-set deadline of 11:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) as parties to the COP28 climate conference failed to reach a consensus on the draft text of a hoped-for final agreement. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

An attendee walks in the venue for COP28, or the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Dec. 12, 2023. The ongoing UN climate talks in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, were extended Tuesday beyond the scheduled host-set deadline of 11:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) as parties to the COP28 climate conference failed to reach a consensus on the draft text of a hoped-for final agreement. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

An attendee works at the venue for COP28, or the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Dec. 12, 2023. The ongoing UN climate talks in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, were extended Tuesday beyond the scheduled host-set deadline of 11:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) as parties to the COP28 climate conference failed to reach a consensus on the draft text of a hoped-for final agreement. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

COP28 Director-General Majid Al Suwaidi speaks to media during COP28, or the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Dec. 12, 2023. The ongoing UN climate talks in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, were extended Tuesday beyond the scheduled host-set deadline of 11:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) as parties to the COP28 climate conference failed to reach a consensus on the draft text of a hoped-for final agreement. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

COP28 Director-General Majid Al Suwaidi speaks to media during COP28, or the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Dec. 12, 2023. The ongoing UN climate talks in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, were extended Tuesday beyond the scheduled host-set deadline of 11:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) as parties to the COP28 climate conference failed to reach a consensus on the draft text of a hoped-for final agreement. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
In a nutshell: Users and customers of VMware products have one less reason to worry about the future after the Broadcom acquisition. The Workstation line of desktop hypervisors will not be discontinued, or "divested" as the voracious technology conglomerate likes to say, and users will be able to access their fair share of local virtual machines the same way they have done for the past few years.

Soon after completing the much-sought acquisition of VMware, Broadcom began laying off thousands of people and dismantling entire product units, such as the End User Computing (EUC) line. Fear and uncertainty are causing long-time VMware clients to worry about the future, especially considering that Broadcom has made it crystal clear that it aims to transition much of VMware's business into a subscription-based model.

VMware managers have now provided some reassuring news about the fate of Workstation. According to Michael Roy, product line manager for desktop hypervisor products, Hypervisors will continue to exist, and Broadcom seems committed to the platform, both today and "into the future."

Roy explained on VMware's official blog that a new chapter is now beginning for Workstation. Users will continue to be able to purchase their favorite desktop hypervisor Workstation (Pro) applications in the same way they have been for the past few years. "Free for personal use" VM managers Fusion Player (macOS) and Workstation Player (Windows, Linux) will continue to be available as well.

VMware's Workstation products offer IT professionals, power users, and companies the capability to run "hundreds" of 32-bit and 64-bit guest operating systems on local host PCs, without the need to pay for a cloud subscription. Workstation Pro/Player provides one of the fastest VM experiences on the market, with a specific focus on graphics performance that can transform virtualized Windows environments into viable gaming setups  both on PCs and Apple Silicon-based Macs.

The type-2 desktop hypervisor embedded in Workstation shares the same code as the enterprise-class, type-1 native hypervisor ESXi, Roy explained, and they continue to mutually enhance each other. Workstation enables ESXi to support an "immeasurable number" of scenarios and use cases, allowing VMware to test new capabilities. Simultaneously, ESXi contributes to making Workstation the "leading desktop hypervisor," leveraging more than 20 years of investment in enterprise reliability built into the platform.

VMware Workstation relies on a small team that has achieved great results despite facing "all kinds of challenges," as Roy remarked, and it won't be discontinued by the new Broadcom owners anytime soon. The VMware hypervisor platform will continue to improve with new virtual hardware capabilities, enhanced security features, and crucial updates to support new versions of Windows and Linux operating systems.
In a world where the shift to electric cars and clean energy is now a massive focus, one Japanese automaker, Mazda, is not yet in a rush to jump on the bandwagon and deliver EVs as soon as possible. Much was revealed by the Mazda CEO, and he talked about the company's plans to bring clean energy cars by the end of the decade and will not exactly fall behind in the market.

The company confirmed that its plans for electrification will "start a little slower" compared to the industry, especially among fellow Japanese car companies.

Mazda EVs Not Yet Coming Now, 'Demand is Uncertain'

(Photo : Mazda USA)

Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro recently unveiled via Auto News that no EVs are coming from the company at present, and it is not in a rush to debut its electric cars in the market. The company's electrified division, e-Mazda, was only established this November, and this division is currently focusing on making EVs lighter, looking at making them more affordable for the general public.

The Japanese automaker's CEO also said "One of the big issues for us is demand is uncertain."

He further claimed that the "pace is not that high" for battery EVs, and this is the reality that the present market is facing now regarding the change to clean energy.

Read Also: Mazda MX-5 Miata to Be an Electric Vehicle? This Famous Roadster Is Getting en Electric Motor

Still, Mazda Will Debut EVs with a Plan for 2030

However, this does not mean that no electric vehicles will arrive from Mazda, as the company has massive plans come 2030, right at the end of the decade. Its first EVs will debut in around 2025 to 2027, and will rely on Toyota's technology said the CEO.

For now, Mazda promises more plug-in hybrids in the United States, with its present release, the Mazda CX-90 PHEV, to see more joining it in the lineup.

Japanese Automakers and Electric Cars

Japan is one of the top-known countries for automobiles and machinery, and they are best known for the "JDM" cars (Japanese Domestic Market) which grew in popularity during the 20th century. Now, Japanese automakers are making their name in the electric cars space, with one of the leading companies here being Honda, best known for its partnership with General Motors to deliver EVs in the US.

There is also the renowned "car of the masses," Toyota, which is massive in terms of electric vehicles, centering on battery-powered solutions to debut a new age of clean energy for transportation solutions.

On the other hand, Nissan is also best known for their electrification efforts, with the Leaf leading the company regarding its EV sales, with other units also under development.

Rumors are circulating about Mazda's electric vehicle deliveries in the future, with the renowned MX-5 platform, popularly known as the Miata, seeing electrification in the future. While there is little to no news regarding Mazda's electrification efforts, there are various investments made by the company towards this development, an "intentional follower" in the current market, with a plan for its electric lineup by 2030.

Related Article: Mazda Invests Almost $11 Billion to Speed Up EV Sales to 40% by 2030

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Microsoft has reached a pivotal milestone by agreeing to union contract terms that specifically address the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI). This marks an unprecedented moment for the tech giant, as it signifies the first instance of collective bargaining in Microsoft's history within the United States.

(Photo : FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on January 19, 2023 shows the logo of the American corporation Microsoft displayed during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos.

Reaching an Agreement on Union Contract Terms

In a significant development, Microsoft has reached an agreement on union contract terms related to the utilization of artificial intelligence, ensuring employees have a say in questioning the deployment of this technology.

Engadget reported that this marks a historic moment for Microsoft in the United States, representing the first instance of collective bargaining in the company's history and potentially signaling a transformative milestone for its workforce.

This milestone was achieved through negotiations with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union. The contract language in question applies to several hundred staff members at Microsoft's game studio ZeniMax, encompassing renowned subsidiaries such as Bethesda, Arkane, and others.

In essence, the contractual language incorporates Microsoft's previously outlined AI principles, resembling a set of ten commandments. These provisions mandate that AI systems should treat all people fairly and empower everyone."

Consequently, employees covered by the contract have a channel for redress in case they perceive Microsoft falling short of its commitments. As a demonstration of goodwill, Microsoft has also transitioned numerous ZeniMax contract workers into full-time positions.

Also Read: Microsoft Isn't Going To Block A Future Activision Blizzard Union

The contract articulates a clear objective, and that is to ensure that tools and technologies bring benefits rather than harm to workers. Specifically, it requires Microsoft to notify the CWA whenever AI or related automation technology is implemented in a manner that could impact workers.

Upon request, Bloomberg reported that the company is obligated to engage in genuine negotiations with the CWA regarding the proposed changes. This represents a significant initial stride, particularly in light of Microsoft's extensive involvement in the AI domain, evident through its integration with OpenAI products.

Partnering with AFL-CIO

Breaking away from its prior hesitance to collaborate with unions, Microsoft has taken a significant step by entering into a partnership with the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the country.

Microsoft commits to maintaining a neutral stance regarding union initiatives aimed at encouraging workers to join their ranks.

Described as the first of its kind between a labor organization and a technology company by the AFL-CIO, this collaboration establishes an open dialogue to explore the impact of AI on workers.

Microsoft's commitment extends beyond the business-as-usual, involving the sharing of critical information with labor leaders regarding influential AI trends. Moreover, the company pledges to consider "worker perspectives" in the development of new technologies.

Reuters reported that the shift in strategy is rooted in the prevailing uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence and its potential implications for workers across diverse industries.

Microsoft seems to be positioning itself as the authoritative presence, taking on the role of the responsible actor when compared to its industry peers.

It's noteworthy, however, that a proposal to temporarily curtail AI spending until a comprehensive risk-assessment project could be conducted was recently rejected by Microsoft shareholders.

Related Article: Microsoft Warns it Might Temporarily Throttle AI Services Due to 'Excessive' Usage

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
With a fishing history in Japan dating back to the 15th century, sardine catches experienced a notable peak between the 1930s and 1950s in Japan and off the coasts of California, Spain, and the northern Adriatic.

(Photo : David McNew/Getty Images)

REDONDO BEACH, CA - MARCH 9: Dead fish float and settle to the bottom of King Harbor as workers and volunteers continue to clean up millions of dead sardines for a second day on March 9, 2011 in Redondo Beach, California. Wildlife experts are focusing on a theory that enormous schools of the small fish may have gotten confused or trapped in the harbor.

Discovering Dead Sardines

An unusual incident where thousands of tons of deceased sardines were discovered on a beach in northern Japan. Interested Engineering reported that authorities have yet to pinpoint a specific cause for this massive sardine mortality.

This assembly of sardines, accompanied by several mackerel, was carried onto the shores of Hakodate on Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost primary island, covering an almost one-kilometer stretch of beach like a thin blanket.

Takashi Fujioka, a researcher affiliated with the Hakodate Fisheries Research Institute, disclosed that despite having knowledge of similar incidents, this marked his inaugural direct observation of such an occurrence.

Fujioka elucidated on a possible scenario where larger predators could have pursued the fish, facing oxygen depletion in the densely packed school. The consequence of this pursuit led to the exhaustion of the predators, eventually causing them to be washed ashore by the waves.

Furthermore, Fujioka delved into speculation, suggesting that the fish might have encountered abrupt shifts in water temperature during their migration. This exploration opens avenues for understanding the diverse factors contributing to the unusual event.

Consuming the Fish

Local residents expressed amazement at the spectacle, noting that such an occurrence was unprecedented in their experience. Some residents seized the opportunity to collect the fish, either for sale or personal consumption.

Despite these actions, the town issued a cautionary notice on its website, advising residents against consuming the fish, as reported by Japan Today.

Also Read: Thousands Of Dead Fish And Other Sea Creatures Wash Up On Nova Scotia Coast

Statista's data for 2022 indicates that the sardine yield from Japanese marine fisheries reached approximately 613 thousand tons, a slight decrease from the roughly 640 thousand tons recorded in the previous year.

Over the past decade, sardine production has seen a significant uptick, establishing them as an economical alternative to saury, a popular choice among Japanese consumers for everyday culinary use.

Fujioka expressed concern that the decomposition of the stranded fish could impact water oxygen levels, potentially affecting the marine environment. As a precaution, he advised against consuming the fish due to the uncertainty surrounding the circumstances of their beaching.

The South China Morning Post suggested an alternative explanation for the mass mortality in the northern village of Toi: the possibility of the fish encountering notably colder waters during their migration.

As of now, Japanese authorities have not provided any official comments on the reasons behind the mass mortality of sardines in Hokkaido.

Related Article: Berlin's AquaDom Hotel Aquarium Collapses, Leaving 1,500 Fish on the Ground

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Federal court has unanimously decided that Google's Play Store is an illegal monopoly, proving to be a win for Epic Games, as reported by the Associated Press.

The report states that the jury deliberated for barely three hours before reaching a unanimous decision on Monday. The trial lasted four weeks and focused on a profitable Google Play Store payment scheme.

The Verge reports that the verdict came after the jury unanimously found that Google had monopoly power in the markets for in-app billing services and Android app distribution, that Google had engaged in anticompetitive behavior in those markets, and that Epic had suffered as a result of Google's actions.

(Photo : Philip Pacheco/Getty Images)

Epic Games CEO reveals Sony's resistance to cross-play, a conflict exposed in court, showcasing Epic's determination and subsequent collaboration post-resolution.

The jury concluded that Google's distribution agreement, Project Hug agreements with game creators, and certain partnerships were anticompetitive. There was an unlawful connection between the company's Google Play app store and its Google Play Billing payment services.

After the result was announced, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney reportedly grinned broadly, clapped his attorneys, and shook hands with a Google lawyer he commended for his professional demeanor throughout the trial. "Victory over Google! in a post on X, Sweeney reportedly wrote.

Epic Games released a blog statement stating that the verdict and trial saw evidence that Google was prepared to spend billions of dollars to suppress rival app stores. This included paying developers to give up on their own stores and direct distribution strategies and providing highly lucrative deals to device manufacturers in exchange for the exclusion of rival app stores.

The blog statement further stated that Google's anticompetitive strategies worked as the Play Store distributes more than 95% of applications, cementing Google's Dominance.

Read Also: Match Group Settles Lawsuit Against Google, Preparing for Epic Games Antitrust Trial

Google's Loss

Wilson White, vice president of public policy and affairs at Google, stated that the firm intends to appeal the ruling and that Big Tech's intense competition with Apple and its App Store was made evident throughout the trial; the company states it remains steadfast in their commitment to consumers, partners, and the larger Android ecosystem, and that it will keep defending the Android system.

The verdict proved to be different from Epic Games' similar antitrust case against Apple, wherein the Fortnite-owner loss, as the Verge states, the Google case depended on covert revenue-sharing agreements between Google, manufacturers of smartphones, and prominent game creators; Google executives thought these agreements were meant to keep competitors' app shops under wraps.

It was evident that Google was reportedly afraid of Epic. In contrast to the Apple ruling, a jury rendered all the decisions.

Epic Games' Winnings

In his post on X, the CEO further stated that the court's work on remedies will begin in just a few weeks, saying it "will start in January." However, the specific treatments are still pending, as Judge James Donato will decide the appropriate remedies. As a result, Epic hasn't yet been informed of what it won.

It's unclear if the judge would grant Epic's requests to alert Google to the fact that every Android app developer has the freedom to design their own app stores and payment methods. It says that Epic has never filed a lawsuit seeking financial compensation. The parties will meet with Judge Donato in the second week of January to discuss potential remedies.

However, Epic's CEO stated that if Google's fee is waived, Epic stands to earn hundreds of millions or possibly billions of dollars, even though the company hasn't filed a lawsuit for damages.

Related Article: Google Violates Court Order to Preserve Records of Employee Chats for Antitrust Litigations

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NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has just captured a captivating view unfolding in space!

HD View of an Exploded Star

This high-definition view features the exploded star and supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A). The image was revealed as part of the first-ever White House Advent Calendar and celebration of the 2023 Holidays at the White House by First Lady Jill Biden and NASA on Sunday.

Contrary to the serene imagery of a silent night, Webb's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) provides a radiant glimpse into the remnants of Cas A, showcasing intricate details of the expanding shell of material resulting from the star's explosive demise.

This view was captured at a previously unattainable resolution at these wavelengths and vividly portrays the aftermath of a stellar explosion. Cas A has been a subject of observation by various ground-based and space-based observatories over the years.

NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope, and the now-retired Spitzer Space Telescope have contributed to assembling a multiwavelength portrait of the exploded star. Webb's razor-sharp view, as depicted in the NIRCam image, exposes bright orange and light pink clumps constituting the inner shell.

These colors represent gases like sulfur, oxygen, argon, and neon emanating from the exploded star, with embedded dust and molecules that will eventually contribute to the formation of new stars and planetary systems.

'Tiny Shards of Glass'

The high-resolution view provided by NIRCam allows astronomers to discern minute details, such as tiny knots of gas, which are less than 10 billion miles across, within the expansive Cas A, spanning 10 light-years or 60 trillion miles in its entirety.

According to Danny Milisavljevic of Purdue University, who leads the research team, this level of resolution unveils the intricate aftermath of the star's explosion, akin to "tiny shards of glass."

Comparing Webb's near-infrared view with the mid-infrared view, peculiar differences emerge. The NIRCam image, while seemingly less colorful, results from the wavelengths at which the material emits light.

The image depicts the inner shell's clumps in bright orange and light pink, showcasing the explosion's aftermath. The outer regions of the inner shell, appearing deep orange and red in the MIRI image, now resemble smoke from a campfire in the NIRCam image.

The white color from the blast wave indicates synchrotron radiation generated by charged particles spiraling around magnetic field lines. According to NASA, this radiation is visible across the electromagnetic spectrum, including the near-infrared.

Read Also: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Finds Something Weird Inside Mysterious 'Brick' in Milky Way

Baby Cas A

While the enigmatic Green Monster, a loop of green light in the central cavity, is not visible in NIRCam, the near-infrared view reveals circular holes faintly outlined in white and purple emission.

Researchers believe this represents ionized gas due to the supernova debris sculpting the gas left behind by the star before its explosion. One captivating feature in the NIRCam image is the large, striated blob, Baby Cas A, positioned at the bottom right corner.

This phenomenon is a light echo, where light from the star's ancient explosion reaches and warms distant dust, causing it to glow as it cools down. Researchers are intrigued by the intricacy of the dust pattern and the apparent proximity of Baby Cas A to the main supernova.

According to NASA, the Cas A supernova remnant, located 11,000 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia, is estimated to have exploded around 340 years ago from our vantage point.

Related Article: NASA James Webb Space Telescope Dives Deep into the Heart of the Milky Way

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A month after OpenAI introduced a program enabling users to create customized ChatGPT programs easily, a Northwestern University research team claims to have found a "significant security vulnerability" that potentially paved the way for leaked data.

According to Tech Xplore, in November, OpenAI unveiled the ability for ChatGPT subscribers to create custom GPTs effortlessly.

It highlighted the simplicity of the process, likening it to starting a conversation, providing instructions and additional knowledge, and selecting functionalities such as web searching, image creation, or data analysis. However, this approach is now under scrutiny due to potential security risks.

'Significant Security Vulnerability' of ChatGPT

Jiahao Yu, a second-year doctoral student at Northwestern specializing in secure machine learning, acknowledged the positive aspects of OpenAI's democratization of AI technology.

He praised the community of builders contributing to the expanding repository of specialized GPTs. Despite this, Yu expressed concerns about the security challenges arising from the instruction-following nature of these models.

In a study led by Yu and his colleagues, they uncovered a significant security vulnerability in custom GPTs. They found that malicious actors could exploit the vulnerability to extract system prompts and information from documents not meant for publication.

The research outlined two key security risks: one is the system prompt extraction, where GPTs could be manipulated into yielding prompt data, and the second is file leakage, potentially revealing confidential data behind customized GPTs.

Yu's team tested over 200 GPTs for this vulnerability and reported a high success rate. "Our success rate was 100% for file leakage and 97% for system prompt extraction," Yu stated, adding that these extractions were achievable without specialized knowledge or coding skills.

Read Also: Tech Times Weekly Wrap: ChatGPT Access to Phone Numbers, Booking.com Scams, Risky Passwords of 2023

Prompt Injection Attacks

The study further notes that prompt injection attacks have become a growing concern with the rise of large language models. Colin Estep, a researcher at security firm Netskope, defined prompt injections as attacks involving crafting input prompts to manipulate the model's behavior, generating biased, malicious, or undesirable outputs.

Prompt injection attacks can force language models to produce inaccurate information, generate biased content, and potentially expose personal data. In a 2022 study, Riley Goodside, an expert in large language models, demonstrated the ease of tricking GPT-3 with malicious prompts.

Yu concluded by expressing hope that the research would prompt the AI community to develop stronger safeguards, ensuring that security vulnerabilities do not compromise the potential benefits of custom GPTs. He stressed the need for a balanced approach, prioritizing innovation and security in AI technologies.

"Our hope is that this research catalyzes the AI community towards developing stronger safeguards, ensuring that the innovative potential of custom GPTs is not undermined by security vulnerabilities," Yu noted.

"A balanced approach that prioritizes both innovation and security will be crucial in the evolving landscape of AI technologies," he added.

The team's findings were published in the arXiv.

Related Article: Teachers, Students May Soon Use ChatGPT, OpenAI Explores Educational Applications for Classrooms

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Who knew that a random beach stroll could lead to the discovery of a long-extinct sea monster? And this is exactly what transpired in this groundbreaking discovery.

According to Newsweek, the most complete fossil of a colossal sea monster that roamed the oceans some 150 million years ago was found last year during a casual stroll along the beach.

A fossil enthusiast stumbled upon the skull of a pliosaur, an ancient carnivorous marine reptile, in April 2022 while walking along the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site along the English Channel coast of southern England.

Skull of Extinct Sea Monster Found

A skull belonging to a pliosaur, which measures about six-and-a-half feet in length, is now considered one of the most complete specimens of its type ever found.

The discovery was made public recently and is set to be featured in an upcoming documentary titled "Attenborough and Jurassic Sea Monster," starring renowned British historian and biologist David Attenborough.

Local paleontologist Steve Etches, who has been collecting fossils for over 40 years and operates The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in Kimmeridge, Dorset, said the discovery is akin to finding an "underwater T-Rex."

Etches emphasized the fossil's uniqueness, citing its completeness wherein the lower jaw and upper skull are fused, replicating their natural alignment. Such detailed specimens are rare worldwide, with many discoveries lacking certain elements. Despite slight distortion, every bone is present in this fossil.

The sea monster unearthed belongs to the pliosaurs, which existed from 220 to 70 million years ago. Although they shared traits with dinosaurs, pliosaurs were not dinosaurs. They were known as ocean-dwelling carnivorous marine reptiles.

The skull, adorned with 130 razor-sharp teeth, exemplifies the predatory prowess of the pliosaur. These teeth feature fine ridges at the back, enabling the creature to tear through flesh effectively and allowing for a rapid second attack if necessary.

Etches detailed that his friend, Phil Jacobs, first spotted the skull in April 2022, protruding from a cliff shingle near Kimmeridge Bay. Recognizing its significance, Jacobs enlisted Etches' help, and together, they created a makeshift stretcher to transport the colossal fossil.

Read Also: Archaeological Discovery: 'Ivory Lady' in Ancient Spanish Tomb Rewrites History, Challenges Gender Roles

'Third Eye' of Pliosaur

The skull, longer than the height of most humans, was hidden along the coastline, marked with a piece of wood, and carried about one-and-a-half miles over a rocky shore using the improvised stretcher.

Etches, reflecting on the groundbreaking nature of the discovery, noted that academics have expressed keen interest in studying the pliosaur's features and dissecting its significance.

The fossil has revealed new insights, particularly in identifying a large sagittal crest at the rear of the skull, indicating potential dimorphism between male and female sexes.

The creature was also found to have a parietal eye, also known as a third eye, extending from the back of the skull to about one-third towards the snout that may have helped it locate prey.

Related Article: Moss Piglet Found Trapped in 16-Million-Year-Old Fossilized Amber | Best-Imaged Fossil Tardigrade as Per NJ Institute of Technology

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Male songbirds have a new reason to hit the high notes daily: to woo their potential mates. A groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications uncovered a surprising correlation between male songbird attractiveness and singing habits.

The research conducted by an international team led by Assistant Professor Iris Adam and Professor Coen Elemans from the University of Southern Denmark sheds light on the critical role of vocal muscle exercise in the avian world.

Songbirds' Daily Singing Exercise

According to the study, male songbirds, particularly zebra finches, must serenade potential partners daily to keep their vocal muscles in top-notch condition. These vocal workouts are not just for show; they play a crucial role in how female finches perceive potential mates.

Dr. Iris Adam, the study's lead author, emphasizes the significance of singing in the lives of these birds, stating, "They sing to impress future partners, to defend their territories, and to maintain social bonds."

The research team found that the lack of daily vocal exercise adversely affects the male finches' singing capabilities. Astonishingly, within seven days of abstaining from singing, the birds' vocal muscles weakened by a staggering 50%.

This swift decline underscores the importance of consistent vocal workouts for these birds' singing prowess. Dr. Adam expressed surprise at how rapidly these muscles lost their performance, highlighting the "use it or lose it" nature of avian vocal muscles.

Read Also: Recent Study Reveals Antarctic Chinstrap Penguins' Surprising Sleep Strategy

Female Birds Prefer Well-Trained Songbirds

An intriguing aspect of the study involved playing the songs of male finches to female counterparts. The results were telling75% of the female finches preferred the tunes of males diligently exercising their vocal muscles.

Katharine Riebel, an expert in animal behavior and an author of the study, explained, "The female zebra finches in the playback experiment could directly hear the difference, and 75 percent preferred the songs from the well-exercised male."

Beyond the bird kingdom, this study might hold significant implications for understanding the physiology of vocal muscles in all vertebrates, including humans.

Professor Coen Elemans highlighted the potential impact on human voice training and rehabilitation, suggesting that our understanding of vocal muscle training might need a drastic shift based on these findings.

This groundbreaking research has also shed light on the daily dawn chorus phenomenon observed in birds. While previously considered a puzzling routine, this study suggests that the dawn chorus might serve as a daily exercise for these birds' vocal muscles, reinforcing their attractiveness to potential mates.

The study was conducted meticulously by an international team comprising experts from the University of Southern Denmark, Leiden University, University of Umea, and the University of Vermont.

The findings underscore the intricate link between exercise, attractiveness, and vocal abilities in the avian world, potentially providing a fresh perspective on the significance of vocal workouts across species.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: GPS Shows Brave Bird Flying 700-Mile Sky-High on a Typhoon for 11 Hours

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Netflix is poised to surpass Disney+ in the US advertising revenue race in 2024, according to a report by Insider Intelligence. The forecast reveals that the streaming giant's advertising revenue is expected to surge by 50.3%, reaching an estimated $1 billion.

Reuters reported the insight, underscoring Netflix's dominance, particularly after Walt Disney's Disney+ is projected to post a 16.1% increase in advertising revenue, reaching around $912 million in 2024. Despite this, Netflix is on track to conclude the current year with a substantial lead, boasting approximately $100 million more in ad sales than its rival.

Netflix Still In Command

The projection underscores the success of Netflix's multifaceted strategy, including price hikes and a robust crackdown on password sharing, driving more viewers toward its ad-supported plan. The effectiveness of these measures became evident with the addition of nearly 9 million subscribers during the September quarter, with the ad-supported tier contributing significantly to these sign-ups.

Furthermore, Netflix strategically raised prices for commercial-free plans in October, directing more customers toward its ad-supported offering, which was introduced in November last year at an economical price of around $7 per month.



Insider Intelligence analyst Ross Benes attributes Netflix's ability to command slightly higher ad prices than its competitors to the pent-up demand from advertisers eagerly awaiting the introduction of Netflix's ad tier over the years.

The analyst notes that viewers' tendency to spend more time per day on Netflix compared to other streaming services positions the company for significant ad revenue growth. Conversely, Disney has encountered challenges, particularly in the aftermath of recent box-office disappointments.

Read Also: Elon Musk's xAI Launches Grok Chatbot to X Premium+ Subscribers



While Disney+ currently faces a gap in ad revenue figures, the report suggests that the company could narrow this divide through increased adoption of its ad tier and the integration of Disney+ and Hulu into a unified app.

Presently, only about 5% of Netflix's U.S. subscribers experience commercials, while Disney+ exposes 17% of its subscribers to ads. The figures are expected to evolve, with Disney projecting to reach about a fifth of its subscribers with ads, while Netflix is anticipated to experience a marginal increase to 7.5% in the next year.

Streaming Giant Suffers Outage, Facing New Controversy

In a separate development, Netflix grappled with a global outage on Monday evening, causing disruptions for users worldwide. Reports of difficulties connecting to Netflix and encountering the "tvq-pb-101" error message surfaced around 5 PM ET, persisting until approximately 8 PM ET.

The outage impacted users on various devices, including Roku smart TVs, PS5, and Xbox, with scattered reports from different cities in the U.S. and other countries. While Netflix's status page initially failed to acknowledge the issues, the service has since been restored, per The Verge.



Additionally, controversy has emerged in Tunisia, the birthplace of the ancient Carthaginian general Hannibal, over Netflix's decision to cast Denzel Washington, a black actor, in the role. The casting choice has sparked debates on race, representation, and historical accuracy, following a similar controversy in Egypt over a Netflix docudrama about Cleopatra.

Tunisian newspapers, social media, and even parliamentary discussions have seen discourse on the portrayal of Hannibal's skin tone, with some accusing Netflix of promoting "woke culture," as per a report from The Guardian. An online petition has urged Netflix to cancel the film, citing a "historical error."



Hannibal, born in Carthage, is renowned as one of history's greatest military leaders, having led his troops and war elephants against the Romans in 218 BC.

Related Article: Nvidia Commits to Deepen Collaboration With Vietnam, Focusing On AI and Digital Infrastructure

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BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- As a new mother, a woman surnamed Zou from Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, has chosen a department store near her home as her preferred shopping destination, thanks to its convenient baby-care room.

The baby-care room in the store has three private breastfeeding booths and several changing tables of varying sizes. There, mothers can also find free disposable breast pads and breast-milk storage bags.

Zou said she is content with most of the baby-care rooms she had frequented in the city. "However, the problem is, without any online information or clear signage, it is always not easy to find those rooms in places that I am not familiar with," Zou said.

In recent years, more baby-care rooms have sprung up in public places across China, as the country has intensified efforts to create a baby-friendly environment.

In 2016, Chinese authorities issued a guideline for improving facilities designated for new mothers and infants. According to the proposal, public places such as transportation hubs, commercial centers, hospitals, tourist attractions and recreational areas should establish independent baby-care rooms with a minimum area of approximately 10 square meters and equipped with basic facilities.

An action plan promoting breastfeeding across the country issued in 2021 proposed that, by 2025, 80 percent of public places should be equipped with mother-and-child facilities, and all workplaces in need should complete the construction of standardized breastfeeding facilities.

Despite this, both the public and experts agree that more efforts are needed to enhance public access to mother-and-child facilities.

The main challenge is inadequate early planning, said Li Gang, a health official in Zhejiang's Hangzhou.

Li highlighted that a lack of reserved space during initial planning and construction has caused difficulties in the subsequent installation of baby-care rooms in some locations. "For newly built places, we work with operators to ensure suitable spaces are reserved for these rooms," said Li.

In recent years, various regions have been actively addressing the issues concerning young mothers. For instance, east China's Zhejiang Province has formulated a local standard for the building and management of baby-care rooms. Now Hangzhou has 738 such facilities, with a standardization rate of over 95 percent.

Various regions have brought forth new approaches to address the issue of managing baby-care rooms. For example, in Zhejiang, an online platform has been launched to enable parents to find nearby breastfeeding rooms and navigate to their exact location. Detailed information on such rooms, including grade and facility configuration, is also provided for personalized screening.

Experts believe it is necessary to strengthen training for the construction and maintenance units of baby-care rooms and raise social awareness through publicity and science popularization activities. 
North Korean hackers remain relentless in exploiting the Log4Shell vulnerability worldwide.

Recent reports reveal that these hackers, operating under the guise of "Andariel" within the Lazarus collective, have introduced three new remote access Trojans (RATs).

What sets these attacks apart is the use of the rarely seen "D" (dlang) programming language, adding an extra layer of sophistication.

Andariel's Tactical Mastery: A Lazarus Entity

"Andariel," known by aliases such as Onyx Sleet and Plutonium, operates as a specialized unit within the Lazarus collective, according to Dark Reading.

Focused on securing initial access and ensuring long-term persistence, Andariel primarily serves the interests of the Kim Jung Un regime. However, their activities extend beyond espionage, occasionally involving ransomware attacks against healthcare organizations.

Related Article: Hacker Gang Lazarus Targets Web3 Developers on Mac Devices: Fake Coinbase Job Offer

Log4Shell as the Gateway

Andariel's recent exploits have leveraged the Log4Shell vulnerability, marking their entry point into systems. This historic vulnerability in Apache Log4j rated at a maximum severity of 10 on the CVSS bugseverity scale (CVE-2021-44228), remains a favored choice due to its widespread impact.

"For a long time tooling has been collapsing - everybody kind of uses the same tool sets to obscure attribution. Lazarus has gone in the exact opposite direction. They go crazy with writing bespoke malware," Cisco Talos head of outreach Nick Biasini said when asked about the behavior of the North Korean hackers.

Despite being two years old, more than a third (38%) of active applications still use vulnerable Log4j versions, as reported by Veracode.

Andariel's Stealth Weapon

Andariel's distinguishing factor lies in its use of the "D" programming language for crafting novel malware. This offshoot of C++ adds a unique challenge for detection and analysis. The recent attacks observed by Cisco Talos targeted an agriculture organization in South America, a European manufacturing company, and an American subsidiary of a Korean physical security company.

The group's toolkit includes three new remote-access Trojans, each serving a distinct purpose. "NineRAT" operates as a dropper and backdoor, utilizing Telegram as its command-and-control (C2) base. "DLRAT" specializes in downloading additional malware and executing commands on infected hosts. Lastly, "BottomLoader" functions as a downloader.

Once Log4Shell provides the initial access, Andariel ensures persistence through its custom proxy tool, "HazyLoad." This is followed by the creation of new users with administrative privileges on the host machine. Subsequently, credential harvesting tools like Mimikatz and Andariel's custom malware tools are deployed to further the intrusion.

The Challenge of Unconventional Programming: DPRK's Signature Approach

North Korean hackers, particularly those under the Lazarus umbrella, exhibit a distinctive approach to evade detection. They achieve this by mass-producing custom malware in unconventional programming languages, catching adversaries off guard.

The use of languages like "D" adds complexity, making it harder for traditional detection programs to identify and flag their activities.

Lazarus might have adopted a new persona under Andariel, but that does not mean that it will stop its cyber operations anytime soon. For organizations, practicing extra vigilance is always required to mitigate security risks.

The deployment of malware written in less common languages demands a nuanced understanding of detection mechanisms. Traditional malware detection tools, often tailored for more common languages, may struggle against the unique challenges presented by these North Korean hackers.

Organizations must remain adaptable, continuously refining their defense strategies to counter the innovative tactics employed by persistent threat actors like Andariel within the Lazarus collective.

Read Also: Chinese Cybercriminals Launch SugarGh0st RAT Campaign to Attack South Korea, Uzbekistan

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EE has relayed a significant update to its customers regarding a major shift in its network slated for the upcoming year.

The telecom giant, in alignment with other UK providers, has disclosed its decision to phase out the aging 3G network across the country. This transition is aimed at creating room for the accelerated rollout of 4G and 5G services, signaling a pivotal evolution in mobile connectivity.

EE Bids Farewell to 3G

The retirement of 3G, a technology introduced in the early 2000s, is a collective decision by UK providers to usher in a new era of faster and more robust mobile internet capabilities.

As part of this move, users with outdated phones incapable of supporting 4G or 5G will experience a cessation of internet access. As for EE, the 3G data has become insufficient for modern demands, often struggling to handle even basic tasks like a WhatsApp message.

Related Article: LG Sets New Distance Record for Data Transmission Using 6G Tech

Assisting Vulnerable Customers in the Transition

According to The Sun, EE has already outlined its commitment to supporting vulnerable customers during this transition. The 3G network provider has pledged to provide eligible users with a complimentary upgrade to a 4G-ready mobile phone. Alternatively, those desiring flexibility in choosing their handset can avail themselves of a discounted pay monthly plan.

Strategic Rollout: Initial 5G Locations Revealed

Amidst these network advancements, EE has disclosed the initial locations set to receive the benefits of superior enhanced 5G connectivity post the 3G retirement.

The locations include Belfast, Darlington, Uxbridge, Dartford, Solihull, York, Dagenham, Hayes, Harringay, and London. This strategic expansion aims to provide users in these areas with an enhanced and seamless mobile experience.

Preserving Basic Connectivity: 2G for Calls and Texts

While bidding farewell to 3G, EE reassures its customers that basic connectivity for calls and texts will still be preserved through 2G, which will remain operational. This ensures that users can continue to make calls and send texts even with older 3G phones.

EE's decision to retire 3G aligns with industry-wide changes, with Vodafone, Three, and Virgin Media O2 also planning similar moves in the coming years. Vodafone is set to initiate the dismantling of its 3G network starting with Glasgow in early 2024, followed by Three at the end of 2024, and Virgin Media O2 in 2025.

How to Prepare for the 3G Switch Off

To facilitate a smooth transition for users, EE has provided a step-by-step guide to prepare for the 3G switch-off:

Text "Handset" to 150 to check if your phone supports 4G or 5G and receive upgrade advice. Ensure that the 4G network is enabled in your phone settings. Confirm that 4G Calling is turned on in your phone settings. Activate 'Wi-Fi Calling' in your phone settings. Seek expert advice on the 3G switch-off by visiting the EE website or consulting a store representative.

EE's proactive measures and strategic 5G expansion signal a future where advanced connectivity becomes the norm. It's only a matter of time until people adapt to the changes that are set to happen by March 2024, Computer Weekly writes in its report.

Read Also: Apple Will Not Make Its Own 5G iPhone Modem, New Leak Claims

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Apple issued security fixes for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, TVOS, watchOS, and Safari. To protect customer data and privacy, the tech giant has also patched two newly discovered zero-day vulnerabilities on previous models.

The security updates encompass a spectrum of issues, with iOS and iPadOS receiving patches for 12 vulnerabilities related to AVEVideoEncoder, ExtensionKit, Find My, ImageIO, Kernel, Safari Private Browsing, and WebKit. In parallel, macOS Sonoma 14.2 tackles 39 shortcomings, addressing six bugs that impact the ncurses library.

Addressing Critical Security Weaknesses

According to The Hacker News, among the highlighted flaws is CVE-2023-45866, a critical Bluetooth vulnerability that could permit an attacker in a privileged network position to inject keystrokes by spoofing a keyboard. Security researcher Marc Newlin of SkySafe disclosed this vulnerability, prompting swift remediation in iOS 17.2, iPadOS 17.2, and macOS Sonoma 14.2 through enhanced checks.

Apple has also introduced Safari 17.2, focusing on fixing two WebKit flaws-CVE-2023-42890 and CVE-2023-42883. These vulnerabilities could potentially lead to arbitrary code execution and a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. The update is available for Macs running macOS Monterey and macOS Ventura.

iOS 17.2 and iPadOS 17.2 go beyond mere vulnerability fixes, introducing a security upgrade known as Contact Key Verification. This feature ensures the privacy of iMessage conversations by enabling users to verify the contacts they are communicating with. Additionally, it addresses a Siri bug that could potentially allow an adversary with physical access to obtain sensitive data.

The Contact Key Verification feature represents a significant advancement in key transparency deployments. By having user devices verify consistency proofs and ensuring consistency across all devices for an account, Apple aims to fortify protection against key directory compromise and compromise of the transparency service itself.

The security feature is designed for users facing significant digital threats, enabling them to verify and ensure secure messaging, especially for individuals such as journalists, human rights activists, and government officials.

Read Also: Adobe Unveils Spectrum 2: Redefining Design With a Focus on Accessibility and Fun

Concurrently, Apple has rolled out iOS 16.7.3 and iPadOS 16.7.3, including two related to WebKit, per Security Week. The update aimed to solve security issues on older devices.

These WebKit vulnerabilities were actively exploited in the wild, prompting swift action to mitigate potential risks. The patches for these vulnerabilities extend to tvOS 17.2 and watchOS 10.2. While details about the nature of the exploitation and the involved threat actors remain undisclosed, Apple's swift response underscores its commitment to maintaining the integrity of its devices and protecting users from potential security threats.

Apple Releases Journal App

In a parallel announcement, Apple has unveiled the Journal app with iOS 17.2, a feature initially introduced at the WWDC event in June alongside iOS 17. However, it was absent from the update's initial launch on September 18.

Apple has released iOS 17.2 with the new journal app! pic.twitter.com/UnID9FQBan December 11, 2023

The Journal app utilizes on-device machine learning to offer personalized writing suggestions, providing users with an engaging and innovative experience, as reported by CNET.

Related Article: Lazarus Group Still Exploits Log4Shell: What Are Andariel's Recent Cyberattacks?

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Instagram is on the verge of a new privacy update, giving users unprecedented control over who sees their liked posts and reels.

This coming update promises to change how individuals curate their online presence, offering a new level of customization and privacy management.

More About the Instagram Feature

As first reported by Phone Arena, the latest beta version of Instagram unveiled a groundbreaking feature allowing users to dictate who can view their liked content. This feature will introduce four distinct options, empowering users to tailor their audience preferences:

Allow everyone to see likes

Allow people you follow to see likes

Allow close friends to see likes

Don't allow anyone to see likes

These settings allow users to finely tune their visibility preferences, enabling them to strike a balance between engagement and privacy.

While this enhancement is not yet available to the public, its potential impact on the Instagram experience is undeniable.

Instagram Flipside

Simultaneously, Instagram is exploring a new feature, 'Flipside,' tentatively, aiming to create a more intimate space within profiles.

TechCrunch tells us that this feature mirrors the concept of 'finstas,' providing a platform for users to share candid and personal content exclusively with a select circle of friends without resorting to separate accounts.

Reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi revealed insights into 'Flipside,' showcasing a user-centric approach by allowing customization of profile pictures, names, bios, and audience management tools.

Instagram's vision for 'Flipside' aims to offer a seamless, integrated solution for users seeking a private sharing space within the confines of their existing profile.

While this feature remains in internal testing, its potential implications for user engagement and the platform's competitive edge against dedicated private-sharing networks are substantial.

However, Instagram remains cautious, with no confirmed launch date or assurance of the feature's public release.

Read Also: Meta's Celebrity AI Chatbots Are Now Available Across Its US Apps

Survey Reveals Teen Social Media Usage

A recent Pew Research Center survey has shed light on the dynamic landscape of teen social media usage.

The survey indicates that social media remains an integral part of teen life, with YouTube maintaining its dominance, closely followed by TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram (via Forbes).

Notably, the survey revealed a significant increase in teens spending considerable time online, with nearly half reporting online "almost constantly."

Furthermore, a shift in platform preferences among teens has emerged, showcasing Snapchat's rise above Instagram, albeit by a narrow margin.

Interestingly, the survey underscores subtle gender disparities in social media usage patterns, with variations in constant usage observed among platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, favoring teenage girls.

The convergence of these developments highlights Instagram's proactive approach to addressing user needs and preferences while responding to the evolving dynamics of the broader social media landscape.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Meta: Messenger and Instagram Chats to Be Disconnected-But Why?

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A disturbing story involving a campus security supervisor at Arvin High School in California has been revealed in court documents.

NBC News reports that Angelo Jackson Mendiver, 27, pleaded guilty to making and distributing explosives via the social media platform Instagram. This illegal operation was not carried out alone; Mendiver worked closely with a high school student.

The Charges and Plea

Mendiver's guilty plea, announced by US Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, included charges of making and mailing explosive devices, conspiracy, and misleading FBI agents.

The potential penalty underscored the gravity of the offenses: Mendiver faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,00 fine for each count. The scheduled sentencing on April 1, 2024, is crucial in this alarming saga.

Explosive Seizures, Instagram Evidence

A search warrant was executed at Mendiver's Bakersfield home, yielding a shocking discoverya stash of approximately 500 pounds of explosives and related materials.

The additional 500 pounds of similar materials seized from the juvenile's residence were equally concerning. This seizure raised serious concerns about the scope and scale of their operations.

The evidence did not end with the physical caches; Mendiver's Instagram communications were crucial in establishing his culpability.

He displayed homemade explosive devices made with titanium salute in messages, photos, and videos exchanged on the platform.

These posts were peppered with alarming statements, with Mendiver declaring, "homemade kills all consumer," emphasizing the dangerous nature of his creations.

Read Also: Massive Cyber Attack Hits Ukraine's Biggest Mobile Operator, Disrupting Internet for Millions

Legal Proceedings

Arvin High School, where Mendiver was a security supervisor, was the unsuspecting backdrop to these illicit activities. However, the school district remained tight-lipped, redirecting inquiries to the Kern High School District's press office, which refrained from commenting on the case.

The legal gravity of Mendiver's actions was further emphasized by the invocation of charges he faced. In addition to those he pleaded guilty to, a court indictment from June also accused him of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, improper storage of explosives, and criminal forfeiture.

The investigation into this alarming case was a joint effort between the FBI and the Bakersfield police. Assistant US Attorney Karen A. Escobar spearheaded the prosecution, while Mendiver's court-appointed attorney remained unreachable for comment.

In Other News

A massive cyberattack on Ukraine's telecommunications infrastructure has rendered Kyivstar, the country's largest mobile network operator, inoperable, disrupting mobile and internet services for an estimated 24 million people.

The severity of the attack indicates a significant escalation in the ongoing cyber warfare, further exacerbating the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Instagram Working on New Privacy Update: Control Who Sees Your Likes on Posts, Reels

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The United States has confiscated approximately half a million dollars in digital currency from an account associated with a Chinese individual implicated in a crypto-investment fraud scheme in Southeast Asia.



U.S. authorities disclosed that the fraudulent activity, identified as a "pig butchering" crypto-investment scam, involved manipulating unsuspecting individuals online to invest in deceptive cryptocurrency schemes, according to Reuters.



In June, the U.S. Secret Service seized the cryptocurrency from an account that had been set up under the name Wang Yicheng. In a Massachusetts federal court, U.S. officials put the crypto's worth at $500,000. A November 21 complaint described how the funds were tracked to a Massachusetts victim.

Large-Scale Crypto Scam

A recent report shed light on Wang's involvement, identifying him as a businessman who cultivated relationships with members of Thailand's law enforcement and political elite.



The Reuters report disclosed that a crypto account under Wang's name had received over $90 million in recent years, with at least $9.1 million linked to a crypto wallet associated with pig-butchering scams, as reported by U.S. blockchain analysis firm TRM Labs.



The article highlighted specific cases, including a California man who fell victim to the scam, losing approximately $2.7 million. Another resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts, was allegedly defrauded of about $478,000 worth of crypto, diverted into two crypto accounts, one of which belonged to Wang.



Since 2020, Wang's account has received over $90 million, according to U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Heidi Robles' affidavit. Robles remarked that such high activity indicated control by a criminal organization, suggesting money laundering of stolen funds.



Despite attempts to seek comments from Wang, there has been no response. The head of the Thai police's Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau declined to comment on the matter.



Wang was affiliated with the Thai-Asia Economic Exchange Trade Association, a trade group that distanced itself from Wang, asserting that his business and personal affairs were unrelated to the association. The group clarified that Wang was no longer part of their organization, and they had severed contact with him.



A U.S. civil forfeiture case sought court consent to confiscate seized assets tied to the alleged violation. The case has no US criminal charges as of November.

Read Also: Adobe Unveils Spectrum 2: Redefining Design With a Focus on Accessibility and Fun



Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy highlighted the use of civil forfeitures to recover funds stolen through crypto fraud schemes, emphasizing law enforcement's adaptability in dealing with cryptocurrency transactions.



Notably, in October, the Chinese government took action against cybercrime by arresting several fraudsters in Myanmar, aiming to curb the rising trend of online scams targeting its citizens.

Be Vigilant About Crypto Scams

According to The Hindu, here is some advice from security professionals on how to avoid falling for cryptocurrency scams:

Avoid online giveaways, crypto "airdrops," and deals that seem too good to be true.

Report profiles encouraging crypto investments on dating apps or social media. Be cautious of crypto scam projects advertising on reputable platforms.

Invest in crypto assets only if you understand the technology or seek professional advice.

Verify crypto investment websites for accuracy and contact details.

Resolve customer service issues privately and through official channels. Avoid sharing sensitive details in exchange for cash or crypto.

Related Article: How Do I Make an Extra $1,000 Per Month?

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Toyota Financial Services (TFS), a financial subsidiary of the popular automaker Toyota Motor Corporation, is warning customers it suffered a data breach that exposed personal details, including bank account information, in the attack (via BleepingComputer).

For those unaware, some of TFSs systems in Europe and Africa suffered a ransomware attack last month.

The Medusa ransomware gang claimed responsibility for the attack and listed TFS as its data leak site on the dark web.

The group demanded that the firm pay a US $8 million ransom in 10 days to delete data allegedly stolen from the Japanese company, with the option to pay $10,000 for a days extension.

To support its claim, the ransomware gang also posted screenshots of several documents, alongside a file tree of all the data exfiltrated.

It included financial documents, spreadsheets, hashed account passwords, purchase invoices, passport scans, cleartext user IDs and passwords, staff email addresses, internal organization charts, financial performance reports, agreements, and more.

Toyota Motor Corporation is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 million vehicles per year, Medusas leak site said, which included a brief description of the hack.

The leaked data is from Toyota Financial Services in Germany. Toyota Deutschland GmbH is an affiliated company held by Toyota Motor Europe (TME) in Brussels/Belgium and located in Koln (Cologne).

Following the threat of data leak by Medusa ransomware, a Toyota spokesperson confirmed to BleepingComputer that it has detected unauthorized access on some of its systems in Europe and Africa.

Back then, TFS did not confirm if any of its data was stolen in the breach but said that it had taken some systems offline to mitigate risk and to aid its investigations.

It appears that Toyota has not given in to the demands of the Medusa ransomware gang, as all the leaked data has been published on Medusas extortion portal on the dark web.

Earlier this month, Toyota Kreditbank GmbH (TKG) in Germany was identified as one of the affected divisions, admitting that certain TKG files were accessed by hackers during the attack.

The breach notification letters that were sent in German to Toyotas affected customers were accessed by German news outlet Heise.

It informs them that the compromised information in the data breach based on the ongoing investigation includes first and last names, residential addresses, contract information, lease-purchase details, and IBAN (International Bank Account Number).

Since the internal investigation is still ongoing, there are chances that the hackers may have also accessed additional information other than the above.

Toyota has promised its affected customers that it would promptly update them should the internal investigation disclose further data exposure.
COLOMBO, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government has introduced a hotline for victims of cybercrime to lodge complaints, a state minister said on Tuesday.

State Minister of Technology Kanaka Herath told parliament that victims can submit complaints by dialing 101.

Herath said that the government will again present to parliament the Online Safety Bill, which will tackle online crime.

The state minister also said they are taking steps to boost digitization through legislation and better cooperation with the private sector.

Sri Lanka has its national center for cyber security to create a resilient and trusted cyber security ecosystem that will enable Sri Lankan citizens, businesses and government to realize the benefit of digitalization. 
BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- A team of geneticists has assembled a complete human genome reference for Han Chinese, the first of its kind and which could potentially promote precision medicine in China.

The telomere-to-telomere (T2T) gapless diploid genome sequence of a healthy male individual, named T2T-YAO, contained two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent, and the Y-chromosome that passes only from male parents to male offspring.

A complete and accurate reference genome has been a long-standing goal in the biomedical research community since the initiation of the Human Genome Project three decades ago.

A similar work, T2T-CHM13, published in 2022 by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, fulfilled 8 percent of the previously unknown highly repetitive region in the human genome.

However, it was of European-origin and without the Y-chromosome, thus not enough for representing all individuals worldwide.

The scientists from Peking University People's Hospital and Beijing Institute of Genomics (BIG) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, collected samples from an ancient village in Hongtong County in Shanxi Province in the north of China, a place believed to be a starting point of the countrywide mass migration in around the late 14th century.

The YAO part of the name stems from the sampling point located near the ruins of the capital of the legendary Chinese emperor Yao, while T2T stands for telomere-to-telomere or end-to-end sequence of all chromosomes in the genome.

The quality of YAO sequencing is the best among all currently available human genome assemblies, according to the study published in the journal Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics.

Also, this version with a single set of chromosomes has reached a high quality of fewer than one error per 29.5 million basepairs, which is "generally better than that of T2T-CHM13," said Kang Yu, a scientist from BIG.

GENETIC DISCREPANCY

At the early stage of gene sequencing, scientists found a strong similarity between human genes and those of chimpanzees and even rodents. Also, based on partial human genomes that contain mainly protein-coding genes in previous studies, it had been believed that the genome differences between individuals of different races were only 0.1 percent, which meant that all humans could share a single reference genome.

However, a comparative analysis conducted by the Chinese team has revealed that about 11 percent of YAO's genome is not alignable to that of T2T-CHM13, with about 3,000 different genes in each genome, a discrepancy much wider than previously estimated, said Gao Zhancheng from Peking University People's Hospital, the paper's correspondence author.

The significant discrepancies between the individual genomes of the two human populations in the study are mainly attributed to the mass of non-coding DNA, accounting for nearly 99 percent of the genome, he added.

Recently, some of those non-coding DNA sequences were found to serve important functional roles, such as in the regulation of gene expression, while the functions of other non-coding DNA remain unknown.

Gao and his collaborators have found that YAO is mostly of East Asian origin and admixed with sporadic predicted markers of South Asia, Europe, and America.

The markers from South Asia are a little more than those stemming from Europe and America, revealing greater genetic exchange between the East Asian and South Asian ethnic groups, according to the study.

In addition, the haplotype of Y-chromosome in YAO, a predominant type in China and Asia, has also been identified in ancient DNA samples from a Neolithic site in the nearby Shaanxi Province dating back to approximately 4,000 years ago, which suggests a potential genetic continuity in the region from the earliest days of human habitation in this part of China.

The reference human genome is known as a genetic "navigation map" widely used in human genetics and medical research, and the great genome discrepancies among ethnic groups suggest that YAO is a more appropriate reference genome for Han Chinese.

The YAO genome can provide more accurate gene and mutation information for the Han Chinese population in establishing a technical system and quality benchmark for clinical research such as genetic disease diagnosis, disease risk prediction, cancer studies, and precision medicine in China, commented Cheng Jing from Tsinghua University, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. 
Eleven kilometers into the depths: China says it wants to drill into the Earth's mantle with a special ship

According to the study, crocodiles are romantic lovers  and speak a "language of love"

Five New Restaurants and Travelers Who Are Going to Be Very Familiar This Year

Mantequeria Bermejo, the centennial trade that has gone viral for a few horns

Google will probably fail with lawsuit against billions in fine from the European Union

Michaela May, Gisela Schneeberger and Jutta Speidel: "The image of women on television is underground"

Why is South Africa's complaint against Israel before the Court of Justice the most important of all?

Osaka-Kansai Expo: Bringing food into the venue is prohibited in principle, and final adjustments are made

Aida Artiles, yogi and model: "Reading and running on the beach gives me life"

The shadow of Paco de Lucia is infinite: the genius that no one has ever met

'The President should shut his face': Anouk Grinberg angry with Emmanuel Macron after his comments on Depardieu

(m+) Artificial intelligence: How Vokswagen, Mercedes and BMW want to score points with AI in their cars

Umea Basket in financial crisis: "Happy if we survive the rest of the season"

Umea Basket in financial crisis: "Happy if we survive the rest of the season"

Sweden is out of the World Junior Championships: "Has more in it"

Hilda Andersson on the cruciate ligament injury: "Remember that it will be difficult"

Flight to the Africa Cup of Nations: Gambia national football team has to make an emergency landing

In the fight against wind and frost: Derbusheva and Bektuganov became champions of Russia in biathlon in the super sprint

Despite the fiasco  Bjorn Ferry believes in Sweden's chance of a medal in the World Championships

Flight to the Africa Cup of Nations: Gambia national football team has to make an emergency landing

The national football team will compete in the Asian Cup again after 5 years, will it work this time?

Sergio Herrera: "If the opponent's crowd hesitates me, I bite them, I laugh... Someone has told me 'you're the dumbest guy in the league.'"

The mystery of asthmatic champions: Why do 20% of athletes have respiratory problems?

The Ministry of Finance of Russia will sell currency and gold for 69,1 billion rubles

The government now justifies the pact with Junts on the exit of companies "to avoid fiscal engineering" from which they left

Planas rules out lowering taxes on more foods and encourages the 'super' to lower the price of oil from now on

Cottbus: Olaf Scholz is greeted by farmers' protests at the opening of the railway plant

Bitcoin: Is it possible and recommended to invest via funds?

The "dragon content" of the e-commerce platform has surged, and the atmosphere has not yet been full

Train tickets for the first day of the Spring Festival are open today, and the rules have changed!

Grifols is not convincing: there are no concrete explanations for analysts and the stock is once again plummeting

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine withdrew from the Rada a bill on new rules of mobilization

US election campaign: Trump basks in the sun at Fox, DeSantis and Haley throw mud at each other

Customers critical of Vytag after the cold weather  The Swedish Consumer Agency is reviewing the company

Milei writes to Pope Francis, showers him with praise and invites him to visit Argentina

State Department: The United States, together with the G7, will make decisions on the use of Russia's assets

Police and Civil Guards demand that Marlaska stop the "scrapping of the State" after the new pact with Junts to cede migration

The Campo de Gibraltar applies a "drastic drop" in water pressure that leads to cuts during the night

Qatar Charity launches two projects in the name of the martyrs Hamza Al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya

Aqaba summit calls for cessation of Israeli aggression and warns of the seriousness of the situation in the West Bank

Israeli writer: Our borders will extend and we will take Mecca, Medina and Mount Sinai

Russia has told Ecuador that the transfer of its equipment to the United States would be an unfriendly step

Hamas: We will not allow the occupation and its supporters to interfere in the future of the Gaza Strip

 Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
AMMAN, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- A Jordanian border guard was killed and another wounded in an armed clash with smugglers along the Syria-Jordan border early Tuesday, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

The smugglers were intercepted while trying to transport a substantial quantity of narcotics from Syria into Jordan by exploiting the poor visibility in thick fog, Petra quoted a source from the Jordanian Armed Forces as saying.

Several smugglers were killed during the clash, and the rest fled to Syrian territory, according to the source. Enditem.
Details of settlements entered into by BP, Hilcorp and Shell with Cameron Parish and the state of Louisiana involving a coastal damages lawsuit purportedly worth billions of dollars are being allowed to remain hidden indefinitely from the public by a protective order issued Friday by a Cameron Parish judge.
Expert investors have revealed their pick of companies listed on the Australian sharemarket that could reward investors in the new year and beyond.

The companies have differing risk-versus-return profiles, from those that would not look amiss in a portfolio of older investors mostly looking for income, to those for investors with very long investment time frames who can take more risk.

Transurban, which builds and operates toll roads in Australia and North America, is one of the picks of Atlas Funds Managements Hugh Dive. Credit: Steven Siewert

Michael Gable, the founder of Fairmont Equities, is positive about the Australian sharemarket. Inflation is trending down, interest rates will eventually be lowered and that will be good news for shares, he says.

Gable likes BHP, which should continue to pay high dividends for the next few years, while also seeing an appreciation in its share price.
Lehrmanns barrister, Matthew Richardson, SC, put to Llewellyn that he was effectively reassuring Higgins and Sharaz that Ten would do a number on Bruce. Llewellyn said this was a ridiculous suggestion and was completely incorrect. Llewellyn said earlier on Wednesday that Sharaz had provided him with two email addresses to contact Lehrmann, including a hotmail address. He said Sharaz had told him he was certain the hotmail address was correct and on that basis Llewellyn was very confident. Richardson put to Llewellyn that he could have sought comment from Lehrmann before Friday, February 12, 2021, at 2.45pm, when he sent an email to the hotmail address followed by a text to a mobile number. This was three days before the broadcast. Yes, but I didnt need to, Llewellyn said.

Loading He said it was a very false statement when Richardson suggested the questions emailed to Lehrmann were not made in the spirit of genuine inquiry. Of course its not just going through the motions. Thats not how I do my job, Llewellyn said. Richardson said: I want to suggest you didnt really want to reach Mr Lehrmann. Llewellyn disagreed, and said he called Lehrmann twice in the morning on February 15 on a mobile number when he had not received a response to his email. He said in an affidavit that he also sent a follow-up email to the hotmail address and a second address.

Timing of Tens questions to Cash and Reynolds Llewellyn, a former supervising producer of SBS Dateline program, was also asked about the timing of questions he put to Higgins former bosses, senators Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash, on February 12, 2021  three days before the broadcast. He said this was a super reasonable timeframe. He said that Higgins was terrified and very, very worried that the story was going to be somehow stopped by the government. She was worried that other people would hear about her story, report it in a way that was not first-hand and the story would be, you know, out, and out of control. Bruce Lehrmann outside the Federal Court in Sydney on Wednesday. Credit: Kate Geraghty Justice Michael Lee asked Llewellyn if he had a view about whether it was open to the government to stop such a story, and Llewellyn referred to the possibility of an injunction or complaint.

Asked by Richardson if it was a commercial decision not to seek comment earlier from Reynolds and Cash, Llewellyn said: No, thats not how journalism works. Forced to choose Llewellyn was asked a series of questions about the assertion in the introduction to The Project episode, which said: Tonight, claims of rape, roadblocks to a police investigation, and a young woman forced to choose between her career and the pursuit of justice. Richardson put to him that there were serious inconsistencies in Higgins account of how Reynolds and her then-chief of staff, Fiona Brown, had responded to her allegations.

I didnt think there were any, Llewellyn said. He said it was murky and disagreed with Richardson that there was real doubt by the time of the broadcast about the claim Higgins job was on the line if she went to police, based on responses the government sent Ten. Texts with Wilkinson In an affidavit filed in court, Llewellyn said he received a message from Wilkinson on January 19, 2021, which said: I have an explosive political story for Sunday Project  were going huge with it. She urged Llewellyn to call me when you can.

Llewellyn, who was then on leave, responded on January 20 that year: Hi Lisa Sounds intriguing!  can jump on it from Friday if needed? Wilkinson replied: It is an extraordinary cover-up  The woman at the centre of it all is ready to talk. She is based in Canberra. We can fly her up. Would you be good for a meeting with her on Monday? Brittany Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann at court. Credit: Nikki Short Lehrmann not named Lehrmann was not named in Tens interview and a preliminary issue in the case is whether he was identified via other means.

Richardson put to Llewellyn on Wednesday that Ten deliberately put in enough detail to identify Lehrmann. Completely false, Llewellyn replied. It was very important to note that they were in the same office and he had a more senior position, Llewellyn said. If the court finds Lehrmann was identified, Ten and Wilkinson are seeking to rely on defences of truth and qualified privilege. Qualified privilege relates to publications of public interest and requires a media outlet to show it acted reasonably. The evidence of Llewellyn and Wilkinson is directly relevant to that defence. Sexual assault charge dropped Lehrmanns ACT Supreme Court trial for sexual assault was aborted last year due to juror misconduct. The charge against Lehrmann was later dropped altogether owing to concerns about Higgins mental health.
A mega health regulator will be established to rapidly respond to crises in areas such as IVF, pest control, vaping and radiation safety as the Victorian government increases its capacity to tackle emerging medical and safety issues.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas told this masthead on Tuesday many of the Health Departments watchdog functions would be centralised in a new super-team of regulators  called the Health Regulator  within the year to better direct resources to where they were needed.

The states IVF and fertility industry will be overseen by the new body. Credit: iStock

Its actually just trying to make sure that we deliver a fit-for-purpose modern regulator that makes it easier for people to do the right thing, she said.

When you have got regulation spread across all these internal regulators, we know its hard. Its hard for people to know who to ring, where to get the information, [where] to look on the website.
HANOI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's farm produce exports to China have recorded speedy growth so far this year, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported Monday.

The shipments of those products are predicted to keep increasing in the coming time, according to the report.

The agency cited statistics from the Vietnam Vegetable and Fruit Association showing that Vietnam's durian export to China shot up by 161.8 percent at certain points of time.

Vietnamese authorities are boosting negotiations with China to export frozen durian and fresh coconut via the official channel to this neighboring market, Dang Phuc Nguyen, the association's secretary general said.

Vietnam's sales of rice to China have also risen sharply, by 55.2 percent year on year during the 11 months. The same upward trend has also been recorded in the shipment of cashew nuts, coffee, and animal feed to this market, by 11.4 - 42.3 percent.

According to VNA, Vietnam has witnessed record growth in the export of many farm produce to China thanks to protocols signed between the two countries. 
Ballarat Clarendon College has claimed the title of Victorias top VCE performer for the second year running, marking the third time in five years it has finished best in class.

The regional private school was also ranked first in 2019 and 2022, based on its median study score of 39 and the percentage of study scores that were 40 or higher.

Ballarat Clarendon students (from left) Benjamin Nguyen, Georgina Kemp, Tom Kirby, Paidamoyo Ndoro, Lucy Chester and Lucy Richardson with principal David Shepherd (centre). Credit: Justin McManus

It was the only school in the state to achieve a median study score of 39 for the year, marking the fourth time in the past decade that a school has achieved this benchmark.

Regional schools and those outside of Melbournes inner city also had plenty to celebrate this year, with several making it to the list of top-performing government schools.
West Australian Premier Roger Cook claims well-resourced environmental groups are using a condemned practice of splitting up Aboriginal traditional owners to help bolster their legal challenges of major resource projects.

The premiers comments enraged Mardudhunera woman and Save Our Songlines founder Raelene Cooper, who is at the centre of a legal challenge of seismic blasting approvals for Woodsides Scarborough project.

Raelene Cooper was angered by comments from Premier Roger Cook that environmental groups were using traditional owners to challenge big projects. Credit: Woop Woop Pictures

Cook accused environmental groups of engaging in green lawfare using a divide-and-conquer strategy he saw mining companies use in the early 2000s, when he worked for Aboriginal corporations before entering politics.

We now see environmental groups undertaking that same strategy that weve all condemned in the early 2000s, whereby they pull people away from the group and use that to undermine their own self-determination in relation to projects, he told a Business News breakfast in Perth on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Australia supported a reworded resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and expressing grave concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population. It also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and that all parties comply with international law. With the US voting against the resolution and the United Kingdom abstaining, the move put Australia on the opposing side to its closest security partners but in line with other democracies such as Japan, India and Canada. Efforts by the US and Austria to amend the motion to include criticism of Hamas failed to obtain the two-thirds majority support needed to pass.

The vote came as disagreements between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spilled into public view, with Biden warning Israel that it was losing international support for its campaign against Hamas, and Netanyahu rejecting American plans for post-war Gaza. Biden wants the Palestinian Authority, which has administrative control over parts of the West Bank, to govern Gaza, but Netanyahu has rejected this idea. Australia has voted in support of a ceasefire in Gaza at the UN General Assembly. Credit: @UN_News_Centre/X Australia was among the 153 nations to vote in favour of the ceasefire resolution, with 10 voting against and 23 abstaining. The vote is non-binding, but will increase pressure on Israel to scale back its military campaign, which has led to over 18,000 deaths in Gaza.

Thirty-one other nations joined Australia in voting for the first time in favour of a ceasefire, compared to the vote on October 27. Ceasefire or pause Wong said Australia would have preferred that the resolution condemned Hamass attacks against innocent civilians, noting that Australia supported the failed amendment on this issue. Australia has consistently affirmed Israels right to defend itself and in doing so, we have said Israel must respect international humanitarian law. Civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, must be protected, Wong told reporters in Adelaide.

The resolution we have supported is consistent with the position we have previously outlined on these issues. We see the pauses as a critical step on the path to sustainable and permanent ceasefire. As I have said previously, such a ceasefire cannot be one-sided. Israels ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, urged member nations to vote against the resolution, saying: I honestly dont know how can someone look in the mirror and support a resolution that does not condemn Hamas and does not even mention Hamas by name. The top Palestinian representative in Australia, Izzat Salah Abdulhadi, welcomed the decision as very important and good news for international law and the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Im really surprised, I thought Australia would abstain, said Abdulhadi, who received no hint of the shift during a meeting with Wong last week in Canberra. This sends a strong message that violence is not the way and that the only way to achieve a comprehensive peace is a political solution. Australian Palestine Advocacy Network President Nasser Mashni said the governments change was testament to the hundreds of thousands of Australians who marched, rallied and chanted demanding an immediate ceasefire. A ceasefire is the bare minimum the Australian government must be calling for  the government must now strengthen its position further, he said. Labor cabinet minister Ed Husic, who is Muslim, said on social media that Australias UN vote was part of an important step by the international community to protect and save innocent lives.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham, who is visiting Israel in a cross-party delegation, said it was weak and appalling that the government had supported a motion that did not criticise Hamas. Despite initially stating its support for Israels right to self-defence, the Albanese government keeps changing Australias stance and undermining Israels position, he said. NSW Liberal Senator Dave Sharma, a former ambassador to Israel, blasted the resolution as one-sided, saying: Penny Wong has capitulated to Labors noisy and activist base, and has abandoned principle and our strong relationship with Israel. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a joint statement with NZ leader Christopher Luxon and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The prime ministers joint statement

Earlier on Wednesday, Albanese, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued a joint statement supporting a pause in the fighting in Gaza and efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire. The statement condemned Hamas October 7 attacks and recognised Israels right to defend itself, but went on to ask that Israel respect humanitarian law in doing so. The recent pause in hostilities allowed for the release of more than 100 hostages and supported an increase in humanitarian access to affected civilians, it said. Loading We want to see this pause resumed and support urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire. This cannot be one-sided. Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields, and lay down its arms.
International students are Australias fourth-largest export industry, with the higher education system reaping $34 billion each year from tuition fees alone.

For the university sector, which successive federal governments have starved of funding, foreign students have increasingly become a financial lifeline, now making up just over a quarter of all enrolments. As a marker of the sectors growing reliance, the profits from overseas students contribute the largest chunk (about $4.2 billion) of universities research funding.

The Albanese government is cracking down on student visas. Credit: Peter Braig

In the vocational education sector, lax oversight of student visas led to a blossoming of private colleges that brought in tens of thousands of students who had little intention of studying, but instead came to Australia to enter the workforce.

However, as pressure grows on the federal government over the considerable rise in immigration since the end of the pandemic, triggered largely by a jump in international students, it has found itself having to crack down on a sector that for too long has been willing to take the dollars but unwilling to take responsibility for the obvious rorting of the system.
Several NSW Labor ministers, MPs and candidates promised hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of funding as part of the governments controversial grant program to community organisations they were personally involved in.

The Local Small Commitments Allocation program saw every Labor MP and candidate in each of the states 93 electorates during the March state election given $400,000 to distribute to local community projects in their area, pending a probity checking process.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Harris nominated Soldiers Beach SLSC for $20,000  a club where he previously served as president and is still a member. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

So far, according to documents released to the parliament in November, 48 of the 439 projects nominated by Labor MPs and candidates have been approved, with others still being assessed or rejected.

The documents show Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Harris committed $20,000 to the Soldiers Beach Surf Life Saving Club  a club he was a former president and current member of  for a new paint job.
Im guilty of this red flag behaviour myself. Before and after every trip, I flop my duffle bag on my bed to pack and unpack. Its the easiest way to access both my closet and laundry basket. Its also a disgusting concept to many, many people.

Where has your suitcase been? In which case, do you really want it sitting on your bed? Credit: iStock

When I posed the question of this weeks column on Instagram earlier this week, dozens of people replied with their rage.

This is a crime! one person wrote.

I just threw up a little in my mouth, said another.
While most of the false claims circulating online about the war didnt require AI to create and came from more conventional sources, technological advances are coming with increasing frequency and little oversight. Thats made the potential of AI to become another form of weapon starkly apparent, and offered a glimpse of whats to come during future conflicts, elections and other big events. Loading Its going to get worse  a lot worse  before it gets better, said Jean-Claude Goldenstein, CEO of CREOpoint, a tech company based in San Francisco and Paris that uses AI to assess the validity of online claims. The company has created a database of the most viral deepfakes to emerge from Gaza. Pictures, video and audio: with generative AI its going to be an escalation you havent seen. In some cases, photos from other conflicts or disasters have been repurposed and passed off as new. In others, generative AI programs have been used to create images from scratch, such as one of a baby crying amidst bombing wreckage that went viral in the conflicts earliest days. Other examples of AI-generated images include videos showing supposed Israeli missile strikes, or tanks rolling through ruined neighbourhoods, or families combing through rubble for survivors.

In many cases, the fakes seem designed to evoke a strong emotional reaction by including the bodies of babies, children or families. In the bloody first days of the war, supporters of both Israel and Hamas alleged the other side had victimised children and babies; deepfake images of wailing infants offered photographic evidence that was quickly held up as proof. The propagandists who create such images are skilled at targeting peoples deepest impulses and anxieties, said Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, a non-profit that has tracked disinformation from the war. Whether its a deepfake baby, or an actual image of an infant from another conflict, the emotional impact on the viewer is the same. Detection and trying to pull this stuff down is no longer the solution. We need to have a much bigger solution. David Doermann, AI expert The more abhorrent the image, the more likely a user is to remember it and to share it, unwittingly spreading the disinformation further. People are being told right now: look at this picture of a baby, Ahmed said. The disinformation is designed to make you engage with it.

Around the world a number of start-up tech firms are working on new programs that can sniff out deepfakes, affix watermarks to images to prove their origin, or scan text to verify any specious claims that may have been inserted by AI. Loading The next wave of AI will be: how can we verify the content that is out there? How can you detect misinformation? How can you analyse text to determine if it is trustworthy? said Maria Amelie, co-founder of Factiverse, a Norwegian company that has created an AI program that can scan content for inaccuracies or bias introduced by other AI programs. Such programs would be of immediate interest to educators, journalists, financial analysts and others interested in rooting out falsehoods, plagiarism or fraud. Similar programs are being designed to sniff out doctored photos or video. While this technology shows promise, those using AI to lie are often a step ahead, according to David Doermann, a computer scientist who led an effort at the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency to respond to the national security threats posed by AI-manipulated images.
Abbas Ganbay

"We expect progress on long-term climate finance at COP29 in Azerbaijan," President of the Green Party in Senegal Baye Salla Mar told reporters on the sidelines of the COP28 conference in Dubai (UAE), Azernews reports.

"We thank the UAE for the successful organization of COP28. Here we have great progress in terms of contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund. We congratulate Azerbaijan as the host of COP29. We hope that logistical problems will be solved and significant progress in long-term climate finance will be noted," the Party President emphasized.

It should be noted that the Eastern European Regional Group has chosen Azerbaijan to host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which was officially announced on 11 December during the COP28 conference in Dubai. COP29 is scheduled to be held in Azerbaijan in November 2024.

It should be recalled that in addition to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Bulgaria have put forward their candidatures. However, on 7 December 2023, after direct negotiations between the Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Armenia decided to withdraw its candidacy in support of Azerbaijan. Bulgaria followed Armenia's example and also withdrew its candidature.
This photo taken on Nov. 28, 2023 shows a tungsten washing and sorting plant in Burera District, Rwanda. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)

KIGALI, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda, despite having abundant mineral deposits, currently mines less than half of its resources. However, the country is determined to enhance its extractives sector by embracing advanced technology to expand mining activities.

Donat Nsengumuremyi, the manager of Mining Extraction and Inspection Division at Rwanda Mines, Gas and Petroleum Board, shared insights into their transformative process. "We have initiated a shift from small-scale to semi-mechanized mining. Our aim is to enhance recovery both during extraction and processing stages."

Nsengumuremyi stressed the need for modern equipment and efficient processes, saying "Encouraging companies to adopt modern technology or utilize methods like controlled explosives enables proper extraction while minimizing waste. Implementing modern processing techniques enhances the recovery of essential minerals."

Official data reveals that Rwanda presently taps into only 30 to 40 percent of its mineral potential. To entice investors, the government has implemented various incentives, including a favorable fiscal regime aimed at increasing profitability within the mining sector, which, in turn, positively impacts other industries.

"We provide technical support to mining operations by offering training to miners and operators, ensuring they possess the necessary skills and understanding. Moreover, we prioritize providing efficient and prompt services to mining operators, creating a conducive and secure environment for conducting business," Nsengumuremyi added.

This strategy has resulted in the attraction of around 150 mining companies and cooperatives, primarily located in southern and western Rwanda.

According to the manager, the government places utmost importance on the safety of workers and environmental protection. "Employing modern mining equipment and techniques, we prioritize the safety of workers and the surrounding community," Nsengumuremyi said, adding that "We conduct comprehensive impact assessments before commencing any mining project. Our aim is to design mitigation measures ensuring operations align with environmental and safety standards."

Rwanda's mineral export revenues have surged from 71 million U.S. dollars in 2010 to over 772 million dollars in 2022. The government's objective is to achieve annual mineral export revenues of 1.5 billion dollars by 2024.

By prioritizing safety, embracing technological advancements and committing to community development, Rwanda's mining sector aims for sustainable growth while benefiting its citizens.

Nsengumuremyi highlighted the government's commitment to improving the livelihoods of mining communities. "Our future orientation in professionalizing mining operations includes social corporate responsibility provisions within mineral agreements," he said.

"We collaboratively identify key activities that contribute to community welfare through discussions with local leaders. Regular monitoring ensures the fulfillment of these commitments," he added. 

Workers sorts out extracted tungsten minerals at a mining facility in Burera District, Northern Province, Rwanda, on Nov. 28, 2023. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 28, 2023 shows the entrance to a mining tunnel in Burera District, Rwanda. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)

Workers inject molten tin into molds for casting at a smelter's facility in Kigali, Rwanda, Nov. 30, 2023. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)
XI'AN, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese court on Tuesday sentenced Sheng Guangzu, former secretary of the leading Party members group and general manager of the formerly-named China Railway Corp., to 15 years in prison for accepting bribes.

Sheng took undue advantage of his former positions between 2004 and 2022 to benefit others in enterprise operations, project contracting, and job promotions and adjustments, accepting 56.66 million yuan (7.96 million U.S. dollars) worth of money and valuables in return, according to the verdict issued by the Baoji Intermediate People's Court in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Sheng was also found guilty of taking advantage of his former posts at China Railway Corp. to seek illegitimate benefits for certain organizations in enterprise operations with the assistance of other state functionaries in 2021, accepting over 7.14 million yuan worth of money and property.

Sheng was fined 6 million yuan and had his illegal gains from bribery recovered and turned over to the state treasury, the court said. 
NEW DELHI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- A bomb scare turned out to be a hoax after search operations in and outside the governor's official residence (locally called Raj Bhavan) in India's southwestern state of Karnataka, police said on Tuesday.

According to police, the bomb threat at the Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka, was received Monday night, following which the premises were searched thoroughly.

Officials said that the National Investigation Agency (NIA)'s control room in Domlur area received a phone call on Monday night, in which an unidentified caller warned the officials that there were explosives planted inside the Raj Bhavan. Immediately after receiving the threat call, NIA officials alerted the local police, which rushed bomb disposal squads and anti-sabotage teams to Raj Bhavan.

Meanwhile, police have ordered a probe into the incident to trace the call and identify the caller.

Earlier this month, around 68 schools in Bengaluru received a bomb threat, prompting school administrations to evacuate students and call police. The threat received via e-mail claimed that explosives had been planted on school premises.

However, nothing suspicious was found during the searches. 
HANOI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, said here on Tuesday that China always sees its ties with Vietnam from a strategic and long-term perspective.

China takes its relations with Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, Xi said when meeting with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

With a view to seeking national development, happiness for the people as well as progress for mankind, Xi said he stands ready to jointly announce with Trong the new positioning of the relationship between the two parties and countries, as well as the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance on the basis of deepening the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. 
FUZHOU, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- University presidents, experts, scholars, and international organizations called for promoting the digitalization of higher education at the recently concluded 2023 Annual International Forum on Higher Education.

More than 800 participants from about 30 countries and regions attended the forum and exchanged views on the digitalization and sustainable development of higher education.

In this era of unprecedented technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, cloud computing, 5G, and the Internet of Things, we need to find ourselves in new ways of how innovation and sustainability can go together, said Shahbaz Khan, director and representative of the UNESCO Beijing Office, in a video speech addressing the forum's opening ceremony.

He said that higher education institutions must be reformed and transformed, as was demanded by the Transforming Education Summit last year.

Vice Minister of Education Wu Yan stressed the necessity of education digitization in promoting education equity and adapting to the new round of scientific and technological revolution.

China has built the world's largest national intelligent education platform for higher education and largest online teaching system for higher education and shared China's experience in MOOC construction and online education with the world, Wu said.

Digital technology is an important way to promote education equity and make the high-quality resources of higher education accessible to all, said Du Yubo, president of the China Association of Higher Education.

A total of 174 universities in central and western China have participated in constructing 810 virtual experimental teaching courses, effectively improving the quality of experimental teaching in western universities and promoting education equity.

Fudan University is systematically applying artificial intelligence to discipline development, talent training, and campus building, according to Qiu Xin, Party secretary of the university.

Fudan University, in cooperation with Alibaba and China Telecom, has built CFFF, the largest cloud-based scientific research intelligent computing platform in Chinese universities, and established Shanghai Intelligent Innovation Center to serve the city based on the computing power of this platform, Qiu said.

While calling for promoting digitization in higher education, the participants also expressed concerns about its challenges to higher education.

The digital transformation journey is not without challenges, Ashraf M. El Shihy, President of Badr University in Cairo, said on the forum. He said ethical considerations, data privacy, and cybersecurity demand careful attention. "Addressing these challenges is essential for the responsible and sustainable implementation of digital technologies in higher education."

Participants also called on universities globally to strengthen cooperation and exchanges to tackle challenges facing the world.

High-quality international exchanges and cooperation are the accelerator and booster for promoting the reform and development of universities, improving the quality of personnel training, and promoting high-level scientific research, said Li Yuanyuan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, at the forum.

Deepening international exchanges and cooperation in higher education and integrating global innovation resources will help solve major scientific problems and tackle common challenges of mankind, he added.

Themed "The Digital Age and Sustainable Development in Higher Education," the 2023 Annual International Forum on Higher Education was held by the China Association of Higher Education and Xiamen University from Dec. 9 to 10. 
If you wanna get all scientific with it, Space.com says: Meteor showers are created when Earth passes through clouds of debris left behind by comets as they move close to the sun.
TIME TO REJECT DirtyDriversOfDivision





By VIJAY PHANSHIKAR :

The attempt is clearly visible on the horizon to drive now a horizontal wedge across the country to create a north-south divide. Not only is it undesirable but fully condemnable -- in the strongest possible terms. For, what is visible is systematic effort to spoil the national harmony by injecting into the popular thought-process the poison of disintegration. And the tool is the overall result of the legislative elections in five States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana (and Mizoram). The driver of this dangerous tool-kit is a bunch of political leaders belonging to different constituents of the I.N.D.I. Alliance formed by Opposition parties. Here are some disturbing points on the divisive narrative: 1. The cultured and secular voters of the South have voted in favour of the secular Congress party by electing it to power in Telangana, as against the backing of the parochial Hindu voters to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- this was stated by a Congress leader and picked up later by several of his colleagues across the party ecosystem in the most shameless manner; 2. The DNA of the Telangana voters is different from the DNA of the Bihar voters (and the Bihar DNA is represented by the outgoing Chief Minister of Telangana Mr. K. Chandrasekara Rao) -- this was stated by the new chief Minister of Telangana, Mr. Revanth Reddy of the Congress party, again in the most brazen manner; 3.





The Gau-Mutra States (!!!) of the North have voted in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), namely Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh -- this was stated by Mr. Senthil Kumar, Lok Sabha Member of Parliament from the Dravida Munethra Kazhagham (DMK). Speaker Mr. Om Birla expunged this remark from the record of the Lok Sabha following strong objections to it by several members. Mr. Senthil Kumar also issued a half-hearted apology, too, for his remark. T hese statements have not come in an off-hand manner -- which is so obvious. These have come also not as part of a political euphoria, so to say. Very clearly, these statements or remarks or observations have come up as part of a tool-kit being operated by some clever agent-provocateurs gunning to poison popular mind and cause north-south divide in the country that will go to Lok Sabha elections in the next four-five months. That the voters will not fall prey to these machinations, is a given of the current national situation, all right. Yet, this happy and positive reality does not allow a pardon to be bestowed upon the drivers of division in the larger Indian society. Embittered by the terrible electoral defeat in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where the Congress party lost power in the most decisive manner, and Madhya Pradesh where it could not whip up an anti-incumbency sentiment against the BJP. Such elements need to be handed down a strong reprimand by way of a massive electoral rejection and political isolation. T his, however, is not a political call.

This is a nationalist call that transcends the barriers and barricades of journalism. This is a call to everybody to identify the enemies of unity and integrity of the country and reject them with a sense of urgency. For, when a conscious effort is made to divide the people in such a brazen manner, the duty it is of common people to rise above the political rubble and show the drivers of division the door. These people who wish to foist on the common people an ugly idea that the people from one part of the country are more polished and secular than those in another part of the country, therefore, need to be taught a terse, no-nonsense lesson. These people are kin of those who had insisted just some time ago that Sanatan Dharma is like a disease such as Dengue. These are also the kin of some who distorted the verses in the holy Shri Ramcharit Manas a few months ago in an attempt to present a distorted picture of the countrys glorious past. These people are also in the kinship of those who ask the Pakistanis to lend them help to oust Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi ....! W hat kind of dirty minds do these people possess?! They know nothing of Indian history. They do not know that Sanatan is endowed with divine glory, with a great tradition of knowledge and refinement of culture, with a philosophy that has remained intact through time of countless thousand years braving all attacks.

They do not know that those who have ever tried to distort or defile Sanatan Dharma have perished in the end. These drivers of division have obviously decided to ignore the reality that from North to South and East to West, India is a united country and artificial and politically-motivated division would not work here. May these people have their own way of distorting the reality of history, but the fact is that the whole of South India is a place dominated by temples and ashrams, and traditional dance and music and other arts, and great stories of warriors and philosophers. These people also have chosen to ignore the fact of history that a little boy Shankar emerged from a small Kerala village named Kaladi and travelled on foot around the whole of the country establishing not just four dhaams and become Adi Shankaracharya but also became a saviour of Hindu Dharma that was facing tough questions about its core principles and values. B ut then, these drivers of division are the supporters of the old and politically-driven theory of an unbridgable difference between the socalled Aryan and the so-called Dravidian cultures.

They are also the propagators of the so-called Aryan Invasion Theory -- that has been proved very scientifically to be totally wrong and baseless with no support whatsoever from any fact from the past. Of course, this Aryan versus Dravidian is an artificial, fully politically-driven division foisted upon the larger Indian society by the elements that have worked hard for long to destroy, demolish the country under totally false pretexts. Time it is now to tell all such people that there are countless numbers of links that bind the north and south of India together -- bonds of love, bonds of history, bonds or culture, bonds of food, bonds of dance, bonds of music, bonds of Sanatan, bonds of common heritage, bonds of common past, bonds of common future ...! Time also it is to assert that India is one place that could not be defeated by any force in history and that the country and its society have stood unitedly against all sorts of invasions not just for a few years but also for a few thousand years. How can a couple of political parties and their shallow pseudo-philosophers then divide the country horizontally? They have no power to do that. They have no idea that they are inviting their doom sooner than later.

May some of such people suggest that Sanatan is a disease. May some others suggest that the Aryans and the Dravidians are different. May some of them call a few North Indian States as Gau Mutra States. But none of these dirty epithets will ever stick. For, the country will never back divisive politics in the long run. The drivers of divisions may register some wins here and there. In the long run, however, the countrys larger society will stand together no matter the propagandist narrative of the dirty minds driven by shallow and narrow political agendas. Y ES, division is the key word of these people who wish to come under a common umbrella of a political configuration of I.N.D.I. Alliance -- though they dont seem to realise that their internal and natural contradictions will stall their unity. However, the point here is not to talk of electoral politics. At this point, one feels like recalling what Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi told the Opposition at the start of the current session of Parliament -- Dont be driven by negativism, understand that the people need development beyond politics...! It is, of course, preposterous to expect the political Opposition to say that the goal of opposing the Prime Minister cannot be a credible, enduring mission. For, what the common people want is a harmonious polity embellished by development-oriented politics in which all segments of the larger society get an equal opportunity to grow. Such people craving to see India become a truly developed global leader by 2047, therefore, will not be driven by attempts of artificial divisions of the society. They are now seeing good signs of real growth and development. Why should they, then, be driven by falsehood and Goebbelsian propaganda? At this point in the national journey, the common people are looking for agents of unity and proponents of integration -- and certainly not the drivers of division. This is the truth of the story of India today.
It was peoples heartfelt wish





Staff Reporter

Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court ruling on Article 370 and said, the verdict reflected the sentiments of the people. The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Union Governments decision to abrogate Article 370, which bestowed a special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and said steps should be taken to conduct the election to the Union Territorys Assembly by September next year. Replying to a question regarding the verdict, Shinde said, Its a verdict of people. The Lal Chowk in Srinagar, where unfurling of Indian flag was a crime, is now free of fear. It is happening due to abrogation of Article 370 in the valley. Speaking to reporters on the Vidhan Bhavan premises, Shinde thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking the step of removing Article 370, adding that the PM did what he promised. Shinde informed the media that a Maharashtra Sadan was also coming up in Kashmir.

The Government of India should assure the people of Jammu and Kashmir proceeding towards Akhanda Bharat which was the dream of Balasaheb Thackeray and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking bold steps to achieve that dream. Replying to the jibe by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on driving a tractor by the Chief Minister in Juhu Beach in Mumbai, the CM Eknath Shinde said, How will someone who bulldozed the development of Mumbai know the difference between a tractor and a beach comber? To mark a cleanliness drive by the State Government at Juhu Beach in Mumbai, Shinde drove a tractor on the beach.

The vehicle was a beach comber used to clean the shores. The Mahayuti is concerned about the environment and as a Chief Minister of the State, it was my responsibility to promote innovative ideas, said Shinde while interacting with media in Vidhan Bhavan premises on Monday. Government of Maharashtra is concerned about farmers and their problems. In recent unseasonal rains, farmers faced losses and the government is standing firmly with them, said the CM. Replying to Thackeray questioning the different stands on Nawab Malik and Praful Patel of NCP, Shinde said the former CM had no right to speak on the issue. Thackeray as CM never removed Malik as minister despite the latter being arrested on serious charges, he said.
Armies of India, Vietnam begin 11-day military drill in Hanoi





NEW DELHI,

THE Indian and Vietnamese armies began an 11-day military exercise in Vietnam on Monday, in sync with the expanding strategic engagement between the two countries against the backdrop of common concerns over Chinas increasingly aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea. The aim of the exercise is to foster a collaborative partnership and promote interoperability between the two forces, the Indian Army said. The joint exercise will help in promoting understanding and interoperability between the two contingents and further strengthen the defence cooperation between the friendly armies, it said. In reflection of the growing strategic ties, India gifted its in-service missile corvette, INS Kirpan, to Vietnam in July. Vietnam, an important country of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), has territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea region. India has oil-exploration projects in the Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea. The military exercise -- VINBAX-23 -- between the two Armies will take place from December 11 to 21 in Hanoi.

The Indian contingent comprises 45 personnel -- 39 from an engineer regiment of the Bengal Engineer Group and six from the Army Medical Corps. The Vietnam People's Army has deployed 45 personnel for the drill. VINBAX was instituted in 2018 and the first edition of the joint military exercise was conducted at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. It is an annual training event conducted alternately in India and Vietnam. The last edition was conducted at the Chandimandir military station in August 2022. The aim of the exercise is to foster collaborative partnership, promote interoperability and share best practices between the two sides under Chapter VII of UN Charter on Peacekeeping Operations, the Indian Army said.
Awesome Assam From insurgency to stability





G P Singh, DGP, Assam; Harmeet Singh, Special DGP, Administration and HQ; Hiren Nath, Addl DG (Special branch); Dr Dhananjay Ghanawat, Asstt IGP (Administration), during an interaction with mediapersons from Maharashtra, at Assam Police Headquarters. (Pic by Kartik Lokhande)

By Kartik Lokhande :

GUWAHATI

FOCUS on N-E - Part-V

As the official data shows, Assam Polices multi-pronged strategy has helped the State see a massive decline in insurgency.

ASSAM. The name brings before ones eyes the picture of a State ravaged by insurgency, progress marred by instability, fear haunting the visitors, protests against alleged police brutality, demonstrations against Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), etc. However, if one visits Assam today, one finds that all these are fast becoming things of the past. In fact, Assam has come a long way since its identity as insurgency-ravaged State to a tourism-wise Awesome Assam stage.





Assam Police, too, is fast evolving from an insurgency-oriented force to a citizen-centric service delivery system. After first travelling through the myriad landscape and getting first-hand experience of buzzing markets, developing highways, facilities for tourists, different flavours of Assams tea, bamboo art-works, cordiality and hospitality, if one visits the headquarters of Assam Police, one realises that Assam Police is indeed evolving very fast towards becoming a conventional police and leaving behind insurgency. As the official data of Assam Police and ground situation show, Assam Polices multi-pronged strategy has helped the State see a massive decline in insurgency. As is known, Assam was ravaged by militancy for over three decades. The militant organisations had been getting support from neighbouring countries and had bases on foreign soil. During the tumultuous period of over three decades, Assam saw emergence of more than 60 militant outfits belonging to different ethnic groups. Some of these groups wanted secession from India and some others demanded separate statehood under the Constitution of India. Obviously, the clashes took their toll on development and stability of Assam. In 30 years, Assam saw loss of life for 4,132 civilians and 921 security forces personnel. Of course, the same period also saw elimination of 3,209 militants, as per the official records.

We adopted a unified command and four-pronged strategy to fight militancy. We can say that we have been successful in our mission, said Gyanendra Pratap Singh, Director General of Police (DGP) of Assam, in an interaction. There have been large-scale surrender and ceasefire agreements between the Assam Government and the militants. So far, total 16,916 cadres have disbanded their outfits and joined the mainstream of society. Hiren Nath, Additional DGP (Special Branch), elaborated that the four-pronged strategy included constant counter-insurgency operations and area domination, peace overtures and negotiations, ceasefire/surrender and rehabilitation, and psychological operations and community policing. The efforts made under the unified command structure involving police and other agencies bore fruits. Under the counter-insurgency operations, total 9,637 sophisticated arms, 1,91,293 rounds of ammunition, and 3,281.715 kgs of explosives were recovered by the security forces from the extremists.

The surrendered militants of different outfits laid down 1,618 sophisticated arms, 25,892 rounds of ammunition, and 33.43 kgs of explosives. At present, according to official data with the Assam Police, five groups are under Suspension of Operations. Since 2020, three accords have been signed to restore peace in Assam. These include the Bodo Accord signed on January 27, 2020; the Karbi Accord signed on September 4, 2021; and the Adivasi Accord signed on September 15, 2022. Several militant groups have signed the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) since 2003. Three groups signed the MoS till 2012  Bodo Liberation Tigers in 2003, United Peoples Democratic Solidary in 2011, and Dima Halam Daogah-Dilip Nunisa Group and Dima Halam Daogah-Joel Group in 2012. However, since 2020, the process has gained momentum. In 2020, National Democratic Front of Bodoland signed the MoS. It was followed by Karbi groups viz. KLNLF, KPLT, PDCK, and UPLA signing the MoS in 2021. The next year, in 2022, Adivasi groups viz. APA, AANLA, ACMA, BCF, and STF signed the MoS. In 2023, Dimasa National Liberation Army has signed the memorandum. According to Dr Dhananjay Ghanwat, Assistant Inspector General of Police (Administration), some more groups under ceasefire and Suspension of Operations are awaiting signing of the MoS with the Government of India and the Government of Assam. These groups include ULFA (PT), KLO/KLA, KRA, UKDA and HPC (D), BRAU, and UDLF (BV). A few days ago, four cadres of ULFA-Independent also surrendered before the Assam Police. Even the AFSPA, said G P Singh, has been removed from all districts except four since March this year.

This year, 2023, has been a remarkable year in past 32 years. For, no kidnapping or killing of a civilian by militants has taken place. We have been successful in weapons removal from criminals and militants, he said proudly. He attributed credit to Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam, for great leadership and quick decision-making, with focus on action against organised crime, militancy, drug abuse, rhino poaching. Now, said Hiren Nath, the big task of rehabilitating the surrendered militants in mainstream is being implemented with renewed focus in the past two years. Under the Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy of Central Government and Swawalamban scheme of State Government, so far, 8,756 former cadres of various outfits have been rehabilitated in the past two years. These include the highest 4,203 of NDFB, 1,926 of Karbi groups, 1,182 of Adivasi groups, and remaining of other outfits. The younger ones are buying land and vehicles. Some have set up shops. Patanjali group will be providing 200 cows free to NLFB and UGPU militants. We have truly come a long way in restoring peace in Assam, he added. People are a greater focus area of Assam Police now.

Harmeet Singh, Special DGP (Administration and Headquarters), said that there were several citizen-centric initiatives including DGP Grievance Cells up to district level, AI-based big data system, evidence management system, social media response etc. In short, Assam Police have begun a journey towards democratisation of police force through massive outreach. At the same time, Assam Police have developed personnel information management system, giving weekly offs to personnel, and has developed zero tolerance towards corruption, moral turpitude, alcohol consumption on duty. And, Assam Police is walking the talk too. In one year, Assam Police have relieved 18 personnel under compulsory retirement scheme on charges of delinquency etc, dismissed 88 on charges of indulging in illegal activities and going against law. Besides, in a bid to strengthen police force, 586 have been given voluntary retirement scheme benefits on health and other grounds. But, the Assam Polices war on drugs also is paving the way for saving younger generation from the drugs menace and securing their contribution in the States development and progress. (To be continued)
BJP springs surprise: Mohan Yadav is new MP CM





By Bhavana Shukla

Bhopal,

The 58-year-old OBC leaders name surprised many as his name was not among the list of contenders which was making rounds in political circles Shivraj Singh Chouhan resigns as MP CM

In a surprise selection, the Bharatiya Janata Party has unanimously chosen Mohan Yadav, an MLA from Ujjain South, as the partys Legislative Party leader in a meeting held in presence of Central Observers at State Headquarters in Bhopal on Monday evening. This has brought an end to the suspense of who would become the CM of the State. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Mohan Yadav on Monday said the swearing-in ceremony of the new Government will take place on December 13. Mohan Yadav has replaced Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the new CM of Madhya Pradesh. A member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Ujjain for three terms, Yadav served as Higher Education Minister in the previous Government under Chouhan. Now, he will succeed Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who completed four terms as the CM of the State. In his first reaction after being announced as Chief Minister, Yadav thanked the State as well as Central leadership.

He said I am a small worker of the party. I thanked the State as well as Central leadership for bestowing responsibility in me. With your love and support, I will try to fulfill all my responsibilities. The 58-year-old OBC leaders name surprised many as his name was not among the list of contenders which was making rounds in political circles. Words of anything can happen in the air (kuchh bhi ho sakata hai). The announcement of Yadavs name as Chief Minister came at around 4.40 pm after a key meeting of the BJPs newly-elected MLAs. Although his political journey began as student leader. He joined Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). His stint in politics got momentum in the year 2013 when he was first elected as an MLA. He was the chief of the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation from the year 2011-13. He was re-elected in the 2018 Assembly elections. Yadavs influence in the States political scene was further strengthened when he took oath as a Cabinet Minister in the government led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 2, 2020. The BJP contested the recently concluded Assembly polls without declaring any CM face.

The party won a landslide victory, securing 163 out of the total 230 seats and retained power in the State. Since the day election results out, there were speculations about CMs were making rounds. Speaking to The Hitavada, Senior BJP leader and MLA from Indore-1 seat, Kailash Vijayvargiya said Under Modijis leadership New India is emerging. It symbolises new energy, New hope and journey of development will attend new heights. Madhya Pradesh Under Yadavs leadership will fulfill Modijis guarantee. Responding about Yadavs name, BJP leaders expressed hope that his leadership will take the State to new heights. He comes from the OBC background.

This is a moment of pride and he is a mass leader. After winning from Ujjain South seat, Yadav had stated on his tweet that This victory by 13,000 votes is dedicated to every person of my area. Every sister, every God-like worker of BJP and organisation. Mohan Yadav was born on March 25, 1965, in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. He has been associated with BJP for many years. In the recent 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, Mohan Yadav became MLA from Ujjain South seat by winning against Congress candidate Chetan Premnarayan Yadav by a margin of 12,941 votes. CM-designate Yadav thanks Central leadership: CM-designate Mohan Yadav, has said Thanks to Central leadership who has expressed faith in me. We will work on the theme- MP ke Mann main Modi, Modi ke Mann main MP. It is the BJP only that has given a chance to a small worker like me to serve the State.
CPCC warns party leaders, cautions against making public statements denting partys image





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR,

Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) has issued a stern warning to all party leaders, cautioning them against making public statements that could harm the partys image. Chairman of the Communication Department of CPCC, Sushil Anand Shukla, emphasised the undesirability of statements made by some party officials and workers against senior leaders and fellow party members. Shukla stressed the importance of maintaining discipline within the party and urged leaders to refrain from making any media statements.

Shukla highlighted that public statements against any party official or worker would be considered acts of indiscipline. The Congress party leadership has explicitly conveyed to each leader that any form of indiscipline will not be tolerated. The party leaderships directive is clear: leaders should express their views within the party forum, avoiding public statements that may lead to internal conflicts. Shukla warned that actions would be taken against those who make public statements and engage in counter-allegations. The Congress party in Chhattisgarh is taking a proactive stance to address internal issues and ensure that party leaders adhere to a disciplined approach in their public communications.
Crop insurance advance to 52 lakh farmers: Munde





Staff Reporter

The recent unseasonal rains in Maharashtra damaged huge amount of Kharif crop. Keeping the damage in mind, the Government has distributed Rs 1,690 crore of crop insurance advance to 52 lakh farmers of 24 districts of the State.

Dhananjay Munde, Minister of Agriculture, made this statement on Monday in the Legislative Council on the third day of Winter Session. The crop damage due to recent rains and alleged betrayal of farmers by banks on crop insurance were discussed in both houses on Monday. MLCs Shashikant Shinde and Amol Mitkari asked the government about the crop loss in West and North Maharashtra, and West Vidarbha due to recent unseasonal rains.

Replying to a question during the Question Hour, Munde said, government is serious and concerned about the crop loss. We have instructed all nationalised banks to help each and every affected farmer in the State. Already, the panchnama is being conducted and, after the recent rains, the government has Under the Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme, there are 52 lakh farmers got affected in unseasonal rains and as interim relief, the government has sanctioned a total of Rs 2,216 crore for initial 25 per cent crop insurance to farmers.

However, the government has already distributed Rs 1,690 crore crop insurance advance to farmers, said Munde. Some banks have issues at local level which they raised before the State level technical advisory committee. The government is working to resolve the issue, said Munde. The Opposition also alleged that some banks sanctioned just Rs 1,000 as crop insurance to affected farmers. Munde, in reply, said that government was working on such complaints and would release crop insurance amount as per the rule.
HELSINKI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The government of Finland decided on Tuesday to reopen two land crossings on its border with Russia.

On Nov. 30, Helsinki temporarily closed all its eastern border crossings for two weeks. The closure will expire this Wednesday.

On Thursday, Finland will reopen the crossing points at Vaalimaa in the south-east and at Niirala further north. The two border crossings will also accept applications for international protection. Both crossing points will remain open until Jan. 14, 2024. All other land crossings will remain closed.

The government said in a press release that it would close the entire eastern border again if "instrumentalized migration" at the eastern border continues. 
FINAL CHOICE





PROVING many expectations right, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chose Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai as the new Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. His name had been in the reckoning right from start, thanks to his tribal background and his rich political experience spanning three decades as elected representative as well as minister. The BJPs organisational culture once again proved its merit and Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai received a great welcome from all segments of the party. Other leaders whose names were also being discussed as possible chief ministerial candidates joined the cadres to welcome Mr. Sai as the new Chief Minister of a State that has a rich cultural and historical heritage to stand on and a truly wide open future to look forward to. There is no doubt that Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai rides mountains of expectations from all segments of the larger society -- in Chhattisgarh and outside it. Going by what he has achieved as a public figure in the tribal-dominated State, Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai is eminently suitable to be the Chief Minister. Let alone the calculations of tribal support by the BJPs central leadership in the national elections a few months later, Mr. Sai is all set to lead Chhattisgarhs march back to better political morality and economic stability, to achieve which he has all the qualifications and qualities.

One of the most important political attributes of the man is his sense of accommodation and commitment to the core value of public affairs, accountability to larger national interest, to the Government, to the political organisation to which he belongs, and to his own reputation as a straight-forward administrator not divorced from tact and tensile strength. The biggest challenge before the new Government in Chhattisgarh is to cleanse the State of the realm of corruption that marked the previous regime, political denials by the then dispensation notwithstanding. That realm was not possibly because of any individual engagement in dirty deals, but hugely because of the distorted political philosophy and policy the party in power had adopted towards national issues. The party leadership at the national and the State levels had differing and confused ideas of how the economy had to be managed and how to make things happen in the right manner. And there were reasons to suspect that the confusion was a part of a deliberate strategy as an inducement to underhand operations that brought sly benefits to various quarters. As Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai takes charge of the Government in Chhattisgarh, he and his team will have to start setting things right by weeding out roots and tentacles of corruption that had spread deep into the system in the past five years.

The party in power might have launched a few schemes that outwardly looked pro-people, all right. But in the final analysis, it became clear that those schemes were more for political projection than for actual transfer of benefits -- direct or indirect -- to the designated segments of the society. Those schemes did not actually reach the intended population because the people in power were only playing political game of projection without any work on the ground. That reflected correctly in the voting pattern. Being in power, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghels Congress Government did corner quite many seats, all right, but his fall from electoral grace was imminent. Now, the new dispensation -- under the scanner of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi -- will have to start making the actual and critical difference through transparency and accountability in governance as the core values of pro-people policies. This task will have its own challenges, all right, but Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai will have to assert and exert to achieve the goal.
For change in guard Venue for oath-ceremony getting decked up





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR,

In a historic departure from tradition, the swearing-in ceremony of Chhattisgarhs newly appointed Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai is set to unfold at Science College ground. Over the years this momentous event has been hosted at different venues, marking each transition of leadership in State. Chhattisgarh has witnessed five swearing-in ceremonies, each etching a chapter in the ceremonial history of State. The inaugural ceremony of the states first Chief Minister, Ajit Jogi, unfolded at the Police Parade Ground in Raipur. Dr Raman Singh, succeeding Jogi, assumed the role of Chief Minister thrice, with all three ceremonies gracing the Police Parade Ground. In a significant political shift in 2018 after 15 years, Congress claimed a majority, and Bhupesh Baghel ascended to the position of Chief Minister. Breaking from tradition, Baghels swearing-in ceremony unfolded at the indoor stadium in the capital. Now, as the reins of leadership pass to Vishnu Deo Sai, the stage is set for another momentous event.

The swearing-in ceremony of the states new Chief Minister will transpire at the Science College ground; a venue chosen to symbolise the dawn of a new era. Preparations are in full swing, underlining the significance of this transition. Adding prestige to the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to grace the ceremony with his presence. To accommodate this distinguished guest, the Science College grounds were deemed fitting for the grand event. The choice of venue signifies a strategic decision to uphold the sanctity of the ceremony while accommodating the logistical needs of hosting such a prominent figure. GRAND SWEARING-IN CEREMONY FOR CHHATTISGARH CHIEF MINISTER VISHNU DEO SAI TO HOST PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI: In a momentous event, the swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai will be held at the Science College ground in Raipur on December 13. The occasion will be graced by the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to attend the ceremony in support of the state's new leadership. The oath-taking ceremony is slated to commence at 2 pm, creating a historic atmosphere at the Science College grounds. The event will witness the swearing-in of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai along with other cabinet members, signifying the commencement of a new era in Chhattisgarh's governance. Several distinguished personalities are expected to grace the ceremony, enhancing its significance.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President JP Nadda, Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Chhattisgarh state in-charge Om Mathur, and coincharge Nitin Nabin will be among the eminent leaders present to mark the occasion. The presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscores the importance of the swearing-in ceremony, emphasizing the support and commitment of the central leadership to the development and progress of Chhattisgarh. As the state welcomes its new Chief Minister, the ceremony is poised to be a memorable and significant event in the political landscape.
GSF Chairman Atul Temurnikar recieves Global Nagpur Awards





Business Reporter

ATUL Temurnikar, Chairman of Global Schools Foundation (GSF), was among the distinguished recipients of this years Global Nagpur Awards (GNA), a prestigious recognition honouring individuals from Nagpur and Central India who have left an indelible impression on the global stage. The award was conferred on Atul Temurnikar by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways at the culmination of the Global Nagpur Summit (GNS) 2023, which was organised on December 9 and 10.
Navy showcases prowess, captivates audiences





VISAKHAPATNAM,

THE Indian Navy presented a breathtaking Operational Demonstration (Op Demo) off Rama Krishna Beach, Visakhapatnam, on Sunday. Governor of Andhra Pradesh, S Abdul Nazeer, graced the event as the Chief Guest. The event witnessed the presence of several dignitaries from the Central and State Governments and drew the attention of lakhs of citizens of Visakhapatnam, showcasing the Navys exceptional capabilities, as per a press release from the Indian Navy.

Celebrated on December 4th annually, Navy Day commemorates the Indian Navys pivotal role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, specifically its triumph in Operation Trident. This year, due to safety concerns posed by Cyclone Michaung, the mega event, Op Demo off R K Beach, was rescheduled to December 10. The Op Demo unfolded as a flagship event in the city, featuring tactical manoeuvres executed by warships and submarines and a captivating display of air power, highlighting fighter aircraft, reconnaissance planes, and helicopters. The Navys Marine Commandos (MARCOS) demonstrated simulated combat operations against mock enemy targets, showcasing precision and expertise.
Prime Minister launches Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth





Delhi Bureau and Agencies

NEW DELHI,

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi exuded confidence on Monday that India will take a quantum jump during the current period and said the young generation has to be prepared in such a way that it provides leadership to the country and prioritises national interest over everything else. Launching Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth, an initiative that aims to provide a platform to the countrys youngsters for contributing ideas to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the

Prime Minister said Indias youth power is both the agent of change and the beneficiary of change.

In the life of any nation, history provides a time period when it can make exponential strides in its development journey. For India, the Amrit Kaal is ongoing and this is the period in the countrys history when it is going to take a quantum leap. For India, this is the right time, he said, adding that each and every moment of this Amrit Kaal should be utilised.

Modi also addressed vice-chancellors of universities, heads of institutes and faculty members at workshops organised at Raj Bhawans across the country. The exam date has been declared for us as the citizens of the country. We have 25 years of Amrit Kaal in front of us. We have to work 24 hours a day. We have to prepare the young generation in such a way that it gives the country leadership and prioritises national interest over everything else, he said. The Prime Minister informed that India is going to be the leader in terms of the working-age population for the coming 25-30 years and the world recognises this.
Sao reviews preparations





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR,

In anticipation of the swearing-in ceremony for the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, BJP State President Arun Sao convened a meeting to assess and discuss the preparations for the grand event. The meeting, which included discussions with election agents from across the state, focused on the upcoming ceremony that is expected to witness the presence of prominent leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President JP Nadda.

Arun Sao provided insights into the discussions held during the meeting, emphasizing the meticulous planning underway for the swearing-in ceremony. He highlighted the participation of several Union Ministers in the Chief Ministers function, adding to the significance of the event.

One of the notable topics addressed during the meeting was the recent historic decision by the Supreme Court concerning Article 370. Arun Sao applauded the decision, stating that it aligns with the vision of a better India as envisioned by Sardar Patel. The BJP State President hailed the Supreme Courts recognition of Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision, considering the decision to be a pivotal moment in Indian history.




Staff Reporter

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court of Indias verdict on Article 370 and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assure the safe return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley. Thackeray, while interacting with mediapersons in Vidhan Bhavan premises, said, Shiv Sena supported the abrogation of Article 370 and we welcome the Apex Courts decision today. Now, Prime Minister should assure the Kashmiri Pandits of their safe return to their homeland. Thackeray also welcomed the Supreme Courts order to conduct elections in Jammu and Kashmir till September. We hope the elections will be held soon and the people of Kashmir will vote freely without any fear of violence. that no violence will take place further during elections, said Thackeray.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief also urged Prime Minister Modi to reclaim the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and take the control from Pakistan. Taking a jibe at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Thackeray said, Chief Minister Shinde is not serious about issues of farmers. He is trying to avoid the Opposition in the house who is continuously trying to raise the plight of farmers before the government. Farmers are facing natures fury in the form of back to back unseasonal rains. At this situation, the banks are not helping the affected farmers and government is also ignoring them, said Thackeray.

Instead of facing the opposition in the house, the CM is riding a tractor in Mumbai, said the former CM. Thackeray took on Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asking if the BJP leader would take a stand on Praful Patel that is similar to the one he had taken on Nawab Malik, who has sided with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which is part of the government. He said that the allegations against Patel and Malik were the same but the Deputy CM expressed his feelings against Malik before Mahayuti. But Fadnavis took no stand against Praful Patel who has connection with Iqbal Mirchi.
SAO PAULO, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's coffee exports to China rose 221 percent in January-November 2023 compared to the same period last year, the Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafe) said Monday.

In the first 11 months of this year, the Chinese market received over 1.15 million bags/60 kg of coffee from Brazil, the world's major grain exporter and producer.

According to Cecafe statistics, during the same period in 2022, the shipments of Brazilian coffee to China, which has been Brazil's main trading partner since 2009, amounted to 358,810 bags.

"It is no longer surprising that China continues to have the best percentage growth among Brazil's top 10 coffee trading partners until November 2023," said a Cecafe statement. 
Banco Santander S.A. purchased a new stake in Boyd Gaming Co. (NYSE:BYD  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 68,767 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,770,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in BYD. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in Boyd Gaming by 12.0% in the second quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 512,159 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,528,000 after purchasing an additional 55,020 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC grew its position in shares of Boyd Gaming by 3.1% in the 2nd quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 7,163 shares of the companys stock worth $497,000 after buying an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. ExodusPoint Capital Management LP raised its stake in shares of Boyd Gaming by 80.3% during the 2nd quarter. ExodusPoint Capital Management LP now owns 45,321 shares of the companys stock worth $3,144,000 after acquiring an additional 20,178 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in Boyd Gaming by 3.7% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 8,049,436 shares of the companys stock valued at $558,389,000 after acquiring an additional 289,372 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Frontier Capital Management Co. LLC boosted its stake in Boyd Gaming by 15.6% in the second quarter. Frontier Capital Management Co. LLC now owns 1,119,156 shares of the companys stock valued at $77,636,000 after acquiring an additional 151,376 shares in the last quarter. 67.98% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Boyd Gaming Trading Up 1.3 %

Shares of Boyd Gaming stock opened at $60.48 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $5.92 billion, a PE ratio of 8.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 1.69. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $58.53 and a 200 day moving average price of $63.92. Boyd Gaming Co. has a 1 year low of $52.42 and a 1 year high of $73.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.77.

Boyd Gaming Dividend Announcement

Boyd Gaming ( NYSE:BYD Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The company reported $1.36 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.44 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $903.16 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $873.36 million. Boyd Gaming had a return on equity of 38.87% and a net margin of 18.89%. Equities research analysts predict that Boyd Gaming Co. will post 6.11 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 22nd will be given a $0.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 21st. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.06%. Boyd Gamings dividend payout ratio is presently 9.43%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Susquehanna reduced their price target on Boyd Gaming from $87.00 to $84.00 and set a positive rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Boyd Gaming from $79.00 to $72.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th. StockNews.com began coverage on Boyd Gaming in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Boyd Gaming from $77.00 to $71.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and issued a $83.00 target price on shares of Boyd Gaming in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Boyd Gaming presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $76.64.

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About Boyd Gaming

(Free Report)

Boyd Gaming Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-jurisdictional gaming company in Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It operates through three segments: Las Vegas Locals, Downtown Las Vegas, and Midwest & South.

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Investment Management Corp of Ontario raised its holdings in Bunge Global SA (NYSE:BG  Free Report) by 7.7% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 21,157 shares of the basic materials companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,509 shares during the quarter. Investment Management Corp of Ontarios holdings in Bunge Global were worth $1,996,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of BG. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Bunge Global by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 12,539 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,183,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund grew its holdings in Bunge Global by 0.9% in the second quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 11,700 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,104,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC grew its holdings in Bunge Global by 7.1% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,661 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $157,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. M&T Bank Corp increased its position in shares of Bunge Global by 2.0% in the third quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 5,943 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $491,000 after buying an additional 114 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commerce Bank raised its stake in shares of Bunge Global by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 9,216 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $870,000 after buying an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.92% of the companys stock.

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Bunge Global Stock Performance

NYSE:BG opened at $105.00 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 2.02 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market cap of $15.26 billion, a PE ratio of 8.13 and a beta of 0.65. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $105.36 and a 200-day simple moving average of $104.99. Bunge Global SA has a 1-year low of $87.86 and a 1-year high of $116.59.

Bunge Global Announces Dividend

Bunge Global ( NYSE:BG Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The basic materials company reported $2.99 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.50 by $0.49. Bunge Global had a return on equity of 18.61% and a net margin of 3.20%. The company had revenue of $14.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.33 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.45 EPS. Bunge Globals revenue was down 15.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that Bunge Global SA will post 12.8 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 16th will be given a dividend of $0.6625 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 15th. This represents a $2.65 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.52%. Bunge Globals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 20.51%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on BG. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Bunge Global in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. HSBC started coverage on shares of Bunge Global in a research report on Friday, September 15th. They issued a hold rating and a $122.00 price target on the stock. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $127.14.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on BG

Bunge Global Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bunge Global SA operates as an agribusiness and food company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Agribusiness, Refined and Specialty Oils, Milling, and Sugar and Bioenergy. The Agribusiness segment purchases, stores, transports, processes, and sells agricultural commodities and commodity products, including oilseeds primarily soybeans, rapeseed, canola, and sunflower seeds, as well as grains comprising wheat and corn; and processes oilseeds into vegetable oils and protein meals.

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AXA (OTCMKTS:AXAHY  Get Free Report) and ageas SA/NV (OTCMKTS:AGESY  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership, risk and earnings.

Volatility & Risk

AXA has a beta of 1.22, suggesting that its share price is 22% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ageas SA/NV has a beta of 0.72, suggesting that its share price is 28% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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Dividends

AXA pays an annual dividend of $1.53 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.7%. ageas SA/NV pays an annual dividend of $2.23 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.1%.

Earnings & Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio AXA $107.85 billion 0.68 $7.03 billion N/A N/A ageas SA/NV $10.94 billion 0.75 $1.07 billion N/A N/A

This table compares AXA and ageas SA/NVs top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

AXA has higher revenue and earnings than ageas SA/NV.

Profitability

This table compares AXA and ageas SA/NVs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets AXA N/A N/A N/A ageas SA/NV N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings for AXA and ageas SA/NV, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score AXA 0 0 1 0 3.00 ageas SA/NV 1 3 3 0 2.29

Insider and Institutional Ownership

0.1% of AXA shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

AXA beats ageas SA/NV on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About AXA

(Get Free Report)

AXA SA, through its subsidiaries, provides insurance, asset management, and banking services worldwide. The company operates through six segments: France, Europe, Asia, AXA XL, International, and Transversal & Central Holdings. It offers life and savings insurance products, such as savings and retirement, other health, and personal protection products. The company also provides property and casualty insurance products, including car, home, and personal or professional liability to individual and business clients; international insurance for large corporate clients in Europe; and marine and aviation insurance services, as well as property and casualty reinsurance products. In addition, it offers asset management services in the areas of various asset classes, including equities, bonds, hedge funds, private equity, and real estate for the group's insurance companies and their clients, and retail and institutional clients. Further, the company provides health, term life, whole life, universal life, endowment, and other investment-based products for personal/individual and commercial/ group customers. AXA SA was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in Paris, France.

About ageas SA/NV

(Get Free Report)

ageas SA/NV, together with its subsidiaries, engages in insurance business in Europe and Asia. The company operates in five segments: Belgium, Europe, Asia, Reinsurance, and General Account. It primarily offers property, casualty, and life insurance products, as well as pension products; and reinsurance products. Its life insurance products include risks related to the life and death of individuals; and non-life insurance products comprise accident and health, motor, fire, and other insurance products, as well as other damages to property covering the risk of property losses or claims liabilities. The company serves private individuals, as well as small, medium-sized, and large companies through independent brokers and the bank channels. ageas SA/NV was founded in 1824 and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

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Gray Wealth Management Inc. cut its position in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:SPLV  Free Report) by 12.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 18,456 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,520 shares during the quarter. Gray Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF were worth $1,159,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Balentine LLC boosted its stake in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Balentine LLC now owns 5,407,517 shares of the companys stock valued at $339,246,000 after acquiring an additional 29,249 shares during the last quarter. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp bought a new position in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at $179,234,000. Bank of Montreal Can bought a new position in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at $146,369,000. FMR LLC boosted its stake in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 79.0% during the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,458,513 shares of the companys stock valued at $91,011,000 after acquiring an additional 643,711 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF by 2.9% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 1,180,987 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,263,000 after acquiring an additional 33,713 shares during the last quarter.

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Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF Price Performance

NYSEARCA SPLV opened at $62.08 on Tuesday. Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF has a 12 month low of $57.17 and a 12 month high of $66.32. The company has a market capitalization of $9.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.07 and a beta of 0.69. The companys fifty day moving average price is $59.73 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $61.05.

Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF Company Profile

The Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (SPLV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 Low Volatility index. The fund tracks a volatility-weighted index of the 100 least-volatile stocks in the S&P 500. SPLV was launched on May 5, 2011 and is managed by Invesco.

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Gray Wealth Management Inc. raised its stake in Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 2.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,697 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 162 shares during the quarter. Gray Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in Chevron were worth $896,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CVX. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P boosted its stake in shares of Chevron by 85.1% in the 1st quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P now owns 159,115 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $25,908,000 after purchasing an additional 73,141 shares in the last quarter. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC boosted its position in Chevron by 25.2% during the 1st quarter. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC now owns 7,335 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,155,000 after buying an additional 1,476 shares during the period. GQG Partners LLC boosted its position in Chevron by 4.7% during the 1st quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 40,538 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $6,598,000 after buying an additional 1,813 shares during the period. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC boosted its position in Chevron by 43.5% during the 1st quarter. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC now owns 5,837 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $950,000 after buying an additional 1,770 shares during the period. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP boosted its position in Chevron by 13.8% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 2,068,600 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $336,830,000 after buying an additional 250,840 shares during the period. 68.87% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Chevron Stock Up 0.0 %

NYSE:CVX opened at $144.33 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $272.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.71, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.25. Chevron Co. has a fifty-two week low of $140.72 and a fifty-two week high of $187.81. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $151.26 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $156.84.

Chevron Dividend Announcement

Chevron ( NYSE:CVX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 27th. The oil and gas company reported $3.05 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.70 by ($0.65). The firm had revenue of $54.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $51.41 billion. Chevron had a net margin of 12.11% and a return on equity of 16.15%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 18.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $5.56 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Chevron Co. will post 13.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 17th were paid a dividend of $1.51 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 16th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.18%. Chevrons dividend payout ratio is currently 44.84%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CVX has been the subject of several analyst reports. Mizuho dropped their price target on shares of Chevron from $215.00 to $195.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 14th. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Chevron from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $190.00 price objective for the company in a report on Thursday, October 12th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Chevron from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $184.00 to $182.00 in a report on Thursday, November 2nd. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Chevron from $203.00 to $201.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 17th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $180.00 price objective on shares of Chevron in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $187.89.

Read Our Latest Report on Chevron

Chevron Profile

(Free Report)

Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the integrated energy and chemicals operations in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment is involved in the exploration, development, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas; liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and processing, transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as a gas-to-liquids plant.

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Horizon Investments LLC grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 26.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 7,850 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,637 shares during the period. Horizon Investments LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $3,674,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Silicon Valley Capital Partners bought a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the first quarter worth $25,000. Laffer Tengler Investments bought a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the first quarter worth $33,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. increased its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 156.4% in the first quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 100 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Activest Wealth Management bought a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the second quarter worth $40,000. Finally, Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. increased its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 50.4% during the first quarter. Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. now owns 179 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.38% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $571.10, for a total transaction of $382,637.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 4,708 shares in the company, valued at $2,688,738.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 215,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $605.44, for a total transaction of $130,169,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 99,768,810 shares in the company, valued at $60,404,028,326.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $571.10, for a total transaction of $382,637.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 4,708 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,688,738.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock opened at $584.25 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $554.63 billion, a PE ratio of 105.84, a P/E/G ratio of 3.63 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 1.05. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $586.31 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $527.86. Eli Lilly and Company has a one year low of $309.20 and a one year high of $629.97.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.08) by $0.18. The business had revenue of $9.50 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.88 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.55% and a return on equity of 48.12%. Research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 6.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be issued a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. This is an increase from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.13. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.89%. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is currently 81.88%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Truist Financial reiterated a buy rating and set a $650.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and set a $630.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Wednesday, November 15th. Argus boosted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $470.00 to $620.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 5th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $525.00 to $675.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, October 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $570.82.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Eli Lilly and Company

About Eli Lilly and Company

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report).

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QUANZHOU, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Artists from China, Kuwait, Malaysia and other countries demonstrate their skills during an intangible cultural heritage exhibition on the Maritime Silk Road in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province.



Visitors select products from Ecuador during an intangible cultural heritage exhibition on the Maritime Silk Road in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Sri Lankan visitors learn about traditional techniques of Zhangzhou embroidery, which is recognized as a provincial intangible cultural heritage of Fujian, during an intangible cultural heritage exhibition on the Maritime Silk Road in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Visitors look at artwork during an intangible cultural heritage exhibition on the Maritime Silk Road in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

An Italian artist (R) learns about paper-cutting techniques from You Jinmei, an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, during an intangible cultural heritage exhibition on the Maritime Silk Road in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

An Indian artist displays handmade bags during an intangible cultural heritage exhibition on the Maritime Silk Road in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

A Malaysian artist (R) and his cooperator display a kite during an intangible cultural heritage exhibition on the Maritime Silk Road in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

A Russian artist (L) and her cooperator display ceramic cups designed by them during an intangible cultural heritage exhibition on the Maritime Silk Road in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




Steadfast Capital Management LP boosted its position in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS  Free Report) by 8.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,095,000 shares of the casino operators stock after purchasing an additional 155,000 shares during the period. Las Vegas Sands makes up approximately 3.2% of Steadfast Capital Management LPs investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest holding. Steadfast Capital Management LP owned approximately 0.27% of Las Vegas Sands worth $121,510,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 13.9% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 46,767 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $1,818,000 after acquiring an additional 5,716 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 17.1% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 13,612 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $529,000 after acquiring an additional 1,985 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 6.9% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 33,282 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $1,294,000 after acquiring an additional 2,145 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC raised its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 26.7% during the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 13,502 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $525,000 after acquiring an additional 2,848 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 47.6% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 27,000 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $1,050,000 after acquiring an additional 8,711 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 39.16% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Las Vegas Sands news, major shareholder Miriam Adelson sold 12,253,628 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.23, for a total value of $529,724,338.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 41,134,164 shares in the company, valued at $1,778,229,909.72. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.91% of the companys stock.

Las Vegas Sands Price Performance

NYSE:LVS opened at $47.61 on Tuesday. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a one year low of $43.77 and a one year high of $65.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.82, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a current ratio of 1.50. The firm has a market cap of $36.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 54.10, a PEG ratio of 3.57 and a beta of 1.13. The firms fifty day moving average is $47.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $52.25.

Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 18th. The casino operator reported $0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.55. The business had revenue of $2.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.72 billion. Las Vegas Sands had a net margin of 7.81% and a return on equity of 21.05%. The companys revenue was up 178.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.27) earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 1.91 EPS for the current year.

Las Vegas Sands declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, October 18th that authorizes the company to buyback $2.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the casino operator to reacquire up to 5.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Las Vegas Sands Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 7th were given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 6th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.68%. Las Vegas Sandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 90.91%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on LVS shares. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $68.00 to $64.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $71.00 to $64.00 in a report on Tuesday, September 26th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Las Vegas Sands from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $69.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 19th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 16th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $69.68.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Las Vegas Sands

Las Vegas Sands Company Profile

(Free Report)

Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the People's Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

See Also

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Stifel Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS  Free Report) by 30.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,270,264 shares of the transportation companys stock after purchasing an additional 293,015 shares during the quarter. Stifel Financial Corp owned approximately 0.15% of United Parcel Service worth $227,715,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Pacific Center for Financial Services bought a new stake in United Parcel Service during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Parcel Service during the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 216.0% in the 2nd quarter. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 158 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 108 shares during the period. West Tower Group LLC purchased a new stake in United Parcel Service in the 2nd quarter worth $38,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in United Parcel Service during the second quarter valued at about $40,000. Institutional investors own 58.45% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. HSBC started coverage on United Parcel Service in a research report on Friday, September 29th. They set a hold rating and a $170.00 target price for the company. TheStreet downgraded shares of United Parcel Service from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Thursday, October 26th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $180.00 to $175.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, September 28th. Citigroup dropped their price target on United Parcel Service from $200.00 to $180.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 12th. Finally, Raymond James cut their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $205.00 to $200.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 29th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $188.91.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

NYSE UPS opened at $155.77 on Tuesday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $149.16 and a 200 day moving average price of $164.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.22. The company has a market capitalization of $132.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.77, a PEG ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.09. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1-year low of $133.68 and a 1-year high of $197.80.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The transportation company reported $1.57 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.53 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $21.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.40 billion. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 9.19% and a return on equity of 43.46%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.99 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 8.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 13th were paid a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 10th. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.16%. United Parcel Services payout ratio is currently 65.59%.

About United Parcel Service

(Free Report)

United Parcel Service, Inc, a package delivery company, provides transportation and delivery, distribution, contract logistics, ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage, and insurance services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States.

Further Reading

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In a statement the Office of the Attorney General said the Davis administration has undertaken an extensive review of the intellectual property legislation of The Bahamas, with a goal of implementing these new laws which are consistent with current international best practices.
Munroe hits out at UN report

Criminals will always want you to silence your watchdogs
BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Bilateral trade between China and Vietnam maintained steady growth in the first 11 months of this year, the General Administration of Customs said Tuesday.

Goods trade between the two countries reached 1.45 trillion yuan (about 203.73 billion U.S. dollars) from January to November, up 3.6 percent year on year.

In November alone, bilateral trade jumped 12.5 percent year on year to hit a monthly record high of 161.92 billion yuan.

Vietnam has since 2016 remained China's largest trading partner among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with bilateral trade accounting for 25 percent of China's total trade with this bloc in the first 11 months of 2023.

The two countries have recorded increasingly close industrial and supply chain cooperation in recent years. In the first 11 months of this year, the import and export of intermediate goods reached 1.01 trillion yuan, amounting to 69.8 percent of China-Vietnam trade for the period.

The two countries also have large space for cooperation in the agricultural sector. In the first 11 months of 2023, China imported 44.62 billion yuan of Vietnamese agricultural products, marking a year-on-year increase of 20.3 percent.

Meanwhile, Chinese vegetables and temperate fruits are also welcomed by the Vietnamese market. China exported 34.31 billion yuan of agricultural products to Vietnam during the same period, an increase of 3.1 percent year on year.

"Since the beginning of the winter, fruits and vegetables produced in Yunnan Province have entered the peak export season and are favored by the Vietnamese market," said Wang Xin, an official at the Hekou entry-exit border inspection station in southwest China's Yunnan Province. 
Ashamed of Democrats, Phukets Anchalee resigns party

PHUKET: After 31 years as a Democrat Party member, Anchalee Tephabutra, who once served as Secretary-General to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva during his term in office, has resigned from the party.

politics

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 12 December 2023 01:05 PM

Ms Anchalee has for decades served as a bulwark figure in Phuket for the Democrats, and served Phuket as a member of Parliament in the House of Representatives.

Ms Anchalee announced her resignation from the Democrat Party through a post on Facebook yesterday (Dec 11), saying she was ashamed of the partys current leaders.

   (Truth is indeed the undying word) is the party slogan, and has been since the party was founded in 1946, Ms Anchalee said.

It is considered a motto that all democrats have always adhered to in their political practice since the founding of the party in 1946, From the first party leader to the eighth.

I have been a member of the Democrat Party since 1992, more than 31 years, with unshakable stability as a politician, a member of the House of Representatives and President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation [PPAO].

I have been part of the Democrat Party all my life, as a politician with pride in principles, with an ideology that is honest and always considers the interests of the people and the country as the main focus, she wrote.

Every time I tell the people that Democrat Party members say that the Democrat Party belongs to the people it is by the people for the people.

That was until Dec 9, 2023 , when there was an election for a new leader of the Democrat Party, [a] return to being Disloyal in the truth spoken.

I will stop playing politics for the rest of my life. When party leaders in this era are unable to maintain the party motto, the partys ideology, and cannot maintain its own truth.

I therefore wish to resign from being a member of the Democrat Party from now on, because of the shame brought on those who were loyal to the party, Ms Anchalee announced.

To friends who share the ideology of the party, I am ready to thank you, the majority of the Democrat Party members, and friends who share political ideals who have worked together to be steadfast to the party until today.

Until we meet again, when our nation needs it, Ms Anchalee concluded.

Chalermchai Sri-on was elected as the Democrats ninth leader at a party meeting on Saturday (Dec 9).

Following the meeting, former Prime Minister and former Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva confirmed that he, too, had resigned from the party.

Mr Abhisit described the Democrat Partys current status as beyond crisis, following a slew of top party figures resigning in the wake of controversy after controversy.

Before the coup of 2014, Phuket, along with the the rest of Southern Thailand, was a bedrock of Democrat Party support, with Democrats for decades elected to represent the island.

After the coup, previously unknown candidates representing the military-aligned Palang Pracharat Party were somehow elected as Phuket MPs.

In the national election in May this year, Phuket people elected Move Forward Party candidates to represent them, with Move Forward candidates winning all three MP seats in Phuket by strong margins.

Meanwhile, support for the Democrat Party continues to dwindle. The party now hold just 25 seats in the 500-seat House of Representatives, and just one Democrat in the country currently holds the position of President at a Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO).
Sanlorenzo ink deal for majority stake of Simpson Marine

PHUKET: Italian shipbuilders specialising in luxury yachts and superyachts, Sanlorenzo S.p.a., have signed a binding share purchase agreement to acquire 95% of share capital of Simpson Marine Ltd.

marine

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 12 December 2023 06:20 PM

The deal, signed on Dec 7 between Sanlorenzo S.p.A. and founder Mike Simpson, was secured through a payment of US$10 million (about B356.47mn) plus an earn-out up to US$7mn calculated on the net profit for the 2023 fiscal year, both paid with Sanlorenzos cash on hand.

Prior to the Sanlorenzo take over, Simpson Marine Limited will make a distribution from retained earnings in favour of Mike Simpson, said a release announcing the takeover.

Simpson Marine Group, representing Sanlorenzo in Asia since 2015, has been operating for 40 years as a major yacht sales and service company throughout the APAC region, and it will allow Sanlorenzo to establish a direct presence in the strategic APAC region, maintaining and further developing the service offering leveraging on the experience and expertise cumulated over decades by Simpson Marine, said the release.

Simpson Marine started out as a small business called Charter Boats, offering boat and junk charters in Hong Kong, in 1984. The business flourished, selling its first Beneteau First 345 in 1985, and the business Charter Boats becoming Simpson Marine in 1987.

Simpson Marine opened its first regional office in Singapore in 1989, then another in Port Dickson, Malaysia, in 1995, and another at Sentosa Cove, Singapore, in 2002.

The following year, 2003, the group opened their Phuket branch, and are now located at Ao Po Grand Marina, in Pa Khlok.

Massimo Perotti, Executive Chairman of Sanlorenzo, announced, We are very pleased to have signed this agreement with Mike Simpson of Simpson Marine. This is an important step for Sanlorenzo as we continue to expand our business globally.

Simpson Marine is a well-established and widely respected company in the APAC region with a tremendous potential for further expansion, and we believe that this acquisition will enable us to further develop our business in this strategically important market.

Under Mike Simpsons leadership, Simpson Marine has gained a strong reputation among customers and industry peers, having developed a highly loyal team of around 140 professionals who are among the best in their respective fields, making it a sound and promising investment in line with our long-term strategic vision, he said.

Founder Mike Simpson commented, I am delighted to have signed this agreement with Sanlorenzo. I have known Massimo Perotti, the principal shareholder and Chairman of Sanlorenzo, for nearly 40 years and have the greatest respect for his success in building Sanlorenzo into the power house it has become in the world of luxury yachts.

This sale to Sanlorenzo provides an opportunity for Simpson Marine to build on their past success in the region and share in Sanlorenzos ambitious plans for further expansion throughout APAC and beyond after they take over control next year.

We have been selling, servicing, chartering and managing yachts in Asia for nearly 40 years and have built up a wealth of experience and expertise in the region. My teams located in 12 offices around Asia now have the opportunity of working with Sanlorenzo to take Simpson Marine and our range of services to the next level in the Asia-Pacific and globally.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024, explained the release.

Once the sale of Simpson Marine has been finalised, the next steps will include deployment of the strategic alignment plan and regional expansion scheme for the Simpson Marine portfolio of brands and services, the release added.

Further details on financials of the target perimeter will follow upon closing and determination of the Earn-out amount based on 2023 full-year results.

The law firm Musumeci, Altara, Desana e Associati assisted Sanlorenzo with the negotiation of contractual aspects, and the firm Howse Williams assisted Mike Simpson, the release concluded.
Members of a Chinese medical team pose for a group photo with children of the SOS Children's Village in Windhoek, Namibia, Dec. 11, 2023. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)

The 15th batch of the Chinese medical team at the acupuncture department at the Katutura State Hospital in the Namibian capital, Windhoek, donated stationery and gifts to SOS Children's Village on Monday.

WINDHOEK, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The 15th batch of the Chinese medical team at the acupuncture department at the Katutura State Hospital in the Namibian capital, Windhoek, donated stationery and gifts to SOS Children's Village here on Monday.

SOS Children's Village, a non-governmental organization, provides care to children and young people without or at risk of losing parental care.

The items included stationery, school uniforms and clothing for 33 children. Additionally, the Chinese doctors examined the children's teeth and offered acupuncture treatments to enhance their physical well-being.

A member of a Chinese medical team examines a child at the SOS Children's Village in Windhoek, Namibia, Dec. 11, 2023. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)

Li Bangwei, the Chinese medical team leader, said the move aimed to promote the local community's well-being.

"We aim to provide relief and comfort to the local community through gifts and acupuncture, a healing practice that has long been recognized for its benefits," Li said.

In addition to the children, seven mothers caring for the children received gifts donated by local Chinese businessman Charles Cui.

"This gift complements the traditional-Chinese-medicine treatment and highlights the importance of supporting those who provide love and care to these young children. When the mothers are healthy and happy, it positively impacts the well-being of the children," he said.

Julieta Ferreira, interim national director of the SOS Children's Village that houses 73 children, expressed gratitude for the donation and treatment provided by the Chinese medical team.

"This gesture brings joy to the children and helps offset some of the costs associated with their care. It is heart-warming to witness such support from our community, particularly as we enter the festive period," she said.

A member of a Chinese medical team provides acupuncture treatment at the SOS Children's Village in Windhoek, Namibia, Dec. 11, 2023. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)

One of the mothers taking care of the children at SOS, Angeline Katjiteo, who has been at the organization for seven years, expressed her appreciation for undergoing acupuncture treatment for the first time. For her, the treatment and donation served as a reminder of the long-standing cordial relationship between China and Namibia.

Since their arrival in February this year, the 15th batch of the Chinese medical team has treated 8,600 patients, with an average of 60-70 people visiting the clinic each day.

Since 1996, traditional Chinese medical practitioners have been stationed at Katutura Hospital, as an integral component of collaborative healthcare initiatives between China and Namibia. 
Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 16F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Low -7F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.

Tomorrow

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the morning. High -3F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Abbas Ganbay

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov took part and spoke at the informal meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM) within the framework of his business trip to the Kingdom of Belgium, Azernews reports.

In this direction, the importance of compliance with joint commitments, as well as international legal norms was emphasized.
People conduct rescue work after an Israeli airstrike in Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 11, 2023. The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Monday that the Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 18,000 as a result of the Hamas-Israel conflict since Oct. 7. (Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 10, 2023 shows buildings shrouded in fog in Kuwait City, Kuwait. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

A citizen looks at lotus flowers at the West Lake in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, July 15, 2020.

The Vietnamese capital city of Hanoi, located on the Red River Delta, is an ancient city with a history of more than a thousand years. With natural scenery and subtropical city view, it draws lots of tourists from home and abroad. (Xinhua/Wang Di)

A farmer harvests at a wheat field at Yantang Village of Kaiyang County in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 31, 2023. China's grain output rose 1.3 percent year on year to a record high of 695.41 million tonnes in 2023, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Monday. This is the ninth consecutive year for China to register a grain harvest of over 650 million tonnes. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

This photo shows the launching site of the East Coast Rail Link project in Kuantan, Malaysia on Dec. 11, 2023. The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), a mega rail project in Malaysia being built by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has seen its first tracks being laid on Monday.

Malaysian King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah is among the guests to witness the historic moment in a ceremony here. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)

Jiang Yige visits the Hushan section of the Great Wall in Dandong City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 23, 2023. Jiang Yige is a native illustrator of Dandong, a city noted for Hushan section of the Great Wall, widely regarded as the eastern end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The magnificent view of the Great Wall has profoundly inspired Jiang's drawings. Through her captivating works shared on social media platforms, she has successfully caught a growing number of eyes, and aroused deeper interest in the history and culture related to the Great Wall among her audiences. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

Chinese climbers scale Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, May 23, 2023. (Mountain guide team of Sichuan-Tibet Expedition Co., Ltd/Handout via Xinhua)

Argentina's new President Javier Milei waves to the crowd from the balcony of the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dec. 10, 2023. Javier Milei, a liberal politician and economist, assumed the Argentine presidency Sunday in a ceremony held at the National Congress in Buenos Aires, the country's capital.

The outgoing head of state, Alberto Fernandez, placed the presidential sash and handed the baton of command to Milei, whose term will last for four years, until Dec. 10, 2027. (Photo by German Adrasti/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on Dec. 11, 2023 shows the high-energy synchrotron radiation light source, also known as High Energy Photon Source (HEPS), a major science infrastructure project in China built by the Institute of High Energy Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

People video chat with their families in front of the Shenwu Gate of the Palace Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

A snowplow clears a road after a heavy snow fall in Zhengdong New District in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Dec. 11, 2023.

Blizzards have hit central China's Henan Province, with schools suspended and flights canceled in the provincial capital Zhengzhou on Monday morning.

Within six hours, from late Sunday to early Monday, the precipitation at Zhengzhou station reached 14.2 mm, and the accumulated snow reached 10 cm, according to the city's weather station. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)
The state health directorate has approved a Rs 33 crore exclusive critical health care block at Asansol District and Super Speciality hospital. The new critical health care block will be inside the campus of the main building of the Asansol Super Speciality hospital and will be G + four-storied building.

The plan and the diagram of the new five floor critical health care block of Asansol District and Super Speciality hospital has already been sanctioned by the state health directorate. An expert team of engineers of state Public Works Department (PWD) from Kolkata have visited and inspected the location of the upcoming critical health care block in Asansol District and Super Speciality hospital last Saturday.

Dr Nikhil Chandra Das, superintendent of the hospital said that in the south east corner (near the temple) of the campus the new critical health care block will come up. There will be facilities like ventilation and monitoring in the new critical health care block for patients, added Dr Nikhil Chandra Das. Patients with severe cardiac problems, breathing problems, CoPD etc will be treated in this critical care unit.

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There will be total hundred beds in the critical health care block. Kankan Roy, deputy superintendent of the Asansol hospital said that the state health directorate has approved Rs 33 crore fund for the five floor building and equipments of the critical health care block and the construction work will be completed within December 2024.

PWD engineers said that as already the state health directorate has approved this project so construction work will begin very soon. Presently, in the old building of the Asansol District Hospital there is a 12-bed critical care unit (CCU) and construction of another 26-bed critical care unit is on.

Though the total number of beds of Asansol District and Super Speciality hospital is 750, presently more than 800 patients are admitted. Patients of West Burdwan district and even from surrounding districts of south Bengal and Jharkhand come here for treatments.

Postgraduate courses for medical students are also taught in the Asansol District and Super Speciality Hospital. After chief minister Mamata Banerjee came to power in the state in 2011, she has taken the initiative to upgrade the Asansol Sub-Divisional Hospital to district hospital after formation of the new district in 2017 and also set up a Super Speciality Hospital so that patients from the remote areas get best health care facilities near their home.
GAZA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Israeli forces stormed the only operational Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday after besieging and bombarding it for several days, Gaza's Health Ministry said in a statement.

Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra said in the statement that Israeli soldiers had ordered all men, including medical personnel, to gather in the hospital courtyard. He expressed concern about the possibility of the medical staff being arrested.

Al-Qedra called on the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the International Committee of the Red Cross to act immediately to save and protect the lives of those people in the hospital. 
Veteran actor Manoj Bajpayee whose latest filmJoram hit the silver screens last week believes that calling the Indian cinema industry Bollywood, is demeaning. The National Award winner was speaking at the ongoing 29 Kolkata International Film Festival today.

Responding on a question on his dislike for the name Bollywood, he said, I do not know who has given this term to our industry, but it is very demeaning. It is as if we are a bad copy of Hollywood. We are making our original films. Are Bengali films taken from Hollywood? No! They have Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen and Ritwik Ghatak. Even our mainstream films are one-of-a-kind. Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Amitabh Bachchan chose not to get influenced by Hollyw ood and their mainstream rather made their own mainstream.

 The actor, who was much appreciated for his role in Family Man, further added, If they are coming to see the shootings of the Indian film industry and the film stars, why give that name to us because our working style and values do not match with Hollywood at all. Talking about glorifying violence on women in the recent films, the Padma Shri award winner said, It is up to the audience to choose. We cant ask a filmmaker to make a film of your choice. He or she is to make films of his own choice.

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If we want this democracy to really thrive, we cant ask them not to make a film. We cant ask to protest, we cant ask for a ban. There has to be space for everyone. I always believe that if cinema had any kind of influence on society, society would have been a heaven because mostly the films are made to give messages and glorify women. But has it changed? No.

So cinema and their stories are from the society and put out on the screens and not viceversa. Talking about censorship on OTT, the actor felt that initially the online platforms went nuts in injecting unnecessary dose of violence and sex in their content. Hey didnt know what to do with freedom. But now, even without censorship, filmmakers are now calming down.

They are much more responsible in this matter and using those scenes only where required. OTT has democratized the whole film industry from all across. If censorship comes in, OTT would be dead, felt the actor. To the aspiring actors facing hurdles in pursuing their dreams, the actor said, They have to find a way. Even I lied at home saying that I was heading to Delhi to prepare for UPSC whereas, I was heading to National School of Drama. So you have to make your own way.

You would be in anxiety if you do the work you do not like. So, one should anyhow pursue the work he or she likes. Elaborating on pressure from peers and parents on children, the Aksactor pointed out that it is the expectations of parents that add to the mental pressure on young minds.

The less we talk to children about our expectations, the better it is for their mental health. Responding to the ongoing 29 KIFF, the acclaimed actor claimed, There are two festivals emerging as topmost in India and they are the Kolkata International Film Festival and the Kerala International Film Festival.
A day after some senior officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing alleged recruitment scam in West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) reportedly attended a meeting with their bosses in Delhi on Sunday to chalk out future course of action in the case, a team of ED investigators visited intensive coronary care unit (ICCU) at the SSKM Hospitals cardiology department and inquired about health condition of Sujay Krishna Bhadra, in custody of the central agency. Its learnt that the ED team spent around 15 minutes in the ICCU and spoke to Dr Manimoy Bandyopadhyay, director of SSKM Hospital, and Dr P K Roy, medical superintendent, and wanted to know about how many days Mr Bhadra will require for treatment at the SSKM hospital.

Two CISF jawans have been deployed at the ICCU gate to strengthen security measures for him. He was arrested by the ED more than five months ago on charges of his alleged involvement in recruitment of teachers in schools. Sources at the SSKM hospital said that his treatment records have already been sent to the ED through email. SSKM authorities said that he is not physically fit for discharge and voice sample tests.

The central investigating agency may move court requesting its intervention on how the former could take Sujay Krishna to a central government-run medical teaching institute where the expert doctors would check his health condition. In yesterdays meeting in Delhi ED officials discussed legal action if Sujay Krishna is not allowed by the SSKM authorities to undergo the voice sample test at any central government hospital.

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Without getting a green signal from the SSKM Hospital authorities the agency refused to take the accused to a central government hospital like ESIC Medical College Hospital at Joka to collect his voice sample. With approval of the court a medical board has already been formed at the central government-run ESIC Medical College Hospital to check Sujay Krishnas health condition. Dr Roy was not available for comments.
The state agriculture minister, Sovandeb Chatterjee today rubbished claims of the state BJP that recent farmers deaths were suicides, allegedly committed due to damage of crops following unseasonal rain.

The minister at a press meet in Nabanna alleged that it was nothing but a ploy of the state BJPs rumour mills to spread misinformation. Mr Chatterjee asserted that the BJPs alleged claims of farmers having committed suicides at Purbasthali and Khanakul recently due to damage of crops were all bogus as police reports claimed that the farmers died due to family problems.

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Abir Ranjan Biswas, Trinamul Congress Rajya Sabha member on Monday said the issue of womens safety has become paramount in the country as a staggering 4,45,256 cases of crime were committed against women in 2022, as per the recent National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report. Making a zero-hour submission in the Upper House, he said the data showed 51 first information reports (FIRs) were filed on crimes against women every hour during the last year.

While the data underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to combat gender-based crimes, it is noteworthy that Kolkata stands out as the safety city in the country, he said. This distinction highlights the effectiveness of local initiatives and law enforcement efforts in creating a secure environment for women, he said.

To further enhance womens safety nationwide, it is crucial for policymakers to analyse successful models, like that of Kolkata, and replicate best practices in other regions. This may include increased police presence, community engagement programmes, and leveraging technology for rapid response to incidents, Mr Biswas said.

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The Trinamul Congress member said, The alarming statistics underscore the responsibility of both law enforcement agencies, and roping in and engaging the community to work collaboratively in creating a society where women can live without fear. He said, It is essential to prioritise and invest in womens safety, ensuring that every city and region becomes a safe haven for women to thrive and contribute to the nations progress.
On Monday morning, an accident occurred on Kalyani Highway, resulting in the loss of three lives and leaving several others injured. The mishap happened in the early hours as a speeding vehicle collided with a dumper truck on the deserted road. The driver, unable to control the vehicle due to slippery conditions, veered off course and collided with the approaching dumper.

Despite attempts to swerve away, the impact proved catastrophic, leading to the death of three individuals on the spot. Several others sustained injuries, with six women from Kanchrapara rushed to Kolkata for medical attention.Local shopkeepers rushed to the site only to find three people lying lifeless, and others were in critical condition.

Police said the impact was so intense that the scrap-laden portion of the truck broke free, posing a serious risk to bystanders. The police had to break open the doors to rescue trapped passengers. Unfortunately, two women, along with the driver, lost their lives at the site

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Trinamul Congress leaders have criticised the BJP after its MLA was found to be threatening a block development officer. The BJP MLA from Onda Amarnath Shakha threatened the BDO of breaking his nose at a Bijaya Sammelani programme which was held recently.

Condemning the incident, Dr Shashi Panja wrote on X: In a shocking turn of events, the Onda BJP MLA Amarnath Shakha threatened the BDO of breaking his nose while addressing a Bijoya Sammilani programme. This incident serves a as a stark reminder of @ BJP4Bengals callous leaders whose repugnant display of misusing power is appalling.

In another incident, Kunal Ghosh, state general secretary of Trinamul Congress criticized Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition for always criticizing the state government officials for having alleged links with sand and coal mafia at a time when some party workers have exposed the involvement of clandestine deals of district leaders with the sand and coal mafia who operate shady toll system and make hefty profits from illegal quarrying.

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The profit from these proceeds goes to Adhikari and his cronies. Coming down heavily on Adhikari, Ghosh wrote on X: Isnt it laughable that LoP @suvenduWB should point fingers at the state administration when @BJP4Bengalparty workers have themselves exposed the involved of their districts honchos in clandestine deal with coal and sand mafia, operating shady toll system and raking in hefty profits from illegal quarrying. And whos pocketing these proceeds?

None other than Adhikari and his BJP cronies. He further wrote: While he throws stones from his glasshouse, theres undeniable photographic evidence of BJP union minister @JoshiPralhad rubbing shoulders with coal smuggling kingpin, Joydeb Khan. Theres evidence of BJP MLA @ Lakshman_G_ MLA negotiating the induction of tainted coal mafia, Raju Jha into the party with the blessings of national GS @ KailashOnline and national VP @ DilipGhoshBJP.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate CII EXCON  South Asias Largest Construction Equipment Trade Fair on Tuesday at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) in Bengaluru.

EXCON will have a participation of over 1,000 exhibitors including 100 from overseas.

Overseas countries participating include Austria, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the UK and the US.

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Besides, there will be 5 Country Pavilions from France, Germany, Italy, Turkey and the UK.

The 5-day exhibition would attract over 80,000 business visitors from all over the world.

Karnataka is the host state for EXCON 2023.

Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are supporting partners to the event.

The Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association (ICEMA) is the sector partner. Infrastructure Equipment Skill Council (IESC) and the Builders Association of India (BAI) are supporting partners for EXCON 2023.

While addressing the media in the city, Dimitrov Krishnan, Co-Chairman, CII EXCON 2023, said: We are excited to present the 12th Edition of EXCON, with the theme, Building Indias Tomorrow encompassing the fundamental pillars of Technology, Globalization, Sustainability, and Inclusiveness.

EXCON is more than just an event; it serves as the driving force behind Indias continuous progress, symbolizing our robust infrastructure development and solidifying Indias prominent position as a global hub for construction equipment manufacturing.
Dismissing Delhi Water Minister Atishis visit to the Old Delhi areas to resolve sewerage issues as a publicity stunt, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said it is nothing but the Aam Aadmi Party leaders attempt to be in the news.

The BJP leader alleged that the Delhi minister had evolved a new game of accusing the officials for anything that goes wrong.

He claimed that people of old Delhi, be it Matia Mahal area or Ballimaran, have been facing sewer overflow problems for several years despite repeatedly electing AAP MLAs and councilors.

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The BJP leader further said that apart from the internal streets, the sewers on main roads, including at Khari Baoli, Lal Kuan, Farash Khana, Charing Bazar, Matia Mahal, and Sita Ram Bazar, can be found choked and overflowing every other day.

Kapoor pointed at the recently renovated Chandni Chowk road, which he said gets clogged following a little rainfall. The people of Old Delhi invite Minister Atishi to visit the entire Walled City area and see how her party MLAs and councilors let the people down, be it on the water supply or sewerage system.

Meanwhile, continuing on-ground inspections regarding sewer complaints, Delhi Water Minister Atishi on Tuesday conducted a surprise check at Chitla Gate, Chawri Bazaar, and Nehru Hill JJ Colony areas, pulling up concerned Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials for the deplorable state of the sewers in the said places.
Lieutenant Governor Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday inaugurated a convenio store as part of a pilot project of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to assist inmates of Tihar Jail with their rehabilitation and reintegration into society after their release from jail.

The store has been set up at the Company Owned Company Operated (COCO) fuel station at Masjid Moth, New Delhi.

Srikant Madhav Vaidya, President, IOCL Director General Tihar Prisons Sanjay Baniwal were also present on the occasion.

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The Convenio Store, branded under the name of Tihar Jail, will showcase in-house products of the jail and will be sold and marketed by the prison inmates.

The store at the COCO outlet Masjid Moth will be operated by the jail inmates, which will send a powerful message about the mission of rehabilitation of the jail prisoners and their inclusion in the society.

The items in this store are more than just goods, as they are symbols of tenacity, willpower, and the adaptability of the human spirit.

IOCL has provided Tihar Prisons with a marketing space at its retail outlet COCO Masjid Moth, Delhi, for the sale of a variety of goods made by prisoners, including clothing, imitation jewelry, bread and buns, candles, soaps, toilet cleaners, furniture, and confectionery items.

This innovative project demonstrates our dedication to helping ex offenders become law-abiding, contributing members of society while also highlighting our commitment to their rehabilitation, an official statement said here.

This project is more than simply a store; its a representation of hope and the transformational potential of second chances.

This Convenio Store will be a flagship location that promotes equality and the rehabilitation of prisoners, and will function as a bridge between the prison and the society.

The Prison Administration is striving consistently to achieve the same goals.

Current skill development programs (vocational courses) offered in jail factories such as carpentry, weaving, papermaking, baking and other vocational courses as hair cutting, refrigerator and air conditioner repair are some feathers of various efforts made by Prison Administration.

The purpose of reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of jail inmates back into society following their release from prison are greatly aided by these skill development initiatives.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena at his official residence here, a government official said.

During his meeting with the LG Monday evening, the chief minister expressed his gratitude to him for his support and cooperation towards the ongoing projects, including Assam Complex in the national capital, the official said.

The official added that Sarma also sought Saxenas assistance for materialisation of the projects.

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Informing about his meeting with the LG, the Chief Minister in a social media post wrote, Conveyed my heartfelt thanks for his gracious support towards Government of Assams ongoing projects in the national capital and also sought his assistance to bring them into fruition.

Meanwhile, Sarma also called on Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri here.

Delighted to meet the extremely knowledgeable Hardeep Singh Puri ji, Union Minister. We had a good conversation on unleashing a green economy and upcoming strategic investments that could potentially transform Assam into a major energy hub, the Chief Minister wrote on X.

Elated over his meeting with Sarma, the Union minister also took to the micro-blogging site and wrote, We discussed matters pertaining to flagship urban mission and green energy transition which will further contribute to Indias journey towards becoming Viksit Bharat.

Earlier, the Chief Minister met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and discussed issues pertaining to the northeastern state.
BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, has called for building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

Xi made the remarks in a signed article carried by the Nhan Dan Newspaper of Vietnam on Tuesday prior to his visit to the country, titled "Building a China-Vietnam Community with a Shared Future That Carries Strategic Significance And Writing Together a New Chapter in Our Modernization Drive."

"I believe that a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance will draw more countries to the great cause of building an Asian community with a shared future as well as building a community with a shared future for mankind," Xi said.

"It will lend more positive energy to our efforts for long-term development and good-neighborliness in Asia, and make greater contributions to peace and development of the world," added the Chinese president.

To steadily promote the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Xi said the two countries need to maintain strategic communication and reinforce the political foundation, make good use of their complementary strengths to cement the cooperation foundation, step up friendly exchanges to cement popular support and properly manage differences and expand the consensus. 
The newly-elected chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr Mohan Yadav, will take oath of office and secrecy at a grand ceremony to be organised at the Motilal Nehru Police Stadium in Bhopal at 12 pm on 13 December.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other leaders are scheduled to attend the oath ceremony.

Along with the chief minister, the two deputy CMs, Jagdish Dewda and Rajendra Shukla, will also take oath.

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Besides, some ministers are also expected to take oath during the function.

Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel will administer the oath.

A large dome that can accommodate around 2,000 persons has been prepared in the Motila Nehru stadium for the oath ceremony. Three helipads have also been prepared at the Lal Parade Ground just outside the stadium.

The PM is expected to arrive at Bhopal at around 11.30 AM for the function.

After attending the oath ceremony at Bhopal, the PM and other Central leaders are scheduled to leave for Raipur in Chhattisgarh to attend the oath of new CM of Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Dev Sai, at the Science College ground at 4 pm.
In a sharp reaction to Amit Shahs remarks on the countrys first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Rahul Gandhi said the Union home minister keeps rewriting the history.

The Congress MP from Keralas Wayanad parliamentary constituency said Shah keeps talking about Nehru to distract attention from the real issues concerning the public.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, the home minister held Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru responsible for the crisis in Kashmir. He said, Kashmir had to suffer for many years on account of two mistakes the first prime minister of the country committed during his tenure.

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Talking to the reporters Gandhi said on the premises of Parliament here, Rahul Gandhi said, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru gave his life for India. He remained in jail for years. Amit Shah does not know the history. He keeps rewriting the history. It is only to distract (from the real issues).

Stating that the basic issue is caste-based census and the wealth of the country is going to whom, he said, They do not want to discuss these issues. They are scared and running away from discussion on it. But we will take these issues forward and give the poor their rights.

Notably, Gandhi has been pitching for a nationwide caste-based census, which according to him is necessary for the future of the country.

In response to a question on the BJP having a tribal leader (Vishnu Deo Sai) as Chhattisgarh chief minister, he said, Ours was also from OBC. This is not the issue. But the question is what their percentage in the structure is and what their participation is.

Noting that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi is from the OBC category, the parliamentarian said, But the government is being run by 90 officers. Out of the 90, three are OBC.

My question is that in our institutional system, what is the participation of OBCs, Dalits and Tribals. This is the main question in front of the people of India. This is the main issue, he said.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its judgment on a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act granting citizenship to immigrants from Bangladesh who had crossed over to India between January 1, 1966 to March 25, 197.

The Union government asserted that the validity of a provision could not be assailed on the apprehension of the language, culture, and religious identities of Assamese people getting overshadowed by the presence of the immigrants from Bangladesh.

A five-judge constitution bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justice Surya Kant, Justice M M Sundresh, Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, reserved the verdict on the conclusion of the arguments that were spread over four days. The hearing on a batch of petitions had commenced on December 5 and concluded today (December 12) with court being told that the presence of illegal immigrants was threatening their distinct religious, cultural, linguistic identities and were a drain on their resources.

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The constitution bench was told that the Section 6A which was inserted in pursuance to Assam Accord was to give citizenship to immigrants who had entered India between January 1, 1966 to March 25, 1971, was open ended and a person who entered India post March 25, 1971, too could take benefit of it.

The Assam accord was signed on August 15, 1985, between the All-Assam Students Union (AASU) and All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad and the Central government and the Assam government.

Stating that the basket of rights of Assamese people also included their political rights, the constitution bench was told that the presence of immigrants in the electoral rolls of the state adversely impacted them in the democratic functioning.

The constitution bench was told that grant of citizenship to illegal immigrants was bereft of any criteria or effective machinery to enforce it.

Sharing the gravity of the issue flagged by the lawyers appearing for the petitioners challenging Section 6A, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta , however, defended the Section 6A, and told the bench that it is not true that because of Section 6A a large number of immigrants have been granted India citizenship.

The Central government on Tuesday in an affidavit filed in pursuance to December 7, direction of the top court, informed the constitution bench that 17,861 Bangladeshi immigrants who had entered Assam between January 1, 1966 to March 25, 1971, have been granted Indian citizenship. Besides this, the bench was told that 32,381 of these immigrants have been detected to be foreigners by the Foreigners Tribunal till October 31, 2023.

Defending Section 6A , senior advocate Chandra Uday Singh appearing for an intervenor told the constitution bench that the issue of Bangladeshi immigrant assumed an alarming proportion in 2004 when in response to a question, the Rajya Sabha was told that about 1.2 crore people from Bangladesh have entered India and over 50 lakh of them were living in Assam.

Singh said that later it was revealed that this information was not correct and a clarification was issued in the Rajya Sabha.

Most of the lawyers defending Section 6A of the Citizenship Act assailed the contention that grant of citizenship to immigrants from Bangladesh would adversely impact the economic, political, linguistic and the cultural rights of the Assamese people.

It was contended that Article 29 of the constitution that guarantees the protection of interests of minorities including their cultural and educational rights could not be invoked to question the provision of the Citizenship Act, intended for the grant of citizenship to a particular group of people.

Asserting that the civic nationalism could not be dwarfed or replaced by the cultural nationalism, the constitution bench was told that denying citizenship to someone on the grounds of the prevailing cultural exclusivity and if that is accepted then Article 29 will cease to exist.

The domain of citizenship has to be free of religious and cultural moorings and no specific group will continue to have an electoral domination or domination over the electoral rolls, the court was told.
US President Joe Biden is not visiting India as the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in January 2024 and the Quad summit of leaders of India, Japan, Australia and the US, which was to be held around that time, has also been postponed, sources said on Tuesday.

We are looking for revised dates for Quad meet as the dates that were being considered do not suit other Quad partners, sources added.

India had invited President Biden to be the chief guest at the Republic Day as part of its plans to host the next Quad Summit. The invitation had been personally extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their bilateral meeting on the margins of the G20 Summit in September in New Delhi.

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had confirmed in November that India would host a Quad leaders meeting early next year.

US Ambassador Eric Garcetti publicly acknowledged that New Delhi had extended an invitation to President Biden.

Sources said various revised dates were now under consideration. However, the summit is now likely to be held only in the second half of the next year since the country will soon go into election mode for the Lok Sabha polls in April-May.

The postponement of the Quad summit has come at a time when the US is investigating an alleged plot to assassinate a Khalistan supporter on American soil. Since an Indian official is allegedly involved in planning the plot, the Indian government is also probing inputs shared by US agencies.

Sources, however, refused to draw any link between postponement of the Quad meet and the investigations into the plot.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has unveiled the datesheet for the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams in 2024. Aligned with the boards earlier declaration, the scheduled commencement date for CBSE board exams 2024 is February 15, and the estimated duration is around 55 days, concluding by April 10.

For detailed schedules, students are advised to monitor the official websites  cbse.nic.in or cbse.gov.in.

Typically, the board releases the datesheet approximately 1 to 1.5 months ahead of the first day of examinations. In the 2023 academic year, Class 10 exams concluded on March 21, while Class 12 exams extended until April 5.

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The CBSE board exams are anticipated to be conducted in a single shift, starting at 10:30 am and concluding at 1:30 pm.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Education in India announced a significant change, stating that board exams for classes 10 and 12 would be held twice a year starting from the academic year 2024-25. This move aims to reduce exam stress and provide students with more flexibility and opportunities to improve their scores. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has clarified that appearing for Class 10 and 12 board exams twice a year will not be mandatory for students.
With the Lok Sabha elections drawing closer, Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely on Tuesday appointed observers in all the districts in an attempt to rejuvenate the party at the grass-root level and to take the programmes and policies of it to the people.

Lovely appointed all the observers after holding discussions with AICC in-charge of Delhi Congress Deepak Babaria, the party said.

These observers will work at the ground level to strengthen the party in coordination with the party leadership at the district level, added Delhi Congress.

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The Delhi Congress chief said, These observers will make the recommendations for the appointment of active workers as presidents to all the 280 blocks and other posts of office-bearers.

He said that they will hold meetings with senior leaders, various categories of workers before finalizing the names of the block presidents and office-bearers unanimously.

Lovely also informed that a joint meeting of the District Congress committees and observers will be held this week. In the 2019 General Elections, the grand old party drew a blank in Delhi.
A high-level delegation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)-led by its chief Christopher Wray on Monday held extensive talks with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi. During the meeting, they officials of the two premier investigation agencies of India and US discussed several issues relating to the security of the respective countries.

In a statement issued on the meeting, the NIA said that the FBI chief informed that they are aggressively investigating the attacks on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on March 19 and July 2 this year.

The consulate officers were attacked by Khalistani extremists. During the July 2 attack which took place days after the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the extremists tried to set the Indian consulate on fire.

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Christopher A Wray, Director FBI, leading a high-level FBI delegation, visited the NIA headquarters on Tuesday and held extensive discussions with NIA DG, Dinkar Gupta, and senior officialsDuring the meeting, candid and wide-ranging discussions were held on a host of issues, including the acts and activities of Terrorist-Organised Criminal Networks, ongoing investigations in the US in the attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, investigation of cyber-terror and cyber-crimes of various kinds, a NIA spokesperson said in a statement.

Mr. Wray also informed the NIA that the FBI was aggressively investigating the attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, the spokesperson added.

The meeting between the chiefs of FBI and NIA also comes in the backdrop of US indictment of an Indian national Nikhil Gupta over the alleged assassination plot of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The indictment claimed that an Indian government official directed Nikhil Gupta to carry out the assassination of an American citizen on the American soil.

According to reports the issue of the alleged killing plot was also discussed during the meeting of top security officials of both the countries. Besides, extradition of fugitives to India, including Khalistani extremists, was also discussed during the meeting.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the government was working to take maximum advantage of AIs capabilities for social development and inclusive growth, and was initiating a national programme on Artificial Intelligence.

The development mantra of India is Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, the prime minister said underlining that the government has drafted its policies and programmes with the spirit of AI for All.

After inaugurating the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit at Bharat Mandapam here, he said an AI mission would soon be launched which will establish the computing powers of AI. This, the prime minister said, will provide better services to start-ups and innovators in India and also promote AI applications in the sectors of agriculture, healthcare, and education.

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He took a walk-through of the Global AI Expo. GPAI is a multi-stakeholder initiative with 29 member countries aiming to bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI by supporting cutting-edge research and applied activities on AI-related priorities. India is the lead chair of GPAI in 2024.

Addressing the gathering, Modi expressed delight in India chairing the GPAI Summit next year at a time when the entire world is debating about artificial intelligence. Noting both the positive and the negative aspects that are emerging, he underlined the responsibility enshrined upon each nation

The prime minister said today, India is the main player in the field of AI talent and AI-related ideas. A vibrant AI spirit is visible in India as the Indian youth is testing and pushing the frontier of AI tech, he said.

Referring to the exhibits in the AI exhibition at the Summit, he said the youth are trying to bring social change through technology. The Prime Minister said the recently launched AI agriculture chatbot will help farmers in various aspects of farming. He expounded on the use of AI in the fields of healthcare and Sustainable Development Goals.

Underlining the negative aspects of AI, Modi said even though it has the potential to become the strongest tool for development in the 21st century, it can also play a pivotal role in its destruction.

Pointing out the challenges of deepfake, cyber security, data theft and terrorist organizations getting their hands on AI tools, Prime Minister Modi stressed the need for countermeasures. He threw light on Indias proposal to create a framework for Responsible Human-Centric AI governance during Indias G20 Presidency and said that the G20 New Delhi Declaration has reaffirmed the commitment of all member countries towards AI Principles.

Stressing the need for conviction, commitment, coordination and collaboration, the prime minister called upon the entire world to not waste even a moment in this direction. We have to complete the global framework within a given time limit. It is very important to do this to protect humanity, he added.

Noting that AI has become a worldwide movement, the prime minister said there is the need for collaboration. He suggested a few questions that need to be addressed to enhance AIs credibility such as data sets for testing and training AI tools, length and duration of testing before releasing any product to the market. He also asked whether a Software Watermark can be introduced to mark any information or product as AI-generated.

He emphasised that in order to make any system sustainable it is important to make it transformative, transparent and trusted. There is no doubt that AI is transformative but it is up to us to make it more and more transparent, he added.

Keeping the data being used transparent and free from bias will be a good beginning, he said, adding that it is imperative to assure all the countries that no one will be left behind in the development journey of AI. Trust in AI will grow only when related ethical, economic and social aspects are addressed, he said.

One way to do this is to make upskilling and reskilling part of the AI growth curve, he said. Data protection and assurances to the global south will also assuage many concerns.
The Opposition Congress has slammed the ruling Communist government over the disgraceful behaviour by SFI goons in blocking the Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khans car. Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, where the alleged incident took place, said that police under the CPI(M) rule have been working as agents of lawlessness.

Disgraceful behaviour by SFI goons in blocking Shri Arif Mohammad Khan Sahibs car yesterday and assaulting his vehicle. His fury is entirely understandable. The police under Communist rule have been agents of lawlessness, complicit in the ruling partys worst excesses. They allowed an assault on the Governor while allowing the manhandling of peaceful student demonstrators against the CM. Shameful, the Congress MP wrote on X.

His response came after Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan accused Chief Minister Vijayan of hatching a conspiracy to physically harm him.

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Khans accusations against the Kerala CM came after his convoy was blocked by members of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the ruling CPI(M). The alleged incident took place when Khan was going to the airport.

Speaking to reporters, the Kerala Governor claimed that vehicles of protesters were standing there.

Is it possible that if a Chief Minister programme is going on, cars with protesters will be allowed there? Will they (police) allow anybody to come near the car of the Chief Minister? Here cars of the protesters were standing there and police pushed them into their cars and they ran away, Mr Khan said.

Khan said that goons have taken the charge of the roads in Thiruvananthapuram and it is the states chief minister who is behind the conspiracy to hurt him physically.

So, it is the Chief Minister, I am saying it clearly, who is conspiring and sending these people to hurt me physically. The goondas have taken charge of the roads of Thiruvananthapuram, he added.
Congress leader and great-grand son of Indias first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his Rajya Sabha remarks against Nehru and said that the home minister is unaware of history.

Amit Shah on Monday blamed Nehru for the problems of Kashmir. When asked about this, Gandhi said, Pandit Nehru gave his life for India, he was in jail for years. Amit Shah is unaware of history. I cannot expect him to know history, he has the habit of rewriting it.

#WATCH | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says Pandit Nehru gave his life for India, he was in jail for years. Amit Shah is unaware of history. I cannot expect him to know history, he has the habit of rewriting it pic.twitter.com/SRVClqloIE Advertisement  ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2023

What Amit Shah had said in Rajya Sabha on Nehru?

While speaking in the Rajya Sabha during a discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Shah quoted a statement form Nehru in which, Shah claimed, the former prime minister admitted to his mistake taking the Kashmir issue to the United Nations.

After the experience of United Nations, I have come to the conclusions that no satisfactory results can be expected from there. I considered the ceasefire decision a good one, but we could not deal with this matter well. We should have had more thoughts on the ceasefire and taken it late. Though, these are the mistakes of the past. This quote is of Jawaharlal Nehru. Unko toh manoge ya nahi manoge ki unhone galti ki. Accept this(Nehru himself is accepting that he did a mistake), Shah said while quoting Nehru.

In Lok Sabha last week, Shah said that Nehru made two big mistakes  calling for a ceasefire in war against Pakistan and taking the Kashmir issue to the UN  due to which Kashmir had to suffer for many years.
ANKARA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish police detained 257 suspects in a nationwide anti-gang operation carried out against organized crime networks in 37 provinces, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Tuesday.

During Operation Cage-18, a total of 39 organized crime structures, including nine national and local crime groups and 30 criminal factions aiding these organizations by providing weapons and other resources, were dismantled, said the minister on the social media platform X.

These organized crime organizations were accused of shooting up workplaces to obtain finance and weapons, looting businesspeople, engaging in arms trade and drug trafficking, and resorting to armed fighting over disagreement on the sharing of crime proceeds, the minister said.

They also engaged in other crimes including usury, in which they used car dealerships, restaurants and similar businesses as a front and plundered people who could not pay their debts by threatening them with guns, he added. 
The poor crowd management measures adopted to control the huge rush of devotees to Sabarimala have forced many pilgrims to return home without performing darshan at the hill shrine.

According to reports, many pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and different parts of Kerala are returning home without visiting the hill shrine. They return home after visiting the Valiya Koyikkal Sree Dharma Sastha Temple in Pandalam.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and the Kerala Police are facing flak for their failure to control the crowd effectively to reduce the waiting time.

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It has been reported that the facilities at the Ayyappa shrine are inadequate at all places including queue complexes with pilgrims having to wait 15 to 20 hours for darshan. Approximately 75,000 pilgrims visit the temple daily on average and yet no measures are in place to control the crowding and preserve order.

Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan responded by saying that the coming of around one lakh pilgrims on one day has suddenly created a crisis at Sabarimala.

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday asked the state government to guarantee that no person visits Sabarimala Temple without virtual queue booking or spot booking.

The decision came as the hill shrine in Kerala witnessed a heavy rush of pilgrims in the last few days, requiring them to wait more than 12 hours to get darshan.

The High Court also directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to seek the help of NSS and NCC cadets from nearby colleges to help the Sabarimala pilgrims.

In light of the increase in influx of devotees to the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed officials to conduct matters in a more integrated and coordinated manner.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday posted for January 17, 2024 former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidus plea for anticipatory bail in the Fibernet case.

The top court asked both the TDP leader and the Andhra Pradesh government to adhere to the undertaking and refrain from making statements or speaking on the matter  Fibernet case pending before it.

Posting the matter for hearing on January 17 and continuing the protection from coercive action to Chandrababu Naidu, a bench of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Bela M. Trivedi reminded both the sides that they have undertaken to gentlemanly refrain from speaking on the matter before the court and stick to it.

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The court said that the judgment on the applicability of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, in AP Skill Development case and the Fibernet case will take some more time to be completed.

The court told senior advocate Sidharth Luthra appearing for Chandrababu Naidu, Your client should not be making statements on the matter. Whole thing is going on a gentleman agreement and both sides are required to act gentlemanly.

On October 13, the Andhra Pradesh government had assured the top court that it will not arrest former State Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in the Fibernet case till October 18. This undertaking was reiterated on October 17 and 20, 2023 and November 30 and stands extended today as well.

Justice Bose said that both sides should adhere to the undertaking as senior advocate Ranjit Kunar appearing for the Andhra Pradesh government told the bench that the former chief minister Naidu was making statements in respect of the case and the incarceration he had undergone.

Countering the submission by the Andhra Pradesh government, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra told the bench that the statements against Naidu were being made not only in Hyderabad but in Delhi as well and referred to a statement by the Director General of Andhra Pradesh police, describing it as shocking.

Linking the statements by both the sides to an election time exchange, Justice Bose observed that no election is nearby and asked both the sides to adhere to the undertaking.

Earlier, the Andhra Pradesh police has made a statement in the court that it will hold its hand and not take any coercive steps against Chandrababu Naidu till the issue whether he (Chandrababu Naidu) is shielded under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act is resolved.

The court on October 17, 2023, had reserved judgment on the former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidus plea seeking the quashing of the FIR in the alleged Andhra Pradesh Skill Development scan case on the grounds that case was initiated against him without prior sanction of the State Governor as mandated under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

This is the issue common to both the matters  Andhra Pradesh Skill Development case and the Fibernet case.

The Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act requires State Governors consent before the initiation of action against Naidu for the alleged irregularities committed in the Andhra Pradesh Skill Development case and the Fibernet case while he was the Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019.

Section 17A was incorporated in the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, by an amendment and the same came into force on July 26, 2018.

While Chandrababu Naidu has contended that case of alleged corruption in the Skill Development case was initiated post incorporation of Section 17A, the Andhra Pradesh government has asserted that Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, cant parachute in the cases of alleged corruption leading to loss to the State exchequer that happened before its birth on July 26, 2018.

Chandrababu Naidu has also contended that the enforcement of the Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act is retrospective and the cases registered against him are covered under Section 17A.

Chandrababu Naidu has knocked the doors to the top court contending that no criminal prosecution can be launched against him on the issues arising from the decisions he took in discharge of his official duties as Chief Minister between 2014 and 2019 without prior sanction of the Governor as provided under the Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In the hearing of the matter on October 20, the bench had said that since the order on the applicability of Section 17A of Prevention of Corruption Act in Naidus plea seeking the quashing of FIR in Skill Development scam case is reserved, it would be appropriate to hear anticipatory bail plea of Naidu in Fibernet case after the verdict is delivered, since the issue is common to both the cases.

The top court is seized of the Naidus plea against the Andhra Pradesh High Court order refusing to grant him anticipatory bail in October.
The Kerala police on Tuesday invoked Section 124 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the SFI workers who blocked Governor Arif Mohammed Khans vehicle and waved black flags at him on Monday night. Section 124 of the IPC pertains to assaulting the Governor with an intent to restrain him from exercising his lawful powers.

The stringent Section 124 was added in the FIR after the Governor issued instructions to the State Police Chief and the Chief Secretary in this regard. There were reports that the Governor had corresponded with the Chief Secretary and the State Police Chief seeking strong action against the SFI workers. The Raj Bhavan also officially gave a statement to the top cops on Tuesday regarding the act and sought strong action against the accused under Section 124.

At first, the FIR contained rather weak sections even though the protesting SFI workers jumped on the Governors car and tried to smash its windows. Earlier, the police had booked the SFI workers under minor offences, including unlawful assembly, rioting, obstructing traffic, and restraining public servants from discharging their duty. This was widely criticised.

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The Cantonment police in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday registered a case against seven SFI workers who allegedly obstructed and attacked the Governors car. The accused have been booked under Sections 143, 147, 149, 283 and 353 of the IPC. Section 124 was invoked after the Governor issued instructions to the DGP and the Chief Secretary.

Section 124 of the IPC covers assaulting the President or Governor with the intent to force or stop them from exercising their lawful powers. The punishment for this offence includes seven years in prison and fine. Talking to the media in the morning, Arif Mohammed Khan said: If an attack takes place on the President or the Governor, a case has to be registered under Section 124 of the IPC.

The accused have been identified as Yadhukrishnan, Ashique Pradeep, Ashish R G, Dileep, Ryan, Aman Gafoor and Rino Stephen. According to the FIR, the Governor was obstructed by seven SFI workers and 10 other identifiable people under the leadership of the SFI district committee violating the law that no processions or demonstrations should be held on public roads.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Intelligence department gathered information that the Governors travel route, which the City Police Commissioner had instructed to keep confidential, was leaked to the SFI on Monday morning by a leader of the police association.

The State Intelligence had issued three warnings about Students Federation of Indias (SFI) plans to protest against the Kerala Governor. The three warnings issued in a span 24 hours warned about the display of black flags and a possible attack on Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. Although the report had suggested that additional security should be provided to the Governor, the higher-ups in the police department ignored it.

Meanwhile, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has alleged complicity of the police in the incident. Speaking to reporters in Delhi on Tuesday, Khan alleged that the protesters were brought to the spot in police vehicles.

The Governor reiterated the charge that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was behind the conspiracy to attack him. He alleged that the trigger for the attack was a speech of Pinarayi Vijayan three days ago in which he allegedly said the Governor was provoking the SFI workers.

The Governor claimed that his car was attacked by the SFI activists at the behest of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as he had called for a report on the financial health of the state government.

The Chief Minister is saying the government is not bound to reply to every query of the Governor. Let him not reply. I will wait for 10 days. And then, if the state is in crisis, I must make my recommendations to the Central government, Khan told media persons in Delhi.

High drama unfolded on the streets of Thiruvananthapuram on Monday night after SFI activists waved black flags at the Governors convoy while he was proceeding to the airport to board a flight to Delhi.

Some of the protesters advanced to the middle of the road and blocked the Governors car. An enraged Khan came out of his vehicle and alleged that the protesters hit his car from both sides and that it was a serious security lapse. This is at the direction of the Chief Minister to hurt me physically, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan claimed. He accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of sending goons to physically hurt him, and alleged that the constitutional machinery in the state seemed to be collapsing.
Madhya Pradesh caretaker CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday sparked a political controversy with his terse statement Mae maangne se behtar marna samjhunga. (I will prefer dying rather than asking or begging for something).

Mr Chouhans statement came a day after he was not chosen by the BJP leadership to be the CM of MP again.

Dr Mohan Yadav was selected to be the states new CM at the BJP Legislative Party meeting in the presence of 3 Central observers at Bhopal on 11 December.

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Dr Yadav would take oath on 13 December.

Many women also met the outgoing CM Chouhan at his residence today. A majority of them could be seen weeping. Mr Chouhan consoled all the women saying he was not leaving his sisters or going anywhere.

Most of the women who met Mr Chouhan said they had voted for the BJP so that Chouhan would be the CM of MP again.

Since yesterday, questions have been asked about Shivraj Singh Chouhans political future.
Vishnu Deo Sai has made history as the first tribal chief minister of Chhattisgarh from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). According to party sources, the BJP high command exclusively endorsed Sai for the chief ministers post in Chhattisgarh.

Sais nomination was formally announced during a legislative party meeting in Raipur following the arrival of party observers from Delhi.

Choosing Vishnu Deo Sai as Chhattisgarhs chief minister could prove a game changer for the BJP. The bold move is a strategic masterstroke set to shake up the political scene in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

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Party sources revealed that Sai was personally chosen by PM Modi and Amit Shah, sidelining other notable figures, including former Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh, Member of Parliament Arun Sao, and Renuka Singh.

Political analysts say the decision aligns strategically with the approaching 2024 Lok Sabha elections and assembly elections in Jharkhand and Odisha. Experts suggest that by selecting Sai, the BJP is taking a substantial step towards integrating the tribal community into its ranks, potentially expanding its influence in tribal-dominated regions.

The BJPs decision is not only pivotal for Chhattisgarhs political dynamics but also indicative of a broader strategy aimed at consolidating support from tribal communities nationwide.

In Chhattisgarh, influential tribal leader Arvind Netam, who also served as a minister in Indira Gandhis cabinet, shared his insights with The Statesman. He remarked, Since 1980, I have advocated for a tribal chief minister for contemporary Madhya Pradesh within the Congress party. Yet, Congress failed to provide leadership to the tribal community. The BJPs decision to appoint a tribal chief minister in Chhattisgarh is poised to impact the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Jharkhand and Odisha.

Netam emphasised the significant Bhil tribal population in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and parts of Maharashtra, noting the growing success of tribal leaders winning MLA seats in recent years. Acknowledging the BJPs understanding of tribal awareness, he expressed hope that the new generation of BJP leaders will engage in more inclusive dialogues with the tribal community, fostering a lasting and positive relationship between the BJP and tribal society.

As the BJP gears up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, the elevation of a tribal leader as the new chief minister underscores its commitment to foster inclusivity and broadening its appeal among diverse sections of the population.
The suspense over chief ministers in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh has ended and now is the turn of Rajasthan where BJP MLAs are likely to pick their legislative party leaders today.

The CM picks in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have surprised political analysts and if BJPs Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Lal Meena is to be believed, the saffron party will throw another surprise in Rajasthan.

Speaking to news agency ANI about the BJPs Rajasthan CM pick, Meena said, Your analysis turned out wrong in Chhattisgarh and Madhya PradeshYou should be ready for a surprise

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The fact that BJP didnt pick four-time CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Madhya Pradesh and moved away from three-time CM Raman Singh in Chhattisgarh, it is likely the party may not relent to Vasundhara Rajes pressure tactics as well.

Raje has tried to build pressure on the central leadership by reportedly holding meetings with some 50 newly elected MLAs. Allegations were also made against Rajes son Dushyant that he is holding some MLAs at a resort at the outskirts of Jaipur.

Hours after the allegations were made against her son, Raje was called to Delhi where she met with BJPs National president JP Nadda. She was also accompanied by her son during the late night meeting.

When she came out of the meeting, TV cameras captured a smiling Vasundhara Raje.

When BJP announced Mahesh Yadav as new Madhya Pradesh chief minister, Raje congratulated him.

Hearty congratulations to respected Shri Mohan Yadav ji, senior leader of Bharatiya Janata Party, on being elected as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. It is our wish that under your leadership and guidance of Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the state and the organization will write a new chapter of progress, she wrote on X in a congratulatory message.

Speculations are rife that the BJP may pick a woman as its chief minister in Rajasthan. Jhotwara MLA Divya Kumari is said to be the front runner. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Om Mathur are also among the key contenders.

Anita Bhadel is another name that is making rounds in Rajasthans political circles. A two-time former minister from Ajmer South, Bhadel defeated Congress Droupadi Koli in the recently held assembly elections.
The recently concluded elections in five states, where the BJP won in three, were being closely monitored across the globe. The ruling BJP and its archrival, the Congress, fought on opposing strategies, in what was considered a semi-final before next years national elections. For the world, a BJP defeat in primary states would have meant a change in stance towards India, as it would have signalled a possible new government in 2024.

Economic cooperation with India, investments and long-term defence collaboration could have witnessed a slowdown. The rise of India has never been appreciated across the globe. In June this year, prior to PM Modis visit to Washington, TIME magazine in an article titled, Indias worsening democracy makes it an unreliable ally, mentioned, India has always been a flawed democracy. Freedom House, which evaluates democracies, terms India as partly-free, while the V-Dem project of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden describes India as an electoral autocracy.

At the same time, a Pew Research Survey shows that PM Modi has the highest global ranking as a national leader. The official US government views on India are vastly different from that of its media. Commerce secretary Gina Raimondo, described PM Modi as the worlds most popular leader, terming him unbelievable and visionary. The White House described India as a vibrant democracy. The elections, conducted without any major incident, displayed that criticisms of Indias democratic credentials are ill-founded. There were no reports of large-scale rigging or fake voting as has happened in most parts of the world, including the US.

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Stuffing ballot boxes and voter fraud is prevalent in the US, but it is Indian democracy which is questioned. Preventing the new leadership from taking office by violent means occurs in Washington, but India has a poorer democracy rating. In India, the farmers protest was resolved with the government backing down, while in Canada, protesting truckers were manhandled, fined, bank accounts frozen and assets seized under Canadas draconian Emergency Act. Yet, India lacks human rights. Donald Trump faces multiple court cases, but if an Indian opposition leader is questioned for corruption, India faces global criticism. Democratic principles and policies vary from country to country and comparing India with the western model of democracy, which is flawed in its own way, is illogical. The reasons why India faces global scrutiny are multi-fold.

Firstly, some Indian journalists, who despise the ruling BJP for denying journalistic privileges, pour their frustration in writings for western media outlets as also in talks on global platforms, accusing the current dispensation of suppressing democratic rights. Secondly, a few senior Indian politicians, frustrated by failures, criticize the current leadership for not adhering to democratic principles. When insiders project this view on the global stage, it is considered factual and hence carries weight.

Finally, what has hurt the West has been Indias foreign policy approach based on its national interests. India has disagreed with the US on their perceptions on Bangladesh and Myanmar as these are Indias neighbours and relations with them are based on national interest and not on a US-invented rules-based order and democratic principles. India has also disagreed with the US perception on the Russia-Ukraine war, maintaining a neutral profile. Similar has been its approach on the Israel-Hamas clash. India as a growing power, adopting an independent policy, can impair western global leadership. There is also Indias rising military and economic might which cannot be ignored. India remains the only Asian nation to challenge Chinese hegemony and hence must be wooed.

It is a major western partner in the IndoPacific as also possesses the economic might to support weaker nations, keeping them away from Chinese influence. Thus, while the West may dislike Indias independent strategic viewpoint, it is compelled to keep Delhi in good humour, which is not a satisfactory setting. The BJP victory has also resonated in Pakistan, which considers the party to be anti-Pakistan. Dawn published an article titled, Indias Modi seems unstoppable after state polls sweep. It said Indias opposition faces a herculean task in next years general elections. The article signalled abject frustration. Simultaneously, an editorial in the same newspaper stated that India is out of touch with the world despite claims to unparalleled adulation from everyone. An editorial in the Friday Times titled, Indias drift into electoral autocracy, mentions that the victory will move India into the realm of electoral autocracy. For the world, the current Delhi dispensation cannot be written off. It remains likely to retain power implying continuation of current policies. However, anti-India elements, critical of Indias rise, would now enhance their efforts to damage New Delhis global standing.

The Khalistan factor, both in Canada and the US, will witness a rise in tempo, backed by state intelligence agencies. It is possible that there would be increased protests threatening Indian diplomats and assets, hoping to influence the Indian electorate in specific regions. Similarly, the Pannun accusation is timed just when the nation gears up for next years elections. The subject will be raised frequently. Neither the US nor Canada will accept Indias extradition demands, nor would they curtail antiIndia rhetoric. In February this year, in an address at the Munich Security Conference, George Soros, known for his anti-Modi bias had stated, Modi and business tycoon Adani are close allies. Their fate is intertwined. (The Hindenburg report on Adani) will significantly weaken Modis stranglehold on Indias federal government and open the door to push for much-needed institutional reforms.

Interestingly, Adani was a major opposition ploy in the recently concluded elections, but made little impact. Many organizations, including NGOs funded by Soros, would now begin projecting that India needs a change. Global bodies conducting comparisons of nations have always placed India way below its true position, intending to lower its image. An example is the global hunger index which placed India at 107, below Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal, ignoring the fact that India was providing grains to Nepal and Sri Lanka. For a country of 1.4 billion, the sample size in the survey was just 3,000. As the 2024 elections draw near, anti-India lobbies, desperate for change at the helm, will increase their traction. But the Indian voter will not be fooled easily.

(The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army.)
In Tokyos political arena, the unfolding drama surrounding the fundraising scandal in Japans ruling party has taken a more ominous turn. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, facing mounting scrutiny and public discontent, now contemplates a major shake-up of his cabinet, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno expected to be replaced.

The decision to replace Mr Matsuno stems from allegations of his involvement in receiving undeclared political funds, a revelation that has further eroded publics trust in the administration. The scandal, which initially centred round fundraising irregularities, has now penetrated the upper echelons of the government, leaving the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in disarray. As prosecutors prepare to investigate lawmakers, including Mr Matsuno, after the current parliamentary session concludes, the looming question is whether this move is enough to restore confidence in Mr Kishidas leadership.

The plan for a cabinet reshuffle and the appointment of new party officials reflects a desperate attempt to regain control of a narrative slipping through the governments fingers. Mr Matsuno, the embattled Chief Cabinet Secretary, stands accused of failing to declare over 10 million yen received in the past five years from the LDPs largest faction. The allegations, if proven true, not only implicate Mr Matsuno but cast a shadow over the factions handling of funds during a period when Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and LDP policy research council chairman Koichi Hagiuda are also suspects in improper declaration of political funds.

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The deafening silence from the Prime Ministers and Mr Matsunos offices only adds to the air of uncertainty. The lack of immediate response raises questions about the governments transparency and its commitment to addressing the concerns of a public grappling with the economic fallout of rising costs and looming tax hikes. Mr Nishimura, a key figure in the scandal, too maintains silence, leaving the public in the dark about the details of his involvement. The reported suspicions regarding Mr Nishimura and Mr Hagiuda compound the sense of unease, as the public demands answers and accountability from those entrusted with steering the nation through tumultuous times.

The political earthquake that has rocked Mr Kishidas government has not gone unnoticed by the public. Support has plummeted to a record low, reflecting a growing sentiment of disillusionment and frustration among voters. The alleged mishandling of funds by prominent party members has not only damaged the credibility of individual lawmakers but has left an indelible stain on the entire political apparatus. As the parliament session draws to a close, Japan finds itself at a crossroads.

The proposed cabinet reshuffle and the replacement of key officials may be an attempt to quell the storm, but whether it will be enough to save Mr Kishida remains uncertain. The intricate web of allegations, investigations, and political manoeuvring has left the nation yearning for a restoration of trust, a commodity that once lost, proves challenging to reclaim.
In the bustling halls of COP28, Indias resolute stance on climate negotiations reverberates, echoing the nations plea for equity and justice. As the world grapples with the urgency of climate action, Indias demand for a fair distribution of responsibilities reflects the intricacies of balancing development aspirations with global environmental imperatives. At the heart of Indias argument lies the principle that developed nations, historically responsible for the lions share of carbon emissions, should bear the mantle of leadership in mitigating climate change.

Outlining Indias position, union climate change minister Bhupender Yadavs call for equity and climate justice underscores Indias determination not to be shackled by emission reduction obligations that could impede its burgeoning economic growth. India, the worlds third-largest emitter after China and the United States, acknowledges its environmental footprint. However, as a developing nation, it contends that its pursuit of economic prosperity should not be stifled by disproportionately burdensome emission cuts. This plea for fairness in shouldering the climate burden reflects a nuanced understanding of the delicate balance between economic development and environmental stewardship. The impasse at COP28 over the future use of fossil fuels encapsulates the global struggle to strike a harmonious chord in climate discussions.

India, joined by other fossil fuel-dependent economies, contends that the onus should fall heavier on wealthier nations that have historically released more climate-warming emissions since the industrial revolution. This tug-of-war between nations underscores the inherent challenges of forging a united front against a common adversary ~ climate change. Prime Minister Narendra Modis proposition to host COP33 talks in 2028 adds a layer of diplomacy to Indias climate narrative. While advocating for a fairer global climate agenda, India extends an olive branch by offering to play a crucial role in shaping future negotiations.

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Mr Modis recognition that a small section of humanity has disproportionately exploited nature sets the stage for collaborative efforts, transcending national boundaries in tackling a crisis that affects the entire global community. Indias energy landscape, dominated by coalfired power constituting 80 per cent of its electricity supply, poses a conundrum. Despite global calls at COP26 for a phase down in unabated coal power, Indias pushback at COP27 and subsequent resistance to specific timelines for coal phase-out reveal the complex interplay between energy demands and environmental responsibility. The surge in domestic power demand during this years scorching summer only amplifies the challenge, emphasising the need for a nuanced approach to balance immediate energy needs with long-term sustainability goals. Indias commitment to sourcing 50 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 underscores a forward-looking vision.

However, the concurrent plan to add 17 gigawatts of coal capacity within the next 16 months reveals the tight-rope India walks between embracing renewables and addressing immediate energy shortfalls. In navigating the intricate terrain of COP28, India emerges as a voice calling for fairness, a plea rooted in an understanding of historical responsibilities and the need for collaborative, inclusive climate action.
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Gaza, a top official confirmed.

President of the UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis, has just informed member states that he will convene the 45th plenary meeting of the tenth Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 12, Franciss spokesperson Monica Grayley said late Sunday.

Egypt and Mauritania formally requested a meeting, citing the General Assembly Resolution 377 Uniting for Peace in their letter to the UNGA president.

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The Uniting for Peace resolution gives the Assembly power to take up matters of international peace and security when the Security Council is unable to act due to unanimity among its five permanent members who have the veto power.

The letter highlighted the urgency of holding such a meeting after a Security Council draft resolution on Gaza ceasefire was vetoed by the US on December 8.

The resolution, drafted by the UAE and backed by about 100 countries, called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Thirteen of the 15 Security Council members voted in favour, while the UK Britain abstained and the US voted against it.
Israeli military vehicles are seen on a street in the West Bank city of Jenin, Dec. 12, 2023. At least four Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone attack on the West Bank city of Jenin, a medical source said on Tuesday.

Wissam Baker, director of Jenin Governmental Hospital, said the bodies of three victims, all of them young men, were transferred to the hospital, while the body of the fourth was sent to a medical center in the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin.

Israeli forces raided the city of Jenin and its refugee camp on Tuesday, carrying out a military operation that lasted for several hours, and used drones to bomb a group of young men inside the old town of the city, said Palestinian security sources. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

JENIN, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- At least four Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone attack on the West Bank city of Jenin, a medical source said on Tuesday.

Wissam Baker, director of Jenin Governmental Hospital, said the bodies of three victims, all of them young men, were transferred to the hospital, while the body of the fourth was sent to a medical center in the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin.

Israeli forces raided the city of Jenin and its refugee camp on Tuesday, carrying out a military operation that lasted for several hours, and used drones to bomb a group of young men inside the old town of the city, said Palestinian security sources.

According to the sources, Israeli forces arrested dozens of young men from the refugee camp.

Explosions and an exchange of gunfire between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces were heard at the refugee camp and Jenin's neighborhoods. Israeli forces also bulldozed roads and infrastructure in the camp and its surrounding neighborhoods, the sources said.

The Israeli army said its soldiers were surveying buildings in Jenin before they were exposed to gunfire and the throwing of explosives. In response, the Israeli soldiers targeted Palestinian militants who opened fire.

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, a total of 279 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, according to figures released by the Palestinian Health Ministry. 

A Palestinian throws a stone at an Israeli military vehicle in the West Bank city of Jenin, Dec. 12, 2023. At least four Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone attack on the West Bank city of Jenin, a medical source said on Tuesday.

Wissam Baker, director of Jenin Governmental Hospital, said the bodies of three victims, all of them young men, were transferred to the hospital, while the body of the fourth was sent to a medical center in the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin.

Israeli forces raided the city of Jenin and its refugee camp on Tuesday, carrying out a military operation that lasted for several hours, and used drones to bomb a group of young men inside the old town of the city, said Palestinian security sources. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

A wounded person is transferred to a local hospital in the West Bank city of Jenin, Dec. 12, 2023. At least four Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone attack on the West Bank city of Jenin, a medical source said on Tuesday.

Wissam Baker, director of Jenin Governmental Hospital, said the bodies of three victims, all of them young men, were transferred to the hospital, while the body of the fourth was sent to a medical center in the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin.

Israeli forces raided the city of Jenin and its refugee camp on Tuesday, carrying out a military operation that lasted for several hours, and used drones to bomb a group of young men inside the old town of the city, said Palestinian security sources. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

Smoke rises in the West Bank city of Jenin, Dec. 12, 2023. At least four Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone attack on the West Bank city of Jenin, a medical source said on Tuesday.

Wissam Baker, director of Jenin Governmental Hospital, said the bodies of three victims, all of them young men, were transferred to the hospital, while the body of the fourth was sent to a medical center in the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin.

Israeli forces raided the city of Jenin and its refugee camp on Tuesday, carrying out a military operation that lasted for several hours, and used drones to bomb a group of young men inside the old town of the city, said Palestinian security sources. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

A wounded person is transferred to a local hospital in the West Bank city of Jenin, Dec. 12, 2023. At least four Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone attack on the West Bank city of Jenin, a medical source said on Tuesday.

Wissam Baker, director of Jenin Governmental Hospital, said the bodies of three victims, all of them young men, were transferred to the hospital, while the body of the fourth was sent to a medical center in the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin.

Israeli forces raided the city of Jenin and its refugee camp on Tuesday, carrying out a military operation that lasted for several hours, and used drones to bomb a group of young men inside the old town of the city, said Palestinian security sources. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

Israeli military vehicles are seen on a street in the West Bank city of Jenin, Dec. 12, 2023. At least four Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone attack on the West Bank city of Jenin, a medical source said on Tuesday.

Wissam Baker, director of Jenin Governmental Hospital, said the bodies of three victims, all of them young men, were transferred to the hospital, while the body of the fourth was sent to a medical center in the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin.

Israeli forces raided the city of Jenin and its refugee camp on Tuesday, carrying out a military operation that lasted for several hours, and used drones to bomb a group of young men inside the old town of the city, said Palestinian security sources. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

Israeli military vehicles are seen on a street in the West Bank city of Jenin, Dec. 12, 2023. At least four Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone attack on the West Bank city of Jenin, a medical source said on Tuesday.

Wissam Baker, director of Jenin Governmental Hospital, said the bodies of three victims, all of them young men, were transferred to the hospital, while the body of the fourth was sent to a medical center in the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin.

Israeli forces raided the city of Jenin and its refugee camp on Tuesday, carrying out a military operation that lasted for several hours, and used drones to bomb a group of young men inside the old town of the city, said Palestinian security sources. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

Smoke rises in the West Bank city of Jenin, Dec. 12, 2023. At least four Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone attack on the West Bank city of Jenin, a medical source said on Tuesday.

Wissam Baker, director of Jenin Governmental Hospital, said the bodies of three victims, all of them young men, were transferred to the hospital, while the body of the fourth was sent to a medical center in the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin.

Israeli forces raided the city of Jenin and its refugee camp on Tuesday, carrying out a military operation that lasted for several hours, and used drones to bomb a group of young men inside the old town of the city, said Palestinian security sources. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Indian-origin newsman Fareed Zakaria has said that Americas top universities should abandon their long misadventure into politics and rebuild their reputations as centres of research and learning.

In a video message posted on X, the top CNN journalist and political commentator said that a broad shift has taken place at elite universities, which have gone from being centres of excellence to institutions pushing political agendas.

American universities have been neglecting a core focus on excellence in order to pursue a variety of agendas, many of them clustered around diversity and inclusion, Mumbai-born Zakaria said.

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His remarks came after the presidents of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) faced ire after they testified on December 5 about increasing concerns of anti-semitism on their campuses.

What we saw in the House hearing this week was the inevitable result of decades of the politicisation of universities, Zakaria said.

These universities and these presidents could not make the case clearly that at the centre of the university is the free expression of ideas. And then while harassment and intimidation would not be tolerated, offensive speech would and should be protected, he added.

In the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, campuses have witnessed a rise in hate crimes incidents. The Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights is investigating Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania after receiving alleged complaints of anti-semitism and Islamophobia.

The presidents, questioned by Republican-led House Committee on Education and the Workforce, said they have a disdain for anti-semitic language but also value free speech.

Following the hearing, the presidents faced a social media backlash with nearly 72 lawmakers demanding dismissal of these three presidents.

Zakaria said that Americas top colleges are no longer seen as bastions of excellence for partisan outfits, which means they will keep getting buffeted by these political storms as they emerge.
Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Cloudy with periods of light snow late. High 23F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Light snow this evening will give way to some clearing late. Low 13F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%.
SANAA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels on Tuesday said they attacked with a naval missile a Norwegian ship loaded with oil and heading for Israel in the Red Sea.

"We did not resort to targeting the Norwegian ship until its crew rejected all our warning calls," Yehya Sarea, a Houthi military spokesman, said in a statement aired by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

"We will not hesitate to target any ship heading to Israel that rejects our warnings ... Over the past two days, our armed forces succeeded in preventing the passage of several ships that responded to our warnings," he said.

"We will continue to prevent all ships from heading to the ports of the Israeli enemy unless food and medicine aid be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip," said the Houthi military spokesman.

Meanwhile, Britain's Maritime Trade Operations agency, wrote on X that the attack occurred late Monday at 15 nautical miles west of the Yemeni port of Mokha, near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

This is the latest attack on the international waters of the Red Sea claimed by the Yemeni militia since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on Oct. 7.

On Nov. 19, the Houthi fighters hijacked a commercial ship, Galaxy Leader, and brought it to the Houthi-held Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.

The Houthi group controls much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. 
BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- A total of 23 rescued spotted seals were released into waters off the coast of the city of Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province on Tuesday, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said.

The spotted seals were born in Liaodong Bay in the Bohai Sea. They were previously poached and sold to buyers across China before being rescued, rehabilitated and trained for survival in the wild, the ministry stated.

Each of the animals is marked to lower the risks of being captured and traded in the future, and four of them carry satellite GPS trackers to promote conservation efforts and scientific research.

The spotted seal is a flagship species in the marine ecosystems of both the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea. China has been cracking down on criminal activities related to aquatic wildlife. 
The Bharatiya Janata Party sprang yet another big surprise on Tuesday when it picked first-time MLA from Sanganer Bhajanlal Sharma as the chief minister of Rajasthan, ending days of speculations.

Sharma will have two deputiesDiya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa.

Bairwa won the Dudu constituency, defeating Congress candidate Babulal Nagar with a margin of 35,743 votes. Diya Kumari won from the Vidyadhar Nagar constituency against Congress' Sitaram Agarwal with a margin of 71368 votes.

Sharma, along with the deputy CMs, met Governor Kalraj Mishra in the evening to stake claim to form the government in the state.

MLA Vasudev Devnani will be the Assembly Speaker. He hails from Ajmer and has previously served as the state education minister.

The name of Sharma was proposed by former chief minister Vasundhara Raje at a meeting of the newly elected MLAs in Jaipur. Raje was herself considered to be in the running for the top post.

Earlier, Union minister Rajnath Singh and other party observersVinod Tawde and Saroj Pandeheld a meeting in which Union minister and BJPs Rajasthan election-in-charge Pralhad Joshi was also present at the meeting.

"...I would like to assure you that all the MLAs of Rajasthan will definitely meet the expectations that the people have with us, with the BJP. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we will ensure holistic development of Rajasthan in all areas," Sharma said.
A District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawan was injured when a pressure improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Naxalites exploded in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Tuesday morning, police said.

The blast took place near Saletong village under Kistaram police station area, where two security personnel were injured in a similar incident on Monday, a police official said. A new camp of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was set up in Saletong, a Naxal stronghold, on Tuesday to facilitate road construction and other development works.

The camp is located on the strategically important Chintalnar-Kistaram route and would also be crucial in carrying out counter-insurgency operations in the area, he said.

Before setting up of the camp, joint teams of security personnel carried out demining operations in the vicinity to trace IEDs planted by Naxalites. During one such exercise on Tuesday morning, DRG jawan Joga came in contact with a pressure IED, triggering the blast, the official said.

The injured jawan was being shifted to a hospital for treatment.

On Monday, two CRPF personnel were injured in a similar pressure IED blast in the area. The search operation is currently underway in the area, the official said.
Rebutting Bharatiya Janata Partys and Prime Minister Narendra Modis Congress Money Heist jibe, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned businessman Gautam Adanis exponential growth under Modi regime.



In a tweet, Communications Secretary of Congress Jairam Ramesh asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explain the biggest money heist since 1947, referring to businessman Gautam Adanis growth during the BJP regime. Dear @narendramodi, the nation wants you to explain the biggest money heist since 1947, Ramesh tweeted.

Your close friend Adani siphons out 17,500 crore from India by inflating the prices of imported coal and power equipment. He brings another 20,000 crore back into India via offshore shell companies and inflates his stock prices under SEBIs eyes. He borrows billions from banks at his service using inflated stocks as collateral. He invests the money in projects kindly gifted to him using ED, CBI and IT, Ramesh added.

Ramesh charged Adani zoomed from literally nowhere to the second richest man in the world. Who pays for this unprecedented growth? Janta via inflated electric bills!, the Congress leader said.

We know how desperate you are to divert attention from the latest twist involving Chang Chung-Ling and the Adani Group. It wont work, Ramesh said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a dig at the Congress party over the ongoing Income Tax raids linked to Congress MP Dhiraj Prasad Sahu. Income Tax sleuths have seized over Rs 350 crore in cash, said to be highest-ever in the country, from premises linked to the MP.

Sharing a video posted by Bharatiya Janata Party on X, Modi said, In India, who needs 'Money Heist' fiction, when you have the Congress Party, whose heists are legendary for 70 years and counting! Titled Congress presents Money Heist, the 1-minute video has visuals of the cash recovered from premises linked to the MP and images of Sahu along with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

In India, who needs 'Money Heist' fiction, when you have the Congress Party, whose heists are legendary for 70 years and counting! https://t.co/J70MCA5lcG  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 12, 2023

The cash seizure in the Income Tax department's searches against Odisha-based Boudh Distillery Private Limited owned by the family of Sahu -- the Congress' Rajya Sabha MP -- has been calculated at Rs 351 crore and is the "highest-ever" haul in a single action by any probe agency in the country, official sources had said on Sunday.

According to reports, IT searches at Balangir premises linked to Sahu have been completed. ANI reported that Rs 280 crore in cash was recovered from Sahus Balangir premises alone.

The Income Tax sleuths conducted raids at the premises of Boudh Distilleries Private Limited on Sunday as the crackdown by the central agency entered its fifth day. Baldev Sahu Infra Pvt Ltd company is a group company of Boudh Distilleries, which is allegedly linked to Sahu, the publication reported.
India has asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to share intelligence on Sikh separatist leaders operating against India from the US soil, reports said on Tuesday.

The request was made at a meeting between visiting FBI director Christopher A. Wray and National Investigation Agency chief Dinkar Gupta in Delhi.

Wray, leading a high-level FBI delegation, visited the NIA headquarters.

Indias request for sharing intelligence comes amid the US accusation of an Indian officials link to a plot to kill Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

"India has requested the US officials to share inputs on suspected individuals who have in recent years been recruited and embedded in the separatist movement," an NIA official told news agency Reuters on condition of anonymity.

India has described the US allegations a "matter of concern" and already constituted a probe team to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, the NIA said in a statement that both Wray and Gupta discussed a host of issues including terrorist-organised criminal networks, ongoing probe into attack on Indian Consulate in San Francisco, investigation of cyber-terror and cyber-crimes.

The central agency said Gupta highlighted the active nexus between the terrorist outfits and terrorist elements with members of organised criminal syndicates, which was spreading to the US as well.

Wray noted that a blending of lines between terrorists and criminals was now visible in the cyberspace as well.

Terror incidents like 9/11 and the Mumbai attacks have changed the way in which nations respond to terror threats, the FBI chief observed, emphasising on the need to take the partnership and cooperation between the FBI and the NIA to the next level to deal with the constantly evolving challenges and threats of terrorism.

While admitting that the threats in the cyber domain were increasing, Gupta said digital space was also being effectively exploited by terrorists and extremists for propagating radical views and recruitment. The NIA was also seeing use of cryptocurrency for terrorist financing, he noted.

The two officials also discussed difficulties encountered by law enforcement agencies across the world in obtaining data from encryption apps.

The two sides noted that with the advent of newer technologies at a fast pace, tracing, tracking and investigating crypto transactions is turning out to be a huge challenge. Both the agencies recognised the challenges posed by organised crime networks, terror related crimes, cyber enabled terror attacks, ransomware threats, economic crimes and transnational terror crimes, the NIA statement further said.

It also claimed that Wray's visit signifies a step towards deepening the cooperation and shared commitment between the national agencies of the US and India to combat terror in all its manifestations around the globe.
On Monday, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan strongly criticised Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, accusing him of conspiring to physically harm the former. This accusation was about an incident where Khan's vehicle convoy was attacked by protesters affiliated with the Students' Federation of India (SFI), the student organisation linked to the Communist Party of India (Marxist), while he was en route to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to depart for Delhi.

On Tuesday morning, the governor informed the media, "Police have been prevented from acting against these rowdies, criminals...This was the fifth incident...The rods on which they had the black flags, they were using those rods to hit the car...There are so many scratches on the car...Everything is being done under his direction [Chief Minister Vijayan]. It is he who has hatched this conspiracy...These people are working on the instructions of the Chief Minister...I do not try to scare anybody; there is no question I shall be scared of anything..."

Meanwhile, the CPI(M) came out in support of SFI. State Tourism Minister and the chief ministers son-in-law, P.A. Mohammed Riyas, stated that SFI should be commended for their black flag protests against the governor. He said, SFI is preventing the saffronisation of campuses.

In the coming days, this new edition of tussle between the state government and the governor is likely to intensify as the Khan prepares to wield a new weapona petition asking him to recommend a proclamation for financial emergency in the state.

The current tussle is an extension of the long-lasting issues between Khan and the Pinarayi government over the last four years. But may be for convenience one can say that this current edition of tussle got ignited towards the last week of November. On November 29, governor Khan had been criticised by the Supreme Court for sitting over eight bills passed by the Kerala legislative assembly for two years. This was while considering a writ petition filed by the government against the governor. Interestingly on the eve of November 28the day before the writ petition was being considered by the apex courtgovernor had send seven of these eight bills for consideration of the president, while giving assent to one bill, the Public Health Bill 2021.

Interestingly, just a day after the SC strongly criticised Khan for delaying the approval of bills, the Kerala government faced a significant setback as the apex court nullified the reappointment of Dr Gopinathan Ravindran as the vice-chancellor (VC) of Kannur University in Kerala. While quashing the Kerala governments decision, the apex court observed "unwarranted intervention of the State Government" in Ravindran being reappointed through a notification dated November 23, 2021. Additionally, the court noted that the Chancellor (Kerala Governor) "abdicated or surrendered" the statutory powers for re-appointing the vice-chancellor. In the subsequent days, governor Khan said multiple times that the decision to reappoint Ravindran as Kannur University vice-chancellor was forced upon him by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

Empowered by the SC ruling, which affirmed the chancellor's autonomy in overseeing university matters, Governor Khan promptly took a contentious decision. He released a list of his nominees to Kerala University (KU) senate, sidelining the varsitys recommendations. The ruling party and its affiliated student organisation vehemently opposed the move, asserting that these nominees are "pro-right wing."

On December 7, the SFI organised a day-night-long protest in front of Kerala University, condemning what they perceived as the "saffronisation" of the campus. Intriguingly, on the same day, the governor acquired another tool against the Pinarayi governmenta petition from activist R.S. Sasikumar. This petition urged action to declare a "Financial Emergency in Kerala" as outlined in Article 360 of the Constitution of India. The precarious financial situation of the state is no longer a secret, with transactions in the state treasury halted on December 6, leading to an overdraft due to a severe financial crisis.



Petitioner Sasikumar implored the governor to recommend a proclamation under Article 360(1) of the Constitution. In the detailed eight-page request, Sasikumar also alleged that, even in this dire situation, "all the Ministers in the Council of Ministers are engaged in extravaganza, ignoring the financial crisis of the State." Earlier, there were already rumours of extravagant spending by the government during the Keraleeyam event in the first week of November and the subsequent Nava Kerala Sadas that commenced on November 18.

Sasikumar also noted that in a Contempt of Court proceedings [a case related to KSRTC pensions], before the High Court of Kerala, Chief Secretary Dr Venu V. made a candid confession that the state is going through severe financial crisis, finding it difficult to garner resources for day-to-day affairs; and therefore, that continued support to the KSRTC, for the purpose of paying pension has become difficult.

In response to this petition, the governor has requested a report from the state chief secretary, seeking clarification on 12 matters. However, to date, the chief secretary has not submitted the report. Political observers speculate that the chief secretary cannot indefinitely decide not to respond or delay his response. Additionally, providing a report admitting that the state is in a crisis would pose challenges for the government. In this scenario, he is expected to respond by attributing the precarious financial situation of the state to the alleged neglect of the Union government, a narrative consistently echoed by cabinet ministers and the chief minister in various Nava Kerala Sadas events.

Nevertheless, if the chief secretary's response also cites the neglect of the Union government, the governor is likely to seek further clarification, compelling the government to present detailed statistics to substantiate the claim. Today, Khan announced that he will wait for another 10 days for the report, and if not received, he will submit a report requesting the intervention of the Union government. This implies that the Christmas season is likely to be charged in the political landscape of Kerala.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohamed Khan charged on Tuesday that the Chief Minister hatched the conspiracy to attack him and police have been prevented from acting against protesters of the Students Federation of India.



Governor Khan told presspersons in Delhi, Protests were held at three places on Monday. The protesters hit the car with rods used for the flags. If it wasnt a good quality car, the window glasses would have been broken. There are so many scratches. Governor added police have been prevented from acting against the protesters, whom he referred as rowdies and criminals. Governor charged that the protesters were transported in police jeeps to the protest sites.

The tussle between the Kerala Governor and the Kerala government hit a new low on Monday, when Khan got out of his vehicle and decided to confront SFI protesters, while he was en route to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to travel to Delhi. The students' organisation affiliated with CPI(M) have been protesting against the Governor alleging saffronisation of higher education institutions in Kerala. The governor recently recommended members from Sangh Parivar-related organisations to the Senate of a few universities in Kerala.

Khan charged chief minister is responsible for the attacks. Chief Minister has hatched this conspiracy; it is under his instruction these people are working, Khan charged. Khan added he is a student of scriptures and quoting a Bhagavad Gita verse, Khan said he is not scared of anybody.

Meanwhile, OnManorama reported that according to State Intelligence, the governors route map was leaked to SFI. According to police, 19 SFI members were taken into custody on Monday.

BJP leader and Minister of State V. Muraleedharan said, The Kerala CM and the Communist Party Secretary have been issuing threats to the Kerala Governor during the last few weeks as the Governor is taking a firm stand against the corruption and nepotism of the state government. Yesterday's incident in Thiruvananthapuram where Kerala Governor was attacked depicts the level of law and order situation in the state. The fact that he was attacked thrice during his travel from Raj Bhavan to the airport, a distance of around 5km and these people were let loose by the ruling front and police were made ineffective to suit the interests of the people who were there to attack the Governor."
Shiv Sena (UBT)s plan to corner Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appeared to have succeeded in the state legislative council on Tuesday as three senior Shiv Sena legislatorsleader of opposition Ambadas Danve, and former ministers Sachin Ahir and Anil Parabtargeted the state home department (and Fadnavis as he is the home minister) on the issue of Lalit Patil drugs racket case.



While Sachin Ahir demanded that a narco test should be conducted on Lalit Patil, a drug kingpin who was arrested by state police a few weeks ago, Anil Parab came out with details of rate paid by criminals to get medical certificates and remain in hospitals.



Shiv Sena (UBT) had been trying to target and corner Fadnaivs for some time. They tried by raising the issue of Nawab Malik who, on the first two days of the legislature session, sat with his NCP colleagues on the ruling benches. The party then asked how Fadnavis was willing to include Malik in the ruling alliance as he himself had accused Malik of anti-national activities. Fadnavis cleverly dodged the issue and pushed the ball in Ajit Pawars court by writing a letter to him saying the BJP does not want Malik to join the saffron grand alliance till his name is cleared in the probe launched against him.



The issue of Lalit Patil drugs racket case was raised by Congress Bhai Jagtap. However, the battle was fought between Shiv Sena (UBT)s three legislators and Fadnavis.



Anil Parab said in the house that he had explosive information. I will give you a list, which criminal is getting admitted to which hospital, who is getting medical certificates from where. The drugs menace has reached such levels that even watchmen of buildings and societies have started selling drugs, claimed Parab.  I can tell you who is paying how much to stay where pretending medical emergency, added Parab.



Ahir said the police have not been able to arrest Sanjiv Thakur, another alleged kingpin in the drugs case. Lalit Patil should be made to undergo narco analysis test. Not just Patil, other accused should also undergo the test, and many more shocking details will come out, said Ahir.



Defending his ministry, Fadnavis said the then police commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad Krishna Prakash had written a letter to the then state government (Uddhav Thackeray government) in 2021 alerting the government about the drugs racket. But no action was taken at that time. Our government has taken action. We have formed anti-drugs task force. We have demolished more than 2000 paan shops that were selling drugs near schools and colleges. Action has also been taken against many hukkah parlours for selling drugs. The government has even started a detention centre for Nigerian and other foreign criminals whose intention is to get caught by the police so that they can prolong their stay in India, said Fadnavis.






A group photo taken at the BJP office here ahead of Tuesday's legislature party meeting showed Bhajanlal Sharma in the very last row. An hour or so later, he had jumped places to front and centre stage.

The three central observers sent by the Bharatiya Janata Party from Delhi proposed his name as the leader of the legislature party in Rajasthan, the state it wrested from the Congress in the recent assembly elections.

And the 56-year-old first-time MLA, who represents Jaipur's Sanganer in the assembly became the chief minister-designate.

Sharma is one of the general secretaries in the state BJP and has kept a low profile.

Considered a hardcore RSS man, Sharma was actively involved in the agitation for the Ram temple in Ayodhya at the site where the Babri mosque stood. In 1992, he spent time in jail for this.

That was around the beginning of his political career. He has also been a village sarpanch twice, starting at the age of 27.

Over the past three decades, Sharma has held various posts in the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and in the party organisation.

He went to school in the Bharatpur district's Atari village and Nadbai town.

Later, he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), and also took up social causes in Nabadi and Bharatpur.

Sharma actively participated in the 1990 ABVP protest in which thousands of students from across the country gathered in Jammu to march towards Srinagar.

The authorities stopped them, and Sharma was among the several who courted arrest in Udhampur, protesting against attacks on Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.

Sharma then moved on to the BJYM, the BJP's youth wing. He was BJYM's district president thrice before becoming the parent party's Bharatpur district secretary and its district president.

Leaving Bharatpur for the BJP's Rajasthan headquarter, Sharma became the party's state vice president, and is now a general secretary in the state BJP.

Sharma holds a masters' degree in political science and runs an agriculture supplies business.

The BJP won 115 of the 199 seats on which polling took place in the November assembly elections in Rajasthan. The BJP also won the elections in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
With the chief ministers of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh finally decided, all eyes are on Rajasthan on Tuesday. The BJP has scheduled a legislature party meeting at 4 pm at the party's state headquarters and the suspense over who will be the new Rajasthan CM is likely to end Tuesday evening.



BJP's central observer Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and two co-observers national vice president Saroj Pandey and national general secretary Vinod Tawde will attend the meeting. All newly elected MLAs were asked to participate in the meeting compulsorily.

Who will be next Rajasthan chief minister?

There are several contenders to the Rajasthan chief minister's post and among the frontrunners are former CM Vasundhara Raje, Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Ashwini Vaishnaw.

There are speculations that Raje has support among several BJP MLAs who reportedly called on the former CM in recent days in an apparent show of support. She had also met party leaders in Delhi last week.

However, a surprise CM face is not unlikely given that BJP chose Mohan Yadav as Madhya Pradesh chief minister on Monday.
People mourn victims after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 12, 2023. The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced on Tuesday that the Palestinian death toll in the Palestinian enclave has exceeded 18,400 since the eruption of the Hamas-Israel conflict on Oct. 7. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

GAZA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced on Tuesday that the Palestinian death toll in the Palestinian enclave has exceeded 18,400 since the eruption of the Hamas-Israel conflict on Oct. 7.

The ministry's spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra said during a press conference that as of Tuesday, a total of 18,412 Palestinians have been killed and 50,100 others wounded in the Israeli military raids on Gaza.

During the past hours, the bodies of 207 Palestinians were transferred to hospitals in the Gaza Strip, while 450 others were wounded in the Israeli raids, al-Qedra said.

Israel has been launching relentless strikes and a ground offensive in Gaza since Oct. 7 in retaliation for Hamas' surprise attack on southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people. A 10-day ceasefire was implemented in late November to free 105 Israeli hostages by Hamas in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. 

A girl collects items among the rubble of a building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 12, 2023. The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced on Tuesday that the Palestinian death toll in the Palestinian enclave has exceeded 18,400 since the eruption of the Hamas-Israel conflict on Oct. 7. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

A man holds the body of a victim after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 12, 2023. The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced on Tuesday that the Palestinian death toll in the Palestinian enclave has exceeded 18,400 since the eruption of the Hamas-Israel conflict on Oct. 7. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

A boy is seen among the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 12, 2023. The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced on Tuesday that the Palestinian death toll in the Palestinian enclave has exceeded 18,400 since the eruption of the Hamas-Israel conflict on Oct. 7. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

A young man collects items among the rubble of a building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec. 12, 2023. The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced on Tuesday that the Palestinian death toll in the Palestinian enclave has exceeded 18,400 since the eruption of the Hamas-Israel conflict on Oct. 7. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)
Outgoing Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Tuesday that he would prefer death rather than ask anything for himself. Chouhan made the comments during a farewell press conference at CM House on Tuesday.



Chouhans quip came on a question regarding his decision not to go to Delhi after the results of Madhya Pradesh assembly polls were announced on December 3 and parlays were on for selection of a new chief minister.

The ex-CM, who submitted his resignation to the governor on Monday evening after Mohan Yadav was elected as the leader of the Madhya Pradesh BJP legislative party, addressed a farewell press conference at the CM House to say that his heart was filled with satisfaction and happiness at the work he could do during his tenure as CM. To a question on his future role, he reiterated that he worked as a dedicated BJP worker for a nationalistic mission and for serving people, and would do any work given by the party with sincerity. He said that he wasnt a self-centred person who thought only about his own future.

Pardon me, but I think it is a very low thought- thinking where will I be. Oh! I was not made (the CM) so it is an injustice to me. What injustice? Dont you see the other side that the BJP made a simple party worker the chief minister for such a long time? The party has given me everything and now it is my turn to give to the party, Chouhan said.

The outgoing CM said that he has a lot of things to do to keep him busy in the coming days  in the social, environmental and womens empowerment fields. He especially mentioned the need for awareness among women for making the proposed scheme of Lakhpati didi (more than Rs 1 lakh annual income for women through self-help groups) a reality. The government will do its work, but I can work on the awareness part, he said.

Spanning four terms, Chouhan became the longest-serving chief minister of BJP with a tenure of 16 years and 282 days. He was made chief minister on November 29, 2005, after short terms of Uma Bharti and Babulal Gaur as chief ministers following a historic mandate of 173 seats for BJP in 2003.

Starting as a surprise choice with little political prowess, Chouhan rose to become an extremely popular chief minister, especially among the women due to the number of pro-women schemes like Ladli Laxmi, Kanya Vivah and the latest Ladli Behna. Even on Tuesday, before the press conference, a group of women met him at the CM House and were seen crying, making Chouhan also emotional.

During the press conference, Chouhan once again credited the huge win of the BJP in recent assembly polls to Ladli Behna, along with the popularity of PM Narendra Modi, hard work of party workers and welfare schemes of state and central governments. To a question whether his pet scheme Ladli Behna will continue, Chouhan said that the BJP government will certainly fulfil its promises in the manifesto. The BJP had promised the continuation of the scheme, but the fulfilment of Chouhan's promise that the monthly assistance would be gradually hiked to Rs 3,000 from the current Rs 1,250 remains questionable.

Chouhan further said that his relationship with people was not that of a CM and constituents, but of a family. I have a relation of Mama (maternal uncle) and Bhaiya (elder brother) with them. The relation of Mama is that of love and Bhaiya that of trust; I will not let the love and trust to break till my last breath, he said.

Chouhan enumerated the long journey of development under him saying that it was a journey from Bhat Suar (poor quality traveller tempo) to metro train with big leaps in women empowerment, agriculture sector, culture and spirituality as well as economic development.

He expressed hope that under Mohan Yadav, the work of development will continue with speed and Madhya Pradesh will reach new heights. I will continue to support all the endeavours, he said. He added that he has made just one request to the new chief minister  to make provisions so that he (Chouhan) could continue on his mission to sow a sapling each day.

What roles are possible?

Despite Chouhans formal answers to the questions on his new role, speculations are rife on the issue. There are thoughts that Chouhan might be made a union minister and then asked to contest Lok Sabha polls from his old Vidisha constituency. Chouhan is said to have refused such roles on earlier occasions, but the fact that he has been relieved of the CM post can change the equations. There are also speculations that he might be shifted to the organization with a big role like the national president of the party.

What for Patel, Vijayvargiya?

Speculations are also being made about roles for key chief minister contenders like Prahlad Patel and Kailash Vijayvargiya. Patel, an OBC leader, has already resigned his union minister post and might get a powerful portfolio in the Mohan Yadav cabinet, though it might still be below his stature. Vijayvargiya might also become a minister or could also be asked to head the state unit of the party, it is being said.

But like all speculations linked to the BJP, these might also remain mere guesses until the party's top leadership decides on the issue.
Nine days after the election results were declared, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday picked first time MLA Bhajanlal Sharma, 56, as the new chief minister of Rajasthan. Jaipur royal Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa will be the two deputy chief ministers.

The move signals a generational change in the state leadership in sync with the BJPs earlier decisions of picking up chief ministers in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

The party has kept the caste calculations in mind as it picked a Brahmin as the chief minister of the state, while a Rajput and a Dalit as the deputy chief ministers. Interestingly, all three belong to different constituencies of Jaipur.

The desert state in the past had five Brahmins as chief ministers. The party has kept its core constituency in mind as it chose an organisation man to lead the state. Sharma has been BJPs general secretary and was a dedicated party worker for years.

He was elected from Sanganer assembly constituency near Jaipur after defeating the Congress candidate. The BJPs central leadership has sent a message that it rewarded hard work by the committed workers.

For the past three decades, the BJP had picked up leaders from the dominant Rajput caste  Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Vasundhara Raje  as the chief ministers. To keep the balance, Diya Kumari, MLA from Vidhyadhar Nagar, has been named deputy chief minister. Her projection, during the election, was seen as a counter to former CM Vasundhara Raje.

Bairwa is a Dalit leader. His elevation is a message to the community which has a significant presence in the state. Vasudev Devnani, a five time MLA from Ajmer, has been named the Speaker.

As new leaders take charge, the message for old timers like Raje is that they have to reorient their politics to stay relevant. It will be known in due course if she would shift to Lok Sabha as elections are to be held in the next few months.

With Rajasthan, the BJP has completed the task for picking up CMs for three states. In all three states, the party has kept caste calculations in mind as it picked up a tribal leader in Chhattisgarh and OBC in Madhya Pradesh. All the three CMs has close links to BJPs ideological fountainhead, the RSS.
Amid the antisemitism row, the governing body at the Harvard university, has backed its president, Claudine Gay after she faced a huge backlash following her controversial testimony.

University of Pennsylvania president Elizabeth Magill, MIT president Sally Kornbluth and Gay had appeared for testimonies in front of a House of Representatives committee that focused on hearing antisemitism issues on campuses on December 5.

When the committee asked whether students who called for genocide of Jews would be punished, Magill had refused to answer at first and said that it would depend on the "context".

Gay also answered in a similar way rather than condemning the calls for genocide.

The Harvard board in its statement said Gay was the right leader to heal the community. "As members of the Harvard Corporation, we today reaffirm our support for President Gays continued leadership of Harvard University. Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing, the Harvard Corporation said in a statement.

"Harvards mission is advancing knowledge, research, and discovery that will help address deep societal issues and promote constructive discourse, and we are confident that President Gay will lead Harvard forward toward accomplishing this vital work," the statement added.

The Harvard Corporation: In this tumultuous and difficult time, we unanimously stand in support of President Gay. https://t.co/stSvH4t1BP  Harvard University (@Harvard) December 12, 2023

More than 70 bipartisan lawmakers, sent a letter to the governing boards of the three universities urging them to remove its presidents after the testimonies.

The House committee on education and the workforce has announced an official congressional investigation into antisemitism at Harvard.

Unlike Magill, who resigned after a huge uproar, Gay had support of fellow faculty members. The Harvard Alumini Association's executive committee also announced its support to her. Gay had apologised after facing backlash. Amid the Israel-Palestine war, antisemitism issues rose in many universities.
A missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen near a key maritime chokepoint, the rebels and authorities said Tuesday.

The assault on the oil and chemical tanker Strinda expands a campaign by the Iranian-backed rebels targeting ships close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into apparently now striking those that have no clear ties to Israel. That potentially imperils cargo and energy shipments coming through the Suez Canal and further widens the international impact of the Israel-Hamas war now raging in the Gaza Strip.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig Gen Yahya Saree issued a video statement saying the rebels only fired on the vessel when it rejected all warning calls.

The US military's Central Command issued a statement Tuesday saying an anti-ship cruise missile launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen hit the Strinda.

There were no US ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but the USS Mason responded...and is currently rendering assistance, Central Command said. The Mason is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that has been involved in several of the recent incidents off Yemen.

France's Armies Ministry separately said that its frigate Languedoc shot down a drone that was threatening the Strinda during the attack.

The French frigate then positioned itself to protect the affected vessel, preventing an attempt to hijack the ship, the French military said.

The private intelligence firms Ambrey and Dryad Global had earlier confirmed the attack happened near the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.

Geir Belsnes, the CEO of the Strinda's operator, J Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, also confirmed the attack took place.

All crew members are unhurt and safe, Belsnes said. The vessel is now proceeding to a safe port.

The Strinda was coming from Malaysia and was bound for the Suez Canal and then on to Italy with a cargo of palm oil, Belsnes said. Saree alleged without offering any evidence that the ship was bound for Israel.

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which provides warnings to sailors in the Middle East, earlier reported a fire aboard an unidentified vessel off Mokha, Yemen, with all the crew aboard being safe. The coordinates of that fire correspond to the last known location of the Strinda based off satellite tracking data analysed by The Associated Press.

The Houthis have carried out a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and also launched drones and missiles targeting Israel. In recent days, they have threatened to attack any vessel they believe is either going to or coming from Israel, though there was no immediate apparent link between the Strinda and Israel.

Israel's national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said over the weekend that Israel has called on its Western allies to address the threats from Yemen and would give them some time to organise a response. But he said if the threats persist, we will act to remove this blockade.

Analysts suggest the Houthis hope to shore up waning popular support after years of civil war in Yemen between it and Saudi-backed forces.

France and the United States have stopped short of saying their ships were targeted in rebel attacks, but have said Houthi drones have headed toward their ships and were shot down in self-defense. Washington so far has declined to directly respond to the attacks, as has Israel, whose military continues to describe the ships as not having links to their country.

Global shipping has increasingly been targeted as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to become a wider regional conflict even during a brief pause in fighting during which Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The collapse of the truce and the resumption of a punishing Israeli ground offensive and airstrikes on Gaza have raised the risk of more sea attacks.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is only 29 km (18 miles) wide at its narrowest point, limiting traffic to two channels for inbound and outbound shipments, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Nearly 10% of all oil traded at sea passes through it.

Major Danish shipper Maersk said Tuesday it had implemented additional security measures for our vessels and seafarers in the area including rerouting" around the strait.

The recent escalations and statement from Yemen's Houthi movement are concerning as they expand the scope of commercial vessels that could be a potential target for the Houthis, the shipper said. Clearly there is a need for the situation to be de-escalated to ensure safety of people and that trade of essential gods can move in normalized manner.

In November, Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Separately, a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.

A separate, tentative cease-fire between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition fighting on behalf of Yemen's exiled government has held for months despite that country's long war. That's raised concerns that any wider conflict in the sea or a potential reprisal strike from Western forces could reignite those tensions in the Arab world's poorest nation.

In 2016, the US launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at US Navy ships at the time.
In a landmark initiative led by India to manage rivers more effectively, the Global River Cities Alliance (GRCA), was launched at COP-28 in Dubai by representatives of nine countries on Sunday. The countries who committed their support for the GRCA include India, Egypt, the Netherlands, Denmark, Cambodia, Japan, Bhutan, Australia and Ghana.

The GRCA is modeled on the lines of Indias River Cities Alliance established by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in November 2021. River Cities Alliance is a first-of-its kind initiative to propagate river-sensitive development in cities around the world. The River Cities Alliance currently has 142 river cities in India and serves as a dedicated platform for members to have concerted discussions on aspects related to urban river management. The recently released India Infrastructure Report 2023 also categorically called for "urban redevelopment" to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change that are manifesting around the world.

The landmark launch of GRCA comes three days after a Memorandum of Common Purpose was inked between NMCG and Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative, representing 124 cities or towns situated along the banks of the Mississippi River as part of the River Cities Alliance.

Three central level national ministers for water resources were present on the occasion. These include Hani Swilam, the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Egypt; Mark Harbers, the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Netherlands and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, who made a virtual address.

G. Asok Kumar, Director General, NMCG convened the session. The world renowned spiritual leader, Sadhguru, known for his passion for rivers, made a special address at the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Kumar said: The launch of the GRCA with the support of member countries is a testament to the fact that river management is a matter of global interest. India is happy to lead the efforts in this direction.
A 30-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with death threats aimed at Indian-American Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and his campaign event attendees, the US attorney's office in New Hampshire has said.



The attorney's office on Monday said Tyler Anderson of Dover in New Hampshire was arrested on Saturday and charged with transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure Ramaswamy, a 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur.



According to an FBI affidavit, the Ramaswamy campaign sent a text message on Friday to notify voters, including Anderson, about an upcoming campaign event in Portsmouth.



Anderson allegedly responded to the message: Great, another opportunity for me to blow his brains out!



He also said: I'm going to kill everyone who attends" and added a vulgar description of what he would do to the bodies.



While the statement from the US attorney's office did not name which presidential campaign was targeted, Ramaswamy's team confirmed on Monday that he was the target, The Washington Post reported.



Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Ramaswamy campaign, said on Monday: "Unfortunately it is true."



"We are grateful to law enforcement for their swiftness and professionalism in handling this matter and pray for the safety of all Americans," she added.



A statement from his staff then criticised the news media, deranged voices and left-wing cranks, accusing the groups of inciting violence against the Republicans ahead of the 2024 presidential elections.



I'm grateful to the people on the front lines who work hard every day to make sure people like me and other Americans keep safe, Ramaswamy told reporters in New Hampshire.



I think that we are very well protected, he added.



He declined to say when he found out about the alleged death threat or whether he would increase his security.



Ramaswamy's staff reported the threatening text messages to authorities, the FBI affidavit said.



Law enforcement officials searched Anderson's residence on Saturday, arrested him, and seized his phone and firearms.



While searching Anderson's phone, the affidavit says, authorities discovered the texts to Ramaswamy in a deleted folder and found additional threatening messages to another candidate.



According to the affidavit, one message sent on Wednesday said: Fantastic, now I know where to go so I can blow that b------'s head off.



Subsequent texts were referring to a mass shooting and intentions to defile a corpse.



Anderson admitted to sending the text messages to Ramaswamy and confirmed that he sent threatening texts to other campaigns, according to the affidavit.



A businessman and a Republican presidential candidate, Ramaswamy went on to hold the event in Portsmouth on Monday.



If convicted, Anderson could face five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a USD 250,000 fine.



Threats of violence against politicians are up, Forbes cited a recent University of Massachusetts-Amherst survey of nearly 300 former members of Congress as suggesting.



The survey found 47 per cent reported receiving threats while in Congress, with those who were first elected more recently experiencing a higher number of threats than those first elected earlier.



The numbers were split fairly evenly across party lines, but women and people of colour reported receiving threats at a much higher rate of 69 per cent, Forbes reported.
Amid intensifying Israel-Hamas war, World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed serious concerns over the hindrance its staff is subjected to during their field mission. WHO accused Israel of detaining and mistreating medical staff within Gaza Strip.

WHO has pointed out that there has been multiple instances where its workers were stopped at multiple checkpoints while carrying medical aid to hospitals. "Obstructing ambulances and attacks on humanitarian and health workers are unconscionable. Healthcare, including ambulances, are protected under international law. They must be respected and protected in all circumstances," WHO wrote in a statement.

"The difficulties faced by this mission illustrate the shrinking space for humanitarian actors to provide aid within Gaza, even though access is desperately needed to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian situation," it added.

It further stated that the only viable solution is a sustained ceasefire, so WHO partners can work safely.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said We are deeply concerned about prolonged checks and detention of health workers that put lives of already fragile patients at risk.

WHO described Al-Ahli Hospital as in a state of utter chaos and a humanitarian disaster zone. Reportedly, there are only enough resources to support 40 bedshalf of its original bed capacity. There are over 200 patients at the hospital seeking treatment.

Meanwhile, a WHO representative said that Gaza only has 11 partially functioning hospitals remaining out of 36.

In just 66 days the health system has gone from 36 functional hospitals to 11 partially functional hospitals  one in the north and 10 in the south, said WHO representative for the Palestinian Territory told a UN press briefing.

We cannot afford to lose any healthcare facilities or hospitals, he said. We hope, we plea that this will not happen," he added, reported Reuters.

However, there is no respite to the airstrikes and ground attacks, according to Palestinian media, airstrike on Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip has killed at least 20 people. Reportedly, it was the area that the Israeli military had ordered Palestinians to move to safety.

Amid Israel-Lebanon conflict, the IDF has issued a statement saying that "a suspicious aerial target" crossed into Israeli airspace from Lebanon in the north. As per the military, "the incident has concluded" after it launched several interceptors.

In another incident, on the way north, the UN convoy was inspected at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint, and ambulance crew members had to leave the vehicles for identification. Two PRCS staff were detained for over an hour, further delaying the mission. WHO staff saw one of them being made to kneel at gunpoint and then taken out of sight, where he was reportedly harassed, beaten, stripped and searched.

The PRCS staff members was released later after joint UN efforts.

Also, the UN general assembly is set to vote on Tuesday on the humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza Strip. During the UNSC meet, US had vetoed the draft resolution of Gaza ceasefire.

(With agencies inputs)




Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unloaded on the Biden administration over the recent U.S. veto of a United Nations resolution that called for a cease-fire in the Gaza war. The resolution, which sought an immediate halt to hostilities and the release of all hostages in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, was overwhelmingly supported by the international community but was blocked by the United States.

In a statement made on social media, Ocasio-Cortez labeled the U.S. action as Shameful, expressing her discontent with the lone no vote cast by the U.S. against the resolution. She wrote, The Biden [administration] can no longer reconcile their professed concern for Palestinians and human rights while also single-handedly vetoing the UNs call for ceasefire and sidestepping the entire US Congress to unconditionally back the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza.

In response to the congresswomans remarks, a U.S. official, speaking to Fox News Digital, defended the administrations decision, saying, Despite a rushed process and lack of consultation by the resolutions authors, the United States engaged in good faith on the resolution. Nearly all of our recommendations were ignored.

The vote, which took place last Friday, saw 13 countries favoring the resolution, with the U.S. voting against and the U.K. abstaining. Robert Wood, the U.S. deputy ambassador to the U.N., explained the U.S. position, emphasizing the nations desire for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. However, he critiqued the resolutions approach, arguing that it would simply leave Hamas in place, able to regroup and repeat what it did on Oct. 7.

Although the United States strongly supports a durable peace we do not support this resolutions call for an unsustainable cease-fire that will only plant the seeds for the next war, Wood said.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Austrias Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced on Monday that a 16-year-old has been detained on suspicion of plotting an assault on a synagogue in Vienna. The teenager was apprehended last Thursday.

According to Karner, the youth revealed plans in online discussions to acquire a weapon for an attack on a synagogue in Vienna, whose specific location was not disclosed. The Austrian news agency APA reported that he had secured the financial resources needed for the attack.

The identity of the suspect, who resides near Steyr in northern Austria, has not been released by officials. Following a search of his residence, various electronic devices were confiscated by authorities.

APA also reported the discovery of images and video content at the teenagers home, which contained instructions for crafting bombs, as well as information about weapons and ammunition.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday traveled to a shipyard to attend the commissioning of new nuclear submarines, a visit that showcased the countrys nuclear might amid the fighting in Ukraine.

Putins trip to the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk in Russias northwestern Archangelsk region comes three days after he declared his intention to seek another six-year term.

Putin announced his decision to run in the March 17 presidential election, which he is all but certain to win, while speaking to soldiers who fought in Ukraine after a Kremlin award ceremony  a setting that underlined his focus on the military action in Ukraine.

Mondays visit to Sevmash, where Putin oversaw raising the navys flag on the newly built Emperor Alexander III and the Krasnoyarsk nuclear submarines, also appeared to emphasize his focus on bolstering Russias nuclear forces amid the tensions with the U.S. and other NATO allies over Ukraine.

Putin has cast his decision to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022 as a response to what he described as Western efforts to threaten Russia and undermine its security, while Ukraine and its allies have denounced the action as an unprovoked act of aggression.

Speaking at the shipyard, Putin pledged to carry out plans to modernize the Russian navy.

The Emperor Alexander III is the seventh Borei-class atomic-powered submarine to enter service. Each of them is armed with 16 nuclear-tipped Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Putin announced that three more such submarines are under construction. They are part of Russias nuclear triad, which also includes land-based nuclear missiles and nuclear-armed strategic bombers.

The Krasnoyarsk is a nuclear-powered submarine of the new Yasen type. Its armed with cruise missiles and torpedoes, and is designed to hunt for enemy submarines and is also capable of attacking ground targets. Putin said that another five Yasen-class submarines are being built.

At Sevmash, Putin also visited the Admiral Kasatonov frigate of Russias Northern Fleet, one of the most advanced ships of the Russian navy that is armed with new Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles.

(AP)
BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian exchanged views on the situation in the Gaza Strip and bilateral relations during a phone conversation on Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China's position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict can be summarized as realizing a cease-fire and ending the conflict as soon as possible, ensuring humanitarian relief, and returning to the two-state solution.

Amir-Abdollahian highly appreciated China's efforts to achieve a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza during its rotating presidency of the UN Security Council.

He said the Iranian side opposes the killing of women and children and advocates an immediate cease-fire and cessation of fighting in Gaza and opening humanitarian relief corridors.

The United Nations should play an important role in the future settlement of the Palestinian question, he said, adding that Iran is willing to maintain close communication with regional countries to safeguard regional security and stability.

The Iranian side supports the Global Security Initiative proposed by China and expects China to be more actively committed to easing the situation in Gaza, resolving the Palestinian question, and safeguarding regional peace and stability, the top Iranian diplomat said.

Wang said China's position is consistent with that of Arab countries and is highly congruous with that of Islamic countries and the international community.

Countries should make a stronger voice and form a more unified position on the conflict, Wang said.

China believes that any arrangement concerning the future and destiny of Palestine should fully reflect the will of the Palestinian people, fully respect their right to statehood and self-determination, and embody the principle of "Palestinian-owned, Palestinian-led and Palestinian-administered," he said.

China is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Arab and Islamic countries to gradually create conditions for returning to the two-state solution and continue to play a role in truly resolving the Palestinian question, he said.

On bilateral ties, Wang said China stands ready to work with Iran to implement the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during their two meetings this year.

He said China will strengthen communication, consolidate mutual trust, expand cooperation, coordinate and cooperate with Iran on international and multilateral occasions, practice genuine multilateralism, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the two countries and developing countries as well as international equity and justice, and push forward the stable and long-term development of China-Iran relations.

China supports Iran and Saudi Arabia in continuously improving relations, promoting the unity and cooperation of countries in the region and taking regional peace and security in their own hands, Wang said.

Amir-Abdollahian thanked China for its contribution to mediating the rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, saying that Iran is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields and promote the continuous development of Iran-China relations. 




The Air Force has disciplined 15 personnel in connection with the massive classified documents leak by an airman earlier this year, concluding that multiple officials intentionally failed to take required action on his suspicious behavior, the Air Force inspector general reported Monday.

Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira is accused of leaking highly classified military from the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts where he worked.

The punitive actions range from relieving personnel from their positions, including command positions, to non-judicial punishment under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Teixeira, whos 21, has been behind bars since his April arrest on charges stemming from the most consequential intelligence leak in years. He is charged under the Espionage Act with unauthorized retention and transmission of classified national defense information. He has pleaded not guilty, and no trial date has been set.

Prosecutors said in a court filing last week that the two sides have not yet engaged in substantive plea discussions.

Teixeira enlisted in the Air National Guard in 2019. He shared military secrets he illegally collected from his intelligence unit with other Discord users, authorities said  first by typing out classified documents he accessed and then sharing photographs of files that bore SECRET and TOP SECRET markings.

In its investigation of the leaks, the Air Force inspector general found both security gaps occurred in part because personnel had access to classified documents without supervision, and because in instances where Airman 1st Class Teixeira was caught violating security policies none of the personnel who either witnessed the violations or had responsibility for Teixeira took the actions necessary in response.

Teixeira worked as a cyber transport systems specialist, essentially an information technology specialist responsible for military communications networks. As such, Teixeira had often unsupervised access as part of a three-person team at night to Top Secret-Secret Compartmentalized facility to perform maintenance inspections. Teixeira remains in the Air National Guard in an unpaid status, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said.

At times, members were required to perform preventive maintenance inspections and other tasks, which required individuals to be on their own for hours, unsupervised in other parts of the facility, the IG found. Further, no permission controls were in place to monitor print jobs, and there were no business rules for print products. Any night shift member had ample opportunity to access (classified) sites and print a high volume of products without supervision or detection.

Inside Teixeiras 102nd Intelligence Support Squadron, members had what the IG described as a more complete picture of the breadth of Teixeiras active unauthorized intelligence-seeking but intentionally failed to report the full details of these security concerns because they thought security officials might overreact, the IG found.

For example, in fall 2022 Teixeira was seen writing down notes from a classified document onto a Post-It note. While he was confronted about the note, there was no follow up to ensure the note had been shredded and the incident was not reported to security officers.

It was not until a January 2023 incident that the appropriate security officials were notified, but even then security officials were not briefed on the full scope of the violations.

If any of the personnel had taken the appropriate actions, the length and depth of the unauthorized and unlawful disclosures by several months, the IG found.

Those unit officials who understood their duty to report specific information regarding A1C Teixeiras intelligence-seeking and insider threat indicators to security officials, intentionally failed to do so.

But the IG also said the units own policy, which encouraged its tech support service members to attend intelligence briefings to better understand the mission and the importance of keeping the classified networks operating, was improper and problematic because it exposed the service members to higher levels of classified material than they needed to know.

The documents released on social media revealed sensitive U.S. intelligence on the Russia-Ukraine war, the Middle East and an array of other topics.

As a result of the security breach, Col. Sean Riley, 102nd Intelligence Wing commander, received administrative action and was relieved of command and the 102nd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group commander Col. Enrique Dovalo, received administrative action for concerns with unit culture and compliance with policies and standards.

The Air Force also said previously suspended commanders from the 102nd Intelligence Support Squadron and the detachment overseeing administrative support for airmen at the unit mobilized for duty under Title 10 USC were permanently removed.

The Air Force took the intelligence mission from the 102nd after Teixeiras leaks were discovered and the groups mission remains reassigned to other units.

(AP)




Special counsel Jack Smith on Monday asked the Supreme Court to take up and rule quickly on whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted on charges he plotted to overturn the 2020 election results.

Smith made his request for the court to act with unusual speed to prevent any delays that could push back the trial of the 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner, currently set to begin on March 4, until after next years presidential election.

A federal judge ruled the case could go forward, but Trump signaled he would ask the federal appeals court in Washington to reverse that outcome. Smith is attempting to bypass the appeals court, the usual next step in the process, and have the Supreme Court take up the matter directly.

This case presents a fundamental question at the heart of our democracy: whether a former President is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office or is constitutionally protected from federal prosecution when he has been impeached but not convicted before the criminal proceedings begin, prosecutors wrote.

The court is next scheduled to meet privately on Jan. 5, 2024. Its unclear whether the justices would convene sooner to take up Smiths request.

Underscoring the urgency for prosecutors in securing a quick resolution that can push the case forward, Smith and his team wrote: It is of imperative public importance that respondents claims of immunity be resolved by this Court and that respondents trial proceed as promptly as possible if his claim of immunity is rejected.

At issue is a Dec. 1 ruling from U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan that rejected arguments by Trumps lawyers that he was immune from federal prosecution. In her order, Chutkan, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, wrote that the office of the president does not confer a lifelong get-out-of-jail-free pass.

Former Presidents enjoy no special conditions on their federal criminal liability, Chutkan wrote. Defendant may be subject to federal investigation, indictment, prosecution, conviction, and punishment for any criminal acts undertaken while in office.

If the justices get involved, they would have an opportunity to rule for the first time ever on whether ex-presidents enjoy immunity from prosecution. Justice Department policy prohibits the indictment of a sitting president. Though theres no such bar against prosecution for a former commander in chief, lawyers for Trump say that he cannot be charged for actions that fell within his official duties as president  a claim that prosecutors have vigorously rejected.

Smiths team stressed that if the court did not expedite the matter, there would not be an opportunity to consider and resolve the question in the current term.

The United States recognizes that this is an extraordinary request. This is an extraordinary case, prosecutors wrote. The Court should grant certiorari and set a briefing schedule that would permit this case to be argued and resolved as promptly as possible.

Prosecutors are also asking the court to take up Trumps claim, also already rejected by Chutkan, that he cannot be prosecuted in court for conduct for which he was already impeached  and acquitted  before Congress.

Trump faces charges accusing him of working to overturn the results of the 2020 election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden before the violent riot by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol. He has denied any wrongdoing.

A Supreme Court case usually lasts several months, from the time the justices agree to hear it until a final decision. Smith is asking the court to move with unusual, but not unprecedented, speed.

Nearly 50 years ago, the justices acted within two months of being asked to force President Richard Nixon to turn over Oval Office recordings in the Watergate scandal. The tapes were then used later in 1974 in the corruption prosecutions of Nixons former aides.

It took the high court just a few days to effectively decide the 2000 presidential election for Republican George W. Bush over Democrat Al Gore.

If the justices decline to step in at this point, Trumps appeal would continue at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Smith already has asked for quick review there, too. But he said even a rapid appellate decision might not get to the Supreme Court in time for review and final word before the courts traditional summer break.

The special counsels filings also show that Michael Dreeben, a former Justice Department lawyer who for years argued criminal cases at the Supreme Court, has joined Smiths team. Dreeben also was part of special counsel Robert Muellers team in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

(AP)




Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy kicked off a quick visit to Washington on Monday, warning in a speech to a defense university that Russia may be fighting in Ukraine but its real target is freedom in America and around the world. He also issued a personal plea for Congress to break its deadlock and approve continued support for Ukraine.

His time in Washington, which will include meetings on Tuesday at the White House and with Congress, is part of a last-minute push by the Biden administration to convince lawmakers to pass a supplemental funding bill, as officials warn that the money for Ukraine is running out.

President Joe Biden has asked Congress for $61.4 billion for wartime funding for Ukraine as part of a $110 billion package that also includes money for Israel and other national security priorities. But the request is caught up in a debate over U.S. immigration policy and border security. The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion for its fight against Russias 2022 invasion.

If theres anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capitol Hill, its just (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his secret clique, Zelenskyy told an audience of military leaders and students at the National Defense University. Ukrainians havent given up and wont give up. We know what to do. And you can count on Ukraine. And we hope just as much to be able to count on you.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who introduced the Ukrainian president, said Americas commitment to Ukraine is unshakeable and supporting the war is critical to ensuring the security of the U.S. and its allies.

Americas commitments must be honored. Americas security must be defended. And Americas word must be kept, Austin said.

He said Zelenskyy is living proof that a single persons leadership can help rally an embattled democracy and inspire the free world and change the course of history.

With Congress in its final work week before leaving for the holidays, questions remain as to whether Republicans will be able to come to an agreement on any rounds of future funding for Ukraine or Israel without White House concessions on additional border security as illegal crossings surge. But any border package also runs the risk of alienating some Democrats.

According to the Defense Department, there is about $4.8 billion remaining in presidential drawdown authority, which pulls weapons from existing U.S. stockpiles and sends them quickly to the war front, and about $1.1 billion left in funding to replenish the U.S. military stockpiles.

John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesman, told reporters Monday that Zelenskyys visit comes at a critical time.

This is exactly the right time to be having President Zelenskyy in town to have these discussions, because of whats going on in Ukraine, the increased activity were seeing by the Russian armed forces as winter approaches, but also whats going on on Capitol Hill, said Kirby.

He said Biden will make clear to Zelenskyy when they meet that the White House is standing firm on the supplemental budget request. White House spokesman Andrew Bates said top Office of Management and Budget, National Security Council and White House legislative affairs officials have continued to press the case for the funding.

(AP)




A jury was sworn in Monday in the federal case that will determine how much Rudy Giuliani might have to pay two Georgia election workers he falsely accused of fraud while pushing Donald Trumps baseless claims after the 2020 election.

The former New York City mayor has already been found liable in the defamation lawsuit brought by Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea Shaye Moss, who endured threats and harassment after they became the target of a conspiracy theory spread by Trump and his allies. The only issue to be determined at the trial is the amount of damages, if any, Giuliani must pay.

Giuliani did not speak to reporters as he entered Washingtons federal courthouse  the same building where Trump is set to stand trial in March on criminal charges accusing the former president of scheming to overturn his loss to President Joe Biden.

Opening arguments in the case were expected to start Monday afternoon.

Giuliani is expected to take the witness stand, his lawyer said Monday, raising questions about whether his testimony could also put him in jeopardy in a separate criminal case in Georgia that accuses Trump, Giuliani and others of trying to illegally overturn the results of the election in the state.

The legal and financial woes are mounting for Giuliani, who was celebrated as Americas mayor in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack and became one of the most ardent promoters of Trumps election lies.

In the Georgia criminal case, Giuliani is accused of making false statements to lawmakers during hearings in December 2020. While showing a surveillance video from State Farm Arena in Atlanta, where ballots were counted in the days after the election, Giuliani said election workers committed election fraud. Specifically, he said, Freeman and Moss were quite obviously surreptitiously passing around USB ports as if theyre vials of heroin or cocaine and it was obvious they were engaged in surreptitious illegal activity.

The claims about the election workers were quickly debunked by Georgia officials, who found no improper counting of ballots.

Giuliani has pleaded not guilty in the criminal case and maintains he had every right to raise questions about what he believed to be election fraud.

He was also sued in September by a former lawyer who alleged Giuliani only paid a fraction of roughly $1.6 million in legal fees stemming from investigations into his efforts to keep Trump in the White House. And the judge overseeing the election workers lawsuit has already ordered Giuliani and his business entities to pay tens of thousands of dollars in attorneys fees.

Overseeing the defamation case is District Judge Beryl Howell, who is well-versed in handling matters related to Trump, having served as chief judge of Washingtons federal court for the entirety of Trumps presidency.

In that role, the appointee of former President Barack Obama made several significant rulings, including determining in 2020 that the House of Representatives was entitled to secret grand jury testimony from special counsel Robert Muellers investigation and, more recently, issuing a sealed opinion requiring a lawyer for Trump to testify before the grand jury over his objections in an investigation into the mishandling of classified documents.

Among the questions Howell asked jurors was: Have you ever used the phrase Lets Go Brandon?' The phrase is used in right-wing circles to insult Biden.

Moss had worked for the Fulton County elections department since 2012 and supervised the absentee ballot operation during the 2020 election. Freeman was a temporary election worker, verifying signatures on absentee ballots and preparing them to be counted and processed.

The women have said the false claims led to an barrage of violent threats and harassment that at one point led Freeman to leave her home for more than two months. In emotional testimony before the U.S. House Committee that investigated the U.S. Capitol attack, Moss recounted receiving an onslaught of threatening and racist messages.

In an August decision holding Giuliani liable in the case, Howell said the Trump adviser gave only lip service to complying with his legal obligations and had failed to turn over information requested by the mother and daughter. The judge in October said that Giuliani had flagrantly disregarded an order to provide documents concerning his personal and business assets. She said that jurors deciding the amount of damages would be told they must infer that Giuliani was intentionally trying to hide financial documents in the hopes of artificially deflating his net worth.

Giuliani conceded in July that he made public comments falsely claiming Freeman and Moss committed fraud while counting ballots at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. But Giuliani argued that the statements were protected by the First Amendment.

(AP)




A New Hampshire man has been accused of sending text messages threatening to kill a presidential candidate ahead of a scheduled campaign event Monday, federal prosecutors said.

The U.S. Attorneys office did not name the candidate. However, a spokesperson for Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said Monday that the texts were directed at his campaign.

We are grateful to law enforcement for their swiftness and professionalism in handling this matter and pray for the safety of all Americans, Stefan Mychajliw, deputy communications director, said in a statement.

Tyler Anderson, 30, of Dover, was arrested Saturday and charged with sending a threat using interstate commerce. He did not speak at his initial court appearance Monday other than telling the judge he understood the proceedings, and his court-appointed attorney declined to comment afterward. A detention hearing was scheduled for Thursday.

Ramaswamy went on to hold his event at the Roundabout Diner & Lounge in Portsmouth.

According to court documents, the man received a text message from the candidates campaign on Friday notifying him of Mondays breakfast event in Portsmouth.

The campaign staff received two text messages in response, according to an FBI agent affidavit. One threatened to shoot the candidate in the head, the other threatened to kill everyone at the event and desecrate their corpses.

The cellphone number was traced to the man, the FBI said. Agents executed a search warrant at the mans home on Saturday. The texts were found in a deleted folder, the affidavit said.

The man told the FBI in an interview that he had sent similar texts to multiple other campaigns, the affidavit said. The document includes a screenshot of texts threatening a mass shooting in response to an invitation to see a candidate who isnt afraid to tell it like it is. Republican Chris Christie calls his events Tell it Like It Is Town Halls.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Christie campaign thanked law enforcement officials for addressing those threats.

The charge provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

(AP)




His countrys future at stake, Ukrainian President Volodymyr used inspirational words, resolve and a nod to Christmas in appealing Tuesday to leaders in Congress for U.S. aid for his fighters in the war with Russia.

But as he arrived next at the White House, additional American support was in grave doubt.

Zelenskyys visit to Washington came at a grim time, much changed from the heros welcome he received last year. President Joe Bidens request for an additional $110 billion U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs is at serious risk of collapse in Congress as Republicans are insisting on linking it to strict U.S.-Mexico border security changes that Democrats decry.

The fight were in is a fight for freedom, Zelenskyy repeatedly said in the meetings, according to lawmakers.

Flanked by Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Zelenskyy entered a private meeting with senators with a public bipartisan show of support and to some applause. But more than an hour later few senators minds appeared changed.

Schumer called it a very powerful meeting, but gave no update on stalled negotiations.

Next Zelenskyy visited the House leaders, including privately with new Speaker Mike Johnson, whose hard-right Republicans have been the most resistance to any deal. Johnson insisted afterward: We do want to do the right thing here.

The White House said the time was right for Zelenskyys trip to Washington as Biden pushes lawmakers approve the aid package before the year-end holidays. A top spokesman said the U.S. cant let Ukraine aid lapse, especially as the Israel-Hamas war takes attention, and that the president was willing to make compromises with Republicans.

This additional funding will absolutely help Ukraine claw back even more of their territory and kick the Russians right out of Ukraine, said the White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on NBC.

However, prospects for a congressional deal on Ukraine funding seemed all but out of reach.

Zelenskyy impressed on the senators that Ukraine could win the war against Russia, telling them he was drafting men in their 30s and 40s in a show of strength for the battle. In his trademark olive drab, he stood before a portrait of George Washington, history hanging behind him.

To the House Democrats, he showcased his countrys embrace of the West by pointing to the Christmas season, telling them it was the first year Ukraine would celebrate on Dec. 25 rather than the day Russians mark the holiday.

McConnell said afterward Zelenskyy was inspirational and determined.

But Republicans senator exited the meeting unmoved from their position. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said the emergency funding wouldnt gain GOP support unless it includes real, meaningful border reform.

Biden has expressed a willingness to engage with the Republicans as migrant crossings have hit record highs along the U.S.-Mexico border, but Democrats in his own party oppose proposals for expedited deportations and strict asylum standards as a return to Trump-era hostility towards migrants.

With talks at a standstill, one chief Republican negotiator, Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, said there was nothing Zelenskyy could say during his visit with the senators to sway the outcome.

Hey, pay attention to us, but not your own country? No, Lankford told reporters.

Ahead of Zelenskyys high-stakes meetings, the White House late Monday pointed to newly declassified intelligence that shows Ukraine has inflicted heavy losses on Russia in recent fighting along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis  including 13,000 casualties and over 220 combat vehicle losses. The Ukrainian holdout in the countrys partly-occupied east has been the center of some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks.

U.S. intelligence officials have determined that the Russians think if they can achieve a military deadlock through the winter it will drain Western support for Ukraine and ultimately give Russia the advantage, despite the fact that Russians have sustained heavy losses and have been slowed by persistent shortages of trained personnel, munitions and equipment.

A U.S. intelligence analysis recently declassified and sent to Congress shows the extent to which Ukraine has inflicted damages to Russias military.

Russia has lost 87% of the military personnel it had before the Ukraine war, including contracted and other ground forces, naval infantry and airborne troops, according to a person familiar with the analysis and granted anonymity to discuss it.

Additionally, of the 3,500 Russian tanks before the invasion, some 2,200 have been lost on the battlefield, the person said.

The result is forcing Russia to rely on Soviet-era weaponry and has set back efforts to modernize its ground forces, the person said the analysis shows.

White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is clearly watching what happens in Congress  and we need Congress to act this month to support Ukraine.

Its Zelenskyys third visit to Washington since the war broke out in February 2022, including a quick trip just a few months ago as aid was being considered. But his surprise arrival days before Christmas last December drew thunderous applause in Congress, his daring first wartime trip out of Ukraine.

At the time, lawmakers sported the blue-and-yellow colors of Ukraine, and Zelenskyy delivered a speech that drew on the parallels to World War II as he thanked Americans for their support.

But 2023 brought a new power center of hard-right Republicans, many aligned with Donald Trump, the former president who is now the GOP front-runner in the 2024 race for the White House.

Its not at all clear new Speaker Johnson, on the job since October when Republicans ousted their previous leader Kevin McCarthy, with McConnell can steer an aid package through the Houses right flank.

Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Zelenskyy can shake up the stalemate by showing the stakes of potential Russian expansion toward NATO, and making his case on moral clarity and why is Ukraine important.

Zelenskyy kicked off the quick visit to Washington on Monday, warning in a speech at a defense university that Russia may be fighting in Ukraine but its real target is freedom in America and around the world.

Of the new $110 billion national security package, $61.4 billion would go toward Ukraine  with about half to the Defense Department to replenish weaponry it is supplying, and the other half for humanitarian assistance and to help the Ukrainian government function with emergency responders, public works and other operations.

The package includes another nearly $14 billion for Israel as it fights Hamas and $14 billion for U.S. border security. Additional funds would go for national security needs in the Asia-Pacific region.

As Biden and Zelenskyy met, the U.S. was preparing to announce another, relatively modest, million-dollar military aid package, according to U.S. officials.

The roughly $200 million in weapons and equipment will be taken from Pentagon stocks and include additional ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), high-speed anti-radiation missiles, anti-armor systems, artillery rounds, missiles, demolition munitions, 4 million rounds of small arms ammunition, generators and other equipment and spare parts, one official said.

Including that latest package, the U.S. now has about $4.4 billion remaining in weapons it can provide from department stockpiles.

The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion for its fight against Russias 2022 invasion.

Border security talks have focused on making it more difficult for migrants to claim asylum and releasing fewer of them temporarily into the U.S. while they await proceedings to determine if they can remain permanently.

Republicans have also proposed allowing the president to shut parts of the border when crossings reach high numbers, as they have for the past two years. One White House idea would expand the ability to conduct expedited deportations, drawing alarm from immigrant advocates.

As border talks drag, Bidens budget director said last week that the U.S. will run out of funding to send weapons and assistance to Ukraine by the end of the year.

(AP)




Brooklyn, NY  Over 2,000 people gathered at Kings Theatre for the inaugural Nafshi event, a night dedicated to the legacy of the Baal HaTanya through Niggunim and inspiration. This event, produced by Avram Zamist and organized by Colel Chabad, provided an extraordinary blend of traditional melodies and contemporary spiritual engagement.

As attendees entered the iconic venue, there was a palpable sense of excitement for the unique program that lay ahead. Avraham Fried, Eitan Katz, Beri Weber, and Alex Clere, the evenings featured performers, led the audience in a series of Niggunim composed by the Baal HaTanya. Each artist added their own touch to these timeless melodies, bridging past and present.

The night included moments of inspiration from Rabbis Eli Mansour, Judah Mischel, Shais Taub, and Moshe Weinberger. Their insights offered deeper understanding and context, enhancing the spiritual significance of the Niggunim and the teachings of Chasidus.

An important aspect of Nafshi was its commitment to tzedakah. Proceeds from the event are supporting Colel Chabads work with displaced families in Israel, aligning the upliftment of the evening with acts of kindness and charity.

As the event concluded, it was evident that Nafshi, had achieved something remarkable. More than just a concert, it was a Farbrengen  a gathering that successfully blended Jewish music and Chasidus in a modern setting, setting a new standard for Jewish events.

Anticipation is already growing for future Nafshi events, as organizers and attendees look forward to replicating the success of this memorable gathering.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




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The family of a hostage being held by Hamas in Gaza was rebuked by Red Cross representatives in a meeting, who told them that they need to think about the Palestinian side, Kan News reported.

Roni and Simona Steinbrecher are the parents of Doron, 30, a veterinary nurse who was abducted from Kfar Aza on October 7th. When they were invited to a meeting with the Red Cross last week, they were hopeful that the organization had finally agreed to transfer Dorons medication to her. Doron needs medicine daily and her parents had begged the Red Cross to deliver the medication to her.

But they were in for a nasty surprise when instead of offering to help, the Red Cross representatives reprimanded them.

Think about the Palestinian side, the representatives of the Red Cross told them. Its hard for the Palestinians, theyre being bombed.

Dorons parents left the meeting in shock. After two months of unbearable suffering and sleepless nights, knowing their daughter is being held by Hamas barbarians, they not only received zero support but were told to have sympathy for the other side.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Some of the Israeli female civilians who were abducted to Gaza were held in Gaza together with female IDF soldiers.

Kan News reported on Monday morning that one of the teenagers who was released from Gaza with her hair in neat braids testified that a famous IDF soldier braided her hair.

She added that the soldiers took care of us.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
HANOI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, said Tuesday that he expects to have an in-depth exchange of views with Vietnamese leaders on the overarching and strategic issues critical to the direction of the relations of the two Parties and two countries.

The leaders of the two sides will also discuss international and regional issues with common concerns, according to a written speech by Xi released upon his arrival for a two-day state visit to Vietnam.

He is scheduled to hold talks respectively with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and President Vo Van Thuong, and meet with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue.

Xi was warmly received at the airport by Pham Minh Chinh and other senior officials. More than 400 Vietnamese and Chinese people from all walks of life waved the flags of the two Parties and two countries to welcome the Chinese leader.

It is Xi's third visit to the Southeast Asian country since he became general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese president.

In the written speech, Xi said China takes its relations with Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, adding that he looks forward to taking the visit as an opportunity to push bilateral relations to a new stage. 




The IDF and Shin Bet have announced that over 500 terrorists have been apprehended in the Gaza Strip in the past month. These individuals are being interrogated by the IDF Military Intelligence Directorates Unit 504 and the security agency.

The statement further specifies that since the end of the ceasefire on December 1, over 140 operatives have been arrested. The IDF explained that these operatives were captured during recent combat operations, with some surrendering voluntarily and others being found hiding in civilian structures, such as schools and civilian shelters.

Of the total number detained in the last month, approximately 350 are identified as members of Hamas, while around 120 are affiliated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




A missile suspected to have been fired by Yemens Houthi rebels slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen near a key maritime chokepoint, authorities said Tuesday.

The assault on the oil and chemical tanker Strinda expands a campaign by the Iranian-backed rebels targeting ships close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into apparently now striking those that have no clear ties to Israel. That potentially imperils cargo and energy shipments coming through the Suez Canal and further widens the international impact of the Israel-Hamas war now raging in the Gaza Strip.

The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, though rebel military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said an important announcement would be coming from them soon.

The U.S. militarys Central Command issued a statement Tuesday saying an anti-ship cruise missile launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen hit the Strinda.

There were no U.S. ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but the USS Mason responded  and is currently rendering assistance, Central Command said. The Mason is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that has been involved in several of the incidents recently off Yemen.

The private intelligence firms Ambrey and Dryad Global had earlier confirmed the attack happened near the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.

Geir Belsnes, the CEO of the Strindas operator, J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, also confirmed the attack took place.

All crew members are unhurt and safe, Belsnes said. The vessel is now proceeding to a safe port.

The Strinda was coming from Malaysia and was bound for the Suez Canal.

The British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which provides warnings to sailors in the Middle East, earlier reported a fire aboard an unidentified vessel off Mokha, Yemen, with all the crew aboard being safe. The coordinates of that fire correspond to the last known location of the Strinda based off satellite tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press.

The Houthis have carried out a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and also launched drones and missiles targeting Israel. In recent days, they have threatened to attack any vessel they believe is either going to or coming from Israel, though there was no immediate apparent link between the Strinda and Israel.

Analysts suggest the Houthis hope to shore up waning popular support after years of civil war in Yemen between it and Saudi-backed forces.

France and the U.S. have stopped short of saying their ships were targeted in rebel attacks, but have said Houthi drones have headed toward their ships and have been shot down in self-defense. Washington so far has declined to directly respond to the attacks, as has Israel, whose military continues to describe the ships as not having links to their country.

In November, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Separately, a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.

A separate, tentative cease-fire between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition fighting on behalf of Yemens exiled government has held for months despite that countrys long war. Thats raised concerns that any wider conflict in the sea  or a potential reprisal strike from Western forces  could reignite those tensions in the Arab worlds poorest nation.

In 2016, the U.S. launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at U.S. Navy ships at the time.

(AP)




Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says in a statement that he will not allow Israel to repeat the mistakes of Oslo.

The full statement released to YWN follows below:

I greatly appreciate the American support for destroying Hamas and returning our hostages.

Following an intensive dialogue with President Biden and his team, we received full backing for the ground incursion and blocking the international pressure to stop the war.

Yes, there is disagreement about the day after Hamas and I hope that we will reach agreement here as well.

I would like to clarify my position: I will not allow Israel to repeat the mistake of Oslo.

After the great sacrifice of our civilians and our soldiers, I will not allow the entry into Gaza of those who educate for terrorism, support terrorism and finance terrorism.

Gaza will be neither Hamastan nor Fatahstan.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




During a speech today, Turkish Parliamentarian Hasan Bitmez collapsed immediately after delivering strong criticisms against Israel.

In his closing remarks, Bitmez said, We can perhaps hide from our conscience but not from history, and stated that Israel will suffer the wrath of Allah. Shortly after these words, Bitmez suffered the wrath of Allah, and collapsed.

According to Turkish reports, he underwent cardiac massage (CPR), and was rushed to a hospital where he is listed in critical condition.

Bilkent City Hospital. Saadet Chairperson Temel Karamollaoglu told reporters that Bitmezs health was still at risk and asked for prayers for his recovery.

A name for Tehillim was not available.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




President Joe Biden on Wednesday will hold his first in-person meeting with the families of Americans taken hostage by Hamas during its brutal attack on Israel on Oct. 7, two White House officials said.

It was not immediately clear how many families would be attending the White House meeting in person, or via videoconference. Biden has previously met with some family members virtually and spoken to others on the phone, officials said. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Bidens schedule.

Were not going to stop until every hostage is returned home, Biden told donors in Washington on Tuesday, saying the U.S. commitment to Israel is unshakable.

Seven Americans remain unaccounted for after Hamas surprise air, sea and land incursion into Israeli towns, where the group killed about 1,200 Israelis  mostly civilians  and took more than 240 people hostage. Four Americans were released as part of a U.S.-negotiated cease-fire in Israels war against Hamas in Gaza that was brokered with the assistance of Qatar and Egypt. The White House has said that at least 31 Americans were killed by Hamas and other militant groups on Oct. 7.

(AP)
A new book tells the extraordinary true story of Alfred 'Goldie' Gardner - the disabled First World War hero, racing driver and most prolific speed-record driver of all time... and someone you've probably never heard of.

With a supporting cast of daredevil aristocrats, ingenious engineers, and beautiful heiresses, the biography tracks his extraordinary life from the cold showers of his private school to his death in 1958.

It's a story of unfeasible speeds, records snatched from disgruntled Nazis and secret wartime missions, but also of the deep human connections he made along the way.

Alfred Goldie Gardner is the disabled First World War hero, racing driver and most prolific speed-record driver of all time... and someone you've probably never heard of. Until now...

'Goldie' pictured in 1951 at the Bonneville Salt Flats getting into his EX135 land-speed record vehicle

Three of his achievements are still on the FIA's title list, records that land-speed legend Richard Noble described as being 'extraordinary, even by today's standards'.

Goldie, by John Mayhead, is the first book by National Motor Museum Publishing, part of Beaulieu's mission to share the story of motoring and includes many previously unseen photographs from their collection.

It's intentionally written not just for car lovers but also those who enjoy a great tale.

In this exclusive extract, Mayhead describes how Gardner pushed his luck one time too many in his streamlined EX135 'Magic Magnette'...

The Final Run

As dawn broke the following morning, Goldie's feet crunched on the smooth crust of salt as he hobbled towards the car. Pausing, he turned and held out his cane to Jacko, who took it and pinned it under his arm like a sergeant major's pace stick.

As he'd done a hundred times before, Goldie lifted his bad leg onto the side of EX135, shuffled over toward the cockpit, then dropped both feet onto the green leather pad that formed his seat.

Although it was still early in the morning, the Utah sun was already hot and he felt the first prickles of perspiration dance across his forehead under his white linen wind cap, the same headgear he'd been wearing for nearly thirty years of driving racing cars.

At 62 years of age, with his baggy white trousers and green short-sleeved shirt, BRDC badge proudly sewn onto the left breast pocket, he didn't really look like a land speed record holder, but looks can be deceptive.

Goldie made himself as comfortable as he could in the familiar cockpit and set about his final checks. George Perry, who had been sent by Lucas to support the record attempt, handed him his bowtie-shaped steering wheel which he clicked into place.

Finally, he removed his sunglasses and swapped them for a set of green-tinted 'Panorama' goggles, an improvement from the previous year when he found the glare from the salt flats to be almost unbearable.

Alfred Goldie Gardner pictured in his first racing car - a modified Austin Seven

Goldie was a regular at Brooklands where he pitted himself and his vehicles against the fastest drivers and machinery in the UK, The image was taken on 9 May 1930

Alfred Thomas Goldie Gardner OBE MC was born on 31 May 1890 and died 25 August 1958

Syd and Jacko tinkered, as they always did, making sure the car was ready to go.

Then Goldie turned the big switch away from the 'OFF' mark that Syd had drawn in huge letters on the dash, firing up the engine, which quickly barked into life.

He checked the gauges, each marked out in white paint to make them stand out when the driver's head was rattling around at 200 miles-per-hour.

The rev counter was front and centre, tilted so that the supercharged two-litre engine's peak power as identified on the bench at Abingdon  around 5,400rpm  was at the top.

Next to it were the other critical gauges: oil and supercharger pressure.

All he had to do was keep the big needle pointing upwards, keep the others out of the red, and drive as smoothly as possible around the ten-mile circuit that had been marked on the salt flats.

With a final polish of the bodywork, Syd and Jacko were happy. Jacko nodded, and Goldie smiled and nodded back. They had been doing this a long time: Jacko had first helped Gardner back in 1937 on his first record attempt in Frankfurt, then in his single-seater MG Magnette.

Since the creation of EX135 in its present form, both he and Enever had been his almost constant companions. Goldie pulled down his goggles and the Perspex canopy was clipped into place.

With a wave from Art Pilsbury, the AAA timekeeper, Goldie knew he was good to go. He pressed his right foot down and released the clutch, feeling a lurch as the engine started to build up the revs.

Quickly, he gained speed over the white surface of the salt lake and before long he had pushed up through the gears to top.

Now, it was just a case of keeping the gently curving line marker to the right, keeping his concentration, and pushing harder than he had ever pushed before.

Alfred 'Goldie' Gardner pictured in 1936, just before attacking the British national speed records at Brooklands

He achieved nearly 150 national and international speed records and at one point held six of the ten speed record category titles

Inside the cockpit, Goldie's bare forearms beaded with sweat as the steering wheel jolted in his hands, every tiny bump on the surface transmitted through the thin rubber-clad spoked wheels and amplified through the skeleton frame of EX135, shaking him so much that his head rattled against the cowl of the Perspex hood.

He was engulfed in a cacophony of sound: the rattles of the bodywork flexing against the chassis, the roar of the un-silenced engine, the exhaust firing straight out in a deafening wall of noise and heat and the incessant whine of the supercharger.

The temperature was almost unbearable now: not only had the sun risen, but insulation on the engine bulkhead had been reduced to almost nothing to save weight.

As the laps started to build, the heat pulsated through to his feet, leaving them feeling like they were on fire.

Outside, the wooden marker posts were mesmerising as they flashed past. Every few minutes, Goldie passed the red, wooden timing stand surrounded by the expedition's other cars, and he squinted to read what information was on the board that Dick Benn, his team manager, held up for him.

Two, three, four laps... still he kept his foot to the floor, ignored the heat, ignored the noise. Five, six, seven... he looked down at the shaking RPM gauge to his front: needle pointing upwards, all was well.

But all was not well.

The salt, usually rock hard at this time of year, had been softened by the unseasonal rainstorm they had experienced on their arrival in Wendover.

As Gardner built up the laps, tiny specs of salt had been forced into the thin tyre treads, slowly packing together to fill the voids. Now, his tyres lacked any effective grip and all they needed to lose traction altogether was a slight lateral movement.

When it came, after about 74 miles of driving, it came slowly. Something, possibly the most minute over-correction to the steering wheel, or a tiny rock at just the wrong place at the wrong time, pushed the back tyres just a fraction of an inch out of line and the rear of the car started, very slowly, to slip out to the left.

Goldie, his senses honed by over a quarter of a century of racing cars, felt it immediately, edged the wheel gently to the left and tried to correct. But the same problem that had slicked the rear tyres had also rendered the fronts ineffective, and when they didn't bite, Goldie knew he was now just a passenger.

At a shade over 165 miles an hour, EX135 gradually turned into the mother of all broadside skids.

Looking on, Jacko, Syd and the rest of the crew knew immediately something was wrong.

They saw EX135 start to slide, its tail slipping out before it was engulfed in a cloud of white salt dust.

They were already running to their cars as they saw the green hulk of the car career into the infield and hit something that disintegrated into parts that flew high into the air.

The incredible EX135 was a heavily-modified MG K3, which was given a streamlined body by Reid Railton

Before the record car had come to a halt, they were driving frantically down the salt flats towards it.

Three agonising minutes later, they reached the scene.

Miraculously, the car had not rolled. Possibly, the lack of grip that had caused the accident in the first place may have saved Goldie and his car: at that speed, as EX135 skidded sideways, the wheels would have only had to catch on a piece of uneven surface or the tyres burst under the extraordinary pressure they were under, and the car and driver would have barrel-rolled into oblivion.

As it was, it seemed both had survived remarkably well.

The crew ran over to the car. Facing backwards, it had come to rest outside the circuit, nearly a mile from when the skid started.

The Perspex bubble was gone, save a few jagged shards that remained in place around the edge.

Goldie was sitting in the cockpit, staring straight ahead, his face red with blood and with a large crimson stain spreading across his white linen wind-cap.

One of the Americans was there first. 'SIR! COLONEL GARDNER, SIR! ARE YOU OK?'

Goldie Gardner turned his head and looked bewilderingly at his rescuer. Then, as if suddenly aware of where he was, he reached up with both hands and gingerly pulled his goggles off.

Jacko had arrived by now carrying a fire extinguisher, but although the car was ticking with heat, it was clear that Goldie had maintained enough awareness to switch the engine off before he had finally come to a halt.

'My head...' Goldie started, but Syd, bandage already unfurled in his hands, cut him off. 'You'll be OK. Here we go...'

In minutes, Goldie was out of the car, his head encased by an oversized bandage and his pipe clasped back between his teeth.

Goldie pictured with his team testing the EX135 at Jabbeke in Belgium on September 14 1948

Laughing with the crew, he assured everyone that it was just a minor scrape, a few cuts caused by flying Perspex.

They looked at the cause of the damage: a five-foot wooden marker board showing the four-mile point.

Hit as the car was still travelling at nearly 200 miles-per-hour, the lightweight sign had smashed the canopy, detached one of the wheel covers and dented a wheel arch. The lack of damage given the speed of the crash was extraordinary.

Gardner was in great spirits and insisted he would be able to run again in a few days' time once yet another engine  this time a supercharged 2.2-litre unit  had been fitted.

Jacko and Syd checked over the car and, from a mechanical perspective, agreed that the repairs would take very little time to fix. They quickly hitched it up to their tow car and, Enever now at the wheel, started it on its journey back to their rented garage in Wendover where they would work through the night.

Pictured: Damage sustained to Goldie's MG at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in 1951

Meanwhile in the hotel, Goldie lay awake.

His head ached: not just the sore parts slashed by the shards of Perspex, but a deep throbbing inside.

He knew that if the team were aware that he'd been hit hard on the head by the signpost, hard enough for him to black out for a few seconds, they may not let him run again.

So, when he sat in the steaming car, gathering his wits, he elected not to tell them. It was a fateful decision, one that was to have terrible consequences for both him and his family.

But, four days later, the old racer drove once again.
Britain's financial regulator is clamping down on investment platforms profiting unfairly on customer cash balances and warned firms against 'double dipping'.

While investor inflows have weakened this year amid economic uncertainty, platforms have been earning a fortune on the interest on customers' uninvested cash deposits.

And some firms are even charging customers for holding the cash on their behalf, thereby profiting twice in a practice known as double dipping.

In an open letter to 42 chief executives of investment platforms and self-invested personal pension operators, the Financial Conduct Authority told firms to no longer levy charges on customers for possessing their cash.

Command: The FCA has told investment platforms to stop engaging in 'double dipping'

It said double dipping is likely to confuse consumers and believes groups engaging in the practice are not acting in 'good faith' or 'consistently with the reasonable expectations of customers'.

The FCA's letter also expressed concern about how companies treated interest on their customers' account balances.

More than 70 per cent of firms surveyed by the regulator admitted to keeping some interest earned from cash holdings, with the average platform retaining 50 per cent of the accumulated interest.

The groups often claim that retaining interest on cash is needed to offset the costs of managing the money and dissuade long-term cash allocations in platform accounts.

But the FCA said companies may not be 'providing fair value to consumers' if the amount of retained interest 'significantly exceeds' operating costs.

AJ Bell and Hargreaves Lansdown recently revealed bumper revenues and profits on the back of interest obtained on customers' cash, which has grown as the result of Bank of England base rate hikes.

AJ Bell's pre-tax profit climbed by half to a record 87.7million in the year ending September after turnover rose by a third to 218.2million.

Hargreaves' pre-tax profits also soared by 50 per cent in the last financial year, increasing to 403million as it received 269million from interest on cash in its investment accounts, compared to just 50million the previous 12 months.

Both companies saw their shares slump on Tuesday morning following the FCA's announcement.

AJ Bell shares dived 8.7 per cent to 284.4p, and Hargreaves Lansdown shares fell 6.3 per cent to 716.8p.

The FCA wants investment platforms to review their policies on holding interest to ensure they abide by the recently introduced Consumer Duty regulations. All affected companies have until 29 February to implement the necessary changes.

'Rising rates mean greater returns on cash,' said Sheldon Mills, executive director of consumers and competition at the FCA.

He added: 'Investment platforms and SIPP operators need now to ensure how much of the interest they retain and, for those who are double dipping, how much they're charging customers holding cash, results in fair value.

'If they cannot make that case, they need to make changes.'

Hargreaves Lansdown said it was 'aligned with the FCA's focus to ensure good value and outcomes for clients and undertook a broad and rigorous assessment of its practices including a review of its fair value assessments earlier this year.'

It added that 'at least' 90 per cent of the BoE's base rate rises were passed on to client cash balances in the last financial year and that it does not engage in double dipping.

It went on: 'We will continue to work actively with the regulator following today's letter to further review our practices.'
CMA to examine Unilever claims to ensure shoppers are not being misled

Unilever faces a regulatory probe over claims made by the consumer goods giant about the environmental credentials of its products.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Tuesday it will examine the claims made by the group, which owns brands including Cif, Comfort, and Lynx, amid concerns it 'may be overstating how green certain products are'.

It follows an investigation into the consumer goods industry, which revealed 'a range of concerning practices', driving Ofcom to ensure Unilever buyers are not being misled.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it is seeking to examine the claims made by the consumer goods company to make sure shoppers are not being misled

A spokesperson for Unilever said the Dove soap maker was 'surprised and disappointed' with the CMA's announcement and 'refute that our claims are in any way misleading'.

They added: 'We will continue to co-operate with the CMA and fully comply with further requests for information.;

The CMA is concerned some statements and language used by Unilever 'appear vague and broad', and might mislead shoppers about the products' environmental impact.

It also expressed concerns about the 'use of colours and imagery', such as green leaves used by the firm.

'Claims about some ingredients are presented in a way that may exaggerate how 'natural' the product is, and so may create an inaccurate or misleading impression,' the CMA said.

As part of the probe, the CMA will examine recyclability claims made by Unilever,

The watchdog said that some of the group's products failed to 'specify whether they relate to all or part of a product or packaging'.

Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, added: 'Essentials like detergent, kitchen spray, and toiletries are the kinds of items you put in your supermarket basket every time you shop.

'More and more people are trying to do their bit to help protect the environment, but we're worried many are being misled by so-called 'green' products that aren't what they seem.

'So far, the evidence we've seen has raised concerns about how Unilever presents certain products as environmentally friendly. We'll be drilling down into these claims to see if they measure up. If we find they're greenwashing, we'll take action to make sure shoppers are protected.'

The move comes as part of the regulator's wider investigation into greenwashing.

Earlier this year, the CMA said it would check whether companies are complying with UK consumer protection law and focus on the use of 'vague and broad eco-statements', such as 'better for the environment' used with no or little evidence.

The regulator stated that It would target misleading claims about the use of recycled or natural materials in a product, and how recyclable it is.

In October, Unilever reported that it will freeze the salary of its chief executive for the next two years after a shareholder backlash over fat cat pay.

Hein Schumacher, who succeeded Alan Jope in July on 1.6million a year, will not be eligible for a pay rise in 2024 and 2025, the company behind brands including Marmite and Hellmanns said.

The Dutchman has sought to make his mark since taking the helm and last week said he would be toning down the companys woke agenda.

Unilever shares were up by 0.38 per cent to 3,794p in Tuesday morning trading.
He says he might have to close if delays continue this Christmas

Business owner Paul* estimates he has lost thousands in lost sales and refunds

With Christmas around the corner, small businesses are getting ready for what is one of the busiest times of the year.

It will be another tough festive season for a number of firms as consumers continue to cut back on spending and costs continue to rise.

So when it comes to festive season, the last thing owners need are delays and issues with post.

This is Money has revealed in recent months that households across the country are facing huge delays to their letters, often arriving in bundles weeks after they were sent.

Royal Mail delays are putting small businesses under pressure in the run-up to Christmas

But the delays are also putting small businesses under considerable pressure as they scramble to post products ahead of Christmas.

One business owner told This is Money that any further issues with undelivered packages and increasingly unhappy customers means this could be his last year trading.

'If delays continue I will have to close'

Paul* has been selling dreamcatchers from his home in Essex since 2015.

What started as his own website quickly snowballed into him selling through other platforms like eBay and Amazon. He usually makes around 80,000 a year.

Paul's products are made of plastic and feathers so he chooses to send them with Royal Mail rather than a courier company, because the cost would outweigh the price of the product.

However, incremental price hikes have started to cripple him.

'Back in 2016 we were paying 63p for a second class large letter under 100 grams. Today we are paying 1.32 for the same product which began the year at 1.17 and has increased three times so far this year.'

A recent report by watchdog Ofcom found that the area of lowest satisfaction with Royal Mail is the price of postage.

Just 51 per cent of the SMEs that use the service report they are satisfied, down from 54 per cent the previous year. Just over a quarter report dissatisfaction.

In comparison, 74 per cent of SMEs report they are satisfied with the price of postage from other delivery companies.

Paul stomached the price increases but when the strikes hit last year, he claims his business was thrown into disarray and has been unable to recover.

'We can dilute the price hikes into the item. The issue we're having is that Royal Mail isn't reliable.

'The delivery times since the strikes, when it's not peak season like we're approaching now have been fine. But I don't see posties on the round anymore.

'Our customers are not getting their products on time, causing them to complain and request refunds or replacements.'

An Ofcom survey found that SMEs are unhappy with Royal Mail's price of postage

When he sells through eBay and Amazon, Paul sends everything tracked but if they arrive after the expected date, he has to refund the price of the item.

He claims the delays have cost him thousands in loss of sales in the last 12 months, because of a combination of strikes, lost items and the cost of living crisis.

Paul claims that sales through eBay have never recovered from the strikes because customers are turning their back on retailers using Royal Mail.

He says his Amazon business is now stronger, selling around 30-40 items a day, because they deliver their own packages.

'My business hasn't recovered from the strikes because the customers have lost faith in anything that's got Royal Mail attached to it.

'I'm struggling this year because of it. We wait for Christmas every year, it's our boom.

'Two thirds of our turnover is done between October and January.

'When you add delays in that period to a business like mine it's crushing I'm doing deliveries for Deliveroo and Uber because of the situation.'

Customers have lost faith in anything that's got Royal Mail attached to it.

Fed up with the higher costs and lower sales, Paul looked into using other couriers but found they were too expensive.

The Ofcom report found that almost half of small and medium-sized businesses have moved from Royal Mail to other companies in the last year, up from 39 per cent the previous year.

Of those that had done so, 58 per cent said it was because the new method is quicker, 50 per cent said the change related to cost savings. A notable minority (17 per cent) pointed to the strikes.

Paul says if there are delays to his packages this Christmas he will have to close down the business.

One of Paul's biggest gripes with the current service is the minimal opening hours at his local depot.

He says it is open for just four hours a day, between 8-10am and 4-6pm. As with other retailers, Paul has a cut-off point for sending out parcels each day to ensure they are packaged and sent quickly.

Paul's cut-off point is midday, which means that he cannot post in the morning and when he tries before 6pm, the parcels are left until the next morning, causing further delays.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: 'Over 99 per cent of parcels are now successfully delivered to customers on the first or second delivery attempt. This is reducing the need for customers to collect parcels from CSPs.

'If a customer is unable to collect an item that we could not deliver, we have a range of free-of-charge options for customers who want to arrange for an item to be redelivered to their address or a local Post Office.

'To keep pace with the changing behaviour of our customers, and to ensure that resources are allocated to the most appropriate parts of our operation, we have amended the opening hours of some CSPs.

'Approximately half of CSP opening hours have remained at their current times. Although some CSPs are only open 08:00  10:00 on weekdays, all CSPs are open for four hours  08:00 - 12:00  every Saturday for those who are at work during the week.'

Is Royal Mail overlooking small businesses?

I'm a postman - morale is at an all-time low: What posties REALLY think of Royal Mail and why you're waiting weeks for post Last winter, the postal system ground to a halt following a bitter dispute between Royal Mail and the unions over jobs, pay and working conditions. Earlier this year, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) agreed to a three-year pay deal. However, postal workers have told This is Money that conditions have not improved - and it is having a knock-on effect on deliveries.

Paul claims that he had spoken with a local Royal Mail employee who empties postboxes to ask if there was an issue at the depot.

He had been waiting three weeks for a folder with his accounts from his accountants.

Paul was told there is a massive backlog in Loughton which would take until the end of January to clear.

The postal worker said Royal Mail is giving more attention to postboxes in anticipation of more people sending Christmas cards.

It comes just weeks after This Is Money's report into whether postal workers were being told to prioritise packages over letters, following significant delays.

Numerous posties, who say morale is at an 'all time low', told This is Money that they are often told to leave piles of letters in the depot in order to make sure packages are delivered on time.

Paul said: 'He told me businesses who drop off mail sacks aren't being processed so there'll be a massive delays in our products reaching the customers.

'He said take my advice and don't drop off any bags to the depots or post offices because they are being targeted as non-priority.

'He told me to post all my mail in the postboxes so it travels through the system faster. It is unbelievable.'

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: 'There is no prioritisation of any items of mail over others, all items are treated equally and processed accordingly.'

Has your small business been hit by postage-linked problems? Get in touch: editor@thisismoney.co.uk
Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR  Free Report) had its price objective increased by Citigroup from $136.00 to $154.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the real estate investment trusts stock.

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. KeyCorp began coverage on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. They set a sector weight rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded shares of Digital Realty Trust from a buy rating to a hold rating and raised their price objective for the company from $112.00 to $131.00 in a research report on Friday, August 25th. Scotiabank assumed coverage on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a research report on Friday, October 13th. They issued a sector perform rating and a $132.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $98.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, HSBC assumed coverage on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a research report on Friday, December 1st. They issued a reduce rating and a $112.00 price objective for the company. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Digital Realty Trust has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $122.40.

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Digital Realty Trust Price Performance

Digital Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

Shares of DLR opened at $134.75 on Friday. Digital Realty Trust has a fifty-two week low of $86.33 and a fifty-two week high of $139.35. The company has a market capitalization of $40.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.55. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $128.14 and a 200-day simple moving average of $121.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.11.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 19th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 15th will be paid a dividend of $1.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 14th. This represents a $4.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.62%. Digital Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 170.04%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of DLR. RB Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 6.8% during the 1st quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 3,003 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $426,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC purchased a new stake in Digital Realty Trust in the 1st quarter worth approximately $688,000. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in Digital Realty Trust by 31.2% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 20,511 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,909,000 after acquiring an additional 4,879 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. purchased a new stake in Digital Realty Trust in the 1st quarter worth approximately $424,000. Finally, Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. grew its stake in Digital Realty Trust by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 15,001 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,127,000 after acquiring an additional 390 shares during the period. 99.71% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Digital Realty Trust

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Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL, the company's global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data "meeting place" and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx) solution methodology for powering innovation and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges.

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By Asim Aliyev

Azerbaijan's representative office in NATO has honored the memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, Azernews reports, citing a tweet by Azerbaijan's representative in the Alliance Jafar Huseynzadeh on his official X account.

The Representation of the Azerbaijani Republic to NATO honored the most glowing memory of the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, who created the modern statehood and strong armed forces of Azerbaijan.
YANGON, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities have seized 9.09 kg of illegal drugs in the eastern state of Shan, according to the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) late Monday.

Acting on a tip-off, anti-narcotic police searched a vehicle in Hopong Township, Shan State on Dec. 10 and confiscated 9.09 kg of Happy Water and 100 g of Ketamine.

According to the investigations, those confiscated drugs were conveyed from Tachileik Township to Taunggyi Township.

The suspect was charged under the Southeast Asian country's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law.

The CCDAC is stepping up efforts to effectively inhibit the distribution of harmful methamphetamines to young people. 
Shares of FREYR Battery (NYSE:FREY  Get Free Report) have been given a consensus recommendation of Reduce by the five research firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $5.23.

A number of research analysts have weighed in on FREY shares. TD Cowen downgraded FREYR Battery from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $14.00 to $7.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. BTIG Research downgraded FREYR Battery from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, November 10th. Bank of America restated an underperform rating and issued a $1.90 price target (down previously from $13.00) on shares of FREYR Battery in a research note on Friday, November 10th. Finally, Morgan Stanley downgraded FREYR Battery from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their price target for the stock from $13.00 to $2.00 in a research note on Tuesday, November 14th.

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FREYR Battery Stock Performance

FREY stock opened at $1.87 on Tuesday. FREYR Battery has a fifty-two week low of $1.40 and a fifty-two week high of $11.83. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $2.90 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $5.76. The company has a market capitalization of $261.26 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -13.36 and a beta of 0.64.

FREYR Battery (NYSE:FREY  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The company reported ($0.07) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.40) by $0.33. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted ($0.20) EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that FREYR Battery will post -1.22 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of FREYR Battery

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FREY. Citigroup Inc. boosted its stake in FREYR Battery by 634.5% during the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 74,308 shares of the companys stock valued at $911,000 after purchasing an additional 64,191 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of FREYR Battery by 22.2% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 18,332 shares of the companys stock valued at $225,000 after buying an additional 3,332 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund bought a new position in shares of FREYR Battery during the 1st quarter valued at $1,103,000. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of FREYR Battery by 43.3% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 301,136 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,692,000 after buying an additional 91,041 shares during the period. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. bought a new position in shares of FREYR Battery during the 1st quarter valued at $180,000. 46.57% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

FREYR Battery Company Profile

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FREYR Battery engages in the production and sale of battery cells for energy storage system, electric mobility, marine, and aviation applications in Europe and internationally. The company designs and manufactures lithium-ion based battery cell facilities. FREYR Battery was founded in 2018 and is based in Luxembourg.

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Lundin Gold Inc. (TSE:LUG  Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the six ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is C$19.38.

Several research analysts recently commented on LUG shares. Royal Bank of Canada set a C$19.00 target price on shares of Lundin Gold and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, August 15th. Cormark increased their price target on shares of Lundin Gold from C$19.00 to C$20.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of Lundin Gold from C$21.00 to C$20.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 7th.

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Lundin Gold Stock Performance

Shares of LUG opened at C$15.80 on Tuesday. Lundin Gold has a 12 month low of C$11.79 and a 12 month high of C$19.42. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$16.17 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$16.28. The stock has a market capitalization of C$3.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.21 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a current ratio of 2.23, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 37.89.

Lundin Gold (TSE:LUG  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 8th. The company reported C$0.25 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.26 by C($0.01). Lundin Gold had a return on equity of 10.69% and a net margin of 10.85%. The business had revenue of C$283.31 million for the quarter. Research analysts forecast that Lundin Gold will post 1.369898 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Lundin Gold Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 22nd will be given a $0.275 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 6th. This is a positive change from Lundin Golds previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. This represents a $1.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.96%. Lundin Golds dividend payout ratio is presently 96.43%.

About Lundin Gold

(Get Free Report

Lundin Gold Inc operates as a mining company in Canada. The company holds interests in metallic mineral concessions and construction material concessions covering an area of approximately 64,454 hectares located in Southeast Ecuador. It primary holds 100% interests in the Fruta del Norte gold project that comprising concessions covering an area of approximately 5,566 hectares located near the city of Loja in Ecuador.

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Taylor Wimpey plc (LON:TW  Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of Hold from the eight analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 123 ($1.54).

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Taylor Wimpey from GBX 94 ($1.18) to GBX 96 ($1.21) and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, November 10th.

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Taylor Wimpey Stock Up 0.1 %

About Taylor Wimpey

Shares of TW opened at GBX 137.70 ($1.73) on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 118.22 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 114.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.51, a current ratio of 5.04 and a quick ratio of 0.71. The firm has a market capitalization of 4.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 859.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.99 and a beta of 1.77.

(Get Free Report

Taylor Wimpey plc operates a residential developer in the United Kingdom and Spain. It builds and delivers various homes and communities. Taylor Wimpey plc was incorporated in 1935 and is based in High Wycombe, the United Kingdom.

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Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of Hold from the eighteen ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $63.59.

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on BMY shares. TD Cowen dropped their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $80.00 to $66.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 15th. Cantor Fitzgerald lowered shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $68.00 to $55.00 in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $81.00 to $69.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 30th. Truist Financial reissued a buy rating and issued a $84.00 target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Finally, TheStreet lowered Bristol-Myers Squibb from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Thursday, November 9th.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on BMY

Insider Activity at Bristol-Myers Squibb

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, Director Theodore R. Samuels II acquired 8,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, November 20th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $49.81 per share, for a total transaction of $423,385.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 35,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,768,255. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . In related news, Director Theodore R. Samuels II acquired 8,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, November 20th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $49.81 per share, for a total transaction of $423,385.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 35,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,768,255. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, CEO Christopher S. Boerner purchased 2,000 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 5th. The shares were bought at an average price of $49.78 per share, for a total transaction of $99,560.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 82,672 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,115,412.16. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Insiders have acquired a total of 13,571 shares of company stock worth $672,994 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Northwest Capital Management Inc purchased a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the second quarter worth $26,000. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Milestone Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the second quarter valued at $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.98% of the companys stock.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Up 1.6 %

Shares of NYSE BMY opened at $51.09 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. The company has a market cap of $103.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 0.34. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 52 week low of $48.25 and a 52 week high of $79.36. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $52.61 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $58.89.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 26th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.00 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.76 by $0.24. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 18.44% and a return on equity of 51.59%. The company had revenue of $10.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.96 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.99 earnings per share. Bristol-Myers Squibbs revenue for the quarter was down 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.60 per share. This is a positive change from Bristol-Myers Squibbs previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.70%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 4th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is currently 57.87%.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

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Hippo (NYSE:HIPO  Get Free Report) and Universal Insurance (NYSE:UVE  Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, earnings, valuation, profitability, analyst recommendations and dividends.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

30.9% of Hippo shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 66.4% of Universal Insurance shares are held by institutional investors. 11.3% of Hippo shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 17.7% of Universal Insurance shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Risk and Volatility

Hippo has a beta of 1.2, meaning that its share price is 20% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Universal Insurance has a beta of 0.8, meaning that its share price is 20% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Hippo 0 2 2 0 2.50 Universal Insurance 0 0 1 0 3.00

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Hippo and Universal Insurance, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Hippo presently has a consensus price target of $17.33, indicating a potential upside of 93.67%. Universal Insurance has a consensus price target of $21.00, indicating a potential upside of 28.21%. Given Hippos higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Hippo is more favorable than Universal Insurance.

Profitability

This table compares Hippo and Universal Insurances net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Hippo -162.32% -58.91% -18.08% Universal Insurance 5.34% 21.95% 2.50%

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Hippo and Universal Insurances top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Hippo $119.70 million 1.79 -$333.40 million ($12.60) -0.71 Universal Insurance $1.22 billion 0.39 -$22.26 million $2.34 7.00

Universal Insurance has higher revenue and earnings than Hippo. Hippo is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Universal Insurance, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Universal Insurance beats Hippo on 9 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Hippo

(Get Free Report)

Hippo Holdings Inc. provides home protection insurance in the United States and the District of Columbia. Its insurance products include homeowners' insurance against risks of fire, wind, and theft; and personal and commercial insurance products. The company distributes insurance products and services through its technology platform; and offers its policies online, over the phone, or through licensed insurance agents. It provides care and protection for homeowners, as well as operates an integrated home protection platform. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

About Universal Insurance

(Get Free Report)

Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated insurance holding company in the United States. It develops, markets, and underwrites insurance products for personal residential insurance, such as homeowners, renters/tenants, condo unit owners, and dwelling/fire; and offers allied lines, coverage for other structures, and personal property, liability, and personal articles coverages. The company also advises on actuarial issues, oversees distribution, administers claims payments, performs policy administration and underwriting, and assists with reinsurance negotiations; places and manages reinsurance programs for the insurance entities; and operates Clovered.com, a digital agency for carrier partners and utilization of digital applications for adjusting claims. It offers its products through a network of independent agents, as well as direct-to-consumer online solutions, including digital insurance agency. The company was formerly known as Universal Heights, Inc. and changed its name to Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. in January 2001. Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 1990 and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH  Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Monday, October 30th, Zacks reports. Investors of record on Friday, December 15th will be given a dividend of 0.22 per share by the real estate investment trust on Friday, December 29th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 14th.

American Homes 4 Rent has raised its dividend by an average of 53.3% annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 3 years. American Homes 4 Rent has a payout ratio of 149.2% indicating that the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Equities research analysts expect American Homes 4 Rent to earn $1.77 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.88 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 49.7%.

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American Homes 4 Rent Price Performance

Shares of AMH stock opened at $35.20 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.47 and a quick ratio of 0.47. The firms 50-day moving average is $34.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $35.25. American Homes 4 Rent has a 12 month low of $28.78 and a 12 month high of $37.97. The company has a market capitalization of $12.74 billion, a PE ratio of 33.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.72.

Insider Buying and Selling at American Homes 4 Rent

Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Homes 4 Rent

In other news, Director Jack E. Corrigan sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.60, for a total value of $915,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 103,789 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,798,677.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . In related news, Director James H. Kropp sold 6,852 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.47, for a total value of $249,892.44. Following the transaction, the director now owns 29,202 shares in the company, valued at $1,064,996.94. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . Also, Director Jack E. Corrigan sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.60, for a total value of $915,000.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 103,789 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,798,677.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 39,959 shares of company stock valued at $1,459,825. 6.32% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new position in American Homes 4 Rent during the first quarter worth $33,000. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of American Homes 4 Rent in the second quarter valued at $41,000. Providence Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of American Homes 4 Rent by 3,038.9% in the first quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,260 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $71,000 after buying an additional 2,188 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. increased its position in American Homes 4 Rent by 37.5% in the third quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,319 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $78,000 after purchasing an additional 632 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd increased its position in American Homes 4 Rent by 10,152.4% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,153 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $86,000 after purchasing an additional 2,132 shares during the period. 83.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Raymond James increased their target price on shares of American Homes 4 Rent from $36.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, August 28th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of American Homes 4 Rent from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday. Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on shares of American Homes 4 Rent from $38.00 to $36.00 in a research report on Monday, October 9th. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of American Homes 4 Rent in a research report on Friday, September 29th. They issued a neutral rating and a $35.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of American Homes 4 Rent from $34.50 to $37.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, September 1st. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $36.67.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on American Homes 4 Rent

About American Homes 4 Rent

(Get Free Report)

American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH), which does business as AMH, is a leading owner, operator and developer of single-family rental homes. We're an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on acquiring, developing, renovating, leasing and managing homes as rental properties.

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Chesapeake Utilities Co. (NYSE:CPK  Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Thursday, November 2nd, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 15th will be paid a dividend of 0.59 per share by the utilities provider on Friday, January 5th. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 14th.

Chesapeake Utilities has increased its dividend payment by an average of 9.6% annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 20 consecutive years. Chesapeake Utilities has a dividend payout ratio of 42.9% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect Chesapeake Utilities to earn $5.57 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $2.36 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 42.4%.

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Chesapeake Utilities Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CPK opened at $100.98 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. Chesapeake Utilities has a 12 month low of $83.79 and a 12 month high of $132.91. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $92.89 and a 200-day moving average of $108.27. The company has a market capitalization of $1.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.44 and a beta of 0.61.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Chesapeake Utilities ( NYSE:CPK Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The utilities provider reported $0.69 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.60 by $0.09. Chesapeake Utilities had a return on equity of 10.62% and a net margin of 13.09%. The company had revenue of $131.55 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $128.10 million. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Chesapeake Utilities will post 5.18 EPS for the current year.

Several brokerages have recently commented on CPK. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Chesapeake Utilities from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $115.00 to $100.00 in a research note on Monday, October 16th. TheStreet downgraded Chesapeake Utilities from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on Chesapeake Utilities from $124.00 to $117.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. StockNews.com downgraded Chesapeake Utilities from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Finally, Guggenheim reduced their price target on Chesapeake Utilities from $112.00 to $99.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Chesapeake Utilities presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $104.00.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Chesapeake Utilities

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chesapeake Utilities

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Ethic Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Chesapeake Utilities during the 1st quarter worth $280,000. Creative Planning lifted its holdings in shares of Chesapeake Utilities by 32.0% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 2,820 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $276,000 after acquiring an additional 683 shares during the last quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Chesapeake Utilities by 9.0% in the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,116 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $271,000 after purchasing an additional 174 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Middle East FZE grew its holdings in shares of Chesapeake Utilities by 230.5% during the 2nd quarter. Point72 Middle East FZE now owns 2,082 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $248,000 after purchasing an additional 1,452 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new position in Chesapeake Utilities during the 1st quarter worth approximately $244,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.80% of the companys stock.

Chesapeake Utilities Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation operates as an energy delivery company. The company operates through two segments, Regulated Energy and Unregulated Energy. The Regulated Energy segment natural gas distribution operations in central and southern Delaware, Maryland's eastern shore, and Florida; regulated natural gas transmission in the Delmarva Peninsula, Ohio, and Florida; and regulated electric distribution in northeast and northwest Florida.

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Segra Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:UEC  Free Report) by 27.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,512,035 shares of the basic materials companys stock after buying an additional 1,825,116 shares during the period. Uranium Energy comprises approximately 16.9% of Segra Capital Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest position. Segra Capital Management LLC owned about 2.25% of Uranium Energy worth $28,941,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UEC. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Uranium Energy by 24.8% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 208,719 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $958,000 after purchasing an additional 41,471 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Uranium Energy during the first quarter worth about $47,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Uranium Energy by 6.8% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 800,581 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $3,675,000 after purchasing an additional 50,810 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Uranium Energy by 25.6% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 218,733 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,005,000 after purchasing an additional 44,536 shares during the period. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Uranium Energy by 38.3% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 122,621 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $563,000 after purchasing an additional 33,941 shares during the period. 49.03% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Uranium Energy Stock Up 0.7 %

NYSEAMERICAN:UEC opened at $6.79 on Tuesday. Uranium Energy Corp. has a 12 month low of $2.30 and a 12 month high of $6.80. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $4.07.

Insider Transactions at Uranium Energy

Analyst Ratings Changes

In other news, CFO Pat Obara sold 37,755 shares of Uranium Energy stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.05, for a total transaction of $228,417.75. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 792,877 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,796,905.85. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . Corporate insiders own 2.90% of the companys stock.

UEC has been the subject of several research analyst reports. TD Securities initiated coverage on shares of Uranium Energy in a report on Wednesday, September 13th. They issued a speculative buy rating and a $6.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com raised shares of Uranium Energy to a sell rating in a research report on Sunday, October 8th. HC Wainwright raised their price target on shares of Uranium Energy from $8.00 to $8.25 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 14th. TD Cowen initiated coverage on shares of Uranium Energy in a research report on Wednesday, September 13th. They issued a speculative buy rating and a $6.00 target price for the company. Finally, Roth Mkm lifted their target price on shares of Uranium Energy from $6.00 to $6.75 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $6.75.

View Our Latest Analysis on Uranium Energy

Uranium Energy Profile

(Free Report)

Uranium Energy Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in exploration, pre-extraction, extraction, and processing uranium and titanium concentrates in the United States, Canada, and Paraguay. It owns interests in the Palangana mine, Goliad, Burke Hollow, Longhorn, and Salvo projects located in Texas; Anderson, Workman Creek, and Los Cuatros projects situated in Arizona; Dalton Pass and C de Baca project located in New Mexico; Roughrider, Shea Creek, Christie Lake, Horseshoe-Raven, Hidden Bay, Diabase, West Bear, JCU, and other project located in Canada; and Yuty, Oviedo, and Alto Parana titanium projects in Paraguay.

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Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC grew its holdings in shares of The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE:AZEK  Free Report) by 1.3% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,833,221 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 23,212 shares during the quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC owned about 1.21% of AZEK worth $55,528,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in AZEK by 35.2% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 11,990 shares of the companys stock worth $299,000 after acquiring an additional 3,124 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors L.P. bought a new position in AZEK in the 1st quarter worth $1,468,000. Bank of Montreal Can raised its holdings in AZEK by 155.0% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 22,887 shares of the companys stock worth $602,000 after acquiring an additional 13,910 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC bought a new position in AZEK in the 1st quarter worth $124,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in AZEK by 113.5% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 724,014 shares of the companys stock worth $17,989,000 after acquiring an additional 384,936 shares during the period.

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Insider Buying and Selling at AZEK

In other news, CEO Jesse G. Singh sold 13,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.49, for a total value of $370,370.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,226,824 shares of the companys stock, valued at $34,952,215.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 3.10% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on AZEK. Stephens restated an overweight rating and set a $40.00 price objective on shares of AZEK in a report on Thursday, October 12th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of AZEK from $37.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, November 30th. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of AZEK from $41.00 to $37.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 12th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on shares of AZEK from $36.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $35.00 target price on shares of AZEK in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $35.89.

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AZEK Stock Up 0.1 %

AZEK stock opened at $34.72 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.13 billion, a PE ratio of 77.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.86. The AZEK Company Inc. has a twelve month low of $19.45 and a twelve month high of $35.39. The company has a quick ratio of 1.85, a current ratio of 2.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The company has a 50 day moving average of $29.36 and a 200-day moving average of $29.78.

AZEK (NYSE:AZEK  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 28th. The company reported $0.36 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.29 by $0.07. AZEK had a net margin of 4.96% and a return on equity of 7.60%. The company had revenue of $388.81 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $368.68 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.15 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 27.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that The AZEK Company Inc. will post 0.87 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About AZEK

(Free Report)

The AZEK Company Inc engages in manufacturing and selling of building products for residential, commercial, and industrial markets in the United States. It operates through two segments: Residential and Commercial. The Residential segment designs and manufactures engineered outdoor living products, such as decking, railing, trim and molding, siding and cladding, pergolas and cabanas, and accessories under the TimberTech, AZEK Exteriors, VERSATEX, ULTRALOX, StruXure, and INTEX brands.

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US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE:USFD  Get Free Report) Director Scott D. Ferguson sold 3,000,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.87, for a total transaction of $131,610,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 15,932,877 shares in the company, valued at approximately $698,975,313.99. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.

US Foods Stock Performance

Shares of USFD stock opened at $44.75 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $40.55 and its 200-day moving average price is $41.19. US Foods Holding Corp. has a 12 month low of $33.68 and a 12 month high of $45.15. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.03, a PEG ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.50.

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US Foods (NYSE:USFD  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The company reported $0.65 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.65. The firm had revenue of $9.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.12 billion. US Foods had a net margin of 1.28% and a return on equity of 13.55%. Equities research analysts forecast that US Foods Holding Corp. will post 2.49 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

USFD has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on US Foods in a research note on Thursday, October 19th. They set a buy rating and a $50.00 price objective on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of US Foods from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, November 17th. StockNews.com lowered shares of US Foods from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Barclays decreased their price target on US Foods from $51.00 to $44.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their target price on US Foods from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, US Foods has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $49.70.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on USFD

Institutional Investors Weigh In On US Foods

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in USFD. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in US Foods by 8.2% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 19,510,948 shares of the companys stock worth $858,482,000 after buying an additional 1,484,983 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of US Foods by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 18,841,409 shares of the companys stock valued at $709,002,000 after purchasing an additional 167,929 shares during the period. Boston Partners grew its stake in US Foods by 1.4% during the third quarter. Boston Partners now owns 18,313,484 shares of the companys stock worth $726,684,000 after purchasing an additional 257,503 shares during the period. Longview Partners Guernsey LTD increased its holdings in US Foods by 3.2% in the first quarter. Longview Partners Guernsey LTD now owns 8,485,979 shares of the companys stock worth $313,472,000 after purchasing an additional 265,350 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp increased its holdings in US Foods by 6.6% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,136,851 shares of the companys stock worth $270,021,000 after purchasing an additional 380,446 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.69% of the companys stock.

US Foods Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

US Foods Holding Corp., through its subsidiary, engages in marketing, sale, and distribution of fresh, frozen, and dry food and non-food products to foodservice customers in the United States. The company's customers include independently owned single and multi-unit restaurants, regional concepts, national restaurant chains, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels and motels, country clubs, government and military organizations, colleges and universities, and retail locations.

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Agree Realty Co. (NYSE:ADC  Get Free Report) CEO Joey Agree purchased 1,350 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 11th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $58.47 per share, with a total value of $78,934.50. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 554,603 shares in the company, valued at $32,427,637.41. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

Joey Agree also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, October 2nd, Joey Agree purchased 4,000 shares of Agree Realty stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of $53.84 per share, with a total value of $215,360.00.

On Tuesday, September 26th, Joey Agree purchased 10,000 shares of Agree Realty stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of $56.10 per share, with a total value of $561,000.00.

Agree Realty Trading Up 0.2 %

NYSE ADC opened at $59.44 on Tuesday. Agree Realty Co. has a 12 month low of $52.69 and a 12 month high of $75.71. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $56.96 and a 200-day moving average of $61.01. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The company has a market cap of $5.97 billion, a PE ratio of 34.67, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.53.

Agree Realty Announces Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, November 30th will be paid a $0.247 dividend. This represents a $2.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.99%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 29th. Agree Realtys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 173.10%.

ADC has been the subject of several research analyst reports. StockNews.com upgraded Agree Realty from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, October 13th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on Agree Realty in a research report on Wednesday, September 20th. They issued an overweight rating and a $70.00 price objective for the company. Mizuho lowered Agree Realty from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $67.00 to $61.00 in a research report on Monday. Citigroup decreased their price objective on Agree Realty from $75.00 to $64.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on Agree Realty from $74.00 to $63.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $69.69.

View Our Latest Analysis on ADC

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Agree Realty

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Citigroup Inc. increased its position in Agree Realty by 42.6% during the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 94,514 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $5,221,000 after buying an additional 28,253 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in Agree Realty by 26.5% during the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 723,274 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $39,954,000 after buying an additional 151,711 shares during the period. Graham Capital Management L.P. bought a new position in Agree Realty during the 3rd quarter worth $201,000. Employees Retirement System of Texas increased its position in Agree Realty by 68.7% during the 3rd quarter. Employees Retirement System of Texas now owns 78,550 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $4,339,000 after buying an additional 32,000 shares during the period. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its position in Agree Realty by 7.0% during the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 175,846 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $9,714,000 after buying an additional 11,508 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 97.83% of the companys stock.

Agree Realty Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Agree Realty Corporation is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that is RETHINKING RETAIL through the acquisition and development of properties net leased to industry-leading, omni-channel retail tenants. As of September 30, 2023, the Company owned and operated a portfolio of 2,084 properties, located in 49 states and containing approximately 43.2 million square feet of gross leasable area.

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Prentice Capital Management LP lessened its holdings in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH  Free Report) by 24.2% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 108,128 shares of the companys stock after selling 34,609 shares during the period. Norwegian Cruise Line accounts for approximately 7.5% of Prentice Capital Management LPs holdings, making the stock its 4th biggest position. Prentice Capital Management LPs holdings in Norwegian Cruise Line were worth $2,354,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of NCLH. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 14.8% during the 2nd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 728,445 shares of the companys stock worth $15,858,000 after purchasing an additional 94,139 shares during the period. Seven Eight Capital LP increased its position in Norwegian Cruise Line by 100.3% in the second quarter. Seven Eight Capital LP now owns 305,332 shares of the companys stock worth $6,647,000 after buying an additional 152,861 shares during the period. Holocene Advisors LP bought a new stake in Norwegian Cruise Line in the second quarter valued at $4,180,000. Bayesian Capital Management LP increased its holdings in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 170.7% in the 2nd quarter. Bayesian Capital Management LP now owns 57,000 shares of the companys stock worth $1,241,000 after acquiring an additional 35,943 shares during the period. Finally, NinePointTwo Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line in the second quarter valued at approximately $350,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.49% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Citigroup lowered their target price on Norwegian Cruise Line from $20.00 to $16.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 17th. StockNews.com cut shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. Susquehanna decreased their target price on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $17.00 to $14.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 2nd. Redburn Partners raised shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $25.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $20.00 to $14.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 2nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $18.04.

Norwegian Cruise Line Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE NCLH traded down $0.13 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $18.29. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,724,190 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,296,085. The company has a quick ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 28.80. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $14.92 and a 200 day moving average price of $17.30. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. has a one year low of $11.76 and a one year high of $22.75.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 1st. The company reported $0.76 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.61 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $2.54 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.53 billion. Norwegian Cruise Line had a negative return on equity of 177.38% and a negative net margin of 2.60%. Norwegian Cruise Lines revenue was up 57.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted ($0.70) earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. will post 0.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Norwegian Cruise Line Profile

(Free Report)

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a cruise company in North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. It offers itineraries ranging from three days to a 180-days calling on various locations, including destinations in Scandinavia, Russia, the Mediterranean, the Greek Isles, Alaska, Canada and New England, Hawaii, Asia, Tahiti and the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Africa, India, South America, the Panama Canal, and the Caribbean.

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Prana Capital Management LP raised its stake in Lennar Co. (NYSE:LEN  Free Report) by 273.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 211,524 shares of the construction companys stock after purchasing an additional 154,852 shares during the period. Lennar accounts for 1.8% of Prana Capital Management LPs holdings, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Prana Capital Management LP owned 0.07% of Lennar worth $26,506,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. grew its position in Lennar by 680.7% during the second quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 68,598 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $8,596,000 after buying an additional 59,811 shares during the period. Seven Eight Capital LP purchased a new stake in shares of Lennar during the second quarter worth $2,180,000. Holocene Advisors LP bought a new stake in Lennar during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,046,000. Hook Mill Capital Partners LP bought a new stake in Lennar during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $82,000. Finally, Investment Management Corp of Ontario bought a new stake in Lennar during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $2,443,000. 79.87% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Lennar

In related news, Director Amy Banse bought 920 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 13th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $108.71 per share, with a total value of $100,013.20. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,038 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,091,230.98. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, EVP Jeffrey Joseph Mccall sold 1,157 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, October 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.01, for a total value of $121,496.57. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 131,386 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,796,843.86. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Amy Banse bought 920 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 13th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $108.71 per share, for a total transaction of $100,013.20. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 10,038 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,091,230.98. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have sold 20,000 shares of company stock worth $2,350,896 over the last three months. Insiders own 9.53% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently commented on LEN shares. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Lennar in a report on Monday, November 27th. They set a hold rating and a $117.00 price objective for the company. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on Lennar from $161.00 to $164.00 in a research note on Monday, September 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Lennar from $136.00 to $135.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 20th. JMP Securities increased their price objective on Lennar from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, September 19th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on Lennar from $150.00 to $159.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, September 18th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Lennar has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $132.89.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Lennar

Lennar Trading Up 0.1 %

LEN traded up $0.16 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $139.80. 199,688 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,137,356. The company has a quick ratio of 1.18, a current ratio of 6.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.75 billion, a PE ratio of 10.35, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.52. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $118.62 and a 200 day moving average price of $119.41. Lennar Co. has a 52-week low of $87.35 and a 52-week high of $140.41.

Lennar (NYSE:LEN  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, September 15th. The construction company reported $3.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.52 by $0.39. Lennar had a return on equity of 16.22% and a net margin of 11.66%. The firm had revenue of $8.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.49 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $5.18 earnings per share. Lennars quarterly revenue was down 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Lennar Co. will post 13.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Lennar Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 26th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 12th were paid a dividend of $0.375 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, October 11th. This represents a $1.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.07%. Lennars payout ratio is 11.12%.

Lennar Company Profile

(Free Report)

Lennar Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a homebuilder primarily under the Lennar brand in the United States. It operates through Homebuilding East, Homebuilding Central, Homebuilding Texas, Homebuilding West, Financial Services, Multifamily, and Lennar Other segments. The company's homebuilding operations include the construction and sale of single-family attached and detached homes, as well as the purchase, development, and sale of residential land; and development, construction, and management of multifamily rental properties.

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Soros Capital Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 27,294 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 145 shares during the period. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing comprises approximately 1.5% of Soros Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest position. Soros Capital Management LLCs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $2,755,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Nemes Rush Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. MBM Wealth Consultants LLC bought a new position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC lifted its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 334.8% in the 2nd quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 287 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 221 shares during the last quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in the second quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Chilton Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in the first quarter valued at $34,000. 16.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday. Barclays assumed coverage on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Monday, October 23rd. They issued an overweight rating and a $105.00 price objective for the company. Susquehanna decreased their price objective on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $135.00 to $130.00 in a report on Monday, October 9th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and issued a $115.00 price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Friday, October 20th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $116.67.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Price Performance

TSM stock opened at $100.94 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $523.52 billion, a PE ratio of 18.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 1.05. The companys 50-day moving average is $93.59 and its 200-day moving average is $95.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 2.15 and a quick ratio of 1.88. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited has a 1 year low of $72.84 and a 1 year high of $110.69.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 19th. The semiconductor company reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $17.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.90 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 41.42% and a return on equity of 28.28%. The businesss revenue was down 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.79 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited will post 4.97 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 19th will be given a dividend of $0.5415 per share. This represents a $2.17 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 18th. This is a boost from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is 26.44%.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Profile

(Free Report)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides complementary metal oxide silicon wafer fabrication processes to manufacture logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, and embedded memory semiconductors.

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Resonate Capital LLC reduced its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 75.8% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 7,360 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 23,069 shares during the period. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing comprises approximately 4.8% of Resonate Capital LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest holding. Resonate Capital LLCs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $743,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 30.0% in the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 1,381,845 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $144,071,000 after buying an additional 318,570 shares during the period. Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 29.2% in the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 597 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $62,000 after buying an additional 135 shares during the period. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. raised its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 40.1% in the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 12,700 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,324,000 after purchasing an additional 3,638 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 17.3% in the 1st quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 2,350 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $245,000 after purchasing an additional 346 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ergoteles LLC raised its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 138.6% in the 1st quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 45,497 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $4,744,000 after purchasing an additional 26,426 shares in the last quarter. 16.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently commented on TSM. Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and issued a $115.00 price target on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Friday, October 20th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday. Barclays began coverage on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. They set an overweight rating and a $105.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Susquehanna reduced their price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $135.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $116.67.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Up 0.6 %

NYSE:TSM opened at $100.94 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $523.52 billion, a PE ratio of 18.15, a P/E/G ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 1.05. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited has a twelve month low of $72.84 and a twelve month high of $110.69. The company has a current ratio of 2.15, a quick ratio of 1.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The companys 50 day moving average is $93.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is $95.62.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The semiconductor company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.16 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $17.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.90 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 41.42% and a return on equity of 28.28%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings revenue was down 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.79 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited will post 4.97 EPS for the current year.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 19th will be issued a $0.5415 dividend. This is an increase from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. This represents a $2.17 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 18th. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is 26.44%.

About Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

(Free Report)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides complementary metal oxide silicon wafer fabrication processes to manufacture logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, and embedded memory semiconductors.

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Resonate Capital LLC reduced its stake in shares of Smartsheet Inc (NYSE:SMAR  Free Report) by 83.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 9,392 shares of the companys stock after selling 48,547 shares during the quarter. Smartsheet comprises about 2.3% of Resonate Capital LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Resonate Capital LLCs holdings in Smartsheet were worth $359,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC bought a new stake in shares of Smartsheet during the second quarter valued at approximately $712,000. BROOKFIELD Corp ON grew its stake in shares of Smartsheet by 19.5% during the second quarter. BROOKFIELD Corp ON now owns 89,656 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,430,000 after purchasing an additional 14,619 shares during the last quarter. Brown Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Smartsheet by 5.7% during the second quarter. Brown Capital Management LLC now owns 6,364,160 shares of the companys stock valued at $243,493,000 after purchasing an additional 344,040 shares during the last quarter. BloombergSen Inc. grew its stake in shares of Smartsheet by 20.6% during the second quarter. BloombergSen Inc. now owns 12,020 shares of the companys stock valued at $460,000 after purchasing an additional 2,050 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bridgefront Capital LLC bought a new position in Smartsheet in the second quarter valued at approximately $267,000. 88.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and issued a $43.00 price objective on shares of Smartsheet in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Smartsheet from $45.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, September 8th. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Smartsheet from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, September 8th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of Smartsheet from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, DA Davidson reissued a buy rating on shares of Smartsheet in a research report on Wednesday, December 6th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Smartsheet presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $53.13.

Smartsheet Stock Performance

Smartsheet stock opened at $45.17 on Tuesday. The companys 50-day moving average is $41.53 and its 200-day moving average is $41.52. Smartsheet Inc has a fifty-two week low of $34.78 and a fifty-two week high of $52.81.

Smartsheet (NYSE:SMAR  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 7th. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.09 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $245.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $241.36 million. Smartsheet had a negative net margin of 15.15% and a negative return on equity of 24.43%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 23.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted ($0.30) EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Smartsheet Inc will post -1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Smartsheet

In other Smartsheet news, CEO Mark Patrick Mader sold 21,120 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.31, for a total value of $830,227.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 579,826 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,792,960.06. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, insider Jolene Lau Marshall sold 2,102 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.66, for a total value of $87,569.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 14,848 shares in the company, valued at approximately $618,567.68. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Mark Patrick Mader sold 21,120 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.31, for a total transaction of $830,227.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 579,826 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,792,960.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 71,815 shares of company stock valued at $2,858,415 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 4.71% of the companys stock.

Smartsheet Profile

(Free Report)

Smartsheet, Inc engages in managing and automating collaborative work. Its platform provides solutions that eliminate the obstacles to capturing information, including a familiar and intuitive spreadsheet interface as well as easily customizable forms. The company was founded by W. Eric Browne, Maria Colacurcio, John D.

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Royal Bank of Canada lessened its holdings in EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Free Report) by 6.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 10,617,815 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after selling 702,664 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada owned approximately 1.82% of EOG Resources worth $1,215,102,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of EOG. CENTRAL TRUST Co increased its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 9,118 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,019,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. White Pine Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. White Pine Capital LLC now owns 3,942 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $511,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Inscription Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Inscription Capital LLC now owns 9,961 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,140,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 4.0% in the 2nd quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 2,275 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $260,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Guinness Atkinson Asset Management Inc increased its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. Guinness Atkinson Asset Management Inc now owns 3,746 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $429,000 after acquiring an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.21% of the companys stock.

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EOG Resources Stock Performance

Shares of EOG opened at $119.20 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $125.32 and a 200 day moving average price of $123.60. The company has a quick ratio of 2.10, a current ratio of 2.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The company has a market capitalization of $69.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 1.44. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 52-week low of $98.52 and a 52-week high of $137.95.

EOG Resources Increases Dividend

EOG Resources ( NYSE:EOG Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The energy exploration company reported $3.44 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.95 by $0.49. EOG Resources had a return on equity of 26.80% and a net margin of 32.11%. The company had revenue of $6.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.91 billion. Research analysts predict that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 12.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 17th will be paid a $0.91 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 16th. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.05%. This is a boost from EOG Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. EOG Resourcess payout ratio is currently 24.52%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

EOG has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Mizuho cut their target price on EOG Resources from $158.00 to $150.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. Bank of America raised their price objective on EOG Resources from $143.00 to $147.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on EOG Resources from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, August 28th. Citigroup downgraded EOG Resources from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $144.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Monday, October 23rd. Finally, Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. downgraded EOG Resources from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, August 24th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, EOG Resources presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $147.05.

Check Out Our Latest Report on EOG Resources

EOG Resources Profile

(Free Report)

EOG Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, and natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its principal producing areas are in New Mexico and Texas in the United States; and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The company was formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Company.

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Private Portfolio Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSEARCA:GDX  Free Report) by 5.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 19,252 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 1,032 shares during the quarter. Private Portfolio Partners LLCs holdings in VanEck Gold Miners ETF were worth $580,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in GDX. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 47.1% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 11,715,047 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $378,982,000 after purchasing an additional 3,748,454 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its position in shares of VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 341,240.3% during the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,560,433 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $179,880,000 after acquiring an additional 5,558,804 shares in the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank lifted its stake in VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 130.6% during the first quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 4,033,729 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $130,465,000 after purchasing an additional 2,284,646 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 15.3% in the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 3,011,988 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $90,691,000 after purchasing an additional 399,973 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Twin Tree Management LP raised its holdings in shares of VanEck Gold Miners ETF by 33.0% during the 2nd quarter. Twin Tree Management LP now owns 2,698,874 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $81,263,000 after buying an additional 670,102 shares in the last quarter.

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VanEck Gold Miners ETF Stock Performance

Shares of GDX traded down $0.26 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $29.29. The company had a trading volume of 2,763,247 shares, compared to its average volume of 21,821,908. VanEck Gold Miners ETF has a 1-year low of $25.62 and a 1-year high of $36.26. The company has a market capitalization of $11.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.72 and a beta of 0.77. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $28.87 and its 200 day simple moving average is $29.46.

About VanEck Gold Miners ETF

The Fund seeks to match as closely as possible the price and yield performance of the AMEX Gold Miners Index. The Fund, utilizing a passive or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the Index by investing in a portfolio of stocks that generally replicate the Index.

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Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $174.89 and last traded at $174.54, with a volume of 201940 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $173.38.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on WM shares. Scotiabank cut their price target on Waste Management from $177.50 to $165.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Waste Management in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Waste Management in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. They set a peer perform rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Waste Management in a research note on Monday, November 27th. They set an equal weight rating and a $175.00 price objective for the company. Finally, UBS Group raised Waste Management from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $170.00 to $190.00 in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $179.43.

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Get Our Latest Analysis on WM

Waste Management Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $70.36 billion, a PE ratio of 30.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $165.63 and a 200 day moving average price of $163.62. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.17.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 24th. The business services provider reported $1.63 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.61 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $5.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.27 billion. Waste Management had a return on equity of 34.14% and a net margin of 11.47%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.56 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Waste Management, Inc. will post 5.98 earnings per share for the current year.

Waste Management Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be issued a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.60%. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio is currently 49.56%.

Insider Activity at Waste Management

In other Waste Management news, CEO James C. Fish, Jr. sold 4,167 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $172.00, for a total transaction of $716,724.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 177,321 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,499,212. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Tara J. Hemmer sold 10,048 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.19, for a total value of $1,720,117.12. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 49,099 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,405,257.81. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO James C. Fish, Jr. sold 4,167 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $172.00, for a total value of $716,724.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 177,321 shares in the company, valued at $30,499,212. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 33,886 shares of company stock worth $5,797,964 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Waste Management

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Spirit of America Management Corp NY purchased a new stake in Waste Management during the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Waste Management during the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO purchased a new stake in Waste Management during the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in Waste Management during the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Beacon Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Waste Management by 179.4% during the 2nd quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 190 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. 78.34% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Waste Management

(Get Free Report)

Waste Management, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of environmental solutions to residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in the United States and Canada. It offers collection services, including picking up and transporting waste and recyclable materials from where it was generated to a transfer station, material recovery facility (MRF), or disposal site; and owns and operates transfer stations, as well as owns, develops, and operates landfill facilities that produce landfill gas used as renewable natural gas for generating electricity.

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Point72 Europe London LLP reduced its stake in shares of The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK  Free Report) by 35.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 285,561 shares of the banks stock after selling 155,039 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon makes up approximately 1.7% of Point72 Europe London LLPs holdings, making the stock its 18th biggest holding. Point72 Europe London LLPs holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $12,713,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. RBF Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 9.1% in the second quarter. RBF Capital LLC now owns 120,000 shares of the banks stock valued at $5,342,000 after purchasing an additional 10,000 shares during the last quarter. Rodgers Brothers Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 7.2% in the second quarter. Rodgers Brothers Inc. now owns 35,245 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,569,000 after purchasing an additional 2,368 shares during the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the second quarter valued at approximately $761,000. Stifel Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 4.0% in the second quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 444,971 shares of the banks stock valued at $19,810,000 after purchasing an additional 17,160 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hilltop Holdings Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the second quarter valued at approximately $244,000. 81.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on BK shares. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Bank of New York Mellon in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $55.00 to $53.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $45.00 to $44.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 11th. Finally, Evercore ISI decreased their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $47.00 to $45.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $52.60.

Bank of New York Mellon Stock Performance

BK stock traded up $0.38 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $49.93. 582,410 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,058,626. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.71. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $44.75 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $44.37. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a one year low of $39.65 and a one year high of $52.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $38.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 1.11.

Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 17th. The bank reported $1.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.15 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $4.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.32 billion. Bank of New York Mellon had a net margin of 11.81% and a return on equity of 11.84%. Bank of New York Mellons quarterly revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.21 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that The Bank of New York Mellon Co. will post 4.88 EPS for the current year.

Bank of New York Mellon Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 9th. Investors of record on Friday, October 27th were paid a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, October 26th. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.44%.

About Bank of New York Mellon

(Free Report)

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics.

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Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, attended on Tuesday a welcome ceremony held by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.

Xi arrived in the Southeast Asian country for a two-day state visit.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
RBF Capital LLC lowered its stake in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 58.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 22,500 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 31,500 shares during the quarter. RBF Capital LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $1,279,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 93,993.8% in the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 965,692,348 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $54,735,442,000 after acquiring an additional 964,666,040 shares during the last quarter. Dodge & Cox increased its position in Charles Schwab by 1.3% during the first quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 78,462,490 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,109,865,000 after buying an additional 1,033,760 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its position in Charles Schwab by 0.7% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 60,391,016 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,422,963,000 after buying an additional 398,367 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in Charles Schwab by 5.0% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 41,880,424 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,193,697,000 after buying an additional 2,000,383 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in Charles Schwab by 1.5% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 27,050,168 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,413,244,000 after buying an additional 391,238 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.61% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on SCHW shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 11th. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $80.00 to $72.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 16th. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and set a $77.00 price objective on shares of Charles Schwab in a research report on Tuesday, October 17th. Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on shares of Charles Schwab in a research report on Friday, December 1st. They set a sell rating and a $52.00 price objective for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $92.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 17th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $68.85.

Charles Schwab Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE:SCHW opened at $64.02 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $113.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.33, a P/E/G ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12-month low of $45.00 and a 12-month high of $86.63. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $54.97 and a 200 day simple moving average of $57.35.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $4.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.62 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 24.58% and a net margin of 30.14%. Charles Schwabs revenue for the quarter was down 16.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.10 EPS. Analysts predict that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.16 earnings per share for the current year.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 10th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 9th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.56%. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is currently 33.33%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Charles Schwab news, Director Carolyn Schwab-Pomerantz sold 12,208 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.28, for a total transaction of $748,106.24. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 1,722,400 shares in the company, valued at approximately $105,548,672. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Charles Schwab news, Director Carolyn Schwab-Pomerantz sold 12,208 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.28, for a total transaction of $748,106.24. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 1,722,400 shares in the company, valued at approximately $105,548,672. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 7,162 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.72, for a total value of $434,876.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 37,194 shares of company stock worth $2,163,280. Company insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

About Charles Schwab

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Prevail Innovative Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 2,935 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock, valued at approximately $1,411,000.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 97,436.9% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,029,274,230 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $494,710,366,000 after buying an additional 1,028,218,963 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 0.7% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 74,928,539 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $35,410,478,000 after acquiring an additional 509,633 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 46,313,751 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $22,260,241,000 after purchasing an additional 764,872 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 0.6% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 24,079,140 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $11,379,561,000 after buying an additional 140,312 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 2.6% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 17,546,024 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $8,410,038,000 after acquiring an additional 444,629 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.69% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at UnitedHealth Group

In other news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total transaction of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,218 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,017,173.04. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other UnitedHealth Group news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 4,498 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $544.28, for a total value of $2,448,171.44. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 9,218 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,017,173.04. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Stephen J. Hemsley sold 121,515 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $540.58, for a total value of $65,688,578.70. Following the transaction, the director now owns 521,818 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $282,084,374.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 192,094 shares of company stock valued at $104,507,072 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. HSBC started coverage on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Wednesday, September 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $540.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, October 21st. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $565.00 to $503.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 20th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $596.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $580.00 to $584.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $578.05.

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UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

UNH traded up $1.48 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $545.16. The stock had a trading volume of 546,867 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,262,320. The stock has a market cap of $504.23 billion, a PE ratio of 23.60, a PEG ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.61. The business has a 50-day moving average of $535.39 and a 200-day moving average of $505.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.80. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $445.68 and a one year high of $554.70.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.56 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.33 by $0.23. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.58% and a net margin of 6.02%. The firm had revenue of $92.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $91.41 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $5.79 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 4th will be issued a $1.88 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 1st. This represents a $7.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.38%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 32.64%.

UnitedHealth Group Profile

(Free Report)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

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Pointe Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 14.0% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 8,721 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,068 shares during the quarter. Pointe Capital Management LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $851,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Quadrature Capital Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $2,370,000. Royal Bank of Canada raised its stake in Philip Morris International by 8.7% during the second quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 6,786,007 shares of the companys stock valued at $662,450,000 after purchasing an additional 541,273 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. lifted its position in Philip Morris International by 6.4% during the second quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 149,103 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,556,000 after purchasing an additional 9,017 shares during the last quarter. Seven Eight Capital LP grew its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 122.4% in the 2nd quarter. Seven Eight Capital LP now owns 34,369 shares of the companys stock worth $3,355,000 after buying an additional 18,914 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SRB Corp increased its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 30.2% in the 2nd quarter. SRB Corp now owns 4,695 shares of the companys stock worth $458,000 after buying an additional 1,090 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock.

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Philip Morris International Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE PM traded down $0.19 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $92.80. The stock had a trading volume of 469,810 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,233,186. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52-week low of $87.23 and a 52-week high of $105.62. The firm has a market cap of $144.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.77. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $91.74 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $94.16.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The company reported $1.67 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.62 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $9.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.21 billion. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 129.48% and a net margin of 9.62%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 13.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.53 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 21st will be issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 20th. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is 100.97%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Philip Morris International

In other Philip Morris International news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.25, for a total transaction of $942,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 198,447 shares in the company, valued at $18,703,629.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.15% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently weighed in on PM shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $111.00 to $105.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 13th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a buy rating and set a $114.00 price target on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, UBS Group dropped their target price on Philip Morris International from $116.00 to $112.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Philip Morris International has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $109.27.

Read Our Latest Analysis on PM

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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A senior Vietnamese official says he expects to see a further promotion of the friendship between the Chinese people and the Vietnamese people. #GLOBALink





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Samples stored in the headquarters of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), located in Texcoco in Central Mexico, Nov. 21, 2022. (Xinhua/ Zhu Yubo)

China and CIMMYT have long-term collaboration on germplasm resources, which help to develop some important seeds worldwide.



MEXICO CITY, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- In front of the headquarters of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), located in Texcoco in Central Mexico, tens of national flags flutter in the wind.



Wang Hui, a Chinese researcher from Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SAAS), was taking samples from a maize plant in the experimental greenhouse.

Wang is among the multiple visiting researchers from China, which established partnership in 1974 with CIMMYT, an international organization focusing on non-profit agricultural research and training.

As an expert in specialty maize, she has been engaged in research on maize genetic breeding for more than 10 years.

Last year, she came to Mexico, the birthplace of maize, as a visiting scholar on maize projects at CIMMYT for one year.

After collecting the samples, Wang entered the laboratory, where it is obligatory to wear a white uniform so as to guarantee the hygiene.

She then started to mix reagents with various maize samples, measuring their protein and trace elements. All the data will, in time, be processed on the computer to conduct further genetic and genomic analysis.

Using genome-wide association study, genomic selection and molecular marker-assisted selection, Wang combines biological breeding with conventional breeding techniques.

Working with researchers from all over the world, Wang contributes to the main purpose of this organization, which is to empower farmers through science and innovation and nourish the world amid a climate crisis.

Wearing an insulated coat, Wang walked into the germplasm bank where over 150,000 wheat germplasm and more than 28,000 maize germplasm are stored.

"China and CIMMYT have long-term collaboration on germplasm resources, which help to develop some important seeds worldwide," she said.

A maize farm at the headquarters of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Nov. 21, 2022. (Xinhua/ Zhu Yubo)

During her one-year research at CIMMYT, Wang has gained a better understanding of local culture and had good cross-cultural communication in the international organization.



"I have broadened my horizons since researchers at CIMMYT come from different countries and academic backgrounds," she said.

"The application of CIMMYT germplasm resources in specialty maize, advanced technological methods, and research achievements can benefit my future career," Wang added.

Wang is one of the over 5,000 Chinese scholars who have participated in the exchange program at CIMMYT.

"Talent exchange serves as a bridge to facilitate the cooperation between China and CIMMYT," Wang said. "This will not only bring the world experience to China's agricultural development, but also give back to the world the Chinese approach to food security."

In 2016, CIMMYT was honored with the International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Award by the Chinese government.

In 2018, the SAAS and CIMMYT jointly established the CIMMYT-China Specialty Maize Research Center (CCSMRC) in Shanghai, which aims to help Shanghai build a science and technology innovation center with global influence.

Later on, Wang will return to China and continue her research on specialty maize germplasm with all the experiences learned and an unforgettable memory living in Mexico.
Concern for women and children has been expressed as social welfare for Ukrainian refugees is due to be slashed to 38.

It comes following Government agreement to cut financial support for Ukrainian refugees in receipt of state accommodation.

The changes mean anyone from Ukraine seeking international protection would be guaranteed state accommodation for 90 days only, and during this period arrivals will be paid 38.80 allowance rater than the full rate of Jobseekers Allowance (220 per week) currently in place.

Some political groups including Sinn Fein welcomed the upcoming changes, however others including People Before Profit and Labour have expressed concern.

Labour TD Ged Nash spoke outside Leinster House earlir today (December 12) and said he'd be "very interested" to know why a gradual reassessment of social welfare rates is not being considered.

He said a dramatic fall "on a drop dead date" is going to create "considerable difficulties".

According to journalist Louise Burne, Deputy Nash also expressed concerns about women and children, who he worries are most vulnerable.

In a post published on X earlier today (December 12), Burne also reported that Independent TD Richard O'Donoghue disrupted the Labour plinth "rather bizarrely".

According to Burne, Deputy O'Donoghue reportedly drove into Leinster House on "a very loud bike", which caused the plinth to stop due to the noise.

She stated: "Labour not impressed whatsoever."

She also reported Deputy Nash said, "Clown" in response to the disruption.

Labours @geraldnash criticises Govt plan to cut supports for Ukrainian refugees



He expresses concerns about women and children, who he worries are most vulnerable pic.twitter.com/zYjtv0mKSE  Louise Burne (@louiseburne_) December 12, 2023

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein's spokesperson on Social Protection, Donnchadh O Laoghaire TD, welcomed the proposed changes to Ukrainian refugees' welfare entitlements, but has called for clarity on accommodation.

He stated the current proposal flies in the face of assurances that Ukrainian refugees would not be accommodated in the private rental sector.

Deputy O Laoghaire said, "It has been clear for some time that the number of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland is placing massive pressure on the system, and we agree with the government that welfare payments should be brought down in line with the payments made to international protection applicants.

"There needs to be a more uniform approach across the EU regarding what is provided in each State so that there isnt secondary movement from other States."

He continued: "We also need to be preparing for what happens over the next year as the temporary protection measures regarding Ukraine come to an end.

"We are very concerned that the government is now proposing that those in need of temporary accommodation will be left to rely on the private rental sector. That will not work. Government should not confuse temporary accommodation with long-term housing. They must set out clearly what their proposal is and how they think it can work."
MANILA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- More than 5 million foreign tourists have visited the Philippines since January this year, exceeding the country's 4.8 million international arrival target for 2023, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Tuesday.

As of Tuesday, international tourist arrivals have been logged at 5,067,752, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said.

"This has contributed no less than nearly 440 billion pesos (roughly 7.9 billion U.S. dollars) to the Philippine economy," Frasco said during a tourism event speech.

Frasco said the tourism industry created over 5.35 million jobs, with 11 in every 100 Filipinos employed in tourism-related jobs.

She expressed confidence that foreign tourist arrivals will rise amid the upcoming Christmas holidays.

Frasco said the tourism department will focus on improving and enhancing the overall tourism experience around the country, vowing to build more tourist rest areas across the country.

Frasco said the Philippines' goal for 2024 is 7.7 million foreign tourist arrivals.

DOT data showed that 2.65 million international travelers visited the Philippines in 2022, raking in 208.96 billion pesos (roughly 3.8 billion dollars) in revenue. 
December 11, 2023





Data privacy has become a crucial aspect of business operations making it a top priority for resourcing and strategizing. Since businesses run on data, this is a crucial consideration to stay in business. With increasing cyber threats and stringent data protection regulations, businesses must prioritize data privacy while leveraging technology. Here are five effective ways businesses can achieve this.







Implement Robust Data Encryption

One of the most effective ways to ensure data privacy is through robust data encryption. Encryption transforms sensitive data into a code, preventing unauthorized access during transmission or storage. Businesses should use advanced encryption standards to protect customer data, internal communications, and other confidential information.

By encrypting data, businesses can mitigate the risks of data breaches. It ensures that even if data is intercepted or accessed without authorization, it remains undecipherable and useless to cybercriminals. Additionally, encryption demonstrates a companys commitment to data security, which can enhance customer trust and compliance with regulatory requirements.

In the current landscape, where data breaches are increasingly common, encryption stands as a vital line of defense. It is a proactive step that businesses can take to protect sensitive data from external threats and internal vulnerabilities.

Utilize Data Privacy Consulting Services

Another key strategy for businesses to ensure data privacy is to utilize data privacy consulting services. These services provide expert guidance on navigating the complex landscape of data protection. Consultants specialize in understanding the nuances of data privacy laws and regulations, offering tailored advice to businesses on how to safeguard their data effectively.

Data privacy consulting services help businesses identify potential vulnerabilities in their data management systems and recommend improvements. This might include developing more secure data handling processes, employee training on data privacy best practices, or assistance in implementing new technologies that enhance data security. These services are particularly beneficial for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that might not have the in-house expertise to manage data privacy effectively.

By engaging with data privacy experts, businesses can stay ahead of the curve in terms of compliance, avoid costly data breaches, and maintain their reputation as trustworthy custodians of customer data.

Foster a Culture of Data Privacy Awareness

Cultivating a culture of data privacy awareness within an organization is essential. It's not just about having the right tools and policies in place; it's also about ensuring that every employee understands the importance of data privacy and their role in protecting it. Regular training sessions, workshops, and informative campaigns can educate staff about the potential risks of data breaches and the best practices for avoiding them.

When employees are well-informed, they become proactive in identifying and reporting potential security threats, thereby enhancing the overall data protection framework of the business. This cultural shift towards prioritizing data privacy can significantly reduce the risk of human error, which is often a leading cause of data breaches. In this way, fostering a culture of data privacy awareness is a crucial step in safeguarding sensitive information.

Regularly Update and Patch Software Systems

Staying current with software updates and patches is a critical step in maintaining data privacy. Outdated software often contains vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. Regularly updating and patching software systems, including operating systems, applications, and security tools, helps to close these security gaps.

Businesses should establish a routine for checking and applying software updates as they become available. This includes not only the core IT infrastructure but also any third-party applications used in daily operations. By doing so, organizations can protect themselves against known security vulnerabilities and ensure that their data privacy measures are as robust as possible.

Additionally, automating the update process can ensure consistency and reduce the likelihood of human error. Regular software maintenance is a straightforward yet effective strategy for businesses to enhance their data privacy and security posture.

Invest in Advanced Threat Detection Systems

Investing in advanced threat detection systems is a crucial step for businesses to prioritize data privacy. These systems use sophisticated technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to monitor and analyze network traffic, identifying potential threats before they can compromise sensitive data. By detecting unusual patterns or activities that might indicate a breach or an attempted breach, these systems provide an early warning system against cyber threats.

The advantage of advanced threat detection is its proactive nature. Instead of reacting to breaches after they occur, businesses can identify and mitigate risks in real time. This approach is essential in a landscape where cyber threats are constantly evolving and becoming more sophisticated. Incorporating advanced threat detection into a businesss security strategy not only safeguards data but also instills confidence in customers and partners that their information is being protected.
December 11, 2023





Ah, content. Dont you just love it? Its everywhere, from the thousands of hours of YouTube (News - Alert) videos uploaded every minute to the endless blog posts we see for every kind of question and recipe we could ever even think of. Now, AI tools are even getting in on the action, being trained on the entire corpus of publicly available human data and sites like Reddit to bring about sharper and better responses. Its enough to make your head spin.







That being said, let us make the argument that yes, content is a great marketing tool, and it still has benefits in 2023. Learning what content to put together is half the battle, learning when and why to publish accounts for the other half. But if every business needs a website content page, what would that look like in practice? Without further ado, lets consider some of the following advice to discuss that entirely:

Raising Search Authority

When people think of blog page content, they can often think of spammy and repetitive articles that may or may not have been written by AI. But the truth is that you dont have to fall into that pipeline. You can use your space to offer interesting insight into your business process, share lessons, and involve your audience. Then, perhaps with an HVAC SEO company to help you in a specific industry context, others can refer back to your blog and that raises your site's authority. Over time, organic rankings can be yours.

Network With Guests

Its nice to put out content that serves as a kind of thought leadership, and you can also use that to help spotlight your wider thoughts on the industry. You might offer guest writers or podcasts guests where most appropriate, in order to widen your perspective. Remember that you can also use this as an educational tool, such as by telling your possible clients how to prepare their home for winter which even makes your attendance to their properties that much more convenient. A blog, in that respect, can raise your natural authority in the same way heading to a local convention can, and that provides more worth than you may have thought possible.

Chart Your Story

A blog can also serve as a wonderful means of charting your business story. If you offer this, transparently, then youre inviting people to care about it too. For example, a spotlight on people in your company and how they contribute (a celebratory tone is of course needed), a timeline of your history, and perhaps even a list of lessons youve learned when dealing with trusted clients and how youve used to benefit your clients over the years. Little measures like this can be wonderful and make a massive difference to your brand and are worth appreciating from the ground up.

With this advice, youre certain to curate a business content section, page or blog that not only inspires business communication but perfects your approach with dignity going forward. It may take some time to achieve, but a fun project such as this is worth the investment.
[December 11, 2023] Vontas, a Modaxo company, Acquires Orion Labs to Expand Communication Offering Tweet

TORONTO, Dec. 11, 2023 /CNW/ - Vontas, a Modaxo company, today announced the acquisition of Orion Labs, a voice-first collaboration platform, expanding the Vontas OnTransit solution with a communications module for a constant flow of information and real-time situational awareness. Based in San Francisco, California, the Orion Labs solution delivers instant and secure voice, location, and data messaging across connected devices and applications. Their Push-to-Talk 2.0 offering includes a web-based dispatch console and mobile applications, location services, message playback and archiving, as well as AI powered technology like real-time voice translation and support for voice bots. "Vontas is excited about the acquisition of Orion Labs as their products fit right into our integrated, modular ITS solution Vontas OnTransit," says Peter Aczel, General Manager at Vontas. "Orion's products help to improve our best-in-class IP based communication solution in our OnTransit product portfolio, enabling us to deliver exciting new solutin modules like translation and digitalized vehicle inspection capabilities that transit agencies are looking for."



With this acquisition, Vontas adds a module that helps transit agencies easily make individual, group, and fleetwide calls ensuring a critical layer to a fail-safe environment. Voice and data redundancy improves communication abilities and keeps lines open for mission-critical systems during unpredictable situations. In the future, Vontas plans to seamlessly integrate Orion products into the Vontas OnRoute module for computer-aided dispatch and automatic vehicle location (CAD/AVL). Aczel said, "Our first goal with this acquisition is integrating Orion's customers and staff into our operations. We're excited to embrace them as part of Vontas and anticipate building a strong partnership together."

"A warm welcome to Modaxo to Orion, its team, and customers," said Simon Ferguson, Senior Vice President with Modaxo. "Orion's expertise in voice communication, powered by AI, is a strong complement to the solution offerings provided by Vontas & our other Modaxo businesses. There is great opportunity utilize Orion to digitize voice and other critical workflows within the people transportation industry." About Vontas

Vontas helps agencies make public transit the desired mode of transportation in their communities. Through real-time technology, we help create smart, safe, reliable, accessible, and more connected public transit experiences. Learn more at vontas.com. About Modaxo

Modaxo is a global technology organization passionate about moving the world's people. Working both together and independently, our collective of businesses are committed to delivering software and technology solutions that help connect people with the places they need to go for work, family, and everyday life. Learn more at Modaxo.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vontas-a-modaxo-company-acquires-orion-labs-to-expand-communication-offering-302011422.html SOURCE Vontas

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[December 11, 2023] Dallas ISD Implements RapidIdentity to Advance Digital Infrastructure and Enhance Security Tweet

HOUSTON, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The start of the school year is always exciting for Dallas ISD, but this year is particularly memorable. Dallas ISD , a leading school district in the US, has partnered with Identity Automation to advance its digital infrastructure and enhance security. The district has implemented a new digital infrastructure system called RapidIdentity, enhancing security and technology. By providing access to the latest technology and resources, Dallas ISD is taking an important step forward in prioritizing student and teacher success, allowing them to devote their time and energy to what truly matters  innovative teaching and learning. The district's previous on-premise identity and access management system had become difficult to maintain and secure due to insufficient knowledge transfer between the legacy vendor and the district's IT team. Additionally, a patchwork of custom code added to the burdensome complexity of the system over time. Working with Cloud Architects Danh Dang and Daniel Olivas, Jon Hurley, the district's Assistant Superintendent of Technology, chose three criteria for the new system: simplicity, standardization, and security. RapidIdentity met all the criteria and was chosen for its K-12 environment focus and real engineering talent. The first implementation phase of RapidIdentity included Lifeycle Management to automate the full identity lifecycle of their users and Authentication to offer seamless, one-click access to all resources with single sign-on (SSO) as well as an added layer of security with multi-factor authentication (MFA). An advanced account claiming process and proactive communication made the transition easier for teachers.



Since RapidIdentity went live in July 2023, Dallas ISD has seen sweeping changes across the district's security, backend management, and classroom experience. Student data is more secure thanks to RapidIdentity and deploying MFA across all applications. With various authentication methods, including pictographs and QR codes, students receive a highly personalized experience on any device. Teachers enjoy maximizing instructional time and reducing friction in the classroom. The district also noticed a 60% drop in service desk tickets during the first week of school compared to the same time a year prior. "Oftentimes, you find edtech vendors who have a K-12 focus but don't have real engineering talent to back it up. Engineering and product management at RapidIdentity think about the classroom."  Jon Hurley, Assistant Superintendent of Technology, Dallas ISD

The team is now considering more self-service opportunities for students and additional security features, including RapidIdentity PhishID for district-wide, in-browser, and anti-phishing protection. RapidIdentity has proven to be a simple, easy-to-use, and easy-to-understand solution that meets the district's Cloud-first strategy, simplifies processes, and relies on trusted partners. About Identity Automation Identity Automation provides identity and access management (IAM) solutions for K-12 and higher education. Its flagship platform, RapidIdentity, safeguards learning environments, maximizes instructional time and minimizes the load on Information & Educational Technology teams. Technology leaders turn to RapidIdentity for its best-in-class security capabilities, time-saving automation, and flexible approach to managing digital identities. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Identity Automation is trusted by Chicago Public Schools, Public Schools of North Carolina, University of Rochester, Houston Community College, and hundreds of other institutions. To learn more about partnering with Identity Automation, visit www.identityautomation.com . About Dallas ISD The Dallas Independent School District is continually preparing nearly 141,000 students for college or a career. The district offers a competitive mix of innovative programs, choice programs and instructional initiatives that support the increased academic achievement and the social and emotional development of its students. Innovation, tenacity, vision, and equity are key drivers that have shaped Dallas ISD into one of the area's most prominent and forward-looking school districts. To learn more, visit www.dallasisd.org. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dallas-isd-implements-rapididentity-to-advance-digital-infrastructure-and-enhance-security-302011792.html SOURCE Identity Automation

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[December 11, 2023] Harvest Announces Filing of the Preliminary Prospectus for Harvest Premium Yield 7-10 Year Treasury ETF and Harvest Canadian T-Bill ETF Tweet

Harvest Portfolios Group Inc. ("Harvest" or the "Manager") is pleased to announce that it has filed a preliminary prospectus with the Canadian securities regulators for the Harvest Premium Yield 7-10 Year Treasury ETF ("HPYM") and Harvest Canadian T-Bill ETF ("TBIL"). HPYM is designed to provide Canadian investors with access to a portfolio of mid-term US Treasury ETFs that employs an active covered call strategy to provide high monthly income. TBIL is designed to provide investors with access to a low-risk short term portfolio of Canadian Treasury Bills to provide competitive monthly interest income. "Harvest is pleased to introduce these two new fixed income ETFs to round out our fixed income line up." said Michael Kovacs, President and CEO of Harvest. "By applying our extensive option writing expertise to HPYM, we believe HPYM can provide an attractive yield for Canadian Investors. TBIL provides a straightforward low risk income solution for Canadian investors." Harvest Premium Yield 7-10 Year Treasury ETF will seek to provide high monthly cash distributions to Unitholders by investing, on a non-levered basis, in a portfolio of exchange traded mutual funds, selected by the Manager, that provide exposure primarily to intermediate term U.S. treasury bonds and are listed on a regulated stock exchange in North America. Harvest Premium Yield 7-10 Year Treasury ETF will generally write covered call options on up to 100% of the portfolio securities. The level of covered call option writing may vary based on market volatility and other factors. Harvest Canadian T-Bill ETF will seek to provide interest income through exposure to Government of Canada Treasury Bills with remaining maturities generally less than 3 months. Harvest, a registered investment fund manager and portfolio manager, will act as promoter, trustee, manager and portfolio manager of HPYM and TBIL and will be responsible for the administration of HPYM and TBIL. For additional information: Please visit www.harvestportfolios.com, e-mail [email protected] or call toll free 1-866-998-8298. About Harvest Portfolios Group Inc. p> Founded in 2009, Harvest is an independent Canadian Investment Fund Manager managing $3.7 billion in assets for Canadian Investors. At Harvest ETFs, we believe that investors can build and preserve wealth by long-term ownership of high-quality businesses. This fundamental philosophy is at the core of our investment approach across our range of ETFs.



Harvest ETF's core offerings center around covered call strategies, available in three variations: equity, enhanced equity and fixed income. In our equity-income portfolios, we follow a three-step process: identifying promising growth industries; selecting well-positioned businesses within those sectors; and optimizing returns by generating income through covered calls. To enhance potential returns, we offer leveraged exposure to select Harvest ETFs through our enhanced lineup. Our Fixed Income ETFs focus on investing in US Treasury ETFs while employing a covered call option strategy. This approach allows us to deliver high monthly distributions to our investors. For those seeking ETFs without call options, we also provide our Equity Growth ETFs, which are specifically designed to capture opportunities in growth industries and major trends. Subscribe to Our Monthly Newsletter:

https://harvestportfolios.com/subscribe Follow Us on Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvest-portfolios-group

Twitter: https://twitter.com/harvestetfs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarvestETFs

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/HarvestETFs

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Nh71jcf778tZDICT7TznK A preliminary prospectus containing important information relating to the securities of HPYT and TBIL has been filed with the securities commissions or similar authorities in all provinces and territories of Canada. The preliminary prospectus is still subject to completion or amendment. A copy of the preliminary prospectus is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). There will not be any sale or acceptance of an offer to buy the securities until a receipt for the final prospectus has been issued. Commissions, management fees, and expenses all may be associated with ETFs. ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231211824475/en/

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[December 11, 2023] Reliq Health Technologies, Inc. Announces Management Changes Tweet

HAMILTON, Ontario, Dec. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reliq Health Technologies Inc. (TSXV:RHT or OTC:RQHTF or WKN:A2AJTB) (Reliq or the Company), a rapidly growing global healthcare technology company that develops innovative Virtual Care solutions for the multi-billion dollar Healthcare market, today announces that it has accepted the resignation of its CEO and Director, Dr. Lisa Crossley. Dr. Crossley will continue to work with the Company as an advisor to ensure that there is no disruption to operations. The Company would like to thank Dr. Crossley for her eight years of dedicated service as CEO of Reliq and wishes her the best with her recent health issues, and hopes she has a speedy recovery.

The Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Chris Shields as Interim CEO. Mr. Shields currently handles the Companys US business development and is very familiar with the operations and processes of the Company. Additionally, Mr. Shields has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare space and has held senior executive positions in start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. Based in Boston, MA, Mr. Shields has extensive experience with the US healthcare system and is widely regarded as a Medicare and Medicaid subject matter expert. He holds a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell and an MBA specializing in Finance from Babson College in Wellesley, MA. Mr. Shields will lead the Companys search for a permanent CEO. Reliq Health Reliq Health Technologies is a rapidly growing global healthcare technology company that specialzes in developing innovative Virtual Care solutions for the multi-billion dollar Healthcare market. Reliqs powerful iUGO Care platform supports care coordination and community-based virtual healthcare. iUGO Care allows complex patients to receive high quality care at home, improving health outcomes, enhancing quality of life for patients and families and reducing the cost of care delivery. iUGO Care provides real-time access to remote patient monitoring data, allowing for timely interventions by the care team to prevent costly hospital readmissions and ER visits. Reliq Health Technologies trades on the TSX Venture under the symbol RHT, on the OTC as RQHTF and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the WKN: A2AJTB.



ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Dr. Lisa Crossley

CEO and Director For further information please contact: Company Contact

Investor Relations at [email protected] Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information Certain statements in this press release constitute 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, are "forward-looking statements". We caution you that such "forward-looking statements" involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual and future events to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to commercial operations, including technology development, anticipated revenues, projected size of market, and other information that is based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Reliq Health Technologies Inc. (the "Company") does not intend and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, technology development and marketing activities, the Company's historical experience with technology development, uninsured risks. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. SOURCE: Reliq Health Technologies Inc.



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[December 11, 2023] Nubia Brand International Corp. Announces Postponement of Special Meeting of Shareholders to Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. EDT Tweet

Dallas, Texas, Dec. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On November 8, 2023, Nubia Brand Acquisition Corp. (the Company or Nubia) filed a definitive proxy statement (as amended by the first and second supplement thereto, dated November 21, 2023, and November 30, 2023, respectively, the definitive proxy statement) for the solicitation of proxies in connection with a special meeting (the Special Meeting) of the Companys stockholders to be held on December 12, 2023, to vote upon, among other things, a proposal to adopt and approve that certain Merger Agreement by and among Nubia, Honeycomb Battery Company, an Ohio corporation (Honeycomb), and Nubia Merger Sub, Inc., an Ohio corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation, and the business combination contemplated thereby (the Business Combination).

On December 11, 2023, the Company determined to postpone the Special Meeting until December 14, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Because Nubia intends to postpone the meeting to December 14, 2023, the deadline for the submission of public shares of Nubia Class A common stock for redemption will be extended to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 12, 2023. The purpose of the postponement of the Special Meeting is to allow Nubia and Honeycomb additional time to satisfy certain of the conditions to the closing of the Business Combination. Nubia and Honeycomb will continue to work on closing the Business Combination as soon as possible following its approval by the stockholders of each of Nubia and Honeycomb and the satisfaction or waiver of any applicable closing conditions. About Nubia Brand International Corp. Nubia is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. About Honeycomb Honeycomb formerly the energy solutions division of Global Graphene Group, Inc., is a Dayton, Ohio, USA-based advanced battery technology company focused on the development and commercialization of battery materials, components, cells, and selected module/pack technologies. Additional Information about the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It This press release relates to a proposed transaction between Honeycomb and Nubia. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In connection with the transaction described herein, Nubia intends to file relevant materials with the SEC, including a proxy statement (that includes a preliminary proxy statement, and when available, a definitive proxy statement). Promptly after filing its definitive proxy statement with the SEC, Nubia will mail the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the Special Meeting relating to the transaction. Nubia urges its investors, stockholders and other interested persons to read, when available, the proxy statement as well as other documents filed with the SEC because these documents will contain important information about Nubia, Honeycomb and the business combination. Once available, stockholders will also be able to obtain a copy of the proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC without charge, by directing a request to: Nubia Brand International Corp., Attn: Jaymes Winters, 13355 Noel Rd, Suite 1100, Dallas, TX. The preliminary and definitive proxy statement, once available, can also be obtained, without charge, at the SECs website (www.sec.gov).



Participants in theSolicitation



Nubia and its directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Nubia stockholders with respect to the proposed transaction. Information about Nubias directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in Nubia will be included in the proxy statement for the proposed transaction and be available at the SECs website (www.sec.gov). Additional information regarding the interests of such participants will be contained in the proxy statement for the proposed transaction when available. Honeycomb and its directors and executive officers also may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Nubia in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the Companys directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the proposed transaction will be included in the proxy statement for the proposed transaction.

No Offer or Solicitation This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed transaction and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, exchange, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements that are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the proposed transaction between Nubia and Honeycomb. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words believe, project, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend, think, strategy, future, opportunity, potential, plan, seeks, may, should, will, would, will be, will continue, will likely result, and similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including but not limited to: (i) changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; (ii) the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed transaction, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed transaction or that the approval of the shareholders of Nubia or Honeycomb is not obtained; (iii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Honeycomb or Nubia following announcement of the proposed transaction; (iv) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction; (v) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to Honeycomb; (vi) risks related to the performance of Honeycombs batteries; (vii) the extent to which original equipment manufacturers may elect to pursue other battery cell technologies; (viii) risks related to the safety of Honeycombs high-capacity anode and high-energy solid-state battery technology, for which only preliminary safety testing has occurred and for which additional and extensive safety testing will need to occur prior to being installed in electric vehicles; (ix) risks related to any substantial increases in the prices for Honeycombs raw materials and components, some of which are obtained from a limited number of sources where demand may exceed supply; (x) consumers willingness to adopt electric vehicles; (xi) risks related to Honeycomb being an early-stage company with a history of financial losses that expects to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future; (xii) the possibility that Honeycomb may require additional capital to support business growth, and that this capital might not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all; (xiii) Honeycombs heavy reliance on owned intellectual property, which includes patent rights, trade secrets, copyright, trademarks, and know-how, and its ability to protect and maintain access to these intellectual property rights; (xiv) risks related to the intentional disruption, security breaches and other security incidents, or alleged violations of laws, regulations, or other obligations relating to data handling of Honeycombs technology and its website, systems, and data it maintains; (xv) the amount of redemption requests made by Nubias public stockholders; (xvi) the ability of Nubia or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities in connection with the proposed transactions or in the future; (xvii) the outcome of any potential litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries; (xviii) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on Honeycomb, Nubia, the combined companys projected results of operations, financial performance or other financial metrics, or on any of the foregoing risks; and (xix) those factors discussed in Nubias filings with the SEC and that will be contained in the proxy statement relating to the proposed transaction. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that will be described in the Risk Factors section of the preliminary proxy statement and the amendments thereto, the definitive proxy statement, and other documents to be filed by Nubia from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and while Nubia and Honeycomb may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, they assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Neither of Nubia or Honeycomb gives any assurance that Nubia or Honeycomb, or the combined company, will achieve its expectations. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Nubias or Honeycombs assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Contact Information: Jaymes Winters

Chief Executive Officer

Nubia Brand International Corp.

[email protected]



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[December 11, 2023] Law Offices of Edward A. Smith Establishes Scholarship Fund to Honor Victims of Vehicular Accidents Tweet

Edward Smith, a seasoned personal injury lawyer with a career spanning over four decades, has announced the establishment of a unique scholarship fund dedicated to the memory of victims of fatal accidents in California. The aim is to provide a meaningful tribute to lost loved ones and offer support to their families during their difficult times. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231211799350/en/ A Legacy of Advocacy and Compassion Since 1982, Mr. Smith has been a pillar of strength and support for families affected by tragic accidents. Having handled hundreds of wrongful death cases, he understands the deep emotional trauma that families endure beyond the financial burdens. This scholarship fund is not just a financial gesture but a symbol of remembrance and honor for those who have tragically lost their lives. The Scholarship: A Tribute to the Departed The scholarship, funded from the firm's portion of attorney fees, is more than just monetary support; it's a way to keep the memories f the deceased alive. Each year, the family of a victim will have the opportunity to select a deserving recipient for the scholarship. This process ensures that the legacy of their loved ones continues to inspire and support the dreams of others.



A Step Beyond Legal Representation Mr. Smith's commitment to his clients extends beyond the courtroom. "While I can help families recover financially, I recognize that the emotional impact is profound and enduring. This scholarship is a way to honor the memory of those lost and to provide a semblance of solace to families grappling with their absence," says Ed.

Invitation to Participate and Honor The scholarship is open to applications from California, with the criteria set by the families of the deceased. Ed encourages the community to participate in this noble cause, either by applying for the scholarship or by contributing to its growth, ensuring that the legacy of the victims continues to make a positive impact. Contact Information: For more information about the scholarship fund or Edward A. Smith's legal services, please contact: Law Offices of Edward A. Smith, (916) 921-6400, 1610 Arden Way, Suite 280, Sacramento, Ca 95815, www.AutoAccident.com "Through this scholarship, we not only remember those we have lost but also build a path of hope and opportunity in their memory," concludes Ed. About Edward A. Smith: Edward A. Smith is a respected personal injury lawyer in California, specializing in wrongful death cases. He is the founder and CEO of www.AutoAccident.com. With a career dedicated to justice and support for families affected by tragedy, Ed continues to make a significant impact both in and out of the courtroom. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231211799350/en/

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[December 11, 2023] CDPQ invests in Cogeco Communications Tweet

MONTREAL, Dec. 11, 2023 /CNW/ - CDPQ announces an investment in Cogeco Communications Inc. (TSX: CCA) following the purchase of the block of shares held by Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI.B). CDPQ will hold $350 million of the capital of this Quebec leader, one of the top 10 cable companies in North America, upon the closing of this transaction, which was announced earlier today. "Already active with Cogeco Communications through past acquisitions, CDPQ is supporting the growth projects of this leading telecommunications company as connectivity needs continue to grow. This major share purchase, orchestrated by CDPQ, is key for the company and its plan to develop the North American market," said Kim Thomassin, Executive Vice-President and Head of Quebec at CDPQ. "We're delighted by an even stronger engagement by the CDPQ," said Philippe Jette, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cogeco Inc. and Cogeco Communications Inc. "This transaction is a unique opportunity for us to build shareholder value while pursuing the delivery of our strategic plan," added Mr. Jette. Cogeco is a growing competitive force in today's telecommunications sector. Through its business units, Cogeco Connexion in Canada and Breezeline in the U.S., it provides Internet, video and telephone services in Quebec, Ontario and 13 U.S. states. CDPQ first invested in Cogeco Communications in 2013 by providing a CAD 50 million loan. In 2017, CDPQ also contributed USD 315 million toward the transaction to acquire MetroCast cable systems in the United States. At USD 1.4 billion, this transaction is Cogeco Communications' largest acquisition to date. ABOUT CDPQ At CDPQ, we invest constructively to generate sustainable returns over the long term. As a global investment group managing funds for public pension and insurance plans, we work alongside our partners to build enterprises that drive performance and progress. We are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. As at June 30, 2023, CDPQ's net assets totalled CAD 424 billion. For more information, visit cdpq.com , consult our LinkedIn or Instagram pages, or follow us on X .









CDPQ is a registered trademark owned by Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec and licensed for use by its subsidiaries.

ABOUT COGECO COMMUNICATIONS INC. Rooted in the communities it serves, Cogeco Communications Inc. is a growing competitive force in the North American telecommunications sector, serving 1.6 million residential and business customers. Through its business units Cogeco Connexion and Breezeline, Cogeco Communications provides Internet, video and phone services in Canada as well as in thirteen states in the United States. Cogeco Communications Inc.'s subordinate voting shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CCA). For more information

MEDIA RELATIONS TEAM

CDPQ

+ 1 514 847-5493

[email protected] YOUANN BLOUIN

Director, Media Relations & Strategic Communications

Cogeco Communications Inc.

+1 514 297-2853

[email protected] SOURCE CDPQ

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[December 11, 2023] Snom Americas Welcomes Vincent Gianfrancesco as New Channel Account Manager, Cloud Service Providers/MSPs Tweet

Snom Americas, a leading provider of professional and enterprise VoIP solutions, has announced the appointment of Vincent Gianfrancesco as its new Channel Account Manager, Cloud Service Providers/MSPs. With a rich history in technology channel sales leadership and a proven track record of success, Gianfrancesco is set to bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the Snom team. Gianfrancesco is a seasoned channel management and business development professional who brings a demonstrated exceptional skill set in sales pipeline management, account management, and technology product marketing to Snom Americas. His experience spans various roles, most recently as the Alliance Partner Manager for Service Providers and Strategic Partners with Everbridge, while previously he served as the Strategic Alliances Manager at Fusion Connect and Business Development Manager at Telin Systems. His accomplishments include being a Division 1 student-athlete, a Bright Futures Scholarship recipient, and achieving top sales performer status at 3CX in 2018. His professional journey has also been marked by several achievements, including obtaining the Fortinet NSE 2 Certification and additional certifications as a Cisco Sales Champion and a Microsoft Shark. In his new role at Snom Americas, Gianfrancesco will be responsible for develoing and nurturing channel partnerships, driving sales strategies, and contributing to the company's overall growth in the Americas.



Marc Magliano, Vice President of Channel Business for the Americas at Snom Americas, commented on the appointment, "We are thrilled to welcome Vincent to our team. His impressive track record and dynamic approach to channel management and problem-solving make him a valuable addition to Snom Americas. We are confident his contributions will be instrumental in our continued growth and success in the region." Gianfrancesco's appointment is a testament to Snom Americas' commitment to strengthening its channel partnerships and enhancing its market presence. His expertise and leadership are expected to drive significant advancements in the company's channel strategy and overall business development.

About Snom Americas As a pioneer and a leading brand of professional and enterprise VoIP phones, Snom provides a diverse collection of telecommunication products that elevate the business user experience through state-of-the-art technology and design. These business phones are sold through a wide network of trusted partners and are backed by North American-based training and support. Parent company VTech is headquartered in Hong Kong and listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKSE: 0303). For more information, please visit www.snomamericas.com.  2023 VTech Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. VTech is a registered trademark of VTech Holdings Limited. Snom is a registered trademark of Snom Technology GmbH. Use of Snom by VTech is under license. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owner. For more on SnomAmericas.com and its products visit our website: Snomamericas.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231211885349/en/

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BAMAKO, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has officially ended its 10-year deployment, MINUSMA head El-Ghassim Wane said in Bamako, the capital city.

Regarding the MINUSMA withdrawal process, 10 of the 13 areas occupied by the UN force have already been closed and handed over to the Malian authorities, Wane told an official ceremony Monday marking the final withdrawal of MINUSMA.

"In the coming days, partial handovers of the mission's remaining areas, Bamako, Gao and Timbuktu camps, will be carried out," he said.

The MINUSMA made "immense sacrifices" throughout the 10 years of presence in Mali, and many Malians benefited from its services, Wane said.

The military government in Mali, established after the May 2021 coup, requested MINUSMA to withdraw, saying it was ineffective in stopping raids by jihadists, particularly in the country's north.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in June, authorizing the withdrawal by Dec. 31, 2023. The liquidation of MINUSMA will begin on Jan. 1, 2024. 
[December 11, 2023]

AT&T to Release Fourth-Quarter 2023 Earnings January 24

DALLAS, Dec. 11, 2023 /CNW/ -- We will release our fourth-quarter 2023 results on Wednesday, January 24. Earnings release and related materials will be available on Investor Relations.

Key Takeaways:

AT&T will release its fourth-quarter 2023 results on January 24

AT&T will webcast a conference call to discuss results

AT&T* (NYSE:T) will release its fourth-quarter 2023 results before the New York Stock Exchange opens on Wednesday, January 24, 2024. The company's earnings release and related materials will be available at AT&T Investor Relations.

At 8:30 a.m. ET the same day, AT&T will host a conference call to discuss the results. A live webcast of the call will be available at AT&T Investor Relations, and the webcast replay and transcript will be available following the call.







*About AT&T

We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com.

 2023 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the Globe logo are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property.

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SOURCE AT&T
[December 11, 2023] Fuel Cells For Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market to increase by USD 232.91 million from 2023 to 2028; North America accounts for 33% of the market growth - Technavio Tweet

NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The fuel cells for military unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market is expected to grow by USD 232.91 million from 2023 to 2028. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 9.82% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. The rising need for extended flight time is notably driving the fuel cells for the military unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market. However, factors such as high initial costs of fuel cell systems may impede market growth. The market is segmented by product (hydrogen fuel cell, proton exchange membrane fuel cell, and solid oxide fuel cell), type (tactical UAV, mini UAV, micro UAV, medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV, and high altitude long endurance (HALE) UAV), and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America). We provide a detailed analysis of 20 companies operating in the fuel cells for military unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market including AeroVironment Inc., Aviation Turkey, Ballard Power Systems Inc., Barnard Microsystems Ltd., Cobham Ltd., Doosan Corp., Elbit Systems Ltd., General Dynamics Corp., H3 Dynamics Holdings Pte. Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., Intelligent Energy Ltd., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., ISS Aerospace, MMC, Northrop Grumman Corp., Plug Power Inc., Textron Inc., The Boeing Co., TW Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, and ZeroAvia Inc. The report offers an up-to-date analysis of the market, and to know the exact growth variance and the Y-O-Y growth rate, Request a Free Sample Report. Fuel Cells For Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market 2024-2028: Company Analysis AeroVironment Inc: The company offers fuel cells for military unmanned aerial vehicles such as hybridized proton exchange membrane fuel cell, which employs a lithium ion battery to provide peak power during takeoff and dash maneuvers. This report provides a full list of key companies, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now for detailed company information. Fuel Cells For Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market 2024-2028: Segmentation Product The market growth by the hydrogen fuel cell segment is significant during the forecast period. The main advantage of this segment is that it provides longer flight endurance compared to traditional batteries or internal combustion engines. Hence, such factors are fuelling the growth of this segment, which in turn drives the market growth. Geography North America accounts for 33% of the market growth during the forecast period. Some of the main factors that are fuelling the market growth in North America include the growing need for security and surveillance, the demand for UAVs with improved endurance capability, and the presence of military-grade remotely piloted aircraft in the region. Hence, such factors drives the marekt growth in North America. Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a Free PDF Sample Report Related Reports: The wood fuels market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.88% between 2023 and 2028. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 8.48 billion. The combined heat and power (CHP) market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.29% between 2023 and 2028. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 9.35 billion.







Fuel Cells For Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018-2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 9.82% Market Growth 2024-2028 USD 232.91 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 8.6 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 33% Key countries US, Canada, China, Japan, and the UK

ToC: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Product Market Segmentation by Type Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fuel-cells-for-military-unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav-market-to-increase-by-usd-232-91-million-from-2023-to-2028-north-america-accounts-for-33-of-the-market-growth---technavio-302010979.html SOURCE Technavio

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[December 11, 2023] Biometric POS Terminals Market to grow by USD 5.29 billion growth between 2023 - 2028; Growth Driven by demand for biometric POS terminals from end-users - Technavio Tweet

NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Biometric POS Terminals Market report has been added to Technavio's offering. With ISO 9001:2015 certification, Technavio has proudly partnered with more than 100 Fortune 500 companies for over 16 years. The potential growth difference for the biometric POS terminals market between 2023 and 2028 is USD 5.29 billion. Growth in demand for biometric POS terminals from end-users drives market growth. The growing credit and debit card transactions among consumers encourage retailers and other end-users to adopt biometric POS terminals. To cater to this increasing trend, small-sized retailers in various developing countries, such as China and India, are also adopting POS terminals for secure and convenient payments. Furthermore, various end-users are beginning to demand a wide variety of payment solutions, POS terminal providers will be focusing on meeting their needs to retain existing customers and attract new ones. Get deeper insights into the market size, current market scenario, future growth opportunities, major growth driving factors, the latest trends, and much more. Buy the full report here Market Challenge - The absence of uniform standards challenges market growth. In order to ensure interoperability among technologies from multiple biometric POS terminal market players, there is a need for standardization. It also simplifies the integration process and allows biometric point-of-sales terminal market players to easily upgrade to new technologies with minimal change in their existing infrastructure. Additionally, various biometric technologies, such as fingerprint identification and palm vein identification, have different technical specifications, however, the blueprint is the same. Learn about additional key drivers, trends, and challenges available with Technavio. Read a Sample PDF Report Now The biometric POS terminals market is categorized based on End-user (Retail, Medical and healthcare, Restaurant, Financial, and Others), Technology (Fingerprint identification, Palm vein identification, and Others), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The retail segment will be major for the market growth during the forecast period. This segment of the market refers to the use of biometric POS terminals in retail outlets, such as grocery stores, department stores, and specialty stores. Some of the major advantages of this segment include increased efficiency in transaction processing, the ability to track inventory and sales data, and the ability to offer a variety of payment options to customers.

will be major for the market growth during the forecast period. This segment of the market refers to the use of biometric POS terminals in retail outlets, such as grocery stores, department stores, and specialty stores. Some of the major advantages of this segment include increased efficiency in transaction processing, the ability to track inventory and sales data, and the ability to offer a variety of payment options to customers. North America will contribute 35% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. View a FREE Sample Report for insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities in the report. Key Companies in the biometric POS terminals market: Aratek Biometric, BIYO LLC, CiVinTec Global Co. Ltd., DERMALOG Identification Systems GmbH, EKEMP Intl Ltd., ePortation Inc., Fujitsu Ltd., HID Global Corp., IDEMIA France SAS, Ingenico, International Secure Environments PTY LTD., M2SYS, Mantra Softech India Pvt. Ltd., PayTango Inc., SmartMetric Inc., Sthaler Ltd., Telepower Communication Co. Ltd., VeriFone Inc., Zvetco LLC, Zwipe AS Related Reports: The EMV Point Of Sale (POS) Terminals Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.22% between between 2023 and 2028. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 6.41 billion. The India point-of-sale (POS) terminal market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 11.59% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 1,812.57 million.







Biometric POS Terminals Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018-2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 13.9% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 5.29 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 12.9 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 35% Key countries US, Canada, China, Germany, and UK

ToC: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by End-user Market Segmentation by Technology Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/biometric-pos-terminals-market-to-grow-by-usd-5-29-billion-growth-between-2023---2028-growth-driven-by-demand-for-biometric-pos-terminals-from-end-users---technavio-302010987.html SOURCE Technavio

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[December 11, 2023] Four-time Space Veteran Jeff Williams to Retire from NASA Tweet

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Army Col. Jeffrey Williams, who played a key role in the design, construction, and operation of the International Space Station, is retiring on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, after more than 27 years of service at the agency. The two-time station commander spent 534 cumulative days in space spanning four trips to the space station. He spent nearly 32 hours outside of the orbital laboratory on five spacewalks. "Jeff's dedication and commitment to advancing NASA's mission for the benefit of all humanity is truly admirable," said NASA Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche. "His willingness to go above and beyond has impacted several generations and will continue to inspire future generations to come." In addition to his time in space, he tested and evaluated the space station's U.S. laboratory module Destiny during its final assembly at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, led the development of a space shuttle cockpit upgrade, worked in legislative affairs at NASA Headquarters in Washington, commanded a nine-day NEEMO (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations) mission in the Aquarius undersea habitat off the coast of Florida, and worked extensively in spacewalk development. Since 2017, he has been assistant director of Flight Operations at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Among his many accomplishments, he served as chair of the Multinational Crew Operations Panel, responsible for International Space Station crew assignments, qualifications, and training. Most recently, he served on a review board overseeing development of lunar surface projects for the Moon to Mars architecture. "I had the pleasure of working with Jeff fro the very beginning of our careers  first in the earliest days of the space station, and now working together to put the next humans on the Moon," said Norm Knight, director of flight operations, NASA Johnson. "Over the course of his 27 years with us, I've always admired his leadership, mentorship, and passion for all things spaceflight. He will be so missed, and I'm excited to see what comes next for him."



The Wisconsin native joined NASA Johnson on a four-year Army assignment supporting the Space Shuttle Program in 1987. He was selected to join the NASA astronaut class of 1996. His first mission was on the crew of STS-101, launching on space shuttle Atlantis for the third mission devoted to station construction. His first long duration mission was Expedition 13, launching in March 2006 on Soyuz TMA-8 and lasting six months as station construction resumed with the shuttle return-to-flight after the Columbia accident. For his third flight, Expeditions 21/22, Williams launched in October 2009 aboard Soyuz TMA-16 for another six-month stay  this time to integrate the station's Tranquility module and its cupola to complete station construction. Williams' final spaceflight launched in March 2016 on Soyuz TMA-20M for Expeditions 47/48 which saw the arrival of the station's Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, the integration of an international docking adaptor for commercial crew spacecraft, and the continuation of science and technology demonstrations. "It has been a tremendous honor and privilege to work with the best team in the world here at NASA," Williams said, "and to share in what has to be the greatest technological and operational achievement in human history  the International Space Station  designed and built in many different places and countries on the planet, assembled and integrated off the planet, and continually operated for now more than 25 years, all in the context of international partnership. I am incredibly grateful to the many friends, mentors, and coworkers I've been privileged to labor with, who span three generations and range from those who worked in the Apollo Program all the way to the newest team members now dedicated to returning to the Moon."

Overall, Williams lived and worked with 56 different individuals from eight different countries aboard the orbital outpost. His flights spanned 16 years of the space station's assembly, construction, and emerging operational capability. He contributed to hundreds of scientific experiments and a broad spectrum of technology development projects. Prior to becoming an astronaut, Williams attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Applied Science and Engineering, the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he earned a master's degree in Aeronautical Engineering, and the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, where he earned a master's degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. He served in the 3rd Armored Division's 503rd Aviation Battalion as an Army aviator in West Germany. He attended Naval Test Pilot School, graduating first in his class in 1992 and then served as an experimental test pilot before becoming an astronaut. He retired from Army active duty in 2007 with more than 27 years of military service and 3,100 hours in more than 50 different aircraft. His experience has spanned more than 47 years. Learn more about how NASA explores the unknown and innovates for the benefit of humanity at: https://www.nasa.gov/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/four-time-space-veteran-jeff-williams-to-retire-from-nasa-302011884.html SOURCE NASA

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[December 11, 2023] Maritime Surveillance Market to grow by USD 1.47 billion from 2022 to 2027 | Airbus SE, BAE Systems Plc, Elbit Systems Ltd. and more among the key companies in the market - Technavio Tweet

NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The maritime surveillance market is estimated to grow by USD 1.47 billion from 2022 to 2027. The market is estimated to be growing at a CAGR of 3.65% during the forecast period. The maritime surveillance market report includes information on the product launches, sustainability, and prospects of leading vendors including Airbus SE, BAE Systems Plc, Elbit Systems Ltd., Furuno Electric Co. Ltd., HENSOLDT AG, Honeywell International Inc., Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp., MIND TECHNOLOGY INC., Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Raytheon Technologies Corp., Saab AB, Safran SA, Sonardyne International Ltd., SRT Marine Systems Plc, Teledyne Technologies Inc., Terma AS, Thales Group, and The Boeing Co. For Comprehensive details on the market size of the historic period(2017 to 2021) and forecast period (2023-2027) - View Sample report Maritime Surveillance Market - Vendor Landscape The maritime surveillance market is fragmented; the vendors are competing with competitors and are trying to get a greater market share. The market is growing, and the chances of new entrants cannot be overlooked. The major vendors have well-established economies of scale and market presence and generally rely on positioning technological advances, and the price of the products -The report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now Maritime Surveillance Market - Market Dynamics Major Drivers & Challenges- Key Drivers boosting the market growth The growing marine threats are the major factor that drives the global maritime surveillance market growth.

In national security, territorial integrity, global trade, immigration, and migration, maritime borders play an important role. Patrolling territorial water areas with state-of-the-art flying platforms is of increasing importance, for many countries with long coastlines.

For example, the oil rigs in the Gulf of Guinea in Western Africa are highly vulnerable to the threat of piracy.

in are highly vulnerable to the threat of piracy. Hence, such factors drive the market growth during the forecast period. Major Challenges hindering the market growth The issues related to privacy can challenge the growth of the maritime surveillance market growth.

In order to prevent and detect crime, but its use can lead to privacy concerns, ocean surveillance is used. Public surveillance systems may cover private areas such as homes and offices without the owner's consent, which leads to an invasion of privacy.

People's privacy is a fundamental right and the use of surveillance systems can violate it, which results in the line between legitimate surveillance and intrusion blurs. Hence, such challenges impede market growth during the forecast period.



Key Trends- The expansion of the Chinese naval fleet in critical regions is an emerging trend fueling the global maritime surveillance market growth.

As the Chinese president announced in 2012 that China would become a maritime power, China has focused on expanding its naval fleet.

would become a maritime power, has focused on expanding its naval fleet. Furthermore, the expansion of China's naval fleet has emboldened the country to assert dominance in key regions such as the disputed South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

naval fleet has emboldened the country to assert dominance in key regions such as the disputed South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. Hence, such trends influence the growth of the market in focus during the forecast period. Technavio has identified key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market, which will help clients improve their strategies to stay ahead of their competitors. - View Sample Report

Geographical Analysis North America is estimated to account for 33% of the global market growth during the forecast period. The US is a major market for marine surveillance in the region. This growth can be attributed to the growth of the marine surveillance market is the large number of Americans participating in water-related recreational activities. Additionally, the growth of the marine surveillance market is the large number of Americans participating in water-related recreational activities. Hence, the growing demands for maritime security in the United States are expected to boost the demand for marine surveillance during the forecast period. Competitive Analysis The report includes competitive analysis, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their industry position score and market performance score. The competitive scenario categorizes companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, and growth in market share, among others. Maritime Surveillance Market - Market Segmentation This maritime surveillance market report extensively covers market segmentation by component (sensors, radar, AIS receiver, and software and others), end-user (defense, customs, fisheries, intelligence, and others), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The market share growth by the sensors segment is significant during the forecast period. Sensors are used in a wide range of maritime applications including hydraulic cylinder position measurement, marine machinery condition monitoring, crane and deck hoist load measurement, and tank pressure measurement. Some major benefits of sensors include near-lossless transmission, increased sensitivity during data collection, and continuous real-time analysis. Hence, such factors are expected to have a positive impact on the sensors segment of the maritime surveillance market during the forecast period. Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports.

Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The video surveillance as a service market size is expected to increase by USD 7.45 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 17.56%. The trade surveillance systems market size is expected to increase to USD 878.49 million from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 16.7%. Table of Contents Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Size Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Component Market Segmentation by End-user market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, and Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About US Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maritime-surveillance-market-to-grow-by-usd-1-47-billion-from-2022-to-2027--airbus-se-bae-systems-plc-elbit-systems-ltd-and-more-among-the-key-companies-in-the-market---technavio-302011544.html SOURCE Technavio

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[December 11, 2023] HyperStrong CEO Attends COP28, Actively Contributes to Global Sustainable Development Goals Tweet

DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Beijing HyperStrong Technology Co., Ltd. ("HyperStrong" or "the Company") co-founder, chairman, and CEO Jianhui Zhang attended the recent 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he presented and participated in discussions on crucial topics such as sustainable development, energy transformation solutions, and green supply chain practices. HyperStrong, a leader in dedicated energy storage system (ESS) integration and service provision, also signed a collective vision statement for the development of global zero-carbon communities. HyperStrong is rapidly expanding its international business to provide one-stop energy storage system solutions for partners in the global ecological chain and is currently deploying regional centers and local teams in North America, Europe, and Australia. This year, the Company participated in leading renewable energy exhibitions in Germany, the United States, and Australia, displaying the Company's flagship products and cutting-edge solutions, and reaching various cooperation deals with many partners and customers in the industry. "In the near future, the integrated application of energy storage products in new energy consumption, transportation, construction, industry, rural areas, and other fields will continue to deepen," said Jianhui Zhang. "Diverse application scenarios such as smart energy, smart transportation, household storage, mart electrification, and virtual power plants will all be ubiquitous."



New energy storage plays a pivotal role in constructing a modern power system, contributing significantly to power supply support, enhanced system adjustment capabilities, and the overall safety of grid operations. The transition from traditional source-to-load dynamics to source-grid-load-storage integration marks a transformative shift in the power system, aligning with the three overarching development goals of safety, green practices, and efficiency. Examining the global electrochemical energy storage market's size reveals sustained rapid growth. Predictions indicate an addition of over 1000GWh of energy storage capacity worldwide from 2022 to 2030, with China and the United States continuing as the leading markets. In terms of technology trends, the energy storage industry's large-scale development stage necessitates exploration into digitalization, intelligence, safety, and efficient, coordinated development. Solid-state battery technology is acknowledged as a crucial solution to safety concerns, with HyperStrong actively deploying next-generation intrinsically safe battery technology. HyperStrong's co-developed semi-solid lithium iron phosphate battery for energy storage has successfully entered mass production and application in projects.

Intelligent energy storage systems face challenges in managing extensive data generated by projects, identifying fault risks swiftly, and ensuring system safety. HyperStrong addresses these concerns through big data and artificial intelligence, establishing a digital model for the product life cycle. This facilitates multi-dimensional status analysis, health diagnosis, fault location, and long-term safety risk warnings, ensuring power station safety, operational efficiency, and enhancing asset value. Smart manufacturing is prioritized for energy storage product quality, with HyperStrong aiming to build several zero-carbon smart manufacturing bases. The establishment of a product life cycle traceability system and a new digital and intelligent manufacturing model support high-quality, large-scale delivery of energy storage products, securing the industry's sustainable development. So far, HyperStrong has accumulated experience of over 10GWh energy storage deployment. About Beijing HyperStrong Technology Beijing HyperStrong Technology Co., Ltd. ("HyperStrong") is a leading ESS integrator and service provider. Founded in 2011, HyperStrong has become the largest ESS integrator in China. With over 10 years of R&D and experience garnered through more than 300 ESS projects, HyperStrong offers a full portfolio of ESS products as well as one-stop solutions for clients ranging from thermal power and renewable power generation to C&I and residential users. Having built two smart manufacturing bases, two R&D centers, a testing lab and a global marketing center, HyperStrong empowers clients worldwide to achieve their energy transition and carbon neutrality goals. For three consecutive years (2020-2022), the China Energy Storage Alliance (CNESA) has ranked HyperStrong as the top ESS player by energy storage system installation and/or delivery volume in the Chinese market. According to a recent report unveiled by S&P Global, HyperStrong is ranked one of the top 5 ESS integrators worldwide in terms of project scale as of July 2023. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyperstrong-ceo-attends-cop28-actively-contributes-to-global-sustainable-development-goals-302011976.html SOURCE Beijing HyperStrong Technology Co., Ltd.

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[December 12, 2023] VFS Global and Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sign an exclusive Partnership Agreement Enhancing the eVisa Submission Experience Tweet

DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - The exclusive collaboration between VFS Global and the Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs will introduce a streamlined, user-friendly process ensuring a more efficient and convenient electronic visa (eVisa) service for those travelling from the United States, Canada, and Australia to Brazil for business or leisure. The innovative eVisa platform was launched by VFS Global following a competitive tender awarded by the Brazil Ministry of Foreign Affairs. VFS Global successfully launched the eVisa platform within a three-week timeframe, meeting the specific requirements outlined by Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The eVisa platform which went live on 1 December 2023 simplifies and streamlines the visa application process. The website is simple to use and features a responsive and user-friendly end to end digital interface which is compatible with desktop and mobile devices. Effective January 10, 2024, passport holders from Australia, Canada, and the United States will be required to obtain an eVisa for entry into Brazil. Applicants needing to apply for business or tourist visa to Brazil can apply for the eVisa via the VFS Global website. Mr. Amit Kumar Sharma, Head-Americas, VFS Global said: "Brazil is a popular destination for travellers across the globe, and we are excited to unveil the eVisa service which will make the visa application journey quicker and simpler for travellers from the United States, Canada, nd Australia. With an anticipated annual customer count of 205,000, this seamless service aims to enhance the overall application experience. As we continue to innovate and enhance the travel experience, we look forward to providing our customers with even more convenient solutions in the future."



VFS Global has worked with the Government of Brazil since 2017 and has handled nearly 290,000 visa applications on behalf of the Government of Brazil. In Americas, VFS Global operates in North, Central, and South America, managing visa and passport services for 28 client governments through a network of over 200 application centers across 29 countries.

VFS Global currently provides eVisa service for Azerbaijan, UAE (for Emirates passengers), Equatorial Guinea, Thailand, and South Africa (for Nigerian nationals). NOTES TO THE EDITOR For more information visit: https://brazil.vfsevisa.com/ VFS Global is responsible for managing the front-end administrative duties only. This includes the collection of application forms and required documents as per the checklist as well as the enrollment of biometrics. VFS Global does not play a part in the decision-making process nor does it possess insight into the final decision made by the embassy/consulate. About VFS Global VFS Global is the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions. VFS Global is the trusted partner of 70 client governments, operating a global network with more than 3,300 Application Centres in 149 countries. The company has processed over 272 million applications since its inception in 2001. The company manages non-judgmental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport, and consular services for its client governments, enabling them to focus entirely on the critical assessment task. VFS Global has its headquarters in Zurich/Switzerland and Dubai/United Arab Emirates. VFS Global is majority-owned by funds managed by Blackstone, the world's largest alternative asset manager. Blackstone seeks to create positive economic impact and long-term value for their investors, the companies in which they invest, and the communities in which they work. Blackstone's USD 991 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets, and secondary funds, all on a global basis. The Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation and EQT, a global investment organisation, headquartered in Stockholm/Sweden, hold minority stakes in VFS Global. SOURCE VFS Global

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[December 12, 2023]

Nokia and Deutsche Telekom begin deployment of multi-vendor Open RAN network in Germany

Press Release

Nokia and Deutsche Telekom begin deployment of multi-vendor Open RAN network in Germany

New deal will see companies partner to deploy a commercial Open RAN network in Germany; realization of MoU signed at MWC 2023

Deal marks a significant return for Nokia into Deutsche Telekoms network

Nokia to provide high-performance Open RAN compliant AirScale solution; Fujitsu will partner with Nokia in the deal with open-fronthaul compliant Radio Units.

Deal highlights the maturity and performance of Nokias O-RAN CU/DU; Confirms Nokias industry leadership through its anyRAN approach which offers mobile operators more choice in building 5G networks

12 December 2023

Espoo, Finland  Nokia and Deutsche Telekom AG (DT) today announced that they have begun to deploy a multi-vendor Open RAN network with Fujitsu in Germany. The technology is fully integrated into DTs live commercial network and the initial cluster will provide 2G, 4G, and 5G commercial services to customers in the Neubrandenburg area of Northern Germany. The deal marks a significant return for Nokia into DTs commercial network and is the realization of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both companies at MWC 2023. Nokia will replace the incumbent vendor in the deal. The project is already underway and will be extended from Q1 2024 onwards.

Nokia will deploy its commercial Open RAN compliant, high-performance, energy efficient 5G AirScale baseband solution in DTs commercial network including Fujitsu Radio Units. Nokias O-RAN solution will ensure DT has full feature, service, and performance parity with classic purpose-built RAN. Both companies have also agreed to explore O-RAN technology around Cloud RAN, 3rd party CaaS, RIC, SMO, and energy efficiency.

This is another example of Nokias anyRAN approach, which aims to build future-ready radio access networks together with an ecosystem of industry partners to unlock collaborative advantage. Nokia anyRAN is designed to give mobile operators and enterprises more flexibility in building their networks. For Open RAN, Nokia develops the required Open Fronthaul features on top of its high-performance RAN software, ensuring co-existence and feature performance parity with purpose-built RAN. Nokia baseband solutions can be combined with both Nokia and third-party radios. For operators, this ensures a smooth evolution path towards hybrid, Cloud RAN, and O-RAN deployments.

Claudia Nemat, Board Member of Deutsche Telekom AG for Technology and Innovation commented: Open RAN is crucial to Deutsche Telekoms strategy to promote greater supplier diversity and accelerate customer-oriented innovation in the radio access network. Our commercial deployment with Nokia and Fujitsu is an important step to prepare multi-vendor Open RAN as the technology of choice for future networks.

Tommi Uitto, President ofMobile Networks at Nokia, said: We are proud to partner with Deutsche Telekom, the largest mobile network operator in Europe, to start deploying a commercial multi-vendor Open RAN network in Germany with Fujitsu. Together, we are making Open RAN a commercial reality. Nokias industry-leading radio access portfolio and baseband software ensures that multi-supplier O-RAN systems can be deployed without any compromises in terms of performance, energy efficiency, or security. Together with our ecosystem of partners, we are providing more choice and a higher performance in Open RAN solutions to our customers than they will see from other RAN suppliers. This is another step highlighting Nokias commitment to Open RAN.







Resources

Webpage: Nokia AirScale Cloud RAN

Webpage: Nokia anyRAN

Webpage: Nokia AirScale Baseband

Whitepaper: Cloud RAN: A Guide to Acceleration Options

Executive Summary: Nokia Cloud RAN and Open RAN Solution Roadmap

Blog: In-Line architecture: bringing efficiency and performance to Cloud RAN

Blog: The collaborative advantage: Nokia and partners delivering best-in-class Cloud RAN solutions

About Nokia

At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today  and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

Media inquiries

Nokia Communications, Corporate

Email: [email protected]

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[December 12, 2023]

UnionBank waives fees for InstaPay fund transfers up to P1,000 this holiday season

PASIG, Philippines, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This season of gifting and giving, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) continues to waive all fees for InstaPay fund transfers for transactions up to P1,000 made through the UnionBank Online app. Handing out cash gifts and paying for Christmas purchases through a safe, convenient, and affordable channel is something UnionBank customers can look forward to.

UnionBank already has one of the most affordable online transfer fees, and this season, the Bank still has zero InstaPay fees! (For interbank fund transfers up to P1,000 to other bans and e-wallets via InstaPay in the UnionBank Online app.) The offer also applies to transactions involving QR Ph codes.







"We want our customers to enjoy their Christmas celebrations without having to worry about steep fees on their funds transfers for giving gift-giving and paying conveniently for their Holiday shopping purchases." said Albert Cuadrante, UnionBank's Chief Marketing Officer.

Enjoy low-to-zero transaction fees and convenient digital banking with UnionBank Online App. Don't have the app yet? Downloading the UnionBank Online app today from Google PlayStore, Huawei App Gallery, or the App Store! To learn more, visit www.unionbankph.com/unionbankonline.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/unionbank-waives-fees-for-instapay-fund-transfers-up-to-p1-000-this-holiday-season-302012210.html

SOURCE Union Bank of the Philippines
[December 12, 2023] Vianode appoints Dr. Stefan Bergold, a seasoned battery executive as CCO to lead commercialisation of sustainable anode graphite solutions Tweet

OSLO, Norway, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vianode, an advanced battery materials company providing sustainable anode graphite solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Stefan Bergold as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Bergold will lead Vianode's commercialisation focused on developing long-term customer partnerships in North America and Europe. Bergold will join Vianode in February 2024 from the position as general manager of Europe for Farasis Energy (Gan Zhou) Co., Ltd., an advanced lithium-ion battery supplier, and from the position as board director of SIRO Clean Energy Technology San. Tic. A.S, a lithium-ion battery start-up. He holds a PhD in electrical engineering and has over 15 years of experience as a sales and engineering executive in companies such as Siemens, AVL and AKASOL. "Stefan's deep battery value chain knowledge and global sales experience will be key in realising Vianode's ambition of supplying high-performance anode graphite solutions with industry-leading sustainability metrics to 3 million EVs per year by 2030," says Burkhard Straube, CEO of Vianode. "In addition to a proven track record of executing large off-take agreements within the battery and EV industry, he has been actively engaged in scaling early-phase companies to achieve global success." Vianode's ambition is to decarbonise battery and EV value chains and create long-term value for stakeholders and society through industrial-scale supply of low-emission anode graphite solutions. The company plans a phased development of production in North America and Europe after completing the USD 200 million customer qualification plant at Herya, Norway, in 2024. "Vianode brings a highly attractive value proposition to battery and EV manufacturers in North America and Europe based on a unique offering of tailored synthetic anode graphite solutions with resource-efficient and low-emission production. I share the commitment to decarbonise global transport through the battery and EV value chains and look forward to joining a strong and committed Vianode team," says Stefan Bergold. For further information, please contact:

Hans Iver Odenrud

Tel +47 958 16 230 Email [email protected] About Vianode

Vianode is an advanced battery materials company providing sustainable anode graphite solutions for the battery and EV value chains in North America and Europe. Vianode's breakthrough solution enables tailored high-performance synthetic anode graphite and a holistic sustainability offering including a 90% reduction in CO2 footprint. The company is currently preparing to start its customer qualification plant at Herya, Norway, before executing its multi-billion dollar phased investment program for large-scale plants in North America and Europe. The long-term ambition is to supply advanced battery materials to 3 million EVs per year by 2030. Vianode is owned by the world-leading industrial and financial companies Elkem, Hydro and Altor. The following files are available for download:







https://news.cision.com/vianode/i/nic-1597,c3247917 NIC 1597

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vianode-appoints-dr-stefan-bergold-a-seasoned-battery-executive-as-cco-to-lead-commercialisation-of-sustainable-anode-graphite-solutions-302012224.html SOURCE Vianode

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NAIROBI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Foreign visitors to Kenya will not be required to have a visa beginning January 2024, President William Ruto announced Tuesday during the celebration of Jamhuri Day, or Independence Day, held in Nairobi, the capital.

Ruto said all foreign nationals will enter the county without a visa from January next year, a move that is expected to boost tourism.

"Beginning January 2024, Kenya will be a visa-free country. It shall no longer be necessary for any person from any corner of the globe to carry the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya," Ruto said.

The Kenyan leader said that to implement the visa-free policy, the government has adopted a digital platform to ensure that all travelers to the country are identified in advance through an electronic platform.

An electronic travel authorization will be granted to foreign nationals visiting Kenya, Ruto said, adding that a visa-free regime aligns with his administration's quest to boost the growth of tourism and borderless commerce.

Kenya had earlier waived visa requirements for citizens from Indonesia, Senegal, and Congo, anchored on bilateral agreements to enhance the movement of tourists, investors, and skilled personnel.

President Ruto has advocated for the abolition of visas for Africans visiting Kenya to realize the continent's integration agenda since taking over power in September 2022.

Kenya joins Rwanda which in November announced visa-free travel for all Africans.

During his speech at the 60th independence anniversary celebration, Ruto said his administration was committed to renewing key sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, agriculture, health, and financial services in line with the people-centered growth model.

In addition, Ruto said Kenya intends to remain a transport and logistics hub to benefit optimally from the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). 
[December 12, 2023]

Scientists in Finland release the recipe for lab-grown coffee to accelerate the creation of a new coffee ecosystem

ESPOO, Finland, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The just published scientific article details the process of creating lab-grown coffee and shows proof of concept for the method. The research group was able to brew coffee from cells grown in a laboratory for the first time in 2021. Now, the process has been fully documented and released to the public, including the establishment of the cell cultures.

Two years after the scientists in Finland successfully made coffee in a laboratory, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has released detailed information on the process. Published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, the scientific paper describes the exact process the scientists used to produce coffee starting from the original coffee plant itself, and establishing cell cultures to alter its aroma in the roasting process, caffeine content, flavor analysis, and sensory profiling by a panel of tasters.

While demand for coffee is rising, the production of coffee beans faces multiple sustainability challenges, concerning land and water use, labourers' rights, and climate change. According to the Centre for the Promotion of Imports, Europe, the highest consumer of coffee in the world, imported over 3,602 thousand tonnes (3.6 million tonnes) of green coffee in 2021, with an estimated average of 5 kg of coffee consumed per person each year.

Cellular agriculture provides a potential avenue for solving the main issues in coffee production in a sustainable way, also allowing for more regional self-sufficiency in areas with climates that are not suitable for coffee bean farming. In addition, lab-grown coffee has the potential to speed up coffee production significantly. Traditionally farmed coffee provides 1-2 harvests per year, whereas a new batch of lab-grown coffee can be made in a month due to the controlled process and the infinitely renewable nature of coffee plant cells that removes the need to grow new coffee plants from seeds.

However, the journey of lab-grown coffee to grocery store shelves and people's kitchens is anything but complete. Dr Heiko Rischer, Principal Scientist and Head of Plant Biotechnology at VTT, calls for an ecosystem dedicated to the production and commercialization of lab-grown coffee.

"It's one thing to grow coffee cells in a bioreactor. Making it a commercially viable product is a whole other matter. The raw material derived from different cultivars and species, and the soil, the elevation, climate, and even the year when the particular coffee beans were grown plus the processes of roasting, fermentation, brewing, are all factors that impact the end product. While lab-grown coffee is much more controlled, different approaches to, for example, roasting significantly impact the aroma profile of the coffee which is a key consideration for the consumer," elaborates Dr Rischer.

Ideally, players interested in the same coffee value chain, such as cultivators, roasters, blenders, fermenters, and coffee brands could come together to build the processes required to produce and commercialize the new sustainable type of coffee.

"Our wish is that the publication of this scientific article, which clearly demonstrates proof of concept for lab-grown coffee, nudges forward the creation of an ecosystem or a collective that has the resources, know-how, and drive to pioneer an entirely new type of coffee. It is a huge challenge but one VTT is prepared to take on with the right partners and experts," says Dr Rischer.

Additional materials:

Media kit with infographic

Heiko Rischer, Principal Scientist and Head of Plant Biotechnology, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

tel. +358 40 720 6834, [email protected]

Further information on VTT:

Satu Holm-Jumppanen

Manager, Communications

+358 50 305 4718, [email protected]

www.vtt.fi

The following files are available for download:









https://mb.cision.com/Main/642/3891801/2486403.pdf Scientists in Finland release the recipe for lab-grown coffee https://news.cision.com/vtt-info/i/heiko-rischer-research-team-leader-plant-biotechnology-vtt-and-coffee-plants-in-greenhouse-photo-by-,c3247886 Heiko Rischer Research Team Leader Plant biotechnology VTT and coffee plants in greenhouse Photo by Vesa Kippola https://news.cision.com/vtt-info/i/sanna-kukkamaa-research-technician-plant-biotechnology-vtt-making-coffee-from-roasted-coffee-produce,c3247887 Sanna Kukkamaa Research Technician Plant biotechnology VTT making coffee from roasted coffee produced by VTT s cellular agriculture method Photo by Vesa Kippola https://news.cision.com/vtt-info/i/making-coffee-from-roasted-coffee-produced-by-vtt-s-cellular-agriculture-method-photo-by-vesa-kippol,c3247888 Making coffee from roasted coffee produced by VTT s cellular agriculture method Photo by Vesa Kippola https://news.cision.com/vtt-info/i/making-coffee-from-roasted-coffee-produced-by-vtt-s-cellular-agriculture-method-photo-by-vesa-kippol,c3247889 Making coffee from roasted coffee produced by VTT s cellular agriculture method Photo by Vesa Kippola 1 https://news.cision.com/vtt-info/i/coffee-cell-cultures-photo-by-vesa-kippola,c3247890 Coffee cell cultures Photo by Vesa Kippola



View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scientists-in-finland-release-the-recipe-for-lab-grown-coffee-to-accelerate-the-creation-of-a-new-coffee-ecosystem-302012238.html

SOURCE VTT Info
[December 12, 2023] Aegis Software & Arch Systems Partner to Digitize Continuous Improvement in Manufacturing Tweet

Aegis Software, a global provider of Manufacturing Operations Management Software (MOM/MES), and Arch Systems, the leading provider of data and analytics for manufacturing operations, announce a groundbreaking partnership toward digitizing continuous improvement of factory operations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212485008/en/ Aegis Software & Arch Systems Partner to Digitize Continuous Improvement in Manufacturing (Graphic: Business Wire) Manufacturing excellence relies on proactively identifying issues and implementing corrective action. Effective identification requires analytics fueled by maximum breadth and depth of data. Corrective actions rely on revealing insights within those analytics, and then ensuring action is taken on the shop floor. How quickly a manufacturer moves from issue identification to action, and the effectiveness of those actions, is what separates the world-class from the rest. Aegis and Arch have partnered to deliver an unprecedented AI Copilot to guide manufacturers toward theright actions and, if desired, implement those actions automatically via FactoryLogix on the shop floor. This expedites the cycle of continuous improvement beyond what is possible with even the best process experts alone.



By augmenting Arch data sources with the contextualized product design and human operator interaction data provided by Aegis' FactoryLogix, the Arch Insight Engine becomes even more powerful in suggesting targeted operational and process improvements. The results of those actions are then available for both Arch and Aegis systems to assess the efficacy of the corrective action. This represents an unprecedented application of AI for manufacturing that leverages a greater scope of data than previously possible, while also being able to reach into the physical process and cause improvement. Of the partnership, Andrew Scheuermann, CEO of Arch Systems, said, "ArchFX customers today achieve unprecedented levels of understanding and actionable intelligence to improve their factories. This partnership will enable our mutual customers to more fully detect and align patterns and trends in their data, leading to specific actions for improvement. Manufacturers are eagerly anticipating the introduction of a complete AI Copilot that drives intelligent actions holistically for their organizations. This represents a crucial step toward that as it integrates intelligent actions derived from previously collected MES data with analytics and AI systems. This is just the start of the novel value this approach can offer."

Aegis Software CEO, Jason Spera said, "Our technology concept is clear: to power autonomously improving operations, a unique and fundamental aspect of Industry 4.0. This partnership satisfies a need we've heard from the market as digitalization has become more prevalent in manufacturing. That is---'how do I better leverage all this data I have from my process to make my operation more successful?' This solution brings to market an AI Copilot able to go beyond data and analytics to actually drive operational improvement-either via factory operators or directly via MES." About Aegis Software Aegis Software delivers a comprehensive and flexible end-to-end manufacturing execution system (MES) platform giving manufacturers the speed, control, and visibility they require. Aegis has international sales and support offices in Germany, UK, and China, and partners with more than 37 manufacturing equipment suppliers. Since its inception, Aegis has been helping more than 2,200 factories across the military, aerospace, electronics, medical, and automotive industries, drive rapid and continuous innovation with the highest quality while reducing operational costs. Learn more by visiting https://www.aiscorp.com. Speed, Control and Visibility for Manufacturing. Note: FactoryLogix is a registered trademark of Aegis Industrial Software. All other company and product names contained herein are trademarks of the respective holders. About Arch Systems Arch has built the largest collaboration of industry domain experts working hand-in-hand with data scientists to constantly map new signals from the noisy data, adding them to the ever-growing library of actionable insights. These insights are changing how manufacturers tackle their most complex problems, allowing them to simplify and align actions from the shop floor and the top floor. The ArchFX Platform provides the machine connectivity, data management, and advanced insights needed to achieve digital transformation across the manufacturing organization. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212485008/en/

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[December 12, 2023] Social Media's Hottest Food Creator is Becoming A Household Name Tweet

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tineke Younger (@tinekeyounger), known by everyone as "Tini", is America's fastest-growing food creator. She has her own YouTube show on Gordon Ramsey's platform Bite, and is getting the type of brand interest very few social media food creators ever experience. At only 22, the world is moving fast for Tineke. The recently engaged Baltimore native, now living in Georgia, has created some of the most viral content on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. TikTok helped Tineke find her voice. In 2019, Tineke joined a culinary program at her local technical center and fell in love with cooking instantly. She knew she had a passion for cooking and it gave her the courage to share her recipes online. In a recent post, Tini created her famous Holiday Mac n' Cheese recipe which went viral and has caught the attention of millions of people. This singe TikTok video has over 70 million views, 8.8 million likes, and around 50,000 comments which is unheard of today. The engagement on this one video had more views than most major food networks have in a month.



Tini's social media audience has ballooned because of her relatability and simplicity of recipes that everyone wants to try. Her current community consists of: TikTok: 5.9 million followers growing by one million over the last 14 days

Facebook: 835,000

Instagram: 709,000 Tini's YouTube show, From Scratch with Tini, on Gordon Ramsey's Bite platform has over 1 million views to date and is growing fast. Everything she makes is authentic and done from scratch. Tini shares insightful tips and tricks for cooking delicious food in a very attainable, friendly manner. Tini sees social media as an incredible insight to her fan base. "I love my followers so much. They live like me, they look like me, and they want to upgrade what they do in the kitchen for a reasonable cost. I try to inspire men and women to utilize food to make each other happy and spend time together like I do with my fiance' Antoine."

Tini has worked with brands big and small from Tabasco, Bloom, Hello Fresh, OLIPOP, Pepper the App, and others. As Tini's community grows, so do her partnership opportunities. Tini's representative Evan Morgenstein, CEO of The Digital Renegades, sees a shift in the marketplace with food creators. "Before brands wanted to "test" one post by a creator like Tini. Now brands are discussing long-term partnerships that include creating content for her social media accounts, the brand's accounts, and unique content so the company can utilize her viral content in an advertising buys that creates massive traffic. Someone like Tini takes the guesswork out of developing viral content that will be seen by millions because her audience and the platforms' algorithms love her." As a graduate of a respected cooking school, Tini has spent years perfecting her recipes. The future is incredibly exciting for Tini as she moves into the next phase of her life. If you are a company or brand interested in discussing a partnership with Tini, please email Evan Morgenstein CEO of The Digital Renegades [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/social-medias-hottest-food-creator-is-becoming-a-household-name-302009667.html SOURCE CelebExperts

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[December 12, 2023] Big Data and Business Analytics Market to Reach $665.7 Billion, by 2033 at 11.62% CAGR: Allied Market Research Tweet

The big data and business analytics market has grown due to a surge in the adoption of big data analytics software by multiple organizations. In addition, increase in the need to gain insights for business planning fuels the growth of the market. NEW CASTLE, Del., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Big Data and Business Analytics Market by Component (Hardware, Software, and Service), Application (Customer Analytics, Supply Chain Analytics, Marketing Analytics, Pricing Analytics, Spatial Analytics, Workforce Analytics, Risk & Credit Analytics, and Transportation Analytics), and Industry Vertical (BFSI, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Government, Energy & Utilities, Transportation, Retail & E-Commerce, IT & Telecom, Education and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033". According to the report, the global big data and business analytics market was valued at $225.3 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $665.7 billion by 2033, registering a CAGR of 11.62% from 2024 to 2033. Prime determinants of growth The big data and business analytics market is expected to witness notable growth owing to surge in adoption of big data analytics software by multiple organizations, increase in demand for cloud-based big data analytics software among SMEs, and numerous benefits provided by big data and business analytics solutions. Moreover, emerging trends such as social media analytics and increase in need to gain insights for business planning are expected to provide lucrative opportunities for the growth of the market during the forecast period. On the contrary, high implementation cost and lack of skilled workforce limit the growth of the big data and business analytics market. Download Sample Pages: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/6268 Report coverage & details:







Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20242033 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $225.3 Billion Market Size in 2033 $665.7 Billion CAGR 11.62 % No. of Pages in Report 540 Segments Covered Application, Component, Industry Vertical and Region. Drivers Surge in adoption of big data analytics software by multiple organizations Increase in demand for cloud-based big data analytics software among SMEs Numerous benefits provided by big data and business analytics solutions Opportunities Emerging trends such as social media analytics Increase in need to gain insights for business planning Restraints High implementation cost Lack of skilled workforce

Buy this Complete Report (540 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/big-data-and-business-analytics-market/purchase-options Covid-19 Scenario The big data and business analytics market has witnessed significant growth in the past few years; however, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the market was projected to witness a slight downfall in 2020. This was attributed to the implementation of lockdowns by governments in the majority of the countries and the shutdown of travel across the world to prevent the transmission of the virus. The big data and business analytics market is projected to prosper in the upcoming years after the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, various IT & telecom, e-commerce, and retail companies are seeking cost-effective solutions to boost their productivity to attract consumers toward cloud-based solutions and to increase their financial benefits. Furthermore, increase in efforts of governments along with rise in investments in smart city projects by a number of developing economies is expected to provide lucrative opportunities for the expansion of the global market, as the use of business analytics is increasing in smart cities majorly to support real-time operational control; improve decision-making; increase service quality as well as efficiency; and improve engagement of government with businesses, citizens, and other stakeholders. The customer analytics segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on application, the customer analytics segment held the highest market share in 2023, accounting for nearly one-third of the big data and business analytics market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to market players focusing on customer analytics to get better insights into consumer demand and preferences. However, risk and credit analytics segment is projected to attain the highest CAGR of 14.0% from 2024 to 2033 due to an increase in demand for risk analytics due to various government policies and the rise in competition among industries. The service segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period Based on component, the service segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing to half of the big data and business analytics market revenue, owing to growth in the data services from end users. However, the software segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 12.92% from 2024 to 2033 as most organizations have started adopting big data and business analytics software to manage the massive volume of data being generated for meaningful insights and better-informed decisions. The BFSI segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period Based on industry vertical, the BFSI segment accounted for the largest share in 2023, contributing for more than one-fourth of the travel insurance market revenue, owing to growth in the digital transformation in banking services. However, the retail and e-commerce segment is projected to attain the highest CAGR of 14.06% from 2024 to 2033. The retail industry is adopting big data analytics in their processes to improve sales, customer service, and product offerings, which is fueling the growth of the market. North America region to maintain its dominance by 2033 Based on region, the North America segment held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2023, accounting for half of the big data and business analytics market revenue. The presence of key players and technological advancements in the region propel the growth of the market. Enquiry Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/6268 Leading Market Players: - AMAZON WEB SERVICES, INC.

FAIR ISAAC CORPORATION

HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP

IBM CORPORATION

MICROSOFT CORPORATION

ORACLE CORPORATION

SAP SE

SAS INSTITUTE INC.

TIBCO SOFTWARE INC.

TERADATA CORPORATION The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the big data and business analytics market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different countries. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. AVENUE- A Subscription-Based Library (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model): AMR introduces its online premium subscription-based library Avenue, designed specifically to offer cost-effective, one-stop solution for enterprises, investors, and universities. With Avenue, subscribers can avail an entire repository of reports on more than 2,000 niche industries and more than 12,000 company profiles. Moreover, users can get an online access to quantitative and qualitative data in PDF and Excel formats along with analyst support, customization, and updated versions of reports. Get an access to the library of reports at any time from any device and anywhere. For more details, follow the link: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access Trending Reports in ICT & Media Industry: Customer Experience Management Software Market Expected to Reach USD 23,835 Million by 2027 Customer Relationship Management Market Expected to Reach $96.39 Billion by 2027 Predictive Maintenance Market Expected to Reach $31.97 Billion by 2027 Enterprise Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market is Expected to Reach $53.06 Billion By 2026 About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports Insights" 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:

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1209 Orange Street,

Corporation Trust Center,

Wilmington, New Castle,

Delaware 19801 USA.

Int'l: +1-503-894-6022

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[email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/big-data-and-business-analytics-market-to-reach-665-7-billion-by-2033-at-11-62-cagr-allied-market-research-302012419.html SOURCE Allied Market Research

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[December 12, 2023] Michael Lynch, Veteran JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs Banker, Joins Foros as a Managing Director Tweet

Foros announced today that Michael Lynch has joined the firm as a Managing Director. Michael is an investment banking industry veteran, with several decades of extensive experience in M&A, corporate finance and debt and equity capital markets, advising clients across a broad range of industries and geographic areas. Over the course of his career, Michael has built and run businesses for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman, Sachs & Co. Prior to joining Foros, Michael was a Vice Chairman, Investment Banking at JP Morgan for 13 years, advising companies across sectors on critical strategic and capital markets issues. While at JP Morgan, he also established the industry's leading family office investment banking practice advising on M&A and investment transactions. Michael began his career at Goldman Sachs where he was a Partner of the firm in the Investment Banking Division and over time was responsible for the Corporate Finance Department in the U.S. South and Southwest Region and was co-head of Investment Banking, Latin America. Michael served on the Board of Directors of Williams-Sonoma for 15 years. Michael resides in New York, NY with his wife Susan Baker. He is a member of the Board of Trustees at The Clark Art Institute in illiamstown, MA and serves as the Board Chair of Glyndebourne America, which supports the work of Glyndebourne, a premier summer opera festival in East Sussex, England. He also serves on the Board of Directors of East Side House Settlement, a major social services agency in New York City, and as Co-Chair of The Winter Show, the annual art, antiques, and design show that supports East Side House. Michael is a Trustee Emeritus of Rice University.



Michael earned a double major in Chemical Engineering and Behavioral Science from Rice University and an M.B.A. (first in class honors) from the University of Texas at Austin. "I am thrilled that Michael has joined Foros, and I look forward to partnering with him in advising our clients," said Jean Manas, Chief Executive Officer. "I have known Michael for many years and worked with him during my time at Goldman. He is the embodiment of our core values: superior advice delivered with absolute integrity and in a spirit of full commitment to and partnership with clients."

Mr. Lynch said: "I am excited to be joining Foros to help Jean continue to grow the firm by delivering differentiated advice. I have tremendous respect for how he has built Foros, and I am delighted that we have this opportunity to work together again." About Foros: Foros is a premier financial and M&A advisory firm headquartered in New York City. Foros has an unrelenting focus on premier advice, developed rigorously and delivered with integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the success of its clients. Since its founding in 2009, Foros has served 88 clients, advising on 99 announced transactions with over $73 billion in transaction value. For additional information about Foros, please visit www.forosgroup.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212471418/en/

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[December 12, 2023] Chinese Reality Show "Divas Hit the Road" Invites Viewers to Experience the Charm of Silk Road, Serving as a Portal for International Cultural Exchanges Tweet

CHANGSHA, China, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Divas Hit the Road ("the Show"), a hit travel reality show co-produced and launched by Hunan TV and Mango TV, has returned for the fifth season with a new theme that takes audiences on a global-trotting journey in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Celebrating BRI's tenth anniversary, the new season sees seven Chinese celebrities  actresses Dilraba Dilmurat, Qin Lan, Qin Hailu, Xin Zhilei, and Zhao Zhaoyi, and actors Wang Anyu and Hu Xianxu  go on a low-budget yet eye-opening adventure starting from Saudi Arabia, then traversing northwards to Croatia and reaching the scenic landscapes of Iceland, where they offer a close-up look at the local cultures and allow viewers to live vicariously their exotic experiences. The popular program has played a positive role in global cultural exchanges, opening a vivid cultural window for China and countries communicating along the BRI. For instance, Croatian locals exchanged gifts with Chinese guests and shared stories about the transformative impact of a Chinese-led bridge construction. Saudi residents and Chinese guests larn each other's language to write "Love and peace."



Audiences will also be taken to some of the most beautiful destinations along the tour, including those that highlight the fruitful outcomes of BRI. Haramain High-Speed Rail, with a total length of 450.28 kilometers, constructed by China Railway 18th Bureau Group, is a major infrastructure project cutting through desert terrain, reducing the travel time from 5-6 hours to less than 2 hours. A landmark structure in southern Croatia, the Peljesac Bridge is the largest infrastructure project undertaken by China in the European Union. The bridge, spanning 2,440 meters in length, links up the Croatian mainland with the Peljesac Peninsula, bridging the north and south parts of Croatia. Since the program began airing on Mango TV and Hunan TV, the show has led to a surge in travel enthusiasm for Silk Road among internet audiences, with online travel platforms clocking an over 772% jump in the search for the keywords related to "Saudi Arabia".

With its focus on fostering international friendships, the Show aims to promote cultural exchanges. As they experienced the exotic locales through the riveting cultural expedition, the seven featured guests, along with the production team, brought Chinese cultures to the local families they visited, strengthening the understanding and appreciation between different nations. In an episode dedicated to discovering the beauty of Croatia, Diliraba, a talented actress from Xinjiang, China, adorned in Xinjiang's ethnic cultural attire, the Etles dress, presented an eye-catching performance of traditional Xinjiang dance. This act sparked a fervor for Chinese national culture on the internet, creating a buzz in online communities worldwide. The stunning dance captivated international audiences, who were mesmerized by traditional Chinese ethnic costumes, deeply immersing themselves in the allure of Chinese cultural charm. To watch the Show, please visit https://w.mgtv.com/b/593651.html. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/chinese-reality-show-divas-hit-the-road-invites-viewers-to-experience-the-charm-of-silk-road-serving-as-a-portal-for-international-cultural-exchanges-302012571.html SOURCE Mango TV

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[December 12, 2023] Annual Study of U.S. Media Agencies Predicts that YouTube and CTV Budgets Will Increase for 2024 Tweet

BOSTON, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pixability, ( www.pixability.com ), a leader in AI-driven contextual targeting, brand suitability and performance on YouTube and CTV, today revealed the results of a major survey of U.S. Media Agency executives and buyers and planners. The study asked agency leaders about shifts in video advertising behaviors and how advertiser strategies are affected by the uncertain economic conditions.

According to the survey, 96% of all agencies predict that advertiser spending on YouTube will stay steady or increase in 2024, with 48% indicating budgets will be steady and 48% indicating theyll increase. Only 4% said they predicted a decrease in budgets, which is down slightly from the 7% of respondents who indicated they would decrease their 2023 YouTube spend from 2022. Additionally, brand safety and performance were cited as the top priorities for brands advertising on YouTube. Agencies also indicated they are increasingly using YouTube for full-funnel and action-related purposes in addition to using it for awareness and consideration campaigns. The study also asked for predictions on spending on CTV, TikTok, Facebook/Instagram and Linear TV. CTV should continue to enjoy the most aggressive growth in the industry, with 65% of agencies predicting an increase. Not surprisingly, only 10% of gencies predict an increase in Linear TV spend, with 36% predicting a decrease. Meanwhile 43% of agencies predict an increase in Tik Tok growth but just 28% foresee increases in spend on Facebook and Instagram, possibly representing continued backlash against Meta.



This data reflects what were hearing from our big agency and brand partners, said David George, CEO of Pixability. YouTube and CTV spend will increase in 2024 for many brands. There will also be continued emphasis on driving measurable performance for YouTube campaigns specifically while also making sure they are brand suitable. Agencies also expressed their wide-ranging feelings about brand suitable content when advertising on YouTube. When asked which types of content a typical client would want to avoid, Made for Kids content and Political content ranked at the top of the list, while GVP (Google Video Partners) content and News content ranked much lowerwith the contrast in Political v. News content revealing how nuanced it can be to get brand suitability right for brands.

Other findings of note from the study include: An unrelenting focus on balancing brand suitability and performance: 62% of agencies say balancing the two is more important than relying more heavily on one or the other

The importance of brand suitability tactics: Agency execs say that YouTube campaigns would only be 70% suitable without them

A migration to more holistic CTV planning: While just 39% of agencies have a team that plans CTV, TV, and YouTube advertising in one unified group, 46% of agencies predict they will have a group like this in the near future

About Pixability Pixability is the leading AI-driven technology company that empowers the worlds largest brands and their agencies to maximize the value of their video advertising across YouTube and CTV. Leveraging its proprietary technology platform and data, Pixability makes every video impression matter by identifying contextually relevant, brand suitable inventory and maximizing cost efficient outcomes. Pixabilitys suite of solutions are used by the top media agencies including IPG, Publicis, Dentsu, Stagwell, and GroupM, as well as brands such as KIND, McDonalds, Salesforce and CVS. For more information about Pixability, please visit www.pixability.com . Contact: Alexandra Levy

alex@siliconalley-media



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[December 12, 2023] Ncontracts Acquires Quantivate Tweet

Ncontracts, the leading provider of integrated compliance, risk, and vendor management solutions to the financial services industry, announced it has acquired Quantivate, a growing provider of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) solutions for banks and credit unions. With this acquisition, Ncontracts further solidifies its position as the software-as-a-service (SaaS) and knowledge-as-a-service (KaaS) leader at a time when increased regulatory scrutiny is shining a spotlight on enterprise risk management practices at U.S.-based financial institutions. The transaction will add complementary solutions that will provide expanded services for customers, while growing Ncontracts' workforce to 350 employees with a combined customer base of over 4,000 financial institutions. "We are thrilled to join forces with Quantivate," said Michael Berman, Ncontracts founder and CEO. "We are both mutually committed to helping financial institutions reduce risk, improve compliance, and control costs, so combining our resources empowers us to be an even better provider of software and servces for our customers and the financial industry."



The Quantivate acquisition demonstrates Ncontracts' continuous commitment to growth from both an organic and inorganic perspective. This history of year-over-year growth has led to Ncontracts being named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies in America for the fifth consecutive year in 2023. Andy Vanderhoff, Quantivate founder and CEO, had this to say about the transaction, "Quantivate has always believed in the power of innovative technology and exceptional people to help banks and credit unions thrive. Ncontracts shares this mission, and I'm excited to watch as the strength and experience of our united teams take risk management solutions to the next level."

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Michael Berman, CEO of Ncontracts, will continue his role as CEO of the newly combined company. About Ncontracts Ncontracts provides integrated risk, vendor and compliance management software to a rapidly expanding customer base of over 4,000 financial institutions, mortgage companies, and fintechs in the United States. The company's powerful combination of software and services enables financial institutions to achieve their risk management and compliance goals with an integrated, user-friendly cloud-based solution suite encompassing vendor, organizational, audit, and compliance risk management. Visit www.ncontracts.com or follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter for more information. About Quantivate Quantivate has provided web-based governance, risk, and compliance software and service solutions to organizations of all sizes since 2005. Since then, the company has grown to feature a full suite of GRC modules, including Business Continuity, Vendor Management, Enterprise Risk Management, IT Risk Management, Internal Audit, Compliance Management, Policy & Document Management, Complaint Management, and Issue Management. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212789816/en/

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[December 12, 2023] Marti's Ride-Hailing Service Reaches Over 452,000 Riders and Over 100,000 Registered Drivers, Once Again Exceeding Revised 2023 Year End Targets Half a Month Earlier Than Planned Tweet

Turkiye's leading mobility super app Marti Technologies, Inc. ("Marti" or the "Company") (NYSE American: MRT) has once again outperformed its 2023 year end expectations for its ride-hailing business, hitting over 452,000 unique riders and over 100,000 registered drivers as of December 11, 2023, half a month earlier than planned. Marti's number of ride-hailing riders grew 19% from November 14, 2023 to December 11, 2023. The number of registered drivers grew 11% during the same time period. The faster than forecasted growth in both the rider and driver sides of Marti's ride-hailing marketplace demonstrates the strong need for the service across Turkiye. The service intends to provide readily available, safe, and affordable rides for riders, while providing economic opportunities for drivers across the income spectrum. As previously reported in its 2023 first half yearly results, Marti had originally set targets of 375,000 unique riders and 80,000 registered drivers for its ride-hailing business by 2023 year end and then revised those targets in mid-November to 450,000 unique riders and 100,000 registered drivers after exceeding the original targets. As of December 11, 2023, Marti has met the revised targets, a half month earlier than the 2023 year end. Encouraged by the growth in its rider and driver bases in its ride-hailing business, Marti has set targets for over 700,000 riders and over 120,000 registered drivers by March 31, 2024. Marti's ride-hailing service currently operates in over 20 cities across Turkiye, including Istanbul, Antalya, and Izmir. Of Marti's over 100,000 registered drivers, over 80,000 are in Turkiye's largest city, Istanbul. This is in contrast to 19,016 taxis serving the city. With 4.2 times as many registered drivers as taxis serving the city of Istanbul, Marti is able to offer widespread availability across the city. Furthermore, Marti's drivers undergo formal background checks before acceptance onto the service, thereby contributing to rider safety. The average rating of Marti's ride-hailing drivers by riders is 4.8 out of 5 stars. Marti currently does not enable online payment for the service over its app, or charge a fee for the service. McKinsey & Company, a consultancy group, estimates the taxi market size in Turkiye at $9 billion to $12 billion as of 2021. Further, under the "Disruptive Scenario 2030", ride-hailing is expected to increase the size of the taxi market by offering cheaper and more convenient rides. McKinsey & Company estimates the potential size of the Turkih ride-hailing market in 2030 at $15 billion to $20 billion.



About Marti: Founded in 2018, Marti is Turkiye's leading mobility app, offering multiple transportation services to its riders. Marti operates a ride-hailing service that matches riders with car and motorcycle drivers, and operates a large fleet of rental e-mopeds, e-bikes, and e-scooters. All of Marti's offerings are serviced by proprietary software systems and IoT infrastructure. For more information, visit www.marti.tech.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, also known as the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any express or implied statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact and generally relate to future events, hopes, intentions, strategies, or performance may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including but without limitation statements regarding the anticipated growth, including the number of riders and registered drivers of the ride-hailing business, the ride-hailing targets by March 31, 2024, and the expected future performance and market opportunities of Marti and the ride-hailing business. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "might," "possible," "believe," "predict," "potential," "continue," "aim," "strive," and similar expressions may identify such forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expressed or implied forwarding-looking statements, including, but not limited to: (i) the effect of the public listing of our securities on our business relationships, performance, financial condition and business generally, (ii) risks that the business combination may disrupt our current plans or divert management's attention from our ongoing business operations, (iii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us or our directors or officers related to the business combination or otherwise, (iv) our ability to maintain the listing of our securities on the NYSE American, (v) volatility in the price of our securities due to a variety of factors, including without limitation changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which we plan to operate, variations in competitors' performance and success and changes in laws and regulations affecting our business, (vi) our ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and identify opportunities, (vii) the risk of downturns in the highly competitive tech-enabled mobility services industry, (viii) our ability to build our brand and consumers' recognition, acceptance and adoption of our brand, (ix) the risk that we may not be able to effectively manage our growth, including our design, research, development and maintenance capabilities, (x) technological changes and risks associated with doing business in an emerging market, (xi) risks relating to our dependence on and use of certain intellectual property and technology and (xii) and other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's preliminary prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on July 31, 2023, as such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company's other filings with the SEC, accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and the Investors Relations section of Company's website at https://ir.marti.tech. Any investors should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC as most of the factors are outside the Company's control and are difficult to predict. As a result, the Company's actual results may differ from its expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, such forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as predictions of future events. The Company cautions not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, including projections, which speak only as to management expectations and beliefs as of the date they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212922038/en/

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[December 12, 2023] LF Edge Project Portfolio Expands Footprint with Two new Community Projects Addressing Different Layers of the Stack, Nexoedge and NanoMQ Tweet

Leading open source edge computing hub welcomes two new community projects including an Edge-Cloud Storage and MQTT Broker for IoT Edge

"Nexoedge" offers reliable edge-cloud storage using algorithms for Network Coding communication, Secret Sharing keyless encryption for edge cloud storage and data privacy protection while "NanoMQ" brings an ultra-lightweight and blazing-fast MQTT broker for IoT Edge

LF Edge closes 2023 with mature project portfolio and robust collection of growing blueprints to address addressing edge computing needs across industries SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LF Edge , an umbrella organization within the Linux Foundation that's created an open, interoperable framework for edge computing independent of hardware, silicon, cloud, or operating system, today announced the addition of two new Stage 1 projects: Nexoedge and NanoMQ . Nexoedge is a reliable and efficient multi-cloud distributed storage which enables applications and devices at the edge to store data into one or more clouds. The result of research from LF Edge Associate member, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Nexoedge offers reliable edge-cloud storage using Network Coding communication algorithms by sharding data into a number of coded components. Additionally, it applies Secret Sharing keyless encryption algorithms before data transmission from edge to cloud, offering privacy protection to data that's only readable on the edge side. Network Coding is the academic world's leading communication algorithm for the past two decades, and the most significant communication invention from CUHK since the establishment of its engineering faculty by Nobel Laureate Professor Charles Kao in 1988. NanoMQ is an ultra-lightweight and blazing-fast Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) broker for IoT Edge. It helps users unify critical data in motion and data in use between Edge and Cloud in an efficient manner. NanoMQ has started to play an important role in scenarios such as Connected Cars, and is a good supplement to existing LF Edge projects like EdgeX Foundry, eKuiper, and more. "LF Edge continues to grow across the ecosystem, and we are thrilled to welcome Nexoedge and NanoMQ to the project fold," said Arpit Jopshipura, general manager, Networking, Edge and IoT, the Linux Foundation. "Continued innovation across areas such as enhance Edge-Cloud Storage and IoT data transfer to the Cloud is the next step in bringing collaborative open source solutions to the edge and IoT."



"The Paradigm-shifting of edge computing brings new challenges for messaging. NanoMQ is here to fill the vacancy by unifying data in motion on the edge; it provides parallel processing of messages, heterogeneous computing on different kinds of OSes and CPUs, and data interoperability that merges fragmented protocols. We hope our work can ease other developers' burdens and accelerate the industrial revolution. Together, we're building a thriving open source ecosystem," said Jaylin, Edge computing solution VP of EMQ and the initiator of the NanoMQ project. "According to the healthy and productive collaboration we have built with the NNG project, I believe it is vital for open source projects to orchestrate with each other, and LF Edge is a new paradise for breeding open-source culture in our generation." "We have been conducting applied academic research on improving the dependability of large-scale storage and networked systems. Nexoedge is built on our prior research applying the Network Coding theory to interconnect storage resources at geo-distributed scale in order to address the performance, scalability, fault tolerance, and generality challenges in edge-cloud storage environments," said Professor Patrick Lee, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, CUHK and Cofounder of Nexoedge. "We are very excited that our innovations and efforts are recognized by LF Edge. We hope that our research can bring substantial industrial impact to the storage community."

"As businesses and governments establish their own new normal, 5G and edge computing will be necessary to deliver the automation, performance and cognitive insight required by many industries. There will be a large market opportunity for LF Edge and Nexoedge to propel further innovation and accelerate new services," said Aldous Ng, Cofounder of Nexoedge. Looking Ahead The Nexoedge team will explore integration opportunities across LF Edge projects by offering the critical edge storage component. To learn more about Nexodege, visit https://lfedge.org/projects/nexoedge/ or https://nexoedge.io/ . Although NanoMQ was born as an MQTT broker, it continues to expand the boundary of edge messaging. It has already been widely adopted in commercial scenarios where performance and compatibility matter, such as in software-defined vehicles and robotics. The future roadmap of NanoMQ is to evolve as a cross-domain messaging bus across vehicle-cloud and resolve data interoperability in sensor-fusion scenarios. More information is available at www.nanomq.io . Open Networking & Edge Summit 2024 Returning to Silicon Valley, ONE Summit happens April 29-May 1 in San Jose, Calif. ONE Summit serves as the industry's premier open networking and edge ecosystem event, gathering global thought leaders to collaborate across AI, Access, Edge, Cloud, Core, and more. This year's tracks include: AI Implementation across Telecom, Cloud, Enterprise & Edge; The Future of Open Innovation; Securing and Automating the Open end-to-end Network; Next-Gen Access and Connectivity; and Deployment Use Stories: Where Slides Meet the Real World EDge industry thought leaders are encouraged to submit speaking proposals to share insights on the latest open innovations across the industry. The deadline for speaking proposals has been extended to December 17, 2023. Anyone interested in sponsoring ONE Summit should download the Sponsorship Prospectus for details. About the Linux Foundation The Linux Foundation is the organization of choice for the world's top developers and companies to build ecosystems that accelerate open technology development and commercial adoption. Together with the worldwide open source community, it is solving the hardest technology problems by creating the largest shared technology investment in history. Founded in 2000, The Linux Foundation today provides tools, training and events to scale any open source project, which together deliver an economic impact not achievable by any one company. More information can be found at www.linuxfoundation.org . The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage . Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Media Contact

Jill Lovato

The Linux Foundation

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lf-edge-project-portfolio-expands-footprint-with-two-new-community-projects-addressing-different-layers-of-the-stack-nexoedge-and-nanomq-302012974.html SOURCE LF Edge

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TEHRAN, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Tuesday strongly condemned the new sanctions imposed by the European Council on Iranian individuals and entities based on the "unfounded claim of supporting Russia in the war against Ukraine."

He made the remarks in a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website, responding to the decision of the European Council on Monday to impose restrictive measures against "six persons and five entities involved in Iran's development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles" used by Russia in the conflict with Ukraine.

Kanaani said the move aiming to achieve "specific political objectives" will fail and affect the ties between Tehran and Europe.

He reaffirmed Iran's principled position of opposing the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the necessity to resolve the differences through peaceful ways.

The spokesman stressed that Iran reserved the right to respond to the EU sanctions.

Ukraine, as well as some Western countries, have accused Iran of exporting suicide drones to Russia for use in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Iran has repeatedly rejected the accusations as "baseless," saying it had only given "a limited number" of drones to Russia months before the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 
[December 12, 2023] SheScales Program Announces 2023-2024 Cohort Tweet

Four participants to receive marketing advisory support through 2024 PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SheScales, a marketing advisory program powered by Rain the Growth Agency, has selected four female-founded companies to participate in its 2023-2024 program. The program provides mentorship and dedicated marketing support for up to one calendar year. The 2023-2024 cohort companies are: Connect & Beyond Physical Therapy  Combining physical therapy with preventative wellness classes, Diane Shiffer founded Connect & Beyond Physical Therapy to provide holistic healthcare to adults 40+ seeking "enlightened aging." The practice offers unique small group classes such as Essentrics, Return to Run and Tai Chi to support clients post-injury/surgery, help build strength and improve mobility. Their unique approach also integrates community engagement to increase accountability and client satisfaction. hope&plum  Founded by Skye Amundsen and Mallory Mascoli, hope&plum manufactures sustainably-made inclusive baby carriers. They offer a diverse selection designed to accommodate all body types, sizes, and abilities. Beyond their product offerings, hope&plum fosters a vibrant and supportive community of parents who share their babywearing experiences. They also provide one-on-one support to ensure every customer feels confident and comfortable wearing their baby. Southern Roots Vegan Bakery  Southern Roots Vegan Bakery's mission is to craft gourmet plant-based desserts that delight every palate, making vegan indulgence both accessible and exceptional. Founded by Cara Pitts and her husband Marcus, they make delicious vegan cakes, cookies, donuts and ice cream without compromising on taste. They are based in San Antonio, Texas, but their products are available to ship nationwide.



Therapeutic Focus  Therapeutic Focus provides occupational, physical and speech therapy, as well as other therapy services for children in the West Memphis area and virtually. After suffering from a speech impediment and requiring speech therapy services as a child, LaTeasha Gaither-Davis decided to open the first Black female-owned therapy clinic in rural Arkansas to fulfill the healthcare needs of children in her community. "We had an exceptionally strong pool of applicants this year, but felt Connect & Beyond Physical Therapy, hope&plum, Southern Roots Vegan Bakery and Therapeutic Focus were well-positioned to benefit from our CREW's marketing and media expertise in our next cohort," said Jane Crisan, Rain the Growth Agency Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to helping these companies scale in 2024 and beyond."

Each participating company will receive tailored consultation on their marketing strategies, business goals and campaigns through 2024 from a variety of strategists and subject matter expert volunteers at Rain the Growth Agency. Earlier this year, SheScales also refreshed their board of advisors to include experts across business disciplines including: Stacey Burr , Founder and President, Future Standard Inc.





, Founder and President, Future Standard Inc. Clay Creps , Partner, Tonkon Torp LLP





, Partner, Tonkon Torp LLP Michelle Fallon , Senior Vice President, MMSI





, Senior Vice President, MMSI Odalys Flores , Vice President, POV Agency





, Vice President, Lynn Le , Principal, Tigereye LLC





, Principal, Tigereye LLC Joy McCammon , Senior Vice President of Talent Management, Rain the Growth Agency





, Senior Vice President of Talent Management, Rain the Growth Agency Sara Moorthy , Managing Partner, Leavened





, Managing Partner, Leavened Bianca Reed , Founder, Convey Culture





, Founder, Convey Culture Krithika Rosenthal , Group Director, Strategy, Wavemaker





, Group Director, Strategy, Wavemaker Rian Schmidt , Chief Technology Officer, Rain the Growth Agency The SheScales board of advisors will provide mentorship and networking opportunities for cohort members in areas outside of marketing. For more information about brands the program has previously supported, visit https://www.shescales.com/. About SheScales SheScales supports female founders by providing DTC marketing and media advisory services in-kind, to help founders scale their companies fearlessly! We also provide networking opportunities and a home-grown community dedicated to empowering female leaders. Michelle Cardinal, founder and CEO of Rain the Growth Agency, created SheScales to serve as a marketing resource for women-led DTC brands. Marketing and media experts from within Rain the Growth Agency donate their time and expertise with a shared passion to improve gender equality in the American business landscape. About Rain the Growth Agency Rain the Growth Agency is an independent, women-led, fully integrated and performance-minded advertising agency. We link brand strategy, creative and production with audience targeting, dynamic cross-channel media investment and advanced analytics to achieve sales and branding goals simultaneously, without compromise. Our holistic Transactional Brand Building approach produces transformational growth for our clients ranging from DTC fast companies and category disruptors to established brands. Clients include Humana, Meta, Shopify, CenterWell, 1-800 Flowers, OOFOS, Lume and BISSELL. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon since 1998, our agency has 300 employees nationwide. Media Contact Information:

Beatrice Livioco

Senior Director of Marketing + SheScales Program Director

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shescales-program-announces-2023-2024-cohort-302011784.html SOURCE Rain the Growth Agency

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[December 12, 2023] MATTER opens applications for accelerator focused on reducing maternal mortality in the U.S. Tweet

MATTER, the premier healthcare incubator and innovation hub, has opened applications for the second 51 Labs, an accelerator focused on women's health. This year's program focuses on preventing maternal mortality in the U.S. before, during and after birth and receives support from Health Care Service Corporation, Laerdal Million Lives Fund, BayCare, Parkview Health, University of Chicago Medicine, Organon and Stryker. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report showing that the maternal mortality rate in the U.S. worsened by 40 percent from 2020 to 2021.1 The maternal mortality rate is now the highest in the U.S. since 1965 and is far worse than other industrialized nations. While all ages and races saw an increase in maternal mortality in 2021, many inequities still exist due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to access to quality care, socioeconomic status, race and education level. For example, Black women are three times as likely to die from pregnancy or pregnancy-related causes as white women in the U.S.2 "51 Labs is designed to address gaps in investment and innovation in women's health," said Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER. "We are pleased to partner with seven key industry stakeholders to help a cohort of startups advance solutions to help address the maternal mortality crisis in the U.S." The Laerdal Million Lives Fund, a global venture capital fund dedicated to transformative technologies that can help save lives, will serve as a capital partner for this cohort of 51 Labs companies. "Many maternal deaths are preventable. By investing in enabling technologies and digital solutions that can drive early interventions with high life saving potential and quality improvement initiatives, we can help scale companies working in this critical area," said Becca Shmukler, principal of Laerdal Million Lives Fund. The second cohort of the 51 Labs accelerator will address the question: How can we prevent maternal mortality in the U.S. before, during and after birth? The program will have three tracks: 1) supporting access to regular prenatal care to identify and mitigate potential risk factors earlier; 2) lowering the incidence of maternal health complications; and 3) supporting mothers during the 12 months after giving birt.



"It's critically important to support innovative solutions to help moms and babies thrive," said Dr. Monica Berner, chief clinical officer for Health Care Service Corporation. "Earlier this year, HCSC launched an expanded maternal and infant health initiative to improve health outcomes by increasing access to care, reducing care gaps, and educating and engaging residents on a community level. This 51 Labs program is another way we can help support other innovators who are seeking to tackle this critical issue." Applications for the 12-week accelerator are now open. Participating startups will benefit from one-on-one mentoring with industry experts, workshops, interactive roundtable discussions, forums and more. Additionally, each of the selected companies will receive an investment of $125,000, including $100,000 cash from the Laerdal Million Lives Fund and $25,000 of services from MATTER.

The program will culminate with a final showcase in May 2024. For more information, email 51labs@matter.health. About MATTER At MATTER, we believe collaboration is the best way to improve healthcare. The MATTER collaborative includes more than 800 current and alumni startups from around the world, working together with dozens of hospitals and health systems, universities and industry-leading companies to build the future of healthcare. Together we are accelerating innovation, advancing care and improving lives. For more information, visit matter.health and follow @MATTERhealth. About HCSC Health Care Service Corporation is the country's largest customer-owned health insurer, serving more than 18.6 million members in its health plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. A Mutual Legal Reserve Company, HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. About Laerdal Million Lives Fund The Million Lives Fund invests in entrepreneurs who are developing and deploying new, emerging technologies capable of saving lives and enhancing healthcare quality and outcomes regardless of demographics or geography. The $100 million fund targets digital health and technology companies whose solutions can improve mortality rates and help reach its goal of helping to save 1 million lives annually by 2030. Investments span across medical education innovations to early interventions, therapeutics and tech-enabled care models. For more information, visit www.laerdalmillionlives.com. About BayCare BayCare is a leading not-for-profit healthcare system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 16 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. The system is West Central Florida's largest provider of behavioral health and pediatric services and its provider group, BayCare Medical Group, is one of the largest in the region. BayCare's diverse network of ambulatory services includes laboratories, imaging, surgical centers, BayCare Urgent Care locations, wellness centers and one of Florida's largest home care agencies, BayCare HomeCare. Its Medicare Advantage insurance, BayCarePlus, is among the region's few 5-star-rated plans and the system is ranked in the top 20 percent of large health systems in the country by FORUTNE/Merative. BayCare's mission is to improve the health of all it serves through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. About Parkview Health Parkview Health is a not-for-profit, community-based health system serving a northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio population of more than 1.3 million. Parkview Health's mission is to improve health and inspire well-being in the communities it serves. With more than 16,000 co-workers, it is the region's largest employer. Parkview Health includes 13 hospitals and an extensive network of primary care and specialty care physicians. The flagship Parkview Regional Medical Center campus includes services such as the Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute, Parkview Heart Institute, Samaritan flight and ground transport program, Parkview Ortho Hospital, a certified stroke center, verified adult and pediatric trauma centers, Women's & Children's Hospital and an outpatient services center. Parkview has been named one of America's Best-In-State Employers by Forbes and made Newsweek's list of Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces. About University of Chicago Medicine The University of Chicago Medicine, with a history dating back to 1927, is one of the nation's leading academic medical institutions. UChicago Medicine comprises the University of Chicago Medical Center, which offers a full range of primary and specialty care for adults and children through more than 40 institutes and centers; Ingalls Memorial, a community-based hospital and outpatient facility; a micro-hospital in northwest Indiana, a network of outpatient clinics and physician practices throughout Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana; the Pritzker School of Medicine, one of the top medical schools in the nation; and the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division, with an affiliated 12 Nobel Prize winners in physiology or medicine. About Organon Organon is a global healthcare company formed to focus on improving the health of women throughout their lives. Organon offers more than 60 medicines and products in women's health in addition to a growing biosimilars business and a large franchise of established medicines across a range of therapeutic areas. Organon's existing products produce strong cash flows that support investments in innovation and future growth opportunities in women's health and biosimilars. In addition, Organon is pursuing opportunities to collaborate with biopharmaceutical innovators looking to commercialize their products by leveraging its scale and presence in fast growing international markets. Organon has a global footprint with significant scale and geographic reach, world-class commercial capabilities, and approximately 10,000 employees with headquarters located in Jersey City, New Jersey. For more information, visit http://www.organon.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. About Stryker Stryker is one of the world's leading medical technology companies and, together with its customers, is driven to make healthcare better. The company offers innovative products and services in Medical and Surgical, Neurotechnology, Orthopaedics and Spine that help improve patient and healthcare outcomes. Alongside its customers around the world, Stryker impacts more than 130 million patients annually. More information is available at www.stryker.com. _____________ 1 "Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2021," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023. 2 "U.S. Maternal Mortality Hits Highest Level Since 1965," The Wall Street Journal, 2023. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212275079/en/

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[December 12, 2023] EDF Renewables North America Establishes Endowment at Dona Ana Community College Tweet

EDF Renewables North America has announced a $50,000 contribution towards an endowment in partnership with Dona Ana Community College (DACC) and the New Mexico State University Foundation. The endowment aims to provide scholarships for students in the Advanced Technologies division at DACC pursuing either a Certificate of Completion or Associate in Applied Science, with a focus on Building Construction Technology or Electrical Programs. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212414584/en/ EDF Renewables presents Dona Ana Community College with a $50,000 contribution to establish an endowment. L-R: Aggie Saltman-Lead Development Officer, James Fredrickson-Department Chair Architecture and Construction Technologies, Chipper Moore-Division Dean, Advanced Technologies, Henry Smith-Community Engagement Manager at EDF Renewables, Dr. Monica Torres-Chancellor, Kevin Gall-Assistant Professor, Architecture and Construction Technologies (Photo: Business Wire) The establishment of this endowment reflects EDF Renewables' commitment to the long-term success of DACC, particularly as the college celebrates its 50th anniversary. In addition, DACC has pledged a 100% match to each schlarship.



"Partnering with Dona Ana Community College allows us to give back to the community and support the state's economic growth," said Henry Smith, Community Engagement Manager at EDF Renewables. "EDF Renewables is proud to support local communities through partnerships like this to help students prepare to enter the workforce, and contribute to the success of New Mexico's transition and development of a strong renewable energy industry." "We here at DACC remain committed to providing equal opportunity to all students who want to further their education and careers in the workforce," said Dr. Monica Torres, chancellor of NMSU system of community colleges. "This new endowment will provide an opportunity to cover the cost for DACC students who qualify and are seeking a career in Advanced Technologies, which is a growing industry in our area."

EDF Renewables has been actively involved in New Mexico since 2011, primarily as a wind operations and maintenance provider. The company has successfully developed and implemented 549 megawatts (MW) of operational wind projects in the state. Additionally, EDF Renewables has an impressive pipeline of projects totaling 1,600 MW. Currently under construction in Dona Anna County, the Milagro Solar+Storage project represents a significant milestone for EDF Renewables and further demonstrates their dedication to advancing renewable energy technologies. By combining solar power generation with energy storage capabilities, the Milagro Solar+Storage project will contribute to the state's renewable energy goals while also ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy supply. EDF Renewables North America is a market leading independent power producer and service provider with 35 years of expertise in renewable energy. The Company delivers grid-scale power: wind (onshore and offshore), solar photovoltaic, and storage projects; distribution-scale power: solar and storage; asset optimization: technical, operational, and commercial expertise to maximize performance of generating projects, and onsite solutions, through the Company's PowerFlex subsidiary, offering a full suite of onsite energy solutions for commercial and industrial customers: solar, storage, EV charging, energy management systems, and microgrids. EDF Renewables' North American portfolio consists of 16 GW of developed projects and 13 GW under service contracts. In Canada, the Company has 1.9 GW of wind and solar power facilities in service or under construction and 4.2 GW under development. EDF Renewables North America is a subsidiary of EDF Renewables, the dedicated renewable energy affiliate of the EDF Group. For more information visit: www.edf-re.com. Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212414584/en/

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[December 12, 2023] Resecurity Launches Identity Protection in Bahrain Following Arab International Cybersecurity Summit Tweet

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Resecurity, a leading cybersecurity company, announced the successful launch of its innovative Identity Protection solution in Bahrain. The unveiling occurred following the Arab International Cybersecurity Summit held on December 5-6, 2023, at Exhibition World Bahrain, hosted by the National Cyber Security Center. The Arab International Cybersecurity Conference & Exhibition, held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Prime Minister of Bahrain, provided an ideal platform for Resecurity to introduce its cutting-edge Identity Protection solution to the Bahraini market. Getting in front of key decision-makers at the summit proved to be a pivotal move for Resecurity. The conference, known for attracting industry leaders, offered an invaluable opportunity to network, learn about the latest trends, and engage in meaningful discussions about the challenges facing the cybersecurity community. Resecurity's presence at the event allowed the company to position itself as a thought leader and gain exposure among influential figures in the cybersecurity field. Commenting on the summit's significance, Gene Yoo, CEO of Resecurity, stated, "The Arab International Cybersecurity Summit provided an excellent platform for us to showcase our Identity Protection (IDP) solution in Bahrain. Our commitmet to providing advanced cybersecurity solutions aligns with the summit's focus on innovation and collaboration. We believe that our presence at this event will enhance digital security in Bahrain and beyond."



Resecurity's Identity Protection solution, tailored for Bahrain, builds upon the company's success in delivering comprehensive protection to consumers and businesses in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, India and other countries. The comprehensive Identity Protection program addresses the evolving threats to digital security and reflects Resecurity's dedication to staying ahead of the cybersecurity curve. Bahrain's pro-innovation business policies and laws create an ideal environment for cybersecurity businesses to thrive, making the launch of Resecurity's Identity Protection solution timely and significant for the company and the nation.

As Resecurity continues to expand its presence in the Middle East, the company remains committed to providing state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions and contributing to the ongoing efforts to strengthen digital security in the region. For more information about Resecurity and its Identity Protection solution, visit www.resecurity.com. About Resecurity Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence. Known for providing best-of-breed data-driven intelligence solutions, Resecurity's services and platforms focus on early-warning identification of data breaches and comprehensive protection against cybersecurity risks. Founded in 2016, it has been globally recognized as one of the world's most innovative cybersecurity companies with the sole mission of enabling organizations to combat cyber threats regardless of how sophisticated they are. Most recently, Resecurity was named as one of the Top 10 fastest-growing private cybersecurity companies in Los Angeles, California by Inc. Magazine. An Official Member of Infragard, AFCEA, NDIA, SIA and FS-ISAC. To learn more about Resecurity, visit https://resecurity.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/resecurity-launches-identity-protection-in-bahrain-following-arab-international-cybersecurity-summit-302013072.html SOURCE Resecurity Inc.

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[December 12, 2023] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a Leading Securities Fraud Law Firm, Announces Investigation of General Motors Company (GM) on Behalf of Investors Tweet

Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a leading national shareholder rights law firm, today announced that it has commenced an investigation on behalf of General Motors Company ("GM" or the "Company") (NYSE: GM) investors concerning the Company's possible violations of the federal securities laws. If you suffered a loss on your GM investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information at www.glancylaw.com/cases/General-Motors-Company-1/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at [email protected] to learn more about your rights. On October 2, 2023, NBC Bay Area reported that a pedestrian had been run over by one of GM's driverless Cruise AVs, sustaining major injuries. On this news, GM's stock price fell $1.09, or 3.5%, to close at $31.38 per share on October 3, 2023, thereby injuring investors. Then, on October 5, 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") held a public hearing to recommend a recall of over 50 million airbags that had been linked to potentially deadly explosions - at least 20 million of which were built into GM's vehicles, with at least ne having led to a confirmed fatality. On this news, GM's stock price fell $0.73, or 2.4%, to close at $30.31 per share on October 5, 2023.



Then, on October 24, 2023, the California Department of Motor Vehicles announced the immediate suspension of Cruise's deployment and driverless testing permits, stating that Cruise had "misrepresented . . . information related to [the] safety of the autonomous technology of its vehicles." On this news, GM's stock price fell $0.66, or 2.3%, to close at $28.56 per share on October 24, 2023. Then, on October 26, 2023, Cruise announced that it would pause all of its AV operations across the country "while [it] take[s] time to examine [its] processes, systems, and tools." On this news, GM's stock price fell $1.33, or 4.7%, to close at $27.22 per share on October 27, 2023, thereby injuring investors further.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. Whistleblower Notice: Persons with non-public information regarding GM should consider their options to aid the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower Program. Under the program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Charles H. Linehan at 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224 or email [email protected]. About GPM Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP is a premier law firm representing investors and consumers in securities litigation and other complex class action litigation. ISS Securities Class Action Services has consistently ranked GPM in its annual SCAS Top 50 Report. In 2018, GPM was ranked a top five law firm in number of securities class action settlements, and a top six law firm for total dollar size of settlements. With four offices across the country, GPM's nearly 40 attorneys have won groundbreaking rulings and recovered billions of dollars for investors and consumers in securities, antitrust, consumer, and employment class actions. GPM's lawyers have handled cases covering a wide spectrum of corporate misconduct including cases involving financial restatements, internal control weaknesses, earnings management, fraudulent earnings guidance and forward looking statements, auditor misconduct, insider trading, violations of FDA regulations, actions resulting in FDA and DOJ investigations, and many other forms of corporate misconduct. GPM's attorneys have worked on securities cases relating to nearly all industries and sectors in the financial markets, including, energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, real estate and REITs, financial, insurance, information technology, health care, biotech, cryptocurrency, medical devices, and many more. GPM's past successes have been widely covered by leading news and industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, Reuters, the Associated Press, Barron's, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes, and Money. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212822089/en/

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[December 12, 2023] Phoenix Holdings Consolidates Credit Activities in Phoenix-Gama Platform Tweet

Phoenix Holdings Ltd., a leading Israel-based financial, insurance, and investment group (TLV:PHOE) ("Phoenix," the "Group," or the "Company"), today announced that it is consolidating its credit activities in fully-owned platform Phoenix-Gama as part of its strategy to unlock and create value through growth across its businesses. Highlights The consolidation supports accelerated and responsible growth in Phoenix's credit segment and offers the Group's clients a compelling and extensive credit value proposition.

The transfer of Phoenix Construction Finance Ltd. from Phoenix Insurance to Phoenix-Gama creates a leading credit platform for clients with significant credit portfolios and creates and unlocks value in Group's credit activities.

The consolidation strengthens the Company's leadership position in the credit market, which is based on distinctive competitive advantages, the leading Phoenix brand, diverse capabilities and strong financial resilience, and will be reflected in comprehensive and high-quality credit solutions.

Erez Yosef, Chairman of Phoenix-Gama, will lead the Group's credit platform and will be appointed Chairman of Phoenix Construction Finance and Chairman of Phoenix Consumer Credit The consolidation includes the transfer of Phoenix Construction Finance from Phoenix Insurance to Phoenix-Gama to offer an extensive value proposition to the Group's clients and the management of a significant credit portfolio under a single specialized platform. This will allow for increased business focus and allow Phoenix-Gama to leverage economies of scale, a leading brand, strong financial resilience, and advanced credit underwriting and management capabilities. The consolidation will also maximize synergies between the Group's various credit activities, creating a platform with significant growth potential. The credit segment is one of the Company's four core activities, and the consolidation is the latest in a series of actions, including assuming control and then taking Gama private by completing a full tender offer for Gama, aimed at establishing a significant credit platform with strong competitive advantages. As part of the consolidation, Erez Yosef the Chairman of Phoenix-Gama, will be appointed as the chairman of the construction financing company, and also as the chairman of Phoenix's consumer credit activities which are being launched. Phoenix's management believes that the consolidation of credit activities in Phoeni-Gama will maximize value at the group level and will enable synergies within the group.



The transfer of Phoenix Construction Finance, led by the CEO Galit Vinder Tepper, to Phoenix-Gama, which already has a significant credit portfolio, with additional annual volume of approximately NIS 40 billion in credit card activities, cements Phoenix-Gama's position as one of the largest companies in the Israeli credit market. In the last couple of years, Phoenix-Gama has managed to significantly improve its profitability and its other key financial metrics, more than doubling the Group's credit and guarantees portfolio, with a double-digit increase in the number of clients, total turnover and profit. Phoenix-Gama has a unique product range and mix with a customer base of 15,000 businesses, creating competitive advantage and managerial flexibility under changing market conditions.

Eyal Ben Simon, CEO of Phoenix Holdings: "The Phoenix's credit activities have been a strategic growth engine for the Group, and we believe that the restructuring will accelerate growth and significantly contribute to value maximization. The concentration of most of the Phoenix's credit activities under the management of Phoenix-Gama will enable us to maximize the potential of the Company's existing credit activities while offering optimal credit and financing solutions to our clients. Erez Yosef has led an improvement in Phoenix-Gama's performance, and I am confident that the consolidation of credit activities under his leadership will drive significant growth in this segment. At the same time, the transfer of construction finance activities to Phoenix-Gama will release significant capital from Phoenix Insurance, improving the insurance company's Solvency ratio. We believe our strategy will further leverage our competitive advantages and allow us to achieve a significant market share in the credit market, strengthening our position as the leading Israeli finance and insurance group." Erez Yosef, Chairman of Phoenix-Gama: "The consolidation of our credit activities is an incremental strategic action to strengthen the Company's position as a dominant force in the field of business credit. The transfer of the construction financing activities to Phoenix-Gama will allow us to increase market share and capture synergies. We expect to significantly strengthen Phoenix-Gama's equity and grow and diversify future revenues with the potential for significant value creation in the coming years." Galit Vinder Tepper, CEO of Phoenix Construction Finance: "The restructuring of Phoenix's credit activities will enable the Company to offer many additional high-quality financing solutions for residential construction projects. By addressing the needs of a wide range of clients, the Group will create new sources of financing to expand its activities while creating synergy with Phoenix-Gama's business credit activities." About Phoenix Holdings Phoenix Holdings is a leading Israel-based financial, insurance, and investment group traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: PHOE). Group activities include multi-line insurance, asset management, credit, and financial product distribution, and have demonstrated strong growth and performance across the cycle. Phoenix serves a significant portion of Israeli households with a broad set of activities and solutions across businesses and client segments. Managing over $110 billion in assets, Phoenix accesses Israel's vibrant and innovative economic activity through a robust investment portfolio, creating value for both clients and shareholders. About Phoenix-Gama Phoenix-Gama is the SME financing platform of the Phoenix group, providing financing solutions and financial services to businesses for over 25 years. The company provides financial services to over 15,000 businesses in Israel across several segments, including credit card clearing and factoring, real estate financing, business loans, and guarantees. The Company was assigned an AA3 rating by Midroog and its bonds are listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. About Phoenix Construction Finance The Company is engaged in the financing of residential construction projects including thousands of residential units at various stages of financing and construction. The Company provides a comprehensive response to all client financing needs, including senior credit, credit for supplemental capital, and guarantees. The Company's extensive experience includes private and public development projects as well as urban renewal. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212086078/en/

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[December 12, 2023] Marsh McLennan's Oliver Wyman to Acquire SeaTec Consulting Inc. Tweet

Acquisition combines Oliver Wyman's CAVOK business with SeaTec to further establish Oliver Wyman as a leader in aviation, aerospace, and defense consulting NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oliver Wyman, a global leader in management consulting, and a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE:MMC) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire SeaTec Consulting Inc. a leading provider of consulting, engineering, and digital expertise across the aviation, aerospace and defense, and transportation industries. SeaTec will join CAVOK, a division of Oliver Wyman, focused on aviation services. For more than 20 years, SeaTec's deep industry knowledge, paired with technical and digital expertise, has delivered high value programs for clients. SeaTec has a long-standing record of excellence by providing expertise and insight to clients on aircraft acquisitions, engineering, maintenance records, MRO IT systems replacements, operational improvement, and supply chain solutions. "SeaTec perfectly complements our CAVOK business while also extending our technical services and technical consulting capabilities giving us an opportunity to further scale the business globally," said Anthony DiNota, senior vice president of CAVOK. "SeaTec's focus on helping clients solve complex problems and improve processes directly aligns with Oliver Wyman's core offerings. The combination of CAVOK and SeaTec will provide powerful and unmatched offerings to clients." "We've long respected the CAVOK team and their capabilities. We are excited about the growth opportunities for the business and what the future holds for us together," said Paul Harper, managing partner of SeaTec. "Our companies share a strong set of core values including caring for our customers and our people. Joining the CAVOK team furthers the SeaTec mission to deliver excellence, delight our customers, and unleash the potential of our people and our clients," added SeaTec chairman, Tim Rider. "As a firm with deep expertise, Oliver Wyman and our Transportation Practice are excited about the enhanced capabilities to serve our clients. This combined team will enable Oliver Wyman, CVOK and SeaTec to continue to make a significant impact in operations, cost, reliability and safety for the aviation, defense, and transportation industries," said Brian Prentice, Partner at Oliver Wyman.



SeaTec is based in Atlanta, GA and has offices across the US, Canada, and UK with an extended network of clients and senior advisors around the world. The firm's employees will join Oliver Wyman and integrate with CAVOK. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024. This is Oliver Wyman's second recent acquisition in the aviation consulting industry. In November 2022, Oliver Wyman acquired Avascent, an aerospace & defense management consulting firm focused on the corporate and private equity sectors.

About SeaTec

SeaTec is a trusted, leading provider of consulting, engineering, and digital domain expertise solving complex business, operational and technical challenges for clients in asset-intensive industries. SeaTec's deep industry knowledge and technical expertise paired with its turn-key service offerings enable the company to deliver program life cycle solutions that are unmatched by competitors. Over the past 20 years, SeaTec has earned a long-standing record of excellence with its customers and its priority has always been to steward and enhance the unique culture and reputation for excellence that is SeaTec. For more information, please visit www.seatec.com . About Oliver Wyman?

Oliver Wyman is a global leader in management consulting. With offices in more than 70 cities across 30 countries, Oliver Wyman combines deep industry knowledge with specialized expertise in strategy, operations, risk management, and organization transformation. The firm has more than 7,000 professionals around the world who work with clients to optimize their business, improve their operations and risk profile, and accelerate their organizational performance to seize the most attractive opportunities. Oliver Wyman is a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC).?CAVOK, a division of Oliver Wyman, is an aviation services and consulting firm that supports certification and maintenance programs for clients worldwide. About Marsh McLennan

Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) is the world's leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people. The Company's more than 85,000 colleagues advise clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of over $20 billion, Marsh McLennan helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment through four market-leading businesses. Marsh provides data-driven risk advisory services and insurance solutions to commercial and consumer clients. Guy Carpenter develops advanced risk, reinsurance and capital strategies that help clients grow profitably and pursue emerging opportunities. Mercer delivers advice and technology-driven solutions that help organizations redefine the world of work, reshape retirement and investment outcomes, and unlock health and wellbeing for a changing workforce. Oliver Wyman serves as a critical strategic, economic and brand advisor to private sector and governmental clients. For more information, visit marshmclennan.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marsh-mclennans-oliver-wyman-to-acquire-seatec-consulting-inc-302013098.html SOURCE Oliver Wyman

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[December 12, 2023] NZO Cloud Offers HPC and AI Environments That Drive Innovation By Giving Users Cloud Control Tweet

Many organizations realize that the approach of traditional cloud providers is not sustainable for their businesses. The ever-expanding costs, growing security concerns and inability to access necessary cloud resources in a timely manner are pain points suffered by many users of traditional cloud vendors. NZO Cloud (www.nzocloud.com) offers a unique approach focusing on giving control back to cloud users. Alex Lesser, Vice President of NZO Cloud, explains, "We are constantly having conversations with companies that feel helplessly trapped by their cloud providers," begins Mr. Lesser. "Traditional cloud vendors often fall short when it comes to meeting the unique demands of individual businesses. They are concerned primarily with sucking out as much money as possible from these business without any real regard for project success. Our analysis is that nearly 50% of cloud project fail primarily due to cost overruns. At NZO Cloud, we give our users the control they need to ensure their success. Our fixed cost subscription pricing, immediate access to dedicated compute and storage resources and security controls not available with any other cloud providers set us apart and give our users a strategic advantage." As organizations increasingly seek cost effective, high erformance, customizable cloud solutions, NZO Cloud emerges as a beacon of innovation. NZO Cloud specializes in AI, higher education, weather modeling, engineering, and life sciences. "Rather than take the approach of traditional cloud vendors, we actually want to work with cloud users to develop the right solution to fit specific application needs and budget," explains Mr. Lesser. Included with each NZO Cloud is a full suite of development tools and onboarding and security engineer. Mr. Lesser continues, "Our only objective is to ensure our cloud users success." Based on their clients testimonials, NZO Cloud is meeting those objectives. "NZO Cloud is an outstanding end to end comprehensive solution for high performance computing requirements to include procurement, hosting, and service," Chris Arends, Meteorology Program Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric.



With a vision to redefine the cloud computing landscape, NZO Cloud invites organizations to explore a new era of possibilities. By choosing NZO Cloud, organizations gain a strategic partner committed to propelling them forward to success. NZO Cloud is offering a free trial for users. Click here to begin https://nzocloud.com/start-free-trial/. For more information about NZO Cloud and its groundbreaking cloud solutions, visit https://nzocloud.com About NZO Cloud:

Your cloud experience is intricately shaped by cost, security, performance, and design considerations. NZO empowers you to control them all. With a commitment to giving cloud users control and a focus on HPC and AI, NZO Cloud is poised to reshape the future of cloud computing. NZO Cloud is offering a free trial for users. Click here to begin https://nzocloud.com/start-free-trial/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231205150824/en/

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[December 12, 2023] Funding Paves the Way for Innovative Wastewater Surveillance Program in British Columbia Tweet

VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - A new initiative, dubbed SAFEGUARD, aims to transform monitoring for viruses and other pathogens in British Columbia, offering early and enhanced surveillance to better prepare the province and Canada for future public health challenges. Traditionally, monitoring infections has relied on testing people who are sick, a method that is not only expensive but also only captures data from people who seek medical care. Recognizing the need to expand surveillance, public health organizations are turning to wastewater surveillance as an unbiased approach to help understand the impact of disease on a whole community  an important addition to the tool kit. SAFEGUARD unites experts from the BC Centre for Disease Control, the University of British Columbia, the BC Provincial Health Officer, the BC Ministry of Health and the National Microbiology Laboratory on an innovative and comprehensive wastewater surveillance program, thanks to federal and provincial funding support through Genome Canada and Genome British Columbia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater surveillance emerged as a valuable early warning system, giving clarity about disease spread, confirming the spread of variants of concern and uncovering novel variants. Wastewater surveillance provides information about disease rates in an entire community while being more cost effective than testing large numbers of people, making it a practical tool for improving surveillance data and public health responsiveness, particularly in underserved communities. While existing wastewater surveillance programs in Canada have primarily focused on SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, SAFEGUARD significantly expands this approach. The project team plans to implement genomics based surveillance targeting a wide range of respiratory patogens. This innovative effort will integrate genomic data with epidemiological information, enabling advanced statistical modelling to guide crucial public health decision-making.



This project was part of an announcement made earlier today by the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, introducing more than $41 million, including co-funding, in support of eight new genomics research projects funded through Genome Canada's Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP). GAPP supports downstream research and development projects addressing real world opportunities and challenges by translating genomics innovations into tangible applications, solutions and products. QUOTES:

"SAFEGUARD addresses the immediate challenge of characterizing circulating respiratory viruses at the community scale, which is so important at this time of year. This initiative also lays the groundwork for public health infrastructure that is more resilient and responsive to emerging threats."  Dr. Natalie Prystajecky, Program head for the Environmental Microbiology program at the BC Centre for Disease Control's Public Health Laboratory. "Genomics was a key tool for surveillance during the pandemic and will continue to be crucial in understanding future public health trends. By leveraging the power of this technology, we aim to provide earlier detection, more precise data, and improved public health strategies for a range of pathogens, all things essential to providing effective, evidence-based public health guidance."  Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer, Province of British Columbia "This initiative is a clear demonstration of the application of world class genomics research to address urgent public health challenges. With Genome Canada, we are working with end-users such as public health officials in this case, to protect the health of people in British Columbia and Canada."  Suzanne Gill, President and CEO, Genome British Columbia. "Genomic technologies and innovations are crucial to finding solutions to global challenges like precision health, food and energy security, environmental protection and more. Programs like Genome Canada's Genomics Applications Partnership Program truly demonstrate Canada's world-class strength in genomics research and how it contributes to creating a better Canada, and world, for all. I look forward to seeing the amazing impact of these cutting-edge projects."  The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry ABOUT GENOME BC Genome BC is a not-for-profit organization supporting world-class genomics research and innovation to grow globally competitive life sciences sectors and deliver sustainable benefits for British Columbia, Canada and beyond. For more than 23 years, Genome BC has generated over $1.3 billion of investment in more than 520 genomics research and innovation projects, including over 1,200 collaborations with partners across BC and internationally. The organization's initiatives are improving the lives of people throughout BC by advancing health care in addition to addressing environmental and natural resource challenges. In addition to scientific programming, Genome BC integrates genomics into society by supporting responsible research and innovation and fostering an understanding and appreciation of the life sciences among educators, students and the public. genomebc.ca SOURCE Genome British Columbia

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[December 12, 2023] DigiKey Receives Governor's International Trade Award Tweet

THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn., Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DigiKey, a leading global commerce distributor offering the largest selection of technical components and automation products in stock for immediate shipment, announced today it has received the 2023 Governor's International Trade Award for Large Companies from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota Trade Office. It is the second time that the company has received this honor. DigiKey received the 2023 Governor's International Trade Award for Large Companies from Governor Tim Walz. Pictured here is Governor Walz and Tim Carroll, global head of marketing and e-commerce at DigiKey. The Governor's International Trade Award recognizes Minnesota companies that have shown exceptional progress and success in exports to foreign markets, as well as foreign-owned companies that have made significant economic contributions through their investments in the state. DigiKey was also a recipient of the award in 2012. "We appreciate our positive working relationship with the State of Minnesota and Minnesota DEED and are honored to be recognized for the work we've done to grow a thriving company and contribute to a thriving community," said Tim Carroll, global head of marketing and e-commerce at DigiKy. "We agree with Governor Walz that by working together we can become the top state for business, and we look forward to continuing our partnership toward that goal."



DigiKey employs more than 5,000 people, with more than 4,000 of those team members based in Minnesota, delivering up to 27,000 orders per day to customers in 180+ countries around the world. DigiKey does business in 27 different currencies and offers websites and content in 22 different languages. The company also established a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) in Thief River Falls, Minn., and the first small-package FTZ with all major carriers, Custom Border and Protection (CBP) and government entities. Since DigiKey received its first Governor's International Trade Award in 2012, international sales have expanded by more than five times with 46% of sales taking place in the international market. For more information about DigiKey, please visit the DigiKey website.

About DigiKey DigiKey has been proudly headquartered in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, since 1972. Recognized as the global leader, innovator and pioneer in the cutting-edge commerce distribution of electronic components and automation products, DigiKey offers more than 17.2 million components from over 2,800 quality name-brand manufacturers. DigiKey employs more than 5,000 people in Northwest Minnesota and beyond, delivering over 27,000 orders per day to customers in 180+ countries around the world. More information is available at digikey.com and on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn. Editorial Contact

Megan Derkey

Bellmont Partners

+1 612-255-1115

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digikey-receives-governors-international-trade-award-302013117.html SOURCE DigiKey

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HANOI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- China and Vietnam on Tuesday agreed to build a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

The two sides have announced the new positioning of relations between the two parties and countries and agreed to build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance on the basis of deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two sides.

The announcement was made during the ongoing state visit to Vietnam by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president.

Upon Xi's arrival in Hanoi, he had a meeting with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), during which Xi said the two parties should grasp the special strategic significance of China-Vietnam relations and make solid progress in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future from the perspective of strengthening the socialist forces in the world and ensuring the steady and long-term progress of their respective cause of socialist construction.

Xi made a six-point proposal on building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, the first of which is to keep to the right political direction.

China and Vietnam should adhere to high-level strategic guidance, strengthen exchanges and mutual learning on party and state governance, and jointly deepen understanding of the ruling laws of Communist parties, as well as the laws of socialist construction and the development of human society, Xi said.

The two countries should firmly support one another on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and jointly uphold international equity and justice, he said.

Both sides should also deepen mutual trust on security, Xi said.

The two sides must prioritize national political security, ensure the red flag of socialism not to be changed, and spare no effort to prevent, defuse and contain all kinds of political and security risks, he said.

China firmly supports Vietnam in maintaining social stability and ethnic unity, and believes Vietnam will continue to support China in opposing external interference and firmly advancing the great cause of national reunification, he said.

Xi said the two countries should upgrade practical cooperation.

The modernization that includes the whole of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people is a great opportunity brought by China to the world, he said, adding that China is willing to share opportunities and seek common development with its Vietnamese comrades.

An active alignment with the eight major steps to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation by the Vietnamese side is welcomed, Xi said, calling for expanding cooperation in such emerging areas as digital economy and green development.

The two sides should jointly implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, safeguard the global trading system, and build a secure, stable, unimpeded, efficient, open, inclusive and mutually beneficial global industrial chain and supply chain, he said.

China will continue to encourage competent Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Vietnam and hopes that Vietnam will provide a good business environment for Chinese enterprises, he added.

The Chinese president also called for more input to cement the popular support for China-Vietnam friendship.

Bilateral cooperation should have a heavier focus on agriculture, education, health care and other fields concerning people's livelihood, Xi said, adding that the two sides should strengthen cooperation in such areas as youth, tourism as well as at the local level, deepen the two peoples' understanding of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future and of the traditional friendship between the two parties and countries, and enhance the bonds between the young generation of the two countries, so as to cement the popular support for China-Vietnam friendship.

China and Vietnam should work closely on international and regional issues, Xi continued, noting that the remarkable development achievements of the two countries are the result of both the hard work of both sides and an open and inclusive world, especially a peaceful and stable Asia Pacific.

China does not engage in exclusive cliques, block politics or camp confrontation, Xi said, adding that China is ready to strengthen multilateral cooperation with Vietnam, and work with Vietnam to uphold genuine multilateralism, and increase the voice and influence of developing countries in international affairs.

Xi also called on the two countries to manage differences on maritime issues.

The two sides should actively discuss and carry out more maritime cooperation projects, strive to promote joint maritime development, and turn challenges posed by maritime issues into opportunities of bilateral cooperation, he added. 
[December 12, 2023] Outsourced Software Testing Market size to grow by USD 30.46 billion growth between 2023 - 2028; Growth Driven by increased demand for mobile and web applications - Technavio Tweet

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Outsourced Software Testing Market report has been added to Technavio's offering. With ISO 9001:2015 certification, Technavio has proudly partnered with more than 100 Fortune 500 companies for over 16 years. The potential growth difference for the outsourced software testing market between 2023 and 2028 is USD 30.46 billion. The increased demand for mobile and web applications drives market growth. Mobile and web applications pose a great demand for outsourced software testing market, which is attributed to several factors. The factors include the rapid proliferation of smartphones, a growing reliance on digital platforms for everyday activities, and the increasing complexity of software architectures. Companies availing outsourced software testing services in this market benefit from an agile and scalable approach to testing. Get deeper insights into the market size, current market scenario, future growth opportunities, major growth driving factors, the latest trends, and much more. Buy the full report here Data security and privacy concerns hamper market growth. They pose a detrimental impact on the global outsourced software testing market due to the rising awareness and emphasis on protecting sensitive data, which leads to increasingly stringent requirements for software testing, especially for companies that outsource these services. The widely publicized incidents involving large corporations have heightened the fear of potential data breaches through third-party vendors. This will result in companies reconsidering their outsourcing strategies. Learn about additional key drivers, trends, and challenges available with Technavio. Read a FREE Sample PDF Report Now The outsourced software testing market is segmented by Product (Outsourced embedded software testing and Outsourced standalone software testing), End-user (BFSI, Telecom and Media, Retail, and Others), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The outsourced embedded software testing segment will be significant during the forecast period. This is integral to a broad range of devices and systems. This also helps in serving critical functions in industries such as automotive, healthcare, consumer electronics, aerospace, and industrial automation. The need for rigorous testing to ensure reliability, safety, and performance becomes increasingly vital as a result of the factor that the complexity and connectivity of embedded systems continue to grow.

will be significant during the forecast period. This is integral to a broad range of devices and systems. This also helps in serving critical functions in industries such as automotive, healthcare, consumer electronics, aerospace, and industrial automation. The need for rigorous testing to ensure reliability, safety, and performance becomes increasingly vital as a result of the factor that the complexity and connectivity of embedded systems continue to grow. North America will contribute 40% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. View a Sample Report for insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities in the report. Key Companies in the outsourced software testing market: Accenture Plc, Amdocs Ltd., Assystem S.A., Atos SE, Capgemini Service SAS, CGI Inc., Cigniti Technologies Ltd., Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., HCL Technologies Ltd., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Hexaware Technologies Ltd., Infosys Ltd., International Business Machines Corp., Larsen and Toubro Ltd., QASource, Sutherland Global Services Inc., Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Tech Mahindra Ltd., Thinksoft Global Services Inc., Wipro Ltd. Related Reports: The software consulting market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.04% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 207.63 billion. The simulation and analysis software market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 14.22% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 9,680.14 million.







Outsourced Software Testing Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018-2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 14.41% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 30.46 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 13.44 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 40% Key countries US, China, Japan, Germany, and UK

ToC: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Product Market Segmentation by End-user Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/outsourced-software-testing-market-size-to-grow-by-usd-30-46-billion-growth-between-2023---2028-growth-driven-by-increased-demand-for-mobile-and-web-applications---technavio-302013133.html SOURCE Technavio

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[December 12, 2023] Thai Aerospace Partners with Rivada for Network Expansion Tweet

Next-Generation Satellite Network is Key for Secure and Resilient Communications Unique global constellation using satellite-to-satellite laser links

Ultra-secure and extremely low latency network

Combining the speed of fiber with the reach of satellite MUNICH and BANGKOK, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Thai Aerospace Industries (TAI), an aerospace and aviation services company headquartered in Bangkok, is partnering with Rivada Space Networks to bring highly reliable and secure connectivity services to the commercial, military and general aviation sectors in Thailand and beyond. Rivada's global low-latency point-to-point network of 600 low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, the "OuterNETTM," is a unique next-generation constellation combing inter-satellite laser links with advanced onboard processing that provide unique routing and switching capabilities, to create an optical mesh network in space. This "orbital network," in which data stays in space from origin to destination, creates an ultra-secure satellite network with pole-to-pole coverage, offering end-to-end latencies much lower than terrestrial fiber over similar long distances. And by routing traffic on a physically separated network, it provides a layer of defense for any organization that needs to securely share data between widely distributed sites. For its Government and Defense divisions, Rivada's OuterNETTM will enable Thai Aerospace Industries to improve connectivity across their airfields, providing them with an easy to deploy network with higher bandwidth and improved security for resilient and more reliable communications services. TAI is also an independent provider of aviation services in Southeast Asia. Commercial and military operators are increasingly under pressure to reduce their maintenance, repair and overhaul costs without compromising fleet effectiveness or safety. Using Rivaa's OuterNETTM will enable TAI to have better control and management of its aviation servicing center.



TAI is also looking into expanding into the burgeoning enterprise sector and has strong relationships with the telecommunication companies in Thailand, which can use Rivada's OuterNETTM to bring enterprise-grade connectivity anywhere on the globe. Chris Atswalongkorn, CEO of TAI, said: "We are very excited to leverage Rivada's next-generation satellite connectivity to expand our services across the defense, aviation and enterprise sectors. The OuterNETTM is a fully interconnected orbital network which effectively serves as a private network in space, capable of routing traffic at gigabit speeds from one satellite to another with no need for a gateway on earth. We see this as the key infrastructure for the development of the telecom sector in Thailand and beyond."

Declan Ganley, CEO, Rivada Space Networks, said: "We are delighted to be supporting Thai Aerospace Industries to expand their reach and services." Ganley added: "As a completely new type of LEO constellation, the OuterNETTM allows satellites to go beyond their traditional role of 'gap-filler' and our fully inter-connected space network, independent of terrestrial infrastructure, is rapidly becoming the network of choice for secure, resilient communications and network expansion." Rivada's OuterNETTM will solve essential connectivity and networking challenges and open up new opportunities for business communications globally. The first satellite launch is set for 2025, with global service starting in 2026. About Rivada Space Networks Rivada Space Networks GmbH is deploying the first true "OuterNETTM": a global low latency point-to-point connectivity network of LEO satellites. By connecting its satellites with lasers, Rivada Space Networks will provide resellers and B2B customers with the ability to securely connect any two points on the globe with low latency and high bandwidth. The constellations, comprising 600?low-earth-orbit communications satellites, will represent a fundamental change in the availability of secure, global, end-to-end enterprise-grade connectivity for Telecom, Enterprise, Maritime, Energy and Government Services markets. Rivada Space Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rivada Networks, Inc.?www.rivadaspace.com Follow Rivada Space Networks on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rivada-space/

Twitter: @rivadaspace Media Contacts

Melanie Dickie, SVP Marketing & Communication

Rivada Space Networks GmbH

Tel: +31 6 14 22 97 62

Email: [email protected]m Brian Carney, SVP Corporate Communications

Rivada Networks, Inc

Tel: +1 (207) 256-0386

Email: [email protected] About Thai Aerospace Industries Thai Aerospace Industries (TAI) is an aerospace and aviation service headquartered in Thailand. The company was founded in 2013 and has since grown into a leading player in the industry, with a diverse portfolio of subsidiaries and operations. TAI offers a comprehensive range of services and facilities to the aviation industry, including maintenance, repair, and overhaul), aviation training center, ground handling, aircraft management, aircraft leasing, and aviation professionals. The company works with clients in the commercial, military, and general aviation sectors to help them achieve compliance with industry-standard, high-quality, cost-effective solutions that help their client achieve their goals and improve their performance. Website: www.tai.aero/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thai-aerospace-partners-with-rivada-for-network-expansion-302013179.html SOURCE Rivada Space Networks

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[December 12, 2023] Wonder Integrated Group Unveils Striking Rebrand and Celebrates Milestone Certifications Tweet

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wonder Integrated Group , an award-winning marketing agency based in Long Island, NY, is proud to announce the launch of its revamped website, marking a significant milestone in the company's 8-year journey. The rebrand showcases the organization's commitment to innovation, and excellence, and reflects Wonder Integrated Group's evolution as a leader in marketing, media, and advertising. Wonder Integrated Group, an award-winning marketing agency, is proud to announce the launch of its revamped website. In addition to the aesthetic enhancements, this rebrand serves as the perfect platform to announce Wonder Integrated Group's official certification as a Women-Owned Business with New York State, New York City, The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, and Nassau County. These awards underscore the company's dedication to fostering diversity and empowering women entrepreneurs in the business landscape. Furthermor, Wonder Integrated Group is thrilled to share the news of its recent approval into the GSA (General Services Administration) contract schedule. This achievement solidifies the company's position as an approved vendor for the Federal government. By successfully navigating the rigorous GSA approval process, Wonder Integrated Group can now provide its high-quality services to federal agencies, contributing to the advancement of government initiatives.



President and Co-founder Andrea Urioste expressed enthusiasm about the rebrand and certifications, stating, "Our redesigned website is a testament to our commitment to adapt to the changing needs of our clients & the industry as a whole. We are incredibly proud to achieve certification as a women-owned business and gain entry into the GSA contract schedule. These accomplishments affirm our dedication to diversity, excellence, and our ongoing pursuit of delivering exceptional services within the private and public sectors." Wonder Integrated Group invites clients, partners, and stakeholders to explore the new website and learn more about the company's expanded capabilities, services, and the positive impact it continues to make in the industry.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Charlotte White

CEO

[email protected] About Wonder Integrated Group: WonderINgroup creates meaningful marketing campaigns for brands looking to make a positive impact with a more conscious consumer. Offering one integrated solution, the agency handles all aspects of planning, creative design, media buying, content production, and website design & development. WonderINgroup has spent the last 8 years creating positive social impact by executing client campaigns for clients like Planned Parenthood, The Aspen Institute, and the Marine Stewardship Council. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wonder-integrated-group-unveils-striking-rebrand-and-celebrates-milestone-certifications-302013182.html SOURCE Wonder Integrated Group

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[December 12, 2023] Port Houston Partners in Maritime Education Tweet

Last week, the Port Houston Partners in Maritime Education (PHPME) Executive Advisory Council held a day-long workshop and reviewed the program's annual performance measures and initiatives. The session culminated with the group's recommendations providing ways to target more communities, improve industry engagement, partner with like-minded organizations, and better market the program to prepare future students to enter the maritime workforce. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212718083/en/ Students enjoyed an activity at the Maritime & Logistics Youth Expo earlier this year. This annual event, supported by Port of Houston Partners in Maritime Education, enables students across multiple school districts to interact with more than 35 maritime partners and learn more about different careers in the industry. The expo features mariners' presentations on towbots, harbor tugs, barges, shipping forklifts, dredging, survey vessels, and maritime salvage equipment. (Photo: Business Wire)



PHPME is an alliance of industry, business, community, and academic stakeholders and local, state, and federal entities to address the need for a well-trained talent pool of future maritime leaders. As the organization seeks continual improvement, the PHPME Board of Directors formed an Executive Advisory Council of senior executives from various aspects of the maritime industry to provide strategic guidance on further enhancing the program.

As the organization has grown and matured over the past 14 years, it has brought much success in raising awareness of maritime education in our local community. Today, there are nine Maritime and Logistics Career and Technical Education (CTE) high school programs serving more than 900 students in the fields of Maritime Science, Logistics, Transportation, Distribution, Engineering, and other related fields of study, such as Security, Environment, and Global Supply Chain in many cases providing dual credit courses and industry-specific certifications. In addition to supporting these Maritime and Logistics CTE programs, PHPME coordinates career-focused field trips, expos, seminars, internships, and scholarship opportunities. Since its inception, PHPME has provided over $255,000 in support of local maritime education. Maritime careers offer a path for people from all walks of life. Whether you've recently graduated high school or college, are looking to transition from one career to another, or have recently retired from the military, maritime jobs offer a top salary, benefits, and opportunities to advance. Maritime careers are dynamic, exciting, and diverse. Port Houston is a proud participant in the work of PHPME. For more information or if you are interested in becoming a part of Port Houston Partners in Maritime Education (PHPME), please contact Port Houston Education Outreach Manager Jacquie Young at [email protected]. About Port Houston For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel, including the area's largest breakbulk facility and two of the most efficient container terminals in the country. Port Houston is the advocate and a strategic leader for the Channel. The Houston Ship Channel complex and its more than 200 private and eight public terminals is the nation's largest port for waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas and the U.S. The Port of Houston supports the creation of nearly 1.5 million jobs in Texas and 3.37 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling $439 billion in Texas and $906 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the website at PortHouston.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212718083/en/

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[December 12, 2023] Retail Market in Indonesia to grow by USD 49.56 billion from 2023 to 2028; market is fragmented due to the presence of prominent companies like Adidas AG, and Apple Inc. and Authentic Brands Group LLC, and many more - Technavio Tweet

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The retail market in Indonesia is estimated to grow by USD 49.56 billion from 2023 to 2028, growing at a CAGR of 4.73%. The retail market in Indonesia is fragmented owing to the presence of many global and regional companies. A few prominent companies that offer retail market in Indonesia are Adidas AG, Apple Inc., Authentic Brands Group LLC, Decathlon SA, Inter IKEA Holding BV, Levi Strauss and Co., LG Electronics Inc., Marks and Spencer Group plc, Nike Inc., Panasonic Holdings Corp., PT FUJITA Indonesia, PT Hino Motors Manufacturing Indonesia, PT Siantar Top Tbk, PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya Tbk, PT. Indomarco Prismatama, PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk, PT Ramayana Lestari Sentosa Tbk, PT. SGMW Motor Indonesia, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., and Sony Group Corp. The report provides a full list of key companies, their strategies, and the latest developments. Download a Free Sample before buying Company Offering: CT Corp. - The company operates retail stores under its brand PT Trans Retail Indonesia.

The company operates retail stores under its brand PT Trans Retail Indonesia. PT. Indomarco Prismatama - The company operates retail stores under its brand Indomaret.

The company operates retail stores under its brand Indomaret. PT Hero Supermarket Tbk - The company operates retail stores under its brands, such as Hero Supermarket, Guardian, and Giant Extra.

The company operates retail stores under its brands, such as Hero Supermarket, Guardian, and Giant Extra. For details on companies and their offerings  Buy the report!

Impactful driver- Expansion of retail landscape

Expansion of retail landscape Key Trend - Growing preference for local brands

- Growing preference for local brands Major Challenges - Underdeveloped infrastructure Market Segmentation The offline segment will contribute the largest share of the market. Convenience stores, department stores, drug stores, supermarkets, and hypermarkets are included in the segment. Factors such as the availability of products from unorganized market players pose a serious threat to the organized Indonesian - retail market. Retailers adopted strict preventive measures at their stores to provide a safe and steady shopping experience to consumers and ensure that all people have access to products required for daily consumption. Additionally, the number of visitors at offline stores in Indonesia has reduced due to shifting customers' online shopping habits and minimizing physical interaction. Consequently, the offline distribution channels segment will lead to moderate growth in the Indonesian - retail market during the forecast period. Technavio Research experts have provided more insights on the market share of segments - View a Free Sample Report Related Reports:

The retail market in China is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.64% between 2022 and 2027. The retail market size in China is forecast to increase by USD 1,207.55 billion. The retail market share in Mexico is expected to increase by USD 97.29 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.48%.







Retail Market In Indonesia Scope Report Coverage Details Historic period 2018-2022 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.73% YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 4.38

TOC: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel 7 Market Segmentation by Product 8 Customer Landscape 9 Geographic Landscape 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 11 Vendor Landscape 12 Vendor Analysis 13 Appendix About US Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact US: Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/retail-market-in-indonesia-to-grow-by-usd-49-56-billion-from-2023-to-2028-market-is-fragmented-due-to-the-presence-of-prominent-companies-like-adidas-ag-and-apple-inc-and-authentic-brands-group-llc-and-many-more---technavio-302013296.html SOURCE Technavio

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For those who haven't seen this one yet . . . Here's a glimpse what should be an interesting challenge against a longstanding local leader.

At the outset of the contest and given the recent Use Tax upset . . . Close TKC readers warn skeptics not to count out Eastern Jack in this equation.

Here's the word . . .



JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATOR SEAN SMITH DECLARES CANDIDACY FOR CONGRESS LEES SUMMIT, MO. -

Esteemed Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith has officially announced his candidacy for the United States Congress in the Missouri Congressional 5th District, currently held by Emanuel Cleaver. With a proven track record of leadership, commitment to community, and a passion for positive change, Smith is poised to bring a fresh perspective to the nation's capital.



In his work on the 911 Oversight Committee for the Jackson County Legislature, Smith has worked with local police and fire precincts to address infrastructure and communication needs, finding solutions for dispatching challenges. As the son of a career firefighter, Smith has taken his role seriously and acknowledges the unique needs of emergency responders. "I am passionate about providing law enforcement officers and first responders with the resources they need and it is vital that they are equipped with adequate technology," he states.



As a businessman and past consultant, Sean Smith seeks to address tax burdens and regulatory policies that can hinder entrepreneurs and cripple household budgets. The pillar of financial responsibility lays the foundation for his approach in business as well as in his role as a public servant.



Smith has garnered broad popularity throughout all of Jackson County for his tireless work and advocacy for reforms and helping individuals in this years problematic tax assessment. Frustrated by the lack of authority and bureaucratic roadblocks at the county level, Smith says the people deserve a choice in the matter.



"The people of Missouri deserve leaders who will manage their tax dollars as they would their own wallets. I am excited to demonstrate fiscal responsibility within my own campaign finances, keeping future campaign contributions transparent," said Sean Smith. Smith self-funded both of his past campaigns and he will bring principled leadership and positive change to the United States Congress.



Smith believes that elected officials must ensure all perspectives are heard and considered. Smith said, By working with diverse perspectives, we are most likely to find solutions rather than escalating division. Representing those who elect him and all constituents is Smiths key objective.



Sean Smith is a Lee's Summit resident whose three children graduated from Lees Summit schools. Working in information technology, he strives to find innovative solutions for everyday obstacles. You can learn more about him as a candidate and follow his campaign at www.SeanSmith4Missouri.com.

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Developing . . .
Something to consider . . .

We notice progressives asking about Kunce's stance on Israel . . . Because the dude has kept quiet about it and the truth is that he probably doesn't stray too far from Senator Hawley except when it comes to border funding attached to military money.

For the record and on the opposite side of the spectrum . . .

MISSOURI PROGRESSIVES HAVE UNIVERSALLY REJECTED LUCAS KUNCE BECAUSE HE'S GOT A BIGGER WAR BONER THAN MOST REPUBLICANS!!!

I know that sounds like a compliment but it's not.

Kander is entitled support whoever he wants . . . Apparently Kander is so enthusiastic about his work for veterans that he wants to make even more of them.

Still . . . This beloved KC politico has offered some pretty abysmal picks during his time as an "influencer" of small town cowtown votes.

Let's not forget he helped backed 6th District activist Johnathan Duncan who is only in office because he's connected to Mayor Q by marriage . . . Along with the embarrassing fact that he signed on to the KC Tenants agenda despite some VERY SKETCHY things they've said about the Middle-East.



Anyhoo . . . Here's the word from Jason Kander who latches onto another subpar candidate in order to settle old school grudges . . .



"The dynamic were seeing in Missouris current U.S. Senate race, as Democrat Lucas Kunce takes on incumbent Republican Hawley. Much like my race in 2016, 2024 pits a labor-backed veteran against a politician  except people actually liked my opponent. (Roy Blunt never tried to overthrow the government violently just to get his name out there.)



"Now up for reelection in 2024, Hawley faces Kunce, a Marine veteran and leading antitrust advocate whos broken fundraising records, rallied Missouris election-winning labor movement behind him and built a reputation as a different kind of Democrat who speaks truth to power, regardless of party."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Lots to consider this evening as we attempt to keep up with police action, EXCELLENT LOCAL CRIME REPORTING, court cases and all manner of ALLEGED misdeeds.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Kansas City police investigating fatal hit-and-run crash that involved stolen vehicle Kansas City police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run crash. Police say the crash happened at 31st and Agnes shortly before 6 p.m. on Monday.

Kansas City, Missouri, auto repair shop robber sentenced to 10 years in prison A Jackson County judge sentenced a man to 10 years in prison Friday for the robbery of a Kansas City, Missouri, auto repair shop.

Shooting at Subway in KCMO leaves one injured following armed robbery attempt A shooting at a Subway in the area of E. Truman Road left one person with non-life-threatening injuries.

Jackson County settles $1.2M wrongful death lawsuit involving man in restraint chair Jackson County has settled a wrongful death lawsuit for $1.2 million dollars with the family of a 21 year old man who died after being placed in a restraint chair in the jail.

13-year-old arrested by Lenexa police; teen charged in stolen car investigation The department says officers were on foot patrol when they thwarted the car theft in progress.

Police, prosecutors say evidence does not support charges in 2017 death of Libby Caswell Friends and family lined the Eastern Jackson County Courthouse Monday in Independence seeking answers on the sixth anniversary of the death of Libby Caswell.

Cass County man charged with sexual exploitation of a child 12 years or younger A Freeman, Missouri man has been charged with sexual exploitation of a minor child.

Driver dies after hitting railroad bridge early Monday in Kansas City suburb A driver died after crashing into a railroad bridge on 23rd Street near Crysler Avenue in Independence, police said.

Do Good For Erin foundation fills U-Haul truck with new, comfy clothes for survivors of domestic abuse In 2019, Erin Langhofer was standing at a food truck in the Crossroads on a First Friday when a bullet from a nearby fight hit and killed her.

Kansas City police K-9 dies after sudden illness Kansas City police are mourning after one of their K-9s lost mobility in his front legs over the weekend and had to be euthanized.

Developing . . .
A man has been charged following a suspected hate-motivated mischief investigation in downtown Toronto.

Police were called to the Yonge and Front streets area for a mischief call at 5:37 a.m. Sunday.

Toronto police allege a man wrote antisemitic graffiti on the window of a business.

A 55-year-old Toronto man has been charged with mischief under $5,000 and breaching probation.

The investigation is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence, police said in a news release Monday night.

Police are asking anyone with information to them at 416-808-3506 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
A man is facing charges after a police officer was allegedly pushed off his bicycle during a demonstration in downtown Toronto Sunday.

The incident happened near University Avenue and Armoury Street at about 2:25 p.m.

Toronto police said about 500 demonstrators were spilling onto the streets as community response officers were escorting a police vehicle that was trying to make a left turn onto Armoury from southbound University.

"One of the officers was pushed off of his bicycle and shoved to the ground," police alleged in a news release.

A 32-year-old Toronto man was arrested and charged with obstructing a peace officer and assaulting a peace officer. The accused is scheduled to appear in court at Ontario Court of Justice on Armoury Street at 2 p.m. Jan. 25.

Police are asking anyone with information on the incident to call 52 Division at 416-808-5200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
By Asim Aliyev

Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev visited the Kingdom of Bahrain on December 11, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry.

It was noted that within the framework of the visit Y.Rafiyev met with Bahrain's Deputy Foreign Minister for Diplomatic Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the current situation and further prospects of Azerbaijan-Bahrain relations. The sides emphasized that the political relations between the two friendly countries are at a high-level and they are interested in developing cooperation in other spheres as well.

During the meeting, the importance of high-level mutual visits between Azerbaijan and Bahrain was touched upon, and the importance of improving the legal framework was emphasized.

The sides noted that there are great opportunities for the development of mutual cooperation in the field of economy and trade and agreed to organize a meeting of representatives of business circles of the two countries in the near future.

At the meeting, the sides expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Bahrain within international organizations and stressed the importance of continuing cooperation in this direction.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Bahrain informed his Azerbaijani counterpart about the results of the 19th Regional Security Summit - "Manama Dialogue 2023" held in his country on November 17-19 this year.

During the meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on regional issues.
HANOI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- China and Vietnam have agreed on Tuesday to build a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance on the basis of deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two sides, unveiling a new chapter in bilateral ties.

The new strategic positioning between the two parties and countries was announced following talks between Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, and Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

China and Vietnam are connected by mountains and rivers, enjoy cultural proximity, cherish the same ideals, and have a shared future ahead.

Regardless of how the international situation may change, the two sides jointly uphold peace and tranquility, pursue development and cooperation, promote prosperity and progress, and embark on a bright path towards building a community with a shared future for mankind.

As this year marks the 15th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Vietnam, elevating the bilateral relationship is in tune with the trend of the times and will pave the way for an even brighter future in their bilateral relations.

As the world's top two ruling Communist parties, both the CPC and CPV have been adhering to and developing Marxism, unswervingly follow the socialist path, and leading their respective country in socialist construction.

All the more, the two parties should grasp the special strategic significance of China-Vietnam relations and make solid progress in building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future from the perspective of strengthening the socialist forces in the world and ensuring the steady and long-term progress of their respective cause of socialist construction.

Now enjoying a new positioning, the bilateral relationship sends a clear signal of unity and cooperation to the international community.

The construction of a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance between China and Vietnam not only aligns with the common interests of both parties and countries, but also stands to attract more countries to engage in the noble undertaking of building an Asian community with a shared future and a community with a shared future for mankind.

This, in turn, will provide greater positive energy for the substantial development of Asia, nurturing good-neighborly friendship and making significant contributions to global peace and development.

With joint efforts, China-Vietnam ties enter a new stage of greater political mutual trust, more solid security cooperation, deeper mutually beneficial cooperation, stronger popular support, closer multilateral coordination, and better handling of differences.

The cause of socialist construction in China and Vietnam will advance steadily and make new contributions to the stability, development, and prosperity of the region and the world. 
Heading to Europe for the holidays? You are in for a special experience! Europe becomes a magical place during this festive season, filled with festive spirit and heartwarming traditions. As you prepare for your trip, get excited about the European Christmas traditions you will encounter.

Europe in December is like a scene from a storybook, with its bright lights, joyful carols, and markets that seem like a dream. Each country has its own way of celebrating, from the sweet smells of Germany's Christmas markets to Italy's lively Nativity scenes. These traditions are at the heart of a European winter holiday.

Experiencing these European Christmas traditions gives you a view of Europe's holiday customs. Here are some examples.

Germany: Home of Christmas Markets

In Germany, the Christmas market tradition is a centerpiece of the holiday season. These markets, known locally as 'Weihnachtsmarkt,' are in cities and towns nationwide. They are not just shopping destinations but places where people come together to celebrate the festive spirit. The markets have stalls selling handmade crafts, ornaments, and seasonal treats. As you browse, do not miss the chance to sip on 'Gluhwein,' a hot spiced wine. Also, try 'Lebkuchen,' a traditional German gingerbread, perfect as a sweet treat or a souvenir.

Spain: The Lottery and El Caganer

Spain's Christmas traditions are a mix of festivity and folklore. 'El Gordo' is not just a lottery but a cultural phenomenon, bringing people together in anticipation and excitement. In addition to 'El Caganer,' another unique feature in Spanish Christmas is the 'Three Kings' Parade' on January 5th.

This parade, celebrating the arrival of the Three Wise Men, is a grand event with floats, music, and sweets thrown to the children. It is a perfect example of Spain's vibrant and family-oriented holiday celebrations.

Read Also: What to Expect When You Visit the Vienna Christmas Market

Italy: Feast of the Seven Fishes

The Feast of the Seven Fishes in Italy is a testament to the country's love for food and family gatherings. This feast typically includes seven different seafood dishes, but some families go beyond, preparing as many as twelve!

Apart from the feast, Italy's Christmas traditions include 'Panettone' and 'Pandoro,' sweet breads that are popular holiday treats. Visiting Italy during Christmas, you will enjoy the feast and witness beautifully decorated streets and nativity scenes, known as 'Presepe,' in churches and public squares.

Sweden: Saint Lucia's Day

Saint Lucia's Day in Sweden is a celebration that combines tradition with the joy of light. The day is especially important in a country with long and dark winters. In addition to the Lucia processions, Swedes celebrate Christmas with 'Julbord,' a traditional Christmas buffet.

This feast includes 'julskinka' (Christmas ham), pickled herring, and 'lussekatter' (saffron buns). The cozy and warm atmosphere in Swedish homes during this time is something truly special.

United Kingdom: Christmas Crackers and Pantomimes

The Christmas crackers and pantomimes in the UK are a testament to the country's love for tradition and humor. From Victorian times, Christmas crackers are a fun addition to any Christmas dinner table. Often based on fairy tales, Pantomimes are interactive and family-friendly theater shows that bring laughter and joy.

Additionally, the UK is known for its beautifully decorated streets and squares and the tradition of sending Christmas cards, a custom that originated in England in the 19th century.

France: Reveillon and Yule Logs

The 'Reveillon' in France showcases the country's culinary expertise and love for elegance. The meal, often extending into the early hours of Christmas Day, features a range of gourmet dishes. Besides 'Reveillon,' French Christmas traditions include 'Marches de Noel' (Christmas markets), particularly famous in regions like Alsace.

Here, you can find everything from handcrafted gifts to local culinary specialties. And, of course, the 'Buche de Noel' is not just a dessert; it is a work of art, often beautifully decorated to resemble a real log.

Austria: Krampusnacht

Austria's 'Krampusnacht' adds a unique, slightly thrilling dimension to the holiday season. This tradition, deeply rooted in folklore, balances the joyous atmosphere with a touch of the fantastical.

In addition to Krampusnacht, Austria is known for its beautiful Christmas markets, particularly in Vienna and Salzburg. In a picturesque, festive setting, you can enjoy traditional Austrian treats like 'Sachertorte' and 'Apfelstrudel.'

Norway: Little Christmas Eve

Norway's 'Little Christmas Eve' is a time for families to unite in joyful anticipation of Christmas. This day is devoted to family traditions, such as decorating the tree and baking cookies.

Another unique Norwegian tradition is 'Julebukk,' or Christmas goat, where children dress up and visit neighbors, singing carols in exchange for sweets. The focus on family and community during this time creates a warm, inviting atmosphere central to Norwegian Christmas celebrations.



Related Article: Best Traditional Christmas Feasts and Where to Find Them in Europe
BUDAPEST, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Hungarian parliament voted to adopt a legal package aimed at safeguarding the nation's sovereignty against external influences here on Tuesday.

The approved bill introduces the establishment of a Sovereignty Protection Office and enforces stringent penalties for any breach of the ban on foreign campaign financing.

The legislation, which passed with a vote count of 140 in favor, 50 against, and no abstentions, entrusts the Sovereignty Protection Office with the responsibility of compiling an annual report scrutinizing organizations that might leverage foreign funding to sway election outcomes.

The move comes in response to concerns raised regarding the exploitation of foreign funds in previous elections. 
On Friday the Caribbean Football Union will stage the 2024 Next Gen Referees Course for Regi
Arctic Report Card highlights salmon extremes, local observers

Eleven University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists contributed as authors to the 18th Arctic Report Card released Dec. 12, 2023. The report card, produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, documents how warming air, ocean and land affect people and ecosystems.

Photo by Seth Adams

Spawning chum salmon swim in a spring feeding the Tanana River, a tributary of the Yukon River.

According to Rick Thoman, the lead editor and a climate specialist at the UAF Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy, the sections on salmon and working with local communities may be of particular interest to Alaskans.

The report card models a crucial shift toward centering local Indigenous knowledge in Arctic research and decision making. UAFs Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub was highlighted for its long-term work documenting environmental changes and impacts in northern Alaska using a coordinated network of coastal Indigenous observers.

When you have local observations side-by-side with scientific data, it tells a more complete story of not just what's happening but how those changes are being perceived and their impact in terms of activities or travel, said Roberta Glenn, lead author of the chapter called Nunaaqqit Savaqatigivlugich  Inupiat for working with communities  and AAOKHs project coordinator and community liaison.

In 2022, observers in the network noted more frequent and intense coastal storms that contributed to flooding in communities and erosion along coastlines. They also shared how shifting wind patterns altered the sea ice, improving access to marine mammal hunting areas.

In their chapter, AAOKH began each paragraph with quotes from the observers.

That was intentional. We really make an effort to center the voices and the observations of the people we work with, explained Glenn, who recently completed her masters degree at UAF under report card co-author Donna Hauser.

It's been a cool experience as an Inuit woman to be included as a contributing author in something like this, said Glenn. I feel proud to be able to share what I've learned through working with Indigenous people to a broader stage.

The Arctic Report Card also included the latest data and research surrounding the record high and low salmon numbers in western Alaska.

Weve seen heat waves in the ocean and heat waves on land, and salmon populations have been responding with extreme ups and downs, said Erik Schoen, lead author of the salmon chapter and a fisheries scientist at the UAF International Arctic Research Center. Peter Westley, a scientist at the UAF College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, was also among the salmon chapter co-authors.

In 2022, 81% fewer king salmon returned than average to the Yukon River, a new record low and part of a long-term decline seen across the state. The cause of the decline is complex, and scientists have found possible links to water temperature, disease and declining body size.

We know that king populations on the Yukon do worse when the adult salmon swimming upriver to spawn experience high river temperatures and low flow, which tend to be correlated with hot, dry years, explained Schoen. There's also a disease called Ichthyophonus that can interfere with a salmons ability to swim.

Photo by Donna Hauser

Roberta Glenn pauses while riding a snowmachine near Utqiagvik during work mapping sea ice with Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub observers.

Chum salmon also recently collapsed. In 2021, 92% fewer adults returned to the Yukon than average. Unlike kings, chum populations had been stable.

It came out of nowhere, said Schoen.

The decline has been linked to unprecedented heat waves and loss of sea ice in the Bering Sea. Juvenile chum salmon ate lower quality food and put on less fat under those conditions, potentially reducing their survival rates.

The recent king and chum declines led to fishery closures, user conflicts and profound cultural and food security concerns for Indigenous communities.

In contrast to chum and kings, sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay and the Kuskokwim River did extremely well in recent years. Last year, the commercial fishery caught almost double the 30-year average, more fish than any year since the commercial harvest record began in the 1880s.

The increase may be linked to warmer lakes that allow young sockeye to grow faster. In the past, many sockeye spent two years in lakes before migrating to the ocean; now they mostly spend only one.

Photo by Alice Bailey

Salmon drying in Quinhagak, Alaska, in July 2023.

These changes in salmon abundance are not just numbers in a spreadsheet. The ups and downs really affect people. Countless communities in Alaska are tied to rivers, and salmon are such an incredibly important resource, Schoen said.

UAFs John Walsh, Rick Thoman, Tom Ballinger, Rick Lader, Uma Bhatt, Chris Waigl and Skip Walker also co-authored chapters on the 2022/23 Arctic air temperature, precipitation and tundra greenness.

Alaska-specific highlights from these chapters include:

Spring 2023 was cooler than normal across most of Alaska, while the rest of the year was warmer than normal in northern Alaska.

The high temperatures on the North Slope improved plant growth, so the tundra appeared more green in satellite imagery.

Most of Alaska was wetter than normal, continuing a long-term trend. The North Slope had the fourth wettest autumn in 98 years, and Alaskas west coast had its second wettest winter in 99 years. Anchorage set a new monthly record for precipitation in December 2022.

Learn more about the Arctic Report Card during an ACCAP webinar on Jan. 17.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Rick Thoman, rthoman@alaska.edu; Roberta Glenn, rjglenn@alaska.edu; Erik Schoen, eschoen@alaska.edu

ADDITIONAL MEDIA CONTACTS: Monica Allen, monica.allen@noaa.gov, 202-379-6693; Theo Stein, theo.stein@noaa.gov, 303-819-7409

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As of the morning of December 12, nearly 600 trucks were waiting to cross into Ukraine at the Uzhhorod checkpoint.

The spokesman for the State Border Guard Service, Andriy Demchenko, said this to Ukrinform.

"As of this morning, almost 600 trucks were waiting to cross into Ukraine at the Uzhhorod checkpoint. The blocking of trucks coming from Ukraine has resumed. More than 1,200 trucks are registered in the e-queue to leave Ukraine as of this morning," the spokesman stated.

On the border with Hungary, traffic is moving, but there are queues. As of the morning, 470 trucks were waiting to cross into Ukraine at the Tysa checkpoint.

As reported, representatives of the Slovak carriers' union blocked the movement of trucks through the Vysne Nemecke checkpoint on December 11 at 16:10.
Azerbaijan sent 20 trucks of humanitarian aid aimed at restoring Ukraines power system after Russian strikes, which is the third batch of such assistance.

Thats according to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

"Another shipment of energy aid from partners left the Republic of Azerbaijan for Ukraine, which is 20 trucks carrying more than 550 meters worth of electrical cables and six sets of transformer points. This is already the third batch of aid that Ukraine will receive from Azerbaijani partners for the restoration of the energy system," reads the report.

It is noted that the total amount of energy assistance will thus reach over $7.6 million.

The first batch of aid (10 cargoes), which contained power transformers and back-up power stations, has already been distributed between energy generating companies in the frontline regions. Energy companies of Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, and Lviv regions, as well as NEC Ukrenergo and miners, also received part of such assistance.

The second batch (37 cargoes) will be distributed in the near future.

In general, the support agreement provides for four major shipments, which will have arrived in Ukraine by the end of January 2024.

As reported, in November, the second batch of humanitarian aid, which consists of electrical equipment, was sent from Azerbaijan to Ukraine.
Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and Azerbaijan Dmytro Kuleba and Jeyhun Bayramov discussed the Peace Formula and bilateral cooperation on the sidelines of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting.

The head of Ukrainian diplomacy posted this on the social network X, Ukrinform reports.

It was good to meet with my Azerbaijani colleague Jeyhun Bayramov to discuss Volodymyr Zelenskys Peace Formula and our bilateral cooperation. I reiterated Ukraines support for Azerbaijans territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, as well as initiatives to develop regional cooperation in the space between the Caspian and Black Seas, Kuleba wrote.

It was good to meet with my Azerbaijani colleague @Bayramov_Jeyhun to discuss @ZelenskyyUAs Peace Formula and our bilateral cooperation.



I reiterated Ukraines support for Azerbaijans territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, as well as initiatives pic.twitter.com/XqQfT5937B  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) December 11, 2023

As reported, the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting is taking place in Brussels today. At the beginning of the meeting, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba joined the European officials to brief the European partners on the situation in Ukraine and its reform efforts on the path to EU membership.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council is expected to coordinate the positions of the member states on relations with Ukraine, in particular, on the start of membership negotiations and the allocation of EUR 50 billion of financial support until 2027, as well as on increasing military aid for Ukraine. As expected, these issues will be discussed at the end of this week at the level of EU heads of state and government, who will meet in Brussels in the format of the European Council on December 14-15.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Armenia, Dmytro Kuleba and Ararat Mirzoyan, discussed the development of bilateral relations.

This was announced by the head of Ukrainian diplomacy on X, Ukrinform reports.

"My Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan and I met to discuss the advancement of Ukraine-Armenia dialogue for the benefit of our peoples. Ukraine stands for peace in the South Caucasus, based on respect for the UN Charter and international law, as well as the development of regional trade and cultural projects spanning the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea," the Ukrainian foreign minister wrote in a caption to the video of the meeting.

My Armenian counterpart @AraratMirzoyan and I met to discuss the advancement of Ukraine-Armenia dialogue for the benefit of our peoples.



Ukraine stands for peace in the South Caucasus, based on respect for the UN Charter and international law, as well as the development of pic.twitter.com/HgVAeZFA3w  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) December 11, 2023

Read also: Zelensky congratulates Tusk on election as Prime Minister of Poland

As reported, the EU Foreign Affairs Council is meeting today in Brussels. Early in the meeting, the European government officials were joined by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, who informed the European partners about the developments in Ukraine and its efforts in reforms on the way toward EU membership.

The FAC should coordinate the positions of member states regarding relations with Ukraine, in particular, on the launch of negotiations on EU membership and the allocation of EUR 50 billion in financial support until 2027, as well as regarding the increase of security assistance for Ukraine. At the end of this week, all said issues will be considered at the level of heads of state and government of the EU member states, who will meet in Brussels in the format of the European Council on December 14-15.

Photo: X Ararat Mirzoyan
European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean has welcomed the re-opening of DorohuskYahodyn border crossing point and called for unblocking the remaining border crossing points between Ukraine and Poland without delay.

The relevant statement was published on the website of the European Commission, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

I welcome the re-opening of DorohuskYahodyn border crossing point for freight transport, the most significant border crossing point between Poland and Ukraine. Its blockade since 6 November had significant consequences for Ukraine, Poland, and the EU, but first and foremost, for all the drivers caught up in the blockade, Valean noted.

The European Commissioner for Transport mentioned that these protests cause damage to the European economy, supply chains, other road operators, and Ukraine as a country at war.

Valean noted that the European Commission had engaged directly with protesters and the national authorities on numerous occasions over the past month and proposed concrete measures to facilitate the border crossing process between Ukraine and Poland.

At the same time, the European Commission remains concerned that the other three border crossing points between Poland and Ukraine continue to be blocked.

The remaining border crossing points must be unblocked without delay, Valean stressed.

In her words, it is vital that relevant national and local authorities take the necessary measures to ensure goods can flow through the EUs external borders.

I invite all parties to work with the Commission to implement measures that increase the efficiency at the border crossing points and ensure the proper application of the EU-Ukraine Road Transport Agreement, Valean added.

The European Commission will continue to support constructive discussions that bring verified data on practical problems and continue assisting the search for pragmatic solutions. A swift end to the protests would certainly facilitate these discussions, Valean said.
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Published December 12, 2023

CAPTION:Eight advanced graphic design students participated in a website competition. Pictured L-R: Mareo Riley, Curtis Johnson, Professor Winnie Tomeny, Jalen West, Haley Wiley, Brian Scott, Tyanna Johnson, Macie Hunt, Charles Hollis.

MONROE, LA  Eight ULM students in an advanced graphic design course recently competed in a website competition for Roux and Brew Seafood & Steakhouse, located in Ponchatoula, LA. The students were charged with recreating the website for the steakhouse, with the winner receiving $250 cash and the restaurant using the winners winning design.

While the students were enjoying dinner at the steakhouse after their presentations, the leaders had a hard time narrowing down to only one winner, so they chose three top website designs and offered cash rewards. The winners were Macie Hunt, Charles Hollis, and Brian Scott. Their website designs can be viewed by clicking the link in their names.

Graphic Design Professor Winnie Tomeny will assist each of the three winners with combining their websites into one final website for Roux and Brew Seafood & Steakhouse to use.

I am passionate about setting the bar high for my students, said Tomeny. Students need to turn in every project as portfolio worthy. Gaining proficient experience while they are in college is also extremely important, she added.

During Tomenys Advanced Graphic Design course, she assigns several checkpoint projects, which are designed to enhance each students portfolio. Those projects include restaurant logo designs, restaurant menu design, and billboard design. The students midterm project combines billboard, menu, logo, to-go package, t-shirt, and gift card designs. The final project includes a branding manual and website design.
by Marja Vogric

LJUBLJANA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Earlier this month, an animated movie about Alma Karlin, a Slovenian female writer who a century ago embarked on a solo journey around the world that also took her to China received the best Slovenian short film award at a local film festival.

The movie, which also screened at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October, is based on a bilingual children's book about Karlin titled "Little Alma on a Great Journey." Wang Huiqin, an award-winning artist born in southeastern China, is the author and illustrator of the book in both Chinese and Slovene.

"I made the book and the movie about Alma because I admire her, as she was very brave and strong and those are the qualities that we need today," Wang told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"I want as many people to know about her as possible. It is important that children know about her as well," she added. The film, available in Chinese, Slovenian and several other languages, has already screened in China, Peru, Tunisia, Kenya, Australia, Turkiye and Austria.

Noting that people should know more about other countries and other cultures, Wang said, "If people would know each other, they would value each other and there would be no wars."

Having lived in Slovenia for 40 years, Wang can speak Slovene fluently and remains passionate to create bridges between the cultures of Slovenia and China.

She said she loves to work on projects about people who connect China and Europe. She also wrote an illustrated bilingual book on Ferdinand Augustin Hallerstein, an astronomer from the Habsburg Empire (now Slovenia), who was born 320 years ago and arrived in China in 1739 after a two-year journey.

Known by his Chinese name Liu Songling, Hallerstein never returned to Europe but became the head of the Board of Astronomy and Mathematics of the Qing Dynasty. He created an astronomical observation instrument, which was the largest at the Beijing Ancient Observatory, where it is still on display.

Her painting of Hallerstein has been printed on Slovenian postal stamps. Moreover, she also created illustrated bilingual books on Italian explorer Marco Polo and Italian painter Guiseppe Castiglione, who worked in China about 250 years ago.

Wang studied art at the University of Nanjing in China, where she met her husband, who is a Slovenian Sinologist. She now teaches calligraphy and Chinese art at Ljubljana University.

Living in this mountainous country by the Adriatic Sea, which has 2.1 million citizens, Wang has had her paintings exhibited here and abroad many times. Over the past years, she has received several Slovenian awards for her illustrations.

"I love Slovenia because it is a country with a lot of art, with a highly developed culture," Wang said. 
AMMAN, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Tuesday signed an agreement to receive a grant worth 845.1 million U.S. dollars from the United States, as part of annual U.S. financial aid to the Arab country.

The grant will support Jordan in its efforts to implement a number of development projects and economic reforms in sectors such as public finance, water, energy, education, health and housing, among others, the state-run Petra news agency quoted Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan as saying.

The minister also said that the grant, part of the annual U.S. economic assistance program for Jordan, will help reduce the state budget deficit of Jordan. 
Recent congressional hearings on hate speech in college campuses have ignited a firestorm, resulting in the resignation of several university presidents.

The spotlight is on leaders of some of the country's top universities, with more than 500 Harvard professors backing University President Claudine Gay, who faced intense pressure after her performance in the hearings. The University of Pennsylvania's president also stepped down, raising questions about the efficacy of university policies on hate speech.

The Congressional Hearings

The hearings focused on addressing the prevalence of hate speech on college campuses, particularly incidents related to anti-Semitic behavior. University presidents, including Claudine Gay from Harvard, found themselves in the hot seat as they attempted to navigate and articulate their institutions' policies.

During the hearings, Gay faced a barrage of questions, and her responses left many unsatisfied. When queried about whether "calling for the genocide of Jews" violated Harvard's code of conduct, Gay responded with a controversial statement, saying, "It depends on the context." This sparked immediate criticism, with Rep. Elise Stefanik (R New York) asserting that such answers were unacceptable across the board.

READ ALSO: Documentary 'Israelism' Divides UPenn Campus: Navigating Academic Freedom Amid Israel-Hamas Tensions

The Fallout at Harvard

In a surprising turn of events, more than 500 Harvard professors submitted a petition in support of President Gay, despite her perceived shortcomings during the hearings. This move further intensified the controversy, drawing attention not only to the university's policies on hate speech but also to the internal dynamics within the academic community.

Resignation of the University of Pennsylvania's President

The pressure extended beyond Harvard, leading to the resignation of the University of Pennsylvania's president over the weekend. The move came amid a wave of criticism, with Rep. Stefanik issuing a statement that criticized the Harvard faculty for supporting Gay and implicitly condemning the University of Pennsylvania's leadership for its handling of hate speech issues.

The Call for Accountability

The incidents at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania underscore a growing demand for accountability among university leaders regarding their policies on hate speech. Congress is now calling for a comprehensive review of these policies and a reevaluation of the leaders responsible for implementing them.

Reactions from the Academic Community

The resignations have sparked intense debate within the academic community, with some supporting the call for accountability and a reexamination of university policies. Others argue that the pressure on university presidents might stifle academic freedom and hinder the open exchange of ideas on campuses.

Moving Forward

As university presidents face the repercussions of their responses during the congressional hearings, there is an opportunity for higher education institutions to reevaluate and strengthen their policies on hate speech. The incidents have also highlighted the need for transparent communication between university leaders and the broader academic community.

The resignations of university presidents in the wake of congressional hearings on hate speech underscore the critical importance of addressing and articulating clear policies on such issues. As the academic community grapples with the fallout, it is evident that there is a pressing need for open dialogue, accountability, and a commitment to fostering inclusive and respectful environments on college campuses. The events unfolding at top-tier universities serve as a wake-up call, urging institutions to prioritize the effective management of hate speech issues to ensure the well-being of their students and the integrity of academic discourse.





RELATED ARTICLE: News Update: US House Committee Launches Investigation Into Harvard, MIT, And Penn After Antisemitism Hearing
The Icahn School of Medicine is witnessing a significant chapter in its history as postdoctoral researchers affiliated with the Sinai Postdoctoral Organizing Committee, part of the United Autoworkers union, initiate a strike. This development follows more than a year of unsuccessful negotiations for the researchers' inaugural labor contract.

The Union's Victory and Demands

Having secured victory in the June 2022 election, the Sinai Postdoctoral Organizing Committee now represents over 500 researchers. The crux of the disagreement centers on the alleged illegal treatment of international workers, unilateral changes to housing practices, and a lack of timely information provision.

READ ALSO: Top 10 Hardest Colleges To Enter In New York State

Sinai's Response and Proposed Package

Sinai remains steadfast in its commitment to reaching an agreement. The institution has presented a comprehensive package proposal, including a minimum pay raise for postdocs and various benefits. Despite these offerings, the striking researchers argue that the proposed package falls short of addressing their specific concerns.

Childcare Subsidies and Housing Woes

The rejection of proposals, notably for childcare subsidies, sheds light on the challenges faced by postdocs, many of whom are early in their careers and juggling familial responsibilities. Additionally, the refusal to extend access to campus housing raises questions about the institution's supportiveness in the context of New York City's housing crisis.

This strike at the Icahn School of Medicine is emblematic of a broader trend where postdoctoral researchers across various institutions advocate for fair compensation, improved working conditions, and better benefits. As these professionals play a pivotal role in advancing research, addressing their concerns is crucial for a sustainable research environment.

The Bigger Picture of Labor Dynamics in Academia

The standoff underscores the larger issue of labor rights within academic institutions. Postdocs, despite their indispensable contributions, often find themselves navigating precarious positions, facing challenges ranging from financial instability to limited career advancement opportunities.

As the strike unfolds, it not only magnifies the nuances of the negotiations but also casts a spotlight on the broader societal debates about fair labor practices and the treatment of workers. The academic community, it seems, is not immune to the larger socio-economic forces shaping the contemporary discourse on labor rights.

Impact on Research and Academic Environment

The ramifications of the postdoctoral strike extend beyond the bargaining table, raising concerns about the potential disruptions to ongoing research projects and the overall academic environment at the Icahn School of Medicine. The collaborative nature of scientific endeavors heavily relies on the contributions of postdocs, and a prolonged strike could impede the institution's research output. Furthermore, the atmosphere of uncertainty may affect the morale and engagement of both postdocs and their colleagues. The administration's ability to swiftly address these concerns and find common ground with the striking researchers will be pivotal in maintaining a conducive and productive academic atmosphere.

The resolution of this dispute remains uncertain, with the striking postdoctoral researchers determined to secure what they perceive as just and equitable conditions. The outcome will not only impact the immediate future of researchers at Sinai but could also set a precedent for how similar disputes are handled across academic institutions.







RELATED ARTICLE: University Of Kentucky Takes The Lead With $7 Million Grant To Tackle Lung Cancer Crisis
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Dec, 2023) Vice Chancellor, Allama Iqbal Open University, Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood has focused on faculty development to promote teaching and research culture in the university, said Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof. Dr. Tanzila Nabeel while addressing the opening session of two-day 'Cooperative Learning Training Workshop'.

She said that as per the instructions of the Vice Chancellor, Faculty of education conducts training workshop regularly to equip teachers with contemporary requirements, increase their technical and professional skills.

This training workshop was organized by the Department of Distance, Non-Formal and Continuing Education (Faculty of Education).

Dr. Zaheer Ahmed was the trainer, while Dr.

Tahira Bibi was the coordinator of this workshop. Chairman, Department of Early Child Education and Elementary Teacher Education, Prof. Dr. Fazal-Ur-Rahman presided over both the sessions.

Explaining the objectives of the training workshop, Dr. Fazal and Dr. Tahira Bibi said that cooperative learning training was essential because this faculty provides training to teachers across the country and there is no school, college or university in Pakistan that does not have our trained teacher.

Dr. Tahira Bibi thanked the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood and the Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof. Dr. Tanzila Nabeel for their support and patronage in organizing the training workshop.
ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Middle Eastern tourists made the most hotel reservations among all foreigners traveling to Russia this winter, Russian travel news agency RTN reported Tuesday.

This winter, travelers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kuwait, Oman and other Middle Eastern countries booked the most hotels, accounting for 38 percent of all tourists to Russia, a sharp increase from last year's 23 percent, the report said, citing a study conducted by a major local online hotel booking service, the "Ostrovok" company.

European tourists made almost a quarter of all bookings by foreigners this winter, down from last year's 32 percent.

Travelers from Asian countries, including Thailand, India and China, made 19 percent of foreign bookings in Russian hotels, while the share of requests from CIS countries was 10 percent.

The most popular Russian city for foreign tourists remains Moscow with 60 percent of hotel bookings, followed by St. Petersburg with 18 percent of the bookings, according to the report. 
The Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib on Tuesday said that any unlawful deduction from the stipends given to beneficiaries of the Benezir Kafalat program would not be accepted

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Dec, 2023) The Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib on Tuesday said that any unlawful deduction from the stipends given to beneficiaries of the Benezir Kafalat program would not be accepted.

He said this while chairing a meeting subsequent to his visit to the Kafalat Funds Disbursement Center and the BISP Center in Karachi. The meeting was attended by BISP board members Dr. Qaiser Bengali, Haris Ghazdar, DG NSER Naveed Akbar, DG Sindh Riaz Soomro, DG (MCO) Zulfiqar Sheikh, and other officials. The meeting centered on contemplating various suggestions for the future direction of BISP.

Dr. Saqib emphasized that forthcoming discussions would delve into enhancing the payment system's transparency for registered beneficiaries, aiming to curb any deductions. The new proposed model intends to involve more than 15 banks in the Benazir Kafalat program to ensure transparent transactions.

He further highlighted the significance of BISP as the country's largest social security program, advocating for training programs to enhance the performance of departmental staff and officers.

During the meeting, DG (NSER) Naveed Akbar provided an overview of sponsorship, developmental programs, and the dynamic registry procedure.

He mentioned that roughly 6 million individuals nationwide underwent surveys through Dynamic Registration Centers. Additionally, efforts are underway to expand the distribution of scholarships to registered women and involve more banks alongside the existing partners.

Director General BISP Sindh, Riaz Soomro, disclosed that over 2300,000 deserving women in Sindh are being aided financially under the Kafalat program, with approximately 174,000 beneficiaries in Karachi alone. Presently, 138 BISP offices and 138 dynamic registration centers operate in Sindh.

Furthermore, Chairperson Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib addressed BISP employees at Jamia Masjid Quba, Saddar, Karachi, emphasizing the importance of serving needy women and the collective responsibility to elevate BISP as the country's premier institution. He urged employees to discharge their duties with honesty and a spirit of sacrifice.

Dr. Amjad Saqib also inspected a private bank's retailers handling quarterly installments in Saddar area and directed concerned officers to increase the number of agents due to a shortage.
Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib has emphasized the need for a transparent payment system and announced plans to include the services of more than 15 banks to ensure efficient and transparent payments to the registered beneficiaries

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Dec, 2023) Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib has emphasized the need for a transparent payment system and announced plans to include the services of more than 15 banks to ensure efficient and transparent payments to the registered beneficiaries.

In a significant visit to Karachi, Chairperson BISP conducted a thorough assessment of the payment disbursement center and the BISP regional headquarters in the city, said a news release.

The visit included a high-level meeting attended by BISP board members, including Dr. Kaiser Bengali, Mr. Haris Gazdar, Barrister Ayesha Tammy Haq (via zoom), DG NSER Naveed Akbar, DG Sindh Riaz Soomro, and DG MCO Zulfiqar Sheikh, among other officers.

Dr. Amjad Saqib proposed the initiation of training programs for staff and officers to enhance their individual performance and contribute to the program's overall efficiency. Several proposals were considered during the meeting, aligning with the future vision of BISP. "BISP is the largest social safety net program of Pakistan, and we are committed to ensure that the benefits reach the deserving recipients with transparency, he added.

DG NSER Naveed Akbar provided insights into the Kafaalat and Nashonuma programs, emphasizing the Dynamic Registry procedure. He said that around 6 million people across the country have been surveyed through dynamic registration centers.

He further highlighted the expansion of the stipend disbursement procedure to include additional banks and ensure financial support for over 2.

3 million registered deserving women in Sindh.

Director General Sindh Riaz Soomro briefed the board on the Kafaalat program benefiting more than 2.3 million women in the province. He also noted that quarterly stipends are being provided to approximately one lac 74 thousand deserving individuals in Karachi alone.

During his visit to the payment disbursement center of BISP partner banks, Dr. Amjad Saqib interacted with needy women receiving Kafaalat stipends.

He listened to their concerns and directed authorities to promptly address their issues. He also instructed the concerned officials to increase the number of POS agents to manage the crowd of needy women in a disciplined manner and avoid situations where they have to stand in long queues.

Earlier in the day, Dr. Amjad, also addressed BISP employees at Jama Masjid Quba in Karachi, emphasizing the importance of their role in serving the needy.

"Serving women in need is like worship. It is our collective responsibility to make BISP the best institution in the country," he remarked.

He instructed employees to maintain high standards of cleanliness, ensure the deduction-free payment of stipends, and actively participate in strategies to lift needy families out of poverty.

Dr. Amjad also stressed the importance of linking children from poor families to technical skill areas and promoting small businesses to alleviate poverty.

He encouraged the staff to provide all possible facilities to the needy with dedication and selflessness.
South Korea's president on Tuesday kicked off a visit to the Netherlands, hoping to forge a "chip alliance" between the two global semiconductor powerhouses

Amsterdam, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Dec, 2023) South Korea's president on Tuesday kicked off a visit to the Netherlands, hoping to forge a "chip alliance" between the two global semiconductor powerhouses.

Yoon Suk Yeol will become the first foreign leader to visit the highly controlled "cleanroom" manufacturing facilities of Dutch tech giant ASML, which makes cutting-edge machines to build semiconductor chips.

These high-tech chips are the lifeblood of the global economy, found in everything from the smartphone in your pocket to the car you drive.

Semiconductors are the "linchpin" of ties between Korea and the Netherlands, Yoon told AFP in an exclusive written interview before becoming the first Korean leader to visit since ties were established in 1961.

Yoon will be joined on his visit to ASML by the heads of major chip makers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Dec, 2023) Minister for Commerce and Industry, Dr Gohar Ejaz held a meeting with Chinese Vice Minister, Li Fei to further cementing economic ties and explore various opportunities in trade, commerce and investment.

Both the ministers discussed the implementation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which has now entered its second stage.

They expressed their resolve to further work on enhancing bilateral trade and investment by reviewing the China-Pakistan FTA and implementing the outcomes of the joint study conducted by the commerce ministries of both sides.

Dr Gohar Ejaz also highlighted government policies to facilitate foreign direct investment and mentioned the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) as a Single Window interface for potential investors, promoting a unified approach to promote investments in Pakistan.

Later, the minister also concluded a series of productive meetings with business executives of leading State Owned Enterprises and private companies in China.

As part of efforts to boost China-Pakistan trade and commercial ties and building on the momentum from Prime Minister Kakars last visit in October, Dr Gohar Ejaz is undertaking a visit to China, along with 20 members of business delegation representing textiles, food, agriculture, chemicals, fertilizers, and technology sectors.

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Strasbourg, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Dec, 2023) EU lawmakers on Tuesday present a top rights prize to Mahsa Amini, whose death in Iranian custody sparked mass protests, but her family won't attend after being blocked by Tehran.

The award -- also for the broader "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement -- is the latest international recognition for the women challenging Iran's religious government after jailed activist Narges Mohammadi was given the Nobel Peace Prize.

Amini's mother, father and brother will miss the ceremony at the European Parliament in the French city of Strasbourg as Iran's authorities confiscated their passports and barred them from flying to collect the EU's Sakharov Prize.

Iranian Kurd Amini died on September 16, 2022 at the age of 22 while being held by Iran's religious police for allegedly breaching the Islamic republic's strict dress code for women.

Her death triggered major protests in Iran and a global movement known as "Woman, Life, Freedom", calling for the end of the Muslim cleric-led government in Tehran and its imposition of headscarves on women.

Iranian security forces have cracked down on the protests domestically, killing hundreds, and have executed dozens for allegedly participating in what officials have called "riots".

The refusal by Iran's government to let Amini's family attend has caused outrage among EU lawmakers, who said Tehran is seeking to stifle her supporters.

"This restriction is aimed at silencing Jina Mahsa Amini's family, preventing them from speaking out about the Islamic Republic's outrageous repression of women's rights, human rights and fundamental freedoms in Iran," 116 MEPs wrote in a letter.

"We cannot tolerate this, the truth must not be silenced and the face of this incredible liberation movement should be shown to Europe and the world."

Amini's family will instead be represented by their Iranian lawyer Saleh Nikbakht at the ceremony.

Nikbakht said at a meeting with lawmakers on Monday that Amini's family had informed the authorities they were planning to travel but were stopped at the last moment.

Two prominent activists living in exile outside Iran -- Afsoon Najafi and Mersedeh Shahinkar -- will also pick up the award in the name of the broader movement.

Najafi's sister died during the anti-government protests that swept Iran in the wake of Amini's death. Shahinkar was shot in the eye by security forces.

"I will never stay silent and I will carry on the path I've chosen to be a voice of my people in any way possible," Shahinkar told lawmakers.

"I'm going to show that my people do not want the Islamic Republic regime."

Nobel peace prize winner Mohammadi -- who has been detained since 2021 in Tehran's Evin prison -- was also unable to pick up the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Sunday.

Mohammadi was one of the women spearheading the "Woman, Life, Freedom" uprising.

Mohammadi's twin children Ali and Kiana instead received the award on her behalf, and read out a speech that was smuggled out of jail denouncing the "tyrannical and anti-women religious" government.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

United Nations, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Dec, 2023) The UN General Assembly is due to vote Tuesday on a non-binding resolution demanding "an immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza -- a call that the paralyzed Security Council has so far failed to make.

The United States, one of only five permanent members of the Security Council, used its veto on Friday to halt a draft text calling for a ceasefire, the latest sign of impasse.

The Council took more than a month after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas to speak with one weak voice, calling in mid-November after four rejected texts for humanitarian "pauses" in the conflict.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned of a looming "complete breakdown of public order" in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Many countries and human rights organizations deplored last Friday's Security Council failure, and Guterres on Sunday described the Council's authority and credibility as "undermined.

"

Israeli air and land attacks continue to pummel Gaza, more than two months after the attack by Hamas fighters on Israeli soil on October 7.

Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says 18,205 Palestinians have died in Israel's bombardment since.

The UN itself is mourning the death of more than 100 of its own aid workers since the onset of war.

"There are those who cannot see reality as they should see it," Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour said on Friday after the US veto.

"But eventually they will cave in under the massive pressure of humanity from one corner of the globe to the other corner."
Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang delivers a speech at the launching ceremony of the first flight of the Shanghai-Cairo air route of the China Eastern Airlines in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 11, 2023. China Eastern Airlines began operating direct flights between Shanghai and the Egyptian capital Cairo on Monday, the operator has announced.

The new service makes three round trips per week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, it said, adding it was the first Chinese airline to operate the Shanghai-Cairo air route.

The first flight departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport with 232 passengers onboard. It arrived at Cairo International Airport at 7:19 am local time (0519 GMT) on Monday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

CAIRO, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- China Eastern Airlines began operating direct flights between Shanghai and the Egyptian capital Cairo on Monday, the operator has announced.

The new service makes three round trips per week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, it said, adding it was the first Chinese airline to operate the Shanghai-Cairo air route.

The first flight departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport with 232 passengers onboard. It arrived at Cairo International Airport at 7:19 am local time (0519 GMT) on Monday.

A ceremony was held in Cairo late Monday to mark the launch of the first flight of the new air route, which was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang and Egypt's Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Abbas Helmy.

Hailing the increasing people-to-people exchanges between China and Egypt in recent years, the Chinese ambassador said bilateral cooperation in the aviation sector would continue to expand and called for efforts to step up cooperation in aircraft maintenance and airport services, among other fields.

The Egyptian minister said the launch of the Shanghai-Cairo route would continue to promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Headquartered in Shanghai, China Eastern Airlines is one of the three major state-owned airlines in China. 

Egypt's Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Abbas Helmy delivers a speech at the launching ceremony of the first flight of the Shanghai-Cairo air route of the China Eastern Airlines in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 11, 2023. China Eastern Airlines began operating direct flights between Shanghai and the Egyptian capital Cairo on Monday, the operator has announced.

The new service makes three round trips per week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, it said, adding it was the first Chinese airline to operate the Shanghai-Cairo air route.

The first flight departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport with 232 passengers onboard. It arrived at Cairo International Airport at 7:19 am local time (0519 GMT) on Monday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

The launching ceremony of the first flight of the Shanghai-Cairo air route of the China Eastern Airlines is held in Cairo, Egypt, Dec. 11, 2023. China Eastern Airlines began operating direct flights between Shanghai and the Egyptian capital Cairo on Monday, the operator has announced.

The new service makes three round trips per week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, it said, adding it was the first Chinese airline to operate the Shanghai-Cairo air route.

The first flight departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport with 232 passengers onboard. It arrived at Cairo International Airport at 7:19 am local time (0519 GMT) on Monday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)
Over 75 years ago, Raphael Lemkin created the word genocide to describe the heinous, deliberate destruction of mankind that had been committed in countless episodes of history. This word carried important meaning that would evolve into the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide that the international community commemorates today. The legal definition of genocide reflects the international communitys agreement on the crime of genocide and mankinds responsibilities to act to prevent and punish these crimes. However, reflecting upon the 75th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, it is hard not to realize that so many of the obligations the Convention imparts remain unfulfilled today. Indeed, the words of the Convention retain value only insofar as they are realized in human action, and the global community has unquestionably great space between the words in the Convention and the commitments as demonstrated on the ground.

Between 1975 and 1979, Cambodia suffered extraordinary destruction of its civilization. The Khmer Rouge regime attempted to implement a radical Maoist form of communist ideology, which was implemented through a spectrum of horrific policies and practices that defy the imagination. Cambodian people were imprisoned, tortured, and killed. Ethnic and religious communities were targeted, and the entirety of the Cambodian people were terrorized by the most egregious forms of inhumanity. It is estimated that over 2 million out of 7 million Cambodian people died during the Khmer Rouge regime (1975-1979). The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (a United Nations-Cambodian court) ultimately found that senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, in addition to genocide against the Vietnamese and Cham Muslim people. Even though the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime fell over forty years ago, one can still see the significant effects of this period in Cambodias history and its people from mental trauma and physical disabilities in survivors to the damage done to the civil service, civil society, and cultural institutions that have to this day not fully recovered.

The Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam) represents the worlds largest rare archive of historical artifacts and documents of the Khmer Rouge regime and, in coordination with the Royal Government of Cambodia and the crucial support from the United States Agency for International Development, it has been implementing its genocide education programme (also known as atrocity crimes education) across the country for nearly twenty-yearssupporting the 5 million survivors of the Khmer Rouge period, the next generation, and a country still struggling with its horrific past. DC-Cams grassroots work with survivors has given it an informed perspective on the meaning of the Genocide Convention.

Many Cambodians still ask the question why did Cambodian (Khmer) people kill Khmer? In nearly every public forum, training, or engagement event, this question comes up, not only from the youth who were born decades after the genocide, but even from survivors. It is a legitimate question that has no complete answer because no matter how many stories are collected, research conducted, or analysis completed, the question cannot be satisfied by human analysis or conclusions of the past. Questioning the past is crucial; in fact, it is paramount. But studying the past must be part of a demonstrated commitment to the present and future.

Atrocity crimes education in all its forms, including formal and informal education, is atrocity crimes prevention. Education is the single most efficient and effective way of preventing the conditions and catalysts to atrocity crimes in the future. Successful education requires hard work by governments as much as civil society. In addition, education requires resources and a demonstrated commitment that exceeds what mankind has historically given to response, prosecution, and punishment of these crimes.

Education also requires imagination. Educational curricula focusing on atrocity crimes prevention should include exercises in the imagination that challenge learners to think about how society could have been different if atrocity crimes had not occurred, how society would be affected if they occurred today, and how prevention looks like in the future when we can imagine a world that truly lives up to the statement Never again.

DC-Cam calls on all states to integrate atrocity crimes education into all mandatory high school curricula at the national level. All military forces should also be required to include atrocity crimes education as a required component for professional military education of officers and senior leaders. And most importantly, atrocity crimes education should be written into all international development policyrequiring that bridges, roads, and other development aid are conditioned on the implementation of a credible atrocity crimes education programme. Conversations about education should not be incidental to post-conflict development, they should begin with these issues, if only because international aid is the primary vehicle for building in the components and mechanisms for preventing atrocity crimes in the future. The words of the Convention demand action, not only in the interest of complying with law, but also for ensuring our promise to future generations.

Youk Chhang is the director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam), established in 1997 as an independent, non-governmental Cambodian civil society organization dedicated to justice and memory. Chhang has worked with civil society organizations and leaders around the world, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Myanmar, and other post-conflict developing countries. He is currently building upon DC-Cams work to establish the Sleuk Rith Institute, a permanent hub for genocide studies in Asia, based in Phnom Penh. Pursuant to this goal, in 2020, DC-Cam established the Queen Mother Library, named after Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk. The Queen Mother Library holds the worlds largest rare archive of historical artifacts and documents of the Khmer Rouge regime, many of which have been used to support the work of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.

Farina So is the Principal Deputy Director of DC-Cam. She is the author/co-author of dozens of articles and books related to human rights, gender, and religion in the context of atrocity crimes in Cambodia, and she has presented at numerous academic conferences in Cambodia and around the world on atrocity crimes education, oral history, Islam and women, documentation, and gender-based violence. Her past research focused specifically on womens experiences of mass atrocities and ways of dealing with the past. Currently, she is leading DC-Cams work in establishing Cambodias first nation-wide, civil society-led youth volunteer corps, called CamboCorps, which supports the survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime and their families.
FREETOWN, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Sierra Leone has shortened its curfew to six hours as the security situation improved in the country.

The curfew was imposed after a failed coup attempt in Freetown, the country's capital, on Nov. 26.

The revised curfew now runs from midnight, instead of the previous start time of 9 p.m., to 6 a.m., the Ministry of Information and Civic Education said in a public notice Monday.

The government thanked the public for their continuous cooperation during this period of heightened security, urging citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police.

On Nov. 26, some armed individuals attacked a military barracks, a prison, and other locations in Freetown, leaving more than 20 people killed in what the government said later was a failed attempted coup. 
Britain and Norway announced Monday that they were banding together to bolster Ukraine's navy, saying that strong maritime forces were critical to countering Russia's aggression and securing grain and steel shipments through the Black Sea.

As part of the effort, Britain is sending two mine-hunting ships, amphibious armored vehicles and coastal raiding boats to Ukraine, U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said.

Shapps and Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram announced the formation of a maritime capability coalition during a news conference in London, saying other nations were expected to join soon, making it a "truly global affair.''

The European commitment to Ukraine in the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion remains firm, despite fears that U.S. funding will be cut off by a political dispute in Congress.

"Securing the seas is the only way to defeat a tyrant like Putin, to guarantee the long-term independence and prosperity for Ukraine and for the whole of Europe," Shapps said.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron last week trumpeted the success of Ukraine's tiny naval forces against Russia's Black Sea Fleet as an example of why the United States and other democracies should continue to provide military aid to the government in Kyiv.

"Ukraine doesn't even really have a navy, but they have managed to sink about a fifth of the Russian Black Sea Fleet," Cameron said at the Aspen Security Forum in Washington. "Well, that is  a remarkable thing.''

The new coalition will work with Ukraine to expand its forces in the Black Sea, develop a Ukrainian Marine Corps and enhance the use of river patrol craft to defend inland and coastal waterways, British authorities said.

The package of U.K. aid announced Monday includes 20 Viking armored personnel vehicles, which can be deployed rapidly using helicopters or landing craft and 23 coastal raiding boats that can be used to land small detachments of troops or as a firing platform for heavy machine guns.

Britain also said it had transferred two Sandown class vessels  designed to help clear mines from coastal waters  to Ukraine.

But deployment of the craft has been stalled by Turkey's decision to prevent ships not based in the Black Sea from passing through the Bosporus Strait  a move designed to prevent the body of water from becoming a theater of war.

Britain first announced a deal to sell the two mine-hunting ships to Ukraine in June 2021, before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian personnel began training on the ships last year in Scotland.

"Our goal is to contribute to building a lasting Ukrainian naval capability,'' Norway's defense minister said. "In the further work, I hope Norway, as a sea-faring nation, can contribute with maritime expertise, new technological solutions and innovative thinking."
Undeterred by wars at home, delegations from Ukraine and the Palestinian territories are active at COP28, determined to call attention not only to the environmental threats facing their homelands but also to emphasize their places in the global community.

Ukraine, attending its second COP international conference, is using its pavilion in Dubai to highlight the extensive environmental damage caused by Russias invasion and propose preventive measures against ecocide on a global scale.

Ruslan Strilets, Ukraines minister of environmental protection and natural resources, told VOA that the delegation aims not only to showcase the environmental and climate consequences of the war, but also to unite and engage the international community in achieving justice and peace.

Ukraine is committed to fighting climate change, Strilets said.

Despite the war, Ukraine is finalizing the development of its climate architecture and consistently fulfilling its climate commitments. At COP28, we plan to gather even more partners around our country for a greener future for Ukraine and the entire world, he said.

The Ukraine pavilion's exposition is organized into three key blocks. One block recounts a catastrophic explosion at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam in June, which flooded dozens of towns and villages and killed more than 50 people.

A second block illustrates Ukrainians' efforts to swiftly rebuild what the war has destroyed, and the third block details the impact the war is having on the environment.

During a visit this week to the Ukrainian Pavilion, Moldova Energy Minister Victor Parlicov expressed his countrys endorsement of the COP28 Environmental Declaration and reiterated that Russia should be held responsible for the environmental harm resulting from the war.

Other visitors to the pavilion have included Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova and Keit Kasemets, first deputy minister of climate for Estonia.

In the Palestinian pavilion, Ahmed Abuthaher, director general of the West Bank-based Environment Quality Authority, told VOA his delegation is in Dubai to tell people to look at us as humanitarians, and this conference is for human beings.

For climate change, we need to have easy access to the financial resources. We have water shortage and in some areas we have desertification, he said, expressing hope for help from a Loss and Damage Fund announced on the first day of the conference.

A June 2022 report prepared by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that 78% of piped water in Gaza is unfit for human consumption.

According to the COP28 official webpage of their pavilion, the Palestinian leadership recognizes that collective efforts across sectors are crucial to the fulfillment of the conferences climate commitments and ensuring a sustainable and resilient future.

Abuthaher emphasized the Palestinian commitment to participating in COP28 while calling for the global community to take meaningful action to address the issues faced by the Palestinian people.

The environmental damage inflicted by Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been documented in several studies, including an October 2022 report from the U.N. Environment Program finding that almost 1 million hectares (3,800 square miles) of land have experienced significant impact, with 812 specific sites facing threats.

VOA reported in January that the repercussions of the war extend as far as Indian-administered Kashmir, where ornithologists have cited its contribution to a scarcity of migratory birds.

COP28 delegate Ievgeniia Kopytsia, an associate of Oxford Net Zero at the University of Oxford in the U.K., said the war is also increasing carbon emissions that are widely blamed for rising temperatures worldwide.

On top of the local pollution caused by the warfare, she told VOA, a significant amount of greenhouse gas has been emitted into the atmosphere caused by the consumption of fuel for military purposes, use of munitions, fires caused by shelling, bombing and mine-laying operations, and reconstruction of the civilian infrastructure.

In July 2022, during a head-of-states conference in Lugano, Switzerland, the Ukrainian government unveiled the initial version of its 10-year national recovery plan, outlining proposed recovery pathways for major sectors at an estimated cost of $750 billion.

Kopytsia said participation in events such as COP28 can help turn that vision into a reality.

Engaging with the global community in climate initiatives may foster diplomatic relations and provide opportunities for assistance in conflict resolution, she said.

The impact of conflict on the environment must be addressed not only in Ukraine and Gaza but around the world, argued Simon Chambers, the director of ACT Alliance, a global alliance of more than 145 churches and other organizations from over 120 countries that provides humanitarian aid for poor and marginalized people.

Climate justice is possible to be achieved, as is a just transition to cleaner sources of energy, he said to VOA, but it will require all parts of society to come together  governments, nongovernmental organizations and businesses.

We need to put the needs of the creation, of people and the planet ahead of profit and power, he said. If we all act in the face of the urgency of the climate emergency, it is possible to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and to do so in a way that is just.
The war in Gaza has splintered public opinion in Australia, where there have been large pro-Palestinian demonstrations and rallies by supporters of Israel.

Community groups are reporting a significant increase in Islamophobic and antisemitic abuse in Australia since the conflict began.

Death threats, physical violence, arson and verbal abuse are some of the Islamophobic and antisemitic incidents that have been reported in Australia since the start of the war between Israel and the militant group Hamas in Gaza.

Data from Islamophobia Register Australia, a community group, indicates that Islamophobic attacks have increased 13-fold since the start of the conflict.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has told local media that it has seen a six-fold increase in antisemitic incidents in the same period.

Pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian rallies have been regularly held in Australia since the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas.

A recent discussion on the Australian Broadcasting Corp's Q and A program brought together various experts, who answered video questions from viewers.

Daniel Lowinger asked the panel why Israeli captives held by Hamas were not mentioned more in the media.

Do those who are calling for a cease-fire mean to also include the hostages and their safe return  women, children and all? And if they do, why do they never mention them? Lowinger asked.

Ayman, a Palestinian man living in Western Australia, asked Dave Sharma, Australias former ambassador to Israel, about the bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

Question to Sharma. Dave, you have been to Gaza before. You know everyone there is not Hamas. You have met them. You have seen them in your own eyes. You know my dead sister is not Hamas. That my other sister, still trapped in Gaza, is not Hamas. And you are a father, too. You have children," he said. "How many more dead Gaza kids is OK? How can you sleep at night continuing to support this disproportionate attack that is literally killing thousands of innocent children like my nieces and nephew?

Sharma, a member of the conservative Liberal Party, responded that the loss of innocent life was a terrible tragedy, but he added that until Hamas was ousted from political power, he did not see a way to resolve the conflict.

One of two Muslim members of the Australian cabinet says Palestinian civilians have paid "too heavy a price" as a result of the Israel-Gaza war.

Minister of Science and Industry Ed Husic told local media that he condemned what he described as Hamas' "horrific" attack on Oct. 7, but said Israels response had been "very disproportionate."

My concern then was that innocent Palestinians would pay a truly too heavy a price and that is exactly what we have seen and I think, clearly, we have got to take concrete steps to a cease-fire that sees all hostages released and sees Israel stop that action that has led to the loss of life of innocent Palestinians," he said. "Nearly 70% according to the U.N. are women and children.

A poll published Nov. 29 by Roy Morgan, an independent Melbourne-based research organization, in conjunction with the Islamic Society of South Australia found that 49% of Australians believe the Canberra government should "not take sides" in the current crisis in Israel and Gaza.

Of 1,006 respondents aged over 18, some 19% said the Australian government "should do more to support Palestine" and 17% said it "should do more to support Israel."

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong is preparing to visit Israel and other Middle Eastern countries in January to help efforts to secure peace.

Wongs trip will be the first visit to the region by an Australian federal cabinet minister since the attack by the Hamas militant group on Israel on Oct. 7.

A delegation of Australian lawmakers is scheduled to travel to Israel next week to express solidarity with the Israeli people.

The Canberra government is committed to a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist within internationally recognized borders.

Australia has insisted Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas militants but has also urged restraint.
An Austrian national went on trial Monday in London for allegedly spying for a group that may have been preparing to attack an Iranian TV station in the British capital.

Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, 31, who is originally from Chechnya, was detained by counterterrorism officers in west London on Feb. 11.

He was charged with possession of records containing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at a previous hearing.

Prosecutor Nicholas de la Poer told a jury that Dovtaev boarded a plane from Vienna to London to gather "hostile reconnaissance" on a building occupied by the Persian-language channel Iran International.

The channel's journalists had reported on alleged human rights violations in the country.

"The prosecution's case is that he was carrying out hostile reconnaissance," de la Poer said in his opening speech at the Old Bailey court in central London.

"The very fact that the defendant went to collect this information shows that planning by others was already under way," he added.

The Iranian government declared Iran International a terrorist organization after it reported on protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.

She died in September last year after her arrest in Tehran for an alleged breach of the Islamic republic's strict dress code for women.

Amini's death triggered months of nationwide demonstrations under the slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom."

"The prosecution's case is that as a result of the Iranian authorities' attitude towards Iran International, the organization and its employees all became targets for violent reprisals," de la Poer said.

"As we shall come to see, there is other evidence as well which demonstrates that the defendant's visit was the most recent in a sequence of such visits by others unknown."
Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the case for new U.S. aid to help his country fight a Russian invasion in talks Tuesday with members of Congress ahead of talks with President Joe Biden in Washington.

Zelenskyy said he would use the meetings to talk about what results we can achieve next year based on our achievements this year.

The talks come as the U.S. is expected to announce another $200 million in military aid for Ukraine, a U.S. official tells VOA.

Speaking at the National Defense University in Washington Monday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs to win the sky, as he advocated for missiles, drones and jets to expand the Ukrainian militarys air defenses.

Its crucial that politicians dont even try to betray the soldiers because, just like weapons are needed for their defense, freedom always requires unity, Zelenskyy said.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that Biden would get an update from Zelenskyy on the battlefield situation in Ukraine and make it very clear to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people that were going to continue to support them, particularly at this very difficult time.

Kirby said he expects Biden to make clear his case for why additional funding for Ukraine and Israel are vital to our own national security interests at this time.

Biden has asked Congress for a $110 billion package of wartime funding for Ukraine and Israel, along with other national security priorities. Ukraine would get more than $61 billion of the money.

But Republicans in the U.S. Senate have balked at the legislation, saying major U.S. border security changes are needed.

Some Republicans are asking for the immediate deportation of migrants who entered the country illegally, stripping them of a chance to seek U.S. asylum.

They have also called for greatly scaling back Biden administration programs that have allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter the U.S. lawfully.

The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion for its fight against Russia's 2022 invasion.

In his speech Monday, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of defeating Russia in Ukraine because if Russia wins in Ukraine, he said, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not stop there.

His [Putins] weapon against you right now is propaganda and disinformation. But if he sees a chance, he'll go further, he said. Now, he's shifting Russia's economy and society [onto] what he calls war tracks."

The Ukrainian president said that, so far, Ukrainian forces have taken back 50% of the territory they lost to Russia and pointed to the perseverance of Ukrainian warriors on the battleground.

Right now, amid fierce battles, our soldiers are holding positions on the front and preparing for further actions, and we haven't let Russia score any victory this year, Zelenskyy said.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also spoke at the National Defense University event, saying U.S. support in Ukraine is unshakeable.

"If we do not stand up [to] the Kremlin's aggression today, if we do not deter other would-be aggressors, we will only invite more aggression, more bloodshed and more chaos, Austin said.

IMF funding

The International Monetary Fund's executive board on Monday approved a $900 million disbursement for Ukraine as part of an ongoing, long-term loan.

"Thank you for supporting Ukraine and celebrating the successes of our country and our people," Zelenskyy said on his Telegram channel after his meeting with IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva Monday in Washington.

Georgieva said Ukraine's economy had proven resilient despite Russias invasion in February 2022.

"Looking ahead, whereas the recovery is expected to continue, the outlook has significant risks stemming mainly from the exceptionally high war-related uncertainty," Georgieva said in a statement, according to Reuters. "It is also critical that external financing on concessional terms continue on a timely and predictable basis."

The IMF on Monday asked Ukraine to conduct an "ambitious" external commercial debt restructuring in the first half of 2024 to help restore debt sustainability.

Russian submarines

In a televised ceremony Monday, Putin inspected two nuclear submarines  the Krasnoyarsk and Emperor Alexander III  at the Sevmash shipbuilding yard in the arctic port of Severodvinsk.

The Emperor Alexander III is part of Russia's new Borei [Arctic Wind] class of nuclear submarines, the first new generation Russia has launched since the Cold War.

Last month, the Russian Defense Ministry said the vessel had successfully tested a nuclear-capable Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile.

Security analysts say nuclear arms have assumed a greater importance in Putins thinking and rhetoric since the start of the Ukraine conflict, where his conventional forces are locked in a grinding war of attrition with no end in sight.

VOAs Carla Babb contributed to this report. Some information was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Analysts say China is ramping up its efforts to interfere in Taiwans coming presidential and legislative elections, launching high-level, coordinated disinformation campaigns on social media and sponsoring Taiwanese politicians on trips to China, hoping to sway public opinion through influential local leaders.

Analysts say Beijings goal is to help the main opposition party, the China-friendly Kuomintang or KMT, win the election.

Beijing will do whatever they can to help the KMT win, but I think they still dont know how to do that well, Kharis Templeman, a research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, told VOA in a recent interview.

Taiwanese intelligence authorities said last week that senior Chinese officials from various government agencies, including Chinas defense ministry and Taiwan Affairs Office, held a meeting earlier this month to coordinate Beijings efforts to influence the January 13 elections.

The meeting, led by Chinas fourth-ranked official, Wang Huning, reportedly assigned different tasks to several government agencies, with the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party and a psychological warfare unit under the Peoples Liberation Army leading influence campaigns to sway public opinion. The Taiwan Affairs Office and the United Front Work Department focus on facilitating outreach programs, according to an internal Taiwanese memo shared with Reuters.

Rorry Daniels, managing director of the Asia Society Policy Institute, said the meeting was designed to organize the Chinese Communist Partys internal efforts to influence Taiwanese voters choices.

They want to make sure that their internal policy organs are coordinated on what each of them wants to do to change the conversation inside Taiwan with regard to influencing voter choices, Daniels told VOA in a phone interview.

TikTok and YouTube

The main tool of influence involves disinformation campaigns on YouTube and TikTok designed to amplify pro-Beijing narratives while creating divisions in Taiwanese society.

The main aim is to exacerbate certain narratives that are advantageous to Beijing, to weaken its partners opponents in Taiwan, to sow divisions and confuse the public, J. Michael Cole, senior adviser on Countering Foreign Authoritarian Influence with the International Republican Institute in Taiwan, told VOA.

Chiu Tai-San, the minister of Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council, urged Beijing to act as a responsible power and stop intimidating and coercing Taiwan. He said doing so could help to gradually eliminate the hostile spiral between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council oversees cross-strait relations.

The Chinese Embassy in the United States told VOA in a written response that Beijing respects the current social system in Taiwan and hopes the results of the election will help maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and bring cross-strait relations back to the right track of peaceful development.

Beijing has also sponsored hundreds of Taiwanese politicians on trips to China over the last month. Taiwans interior minister, Lin Yu-chang, said on Monday that at least 556 borough chiefs or village leaders in Taiwan have participated in 51 group trips to China.

Last week, Taiwanese prosecutors launched an investigation into five people for allegedly arranging free trips to China for dozens of voters. According to them, one man surnamed Chou offered unfair benefits such as free meals and accommodation to 60 people who took part in the trip and asked these individuals to support candidates from specific political parties.

Cole in Taipei said the effectiveness of Beijings attempt to influence Taiwanese elections through sponsored trips remains questionable. Certainly, a small number of individuals might agree to be co-opted and return the favor by doing something that furthers Beijings interests, he told VOA. However, most Taiwanese are clear-eyed when it comes to these favors.

In his view, success through these efforts is too limited to overthrow trends in Taiwanese attitudes toward China.

"Cognitive warfare"

However, some Taiwanese experts warn that Chinas efforts to discredit the ruling Democratic Progressive Party or DPP could pose serious challenges to the Taiwanese authorities in the run-up to the election.

The target of Beijings cognitive warfare has long been swing voters and doubling down on narratives related to the potential conflict across the Taiwan Strait is an effective strategy to sway swing voters, Puma Shen, chairperson of Taipei-based research group Doublethink Lab, told VOA by phone.

In addition to amplifying fears that a victory by DPPs presidential candidate, Lai Ching-te, could heighten the risk of war across the Taiwan Strait, Shen said Beijing is also spreading disinformation. He cited as falsehoods word that Taiwans public safety is deteriorating and that the Taiwanese government is wasting money on maintaining diplomatic allies while people are struggling economically.

In his view, these efforts could increase swing voters political apathy and eventually lead to their disengagement from politics.

While Beijing focuses on discrediting Taiwans ruling party through a range of narratives, the Taiwanese government could only react to these false narratives and issue corresponding clarifications, Shen said.

Whatever China tries to do, Templeman from Stanford University thinks the impact on the elections will be limited.

I dont expect [these efforts] to fundamentally reshape the election, he told VOA. The trends in Taiwan are too strong for Beijing to just weigh in at the margins and affect the outcome.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Vietnam Tuesday on a mission to improve ties between the Asian Communist neighbors and counter Hanois increasing outreach to Western nations.

Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were greeted at the Hanoi airport by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the start of Xis two-day trip, his first to Vietnam since 2017. He will hold meetings with Chinh, President Vo Van Thuong and other Vietnamese officials, and will sign economic cooperation agreements, including one to upgrade existing railway links.

Xis visit comes three months after Hanoi granted its highest diplomatic status, comprehensive strategic partnership, to the United States during President Joe Bidens official visit. The same designation was also recently given to Japan, elevating both countries to the same status it uses for China.

Later in the day, Xi announced in a meeting with Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong that the two countries would henceforth work toward a "China-Vietnam community with a shared future of strategic significance."

"Community with a shared future" is phrasing that was put forward by Xi for a decade but was previously rejected by Hanoi. Vietnam agreed to the wording in a joint statement Tuesday, a move that some experts say is a symbolic reassurance to China that the country is still Vietnams most important partner.

China and Vietnam have been close ideological and economic allies for years, but relations have been strained by Beijings increasingly aggressive moves in the South China Sea, as it claims sovereignty over numerous islands in the region despite competing claims from its neighbors.

Some information in this report comes from The Associated Press.
Newly declassified U.S. intelligence indicates Russia has suffered from some staggering losses as a result of its nearly two-year-old invasion of Ukraine, including major setbacks during its latest offensive.

The assessment, parts of which were shared with VOA, estimates more than 13,000 Russian forces have been killed or wounded since Moscow launched its October offensive along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis in eastern Ukraine.

U.S. intelligence also believes Ukraines military has destroyed or immobilized more than 220 Russian combat vehicles, the equivalent of six battalions worth of vehicles.

Russias attempt at an offensive has resulted in no strategic gains, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson told VOA in a statement, describing the Russian losses as severe.

But Russia is determined to press forward, she added. Russia seems to believe that a military deadlock through the winter will drain Western support for Ukraine and ultimately give Russia the advantage despite Russian losses and persistent shortages of trained personnel, munitions, and equipment.

The decision to declassify the latest intelligence Tuesday comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Washington, visiting with U.S. lawmakers and with U.S. President Joe Biden.

During a speech at the National Defense University in Washington on Monday, Zelenskyy pleaded with U.S. lawmakers not to betray Ukraines forces and provide more weapons and support, warning Moscow sees Ukraine as just a stepping-stone.

We know what to do, he said. You can count on Ukraine, and we hope just as much to be able to count on you.

The White House has been pushing U.S. lawmakers to approve more than $61 billion in supplemental funding for Kyiv before the end of the year.

But some lawmakers have balked, with some Republicans insisting any deal to provide more money to Ukraine must also include provisions to strengthen U.S. immigration policies and security along the U.S. southern border with Mexico.

White House officials, however, point to the latest declassified intelligence to argue that funding for Ukraine simply cannot wait.

This shows how Ukraine is having success stopping Russian forces, but Putin is continuing to order his troops forward, a senior administration official told VOA, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the intelligence and the political negotiations.

Its critical we continue to support Ukraine and make sure they have what they need to defend themselves, the official added.

Top U.S. military and intelligence officials have previously said Russias losses in Ukraine have set its military back by as much as five to ten years.

Still, the Pentagon warned Monday a failure to back Ukraine will send Russian President Vladimir Putin the wrong message.

Despite his isolation, Putin still believes that he can outlast Ukraine, and that he can outlast America, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday, speaking with Zelenskyy at the National Defense University. If we do not stand up to the Kremlin's aggression today, if we do not deter other would-be aggressors, we will only invite more aggression, more bloodshed, and more chaos.

Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this report.
Since the Talibans seizure of power in Afghanistan in 2021, the nations public health sector has been on life support, with foreign aid agencies stepping in to pay health workers and sustain hospitals and local health centers.

The country's donor-dependent economy has teetered on the brink of collapse as foreign donors cut off development assistance and imposed sanctions on governing Taliban entities.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, or ICRC, paid supplemental salaries for more than 10,000 doctors, nurses and staff at 33 hospitals serving 26 million people across Afghanistan.

It also paid for drugs and other medical supplies, as well as running costs of the hospitals, like electricity, ambulance services, lab tests and food for patients, Diogo Alcantara, an ICRC spokesperson, told VOA.

The ICRC program ended in August, but the donor-funded payments have continued.

Now, the United Nations childrens agency, UNICEF, has picked up the tab, paying the salaries of more than 27,000 Afghan health workers, including 10,000 women.

The salary payment program serves as a lifeline in retaining the health workforce and preventing further brain drain in Afghanistan, according to Kate Pond, a UNICEF spokesperson.

Lack of access to health care services is of great concern to UNICEF, which is why we have taken concrete steps to keep the health system afloat, ensuring primary and secondary health services are available for women, children and families across Afghanistan, Pond told VOA in written comments.

Taliban health ministry officials refused to comment to VOA regarding the allocation of limited domestic resources for the health sector. The Islamist regime does not publicly disclose its budget and national spending.

Despite funding from UNICEF, a pressing need for immediate donor assistance has been reported for at least 36 hospitals previously financed by the ICRC to sustain critical services.

While donors have responded to the U.N.'s calls for humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan, only 40% of the required $412 million for critical health services in 2023 has been committed.

Dwindling number of female health workers

For decades, Afghanistan has grappled with a significant shortage of female health professionals, resulting in some of the worst womens health indicators in the world.

The nation's maternal mortality rate stood at more than 1,600 per 100,000 live births until 2002 but decreased to 620 in 2020, largely due to sustained international technical and financial assistance.

Aid workers say the Talibans restrictions on womens education and work are reversing the progress achieved in Afghanistans health sector, especially for women.

Afghanistan has not produced a single female doctor for more than a year, and this is the worst thing that could happen to our health sector, said a Kabul Medical University lecturer who did not want to be named in this article.

The Taliban have prohibited secondary and higher education, including medical studies, for girls, giving no indication as to when the gender-based restrictions might be lifted.

There is a shortage of qualified health workers in Afghanistan in general, and women especially, said UNICEFs Pond, adding that some Afghans travel long distances for health care services.

As a result, more than one-third of the population lack access to health facilities, she said.

Even before the Talibans return to power in 2021, there was no female doctor in some rural districts of Afghanistan.

If the ban on womens education and work is not lifted, there will be no female doctor left in Afghanistan in the near future, said the lecturer.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday he would propose sanctions against Jewish settlers responsible for violence against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Borrell was speaking after EU foreign ministers debated possible next steps in their response to the Middle East crisis triggered by Palestinian militant group Hamas's deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel from Gaza.

While much international attention has focused on the cross-border assault and Israel's subsequent war against Hamas in Gaza, European officials have also expressed increasing concern about rising violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Borrell said he would propose a special sanctions program to target Hamas - backed by the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Italy - but EU also had to act against violent Israeli settlers.

"The time has come to move from words to actions... and to start adopting the measures we can take with regard to the acts of violence against the Palestinian population in the West Bank," Borrell told reporters after the meeting in Brussels.

U.N. figures show daily settler attacks have more than doubled since the Hamas attack and Israel's assault on Gaza.

Borrell said the ministers had not yet shown the unanimous support that would be necessary to pass such a measure, but he stressed he had not yet submitted a formal proposal.

EU officials would draw up a list of people known for attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank and he would then propose they be sanctioned for human rights abuses, he said.

Borell did not say what the sanctions would entail but EU officials have said they would involve bans on travel to the EU.

Diplomats have predicted it will be hard to get unanimity for EU-wide bans, as countries such as Austria, the Czech Republic and Hungary are staunch allies of Israel.

But some suggested a decision last week by the United States, Israels biggest backer, to start imposing visa bans on people involved in violence in the West Bank could encourage EU countries to take similar steps.

France said last month the EU should consider such measures and Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told reporters on Monday that Paris was considering domestic sanctions against such individuals. Belgium has said it will ban them from its territory.

To be truly effective, however, any EU ban would have to be enforced across the bloc's border-free Schengen zone.

The settlements are one of the most contentious issues of the decades-long Israel-Palestinian conflict. They are built on land captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War but which the Palestinians seek for a future independent state. They are deemed illegal by most countries but have consistently expanded over the years.

On the issue of a special sanctions program to target Hamas, Borrell said no minister had opposed the idea and he would bring forward a proposal for approval.

The EU already classifies Hamas as a terrorist organization, meaning any funds or assets that it has in the EU should be frozen.

In recent days, it has added Mohammed Deif, commander general of the military wing of Hamas, and his deputy, Marwan Issa, to its list of terrorists under sanction.

But the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Italy said in a letter to Borrell that a special Hamas sanctions program would send a strong political message and help the EU to target "Hamas members, affiliated groups and supporters of its destabilizing activities."


BISSAU, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embalo on Tuesday reappointed Geraldo Martins as prime minister, according to a presidential decree published by the Presidency.

Geraldo Martins was first appointed prime minister in August of this year. As a former senior executive at the World Bank, he served as minister of finance under the presidency of former President Jose Mario Vaz.

This appointment comes after Embalo dissolved the parliament last week, following armed clashes that broke out on Dec. 1 in the capital Bissau between elements of the National Guard and the Presidential Guard.

Embalo described the clashes as an "attempted coup." 
The people of Myanmar are determined to fight until the end, the acting president of Myanmars opposition government has told VOA.

The door to dialogue is not closed, said Duwa Lashi La, while questioning whether conditions are right for peace talks amid ongoing attacks on civilians by the Southeast Asian country's military junta.

Speaking via Zoom from an undisclosed location within Myanmar on December 8, the head of Myanmar's National Unity Government, or NUG, which views itself as a shadow government, also discussed its relationship with China, which recently called for national reconciliation in Myanmar.

The following interview, which took place after a string of defeats for the countrys military junta, has been translated into English and edited for lengthy and clarity.

VOA: Have you determined that Myanmar has reached the stage of civil war? And are the ethnic armed groups on the ground in Myanmar, with help of the NUG, gaining momentum against the military junta?

Acting President Duwa Lashi La: When we look at the current situation on the ground, we can see that the battle has turned in our favor. As I have said before, it will come wave after wave, and the speed is only going to get higher and higher. The public and our [Peoples Defense Forces, or PDF] have absolutely nothing to back down from. Very quickly now, [junta leader] Min Aung Hlaing will be completely removed from leadership. He knows his military coup was wrong. The power of the people will be returned to the hands of the people. Until that time, the war will escalate.

As we all know, especially since the beginning of the 1027 operation by the Three Brotherhoods Alliance, we have advanced step by step, and now we have occupied more than 200 [junta] military bases. In addition, many townships have been retaken, such as Kawlin, a very important town in Sagaing region. Many parts of Kokang region have also been retaken, so northern Shan state is in a very good position.

I cannot define the current situation in Myanmar as a civil war. What I can say is that, no matter what, we will continue to fight until Min Aung Hlaing and his military dictatorship are completely removed. However, because the speed of the battle is increasing, I am worried that the suffering of the people will also increase. The people have endured many hardships, yet they continue to encourage and support us. They are determined to fight to the end.

VOA: Since the end of October, we have seen the offensive operations such as Operation 1027, Operation 1111, among other operations in Chin, Rakhine and Karen states against the Myanmar military by anti-junta resistance forces around the country. Is there any NUG connection to these operations?

Duwa Lashi La: Yes, we are cooperating and coordinating, not only politically, but also operationally. Actually, what we want  and what is best  is to have military operations under one chain of command, such as in the future, when we rebuild our federal army.

Currently, even though we dont have that chain of command, we are able to coordinate operations between different groups. For example, we have designated the north of the country as military region [1], and the PDF are fighting together with EAOs [Ethnic Armed Organizations] there. In the south, Karenni state, Karen state, Tanintharyi division, Yangon division and Bagu division have been designated as the Southern Military Region, and the EAOs and the PDF have been working together there.

It was clear to us since the beginning that our PDF could not stand alone, that we needed military training and bases. So, in the KNU [Karen National Union] area, the PDF participated in joint operations under the command of KNU forces. Similarly, in Karenni State, the PDF has been conducting operations in cooperation with the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, which is an armed organization. The PDF are everywhere  in the north, in the south and the central regions.

The center of the country is very important because Naypyidaw [the military-built capital and base of operations for the junta] is there. If we can all cooperate to strengthen the central region, we can threaten Naypyidaw. That is our goal.

VOA: From a military point of view, there are those who say it is still too early to conclude that guerrilla forces like PDF can win against the well-trained and armed Burmese army. On the other hand, you have said that the revolutionary forces are winning. Can you explain why?

Duwa Lashi La: When we first started, the whole world asked how it could be possible for us to defeat such a powerful army. My answer is that people are more important than weapons. It is a war with the participation of all our people, so we can win.

According to a research paper done by the United States Institute of Peace, it is believed that the military cannot return to their previous position. That is a fact. Now so many places in the north have been occupied by revolutionary groups, it is absolutely impossible for the junta to recapture those places. At first, there was nothing to this revolution. We started working with only the belief that we must change things to the way we want them to be. No one had any weapons. Gradually, we have improved, and now we can say that we are equal to, or even more than, the military junta troops.

VOA: Operation 1027, led by the Three Brotherhood Alliance in northern Shan State, included shutting down lucrative criminal activity in enclaves along the Chinese frontier, that was also aligning with Chinas anti-transnational crime efforts. So, China backed their operation against the junta, some analysts said. What is your response to this? What is the relationship between the Chinese government and the NUG?

Duwa Lashi La: The NUG's stance is clear. We have a policy of having friendly relations with all neighboring countries: China, India, Thailand and Bangladesh, and we will look after their interests, not only our own. With China, we have three or four different channels available, and we are continually in communication with them. We havent seen any clear evidence that China is supporting Operation 1027. They have announced that they want to suppress the criminal gangs that are doing these online scams, which also aligns with the Three Brotherhoods goals, but they have also said that they respect Myanmars sovereignty and wont meddle in our internal affairs.

VOA: Would you say that the relationship between the NUG and China is strong?

Duwa Lashi La: China still recognizes the existence of the National League for Democracy [NLD] party. The NLD was the people's government in the past. The NUG is in contact with Chinas diplomats through their embassies, and we have responded to their concerns. For example, we will not interfere with China's projects in Myanmar; we will help as much as possible. As we have often said, we want to do business with China in the future, so our relationship is generally good.

VOA: There are voices, such as in a recent Washington Post editorial, calling for the U.S. government to officially recognize the NUG as the government of Myanmar due to international media reports that the junta is not doing well and is on the verge of collapsing. Do you feel that the U.S. is effectively supporting the NUG?

Duwa Lashi La: The international community has begun to recognize the NUG. At first, neighboring countries and world did not think we could fight such a strong institutional army. Now that they have become more interested, people are starting to ask what we will do after the junta is finally dissolved. So, in regards to the United States recognizing us, yes, that would clearly be welcomed. We will always welcome support from the U.S. if it is offered. The sooner the U.S. recognizes the NUG, the more helpful it will be toward defeating the junta. Once we accomplish that, we will be able to quickly solve many of the problems that the people are currently experiencing, and establish a new, stable and peaceful Myanmar. International recognition is very important. Since the U.S. is a country that is always encouraging the development of democracy, their encouragement is greatly appreciated, and provides moral support for our struggle.

VOA: Recent statements by members of the international community, including China and the United Nations, have called for a peaceful resolution in Myanmar. When do you think the time will be right to start dialogue to bring the conflict to an end and begin rebuilding the country?

Duwa Lashi La: We always say the door to dialogue is not closed. However, we must think about whether the right environment exists for peace talks. We cannot simply use the same formula used in other countries such as South Africa or Cambodia. Even if they were successful there, the situation in Myanmar is different, so the solution must be different. We have never said that we will not meet with them. In contrast, Min Aung Hlaing says that he will not meet with us because, he says, we are terrorists. He has continued to lie by saying that the Nationwide Cease-fire Agreement is a real attempt for peace talks. The talks are merely for show; they arent sincere in their claims. They are essentially asking the ethnic armed groups to simply surrender.

If he truly wants peace talks, then he needs to show the people that he is earnest in his desire for change. Right now, our people are being bombed and killed by airstrikes. He must stop the attacks on civilians and the detentions before we can begin thinking about peace talks. To be clear, the public do not trust what Min Aung Hlaing and his military junta have to say. In order to create a situation where the people can believe that [the military] truly want peace, they must announce to the world that they will live under the rule of the people. They must make a clear commitment that they will never again interfere in the politics of Myanmar. Only then we can talk about peace.
Finlands government said Tuesday it will reopen two of its eight border crossings along its 1,340-kilometer border with Russia.

The government had previously closed all eight border crossings following a sudden influx of migrants entering the country through Russia.

Finland reported it received around 1,000 migrants from August to late November when the country shut its border, with 900 arriving in November alone, an increase from the usual fewer than one migrant arriving per day.

"Without dismantling the restrictions, we cannot verify whether a change for the better is taking place. If the phenomenon continues, we will close these border crossing points," Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Tuesday at a news conference.

The migrants arrived without proper visas or valid documentation, hailing from countries such as Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

Finlands government has accused Russia of deliberately funneling migrants into their country to try to destabilize the country, a move that Helsinki alleges was done by the Kremlin in response to the Nordic nation joining NATO, as well as its increase in defense cooperation with the United States.

Moscow has denied claims of funneling migrants into Finland.

Initially, Finland thought the migrants were using Russia as a transit country en route to entering the European Union. However, it later became clear that most of them had been living, working or studying in Russia with legal visas, according to Finnish border officials.

"The purpose of [Moscow's] actions is to destabilize our society. We cannot allow this. If the operation continues, the border will be completely closed again," Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said at the news conference. "It's not about the numbers [of migrants] but the phenomenon itself."

The Council of Europe expressed concern over the rights for refugees in a letter in which they acknowledged an understanding of Finland's "concerns about the potential instrumentalisation" of migrants by Russia but said obligations to maintain protection for migrants must still be met.

The two border crossings are expected to remain open until at least January 14.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
The legal team representing journalist and Nobel laureate Maria Ressa welcomed a Philippine Justice Department decision Tuesday to drop a criminal case against the award-winning journalist.

Ressa had been facing charges of alleged foreign ownership of her news website Rappler. If convicted, she could have faced up to 21 years in prison.

"For years our brave client Maria Ressa has faced a barrage of spurious criminal investigations and prosecutions for doing her job  for being a journalist. We are pleased to see another spurious case against Maria dismissed," Ressa's lawyer, Caoilfhionn Gallagher, said in a statement.

The charges related to whether a 2015 investment from an American philanthropic investment fund allegedly violated a prohibition in Philippine law against foreign ownership or control of media organizations. Her international legal team said there was no evidence of any wrongdoing in the case.

"Again, facts win. Truth wins. Justice wins. We will continue to hold the line," Ressa said in a statement.

The dismissal of the charges is the latest development in Ressa's multiyear legal saga in the Philippines, which media critics widely view as retaliatory.

At one point, the Filipino American journalist faced a potential combined sentence of more than 100 years in jail for the multiple cases filed.

The Philippine government has previously denied that the legal action against Ressa and Rappler is retaliatory.

"This is an important victory for Maria and for the press. Maria has spent four years with these baseless charges hanging over her, and we are delighted that they have finally been dismissed," said Amal Clooney, who leads Ressa's international legal team with Gallagher at Doughty Street Chambers.

In September, a Philippine court acquitted Ressa and Rappler of tax evasion charges.

But other cases remain active. Ressa is on bail while appealing a 6 -year prison sentence handed down in 2020 for cyber libel. She is also facing separate criminal proceedings, which carry a maximum 15-year sentence, stemming from the same 2015 foreign investment.

Rappler, meanwhile, is fighting a closure order issued by the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission.

"We hope that the remaining charges will now be dropped so that justice can be restored, and journalism can thrive in the Philippines," Clooney said in a statement.
World Health Organization officials say Gazas health system remains under siege and is barely functioning, as Israel ramps up its offensive against Hamas militants in the southern part of the Palestinian enclave while maintaining an iron grip in the north.

WHO and partners remain firmly committed to staying in Gaza and assisting the population, said Richard Peeperkorn, WHO representative on the occupied Palestinian territory.

But as hostilities increase across Gaza, aid falls short of needs. The humanitarian support system is on the verge of falling apart.

Peeperkorn has been on a medical mission to Gaza for the last two weeks. He told journalists in Geneva that after 66 days of combat, Gazas health system has been reduced from 36 functioning hospitals to 11 partially functioning hospitals  one in the north and 10 in the south.

Northern Gaza looks like a wasteland, he said. The devastation is simply enormous. We were still surprised that we saw so many people who were in the streets, lying on the streets.

Peeperkorn said the mission visited Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, the only partially functioning hospital in the north. He said the hospital corridors and grounds  the courtyard, every room, the library, even the chapel  were full of patients and internally displaced people.

We saw many trauma patients in donkey carts, dead people, unfortunately, and seriously injured people on foot and in personal vehicles, he said. I worked for 7  years in Afghanistan and have seen some pretty grim scenes, but I have never seen scenes like this in my life. Al-Ahli Hospital can only be described as in a state of utter chaos and a humanitarian disaster zone.

Peeperkorn said all efforts must be exhausted to keep the remaining hospitals functioning and that the health system requires urgent protection and restoration

We cannot afford to lose any more health facilities, he said.

WHO officials are also calling for humanitarian assistance in Gaza. This plea follows the obstruction on December 9 of a joint WHO, United Nations and Palestine Red Crescent Society mission to transfer critically ill patients and to deliver supplies to Al-Ahli Hospital.

WHO says the team encountered delays at an Israeli military checkpoint and that health partners were detained, with one person reportedly harassed, beaten, stripped and searched.

In a statement, the U.N.-backed health organization said, Obstructing ambulances and attacks on humanitarian and health workers is unconscionable. Health care, including ambulances, are protected under international law. They must be respected and protected in all circumstances.

The latest report by Gazas Hamas-run Health Ministry puts the number of fatalities in the enclave at 18,205 and 49,645 injuries. Over 60% of the victims are women and children.

WHO describes the health situation of many Palestinians as critical. Since the start of the war, it reports there have been around 165,000 respiratory infections and more than 50,000 cases of diarrhea among children under five in Gaza  around 40 times higher than normal.

Other problems include the presence of lice, tens of thousands of skin rashes, chicken pox, meningitis, jaundice, as well as other infectious and noncommunicable and chronic diseases.

As Peeperkorn was briefing journalists, WHO got word that Israeli forces had stormed the Kamal Adwan health facility in the northern Gaza Strip.

The Ministry of Health is reporting just now that the hospital is being forcefully evacuated, said WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier. There currently are 68 patients inside the hospital, 18 intensive care unit patients, including six neonates.

He added, What it means is that another of these unnecessary evacuations is taking place. It is again putting another hospital out of use. It is again putting the last patients who need help on the streets.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported Monday that the maternity department at Kamal Adwan health facility had been hit, reportedly killing two mothers and injuring several people.

It noted, The hospital remains surrounded by Israeli troops and tanks, and fighting with armed groups has been reported in its vicinity for three consecutive days.

In response to WHO and international criticism that it was denying essential medical and other humanitarian aid to Gaza, Israel announced Tuesday that it will open its Nitzana and Kerem Shalom crossings into Gaza.

This crucial step is set to expand the volume of aid reaching Gaza. We trust the U.N. did all the adjustments to receive and distribute the aid, Elad Goren, Israels coordinator of government activities in the territories, said.
While Ukraine's hopes of beginning membership talks will take center-stage at this week's European Union summit, another potential member, Georgia, will also be seeking progress towards eventual entry to the coveted club.

Surveys show that up to 90% of Georgia's 3.7 million people support EU accession, and blue and yellow European flags are ubiquitous in the capital Tbilisi, fluttering from government buildings, businesses and private homes.

For Giorgi Popiashvili, a 40-year old art director, Georgia's future clearly lies with Europe, not Russia, which effectively ruled the South Caucasus country for 200 years until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

"That's probably my dream, to see Georgia as a part of the European family," he told Reuters in Tbilisi. "We also love freedom... We've been fighting for our freedom for centuries."

Such enthusiasm, however, will not be enough to secure candidate status for Georgia. The ruling Georgian Dream party officially supports EU and NATO membership, but its track record on reforms has raised questions over how serious it is.

The government's conciliatory stance towards Russia has also irked Brussels.

"In the case of Georgia, we have a government that is seemingly more interested in doing business with Russia than advancing on the EU path," said a senior EU official involved in talks with countries which want to join.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Georgia had gone backwards on some key reforms, although the EU did not want to alienate a country that might otherwise fall back under Moscow's sway.

"So the EU's next move is about finding a balance..."

Soft on Moscow?

Georgia, which is sandwiched between Russia and Turkey and has no land border with the EU, applied for EU membership in March 2022 alongside Ukraine and Moldova.

At the time, the EU said Georgia needed to do more to fight corruption, improve the independence of its judiciary and depolarize its bitterly partisan domestic politics.

Last month, the European Commission recommended that Georgia be granted candidate status - something Ukraine and Moldova have already achieved - but made clear this could be withdrawn if it did not deliver on agreed reforms.

One important sticking point is foreign policy, where Georgian Dream has moved to improve ties with Moscow since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia is deeply unpopular among ordinary Georgians, partly because it helped two breakaway Georgian regions - Abkhazia and South Ossetia - to secure de facto independence in wars in the 1990s and again in 2008.

But although Moscow and Tbilisi have no formal diplomatic relations, Georgia has declined to impose sanctions on Russia as the EU and other Western countries have done, and has restored direct flights which had been suspended in 2019.

In May, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said NATO enlargement was "one of the main reasons" for the war in Ukraine, a view rejected by Western nations which regard the invasion as an illegal land grab.

Another of the EU's demands is for Georgia to reduce the political influence of wealthy tycoons.

Billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili is not only Georgia's richest man, but also founder of Georgian Dream and a former prime minister, making him, in many people's eyes, the most powerful figure in the country.

The party has also presided over what critics describe as creeping authoritarianism.

In March, it presented a bill branding non-governmental organizations and media outlets receiving money from abroad as "foreign agents," echoing a similar Russian law that the Kremlin has used to repress civil society.

The government withdrew the bill after large protests in Tbilisi. The EU had said the legislation could doom Georgia's accession hopes.

Long road

How the Dec. 14-15 summit plays out is difficult to predict, partly as Georgia's prospects are tied up with those of Ukraine.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who boasts about his ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has signaled he will block the opening of EU accession talks with Ukraine. Orban is more favourably disposed to Georgia's EU bid, though, seeing Georgian Dream's conservative stance on social issues and its accommodating stance towards Russia as mirroring his own.

Kornely Kakachia, director of the Georgian Institute of Politics think-tank, says the Tbilisi government does want EU integration, but not at the cost of losing power domestically.

He added there was a chance that Georgia's EU application may go the way of Turkey's, which was granted candidate status in 1999, but has made little progress towards membership since.

"I think there is that risk, especially if Georgia continues backsliding in terms of democracy and there are no changes in terms of policy or foreign policy orientation," said Kakachia.

Analysts also point to conservative social attitudes in Georgia, whose influential Orthodox Church has called for laws prohibiting LGBT "propaganda."

Yet for many Georgians, EU membership is a no-brainer.

Temur Ninoshvili, who owns a winery and hotel in the winemaking region of Kakheti, sees accession as a way to redirect Georgia's wine exports, a major contributor to its economy, towards new markets.

Georgia, he said, currently sends around 75% of its wine exports to Russia.

Tina Bakhtadze, 30, a Georgian language teacher, acknowledged that the goal of EU membership would take time and much effort, but said "emotionally we are ready."

"For Georgia as a country, it's becoming more and more developed as we proceed further to this goal."
U.S. House Republicans are progressing toward a vote this week that would formalize the ongoing impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. But whether leadership has enough votes to approve the measure remains unclear.

Polling released Monday morning indicated that a small plurality of Americans thought the inquiry should move forward, but that even among self-identified Republicans, enthusiasm for the inquiry was slipping.

The survey, conducted by the polling firm Morning Consult, found that 44% of Americans thought the inquiry should move forward, compared to 40% who said it should not. The results broke heavily along partisan lines, with 62% of Democrats saying the inquiry should not proceed while 70% of Republicans saying it should. A plurality of independents, 47%, said the inquiry should not continue, with only 37% saying it should.

The data showed that Americans on the whole are less enthusiastic about the inquiry than they were. Mondays overall 44% approval of the inquiry was down from 47% in September. Similarly among Republicans, the percentage in favor of a continued investigation fell from 76% to 70% over the same time period.

GOP balancing act

Under U.S. law, a president can be involuntarily removed from office outside a normal election cycle only if he is convicted by the Senate of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors. An impeachment inquiry is the first step in a process that can lead to impeachment proceedings in the House and, if they are successful, a trial in the Senate.

While impeachments are historically rare, Americans have significant recent experience with them. Former President Donald Trump was impeached twice during his term in office. In 2019, he was impeached for pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to launch an investigation into Biden, then seen as a likely rival to Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

He was impeached a second time in 2021, after his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election resulted in the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol. In both cases, Trump was acquitted in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required to convict.

With House Democrats expected to unanimously oppose the measure, Republicans will need to find the votes in their own ranks to pass it. They hold 221 seats in the House, where there are currently 434 members, meaning that if the party loses more than three votes, the measure will fail.

Currently, eyes are on the more than a dozen Republican House members who represent districts that Biden won in the 2020 election, and who might suffer politically if they cast an unpopular vote in favor of impeachment.

Previous vote avoided

It was out of concern about these members that former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy allowed the House Committee on Oversight and Investigations to begin inquiries into the impeachment of the president earlier this year.

In the interim, several Republicans representing Biden districts have come out in favor of formalizing the inquiry. However, not all have expressed a position on the measure coming up for a vote this week.

Last week, Speaker Mike Johnson, who took over after McCarthy was voted out in October, told The New York Times he was confident he had the necessary votes.

This is a vote to continue the inquiry of impeachment, and thats a necessary constitutional step. I believe well get every vote that we have, he said.

The Republican House contingent, however, has been difficult to predict in this Congress, as Johnsons predecessor learned.

More authority for investigators

The vote would strengthen the hand of Republican Representative James Comer, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, who has been leading the inquiry since early this year when his party took control of the House. Among other things, it would allow him to compel witnesses to testify, by subpoena if necessary.

So far, the investigation has delved deeply into the finances of Biden and members of his extended family, including his son Hunter, who was indicted on criminal tax evasion charges last week.

However, House investigators have complained that Biden and his family have not been fully cooperative in turning over evidence and arranging testimony. The committee is threatening to hold Hunter Biden in contempt because he has said that while he is willing to testify publicly, he is unwilling to submit to a closed-door deposition.

Lack of evidence

The committee has so far gathered considerable evidence that Hunter Biden and other members of the presidents family traded on their famous name to help secure favorable business deals, often with foreign companies.

Committee members have more than once presented evidence that they claimed proved President Biden derived personal financial benefits from his relatives business activities. But in each case, the evidence has not held up to scrutiny.

Most recently, Comer said a series of payments from Hunter Bidens company to the presidents personal account made in 2018  while the elder Biden was out of office  proved that he had benefited from his sons business activities. It was later disclosed that the payments represented reimbursement for car loan payments that Joe Biden had made on his sons behalf.

President Biden has consistently denied that he ever used his office to enrich himself and has criticized the impeachment investigation as being politically motivated and without basis in facts.
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As heavy fighting in Gaza continues, humanitarian organizations warn of a growing crisis in the Gaza Strip with the onset of winter. Palestinians say 85 percent of the population has been internally displaced and warn of disease spreading. VOA's Linda Gradstein reports from Jerusalem. Videographer: Ricki Rosen
The International Monetary Fund's executive board on Monday approved a $900 million disbursement for Ukraine as part of an ongoing long-term loan, leading Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to thank the IMF for supporting the embattled country.

"Thank you for supporting Ukraine and celebrating the successes of our country and our people," Zelenskyy said on his Telegram channel after his meeting with IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva in Washington.

Georgieva said Ukraine's economy had proven resilient despite Russias invasion in February 2022.

"Looking ahead, whereas the recovery is expected to continue, the outlook has significant risks stemming mainly from the exceptionally high war-related uncertainty," Georgieva said in a statement, according to Reuters. "It is also critical that external financing on concessional terms continue on a timely and predictable basis."

The IMF on Monday asked Ukraine to conduct an "ambitious" external commercial debt restructuring in the first half of 2024 to help restore debt sustainability.

Earlier Monday, Zelenskyy received a standing ovation at the National Defense University after he addressed U.S. military officers, kicking off a visit to Washington aimed at persuading Congress to provide more military aid to Ukraine before funding runs out.

In his speech, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of defeating Russia in Ukraine, saying that if Moscow won, Russian President Vladimir Putin would not stop there.

"His [Putins] weapon against you right now is propaganda and disinformation. But if he sees a chance, he'll go further, he said. Now, he's shifting Russia's economy and society [onto] what he calls war tracks. "

The Ukrainian president said that so far, Ukrainian forces have taken back 50% of the territory they lost to Russia, and he pointed to the perseverance of Ukrainian warriors on the battleground.

Right now, amid fierce battles, our soldiers are holding positions on the front and preparing for further actions, and we haven't let Russia score any victory this year, Zelenskyy said.

In his remarks at the National Defense University, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin maintained that U.S. support in Ukraine was unshakeable and warned, "If we do not stand up [to] the Kremlin's aggression today, if we do not deter other would-be aggressors, we will only invite more aggression, more bloodshed and more chaos.

Now, despite his crimes and despite his isolation, Putin still believes that he can outlast Ukraine, and that he can outlast America. But he is wrong."

Zelenskyy is expected to visit Capitol Hill on Tuesday and to meet with President Joe Biden at the White House.

Biden has asked Congress for a $110 billion package of wartime funding for Ukraine and Israel, along with other national security priorities. Ukraine would get over $61 billion of the money.

But Republicans in the U.S. Senate have balked at the legislation, saying major U.S. border security changes are needed.

Some Republicans are asking for the immediate deportation of illegal migrants, stripping them of a chance to seek U.S. asylum. They have also called for greatly scaling back Biden administration programs that have allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter the U.S. lawfully.

The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion for its fight against Russia's invasion.

Russian submarines

In a televised ceremony on Monday, Putin inspected two nuclear submarines  the Krasnoyarsk and Emperor Alexander III  at the Sevmash shipbuilding yard in the Arctic port of Severodvinsk.

The Emperor Alexander III is part of Russia's new Borei (Arctic Wind) class of nuclear submarines, the first new generation Russia has launched since the Cold War.

Last month, the Defense Ministry said the vessel had successfully tested a nuclear-capable Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile.

Security analysts say nuclear arms have assumed a greater importance in Putins thinking and rhetoric since the start of the Ukraine conflict, where his conventional forces are locked in a grinding war of attrition with no end in sight.

VOAs Carla Babb contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
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Israel said it is prepared to fight for months or longer to defeat Gaza's Hamas rulers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in the United States hoping to convince lawmakers to provide more than $61 billion in supplemental funding for Ukraines military.
A legal complaint called Monday for Swiss authorities to arrest Iran's president during an expected visit and charge him with crimes against humanity connected to a 1988 purge of dissidents.

The complaint asks Swiss federal public prosecutor Andreas Muller to ensure the arrest and prosecution of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi "over his participation in acts of genocide, torture, extrajudicial executions and other crimes against humanity."

Raisi was expected to participate in the United Nations Global Refugee Forum, which begins Wednesday in Geneva, but the U.N. said Monday evening that Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian would lead the Iranian delegation, an indication that Raisi might not show.

The legal complaint against him, seen by AFP, was dated Monday. The prosecutor's office did not immediately confirm that it had been received.

It was filed by three alleged victims from Iran's crackdown on dissidents in the 1980s.

Rights groups have long campaigned for justice over alleged extrajudicial executions of thousands of mainly young people across Iranian prisons within a few months in the summer of 1988, just as the war with Iraq was ending.

Those killed were mainly supporters of the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran, known by the abbreviations MEK or PMOI, a group considered a terrorist organization by Iran that backed Baghdad during the conflict.

The petitioners behind Monday's complaint said they could personally identify Raisi as figuring on a commission that sent thousands of jailed opponents to their deaths during the crackdown.

He was serving as deputy prosecutor general of Tehran at the time and was among the most eager on his commission to sentence prisoners to death, the complaint said.

The main petitioner, Reza Shemiriani, was arrested in 1981 and was one of fewer than 150 of the 5,000 prisoners detained in his cell block who survived the 1988 purge, according to the complaint.

Raisi had asked him what group he belonged to, and when he said MEK, "his death sentence was assured," the complaint said, adding that Shemiriani still did not know why his life was spared.

Instead, he remained in prison until 1991, facing daily torture, the complaint said.

The two other petitioners had also been in Iranian prisons in 1988, and said they recognized Raisi "as a member of the death commission," according to the complaint.

International campaign

In parallel to the legal complaint, an international campaign is also underway expressing outrage at Raisi's participation in the U.N. refugee forum and urging his prosecution for "involvement in past and ongoing crimes under international law."

"Raisi was a key perpetrator of the 1988 massacre of thousands of political prisoners. His presence at the U.N. forum contradicts the fundamental values the U.N. stands for," said the petition.

So far it has gathered more than 200 signatures from dignitaries including Nobel laureates, judges, former ministers, parliamentarians, academics and U.N. rights experts.

"We firmly believe that the United Nations, as a bastion of human rights and justice, should not compromise its reputation by extending an invitation to an individual accused of grave human rights violations," it said, urging the U.N. to "promptly rescind its invitation to Raisi."

When asked about the petition, forum host UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, told AFP that "Iran is a member state of the United Nations and therefore invited to the Global Refugee Forum."

"Iran has also been one of the largest refugee hosting countries for over 40 years," a spokesperson said in an email, adding that "the Iranian delegation will be led by the foreign minister."
JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The South African government will begin the process of adding 2,500 megawatts (MW) to its nuclear capacity, with the first commissioning expected in 2032 or 2033, a senior official said Tuesday.

"We are triggering a procurement process. We are going out to ensure that we are able to get that additional 2,500 MW of nuclear capacity to ensure energy security and sovereignty. This is a significant milestone," said Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, minister in the Presidency responsible for electricity, at a media briefing.

"What we know about nuclear is the cheapest, the safest and most reliable. And we are going this route," he added.

While the country is currently focused on ending load shedding, commonly known as power cuts, the minister emphasized their intent to secure energy for the future, saying that the new nuclear procurement determination is currently in the process of being gazetted.

South Africa currently operates only one nuclear power station, Koeberg, situated in the Western Cape Province, which is undergoing maintenance to extend its operating license and lifespan. 
Israeli settlers are voicing concern after the United States announced a travel ban on settlers suspected of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

At the Elkana settlement, which is home to more than 4,000 Israelis, there is concern that the U.S. measure may punish people who say they are simply defending themselves.

Afik Mansour, a young Israeli resident of Elkana, said that if a settler hurts an Arab, in most cases there is a reason for it  such as a personal or social harm.

Mansour said incidents sometimes come out of anger or nerves about situations that have occurred in the past.

On Dec. 5, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a travel ban would be placed on Israeli settlers described as extremist who are suspected of committing violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

It is not clear how U.S. authorities will decide who is not eligible for admission.

Rights groups say the number of Palestinian fatalities caused by settlers has doubled since Israels war against Hamas started in October.

The United States has been putting pressure on the Israeli government to stop violence by Israeli settlers.

The settlement of Elkana was established in 1977 on land seized from a Palestinian village called Mas-ha.

Today, the settlement has modern apartment blocks, villas, supermarkets, and a strip mall where Israeli settlers go about their daily lives.

Israeli settlers are defined as those who have established residences in territories that Israel occupied after the 1967 Six-Day War, including in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. According to the U.N., up to 700,000 settlers now live in the West Bank, illegally, under international law.

Palestinians often accuse the settlers of taking land from them by force, and violent clashes between the two sides are frequent.

Esti Nadav, an Israeli shopping for Hannukah festival decorations in Elkana with her children, said she thinks that violent people should not be allowed to enter certain places.

The question, she asked, is how does one know which settlers are violent? This is very important, she said, because innocent people may end up being denied entry to the United States.

Another settler, who gave her name only as Emilia, said she is angry about the visa ban.

She said Jewish settlers are the victims of slander sometimes. The left is looking for a narrative and is trying to slander the people in the settlements, she said.

She said she does not understand how the U.S. has decided to ban some Israelis while granting entry to Syrian refugees.

According to the U.N., 26 Israeli. and at least 200 Palestinian fatalities have occurred due to violence in the West Bank this year.

Some Israeli settlers are U.S.-born with dual citizenship and do not require visas to travel to the United States.
Conservationists in Kenya warn that nearly all the countrys 103 species of raptors are in decline. These wildlife advocates are now proposing the construction of bird-friendly infrastructure to avert possible extinction. Francis Ontomwa has this report from Nakuru, Kenya. (Camera: Amos Wangwa)
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will meet Thursday with his Guyanese counterpart Mohamed Irfaan Ali amid growing tensions over the jurisdiction of the oil-rich Essequibo region.

The meeting, set to take place on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, was announced following Maduros talks with prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and president pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States or CELAC, Ralph Gonsalves, as well as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday.

Ali, who agreed to the meeting despite his parliament unanimously telling him not to, said that "Guyana's land boundary is not up for discussion."

Disputes over the Essequibo region are longstanding, though the recent discovery of offshore oil and gas has caused tensions on the issue to flare.

Earlier this month, Venezuela held a referendum in which voters rejected the International Court of Justices jurisdiction over the region and supported the creation of a new Venezuelan state.

Ali has stated that he will use this meeting not to hold negotiations, but rather to insist that the case be heard by the ICJ as originally planned.

Several South American countries released a joint statement in support of dialogue between the two countries, as well as Gonsalves, the head of CELAC, who said there is "the urgent need to de-escalate the conflict and institute an appropriate dialogue."

The United States, which earlier held joint flight drills with Guyana, has maintained its position of support for the country.

"We reaffirm the United States' unwavering support for Guyana's sovereignty," the press office of the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia said.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Tuesday that he has complete U.S. support for the Jewish state's ongoing ground offensive in Gaza against Hamas militants, and at the same time, the two countries remain resolute against growing international calls for a cease-fire to halt the Israel-Hamas war.

"I greatly appreciate the American support for destroying Hamas and returning [about 140 remaining] hostages" captured by Hamas during its October 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel, the Israeli leader said.

"Following an intensive dialogue with President [Joe] Biden and his team, we received full backing for the ground incursion and blocking the international pressure to stop the war," Netanyahu said.

But Netanyahu acknowledged that he and Biden disagree about "the day after Hamas," when the war ends.

"I hope that we will reach agreement here, as well," Netanyahu said.

At a reelection campaign event in the United States, Biden said Netanyahu has "got a tough decision to make," noting that "this is the most conservative government in Israel's history" and "doesn't want a two-state solution" with side-by-side independent Israeli and Palestinian governments.

The U.S. leader said Israel is starting to lose support around the world, and Netanyahu "has to strengthen and change" the Israeli government to find a long-term solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Biden has proposed that the Western-backed Palestinian Authority under President Mahmoud Abbas take control of Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank after the war. But Netanyahu said Gaza "will be neither Hamas-stan nor 'Fatah-stan.'" Fatah is Abbas' faction of Palestinians.

"I would like to clarify my position: I will not allow Israel to repeat the mistake of Oslo," Netanyahu said, without clarifying which mistake he was referring to regarding the 1993 accords that established limited Palestinian autonomy in the West Bank and Gaza but did not lead, as some envisioned at the time, to the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

Netanyahu's statement declaring continued U.S. support came as the U.N. General Assembly was set to hold an emergency meeting Tuesday to debate a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, which the U.S. and Israel oppose.

The resolution expresses "grave concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population" and emphasizes the need to protect both Israeli and Palestinian civilians under international law.

A similar resolution failed in the U.N. Security Council last week because of a U.S. veto. There are no vetoes in the General Assembly, and while General Assembly resolutions are nonbinding, they do carry political weight.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller explained the U.S. opposition to the Security Council resolution as he briefed reporters Monday.

"We've made clear that while we support humanitarian pauses, we think a cease-fire that would allow the leadership of Hamas, that plotted and planned October 7, to continue to carry on in Gaza and plan future attacks. That's unacceptable," Miller said.

During a seven-day pause in the fighting that ended more than a week ago, Hamas released about 100 hostages it seized on October 7 during its terror attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people. The Israeli army said Tuesday that during an operation in Gaza, it had recovered the bodies of two more of the hostages.

The army said that following positive identification of the bodies, it had notified the families of Eden Zakaria and Ziv Dado that they had been killed, although it did not say how or by whom.

The Israeli offensive against Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror group, has killed nearly 18,000 people in Gaza in the last seven weeks, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry.

Ahead of Tuesday's U.N. session, fighting continued in Gaza, including Israeli airstrikes in central and southern Gaza.

The Israeli military said its airstrikes were aimed at rocket launching sites throughout the Gaza Strip, and that ground troops had found 250 rockets, mortar shells and rocket-propelled grenades during a raid.

In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli forces killed four Palestinians in the city of Jenin.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the deaths were the result of an Israeli drone strike.

Around 270 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the October 7 attack on Israel and the launch of the Israeli offensive to eradicate Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The World Health Organization called Tuesday for the "protection of health care and humanitarian assistance in Gaza." It cited difficulties a WHO team encountered while trying to deliver medical supplies to a hospital in Gaza City and to evacuate critically hurt patients, saying there were delays at military checkpoints and that workers from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society were detained.

"The people of Gaza have the right to access health care," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "The health system must be protected. Even in war."

The fighting has pushed an estimated 1.9 million people from their homes in Gaza, with many seeking shelter in the south in overcrowded facilities amid warnings of poor sanitary conditions and the threat of an increase in communicable diseases.

United Nations correspondent Margaret Besheer and State Department bureau chief Nike Ching contributed to this report. Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
An early morning militant attack in Pakistans northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province killed 23 troops Tuesday.

The attack occurred in Daraban, a remote area in the militancy-hit district of Dera Ismail Khan near Pakistans tribal districts bordering Afghanistan.

Inter Services Public Relations or ISPR, the Pakistani militarys media wing, confirmed the death toll. It also said the military killed 27 terrorists in multiple operations.

The militarys statement sent to the media several hours after the Daraban incident said six terrorists attacked a security forces post in the early hours of the morning.

The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted which forced the terrorists to ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the post, followed by a suicide bombing attack.

According to the militarys statement, the building of the military camp collapsed because of the ensuing blast, causing multiple casualties.

The statement said all six terrorists were effectively engaged and sent to hell, implying the attackers were killed in military action.

The overnight militant attack came after operations targeted terrorists in the larger Dera Ismail Khan area between December 11 and 12. The ISPR said 21 terrorists were killed in those intelligence-based operations in which two soldiers also died.

Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, a relatively new and less-known militant group claimed responsibility for the attack in Daraban.

The group has carried out several high-profile raids against security forces in recent months including an attack on an air force base in early November that damaged three aircraft.

In July, the group claimed responsibility for attacking a military base in southwestern Baluchistan province and killing 12 Pakistani soldiers.

Condemning the attack in a message on X, formerly Twitter, Pakistans caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar expressed the countrys resolve to continue fighting terrorism.

Pakistan said Tuesdays deadly assault was carried out by fugitive militants operating out of sanctuaries in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and summoned the neighboring countrys chief diplomat to protest it.

A foreign ministry statement said that Islamabad asked Kabul to urgently take stern action against the perpetrators of the raid and deny the persistent use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan. It described TJP as a terrorist group affiliated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, which routinely plots and claims attacks against Pakistani security forces.

The statement called on the Afghan Taliban to take verifiable actions against all terrorist groups and their sanctuaries in Afghanistan. It demanded that Kabul hand over the perpetrators of Tuesday's attack and the TTP leadership to Pakistan.

There was no immediate response from the Afghan Taliban to Pakistani allegations.

Pakistani military and police are coming under frequent deadly attacks, primarily in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.

Pakistan alleges terrorists present on Afghan soil are responsible for the surge and accuses Afghan Taliban of providing them a haven. The de facto rulers in Kabul deny the charge.
Rwanda will hold presidential and parliamentary polls on July 15 next year, the election commission said Tuesday, with President Paul Kagame due to run for a fourth term in office.

"Throughout the country, the polling date for the president of the Republic and 53 deputies elected from a list proposed by political organizations or for independent candidates is Monday, 15 July 2024," the National Electoral Commission said on X, formerly Twitter.

Kagame, 66, has ruled over the landlocked African nation with an iron fist for decades.

He presided over controversial constitutional amendments in 2015 that allowed him to run for more terms and stay in power until 2034.

A former rebel chief, Kagame became president in April 2000 but has been the country's de facto leader since the end of the 1994 genocide.

He was returned to office  with more than 90 percent of the vote  in elections in 2003, 2010 and 2017.

Kagame's only known challenger in the upcoming elections is opposition Green Party leader Frank Habineza, who announced in May his intention to run in 2024.

Candidates will be allowed to campaign from June 22 until July 12, the election commission said.

While Rwanda lays claim to being one of the most stable countries in Africa, rights groups accuse Kagame of ruling in a climate of fear, stifling dissent and free speech.

The Rwandan government in March decided to synchronize the dates for its parliamentary and presidential elections.
U.S. special counsel Jack Smith asked the Supreme Court on Monday to quickly consider whether former President Donald Trump has any immunity from charges accusing him of illegally conspiring to upend his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.

In an effort to keep Trumps scheduled March 4 trial date in Washington on track, Smith asked the countrys highest court to uphold U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkans ruling that the case can go forward, and bypass Trumps appeal of her ruling to the federal appellate court in Washington, a process that could take months.

The United States recognizes that this is an extraordinary request, Smith told the Supreme Court. This is an extraordinary case.

Hours later, the Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments from both sides about whether they should act quickly to decide whether Trump has immunity from being charged criminally. Trump's lawyers were told to file briefs on the issue by December 20.

By asking the Supreme Court for direct consideration of whether Trump is immune from prosecution for actions he took while still in office in the waning days of his presidency in late 2020 and early 2021, Smith is trying to avert having the trial delayed until after next Novembers presidential election.

Trump is the overwhelming favorite for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination even as he faces an unprecedented four criminal indictments accusing him of 91 offenses, all of which he has denied.

If he were to win the White House again and any federal trials had yet to occur, he could direct his attorney general to drop two cases brought by Smith  the election conspiracy case and another in the Southern state of Florida set for May accusing him of mishandling classified documents as he left office.

Trump appointed three of the nine sitting Supreme Court justices during his four years in office. But the former president does not have a winning track record at the high court.

The justices rejected requests from Trump and his supporters to get involved in challenges to the 2020 election results. They also ruled against his claims that the presidency protected him from investigation and turned back his efforts to block release of his financial records.

In asking the Supreme Court to rule on whether Trump is immune from prosecution, prosecutors wrote, "This case presents a fundamental question at the heart of our democracy: whether a former president is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office or is constitutionally protected from federal prosecution when he has been impeached but not convicted before the criminal proceedings begin.

The prosecutors emphasized the urgency of the matter to the Supreme Court, saying, "It is of imperative public importance that [Trumps] claims of immunity be resolved by this court and that [his] trial proceed as promptly as possible if his claim of immunity is rejected."

The prosecutors told the high court that Trumps immunity claims are profoundly mistaken, as the district court held. But only this court can definitively resolve them.

Chutkan, the trial judge in the case, rejected arguments by Trump's attorneys that he was immune from federal prosecution. In her order, she wrote that the office of the president "does not confer a lifelong 'get-out-of-jail-free' pass."

"Former presidents enjoy no special conditions on their federal criminal liability," Chutkan wrote. "Defendant may be subject to federal investigation, indictment, prosecution, conviction and punishment for any criminal acts undertaken while in office."

Trump, a Republican, is accused in a four-count indictment in Washington of conspiring to upend the results of the 2020 election he lost to Biden, a Democrat who is running for reelection next year.

The indictment alleged that Trump sought to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election by using knowingly false claims of election fraud to obstruct the federal government function by which those results are collected, counted and certified.

On January 6, 2021, as Congress met to officially certify the results of the Electoral College showing Biden had won, Trump urged supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol and fight like hell to disrupt the proceeding. In the ensuing mayhem, about 2,000 Trump supporters stormed into the Capitol, clashed with police and rampaged through some congressional offices.

More than 1,100 protesters were arrested and more than 600 have been convicted of an array of offenses.

After hours of delay, Congress ratified Bidens victory in the early hours of January 7, and he became the countrys president on January 20, 2021.
Chinas TikTok agreed on Monday to revive its e-commerce arm, TikTok Shop, by investing $840 million to buy most of Indonesias tech conglomerate GoTos e-commerce unit, Tokopedia. The purchase appears to allow TikTok to restart its online shopping business in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

TikTok Shop shut down in Indonesia after President Joko Widodo called for tighter social media regulations because an influx of cheap imported goods from China led to a significant sales decline for domestic businesses. The Chinese-owned app was given one week to comply, and transactions stopped on its app in Indonesia on October 4.

Before the ban, TikTok Shop had 6 million sellers and 7 million creator affiliates.

As part of the agreement reached on Monday, Tokopedia and TikTok Shop, Indonesias businesses, will be combined under Tokopedia, but TikTok, which is owned by Chinas Bytedance, will buy 75.01% of Tokopedia and hold the controlling stake.

Tokopedia, Indonesias largest e-commerce platform, will operate the shopping features within the TikTok Shop app, the companies said in a joint statement.

The agreement also calls for TikTok investing more in Tokopedia, for a total of $1.5 billion.

Indonesian regulators will supervise the strategic partnership with a pilot period that starts on Tuesday, coinciding with Indonesias National Online Shopping Day, a government program designed to grow Indonesias digital economy by supporting micro, small, medium enterprises (MSME). The campaign, titled Beli Lokal (Buy Locally), will promote a broad range of Indonesian merchants and will be available on both TikTok and Tokopedia.

GoTo CEO Patrick Walujo said in a joint statement, Both of our companies are committed to supporting the growth of our MSMEs and promoting Indonesia-made products.

More than 90% of the enterprises on the combined business app are MSMEs.

The companies will undertake a series of joint initiatives to support the MSMEs, including promoting Indonesian products on Tokopedia and TikToks platforms. Indonesian sellers will be offered training to promote their brands in international markets, while technology centers will be built to foster local tech talent.

Stephanie Susilo, head of e-commerce for TikTok Indonesia, said the partnership with GoTo will help the company empower home-grown businesses to expand and thrive.

Many of Indonesia's more than 270 million people are active social media users, and TikTok has been looking to translate its 125 million user base into e-commerce revenue.

Wenny Wijaya, a creator affiliate on TikTok Shop, sold smartphones and its accessories on TikTok Shop for numerous sellers and had 239,000 followers online. When TikTok was banned in October, she lost almost $700 in monthly earnings.

After TikTok Shop was banned, creator affiliates like her could only promote products on TikTok, and transactions were completed in online marketplaces like Shopee, Tokopedia or Lazada.

Im delighted that TikTok Shop will be revived and initiate joint programs to further strengthen, promote and develop local products," Wenny said. This will surely create more jobs for Indonesians.

Rudi Syarfi, a wholesale trader of Islamic mens garment at Tanah Abang Market, Jakartas largest wholesale market said, The rise of TikTok Shop created a ripple effect that crippled my business. My clients, who are mostly retailers that own either offline or online shops at e-commerce platforms, arent buying my products as much as before, since many consumers flocked to TikTok Shop in 2021.

Rudi added that hes aware that offline sellers need to adjust to the changes brought by e-commerce but hopes the government will collect the required taxes on all imported goods so local products can still maintain a competitive edge.

Andry Satrio Nugroho, head of the Center of Industry, Trade and Investment at the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance, said, Tokopedia will likely have cross-border commerce like [Singapore e-commerce] Shopee, so it will be a battle of two giants.

Some information in this report came from Reuters.
U.N. Security Council envoys spoke of unimaginable suffering and urged an end to the war in the Gaza Strip on Monday as they visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, the besieged Palestinian enclave's only entry point for aid.

China's representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, asked by reporters if he had a message to nations that opposed a cease-fire in Gaza, said simply: "Enough is enough."

Most U.N. member states support an immediate and lasting cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, as dire conditions worsen for its 2.3 million residents.

The United States, which backs Israel, last week vetoed a proposed Security Council demand for an immediate cease-fire as Israeli tanks and troops press an invasion that has displaced most of Gaza's population and killed more than 18,000 people.

A dozen Security Council envoys attended the trip organized by the United Arab Emirates to visit Rafah, just days after Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that thousands of people in the besieged Palestinian enclave were "simply starving."

After flying to the town of Al-Arish they were briefed by U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA on conditions in Gaza before heading toward Rafah 30 miles (48 km) away.

"The reality is even worse than what words can speak," Ecuador's U.N. Representative Jose De La Gasca told reporters after the UNRWA briefing.

U.S. and France representatives did not participate in the trip.

UAE permanent representative to the U.N. Lana Nusseibeh said the envoys were told Palestinians in Gaza were dying from malnutrition, a collapsing medical system and a lack of water and food, in addition to the actual conflict.

Israel has bombarded Gaza from the air and from land, imposed a siege and mounted a ground offensive in retaliation for an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that Israel says killed 1,200 people and saw 240 people taken hostage. Gaza health authorities say about 18,000 people have been killed by Israeli attacks, with 49,500 injured.

The vast majority of the Palestinian enclave's 2.3 million people have been driven from their homes.

Hunger is prevailing

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini described an "implosion of civil order" where Palestinians in Gaza who have not eaten for days looted aid distribution centers and stopped trucks on roads as they tried to secure supplies for their families.

"There is not enough assistance," Lazzarini said. "Hunger is prevailing in Gaza... Most of the people are just sleeping on the concrete."

Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia described conditions in Gaza as catastrophic" and said that those against a cease-fire should face the reality and afford dignity to the Palestinians."

Nebenzia rejected accusations it was hypocritical to condemn Israel when Moscow had invaded Ukraine.

Limited humanitarian aid and fuel deliveries have crossed into Gaza via the Rafah crossing, but aid officials say it comes nowhere near to satisfying the most basic needs of the Palestinians in Gaza.

As the U.N. envoys traveled toward the Rafah border, hundreds of aid trucks were parked along the road leading to the crossing, waiting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

UAE's Nusseibeh said Abu Dhabi was coordinating with relevant authorities so that drinkable water could be pumped into Gaza from an Emirati-funded desalination plant in Egypt.

While Israel has turned off the water to Gaza, it is also unclear if Gaza's infrastructure can receive the desalinated water after weeks of heavy Israeli bombardment.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that 100 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies entered Gaza from Egypt Sunday, the same number as the previous day.

It noted that was "well below" the daily average of 500 truckloads, including fuel, that entered every working day prior to Oct. 7.

A UNICEF employee, speaking to reporters on the condition of anonymity, said a logistics center near Al-Arish was storing items Israel had banned from being sent into Gaza, including solar panels and an ultrasound machine. The employee said they were banned because they were electrical and contained metal.

The 15-member Security Council is negotiating a UAE-drafted resolution that demands warring parties "allow the use of all land, sea and air routes to and throughout" Gaza for aid.

It would also establish a U.N.-run aid monitoring mechanism in the Gaza Strip. It was not clear when the draft resolution could be put to a vote.

Guterres last week formally warned the Security Council of the global threat to peace and security posed by the conflict.

He said half of the Palestinians in the north of the territory and at least a third of those displaced in southern Gaza were "simply starving" and later criticized the council for having "failed" to help bring about a humanitarian cease-fire.

The U.N. General Assembly will meet on Gaza on Tuesday at the request of Arab and Muslim states. The 193-member body is likely to vote on a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire, diplomats said.
VIENTIANE, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government has extended invitations to countries worldwide for their support to the tourism promotion campaign Visit Laos Year 2024 in a bid to boost international tourist arrivals.

This nationwide tourism campaign seeks to draw more visitors, contributing to Laos' economic growth, the Vientiane Mai newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Director General of the Tourism Marketing Department under the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Khom Douangchantha, emphasized the growing influx of Chinese tourists and encouraged Chinese businesses to offer tailored Lao tourism programs for a successful Visit Laos Year 2024, according to the report.

The operation of the China-Laos Railway has enhanced travel options, fostered reciprocal visits between China and Laos, and attracted more tourists from other regional countries.

Laos also aims to attract more visitors from neighboring Vietnam. In a strategic move, Lao Airlines recently signed up a partnership with Vietjet Air, Vietnam's top low-cost airline, to enhance cooperation in passenger and cargo transport. The collaboration was initiated in early December, and Vietjet plans to introduce a direct flight route between the Lao capital Vientiane and Vietnam's southern Ho Chi Minh City, featuring four weekly flights starting in February 2024.

To cater to both domestic and international tourists, the Lao government is actively pushing for improvements in hotel accommodations, tourism resources, products, transportation, and medical facilities, prioritizing quality, safety, and visitors' satisfaction.

Visit Laos Year 2024 stands as a comprehensive tourism promotion initiative, highlighting the Southeast Asian country's cultural, historical, and natural wonders. The Lao government has created a diverse calendar of 79 events, featuring 14 national-level and 65 local events.

Visit Laos Year 2024 is expected to attract 2.7 million foreign visitors and generate 401 million U.S. dollars in revenue. 
The U.N. General Assembly is set to hold an emergency meeting Tuesday to debate a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.

The resolution expresses grave concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population and emphasizes the need to protect both Israeli and Palestinian civilians under international law.

It calls on all parties to comply with international law, and also demands the immediate release of all hostages and calls for ensuring humanitarian access.

A similar resolution failed in the U.N. Security Council last week due to a U.S. veto. There are no vetoes in the General Assembly, and while General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, they do carry political weight.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller explained the U.S. opposition to the Security Council resolution as he briefed reporters Monday.

"We've made clear that while we support humanitarian pauses, we think a cease-fire that would allow the leadership of Hamas, that plotted and planned October 7, to continue to carry on in Gaza and plan future attacks. That's unacceptable, Miller said.

Ahead of Tuesdays U.N. session, fighting continued in Gaza, including Israeli airstrikes in central and southern Gaza.

The Israeli military said its airstrikes were aimed at rocket launching sites throughout the Gaza Strip, and that ground troops had found 250 rockets, mortar shells and rocket-propelled grenades during a raid.

In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said Israeli forces killed four Palestinians in the city of Jenin.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the deaths were the result of an Israeli drone strike.

Around 270 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the launch of the Israeli offensive to eradicate Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The World Health Organization called Tuesday for the protection of health care and humanitarian assistance in Gaza. It cited difficulties a WHO team encountered while trying to deliver medical supplies to a hospital in Gaza City and to evacuate critically hurt patients, saying there were delays at military checkpoints and that workers from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society were detained.

The people of Gaza have the right to access health care, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. The health system must be protected. Even in war.

The U.N. humanitarian agency says that while limited aid deliveries are continuing in the Rafah area of southern Gaza, near the Egyptian border, the fighting has largely cut off other parts of Gaza from receiving aid.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, visited Gaza Tuesday and described the situation there as endless deepening tragedy in a post on social media.

People are everywhere, live in the street, need everything, Lazzarini said. They plead for safety and for an end to this hell on earth. Our colleagues are asked to do the impossible in what is an impossible situation.

Israel said it was opening a second location to inspect aid before it can be taken into Gaza, allowing screening to take place at the Kerem Shalom border crossing. All aid entering Gaza will still go through the Rafah crossing, where the number of aid trucks entering each day has been far lower than pre-war levels, the U.N. says.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday Israel had no intention of staying permanently in Gaza.

"Israel will take any measures in order to destroy Hamas, but we have no intention to stay permanently in the Gaza Strip. We only take care of our security and the security of our citizens alongside the border with Gaza," Gallant told reporters.

He would not give any timeframe for the wars conclusion and said Israeli military activity could continue for months.

The Hamas-run health ministry says that nearly 18,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in the Israeli air and ground offensive in the last seven weeks.

Israel began its military campaign to wipe out Hamas after Hamas fighters crossed into southern Israel on Oct. 7. Israel said 1,200 people were killed and some 240 captives taken in the terror attack.

The fighting has pushed an estimated 1.9 million people from their homes in Gaza, with many seeking shelter in the south in overcrowded facilities amid warnings of poor sanitary conditions and the threat of an increase in communicable diseases.

United Nations correspondent Margaret Besheer and State Department Bureau Chief Nike Ching contributed to this report. Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo vowed Monday to take the strongest action possible in response to a semiconductor chip-making breakthrough in China that a House Foreign Affairs Committee said almost certainly required the use of U.S. origin technology and should be an export control violation.

In an interview with Bloomberg News, Raimondo called Huawei Technologys advanced processor in its Mate Pro 60 smartphone released in August deeply concerning and said the Commerce Department investigates such things vigorously.

The United States has banned chip sales to Huawei, which reportedly used chips from China chip giant Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., or SMIC, in the phone that are 7 nanometers, a technology China has not been known as able to produce.

Raimondo said the U.S. was also looking into the specifics of three new artificial intelligence accelerator chips that California-based Nvidia Corp. is developing for China. We look at every spec of every new chip, obviously, to make sure it doesnt violate the export controls, she said.

Nvidia came under U.S. scrutiny for designing China-specific chips that were just under new Commerce Department requirements announced in October for tighter export controls on advanced AI chips for civilian use that could have military applications.

Chinas Foreign Ministry responded to Raimondos comments Tuesday, saying the U.S. was undermining the rights of Chinese companies and contradicting the principles of a market economy.

'Almost certainly required US origin technology'

The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee in a December 7 report criticized the Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security, or BIS, the regulatory body for regulating dual-use export controls.

The report said Chinese chip giant SMIC is producing 7 nanometer chips  advanced technology for semiconductors that had been only capable of development by TSMC, Intel and Samsung.

Despite this breakthrough by SMIC, which almost certainly required the use of U.S. origin technology and should be an export control violation, BIS has not acted, the 66-page report said. We can no longer afford to avoid the truth: the unimpeded transfer of U.S. technology to China is one of the single-largest contributors to Chinas emergence as one of the worlds premier scientific and technological powers.

Excessive approvals alleged

Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said BIS had an excessive rate of approval for controlled technology transfers and lacked checks on end-use, raising serious questions about the current U.S. export control mechanism.

U.S. export control officials should adopt a presumption that all [Chinese] entities will divert technology to military or surveillance uses, said McCauls report, but currently, the overwhelming approval rates for licenses or exceptions for dual-use technology transfers to China indicate that licensing officials at BIS are likely presuming that items will be used only for their intended purposes.

According to BISs website, a key in determining whether an export license is needed from the Department of Commerce is knowing whether the item one intends to export has a specific Export Control Classification Number, or ECCN. All ECCNs are listed in the Commerce Control List, or CCL, which is divided into ten broad categories.

The committees report said that in 2020, nearly 98% of CCL items export to China went without a license, and in 2021, BIS approved nearly 90% of applications for the export of CCL items to China.

The report said that between 2016 and 2021, the United States governments two export control officers in China conducted on average only 55 end-user checks per year of the roughly 4,000 active licenses in China. Put another way, BIS likely verified less than 0.01% of all licenses, which represent less than 1% of all trade with China.

China skilled in avoiding controls

But China is also skilled at avoiding U.S. export controls, analysts said.

William Yu, an economist at UCLA Anderson Forecast, told VOA Mandarin in a phone interview that China can get banned chips through a third country. For example, some countries in the Middle East set up a company in that country to buy these high-level chips from the United States. From there, one is transferred back to China, Yu said.

Thomas Duesterberg, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, told VOA Mandarin in a phone interview that the Commerce Departments BIS has a hard job.

If you forbid technology from going to one company in China, the Chinese are experts at creating another company or just moving the company to a new address and disguising its name to try to evade the controls. China is a big country and there's a lot of technology that is at stake here, he said.

It's true on the one hand that BIS has been successful in some areas, such as advanced semiconductors in conjunction with denial of Chinese ability to buy American technology companies, said Duesterberg. But it's also true as the [House Foreign Affairs Committee] report emphasizes that a lot of activities that policymakers would like to restrict is not being done.

Insufficient resources or political will?

Despite its huge responsibility to ensure that the United States stays ahead in the escalating U.S.-China science and technology competition, the Commerce Departments BIS is small, employing just over 300 people.

At the annual Reagan National Defense Forum on December 2, Secretary Raimondo lamented that BIS has the same budget today as it did a decade ago despite the increasing challenges and workload, reported Breaking Defense, a New York-based online publication on global defense and politics.

U.S. Representatives Elise Stefanik, Mike Gallagher, who is chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and McCaul released a joint response to Raimondo's call for additional funds for the BIS, saying resources alone would not resolve export control shortcomings.

Raimondo also warned chip companies that the U.S. would further tighten controls to prevent cutting edge AI technology from going to Beijing.

The threat from China is large and growing, she said in an interview to CNBC at the December 2 forum. China wants access to our most sophisticated semiconductors, and we cant afford to give them that access. Were not just going to deny a single company in China, were going to deny the whole country access to our cutting-edge semiconductors.
The United States announced new visa restrictions Monday for nearly 300 Guatemalan lawmakers, other leaders and their families, accusing them of "undermining democracy and the rule of law" in the country.

The restrictions, which were imposed on 100 members of Guatemala's Congress, as well as private sector leaders and their family members, come as the country is facing criticism for alleged attempts to block President-elect Bernardo Arevalo from taking office.

Arevalo won a run-off election with his Seed Movement party in August in a landslide victory. Since then, Guatemalan authorities have arrested members of his party and repeatedly requested to lift Arevalo's immunity so they can investigate him directly.

"These brazen measures follow a long list of other anti-democratic actions," U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. "The Guatemalan people have spoken. Their voices must be respected."

Guatemalan prosecutors last week said that the runoff election results contained irregularities and were therefore void.

Groups including the Organization of American States and the European Union, which sent observers to monitor the election, confirmed the vote's adherence to democratic standards. They backed Arevalo in condemning the prosecutors' claims as an attempt to block him from power.

In addition to U.S. visa restrictions, the EU is also considering implementing sanctions on those who played a part in questioning the results of the election, according to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
Although Vietnam has been cautious about accepting Chinese money through Beijings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Hanoi will be facing pressure to take grants offered under the scheme when President Xi Jinping visits Hanoi this week as the Southeast Asian country seeks to balance its relationships with China and the United States.

The initiative, introduced by Xi in 2013, is seen as a long-term strategy by China to enhance its influence in the world by providing its support and financial aid.

Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, occupies a central position on Chinas BRI map. According to an assessment of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations research center, Southeast Asia is where the land Belt and the sea Road of the massive initiative converge.

While some countries in the region welcome BRI funds, Vietnam is cautious, according to analysts.

Vietnam said it supported China's Belt and Road Initiative, with Vietnamese leaders regularly attending BRI forums organized by China, Le Hong Hiep of the Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute told VOA Vietnamese in a phone interview late last month. However, in practice, Vietnam does not actively participate in projects within the framework of the BRI or receive investment funding under the initiatives scheme.

While Chinese Ambassador to Hanoi Xiong Bo said in November 2021 that a series of large Vietnamese projects had been included in the BRI, Hanoi has not publicly announced any projects under the Chinese initiative.

This shows Vietnam's careful mentality and attitude in taking loans through official channels from China, said Hiep, a political analyst on Vietnamese and Southeast Asian issues.

Similarly, Murray Hiebert, an author and a senior associate of the Southeast Asia Program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that "Vietnam's praise for the BRI is primarily diplomatic posture to soothe China. Hanoi has no real interest in the BRI for infrastructure, although it accepts real estate and manufacturing investment from Chinese companies.

Vietnam's caution toward China's BRI projects stems from the disagreement between the two countries on island sovereignty, according to experts. The neighboring communist countries, although ideologically united, are in conflict over territorial waters.

Vietnam has repeatedly accused China of violating its sovereignty by sending ships into its exclusive economic zone and militarizing what Vietnam calls the East Sea, known by others as the South China Sea.

Vietnam does not want to be beholden to China on critical infrastructure at a time that they have serious differences in the South China Sea, Hiebert said.

Bad experiences with Chinese-contracted projects in the past is another reason for Vietnam to eye BRI warily, according to experts.

The Cat Linh-Ha Dong railway saw its cost balloon to $868 million from the initial estimate of $552.8 million. Stretching 13 kilometers, Hanois first metro line was delayed for almost a decade because of prolonged implementation by a Chinese contractor, sparking outrage in Vietnam.

The learned lesson made Vietnam cautious about Chinese loans, either under BRI or not, said Hiep. Chinese loans often come with the obligation of using Chinese contractors and equipment, and Vietnam doesnt want a repeat of the metro experience.

Warning about China's BRI initiative, Pham Sy Thanh, director of the China Economic Research Program under Vietnams National Economics University, said that about 70% of BRI projects involve Chinese contractors or workers, according to state media.

Hanoi refused Beijing's loan to build the Van Don-Mong Cai high-speed rail route and did not let Chinese technology giant Huawei participate in developing Vietnam's 5G telecommunications infrastructure. Vietnam cited national security concerns for its decision to turn down Chinese investment.

While BRI has helped bring roads, rails and infrastructure to many poor countries, it has also left some of those countries saddled with debt.

Italy has become the first country to announce it will leave the BRI. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in 2019 called the decision to join the BRI a serious mistake and said that the economic promises of the deal had never materialized.

Meanwhile, China continues to press Vietnam on BRI participation.

Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and met with Xi on October 20. Xi urged Vietnam to "move more quickly to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative."

When visiting Hanoi this week, Xi is expected to urge Vietnam to embrace BRI, according to experts.

Xi arrives in Vietnam on Tuesday for a two-day visit. Xiong, Beijing's ambassador, said China was ready to offer Vietnam grants to boost the railway between Kunming and the Vietnamese port city of Haiphong and other transport links from southern China to Hanoi, according to the official Vietnamese state paper Tuoi Tre.

I would not be surprised if Vietnam accepts one or two small projects that affect Chinas economy more than they affect Vietnams, said Hiebert.

The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry did not respond to VOAs request for comment on the possibility of receiving grants from China. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh last month expressed support for the Kunming-Haiphong rail upgrade.

The distrust that most Vietnamese people feel toward China also comes from historical experiences, as reflected in ASEANs State of Southeast Asia survey. It found that two-thirds of Vietnamese respondents did not trust China's Global Security Initiative.

But infrastructure development cooperation with China, according to Hiep, is a way for Vietnam to balance relations with Beijing in the context that Vietnam has just upgraded ties with the U.S. and its allies.

Vietnam made an unprecedented two-step upgrade with the U.S. to put Washington on par with Beijing as comprehensive strategic partners when U.S. President Joe Biden visited in September. Vietnam also elevated South Korea last year and Japan last month to be its top partners.

Vietnam will now feel that Biden has Hanois back if something goes wrong with a China-funded project in Vietnam, said Hiebert.

Improving relations with the U.S. and its allies is also part of an effort by Vietnam to diversify relations and reduce influence from Beijing, according to Hiebert.

Vietnam does not want to fall into the orbit of any superpower," he said.

However, while Vietnam's imports from China still account for about one-third of the country's total imports, reducing dependence on Beijing is "not simple," according to Hiep.

But upgrading relations with other countries and signing different FTAs [free trade agreements], in my opinion, is a necessary step to be able to create more favorable conditions in reducing dependence, in terms of trade with China in [the] long run, he said.
Amid high costs and geopolitical turmoil, many would-be international students are dissuaded from studying abroad. New online platforms, such as Educate Online, are promising "high-quality, zero-border education for a fraction of the cost."

Read more about Educate Online in this contributor piece published by Jon Stojan in USA Today. (December 2023) [[ ]]
This year marks the 55th anniversary of relations between Taiwan and the small landlocked country of Eswatini in the southern part of Africa. VOAs Nokukhanya Musi examines why Eswatini has continued to recognize the government of Taiwan instead of China when most countries have with Beijing.
South Africas Agricultural Business Chamber is calling for the early renewal of the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act, known as AGOA. The act allows some products from certain sub-Saharan countries duty-free access to the United States. Vicky Stark reports from Cape Town.
Abbas Ganbay

The separatist clan and revanchist groups supporting the non-existent republic of "artsakh", in and out of Armenia are still struggling to bring back the so-called regime. It is quite surprising that this initiative took place on the eve of taking steps for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Because when every time the negotiations end successfully, on the other hand, the mechanism of separatism comes into action again and tries to hinder the processes by any means or by the hands of foreign elements. This time, the pseudo-national assembly of the so-called regime has made stupid statements.

?A few months after the napalm of aggression pouring from different corners of the world in the propaganda of anti-Azerbaijani statements, the Armenian diaspora, which continues to serve its masters around the world, decided to go on a knife edge. The month started with important events as the parties (Armenia and Azerbaijan) resolved several important issues on the way to signing a peace treaty. The first bricks were laid for the establishment of the peace process in the South Caucasus. And to achieve the set goals, Azerbaijan and especially Armenia need to stick to the set path.

As there is no bad without good, Azerbaijan expects from the adherents of "chaos" all possible actions and statements directed against and hindering the achievement of the set goals. The statement itself says.

"In the history of Artsakh's national liberation struggle, the 1991 independence referendum is the cornerstone of the establishment of a republic based on self-determination and democratic principles. The 1991 independence referendum became the cornerstone on which the Republic of Artsakh was built and became the pride and beacon of victory for all Armenians. On the same day in 2006, at the referendum on the adoption of the Constitution, the people of Artsakh once again expressed their desire to have an independent state and to continue the path of struggle for freedom."

This statement bears the ground of aggression and revanchism, which refers to 19 September 2023 as military aggression on the part of Azerbaijan. We all remember well what pushed the separatist clan to keep Garabagh under occupation for decades, and we remember how the West wanted to freeze the Garabagh conflict.

The Garabagh issue is closed. Garabagh is Azerbaijan, and someone should work on it and accept the reality with eyes wide open." The Armenian National Assembly said in a statement that by committing genocide of the Armenian population, Azerbaijan forced the "Artsakh president" to sign the document as a precondition for the cessation of hostilities. Just as people who are heavily addicted to something cannot give it up, those who make such statements are like drug addicts who need a new dose of slander and propaganda.

Despite the separatist leader Arayik serving his sentence in Baku, his predecessors are still trying to seize Khankendi and restore their so-called regime. The only excuse for them is the "oppressed people" whose rights they sweat to protect.

On the other hand, all this is grist to the mill of the pro-Western forces who want to freeze the conflict in the South Caucasus. Because for them, all these activities aim at best to slow down the peace process, and at worst to stop it completely.

To sign a peace treaty between the countries, Armenia needs a strong and independent government in Yerevan that can make a reasonable decision for itself and the entire nation. The past cannot be brought back, but the present can still be changed and a strong foundation of trust and relations between the countries can be built.

Why was this statement passed by the authorities of Yerevan, when there is an opportunity to put an end to the suffering and wars between the countries?

We remember well that scam when pro-Western clans tried to prolong the conflict in the South Caucasus at the hands of separatists, either by blocking the leading roads to the town of Khankandi and its blockade by separatists, or by periodically deploying military forces near the borders with Azerbaijan. It is important to note that Azerbaijan called on Armenia to solve everything peacefully, without bloodshed and losses, and offered to reintegrate the Armenian inhabitants of Garabagh into Azerbaijan.

It is important to remember that Armenia needs its citizens now, since, according to the Chairman of the "Democratic Consolidation" party Suren Petrosyan, according to official statistics, more than 17,000 people who voluntarily moved from Garabagh to Armenia have already left the country. Consequently, some parties are still trying to blame the internal problems on the neighbour (Azerbaijan) and do not accept the reality as it is.

Along with this news, a Western face with sheer aggression towards Baku has also appeared. This is the chairman of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur regional council Renaud Muselier. The remaining aggressive Armenians from the national assembly could not do without their French sister. The support came in handy. You can directly observe the Unification attack.

"To entrust the organisation of COP29 (UN Climate Change Conference 2024 - ed.) to Azerbaijan would be a disgrace to the international community, an insult to Armenians, to Artsakh and an admission of failure in the climate struggle.

I will resist this with all my strength!"

Renaud Muselier, Chairman of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur Regional Council, instead of judging Azerbaijan's hosting of an international event, would do well to clean up the dung pile in front of his office. If Muselier doesn't think about lowering taxes and abating inflated fertiliser prices the farmers might one day feed him that manure. So his real fear should first start in front of his office.

To remind the pro-revanchist and pro-separatist French official, the Eastern European Regional Group has identified Azerbaijan as the country that will host the COP in 2024.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan has joined the fight against global climate change by becoming a party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Azerbaijan intends to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases by 35 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. After 2030, a more ambitious goal is set to reduce greenhouse gases by 40 percent by 2050.

Azerbaijan has offered to host the conference in Baku. Along with Azerbaijan, Armenia and Bulgaria have nominated their candidatures. On 7 December 2023, in a joint statement issued after direct negotiations between the Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Armenia withdrew its candidacy in favour of Azerbaijan.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim named several new ministers on Tuesday as part of a minor reshuffle of his cabinet.

In a televised address, Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the move is to make adjustments to meet the current demands and address challenges in economic development and issues affecting the people, including the cost of living.

Mohamad Hasan, who was previously the defense minister, will now head the foreign ministry. Among key portfolios with new faces are a second minister for the finance ministry, with Amir Hamzah Azizan filling the role, and Dzulkefly Ahmad who returns as the health minister, a post he previously held from 2018 to 2020.

Two ministries have been restructured, namely the Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Ministry, split into the Energy Transition and Public Utilities Ministry and the Natural Resources and Sustainability Ministry, and the Communications and Digital Ministry, split into the Communications Ministry and the Digital Ministry. 
All the quotations in this article were written or spoken in the last two months.

We all know that supremacist ideologies give rise to unheard-of massacres.

In recent years, we have witnessed the genocide of the Tutsis by Hutu Power, or that of the Yazidis by Daesh. In both cases, the aim was not to get rid of political opponents, but to physically eliminate a population group deemed non-human.

Over the past two months, many Israeli personalities have equated all Palestinians with the crimes of Hamas, and shown their contempt for their people as a whole. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has called them "human animals". Some personalities have concluded that the war must be "total".

For example:

 MP Nissim Vaturi (Likud), Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, wrote on X "All this preoccupation with whether or not there is Internet in Gaza shows that we havent learned anything. We are too human (...) Burn Gaza now, nothing less! Dont let in any fuel, dont let in any water until the hostages are back!

 Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said: "We are very happy for the return of the freed hostages, but now the idea of a truce has gained ground.

To agree to stop [the war] any further would be a terrible mistake that only shows weakness (...) We must sever all ties and negotiations with Hamas and the mediators and only look at the enemy through the scope of a rifle".

 Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu told Radio Kol Berama that Israel was considering using atomic weapons in Gaza: "its a solution... its an option". He then compared the residents of the Gaza Strip to "Nazis", assuring that "there are no non-combatants in Gaza" and that the territory does not deserve humanitarian aid. "There are no uninvolved people in Gaza".

On this ideological basis, Israeli and European leaders first evoked the "dream" of the "revisionist Zionists" - i.e., the followers of Ukrainian Vladimir Jabotinski (1880-1940) -: the forced expulsion of all Palestinians or their massacre.

Heres how this crime was prepared:

 MP Eliyahu Revivo (Likud) has written to the Appointments Committee to ensure that the word Gaza no longer corresponds to any place or appears on any signpost.

According to him, "There is no doubt that the name Gaza is immediately associated with a negative and evil connotation".

 On October 13, the Minister of Intelligence, Gila Gamliel, drafted a memorandum for the attention of the coalition government (no opposition minister had joined it by then). Entitled Alternatives to a political directive for the civilian population in Gaza, it advocated expelling the 2.2 million Gazans to the Egyptian Sinai [1]. Leaked on October 29, the Prime Ministers Office assured foreign journalists that Gila Gamliel was an unimportant minister who would write anything to get press.

 A personal friend of the Prime Minister, Amir Weitman, wrote a report for the Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy entitled Plan for the Resettlement and Definitive Rehabilitation in Egypt of the Entire Population of Gaza: Economic Aspects [2]. In it, he estimates the cost of forcibly relocating Gazas population to Sinai at around $8 billion. This Likudnik also considers Russia to be solely responsible for the ongoing massacres.

 General Giora Eiland, former National Security Advisor to Ariel Sharon, declared at the end of October: "Gaza must become a place where no human being can live, and I say this as a means rather than an end. I say it because there is no other option to ensure the security of the Israeli state. We are fighting a war that threatens our very existence.

 On November 14, two members of parliament, Danny Danon (Likud) and Ram Ben-Barak (Yesh Atid), published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal [3]. In it, they wrote: "Europe has a long history of helping refugees fleeing conflict (...) The international community can work together to provide one-time funding for support programs for Gazans interested in moving. It can help with moving costs and integration. All we need is for a handful of nations to share the responsibility of welcoming Gazan residents. Even if these countries received only 10,000 each, it would help to alleviate the crisis.

 The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, visits Cairo on November 18.

She first tried to persuade Egypt to open its border and give asylum to the 2.2 million Gazans. Then, faced with General President Al-Sissis refusal, she proposed setting up a gigantic camp to temporarily house the Gazans in Sinai, while they were transferred to other countries, including Germany and France.

 On November 19, Gila Gamliel returned to the fray, publishing an op-ed in the Jerusalem Post [4], in which she wrote: "Some world leaders are already discussing a global refugee resettlement program and say they would welcome Gazans in their countries. This could be supported by many countries around the world, especially those who claim to be friends of the Palestinians (...) We need to try something new, and we call on the international community to help make it happen. It could be a win-win solution: a victory for the civilians of Gaza [sic] who are looking for a better life, and a victory for the Hebrew state after this devastating tragedy".

However, the images of the massacre broadcast live on social networks have aroused the indignation of 95% of Internet users. 20,000 Palestinians were killed, if we add up the bodies found and the bodies of the missing, still under the rubble. The Biden administration, which is supplying the bombs to kill them, has been forced to claim that it is putting pressure on the Israeli government to "show restraint". Rhetoric that doesnt match deeds, since the IDF has no bombs in advance and Washington continues to supply them. However, as the US presidential election campaign gets underway, Joe Biden will at some point be forced to halt deliveries and thus stop the massacre, for lack of weapons to continue it. Israeli leaders are therefore considering that the Palestinians will stay at home and that a government will have to be appointed for them, knowing that Hamas will have to be excluded.

Two options are being considered:

 Set up a provisional international administration, under a UN mandate

However, no state is willing to deploy troops wearing the UN blue helmet, or to manage the Palestinian Territories.

- Creating a Palestinian administration

 The Abbas governments former Minister of State for Security, Mohamed Dahlan, exiled in the United Arab Emirates, is making the rounds of Arab TV studios.

He is clearly a candidate to lead a "renewed Palestinian Authority" (sic). He has sent his deputy from the "Democratic Reform Bloc", Samir al-Mashharawi, to meet a Hamas delegation in Cairo. An agreement was reached.

 President Mahmoud Abbas is also a candidate for his own succession. However, the ambiguity of his position in the face of the massacre makes him even less legitimate today than he was before the massacre.

Incidentally, if the Palestinian Territories are maintained, many Israeli leaders want to gradually colonize them.

 Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Minister of National Security, declared in an interview with Kan Sunday public radio: "After the Gush Katif settlements were evacuated [in 2005], the world changed; reality changed (...) What we need here is an occupation. Every time our enemies have lost territory, theyve lost the war. We should have total control; that will deter our enemies, let them know weve won and that were allowing residents to return home. Im not afraid of Israelis resettling in Gaza.

 Yoav Kisch, the Minister of Education, said he would not rule out a scenario in which he would rebuild settlements in the Gaza Strip. A bill has been tabled in the Knesset to restore Israelis right of free movement in the Gaza Strip. The unity government has tested this issue with several allied states. It seems that they would express their dissatisfaction, but would not break their ties with the "Jewish State".

 Bezalel Smotrich, the Finance Minister in charge of civil administration in the West Bank, has called for the creation of security zones around West Bank settlements. This strategy could eventually lead to their expansion.

Obviously, not all Israelis support the blindness and fury of their leaders.

 The Prime Ministers Office refuses to work with the military team in charge of repairing the infrastructure. The team is commanded by General Roni Numa, who has filed a petition with the Supreme Court against the "reform" of the countrys fundamental laws, which he has described as a "coup detat".

 The Minister of Information, Distel Atbaryan, resigned, refusing to swallow any more bullshit. The IDF continues to censor the Israeli press in connection with the war, including on unrelated political issues.

 The Prime Minister banned all demonstrations in support of the civilian population of Gaza.

An Israeli Arab organization, Adalah, and the Hadash party took the case to the High Court.

 Inhabitants of Kafr Aqab, a neighborhood in East Jerusalem where the Israeli government hoped to confine the capital of a possible Palestinian state, were locked in after 5pm.

 The Minister of Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, attacked three Israeli Arab judges. In his view, they had not sufficiently condemned Maisa Abdel-Had, an actress who had expressed her solidarity with the people expelled from East Jerusalem; against an old man who denounced the conditions of incarceration of Palestinian prisoners; or refused to divulge the name of a defendant accused of being pro-Hamas.

 A Civics and History teacher, the Jewish pacifist Meir Baruchin, was arrested and imprisoned by the Shin Bet for publishing a tweet listing the names and ages of six young Palestinians, aged 14 to 24, killed in Gaza with the words: "They were born under the occupation. Lived there all their lives. They never knew a single day of freedom. They were executed by our wonderful boys".

 MPs Aida Touma-Sliman (Hadash-Taal) and Iman Khatib-Yassin (United Arab List) were suspended from the Knesset with salary deductions.

They had observed that crimes attributed to Hamas were in fact Israeli collateral victims of the IDF.

To wage its war, the emergency government was forced to mobilize almost all Jews (not Arabs) of fighting age. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was afraid that some would revolt and refuse to obey criminal orders. Thats why he set up a new target designation procedure within the IDF in advance. In the past, the staff would struggle to choose a hundred targets a day. Officers had to be careful to limit collateral damage. From now on, no one chooses the targets - they are selected by software. There is no human responsibility, and therefore no one to oppose criminal orders. The machine selects five hundred a day. It no longer informs us of possible collateral damage. The less we know, the better it works.

Images have just been posted on social networks.

They show Palestinians who have been arrested by the IDF. These men were arrested because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Perhaps a Hamas member got mixed up with them. They are in their underwear, without shoes, on their knees under the guns that threaten them. They were then taken, still without clothes, in dump trucks to interrogation centers. Attorney General Galia Baharav-Miara authorized their detention for 60 days without access to a doctor or lawyer. After 60 days, it will no longer be possible to find any traces of their torture.
Photo: Arturo Holmes/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images

Before The Color Purple (out December 25) committed Fantasia Barrinos performance as Celie to film, if you wanted to hear her rendition of the musicals showstopper Im Here, you had to turn to YouTube bootlegs of her stint on Broadway. One of those videos, capturing her closing-night performance of the number, has taken on a life of its own thanks to the commentary throughout from the audience member filming  most famously their repeated use of the phrase Take your time, Tasia!

At a screening hosted by The Hollywood Reporter, we asked Barrino about that emotional final performance and if she was at all familiar with the now iconic Take your time, Tasia! line. No! What is it? she asked, before recalling why she needed to take her time. Ah, that was my last night  When you saw me taking those pauses, it was because I needed it. I was trying to sing my way through, and Celies [way through]. It felt like I was carrying two crosses, mine and hers. Thats heavy. So when they called me to play it again, I was like, Im not sure, you guys. She added that shes so glad she ultimately did. Celies not the same woman that I remember on Broadway.

Also taking its time was Barrinos plane to New York, where she was scheduled to do press all this week. After canceled flights left her stranded in Los Angeles, a call from Queen Oprah saved the day. She was congratulating me on the [Golden Globe] nomination, and I was like, Oh, I miss you guys so much, Im not in New York. And shes like, Wait, what? After explaining the situation, Winfrey sprung into action. She says, Give me a second. And sure enough, by the end of that same day, Barrino was in New York. And how was Oprahs plane? It was good!
Photo: Miguel Martinez/TNS via ZUMA Press

The RICO trial against six defendants in the group YSL, including Young Thug, has been delayed until January after one defendant, Shannon Stilwell, was stabbed in jail. A Georgia judge told jurors on December 11 that given the length of time it would take to respond to the incident, it may be more prudent to break for holidays now, Atlantas Fox 5 reported. Stilwell was stabbed at Fulton County Jail in Georgia on December 10, leading the trial to be paused the following day. Officials told Fox 5 Stillwells condition was stable. He is alive, Stillwells lawyer, Max Schardt, told the New York Times. But I fear that it was serious. The Fulton County Sheriffs Office said Stillwell had been stabbed by Willie Brown, another inmate being held without bond on charges including murder, cruelty to children, and aggravated assault.

The judge presiding over the case, Urall Glanville, first said yesterday that the trial would be delayed after a medical issue with a defendant. Once court adjourned, Glanville filed orders allowing Schardt to visit Stillwell in the hospital and requesting Glanville be separated from other defendants at all times. Schardt had additionally told Pitchfork that he believed Stillwell has a target on his back due to the false allegations in this RICO indictment.

The YSL defendants trial began at the end of November after months of delays. Prosecutors are arguing the group, which Young Thug has said was a music collective, is a gang under the name Young Slime Life. Along with the RICO charge, Stillwell is facing two murder counts, including in a 2015 drive-by shooting of a rival gang member thats central to prosecutors case. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images

All the girls will commend as long as they understand

That Im fighting for the girls that never thought they could win

Cause before they could begin, you told em it was the end

But I am here to reverse the curse that they live in

 Im the Best (2010)

Who the fuck told bitches they was me now?

I knew these bitches was slow, I aint know these bitches senile

Married a shooter case you niggas tried to breathe loud

Boom your face off, then I tell him cease fire

 Red Ruby Da Sleeze (2023)

Nicki Minaj arrived in a rough patch for women in rap. The mid-aughts had been a bloodbath. Lil Kim and Remy Ma went to jail. Foxy Brown lost her hearing and Def Jam deal. Eve pivoted to television. Why isnt there a female rapper turned mogul?, Nicki asked in Nicki Minaj: My Time Now, a 2010 MTV documentary about her debut album, Pink Friday. Hip-hop has always had a finite number of positions of power open to women. Nicki adapted in the way they often get a foot in the door: She out-rapped a lot of men, stealing the show from the murderers row of titans featured on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasys Monster. Pink Friday landed a month later, minting her as a many-headed menace. She could do bubbly love songs and diabolical diss tracks, and, like the Diplomats, favored kooky samples. She scrambled the circuits of pop fans who werent used to the staged wig removal of Romans Revenge and ruffled the feathers of hip-hop heads uncomfortable with all the singing on Save Me and Your Love. Its been this way for her ever since, opposing factions tugging her in equal and opposite directions.

Pink Friday 2 hyper-focuses on everything going wrong for someone with a lot to celebrate.

More recently, Nicki has thrived on chaos, and years of disputes with women whose careers have sprung up in her wake give Pink Friday 2, her fifth album, a more combative air than the work inspiring it. She has smoke with Latto for leaking their private conversation and the apparent haphazardness of the Grammys classifying Super Freaky Girl but not Big Energy as pop; Cardi B, a volatile schism dividing New York heavyweights and their affiliates and fandoms that no party can reasonably unpack; and, for whatever reason, Megan Thee Stallion. The quarrelsome bits of the album often slide because Nicki is a gifted rapper but also because she seems to relish making people squirm, a quality reinforced every time shes green-lit fans to go after someone or took time to press another rapper.

As queenships go, Nicki Minaj is running shit like Hillary Clinton. She ascended into rooms where women werent welcome, while earning intense criticism for hawkish foreign policy and devotion to a husband the audience doesnt trust. (Kenneth Petty, the childhood friend she married in 2019, was registered as a sex offender for a 1994 rape he served four years for; the accuser sued the couple in 2021, saying that they tried to strong-arm her into help with getting him off the registry.) As a new mother, she has also had her house swatted, validating the choice not to tell us much about her son, for whom we only have the nickname Papa Bear, a somewhat impressive feat for the TMZ era. Pink Friday 2 is grappling with all of this as much as it is gesturing to a beloved juncture in her journey. Theres a Bonnie and Clyde air that didnt exist when she was dating Safaree or Meek Mill. But no one with sensible or psychotic reasons to hate her has been successful at getting her out of the paint. Pink Friday 2 wants you to know that. It wants you to feel like all the other brands are knockoffs.

Barbie Dangerous  built around a loop of Life After Deaths Notorious Thugs, a New York staple  quickly identifies one of the albums core themes: Hit the road, E-X-I-T / My flow, they B-I-T / Shots thrown but I-D-C / Go home or do it B-I-G / My throne, they cant S-I-T / My crown, you cant F-I-T. The sentiment surfaces at unlikely moments. Cowgirl, a sex rap on a Dr. Luke track, lets one off at random: Copycats crunchy like a apple / Excuse me, what I gotta do to show these bitches dont amuse me? Red Ruby Da Sleeze, the hit Lumidee flip, contrasts a sweet hook with tough verses: When the queen leave, bitches wanna come out like a cockroach / Until Im cookin in the kitchen like a pot roast / That new Spectre, we dont fill potholes / Dorito bitches mad that they nachos. Megan Thee Stallion appeared in the chip companys Super Bowl ad in 2022, and there is speculation shes the subject of the Stay in your Tory Lane, bitch, Im not Iggy line in the Waka Flocka Flamesampling FTCU. Much like Drakes For All the Dogs, Pink Friday 2 hyper-focuses on everything going wrong for someone with a lot to celebrate, who hasnt gone without a top-ten hit in 12 of the last 13 years.

When it isnt feeding its appetite for destruction, Pink Friday 2 can be soft and reflective, inviting us to survey Nickis triumphs and tragedies. Opener Are You Gone Already laments Papa Bear never getting to meet her father, Robert Maraj, who was killed in a hit-and-run in 2021. Closer Just the Memories painfully touches on an addiction developed after being prescribed Percocet for cramps: I couldve overdosed, couldve been comatosed / Wait, hold on, Juice, I feel the baby kickin, holy smokes. The last line in the albums final verse  If they ask about me, tell em I was one of one  ponders her future legacy the way Pink Fridays Dear Old Nicki reflects on the past. A sequel doesnt need to re-create all the unique conditions of the original work. It only has to give greater scope and development to the characters we met the first time. Pink Friday 2 says Nicki is under scrutiny and dogged by competitors but still able to joust in any setting. She can preen over Blondie and Cyndi Lauper tracks. She can go bar for bar with Lil Wayne over slick crossover fodder like RNB. She can sing faith-based devotionals alongside gospel legend Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and reference classic riddims with dancehall stars Skillibeng and Skeng.

But if Pink Friday 2 feels somewhat observant of modern mainstream rap-album conventions  making sure to stuff its 22 tracks with samples that arent difficult to clock and tying East Coast radio rap, Southern trap, R&B, and Northeast club music to their international siblings in the Black musical diaspora  its partly because the first installment helped to enshrine some of these ideas as trends for a notable swath of listeners born after the 90s. Nicki Minaj tipped the scales; she can talk shit about having to come up in conversations with people who studied her. And though she arrived a hair too early for Your Love and Starships to fly uncontested, she ended up building some of the infrastructure a new wave of women are standing on, all while men who grew up jacking off to the Lil Kim poster demand Lauryn Hill levels of righteousness and sophistication that male rappers can skirt and even ignore.

Several things can be true. Pervasive sexism in every crevice of hip-hop and the unfair and unreasonable expectations that it inspires will always make rap a powder keg business for women. But this does not excuse anyone from wielding their fandom like bullets in the chamber of a gun. Infighting only reinforces the notion that only so many women can have a spot in the industry. It is, however, longstanding hip-hop tradition to come for whomever, whenever, and as much as it worsens relations, frankly, its New York as fuck, too. A common side effect of that Big Apple audaciousness is a reputation for querulousness and divisiveness. Its the quality that gives everyone from 50 Cent and Camron to Eric Adams and Donald Trump a sense of place. It can be a gift  U mad!  and a curse  Sad! From the White House to the corner store, hurt feelings are politics as usual. Its not Nicki Minajs job to make friends with everyone while being picked apart about her age in a field where we talk a big game about honoring men in their 40s and 50s, right? Nicki is a queen for her time, a period of growing unrest and uncorked insensitivity.

But with Young Thug lyrics being used to frame his clique as a murderous criminal organization, is it smart business for anyone in this line of work with a lot to lose to be talking freely about shooters and bodies and cases? Who can trust that this rhetoric will always fall on reasonable and discerning ears? When Kim got locked up, banter on records graduated into real violence. Foxy Brown sent (rhetorical) shots in Capone-N-Noreagas Bang, Bang, and an associate of Kims fired a (literal) gun at Capone outside Hot 97 in 2001. She refused to snitch, and her major-label career never recovered from her time on the sideline. You entertain the darkest outcomes when you chat the wildest shit. (Who suffers when rap beef explodes? Spoiler: everyone.) As much fun as Pink Friday 2s haughtiest lines can be, just as often, they divert attention from the meat of what kept Nicki Minaj afloat in the years where so many women like her toiled toward greater recognition in rap, the sentiment her 2009 mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty expressed beautifully in Still I Rise: They dont understand, these labels look at numbers and statistics / I lose, you lose, ma, its just logistics / Anyway, real bitches listen when Im speaking / Cause if Nicki win, then all of yall gettin meetings. Would the person who tore Lil Kim a new one for dismissing a younger artist in Romans Revenge care for the version of herself using that songs you play the back line to flex on her ability to have her detractors shot? Pink Friday 2 exchanges some of the first albums manicured pop rap for strife, turning in a different assignment than the one that was expected. The music drips with the annoyed realization that running a kingdom means building and defending walls.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated when Meg Thee Stallions Doritos Super Bowl commercial aired and when Nicki Minaj and her husband were sued.

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MANILA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' total external trade in goods declined by 9.8 percent in October 2023 to 16.9 billion U.S. dollars from 18.74 billion dollars in October 2022, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Tuesday.

Of the total external trade in October, the agency said 62.3 percent were imported goods, while the rest were exported goods.

The PSA said the balance of trade in goods or the difference between export and import value in October amounted to -4.17 billion dollars, indicating a trade deficit with an annual increase of 26 percent.

China was the Philippines' largest supplier of imported goods, valued at 2.6 billion dollars, or 24.7 percent of the country's total imports in October.

The United States contributed the highest export value in October, with 1.02 billion dollars or 16 percent of the total exports. China came third with 880.37 million dollars or 13.8 percent of the total. 
Jesolo hosts 12 giant sand sculptures this Christmas

Sculptors from around the world return to Jesolo, a seaside resort near Venice in north-east Italy, for an annual sand festival dedicated to religious art.

The 2023 edition of the popular event, celebrating its 21st year, can be visited until 4 February 2024.

On display are 12 monumental sculptures, made entirely of sand, depicting Nativity scenes as well as messages of peace.

The 14 participating sculptors from around the world have used thousands of tons of compacted sand to create their masterpieces which appear to be carved from stone.

Instead the works have been created with the most ephemeral of materials - without a drop of glue used - relying only on skill and water.

Sand artists at work in Jesolo. Photo Comune di Jesolo.

This year's event is dedicated to the first living Nativity created by St Francis in Greccio 800 years ago, co-ordinated by new artistic director David Ducharme from Canada.

Ducharme takes over from American Richard Varano, the festival's long-serving artistic director who gained global recognition in 2018 when he oversaw the creation of a giant sand Nativity scene at St Peter's Square in the Vatican.

Founded in 2002, the Jesolo event has welcomed more than 1.7 million visitors over the last two decades, raising over 800,000 for international charities and local associations.

For more information about the festival and for visiting details see the Jesolo Sand Nativity website.

Cover photo: Detail of Nativity (2021) by Susanne Marguerite, David Ducharme and Marielle Heessels. Image Comune di Jesolo - Avvenire.
American marching bands, cheerleaders and folk musicians celebrate New Year's Day with a major parade in Rome.

More than 2,000 performers including some of America's best-known high school marching bands will stage a parade in central Rome on 1 January 2024 to celebrate New Year's Day.

The annual free event involves US marching bands and majorettes joining forces with renowned Italian musical folk groups, street artists and historical re-enactors.

Beginning in Piazza del Popolo at 15.30, the parade will run along Via del Corso, Via Condotti, Piazza di Spagna and Via del Babuino in a colourful extravaganza lasting three hours.

For full details see Rome Parade website. Photos Rome Parade.
This photo taken on Dec. 4, 2023 shows a view of the Gwadar port in southwest Pakistan's Gwadar. (Xinhua/Tang Binhui)

by Misbah Saba Malik, Tang Binhui, Wang Huan

GWADAR, Pakistan, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Arifa Haleem, a resident of Pakistan's southwest Gwadar district, has witnessed a prolonged struggle in her community with the scarcity of clean drinking water since her childhood until a desalination plant, a generous gift from China, brought about a transformative change in her life.

The coastal district of Gwadar faces an ongoing challenge due to the salinity of its water source, which poses difficulties for the local population. However, the plant under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has solved the longstanding issue.

Launched in 2013, CPEC, the flagship project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is a corridor linking Gwadar port with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, highlighting energy, transport, and industrial cooperation.

It had been a long desire of local residents to drink clean water. The Chinese brought happiness to the lives of the Pakistani people who will not only benefit from the plant but also deem it as the sweetest gesture from Chinese friends, Haleem told Xinhua.

The plant is set to provide 5,000 tons of potable water daily to the residents of Gwadar, alleviating the water shortage.

Ghazanfar Ali, the health and safety engineer at the project, said that the lack of clean water in Gwadar has adversely affected both daily life and agriculture.

"The inherently fertile land of Gwadar has been underutilized due to water scarcity, limiting employment opportunities. With the advent of the seawater desalination plant, residents here can now harness the fertility of the land, cultivating small areas around their homes to grow a variety of crops," he added.

"The seawater desalination plant is designed in a modern way to get the most out of it by consuming very little energy," he said, adding that because of the use of energy-saving devices, natural process has been given more importance.

The old fishing town of Gwadar was now being transformed into a modern port city under CPEC, which not only brought investment and business to Pakistan, but also improved the lives of the Gwadar people through various donations.

Apart from the plant, China has also helped the people of Gwadar by upgrading an existing 50-bed hospital into a 150-bed medical facility.

The Chinese government and people have provided medical equipment, including emergency departments, outpatient departments, inpatient departments, medical technological departments, and administration and support systems for the hospital.

Talking to Xinhua, Muhammad Zubair, a Pakistani engineer at the "China-Pakistan Friendship Hospital" project, said it has provided Gwadar residents with comprehensive medical services and one-stop medical solutions, especially in the diagnosis and treatment of complicated diseases.

"Previously Gwadar people had to travel hundreds of miles to get good medical facilities in big cities of the province, but after the inauguration of the friendship hospital, many facilities have been made available in Gwadar, which will save many lives and bring comfort to the lives of the residents," he said.

In the arid landscapes of Gwadar, the plant and the hospital have not only quenched the long-standing thirst for clean water and improved medical infrastructure, but also revitalized the community's agricultural prospects, showcasing the fruits of bilateral cooperation under CPEC in addressing basic needs and uplifting socio-economic development of the region. 

This photo taken on Dec. 4, 2023 shows a view of the Gwadar port in southwest Pakistan's Gwadar. (Xinhua/Tang Binhui)

This photo taken on Dec. 4, 2023 shows a view of the Gwadar port in southwest Pakistan's Gwadar. (Xinhua/Tang Binhui)

This photo taken on Dec. 4, 2023 shows a staff member fetching desalinated water at the China-donated seawater desalination plant in Gwadar, Pakistan. (Xinhua/Tang Binhui)

This photo provided by the Gansu Construction Investment (Holdings) Group Co., Ltd. shows a view of the Pak-China Friendship Hospital in Gwadar, Pakistan, Nov. 6. 2023. (Xinhua)
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In a room of the Museum of Australian Photography thats adorned with large-format prints of his work, Murray Fredericks is being accosted by an endless stream of admirers, all eager to tell him how much his abstract landscapes speak to them. Im not necessarily comfortable being the focus of attention, he tells me. Its a bit out of place for a landscape photographer, I can tell you. Fredericks is a tall, fit, ruggedly handsome 53-year-old, somewhere between adventurer and, in this space at least, rock star. The fans have come for the opening of the largest retrospective of his work yet. But while its called The Salt Lake in reference to the abstract landscapes created over 33 visits to Lake Eyre over the past 20-odd years, the exhibition also includes a bunch of images that are striking for how little they resemble the pictures that have made him one of the countrys most acclaimed artists. These are far more traditional prints of mountain ranges, many in black and white, captured in Ladakh and Patagonia and south-west Tasmania at the start of the career he embarked upon in his late 20s after graduating with a degree in politics and economics. That was really the formative work, he says. I wasnt trying to push the bounds of landscape photography, I was trying to master what I thought landscape photography was  technically, aesthetically, compositionally, setting up my way of working.

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Loading To capture the shots of the Arthur Range in south-western Tasmania, he hiked in with all his food, his tent and sleeping gear, and a bellows camera. The starting weight of my pack when I headed off was around 43 or 44 kilos, he says. The heaviest I ever went in with was 50 kilos. It was, he says, overly ambitious. I only recall taking one of those black and white shots, and I can remember almost every shot Ive ever taken. But because I was trying to bushwalk  as in get from A to B in a certain time  and to photograph at the same time, that didnt work. Thats pure exhaustion. What those early forays taught him was the value of preparation and patience, which now informs every aspect of his practice. Im hauling equipment up to a point, and then Im going to rest, and Im going to sit there until something happens, he says. Typically, hell give it three days. But once hes invested that much time, its tempting to stretch to four or five. Some of the most pleasurable moments in my life are sitting in locations just waiting for the weather to clear, because its just a pure break. Theres no demands on you. Taking the black and white Tasmanian shots out of storage 20 years after he last looked at them was really lovely, he says, and has prompted his next project. In January, he will head back to Tasmania for what he hopes will be the first of three long hikes into the wilderness over three months. Im going in with two of my four boys, Jackson and Finn, age 21 and 17. Im not sure if they know they have volunteered to help me with the weight, but they have. The challenge he has set for himself is to re-engage with a landscape that was such a formative influence on his craft, but this time through the lens (so to speak) of everything he has learnt in the decades since.

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Loading They are very literal shots, he says of those early pictures. So Im going in knowing thats what I cant do. The challenge is that its what I call a very traditional landscape, the landscape almost tells you what you can do there. But hell be doing his best to resist that diktat, using some new chromatic technology that turns any vegetation almost white. Fredericks says the landscape is just a tool to create an emotional response in the viewer. Credit: Joe Armao Whether desert or mountain, his aim is the same. Im obsessed with the nature of our medium, and the nature of photography is that the viewer assumes that it is true, he says. But his interventions in the landscape  whether through time-lapse, the blurring of horizon and sky, the use of mirrors or, in his recent Blaze series, the introduction of fire (in a controlled way, he hastens to add, that leaves the landscape unharmed)  are all about playing with the boundary between fact and fiction, in service of a greater truth.

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Contemporary artist Mike Parr says his most recent work of performance art has been completely obliterated in the wake of gallery owner Anna Schwartzs decision to end their professional relationship. A week after parting company with Parr, Schwartz has stepped down from the board of Gertrude Contemporary.

As part of his work Sunset Claws, which remains on display at the Anna Schwartz Gallery until December 16, Parr wrote a series of words while in a state of somnambulism.

Mike Parrs work Sunset Claws is currently on display at Anna Schwartz Gallery. Credit: Zan Wimberley via X

Schwartz has represented Parr for 36 years but dropped him after he painted the words Nazi and Israel during the performance. Parr acknowledges both words may appear in the work, but in an interview on ABCs Radio National on Tuesday morning he said: I never brought together the words Israel and Nazi.

Parr says the artwork drew on statements from the London Review of Books, related to the latest conflict in the Middle East.
Celeste Barbers Wellmania was the most-watched Australian series on Netflix for the first six months of the year. But the most-watched Australian title of any sort was True Spirit, the biopic about solo round-the-world teen sailor Jessica Watson.

Those results are among the insights revealed by Netflixs first publicly released engagement report, What We Watched, an enormous dataset that covers all titles on the platform that were watched for at least 50,000 hours between January 1 and June 30 this year.

Celeste Barber as Liv Healy in Wellmania. Credit: Netflix

Thats over 18,000 titles, and nearly 100 billion hours, capturing more than 99 per cent of all viewing on Netflix, the companys co-chief executive officer, Ted Sarandos, claimed on an early morning call to media on Wednesday.

Of the Australian top performers, True Spirit clocked up 56.7 million hours of viewing time globally between January 1 and June 30, which equates to roughly 31.2 million views of the 1 hour 49 minute movie. It was the 242nd most-watched title on the streamer over the period.


We spent an evening in South Geraldton this week. Actually, it was Hillarys, but it felt like it was far, far away.

We were oop norf for the VIP opening of the Hillarys Beach Club, a massive entertainment venue in a sharp looking new building overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Its that time of year again. So, have you locked in your NYE plans?

Its quite spectacular. There must have been 600 people at the knees-up. And we were overdressed.

When you go to a VIP launch of anything, you put in some effort, and there were some stylishly kitted out women (Erin Ardon looked as serene as ever, former ballerina Kat Hewer looked a million bucks in Scanlan Theodore, and marketing maven Katie Osborne was as radiant as ever and impeccably dressed), but there were also guys in T-shirts and beach shorts. There were even a few pairs of thongs slapping against the floor.
by Larry Neild

LONDON, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- China is one of the world's most advanced markets in terms of innovation and technology, said a senior official of ABB, a Swedish-Swiss electrification, energy and automation company.

The Chinese branch of ABB has made some world-class innovations that have been applied globally, said Tarak Mehta, president of ABB's Motion Business Area.

"We have ramped up quite significantly the research and development (R&D) resources to ensure that China's needs are met with local industry and the local technical capacity. We are investing more in R&D and ensuring that our supply chains are locally self-sufficient in China," he said.

Noting that December marks the first anniversary of the opening of a 150 million-U.S.-dollar robotics mega-factory of the company in Shanghai, Mehta said that around 15,000 of its 100,000-plus workforce are now located in China and ABB is already looking at what is next for its operations in the country.

"China is one of the most advanced markets in the world in terms of using digital capabilities of our products and deploying digital infrastructure. It's also the second most important market for ABB in terms of revenue, with a significant growth potential in the future," said Mehta, who is also a member of ABB's Group Executive Committee.

With a history dating back to the late 1800s, ABB has a tradition of focusing on innovation and technology, said Mehta, adding that there are more R&D engineers in China than there are in Switzerland where the company is headquartered and many of the innovations developed by ABB in China are being applied globally.

"Our colleagues in China have developed world-leading and world-class solutions. We are producing them for the world in China, not just for China. We have quite a bit of export out of China. It's a significant part of our motions business," said Mehta.

Highlighting ABB's role as one of the key enablers of a low-carbon world, he said the company is now committed to solutions that save energy, are more productive and consume less CO2.

"As we think about what are the challenges the world faces, certainly clean energy and ensuring that the future generations have a better place than what we have enjoyed. We will continue to make progress and hope that the future is brighter for the next generations. I sincerely hope we can work together in a way that the world has never needed to."

On the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, Mehta called on developed countries to do more to help developing countries deal with the challenges the planet is facing.

"While it's easy to point fingers at people who are just starting up on their development journey of their people, security, and increasing quality of life, people who don't have electricity should be supported to get clean electricity," he said. 
Photo taken on Dec. 12, 2023 shows the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant under construction in Mersin, Turkiye. Turkiye's Akkuyu Nuclear Company announced Tuesday that it had received permission from Turkish authorities to commission the first power unit of the country's first nuclear power plant being built by Russia. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

ANKARA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye's Akkuyu Nuclear Company announced Tuesday that it had received permission from Turkish authorities to commission the first power unit of the country's first nuclear power plant being built by Russia.

With the permission, the start-up, adjustment and operation processes, which are the final phase of the construction of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, can be started, according to a statement from the company.

The next stage is to obtain a license to operate the first power unit, which will allow them to begin loading nuclear fuel into the reactor and begin pre-launch control operations, said the statement.

"Currently, Akkuyu nuclear specialists continue to develop technical documentation for applying for a license," said the statement.

The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, currently under construction in the southern Mersin Province, will be operational for 60 years, plus a possible 20-year extension.

In 2010, Turkiye and Russia reached a deal to let Russian state company Rosatom build and operate the Akkuyu plant, which is designed with four nuclear reactor units, each with a capacity to generate 1,200 MW of electricity.

The construction began in 2018 and is scheduled to complete in 2026. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to produce 35 billion kWh of electricity annually to meet approximately 10 percent of domestic electricity needs. 

Photo taken on Dec. 12, 2023 shows the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant under construction in Mersin, Turkiye. Turkiye's Akkuyu Nuclear Company announced Tuesday that it had received permission from Turkish authorities to commission the first power unit of the country's first nuclear power plant being built by Russia. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)
KIEV, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- A massive cyber attack struck Ukraine's largest mobile phone operator Kyivstar on Tuesday, bringing down mobile communication and internet access across the country.

The Security Service of Ukraine said in a statement that it has opened criminal proceedings into the attack.

Russia's special services might be behind the attack, the Security Service of Ukraine said.

Oleksandr Komarov, Kyivstar's president, said that the IT infrastructure of the company was partially destroyed by the attack, the Economichna Pravda media outlet reported.

According to various media reports, the attack disrupted the work of ATM machines and pos-terminals in Ukraine.

It also affected the operation of air raid alert systems in more than 75 settlements in the Kiev region, the regional military administration said on Telegram.

Kyivstar provides services to over 24 million mobile customers and more than 1 million home Internet customers in Ukraine. 
Tusk to advocate clear stance on Russia-Ukraine war in Brussels 12 December, 05:40 PM Donald Tusk (Photo:Slawomir Kaminski/Agencja Gazeta via REUTERS)

Soon-to-be Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced his intention to visit Brussels to convince EU leaders to take a clear position on the Russia-Ukraine war in a speech at the Polish parliament on Dec. 12.

"I will go to Brussels with a justified hope that we will find ways, differently than it has been so far, to convince our allies to take a clear position for freedom, for republican values, and the defense of Ukraine from Russian aggression," Tusk said.

Together with Radosaw Sikorski, who has been nominated as Poland's new foreign minister, Tusk said he aims to assert Poland's international stance and actively support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

Video of day

Upon returning from Brussels, Tusk will visit Tallinn to meet with the prime ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war and border security.

"We will strengthen cooperation with countries that share our views on this issue," Tusk added.

Earlier, Tusk stressed the importance of continued assistance to Ukraine and called on the West to "fully mobilize." T

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is an attack on all of us and it should be spoken about with one voice and help unite allies, Tusk said.

The Polish Sejm (lower house of parliament) failed to pass a vote of confidence in the government of PM Mateusz Morawiecki on Dec. 11.

As the leader of the Civic Platform party and the coalition of opposition parties, Tusk is now highly likely to form a new government, ending the eight-year rule of the Law and Justice (PiS) party.

Read also: Europeans open to Ukraine joining EU according to latest survey

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High Court reporters

Enoch Burke looks set to remain in prison for Christmas after he refused in the High Court to give an undertaking to comply with a court order to stay away from the secondary school where he used to work.

The teacher, who has already spent 200 days in jail, was asked in the High Court on several occasions by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey on Tuesday if he was prepared to comply with an order to stay away from Wilson's Hospital School, Co Westmeath.

The teacher said compliance with the order would be like "giving up" his religious beliefs and an endorsement of transgenderism.

During the hearing on Tuesday, Mr Burke and members of his family were directed by the judge to leave the courtroom for interrupting the court.

The judge rose from the bench five times during the hearing.

Mr Burke and his family voiced their strong criticisms of several judges who have considered and ruled on aspects of the ongoing legal battle, as well as lawyers representing the school board. The media was also criticised by members of the Burke family.

In submissions to the court, Enoch Burke said he is in prison because of decisions made by various judges.

He said that he has now spent over 200 days in prison with drug dealers and murderers over his refusal to accept a direction from the school to address a student by a different pronoun.

Purge contempt

Mr Justice Sanfey told the teacher that the court was only concerned with whether the teacher was prepared to purge his contempt and give an undertaking to stay away from the school, which would secure his release.

Mr Justice Sanfey also told Mr Burke that he "didn't like being talked over" as it was "disrespectful to the court".

Mr Burke said he had a right to make submissions to the court, continuing with his criticisms of various parties, and asked the court if it was concerned about judges "who should not be" in the positions they held, questioning their appointments and promotions.

The judge said Mr Burke may well have issues regarding decisions made by other members of the bench in relation to the dispute. He added there are other forums where such concerns could be addressed, but said Tuesday's review of his imprisonment for contempt was not one of them.

Counsel for the school board, Rosemary Mallon Bl, who rejected the personal criticisms made by Mr Burke, said her client was "reluctantly" asking the court to maintain the 'status quo' by keeping Mr Burke in prison until he is prepared to abide by the order to stay away from the school.

The judge, who said it was clear that Mr Burke was not prepared to comply with the court's order, ruled that the teacher remain incarcerated until he is prepared to purge his contempt.

Mr Burke can come to court at any time and give undertakings that will secure his release, the judge added.

'Orchestrated campaign'

The judge said Mr Burke and members of his family had engaged in an orchestrated campaign designed to disrupt the proceedings before him.

Such behaviour, as well as the flagrant breach of court orders, the judge added, "won't be tolerated".

The matter was adjourned to a date in February for a further review.

Mr Burke was jailed for the second time last September after the school's board asked the court for orders to jail the teacher over his deliberate failure to comply with a permanent injunction restraining him from attending the school granted by Mr Justice Owens in July.

The board claimed Mr Burke had attended Wilson's Hospital School's campus every day since the 2023-2024 school year commenced in August.

The school board alleges that Mr Burke's presence at the school had caused "severe disruption for staff and students". That claim is denied.

In September, Mr Justice Mark Heslin ruled that Mr Burke had "flagrantly breached" the orders requiring him to stay away from the school and ordered that he be committed to prison "indefinitely," until he purges his contempt.

Mr Burke, who is separately appealing a decision by the school to dismiss him from his post as a German and History teacher, has argued that he is in prison because of his opposition to 'transgenderism', and that Mr Justice Owens' order is invalid.

Mr Burke has also accused the court of failing to recognise his constitutional rights to religious freedom, and that those rights were breached when the school instructed him to refer to a male student by a different pronoun.

During his first stint behind bars, he spent over 100 days in Mountjoy between September and December of last year.

Following his suspension from his position at the school in August 2022, Mr Burke was sued by the school over his failure to comply with a court order requiring him to stay away from the school.

Last December, he was released by Mr Justice O'Moore shortly before Christmas, without purging his contempt.

He again started attending the school campus after the Christmas holidays, and the High Court imposed a daily fine of 700 on Mr Burke.

He has also brought a challenge against the three-person panel appointed to hear his appeal against his dismissal from his teaching position.

Judgment is awaited in those separate proceedings against the panel.
Ukraine eliminates 9 of 15 drones, two Kh-59 missiles in Russias latest nighttime attack of Ukraine 12 December, 10:36 AM Shahed (Photo:Serhii Smolientsev/Reuters)

The Ukrainian military shot down nine out of fifteen of Russias Shahed drones overnight on Dec. 11-12, the Ukrainian Air Forces reported on Telegram.

Russian occupiers launched the attack from occupied Crimea, this time from the area of Balaklava. A total of 15 UAV launches were recorded, with nine of them being destroyed by units of mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces in various regions of Ukraine.

Two Kh-59 guided air missiles were destroyed by anti-aircraft missile units of the Eastern Air Command in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions on evening of Dec. 11.

Video of day

The Russian aggressors launched several groups of Shahed drones against Ukraine on the evening of Dec. 11. Reports mentioned drones in the areas of Uman and Khmelnytskyi, as well as in the Odesa Oblast.

Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility  to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth  consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.

Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of  from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
Cancer Care West is once again drawing attention to the huge demand for their services.

The charity provides practical and emotional support services to anyone whose life has been affected by a cancer diagnosis. In 2022, the charity provided support to over 2,700 people from their centres in Galway and Letterkenny and provided nearly 7,500 bed-nights at Inis Aoibhinn, their residential facility at Galway University Hospital for patients undergoing radiotherapy. Also, nearly 100 people availed of the free transport service provided by the charity. Overall, demand for all the services provided by the charity has increased, a predicted outcome following the pandemic and indicative of the growing need for cancer services in general.

Richard Flaherty, CEO of the charity, noted that the surge in demand for Cancer Care Wests services post-pandemic brought significant challenges.

Looking forward, we expect demand for our services will continue to increase, while the ongoing difficult economic conditions along with the increased cost of providing such specialised services means funding our work into the future will be a constant concern.

Meantime the charity continues to innovate and grow its services. One of their key highlights during the year was the rollout of the Children United in Bereavement Support (CUBS) programme, an eight-week intervention for children aged 7 to 12 whose parent has died from cancer. Another key highlight was the launch of a cancer-rehabilitation service, offered by their specially trained exercise physiologist at their purpose-built gym in their support centre on Seamus Quirke road. The charity also introduced an expressive writing programme, giving participants the opportunity to process their cancer diagnosis through the medium of the written word.

The All-Ireland Business Foundation (AIBF) last year recognised the vital work carried out by Cancer Care West when they named them the Connacht Charity of the Year. This major national honour was awarded in recognition of the exceptional services that the charity has provided to cancer patients and their families on the west coast of Ireland for over 25 years.

All of Cancer Care Wests services are provided free of charge. If you would like to know more about those services, drop into their Support Centre or call them on 091-540040. If you would like to donate to Cancer Care West, go to www.cancercarewest.ie/donate.
A man is in a critical condition in hospital following a fall from an e-scooter in Castlebar yesterday afternoon.

After being treated at the scene at Spencer Street, he was rushed to Mayo University Hospital.

Spencer Street was closed for a time following the incident but has since re-opened.

The victim, who is in his 50s and has an address in Castlebar, is being treated in the intensive care unit of Mayo University Hospital.

Gardai are investigating the circumstances of the incident.
A Ballinrobe councillor has questioned why pedestrian crossings are so expensive to install.

Cllr Michael Burke told last weeks meeting of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District that he cannot understand how it costs upwards of 30,000 to install a pedestrian crossing.

His comments came after Cllr Damien Ryan put forward a notice of motion calling on Mayo County Council to make an application to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the Department of Transport to install pedestrian crossings in Kilmaine and Shrule adjacent to the schools and in Ballinrobe on the R331 from Sli na Roba to Tesco. Cllr Ryan said there is a concern in both Kilmaine and Shrule as there are large volumes of traffic passing by both schools. He asked for a feasibility and options study to be carried out at three locations.

Cllr Burke supported Cllr Ryan before citing the cost of putting in these crossings.

I cant see how putting up two posts with flashing lights on top of them costs so much. Were not looking for ones where you have to press a button to stop the traffic because when I see flashing lights I expect someone to be standing there. Most of them are solar-powered and people are telling me this costs 30,000, Cllr Burke said.

Mayo Co Council's senior engineer Conrad Harley said the pedestrian crossing in Ballinrobe will be the easiest to complete because it ties in with adjacent Active Travel works there. The crossings in Kilmaine and Shrule are more difficult because they are on national roads so the coucnil has to carry out road safety audits with TII, which causes the costs to rise, along with road lining and ESB connection.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Partly sunny and pleasant; still a bit of a breeze, from the southwest 10-15mph with gusts to 20mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly clear and seasonably cold.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Poland's newly elected prime minister, Donald Tusk, vowed Tuesday that his government will demand that the West keep helping neighboring Ukraine, and pledged that Warsaw would be a stable ally of NATO and a leader in Europe.

Tusks government later won a vote of confidence in parliament 248-201, but the vote was delayed when a far-right lawmaker, Grzegorz Braun, grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out candles on a menorah during a Hanukkah celebration. Tusk and others denounced the incident as a disgrace.

In his inaugural speech to parliament, Tusk called on Poland's fractious political class to unite, saying it cannot afford divisions while Russia is waging a war of aggression across the border, a conflict many fear could spread if Moscow prevails.

Polands task, the new governments task, but also the task of all of us, is to loudly and firmly demand the full determination from the entire Western community to help Ukraine in this war. I will do this from day one, Tusk said in a session attended by Ukraines ambassador and former Polish presidents, including the anti-communist freedom fighter Lech Walesa.

Tusk expressed his exasperation that Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must keep urging world leaders to continue supporting Kyivs struggle in a war that has killed or maimed tens of thousands of Ukrainians. As another winter sets in, allies are growing tired. Even funds from the United States are in doubt.

I can no longer listen to some European politicians and those from other Western countries who say they are tired of the situation in Ukraine, Tusk said. They say to President Zelenskyys face that they no longer have the strength, that they are exhausted.

Tusk's challenges include restoring democratic standards in Poland, working for the release of European Union funding that was frozen due to democratic backsliding by his predecessors, and seeking to manage the migration that is causing political upheaval in Europe.

A centrist leader who was prime minister from 2007-2014, Tusk is the head of a broad coalition of parties that won election in October and has promised to work together under his leadership to restore democratic standards and improve ties with allies.

Tusks speech came a day after lawmakers chose him as the prime minister after rejecting the former premier, Mateusz Morawiecki of the Law and Justice party. Tusk also introduced the ministers in his government.

Duda, an ally of the former government, had delayed the power transition as long as he could. He was on a visit to Switzerland and did not attend Tusk's speech. He is due to swear in Tusk and his Cabinet on Wednesday morning.

The 67-year-old Tusk has vowed to restore foreign ties strained by the Law and Justice-led government, which bickered even with allies such as Germany and Ukraine and was at odds with the EU over legal changes that eroded the independence of the nation's judicial branch.

Tusk's Cabinet includes a former foreign minister, Radek Sikorski, taking up that role again. Adam Bodnar, a respected human rights lawyer and former ombudsman, was tapped as justice minister.

In his speech, Tusk stressed that his country on NATO's eastern flank would honor its obligations as a Western ally.

Poland is and will be a key, strong, sovereign link in NATO, and Poland will be a loyal, stable ally of the United States, confident of its strength and importance, Tusk said.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan congratulated Tusk in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

President Joe Biden looks forward to continuing our work together as close allies. We value Polands partnership on so many issues  support for Ukraine, shared democratic values, energy  to name a few, Sullivan wrote.

Tusk also said Poland would be stronger by being a constructive leader in the EU, countering an argument by his predecessors that the 27-country bloc threatened Polands national sovereignty. Tusk served as European Council president from 2014-2019 and has strong connections in Brussels, the blocs capital. He will travel there for an EU summit this week, his first trip abroad as prime minister.

Tusk also described migration as an issue requiring international cooperation, noting that even the U.S. has trouble managing its border situation on its own.

You can really respect another person, you can respect other religions, you can respect other races, and at the same time be aware of what a great threat this turbulence is to Europe and the whole world, he said. There is a great threat of uncontrolled migration of peoples caused by conflicts, war, poverty, hunger and climate change.

On domestic matters, Tusk vowed to continue popular social policies introduced by Law and Justice, including cash payments to families with children, to pursue wise financial policies and to protect the rights of women and the LGBTQ+ community.

He said his government will end the practice of mass logging in the national forests and woodlands, which he called our sacred national resource, not a timber factory.
DETROIT (AP)  Virginia authorities have determined that a Tesla was operating on its Autopilot system and was speeding in the moments leading to a crash with a crossing tractor-trailer last July that killed the Tesla driver.

The death of Pablo Teodoro III, 57, is the third since 2016 in which a Tesla that was using Autopilot ran underneath a crossing tractor-trailer, raising questions about the partially automated system's safety and where it should be allowed to operate.

The crash south of Washington remains under investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which sent investigators to Virginia last summer and began a broader probe of Autopilot more than two years ago.

Jeffrey Long, spokesman for the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office, said Tuesday that investigators determined Autopilot was in use on Teodoro's Tesla Model Y by downloading information from the vehicle's event data recorder.

Sheriff's investigators used a search warrant to get access to the recorder in late July. Authorities released some of the results this week after an inquiry by The Associated Press.

The Tesla was traveling 70 mph (112.7 kilometers per hour) on four-lane U.S. 29 near Opal, and was 25 mph over the 45 mph speed limit in that area, Long said. The road has a median and can be accessed at intersections and from driveways.

Long said Teodoro took action in the second before the crash, but he was not sure if that deactivated the system. He did not know what action Teodoro took, but said brakes were applied just one second before impact, slowing the vehicle a little.

He said he could not release the speed at impact or say whether Teodoro or the Tesla applied the brakes because his office is working with NHTSA on its ongoing investigation.

Prior to the crash, the Tesla warned Teodoro to take control of the car because it detected something in the way. But neither the car, which is equipped with Automatic Emergency Braking, nor Teodoro stopped it in time to avoid the crash.

Long said an accident investigator's analysis of the data recorder indicated that the system was aware of something in the roadway and was sending messages to the driver.

Our investigation also determined that the driver would have had adequate time and distance to avoid the crash had he been traveling at the speed limit, Long said in a statement. The full investigation concluded that the driver would have had more than adequate time to brake and even come to a complete stop.

Initially the truck driver in the crash was charged with reckless driving for creating a barrier to traffic, Long said, but the charge was dropped in October by the commonwealth attorney at the request of the Sheriff's Office.

Under Virginia law, a driver gives up the legal right-of-way if they violate the speed limit, Long said.

The tractor-trailer was pulling from a truck stop onto the highway at the time of the crash, authorities said.

In October of 2021, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board called on Tesla to limit where Autopilot can operate and to put a better system in place to make sure drivers are paying attention.

Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy wrote to CEO Elon Musk pointing out that her agency's investigation of a similar crash with a semi in 2016 found that Tesla allows its vehicles to run on Autopilot on roads where it wasnt designed to operate safety. An NTSB spokesman said Tuesday that Musk has not responded to Homendys letter.

Tesla did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Its website says Autopilot and a more sophisticated Full Self Driving system cannot drive themselves and are meant to assist drivers who have to be ready to intervene at all times.

With Autopilot, a Tesla can steer, accelerate and brake automatically in its lane, the website says.

In a statement posted Monday on X, formerly Twitter, Tesla said safety is stronger when Autopilot is engaged.

The Virginia crash brings to 35 the number of Tesla crashes under investigation by NHTSA since June of 2016. In all the cases, the agency suspects the Teslas were operating on a partially automated driving system. At least 17 people have died.

Recent crashes NHTSA is investigating include a July 5 head-on collision between a Tesla Model 3 and Subaru Impreza in South Lake Tahoe, California. The driver of the Subaru and an infant traveling in the Tesla were killed.

NHTSA also sent investigators to a March 15 crash in Halifax County, North Carolina, that injured a 17-year-old student. The State Highway Patrol said at the time that the driver of the 2022 Tesla Model Y, a 51-year-old male, failed to stop for the bus, which was displaying all of its activated warning devices.

A message was left seeking comment from the agency, which hasnt made public the results of its Tesla crash investigations.
READING, Pa.  During its Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night, Reading City Council heard a report from Jessica Dreistadt, an advisor with Hailstone Economic, on a five-year equity plan for the city.

Dreistadt explained that the equity plan is a new process to replace what was formerly called "the analysis to impediments for fair housing choice," and is a requirement by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"In developing the equity plan, we looked not only at the Federal Fair Housing Act and its implications locally, but more broadly at what is also covered under the state and the local laws," Dreistadt said. "We developed a series of goals to address the needs in the community."

The plan was developed through the coordination of the city's community development staff and involved a process that included five community meetings and two public hearings.

"We did a housing and community needs survey that was distributed both online and in print, and we did an analysis of a variety of secondary data, including information available through the U.S. Census Bureau and through HUD," Dreistadt said.

"We noted that the zoning ordinance and the Reading Tax Abatement Program could be updated to incentivize affordable housing," she said. "We found that group homes are only conditionally permitted in the zoning ordinance, which can unintentionally create a lack of access to opportunity for people with disabilities."

Dreistadt outlined the following goals of the five-year equity plan:

Improve the quality of sidewalks to make them accessible to people with disabilities.

Create more opportunities for city residents to access living wage jobs.

Improve the local transportation infrastructure.

Invest in public services to improve the quality of life and create opportunities for low to moderate income residents.

Create more units of accessible affordable housing.

Encourage more involvement and develop the local capacity of nonprofit and for-profit developers to create more affordable housing.

Improve the quality of existing housing.

Promote first time homebuyer opportunities, particularly to people of color and Hispanic or Latino residents.

Update zoning ordinances to facilitate more equitable and affordable housing opportunities.

Update policies and practices to better facilitate fair, equitable and affordable housing opportunities and improve rental housing opportunities.

Improve residents' knowledge about their fair housing rights and the resources available to them.

Improve nonprofit organizations' knowledge about the human relations ordinance and fair housing obligations.

When questioned by council about following through with goals, Dreistadt said the overall responsibility of the plan falls under community development.

"While many of the goals are directly tied to community development, others are more housed in other city departments," she said.

Council stressed to the administration that it needs to keep City Council apprised of the status of implementation, because several members said they were not even aware that the process and the survey were taking place.

Council President Donna Reed said the report gave council a lot of data to consider.

"As you move forward, please include council as you develop this because we're certainly 'feet on the ground' in our neighborhoods," Reed said. "We pretty much know what's going on and understand the needs, and it's much more helpful if we know what's going on during the process, (rather than) at the end."
NASHVILLE  Taylor Swift has once again donated $1 million to help victims of severe weather in Tennessee.

The 33-year-old Berks County native, who recently became a billionaire and has been generous with donations in the past, pledged the huge sum to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to help those whose homes and livelihoods have been ravaged by the storms and tornadoes.

"Taylor's incredibly generous gift sends a message to her hometown, and the communities around it, that she has their backs during the long road to recovery following this devastating event," Hal Cato, the CEO of CFMT, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Several people in the state have been confirmed to have died and 50 were left injured as multiple tornadoes swept the state.

Swift was born at Reading Hospital in 1989 and spent her early years in Berks County, but at 13, she and her family moved to Nashville to pursue her dreams of becoming a country music star.

The money will go toward food, temporary housing, the cleanup, and more.

Swift donated $1 million to the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund in March 2020 after deadly tornadoes took lives and destroyed homes.

She said at the time: "Nashville is my home and the fact that so many people have lost their homes and so much more in Middle Tennessee is devastating to me."

The Grammy Award-winner has also donated to food poverty charities in cities on her "Eras Tour."

Swift donated enough money to make 125,000 meals for food bank users in the Tampa Ba area of Florida.

The musician kicked off "The Eras" trek in Glendale, Arizona, on March 17, and it was revealed that she made a surprise donation to the Arizona Food Bank Network as part of a commitment to make a positive impact in the communities during her tour.

"It's not every day that you get a call from someone who works in PR for Taylor Swift, so we were dubious at first, but happily, it turned out to be absolutely real," Terri Shoemaker, vice president of external relations at the Arizona Food Bank Network, told Azcentral.com.

"Donations like this from very high-profile people like Taylor Swift help denote that hunger is still a problem in the U.S," Shoemaker continued. "It's here and it's a problem across the country. The recognition of that is so important and so is just setting an example of how to support organizations in the community."
Europeans open to Ukraine joining EU according to latest survey 12 December, 12:50 PM Flags of Ukraine and the EU (Photo:REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko)

Europeans are generally open to the idea of Ukraine joining the EU, according to the results of six EU member states for the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).

The poll found that support for Ukraines entry was highest in Denmark (50%) and Poland (47%), with opinion roughly divided in Romania (32% for, 29% against), Germany (37% for, 39% against), and France (29% for, 35% against). Austria was 52% opposed.

However, 45% of respondents were concerned that Ukraines accession would have a negative impact on the EUs security, against 25% who felt it would enhance it, while 39% believed Kyivs entry would negatively affect their countrys security.

Video of day

Many Europeans saw no economic benefit to Ukrainian membership. While 43% of respondents in Poland and 37% in Romania saw a positive impact for the EUs economy, 54% in Denmark and 46% in Austria foresaw a cost.

There were also fears about the impact of enlargement on the EUs political power in the world. Poland and Denmark were the most optimistic about this, with 43% and 35% of citizens believing Ukraines accession would have a positive impact.

In Austria (42%) and Germany (32%), however, the prevalent view was that Ukrainian membership would reduce the EUs political power in the world, while respondents in France and Romania were more evenly split.

The ECFR identified a clear divide between old and new EU member states on the broader principle of enlargement.

The survey found strong opposition to the possibility of Turkey joining the EU, with 51% of respondents across the six countries opposing the idea and fewer than one in five respondents supporting any forward movement on Turkish membership.

Europeans also showed themselves cool on Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia becoming member states, with less than 30% support for the eight countries joining.

The survey was conducted from Nov. 7 to 19. A total of 6153 respondents participated.

The European Commission officially recommended that formal accession talks begin with Ukraine and Moldova on Nov. 8.

The EUs 27 heads of government are due to discuss the accession proposal at the EU Brussels summit on Dec. 14-15  although Hungarys Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, has repeatedly said he opposes opening negotiations with Kyiv.

The start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union may be postponed until March 2024 due toHungary's position, Euractiv reported on Dec. 11.

Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility  to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth  consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.

Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of  from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
Muhlenberg College is used to giving out the grades. But this week the school made the grade.

Watchdog group StopAntisemitism released its annual report, grading 25 different colleges across the country on efforts to address campus antisemitism. The report gives Muhlenberg an A.

Students tell 69 News the school deserves it, noticing classmates at the school remain civil, amid rising antisemitism in the U.S. and abroad, sparked by the Israel-Hamas war.

"I think the people that feel very passionately about it are really good at respecting other people's beliefs," Ellie Dean, a sophomore at Muhlenberg, said.

"We are committed to keeping all of our students not just our Jewish students feeling safe and comfortable, and welcome on our campus," Associate Professor Jessica Cooperman said.

Cooperman serves as Department Chair of Religion Studies and Director of the school's Jewish Studies Program.

"We value free speech and a diversity of opinions," she said. "But we really want to try to stress that, you know, we can have a diversity of opinions and still engage in civil conversation."

It comes at a time when state legislators are working to tackle violence against Jews on the education level as well.

Antisemitism has been on the rise since the Israel-Hamas war. Just last week, here in the commonwealth, the University of Pennsylvania's president resigned amid controversial comments about hate against Jews on campus.

House Republicans on Monday met to discuss a legislative package to combat antisemitism in the classrooms.

"My legislation will ensure that families have access to the information being used to educate our students on the Holocaust during a time where misinformation surrounding this issue is running rampant," Pa Rep. Kristin Marcell, (R) District 178, said.

State House Republicans are planning on introducing three bills within the legislative package. No date is set for voting on them, but the lawmakers say they expect it to be a broad bipartisan push.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Northampton County residents who want extra training in construction or are considering entering the field may seek free training through a six-week program offered at the Fowler Family Southside Center in South Bethlehem.

Northampton Community College will provide the training, funded by a grant from the county's Department of Economic Development.

The money for training comes from the federal government's COVID-19 response funding to Pennsylvania. The state, in turn, created a Whole-Home Repairs Program to help homeowners improve their residences. Part of the money is going to training workers.

The program offers hands-on training in basic construction methods and operations, including the use of hand and power tools, framing, applying trim and drywall, installing doors and windows, ladder and scaffold safety and knowledge of building codes.

Those who complete the program will receive an OSHA 10-Hour Outreach Training for Construction card. An event to meet potential employers will be held.

Anyone interested must attend one of four hour-long information sessions Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the Fowler center, 511 E. Third St., Bethlehem.

The training will be held Monday through Thursday at the center starting Jan. 22 and ending March 7.

Applicants must be at least 18, have dependable transportation, basic math and reading skills and be Northampton County residents. They also must attend the Jan. 9 information session.

Northampton County residents should contact Heather Eritz at hehritz@northampton.edu for more information and to attend the information session.
ALLENTOWN, Pa.  The Allentown Zoning Hearing Board continued variance requests to turn a former church into affordable housing Monday night at city hall.

The proposal, offered by Ripple Community Inc., calls for 12 units at 1539-1551 W. Chew St., the home of the former Emmanuel United Church of Christ.

The 12 units would provide housing for 22 to 30 residents. In addition, the facility would feature a community center, an office, temporary shelter and 10 parking spaces.

The applicant's attorney, Erich Schock, requested a continuance due to a witness' illness.

The variances cover several areas. One is for temporary shelter, which is not permitted. The applicant is requesting the temporary shelter use be designated as a recovery center accessory to a community center in lieu of a residential treatment center.

Other variances involve offices being permitted with a community center if complying with use requirements. Additional issues involve the plan's lot area per dwelling unit, with 1,800 square feet required and 1,300 square feet offered; as well as off-street parking, with 45 spaces required, 21 spaces existing and 11 spaces being permitted.

There are also requirements for parking stall dimensions the plan is not meeting; aisle width; street trees; distance of parking from building; and exceeding maximum steep slope disturbance in areas of 25% to 35% steep slope, with 25% permitted and 29.8% proposed. Another issue is proposed building height, with the applicant proposing four stories when three stories are permitted and currently exist.

The stone church building, which was a fixture in the west Allentown community, was built in 1920 in the Gothic Revival style. The building is characterized by tall arched windows and openings, steeply peaked gables over three arched double-door openings, and asymmetrical towers on either side of the central nave.

The conversion requires the removal of several stained glass windows, which would be replaced with aluminum windows. Other work involves roof and gutter repairs, masonry repointing, door replacements, relocation of HVAC units, along with the addition of exterior lighting, new signage, and removal of non-historic fencing.

Much of the church's exterior would stay intact, and the adjacent parking lot would remain also.

St. Luke's

In other news, the board approved an appeal from St. Luke's University Health Network for a variance to remove two signs and replace them with three new signs at its 1736 Hamilton St. facility. The signs exceed permitted square footage allowances.
SHENANDOAH, Pa. - An attempted burglary turned deadly after an officer shot and killed a man in Schuylkill County, police say.

"This morning when we woke up, the street was black. We didn't know what was going on. You know, I heard somebody killed somebody down there. But we don't know," said Juan Soriano, Owner of Save by Grace Grocery store.

Soriano said in the four years he has owned the store, he's had no concern.

"This grocery store is like a convenience store. A lot of people go, you know, back and forth," said Soriano.

Soriano is among many on the 300 block of West Coal Street who witnessed unusual police activity early Monday morning.

"The neighborhood is great, the neighbors that are around us lived here for years," said neighbor Fred Koch.

Neighbors said it's typically a quiet area of Shenandoah.

"I got up this morning when I took my wife to work and that's when I noticed the forensics unit here," said Koch. "I saw red lights flashing and the ambulance was up the street."

"It was the police. Police car right there," described Soriano. "Blocked the street."

Shenandoah and Mahanoy City Police said they were called to a vacant home just before 1 a.m. Monday for a report of a burglary in progress. When officers arrived, they said they met the property owner who called 911 because his video surveillance showed a random person who appeared to be wearing a mask and carrying a large knife.

"Biggest problem we have right now is squatters, and they're moving into these houses, no heat, no nothing," said Koch.

Police said when they went inside the home, they found 32-year-old Bryon Scheuring hiding under a bed in an upstairs bedroom. Officers said they tried to arrest him and that's when he lunged at officers with a machete.

"It's making me worry a little bit," said Soriano.

State police said a Shenandoah police officer shot and killed Scheuring.

Police said that officer has been placed on administrative leave.

"It is safe. It is safe," said Soriano. "Good people come and bad people come. But it is safe."

"I just wish people would get along for the holidays," said Koch.

No officers were hurt.

Pennsylvania State Police are investigating.
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP)  The heart of Lahaina, the historic town on the Hawaiian island of Maui that burned in a deadly wildfire that killed at least 100 people, is reopening to residents and business owners holding day passes.

The renewed access on Monday and Tuesday marks an important emotional milestone for victims of the Aug. 8 fire, but much work remains to be done to safely clear properties of burned debris and rebuild. Some residents are concerned about where the fire debris will wind up on the island with a vibrant and delicate ecosystem.

The reopened areas include Banyan Tree Park, home to a 150-year-old tree that burned in the fire but is now sprouting new leaves, as well as Lahaina's public library, an elementary school and popular restaurants.

An oceanfront section of Front Street, where the fire ripped through a traffic jam of cars trying to escape town, reopened Friday.

Authorities are continuing to recommend that people entering scorched lots wear protective gear to shield them from hazards.

On Sunday, the state Department of Health released test results confirming the ash and dust left by the fire is toxic and that arsenic is the biggest concern. Arsenic is a heavy metal that adheres to wildfire dust and ash, the department said.

The tests examined ash samples collected Nov. 7-8 from 100 properties built from the 1900s to the 2000s. Samples also showed high levels of lead, which was used to paint houses built before 1978.

Clean-up is still in its early stages. For the past few months, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been removing batteries, propane tanks, pesticides and other hazards from the town's more than 2,000 destroyed buildings.

Residents and business owners have been able to visit their properties after the EPA has finished clearing their lots. In some cases, residents  often wearing white full-body suits, masks and gloves  have found family heirlooms and mementos after sifting through the charred rubble of their homes.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin hauling away the remaining debris and take it to a landfill after it gets permission from property owners.

Officials have said the debris would be put into dumpsters lined with impermeable plastic, then wrapped up and sealed with glue. Another layer of plastic would then cover it before its placed in the landfill site, which would be closed and covered with grass to look like a park.

The county plans to monitor the area for the next 30 years, the county has said. Officials plan to install groundwater wells between the landfill and the ocean to check for potential contaminant leaks.

Some Maui residents are skeptical about the plan, in part because the landfill is just 400 yards (365 meters) from the coast. The reef off Olowalu hosts the largest known manta ray population in the U.S. and is a primary source of coral larvae for the reefs of Lanai, Molokai and West Maui, according to The Nature Conservancy in Hawaii.

Part of our fears and part of the dangers of this is, you dont smell it. You dont see it. Its an accumulative toxin, Eddy Garcia, executive director of Regenerative Education Centers in Olowalu, said of the potential toxins in the wildfire debris. Every time you touch it, it goes into your face. It also seeps into the ocean. Algae will pick it up and then fish eat the algae, bigger fish with those fish. And then we eat those fish.

The EPA and the state's health department have also installed 53 air monitors in Lahaina and Upcountry Maui, where a separate fire burned homes in early August. The department is urging people to avoid outdoor activity when monitor levels show elevated air pollution and to close windows and doors.

McAvoy reported from Honolulu.
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  Israel and the United States on Tuesday showed their sharpest public disagreement yet over the conduct and future of the war against Hamas as the two allies became increasingly isolated by global calls for a cease-fire.

The dispute emerged while Israeli forces carried out strikes across Gaza, crushing Palestinians in homes.

President Joe Biden said he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel was losing international support because of its indiscriminate bombing and that Netanyahu should change his government, which is dominated by hard-right parties.

Just hours later, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution calling for a humanitarian cease-fire by a vote of 153 in favor, 10 against and 23 abstentions. The non-binding vote is largely symbolic, but it serves as an important barometer of world opinion. None of the major powers joined Israel and the United States in their opposition to the cease-fire.

Biden's comments came as the White House national security adviser heads to Israel this week to discuss with Netanyahu a timetable for the war  and what happens if Hamas is defeated. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Israel next week for a visit the Pentagon said aims to show U.S. support for Israel but also to press the need to avoid more civilian casualties in Gaza.

The war ignited by Hamas Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel has already brought unprecedented death and destruction to the impoverished coastal enclave, with much of northern Gaza obliterated, more than 18,000 Palestinians killed and over 80% of the population of 2.3 million pushed from their homes.

The U.S. has urged Israel to do more to reduce civilian casualties since it launched its invasion of southern Gaza at the beginning of the month. But the toll has continued to mount at seemingly the same dizzying rate.

The health care system and humanitarian aid operations have collapsed in large parts of Gaza, amid Israel's blockade of the territory and intense airstrikes and fighting, and aid workers have warned of starvation and the spread of disease among displaced people in overcrowded shelters and tent camps.

DEVASTATION IN THE NORTH

Gaza City and much of the surrounding north have already suffered widespread destruction from more than two months of bombardment. Amid the rubble, Israeli ground troops are still locked in heavy combat with Palestinian fighters, more than six weeks after soldiers invaded the north.

Fierce clashes raged Tuesday in Gaza Citys Zaytoun and Shijaiya neighborhoods, as well as in Jabaliya, a densely built urban refugee camp, residents said.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians remain in the north, huddled in homes or in U.N. schools-turned-shelters. As airstrikes and drones smash houses, first responders are unable to reach anyone buried in the wreckage, residents said.

It was massive, Mustafa Abu Taha, an agricultural worker, said of the sound of gunfire and explosions in Shijaiya, where he lives.

Amal Radwan, a woman sheltering in a school in Jabaliya, said the situation was catastrophic, as Israeli troops tried to advance deep into the district and unleashed heavy fire against fighters.

Whenever the resistance hit them, they hit us very hard. It has become crazy. They strike everywhere with no regard to women or children, she said.

Outside Gaza City, Israeli troops using a controlled detonation blew up a school run by UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, in the northern town of Beit Hanoun. Footage posted online showed soldiers cheering as they watched the building collapse in a giant blast and pall of smoke.

UNRWA chief Phillippe Lazzarini confirmed the demolition in a post on X Tuesday, calling it outrageous. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. On Saturday, it said militants opened fire from inside an UNRWA school in the town.

Israel also has begun flooding some Hamas tunnels, a U.S. official confirmed Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the action. Israelis said they are testing the targeted flooding of tunnels on a limited basis and are exploring the idea as one of a range of options to degrade the tunnel network, according to another U.S. official familiar with the matter.

President Joe Biden said during a news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that there were assertions that no hostages were in Gaza tunnels being flooded with seawater by the Israelis, but I dont know that for a fact.

INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING

Bidens comments were a startlingly direct criticism of Israel even as his administration continues to give unwavering diplomatic and military support for the military campaign in Gaza in the face of mounting international outrage.

Tuesday's General Assembly vote was held after the U.S. vetoed calls for a cease-fire at the U.N. Security Council last week and rushed tank munitions to Israel to allow it to maintain the offensive. The U.N. secretary-general and Arab states have rallied much of the international community behind calls for an immediate cease-fire.

Israel launched the campaign after Hamas and other militants streamed into the south on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 240 others hostage. About half of those remain in captivity. At least 105 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive, the army says.

Israel and the U.S. say any cease-fire that leaves Hamas in power would mean victory for the militant group, which has governed Gaza since 2007 and has pledged to destroy Israel. Israel blames civilian casualties on Hamas, saying it positions fighters, tunnels and rocket launchers in dense urban areas, using civilians as human shields.

But the two allies have also had differences over the timetable of the war and over how Gaza should be ruled in the future.

In a briefing with the AP on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signaled that the current phase of heavy ground fighting and airstrikes could stretch on for weeks and further military activity could continue for months.

Netanyahu has said the military will have to keep open-ended security control of Gaza after the war ends.

The Biden administration has said Israel should not return to a military occupation and the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority should govern Gaza as talks resume on creating a Palestinian state next to Israel.

Netanyahu appeared to firmly rule that out Tuesday, acknowledging there is disagreement about the day after Hamas.

I will not allow Israel to repeat the mistake of Oslo, he said, referring to the peace process in the 1990s that created the Palestinian Authority and was intended to reach a two-state solution. The authority governs pockets of the occupied West Bank and governed Gaza until the Hamas takeover in 2007.

STRIKES AND RAIDS ACROSS GAZA

Strikes overnight and into Tuesday in southern Gaza  where almost all of Gazas population of 2.3 million is now crowded  killed dozens, according to hospital records.

Islam Harbs three children were among those killed when Israeli airstrikes flattened four residential buildings in the town of Rafah on the Egyptian border. At least 23 people were killed, including seven children and six women, according to an Associated Press reporter who saw the bodies arrive at a hospital.

My twin girls, Maria and Joud, were martyred, and my little son, Ammar, also martyred, Harb said.

In central Gaza, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah received the bodies of 33 people killed in strikes overnight, including 16 women and four children, according to hospital records. Many were killed in strikes that hit residential buildings in the built-up Maghazi refugee camp.

In the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, Israeli forces stormed the Kamal Adwan Hospital, ordering all men, including medics, into the courtyard, said Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the Gaza Health Ministry. The hospital had 65 patients in intensive care and six newborns in incubators, the U.N. said, and some 3,000 displaced people were sheltering there with little food or water.

The Israeli military says it is rounding up men in northern Gaza as it searches for Hamas fighters. Photos and videos circulating online show groups of detainees stripped to their underwear, bound and blindfolded, and some who have been released say they were beaten and denied food and water.

Asked about the hospital, the military said it continues to act against Hamas strongholds in the north of Gaza, including Beit Lahiya and takes all feasible precautions to mitigate harm to noncombatants.

Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Jack Jeffery in Cairo and Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem contributed.

Full AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
HAILEY, Idaho (AP)  Paul Rytting listened as a woman, voice quavering, told him her story.

When she was a child, her father, a former bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, had routinely slipped into bed with her while he was aroused, she said.

It was March 2017 and Rytting offered his sympathies as 31-year-old Chelsea Goodrich spoke. A Utah attorney and head of the churchs Risk Management Division, Rytting had spent about 15 years protecting the organization, widely known as the Mormon church, from costly claims, including sexual abuse lawsuits.

Rytting had flown into Hailey, Idaho, that morning from Salt Lake City, where the church is based, to meet in person with Chelsea and her mother, Lorraine.

After a quick prayer, he introduced himself and said he was there to look into Chelseas tragic and horrendous story.

Chelsea and Lorraine had come to the meeting with one clear request: Would the church allow a local Idaho bishop, which in the Mormon church is akin to a Catholic priest, to testify at John Goodrichs trial? Bishop Michael Miller, who accompanied Rytting to the meeting, had heard a spiritual confession from Chelseas father shortly before John Goodrich was arrested on charges of sexually abusing her.

While the details of his confession remain private, the church swiftly excommunicated Goodrich.

Audio recordings of the meetings over the next four months, obtained by The Associated Press, show how Rytting, despite expressing concern for what he called Johns significant sexual transgression, would employ the risk management playbook that has helped the church keep child sexual abuse cases secret. In particular, the church would discourage Miller from testifying, citing a law that exempts clergy from having to divulge information about child sex abuse that is gleaned in a confession. Without Millers testimony, prosecutors dropped the charges, telling Lorraine that her impending divorce and the years that had passed since Chelsea's alleged abuse might prejudice jurors.

Rytting would also offer hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for a confidentiality agreement and a pledge by Chelsea and Lorraine to destroy their recordings of the meetings, which they had made at the recommendation of an attorney and with Rytting's knowledge.

Today, John Goodrich, who did not respond to the APs questions, is a free man, practicing dentistry in Idaho.

Going into this meeting with Rytting, I felt like it would be very clear, once everythings laid out that, look, this is not something that we want to cover up, said Eric Alberdi, a church member who attended the meetings as Chelseas advocate and also made recordings, which he shared with the AP.

This is something that we want to uncover for a number of reasons, so that John  doesnt do this again. So that Chelsea can move forward, said Alberdi, who was not bound by the confidentiality agreement and who has since left the church. You know, covering this up did not make any sense.

In a statement to the AP, the church said the abuse of a child or any other individual is inexcusable," and that John Goodrich, following his excommunication, "has not been readmitted to church membership.

Alberdi's recordings provide an unprecedented record of the steps the church normally takes behind closed doors to keep allegations of child sex abuse secret  steps that can leave predators free and children at risk.

How many people can know the truth and choose to pretend they dont and leave others at risk of the same abuse and they know it and they just dont care? Lorraine Goodrich said. I dont understand that. Ill never understand that.

---

Two years earlier, in the spring of 2015, Chelsea Goodrich, then a 29-year-old graduate student in psychology living in Southern California, began to confront disturbing memories.

While her peers dated and created lasting relationships, she filled with anxiety and dread at the prospect.

Instead of wanting to have a relationship, I just remember feeling terror and confusion and kind of disgust, like all at once, about it, she said during a series of interviews with the AP.

Her memories included several occasions, she recalled, when John Goodrich slipped into her bed at night in their house in Mountain Home, Idaho, to spoon her while he was aroused, pushing himself against her backside. On one occasion, when she was 9, she remembered her father had apologized to her for being aroused while they were playing in the family swimming pool and told her not to tell her mother.

The last similar incident Chelsea recalls occurred during a school field trip to Washington, D.C., where her father admits he climbed into bed with her in a state of arousal and slipped close behind her. John Goodrich admitted that during a recorded conversation, obtained by the AP, with Chelsea, Lorraine and one of Chelseas brothers.

Lorraine and Chelsea had been recording their confrontations with John about the alleged abuse, which they would later turn over to police.

While grappling with these memories, Chelsea met a Mormon friend she came to trust and with whom she shared these unsettling remembrances. Her new friend told her that her father, Paul Rytting, was a high church official who often dealt with sexual abuse complaints and suggested Chelsea contact him.

Unbeknownst to Chelsea, who believed Ryttings main responsibility was to aid victims, at about that time he was deeply involved in defending the church in a highly publicized West Virginia child sex abuse lawsuit. Several Mormon families had accused the church of allowing a Mormon sex abuser, Christopher Michael Jensen, to babysit for their children, whom he allegedly abused. Jensen was sentenced to serve 35 to 75 years in prison after he was found guilty of abusing two of the children.

As revealed by the AP last year, Rytting made sworn statements in that case  which were sealed by a judge and obtained by the AP -- describing the management of the secretive church Helpline, a phone number set up by the church for bishops to report instances of child sex abuse. Church officials say that they dont keep any records of the reports to the Helpline.

Rytting also revealed the lengths to which the church goes to ensure confidentiality for perpetrators who make spiritual confessions.

Disciplinary proceedings are subject to the highest confidentiality possible, Rytting said in one affidavit. If members had any concerns that their disciplinary files could be read by a secular judge or attorneys or be presented to a jury as evidence in a public trial, their willingness to confess and repent and for their souls to be saved would be seriously compromised.

Rytting did not respond to telephone calls or an email with a list of questions. In its statement the church noted that Goodrich's communications with his bishop were protected by Idaho state law. Only the perpetrator could release the bishop from his obligation under the clergy penitent privilege and he refused to do so.

After meeting Ryttings daughter, Chelsea travelled with her to Salt Lake City and met Paul Rytting while staying at the family home.

At that time, Chelsea didnt feel ready to discuss her memories and kept them to herself, she said. But she eventually told her mother. And when Lorraine Goodrich confronted her husband in their Idaho home, in July of 2015, John confirmed becoming aroused while around his daughter -- but denied any direct sexual contact, according to recordings of the conversations.

In one recorded conversation with Chelsea and Lorraine, he blamed the devil for his decision to climb into bed with his 13-year-old daughter after hearing sexual activity in an adjoining hotel room during the trip to Washington.

The adversary Im sure worked on me, he said, using a church term for Satan. And thats when it was going through my mind when I climbed in bed with Chelsea and was really aroused  with the intent of spooning and snuggling you but I didnt.

With his family and marriage in turmoil, John revealed details of his relationship with Chelsea to visiting relatives, according to a written statement from the relatives which was ultimately submitted to authorities. They urged him to go to the police. When John said hed rather talk with a bishop, the Goodrich relatives drove him to Millers home, where John made his confession.

Less than a year later, on Sept. 1, 2016, Chelsea and her mother met with Mountain Home police and played the recordings of their conversations with John. The next day, after a nearly two-hour interview at police headquarters, officers arrested him.

Nothing happened, John protested, as police cuffed him during a video interview obtained by the AP.

Im not ashamed of anything.

It was then that Chelsea decided to enlist Ryttings help and began corresponding with him by email to persuade him to allow Miller to testify against her father.

Chelsea and Lorraine also let Rytting know that church officials may have known about John Goodrich and his daughter for years. John told them, in conversations that were also recorded, that hed repented details of his relationship with Chelsea to several local church leaders. Rytting told them that church leaders said they did not recall hearing any such confessions.

Then, 10 days after Johns arrest in Mountain Home, another woman stepped forward with additional allegations of sex abuse after learning of the case against John. The 53-year-old single mother accused him of having nonconsensual sex with her after giving her the drug Halcion, a controlled substance John often used to sedate patients during dental procedures. She alleged that Goodrich drugged her the previous July after she cut off a sexual relationship with him.

The AP is not naming the woman because it does not identify people who make allegations of sexual abuse without their consent.

As detectives investigated the new allegations, John Goodrich, who was still facing charges in Chelsea's case, called the woman at least four times, in conversations she recorded and which the AP obtained. In these conversations, Goodrich asked her to lie to police while admitting he drugged her even as he tried to minimize his actions and repeatedly apologized.

It was fun as heck, but it was wrong, he said in a recorded conversation. Just out of principle it was wrong, and Im just mad as hell at myself.

In July 2017, prosecutors dropped charges against John Goodrich related to Chelsea's allegations.

Six months later, a prosecutor in a neighboring county was crafting a plea deal in which he again would escape sex crime charges.

In the end, John Goodrich pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance, Halcion, and a judge sentenced him to 90 days in jail and three years of probation.

---

At the initial meeting with Chelsea and Lorraine, Rytting said the clergy-penitent privilege law made it next to impossible for Miller to testify against John Goodrich. Now, four months later, he was back in Hailey with an offer.

Much had changed for Lorraine and Chelsea in the meantime. Theyd begun to feel ostracized by the Mormon community. Millers wife had even removed them from a local church community sisters email list, they told Rytting.

Miller had been an advocate for Chelsea.

During the first meeting with Rytting, Miller said John Goodrich, before his excommunication, had tried to backtrack on what hed told Miller in confession.

John told me one thing, and then kind of toned it way down to the stake president, said Miller, referring to a higher-ranking church official who oversees several local jurisdictions. He told the stake president, Well, thats not a big deal. I go, Yeah, its a big deal.

So we know hes lying, and we know hes lying at every level, Rytting responded.

Reached by phone by the AP, Miller refused to discuss details. Its clergy privilege, he said. If I say anything, (John Goodrich) can sue me for millions of dollars.

With Rytting in town again, Lorraine and Chelsea first made it clear that they were devastated the prosecutor had dropped the criminal case, according to the recordings.

(The prosecutor) said Too bad the bishop couldnt testify, Lorraine told Rytting.

Rytting sounded surprised. He had not known coming into the meeting that the case was dropped, he said. He told them that the church perhaps could reach out to the prosecutor to help get things restarted.

The message to this prosecutor is, youve got several pretty clear-cut instances where a predator, a sexual predator, has admitted, Rytting said. And then the victims have provided information. But you dont feel any need to protect the general public?

She did say that if the bishop could come forward and tell, then we would have had a case. But theres nothing, Lorraine repeated.

The prosecutor, Jessica Kuehn, now works for the Pennsylvania attorney generals office and did not respond to a request for comment. The AP couldnt determine if the church ever followed up with her about the case.

About an hour into the meeting, Rytting changed the subject abruptly.

Well, should we talk about why Im here? Rytting asked. I have authorization up to $300,000.

The offer stunned Chelsea and Lorraine. Months earlier, Rytting told them by email that the church was prepared to pay them $90,000 - an offer the women were considering.

The payment would be made on the condition that Chelsea and her mother sign an agreement in which they promised never to use Chelseas story as a basis for a lawsuit against the church  and that they never acknowledge the existence of the settlement.

And there was another key provision: Second paragraph, Ill be interested in your response, Rytting said, while reviewing the document with them.

The recommendation is that you acknowledge that theres been some recordings made of all of our communications and that you agreed to destroy those recordings within 10 days of signing this, he said.

Nondisclosure agreements  or NDAs, as they are commonly known - have been used frequently by the Mormon church and other organizations, including the Catholic Church, as well as individuals, to keep sex abuse allegations secret. In addition to her settlement with the church, Chelsea also settled a lawsuit against her father.

In one of their recorded conversations, Rytting told Chelsea that he could check Helpline records, used by Miller to report details of John Goodrichs confession, to see whether her father had ever previously confessed to another bishop to abusing her.

But in the West Virginia abuse case against the church, Rytting gave sworn, written testimony in which he said no one at the Helpline keeps records. And another ranking church official testified in a case in Arizona that the records are destroyed at the end of each day. In comments to the AP, the church declined to clarify Ryttings apparent contradiction about whether the church keeps records on the Helpline.

Still, at their final meeting, Rytting assured Chelsea and Lorraine that church officials denied hearing John Goodrich confess previously to abusing his daughter, a claim the church backed in its statement to the AP. He urged them to accept the funds the church was offering and sign the nondisclosure agreement promising they would never sue the church.

When John Goodrich engaged in abuse or any other criminal or sexual misconduct, he was acting in an individual capacity and NOT as an agent of the Church, Rytting wrote, ignoring the fact that Goodrich was a bishop at the time. Accordingly, any damages arising from such misconduct will be apportioned to Mr. Goodrich and not to the Church.

Chelsea and Lorraine, distanced from their family and community, and struggling financially, accepted this assessment and signed the agreement, which did not prevent Chelsea from telling her story.

Earlier this year, Chelsea decided to share it with the AP.

She had tried going to the church for help. Shed tried the criminal justice system. But John was free with access to children through his family and dental practice.

Right now, my main concern continues to be other children, she said.



Rezendes reported from New York.

Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org or https://www.ap.org/tips/

--

The Associated Press collaborated with Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting for a public radio show and podcast that first aired on Dec. 9, 2023. Find the podcast here: https://revealnews.org/podcast/hidden-confessions-of-the-mormon-church/
The Big Picture: Dr. Adriana Davis, Family Medicine, "The stigma of 'it's all in your head' in regards to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome must come to an end."

Doctor's Expert Insights About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFC) and Your Health in Pennsylvania

Know this: "Look, from a healthcare professional's perspective, we need to understand that many cases of CFC go undiagnosed--and we've got to understand that our patients are genuinely being afflicted by something. The increasing numbers of chronic fatigue syndrome could be linked to conditions like long-COVID. This underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing this condition. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can manifest as persistent exhaustion, brain fog, pain, among others. And CFC worsens with physical or mental exertion. CFC impacts diverse groups across gender, race, and socioeconomic status." Dr. Shelandra Bell, Family Medicine.

Beyond the news: The rising prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome, particularly its association with long-COVID suggests that there will be a significant population health impact on people and healthcare in the future.

Key Findings:

Women were more likely than men to have ME/CFS.

The percentage of adults with ME/CFS varied by age.

The percentage of adults who had ME/CFS increased with age through ages 6069 and then declined among those age 70 and older.

The percentage of adults with ME/CFS decreased with increasing family income.

Health Alert for Allentown

Key Drivers in Lehigh County:

The CDC's new data reveals that approximately 3.3 million U.S. adults suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. This is a number that is significantly higher than previous estimates.

The research found a higher prevalence in women and those aged 50-69.

Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, presents with symptoms like severe exhaustion, unrefreshing sleep, cognitive issues, and physical pain. The exact cause remains unknown, though links to various infections and other factors are now understood as possible triggers.

"The condition clearly 'is not a rare illness,'" Dr. Elizabeth Unger, CDC

What they're saying: "During 20212022, 1.3% of adults had ME/CFS, and women were more likely than men to have the condition. The percentage of adults with ME/CFS increased with age through ages 6069 and then declined in those age 70 and older. White adults were more likely than Hispanic and Asian adults to have ME/CFS, and Black adults were significantly more likely to have ME/CFS than Asian adults. Estimates of ME/CFS decreased with increasing family income and increased as place of residence became more rural.

As the prevalence estimates in this report are based on a doctors diagnosis, adults who are undiagnosed are not included in this analysis. True prevalence estimates may be higher, as previous studies suggest that many people with ME/CFS are undiagnosed." (Study Source)

Health Standard Newswire: The incidence of chronic fatigue syndrome is rising--and many are still underdiagnosed across America and the world.

Living in Pennsylvania, the following health facts impact your physical health directly!

Did you know there were 1885.0 deaths from suicide in Pennsylvania in 2021?

15.4% of you in Lehigh County report that your mental health is not good.

37.3% of you in Lehigh County sleep less than 7 hours per night.

23.2% of you in Lehigh County have arthritis.

All of these variables above play an important role in the outcomes of your overall health.

The Health Standard Newswire.
Reuters

11 ene (Reuters) - Microsoft supero el jueves a Apple como la empresa mas valiosa del mundo, despues de que las acciones del fabricante del iPhone tuvieron un debil comienzo en 2024 debido a la creciente preocupacion por la demanda. Las acciones de Microsoft, con sede en Redmond, Washington, subian un 1,6%, lo que le daba una valoracion de mercado de 2,875 billones de dolares, debido a que su temprana ventaja en la carrera por ganar dinero con la inteligencia artificial generativa ayudo a atraer
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The State Bar of Wisconsin takes legislative positions on general policy items of importance to the legal profession; these are expressed in the Board of Governor Policy Positions. In addition to positions on behalf of the entire membership, 15 practice sections lobby on behalf of their own members; these are expressed in the State Bar of Wisconsin Practice Section Positions.



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The State Bar of Wisconsin is a mandatory professional association, created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, for all attorneys who hold a Wisconsin law license. With more than 25,000 members, the State Bar aids the courts in improving the administration of justice, provides continuing legal education and other services for its members, supports the education of law students, and educates the public about the legal system. The State Bar of Wisconsin also provides public services, including attorney referrals, public education and reduced-fee legal assistance for low-income state residents.

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Visit the BBE website to learn about these registration requirements.

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File application for pro hac vice admission.

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Xi's visit to chart course for development of China-Vietnam ties, boost shared growth in Asia-Pacific

Xinhua) 08:15, December 12, 2023

A China-Vietnam freight train pulls out of Xi'an international port in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)

China and Vietnam are friendly socialist neighbors with shared ideals, the same social system and similar development paths. The shared future of the two parties, two countries and two peoples is closely bound up by the same social system and development goals.

BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- After six years, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, will again pay a state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong.

The visit will not only consolidate and deepen the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam as friendly socialist neighbors, but also send a clear signal to the world to promote building a community with a shared future in the neighborhood.

Xi's visit will add new impetus to the Asia-Pacific region's stability, development and prosperity and inject more certainty and stability into a turbulent and intertwined world. It is indeed a journey to the past and the future.

A SHARED FUTURE

China and Vietnam are friendly socialist neighbors with shared ideals, the same social system and similar development paths. The shared future of the two parties, two countries and two peoples is closely bound up by the same social system and development goals.

In 2015 and 2017, Xi visited Vietnam twice as general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president.

Those visits deepened the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam, promoted the development of socialism and injected strong impetus into regional and world peace and stability and building of a community with a shared future for mankind through promoting political party diplomacy and state-to-state exchanges.

In October 2022, Xi and Trong held historic talks in Beijing, jointly steering the development of China-Vietnam relations and drawing up a new vision for China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperation in the new era.

China and Vietnam issued a joint statement on further strengthening and deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, advancing the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan.

Looking back at history, China and Vietnam have supported each other in fighting for their respective national liberation causes and forged a profound bond of "camaraderie and brotherhood." The traditional friendship nurtured by the older generations of leaders of the two countries remains a valuable asset for developing relations between the two sides.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Xi's upcoming visit is expected to make greater contributions to consolidating the social foundation for the development of bilateral relations, realizing the stability and development of both countries and pushing bilateral relations to a new level.

Nguyen Van Tho, former Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister and former ambassador to China, said the continuous development of Vietnam-China relations is in line with the interests of the two peoples and the general trend of the times.

He is looking forward to Xi's visit to Vietnam and expressed anticipation for the two leaders to jointly draw a blueprint for developing Vietnam-China relations and initiate a higher stage of political trust.

LAY FAST LANE FOR DEVELOPMENT

China and Vietnam are both advancing their own socialist modernization cause, both regard the bilateral relationship as a priority in their respective foreign policy, and both see each other's development as opportunities for their own development, said Xi on Oct. 20 when he met with Vietnamese President Thuong, for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

China's continued expansion of high-level opening-up has brought Vietnamese companies great opportunities to access a bigger market.

TH True Milk Group's Chairman Thai Huong recalled how, at the inaugural China International Import Expo (CIIE) in 2018, "President Xi Jinping visited our booth, attentively inquiring about our products."

People visit the booth of Vietnam at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

Thanks to the CIIE, this Vietnamese dairy production company formed a connection with China. With the assistance of Chinese partners, TH True Milk Group became the first Vietnamese dairy enterprise in 2019 to receive a transaction code to export its products issued by the General Administration of Customs of China.

Today, the company's products are available on supermarket shelves in cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. At the same time, online stores have been established on various e-commerce platforms in China.

At the recently concluded inaugural China International Supply Chain Expo, Nguyen Thi Mien Ha, brand manager at Vietnam's SAO THAI DUONG Joint Stock Company, said that the Expo provides opportunities for companies to deeply integrate with the Chinese market.

China's ability to manufacture advanced products, along with its large market and efficient logistics system, makes it easy for global industrial and supply chain operations to function smoothly, said the manager.

China is Vietnam's largest trading partner, and Vietnam is China's largest trading partner within ASEAN, with bilateral trade exceeding 200 billion U.S. dollars for two consecutive years. In the first 10 months of this year, bilateral trade reached 185.1 billion dollars.

In 2017, China and Vietnam signed a memorandum of understanding on the joint implementation of the China-proposed BRI and Vietnam's "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan to expedite cooperation across diverse sectors.

From booming border trade to infrastructure connectivity, from cooperation in industrial and supply chains to green development, practical cooperation between China and Vietnam has been expanding.

Vietnam's Vinh Tan Coal Fired Power Plant, one of the first projects under the BRI framework, has operated safely for over five years, greatly easing power shortages in southern Vietnam, with cumulative power generation exceeding 41 billion kWh. The plant has driven over one billion dollars of domestic engineering services, technology and equipment exports.

Another example of bilateral cooperation is Vietnam's first urban light rail, which was built by China Railway Sixth Group Co., Ltd., and has been operational for two years.

The line, starting from Cat Linh to Ha Dong in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, has facilitated public transport for local residents and significantly contributed to Hanoi's economic growth.

As a landmark project aligning with the BRI and the "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan, the line illustrates the commitment of both countries to a people-centered development philosophy.

Vietnam and China have additionally experienced advantages from the BRI's green energy cooperation.

According to Lu Hefeng, vice general manager of Ginlong Technologies Co. Ltd., a global provider of solar and energy storage solutions from China, Southeast Asian customers have shown a growing interest in green energy products made in China.

"We have established a factory in Vietnam with a capacity of 5 gigawatts," she said.

PROMOTING REGIONAL PEACE, PROSPERITY

On the morning of Oct. 16, two trains loaded with Yunnan specialties, including broccoli, Chinese cabbage and pomegranates, departed from the Yanhe Station in the city of Yuxi in the southwestern province of Yunnan.

Staff members label durians to be exported to China at a durian processing plant in Dak Lak province, Vietnam, Sept. 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Jiali)

They arrived at the Laos capital, Vientiane, and Vietnam's Lao Cai a day later.

It marked the launch of the international cold-chain train services on the China-Laos and China-Vietnam routes, which will drive economic and trade growth and enhance connectivity within the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor.

In his meeting with Trong in October 2022, Xi stressed that China regards ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and a critical region for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. China values Vietnam's position and role in ASEAN, said Xi.

"We look forward to working with Vietnam to accelerate the building of a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home together, and to promote regional economic integration in East Asia," he said.

Unremitting efforts are being made to build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

Regional cooperation has been enriched by two-way investment exceeding 380 billion dollars, setting a noteworthy example of collaboration between China and neighboring countries.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of China's practice of the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in neighborhood diplomacy.

Over the past decade, China has catalyzed the development of neighboring countries through its own growth. In collaboration with neighboring countries, efforts have been made towards modernization and bolstering global development.

With negotiations accelerating regarding the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, the dividends resulting from the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership are becoming evident.

China has also successfully hosted the China-ASEAN Expo, China-South Asia Expo, the China Import and Export Fair, the CIIE and the China International Supply Chain Expo.

A staff member promotes Vietnamese coffee products via livestreaming during the 19th China-ASEAN Expo at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)

"We must remain steadfast in our commitment to APEC's founding mission. We must respond to the calls of our times responsibly and meet global challenges together. We must fully deliver on the Putrajaya Vision of building an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community for the prosperity of all our people and future generations," said Xi at the 30th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting held in San Francisco, the United States.

Thong Mengdavid, a research supervisor at the Phnom Penh-based independent think tank Asian Vision Institute, said that China-ASEAN cooperation -- defined by the building of free trade zones, BRI cooperation, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative -- will result in regional high-quality development and prosperous shared future.

Building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future is needed for peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region today and provides new insights for growth, said Bambang Suryono, chairman of Indonesia's think tank Asia Innovation Research Center.

China prioritizes mutual growth and values collaboration that benefits all parties involved, he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The US Department of Defense will be able to spend $100 million on defense projects before the final approval of military funding by lawmakers for 2024, Azernews reports, citing an international media outlet.

The draft defense budget for fiscal year 2024 (which began in the country on October 1) will allow the defense department to begin work on some military programs without formal congressional approval. However, the Pentagon units responsible for the implementation of a particular project will need to provide the Secretary of Defense with a justification for why work on these programs should begin immediately, without waiting for budget approval, what national security needs they meet and what their cost is.

Earlier, US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall made a similar initiative, but he offered to allocate $300m for these purposes. The minister stressed that the United States "concedes to China" the time spent on budget coordination.

Among the projects that can be funded from $ 100 million is the modernization of F-16 fighter jets, Andrew Hunter, Assistant Secretary of the US Air Force for Procurement, Technology and Logistics, said in an interview with Defense News in September. This will allow six aircraft to be equipped with autonomous software and begin experiments on the creation of unmanned fighters.

The draft US defense budget for 2024 was agreed upon by the Armed services committees of both houses of Congress last week. The defense budget will amount to a record $886 billion, which is 3% more than in the last fiscal year.
Two men wearing traditional Krampus beast-like mask from Alpine region ()

Everyone is familiar with Christmas classics such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, A Christmas Story and the several versions of Dr. Seusss How the Grinch Stole Christmas, as well as modern classics like Elf and Bad Santa. However, there can be a darker side to the holiday season: Krampus.

There are several legends about Krampus, but the gist is that Krampus is a horned being, sometimes half-goat/half-demon, originating in the Alps, who scares children that are misbehaving during the holiday season.

If you want to watch something other than the traditional Christmas specials, this list is for you.

Minstrel Krampus, from the television series, American Dad. Originally aired in 2013.

High schooler, Steve Smith, has made Santas naughty list and is kidnapped by Krampus. The Smith family must travel to the North Pole and rescue him. Hilarity and hijinks ensue during the rescue mission.

Violent Night movie. Originally released in theaters in 2022.

A group of holiday-themed-named mercenaries holds a wealthy family hostage in their home and Santa Claus must come to the rescue in this violent action comedy. The main mercenary, Scrooge, wants the familys $300,000,000 mansion, and his second-in-command, Krampus, is there to help Scrooge in his mission.

Wrath of the Krampus, from the television series, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated. Originally aired in 2012.

The Scooby Gang must search for the pieces of the Planispheric Disc when a mysterious goat-man, Krampus, appears.

A Very Venture Christmas, from the television series, The Venture Brothers. Originally aired in 2004.

Its time for the Venture Brothers annual party. Unfortunately, the Dean interrupts their party plans when he accidentally summons the Christmas demon. Action and adventure follow as the brothers just try to save their house and annual party.

Twelve Days of Krampus, from the television series, Grimm. Originally aired in 2013.

Delinquent teens go missing in town and an Austrian anti-Santa is the prime suspect. Krampus takes the teens and hides them away in a cold forest in baskets hanging from trees. Will the teens be rescued before the twelve days are over?

Krampus movie. Originally released in theaters in 2015.

Max, a disgruntled young boy, accidentally summons Krampus to his house during Christmas. The family must come together to save each other from Krampus and his evil antics.

Robot Chicken Christmas Special: X-Mas United, from the television series Robot Chicken. Originally aired in 2015. Also, two more episodes in 2018 and 2019.

Robot Chicken provided three Krampus segments over the years, but the first premiered in 2015 during their Christmas special. The recurring character, The Nerd, discovers Krampus is his father.

Welcome to Halloween, from the television series, Teen Titans GO! Originally aired in 2022.

While on a journey, the titans escape the cold by going into a castle where they discover Krampus. The titans learn that being Krampus, is actually a family business and the current version doesnt want to be Krampus; he just wants to be happy.

A Krampus Carol, from the television series, The League. Originally aired in 2012.

The recurring character, Taco, dresses up at the anti-Santa, Krampus, and makes his way to the local mall to scare the local children. He is taken down by the mall Santa in this non-traditional Christmas special.

A Christmas Horror Story, movie. Originally released in 2015.

William Shatner plays an alcoholic radio DJ forced to work the Christmas Eve shift. An anthology of horror stories is weaved together through Shatners characters radio show. Krampus appears in the fourth story when zombies have taken over the local mall.

Bonus: Better Watch Out and Fairytale of Salzburg from the Dr. Who audio series, Ravenous. Originally released in 2018.

The Dr. and the population of Salzburg become trapped in the underworld after Krampus brings a wave of misery to the city during his visit.

Due to Krampus very nature and the overall adult themes/language of some of these specials, be sure to view them before watching with the children.
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Would you like to become more involved in State Bar activities? Consider serving your colleagues and helping shape the profession as an officer, Board of Governors representative, or a section or division officer.

Election ballots will be mailed by the second Friday in April, and ballots must be returned to the State by no later than the fourth Friday in April. Those elected will take office on July 1.

State Bar offices

The State Bar annually elects a president-elect, treasurer or secretary, and a Judicial Council representative. A Nominating Committee, appointed by the president, chooses two or more candidates to run for these offices. The Nominating Committee announces its slate of candidates by Dec. 15. Members also can self-nominate by submitting to the State Bar a petition signed by 100 active Bar members by Feb. 1. For more information or to receive a petition, contact Kim Jansen at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6106, (608) 250-6106.

Board of Governors. Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 elect governors in odd years. Districts 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 16 elect governors in even years. District 2 (Milwaukee County) elects seven governors in odd years and five governors in even years. District 9 (Dane County) elects three governors in odd years and four governors in even years, and all other districts elect one governor. The Board of Governors is the State Bar's policymaking body. Governors serve two-year terms.

To be considered for a seat on the board, members must submit a  petition signed by 10 active members in their district to the State Bar by the first business day of March.

For more information, contact Kim Jansen at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6106, (608) 250-6106.

Learn more about State Bar elections here.

Divisions

The State Bar's divisions hold annual elections in April.

By mailed ballot, Government Lawyers Division (GLD) members elect a president-elect, secretary, treasurer, and three division directors to serve two-year terms in odd years. Three division directors are elected to serve two-year terms in even years. GLD members interested in being nominated are invited to write to the GLD Nominating Committee in care of the State Bar by Jan. 16.

By mailed ballot, active and emeritus status Nonresident Lawyers Division (NRLD) members elect a president-elect for a one-year term, and a secretary, treasurer, and five directors to serve two year terms in odd years. In even years, a president-elect for a one-year term and five directors for two-year terms are elected. Those active and emeritus status NRLD members interested in running are asked to send their resumes and letters of interest to NRLD Nominating Committee in care of the State Bar by Jan. 15.

The following Senior Lawyers Division (SLD) positions are elected each spring: a president-elect for a one-year term, a secretary (in odd years), a treasurer (in even years), and three directors to serve two-year terms. According to the SLD bylaws, if the election is uncontested, no ballots will be mailed. Interested members are invited to write to the SLD Nominating Committee in care of the State Bar by Jan. 16.

Each April the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) members elect the division president-elect by mailed ballot. Members interested in running for division president--elect are invited to write to the YLD Nominating Committee Chair in care of the State Bar by Feb. 1. YLD directors, the secretary, and treasurer are elected during the annual meeting in May, by nomination from the floor.

Sections

Members interested in running for board positions on any of the State Bar's sections should contact the appropriate section chair.

ABA Delegates

State Bar of Wisconsin ABA Delegates (elected by Board of Governors for a two-year term)

Jose Castro (Young Lawyer Delegate) (2025)

Elisabeth T. Bridge (2024)

Theresa M. McDowell (2024)



Renee A. Read (2025)



Amy E. Wochos (2024)

State of Wisconsin Delegate (elected by Wisconsin ABA members for a three-year term)

Christina Plum (2025)

Nominations

Nomination guidelines for these positions can be found in the State Bar Bylaws, Article III.

The State Bar Board of Governors elects representatives to the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates at the board meeting held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the State Bar of Wisconsin each year. Three representatives are elected in even-numbered years, and two representatives are elected in odd-numbered years. One of the two positions elected in an odd-numbered year must be held by a young lawyer who is otherwise qualified under the ABA Constitution. Terms begin immediately following the ABA annual meeting in August.

Petitions must be filed with State Bar Executive Director by April 15.
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Shares of AngloGold Ashanti plc (NYSE:AU  Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of Hold from the seven research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $23.40.

AU has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $18.00 price target on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Morgan Stanley cut AngloGold Ashanti from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 18th. Scotiabank decreased their price objective on AngloGold Ashanti from $28.00 to $26.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 21st. StockNews.com raised AngloGold Ashanti from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on AngloGold Ashanti in a report on Thursday, October 12th. They set an overweight rating and a $24.00 price objective on the stock.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On AngloGold Ashanti

AngloGold Ashanti Stock Performance

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale purchased a new position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the second quarter valued at approximately $1,031,000. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC purchased a new position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the second quarter valued at approximately $241,000. Citigroup Inc. increased its stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 32.4% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 147,596 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $3,570,000 after buying an additional 36,150 shares during the period. Profund Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 3.5% during the second quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 43,240 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $912,000 after buying an additional 1,470 shares during the period. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the second quarter valued at approximately $461,000. 22.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Shares of AU opened at $17.03 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $7.13 billion, a PE ratio of 9.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a current ratio of 2.17, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $17.99 and a 200-day moving average price of $19.39. AngloGold Ashanti has a 12-month low of $14.91 and a 12-month high of $30.26.

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AngloGold Ashanti plc operates as a gold mining company in Africa, the Americas, and Australia. The company explores for gold. Its flagship property is a 100% owned Geita project located in the Lake Victoria goldfields of the Mwanza region in north-western Tanzania. The company also owns 100% interest in the Iduapriem mine which covers 137 square kilometers located in the western region of Ghana; Obuasi project located in Ghana; AGA Mineracao in Brazil; Serra Grande located in central Brazil in the state of Goias; Greenfield Projects in the Beatty district in Nevada; and Sunrise Dam in Australia.

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Shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (LON:RR  Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of Hold from the seven research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 206 ($2.59).

Several research firms have weighed in on RR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc to an overweight rating and lifted their price target for the company from GBX 235 ($2.95) to GBX 400 ($5.02) in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a GBX 310 ($3.89) target price on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th.

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Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Stock Up 2.6 %

Insider Buying and Selling

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc stock opened at GBX 296.90 ($3.73) on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of 25.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,446.50, a PEG ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 1.70. The companys 50-day moving average is GBX 231.22 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 199.25.

In other news, insider Birgit Behrendt bought 379 shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 7th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 289 ($3.63) per share, for a total transaction of 1,095.31 ($1,374.98). In other Rolls-Royce Holdings plc news, insider Birgit Behrendt acquired 379 shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 7th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 289 ($3.63) per share, for a total transaction of 1,095.31 ($1,374.98). Also, insider Stuart Bradie purchased 95,437 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 29th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 260 ($3.26) per share, for a total transaction of 248,136.20 ($311,494.10). Insiders have acquired 145,498 shares of company stock worth $36,513,243 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

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Rolls-Royce Holdings plc operates as an industrial technology company in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Civil Aerospace, Defence, Power Systems, and New Markets. The Civil Aerospace segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells aero engines for large commercial aircraft, regional jet, and business aviation markets, as well as provides aftermarket services.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM  Free Report) (TSE:CM) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Friday.

CM has been the subject of a number of other research reports. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from $69.00 to $65.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 1st. Barclays reduced their price target on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from $58.00 to $57.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from $72.00 to $67.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $62.50.

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Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Stock Down 0.3 %

CM opened at $42.90 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 1.05. The business has a 50-day moving average of $38.27 and a two-hundred day moving average of $40.46. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a 12 month low of $34.35 and a 12 month high of $46.92.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM  Get Free Report) (TSE:CM) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 30th. The bank reported $1.16 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.13 by $0.03. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a return on equity of 13.55% and a net margin of 8.99%. The company had revenue of $5.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.34 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.08 EPS. The firms revenue was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 4.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 28th will be given a $0.6623 dividend. This represents a $2.65 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.18%. This is a positive change from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 27th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces dividend payout ratio is presently 67.54%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 187.3% in the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 266,581 shares of the banks stock worth $10,338,000 after purchasing an additional 173,801 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 8.7% during the third quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 177,501 shares of the banks stock valued at $6,852,000 after purchasing an additional 14,141 shares during the last quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board lifted its holdings in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 177.6% during the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 990,605 shares of the banks stock valued at $38,415,000 after purchasing an additional 633,770 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning lifted its holdings in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 15.9% during the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 28,455 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,099,000 after purchasing an additional 3,912 shares during the last quarter. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its holdings in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 10.0% during the third quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 2,698,340 shares of the banks stock valued at $104,903,000 after purchasing an additional 244,331 shares during the last quarter. 43.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

(Get Free Report)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S.

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Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC lifted its position in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:LNG  Free Report) by 51.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 5,300 shares of the energy companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,800 shares during the period. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLCs holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $808,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bornite Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy in the 1st quarter valued at about $13,865,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Cheniere Energy in the 1st quarter worth approximately $2,102,000. Yousif Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 7.3% during the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 5,069 shares of the energy companys stock worth $703,000 after purchasing an additional 345 shares during the period. Raymond James Trust N.A. increased its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy by 95.0% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 4,244 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $589,000 after purchasing an additional 2,068 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy by 22.8% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 4,287 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $594,000 after purchasing an additional 797 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.86% of the companys stock.

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Cheniere Energy Price Performance

NYSEAMERICAN:LNG opened at $172.70 on Tuesday. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a 12 month low of $135.00 and a 12 month high of $183.46. The company has a quick ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.02. The stock has a market capitalization of $41.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.75, a PEG ratio of 0.38 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $158.60.

Cheniere Energy Increases Dividend

Cheniere Energy ( NYSEAMERICAN:LNG Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The energy company reported $2.37 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.55 by ($0.18). Cheniere Energy had a net margin of 50.46% and a return on equity of 154.07%. The company had revenue of $4.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.90 billion. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 17.57 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, November 9th were issued a $0.435 dividend. This is an increase from Cheniere Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. This represents a $1.74 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 8th. Cheniere Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 3.44%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on LNG shares. Capital One Financial initiated coverage on shares of Cheniere Energy in a research note on Wednesday, September 6th. They issued an overweight rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Cheniere Energy from $189.00 to $183.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 29th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on Cheniere Energy from $172.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. StockNews.com downgraded Cheniere Energy from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Cheniere Energy in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating and a $205.00 price target on the stock. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $196.00.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Cheniere Energy

Cheniere Energy Profile

(Free Report)

Cheniere Energy, Inc, an energy infrastructure company, primarily engages in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) related businesses in the United States. It owns and operates the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana; and the Corpus Christi LNG terminal near Corpus Christi, Texas. The company also owns Creole Trail pipeline, a 94-mile pipeline interconnecting the Sabine Pass LNG terminal with various interstate pipelines; and operates Corpus Christi pipeline, a 21.5-mile natural gas supply pipeline that interconnects the Corpus Christi LNG terminal with various interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines.

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Shares of Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE:BAP  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the five research firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $155.30.

Several research firms have issued reports on BAP. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Credicorp in a report on Monday, October 16th. They set a buy rating and a $161.20 price objective on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Credicorp from $175.00 to $162.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 13th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Credicorp in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Credicorp

Credicorp Price Performance

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Graham Capital Management L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Credicorp in the 3rd quarter valued at about $309,000. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in shares of Credicorp by 78.4% in the 3rd quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 492,577 shares of the banks stock valued at $63,035,000 after purchasing an additional 216,483 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its holdings in shares of Credicorp by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 232,238 shares of the banks stock valued at $29,719,000 after purchasing an additional 1,633 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in shares of Credicorp by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,286,946 shares of the banks stock valued at $164,693,000 after purchasing an additional 75,280 shares during the period. Finally, Royal London Asset Management Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Credicorp by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 132,933 shares of the banks stock valued at $17,007,000 after purchasing an additional 5,500 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.05% of the companys stock.

Shares of NYSE BAP opened at $124.58 on Tuesday. Credicorp has a twelve month low of $116.42 and a twelve month high of $160.15. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The company has a market capitalization of $9.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.08, a PEG ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.01. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $125.32 and a two-hundred day moving average of $137.44.

Credicorp (NYSE:BAP  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The bank reported $4.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.36 by ($0.13). The company had revenue of $1.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.27 billion. Credicorp had a return on equity of 15.02% and a net margin of 22.00%. As a group, analysts expect that Credicorp will post 16.19 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Credicorp

(Get Free Report

Credicorp Ltd. provides various financial, insurance, and health services and products primarily in Peru and internationally. Its Universal Banking segment includes granting various credits and financial instruments to individuals and legal entities; and various deposits and checking accounts. The Insurance and Pensions segment includes the issuance of insurance policies to cover losses in commercial property, transport, marine vessels, automobiles, life, health, and pensions; management services for private pension funds.

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Potrero Capital Research LLC cut its holdings in Douglas Elliman Inc. (NYSE:DOUG  Free Report) by 97.2% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 15,039 shares of the companys stock after selling 525,960 shares during the period. Douglas Elliman comprises about 0.0% of Potrero Capital Research LLCs holdings, making the stock its 27th largest position. Potrero Capital Research LLCs holdings in Douglas Elliman were worth $33,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. AE Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Douglas Elliman in the second quarter valued at $35,000. Cannon Global Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Douglas Elliman in the second quarter valued at $36,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in Douglas Elliman in the first quarter valued at $39,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Douglas Elliman by 35.1% in the second quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 17,888 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 4,649 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its stake in Douglas Elliman by 305.1% in the second quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 17,890 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 13,474 shares in the last quarter. 54.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Douglas Elliman Stock Down 1.7 %

Douglas Elliman stock traded down $0.04 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $2.28. The companys stock had a trading volume of 40,293 shares, compared to its average volume of 689,675. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $1.93 and a 200-day simple moving average of $2.22. Douglas Elliman Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $1.57 and a fifty-two week high of $5.02.

Douglas Elliman Profile

Douglas Elliman ( NYSE:DOUG Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, November 7th. The company reported ($0.06) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.08) by $0.02. Douglas Elliman had a negative return on equity of 17.58% and a negative net margin of 4.86%. The business had revenue of $251.55 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $288.19 million. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Douglas Elliman Inc. will post -0.37 EPS for the current fiscal year.

(Free Report)

Douglas Elliman Inc owns Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC, operating as a residential brokerage company in the United States with operations in New York, Florida, California, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC In addition, Douglas Elliman sources, uses and invests in early-stage, disruptive property technology (PropTech) solutions and companies and provides other real estate services, including development marketing, property management and settlement and escrow services in select markets.

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Steven_Kriemadis / iStock.com

Theres good news for shoppers that missed out on Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals this year. Now through December 24, Costco members have the opportunity to score major savings on brand name appliances including Samsung and Whirlpool.

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Costco members receive $800 in savings on the purchase of the black stainless steel Samsung washer and dryer set.

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This washer features Active WaterJet, which is a built-in water faucet for easy pretreating, as well as Steam Sanitize+ where multi-steam technology steams away wrinkles, odors and static.

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Whirlpool Top Control Dishwasher with Soak and Clean Cycle

Costco members shopping for a new dishwasher receive $370 in savings purchasing Whirlpools top control dishwasher in stainless steel.

This 24-inch dishwasher features a sensor cycle, a one-hour wash cycle and tap touch controls to make washing dishes a breeze from start to finish.

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Seeking more holiday deals on refrigerators? Costco members shopping the stainless steel Whirlpool 4-Door Refrigerator will receive $1,050 in savings while supplies last.

Store all your groceries exactly where you can see them. Each 19.2 cubic foot refrigerator features pull-out freezer shelves, easy reach shelves and flexible organization spaces.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Best Appliance Deals at Costco This December
Shares of Element Solutions Inc (NYSE:ESI  Get Free Report) have received a consensus recommendation of Hold from the four brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has issued a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $21.40.

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. TheStreet downgraded shares of Element Solutions from a b rating to a c rating in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Element Solutions in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock.

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Insider Activity

Institutional Trading of Element Solutions

In related news, Director Nichelle Maynard-Elliott sold 4,174 shares of Element Solutions stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.61, for a total transaction of $81,852.14. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 24,789 shares of the companys stock, valued at $486,112.29. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Corporate insiders own 7.90% of the companys stock.

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ESI. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Element Solutions by 85.6% during the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,318 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 608 shares in the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Element Solutions by 47.8% in the second quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,713 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 554 shares during the period. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Element Solutions by 8,131.8% during the second quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,811 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 1,789 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd raised its position in shares of Element Solutions by 32.1% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,845 shares of the companys stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 692 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Element Solutions in the 2nd quarter valued at about $89,000. 91.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Element Solutions Price Performance

Shares of ESI stock opened at $21.16 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 96.16, a P/E/G ratio of 3.58 and a beta of 1.30. Element Solutions has a 52-week low of $17.08 and a 52-week high of $21.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 2.59 and a current ratio of 3.45. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $19.55 and a 200 day moving average price of $19.55.

Element Solutions (NYSE:ESI  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 25th. The company reported $0.36 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.34 by $0.02. Element Solutions had a return on equity of 13.15% and a net margin of 2.30%. The company had revenue of $599.30 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $624.50 million. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Element Solutions will post 1.29 earnings per share for the current year.

Element Solutions Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.08 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.51%. Element Solutionss payout ratio is presently 145.45%.

About Element Solutions

(Get Free Report

Element Solutions Inc operates as a specialty chemicals company in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Electronics, and Industrial & Specialty. The Electronics segment researches, formulates, and sells specialty chemicals and materials for various types of electronics hardware products.

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Shares of George Weston Limited (TSE:WN  Get Free Report) have received an average rating of Moderate Buy from the six analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$193.50.

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on WN shares. Desjardins upgraded shares of George Weston from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the stock from C$177.00 to C$187.00 in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. Scotiabank dropped their price target on shares of George Weston from C$184.00 to C$179.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. CIBC dropped their price target on shares of George Weston from C$215.00 to C$213.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. TD Securities dropped their price target on shares of George Weston from C$200.00 to C$195.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of George Weston from C$219.00 to C$215.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 22nd.

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George Weston Trading Up 0.6 %

George Weston Dividend Announcement

Shares of George Weston stock opened at C$162.53 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is C$156.74 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$154.56. The stock has a market capitalization of C$22.02 billion, a PE ratio of 15.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.41. George Weston has a 1-year low of C$144.41 and a 1-year high of C$183.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 152.99, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 0.73.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 15th will be given a dividend of $0.713 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 14th. This represents a $2.85 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.75%. George Westons payout ratio is 27.34%.

About George Weston

(Get Free Report

George Weston Limited provides food and drug retailing, and financial services in Canada and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) and Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (Choice Properties). The Loblaw segment provides grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, and financial services.

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Headwater Exploration (TSE:HWX  Free Report) had its price target lowered by Stifel Nicolaus from C$9.50 to C$9.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. Stifel Nicolaus currently has a buy rating on the stock.

A number of other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Headwater Exploration from C$8.50 to C$9.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, November 10th. Raymond James lifted their target price on shares of Headwater Exploration from C$9.00 to C$10.00 in a research note on Friday, September 8th. Finally, Desjardins lowered their target price on shares of Headwater Exploration from C$9.25 to C$9.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, September 18th.

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Headwater Exploration Trading Down 1.8 %

Shares of HWX opened at C$6.42 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 1.31 and a quick ratio of 2.07. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of C$7.15 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$7.01. Headwater Exploration has a 1-year low of C$5.23 and a 1-year high of C$7.79. The stock has a market cap of C$1.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.45.

Headwater Exploration (TSE:HWX  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 9th. The company reported C$0.21 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of C$0.21. Headwater Exploration had a net margin of 35.85% and a return on equity of 27.04%. The business had revenue of C$144.00 million during the quarter. Equities analysts forecast that Headwater Exploration will post 0.7198661 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Headwater Exploration Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 29th will be issued a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 28th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.23%. Headwater Explorations dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.50%.

About Headwater Exploration

(Get Free Report)

Headwater Exploration Inc engages in the exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas in Canada. It holds interest in the Marten Hills area located in Alberta; and McCully Field area located in New Brunswick. The company was formerly known as Corridor Resources Inc and changed its name to Headwater Exploration Inc in March 2020.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Imperial Oil (NYSEAMERICAN:IMO  Free Report) (TSE:IMO) from an underweight rating to a neutral rating in a report issued on Friday morning, MarketBeat.com reports.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. StockNews.com cut Imperial Oil from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, November 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Imperial Oil from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, November 8th. CIBC increased their price objective on Imperial Oil from $75.00 to $76.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, August 29th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Imperial Oil from $80.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, November 7th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $81.14.

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Imperial Oil Price Performance

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN IMO opened at $54.37 on Friday. Imperial Oil has a one year low of $44.22 and a one year high of $63.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The companys fifty day moving average price is $49.34. The stock has a market cap of $30.17 billion, a PE ratio of 8.23 and a beta of 1.49.

Imperial Oil (NYSEAMERICAN:IMO  Get Free Report) (TSE:IMO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 27th. The energy company reported $2.06 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.81 by $0.25. Imperial Oil had a return on equity of 22.23% and a net margin of 10.03%. The firm had revenue of $10.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.41 billion. As a group, equities analysts expect that Imperial Oil will post 5.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Imperial Oil Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 1st will be given a dividend of $0.3619 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 30th. This represents a $1.45 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.66%. Imperial Oils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.79%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Imperial Oil

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Imperial Oil by 8.4% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,713 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $139,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Imperial Oil by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 9,154 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $464,000 after acquiring an additional 236 shares during the period. Sigma Planning Corp boosted its holdings in Imperial Oil by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 8,450 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $520,000 after acquiring an additional 246 shares during the period. Meixler Investment Management Ltd. boosted its holdings in Imperial Oil by 4.1% during the 1st quarter. Meixler Investment Management Ltd. now owns 6,733 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $342,000 after acquiring an additional 263 shares during the period. Finally, AXA S.A. boosted its holdings in Imperial Oil by 5.0% during the 1st quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 5,684 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $289,000 after acquiring an additional 269 shares during the period. 20.74% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Imperial Oil

(Get Free Report)

Imperial Oil Limited engages in exploration, production, and sale of crude oil and natural gas in Canada. The company operates through three segments: Upstream, Downstream and Chemical segments. The Upstream segment explores for, and produces crude oil, natural gas, synthetic crude oil, and bitumen. The Downstream segment is involved in the transportation and refining of crude oil, blending of refined products, and the distribution and marketing of refined products.

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Prana Capital Management LP raised its position in Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE  Free Report) by 18.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 726,770 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 115,208 shares during the quarter. Intercontinental Exchange makes up about 5.5% of Prana Capital Management LPs investment portfolio, making the stock its 3rd largest holding. Prana Capital Management LP owned 0.13% of Intercontinental Exchange worth $82,183,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in ICE. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. grew its position in Intercontinental Exchange by 3.8% during the second quarter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. now owns 2,432 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $275,000 after buying an additional 88 shares during the period. Proffitt & Goodson Inc. boosted its holdings in Intercontinental Exchange by 1.1% in the second quarter. Proffitt & Goodson Inc. now owns 8,165 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $923,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Vestcor Inc boosted its holdings in shares of Intercontinental Exchange by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Vestcor Inc now owns 17,924 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,839,000 after buying an additional 94 shares in the last quarter. Headinvest LLC raised its position in shares of Intercontinental Exchange by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Headinvest LLC now owns 12,282 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,281,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Impact Advisors LLC raised its position in Intercontinental Exchange by 7.0% in the 4th quarter. Capital Impact Advisors LLC now owns 1,509 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $155,000 after buying an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. 87.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Intercontinental Exchange Stock Performance

NYSE:ICE traded up $1.19 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $117.33. 377,154 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,479,801. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $110.61 and a 200-day simple moving average of $112.22. The stock has a market capitalization of $65.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.95, a P/E/G ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. has a 1 year low of $94.16 and a 1 year high of $118.79.

Intercontinental Exchange Announces Dividend

Intercontinental Exchange ( NYSE:ICE Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The financial services provider reported $1.46 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.40 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $2 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.01 billion. Intercontinental Exchange had a return on equity of 13.06% and a net margin of 25.17%. Analysts anticipate that Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. will post 5.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 13th. Intercontinental Exchanges dividend payout ratio is presently 38.98%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on ICE shares. Barclays cut their price objective on Intercontinental Exchange from $122.00 to $120.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. StockNews.com downgraded Intercontinental Exchange from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on Intercontinental Exchange from $134.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 11th. Rosenblatt Securities dropped their price target on Intercontinental Exchange from $168.00 to $154.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Intercontinental Exchange from $119.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Intercontinental Exchange currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $132.83.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Intercontinental Exchange

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Intercontinental Exchange news, CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher sold 88,683 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $112.82, for a total transaction of $10,005,216.06. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,169,965 shares in the company, valued at $131,995,451.30. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher sold 88,683 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $112.82, for a total value of $10,005,216.06. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,169,965 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $131,995,451.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Warren Gardiner sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.34, for a total value of $56,170.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 15,025 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,687,908.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 109,913 shares of company stock worth $12,415,130 over the last quarter. 1.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Intercontinental Exchange Profile

(Free Report)

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of market infrastructure, data services, and technology solutions for financial institutions, corporations, and government entities in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Singapore, India, Abu Dhabi, Israel, and Canada.

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Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB  Free Report) had its target price cut by CIBC from C$35.00 to C$32.00 in a research note published on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the stock.

LB has been the topic of several other research reports. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$43.00 to C$33.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday. National Bankshares set a C$27.00 price target on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada and gave the company an underperform rating in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Cormark downgraded shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from a buy rating to a market perform rating and reduced their price target for the company from C$43.00 to C$40.00 in a report on Thursday, September 14th. CSFB reduced their price target on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$41.00 to C$39.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 1st. Finally, Desjardins reduced their price target on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$29.00 to C$28.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Laurentian Bank of Canada currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$31.47.

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Check Out Our Latest Report on Laurentian Bank of Canada

Laurentian Bank of Canada Trading Down 1.9 %

LB stock opened at C$25.36 on Friday. The company has a market cap of C$1.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.52, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.28. Laurentian Bank of Canada has a 52 week low of C$24.92 and a 52 week high of C$48.23. The companys 50-day moving average price is C$26.19 and its 200 day moving average price is C$32.53.

Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 7th. The company reported C$1.00 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$1.13 by C($0.13). Laurentian Bank of Canada had a return on equity of 6.42% and a net margin of 18.79%. The company had revenue of C$247.45 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$261.30 million. On average, equities research analysts expect that Laurentian Bank of Canada will post 4.5815603 earnings per share for the current year.

Laurentian Bank of Canada Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.47 per share. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 2nd. Laurentian Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.33%.

Laurentian Bank of Canada Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Laurentian Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services to personal, business, and institutional customers in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Capital Markets. The Personal Banking segment offers financial services, such as financial advisory services to financial intermediaries; and operates digital direct-to-customer platform to retail clients.

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Pointe Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 14.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 8,721 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,068 shares during the quarter. Pointe Capital Management LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $851,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Capital World Investors boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 3.9% during the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 116,185,273 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,342,014,000 after purchasing an additional 4,368,323 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 1.0% during the second quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 106,291,477 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,376,231,000 after buying an additional 1,092,991 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Philip Morris International by 1.1% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 95,439,062 shares of the companys stock worth $9,316,761,000 after acquiring an additional 1,056,110 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Philip Morris International by 3.1% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 58,592,611 shares of the companys stock worth $5,793,812,000 after acquiring an additional 1,745,868 shares during the period. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors raised its position in Philip Morris International by 4.9% in the second quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 51,558,741 shares of the companys stock worth $5,033,166,000 after acquiring an additional 2,430,519 shares in the last quarter. 79.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Bank of America dropped their price target on Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $111.00 in a report on Friday, September 29th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on Philip Morris International from $111.00 to $105.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Stifel Nicolaus restated a buy rating and set a $114.00 price objective on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $109.27.

Philip Morris International Price Performance

PM traded down $0.19 on Tuesday, hitting $92.80. The company had a trading volume of 469,810 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,233,186. The stock has a market cap of $144.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.77. The companys fifty day moving average price is $91.74 and its 200 day moving average price is $94.16. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1-year low of $87.23 and a 1-year high of $105.62.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The company reported $1.67 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.62 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $9.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.21 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 9.62% and a negative return on equity of 129.48%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 13.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.53 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.08 EPS for the current year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 21st will be issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.60%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 20th. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 100.97%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.25, for a total transaction of $942,500.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 198,447 shares in the company, valued at $18,703,629.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.15% of the companys stock.

About Philip Morris International

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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Poehling Capital Management INC. boosted its holdings in Target Co. (NYSE:TGT  Free Report) by 122.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,009 shares of the retailers stock after purchasing an additional 4,968 shares during the quarter. Poehling Capital Management INC.s holdings in Target were worth $1,188,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Target during the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. Sittner & Nelson LLC raised its stake in shares of Target by 150.6% during the 2nd quarter. Sittner & Nelson LLC now owns 213 shares of the retailers stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 128 shares during the period. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in shares of Target during the 2nd quarter worth $33,000. Penserra Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Target during the 4th quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Ogorek Anthony Joseph NY ADV raised its stake in shares of Target by 465.3% during the 2nd quarter. Ogorek Anthony Joseph NY ADV now owns 277 shares of the retailers stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares during the period. 78.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at Target

In related news, insider Don H. Liu sold 16,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total transaction of $2,080,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 48,882 shares in the company, valued at $6,354,660. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Matthew L. Zabel sold 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.33, for a total value of $525,320.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 16,486 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,165,106.38. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Don H. Liu sold 16,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.00, for a total value of $2,080,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 48,882 shares in the company, valued at $6,354,660. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 24,000 shares of company stock worth $3,127,520 over the last quarter. 0.23% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently commented on TGT. Truist Financial lowered their target price on Target from $133.00 to $116.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Target from $165.00 to $135.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 14th. Daiwa Capital Markets cut Target from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $134.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, August 22nd. Evercore ISI reduced their target price on Target from $135.00 to $130.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 19th. Finally, DA Davidson reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $193.00 target price on shares of Target in a report on Wednesday, August 16th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $153.07.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Target

Target Trading Down 0.5 %

TGT stock traded down $0.75 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $136.01. The company had a trading volume of 976,740 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,556,285. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19. The stock has a market cap of $62.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.44, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 1.10. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $117.97 and its 200 day moving average price is $124.74. Target Co. has a 52 week low of $102.93 and a 52 week high of $181.70.

Target (NYSE:TGT  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 15th. The retailer reported $2.10 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.48 by $0.62. The company had revenue of $25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $25.28 billion. Target had a return on equity of 30.69% and a net margin of 3.40%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.54 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Target Co. will post 8.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Target Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, December 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, November 15th were issued a dividend of $1.10 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 14th. This represents a $4.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.24%. Targets dividend payout ratio is presently 56.12%.

Target Profile

(Free Report)

Target Corporation operates as a general merchandise retailer in the United States. The company offers apparel for women, men, boys, girls, toddlers, and infants and newborns, as well as jewelry, accessories, and shoes; and beauty and personal care, baby gear, cleaning, paper products, and pet supplies.

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Port Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (NYSEARCA:VT  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 4,156 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $403,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in shares of Vanguard Total World Stock ETF by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,985,542 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $192,557,000 after acquiring an additional 72,465 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corp lifted its stake in Vanguard Total World Stock ETF by 65.1% in the 2nd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 118,941 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $11,535,000 after purchasing an additional 46,887 shares in the last quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in Vanguard Total World Stock ETF in the 2nd quarter worth $1,492,000. BOS Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Vanguard Total World Stock ETF by 6.4% in the 2nd quarter. BOS Asset Management LLC now owns 2,697 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $262,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brandywine Trust Co. lifted its stake in Vanguard Total World Stock ETF by 92.1% in the 2nd quarter. Brandywine Trust Co. now owns 1,071,320 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $103,897,000 after purchasing an additional 513,492 shares in the last quarter.

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Vanguard Total World Stock ETF Stock Down 0.1 %

VT stock traded down $0.13 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $99.63. The company had a trading volume of 297,023 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,751,790. The company has a market capitalization of $29.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.20 and a beta of 0.94. Vanguard Total World Stock ETF has a 12-month low of $84.82 and a 12-month high of $100.72. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $94.84 and a 200 day moving average price of $95.96.

Vanguard Total World Stock ETF Profile

Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund ETF (the Fund) is an open-end investment company. The Fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Global All Cap Index, which covers both well-established and still-developing markets. The Fund invests in both foreign and the United States stocks. The fund offers three classes of shares: Investor Shares, Institutional Shares, and ETF Shares.

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Private Portfolio Partners LLC cut its stake in shares of International Business Machines Co. (NYSE:IBM  Free Report) by 5.1% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 5,220 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 282 shares during the period. Private Portfolio Partners LLCs holdings in International Business Machines were worth $698,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of IBM. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in International Business Machines by 3.5% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 74,044,855 shares of the technology companys stock worth $9,907,942,000 after buying an additional 2,483,682 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of International Business Machines by 1.7% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 54,441,615 shares of the technology companys stock worth $7,284,833,000 after purchasing an additional 903,042 shares in the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its position in shares of International Business Machines by 138,904.7% in the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 17,781,486 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,379,341,000 after purchasing an additional 17,768,694 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in International Business Machines by 3.0% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 16,701,893 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,228,691,000 after purchasing an additional 492,571 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley grew its stake in International Business Machines by 22.8% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 16,592,094 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,337,660,000 after buying an additional 3,084,458 shares in the last quarter. 56.16% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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International Business Machines Trading Up 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE IBM traded up $1.33 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $164.84. The companys stock had a trading volume of 645,377 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,451,738. International Business Machines Co. has a 12 month low of $120.55 and a 12 month high of $164.84. The stock has a market cap of $150.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.69, a P/E/G ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.11, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 0.91. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $148.39 and a 200-day simple moving average of $142.76.

International Business Machines Announces Dividend

International Business Machines ( NYSE:IBM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 25th. The technology company reported $2.20 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.12 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $14.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.73 billion. International Business Machines had a return on equity of 38.51% and a net margin of 11.32%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.81 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that International Business Machines Co. will post 9.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, December 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 10th were issued a $1.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 9th. This represents a $6.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.03%. International Business Machiness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 88.06%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

IBM has been the topic of several research reports. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of International Business Machines from $135.00 to $130.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 17th. StockNews.com raised International Business Machines from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Bank of America upped their target price on International Business Machines from $155.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 5th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of International Business Machines from $152.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on shares of International Business Machines from $188.00 to $179.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 26th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $150.00.

Read Our Latest Analysis on IBM

International Business Machines Company Profile

(Free Report)

International Business Machines Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated solutions and services worldwide. The company operates through four business segments: Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing. The Software segment offers hybrid cloud platform and software solutions; software for business automation, AIOps and management, integration, and application servers; data and artificial intelligence solutions; and security software and services for threat, data, and identity.

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2024 will present the "golden opportunity" for investors to own Apple stock, Wedbush strategists said. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Apple is set to notch a $4 trillion valuation by the end of next year, Wedbush predicted.

Strategists raised their price target for the iPhone maker to $250, implying a 30% upside.

The tech giant is also poised to have a strong holiday season in 2023 on the iPhone 15, the firm said.

Apple is on track to notch a $4 trillion valuation by the end of next year  the first-ever company on the stock market to do so, according to Wedbush.

The investment research firm raised its price target for Apple to $250 a share from $240 previously, implying 30% upside from Monday's price of around $192 a share.

Meanwhile, the company's market cap is currently at $2.99 trillion, after notching a historic $3 trillion valuation earlier this year.

"We believe Apple will be the first $4 trillion market cap by the end of 2024 given the pace of growth and monetization we estimate for Cupertino over the next year," Wedbush strategists said. "We believe Apple is heading into a strong holiday season over the coming weeks that should translate into iPhone 15 growth that exceeds Street estimates for the December quarter."

The firm estimated that Apple could produce as many as 240 million iPhone 15 units in 2024, thanks to a strong upgrade cycle that's expected in the US and China. Demand for about 100 million new iPhones will stem from China alone, strategists predicted. That puts Apple in a good position to reap profits in China, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and competition from Chinese smartphone maker Huawei.

Revenue from the services side of the company is also increasing. That part of Apple's business could be worth as much as $1.6 trillion, Wedbush estimated, which will be a "key dynamic" for the stock's value in the near-future.

Combined with strong iPhone sales, that could make 2024 a "golden opportunity" for investors to own Apple stock, strategists added.

"With a growing iPhone business again into 2024 on the heels of what we view as a new tech bull market beginning, Apple is poised to have a strong year ahead," strategists said. "In a nutshell, Apple is in the Rock of Gibraltar-like strong position heading into 2024 with the stage set for a renaissance of growth in Cupertino."

The investment research firm has been a long-running bull on Apple stock, particularly within the context of the huge rally mega-cap tech has seen in 2023. That rally will likely continue, thanks to around $1 trillion of AI spending that's bound to take place over the next decade, Wedbush previously estimated.

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Ranger Investment Management L.P. boosted its position in The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE:AZEK  Free Report) by 3.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 557,687 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 16,920 shares during the quarter. Ranger Investment Management L.P. owned approximately 0.37% of AZEK worth $16,892,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of AZEK. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its position in shares of AZEK by 6.7% in the first quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 9,575 shares of the companys stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its position in shares of AZEK by 6.2% in the second quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 11,739 shares of the companys stock valued at $197,000 after purchasing an additional 682 shares in the last quarter. Snider Financial Group grew its position in shares of AZEK by 7.7% in the first quarter. Snider Financial Group now owns 10,655 shares of the companys stock valued at $265,000 after purchasing an additional 765 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System grew its position in shares of AZEK by 3.2% in the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 33,870 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,026,000 after purchasing an additional 1,047 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its position in shares of AZEK by 726.0% in the first quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,206 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 1,060 shares in the last quarter.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on AZEK shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on AZEK from $30.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, August 14th. Barclays reduced their target price on AZEK from $41.00 to $37.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 12th. B. Riley reduced their target price on AZEK from $42.00 to $40.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Wolfe Research started coverage on AZEK in a research report on Tuesday. They set an outperform rating and a $43.00 target price for the company. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on AZEK from $36.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, AZEK currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $35.89.

AZEK Trading Up 0.1 %

NYSE AZEK opened at $34.72 on Tuesday. The AZEK Company Inc. has a 1-year low of $19.45 and a 1-year high of $35.39. The company has a current ratio of 2.99, a quick ratio of 1.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $29.36 and a 200-day moving average of $29.78. The firm has a market cap of $5.13 billion, a PE ratio of 77.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.86.

AZEK (NYSE:AZEK  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, November 28th. The company reported $0.36 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.07. AZEK had a return on equity of 7.60% and a net margin of 4.96%. The company had revenue of $388.81 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $368.68 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.15 EPS. AZEKs revenue for the quarter was up 27.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that The AZEK Company Inc. will post 0.87 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at AZEK

In other AZEK news, CEO Jesse G. Singh sold 13,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.49, for a total transaction of $370,370.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,226,824 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $34,952,215.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 3.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About AZEK

(Free Report)

The AZEK Company Inc engages in manufacturing and selling of building products for residential, commercial, and industrial markets in the United States. It operates through two segments: Residential and Commercial. The Residential segment designs and manufactures engineered outdoor living products, such as decking, railing, trim and molding, siding and cladding, pergolas and cabanas, and accessories under the TimberTech, AZEK Exteriors, VERSATEX, ULTRALOX, StruXure, and INTEX brands.

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Recurrent Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI  Free Report) by 10.3% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,338,515 shares of the pipeline companys stock after acquiring an additional 125,140 shares during the period. Kinder Morgan makes up 3.9% of Recurrent Investment Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. Recurrent Investment Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.06% of Kinder Morgan worth $23,049,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Shelton Capital Management lifted its stake in shares of Kinder Morgan by 4.7% in the first quarter. Shelton Capital Management now owns 13,315 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $233,000 after buying an additional 599 shares during the period. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV raised its position in Kinder Morgan by 57.6% in the second quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 1,732 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 633 shares in the last quarter. Czech National Bank raised its position in Kinder Morgan by 0.3% in the second quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 233,614 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $4,023,000 after purchasing an additional 636 shares in the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA raised its position in Kinder Morgan by 2.3% in the second quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 28,791 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $496,000 after purchasing an additional 637 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Kinder Morgan by 1.5% in the first quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC now owns 45,456 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $796,000 after purchasing an additional 671 shares in the last quarter. 62.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently issued reports on KMI shares. US Capital Advisors raised shares of Kinder Morgan from a hold rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Kinder Morgan in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating and a $20.00 price target for the company. Pickering Energy Partners started coverage on shares of Kinder Morgan in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. They set a neutral rating for the company. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Kinder Morgan in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $20.57.

Insider Activity at Kinder Morgan

In other Kinder Morgan news, VP Dax Sanders sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.63, for a total value of $881,500.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 309,069 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,448,886.47. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Kinder Morgan news, VP Denise R. Mathews sold 30,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.55, for a total value of $526,500.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 79,217 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,390,258.35. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Dax Sanders sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.63, for a total transaction of $881,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 309,069 shares in the company, valued at $5,448,886.47. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 12.64% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Kinder Morgan Stock Performance

NYSE KMI opened at $17.58 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88. The firm has a market cap of $39.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.98, a PEG ratio of 5.34 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a 50 day moving average of $16.92 and a 200-day moving average of $17.03. Kinder Morgan, Inc. has a 1-year low of $15.89 and a 1-year high of $19.09.

Kinder Morgan (NYSE:KMI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 18th. The pipeline company reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.26 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $3.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.64 billion. Kinder Morgan had a net margin of 15.54% and a return on equity of 7.78%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 24.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.25 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Kinder Morgan, Inc. will post 1.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Kinder Morgan Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 31st were issued a $0.2825 dividend. This represents a $1.13 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, October 30th. Kinder Morgans dividend payout ratio is currently 102.73%.

Kinder Morgan Company Profile

(Free Report)

Kinder Morgan, Inc operates as an energy infrastructure company in North America. The company operates through four segments: Natural Gas Pipelines, Products Pipelines, Terminals, and CO2. The Natural Gas Pipelines segment owns and operates interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline, and underground storage systems; natural gas gathering systems and natural gas processing and treating facilities; natural gas liquids fractionation facilities and transportation systems; and liquefied natural gas gasification, liquefaction, and storage facilities.

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Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. cut its stake in shares of General Electric (NYSE:GE  Free Report) by 15.9% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 692,483 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 131,134 shares during the period. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. owned approximately 0.06% of General Electric worth $76,069,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Sei Investments Co. grew its stake in General Electric by 10.0% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 305,384 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $27,925,000 after acquiring an additional 27,682 shares during the period. Prudential PLC acquired a new position in General Electric in the first quarter valued at about $1,518,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in General Electric by 2.9% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 11,748 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $1,075,000 after acquiring an additional 334 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in General Electric in the first quarter valued at about $388,000. Finally, West Family Investments Inc. acquired a new position in General Electric in the first quarter valued at about $230,000. 74.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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General Electric Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:GE opened at $120.33 on Tuesday. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $113.96 and its 200 day simple moving average is $111.69. The company has a market capitalization of $130.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.57, a P/E/G ratio of 3.41 and a beta of 1.28. General Electric has a 1 year low of $59.57 and a 1 year high of $123.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 0.82.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

General Electric ( NYSE:GE Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The conglomerate reported $0.82 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.56 by $0.26. The firm had revenue of $17.35 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.46 billion. General Electric had a return on equity of 11.10% and a net margin of 14.38%. The companys revenue was up 19.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.35 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that General Electric will post 2.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

GE has been the subject of several recent research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on General Electric in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating for the company. Citigroup upped their price objective on General Electric from $135.00 to $148.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on General Electric in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. They set a buy rating and a $141.00 price objective for the company. TheStreet lowered General Electric from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on General Electric from $130.00 to $131.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $123.86.

View Our Latest Analysis on General Electric

General Electric Profile

(Free Report)

General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers.

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Rogers Communications (TSE:RCI.B  Free Report) (NYSE:RCI) had its target price hoisted by National Bankshares from C$75.00 to C$78.00 in a research report released on Friday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the stock.

Several other research firms also recently issued reports on RCI.B. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their price objective on Rogers Communications from C$72.00 to C$65.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. TD Securities lifted their target price on Rogers Communications from C$81.00 to C$82.00 and gave the company an action list buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 10th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Rogers Communications from C$69.00 to C$71.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, November 10th. Barclays lowered their target price on Rogers Communications from C$55.00 to C$54.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. Finally, Cormark lowered their target price on Rogers Communications from C$78.00 to C$76.00 in a research note on Friday, November 10th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Rogers Communications has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$72.96.

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View Our Latest Analysis on RCI.B

Rogers Communications Price Performance

Rogers Communications Company Profile

TSE RCI.B opened at C$61.62 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is C$55.62 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$56.54. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 441.92. The company has a market cap of C$25.72 billion, a PE ratio of 30.66, a PEG ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.52. Rogers Communications has a 1 year low of C$50.15 and a 1 year high of C$67.67.

(Get Free Report)

Rogers Communications Inc operates as a communications and media company in Canada. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The Wireless segment offers wireless voice and data communication services to individual consumers, businesses, governments, and other telecommunications service providers; postpaid and prepaid wireless services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands; and wireless devices, services, and applications to consumers and businesses.

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Royal Bank of Canada grew its stake in shares of The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 26.9% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 10,823,380 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,293,824 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada owned about 0.46% of Procter & Gamble worth $1,642,339,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PG. Exeter Financial LLC grew its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.4% in the first quarter. Exeter Financial LLC now owns 15,144 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,286,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. Diligent Investors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.4% in the first quarter. Diligent Investors LLC now owns 16,084 shares of the companys stock worth $2,391,000 after buying an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP lifted its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 5.3% in the first quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP now owns 1,322 shares of the companys stock worth $197,000 after buying an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Davis Investment Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 4.1% in the second quarter. Davis Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,658 shares of the companys stock worth $250,000 after buying an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LWM Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 2.2% in the second quarter. LWM Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,018 shares of the companys stock worth $457,000 after buying an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. 63.43% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Procter & Gamble Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of PG stock opened at $145.82 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a current ratio of 0.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $343.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $148.87 and a 200 day moving average price of $150.31. The Procter & Gamble Company has a fifty-two week low of $135.83 and a fifty-two week high of $158.38.

Procter & Gamble Announces Dividend

Procter & Gamble ( NYSE:PG Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 18th. The company reported $1.83 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $21.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.58 billion. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 18.30% and a return on equity of 33.49%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.57 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Investors of record on Friday, October 20th were issued a $0.9407 dividend. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, October 19th. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 61.04%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently weighed in on PG. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $160.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, October 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $172.00 to $169.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $161.00 to $151.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 16th. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $162.00 to $153.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 12th. Finally, William Blair initiated coverage on shares of Procter & Gamble in a research note on Friday, September 8th. They set a market perform rating on the stock. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Procter & Gamble has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $166.41.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on PG

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Procter & Gamble news, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 6,575 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.47, for a total value of $1,009,065.25. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 5,620 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $862,501.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Procter & Gamble news, insider Susan Street Whaley sold 575 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.97, for a total value of $83,357.75. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 7,498 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,086,985.06. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 6,575 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.47, for a total transaction of $1,009,065.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 5,620 shares in the company, valued at $862,501.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 79,382 shares of company stock worth $11,988,690 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock.

Procter & Gamble Profile

(Free Report)

The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands.

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Rush Island Management LP lifted its holdings in shares of Apartment Income REIT Corp. (NYSE:AIRC  Free Report) by 14.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,590,783 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 325,339 shares during the quarter. Apartment Income REIT comprises approximately 8.8% of Rush Island Management LPs holdings, making the stock its 5th biggest holding. Rush Island Management LP owned approximately 1.74% of Apartment Income REIT worth $93,501,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Apartment Income REIT in the 1st quarter worth $27,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Apartment Income REIT by 356.7% in the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 813 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 635 shares in the last quarter. First Manhattan Co. acquired a new position in Apartment Income REIT in the 1st quarter worth $121,000. Quantbot Technologies LP lifted its holdings in Apartment Income REIT by 148.0% in the 1st quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 2,750 shares of the companys stock worth $147,000 after buying an additional 1,641 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EHP Funds Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Apartment Income REIT in the 1st quarter worth about $246,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.13% of the companys stock.

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Apartment Income REIT Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:AIRC opened at $32.48 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01. Apartment Income REIT Corp. has a fifty-two week low of $28.22 and a fifty-two week high of $40.28. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $30.56 and a 200 day simple moving average of $33.10. The company has a market cap of $4.77 billion, a PE ratio of 4.99 and a beta of 0.91.

Apartment Income REIT Dividend Announcement

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 30th. Investors of record on Friday, November 17th were given a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.54%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 16th. Apartment Income REITs dividend payout ratio is presently 27.65%.

Several research firms have recently weighed in on AIRC. Mizuho dropped their target price on shares of Apartment Income REIT from $40.00 to $33.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, September 26th. Truist Financial raised shares of Apartment Income REIT from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $44.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, August 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Apartment Income REIT from $41.00 to $39.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 21st. Raymond James began coverage on shares of Apartment Income REIT in a research report on Tuesday, October 24th. They issued an outperform rating and a $37.00 target price for the company. Finally, Wedbush initiated coverage on shares of Apartment Income REIT in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. They issued an outperform rating and a $37.00 target price for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $38.71.

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About Apartment Income REIT

(Free Report)

Apartment Income REIT Corp (NYSE: AIRC) is a publicly traded, self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT). AIR's portfolio comprises 75 communities totaling 26,623 apartment homes located in 10 states and the District of Columbia. AIR offers a simple, predictable business model with focus on what we call the AIR Edge, the cumulative result of our focus on resident selection, satisfaction, and retention, as well as relentless innovation in delivering best-in-class property management.

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Semper Augustus Investments Group LLC trimmed its position in shares of Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 7.2% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,253 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 251 shares during the period. Chevron comprises 0.1% of Semper Augustus Investments Group LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position. Semper Augustus Investments Group LLCs holdings in Chevron were worth $512,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC grew its position in Chevron by 13.1% during the 2nd quarter. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC now owns 14,333 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,255,000 after acquiring an additional 1,661 shares during the last quarter. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA grew its position in Chevron by 13.4% during the 2nd quarter. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA now owns 79,961 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $12,582,000 after acquiring an additional 9,477 shares during the last quarter. Kooman & Associates grew its position in Chevron by 11.2% during the 2nd quarter. Kooman & Associates now owns 1,568 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $247,000 after acquiring an additional 158 shares during the last quarter. Bridgewealth Advisory Group LLC grew its position in Chevron by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Bridgewealth Advisory Group LLC now owns 5,703 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $898,000 after acquiring an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Reuter James Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Chevron by 30.6% in the 2nd quarter. Reuter James Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,659 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,048,000 after buying an additional 1,561 shares during the last quarter. 68.87% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Chevron Stock Up 0.0 %

Shares of NYSE:CVX opened at $144.33 on Tuesday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $151.26 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $156.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $272.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.71, a PEG ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.11. Chevron Co. has a 12-month low of $140.72 and a 12-month high of $187.81. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12.

Chevron Dividend Announcement

Chevron ( NYSE:CVX Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 27th. The oil and gas company reported $3.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.70 by ($0.65). Chevron had a net margin of 12.11% and a return on equity of 16.15%. The company had revenue of $54.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $51.41 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $5.56 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 18.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that Chevron Co. will post 13.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 17th were paid a $1.51 dividend. This represents a $6.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.18%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 16th. Chevrons dividend payout ratio is currently 44.84%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CVX has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Bank of America upgraded Chevron from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $190.00 to $200.00 in a research report on Monday, October 30th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Chevron in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Chevron from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $184.00 to $182.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 2nd. Raymond James cut their price objective on Chevron from $200.00 to $175.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on Chevron from $203.00 to $201.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $187.89.

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Chevron Company Profile

(Free Report)

Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the integrated energy and chemicals operations in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment is involved in the exploration, development, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas; liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and processing, transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as a gas-to-liquids plant.

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Southernsun Asset Management LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR  Free Report) by 7.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 56,040 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 4,567 shares during the quarter. Broadridge Financial Solutions accounts for about 1.0% of Southernsun Asset Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. Southernsun Asset Management LLCs holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions were worth $9,282,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 56.4% in the second quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 183 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp boosted its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 400.0% in the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 195 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares during the period. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 64.1% in the 1st quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 338 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares during the period. Finally, Lumature Wealth Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 82.5% in the 1st quarter. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC now owns 365 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 165 shares during the period. 89.36% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Broadridge Financial Solutions Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of BR stock opened at $191.09 on Tuesday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $181.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $174.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.74, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a current ratio of 1.44. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has a twelve month low of $131.83 and a twelve month high of $196.52. The company has a market capitalization of $22.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.94 and a beta of 0.99.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Dividend Announcement

Broadridge Financial Solutions ( NYSE:BR Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The business services provider reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.94 by $0.15. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a return on equity of 42.48% and a net margin of 10.81%. The business had revenue of $1.43 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.37 billion. As a group, research analysts predict that Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will post 7.72 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 15th will be given a $0.80 dividend. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.67%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 14th. Broadridge Financial Solutionss dividend payout ratio is currently 56.84%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have commented on BR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $178.00 to $192.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $190.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $226.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 5th. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded Broadridge Financial Solutions from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Tuesday, October 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $185.57.

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Insider Activity

In other news, President Christopher John Perry sold 20,614 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.94, for a total transaction of $3,647,441.16. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 56,738 shares in the company, valued at $10,039,221.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, President Christopher John Perry sold 20,614 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.94, for a total value of $3,647,441.16. Following the sale, the president now owns 56,738 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,039,221.72. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, VP Laura Matlin sold 4,090 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.49, for a total value of $775,014.10. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 6,481 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,228,084.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 28,475 shares of company stock worth $5,088,452. Company insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Profile

(Free Report)

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions.

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SRB Corp increased its stake in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 13.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,512 shares of the information technology services providers stock after acquiring an additional 174 shares during the period. SRB Corps holdings in Accenture were worth $467,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in Accenture by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 48,035,644 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $13,729,067,000 after purchasing an additional 634,462 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Accenture by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 26,644,296 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $8,221,897,000 after purchasing an additional 190,412 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in Accenture by 14.9% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 16,642,841 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $4,440,976,000 after purchasing an additional 2,163,582 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Accenture by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 11,816,701 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $3,636,842,000 after purchasing an additional 353,521 shares during the period. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in Accenture by 21.7% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 11,535,663 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $3,297,009,000 after purchasing an additional 2,060,646 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.42% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $340.00 price target on shares of Accenture in a report on Friday, September 29th. Piper Sandler Companies reduced their target price on Accenture from $314.00 to $312.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 22nd. Wedbush reiterated an outperform rating and set a $330.00 target price on shares of Accenture in a report on Tuesday, September 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Accenture from $314.00 to $341.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Finally, Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on Accenture in a report on Thursday, November 16th. They set a buy rating and a $410.00 target price on the stock. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $337.26.

Accenture Stock Up 1.5 %

Accenture stock opened at $342.31 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $214.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.78, a PEG ratio of 3.11 and a beta of 1.23. The stocks 50 day moving average is $316.52 and its 200 day moving average is $314.50. Accenture plc has a twelve month low of $242.80 and a twelve month high of $342.39.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 28th. The information technology services provider reported $2.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $15.99 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.07 billion. Accenture had a return on equity of 29.74% and a net margin of 10.72%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.60 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Accenture plc will post 12.2 EPS for the current year.

Accenture Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 12th were paid a $1.29 dividend. This represents a $5.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.51%. This is a positive change from Accentures previous quarterly dividend of $1.12. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, October 11th. Accentures dividend payout ratio is 47.91%.

Accenture declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback plan on Thursday, September 28th that permits the company to buyback $4.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the information technology services provider to reacquire up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are usually an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Accenture news, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, October 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $298.48, for a total value of $1,567,020.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 20,265 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,048,697.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Accenture news, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, October 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $298.48, for a total value of $1,567,020.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 20,265 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,048,697.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 9,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $314.68, for a total value of $2,832,120.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 26,830 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,442,864.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 36,334 shares of company stock worth $10,939,027. Corporate insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock.

Accenture Profile

(Free Report)

Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report released on Friday morning.

Other research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Needham & Company LLC reissued a buy rating and set a $115.00 price target on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Friday, October 20th. Susquehanna lowered their price target on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $135.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Monday, October 9th. Finally, Barclays started coverage on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Monday, October 23rd. They set an overweight rating and a $105.00 price target on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $116.67.

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Get Our Latest Analysis on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Price Performance

NYSE:TSM opened at $100.94 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 2.15 and a quick ratio of 1.88. The firm has a market cap of $523.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $93.59 and a 200-day moving average price of $95.62. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has a 1-year low of $72.84 and a 1-year high of $110.69.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The semiconductor company reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.16 by $0.13. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 41.42% and a return on equity of 28.28%. The company had revenue of $17.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.90 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.79 EPS. The firms revenue was down 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing will post 4.97 EPS for the current year.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 19th will be given a $0.5415 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 18th. This represents a $2.17 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.15%. This is a boost from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is presently 26.44%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Nemes Rush Group LLC acquired a new position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Baystate Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 1,333.3% during the second quarter. Baystate Wealth Management LLC now owns 258 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares during the period. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC increased its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 334.8% during the second quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 287 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 221 shares during the period. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the second quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the second quarter worth about $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.51% of the companys stock.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides complementary metal oxide silicon wafer fabrication processes to manufacture logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, and embedded memory semiconductors.

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FILE PHOTO: Two women walk next to the Reserve Bank of Australia headquarters in central Sydney

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia's central bank is considering a slate of new regulations for the payments system to open the use of mobile wallets, make costs more transparent and allow retailers to put surcharges on buy-now-pay-later services.

In a speech on Tuesday, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Michele Bullock also outlined efforts to support the struggling business of moving cash around the country and plans to modernise the direct entry system used for salaries and welfare payments.

The Australian government is greatly expanding the RBA's regulatory power over the payments system, particularly for mobile wallet services offered by the likes of Apple and Google.

Bullock said the powers should be in place sometime next year, allowing the RBA to launch a broad review of the retail payments system.

"Usage of mobile wallets has grown rapidly, but the costs associated with these services remain opaque and payment service providers can face barriers to access," she added. "We will need to consider whether regulatory action is needed in this area."

It will also consider formal regulation to allow retailers to place surcharges on BNPL services, much as they do on credit cards.

Regulation might also be needed to ensure retailers have access to least-cost routing, which financial institutions have been slow to roll out, Bullock said.

The RBA will continue its work on a central bank digital currency (CBDC) and is planning a project to examine how different forms of digital money and infrastructure could support the development of tokenised asset markets in Australia.

It will also support the transition from the Bulk Electronic Clearing System (BECS) to the New Payments Platform (NPP), while expanding the NPP's use for cross-border transactions.

Bullock noted that financial institutions would need to connect to the NPP all relevant accounts that currently send and receive payments via BECS, which processes around three-quarters of non-cash payments by value and is heavily relied on by many businesses and government agencies.

Story continues

Bullock voiced disappointment that some NPP participants were still not ready to provide cross-border payments services this month, urging the industry to deliver on this commitment as soon as possible.

"In the end, if it requires a mandate or a regulation, then we will do it but we prefer really just to work with the industry to get it done," said Bullock at the Q&A.

(Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Richard Chang and Sam Holmes)
Port Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY  Free Report) by 2.7% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 216,339 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,745 shares during the quarter. Teledyne Technologies comprises approximately 5.4% of Port Capital LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 3rd biggest position. Port Capital LLC owned 0.46% of Teledyne Technologies worth $88,939,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Teledyne Technologies by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 944 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $378,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares during the period. Keybank National Association OH lifted its stake in Teledyne Technologies by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 1,568 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $645,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC lifted its stake in Teledyne Technologies by 6.2% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 481 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $198,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. First Manhattan Co. lifted its stake in Teledyne Technologies by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 4,466 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $1,786,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ lifted its stake in Teledyne Technologies by 19.3% during the 1st quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 179 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $80,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. 87.57% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on TDY shares. Needham & Company LLC reissued a buy rating and set a $455.00 target price on shares of Teledyne Technologies in a research note on Tuesday, October 24th. BNP Paribas started coverage on Teledyne Technologies in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set an outperform rating and a $530.00 target price on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Teledyne Technologies from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $423.00 to $495.00 in a research note on Monday, August 14th. StockNews.com raised Teledyne Technologies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. Finally, UBS Group initiated coverage on Teledyne Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. They issued a buy rating and a $495.00 price target on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Teledyne Technologies currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $503.86.

Teledyne Technologies Stock Down 0.6 %

TDY stock traded down $2.37 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $415.02. The company had a trading volume of 15,031 shares, compared to its average volume of 239,322. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.68. The company has a market capitalization of $19.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 1.01. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $393.55 and a 200 day simple moving average of $400.43. Teledyne Technologies Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $364.98 and a fifty-two week high of $448.71.

Teledyne Technologies (NYSE:TDY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 25th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $5.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.76 by $0.29. Teledyne Technologies had a return on equity of 10.86% and a net margin of 14.02%. The company had revenue of $1.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.43 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $4.54 EPS. Teledyne Technologiess revenue for the quarter was up 2.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Teledyne Technologies Incorporated will post 19.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Teledyne Technologies

In other news, Director Schack Wesley W. Von sold 376 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $412.30, for a total transaction of $155,024.80. Following the sale, the director now owns 11,967 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,933,994.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Teledyne Technologies news, Director Schack Wesley W. Von sold 376 shares of Teledyne Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $412.30, for a total transaction of $155,024.80. Following the transaction, the director now owns 11,967 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,933,994.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Michael T. Smith sold 1,071 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $395.00, for a total value of $423,045.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 56,492 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,314,340. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 57,981 shares of company stock valued at $23,791,992. Corporate insiders own 2.14% of the companys stock.

Teledyne Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, provides enabling technologies for industrial growth markets in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and internationally. The company's Instrumentation segment offers monitoring and control instruments for marine, environmental, industrial, and other applications, as well as electronic test and measurement equipment; and power and communications connectivity devices for distributed instrumentation systems and sensor networks.

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Ternium S.A. (NYSE:TX  Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the six research firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $49.42.

A number of research firms recently commented on TX. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Ternium from $51.50 to $53.50 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, August 21st. Bank of America upgraded Ternium from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $47.00 price target for the company in a report on Monday, November 20th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Ternium in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Finally, TheStreet lowered shares of Ternium from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Friday, November 3rd.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Ternium

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ternium

Ternium Stock Down 0.4 %

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in Ternium by 1,971.9% in the 1st quarter. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC now owns 663 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 631 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its stake in shares of Ternium by 100.0% during the first quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,000 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the period. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Ternium in the 4th quarter valued at about $46,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC acquired a new position in Ternium in the 3rd quarter valued at about $57,000. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Ternium by 50.3% during the 4th quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 1,944 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $59,000 after acquiring an additional 651 shares during the last quarter. 12.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

NYSE TX opened at $38.98 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.94, a current ratio of 3.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. Ternium has a 52 week low of $28.47 and a 52 week high of $45.81. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $37.78 and its 200-day simple moving average is $39.81. The firm has a market cap of $7.65 billion, a PE ratio of 25.39, a P/E/G ratio of 3.16 and a beta of 1.64.

Ternium (NYSE:TX  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 31st. The basic materials company reported $1.38 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.61 by ($0.23). Ternium had a return on equity of 8.87% and a net margin of 1.86%. The firm had revenue of $5.19 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.80 billion. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Ternium will post 7.98 earnings per share for the current year.

Ternium Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, November 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 13th were given a dividend of $1.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 10th. This represents a dividend yield of 7.9%. Terniums dividend payout ratio is presently 143.79%.

About Ternium

(Get Free Report

Ternium SA, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, processes, and sells various steel products in Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil, the United States, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. It operates through two segments, Steel and Mining.

Further Reading

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Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC raised its holdings in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY  Free Report) by 116.1% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 3,673 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,973 shares during the period. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLCs holdings in Hershey were worth $917,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Stifel Financial Corp raised its holdings in Hershey by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 630,999 shares of the companys stock valued at $157,576,000 after acquiring an additional 1,733 shares during the last quarter. Grant Street Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Hershey in the 2nd quarter valued at $210,000. Hilltop Holdings Inc. grew its stake in shares of Hershey by 60.8% during the 2nd quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. now owns 6,981 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,743,000 after buying an additional 2,640 shares during the period. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP grew its stake in shares of Hershey by 318.1% during the 2nd quarter. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP now owns 118,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,465,000 after buying an additional 89,774 shares during the period. Finally, Ironsides Asset Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Hershey during the 2nd quarter valued at $307,000. 56.47% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CFO Steven E. Voskuil sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, September 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $207.00, for a total value of $310,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 35,816 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,413,912. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CFO Steven E. Voskuil sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, September 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $207.00, for a total value of $310,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 35,816 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,413,912. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Pamela M. Arway sold 182 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, October 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $194.56, for a total value of $35,409.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 15,562 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,027,742.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 4,682 shares of company stock worth $920,800 in the last three months. 0.22% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. DA Davidson assumed coverage on shares of Hershey in a research note on Friday. They set a neutral rating and a $205.00 price objective for the company. Royal Bank of Canada lowered shares of Hershey from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $239.00 to $213.00 in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Piper Sandler downgraded Hershey from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and lowered their target price for the company from $240.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Bank of America dropped their target price on Hershey from $300.00 to $250.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 17th. Finally, Stephens began coverage on Hershey in a report on Friday, October 13th. They issued an overweight rating and a $240.00 price target for the company. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $242.19.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on Hershey

Hershey Price Performance

Shares of HSY opened at $186.29 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $38.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.10, a PEG ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.34. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $190.85 and a 200 day moving average price of $218.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 0.63. The Hershey Company has a 12 month low of $183.74 and a 12 month high of $276.88.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 26th. The company reported $2.60 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.47 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $3.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.95 billion. Hershey had a return on equity of 54.74% and a net margin of 17.11%. The firms revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.17 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that The Hershey Company will post 9.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Investors of record on Friday, November 17th will be paid a dividend of $1.192 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 16th. This represents a $4.77 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.56%. Hersheys payout ratio is currently 51.46%.

Hershey Profile

(Free Report)

The Hershey Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of confectionery products and pantry items in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International. It offers chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products; gum and mint refreshment products, including mints, chewing gums, and bubble gums; pantry items, such as baking ingredients, toppings, beverages, and sundae syrups; and snack items comprising spreads, bars, snack bites, mixes, popcorn, and pretzels.

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BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua)  Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, has called for building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

Xi made the remarks in a signed article carried by the Nhan Dan Newspaper of Vietnam on Tuesday prior to his visit to the country, titled "Building a China-Vietnam Community with a Shared Future That Carries Strategic Significance And Writing Together a New Chapter in Our Modernization Drive."

"I believe that a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance will draw more countries to the great cause of building an Asian community with a shared future as well as building a community with a shared future for mankind," Xi said.

"It will lend more positive energy to our efforts for long-term development and good-neighborliness in Asia, and make greater contributions to peace and development of the world," added the Chinese president.

To steadily promote the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Xi said the two countries need to maintain strategic communication and reinforce the political foundation, make good use of their complementary strengths to cement the cooperation foundation, step up friendly exchanges to cement popular support and properly manage differences and expand the consensus.

(Source: Xinhua)
HANOI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua)  Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, said Tuesday that he expects to have an in-depth exchange of views with Vietnamese leaders on the overarching and strategic issues critical to the direction of the relations of the two Parties and two countries.

The leaders of the two sides will also discuss international and regional issues with common concerns, according to a written speech by Xi released upon his arrival for a two-day state visit to Vietnam.

He is scheduled to hold talks respectively with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and President Vo Van Thuong, and meet with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue.

Xi was warmly received at the airport by Pham Minh Chinh and other senior officials. More than 400 Vietnamese and Chinese people from all walks of life waved the flags of the two Parties and two countries to welcome the Chinese leader.

It is Xi's third visit to the Southeast Asian country since he became general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese president.

In the written speech, Xi said China takes its relations with Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, adding that he looks forward to taking the visit as an opportunity to push bilateral relations to a new stage.

(Source: Xinhua)
Weather Alert

...Very active weather and dangerous cold forecast for the next week... A very strong storm system will move through the region Friday. Very strong winds are expected and a wind advisory has been issued for the entire region for 40-50 mph wind gusts. Stronger winds are possible. Widespread rain may lead to localized flooding in areas where thunderstorms form with up to 2 inches of rain possible in those areas. Severe thunderstorms are not currently expected but there is a small potential over the southern Pennyrile region of Kentucky Friday morning. A change to sleet and snow is forecast at the end of the day but accumulations are still not anticipated. If temperatures do not rise above freezing Saturday it is expected to mark the first of 5 to 6 days where temperatures will not rise above freezing. Lows Saturday through Tuesday night are forecast to fall into or near the single digits. Below zero wind chills are likely most of Monday and Tuesday. This extended cold snap will be dangerous to those without adequate shelter and will likely challenge plumbing and other cold-sensitive infrastructure. Accumulating snow remains possible Monday but forecast amounts have trended a little lower, and will remain subject to change for the next few days as more data becomes available.

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM CST /7 AM EST/ FRIDAY TO MIDNIGHT CST /1 AM EST/ FRIDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...Portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From 6 AM CST /7 AM EST/ Friday to midnight CST /1 AM EST/ Friday night. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Wet ground may result in some trees being uprooted, and tree limbs will be blown down. A few power outages are likely. High profile vehicles will have difficulty. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A corridor of stronger winds, with gusts up to 60 mph is possible over the Pennyrile region of west Kentucky ahead of the front, and across the entire quad-state behind the front. If that begins to appear likely a high wind warning will be issued. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects. &&
GREENE TWP.  Proceeds from a newly operational utility-scale solar facility in Beaver County are expected to support hundreds of thousands of low-income households with utility assistance in the coming decades.

Pittsburgh-based Four Twelve Renewables' inaugural solar facility, BE Pine, in Greene Township near the Beaver Valley Power Station.

Pittsburgh-based Four Twelve Renewables on Friday celebrated its inaugural solar facility, BE Pine, in Greene Township near the Beaver Valley Power Station and former Bruce Mansfield coal plant.

The initiative is projected to provide 250,000 households with $75 million in utility assistance over 35 years through a partnership with Dollar Energy Fund and its participating utilities, which will match those funds.

More: Pa. lawmakers propose new community solar legislation

The concept of capturing power from the sun and using it to establish a funding mechanism to provide community support and utility assistance is extremely viable, said Paul Atencio, a Four Twelve Renewables board member. This initiative serves as a great model and can be replicated to benefit communities throughout the Commonwealth.

Dollar Energy Fund offers utility assistance to roughly 12,000 Pennsylvania households annually. Grants provide for natural gas, water, wastewater and electric utility service to low- and moderate-income southwestern Pennsylvania households experiencing hardship.

The solar farm, comprised of 98,000 bifacial solar panels estimated to generate approximately 66 million kilowatt hours of electricity, started operations last month. It was constructed over the past year.

Power generated at the facility will be transmitted to the electrical grid through an agreement with Duquesne Light Co. and PJM Interconnection. The project, financed by First National Bank of Pennsylvania, is under a 15-year contract to provide power for Pennsylvania American Water.

As the need for utility assistance continues to grow, we are always looking for innovative ways to meet that challenge, said Jody Robertson, communications director for Dollar Energy Fund. This project will provide tremendous help to our communities all while utilizing a clean natural resource.

Based on the projects success, the company expects to replicate the venture elsewhere in Pennsylvania.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: New Beaver County solar farm to fund utility assistance
BYDs participation at COP28 displays global sustainability leadership

BYD showcased a decade-long commitment to Belt & Road sustainability at COP28.

BYDs innovative ecological projects, Zero-Carbon Industrial Campus, SkyRail, and SkyShuttle gained recognition

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, December 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BYD, the worlds leading manufacturer in new energy vehicles (NEVs) and power batteries, showcased its impactful contributions to sustainable development at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, UAE, held from November 30 to December 12. This years conference, themed "Unite, Act, Deliver", keeps focusing on fostering international collaboration to address urgent climate change challenges.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212056037/en/

Michael Shu, Managing Director of BYD Europe, gave remarks at COP28 (Photo: Business Wire)

On December 8, Michael Shu, Managing Director of BYD Europe, attended the conference and delivered a compelling speech at the China Pavilions side event, shedding light on green practices under Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. Drawing on BYDs extensive experience in actively contributing to the initiative, Michael Shu shared insights on fostering sustainable development for new energy technology companies along the Belt and Road.

Emphasizing BYDs integral role in shaping a sustainable future, Michael Shu stated, "A decade ago, in response to the Initiative, BYD embraced an open and collaborative approach, gradually expanding its presence along the route. Our transformative journey, evolving from global product and technology outreach to leading the shift towards green energy, vividly illustrates our unwavering commitment to cultivating economic growth and employment in the Belt and Road regions."

As a consistent champion of ecological innovation, BYD actively upholds climate commitments through green solutions and tangible actions. In a groundbreaking move last year, BYD became the worlds first automaker to cease combustion engine vehicle production, spearheading a revolutionary shift in the industry. BYDs unique advantages in the new energy sector were further demonstrated by establishing the first Zero-Carbon Industrial Campus for a Chinese automotive brand at its global headquarters in Shenzhen. Recognition of BYDs Zero-Carbon Industrial Campus, SkyRail, and SkyShuttle among Shenzhens top ten exemplary low-carbon initiatives at the China Pavilions Shenzhen Session on December 5 underscores the companys leadership in sustainable practices.

Story continues

During COP28, BYD also officially announced a collaboration with the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), targeting to jointly drive electric mobility and energy transformation processes across the 27 member countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. This strategic initiative reaffirmed BYDs commitment to propelling global green transformation.

Additionally, BYDs full electric products, including BYD HAN, BYD ATTO 3, and pure electric buses, provided carbon-free transportation services throughout the conference at Expo City Dubai, aligning with COP28s zero-carbon transportation goals.

Looking ahead, BYD remains steadfast in its vision to Cool the Earth by 1C, continuing to play a pivotal role as a global leader in new energy vehicles. The company will persist in employing forward-thinking strategies and innovative technologies to lead the global new energy vehicle industry, unwavering in its commitment to contributing even more to global sustainable economic development and environmental protection.

About BYD

BYD is a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Founded in 1995 as a rechargeable battery maker, BYD now boasts a diverse business scope covering automobiles, rail transit, new energy, and electronics, with over 30 industrial parks in China, the United States, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Hungary, and India. From energy generation and storage to its applications, BYD is dedicated to providing zero-emission energy solutions that reduce global reliance on fossil fuels. Its new energy vehicle footprint now covers 6 continents, over 70 countries and regions, and more than 400 cities. Listed in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, the company is known to be a Fortune Global 500 enterprise that furnishes innovations in pursuit of a greener world.

For more information, please visit www.bydglobal.com.

About BYD Auto

Founded in 2003, BYD Auto is the automotive subsidiary of BYD, a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Aiming to accelerate the green transition of the global transportation sector, BYD Auto focuses on developing pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company has mastered the core technologies of the entire industrial chain of new energy vehicles, such as batteries, electric motors, electronic controllers, and automotive-grade semiconductors. It has witnessed in recent years significant technological advancements, including the Blade Battery, DM-i Super Hybrid Technology, e Platform 3.0, CTB Technology, e4 Platform, BYD DiSus Intelligent Body Control System, and DMO super hybrid system. The company is the worlds first carmaker to stop the production of fossil-fueled vehicles on EV shift and has remained top of new energy passenger vehicle sales in China for 10 years in a row.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212056037/en/

Contacts

Asia-Pacific: Liya Huang, liya.huang@byd.com tel: +86-755-8988-8888-69666

Europe: Penny Peng, PressEU@byd.com tel: +31-102070888

North America: Frank Girardot, frank.girardot@byd.com tel: +1 213 245 6503

Latin America: Jose Miranda, jose.miranda@byd.com tel: +56 9 96443906

Brazil: Pablo Toledo, pablo.toledo@byd.com tel: +19 3514 2554

Middle East and Africa: Nikki Li, meapr1@byd.com tel: +86-755-8988-8888-62319
While close to 100,000 people participated in the national demonstration in London on Saturday calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, thousands across the country held local actions. World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke to protestors in Leeds and Sheffield.

Leeds

Hundreds marched in Leeds, with several stopping to tell the WSWS why they had come.

Sheffield

Several hundred people marched in heavy rain from Mount Pleasant park in Sheffield to Devonshire Green, then on to City Hall where a rally was held.

Charlie, a graduate student, explained, I feel there is a disconnect between how people think about things and how the media and the government portray it.

I think if you had a poll of the whole country, most people would be in support of freeing Palestine.

Charlie

Youd have to be an idiot to not support it. Weve seen so many dead children, so many bombed cities. Its inhuman.

We need to appeal a lot more to the working class. Because everything ultimately comes back to the question of class.

The top minority are inflicting this suffering. And its just to make more money. To ensure that those at the top get more money. Theyre committing a genocide for profit basically.

The whole point of having Israel there is so that the West has a place in the middle east to inflict their influence.

Mckenzie said, Im here to stand in solidarity with Palestine and demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

A lot of people are suffering in Gaza, especially women and children, who cant speak out. So we have to be the voice for the voiceless.

They are being oppressed and systematically ethnically cleansed.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave evidence to the UK COVID Inquiry on Monday, refusing to take any responsibility for those who died at the height of the pandemic when he served as chancellor to Boris Johnson.

Like Johnson in his two days of testimony last week, Sunak began with an apology to the families who lost loved ones and all those who suffered in the various different ways throughout the pandemic as a result of the actions that were taken.

Rishi Sunak giving evidence at the UK COVID Inquiry, December 7, 2023 [Photo: screenshot of video: UK Covid-19 Inquiry/YouTube]

With this out of the way, Sunak was also as unrepentant as Johnson in defending murderous policies that led to over 233,000 deaths in the UK and left almost 2 million suffering the debilitating effects of Long COVID.

Evidence heard from witnesses and testimony presented in written form has already confirmed Sunak as a political criminal, who was if anything even more vociferous than Johnson in opposing lockdowns and basic public safety policies.

Sunak was the author of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, launched in the summer months of 2020 without any official scientific backing, offering discounted food and drink to encourage people into cafes, pubs, bars, restaurants and town centres. The policy was proven in several studies to have aided the spread of COVID when no vaccine was available.

In a WhatsApp exchange seen by the inquiry, this led then Chief Scientific Adviser to the Ministry of Defence Professor Dame Angela McLean to refer to Sunak as Dr Death the chancellor. This year McLean was appointed Government Chief Scientific Adviser, succeeding Sir Patrick Vallance who held the position in the first years of the pandemic.

In November, an extract from Vallances diary read to the inquiry described a heated exchange between Johnson and his chief adviser Dominic Cummings over whether to impose stricter lockdown measures in October 2020. Johnson refused, telling Cummings he was for letting it all rip and that those who would die from contracting COVID were already elderly and had had a good innings.

Vallance wrote in the same entry, DC [Dominic Cummings] says Rishi [Sunak] thinks just let people die and thats OK.

In another session, a separate January 2021 extract from his diaries was read. This recorded that Johnson was keen to end the remaining limited tier system of public health lockdown restrictions in place, and to end lockdown entirely. Dermot Keating, a counsel to the inquiry, read out, There is an entry... at a meeting on 25 January 2021, the PM [prime minister] is recorded saying he wants Tier 3 [by] 1 March, Tier 2 [by] 1 April, Tier 1 [by] 1 May and nothing by September.

And he [Johnson] ends it by saying the team must bring in the pro-death squad from HMT [HM Treasury].

In a limited probing of his role during his evidence sessions, Johnson still faced a few testing questions. Sunak, as the sitting prime minister, was given an easy ride over his five hours at the inquiry. Having denied in parliament last month that he had said to Cummings it was okay for people to die, Sunak was not even asked about the statement under oath.

The prime minister defended his Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which when in operation was referred to by then government Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty as Eat Out to Help Out the Virus. Sunak was able to declare that he was only taking government policy to its logical conclusion, referring to the scheme as a micro policy. The government had already agreed at the time to start reopening shops and This was a very reasonable, sensible policy intervention to help safeguard those jobs in that safe reopening.

About the hardest it got for Sunak was when Hugo Keith KC put it to him that he was violently opposed to a lockdown. Sunak replied, I think thats not a fair characterization of my position. Numerous times Sunak said he didnt recall pieces of evidence Inquiry counsel put before him, prompting audible sighs from bereaved families in the audience.

Sunak has not presented the Inquiry with a single WhatsApp message from the period being discussed. Asked why he replied, without challenge, Ive changed my phone multiple times over the past few years, and as that has happened the messages have not come across.

In October, according to The Sun, Sunaks old phone number that the government had told the Inquiry was no longer operational was leaked online. A prank caller is believed to have heard the phone ringing and a voicemail recording for Sunak. This too was never raised with him.

This is despite Sunak stating that, as the pandemic swept Britain, there was enormous anxiety in the Treasury over not being able to sell a gilt to raise money on the financial markets. This was of greater concern than scientific projections that between 500,000 and 800,000 people could die without a lockdown being in place.

In summer 2022, when Sunak was running for the position of Tory leader following Johnsons resignation, he and the eventual winner Liz Truss both declared that they would never oversee a lockdown again. As part of his campaign, the Spectator Tory House magazine produced a puff piece headlined, The lockdown files: Rishi Sunak on what we werent told. It revealed that Sunaks main concern was always the impact of life-saving lockdowns on the economy, with him cited as saying, I wasnt allowed to talk about the trade-off. He complained, The script was: oh, theres no trade-off, because doing this for our health is good for the economy.

The article noted that with the population having already seen horrific images from China and Italy of people unable to breathe due to COVID and dying: One of Sunaks big concerns was about the fear messaging, which his Treasury team worried could have long-lasting effects. In every brief, we tried to say: lets stop the fear narrative. It was always wrong from the beginning. I constantly said it was wrong. The posters showing COVID patients on ventilators, he said, were the worst.

The Spectator denounced the claimed evolution of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) from a sprawling group of scientific advisers, into a committee that had the power to decide whether the country would lock down or not. There was no socioeconomic equivalent to Sage; no forum where other questions would be asked.

Sunak was so distrustful of any science-based advice that the Treasury sent a mole in to monitor what was being said, with the aim of promoting any voices sceptical about lockdowns. The Spectator cited Sunak: The Sage people didnt realise for a very long time that there was a Treasury person on all their calls She was great because it meant that she was sitting there, listening to their discussions.

By December 2021, Sunak was all but ignoring SAGE and was taking soundings of his ownincluding academics at Stanford University, where he went to business school, and his former colleagues in the world of finance who had started to do some Covid modelling.

Sunak all but threatened to resign from the government if Johnson agreed to any further lockdowns. The article revealed, He [Sunak] flew back early from a trip to California. By this time JP Morgans lockdown analysis [which played down the danger of further deaths] was being emailed around among cabinet ministers like a samizdat paper, and they were ready to rebel. Sunak met Johnson. I just told him its not right: we shouldnt do this. He did not threaten to resign if there was another lockdown, but I used the closest formulation of words that I could to imply that threat. Sunak then rang around other ministers and compared notes.

The kid gloves treatment of Dr. Death ended with Inquiry Chairwoman Baroness Hallett saying as the session ended, Thank you very much, Prime Minister. I appreciate thatI doubt theres ever an easy time for you to come along here to give evidence. Referencing tomorrows vote on Sunaks Rwanda immigration policy, with the most right-wing sections of the Tory Party threatening to rebel and demanding harsher measures, Hallett commiserated, Appreciate its difficult this particular week and thank you for your help.

Johnson and Sunak would have been unable to unleash their social murder policy had it not been for the Labour Party, first under its nominally left leader Jeremy Corbyn, and from April 2020 under Sir Keir Starmer, both of whom pledged to constructively support the governments COVID response in the national interest.

At the height of the pandemic in September 2020, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (centre) meets at 11 Downing Street with (left) Frances O'Grady, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress and (right) Dame Carolyn Julie Fairbairn, Director General of the Confederation of British Industry. London, September 24, 2020. [AP Photo/Frank Augstein]

The trade union bureaucracy also played a critical role in defending the profit interests of the capitalist class. At the height of the pandemic in September 2020, Sunak met at 11 Downing Street with the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress Frances OGrady, and Dame Carolyn Julie Fairbairn, Director General of the Confederation of British Industry. Their discussions centred on fully reopening the economy and the TUCs pledge to manage the mass return to work.
Biobot Analytics updated its SARS-CoV-2 wastewater levels yesterday for the week ending December 6, 2023. Although the acceleration seen around the Thanksgiving holiday has subsided, it continues to rise in accordance with the beginning of the winter peak that is underway. The same trend was seen a year ago, followed by a second surge just before the Christmas holidays, which commenced when people began to gather once more with family and friends.

Based on the mass testing that was being done from the summer of 2020 until February 2022, when the BA.1/BA.2 (original Omicron variant) passed across the globe, researchers have observed a strong correlation between wastewater levels and clinical cases that provide them with strong confidence in these estimates.

Modelers will soon update their estimates given the new information, but already, based on the November 29, 2023 wastewater levels, they have estimated a very high rate of transmission, with 850,000 to 1.2 million daily infections taking place in the US. Other limited objective tools that support these findings include Walgreens Respiratory Index, based on less than 20,000 weekly COVID-19 tests, that indicates the national positivity rate is close to 30 percent and has been climbing since mid-October.

This data also has a direct corollary with the rise in weekly hospitalizations for COVID-19. Currently, for the week ending December 2, 2023, the figure stands at over 22,500, up 50 percent from just six weeks ago. The CDC is expected to update these figures on December 12. Weekly deaths have remained above 1,000 since the latter half of August, for at least 12 straight weeks.

Contributing to the latest phase of the four-year-long pandemic that shows no sign of abating is the JN.1 subvariant, the progeny of XBB.2.86 (Pirola) which harbors more than 30-plus mutations on its spike protein and has the SLip mutation known as L455S that is contributing to its significant growth. It is expected to become the dominant strain globally over the next several weeks. It has already been detected across close to 50 countries, including Brazil, and among travelers to and from India and Singapore.

Not surprising are the findings on this highly mutated progeny of the BA.2.86 lineage, according to a recent report from Japan by Dr. Kei Sato and colleagues at Sato Lab.

They wrote, [With regards to its] transmission power (effective reproduction number): It was revealed that the relative effective reproduction (Re) number of JN.1 is higher than that of the parent strain BA.2.86 and the currently mainstream HG.5.1 and HK.3. This means that JN.1 has the potential to become the next mainstream strain, and this can be attributed to the L455S mutation.

Although it has a lower RBD ACE2 binding test, meaning a relative lower infectivity than its parent, Pirola, nonetheless, JN.1 is showing significant resistance to the sera of those who have received the monovalent XBB.1.5 COVID-19 boosters, raising once more the failure of the vaccine-only strategy. As the authors noted, Taken together, these results suggest that JN.1 is one of the most immune-evading variants to date. Our results suggest that L455S contributes to increased immune evasion, which partly explains the increased Re of JN.1.

Given this predicted turn of events, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) should, based on the vaccine-only strategy, call for the manufacturing of the next iteration of the COVID-19 boosters. Additionally, it should supersede the current anemic campaign that started in September to inoculate the population with the XBB.1.5 monovalent COVID-19 vaccine and call for the population to get ready for another round of jabs. Conceivably, instead of annual COVID-19 vaccines, as had been suggested by the White House, the population could require new COVID-19 boosters on a quarterly basis.

Clearly, the logic of this perspective is approaching the absurdity of more and more frequent injections of a vaccine that ceases to be effective more and more rapidly. This prospect goes a long way to explain the repeated attempts by the CDC to evade or conceal the real characteristics of these variants that are rapidly mutating.

Rather than acknowledge the bankruptcy of the vaccine-only strategy and undertake a new international strategy of elimination and eradication that would protect life and well-being and assure a very real end to the pandemic, the CDC and other medical authorities are purposefully trying to ignore it at all costs.

One must then assume that CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohens recent visit to Michigan and acknowledgement of JN.1s rapid dominance are simply damage control after the fact. On December 7, during a press conference, she admitted that COVID is still causing the most number of hospitalizations. She went on to add, As we get deeper into December and the holiday season, we know that we are going to see more viruses and more bacteria circulating, particularly as we gather for holiday parties, travel for Christmas, we know we are going to see more of that.

She then concluded with the oft repeated phrase, We want to make sure that we are using all the tools that we know work to protect each other this holiday season. One could begin by asking for real-time information, ensure that the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee adopts real evidence-based recommendations and prioritize public health over the demands of the financial markets.

Simply stated, the necessity to rely on a handful of principled data scientists, like Ryan Hisner, Jay Weiland and Dr. Mike Hoerger, for reliable and as-accurate-as-possible information on the state of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic speaks volumes to CDCs dereliction of responsibility to the population of the United States and the world.

Dr. Hoerger recently wrote on his social media, Zooming out to the full pandemic shows the harm of the eight COVID wave: More daily infections than 89 percent of the pandemic, more than 25 times than the actual reported cases, more than 60,000 Long COVID cases each day eventually resulting from these infections, and a winter peak like last year. Indeed, if the virus doesnt kill you, even with mild disease, it stakes a claim on the quantity and quality of your life.

To appreciate this, it bears mentioning the recent talk given by Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, a nephrologist and scientist at Washington University, St. Louis, who has conducted extensive research on the clinical implications of COVID-19 infections in Australia at the Global Biosecurity at Kirby Institute hosted by Dr. Raina MacIntyre.

He said, Even when people had mild disease that did not necessitate hospitalization, they were experiencing an EGFR decline in kidney function in the year that followed the infection that measures about two to four milliliter per minute per year. You should be asking, What does that really mean?  What that really means is that their kidneys have aged in one year [what they should] have aged in about four years.  You can start thinking about it that the initial hit with SARS-CoV-2 is tantamount to accelerated aging. Instead of growing only one year older, if youre 50, instead of becoming 51, all of a sudden biologically you are 54 

It is no wonder that those with immune suppression, the elderly, those who are deconditioned by obesity, inactivity, pregnancy, smoking and substance abuse, or chronic conditions, are more predisposed to developing more clinically severe disease because they have less reserves against the perpetual onslaught of the virus. And given the complete disregard by the government of all beleaguered countries, it is simply a one-sided war on the working class.

Given the comprehensive work conducted by Dr. Al-Aly, the recent publication in Statistics Canada on the experiences of Canadians with long-term symptoms following COVID-19 is a remarkable (in the negative sense) validation of his groups findings.

With a population of 38.3 million, the report noted that about two-thirds of Canadian adults had said they had experienced at least one confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection, and many had multiple infections since the beginning of the pandemic. Of these, 3.5 million (one in nine) had experienced long-term symptoms, with 2.1 million still experiencing them as of June 2023. Half said they had not seen improvements in their symptomology.

Dr. Claire Taylor, a specialist in Long COVID and ME/CFS, commenting on the study, said, If you input the Statistics Canada data into David Steadsons graph, you get 14.6 percent first infection get Long COVID and 38 percent by third infection. The modelling curves were correct. This is literally insane.

She added, Its time we admitted defeat for Let It Rip and do something proactive. Its ordinary people just going to work or school who will be impacted by this. The cavalry will not come. Heed the warnings of someone who has seen the outcome over and over. Long COVID breaks people.

It is simple math to extrapolate this data to the rest of the world.
SEP (US) National Secretary Joseph Kishore addressing the meeting on the Centenary of Trotskyism in Colombo on 10 December 2023

On Sunday afternoon, Joseph Kishore, national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in the US, addressed a well-attended public meeting titled Leon Trotsky and the Struggle for Socialism in the 21st Century at the New Town Hall in Colombo to commemorate the centenary of Trotskyism.

The meeting was organised by the SEP and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka, and was preceded by another meeting on the same theme addressed by Kishore at the University of Peradeniya on December 7.

Over a hundred workers, students and housewives, including SEP members and supporters from Colombo and outstations, attended the meeting, with a strong delegation from Sri Lankas war-torn north.

The meeting was chaired by SEP General Secretary Deepal Jayasekara. His initial remarks, made in Sinhala, were translated into Tamil by SEP Political Committee member M. Thevarajah. Kishores speech, delivered in English, was translated into Sinhala by Jayasekara and its Tamil translation was made by SEP Political Committee member Shreeharan through an online link for relevant listeners in the audience.

Jayasekara began the proceedings with a warm welcome of Kishore. He explained the immense significance of the revolutionary life of Helen Halyard, a long-time member of the SEP (US) and the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), who died suddenly at the age of 73 on November 28. In response to his request, the audience observed a one-minute silence to pay tribute to Halyard, who had devoted 52 years of her life to the struggle to build the world Trotskyist movement.

Deepal Jayasekara addressing the Centenary of Trotskyism meeting

Kishore said that it is a great honor to be able to address workers and youth in Sri Lanka and to meet with comrades who have played such a long and essential role in the history of the ICFI. He added that Sri Lankan SEP leaders are justly revered throughout the international socialist movement for their principled struggle for Trotskyism, often in the face of violent opposition from the ruling class. He specially recalled the late leaders of the Sri Lankan sectionKeerthi Balasuriya, who died 36 years ago and Wije Dias, who passed away on July 27, 2022.

Explaining the need for workers and youth to base their struggles on an international perspective, not a national basis, Kishore pointed to the basic Marxist principle that it is impossible to develop an orientation in any particular country based on the national peculiarities of that country.

Kishore outlined the ongoing genocidal war for the past two months against Palestinians in Gaza by Israels right-wing Netanyahu regime, which has included systematic bombing, murdering, starving, deprivation of medical care and people being driven from their homes.

Detailing how the US and its NATO allies have actively supported Israels war, Kishore commented: The open support for genocidal actions can only be understood as part of the unfolding global war of the US-NATO axis, which is or will impact the population of the entire world.

For American imperialism, support for Israels actions is bound up with its striving for world hegemony. Most directly, the Biden administration has utilized Israels actions in Gaza as an opportunity to deploy massive military hardware to the Mediterranean, explicitly targeting Iran. A conflict with Iran is itself seen in relation to the US conflict with both Russia and China. The war on Gaza and the US-NATO war in Ukraine against Russia are in fact two fronts in a rapidly escalating world war, he said.

Pointing out how South Asia was being pushed into the global geo-political tensions, Kishore said: There is no part of the world that is not ensnared in this expanding conflict. In particular, South Asia and the entire Indian Ocean region, including Sri Lanka, is being dragged into the US campaign to encircle China, which is seen by the American ruling class as its principal global rival.

SEP (US) National Secretary Joseph Kishore addressing the Centenary of Trotskyism meeting in Colombo on 10 December 2023

The speaker explained how far-right and fascistic individuals were rising internationally, pointing to former President Donald Trump of the US Republican Party, Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, Javier Milei in Argentina, Narendra Modi in India and Giorgia Meloni in Italy.

Kishore insisted, however, on the importance of the resurgence of the most basic and powerful of all social forces, the working class, as the most significant factor in the present situation. He detailed the growing strike movements of workers throughout the world, including the US and Europe, and the struggles of workers in Sri Lanka against International Monetary Fund-backed austerity.

Everywhere workers and youth are confronted with a situation that raises the necessity for revolutionary solutions, on a global scale, Kishore said. This necessarily raises fundamental political and historical questions. What is socialism? What happened in the 20th century? Was there an alternative to Stalinism?

Kishore elaborated on the 100-year struggle waged by the Trotskyist movement for the perspective and program of international socialism, starting with the founding of the Left Opposition under the leadership of Leon Trotsky in October 1923. This was followed by the establishment of the Fourth International in 1938 and the formation of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) in 1953 to fight the liquidationist Pabloite tendency that had emerged in the Fourth International.

Kishore provided a detailed account of the rich history of Trotskyism in Sri Lanka, from the formation of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) in 1935, which turned to Trotskyism in the late 1930s, and then in the Bolshevik-Leninist Party of India, Ceylon and Burma (BLPI), formed in 1942 through a fusion of the LSSP with several organizations in India.

This history included the BLPIs powerful intervention in the anti-imperialist movement, on the basis of a perspective for an all-India revolutionary struggle, uniting workers and oppressed masses of all languages, religions and ethnicities and its opposition to the 1947 communal partition of British India into a Muslim Pakistan and a Hindu-dominated India, and also to the 1948 nominal independence of Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon.

The speaker added that in a speech in August 1948, BLPI leader Colvin R. de Silva attacked moves to disenfranchise Tamil workers, which were based on the assumption that the state must be coeval with the nation and the nation with the race as an outmoded idea and an exploded philosophy. Kishore also quoted de Silvas remarks in the same speech that: It is precisely under fascism that the nation was to be made coeval with the race, and race the governing factor in the composition of the state.

Kishore then referred to seventy years since the Open Letter, published by American Trotskyist James P. Cannon, and the formation of the ICFI in 1953, on the basis of the most fundamental principles of Trotskyism elaborated in that document, to defend and continue the Trotskyist movement against the Pabloite revisionist tendency that had emerged in the Fourth International in the early 1950s.

Kishore explained how Pabloite revisionism openly encouraged the political degeneration of the LSSP along a nationalist line, culminating in the Great Betrayal in 1964 when the LSSP entered a bourgeois coalition of then Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike.

The speaker pointed out that the Revolutionary Communist League, the SEPs predecessor, was founded in 1968 on the basis of a struggle led by the ICFI to draw the real lessons of the Pabloite LSSPs betrayal of the program of socialist internationalism.

After explaining that workers and youth, entering into struggles throughout the world, are beginning to draw revolutionary conclusions, Kishore said: The task facing workers in every country is the building of a genuine socialist movement in the working class, that will fight to take power from the criminal oligarchs and warmongers, the purveyors of genocide and their accomplices, and reorganize social and economic life, on a world scale, based on social equality. In accomplishing this task, workers and youth cannot escape history.

Kishore concluded: The present is formed and molded by the past, and it is on the basis of the experiences of the past that we will prove up to the challenge of meeting the problems of the present and building a socialist society in the future.

In the question-and-answer session, replying to a question on the relationship between the ICFI-SEPs call for workers to form their own rank-and-file committees and its struggle to build the revolutionary party, Kishore explained that ICFI-SEP does not impose any requirements for workers to accept socialism and revolutionary politics when joining action committees. Also, we do not obscure or downplay the significance of the political questions. We explain to workers that the struggle for their rights is a fight against the betrayals of the trade union apparatus. The development of this struggle is ultimately a fight against the ruling class and capitalist system. Also, this struggle for basic rights cannot be separated from other problems. Thus, it is tied to the struggle against imperialist war.

With reference to struggles within the rank-and-file committees, Kishore explained that it is the workers who are trained and educated, based on the ICFIs political program and clarity on political issues, that can provide the necessary political guidance for workers in these rank-and-file committees in fighting for their rights. He continued: In these challenging tasks the party takes into account the political issues. When organisational issues are given the priority, it indicates organisational opportunism. Our main focus is on the clarity of historical issues, and it can only be done on the basis of an understanding of the history of Trotskyism.

Kishore added: The working-class political leadership must be built on these lessons, and the realisation of socialism is possible only through that. Revolutionary struggles are developing across the world, and working-class struggles are developing. Our movement is based on the understanding that the theoretical and political level of the working class must be elevated to the necessary level. Only through this method do we approach the masses.

Deepal Jayasekara handing over the first Tamil copy of Trotskys The Revolution Betrayed to Joseph Kishore

Before closing the meeting, Jayasekara announced the publication of the Tamil translation of Trotskys monumental work, The Revolution Betrayed, written in 1936, by Kamkaru Mawatha/Tholilalar Pathai Publishers, the publishing house of the Sri Lankan SEP. He especially thanked comrades of the French section of the ICFI for arranging the translation, editing and computer page-setting of the publication. He handed a copy of the book to Kishore.

On the chairs appeal for contributions to the SEPs party building fund, the audience donated over 16,000 rupees (about $US50). The meeting concluded by singing the Internationale.
As mass protests continue across Australia each weekend, opposing the unfolding Israeli genocide in Gaza, the official media continues to blackout the sentiments of ordinary people, while covering-up or legitimising the slaughter.

The WSWS is giving a voice to workers to speakout against the war crimes. Below are comments from working people and youth at protests on Sunday.

At the Sydney rally, Liam, a 23-year-old studying a Bachelor of Health, said: Whats happening in Palestine is genocide. The Israeli government has advocated that for years in their media and on social media. I am not shocked at the US governments complicity in the slaughter in Gaza. They have been carrying out wars for a long time now.

I was shocked that the Australian Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is backing it. I am also shocked that the Israeli people, who have had a history of the Holocaust, could go along with it but Im aware that many Israelis are protesting whats happening in Gaza.

Liam

The killing of children is never justified. You cant punish a whole people; you cant carry out collective punishment. I am here at this rally hoping for a ceasefire but Im not optimistic. The best thing about whats happening is that the Gaza war is getting a lot of public support, people are engaged and taking part in one of the biggest protests in my lifetime. People are actively speaking against this and this didnt happen when the US carried out countless interventions into, for example, South America in the 70s and 80s.

What you say about developing a mass movement in the working class to put an end to this war makes a lot of sense. The majority of people in the world are ordinary workers trying to get by, people are struggling more than ever while the richest 0.001 percent continue to break laws. Its just disgusting what they do. Its just a matter of finding a unifying issue that will connect the struggles of workers.

In Melbourne, Kylee, an IT worker, said: Im here to support Palestine, to try and give a voice and body to try and stop genocide happening against an indigenous group of people.

On the Australian governments complicity in the Israeli genocide, she said: I regret voting for Labor at the last election. The main reason I voted for them was to make sure that the Liberals werent in power at the time, but Im not happy with whats been happening in the past few years with Albanese and Penny Wong and all of them.

Kylee added: I see international support for Israel as based on the economic benefit that they getoil, other resources from the Middle East. I do support socialism and the working class to oppose those in power, who are the rich and powerful, the bourgeoisie. Free Palestine!

Carla, a social worker, said, I think whats happening is genocide and I think that the government needs to intervene. War crimes are being committed; its an atrocity and I just think its wrong to sit by and let it happen.

Asked about the recent veto of a UN ceasefire resolution by the US, she said, I was absolutely disgusted by that. They dont seem to have much interest in supporting peoples human rights. Theyre more interested in trade and the resources Israel have to give them.

Carla

Im equally disgusted by [the Australian government]. Ive never really been a Labor voter, but Ive always been slightly relieved when Labor got into power, compared to the Liberal Party. But now Im just disgusted by the government overall.

I didnt anticipate that Australia would have that level of disregard for peoples lives. Its kind of reshaped my view on political parties.
The announcement over the weekend that China is experiencing significant deflation highlights the growing problems confronting the government as it seeks ways to boost the economy.

Consumer prices fell by 0.5 percent year on year in November, the steepest decline in three years. Producer prices, which measure the cost of goods at the factory gate, dropped by 3 percent continuing a trend which has been evident over the past year.

A worker assembles electronic devices at an Alco Electronics factory in Houjie Town, Dongguan City, in the Guangdong province of China. [AP Photo/Ng Han Guan]

In another indication of the expectations of a worsening economy, the rating agency Moodys last week cut its outlook for Chinese sovereign debt to negative.

It cited the risk of lower growth in the medium term and the likely need for the government to provide support for economically weaker regions of the country.

It said there was a risk of persistently lower growth amid the effects of the ongoing crisis in the real estate sector which has been the mainstay of Chinese growth over the past decade. The need to provide support for weaker regions posed broad downside risks to Chinas fiscal and institutional strength.

Moodys downgrade sparked an immediate and sharp reaction from the finance ministry which said it was disappointed about the decision.

Chinas macroeconomy continues to recover and high-quality development is steadily advancing, it said. It is unnecessary for Moodys to worry about Chinas economic growth prospects and fiscal sustainability.

The impact of the problems in the property sector on local and central government was controllable, it said. That may be the case, at least for the present. But the situation is not showing signs of improvement and the response by the ministry indicates the sensitivity of authorities to economic issues.

Economists and economic institutions have been warned not to make adverse comments on the state of the economy. Also the publication of youth unemployment data was halted earlier this year after it consistently showed the jobless rate for young people aged between 16 and 24 in urban areas above 20 percent.

Data released at the end of November showed that manufacturing activity had fallen for the second month in a row. The official purchasing managers index (PMI) came in at 49.4, below the level of 50 that marks the border between expansion and contraction.

The non-manufacturing PMI was 50.2. While positive, this was the lowest reading since the COVID surge in December last year after the government abandoned public health measures.

On Friday, on the eve of the release of the deflation figures, the Politburo, comprising the 24 top officials of the ruling Communist party, met under the chairmanship of president Xi Jinping to consider the economic outlook in preparation for issuing the official growth target for 2024.

It did not announce any specific measures but said that fiscal policy would be stepped up appropriately, according to a report in the official Xinhua News Agency.

The Politburo unveiled a new sloganuse progress to promote stabilityanother indication of sensitivity of the Xi regime to economic slowdown given its political legitimacy is largely derived from the claim that it promotes Chinese advancement.

The new slogan has been interpreted as meaning that the growth target for 2024 will be 5 percent, the same as this year. But that will be harder to achieve because growth in 2023 was coming off a lower base because of the COVID restrictions in force in 2022.

The situation facing the government is also being compounded by the general slowdown in the world economy and the effects of the intensifying economic warfare measures being employed against China by the US, particularly in the areas of high-tech, which have led to a contraction of investment.

On monetary policy, the Politburo declared that it should be flexible, appropriate, targeted and effective. But the word forceful was dropped from the statement. This is an indication that while there may be some easing of credit at the margins there is not going to be a general expansion as has occurred in the past.

According to an assessment by Citigroup economists, reported by Bloomberg, the language of the Politburo suggested a shift of focus more toward economic progress and that there would be a target of around 5 percent for next year. But there is no indication for mega stimulus from the meeting.

The call from the meeting for the government to act within its capabilities also suggested there were not going to be moves to transfer incomes to households.

One indication of the worsening economic position of households was provided in a Financial Times (FT) report published yesterday.

Chinas state health system, it said, has lost tens of millions of subscribers, as higher costs have put one of the worlds largest healthcare schemes out of reach for many people struggling in a post-pandemic downturn.

It said membership in the scheme, which is state subsidised and covers more than a billion policyholders, fell by an unprecedented 19 million people in 2002, according to official data, with warnings that the decline could have continued this year.

The cancellations, following years of growth, have been attributed to a decline in incomes, putting the cost of insurance beyond the reach of large sections of the population, particularly farmers and migrant workers.

The minimum premium for the main health insurance policy has more than doubled since 2018 while the wages of migrant workers have increased by only 24 percent in the same period.

Moreover, like their counterparts in many countries, workers are being hit with onerous co-payments even if they are insured.

The income decline has a significant impact on the governments economic recovery plan, as explained by Dan Wang, chief economist at Hang Seng Bank in comments to the FT.

A lack of social safety net, led by strong health insurance coverage, has forced Chinese people to save a significant portion in their income to prepare for external shocks like serious diseases. That has undermined government effects to boost consumption, which holds the key to Chinas recovery from the post-COVID economic downturn, he said.

Xi has stepped forward to play a somewhat more public role on the economy, delivering a speech to a political gathering earlier this month. As reported by Xinhua, he said our countrys economic recovery is still at a critical stage and the development situation it faces was complex.

No doubt the reporting of the remarks was intended to give reassurance to the population that the top leadership was concerned with the issues and intervening. But that tactic is very much a two-edged sword because the more the president associates himself directly with economic policy, the more he will be blamed for any failure to turn the situation around.
Mass protests have continued for almost three weeks in Pakistans poorest province, Balochistan, against the Pakistani states use of forced disappearances, extra-judicial killings and other illegal means to suppress widespread opposition, including an ethno-nationalist separatist insurgency.

The immediate trigger for the protests was last months extra-judicial killing of 24 year-old Balaach Mola Bakhsh by state security forces.

Sit-in in Turbat to protest extra-judicial killing of 24 year-old Balaach Mola Bakhsh [Photo: Assad Baloch/Facebook]

For some 12 days, thousands took to the streets of Turbata city in south-western Balochistan that is the provinces second largestto support a sit-in, initiated by Mola Bakhshs relatives to demand that the authorities come clean about his death and criminally prosecute those responsible. At the end of last week, the sit-in was converted into a long march from Turbat to the provincial capital, Quetta, a distance of almost 800 kilometres or 500 miles. The march is in fact a protest caravan, with participants travelling in motorized vehicles and stopping in cities en route to stage rallies and mobilize support. Despite the obvious hostility of the authorities, the protesters have been well-received with local residents helping to provide accommodation.

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has provided an entirely implausible and self-contradictory account of Mola Bakhshs death, which it claims occurred in a gunfight, even though on Nov. 21, little more than 24 hours before, the victim had been brought before an Anti-Terrorism Court.

According to the initial CTD statement, Mola Bakhsh had confessed in custody to being a militant and carrying out a number of attacks. He was arrested on Nov. 20, in possession of five kilograms of explosive materials. The statement, without ever explaining how Mola Bakhsh supposedly escaped captivity, went on to claim that he was killed along with three others in a CTD-led raid on a militant hideout in the city of Turbat.

Subsequently, the CTD changed its story. In a second statement, it claimed Mola Bakhsh had himself led security forces to the hideout and was killed by the insurgents in the ensuing gun battle.

From the beginning, Balaach Mola Bakhshs family, has categorically rejected the CTDs claims as to how his dead body ended up at the Turbat Teaching Hospital on the night of Nov. 22. They insist he was not involved in any unlawful activities, was disappeared by security forces beginning on October 29, and was later killed in an absolutely fake encounter.

As part of their campaign to press the authorities to bring those responsible for Balaachs death to account, his family initially refused to bury him. His corpse was displayed during the first six days of the sit-in, held at Turbats main square, until it risked becoming a health hazard due to decomposition.

On Nov. 25, a lower court judge ordered that First Information Reports (the first step in opening a criminal case) be filed against the CTD Regional Officer and two other CTD officials. But the authorities refused, and the provincial government filed suit in the Balochistan High Court to have the order overturned.

Only on Saturday, Dec. 9, with the protest movement in its 17th day, were FIRs filed against any of those involved. On Monday, the Balochistan High Court ordered the immediate suspension of the four CTD officials against whom FIRs have now been issued.

The protesters, however, are far from satisfied and are demanding, among other things, a full judicial inquiry into Balaach Mola Bakhshs disappearance and killing.

A resource-rich but impoverished region, Balochistan is politically dominated by a tiny kleptocracy of big capitalists, landlords and state officials; and under virtual army occupation, with tens of thousands security forces deployed against Balochi nationalist insurgents and Islamist militias.

The venal Pakistan bourgeoisie, which has ruled the country for almost half of its existence through open military dictatorship and is currently imposing yet another savage round of IMF austerity, is notorious for resorting to mass violence and criminality in the face of social opposition. This is certainly the case in Balochistan.

In 2006, as it played a leading role in facilitating Washingtons neo-colonial Afghan war, the US-backed Musharraf dictatorship feared the growth of regionalist and separatist sentiment in Balochistan, and consequently organized a military operation to kill Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in his mountain redoubt. The tribal chief of the Bugti clan and a long-time player in the cut-throat politics of the Pakistani elite, Bugti had been agitating for increased autonomy for Balochistan.

When his murder backfired, fueling Balochi nationalist sentiment and the growth of what is considered to be the fifth Baloch nationalist insurgency, Musharraf and subsequent civilian governments pursued a policy of militarization. This involved the massive deployment of security forces, forced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, torture and other gross human rights violations.

The contempt with which Islamabad deals with the legitimate grievances of the impoverished population has fueled the growth of numerous Balochi militant groups, although these groups have themselves no progressive program, based as they are on ethno-nationalist separatism, communalism and appeals to India and the imperialist powers for support.

The bloody regime of repression overseen by the Pakistani militarywhich remains at the very apex of capitalist rule in the worlds fifth most populous country and the linchpin of the traditional but badly frayed US-Pakistan security partnershiphas increasingly become the focus of popular opposition in Balochistan, as in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and elsewhere.

There have been a growing number of demonstrations and sit-ins led by families of the disappeared and murdered.

Both Pakistans current interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and his Interior Minister, Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, have well-deserved reputations as staunch allies and toadies of the military. They have been strident supporters of its brutal crackdown against the separatist insurgency in their home province of Balochistan.

Nevertheless, this latest extra-judicial killing has triggered widespread popular outrage, triggering the mobilisation of young people and women across the entire south-western region of Makran, of which Tubrat is part. In addition to the sit-in and other demonstrations, there was a complete shutter down strike of all shops and business in Turbat and other towns in Makran Region on Nov. 29. Roads that are part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) leading from the area to Pakistans main business hub, Karachi and Quetta were also blocked by protesters.

The growing outrage over state violence interacts with and is inextricably tied to the mass disaffection over mass poverty and the lack of public services and basic infrastructure, including ready access to drinking water.

Although Balochistan, with a population of almost 10 million, is Pakistans least populous and poorest province, it is highly important from an economic and geopolitical standpoint. It is rich in minerals, including copper and gold, and in natural gas, and borders both Afghanistan and Iran. It is the site of the Chinese-built Gwadar port facility, which could provide Beijing with an Arabian Sea naval base and serve as the starting point for a land route for shipping oil and natural gas from the Middle East to China, thereby largely bypassing the US-dominated Indian Ocean.

The Balochi national-separatists represent and are led by a faction of the Balochi regional bourgeoisie, including traditional sardars (tribal leaders), and petty bourgeoisie that hopes to supplant the Pakistani capitalists and military top brass in exploiting the regions resource wealth and geo-strategic position to make their own deals with imperialism.

The Balochi ethno-nationalist movement developed within the context of the colonial bourgeoisies suppression of the mass anti-imperialist struggle and the communal divisionunder the auspices of British imperialism, the Gandhi-Nehru led Congress Party and Jinnahs Muslim Leagueof the Indian subcontinent into a expressly Muslim Pakistan and a predominantly Hindu India. Like many other such movements, the Baluchi nationalist movement in the 1970s and 1980s assumed socialist garb and appealed for support from the Soviet Union.

But since the Stalinist bureaucracy restored capitalism and dissolved the USSR, it has orientated ever more explicitly and nakedly toward imperialism.

Under conditions of a US-led imperialist drive to world war and re-division of the world, a section of the Baloch ruling elites has developed the perspective of carving out a separate state, Greater Balochistan, including part of Baloch Iran Sistan, so as to make their own deals with imperialism at the expense of the working class and toiling masses.

Thus the Balochi nationalists supported the two-decade long US-NATO invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. Since the launching of the CPEC, in 2014, they have further aligned towards US imperialism and their international and regional allies like India.

The most prominent of the separatist militant groups, like the Baloch liberation Army (BLA), have repeatedly carried out terrorist attacks on Chinese engineers and labourers working on the CPEC, which both Washington and New Delhi vehemently oppose.

When the BLA attacked the Chinese consulate in Karachi in Nov. 2018 it rushed to proclaim its responsibility. It stated that The objective of this attack is clear: we will not tolerate any Chinese military expansionist endeavours on Baloch soil.

Courting the favor of the Indian bourgeoisie, Pakistans traditional strategic rival, and the imperialist powers goes hand in hand with a reactionary exclusivist agenda. Balochi insurgents routinely murder ordinary Punjabis, Hazaras, and Pashtuns who they contemptuously deride as settlers.

In opposition to imperialism, the Pakistan bourgeoisie and the entire reactionary communalist state system of South Asia, Balochi workers and youth must base their struggle on the strategy of Permanent Revolution. The most basic democratic rights and social aspirations of working people, including genuine independence from imperialism and real equality among the various ethnic-linguistic and religious groups of South Asia, can only be realized through the struggle to unite the masses of the region in the fight for workers power. The working class must rally the rural toilers and oppressed behind it in opposition to all factions of the bourgeoisie and forge unity with workers around the entire region, on the basis of a socialist program aimed at reorganizing socioeconomic life and creating a framework for the amicable and equitable development of all peoplesthe Socialist United States of South Asia.
Some 200 people rallied and marched Sunday in Las Vegas, Nevada to protest Israels ongoing genocide in Gaza and honor Dr. Refaat al-Areer, who was assassinated in a targeted airstrike that destroyed his sisters home last week. Prof. al-Areer is one of dozens of teachers, intellectuals and academics, who have been purposely assassinated by the US-backed Israel Defense Forces.

Roughly 200 people protested the genocide in Gaza in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 10. 2023. One protester is seen holding a picket in the shape of kite: "If I must die, let it be a tale." -Rafaat al-Ar'eer

Dr. al-Areer was a teacher, writer, and an activist. Through his Twitter/X page, Refaat in Gaza he regularly posted updates on the occupation and ongoing genocide, and it was for that reason he was targeted. As of December 11 at least 56 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since the slaughter began on October 7.

At Sundays protest, his final poem, If I must die, was read aloud and incorporated it into a chant, No, we will not fail, we will go and tell your tale. A moment of silence in honor of Dr. al-Areer was also held before demonstrators marched through Downtown Las Vegas.

Protesters at the anti-genocide rally in Las Vegas, Nevada, December 10, 2023.

At the end of the march police took a 12-year-old and his mother into custody for allegedly attempting to break into parked vehicles. Police on the scene said the youth was checking the door handles of cars as he walked by. However, as the demonstrators who gathered outside the courthouse pointed out, there were no cars or place for them to park along the march route, which led from the George D. Lloyd Courthouse along Las Vegas Blvd. to the Fremont Street Experience and back.

For fifteen minutes protesters surrounded the steps of the courthouse and chanted release them now, until rally organizers reported police had in fact released the child and his mother.

This reporter distributed 75 copies of the Perspective on the assassination of Dr. Refaat al-Areer and talked with several workers and youth.

Savannah came to the demonstration for the first time with her children, saying she came out, To stand with Palestine. Ive been watching on TikTok all the horrible things happening with the mothers and the kids. Its their home and I would want someone to fight for me, and I wanted to end it, and its crazy that the [US government] are not calling for a ceasefire!

She disagreed vehemently with the charge of antisemitism against protesters, stating, No, were here because we care. Its out of our hearts. Its about kids, its about the families, its about the hurt, about right and wrong, about we shouldnt be doing this. It shouldnt be continuing to happen.

Its sickening. I dont like it. I dont have like the big words, I just come from my heart and it just it hurts.

Jayden, a local high school student, attended the rally with his mother for his second time. When asked about the assassination of Dr. al-Areer he said, My mom just informed me today when I came out here because I didnt know who he was, but she informed me what he did. And its not fair that someone who is just innocent, trying to educate the people on what he knows gets assassinated just like that, like he was nothing.

Jayden (right) and his mother.

Regarding the bogus antisemitism slanders leveled against demonstrators, Jayden said, I think its unfair. Everyone has a right to believe what they want to support. I mean, you can basically support whatever you want, just as long as its peaceful, in my opinion.

Amaya said that she was attending her third rally in Las Vegas since moving out from California over Thanksgiving weekend. Before that, she had attended several demonstrations in northern California. When asked what she thought about the assassination of Dr. al-Areer, she said, I think its unfortunate. You know hes just like everyone else, just regular people. Its like not only is he a cousin, a son, an uncle, and things like that, he did a lot for the people in Gaza and Palestine to really educate them, help them learn English.

A protester at the anti-genocide rally in Las Vegas on December 10 holds a sign that reads, "We urge an immediate ceasefire. 30,000 are murdered, 50,000 are wounded, $14.3 billion American tax dollars is funding a genocide."

[T]heres power in language and with language comes understanding... if it wasnt for him, we wouldnt understand a good, maybe a good part of this. And hes helped a lot of people in Palestine to help them learn English so the Palestinians can also get that word out to us.

Asked to comment on the Democrats and Republicans support for genocide, and the response of the media, she said, Its all part of their, their ugly ass propaganda. This government is very, very corrupt. I mean, I used to, I used to identify as Democrat and I actually voted for Joe Biden, but I very much regret it now. And its like, you cant trust the government. I cant, at least I cant trust the government at all. I dont even want to pay taxes anymore. Im not going to.

A demonstrator holds a sign that reads, "Palestine will be free! From the river, to the sea," Las Vegas, Nevada, December 10, 2023.

Amaya also rejected claims that the anti-genocide protests were antisemitic, saying, It is false. It is, once again, a part of their propaganda. I think its very disgusting how our world leaders and the UN well, I mean just the United States, its just disgusting how theyre still standing by Israels side and were supposed to be a democracy. This United States of America is supposedly known as a democracy, but you know, after all of this, it does not seem like a democracy when people all over the states are protesting for Palestine and were not getting our voices heard.

Asked her thoughts on the Palestinian trade unions call for workers around the world to stop the delivery of military materiel and munitions to Israel, she said, I think that should happen immediately.
Last week, leaders of Spains neo-fascist Vox party made a two-day visit to Israel at the invitation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus far-right Likud party. Vox, a party that has agitated against Muslims for a decade, enthusiastically backed the Israeli-led, NATO-backed genocide against the Palestinian population in Gaza.

Vox is the heir of Francoism, a regime that identified working-class opposition with a Judaic-Bolshevik conspiracy and was allied to Hitlers Nazi Germany that exterminated 6 million Jews. The regime carried out the brutal persecution of socialists, Marxists and anarchists during and after the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), including the mass extra-judicial murder of some 200,000 people in military trials, torture and the systematic abuse of women and children.

VOX far right party leader Santiago Abascal delivers his speech during the closing campaign rally at the Colon square in Madrid, Spain, Friday, July 21, 2023. [AP Photo/ Manu Fernandez]

Vox is stacked with avowed antisemites. In 2021, the president of Vox in Madrid, Rocio Monasterio, was forced to disavow remarks from one of her lawmakers expressing sympathy towards an antisemitic speech delivered by notorious neo-Nazi Isabel Peralta, who declared at a march, The enemy is always going to be the same albeit wearing different masks: the Jew.

Vox regularly defends the racist and antisemitic Great Replacement Theory, which claims that Jews are orchestrating the replacement of the white population of Europe with people of other races, with Jewish millionaire and financier George Soros targeted as a prime mover. Jorge Buxade, vice president and one of the main ideologues of Vox, stood twice as an election candidate for the fascist Falange in his early twenties. He openly defends this theory, stating, There is a real will in Brussels to implement a population replacement in Europe.

The Vox delegation was led by party leader Santiago Abascal, the grandson of a Francoist mayor. It also included Jorge Martin Frias, director of Voxs anti-Muslim think tank, Disenso, and Member of the European Parliament Hermann Tertsch, a notorious defender of the Franco regime and son of the Austrian diplomat and journalist Ekkehard Tertsch, who worked with Josef Hans Lazar, press chief in Madrid for the Nazi regime.

The embrace of Zionism and Spanish neo-fascism exposes yet again the nature of the slanderous campaign to equate opposition to Israel and genocide with antisemitism. The aim of the campaign is to curb the democratic rights of workers and youth, who, amid the deepest crisis of world capitalism since the 1930s, are protesting in their millions against the nearly two-month-long US and NATO-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Voxs delegation, steeped in antisemitism, was visiting Israel to give its seal of approval for the extermination of Muslims by the Israeli regime. Since its creation in 2013, Vox has agitated for discriminatory policies against Muslims, who made up 4 percent of the Spanish population in 2019.

Voxs campaign slogan during the 2019 national elections was La Reconquista, a reference to the historical myth constructed by Spanish nationalism in the 19th century of a national liberation struggle against Muslim invaders culminating in the final Christian victory in 1492, and the expulsion of Muslims and Jews who had been living in the Iberian Peninsula for eight centuries.

Europe is what it is thanks to Spainthanks to our contribution, ever since the Middle Ages, of stopping the spread and the expanse of Islam, declared Ivan Espinosa de los Monteros, Voxs vice secretary of international relations in 2019.

In a television interview in August 2017, Abascal stated, Vox does not like the way Muslims see the world: the fact that they do not separate religion from politics, the way in which they treat women, how they understand freedom.

Vox calls for the closure of mosques, the expulsion of imams and exclusion of the teaching of Islam from public schools. It has proposed in parliament to suspend the granting of Spanish nationality and residence permits to people from Muslim countries and to ban the entry into Spain of immigrants from countries with an Islamic culture.

The Vox delegation visited the city of Sderot in Southern Israel and the Nir Oz kibbutz attacked during the Palestinian uprising of October 7. Abascal took the opportunity to make statements justifying the Israeli genocide against Gaza that has left at least 18,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, killed in two months and nearly 49,000 wounded, while many corpses are still buried under the rubble.

In a post by Abascal on X/Twitter accompanying propaganda photos of himself wearing a bullet proof vest wandering through a destroyed room at a kibbutz, he wrote, Finishing off Hamas which embodies absolute evil, is a moral imperative. The government of Israel has our full support, affection and understanding.

The call to finish off Hamas has been the regular propaganda term employed by the imperialist powers and Israel to sanction genocide. It is being deployed to kill and maim thousands of Palestinians in Gaza and to expel all survivors into Egypts neighboring Sinai Peninsula, ethnically cleansing the Gaza Strip. Israel repeatedly uses this phrase to systematically target hospitals, schools, UN facilities and other buildings where Palestinians whose homes have been destroyed have sought refuge.

Abascal then attacked the Socialist Party (PSOE)-Sumar government led by prime minister Pedro Sanchez, stating, The illegal socialist government and Sanchez must apologise to the victims and the Israeli people for questioning the legitimate response of a democratic state to the murderers who kill, torture and behead civilians in their homes; who rape and kidnap women; who kidnap children and the elderly; and who use their own civilian population as human shields.

Abascal was reproducing Israels already largely discredited lies about widespread atrocities on October 7 in his comment on the diplomatic spat between Spain and Israel after Sanchez made minimally critical remarks of Israels indiscriminate killings in Gaza. The PSOE-Sumar government spends billions of euros on economic and military collaboration with Israel. Both PSOE-Sumar and Vox support Israels intervention in Gaza, asserting Israels right to defence.

During the visit, Vox delegates met with their fascistic counterparts, Israels Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, and Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter.

Dichter is a former head of Shin Bet, Israels domestic intelligence service, where he played a key role in the Second Intifada honing and escalating the practice of targeted assassinations. He was quoted in a Washington Post article as saying, After each success [targeted assassination], the only thought is, Okay, whos next?. Dichter recently said, We are now rolling out the Gaza Nakbareferring to the forcible displacement of the population of Palestine from their lands in 1948.

Chikli has opposed any concessions to the Palestinians, even targeting the Fatah-run Palestinian Authority which functions as a police force for Israel and its imperialist backers. He said, I see the Palestinian Authority as a neo-Nazi entity in its essence and outlook, adding, It is an enemy that is antisemitic to its core, and we need to examine alternatives.

After the visit, Chikli said he was very grateful for Voxs solidarity, adding of Vox that it faces a constant delegitimization campaign. He said Netanyahus government are no strangers to this, but we are convinced that we will continue working together for freedom of expression, freedom of thought and all the fundamental values of Western civilization.

The alliance of Vox and the fascist coalition of Likud, Jewish Power, and Religious Zionism in Israel is only a grotesque manifestation of the universal support of the parties of the imperialist bourgeoisies of Europe for the US-NATO backed-and-led Israeli genocide in Gaza. For over three decades since the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the NATO powers have waged endless wars across the Middle East and Africa. The Gaza genocide is part of a new imperialist redivision of the world, which began with the imperialist-provoked war against Russia in Ukraine. War preparations against China are also far advanced. Spains parties are united in efforts to secure a share in the spoils of war.

This pitches the ruling class into a frontal conflict with workers and young people at home. Voxs unalloyed support for the genocide of the Palestinians is both a confirmation of how they would also like to deal with Spains Muslim population, and an indication that fascistic state violence is being prepared against the entire working class that must be answered through social revolution and Spanish imperialisms overthrow.
The Albanese Labor government has openly lashed out at Australias supreme court, essentially accusing it of deliberately putting criminal perpetrators on the streets as a result of its ruling that their previous indefinite detention was unconstitutional.

In an interview on Sunday with the Herald Sun, a witch-hunting Murdoch tabloid, Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil condemned the High Court for ordering the release of nearly 150 immigration detainees who had been incarcerated illegally for years.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil [Photo: Clare ONeil MP]

I had them all in detention, and the High Court forced us to release them, and we had no choice but to follow that, ONeil declared. I really need people to understand that the High Court decided to put these people on the street.

In effect, ONeil, speaking on behalf of the government, denounced the seven judges for unanimously upholding even the limited protection of basic democratic rights in the countrys 1901 Constitution.

Reflecting its colonial origins, that constitution has no bill of rights. But it does contain a formal separation of executive and judicial powers, which bars governments from arbitrarily imprisoning or otherwise punishing people without a judicial process, except during wartime.

ONeils attack on the judges has serious political and historical implications. It represents another lurch toward authoritarian forms of rule under conditions of mounting social and political disaffection in the working class.

The separation of powers is a fundamental principle designed to protect the population from despotic and dictatorial rule. A precept of the bourgeois-democratic revolutions, it was forged from centuries of struggle against feudal and absolutist monarchies from the 1215 Magna Carta onward.

Those struggles led to the English Civil War of the 1640s that overthrew the absolute monarchy and its Star Chamber of imprisonment, torture and executions, and the American Revolution of 1776, which overturned British colonial repression.

While the fervently right-wing Liberal-National Coalition, led by Peter Dutton, has played a vicious part in whipping up this atmosphere, the Labor government has sought to outdo it. ONeil previously reiterated Labors opposition to the release of any of the detainees, slandering them as disgusting.

Now, she has gone even further to attack the High Court itself for its November 8 order that keeping the detainees incarcerated was unconstitutional and amounted to illegal imprisonment.

ONeil also accused six released detainees of committing crimes for which they have been arrested and locked away, but not convicted. By doing so, one of the Labor governments most senior cabinet ministers trashed another basic democratic principle, that of innocent until guilty, as well as blatantly prejudicing the detainees chances of anything like a fair trial.

Im certainly sorry that crimes have been committed by perpetrators who belong to this cohort of people and anyone else in the community, ONeil said. You cant read a newspaper and hear about crimes being committed like this and not feel anything.

No evidence against any of the detainees has been produced in court, let alone tested. But ONeil pronounced them guilty, based on newspaper reports. Those reports are part of a rabid demonisation of the detainees, many of them refugees, all of whom have been literally branded as murderers and rapists.

The Australian, a Murdoch flagship, reported that ONeils apology occurred because: Six of the 148 released detainees have been arrested after committing offences including indecent assault, drug possession, theft, trespass, breaching curfew, parole and reporting conditions.

In this barrage of vague charges, the word alleged appears nowhere! The police accusations are presented as facts, insinuating the guilt of all six detainees of serious offences, overturning the notion of placing evidence before a court.

From what little has been reported in the corporate media about the six defendants, they include highly vulnerable members of society, brutalised and traumatised by years in unlawful indefinite detention, often after fleeing brutal wars, starvation or persecution.

They are being vilified by the Labor government, acting in concert with the Liberal-National opposition and the complicit media. The aim is to justify the imposition of police-state measures that essentially place the detainees in new forms of indefinite detention, flouting the High Courts order and setting precedents for broader use.

These measures have been rammed through both houses of federal parliament in record time by bipartisan agreement over the past two weeks without even a semblance of debate. They include shackling released detainees in electronic ankle bracelets, potentially for life, and a preventative detention system to re-detain people based on what offences the police assert they might commit in the future.

ONeils tirade against the court is all the more serious because at least three legal challenges have been launched already against the shackling legislation, and more are expected, including against the preventative detention laws. Those challenges are based on expert legal opinion that the legislation is no less unconstitutional than the previous form of indefinite detention.

In that context, ONeils attack on the judges prejudices the hearing of those constitutional cases. Moreover, it can be seen as a warning to the court not to strike down the governments laws or any other repressive legislation, such as the citizenship-stripping bill that the government and the Coalition also pushed through parliament last week.

Both bills are blatant efforts to defy High Court rulings that it is unconstitutional to punish people by executive decree without a court order, whether it be to detain them or cancel their citizenship, thus depriving them of fundamental civil and social rights.

Under the preventative detention bill, all that is required is for an immigration detainee to have been previously convicted, in either a foreign or domestic court, of what is classified as a serious violent or sexual offence and for the immigration minister and a court to decide that there is just a high degree of probability that the offender poses an unacceptable risk of seriously harming the community by committing such an offence.

This amounts to punishment for a thought crime, based on an accusation of what the person might do in the future, not on what they have actually done. On this basis, people can be re-detained for three years at a time, possibly for the rest of their lives.

On both the detention and citizenship-stripping laws, successive Coalition and Labor governments fought vehemently, all the way to the High Court, to defend their arbitrary powers. Before parliament shut down last week for the summer, the two ruling parties teamed up to restore such powers, flying in the face of legal opinion.

Last week, constitutional law expert Professor George Williams warned that the new preventative detention laws would likely be challenged in the High Court on three counts. First, they applied to people convicted in foreign courts. Second, they applied to people who may have finished serving their sentence years ago and already are in the community. Third, they only applied to a specific cohort of peoplethose people who cannot be deported from Australia.

It must be said, however, that no faith can be placed in the High Court to protect the rights of the detainees or anyone else. For three decades, the court sanctioned the shameful practice of indefinite incarceration of asylum seekers and other non-citizens denied visas.

That regime resulted from the cruel system of mandatory detention of all asylum seekers arriving by boat, which was pioneered by the Keating Labor government in 1992. It set a global precedent for anti-refugee measures internationally.

In its November 28 judgment, setting out the reasons for its November 8 ruling, the High Court maintained the underlying 1992 regime of mandatory refugee detention. Under that system, nearly 1,000 people are still in indefinite detention, despite domestic protests and condemnations by UN human rights bodies.

The judges also said their ruling did not prevent the re-detention of people if it became practicable in the reasonably foreseeable future to remove them from Australia. And the court advised that detention could be reimposed via a preventive detention law, opening the way for the Labor-Coalition bill.

Similar detention laws could be introduced against anyone accused of conduct or views deemed an unacceptable threat to community safety or national security. Governments internationally are seeking to outlaw protests against the Gaza genocide, falsely accusing participants of antisemitism, hate speech, or aiding terrorism.

These events point to a foul political atmosphere, full of unproven allegations, being incited by the ruling parties and the media. All the politicians involved are also backing Israels US-backed murderous assault on the Palestinian people, bombing hospitals, schools, universities and homes in barefaced defiance of international law.

ONeils broadside underscores the warnings made by the WSWS that fundamental legal, political and democratic rights are under direct attack. Repressive mechanisms are being put in place to preserve capitalist rule against the mounting development of mass opposition to war, widening social inequality and deteriorating living conditions.
This California home belonging to a former executive of auto insurer Root has been sold at auction after the executive has pleaded guilty to stealing $10.2 million from the company.

A California home belonging to the former marketing executive of Root who admitted to stealing $10.2 million from the auto insurer has been sold at auction for $1.5 million.

The federal court in Columbus ordered the sale of the 3,844-square-foot home that belonged to Brinson "BC" Silver, who pleaded guilty last month to charges of wire fraud and contempt of court.

As part of the plea, he agreed to pay restitution of more than $10.2 million.

The sale is part of the process of Root recovering the money that was stolen, according to Richard Kruse, president of Gryphon USA, the company that led the auction.

Richard Kruse, president of Gryphon USA

The four-bedroom home in Ramona, near San Diego, sits on 26 acres and features ocean and mountain views. The property has office space, a solar system with five Tesla Powerwalls, a battery system that stores solar power for backup use, and two- and four-car garages.

Kruse said in a statement that the auction established the true market value for the property.

"Premium properties do incredibly well at auction as it is difficult to put a price tag on someones custom home, unique building or farm, he said in a statement.

Another property in Venice, California, will be up for auction soon, he said.

Silver was chief marketing officer of Root from November 2021 through November 2022.

Court records show that during Silver's time with the company he entered into contracts with four vendors and directed that a portion of the proceeds from those contracts be paid to bank accounts in the names of businesses Silver owned and controlled.

Root and court filings show Silver has been accused of buying luxury homes in Florida and California, a $1.4 million yacht, an amphibious plane, a $165,000 Mercedes-Benz G550, luxury watches and other items with the money.

mawilliams@dispatch.com

@BizMarkWilliams

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: California home belonging to former Root executive Silver auctioned
Together with the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee (US), the IYSSE will be hosting an online meeting this Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the historical and political questions raised in the fight against the genocide in Gaza, and to provide a socialist perspective to end it. We urge all students and educators who want to join this fight to attend on Zoom by clicking here.

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality denounces the forced resignation of University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) President Liz Magill on December 9. This witch hunt is aimed at suppressing the mass opposition of student youth and faculty to the genocidal war being waged by the Israeli fascist regime against the Palestinians in Gaza.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, an advocate of the fascist Great Replacement Theory and supporter of the January 6 insurrection, is a leading proponent of the claim that Anti-Zionism is antisemitism. [AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein]

Magills resignation was forced through by means of an alliance between right-wing billionaire donors, fascist Republicans, the Biden White House, the Democratic Party and the military-intelligence apparatus. Along with Harvard University President Claudine Gay and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) President Sally Kornbluth, Magill was subjected to a McCarthyite hearing in the House of Representatives. The presidents of three of the most prestigious academic institutions in the world were subjected to demagogic questioning spearheaded by the antisemitic, far-right Republican Elise Stefanik over their alleged failure to address the supposed wave of antisemitism sweeping across college campuses.

With Magills ouster, the attack on democratic rights by the American ruling class has reached a qualitatively new stage. Over the past two months, universities and colleges around the country have moved to ban student groups such as the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace. In addition, students have been suspended and have had job offers revoked.

When students opposed to the genocide in Gaza have been doxxed, threatened and attacked, university administrations have demonstratively refrained from defending them. Screenings of the documentary Israelism, which exposes the systematic indoctrination of American Jewish youth with far-right Zionist ideology, and their growing opposition to it, have been banned at the University of Pennsylvania, Hunter College in New York and other campuses.

New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul has threatened to withdraw state funding if university presidents fail to denounce antisemitism and calls for genocide on college campuses. While the campaign has so far centered on the campuses, it increasingly extends to high schools. High school students in New York City and San Diego who have organized protests against the genocide in Gaza and voiced opposition to it in student newspapers have been denounced as antisemites by the media, and pro-Palestinian teachers have been victimized.

The message is clear: Anyone who dares voice opposition to or even question the policies of the Israeli state is to be silenced, driven from the campuses, blacklisted and attacked and hounded by far-right mobs on social media and at campuses and workplaces. The central aims of this witch hunt are twofold: First, the destruction of free speech on the campuses and beyond, and, second, the complete subordination of schools and universities to the interests of the state, the military and the aims of US foreign policy.

Like every major pro-war and anti-democratic campaign in history, this witch hunt is built on a pack of lies. The first lie is that there exists a broad-based antisemitic movement on US campuses calling for a genocide of Jews. The only people subjected to genocidal policies today are the Palestinians, whose deliberate ethnic cleansing in Gaza meets the textbook definition of genocide. And the only students who have been violently attacked on US university campuses in the past two months are Palestinian and pro-Palestinian students, three Palestinian undergraduates who were shot in Vermont, and many others who were physically assaulted, doxxed and threatened for speaking out against genocide.

The second and related lie is that opposition to the state of Israel constitutes antisemitism. This claim, which implies that the Zionist state of Israel is synonymous with the Jewish people and Judaism, is itself based on a racist assumption: that all Jews, by blood or some other mystical connection, have an inherent loyalty to the Israeli state.

The truth is that Zionism historically emerged as a nationalist reaction by sections of the Jewish bourgeoisie and middle class against the Marxist and socialist movement in the European and Jewish working class. Although it was granted false legitimacy by the fascist horrors of the Nazi Holocaust, the Zionist state never represented the social interests of the Jewish masses, but rather those of a capitalist ruling class and imperialism. In fact, Jewish people and organizations, especially Jewish youth, have played a leading role in protests against the genocide in Gaza.

The equation of opposition to Zionism and genocide with antisemitism is not only false and slanderous. It also serves to strengthen and rehabilitate the actual fascist and antisemitic right, while criminalizing left-wing opposition to capitalism, fascism and imperialism.

It is no coincidence that this campaign is spearheaded by the fascistic New York Republican Representative Elise Stefanik, a supporter of Donald Trump and the fascist coup attempt of January 6. Stefanik invokes the racist and antisemitic Great Replacement Theory, which alleges a conspiracy by international Jewry to flood white countries with masses of non-white immigrants. She is the personification of the transformation of the Republican Party into a fascist party dominated by outright neo-Nazis, white supremacists and Christian fundamentalists.

The Democratic Party is fully complicit in this far-right assault on democratic rights. For years, the Democratic Party and outlets like the New York Times have systematically worked to undermine democratic consciousness through racialist falsifications of the history of the American democratic revolutions such as the 1619 Project and anti-democratic witch-hunting campaigns like #MeToo.

Now, over the genocide in Gaza, the Democratic Party and Biden administration are consolidating their de facto alliance with fascist forces. While figures like Stefanik are now legitimized as opponents of antisemitism, Ukrainian neo-Nazis are praised as fighters for democracy and armed to the teeth by NATO to fight an imperialist war against Russia, and Benjamin Netanyahus fascist cabal is raining US-manufactured bombs, shells and missiles on the people of Gaza.

There is an insoluble connection between the imperialist rampage of the US and its proxies abroad and the state-led attack on democratic rights and strengthening of fascist forces at home. The US veto in the UN Security Council of a resolution calling for a ceasefire makes abundantly clear that the Gaza genocide is state policy of the American ruling class. Bernie Sanders, the chief representative of the nominally left faction of the Democratic Party, continues to publicly oppose a ceasefire.

This open embrace of fascist mass murder in Gaza is part of a new imperialist redivision of the world, which began with the imperialist-provoked war against Russia in Ukraine, now well into its second year, with hundreds of thousands of dead. The conflict in the Middle East signifies a new front in the war between US-NATO and Russia. War preparations against China are also far advanced. With the staggering violence inflicted upon the Palestinians, the imperialist powers are sending a message as to how they intend to deal with opposition to their rule, both abroad and at home.

But this policy is meeting with growing popular opposition. The naked crackdown on free speech is an admission by the US political establishment that it has already lost the youth, that there is no popular support for its policies, and that it is no longer able to stampede public opinion as it has in the past. Despite relentless pro-Israeli war propaganda and attempts at censorship and intimidation, millions of people have turned out in mass protests and students who have been victimized have remained steadfast in their opposition to the genocide.

In November 2022, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, the youth and student organization of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), issued a call for the building of a global mass anti-war movement among workers and young people. With the mass demonstrations of millions across the globe against the genocide in Gaza, this movement has begun to emerge, and it is coinciding with a resurgence of the class struggle internationally.

The critical question now is that of class orientation and political leadership. The bitter experience of the past two months has demonstrated that the genocide in Gaza cannot be stopped through appeals to the perpetrators of genocide in Washington, London, Berlin and Paris, as well as in Jerusalem. If anything, the violence has escalated. The only force capable of stopping the slaughter by stopping weapons production and arms shipments is the working class.

As we stressed in our November 2022 statement:

The IYSSE does not only seek the support of workers in the struggle against war. We recognize that the defeat of imperialism depends upon the emergence of the working class, armed with a socialist program, as the leading and decisive revolutionary force in the fight against the world capitalist system. Just as it was the Russian Revolution, the greatest intervention of the working class in world history, that brought an end to the first global carnage of World War I, it will be the intervention of the international working class that will today stop the escalation toward World War III.

The IYSSE therefore calls upon students and youth in the US and internationally: Go to the factories and workplaces! Turn to the working class as the chief force to defend democratic rights! Fight against imperialist war, fascism and the capitalist system as a whole! Raise the following demands:

Defend free speech and all democratic rights! Stop the witch hunt of opponents of genocide!

For the right to free, high quality education for all! Throw the CIA, military and corporate billionaires off the campuses!

For a unified movement of workers and students in the US, Europe, Israel and Palestine against imperialist war and capitalism!

Those who agree with this program should fight to establish IYSSE chapters at your schools and college campuses.
Tensions have again flared between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea following incidents last weekend in disputed areas of the Spratly Islands. The Philippines, backed by the US, has accused Chinese coast guard ships on Sunday of blocking its vessels resupplying a small contingent of Philippine troops on the Second Thomas Shoal.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels had harassed, blocked, and executed dangerous manoeuvres on Philippine civilian supply vessels. Manila terms the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea to underscore its territorial claims.

Chinese Coast Guard ship uses water cannon on Philippine navy-operated supply boat M/L Kalayaan as it approaches Second Thomas Shoal on December 10, 2023. [AP Photo/Philippine Coast Guard]

The task force statement claimed that one supply boat had been rammed by a Chinese coast guard ship, and another Chinese vessel had used water cannon against the two supply boats and a Philippine coast guard ship. It also claimed that severe damage had been done to one of the supply boats.

The China Coast Guard, however, accused the Philippine boat of disregarding multiple warnings and deliberately colliding with the Chinese vessel. It stated that the Philippine boat changed direction suddenly in an unprofessional, dangerous manner, deliberately colliding with our Coast Guard Vessel 21556.

The Chinese statement declared that China took control measures against the other Philippine supply boat, which was allegedly carrying construction materials to the Second Thomas Shoal where the Philippines grounded a World War II warship, the BRP Sierra Madre, in 1999 to stake its claim to the reef. The ship, which is manned by a small military force, appears to be listing to one side.

China insists that the shoal is its territory and claims that the Philippines had agreed to remove the warship from the reef. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared in August that he was not aware of any deal, adding that even if an agreement did exist he was repudiating it.

The Marcos administration, egged on by US imperialism, has adopted a more confrontational approach to China and is aggressively pursuing its territorial claims in the South China Sea. The Philippines mounted another provocative attempt to get supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre in October, when a Chinese and Philippine vessel allegedly collided. The incident created a furore over Chinese aggression just before the arrival of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Washington for talks about easing tensions with the US.

The incidents on the weekend were far more of an anti-China propaganda exercise than an attempt to resupply or reinforce the BRP Sierra Madre. The head of the Philippine Armed Forces, General Romeo Brawner Jr, was aboard one of the wooden supply boats manned by navy personnel attempting to reach the Second Thomas Shoal.

Brawner denounced the activities of the Chinese vessels to the media in lurid terms. Its pure aggression, he said. I witnessed how many times the big Chinese coast guard and militia ships cut our path. They water-cannoned us, then bumped us. Its angering. While calling for a diplomatic solution, he warned that the armed forces would continue to support front-line troops and protect fishermen.

A civilian convoy of about 40 boats organised by the Atin Ito Coalition of Philippine organisations also set out from the island of Palawan on Saturday, claiming to be bringing Christmas cheer to the countrys outposts in the South China Sea. The Coalition, driven by rabid Filipino nationalism, includes the Akbayan Party, a breakaway from the Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines.

In a transparent political stunt, the convoy, which was accompanied by three Philippine Coast Guard ships, turned back to Palawan, claiming that a Chinese vessel had tried to ram one of the boats. Coalition organiser Emman Hizon hailed the convoy as a success on many levels, declaring that there would be many more civilian-led supply missions in the near future.

The Philippines summoned Chinas envoy in Manila on Monday over the weekend confrontations. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Teresita Daza told a news conference that declaring the Chinese ambassador as persona non grata was something that has to be seriously considered by the government.

On cue, the US ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson, declared that the US stood with the Philippines in vehemently condemning the PRCs [Chinas] repeated illegal and dangerous actions against Philippine vessels. EU ambassador Luc Veron pronounced Sundays incident as deeply troubling, while the New Zealand embassy declared that it was deeply concerned at multiple incidents of dangerous actions towards the Philippines.

The US State Department also issued a statement condemning Chinas actions, hypocritically citing the 2016 international tribunal decision which declared that China had no lawful claims in waters around the Second Thomas Shoal and the Scarborough Reef. That case, drawn up by American lawyers for the Philippines, was based on 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, an international law that the US has never ratified.

Over the past decade, successive US administrations have deliberately inflamed territorial disputes in the South China Sea between China and its neighbours as a means of drawing countries in Southeast Asia behind the escalating US-led war preparations against Beijing throughout the Indo-Pacific. US imperialism regards China, now the worlds second largest economy, as the chief threat to American global dominance.

In what amounts to a threat directed against China, the US State Department reaffirmed that the 1951 US-Philippines mutual defence treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraftincluding those of its Coast Guardanywhere in the South China Sea.

In other words, an incident involving Chinese and Philippine vessels could become the pretext for military conflict between the US and China.

Significantly, the rusting hulkthe BRP Sierra Madregrounded on the Second Thomas Shoal is still an actively commissioned Philippine warship. As such, any attack on it could be construed to be an act of war.

The stage is being set for a reckless US-led military operation in league with the Philippines in the name of resupplying the BRP Sierra Madre. The US and other American allies, including Australia, have begun joint naval operations in the South China Sea. Last month, the US and Philippine navies conducted a three-day exercise in the seas to the south of Taiwan, another dangerous flash point that Washington has been stoking in its anti-China campaign.

Significantly, the USS Gabrielle Giffords, one of the US Navys littoral combat ships, then conducted a provocative freedom of navigation operation into waters near the Second Thomas Shoal. The Chinese militarys Southern Theatre Command denounced the exercise as illegal, declaring that it fully illustrates that the US is the biggest threat to peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Far more dangerous would be the direct involvement of the US military in an operation in league with the Philippines to reach the BRP Sierra Madre.
A series of two dozen tornadoes struck middle Tennessee with destructive force late Saturday killing six people in the Nashville area, including two children. News reports said as many as 83 people were taken to local hospitals while nine were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Sunday in critical, unstable condition.

Tornadoes caused catastrophic damage in Middle Tennessee Saturday afternoon and evening. [AP Photo/Mark Zaleski]

The tornadoes were part of a massive storm system that stretched from Florida to Maine and covered the entire Atlantic coast of the US. The severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and high winds went from the southeast to the northwest on Sunday with many areas facing a flood risk.

In Clarksville, fifty miles northwest of Nashville, officials confirmed the death of three people. Clarksville Fire Chief Freddie Montgomery told CBS News that teams, including special operations crews, were carrying out secondary searches in the area.

The National Weather Service reported that Clarksville was hit by an EF-3 tornado with peak winds of up to 150 miles per. The tornado was 600 yards wide and was on the ground for 43 miles, passing through three counties in Tennessee and Kentucky.

Ten-year-old Arlan Coty was killed when the tornado struck his house on Henry Place Boulevard. The boys mother, Katherine Burnham, said in a Facebook post that their home was directly in the path of the tornado and Arlan did not make it out in time. Her daughter, Ella, was injured and taken to a local hospital, where she was treated and released with minor injuries.

A GoFundMe account set up by the employer of Arlans father Kyle Burnham had raised $144,000 by Monday afternoon to support the family. Meanwhile, more than 50 employees and family members came to the area to help comb through the destruction to search for family mementos.

Clarksville-area authorities identified the other two victims as Donna Allen, 59, from Florida, and Stephen Kwaah Hayes, 34, from Clarksville.

At least one structural fire was still burning on Sunday, according to Chief Montgomery. He said the department received, a lot of other medical calls. He added that parts of the city sustained different levels of damage, with some areas totally destroyed.

In Madison, a neighborhood in the northeastern part of Nashville, three victims of a tornado were identified as 37-year-old Joseph Dalton, 31-year-old Floridema Gabriel Perez and her son, 2-year-old Anthony Elmer Mendez.

Metro Nashville Police Department reported that Joseph Dalton was inside his mobile home on Nesbitt Lane when the storm rolled it on top of the Perez home. The National Weather Service said Madison was hit by an EF-2 tornado with 120-125 mph peak winds and a path width of 400 yards.

As of Sunday, more the 50,000 people were without power in Tennessee. According to Joe Pitts, mayor of Clarksville, it may take a couple of weeks for power to be fully restored.

Residents of both areas described how they were taken by surprise by the storms and there was not enough time to respond. The storms were moving so quickly that the roar of the winds came and went in a matter of seconds leaving enormous destruction in their wake.

The New York Times interviewed Eric Dzidotor on Sunday afternoon as he visited the piles of debris in Clarksville where his home was. The Times reported, Mr. Dzidotor said he had moved into the house two years ago with his wife, their three children, his mother in-law and his brother in-law. His mother-in-law was now in the hospital with injuries she suffered during the storm, he said. His brother-in-law, who was 26, did not survive.

Dzidotor, said the storm lifted him from the upstairs of his house to his neighbors yard. It was like falling down from an elevator, Dzidotor said. The Times continued, When he landed on the ground and the rain began to pour down, he called for his family. He pulled his daughters, ages 2, 4 and 17, from their collapsed house, one of them with an injured leg, before trying unsuccessfully to rescue his brother-in-law.

Meteorologists have pointed out the fact that this is the third consecutive December with terrifying and deadly tornado outbreaks. While tornadoes can happen any month of the year in the US, researchers have anticipated that as the climate warms due to capitalist-induced climate change, an increasing number of tornadoes may strike during cooler months of the year.

As NBC News reported on Monday, Strong and changing winds at different heights in the atmosphere, also known as wind shear, were a key ingredient that fueled this weekends tornado outbreak, promoting spin in the atmosphere to form tornadoes. That combined with warmer-than-average temperaturesas much as 20 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than average in some areasto create tornado conditions.

A study published in 2021 by the Bureau of Meteorological Society found that due to the warming atmosphere, tornado-favorable environments during the winter months have increased across the southern United States.

In 2021, a tornado outbreak hit Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky and spanned December 10 and 11. One tornado reached a level of EF4 and struck Mayfield, Kentucky with 190 miles per hour sustained winds.

In December 2022, more than 50 tornadoes ripped through Louisiana from December 13 to December 15. A damaging EF2 tornado hit New Orleans on December 14 and the most powerful of that outbreak was an EF3 which struck Union Parish, near the town of Farmerville.
At the beginning of December, less than a month after burying a strike against 1,200 layoffs at three General Motors plants in the state of Sao Paulo, the union bureaucracies began imposing a new Voluntary Dismissal Plan (PDV). The same proposal, with minor modifications, had already been rejected by the workers in September. In response, GM imposed the summary dismissals that triggered the strike.

Autoworkers assembly outside GM's Sao Jose dos Campos plant [Photo: Roosevelt Cassio/sindmetalsjc]

In an article published on November 12 denouncing the corporatist unions hasty termination of the strike, the WSWS warned: After declaring a victory for the workers, the union bureaucrats are preparing to impose the cuts demanded by the company. This is exactly what is happening today.

To promote the new dismissal plan, the unions extolled the improved compensation offered by the company. An article reproduced by the ABC Metalworkers Union, controlled by the CUT, announced: GMs Voluntary Dismissal Plan, also approved in [Sao Caetano do Sul], offers up to an Onix [vehicle]. This is just a bribe, used by the company in combination with the open threat of summary dismissals, to divide the workers and break their resistance.

The union bureaucrats hostility to the workers movement was demonstrated in the points negotiated with GM specifically in relation to the strike. They agreed that the company would pay for just 50 percent of wages for the days spent on the picket lines, respecting production needs, until June 2024. Payment for the days on strike was one of the main reasons given by the union officials to shut down the strike.

However, the main component of the PDV agreement is the absurd job stability until May 3, 2024, which means that workers who refuse to give up their jobs and living standards immediately risk losing them anyway in just five months without receiving any compensation.

The plan shows the true meaning of the reversal of layoffs celebrated by the unions to bury the strike.

On October 22, employees at the Sao Jose dos Campos, Mogi das Cruzes and Sao Caetano do Sul plants received letters of summary dismissal. This was answered immediately with a vote approving a strike in the three plants, with the central demand being the immediate reversal of the dismissals and the guarantee of jobs.

On the first day of strike, Valmir Mariano, leader of the Sao Jose dos Campos Metalworkers Union (SMSJC), controlled by the pseudo-left Unified Socialist Workers Party (PSTU), declared: We wont produce a single screw until the layoffs are canceled. While making rhetorical statements in favor of jobs, the bureaucrats worked to keep the workers struggle under the safe control of the Labor Courts and divert their demands into appeals to the Sao Paulo state government of Bolsonaros former minister, Tarcisio de Freitas, and the federal government of Lula da Silva of the Workers Party (PT).

After court rulings between November 2 and 3 to suspend the layoffs, which still allowed GM to carry out the cuts later, the unions cynically announced a victory and summoned the workers to the plant grounds to vote to end the strike.

On November 4, while GM was still declaring that it would resist the court decision, Mariano said: The resumption of jobs is a historic victory, the fruit of the strong struggle of the workers in the three cities. After burying the strike movement, Opiniao Socialista, the PSTU newspaper, published the headline: With guaranteed jobs and [compensation for] strike days, General Motors metalworkers suspend strike.

Contrary to the rhetorical statements of the union leaderships at the beginning of the strike calling for the reversal of the layoffs and the guarantee of jobs, the reality is that the unions themselves treated the layoffs as a fait accompli. The general secretary of CSP-Conlutas, the trade union federation run by the Morenoite PSTU, stated on December 1: The union is against any job cuts, but the PDV was already on our agenda as an alternative to the arbitrary layoffs that were made by GM.

The problem facing the bureaucrats in control of the union apparatus is that their sordid maneuvers, repeated year after year, are proving themselves increasingly incapable of obfuscating the threatening prospect of unemployment and impoverishment for thousands of workers.

The Morenoites at the head of the CSP-Conlutas and the SMJSC union played a central role in deflecting the huge opposition of the GM workers who remained on strike for 17 days. Overseeing the implementation of corporatist cuts at the Sao Jose dos Campos plant for years, Conlutas seeks to falsely present itself as a left alternative to the discredited bureaucratic apparatuses of Forca Sindical and the PT-linked CUT.

The anti-worker program of the Morenoite bureaucracy was blatantly exposed in its defense of the reactionary United Auto Workers (UAW) in the United States. Weeks before the strike at GM in Brazil broke out, CSP-Conlutas bureaucrats visited the US to support the UAWs systematic sabotage of the contract struggle by 150,000 auto workers, the vast majority of whom were kept on the job under the bureaucracys phony stand up strike strategy. In addition to the Brazilian Morenoites, the UAW welcomed to the picket lines President Joe Biden, who saw the suppression of the autoworkers movement as critical for advancing his feverish global imperialist war policy.

Shortly after the announcements of layoffs at the Sao Paulo plants, CSP-Conlutas leader Mariano announced: We have seen in the United States the strength of the workers at GM and other automakers. ... With the layoffs in Brazil, there will certainly be a mutual impact of the situation between the two countries. International solidarity will be very important at this time.

The only form of international solidarity advocated by the Morenoites is the solidarity of the corporatist union bureaucracies against the growing opposition they face from the working class worldwide. The CSP-Conlutas deliberately hid from Brazilian workers the growing opposition of autoworkers in the US, organized in rank-and-file committees independent of the UAW bureaucracy. Instead, they presented the illegitimate leadership of this corrupt and chauvinist union as combative and internationalist.

Allied with the UAW, the Morenoites systematically promoted the isolation of the Brazilian GM strike from the workers movement in the US. Promoting the decisions of the Labor Courts and pressure on the Lula government as the necessary means to secure jobs, they sought to subordinate Brazilian workers to the bankrupt national capitalist state.

Workers urgently need to take the control of their own struggles out of the hands of the union bureaucracy. If these bankrupt and reactionary organizations are allowed to remain in power, all expressions of opposition will be suppressed in favor of business interests, which will inevitably mean more wage and job cuts.

Above all, workers need to understand that in order to defeat the car companies plans for global cuts, their struggle needs to take on a consciously international character. The only alternative is for workers to organize independently of capitalist unions and governments and in unity with workers in other countries through the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC).
We are publishing here the tribute to Helen Halyard given by Tomas Castanheira, a leading member of the Socialist Equality Group of Brazil, to the memorial meeting held for Helen on December 3.

On behalf of the Brazilian Socialist Equality Group, I would like to express our deep sorrow at the loss of comrade Helen Halyard. But above all, I wish to pay tribute to her lifelong dedication to building the international Trotskyist movement, a struggle that we intend to carry forward in her name.

Helens long and inspiring political trajectory was determined by the courageous choices she made from the very beginning. Most critically, Helen consciously rejected the nationalist outlook that dominated political radicalism in her youth. She committed, instead, to the historical cause of international socialist revolution.

The party that she joined, the Workers League, did not give pragmatic answers to political problems. It challenged the prevailing moods and superficial appearance of reality. Unlike other parties, its existence was based on the fight for political principles and on a wide historical and international perspective.

Workers League member Helen Halyard (right) speaking at a Young Socialist weekend educational, 1976

The Workers League was born out of the struggle against the Pabloite degeneration of the Socialist Workers Party. Carrying out its revolutionary activity in the heart of world imperialism in the midst of the post-war boom, the SWP succumbed to the violent pressures of hostile class forces. It liquidated the prestige won through unyielding struggle for socialist internationalism to hail anti-Marxist, petty-bourgeois leaderships.

The SWP leaders not only betrayed, but systematically slandered the American and international working class. Obscuring its objective revolutionary role, the SWP labeled the working class as passive and conservative, and contrasted it to the image of long-bearded men in olive green uniforms taking power with guns in their hands.

The former Trotskyist James Cannon, trampling on his lifes work, proclaimed the Fourth International to be virtually non-existent. He claimed the creation of an international revolutionary party was an open task, now centered on Cuba and the Cuban Revolution and the leaders of this revolution. If not Castro and his friends, he asked, where will we find better candidates to build such party?

The task of overthrowing capitalism and fighting imperialism was transferred by the SWP to such petty-bourgeois leaderships of anti-colonial movements. This philistine political theory shifted the grounds of revolutionary struggle away from the actual centers of capitalism, with their explosive class antagonisms. And in the social struggles within the advanced capitalist countries, it diverted the axis from the working class and its socialist aspirations.

The Cuban Revolution, wrote a Chilean spokesman for the SWP, has signified not only the breaking up of the inter-American system imposed by imperialism, but has had an impact in the United States itself, influencing the Negroes and Mexican workers who labor there.

Workers League member Helen Halyard runs for Mayor of Detroit at a jobs march in 1985

In its 1961 pamphlet, How Cuba Uprooted Race Discrimination, the SWP declared that one of the most important lessons that the Cuban Revolution has for us in the United States is in how the Negro people of Cuba became the first of any country in the Americas to win full economic, social and political equality.

In the year that it finally broke with the International Committee of the Fourth International, in 1963, the SWP gave a lecture on the centenary of the Emancipation Proclamation that indicated a revised attitude towards the long-completed bourgeois revolution in the United States. The next stage of historical development was not presented by the SWP as the abolition of capitalism by the American working class as part of the world socialist revolution. As the SWP declared, it was the Cubans of the 1960s who took up where the American revolutionists of the 1860s left off. The lecture continued: After all, the Castro regime which Kennedy is so intent on destroying has uprooted racial discrimination in Cuba.

The implication of this view was to assert that the struggles within the United States should assume an essentially democratic, i.e., bourgeois, character, and to locate precisely in this its connections with the anti-colonial movements developing internationally.

This represented a complete break with Marxism, and particularly with the Theory of Permanent Revolution advanced by Trotsky. It was a capitulation to the supposed might of the decrepit and historically doomed Stalinist bureaucracy and to bourgeois nationalism, both agencies of crisis-ridden imperialism.

The ICFI proudly refused to bow to these forces. It was not afraid to call things by their names, and refused to associate the terms socialist and workers state in any way with the bourgeois nationalist regime in Cuba. Despite relentless attacks and slanders by the infuriated petty-bourgeois Pabloites, the International Committees uncompromising defense of principles won to its ranks the revolutionary elements who carried on the struggle for Trotskyism in the United States.

The Workers League developed the fight against the increasingly reactionary forms of nationalism promoted by the ruling classes to divert and derail a renewed revolutionary movement of the international working class in the late 1960s. In particular, the American Trotskyists had to fight a national separatist trend that took the form of black nationalism.

Leon Trotsky

The SWP Pabloites unlimited prostration before the Castroites and black nationalists may have won them some recruits. But it could not win Helen Halyard, much less develop the kind of political leader she became.

Comrade David pointed out in his written tribute that Helen was deeply rooted in the heritage and fighting traditions of the most advanced sections of the African American working class.

In her 1997 lecture on Ebonics, Helen quoted passages from Trotskys answer to the poet Claude McKay that had been previously cited by the Workers League in its 1969 response to the SWPs support for black nationalism, the pamphlet Black Nationalism and Marxist Theory. Trotskys words certainly spoke deeply to her.

Trotsky stressed the utmost importance of developing a cadre within the black working class capable of grasping the identity of interests and destiny of the Negro masses with those of the masses of the world, and in the first place with the destiny of the European working class.

Workers League member and US presidential candidate Helen Halyard addresses students at Niddrie Tech In Melbourne, Australia during her world tour, October, 1992.

Helens life represents the fulfillment of this task. It demonstrates that the revolutionary potential of the African American working class was (and is) not of a national or racial character. It can be realized only as part of the international struggle of the working class for socialism.

Helen fought resolutely for these principles during decades characterized by the deep isolation of revolutionary socialists, in which objective conditions did not allow the Trotskyist party to lead struggles for power.

She has passed away under conditions of a great historical shift, in the initial years of what we have characterized as the decade of socialist revolution. I feel honored to have been able to participate in discussions examining these historical developments along with Helen, in the course of which I could witness her revolutionary character and presence.

Socialist Equality Party member Helen Halyard speaking at a meeting at Wayne State University in Detroit, in 2019

I want to conclude by making comrades around the world aware of the immense power of the figure of Helen Halyard in the construction of the Trotskyist movement in Brazil.

This is a country where the working class has largely been formed by the descendants of African slaves. The rise of capitalism and wage labor did not end social misery, brutal class violence and racial discrimination in Brazil. However, by subjecting the masses to universal exploitation, the capitalist ruling class has spawned an objectively unified working class and created conditions for the abolition of every form of oppression.

Massive multi-racial struggles of the working class marked the history of the 20th century in Brazil. But they were successfully diverted by the betrayals of Stalinism, Pabloism and the Workers Party (PT)all based on the subordination of the working class to the national bourgeoisie.

Today, these forces have been completely discredited. The Brazilian bourgeoisie increasingly resorts to racialism as its preferred tool to divert the revolutionary struggles that are on the agenda.

In our fight to build the leadership required by these struggles, Helen Halyard will be invoked many times. Her name, along with the names of all of the historical fighters for the Fourth International, is inscribed in the flag of our party.
Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition March 9, 2020, in Washington. [AP Photo/Susan Walsh]

This past weekend, the worlds richest promoter of antisemitism, billionaire Elon Musk reinstated fascist InfoWars publisher and Trump coup accomplice Alex Jones to Twitter/X. Jones was previously suspended from the platform in 2018.

Bringing Jones back on the platform is the latest gesture from Musk to the Trump 2024 presidential campaign and fascist elements around the world.



Jones is not only a right-wing Trump supporter, but like Musk, he propagates and promotes the antisemitic Great Replacement Theory (GRT), which claims that left-wing globalists, that is, Jews and defenders of immigrants rights, are seeking to replace white Americans and Europeans with immigrants from South America, Asia and Africa. GRT has served as the ideological scaffolding of several neo-Nazi massacres, including one at the Christchurch, New Zealand mosque mass murder and the Tree of Life Pittsburgh synagogue killings.



Last month Musk promoted GRT on X/Twitter, causing global outrage. Seeking to placate fleeing advertisers, as well as Jewish critics, Musk traveled to Israel to schmooze with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayahu. While in Israel, Musk backed the Zionist lies about October 7 and joined in the Democratic and Republican parties bipartisan censorship campaign against anti-genocide protesters. He pledged to suspend accounts that tweeted From the river to the sea, falsely claiming it that it necessarily impl[ied] genocide.



Jones is hardly the first right-wing figure to be reinstated by Musk. Since purchasing Twitter last year for $44 billion, Musk has welcomed back several fascists, including Trump himself, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, and neo-Nazi Andrew Anglin, while banning several left-wing, Palestinian, and even liberal journalist accounts.

Jones was reinstated this weekend by Musk following a coordinated campaign by Republican politicians and operatives. Former Fox News right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene were among the most high-profile right-wing celebrities who lobbied Musk publicly and privately to end the suspension of Jones account.



Despite his formal suspension from Twitter/X, videos of Jones fascistic rants on his InfoWars program are regularly uploaded by right-wing accounts to the social media site. Videos of Jones interview with Hitler-lovers Ye (Kanye West) and Nick Fuentes continue to be shared on the platform despite both of them ostensibly being banned.



Prior to the unbanning of Jones this weekend, Carlson had hosted him on his Twitter/X program, allowing the right-wing conspiracy theorist to make his case directly to Musk. After Jones appearance on Carlsons program, Musk, in an attempt to create distance between himself and the unbanning of Jones, conducted a poll on his Twitter/X account asking users if Jones should be reinstated. Despite having 166 million followers, less than 2 million votes were registered in Musks poll, with an alleged 70 percent voting in favor of reinstating Jones.



In addition to being a prolific right-wing conspiracy theorist, Jones is an ardent supporter of ex-President Donald Trump and played a significant role in Trumps Stop the Steal campaign and failed coup.



In the lead-up to the coup, Jones spread Trumps election lies on his programs and participated in several Stop the Steal rallies, including in Georgia with neo-Nazi Fuentes, and in Washington D.C. with retired Gen. Mike Flynn.

In December 2020, Jones featured Oath Keepers militia leader Elmer Stewart Rhodes on his show. In the course of that program, Rhodes encouraged fascists to come to Washington on January 6. Rhodes, along with several other leading Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, has been convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the failed coup.



Jones was not only a propagandist for Trumps Big lie, he also facilitated a major donation from billionaire Publix heiress Julie Fancelli to the Trump campaign and Women For America First (WFAF), in furtherance of the coup. WFAF organized the rally on the Ellipse outside the White House on January 6 during which Trump and his allies encouraged his supporters to march on the Capitol to fight like hell or else they wouldnt have a country anymore.



Jones has previously admitted that officials from the Trump campaign asked him to lead enraged Trump supporters to the Capitol following Trumps speech.

Alex Jones speaks on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, as rioters breach the Capitol. [AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana]

Promoting Jones to his followers after his reinstatement, Musk hosted a Twitter/X space with Jones for over an hour that featured several far-right politicians and personalities.



Participants in the Musk/Jones December 10 Twitter Space included Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, and unsuccessful ultra-MAGA congressional candidate Laura Loomer. Neo-Nazis Jack Posobiec and Jackson Hinkle also participated along with retired General Flynn.



Jones, the Republican politicians and the neo-fascist operatives spent the entire event praising Musk for reinstating Jones, falsely claiming that it was an example of Musk fighting for free speech.



Gaetz, who asked for a pardon from Trump in the final days of his presidency, said he thought it was great having Jones back on Twitter/X because he provoked a lot of critical thinking from policy makers.

From left, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. attend the House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing of the United States Department of Justice with testimony from Attorney General Merrick Garland, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021 on Capitol Hill in Washington. [AP Photo/Michaels Reynolds/AP]

Jones declared Elon Musk has valiantly restored myself back to Twitter, and that what Elon Musk is doing is 1776 2.0.



Railing against globalists, a code word for Jews and leftists, Jones said Musk was directly taking on the world government and developing an alternate plan for history through free market competition.



You see the energy of Donald Trump, of Elon Musk, Jones said. Thats dangerous.



After Jones said that Musks courage in bringing him back on the platform had broken the back of the globalists, Musk replied, Yeah, well, I guess Im not afraid to die.



Musk went on to articulate his fear of social revolution, saying, If you study history, see the arc of history ... we should be concerned we may have crested. Many times I get late-stage-civilization vibes, and I worry we are cresting as a civilization and heading towards a fall.



Later on Musk attacked the globalists, who he said were short-sighted, after which he claimed to have done more for sustainable energy than any other human.



Flynn, whose brother Gen. Charles Flynn was named by former Capitol Police Chief Steve Sund and former D.C. Guard Commander William Walker as one of the two generals who blocked the deployment of National Guard troops to the Capitol while it was under siege during Trumps coup, thanked Musk for hosting the discussion and reinstating Jones.



Flynn characterized the discussion as a fight in the information domain between the globalists and humanists.
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

Latin America

Mass protests in Peru against the Dina Boluarte government

Mass protests took place in Peru on December 7, 8 and 9 on the first anniversary of the congressional coup that overthrew President Pedro Castillo and installed Dina Boluarte as head of state.

Chanting out with everyone! (Que se vayan todos!) the demonstrations demanded Boluartes ouster, the closure of the National Congress, new elections and a new constitution, and that the death of more than 60 demonstrators, killed by the newly installed government during popular protests over Castillos removal last December and in early 2023, be investigated and the killers be punished.

Demonstrators march against Peruvian President Dina Boluarte in Lima, Peru, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. [AP Photo/Martin Mejia]

Former Peru President Alberto Fujimori was sentenced in 2009 for 25 murders committed by a death squad under his orders in Lima and in Cantuta University. After an unsuccessful attempt to free him in 2017 by then President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Fujimori was released last week with Boluartes approval.

On December 7, as the protests began, demonstrators attempting to block the Pan-American highway were dispersed by government police forces.

Protest marks anniversary of El Mozote massacre in El Salvador

Salvadorians marked the 42nd anniversary of the massacres that took place in the city of El Mozote (near the border with Honduras) and nearby towns by El Salvadors Atlacatl Battalion during that nations civil war in 1981. Over one thousand people were executed during the massacres, considered the most brutal in El Salvadors history. In addition to the killings, many families saw their homes completely destroyed.

Its been 42 years, declared a demonstrator, we are still suffering, with wounds that cannot be erased, with no justice. We fight to put all those that ordered the massacre in jail.

Successive Salvadorian government have ignored the demands of the relatives of the victims and have not recognized that a massacre even took place, despite findings by the Interamerican Human Rights Court and independent investigators.

In her speech, Raquel Caballero de Guevara, the Attorney for Defense of Human Rights (PDDH), declared that the desire for truth, justice and comprehensive reparation continue to be more valid than ever.

Bolivia truckers hold protest strike

Bolivian truckers blocked four points in the highway that links Cochabamba and Santa Cruz for five days last week to protest poorly maintained and dangerous road and bridge conditions.

The protest strike ended las Wednesday, following negotiations between the truck drivers union and Bolivian authorities.

Brazil Aerospace workers protest

Workers employed by Brazilian aerospace Avibras corporation protested last Wednesday, blocking a main road in the city of Sao Jose dos Campos. The protesting workers are owed 9 months of back wages. A central demand by the workers is that the company be taken over by the Lula administration.

Scores of workers walked two kilometers carrying banners demanding their back wages and the nationalization of the bankrupt firm. Avibras management recently reneged on a promise of two-months back wages plus a bonus of 1,000 Reales, not a dime of which was ever paid.

Last year the company entered bankruptcy proceedings and sacked 420 workers.

Mexico City educators protest

On December 5, thousands of education workers from all over Mexico City carried out a massive march through downtown. The protest included teachers and support personnel at high schools and elementary schools. They were also joined by their own students, striking at teaching colleges.

The march ended with a rally at the El Zocalo central square. The issue is wages and working conditions.

United States

Workers at Sutter Health psychiatric facility in Sacramento, California, carry out one-day strike

Some 150 workers at Sutter Healths Center for Psychiatry in Sacramento, California conducted a one-day strike December 6 after more than a year of fruitless bargaining failed to produce an acceptable contract to members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW). Workers first unionized in November 2021 and are still without a first contract.

Sutter has offered only an insulting increase in annual wages of 2.25 percent. Besides increased wages, the social workers, therapists, food services and custodial workers are also seeking hazard pay and have raised unsafe staffing ratios as a major concern.

Our frontline staff are with the patients 24/7, Cesar Mardones, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, told CapRadio. Theyre really getting a lot of physical strain.

An NUHW survey reported that four out of five surveyed said they experience understaffing at least once a week. Another 58 percent said theyve witnessed unsafe situations due to understaffing.

Workers are also protesting Sutters withholding of cost-of-living increases. In another provocation, management paid out merit-based increases to all but the NUHW members. It only relented and began to pay after an NLRB ruling.

No further strike action has been planned by the NUHW.

Faculty at New Jersey Institute of Technology grant strike authorization

Faculty at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in Newark voted by a 98 percent margin to grant strike authorization after 14 months of failed bargaining. The faculty are members of the United Council of Academics (UCAN), comprising adjunct faculty, postdoctoral research employees and graduate workers, constituting three-quarters of the teaching faculty at NJIT.

UCAN is seeking pay equity with educators and researchers at nearby Rutgers University, affordable healthcare, childcare, along with dental and vision benefits. Faculty also want limits on class sizes and work hours and job security provisions.

NJIT management has sought to pit faculty against students, responding, We do not have the capacity to meet UCANs current demands without passing a significant burden to students

Canada

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan city officials refuse to sign end of strike protocol

Despite ratifying a new four-year contract on December 1 after a bitter 11-week strike, the 90 permanent workers and 60 non-permanent inside workers for the municipality of Prince Albert remain on the picket lines because city officials have so far refused to sign a back-to-work protocol with the union and officially activate the new collective agreement.

The workers, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), voted by 81 percent to accept a new contract negotiated between their union officials and city management.

That deal provided for a paltry 11 percent wage rise spread over the life of the agreement and minor benefit improvements. Workers had rejected the 11 percent wage offer as inadequate earlier in the negotiation process and counterposed a 15 percent increase in overall compensation. But with bills mounting and the union urging them to reduce their expectations, workers saw no way forward.

With the ratification of the contract, normal procedure would see a timely meeting called by city officials to declare the strike over. However, management, after initially agreeing to a return-to-work protocol, then demanded that workers who had been struck by the mayors vehicle as it pushed its way through a picket line during the strike, withdraw their complaint lodged with the police. Union officials pointed out that such a demand to interfere with already filed charges was in violation of their basic legal rights.

The current dispute is the second time that a union ratification vote has been thrown into disarray by management. Last October, a vote on a contract was halted hours after it had begun because management had belatedly announced new terms that were not detailed in the document the workers were voting on. That management maneuver was met with the filing of an Unfair Labour Practice complaint with the province.

The latest delay in resolving the strike has been viewed by workers with deep suspicion. At the beginning of the strike municipal HR Manager Kevin Yates bragged that the strike would actually prove to be a cost-saving for the city.

City management is currently insisting on a concessions-laden contract with more than 300 outside municipal workers organized by CUPE. Those workers recently voted to authorize a strike. However, pro-employer provincial rules require further steps to be first undertaken in the negotiating process.
Palestinians crowded together as they wait for food distribution in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. Since the start of the its attack on Gaza, Israel has limited the amount of food and water allowed to enter the territory, causing widespread hunger across the strip (AP Photo/Hatem Ali) [AP Photo/Hatem Ali]

As Israel continues its bombing, starvation and ethnic cleansing of the people of Gaza, hunger has reached epidemic proportions. Nine in 10 people in Gaza reported going to bed hungry, the United Nations World Food Program reported.

More than half of the populationover 63 percentreported going for days without food. Hunger stalks everyone, UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine), the United Nations body responsible for Palestinian refugees, wrote in a statement on Twitter. Too many people havent eaten now for two, three days in the Gaza Strip.

UN Special Rapporteur on Food Michael Fakhri told Al Jazeera Arabic, Every single Palestinian in Gaza is going hungry, in an interview, in which he identified the mass murder of the population of Gaza as genocide.

These reports follow a veto Friday by the United States of a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire. This week, a non-binding ceasefire resolution is expected to pass the United Nations General Assembly. The United States, meanwhile, doubled down on calling for a military solution to the crisis, in an open endorsement of the genocide.

We think there can be a military solution to taking out the leadership of Hamas that planned and carried out the attacks of October 7, in taking out the militants who crossed into Israel and carried out those attacks, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a briefing.

This followed the statement Sunday by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken: When it comes to a ceasefire in this moment, with Hamas still alive, still intact, and again, with the stated intent of repeating October 7th again and again and again, that would simply perpetuate the problem.

On Monday, the Washington Post reported that Israel used US-supplied white phosphorus munitions to carry out attacks on Lebanon, in violation of international laws prohibiting the use of the incendiary weapon in densely populated areas. For weeks, videos have shown Israel raining down white phosphorus on populated areas. The report follows the announcement Friday by the White House that it would bypass congressional authorization to send Israel $100 million worth of tank ammunition.

On Monday, the death toll from the bombardment of the Gaza Strip surged to 18,205, with roughly another 7,000 still missing and likely buried under the rubble. The Palestinian Health Ministry warned that it is following 325,000 cases of infectious diseases, meaning that one in six people in Gaza are ill with such a disease, amid the dismantling of all infrastructure to support life.

Nicholas Papachrysostomou, the emergency coordinator in Gaza for Doctors Without Borders, told Al Jazeera, every other patient in Rafah has a respiratory infection, amid rainy and cold conditions. In some shelters, 600 people share a single toilet. We are already seeing many cases of diarrhea. Often children are the worst affected, he said.

The United Nations reported, on 11 December, the maternity department at Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahiya, north of Gaza, was hit. As a result, two mothers were reportedly killed, and several people were injured.

The World Health Organization Executive Board issued a statement warning of a total breakdown of Gazas healthcare system. Gazas health system is on its knees and collapsing, with the risk expected to worsen with the deteriorating situation and approaching winter conditions, said the WHOs director-general.

As more and more people move to a smaller and smaller area, overcrowding, combined with the lack of adequate food, water, shelter and sanitation, are creating the ideal conditions for disease to spread, he added.

The UN reported: in the north and Gaza City, Israeli forces reportedly detained hundreds of men and boys staying in public spaces, schools serving as shelters for internally displaced persons (IDPs) as well as private homes. Reportedly, detainees were stripped to their underwear, handcuffed, and were ordered to sit on their knees in open areas, subjected to beatings, harassment, harsh weather, and denial of basic necessities.

In a statement, Omar Shakir, the Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch, condemned this flagrant war crime. The Israeli armys publication of shocking photos of detained Palestinian men in Gaza stripped & blindfolded constitutes outrages upon personal dignitya form of inhumane treatment that amounts to a war crime, Shakir wrote on Monday. Perpetrators should be held to account.

To date, 81 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since October 7, and 296 medical workers have been killed. On Monday, Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif was targeted in a bombing of his home in northern Gazas Jabaliya refugee camp, which killed his father. Al Jazeera said the murder came after a series of threats received by [al-Sharif] last November in an attempt to deter him from carrying out his duty.

The Committee to Protect Journalists responded to the attack by declaring it was deeply alarmed by the pattern of journalists in Gaza reporting receiving threats, and subsequently, their family members being killed. It added, The killing of the family members of journalists in Gaza is making it almost impossible for the journalists to continue reporting, as the risk now extends beyond them also to include their beloved ones.

Israels mass murder is accompanied by mass displacement. After ordering the entire population to evacuate from northern Gaza, a further 30 percent of southern Gaza has been marked for compulsory evacuation by the Israeli military. Hundreds of thousands of people are being crammed further and further south, huddled in squalid refugee camps near the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, through which Israeli politicians have called for Gazans to be displaced.
US President Joe Biden (R) and China's President Xi Jinping (L) meet on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on November 14, 2022. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

The US and China risk a "new cold war" if the two countries drift further apart, an IMF official said.

Shifting investment trends and strained trade could further divide the US and China, the official said.

The official said it's in the best interests of both parties to support continued trade ties.

China and the US risk entering a "new cold war" amid strained economic and trade ties, according to Gita Gopinath, the deputy managing director at the International Monetary Fund.

In a speech delivered Monday in Colombia, Gopinath highlighted that China's no longer the biggest trader partner for the US, and that the country has also lost ground as a destination for overseas investors.

Economic fragmentation, she said, is increasing, and that poses risks to both nations as far erasing the progress made previously. However, at the same time, each nation has a larger degree of economic interdependence than in the past.

"If fragmentation deepens, we could find ourselves in a new cold war," she said. Falling into such conditions could spark "an annihilation of the gains from open trade."

"It is in [policymaker's]and everyone'sbest interest to advocate strongly for a multilateral rules-based trading system and the institutions that support it," she said.

To be sure, heightened interdependence, Gopinath said, does ultimately raise the risk of fragmentation.

Emerging markets including Mexico and India, as well as the United Arab Emirates, have cut into China's trade role with the US. Not only that, but Gopinath said certain "suggestive evidence" illustrates how the direct ties between China and the US of the past are being replaced with indirect links.

"For example, large electronics manufacturers have accelerated relocating production from China to Vietnam, given US tariffs on Chinese goods," she said. "However, Vietnam sources most inputs from China, while most exports go to the US. Meanwhile, Mexico eclipsed China as the biggest exporter of goods to the US in 2023. But many manufacturers opening plants in Mexico are Chinese companies, targeting the US market."

Throughout 2023, economic growth trends for China and the US have increasingly diverged. China has had to navigate a severely troubled real estate sector and a softer-than-expected rebound from the pandemic. The US, on the other hand, has increasingly appeared on track for a soft landing of its economy.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Chip-company boss says the idea of humans losing control of AI keeps him up at night

Arm listed on NASDAQ in September. Michael M. Santiago

Rene Haas, CEO of Arm, told Bloomberg the idea of humans losing control of AI costs him sleep.

The company that makes blueprints for chips used to power AI tools, smartphones, and semiconductors.

Haas previously told Bloomberg in September that "you can't really run AI without Arm."

The CEO of chip designer Arm said the idea of humans losing power over AI has kept him up at night.



Rene Haas told Bloomberg that AI needs "some override" and a "way that the system can be shut down."



After being asked about his AI fears, he said, "The thing I worry about most is humans losing capability."



He also told Bloomberg, "I think it will find its way into everything that we do, and every aspect of how we work, live, play. It's going to change everything over the next five-to-10 years."

The company designs chips that are used in smartphones, tablets, and LLMs. They are also used to manufacture semiconductors.

In a previous interview with Bloomberg, the CEO of the UK company said, "You can't really run AI without Arm" and without a central processing unit as it's "in every device you touch." Arm is everywhere, relative to AI, he added.



Last year, Softbank tried to sell Arm to US chip giant Nvidia in a $40 billion deal . Nvidia uses its chips for PC processors , Bloomberg reported.



After the sale was canceled, Arm listed on the US stock market in September, with its IPO valuing the company at $54.5 billion.

Softbank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son said on CNBC's news show "Squawk on the Street" in September that he "did not want to really sell" but that the pandemic made him go into "protective mode."



Son said during the interview, "I believed in the future of Nvidia back then, and it was right. And I believed in the combinations of the power of the two companies would be enormous."



He added, "I believed in the future of AI. And it's really now getting proved. And this is the beginning of big AI time and Arm is going to have a big role in that."

Story continues

Before joining Arm, Haas spent seven years as vice president and general manager of the computing products group at Nvidia, the company website said.

Arm didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.



Read the original article on Business Insider
By Raphael Satter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Somali reporter Abdalle Ahmed Mumin was doubly distressed when he heard that a colleague had been abducted by masked gunmen at the University of Mogadishu on the morning of Aug. 17.

A fellow journalist was missing and Mumin - the chairman of the Somali Journalists Syndicate - had little way of getting the word out. Digital sabotage had knocked his syndicate's website and email accounts offline a few days earlier.

"I can still feel the frustration," Mumin told Reuters. Our link to the outside world, to the international media, is our website."

It was only after getting help from Qurium, a Swedish nonprofit that does digital defense work for news organizations and nonprofits, that Mumin was able to get his site back on its feet and properly raise the alarm about the missing reporter.

When Qurium investigated, it eventually traced a source of the outage to a surprising place: Wyoming.

Although Qurium said it wasn't able to get to a lock on who pulled the trigger on the cyberattack, it did discover that the sabotage was carried out with the help of a limited liability company, or LLC, based out of the vast western state.

Reuters has found it was one of at least three instances in the past four months in which digital defenders have implicated Wyoming LLCs in high-profile hacking activity. Interviews with half a dozen tech and compliance experts and hacking victims like Mumin suggest that the state once known as the rugged refuge for 19th century bandits is now catering to 21st century outlaws.

"It's the virtual Wild, Wild West," said Sarah Beth Felix, who runs Palmera Consulting, an anti-money laundering advisory firm. She said the state made registering anonymous shell companies so easy that foreign crooks "don't have to be physically in Wyoming to hide out in Wyoming."

Joe Rubino, the general counsel for the Wyoming Secretary of State's Office, which is responsible for registering the state's business entities, said his colleagues were taking the information flagged by Reuters "for further review and investigation."

Story continues

He added that Wyoming's Secretary of State, Chuck Gray, supports the idea of new laws "to prevent abuses of Wyoming's corporate filing system by foreign entities" but that the state legislature had yet to take the matter up.

Reuters was unable to determine how often cybercriminals use Wyoming LLCs, but Tord Lundstrom, Qurium's technical director, said they were finding favor with cybercriminals who used them to help pass their internet traffic off as coming from inside the United States, a valuable trick for hackers seeking to bypass digital defenses that tend to flag or block web traffic coming from less trusted locations, such as Russia or Iran.

LLCs, like corporations, shield their owners from certain forms of liability but tend to be easier to set up. Because Wyoming allows registered agents  in-state representatives  to serve as the public point of contact for LLCs, their ownership can be kept secret from the wider public.

Wyoming isn't alone in allowing anonymous shell companies  Delaware and Nevada have similar offerings  but Lundstrom said hackers particularly favored Wyoming LLCs because they were advertised as cost effective and user friendly.

'BRAZEN AND DIRECT ATTACK'

The act of cyber sabotage that knocked the Somali Journalists Syndicate offline in August is known as a distributed denial of service, or DDoS, which clobbers targeted sites with a firehose of malicious traffic.

Qurium found that one stream of rogue data ran through an IP address block registered to Aliat, an LLC domiciled in Sheridan, a small Wyoming city at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains.

Reuters' attempts to reach Aliat were unsuccessful. A message left via the contact form on the company's website on Oct. 9 was met with an automated message promising a response "within 48 hours." Corporate records show that the LLC was dissolved the same day, although it was later reinstated.

No response was ever provided.

In September, a DDoS operation knocked the Vienna-based International Press Institute offline. The organization had just published a report on how DDoS operations were bedeviling Hungarian independent media outlets when they too were slammed with a tidal wave of junk traffic  something the group later described as "the most brazen and direct attack on IPI's online infrastructure in our history."

It took the IPI about 10 days to fully restore the site's functionality. Qurium was once again able to trace some of the rogue data back to a Wyoming LLC  a web hosting company called HostCram.

Run by a 23-year-old Bangladeshi named Shakib Khan, the firm is registered in Buffalo, a tiny city which was once a hangout for the infamous train robbers Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Qurium said that Khan told them he was terminating a client following the incident but provided no further detail. Khan told Reuters he would only share his client's identity with law enforcement.

As to why he'd registered a company in Buffalo, he said, "Wyoming is great for online businesses."

'THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED'

Experts say a single shell company can serve as the springboard for widespread abuse.

In 2017 a pair of cybersecurity researchers traced waves of digital break-ins and spam targeting a host of organizations to an online proxy service run by Russian IT entrepreneur Ilia Trusov.

Despite the public exposure  and a subsequent report by Qurium also tying him to DDoS operations  Trusov registered two Wyoming LLCs, Security Servers and Traffictransitsolution, in 2019.

In video calls with Reuters, Trusov said the allegations were unfair. He said he had no tolerance for cybercrime and often worked with police agencies to fight it. He flashed his passport and U.S. and European visas as proof that he wasnt trying to mask his identity and had never been in trouble with the law.

Trusov did acknowledge setting up shell companies in Wyoming so that his clients' web traffic would look American. He said having a U.S. shell company was also helpful in terms of fielding legal requests. Another bonus: Anonymity.

"In Wyoming, you can't go and check owners," he said.

Trusov's LLCs have since been dissolved, but another Wyoming shell company has faced scrutiny more recently.

In August of this year the anti-ransomware firm Halcyon accused an Iran-linked internet company called Cloudzy of providing services to "a rogue's gallery" of digital spies and cybercriminals, in part through Sheridan-based RouterHosting LLC.

Cloudzy chief executive Hannan Nozari denied turning a blind eye to malicious activity, which he said was "a serious problem all of us face." He told Reuters he was based in Dubai and registered RouterHosting under the mistaken assumption that he needed it to buy internet infrastructure in North America. He said he had recently enhanced his service's security and had the Wyoming company dissolved.

As foreigners living abroad, neither Nozari nor Trusov nor Khan would have been able to set up Wyoming LLCs were it not for registered agents.

RouterHosting was set up with the help of a Sheridan-based registered agent called Cloud Peak Law Group. Aliat, HostCram and Trusov's LLCs were represented by a firm called Registered Agents Inc, which also lists a Sheridan address.

Cloud Peak didn't respond to questions. Registered Agents Inc said in a statement that, while the company didn't comment on specific client relationships, it followed relevant state rules and due diligence requirements.

"Commercial registered agents are not policing agencies," the company added.

Mumin, the head of the Somali journalists' syndicate, said no one had been held accountable for the cyber sabotage that crippled his organization in August. He had no sympathy with the notion that Wyoming's registered agents weren't required to police their clients.

"They should be ashamed, these companies in Wyoming, that they haven't been able to  or they don't care to  check who their customers are," Mumin said.

(Reporting by Raphael Satter in Washington. Editing by Chris Sanders and Claudia Parsons)
Chinagorom Onwumere, 34, and Salma Abdalkareem, 27, are accused of extorting a man for more than $100,000, police allege

Washington County Sheriffas Office Chinagorom Onwumere and Salma Abdalkareem

A New Jersey couple is accused of perpetrating an extortion scheme that targeted a Tenneseee man who subsequently died by suicide.

The Washington County Sheriffs Office announced charges on Nov. 21 against Chinagorom Onwumere, 34, and Salma Abdalkareem, 27, accusing them of extorting a man for more than $100,000.

According to reports from NJ.com, 6ABC and News 12 New Jersey, which cite authorities, the alleged victim, who lived in Jonesborough, Tenn., and was 74 years old, died by suicide after the alleged extortion.

NJ.com and News 12 both reported that police say the man was made to believe he was in a romantic relationship with a celebrity and was scammed into paying fines from a fake sexual harassment suit.

The sheriffs office alleges the man paid the couple $87,500 in gift cards and checks, after Onwumere and Abdalkareem allegedly threatened him and his family over email.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The pair are each charged with three counts of extortion, three counts of financial exploitation of an elderly or vulnerable person, two counts of theft over $60,000 and two counts of criminal impersonation.

Onwumere and Abdalkareem were arrested at their home in Piscataway, N.J., and were transported to Tennessee after waiving extradition, the sheriffs office says.

It is not clear if they have retained attorneys or entered pleas.



If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

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Mizus fight is far from over  Netflix has renewed the animated series Blue Eye Samurai for a second season, TVLine has learned.

In celebration of the shows pickup, Blue Eye Samurai creators, executive producers and writers Amber Noizumi and Michael Green released the following statement:

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When we started this project, we made a commitment to take this very personal story set in Edo-period Japan and bring it to life in the most authentic and beautiful way possible. Our animators, historians, musicians, martial artists and voice cast made this a reality beyond our expectations. We are thankful to our entire team and to our viewers from all over the world who have shown such passion for Mizu and her path of revenge. Mizu has a lot more blood to spill! We are deeply grateful to our incredible partners at Netflix for letting the journey continue.

For the unfamiliar, Netflix describes Blue Eye Samurai as a provocative and visually stunning cinematic series immersing the viewer in a world of vivid adult animation with a live-action edge. Set in Edo-period Japan, Blue Eye Samurai follows Mizu , a mixed-race master of the sword who lives a life in disguise seeking the deliverance of revenge.

Maya Erskine (PEN15) stars as Mizu, leading a voice cast that includes George Takei (Star Trek), Masi Oka (Heroes), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Revenge), Brenda Song (Dollface), Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever), Randall Park (Fresh Off the Boat), Kenneth Branagh (Death on the Nile), Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once), Ming-Na Wen (The Mandalorian), Harry Shum Jr. (Glee) and Mark Dacascos (Marvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.).

In its first full week of eligibility after releasing on Nov. 3, Blue Eye Samurai made its Nielsen streaming ranking debut at No. 9, by generating 315 million minutes viewed across eight episodes.

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Hit PLAY on the video above to watch Netflixs official confirmation of more Blue Eye Samurai, then drop a comment with your hopes for Season 2 below.

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An event on the occasion of Azerbaijan's hosting the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in 2024 has been held in the city of Dubai.

The Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan Anar Alakbarov, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva and guests from other countries attended the event organized in the Azerbaijani pavilion operating at COP28.

The event then featured a concert program comprising Azerbaijani national music compositions by tarzan Shahriyar Imanov.




Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Thermo Fisher Scientific fair value estimate is US$540

With US$495 share price, Thermo Fisher Scientific appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value

The US$532 analyst price target for TMO is 1.5% less than our estimate of fair value

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Thermo Fisher Scientific

The Calculation

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

Story continues

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$7.64b US$8.73b US$10.9b US$11.2b US$11.6b US$11.9b US$12.2b US$12.5b US$12.8b US$13.1b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x8 Analyst x8 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 2.88% Est @ 2.68% Est @ 2.54% Est @ 2.45% Est @ 2.38% Est @ 2.33% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.2% US$7.1k US$7.6k US$8.8k US$8.5k US$8.2k US$7.8k US$7.5k US$7.1k US$6.8k US$6.5k

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$76b

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.2%) 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 7.2%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$13b (1 + 2.2%)  (7.2% 2.2%) = US$267b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$267b ( 1 + 7.2%)10= US$133b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$209b. 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$495, the company appears about fair value at a 8.4% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

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. 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific 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 7.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.002. 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific

Strength

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Life Sciences market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years.

Current share price is below our estimate of fair value.

Threat

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the American market.

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. 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?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Thermo Fisher Scientific, we've put together three additional factors you should explore:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Thermo Fisher Scientific that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does TMO's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. 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.
After years of aggressive expansion at home, China's autonomous vehicle upstarts are now setting their gaze on overseas markets. WeRide, in particular, has been on a licensing spree.

On Monday, WeRide announced it has obtained two licenses from Singapore that will allow its robobuses to test on public roads on a "larger" scale. The two permits, called M1 and T1 respectively, are granted by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore and will enable WeRide's self-driving buses to test in areas including the One North tech cluster and the National University of Singapore.

The news came just five months after WeRide announced it had secured a self-driving license to test a range of vehicles including robotaxis on open roads in the United Arab Emirates, which has a bold agenda to automate its transport system. The company also holds various levels of AV permits in the U.S. and its home country China.

In recent years, China's AV companies have taken a turn to ramp up their commercial efforts, thus placing relatively less emphasis on the cash-hemorrhaging pursuit of Level 4 robotaxis. Deeproute, for example, is forging closer ties with car manufacturers, while others, such as WeRide, are investing in autonomous buses that move at a lower speed, in fixed routes, and have less unpredictable traffic conditions to navigate.

As one of the densest cities in the world with an aging workforce, Singapore started its push into AVs in 2014 as a means to cope with its land and manpower constraints. According to the LTA, the city with over five million people has a measured approach to rolling out AVs and has completed the first phase in "test beds," or controlled environments.

The island state is now gearing up to enter the second phase of development, wherein AVs for passenger and utility purposes are allowed to operate in selected areas. It has attracted other global players in the self-driving arena, including the Aptiv-Hyundai joint venture Motional, which has been building and testing robotaxis in the city.

One of the licenses that WeRide obtained is called Milestone 1 or M1, which, according to the LTA's categorization, denotes that AVs can test on open roads in certain areas with safety operators who have full control of the vehicles.

Entering a foreign market takes months if not years of relationship building with regulators and business partners, and WeRide has been diligently preparing. Its list of investors, which together have shelled out over $1.4 billion in funding, include SMRT, a major public transport operator in Singapore, and K3 Ventures, a local investment firm.

On the business side, WeRide recently signed strategic cooperation agreements with Woodlands Transport Services, one of the country's largest private transport operators, and bus service company EZ Buzz.

WeRide has become a poster child in the wave of Chinese tech firms expanding to Singapore, attracting the attention of high-profile political figures. In March, the city-state's prime minister Lee Hsien Loong took a ride in a WeRide robotaxi on his visit to China. Singapore is a "regional center" for the company's Asia-Pacific market expansion, WeRide's founder and CEO Tony Han said during his reception of Lee's entourage.

As one of China's most-funded AV companies, WeRide was valued at $5.1 billion after completing a Series D extension round late last year and confidentially filed to go public in the U.S. this March.

Updated the story on December 12, 2023, to reflect WeRide's latest valuation.
Greg Latza for ACLU

This post originally appeared on The 19th.

What most people remember about that February morning is the cold. The sun was just rising over Pierre, South Dakota. The temperature hovered at 17 degrees. The mood was tense and grim. What Dylan Daniels will never forget about that day is that everything changed for queer Indigenous people after that.

It was February 10, 2020, just weeks away from the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down statehouses and halting any legislation from moving forward. But on that day, the South Dakota legislature was poised to vote on House Bill 1057, a measure to ban gender-affirming care for youth. Dozens of bills just like this one had been introduced in other statehouses. South Dakota, with its deep red House and Senate and conservative governor, was seen as a bellwether. Passing HB 1057 would lay the groundwork for its many siblings nationwide.

The bill was deeply personal for Daniels, a two-spirit transgender man.

Daniels and other trans advocates, many of them children and their parents, had gotten up in the middle of the night to travel more than 200 miles from Sioux Falls to the capital of Pierre to protest the bill.

With homemade signs and pride flags in hand, demonstrators marched up and down the front sidewalk of the capitol building, chanting the call and response slogan, Represent, all of us! and cheering as supportive passerby cars honking their horns, Daniels wrote in a recollection he would later share in the Storyteller Journal, a small independent media outlet, in Sioux Falls.

The small stretch of sidewalk next to the Capitol was mostly full of kids in puffy coats and their parents that morning. Passersby wouldnt know it just by glancing at them, but most of the kids were transgender. Only people with something to lose had traveled this far in the dark to freeze on a sidewalk with a slogan in hand.

Daniels had invested heavily in organizing efforts for transgender youth, becoming a board member of The Transformation Project, which advocates for trans and nonbinary kids in the state.

Susan Williams, who founded the Transformation Project and has a transgender son, remembers the day as the worst of times. South Dakota had battled bill after bill targeting trans youth. It was wearing on the kids, she felt.

Back then, our state really was first on debating these horrible bills, Williams said recently.

The odds were stacked against them. The bill had already cleared the House. It was now barrelling toward the Senate. It would need to clear committee before a full vote, but many LGBTQ+ advocates felt that both could easily happen. Their only tactic was to surprise Republican lawmakers with impromptu meetings with transgender kids, on the off chance that would soften them before voting.

With so much pressure on South Dakota, national reporters had flocked to the small Capitol. The National Center for Transgender Equality bankrolled an out-of-state field organizer in the weeks leading up to the vote.

south-dakota Greg Latza for ACLU

According to the Pew Research Center, 79 percent of South Dakotans identify as Christian. In many, but not all parts of the state, faith leaders had opposed transgender rights and dominated the airwaves. Often absent from the discussion about faith were the states nine Native tribes.

I think a lot of people dont realize how big the Native population is here, Williams said. And they have not been treated well over the years.

Two-spirit is an umbrella term generally used to refer to Native people who have both male and female spirit within them. Today, many people might think of two-spirit people simply as trans, nonbinary or even queer. However, two-spirit is not limited to a persons sexual orientation or gender and more broadly refers to a persons soul and ceremonial role within their tribe.

History shows that two-spirit people were largely revered in their tribes before European settlers began enforcing strict gender rules. For Daniels, his own Wase Wakpa community had come to internalize some of those rules. It wasnt that he wasnt loved or embraced. The older he got, the harder he found fitting in.

Within those ceremonial teachings, and in my community, I went through a phase where I pulled back away from being involved because I couldnt fit in any of the options, he said.

April Matson, a two-spirit person, works on youth music camps on the Pine Ridge and the Rosebud Reservations in South Dakota. Every year, Matson sees more youth changing their names and pronouns and exploring their gender expressions.

Their parents or caretakers are just so supportive, Matson said. And its been this way for a long time since they were babies. Theres this big supportive community there.

Matson grew up seeing Native people fight erasure and oppression. But neither Matson nor Daniels had seen their Indigenous communities come out for transgender equality before.

That morning in February was different. At the end of the sidewalk, in red and black jackets, two elders stood with bundles of herbs, a transgender pride flag and the flag for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe had come to protest the bill. They were not alone. Two-spirit people, their family and friends had trekked from across the state to protest HB 1057.

As the sun started to rise, a cheer echoed over the capitol grounds. Daniels would recall it as one of the most beautiful moments of his life.

And suddenly, with a cry of, Hoka hey! two Native riders galloped across the capitol lawn on horseback, he wrote.

One rider held up the transgender pride flag. It snapped in the wind. The kids and their parents shouted in delight. A photographer for the ACLU snapped a photo of the riders.

south-dakota Greg Latza for ACLU

Tribes across the state showed up. They crowded into the committee room with banners and signs, the first visible Native protest to anti-trans bills the nation had seen. It wouldnt be the last.

Matson, who was in Vermillion, four hours southeast of Pierre, watched the day unfold via social media updates and messages from Daniels, with whom they are raising kids.

That was really incredible, Matson said. I hadnt really even thought to start organizing in that way where were having these Indigenous two-spirit people showing up  like weve always been here and this is actually a really big part of our culture.

Steph Viera, an associate producer at the indigenous-led NDN Collective based in Los Angeles, also followed the protest from afar. Viera had never seen such visible Native resistance in a rural location.

Its empowering to know that when I show up to a frontline or show up to a protest that Im not alone, he said. As a trans masculine person, as a genderqueer person, I cross state lines a lot of the time for work. Naturally theres an anxiety about how I will be perceived in the Western world.

South Dakota Set to Ban Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth

It will be the second state to ban gender-affirming care in 2023.

The moment in South Dakota reverberated throughout many tribal communities. For Daniels, it meant coming home in a new way. His own Lakota tribe welcomed him to participate in a ceremony for masculine people that he had long dreamed of. He has continued to participate in new ways that affirm him as a two-spirit person.

Viera also now works with youth in South Dakota. And Williams said her organization has benefited immensely from national support. Last year, the LGBTQ+ organization Way OUT Los Angeles granted Williams organization $158,000 to open a community center for transgender kids in South Dakota. The Prism Center opened in Sioux Falls in October, welcome news for many families with trans kids.

HB 1057 ultimately died in committee the day of the protest after Sen. Wayne Steinhauer was ambushed on the floor by a 16-year-old transgender constituent. But this year, the legislature passed a transgender youth health care ban. Gov. Kristi Noem signed it into law in February, the same day the Transformation Project had scheduled its gala.

We all just wanted to stay home and curl up under a blanket and cry, Williams said.

south-dakota Greg Latza for ACLU

Instead, 250 people showed up to the gala. Anti-trans bills are passing, said advocates. But the community supporting transgender kids is growing more vocal, too. Native people, who have battled removal for generations, are now part of that fight.

Were in a time where we have folks coming out and reclaiming that term of two-spirit and stepping into those roles and finding ways that we can heal our people, Viera said. Thats something that I think that were working on as a community.

Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here.

Originally Appeared on them.
The couple showed off their love  and their style!  at the premiere of George's latest directorial effort

Kevin Winter/Getty George Clooney and Amal Clooney on December 11, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.

George and Amal Clooney have brought the glam to Los Angeles.

The stylish pair turned heads on Monday night on the red carpet at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater for the premiere of The Boys in the Boat, George's latest directorial effort.

Kevin Winter/Getty

Amal lit the carpet in a bright yellow A-line gown with a geometric sweetheart neckline and a boning effect on the bodice. The boning was met by the flowing skirt that she paired with a black, white and metallic embellished clutch.

The lawyer styled the look with a beach-wavy blowout parted to the side, allowing for a peek at her diamond drop earrings. Her look was completed with a bronzed makeup.

George kept it sophisticated while he held Amal's hand. He sported a black suit with a navy blue button-down shirt underneath.

Kevin Winter/Getty George Clooney and Amal Clooney on December 11, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.

The Clooneys previously wowed at a Seattle screening for The Boys in the Boat last week, with the accomplished human-rights attorney wearing a red sequinned midi dress from 16Arlington that she teamed with silver, pointed-toe pumps and a gold clutch.

Meanwhile, the two-time Academy Award winner opted for an open gray coat over a navy turtleneck, with coordinating slacks, as he held his wife's hand while they posed for photographers.

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.

Mat Hayward/Getty Amal and George Clooney at Seattle screening

Just days before that screening, the couple was spotted across the pond in London as they attended another screening of The Boys in the Boat.

Amal wore her hair down for the event as she sported a figure-hugging velvet gown, while George looked dapper in a dark suit and white shirt.

The actor and director also took time to sign autographs for fans, as well as pose alongside the movie's stars Joel Edgerton, Callum Turner and Bruce Herbelin-Earle.

The Boys in the Boat follows the real-life story of the 1936 University of Washington men's crew team, who made an improbable journey from the college's second-tier rowing team to becoming the United States representative at that year's Summer Olympics in Berlin.

"This inspirational true story follows a group of underdogs at the height of the Great Depression as they are thrust into the spotlight and take on elite rivals from around the world," reads an official synopsis for the movie.

The Boys in the Boat is in theaters on Dec. 25.

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ITV Studios Unveils New Netherlands Boss

ITV Studios Netherlands has unveiled a new boss, with Karin de Groot set to exit after five years and be replaced by Laurens Woldberg. Woldberg joins from Dutch pubcaster KRO-NCRV where he has been Creative Director of Fiction and Non-Fiction since 2022, overseeing commissioning editors, third-party produced series, as well as (in-house) format development and sales. He will helm the Love Island and Married at First Sight maker as it seeks to produce original commissions and local versions from the ITV Studios catalog. He will report to Lisa Perrin, Managing Director, International Production, ITV Studios in London, who said that the former SimpelZodiak MD had proved that not only is he a creative leader, but someone that can translate international formats into the Dutch market. De Groot took over ITV Studios Netherlands when it launched in 2018 and announced her departure in October.

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BBC India Staffers Quit & Set Up New Outfit

A group of BBC India journalists have exited the corporation and formed a company in order to comply with the Indian Foreign Direct Investment law. Collective Newsroom Private Limited will be run by Rupa Jha, Mukesh Sharma, Sanjoy Majumder and Sara Hassan. Collectives services will be commissioned by the BBC and the pair said this will ensure they can meet a shared commitment to Indian audiences and cover stories on India that matter to global audiences. The company is in compliance with the Indian Foreign Direct Investment law. Audiences in India can be assured that the BBCs Indian language services and unique range of quality output will inform, educate and entertain audiences across our diverse and highly engaged country under the agreement between the BBC and Collective Newsroom, said Jha. We launch Collective Newsroom with big ambitions for audiences in India and beyond. The BBC has had a rocky relationship with the Indian government of late since airing documentary India: The Modi Question, which was critical of the nations rulers role in the 2002 Gujurat riots and is banned in India.

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Kevin Costner's divorce was so messy it was worthy of its own TV series

Alexander Wells for BI

On a sunny day in January, Kevin Costner stood on the sprawling green lawn of his California beachfront property, in sunglasses and a quarter-zip sweater, and delivered his lines.

"Nobody's sadder than us that we can't be there at the Golden Globes," Costner said as waves crashed ashore behind him. There was historic flooding in the area, he told his fans on Instagram  "yesterday we had to pull the kids out of school in Santa Barbara"  so highways were closed. He and Christine Baumgartner, his wife of 18 years, would be sad to miss the ceremony. "Chris had a beautiful dress," he said. "I always look forward to walking down the red carpet with her."

Hours later, Costner won the award for best actor in a drama series for "Yellowstone." Regina Hall, the Golden Globes host, couldn't help but crack a joke onstage while accepting the award on his behalf.

"This is a sad story right now. He's stuck in Santa Barbara," she said, laughing. "Let's pray, everyone."

It seemed Costner pretty much had it all: a doting wife, a beautiful home, a booming career.

Four months later, two of those three things had soured.

It happened quickly. In May, Baumgartner, 49, filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences." Days later, Paramount announced that "Yellowstone" would end with its fifth season.

Perhaps it felt a little like deja vu. Costner's personal and professional misfortunes had similarly collided in 1994, when his first wife, Cindy Silva, divorced him and walked away with a settlement estimated at $80 million. Less than a year later, Costner's career sank thanks to the critical and box-office disaster that was "Waterworld," a film that Costner not only starred in and produced but personally invested $22 million in.

In September, as he was leaving a Santa Barbara courtroom after a judge ruled in his favor in his custody battle with Baumgartner, Costner, 68, reflected on his latest personal saga.

"You know, when you have a life that long with somebody, there is no winner," Costner told reporters, adding, "One minute you feel like you're on top of the world, and then you realize how, you know, how vulnerable you are."

In 1993, Costner, in his late 30s and married to Silva, met Baumgartner, then 19 or 20, on the putting green at a golf course in Santa Ynez, California. Six years later, they began a relationship after running into each other again at a trendy restaurant opening.

At the time, Costner was living life as a bachelor. In 2000, he purchased a 160-acre lot close to Aspen, Colorado, and spent the next few years turning it into his own luxury version of Dutton Ranch. After adding the finishing touches  including a "Field of Dreams"-inspired baseball field  Costner and Baumgartner married there in 2004.

Costner and Baumgartner on their wedding day in 2004 at Costner's ranch in Aspen, Colorado. Lara Porzak/Rogers and Cowan via Getty Images

The couple decided the best place to grow their family was in the sleepy seaside city of Carpinteria, California, where Costner owned an equally impressive beachfront compound. Baumgartner became a homemaker, turning the property into "an experience" for their three children  complete with two guest houses, an infinity pool, a volleyball court, and a "surf garage."

The home was the first thing that turned their divorce ugly. Like his "Yellowstone" character, John Dutton, Costner was primarily concerned with defending the right to his property. Given that he'd been turfed out of his home as a result of his first divorce, Costner had added a clause to his and Baumgartner's prenup that Baumgartner would have to move out if they legally separated.

But Baumgartner didn't leave. She hunkered down.

Costner's legal team, headed by the fierce and fiendishly expensive Laura Wasser, tried to make Baumgartner budge. They offered her $200,000 on top of her $1.45 million prenup payout to spend on a down payment on a new home.

Baumgartner's lawyers balked, arguing that moving out wasn't feasible because of rental-market oversaturation and because Costner hadn't offered her enough in child support (she initially requested $248,000 a month to maintain the lifestyle their children were used to).

Costner's camp took it to a judge. Baumgartner was given less than a month to leave.

What followed was petty and vicious squabbling over household items. Baumgartner's side shared a list of items she wanted to claim from the house: her Peloton, her mother's antique dresser, cutlery, pots, pans, an oil painting of horses.

Costner, who court documents indicate took home $19.5 million last year, expressed concern via his lawyers that Baumgartner was planning to quite literally clean house.

"She lists 'Christine's personal electronic' but fails to specify what that means," Costner's attorneys wrote in a filing. "Is a TV a 'personal' electronic? Is she referring to household computers? Which ones?"

Baumgartner and her attorneys fought back in their own way. In written declarations, Baumgartner revealed unsavory details about her husband. In one statement, she alleged that Costner unceremoniously broke the news of the divorce to their teenagers "over a 10-minute Zoom call" from a hotel room in Las Vegas rather than together in person as they'd planned. She said he reduced her credit-card limit to $15,000 without her knowledge.

She also accused Costner of infidelity, asking for documentation via her lawyers of expenses "relating to any extramarital romantic relationships." Costner, via his lawyers, said that he remained faithful but that he didn't "know for a fact" if the same could be said of Baumgartner. At a divorce hearing in late August, she denied that a man she'd been pictured vacationing with a month earlier was her boyfriend.

Costner, Baumgartner, and their children in 2015. Getty Images

When the two couldn't agree on what would be an adequate amount of child support for their three teenage children  Costner's lawyers described Baumgartner's initial request as "unrealistic and frankly outrageous" and offered to pay at most $75,000 a month  the actor said in a filing that she'd spent $188,500 a month on plastic surgery and tried to hide it among childcare-related costs.

When a ruling on the child support came in September, Baumgartner discovered that her refusal to accept Costner's highest offer had been unwise: The judge reduced Costner's monthly payments to $63,209.

To audiences familiar with Costner's role as Dutton, the mercurial and powerful rancher turned governor, on "Yellowstone," Costner's hard bargaining with his estranged wife may read like a scene from one of Taylor Sheridan's scripts.

But before the finale of this enthralling divorce saga could begin, it was discreetly wrapped up. Costner and Baumgartner settled for an undisclosed sum in September, sparing themselves the spectacle of a highly publicized divorce trial and the ignominy of being characterized as the tightfisted husband and the gold-digging wife any longer.

Though his second marriage and his award-winning TV series have ended, Costner is already crafting the next era of his mythology. In May, he began production on "Horizon: An American Saga," a two-part Western he's cowriting, directing, producing, and starring in. Once again, he's betting the ranch on it, mortgaging his Santa Barbara property and investing $20 million of his own money into making his cowboy dreams a reality.

Chances are he'll ride off into the sunset again.





Read more about the year of celebrity divorce:

Read the original article on Business Insider
Developed by John Coveny and Hunt Baldwin from the Walt Longmire Mysteries book series by Craig Johnson, Longmire is a neo-Western crime drama series. The plot revolves around the eponymous sheriff of fictional Absaroka County, Wyoming, as he solves crimes and navigates competing jurisdictional authority due to the nearby presence of a Native American reservation with the help of his team and best friend, Henry Standing Bear.

The series premiered on June 3, 2012, and garnered widespread positive responses. Season six originally started streaming on Netflix on November 17, 2017. If you are wondering whether there will be a seventh season, we have got you covered.

Heres all we know about Longmire Season 7 and whether or not its coming out.

Is there a Longmire Season 7 release date?

There is no Longmire Season 7 release date, as the series ended after season six.

The first three seasons of Longmire originally aired on A&E before its cancellation in August 2014. However, by November of the same year, the series found a new home on Netflix. In November 2016, the streaming giant greenlit Longmires sixth and final season.

Greer Shephard, Hunt Baldwin, and John Coveny  executive producers behind the series  said in a statement, We are grateful to Netflix for the opportunity to compose a closing chapter for these beloved characters that inspires lasting memories. Most importantly, were committed to delivering a dynamic and satisfying conclusion to our fans that rewards their longtime loyalty.

Cindy Holland, who was Netflixs VP of Original Content at the time, thanked the cast and the crew. There has been no better team to work with on this show than Greer, Hunt, and John and their tremendous cast and crew, and we have every confidence that they will have a satisfying conclusion to this revered series, she said.

This date is an estimation based on the information we have at the time of this writing.

The cast includes Robert Taylor as Walt Longmire, Katee Sackhoff as Victoria Vic Moretti, Lou Diamond Phillips as Henry Standing Bear, Bailey Chase as Branch Connally, Cassidy Freeman as Cady Longmire, Adam Bartley as Archie The Ferg Ferguson, and more.

The official synopsis for Longmire reads:

A Wyoming sheriff rebuilds his life and career following the death of his wife. Based on the Walt Longmire series of mystery novels written by best-selling author Craig Johnson.

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If you are curious about where to watch and stream Maestra: Strings of Truth Season 1 Episode 3 online, then your search ends right here. This drama series revolves around Cha Se-Eum, a former violinist who becomes a famous conductor of an orchestra. After 20 years, she returns to South Korea to lead the orchestra at The Hankang Philharmonic. It follows the several personal and professional struggles that she faces while starting afresh in South Korea.

Heres where you will be able to watch Maestra: Strings of Truth Season 1 Episode 3 online.

Is Maestra: Strings of Truth Season 1 Episode 3 streaming online?

Yes, you will be able to watch and stream Maestra: Strings of Truth Season 1 Episode 3 on Hulu.

Lee Young-ae stars in the lead role of Cha Se-eum. The other cast members include Lee Moo-saeng as Yoo Jung-jae, Hwang Bo-reum-byeol as Lee Ru-na, Kim Young-jae as Kim Pil, Jung Dong-hwan as Cha Ki-baek, Ye Soo-jung as Bae Jeong-hwa, Kim Young-ah as Lee Hye-jeong, Kang Ji-eun as Woo Young-seon, Park Ho-san as Jeon Sang-do, Yang Jun-mo as Ma Yo-seop, Jin Ho-eun as Kim Bong-ju, and more.

How to watch Maestra: Strings of Truth Season 1 Episode 3 and stream online

As Maestra: Strings of Truth Season 1 is available to watch via Hulu, you will be able to watch its episodes by signing up.

Hulu offers two subscription plans to users from which they can choose the most suitable one. These include:

Hulu (With Ads) subscription plan  This is the cheapest Hulu subscription plan priced at $7.99 a month. It provides users access to Hulus streaming library with commercials.

Hulu (No Ads) subscription plan  This is the premium Hulu subscription plan priced at $17.99 a month. It provides users access to Hulus streaming library without commercials.

The official synopsis for Maestra: Strings of Truth Season 1 reads:

Maestra, one of only 5% of the worlds female conductor seeks the truth of the incident surrounding the orchestra while hiding her secret.

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HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA - NOVEMBER 13: Los Angeles Premiere Of Lions Gate Films' 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes' held at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on November 13, 2023 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States. 14 Nov 2023 Pictured: Mario Lopez. Photo credit: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA1059991_020.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]

Mario Lopez and his wife, Courtney Lopez, are suing a construction company over major damages to their Los Angeles home.

According to legal documents, obtained by The Blast, after the Lopez's closed on the $9.3M L.A. home, which has six bedrooms and nine bathrooms, California experienced heavy rainfall. Mario and his wife claim the severe water caused a leakage problem with their patio deck and stairs leading to the backyard.

Additional problems were noted in the suit concerning damage to the pool.

Mario Lopez Sues Construction Company For Extensive Home Damage

MEGA

In the filing, Mario says the construction company, "made initial efforts to repair the leaking patio deck and stairway. The repair efforts were slow, protracted, and ultimately ceased altogether; and, no efforts were made to address the defects with regard to the pool."

The construction company then allegedly "abandoned their efforts to remediate the construction defects, and ceased communications" with Mario Lopez and Courtney Lopez, per the legal documents.

The Lopez's then had the property inspected by a licensed general contractor, who "compared the work of improvement with the approved set of building plans." The initial investigation and observations revealed excessive cracking and water issues.

Extensive Damage To The Lopez Residence Revealed

MEGA

The docs state there was leakage in the deck and stairs areas, which could have been caused by "a poor job of waterproofing, incorrect use of material, lack of expansion for material, settling of the deck, improper installation of handrails, no gaps in plywood allowing for expansion, drains in the deck instead of deck-sloped at 2% as per plan, improper slope and damage, or improper installation of railings."

The inspector also noted there was an "improper slope of the landscape away from residence, roof and deck drains" and there were "no drains were called for on the deck."

Defective handrails, pool spillover, rusted wrought iron fencing, chipped driveway pavers, missing parts in the refrigerator, and damage to the home theater equipment because of water intrusion were all listed on the docs, obtained by The Blast.

Mario Lopez and his wife claim the damage has contributed to an overall lowering of the value of their home.

Talk about a messy situation...

Inside Mario Lopez's $9M Home

MEGA

Mario's massive $9M home is situated on a 52,000+ sq. ft. setting, which features private park-like grounds and a private gate.

The open floor plan allows for a warm welcome the moment you step foot inside. Soaring ceilings, a dramatic floor-to-ceiling marble & walnut fireplace, stunning wood beams & immaculate oak wood floors are located throughout.

A generous-sized family room/game room features a well-appointed bar, a 600-bottle tempt-controlled wine cellar, and a home theater.

MEGA

One of the best aspects of the stunning $9M L.A. home is the outdoor terrace, which offers panoramic rear yard views and a cozy gas fire pit.

Other features of the home include a doggie wash station, laundry room big enough for two washers and two dryers, three tankless water heaters, four fireplaces, a gated entry for security (plus state-of-the-art home automation & alarm systems), a stunning circular driveway, and a three-car garage complete with workshop space.

It's no surprise the Lopezs are upset about the damage, and so far the company hasn't responded.
The new year is around the corner and travelers from everywhere are preparing for another year of seeing the world. Committed travelers are already booking flights. Many people are also finding new ways to save and travel efficiently. However, most of all, their 2024 travel bucket lists are getting new destinations added to them every day.

Theres no doubt that certain places are travel hotspots every year. However, more travelers are looking to travel outside of whats trending in 2024. If youre seeking fresh places to visit in the new year, here are five underrated destinations to add to your 2024 travel bucket list.

Belize

Photo credit: Rob Rector

Many travelers usually visit the same tropical destinations when theyre looking for some sun. While both Jamaica and the Bahamas have incredible appeal, Belize is rising as a hotspot for travel in 2024. Whats lovely about Belize is that it has the best of both worlds. Toward the inland, travelers will find lush rainforest terrains to fulfill their ultimate jungle travel adventure. On the other side, there are miles of beautiful beaches, water sports, and five-star resort experiences. For those looking for beachside, tropical vibes, Belize is a prime destination for visiting in the new year.

North Dakota Badlands

Traveling nature lovers are heading to the Badlands in North Dakota in 2024. The destination is landing on bucket lists for a variety of reasons. Although not as popular as the South Dakota Badlands, the area is much less crowded. This gives travelers and outdoorsmen a front-row seat to miles of natural landscapes, wild animals, and historical landmarks. The North Dakota Badlands is home to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Amongst the roaming bison, wild stallions, and prairie dogs, travelers will also find Theodore Roosevelts log cabin where the former president resided in the 1800s.

Slovenia

Photo credit: Krivec Ales

There are so many things to do when visiting Slovenia. The country sits between Italy and Croatia and is oftentimes overlooked for other European destinations. However, travelers are packing their bags and heading there in 2024. Like the Badlands, Slovenia is another hidden gem for nature lovers. Theres a lot to see outside. From exploring the depths of the Vintar Gorge to discovering the magical dragon statues in Ljubljana, Slovenia is worthy of making the 2024 travel bucket list.

The Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes are a truly underrated destination in New York. Despite being a hidden gem, the Finger Lakes is considered one of the best wine countries worth visiting in 2024. There are eleven lakes collectively spread out over multiple small towns in the area. No matter which you pick, each destination has incredible views of the lakes, mesmerizing wine, and a plethora of museums to explore, too.

Vietnam

Photo credit: Tomas Malik

Vietnam has grown as a popular travel destination and more travelers are looking to head there in the new year. Joining the 2024 travel bucket list is the Vietnamese city of Vinh Long. Travelers have to go through the city to enter the Mekong Delta and its perfect for a day trip when exploring the Asian country. The allure of the ancient pottery-making districts, biking through the marketplaces, and having adventures in the countryside is making Vinh Long one destination travelers cant wait to visit.
Whether you're binge-watching The Crown or love following Kate Middleton's latest looks, British fashion is certainly top of mind. Although we cant get our hands on Princess Dianas revenge dress, there are enough must-have brands to fill Buckingham Palace. The United Kingdom is a looking glass into the past, as well as a melting pot of different cultures, offering a tapestry of unique tastes and aesthetics.

Grace Wales Bonner merges Afro-Atlantic history with European heritage, joining Feng Chen Wang who subtly nods to her Chinese background through her meticulously crafted modern designs. Elsewhere, Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson brings his cheeky sense of humor to JW Anderson, while self-portrait opts for a refined, elegant approach, juxtaposing House of Sunnys vibrant Hockney dresses and groovy jackets. Continue scrolling to discover the best brands across the pond.

Feng Chen Wang

Chinese-born and London-based designer Feng Chen Wang is one of the foremost creative minds in fashion as she bridges the gap between highly conceptual and technical garments through her eponymous brand. The Royal College of Art graduate materializes her futuristic fashion visions, delivering dramatic yet smartly tailored garments that could easily belong on the set of The Fifth Element. Flowing trench coats are stained with uber-saturated pigments, while iridescent windbreakers feel as though they belong to a hiker from 2040, trekking a celestial terrain. Cartoonish hand-shaped bags reveal a playful, childlike spirit, joining bold one-sleeved quilted knits for folks who run hot and cold. Feng Chen Wang bears a subtle architectural undercurrent as its experimental silhouettes display a reverence to the cloth it cuts.

In 2022, Chen Wang also designed the uniforms for the Beijing Olympics flag bearers, illustrating her profound talent. The inimitable designer made her introduction to Paris Fashion Week for the Spring/Summer 2023 season, with a Nike collaboration hitting shelves shortly after.

House of Sunny

Known for creating 2020s It dressthe swirly HockneyHouse of Sunny lives up to its name, filling our wardrobes with dopamine-inducing knitwear. The independent London-based label was founded in 2011 by Sunny Williams, utilizing a slow fashion model. BlackPinks Lisa, Emma Chamberlain, Dua Lipa and Kendall Jenner are just a few of the brands devoted fans, donning the labels Day Tripper sweaters, coquettish cardigans and 90s-esque mesh tops. Its connection to its consumers is what makes House of Sunny so popular as the brand prides itself on catering directly to its audience. Williams isnt shy about using Instagram to gain feedback, weaving shoppers tastes into his designs.

House of Sunnys psychedelic aesthetic also mirrors its child of the earth ethos. The conscious label releases two collections a year and incorporates recycled and deadstock fabric as much as possible, presenting a thoughtful antithesis to a fast fashion industry that dares to create dupes. The brands sustainable approach also ensures that each piece finds a home as it produces lines in small quantities. House of Sunny is not only vegan as it abstains from animal materials, but even its garment bags are biodegradable.

JW Anderson

Jonathan Anderson has certainly made fashion more fun with his eponymous label, JW Anderson. His whimsical pigeon bags, clay molded hoodies, and amphibian Wellipets shoes infuse a playfulness and wonder into an often serious industry, inviting us to tap into our inner childs imagination. While Anderson is no stranger to theatrics, his garments also possess a deeper sophistication. The brands more practical offerings enliven wardrobe staples as office-ready oxford shirts are reinvigorated with exaggerated draping and peplum hems, accompanying austere overcoats with quirky bubble sleeves. JW Anderson is undoubtedly made for fashion-loving, scissor-happy kids all grown up  emboldening essentials with the help of joyful tailoring.

Anderson initially set out for a career in acting when a brush with costume design sparked his interest in fashion. Anderson graduated from the London College of Fashion in 2005 before getting his feet wet as a visual merchandiser at Prada, working for Manuela Pavesi. In 2008, the Northern Irish designer founded JW Anderson, focusing on menswear to start, eventually shifting his focus to womenswear in 2010. His definitively original style earned him the appointment of creative director at Loewe in 2013, as well as British Designer of the Year for Womenswear in 2017.

Peachy Sun

Designed for the teenage girls in their 20s and 30s, Isabelle Weatherbys Peachy Den is the British It girl brand. Launched in 2019, Weatherby quickly made her way to Forbes 30 Under 30 list, illustrating the labels instant cult status. Worn by the likes of Bella Hadid and Olivia Rodrigo, Peachy Den was created out of a need to fill the blank spaces in Weatherbys own closet. The brands trademark items are its plaid micro mini skirts, cropped sweaters and eye-catching velvet jumpsuits, generating fresh staples for the cool girls on the go.

Peachy Dens roots are present throughout its offerings as its pieces are made with every woman in mind. The woman-only team tests each garment, ensuring its clothing can fit a variety of shapes and sizes. The brand also proves that you dont have to sacrifice style for sustainability as over 60% of its clothing are crafted from certified sustainable materials, while the rest are derived from deadstock textiles.

Self-Portrait

Founded in 2013 by creative director Han Chong, self-portrait is made with women of the world in mind. Drawing from his Malaysian background, alongside Londons refined sensibility, the brand offers sophisticated yet refreshing garments, appealing to elegant women who still know how to have fun. self-portraits accessible price points make it a fan-favorite as luxury becomes an achievable aspiration in Chongs world. Beauty shouldnt be an option for the privileged few.

Since its speedy rise to the top of the contemporary luxury world, self-portrait has collaborated with the likes of Gigi Hadid for its Fall/Winter 2023 collection. The brand imagined the model as a modern-day Eloise in Paris, dressing the model in a shimmering gold two-piece set, as well as a prim and proper ivory tweed skirt suit. self-portrait also tapped fellow model Emily Ratajkowski for its Resort 2024 line and the debut of its kids collection, extending self-portraits offerings to the chicest children.

Wales Bonner

Grace Wales Bonner is a force to be reckoned with, as her eponymous brand has quickly become a household name. Initially launched as a menswear brand in 2014, the Central Saint Martins graduate expanded her inventive designs into womenswear shortly after. Marrying an African diasporic history with European heritage, Wales Bonner breaks boundaries in fashion, creating a category that is uniquely its own. Athleisure-inspired polo and jersey tees, as well as cozy varsity jackets boasting the labels crown-like emblem sit comfortably alongside raffia fringe trousers and heavily patterned tracksuits.

Flirting with both luxury and streetwear aesthetics, Wales Bonner easily moves from the runway to the sidewalk and back again. Grace Wales Bonners excellence has not gone unrecognized as she has won countless accolades, such as the LVMH Young Designer Prize in 2016, the British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund in 2019 and the Independent British Brand at the Fashion Awards in 2022.

Related: A Look Back at Kate Middleton's Style Through the Years

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Read the original article on InStyle.
United Kingdom

The call for harmonization between the U.K. and the European Union has never been greater from the ETF industry as issuers grapple with a number of regulatory challenges on the horizon.

UCITS equivalence, the Overseas Funds Regime, or OFR, T+1 settlement and the differences between SFDR and SDR are just a few of the regulatory developments set to have a heightened impact on the European ETF market in the wake of Brexit.

This week, the Financial Conduct Authority, or FCA, opened a consultation on the details of the OFR, which comes into effect in April 2024.

The U.K. watchdog is acutely aware of the impact on the European ETF industry if the U.K. government doesn't recognize UCITS vehicles in the European Economic Area, a move that is still under consideration.

In its consultation, the FCA said there are more than 600 UCITS ETFs listed in the U.K. that rely on their status as recognized schemes to be admitted to trading."

In a doomsday scenario, a lack of equivalence for UCITS would be catastrophic for the ETF market as asset managers would be forced to launch ETFs under a separate jurisdiction in the U.K. versus the rest of Europe.

Higher Costs for ETF Issuers

Thislike all aspects of fragmentationwould lead to higher costs for ETF issuers, especially for smaller players, and would discourage other asset managers from entering the market because of the complexities involved.

As highlighted in a previous article, competition is the key driver of innovation and is what ensures a healthy market. Therefore, a lack of players entering the business is to the detriment of investors.

Elsewhere, asset managers have warned the latest SDR rules have left ETFs in limbo because of a lack of clarity on whether it will apply to overseas funds.

In particular, Invesco warned the U.K. and EU need to work together to ensure coherence between SDR and any changes to SFDR.

Any divergence on the labelling regimes will create confusion for investors and lead to greater costs for asset managers that need to cater for two separate jurisdictions for the same sustainable ETFs.

Story continues

T + 1 Settlement

Finally, the move to a T+1 settlement regime is another area where the ETF industry has been calling for greater harmonization.

The U.S. is set to move to a T+1 settlement cycle in May 2024. The EU and the U.K., however, remain some years behind.

While it is a relatively straightforward process for the U.K., given it has one currency and one main clearing house, the EU has multiple regulatory jurisdictions and currencies, making any move to T+1 extremely challenging, especially given it has to contend with the Central Securities Depositary Regime.

With the U.K. bargaining with UCITS equivalence, the health of the ETF ecosystem is at risk, a major concern for all participants involved, especially considering the fragmentation attached to SDR and a move to T+1 settlement.





Permalink |  Copyright 2023 etf.com. All rights reserved
AVI-SPL has completed incorporation of AVI-SPL Japan Private Limited. Already well-positioned in the APAC region with six offices across India, Singapore, and Hong Kong, establishing operations in Japan reinforces AVISPLs dedication to exceptional service delivery for clients within the local market.

[AVI-SPL Unveils AVI-SPL VideoLink Brand]

Brian Fallon, AVI-SPL

"Our mission in Japan is to build stronger connections with local businesses and provide them with unparalleled service," said Brian Fallon, managing director of AVI-SPL's APAC team. "Were dedicated to contributing to the growth and success of our customers in Japan."

Recognizing Japan as one of the top markets in APAC, AVI-SPL has been actively serving customers in the country for several years. The decision to formally incorporate reflects the company's commitment to providing enhanced managed services support in the region as well as an expanded suite of technology solutions to companies based in Japan. While currently offering live customer support and managed services near Kyoto, Japan, AVI-SPL aims to deepen its resources in the region.

[Blueprint for Success: CAIO and Arrivederci]

AVI-SPL Japan is a natural extension of the AVI-SPL global brand, fully aligned with its global service standards and way of doing business. With successful collaborations already in place with global technology and financial services customers, AVI-SPL sees significant potential in expanding its business locally by servicing booming industries in Japan, including healthcare, life sciences, renewable energy, and fintech.
Winter's been good to Hawaii this season.

On Maui, Kai Lenny and Albee Layer scored huge Jaws, but not without some mental scares and heavy wipeouts. Over on Oahu, big wave surfers dominated the outer reefs, Waimea, and bombing Pipeline, which sent Joao Chianca to the hospital.

So it's not surprising that Nathan Florence and Koa Rothman discuss water safety at length on the latest episode of their podcast. As usual, the conversation flows between a bunch of stuff, including Eli Olson's gory gash at Waimea.

Nate and Koa released the podcast above yesterday, with Eli as an unofficial co-host. It's captioned:

"Eli Tells Surf Horror Story 'I was stabbed by Rebar Underwater' and Opening XXL Hawaii Swell."

Nathan opens the episode:

"We're coming off a pretty epic swell bender. We had big outer reefs, big Pipe, actually a few days of big Pipe.

From there, the conversation flows naturally until Nate redirects the focus, and says:

"I see this question pop up a ton, on how we organize our safety. And I feel like this swell was a really good example of how we do that, how we hire skis."

There's a lot more to it than people think, they explain.

And the price tag? Up to $1,200 a session.

But it's worth it, they say.

"We want to push the limits and if it's big and heavy and we just have guys standing by for something bad to happen, which it easily can," Nate says.

He adds:

"Are you gonna put a price on someone pulling you out of a bad direction? Not really. It's worth every dollar."

Press play above for the whole conversation.

***

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From baking to Britney, horror to Harry, these are my picks for the best books to gift this holiday season. (Amazon)

In my opinion as a voracious, at-least-one-book-a-week reader, books are always an excellent gift for special occasions, especially during the holidays. We've been rounding up lots of holiday gift ideas for everyone on your list, but a good book is a particularly thoughful way to show your knowledge and appreciation of a loved one's interests, and there are just so many options, including novels, book series, cookbooks and more. Amazon recently released their top 100 books of 2023, which is a great place to find some book-gifting ideas (along with TikTok's #BookTok community)  but for the reader on your list who's a little harder to pin down, here are some gifts for book lovers that are sure to have them curling up for a relaxing (or invigorating) read on the couch.

Below are the tomes I'll be gifting this holiday season; pair one (or more) of these best books of 2023 with some tea and a cozy mug and you'll have the perfect present for the reader in your life!

Best book for the romantic at heart

Amazon 'Happy Place' by Emily Henry The latest romance (and latest New York Times bestseller) from Emily Henry delivers some serious second-chance romance/fake dating trope goodness for a breezy-fun read. In this sweet love story, an ex-couple must pretend to still be together for an annual weeklong vacation with friends ... and, of course, romantic hijinks ensue. $16 at Amazon$23 at Books-A-Million (BAM!)

Best book for the adrenaline junkie

Best book for the true crime aficionado

Amazon 'While Idaho Slept: The Hunt for Answers in the Murders of Four College Students' by J. Reuben Appelman Anyone with an interest in true crime has surely been glued to the horrifying, tragic story of the murder of four college students in Idaho late last year. The author  who works also as a private investigator!  searches for answers about the bizarre spree, offering an intimate look into the minds and motives of the victims and their suspected killer. $14 at Amazon

Best book for the history geek

Best book for the passionate foodie

Amazon 'Baking Yesteryear: The Best Recipes from the 1900s to the 1980s' by B. Dylan Hollis I follow the charming B. Dylan Hollis on TikTok, and it's always been a riot watching him whip up some of the most bizarre recipes from the 20th century  so, so much gelatin and mayonnaise! Hollis is a great pilot through these remnants of our past, and this cookbook-cum-time-travel-guide offers equal parts lost recipes that sound delicious and smart commentary on the stranger food trends of yesteryear. $18 at Amazon

Best book for the fantasy lover

Amazon 'Fourth Wing' by Rebecca Yarros This bestseller from In the Likely Event author Rebecca Yarros ensconces readers in the world of an elite war college for dragon riders, mixing suspense and sexiness with fantasy and adventure for a thoroughly engrossing story. There has been a bit of controversy over the title in recent weeks, but for fantasy lovers who want to keep up with the latest and greatest, this is an essential. $17 at Amazon$30 at Books-A-Million (BAM!)

Best book for the royal watcher

Best book for the pop culture maven

Amazon 'The Woman in Me' by Britney Spears Speaking of dishy memoirs  Britney Spears' autobiography went viral as soon as it was published, and for good reason. It tells her never-before-really-known perspective on her conservatorship, her relationship with Justin Timberlake, her struggles with fame, the #FreeBritney movement and so much more. $21 at Amazon

Best book for the Gen Z trendsetter

Best book for the person who reads a little bit of everything

Best book for the consummate host

Best book for kids

Amazon 'The Lost Library' by Rebecca Stead & Wendy Mass Amazon's No. 1 Best Kids' Book of 2023, The Lost Library is the sweet story of a curious little free library, an 11-year-old reader, a cat named Mortimer and a mystery from long ago. It's perfect for readers from 8-12 years old. $16 at Amazon

Best book for the comic/graphic novel devotee

Amazon 'Lore Olympus: Volume One' by Rachel Smythe I'm a longtime reader of Rachel Smythe's comic/continuous graphic novel Lore Olympus over on the Webtoon app, so I will always take an opportunity to spread the good word about this gorgeous, modernized rendering of the Hades and Persephone story from Greek mythology. This is not a kids' comic, though  adult readers only. $14 at Amazon

Best book for the creative in your life

Amazon 'The Creative Act: A Way of Being' by Rick Rubin Rick Rubin is one of the greatest music producers of all time, involved in the creation of such diverse classic albums as the Beastie Boys' License to Ill, Johnny Cash's American series, Adele's 21 and so many more. In Rubin's own words, with The Creative Act "I set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art. Instead, it revealed itself to be a book on how to be." $17 at Amazon

Best book for the world traveler

If you have Amazon Prime, youll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
Firefighters from East Haddam, Connecticut, are tending to a kitten they rescued from a house fire. The mother and sibling cats were previously believed to have succumbed to the fire. However, they survived and the three have since been reunited, as per NBC Connecticut.

Melanie Kolek from the East Haddam Fire Department stated, Its certainly a great thing that all three of them can be together as these two little ones grow and thrive. The feline family  including kittens named Soot and Ash, and their mother, Ember  is happily together again. In particular, this news has brought much to the joy of the East Haddam firefighters.

The trio was brought back together after a house fire on North Moodus Road two weeks ago. Eric Walker, an East Haddam firefighter, described the reunion: It was like clicking two magnets together. He added, They went right for each other, and Soot immediately stopped crying.

Firefighters rescue mission for feline family

That day, firefighters faced a chaotic situation, actively tackling flames while rescuing trapped animals, including Soot, who they swiftly took to the vet. Kolek recalled, It was like a fine dance, and I cant say enough about what I witnessed from our department personally.

After receiving necessary medical care, Soot made a successful recovery and was discharged on Saturday, Dec. 2. Assuming he was an orphan, the firefighters took him under their care. Walker said, One cat had succumbed to smoke inhalation right beside the boxed kittens, so everyone assumed it was the mother cat.

On Sunday, firefighters informed Soots original owners that they had rescued the mother cat and another sibling from the house. Walker and firefighter Michelle Forbes took charge of these cats, as they were already looking after Soot. Forbes pointed out that it was beneficial for the kittens to be raised by their mother. Its a better situation for everyone, she said.

Forbes and Walker are stepping in to temporarily care for the cats, given that their original owners are preoccupied with rebuilding their lives. They aim to eventually find them a new home once the kittens mature enough for adoption. Kolek said, Theres a waiting list for those who wish to adopt when the little guys are all set and ready to be away from mama.

Firefighters believe that tending to this cat family situation strengthens their resolve to serve as volunteers. It is their hope that it may even inspire others to consider doing the same. Kolek said, It renews our faith in volunteerism. Continuing, she added, it renews why we do what we do outside of our regular jobs.

The post Cats Lost in Connecticut House Fire Found Alive appeared first on CatTime.
'Dancing With the Stars' Fans Have So Much to Say Over Ariana Madix's Latest News



"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



Ariana Madix has some exciting news after competing on Dancing With the Stars.

The hit ABC series wrapped season 32 on December 5, and while Xochitl Gomez was officially declared the winner, the Vanderpump Rules star went on Instagram to announce she won in her own way. In a short video posted on December 6, Ariana revealed she will be moving to New York for 12 weeks, where she will perform the role of Roxie Hart in the hit Broadway musical Chicago starting on January 29, 2024.



"You may have heard, but I am absolutely thrilled to tell you that I will be joining the cast of Chicago the musical on Broadway, playing Roxie Hart," she excitedly told her followers in the clip. "This is an absolute life-long dream of mine, so I am just absolutely over the moon. Can't wait to see you there!"

Given the highs and lows Ariana's has had over the course of the year, seeing the Bravo personality thriving, fans were elated over this announcement.

"Beyond thrilled for you!!! You are going to kill it. Cannot wait to see!!!" one person congratulated her on Instagram. "Its Arianas era, and we are living for it!! QUEEN! Break a leg @arianamadix ," another declared. "Thrilled for you!! You finally get to live out your dream! Well deserved. You are so talented! ," a different follower rejoiced.

It's important to note that the Single AF Cocktails author is not the first person in the Bravo universe to star on the Great White Way. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills stars Lisa Rinna and Erika Jayne both portrayed Roxie Hart in Chicago, with Erika's stint being taped for the hit reality show in early 2020. The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss also appeared in the musical, playing Matron "Mama" Morton.

As for how Ariana feels about stepping into the Broadway spotlight, she explained to Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos how special this moment was for her.

"It is just the biggest dream come true," she said on Live with Kelly and Mark on December 6. "I cannot believe this is real life. I'm going to cry!"



Congrats, Ariana, and we look forward to seeing you make your Broadway debut!

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Just in time for winter, I happily escaped the NYC cold for a warm-weather paradise on JetBlue's inaugural flight to Belize.

Courtesy of JetBlue

As winter temperatures approach, New York-based JetBlue made its way to Belize for the first time. And lucky for me, I was one of the first to take the trip.

On Dec. 6, the airline became the only carrier to fly out of JFK to Belize City (BZE), and will offer the service 3 times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays going forward.

Belize is a major tourist destination within Central America and we couldnt be more thrilled to add it to our route map and introduce a new offering to our customers in New York," a JetBlue spokesperson told Travel + Leisure. "This new route advances JetBlues leadership position in the Caribbean and Latin America, which represents one third of our operations.

Ready for my warm-weather getaway, I arrived at Terminal 5 at JFK with a little over an hour until boarding. My Mosaic status granted me priority security line and I was able to breeze through in under 10 minutes, even though it appeared to be a very busy morning. I could spot the gate from quite a ways a way as balloons, Belize-native Garafunda drummers and free breakfast tacos were at the gate to celebrate the inaugural flight. JetBlue provided passengers with free Belize t-shirts, hats, and other goodies as well as a ribbon cutting ceremony as part of the milestone.

Courtesy of JetBlue

Boarding started swiftly after the welcome speeches and I excitedly walked on the AirbusA320 that JetBlue cheekily named Sacre Bleu. This particular plane had a 3x3 configuration throughout the aircraft but did not have a Mint section. However there was an Even More Space section, which is where I found my seat. This section had ample amount of leg space as promised by the name which also provided extra space under the seat in front of me to place my bag.



The crew was incredibly nice and seemed equally as excited as the passengers, even placing mine and other guests bags in the overhead bins for us. A portion of the crew members were originally from Belize and now reside in New York. Once everyone was in their seat the captain came out to greet us. He told us he was born and raised in Belize and that his parents were on board, making the flight extra special.

Celebrating the inaugural flight, passengers played a game of in-flight bingo with prizes as the flight attendants encouraged guests to take as many snacks as we wanted. Before I knew it we had reached Belize and I had to hop on a second much smaller plane to Ambergris Caye where I stayed at Alaia Belize considered one of the best All-Inclusive resorts in Belize.

The JFK to Belize City route follows a recent flurry of new service from JetBlue including JFK to St Kitts, Boston to Grenada, and LAX to The Bahamas.

With even more additions on the horizon, JetBlue will be expanding its transatlantic service with seasonal routes from JFK and Boston to Dublin beginning in March of next year and JFK to Edinburgh in May.



JetBlue will also be providing more service to Paris with a route from Boston launching in April following its route from New York which launched this past June.



For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
A previous version of this article stated the incorrect year for Wazir Hashimi's arrival in Vermont.

ESSEX JUNCTION  A native of Afghanistan who worked to welcome hundreds of refugees from his homeland to Vermont has opened a fresh halal market in this Chittenden County city.

What is the place?

Named for an ancient region that included Afghanistan, the Ariana Natural Market debuted Nov. 7 near Five Corners in Essex Junction. The store run by Wazir Hashimi carries grass-fed halal meat, including fresh beef, goat and chicken slaughtered and prepared in accordance with Muslim law. Hashimi said he has found frozen halal meat in Vermont, but before opening his market had to go to Canada or Albany, New York, to get fresh halal meat.

The market also carries dried fruit and nuts imported from Afghanistan; fresh coffee and pastries; a selection of Turkish-style coffee and coffee cups; organic natural food from around the world or sourced in Vermont; over-the-counter drug-store items; and a selection of mainstream groceries and snacks ranging from Cheez-Its to Pop-Tarts. None of those categories necessarily represent the most sought-after items at Ariana Natural Market, however, according to Hashimi.

Wazir Hashimi, owner of Ariana Natural Market, stands inside the Essex Junction store Nov. 27, 2023.

Mostly people are looking for the hot food to-go, he said. Its coming fresh and at a very reasonable price and good quality. Those dishes  including chicken, lamb or kofta (meatballs) over rice, as well as Bolani, a stuffed Afghani flatbread  are provided to the market by Hashimis brother, Awran Hashimi, who last year opened the areas first Afghan restaurant, Bamyan Kebab House in Winooski.

Whats the story behind it?

The Hashimi brothers are from Bamyan, a mountainous, four-seasons region in central Afghanistan that Wazir Hashimi said is not unlike Vermont. (Vermont is snowier and colder, according to Hashimi.) His brother was already in the state attending now-defunct Green Mountain College in Poultney when Wazir Hashimi arrived in 2013 to attend high school.

When I was younger, Hashimi said, I always wanted to study abroad. He began his academic career at Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington before moving on to the Long Trail School in Dorset. He attended college at Castleton University, which is now part of Vermont State University.

Wazir Hashimi, owner of Ariana Natural Market in Essex Junction, stands Nov. 27, 2023 near a display of nuts from Afghanistan and dried fruit.

Hashimi, 27, who lives in Colchester, helped refugees from Afghanistan settle in Vermont after the Taliban took over leadership in his homeland in 2021. Nearly 300 people from Afghanistan settled in communities such as Rutland, Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington and Winooski. To help with that resettlement, Hashimi and Dr. Dan Barkhuff of the University of Vermont Medical Center created the nonprofit Vermont Afghan Alliance, which is led by former Vermont lieutenant governor Molly Gray (Hashimi serves as president of the organizations board of directors).

Hashimi said his store is frequented several of those former residents of Afghanistan and other natives of that region. Some customers, he said, are drawn by the markets gluten-free or non-GMO foods.

Chicken with rice and bolani (an Afghan flatbread filled with potatoes) from Ariana Natural Market in Essex Junction, shown Nov. 27, 2023.

Business in the first few weeks has been OK, according to Hashimi.

It would be great for people to come and support a local business, he said.

Hours and location

Ariana Natural Market, 4 Pearl St., Essex Junction. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. (802) 662-4162, www.ariananaturalmarket.com

Ariana Natural Market in Essex Junction, shown Nov. 27, 2023.

Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Halal market serves fresh, Afghan-inspired food in Essex Junction
Heidi Klum is kicking off a brand new week on a slightly cheeky note, and we suppose theres no better way to start a Monday. She shared a black-and-white pic from her recent Numero Netherlands magazine feature to Instagram on Dec. 11.

In the snapshot, captured by photographer Kristian Schuller, the legendary SI Swimsuit model was pictured in a black leather dress by Anna Ritter with circular cut-outs on her backside. Klum was photographed as she held one hand to her hip and peered backward over her opposite shoulder.

ok Monday LETS GO , the 50-year-old mom of four captioned the artsy photo.

The editorial spread, and an accompanying feature story, were published by the brand in early October. At the time, Klum chatted with the magazine about everything from motherhood to her work with SI Swimsuit and Victorias Secret. The Americas Got Talent judge landed the cover of the SI Swimsuit Issue in 1998 after her photoshoot with Robert Erdmann in the Maldives.

To get any of these gigs was extremely hard, extremely desirable for many models that I would see at castings all over the place. When I got the phone call that I was actually going to be on the cover [of SI Swimsuit], that was like winning the lottery. It was like the biggest thing, Klum told Numero Netherlands. They had about 55 million readers and I could feel it because all of a sudden when I walked down the street or when I would go somewhere in public, people started turning around and recognizing me.

Klum has since appeared in nine different SI Swimsuit Issues, most recently in 2014.

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!
You stand in a long line that snakes along four rows separated by ropes, holding the handle of your luggage as it leans next to you.

The line never seems to move. Everyone ahead of you feels as weary and impatient as you are, desperate for an answer to why their flight is delayed or canceled and when they can expect to get to their destination. Your airline's customer service counter is so close, yet so far.

You get an alert on your phone. Your flight's been delayed. Again.

In recent years, disruptions affecting air travel have happened with greater frequency.

Airlines are gearing up for a heavy 2024 holiday travel season

Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration are working to prevent them, especially during the busy end-of-year travel period. AAA is forecasting that 115.2 million Americans will travel for Christmas and New Year's in 2023. This includes 7.5 million who intend to fly, a record number.

Some airlines are refining their operations and infrastructure to better cope with issues out of their control, like severe weather, as well as to prevent computer glitches and other malfunctions within their control.

Southwest Airlines is under scrutiny this year after a major service disruption that canceled thousands of flights and stranded travelers for several days between Christmas and New Years Day last year.

Southwest, which operates the second-greatest flight capacity at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport after American Airlines, recently told investors it may be subject to a penalty from the U.S. Department of Transportation following its investigation into last Decembers disruption.

What's behind the boom: Phoenix airport just added a slate of new international flights

What's behind the computer glitches that have disrupted flights

In the last two years, the air travel industry experienced numerous disruptions caused by technical issues. Some were nationwide, while others were local to specific airports such as Sky Harbor.

Aug. 4, 2022: Southwest Airlines experienced a computer outage local to Sky Harbor because of stormy weather. FlightAware data from that day recorded at least 81 delayed and 24 canceled Southwest flights at Sky Harbor.

Dec. 21-31, 2022: A technical glitch at Southwest Airlines affecting the software used to schedule its crew, compounded with winter storms disrupting operations at its Chicago and Denver hubs, led to the cancellation of 16,700 flights over the last 11 days of 2022. The U.S. Department of Transportation investigated the meltdown.

Jan. 11: The FAA had a computer glitch that grounded flights nationwide for about an hour and a half, causing delays and cancellations. The glitch, blamed on a corrupted database file, affected the FAA's NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) system that alerts pilots of weather and other issues that could affect their flight.

April 18: Southwest Airlines grounded flights for a few hours because of a technical glitch in its internal data systems.

July 24: Sky Harbor had 212 delayed and nine canceled flights after the FAA experienced a telecommunications issue at its Albuquerque field office.

Sept. 5: United Airlines grounded flights nationwide for about an hour after because of a technical glitch.

Why airlines are having more computer meltdowns

Breakdowns often occur from little to no investment in updating the technical infrastructure that airlines and the FAA depend on for their operations.

For instance, airlines need their computer systems to work to schedule their pilots and crew. The FAA needs its systems to work for air traffic control and navigation, as well as to send communications to pilots about weather, airport conditions and potential hazards.

Many air travel disruptions of recent memory involving computer glitches have coincided with other issues like severe weather and staffing shortages, said Henry Harteveldt, an aviation industry expert who is the founder and president of Atmosphere Research Group, a travel industry advisory firm.

While Southwest is well known for operating on outdated technology, United Airlines also experienced issues in recent months. After days of delayed and canceled flights out of Newark, New Jersey, during the Fourth of July weekend because of severe weather and air traffic control issues, United's staff recognized it needed to improve the software it uses to schedule its flight crews, Harteveldt said.

Recent technical issues forced the air travel industry to assess its computer systems to make sure they will run as smoothly as possible during the holidays, he said.

"The airlines are taking steps to include their IT," Harteveldt said. "I think they will all be better conditioned this Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's than they were a year ago. But they will be the first to admit that not everything they need will be in place. And it will vary airline to airline."

What Southwest Airlines has done to prevent flight disruptions

Southwest Airlines is working to avoid the mistakes of December 2022, when operational and technology breakdowns blamed in part on winter storms and issues with outdated computer systems triggered flight cancellations and stranded passengers at airports nationwide, including Sky Harbor.

The U.S. DOT, which is investigating the disruption, notified Southwest Airlines on Oct. 27 that it found the company failed to provide adequate customer service assistance, prompt flight status notifications and proper and prompt refunds and that the assessment of a civil penalty is warranted, according to a report Southwest filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

While Southwest Airlines did not answer questions from The Arizona Republic, airline staff did discuss in a recent earnings call what theyve done to improve their operational and technology issues since last Decembers disruption.

They began implementing a three-part action plan. According to Southwests chief operating officer Andrew Watterson, this included:

Improving winter operations: Southwest added de-icing equipment in key areas prone to severe winter weather and is training ramp agents on de-icing. Enhancing cross-team collaboration: The network planning and network operations teams have been placed together to improve the quality and efficiency of decision-making. A new group known as the network disruption pod will lead the company through high-risk disruptions. The airline also conducted training by simulating winter weather scenarios in what staff often called war games. Investing in operations: Southwest is working on improving aging infrastructure. For instance, it improved the tool responsible for notifying crews of flight assignments and will introduce software that will support aircraft and crew networks when weather-related disruptions occur. Customer service phone lines have been upgraded to handle greater call volumes.

Taken together, Watterson said these actions position Southwest to better respond to issues that may arise during the winter months, adding he feels confident going into the holiday season.

The disruption we had last winter was really hard on our customers and our employees, he said. It weighed heavily on all of us here at Southwest Airlines. We have a lot of pride based on our 50-plus-year history. So, preparing to prevent something like that from happening again was and is imperative.

Southwest also introduced a new bag tracking service that gives passengers the ability to track checked bags at the airport and in flight, an investment the company accelerated because of the disruption, said Ryan Green, Southwests executive vice president and chief commercial officer.

By providing additional transparency and information to customers about where their bags are during their travel journey, we're elevating the travel experience and removing friction for our customers, Green said during the earnings call.

What United Airlines has done to prevent flight disruptions

United Airlines, whose troubles in Newark during the Fourth of July weekend and an outage in September disrupted its service, is addressing the need to update its infrastructure as part of its response.

During its second quarter 2023 earnings call in July, United president Brett Hart told investors the airline would increase its resources and crew scheduling, as well as accelerate efforts to roll out technology enhancements and automation.

Hart pointed to a new feature on United's mobile app that provides traveler support during disruptions, including rebooking flights, tracking luggage and providing meal and hotel vouchers when eligible.

"It is important for us to provide our customers the resources they need for their flight at their fingertips, especially when things don't go as planned," he said during the call.

United did not respond to questions from The Republic regarding its computer systems. But at the time of the disruption in Newark, the airline said in a statement to The Republic that it was taking an "all hands on deck" approach to resolving the disruption. This included contact center teams working overtime on customer support and off-duty flight attendants calling in from across the U.S. to staff open trips.

Harteveldt, the aviation industry expert, thinks Southwest and United's issues are forcing other airlines to take proactive steps to prevent disruptions of their own.

"The events at Southwest and United were wake-up calls to airlines all over the world who went back and said, 'Look, let's make sure we're ready for not only bad weather, but not only that we don't have any bad unintended consequences,'" he said.

What American Airlines has done to prevent flight disruptions

One example is American Airlines, Sky Harbor's most lucrative carrier with nearly 40% of its flight capacity. Last summer the airline said it began automating the process of recovery from severe weather using a tool called the Hub Efficiency Analytics Tool.

HEAT is powered by data on weather, how full American's flights are, customer connections, gate availability and staffing issues. It uses this data to adjust flight schedules and keep customers, crews and planes moving when severe weather threatens to disrupt flights.

In a July announcement, American officials said HEAT was initially deployed in 2022 and prevented about 1,000 flight cancellations.

American Airlines did not respond to questions from The Republic regarding its computer systems.

What the FAA has done to prevent flight disruptions

As for the FAA, the glitch that affected its NOTAM system last January accelerated an effort to modernize the system.

Since 2012, the FAA has been working on modernizing the NOTAM information technology architecture and stationing it "in a public central location, in a manner that is Internet-accessible, machine-readable and searchable," said Billy Nolen, the acting FAA administrator at the time of the January outage. (His successor, Michael Whitaker, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in October.)

"We expect that a significant portion of the modernization work will be complete by mid-2025," Nolen said in January in a statement to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. "We continue to assess the feasibility of accelerating the current schedule."

The FAA is continuing efforts to improve its National Airspace System infrastructure, which provides data to air traffic controllers, pilots and other airspace users to help with safe navigation. The FAA told The Republic that it established contingency plans for commonly recurring events and emergencies, as well as a "resilient" architecture and backup system.

Route cut: Why Delta is cutting flights from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to this major East Coast city

How did airlines fare in preventing disruptions for Thanksgiving 2023?

They passed the test.

On Nov. 27  the day after the traditional peak of the Thanksgiving travel season  American Airlines announced a record-breaking Thanksgiving operation. It had more than 6.5 million passengers on 59,400 scheduled flights across the country from Nov. 16-26. Out of those flights, just 55 were canceled, all of which were weather-related.

In a statement, the airline credited Americans 130,000 team members who worked safely and tirelessly over the holiday period, along with great support from our partners at the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The Republic reached out to American asking for specifics on how its staff achieved these results.

Southwest Airlines, responding to an inquiry from The Republic, said it flew about 2.6 million passengers on more than 20,000 flights from Nov. 22-26. The airline completed almost all of its scheduled flights, and about 84% of them arrived on time. The airline later stated that 97% of its Thanksgiving Day flights arrived on time with no cancellations or diversions.

Thanksgiving 2023 flight disruptions in Phoenix were minor

Few difficulties ensnared airlines and airports in the days immediately after Thanksgiving. Heres what it looked like at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, according to FlightAware data:

Friday, Nov. 24: One cancellation, 145 delays.

Saturday, Nov. 25: Four cancellations, 225 delays.

Sunday, Nov. 26: One cancellation, 308 delays.

Monday, Nov. 27: No cancellations, 213 delays.

Reach the reporter at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How airlines in Phoenix are working to avoid holiday cancellations
Snow finally hit Delaware and the temperatures are starting to descend into a frigid range. Everyone needs a way to get warm.

Thankfully there's a holiday on Wednesday to help  National Hot Cocoa Day!

Sure this might be Big Hot Cocoa trying to influence your hot beverage purchases, but it's still hot cocoa so let's grab our mugs.

What's the difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate?

According to Michigan State University Extension, both are made from the cacao tree, but they are different. Hot cocoa is made from cocoa powder, whole milk and sugar. Hot chocolate, in its purest form is chocolate bars melted in cream.

However, most people use the terms hot cocoa and hot chocolate interchangeably. Either way, you're getting a heartwarming beverage.

Homemade hot chocolate recipe

You start by adding three parts milk to one part heavy cream into a saucepan over medium heat. Three cups of milk will make about four or so servings of hot chocolate.

Next,, add two ounces of chopped chocolate and a little over a teaspoon of cocoa powder per cup of milk. Next comes sugar. You can use any type of sugar you like, adding about 2.5 teaspoons per cup of milk.

To finish it off add a hint of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Mix until everything is melted together.

Now you can serve the hot cocoa with whatever toppings you like, whipped cream marshmallows or even shaved chocolate.

A brief history of hot chocolate

The delicious treat traces its history back thousands of years to the Aztec and Mayan cultures in South and Central America. The drink was made by grinding up cocoa seeds. Since it predated sugar coming to the region it was a more bitter drink. Europeans brought cocoa beans and chocolate back with them after coming to the Americas, and it was in Spain where the drink began to resemble the treat you're used to more closely.

The drink was around long before chocolate bars were invented in the middle of the 1800s.

Where are hot cocoa deals?

Starbucks is also offering a free short hot chocolate with the purchase of a handcrafted drink every Saturday and Sunday in December.

The handcrafted drink must be grande or larger, and brewed coffee, tea and ready-to-drink beverages are excluded. The deal is valid at participating U.S. stores.

Embedded content: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0mRVbttiM8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Joe Difazio and Bailey Schulz contributed to this story.

Holiday foods: Dairy Queen Blizzards, Chick-fil-A shakes; which franchise restaurants have holiday menus?

McDonald's Happy Meals: Adult Happy Meals return to McDonald's with the flavor of Kerwin Frost

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: It's Hot Cocoa Day! Warm up with a hot tasty beverage
LUXEMBOURG, December 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spire Global, Inc. (NYSE: SPIR) ("Spire" or "the Company"), a global provider of space-based data, analytics and space services, has been awarded a multi-million euro contract by EUMETSAT, Europes meteorological satellite agency, to provide radio occultation (RO) data. The contract is for an initial period of two years, from 2024-2026, with three optional, one-year extensions.

The award follows a successful pilot program, which demonstrated the benefits of Spire's RO data for weather forecasting accuracy and value. The Companys RO data provides information about the vertical profiles of pressure, humidity and temperature across all points of the globe, including in the most remote regions and open oceans.

Spire will provide the data in near-real time, and it will be distributed to the EUMETSAT user community globally for use in weather forecast modeling.

"As extreme weather events become more frequent, our work with EUMETSAT shows a shared commitment to using space-based data to confront the impacts of climate change," said Theresa Condor, Chief Operating Officer at Spire. "We're proud to work with the agency to improve weather forecasting and protect human life and property."

"It was important to EUMETSAT that the terms of this contract allow us to redistribute the data globally, in line with the World Meteorological Organizations principle of free and open data exchange," said EUMETSAT Director-General Phil Evans. "In this way, EUMETSAT is reinforcing the value of this type of commercial arrangement, with the benefits felt by the citizens of our member states, and other communities globally, through more data for weather forecasting models."

Spire offers a vast portfolio of current weather data, historical weather data, and weather forecast solutions. Most recently, the Company launched a high-resolution weather forecast tailor-made for utilities and commodity traders.

Story continues

About Spire Global, Inc.

Spire (NYSE: SPIR) is a global provider of space-based data, analytics and space services, offering unique datasets and powerful insights about Earth so that organizations can make decisions with confidence in a rapidly changing world. Spire builds, owns, and operates a fully deployed satellite constellation that observes the Earth in real time using radio frequency technology. The data acquired by Spires satellites provides global weather intelligence, ship and plane movements, and spoofing and jamming detection to better predict how their patterns impact economies, global security, business operations and the environment. Spire also offers Space as a Service solutions that empower customers to leverage its established infrastructure to put their business in space. Spire has nine offices across the U.S., Canada, UK, Luxembourg, Germany and Singapore. To learn more, visit spire.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212963177/en/

Contacts

For Media:

Kristina Spychalski

Head of Communications

Kristina.Spychalski@spire.com

For Investors:

Benjamin Hackman

Head of Investor Relations

Benjamin.Hackman@spire.com
Weve all been there: waking up mid-holiday, hoping to stroll to the nearest beach or hike to a pretty waterfall, but its hot  too hot. Or, more accurately, its humid: the kind of thick, wet heat where the moisture levels in the air have you feeling clammy and easily out of breath. You give up on the plan and retreat to the shady end of the pool. Again.

Social media may make tropical islands look like paradise, but no one seems to talk about the humidity factor. Filtered Instagram images of couples kayaking through mangroves or clinking cocktails in full sunshine give no hint of the sweat patches, mosquito bites and frizzy hair that can be the reality for many in such locations.

As a passionate lover of winter sun, I can no longer hack high levels of humidity. Heading to beautiful Mauritius last January, I hoped for pleasant rays  but as a cyclone brewed, the beach became stifling. There was nothing to do but sit up to my neck in the pool, or retreat to the hotel room for a break.

Travel writer Lucy Thackray loves winter sun but hates humidity

Meanwhile, on a romantic spring trip to Miami, my barnet grew bigger and frizzier with each sultry terrace dinner and rooftop cocktail, eventually reaching comical, Sideshow Bob proportions. Walking between bars and restaurants, our foreheads beaded with sweat, Ive never felt less elegant. In Jamaica, I stopped bothering with make-up after the second time it melted clean off my face.

I still love tropical landscapes, and of course there are plenty of destinations well worth experiencing whatever the weather. Plenty of holidaymakers have no problem embracing humidity, and if they live in a humid country themselves, may well be used to it. Humidity is also beneficial to skin health. But I now actively seek out dry heat: that blissful, breezy type of sunshine that warms your blood and ruffles your hair without making you flustered. More like the toasty glow of a pine sauna than the watery clouds of a Turkish bath.

January is the perfect month to head to Egypt for dry heat - Getty

Us humidity-haters have to be crafty about both timing and geography. You can get a dry-ish, breezy holiday in the Caribbean or Indian Ocean in the winter months of December to March; but booking then also coincides with the busiest and most expensive months. Ive fallen foul of seeing a bargain September package to Barbados, then suffering through a clammy week.

Not only is it wildly humid, but the mosquitos are vicious (you might even get the trifecta of a hurricane). Choosing the right part of Australia or Mexico can decide whether youll be sweltering in humidity or swooning in a dry breeze: Perth or Adelaide and Baja California, say, rather than Queensland and the Yucatan coast.

Really, dry heat is a winter-sun category of its own. Youre looking for arid, desert-wrapped locations with cool enough winters to enjoy the sunshine. US sun-traps such as Arizona, New Mexico and Californias Palm Springs are all known as dry heat havens; or you could head for the dusty Middle East rather than verdant Caribbean or Asia, lounging in a UAE resort or seeing desert wadis and turtles in rugged Oman.

Escape California's humidity in Palm Springs - Ryan Lopez

North African spots such as Morocco and Tunisia tick the dry-heat box, too. These are places where you can expect to be outside most of the day, charging your metaphorical solar panels without worrying about your mascara morphing into Gene Simmons stage make-up circa 1976. In short: theyre winter-sun bliss.

Where to go for deliciously dry heat

Red Sea, Egypt

January is Egypts driest month, meaning its mild winter comes with minimal, if any, humidity. This is when the countrys Red Sea coast comes into its own, with sunkissed hotel terraces, generous sun loungers and excellent snorkelling just metres from the beach. The clarity and warmth of the water here  not to mention the bright corals, manta rays and dolphins  makes it a fabulous place to learn to scuba dive, too. El Gounas new Chedi resort has a gorgeous palm tree-shaded beach, smart modern rooms and a romantic spa.

Stay at: The Chedi El Gouna, which offers doubles from 185, B&B

If you're heading to Egypt, base yourself at The Chedi El Gouna - The Chedi El Gouna

Palm Springs, California

Deep in Californias Sonoran Desert, this glamorous, arid enclave is where big spenders go to escape the states more humid areas, lounging by the pool in toasty temperatures of 21-25C in midwinter. You can also go exploring in that breezy warmth, checking out modernist villas owned by the likes of Elvis and Elizabeth Taylor, seeing Native American art in the citys main museum and visiting Joshua Tree National Park, an hours drive away.

Stay at: The Modernist-style ARRIVE, with its vintage-cool pool. Doubles from 226, room only

Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE

A step beyond Dubai and all the more peaceful and stylish for it, Ras Al-Khaimah is one of the UAEs lesser-known Emirates. Like the rest of the Gulf, its winters are comfortably warm and dry, with temperatures in the low 20s, and plenty of resorts and idyllic poolsides in which to enjoy them. A luxurious new Anantara opens this winter, set on a natural sweep of white beach surrounded by mangrove forest  and only a 45-minute drive from Dubai.

Stay at: Anantara Mina Al Arab, which offers doubles from 343, B&B

Baja California gets the dual blessing of dry heat and a Pacific breeze - Getty

Baja California, Mexico

A chilli pepper-shaped sliver of subtropical desert jutting out from northwestern Mexico, Baja California gets the dual blessing of dry heat and a Pacific breeze. Daytime temperatures of around 19-24C stretch across January and February, with wine tasting, surfer beaches, horse-riding and whale-watching excursions making the most of that sunshine. The majority of the resorts are clustered towards the southern end of the peninsula; try the Viceroy for its modernist design and opportunities for outback safaris.

Stay at: Viceroy Los Cabos, which offers doubles from 410, room only

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A.P. Moller-Maersk is throwing more weight behind Southeast Asia, announcing a more than $500 million investment in the region earlier this month.

The logistics giant is scaling its existing regional warehousing and distribution footprint there by up to 50 percent, while also investing further in air cargo, inland logistics, ocean shipping and terminal operations.

More from Sourcing Journal

Maersk aims to expand its presence in the four Southeast Asian markets where it already operates: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. By 2026, Maersk expects to add nearly 480,000 square meters (5.2 million square feet) of capacity spread across the four countries, where employees number over 5,000.

The container shipping titan said the sustainable mega distribution centers are strategically located to serve both customers and partners, and feature advanced automation capabilities.

Maersk did not reveal how many jobs will come from the expansion, or how many new facilities would be built.

Sourcing Journal reached out to Maersk for comment.

Maersks planned three-year investment will largely target its logistics and services arm, but at the same time, the company says a substantial undisclosed investment will also fund ocean and terminals infrastructure.

A digitally savvy population, coupled with an e-commerce boom, governments efforts to capitalize on global manufacturing diversification, growing regional brands, and rising inter-regional trade is spurring sustained growth in this area, said Vincent Clerc, CEO of A.P. MollerMaersk, in a statement. Our investment reflects the commitment to being the global logistics integrator addressing the changing needs of our customers, now and in the future while remaining steadfast to our decarbonization agenda.

Maersk, like many logistics companies fighting a freight recession this year amid weak consumer demand, is picking its spots when it comes to long term investing. With the ocean carrier seeing net income fall 94.5 percent in the third quarter to $489 million while sales plummeted 46.9 percent to $12.1 billion, the logistics giant cut thousands of workers to rein in expenses.

In the long run, Maersk expects to lower the cost of trade across its network with the Southeast Asian expansion, which the company says is up to triple the global average in some markets.

Maersk highlighted its investment in Malaysias Port of Tanjung Pelepas, which it expects to become a key integrated logistics hub in the region due to its multi-modal connectivity to domestic customers.

Furthermore, Maersk is also investing in increasing its landside warehouse capacity at Singapores Changi Airport, which the company hopes will help solidify its position as Maersks regional air freight hub. In July, the logistics player broke ground on a 1.1 million-square-foot distribution center in Singapore called World Gateway 2, which should be finished in early 2025.

The Singapore facility could preview whats in store for the new capacity Maersk expects to deploy. An automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) inside the new distribution center handles 30,000 pallets, with a large floor plate of 160,000 square feet.

The company is making investments into landside connectivity as well, significantly increasing its haulage truck capacity in Southeast Asia. As part of its push to offer greener solutions depending on customer needs, Maersk will also pilot biodiesel-based haulage trucks and introduce electric vehicle (EV) trucks by 2024.

On the ocean and terminal front, Maersk continues to invest in expanding its infrastructure across the region through its subsidiary APM Terminals to support enhanced ocean network design and bring additional transshipment to the region.

Maersk is also working closely with local authorities to explore opportunities in building green fuel infrastructure to support its future green vessel fleet. Maersk launch its first methanol-fueled container vessel in July, when it set sail from South Korea to Europe. The company has ordered 25 of these vessels so far.

Our investments in Southeast Asia aim to deliver a truly end-to-end supply chain and logistics solution to our customers, offering them greater visibility and control, said Elaine Low, area managing director, Southeast Asia at A.P. Moller-Maersk, in a statement. Customers will have the flexibility to choose different transport models, omnichannel fulfillment services and their preference for eco-friendly supply chain solutions depending on their sustainability goals.

As the worlds second-largest container shipping firm by volume transported, Maersk operates in more than 130 countries and employs over 100,000 people.
I attended the inaugural Honeyland Festival  here's what it was like.

As the express bus pulled into the busy lot, I eagerly watched from my window seat alongside other curious attendees. I had finally arrived at the inaugural Honeyland Festival  a two-day event in Sugar Land, Texas, that gathers locals, artists, and foodies from across the country. (Sugar Land is a suburb located 30 minutes south of Houston.)

Rick Kern/Getty Images for Honeyland Festival

After getting my festival badge and going through security, volunteers gave us a "passport" to help us navigate the many programs at this event. The experiences were split between eats, sips, and music  the latter involved performances from artists like Tobe Nwigwe, the Houston All-Stars, Tems, Coco Jones, Summer Walker, Letoya Luckett, Lucky Daye, Miguel, Chloe Bailey, and Mary J. Blige.

Rick Kern/Getty Images for Honeyland Festival

My first action item: heading over to rap legend Bun B's Trill Burger to earn my first passport stamp, where I feasted on their iconic OG burger accompanied by fries.

As I walked around, I was impressed with the production  from the food to the art pieces that inspired social media moments. I watched as excited guests took selfies, played lawn games, and visited vendors  all Black-owned.

"We celebrate Black expression and invest in the culture," the festival said on its site. "Our impact initiatives take it further with active steps towards fostering equity and Black excellence." As an attendee, it was clear Honeyland was doing just that by highlighting and amplifying Black talent.



Bob Levey/Getty Images for Honeyland Festival

Pepsi Dig In shared this sentiment, bringing its culinary residency program to the event with local Black-owned restaurants like Sienna Wings and Cranky Grannys Sweet Rolls. The initiative not only gives small businesses access to major events like this, but also provides them with mentorship, training, and resources to fund such an opportunity too.



The VIP lounge let attendees experience demos hosted by the likes of award-winning mixologist Tiffanie Barriere and Karl Franz Williams, the owner of ginger beer company Uncle Waithleys  both of whom make an appearance in Netflixs newest season of High on the Hog in "The Black Mecca" episode.







"I found a silver lining as I watched a sea of Black folks like me celebrating Black talent on this same land that was built by our enslaved ancestors. "







On both days, though, there were conversations that were equally entertaining and thoughtful. Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson served as headliner on the culinary end ushering in fellow chefs like Serigne Mbaye of Dakar NOLA, an acclaimed West African restaurant in New Orleans, and the Bronx-based Culinary Collective behind Ghetto Gastro. Meanwhile, Fawn Weaver, the CEO of whiskey maker Uncle Nearest, led the charge from the beverage side of things, with special guests like Robin McBride of wine company McBride Sisters. The curated panels for the event conjured up a warm spirit of adoration and respect for talent who are normally othered in this industry.

Bob Levey/Getty Images for Honeyland Festival

Bob Levey/Getty Images for Honeyland Festival

Amid all this, the historical significance of where I was wasn't lost on me. Sugar Land, which was discovered in the mid-1800s, had a thriving sugar plantation that was built using slave labor. Even after the abolition of slavery, the Houston suburbs economy was fueled by the labor of wrongfully convicted Black workers, who were leased to the state. (Some 95 individuals died under the harsh conditions and were quietly buried in an unmarked cemetery, not discovered again until recently during construction.)

Somehow, I found a silver lining as I watched a sea of Black folks like me celebrating Black talent on this same land that was built by our enslaved ancestors.

Shirlyn Cesar/Courtesy of Kareema Bee

Throughout the weekend, I was inspired to witness tastemakers greet each other like extended family at a reunion, relieved to be in a safe space. (As of 2017, Black chefs represent only about 10 percent of the culinary population, and those in wine and spirits make up an even smaller percentage.)

I also saw audience members arrive as spectators and leave as a community, as they listened to people who looked like them share the rich history of African and Afro-Caribbean cuisine in this country. At Honeyland, the organizers made it clear that Black chefs and business owners were making strides  and this was only the beginning.

I, for one, felt like a guest at a sacred dinner table. The entire experience made me feel as if I was having a good home-cooked meal I didnt know I needed. And, surely, that's reason enough for people to get a taste for themselves next year.

To learn more about the Honeyland Festival, visit honeylandfestival.com.



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Energy vortexes and a focus on holistic well-being are just two of the characteristics shared by Asheville and Sedona.

Courtesy of Visit NC

Comparing two destinations, particularly ones more than 1,800 miles apart, can initially present an apples-to-oranges conundrum. On the surface, Asheville and Sedona are nothing alike. One is the largest city in the mountainous region of Western North Carolina; the other is a desert town in Arizona. Ashevilles natural palette includes varying shades of green and blue, while Sedona is known for its unmistakable red rock formations. Their similarities, however, are found on a deeper level  one that encompasses history, geography, wellness, and spirituality.

MargaretW/Getty Images

Ley Lines and Energy Vortexes



For many, the draw to Sedona revolves around its vortexes, an energy phenomenon also said to be present in Asheville. Miranda Peterson Harton, founder and owner of Ashevilles Namaste in Nature, describes vortexes in relation to ley lines, a concept originated by amateur archaeologist Alfred Watkins in the 1920s. While Watkins thought of ley lines as prehistoric walking paths or trade routes defined by invisible roads connecting various ancient structures and landmarks, the idea has had different interpretations over the years.

I would think of ley lines as energy lines, Harton tells Travel + Leisure. Where the ley lines intersect is said to be like a vortex. She says ley lines are more felt than seen and measured, and Asheville and Sedona  along with Californias Mount Shasta  are places where they converge. The idea of ley lines and energy vortexes is certainly a pseudoscience, but some believe these places are highly conducive to what Harton describes as physical, mental, emotional, or energetic healing.

Related: These Amazing Hiking Trails in Sedona Lead to Red-rock Arches and Hidden Energy Vortexes

Harton shares shes not an expert in vortexes, per se, but has done extensive research on Ashevilles vortex. She has also felt it herself. You can feel a shift in energy throughout the area in and around Asheville, but there are specific spots in the mountains where the [vortexes] seem to be more concentrated, she says. To help others find  and reap the benefits of  these centers of energy, Harton and her team lead outdoor hiking, yoga, and meditation micro retreats in the area. On these two-hour excursions, they use practices like yoga, meditation, and mindfulness to enhance the participants experience with the vortex and Ashevilles natural resources in general.

Because whether or not you believe in ley lines and vortexes, theres no arguing that being outside is good for physical and mental health. There are science-backed reasons people hike for hours on end, go desert bathing, and find solace while walking on the beach. Yes, you can soak up some vitamin D and reduce your cortisol levels virtually anywhere  including your own backyard  but Asheville and Sedona are similar in that theyre both incredibly rich in natural beauty. Asheville sits squarely in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Sedona is surrounded by nearly two million acres of national forest land. This access to the great outdoors is, at least partially, the reason the two cities center themselves around their health and well-being offerings, attracting travelers from around the world.

MargaretW/Getty Images

The Beginning of Wellness Tourism

Tourism and the idea of holistic healing didnt take off in Sedona until the mid- to late 20th century  spurred by the vortexes and New Age movement  but Ashevilles transformation into a wellness destination began much earlier.

Like many towns and cities, Asheville was heavily affected by railroad expansion in the 1880s. Up to that point, since the earliest days of European settlement in the late 1700s, Asheville was hard to get to, explains Kevan Frazier, an Asheville native, founder of Asheville by Foot Walking Tours, and executive director of Western Carolina University programs in Asheville. With more accessible travel, Asheville underwent a rapid transformation; its population grew 291 percent from 1880 to 1890.

At the same time, Asheville was becoming a popular destination for those seeking relief from various ailments, particularly pulmonary conditions. According to Frazier, there was a group of physicians, most notably Karl von Ruck and Samuel Westray Battle, who were instrumental in shaping Ashevilles new identity. They had national reputations as physicians, and they were the ones who began to connect and work with some of the hotels and resorts to bill Asheville as a great health resort, a place to come to whenever you [needed] fresh mountain air, he says. That mountain air was especially appealing for those suffering from tuberculosis. There were a number of sanatoriums, and they would have what were called breathing porches out front, says Frazier. The idea was that fresh air would be good [and] it relieved a lot of their symptoms.

To learn more about Ashevilles history as a wellness destination, Frazier recommends visiting the Asheville Museum of History, which opened this past fall.

Ashevilles relatively moderate climate  as well as its proximity to trees and natural hot springs  went on to fuel tourism for decades, initially drawing people out of cities like Charleston, New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. South Carolinians were hoping to escape the oppressive humidity, while those from the Northeast were in search of better air quality. One of those visitors was a man named George Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt brought his mother to Asheville to aid in her recovery from a chronic case of malaria. While he was here, he was very much taken with the place and its natural beauty; he decided that he wanted to buy some land and build what was originally going to be a summer retreat, says Frazier. That, of course, became the Biltmore Estate.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Todays Asheville



Modern-day Asheville has certainly evolved from tuberculosis sanatoriums and breathing porches, but it hasnt strayed from this health-focused through line. Yoga, massage therapy  in its many forms and practices  artificial salt caves, and meditation all play a role in Ashevilles wellness offerings. Frazier also says people are still drawn to the city for its fresh outdoor spaces, but theres more of a focus on outdoor tourism  things like zip lining, hiking, water sports, and rock climbing. Coincidentally, several of those activities are also commonly practiced in Sedona.

Along with energy vortexes and health benefits, Asheville and Sedona share a history of the displacement of Native Americans. Long before the arrival of European settlers, the area we now know as Asheville was once inhabited by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. To learn more about their heritage, visit the Museum of the Cherokee People in Cherokee, North Carolina, just over an hours drive from Asheville.

The Verde Valley, where youll find Sedona, was home to the Sinagua, Yavapai, Hopi, and Apache peoples. The Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum in Camp Verde, Arizona, is a great resource if youd like to gain a more well-rounded understanding of American Indian history through archeology.



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What's the farthest you'd travel for a really great dinner? Like, a really, really great dinner: the kind of place known around the world, where reservations can be a tough get for months? In our case, it was 2,250 miles from New York City to Las Vegas to attend the opening of Peter Luger's new location at Caesar's Palace.

You might call that a frivolous trip, considering we started out a shorter subway ride from the original restaurant than the distance to the airport, but hear us out: there's one item on the menu at the Las Vegas installment that you can't get in New York, even if you drive out east to Long Island's Great Neck location.

There's a shellfish tower only served here in the desert, and it's everything you hope it would be. Peter Luger, Nevada edition, a massive bounty from the surf that will satisfy the hungriest pack of turfgrazers looking to try something new. We made our way west to attend the official grand opening party of the already-operating restaurant and try these fruits of the sea for ourselves. There, we asked Daniel Turtel, Luger's vice president and member of its longtime owners, the Forman family, about the expansion, the new dish, and one menu change Luger won't make.

Read more: Restaurant Foods That Always Taste Better Than What You Make At Home

The Shellfish Tower Personifies A More Luxurious Luger

Shrimp ice sculpture seafood platter - Brendan McGinley / Tasting Table

The new menu item offers a feast for giants with deep pockets: shrimp the size of a hot dog, Maine lobster sliced in half, oysters still salty, and king crab legs so sweet you want to suck the exoskeleton dry. Only the chicken lobster skews smaller than normal, and that's so you can snarf half or all of one without getting too full to try the rest. Everything else embodies the full-throttle feel of revelry in Vegas, a town that made its rep on neon and Americana in the swinging jet age, and has relentlessly modernized itself ever since, including the recent eruption of The Sphere, possibly the most 21st-century piece of architecture yet conceived: all cameras and screens, and frequently the world's largest emoji.

Back in Brooklyn, Peter Luger's old-school, take-it-or-leave-it attractiveness is a safehouse for the New York no-BS attitude. With darkly paneled wood and thick glass that protects it from the blasting cold winds off the East River, it's easy to step in and lose any sense of the outside world.

But casinos also thrive at creating their own pocket universes where circadian rhythms are kept at bay. And while it's a bit more ornate in some spots and sleeker in others, the new location recreates much of the Luger vibe without feeling insta-assembled or without character. Here, you're invited to not just treat yourself but to indulge in a rare banquet meant for celebration.

Caesar's Has Been Trying To Get Luger Out There For Ages

Peter Luger Caesar's Palace exterior - Brendan McGinley / Tasting Table

"Gary Selesner, who's the head of Caesars, started calling my grandmother, like, 30 years ago," Daniel Turtel says, "and she was hanging up on him and hanging up on him, but he was very persistent."

Since then, conditions have improved to scale Luger operations without sacrificing its reputation. "The beef industry has changed. Thirty years ago, you couldn't fill up another steakhouse with our quality steak. Now you can. Things have gotten better in terms of primal [cuts] and you can consistently find a good supply, so it's opened some doors."

With that room to expand, location still matters. And while it seems like every coastal try-before-you-die venue seems to matriculate here eventually (with Luger itself occupying the former space that until recently hosted fellow NYC tough-rez Rao's), Turtel says the hospitality industry has to perform on a level of service rarely matched.

"Vegas is one of the  if not the  place in the world where you have the best staff available and it's a standing population of real professionals and they're ready to be back," he says.

The Seafood Tower Is A Vegas Signature

Peter Luger seafood tower lobsters - Brendan McGinley / Tasting Table

Vegas boasts its seafood stacks. The Strip thrives on flash and panache meant to peacock and amaze, which cascading seafood achieves even if not in the desert. New York is mainly lacking in such servings. You can order a seafood tower at Balthazar, but it's remarkably absent from the rest of the restaurant landscape, according to Eric Ripert.

Meanwhile, Luger's built its reputation on no-malarkey, even crusty, service that focused on good beef, classic aesthetics jaw-dropping (and filling) rich desserts topped with that famous schlag: the direct opposite of Vegas glamor ...

... But also the embodiment of the two places' shared sanguine approach to rich eating. The origins of New York steakhouse culture prevail to this day, as a macho spot to eat way more than the recommended serving of meat. Similarly, Vegas built its buffets and fine dining on the idea that regular people could live like royalty for a few days. With both of those comes an eye-boggling array of animal proteins.

And when you get down to it, is stacking seafood far from the shore any odder a flourish than New York's pride in its steaks so far from any ranch?

New Facilities Let Luger Expand Menu Options

Peter Luger Caesar's Palace interior - Caesar's Entertainment

Prior to pollution, New York was once a seafood town on par with Boston or Seattle. Locally sourced oyster feasts were a New York experience more ceremonially institutional to life there than the steakhouse experience itself (although often intertwined). Pearl Street even purportedly got its name for its abundant oyster harvests going back long before colonialism. (Vegas tradition loves itself an oyster bar too.)

All of which is to ask, why isn't a steakhouse that dates back to those less polluted days equipped to provide a feast like this?

"We would honestly love to have a seafood tower in Brooklyn," says Daniel Turtel. Unfortunately, "That restaurant's been open since 1887," noting that it's added three dining rooms since, but the kitchen hasn't grown proportionally. "You're constricted by what you can do. You're tough on space," he says, amid eight broilers running at 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, and adding workstations for chilled seafood is daunting.

"If we wanted to prepare seafood in the right way here in Brooklyn, we'd really have to reconfigure the kitchen to allow for it," Turtel says, and the extended shutdown required to do so would result in a huge revenue loss. While Luger's Great Neck location does serve hot lobster, the same limitations prevent it from tackling a full seafood program. The expansive kitchen in Vegas is a chance to do something the restaurant has always eyeballed as a possibility.

But Don't Expect Luger To Start Serving Filet Mignon

Peter Luger t-bone steak - Brendan McGinley / Tasting Table

There's another dish by which Vegas venues get judged when it fits their classic American menus. However, you won't find it here at Luger's, even though the restaurant boasts one of the most definitive and oldest menus in American history.

"There were two things they told us when we came to Vegas: you need a filet and you need a seafood tower," says Turtel, who, with his restaurant's characteristic certitude, scoffs at changing its ways regarding steak. "We're like, we're not gonna do a filet because we don't do that. You could have a filet as part of the porterhouse."

Seafood, however, interested the New York steakhouse as a path to growth that stays on brand. Turns out even a famously staid steakhouse can't resist zhuzhing it up a bit in Las Vegas. Turtel smiles as he continues. "The seafood tower we conceded on and I'm glad we did," he says, "because it's pretty awesome."

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Yorgos Lanthimos

If Barbie had a shadow self, she would be Bella Baxter, the off-kilter protagonist of Yorgos Lanthimos new film Poor Things. Adapted from the 1992 novel by Alasdair Gray, the Greek filmmakers beautiful dark twisted fantasy happens to follow the same basic premise as Greta Gerwig's fluorescent-pink one: a scientifically-engineered woman (with a two-syllable name that starts with B) ventures outside of the sequestered domain she knows, embarking on an existential odyssey that opens her eyes to what it means to be a woman in the real world. Where Gerwig's plasticine fable was fated to be smooth and sexless by virtue of its corporate packaging, Poor Things is a debaucherous coming-of-age story replete with sex, gore, and profanity  but for all its bacchanalia and bodily fluids, Lanthimos latest reveals a strikingly humanist worldview and engages with sexual politics, pleasure, and power in a way that makes Barbie look all the more like childs play.

When we meet Bella, played by a raven-haired Emma Stone, she has been reanimated from the dead by Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) with no memory and no social or cultural imprintingphysically a grown woman, but developmentally an infant. She learns about the world as a child does, through sensory experience, as well as through her relationships with the various male archetypes (i.e. Kens) that populate her world, including her father figure Baxter, bookish fiance Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef), and libidinous cad Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), whom she leaves Max to abscond with on a sexual safari. Bella barrels across Europe and through Freuds stages of psychosexual development, discovering the ecstasy of orgasms and oysters, as well as a passion for life itself, empathy for the disenfranchised, and her own autonomyeven and especially when her indomitability incenses the men who aim to control her.

Like many of Lanthimos films, Poor Things is about power, rules, and restriction. From the remote family compound in Dogtooth, to the dystopian hotel in The Lobster, to Queen Annes palace in The Favourite, Lanthimos architects rigorous, punitive mazes in which his characters become ascetic mice, and employs a cool, clinical distance as he examines how people seek meaning through controlling themselves and each otheroften to cruel and violent ends. Poor Things begins in a similar way, with Bella cloistered in the gothic Baxter estate like a hybrid of Frankensteins monster and RapunzelShes an experiment, and I must control the conditions or the results will not be pure, Dr. Baxter tells Maxbut eventually, she experiences the liberation that Lanthimos characters have always been denied. Unafraid, unashamed, and unsanctionable in her quest for agency, Bella is the first Lanthimos character that can be considered a hero. Shes as if someone took all the bottled-up desire of Lanthimos previous protagonists, shook it up, and popped the cork. When she first leaves the Baxter home, the film shifts from black-and-white to vivid colorlike Dorothy entering Ozand a new world is unveiled.

From its sumptuous, sci-fi aesthetics alone, Poor Things is an audacious creative leap for Lanthimos; its whimsical, baroque flair recalls the worlds of Terry Gilliam and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, featuring Kubrickian interiors, steampunk costuming, and syrupy color palettes. His stylistic signatures are abundantdeadpan humor, static sex scenes, squirmy body horrorbut in comparison to the sterile modernity of The Killing of a Sacred Deer or the claustrophobic decadence of The Favourite, Poor Things lush, erogenous maximalism is a headrush. (For Bella, too: while admiring a garish neon sunset in Lisbon, she suddenly pukes.)

As Bella emotionally and intellectually complexifies with each new experience, Lanthimos also exhibits a more dynamic range of feeling and ability in his filmmaking. The beguiling score by first-time film composer Jerskin Fendrix moves from sparse, warped tones that lilt inquisitively as Bella hobbles around like an overgrown toddler, into robust, symphonic swells that crescendo when she has a soul-awakening experience, such as sex with a loving partner or witnessing children suffering. Cinematographer Robbie Ryan, whose austere compositions helped create wonderful tension in The Favourite, creates soft, sensual images attuned to the gestural and tactile in Poor Things. More than in any of his previous films, Lanthimos invites room for his characters to feel pleasure, connection, and growth.

The cast of Poor Things also reaches novel heights. Ruffalo, who is often cast as a straight man, renders Wedderburn so flamboyantly, farcically stupid one feels robbed having not seen him in more comedic roles. For viewers unacquainted with his standup comedy or his eponymous Hulu series Ramy, Youssef makes a formidable impression in his first film role, holding his own alongside multiple Oscar-pedigreed costars. Even seasoned veteran Dafoe, one of the most prolific and versatile actors alive, manages to unearth something completely new in Dr. Baxter.

Then theres Stone, who turns in her career-best performance as Bellacomfortably clearing the bar set in La La Land, for which she took home the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2017. She began shooting The Favourite less than a month after her Oscar win, beginning a fruitful collaborative partnership with Lanthimos. In addition to Poor Things, on which Stone also played a producerial role, their projects together also include the silent short film Bleat, shot in early 2020 in Greece, and the forthcoming feature Kind of Kindness, which was shot in New Orleans last fall. The beginning of Stones creative relationship with Lanthimos feels at least as pivotal as any award, as far as representing the turning point that has led to this current moment of artistic abundance in her career; in recent years she has selected increasingly adventurous projects, offbeat characters, and highly idiosyncratic creators like Yorgos, and like Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie, creators/co-stars with Stone on The Curse. She refers to her connection with Lanthimos as one of the greatest gifts of my life, and has expressed a desire to continue working together. I have more admiration than I can even put into words for him. (It is enticing to imagine them collaborating long into the future, like Scorsese and De Niro for post-millennial cinephiles.)

Stone isnt the only one for whom working with Lanthimos has shifted a paradigm; Barry Keoghans role in The Killing of a Sacred Deer introduced him to American viewers and anointed him the new prince of weirdos, while Olivia Colmans performance in The Favourite earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, an upset win over Glenn Close and Lady Gaga. Under Lanthimos direction, actors reveal abilities unseen or unexpected; something about entering his cinematic universe seems to be synonymous with liberation.

Expanding the scope of things artistically also seems to include making space for a softer, optimistic outlook from Lanthimos that contrasts the stark fatalism of his earlier films. That temperament is personified here by Harry Astley (Jerrod Carmichael), a cynical man Bella meets on an ocean liner who believes mankind is hardwired for cruelty. We are a fucked species, he cautions her. Know it. Bella feels dampened, but not despondent: I need to offer something to the world, she resolves.

Where Lanthimos previous films effectively punish characters for daring to seek beyond their circumstances, Poor Things rewards Bellas childlike curiosity and affirms her desiresfor pleasure, for knowledge, for interdependence. The story is as much a fairy tale about a woman who takes ownership of her life as it is an allegorical self-portrait of the filmmaker doing the same with his art: Lanthimos is both the mad scientist who modulates reality and dissects human nature, and simultaneously, the product of his own experimentation, breaking away from convention through creative rebirth and renegotiating his relationship to humanity.

Originally Appeared on GQ
South Arica has one of the most varied and unique coastlines on the planet.

In fact, in just the stretch between Cape Town and J-Bay (8ish hours driving), there are more waves than you could surf in a lifetime. So of course the No Contest crew had to visit the Rainbow Nation as a part of their very good travel and surf series.

"To millions of intrepid travelers South Africa is an incredible country teaming with wildlife and outdoor adventure, but for surfers The Rainbow Nation is even better still," writes Red Bull in the description of their latest "No Contest Off Tour" episode. "From the gritty city vibes and sand-bottomed barrels of Durban, all the way down to the world-renowned right points of Jeffreys Bay and Cape Saint Francis, 1000km away at the southern end of the Transkei, lies a ribbon of ocean that is as wave rich as any comparable coastline on the planet.

"It's not just the waves that draw you to Africa however, as Ashton Goggans discovers in the latest episode of No Contest. Aided by South Africas preeminent surfing adventurer, the venerable Alan Van Gysen, and hosted by global surfing icons Jordy Smith and Mikey February, Ashton and a crew of local characters surf their brains out in world class waves while discovering the history of this colourful corner. The big names like Jordy and Mikey arent the only ones to steal the show. Zulu surfer Surprise Maphumulo is a beautiful revelation, demonstrating why hes affectionately known as Little Italo; hard charging Durbanite young guns Shane Sykes and Sophie Bell prove to the world their invitations to the Vans Pipe Masters last year were no fluke, and Luke Thompson and Luke Slijpen showcase that the future of South African surfing is bright.

"Never one to miss a meal, Ashton samples local fare the length of the coast, and learns the fun way that in South Africa the exchange rate is always in your favour. As boardshorts and bikinis give way to heavy duty rubber, the crew sign off in Jeffreys Bay, the jewel of African surfing, and the worlds greatest pointbreak.

J-Bay is South Africas pride and joy, says Mikey February, before Jordy Smith, the best to ever do it out there, sums his favourite playing field up even more precisely. Its everything a surfer could ever want; speed, power and flow in one wave. Hit play on the video above then start booking your flights to one of the wildest wonders of the surfing world, South Africa.

***

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Many cuisines and culinary cultures not only have a list of famous food dishes but also a list of iconic cocktails to accompany them. We all know that Mexican food is synonymous with tequila, mezcal, and the many zesty cocktails derived from them. An Italian dinner may precipitate a negroni, and Japanese sushi isn't complete without a glass of whisky or a bottle of sake. However, Thai food doesn't have an obvious mixed drink pairing.

Luckily, creative cocktail innovators in Thailand's bustling, metropolitan capital city of Bangkok have come up with the perfect Thai-inspired cocktail using one of their most iconic desserts: mango sticky rice. While a sweet and tropical dessert consisting of glutinous rice cooked with sweetened coconut milk and topped with fresh mangos may sound hard to incorporate into a drink, mixologists deconstruct it into drinkable mixers. Mangos are already a popular drink and cocktail mix-in blended into lassis, margaritas, and daiquiris.

For a Thai-inspired cocktail that honors the sticky rice format, mangos remain a sweet topping, transformed into a mango-infused foam or mousse. Sticky rice soaked in coconut milk sits on the balance of solid and liquid, thus easily blended into a thick, velvety mixer for a spirit. Cocktail bars use housemade infusions and obscure ingredients to come up with high-brow mango sticky rice drinks, however, you can easily use mango sticky rice in a cocktail for your next Thai-inspired dinner or happy hour with simpler, more accessible ingredients and techniques.

Read more: 23 Cocktails To Try If You Like Drinking Gin

Ideas For Mango Sticky Rice Cocktails

blended cocktail with mango - Anna Zefirova/Shutterstock

If you're still trying to imagine what a cohesive mango sticky rice cocktail could look and taste like, consider its fruity ingredients. Mango and coconut are classic tropical mixers that many other tropical countries have used with their respective spirits. The most obvious tropical spirit to use in a mango sticky rice cocktail is rum. It will add a rich sugarcane finish to complement the nuttiness of the coconut sticky rice. You could throw a shot of dark rum and light rum into a shaker with a shot of coconut sticky rice blend and a squeeze of lime juice, topping the cocktail with mango-infused coconut cream.

Aged tequila and mezcal would also make tasty pairings for mango sticky rice cocktails, adding a smokiness and sharp alcoholic finish to cut through the sweet creaminess of blended sticky rice. You could make the cocktail extra boozy with a second spirit or liqueur. Using equal parts rum and vodka would add extra alcohol without hindering the flavor of rum. Another idea would be using a fruity or nutty liqueur like Cointreau or amaretto in addition to rum or tequila. Even an herbal liqueur like benedictine or bitters would help temper the sweetness of the dessert mixers. You could also add cold brew for a bitter, aromatic complement to the sweet coconut milk foundation.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Conservationist Lanoi Meitiekini, a leader of the nomadic Maasai tribe in Kenya, has witnessed the disastrous effects of hotter global temperatures firsthand.

A deadly combination of extreme heat and prolonged droughts has caused the traveling Maasai to stay in one place for longer periods of time, waiting for rain to come.

Life has not been easy for my people here, said Meitiekini.

These harsh environmental factors have also led to the deaths of precious livestock, a cornerstone of the Maasais pastoral lifestyle and a main source of income and livelihood for the tribal community.

The solution? Digging half-moon-shaped trenches into the farmlands soil. The crescent shapes, also known as water bunds or earth smiles, act as small dams in the ground that easily capture rainwater, where it can soak into the dirt below.

Then, native grass seeds are planted in the half-moons, eventually sprouting and bringing the cherished sight of vegetation back to the land.

In Kenya, conservationist Lanoi Mitikani is working together with Maasai women to counter the effects of climate change.



They dig half-moon trenches into farmland, or water bunds to restore drought-ravaged land. Maasai conservationist Lanoi Meitiekini explains how it works. pic.twitter.com/5CSQHiYdj0  BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) November 16, 2023

The innovative approach helps to revive and protect the heat-scorched terrain while also ensuring the sustainability of the process by giving the Maasai complete ownership of the project.

I wish to change the attitude of my community so that they can conserve and restore our dry lands for the current and future generations, by bringing the youth and women to take a lead on this, Meitiekini stated.

Regreening areas that have been severely damaged by rising global temperatures offers a bounty of benefits for their land and the planet.

Not only do these efforts improve soil quality and water availability, but bringing vegetation back to barren surroundings helps cool down the earth by storing carbon and creating more shaded areas. Naturally, this will also create a better habitat for regional wildlife by recovering native grasses and increasing biodiversity.

Meitiekini detailed the groups involvement with Justdiggit, a grassroots organization that fights global warming by regreening Africa, back in 2018.

Since then, they have used the half-moon method to restore nearly 7,500 acres of land.

We are slowly learning how to deal with the droughts, Meitiekini says in an interview with BBC News. I can only hope that the younger generations will pick up our eagerness and rely less on pastoralism.

To learn how you can support regreening efforts in Africa, visit the Justdiggit website for more information.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
The former treasurer of the Ocean Springs Middle School cheer booster club is out of jail on bond on a felony embezzlement charge, Ocean Springs Police Chief Ryan Lemaire said.

Kasi McDaniel, 48, is accused of embezzling at least $24,000 from the club over about one year ending in November. McDaniel surrendered to police Monday and was released on a $5,000 bond.

Kasi Mitchell

Lemaire said the investigation started after the booster clubs president reported the missing money. When police learned of the alleged theft, the account had a balance of $70.

They were supposed to go to a (regional cheer) competition, but they didnt have enough money to go, Lemaire said, and thats when the theft was discovered.

In addition, the bank alerted the Ocean Springs School District to suspicious activity on the account and turned the information over to the president of the booster club.

After reviewing the clubs financial records and tracking withdrawals on the booster club account, Lemaire said, investigators determined that McDaniel primarily withdrew the money she allegedly stole from ATMs at various Mississippi Coast casinos.

After her arrest, police said, McDaniel declined to talk to police investigators.

It is disappointing that one our adults (allegedly) misappropriated funds that were raised for students to be spent on students, Ocean Springs School District spokesman Trey Brennan said. We are thankful for the banking institution that noticed suspicious activity and called the School District.

The cheer club is made up of volunteers to help raise money for the students to attend various events over the year, including regional and out-of-state cheer competitions.

A felony embezzlement charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and up to a $25,000 fine or both.

To report information, call the Ocean Springs Police Department at 228-875-2211.
(Reuters) -Apple supplier Foxconn plans to invest an additional 139.11 billion rupees ($1.67 billion) in India's Karnataka state, the state government said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Taiwan-based company, which assembles around 70% of iPhones and is the world's largest contract manufacturer, has been diversifying production away from China following COVID-19 disruptions and geopolitical tensions.

It has rapidly expanded its presence in India over the past year by investing heavily in manufacturing facilities in the south of the country.

In Karnataka state itself, the company announced in August an investment of $600 million in two projects to make casing components for iPhones and chip-making equipment.

Foxconn is also expected to start manufacturing iPhones in the southern state by April 2024 - a project expected to create around 50,000 jobs.

The government did not elaborate on the latest plans for the additional investment in Karnataka, and Foxconn did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

($1 = 83.3900 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Munsif Vengattil; Writing by Kanjyik Ghosh and Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Devika Syamnath and Tomasz Janowski)
The claim: Jacinda Ardern

A Dec. 5 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) shows a picture of former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

"WEF Dictator Jacinda Ardern did not take the vaccine that killed her own Citizens," reads a screenshot of a post on X, formerly Twitter, within the Instagram post. "Instead, she fled the Country  and sits on the Board of the Death Star  Blackrock  the Financial Arm of the World Economic Forum."

At the bottom of the X post, a screenshot of an article headline says, "11,000 politicians and elites received an exemption for the Covid vaccination: 'This is shocking.'"

The Instagram post garnered over 400 likes in one day, while the original X post received more than 40,000 likes in four days. Similar versions of the claim were shared on Instagram and Facebook.

More from the USA TODAY Fact-Check Team:

Our rating: False

Ardern has been photographed and filmed receiving both COVID-19 shots and the booster.

Post includes plethora of misinformation about Ardern, BlackRock and WEF

Contrary to the post's claim, the former New Zealand prime minister is vaccinated against COVID-19.

Ardern was filmed by the New Zealand Herald and photographed by Getty Images receiving her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on June 17, 2021. She was then photographed receiving her second dose of the vaccine on July 27, 2021, and filmed getting her first booster on Jan. 16, 2022.

Fact check: False claim 20% of New Zealanders who received COVID-19 mRNA vaccines died

After resigning in January, Ardern traveled overseas to complete a dual fellowship at Harvard University, according to CNN. She didn't flee the country, as the post claims.

The post's claim about Ardern serving on BlackRock's board of directors is also false. A BlackRock spokesperson told USA TODAY via email the former prime minister has never sat on the board. This is further proved by the company's governance page, which doesn't mention her.

She did host a meeting with the American Chamber of Commerce in one of the BlackRock offices in May 2022, as seen on her Instagram page.

The post also falsely describes BlackRock's relationship with the World Economic Forum, calling the investment company the WEF's "financial arm."

The WEF lists the company on its website as one of hundreds of "partners," described as "leading global companies developing solutions to the worlds greatest challenges."

BlackRock CEO Laurence Fink sits on the WEF board of trustees, but there aren't any credible reports of further ties between the two organizations.

The BlackRock spokesperson told USA TODAY that though the company engages with both government officials and non-governmental organizations to stay informed on global issues, it acts independently.

USA TODAY reached out to the WEF and the users who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Reuters previously debunked a similar claim.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here.

USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former New Zealand PM Ardern did receive COVID-19 vaccine | Fact check
A man incarcerated at a prison south of Boise died Sunday and the suspect in his fatal beating, a fellow prisoner, has been moved to a maximum security facility, according to the Idaho Department of Correction.

Just after 11 a.m. Sunday, a 45-year-old man at the Idaho State Correctional Center was assaulted by another prisoner, a spokesperson told the Idaho Statesman by email. He died less than an hour after the assault.

The Ada County Coroners Office identified the man as Milo Warnock and said in a news release that he died from multiple blunt force injuries. The coroner ruled his death a homicide.

Idaho State Police investigators are looking into the attack. A spokesperson didnt immediately respond to a request for additional information from the Statesman.

The suspect was moved into administrative segregation, or solitary confinement, immediately after the attack, but hes now at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, according to IDOC spokesperson Jeff Ray.

In June, 26-year-old Junior Garcia, who was incarcerated at the states maximum security prison, died after two other prisoners allegedly beat him to death, the Statesman previously reported. The two suspects have since been charged.
An Iowa Park man was indicted for 11 counts of possession of child pornography, according to court documents.

David Hobbs Ray, 33, told Iowa Park police that he used all of his electronic devices to download child pornography and proved to be helpful to their investigation, according to allegations in court records.

Ray was free Tuesday from Wichita County Jail on $210,000 in total bonds, according to online jail records.

No caption

A Wichita County grand jury returned an indictment Dec. 6 against Ray in connection with an incident on June 15 and 10 incidents July 27.

Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Anyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

An Iowa Park police affidavit details the allegations against Ray.

On June 6, police executed a search warrant at Ray's apartment in the 700 block of Johnson Road in Iowa Park, according to the allegations in the affidavit. He spoke voluntarily with a sergeant, confirming that he had an idea as to why police were at his home.

Ray told police there could be thousands of images of child pornography on his devices, according to allegations. He told police this had been going on for most of his life.

More: Former Clay County sheriff Lyde ordered back to jail

Ray showed officers where to find child pornography on his devices. A sergeant saw animated images depicting apparent child pornography and told Ray he had not seen any images with actual people in them.

Ray directed the sergeant to images and video that weren't animated. Police found images of what appeared to be female children.

Before police finished talking with Ray, he told them, "If I ever got caught, I would be like there ya go," according to allegations.

More: Wichita Falls defense attorney to be suspended from practicing law

Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her X handle is @Trishapedia.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Iowa Park man indicted for possession of child porn
ASHEVILLE - A Jan. 6 defendant should be allowed to remain free on bond despite charges he punched a woman in the throat in an Asheville bar Thanksgiving night, he has told a federal judge.

Alan St. Onge, 36, of Brevard, said the assault charges against him stemming from a Nov. 23 encounter at a downtown bar do not mean he is a danger or a flight risk, according to a recent filing by his attorney. For that reason, he should not have his bond revoked while awaiting resolution of charges he participated in the 2021 insurrection, said the Dec. 8 filing in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. St. Onge has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges.

"While the assault allegations are troubling, they remain allegations and the existence of charges does not make Mr. St. Onge a danger to others or the community. He was not jailed on any of the charges by the State of North Carolina, and he received an unsecured bond," said his attorney, Renae Alt-Summers of Columbia, South Carolina.

A picture that federal prosecutors say shows Alan St. Onge of Brevard participating in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection.

U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols has set a date of Dec. 12 for prosecutors to respond to the defense's arguments.

According to prosecutors, St. Onge was at the 27 Club on Patton Avenue making advances on a woman who rebuffed him. He then approached two other patrons, a man and woman, and asked the man to bet him "who would (expletive)" his companion first, the prosecutors said.

The woman told him to stop harassing women at the bar and St. Onge threw an ashtray at her chest, according to an Asheville Police report. She threw water at him and St. Onge punched her in the throat, police said.

The male attempted to intervene and St. Onge pushed him to the ground and kicked and stomped on him until another person announced the police had been called, the report said. St. Onge left the bar but was stopped by police for traffic violations and charged with driving while impaired and later assault and assault on a female. A Buncombe County magistrate allowed him to go free on an unsecured bond.

Road rage fatality: Twin brothers convicted for Asheville bicyclist death started by road rage, family says

Once federal prosecutors learned of the arrest they filed the bond revocation motion. But St. Onge's attorney said that motion was only one version of events.

"Essentially, the misdemeanor assault charges arose from an apparent difference of opinion in an Asheville bar. At present, the only version of the events of that Thanksgiving night comes from the alleged victims, as told to the responding officer who was summoned by the bar owner," St. Onge's attorney said.

But 27 Club owner Imran Malik, noting St. Onge's large stature, said he was "obviously a danger."

Malik told the Citizen Times Dec. 11 "a man his size who punches a woman on the throat" should not be able to "walk around free."

St. Onge is facing four charges related to what prosecutors say was his participation in the Capitol insurrection. He was indicted July 19 on the felony and three misdemeanors. He pleaded not guilty Aug. 21.

Prosecutors say St. Onge "turned his back to a metal barricade and, using the considerable mass of his body, pushed it against the police on the other side who were resisting his efforts and trying to hold the police line."

Also currently facing charges related to the Capitol riot is Nathan Baer of Starnes Cove, near Asheville.

Three men from WNC have been convicted for actions on and near Jan. 6.

Thomas Gronek of Asheville, was arrested Jan. 5, 2021, in Washington in a bus spray painted "Hippies 4 Trump" and pleaded guilty to violating a D.C. gun law of carrying a rifle outside his home. He was sentenced to time served and a $50 fine.

Cleveland Grover Meredith of Hayesville, threatened to shoot House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the head after arriving in Washington Jan. 7, 2021, with an assault rifle and 2,500 rounds of ammunition. He was sentenced to more than two years in prison.

Lewis Easton Cantwell of Waynesville, pleaded guilty to obstructing officers during the Jan. 6 attack and was sentenced to five months in prison.

The most prominent people with links to WNC and Jan. 6 are Donald Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows, who was charged with conspiring to flip the Georgia presidential election results. Ex-Trump attorney and former Asheville and Biltmore Forest resident Sidney Powell pleaded guilty to her role in that effort. She is also understood to be an unnamed co-conspirator in a federal election interference case.

Former WNC Congressman Madison Cawthorn delivered a fiery speech to Trump supporters before the attack. A lawsuit said he should be denied a spot on the ballot because he was an insurrectionist but the case dropped when he lost the Republican primary.

More: AG: Mark Meadows won't face voter fraud charges in North Carolina

More: WNC woman worked with antigovernment website founder to issue fake arrest writs; convicted

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: J6 defendant: shouldn't be jailed after alleged Asheville bar assault
KENNEBUNKPORT  Lillian Barlett, 98, of Kennebunkport, received the Boston Post Golden Cane on Nov. 21, an honor bestowed upon the oldest resident in town.

Town officials and family members celebrated with Barlett at her home, where she was presented with the cane, a crown, and flowers from the Church on the Cape Knitters.

Lillian Barlett, 98, of Kennebunkport, received the Boston Post Golden Cane on Nov. 21, an honor bestowed upon the oldest resident in town.

Barlett and her late husband Carl raised five children, and all five, along with a grandson and sons-in-law, were on hand for the presentation of the cane.

New Englands Boston Post Golden Cane dates back to 1909 when Edwin Grozier, publisher of the Boston Post, envisioned honoring 700 of the "oldest residents" in towns across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Grozier commissioned 700 ebony canes topped with 14-karat gold. At first, only men received this honor, but women joined them in 1930. The town owns the cane and takes it back when the honoree dies.

'Love Comes First': Why Barbara and Jenna Bush made a special stop in Kennebunkport

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Kennebunkport woman receives Boston Post Golden Cane
Thousands of United States citizens are called to serve on juries daily to listen to testimony, review evidence and make decisions in civil and criminal trials.

In the Kansas City area, residents can expect to serve between two weeks and a month to be a part of a trial jury, which decides criminal and civil cases, or be selected to serve on a grand jury for up to 18 months, where they assess evidence presented by a prosecutor to determine whether someone should be put on trial.

If you are summoned for jury duty, heres what you need to know about serving in Kansas and Missouri.

How am I summoned for jury duty?

Residents are summoned for jury duty at random in both states.

Kansans are selected from voter registration records and drivers and non-drivers license lists. When a jury panel is needed, the wheel or computer is used to select a number of names at random.

Juror summonses are then sent to those persons whose names are drawn, and they may be called into court to serve on a trial jury.

Missouri selects jurors from the Department of Revenue drivers license records, non-drivers license records and from voter registration rolls. Some counties in the state use other lists such as personal property tax rolls.

Who is eligible for jury duty?

You must meet these criteria to be eligible for jury duty in Kansas, according to state law:

Must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the county you were summoned to serve in

Be at least 18 years old

Be a resident of the county for at least 20 days

You are ineligible for jury duty in Kansas if you have been convicted of a felony within the last 10 years and have not been adjudged incompetent by a court, according to state law.

You are eligible for jury duty in Missouri if you meet these criteria, according to Missouri law:

Over the age of 21

A United States citizen

A resident of the county or city sending the summons, unless serving in another county by order of the court

Are able to read, speak and understand English

You are ineligible for jury duty in Missouri if you were convicted of a felony and your civil rights have not been restored, in the active military, a judge or a person who the court or jury commissioners find incapable because of mental or physical illness.

How can I get out of jury duty?

If you have served on a jury panel within your county in the past year, you do not have to serve if you have been summoned again. Otherwise, you can make a request to be excused from serving by emailing, faxing or mailing your closest jury coordinator. All requests to be excused must be in writing and come from the summoned juror and must be submitted in a timely manner, according to the District of Kansas.

If you receive a summons and you have already served in the past two years, you can request to be excused from serving in Missouri by stating that you have served in the questionnaire you receive in the mail. You can also submit a written request to be excused and it will be reviewed by the courts, according to Missouri state law.

Some of the reasons you could be excused from serving include:

If you are a nursing mother, and you have a written signature from your physician that you are currently nursing.

If you are a healthcare professional, and your written statement says that you are providing health care to patients, and that jury duty would be detrimental to the patients.

If you are an employee of a religious group or institute whose religious obligations would prohibit them from serving on a jury.

If absence from your regular job would adversely affect public safety, health welfare or interest.

If you are 75 years old or older

Can I be penalized for missing jury duty?

Yes, in both states.

You may be held in contempt of court in Kansas, according to state law. You may also be fined for not serving.

You may also be held in contempt of court and fined in Missouri, according to 16th Circuit Court of Jackson County. The Court may issue an order directing you to a hearing where the you would be required to show a good reason for not appearing for jury duty. If you cannot provide a good reason for failing to appear, the Court could fine you as much as $500 and may order you to perform community service for a time no less than would have been spent in jury service.

You are also re-summoned for jury duty.
The Parklands of Floyds Fork will grow by more than 660 acres following the largest single property acquisition in Parklands history. The acquisition will nearly double the size of Broad Run Park.

The Parklands of Floyds Fork already covers thousands of pristine acres  and now it's growing.

On Monday, the park system announced it will expand by 664 acres, including the largest single property acquisition in Parklands' history.

The acquisitions include three parcels of land: one plot that nearly doubles the size of Broad Run Park; and two others that add more than 150 acres to Turkey Run Park. In all, it will bring the total acreage of the Parklands to more than 4,000.

The system will add 508 acres directly east of Broad Run Park. The system also gained 46 acres to the east of Turkey Run Park and another 110 acres north of the park, including most of the watershed for Turkey Run, the stream for which the park is named.

Dan Jones, the founder and chairman of the Parklands, said the long-term goal for the 508 acres is to make it the quiet heart of Broad Run Park, leaving it mostly natural. The section will include some hiking trails and possibly a park pavilion.

Jones said planning for the new land will begin in 2024.

"The dust is just settling from the acquisition," he told The Courier Journal on Monday.

A portion of the new land in Broad Run also stretches into Bullitt County. Jones said there's potential in the future to connect the system into Bullitt County with a small parking lot and a trailhead, but that project will be part of a planning process that will require funding.

"We haven't made any firm decisions," Jones said, "but the intent is for the addition to remain quiet."

That intent is inspiring its proposed name: The Parklands Preserve at Broad Run Park.

The 110 acres will help expand Turkey Run to the north, where the Parklands already owned parts of the land surrounding the acquired acreage.

The 46 acres will help the Parklands reach one of the system's other long-term goals: to acquire most of the watershed for Turkey Run in hopes of gaining a reference reach, or in stream ecology, a natural segment that develops a stable channel.

"It's pretty vital," Jones said. "It doesn't complete it 100%, but it bumps us up a lot. ... It allows us to protect the watershed."

Jones said that 46 acres will also remain quiet, likely without even a trail built on it.

The announcement came one day before a meeting of the city's Planning and Design Services Committee, which will discuss proposed rules for development around Floyds Fork, one of Jefferson County's last pockets of preserved nature.

The Courier Journal previously reported that those draft rules, in many key places, would turn "should" into "shall," prohibiting developers from building in the Floyds Fork floodplain, channelizing the stream, and other environmental restrictions.

Planning and Design Services will hold an open house about the development rules at Lake Forest Lodge, 511 Woodlake Drive, on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m.

Broad Run Park is located in the southernmost part of the Parklands, at Bardstown Road, south of Interstate 265. Turkey Run is located in the northernmost part of the Parklands in Seatonville.

That acreage is home to the Kentucky glade cress, an endangered wildflower species found nowhere else on Earth.

Amid the city's steady suburban sprawl, though, developers are approaching more than 2,000 acres designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as critical habitat for the rare species, as previously reported by The Courier Journal.

The Parklands has focused on preserving diverse habitats in its parks, including the rare wildflower.

"The Kentucky glade cress is another way to enhance people's experience of biodiversity and give them a broader sense of what the natural beauty and diversity of Central Kentucky has to offer," Jones said.

The Parklands takes a yearly census of the plants, and Jones believes they will double the number of glade cress plants with the acquisition next to Broad Run.

"This is a highly significant purchase," said Steve Henry, former lieutenant governor of Kentucky and founder of the Future Fund Land Trust, which protects land around Floyds Fork from development. "This is a very valuable purchase that will be greatly appreciated 50 years from now."

More: Floyds Fork is seeing a development blitz on its banks. How much more can the stream take?

Broad Run Park became the fourth and final park of The Parklands of Floyds Fork in March 2016, five years after the initial phase of the park began. The other three parks of the system include Beckley Creek Park, Pope Lick Park and Turkey Run Park.

Staff writer Connor Giffin contributed to this report.

Stephanie Kuzydym is an enterprise and investigative reporter. She can be reached at skuzydym@courier-journal.com. Follow her for updates at @stephkuzy.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: The Parklands of Floyds Fork will expand Broad Run Park
People with autism experience bus stops differently than neurotypical people, according to new research from researchers at the University of Missouri and the University of Georgia.

The research used virtual reality to develop an exact replica of a bus stop on the campus at the University of Cincinnati, said Noah Glaser, assistant professor in the MU College of Education and Human Development.

"Through the Lens of Artificial Intelligence: A Novel Study of Spherical Video-based Virtual Reality Usage in Autism and Neurotypical Participants" and "Programming for Generalization: Confronting Known Challenges in the Design of Virtual Reality Interventions for Autistic Users" were published in Computers & Education: X Reality.

Matthew Schmidt at the University of Georgia was the primary researcher on the project.

In the virtual reality environment, researchers can add to or take away stimuli, including sounds and people, Glaser said.

"We sought to create an environment that was a one-to-one replica," Glaser said. "We spent 2 1/2 years creating highly realistic 3D models. Everything about it was as realistic as possible."

People with autism provided feedback in the development, at one point causing researchers to start over from scratch, he said.

Public transportation is the most often-cited obstacle for all people with disabilities and people with autism have their own difficulties, Glaser said.

"There's chaos and complexity and things we take for granted," Glaser said. "There's social complexity. When a bus comes to a stop, do you wait for people to get off? There's all these subtle social cues."

Buses can be loud and crowded, he said.

"All of these things are overstimulation" for some with autism, he said.

In the virtual reality simulation, researchers could add signs to tell people where things are. The bus can be late or not show up at all.

The research used artificial intelligence to examine how the experiences for people with autism differed from that of neurotypical people. It determined what individuals were looking at and for how long.

People with autism often have different gaze patterns and may not look directly at other people, Glaser said.

At the simulated bus stop, Individuals with autism looked around more, focusing on individual objects for less time than neurotypical users.

"What they looked at was more randomized and for a shorter duration," Glaser said.

The research can be useful to help train neurodiverse individuals to use public transportation and to help people developing public transportation to better accommodate neurodiverse people, Glaser said.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on X at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Autism research uses artificial intelligence and virtual reality
Rudy Giulianis defamation trial got off to a rocky start Monday, after he left the courtroom at the end of the day to repeat to reporters the exact same claims that got him in trouble in the first place.

Everything I said about them is true, Giuliani, Donald Trumps former election lawyer, told reporters outside the Washington, D.C., courthouse, doubling down on the very election lies hes already conceded were false.

I told the truth, the former New York City mayor said, while claiming he has no regrets. They were engaged in changing votes.

When a reporter reminded him that he has no proof to support his claims, Giuliani baselessly responded: Oh, youre damn right there is. Stay tuned.

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell reprimanded Giuliani for the remarks Tuesday, noting that they directly contradicted his own lawyers opening statements about Giuliani earlier that day.

How are we supposed to reconcile that? Howell asked Giulianis lawyer, Joseph Sibley.

Sibley said he discussed it with Giuliani, but confessed that he cant control everything he does.

Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea Shaye Moss, are asking for tens of millions of dollars in damages after Giuliani repeatedly lied about the two Georgia election workers in the aftermath of Trumps 2020 loss to Joe Biden.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks to reporters as he leaves his apartment building in New York on Aug. 23.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks to reporters as he leaves his apartment building in New York on Aug. 23.

Giuliani already has been found liable for defamation. Earlier this year he conceded in a court filing that hed made false statements about the pair, and then refused to turn over key documents during discovery, leading to a default judgment.

Freeman and Moss sued the lawyer in 2021 after he accused the two, who are Black, of passing around USB ports as if theyre vials of heroin or cocaine to alter the vote count on tabulation machines in Georgia during the 2020 presidential election.

An investigation found that the purported USB device Freeman handed her daughter was, in fact, a ginger mint. That didnt stop Giuliani and others in Trumps orbit, including Trump himself, from doubling down on the baseless conspiracy.

In an interview with the Jan. 6 congressional committee investigating the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Freeman said the attacks turned her and her daughters lives into a Trump-fueled nightmare.

I have lost my name and I have lost my reputation, Freeman said in the interview, which was presented to Congress last year. I have lost my sense of security. All because a group of people, starting with Number 45 and his ally Rudy Giuliani, decided to scapegoat me to push their own lies about how the presidential election was stolen.

There is nowhere I feel safe, she added. Nowhere. Do you know how it feels to have the president of the United States target you?

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Containerization's rise remains resilient against global market consolidation hurdles, as reduced long-distance container shipping costs and expanding international trade continue to drive its widespread adoption.

New York, United States, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A shipping container is a durable container used for transporting, storing, and relocating goods. These containers facilitate the transport of commodities by land and sea utilizing trucks, railroads, and ships. Hence, multimodal product transport has become more efficient. In addition, the cost, convenience, and ease of keeping a large volume of goods have contributed to the growing popularity of renting shipping containers among businesses in various industries. A shipping holder is a container with handling, capacity, and transportation-resistant characteristics. Similar to cardboard boxes and pallets, containers bundle freight and commodities into massive unitized loads that are easily handled, transported, and stacked and may be packed densely on ships and in yards. They are made up of aluminum and steel.

Download Free Sample Report PDF @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/shipping-container-market/request-sample

Increasing Demand for Cargo Transportation Through Ships Drives the Global Market

According to Straits Research, The global shipping containers market size was valued at USD 9,820.12 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 14,098.85 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period (20232031). There is a growing interest in transporting freight by water. This is explained by ships successfully delivering several goods to the opposite end while assuring cargo security. In addition, cargo ships are less expensive than air and road transport for transporting goods because they can transport significantly more cargo than other forms of transport. In addition, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which addresses global trade, development, and investment issues, estimates that over 1,687 million tons of cargo are moved annually in around 177,6 million containers across a distance of 998 billion ton-miles. The need for cargo transportation by ship is anticipated to rise due to recent developments in commercial boats and significant players' development of better, more efficient cargo ships. These vessels will be outfitted with cutting-edge equipment, such as sophisticated sensors and navigation systems.

Story continues

Anticipated Trend of Automation in Marine Transportation Creates Tremendous Opportunities

Several companies have contributed to the development of autonomous, state-of-the-art ships for use in passenger and freight transportation, which adds to the growth of the shipping sector due to the increase of automation and the demonstration of autonomous ships by industry titans. In conjunction with the Finnish ferry firm Finferries, Rolls Royce demonstrated the world's first fully autonomous boat. In addition, the Norwegian-built, fully autonomous container ship Yara Birkeland was expected to commence operations in 2020. Kongsberg, a Norwegian business, collaborated with Yara to produce all-electric ships in 2020. By reducing human error, similar global advancements implemented by other companies increase the safety and security of the onboard cargo and passengers.

Regional Analysis

Asia-Pacific's shipping containers industry share is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period. Extensive coastal lines and significant manufacturers operating in the Asia-Pacific shipping containers industry drive market expansion. In addition, increasing government measures to promote marine trade across the region and expanding in underdeveloped Asia-Pacific countries, such as India and Indonesia, will soon create significant potential prospects. Businesses operating efficiently in Asia-Pacific have developed various shipping container innovations, contributing to the expansion of the industry in Asia-Pacific. Asia-dominant Pacific's position on the worldwide market is primarily attributable to the region's significant maritime trade with countries such as China, Japan, India, and South Korea. Additionally, it is projected that substantial export volumes, intraregional commerce, and expanding manufacturing activity, especially in these nations, will further stimulate market growth.

Europe is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 3.9% over the forecast period. Technological developments in ships, navigational systems, real-time data processing, and a rise in seaborne commerce significantly contribute to the expansion of the European shipping container market. In addition, implementing strict ISO standards on cargo transportation and the rapid increase in European imports and exports have contributed to the market's expansion. Companies such as A.P. MollerMaersk Group, CARU containers, OEG Offshore limited, and YMC Container Solutions that operate throughout Europe provide a variety of services, including the transportation of food items from one location to another, as well as the transport of heavy machinery and other similar services, which contributes to the expansion of the shipping container industry throughout Europe.

Key Highlights

Based on container size, the global shipping containers market is divided into large containers (40 feet), small containers (20 feet), and high cube containers (40 feet). The small containers (20 feet) segment is responsible for the largest market share and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% over the forecast period.

Based on product type, the global shipping containers market is bifurcated into dry storage containers, flat rack containers, refrigerated containers, special-purpose containers, and others. The dry storage containers segment owns the highest market share and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% over the forecast period.

Based on end-user, the global shipping containers market is segmented into food and beverages, consumer goods, healthcare, industrial products, vehicle transport, and others.The industrial products segment is the highest contributor to the market and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific is the most substantial shareholder in the global shipping containers market and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period.

Competitive Players

The key players in the global shipping containers market are A.P. MollerMaersk Group, CARU containers, COSCO SHIPPING Development Co., Ltd, China International Marine Containers, CXIC Group, Singamas Container Holdings Limited, OEG Offshore limited, TLS Offshore Containers International, W&K Containers, Inc., and YMC Container Solutions.

Market News

In March 2023, Traxens, the leading smart-container service provider for the worldwide supply chain industry, unveiled the Traxens-Box 3, the third version of their permanent container tracker and flagship product for shipping lines, freight forwarders, and BCOS.

In March 2023, BobVila.com rated U-Haul as "Best Overall" in the Best Moving Container Companies of 2023 category, granting U-Box the Editor's Choice designation over all competitors.

Global Shipping Containers Market: Segmentation

By Container Size

Large Containers (40 Feet)

Small Containers (20 Feet)

High Cube Containers (40 Feet)

By Product Type

Dry Storage Containers

Flat Rack Containers

Refrigerated Containers

Special-purpose Containers

Others

By End-User

Food and Beverages

Consumer Goods

Healthcare

Industrial Products

Vehicle Transport

Others

By Regions

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

LAMEA

Get Detailed Market Segmentation @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/shipping-container-market/segmentation

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Hong Kong marine tech start-up Archireef will partner with the Middle East's biggest bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), to deploy terracotta tiles that will help restore the degraded reef ecosystem off the Arabian Gulf coast.

FAB will fund the deployment of 400 such tiles across a 100 square metre area off the coast of Abu Dhabi, which will support the recovery and development of underwater natural ecosystems, according to an announcement on Monday at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (Cop28), held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The patented reef tiles, manufactured by Archireef's 3D-printing process, will provide a new habitat for 2,400 corals.

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.

"Our partnership with Archireef will ensure that adequate funding and pioneering technologies are deployed to protect and restore the UAE's corals," said Futoon Al Mazrouei, FAB's group head of consumer banking for UAE in a statement.

Hong Kong marine tech start-up Archireef has announced a partnership with the Middle East's biggest bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), to deploy the firm's 3D-printed terracotta tiles to restore the degraded reef ecosystem off the coasts of the Gulf nation. Photo: Archireef alt=Hong Kong marine tech start-up Archireef has announced a partnership with the Middle East's biggest bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), to deploy the firm's 3D-printed terracotta tiles to restore the degraded reef ecosystem off the coasts of the Gulf nation. Photo: Archireef>

The start-up said 50 per cent of coral reefs have been lost worldwide in the past three decades and scientists have projected that 90 per cent of the world's reefs will be gone by 2050.

Healthy coral reefs act as natural breakwaters by significantly reducing wave action, thus protecting coastal communities from natural disasters such as storms and floods.

Story continues

"We believe financial institutions like FAB play a critical role in climate change mitigation and restoration, specifically by helping mobilise and deploy capital as well as engage their vast communities and ecosystem players in the journey," said Vriko Yu Pik-fan, CEO and co-founder of Archireef in a statement.

Without reefs, flood damages would increase by 91 per cent, amounting to US$272 billion. Well-managed reefs, on the other hand, provide food for 1.2 billion people, according to Archireef's website.

"Archireef's 3D-printed reef tiles allow marine life to take shelter, promoting the establishment of healthy marine ecosystems with increased reef associated biodiversity, including fishes and invertebrates," the website said.

In January this year, Archireef opened a new facility in the United Arab Emirates to make 3D-printed terracotta reef tiles.

In September 2022, the start-up launched its first cross-sector coral restoration project with Sino Group, Ocean Park Corporation, the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation and Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong.

The financial services sector and businesses must not only increase investments in nature-based solutions but also implement incentives to redirect finance from harmful activities, according to the State of Finance for Nature report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Global Canopy and the Economics of Land Degradation initiative, released on Saturday at Cop28.

Financial flows to nature-based solutions must almost triple from current levels of around US$200 billion to reach US$542 billion per year by 2030 and quadruple to US$737 billion by 2050 in order to help limit climate change to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, according to the report. This was also important for the Global Biodiversity Framework target which aims to protect 30 per cent of land and water considered important for biodiversity by 2030 and achieve land degradation neutrality, according to the report.

"Nature-based solutions are dramatically underfunded," said Inger Andersen, executive director of UNEP. "Annual nature-negative investments are over 30 times larger than financing for nature-based solutions that promote a stable climate, and healthy land and nature. To have any chance of meeting the sustainable development goals, these numbers must be flipped."

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.
Today

Some clouds early. Mostly sunny skies along with windy conditions this afternoon. High 63F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 37F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

A mainly sunny sky. High 62F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
Guvernul deblocheaza angajarile in sistemul de sanatate

Peste 7.000 de posturi ar urma sa fie scoase la concurs urgent, pentru a rezolva o criza care s-a adancit in ultimele saptamini, de cand pacientii stau la coada cu orele chiar si la urgente. Premierul Marcel Ciolacu a spus, in deschiderea sedintei executivului de astazi, ca sunt bani [citeste mai departe]
Consiliere psihologica pentru colegii elevului militar care a cazut de la etaj

Colegii de clasa si cei de camera ai elevului de la Colegiul National Militar "Mihai Viteazul" Alba Iulia, care a murit joi dupa ce a cazut de la etaj, primesc consiliere psihologica, a declarat, pentru AGERPRES, purtatorul de cuvant al unitatii, [citeste mai departe]
Omniasig sells gross premiums of approximately 1.7 bn RON in Q3 2023 Omniasig sells gross premiums of approximately 1.7 bn RON in Q3 2023 Omniasig Vienna Insurance Group sold gross premiums of approximately 1.7 billion RON in the first three quarters of 2023, a value that represents an increase of approximately 10% compared to the same period in 2022, according to a company release, told Agerpres. The total value of the compensations paid in this interval was approximately 840 million RON. "The year 2023 proved to be an intense year, full of changes and unforeseen events, which tested the adaptability of insurance companies. Omniasig continued to Citeste articolul mai departe pe stiripesurse.ro

Sursa articol si foto: stiripesurse.ro

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First Chinese surgeon participation in IMPLANETs JAZZ Academy

Registration of the JAZZ range with the Chinese health authorities is ongoing

BORDEAUX, France & BOSTON, December 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

IMPLANET (Euronext Growth: ALIMP, FR0013470168, eligible for PEA-PME plans), a medical technology company specializing in implants for orthopedic surgery and the distribution of technological medical equipment, announces the launch of its surgeon training program with a view to marketing its JAZZ range in China.

Ludovic Lastennet, IMPLANETs Chief Executive Officer, stated: "We are proud to welcome Professor Huanxiong Chen, Head of the Hainan Medical Universitys Department of Spine Surgery, for two months. He is the first Chinese surgeon to receive training related to the JAZZ platform. This program includes immersion training in French hospitals that use JAZZ and are recognized for their spine surgery expertise. This training is dispensed by the JAZZ Academy, our structure devoted to training. This is a major new step to best prepare the upcoming marketing of our JAZZ range in China by our partner Sanyou Medical. We are eagerly awaiting feedback from the Chinese health authorities regarding the registration of our products. Professor Chen should be able to begin the first surgical interventions during the first quarter of 2024".

Professor Huanxiong Chen, Department of Spine Surgery, Hainan Medical University, added: "I am honored to be the first Chinese surgeon trained by IMPLANET in the JAZZ range. Im delighted to have this opportunity to talk with French surgeons about their experience with JAZZ and to discover the various surgical indications. I hope to be able to use the JAZZ range once I return to China in my day-to-day work in pediatric and adult surgery".

The JAZZ Academy, helps surgeons expand their knowledge of the JAZZ range and sub-laminar techniques. During training, different surgical strategies are addressed depending on indications. Each session is supervised by a surgeon who is an expert in this field and by an experienced technical team. During his stay in France, which began in late November 2023, Professor Chen will thus have an opportunity to participate in several spine surgery operations performed in prominent French university hospitals, including those in Paris (APH) and Lyon (HCL).

Story continues

This first training of a Chinese surgeon in JAZZ technologies is one of the final stages before the marketing of IMPLANETs JAZZ range is initiated in China, the worlds largest spine surgery market by volume. As a reminder, the distribution of the JAZZ range by Sanyou Medical on the Chinese market is dependent on its approval by the Chinese health authorities, whose initial feedback is expected in 2024.

Upcoming financial publication

2023 annual revenue, on January 15, 2024, after market close

About IMPLANET

Founded in 2007, IMPLANET is a medical technology company that manufactures high-quality implants for orthopedic surgery and distributing medical technology equipment. Its activity revolves around a comprehensive innovative solution for improving the treatment of spinal pathologies (JAZZ) complemented by the product range offered by Orthopaedic & Spine Development (OSD), acquired in May 2021 (thoraco-lumbar screws, cages and cervical plates). Implanets tried-and-tested orthopedic platform is based on the traceability of its products. Protected by four families of international patents, JAZZ has obtained 510(k) regulatory clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, the CE mark in Europe and ANVISA approval in Brazil. In 2022, IMPLANET entered into a commercial, technological and financial partnership with SANYOU MEDICAL, China's second largest medical device manufacturer. IMPLANET employs 43 staff and recorded a consolidated revenue of 8.0 million in 2022. Based near Bordeaux in France, IMPLANET opened a US subsidiary in Boston in 2013. IMPLANET is listed on the Euronext Growth market in Paris.

For further information, please visit www.Implanet.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231211399949/en/

Contacts

IMPLANET

Ludovic Lastennet, CEO

David Dieumegard, CFO

Tel. : +33 (0)5 57 99 55 55

investors@Implanet.com

NewCap

Investor Relations

Mathilde Bohin

Nicolas Fossiez

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

Implanet@newcap.eu

NewCap

Media Relations

Arthur Rouille

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

Implanet@newcap.eu
At the end of December, the Bartok-Pasztory Prize-winning Budapest Strings will pay tribute to their founder and artistic director, Karoly Botvay, with a musical tribute. This year's soloist is the internationally acclaimed young cellist Dora Kokas, a multiple competition winner. The ensemble's concertmaster will once again be Janos Pilz.

Some 46 years at the helm of the Budapest Strings, 6,000 on five continents. The beautiful songs reflect the exciting life of Karoly Botvay, winner of the Liszt and Kossuth prizes. Balazs Fulei, pianist and professor emeritus at the Liszt Academy of Music, praised the living legend at this year's Leo Weiner Memorial Prize ceremony.



"Anyone who has studied or is studying with Mr. Botvay should consider themselves lucky. His taste and values make the past present and provide a fertile framework for the future," he said.



Another interesting aspect of the concert is that in November 2021 the Hungarian state awarded Dora Kokas the famous master instrument made by Domenico Montagnana (1686-1750) in 1730, which was selected for purchase by Karoly Botvay in 1977 as a member of the Bartok String Quartet. This nearly 300-year-old instrument forms a generational bridge between the two distinguished musicians.



The program of the December 28 "Botvay 91" concert:

Mozart: Adagio and Fugue in C minor, K. 546

Schumann: Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129

Brahms: String Sextet No. 1 (B flat major), Op. 18



"Karoly Botvay is an important figure in Hungarian culture to whom we must pay tribute. With this program of diverse musical worlds, featuring the true gems of the three composing geniuses, we invite the audience to join us for a pause and a look back between the holidays," said Janos Takacs, president of the orchestra's foundation.
Borsodi Brewery has come up with a special drink for Advent this year. At the Advent Basilica Christmas Fair, visitors can try the mulled version of Belle-Vue Kriek, available in classic and chili-dark chocolate flavors.

"Although not many people are familiar with the genre in this country, you can actually make mulled beer from any kind of beer. However, it is the fruity beers that are best suited to the flavors of the spiced, mulled beers.



That's why we chose a member of our Belgian portfolio, as Belle-Vue Kriek is a lambic beer specialty brewed in Brussels at the Belle-Vue brewery using the traditional method and adding fresh sour cherries," says Balazs Rotter, head brewer at Borsodi Brewery.



He added about the brewing method, "The basis of this specialty drink is the fruity Belle-Vue Kriek beer, matured in oak barrels for three years, combined with the characteristics of winter drinks.



During the boiling process, the classic version is spiced with cinnamon, orange, and cloves, while the chili and chocolate-flavored version is spiced with rosemary in addition to the ingredients in its name, so its characterful flavors are guaranteed to add to the Christmas spirit and festive experience."



For the time being, the Belle-Vue Kriek mulled beer is only available during the Advent season and exclusively at the Borsodi Brewery pavilion at the Advent Basilica Fair.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met and exchanged a few words as suggested by photos and footage made at the inauguration ceremony of Javier Milei, Argentinas new president, in Buenos Aires.

Asked by MTI, Bertalan Havasi, the prime ministers press chief, quoted Orban as telling Zelensky that members of the European Union are in continuous talks concerning the subject of Ukraines EU integration.



Szijjarto Meets Ukraine Counterpart





Peter Szijjarto, who met Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in Brussels on Monday, said on Facebook that Hungary did not see its stance on Ukraine's EU accession bid as a tactical issue.



For us this isnt a tactical issue but a decision of historic proportions regarding the future of the entire European Union, the foreign minister said, adding that the European Commission had no clue what effect Ukraines EU membership would have on the bloc.



Its enough to think back to the intractable problems the Commissions decision on grain transit and Ukraine scrapping the licensing requirement for lorries, he said.



Szijjarto insisted, moreover, that the Commission had not prepared the ground for ensuring that Ukraine pursued mutually beneficial accession talks.



Referring to the restriction of the rights of the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine, he said this cast a shadow on bilateral relations, adding that Hungary demanded the restoration of conditions pertaining in 2015.



Szijjarto said, however, that whereas a meeting in person with Kuleba had not taken place since the outbreak of the war, they had kept in regular contact with the aim of improving Hungary-Ukraine ties.



Szijjarto: Hungary Wont 'Give in To Pressure'







The Hungarian government will continue to make its decisions in line with European and national values and will not give in to pressure from anyone, whether in the form of bribery or pledges, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Facebook.



Ahead of historic meetings affecting Europes future to be held in Brussels this week, Szijjarto said there were signs of appalling political and media pressure.



The European political and media elite obviously mixes up completely different dimensions trying to resolve historical and strategic issues through tactical deals, he said, but added they will not succeed, obviously, we will not give our consent.



Debates between foreign ministers of the EU and in the general affairs council will focus on Ukraine, he said, adding that a large part of EU politicians seek to pass decisions that are largely unprepared for and lack a strategic consensus.



Speaking at a press conference after a meeting of the EUs Foreign Affairs Council, Szijjarto said Hungary was under tremendous political and media pressure to approve the start of EU accession talks with Ukraine despite the situation not being suitable for this right now.



According to a ministry statement, Szijjarto said the pressure on Hungary was unacceptable, and he vowed that the country would not give up its national interests or the right to make its own sovereign decisions. We dont accept being pressured, and well also resist any attempts at blackmail Szijjarto said.



And Id like to make it clear that we continue to refuse to conflate historical-strategic and tactical dimensions. This is not a tactical position on our part, he said, arguing that the question of when Ukraine could begin accession talks would have serious historic consequences, too.



The minister said any decision in connection with Ukraines potential accession talks could only be made after a preparatory phase, adding however that the conditions for these preparations were not in place. He said the European Commissions assessment that Ukraine had met four of the seven pre-conditions for talks was incorrect. Hungary, he said, supported looking at mutually beneficial ways to enhance cooperation with Ukraine, adding that EU membership was not the only option.



Deciding on starting accession talks now would be irresponsible, Szijjarto said, arguing that it was impossible to know the effects of such a decision. He cited the effects of the EUs resolutions on opening transit corridors for Ukrainian grain and exempting Ukrainian hauliers from seeking permits before entering bloc, saying the EU could not salvage what was salvageable.



Meanwhile, he said the Hungarian government had still not approved allocating an additional 500 million euros from the European Peace Facility for weapons deliveries to Ukraine, arguing that Kyivs list of international war sponsors still contained Hungarian entities and individuals, mainly linked to OTP Bank.



Asked to comment on Ukraines amended law on minorities, Szijjarto said Hungary and Transcarpathian ethnic Hungarian organisations would assess the legislation, adding it was already clear that it had failed not restore the rights minorities had been gradually stripped of since 2015.



Meanwhile, Szijjarto said that on Monday afternoon, he will meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, and Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraines deputy prime minister for Euro-Atlantic integration.



Szijjarto: Hungary Repels Attacks Endangering Energy Supply



Hungary has staved off threats endangering its energy supply, having obtained exemptions to provisions in the new European Union sanctions package, Peter Szijjarto, the foreign minister, said in Brussels on Monday.



In the press conference held during the break of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, which discussed the twelfth sanctions package against Russia, Hungary quashed a deadline for ending the exemption it has enjoyed to buy Russian crude oil through the Druzhba Pipeline.



Without the pipeline, Hungary and Slovakia would not be supplied adequately since Croatian transit capacity was too limited, he said. As well as defeating this hostile step, Hungary appeared to have secured the extension of the rule which expired on Dec 5 enabling Hungarian oil and gas company MOL to continue exporting refined Russian crude oil to the Czech and Croatian markets



Szijjarto said the sanctions package would not be vetoed if the important economic interest of Hungary were not undermined. It appears that the European Commission has accepted this and the draft of the sanctions proposal will include it; well see, he said.



Further, all sanctions proposals relating to the nuclear industry were rejected, he said. Such proposals would have rendered the expansion of Hungarys Paks nuclear power plant, which was crucial to the countrys energy security, impossible, he added.



Also, regarding financial transactions outside the European Union, the adoption of restrictions that would harm national interests were abandoned, he said, adding that the government did not support the addition of either Chinese or Turkish companies to the sanctions list.



MKI: No Basis for EU to Start Ukraine Accession Talks



It would be premature for the European Union to start accession talks with Ukraine, the Hungarian Institute for Foreign Affairs (MKI) said in a report.



Ahead of this weeks meeting of the European Council, MKI said Ukraine was not ready to join the EU, and the bloc had failed to say how its accession would work in practice politically and economically.



The European Commission had set conditions in four areas and none had been met, the MKI said, citing the issues of how judges are selected, the vetting of the countrys supreme judicial council, combatting money laundering and media freedom. Ukraine had failed to act against corruption and oligarchs, MKI said, adding that the treatment of the countrys national minorities still fell short of European norms.



Allowing a country without full control over its territory to join would bring the war to the bloc, its study added. Also, Ukraines economy is highly dependent on foreign aid, it said, and its accession would impose a sustained financial burden.



Ukraine would be unable to meet the requirements of price stability without huge foreign support to stabilise the Ukrainian currency, MKI added. Further, Ukraines expedited accession would discredit the EU in the eyes of the Western Balkan countries and the other candidate member states, the institutes report said.
The band then arrives in Europe for 28 shows in the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Portugal.

The show then travels to North America where Mars will be joined by AFI along with support from Poppy and KennyHoopla across the 24 shows in major arenas and amphitheaters. Finally, the tour will conclude in Australia and New Zealand with four arena shows.



Thirty Seconds To Mars Hungarian show will be at MVM Dome on May 16, 2024.



Tickets:

livenation.hu
As we think about and look at data from 2023 and at costs for 2024, something that has come up in a few conversations is pivot performance. Water covers a multitude of problems. The lack of moisture much of the past 2-3 years, the number of hail and windstorms, and the number of pivots and/or nozzles that were replaced are all factors to consider as you view yield maps and imagery. For example, in the rush of getting new pivots up and going, the wrong nozzles were placed on the wrong spans in some situations. Its easy to do and can make a big difference in water output and distribution. Its also easy to check to make sure nozzles are correct on the pivot by driving alongside of it and checking it with what the sprinkler package design says. Would encourage anyone who replaced pivots/sprinkler packages to add this to your checklist before irrigation season next year.

Another field I was checking fairly often in 2023 showed too much variability of plants in the field; imagery showed a problem too. I thought there was something wrong with the water output but was told that couldnt be a problem. Turns out the wrong sprinkler package was put on that pivot after checking into it further; it can easily happen when several pivots are being replaced for the same farmers who get hit by these storms. Everyone is doing their best during these times of disaster events to keep ag going, yet mistakes can happen. I also think about how often a nozzle that was damaged gets replaced with whatever is handy vs. the correct nozzle, so thats another thing to think about before irrigation next season.

My colleague, Bruno Lena in Platte County, received a Nebraska Soybean Board grant to work locally with growers on understanding their uniformity of water application. He worked with three growers and provided an excellent summary of what they did and their case study findings in the following CropWatch article: https://go.unl.edu/yfb8. The economics are also provided; its well worth a read.

Essentially he worked with growers on catch a can tests where cups are mounted on stakes like electric fence posts and distributed evenly along a pivot. He and a team of colleagues worked together to collect the information. Initially, pivots 1, 2 and 3 exhibited uniformity of water application (UWA) values of 78%, 59% and 23% with the old nozzles, as these pivots had received minimal maintenance attention since their initial installation. Growers noted that these pivots were 21, 34 and 38 years old, still equipped with the original nozzle package. Following the replacement of nozzles, all pivots demonstrated improvements. UWA increased to 92%, 90%, and 74% for pivots 1, 2, and 3, respectively. While pivots 1 and 2 met the manufacturers recommendation of at least 90% UWA, pivot 3 still fell short of the recommended values. Upon discussing this with the grower of pivot 3, it was revealed that the primary reason for the suboptimal UWA was the pumping capacity.

Once the new sprinkler packages were installed, another thing Bruno and his team found were inconsistencies between the selected irrigation rate at the panel and the actual irrigation rate measured by the cups. The measured irrigation depth deviated from the depth selected at the pivot panel. One pivot was underapplying water by 0.19 and another was overapplying by nearly 0.38 each circle.

A father/son operation in York County had built their own catch a can system after working with Dr. Jim Specht and me on a project in 2022. They used it to test nozzle output on different pivots in 2023. On one pivot, they were aiming for 0.75 per circle yet the output in the cups was only 0.40 on average. That was a big realization to be underapplying by 0.35/circle, especially in a year like 2023. They slowed the pivot down to get the application where it needed to be, and the father mentioned how grateful he was for doing that test. In a recent conversation, he mentioned it was a 30 year old pivot with an upgraded drive system (new center drives and gear boxes two years ago) that led to the gear ratios being different than the original. That was something they didnt account for when using percentages on the computer printout, so another consideration. With many area pivots being completely new or upgraded in various ways the past few years, I mention all these examples for awareness and consideration as all these details can make a difference in pivot performance as you look at 2023 data and head into the 2024 season.

Upcoming Events

Dec. 11-13: The Big Soil Health Event, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Jan. 4: Successful Farmer Series: Nitrogen Management & Water Quality, 9  11:30 a.m., Livestream by Extension Office in Lincoln
Most rural Nebraskans report being unfamiliar with the Farm Bill and federal agricultural policy, according to the 2023 Nebraska Rural Poll.

Two-thirds of rural Nebraskans surveyed are either very unfamiliar (43%) or somewhat unfamiliar (23%) with federal ag policy. Twenty-seven percent are somewhat familiar, and only 7% report being very familiar.

According to the poll, Nebraskans who work in agriculture are more likely than others to report being familiar with ag policy. Just more than 60% of ag workers are at least somewhat familiar. Other demographic groups that are more likely to be familiar with ag policy include those living in or near smaller communities, residents of both the North Central and Northeast regions of the state, older adults, men, married people, and Nebraskans with higher education levels.

Federal agricultural policy, also known as the Farm Bill, encompasses all things related to agriculture and food. This includes not only farm income safety net and conservation programs, but domestic food assistance programs (such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), rural development (which funds services such as broadband, utilities and housing programs) and programs focused on specific producers and crops.

Although most respondents report being unfamiliar with the Farm Bill, they generally support federal spending for most Farm Bill programs. Almost eight in 10 respondents support federal funding for conservation programs (79%), rural development (78%), and research and education programs (77%). On the other hand, just 35% support funding for international food assistance programs.

Domestic food assistance programs, which make up most of the Farm Bill spending, are either greatly or somewhat supported by more than 60% of respondents. Nebraskans from lower income households are more likely to support funding for such programs. Seventy-three percent of respondents with household incomes under $40,000 support funding for these programs, compared to about 60% of those with higher incomes.

It may seem ironic that rural Nebraskans can be both unfamiliar with the Farm Bill yet supportive of the broad categories of Farm Bill programs, but Farm Bills are like many pieces of federal legislation that include numerous programs that appeal to broad groups of citizens, said Brad Lubben, Nebraska Extension specialist in agricultural policy. The whole may be too complex for many to follow closely, but the pieces are each important to various groups and together lead to the coalition that regularly supports a Farm Bill.

Panhandle residents surveyed were more likely than others to support funding for many of the listed programs: agricultural trade promotion and development, research and education, programs focused on targeted producers (small, beginning, traditionally underserved, etc.), programs focused on plant and animal health protection, and programs focused on specialty crop or local food systems.

Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, a Nebraska Extension specialist with Rural Prosperity Nebraska, said she wasnt surprised by the strong Panhandle support.

The Panhandles diversified agricultural economy has created several unique processing and value-added enterprises, she said. If you live in the region, you see the connection between agriculture and economic development. Federal programs that provide price stability and grow the agricultural base benefit our residents in the long run.

The Rural Poll is the largest annual poll gauging rural Nebraskans perceptions about policy and quality of life. Questionnaires were mailed to more than 6,000 households in Nebraska in late spring and summer, with 1,100 households  representing 86 of the states 93 counties  responding. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 3%. The University of NebraskaLincolns Department of Agricultural Economics conducts the poll with funding from Nebraska Extension.
This week, House Republicans took action to push back on proposals by President Bidens Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) effectively forcing consumers to drive only electric vehicles (EVs) by 2032. The EPAs out-of-touch policies are unworkable for the Third District because of our winter weather and expansive driving distances. Furthermore, China, which holds 78 percent of the worlds EV battery cell manufacturing capacity, recently implemented export controls on raw EV battery materials. In the interest of consumer freedom and minimizing dependence on China, the federal government should reverse course on heavy handed EV mandates.

EVs not only cost more than internal combustion vehicles, making them an impractical choice for many, a study from Consumer Reports found EVs have nearly 80 percent more problems than internal combustion vehicles. In light of this, EPA must stand down and allow Americans to make the best choice of vehicle to meet their needs. By passing the bipartisan Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act, the House has done its part to put a stop to Bidens radical EV push. The CARS Act was supported by every member of Nebraskas House delegation, and Im grateful Nebraska Sens. Fischer and Ricketts released a statement calling for Senate action on the CARS Act. Nebraskas congressional delegation is united in our efforts to stop the Biden administrations heavy-handed EV mandate.

The need to hold Bidens EPA accountable also extends to its outdated choice of emissions model for renewable fuels, which currently does not reflect the full lifecycle impact of biofuels production. As the second-largest ethanol producing state, Nebraska is already a leader in providing America and the world with clean, renewable fuel. Earlier this year, I partnered with my fellow Bipartisan Biofuels Caucus co-chairs from South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to introduce a bipartisan bill requiring EPA to adopt an up-to-date, scientifically accurate emissions model that fully reflects the positive contributions of American farmers and ranchers on emissions reductions, reinforcing the competitiveness of American agriculture exports.

In an increasingly competitive global energy market, the United States cannot afford to leave any opportunity to increase energy production on the table. As part of an all-of-the-above strategy for American energy dominance, the availability of nationwide year-round E15 is crucial. For nearly a decade, I have been pushing EPA to allow the uninterrupted sale of E15, first introducing legislation back in 2015. I am continuing to push for nationwide, year-round E15 and working closely with the Nebraska delegation to get this important measure over the finish line.

An all-of-the-above energy strategy is critical to our national security. Unleashing a strong, diverse energy portfolio ensures global competitiveness  as well as lower costs for American consumers. As an affordable and highly sustainable source of energy, hydroelectric power is a valuable component of an all-of-the-above strategy for American energy dominance. Hydropowers development cost is primarily frontloaded, and a bill I introduced this week, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act, incentivizes infrastructure investment, energy savings, and stewardship of our natural resources. This bill has bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.

Our hard-working producers, industry leaders, and natural resources give the United States a powerful advantage for energy production. Its time the Biden administration end their war on domestic energy and consumer choice and unleash American prosperity.
BEATRICE Ervin Dixon will close Cedar Creek Pottery at the end of the year after 47 years of business.

Dixon grew up east of Beatrice on a farm just a few miles from his studio. He graduated from Beatrice High School and went to the University of Nebraska for two years.

He said he was always interested in art.

Art was my main interest and I had good teachers, he said.

Dixon transferred from UNL to the Kansas City Art Institute. He completed his masters degree at Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia. He then taught for seven years at the University of Miami.

He moved back to the Beatrice area in 1976 and opened Cedar Creek Pottery. He created the pieces and had a showroom in his home for many years.

Any potter will tell you that clay is the material they prefer to use, he said. That was true for me. Its almost magic. You can make almost anything out of it. The forms of the pots thinking of that and working on that if it comes out theres nothing like that creative experience.

Dixon chose to make functional pottery and sculptural pieces.

I wanted to have a place that if people were looking for art, they could find some," he said. "Or if they were looking for functional pottery, they would find some. If they were just looking for an interesting place that would also be true."

Around 1995, Dixon said he was desperate to move the business out of his home. He was looking for a building that he could make work when he found a church.

The church had been built in 1895 and was originally near DeWitt.

The best part of the building was when a piece of tile from the ceiling fell down during the move, he said. The tin ceiling was above it. The paint peeling was all different colors. That was special.

Dixon said people will occasionally come in and say they had been baptized, confirmed or married in the church.

He said he always felt supported by the community.

No potter can survive without the support of the community, he said. This community has been tremendously supportive. I had a lot of friends, family and neighbors that helped out. There were a lot of people in the beginning that could not have been as interested in pottery as they appeared. They just wanted to help out.

Dixon said he felt like hes had a successful career in art.

Its been a real pleasure to have been here and do business, he said. Its taken creativity and commitment. Im not much better than anyone else, but now I now know creativity and commitment were keys to my success. Theres not too much that I would change.

Dixon plans to continue business at Cedar Creek Pottery until Dec. 31.

Im calling it retirement because its the only thing I can think of that is appropriate, he said. Ive been here as a business for 47 years and Im choosing to take a break from that. Well see what happens after that. I might continue some work.

Cedar Creek Potter is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 27639 S. 80th Road, east of Beatrice. You can reach Dixon at 402-228-0138.

Top Journal Star photos for December 2023
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia reveals plans for nine new airports in Uttar Pradesh within two years, emphasising government commitment to the aviation sector. Scindia highlights significant aviation infrastructure growth under the Modi government, constructing 75 airports in nine years, totaling 149 including heliports and waterdromes. The civil aviation minister said that only three greenfield airports were constructed in 65 years, while 12 greenfield airports have been developed by the current government since 2014.

Scindia said that six airports were developed in Uttar Pradesh in 65 years. The minister said three more airports have been constructed in the state in the last nine years.

"We will construct nine more airports in the next two years in Uttar Pradesh," said Scindia, adding that the total number would reach 18.

Also Read - Noida International Airport in Jewar to be completed by 2024 end, development work on schedule

Responding to a query about the Meerut airport, the minister said operations with ATR aircraft using VFR (Visual Flight Rating) can be started once the state government provides an additional 115 acres of land.

"Meerut is an unlicensed airport and was identified during the third round of bidding under the UDAN scheme for development and to operate RCS flights," Scindia said in a written reply.

Under UDAN 4.2 round of bidding, the Meerut-Lucknow-Meerut route has been awarded to FlyBig for the operation of RCS flights with 19-seater type of aircraft and frequency of 133 seats per week and not for ATR 72.

Also Read - Over 500 Bird Hits, 400 Technical Snag Reported By Flights In India Between Jan-Nov 2023

"Only after the airport is ready and licensed, the Selected Airlines Operator can start operating RCS flights from the Meerut airport," he added.

Also, Indigo has signed an MoU with the Noida International Airport that is being developed in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh. IndiGo will operate the maiden flight from the new airports, once operations begin. Although, the airline hasnt revealed any details about their first route from the Noida International Airport.
CG Board Class 10th, 12th Exam date 2024: The Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education will release the date sheets for the 10th and 12th classes online at the official website. On November 30, 2023, the board issued a notice regarding the practical exam dates for secondary and intermediate classes. According to the CGBSE Board, the practical exams for Class 10 and 12 will take place from January 10 to 31, 2024. Regarding the theory exams for CG Board in 2024, it is anticipated that the exam schedule will be available soon, likely in mid-December 2023.

CG Board Class 10th, 12th Exam date 2024: Steps to download here

Go to the official website cgbse.nic.in.

Look for the recent announcements section on the CGBSE homepage.

Click on the news related to the CG Board 10th and 12th time table for 2024.

The timetable in PDF format will appear on your screen.

Save the CG Board datasheet PDF for future reference.

CG Board Class 10th, 12th Exam date 2024: Practical exam datesheet

The CGBSE Class 12th practical test timetable was issued on November 30, 2023. The CG 12th practical exams will be held from January 10 to January 31, 2024.

The CGBSE Class 12 time table 2024 advises students to arrive at the examination centre at least 30 minutes prior the exam commencement. When taking board examinations, all students must carry their school ID and CGBSE 12th admit card 2024. Calculators, smartphones, and other electronic devices are not allowed in the exam hall according to the instructions mentioned in CGBSE 12th timetable for 2024.
(Bloomberg) -- US officials will take money away from victims of the fraud-tainted crypto firm FTX Trading Ltd. unless a judge rejects the governments demand for $24 billion in unpaid taxes, the bankrupt company said in a court filing.

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The two sides are scheduled to be in court Wednesday arguing over the best procedures to determine how much of the Internal Revenue Service claim is legitimate. FTX wants to set a quick schedule to estimate the claim; the IRS has argued that its audit is ongoing, so asking a judge to estimate how much FTX might owe in taxes is inappropriate.

This Alice in Wonderland argument has no support in the law, FTX said in its filing.

Going forward with a court-supervised estimation process will show that FTX lost money in the three-years it operated, so it could not possibly owe IRS any substantial amount, the company said in court papers filed Sunday. And any money that it could be forced to pay would harm victims of FTX, the company said.

FTX has proposed a payout plan that calls for billions of dollars to be distributed to the companys creditors and customers who lost money. Before that proposal can go forward, the dispute with the IRS must be resolved, FTX said in a court filing. The company has asked US Bankruptcy Judge John Dorsey to hold a hearing in February to decide the tax dispute.

Federal officials will eventually amend the $24 billion claim to reclassify at least some as lower-priority, unsecured debt, the US said in court papers.

The government is not looking for a windfall, only to determine the correct amount of the tax liabilities, federal lawyers said in the filing.

Story continues

Last month, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was convicted of orchestrating a massive fraud that led to the collapse of his FTX exchange. The company filed for bankruptcy last year after Bankman-Fried agreed to turn over control of his empire to restructuring professionals. Since then, the advisers have been tracking down assets and trying to untangle a complex web of debt owed to various creditors, including customers who put cash and crypto on the trading platform.

FTXs administrators have so far recovered about $7 billion in assets, including $3.4 billion of crypto, according to court documents.

The case is FTX Trading Ltd., 22-11068, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

(Updates with request in to resolve the dispute in February. An earlier version corrected the date of a court hearing in the second paragraph.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
In the biggest surprise for this election season, Bharatiya Janata Party has announced Bhajan Lal Sharma - first time MLA from Sanganer - as the next Chief Minister of Rajasthan. While many may not be aware, Bhajan Lal Sharma brings with him a wealth of political experience and a commitment to public service. Sharma is a seasoned politician currently representing the Sanganer Assembly constituency in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

Bhajan Lal Sharma Political Journey:

Bhajan Lal Sharma has a long and distinguished political career, marked by his dedication to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Prior to assuming the role of Chief Minister, he served as the State General Secretary for the BJP four times, showcasing his organizational skills and leadership acumen within the party.

In the 2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election, Bhajan Lal Sharma secured a resounding victory, defeating his opponent Pushpendra Bhardwaj of the Indian National Congress by a substantial margin of 48,081 votes. This triumph marked his first term as Chief Minister of the state.

Surprise Chief Minister Pick:

Bhajan Lal Sharma's selection as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan came as a surprise to many, with the decision being met with enthusiasm and support from the party. His leadership skills and unwavering commitment to the welfare of the people were evident, leading to a unanimous endorsement from the BJP legislative members.

Electoral Triumph:

In the recent assembly elections, the BJP secured a significant mandate, winning 115 out of the 200 seats. This impressive victory allowed the top BJP leadership to pick a Chief Minister minister of their choice.

Bhajan Lal Sharma Personal Details:

Bhajan Lal Sharma, at 56 years of age, holds a postgraduate degree, showcasing his commitment to education. His total declared assets amount to Rs 1.5 crore, including Rs 43.6 lakh in movable assets and Rs 1 crore in immovable assets. With a total declared income of Rs 11.1 lakh, of which Rs 6.9 lakh is self-income, he maintains financial transparency.

Clean Record and Integrity:

Notably, Bhajan Lal Sharma boasts a clean record, with no criminal cases registered against him. This underscores his commitment to ethical governance and public service.

As he takes on the mantle of Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal Sharma is poised to steer Rajasthan towards progress and development, guided by his experience, dedication, and the trust placed in him by the people.


New Delhi: In a shocking revelation, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of conspiring to hurt him physically. The Governor claimed that he had received credible information that the CM and his party were planning to unleash violence against him. I have not made any allegation against the police. Infact, what I have said is that police have been prevented from acting against these rowdies, criminals, the Governor told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. He added that he had written to the CM, asking him to ensure his safety and security, but received no response.

The Governors allegations came amid a bitter standoff between him and the state government over several issues, including the controversial farm laws and the Sabarimala temple entry. The Governor has been vocal in his criticism of the state governments policies and actions, which has irked the ruling CPI(M) and its allies.

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram: On SFI's black flag protest against him, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan says, "Today the 'gundas' are trying to rule the roads of Thiruvananthapuram. When they came, I stopped my car and I got down (from my car). Why did they flee?... Because I do pic.twitter.com/sk3BybaPqc  ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2023

The CPI(M) state secretary A Vijayaraghavan dismissed the Governors charges as baseless and absurd. He said that the Governor was trying to create a communal divide in the state and defame the CM. He also accused the Governor of acting as an agent of the BJP and the RSS.

The BJP, on the other hand, came out in support of the Governor and slammed the state government for threatening him. Union minister V Muraleedharan said that the Kerala CM and the CPI(M) secretary had been issuing threats to the Governor during the last few weeks. He demanded that the Centre intervene and protect the constitutional head of the state.

The Congress also expressed concern over the Governors allegations and urged the state government to maintain cordial relations with him. Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said that the Governor had the right to express his views and the state government should respect his position. He also appealed to the Governor to act in a dignified manner and avoid confrontation with the state government.
The actor finds herself yet again amid a swimsuit storm. The actor portrays Squadron Leader Minal Rathore, aka Minni, in Siddharth Anands high-octane aerial action film Fighter. The teaser, very similar to Tom Cruises Top Gun: Maverick, impressed many. After all, Indian screens saw fierce dogfight sequences mid-air. But what seems to have caught the attention of the self-proclaimed moral police was a glimpse of Deepika Padukone in a black swimsuit, and the rest is history. She was being called out for insulting women fighter pilots and shaming them. But how is she wearing a swimsuit in what appears to be a beach sequence, offending the cadre of fighter pilots? She possibly could not be wearing her Air Force fatigues and meeting up with her on-screen boyfriend. Now, that would possibly seem objectionable.

As someone asked, is professionalism or what is seen as professional conduct determined by ones choice of outfits? The male gaze has often objectified women, from raunchy item numbers to the male protagonist mentally undressing the heroine and being titillated. We have had the sexy school teacher in her backless blouses, revealing necklines, and chiffon sarees, whose seductive charms fuel the raging hormones of the young males in the class. The so-called purists have often reveled in these crass depictions.

On the other hand, they are quick to call out when an independent, read highly professional woman owns her sexuality and identity. So a woman in so-called public service is regarded as unprofessional and non-serious about her job if she chooses to flaunt her femininity. But how is her dressing and how she chooses to beyond office hours deemed as unprofessional? Why does it apply only to women in public service? Have they signed up to give away their rights to dress and socialize? NO! The Armed Forces have been democratic, and women who hail from the Forces background like Priyanka Chopra and Anushka Sharma have been trailblazers in their professions. The upbringing in the services has always been one of equality. Also, in hindsight, how does the same not apply to the male? We have often applauded male officers, be it those in the police force or government jobs, flaunting their chiseled body and enjoying the adulation.

Recently, former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin faced backlash when she was seen partying, so much so her competence as a leader was questioned. Young Indian politicians known for their fondness for designer bags or sarees find their clothes, rather than work, making headlines. Women have often faced the brunt of their sartorial choices, their style of dressing even being given as a reason for various crimes against them.

But it is high time we accept women can wear swimsuits, party hard, and even work harder the next day. Its time the purists shed their bias-tinted lens and do a crash course in to live and let live.


Jaipur's royal scion, Diya Kumari, has been appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, a strategic position under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. This unexpected move is part of the party's efforts to bring together a dynamic team to lead the state. While Diya Kumari was considered one of the probables for the Chief Minister's post, her name as Sharma's deputy have surprised many.

About Diya Kumari:

Diya Kumari, currently serving as a Member of Parliament from Rajasmand, emerged victorious MLA from Vidhyadhar Nagar in the recent assembly elections, is considered a prominent figure in Rajasthan politics. Speculation was rife that Diya Kumari could be a potential alternative for the Chief Minister's post, given her political stature and the trust she commands.

In the Footsteps of Vasundhara:

Diya Kumari shares a lineage and charisma reminiscent of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. Hailing from the royal family of Jaipur, she is the only child of Sawai Bhawani Singh and Rani Padmini Devi. Her grandfather, Maharaja Man Singh II, was the last reigning Maharaja of Jaipur and a notable figure in the court of Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Personal Life:

At 53 years of age, Diya Kumari pursued her education in London and later returned to India to manage the family business. She faced personal challenges in her love life, having married Narendra Singh against her family's initial objections. Eventually, they obtained a mutual divorce in 2018 after 21 years of marriage.

Entry into Politics:

Diya Kumari made her foray into politics in 2013 when she contested and won the legislative elections from Sawai Madhopur on the BJP ticket, becoming a Member of the Legislative Assembly. In 2019, she expanded her political reach by winning the parliamentary seat from Rajasmand.

Political Prospects:

Given her political acumen and popularity, Diya Kumari is now positioned as a formidable contender for the Chief Minister's post in Rajasthan. With the BJP's victory in the recent assembly elections, she is set to play a crucial role in the state's administration as the Deputy Chief Minister.

As Rajasthan anticipates a new era under the leadership of Bhajan Lal Sharma and his team, Diya Kumari's role is expected to bring a blend of experience, dynastic charm, and a commitment to public service to the forefront of the state's political landscape.


New Delhi: A woman was brutally attacked, stripped naked and tied to an electric pole in a village in Belagavi district of Karnataka, after her son ran away with a girl who was already engaged to someone else, police said on Monday. The incident took place in new Vantamuri village, where the girls family members stormed into the boys house, ransacked it and dragged his mother out. They then stripped her naked and tied her to an electric pole, in a shocking act of violence.

The police, who were alerted about the incident at 4 am, reached the spot and rescued the woman. They arrested seven people involved in the crime and registered a case in Kakati police station. Additional forces were deployed in the village to prevent any further trouble.

Belagavi Police Commissioner Siddramappa said that the boy, Ashok (24), and the girl, Priyanka (18), belonged to the same community and village and were in love. They eloped at around 12:30 am on Monday, which enraged the girls parents and relatives, who took out their anger on the boys mother.

The incident drew strong condemnation from the state government, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah terming it extremely inhuman and vowing to take strict action against the perpetrators. He said that the incident had shamed the whole society and that his government would not tolerate such heinous acts for any reason.

He also assured justice to the victims family and said that several people had been arrested in connection with the case. He posted his statement on X, a social media platform.

Home Minister G Parameshwara, who visited the area, also expressed his shock and disgust over the incident and said that 10-15 members of the girls family had assaulted the boys mother, who was alone at home. He said that the police had rescued the woman and taken her to hospital for treatment.

He said that seven people had been arrested and would be produced before the court. He also said that the police were trying to trace the couple who had eloped. He called the incident a shameful one and said that the police were acting in accordance with the law.
After appointing tribal leader Vishnu Deo Sai as Chhattisgarh CM and OBC leader Mohan Yadav as Madhya Pradesh aChief Ministers, in Rajasthan the BJP has gone with a leader from the Brahmin community as their chief minister. Bhajan Lal Sharma is going helm Rajasthan. The decision was taken during the BJP legislative party meeting held in Jaipur this evening in the presence of BJP observers Rajnath Singh, Vinod Tawde and Saroj Pandey. This put an end to the speculations about Vasundhara Raje returning for the third time as CM.

Notably, Vasundhara Raje has been actively gauging the political atmosphere between Delhi and Jaipur. With meetings involving over 60 legislators in Jaipur and discussions with JP Nadda in Delhi, Raje is exploring her political options. However, the BJP maintains that the decision will be made by the parliamentary party.

Meanwhile, amid speculation about the potential Chief Minister, a new name in the mix is Pushpendra Singh Ranawat. He has been elected as a legislator six times from the Bali constituency in the Pali district. Another new entrant on the list is Anita Bhadel. The list of potential Chief Ministerial candidates in Rajasthan continues to grow, and the final decision is expected post the legislative party meeting later today.

The race for the Chief Minister's post in Rajasthan is gaining momentum, resembling the surprising names that emerged in the decisions made by the BJP in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
In a bold move, Lokdal has officially declared that the party will contest every Lok Sabha seat in Western Uttar Pradesh while its leader Vijender Singh will contest the Parliamentary polls from the Bijnor seat. This announcement marks a significant stride by Lokdal to solidify its presence and influence in the region.

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Lokdal is working to reach out to people and add more grassroots workers to the party's fold. The Lokdal is making significant preparations in western Uttar Pradesh, staging another massive roadshow within a month. After its first roadshow in Meerut, the party held another march to Bijnor in which a convoy of thousands of tractors and vehicles took part. Under the leadership of Lokdal's national general secretary Vijender Singh, a massive 130-kilometer-long roadshow commenced from Ghaziabad to Bijnor today.

Lokdal is preparing booth-level teams in all districts of western Uttar Pradesh, including Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Meerut, Bijnor, and Saharanpur under the leadership of Vijender Singh. While the Rashtriya Lokdal is less active on the ground, Lokdal is preparing for the polls aggressively throughout western Uttar Pradesh. If the trend continues, the RLD may lose ground further in the areas, feels people of the region.

Vijender Singh has declared that until the MSP law is enacted, Lokdal will continue to fight for the rights of farmers. It's noteworthy that former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh was the one who founded Lokdal. On December 23, a grand program will be organized throughout western Uttar Pradesh on Chaudhary Sahab's birth anniversary.

Addressing a press conference in Bijnor, Vijender Singh stated that the RLD has deceived the farmers, and now the complete support and trust of the farmers are with Lokdal. "We stand as the voice of the farmers. Today, farmers are compelled to commit suicide due to the burden of debt, and their produce is not receiving fair prices in the market. Pests are ruining their crops, and the government should pay attention to this," he said.

Gajendra Nilkanth, the Lokdal president of Meerut Mandal, said that the party has always fought for the farmers' cause and will continue to do so.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took a dig at the Congress over the recovery of more than Rs 350 crore from premises linked to its MP Dhiraj Prasad Sahu. He compared the Congress to the popular crime series Money Heist, which depicts a group of robbers carrying out elaborate heists.

The prime minister made the comments in response to a post on X by the BJP, which shared a video showing pictures of Sahu with senior Congress leaders, including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, and the stacks of cash seized during Income Tax raids on premises linked to the Jharkhand MP.

The BJP captioned the video Congress presents the Money Heist! while the series popular title song plays in the background. In India, who needs Money Heist fiction, when you have the Congress Party, whose heists are legendary for 70 years and counting, the prime minister said in his post.

In India, who needs 'Money Heist' fiction, when you have the Congress Party, whose heists are legendary for 70 years and counting! https://t.co/J70MCA5lcG December 12, 2023

The cash seizure in the Income Tax departments searches against Odisha-based Boudh Distillery Private Limited owned by the family of Sahu  the Congress Rajya Sabha MP  has been calculated at Rs 351 crore and is the highest-ever haul in a single action by any probe agency in the country, official sources had said on Sunday.

The residences of Sahu were also searched. The recovery has given fresh ammunition to the BJP to come out all guns blazing at the Congress on the issue of graft.

BJP MP Giriraj Singh said, You will see how the extent of corruption in the Congress Party is exposed. All this money (Rs 351 crores) was being saved by the Congress to be used in the upcoming elections against PM Modi. The Ghamandiya alliance has given no statement concerning this seizure. Neither has Arvind Kejriwal given his stance on Satyendra Jains arrest nor has Mamata Banerjee cleared the air around Partha Chatterjees arrestThe people of India will give a befitting reply to the Congress Party

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said, Congress party and corruption are two synonymous words. The ongoing IT raids against Dhiraj Sahu and all other corrupt activities happening around the country by the Congress and its alliance are getting exposed so the Congress party is very upset with the agencies and the PM. The Congress party cant escape from their wrong deeds, they have to pay a price

The Congress on the other hand has tried to distance itself from its Rajya Sabha MP saying the onus is on the MP to explain the cash recoveries.

Congress MP KC Venugopal said, We have a clear stand, that it has nothing to do with the Congress party. Dheeraj Sahu himself will have to explain why such a seizure is being made from his house. The party is not associated with this at all. We saw weeks ago that a video has come out of a Union Ministers son where he is talking about crores of rupees.
Prem Chand Bairwa, the BJP stalwart from Dudu, Jaipur, is set to assume the role of Rajasthan's Deputy Chief Minister, emerging victorious in the recent elections with an impressive margin. With a proven track record in grassroots politics, Bairwa has steadily risen through the ranks, securing consecutive wins and contributing significantly to the BJP's organizational strength. Hailing from a modest background, his journey from social activism with the ABVP to becoming a prominent BJP leader showcases his commitment to public service. As the Deputy Chief Minister, Bairwa brings a wealth of experience, grassroots connect, and leadership skills to contribute to Rajasthan's governance.

1. Emerging Political Leader:

Prem Chand Bairwa, set to become the Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, has emerged as a prominent political figure from the Dudu constituency near Jaipur. His recent victory over Congress heavyweight Babulal Nagar in the assembly elections, with a significant margin of 35,743 votes, underscores his growing influence and political acumen.

2. Seasoned BJP Representative from Dudu:

A dedicated member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bairwa has solidified his position as a stalwart leader in the Dudu constituency. His triumph against Babulal Nagar, backed by 116,561 votes, not only signifies a recent accomplishment but also builds upon his previous electoral success in the 2013 elections.

3. Grassroots Activism Background:

Dr. Prem Chand Bairwa hails from Shreenivaspura village in the Mozmabad tehsil, reflecting his grassroots connections. He initiated his political journey with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in 1995, showcasing an early commitment to social and political causes.

4. Proven Leadership at the Grassroots:

Before stepping into mainstream politics, Bairwa held key leadership roles, notably as the head of the Dudu block organization. His victory from Ward 15 in Dudu in 2000 marked the commencement of a successful political career. Over the years, Bairwa has contributed significantly to the organizational strength of the BJP and has held pivotal positions, including district panchayat member.

5. Consistent Electoral Triumphs:

Prem Chand Bairwa's consistent success in various elections highlights his electoral prowess. His victory as the president of the Dudu block BJP in 2008 and his continuous contributions to the party underscore his commitment to BJP principles and his ability to connect with the electorate. As the incoming Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Bairwa is poised to bring his experience and grassroots connectivity to contribute to the state's governance and development.
Are you a lawyer looking to enhance your online presence and attract more clients? Law, with its cut-throat competition and specialized nature, demands a strong online presence for lawyers and their firms to thrive. This is why optimizing websites for search engines (SEO) is crucial for visibility and reaching potential clients.

As a lawyer or a law firm, investing in SEO is like laying down a solid foundation for your business to flourish. It involves enhancing your website's ranking and performance on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. When individuals search for legal services like "DUI lawyer in San Diego" or "California attorney," you want your website to appear on the first page, ideally at the top.

This strategic move not only drives more traffic to your website but also converts them into valuable clients. However, SEO is not a one-time fix; it requires constant monitoring, analysis, and optimization. It also demands a deep understanding of search engine algorithms and the ever-changing landscape of the legal industry. Hence, many lawyers and firms outsource their SEO needs to hire expert SEO companies that specialize in optimizing and promoting law business or legal practice within targeted geolocations.

But how do you choose the perfect SEO Company for your law practice? With numerous factors to consider, such as their reputation, experience, services, results, pricing, and communication, it can be overwhelming. To simplify your decision-making process, we have curated a list of the top 10 SEO companies in India for lawyers.

These companies have a proven track record of successful SEO campaigns for law clients worldwide. They offer a range of services, including:

Keyword research and analysis

Content creation and marketing

Link building and outreach

Local SEO, Analytics and reporting

Social Media Management

Online reputation management

Website Design & Development

Without further ado, here are the 10 best SEO companies in India for lawyers:

Experience, expertise, and exceptional results - these are the hallmarks of Zebra Techies Solution, the go-to law firm SEO marketing company. Their success stories and satisfied clients speak volumes of their prowess in the legal marketing arena. From Express Evictions, Krasney Law, The Raimondo Law Firm, Rue & Ziffra, Bruckheim & Patel, Louisville KY Bankruptcy & Divorce Attorney to Fast Cash Legal, Zebra Techies Solution has helped countless law firms achieve top search engine rankings with their unparalleled law firm SEO services.

Navigating the intricate and ever-changing world of law can be daunting, especially when it comes to creating authentic content for legal websites. That's why Zebra Techies Solution places great emphasis on content compliance and strategic keyword selection, adhering to industry regulations and ethical standards. Their team of expert writers understands that every state has its unique legal aspects, from accidental law attorneys in Alabama to those in California. And with the legal system varying from country to country, their proficiency extends to areas such as real estate litigation and divorce.

But it's not just about complying with rules and regulations. Zebra Techies Solution knows the importance of staying on top of Google and Facebook's restrictions on promoting different legal practices. That's why their team is well-versed in navigating the complexities of these platforms and ensuring that the right keywords are used for each client.

As a leading law firm marketing company, Zebra Techies Solution's local SEO experts are masters at crafting high-quality local citations and backlinks, giving your website a competitive edge on Google and Maps. Because they understand that being an attorney means serving a diverse clientele, from criminals to inmates and everything in between. And with technology becoming an integral part of the legal sector, having a robust online presence is essential for legal professionals. That's where Zebra Techies Solution comes in, providing top-notch lawyer SEO services that have helped numerous law firms and lawyers achieve outstanding search engine rankings.

Embark on a journey to digital success with SEO Valley - a trusted digital marketing agency dedicated to elevating the online presence of law firms. Through their expertise in SEO, they have successfully transformed the virtual landscape of numerous law firms, attracting more clients and boosting their online visibility. Tailored specifically for the legal industry, their range of services includes local SEO, content marketing, link building, and more, all aimed at helping law firms achieve their online goals.

Rankz

At Rankz, law firms are at the heart of their digital marketing efforts. Through a seamless blend of search engine optimization, content marketing, and pay-per-click advertising, they pave the way for law firms to thrive in the digital realm. To learn more about their proven track record, visit their official website or reach out to them directly for case studies and success stories.

Indeed SEO

Indeed SEO goes beyond just improving online visibility for law firms - they ensure that their digital marketing strategies comply with industry regulations and ethical standards. With their tailored SEO services, including local SEO, content marketing, and reputation management, they guarantee that law firms maintain a reputable and trustworthy online presence.

SEOTonic Web Solutions PVT. LTD

Take your law firm to new heights with SEOTonic Web Solutions PVT. LTD. Their comprehensive range of services, including on-page and off-page optimization, content marketing, and web design, cater to various industries and specifically cater to the unique needs of law firms. By partnering with SEOTonic, your law firm can reach its target audience effectively and boost its online presence.

Conversion Perk

Conversion Perk specializes in optimizing law firm websites for lead generation, utilizing a combination of website design, SEO, content marketing, and conversion rate optimization techniques. With their expertise in digital marketing and lead generation, they can help your law firm attract and convert potential clients through your website with ease.

Krish Technolabs

UnloLck the full potential of your law firm with Krish Technolabs. As a commerce-focused digital agency, they are known for their customer-centric approach and knack for uncovering hidden opportunities. Along with their renowned services, they also offer digital marketing solutions for law firms - simply reach out to their sales or customer support for more details.

Pagetraffic

Pagetraffic takes compliance seriously when it comes to digital marketing for law firms. Through their in-depth understanding of the legal industry and expertise in compliance, they create customized strategies that align with regulations and guidelines. Regular audits and transparent communication ensure that law firms can trust in their marketing efforts.

Techmagnate

Experience the power of personalized digital marketing strategies with Techmagnate. By delving into the nuances of the legal industry, they can craft customized strategies for law firms that consider factors such as target audience, regulations, and competition. With Techmagnate as your partner, your law firm can thrive in the digital world with ease.

eSearch Logix

eSearch Logix is a full-service digital solutions service provider and has an excellent service track record in digital product development, website and mobile solutions and technology consulting. Their reputation in designing, developing, deploying and driving actionable results has been unrivaled. They provide their services across various industry types and business verticals including Law firms, e-Commerce, Education, Hospitality, Healthcare and so on.

Uncover the Top SEO Companies in India Through Comprehensive Research

Selecting the right law SEO company is crucial for the success of your business. However, not all companies possess the same level of expertise and it's important to conduct thorough research. Here are some suggestions for discovering the top SEO companies in India:

Explore online reviews - take a peek at what other customers have to say about the company's services. Make sure to read reviews from both past and current clients.

Analyze the company's website - a well-designed and user-friendly website is a reflection of a professional and reliable company. Look for information about their services, experience, and team.

Request references - asking for references is an effective way to gain insight into the company's reputation and past experiences.

Interview the company - seize the opportunity to ask the company any questions you may have. Inquire about their experience, methods, and guarantees.

After conducting thorough research, you will have a better understanding of which SEO companies align with your needs. It's crucial to choose a company with the expertise, experience, and resources to help you reach your SEO objectives.

The Significance of Extensive Research

Selecting an SEO company without conducting proper research can be a costly mistake. To increase your chances of choosing a company that can deliver desired results, thorough research is imperative. Here's why:

Enhanced outcomes - a qualified SEO company possesses the knowledge and experience to help you achieve your SEO goals. By conducting research, you increase your chances of selecting a company that can deliver the results you desire.

Saves money - an experienced SEO company can provide you with a personalized SEO strategy that is tailored to your specific needs. Researching beforehand helps you avoid companies that offer a one-size-fits-all approach.

Better experience - a reputable SEO company communicates effectively and addresses any concerns you may have. By conducting research, you increase your chances of selecting a company that is pleasant to work with.

Tips for Evaluating Company Expertise, Experience, and Client Reviews

While researching SEO companies, evaluating their expertise, experience, and client reviews is crucial. Here are some tips to help you with this process:

Inquire about their experience - how long has the company been in business? What is the experience level of their employees?

Learn about their methods - what SEO techniques do they use? Are these methods proven to be effective?

Request references - can the company provide references from their past clients?

Read online reviews - what do previous clients have to say about their experiences with the company?

By evaluating a company's expertise, experience, and client reviews, you can determine whether they are the right fit for your business. So, don't skip the research - it's an essential step in selecting the perfect SEO company for your needs.

Set up consultations with potential law SEO partners and harness the power of direct communication to unlock your business's potential. This is a great opportunity to meet their team and ask pressing questions, ultimately finding the perfect fit for your brand.

You can gain valuable insight into their experience and expertise in the field by asking them about their SEO strategy, reporting process, and communication style. Wondering where to start? Here are a few examples of questions you can ask:

What is your innovative approach to SEO?

How do you gauge the success of your SEO campaigns?

Can I expect regular reports on our progress?

What sets your communication style apart?

How will you keep me in the loop about my SEO campaign's development?

Take your consultations to the next level by posing these thought-provoking inquiries, and watch your business soar to new heights with the right law SEO partner by your side.

Conclusion

Embark on a successful journey towards online success for your law firm by carefully selecting a law firm SEO marketing company. As you set your sights on the perfect partner, consider these pivotal factors:

Expertise: The company should have a track record of triumph in boosting law firms' SEO objectives.

Reputation: Highly regarded and esteemed by other law firms, the company should possess an impeccable reputation in the industry.

Services: From keyword research and content creation to link building and technical SEO, the company should offer an extensive range of top-notch services.

Affordability: Choose a company that offers competitive pricing and full transparency when it comes to fees.

Client Care: A robust customer service team that is readily available to address your inquiries and concerns is essential.

You choose the finest law firm SEO experts based on these essential elements. Personalized SEO strategies will help you elevate your business to new heights. Want to start? Get in touch with the top law SEO experts today and let's get started.

(This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Ltds Consumer Connect Initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility, liability or claims for any errors or omissions in the content of the article. The IDPL Editorial team is not responsible for this content.)
By Casey Hall and Sophie Yu

SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) - The founder of JD.com told staff he acknowledged the e-commerce giant was too large and inefficient and vowed to instil change, in response to a staff complaint about problems with the platform amid intensifying competition.

Richard Liu made the comments in an internal staff forum in response to a post by an employee, local media reported. A person with knowledge of the matter confirmed the accuracy of his comments to Reuters on Tuesday.

The unidentified staff member had over the weekend posted a thousand word-long article, criticising JD for having an overly complex promotion mechanism and how its low-price strategy was being implemented haphazardly. Liu then responded, acknowledging problems and saying they were due to his "poor management".

"The current organisation is huge, bloated and inefficient, and it does take time to change it," Liu said in his comment, urging staff to join him in changing the company together.

"This is a routine exchange, and it demonstrates our management's confidence, as well as the entire team's collaboration, in addressing problems and overcoming challenges," a JD spokesperson said on Tuesday.

His post comes only a fortnight after Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma similarly responded to an employee post on Alibaba's intranet exhorting the company to "reform for tomorrow and the day after tomorrow" in the face of increased competition, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Alibaba did not reply to a request for comment on Ma's post.

JD.com and rival Alibaba have long been China's top e-commerce firms, but both have seen increasing competition this year from lower-priced rivals PDD Holding's Pinduoduo and ByteDance's Douyin as wary consumers, faced with macroeconomic headwinds in China, hold tight to their purse strings.

JD.com, which has announced a strategy focused on offering low prices to draw in customers, has seen its share price decline 50% so far this year, meanwhile PDD Holdings has seen its shares gain 75% in the same period.

Alibaba Group, which is in the midst of the largest restructuring in its 24-year history, has seen its shares lose 70% of their value since a regulatory crackdown initiated in late 2020.

(Reporting by Casey Hall in Shanghai and Sophie Yu in Beijing; Editing by Brenda Goh and Kim Coghill)
New Delhi: Rajendra Shukla, a five-time MLA from Rewa constituency, has been appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh along with Jagdish Devda by the BJP. The decision comes as a recognition of Shuklas contribution in consolidating the partys base in the Vindhya region, which was once a Congress stronghold.

Shukla (59), who has an engineering background, has emerged as a prominent Brahmin leader in the region in the last 15 years. He has challenged the influence of former Congress stalwarts like (late) Arjun Singh and (late) Sriniwas Tiwari, who dominated the region until 2013.

In the recent Assembly elections, BJP won 25 out of 30 seats in the region, improving its tally from 24 seats in 2018. Shukla expressed his confidence in the partys performance in the region before his name was announced for the Deputy CM post.

In 2018, BJP had won 24 seats from Vindhya region; therefore, I had full confidence that we will repeat the same result. When the results came, the number went up from 24 to 25, he told IANS.

Shuklas rise in the party was not without obstacles. He faced opposition from some of his own party leaders, who tried to undermine him by bringing back his political rival Abhay Mishra into the BJP fold. However, Mishra later rejoined the Congress and won the election from Semaria seat of Rewa district, defeating Shuklas loyalist K.P. Tripathi.

Shukla, however, remained a key member of the state BJPs core committee, even when he was not included in Shivraj Singh Chouhans cabinet. He was the only MLA in the core committee, while the rest were either state or Union ministers or Rajya Sabha MPs. Shukla, a soft-spoken politician, earned popularity due to the development works he initiated in Rewa in the past two decades. He was instrumental in bringing an airport and the countrys largest solar project to Rewa, when he was the energy minister in Chouhans cabinet.

Shukla began his political career during his college days and became the president of Government Engineering College Student Union in 1986. He contested his first Assembly election in 1998, but lost to Congress candidate Pushparaj Singh by a narrow margin of 1,394 votes. He avenged his defeat in 2003, when he defeated Pushparaj Singh and entered the Assembly for the first time. Since then, he has remained undefeated.

Shukla was born on August 3, 1964 in MP's Rewa. His father Bhaiyalal Shukla was a contractor and social worker. He pursued civil engineering and became the president of Government Engineering College Student Union in 1986.
New Delhi: A group of terrrorists rammed a explosive-laden vehicle into the main gate of a police station in northwest Pakistans Dera Ismail Khan early Tuesday, killing at least 24 officers. The blast injured 34 of which five are critical. Five attackers of which two were suicide bombers have also been killed. The blast also caused a part of the building to collapse, news agency AP quoted officials as saying. The attack was followed by a gun battle between security forces and some militants who opened fire at the police station.

The attack took place in Dera Ismail Khan, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. The province was once a bastion of the militant Pakistani Taliban group, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP.

A splinter group of the TTP, called Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, or TJP, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying it targeted the officers who were at the police station. The statement also claimed that 20 officers were killed. However, this couldnt be independently verified.

The police station in Daraban area had been hosting a large number of security forces from across the country, who were conducting intelligence-based operations against militants in the area with the help of local police, Khan said.

Pakistans caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack in a statement and expressed his condolences to those who were martyred. He couldnt immediately confirm the number of officers killed in the attack, which he called an act of terrorism.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a surge in violence with several deadly attacks this year. In January, at least 101 people were killed when a suicide bomber targeted a mosque in Peshawar.

The Pakistani Taliban have intensified their attacks on security forces since 2022. Authorities say the militants have been emboldened by living openly in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover of that country in 2021.

The TTP, though a separate group, is closely allied with the Afghan Taliban. Dera Ismail Khan is located near South Waziristan, a former stronghold of militants. Pakistans army carried out multiple operations against militants there after some attacked an army-run school, killing more than 150 people, mostly school children, in 2014.
New Delhi: The United States is looking into allegations that Israel used white phosphorus, a substance that can cause severe burns, in an attack on a Lebanese village in October, a senior US official said on Monday. John Kirby, the US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, told reporters that the US was aware of the reports and would seek more information from Israel. He said that the US expected any military that received white phosphorus from the US to use it only for legitimate purposes and in accordance with the law of war.

Weve seen the reports. Certainly concerned about that. Well be asking questions to try to learn a little bit more. I do think its important to remind that white phosphorus does have a legitimate military utility in terms of illumination and producing smoke to conceal movements, Kirby said.

And obviously, anytime that we provide items like white phosphorus to another military, it is with the full expectation that it will be used in keeping with those legitimate purposes and in keeping with the law of armed conflict. But weve seen these reports. Theyre fresh. Just dont have any more on it right now, he added.

Kirbys comments came in response to a report by The Washington Post that claimed that Israel used US-supplied white phosphorus munitions in an attack on Dheira, a small village near the border with Israel, on October 7. The attack injured at least nine civilians, including children, and sparked a fire that destroyed several houses, according to a rights group that called for a war crimes investigation.

The Washington Post said that it found fragments of three 155-millimeter artillery shells that contained white phosphorus in the village. The shells release felt wedges soaked with white phosphorus that create thick smoke and burn intensely as they fall over a large area.

The Israel Defence Forces denied using white phosphorus in the attack and said that it only used legal weapons. It said that the shells it used did not contain white phosphorus, which is legal under international law. It also said that it had other types of smoke shells that contained white phosphorus, but that they were used only for smokescreens and not for attacks or ignition.

The main smoke shells used by the IDF do not contain white phosphorus. Similar to many Western armies, the IDF also has smoke shells that contain white phosphorus, which are legal according to international law, and the choice to use them is influenced by operational considerations and availability compared to alternatives, the IDF said.

These shells are intended for smokescreens, and not for an attack or ignition, and they are not legally defined as incendiary weapons, it added.

The IDF said that it had strict rules for using white phosphorus shells and that they were not to be used in urban areas, except in certain exceptional cases. It said, These restrictions are in line with international law, and are even stricter than [the latter].

The attack on Dheira was part of a series of clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, along the border since October 7. The violence erupted after Israel launched a major offensive against Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, in the Gaza Strip, which triggered a cross-border rocket attack by Hamas.
Hayah Insurance has reaffirmed its commitment to spearheading sustainable change in the insurance industry by launching its Aiming Hayah: 2030 initiative.

Against the backdrop of COP28, Hayah has committed to ambitious, transformative goals that align with the global momentum towards environmental and social responsibility.

Aiming Hayah: 2030 Climate Action Goals

By 2030, Hayah will redefine its investment strategy, committing to environmentally and socially responsible assets. Hayah aims to allocate 10% of its portfolio to green bonds, renewable energy projects, and sustainable infrastructure, concurrently reducing its fossil fuel investments by half. Hayahs goal is steadfast: achieve carbon neutrality within its operations by the end of this decade, reducing emissions and investing in projects that offset its carbon footprint.

Business ethics and governance

Hayahs ethical compass will guide its underwriting process by 2027, ensuring that environmental and social impacts are integral to its decision-making. By 2028, Hayah will fully integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria into its investment policies and risk assessments, reflecting the core values in every business aspect.

Empowering its people

By 2024, Hayah Insurance will foster a robust culture of sustainability. Hayah is committed to educating its employees, promoting green practices in the workplace, and inspiring involvement in the sustainability journey. Hayah has pledged to engage stakeholders comprehensively by 2025, building a dialogue around its sustainability goals and incorporating their invaluable feedback.

Community enrichment

Financial literacy and inclusion remain crucial to Hayahs community initiatives. By 2024, Hayah will offer insurance products designed for those previously without access, facilitating better risk management and financial well-being. By 2026, Hayah aspires to support community projects focusing on sustainability, education, and health, solidifying its role as a catalyst for positive change.

"Sustainability is more than a goal; it's a promise for a better tomorrow. At Hayah Insurance, we are committed to this promise, setting definitive goals that will shape our operations and community interactions for years to come. We invite our partners and customers to join us in this vital transition, as we turn the pledges of today into the achievements of tomorrow," said Mohamed Seghir, CEO, Hayah.--TradeArabia News Service
Epic's 1984 parody

The Epic versus Google case has reached a significant milestone as the jury ruled that Google violated California and federal antitrust laws, but years of appeals are sure to follow.



Epic's 1984 parody



Just three years after Apple's win against Epic for similar claims, Google has lost. The jury ruled that Google made special deals to stifle competition for the Play Store.



According to a report from Wired, the San Francisco jury unanimously found Google in violation of California and federal antitrust laws. However, the litigation has only begun as a judge must decide what to order Google to do to remedy the situation, followed by appeals from Google.



"We plan to challenge the verdict," says Wilson White, a Google vice president of government affairs and public policy. "We will continue to defend the Android business model and remain deeply committed to our users, partners, and the broader Android ecosystem."



Google's Android operating system already allows third-party app stores and side loading. However, the lawsuit asserts that Google uses its power over Android and the smartphone market to exact control over what apps and storefronts are promoted, pushing for Google Play over others. It also focused on Google's financial arrangements with smartphone vendors to lock users in, with Google Play as a primary app store.



Epic also alleged that existing options for users to circumvent Google Play were too cumbersome and purposefully built to push users back to Google. The company was effectively "shutting rivals off," Epic lawyer Gary Bornstein shared.



Epic published a blog post celebrating the win.





"Over the course of the trial we saw evidence that Google was willing to pay billions of dollars to stifle alternative app stores by paying developers to abandon their own store efforts and direct distribution plans, and offering highly lucrative agreements with device manufacturers in exchange for excluding competing app stores."

The blog post concludes with a thank you to the court for "the next steps determining the remedies that will right Google's decades of anticompetitive conduct."



Conversely, Apple escaped Epic's lawsuit with only one count against it -- anti-steering practices. Apple is still fighting that ruling but will likely have to comply eventually.



Epic's fight to have a foothold in app distribution and monetization continues as governments become more interested in combating antitrust.
TWO

ZEPHYR COVE, Nev. and SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- two (NYSE: TWOA) (TWOA), a special purpose acquisition company, and LatAm Logistic Properties S.A. (d/b/a LatAm Logistic Properties ) (LLP), a leading developer, owner, and manager of institutional quality, class A industrial and logistics real estate in Central and South America, announced today the public filing of a registration statement on Form F-4 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). The registration statement was filed by Logistic Properties of the Americas, a newly-formed holding company (Pubco), in connection with LLP and TWOAs proposed business combination.



On August 15, 2023, LLP and TWOA entered into a definitive business combination agreement that would result in LLP becoming a publicly traded company. As a result of the business combination, LLP and TWOA shareholders will exchange their shares for shares in Pubco. Upon closing of the transaction, Pubcos ordinary shares are expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the new ticker symbol LLP.

The registration statement on Form F-4 includes a preliminary prospectus with respect to Pubco securities to be issued in connection with the business combination and a preliminary proxy statement with respect to the shareholders meeting of TWOA to vote on, among other things, the business combination. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024, subject to the registration statement being declared effective by the SEC, along with regulatory and both companies shareholder approvals, and the satisfaction or waiver of other closing conditions.

A copy of the registration statement is available for review on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

For the direct link to the Form F-4 filing, visit: F-4 (sec.gov).

About two

two is a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. For more information, visit twoaspac.com .

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About LatAm Logistic Properties

LatAm Logistic Properties, S.A. is a leading developer, owner, and manager of institutional quality, class A industrial and logistics real estate in Central and South America. LLPs customers are multinational and regional e-commerce retailers, third-party logistic operators, business-to-business distributors, and retail distribution companies. LLPs strong customer relationships and insight is expected to enable future growth through the development and acquisition of high-quality, strategically located facilities in its target markets. As of September 30, 2023, LLP consisted of an operating and development portfolio of twenty-eight logistic facilities in Colombia, Peru and Costa Rica totaling more than 650,000 square meters (approximately 7.0 million square feet) of gross leasable area.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains certain forward-looking information with respect to the business combination, which may not be included in future public filings or investor guidance. Certain statements in this communication may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about future events or LLPs, TWOAs or Pubcos future financial or operating performance. For example, statements regarding the benefits of the business combination, and the anticipated timing of the completion of the business combination are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as pro forma, may, should, could, might, plan, possible, project, strive, budget, forecast, expect, intend, will, estimate, anticipate, believe, predict, potential or continue, or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology.

These forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future results of LLP, Pubco and TWOA are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industry in which LLP operates, as well as the beliefs and assumptions of LLPs management. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors beyond LLPs, Pubcos or TWOAs control that are difficult to predict because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. They are neither statements of historical fact nor promises or guarantees of future performance. Therefore, LLPs and Pubcos actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements and LLP, Pubco and TWOA therefore cautions against relying on any of these forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by LLP and its management, TWOA and its management, and Pubco and its management, as the case may be, are inherently uncertain and are inherently subject to risks variability and contingencies, many of which are beyond LLPs, TWOAs or Pubcos control. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: (i) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of any definitive agreements with respect to the business combination; (ii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against LLP, TWOA, Pubco or others following the announcement of the business combination and any definitive agreements with respect thereto; (iii) the inability to complete the business combination due to the failure to obtain consents and approvals of the shareholders of TWOA, to obtain financing to complete the business combination or to satisfy other conditions to closing, or delays in obtaining, adverse conditions contained in, or the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals required to complete the transactions contemplated by the business combination agreement; (iv) changes to the proposed structure of the business combination that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations or as a condition to obtaining regulatory approval of the business combination; (v) LLPs and Pubcos ability to manage growth; (vi) the ability to meet stock exchange listing standards following the consummation of the business combination; (vii) the risk that the business combination disrupts current plans and operations of LLP as a result of the announcement and consummation of the business combination; (viii) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of Pubco or LLP to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain key relationships and retain its management and key employees; (ix) costs related to the business combination; (x) changes in applicable laws, regulations, political and economic developments; (xi) the possibility that LLP or Pubco may be adversely affected by other economic, business and/or competitive factors; (xii) LLPs estimates of expenses and profitability; and (xiii) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the filings by TWOA or Pubco with the SEC. There may be additional risks that neither LLP nor TWOA presently know or that LLP and TWOA currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of LLP, TWOA or Pubco speak only as of the date they are made. None of LLP, Pubco or TWOA undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect any changes in their respective expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Accordingly, attendees and recipients should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to their inherent uncertainty.

Nothing in this communication should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made.

LLP, TWOA and Pubco disclaim any and all liability for any loss or damage (whether foreseeable or not) suffered or incurred by any person or entity as a result of anything contained or omitted from this communication and such liability is expressly disclaimed.

Additional Information

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In connection with the business combination, Pubco has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 containing a preliminary proxy statement of TWOA and a preliminary prospectus of Pubco. The registration statement filed with the SEC has not yet become effective. Once the registration statement is declared effective, TWOA will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the business combination to its shareholders. This communication does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the business combination and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the business combination. LLPs and TWOAs shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read the registration statement, including the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and when available, any amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with the business combination, as these materials will contain important information about LLP, TWOA, Pubco and the business combination. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed business combination and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the proposed business combination. When available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials for the business combination will be mailed to shareholders of TWOA as of a record date to be established for voting on the business combination. Shareholders may also obtain copies of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, and once available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC, without charge at the SECs website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: two, 195 US HWY 50, Suite 208, Zephyr Cove, NV 89448; Tel: (310) 954-9665.

Participants in the Solicitation

TWOA and its directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from TWOAs shareholders with respect to the business combination. A list of the names of those directors and executive officers and a description of their interests in TWOA is contained in TWOAs filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge at the SECs web site at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: two, 195 US HWY 50, Suite 208, Zephyr Cove, NV 89448; Tel: (310) 954-9665. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants is contained in the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus for the business combination and will be contained in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus when available.

LLP, Pubco and their respective directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of TWOA in connection with the business combination. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the business combination will be included in the registration statement when such information is available.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed business combination. This press release shall also not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any states or jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

Investor Relations Contact:

Gateway Group, Inc.

Cody Slach

(949) 574-3860

TWOA@gateway-grp.com

two Contact:

Nick Geeza

Chief Financial Officer

ngeeza@hennessycapitalgroup.com

Media Relations Contact:

Zach Kouwe / Kendal Till

Dukas Linden Public Relations for LatAm Logistic Properties S.A.

+1 646-722-6533

LLP@dlpr.com




LONDON, December 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 17th edition of the World Branding Awards honoured the success and achievements of some of the Worlds Best Brands as National, Regional, and Global Winners. The 2023 - 2024 World Branding Awards saw over 1,500 brands from more than 40 countries nominated as "Brand of the Year." Of these, less than 200 were declared Winners.

The prestigious Award Ceremony was held at the home of the awards, Kensington Palace, United Kingdom. It welcomed over 100 guests worldwide and was hosted by acclaimed television presenter, David Croft.

Global winners who proved excellence and impeccable branding in their industry include Sunsilk (United Kingdom), LURPAK (Denmark), Marriott International (USA), and The Body Shop (United Kingdom).

Winners from the USA include Colgate, Heinz, Nike, Netflix, Zoom and Duolingo. Other National tier winners include Tanduay (The Philippines), Janji Jiwa (Indonesia), VISTRA (Thailand), Getha (Malaysia), Yorkshire Tea (United Kingdom), Nandos (South Africa), Tsui Wah (Hong Kong), Tefal (France), and Swedbank (Sweden), to name a few.

Only 14 brands were selected to receive the Regional Tier award this year, including Nippon Rent-A-Car (Japan), GIG (Kuwait), MR.DIY (Malaysia), Optical 88 (Hong Kong), M-150 (Thailand), HECOM (Hong Kong), and VITADAY (Thailand). These brands were voted as consumers' favourites in 4 or more countries across 3 or more areas in a specific geographic region.

"This is a celebration of the continuous efforts that is vital to building outstanding brands. To stay relevant as a brand, brands must build an image that resonates and lasts. This means not only building up a culture and community around the brand through marketing, but also ensuring that all generations continue to find the brand interesting," said Mr Richard Rowles, Chairman of the World Branding Forum.

More than 150,000 consumers participated in the nomination process globally this year. On average, there are only 5 winning brands in each country, proving that winning a World Branding Award is a remarkable accomplishment.

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For more information and the full list of winners, visit awards.brandingforum.org.

ABOUT WORLD BRANDING AWARDS

The World Branding Awards is the premier awards of the World Branding Forum, a registered non-profit organisation. The awards recognise the achievements of some of the worlds best brands.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231207475412/en/

Contacts

Email: editorial@brandingforum.org
RICHMOND HILL, ON, Dec. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - Mazda Canada Inc.'s people-first culture has earned them a spot on the Greater Toronto's Top Employers list for 2024, which is their ninth consecutive year earning this recognition.

Greater Torontos Top Employers 2024 (CNW Group/Mazda Canada Inc.)

David Klan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mazda Canada, expressed his excitement about this ongoing success: "We are thrilled and immensely proud to secure this ninth consecutive win. Amidst an era of rapid change, continuously evaluating our programs to align with the evolving needs of our employees remains pivotal. We are steadfast in our mission to cultivate an inclusive work environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered. The credit goes to the entire Mazda Canada team for upholding our values and continually challenging the status quo  epitomizing the Mazda spirit that defines our brand."

Some examples of the programs that earned Mazda Canada this recognition include their:

Defined benefit pension plan

Competitive health benefits package, including enhanced mental health and wellness benefits

Progressive time-off policies that enable employees to balance work and their personal commitments, including 10 paid sick days and reduced summer hours

Tuition reimbursement program, offering employees up to $10,000 per year to support their professional development

Vehicle programs enabling employees to obtain access to new Mazda vehicles

This December marked the 18th edition of the Greater Toronto's Top Employers competition, which has become the benchmark in the Greater Toronto Area for workplace best-practices.

Mazda Canada Inc. is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer service and parts support of Mazda vehicles in Canada. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Mazda Canada has a nationwide network of 163 retail stores. For additional information visit Mazda Canada's media website at www.media.mazda.ca.

Follow Mazda Canada's social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaCanada and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaCanada .

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SOURCE Mazda Canada Inc.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2023/12/c2617.html
MarketsandMarkets Research Pvt. Ltd.

Chicago, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Growing adoption of NDT and Inspection techniques in oil & gas and aerospace sectors to boost the market in China.

China is projected to maintain its position as the dominant player in the NDT and Inspection market within the Asia Pacific (APAC) region for the foreseeable future. China has invested in establishing its in-house inspection facilities, yet the demand for NDT and Inspection techniques remains notably high, particularly within the manufacturing and oil and gas sectors. As China ventures into shale gas exploration, the call for NDT and Inspection technology is expected to further escalate throughout the forecast period.

Download PDF Brochure @

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=882

China's endeavors in oil and gas exploration, including the exploration of shale gas reserves, constitute a pivotal driver for the NDT and Inspection market. These operations are intrinsically linked to critical infrastructure in the oil and gas sector, where safety, structural integrity, and the prevention of flaws are of paramount concern. NDT and Inspection techniques play an indispensable role in this context. They enable comprehensive assessments of pipelines, drilling equipment, storage facilities, and other infrastructure components, ensuring that they are free from structural weaknesses, corrosion, or defects that could compromise safety or operational efficiency. As China's energy demands and ambitions for energy independence continue to expand, the necessity for high-quality inspection services escalates. This is not only in response to the growing scale and complexity of oil and gas projects but also due to the country's commitment to meeting international safety and environmental standards.

INQUIRY BEFORE BUYING @

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=882

China's ambitious pursuit of manufacturing large passenger planes domestically opens up a remarkable opportunity for participants in the NDT and Inspection market. The aerospace and aviation sectors have exacting requirements for quality control and safety, which necessitate the use of NDT techniques. These techniques are indispensable in ensuring the safety, reliability, and compliance of aircraft and related components. Rigorous inspections and testing are conducted at various stages of manufacturing, from the evaluation of materials to the examination of critical components like engines, wings, and avionics. NDT techniques encompass a range of methods such as radiography, ultrasonic testing, and visual inspection, all of which are applied to detect hidden defects or weaknesses without damaging the aircraft. The aspiration to build large passenger planes within the country presents an opportunity for local NDT and Inspection market players to provide the expertise and services required to meet stringent quality and safety standards, while supporting China's endeavors to become a global player in the aerospace and aviation industries. In a sector where safety is paramount, NDT plays a critical role in ensuring the reliability and safety of aircraft and their components.

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Notably, the Chinese government has given the green light for the production of commercial aircraft within the country, and it aims to manufacture large passenger planes domestically. This strategic move presents a significant opportunity for NDT and Inspection market participants in China, as the country designs and constructs these aircraft. In addition, various projects in China, encompassing aircraft construction, nuclear power plant development, and the establishment of new airports, create a substantial demand for NDT and Inspection techniques, especially from the defense and power generation industries.

The rapid pace of infrastructural development in China offers a burgeoning prospect for the NDT and Inspection market, with the automobile production sector in the country slated for significant growth by 2024. This growth trajectory is expected to spur the demand for NDT and Inspection equipment and services within the automotive vertical. As China's economic growth drives expansion across multiple industries such as energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, construction, and transportation, the government is compelled to adapt its NDT and Inspection equipment procurement policies, especially for military and aerospace applications, to align with international quality and safety standards.

Soundwel is one of the noteworthy players actively participating in China's NDT and Inspection market. Additionally, in October 2019, Intertek extended its services in China by collaborating with the National Supervision and Inspection Center for Explosion Protection and Safety of Instrumentation (NEPSI), with a focus on products intended for use in hazardous locations or explosive atmospheres. This collaboration enhances the capabilities available in the country for the safety and quality assessment of such products.

CONTACT: About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of Americas best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. 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. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. 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




NowVertical Group Inc

TORONTO, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NowVertical Group Inc. (TSX-V: NOW) (OTCQB: NOWVF) (NOW or the Company), a leading data and AI software and services provider, announces strategic expansions in Peru, Mexico and a new contract with McDonalds LATAM. According to recent studies(1), the Latin America big data analytics market size is expected to reach more than US$12 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 7.67% between 2023 and 2028. Additionally, the demand in the artificial intelligence market is projected to show an annual growth rate of 18.44%, resulting in a market size of more than US$19B by 2030, creating significant market opportunity for NOW as it expands its operations throughout the region.

Peru Expansion  A New Geography for NowVertical:

NowVertical is pleased to announce it is expanding its operational reach in South America through a strategic collaboration with Google in Peru, focusing on transformative predictive analytics projects with RIMAC Seguros y Reaseguros. NOW has secured a contract to implement a predictive analytics model to enhance RIMAC's customer experience, fortify security measures, and ensure resilient business continuity, aligning with NowVertical's commitment to delivering tangible results and industry-leading solutions. The contract represents NOWs first customer in Peru.

Mexico Growth  NowVertical's Strategic Partnership with Google in Mexico:

NowVertical is extending its platform in Mexico by commencing a strategic consulting process in data governance with DMX, a holding of financial brands. In collaboration with Google, NowVertical is also pleased to announce several new contracts with Liverpool and Coppel, prominent Mexican retail conglomerates, leveraging their data and AI technologies to optimize retail operations, foster growth, and drive industry innovation.

Worlds Largest McDonalds Franchisee  NowVertical Announces Contract with Arcos Dorados (McDonalds LATAM) across Latin America

NOW is also pleased to announce a recently secured contract with Arcos Dorados (McDonalds LATAM) the worlds largest independent McDonalds franchisee, operating in 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries and territories, with over 2,300 restaurants and employing over 90 thousand people. NOW will be working with the customer on several projects that include cloud data engineering and data science implementation.

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These strategic collaborations in Peru and Mexico, and our recent partnership with Arcos Dorados (McDonalds LATAM), represent notable milestones for NowVertical, highlighting our dedication to delivering industry-leading services and solutions on a global scale, said Sasha Grujicic, CEO of NowVertical. These new partnerships not only offer an enticing gateway to esteemed organizations but also serve as crucial stepping stones for cultivating enduring relationships with regionally respected brands and organizations.

These new customer contracts, partnerships and market expansion highlight NOWs strength in implementing strategic data analysis, machine learning implementation, and AI deployment throughout LATAM. NowVertical's commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation and providing customized solutions across diverse industries, with the support of Google, positions the company as a global leader in data and AI solutions.

About NowVertical Group Inc.:

NowVertical Group is a Vertical Intelligence (VI) software and services provider that delivers data, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions into private and public verticals globally. NOWs solutions sit at the foundation of the modern enterprise by enabling its customers to maximize the impact from their data and AI investments while minimizing their risk, accelerating the time to value, and reducing costs. For more information about NOW, visit www.nowvertical.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please contact:

Sasha Grujicic, CEO

IR@nowvertical.com

Glen Nelson, Investor Relations and Communications:

glen.nelson@nowvertical.com

t: (403) 763-9797




(Bloomberg) -- Nvidia Corp.s Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang sees Vietnam as a potential second home for the Silicon Valley company and it plans to open a legal entity in the Southeast Asian country, according to Vietnamese media.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Huang, speaking at a Hanoi semiconductor and artificial intelligence conference hosted by a Vietnam ministry Monday, said his company will open a design center, the news website VnExpress reported, without giving details about the facilitys technology.

Nvidia has already invested about $250 million in Vietnam, the governments news website reported on Sunday, citing information from a meeting between Huang and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Huangs visit to Hanoi comes as the Vietnamese government looks for closer diplomatic and economic ties with the US and help in developing the nations semiconductor ecosystem.

Vietnam Sees Closer US Economic Ties Post-Diplomatic Upgrade

The US State Department in September announced a partnership with Vietnam under the Chips Act, which provides $500 million for incentives over five years and aims to ensure semiconductor supply chain security. US Semiconductor Industry Association President John Neuffer and representatives of American companies visited with PM Chinh earlier this month.

Nvidia is willing to work with Vietnam to improve the nations AI infrastructure and workforce, VietnamPlus reported, citing the CEO. Vietnam has many computer scientists and is a global leader in software exports, Huang said, according to VnExpress. It could create a million AI engineers, he said.

Intel Corp. operates a chip assembly and test manufacturing facility in Ho Chi Minh City. Arizona-based Amkor Technology Inc. is building a $1.6 billion factory in northern Bac Ninh province, while Synopsis Inc. and Marvell Technology Inc. are establishing semiconductor design centers in Vietnam. Some 50 chip design companies have set up operations in Vietnam in recent years.

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Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
By Michael Erman and Manas Mishra

(Reuters) -Pfizer said on Tuesday it expects to close its $43 billion deal to buy cancer drugmaker Seagen later this week and plans to create a new oncology division that includes the acquisition early next year.

Pfizer also said Chief Commercial Officer Angela Hwang would step down, and that it will split the its commercial business, not including oncology, into two divisions, one focused on the United States and the other on the rest of the world.

In October, Pfizer slashed its full-year revenue forecast by 13% and said it will cut $3.5 billion worth of jobs and expenses due to lower-than-expected sales of its COVID-19 vaccine and treatment.

The company said it will unveil its 2024 forecast and hold a conference call on its new structure on Wednesday.

Chris Boshoff, who currently runs cancer research and development for Pfizer, will lead the new oncology division and report directly to CEO Albert Bourla.

Pfizer's Chief Business Innovation Officer Aamir Malik will head up the U.S. commercial unit, while Alexandre de Germay will become commercial chief for the international unit.

Pfizer said its antitrust waiting period for the Seagen deal has expired, and it has received all necessary regulatory approvals to close the deal on Thursday, about 9 months after announcing the acquisition.

The New York-based drugmaker said it agreed to donate the rights of royalties from sales of cancer drug Bavencio to the American Association for Cancer Research to address concerns from U.S. antitrust regulators.

The company in March signed away the development and commercialization rights to Bavencio to its partner for the drug, Merck KGaA, while retaining rights to a 15% royalty on net sales of the drug.

Bavencio brought in sales of $271 million for Pfizer in 2022.

Pfizer announced the acquisition in March as it braced for the steep fall in sales of its COVID products.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent a request for more information on the Seagen deal to the companies in July. The FTC declined to comment on Pfizer's announcement on Tuesday.

Seagen shares were up 3.3% at $228.84, close to the offer price of $229. Pfizer shares were off less than 1% at $28.53.

(Reporting by Michael Erman in New Jersey and Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Bill Berkrot)
The Scoop

In the weeks before Scott Bok abruptly resigned as chair of Penns board of trustees, Wall Street critics of the universitys handling of antisemitism on campus were quietly planning to complicate Boks day job, as CEO of investment bank Greenhill, in an effort to pressure him, people familiar with the matter said.

Greenhill, which floundered for years under Boks leadership, was sold earlier this month to Mizuho, the big Japanese bank. But before the deal was completed, Wall Street executives had been discussing an idea: Buy shares of the company and petition a Delaware court for internal Greenhill records related to Boks tenure as Penns board chair, people familiar with the discussions said.

It never went anywhere, and the deal was completed on schedule Dec. 1. But it shows the internecine ideological battles on Wall Street right now, whose executives  many of them major university donors  have been the loudest critics of schools including Penn and Harvard.

Apollos Marc Rowan, a Penn alum and major donor, fired the first shot this fall, saying after the Oct. 7 attacks that antisemitism seems to have found a place of tolerance on [Penns] campus. A donor boycott has grown and while much of the criticism focused on Penns president, Liz Magill, Wall Street executives reserved some of their anger for Bok, one of their own, whod stood behind her.

Both abruptly resigned over the weekend.

Bok couldnt be reached for comment.

Lizs view

Any shareholder can request a companys books and records, and its up to a judge to decide whether their cause is credible and relevant. Its feasible that Boks side gig at Penn distracted him from his day job, though it seems like an uphill argument.

But the Mizuho deal was Boks crowning achievement as CEO, and the conservative Japanese bank cant have been happy about this falls events and the attention it attracted. Greenhill was one of the first boutique M&A shops, but its standing fell sharply after its eponymous founder, a suspender-clad rainmaker named Bob Greenhill, stepped back.

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To say that this takeover was important is an understatement. Greenhills position in the league tables sank and its debt load grew to nearly $270 million last year on just $20 million of profits. Its stock, which once traded near $100 a share, had fallen to $7 by this spring, when Mizuho agreed to pay $550 million for it.

Im not surprised to see financial machinations the longer this controversy plays out. Watching big Wall Street donors publicly criticize their alma maters has looked from the start to me like an activist investor, showing up with a large stake (here, the ability to marshal or divert millions of dollars in donations), an idea (universities should police antisemitism), and a platform (Marc Rowan on CNBC, Bill Ackman on Twitter.)

Wall Street is going to Wall Street, and there are financial levers to pull here. A books and records request at Greenhill is moot, but expect to see more of this.
AlUla Governorate has seen significant progress in the diverse tourism sector, including mountain tourism, which is linked to sport, adventure, discovery, photography, relaxation and reflection, away from the noise of the city.

AlUla Governorate is characterized by the variety of its terrain, mountains with distinctive forms, and some 2.3 million palm trees that form a green canvas flanked by the mountains, reported SPA.

Being a prominent destination on the international tourist map, AlUla joins the international community in its celebration of the International Mountain Day, which is marked annually on December 11 to highlight the vital role of mountains, and spur work for their development and sustainability worldwide.
Public Relations Global Network (PRGN)

PRGN President Andy See

PRGN President Andy See

Grace Haekyung Son

Grace Haekyung Son, Managing Director, PR House, Seoul, South Korea

NEW YORK and LONDON and SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Continuing its expansion in the important Asia-Pacific region, the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced today it has added Seoul-based PR House to its global network.



Additionally, the worldwide public relations (PR) group also celebrated the opening of a new member office in the Netherlands by its Belgium member agency Two cents.

These moves bring the number of agencies in the worldwide public relations network to 55 and solidifies the groups place among the top global PR networks.

I am excited to welcome PR House into our global network of outstanding practitioners and independent firms around the world. PRGNs entry into South Korea is a great opportunity for our members and their clients as it will accelerate growth and open access to local expertise in a very dynamic marketplace, said PRGN President Andy See.

In addition, the expansion into the Netherlands by Two cents showcases PRGNs support throughout the lifecycle and growth journey of our members. This is in line with our strategic plan to solidify PRGNs position as an accelerator of growth for our members, their clients and communities, he added.

The newest PRGN member, PR House, is a full-service public relations agency assisting clients in all aspects of reputation management, specializing in creative integrated communications, effective and measurable implementation and communications counsel.

Founded in 2010, PR House utilizes its broad range of integrated services across multiple industries, including consumer, hospitality, technology, government, gaming, healthcare and transportation. The firms key clients include Bausch+Lomb and Essilor in healthcare, Line Global, Steelseries, Cadence and ViewSonic in specialized IT, and Vietjet Air and Korea Tourism Organization in the aviation and tourism sectors. PR House nurtures long-term relationships with clients, having served some of them for around 10 years. The agency prides itself by having grown together with those customers, which in turn, have grown thanks to the agencys work, says Grace Haekyung Son, managing director of PR House in Seoul, South Korea.

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I am very happy to join PRGN as an exclusive member for South Korea. Many of our clients are from all around the world. Business, cultural differences and language are hurdles that foreign companies face when entering the South Korean market, and vice versa. The network can help them hire agencies for local knowledge, expertise and connection in markets all around the world. Also, PR House now has a great opportunity to learn from global PR case studies from more than 50 member agencies internationally. That helps us develop further and brings growth to us and our clients, she added.

In addition to its newest member in Asia, PRGN continues to maintain a presence in the Netherlands through an expansion by its Belgium-based member agency, Two cents. The addition of the Two cents office in Boxtel, Netherlands, ensures that PRGN continues to be represented in an important European market, while also showcasing PRGNs commitment to support the growth of its member agencies regionally as opportunities arise.

About the Public Relations Global Network

Founded in 1992 by a group of visionary public relations leaders, PRGN is one of the worlds largest international networks of independent public relations and communications agencies, with approximately 800 professionals in more than 70 locations.

PRGN partners are independent, local, owner-operated public relations and marketing communications firms that share expertise and resources, while providing broad-based comprehensive communications strategies to clients worldwide.

Companies or organizations interested in the services of PRGNs local agency network can visit its Agency Directory section for more information.

Independent agencies interested in joining the network can visit the member recruitment section of the PRGN website for more information.

About PR House

Established in 2010 in South Korea, PR House is a full-service public relations agency assisting clients in all aspects of reputation management, specializing in creative integrated communications, effective and measurable implementation and communications counsel. It utilizes its broad range of integrated services across multiple industries  consumer marketing, corporate communications, digital media strategies, public affairs, government relations, technology and healthcare. With in-depth communications expertise, it helps clients inform the people they need to reach.

PR House was selected as an excellent small and medium-sized enterprise for management innovation by South Koreas Ministry of SMEs and Startups in 2019.

About Two cents

Based in Brussels, Belgium, Two cents is a media and communications agency whose expertise ranges from public relations and digital media to content and communications management in several industries, including construction and interior design, tourism, trade fairs and events, retail, and information and communication technology.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e366fd1d-b5d2-464b-8116-244553caa5f0

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9e6d7d1b-2ac7-40e6-aa36-323077d9d39e

CONTACT: Media Contacts: Europe/Asia Contact: Gabor Jelinek Executive Director Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) gabor.jelinek@prgn.com +36301628910 U.S. Contact: Jim Bianchi President Bianchi Public Relations, Inc. jbianchi@bianchipr.com 586-817-1318




RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.

Vancouver (Canada) and Madrid (Spain), Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Visa (NYSE: V) one of the world's leading digital payment companies, and RevoluPAY, a wholly owned subsidiary of RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. (TSX-V: REVO), (Frankfurt: IJA2), (Munich: A2PU92), announce the launch of Visa Direct, a new solution that allows RevoluPAY customers to send and receive money instantly from person to person through RevoluSEND. Consumers can use this solution, which is already operational, throughout the European Economic Area thanks to Visa's global network and RevoluPAY's technology and license.



This innovative solution arrives amidst a growing trend among consumers favoring digital payments and demanding new methods for seamless money transfers. Notably, 42% of Spaniards have embraced mobile payments at least once, according to Visa's data (Visa and Pecunpay Mobile Payments Study, 2023). In this dynamic landscape Visa remains at the forefront of innovation, dedicated to enhancing accessibility and efficiency in emerging payment methods and channels, facilitating new money movement flows that connect and empower consumers.

To leverage Visa Direct, RevoluPAY clients using the RevoluSEND, can seamlessly access the new functionality for transferring funds to a card or account directly within the application. To initiate a transfer,

users simply need to complete a form with the Visa card or account numbers of the intended recipient and confirm the transaction! In doing so, Visa Direct enables the client to send and receive money, such as sending gifts, splitting expenses, or assisting relatives located outside of Spain, through real-time technology that facilitates an efficient and secure payment experience.

"The consumer demands increasingly faster solutions for sending and receiving money that are easy and secure to use. Visa Direct is an example that at Visa, we are at the forefront of developing the most innovative technology in the sector, aiming to facilitate the movement of money between people and, above all, provide consumers with different forms that adapt to their day-to-day needs. Therefore, we are very proud to continue expanding this solution in Spain hand in hand with a disruptive partner like RevoluPAY," stated Eduardo Prieto, General Manager of Visa in Spain.

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Gavin McMillan, CEO of RevoluGROUP, said, "Our alliance with Visa goes beyond being merely a partnership; it is a commitment to continue providing secure, innovative, and nearly real-time payment solutions to our customers and white label partners. It also underscores our strength in the market and dedication to maximizing value for shareholders, achieving key objectives, and demonstrating the impact of our actions through results."

RevoluPAY is an Affiliate Partner of Visa and joins 100 other financial institutions in Europe that already have this platform, which, among its many use cases, enables fast and secure business-to-consumer and government-to-government payments: business/government to small business, government-to-consumer and consumer-to-consumer payments directly to billions of recipients around the world.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a global leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and public administrations in more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payment network, empowering individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. We believe that economies embracing inclusivity worldwide empower everyone, and we consider access a fundamental factor for the future of money movement. More information at Visa.es

For more information

APPLE TREE

T. +34 913 19 05 15

Lucia Lopez

ll@appletree.agency

About RevoluPAY

The Company's flagship Neobanking technology is RevoluPAY, the Apple and Android multinational payment app. Conceived entirely in-house, RevoluPAY features proprietary, sector-specific technology of which the resulting source code is the Company's intellectual property. RevoluPAY's built-in features include Remittance Payments, Forex, Retail and Hospitality payments, Real Estate Payments, pay-as-you-go phone top-ups, Gift Cards & Online Credits, Utility Bill payments, Leisure payments, Travel Payments, etc. RevoluPAY is aimed at the worldwide multi-billion dollar Open Banking sector and + $630 billion family remittance market. RevoluPAY is operated by the European wholly owned subsidiary RevoluPAY EP S.L located in Barcelona. RevoluPAY is a licensed United States MSB, Canadian FINTRAC, and European PSD2 payment institution 6900 under E.U. Directive 2015/2366 with EU Passporting. RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. controls five wholly owned subsidiaries on four continents.

About RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.

RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. is a multi-asset, multidivisional, publicly traded Canadian Company deploying advanced technologies in; Banking, Mobile Apps, Money Remittance, Cross-Border Forex Payments, Mobile Phone Top-Ups, EGaming, Healthcare Payments, Esports, Invoice factoring, Online Travel, Vacation Resort, Blockchain Systems, and Fintech app sectors. Click here to read more.

For further information on RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. (TSX-V: REVO), visit the Company's website at www.RevoluGROUP.com.

RevoluGROUP Canada, Inc.

"Gavin McMillan"

______________________

Gavin McMillan

CEO and Director

For further information, contact:

RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.

Telephone: (604) 332 5355

Email: info@revolugroup.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.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although Management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if Management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for further information.




(Bloomberg) -- AT&T Inc.s choice of Ericsson AB for a $14 billion revamp of its sprawling mobile network marks a coming of age for flexible wireless technology that promises to bring competition to infrastructure markets dominated by two companies.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The technology that Ericsson plans to use for the rebuild has already been adopted by mobile companies such as Rakuten Group Inc. and Dish Network Corp. Still, AT&T is the biggest telecommunications firm to commit to open radio access network infrastructure, or Open RAN.

Open RAN first gained prominence when countries including the US, Australia and the UK moved to ban Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies Co. as relations with Beijing deteriorated. The technology allows more vendors to contribute than previous, when heavily integrated solutions were dominated by just two companies outside of China: Ericsson and Nokia Oyj.

AT&T as a behemoth moving in this direction is a huge signal, said Diane Rinaldo, executive director of the Washington-based lobbying group Open RAN Policy Coalition. It gives credence to the readiness of the technology.

Read More: Ericsson Beats Nokia to $14 Billion AT&T Network Build Deal

Most networks today are built by single vendors, and gear from other companies isnt compatible. Open RAN networks aim to be ruled by software, so any company can offer its gear as long as the device meets publicly disclosed technical standards, driving competition and cost savings.

In 2021, the UK and its mobile networks set a target of 2030 to carry 35% of data over Open RAN equipment. One ally in the effort has been Meta Platforms Inc. founder Mark Zuckerberg, who helped found the Telecom Infra Project, an industry group that helps develop the interoperable technology.

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Open RAN has reached maturity to be a mainstay solution, said Yago Tenorio, chairman of Telecom Infra Project and Vodafone Group Plcs network architecture director. We need optionality in the supply chain. Weve come to a point where we have only three vendors, and one of them is geopolitically challenged.

AT&Ts choice may encourage operators worldwide to move toward open networks, said John Baker, senior vice president of network software supplier Mavenir Systems Inc., a closely held company based in Richardson, Texas. Mavenirs products are used in Open RAN networks, including those of German provider 1&1 AG, which said Friday it would activate Europes first network that entirely depends on the technology.

The barrier that we were constantly running against is: Why wasnt the US doing it? Baker said in an interview. AT&Ts move will take some of the fears, obviously, away from other operators, he said.

AT&T expects its move to spark widespread changes.

It ultimately will have a pretty incredible impact on the wireless industry because these are some of the last closed networks that are around, Jeremy Legg, AT&Ts chief technology officer, said in an interview.

But its a heavy lift to retrofit or replace the massive wireless networks that now girdle the globe. AT&T, for instance, says its US network has more than 100,000 nodes that send and receive signals.

The companys move stands to jolt a slumbering market for building radio access networks in North America, where spending has dropped for two consecutive quarters, according to market research firm DellOro Group. A radio access network is the towers, antennas and base stations that ferry signals from mobile devices to the core fiber network that links nerve centers.

Others will follow. Maybe not as aggressively as AT&T but there is no doubt this is a major catalyst, Stefan Pongratz, a vice president at DellOro, said in an email, adding that it gives operators power they didnt have before. AT&T has already said they can invite Nokia back for 6G if the existing vendors get lazy.

Legg said AT&T has a very deep relationship with Nokia outside of this. So it wasnt a thing where we were saying, Nokia bad, Ericsson good.

T-Mobile US Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mike Sievert said at an investor conference Dec. 5 that the company is very comfortable with our relationships with Nokia and Ericsson.

Despite Open RAN threatening their dominance, Nokia and Ericsson have both embraced the shift. That market could reach $6.6 billion in sales by 2027, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.

For now, however, Ericssons win was a blow to Nokia. The Finnish companys share price fell to its lowest since 2020 last week after AT&T announced the partnership with its rival. Nokia gear will be removed as part of the network transformation. The development creates fresh headwinds for the company, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analysts.

(Updates with T-Mobile comments in 16th paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Sam Altman (left) and Mark Zuckerberg (right). Justin Sullivan via Getty Images; Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

It turns out that Silicon Valley's tech titans keep in touch via WhatsApp too.

A group chat with over 100 tech CEOs was speculating about Sam Altman's firing from OpenAI, per the NYT.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Dropbox chief Drew Houston are part of the group, per the NYT.

It turns out that billionaire tech moguls aren't that different from regular people when it comes to industry gossip.

When Sam Altman was ousted as OpenAI's CEO in November, his Silicon Valley counterparts were busy speculating about why.

And they were doing so in a private WhatsApp group chat that comprised over 100 Silicon Valley CEOs, per The New York Times.

"Sam is out," read one person's message to the group chat on November 17, per The Times.

But no one seemed to know the real reason behind Altman's firing. The Times reported that a flurry of messages ensued, including speculation about what Altman might have done to get the chop.

The WhatsApp group includes big names like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Dropbox chief Drew Houston, per The Times.

Altman's abrupt ouster saw the appointment of two interim CEOs before he was reinstated just days later.

What resulted in Altman's removal as CEO remains unclear.

Earlier, when OpenAI's board announced his firing, it said in a statement that Altman "was not consistently candid in his communications with the board" but didn't give further details.

The company has since appointed lawyers from WilmerHale to "conduct an effective and timely review" of the events that led to Altman's firing, per a November 29 statement from OpenAI chairman Bret Taylor.

Representatives for Zuckerberg and Houston did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By buying an index fund, investors can approximate the average market return. But if you buy good businesses at attractive prices, your portfolio returns could exceed the average market return. For example, the Gas Malaysia Berhad (KLSE:GASMSIA) share price is up 17% in the last three years, clearly besting the market decline of around 8.8% (not including dividends). However, more recent returns haven't been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 3.4% in the last year , including dividends .

So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 3 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns.

View our latest analysis for Gas Malaysia Berhad

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

Gas Malaysia Berhad was able to grow its EPS at 23% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. This EPS growth is higher than the 5% average annual increase in the share price. So one could reasonably conclude that the market has cooled on the stock. This cautious sentiment is reflected in its (fairly low) P/E ratio of 10.84.

The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

Dive deeper into Gas Malaysia Berhad's key metrics by checking this interactive graph of Gas Malaysia Berhad's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of Gas Malaysia Berhad, it has a TSR of 42% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

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A Different Perspective

Gas Malaysia Berhad shareholders gained a total return of 3.4% during the year. Unfortunately this falls short of the market return. It's probably a good sign that the company has an even better long term track record, having provided shareholders with an annual TSR of 8% over five years. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. 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 Gas Malaysia Berhad (of which 1 is significant!) you should know about.

But note: Gas Malaysia Berhad may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Queensland local government streamlines data to improve resident engagement and bolster its Internet of Things (IoT) project

SYDNEY & BRISBANE, Australia, December 11, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Boomi, the intelligent connectivity and automation leader, today announced that Toowoomba Regional Council has implemented the Boomi platform to streamline digital services delivery to residents and drive key initiatives such as its Internet of Things (IoT) water infrastructure project.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231211658796/en/

Toowoomba Regional Council Enhances Route to Digital Services With Boomi (Graphic: Business Wire)

Situated in southeast Queensland, Australia, Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is home to more than 180,000 residents. The council is currently undergoing an experience-motivated technology transformation, using data to improve digital services for residents  from maintenance requests, to water payments, to managing development applications.

"Community services must complement the digital lives of locals," said Mark Godfrey, Senior Integration Developer at TRC. "They need to be timely and accessible by residents, while easily maintained by council staff. We sought to implement a data framework that would create a common understanding of whats happening across the council so processes can happen without fuss, and enable us to respond to the community faster and reduce organizational risk."

TRC replaced manual, point-to-point integrations with the Boomi platform, connecting business-critical applications, including its electronic document management system; ERP software; people, property, and regulatory software; property development portal, smart parking system, and waste services system. With data silos and information duplications eliminated, TRC has streamlined several public-facing processes, including property development documentation.

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"In the past, residents reported that documents were going missing online, which would prompt the IT team to investigate and manually amend systems  this would take hours. Now, were no longer allowing antiquated processes to impact our engagement with residents, nor allowing it to hinder our governance," said Godfrey.

He added, "With Boomi, were able to meet state government requirements by ensuring development documents are available for public consumption. At the same time, we are gaining a better understanding of how residents interact with us. From capturing metrics on public requests to issuing alerts, were able to respond to documentation demand and problems in real time. This gives our technology improvements meaning  it's not just advancement in the IT room, its also advancement for people and processes."

As part of its smarter infrastructure strategy, TRC is also undergoing a major water infrastructure refresh.

Godfrey stated, "Were pulling out more than 64,000 home and business water meters and replacing the aging infrastructure with smart meters over the next three years. Instead of relying on manual meter readings, Boomis intelligent and low-code platform synchronizes with Iota Services  our IoT partner  to pull meter data and ensure the information flows where it needs to go."

Looking ahead, TRC will use Flow, Boomis workflow automation solution, to elevate overall resident experience. This will include developing online forms such as direct debit requests. Currently, residents must download, sign, and scan paper-based requests, and then staff manually triage these requests. Boomi Flow will streamline the process by making digital signing possible and automating internal triaging.

Other Flow projects will see TRC establish a 360-degree view of resident information within a single interface. With a complete view of everything from pets listed and properties registered, to rates payments, TRC employees will be able to respond to citizen inquiries more quickly and with a firmer understanding of their needs.

"Australians have come to expect top quality digital services from organizations, and that extends to the councils which oversee their places of residence," said Nathan Gower, Director of Australia and New Zealand at Boomi. "Convoluted processes are not acceptable. Boomi has given TRC the ability to remove inefficiencies and better meet its regions specific requirements while maintaining accountability over the taxpayer dollars it spends."

Additional Resources

About Boomi

Boomi aims to make the world a better place by connecting everyone to everything, anywhere. The pioneer of cloud-based integration platform as a service (iPaaS), and now a category-leading, global software as a service (SaaS) company, Boomi touts the largest customer base among integration platform vendors and a worldwide network of approximately 800 partners  including Accenture, Capgemini, Deloitte, SAP, and Snowflake. Global organizations turn to Boomis award-winning platform to discover, manage, and orchestrate data, while connecting applications, processes, and people for better, faster outcomes. For more information, visit boomi.com.

 2023 Boomi, LP. Boomi, the B logo, and Boomiverse are trademarks of Boomi, LP or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All rights reserved. Other names or marks may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231211658796/en/

Contacts

Media:

Jasmine Ee

Head of Media and Analyst Relations, APJ

jasmine.ee@boomi.com
Woman talks on the phone in front of Kyivstar store in Kyiv

Woman talks on the phone in front of Kyivstar store in Kyiv

By Max Hunder, Jonathan Landay and Stefaniia Bern

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's biggest mobile network operator said it hoped to restore operations by Wednesday after coming under what appeared to be the largest cyberattack since Russia launched its war on the country in February 2022.

Tuesday's attack on Kyivstar, which has more than half of Ukraine's population as mobile subscribers, knocked out services, damaged IT infrastructure and put millions of people in danger of not receiving alerts of potential Russian air assaults.

It also disrupted the air raid alert systems themselves in parts of Kyiv.

The company's Chief Executive Officer Oleksandr Komarov said the attack was "a result of" the war with Russia.

"War is also happening in cyberspace. Unfortunately, we have been hit as a result of this war," he told national television.

"(The attack) significantly damaged (our) infrastructure, limited access, we could not counter it at the virtual level, so we shut down Kyivstar physically to limit the enemy's access."

Komarov did not say which Russian body he believed to be responsible, but said personal data of users had not been compromised.

Russian hacktivist group Killnet claimed responsibility for the attack via a statement on the Telegram messaging app, but did not provide evidence.

A source close to Kyivstar said the Ukrainian military was not affected by the outage.

Ukraine's SBU intelligence agency told Reuters one of the possibilities it was investigating was that of a cyber-attack conducted by Russian security services.

Russia's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kyivstar, which has 24.3 million mobile subscribers, as well as more than 1.1 million home internet subscribers, said late on Tuesday that fixed-line services were partially restored and it was working to restore other services by Wednesday.

"This isn't the first attempt to breach the perimeter of the country's telecom operator, but unfortunately, this attempt has been successful," Komarov told Forbes Ukraine.

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STATE ACTOR

A source close to Ukraine's cyber defence agency also said that Russia was suspected to be the source of the attack, but no specific group had been identified.

"It's definitely a state actor," said the source, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue, adding that data cable interception showed "a lot of Russian controlled traffic directed at these networks".

"There's no ransom. It's all destruction. So it's not a financially motivated attack," said the source.

Komarov told Forbes Ukraine that Kyivstar's "working hypothesis" was that the goal of the attack was destruction and disruption.

"Perhaps it was aimed at disrupting the president's visit to the United States, perhaps to aggravate energy blackouts, or impact the morale of Ukrainians," he said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was in Washington on Tuesday, pleading for more U.S. military support to fight Russia.

Ukrainian officials said air raid alert systems in more than 75 settlements in Kyiv region, which surrounds the capital, were affected by the cyberattack and they would announce aerial danger through loudspeakers until repair works done.

Millions of Ukrainians depend also on phone alerts to warn them of possible Russian air attacks.

In Kyiv, some people rushed to connect to other network providers and a small queue of customers formed at a store for Vodafone, Kyivstar's largest competitor.

One man who bought a new SIM was 25-year-old PR consultant Dmytro. "My connection has completely disappeared, my internet and my satellite navigation aren't working, I can't move around the city," he said.

Kyivstar, owned by Amsterdam-listed mobile telecoms operator Veon, said in a statement on Facebook it was cooperating with law enforcement bodies.

Veon said it was also investigating the attack and it could not yet quantify the financial impact.

Separately, the co-founder of Monobank, a major Ukrainian payment system, said in a social media post that his company was currently suffering a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, but that everything was "under control". He subsequently said that attack had been fought off.

Representatives of PrivatBank and Oschadbank, two major Ukrainian financial institutions, told media outlet Hromadske that some of their ATMs and card terminals had been affected by the Kyivstar outage.

Ukrainian state bodies and companies have often accused Russia of orchestrating cyberattacks against them in the past.

At the war's outset, a cyberattack hit Viasat Inc, disabling thousands of satellite internet modems across Europe and causing a huge loss in communications for Ukraine.

(Reporting by Max Hunder, Tom Balmforth, Stefaniia Bern and Oleksandr Kozhukhar in Kyiv, Yuliia Dysa in Gdansk, Jonathan Landay and Christopher Bing in Washington DC, James Pearson in London and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Mark Potter, Alexandra Hudson, Alex Richardson and Lincoln Feast.)
Vancouver, BC --News Direct-- MarketJar

Source: Unsplash

The uranium market is witnessing a seismic shift, fueled by a recent rally that has set the stage for a series of bold mergers and acquisitions across North America, reshaping the landscape of uranium production.

Last week Australia's emerging uranium producer Boss Energy announced plans to acquire a 30% stake in enCore's high-grade Alta Mesa In Situ Recovery (ISR) project in South Texas for $60 million.1 Combined with the Honeymoon project, this will position Boss to become a multi-mine uranium producer by the first half of 2024.

The following day, ATHA Energy announced a strategic move in the uranium exploration sector with the all-stock acquisitions of Latitude Uranium and 92 Energy. This consolidation positions ATHA as a key player in Canadian uranium exploration, holding the largest exploration package in the renowned Athabasca and Thelon basins, totaling 6.1 million acres.2

In another significant development, IsoEnergy concluded the acquisition of Consolidated Uranium, valuing it at nearly $669.4 million.3 IsoEnergy shareholders now own 70.5% of the merged entity, with Consolidated Uranium shareholders retaining 29.5%.

The acquisition combines two TSXV-listed entities, with Consolidated Uranium having past producing mines in Utah and Colorado, holding 48.61Mlbs at 34.5% U3O8 in the Hurricane deposit.

As the uranium sector undergoes a transformative phase with notable mergers and acquisitions, the spotlight shifts to another significant player in the resource market: GoldMining Inc. (NYSE-A:GLDG). GoldMining Inc. stands out with a robust portfolio, substantial cash reserves of $163 million, and the significant advantage of being debt-free.

GoldMining Inc. (NYSE-A:GLDG) is set to rejuvenate its exploration activities at the Rea Uranium Project, located in the prolific Western Athabasca Basin in Canada.4

GoldMinings Strategic Leap in a Revitalized Uranium Market

Encompassing approximately 125,328 hectares, GoldMinings Rea Uranium Project strategically encircles Orano's high-grade Dragon Lake deposit, placing it in a prime location near world-class uranium deposits.

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The Rea Project is set against the backdrop of a robust uranium market, with prices reaching $80.25 per pound, the highest since 2008. This peak positions uranium as the top-performing energy commodity of 2023, highlighting the project's potential in a strong market environment. The project's proximity to significant uranium developments like Fission Uranium's Triple R and NexGen Energy's Arrow deposits adds to its appeal, underlining its potential in a region known for high-grade uranium.

The Rea Project, acquired as part of GoldMining's takeover of Brazilian Gold Corporation in 2013, lies in a historically underexplored area. However, the recent high-grade discoveries in the nearby Patterson Lake area have spurred renewed exploration interest in the region. Additionally, the project's closeness to the shallow uranium mineralization at the Dragon Lake deposit, part of Oranos Maybelle River project, enhances its exploration prospects.

GoldMining Inc. (NYSE-A:GLDG) also stands out in its approach to valuing underappreciated enterprises, focusing on Enterprise Value (EV) as a key metric, as noted in a recent report by CarbonCredits.com.

Despite the low market-attributed EV of just $29 million for all its assets, GoldMining owns substantial resources, including the La Mina gold deposit, valued at $369 million, and a 75% stake in the Rea uranium project in partnership with Orano, a major uranium producer.

The company's global resource base includes 12.65 million ounces of gold (Measured and Indicated) and an additional 13.41 million ounces (Inferred). GoldMining has strategically acquired these assets at favorable prices, demonstrating a contrarian investment strategy. Its diverse operations span across Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and North America, with significant stakes in Gold Royalty Corp, US GoldMining, and NevGold.

GoldMining's business strategy focuses on acquiring high-quality resources at low costs and unlocking their value, having successfully built a diverse portfolio. The company is now entering a phase aimed at realizing the value of its gold projects through sales, spin-outs, or partnerships.

Financially robust, with no debt and over $160 million in cash and equity holdings, GoldMining is well-positioned for growth. With management and insiders holding about 15% of the company, their interests align with shareholders, offering a promising opportunity for investors in a market where gold's value is on the rise. Renowned names like David Garofalo, Warren Gilman, Rick Rule, and Doug Casey being part of the shareholder registry further enhance the companys credibility.

For further details, click here to explore GoldMining Inc. (NYSE-A:GLDG).

Footnotes:

[1] https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/encore-energy-enters-us-70-million-transaction-with-boss-energy-proceeds-to-accelerate-company-wide-uranium-production-plans-892708029.html

[2] https://www.mining.com/atha-creates-leading-canadian-uranium-explorer-with-acquisition-of-latitude-92-energy/

[3] https://www.mining-technology.com/news/isoenergy-merges-with-consolidated-uranium/

[4] https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/goldmining-to-advance-the-rea-uranium-project-one-of-the-largest-land-packages-in-western-athabasca-basin-canada-859037683.html

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By David Shepardson

NASHUA, New Hampshire (Reuters) -U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said she expects to make around a dozen semiconductor chips funding awards within the next year, including multi-billion dollar announcements that could drastically reshape U.S. chip production.

She announced the first award on Monday - $35 million to a BAE Systems facility in Hampshire to produce chips for fighter planes from the "Chips for America" semiconductor manufacturing and research subsidy program approved by Congress in August 2022.

"Next year we'll get into some of the bigger ones with leading-edge fabs," Raimondo told reporters. "A year from now I think we will have made 10 or 12 similar announcements, some of them multi-billion dollar announcements."

In an interview with Reuters, Raimondo said that the number of awards could go higher than 12.

She said she wants the percentage of semiconductors produced in the United States to rise from about 12% to closer to 20% - though that is still down from 40% in 1990 - and to have at least two "leading-edge" U.S. manufacturing clusters. In addition, she wants the U.S. to have cutting-edge memory and packaging production and to "meet the military's needs for current and mature" chips.

Raimondo noted that the U.S. currently does not have any cutting-edge manufacturing production and wants to get that to about 10%.

Companies like Intel, Micron, GlobalFoundries are among those seeking significant funding from the chip program.

Raimondo said the program has received more than 550 statements of interest and nearly 150 pre-applications, full applications, and concept plans.

She said that given the extensive interest, there will be many disappointed companies.

"We have national security goals and we need to make our investments to hit those goals and we're going to do that," she added.

Congress has allocated $39 billion for manufacturing incentives to encourage companies to build and expand facilities and awards can be a mix of grants, government loans or loan guarantees.

The department has said direct funding awards are expected to range between 5%-15% of project capital expenditures and total award amounts will generally not exceed 35% of project capital expenditures.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
US Looking Into Nvidias AI Chips for China, Raimondo Says

(Bloomberg) -- Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the US is looking into the specifics of three new artificial intelligence accelerators that Nvidia Corp. is developing for China, after vowing earlier this month to restrict any new chips that give the Asian country AI capabilities.

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We look at every spec of every new chip, obviously to make sure it doesnt violate the export controls, she said in an interview Monday with Bloomberg News during a visit to Nashua, New Hampshire.

We talk to Nvidia regularly, and I should say theyre a good partner, she added. We have a close working relationship with them. They share information.

When asked about the US actions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Tuesday they undermine the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and will not be conducive to the stability of the global and industrial supply chains.

She added at a regular press briefing in Beijing that the moves contradicted the principles of market economy and fair competition.

Nvidia, based in Santa Clara, California, is in the process of developing China-specific chips after the US tightened export controls to block the export of semiconductors the company had earlier designed for China. The new processors abide by the stricter China guidelines that Commerce announced earlier this fall, Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang told reporters in Singapore last week.

In response to Raimondos latest remarks, Nvidia said it was working with the US government following its clear rules and looking to offer compliant data center solutions to customers worldwide.

Raimondo warned companies this month that the US can and will further tighten controls to capture new technologies that could give Beijing an edge. If you redesign a chip around a particular cut line that enables them to do AI, Im going to control it the very next day, she said at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California.

Story continues

The Commerce Department declined to comment on whether it plans to restrict Nvidias new chips but reiterated that it will continually update rules to respond to an evolving threat.

--With assistance from Ian King and Philip Glamann.

(Updates with remarks from Chinas Foreign Ministry.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. in game of "catch me if you can" with Nvidia on rules - China media

FILE PHOTO: U.S. in game of "catch me if you can" with Nvidia on rules - China media

By David Shepardson

NASHUA, New Hampshire (Reuters) -The Biden administration is in discussions with Nvidia Corp about permissible sales of artificial intelligence chips to China but emphasized that it cannot sell its most advanced semiconductors to Chinese firms.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, speaking in an interview with Reuters on Monday, said Nvidia "can, will and should sell AI chips to China because most AI chips will be for commercial applications."

"What we cannot allow them to ship is the most sophisticated, highest-processing power AI chips, which would enable China to train their frontier models," she added.

Raimondo said she spoke a week ago to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and he was "crystal clear. We don't want to break the rules. Tell us the rules, we'll work with you."

Raimondo sent a warning to chips companies on AI chips at a forum last week in California. She said traditionally Commerce drew a "cutline" and companies like Nvidia would create a new chip "just below" that line.

"That's not productive," Raimondo said. "I am telling you if you redesign a chip around a particular cutline that enables them to do AI, I am going to control it the very next day."

Raimondo said Monday the department was working with Nvidia. "They want to do the right thing. Obviously they want to sell as many chips as possible."

Nvidia declined to comment. Last week, Huang said the company was working closely with the U.S. government to ensure new chips for the Chinese market were compliant with export curbs.

Raimondo separately said it was too soon to tell if the establishment of a commercial issues working group with China in August was working.

In November, China's central bank granted a license to a joint venture set up by MasterCard and China approved Broadcom's $69 billion acquisition of cloud-computing firm VMware. She called those "baby steps in the right direction."

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Raimondo said she was disappointed Chinese airlines had not started taking Boeing airplane deliveries. Boeing is still waiting to resume deliveries of its 737 MAX to Chinese airlines more than four years after they were halted following two deadly crashes. Boeing declined comment.

Raimondo said U.S. President Joe Biden raised Boeing last month during talks in California with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"We're going to keep pressing," Raimondo said. "There is no reason they shouldn't make good on that commitment."

Separately, Raimondo again called on Congress to pass legislation to address potential threats to national security from foreign apps like TikTok. Legislation has stalled to give the administration new tools to address security concerns around foreign-owned apps.

"We need the tools," Raimondo said. "I don't think it should be just banning Tiktok - we don't want get into the business of naming companies for so many reasons... Today it's TikTok. Who knows what it is tomorrow?"

TikTok denies it poses national security concerns.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Stephen Coates)
A $90 million investment will be made to launch Virginias Research Triangle network involving the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and VCU, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday.

The investment will be made when the three institutions sign an upcoming agreement, according to a news release from the governor's office.

A biotechnology, life sciences, and pharmaceutical manufacturing network will be created to foster collaboration among the three major existing university research institutions, according to the release.

In his upcoming biennial budget, scheduled to be released on Dec. 20, Youngkin will include the total of $90 million in one-time funds to the University of Virginias Manning Institute for Biotechnology, Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and the Virginia Commonwealth Universitys Medicines for All Institute, according to the release.

The institutions will partner with the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority to collaborate on commercialization and startup support.

Todays investment announcement lays the groundwork for remarkable startup innovation and commercialization that interconnects Charlottesville, the Greater Richmond Area, Roanoke and the New River Valley," Youngkin said in the release. "Through this state commitment and private philanthropy, we are building Virginias research triangle and network, supporting our higher education institutions research endeavors, and expanding Virginias university research capacity that will enhance life-saving research development for generations to come. My administration is committed to building Virginias research engine for the future and creating high-paying jobs in the process.

Others involved were quoted in the release:

For the last decade, VCUs Medicine for All Institute has led the world in developing innovations to making medicines by lowering costs, strengthening supply resilience, and increasing quality. As we look towards the next decade of the advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in Virginia, Medicine for All is excited to be a partner in growing the capabilities and job opportunities this industry can bring to the Commonwealth. Governor Youngkins continued investment and support is helping make this a reality and we are grateful to be a part of this important initiative, said Frank Gupton, co-founder of Phlow and CEO, Medicines for All.

The Commonwealth will greatly benefit from this major collaborative initiative from Governor Youngkin to advance biomedical research, innovation and translation at and between the states major academic health centers. This investment will not only advance the ongoing biomedical and health sciences research at the states three largest academic medical centers but will facilitate increased collaboration and innovation between them, said Mike Friedlander, executive director of Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and Virginia Tech vice president of health sciences and technology. At this time in history, the most impactful advances in medicine come from multi- and trans- disciplinary team science that requires groups with complementary expertise working together across institutions. This initiative will provide such an opportunity for researchers at UVA, VCU, and VTC to accelerate these advances for the benefit of the health of all. In addition to catalyzing research breakthroughs and their applications for improved health, this investment will contribute to the enhanced growth of the bioscience commercialization ecosystem across the state through development of intellectual property and emerging biotechnology companies, working closely with our academic medicine institutions.

We are exceptionally grateful for the Governors announcement today of the Commonwealths additional funding for the UVA Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, said K. Craig Kent, CEO of UVA Health and executive vice president of health affairs for University of Virginia. We look forward to continued collaboration with our other university research colleagues and the full spectrum of bioscience partners across Virginia.

Innovation is at the heart of a thriving economy and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Todays landmark investment announced by Governor Youngkin will help accelerate university collaboration and elevate Virginias leadership in the critical biotech, life sciences, and pharmaceutical manufacturing health sectors, said Joseph Benevento, president of the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority (VIPA).

The Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority will convene the three institutions to sign a memorandum of understanding with the authority and each other, and once the MOU is signed by the three institutions and by VIPA, $50 million will be available for UVAs Manning Institute for Biotechnology, $27 million will be available for Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and $13 million will be available for VCUs Medicines for All Institute, according to the release.

Best colleges in Virginia Best colleges in Virginia
Officials with the Dodge County Sheriffs Office teamed up on Saturday, Dec. 9, with the Nebraska State Patrol, the Fremont Rural Fire Department and the Nebraska Trucking Association for the annual Stuff the Cruiser charity toy and clothing drive.

Braving the chilly temperatures and stiff breeze, Dodge County Sheriff Dustin Weitzel and sheriffs Sgt. Brie Frank were joined by numerous firefighters, state patrol troopers and representatives from the NTA outside the Fremont Walmart, collecting toys, clothing and other donated gifts from the public.

Weitzel said he was proud of all involved, noting that the sheriffs Stuff the Cruiser, is one of many law enforcement-related charitable drives during the holiday season.

It is really important for us and our mission, Weitzel said of the charity effort and outreach to the wider Dodge County community his office serves.

Frank said this years Stuff the Cruiser will continue for the next week or longer as gifts, clothes and donations are collected through around Dec. 17 to be distributed to an estimated 50 to 75 families.

They not only get toys, but they also get a Christmas meals. There is a subsection of Christmas meals donated by a private donor through the Nebraska Trucking Association, Frank said. It is a mix of toys, winter wear, hats, clothing and we also accept hygiene items.

Kevin Chase of the Nebraska Trucking Association said many families not only need gifts such as toys and clothing, but also food.

We have enough meals for 50 families. We buy the meals and supplies, and the families cook them, Chase said at the event on Saturday.

As of Dec. 9, Frank said 38 Dodge County families had been nominated to receive gifts and the free Christmas meal package of food. The charity effort is mainly open to Dodge County residents, but Frank and Weitzel both said exceptions are made on occasion for families close to the county line or who may be nominated and can be assisted.

Frank said once all the Christmas gifts and food are gathered and the donation period closes, the items are coordinated together for distribution to recipient families who come to the sheriffs office building in downtown Fremont to pick up the items.

We distribute the gifts from the sheriffs office so that families can have a more authentic Christmas, being able to put the gifts under the tree in their home, she said.

This is the eighth year of the Dodge County area Stuff the Cruiser event, and the event grows larger each year as need increases, Frank said in a prior interview.

The sheriffs office version of the charity drive was theorized by former Dodge County Sheriff Steve Hespen, who wanted to help families in need who live outside the city limits of Fremont and are in more remote areas of the county like Hooper, Scribner and North Bend, Frank said in a 2022 interview.

In addition to the sheriffs office effort, the Fremont Police Department also joins the holiday charity giving with its Shop with a Cop event, also centered at Walmart in Fremont.

The funds used to purchase gifts for both the sheriffs and police charity drives come solely from private donations, and no government funds are utilized.

To donate, contact the Dodge County Sheriffs Office at 402-727-2702 and tell the operator you want to donate to the Stuff the Cruiser charity effort.
While Nebraskans have always been able to spend the night in Lincoln or hang out in Waterloo, Wood River or Rushville, now sailors on the USS Nebraska can do the same.

And they won't need to leave the ballistic-missile submarine stationed at Naval Base Kitsap in Bangor, Washington, to do it.

On Veterans Day, the USS Nebraska began honoring the Cornhusker State by naming all work and living spaces after Nebraska communities.

Vance Scott, commanding officer on the U.S. Navys nuclear powered, Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, came up with the idea while touring the University of Nebraska Innovation Campus and the Scarlet Hotel during Lincoln Navy Week in August.

They talked about the rooms named after a city or town in Nebraska, Cmdr. Scott said. And I thought, I wonder if I can do that on my boat?

Shari Veil, dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of NebraskaLincoln, helped Scott answer that question.

When Veil learned about the naming project, she reached out to Nebraska alumni at Archrival, a Lincoln-based marketing company that worked with developer Goldenrod Companies on the brand and naming for the Scarlet Hotel.

This project is a perfect example of what makes Nebraska so special, Veil said. We set up a meeting with folks from the Navy, College of Journalism, Archrival and Goldenrod, and a few weeks later, the Navy had hundreds of community histories and thousands of photos of Nebraska towns and landmarks to pick from.

Zach Wiegert, managing principal of Goldenrod Companies, said his team embraced the opportunity to collaborate with the military.

We were excited to hear our Scarlet Hotel project inspired the U.S. Navy to name their staterooms in a similar manner, Wiegert said. We are proud supporters of our nations military.

The most challenging part of the project was helping crew members identify with the various locations within Nebraska, especially for crew members who have not been to Nebraska.

Goldenrod engaged the team at Archrival to write unique stories of nearly 150 Nebraska cities and towns. We shared these stories with the U.S. Navy, along with more than 2,000 photographs depicting each locale, which were captured by students from the University of Nebraska, Wiegert said.

This gave the U.S. Navy team the opportunity to review and select the towns they wanted to represent onboard the submarine.

The commanding officers stateroom will be named after the capital city of Lincoln, and the executive officers stateroom will be named after Bancroft, the name of a dormitory at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

Additional spaces such as officer staterooms, bunkrooms, chiefs quarters, the wardroom, study areas, and the crews lounge will be named Wahoo, Waterloo, Pawnee City, Broken Bow, Atlanta, West Point, Valentine, Offutt AFB, Schuyler, Eagle, Red Cloud, Tecumseh, Hastings, Central City, Tekamah, Weeping Water, Boys Town, Wood River, Waverly, Omaha, Cedar Rapids, Grand Island, Oakland, Imperial and Rushville.

More than 50 sailors from various commands, including several USS Nebraska crew members and Scott, participated in education and community outreach events during Lincoln Navy Week, Aug. 21-27.

Navy Band Great Lakes entertained residents at venues throughout the week while sailors met with students in several high schools, Boys & Girls Clubs and after-school programs and volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, Food Bank of Lincoln, YMCA, United Way, and Matt Talbot, among other organizations. Navy Public Affairs Officers toured the College of Journalism and Mass Communications and media facilities. The week culminated with the two-day Guardians of Freedom Airshow.

Scott, a Baltimore, Maryland, native and 2004 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, was impressed by the local hospitality.

We definitely felt embraced and welcomed by everyone that we were in contact with, and (the city) rolled out the red carpet and really took great care of me and my team, Scott said. We wanted to try to find a way of kind of paying back the city and the state and really rebuild that connectivity that we have.

Veil was proud to see the various groups come together to make the project happen.

Nebraskans love and support our military, and its a great honor to have our communities represented on the USS Nebraska, Veil said.

Photos: Blue Angels return to Lincoln for Guardians of Freedom Airshow
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day OConnor is shown in January 2003 before administering the oath of office to members of the Texas Supreme Court in Austin.
When Russia shot down a Korean Airlines flight in 1983 with air-to-air missiles, the crew and everyone on board paid the ultimate price for straying into restricted airspace.

The Russian military mistook the commercial flight with 269 people on board for a spy plane because it was 200 miles off course.

The deaths prompted the Reagan administration to open up the Global Positioning System for civilian use, and it's revolutionized life since, allowing everyone to have precise mapping on their phones, giving financial institutions the power to prevent fraud through GPS timing and providing farmers better tools for irrigation and harvesting.

Lt. Col. Robert Wray, 2nd Space Operations Squadron commander, and others described the 31 active GPS satellites, global ground stations and people that make the complex system possible at Schriever Space Force Base on Saturday. Wray and his colleagues invited the public in to see their operations, as part of marking the 30th anniversary of GPS becoming fully operational.

Surrounded by large monitors, a group of 10 people, eight military members and two contractors work 24/7 at Schriever, east of Colorado Springs, to operate and monitor the GPS satellites. No one operates a satellite alone, to prevent mistakes, Wray explained. The crew also takes calls from users experiencing anomalies.

The windowless office space is the front-facing portion of a large global system, said Col. Andy Menschner, who oversees the new Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Delta, within Space Force.

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"The operators here on the floor are able to control ground antennas all over the world, speak and communicate with 37 satellites on orbit, and provide assurance that the signal from space is accurate and reliable," he said.

The satellites carry atomic clocks that provide the precise timing across the world, necessary for critical infrastructure, such as the electrical grid, Wray said. Its role in infrastructure means likely 6 billion people rely on GPS.

Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine has underscored the importance of GPS. As Ukraine relies heavily on drones in the conflict, Russia counters by jamming local GPS receivers.

The U.S. constellation of GPS satellites traveling 12,550 miles above the Earth are untouched by this localized jamming, Wray said.

As the Space Force marks a major birthday for the GPS constellation, it is also working on updates for the system that has used 79 satellites since the first one went into orbit in 1978. As the atomic clocks on the satellites age, satellites are retired and moved out farther away from the Earth, Wray said. The oldest satellite in orbit is 26, a few years older than most of the operators.

The most recent six satellites sent into orbit were built by Lockheed Martin in Littleton and provide three times greater accuracy compared to older satellites, according to a Lockheed news release.

Upgrades for the whole ground system are also in development and will be deployed at Schriever in 2025, Menschner said.

"That'll be the largest transition for GPS in decades," he said.
A collective composed of nearly 20 local conservative groups has called on 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen to initiate a criminal investigation of El Paso County schools and districts for offering books and other materials the group calls obscene.

The group, which refers to itself as Take Back Our Schools, sent a letter and petition, dated Nov. 21, that says several area school districts have books in their inventory that fit the legal definition of pornography.

As concerned citizens, we are fully convinced this matter, which rises to the level of criminal behavior as established and confirmed by U.S. and Colorado state law, required the thorough attention and direct involvement of your office," the petition states.

According to the petition, the material can be found in multiple libraries in school districts 2, 3, 11, 14, 20, 38 and 49.

The group is asking the DAs office to compel districts within El Paso County  (to) refrain from engaging in clear criminal activity, or be held to penalties  for each infraction, also as required by law.

DA office spokeswoman Kate Singh acknowledged receipt of the petition and said the office is currently working to assess the information to determine the appropriate course of action.

A spokesperson with D-11 said that the district would be "monitoring the response" of the DA office to the petition.

In the petition, the group cites the 1973 Supreme Court case Miller v. California, in which the high court ruled that obscene materials are not protected under the First Amendment if they contain offensive depictions of sexual conduct and if the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary artistic, political, or scientific value.

The petition includes a letter from State Rep. Rose Pugliese, who has two children in Academy District 20 schools. The letter acknowledges that Pugliese has not read the books in question and asks that Allens office work collaboratively with the district leaders to be sure that they (are) properly evaluating books in our school libraries.

Darcy Schoening of the El Paso County chapter of Moms for Liberty said the reasoning for the petition was not political in nature.

This is not a stunt. Were hoping for some real action, Schoening said.

Its not political. Its about parents taking back control of what their children have access to and what their local government and school boards deem appropriate for kids.

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The petition lists hundreds of books available in El Paso County school libraries, all rated on a suitability scale of 1 to 5, with 5 considered aberrant content.

About 40 of the books listed are given a rating of 4, or not for minors. Five books are given the aberrant content rating. Those books  Darius the Great Deserves Better; Flamer; Identical; Push; and Shine  are mostly available in high school libraries.

If a priest had these materials available in his church, where kids could have access to them, people would call that grooming, Schoening said. They would call it criminal activity. Thats what this is.

Rob Rogers, a District 20 parent who led a successful push to return several challenged volumes to district libraries earlier this year, said the petition lacks legal merit and that passages excerpted from the novels were cherry-picked without context.

The case law theyve cited (in the petition) blows up their entire argument," Rogers said. "The third prong of the Miller test says that you have to consider the work as a whole, and theyre not doing that."

If you want to get a parents attention, you make them believe that their child is in danger. Thats what this stuff is designed to do  to trigger fear in parents. And its working.

After the D-20 board reversed its book removals, Take Back Our Schools had no choice but to reach out to the District Attorneys office, Schoening said.

There was really no other direction to go, she said.

The ideal goal is that no one is charged, and that the administrators and superintendents and school board collaboratively work together to hurry up and create a policy to remove these books, and that way Michael Allen isnt tasked with it. But theyve had two years to do so.
Editor's note: Not long after Russia invaded Ukraine and images began circulating of lives forever changed, Denver Gazette Photo Editor Christian Murdock got a call from his mom. The family had deep roots in the region, she reminded her son.

"I swear I saw your Aunt Kathy on the news last night," she told him.

"Well, Mom," Murdock replied, "that could have been Aunt Kathy."

Perhaps it inspires a thought in us all here in Colorado and across America: Along the twisting, turning, migratory paths of history, who is to say fate could not have placed us and our loved ones in the unimaginable?

Almost two years into the war, Murdock has traveled to Ukraine to capture the struggle of a generation. For the next couple of weeks, his pictures and stories aim to better connect us to the plight of a people not so far away  to bring them closer to our hearts this holiday season.

DNIPRO, Ukraine  Walking through a park next to an old Soviet factory on a cold gray day, Halyna Ladygas eyes begin to tear as she thinks back at the unimaginable turn of events.

I was very happy. I had a good life, Ladyga said Monday, Dec. 11, 2023.

She, her husband and their 6-year-old twins were ready to move into their new home in Svatovo, Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, near the Russian border. Life was good  a life of happy kids, happy friendships and a good business.

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Everything changed on Feb. 24, 2022. She and her husband were returning from their vacation in Costa Rica. They checked their cellphone during a layover in the Netherlands and read the news: The Russian troops had invaded their homeland.

How was this possible in the 21st century? Ladyga wondered, thinking about that day. Can it be a reality? Her second thought was they must return home as soon as possible for their kids.

Their return flight to Kyiv, Ukraine, was canceled so they flew to Warsaw, Poland, and took a taxi 350 miles to the border of Ukraine. The line of people leaving Ukraine was 1,600 feet long and the vehicles stretched for 15 miles. They were along crossing into Ukraine.

Two days of taxis, a borrowed car and their own from the airport in Kyiv returned them home on the other side of Ukraine. Destroyed bridges from Russian airstrikes made for detours. They could hear the explosions from inside their car as they drove east. The sounds of war, Ladyga said. I dont know where I found the stronger force, but I knew I had to get back to my children.

The children were at their grandmothers home when they returned. There were tears, cries and weeps, she said, and many hugs and kisses. The Russian tanks entered their village March 8. A week later during a truce between the two sides, the Ladyga family left for Dnipro, where they now live.

In her wildest dreams, Ladyga never thought this would happen.

I have a feeling that my future, my dream was stolen, Ladyga said. I was robbed of it. I was a business lady and I earned money, quite good money. I could travel. I could just live a normal life in my place. And all that just gone because of Russia. Our generation went to nothing.
Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and host of The Jimmy Sengenberger Show Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on News/Talk 710 KNUS. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter.
Paul J. Batura is a local writer and host of WHAT A LIFE! Lessons from Legends radio program heard on Saturdays at 6 a.m. on AM 1460 and 100.7 FM KGFT on Sunday afternoons at 1 p.m. You can reach him via email: Paul@PaulBatura.com.
Although she previously found a jury should decide whether Colorado Springs police officers and the city itself are liable for killing a man with a Taser, a federal judge has declined to forge ahead with a trial while the defendants appeal her ruling.
The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday, by 4-3, agreed a Fremont County judge was within her authority to reduce a first-degree murder charge against a criminal defendant because the district attorney's office was responsible for a pattern of withholding evidence across many cases in violation of its professional obligations.
A gray wolf is seen in a trail camera image on the Sherman Creek Ranch, March 26, 2023, near Walden, Colorado. As state officials prepare to reintroduce wolves in western Colorado, a small number of the animals already have wandered in from Wyoming. (Don Gittleson via AP)
Federico will fill a Kansas-based seat on the 10th Circuit that has been vacant for over two years, and also becomes the second public defender to serve on the court
A Los Angeles man training to be a truck driver allegedly slashed his instructor with a knife during a stopover in the Albany area.

Jaylon Marquise Gatlin, 34, was arraigned on felony charges of second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon Monday, Dec. 11, in Linn County Circuit Court.

A Place to Sleep, episode 9: Sleep The latest episode is here, and this time we put a lot less emphasis on the word "place" and a lot more on "sleep."

The alleged victim suffered two significant wounds from a box cutter, requiring a total of 28 stitches, according to a probable cause affidavit file with the court, which states Gatlin claimed he was defending himself.

Linn County Sheriffs deputies were dispatched to a stabbing call around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at the EZ Trip Travel Plaza on Highway 34, the court document states, noting two men called to report the incident: Gatlin and the victim, 44-year-old Brian Eugene Witmer of Hemet, California.

Witmer told dispatch he was locked in the cab of a semi-truck and Gatlin was trying to get in, according to the document, which states a deputy arrived and detained Gatlin, who had a Husky-brand folding box knife in his pocket.

Gatlin told the deputy that he and the victim work for Western Express, and he was training under Witmer using a company-provided truck, the document states.

During an argument over going to a store, Gatlin claimed Witmer hit him in the back of the head/neck area, according to the document. Gatlin said while his head was being held down, he grabbed for anything he could use to defend himself, finding the box knife near the trucks center console, the document states.

Gatlin described being in survival mode, swinging his arms around behind him before being pushed out of the cab, then trying to get back inside and seeing a cut on Witmers left leg.

Witmer was taken to Lebanon Community Hospital, where he received 21 stitches for a large gash on the posterior of his left leg and another seven stitches for a deep cut on his left arm, the court document states.

Interviewed later at the Sheriffs Office, Witmer said Gatlin was in the drivers seat and was trying to start driving. Witmer took the key, but Gatlin tried using a second key to start the truck again, according to the document.

Witmer reportedly grabbed for the second key, then opened the drivers side door and pushed Gatlin out, struggling but succeeding in closing the door. Thats when Witmer said he realized he was cut, telling the deputy he didnt see the box knife in Gatlins hand until after the door was closed.

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Gatlin still had the second key and kept trying to get in, according to the document, which states Witmer had to hold the locks on both doors to keep Gatlin out.

A witness said he saw Gatlin trying to get in the cab, and while partially in he appeared to hit Witmer repeatedly. The witness said he saw a knife fall to the ground when Gatlin was pushed out of the truck.

Gatlin was held at the Linn County Jail on $50,000 bail. If convicted on the assault charge, he faces a minimum sentence of 5 years and 10 months in prison under Oregons Measure 11 law.
Former U.N. Ambassador and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley made her case to an overflow crowd of around 100 voters at Clear Lake's K&B Emporium on Saturday, part of a three-day swing through the Hawkeye state that also included stops in Sioux City, Spirit Lake and Sioux Center.

Haley, who also previously served as governor of South Carolina, was introduced at the event by Clear Lake Mayor Nelson Crabb, who said, "In a state of chaos, you must first develop a sense of community before you can implement any government strategy."

Crabb argued Haley's experience as a state legislator, six years as governor, and the nation's representative to the U.N. "checks off every box." He endorsed her as "one of the top politicians that I've ever met."

"She is one of us," he said. "She knows what she's talking about, and she's trustworthy. Bottom line for me."

Haley, in making her case to the potential Republican caucusgoers, laid out her vision for taking the party forward, saying, "No more whining. No more complaining. Now we get to work."

Haley said as president she would meet with the nation's 50 governors once per quarter, "with the sole focus of taking as many federal programs as we can and passing them down to the states. That will reduce the size of the federal government, and it will empower people on the ground."

"Think (of) welfare, health care, education," Haley said. "Wouldn't you much rather have Kim Reynolds handle something like that, and not some bureaucrat in D.C.?"

Earlier Saturday, Haley participated in a "Faith and Family" forum at Sioux Center's Dordt University, hosted by Iowa's 4th Congressional District Rep. Randy Feenstra and his wife, Lynette.

The Associated Press reported Haley's momentum has picked up with donors and voters thanks in part to her performances at the debates and the campaigns increased focus on foreign policy after Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Haley now has support from Americans for Prosperity, the political arm of the influential conservative network led by billionaire Charles Koch. AFP Action, in its endorsement, promised to commit its nationwide coalition of activists to help Haley defeat Trump in the GOP primary.

Trump appointed Haley to serve as U.N. ambassador in January 2017, and she served in that role until her resignation in December 2018.

Haley argued her foreign policy experience and her tough approach in dealing with threats posed by Russia, China and Iran set her apart from her competitors in the 2024 election.

"Dictators always do what they say they're gonna do. Hamas said they would invade Israel, (and) China said they were gonna take Hong Kong. We saw it happen. Russia said they would invade Ukraine. China says Taiwan is next; we'd better believe them," Haley said.

A recent national poll from the Wall Street Journal suggests that in a hypothetical matchup between Haley and presumptive Democratic nominee President Joe Biden, Haley would defeat the incumbent president by 17 points.

However, the Associated Press reports Trumps polling average in Real Clear Politics rolling average of Iowa polls is 47.3%, while DeSantis is at 18.7% and Haley at 15.7%. In similar polling metrics on the data journalism website FiveThirtyEight.com, Trump is at 45.9%, DeSantis at 19.7% and Haley at 17.5%.

Rightly or wrongly, chaos follows him, she said, referring to Trump. Chaos follows him. You know Im right. In every situation. And we cant have a country thats in disarray and a world on fire and go through four more years of chaos and survive. We wont.

CNN announced Thursday it would hold a non-RNC sanctioned debate Jan. 10 at Drake University in Des Moines. The network's polling criteria for the debate require a candidate to receive at least 10% in three separate national and/or Iowa polls, which at press time would allow only Trump, DeSantis and Haley. Trump has skipped every GOP presidential debate so far and is not expected to attend future debates.

Iowa's Republican presidential caucuses will be held Jan. 15.
Mason City police engaged in a brief standoff after responding to a call of shots fired at a residence on 12th Street Northwest Monday.

According to a press release, a 911 call came in around 11 a.m. from a male stating that another male in the house had shot at him with a handgun but he was uninjured. Officers from the MCPD, Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Office, and Iowa State Patrol set up a perimeter around the house, and diverted traffic for a while.

A search warrant was requested for the property and the North Iowa Special Operations Group was enlisted to assist at the scene for a man who had apparently barricaded himself inside the home.

Police say that the man in question, 50-year-old John Paul Compher, exited the home without incident and was taken into custody. Compher is in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on charges of second-offense domestic assault.

An investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
After first reporting a theft from a Toys for Tots bin at Planet Fitness in Danville, authorities later said it was a misunderstanding.

The was first reported at Planet Fitness in the 3300 block of Riverside Drive, according to a news release from the Danville Police Department.

Investigators were seeking help from the public in identifying a female suspect believed to have stolen the items.

On Dec. 4, police said the suspect used false information to receive the items from the Toys for Tots donation bin. A Toys for Tots representative learned Monday that the suspect obtained the toys under false pretenses, according to the news release.

Hours after issuing the alert, Danville police said that no crime was actually committed.

Upon seeing the Danville Police Department news release, the individual came forward and returned the toys collected, authorities wrote in the release.

The individual, who entered Planet Fitness by mistake, showed an authentic email from Toys for Tots to the Planet Fitness staff who then loaded all the toys from the bin into her vehicle, the latest release stated. The individual mistakenly went into Planet Fitness instead of the Toys for Tots office next door.

Officials termed it a misunderstanding on the part of Planet Fitness staff.
Authorities in Danville and Pittsylvania County have lifted a ban on burning imposed in early November following Sundays drenching rainfall.

Danville received about 2 inches of rain  and a slight dusting of snow  according to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg. Some areas in the northern part of Pittsylvania County collected more than 2.5 inches of rain Sunday.

While it was enough to ease worries to lift the burn ban, Danville still lags about 5 inches of rain from the normal for the year. On Monday, the city had received 36.34 inches, Robert Stonefield, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, confirmed to the Register & Bee.

The average rainfall for the year is 41.67 inches. In 2022, Danville also was below average with 37.57 inches.

Despite the welcome wet weather, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is still worried about drought conditions. On Monday, it expanded its drought watch advisory  basically a proactive approach to let residents know of a potential drought  to include nine more localities.

Pittsylvania County  including Danville  was already on the watch advisory, where it remains.

Stream flows and groundwater levels are below normal for these areas, the department reported.

In the Shenandoah region, a drought warning advisory is in effect, meaning a significant drought is imminent.

During the fall fire season  Oct. 15 to Nov. 30  dry conditions fuel worries about wildfires and promoted the local burn bans. This season, the Virginia Department of Forestry battled 156 wildfires that burned nearly 25,000 acres, the agency reported.

Last year, 2,654 acres burned in 89 wildfires.

With 35 consecutive days of suppression efforts, this fall fire season provided tremendous challenges, State Forester Rob Farrell said in a statement. Our wildland firefighters once again answered the call to protect Virginias communities and natural resources.

While the fall fire season has come to an end, theres still a threat of wildfires.

Even if no fire restrictions are in place, we encourage those in drought areas to delay all outdoor burning until the drought is lifted, John Miller, the director of fire and emergency response with the state department, said in a statement.

Given that Danville isnt far off from the normal rainfall, Stonefield explained the weather services drought designation often refers to fire danger.

Its getting too cold for some fires to burn, he said in explaining the somewhat alleviated worries.

Danville and Pittsylvania County are listed in a severe drought  the third in a five-tier system  according to the United States Drought Monitors latest report Dec. 7. The monitor is updated weekly on Thursdays.

The rest of the this week appears to be dry with seasonable temperatures.

We are not expecting to see any rain here until probably next Sunday, Stonefield said of Danvilles forecast.
Delegate Les Adams, R-Pittsylvania, is resigning from his seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Adams, whose resignation is effective at the conclusion of his current term, announced his decision Tuesday. Adams was reelected in November.

Although I have been elected to continue serving as delegate for the new 48th House District in the next session, I will decline to accept the oath of office to be seated with that General Assembly so that I may make myself available for another position of service, Adams wrote in a letter to the clerk of the House of Delegates.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin and House Speaker Todd Gilbert are copied in the letter.

It has been a tremendous privilege to represent the people of Pittsylvania, Henry [counties] and the city of Martinsville over the course of the past decade, and I will always be grateful to them for affording me that honor, Adams wrote.

Virginias constitution gives the governor the ability to issue a writ of special election for vacancies in the General Assembly when the legislature is not in session. Youngkin has called for a Jan. 9 special election in the 48th House District, with a candidate filing deadline of Dec. 17.

The General Assembly returns to Richmond for its new session Jan. 10.

Within hours of Adams announcement, former Chatham Mayor Will Pace announced his intention to run for the seat.

After being asked by many neighbors and friends, I have decided to announce my candidacy for this seat, Pace posted on his campaign Facebook page. I will be the strong Constitutional conservative that we need in Richmond to continue on Les work and support Gov. Youngkin.

Pace added that he would work to end the sales and grocery taxes, protect Second Amendment rights, support law enforcement officers, give parents a voice in their childs education and uphold the sanctity of life.

During an interview Tuesday afternoon, Pace added that he looked forward to the challenge of the race and representing the people of the 48th House District in Pittsylvania County, Henry County and Martinsville.

Besides serving on Chatham Town Council and as mayor, he has also served as chairman of both the Pittsylvania County Republican Committee and the Fifth District Republican Committee.

Currently a member of the Virginia Tobacco Commission, Pace also served as a legislative aide for nine years in the House of Delegates.

I know the system, I know how it works, I know how to get things done, he said. Im ready to go.

Henry County business owner Eric Phillips is also vying for the seat.

I am thankful for Les service to Southside and Southwest Virginia and I look forward to being a conservative voice for our values in Richmond, Phillips posted on his Facebook page.

He serves on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of the Blue Ridge, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce and the Uptown Partnership.

Phillips is also chairman of the Martinsville Industrial Development Authority and chair of the Henry County-Martinsville Republican Committee.

He serves on the Republican Part of Virginias governing board, the State Central Committee.

As Delegate, I will fight to bring needed infrastructure investment with projects like the Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor, to protect our students and defend parental rights and work to create jobs, cut taxes and regulations and ease the burden on hardworking Virginians, he said in a prepared statement. I will bring a new voice to Richmond that will stand up to the political establishment. I am excited about this opportunity and I am optimistic about the future of our commonwealth.

Adams, first elected in 2013, has served five terms in the Virginia General Assembly.

He served on various House committees and was recently vice chairman of the Virginia State Crime Commission and is vice chairman of the board of trustees of the Center for Rural Virginia. He is also a member of the Virginia Tobacco Commission.

A native of Pittsylvania County, Adams lives in Chatham with his wife Melanie and their two sons.
A new charter school that focuses on a traditional approach to learning won approval Monday to open in Guilford County in August 2025.

Liberty Charter Academys plans include teaching cursive handwriting, formal grammar, Latin and logic.

LCA will be a limited technology school, thus students will not use computers on a daily basis, the school said in its application to the state.

Members of the North Carolina Charter School Review Board voted on Monday to give the go-ahead to Liberty Charter Academy, moving its application to Ready to Open status.

Charter schools are tuition-free public schools, chartered by the state, but governed by nonprofit boards.

Due to legislation passed earlier this year, the former charter school advisory board has been renamed as the review board and is now the authorizing body for charter schools in the state. New charter schools no longer need to be approved by the State Board of Education.

Liberty Charter Academy intends to operate in the southwest area of Guilford County. The school does not have a building yet, but is looking at some different options. The idea is to open with grades K-9, and over the years keep adding grades up through 12th grade.

The board of Liberty Charter Academy plans to contract with an education management organization called American Traditional Academies and pay that organization to run the school.

After previously starting three independent charter schools in Guilford County, educator Mary Catherine Sauer created American Traditional Academies to run more charter schools along similar lines.

American Traditional Academies is currently operating one other school: Legacy Classical Academy in Rockingham County. This is that schools first year.

This application cycle was Liberty Charter Academys third try to win state approval.

During Mondays Charter School Review Board meeting, its application was met with a mix of critique and praise.

Members of the Charter School Review Board saw strengths in the Liberty Charters board, such as members business experience, but one member questioned the lack of a K-12 educator on the board, and at least a couple board members suggested the all-male board could be improved by including women.

The Liberty Charter board also faced skepticism from some on the board about whether the number of teachers the school planned to hire wouldnt be too lean for the number of students they hoped to enroll. Some members also had questions or concerns about whether the board might be too hands-off in its governing approach with American Traditional Academies running the school.

We do understand that the charter is ours and ATA works for us, Liberty Charter board member Doug Williams told them.

The board ultimately voted 10-2 to approve the school.
Federal prosecutors are alerting consumers about a potential uptick in online scams, as well as financial schemes targeting older adults.

According to the FBIs 2022 Internet Crimes Report, North Carolina is ranked among the top 20 states for online financial fraud, both in the number of victims and in monetary losses. In 2022, Americans lost more than $281 million to internet scams, including online shopping and non-delivery schemes, which generally spike during the holiday season.

December is the month of giving, but its also the time of year when cybercriminals try to take advantage of consumers, quickly turning a joyous season into a living nightmare, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King said in a statement. Whether shopping online for a gift, choosing a charity for a donation, or applying for seasonal work to earn extra money, it is imperative for everyone to stay vigilant against online scams and identity theft schemes.

The U.S. Attorneys Office, Western District of North Carolina, announced that these are common scams consumers may face this holiday season:

Fake online stores or lookalike stores: Be on the lookout for online stores that are either entirely fake or made to look like a legitimate store. Be particularly careful with social media ads that link you to bogus online stores or product listings.

Missed delivery/non-delivery notification: Beware of fake delivery notification emails or text messages alerting you of a missed package delivery. Do not be quick to click on the link provided in a text or email, as you may be directed to a website designed to steal your information.

Gift card scams: Avoid online stores or advertisements that claim to sell commercial gift cards at deeply discounted prices. Instead, purchase gift cards from reputable retailers.

Fake charities: During the holidays, cybercriminals seek to take advantage of consumers generosity through fraudulent charities, GoFundMe campaigns, and other charitable causes. If donating online, research the charity thoroughly, check with the Better Business Bureau, and take a look at the charitys URL and website for telltale signs of fraud, including misspellings, bad grammar, and no contact information.

Phishing emails or texts: Be particularly mindful of emails or texts claiming to be from your bank or credit card company, warning you that your account has been compromised. These communications generally prompt you to click on a provided link to update your information, so scammers can steal it. Instead, go to your banks main website to log into your account.

Fraudulent seasonal jobs: Employment scams tend to increase during the holiday season, as scammers prey on individuals seeking to make extra money. Be mindful of fake job ads, especially online job listings that offer really good money for very little work. Do not ever pay upfront for any equipment or training you need for a new job. Also, do not provide personal identifying information (Social Security number, date of birth, address, etc.) or your financial and banking information without confirming the job is legitimate. Be particularly mindful of money mule schemes, in which a fake employer asks you to cash a check through your bank, keep a portion of the money, and then send the rest of the money back to the employer.

Scams targeting older adults

King also noted that older adults are particularly vulnerable of becoming victims of online fraud year-round.

Online scams that target seniors are a growing concern in North Carolina, King said. We have a responsibility to protect our vulnerable older population from financial fraud and from scammers that victimize seniors and threaten to leave them in financial peril.

Some examples of financial fraud targeting seniors are:

Lottery Phone Scams

 in which the callers convince seniors that a large fee or taxes must be paid before they can receive lottery winnings.

Grandparent Scams

 which convince seniors that their grandchildren are in trouble and need money to make rent, repair a car, or even money for bail.

Romance Scams

 which lull victims to believe that their online paramour needs funds for a U.S. visit or some other purpose.

Tech Support Scams

 which convince victims to pay for non-existent problems with their computers.

IRS Imposter Scams

 which defraud victims by posing as IRS agents and claiming that victims owe back taxes.

Sham Business Opportunities

 which convince victims to invest in lucrative business opportunities or investments.

Below are some tips from federal prosecutors to avoid falling victim to a financial scam:

Dont share personal information with anyone you dont know.

Dont pay a fee for a prize or lottery winning.

Dont click on pop-up ads or messages.

Delete phishing emails and ignore harassing phone calls.

Dont send gift cards, checks, money orders, wire money, or give your bank account information to a stranger.

Dont fall for a high-pressure sales pitch or a lucrative business deal.

If a scammer approaches you, take the time to talk to a friend or family member.

Keep in mind that if you send money once, youll be a target for life.

Remember, its not rude to say No.

A good rule of thumb is, if its too good to be true, its likely a scam.

To report elder fraud, call the Justice Departments Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). If you believe you are the victim of an online scam, call the FBI and file a report with the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov or contact local law enforcement.
A 37-year-old South Dakota man was charged Monday in Helena Justice Court with one felony count of arson after a roughly a six-hour standoff with law enforcement Saturday in the East Valley.

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's deputies were called to a home in the 5800 block of Pine Cone Road about 1:30 p.m. Saturday to a report of a man threatening to burn down a barn if law enforcement was called, court documents stated.

The call started as a welfare check to see if the man, James D. Randazzo, was having a mental health emergency, officials said.

Deputies saw the man in front of a barn next to the house with a gasoline can in his right hand and propane torch in the left. He refused to comply with directions to put the items down, officials said.

Randazzo poured gasoline on the ground in front of the barn and lit the fuel, while also pouring gasoline all over the door and himself. He was threatening to burn down the barn, himself and any law enforcement who entered the barn to stop him according to court documents.

The flames then spread to the inside of the barn and on the door frame causing damage estimated over $1,500, deputies said.

Firefighters extinguished parts of the building before it spread out of control.

Randazzo surrendered peacefully about 7:15 p.m. Authorities had been able to reach him by cellphone.

Sheriff Leo Dutton said earlier that once deputies arrested the suspect they took him for a mental health and medical evaluation. Dutton said Saturday that Randazzo was homeless. Court officials on Monday listed his city of residence as "unknown."
Now is the time to plan for growth

You may have seen the recent article in the IR about the annual public meeting held by the Montana Environmental Trust Group (METG) called the Miracle of East Helena.

If you missed it, the environmental trust meeting hosted presentations by several partners revealing plans to build thousands of new homes on reclaimed lands formerly owned by the ASARCO Smelter. Additionally, the Prickly Pear Land Trust shared their involvement in the planning and the efforts underway to preserve open space and wild lands further enhancing the quality of life for East Helena residents well into the long range future.

Its an exciting time for our little community (which may soon be a larger community!) and a turning point in a years-long process to reclaim polluted and damaged lands and make them useful again for the next generation.

As for the schools, we became aware of many of these plans a year and half ago when the districts long term infrastructure committee began revising the planning document we use to help the school board prepare for and adapt to changes.

At that time the committee advised the board to engage professionals to determine the suitability of our current facilities and the need for land acquisition for future school sites as these subdivisions start becoming reality. SMA Architects was selected to partner with us in this effort and after a year of meetings and analysis, we are nearing the end of the planning cycle.

A final report and presentation will likely be in front of trustees at their January meeting.

Whats in the draft report and what should we expect in the final plan?

The team considered several options including additions to Prickly Pear Elementary, East Valley Middle School and East Helena High School, as well as full renovations of our older facilities like Eastgate and Radley. The plan will also propose possible new construction of a K-5 or even a K-8 elementary school south of Highway 12 someday. We even vetted the feasibility of building a completely new East Helena High School and repurposing other buildings to house our middle and elementary students.

All of these options considered come with price tags of course and none of them will be necessary immediately. Some are much more feasible and cost effective than others. These are the questions that SMA has helped us answer. Your school district is positioning itself with options to consider for housing the new resident students so we can continue providing the outstanding education we have been known for.

Once the final plan is complete it will be posted on our website.

It is important to remember that this is a plan and plans can change. It is also difficult to predict the rate at which the growth and change will occur and when subsequent construction may be necessary.

But the one thing we know for sure is that the growth is coming and it's our duty and responsibility to prepare now.

Editor's note: To learn more about the Nov. 15 METG meeting, go to https://bit.ly/3RBOyLS.
Kudzu. Its a word. It is a plant. Something that will perk up North Carolinians when they hear that word.

In one sense it is a bad word in North Carolina because it reminds us of the fields and fields of otherwise good farmland taken over by an exploding mob of plants. We see telephone poles and lines covered with that plant taking over everything everywhere.

But it also brings welcome memories of the late Doug Marlettes comic strip named Kudzu, set in rural North Carolina, which was itself the inspiration for a musical named Kudzu which featured the music of legendary Bland Simpson and the Red Clay Ramblers and was performed by them with enthusiasm.

Now there is another creative work that features our history with the kudzu plant.

The Kudzu Queen is the debut novel of Mimi Herman and is set in rural North Carolina in the early 1940s. It was a time when representatives of the U.S. government scoured the countryside to encourage farmers to plant kudzu as a crop.

Herman explained to me recently this background about kudzu in the early 1940s: The government saw kudzu as being the savior plant. So, it was a plant that we could plant to prevent erosion. Think about the time right around the Dust Bowl. And people were looking for erosion preventatives. Also, were just past, the Great Depression.

And heres a plant that literally grew a foot in 24 hours. What better thing to feed your animals and your family? And there was all this stuff you could do with it. I mean, you could cook it, you could make things out of it, you could make baskets, you could make clothes out of it. It was a headache cure. It was a heart attack cure. Kudzu was an alcoholism cure.

In this special kudzu time Herman builds her story.

There is a popular adage that says there are only two plots in all literature: You go on a journey, or the stranger comes to town.

In Hermans novel the stranger is James T. Cullowee who arrives in Cooper County, North Carolina, in a green Chevy truck loaded with kudzu plants. He is charming and full of plans to promote kudzu planting.

Herman writes, We watched him drive down Main Street, the crowd parting to let him pass. As his truck diminished in the distance, even the dust that rose behind him seemed magical, lightly tinged with green and gleaming with hope.

Fifteen-year-old Mattie Lee Watson, the storys narrator, is immediately charmed by Cullowee, who becomes known as the Kudzu King.

When he plans a kudzu festival with a beauty contest and a Kudzu Queen, she aspires to win that crown.

Matties family, including her wise and kind parents and two brothers, are respected in the community and provide a solid base for Matties dealings with her friends and fellow contestants in the Kudzu Queen contest and her crush on Mr. Cullowee.

Matties best friend, Lynette Johnson, and her troubled and poor family live next door. They provide a connection to the challenges knocking down poor farm families at every turn. Lynettes mother is ill, and her father is a drunkard. For some reason the Johnsons invite Mr. Cullowee to stay with them. But when Mrs. Johnson dies, Mr. Cullowee moves in with Matties family.

Another of Matties friends, Rose, lives nearby in a sharecropper family on land owned by Matties father. When they were younger, Rose and Mattie were best friends. But Rose, being black, was assigned to a separate school, and their friendship faded. However, as Mattie struggled with the pressures of the Kudzu Queen contest and her mixed feelings toward Mr. Cullowee, Rose is there to provide wise advice and support.

Even without the Kudzu King and the festival contest to drive the action, Hermans story of Matties growing up and struggles of farm life would be a welcome learning gift to North Carolina readers  especially as we remember the tenacious presence of the kudzu vine in our landscape.
While many people look forward to the holiday season each December, the month brings painful memories for Haylee Shuping. She is the widow of former Concord Police officer Jason Shuping, who was killed in an exchange of gunfire with a suspect on Dec. 16, 2020.

This time of year is very, very difficult, the Salisbury native, 28, told the Independent Tribune in a recent interview. This month is a very somber time for me and my family.

Making a lasting difference

What helps alleviate some of the pain is Shupings efforts to help others especially young people eyeing a career in law enforcement. Shuping created the Officer Jason Shuping Memorial Public Safety Scholarship in 2022 to help basic law enforcement training cadets at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College pursue their goal of becoming law enforcement officers.

Through the scholarship, Shuping awarded funds last year to Matthew Dobson, who is now with the Concord Police Department, and two graduating RCCC cadets, Ryan Garczynski and Christopher Turner, will be receiving funds later this month. Though currently only partial tuition reimbursement, Shuping said she hopes she will eventually be able to fully reimburse individuals tuition.

It really means a lot to me to be able to start this scholarship, Shuping said. Its something that me and my husband actually talked about because there is no funding available for students who are interested in law enforcement in this area and I feel like that shouldnt be a barrier for those that are choosing public safety as a career.

Shuping also created Liberty & Co. Apparel and Tactical L.L.C, which specializes in concealed carry clothing for women to promote gun safety and self-reliance. The company offers custom-made apparel made to honor and support our nations heroes with the mission of giving back to the community, according to its website.

I believe in empowering women and inspiring women on self-reliance and gun-safety independence, Shuping said in a video about her efforts.

She is also the vice-president of the North Carolina chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), which assists survivors and coworkers impacted by line of duty deaths.

C.O.P.S. has over 50 chapters nationwide that work with survivors at the grass-roots level. Each year, between 140 and 160 officers die in the line of duty, according to the organizations website.

Theyve been just amazing for me in connecting me with other police widows and other survivors and family members that have unfortunately had a line of duty death with their loved ones, Shuping said. Its just been so amazing, as far as rebuilding shattered lives.

Shuping visited the White House last year as her husband was posthumously awarded the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor, along with three other officers: Paul Stackenwalt, Kyle Baker, and Kaleb Robinson.

Youre the heart and soul and the very spine of this country and your communities, President Joe Biden told the officers, according to a press release on the City of Concords website.

Back the Badge T-shirt

Shuping recently found another way to support law enforcement through a partnership with Concord resident LeeAnn Miller, founder and owner of the online clothing company PatrioticMe.

Since Miller started her company on Sept. 11, 2020, a portion of the proceeds have gone to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a charitable organization that was founded in tribute to New York Fire Department firefighter, Stephen Siller, who died during the 9/11 attacks. Tunnel to Towers pays off mortgages of local fallen first responders and military members who leave behind young families.

Wanting to have her business impact people closer to home, Miller came up with the idea of creating a special T-shirt to raise money for the memorial scholarship. Earlier this year, Miller, who has served as a mentor for Shuping in getting her business up and running, created a custom-made Back the Badge: Shuping Memorial Edition T-shirt.

The shirt, which comes in heather gray and military green and costing $26.99, features black and blue stripes on one side along with a Pontiac Firebird insignia on the other, which has special significance for Shuping: She and Jason went on their first date in his Pontiac Firebird in high school. As a way to give back to her community, 20 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the shirt will go to the Jason Shuping Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Shuping appreciates Millers efforts to put more of a spotlight on the scholarship and law enforcement.

Its huge to have that sort of community support, Shuping said. Its just really amazing to have LeeAnn be with me throughout this business journey. Its just a full circle moment to see the impact that shes now had on something that means so much to me and Im so passionate about  giving back to the community and honoring my husband.

As the anniversary of her husbands death is less than a week away, Shuping will be spending this weekend in New York City, her first time in the Big Apple. She is looking forward to visiting the World Trade Center site, often referred to as Ground Zero, where hundreds of police and firefighters, like her husband, made the ultimate sacrifice.

Shuping appreciates that so many people continue to keep her husbands memory alive, thereby not allowing his sacrifice to be forgotten, she said.
Congressional races and the Cabarrus School Board race heated up Monday with more candidates filing to run.

Two more candidates filed for the 6th District congressional seat. Christian Castelli of Southern Pines and Mary Ann Contogiannis of Greensboro filed Monday. Castelli was also endorsed to NASCAR legend Richard Petty.

Northwestern Cabarrus voters and all Rowan voters are going to be in the 6th District for Congress in 2024. Congressman Mark Walker of Summerfield is seeking a sixth term. He had previously announced a run for governor but changed his mind. Bo Hines of Salisbury has also filed. Hines was the GOP nominee for the 13th District in 2022.

The rest of Cabarrus is in the 8th District for 2024. That district stretches south and east to Robeson County. It includes some southeastern Mecklenburg County precincts.

Mark Harris of Indian Trail joined the GOP 8th District congressional race.

The name will be familiar to voters. He has run for congress before including in 2018, when he appeared to win.

Harris led Democrat Dan McCready by 905 votes after the votes were tallied. But the election board declined to certify the results and ordered a do-over election the following year amid accusations that McCrae Dowless, an operative hired by Harris campaign consultants, organized an illegal scheme to collect and mark absentee ballots.

Dowless was later indicted and faced three felony counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and two counts of possession of absentee ballots  but died before the case went to trial.

Harris, who was not charged criminally in the case, later announced in 2019 that he would not run in the do-over election, which Bishop, then a state senator, won narrowly.

Congressman Bishop decided not to seek reelection this year and is running for N.C. Attorney General.

N.C. Rep. John R. Bradford II of Cornelius is also running in the 8th District. He appears to live outside the district, but that is allowed in congressional races. He previously had run for N.C. State Treasurer.

The other 8th District candidate so far is Don Brown of Charlotte. All the candidates are Republicans.

Cabarrus County Realtor Leigh Brown, also a Republican, has announced plans to run but has yet to file.

In N.C. House District 82 GOP race, Rep. Kevin Crutchfield is being challenged by Cabarrus GOP Chairman Brian Echevarria. after changes made by the N.C. General Assembly.

This district wraps around the southern portion of Cabarrus from western Concord to Harrisburg, Midland and to Mount Pleasant

N.C. Rep. Dr. Kristin Baker, also a Republican, has announced she wont seek reelection. Dr. Grant Campbell, also a Republican, has filed to seek the N.C. House District 83 seat. Baker is now in that district. The district is made up of precincts in northwestern Cabarrus County and southwestern Rowan County.

In the N.C. House District 73 race, former Cabarrus school board member Holly Edwards is facing Jonathan Almond in the GOP primary so far. Both are from Concord. District 73 is made up of several Concord and Kannapolis precincts and extends to the northeast corner of Cabarrus County.

N.C. Rep. Diamond Staton-Williams, a Democrat, also lives in the 73rd District. Williams narrowly defeated Echevarria for a house seat in the 2022 elections.

In N.C. Senate District 34, Sen. Paul Newton of Mount Pleasant filed to seek reelection.

The 2024 primary election will be Tuesday, March 5, and the general election will be Tuesday, Nov. 5. Through Friday, Dec. 8, filings, no Democrats have filed in Cabarrus races.

County level races

In the Cabarrus County Commissioners race, Chair Steve Morris filed for reelection. Ray Helms of Harrisburg also filed to run. Both are Republicans. The other seat up for election in 2024 is held by Tim Furr.

Cabarrus County Register of Deeds Wayne Nixon, a Republican, filed for reelection Monday.

There are four seats up for election on the Cabarrus County Board of Education.

Namu Kachroo, Keshia Sandidge and Mishell Williams have joined Greg Mills and Catherine Bonds Moore, who filed earlier. The incumbents are Rob Walter, Sandidge, Brian Floyd and Denise Adcock.

Anita Parker filed for reelection to the Kannapolis City Schools Board of Education.

Two Cabarrus judges have filed for reelection, both are Republicans: Judge Nat Knust, District 25, Seat 5; and Judge Michael G. Knox, District 25, Seat 6.

Filing continues through noon on Friday, Dec. 15.
Mining and mining equipment, technology and services have traditionally been engines of economic growth and prosperity for Australia and New Zealand and so its always mattered what operators in these sectors do. In Australia, the sector contributed a record $455 billion in export revenue over the 2022-23 financial year.

Industrial sectors like mining have always been more awake to the potential of data than other sectors. Due to their scale, it takes only a very small - often low single-digit - improvement to achieve a multi-million dollar savings outcome. A major mining contractor in Australia, for example, once said that a 1% operational improvement could save it close to 3 million litres of diesel.

The other effect of that is that a bigger percentage improvement is not only possible but also the impact is more pronounced. Newcrest Mining, for example, increased throughput by 650,000 tons in the first six months of using a soft IoT sensor to optimise the amount of newly crushed ore that could be emptied into a crushed-ore bin, where it is fed onward for further processing.

Both examples reinforce the power of being data-driven in Australian and New Zealand industry, where the bottom-line benefits of process optimisation can be enormous.

And heres the big thing: this is often achieved today with a fairly limited set of data analytics approaches. The data analytics space has evolved considerably over the past few years, and with it, the art of the possible.

Layering additional rigorous models and AI-based advanced analytics on top of traditional data platforms and capabilities promises to unlock a level of process optimisations and improvement for a wide variety of Australian and New Zealand industrial sectors - from mining to manufacturing - that was unimaginable a few short years ago. Indeed, the value of data in enhancing collaboration across large industrial site with dispersed teams also empowers teams to make more informed and timely decisions.

The evolution of data sources

Industrial companies have traditionally sought to capitalise on their wealth of historical data to maximise operational efficiency and profitability. Today, this data is increasingly used to meet their reporting and compliance requirements in areas such as environmental, sustainability and corporate governance.

Many operations naturally start out on a data-driven journey by using data collected and stored in their data historian, a repository for historical plant data produced by process control systems.

This is a natural starting point: the data historian is, after all, capturing and storing high-fidelity process, alarm, and event history data, and allowing for it to be queried to enable troubleshooting and informed decision-making about production assets.

Traditional equipment monitoring programs rely on data measured throughout the process to inform maintenance decisions. For example, temperature and vibration data may be used to predict a variety of failure modes for a centrifugal pump. By using historical data, reliability engineers can determine a baseline value for each measurement and configure alerts when values fall outside of this range. This is known as condition-based monitoring and is a simple way to begin using measured data to improve process reliability.

While condition-based monitoring is useful for assets with relatively stable operation, accounting for different operating windows or process modes can quickly become a challenge.

The historian remains relevant and has a key role to play in asset monitoring, reporting and basic data-driven decision-making. But performing the latter using historical data alone can only achieve so much.

Operators today understand that both historical and real-time data is critical for optimising process performance, reducing production variation, and identifying crucial process events.

That, in turn, is driving - or has driven - industrial companies to use more predictive analytics and increasingly artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), as part of a robust Asset Performance Management program.

AI and digital twins are a force multiplier

Forward-looking industrial companies are choosing to layer rigorous models and AI-based advanced analytics on top of their data historians, to extract value and gain faster and better insights into processes and assets.

AI and ML models can act as deep learning tools to forecast an assets remaining useful life, giving teams critical information and prescriptive insights to analyse cost-versus-risk and devise plans that maximise efficiency and profitability.

Operators can define leading indicators based on sensor and other operations data and use this information to detect even subtle changes in asset performance.

Once teams have identified an anomaly, they can use advanced AI tools to predict performance degradation and component failures and then work together to prioritise maintenance needs based on urgency, schedules, available teams, resources, and spare part availability.

In addition to preventing asset failure, predictive AI-based guidance allows operators to minimise energy usage and compare asset performance, helping them meet regulatory and contractual obligations.

Some operators are taking the next step and creating digital twins that are enhanced with AI capabilities. These can be used to identify the most optimal operating conditions and act as advisors to operators to get more out of their assets.

In particular, a digital twin can provide insight into otherwise unmeasurable process variables, allowing tools to proactively predict best operating conditions, to increase yield, reduce energy as well as reliability issues for rotating and stationary assets across operations.

Every industrial company is on its own unique data-driven journey. Regardless of where they are today, they can still find new ways to optimise operations to increase profitability, while meeting safety requirements and sustainability goals.
The Australian Academic and Research Network, AARnet, has received $6.55 million from the Commonwealth investment through Round 3 of the Australian Governments Regional Connectivity Program (RCP).

The government investment will fund four projects that AARNet says will enable it to deliver fibre upgrades and significantly improve connectivity for education and research for several communities in regional Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

AARNet Director Customer Relations, Angus Griffin, says AARNet is proud to be collaborating with the government to improve the quality of connectivity in regional and remote communities.

Narrowing the digital connectivity divide across Australia is vital for providing equal opportunities to First Nations people and indeed all Australians. AARNet is focused on finding ways to leverage and extend AARNets infrastructure to help with this challenge he said.

Under the funding program, AARNet will provide optical fibre to Batchelor, Northern Territory, connecting key sites providing research and education-related services in the town to the high-speed AARNet network. The sites include the council building, museum, school, community health centre and the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, Australias only First Nations dual-sector tertiary institution.

Batchelor Institute will be provided with the same high-quality and reliable AARNet connectivity that supports teaching, learning and research at other Australian universities. This will help close the digital gap and will create opportunities for academics, staff and students to collaborate and innovate in ways that havent previously been available to them, said Griffin.

In addition, AARNet has been awarded funding to deliver fibre broadband and fixed wireless broadband connectivity to the towns of Three Springs, Migenew, Coorow and Carnamah in the Northern Midlands region of Western Australia.

The projects will also connect key premises, including public libraries and public schools, to AARNet services.
Xi's visit to Vietnam to open up new prospects for relations between two parties, two countries

08:23, December 12, 2023 By He Yin ( People's Daily

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President, will pay a state visit to Vietnam from Dec. 12 to 13.

Xi's visit is at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and State President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Vo Van Thuong.

Six years after his last Vietnam trip, Xi's upcoming visit is bound to open up new prospects for the relations between the two parties and the two countries and make new contributions to human peace and progress.

In their respective struggles for national liberation, China and Vietnam supported each other and forged a special bond of "camaraderie and brotherhood". The two countries' traditional friendship has taken root as their peoples have lived in harmony over a long period. It was enhanced through their joint struggle for national independence and liberation, and continues to deepen as they pursue reform and renewal.

In recent years, the strategic guidance of Xi and Trong has added new dimensions to the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam and pushed for continuous new development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

After the 20th CPC National Congress last year, Xi invited Trong for a visit to China and the two leaders jointly charted the course for the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Since the beginning of this year, both countries have seen frequent high-level interactions, close exchanges between various departments and regions, and deeper cooperation in various fields, which have brought tangible benefits to the two peoples.

China and Vietnam are both advancing their own socialist modernization cause, both regard the bilateral relationship as a priority in their respective foreign policy, and both see each other's development as opportunities for their own development.

Both countries are committed to a people-centered development philosophy, and are pursuing a path to prosperity and strength in line with their own national conditions. The two countries fully leverage their strengths in geographical proximity and industrial complementarity, advance the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan, promote cooperation in strategic areas like connectivity and deepen collaboration in emerging sectors such as e-commerce.

During Xi's upcoming visit, the two sides will discuss upgrading the China-Vietnam relations, focus on six major areas including politics, security, practical cooperation, public support, multilateral affairs and maritime issues, and work to deepen and substantiate the comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries. This will help both countries to jointly follow their modernization paths with respective features, enrich the paths to modernization for developing countries and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

China and Vietnam have the same social system and shared ideals and beliefs, and the bilateral relationship should be at the forefront compared to other countries.

Given the volatile international environment and tasks of reform, development and stability in the two countries, China and Vietnam should persevere in realizing their goals, ideals and missions for the people's happiness and human progress, and continue to view and develop bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. Both countries should follow the policy of long-term stability, forward-thinking, good neighborliness and comprehensive cooperation, and the spirit of being good neighbors, friends, comrades and partners, so as to ensure the steady and sustained growth of bilateral relations in the new era.

The two sides should uphold the important position of the people in friendly exchanges, and inherit and carry forward the China-Vietnam traditional friendship. Both sides should, with a future-oriented perspective, make consistent efforts to promote mutual acquaintance, understanding and affinity among young people of the two countries.

As a Chinese saying goes, neighbors wish each other well, just as loved ones do to each other. The basic policy of China's neighborhood diplomacy is to pursue friendship and partnership with its neighbors, and to build an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood, highlighting the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.

China continues to regard the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and a key region for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, attaches importance to the position and role of Vietnam in ASEAN, and expects to work with Vietnam to accelerate the building of a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home, and advance regional economic integration in East Asia.

China and Vietnam strengthen communication and cooperation in multilateral affairs, support each other on issues involving respective core interests and major concerns, jointly uphold multilateralism and international fairness and justice, and follow the basic norms governing international relations. This is of great significance for maintaining regional and world peace and stability and promoting common development.

The traditional friendship between China and Vietnam is a precious common treasure shared by the two peoples. Inheriting the past and ushering in the future, the two countries should stay true to the original aspiration of carrying forward traditional friendship, bear in mind the shared ideals and missions, continue to add new dimensions to their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and inject new impetus into the development of relations between the two parties and countries as well as their socialist causes.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
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When Nikki Haley was elected governor of South Carolina, one of the first things she did was require all state employees to answer their office phones with: "It's a great day in South Carolina."

This continued for five years until she left to become Donald Trump's ambassador to the United Nations. The forced cheeriness was annoying to some state workers, but it explains Haley's approach to politics  and how she handled being the punching bag for Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron DeSantis during the fourth Republican presidential debate on Wednesday.

"I love all the attention, fellas, thank you for that," she said.

Elon University political scientist Jason Kirk, who has studied Haley's record and written a book on her, describes her vibe as a "be better ethos."

She uses southern charm and a genteel "shame-on-you scold" to counter critics. It's also been an effective way of making her hardline conservative convictions sound less so, appealing to an increasing number of independents, moderate Republicans and curious Democrats.

When DeSantis and Ramaswamy ganged up on her, they affirmed her ascent as the candidate to beat for second place. That's the problem.

Trump holds nearly a 50-point lead over his Republican rivals, according to 538.

We're about five weeks away from the Iowa caucuses and she's still being nice. Which begs the question: Is she just posturing for a slot as vice president or another presidential run in 2028?

Haley has taken a few swipes at the former president, calling him out for racking up $9 trillion in debt, enabling fraud in Covid relief funding, failing to crack down on China for the fentanyl pipeline and, as she says, leading the country to "chaos."

But even as she trails Trump by 30 points among voters in her home state, her campaign is wasting money on ads attacking DeSantis.

It shouldn't be this way. Haley's record and her position as a norm-breaking Indian American Republican woman in a solidly red state qualify her as a perfect non-MAGA alternative to Trump.

She's tried to offer a restrained approach to hot-button issues like abortion, book bans, transgender rights, and race relations with language that avoids angering Trump's base, but that has made her message a mix of mush.

Lost in this campaign is Haley's record as governor that shows she may have some of the essential skills needed for a president dealing with a divided Congress.

In South Carolina, the legislature has more power over state government than the governor. Haley shattered the glass ceiling, then showed she could throw sharp elbows if needed when intransigent legislators overrode her vetoes and otherwise stood in her way.

Haley has shown skill at leveraging public sentiment and using the bully pulpit to overcome opposition. As a back bench state representative, she was outraged to learn that fewer than 95% of the legislature's floor votes were ever recorded, leaving the public in the dark. She filed a bill requiring publicly recorded roll call votes on every bill. But the good old boys who controlled the chamber hated the idea. They stripped Haley of her committee assignments and removed her as majority whip.

Instead of humiliating her, their retaliatory treatment energized her. Haley ran for governor in 2010 during the Tea Party wave, won the primary and the general election and, based on the attention the voting issue received from her campaign, legislators changed their tune. Within four months of her inauguration, her roll call vote legislation became law.

When fellow Republicans refused to back her proposed income tax cut, a government restructuring bill, and a package of ethics reforms, she issued legislative report cards and told South Carolinians to vote them out of office.

After a white supremacist shot and killed nine Black parishioners in a Charleston church, she persuaded reluctant lawmakers to remove the Confederate battle flag from the Statehouse grounds. Black residents, lawmakers and activists had been fighting for the removal for decades and the debate was reignited with the shootings, still, it was a politically risky move for Haley.

Haley is a staunch conservative, but her broadening appeal is likely due to her pragmatism. Take her statements on abortion, an issue fraught with risk for Republicans. In one of the early debates she told a national audience "As much as I'm pro-life, I don't judge anyone for being pro-choice." She urged Republicans to be "honest" with the American people because Republicans didn't have the votes in Congress to pass a national abortion ban and that they should stop "demonizing this issue."

Then, at a forum for conservative Christians in Iowa, she underscored her pro-life stance and said she would have signed a six-week ban when she was governor  a significant shift from the 20-week ban she signed into law. But she also carefully avoided any mention of the fact that she's convinced enacting a federal ban is politically impossible.

To her opponents, her comments are calculated and demonstrate she flip flops on issues. To her defenders, like former spokesman Rob Godfrey, "One person's flip flop is another person's pragmatist. When you move from campaigning into governing, your critics move with you."

Sentiment is growing among some Republicans that Haley is the best alternative to Trump, especially after DeSantis' repeated miscalculations and plummet in the polls.

Last week, Americans for Prosperity, a powerful political network with ties to billionaire Charles Koch, confirmed that it's ready with millions in cash to back her campaign. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jaime Dimon, investor Bill Ackman, and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman are among a group of billionaires who have historically donated to Democrats who are now supporting Haley.

But unless the donor class support translates into votes, Haley isn't going anywhere and her "be better" charm is unlikely to persuade enough voters to choose her over the Make America Great Authoritarian.

Mary Ellen Klas is a Politics and Policy Columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. A former capital bureau chief for the Miami Herald, she has covered politics and government for more than three decades.

(COMMENT, BELOW)




WESTFIELD  The operator of a Westfield grain bin has been cited again for violating federal safety standards after a worker underwent a partial leg amputation after being caught in an auger there.

The U.S. Department of Labor reported in a press release on Tuesday that the new citations were in response to a July 12 incident at this Littlejohn Grain Inc. elevator, which was previously cited for a worker being entrapped in a grain bin for five hours in February.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigators reportedly determined that Littlejohn Grain again violated federal safety regulations by not de-energizing and locking out an auger before allowing the worker to enter the bin.

Inspectors also learned that the company did not test the bin for oxygen content and exposed the worker to a fall hazard above dangerous equipment, the press release reported.

Twice in less than six months, employees were endangered, one of whom suffered injuries with lifelong consequences, said OSHA Area Director Edward Marshall in Peoria. The grain elevators operator could have protected its employees by following federal and industry-recommended safety procedures.

Littlejohn Grain received two willful violations and one serious violation and now faces $115,855 in proposed penalties for the July incident. It is contesting the 21 violations cited after the February 2023 entrapment incident. The operator could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

The grain bin operator has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHAs area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Operating since 1923, the Martinsville-based company serves grain producers in Clark, Edgar and Cumberland counties with facilities in Westfield and Martinsville and a grain elevator in West Union. The company is a member of the Grain & Feed Association of Illinois.

In 2018, OSHA created a regional program for grain-handling facilities in Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin after investigating more than two dozen related fatalities in the prior decade. It also has partnered with the National Grain & Feed Association and other industry groups to promote safety.

Photos: 2015 grain bin rescue training at GSI in Assumption Travioli_Lyle 2.26.15.jpg Harp_Mike 2.26.15.jpg Grain Engulfment Simulator 2.26.15.jpg Grain Bin Rescue Training 9 2.26.15.jpg Grain Bin Rescue Training 8 2.26.15.jpg Grain Bin Rescue Training 7 2.26.15.jpg Grain Bin Rescue Training 6 2.26.15.jpg Grain Bin Rescue Training 5 2.26.15.jpg Grain Bin Rescue Training 4 2.26.15.jpg Grain Bin Rescue Training 3 2.26.15.jpg Grain Bin Rescue Training 2 2.26.15.jpg Grain Bin Rescue Training 1 2.26.15.jpg Beabout_Luke 2.26.15.jpg Beabout_Luke 2 2.26.15.jpg
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden is taking a more active role in Senate negotiations over changes to the immigration system that Republicans are demanding in exchange for providing money to Ukraine in its fight against Russia and Israel for the war with Hamas.

The Democratic president has said he is willing to make "significant compromises on the border" as Republicans block the wartime aid in Congress. The White House is expected to get more involved in talks this week as the impasse over changes to border policy has deepened and the funds remaining for Ukraine have dwindled.

"It's time to cut a deal that both sides can agree to," Biden's budget director, Shalanda Young, said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Republicans say the record numbers of migrants crossing the southern border pose a security threat because authorities cannot adequately screen all the migrants and that those who enter the United States are straining the country's resources. GOP lawmakers also say they cannot justify to their constituents sending billions of dollars to other countries, even in a time of war, while failing to address the border at home.

Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, who is leading the negotiations, pointed to the surge of people entering the U.S. from Mexico and said "it is literally spiraling out of control."

"All we're trying to do is to say what tools are needed to be able to get this back in control, so we don't have the chaos on our southern border," Lankford said on CBS.

But many immigration advocates, including some Democrats, say some of the changes being proposed would gut protections for people who desperately need help and would not really ease the chaos at the border.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, the top Democratic bargainer, said the White House would take a more active role in the talks. But he also panned Republican policy demands so far as "unreasonable."

"We don't want to shut off the United States of America to people who are coming here to be rescued from dangerous, miserable circumstances, in which their life is in jeopardy. The best of America is that you can come here to be rescued from terror and torture," Murphy said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Much of the negotiating is taking place in private, but some of the issues under discussion are known: asylum standards, humanitarian parole and fast-track deportation authority, among others.

A look at what they are and what might happen if there are changes:

HUMANITARIAN PAROLE

Using humanitarian parole, the U.S. government can let people into the country by essentially bypassing the regular immigration process. This power is supposed to be used on a case-by-case basis for "urgent humanitarian reasons" or "significant public benefit." Migrants are usually admitted for a pre-determined period and there's no path toward U.S. citizenship.

Over the years, administrations, both Democratic and Republican, have used humanitarian parole to admit people into the U.S. and help groups of people from all over the world. It's been used to admit people from Hungary in the 1950s, from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos during the latter half of the 1970s, and Iraqi Kurds who had worked with the U.S. in the mid-1990s, according to research by the Cato Institute.

Under Biden, the U.S. has relied heavily on humanitarian parole. The U.S. airlifted nearly 80,000 Afghans from Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, and brought them to the U.S. after the Taliban takeover. The U.S. has admitted tens of thousands of Ukrainians who fled after the Russian invasion.

In January the Democratic administration announced a plan to admit 30,000 people a month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela via humanitarian parole, provided those migrants had a financial sponsor and flew to the U.S. instead of going to the U.S.-Mexico border for entry.

The latest U.S. government figures show that nearly 270,000 people had been admitted into the country through October under that program. Separately, 324,000 people have gotten appointments through a mobile app called CBP One that is used to grant parole to people at land crossings with Mexico.

Republicans have described the programs as essentially an end run around Congress by letting in large numbers of people who otherwise would have no path to be admitted. Texas sued the administration to stop the program aimed at Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.

WHAT MIGHT CHANGE WITH ASYLUM?

Asylum is a type of protection that allows a migrant to stay in the U..S. and have a path to American citizenship. To qualify for asylum, someone has to demonstrate fear of persecution back home due to a fairly specific set of criteria: race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinions. Asylum-seekers must be on U.S. soil when they ask for this protection.

They generally go through an initial screening called a credible fear interview. If they are determined to have a chance of getting asylum, they are allowed to stay in the U.S. to pursue their case in immigration court. That process can take years. In the meantime, asylum-seekers can start to work, get married, have children and create a life.

Critics say the problem is that most people do not end up getting asylum when their case finally makes it to immigration court. But they say migrants know that if they claim asylum, they essentially will be allowed to stay in America for years.

"People aren't necessarily coming to apply for asylum as much to access that asylum adjudication process," said Andrew Arthur, a former immigration court judge and fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for less immigration in the U.S.

Some of what lawmakers are discussing would raise the bar that migrants need to meet during that initial credible fear interview. Those who do not meet it would be sent home.

But Paul Schmidt, a retired immigration court judge who blogs about immigration court issues, said the credible fear interview was never intended to be so tough. Migrants are doing the interview soon after arriving at the border from an often arduous and traumatizing journey, he said. Schmidt said the interview is more of an "initial screening" to weed out those with frivolous asylum claims.

Schmidt also questioned the argument that most migrants fail their final asylum screening. He said some immigration judges apply overly restrictive standards and that the system is so backlogged that it is hard to know exactly what the most recent and reliable statistics are.

WHAT IS EXPEDITED REMOVAL?

Expedited removal, created in 1996 by Congress, basically allows low-level immigration officers, as opposed to an immigration judge, to quickly deport certain immigrants. It was not widely used until 2004 and generally has been used to deport people apprehended within 100 miles of the Mexican or Canadian border and within two weeks of their arrival.

Defenders say it relieves the burden on the backlogged immigration courts. Immigration advocates say its use is prone to errors and does not give migrants enough protections, such as having a lawyer help them argue their case. As president, Republican Donald Trump pushed to expand this fast-track deportation policy nationwide and for longer periods of time. Opponents sued and that expansion never happened.

WHAT MIGHT THESE CHANGES DO?

Much of the disagreement over these proposed changes comes down to whether people think deterrence works.

Arthur, the former immigration court judge, thinks it does. He said changes to the credible fear asylum standards and restrictions on the use of humanitarian parole would be a "game changer." He said it would be a "costly endeavor" as the government would have to detain and deport many more migrants than today. But, he argued, eventually the numbers of people arriving would drop.

But others, like Schmidt, the retired immigration court judge, say migrants are so desperate, they will come anyway and make dangerous journeys to evade Border Patrol.

"Desperate people do desperate things," he said.

___

Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.

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The 2024 presidential field, in the order they've announced Donald Trump, Republican Nikki Haley, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican Marianne Williamson, Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Independent Larry Elder, Republican (dropped out) President Joe Biden, Democrat Asa Hutchinson, Republican Tim Scott, Republican (dropped out) Ron DeSantis, Republican Mike Pence, Republican (dropped out) Chris Christie, Republican Doug Burgum, Republican (dropped out) Francis Suarez, Republican (dropped out) Will Hurd, Republican (dropped out)
Steve Finnegan, a fixture on local radio for more than 40 years, died Sunday of cancer at age 65.

Finnegan, also known as The Finman, was famous for his deep voice, extensive knowledge of music history and genial demeanor. He was most recently the morning DJ at WTOB 980 AM/96.7 FM, where he had been for the past five years.

Before that, he was an on-air personality, production manager, news director, music director, and other duties at such stations as WRQK, WSEZ, WKZL, WMAG, WTQR, WTHZ, and WZOO, among others.

Finnegan was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 7, 1958.

According to a biography from radio personality and historian Patrick W. Garrett, who worked with Finnegan at WROV in Roanoke, Virginia, Finnegans thirst for radio came in the seventh grade during a visit to the principals office, where he had been sent once again for not doing his homework.

Garrett wrote, On the desk of the school secretary was a radio playing the local Easy Listening station, and after Percy Faiths Theme from A Summer Place, a smooth voice came on to tell them what they had heard and that days weather. Steve thought, Everybody here is working, and that guy is on the radio ... Neat!

After graduating from high school, Finnegan pursued a career in radio, starting out part-time on weekends at an easy listening station in Roanoke. He proceeded to work at other Virginia stations before moving to Greensboro station WRQK K-99 in August of 1980. He was eventually fired for being more inane than we bargained for, likely a line from The Finman himself.

He then moved over to WSEZ, once spending more than eight days on a station-owned billboard on the infamous Hawthorne Curve. He joined WKZL in 1987, where he gained another nickname, delivering traffic reports as Captain Triad.

In 1995, he joined the WMAG station family, where he had various duties, and in 1997 he became the show producer for Bill Flynn on WMAG.

In a lot of ways, he was the ultimate utility radio guy, Flynn said. He could do a shift all by himself. If the traffic guy didnt show up, he could do that. He could handle sports. He could handle the news. He was a true radio journeyman in that way.

Its hard to imagine him doing anything else. Radio, that was his passion and his love. The thing is, when he would go on the air he was always positive, always upbeat, always polished. That was the true mark of a professional, and Steve did that beautifully.

At WMAG, he became an afternoon drive personality and hosted and produced a weekly program called Saturday Night at the Seventies.

He wasnt trapped in the 70s but he certainly did love it, Flynn said. He knew all the songs and all the stories and all the bands.

From WMAG he then went to WTHZ in Lexington. His most recent gig before joining WTOB in August 2019 was at WZOO in Asheboro, where he worked for more than five years as program director and morning host.

I ran into him about five years ago, and he had just lost his job at WZOO, said Richard Miller, one of the owners of WTOB, which had at the time recently come back to the market under new ownership. We were at a Radio Friends lunch with all the old radio guys. It was the first time Id seen him in several years, and I thought he would be a great addition to WTOB.

Miller praised Finnegans skills as a radio host, citing his personality, his likability with the listeners  he connects well with his listeners  and being a well-known radio personality in the Triad.

Behind the scenes, Finnegan did his job and he did it well, Miller said. He was always prompt, always willing to help out where we needed help. He will be sorely missed.

Finnegan was a popular fixture at WTOB, but in recent months had been in declining health and had to miss some shows while undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments.

We tried to make sure while he was sick we kept a spot for him at the station, Miller said. We werent going to let him go, we werent going to give up on him until he was ready to go. ... He was loyal to us, and we were loyal to him.

Rob Leonard, who worked with Finnegan at WSEZ Z-93 for five or six years, said by telephone Monday morning that he was still trying to get a handle on the fact that his longtime friend and collaborator was gone.

I know Steve was not well, but to find out this morning on Facebook was a real shock, he said.

Steve was a special kind of guy. I remember my time with him at Z-93. Going up on the billboard, staying up a hundred hours, nothing was beyond him. Steve was a real talent. The worlds going to be a slightly less good place because hes not going to be in it.
An Indiana developer that already has two affordable housing projects in Lincoln got initial approval Monday for a third project at 10th and N streets downtown.

The City Council found that the proposal by Indianapolis-based Annex Group to build a 175-unit apartment project at 205 S. 10th St. conforms with the city-county Comprehensive Plan, the first step the project needs to apply for tax-increment financing or TIF, which allows the developer to use future property taxes the redevelopment generates to pay for certain upfront costs.

The $47 million project would seek about $5.6 million in TIF, which attorney Andrew Willis, who represents the developer, said is vital for such rent-restricted properties.

Theres a serious financing gap and tax-increment financing really does fill that need, he said.

He said the project fulfills lots of city priorities  its an infill project turning an underused parking lot into affordable housing and fits well with other high-density apartment complexes in the area.

Its a great win for everyone in the community, he said.

The proposed six-level building would have mostly one- and two-bedroom units, with a few dozen three- and four-bedroom units. It would take up the north half of the block bounded by Ninth, 10th, M and N streets.

The project would include a central courtyard and amenities such as a fitness center and community room, but it would not have onsite parking, according to planning documents. Instead, Annex Group plans to negotiate with the city to provide residents parking in a city garage at 11th and N streets.

The developer hopes to pay for the project in part with low-income housing tax credits and other programs that support affordable housing. Units would be targeted to renters making anywhere from 50% to 70% of Lincoln's area median income.

The Annex Group also has two other affordable housing projects in Lincoln: a 187-unit apartment complex at 18th and K streets and a 192-apartment complex at Southwest 27th and West B streets.

Top Journal Star photos for December 2023
Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner responded on Tuesday to claims that Chief Deputy Ben Houchin had violated state law when a photo of him in uniform was used in a local political candidates campaign advertisement.

The campaign of Liz Davids, a Lincolnite running for the District 1 seat on the State Board of Education, used a headshot of Houchin in uniform, along with a quote stating his support for her campaign, in a social media post used to announce his endorsement.

A few people raised concerns about the post, noting that Houchin appearing in uniform in a campaign ad appeared to violate state law.

Wagner released a statement Tuesday morning on the Lancaster County Sheriffs social media pages in response to claims that Houchin had broken the law by posing for a photo in uniform for a campaign ad.

"This weekend a photo of Chief Deputy Houchin in uniform was used in an endorsement advertisement for a political candidate," Wagner wrote. "Many have raised questions if he is violating the law by doing so. Had he posed for the picture wearing his uniform, that would be true."

Wagner continued to say the photo was pulled from the department's public website by the campaign without the knowledge of or permission from Houchin, who has publicly endorsed Davids.

According to state law, members of law enforcement are not allowed to intentionally participate in any political campaign activity while in uniform.

Davids' campaign promptly removed the photo featuring Houchin in his uniform following a request by the department and replaced it with a different photo.

Davids said the sheriffs statement described the situation clearly and declined to comment further.

In March of this year, two county sheriffs and a sheriffs captain each paid a $1,000 civil penalty for participating in a campaign ad for Charles Herbster while in uniform. Herbster, who ran for Nebraska governor in 2022, ran the ad in February and March of last year before it was pulled by his campaign.

Top Journal Star photos for December 2023
WILBER  After the chaos erupted at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution on March 2, 2017, Michael Galindo found a phone and called his mother to assure her he was safe.

About an hour and a half later, Galindo would meet his end, the victim of a mob attack, Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Corey O'Brien told the jury in closing arguments Monday.

While at least four inmates were involved, according to video evidence, Eric Ramos, the man at the defense table, is the only one so far to face murder charges, based largely on prison staff identifying him by piecing together surveillance video that they say points to him.

But, with no statute of limitation on murder, prosecutors could yet charge others and made it clear at trial that they believe they know the names of others involved.

O'Brien said Galindo could be seen on video standing on the mezzanine of his housing unit, minding his own business, when he suddenly got pushed and chased to an outdoor miniyard where the group savagely attacked him. When he went inside to try to get away from it, they followed, stabbing him as he tried to fight them off with a makeshift weapon in his hand.

"It appeared that he was trying to fight for his life," he said.

O'Brien said Galindo played dead but his attackers were relentless. Galindo finally escaped to his cell and closed the door, locking it.

Hours later the team retaking control over the prison would find smoke rolling out of his broken cell window and Galindo, facedown, dead on the floor inside.

An autopsy determined the 31-year-old had been stabbed more than 130 times by sharp objects (at least 40 to the back of his head). He'd been punched, kicked and stomped, before ultimately succumbing to smoke inhalation from towels started on fire and pushed through his cell window.

"Michael Galindo sustained a slow, painful and what had to be an agonizing demise as the oxygen that he needed for life was taken from him," O'Brien said. "For what? While we don't know what the motive is. All we know is that that day a group of inmates decided to play God, to take life away from Michael Galindo."

O'Brien said surveillance video was the crux of the state's case, along with the identification of Ramos by a prison corporal who repeatedly pored over the footage in excruciating detail.

Ramos, who testified at trial in his defense, denied it was him. He said he had been nearing parole and was standing in a corner of the miniyard, an area not caught on camera, and didn't even notice the attack when it happened.

In closings, O'Brien said that when things began to "get wild" Ramos put a mask over his face, then, immediately after the assault, changed his clothes and took off the mask, putting them in the fire.

He told the jury when they review the videos they'll come to the same conclusion: "That the person depicted in the video is, in fact, Mr. Ramos. And the coincidences are too overwhelming to ignore."

On the other side, defense attorney Tim Noerrlinger was critical of the investigation, led by the Nebraska State Patrol, which didn't test any of the blood found on other inmates' clothing that day or check any of the shivs found on the yard for prints.

"The patrol, I guess, took the weekend off," he said of its decision not even to process the miniyard scene until the following Monday.

Noerrlinger said the patrol did test Ramos' glasses for Galindo's blood and didn't find any. And, while video showed Galindo swinging a weapon at his attackers, they didn't find any rips to Ramos' clothes or injuries to his hands, he said.

"What else didn't the State Patrol follow up on in terms of leads?" he asked.

Noerrlinger went through dozens of photos taken that night of inmates who had been on the yard with Ramos at the end of the riot, any number of whom could have been "Suspect 1" in the video instead of Ramos.

He said some even had been found with blood or soot on their clothes or hands or melting damage to their shoes from fire.

"The state had seven years to test the blood but failed to do so," he said. "I would suggest it's a failure on their part to prove up their case beyond a reasonable doubt and leaves questions open about who is identified in that tower video."

Noerrlinger questioned why the state's investigation focused on poor-quality video rather than look into the argument Galindo had been in on his housing unit, an area off-limits to Ramos, the day before his killing, or attempt to find out why Galindo's family had sent thousands of dollars to another inmate.

"Is that protection money? There's some indication it could have been drug money. Does that provide a motive for an individual in these housing units to kill Mr. Galindo?" he asked.

He said it could have, but the state failed to do anything more than make a note of it.

"Suspect 1 could be anyone," Noerrlinger said.

O'Brien, who got the last word, called it misdirection and said the defense was trying to get them to focus on anything but the video evidence, which he said was key.

And all of it was available to them during deliberations.

"You have the awesome power to critique, verify and judge that evidence," he said.

After 16 days of testimony, the jury of six men and six women got the case for deliberations at 2:20 p.m. Monday. The jury is set to return Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. to continue deliberating.

Nebraska's 10 state prisons from least to most crowded 10. Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility 9. Nebraska Correctional Center for Women 8. Tecumseh State Correctional Institution 7. Community Corrections Center-Lincoln 6. Nebraska State Penitentiary 4. Work Ethic Camp 3. Community Corrections Center-Omaha 2. Omaha Correctional Center 1. Diagnostic and Evaluation Center
A 67-year-old Racine man has been charged with multiple crimes after allegedly making terrorist threats and causing a police response at a north side grocery store last week.

Timothy Michetti was charged Monday in Kenosha County Circuit Court with felonies of creating a terrorist threat and causing a bomb scare for his alleged actions on Dec. 7. He was also charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Michetti made his initial appearance at Intake Court on Monday afternoon where a court commissioner imposed $15,000 cash bond.

Criminal complaint

On the night of Dec. 7, a Kenosha police officer was sent to Pick N Save, 2811 18th St., after an assistant store manager called 911 and said that there was a man inside the store who had threatened to blow things up and to shoot the police, according to the criminal complaint.

The assistant store manager said the man, who was later identified as Michetti, was talking about politics, taking his guns, the Bible, and Christmas, according to the complaint.

At the time the store was open to the public and filled with people.

Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the assistant manager who reportedly explained that the information about Michetti had come from two employees. Both employees provided written statements to law enforcement concerning the alleged incident.

In one statement, an employee explained that she was working in the meat department when Michetti came up to her and started speaking with her when they were approximately two feet away from each other, according to the complaint.

(The employee) advised that the defendant mentioned a lot of weird things about astronauts and the Earth being flat, according to the complaint.

However, Michetti next allegedly mentioned that they were already at war and utilized his hands to illustrate something  possibly the Earth blowing up, according to the complaint.

Michetti also allegedly commented that if the cops try to give him his vaccine, he would shoot them with his gun because that was his right.

This employee was reportedly scared by Michetts alleged statements because he sounded serious and she wasnt sure what he was capable of.

In addition, Michetti reportedly had a straight face on when he made these statements and nothing about his expression communicated to this employee that he was joking or kidding, according to the complaint.

This employee also reportedly noticed that when he said the word gun one of the nearby customers raised her eyebrows before stepping back as if she was afraid.

This employee also reportedly said that he made a statement about going to get his guns ready. When Michettis vehicle was searched, three firearms along with a large amount of ammunition was located, according to the complaint.

Another eyewitness, according to the complaint, reportedly saw Michetti speaking with the employee at the meat counter and he noticed that Michetti wasnt asking her for anything and so he went over.

This person reportedly overheard Michetti state that he knew how to make a bomb and described having a PVC pipe and putting balls into it and caps on the end, according to the complaint

This person believed that the male was serious because he wasnt smiling or laughing and he had a straight look on his face, according to the complaint.

This witness reportedly feared for both his safety and the safety of other customers based on Michettis alleged statements.

A Kenosha Police detective reportedly located ball bearings and metal pipes in Michettis vehicle.

A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 19.

Assistant district attorney Carlie ODonnell appeared for the state, who asked for $25,000 cash bond. Michetti appeared in court with attorney Benjamin Schwarz, who asked that the two felony charges be dismissed.

He was allegedly talking to a clerk or a meat department employee in a grocery store and kind of made some vague, general statements that might indicate some conspiratorial thinking but he isnt making any direct threats to anybody, Schwarz said. Hes not targeting anybody in the store with his alleged threats.

Schwarz also said he understands that individuals in the store were apparently frightened but none of the allegations in the complaint seem to actually indicate a conveyance of a threat.

Commissioner William Michel denied the request from the defense.

Schwarz also asked for a signature bond.

I dont think theres anything in the complaint that indicates Mr. Michetti was acting towards or engaging in violent behavior, Schwarz said.

ODonnell said Michetti entered the grocery store and began talking to clerks in a manner in which hes relaying threats to shoot police and hes speaking of bombs.

Individuals in the store are overhearing this by the defendant. Theyre scared by his affect. The grocery store actually had to be evacuated due to the defendants conduct, ODonnell said, adding hes a substantial risk to our community.

Today in history: Dec. 11 1972: Apollo 17 1980: Jimmy Carter 1997: Kyoto, Japan 1998: Impeachment 2008: Bernie Madoff 2011: Manuel Noriega 2012: Paul Tagliabue 2016: Donald Trump 2017: Emmanuel Macron 2017: Mario Batali 2020: Pfizer 2020: Supreme Court 2021: Anne Rice 2021: Bryce Young 2021: Michael Strahan
RACINE  The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities has awarded a 2023-24 Sparks Grant to UW Extension Racine County, with the goal of helping kids in Racine County of all abilities feel more included and connected.

Sparks grants are grants of $500 to $5,000 with the purpose of providing people with disabilities more social connections, helping organizations understand how to implement more inclusive programs and improve overall attitudes about people with disabilities, according to the WI-BPDD.

UW Extension Racine County use the grant to facilitate a community conversation hosted by youth with varying abilities. The conversation will focus on topics related to youth with disabilities in Racine County, including what is working well and opportunities to further foster inclusion in schools and the broader Racine community, according to the announcement.

These projects will put in motion opportunities for people with disabilities and the larger community to get to know each other and discover they have a lot in common, Beth Swedeen, BPDD executive director, said in a statement.

Maria Gaytan-Martinez, youth development educator at UW Extension Racine County who is overseeing the project, said they will use the full amount of $5,000 from the grant.

Gaytan-Martinez said they are still planning, but the hope is to hold five planning sessions ahead of the community conversation, as well as a debrief session afterward to create a report of what was discussed.

In addition to covering costs directly related to the community conversation, grant money will support the youth on the committee, including in the form of stipends, she said.

UW Extension Racine County will reach out to teachers and youth-serving organizations across the county to nominate participants, Gaytan-Martinez said. They will distribute a form in January for nominations, and they are looking for a diverse team of about 12 youth.

The community conversation will take place in August or September of 2024, Gaytan-Martinez said.

She said they are primarily looking for high school students to join the committee but are open to middle school-aged kids, if they are interested and willing to take part in the project.

Well really be targeting the schools, whether it be Racine Unified or branching out to more rural areas of the county, as well, like Burlington, she said.

This year is the first that UW Extension Racine County has applied for the Sparks Grant; Gaytan-Martinez said they are trying to be more intentional about reaching out to the disabled community and to be more inclusive overall.

This is really part of that larger effort to provide all youth with opportunities and being intentional about recruiting youth with disabilities, she said. The whole point is to kind of bring youth from across the county together, whether it be youth with disabilities, or their non-disabled peers, to really create that inclusive model and have them be at the forefront of these conversations that pertain to them.

Anyone interested in participating, both youth and adults, can reach out to Gaytan-Martinez at maria.gaytanmartinez@wisc.edu.

The WI-BPDD was created under the Developmental Disabilities Act and is responsible for bringing people together to solve problems, remove barriers and create statewide change for the disabled community, according to the organizations website.

More information can be found at https://wi-bpdd.org/index.php/sparks-grants/.
PLEASANT PRAIRIE  The Village Board unanimously backed a resolution opposing placing 60 acres of land west of Interstate 94 into Federal Trust for a proposed casino complex during Mondays meeting. The proposed casino site is in the City of Kenosha.

The resolution asks the Bureau of Indian Affairs to reject the application by the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, which is behind the casino plans, unless an intergovernmental agreement is made with Pleasant Prairie addressing potential negative impacts on the village.

The resolution has no binding power, but is an official show of the boards disapproval of the current process.

Board members and staff highlighted the potential negative environmental, social and economic impacts the casino could have on Pleasant Prairie, questioning why the village was not included in negotiations and raising concerns about the speed of the process.

Voting for intergovernmental agreements between the City of Kenosha and the tribe and Kenosha County and the tribe are set for early next year.

Village Trustee Mike Pollocoff said plans were unfolding backwards.

The problem with this is it appears the County got the politics right first, and the process is happening on a short fuse because theyve got a deadline theyre working against, Pollocoff said.

He compared it to large-scale projects in Pleasant Prairie, such as Uline and Haribo, which had extensive meetings regarding engineering, traffic analysis and impact to the community prior to moving forward.

No one has given us what the traffic impacts are going to be, we havent seen any engineering as to how this large site is going to drain, Pollocoff said. Those are valid questions that are going to have an impact on us.

If the city approves its intergovernmental agreement and Kenosha County does not, casino plans could still move forward, meaning the county would lose out on potentially millions of dollars.

Their fear probably is that they might not get something if the deal goes through with the city, Pollocoff said.

Trustee James Kedrow said the speed raises a red flag, and that the whole thing seems a little suspicious.

County supervisor speaks

District 17 County Supervisor Monica Yuhas, who represents part of Pleasant Prairie on the County Board, spoke during the meeting and said she shared the Village Board members concerns. She praised the resolution and said that Pleasant Prairie had been left out of negotiations for reasons unknown to her.

What happens if its someone who probably isnt the best investor to be in business with and that IGA is signed? Yuhas said. Lets pump the brakes a little bit, lets do our due diligence.

She noted a conversation she had with Pleasant Prairie Police Chief David Smetana, who raised concerns about additional strain on the department from the casino. While the city and county would get additional law enforcement out of their deals, Pleasant Prairie would not, she said.

Yuhas said her opposition was to the nature of the process, not necessarily to the concept of a casino.

This isnt about the casino, this is about an intergovernmental agreement that is going to affect you for generations to come, Yuhas said.

She compared the current process to the last time plans for a casino came before the county, arguing there has been far less time invested prior to voting.

Were expected to vote on something with so many questions unanswered, Yuhas said. I dont want to sign on something thats going to affect generations to come. Im not willing to gamble on my grandchildrens future.
1. Yes. More than 70% of the downtown buildings are occupied; the area is thriving now.

2. Yes. With the new E-Center , a brewery and the county annex moving in, its on the rise.

3. No. There may be a lot of new businesses, but foot traffic is still slow on most days.

4. No. Its improving, but the issues of crime and homelessness are still major obstacles.

5. Unsure. The area seems to be rebounding, but its hard to say if the trend will continue.

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A security guard sustained a stab wound early Sunday while intervening in a physical disturbance in downtown Omaha.

Ashton Evans, 20, was taken to the Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy for treatment of a wound that was not life threatening, an Omaha police spokesman said. The incident occurred about 2 a.m. near 11th Street and Capitol Avenue.

Investigators determined that numerous fights broke out as the Epoca Cantina was closing and staff began moving groups of people out of the bar. One group reengaged in a fight in the courtyard area of the Capitol District.

Evans began to pull a man from the fight when that person turned and stabbed him in the leg. The alleged attacker fled the scene before police officers arrived.
I find great joy when a reader reaches out to me looking for advice on where to shop for their next tasty beverage, what they should be drinking with dinner and to share memories that my writing and beer banter conjure for them.

Just last week I received an email following my most recent column that highlighted some seasonally appropriate dark and toasty beer options sure to pair nicely with all the upcoming holiday celebrations and that winter weather that has got to be right around the corner  please, these fall allergies are a drag and must come to an end soon.

The subject read Cashmere Hammer and the body highlighted a longing for the 3 Sheeps beer, an appreciation for Left Hands Milk Stout and the quest for some local varieties.

Cashmere Hammer, if you are unfamiliar, was the beautifully brewed, nitrogenated and silky milk stout 3 Sheeps introduced to blissfully satisfy Wisconsin drinkers for years. It met an unfortunate fate when the brewery switched packaging from glass to aluminum  a trend fully supported and catalyzed by craft beer drinkers  and the decision was made to not package the nitrogen-infused beer in cans.

In its place, however, 3 Sheeps introduced 15-2 Stout as their year-round, malt-forward option for all the roasty, toasty preferring beer drinkers. A gorgeous beer in its own right and one that the Beer Baron himself ogled over, but with more chew and assertive bitterness than the milk stout consumer was probably looking for, it fabricated a new niche.

But Cashmere Hammer wasnt the only milk stout to embrace the Wisconsin market with a creamy and satiable palate. I have fond memories of drinking Lake Louie Milk Stout in the late aughts and early 2010s before moving to St. Louis. Finding the Arena-based brewery on draft during that time was as common as seeing Capital and Ale Asylum, and finding those milk stout lines was a true treat.

I instantly thought about that beer the moment I read the email. Its luscious body, mellow sweetness and hint of smoke was perfection in a glass and a highlight for Wisconsin craft beer during the initial jump in popularity about that same time. A little research has indicated that the beer has been removed from the Lake Louie seasonal rotation but may see a brew day every now and then as Lake Louie pulls popular, yet retired, beers from the vault. Something to look forward to for sure.

What is it?

OK, but what is a milk stout and are there any Wisconsin breweries making this specialty ale? A quick perusal leads me to think not really. At least, not within the parameters of traditional style or in a larger capacity than just once in a while.

Otherwise referred to as a sweet stout or cream stout, the milk stout is simply a dark, roast-forward ale that contains the milk sugar, lactose. It originated in England as a lower ABV beer, once thought to be suitable for postpartum mothers and athletes, was scrutinized for using the term milk on labels while not actually containing milk following World War II and a period of food rationing, and became a popular beer choice in South Africa in the early 2000s.

Here in the U.S., Left Hand Brewing out of Loveland, Colorado, paved the way for not only milk stout drinkers, but craft beer consumers who were  possibly unknowingly  also looking for the creamy palate characteristic of a Guinness draught pour.

Lactose is a complex carbohydrate and it doesnt ferment with ale yeast, said Eric Wallace, co-founder and CEO of Left Hand Brewing. Its a long-chain sugar and cant be broken down by the yeast so it stays in the beer as lactose. It provides a low-level sweetness and balances out the bitterness of a dark roast. In our Milk Stout and especially Milk Stout Nitro, with the addition of nitrogen, the lactose also contributes to a smooth and creamy mouthfeel.

Foreign flair

The inspiration behind Left Hands Milk Stout is dreamy and sheds light on the brewerys success and timeless stature thus far. Dick Doore, my Left Hand co-founder, was traveling in Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in 1998, Wallace said.

During his travels he tried Castle Stout from a local brewery and it became the inspiration for our Milk Stout recipe. It was a sweet stout with the addition of lactose but still very well balanced. There was nothing like it in the states and when Dick returned he started working on the recipe, continued Wallace.

And its not just the Milk Stout recipe that has been honed in over the years.

Wallace concluded, We originally introduced Left Hand Milk Stout in 1999 and Milk Stout Nitro then followed in 2011 after we spent a few years perfecting the addition of liquid nitrogen in a bottle.

And the nitro beer lineup didnt just stop at Milk Stout, though we have every right to assume the two will go hand-in-hand so long as craft beer lives on. Left Hand perfected the sweet stout and they sure as heck own the nitro beer game, in keg, bottle and can. Left Hand has even nitrogenated a Belgian-style wheat beer.

And, as otherworldly as nitro wheat beer sounds, innovation is at the helm of craft beer and most trends follow the buying power of the consumer. The same can be said about lactose. As an unfermentable sugar adjunct, lactose has made an appearance in several beer styles over recent years, including, but in no doubt limited to: IPAs, sour beers and those other ostensibly big and robust behemoths coincidentally lumped into the category, pastry stout.

Consumer preferences are definitely evolving when it comes to craft beer. IPAs are no longer bitter beers. They used to be measured by how high the IBUs were, and now its about the juiciness of the hops and bringing out the sweet characteristics of the beer. Lactose obviously helps provide that sweetness and stays in solution. With the rise in popularity of pastry stouts, the addition of lactose provides sweetness and smoothness. With sours, I think lactose can offset some of those [harsh and acrid] flavors so the beer is sweeter and more drinkable, summed up Wallace.

Left Hand Milk Stout, in can, bottle or keg and nitrogenated or classically carbonated with a higher CO2 gas blend, is readily available all across Wisconsin and has been for the past decade. You would be hard-pressed to find a more reliable, well-made version of this specialty ale.

Other national brands have introduced well-made sweet stouts into the area as well, including: Colorado-based Odell Brewing Co.s Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout; Californias titan, Firestone Walkers Mocha Dulce and Cinnamon Dulce Nitro Milk Stout variants; Ohio giant, Great Lakes Brewing and their newly added seasonal, Cookie Exchange milk stout; and, the very booze-forward Dragons Milk from Michigan-based New Holland Brewing.

Closer to home

Local to Wisconsin, Black Husky Brewing in Milwaukee has OIHF milk stout available right now, on draft and packaged to go and I will make sure to report back on it as soon as I am able to try some. Cedarburg and Wauwatosa-based Fermentorium has Sweater Weather imperial milk stout and a handful of variants available at the two taprooms and retailers around the state. New Glarus latest schedule has brand new Milk Chocolate Stout slated for a January release and for those of you looking for low- to no-alcohol options, Untitled Art in Waunakee has Chocolate Milk Dark Brew to quench the need for a lactose-laced, non-alcohol option.

Truth be told, I was really hoping to come back with a long list of Wisconsin-made milk stouts for your holiday liquor store run. This is the Dairy State after all. I was hard-pressed to find much.

Perhaps the beer consumers palate has moved away from the simplicity of nicely roasted grain and the nuanced sweetness and silky texture a little lactose adds to beer. With the rise in use of bakery-themed adjuncts, it would appear more is more in the dark, heavily roasted beers and the pastry stout category has taken over. This can also be seen in the evolution of more pastry-like milk stout options.

The key takeaway is local can be great and should be celebrated when it is. But local definitely isnt synonymous with great. And, in this case currently, its hardly compatible with available or made. Perhaps some things, once perfected, are meant to be enjoyed for what they are and less for where they are from.

Thanks for reaching out, Brian!

Happy December, Wisconsin  cheers to mooovin on through the holidays!
WILLIMANTIC, Conn.  The killing of a Connecticut nurse making a house call in October was a nightmare come true for an industry gripped by the fear of violence.

Already stressed out by staffing shortages and mounting caseloads, heath care workers are increasingly worrying about the possibility of a patient becoming violent  a scenario that is too common and on the rise nationwide.

Joyce Grayson, a 63-year-old mother of six, went into a halfway house for sex offenders in late October, to give medication to a man with a violent past. She didn't make it out alive.

Police found her body in the basement and have named her patient as the main suspect in her killing.

Graysons death has her peers and lawmakers renewing their yearslong pleas for better protections for home health care workers, including sending them out with escorts and providing more information about their patients. The calls come during an era of increasing violence against medical professionals in general.

Grayson, who had been a nurse for over 36 years, including the past 10 as a visiting nurse, was found dead Oct. 28 in the Willimantic halfway house. She didnt return from a visit to patient Michael Reese, a convicted rapist. No charges have been filed in the killing yet.

Its all nurses are thinking about right now, even the hospital nurses because theyve had so many close calls, said Connecticut state Sen. Martha Marx, a visiting nurse and New London Democrat who is calling for changes in both state and federal laws.

Marx said she was once sent to a home and didnt find out until she talked to clients there that it was a residence for sex offenders. Often, if a nurse asks for a chaperone, the agency will simply reassign the work to another employee who wont make waves, she said.

Grayson's death came about 11 months after another visiting nurse, Douglas Brant, was shot to death during a home visit in Spokane, Washington  a killing that also drew calls for safety reforms, including federal standards on preventing workplace violence.

While killings are rare, nursing industry groups say non-fatal violence against health care workers is not. From 2011 to 2018, the rate of non-fatal violence against health care workers increased more than 60%, according to the latest analysis by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In fact, the number of non-fatal injuries from workplace violence involving health care workers has been higher than that of other industries for years, according to the bureau.

In a survey released in late 2022 by the National Nurses United, the largest union of registered nurses in the U.S., 41% of hospital nurses reported an increase in recent workplace violence incidents, up from 30% in September 2021.

Theres no way home health workers should be sent into somebodys home or apartment by themselves, said U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, a Democrat who represents the congressional district where Grayson was killed.

Courtney has been pushing legislation since 2019 that would set up federal regulations requiring health care and social service employers to develop and implement comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans. While several states require such prevention plans, there is no federal law, industry groups say.

He says the problem highlighted by Graysons case is not just about safety, but also about attracting and retaining health care workers, many of whom feel the job is just too dangerous.

Marx wants to see laws requiring security escorts for nurses in some cases, and for police to provide caregivers regularly updated lists of addresses where violent crime has occurred. She also said patients charts should be flagged to alert nurses about past incidents of violence, if theyre registered sex offenders and other information.

Grayson was a nurse for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for 26 years before serving as a visiting nurse for over a decade, according to her family. She also was a beloved foster parent, taking in nearly three dozen children and being honored with the state's Foster Parent of the Year award in 2017.

Police still haven't said how Grayson died, and the medical examiner's office said autopsy results remain pending. Willimantic's police chief, Paul Hussey, called the killing one of the worst cases he has seen in his 27 years in law enforcement.

Reese, who was on probation after serving more than 14 years in prison for stabbing and sexually assaulting a woman in 2006 in New Haven, was taken into police custody while leaving the halfway house on the day Grayson was killed. He was released from prison in late 2020 and was sent back to detention two times for violating probation, state records show.

Authorities said he had some of Grayson's belongings, including credit cards, and was charged with violating probation, larceny and using drug paraphernalia. He is detained on $1 million bail. A public defender listed in court records as representing Reese did not return emails seeking comment.

Graysons family is devastated and is seeking answers to an array of questions, including if there were failures of oversight by the state Department of Correction, state probation officials and the company that runs the halfway house. They also want to know whether Elara Caring adequately protected her, according to their lawyer, Kelly Reardon, who said a lawsuit is planned.

They were extremely concerned that it was preventable, Reardon said. They certainly felt from the get-go that there were failings in the system that led to this and they want that to be investigated.

What factors predict nurse burnout? What factors predict nurse burnout? Ongoing moral injury
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  A bipartisan bill that would dramatically change how Wisconsin residents choose congressional candidates by asking them to rank their top choices instead of voting for one of two candidates had its first public hearing in the state Legislature on Tuesday.

The hearing comes just a week after opponents circulated a proposed constitutional amendment to ban ranked choice voting. Its unclear whether either measure has enough support to pass, but the movement shows the idea is gaining attention in the battleground state.

The bill before the state Senate's elections committee on Tuesday would implement a ranked choice voting system known as final five. Under the system, all candidates for a U.S. House or Senate seat would appear together on a primary ballot regardless of their party, with the top five finishers advancing to the general election. Right now, Republicans and Democrats run on separate ballots in partisan primaries.

Voters in the general election would then rank the five primary winners in order of preference. If a candidate receives a majority of first-place votes, they win. If no one gets a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and anyone who had that person as their first choice instead has their vote go to their second ranked choice. The process continues until one candidate has a majority of votes. Currently, candidates can win a seat without a majority.

A bipartisan group of 21 lawmakers has signed onto the bill as co-sponsors.

Right now the parties are incentivized to hold power, and they do that through party primaries, former U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble, a Wisconsin Republican, testified on Tuesday. What final five does is eliminate partisan primaries.

According to Ribble, removing partisan primaries would motivate candidates to focus more on policies that benefit the voters they represent, instead of clinging to party lines.

Wisconsin legislators have introduced the proposal in each of the past two legislative sessions, but each time it went nowhere. Tuesday was the first time the plan has received a hearing.

This time around, Republican opponents are on the offensive, pushing a constitutional amendment that would outlaw ranked choice voting.

Advocates say a ranked choice system offers voters more choices and reduces negative campaigning since candidates need to appeal to as broad a swath of voters as possible to win second- and third-place marks. They also insist the system gives third-party and independent candidates a better chance.

This gives all voters an opportunity to vote for that person that they really do align with, said Democratic Sen. Jeff Smith, one of the bill's lead authors. This bill has the opportunity to change the divisiveness in Washington.

Opponents argued that the system is difficult to understand, especially for elderly and vulnerable voters, and that the results would be difficult to count. They have also voiced concerns about the system being manipulated and said the approach equates to giving an elector multiple votes in the same election, flying in the face of the one person, one vote philosophy.

The conservative lobbying group Opportunity Solutions Project testified against the bill on Tuesday, with lobbyists arguing that the system would lead to some ballots being thrown out in runoffs if a voter only ranked a single candidate and that candidate was eliminated.

As a voter, under ranked choice voting you are forced to rank every candidate in order to guarantee that your vote will count," Madeline Malisa, an Opportunity Solutions Project lobbyist, said.

Maine adopted a ranked choice system in 2016 for all federal elections and state primaries. Alaska went to a ranked choice system for state and federal races in 2020. No other state has adopted it, although three counties and 45 cities across the nation use it for local elections, according to FairVote. Voters in Nevada passed a ballot question last year to implement ranked choice; it must pass again in 2024 to take effect.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers did not immediately respond to a message inquiring about whether he supports ranked choice voting.

Associated Press writers Geoff Mulvihill in Philadelphia, Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska, and Gabe Stern in Carson City, Nevada, contributed to this report.
It wasnt so long ago that people who wanted an electric vehicle of some sort had to wait for factories to catch up with the backlog. Today, potential buyers are much more likely to find EV cars and pickup trucks sitting on dealers lots, waiting for a buyer.

While EV sales are still growing faster than any other major automobile category in the United States, demand is slackening to the point that General Motors, Ford Motor and Tesla are rethinking how quickly they retool factories to produce them.

Producers are grappling with supply chain issues and competition within their own ranks, while consumers are flinching at price, eyeing tumbling gasoline prices and pushing back at the perception they are being forced to buy EVs by federal and state policies. As one EV industry expert told me: People dont like being told what to do.

The biggest consumer worry is range anxiety, the fear of not being able to find charging stations when they need them  and that work as advertised  while on road trips. A bill that will be introduced soon in the Wisconsin Legislature could help to change that.

State law restricts who can install charging stations. At present, only public utilities can bill people for how much electricity they draw when they plug in. The bill awaiting formal introduction would allow private businesses to sell electricity by the kilowatt-hour without having to be considered a public utility.

The bills sponsors, Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, and Rep. Nancy VanderMeer, R-Tomah, have a secondary goal: making sure Wisconsin is eligible for $78.6 million in federal funding through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. Because federal rules require participating states to allow the kilowatt-hour billing approach, Wisconsin could forfeit its share of the money if state law isnt clarified by March.

Even if federal dollars help with Wisconsins rollout of public stations, there is plenty of room for private capital. A change in the law could help boost such investment, especially in locations such as convenience stores that are natural places to stop and juice up your EV for an hour or so. Charging by parking time at existing commercial stations is how some vendors get around current law.

Because not all charging stations are created equal, people may want to pay more for faster charging. More investment might also increase the reliability of charging stations, which some EV drivers find out of order when they need them most.

Similar legislation failed to pass in previous sessions. Some utilities had concerns about what they viewed as a fundamental change in the public-benefit compact that incented them to invest in energy generation for all. There were concerns in the past about how municipal charging stations are owned or leased. Also, the rise of renewable energy sources that may be off the grid is part of the picture.

It remains to be seen if the wrinkles are ironed out in time, but its clear Wisconsin lags in per capita EV registrations and charging stations  generally falling in the lowest quartile of the 50 states. That is despite the fact Wisconsin ranks in the top half in total land area. There can make for some long, lonely drives in Wisconsin for EV owners.

It may explain why some new car owners are hedging their bets and buying hybrid vehicles, which combine electric propulsion with internal combustion engines. Nationally, sales growth for hybrids has been higher than EV and conventional ICE.

Wisconsin has the potential to emerge as a center for production of EVs and related equipment, in large part because of existing manufacturing expertise and companies that know how to build batteries and charging systems of all sizes. It would be a shame its drivers felt range limited in their own state.
Brazilian officials say bird flu has killed nearly 1,000 seals and sea lions in the countrys south.

As of December 11, the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul had confirmed 942 sea mammal deaths. The animals were infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu.

The first cases of the sickness were reported in Brazil in 2023. During past outbreaks in Europe and America, agriculture industries have killed hundreds of millions of farm animals to try to contain the disease.

Officials at Brazil's Agriculture Ministry said preventive measures were put in place after the first report of bird flu in May. This action made it possible to avoid an outbreak on poultry farms. That kind of outbreak, officials say, would have likely led to a ban on such exports from Brazil, the world's top chicken exporter.

Silvina Botta studies oceans and sea life at Brazils Rio Grande Federal University. She told Reuters news agency the remains of dead animals need to be buried or burned as soon as possible to prevent further disease spread.

Scientists have found some sea mammals convulsing along local beaches, as the virus attacks their nervous system, Reuters reported. Botta said that under government health rules, the animals must be killed immediately to prevent their suffering.

Botta added that the first case of bird flu-related sea mammal deaths in the area came in September. That is when local scientists first became aware of a large increase in disease deaths. Three towns in the state still have active bird flu outbreaks.

Botta said the spread among sea mammals appears to have started in Peru and then reached the South American continent. The disease has also affected wildlife in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay.

Brazil's Agriculture Ministry has reported 148 bird flu outbreaks in the country, mostly along the coast. Officials have declared a health emergency to contain the disease, which it says "is not yet considered endemic in Brazil."

The virus has also affected other animal populations in the country. In addition to the outbreaks among seabirds, seals and sea lions, researchers have collected remains of dead porpoises and penguins found on beaches. Officials say they have not yet confirmed those deaths were also from bird flu.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

__________________________________________________

Words in This Story

poultry  n. chicken and other birds that people breed for meat and eggs

convulse  v. cause to shake violently with sudden uncontrolled movements

endemic  adj. regularly found or commonly affecting a particular group or specific area
Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday seeking to deepen ties with Chinas Southeast Asian neighbor. The meeting visit takes place after Vietnam strengthened diplomatic relations with the United States and Japan.

Xi visited Hanoi on his first trip as China's leader to Vietnam in six years. The two countries signed 37 cooperation agreements. Some experts say this shows that Vietnam's "Bamboo diplomacy" is working. The term describes Vietnams desire to have strong roots but to change when needed like the bamboo plant. Both China and the United States are competing for influence the country.

Vietnam agreed to "support the initiative of building a shared future community for humankind," in a joint statement shown to reporters. The countries' diplomats had debated the "shared future" term for months. Officials and diplomats said Vietnam had been unwilling to use the term.

In the Chinese language, the term means "common destiny." But the English and Vietnamese meaning is said to be "common future," which is considered less demanding.

Hunter Marston is with the Australian National University and studies Southeast Asias foreign policy. These symbolic gestures go a long way to reassure Beijing that Vietnam still sees China as its most important partner, he said.

Xis visit marks 15 years of China being a comprehensive strategic partner of Vietnam. But Vietnam is calling other countries the same thing as it seeks to avoid being too dependent on China.

In September, U.S. President Joe Biden visited Vietnam to mark the U.S. reaching to the same diplomatic level with Vietnam as China. Biden said the stronger ties were not about balancing China. But U.S. diplomacy across Asia and in the Pacific area has aimed to improve defense and economic ties.

In November, Japan and Vietnam improved their economic and security ties, calling for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Japan has been developing closer ties with Vietnam and is its third-largest foreign investor.

China and Vietnam continue to have close economic ties. However, the neighbors have disputes over territorial boundaries in the South China Sea and have a history of conflict.

In a sign of possible easing of tensions, the two countries signed an agreement for joint patrols in the Tonkin Gulf in the South China Sea.

Thirty-seven deals

Reporters who saw the signed documents said the 37 cooperation deals improved relations. However, 45 deals had been proposed earlier, said one Vietnamese official.

Deals included a memorandum of understanding on cross-border rail development.

Top officials in both countries had urged improvement to a rail connection between the southern Chinese city of Kunming and the northern Vietnamese port of Haiphong. The railway crosses areas in Vietnam rich in rare earth minerals that are important for high technology industrial use.

Improving transport links would permit Vietnam to export more to China, including farm products. China wants to further connect the country's north with its southern supply networks.

Chinese companies have moved some operations to Vietnam. The companies are looking to be closer to Western companies there. China also aims to lower risks from U.S.-China trade tensions and avoid an economic downturn.

Xi urged wider cooperation on security, connectivity, energy and rare earth minerals. China is the world's leading rare earth refiner while Vietnam is believed to have large supplies.

The Associated Press says China has been Vietnams largest trading partner for several years.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by Reuters and The Associated Press.

_____________________________________________________

Words in This Story

initiative  n. a plan meant to solve a problem or improve something

destiny  n. a strong belief of a shared future with someone or some group

gesture  n. something that is done to show a feeling or willingness to do or not do something

comprehensive  adj. involving all parts of an issue

memorandum  n. a written agreement

refiner  n. a company or industrial group that purifies raw materials, often metals or petroleum, to create a purer product
European nations reached an agreement on rules for artificial intelligence (AI) last week. Some experts say the regulations will affect people around the world.

Here are some of the details of the agreement reported by the Associated Press:

The AI Act and how it works:

The AI Act aims to regulate or establish guidelines for AI technology that has the potential to cause problems if misused.

AI systems that recommend online material, or those that check email messages, would be less regulated. But technology that concerns healthcare or medical decisions would have higher requirements.

Some AI systems will be banned except in some cases. They include systems that scan peoples faces in public and systems that make predictions about future behavior such as whether a person will commit a crime.

The new AI Act will not take effect until two years after a vote from European lawmakers. The vote is planned for the first part of next year. The soonest it would be in place is sometime early in 2026.

How will the Act affect the world?

Some experts say the guidelines could become a global standard. That has happened before. One recent European decision caused U.S. company Apple to stop using its lightning data cable in favor of a more widely used cable.

Experts say Europes rules might be used as a blueprint in other parts of the world. Anu Bradford is a professor at Columbia University in New York City. She called Europes act comprehensive and a game-changer. Bradford noted the European rules will show the world AI can be governed.

Rights groups complained that Europes decision to not completely ban the use of facial recognition is a missed opportunity. Amnesty International noted that Europe did not ban exports of AI technology that covers social scoring. Social scoring systems permit governments to record how well citizens follow rules.

What are the U.S. and China doing?

In the United States, President Joe Biden signed an executive order in October on AI. Biden required AI technology companies to share test results and other information with the government. Government organizations will create requirements for AI tools that must be followed before systems are released for public use.

China released rules for AI tools that create material such as photos, text and videos. The rules are only short-term guidelines. President Xi Jinping also called for an open and fair environment for AI development around the world.

Will Europes rules change ChatGPT?

The rise of ChatGPT, an AI tool based in the U.S., is one of the reasons for Europes new set of rules. Europes rules include guidelines for chatbots and other AI systems that can do jobs such as writing, creating video and writing computer code.

Systems must clearly show where the material that went into training the bots came from. They also must show how much energy was used to train the systems, or models. They should be open about how they control the data that comes from their tools users. And they need to observe the EUs copyright property protection laws.

High technology systems or risky uses of AI are required to follow stricter rules. Those include systems that create basic pieces of information, such as computer code, that others will then use to create other AI systems.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press.

____________________________________________________

Words in This Story

regulations n. (pl.) rules and laws that govern a field or industry

potential n. the possibility that something might happen

scan v. to record the image of something and to use it digitally

global standard n. a level of quality for a field or industry that is observed or require around the world

blueprint n. the plans for a building; a set of plans for how something should be done

comprehensive adj. involving all parts of something

game-changer n. (idiom) something that is important or causes change

social scoring n. a way of rating people on social issues

chatbot n. an artificial intelligence tool that produces writing or other material on request by taking existing things from the internet
LEXINGTON  The current Crossroads Mission Avenue thrift store will be expanded to become a homeless shelter, Executive Director Daniel Buller says.

Starting small, the shelter will include 11 beds, a commercial kitchen, offices, and food storage. Buller hopes that this phased approach will change perceptions within the community.

We want to show the community that its a good thing to have a place for people to go rather than living on the streets, under our bridges, or in their cars, he said.

In a recent interview, Buller spoke about Crossroads challenges and progress in establishing a rescue mission shelter here.

Crossroads original plan to open a shelter at the old Plum Creek Care Center near the high school was rejected earlier this year.

Community members, planning and zoning commission representatives and Lexington Public Schools administration expressed concerns about the proposed shelters proximity to high school students, citing potential public safety issues. Buller acknowledged these concerns but emphasized the urgent need for a local shelter, as Crossroads Mission Avenue received 101 calls for help from December 2022 to now.

At the time of the Plum Creek Care Center proposal, Buller said, Crossroads Mission Avenue had the option to renovate the thrift store at 907 W. Eighth St. for a shelter. But he said he turned down that option, saying that wouldnt be enough to fulfill the needs of every person seeking shelter in Lexington and around Dawson County.

Buller said he appreciated the City of Lexingtons creativity in finding alternative solutions. He mentioned the citys recommendation to expand the Kearney homeless shelter to accommodate individuals from Dawson County. But Buller said Crossroads is a rescue mission, addressing poverty comprehensively.

People shouldnt have to reach out to further cities to be in a rescue mission shelter, and one should be provided nearby, he said.

Expressing gratitude for the citys support, Buller acknowledged some hesitations within the community.

We have a lot of work to do to prove that it would be a blessing to the community and not a burden, Buller said.

Buller outlined the timeline for the renovations of the thrift store and said Crossroads Mission Avenue will apply for capital funding in 2024. Anticipating the projects completion in late 2024 or early 2025, Buller highlighted a significant boost: $500,000 in funding from an external organization dedicated to affordable housing projects.

Were nonprofit, and we often rely on individuals and businesses. When youre talking about another organization willing to partner at the tune of half a million dollars, thats a big deal, Buller said.

Buller said several agencies, businesses, churches, and individuals in Lexington have been overwhelmingly supportive of the idea of opening a mission rescue shelter. Although others remain skeptical of the idea, Buller said he has no ill will toward those people and respects their honesty.
The Department of Justice raised concerns last month about a national nonprofit responsible for accrediting prisons across the country  including in Nebraska  over the organization's suspect handling of reaccreditation reviews at federal prisons.

DOJ inspectors who reviewed the American Correctional Association's contract with and work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons found that the organization, meant to provide independent reviews of correctional facilities, instead relied on the prisons' own internal reports during reaccreditation reviews, according to a November report.

The organization neither performed its own independent review of the facility operations nor conducted an intensive review of prison documentation, the DOJ's Office of the Inspector General said in the report.

As a result, the inspectors said, the Bureau of Prisons in effect paid the association to largely reaffirm the bureau's own findings when reaccrediting federal prisons.

The DOJ's audit division concluded that the prison system "does not appear to be receiving value from" the organization's reaccreditation of the bureau's prisons, work that represented the bulk of the nonprofit's $2.75 million contract with the bureau.

Federal inspectors didn't find any instances where the bureau used the American Correctional Association's accreditation process to improve the system's standards for health, safety and security of inmates and staff, according to the report.

And the DOJ reported the bureau failed to properly oversee the nonprofit throughout its work for the prison system, taking no action to enforce the association's breaches of their multimillion dollar contracts and failing to file performance assessments required by federal regulations.

DOJ auditors recommended the federal prison system closely analyze the policies and procedures to ensure they are up to the bureau's standards for independence and will bring real value to the prison system's operations before entering a new contact with a third-party reviewer.

Examiners also suggested prison officials enhance their oversight of the American Correctional Association as the organization continues to accredit federal prisons under the current contract, which is set to expire in April.

In a letter responding to the report, the director of the organization's accreditation department said its auditors conducted their review of federal prisons in accordance with processes that have been in place since the 1990s, which he said align with prison bureau policies.

The accreditation director, David Haasenritter, said the organization would continue to work with the prison bureau to implement the DOJ's recommendations.

The 35-page audit report is the result only of a review of the nonprofit's contract to accredit or reaccredit all of the federal government's institutions and training centers. It doesn't include findings related to the American Correctional Association's work in any state prisons, including those in Nebraska.

But the report does offer a window into the nonprofit that accredits more than 1,200 correctional institutions across the world, including 15 prisons, jails, youth treatment centers and prison staff facilities in Nebraska.

The American Correctional Association maintains a list of facilities it accredits  which includes every prison operated by the state Department of Correctional Services  but publishes no details of its review of such facilities.

Nebraska law, though, requires the Department of Correctional Services to seek accreditation of its medical program by the nonprofit specifically.

And accreditation from the American Correctional Association ensures that state prisons are not subject to the authority of the state's Jail Standards Boards, which maintains standards for the operation of criminal detention facilities that aren't accredited by a "nationally recognized correctional association."

The state is paying the nonprofit $143,600 for the reaccreditation of 12 state facilities over the course of a five-year contract the parties inked in 2021. The department is paying the organization between $9,700 and $14,400 to reaccredit each of the facilities, according to the contract.

Rob Jeffreys, the department's director, declined a request for an interview over the state's relationship with the nonprofit in light of the federal inspectors' report.

A department spokeswoman also did not directly respond to a list of questions about the accreditation, the value an American Correctional Association accreditation brings to the state, the November report in which federal auditors blasted the nonprofit and whether Jeffreys would seek an alternative accreditor.

In an email, Strategic Communications Director Dayne Urbanovsky said all department faculties are accredited through the nonprofit and reaccredited every three years.

She said the process includes a series of reviews, evaluations and an on-site inspection of the facility by American Correctional Association auditors.

The state's contract calls for the organization to use "only standards approved by" itself in the reaccreditation process, "making judgements of compliance based on written documentation, visual confirmation or both."

The skewering of the American Correctional Association at the hands of federal inspectors comes as Jeffreys has reduced the access once granted to Nebraska's Inspector General for Corrections after the state's attorney general offered a nonbinding opinion suggesting the office is unconstitutional.

Attorney General Mike Hilgers' opinion has reduced the oversight of the state's prison and child welfare systems by the Legislature, which created the Office of Inspector General for Corrections following Nikko Jenkins 2013 rampage that left four people dead.

Photos: Nebraska's new Reception and Treatment Center
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Princess Anne today became Mrs Timothy Laurence after a small family wedding in Scotland.

The 42-year-old arrived at Crathie church near Balmoral Castle accompanied by her father Prince Philip, and her daughter and bridesmaid 11-year-old Zara.

Before a small family congregation she and the groom, Commander Laurence, 37, exchanged vows to stay together until God shall separate us by death.

Anne, dressed in a simple white suit with white blossoms in her hair, and Mr Laurence, in a Royal Navy uniform, emerged from the church to cheers from about 500 well wishers.

The newlyweds are expected to join the rest of the royal family for a short celebration at Craigowan Lodge on the Balmoral estate.

Among the guests were the Queen, the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and Annes son from her first marriage Peter, 15.

Anne married Mark Phillips in 1973 at Westminster Abbey and they divorced this year.

But this is the first marriage for her groom whom she met during a tour of duty on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

In 1986, he was appointed an equerry to the Queen.

Their relationship became known in April 1989 when letters from the Commander were stolen from Annes briefcase and given to newspapers.

Four months later Anne announced her separation from Mark Phillips.

It is hoped Annes wedding celebrations will end a turbulent year for the Royal Family.

It was announced this week Prince Charles and the Princess of Wales have separated and Diana chose not to attend todays ceremony.

The Queens second son, Prince Andrew, also separated from his wife the Duchess of York this year.

Both brothers accompanied Prince Edward at todays ceremony.

The palace would not reveal if there are any plans for a honeymoon.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Rumours Princess Anne and Commander Laurence were leading separate lives surfaced in 2001 but received no comment from the Royal Family.

Princess Annes no fuss approach to royal duties has won her much admiration as the hardest working royal  with 655 engagements in her diary in 2001  but also criticism for being too severe.

She was criticised at Christmas 2000 for apparently berating a well wisher in her seventies who had waited to greet the royal family as they completed a traditional celebration at St Mary Magdalen church on the Sandringham Estate.

The princess apparently took a basket handmade by the woman and said: What a ridiculous thing to do.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met with his Vietnamese counterpart yesterday on an official visit to boost relations between the neighboring Southeast Asian countries that are close but historically complicated.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Hun Manet attended a welcome ceremony in the capital, Hanoi, where they reviewed an honor guard before holding talks that Cambodian officials had said would cover cooperation in the fields of education, trade, security, defense and border affairs, among others.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of several agreements on cooperation in trade and science.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and Cambodia totaled $10.57 billion in 2022 and $7.1 billion in the first 10 months of 2023, with a projection to reach $9 billion by the end of the year, according to the state Vietnam News Agency. Vietnam is Cambodias third-largest trading partner.

Hun Manet was also scheduled to meet with Nguyen Phu Trong, who as general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam is the countrys top leader; Vo Van Thuong, the president; and Vuong Dinh Hue, the National Assembly chief.

It is Hun Manets first visit to Vietnam since he became prime minister in August, succeeding his father Hun Sen, who maintained close relations with Vietnams communist leadership during his 38 years in power.

Many Cambodians, however, harbor a traditional hostility toward bigger and richer Vietnam, which they suspect of seeking to annex Cambodian territory. Some Cambodian politicians highlight the issue, and prejudice against ethnic Vietnamese residents is not rare.

Hun Manets father, Hun Sen, was installed as prime minister in 1985 by a Vietnamese occupying force that had invaded Cambodia to oust the communist Khmer Rouge from power in 1979. The extremist policies of the Khmer Rouge are held responsible for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians through starvation, overwork and execution.

Hun Sen had served as a middle-ranking Khmer Rouge commander, losing an eye in combat during Cambodias 1970-75 civil war. He fled to Vietnam in 1977  as the Khmer Rouge were carrying out purges among its own cadres  and joined an anti-Khmer Rouge resistance movement established there.

Hun Manet in 1999 became the first Cambodian to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Before becoming prime minister, he was commander of Cambodias army.

However, he shows no signs of deviating from his fathers policies, under which China is Cambodias most important ally. China in recent years has increased its influence throughout Southeast Asia.

Chinas leader Xi Jinping is scheduled to make a state visit to Vietnam today and tomorrow. It was not announced if he would also meet Hun Manet, whose own visit extends until today. MDT/AP
Renowned Chinese doctor and activist Gao Yaojie who exposed the AIDS virus epidemic in rural China in the 1990s died Sunday (yesterday, Macau time) at the age of 95 at her home in the United States.

Gaos outspokenness about the virus outbreak  which some gauged to have infected tens of thousands drove her to live in self-exile for over a decade in Manhattan, New York.

Lin Shiyu, a woman close to Gao and who compiled an oral history of her, confirmed to The Associated Press in an email yesterday that Gaos guardian, Columbia University professor Andrew J. Nathan, contacted her to let her know of the physicians death. Nathan did not immediately respond to emailed questions by the AP.

Gao became Chinas most well-known AIDS activist after speaking out against blood-selling schemes that infected thousands with HIV, mainly in her home province of Henan in central China. Her contributions were ultimately acknowledged to a certain extent by the Chinese government, which was forced to grapple with the AIDS crisis well into the 2000s.

Gaos work received recognition from international organizations and officials. She moved to the U.S. in 2009, where she began holding talks and writing books about her experiences.

She told the Associated Press in a previous interview that she withstood government pressure and persisted in her work because everyone has the responsibility to help their own people. As a doctor, thats my job. So its worth it. MDT/AP
Walking into a favorite restaurant here in Knoxville, Tennessee, I was immediately greeted by a golden statue of Buddha, its sparkling gemstone eyes meeting my own as I made my way through the door. The aromas of Thai curries beckoned, but as I was led to a table, I kept thinking about those glinting eyes.

Sacred objects are everywhere: Statues and paintings of gods fill museum galleries and catalog pages alike. You might also see them gracing a neighbors yard or upon an altar in your friends home.

Some dazzle in bejeweled splendor. Others may appear more humble, their luster softened through generations of hands passing them down. Oftentimes, it can feel as though sacred images are looking back.

I research the ways in which objects express the power of divine presence in Asian religious contexts. Studying different perspectives on sacred objects helps us think beyond religious contexts and allows us to rethink how objects and images play an active role in our lives.

Sacred visual culture

Hindu practice is defined by darsan  a ritual act of interacting with the divine through the visual experience. Scholar Diana Eck describes this interaction in her seminal study of Indian visual culture, Darsan, in the following way: to stand in the presence of the deity and to behold the image with ones own eyes, to see and be seen by the deity.

Theravada Buddhist rituals in Southeast Asia include all-night chanting sessions to recharge statues power. As scholar of Theravada Buddhism Donald Swearer notes in Becoming the Buddha, monastics and laypeople in northern Thailand will gather to recite Buddhist sutras while holding cords attached to an image of the Buddha, forming an intricate web of connection between the image and the Buddhist community.

The benefits gained from these chants is understood to enter the statue, recharging its karmic power and reanimating it to once again interact with the community.

Japanese Buddhist statues contain multiple items ritually placed within their wooden cavities: bones of saints, robes from eminent monastics and even silk-fashioned replicas of visceral organs like lungs and kidneys. As art historian James Dobbins notes, certain Buddhist rituals are performed in order to transform the body of a statue into a living body.

In cases like this, inanimate objects are believed to transform into not only sacred things, but also active, living beings who can see, hear, taste and respond to the concerns of those who worship them.

Eye-opening ritual

There are many different ways to enliven an image, and each ritual tradition carries its own unique process. However, the most well-known across Asia is commonly referred to as the eye-opening ceremony. The term eye-opening gets its name from the culmination of an intense ritual process wherein the monk paints in the pupils of the image, thus opening its eye to see.

In Sri Lanka, Buddhist monks perform a version known as the netra-pinkama, which loosely translates to meritorious action of the eyes.

Richard Gombrich, a scholar of Buddhism and Sanskrit, noted in his study of Buddhism in Sri Lanka that Before consecration, a statue is treated with no more respect than one would give the materials of which it is composed.  The very act of consecration indicates that a statue is being brought to life.

Enlivening an image is not a task undertaken lightly, as it is believed in some cases that any demonic spirits loitering around could interrupt the process, thereby resulting in an ineffective ritual or even a malevolent icon. Both the temple grounds and the ritual specialists must undergo purification rites before beginning. The whole process is filled with strict procedures and avoidance of taboos  a common theme among consecration rituals across Asian religious traditions.

Perhaps most importantly, the monk must refrain from looking directly into the icons eyes, and thus uses a mirror to look over their shoulder in order to paint in the icons pupils.

In Taiwan, statues and paintings of Buddhist, Daoist and local gods will undergo a similar kind of practice known as kaiguang, meaning opening the radiance. Monks, Daoist masters and even the artists who carve the statues may perform the rite on behalf of the individuals or temple communities that commission the image.

Once completed, shops will wrap a piece of red paper around to cover the statues eyes to ensure that the first thing that the image sees is the face of the one who requested it. The power of sacred vision is such that it must literally be kept under wraps.

Living images

Once its eyes have been opened, the image becomes a living thing capable of performing powerful deeds. As such, people may behave much differently  making offerings of incense and taking pains to follow social etiquette lest they offend. The care with which these objects are treated once they have been activated suggests that there is a lot more here than meets the eye.

As Ecks observation attests, being seen is critical to understanding what images do. By seemingly looking back at us, sacred images remind us that we are not alone in this world. In so doing, they also send a message that the world is not there for our eyes only, but that other viewpoints are just as powerful as our own. Michael Naparstek, University of Tennessee, MDT/THE CONVERSATION
Israeli forces battled Palestinian militants in Gazas two largest cities yesterday, with civilians still trapped in the fighting even after hundreds of thousands have fled to other parts of the besieged territory.

Israel has pledged to keep fighting until it removes Hamas from power, dismantles its military capabilities and returns all of the hostages taken by militants during Hamas Oct. 7 surprise attack into Israel that ignited the war.

The U.S. has provided unwavering diplomatic and military support for the campaign, even as it has urged Israel to minimize civilian casualties and further mass displacement. The war has killed thousands of Palestinian civilians and driven nearly 85% of the territorys 2.3 million people from their homes.

Residents said there was heavy fighting in and around the southern city of Khan Younis, where Israeli ground forces opened a new line of attack last week, and battles were still underway in parts of Gaza City and the built-up Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, where large areas have been reduced to rubble.

Radwa Abu Frayeh saw heavy Israeli strikes around the European Hospital in Khan Younis, where the U.N. humanitarian office says tens of thousands of people have sought shelter. She said a strike hit a home close to hers late Sunday.

The building shook, she said. We thought it was the end and we would die.

Hussein al-Sayyed, who fled Gaza City earlier in the war with his three daughters, is staying in a three-story home in the city with around 70 others, and said they have been rationing food for days.

Over many days, I have eaten just one meal a day to save food for the girls. They are still young, he said. I dont know where to go. No place is safe.

Hamas is believed to have suffered heavy losses, but yesterday it fired a barrage of rockets that set off sirens in Tel Aviv. One person was lightly wounded, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service, and Channel 12 broadcast footage of a cratered road and damage to cars and buildings in a suburb.

FEARS OF PERMANENT DISPLACEMENT

With very little aid allowed into Gaza, Palestinians face severe shortages of food, water and other basic goods. Some openly worry that Palestinians will be forced out of the territory altogether in a repeat of the mass exodus from what is now Israel during the 1948 war surrounding its creation.

Expect public order to completely break down soon, and an even worse situation could unfold including epidemic diseases and increased pressure for mass displacement into Egypt, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a forum in Qatar on Sunday.

Eylon Levy, an Israeli government spokesman, called allegations that Israeli intends to drive people en masse from Gaza outrageous and false. But other Israeli officials have discussed such a scenario, raising alarm in Egypt and other Arab countries that refuse to accept any refugees.

At the same time, its not clear when or if Palestinians would be allowed to return to Gaza City and much of the north  home to some 1.2 million before the war  where entire neighborhoods have been flattened.

Palestinians in Lebanon and the Israeli-occupied West Bank observed a general strike yesterday called by activists to demand a cease-fire, after the U.S. vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for one on Friday. A similar, nonbinding vote is planned in the General Assembly on Tuesday.

HARSH CONDITIONS IN THE SOUTH

Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames their deaths on Hamas, saying it endangers residents by fighting in dense areas and positioning military infrastructure  including weapons, tunnels and rocket launchers  in or near civilian buildings.

The military said five soldiers were killed in a battle in southern Gaza on Sunday, after militants fired at them from a school and set off an explosive device. It said the troops, backed by aircraft and tanks, returned fire and killed the militants.

Forces operating in Jabaliya found a truck full of long-range rockets near a school, and a rifle, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers and explosives in a home, the army said.

Israel has urged people to flee to what it says are safe areas in the south  and the fighting in and around Khan Younis has pushed tens of thousands toward the town of Rafah and other areas along the border with Egypt. But Israel has continued to strike alleged militant targets throughout the territory. Associated Press reporters saw nine bodies brought to a local hospital after an airstrike hit a home in Rafah overnight.

The aid group Doctors Without Borders said people in the south are also falling ill as they pack into crowded shelters or sleep in tents in open areas. NAJIB JOBAIN & SAMY MAGDY, RAFAH, MDT/AP
Environmental watchdogs accused a Mexico-based startup Thursday of violating international trade law by selling a health supplement made from endangered totoaba fish to several countries including the U.S. and China.

Advocates told The Associated Press they also have concerns that the company, The Blue Formula, could be selling fish that is illegally caught in the wild.

The product, which the company describes as natures best kept secret, is a small sachet of powder containing collagen taken from the fish that is designed to be mixed into a drink.

Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, to which Mexico and the U.S. are both signatories, any export for sale of totoaba fish is illegal, unless bred in captivity with a particular permit. As a listed protected species, commercial import is also illegal under U.S. trade law.

The environmental watchdog group Cetacean Action Treasury first cited the company in November. Then on Thursday, a coalition of environmental charities  The Center for Biological Diversity, National Resources Defense Council and Animal Welfare Institute  filed a written complaint to CITES.

The Blue Formula did not immediately respond to an AP request for comment.

The company claims on its website to operate 100% sustainably by sourcing fish from Cygnus Ocean, a farm which has a permit to breed totoaba, and using a portion of their profits to release some farmed fish back into the wild.

However, Cygnus Ocean does not have a permit for commercial export of their farmed fish, according to the environmental groups. The farm also did not immediately respond to a request from the AP for comment.

While the ecological impact of breeding totoaba in captivity is much smaller relative to wild fishing, advocates like Alejandro Olivera, the Center for Biological Diversitys Mexico representative, fear the company and farm could be used as a front.

There is no good enforcement of the traceability of totoaba in Mexico, said Olivera, so it could be easily used to launder wild totoaba.

Gillnet fishing for wild totoaba is illegal and one of the leading killers of critically endangered vaquita porpoise, of which recent surveys suggest less than a dozen may exist in the wild.

Gillnetting is driven by the exorbitant price for totoaba bladders in China, where they are sold as a delicacy for as much as gold. The Blue Formulas supplement costs just under $100 for 200 grams.

In October U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized over $1 million worth of totoaba bladders in Arizona, hidden in a shipment of frozen fish. Roughly as much again was seized in Hong Kong the same month, in transit from Mexico to Thailand. DANIEL SHAILER, MEXICO CITY, MDT/AP
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a pillar of social prosperity, stability and moderate economic diversification. They play a vital role in Macaos long-term prosperity, job market and economic diversification. Sands China upholds a business philosophy of supporting local enterprises, and the company has spared no effort in promoting Macao brands to support the Macao SAR governments policy of fostering SMEs, resulting in thousands of fruitful collaborations and strengthening Macaos development as a world centre of tourism and leisure.

Procurement spend

In 2015, Sands China co-launched its Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Program with the Macao Chamber of Commerce (MCC), becoming the first integrated resort operator in Macao to launch such a programme. It focuses on three categories of local businesses: small and micro companies, Made-in-Macao companies, and Macao young entrepreneurs. This aligns with the Macao governments initiative to buy local and demonstrates Sands Chinas commitment to supporting local enterprises as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts. The programme has made remarkable achievements in the eight years since its implementation. Sands Chinas percentage of procurement spend on Macao enterprises increased from 77% to 89% while the percentage of procurement spend on SMEs climbed from 14% to 25% as of last year.

Sands Procurement Academy

To reinforce its support for local SMEs under the programme, Sands China launched the F.I.T. initiative, which is comprised of three pillars: Financial Support, Invitational Matching, and Training and Development. F.I.T. targets both existing and new local Sands China suppliers and delivers practical knowledge by Sands China, the Macao Chamber of Commerce and the Macau Productivity and Technology Centre (CPTTM). It seeks to continually increase and strengthen procurement between Sands China and local SME suppliers by enhancing their capabilities.

The Sands Procurement Academy has delivered over 8100 training hours since launching in 2017, having welcomed 14 cohorts to date. Over 520 local SME suppliers have enrolled, and more than 480 have already graduated. Graduates of the academy have consistently given positive feedback about the ways the programme has benefited their business. Graduates receive a completion certificate and are given preferential procurement opportunities with Sands China under otherwise equal circumstances.

Sands Resorts Incubation Centre

In keeping with the Macao SAR governments initiative to spearhead technology-driven smart tourism, Sands China launched the Sands Resorts Incubation Centre in May. It aims to not only facilitate the optimization and refinement of existing products and services, but to also facilitate the development of new and innovative solutions targeted at the integrated resort industry. It seeks to help entrepreneurs transform their conceptual ideas into commercially viable offerings that are poised for success in the marketplace.

Additionally, Sands China has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Parafuturo de Macau Investment and Development Limited (PFM) to work together to identify potential enterprises through periodic workshops, classroom trainings, and competition events. By sharing industry expertise and business knowledge, the two entities aim to enhance the development of Macaos young entrepreneurs and support the growth of local small, medium, and micro suppliers.

Local Supplier Open Day

Sands China held its 2023 Sands China Local Supplier Open Day in April, aimed at providing procurement opportunities for prospective local SME suppliers. The event was well-attended, with close to 220 SME suppliers participating. The Local Supplier Open Day gave potential suppliers a chance to connect with Sands China procurement representatives and learn about procurement opportunities in various departments. Several categories of procurement booths were set up: food and beverage, outside services and logistics, marketing and printing, technology and gaming, operating supplies and equipment, facilities and construction, and Macao brand and made-in-Macao products.

The Macao Showcase

Sands China held The Macao Showcase at Singapores Marina Bay Sands in June, inviting sales and trade partners, regional and international media, Singapores residents, and travellers to experience the multifaceted charm of Macao  promoting the city as a world centre of tourism and leisure and a premier MICE destination. Sands China utilized the event as a large sales platform for Macaos SME suppliers, leading a delegation of 200 representatives to Singapore to promote the unique beauty, products, and arts & culture of Macao.

The Macao Showcase was the first time a Macao integrated resort operator drove SME suppliers to participate in an exhibition together to facilitate overseas business opportunities. One of Macaos time-honoured SMEs, Wong Chi Kei Foods (Macau) Co. Ltd., recently made its mark in Singapore through The Macao Showcase, where the company showcased its latest gift souvenir, Yea Yea Noodles (Grandpa Noodles). Additionally, Sands China successfully facilitated procurement partnerships for several SMEs, such as Choi Heong Yuen Bakery, Kam-in Catering, and Yeng Kee Bakery through The Macao Showcase, enabling them to successfully enter the international market.

Sands Shopping Carnival

In order to boost post-pandemic economic revival, Sands China held the 2023 Sands Shopping Carnival in July at The Venetian Macaos Cotai Expo, attracting nearly 110,000 visits over its four days of shopping, activities and performances; around 50 percent of the visitation came from tourists. Now in its fourth year, the carnival has welcomed over 420,000 visitors since debuting in 2020.

The Sands Shopping Carnival has become an annual signature event for Sands China. It gives local residents and tourists an exciting weekend destination, while offering a free business platform for local SMEs and Sands retailers to take advantage of the synergistic effects of having both local and international brands at one event. This years carnival offered visitors more than 580 booths to browse, the highest number to date, across 11 zones.

Our company achieved great results from participating in The Macao Showcase organised by Sands China in Singapore. And our participation in this years Sands Shopping Carnival brought us a lot of business opportunities as well, as the event attracted a great number of residents and tourists. Sands China fully supports local SMEs  they provided booths for us for free at the carnival, which helps alleviate costs, in turn making SMEs more confident about sales. Business Development Director, Wong Chi Kei Foods (Macau) Co. Ltd.

Sands Chinas valuable experience in international construction standards and quality management has led to local SMEs learning and accumulating experience and professional skills. Since working with Sands China, Genyield has become more comprehensive and diversified, providing opportunities for our engineering management, technology and construction team members to improve their capabilities and craftmanship. This has brought positive impact to the company, as it has enhanced our competitiveness in the market and developed our business. Deputy General Manager, and Managing Director,

Genyield Construction Co., Ltd.

The Macao Chamber of Commerce and Sands China have worked together on SME support programs for eight years now, in line with the governments policies to promote the development of Macaos SMEs. Initiatives such as SME Open Day and the Sands Procurement Academy have brought many business opportunities and new space for development to SMEs. During the pandemic, Sands Chinas Expedited Payment Program helped alleviate SMEs cash flow pressures and restored their competitiveness amid unstable conditions. This shows that Sands China upholds the business philosophy of supporting SMEs, creating mutual benefits and a win-win situation. President, Macao Chamber of Commerce
This little alligator is one of the rarest in the world and was born in Florida. The new leucistic alligator was born at Gatorland. The original nest was discovered in Louisiana over 30 years ago. This is the first recorded birth since the nest was first found. Buzz60s Keri Lumm has more.
Indigenous Peoples Day could become an official Dane County holiday under a plan set for a vote before the County Board this month.

The newest county holiday would give county employees the second Monday of October off and encourage them to use the holiday to celebrate and recognize Indigenous people.

Sup. Rick Rose, who represents the 16th District on Madisons Far East Side, proposed the new holiday. He said he has wanted to explore how the county can honor the areas Native American history and the injustices perpetrated against Native people.

Stating a land acknowledgment, which recognizes Indigenous peoples historic presence on the land, at the beginning of county meetings was explored, but we decided this has to be deeper than that, Rose said.

Anything is good, but this has to be a sustainable plan to really bring more recognition to the tribes, he said.

The proposal could get a vote at the boards Dec. 21 meeting, but that is less than certain.

Indigenous Peoples Day coincides with Columbus Day, which remains a federal holiday. Four states  South Dakota, New Mexico, Maine and Vermont  have an official state holiday honoring Native Americans, according to the Pew Research Center. Only 16 states observe Columbus Day exclusively by that name and Nebraska and Rhode Island observe both, according to Pew. Wisconsin observes neither as an official holiday.

Beyond the holiday, the board is exploring buying the work of Indigenous artists to display in the City-County Building, Rose said. In next years budget, the county contributed $2 million to the construction of a new Ho-Chunk History Center.

Theres been a great but never great enough effort to support the Native community and recognize the lands and people that have occupied Dane County" for thousands of years, Rose said.

Court concerns

Sup. Tim Kiefer, who is often one of the few dissenting votes on the board on many issues, is opposed to the new holiday because of its potential impact on the court system.

Since the county doesnt have weekend court, those arrested on the Friday before the holiday or over the weekend wont get a bail hearing until the following Tuesday. The holiday would interfere with jury selection and further back up the criminal justice system, Kiefer argued.

I think its an inequitable solution to put everything else on pause just so we can add this holiday, said Kiefer, who works as a criminal defense attorney and represents Waunakee in the 25th District.

District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said he takes no issue with the new holiday, though he noted that because prosecutors are state employees, they would still work that day, although not in the courtroom.

Circuit Judge Nicholas McNamara, who heads the courts criminal division, said the county has eliminated its pandemic-era case backlog but expressed no insight or guess as to whether an additional county holiday would negatively impact the countys system.

As for honoring the history of Native Americans, Kiefer noted the county doesnt honor Veterans Day as an official holiday.

If any holiday is going to be added it should be Veterans Day, Kiefer said. But I dont think adding any new holidays is a wise idea at this point.

Even though many county employees would have the day off, about $80,000 in county funds would be needed to pay overtime to essential staff, such as sheriffs deputies, Kiefer added.

No board committees have voted on the holiday yet. The resolution to make Indigenous Peoples Day an official county holiday is sponsored by Rose and Sups. Elizabeth Doyle, Michael Engelberger, Chuck Erickson, Kiersten Huelsemann and Melissa Ratcliff.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to remove part of a quote by Sup. Rick Rose that inaccurately described how long Indigenous people have occupied the area that is today Dane County. The earliest evidence of human occupation in Wisconsin dates to about 10,000 years ago.

Photos: Indigenous Peoples' Day in Sauk County
MADRID  Spanish authorities confiscated 11 tons of cocaine and arrested 20 people in two different operations against the smuggling of the illegal drugs inside shipping containers, Spain's National Police said Tuesday.

Police said more than 8 tons of cocaine seized by agents in the northwestern city of Vigo were hidden between pieces of frozen tuna. Investigators said a criminal organization was using a frozen seafood company as a front to bring the drugs from South America to Spain.

A separate sting by police in the Mediterranean city of Valencia led to the seizure of more than 3 tons of cocaine found in false bottoms of shipping containers in the eastern city's port.

Police didn't reveal the exact dates of the operation, only indicating they were carried out recently. They said both rings were linked to criminal organizations from the Balkans region.

Photos: Drug cartels vex Europe Europe Cocaine Europe Cocaine Europe Cocaine
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Monday that Republicans are not changing one thing in the compromise plan the Universities of Wisconsin Regents rejected Saturday to roll back diversity efforts in exchange for staff raises and a new engineering building and other infrastructure improvements.

This deal was negotiated in good faith, Vos, R-Rochester, said in an interview with 1130 WISN Newstalk. We are not changing one thing in this deal.  If they want to walk away, they can walk away.

For their part, the Board of Regents announced Monday it plans to hold a closed-door meeting Tuesday morning to discuss Democratic Gov. Tony Evers lawsuit against the Legislature over the withholding of pay raises for UW system employees, as well as to deliberate and negotiate funding proposals and matters that require a closed session. It was not immediately clear what the scope of the meeting would be, or why it is being held behind closed doors.

The Regents on Saturday voted 9-8 against the deal that would have provided UW-Madison a new engineering building, implemented pay raises for UW system employees and restored $32 million in funding Republicans withheld from the UW systems budget last summer.

As part of the deal, which was made between legislative Republican leaders and Universities of Wisconsin system President Jay Rothman, the system would have to reduce its number of diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, employees, largely through reclassifying about 43 roles as student success employees.

The Regents vote to reject the agreement came after impassioned pleas not to give in to Republican demands on DEI. Other regents expressed concerns that approving the deal would set a precedent: that the UW system would need to fight for the release of funding already promised in state budgets or trade its core values for the approval of building projects.

In a statement Saturday, Evers urged Republicans to continue working with the UW system to find common ground. Evers is suing legislative Republicans over the withholding of pay raises, arguing that the denial of funds already approved as part of the states two-year budget amounts to an unconstitutional legislative veto.

Many aspects of the deal had to be completed by a set date. Legislative Republicans would have needed to approve pay raises for UW system employees by Dec. 31 and approve half a dozen building projects and demolitions by the end of the February floor session. The UW system would have been required to reclassify 43 of its DEI employees within the next two academic years.

I will do everything in my power to make sure we either enforce this deal or we wait until the next budget to talk about it again, Vos said. We are not going to give the raises, we are not going to approve these new building programs, we are not going to approve the new money for the university unless they at least pass this deal.

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, echoed Vos sentiments in a statement Monday, calling the proposal before the Regents the legislatures last and best offer.

Drawn-out debate

Vos set off the monthslong power struggle between lawmakers and the UW system in May when he spoke out against the university systems DEI staffing and programming and threatened to cut funding in the next state budget. Since then, he has insisted the UW systems DEI programs lead to increased division on campuses and at one point said he was embarrassed to be a graduate of UW-Whitewater as a result.

Rothman rejected Vos initial request, ratcheting up pressure on the system: First, Republicans made good on their promise to cut the university systems budget and dealt UW-Madison and the UW system a stinging blow in denying funding for the engineering building.

Republicans also attempted to eliminate DEI positions in the state budget, but the move was vetoed by Evers.

Then, in October, Republicans on the employee relations board, including Vos, took up raises for all state employees except university employees.

Over the months, UW-Madison increased pressure on Republican lawmakers by recruiting some of Wisconsins largest employers and conservative groups like Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce to sign letters urging lawmakers to approve an engineering building during this session. That pressure is not likely to go away as industry leaders say the expansion is needed to meet a growing demand for engineers in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce spokesperson Nick Novak declined to comment on ongoing negotiations. Spokespeople for other groups that previously signed letters in support of the new engineering building, including Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, Wisconsin Technology Council and Johnson Controls, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

UW-Madison has also warned that millions in private donations could be at risk if the building were not included in the budget and said the cost could balloon up to $400 million.

Appointees at risk

Senate President Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, in a Monday post on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, hinted that some of the Regents who voted against the deal could be ousted by the Republican-controlled chamber.

Its good to know before their upcoming Senate confirmation votes that several Regents chose their sacred ideology over getting our students ready for their careers, Kapenga said.

Four of the governor's appointees have not yet been approved by the Senate.

Ultimately, the full Senate has the final say on the governors appointments. Senate Republicans have rejected Evers picks in the past, including Wisconsin Elections Commission member Joseph Czarnezki and several members of the states natural resources policy board.

Make no mistake  part of this exercise is Republicans wanting to manufacture an excuse to fire capable, qualified Wisconsinites for simply doing their jobs, Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback posted on X. Its about punishing anyone who dares to disagree with them or threatens their power  and theyre saying that out loud.

If the Senate rejects Evers appointees, the governor will name replacements.

State Journal reporter Alexander Shur contributed to this report.

Today in history: Dec. 11 1972: Apollo 17 1980: Jimmy Carter 1997: Kyoto, Japan 1998: Impeachment 2008: Bernie Madoff 2011: Manuel Noriega 2012: Paul Tagliabue 2016: Donald Trump 2017: Emmanuel Macron 2017: Mario Batali 2020: Pfizer 2020: Supreme Court 2021: Anne Rice 2021: Bryce Young 2021: Michael Strahan
TWIN FALLS  The woman suspected of being involved in a double murder at a Twin Falls business early this month was found to have drugs in several areas of her house when police served a search warrant there, records say.

Angelica M. Martinez, 40, was not at the house Wednesday when the warrant was served, and law officers suspected she had fled the country, records say.

Martinez was apprehended Wednesday in Phoenix and charged with aiding and abetting murder, along with two felony counts of possessing methamphetamine and cocaine.

The drug possession case apparently isnt a key part of the murder investigation involving the deaths of Jesse Ortiz-Meda, 36, and Jaime Bravo Rodriguez, 26, but rather a byproduct of it, records say.

Law officers had their search warrant amended so they could seize the drugs.

Law enforcement from the Twin Falls Police Department and Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office SWAT teams served the warrant for the house in the 200 block of Ramage Street on Dec. 4 in connection with the murders, and found evidence of drug use, including meth on a living room coffee table and a baggie of cocaine in a bedroom, along with a rolled-up $2 bill containing drug residue, records say.

In a kitchen cupboard, law officers recovered an empty vacuum-sealed bag containing white powder residue, similar to packages that drug dealers transport large quantities of controlled substances, court records said.

The affidavit of probable cause didnt indicate whether anyone else lived at the house but mentioned police saw photos of Martinezs children at the residence.

Twin Falls police said Martinezs arrest came about partly due to information brought forth by community members. Available court records open to the public don't give details of how Martinez is suspected of being connected to the killings.

Ortiz-Meda was the owner and Rodriguez was an employee of a tint shop in the 2400 block of Kimberly Road, where they were killed by gunfire.

Twin Falls County Prosecuting Attorney Grant Loebs said he was unsure when Martinez will return to Twin Falls to face the charges. She is being held in the Maricopa County Jail in Arizona.
Women are the backbone of a society so an investment in womens health is an investment in society  this is one of the key takeaways from the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit attended by world leaders, global business executives, andthought leaders.

With the APEC region home to roughly one-third of the women in the world, the most transformational opportunities lie in expanding womens economic empowerment. The Summit underscored that empowering women entails addressing their unmet health needs, which includes Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH) across life stages.

The Summit also paved way to bi-literal meetings between policy makers and business leaders dedicated to ensuring sustained economic prosperity of the region to initiate actions that make a real difference.

(From left) Al Kelly, Chief Executive of VISA and Private Sector Co-Chair of APEC CEO Summit; President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.; and Kevin Ali (right), CEO of Organon and Private Sector Chair of CEO Summit. (Photo courtesy APEC CEO Summit 2023)

Organon CEO Kevin Ali served as the Private Sector Co-Chair of the APEC CEO Summit. The role was an exciting opportunity for Organon, a global healthcare company with a focus on womens health.

During the Summit, Ali met with the Philippines President FerdinandR. Marcos Jr. to discuss the need to collaborate to reduce gender-related disparities in health, and expand access to sexual and reproductive health services and products for women

The Philippines government has already made significant advancements in addressing the Family Planning needs of Filipino Women through the National Family Program that provides free access to contraceptives and other family planning services to women in need.

Organon is a proud supporter of this program via the Her Access Initiative. This program builds on Organons commitment to prevent 120 million unplanned pregnancies by 2030 by providing 100 million girls and women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with affordable access to contraceptive options by 2030.

However a large unmet needs still exists and Organon remains committed to work with the Philippines government to ensure all women who need family panning services can access them.

Kevin Ali, CEO of Organon and Private Sector Chair of CEO Summit.

Aligned with the APEC economies vision to increase the health and wellbeing of the people in the region, Organons commitment is to build a business around patient needs, with the goal of identifying and advancing healthcare options for women that enable them to live their best lives every day.

When women and girls have access to contraception resources and options, they can unlock their fullest potential  and that of their families, societies and economies, said Ali. Organon is pleased to stand with APEC and the family planning community with our commitment to help prevent 120 million unintended pregnancies around the world where there is the greatest need.

Organon believes that a healthier womens population will have a multiplier effect not only in terms of womens health, but their communities and their economies. That is why the company is on a mission to address the unmet health needs of women in APEC through the advancement of science, innovation and private-public partnerships create a more resilient, healthier, and gender-equitable world.
Cawley Dick Stine is celebrating his 100th birthday today  his secret is eating one Hersheys chocolate a day.

Stine was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on Dec. 12, 1923, at Old Otterbein United Methodist Church, which was built in the 1700s and is the oldest church edifice in continuous use in Baltimore to this day.

His father, also named Cawley Stine, was the minister at the church, and he was born in the parsonage behind the chapel.

The family then moved to Pennsylvania where Stine was mostly raised in Philadelphia. He eventually discovered his love for chemistry from a high school chemistry teacher.

I just really liked it, Stine said.

Stine attended Lebanon Valley College and was studying for his undergraduate degree in chemistry when he was drafted for World War II shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

He got a draft notice and they told him not to sign up for the next semester, Stines daughter Wendy Embree said. However, that wasnt the end of Stines chemistry studies.

He did some research with his father on the local armory and found out about programs available for study to service members. He took and passed a test at the University of Chicago and qualified to get into the meteorology program.

He received a telegram that he had been selected to the program just before the draft notice was finishing up and he would have had to serve the military in a different way, but as it was Stine ended up as a meteorologist for the, at the time, United States Army Air Corps.

While training in the meteorology program he started out learning how to predict the weather with weather balloons, but new technology developed while he was in the program that changed how everything was done.

He was on the cutting edge of technology  He started out with the old-fashioned way and moved into the new technology of the day, Embree said. He even took courses at Harvard on the new technology.

He and his team were planning to travel overseas to predict the weather, but the war ended before that played out.

Once out of the military Stine finished earning his bachelors degree in chemistry and went on to earn doctorate in analytical chemistry at Syracuse University.

He always said he felt that the education he got in the military helped him with his further education as far as just knowledge about electronics, Embree added. And predicting the weather became a lifelong hobby of his.

While he was finishing his Ph.D., he was recruited by DuPont and worked for the company as a chemist in Wilmington, Delaware, for 10 years before he was transferred to the Martinsville nylon plant in 1963.

After we moved to Martinsville we actually fell in love with this area, Embree said. She, her father and her sister Donna Young have since stayed in the area and even the same house.

He stayed at DuPont for 35 years and then started working at Martin Processing, now Eastman Chemical Co., as their senior research chemist where he stayed for around 15 years before retiring at the age of 85.

He loved what he did, Embree said. He was always in a lab of some kind because thats what he really loved to do.

I was wanting to have fun, Stine said about his life. He was always interested in new technology as it came out, his daughters agreed, and even at 100 years old has an Alexa in the house.

Stine met his wife, the late Nancy Souder Stine, at Lebanon Valley College and they had two daughters, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

His family held a birthday celebration for him in the summer for his out-of-town family to attend and this past weekend had a party for his local friends and family.

Im enjoying it, Stine said about reaching 100 years old. Because Im still here to feel it.
Del. Les Adams, R-Pittsylvania, is resigning from the House of Delegates after the completion of his current term of office.

Two Republicans have announced they will seek their partys nomination to run in a Jan. 9 special election to replace Adams.

An attorney and native of Pittsylvania County, Adams resides in Chatham with his wife Melanie Adams and their two sons.

Adams represents the 16th House District, which includes most of Pittsylvania County, much of Henry County and the city of Martinsville. He was reelected in November as delegate for the 48th House District in the election following the redistricting.

In a letter to the Clerk of the House of Delegates, Adams said, Although I have been elected to continue serving as Delegate for the new 48th House District in the next session, I will decline to accept the oath of office to be seated with that General Assembly so that I may make myself available for another position of service.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Speaker of the House Todd Gilbert were also copied on the letter.

It has been a tremendous privilege to represent the people of Pittsylvania, Henry and the City of Martinsville over the course of the past decade, and I will always be grateful to them for affording me that honor, Adams said.

Adams was first elected in 2013 and served five terms in Virginias General Assembly. Along with various other leadership positions in House Committees, he was recently the vice-chairman of the Virginia State Crime Commission and the Board of Trustees of the Center for Rural Virginia. He is also a member of the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission.

Virginias constitution gives the governor the ability to issue a writ of special election for vacancies in the General Assembly when the legislature is not in session. Youngkin has called for a Jan. 9 special election in the 48th House District, with a candidate filing deadline of Dec. 17. The General Assembly returns to Richmond for its new session on Jan. 10.

Within hours of Adams announcement, former Chatham Mayor Will Pace announced his intention to run for the seat.

After being asked by many neighbors and friends, I have decided to announce my candidacy for this seat, Pace posted on his campaign Facebook page. I will be the strong Constitutional conservative that we need in Richmond to continue on Les work and support Gov. Youngkin.

Henry County business owner Eric Phillips is also vying for the seat.

I am thankful for Les service to Southside and Southwest Virginia and I look forward to being a conservative voice for our values in Richmond, Phillips posted on his Facebook page.

He serves on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of the Blue Ridge, the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce and the Uptown Partnership.

Phillips is also chairman of the Martinsville Industrial Development Authority and chair of the Henry County-Martinsville Republican Committee.

He serves on the Republican Part of Virginias governing board, the State Central Committee.

As Delegate, I will fight to bring needed infrastructure investment with projects like the Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor, to protect our students and defend parental rights and work to create jobs, cut taxes and regulations and ease the burden on hardworking Virginians, he said in a prepared statement. I will bring a new voice to Richmond that will stand up to the political establishment. I am excited about this opportunity and I am optimistic about the future of our commonwealth.

The Danville Register & Bee contributed to this report.
Most people consider the Fonta Flora Trail to be a loop around Lake James. While that was the original vision of the 2014 Lake James Loop Trail Master Plan, the concept grew to become a state trail.

On location at the next segment of state trail to be built in Burke County, Rep. Hugh Blackwell said, The first trails legislation that I helped pass established Fonta Flora as an official part of North Carolinas trails system. When fully completed, the trail will run from Morganton west through Burke County all the way to Buncombe County. Later, I did the same for Overmountain Victory Trail. I was pleased also to be actively involved in state funds being made available for construction of the actual state trails so that they become not just visions but actualities. Today, as a result of the state appropriation, I am proud to join in celebrating part of Fonta Flora and Overmountain Victory becoming a reality in Burke County.

Funding has been a major factor in getting more trail miles planned and built. In 2020, the Great Trails State Coalition (GTSC) formed with the goal of state funding for trails. In 2021, the N.C. Year of the Trail designation led by the GTSC and championed by Blackwell passed legislation to inspire people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to try trails, to demonstrate the importance of trails to elected officials and to boost outdoor recreation tourism across the state through Year of the Trail events. A part of the campaign resulted in a new Complete the Trails Fund being included in the 2021 N.C. state budget that provided money for each North Carolina State Trail, which are units of the State Parks system.

In areas where more than one trail will be in the same corridor, the funds can be shared. Sharing resources is Burke Countys goal as they look to move the Fonta Flora State Trail west to McDowell Countys Black Bear Access Park that opened in November with hiking trails, a campground and a fishing pier that is accessed by FFST. The Burke County section of trail near the neighborhoods 1780 and The Enclave is both Fonta Flora State Trail (FFST) and Overmountain Victory State Trail (OVST), which will allow shared funding. Working with these state trail partners, the county will put out a Request for Qualifications to select a design team who will develop final design and construction documents for the exact route and determine necessary repairs to existing trail. Opportunities for construction of 2.2 miles of new trail and maintenance of 1.75 miles of existing trail will be starting in late 2024.

Not just partners in funding, these allies in support, planning and promotion of the trail are a huge component in moving trails forward. With the 2021 N.C. state budget came the assignment of a nonprofit for each state trail. Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail (F3ST), organized in 2019, is the official nonprofit for FFST and OVNCST-Friends was formed in 2021 for Overmountain Victory State Trail.

Starting in 2019 as an all-volunteer organization with the financial and board member support from Burke County, Morganton and Glen Alpine, F3ST has shown that trails in our region are important for health, recreation, transportation, conservation and economic development opportunities and provide a great return on investment, said Beth Heile, immediate past president of F3ST and founding member of the GTSC. We are grateful the State of North Carolina now recognizes those many benefits to the point of providing state funding assistance for trails.

Having the nonprofit organizations and a new county staff position dedicated to trails will assist in the current plan projecting completion of FFST in Burke County in 2030.

Burke County, wanting to focus on completing the trail program in its jurisdiction, hired Sarah Chabaane in June 2023. With her solid background in recreation resource planning and her dedication to developing outdoor places for the community to use and enjoy, trail planning and construction in Burke County continues to make progress, said Alan Glines, community development director for Burke County.

These partners have already been working on a short but critical portion of co-located trail across Canal Bridge. Officials have always known that Canal Bridge on N.C. 126 near Benfields Landing Road needed a bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly solution before it could be designated as a state trail. To create separation between people and vehicles, many ideas have been discussed including a separate pedestrian bridge or an attachment on the side of the existing bridge. Due to the width of the bridge, the North Carolina Department of Transportation will permit a lane shift to allow bike riders and walkers room to safely cross on the east side of the bridge. The barrier to the water needs to be raised for safety and a sidewalk poured, but no need for a new structure. Burke County has been working with local engineering firm Mattern and Craig and NCDOT on the design, with funding from all partners. The goal is to have a safe passage by next fall along with around 1.5 miles of new trail on state park property on each side of the bridge.

FFST is a planned 100-mile hiking and biking trail connecting Morganton to Asheville that includes the loop around Lake James. Approximately 24 of the 33 completed FFST miles along the three-county route are in Burke County. Hikers and bikers can access 20 miles of Fonta Flora State Trail between Lake James State Park and Harris Whisnant Road and 4 miles along the Morganton Greenway. See fontaflorastatetrail.com for all access points.

The OVST will follow the 225 miles of the planned route of the National Historic Trail that passes through North Carolina. The trail follows the paths that the patriot militia took as they mustered to fight the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780. Completed miles in Burke County are the Morganton Greenway and a section of trail in Lake James State Park.
The employees of Radiodifusao da Guine Bissau demonstrated this Monday, December 11, against the occupation of the radio station by police officers and the imposition of a new director by force. The journalists denounce an assault on national radio.

Two hundred journalists and technicians from Guinea Bissaus National Broadcasting protested this Monday, December 11, against the censorship they have been subjected to since the arrival of a new head of the organization. The change in management came a day after President Umaro Sissoco Embalo dissolved the National Peoples Assembly and the government.

The employees of Radiodifusao Nacional are complaining of censorship, explains the president of the Union of Journalists and Media Technicians, Indira Correia Balde.

As they explained to the union, on Tuesday night, the new director went to the radio station with men in uniform to announce that from that moment on he would be the director of the station, without presenting any documents. The workers understood that this was an assault on the institution.

The 20 or so journalists tried to demonstrate in front of Radio Nacional to denounce the new guidelines: to report information that concerns the government and not the opposition. News that concerns the Presidency of the Republic.

Given the situation in Guinea-Bissau, journalists from Radiodifusao Nacional can only report information that comes from the Presidency of the Republic. The opposing party has no right to airtime, describes Indira Correia Balde.
Just under two years after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, South Africa continues to nurture its ties with Russia, particularly on the economic front. On Monday December 11, the ANC government announced that it had given the go-ahead for the State-owned PetroSA to enter into a partnership with Gazprombank, the Russian gas giants bank. The company wants to reopen one of its gas processing plants, despite US sanctions.

The partnership should enable PetroSA to re-establish its Mossel Bay plant in the south of the country, which used to process natural gas into liquid fuel at a rate of 45,000 barrels per day. This plant is an important part of the South African state-owned companys strategy, and a decisive factor in negotiations with the French company Total. The latter would like to exploit offshore gas in the region, but has not been operating since 2020 due to declining resources.

According to Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, South Africas Minister of the Presidency, this decision is in line with the rapprochement between the Brics countries, and the US sanctions against Gazprombank should have no impact on the project. The final decision is expected to be announced next April.

Russian companies Gazprom and Rosatom have also recently expressed their willingness to help South Africa overcome its energy crisis. The countrys Energy Minister is due to give details of possible nuclear projects on Tuesday December 12.
The US company All-American Rail Group will develop a rail project to link Luanda to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Angolan Ministry of Transport (Mintrans) has said.

The project is valued at 4.5 billion dollars (around 4.2 billion euros), according to a statement released by Mintrans.

The memorandum of understanding was signed on Sunday, and the next stage was the creation of a working group chaired by Ricardo Viegas dAbreu, head of the Transport portfolio, and made up of officials from the National Directorate for the Economy of Concessions, the Luanda Railway, the National Land Transport Agency and the All-American Rail Group.

The Mintrans statement stressed that the interconnection with DRCongo will make it possible to export oil, wood and minerals to the Atlantic countries and that the project is designed to strengthen Angolas food security, supporting the agricultural expansion of Angolas northern provinces (Uige, Kwanza-Norte, Bengo, Malanje and Zaire) in synergy with the logistics platforms of Soyo, Malanje, Luvo and Lombe.

Quoted in the statement, Mustafa Ocalir, a member of the North American companys Board of Directors, stressed that this memorandum is the first step in supporting the plan to expand the Angolan rail network, through the Northern Corridor: we intend to build and integrate the railroad with logistics platforms and a port in this agricultural region.

In the last five years, AARG and its partners have earned 19.7 billion dollars (around 18.3 billion euros), having built and taken over the management of 3,000 rail projects in the United States.

The consortium has financing from the US Export-Import Bank and is due to open a representative office in Luanda soon.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and his Beninese counterpart, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, underlined, during a phone conversation on Tuesday, the importance of bilateral relations driven by the willingness of King Mohammed VI and President Patrice Talon.

The two ministers reiterated the importance of active solidarity and mutually beneficial partnership as the basis of bilateral relations. In this context, the Beninese Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated the Republic of Benins backing for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco, and reaffirmed his countrys support for the Autonomy Initiative presented by Morocco, as the only credible and realistic solution to resolving the regional dispute over the Sahara.

In this respect, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari assured Bourita that as part of the review of the diplomatic and consular map, he would advocate the establishment by Benin of a consular presence in the town of Laayoune in the Moroccan Sahara.

He also announced that he would be visiting Dakhla in order to take stock of the regions economic and social development, and to forge local partnerships.

The two ministers also agreed to hold the 7th Moroccan-Beninese Joint Cooperation Commission in Cotonou in early 2024.

In this context, they commended the successful preparation of this Joint Commission, marked in particular by the finalization of agreements and memorandums in several areas of cooperation, reflecting both countries willingness to breathe new life into the excellent relations they already enjoy, according to a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

For his part, Nasser Bourita, stressing the importance of the human dimension, informed his Beninese counterpart of the decision to increase the number of training scholarships for Beninese officials in Morocco. He also informed him that, in the context of facilitating the free movement of people between the two countries, Morocco would give due consideration to visa exemption for Beninese nationals holding ordinary passports.

In the meantime, Beninese citizens will benefit, as from January 1, 2024, from the e-Visa facility, developed since 2023 with the Kingdoms brotherly and friendly states.
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:

Graphical Abstract. Credit: Cell Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113380

University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have created an "atlas of atherosclerosis" that reveals, at the level of individual cells, critical processes responsible for forming the harmful plaque buildup that causes heart attacks, strokes, and coronary artery disease.

Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, affects half of Americans between ages 45 and 84, and many don't even know it, the National Institutes of Health reports. Over time, fatty plaques build up inside the arteries, where they can slow blood flow. When they break loose, they can be deadly, triggering strokes and heart attacks.

Doctors and scientists have been eager to better understand the complex factors that influence the formation and stability of the plaques, and UVA's new work offers unprecedented insights that will facilitate the development of new ways to treat atherosclerosis, battle coronary artery disease (CAD), and help prevent plaque formation.

"To begin to develop effective treatments targeting specific disease processes in the vessel wall, we need to characterize gene expression programs at single-cell resolution," said researcher Clint L. Miller, Ph.D., of the University of Virginia School of Medicine's Center for Public Health Genomics, as well as its Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and Public Health Sciences.

"By establishing this map, we can inform strategies to reprogram dysregulated cell states in order to prevent or reverse the disease or identify biomarkers to assess a patient's risk of having clinical events."

Understanding atherosclerosis

The formation of atherosclerotic plaques involves multiple types of cells, including immune cells, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells that line the arteries. Many of these cells transition into other types of cells during plaque formation, making it a huge challenge for scientists to determine the composition and origin of the plaque itself.

Miller and his collaborators, led by graduate student Jose Verdezoto Mosquera, have built a "comprehensive single-cell map of human atherosclerosis" encompassing almost 120,000 cells from atherosclerotic coronary and carotid arteries. In addition to charting broad cell lineages, the researchers leveraged this resource to dissect more granular and rare cell subtypes within atherosclerotic plaques.

The study also reveals new insights on the changes smooth muscle cells go through during disease progression, some of which contribute to the "calcification," or hardening, of the coronary arteries. This led to the finding that two genes, LTBP1 and CRTAC1, can serve as measures for the progression of atherosclerosis.

"Beyond characterizing cell diversity, integrating this newly built atherosclerosis single-cell reference with large-scale human genetic data was critical to start identifying disease-causing cell types and subtypes," Mosquera said. "For example, we identified the contribution of smooth muscle cell subtypes, such as fibroblast-like and lipid-rich smooth muscle cells, as well as the genes associated with these phenotypes."

The UVA researchers say their new atlas represents a "critical step" toward developing better, more targeted interventions to battle atherosclerosis and CAD, as well as identify candidate biomarkers to prevent heart attacks and strokes and improve patient outcomes.

"We plan to extend this single-cell atlas with future iterations to include additional datasets from defined disease stages and patients from diverse backgrounds," Miller said. "By integrating the corpus of single-cell data generated in the scientific community, we can mitigate sampling bias and establish more robust candidate disease mechanisms and potential interventions."

The researchers have published their findings in the journal Cell Reports.

More information: Jose Verdezoto Mosquera et al, Integrative single-cell meta-analysis reveals disease-relevant vascular cell states and markers in human atherosclerosis, Cell Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113380 Journal information: Cell Reports
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:

An example of how the rash commonly associated with Lyme disease, erythema migrans, presents in different individuals. Credit: John Aucott, M.D., Johns Hopkins Medicine

A new study out of the Johns Hopkins Medicine Lyme Disease Research Center has revealed disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease between Black and White patients with the condition. Researchers say the data, which draws on participants' medical histories, whether from Johns Hopkins Medicine or other institutions, highlights issues in the nation's medical education on Lyme disease.

In the full article, published in JAMA Network Open, researchers say that Black patients were more likely to have advanced stages of Lyme disease when clinically diagnosed and also experience a longer time before receiving antibiotic treatment for the condition.

Lyme disease is a common tick-borne infection estimated to be on the rise in the United States, with nearly 500,000 new cases diagnosed and treated annually.

The condition is a multi-system inflammatory illness caused by the bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi. In the earliest stage of Lyme disease, a rash can appear and is often accompanied by fever, joint pain, extreme fatigue, and other flu-like symptoms. The rash, known as erythema migrans, may have varying appearances or not be present at all, contributing to difficulties in diagnosing the disease.

Early identification and antibiotic interventions are crucial to help prevent the infection from progressing to later stages and causing more severe symptoms, such as memory issues, irregular heartbeat, arthritis, and severe fatigue.

"Other studies have shown differences between White and Black patients with Lyme disease, using health insurance claims or Medicare data," says author John Aucott, M.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Medicine Lyme Disease Research Center and the Barbara Townsend Cromwell Professor in Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Illness at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

"Our clinic has meticulous in-depth information on patients' Lyme disease stages and characteristics of their diagnosis, so we knew we could use this data to see if there was evidence of differences in the clinic between Black and White patients' experience with Lyme disease."

The cross-sectional study featured data from 1,395 patients with Lyme disease, all of whom were either clinic patients or research participants between 2008 and 2022 at the Johns Hopkins Medicine Lyme Disease Research Center.

Researchers looked at participants' medical records (both from Johns Hopkins Medicine or other institutions they were diagnosed at) to gather information on the nature of their Lyme disease diagnoses, including where, when, how and what stage of Lyme disease they experienced around the time of diagnosis.

Statistical tests showed a number of differences between Black and white Lyme disease patients. Over half (52.1%) of white patients presented only with a rash, compared to only 18.6% of Black patients.

The research team, led by Alison Rebman, MPH, calculated that Black patients had almost five times the odds of appearing in the clinic with advanced Lyme disease and had two times the odds of presenting without a rash or other telltale symptoms compared to White patients. The team also determined Black patients had a five-fold higher chance of waiting to receive antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease35 days compared to the White patient groups' 7 days.

Aucott believes that these findings show a lack of physician and community awareness, as well as gaps in medical education on identifying Lyme disease in Black and other patients with darker skin. He explains this issue persists globally, especially as case of Lyme disease rise and infected deer ticks spread to new areas.

"One aspect of the substantially poorer diagnosis of Lyme disease in patients with darker skin is due to differences in the appearance of the skin rash, examples of which aren't often seen in medical textbooks and education," says Aucott. "We need to include examples and diagnosis specifications for Lyme disease rashes in Black patients in our teaching material to work on eliminating these differences."

Aucott and the Johns Hopkins Medicine Lyme Disease Research Center have further plans to investigate these health inequities in future studies using artificial intelligence.

Aucott discloses a patent on Deep Learning for Lyme Disease Diagnosis using images of erythema migrans. All other authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Other authors of this study include Samuel Starke of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Medicine and Alison Rebman, John Miller, and Ting Yang of the Lyme Disease Research Center and Division of Rheumatology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

More information: Samuel J. Starke et al, Time to Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme Disease by Patient Race, JAMA Network Open (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.47184 Journal information: JAMA Network Open
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New research shows that pregnant people who use cannabis have a higher rate of unhealthy birth outcomes at 25.9% vs 17.4% among pregnant people who do not use cannabis. Credit: Stace Hasegawa, University of Utah Health

In the past 10 years, the percentage of Americans who use medical marijuana has more than doubled as state-level legalization becomes increasingly common. But despite its prevalence as a medication, the full health effects of cannabis remain unknown, especially for specific populationssuch as pregnant peoplethat might be especially at risk of health complications.

Now, in a large study of more than 9,000 pregnant people from across the U.S., researchers at University of Utah Health have found that cannabis exposure during pregnancy is associated with a composite measure of unhealthy pregnancy outcomes, especially low birth weight, and that higher exposure is associated with higher risks.

Compared to most prior studies, this study was larger and measured cannabis exposure more accurately, which allowed researchers to distinguish the effects of cannabis itself from those caused by other correlated health conditions. The research, "Cannabis Exposure and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Related to Placental Function," was published online in JAMA.

"Cannabis use is not safe," says Robert Silver, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at U of U Health and last author on the study. "It increases the risk of pregnancy complications. If possible, you shouldn't use cannabis during pregnancy."

The researchers were driven to answer this question in part by the contradictory answers that many people encounter when trying to learn about the health impacts of cannabis use.

"There's so much information out therediscussion and social media channels and on the Internetabout cannabis use and pregnancy," explains Torri Metz, M.D., vice chair of research of obstetrics and gynecology at U of U Health and lead author on the study. "I think it's hard for patients to understand what they should be worried about, if anything."

Uncovering new risks

Indeed, some previous studies on the topic found no association between cannabis use and pregnancy complications. One hurdle facing such research, Metz says, is that there are "so many differences between baseline characteristics of people who use and don't use cannabis during pregnancy. There's different rates of anxiety and depression."

These differences can also impact pregnancy risks, which makes it challenging to figure out the consequences related specifically to cannabis use.

Cannabis exposure during pregnancy is associated with a composite measure of unhealthy pregnancy outcomes, especially low birth weight. Higher exposure is associated with higher risks. Credit: Charlie Ehlert, University of Utah Health

The large study population, including participants from eight medical centers across the U.S., allowed the researchers to address this issue. Being able to compare pregnancy outcomes for so many participants, 610 of which had detectable levels of cannabis exposure, meant that the researchers could statistically untangle the impacts of cannabis use from many other factors, including pre-existing health conditions, nicotine exposure, and socioeconomic status.

The scientists found that cannabis exposure was associated with a 1.5-fold increase in risk: 26% of cannabis-exposed pregnant people experienced an unhealthy pregnancy outcome, versus 17% of non-exposed pregnant people. Higher levels of cannabis exposure over the course of pregnancy were associated with higher risks.

A distinguishing feature of the study was how the researchers measured cannabis exposure. While other studies had asked participants to report their own cannabis use (which has been shown to underestimate the actual rate of use by two or three times), the scientists measured the levels of a metabolic byproduct of cannabis in participants' urine samples, which gave more accurate measurements of cannabis exposure.

Open questions

To gauge impacts on pregnancy, the researchers looked at an aggregate measure of negative health outcomes, including low birth weight, pregnancy-related high blood pressure, stillbirth, and medically indicated preterm birth. Of these, the association between cannabis use and low birth weight was the strongest. All of these conditions have been linked to reduced function of the placenta, which supplies the growing baby with oxygen and nutrients.

While this type of study can't determine 'why' cannabis is associated with negative pregnancy outcomes, previous studies in non-human primates have found that long-term cannabis exposure can interfere with blood supply to the placenta. The correlation Metz and her colleagues observed suggests that cannabis may disrupt the human placenta in a similar way.

Silver adds that the greater risk seen at higher levels of exposure is especially concerning given the high amount of THC found in newer cannabis productsproducts that were barely starting to become available from 2010 to 2014, when the study data was collected. The health impacts of these more concentrated products remain largely unknown.

Torri Metz, MD, a maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist and vice chair of research of obstetrics and gynecology at University of Utah Health. Credit: Charlie Ehlert, University of Utah Health

The researchers urge people who are considering using cannabis while pregnant to have an open conversation with their doctor. While pregnant people may turn to cannabis to alleviate nausea or anxiety, other remedies have been proven to be safe. "There are many, many reasons people use cannabis," Silver says. "But there may be alternative therapies that can help mitigate the symptoms."

Silver emphasizes that continued research on the health impacts of cannabis is urgently needed so that patients can make informed decisions about their health. "As long as humans are interested in using this product," he says, "we ought to assess health effects both good and bad, as accurately as we can, and provide that information for folks."

The research was carried out in collaboration with researchers from ARUP Laboratories, University of California, Irvine, The Ohio State University, Indiana University, Case Western Reserve University, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and University of Pittsburgh.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Most patients with type 2 diabetes will end up needing to add a second-line medication after metforminthe go-to primary drug for glucose managementto control their blood sugar levels. But adherence to these second-line drugs can be hit or miss, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study.

When patients discontinue their medication, switch to a different drug or intensify their treatment (either via an increased dose, adding a third medication or starting insulin), it wastes the doctor and patient's time, costs the health system unnecessary expense and, in the case of discontinuation, can result in a patient not fully treating their type 2 diabetes.

The study, published in The American Journal of Managed Care, of more than 82,000 patients between 2014 and 2017 found that within one year of their initial prescription, nearly two-thirds of patients either discontinued their medication, switched to a different medication class or intensified their treatment.

The scientists analyzed five non-insulin classes of diabetes medications. In four of the five classes, 38% of patients discontinued their medication. But among patients prescribed glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), half (50%) discontinued treatment.

"Discontinuation is bad. It is common in all five types of medications, but we see significantly more in those prescribed the GLP-1 RAs," said corresponding author David Liss, research associate professor of general internal medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

"Presumably, the doctor is saying, 'You need to start a new medication to control your type 2 diabetes,' and then within a year, half of them just stop and don't start another one, and that's not a good thing."

Prior studies have shown that treatment discontinuation is common for type 2 diabetes medications, but this is the first large American study to show such high discontinuation rates in second-line medications, Liss said.

"Our findings highlight the need for new prescribing approaches and to better understand the barriers patients face when taking these medications, to ultimately reduce wasting patients' time, clinicians' time and the health system's money," Liss said.

Association with gastrointestinal side effects

While the scientists did not have data on reasons why patients discontinued treatment, the particularly high discontinuation rate for GLP-1 RAs may have been due to adverse gastrointestinal side effectssuch as nausea, vomiting and diarrheawhich have been observed in patients who take these medications for diabetes control and for weight loss, Liss said.

Originally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 RAs (with brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy) are now used for weight loss, too. "We know there are gastrointestinal side effects for these drugs that are currently in the news, both for patients with diabetes and patients attempting to lose weight," Liss said.

What happens after discontinuation?

For many patients in this study, discontinuing a second-line diabetes medication wouldn't immediately lead to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) symptoms or medical emergencies, Liss said.

"But discontinuation still puts these patients at greater risk for downstream hospitalizations related to diabetes," Liss added.

Endocrinologist versus internal medicine prescribers

Discontinuation risk was lower and intensification risk was higher when an endocrinologist prescribed the medication, compared to when a family medicine or internal medicine physician prescribed the second-line drugs, the study found.

Liss said this difference could be because endocrinologists had particular expertise in the newer classes of diabetes drugs, enhancing their ability to discuss the pros and cons of medications when making prescribing decisions with patients.

Importance of follow-ups on new drugs

The study retrospectively analyzed patients' health insurance claims data, meaning the scientists could identify when a patient had been prescribed a medication; if the care provider switched their medication to a new class; or if they increased their dose.

The scientists assumed that patients who experienced a treatment switch or intensification did so after talking with their doctor. But the scientists suspect that many patients made the decision to discontinue their medication without having talked to a doctor.

"Our results may represent a 'wake-up call' for clinicians that many of their patients were not taking the medicines that were prescribed," Liss said.

"While we don't know if providers were aware of the discontinuation events observed in this study, our results highlight the need for ongoing communication between patients and prescribers over timearound medication benefits, side effects and costsnot just at the time of prescribing."

Other Northwestern study authors include Dr. Matthew O'Brien, Cassandra Aikman, Dr. Amisha Wallia, Andrew Cooper and Dr. Ronald Ackermann.

More information: Treatment Modification After Initiating Second-Line Medication for Type 2 Diabetes, The American Journal of Managed Care (2023). DOI: 10.37765/ajmc.2023.89466 Journal information: American Journal of Managed Care
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Menus are usually something you'd expect to come across in a restaurant. But one social media influencer went viral recently for sharing a different kind of menua "dopamine menu" or dopamenu.

The dopamine menu concept comes from a 2020 YouTube video by Jessica McCabe (How to ADHD). In her video, she suggests that dopamine menus are a tool that people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can use when they find they need stimulationbut may be at a loss for what to do. Each person can design their menu based on what they like, dividing it into appetizers, mains, sides and desserts.

Appetizers are activities that are quick to do and give immediate pleasure. Mains are activities that take longer to do, but are ultimately more rewarding. Sides can be paired with less enjoyable activities to make them more pleasurable. Desserts provide enjoyment, but should be taken in moderation.

The dopamine menu concept is based on the notion that people with ADHD have lower levels of dopamine (a neurotransmitter that plays a role in pleasure, learning and motivation) in their brains. As a result, they need more stimulation.

So, is there any scientific evidence to support the use of dopamine menus? Maybebut to understand why, we must examine the brain reward pathway.

Brain reward pathway

The main pathway in the brain reward system is from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens, where dopamine is released. It's hypothesized that evolutionary advantageous activities (such as sex, eating and socializing) cause activity in the VTA. This leads to an increase in dopamine levels in the accumbens, which makes us feel good.

Numerous activities can cause dopamine to be releasedincluding many of those which are commonly included on dopamine menus, such as playing a board game or solving a puzzle, visiting with friends or family, playing an instrument or listening to a favorite song, cooking, baking or having a snack, exercising and trying something new.

But the amount of dopamine that's released (and how sustained that release is) will depend on the activity. Some activities, such as running, can cause sustained low-level increases in dopamine for several hours. On the other hand, having a sugary drink, for example, leads to a high but only short-term increase in dopamine.

The frequency that we do certain activities in order to get bursts of dopamine can also work against us.

A good example of this can be found in rats, where we can measure dopamine levels directly in the accumbens. The first time a male rat meets with a female rat he gets a large burst of dopamine. But if you introduce another female rat shortly afterwards, it results in less dopamine. This phenomenon is called habituation or tolerance.

Similarly, illicit drugs (such as cocaine) that hijack the natural reward system can have large initial effects on dopamine. But rodent studies show that this effect is diminished the more often you use the drug. Tolerance to cocaine is also seen in humans.

This tolerance to short-acting rewards usually causes us to do one of two things: we move quickly on to a different activity to get a reward, or we do much more of the same activity to achieve the initial effect again.

Dopamine and ADHD

One popular hypothesis for ADHD is that it's caused by a dysregulated dopamine system.

Dopamine levels in the brain come from "tonic" and "phasic" dopamine release. Tonic dopamine is the baseline level of dopamine that the resting dopamine neurons pump out.

But when something interesting happens to us or we do certain activities, we get a "phasic" (short, intense burst) of dopamine. This phasic release of dopamine is on top of the baseline tonic dopamine.

Dopamine levels in the brain are under a negative feedback mechanism, so when baseline levels are low, the phasic bursts tend to be higher. Conversely, when baseline levels are high (causing a lot of negative feedback) the phasic bursts are lower.

It's hypothesized that people with ADHD have low background levels of dopamine. As a result, they continually seek the short-acting bursts of phasic dopamine, which are higher (and more rewarding) under these conditions. This is why drugs such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), which increase background levels of dopamine, work well for people with ADHD.

Brain imaging studies that differentiate between tonic and phasic dopamine levels confirm that people with ADHD have low levels of tonic dopamine at rest, and higher levels of phasic dopamine during a task that requires attention.

Taking the above information together, for someone with ADHD (who has reduced baseline dopamine), the best thing to include on a dopamine menu would be activities that provide sustained, low-level release of dopamine.

Examples of this might include doing some exercise, socializing or listening to music. Physical activity may be particularly beneficial in improving ADHD symptoms.

Activities involving novelty or having a sweet treat will do little to help people with ADHD as they only provide a short, sharp burst of dopamineand we can quickly habituate to short-acting rewards.

Whether you have ADHD or not, engaging in healthy, long-acting pleasurable activities will invariably have a positive impact on health. So when it comes to dopamine menus, rather than having a three-course meal with sides and dessert, we suggest your menu should focus on healthy main courses that can give us a sustained boost in dopamine levels.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Schematic description of intra-splenic thyroid regeneration (left) and staining images of reconstructed thyroid tissues within the spleen (right). Credit: Lei Dong

Patients undergoing total thyroidectomy typically require lifelong oral levothyroxine sodium (L-T4) treatment. While effective in maintaining basic serum hormone levels, this treatment falls short in restoring the dynamic, responsive regulatory capacity of triiodothyronine (T3), essential for critical physiologic regulatory functions. Clinical data indicates that T3 deficiency can elevate the risk of hypertension, cardiac dysfunction, and other metabolic or mental health conditions.

Regenerative medicine involves the use of tissue engineering to create transplants of cells and tissues, potentially replacing the need for hormone replacement therapy. However, previous thyroid auto-transplantation experiments in animals and humans, targeting muscle or subcutaneous sites, have yielded unsatisfactory results. The efficiency of tissue or cell regeneration depends on various factors, including the condition of the transplanted tissue, the site, and the mode of transplantation.

In a recent study in Advanced Science, Dong's research team proposed an innovative solution to transplantation challenges by growing the thyroid in the spleen. Leveraging the spleen's unique properties, characterized by a loose structure and rich blood supply, the team explored a new strategy for thyroid regeneration. Intrasplenic thyroid transplantation was performed without compromising the structure and function of the spleen.

Mice with total thyroidectomy were transplanted with thyroid glands in the spleen, featuring intact follicles and reconstructed vascular networks. This approach successfully recapitulated the angio-follicular unit (AFU), leading to the complete restoration of hormone levels in mice.

Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that this method is more effective in responding to physiological signals than hormone replacement therapy. Moreover, long-term evaluation of the effects of hormone replacement therapy proved that the regenerated thyroid glands in the spleen completely restored the physiological homeostasis in the mice after total thyroidectomy without any adverse side effects, indicating significant potential for clinical applications.

Serum hormone levels in hypothyroid mice fully recovered within 4 weeks after receiving an intrasplenic thyroid transplant and remained stable for 16 weeks thereafter. Hormone levels in these ST mice declined immediately after the splenectomy of the spleen containing the thyroid gland. Credit: Lei Dong

Regenerating complex organs poses the most significant challenge in the realm of regenerative medicine. The primary obstacle hindering advancements in this field stems from the lack of effective methods to regenerate a fully developed, large-scale circulatory system within the bodies of adult animals.

This circulatory system is essential to support the regeneration of targeted organs. Addressing this challenge, Professor Dong Lei and his collaborators have recently proposed an innovative approach.

They leverage the unique structural features of the spleensuch as its abundant blood supply, loose internal structure, and capacity to accommodate a substantial number of implanted cells and tissuesas a regenerative platform for the ectopic regeneration of intricate tissue organs within the body.

Over the past few years, they have developed a series of technical approaches to modify the spleen's structure in live animals, aligning it with the regenerative requirements of target tissues and organs. Notable achievements in their earlier research involve the successful regeneration of the liver within the spleen.

The concept of regenerating one organ within another introduces the prospect of forging a novel technological pathway for regenerating large and complex organs distinct from conventional methods. This innovative approach holds the potential to drive significant breakthroughs in the field of regenerative medicine.

More information: XueJiao Tian et al, Regeneration of Thyroid Glands in the Spleen Restores Homeostasis in Thyroidectomy Mice, Advanced Science (2023). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202305913 Journal information: Advanced Science

Provided by Nanjing University School of Life Sciences
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Interstitial flow velocity-MRI has the potential to determine interstitial fluid flow velocity non-invasively and exhibits an intuitive velocity map. Credit: Jun Zhao, Yupeng Cao, Wentao Liu, Dong Han

Interstitial fluid flow is closely related to drug delivery and distribution, playing a crucial role in their therapeutic effects on tumors. However, few non-invasive measurement methods are available for measuring low-velocity biological fluid flow.

In a recent study published in Magnetic Resonance Letters, a team of researchers in China proposed a new, non-invasive MRI technology designed specifically for measuring interstitial fluid flow.

"Interstitial fluid flow measuring has always been a challenge for understanding the tumor microenvironment, which drives the development of an applicable characterization method for quantitative description," says the study's corresponding author, Dong Han, a professor at the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology. "Phase-contrast MRI (PC-MRI) is widely used technology for measuring the velocity of rapid flow in biological tissues, such as blood."

The interstitial fluid velocity is four orders of magnitude lower than blood flow. PC-MRI requires considerable gradient intensity and duration if used for slow flow measurements, but high gradient intensity is particularly sensitive to motion and tends to produce motion artifacts during imaging.

In addition, when measuring slow flow velocity, the encoding gradient is large, and the echo time is relatively long. The SNR is significantly lost because the gradient echo is based on T 2 * relaxation decay. Therefore, PC-MRI application will be greatly limited.

To address this issue, the researchers combined PC-MRI with an improved stimulation echo sequence (ISTE). Co-corresponding author Wentao Liu, a professor at the same center, explains, "Conventional PC-MRI usually uses gradient echo, spin echo (SE), and stimulated echo (STE). Compared to the gradient echo, SE uses a 180 focusing pulse to focus the signal in the transverse plane, and its signal is affected by T 2 relaxation, which decays more slowly and has a slightly higher image SNR. STE excites a part of the signal to the longitudinal plane and mitigates part of the T 2 relaxation decay."

However, STE is not superior to SE under any TE condition. Therefore, the researchers proposed ISTE, which refocuses the magnetic moment vectors in the longitudinal plane and yields better SNRs than STE or SE.

Their effort led to an increase in the velocity encoding gradient interval, which can minimize the diffusion sensitivity factor under the same flow velocity measurement sensitivity, thereby reducing the signal loss caused by diffusion and improving the detection accuracy of slow-flow imaging.

The team hopes that their innovative method will contribute to the further understanding of interstitial fluid flow.

More information: Jun Zhao et al, Non-invasive assessment for intratumoural distribution of interstitial fluid flow, Magnetic Resonance Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.mrl.2023.03.001

Provided by KeAi Communications Co.
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Three steps of priority setting were undertaken in the study. Credit: 2023 Kogetsu et al., Enhancing evidence-informed policymaking in medicine and health care: stakeholder involvement in the Commons Project for rare diseases in Japan, Research Involvement and Engagement

Patients with rare diseases have traditionally been the subjects of medical research. However, in recent years, their role has begun to shift from 'research participants' to 'experts with a lived experience,' with some being involved in study planning, design and interpretation. Additionally they may soon be involved in helping pick the most important areas to prioritize for research.

In a study published in the journal Research Involvement and Engagement, researchers from Osaka University created an online space, referred to as the 'Evidence-generating Commons,' for conversation, collaboration and knowledge sharing among patients with rare diseases, family members, researchers and former policymakers. The article is titled "Enhancing evidence-informed policymaking in medicine and health care: stakeholder involvement in the Commons Project for rare diseases in Japan."

The researchers had two important goals: to generate evidence that could contribute to new policies in the field of rare diseases, and to explore ways that stakeholders could be involved in the process.

To do this, they designed a series of in-person and online workshops that focused on understanding the difficulties faced by patients with rare diseases and their families, deciding on criteria that could be used to set research priorities, and then setting research priorities by applying these criteria. The researchers were flexible in their process, allowing the discussion points to be modified as the workshops went along to make sure the opinions and ideas that emerged in previous meetings were captured.

The overall picture of the 'difficulties faced by patients with rare diseases.' There are financial burdens, including medical expenses, and restrictions on subsidies based on the severity of the diseases and household income. In Japan, in addition to the universal health insurance system, some people take out private life insurance and medical insurance. Inadequate rules and regulations make it difficult to decide, for example, whether or not to inform the airline about their diseases when boarding an aircraft. Credit: 2023 Kogetsu et al., Enhancing evidence-informed policymaking in medicine and health care: stakeholder involvement in the Commons Project for rare diseases in Japan, Research Involvement and Engagement

Seven research topics were identified as priority issues to be addressed. Credit: 2023 Kogetsu et al., Enhancing evidence-informed policymaking in medicine and health care: stakeholder involvement in the Commons Project for rare diseases in Japan, Research Involvement and Engagement

"In the first stage, participants were given 10 minutes to brainstorm difficulties faced as well as solutions, before coming together as a group to discuss and organize these ideas," explains lead author of the study Atsushi Kogetsu. "In the second and third stages, participants engaged in workshops on specific themes that had come up and worked together to build a set of research priorities."

The 'Commons' was found to have a surprisingly positive impact on participants. "Everyone who participated in the project was able to grow and learn from each other, and several patients voiced their appreciation at having the opportunity to be part of the conversation and have their voices heard," says Kazuto Kato, senior author.

The results showed that patients with rare diseases faced a wide range of issues including impacts on daily life, family problems and social issues. From an initial set of 228 sticky notes, the project members identified 33 core themes that could be organized into 10 categories.

They also identified seven topics that were considered high priority, including financial burden, impacts on daily life, anxiety and the challenges of hospital visits. The achievements of the study were published in a research paper, for which several patients were co-authors.

Policymakers are increasingly aware that evidence comes from a variety of sources and that the unique perspectives of patients and their families is one such critical source. Yet there are still far too few examples of in-depth collaboration between patients and professionals. By bringing these voices together to create a set of research priorities, this study takes an important step toward more inclusive, collaborative and effective health care.

More information: Atsushi Kogetsu et al, Enhancing evidence-informed policymaking in medicine and healthcare: stakeholder involvement in the Commons Project for rare diseases in Japan, Research Involvement and Engagement (2023). DOI: 10.1186/s40900-023-00515-5
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The trend of increased social phobia in the modern era, especially among youth, has become a topic that researchers have been pursuing and tackling in the long term. Simultaneously, almost three years after the outbreak of COVID-19, the world is only now beginning to understand and analyze the profound impact this pandemic has had on the world.

Linking these two phenomena, the COVID-19 pandemic and prevention measures, due to their necessitated severity, provide an outlet to explore and illuminate potential social phobia susceptibility factors among college-age students as well as to begin to quantify the impact on social phobia of extreme social isolation situations.

Recently, an interdepartmental research group from the Peking University (PKU) School of Public Health, spearheaded by leading co-contributors Lin Hai and Yang Ziming, both from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, PKU, published a paper in Scientific Reports, regarding this exact issue.

Social phobia is a debilitating condition that refers to excessive fear of social situations, attracting attention, new situations, and unfamiliar objects. Social phobia is particularly prevalent in adolescents and young adults and may continue into adulthood. Research into this phenomenon provides valuable insight into overall social phobia vulnerability factors in the college-student age group.

As this demographic is already susceptible to increased social phobia due to academic, family, social, job hunting, and other pressures as compared to the overall population, by determining key weak spots, we can better determine at-risk groups and individuals to target and provide preventative measures, early intervention, and appropriate care.



Mental health is a significant issue the world is facing, and, as shown by other case studies, the psychological impacts of social phobia and global pandemics are long-term. Therefore, published research, such as this study conducted by Peking University, is essential in spreading awareness, destigmatizing social phobia and mental health, and promoting increased avenues for assistance.

Key findings

Firstly, this study isolated potential risk and protective factors for susceptibility to social phobia, as illustrated through the COVID-19 prevention measure case.

Characteristics that indicated a higher proneness to increased social phobia included 1) lower GPA, 2) higher frequency of bullying experience, 3) permissive parenting style, 4) distant relationships with family members, 5) having one to two siblings, 6) higher frequency of childhood adversity, and 7) mobile phone dependence.



Characteristics that were identified as protective factors for social phobia included 1) female gender, 2) status as a postgraduate or college senior and super-senior, 3) higher satisfaction with physical appearance, 4) self-perception of strong mental health, and 5) moderate trust in strangers.

Additionally, this research revealed the depth and breadth of COVID-19 prevention measures' effect on social phobia. Comparing pre-COVID-19 to early-COVID-19 self-evaluations, 43.7% of the participants' social phobia intensified, 27.5% had no significant change, and 28.8% experienced alleviated social phobia.

Research methodology

This research was conducted via a cross-sectional survey from August 13 to 23, 2021, through a web-based survey platform, Wenjuanxing. Chinese college students (including junior college students, undergraduates, and postgraduates) were prompted to answer a series of questions regarding their self-evaluation and subjective feelings about the impact of COVID-19 preventative measures on their personal well-being.

After survey collection, the responses and data were measured using the Peters short form of the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale and Social Phobia Scale. Participants were asked to respond to questions about two different time periods: first, their status in the "early-COVID-19" period (from April 2020 to August 2021) and then the "pre-COVID-19" period.

The impact of COVID-19 preventative measures on social phobia was thus measured by the deviation (increased, decreased, or unchanged) from the pre-COVID-19 data.

More information: Hai Lin et al, Factors affecting social phobia among Chinese college students in the context of COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study, Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48225-y Journal information: Scientific Reports
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Heat map demonstrating distribution of children enrolled living in homes with self-reported straight pipe sewage discharge in a study of soil-transmitted helminthiases conducted in Lowndes, Wilcox, and Perry Counties, Alabama, USA, December 2019August 2022. Credit: Emerging Infectious Diseases (2023). DOI: 10.3201/eid2912.230751

A study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases found no cases of soil-transmitted hookworm in hundreds of tested children, refuting a long thought public health concern that linked the illness to the ongoing sanitation crisis plaguing Alabama's Black Belt region.

The study tested stool specimens from 704 children from Alabama's Wilcox and Perry counties for STH. Results surprisingly found no traces of STH in any samples, despite 12% of the study cohort reporting living in homes that directly discharge untreated domestic wastewater.

While survey data did not conclude STH to be a leading cause of illness in the region, the study does suggest that a significant percentage of children in the Black Belt may be exposed to raw sewage, presenting a major public health concern where attention should be refocused.

"The suggestion of hookworm in the Black Belt region of Alabama was the most direct health effect that could be linked to the sanitation crisis in the region," said Claudette Poole, M.D., assistant professor in UAB's Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and the study's lead researcher.

"However, we did not find any cases of hookworm or related soil-transmitted infections. This suggests that hookworm should not be the focus of this public health concern. The impact on health in these communities exposed to raw sewage in the environment is more complicated, and other measures to evaluate the overall health of these communities are needed."

Alabama's Black Belt region has long been characterized by extreme poverty, poor health outcomes, limited health care access and limited economic opportunities, and notably a large swath of the population has a well-documented lack of effective sanitation and wastewater removal systems. As a result, it has been thought that hookworm, an intestinal parasite of humans, was cause for significant ill health including malnutrition in the region, and inadequate conditions were linked to persistent infection transmissions.

While the study did not find traces of hookworm in stool samples, findings determined that a significant number of children live in homes without functioning septic systems, and that roughly a third of the cohort was positive for other gastrointestinal pathogenic organisms.

For next-step solutions, the UAB Sanitation Health Program has been working to increase education and awareness of this problem in the region, working with relevant stakeholders to identify solutions, build trust with community members and educate providers of the health risks to increase disease surveillance capacity.

"This work would not have been possible without community support," said Amy Chatham, Ph.D., assistant professor in the UAB School of Public Health Department of Environmental Health Sciences and author of the study. "It was through the daily efforts of our staff, AmeriCorps VISTAs and community partners who call the Black Belt home that we were able to build the necessary trust for widespread participation in the region."

In addressing next steps for solving the public health crisis in the region, Poole and the research team hope that takeaways include fundamental basic rights for all in the region, including access to safe water and proper sanitation.

"Access to safe water and functioning sanitation cannot be assumed for all households in the United States," Poole said. "There are many people in this country who are struggling to access this most fundamental of needs. Our current federal and state policies and programs do not have an adequate response to help the most vulnerable communities among us. A comprehensive approach to help these small communities is paramount, as the current system of funding, regulation and operations for rural water and wastewater management is failing."

More information: Claudette Poole et al, Cross-Sectional Study of Soil-Transmitted Helminthiases in Black Belt Region of Alabama, USA, Emerging Infectious Diseases (2023). DOI: 10.3201/eid2912.230751 Journal information: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Six minors face charges stemming from what police described last week as a vicious group attack on a minor in a Lower Rattlesnake neighborhood home.

The minors are not being charged as adults, Missoula Deputy County Attorney Justin Ekwall said, so the Missoulian is not identifying the suspects.

An affidavit filed by the Missoula County Attorneys Office for one of the defendants lays out the details of the incident, which started on the night of Friday, Dec. 1, when the 16-year-old victim was lured to a house on the 1400 block of Van Buren Street by a group of his peers.

When the boy got to the house, six juvenile males, ages 15 and 16, were present. The group was led by one boy, who Ekwall said in a phone call was the most actively violent during the attack. The victim reported the leader had been aggressive to him for the last year, calling him racial slurs and sending text messages with photos of guns included, according to the affidavit. Portions of the attack were captured on video, which has been reviewed by the county attorney's office.

At the house on Dec. 1, the groups leader started physically assaulting the victim, according to the affidavit. Others piled on and beat the boy, including hitting and choking him and repeatedly using slurs. One of the suspects filmed the attack and posted it to Snapchat, according to the affidavit, which was saved and viewed by multiple people.

At one point, the victim was placed in a head lock while one of the suspects struck him. He also was hit multiple times in the head, the affidavit states.

A females voice can be heard in the video saying, Guys this is enough, the affidavit states, and a males voice replies: Nobody asked you to talk.

The victim told officers hes dating the group leaders ex-girlfriend, which he thinks was the reason for the animosity, along with the fact that the boy is half Samoan.

The victim suffered a concussion and pulled groin, his guardian told investigators. His family reported the incident to police the following Sunday, Dec. 3. When an officer asked them why they waited to tell law enforcement, the victims guardian said, We didnt know what to do, the affidavit states.

Five of the six juveniles are facing charges that would be felonies in adult court, but are instead being charged in Missoula County Youth Court, Ekwall said. Charges include aggravated assault, accountability for aggravated assault, malicious intimidation and accountability for malicious intimidation.

Ekwall explained that 15-years-olds cant be charged as adults, except in extreme cases, like homicide.

One of the minors is still in custody. Two, including the groups leader, were released on bail. Two others were released after being seen by the court and the sixth suspect hasnt been in custody at any point, according to Ekwall.
Two men were indicted last week on federal charges of illegally killing and trafficking numerous bald and golden eagles in Montana.

According to a grand jury indictment filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Missoula, Simon Paul, Travis John Branson and "others" killed about 3,600 birds, eagles among them, during a self-described "killing spree" on the Flathead Indian Reservation north of Missoula and elsewhere. The pair allegedly sold the birds and parts of birds "for significant sums of cash" in the U.S. and internationally.

The events leading to the indictment were alleged to have occurred from about the start of 2015 through about March 2021. Branson allegedly told buyers he was "out (here) committing felonies," according to the indictment. Together, the pair are alleged to have sold whole bald and golden eagles, bald and golden eagle wings, and golden eagle tails.

The indictment charged each defendant with one count of conspiracy and one count of violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits trafficking illegally taken plants or animals. The conspiracy charge carries a penalty of five years in federal prison, three years' probation and a $250,000 fine. The Lacey Act violation is punishable by the same prison sentence and a $20,000 fine.

Additionally, Branson, of Washington state, was charged with eight counts of violating the 1940 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Paul, of Ronan, was charged with five counts of violating the act.

The law makes it illegal to kill, possess, transport, sell, purchase, import or export bald and golden eagles, their body parts, nests or eggs. The law was expanded in 1962 to cover golden eagles in addition to bald eagles. A first violation is punishable by one year in federal prison, one year of probation and a $5,000 fine. The prison term and fine are doubled for subsequent convictions on the same charge.

In June, a Hardin man was sentenced in federal court in South Dakota to three years in federal prison, one year of probation and $70,000 in restitution for killing 14 juvenile golden eagles and selling their parts. That man, Harvey Hugs, was previously convicted in 2012 of aiding and abetting eagle trafficking.

According to events outlined in last week's indictment, Branson traveled from Washington to the reservation in Montana from 2019 through March 2021 to shoot bald and golden eagles with Paul, who lived near Ronan on the reservation.

"When Branson arrived on the Flathead Indian Reservation," the indictment stated, "Paul would meet and help kill, transport, and ship bald and golden eagles for future sales on the black market."

In one particular incident, Branson allegedly texted a photo of a golden eagle tail to a buyer on Dec. 17, 2020, and received payment for the tail via PayPal the same day. Paul allegedly mailed the tail from St. Ignatius to Texas on Dec. 19. The indictment alleged that Branson received a text from the buyer two days later stating, "Got that thang from Simon. And the mirror feathers. Tnks."

Later, on March 13, 2021, the pair allegedly killed a golden eagle that was lured to a previously killed deer. Paul cleaned the animal, according to the indictment, and the pair "placed various golden eagle parts in the vehicle for transport."
One of the biggest questions following the announcement of the German company VACOM building a $90 million project in Lewistown is, why Lewistown?

Other Montana cities have better access to airports, interstate highways and universities, and larger housing and labor pools.

What sold the company on Lewistown is the states tax incentives, the citys already-established industrial hub  and its ranchers.

VACOM has nothing to do with ranching but it needs what ranchers have, often a family member needing a city job for the steady paycheck and the health insurance. And, ranchers know how machines work and how to keep them working.

VACOM will offer an opportunity for the ag industry around here to subsidize ranch jobs, a chance to come to Lewistown and get a supplemental income, said state Sen. Dan Bartel, who represents the district that includes Lewistown.

The German company has bought an existing vacant building in Lewistown that it will use as a temporary facility while plans move ahead for a new manufacturing plant and headquarters that could eventually employ as many as 500 people. The company currently produces vacuum mechanics, electrical feedthroughs, vacuum measurement technology, vacuum optics, and cleaning technology.

The temporary facility could be running by as early as next August, and ground could be broken on the new facility soon after, Bartel said.

In all, the companys investment in Lewistown could top $90 million, with its planned 40,000-square-foot campus that could include a daycare for employee children and an employee training center.

Like a lot of Montana cities, Lewistown has experienced a population growth over the last several years that has boosted home values and shrunk the affordable housing pool.

Still, adding hundreds of workers to the mix is workable, the senator said.

A lot of interest is being show from the housing industry in coming to Lewistown and providing affordable housing and rental units, said Bartel. The last couple of Legislatures have removed a lot of the obstacles for building, its a lot more lucrative for buildings to come here than it used to be.

And, the better the jobs are in Lewistown, the more able those workers are to afford housing, he added.

Housing needed now

For Kathy Seilstad, new housing cant come soon enough. She is director of the regions Human Resources Development Council, an agency linking residents with social services.

She tells horror stories of elderly people being forced from homes they had rented for decades as rising home sale prices became irresistible for landlords. Homes were selling last summer sight-unseen after being listed two days or less.

Somebody has got to get busy building soon, she said. We cant get people into housing as it is. The housing situation here is just unreal.

Some housing projects are already in the works in Lewistown, she said, but the projects are way down the road and we need something now.

As more jobs come to town, Seilstad is also concerned for the employers who are already struggling to find workers.

There are help-wanted signs all over town, she said. What are the rest of us going to do when the employees we can get our hands on go to this new company?

Tax incentives

In its search for a new business headquarters in the U.S., VACOM examined at least five states.

Whatever state tax incentives helped lure them here pre-existed the companys interest in Montana, said Mitch Staley, director of marketing and communications with the state Department of Commerce. The German company isnt getting anything more from the state than whats already available to current businesses.

Our business climate has been set up in a way, with several different programs and opportunities, that any new or existing business can leverage those to everyones advantage, Staley said. Every business has the same opportunity to grow here or come here and grow.

He supplied a list of at least 30 incentives the state offers to businesses that range from financing and grant programs, to job creation tax credits, job training subsidies, along with tax abatements, credits and exemptions.

VACOM came here because were already set up for them, Staley said.
The Montana Supreme Courts recent order upholding the Montana Department of Revenues calculation of the 95 school equalization mills provided a protective shield for residential property taxpayers and students educated in Montanas public schools. The courts decision respected and preserved bipartisan decisions made by the 2023 Legislature estimating revenues and appropriating funds to fund Montanas public schools.

Some county officials erroneously asserted that levying 77.89 instead of 95 school equalization mills would have saved the day for local property taxpayers. This is not the case. The reduction in uniform mills would have reduced taxes for out-of-state corporations by millions per year. By comparison, this change would have reduced an average homeowners property taxes by only $45 per year. In addition, particularly in areas of low wealth, the school funding formula would have eventually caused an increase in variable mills for primary residence property taxpayers by twice that amount, or more, to make up for the difference.

Given that the Montana Supreme Court has unanimously held that the counties interpretation of the law is irreconcilable with the Montana Constitution hopefully we can all move on and consider other proposals that will enhance equity and address rising residential property taxes. Before we do so, it is important to understand the benefit that school equalization mills bring to property taxpayers across the state.

The 95 school equalization mills are used within the school funding formula to keep residential property taxes down. The 95 mills ensure that high wealth areas pay their fair share and reduce reliance on variable local mills that would, in the absence or reduction of such mills, automatically pick up the difference. The Legislature adopted the uniform school equalization mills to satisfy a court order in 1993, and freed Montanas public schools from excessive reliance on variable local mills in communities across Montana that existed at that time.

The uniform school equalization mills reduce the burden of residential property taxes and ensure that large corporations headquartered out of state shoulder a fair share of the obligation to fund schools in each community. The significant variation in the value of a mill across the state helps illustrate this issue.

1. The value of a single mill in each school district in Montana varies from a high of $434,000 to a low of $74, with a statewide average of $20,500. To raise the same amount of money from a single mill in the highest wealth district would take 5,864 mills in the poorest district in Montana and 21 mills in the average district across the state.

2. Put another way, in the highest wealth district in the state, a single mill generates $2,765 per pupil. In the lowest wealth district, a mill generates 34 cents. Across the state, the average is $108 per pupil.

In the absence of or reduction in the 95 mills, Montana resident homeowners, renters, and Main Street business owners will pick up an increasing share of the costs of funding our schools while out of state corporations will enjoy reductions in their taxes.

The Legislatures passage of annual property tax rebates of $675 on primary residences provide temporary annual property tax relief through July 2025, giving the 2025 Legislature the time it needs to convene, obtain public input, and work to ensure fairness and equity in taxes across the state. MQEC will be there to ensure a voice for the students of Montana and for local property taxpayers who have long supported their community schools.
In summer 2023, we led a field class offered by the American Center for Mongolian Studies to explore the impacts of climate change on health in rural and urban Mongolia. Taught by a team of health professionals and resource specialists from Mongolia and the US, the course was offered to an international cohort of students, teachers, and professionals. Given the inland, semiarid location and sparse populations of Montana and Mongolia, we were interested to know if there were similarities in the way that healthcare systems deal with the threats of climate change. In Mongolia, we met health providers in hospitals and rural clinics, and national leaders in public health and climate change. The course drew on insights we gained writing a special report (2021) of the Montana Climate Assessment on climate change and human health. Several similarities suggest the need for greater global communication:

First, extreme climate-driven weather events have taken their toll in both places, and rural communities are ill-prepared to deal with consequences. In Mongolia, severe winter storms following a dry summer (called dzuds) have increasingly led to devastating loss of livestock, food shortages, and property damage. Many herder families have been forced to migrate from the countryside to urban centers. In 2009-2010, the National Statistical Office of Mongolia reports that 10.3 million (22%) of the nations livestock were killed by a severe dzud, and spring floods, dust storms, and wildfires compounded the damage. The frequency of extreme weather events in Mongolia will increase by 23-60% by 2050 according to USAID.

Similar severe weather events have occurred in Montana. Flash drought was coined to describe the rapid change from late-season snow cover to extreme summer drought. In 2017, for example, conditions shifted from warm and wet during the early growing season to warm and dry in a matter of weeks. This led to substantial crop loss and wildfires. Spring floods, including the 2022 rain-on-snow event in northern Yellowstone National Park, also caught Montana by surprise and resulted in extensive infrastructure and economic loss. Livingston HealthCare was flooded for a short period, and washed-out roads limited services to remote communities.

Second, wildfire smoke and hotter summers have become more frequent in both places. Multiple studies report that small smoke particles under 2.5 microns in size are more harmful than previously thought. Once inhaled they pass into the bloodstream and can accelerate atherosclerosis, and risks of heart attack, pre-term delivery, and asthma. Hotter days and heat stress are especially tough on agricultural and tribal communities. The most vulnerable groups are the old and very young, pregnant women, people working outdoors, and those with prior health conditions. Add more days over 90F and increased air pollution from dust storms, mining, and coal burning (especially in Mongolias big cities), and it becomes clear that Montanans and Mongolians face short- and long-term health problems from climate change.

Third, rural healthcare delivery is challenging. In Mongolia, many people rely on traveling nurses and doctors, who make regular visits to isolated families for check-ups, vaccinations, and other treatments. But, just as in Montana, anything beyond routine care requires travel and extended stays near a major medical facility, a costly proposition for rural families.

Fourth, healthcare providers are aware of climate change, but few are trained to deal with the effects on physical and mental health, and there is little public messaging on this issue. Both regions, for example, have alarmingly high suicide rates that are likely exacerbated by environmental uncertainty. Thankfully, understanding this health-climate nexus is beginning to be incorporated in medical school and public health curricula. However, the challenge is to assure continued training of health professionals, especially those already in practice, and provide proper messaging to share with patients. Health concerns known from the scientific literature to be related to climate, such as depression, cardiopulmonary issues, vector-borne disease, and heat stress, must be fully recognized as such.

Our experiences in Montana and Mongolia brought home the shortcomings of healthcare messaging in both regions and identified some gaps to be filled. The Montana Climate Assessment, just like Mongolian reports, should be updated regularly so that local providers have the best available science for decision-making. Improved emergency response planning, networking, and infrastructure are also needed to (i) rapidly reach workers, families, and communities during climate-related disasters; (ii) elevate research in the climate-public health arena; (iii) share findings with local hospitals and emergency and health services who can then communicate them to the public; and (iv) draw on local examples to bolster country-wide recommendations for mitigation and adaptation.
People have an upcoming opportunity to learn about a local patriot hero in the American Revolution.

The History Museum of Burke County will welcome William Brown III, a member of the Morganton chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, who will speak at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, at the museum as part of its Coffee at the Museum series.

Brown will discuss the life of his fifth-great-grandfather, Dr. Joseph Dobson Sr. (1720-1791). Dobson was an early settler of Burke County, the first college-educated physician in western North Carolina, the first Clerk of Superior Court for the Morgan District and one of the early entry takers of land for Burke County. He used his training as a medical doctor to treat wounded soldiers during the Revolutionary War, according to his biography.

Brown is a Morganton native, the son of Bill Brown Jr., former longtime principal of Oak Hill School, and Letha Dobson Brown. William Brown attended Oak Hill School from the first grade through his junior year of high school. He was in the first graduating class of Freedom High School in 1974. He also attended Appalachian State University and Western Piedmont Community College. After college, he worked for two years for the North Carolina Forest Service, then for 30 years at Broughton Hospital, where he retired as the hospitals safety director.

Brown served 30 years as an elected Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor, spending a number of years as chair of the local board of supervisors. He also spent 35 years serving as a volunteer firefighter with Oak Hill Fire and Rescue, and has served more than 40 years on the departments board of directors.

Browns passion for history is evident in his civic associations. He was a member of the American Long Rifle Association for more than 30 years, serving as an officer in that group on several occasions. He also served as editor and publisher of the ALRA Gazette for the past 30 years. He is a member of the Col. Alexander Erwin Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution in Morganton, and served as chapter president for several years.

Brown has volunteered for the Wilderness Road State Park near the Cumberland Gap in Virginia for almost 30 years, and was involved with the rebuilding of the historic 1775 Martins Station, where he has taken part in many living history programs and events relative to the time of the American Revolution. Additionally, he has written several books on local history subjects.

The presentation Thursday is free and open to the community, and refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the museum at 828-437-1777.
Clayton and Connor Heggems ice carving took the grand prize at this years annual Uptown Butte ice carving contest held Saturday.

Together, the Heggems carved a mountain goat outside Steeles Furniture, 800 S. Wyoming St. Frank Halls Pinocchio rendition got him first-places honors in the masters category and can be viewed in front of the Richest Hill Casino, 20 W. Galena St. Justin DeShazo took home second with his beta fish, which can be found outside Daniel Insurance Agency, 18 W. Galena St.

Organized and presented by Mainstreet Uptown Butte, the events coordinator was Corey Gransbery of Absolute Zero Design.

Photos: 2023 Uptown Butte annual ice-carving contest

In the adult competition, Kimberly Garcia and Dani Holt won first for their Kraken Attack, and second place went to Jon Blanchards Buffalo. Ryan Blankenship and Mitch Wycoff were the top rookies with their sculpted trout and second place went to Carrie Fisher and Scott Powers for their cactus.

The contest distributed more than $2,000 in prizes in Uptown Bucks and trophies.
On Dec. 4, Judge Tamra Roberts denied a state motion to overturn an order for DNA testing of Annette Cahill, saying there had been an agreement between the defense and the state that the state did not resist a motion to test.

Court records show that Cahill and the Iowa State Public Defender, Wrongful Conviction Division, are asking her 50-year sentence be overturned. Cahill is currently incarcerated with the Iowa Department of Corrections.

Cahill was convicted in September, 2019, for second-degree murder in the death of Corey Wieneke.

Cahill's first trial, on a charge of first-degree murder, took place in March, 2019 and ended in a hung jury. The second trial began the week of Sept. 9, and the state presented the jury with new testimony. In the second trial, Cahill was convicted of second-degree murder.

Part of the defense's application is for post-conviction DNA testing. Over a month after the unresisted order was made, the state filed a motion to deny the order, claiming the application was not properly filed.

On Aug. 23, the court filed an order for post-conviction DNA profiling and other testing of physical evidence based on an agreement between the defense and the state. While the state did not initially contest the profiling, on Sept. 25, it filed a motion to dismiss.

The defense's motion said modern DNA analysis would provide evidence of the "true perpetrator" and exonerate Cahill.

The county attorney now contests the validity of the consent and argues that the Petitioner has failed to meet the service requirements as required by law, Roberts' finding says. The State is asking to get a second bite at the apple when they declined to take the first bite, The Court has no basis to grant the motion based on regret for failing to argue a prior hearing.

According to the defense, Cahill did not receive a fair trial because the state withheld evidence that impeached the credibility of law enforcement witnesses. The filing also alleges jurors did independent research during the trial and that an improper Allen charge  jury instructions that encourage jurors voting in the minority to reconsider their position  was given to the jury. It is also alleged that evidence of other suspects was suppressed. The effectiveness of Cahills counsel has also been brought into question.

Cahill was prosecuted and convicted after new evidence surfaced in what had been a cold case. Weineke was killed in October, 1992. Cahill, then 29, and Wieneke, 22, had been involved in a relationship. The prosecution argued that Cahill and Wieneke had an argument about him seeing another woman the night before his body was discovered.

The Wieneke homicide case went cold until 2017, when Jessie Becker approached investigators about a confession she overheard when she was a child. Becker said she overheard Cahill say, "I'm sorry I killed you, Corey," in a darkened room of the house where Cahill was living and Becker, then 9 years old, was sleeping over with friends.

Since the conviction, Cahill has appealed to the Iowa State Court of Appeals and to the Iowa Supreme Court, both of which have upheld the conviction.

The trial has since gained national publicity, having been featured on Dateline NBC and Snapped.

Getting away with murder: Nebraska cold cases Patricia Webb Tina McMenamin Ali Saleh Al-Saidi Gina Bos Ann Marie Kelley Carl Bittner K.K. Kody Christi Nichols Donald Bennett Ernestine Ruschy Eugene McGuire Jay Durnil Mary Heese Gregory Moore Irvin Settje Jason Remsen Jason Vesper Brian Walker Arthur Morley Jay Blockson Jeanne Kassebaum William, Bernice and Barbara Peak Jeffrey Snoddy Joy Blanchard Demetrius Simpson Julie Derrick Leah Rowlands Letha Harley Mary Cabral Mary Cronin Merlin Mosel Mitchell Simon Patrick Vostades Rebecca Williams Richard Chadek Richard Lessley Robert Beaudoin Robert Heelan Rudolfo Flores Russell McKnight Sandy Green Sarah Neal Tyrone Banister Waddell Robinson Charles Hanks
Muscatine, alongside several other Iowa communities, will soon take its next step towards establishing additional housing and growing its local housing development opportunities through an upcoming public digital event.

On Tuesday, December 19 at 10 a.m., the Muscatine community is invited to listen in on a planned Housing Incentives Webinar hosted by the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) and Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). This public webinar is specifically for the 11 Iowa communities that have been designated "Iowa Thriving Communities".

The webinar is expected to primarily be an information session focused on this new strategic approach, setting the groundwork for upcoming initiative and programs as well as additional meetings and webinars. Those in attendance will also hear from IEDA and IFA representatives about what these initiatives entail and what they would mean for Muscatine, as well as what are the next steps that the city as a whole needs to take in order to fully take advantage of these new Thriving Community initiatives.

As a Thriving Community, in addition to being acknowledged for its efforts and innovated methods, the designation also comes with the ability to score points for the Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and/or Workforce Housing Tax Credit (WHTC) programs. The program is also being used as a way to meet the estimated need of 42,000 additional homes across the state by 2030.

Earlier in the year, Brad Bark, president and CEO of the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and his team went to Des Moines to give a speech on why Muscatine should be named a thriving community, mainly through its many private and public partnerships.

That right there sets us aside from a lot of communities, and thats one of the reasons why they chose us, Bark said. Weve been having a lot of great strategic planning meetings as well, so were just excited to move forward with this program.

Bark, who is also Muscatine's mayor, went on to say that he saw the program as a great way to incentivize developers who want to work and build in these thriving communities, especially in Muscatine.

We want those incentives here so that we can attract people and convince them to not only move here but stay here for the long haul, he said. We know that we need people to start living here for sure, because we know that there are a lot of people who are currently driving in from the Quad-Cities, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids to come work in Muscatine, so having these incentives for developers that may make them want to start creating homes in Muscatine, thats all we need to get people here.

Looking ahead to 2024, Iowa Thriving Communities is expected to continue with its series of webinars throughout the next year in addition to providing its participating communities with further development opportunities and incentives.

Were hopeful that theres going to be a lot of people on the webinar listening and seeing what this amazing opportunity is, Bark said. Our Muscatine Housing Council has been talking about housing for a long time, focusing on workforce housing specifically, and housing an item that we will continue to work on.

To register for this upcoming webinar, residents can go to https://www.iowafinance.com/event/iowa-thriving-communities-developer-webinar-4/.

National Christmas Tree lit in spirited celebration after toppling earlier in week
Late November, at a holiday bazaar pop-up, I had a blast playing the vendor for once. Setting up, I was stoked to discover I was right next to Moulin Bakery from the Napa Farmers Market  cue some lively chatting, way more than our usual market day exchanges due to the line at their stall! It was fun to get to know them and hear their inspiring origin story.

Since June, you may have experienced the aroma of freshly baked bread lingering around Moulins market stall, where Zach and Chloe Kaylor, the husband-and-wife team behind Moulin Bakery, intertwined their love story and their delectable whole grain goodies. Their journey into the world of baking started on a somewhat winding path, when Zach met Chloe at Sacramento State where they were both track and field athletes. Chloes lifelong hospitality journey began in restaurants from an early age, later bringing her to the management team at The French Laundry.

On the other hand, Zach with no previous restaurant background, but armed with a history degree, found his gateway into the culinary world through Chloes passion for hospitality. After meeting Chloe he was inspired to escape the confines of a desk job. Their shared love for adventure prompted a move to France, where Chloe has family roots, and where Zachs introduction to the world of bread began with the simple pleasure of fresh bread and butter on the table every night.

Upon returning from France, Zach started experimenting with making bread at home, eventually working at Bouchon Bakery where he discovered a natural talent for bread-making and the opportunity to learn valuable lessons in a professional bakery. While there, he won the TK scholarship. This scholarship funded a stage (internship) in France at Boulangerie Pan et Gato, where he delved into high-production baking and developed a deep respect for quality ingredients and whole grains.

Their path continued during the pandemic when Zach jumped on an opportunity at Midwife and the Baker in Mountain View, a bakery that focused on milling their own flour and slow fermentation. Despite commuting, to the degree of putting 150k miles on their shared car, the experience was transformative. Inspired and armed with newfound knowledge, together they decided to embark on their own venture.

Moulin Bakery, meaning mill in French, is a nod to their commitment to milling their own whole grains. Their products, ranging from breads to decadent croissants and lemon tarts, reflect their dedication to using organic grains and slow fermentation. The decision to start with the Napa Farmers Market proved to be a gateway to the community, overcoming initial apprehensions of not quite being ready, in that typical perfectionists way.

They shared that the journey into the farmers market community was met with unexpected warmth. Within the first day, they realized it was more than worth it, forging connections with customers and becoming an integral part of the local scene. For Zach and Chloe, Moulin Bakery is not just a business, it is a way to bring whole grains and slow fermentation to the people, making healthy and delicious bread more accessible.

As they look toward the future, building their first brick-and-mortar, Zach and Chloe envision Moulin Bakery as an approachable, affordable haven for both the local community, and visitors seeking the Napa experience on a budget. They aim to contribute to the growth of small, mom and pop businesses in Napa, remaining true to their roots and giving back to the community that embraced them over the past five years.

At the end of the day, we enjoy what we do and hope others enjoy it too, Zach expresses, echoing the sentiment of a couple who turned their passion into a thriving bakery that not only feeds the community but nourishes the spirit of Napa.
The Caymus Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, located in the upper Napa Valley, will place wreaths at the gravesites of veterans at the Saint Helena Public Cemetery beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16.

The effort is part of Wreaths Across America, which honors veterans' commitment to the U.S.

DAR is a nonprofit, non-political volunteer womens service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing Americas future through better education for children, and was founded in 1890. Members volunteer millions of hours annually in their local communities including supporting active-duty military personnel and assisting veteran patients, awarding thousands of dollars in scholarships and financial aid each year to students, and supporting schools for underserved children.

As a DAR member, our mission of promoting patriotism and preserving American history speaks to me and aligns with our own mission to 'Remember, Honor, Teach,' said Dianne Fraser, regent of the Caymus Chapter. DAR members around the country have long been part of the (Wreaths Across America) family, supporting local efforts in every state.

Our Caymus Chapter is pleased to participate with the Wreaths Across America program that reaches across the nation, said sisters and DAR members Ana and Marta Canales. "As the descendants of Americas first veterans, this is a partnership that resonates deeply with our mission.

If you or a member of your family would like to volunteer in placing wreaths on Dec. 16, please email mlcanales@prodigy.net or just show up at the cemetery, 2461 Spring St. in St. Helena.

PHOTOS: 2023 Napa Christmas Parade Napa Christmas Parade 1 Napa Christmas Parade 2 Napa Christmas Parade 3 Napa Christmas Parade 4 Napa Christmas Parade 5 Napa Christmas Parade 6 Napa Christmas Parade 7 Napa Christmas Parade 8 Napa Christmas Parade 9 Napa Christmas Parade 29 Napa Christmas Parade 10 Napa Christmas Parade 11 Napa Christmas Parade 12 Napa Christmas Parade 13 Napa Christmas Parade 14 Napa Christmas Parade 15 Napa Christmas Parade 16 Napa Christmas Parade 17 Napa Christmas Parade 18 Napa Christmas Parade 19 Napa Christmas Parade 20 Napa Christmas Parade 21 Napa Christmas Parade 22 Napa Christmas Parade 23 Napa Christmas Parade 24 Napa Christmas Parade 25 Napa Christmas Parade 26 Napa Christmas Parade 27 Napa Christmas Parade 28 Napa Christmas Parade 30 Napa Christmas Parade 31
A billiards parlor in downtown Napa hosted a combination of donating and live music in support of the Toys for Tots campaign.

Billcos Billiards on Third Street collected about $8,000 and accepted donated toys Sunday during its 14th annual fundraiser and collection drive for Toys for Tots, according to Billcos co-owner Bret McCulloch.

In addition to the all-day toy collection, the Napa event featured a silent auction, a slate of seven concerts through the afternoon and evening, and half-price admission for those arriving at Billcos with a toy to give away. The total value of the donated toys was not immediately available Monday.

Toys collected during this years drive will be passed on to nonprofits including the Salvation Army, Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley, UpValley Family Centers and others, which will distribute the items to their clients this week and next, according to Kristofer Chun, Toys for Tots local coordinator in Napa.

Toys for Tots, which is overseen nationally by the Marine Corps Reserve, donated 10,180 toys in 2022 to 2,856 children in Napa County, according to the charity.

PHOTOS: Operation: With Love from Home holiday care package day
Larkmead Vineyards recently announced it has earned California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) status.

Owned by the Solari Baker family since 1948, Larkmead Vineyards has been a longstanding member of the Napa Valley wine community with a steadfast and unwavering commitment to land stewardship, according to the news release.

The Solari Baker Family has long espoused organic farming in our vineyards. Achieving the CCOF status was the last piece of the puzzle, said Kate Solari Baker, proprietor of Larkmead Vineyards. We are excited to share this news with our colleagues, winery guests, and club members.

Vineyard Manager Nabor Camarena, who has been with Larkmead Vineyards for 14 years, first started farming the estate vineyards organically in 2016 in an effort to strengthen soil and vine health.

We had already been using regenerative and sustainable farming practices, eliminating pesticides and herbicides, and utilizing integrated pest management. We saw the value in farming organically right away in the vineyards and across the estate ecosystem, Camarena said. Taking the extra step to explicitly farm organically and fully adhere to the CCOF practices was easy and natural for us. We saw our vineyards thrive, and we are proud to achieve certification after many years of dedication and hard work.

Winemaker Avery Heelan, who has been with Larkmead Vineyards since 2019, has always been in strong support of obtaining CCOF status from the beginning of her Larkmead tenure.

Nabor and his team do a fantastic job farming our estate to the highest level, Heelan said. We continue to learn and improve our techniques constantly, and becoming certified allows us to illustrate our commitment to responsible farming.

For Heelan, making the right decisions for the land is what makes all the difference in the final wines. Working towards building biodiversity and beneficial populations allows our grapevines a more varied ecosystem to thrive in, which in turn makes our vines more resilient and our finished wines more complex and complete, says Heelan. As a member of the Napa community, it is not just about making the right decisions for our team and customers to feel good about our wines, but also for the betterment, health, and longevity of the valley as a whole.

With the CCOF status, Larkmead Vineyards authenticates its commitment to the land, the agricultural community, and the quality of their estate vineyards  solidifying the caliber of their wines and honoring their recognized designation as one of Napa Valleys finest and most environmentally responsible family-owned estates.

Heitz Cellar and Ink Grade to enter UK fine wine market

Fine wine importer Demeine Estates recently announced Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UKs oldest fine wine and spirits merchant, will represent Heitz Cellar and Ink Grade, two estates from their Napa Valley portfolio, in the UK market. Both wineries are part of the Lawrence Wine Estates portfolio, which Demeine Estates markets and distributes both in North America and globally.

We are eager for consumers in the UK to experience offerings from both Heitz Cellar and Ink Grade, two examples of Napa Valley legacy and winemaking excellence producing elegant, age-worthy wines, said Lawrence Wine Estates CEO and Demeine Estates Co-Founder Carlton McCoy in a news release.

Family owned since its founding in 1961, Heitz Cellar helped shape the history of Napa Valley winemaking and is known for creating the first vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon from the region, the Heitz Cellar Marthas Vineyard. All of the wines are made from organically farmed, 100% Napa Valley fruit. In April 2018, Heitz Cellar entered an exciting new chapter as this rich heritage was passed into the hands of the Lawrence family, whose deep roots in agriculture and commitment to the same core values of fine winemaking made it a perfect match.

We are excited to partner with one of the most historic and esteemed retailers and importers in the UK to bring the Lawrence Wine Estates portfolio of wines to the market, as we continue to expand the global reach of our revered Napa Valley producers, said Demeine Estates President Philana Bouvier in the news release. We are encouraged with the response to these wines, which align with consumer demand for fine wine in the UK market and are thrilled to work closely with Berry Bros. & Rudd to showcase these legacy wines on the world stage.

Ink Grade creates single-estate wines of remarkable intensity and grace from its estate vineyard in the Howell Mountain AVA. Ink Grade is known for organic and biodynamic farming across its 750-acre property, with 220 certified acres under vine. A product of a distinct microclimate and rugged terrain, Ink Grade seeks to honor the heritage of this vineyard and purity of mountain fruit, according to the news release.

We are delighted to confirm two exceptional Napa Valley properties, Heitz Cellar and Ink Grade, as part of the Berry Bros. & Rudd and FM&V offering, said Catriona Felstead, senior buyer at Berry Bros. & Rudd, in the release. Heitz Cellars Marthas Vineyard needs little introduction, and we are delighted to also be offering the fantastic Heitz Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and other single vineyard wines from their estate. The Ink Grade wine range launched only two years ago in the USA, and we are delighted to launch this single-estate range now in the UK.
The Russian government has temporarily banned the export of durum wheat, reports the press service of the Russian government.

"Russia imposes a temporary restriction on the export of durum wheat from the country. The order to this effect has been signed. The decision is aimed at ensuring food security and will contribute to maintaining a stable state of durum wheat product prices in the domestic market," reads the respective statement.

This temporary restriction comes into effect from the moment of publicizing of the government order in that regard, and it will be in effect until May 31, 2024.

At the same time, a number of exceptions are planned. These include the export of durum wheat for the provision of international humanitarian aid and within the framework of international intergovernmental agreements, and its export from Russia to Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Also, Russian durum wheat is still allowed to be exported to the other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstanwithin the framework of the quotas set by the Russian government's decisionif there is a respective permit issued by the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia.
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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on Monday participated in the European Union (EU) Eastern Partnership Ministerial meeting in Brussels, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Also, Mirzoyan delivered an address, which is presented below:

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen

Dear colleagues,

I am very pleased for this opportunity to meet and openly discuss the recent developments in the EaP region and share our ideas on the future of this format. Given the diverse challenges the Eastern Partnership region has been facing for the last couple of years, including the shake of the security architecture and humanitarian issues, the consistency of the EaP Ministerial meetings is quite welcoming.

Since EaP was launched, it has aimed to strengthen the ties of the partners with the EU and EU Member states based on common values, deepening economic and political cooperation and support for the reform agenda.

The Eastern Partnership has contributed to the democratic transition of my country, which made a clear decision to take an irreversible path of democratization and reforms. Despite all the challenges we had during the recent couple of years the democratization process and implementation of the ambitious reform agenda did not stop in Armenia for a single moment. And Armenia is resolute in continuing this journey with the substantial support of the European Union. The most recent manifestation of our determination is the ratification of the Rome Statute by Armenia. By joining the ICC Armenia contributed to the strengthening of the international legal order while at the same time reclaiming its sovereign right of taking decisions based on its national interests.

My Government warmly welcomes the European Commissions decision to recommend the European Council to open accession talks with Moldova and Ukraine and to grant candidate status to Georgia. This decision is welcomed not only by the Government of Armenia but also people of Armenia, who also have European aspirations.

We think that this new development should not be the cause for further weakening of their interest in EaP, but rather it should serve to transform the welcome progress of the trio into an additional bridge for those partners who have the firm intention and resolve to come closer to the European Union.

We are not only committed to continuing this path, but even coming closer to the European Union to the extent the EU will deem it possible.

Dear colleagues,

As you are well aware Armenia is currently facing enormous challenges. The efforts of my Government and all the competent authorities are focused on addressing the humanitarian situation of the forcibly displaced Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, who, within a week, had to abandon their houses and run as a result of use of force.

In this regard, we are grateful to the EU and its member States for humanitarian assistance to Armenia in response to the mass influx of people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Distinguished colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Government of Armenia has political will for building sustainable and lasting peace in the region. We are ready to move forward to that end on the basis of the principles adopted in Granada by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia, President Michel of the European Council, President Macron of France and Chancellor Scholz of Germany. The same principles about mutual recognition of territorial integrity, mutual recognition of borders, opening of communications, transport infrastructures that were previously acknowledged during the trilateral meetings of leaders in Brussels.

On numerous occasions, we have demonstrated our willingness and determination to establish long-lasting peace and stability in our region through the normalization of relations with our neighbors, where all countries will live with open borders and be connected by active economic, political and cultural ties. My Government has recently presented our vision for the future named "The Crossroads of Peace" as a part of the peace agenda. At the core of this project is the development of regional communications by means of renovating, building, and operating roads, railways, pipelines, cables, and electricity lines. Moreover, the joint statement recently adopted with Azerbaijan regarding the exchange of detainees and Armenias agreement on the COP29 is yet another demonstration of our determination to reach peace and stability in the South Caucasus. We do hope that after this positive impulse Azerbaijan will adhere to the peace process.

Dear colleagues,

We believe that this format and initiatives we are engaged in should serve the ultimate goal of bringing us closer to our partners and neighbors. We feel the need to reiterate that all of the EaP partner states should adhere to the same values and principles, as without respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, without a secure and peaceful environment any endeavor is doomed to failure.

Thank you.
Xi says China to keep neighborhood policy consistent, stable

Xinhua) 09:10, December 12, 2023

BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- China will keep its neighborhood policy consistent and stable, bringing more benefits to its neighbors through Chinese modernization and jointly moving forward Asia's modernization process, said Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president.

Xi made the remarks in a signed article published by the Nhan Dan Newspaper of Vietnam on Tuesday prior to his visit to the country, titled "Building a China-Vietnam Community with a Shared Future That Carries Strategic Significance And Writing Together a New Chapter in Our Modernization Drive."

He said China will remain committed to the guidelines of developing friendship and partnership with its neighbors and fostering an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood, adding that at the same time, the country will seek to add new substance to the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.

China will bring more benefits to its neighbors through Chinese modernization, jointly move forward Asia's modernization process, and provide new development opportunities for Vietnam and other Asian countries, Xi said.

"I believe that a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance will draw more countries to the great cause of building an Asian community with a shared future as well as building a community with a shared future for mankind. It will lend more positive energy to our efforts for long-term development and good-neighborliness in Asia, and make greater contributions to peace and development of the world," he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Riverwoods-based Discover Financial Services has named Michael Rhodes as its new CEO and president, filling the void left by the abrupt departure of its previous top executive in August amid compliance issues.

Rhodes, 58, the head of Canadian Personal Banking at TD Bank Group, is expected to begin at Discover on or before March 6, when he will also join the companys board, according to a news release Monday.

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John Owen, a retired bank executive and board member who was appointed interim CEO and president in August, will continue in that role until Rhodes takes the helm, the company said.

In August, Discover CEO and President Roger Hochschild abruptly resigned and stepped down from the board as the company navigated a potential enforcement action from federal regulators over a credit card misclassification issue that resulted in higher charges for certain merchants and merchant acquirers  financial institutions that process credit and debit card transactions.

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Discover recorded a liability of $376 million to provide refunds to merchants and merchant acquirers as a result of the long-running card product misclassification, but had not made any disbursements as of Sept. 30, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Credit card holders were not affected by the misclassification, Discover said in the filings.

Rhodes, who previously worked at Bank of America and MBNA America Bank, joined TD Bank Group in 2011 to lead its North American credit card and merchant services business. He held several executive roles at TD Bank Group before being named to head up Canadian personal banking operations in January 2022.

Riverwoods-based Discover Financial Services named Michael Rhodes as its new CEO and president on Dec. 11, 2023, filling the void left by the abrupt departure of its previous top executive in August amid compliance issues. (Discover/HANDOUT)

I am confident that under his leadership, Discover will be able to reach its full potential and take care of its customers at the highest industry levels while continuing to advance its commitments to enhancing compliance, risk management and corporate governance, Discover Chair Tom Maheras said in the news release Monday.

Discover remains in discussions with its regulators and is cooperating with an SEC investigation into the credit card misclassification, according to SEC filings. The investigations by regulators will likely result in enforcement actions and monetary penalties, the company said.

The company has also been named as a defendant in various lawsuits, including separate class actions brought by merchants and shareholders.

On Sept. 25, the FDIC issued a consent order unrelated to the credit card misclassification to address shortcomings in Discover Banks consumer compliance management system and corporate governance oversight.

Throughout my career Ive developed a clear understanding of what it takes to deliver a great customer experience at every touch point, and I am confident that with its strong foundation and employee base, Discover is well-positioned to capitalize on the market opportunities ahead, Rhodes said in the news release.

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As president and CEO, Rhodes will receive an initial base salary of $1 million per year, a transition award of $750,000 and up to $1.5 million to make up for incentive payments lost at his current employer during the 2023 fiscal year. Rhodes will also be eligible for a $2 million short-term and $7 million long-term annual incentive target bonus at Discover, according to SEC filings.

The Discover card was launched nationally in 1986 by then-owner Sears to compete for consumer wallet space with Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

In addition to its signature credit card, Discover offers private student loans, personal loans, home loans and deposit products. Discover had nearly $123 billion in loan receivables and $104 billion in deposits at the end of the third quarter, according to financial statements.

Discovers share price, which fell sharply in August on the news of Hochschilds resignation and traded under $80 in October, closed at $103.30 Monday.

rchannick@chicagotribune.com
Nobel Prize laureates, business leaders, former heads of state, and humanitarians are among the more than 150 global figures who have signed a letter calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the Armenian Prisoners in Azerbaijan, which includes eight Armenian political prisoners, who are former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakhs government illegally detained following Azerbaijans invasion and seizure of the region in September.

More than a dozen other prisoners of war arrested during the conflict also remain in custody.

The collective plea echoes growing concerns over conditions and treatment of these imprisoned individuals, including prominent Armenian businessman and humanitarian, Ruben Vardanyan. Their arrest follows a campaign of ethnic cleansing by the Azerbaijani forces.

While the December 7th release of 32 Armenian prisoners of war is a welcome first step, all of the others must be released. The failure of Baku to release the remaining 8 political prisoners raises deep concerns over the motives by the Aliyev regime of their continued detention.

The human rights abuses witnessed in the wake of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict demand urgent attention and action, said Noubar Afeyan, another signatory as well as the co-founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative. President Aliyev chooses political retribution over justice. We believe in the inherent dignity and rights of every individual and call on the international community to join us in condemning this injustice.

Afeyan has long collaborated on global and regional economic development and humanitarian projects with Vardanyan, who has become a symbol of the broader struggle for political freedom and human dignity in the region. His unjust imprisonment has galvanized some of the world's most respected voices to champion his cause and that of others unjustly detained.

We call on President Aliyev to fulfill his obligations to international rules and law, ensuring those unjustly imprisoned can return safely to their families, said Paul Polman, Vice Chair of the United Nations Global Compact and former CEO of Unilever. "All individuals in Nagorno-Karabakh have a right to experience a life of peace and security, including the freedom to move without hindrance or the looming specter of inhuman treatment. Given Azerbaijan's bid to host COP 29 in 2024, I sincerely hope the United Nations will only agree if Baku releases all these prisoners."

Polman is one of the letters signatories, alongside former heads of state, such as Ernesto Zedillo, former President of Mexico; Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland; Oscar Arias, former President of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and Elisha Wiesel, Chairman of the Board of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity and Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, and son of the late Elie Wiesel, former Co-Chair of Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity. Other prominent signatories represent a wide range of sectors, including Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin, Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce; Ariana Huffington, founder of Thrive and The Huffington Post; and Serj Tankian, renowned musician and lead vocalist of System of a Down.

"The unjust detention of Ruben Vardanyan and so many others being held in Baku violates their basic human rights," said Mary Robinson, Former UN High Commissioner of Human Rights. "For the government of Azerbaijan to be respected in the global community, it is critical they respect the rule of law, especially in light of the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh. They must release these detainees immediately.

Their unified plea serves as a powerful reminder that global political leaders are closely monitoring developments in Azerbaijan and calling for the release of the detainees. As asserted in the letter issued today, the detention of Armenian prisoners is a clear violation of international norms, including the Third Geneva Convention.

In recent weeks, members of the European Parliament and European Council have pursued a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the release of all illegally held detainees arising from the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

In October, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling on Azerbaijan to release and commit to a broad amnesty for all the inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh who have been arrested since September 19, including former officials from the region. The European Parliament has also called for sanctions against the individuals in the Azerbaijani Government responsible for multiple ceasefire violations and violations of human rights in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as investigations into the abuses committed by Azerbaijani forces that could constitute war crimes.

Similarly, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced a resolution calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release all prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians currently detained in the years-long attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh. The resolution also calls on President Biden to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act on Azerbaijani Government officials responsible for the illegal detention, torture, and extrajudicial killing of Armenian prisoners of war, civilian detainees, hostages, political prisoners, and others detained persons.

A full list of signatories and a copy of the letter are available here (https://www.freearmenianprisoners.com)

For questions about the letter or how to support this effort, or to request an interview, contact: mailto:[email protected]
Armenia ruling power lawmaker: Today there is no basis for war with Azerbaijan

Armenia ruling force MP: Without guarantors, peace treaty with Azerbaijan is meaningless document

Saudi Arabia issues $12 billion in bonds

Maersk: Red Sea shipping disruption will hit global economy

Ex-Deputy FM Vahe Gevorgyan replaces Sergey Manassarian as Armenia Ambassador to China

Dollar falls, euro rises in Armenia

Everything said by Azerbaijan president should be taken seriously, Armenia ruling force legislator states

Armenia ruling power MP on signing peace treaty with Azerbaijan without mediators: Very tempting proposal

Armenia will no longer be at war in any period of time, ruling force lawmaker says

Nikol Pashinyan to new PM of France: I will be happy to host you in Armenia on official visit

Iran envoy: What would be violation of Armenias territorial integrity is not acceptable to us

Czech Rep. supplies first batch of mobile diesel generator sets to Armenia nuclear plant

Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria sign memorandum on clearing floating mines in Black Sea

Deputy defense minister on Armenia soldiers non-combat deaths: Such incidents have occurred, still exist today

Ombudsperson on non-combat deaths in Armenia army: State should have proper prevention structures

Armenia Security Council head to attend 4th meeting on Ukraine peace formula

Ecuador security forces arrest 329 people, kill 5 criminals, says head of army Joint Command

Armenia government to help those forcibly displaced from Karabakh to get training, jobs

Moving Yeraskh village steel plant project to Ararat city costs Armenia government 3.5 billion drams

Davit Khudatyan is appointed governor of Armenias Armavir Province

Cigarette smuggling prevented at Georgia borders with Turkey, Armenia, Russia

Newspaper: Ruling force MP speaks on EU's termination of European Peace Facility for Armenia

Open-air exhibition on Karabakh being held in Paris (PHOTOS)

Why most people cradle babies in left arm?

Deputy PM Grigoryan chairs meeting of commission coordinating measures to ensure Armenia-EU CEPA implementation

Greece FM statement after Armenia visit: Important to help our ally country on all international platforms

Armenia ruling force legislator: Army is the sector where the more closed and secret, the better

Central Bank governor: I can't say banks in Armenia make super profits

Armenia Security Council chief, Greece FM discuss regional, extra-regional security

Central Bank official: Banking services very accessible for Armenia citizens, businesses

Dollar down, euro up in Armenia

Suren Papikyan, Rory Domm discuss Armenia-EU cooperation prospects (PHOTOS)

Gerapetritis to Pashinyan: Greece government ready to support Armenia in all possible directions

FM: Greece clearly supports preservation of Christian sites in Karabakh

George Gerapetritis: Armenia's prosperity is possible only with Europe

Ararat Mirzoyan: Armenia should be able to make use of Azerbaijan railway

Greece official on South Caucasus situation: We rule out use of force, aggression

Sargis Khandanyan: Not aware of any arrangements for Armenia-Azerbaijan meeting in January

Armenia lawmaker: Peace treaty can be signed when Azerbaijan accepts our principles

About $70M allocated to programs for persons forcibly displaced from Karabakh to Armenia, minister says

Armenia FM on relations with EU: There is long way to go

Armenia ruling force MP: Azerbaijan statements about bilateral negotiations are just statements

TASS: Germany offers Armenia financial assistance for anti-Russian steps, source says

Gunmen take TV journalists hostage live on air in Ecuador, police manage to free them

ARARATBANK attracts USD 5 million from EFSE to support MSMEs in Armenia

Researchers discover ancient temple ruins thanks to Emperor Constantine's letter to group of Romans

Armenia ex-ruling party: Court once again proved it is submissive tool of current authorities

Armenia, Greece FMs' private conversation kicks off

Volkswagen to equip Golf, Tiguan with artificial intelligence

MFA: Armenia established diplomatic relations with 3 more countries in 2023 (VIDEO)

Newspaper: Attacks on judges gaining new momentum in Armenia

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin treated for prostate cancer

China recreational area breaks world record as largest temporary ice, snow theme park

Copernicus: World dangerously close to global warming limit

Greece FM arrives in Armenia on official visit

Armenia army officer found dead with gunshot wound

Crime gang leader escapes from Ecuador prison, state of emergency declared in country

Indonesia police rescue 226 dogs sent to slaughter

Lemkin Institute condemns recent attack on Armenian Quarter in East Jerusalem

Armenia economy minister, businessmen discuss major investment programs planned for 2024

Dollar, euro gain value in Armenia

Greece FM to arrive in Armenia Wednesday on official visit

MFA: In 2023 Armenia was elected to all international organizations where it nominated its candidacy

Azerbaijan ambassador to France confirms arrest of Frenchman Martin Ryan, suspected of espionage

Armenia records 2% inflation in 2023

US Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations visiting Yerevan, discusses efforts to bring peace, stability to region

World of Buzz: Son didn't know for 20 years that his father was actually a millionaire

Yerevan to host European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Annual Meeting, Business Forum in May

Russia media report details about Armenian mans murder in Noginsk city

ARARAT Museum Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Sergei Parajanov with "Uninterrupted Flight" Exhibition

Ruben Rubinyan, Louis Bono discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process

Criminal investigation launched, Armenia serviceman detained in case into killing of fellow soldier at combat position

Sergei Parajanov statue unveiled in Yerevan

Protest being stage outside Armenia education ministry

Bloomberg: Researchers find out waters nanoplastics content dangerous for humans

MFA: Matter of Armenia driver's licenses recognition in Russia is on bilateral discussions agenda

Armenia soldier found dead, with gunshot wound, in combat position

Bitcoin exceeds $47,000 for first time since March 2022

China researchers develop electronic skin

PM: Armenia foreign policys highest goal is to ensure country's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity
In at least the last few years, the Republic of Armenia, being a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), has achieved quite a lot of success, including economic ones. Vagharshak Hakobyan, an MP of the ruling majority Civil Contract Faction and Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Regional and Eurasian Integration of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, said this in a briefing with reporters at the NA Tuesdayand when asked whether Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will participate in the upcoming meeting of the EAEU.

According to Hakobyan, last year Armenia had an economic growth of 12.7%, which was one of the best not only in the region, but also at the world level, and the country had all these achievements while carrying out activities within the EAEU.

"And it is very normal for us [Armenia] to participate in the meetings of the EAEU. We get information about the prime minister's visits officially from government sources and announcements; and allow me to make a reference to government sources. I said my opinion. And I believe that EAEU membership has no alternative for us at the moment, and EAEU membership brings quite positive things to our country," emphasized Hakobyan.

And when asked why, in that case, the Armenian PM did not attend the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, the ruling force lawmaker noted as follows: "You know that in recent times we [Armenia] did not participate in some CSTO [(Collective Security Treaty Organization)] events, and this lack of participation was also commented on. It was commented not only at the working level, but also publicly. Whenever the shortcomings of the CSTO are recorded, the Republic of Armenia speaks about it at all levels, and speaks very directly, and speaks in accordance with the state interest of the Republic of Armenia."
On December 11, the Alexander Hotel hosted the presentation of The Cultural Map by Erin Meyer, a professor at INSEAD International Business School in Paris and an expert in intercultural management. Translated into Armenian and published by Newmag with Ardshinbanks initiative and financial backing, the event featured insights into the author's creative journey. Erin Meyer's research, exploring communication models and global business systems, has been recognized in prestigious publications such as Harvard Business Review, Singapore Business Times, and Forbes.com. In 2013, she was acknowledged in the Thinkers50 Radar ranking as one of the most promising global business thinkers. The bestselling book, released in 2014, analyzes the impact of national and cultural differences on international business.

Present at the event were Ardshinbank's Chairman of the Board, Artak Ananyan, Newmag Publishing's Director, Artak Aleksanyan, Chief Editor of the publishing house, Gnel Nalbandyan, and translator David Sargsyan.

Chairman Artak Ananyan shared insights into Ardshinbank's involvement, stating, In recent years, a substantial influx of foreigners has enriched our country, actively engaging in Armenia's economic and social life. The coexistence of diverse national cultures has prompted a pertinent question for Armenian businesses: how to effectively communicate with foreigners, how to build interpersonal relationships in this cultural diversity. Business in Armenia is becoming international, exemplified by the transformation of Ardshinbank. Today, over 80% of the bank's profit is generated not in Armenia but abroad, in international markets. At the same time, the bank is seeing an increase in the number of foreign employees; effectively, intercultural communication becomes a crucial factor in communication and successful business conduct. Considering these factors, we believe translating Erin Meyer's valuable research into Armenian aligns with our commitment to facilitating meaningful cross-cultural understanding.

This collaboration marks Newmag's third joint venture with Ardshinbank, following the Armenian releases of '100 Monologue' and Nobel laureate Milton Friedman's Capitalism and Freedom.

The activities of Ardshinbank are regulated by the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia.
We truly welcomed the mutual desire of Baku and Yerevan to normalize relations and sign a peace treaty. Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian foreign ministry, announced this at a press briefing Tuesday.

"We [i.e. Russia] welcomed their agreement on the exchange of prisoners of war, with the all for all principle. This contributes to mutual confidence-building and opens up additional opportunities for reconciliation in accordance with the agreement between the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia signed from [20]20 to [20]22. As for the timeframes for signing the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty, as we have talked about it from the beginning, they should be decided by the parties themselves," said the spokesperson of the Russian foreign ministry.

According to Zakharova, Russia is ready to continue assisting its two aforementioned partners in developing a balanced peace agreement.

"Such a document is meant to create reliable foundations for sustainable peace and stability in the region," said the official representative of the Russian foreign ministry.
A coffee shop in the River North neighborhood delivers the warmth and substantiality of Kazakh culture as soon as the doors open.

Enter Tary Coffee House and youll see elegant dishware, like wooden bowls and trays, and cozy rugs, all from Kazakhstan, as well as a special green cabinet that was used for generations as a refrigerator but now is symbolic decor.

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Tary Coffee House not only brings some of the sights but also the traditional smells of Kazakhstan with a selection of coffee, tea, baked goods, filling meals and more. Symbat Zharkynkyzy, 26, is the franchise owner of the local Tary and said its the first location of the chain to open in the U.S. Tary was the first of its kind in Kazakhstan even, Zharkynkyzy said.

We never had traditional or ethnic coffeehouses before that show our traditions, like what we eat in our homes, she said. Tary Coffee House was the first to represent Kazakh culture, even in Kazakhstan, as a coffee shop.

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Tary first opened in Kazakhstan in 2020, and Zharkynkyzy said it went viral and gained popularity quickly. Now, there are 10 locations in Kazakhstan.

Zharkynkyzy also moved to Chicago from Kazakhstan in 2020. After getting a masters degree in digital marketing from the University of Illinois at Chicago, she said she was looking for a project to start in 2022. She also found that Kazakh culture was not as widespread in Chicago and had heard about Tary back home once the brand gained some traction, so she thought opening a Tary coffee shop in the city would be a perfect fit.

When she started to look for the perfect location for the shop, Zharkynkyzy said she knew she wanted it to be somewhere downtown to get more traffic and people from all around the world.

The coffee shop at 111 W. Illinois St. had a soft opening on Oct. 24 and Zharkynkyzy said business has been going very, very well since.

We had about 50 kilograms of tary, or millet in English, that we brought from Kazakhstan, she said. It went in not even three weeks. People started to order bylamyk porridge, which is made with ground-up tary. People liked it. We are out of tary right now and are waiting to get more from Kazakhistan.

She said the coffee is popular because of its very unique and fruity taste. A signature drink of theirs is the tary cappuccino made with millet. There is also a latte served with irimchik, a traditional soft and sweet cheese, and Zharkynkyzy said some people decide to either add it to the latte or have it on the side.

Tary is used a lot in Kazakh culture for its nutritional benefits, Zharkynkyzy said. Its nutrient-dense and good for keeping anyone full, which is why its a common breakfast base. The specific type of millet used is exclusively grown in the western part of the Kazakh Steppe, she said.

Tary holds a special place in Kazakh history, she said.

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The tary porridge and bylamyk porridge are bestsellers, Zharkynkyzy said. Some more familiar breakfast options on Tarys menu include scrambled eggs on brioche bread and eggs served sunny side up with toast.

The coffee shop also has soups, salads and main dishes, including balgyn kuyrdak, a plate of tender beef with potatoes. Theres also a braised beef dish and cauliflower with cheese and herbs. Zharkynkyzy added that all the meat at Tary is halal.

Tary also offers herbal teas that are served with honey and lemon, each with its own flavor and health benefit.

The coffeehouses aim is to be 99% organically sourced. Almost everything is made in-house, from the freshly baked bread to the specialty cheeses, jams, desserts and bakery items.

Some of the desserts and baked goods are the tary cheesecake, which has millet added in, tary ice cream made in-house, baursak, or fried dough bites, and homemade waffles.

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Zharkynkyzy said her current favorite items are the very delicious and satisfying chicken noodle soup, which was recently added to the menu, and the brownie with tary ice cream.

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Preferring tea over coffee, she said she enjoys the black tea with milk because it reminds her of her childhood.

Its like family time, when Im with my parents drinking tea and talking about all the things, she said.

Tary Coffee House is open Mondays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Thursdays 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tary Coffee House, 111 W. Illinois St., 773-322-7315, tarycoffee.com

sahmad@chicagotribune.com

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Serzh Sargsyan, third President of Armenia and chairman of the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia, sent a congratulatory message to Donald Tusk on his election as Prime Minister of Poland. The message reads as follows:

Dear Mr. Tusk,

I cordially congratulate you on your election to the high position of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland.

The results of the elections testify without any doubt to a high degree of trust the citizens of Poland have in you, in your abilities to ensure a steadfast development of the country, as well as show great demand which your reputation and rich experience hold.

I wish you unbound energy and success in the implementation of your high mission. I also wish wellbeing and advancement to the friendly people of Poland. Being familiar with your abilities, I am sure that stated by you positive political changes in Poland are forthcoming indeed.

In my last letter to you, which was written on 17.10.2020 in one part of my Fatherland, namely Nagorno Karabakh (the Republic of Artsakh) I stated my public and private appeal to you, as one of Europes leading politicians, to save my people from extermination.

Unfortunately, the great tragedy I spoke about took place: in the 21st century, right before the eyes of the civilized world, the Armenian people in Artsakh were subjected to ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan which made it its state policy. One hundred fifty thousand Armenians left their ancient Homeland, nobody is left.

However, we are confident that the problem has not been solved, it cannot be solved that way, the Armenian page of Artsakh is not closed.

I once again congratulate you and send you my best wishes.

Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration.
Emory Police Chief Cheryl Elliott will take on an expanded role as the universitys vice president for public safety, starting Jan. 1. Deputy Chief Burt Buchtinec has been named Emorys next police chief, effective at the same time.

As vice president for public safety, Elliott will oversee the Emory Police Department, the Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (including Emory EMS), Clery Reporting, Threat Assessment, Physical Security and Business Continuity.

Cheryl is a known and trusted leader, says Chris Augostini, the universitys executive vice president for business and administration (EVPBA). She has spent 35 years dedicated to public safety at Emory, and I am thrilled that she has agreed to provide elevated leadership for this critically important area.

Elliott has served as Emorys police chief since May 2021, when she rejoined the department after retiring from her role as deputy chief in 2017. She has been recognized for her work and professionalism throughout her career: Emory Police Officer of The Year, 1995; the International Society for Crime Prevention Practitioners George Sunderland Lifetime Achievement Award, 2004; Emory University employee of the year, 2005; Emory University Community 100 for Diversity, 2009; and Emory Campus Life Support Person of the Year, 2014.

I look forward to further developing functions and operations that establish public safety services that are collaborative and supportive of the mission and values of the Emory enterprise, says Elliott.

Buchtinec, a 16-year veteran of the Emory Police Department with over 25 years of total policing experience, has served as deputy chief since April 2022. As deputy chief, he has proven himself to be a thoughtful and trusted leader, earning respect both within and beyond the Emory community, Augostini says.

This fall, Buchtinec was named president for the Georgia Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. Founded in 1974, since its first meeting at Emory, the organization has grown to more than 90 members representing more than 60 institutions.

I am thrilled to continue my service to Emory by leading the Emory Police Department. I believe deeply in partnering with the community we serve and it is my goal to build upon the work we are doing to ensure that the Emory Police Department remains a trusted resource, says Buchtinec.

The promotions of Elliott and Buchtinec are part of a series of organizational changes within Emorys Office of Business and Administration intended to enhance public safety for the Emory enterprise while aligning similar functions and streamlining the reporting structure to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Emorys first chief administrative officer

Also starting Jan. 1, Diana Carter will serve as vice president and chief administrative officer (CAO). Carter, who joined Emory in 2013, was named vice president and chief audit and risk officer for Emory University and Emory Healthcare in February 2023. A certified public accountant with a master's degree in accounting, she has also previously served in the finance division, as chief business officer for Candler School of Theology and as chief of staff for the Office of the EVPBA.

Diana is the ideal leader for this important role, as she will be able to combine her training and experience as a CPA with her deep knowledge of the key administrative functions of the university, Augostini notes.

The creation of the chief administrative officer role will strategically align and integrate functions impacting risk and operations. As CAO, Carter will lead the integration of Internal Audit, University Compliance and Enterprise Risk Management under the Risk portfolio. She will also oversee Data and Analytics for the Business and Administration division.

Additionally, she will work in direct partnership with Elliott as the next vice president for public safety. The vice president for public safety will work directly with the CAO and will continue to have a shared reporting line to Emorys president and to the EVPBA.

I am excited by the opportunity to continue serving Emory in this new role, Carter says. Establishing strong partnerships with colleagues across the enterprise will be critical, enabling us to meaningfully support Emorys mission through this work.

Notes Augostini, These organizational changes are being implemented to enhance collaboration, efficiency and strategic focus, ensuring that the university continues to operate with excellence. I am confident that these changes will contribute positively to our collective success.
Emory College historian Crystal Sanders wanted to understand why so many elderly African American leaders who attended historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) went on to elite schools like Harvard and the University of Chicago for graduate school.

Then she unearthed a Jim Crow policy that inadvertently laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights movement.

Sanders will publish her research in a book, tentatively titled Americas Forgotten Migration, next summer. Her findings, though, are already the basis of a digital documentary on the nations flagship PBS station and have become part of her undergraduate courses.

Education is political. Its always been political, Sanders says. Many of the successes we see now were really fostered by Black men and women who were so committed to pursuing education and their highest potential that they left their homes to equip themselves with the skills needed to create a more inclusive world.

An associate professor of African American studies whose research focuses on the history of Black education, Sanders had just finished her first book on the history of the Head Start program for young children when she noticed the graduate school trend.

Digging into records, she discovered what she dubs segregation scholarships: money that 16 southern and border states pulled from HBCU funding to send Black students out of state for advanced degrees.

Typically, the money only covered the difference between the in-state tuition and the graduate program tuition, so students had to find work in unfamiliar, expensive cities to cover additional expenses, all while tackling challenging coursework and training.

Leaders thought theyd found a loophole to preserve segregation at their flagship universities and to get rid of potential troublemakers.

Instead, the students returned home as some of the most highly trained and credentialed people in the region  physicians, lawyers, educators  who used their training to chip away at the very system of racial discrimination that compelled them to leave in the first place.

Among them was Jewel Prestage, the first African American woman to receive a doctorate in political science in the U.S. She mentored several generations of Black scholars known as Jewels gems at Southern University who then went on to become lawyers, state representatives and political scientists, and advocated for improved civic education in K-12 schools in Louisiana.

Prestage, who died in 2014, later served on the National Advisory Council on Womens Educational Programs. Her work included advising on the Womens Educational Equity Act addressing sexual harassment and women's rights.

Another was Fred Gray, the attorney Martin Luther King Jr. called chief counsel of the protest movement who represented Rosa Parks and victims of the Tuskegee syphilis study and led several lawsuits to desegregate higher education in Alabama.

Last year, President Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Gray, who at 92 is still practicing law.

A digital documentary, Segregation Scholarships, tells the broader story in five episodes for WNET, the public television station serving the greater New York City area. As part of the WNET Groups Chasing the Dream public media initiative, the series is expected to become a television program next year.

The story has already become part of Sanders fall course on African American pedagogy.

Im interested in advocacy and social justice, but I hadnt heard of this before, says Tyler Martinez, a sophomore in Sanders course.

Hearing about the history of how we got here now, and seeing the progression, it makes me want to evolve the current system, adds Martinez, an aspiring cardiologist with a double major in African American studies and human health.

Sanders hopes her forthcoming book will solicit similar understanding and more conversations about racial inequality in higher education. Some HBCUs are still struggling today, for instance, due to the loss of already-thin funding when leaders diverted money to segregation scholarships. That funding was never recovered once universities began to integrate.

Education has always been a contested public good, Sanders says. I want my students to learn that so they remain committed to a first-class, well-rounded education for everyone and value the opportunity to sit in a class with people different than them and learn from them. I try to help my students see their role in creating the kind of institution and alma mater students can enjoy and be proud of 20 years from now.
Following the selection of the acclaimed Hood Design Studio to create Emorys Twin Memorials, which will honor enslaved persons who were part of the universitys history, Walter Hood and his team visited the Atlanta and Oxford College campuses.

Welcomed by President Gregory L. Fenves and an enthusiastic contingent of community members involved with the project, Hood  the studios founder and creative director  and his staff were guests at an event hosted by the Twin Memorials Project Team in partnership with the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library. On view that morning were a variety of archival materials that library staff had assembled pertaining to this aspect of Emorys history.

This is an important moment for Emory, Fenves said during the Oct. 17 event, noting that Twin Memorials to honor the enslaved is a concept that has been discussed, and thought through, at Emory for many years. Recalling how the concept resonated with him when he began his tenure at Emory in August 2020, Fenves added: It is an essential, long-overdue recognition, a crucial way to remember, teach and heal for this generation and generations to come.

Staying in the wake

Before introducing Hood, Fenves described a visit that he and his wife, Carmel, made to the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina, where the Hood team designed the museums landscape architecture. Fenves reflected on the complexity and emotional resonance of what Hood and his team rendered there  the water reflecting human figures, the outline of the wharf where ships unloaded the enslaved, the native grasses, the trellises with badges, which was a reminder that the enslaved could be rented out.

In his remarks, Hood began by saying, We want to create this journey together. The work of his studio, he emphasized, is not about making monuments but instead exploring the idea of memory.

Invoking the concept of the wake  which has several registers, including the path behind a ship, keeping watch with the dead and coming to consciousness  Hood said: The idea of memory is a very powerful one for our studio. We live in a wake. And the wake means that we have to remember but we have to go forward. How do we create a space that we can return to and actually understand that we are on this journey together? That is the promise of this project. Hopefully, we can get somewhere together that we could not have imagined.

Oxfords new dean welcomes the project

Oxford College Dean Badia Ahad movingly closed the session, providing a layered view of the project from her perspectives as dean, as a scholar of African American literature and culture, and as an African American whose ancestors were enslaved persons in Livingston, Alabama.

It is a privilege to take on this remarkable project as I begin my tenure as dean of Oxford College, Ahad noted.

She related a year-long school assignment, to construct a family history, that she had in the 8th grade. Initially enthusiastic, she said that she grew to resent the project, ashamed that my family tree was so sparse. What story could I possibly tell?

The key was getting to know her grandmother better. Like most 13-year-olds, Ahad said, I was 80% ego and 20% water, so naturally I took my grandmother for granted.

Over weeks spent at her grandmothers kitchen table, I got to know Annie Lowe. I came to understand that her stories were indeed as rich and as grand as those of my peers who could trace their family histories to Jamestown and beyond.

There are so many stories of the African American historical past that the archive will never hold, she continued. With the Twin Memorials, we have the space to remember, to reconcile, to reflect, to heal and honor the lives and legacies of enslaved persons who built the institution that we freely occupy and enjoy. In this way, we hold in deep regard the path that lay before us that perhaps they could never have envisioned.

Hood and his team then headed out to Oxford College to meet privately with a group of descendants of the enslaved.

Questions for community input

The Twin Memorials concept-design phase, which will also result in final site selection on both campuses, will continue through spring.

As Hood and his team begin their engagement with the Emory community, they have the benefit of reviewing comments from 26 listening sessions involving more than 225 descendants, administrators, students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners conducted in 2022. That input is captured in the engagement report of the Twin Memorials Working Group.

In organizing its own engagement sessions at Emory, Hood Design Studio plans to use an organizational principle that they have dubbed MAPPS.

Materials: which objects, elements, materials and colors should be used for memorialization?

Activities: what programs are there to preserve, traditions to recognize, new activities to introduce for maintaining the spirit of the sites?

Places: which locations have special meaning and what related/community sites matter?

People: what are the names to remember, people to honor and communities to celebrate?

Stories: what are the narratives to elevate, people to celebrate, pivotal moments to remember and archival sources to include?

Already, since the announcement of the selection of Hood Design Studio at the end of August, the team has connected with 175 descendants, faculty, staff and students on the Atlanta and Oxford campuses virtually and in-person, with more sessions planned, including one for alumni on Dec. 12.
Emory University anthropologist Debra Vidali captured first place in the 2023 Ethnographic Poetry Competition of the American Anthropological Associations Society for Humanistic Anthropology.

Vidali, a sociocultural anthropologist whose work centers on experimental ethnography and ethnographic theater, won for a set of two experimental poems, Two Row Repair II and Two Row Repair III.

The titles refer to the Two Row Wampum belt that encodes the first treaty between Europeans and Haudenosaunee, or the Iroquois Confederacy.

Vidalis poems use the wampum belt as both a metaphor and visual basis for the pieces, which can be read top-to-bottom and left-to-right, that focus on a journey of recovery and repair connected to the territory of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, located in the region also known as New York state and Ontario and Quebec, Canada.

The judges praised the connections, saying Vidalis work not only speaks about, but embodies, decolonial praxis in a historically anchored way.

Vidali accepted the award in person and read the poetry last month at the Society for Humanistic Anthropology's annual award ceremony in Toronto.

Vidali writes and teaches about multisensorial forms of knowledge, with a current research focus on Indigenous sovereignty and allied solidarity.

She says she was motivated to write the poems after a 2022 research journey to find the original location where the Two Row agreement occurred in 1613 between Dutch and Mohawk, near the port of present-day Albany, New York.

The Two Row Wampum is a foundational treaty extending into the present. It conveys expected relations between Haudenosaunee and people of European descent to co-exist in peace, respect and friendship, and in common stewardship for all orders of life, including rivers, plants, animals and earth itself, Vidali says.

As a non-Indigenous person who was born and raised on Haudenosaunee lands, and whose ancestors go back to Dutch settlers in the Hudson Valley in the 1630s, I strive to honor this treaty and to communicate to others about it, she adds. With the set of poems, I activate and inscribe a journey of ancestral reckoning using the unique affordances of experimental ethnographic writing. It was a deep honor to receive the award, and to have it conferred on Haudenosaunee lands in Tkaronto (Toronto).
If it wasnt for the heart transplant, theres a good chance William Sanders wouldnt have gotten married this fall.

Back in 2018, Sanders had been referred to Mahmoud H. Abdou, MD, an Emory cardiologist, by his primary physician. Over the next few years, Abdou was frank  Sanders heart wasnt functioning as it should be, but they would try all available treatments. Interventions ranged from medication to an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator to a pacemaker and beyond.

When none of those could keep heart failure at bay, Abdou continued to be candid, and told Sanders he needed a heart transplant.

It didnt really resonate with me until I got home, Sanders remembers about that visit, and after a while I started to tell myself that I had to deal with these issues, that they werent going away.

Not long after that conversation, Sanders, who was 67 at the time, also started to notice changes. He couldnt exercise or swim anymore, he had to sleep upright, and he was back and forth to the hospital every few months.

At the end of March, Sanders had his son drive him to the hospital.

Upon arriving, they quickly discovered that his heart was functioning at roughly 10%, so Sanders was put on a temporary mechanical pump  Impella, a device designed to give more support to the heart to allow it to pump more blood with each contraction and the blood to flow more easily.

Based on his condition, Sanders was moved up higher on the transplant list.

Wow. It was a fight, he says. I was told by my nurses that every patient has to be physically ready and test well to receive a transplant. So, I walked around the nurses station every morning because I knew a heart was coming for me.

It wasnt just his own stamina he was building, either. Sanders got other cardiac patients to join him on those walks by stopping into their rooms  and eventually, the spouses and partners of fellow patients were coming to him for help.

I told [the other patients], Listen, you dont know me, but Im going to tell you something. You can lay in that bed all you want, but nothing is going to happen until you start getting up to walk. Until you move your body. Ill come back and walk with you.

And wouldnt you know it  it worked every time. The walks had dual benefits: physical stamina and a mental reprieve during a lengthy stay.

But Sanders heart was still very sick. On March 31, his condition deteriorated further, and he was placed on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), a long-term bypass machine that supports the heart and/or lungs by taking blood out of the body, oxygenating it via an artificial lung, and pumping it back in. Sanders priority status was also moved to the top spot on the transplant list.

When patients are on ECMO support, more and serious complications tend to occur, and if a suitable heart is not available after about a week, some difficult decisions need to be made on to how to proceed.

On April 6, after nearly 10 days in the hospital, Sanders got some tough news from his doctor, Abdou. If a heart wasnt available in the next few days, Sanders would have to choose whether to get an LVAD, a left ventricular assist device, a surgically implanted pump used for patients with end-stage heart failure.

Sanders asked for a few days to think it over.

After we talked, I was in my room, talking to myself and having a conversation with God, and an hour later, Im told that they had a heart available, he remembers. Things happened quickly after that, and the next thing Sanders remembers is waking back up in his room, with his loved ones standing over him, congratulating him on a successful transplant by Emory cardiothoracic surgeon Tamer Attia, MD, PhD.

Every step of the way, Sanders was surrounded by community he could lean on. Along with his fiancee (now wife), Bernice Bernie Ward, and his sister, Vera Gainey, he says he was taken care of around the clock by a host of loved ones.

This experience brought people in my life that Id been pushing out closer to me, Sanders says, and made me see things from a different perspective.

Sanders heart problems had taken Gainey by surprise. The brother and sister are a mere 11 months apart, with Gainey being older, and have always been close  particularly since theyve lost their other siblings and parents over the years. The two grew up in Philadelphia, where Gainey still lives, but Sanders moved to Atlanta in 1981. That distance made it easier to play his health concerns close to the vest, and she surprised him by being in the hospital less than 48 hours after he was admitted, thanks to a phone call from his son.

Gainey was struck by the number of machines in the room when she first arrived. We went through some terrible moments, but he came back up and he persevered and was determined, she says. He always says this was his second birth, and that hed do everything he could to make sure he wouldnt leave me.

Originally, Sanders hadnt been forthcoming with his fiancee, Ward, either. When I started getting sick, I started avoiding her, Sanders says, but she never would go away. Ward kept bringing food over and checking in  after 28 years of friendship, she knew something was wrong.

While the two had been on a few dates years ago, Sanders said it wasnt serious, as he hadnt planned to ever remarry after his divorce. But when he was sick, Ward was there every step of the way, and he started to see things from a new perspective.

Bernie is magnificent. I dont know how I almost let her get away, but Im holding on tight this time, he says. The two tied the knot on Nov. 18.

After the transplant, Gainey and Ward worked together to get Sanders comfortable with his medication routine  which often changed, in the beginning  and orchestrated follow-up visits, including to rehab. In fact, a support system is so critical that its one of the considerations for transplant eligibility.

One of Meredith Hardies favorite things about Emory Decatur Hospitals Cardiac Rehabilitation program being offered in the Wellness Center is that it allows the family to get involved, too.

As cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation manager, Hardie has seen the impact of accountability buddies first-hand, whether thats for regular exercise or at nutrition classes, and says, We definitely encourage the family members, spouses and caregivers to come along.

Erin Hill, cardiac rehab RN, explains that rehab patients often come in with a fair amount of anxiety  and plenty of questions.

When Sanders started rehab on July 31, he had questions, but he was enthusiastic, too.

Hes been a star patient, and I wish we could clone him, laughs Hill. During his rehab intake, Sanders shared his concerns and goals with Hill, who walked him through the treatment plan and allayed any fears.

Hes always positive when he comes in and receptive to what we have to say, says Hill. Organ transplant is a huge deal, and it involves frequent follow-ups and monthly biopsies, where patients have to return to the lab and have tests done to make sure theres no organ rejection. There is also a huge number of medications they have to take, so the fact that hes been able to maintain his positivity through all of it is incredible.

Organ transplant patients also start on a different care plan compared to cardiac event patients. Most notably, transplant patients have more restrictions around driving and heavy lifting in order to let their sternums heal. And, because transplanted hearts are not connected to the brain via nerves, it requires longer warm-up and cool-down periods, along with lower-intensity workouts.

Exercise physiologist Marcus Meadows has seen Sanders make significant progress. Will was coming in with a completely different heart, trying to do anything to build himself back up, Meadows says. He was struggling to do three laps around the track, and his heart rate was really elevated  which is a normal response with a transplant. Now, hes able to go six laps without shortness of breath.

Cardiac output is closely monitored throughout rehab exercises so that potential problems can be stopped before they begin. Meadows explains that being able to look at reports with patients is essential to those patients feeling comfortable enough to exercise at home.

Gainey has also seen significant progress in her brother. Originally challenged to walk around his car in the driveway, Sanders is now going to physical therapy, doing water aerobics, walking his dogs and traveling with friends. Knowing her brother was in the clear, she was comfortable going back home to Pennsylvania.

The care team was phenomenal, Gainey says. The therapists couldnt believe the energy he has, but its really because of all the love hes gotten from them throughout this process.

Because patients go to cardiac rehab up to three times per week for two- to four months, they develop deeply personal relationships with the providers. Hill and Meadows both love building rapport and helping patients reach their goals, literally building back up after a life-altering event.

For Meadows, this case turned out to have even deeper personal ties.

Will brought it up to me that I met him when I was about five years old, Meadows says. Turns out, Sanders had worked with Meadows father in the Atlanta Police Department and the two have stayed friends throughout career changes.

Once I told him my last name, he pieced it together and called my dad right on the spot, Meadows laughs. Having that connection with him and being able to help him through this process was really cool for me. It all comes full circle.

Full circle, indeed, as even one of Sanders first visits was back to the hospital. This time, to say thank you. Sanders is also looking forward to volunteering in the future  no surprise from a patient who was encouraging others to walk while waiting on his own surgery.

I wouldnt go to any other hospital because the level of care that Emory had rendered to me is second to none, Sanders says. It wasnt only the doctors that made me feel good, but its the people who werent the doctors, from nurses to therapists to custodians and beyond. You cant put a price tag on that.
23:50

The high court of Karnataka on its own took cognisance of news reports about a woman being paraded naked after her son eloped with a girl who was to get engaged with someone else and has ordered all electronic media not to telecast any videos related to the incident.





On coming to know about their 18-year-old daughter eloping with the woman's son (aged 24), about 20 of her family members damaged the man's house at around 12.30 am on Monday in New Vantamuri village.





They are then said to have dragged his 55-year-old mother, who was alone at home, outside, paraded her naked and tied her to an electricity pole.





The court also directed the Advocate General to submit a status report of the incident on December 14.





The Court took this step after noticing a photograph in one newspaper where the victim's face was blurred but it also showed electronic media videographing the victim's reactions.





"If any media house or its representatives has videographed the above interview of the victim during the visit of the Hon'ble Minister or any such interaction by the victim, this Court hereby directs not to telecast such an interview or interaction on any national or regional channel. It is further made clear that if already such an interview is displayed or telecast in the electronic media, henceforth, there shall not be any display or telecast of the same," the division bench headed by Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale said in its order on Tuesday.





The Court, however, clarified that it is not preventing coverage of the news.





"We also make it clear that this interim direction is only with an object to ensure the dignity of the victim is maintained and her identity is not disclosed or revealed. We further make it clear that this court by this interim order is not even remotely prohibiting the media from covering the news as this Court maintains and accepts the concept of freedom of press," it said.





Taking serious note of the incident, the bench said, "The caption and contents of the aforesaid news articles not only shock our conscience but make us put our head down with anguish and pain in our hearts. On one hand while this country is celebrating 76th year of Independence as 'Azadi ka Amruthotsav', on the other hand, in the State of Karnataka which is known for all valid reasons as a progressive State and a pioneer state of initiation of social justice way back even when it was a Princely State of Mysore, faces this incident." -- PTI


15:56





Two persons jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour and released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by MPs.





Around the same time, two persons, including a woman, also sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting slogans 'tanashahi nahi chalegi' outside the Parliament premises.





In a post on X, party president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the security breach that took place in Parliament is a very serious matter.





"We demand that the Home Minister should come to both the Houses and give a statement on this. The question is, how did two people come inside such a big security department and release gas from a canister there," he said.





"Today, on Martyr's Day, we paid tribute to the brave security personnel who lost their lives in the attack on Parliament 22 years ago. We hope that the government will take this very seriously. We demand a thorough investigation into the entire incident. We always want unity and integrity of the country," he wrote.





AICC general secretary K C Venugopal also demanded a thorough review of the security arrangements in Parliament.





"The infiltration in the Lok Sabha is extremely troubling, especially on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attacks. I am glad there was no major injury or damage done to anyone.





"Parliament is among the most high-security buildings of our country. Such a major security lapse is unacceptable. We demand answers from the Home Ministry and there must be a thorough review of the security arrangements in the new Parliament building," he said in a post on X.





Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said this was a major security breach inside Parliament on the anniversary of the 2001 attack on Parliament. "While we agree this attack is not the same as that one, does this not prove that necessary precautions were not taken," he said. In a post on X, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, "Saw two young men unleash foul smelling yellow coloured gas from canisters inside Parliament gallery. MPs rushed to grab these men. One person was raising some slogans. This raises serious questions on another aspect of the new Parliament building- security."





Party MP Karti Chidambaram said the Zero Hour was going on in the House and he was awaiting his turn to speak. Suddenly, it appeared that one person had fallen down from the visitors gallery, he noted. "Then we realised that it was a deliberate act of him jumping into the well. There was another person, both of them pulled out canisters which were emitting yellow smoke," he said.





Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, "Two people entered the house and filled the house with 'smoke'. Today is the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attack on Parliament - and how is such a major lapse in Parliament security possible even today?"

The Congress on Wednesday demanded answers from the government on the "serious security breach" in Lok Sabha, saying does the incident "not prove that necessary precautions were not taken".
RAFAH, Gaza Strip  IIsraeli forces carried out strikes across Gaza on Tuesday, crushing Palestinians in homes, as the military pressed ahead with an offensive that officials say could go on for weeks or months, even while global calls for a cease-fire leave Israel and its main ally, the United States, increasingly isolated.

The war ignited by Hamas Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel has already brought unprecedented death and destruction to the impoverished coastal enclave, with much of northern Gaza obliterated, more than 18,000 Palestinians killed and over 80% of the population of 2.3 million pushed from their homes.

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The health care system and humanitarian aid operations have collapsed in large parts of Gaza, and aid workers have warned of starvation and the spread of disease among displaced people in overcrowded shelters and tent camps.

Strikes and raids across Gaza

Strikes overnight and into Tuesday in southern Gaza  in areas where civilians have been told to seek shelter  killed dozens, according to hospital records.

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Islam Harbs three children were among those killed when Israeli airstrikes flattened four residential buildings in the town of Rafah on the Egyptian border. The family was sharing their home with nine displaced people, he said.

At least 23 people were killed in the strikes, including seven children and six women, according to hospital records and an Associated Press reporter who saw the bodies arrive at a hospital.

My twin girls, Maria and Joud, were martyred, and my little son, Ammar, also martyred, Harb said.

In central Gaza, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah received the bodies of 33 people killed in strikes overnight, including 16 women and four children, according to hospital records. Many were killed in strikes that hit residential buildings in the built-up Maghazi refugee camp.

In northern Gaza, Israeli forces stormed the Kamal Adwan Hospital, ordering all men, including medics, into the courtyard, said Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

The U.N. humanitarian office said the hospital has 65 patients, including 12 children, in intensive care and six newborns in incubators. Some 3,000 displaced people are sheltering there, it said, all awaiting evacuation because of severe shortages of food, water and electricity.

The military says it is rounding up men in northern Gaza as it searches for Hamas fighters. Photos and videos circulating online show groups of detainees stripped to their underwear, bound and blindfolded, and some who have been released say they were beaten and denied food and water.

At another hospital in northern Gaza, the aid group Doctors Without Borders said a surgeon was wounded Monday by a shot fired from outside the facility, which it says has been under total siege by Israeli forces for a week.

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There was no immediate comment from the military on either incident in the north.

Calls for a cease-fire

Israel launched the campaign after Hamas and other militants streamed into the south on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 240 others hostage, of whom about half remain in captivity. At least 105 Israeli soldiers have died in the Gaza ground offensive, the army says.

Israels blockade of the territory  and intense airstrikes and ground fighting that have made aid nearly impossible to distribute  have led to severe shortages of food, water and other basic goods.

Palestinian health officials do not give a breakdown of civilian and combatant deaths but say roughly two-thirds of the dead are women and minors.

Israel blames civilian casualties on Hamas, saying it positions fighters, tunnels and rocket launchers in dense urban areas, using civilians as human shields.

The U.N. secretary-general and Arab states have rallied much of the international community behind calls for an immediate cease-fire. But the U.S. vetoed those efforts at the U.N. Security Council last week as it rushed tank munitions to Israel to allow it to maintain the offensive.

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A nonbinding vote on a similar resolution at the General Assembly scheduled for Tuesday would be largely symbolic.

Israel and the U.S. argue that any cease-fire that leaves Hamas in power, even over a small part of the devastated territory, would mean victory for the militant group, which has governed Gaza since 2007 and has pledged to destroy Israel.

Israel-US split over future

While the U.S. has given wholehearted diplomatic and military support to Israels campaign, the two allies are wider apart over the timetable of the war and what comes afterward in Gaza if Hamas is defeated. The U.S. has also urged Israel to do more to prevent civilian casualties, but the toll in Gaza has continued to mount at seemingly the same dizzying rate.

In a briefing with the AP on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signaled that the current phase of heavy ground fighting and airstrikes could stretch on for weeks and that further military activity could continue for months.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said he will speak with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about timetables for ending major combat in Gaza when he visits Israel later this week.

Speaking at a forum hosted by the Wall Street Journal, Sullivan said he would also speak to Netanyahu about his recent comments that the Israeli military would maintain an open-ended security control of Gaza after the war ends.

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The Biden administration says it does not want to see Israel reoccupy Gaza. It has also called for a return of the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority to Gaza and the resumption of peace talks aimed at establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Netanyahu on Tuesday acknowledged there is disagreement about the day after Hamas. He ruled out a return of Palestinian Authority rule, saying I will not allow Israel to repeat the mistake of Oslo, referring to the peace process in the 1990s that created the authority in the West Bank and Gaza and was intended to reach a two-state solution.

Many experts consider Israels aim to crush Hamas to be unrealistic, pointing to Hamas deep base of support among many Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, who see it as resisting Israels half-century of military rule.

Even just destroying Hamas military capability will be a tall order without decimating what remains of Gaza, said the International Crisis Group, a think tank, in a report over the weekend that also called for an immediate cease-fire.

Israeli officials have said some 7,000 Hamas militants  roughly one-quarter of the groups estimated fighting force  have been killed and that 500 militants have been detained in Gaza over the past month. Hamas says it still has thousands of reserve fighters. None of the claims could be verified.

Lebanons Hezbollah, meanwhile, has repeatedly traded fire with Israel, and other Iran-backed groups across the region have attacked U.S. targets, threatening to widen the conflict. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have targeted Israeli shipping, attacked a tanker in the Red Sea with no clear ties to the country overnight.
SIU prof named fellow of National Academy of Inventors

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill.  A longtime Southern Illinois University Carbondale faculty researcher has been named a fellow by the National Academy of Inventors for its 2023 class.

Ken Anderson, professor of geology and director of the Advanced Energy Institute at SIU, is just one of 162 academic inventors receiving the honor this year. He will receive his medal during the NAI 13th annual meeting on June 18 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The NAI recognizes and encourages inventors who have a patent issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and who enhance the visibility of university and nonprofit research institute technology and academic innovation. Election as an academy fellow is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors by the organization.

In 2010, Anderson founded Thermaquatica Inc., an energy company focused on his patented process that treats coal, wood or agricultural byproducts with oxygen in superheated water, breaking it down into useful products in an environmentally friendly way. In 2015, Anderson was among five faculty members to form the founding NAI chapter at SIU.

Rob Patino, director of the Office of Technology Transfer at SIU, said Anderson is extremely innovative and works tirelessly as an inventor.

He has the courage to do all of the difficult things required to be a successful entrepreneur, Patino said. Fostering an inventive spirit at SIU is a priority because those innovations help us build ties with industry partners and elevate the research prowess of the university to levels above the traditional academic sense.

Anderson said he is pleased the recognition reflects well on SIU's support for creativity, inventiveness and entrepreneurship.

This type of recognition is important because it helps build our credibility and our bona fides as we work to push our work out into the private sector, Anderson said. It opens doors for us, which helps us get the work out into the world, where it can make a difference.
The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the Lt Governor for his support and cooperation towards ongoing projects, including the Assam Complex in the national capital and sought his assistance for the materialisation of the projects, a press release from the Assam government read.

Taking to X, the Himanta wrote, "Conveyed my heartfelt thanks for his gracious support towards Government of Assam's ongoing projects in the National Capital and also sought his assistance to bring them into fruition."

Earlier last week, Delhi Lt Governor directed officials to submit pending files delayed by the AAP government within three days.

These files have been pending with Minister (Law), GNCTD, for up to six months and pertains to courts, judicial infrastructure, expeditious justice delivery and the justice administration system in the capital.

"Delhi LG, VK Saxena, upon being apprised of inexplicable delays caused by the AAP Government in clearing files and proposals pertaining to courts, judicial infrastructure, expeditious justice delivery and the justice administration system in the Capital, has invoked Rule 19(5) of ToBR of GNCTD, 1993, and directed that all such files be submitted to him for decision within 3 days," LG Office press note stated. (ANI)
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board issued certain directions to Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) to identify hotspots in Buckingham Canal, Ennore Creek and adjoining areas where the oil deposits or oil slicks are stagnated and take necessary remedial measures on war footing basis. It has also asked CPCL to ensure that all pipelines (raw materials and products) and tanks are intact with no leakage. If CPCL is found to discharge oil-containing water or polluted water against the norms set out for industries under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, their operations are liable to be suspended. It has been directed that CPCL shall also be liable to pay environmental compensation for any damages caused in contravention of the extant provisions under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. CPCL shall also be liable to pay compensation to the families adversely impacted due to the oil spillage, including the loss of livelihood, it said. Moreover, CPCL should carry out a Leak Detection and Repair Study (LDAR) with the help of a reputed technical institution and furnish the same to the board immediately. CPCL shall undertake a comprehensive mapping study with a reputed technical institution to identify oil-spread areas and furnish the report with an action plan to the board immediately. It should also undertake a comprehensive mapping study with a reputed technical institution to identify oil spread areas and furnish the report with an Action Plan to the Board immediately. These directions were issued on December 11 under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, constituted a technical team on December 10 to ascertain the cause of the recent oil spillage into the Ennore Creek area. The said team inspected the premises of CPCL and other related industries on December 11 and submitted its report, in which it was concluded that the oil spillage had happened from the premises of CPCL into the Buckingham Canal, reaching Ennore Creek, in the aftermath of floods due to Cyclone Michaung. The team has also noted inadequate stormwater management issues in the CPCL premises. Moreover, a review meeting on oil spill control was held at the Chennai Secretariat, headed by Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena, with the Oil Spill Disaster Management Committee on December 11. The meeting was attended by the secretaries of government departments, the director of fire and rescue operations, the police commissioner of Chennai Metropolitan Police and other senior officials of various departments, a press release from the Directorate of Information and Public Relations Secretariat read. The Chief Secretary reviewed the extent of oil spillage in the Ennore Creek Area, Buckingham Canal and surrounding villages. In this regard, the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests constituted a Technical Committee on December 10 headed by the Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board with expert members from Anna University, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Central Pollution Control Board and Coast Guard. The Expert Committee had made extensive field visits and concluded that oil spillage had happened on the premises of CPCL, entering Buckingham Canal from guard ponds and storm water drain ponds, finally reaching Ennore Creek, the release said. This adversely impacted people living in the nearby fishing villages. Field inspections carried out by the Chief Secretary and senior officers revealed significant oil deposits in the Ennore Creek area. The oil-mixed water that entered the houses of several coastal communities had spoiled their personal belongings and adversely impacted their livelihoods as the boats were found coated with oil, the release said. District Collector Chennai and Greater Chennai Corporation have been directed to enumerate the number of families affected by oil spillage. Taking note of the report of the Technical Committee, CPCL was directed to deploy mitigation efforts on a warfoot basis with the necessary men and machinery under expert guidance. CPCL was also asked to ramp up mitigation measures and complete the task at the earliest. The Department of Health has already deployed a team of doctors to provide treatment to the needy with specialised services from dermatologists. An estimation of impacted families belonging to fishing communities is underway by the Fisheries Department. The Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department is also assessing the biodiversity loss in the area due to the oil spillage. A special camp for the treatment of domestic and stray animals has been organised by the Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, the release said. The Coast Guard was requested to provide technical assistance to ground-level teams in carrying out mitigation measures as per the norms. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has also issued a notice to M/s. CPCL under Section 33(A) of the Water Act (Prevention and Control of Pollution) with directions to comply with the norms prescribed under the extant rules. The Government of Tamil Nadu has already mobilised a team of senior officials toundertake immediate mitigation measures and provide relief to affected familiesincluding fishermen. Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forest highlighted that agencies specialising in such oil spillage management were mobilised from Chennai and Ennore Ports. These agencies have planned to deploy oil barriers and specialised machinery like gully suckers, etc to absorb excess oil. Twenty boats with men and materials were pressed into service on December 11 onwards in the Ennore Creek area for mitigation works, the release said. A team of senior officers from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Forest and Revenue Departments were working in close coordination with District Collectors and monitoring officers to expedite the mitigation and the relief works. The Chief Secretary also directed District Collectors of Tiruvallur and Chennai to convene the meeting of the District Level Oil Spill Crisis Management Group. The State Oil Spill Crisis Management Group decided to monitor the matter on a daily basis till the completion of mitigation and relief works, the release said. (ANI)
Reacting to SFI's black flag protest against Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar slammed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the law and order situation in the state and said that the goal of a developed and prosperous Kerala is possible only without Congress and Left Parties. In a post on X, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said," This is not the NavaKeralam that we want NavaKerala according to Pinarayi Vijayan is welcoming Terrorist Hamas, intimidating the constitutional Governor, Rampant corruption, Destroying the Economy, chasing investors, destroying jobs, filing cases against media and political opponents, beating up those who question him." "That is not what the Kerala Malayali youth want - The future of Kerala is a Developed, Prosperous Kerala possible only without Left or its Corrupt INDI ally Congress," he added. Earlier, after the confrontation with SFI workers, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was conspiring and the government was sending people to hurt him physically. "Today the 'gundas' are trying to rule the roads of Thiruvananthapuram. When they came, I stopped my car and I got down (from my car). Why did they flee? Because I do not wish to be pressurised by their tactics, therefore they are trying to threaten me. They hit my car from both sides. Will they allow anyone to come near the car of the CM?" Kerala Governor said. Asserting that the collapse of the constitutional machinery cannot be allowed, the Kerala Governor said, "Police knew them but what can the police do when the CM is directing them? It is the CM, he is conspiring and he is sending these people to hurt me physically." The Kerala BJP president K Surendran also condemned the alleged attempt to manhandle Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan by the members of the student and youth organisations of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday. Surendran said that the alleged attempt to assault the governor was made with the tacit support of the Chief Minister. "The violent incident happened with the silent support of the police. The chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, is supporting the perpetrators and culprits in this issue. We strongly condemn the undemocratic acts of the SFI and DYFI" he added. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has been facing protests from these organisations of the ruling party over the university appointment issue. (ANI)
Delhi's Patiala House Court on August 30, 2016 dismissed his petition seeking divorce on the grounds of cruelty. He filed the plea in 2013.

They got married In September 1994 but have been living apart since 2009. The couple has two sons.

The division bench, comprising justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vikas Mahajan, upheld the family court order and dismissed the appeal challenging it.

While dismissing the appeal, the division bench said it found no infirmity in the family court order denying divorce to him.

The high court also said the allegations of cruelty by Omar Abdullah against Payal are vague.

The bench noted further that the appellant failed to prove any act of cruelty, whether physical or mental, by Payal Abdullah.

The high court dismissed the appeal, finding it without merit.

The family court had dismissed his petition, stating that he failed to prove the claims of cruelty or desertion. (ANI)
The opposition parties in Maharashtra, amid the ongoing state assembly winter session, protested against the state government and Health Minister Tanaji Sawant over the deaths that occurred in the state government hospitals. The leader of the opposition in Maharashtra Assembly, Ambadas Danve, held a board in his hands during the protests, which had the names of areas and the number of deaths in the government hospital of the areas written on the board. He also wore an oxygen mask as a part of the protest. Earlier on October, 24 people, including 12 infants, died at a government hospital in Maharashtra's Nanded, allegedly due to a shortage of medicines. The incident was reported at Shankarao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital here due to the alleged scarcity of medicines. Dr Shyamrao Wakode, in-charge Dean of the Medical College, said that the deceased were suffering from various ailments, including snake bites, arsenic and phosphorus poisoning, etc. "Around 12 children died in the last 24 hours...12 adults also died due to various ailments (snake bites, arsenic and phosphorus poisoning, etc.). Due to the transfers of various staff, there was some difficulty for us. We were supposed to buy medicines from the Haffkine Institute but that also didn't happen. Also, patients come from far off to this hospital and there were many patients whose sanctioned budget also got disturbed," he said. The deaths in government hospitals in Chandrapur, Nanded, Kalwa (Thane) and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar were also protested by the opposition parties, who held the state government and health minister responsible for the lack of facilities in the hospitals. Earlier, on Monday, the opposition leaders staged a protest on the third day of the assembly winter session against the centre's decision to ban onion exports. The opposition also demanded an increase in the MSP (minimum support price) of onions and financial aid to farmers affected by seasonal rain. Slogans were raised against the government during the protest. India has prohibited the export of onions till March 2024, as per an official notification issued last week. The DGFT notification said the export of onions will be, however, allowed on the basis of permission granted by the central government to other countries based on the requests made by the countries. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, speaking on the onion issues and opposition protests, said, "We have given Rs 10,000 crore-12,000 crore in the past 1.5 years to farmers for the losses that occurred due to unseasonal rainfall. We have also given relief beyond the NDRF norms. "Speaking on the centre's decision to ban onion exports, Shinde said, "The government is in talks with the centre, and all the possible help will be given to farmers and consumers' benefits will also be considered. We are also perusing the issue with the central government. The government is committed to providing relief to the farmers." (ANI)
Coming out in defence of Jawahar Lal Nehru after the BJP blamed the country's first prime minister for decades of violence and instability in Jammu and Kashmir and the special constitutional privileges for the erstwhile state under Article 370, NCP stalwart and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday claimed the former was in the US when the special provision was brought. Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, the former Jammu and Kashmir CM claimed then Union Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and saffron ideologue and Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mukherjee were involved in the process of according special constitutional privileges to the erstwhile state. "I don't know why they (BJP) have so much venom against (Pandit Jawaharlal) Nehru. Nehru is not the one responsible (for providing special status to J-K under Article 370). When this article (370) was brought, Sardar Patel was here (in Parliament) and Pandit Nehru was in America. When the cabinet meeting (on the imposition of the special constitutional provision) took place, Syama Prasad Mukherjee was also party to it. It was at this meeting that the decision was taken," the NCP stalwart said. Abdullah said he was hopeful that the Supreme Court would direct the Centre to conduct immediate elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The apex court, while upholding the revocation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir in a landmark ruling on Monday, set a deadline of September next year for the Centre to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and hold elections there. "We want immediate elections to take place in Kashmir but the Supreme Court gave them time till September. Where's the justice?" he said. On whether the Centre should initiate efforts to take back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) from Pakistan, the National Conference chief said," They should take it. Who is stopping them? The government has to make a decision. Who are we to decide?" In a landmark ruling on Monday, the Supreme Court upheld the Union government's decision to abrogate Article 370 of the constitution, which accorded certain special privileges to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, stating that every decision taken by the Centre on behalf of a state can't be subject to a legal challenge. A five-judge Constitution bench, comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, and Surya Kant, delivered the historic verdict. CJI Chandrachud, reading out from the judgement, said every decision taken by the Centre on behalf of a State under proclamation can't be subject to a legal challenge and it will lead to the administration of the state to a standstill. Hailing the landmark ruling, upholding the revocation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the verdict strengthened the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat', adding that the Articles 370 and 35A deprived people in the erstwhile state of rights enjoyed by fellow citizens across the country. "In very basic words- Articles 370 and 35 (A) were like major obstacles. It seemed like an unbreakable wall and the sufferers were the poor and downtrodden. Articles 370 and 35(A) ensured that the people of Jammu and Kashmir never got the rights and development that the rest of their fellow Indians got. Due to these Articles, a distance was created between people belonging to the same nation," PM Modi said. However, Congress on Monday said they disagreed with the Supreme Court judgement, upholding the Centre's abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. "We respectfully disagree with the judgment on the manner in which Article 370 was abrogated," P Chidambaram said. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah targeted former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and blamed him for Pakistan's illegal occupation of a portion of Kashmir, known as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Shah was speaking in the Rajya Sabha during a discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Also, in Lok Sabha last week, Shah said that Nehru made two big mistakes due to which Kashmir had to suffer for many years. "The Supreme Court has affirmed that Article 370 was a temporary provision in the Indian Constitution. I would like to pose a question to those who adhere to Nehru's philosophy: If Article 370 was extremely important, why did Nehru himself use the term 'Temporary' in relation to the article? Everyone who says that Article 370 is permanent is insulting the Constitution!" he said. (ANI)
The Home Minister withdrew the three bills which were passed by the Lok Sabha in the monsoon session of parliament.

He ntroduced three amended criminal law bills -The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, The Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023' and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023- in Lok Sabha.

Amit Shah said that the bills had been withdrawn and three new bills introduced as a few changes were to be made. he said the bills had been examined by the Standing Committee and instead of coming with official amendments, it was decided to bring the bills again.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suggested that the bills should be scrutinised further.

Amit Shah said the bills had been examined by the Standing Committee and members will have time to study them. He said the debate would be taken up on Thursday and he would reply to the bills on Friday.

The three bills will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) of 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872.

The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill 2023 aim to replace the IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act respectively.

The earlier bills were introduced in the lower House of Parliament on August 11 and were referred to the Standing Committee. (ANI)
Jawaharlal Nehru University has fined student body president Aishe Ghosh Rs 10,000 for "forcibly pushing open the locked door of the students' union office" on the campus in March. Ghosh, who is an MPhil/PhD student at the university and received the order issued by the administration on December 1, has denounced the order. Ghosh alleged that 'Fine Raj' has become a way for Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit-led JNU administration to fill their pockets out of the pain of the students. The order said, "This act of Ms Aishe Ghosh is serious in nature, unbecoming of a student of JNU and calls for strict disciplinary action against her. However, keeping her career prospects in mind, the competent authority has taken a somewhat lenient view in the matter". The fine has been levied as per the new Chief Proctor Office Manual listing the "rules of discipline and proper conduct of students of Jawaharlal Nehru University". Ghosh questioned the manual, saying that the document was passed in the executive committee meeting which does not have any student representatives and without even any discussion in the academic council. "Students are at the receiving end of pathetic and worsening infrastructure and academic qualities and the only way the students can express their dissent is to protest against the injustice happening. Finally, the fines are also levied in a way that the overall dissent can be curbed and a culture is being built where no protest happens even if grave injustice is happening", she said in a video message. ANI reported on Monday that the manual has been implemented following approval by the highest decision-making body of the university (Executive Council) on November 24. However, the incident took place on March 2 and a manual was approved in November. As per the manual, punishments have been listed for 28 "misconduct", including blockage, indulging in gambling, unauthorised occupation of hostel rooms, use of abusive and derogatory language and committing forgery. For hunger strikes, dharnas, group bargaining and any other form of protest by blocking the entrance or exit of any of the academic and/or administrative complexes or disrupting the movements of any member of the University community, a fine of up to Rs 20,000 will be levied. Students at Jawaharlal Nehru University can face a fine of Rs 20,000 for resorting to violence, holding dharnas, and hunger strikes on the campus. They can also be charged a fine of up to Rs 10,000 for raising anti-national slogans and for inciting intolerance towards religion, caste or community. For printing, circulating or pasting posters/pamphlets (text or picture) carrying derogatory religious, communal, casteist or anti-national remarks and any activity that incites intolerance towards religion, caste or community and/or anti-national in nature which disturbs the peaceful atmosphere on the campus, a student can be fined up to Rs 10,000. The JNU Students Union has condemned the new manual saying it is aimed at stifling the vibrant campus culture that has defined JNU for decades. "Such excessive regulations are intended to discourage open discussions, dissent, and intellectual exploration, which are fundamental to the spirit of our university. According to the new manual, protests before any academic building can lead to rustication, eviction from the hostel and a fine of Rs.20,000. Moreover, a student who commits any act that the JNU Admin considers to be of moral turpitude can be fined up to Rs.10,000," the statement read. (ANI)
The five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act inserted by way of an amendment in 1985 in furtherance of the Assam Accord. It deals with granting Indian citizenship to illegal immigrants in Assam. The petitions questioned the constitutional validity of Section 6A, which was inserted into the Citizenship Act as a special provision to deal with the citizenship of people covered under the Assam Accord. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Surya Kant, MM Sundresh, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra reserved the verdict after hearing arguments from all the parties in the case. The Centre, in an affidavit, told the Supreme Court that it would not be able to provide accurate data on the extent of illegal migration of foreigners into India as such migration happened in a secretive manner. On December 7, the apex court directed the Central government to furnish data on the number of immigrants who were conferred Indian citizenship through Section 6A(2) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and what steps have been taken so far to curb illegal migration into Indian territory. The affidavit stated that 14,346 foreign nationals were deported from the country between 2017 and 2022, and 17,861 migrants who had entered Assam between January 1966 and March 1971 were given Indian citizenship under the provision. 32,381 persons were declared foreigners by orders of Foreigners Tribunals between 1966 and 1971, it added. Earlier, the bench had said that Section 6A was enacted as a humanitarian measure in the wake of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and is deeply interwoven in our history. Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the petitioners, told the bench that Section 6A violates the basic fabric of the Constitution of India and the values of secularism, fraternity and brotherhood contained in the Preamble. Divan had requested the bench to direct the Centre to frame a court-monitored policy for all States and Union Territories for the settlement and rehabilitation of all the persons who came to Assam. On December 17, 2014, a matter relating to citizenship in Assam was referred to the five-judge Constitution bench. On April 19, 2017, the top court constituted the bench to hear the case. The National Register for Citizens (NRC), a list of Indian citizens containing all necessary information for their identification, was first formulated following the 1951 national census. The Assam NRC is meant to identify illegal immigrants in the State who migrated from Bangladesh after March 25, 1971. In 1985, the Indian government and the representatives of the Assam Movement negotiated and drafted the Assam Accord and created categories of immigrants. The NRC exercise in Assam was carried out under Section 6A of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the rules framed in the Assam Accord 1985. Section 6A of the Act was introduced to give effect to the Assam Accord. It provides the framework to recognise migrants in Assam as Indian citizens or to expel them based on the date of their migration. The provision provides that those who have come to Assam on or after January 1, 1966, but before March 25, 1971, from specified territories, including Bangladesh in 1985, and since then are residents of Assam, must register themselves under Section 18 for citizenship. Therefore, the provision fixes March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for granting citizenship to Bangladeshi migrants in Assam. In 2013, the apex court directed the State of Assam to update the NRC. On July 30, 2018, the final draft of the Assam NRC was released and 40.07 lakh applicants out of 3.29 crore were excluded from the NRC list, creating uncertainty about their citizenship status. Later, the apex court said that this was merely a draft NRC and no action could be taken based on it. On August 31, 2019, the final NRC list was published and 19 lakh persons were excluded. Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha, a Guwahati-based civil society organisation, along with others, challenged Section 6A way back in 2012 while arguing that Section 6A is discriminatory, arbitrary and illegal so far as it provides for different cut-off dates for regularising illegal migrants who entered Assam and the rest of India. The Bangladesh Liberation War, which led to the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan, witnessed a massive influx of migrants to India. Even prior to 1971, when Bangladesh gained independence from East Pakistan, migration had started to India. On March 19, 1972, Bangladesh and India entered into a treaty for friendship, cooperation and peace. The Assam Accord was a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed between representatives of the Government of India and the leaders of the Assam Movement. It was signed in New Delhi on August 15, 1985 in the presence of then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. (ANI)
An army soldier examines damages on the site of a bombing at a police station on the outskirts of Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (Uncredited/AP)

PESHAWAR, Pakistan  A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle at a police stations main gate in northwestern Pakistan early Tuesday, killing at least 23 troops, wounding 32 and causing a part of the building to collapse, authorities said.

The attack  one of the deadliest in recent months in Pakistan  also damaged businesses and shops nearby. A newly formed militant group  Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, believed to be an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban  claimed responsibility for the attack.

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The military and local police said six other attackers were also involved in the assault at the police station, triggering an hourslong shootout before all six were killed.

Some of the wounded officers were said to be in critical condition, and there were fears the death toll would rise. Mohammad Adnan, a senior police official, said the casualties were taken to a local hospital.

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Later, the army said in a statement that troops killed 27 insurgents in multiple operations in the same region Tuesday.

The attack targeted Daraban police station in the city of Dera Ismail Khan, according to local officer Kamal Khan. The city is located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan and which is a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban.

Khan said a large number of security forces from across Pakistan were recently deployed at the station for intelligence operations against militants in the area in coordination with the local police.

The militant offshoot said in its claim of responsibility that it targeted officers who were at the police station.

Mehrban Khan, who owns a hotel next to the police station, described the scene, saying he saw many army soldiers killed and wounded.

Pakistani President Arif Alvi denounced the attack and expressed his condolences to the families of those killed, saying their sacrifices would not go to waste and that such attacks would not weaken the resolve of security forces.

Pakistans caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti also denounced the attack as an act of terrorism.

In separate developments Tuesday, two soldiers and four insurgents were killed in a shootout in the northwestern town of Kulachi, the military said.

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The surge in militant attacks on Pakistani security forces  many by the Pakistani Taliban  have strained relations between Islamabad and Afghanistans Taliban rulers in Kabul. Islamabad says the Pakistani Taliban have become emboldened since their Afghan Taliban allies takeover of the neighboring country in 2021. Many Pakistani Taliban members are living openly in Afghanistan, and Pakistan wants their extradition.

Later Tuesday, Pakistans Foreign Ministry summoned a Taliban-appointed representative from Kabul to protest the latest attack in Dera Ismail Khan.

The ministry said it asked the Taliban envoy to convey to his superiors in Kabul that Islamabad demands they fully investigate and take stern action against perpetrators of the attack and also publicly condemn the terrorist incident at the highest level.

Islamabad also asked for the Afghan Talibans verifiable actions against terrorist groups and their sanctuaries.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has also seen a rise in violence with deadly incursions by militants this year. In January, at least 101 people were killed, mostly police officers, when a suicide bomber disguised as a policeman attacked a mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

Dera Ismail Khan is located near South Waziristan, a former militant sanctuary. Pakistans army carried out multiple operations there after a 2014 attack on an army-run school thet killed more than 150 people, mostly school children.
After the BJP named an OBC and tribal leader as the new Chief Minister's of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, respectively, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said on Tuesday that this was an effect of the demand for a caste census. Chowdhury said that the BJP has appointed the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh keeping in mind the caste equation after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi talked about the caste census. "After Rahul ji spoke about caste census, now CMs (in Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh) are appointed keeping in mind the caste equation. Modi ji is now walking on the path of Rahul ji. This is an effect of demand for a caste census," the Congress leader said. The BJP on Sunday picked Vishnu Deo Sai, a prominent tribal leader, as the next chief minister of Chhattisgarh. On the other hand, Mohan Yadav was announced as the next chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. "When Rahul ji went to Karnataka, he made five promises to the people. Modi Ji and the BJP have learned from him. Now they are also promising to people before the elections," he added. Vishnu Deo Sai was chosen after a key meeting of the BJP's newly-elected 54 MLAs in the state in Raipur. He won the Kunkuri Assembly seat with a total of 87,604 votes. He served as the state president of the party for Chhattisgarh from 2020 until 2022. He was the Union Minister of State for Mines and Steel in the first PM Modi cabinet. He is highly regarded among tribal voters. Meanwhile, Mohan Yadav became MLA for the first time in 2013 from Ujjain Dakshin's seat and also served as cabinet minister in the state government headed by Shivraj Singh Chouhan. In the 2018 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, he was once again elected and became MLA from the Ujjain Dakshin seat. Madhya Pradesh will have two deputy chief ministers, namely Jagdisgh Devda and Rajesh Shukla. Also today, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) picked Bhajanlal Sharma, a first-time MLA from the Sanganer assembly constituency, as the chief minister of Rajasthan. Rajnath Singh and other party observers Vinod Tawde and Saroj Pandey held a meeting in which Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Rajasthan BJP Election in-charge Pralhad Joshi was also present. The election results in four states, especially the losses in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, came as a huge blow to the Congress's hopes for 2024, as it is now out of power across a vast swathe of the Hindi heartland. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday deferred till January 17, 2024 hearing of a plea filed by former Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu seeking anticipatory bail in the FibreNet case. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi adjourned the matter for January 17 after a brief hearing on Telugu Desam Party's chief petition in the FibreNet case. During the brief hearing, senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Andhra Pradesh government, accused Naidu of continuing to make political statements about the cases against him and his incarceration, despite the apex court's order not to comment on the pending case. On Kumar's request, Justice Bose orally asked senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Naidu, to ensure his client doesn't make any statement in the public domain about the pendency of his plea in the FiberNet scam case as well. The bench has been adjourning the case as its judgement in Naidu's another plea seeking direction to quash FIR in the Skill Development scam case, where it had reserved judgement, has not been delivered. The Andhra Pradesh government had assured the bench that its earlier undertaking that Naidu wouldn't be arrested till the judgement in another comes will continue. Earlier, the apex court asked the Andhra Pradesh police not to arrest Naidu in the FibreNet case till it delivered judgement on the plea in the Skill Development scam case. Andhra Pradesh police had assured the bench that they would not take Naidu into custody in the FibreNet case. The top court was hearing Naidu's special leave petition against an order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court refusing to grant him anticipatory bail in the FiberNet case. The bench had reserved its verdict on a plea filed by Naidu seeking the quashing of the FIR registered against him rooted in the Skill Development scam case. He had challenged the High Court judgement rejecting his plea for the quashing of the FIR. The FiberNet case relates to alleged tender manipulation in allotting a work order under Phase 1 of the Andhra Pradesh FiberNet Project involving Rs 330 crore to a preferred company. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Andhra Pradesh police has alleged irregularities in the project, right from awarding the tender to completion of the work, causing a huge loss to the state exchequer. (ANI)
Prem Chand Bairwa, who has been named as Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister, on Tuesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he will work for the upliftment of Dalits and all other sections of the society. Rajasthan Dy CM Dr Prem Chand Bairwa in Jaipur said, "It can happen only in BJP where an ordinary party worker is given such a responsibility. I will work for the upliftment of Dalits and all other sections of society." Rajasthan BJP chief CP Joshi said, "Today, an ordinary party worker has been given an opportunity to lead the state...It is a matter of happiness for us that two people from our team - Bhajanlal ji and Diya Kumari ji have been given important responsibilities. The oath-ceremony will take place before 'Malmaas'." Prem Chand Bairwa is the sitting BJP MLA from the Dudu constituency in Rajasthan. The 54-year-old MLA from the Dudu Vidhan Sabha constituency Birwa defeated Congress candidate Babulal Nagar with a substantial margin of 35,743 votes in the 2023 assembly polls. Earlier in the 2018 elections, Bairwa faced defeat and he lost the seat to Babu Lala Nagar by a margin of 14,779 votes. Bhajan Lal Sharma's name as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan was announced by BJP's Vasundhara Raje, whose name was also among the contenders for the top post. Rajasthan CM-designate Bhajanlal Sharma visited Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Bharti Bhawan in Jaipur and said, "I thank BJP party workers who worked hard for this. I thank the public for taking a decision due to which Rajasthan will get double-engine government." Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, "I wish all the best to those who have been selected for Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and other responsibilities in the three states. They will help their state in taking Prime Minister Modi's Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat vision forward." In Rajasthan, the vote count painted a starkly different picture from what some of the pollsters had predicted, with the BJP poised to form the government, winning 115 seats, and the Congress trailing at 69 seats. Rajasthan went to the polls for 199 of the 200 assembly seats on November 25. The majority mark in the state is 100.(ANI)
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has said that the war against Hamas in Gaza will end after Israel achieves its goals, The Times of Israel reported. He said that the Hamas' Jabaliya and Shejaiya battalions in the northern Gaza Strip are on the "verge of being dismantled." While addressing a press conference, Gallant said, "The war will end when its goals are achieved. I take into consideration everything the US asks and says, and take seriously, along with all the members of the cabinet, what America is doing." He further said, "We will find a way to help the Americans help us." Asked about potential new hostage deal with Hamas, Gallant stated that he believes that there will be more offers for hostage deals if Israel increases military pressure, The Times of Israel reported. He said, "I believe that if we increase the military pressure, there will be offers for more hostage deals, and if there are offers, we will consider them." Gallant said that Israel forces have encircled the last strongholds of Hamas in Jabaliya and Shejaiya. He stated that hundreds of Hamas operatives have surrendered to Israeli troops in recent days, which he stresses "shows what is happening" to the terror group. He said, "We have encircled the last strongholds of Hamas in Jabaliya and Shejaiya, the battalions that were considered invincible, that prepared for years to fight us, are on the verge of being dismantled." Gallant said, "Whoever surrenders -- his life is spared," adding that among those who have been arrested by the IDF are terrorists who participated in the October 7 terror attack on Israeli communities. He added, "They are telling us very interesting things." He even warned Hamas head Yahya Sinwar, saying that his fate and that of "any other senior commander in Hamas, and the fate of the [low-ranking] terrorist is the same: surrender or die. There is no third option," according to The Times of Israel report. Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces and Shin Bet have announced that they have arrested more than 500 terror operatives in the Gaza Strip in the last month. The IDF's Military Intelligence Directorate's Unit 504 and the security agency have taken these terror operatives for questioning. According to the joint statement, more than 140 of the operatives have been arrested since the ceasefire ended on December 1. The IDF said, "The operatives were detained during battles in recent days by IDF troops. Some of them voluntarily surrendered and were taken by the field interrogators... for further investigation." The IDF said that some of the operatives were arrested while they were hiding in civilian buildings, including schools and shelters for civilians, The Times of Israel reported. Earlier on Monday, the IDF announced the deaths of seven more soldiers, taking the death toll of slain troops in Israel's ground offensive against Hamas to 104. Six of these deceased soldiers were killed while fighting in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday. (ANI)
The Election Commission in Bangladesh will deploy armed forces across the country ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections set to be held on January 7, Bangladesh-based Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reported. Bangladesh armed forces division's principal staff officer, Lieutenant General Wakar-uz-Zaman, has said that the army will be deployed across the country for 13 days starting December 29. Speaking at a media briefing, Zaman said, "The election commission (EC) wants us (armed forces) to be deployed to stage a free and fair election in a healthy atmosphere. We ensured them of all-out support," according to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha report. His announcement came after Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal and other commissioners held a meeting with concerned civil and military officials at the commission office. Wakar-uz-Zaman said the army will be deployed across the country "in aid of civil power" for 13 days starting December 29. He further said, "we will extend our support to the commission the way it wants." He noted that armed forces deployment was "not a new phenomenon" as they were deployed during the general elections that were held in the past as well. He called the "today's discussion" an initial meeting with the commission, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reported. Speaking at the briefing, Election Commission secretary Jahangir Alam said that the EC sought the armed forces assistance in line with the ministry's suggestions. He said that no detailed work plan has been made for the military engagement yet. He said the Election Commission will seek Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin's approval for armed forces deployment as he is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reported. Asked about the number of armed forces personnel to be deployed on poll duty, Zaman said more than 35,000 army personnel were deployed during the 11th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) polls (parliamentary elections) and added that if more is needed, the number of troops will be deployed accordingly. Bangladesh Election Commission announced the election schedule on November 15. Earlier in November, Bangladesh Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal announced that the 12th national parliamentary election will be held on January 7, 2024, Bangladesh-based Dhaka Tribune reported. Awal made the announcement while addressing the nation. The CEC had stated that the candidates could file nomination papers until November 30, the Dhaka Tribune reported. Furthermore, the last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 17 and the Election Commission will allot election symbols to candidates on December 18. In the history of Bangladesh, the CEC announced the election schedule in a televised speech for the first time. (ANI)
The Baloch National Movement held a seminar in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day to highlight the ongoing crisis in Balochistan and reiterated the call for freedom from illegal occupation. The seminar was attended by members of the Baloch National Movement and the Baloch community along with other human rights activists. A video documentary was played at the beginning of the seminar about the ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan by the Pakistani forces. Chairman of the Baloch National Movement Naseem Baloch has said that the Baloch people are struggling for their freedom and sovereignty. The Balochs have been subject to inhuman treatment for many decades. He said that the current Baloch struggle and continued protests by families of Baloch abducted people are a sign of bravery and resistance against systematic oppression and violence. Applauding the struggle of Baloch women, Naseem mentioned that today we see many young Baloch female activists and leaders who are leading the Baloch nation on the ground and bravely continuing the political resistance of Balochistan. Naseem urged the Baloch nation to stand up against the illegal occupation of Balochistan and resist for their freedom. Without freedom, it will not be possible to achieve peace or to secure the human rights of the Baloch people. Naseem Baloch said we are a generation living in a time when the Baloch nation is facing an inhumane enemy who does not respect any international law. An enemy who hates the Baloch nation so much that they even destroy the bodies of previously abducted persons in bomb attacks. Naseem said that it is the responsibility of the Baloch diaspora to sense the miseries of our people even more and focus on the consistent struggle and not just be participants or spectators, but someone who should be remembered in the books of history as an individual and collectively who stood up against injustice, suppression and slavery and continued to struggle for the freedom of Balochistan. Speaking at the seminar, Italian journalist and author Francisco Marino said that there is a genocide going on in Balochistan. She said: "You name a violation of human rights and you will find that violation happening in Balochistan by the Pakistani forces." Pakistani political scientist and author Ayesha Siddique said: "The Pakistani forces have been continuously violating the human rights of Baloch people. And now it has reached other parts of Pakistan as well. She also asserted that: "The awareness needs to be raised globally about the Balochistan conflict and the Baloch must target a broader audience so more people will understand and stand together with Balochistan." Speaking at the conference in Pakistan, advocate and senior politician Afrasyab Khattak said that the issue of Baloch missing persons is concerning. The secret services and military establishment have adopted a policy of targeting Baloch youth by abducting them from university campuses, torturing them and then executing them in fake encounters. And if one missing person is produced before the court or has been released, then four other people are abducted at the same time. Vice president of the BNM Germany chapter Samul Baloch has said that every human being deserves to have human rights irrespective of their identity, religion, beliefs and political views. Baloch nation has been denied their basic human rights; they have been facing the worst violence at the hands of the Pakistani forces. (ANI)
US Under Secretary of Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson will travel to New Delhi and Mumbai from December 11-15 to continue working with important partners and allies on combating illicit finance, anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) issues, as per a release issued by the US Department of Treasury. In Delhi, the Under Secretary will meet government officials to discuss the Treasury's commitment to working with India to further secure the international financial system from abuse by illicit actors. He will discuss opportunities to work together to cut off sanctions evasion and address terrorist financing, including disrupting the ability of terrorist groups to leverage the international financial system to raise and move funds. The Under Secretary will also chair a meeting of the re-established US-India AML/CFT Working Group, where participants will discuss virtual assets, sanctions implementation, financial inclusion, and beneficial ownership implementation, as per the release. Ahead of the launch of the US beneficial ownership registry on January 1, Under Secretary Nelson will seek insights from Indian counterparts on their experiences over the past six years launching and operating their domestic registry. In Mumbai, Under Secretary Nelson will meet with the private sector to discuss the Treasury's continued work to enforce sanctions on Russia for its brutal war against Ukraine as well as the price cap on Russian oil. He will also solicit their perspectives on managing illicit finance risks and their experience in implementing India's beneficial ownership laws, the release said. Recently, amid the growing challenges in the field of cybersecurity, a joint workshop was convened under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF), said the US embassy in India in an official press statement. During the workshop, representatives from the United States, India, and Taiwan met on December 11-12 to deepen operational expertise and share best practises on cybersecurity issues. The event has been co-hosted by the US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, Taiwan's Representative to India Baushuan Ger, former National Cyber Security Coordinator of India Lt. Gen Rajesh Pant, and the United Service Institution of India, which represented the first in-person GCTF programme held in India under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF). Ambassador Eric Garcetti said, "The United States is committed to working closely with partners like India and Taiwan to enhance cybersecurity and protect our shared interests in the digital space. When we connect, protect, and detect with technology, instead of fearing what it can do to divide or oppress us, we can take full advantage of the nearly limitless potential that these advances will bring." (ANI)
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is organising the 15th edition of Capacity Building Senior Officers' Meeting (CBSOM-2023) with the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from December 11 to 15, 2023, informed the Ministry of Defence. The objective of the meeting is to understand the updated situation of maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia, exchange each other's experiences and evolve best practices to tackle such incidents with a collaborative approach from all the contracting parties. Being the designated Indian Governor to ReCAAP, Director General Rakesh Pal inaugurated the four-day meeting, which is being attended by international and national subject matter experts and speakers. A total of 19 international delegates from 15 countries are participating in the meeting. In addition, senior officials from national stakeholders such as the Indian Navy, major ports, state maritime boards, the Directorate General of Shipping, and other maritime organisations are participating in this meeting, the press release said. The ReCAAP is the first and only regional government-to-government agreement to enhance cooperation to suppress piracy. India became the 10th country to ratify the ReCAAP agreement, enabling it to enter into force on September 4, 2006. Now, there are 21 countries contracting parties to the ReCAAP agreement. The Government of India has assigned responsibility to the ICG for sharing information on piracy with member countries and the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre, Singapore. The ICG had successfully co-hosted capacity-building workshops in India with ReCAAP ISC in 2011, 2017 and 2019, it also added. (ANI)
According to the United Nations World Food Programme, it has assisted 285,000 people, providing 1,560 metric tonnes of food and USD 3.5 million in cash.

"We are providing organic biscuits and cash for the returnees so that their needs are provided. We are currently funding this assistance through our programmes," he said, TOLOnews reported.

Meanwhile, those who have been deported have expressed concern about their situation, claiming that the current level of assistance is insufficient. They appeal to aid organisations to provide them with additional assistance.

"We call on the Islamic Emirate to provide us with shelter and land. We are happy that we are receiving assistance at Torkham but this assistance is not sufficient," said Mohammad Wali, a returnee, TOLOnews reported.

Mohammad Hossein, who has lived in Pakistan for the past 20 years, was recently deported.

"Pakistan has made life for the refugees difficult. They even didn't allow us to carry our money," he lamented.

Earlier, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warned that Afghans crossing the border from Pakistan could perish in harsh winter conditions if they do not receive adequate shelter.

Pakistan's recent move to tighten border controls and repatriate Afghan migrants coincides with the United Nations Human Rights Office's earlier call on Pakistan to cease the expulsion process, citing the potential for a "human rights catastrophe."

The expulsion of Afghan migrants is unfolding amid a harsh winter, exacerbating the already critical humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Forced to leave, Afghan migrants are grappling with challenging conditions, especially considering the severe winter weather, which further compounds the dire humanitarian situation in the country. (ANI)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, is escorted by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., left, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and as he comes to the Capitol in Washington to issue a plea for Congress to break its deadlock and approve continued wartime funding for Ukraine, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

WASHINGTON  His countrys future at stake, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used inspirational words, optimistic resolve and a nod to Christmas in appealing Tuesday to leaders in Congress for U.S. aid for his fighters in the war with Russia.

But after hours of talks on Capitol Hill, additional American support appeared in grave doubt as Zelenskyy arrived at the White House to huddle with President Joe Biden. The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his grinding invasion more than 21 months ago, but Republicans are insisting on linking any more money to strict U.S.-Mexico border security changes that Democrats decry.

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The White House is warning that if new money isnt provided by years end it will have swift consequences for Ukraines capacity to hold its territory, let alone take back land captured by Russia.

Meeting with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, Biden said, Mr. President, I call on Congress to do the right thing, to stand with Ukraine, and to stand up for freedom. He added, Congress needs to pass the supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for the holiday recess. before they give Putin the greatest Christmas gift they could possibly give him.

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Zelenskyy made his own case during his brief White House appearance with Biden and his private meetings with congressional leaders  that Ukrainian forces have fought fiercely to push back the Russian invasion with the help of American and other Western allies and its no time for Ukraines friends to step back.

The fight were in is a fight for freedom, Zelenskyy repeatedly said in the meetings on Capitol Hill, according to lawmakers.

Flanked by Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Zelenskyy entered a private meeting with senators with a public bipartisan show of support and to some applause. But more than an hour later few senators minds appeared changed.

Zelenskyy also visited the House leaders, including privately with new Speaker Mike Johnson, whose hard-right Republicans have been the most resistance to any deal. Johnson insisted afterward: We do want to do the right thing here.

Zelenskyy sought to impress on the senators that Ukraine could win the war against Russia, telling them he was drafting men in their 30s and 40s in a show of strength for the battle. In his trademark olive drab, he stood before a portrait of George Washington, history hanging behind him.

To the House Democrats, he showcased his countrys embrace of the West by pointing to the Christmas season, telling them it was the first year Ukraine would celebrate on Dec. 25 rather than the day Russians mark the holiday.

McConnell said Zelenskyy was inspirational and determined in the Senate meeting.

But Republican senators exited the meeting unmoved from their position. Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said the emergency funding wouldnt gain GOP support unless it includes real, meaningful border reform.

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Biden has been calling for a $110 billion U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs.

He has expressed a willingness to engage with the Republicans as migrant crossings have hit record highs along the U.S.-Mexico border, but Democrats in his own party oppose proposals for expedited deportations and strict asylum standards as a return to Trump-era hostility towards migrants. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas headed to Capitol Hill to meet with negotiators as they try to reach a border deal,

One chief Republican negotiator, Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, said there was nothing Zelenskyy could say during his visit with the senators to sway the outcome.

Hey, pay attention to us, but not your own country? No, Lankford told reporters.

Ahead of Zelenskyys high-stakes meetings, the White House late Monday pointed to newly declassified intelligence that shows Ukraine has inflicted heavy losses on Russia in recent fighting along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis  including 13,000 casualties and over 220 combat vehicle losses. The Ukrainian holdout in the countrys partly-occupied east has been the center of some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks.

U.S. intelligence officials have determined that the Russians think if they can achieve a military deadlock through the winter it will drain Western support for Ukraine and ultimately give Russia the advantage, despite the fact that Russians have sustained heavy losses and have been slowed by persistent shortages of trained personnel, munitions and equipment.

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Russia has lost 87% of the military personnel it had before the Ukraine war, including contracted and other ground forces, naval infantry and airborne troops, according to a person familiar with a recently declassified intelligence analysis and granted anonymity to discuss it.

Additionally, of the 3,500 Russian tanks before the invasion, some 2,200 have been lost on the battlefield, the person said.

The result is forcing Russia to rely on Soviet-era weaponry and has set back efforts to modernize its ground forces, the person said the analysis shows.

Its Zelenskyys third visit to Washington since the war broke out in February 2022, including a quick trip just a few months ago as aid was being considered. But his surprise arrival days before Christmas last December drew thunderous applause in Congress, his daring first wartime trip out of Ukraine.

At the time, lawmakers sported the blue-and-yellow colors of Ukraine, and Zelenskyy delivered a speech that drew on the parallels to World War II as he thanked Americans for their support.

But 2023 brought a new power center of hard-right Republicans, many aligned with Donald Trump, the former president who is now the GOP front-runner in the 2024 race for the White House.

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Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Zelenskyy might be able to take on the stalemate by showing the stakes of potential Russian expansion toward NATO, and making his case on moral clarity and why is Ukraine important.

Zelenskyy kicked off the quick visit to Washington on Monday, warning in a speech at a defense university that Russia may be fighting in Ukraine but its real target is freedom in America and around the world.

Of the new $110 billion national security package, $61.4 billion would go toward Ukraine  with about half to the U.S. Defense Department to replenish weaponry it is supplying, and the other half for humanitarian assistance and to help the Ukrainian government function with emergency responders, public works and other operations.

The package includes another nearly $14 billion for Israel as it fights Hamas and $14 billion for U.S. border security. Additional funds would go for national security needs in the Asia-Pacific region.

As Biden and Zelenskyy met, the U.S. was preparing to announce another, relatively modest, million-dollar military aid package, according to U.S. officials.

The roughly $200 million in weapons and equipment will be taken from Pentagon stocks and include additional ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), high-speed anti-radiation missiles, anti-armor systems, artillery rounds, missiles, demolition munitions, 4 million rounds of small arms ammunition, generators and other equipment and spare parts, one official said.

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Including that latest package, the U.S. now has about $4.4 billion remaining in weapons it can provide from department stockpiles.

Border security talks have focused on making it more difficult for migrants to claim asylum and releasing fewer of them temporarily into the U.S. while they await proceedings to determine if they can remain permanently.

As border talks drag, Bidens budget director said last week that the U.S. will run out of funding to send weapons and assistance to Ukraine by the end of the year.
Sandy Springs police say they have arrested two people in connection to a deadly shooting over the weekend.

The shooting happened off Roberts Drive around 3:17 p.m. on Saturday. Police said a group came to the home to meet up with someone when a struggle happened.

During the fight, police said a person was shot. The victim died from his or her injuries at the home.

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Police said they had officers heading to the scene when they received a radio call about a white Chevy Equinox leaving the area.

An officer spotted the Equinox on Georgia 400 southbound entrance ramp at Northridge Road. The officer pulled over the SUV and detained three people inside.

One of the three was released while the other two were arrested. Police did not identify the suspects but said they will be charged with felony murder.

The victims name has not been released.

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IN OTHER NEWS
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Two people and a dog were displaced after a fire in Norfolk.

Crews responded to a home at 8164 Walters Drive to extinguish a second-floor bedroom fire. The fire was called under control in about 20 minutes.

Officials say the fire was caused by a space heater.

No one was hurt and Red Cross assistance was not needed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
The administration U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday unleashed a slew of anti-corruption means, including sanctions against two former Afghan politicians. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI

Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The United States has blacklisted two former Afghan politicians and 44 associated companies on accusations of perpetrating a corruption scheme that stole millions of dollars from U.S. government-funded contracts.

The sanctions were announced Monday, International Anti-Corruption Day, as the Biden administration unleashed a slew of measures to combat what it describes as "an existential threat to prosperity, security and democracy" not only for Americans but for people around the world.

Rahman Rahmani, a former Afghan speaker of parliament, and his son, former Afghan parliament member Ajmal Rahami, are accused of using their Afghan companies to perpetrate what the Treasury described as a "complex procurement corruption scheme" that netted them millions.

"In nearly every step of their corruption scheme, the Rahmanis created opportunities to enrich themselves at the expense of others," the federal department said in a statement.

According to U.S. officials, the Rahmanis artificially inflated the price of fuel contracts they won to deliver fuel to Afghan security forces, fraudulently imported and sold tax-free fuel and under delivered fuel owed by their contracts as well as used their positions in the Afghan parliament to perpetuate their corruption.

The Treasury also accuses the pair of having bribed their way into parliament.

Of the 41 companies hit with punitive measures for being owned or having acted on behalf of the Rahmanis, 21 were German, eight were Cypriot, six were Emirati, two were Afghan and Austrian and one was dutch and another was Bulgarian.

Another two German companies and a Dutch company were sanctioned for their involvement in the scheme.

"Today's designations underscore Treasury's commitment to holding accountable those who seek to exploit their privileged positions for personal benefit," Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said.

The sanctions by the Treasury also coincide with the State Department designating more than 30 people -- including the Rahmanis as well as other current and former foreign officials and their immediate family members -- for entry bans "due to their involvement in significant corruption," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

"Today's actions target corrupt actors around the world who have misused their public office for personal gain," he added.

Fighting corruption has been a core national security priority of President Joe Biden's administration, and he has taken several actions during his time in the White House to curb this existential threat.

On Monday, Biden signed a presidential proclamation to suspend entry to immigrants and nonimmigrants who have enabled corruption, making the United States the first country to create a visa restriction authority for those who participate in this type of crime.

"Through a variety of tools to promote accountability, the United States has designated more than 200 individuals and entities for acts related to corruption in 2023," Blinken said.

"The United States will continue to coordinate with allies and partners and use all available tools to address corruption in all its forms and promote accountability for malign actors."
Two people were killed and another was injured in a fiery crash in northwest Georgia early Monday morning.

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The Georgia Department of Public Safety said that on Dec. 11 at around 1:49 a.m., troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash in Dade County on Brow Road.

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Troopers said a vehicle was traveling south on Brow Road before leaving the road, then slamming into an embankment and vaulting into a tree.

The vehicle then turned over and caught fire.

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The two people in the drivers and passengers seats were pronounced dead at the scene. The rear-seat passenger was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Next of kin has not been notified and the vehicle has not been identified due to the severity of the fire damage.
The United States Department of Justice has denied a public records request filed by 25 Investigates for a letter Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey sent to the DOJs Office of Professional Responsibility pushing back on the federal probe of the Karen Read murder case in Canton, Massachusetts.

25 Investigates first reported the existence of the letter last week. According to two sources, D.A. Morrissey asked that a federal probe of the arrest and prosecution of Read be transferred out of Massachusetts, citing potential conflicts with the U.S. Attorneys Office in Boston.

25 Investigates requested the letter under the Freedom of Information Act. In an emailed response, Kevin Krebs, Assistant Director of the DOJs FOIA/Privacy Unit, wrote To the extent that non-public responsive records exist, without consent, proof of death, or an overriding public interest, disclosure of law enforcement records concerning an individual could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. Krebs added, any non-public records responsive to your request would be categorically exempt from disclosure.

Sources who spoke with 25 Investigates on the condition of anonymity said Morrisseys letter referenced a potential conflict of interest with Rachael Rollins, who was U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts when the federal probe was launched, sometime before April 2023.

Rollins had been critical of Morrissey in her previous role as Suffolk County District Attorney. In a 2020 news release, Rollins referred to Morrissey and 3 other Massachusetts D.A.s as misogynistic for attempting to intervene in an evidentiary hearing about life sentences for defendants between the ages of 18 and 22 years old.

In a July 2020 interview on WGBH News Greater Boston, Rollins said she felt disrespected by the 4 D.A.s because she said they didnt reach out to her directly. What I dont appreciate is them not paying me the courtesy that I pay them all the time, Rollins told WGBH host Jim Braude.

Rollins abruptly resigned as the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts in May 2023, after two government watchdog groups including the DOJs Inspector Generals Office accused her of widespread misconduct, including lying under oath and leaking sensitive DOJ information to benefit a political ally.

According to 2 sources, Morrisseys letter also referenced a potential conflict with a high-level federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorneys public corruption unit in Boston who is married to a former assistant district attorney from his office.

25 Investigates initially tried to obtain a copy of Morrisseys letter directly from his office. Investigative reporter Ted Daniel filed a public records request on October 31st. The Norfolk DAs office denied the request claiming the document is exempt from disclosure because it contains confidential personnel information and discusses an ongoing investigation. The MA Secretary of States Office has ordered Morrisseys team to provide a new response by this week.

Morrissey told the Boston Globe he sent a copy of the letter to Karen Reads legal team. Defense Attorney David Yannetti said Morrisseys office has requested the document be subject to a protective order, and that prevents him from releasing it.

Morrissey has called the federal probe extraordinary  but said hes unconcerned. In a statement released last week, he said his requests to meet with federal authorities about the probe have gone unanswered.

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HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD)  The Michigan Strategic Fund on Tuesday approved a $2 million grant to a company looking to expand in Holland.

The Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant was awarded to ATC Drivetrain, Inc. The company, which remanufactures automotive drivetrain technology including electric vehicle components, is working to consolidate by combining operations into one facility.

It is looking either to expand its EV Center of Excellence in Holland, located at 1285 Waverly Rd. near Lincoln Road, by 170,000 square feet or move its electric vehicle operations to its facility in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Expanding in Holland would create 163 new jobs and would bring a capital investment of up to $7.9 million, according to a memo from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Competition with Tennessee is strong, the MEDC said. The $2 million grant, along with real property tax abatement offered by the city of Holland, could keep the project in Michigan.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Officers work the scene where four people, including three children, were shot on the 9300 block of South Racine Avenue on Dec. 11, 2023. According to police, two 15-year-old boys, a 16-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man were wounded in the shooting. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Four people were shot, including two 15-year-old boys, during an argument in a home in the Washington Heights neighborhood, according to Chicago police. One of the boys and a 21-year-old man were in critical condition.

Police said a 16-year-old boy began shooting around 7 p.m. inside the home on the 9300 block of South Racine Avenue on the South Side.

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Chicago firefighters took the two 15-year-olds to Comer Childrens Hospital. One was shot in the shoulder and in fair condition; the other was shot in the abdomen and left arm and was in critical condition, according to police.

The 16-year old was taken to the same hospital in fair condition with gunshot wounds in the right hand and abdomen.

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The 21-year-old is in critical condition at Christ Hospital with gunshot wounds in the shoulder, buttocks and a graze wound to the forehead, police said.

Shortly before 9 p.m., a red car was parked at an angle in front of the house with a pool of blood visible by the drivers side door. One abandoned croc sat on the walkway outside the home as Chicago police investigated the scene.

A group of children and adults sat on a CTA bus parked just south of the home.

Police said area detectives were investigating the shooting.
A 3-year-old Indiana boy is fighting for his life after he was severely beaten, news outlets and family reported.

Noah Brown was happy and full of life, his grandmother, Candy King, told McClatchy News.

On the go, he loves everyone. He will brighten up your day, thats for sure, she said.

But things changed Nov. 29.

Noah was left with a 12-year-old boy, who severely assaulted him, King said.

(The 12-year-old) has anger issues and Noah started to cry, she said. (He) couldnt handle it so he beat him with a belt and threw him towards the bed and his head hit the bed frame of the bunk bed.

The boy then took Noah and rammed his head into a wall, King said. Noah got up to get away and went under the bed and collapsed.

The boy has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault, personal weapons, and four counts of battery, WXIN reported.

Noah is being treated at a hospital, according to family members.

He has had to be placed in life support and has had a part of his skull removed due to the intensity of his injuries, Noahs mom, Michelle Lane, said in an online petition.

The doctors are removing the breathing tube and neck brace to see if he can breathe on his own all the way and they stopped the sedation medicine (cause) they want him to wake up fully, King told McClatchy News.

A three-year-old Indiana boy is fighting for his life after he was severely beaten, news outlets and family reported.

King said she wants to share Noahs story to try and prevent this from happening to others.

Noahs mother created the online petition to try and get a law put in place that would require the age of babysitting in Indiana to be 16 years old.

McClatchy News reached out to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Dec. 11 for further information but has not heard back.

Ex-boyfriend kidnaps womans 10-year-old son to force a meet-up in Illinois, feds say

Adoptive parents abused 8 kids while collecting $1 million from state, MI officials say

Mom strangles 4-month-old, suffocates 2-year-old to death, Pennsylvania cops say
Its easy to fall back into a life surrounded by gangs, drugs and violence in the streets of Chicago after being released from prison, Juan Romero wrote in an essay from the four walls of his cell as he tried to understand how he landed there and how he could find his way out.

Its the only way of life we know, said Romero, 36, now a free man.

He was in his early teens when first arrested. It was also then when he held a gun. At 19, he pulled the trigger and at 21, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison for attempted murder.

For a long time, Romero didnt think there was a way out, especially after being convicted. Growing up in Pilsen in the 90s meant that most of his friends, even his family, were intertwined in it. His older brother had been killed on 18th Street.

Solace and clarity came through prayer, he said.

Last week, a little over four years after serving his sentence, he adorned the hood of the semi-truck he drives for work with an image of La Guadalupana  the Virgin Mary  to partake in the annual procession of truckers from Chicagos South Side to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines.

The convoy celebrates their faith and gratitude for answered prayers throughout the year.

Since he was released from prison in October 2019, Romero commemorates the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe every December with hundreds of other truckers in a pilgrimage the weekend preceding the holiday, on Dec 12. They join thousands of devotees who visit the shrine walking, running, biking and horse riding, making the Midwest celebration the second largest one after Mexico City and the Des Plaines shrine the most visited monument of its kind in the U.S.

This year, the Archdiocese of Chicago expects 400,000 people to visit the shrine, which houses the first replica of the sacred tilma  cloak  with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Before it was brought to the Chicago area, the Des Plaines icon was touched to the original image and blessed at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

Though Romero detached from religion at a very early age, he said it was thanks to prayers that he found a second chance at life.

Sometimes he still finds his new life difficult to believe, but when he feels the breeze of the open road as he drives through different states, it settles in him. Its beautiful, Romero said. Im grateful that people look at a different side of me now and not my background.

When released from prison, he said he couldnt find a job even after getting a commercial drivers licence. He lost all faith. But then he met Jose Ramirez and Maria Vargas, the couple who hired him as a truck driver at Mainland Corp., their family-owned flatbed transportation company.

Im glad I stayed focused. Im glad I didnt give up, Romero said. His partner, two children, his mother and two of his siblings joined him in the procession this year. The six huddled inside the truck and smiled, excited to be there.

His mother, Maria Romero, who raised the family Catholic, said that she had prayed for that moment many times.

Is this the life that I want?

Romero grew up in Pilsen. Though it now faces strong tints of gentrification and gang activity is stagnant, back then, the bad influence around you was automatic, he recalled.

Despite it all, he managed to graduate from Benito Juarez High School. And even though he had hardworking Mexican immigrant parents, he gravitated toward trouble, following in the footsteps of his older siblings.

That is something he is still trying to make sense of: My parents gave me everything I needed, they supported me but I still took a different route, he said.

It was when his older brother, Eddie Romero, was killed at age 22 that he took a step back.

Is this the life that I want? Romero asked himself knowing that going forward all he could do was deal with the consequences. That lifestyle only leads to two places: death or incarceration, he said.

In April 2009, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison. After 11 years behind bars at the Illinois River Correctional Center in downstate Canton, he was released in October 2019.

While incarcerated, his mother would visit him once or twice a year, but it was disheartening to see her that way, he said. So he spent his time reading, drawing and taking college courses.

He completed three vocational programs, including restaurant management, culinary arts and contribution. Romero also got an associate degree from Lake Land College. Following his release, he enrolled in driving school, after learning of the opportunities it could bring.

But despite the resume hed built, he said his criminal record wouldnt let him get ahead.

Until the day he heard that Ramirez and Vargas needed a driver. He called them.

I told them my story, I didnt want to hide anything, Romero said.

They didnt judge me, they understood.

At Mainland, at least 60% of drivers are formerly incarcerated men, said Vargas, co-founder of the company. The number of drivers ranges from eight to 12 throughout the year. Hiring them is something Vargas holds close to her heart and one of the reasons why her faith in Our Lady of Guadalupe is so strong. It allows them a new start.

Vargas was only 4 years old when her father was sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug-related charges and after being released, he was immediately deported to Mexico, negating a chance to return to his family.

Her fathers absence hurt her in more ways than you can imagine, Vargas said.

I wish my father had had the opportunity to start over. Maybe today, things would have been different if the government, if society gave former prisoners a second chance at life, Vargas said.

That is the reason why she and her husband hire people like Romero. He underwent six months of training and the couple hired Romero in November 2020.

That same year, Vargas invited Romero to participate in the pilgrimage she has organized every December since 2015 to commemorate the Feast of Lady of Guadalupe. They hire a mariachi to kick off the celebration and along with her aunts, she makes about 1,500 tamales to give to drivers who participate.

This year, more than 120 truck drivers took part in the convoy. Most make the journey to the shrine to fulfill a promise  a manda  or give thanks to the Virgin Mary for her blessings. For others, it is a prayer for a specific need or concern.

Vargas said that her journey this year is not only one of gratitude but also a plea. The workload has been unfortunately low this year and the diesel prices are extremely high. But the company has managed to stay afloat, Vargas said.

Prayers work. Im convinced that Our Lady of Guadalupe considers all of our sacrifices.

Romero said he was never very religious. He stopped praying around the time he began to get in trouble.

But he leaned on faith after he lost his older brother. He wasnt convinced it worked until he was released from prison and life, once again, put him to the test.

Theres always hope. Dont lose faith, Romero said.

He is mostly grateful that he still has a family and they are together once again.

All after more than 4,000 days of prayer.

larodriguez@chicagotribune.com
On Nov. 30, 1978, gay rights activist Anthony Adams went missing. The 25-year-old was found murdered three days later in his Salt Lake City apartment.



Adams case remains unsolved 45 years later, but there is information that could help police in Utah  if they could locate it.

Adams was a prominent member of a Salt Lake City chapter of the Socialist Workers Party and had failed to appear for a rally, which prompted concern from fellow participants. Syd Stapleton, a member of the SWPs New York chapter, in 1978 called Adams killing an assassination and claimed he was murdered for his sexuality and politics.

Adams was found stabbed to death in his apartment by two friends whod grown concerned that hed been missing for several days. Cash was missing from his wallet, but whether that indicated a robbery was unclear. Police deduced Adams had been stabbed repeatedly in the chest, throat and neck. They theorized the attack began while he was in the bath, and that Adams then struggled in the bathroom before making his way into the bedroom, where he died.

Salt Lake police heard in interviews with locals that Adams was last seen up to three days before his murder by an acquaintance, who spotted Adams at Salt Lake Citys Comeback Bar. To this day, there are no suspects.

Articles from Deseret News

Image: Deseret News articles

What happened to the evidence?

The weapons used to murder Adams were left at the scene. Redacted case details recorded by the SLCPD and archived by the U.S. Department of Justice noted that investigators found a large, wooden-handled butcher knife stained with blood on the top of a pile of sheets in Adams bedroom.

Adams was attacked in multiple locations throughout his apartment, and possibly with multiple weapons: Upon a second walk-through, investigators found a paring knife in the [kitchen] drawer that appeared to have dried blood also.

These knives remain the linchpin that could turn the entire murder investigation around.

And yet, the evidence they may have contained is nowhere to be found more than four decades later. Somehow, in the course of sending the blood on the knife to the states toxicology center and back to the Salt Lake City Police, the sample went missing.

Chris Reilly, a current professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Utah told The Advocate, We looked for any records, but were not able to find anything. Its been a long time.

Reilly added that he asked staffers at the University to trawl its archives to see if the sample existed. We could not find a record for it, but I do not recall if that was because we did not have records for samples from that long ago or if there was nothing there that fit the description, he added.

Anthony Adams (rear) with extended family - brother, sister in law, and their children

Anthony Adams (standing rear) with extended family - brother, sister in law, and their children Image: Courtesy Adams family via Salt Lake City Tribune

Adams died before the use of forensic DNA analysis in crime scene investigations became common, but if this evidence in his case were located, it could be cross-referenced with current national databases.

The most recent update in this case came in 2020 when the SLCPD matched a fingerprint from Adams apartment to a homeless girl, Mickey Henson, who was 16 at the time. But Henson died in 2004, and there is no other evidence linking her to Adams murder, making her a likely houseguest and unlikely suspect.

But how did crucial evidence that could lead to a murder conviction and justice for Adams family go missing? The answer lies partly in the way Salt Lake City used to process its forensics.

In 1983, the state of Utah opened its own crime lab  three years before the widespread use of forensic DNA profiling. But prior to that, the University of Utahs Center for Human Toxicology was responsible for testing and handling evidence. The Salt Lake Tribune reported in 2018 that while the standard was for the university to return evidence to police after processing it, Salt Lake City Police Det. Greg Wilking claimed there was no record of any stuff coming back from up there in Adams case.

Did police do enough?

Wilking is pleading for answers from his own department.

We just want to know what happened if anybody has any idea where this stuff went, he told the Salt Lake Tribune five years ago.

The Tribune also interviewed former workers at the universitys toxicology center who confirmed that at the time the only tests they could do was confirming that the blood on the knife matched the victim  via blood type, and also toxicology analysis.

Dennis Crouch, another technician who worked at the center in the late 1970s and early 80s, also told the Tribune the center didnt have any formal agreement with police to test evidence and wasnt in the habit of storing it. Further, Bryan Finkle, the former director of the center told the Utah Investigative Journalism Project that the lab never dealt with physical evidence, only toxicology, so it was unlikely they ever had the knife in their possession.

Its unclear how this crucial evidence was mishandled or lost in Adams case. Both the SLCPD and the University of Utahs toxicology center didnt immediately return The Advocates request for comment.

Article from Salt Lake City Tribune

Image: Salt Lake City Tribune article

But activists in Salt Lake Citys LGBTQ community at the time claimed police didnt do enough. In a 1978 Tribune article, Clemens Bak with the Socialist Workers Party said law enforcement wasnt pursuing this case with the attention which a political crime of this type would merit, because Adams was gay.

Whats more, the murder of Adams  and another gay man, Douglas Coleman, who was killed on Nov. 30, 1978  shattered any feeling of safety the Salt Lake City gay community may have had at the time. Local historian and gay activist Ben Edgar Williams told the Salt Lake Tribune, We were a very vibrant community until Tony Adams murder and that sent a lot of people right back into the closet, slamming that door. He added, not until 1981, 82, did things start to pick up again.

In June 2020, Karla Dobinski, an attorney for the U.S. Justice Departments civil rights division wrote there still wasnt enough evidence to identify Adams killer.

Anthony Adams high school yearbook 1970

Image: Judge Memorial High School Yearbook, 1970

Have a tip about this case to share with law enforcement? Contact the Salt Lake City Police Department at 801-799-3000.

Unsolved, Retold: The LGBTQ+ Cold Case Files:

Have information or know of a cold case we should profile next? Reach out to Samson Amore at

crime@equalpride.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Five rural Oregon school districts were disrupted on Monday due to bomb threats, officials said.

The Cascade School District notified the Marion County Sheriffs Office of the threat at 10:45 a.m., authorities said. The district elected to release students early out of an abundance of caution. They say the threat to schools is not imminent.

Could a white Christmas come to Portland?

Another threat came into the Central Linn School District just before noon when an administrative employee received a threatening email that stated there was a bomb in one of the schools, authorities said.

The schools were evacuated, and deputies are currently searching them for anything suspicious. While deputies are searching, detectives are also actively working on leads for the source of the email. So far there are no suspicious devices that have been found. Deputies will check each school before children will be allowed back in, the Linn County Sheriffs Office said.

Bandon schools, Corbett schools and Colton schools also reported that they each received threats. Students in both districts were evacuated.

Students in Arlingtons schools were also evacuated by a similar threat. But officials later gave an all clear to resume all school activities on Tuesday.

Monday night, the FBI in Portland released this statement:

The FBI is aware of several threatening e-mail messages that were recently sent to various Oregon schools, airports and houses of worship. While the FBI has no information to indicate these threats are credible at this time, public safety agencies can never simply discount such threats as a nuisance. Hoax threats put innocent people at risk and can easily distract and deplete limited public safety resources. We recognize these threats have already been extremely disruptive to classrooms and elsewhere. The FBI will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to determine if the threats are connected in any way and we will act upon threat information as it comes to our attention. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report all suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
These tips will help you stay healthy during the busiest time of the year.

These tips will help you stay healthy during the busiest time of the year.

Over the next few weeks, millions of people  perhaps yourself included  will travel near and far to visit loved ones for the holiday season. And as holiday travel and gatherings ramp up, cases of respiratory illnesses, such as flu, COVID and RSV, are expected to soar.

After all, these viruses spread best when people gather indoors in close proximity to one another. Even though we typically see a steady increase in respiratory illnesses this time of year, it doesnt necessarily mean youre doomed.

You can take plenty of steps to protect your health and reduce the chances youll return home sneezing and coughing. We asked four doctors what they do to stay in good health over the holidays. Heres what they said:

Get enough sleep.

Its a simple tip, but its an incredibly effective one. Sleep deprivation, even after just one poor nights sleep, can take a pretty significant toll on your well-being, says Bernadette Boden-Albala, the founding dean of the University of California, Irvine Program in Public Health.

During stints where you dont get enough sleep, your body produces less infection-fighting antibodies and cells, according to the Mayo Clinic. As a result, the risk of contracting an infectious disease, including the common cold, can increase, research shows.

Boden-Albala knows it can be tough to get a solid nights sleep over the holidays  but if you can snooze for around seven to nine hours each night, per guidance from the National Institutes of Health, its worth it.

To help yourself fall asleep, Boden-Albala recommends trading in your screens for a book or mindfulness activity about an hour before bedtime. If youre sharing a house with noisy relatives, consider using a sound machine, as research shows this can significantly improve the quality and duration of sleep. Aim to keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool  evidence suggests the ideal range is in the mid- to high 60s. However, older adults may prefer it to be a bit warmer.

Stay up to date on their routine vaccinations.

The other thing Boden-Albala stands by is getting vaccinated. For her, COVID and flu shots are especially important as we see new strains of these viruses every year. This is, in fact, the first year we have vaccines to protect against all three of the most common respiratory viruses: COVID, influenza, and, finally, RSV.

These vaccines will provide the best protection against the strains that are currently circulating, according to Boden-Albala. They can either completely prevent infection or stop people from experiencing severe illness that requires hospitalization, she said.

You can get vaccinated (and find out what shots are appropriate for you) at a local pharmacy, urgent care, community health clinic or primary care doctor. You can use this resource from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to find a vaccination site in your area.

Wash their hands  a lot.

Dr. Delana Wardlaw, a family medicine physician at Temple Physicians at Nicetown and co-founder of Twin Sister Docs in Philadelphia, said washing her hands is one of the simplest ways she avoids getting sick because it helps her quickly and efficiently remove germs from her hands. She aims to wash her hands with soap and water for about 20 seconds. If theres no sink, soap, or water in sight, she opts for hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol.

Dr. Marc Kai, a primary care physician with Mercy Medical Center, does the same. Its probably the single biggest thing we can do to prevent spreading illness, and especially important around the holidays as we tend to spend more time with folks whose immune systems might not be what it used to, he said.

So, how frequently should you wash your hands? According to Wardlaw, ideally, anytime you touch food, your pet, another person, or a shared surface (like a doorknob or touch screen). Doing such allows for significant reduction in transferring bacterial and viral organisms that cause respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, she said.

Finding exercise you enjoy can help keep you physically and mentally healthy year round.

Finding exercise you enjoy can help keep you physically and mentally healthy year round.

Stay physically active.

Kai also makes a point of staying physically active over the holidays. He does this for two reasons: for his sanity and the physical health benefits.

Exercise is an effective stress reliever because it causes our body to produce endorphins, or feel-good hormones that can boost our mood. According to the CDC, regular physical activity also promotes blood sugar control, brain and heart health, and weight management. Its also associated with a lower risk of community-acquired infectious diseases by potentially making the immune system more effective, according to a study published in 2021.

Kai tries to find workouts hell be motivated to stick with even after the holidays are behind him. Rather than going all in too quickly, he recommends finding a workout you enjoy  perhaps going on daily walks or doing an online workout class from home  so you ramp up gradually and avoid exercise burnout heading into the new year.

Try to keep germs out of the home.

Being exposed to germs is inevitable, especially during the holiday season. Between traveling, gatherings with loved ones and even coming home from work or school, people often forget cold and flu germs can lurk on hundreds of common surfaces we encounter daily, said Eva Beaulieu, a board-certified internal medicine hospitalist near Atlanta, Georgia.

The flu virus, for example, can live on certain surfaces for up to 48 hours, according to the CDC. A recent study from the Imperial College London found that COVID primarily spreads through household transmission, often through frequently touched household surfaces (such as the fridge, kitchen sink and coffee pots).

To help prevent germs from spreading inside her home, Beaulieu adheres to a no outdoor items inside rule. For example, we leave our shoes by the door and dont bring suitcases on our beds, she explained.

After a long day at work or school, heading straight for the kitchen or couch can be tempting, dragging pathogens inside. To prevent this, shes created a designated drop zone near the front door of her home, where her family can leave their shoes, work items and school bags before heading indoors. Beaulieus second trick is to disinfect shared surfaces in the house  counters, light switches, faucet handles and suitcases  whenever she gets the chance.

We may not be able to totally eliminate germs from our environments, but there are several things we can do to reduce the amount of pathogens were exposed to. As we head into the holiday season, give one of these doctor-backed tips a shot  they may very well help you stay healthy during a season notorious for stuffy noses and sore throats.

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Over half of Ukrainians believe that, given a significant reduction in aid from the West, Ukraine must persist in defending itself from Russian aggression, even if it involves the risk of losing new territories.

Source: results of a poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) from 29 November to 9 December

Quote from KIIS: "The majority of respondents - 58% - are now inclined to believe that even if Western aid is drastically curtailed, it is still worth pursuing the war effort to exert pressure on the Russian occupying forces, taking into account the risks to the territories Ukraine presently controls."

Details: However, every third respondent (32%) believes it is better to agree to cessation of hostilities under conditions of genuine security guarantees from the West, including if the liberation of the Russian-occupied territories is dragged out indefinitely.

The remaining 10% failed to make up their minds.

Chart 3. There are views in the West and Ukraine that the West may significantly reduce its assistance to Ukraine. Assuming that the West does significantly reduce its assistance, which of these strategies would you support to a greater extent?

Blue: The fighting must persist, and pressure on the Russian occupying forces must be kept up, but with risks for the Ukrainian-controlled territories.

Orange: The fighting is stopped with solid security guarantees from the West, but the liberation of the Russian-occupied territories is postponed for an indefinite future.

Grey: Hard to say

Source: KIIS Infographic

For reference: In view of the high risk of a significant decline in support from the West, KIIS asked Ukrainians which strategy would be better for Ukraine:

stop fighting, maintain control over the liberated territories and receive solid security guarantees from the West or even NATO membership, but postpone the liberation of the occupied territories for an indefinite future;

to carry on fighting, put pressure on the Russian occupying forces and look for their weaknesses, gradually and slowly liberate Russian-occupied territories, but at the same time realise that there is a threat to the Ukrainian-controlled territories.

Sociologists point out that there are certain regional distinctions when it comes to the action plan, should Western aid be substantially curtailed. More respondents in Ukraine's West and Centre (64% and 65%, respectively) are in favour of continuing the fighting in any case. However, in these regions, a quarter of the population also supports the cessation of hostilities.

Instead, opinions in Ukraine's South and East are split roughly in half, with only a slight predominance of those in favour of continuing hostilities.

In particular, 46% in the South and 47% in the East believe that the fighting must persist even with limited Western assistance. In contrast, 40% and 42%, respectively, are ready for the hostilities to end.

Chart 4. Actions to be taken should Western aid be significantly reduced from a regional perspective

Blue: The fighting must persist, and pressure on the Russian occupying forces must be kept up, but with risks for the Ukrainian-controlled territories.

Orange: The fighting is stopped with solid security guarantees from the West, but the liberation of the Russian-occupied territories is postponed for an indefinite future.

Grey: Hard to say

KIIS Infographic

Sociologists noted that proximity to the contact line plays a significant role in this case. The south and east are much closer to the war zone, which largely determines the higher readiness to end hostilities in the face of limited aid.

The study was conducted from 29 November to 9 December. A total of 1,031 respondents living in all oblasts of Ukraine (except the Autonomous Republic of Crimea) were interviewed using telephone interviews based on a random sample of mobile numbers. The survey was conducted with adult (aged 18 years and older) citizens of Ukraine who, at the time of the survey, lived on the territory of Ukraine (within the limits controlled by the Ukrainian authorities until 24 February 2022). Residents of the temporarily occupied territories could not be included in the sample, and the survey was not conducted with citizens abroad.

Formally, under normal circumstances, the statistical error of such a sample (with a probability of 0.95 and taking into account the design effect of 1.1) did not exceed 3.4% for indicators close to 50%, 3.0% for indicators close to 25%, 2.1% for indicators close to 10%, and 1.5% for indicators close to 5%.

In times of war, a certain systematic deviation is added in addition to the specified formal error. However, sociologists are convinced that the results obtained retain high representativeness and allow for a fairly reliable analysis of public sentiment.

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BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD)  A $5 million grant passed by the Michigan Strategic Fund Tuesday aims to prevent 170 layoffs in Battle Creek.

The MSF Board unanimously approved the Michigan Business Development Program grant for the WK Kellogg Co, a Battle Creek cereal company created in October following the split of the Kellogg Company.

In September of 2021, the Kellogg Company announced it would shut down two of the three lines operating in Battle Creek and move some of its production to Belleville, Ontario in Canada at the end of 2023. The move would ultimately cut 170 of the companys 700 Battle Creek employees, according to a memo from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Since the announcement, the Ontario plant has undergone a $67 million expansion.

After the Kellogg Company split into WK Kellogg Co and Kellanova, the new leadership of the WK Kellogg Co considered reversing the plans. Doing so would keep the 170 jobs in Battle Creek and create at least 43 new jobs.

It would also lose the company $20 million in savings and cost around $60 million over seven years to retrain employees.

Were trying to do something a little unusual, a little cutting edge, a little something unexpected, we think, Stacy Flathau, the chief corporate affairs officer for WK Kellogg Co, told the MSF Board. With the support of our board of directors, our employees and their union  and, importantly, with your critical financial support  well be able to reverse a previous decision to move production out of our Battle Creek plant.

She explained the company started looking at reversing the decision after employees in Battle Creek asked the newly-formed company to reconsider.

Prior to Tuesdays meeting, MEDC CEO and MSF Chair Quentin Messer told reporters they feel an urgency to keep Michigan company jobs in the state.

Along with the $5 million grant, the MSF Board approved designating a renaissance zone for the next 15 years that is expected to abate around $1.27 million in property taxes each year.

WK Kellogg Co expects to invest between $44 million and $143 million in infrastructure in Battle Creek.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Two parents are accused of locking their kids in makeshift cages for hours at a time while they worked, sometimes overnight or when they left the house, Florida police said.

The Department of Children and Families began investigating the couple when their 6-year-old son told a school worker he didnt want to go home because he would be put in a cage his dad built, according to Dec. 8 arrest reports from the Gainesville Police Department.

His parents, ages 31 and 35, are both employees of the University of Florida, police said.

McClatchy News is not identifying the parents to protect the identity of their children.

As part of the investigation, officers visited the childs home where both the 6-year-old and his 2-year-old sibling live with their parents.

When they entered the boys bedroom, officers saw a large unsanded, wooden enclosure made of pressure-treated 2x4s, that appeared to be a makeshift cage, according to the arrest reports.

The cage had a door with two stainless steel barrel bolts holding it closed, police said, and rails with only a few inches of space to look out.

The 6-year-old told officers his dad had built the cage for him, and he would be put inside when he came home from school, sometimes until he had to leave again for school the next morning at 7 a.m., according to the arrest reports.

Other times, the child was put in the cage when he came home from school while his mother was still working and would be let out of the cage once his father came home from work at the university, police said.

The 6-year-old told officers he was forced to wear pull-ups, a type of diaper for toddlers, when he was in the cage overnight but could use the bathroom during the day, the report said.

The childs sibling, a toddler, was placed in a different kind of makeshift cage, police said.

The 6-year-old showed officers how his parents would use an overturned crib and place it over a mattress on the floor with the 2-year-old inside, according to the arrest report.

Police said the crib, which was inside the parents bedroom closet, had exposed metal springs from being turned upside down, instead of holding a mattress when used properly.

The children were removed from the home and placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Families, police said.

As the children were leaving, the 6-year-old said, I didnt want anyone to get in trouble. I just didnt want to be in the cage, according to the arrest report.

Both parents were taken into custody and charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse and one count of child neglect, according to the arrest report.

On Dec. 11, they were placed on administrative leave from the University of Florida, where they had been working as biological scientists for a number of years, a spokesperson for the university told McClatchy News in an email.

The childrens mother works in the Plant Pathology Department, and their father works for the University of Floridas Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Horticultural Sciences Department, according to deleted pages on the universitys website, WCJB reported.

Gainesville is about 115 miles northwest of Orlando.

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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  Sixty percent of the homeless people offered shelter in November refused it, according to San Francisco Mayor London Breed. In November, the citys Street Outreach encampment workers offered shelter to 350 people, Breed said.

Of those, 213 people refused shelter and 117 accepted it.

November was actually an improvement over the previous month, according to Mayor Breed. In a thread posted to X, formerly Twitter, Breed said that in October, 65% of those contacted at encampments refused shelter. In September, 60% refused.

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This is why enforcing our laws is important, said Mayor Breed. Our laws are for the health and safety of everyone. There are public safety challenges around encampments. There are threats of fire. We lead with compassion, but when we have resources  and we do  we need people to accept help.

Specific examples cited by Mayor Breed included an encampment at 15th Street and Julian Avenue where only four out of 14 people contacted accepted shelter. At another encampment at Larkin and Willow streets, 19 people were encountered and eight accepted shelter.

Our outreach workers will keep offering shelter, and with the addition of 300 more beds weve just opened, we have even more help to offer, Breed said. We are continuing to help people exit homelessness with financial assistance, relocation support, and housing options.

Mayor Breed said the city is also adding more ways to compel people into treatment, including new conservatorship laws.

We have to get more people to accept help because more and more the challenges on our streets are about the deadly drugs ruining peoples lives and hurting our neighborhoods, Breed said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A 60-year-old Dallas man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexually abusing a child over four years, the Polk County District Attorneys Office announced Monday.

Richard Rose Jr. was found guilty of seven counts of first-degree sex abuse, one count of luring a minor and one count of private indecency.

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The abuse began when the child victim was six years old.

Rose Jr. will not be eligible for early release or sentence reduction, authorities said. He will also be required to serve a 45-month term of post-prison supervision and register as a sex offender.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Migrants and their belongings are seen outside Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Oak Park on Nov. 1, 2023, where they were being given shelter. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Busloads of migrants were brought in the past week to Rosemont and Cicero, officials said, but were turned away.

Several buses from El Paso, Texas, arrived in the past week at the Metra stations in Cicero and in Rosemont near OHare International Airports remote parking.

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Police in Rosemont allowed migrants to get off the buses if they had someone picking them up, but threatened to impound the bus and arrest the driver for endangering the passengers if he let them out, Mayor Brad Stephens said. The Village Board planned to consider an ordinance Monday to back up such measures.

Cicero approved a measure to fine bus companies $750 per person for letting out homeless migrants, spokesman Ray Hanania said.

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Its wrong to drop people on the street with nowhere to go, Hanania said. We think every community should do this to prevent this. They need to force the state to come up with a better plan for homeless people.

That latest development reflects the varied response suburbs have taken to some 26,000 migrants arriving in Chicago since August 2022 and being sheltered at police stations and the airport.

While city officials struggle with where to house the migrants, the northwest suburbs of Rosemont, Schaumburg and Elk Grove Village have passed ordinances to prevent migrants from being housed in their hotels.

But west suburban Oak Park is paying to house migrants in hotels.

The Oak Park board recently approved $1 million to aid asylum-seeking migrants, most of it from a state grant and federal COVID-19 recovery funds. The proposed funding was reduced by $500,000 after concerns were raised by residents and board members about the sustainability of such spending.

I consider it a humanitarian crisis, Village President Vicki Scaman said. The cold weather in Chicago makes emergency temporary housing necessary.

However, she added, It is unsustainable for any one community to do it all by themselves.

She does not know where the migrants will go when the villages current funding runs out around the end of January, but hopes that housing advocates will help them find more permanent housing across the region.

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If there was more help coordinating and funding the response from the state and federal governments, Scaman said, more local governments would be willing to help.

In Rosemont last month, after a developer proposed lodging migrants in suburban hotels, officials established a $1,000 a month tax on hotel rooms rented out for more than a month, with some exemptions for business travelers.

The intent was to preserve the hotel space for convention business that Rosemont depends on for its convention hall and tourism, Stephens said.

About one-fourth of Rosemonts 4,000 residents are Hispanic. The mayor said he welcomes legal immigration, but said of the current crisis, Come on, theres got to be a better way.

The city of Chicago still accepts busloads of migrants, but is suing bus companies and seeking the ability to impound buses and fine owners $3,000 if they dont follow the citys rules limiting time and frequency of arrivals.

In Schaumburg, officials adopted an ordinance similar to Rosemonts to tax long-term hotel stays, with exceptions for residents after fires or other emergencies. The intent was to keep hotels for visitors and prevent them from being used for long-term living, village spokeswoman Allison Albrecht said.

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Schaumburg has a fairly diverse population, with 31% of residents being foreign-born. State officials assured the village that they are not pursuing any plans to house large groups of migrants in suburban hotels at this time, Albrecht told the Tribune.

Naperville officials developed a plan behind the scenes to handle migrants on an emergency basis only. The seven-page short-term framework identifies the municipal agencies, partners and resources the far west suburb would engage while awaiting further direction from state officials.

Elk Grove Village and Burr Ridge had brief experience housing migrants more than a year ago. Chicago temporarily bused migrants to hotels in those suburbs in September of 2022, over the mayors objections, at the outset of the migrant arrivals.

Many migrants have been sent by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, in protest of immigration policy allowing thousands of migrants to cross the border, which recently reached record highs. Charities with federal funding also reportedly have transported migrants to northern locations.

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Elk Grove Village officials passed an ordinance preventing migrants from staying in the village without a doctors certification indicating they have no infectious diseases such as malaria or tuberculosis. The village also took action to block its many factories and shopping centers from housing migrants unless they have bathrooms with showers. The village also bought the hotel where migrants had been housed and demolished it, planning future redevelopment.

It shouldnt be all these mayors fixing the problem, Mayor Craig Johnson said. Its not our job. Were not built to handle this. Hopefully, the federal government says, OK, lets fix this problem.

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Other suburban governments, such as Elgin and Lake County, have obtained state grants to help migrants. But pushback from residents forced Joliet Township to reject its $8.6 million grant.

It would be more stable and much cheaper to house arriving families in apartments, which are made for long-term living, rather than hotels, Stephens suggested. But he said first the migrants need federal work permits to get jobs, fearing that people with no work and free hotel rooms would take advantage of the situation.

Its like when a teenager says my parents are gone, lets have a party, and the whole school shows up, he said.

As a Republican state representative, Stephens also questioned how the state will pay an additional $160 million that Gov. J.B. Pritzker authorized for migrants. While Chicago is a sanctuary city and Illinois a sanctuary state, which prevents police from cooperating with immigration officials, Stephens said there must be a comprehensive plan to handle migrants now that they are coming in large numbers.

rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com
A Jeep had crashed into a clothing store for an apparent smash-and-grab robbery overnight at 171 N. Aberdeen St. on Dec. 12, 2023. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

A retail store in the West Loop is reeling after being the target of a smash-and-grab robbery for the fourth time this year.

Drake Sweeney, creative director of SVRN, a small business specializing in luxury fashion, estimated the store sustained a $50,000 to $80,000 loss in property damage and $50,000 to $100,000 in merchandise stolen after a group of thieves drove an SUV into the retail clothing store early Tuesday morning.

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They stole everything you could imagine, Sweeney said.

The store had last been hit and robbed less than a month ago, in late November.

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In the latest robbery, Chicago police say around 3:11 a.m. a group of thieves hit the security gate and front door of the store, located at 171 N. Aberdeen St., with a Jeep SUV to gain entry. They fled using several other vehicles, police said.

The store had installed concrete pillars and no-break glass as part of added security to prevent more robberies, Sweeney said. The thieves bypassed the security by using a truck to pull the concrete barricade from the stores front before crashing the Jeep SUV into the door, Sweeney said.

Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

The robbery was captured on store cameras, and Sweeney said there were around eight people involved based on the footage.

Sweeney said employees boarded up the front of the store Tuesday and were focused on refurbishing to hopefully reopen later in the week.

We want to reopen for the community and recoup mentally to the best of our ability, Sweeney said. But its getting more extreme.

No one was in custody and police are investigating.

[ West Town community group, alderman, ask mayor and police leaders to give specifics on plan to confront rash of street robberies ]

The tactics behind Tuesdays robbery mirror those of recent smash-and-grabs in the West Loop, Wicker Park and the Near West Side involving cars being driven into buildings so those involved can quickly run in and take merchandise.

Last week, a failed crash-and-grab was attempted on Michigan Avenue at a high-end Magnificent Mile store. A ditched car could be seen early Monday morning after the attempt.

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aguffey@chicagotribune.com
Before budget airlines took off in Europe, many people made long intercity journeys by overnight train. As the likes of easyJet and Ryanair expanded, though, many of the sleeper connections were cut  including the German Railways link from Berlin to Paris.

But now the two most important capitals in continental Europe are once again linked  thanks to a new Austrian Railways Nightjet service.

For decades, Paris Gare de lEst was the departure point for the most celebrated international train in the world. LExpress dOrient departed daily from Paris via Vienna and Belgrade to Istanbul.

The Orient-Express was subject to death by a thousand cuts, ending its term as Europes premier train in 2009, by which stage it was a mere overnight link between Strasbourg and Vienna.

A combination of accelerated day trains  for example, a new line halving the four-hour journey between Paris and Strasbourg  and low-cost flying seemed to be driving the international sleeper train to extinction. In 2014 German Railways axed the Paris-Berlin link and the following year ended its overnight operations altogether.

Yet Tuesday 12 December may come to be celebrated as the day the railway fought back. Nine years to the day after the last German Railways overnight express to Berlin left Gare de lEst, the revived overnight sleeper train from the German capital arrived in Paris.

How significant is this?

Railway people  and environmentalists across Europe  are jubilant at what they believe is a highly significant move. The German and French capitals are once again connected by an overnight train, signalling an important step in rebuilding a pan-European network of sleeper trains.

Mark Smith, the international rail guru known as The Man in Seat 61, said: The Paris-Berlin Nightjet restores a key link between east and west and its going to be popular  its already sold out for Friday and various other dates.

Austrian Railways believes the European overnight train has a future, and is steadily turning the clock back to before the budget airline revolution that began almost three decades ago.

The answer lies in keeping the cost of the rail operation low and the quality high. That is what the last company to run between Berlin and Paris, Russian Railways, sought to do.

Whats the Russian connection?

After German Railways abandoned its City Night Line service in 2014, Russian Railways took over. It ran the intercity link as an extension of its train from Moscow to Berlin right up until March 2020, when the frontiers of Europe clattered shut due to the Covid pandemic.

The ending of the link had jeopardised the very long-standing link between Moscow and Paris; previously, sleeping carriages from the Russian capital were attached to the train from Berlin.

When this prestige route ended, Russian Railways decided to run its own trains on the route, to the delight of rail travellers between Berlin and Paris.

Nicky Gardner, co-editor of Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide, recalls: This Russian train was well used by Berliners. Summer loadings were good, winter ones less so. But it was fun. I used it several times, as it was the perfect overnight route to London via Paris.

Excellent Polish restaurant car with a quirky menu (eg kangaroo steak with South African wine). By early 2020, it was just once-weekly and the last train ran in mid-March 2020, when it was stopped on account of the pandemic.

Russian Railways will not be back for some time. But meanwhile the new incumbent, Austrian Railways, will find out this winter whether slow travel between Berlin and Paris has a future.

Whats the attraction of an overnight train?

Climate-conscious travellers are turning to rail for increasingly long distances, says Mark Smith. Theyre rediscovering what some of us have never forgotten: a 12-hour overnight journey while you sleep is far more time-effective than a seven-hour high-speed daytime journey  or even, perhaps, five daytime hours of airports and flight.

If you have a long journey to make  and Berlin to Paris is 550 miles  then an overnight sleeper train is probably the most civilised way to do it. You can have dinner before you leave, then step aboard and into a six-person compartment with couchettes. These are basically camp beds that fold down, three on each side, rather like a very high-density youth hostel dorm.

If you subscribe to the belief of the great Parisian philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre that hell is other people you might not enjoy the experience. A mini cabin for solo travellers is available at a higher price. Either way, you save on a nights accommodation and hopefully arrive well rested and ready for a day in the French capital.

How do costs compare?

Flying is cheaper. Comparing prices two weeks ahead, I saw I could pay 80 for a couchette berth in a compartment for six on the Nightjet. I could have taken my pick from a dozen flights from Berlin to Paris, starting at 65 for a trip of less than two hours.

People who value frequency on journeys wont be spoilt for choice  theres no Berlin-Paris service on day two of the new operation, because the carriages will be going in the opposite direction.

Since the sleeper train slipped away, many overnight bus services have sprung up that are quicker and much cheaper between Berlin and Paris, though you dont get a bed on board.

Where else in Europe are sleeper trains thriving?

A new venture this year, called simply European Sleeper, runs through the night from Brussels and Amsterdam to Berlin, and it is being extended to Prague. Croatian Railways runs a sleeper from Stuttgart in Germany to the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana. And Polish State Railway is extending its Warsaw-Vienna sleeper Chopin to Salzburg and Munich.

Mostly, though, sleeper trains run within a single, large country.

France has a few between Paris and the south, including a new service to a town called Aurillac which few people know much about nor care to visit. This is an example of local politicians having some sway in connecting their locations with the capital.

A fair few trains run the length of Italy. In Scandinavia, Sweden, Finland and Norway have their own versions of Arctic expresses. In the UK, you can choose from London to Penzance via Plymouth or from the English capital to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen and Fort William.

Why are there no sleeper trains from London to Berlin or Manchester to Paris?

From 1936 to 1980 an overnight train linked London with Paris. It was loaded on a ferry at Dover and emerged at Dunkirk to continue through the night to the French capital.

When Eurostar passenger trains through the Channel Tunnel were first conceived, the idea was that there would be trains from Scotland and Manchester direct to Paris. But that was kiboshed by the budget airlines  the flights are so cheap and the trains would have been very expensive. So even though the trains were built, they never ran.

One reason trains through the night will not be on the departure boards any time soon is that safety rules for the Channel Tunnel are extremely strict  so the sleeping carriages on the new Berlin to Paris train would not be allowed to run from Berlin to London.
Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, an MP from the liberal opposition Holos (Voice) party, now heads the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraines parliament) Committee on Freedom of Speech and Information, replacing of Nestor Shufrych, an MP from the outlawed Opposition Platform  Fore Life (OPFL) pro-Russian party. Shufrych has recently been charged with treason.

In an interview with NV Radio on Dec. 10, Yurchyshyn explained the state of affairs in the committee and what he was going to do in his new position.

NV: Did you have any doubts about joining this somewhat discredited and controversial committee? What does it look like now? How many members does it include? And whats the status of its previous chairman, Shufrych?

Yurchyshyn: In fact, a critical approach to any issue always involves doubt. Therefore, did I have any doubts about the expediency of applying for the post of the chairman of the Freedom of Speech Committee? Of course, I had. And they were primarily about the committees ability to actually become a committee on free speech.

What are the big problems here? This is again a question of protecting the rights of journalists. The issue of information policy is one of many in the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy. Its important, but one of many.

Read also: Parliament Speaker details methods to remove MP Shufrych, charged with high treason

At the same time, we have more than a dozen Ukrainian journalists in Russian captivity. And the Verkhovna Rada, unfortunately, unlike, for example, the Reporters Without Borders [international organization], didnt even make an official statement, an appeal to international structures, regarding facilitating the release of these de facto hostages. That is, these are not combatants, these are people who were on the contact line or in the occupied territories, unarmed. Their only weapon is either a video camera or a pen. But they are detained and tried, like, for example, Maksym Butkevych, journalist and human rights activist.

Therefore, its very important for the Committee on Freedom of Speech to become a platform that will primarily fight for the rights of journalists, for balanced access to information, and for streamlining the process of press accreditation. Its clear that all these issues need a mediator, which falls squarely in the purview of our committee.

Regarding the number of people. This is the smallest committee in the Verkhovna Rada. It includes four members now, including me, but in fact there are three, since Shufrych is now under arrest.

Whats his status? He is a suspect. Can there be a change in the preventive measure, given that he is suspected of treason? Its unlikely, but such an option is also quite possible. In any case, we are a democratic country where its never possible to 100% predict the courts decision. So, he could come back.

He was elected by our voters, our citizens. And if he is not convicted, the only reason he wouldnt return to the committee is if he resigns. I doubt he would, though.

Therefore, there are plans to talk about increasing the number of committee members as there are many areas of work, as well as fighting for the return of powers. In particular, in communications with the National Broadcasting Council.

In fact, there is very little legislative work in this committee right now. One law is under consideration, while in many others we are the second committee to give its position. I dont think there will be a crazy increase in the number of bills in the future.

But Im currently working on all the partners who should work with the committee. For example, the ombudsman in the field of ensuring access to information, the association of journalists regarding the protection of journalists rights, law enforcement agencies regarding cases of obstruction of journalistic activity. We have quite a lot of them even recently, including an attack on Mykhailo Tkach [a journalist for the NVs sister publication Ukrainska Pravda], and online bullying of Natalia Lyhachova [the head of media transparency watchdog Detector Media]. As you see, there is much to be done.

NV: To what extent do you believe in the omnipotence of the Reporters Without Borders international organization? Because if we compare it with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the quality of their work there is rather questionable?

Yurchyshyn: Well, we have no other organizations. Therefore, so that they do not take a pro-Russian position, the Ukrainian side should lobby them as much as possible, advocating for human rights protection.

Im not enthralled by international organizations. They aim at finding a compromise. A compromise with a terrorist is always a loss. In this case, a tougher stance is required. And I know many members of the Ukrainian Red Cross Office who pull out [those affected] from under the bullets, help, but they bear full responsibility for the insane position of the ICRC leadership.

Read also: Ukrainian parliament to consider removing controversial MP from Defense Committee

I also know many journalists, representatives who are part of the Reporters Without Borders network. Even the fact that Reporters Without Borders is calling for the release of Ukrainian journalists is an indicator that there is someone to work with.

There is no magic wand that can stop war. We must understand this. But, despite the very often insanity of certain international structures, we must use them. Because Russia uses them fore and aft, sorry. Well also use them.

Our goal is to free innocent people. There are legal mechanisms for this, public appeals. I took part in the campaign for the release of [Ukrainian filmmaker] Oleh Sentsov when flash mobs just in the European Parliament attracted public attention. And they gave results: Oleh is in Ukraine, in the Armed Forces, he has a newborn son.

We can and must use all the methods necessary to free our people.

NV: That is, a new public awareness campaign is called for?

Yurchyshyn: Exactly. We just cant help but use it. Were in such a state that we dont have the luxury of choosing the tool we have, so we must use it.

NV: Youve also made the fight against fake news a priority. What can expect in that regard?

Yurchyshyn: In fact, we should expect a very difficult work because there are no simple solutions to the key issue  fostering media literacy in our society.

Can we beat the speed of anonymous Telegram messengers? Never. Any information policy of any state will lag behind the ability to write whatever you want on the fence. Can we promote media literacy so that people understand that unverified sources should at least be checked, and better not used? We can. And this is actually an intersection of responsibility in the field of education and information policy.

I know that our media experts have experience in media literacy. That is, now it would be very important, and the war gives us quite a serious chance, to teach at least those who are ready to learn how to form a critical position.

Read also: Police probing former Zelenskyy advisor Arestovych over false crime report

There is the work of Ukraines SBU security service, which very clearly emphasizes that certain sources can and are under the influence of the aggressor country, and they have mechanisms to deal with it. If the mechanisms arent enough, were ready to work with our law enforcement and secret services to give them mechanisms, of course, in a balanced way, so that it doesnt turn into an element of censorship.

But there is a huge difference between censorship and information policy. If censorship is to provide only one convenient view, then information policy is to prevent enemy propaganda campaigns or to reduce their effectiveness as much as possible.

Therefore, I have no ready-made solutions. They dont exist in any country in the world. But there is work to be done both in the [German parliament] Bundestag and the European Union on how to deal and help ensure that the information that reaches the consumer is more verified.

Well study this experience and introduce what we can.

NV: You said that, on the one hand, you understand the flaws of the singe news telethon Ukrainian TV channels have been doing since the start of the war, and, on the other hand, its expediency. As far as I understand, you havent yet found a solution and want to understand how to deal with it, right?

Yurchyshyn: I remember the beginning of 2014, the beginning of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the occupation of Crimea, and how certain television channels, which are now involved in the telethon, very often expressed a soft position, very close to Russian propaganda, i.e., civil war, etc. It was veiled quite professionally. Even in wartime, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to bring these television channels to justice.

The difference between direct Russian propaganda, which was broadcast on Medvedchuks television channels, and soft, lets say, not everything is so clear is huge. The second one is much more difficult to work with.

The telethon was actually a great decision, and I totally agree with the president. It played a very important part in building our resilience at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. There were no official channels that produced Russian propaganda, even in a mild form. There were no oligarchic channels that provided information in a way that was beneficial to their owners.

Read also: Russian National Guard targeting children in occupied Ukraine in disgusting propaganda campaign

Now we have a question of effectiveness and ineffectiveness. Do we have any other solutions how to prevent the return of not everything is so clear? Not yet. The state doesnt have such a decision. Therefore, the United News telethon performs this function. Does it fulfill the function of providing quality information to our viewers and voters? In my opinion, not either. After all, the fact that people have switched to Telegram messengers shows it doesnt fulfill. Thats why we should work.

Im not a supporter of [the strategy of] lets destroy to the core and then, as the communists used to say. If we dont have a strategy and a vision of how to do better, then its better to think, plan and then change something.

Will our committee be able to somehow influence it? To be honest, I have big doubts. But were working hard to offer scenarios for optimizing the states information policy. More balanced, more effective.

For example, the issue of war coverage. The issue of accreditation of Ukrainian and foreign journalists at the front is very complicated and often unclear. And well definitely work with the Defense Ministry and the relevant departments so that, I emphasize, not to simplify (it cannot be a simple process), but there should be an effective check. But with clear terms and clear understanding of the limits of responsibility. So that, relatively speaking, journalists wouldnt be punished for coming to cover the liberation of Kherson.

And this is an element of how to make the telethon more effective and the one that will fulfill its function. Because it will provide high-quality information that is currently received from Telegram messengers. I really hope well succeed.

Yes, I was criticized both from those who advocated closing the telethon and those who advocated for it to continue. And thats right as I wont take any positions. I can easily say that lets close the telethon or, on the contrary, lets make it even stronger. It wont change anything critically in reality.

We can change in reality when we offer some solutions. And in this case, in my opinion, the solution is to try to make the telethon more effective. If such system doesnt exist, then suggest how we can guarantee the non-penetration of Russian propaganda on television, provided that there is no telethon. After all, Telegram messengers are one thing, and mass communication through the countrys key buttons is another.

Read also: Censorship, curfew, gatherings ban in Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast after sham 'elections'

And here, to be honest, I really like the way Suspilne [public broadcaster] works in the telethon slots. Balanced positions, necessarily addressing the one who is criticized with the opportunity to express his position. There is an independent conclusion about how positively the situation is developing. We cannot always talk about a 100% hit in understanding the balance of information, but the direction is very right.

If it were possible to make it a rule... But the journalists position is very important here, as well as ethical standards, editorial policy, working journalistic ethics codes, and not only existing ones, then, in principle, there would probably be fewer complaints about the United News telethon. I fully support the fact that it played a very positive role. And now we should think about how we can rethink this role so that it continues to play an equally positive role. But I also understand those who criticize and complain that this is to some extent a restriction of freedom of speech and censorship.

NV: Ukrainian media people are also very concerned about whether well have open access to the Verkhovna Radas sidelines. Will the parliamentary sessions be broadcast?

Yurchyshyn: Parliamentary sessions are broadcast on the Rada television channel. Here the question is that it should take place in an effective time. Were currently working on journalists re-accreditation since the representatives of those outlawed channels are still accredited. That is, well move in this direction.

I definitely cant promise right now that well let journalists enter the Rada, but well definitely work on it.

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
Renee Cummings speaks about artificial intelligence Monday night during the annual meeting of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau in the DCU Center.

WORCESTER  Artificial intelligence has "extraordinary promise" and "extraordinary risk."

That was the message delivered by Renee Cummings, the keynote speaker at Monday's 38th annual meeting of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau held at the DCU Center.

Cummings is an artificial intelligence, data and tech ethicist, and the first data activist-in-residence at the University of Virginias School of Data Science.

On one hand, Cummings believes AI holds tremendous promise to improve our lives. But the risk, according to Cummings, is the data that humans feed into AI algorithms can be flawed because humans have inherent biases.

"What is most required is due diligence," said Cummings. "We need an understanding that the technology is fantastic and powerful. But we also need to understand its ability to deny opportunities, to deny access, to undermine resources, undermine democracy, to challenge hard-fought justices and democratic principles that we worked hard for.

"We need an ethical vigilance. It comes with an understanding that AI is not only about technology."

Cummings responded to a few questions and one came came from Worcester resident Vanessa Joga, who wanted to know what can be done to mitigate the impact of AI data "corrupted" by cultural insensitivity.

Joga, who immigrated from the Dominican Republic, gave Cummings an example of Latin Americans checking off Hispanic on local hospital intake forms. That classification doesn't give an accurate picture, said Joga, because it doesn't fully identify a person's heritage, creating a lack of ethics in making a medical diagnosis, she said.

"My comment was about what role culture diversity played in artificial intelligence, being an immigrant and coming from a country where we're still resistant to trust technology," Joga told the Telegram & Gazette after the meeting. "And how when you have a community as diverse as Worcester, how do you bridge that gap and how do you make sure that you gather accurate information in order to better help the community?"

Cummings told Joga that communities must educate residents about AI in order to bridge the gap and the entire community must come together to build public trust in AI.

Worcester: Building trust in AI

When asked by the T&G moments after the meeting if Worcester is doing a good job building that trust, Cummings said her invitation to speak at Mondays annual meeting is proof that Worcester is taking the data challenge seriously.

The fact that Worcester brought an AI ethicist and a data activist and a criminologist, and someone who understands the bias and discrimination and the ethical challenges," said Cummings, "to really have this conversation with the community, with community leaders, with civil society, with individuals who are running business and industry, it means that Worcester is committed to an equitable and inclusive and diverse data future and AI advancement.

Worcester resident Michele Santana attended Mondays meeting and felt Cummings point about bias embedded in AI data hits home in Worcester.

I feel like one of the most direct points that (Cummings is) trying to make is that the data we have is already corrupted by our own biases and our own racist ideas," Santana said. "I think what makes me kind of more apprehensive locally is that we don't even have the right inclusiveness at the table where decisions are already being made. So how can we expect that we're having the correct data to work forward?

City Hall: Pay attention to human biases

On the AI ethics front, Michael Hamel, the citys chief information officer, said its important to be mindful of human biases in the technology and safeguard data privacy. That means keeping sensitive, personal information out of AI data.

We dont need sensitive information in the wrong hands, said Hamel.

Worcesters municipal government is using AI responsibly and thoughtfully, according to Hamel.

The citys 311 information system for nonemergency requests uses machine-learning AI. Hamel explained information is put into the 311 system that residents are looking for and responses are produced through an online chat. In the future, generative AI could be used so that 311 can generate original responses instead of predetermined ones.

The answers would be more complex to questions on the fly, said Hamel.

Cybersecurity is another way AI is used in Worcesters government operations. Local governments must keep track of vast amounts of data, and bad actors are increasingly trying to get that data, said Hamel. To prevent that from happening, Hamel said, the city uses AI to spot unusual activity in its network and moves immediately to protect that information. City employees also receive cybersecurity training.

AI fights crime in Worcester

Worcester police use AI to fight crime, but Interim Chief Paul Saucier stressed the technologies don't establish probable cause to search a suspect or press charges. The goal is to increase police visibility and deter crime, he said.

"It's not in our agency to directly input information into an AI computer program," said Saucier. "We're not in control over anything that even applies to ethics. It's not in our control."

Interim Police Chief Paul B. Saucier says the Police Department is using AI tools to help determine where to deploy officers.

The department uses ResourceRouter developed by California-based SoundThinking, used by police the past two years, said Saucier.

Heres how it works: Information from five years worth of calls that originate from crime victims and resident complaints is fed into an AI program, said Saucier, and then it calculates areas of Worcester that likely have the highest risk of crime on a particular day.

Officers make patrols in those areas, Saucier said, and it deters crime if people see police there.

The system mitigates potential bias, according to SoundThinking's website, because it relies on objective, noncrime data. In addition, it doesn't use personally identifiable information to determine where patrols are assigned.

The other tool used by Worcester police is ShotSpotter, also developed by SoundThinking. It detects gunshot sounds within eight square miles of the city. Sensors on city streets pick up sound waves and a public safety office in California monitors the sensors. An AI algorithm determines whether the sound is a gunshot. It takes less than 60 seconds from the time of a shooting to send a digital alert to police.

Precision policing is how Saucier described the technology because AI can pinpoint within 25 meters of where the gunshot came from. Also, 80% of gunshots aren't reported to police, said Saucier, so the technology gets police to the scene faster to gather evidence and help victims.

When asked how important AI is to Worcester police, Saucier said very important, because the department is down 46 officers, not including 16 injured while on duty.

"Any technology that will assist us to do our jobs is always going to be helpful," he said.

Worcester is prohibited from using AI facial recognition technology because the City Council adopted an ordinance two years ago that banned it.

Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on X: @henrytelegram.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: AI in Worcester: Renee Cummings speaks about risks and benefits
Looks like Al Roker's dog Pepper has stiff competition from his granddaughter Sky.

"Pepper (is) still not sure about Sky," the TODAY co-host captioned an Instagram post showing Sky sitting in her stroller, unaware of Pepper's cute presence behind her. "Who is this who steals my attention?"

Al's daughter Courtney Roker Laga and her husband Wes Laga, welcomed Sky in July 2023.

Al adopted Pepper from a Pennsylvania rescue facility in 2012 and the dog has assumed her place on social media and at TODAY. In March 2020, Al even did the weather forecast with Pepper sitting on his lap.

"I always made fun of the people with those little rat dogs, but the great thing about Pepper is shes small, but she has a big personality, Al told People in 2019. She runs, she chases stuff, she plays fetch."

He added, Shes not a lap dog, but you rub her belly and shes yours. Shes the perfect dog.

At the time, Pepper was working her way into the family bed.

"I was one of those people who said the dogs not supposed to be sleeping with you, Al admitted to the outlet. And of course she sleeps on the bed now. The foot of the bed! But still. Shes been slowly working her way up."

Of course, Pepper must share Al's attention with Sky.

The little girl recently attended her very first Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade and she scored a magazine cover with her mom Courtney.

Al and Sky also love scooting around New York City together, while the infant naps in her stroller.

Al is in his element as a first-time Pop-Pop, his granddad nickname.

It is magical, it really is, Al said on TODAY shortly after Sky was born. Everybody tells you that its going to be this thing and you dont know  its like when they tell you about having your first child.

He added, And then, to hold this little girl knowing that 30, almost 35 years ago, I held her mom. And here she is ... and shes just perfect.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Current and former prisoners in Alabama filed a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday arguing that the states prison labor system amounts to a modern-day form of slavery that violates the U.S. and Alabama constitutions.

The complaint, brought with the support of labor unions, alleges that Alabama profits to the tune of more than $450 million a year through coerced work, and that fast food companies and other private corporations benefit from an unlawful labor trafficking scheme.

The proposed class action lawsuit seeks to abolish a captive labor source for the state and award current and past prisoners with damages. The defendants include the states Republican governor, Kay Ivey, and its Republican attorney general, Steve Marshall, along with Alabama corrections and parole officials.

Janet Herold, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in a press conference Tuesday that the prison work programs are the modern reincarnation of the notorious convict-leasing system that replaced slavery after the Civil War.

We are not talking here today about a new Jim Crow, said Herold, legal director of the legal aid group Justice Catalyst Law. Were talking here about the old Jim Crow.

Iveys office did not immediately comment on the lawsuit Tuesday.

The plaintiffs  which include two labor groups, the Union of Southern Service Workers and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union  argue that the states parole system has disproportionately trapped Black prisoners in jobs working for little or no pay.

We are not talking here today about a new Jim Crow. Were talking here about the old Jim Crow.Attorney Janet Herold

The state takes 40% from prisoners gross earnings in work-release jobs, while prisoners face other deductions for transportation and uniform cleaning, pushing pay rates well below the Alabama minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, according to the complaint.

The lawsuit states that hundreds of prisoners work in the states correctional industries program, producing clothing, license plates and other goods that government agencies purchase, with workers starting at a pay rate of 25 cents per hour or less.

Prisoners working for state and local government agencies are paid $2 per day, the complaint states, calling it remarkably the same daily wage rate that the State of Alabama set for incarcerated labor in 1927.

Lakiera Walker, one of the plaintiffs, said she served 15 years in the prison system starting in 2007, including stints working on a county road crew for $2 a day and in the warehouse of a private meat company. She said that prisoners who refused to work ended up in segregation.

You did what you had to do to survive, Walker, who was released earlier this year, said at the press conference. Im out, but my heart is still there with my friends and family who have to suffer that.

She added: They can say, Oh, we dont have forced labor, but you have so many women on the inside right now who are afraid to speak out for the fear of retaliation.

Prisoners argue that Alabama's prison work system violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Prisoners argue that Alabama's prison work system violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Scott Douglas, director of Greater Birmingham Ministries, called the system one of the largest sanctioned human trafficking rings.

The lawsuit argues that the system violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees equal protection regardless of race, as well as a recent amendment to Alabamas state constitution, which bars involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime.

Like many states, Alabama pays its incarcerated workers little to no money for their labor, a practice made possible by an exception to the 13th Amendments prohibition on slavery. Most prison systems are highly dependent on incarcerated workers, who prepare meals, do laundry, conduct facility maintenance and build goods that the state sells at a profit.

In 2020, the Justice Department took the rare step of suing Alabamas Department of Corrections for allegedly incarcerating people in unsanitary conditions and failing to protect the people in its custody from violence, both from prison staff and from other prisoners.

They can say, Oh, we don't have forced labor, but you have so many women on the inside right now who are afraid to speak out for the fear of retaliation.Lakiera Walker, plaintiff and former prisoner

Conditions only worsened after the lawsuit, according to prison organizers in Alabama. Last year, thousands of the states incarcerated workers went on strike to protest inhumane living conditions and the low parole release rate of about 10%.

We have more people coming out in body bags than on parole, strike organizer Diyawn Caldwell told HuffPost at the time. With the exception of people with a set release date, you have a living death sentence, she said. Theres no way out.

They demanded improved medical treatment, consistent parole guidelines, repeal of the states habitual offender law, the abolition of life-without-parole sentences and a conviction integrity unit to examine wrongful convictions. Ivey called their demands unreasonable.

Last November, shortly after the strike began, Alabama voters passed a ballot measure to amend the constitution to eradicate involuntary servitude. The measure was a landslide success, with 76% voting in support. But in the year since, Alabamas prison labor practices have remained in place.

The current and former prisoners said in their lawsuit that the state ultimately violated the state constitution and denied the will of the voters, by forcing them to work whether they want to or not.

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Mayor Brandon Johnsons administration is making another push for a $2 million Chicago police shooting settlement, four months after the deal narrowly failed in the City Council in a high-profile rebuke of the city Law Departments handling of such misconduct cases.

On Monday, the Finance Committee advanced the award for the family of Darius Cole-Garrit, a 21-year-old man fatally shot by police in 2014 after officials said he pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at officers.

Aldermen who voted no were Chris Taliaferro, 29th, Bill Conway, 34th, Matthew OShea, 19th, Debra Silverstein, 50th, Marty Quinn, 13th, Nicholas Sposato, 38th, Derrick Curtis, 18th, and Brian Hopkins, 2nd.

The full City Council will take up the item on Wednesday, the second time it will consider the settlement this year.

In July, the same amount was rejected in a 26-22 vote, the bodys most notable pushback to a Chicago Police Department settlement award under the Johnson administration. At the time, aldermen in opposition voiced long-running frustrations with how the council handles police settlements, which cost the city more than $100 million last year.

The settlement was scheduled to come up for another vote in September, but Finance Chair Ald. Pat Dowell pulled it from the committee at the last minute, saying the delay was to allow the Law Department to do some more work.

On Monday, Dowell, 3rd, had more to say, reminding colleagues of particulars of the shooting that she said gave us an indication about how difficult this case would be to win.

I believe that its in the citys best interest to settle this. This is not like the black-and-white kind of case, Dowell said. A lot of outstanding concerns. And so I would ask that we maintain our fiduciary duty as counsel and pass this settlement agreement.

The 2016 lawsuit in question surrounds the fatal police shooting of Cole-Garrit, who was biking down 133rd Street on the Far South Side when he was pulled over by Chicago police officers in an unmarked vehicle who were investigating a weapons tip. Cole-Garrit ditched his bike and ran, the citys corporation counsel John Hendricks said Monday, leading two of the cops to chase him on foot.

One cop fired 11 shots, while another fired nine, killing Cole-Garrit, Hendricks said, but there are up until that point multiple disagreements, or multiple facts, in dispute about what took place.

(There are) very different versions of the story, radically so that the plaintiffs claim there was actually no gun. The police officers claimed that in fact a gun was pointed at one of them, Hendricks said. In short, this is a difficult case factually.

Hendricks said even among the cops testifying, there were conflicting stories about Cole-Garrit pointing a gun at them, on top of only one eyewitness who observed the shooting and supports the deceaseds version of the facts. And, should the settlement fail and the case go to trial, the award could double or triple, he added.

The citys Independent Police Review Authority found the shooting justified, and a semi-automatic handgun was recovered 20 feet from Cole-Garrit. But fingerprint testing was inadequate because there were too many smudges, Hendricks said.

One of the big disputes here: there were obviously officers who allege they saw the gun and saw it aimed at least one officer, but there are other witnesses who claimed there was no gun, and that the presumption is that maybe it was planted, Hendricks said.

But Hopkins, who voted against the settlement before, said the Law Department ought to be more bullish on its very strong case to make.

This is a difficult case and a difficult decision, as many of these cases are, Hopkins said. But the fact that they want this settlement and seem to be averse to a trial, is that a possible indication that plaintiffs counsel does not have as much confidence as they would like us to think?

The Finance Committee also approved an $8.75 million settlement Monday to the family of Michael Craig, a 61-year-old man who was killed by a cop in 2021 after he called 911 to report his wife threatening him at knife point.

Police body camera footage shows two people struggling before a gunshot is heard, Law Department counsel Caroline Fronczak said. Craig was then on the ground for two seconds before a second shot went off, she said. An autopsy showed he died of two gunshot wounds and also suffered nonfatal defensive stab wounds.

The Department of Law believes the potential exposure in this case is reasonably high, given the 911 calls identifying that the female was the one that was threatening the husband with the knife, Fronczak said.

And the committee approved a $515,000 settlement to Chicago firefighter James Mundo, stemming from a workplace harassment suit in which he alleged his supervisor made inappropriate comments about his sexual orientation.

Meanwhile, the councils ethics committee approved changes Monday to ease lobbyist registration requirements for nonprofits following years of negotiations.

As part of a suite of reforms to ethics rules in the early months of Mayor Lori Lightfoots tenure, the council required nonprofit lobbyists register with the city and report their activities each quarter. Supporters argued it was an important transparency measure that let the public know who was working to sway council members, the mayor and department heads.

But after an uproar from nonprofit leaders about the cost of compliance for smaller organizations and a chilling effect the rules might have on participation in city programs and projects, implementation of that portion of the ordinance was repeatedly delayed.

Among the changes: Individuals only need to register if the nonprofit they lobby for has both an operating budget and net assets or fund balances of five million dollars or more. Lobbying fees would be capped at $20,000, and those who participate in grassroots lobbying events  like sending mass emails to members of council  would also be exempt.

Steve Berlin, the executive director of the Board of Ethics, said the changes still put Chicago well within the fold of its peer cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Philadelphia. So far, 122 people have registered as nonprofit lobbyists. If passed, the ordinance would take effect in July 2024.

ayin@chicagotribune.com

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Former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Dec. 21, 2023, after being convicted by a federal jury of racketeering conspiracy and a dozen other counts. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

The last time Daniel Solis and Edward Burke were in the same room together was November 2018, when the two powerful longtime aldermen talked about Solis future.

Solis said on the secretly recorded video that he planned to retire in the middle of his next term, maybe become a consultant and go off into the sunset. He told Burke hed still bring developers his way, looking to hire Burkes private law firm for tax work, as long as, you know, you remember me.

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Burke promised he would scratch Solis back, telling his trusted colleague, We come from the old school.

Five years later, those two old-school Chicago politicians finally met again on Tuesday. This time, though, it was in federal court.

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After much anticipation, Solis was called to testify about his improbable turn as an FBI mole in the investigation that torpedoed Burkes five-decade aldermanic career.

But his testimony in Burkes corruption trial came with a twist: He was called not by prosecutors, who used the secret recordings he made of Burke, including their final conversation, to build their racketeering case, but instead as one of only two witnesses in Burkes defense case.

In a high-stakes roll of the dice, Burkes legal team put Solis on the witness stand in an attempt to dirty him up, poke holes in his cooperation, and suggest that Solis enticed Burke and fed him FBI-scripted lies to try to get Burke to say incriminating things on tape.

Burke attorney Chris Gair also took the opportunity to slam Solis unprecedented deferred prosecution deal with the feds, asking in one memorable exchange near the outset of the testimony, Now sir, your reason for agreeing to cooperate with the government was to save yourself, wasnt it?

Yes, Solis said.

Toward the end of his questioning, Gair had Solis confirm he was not expecting to spend any time in prison for his own misdeeds.

Youre not going to be indicted for anything? Gair asked.

Thats correct, Solis said calmly.

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Solis long-awaited face-off with his old colleague marked a watershed moment in Burkes high-profile trial, now in its sixth week at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse.

He was on the stand for about three hours, after which federal prosecutors declined to question him and Burkes attorneys rested. Closing arguments are expected to begin Wednesday afternoon and could last for three days.

Burke smiled broadly when court adjourned for the day, while Solis ducked into a cab on Dearborn Street with his lawyer.

U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendalls 25th floor courtroom had swelled to capacity in anticipation of Solis taking the stand, with spectators including former Chicago Aldermen Tom Tunney, 44th, and Proco Joe Moreno, 1st, as well as a host of high-powered lawyers, some of whom popped in from other trials to watch.

Among those attorneys was Tom Breen, who represents ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan on his racketeering case. Solis also cooperated extensively against Madigan, making copious secret recordings, and could be called to the stand again in Madigans trial next year.

Called just moments after prosecutors had rested their case, Solis walked into the courtroom just before 1:30 p.m., stone-faced and grayer than he was when he left the public eye five years ago.

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Across the room, Burke, dressed in a dark suit, green tie and pocket square, leaned back in his chair and tented his fingers in front of him. His wife, former Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne Burke, watched with other family members from the front row.

After some initial questions about Solis tenure in the City Council, Gairs questioning quickly became loud and theatrical; he repeatedly thrust his fingers in the air, and his voice echoed through the crowded courtroom.

Solis, by contrast, answered almost entirely in quiet, mild tones, pausing occasionally to sip from a bottle of water or scratch his head. When he first took the stand, Gair had to ask him twice to sit closer to the microphone so everyone could hear.

Solis, the longtime 25th Ward alderman and Zoning Committee chairman, was questioned at length about the dozens of recorded phone calls and videotaped meetings he made of Burke that formed the backbone of the racketeering charges in the case.

Gair also noted the deferred prosecution deal Solis received from the U.S. attorneys office in return for his cooperation, an agreement that will leave him without a criminal conviction even though Solis acknowledged that he knew he was facing potentially years in prison.

This was not out of some public spirit on your part, correct? Gair asked.

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I dont know what you mean by public spirit, Solis replied.

Gair responded with venom: I know you dont know what I mean by public spirit, sir.

Prosecutors immediately objected.

Former Ald. Edward Burke arrives at federal court for his corruption trial on Dec. 12, 2023. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

The early part of the testimony proceeded in fits and starts, with prosecutors frequently raising objections and the defense requesting sidebars.

In his seat at the defense table, Burke was somewhat fidgety, stroking his chin, bouncing slightly back and forth in his chair, slowly rolling his forefinger up and down his lower lip.

When Burkes attorney pressed Solis if he cooperated as an undercover mole, Burke rubbed his ear, raised his chin slightly and cracked a small smile.

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In response to Gairs loud and at times sarcastic questioning, Solis remained stubbornly mild-mannered. Each time Gair asked if he had lied, if he had cooperated just to save his skin, he stated plainly and quietly: Yes.

You told Mr. Burke that (the Post Office developers were) receptive but not committed, isnt that right? And that was a complete fabrication, correct? Gair asked. You just made it up!

I didnt make it up, I was working under the direction of the government, Solis said.

Even though Burke asked Solis to recommend his law firm, Klafter & Burke, to the developers, it was Solis who baited the governments hook, Gair noted. He was the one who, on a phone call with Burke, specifically connected Burkes aid to the developer to his law firm work, Gair pointed out.

Gair also repeatedly sought to downplay Burkes influence, indicating that if Solis really wanted to, he could have cleared the bureaucratic hurdles for the Old Post Office development all by himself by reaching out to then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

At the top of the bureaucracy is the mayor, correct? Gair asked.

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Its not that simple, Solis said, adding that there are layers of bureaucracy. The mayors not God. Theres always problems that have to be dealt with.

I didnt ask you if the mayor was God! Gair shot back.

Gair made perhaps his strongest points of the day when he methodically took Solis through the $20 million in TIF funding and the massive Class L tax incentive being sought by the Post Office developers.

Both required ordinances that went through Burkes Finance Committee. However, Solis acknowledged that in both instances, Emanuel backed the proposals and they were done deals by the time they got to the City Council.

Gair also sought to present the issue as a matter of the controversial City Councils aldermanic privilege, suggesting to jurors that Burke was supportive of the Old Post Office because Solis wanted it for his 25th Ward, not because the developers could give him business.

Singling out one recording, Gair noted that when Solis called Burke on Sept. 14, 2018, to confirm that the TIF item was on the Finance Committee agenda for that day, he had been directed by the FBI to ask if it was going to pass, even though Solis knew it would.

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Im gonna make sure you want it to pass, Burke said on the recording. Youre still supportive of that?

Aldermanic privilege, right? Gair asked Solis about the exchange.

Solis agreed.

Gair also highlighted that Burke was left out of Emanuels political grandstanding as the Old Post Office project starting coming together. At one point, he displayed a photo from the news conference announcing that Walgreens was going to anchor the development, which had been put together by Emanuels office months before Burkes committee even voted on the TIF deal.

At the podium was Emanuel. Standing behind him was Solis. To either side were then-World Business Chicago President Andrea Zopp and the CEO of Walgreens.

Is Ed Burke there? Gair asked.

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No, Solis said.

He wasnt even invited, was he?

I dont think so, Solis replied.

With Solis testimony in the rearview mirror, Burkes historic trial is entering its end stages.

Prosecutors rested their case in chief Tuesday afternoon after calling 36 witnesses over 16 days. Their final witness was an FBI special agent who testified about the city of Chicago ethics ordinance and Burkes statements of economic interest.

The 14-count racketeering case alleges that Burke used his significant City Hall power to try to get business for his private law firm from developers of the Old Post Office, owners of a Burger King in his Southwest Side 14th Ward and a developer desperate to install a sign for a Binnys Beverage Depot on the Northwest Side.

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He is also accused of threatening to block an admission fee increase at the Field Museum to retaliate against officials who failed to give a paid internship to a daughter of one of his longtime City Council allies.

Before the jury returned for testimony Tuesday, Burke attorneys confirmed that Burke will not take the witness stand in his own defense, leaving Solis as their marquee witness.

Lawyers for both of Burkes co-defendants, longtime ward aide Peter Andrews Jr. and real estate developer Charles Cui, told the judge that they do not intend to call any witnesses and will rest their cases when the jury returns at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Closing arguments are expected to last into a third day, meaning the jury of nine women and three men will likely not begin deliberations until next week, with just five business days left before the Christmas holiday.

The Solis recordings are related only to the alleged Old Post Office scheme, which was the longest-running and potentially the most lucrative  though Burkes attorneys have emphasized that, in the end, Burkes firm never actually got a dime from the developers he is accused of trying to extort.

The recordings have Burke saying lines that have surely stuck in jurors minds: He was not motivated to help the developers, he said, since the cash register has not rung yet. When the developers dragged their feet, he told Solis as far as Im concerned they can go (expletive) themselves. And perhaps most memorably, he asked Solis on a wiretapped call: So did we land the, uh, the tuna?

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To no ones surprise, Gair very conspicuously steered clear of those recordings, including the infamous tuna comment, which became instant political fodder when Burke was indicted in May 2019.

Solis turn on the stand came more than five years after he virtually disappeared from city life, just as the Burke investigation was going public.

In one of Solis last public appearances, he talked in a television interview about his surprise decision to retire, and his advice to Burke to think about doing the same.

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I think Ald. Burke should reconsider (running for reelection), Solis said in the WTTW-Ch. 11 interview on Nov. 26, 2018, three days before Burkes city offices were raided by the FBI. You got money, you got a great family, you got grandkids. Why do you want to run?

Solis cooperation was exposed after Burke was charged in early 2019. His deal with prosecutors was finally made public last year. In it, he was charged with a single count alleging he took money from developers who had business before his Zoning Committee. The charge will be dropped in 2025 as long as he completes his cooperation satisfactorily.

[ Ex-Ald. Ed Burke corruption trial: Evidence seen and heard by the jury ]

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

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(Bloomberg) -- Malaysias Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim picked the head of the countrys top pension fund to support him in the finance ministry, marking the first cabinet reshuffle as his government seeks to boost growth and rein in a fiscal deficit.

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Amir Hamzah Azizan, the chief executive of the Employees Provident Fund was selected as the second finance minister, Anwar said in a briefing on Tuesday. The prime ministers decision to revamp his cabinet was in part a response to critics concerns that he has taken on too many responsibilities.

The finance ministry must have a strong professional team to ensure that we are on the right track and focus on the economy, said Anwar, who still leads the portfolio.

Anwar is seeking to extend his grip on power as he leads a coalition government backed by multiple parties since November 2022. While he commands the support of two-thirds of Malaysias parliament, his approval rating has dived.

Malaysias benchmark stock index fluctuated between gains and losses amid a volatile trading session. The ringgit was little changed after the announcement.

The reshuffle comes two weeks after parliament approved Anwars scaled back spending plan for 2024 that seeks to narrow the budget deficit through a combination of subsidy cuts, new taxes and lower debt payments. Restoring fiscal health is key for Malaysia to retain developing Southeast Asias highest credit score, and keep investors faith at a time when higher US rates have made them wary of emerging-market assets.

Amir Hamzah, who has run the countrys biggest pension fund since March 2021 and led Malaysian utility company Tenaga Nasional Berhad, will be central to implementing Anwars economic plans. A seasoned technocrat, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Financial Management Services from Syracuse University before attending Stanford University, according to his LinkedIn profile.

The cabinet reshuffle is positive for Anwar as he has added steady hands that could pull the country out of the economic rut, according to Oh Ei Sun, principal adviser for Pacific Research Center of Malaysia. The cabinet reshuffle brought in quite a few old faces who are considered to be quite well respected and capable.

The new lineup ushered in the return of former ministers such as Dzulkefly Ahmad, who will once again helm the health portfolio after holding the position from 2018 to 2020. 1MDB taskforce chief and former second finance minister Johari Ghani will lead the plantation and commodities ministry.

Anwars cabinet is now expanded to 31 ministers  the same as his predecessor Ismail Sabri Yaakob  from 28. Overall, his administration has 60 people, including deputies, though still lower than Ismail Sabris 70-member administration, his office said in a statement.

Here are details of the other appointments:

Anwar named Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof as energy transition minister

Khaled Nordin, the minister for higher education, will move to head the defense portfolio

Former defense chief Mohamad Hasan will be foreign minister

Gobind Singh Deo will head the newly created Digital Ministry. Gobind served as Communications and Multimedia Minister from 2018-2020

--With assistance from Joy Lee.

(Updates with market reaction in the fifth paragraph and analyst comment in the eighth. A previous version of the story corrected a typo in new second finance ministers academic qualifications in paragraph five.)

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This story has been updated with a statement from John Nickelson.

A panel of five judges released a decision in the Caddo Parish Sheriff's race Tuesday afternoon.

Just after 12 p.m. Dec. 12, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals released a decision, upholding the ruling made by Retired Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Joseph Bleich on Dec. 5.

The five-judge panel included judges Shondra Stone, Jeff Cox, Jeff Robinson, Marcus Hunter and Craig Marcotte. The decision was made by a three-two vote upholding the decision to call for a new election.

According to the filed decision, irregularities existed with two voters illegally voting twice and four interdicted persons voting in the Nov. 18 runoff election.

The decision stated, "we are ultimately constrained to find no abuse of discretion in the trial courts determination that a new election is warranted in this matter. There is no dispute that this election was decided by one vote."

John Nickelson released a statement Dec. 12. He said, "today's ruling confirms that the serious irregularities in the November election cannot be ignored. We look forward to having a new election in March, one where every legal vote will count, and all voters have confidence in a fair result. I will continue to make the case that I am the candidate best equipped to make Caddo Parish a safer place to raise our families, own businesses, and build stronger communities."

This case is expected to elevate to the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Local attorney and Shreveport Times contributor, Royal Alexander said, "The role of an appeals court is not to retry the case. Its role is to simply determine whether the trial court had a legal basis (i.e., adequate evidence) to rule as it did, or, whether it ruled erroneously and, thereby, "abused its discretion." The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal simply determined today that the trial court had not abuse its discretion in ruling the way it did ordering another election."

More: What did the judge rule in the Caddo Parish Sheriff lawsuit? Here's what you need to know

Photo illustration of Henry Whitehorn, left, and John Nickelson.

Background on this case

On Nov. 18, Whitehorn and Nickelson participated in the runoff election for Caddo Parish Sheriff which resulted in a one-vote margin. Whitehorn received 21,621 votes while Nickelson received 21,620.

A recount was performed Nov. 27 on the absentee ballots for the runoff due to the one-vote margin. The recount resulted in an additional three votes given to both candidates, ultimately leaving the outcome unchanged with Whitehorn ahead by one vote.

Shortly after the recount, Nickelson filed a lawsuit outlining a number of allegations of irregularities in votes during the runoff election.

Nickelson named Henry Whitehorn and Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin in the lawsuit. Nickelson asked the Caddo District Court to declare a victor or order a new election.

Bleich asked Nickelson on Nov. 30 to provide a brief for the petition and for it to be filed by noon Dec. 2. Following that filing, Whitehorn's counsel was granted two days to respond.

On Dec. 4, Whitehorn's counsel filed a brief in response.

On Dec. 5, Bleich made a ruling ordering a new runoff election between Whitehorn and Nickelson.

Following the ruling Whitehorn made a statement to the media stating, "I am pursuing an appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeal, and if necessary, to the Louisiana Supreme Court."

Whitehorn filed an appeal, and it was heard on Monday, Dec. 11 in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Read: Whitehorn appeals Caddo Sheriff election lawsuit ruling: 'for a third time, I will win'

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Second Circuit Court of Appeals released a decision in Caddo Sheriff lawsuit
A judicial nominating commission is accepting applications for a Washington County Circuit Court judgeship that became vacant following the death this fall of Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson.

The Maryland Judiciary posted an online notice Friday that the commission is accepting applications for the judgeship until 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 21.

David Harbin, president of the Washington County Bar Association, said the nominating commission will forward at least three names to Gov. Wes Moore.

The governor is to appoint someone to the bench before the Feb. 9 candidacy deadline for the 2024 election, Harbin said.

U.S. Semiquincentennial: Washington County officials making plans for 250th anniversary of independence events

Whoever is appointed would need to stand for election in 2024 to keep the judgeship, he said.

Circuit court judges serve 10-year terms.

Two local attorneys automatically entered into applicants pool

Local attorneys Kirk Chalis Downey and Jason Morton were automatically entered in the applicants pool because their names were forwarded to the governor as candidates for the last open judgeship, Harbin said. Gov. Larry Hogan appointed Joseph S. Michael to that judgeship in early 2022.

They are considered "pool candidates," and as such, they remain in the pool for "automatic consideration by the governor for future vacancies" for that court level in the same jurisdiction, according to the Maryland Judiciary website. Pool candidates remain in the pool for two years. Downey and Morton are eligible as pool candidates until Feb. 17.

Downey is the local government attorney for Washington County.

Morton is a private attorney, who practices family law and other matters for the Law Offices of Salvatore & Morton, which represents the City of Hagerstown.

Applications will be posted for public comments

The names of all applicants will be posted after the application deadline, according to the Maryland Judiciary notice.

The public may submit written and signed comments about an applicant's qualifications. Those comments should be sent to The Judicial Nominating Commission, c/o The Administrative Office of the Courts, Human Resources, 187 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Fourth Floor, Annapolis MD 21401.

Comments must be received at least a week before the commission meeting date. That meeting date had not been posted as of Monday.

The judgeship has been vacant since Oct. 19, when Wilkinson, 52, was found shot in the driveway of his home north of Hagerstown.

Authorities found the remains of the suspect in the attack, Pedro Argote, 49, of Frederick, Md., a week later on private property used for hunting, in an area near and east of the Pinesburg softball complex, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office. That area is northwest of Williamsport.

Who will help choose nominees for the judgeship?

The nominating commission will interview candidates, nominating finalists for the governor to consider.

Moore's office announced appointments to the Washington County Trial Court Judicial Nominating Commission on Monday night.

Hagerstown attorney and former state delegate D. Bruce Poole will chair the commission. Poole is managing partner of the Poole Law Group. He served as local counsel with the Multi-District Litigation opioid consortium, whose clients included Washington County and Hagerstown governments.

Other commission members are:

Harbin, who is a partner at the Harbin Law Office and a former assistant public defender. Harbin served on the board for the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association.

Mary C. Baykan, director emeritus of the Washington County Free Library System and executive director emeritus of Western Maryland Public Libraries.

Erika Garrott Johnson, a partner with Greivell & Garrott Johnson and a certified mediator. Garrott Johnson is attorney at the Family Law Self Help Clinic.

Brian A. Kane, a shareholder in Kane & Stone who has a family law practice. Kane is a member of the Supreme Court of Maryland Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure.

Paul Francis Kemp, a partner with Ethridge, Quinn, Kemp, Rowan & Hartinger. Kemp is a former public defender on the state and federal level, as well as a former assistant state's attorney for Montgomery County, Md.

Sarah McKelvey Mollett-Gaumer is a deputy state's attorney for Washington County. She was previously an associate with Powell Flynn, where she had a general civil practice.

Tereance Rayshaun Moore, founder and center director for Mediation First, a Hagerstown-based organization that provides affordable access to community mediation services, training and education.

Aitza Haddad Nunez, founder and director of Friendly Law, a nonprofit that provides future, current and former low-income law students with opportunities and help to start their professional legal career.

R. David Pembroke, a local solo practitioner. His general practice focuses on criminal and family law. Pembroke is on the Faculty Advisory Board of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.

Alison Christine Peteranecz, a partner with the Antietam Law Group. Peteranecz is a certified Child Counsel Attorney and worked for ICF International to help with the housing recovery program following Hurricane Katrina.

Thomas Edward Robins, District Court supervising attorney for the Office of the Public Defender in Washington County. Robins also has been a public defender in Baltimore in the Appellate Division and in Pennsylvania.

Margaret Lynn Williams, a local solo practitioner. Williams has a general practice that focuses on family law. She is a former executive director of the Child Advocacy Center in Washington, D.C., and was the first female president of the Washington County Bar Association.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Judge Andrew Wilkinson's vacant seat to be filled in next two months
Archaeological discovery upends what we thought we knew about fall of Roman empire

Startling new archaeological discoveries made from a decade-long study in Italy challenge previously held assumptions about the decline of the Roman empire in the region.

New excavations led by the University of Cambridge suggest the town in modern-day southern Lazio in Italy continued to thrive well into the 3rd century AD, a period when it was believed that the Roman empire was in a general state of decline.

The teams pottery analysis from the site, published in the edited volume Roman Urbanism in Italy, reveals that the towns decline began around 300 years later than previously assumed.

When archaeologists initially probed the site of the town, which was known to the Romans as Interamna Lirenas, they could only excavate shards of ancient pottery.

However, a geological survey revealed an astonishingly detailed image of the entire towns layout with a wide range of urban features such as multiple public baths, a temple, a warehouse, and a theatre.

They also conducted a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey and launched a series of targeted excavations.

We found a thriving town adapting to every challenge thrown at it for 900 years. Were not saying that this town was special, its far more exciting than that, study co-author Alessandro Launaro said.

We think many other average Roman towns in Italy were just as resilient. Its just that archaeologists have only recently begun to apply the right techniques and approaches to see this, Dr Launaro said.

Drone view of the excavation of the two footpaths lining the street separating the basilica (top) from the theater (bottom) at Interamna Lirenas (Alessandro Launaro)

Previous studies conducted about 40 years ago studied the distribution of potsherds  broken pieces of ceramic material  in the plough soil above the ruins of Interamna Lirenas, and concluded that its occupation peaked in the late 2nd to early 1st centuries BC, before it shrank by the 1st century AD.

But the latest research involved a more comprehensive analysis of tens of thousands of pieces of commonware pottery, showing that the Roman town resisted decline until the later part of the 3rd century AD.

Based on the relative lack of imported pottery, archaeologists have assumed that Interamna Lirenas was a declining backwater. We now know that wasnt the case, Dr Launaro said.

Archaeologists suspect the Italian town was a thriving trading hub at the time of Roman emperor Julius Caesar.

Interamna Lirenas was strategically located between a river and a major road, and it was a thriving node in the regional urban network. It would have been valuable to Julius Caesar as he sought to consolidate support across Italy during the civil wars, Dr Launaro said.

Researchers say the town likely served as part of a river port between the late 1st century BC and the 4th century AD.

River ports didnt just need warehouses. People spent a lot of time working and resting in the vicinity so they needed all kinds of amenities, just like the ones we found here, Dr Launaro said.

This river port enabled Interamna Lirenas to profit from trade between Aquinum and Casinum, key centres to the north, and Minturnae and the Tyrrhenian coast to the southeast. It would have been crucial to the towns success, he added.

A plan of Interamna Lirenas showing the distribution of different types of buildings (Alessandro Launaro)

Archaeologists also uncovered the remains of a roofed theatre with a likely capacity to seat 1,500 people in the Roman town.

The fact that this town went for a roofed theatre, such a refined building, does not fit with a backwater in decline. This theatre was a major status symbol. It displayed the towns wealth, power, and ambition, Dr Launaro said.

Even when Roman Italy struggled, researchers say the towns theatre was likely still in operation.

The assumed lack of a theatre here was taken as evidence of the towns decline....The remains of Interamna Lirenas amazing theatre was there all along, just completely buried, the archaeologist explained.

Researchers also found evidence suggesting that even when some of Interamna Lirenas impressive baths were declining  hinting at the possible decline of the overall Roman empire around the time  some town members kept them in operation with benefactions.

It remains unknown how the town eventually met its demise.

Archaeologists did not find any layer of ash or other evidence suggesting that the town was violently destroyed.

They suspect inhabitants likely deserted the town before the Lombard invasion of the late 6th century AD as they may have known that the town was on a direct route marauding armies were bound to use.
Leaders from three of the citys public safety agencies gathered at Truman College in the Uptown neighborhood Monday night to lay out their high-level goals for the coming year.

But the presentations from the heads of the Chicago Police Department, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability and the Chicago Police Board were delivered as the future of one of those bodies, the police board, is shrouded in uncertainty.

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CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling used the gathering, held by the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, to double-down on his commitment to transparency, even as the future of police discipline cases is in flux.

For six decades, the nine-person police board has handed down discipline to CPD officers found guilty in the most serious misconduct cases  those that call for an officer to be suspended for at least a year or fired from the department.

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But earlier this year, Edwin Benn, the arbitrator overseeing contract negotiations between the city and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, ruled that CPD officers accused of serious misconduct have the right to choose whether their cases are decided by a third party or by the police board.

Proceedings decided by a third party would not be open to the public, and an attorney for the FOP filed a motion earlier this year to remove 22 pending cases from the police boards docket, but that effort was shot down.

Mayor Brandon Johnson called for the City Council to split the contract vote into two  one for the contracts economic package, which would provide a roughly 20% raise to officers over four years, and another for the disciplinary award handed down by Benn months earlier.

The City Councils Workforce Development Committee last week voted unanimously to recommend that the full council approve the economic package, but the committee voted 10-5 against recommending the disciplinary awards approval. The full council is scheduled to cast both votes Wednesday.

Snelling said for his part he will be forthcoming on public issues.

Ill be open and honest about any and every single thing we do because weve got nothing to hide, Snelling said. If were wrong, Im going to say were wrong. But when were right, Im going to stand up and say that were right.

Snelling, still in the early part of his tenure as the citys police boss, again urged a collaborative approach to reducing the citys crime, but noted that there is no citywide, one-size-fits-all solution.

We cannot have one singular public safety plan for the entire city, Snelling said. Each district has its own set of issues. We have districts where we have impoverishment. We have districts that are more well-off than others. We have districts that are just loaded with businesses. We have to address each individual problem in each district. I cannot provide one strategy that will go citywide and be effective. So we have to make sure that we have a focus on what our communities need and what each one of our communities asks for.

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Andrea Kersten, COPAs chief administrator, told the commission that the agency will focus in 2024 on consistency, timeliness, transparency, youth engagement and equity.

The mood inside the Truman College auditorium grew tense for a few minutes when outgoing Chicago Police Board President Ghian Foreman fielded questions from the Rev. Beth Brown, one of the members of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability.

After Foreman laid out the police boards goals  which largely described the boards long-standing operating procedures  Brown told Foreman that she was underwhelmed by the boards stated benchmarks for 2024.

She then asked Foreman, Why did you ignore your commissioners input on where they thought your goals should go?

Foreman told Brown that the input was not ignored, but that CCPSA commissioners needed more explanation as to how the board functions.

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We had to explain how our work is actually done, Foreman told Brown. If you want the truth, I was quite underwhelmed as well because I really didnt think these were goals. I didnt think that these were necessarily actionable, but you wanted five goals, so we tried to give you five goals.

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As the meeting concluded, Yvette Loizon, another CCPSA commissioner, thanked Foreman for his service as president. The next president of the police board is expected to be confirmed this week, according to a source familiar with the decision.
The year 2023 shattered the record for the warmest summer in the Arctic, and people and ecosystems across the region felt the impact.

Wildfires forced evacuations across Canada. Greenland was so warm that a research station at the ice sheet summit recorded melting in late June, only its fifth melting event on record. Sea surface temperatures in the Barents, Kara, Laptev and Beaufort seas were 9 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit (5 to 7 degrees Celsius) above normal in August.

While reliable instrument measurements go back only to around 1900, its almost certain this was the Arctics hottest summer in centuries.

Summer heat extremes in 2023 and over time. NOAA, Arctic Report Card 2023

The year started out unusually wet, and snow accumulation during the winter of 2022-23 was above average across much the Arctic. But by May, high spring temperatures had left the North American snowpack at a record low, exposing ground that quickly warmed and dried, fueling lightning-sparked fires across Canada.

In the 2023 Arctic Report Card, released Dec. 12, we brought together 82 Arctic scientists from around the world to assess the Arctics vital signs, the changes underway and their effects on lives across the region and around the world.

Heats cascading effects throughout the Arctic

In an area as large as the Arctic, setting a new temperature record for a season by two-tenths of a degree Fahrenheit (0.1 degrees Celsius) of warming would be significant. Summer 2023  July, August and September  shattered the previous record, set in 2016, by four times that. Temperatures almost everywhere in the Arctic were above normal.

A closer look at events in Canadas Northwest Territories shows how rising air temperature, sea ice decline and warming water temperature feed off one another in a warming climate.

Arctic snow cover in 2023 and over time. NOAA, Arctic Report Card 2023

The winter snow cover melted early across large parts of northern Canada, providing an extra month for the Sun to heat up the exposed ground. The heat and lack of moisture dried out organic matter on and just below the surface; by November, 70,000 square miles (180,000 square kilometers) had burned across Canada, about a fifth of it in the Northwest Territories.

The very warm weather in May and June 2023 in the Northwest Territories also heated up the mighty Mackenzie River, which sent massive amounts of warm water into the Beaufort Sea to the north. The warm water melted the sea ice early, and currents also carried it west toward Alaska, where Mackenzie River water contributed to early sea ice loss along most of Northeast Alaska and to increased tundra vegetation growth.

Sea surface temperatures have been rising. NOAA, Arctic Report Card 2023

Similar warmth in western Siberia also contributed to quickly melting sea ice and to high sea surface temperatures in the Kara and Laptev seas north of Russia.

The Arctics declining sea ice has been a big contributor to the tremendous increase in average fall temperatures across the region. Dark open water absorbs the suns rays during the summer and, in the autumn, acts as a heating pad, releasing heat back into the atmosphere. Even thin sea ice can greatly limit this heat transfer and allow dramatic cooling of air just above the surface, but the past 17 years have seen the lowest sea ice extents on record.

Subsea permafrost: A wild card for climate

The report includes 12 essays exploring the effects of climate and ecosystem changes across the Arctic and how communities are adapting. One is a wake-up call about the risks in subsea permafrost, a potentially dangerous case of out of sight, out of mind.

Subsea permafrost is frozen soil in the ocean floor that is rich in organic matter. It has been gradually thawing since it was submerged after Northern Hemisphere ice sheets retreated thousands of years ago. Today, warmer ocean temperatures are likely accelerating the thawing of this hidden permafrost.

Just as with permafrost on land, when subsea permafrost thaws, the organic matter it contains decays and releases methane and carbon dioxide  greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and worsen ocean acidification.

Known permafrost zones in the Northern Hemisphere. Greens are subsea permafrost. GRID-Arendal/Nunataryuk, CC BY-ND

Scientists estimate that nearly 1 million square miles (2.5 million square kilometers) of subsea permafrost remains, but with little research outside the Beaufort Sea and Kara Sea, no one knows how soon it may release its greenhouse gases or how intense the warming effects will be.

Salmon, reindeer and human lives

For many people living in the Arctic, climate change is already disrupting lives and livelihoods.

Indigenous observers describe changes in the sea ice that many people rely on for both subsistence hunting and coastal protection from storms. They have noted shifts in wind patterns and increasingly intense ocean storms. On land, rising temperatures are making river ice less reliable for travel, and thawing permafrost is sinking roads and destabilizing homes.

Highlights from the Arctic Report Card 2023. NOAA, Arctic Report Card 2023

Obvious and dramatic changes are happening within human lifetimes, and they cut to the core of Indigenous cultures to the point that people are having to change how they put food on the table.

Western Alaska communities that rely on Chinook salmon saw another year of extreme low numbers of returning adult salmon in 2023, scarcity that disrupts both cultural practices and food security. Yukon River Chinook have decreased in size by about 6% since the 1970s, and theyre producing fewer offspring. Then, in 2019, the year when many of this years returning Chinook salmon were born, exceptionally warm river water killed many of the young.

The returning Chinook salmon population has been so small during the past two years that fisheries have been closed even for subsistence harvest, which is the highest priority, in hopes that the salmon population recovers.

The inability to fish, or to hunt seals because the sea ice has thinned, is not just a food issue. Time spent at fish camps is critical for many Alaska Indigenous cultures and traditions, and kids are increasingly missing out on that experience.

As Indigenous communities adapt to ecosystem changes, people are also working to heal their landscapes.

A Sami reindeer herder in traditional clothes counts new calves while preparing the herd for the arduous winter months. In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images

In Finland, an effort to restore damaged reindeer habitat in collaboration with Sami reindeer herders is helping to preserve their way of life. For many decades, commercial logging was allowed to tear up hundreds to thousands of square miles of reindeer peatland habitat.

The Sami and their partners are working to replant turf and rewild 125,000 acres (52,000 hectares) of peatlands for reindeer grazing. Degraded peatlands also release greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change. Keeping them healthy helps capture and store carbon away from the atmosphere.

Temperatures in the Arctic have been rising more than three times faster than the global average, so its not surprising that the Arctic saw its warmest summer and sixth warmest year on record. The 2023 Arctic Report Card is a reminder of whats a stake, both the risks as the planet warms and the lives and cultures already being disrupted by climate change.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.

It was written by: Rick Thoman, University of Alaska Fairbanks; Matthew L. Druckenmiller, University of Colorado Boulder, and Twila A. Moon, University of Colorado Boulder.

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Matthew L. Druckenmiller receives funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for serving as an editor for the Arctic Report Card.

Twila A. Moon receives funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for serving as an editor for the Arctic Report Card.
The arrest of a longtime Broward schools volunteer, accused of battery on a police officer, was likely avoidable  resulting from a poorly trained police and security force who failed to de-escalate tensions during a heated School Board meeting, a district-commissioned report said.

The report also says arresting officer John Mastrianni entered the personal space of Debbie Espinoza, who was attending the Oct. 17 meeting, causing her to bump into him  action he then used to arrest her. She ended up spending 27 hours in jail before being released on her own recognizance.

Mastrianni is a detective with the districts Special Investigative Unit, a small police force that provides security for district events and conducts employee investigations.

An arrest should always be the last option but when it is warranted there needs to be procedures in place, wrote Timothy Enos, who retired in early 2022 as chief of the Sarasota County School District. He now serves on the Sarasota School Board.

The Broward school district agreed to pay Enos up to $2,500 to review the incident. The State Attorneys Office plans to review the report before deciding whether to file formal charges against Espinoza.

Prosecutors are waiting for some additional material and will make a decision after they review everything, said Paula McMahon, a spokeswoman for the State Attorneys Office.

Espinoza declined to comment, and her lawyer, John Thomas David, couldnt be reached. Neither Mastrianni nor a representative from his union, the Broward County Police Benevolent Association, could be reached.

The incident happened at a tense meeting on sex education. Espinoza, who spoke in favor of a new curriculum, got into a verbal exchange at the meeting with Deidre Ruth, a vocal sex ed opponent, who was waiting in line to speak. Ruth was not arrested.

The report recommends de-escalation training, a different configuration for public speakers and better operational planning for meetings, especially ones that could become heated.

When someone gets arrested, its very traumatic and very, very humiliating, Enos told the South Florida Sun Sentinel in an interview. Its one thing if someone is screaming at the top of their lungs and refuses to leave and you have to arrest them. But ultimately youre trying to get voluntary compliance, and there are things the district staff could have done to allow that to happen.

Superintendent Peter Licata said he is saddened this incident took place and appreciates the report.

What cant be ignored is the adults did not act appropriately in public, he said, referring to Espinoza and Ruth, not his own staff.

Licata said the district plans to improve training and will make some structural changes to the districts safety and security department, although he wouldnt elaborate.

He said some changes have already been made. The meeting room configuration has been changed to give audience members more room. There are now two podiums, so public speakers can go the podiums one at a time when their names are called, rather than having to line up.

Board Chairwoman Lori Alhadeff also starts off meetings now with some new procedures for what happens if a meeting attendee becomes disruptive.

Licata said he doesnt expect any discipline or personnel investigations as a result of this review.

He agreed to conduct the outside review after several School Board members voiced alarm at the arrest of Espinoza, who was named the districts Volunteer of the Year in 2020.

Enos reviewed school district surveillance camera videos as well as videos publicly available on social media and news coverage. Enos did not interview Mastrianni, Espinoza or any witnesses.

Enos said he felt it was unnecessary to remove either Espinoza or Ruth from the meeting. He said its up to the board chairwoman to ask a disruptive person to be removed, and that didnt happen.

After Alhadeff heard people in the audience speaking during the meeting, she gave a warning. Licata then instructed security staff to move closer to the line if they felt it was necessary.

It appeared that at this time there was no need for intervention as both parties had stopped with outbursts nor was there any removal requested by the chair, Enos wrote.

Alhadeff recessed the meeting for a few minutes, and Ruth made a loud outburst as she was being instructed to leave the meeting. Mastrianni escorted Espinoza out while another officer escorted Ruth out. Espinoza can be heard on video shouting to Mastrianni, Dont push me!

Mastrianni made no effort at de-escalation with Espinoza once they were in the board room lobby, according to the report. Espinoza continued to be upset by the removal, and it appeared that the SIU detective moved closer to the victim, easily within her personal space, which ultimately caused her to come into contact with him, resulting in her arrest.

Enos told the Sun Sentinel his use of the word victim was a typo, and it should have read party or subject.

From surveillance video, which had no audio, Enos said it appeared that Espinoza was reaching for her sunglasses in a large tote bag.

The SIU detective can be seen directly behind the party to the point [Espinoza] would not have been able to turn around, the report said. She can be seen placing her bag onto her shoulder and in doing so bumps the officer who is standing closely behind her.

Enos told the Sun Sentinel he believes that moving closer was an intentional move by Mastrianni.

While I cant speak for his reasoning, in my estimation if you are de-escalating, you do not get closer, he told the Sun Sentinel.

The report said that after the arrest, Espinoza was handcuffed with her large bag still on her shoulder and was taken outside to a bench for about six minutes, where the handcuffs were adjusted.

Other people can be seen walking past her while seated on the bench, the report said.

She was then brought back into the district building where she was placed in an area that is sometimes used as a concession stand, witnesses told the Sun Sentinel.

If an arrest is made, the subject should be removed immediately from the area, Enos wrote. Placing the subject outside on a bench while arrested where multiple people could observe her is not recommended. This could only escalate the incident.

While Espinoza was being arrested, Ruth was allowed to come back to the meeting and give public comments if she agreed to be calm. Alhadeff told the Sun Sentinel she wasnt aware at that time that Espinoza, who had already spoken, was being arrested.

After the board chair has requested a subjects removal, no one should be allowed back into the board meeting after they have been removed, Enos wrote.

Enos is a 32-year law enforcement veteran, spending most of his time with the Sarasota County Sheriffs Office. He was hired in 2018 to create a full-service police department for the Sarasota school district and served as its chief until January 2022.

He was elected to the Sarasota County School Board last year as part of a wave of candidates backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who helped flip School Boards from liberal to conservative. He currently serves as vice chairman.
(KRON)  An arrest warrant has been issued for an international exchange student from China who allegedly trespassed at Stephen Currys Atherton home, according to the San Mateo County District Attorneys Office. According to the DA, the student, identified as Sheng Gao, an 18-year-old resident of Cupertino, took a bus to Atherton on Oct. 15.

The student, the DA said, was looking for the home of the Golden State Warriors star in order to get an autograph. A middle-aged woman pointed out to the student which house was the Curry home.

At around 5:50 p.m., Gao walked up to the property gate and pushed both the call and the ring button. The gate opened and Gao walked in and up to the front door.

Space Force missile launch visible from Livermore: video

Steph Curry and his wife Ayesha Curry were not home at the time, the DA said. However, the couples children and a nanny were. The front door of the home was unlocked, according to the DA, and Gao went inside.

It was then that the nanny demanded to know what he was doing there. The defendant, according to the DA, told the nanny he wanted Steph Currys signature. The nanny ordered him to leave, which he did.

Nothing was taken, but police were called, the DA said. A short while later, officers located the defendant on El Camino and detained him.

Gao was identified as the trespasser by the nanny and from surveillance video. He signed a citation promising to appear in court on Dec. 7 but failed to show up. The court revoked the defendants release on his own recognizance and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

Bail on the warrant was set at $500, the DA said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
CANTON, Ohio (WJW)  One man and one teenager were arrested in Canton after dozens of vehicles and businesses were vandalized by a pellet gun in November.

According to a press release from the Canton Police Department, the citys network of public cameras was used to find the suspects.

Giant, feral goldfish wreaking havoc in Great Lakes

Investigators were able to follow a vehicle as it traveled through the city and linked it to multiple incidents in different days.

The vehicle involved was eventually found in a nearby city, according to the release. Detective searched the vehicle and found five pellet guns inside.

David Moore, 20, was arrested and charged with vandalism and complicity to vandalism, both fifth-degree felonies. A 17-year-old was also charged with vandalism, according to the release.

According to the release, additional charges are pending as the investigation continues.

What are the chances of having a White Christmas?

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Canton Police Detective Bureau at (330) 489-3144.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
An asylum seeker on board the Bibby Stockholm barge has died overnight in a suspected suicide, according to local sources.

The man was found dead in his shared cabin early on Tuesday morning by staff on the barge in Portland, Dorset, who alerted the police at 6.22am.

The asylum seeker, said to be in his 20s, had reportedly complained about his mental health the day before and, according to other migrants on the barge, had been heard shouting and banging on the wall of his cabin.

He was alive when the asylum seeker with whom he shared the cabin got up early to go to the IT centre on the barge. Staff discovered his body shortly afterwards.

A body is removed from the Bibby Stockholm today - Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images

Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset, said it was a tragedy born of an impossible situation.

While I never agreed to, nor accepted the imposition of the barge on South Dorset, I believe it was at least a decent, safe haven for some of those cruelly trafficked across the Channel, he said.

One can only imagine the desperate circumstances which led to this sad outcome; we must do all that we can to end this evil trade in human misery.

Police and the Home Office are investigating the death. Officials said they were providing the remaining asylum seekers on the barge with the requisite support including faith leaders and trauma specialists.

There are understood to be 300 male asylum seekers housed on the barge. It has a capacity for up to 506 migrants, who are expected to share two, three or four to a cabin.

The Bibby Stockholm has been blighted by problems since it was docked at Portland in July, including a series of health and safety issues. It had to be evacuated in the summer after the discovery of the potentially deadly Legionella bacteria in the water supply.

The death comes after a 23-year-old man tried to kill himself in a hotel car park in Essex last month, after hearing that he was due to be transferred to the Bibby Stockholm.

Steve Smith, chief executive of Care4Calais, said the charity had been regularly reporting suicidal intentions among residents but claimed no action had been taken.

The UK Government must take responsibility for this human tragedy. They have wilfully ignored the trauma they are inflicting on people who are sent to the Bibby Stockholm, and the hundreds being accommodated in former military barracks.

Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, called for an independent review of the death to learn lessons. It is imperative that an independent review is carried out into this death so that lessons are learned to avoid any further tragedies of this kind, he said.

A new approach that always sees the face behind the case and treats every individual person with the dignity and humanity they deserve is urgently needed.

Bibby Stockholm in Portland today - Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images

Nicola David, from the One Life to Live charity, which campaigns on behalf of asylum seekers, said six other migrants who were due to be transferred from the same hotel to the barge had said they would rather kill themselves than be sent there.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: Everyone arriving on Bibby Stockholm has a medical assessment, they are continually monitored when staying in the accommodation and are given any necessary support as you would rightly expect.

Bouquets were placed outside Portland Port, including one from your friends at Portland Global Friendship Group. May you rest in peace, it read.

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Atlanta Police Departments Fraud Unit is asking for help from the public in identifying a man suspected of stealing mail.

Police say the man pictured is suspected of stealing mail on several different occasions from 1389 Chattahoochee Avenue NW.

He is also suspected of stealing a check that was mailed to that address and then altering it so it could read payable to his name or his assumed identity.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Police also distributed photos of the suspects car, a silver 4-door sedan.

Anyone with information on his identity can submit a tip anonymously to Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477), online at www.StopCrimeAtl.org, or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637).

Tipsters do not have to give their name or identifying information to be eligible for the reward of up to $2,000 for the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

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Polish politician Donald Tusk has emphasized the importance of continued assistance to Ukraine in a speech to the Polish parliament, the Guardian reported on Dec. 12.

Tusk is now highly likely to form a new government with his Civic Platform group, ending the eight-year rule of the Law and Justice (PiS) party.

The Polish Sejm (the lower house of parliament) failed to pass a vote of confidence in the government of current prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Dec. 11.

Only a united West can help Ukraine win in the fight for democratic values.

Read also: Morawiecki's government loses confidence vote, paving way for Donald Tusk

"But we must remember what the war is about. That Ukrainians are fighting for something extremely important, Tusk said.

Tusk said that Warsaw would also continue to protect the interests of Polish farmers and truckers who are blocking the border with Ukraine, promising to work "with every Polish neighbor" and resolve the issue of the protests.

I can no longer listen to politicians who talk about being tired of the situation in Ukraine. They tell President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy that they are tired of the situation. I will demand help for Ukraine from day one."

"We will demand full mobilization of the West to help Ukraine, Tusk said.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is "an attack on all of us," and it should be spoken about "with one voice," Tusk said.

Read also: Polands Tusk pledges to resolve Ukraine border blockade once in government

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine